House Volavat

**House Volavant** is a Questor Mechanicus Knight House from the artificial moon of Telesant, a massive space station originating from the Dark Age of Technology which appears to actually be several dozen large asteroids connected and held together in a rough lattice framework. They have become famous for their Tonitrian Armory, rare energy-based weapons that produce a distinctive crackling and resemble concentrated bolts of lightning, capable of overloading mechanical systems and frying living nervous tissue. From this, they are also closely aligned with the Corpuscarii Electro-Priests of the Mechanicus, holding great reverence towards the Motive Force of the Trinity Machina.

## Notable Campaigns

* Defense of Telesandt - CSM sorcerers tried to throw the planet into the nearby star, hoping to kill everyone and have the world consumed as a great sacrifice to the ruinous powers. Was eventually thwarted but did permanently change Telesandt's orbital.

## Homeworld

Telesandt has sometimes been called the "Hallow Cage" as it is not a planet, but in fact several dozen large asteroids and other rocky celestial objects that have been interconnected and bound to one another by massive tubes and anchors. This extremely strange occurrence has been theorized to have its origins in Dark Age of Technology but for what purpose is unknown. Its surface is split between the uneven, mountain-like surfaces of asteroids and the perfectly smooth metal planes that cover what would otherwise be empty areas between the asteroids. Its interiors is just as developed and colonized as its exterior, allowing for a surprisingly large population.

Like on other Knight Worlds, a medieval-esque level of technology and society is kept but is more challenging given the very technical and advanced nature of Telesandt itself. Peasants tend to vast hydroponic bays instead of fields while blacksmiths oversee huge factory lines of apprentice smiths and the nobility engage in courtly politics and events in zero gravity towards the planet's core. As such, Telesandt culture has been engineered to encourage obedience and adherence to a complex social caste system. House Volavant has managed to circumvent the need of a highly technically educated middle and upper class by employing off-world techpriests to oversee the advanced technologies that keep the stations running and by educating non-inheriting noble children to fulfill those roles as well.

### The Corekeep

<Main fortress citadel located directly in the center of the planet, the planet itself can be seen as an almost fortress wall. Huge shafts go pierce the planet that allow access to all levels of the planet. Centermost parts actually have zero gravity and its where functionaries are sometimes entertained in with zero gravity performances and dances they can't find anywhere else.>

## House Culture

The knights and scions of House Volavant are known for their collected, stoic demeaners. Although quick to anger, their anger is not a blazing rage, but instead they simply lower their voices to a growl that sounds like a distant, rolling thunder. Their stoicism doesn't translate to combat however, as in battle they are known to be extremely boisterous, often loudly announcing challenges to enemies and proclaiming encouragement to allies. Just as a storm is never silent, the knights of House Volavant distain any form of stealth or trickery; they are the House of Storms, not a House of Cowards.

Off the battlefield, House Volavant tend to their world as is their responsibilities as nobles. As members of the educated caste of society, they are among the few people even capable to begin to understand the technology and innerworkings of Telesandt. They do not have a great deal of ceremony compared to other Knight Houses, but its nobles still find this task extremely boring and mind-numbingly dull as over the many generations, there are actually more nobles than roles and thus many roles have become subdivided into smaller and smaller tasks. Titles such as "Switch Master of Buttons 1-5 of Switch-Tablet 76B" and "Cogitator Tender, Activation Specialist of Array 29" are not uncommon and some responsibilities are practically monotask. Yet nobles are not allowed to leave their stations, forced to remain at their post less they be seen abandoning their duties, thus spending hours sitting in front of a panel without any distractions for a task that may only occur once a standard solar week.

The only time they are allowed to leave their duties is during religious festivals, ceremonies or when they are called to battle. Its for this reason that many knights are eager to go to war and make such a great show of it, as it grants them a rare reprieve from their incomprehensibly boring daily lives. Some knights even jump from campaign to campaign, effectively chaining together their deployments just to avoid having to return home.

## Notable Knights

* **Sentinel of Light**
* **Shadebreaker**
* **Oath Eternal**
* **Rustbane**
* **Omnissiah's Wraith**
* **Bellicosa Maximus**

## House Strength

<TBD, combat doctrine favors speed and quick strikes. Good at close quarters fighting but aren't especially melee oriented. Use Thundercoil Harpoons tho?>

### House Levy

<All wear a special leather-rubber armor that's highly resistant against energy weapons and insulated against Volavant's Tonitrian weapons to prevent friendly fire. Full body enclosed, look sort of like leather brigandines.>

### Tonitrian Armory

* **Tonitrian Lance** - Primary big energy weapon, also comes in a smaller form called the Tonitrian Javalin
* **Tonitrian Stormbringer** - Electroflamer whose energy and jump between targets and is extremely effective at clearing out lightly armored masses of infantry like Orks or Nids
* **Tonitrian Reactor** - The special, mysterious DAoT power generator that outputs enough energy to power Tonitrian weaponry which are typically insanely power consuming. Cannot be easily reproduced because it relies on a mechanism called a "Lunar Cortex Dynamo" that has no existing STC files of. Also highly resistant to EMPs because of its natural shielding and power capacity.
* **Tonitrian Coils** - Sometimes used in place of carapace mounted weapon systems, they're like tesla coils that extend out the back. Can be used to either bolster the strength of ion shields or to deal damage to everything in an AOE around the knight (hurts unprotected allies too). Also seen acting as lightning rods during storms, no tactical effects but it sure as hell looks cool and/or imposing.