vizn3r/warhammer40k-lore huggingface dataset:
Imperial Guard Wargear - Bolt Weapons: Boltgun or Bolter: While the Bolter is normally only seen in the hands of the Space Marines, it is possible for an officer or a veteran to get his hands on such a fearsome weapon, sized for an unaugmented human. Fires a mass-reactive, explosive bolt with a depleted deuterium core that detonates on contact with the target as its standard issue ammunition.Bolt Pistol: Favored by Imperial Guard officers because of the added punch offered by such a weapon, the Bolt Pistol has a shorter range than a Bolter, but operates in much the same way.Heavy Bolter: A fast-firing, anti-infantry weapon, the Heavy Bolter gives the Imperial Guard the ability to take down more heavily armoured foes without wasting autocannon or lascannon rounds. It truly shines when directed at large masses of infantry, such as an Ork WAAAGH! It is also commonly mounted on vehicles to provide some anti-infantry protection.Storm Bolter: A much more uncommon sight in the Imperial Guard than the Heavy Bolter, the Storm Bolter is normally only seen in its pintle-mounted variant, mounted on the top of a tank. However, it is also possible for officers and some veterans to get their hands on one, but that is a rare occurrence, as the weapon's bulk and ferocious recoil makes it almost impossible to wield efficiently without the assistance of Power Armour.
Imperial Guard Wargear - Missile Weapons: Missile Launcher: Missile Launchers are simple devices normally used in teams of two guardsmen, although modified sentinel-mounted versions do exist. It can be armed with either Frag or Krak Missiles. Frag Missiles allow for the explosive blast wave to spread in a manner similar to the effect of a Frag Grenade, making them useful for taking out lightly armoured infantry, whereas Krak Missiles concentrate the explosion in a small, contained area, making them extremely effective tank killers.
Imperial Guard Wargear - Sniper Weapons: Sniper Rifle: Imperial Guard Regiments use many different kinds of sniper rifle, ranging from lasguns modified with longer barrels and over-powered energy cells (referred to as a long-las) to needle-rifles, which fire small darts containing deadly neuro-toxins. Sniper Rifles are issued to a regiment's best marksmen, or used by the abhuman Ratlings. Most sniper rifles are equipped with telescopic sights and mufflers to allow the user to fire from long range without his position being revealed by the crackle of gun fire.
Imperial Guard Wargear - Grenades, Explosives and Destructive Devices: Grenade Launcher: The Grenade Launcher is a versatile semi-automatic weapon designed to fire grenades into enemy formations at short range. Grenade Launchers can be loaded with both Frag and Krak Grenades to accommodate variable battlefield situations.Frag Grenades: Also called fragmentation grenades, these small metal spheres are designed to explode after a preset delay when the triggering mechanism is activated discharging shrapnel into a radius referred to as a kill-zone. They are commonly used to rout enemy troops out of bunkers, or to pin down enemy troops in preparation for an assault. Frag Grenades are standard issue equipment and are made available to all Imperial Guard infantry squads, as well as Storm Troopers and Veteran squads.Krak Grenades: These small explosive devices give a soldier the ability to neutralize light armour, technical vehicles or fortified positions. The operator must attach the device to the intended target, so he must be within reach of it. Krak Grenades are standard issue equipment for Imperial Guard Storm Troopers and Veterans.Melta-Bombs: Large grenades based on Melta technology, Melta-Bombs are designed to neutralize heavy armour or fortified positions, much in the same way as Demolition Charges except without the wasted exothermic reaction. Melta-Bombs instead focus the energy from the micro-nuclear Melta reaction into a concentrated point burning through the intended target.Demolition Charges: A generic term used for large packs of improvised explosives wired to detonate in unison, they function similarly to Satchel Charges allowing soldiers to destroy high value targets in a large area. The operator must be extremely close to use them, as the device must be thrown. There is considerable risk involved with using Demolition Charges.Snare Mines: Sometimes referred to as claymore mines, Snare Mines are explosive devices intended to ambush light targets while the enemy is unaware of their presence. They are normally carried by forward scouts and veteran troopers and consist of a shaped explosive charge and a range finder. Snare Mines are normally planted in tactical positions and used to ambush or disrupt enemy advances.
