This is the Darkest Heresy heresypedia, font of random bytes of knowledge on anything and everything you might find in the 41st Millenium.
Entries are sorted alphabetically, and added as needed. They will cover everything from dramatis personae in the games I GM, through random knick-knacks to xenos species. Not to mention everything in between.
If you have something you would like to add to the list, or there is something you feel needs correcting, you can email me at contact@darkestheresy.co.uk. If you prefer then you can also leave a post in this thread in the Darkest Heresy forums.
Autoquill
Autoquills are the printers of the 41st Millenium. Most consist of a quill attached to a mechanism that moves it, whilst paper is fed through automatically for it to write on. Usually they will be attached to a cogitator of some description.
Cogitator
Cogitator engines come in many forms, and are roughly analogous to a modern computer. They are mostly complex and and little understood machines, the most complex of which require constant maintenance and high levels of technical knowledge in their operation.
A cogitator may range from a simple calculation engine for calculating personal tithes, all the way up to complex gene sequencing engines used by the highest level of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Similarly they may be small enough to held in the hand, or large enough to require small complexes, machine shrines and slaved servitors to support their operation.
Cognomen
The cognomen is the most common form of identification in the Calixis sector, though it is by now means used everywhere. Common to most hives in the sector, the cognomen tracks all recorded aspects of it’s owners life and provides the average hiver their only legal proof of identity. Those without a cognomen are likely to be at least distrusted by any person in authority, and in many cases will be considered criminals if they can not quickly provide evidence otherwise.
A cognomen usually appears to be a grey metal slate with punched out metal squares intended to be read by a cogitator system. In some cases the seal of the issuing authority may be printed on one side.