>>96728058
Rip my greentext.
>For a time, the neophytes are connected to Sokar and their minds mingle with that of the ancient. Sokar does not speak with words, but visions. Terrible visions of death and loss in the service of the Starbinder. Some describe it as reliving memories under judgmental scrutiny. A few hear his voice, deep, patient, disappointed, proud, all depending on the neophytes performance facing the worst.
>All who have undergone the rite report feeling the dreadnoughts weariness and pain during that brief connection. Those who meet his standards are released, often with faint memories of facing their own death in the name of the Imperium. Those who fail have their minds burnt out, reducing them to drooling brain dead meat, useful only as servitors.
>After their time on the throne, successful neophytes are taken directly to have the Black Carapace implanted.
>This is not the whole secret. Known only to the very highest officers in the chapter, the Sokar encountered in the mental world of the Cradle of Faith is not actually that of the dreadnought. Instead it is a construct based off of his mind, sharing his memories and awareness. It remains connected to his sarcophagus when he sleeps in order to continually update itself and use his vast knowledge. It is called the Vox Solaris Mortis. This construct remains within the machine even during the brief times when Sokar is disconnected from the Cradle and awakened and has shown signs of awareness.
>Worryingly, in recent years other voices have been described in the visions experienced by Neophytes within the Cradle, indicating that the ancient machine may be failing, or worse yet, integrating memories and personality pieces from the neophytes that have sat within and failed its test. A mind construct growing or changing stands on the very precipice of becoming an abominable intelligence and as such this possibility is viewed with growing alarm by those few within the chapter aware of it.