Imperial Guard Wargear - Melee Weapons: Close Quarter Weapons - All Guardsmen are issued with either a Trench Knife or a Bayonet to fend for themselves should an enemy get close. However, inventive Guardsmen do not hesitate to use their standard-issued Picks, Shovels or even the butt of their Lasguns to crack open an assailant's skull.Chainsword or Chainblade: The standard close combat weapon of both the Imperial Guard Officers and the Space Marines, the Chainsword, despite being a simple metal construct on a battlefield full of powered gauntlets, daemon-cursed broadswords, flaming axes, and plague-ridden knives, still constitutes a viable threat. Its industrial diamond teeth are designed to slice through Power Armour and its lightweight construction allows a skilled operator to fight with another weapon, usually a pistol of some kind, in his other hand. Some variants of the Chainsword exist, such as the Chainaxes so beloved of the Chaos Space Marines dedicated to the service of the Blood God Khorne.Eviscerator: A large, two handed version of the Chainsword, the Eviscerator is used exclusively by Imperial Priests of the Adeptus Ministorum. This device is much heavier and has a longer blade then its cousin the Chainsword, transforming its wielder into a greater threat on the battlefield at the cost of not being able to use a sidearm.Power Weapon: The officers of the Imperial Guard use a variety of powered weapons to defend and attack in close combat, be they swords, axes, maces, or even clubs. These weapons deploy a potent high energy gravitic field around the 'blade' of the Power Weapon, which serves to disrupt solid matter, making them capable of destroying conventional weapons and defeating even the most advanced armour. These weapons are extremely rare in the hands of even the elite of the Imperial Guard, as most were manufactured long millennia ago, before the Horus Heresy.Power Fist: Some officers crave close combat so much, that they entomb their arms in giant metal gauntlets called Power Fists to grant them superhuman powers in hand to hand combat. These gigantic fists allow their bearers to attack even vehicles and know they have an extremely good chance of winning.
Imperial Guard Wargear - Infantry Equipment: As well as their weaponry, Imperial Guardsmen are issued with a variety of other equipment upon recruitment. Although the equipment issued varies among the regiments, the following list contains the most common equipment.
Imperial Guard Wargear - Armour: Flak Armor: The basic armor worn by all soldiers of the Imperial Guard, Flak Armour provides protection from low velocity or indirect projectiles, but pretty much all other armor is highly preferable. Flak Armour is usually made from synthetic fibres or light-weight threaded alloys and leaving the wearer free to move.Carapace Armour: Carapace Armour consists of a series of rigid plates, molded from either Armorplas or Ceramite. It provides a better protection than flak armor, and is used extensively by Stormtroopers. Officers also seem to prefer this due to the superior protection it provides. Some regiments of the Guard are outfitted exclusively in this, due to their proximity to a Forge World, or the fact that they were raised from a more affluent world that can afford such protection.
Imperial Guard Wargear - Specialised Equipment: Auspex or Surveyor: An Auspex or Surveyor is a small, hand-held scanner device, usually incorporating a passive radar or infrared motion-detector. Used by officers and vox-operators to help direct the course of a battle. Also used by Storm Troopers when they are hunting for a target.Vox-caster or Vox-box: One of the most important pieces of equipment available to the Imperial Guard, the Vox-Box is a rugged, portable radio transceiver that allows the commanding officer of a force to keep in touch with his subordinates. Almost all Imperial Guard units are capable of carrying a Vox-Box in one way or another. Vox-casters are also commonly mounted on tanks to allow the commanding officer to take advantage of the armoured vehicle's increased power capacity and use the improved communications the voxcaster offers to call in reinforcements.Camo Cloaks: Imperial Guard scouts and snipers will often wear Camo Cloaks to conceal themselves from the enemy. Constructed from the synthetic material Cameoline, Camo Cloaks blend with the surrounding environment, making the wearer extremely hard to view from long range.Medi-Pack: More advanced versions of the standard medi-kit carried by all troopers, medi-packs contain the necessary supplies to cure or heal most types of battlefield wounds and are often carried by specially-trained troopers in command squads.Refractor Field (Conversion Field) Emitter: Carried only by extremely high-ranking Imperial Guard general officers, Space Marines, the agents of the Inquisition or members of the Ecclesiarchy, Refractor Field Emitters, also known as Conversion Field Emitters, generate a protective gravitic energy barrier around the wearer, granting them protection from almost all forms of energy-based and kinetic attacks.
Imperial Guard Wargear - Standardised Equipment: The following equipment is issued to all Imperial Guardsmen upon recruitment.Combat Knife or Bayonet: Thousands of variations of the combat knife exist, ranging from short, serrated blades to the straight blades carried by the Tanith First and Only and the very large blades used by the Catachan Jungle Fighters. They are commonly used as hand-to-hand weapons or bayonets.Guard-Issue Medicae Supplies: All guardsmen are issued with very basic medical supplies, including bandages, swabs and basic med-kits containing oils and salves. The medical supplies are used to heal small wounds obtained from shrapnel, dangerous terrain features and bruises sustained during hectic battlefield manouveres.9-70 Entrenching Tool: Basically an over-glorified spade, the 9-70 is used to create impromptu emplacements and barricades during battles.Gas Mask with Mark VIII filter: An emergency device used in case of sudden gas attack, the gas mask consists of a simple face-mask attached to an advanced filter system designed to filter out harmful toxins in the atmosphere and allow the Guardsman to breathe without risk of injury. Some regiments, such as the Armageddon Steel Legions, use more advanced respirators in a permanent manner, usually during protracted engagements in areas with unbreathable atmospheres such as the polluted hive-world of Armageddon.Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer: Issued to all guardsmen upon recruitment, The Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer is published by the Departmento Munitorum. The book contains invaluable advice on a score of relevant topics. These include details on the regulations of the Guard, the correct procedures required to use common Guard weapons and basic battlefield tactics like how to maintain a Lasgun, engage an Ork in hand-to-hand combat and other crucial survival skills. It is not unheard of for Commissars to execute Guardsmen who deface or fail to produce their Primer on command.
