Knight Worlds - Questor Mechanicus Knight Worlds: Through mutual oaths and unbreakable vows, the Adeptus Mechanicus have forged alliances with many Knight Worlds. In return for technical aid and reciprocal protection, these Questor Mechanicus houses send forth their adamantine Knight suits to honour any request made by their allies among the Tech-priests.Those knightly houses closely aligned to the Adeptus Mechanicus are regularly called upon by the Priesthood of Mars to uphold their ancient pacts. Most often, the Tech-priests request military contingents from Knight Worlds to accompany their Titan Legions into battle. The chosen Nobles are tasked with fighting directly in support of the Titan Legion's larger Battle Titans, or are asked to operate independently as scouts to protect the flanks of the slower-moving war machines.The Adeptus Mechanicus also petitions for Knights to join Explorator fleets, for they add invaluable firepower to contingents sent out to seize lost archeotech. When a threat is deemed sufficient, Knights are also asked to help defend key planets -- especially endangered Forge or Quarry Worlds. In return for such military aid, the Knight Worlds receive greater technological resources.To honour the more routine requests, a Noble house might send a single Knight, one of the honoured barons and an escort of his knightly vassals, or perhaps a lance made up of Knights selected for the task in question. Occasionally, the Adeptus Mechanicus will decree that such seconded detachments must remain with a Titan Legion permanently; in these cases, the Nobles change their vows of allegiance and heraldry to reflect the Titan Legion they now serve.While those Knight Worlds sworn directly to Mars share many of the feudal structures and traditions of Questor Imperialis worlds, there can be no doubt that they possess less martial and cultural autonomy than their Imperial-aligned counterparts. Conclaves of Tech-magi are a regular sight upon these planets, envoys from local Forge Worlds that walk the corridors of the knightly houses and maintain a silent, watchful presence during their rituals.The Nobles of such Knight Worlds are, themselves, more tightly bound into the worship of the Omnissiah, often exhibiting the Cog Mechanicum of the Adeptus Mechanicus, electoo designs carved into their flesh, robes coloured in the hues of their patron Forge World, and mechanical augmetics that help them mesh more closely with the systems of their Knight suits.The Knight Worlds themselves also bear the inevitable scars that the touch of the Adeptus Mechanicus always leaves. Vast strip-mines, churning manufactoria and continent-sized agriplexes are common facilities that allow the Mechanicus to more efficiently exploit the planets' resources.For all this, the Nobles of such a world are no less proud, honourable or strong-willed. They still rule their domains, march out to protect their borders, and owe ultimate fealty to their world's supreme ruler, who most often takes the title of "princeps" like the commander of a Titan.The appearance of Questor Mechanicus Nobles is generally more sombre than that of their counterparts in the Imperial-aligned Knight houses, and they are often less unruly and headstrong. Their ties to the Sacristan orders are strong, untroubled by suspicions of divided loyalties. Their battle doctrines are bellicose and expertly cogitated, while the bond that each Noble forges with their Throne Mechanicum and the Machine Spirit (artificial intelligence) of their Knight suit is nigh-symbiotic. When the lances of the Questor Mechanicus Knights go to battle, they do so with devastating efficiency and absolute, unified conviction.