Imperial Harbingers - Imperial Harbingers: The Imperial Harbingers is a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter of unknown origin that was raised during the 23rd Founding in the 37th Millennium. The Harbingers spend much of their time pursuing one Imperial Crusade after another.
Imperial Harbingers - Chapter History: The Imperial Harbingers Chapter was created during the 23rd Founding, the so-called "Sentinel Founding", to help replace the considerable losses suffered by the Adeptus Astartes in the preceding millennia. Along with several other Chapters, the Imperial Harbingers was from the outset conceived as a replacement Chapter that would spend its existence on continuous Crusade and was to be created from the most stable gene-seed stocks available to the Adeptus Mechanicus. Like many of the Space Marine Chapters created during this tumultuous period in Imperial history, its exact progenitor Chapter remains unknown. The Harbingers consider themselves sworn enemies of the Death Guard Traitor Legion.
Imperial Harbingers - Chapter Colours: The Imperial Harbingers primarily wear light grey power armour. The Aquila or Imperialis on the chest guard is silver.The black squad tactical specialty symbol (battleline, close support, fire support, Veteran or command) is designated on the right shoulder plate.A white High Gothic numeral centred on the squad specialty symbol designates squad number.The colour of the helm indicates company number in accordance with the Codex Astartes -- i.e. white (1st Company), yellow (2nd Company), red (3rd Company), green (4th Company), etc.
Imperial Harbingers - Chapter Badge: The Imperial Harbingers' Chapter badge is a large white skull in profile, engulfed by flames, on a field of light grey.
Imperial Harbingers - Sources: How to Paint Space Marines, pg. 89Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One, pg. 74Insignium Astartes: The Uniforms and Regalia of the Space Marines, pg. 54
Imperial Hawks - Imperial Hawks: The Imperial Hawks is a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter of unknown origin and Founding. It specialises in fast attacks from the air, utilising high-altitude Jump Pack-assisted assaults, followed by reinforcement sorties from squadron-strength units of Land Speeders, often dropped at altitude and at high-speed from Thunderhawk gunships. Almost nothing else is known about the Chapter in Imperial records.
Imperial Hawks - Notable Campaigns: Battle of Samax IV (Unknown Date.M41) - Samax IV was an Imperial Agri-World whose population was pre-industrial and possessed a technology level roughly equivalent to that of Old Earth's Iron Age. Samax IV fell to the predations of a large Ork WAAAGH! By the time the Imperial Hawks' 4th Company was able to reach the world after receiving its people's distress call, only a single human holdout remained, the walled city of Mallax. The 4th Company was able to break the Greenskins' siege of Mallax and within a week the Orks were in retreat from all corners of the planet.
Imperial Hawks - Chapter Fleet: Carmine Talon (Battle Barge) - The Carmine Talon was the Battle Barge used by the 4th Company of the Imperial Hawks to get to the world of Samax IV and lift the siege of the city of Mallax.
Imperial Hawks - Chapter Colours: The Imperial Hawks wear primarily blue Power Armour. The shoulder plates and the power pack as well as the Aquila or Imperialis on the chest guard, are white. The blue squad specialty symbol (Tactical, Assault, Devastator or Veteran) is designated on the right shoulder plate. A white Roman numeral centred on the squad specialty symbol designates squad number. The colour of the helm stripe indicates company number in accordance with the Codex Astartes -- i.e. White (1st Company), Yellow (2nd Company), Red (3rd Company), Green (4th Company), etc.
Imperial Hawks - Chapter Badge: The Imperial Hawks' Chapter Badge is a stylised blue Imperial Aquila, its wings displayed and elevated, with a large white skull centred on its chest, on a field of white.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Imperial Knight Heraldry: Imperial Knight Heraldry is the practice of devising, granting, displaying, describing, and recording coats of arms and heraldic badges utilised by the Noble houses of Imperial Knights of the Questoris Familia.Every Imperial Knight is a precious and valued war machine, revered by its Noble pilot and painstakingly maintained by the House Sacristans responsible for its upkeep. Each is painted in the glorious heraldry of its house, and decorated with imagery and iconography that tell of its homeworld, oaths and battle honours.The Knight Houses use an elaborate system of heraldry signifying their allegiance, rank and the house to which they belong. Knights will use some variation of their house's heraldry as their livery, incorporating its themes and motifs, but no two liveries can be identical.All Knights bear striking, colourful liveries and often adorn their war machines with heraldic pennants. It is customary for the Knights to compete not only in combat feats, but also in the appearance of their war mounts. Each symbol on an Imperial Knight has a powerful resonance for its wearer and a deep inner meaning.In general, Knight houses belong to one of two major groups, the Questor Imperialis or the Questor Mechanicus. The Questor Imperialis includes those Knight houses which rule their Knight Worlds autonomously and swear direct allegiance to the Imperium of Man.The Questor Mechanicus are the Knight houses which have sworn fealty first to the Adeptus Mechanicus and are now essentially extensions of the Mechanicus' own military forces, their Knight Worlds often just another territory of the feudal demesne of the closest Forge World.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - History: Housed in the labyrinthine expanse of the Emperor's Imperial Palace, within the Palace of Banners, the Officio Militaris College of Arms is an ancient institution whose Adepts-Pursuivant monitor, catalogue and approve the bewildering array of heraldic devices used by the various arms of the Imperium's military forces.As the ultimate authority on all matters pertaining to sigils and marks of rank, and official arbitrators of the ownership of such marks, these Adepts wield much power within the ranks of the Imperial Court, and the Lord Adept-of-Arms maintains an advisory position within the Senatorum Imperialis itself.Among the many duties of the Adepts of the College is that of cataloguing and recording the near-endless array of heraldry used by the recognised Imperial Knight houses. These Adepts, known as "Matriculators," are common sights on worlds controlled by Knight households, and are always accompanied by the stern Claviger Guard, who are sworn to see that none interfere with their duties.Such is the importance placed upon the sanctity of their heraldic emblems and the privilege of use of coveted designs and insignia that many within a Knight house are willing to resort to violence to ensure their claim is honoured by their peers.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Questor Imperialis Heraldry: For Knights of the Questor Imperialis, a Knight's rank is discerned by the stripes across its carapace's armour. These stripes differ in colour for each house, but their colour is always sympathetic to the house's normal livery.The honoured members of a house's Exalted Court each bear a specific design on their tilting plate, on top of which their house's icon is emblazoned. Whatever their house, a Knight's tabard will always feature certain details. The house's crest is borne in full, alongside the Knight's personal emblem and a number of his or her proudest battle honours.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Questor Mechanicus Heraldry: Like the knightly houses of the Questor Imperialis, the members of a Questor Mechanicus house's Exalted Court bear a specific design on their carapace to signify rank. Although houses dedicated to the service of the Machine God are less predisposed to tolerate personal heraldry than those who serve the Emperor directly, this does not, however, preclude individual differences. A Questor Mechanicus house's Barons Prime each sport a specific design commensurate with their rank on their tilting plate, displayed behind their house's icon.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Pennants and Banners: Most Knights carry a variety of pennants and banners proudly proclaiming their heritage and battle honours. These flags are flown from carapaces and weapons but, most commonly, hang from the pinions that drive the war machine's powerful legs. Although the Knight houses remained independent and isolated from the rest of Mankind for millennia after the settlement of their homeworlds, their banners became more standardised when the Nobles bent their knee to the Emperor of Mankind or the Adeptus Mechanicus in His stead.To this end, the banners of both Questor Imperialis and Questor Mechanicus Knights are broadly similar. The general format of a house banner has the house crest in its full form in the upper half of the pennant. All Knights from a single house will carry this identical sigil. The lower portion of the banner is devoted to kill, honour and campaign markings. These will differ from individual to individual, depending on where they have served and what honours they have gained. The exact layout and composition of these honours also varies from house to house. Some Knight houses prefer a relatively simple arrangement of these markings with coloured fields behind the icons, while others may favour a more complex array of icons and markings.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Heraldric Devices: Each suit of Knight armour piloted by Nobles of a Knight House of the Questor Imperialis will always display three things: the major plates display house symbols, most typically the house crest and lesser icons. The minor plates show Imperial heraldry. Finally, the Knight's front right shoulder guard is reserved for the personal heraldry of the Noble pilot -- this is a heraldic design which is unique to that specific warrior and none other.Knight Houses dedicated to the service of the Machine God are less predisposed to tolerate personal heraldry; this does not, however, preclude individual differences. Also of note is the common practice of painting the Knight's faceplate in a black and white half-tone. Below are examples of some commonly deployed heraldic symbols.The Gauntlet - The symbol of an armoured gauntlet crushing a serpent symbolises House Krast's hatred of Chaos. The warriors of House Krast are violent opponents of the Forces of Chaos. Historically they were the first knightly house to join their forces to the Great Crusade, and they took great honour in their part of the Emperor's galactic conquest. But when the Horus Heresy reared its head, they suffered terribly. Chrysis, the home planet of House Krast, was utterly ravaged by the Traitors, and left as little more than a husk, reduced to a poisonous wasteland by the virus weapons unleashed upon it. Even 10,000 Terran years later, the Krast Nobles now live in void-shielded enclaves, and look out at their ruined world and feel a burning hate. Their icon is now the embodiment of their quest for vengeance, and they proudly tally the many Chaos worshippers they have defeated. Prosecuting this endless battle against the forces of the Dark Gods has become their driving motivation. Such is their venom that there is a secret place on their homeworld, known as the "Hammer of Traitors." Here they carve the names of Chaos worshippers they have destroyed -- and, rumour has it, bring prisoners to die terrible, gasping deaths in the poisonous air.Knightly Honours - Glorious kills are celebrated by Imperial Knights with icons to be worn on their personal banner or suit of Knight armour. These take many forms, from targetting symbols or small skulls to rings around weapon barrels. House Krast's greatest hate is for the Legio Mortis, a Traitor Titan Legion who they hold accountable for the horrors unleashed on Chrysis. The broken death head symbol utilised by the Knights of House Krast is a modified badge of the Legio Mortis, with a crack which denotes a Titan kill of their most hated enemies.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Marks of Fealty: Every Imperial Knight wears an icon upon its carapace that proclaims the loyalty of its house to all that behold it:Imperial Eagle - The Imperial Eagle, or Aquila, is the icon worn by houses of the Questor Imperialis. It is worth noting that, while this icon proclaims a close military alliance, it does not imply any form of subjugation. Indeed, Knight houses see themselves as equals (if not betters) of the Imperium, alongside whom they fight for mutual benefit and as a sign of friendship.Machina Opus - The icon of the Adeptus Mechanicus, also known as the Cog Mechanicum, is worn by Imperial Knights in Questor Mechanicus houses which are aligned with the Priesthood of Mars. Houses that wear this mark not only fight alongside the Adeptus Mechanicus, and will answer a call for aid without hesitation, but can also rely on the industrial might of the Forge Worlds to supply and repair their war machines.Laurels Fidelis - Knights who take the mantle of Freeblades cast aside the heraldry of their former houses. Tradition dictates that these Nobles adopt the Laurels Fidelis, a laurel-wreathed skull which indicates their continued loyalty towards the Imperium of Man, despite leaving their houses behind. An Imperial Knight wearing this symbol will fight for Mankind, even until death.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Campaign Badges and Honour Badges: The kill, campaign and honour badges are a mix of local iconography (perhaps unique to a house) and sigils used by the armies of the Imperium. For example, if a Knight serves in an Imperial campaign, his banners would display the official badge for that action, and this sigil would also be worn by any Space Marines or Imperial Guardsmen involved.The banners belonging to Freeblade Knights exemplify their individualism. They often echo the livery the pilots choose to apply over the top of their old house colours. Mottoes are not uncommon, or alternative versions of their house icons that these outcasts choose to identify themselves by. Such designs often reflect the fatalistic approach of the pilots -- with skulls and other memento mori represented in great number.The pride of the Nobles who pilot the great Knight units is such that they will take any opportunity to proclaim their loyalties and achievements. To this end they often decorate the rear side of their banners. Though less visible, these spaces are used for catechisms, rolls of honour and lists of revered ancestors.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Freeblade Heraldry: In stark contrast to the heraldry of the Questor Imperialis or Questor Mechanicus houses, the Freeblades use far simpler iconography. Freeblade Knights often spurn the heraldry of their old house, creating their own emblems as they strike out for a life of heroism and adventure on their own.While house emblems reflect the collective history of a Knight World's Noble families, Freeblade icons are very personal to that individual. Mottos are often used as part of the design, and it is not uncommon for stylised skulls and skeletons to be used as a reminder that the Knight's quest will likely end with their death.Despite the fact that there have been many cases of Freeblade Knights working in concert –- even as part of a household detachment –- over the Imperium's long history, the vast majority of them choose to fight alone. The reasons behind this solitary existence are many and varied, but it is certain that each Freeblade would have a long story to tell if ever they chose to reveal their past, though it is unlikely that the truth would be a pleasant one. It is their mysterious history that leads many Freeblades to forsake their origins and take on a whole new identity.Many of these Knights choose to hide behind a cryptic name, though whether or not it is possible to discern a glint of a Freeblade's past from their choice of title is an enigma in itself. It is likely that after many long standard years of relentless warfare, some Knights may even have forgotten why they took their first step along the path of the Freeblade.Unlike household Knights, Freeblades commonly choose a single colour as their suit's livery, adopting simple designs or patterns if any at all. Many choose to only show significant iconography on their tabard, though even these are symbolically selective in decoration. A Freeblade Knight's choice of livery and what passes for heraldry is unique, and no two Freeblades will ever look the same.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Questor Traitoris Heraldry: Though the heraldry of Chaos Knights within a given Iconoclast or Infernal house follows the same pattern, there is a great deal of diversity between individual Knights, with each bearing markings that tell of its unique and bloody history.The panoply of Dreadblades is even more diverse. These Chaos Knights eschew household markings in favour of personal emblems, and often bare twisted remnants of former Imperial iconography.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Knightly Titles: A consistent frustration experienced by the Administratum is the elaborate, often archaic forms of address used by the Noble houses. Not only does every Knight World have its own conventions, but even within the households of a single planet there may be multiple prefixes, suffixes and derivations that date back thousands of Terran years.Complicating matters further, in many knightly cultures it is considered deeply offensive to address a Noble incorrectly. Duels to the death have been demanded for less, and more than one officious Administratum clerk has had to be hustled from a Noble's presence in a flustered panic before they dig themselves any deeper into trouble. Imperial authorities persist in their attempts to learn these archaic systems of name and title, however, as they are a vital part of communicating with the Knights in battle.Beyond the relatively straightforward titles of the High Monarch and their Exalted Court, the vast majority of Knight Worlds tend towards "Sir" or "Lady" as a standard honour-prefix, although variations such as "Sire," "Sor," "Sar" and "Sirrah" are not uncommon.Other worlds attach terms such as "most honoured" or "Become" after the Noble's name, or else a derivation of their homeworld such as "ap Kostonor" or "fon Medusar." Multiple terms denoting standing within a world's knightly houses are not uncommon: a Knight of a ruling household might be Lady Eleanora Uhl Tassos, while a lesser Noble of the same world might be Sir Geralt Lor Tassos. There are as many of these complex honorifics as there are stars in the Imperial skies, and all are of grave import to the Nobles who use them.
Imperial Knight Heraldry - Sources: Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus (8th Edition), pg. 27Codex: Chaos Knights (8th Edition), pg. 13Codex: Imperial Knights (8th Edition), pp. 18-20, 34-35, 42Codex: Imperial Knights (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), pp. 26-61, 64-75Codex: Imperial Knights (6th Edition) (Digital Edition), pp. 35-40The Imperial Knight Companion (6th Edition), pp. 16-19, 24-25, 27-28, 30, 33, 37, 39, 41, 43, 47, 49, 51, 53, 57, 59, 61, 63, 70-71, 73-74, 77-78, 83, 85, 87, 89, 93, 95, 97, 99, 109, 111-112, 117, 119-120, 125, 127-129, 133, 135-137, 139, 141, 143
Imperial Knights - Coming of the Imperium: After five thousand Terran years, the Imperium of Mankind arose from the ruins of the Age of Strife. Under the guidance of the Emperor, Humanity returned to the stars and began the Great Crusade to reunite Mankind.Nothing was able to stand in the way of the resurgent Imperial armies, and soon, Human colonies on planets all across the galaxy were brought within the fold of the newly formed Imperium.When Rogue Trader Militant Jeffers rediscovered a Knight World, Chrysis, for the first time, he quickly realised the knightly houses could be valuable allies for the Emperor's armies.In his reports, he pointed out the Knights' many virtues, and emphasised the world's value to the Imperium as a source of born and bred warriors.The Administratum agreed with Jeffers' findings and set about finding the rest of the long-lost Knight Worlds. Although there were thousands of Knight Worlds at their height during the Age of Technology, the vast majority had been destroyed or died out during the Age of Strife. Now, only several hundred survive, scattered all across the galaxy.Most of the Knight Worlds share certain features, hallmarks of the instructions followed by the original settlers. The Nobles themselves occupy sprawling walled strongholds, each a gothic, ancient structure of dusty, lifeless halls and corridors.Many are built on the same location as the first Human settlements on the planet and include at their core parts of the giant colony sublight starships used to transport the first settlers to their new worlds. They can vary in size from small keeps to entire cities bordered by vast outer walls.Huge farms or strip-mines surround the strongholds, providing foodstuffs and raw materials for local use and export across the galaxy; the colony ships' purpose was always to generate resources for Mankind.It is in these settlements that the vast majority of Imperial citizens on Knight Worlds live, with few venturing more than a dozen kilometres from their place of birth.In addition to these settlements, vast grazing herds of beasts wander through the wildernesses between the strongholds -- more often than not, these are huge reptilian creatures that were introduced to the planet as livestock in the Age of Technology.Packs of local predators will often pursue the grazing herds or attack the farms surrounding a stronghold, and it is the duty of the Knights to fight to keep them at bay.Even on planets with less ferocious flora and fauna, the Knights must be constantly vigilant in order to keep the herds and farms safe from alien raiders and rapacious pirates.
Imperial Knights - Horus Heresy: The golden age of the Great Crusade was to be cut short by the supreme act of betrayal known as the Horus Heresy, during which the galaxy was gripped by the most bitter civil war Humanity had ever seen.Across the nascent Imperium, rebels clashed with Loyalists for the fate of Mankind. Space Marines fought Space Marines, Titans fought Titans and, alongside them, Imperial Knights fought Imperial Knights.In those dark days, nobody was to be trusted and treachery was as much a part of warfare as bolter shells, Volcano Cannons and Drop Pods. One of the most horrific betrayals of that great civil war occurred during the infamous Battle of Molech.As the Warmaster Horus led his armies to Terra, he left a trail of destruction in his wake hundreds of light years wide. His forces seemed unstoppable as garrison after garrison fell before his might, or changed allegiance and sided with the traitorous commander.It was on the planet of Molech that one of the most determined stands was to be made. Loyalist Titan Legions and over a hundred Imperial Army regiments and knightly houses stood ready to bear the brunt of the Warmaster's attack in an attempt to halt his inexorable advance. When it came, it was like a hurricane unleashed upon the verdant world.Horus' initial assault devastated many cities and strongholds, and amongst the victims were Molech's rulers -- House Devine. Dispossessed and unable to fight back, the knightly house slowly succumbed to the temptations of Chaos.Over the following solar months, the insidious whisper of Slaanesh -- Dark Prince of Chaos and god of indulgence and excess -- spread through their depleted ranks. Their officers became lethargic, interested only in their sports, using their mighty Knight suits to hunt the towering reptilian beasts that stalked Molech's lush jungles.The seductive grip of Slaanesh grew stronger, as the Prince of Pleasure bent the force of its will to corrupting the Noble Devines.Soon, they met in secret cabals, performing depraved rites and ceremonies within the heart of the Loyalist camp. No act was too shameful or disgusting; the sensations of the moment became their only desire.When Horus launched a massive offensive, the Knights of House Devine committed an act of brazen treachery and turned on the troops who remained loyal to the Emperor.The Imperial forces found themselves caught in a trap, with advancing Traitor Titans to the front and Chaos Knights attacking their ranks from behind. This treachery allowed the Chaos host to punch through the Imperial defences, leaving them with no line of retreat.They were totally defeated, so brutally that only one in a hundred of the troops of the Imperial Army survived the campaign.Since that first betrayal, only a handful of knightly houses have been corrupted by Chaos, even when the Forge Worlds to which they owed fealty became part of the Dark Mechanicum.
Imperial Knights - A Legacy of Honour: For millennia the Imperial Knights have woven tales of heroism and chivalry across the stars. They have been the shield and the sword, defending Humanity and slaying the monsters that would threaten its reign.Though the darkness has closed in around them time and again, always the Knights drive it back, lighting the void with their courage and valour.The history of the Knights is the tale of Mankind, from that race's birth upon the world of Terra to its dominion of the stars beyond. Since their creation, the Knights have left an indelible footprint upon each era of Mankind's development.
Imperial Knights - Knight Worlds: There are many hundreds of Knight Worlds scattered throughout the vast empire of Mankind. The bold explorers of Humanity's first expansion travelled far and wide into the galactic wilderness seeking habitable worlds or planets that could otherwise be terraformed to sustain Human life.Many of these exploratory fleets were equipped with Knight STC technology, enabling them to protect the colonies they established. More than fifteen Terran millennia after their ancient ancestors set out into the stars, the distant descendants of these colonists dwell still on Knight Worlds across the Imperium.Though many knightly houses have risen and fallen over the ages, those that remain can trace their heritage back to a time before the birth of the Imperium, and are justifiably proud of their ancestry. Thus is every Knight World heavy with the weight of the past, regardless of its galactic location or level of technological advancement.The knightly houses found on each of the Knight Worlds are affiliated broadly with either the Imperium of Man as one of the Questor Imperialis or more directly with the Adeptus Mechanicus as one of the Questor Mechanicus. The Knight Worlds aligned with the Imperium are expected to adhere to the Imperial Tithe as does any other planet, but still trade with the Adeptus Mechanicus to keep their Knight suits operational.The Knight Worlds with direct ties to the Adeptus Mechanicus are often found near to the parent Forge World with which they are associated. This is no mere coincidence, for many of these Forge Worlds were specifically founded near to already extant Knight Worlds in order to harvest their natural resources.The Titan Legions that set forth from these Forge Worlds to battle the enemies of Mankind often do so in the company of their allies from the Knight Worlds. A partnership between both Forge and Knight World is mutually advantageous to both factions, their military strength great enough to shatter cities and conquer worlds.
Imperial Knights - Questoris Familia: The descendants of the early Human pioneers who settled their respective worlds were found in the knightly houses of the Imperial Knights. Known formally in High Gothic as the Questoris Familia, these dynasties of Imperial nobility evolved from the need to protect the early Human settlers of the Knight Worlds from indigenous species discovered on their alien planets.When the original settlers arrived on distant worlds they cannibalised their sublight colony spacecraft, using the parts for the raw materials of survival. The Imperial Knights now dwell in massive strongholds, foreboding martial structures, the heart of which contains advanced technologies taken from these ancient colonisation vessels.The formal, functionary roles of protector and castellan present on many of these worlds developed over time into the structure of the Noble houses that was old when the Imperium of Man was in its infancy. The curious fact that the knightly houses are often uncannily alike in culture and structure despite their far-flung nature is explained, at least in part, by the union of Noble pilot and their suit of Knight armour, known as the Ritual of Becoming.Connecting at a neural level with the War Spirit (artificial intelligence) of a suit of Knight armour has a profound effect on the consciousness of the pilot. The joining of Human mind and War Spirit has helped to create cultures which appear uncannily similar across the galaxy, despite evolving on worlds that are far apart, possess entirely different environments and have never shared formal communication.The Imperial Knights are characterised by their independence. They are bound to the Imperium, and in many cases to the Adeptus Mechanicus by oaths of fealty, but they are not subjects in any true sense of the word.Their culture and society predates the Imperium by thousands of Terran years, way back before even the Age of Technology began in many cases, and it is informed far more by the bonds between a Noble pilot and their Knight suit than any outside influence.Theirs is a culture of relentless, formalised ritual. It is a society that exists around a stultifying observance to apparently pointless ceremony and endless courtly mundanity.Against this tableau of formalised ritual are the Knight pilots. They are a breed of warriors who find their only joy in battle, and they yearn constantly to escape the oppressive dullness of courtly life and ride their Knight suits to war. The thrill of battle and the risk of death is an infinitely preferable experience for them to the monotony of life within their fortresses.These are warriors born to their calling and raised for nothing other than war. They spend every moment they can preparing, training and planning for battle -- the alternative is simply too dull for them to even contemplate.
Imperial Knights - Great Houses: There are many hundreds of Knight houses in the Imperium, each with its own unique heritage. Of all the knightly houses, there are some that stand as giants amongst their peers.Having attained their esteemed position by performing legendary deeds, or perhaps earning the favour of one of the Imperium's great institutions, these "Great Houses," as they are known, are the mightiest of all knightly houses.Listed below are some of the most notable Great Houses of both the Questor Mechanicus, who have sworn their primary fealty to the Priesthood of Mars, and the Questor Imperialis, those houses that serve the Imperium directly.
Imperial Knights - Lesser Houses: There are hundreds of lesser knightly houses scattered across the Imperium whose deeds, no less impressive than those of the Great Houses, are not as well known beyond the boundaries of their own planetary systems.There are the houses of Mortan, Althalos and Thalmus, who saved more than 100 billion lives by defending the Hive World of Hexis Alpha when a Warp rift spawned a tide of Daemons across the planet.House Dorath's valiant Knights have ever dominated the ranks of the mighty Order of Iron -- the elite guardians of the Forge World Stryken Primus.The ebon Knights of House Winterveil have thwarted dozens of Drukhari raids in the systems surrounding their homeworld, earning bitter enmity from the scions of Commorragh.
Imperial Knights - Sacristans: Tech-priests refer to the Knight World artificers and technicians that are inducted into the Cult Mechanicus as "Sacristans," and this quickly became what they were known as in the knightly houses too.Whenever a cargo ship arrives from a Forge World to collect food and resources, it will also take a small party of apprentices from the Knight World.These apprentices are drawn from all levels of society and could be the third son of a Noble, or the offspring of a lowly farmer. Over the course of their solar-decade-long apprenticeship on the Forge World, they are trained in the skills needed to maintain suits of Knight armour and then returned to their planet of origin as a fully trained Sacristan.Unbeknownst to the Imperial Knights, however, the trainees are also indoctrinated into the Cult Mechanicus, providing a network of agents who can further the interests of the tech-priests.The local artificers that maintained the Knight armours during the Age of Strife had already established themselves as a vitally important part of each knightly house, and the training they have received from the Adeptus Mechanicus has only served to increase their status.From their first foundation, the Sacristans quickly styled themselves as a priesthood for the half-forgotten mysteries of the technology that they knew, and as their political power grew, the relationship between them and the knightly houses shifted and changed.Where in the past, the technicians were seen as mere subjects or vassals, the Sacristans soon began to speak with one voice, and by threatening to remove their services from any house that would not heed their advice, they soon became almost as influential in knightly society as the Nobles themselves.In general, this has benefited the knightly houses, for the Sacristans act as something of a counterpoint to the natural arrogance and warlike tendencies of the Knights, and have often been able to arbitrate between different houses to ensure they do not wipe one another out in bitter feuds.However, this political might is also an important tool for the Adeptus Mechanicus, which the Tech-priests use to try and bend the Knight Worlds to their will.More often than not, however, the Knights' ingrained sense of honour and duty often drives them to follow a course of action that the ruling magi of the Adeptus Mechanicus would far rather they ignore.
Imperial Knights - House Rivalries: It is mercifully rare for relations between knightly houses to deteriorate to the point of war, though it is far from unheard of. For instance, Houses Navaros and Borgius are fierce rivals that have been embroiled in a bitter feud dating back several standard millennia.The troubles on their shared Knight World of Dutonis started when the matriarch of House Borgius was accused of seducing the count of Navaros' firstborn son, then poisoning him after he spurned her advances.Relations have regularly soured between the houses since then to the point of open war. The Sacristans have, on occasion, even had to request forces from the nearby Forge World of Lucius to intervene in order to prevent the fighting from halting production at the planet's adamantium mining facilities.So fierce was the civil war in 156.M41 that the Tech-adepts of Lucius authorised the deployment of a demi-legion of Titans from the Legio Astorum to quell the infighting.
Imperial Knights - Mottoes of the Questor Mechanicus Great Houses: For thousands of Terran years, loyalty and tradition have been ingrained into the rulers of the Knight Worlds via the mental manipulations of the Throne Mechanicum.To this end, it is no surprise that many millennia later, honour, tradition and ceremony are paramount on such planets.Every knightly household has distinct heraldry, history and rites, many of which are known to every citizen, from powerful barons to lowly worker-serfs.Following are some of the mottoes of the best-known Great Houses aligned beneath the Adeptus Mechanicus.House Taranis - HONOUR THY FORGE, HONOUR THE PRIMUS ORDINUS.House Krast - CRUSH THE SERPENT.House Vulker - FOR THE GILDED GLORY OF THE OMNISSIAH.House Raven - HONOUR INVIOLATE, KOLOSSI ETERNAL!House Adamant - UNYIELDING, UNRELENTING.House Durbach - STRENGTH IN FAITH, STRENGTH IN STEEL.