vizn3r/warhammer40k-lore huggingface dataset:
Skull Bearers - Notable Campaigns: Imbach Genocide (Unknown Date.M41) - The Skull Bearers' 2nd Company participated in the Imbach Genocide.Fourth Quadrant Rebellion, Sulsalid Campaign (775-777.M41) - A full quarter of the Segmentum Solar and its outlaying systems were engulfed by a series of wars, revolts and secessionist outbreaks which set that part of the galaxy ablaze with civil strive that became known as the Fourth Quadrant Rebellion. With the civil conflicts affecting most of the systems, Renegade and xenos forces took advantage of the widespread anarchy. More than a dozen Space Marine Chapters were caught up in the fighting, either aiding one faction or another or simply defending their own territories whilst others were brought in by the Imperium to pacify the quadrant and finally put an end to the fighting. Four Astartes Chapters -- the Red Wolves, Dark Angels, the Raptors and the Skull Bearers -- were playing an important role in bringing the rebellion within the Sulsalid Sub-sector to an end.Judgement of Hellenus (801.M41) - Inquisitor Hector Rex assumed direct control over the entire 279th Assault Armada of the Imperial Navy and ordered the mutant population of the world of Hellenus purged for crimes against genetic purity. At the height of this purge, a combined strike force consisting of Space Marines from the Skull Bearers, Iron Lords and Sons of Guilliman Chapters was gathered together to confront the mutant abominations holding the enemy world's capital. During this confrontation, the Iron Lords contingent became tainted by the mutants' hideous gene-taint, forcing their fellow Space Marines to purge them as well.
Skull Bearers - Chapter Colours: The Skull Bearers primarily wear yellow power armour. The Aquila or Imperialis on the chest guard is black.The squad specialty symbol on the left shoulder guard -- battleline, close support, fire support, Veteran or command -- designates operational specialty.A yellow High Gothic numeral stenciled in the centre of the squad specialty symbol designates squad number. A yellow Roman numeral stenciled on the left knee guard indicates company number.
Skull Bearers - Chapter Badge: The Skull Bearers' Chapter badge is a large ebony skull centred on a field of yellow.
Skull Bearers - Sources: Adeptus Astartes: Successor Chapters (Limited Release Booklet)Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 30Codex: Space Marines (7th Edition) (Digital Edition)How to Paint Space MarinesImperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition, pg. 64.Imperial Armour Volume Two (Second Edition) - War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes, pg. 21Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One, pg. 100
Skull Cannon (Daemon Weapon) - Skull Cannon (Daemon Weapon): The Skull Cannon is a Daemon Weapon of Chaos that is used by several Daemon Engines as their main weapons, notably the Blood Reaper and the Skull Cannon of Khorne. The weapon takes the form of a massive archaic cannon made of Warp-forged black iron and brass wholly dedicated to the service of the Blood God Khorne. The weapon fires the skinless, charred skulls of Khorne's enemies, each infused with the Blood God's endless and abiding wrath until their empty eye sockets weep blood and their slack jaws jibber with rage. Only then, with an echoing boom, does the Skull Cannon discharge its payload upon its targets. The skulls catch fire as they are launched, and roar with evil laughter as they fly at frightening speeds towards their intended target. They slam into the enemy ranks, burning them from cover and leaving a trail of scorched and blazing dead. The Skull Cannon is the main weapon of both the Skull Cannon of Khorne Daemon Engine, which itself was named after the weapon it bears, and the Blood Reaper Daemon Engine, which carries two Skull Cannons atop its towering chassis.
Skull Cannon of Khorne - Skull Cannon of Khorne: The Skull Cannon of Khorne is a Daemon Engine in the form of a great chariot employed by the Daemons who serve the Blood God Khorne.The Skull Cannon of Khorne is a large armoured cannon positioned on the top of the main body of a chariot known as a Blood Throne of Khorne, to which two Lesser Daemons of Khorne known as Bloodletters are chained.The Skull Cannon fires the flaming skulls of those whom the servants of Khorne have consumed across the battlefield, screaming as they arc towards their targets.This immense weapon features serrated plating and decorative details such as metal skulls and teeth, while at the tip of the cannon there is a ferocious open maw.
Skull Cannon of Khorne - History: There are records in the Black Library that speak of daemonic Skull Cannons, war machines forged in the furnaces at the foot of the Blood God's throne in the Realm of Chaos.These Daemon Engines are so murderously efficient and sinister that some amongst the Ordo Malleus of the Inquisition believe that they have been forged by Khorne's own hand.Much like Khorne's Juggernauts, the Skull Cannons are monstrous fusions of daemonic spirit and hell-forged construct. Their twisted and clinkered forms burn with the desire to shed blood and crush bones, to exalt Khorne with every trampled foe.
Skull Cannon of Khorne - Role: Atop the Skull Cannon ride a pair of Bloodletters, howling with battlelust and chanting Khorne's praises as their armoured steed rumbles towards the enemy. These are the same Daemons that oversaw the machine's creation, now charged with guiding it in furtherance of the Blood God's unholy purpose.The Skull Cannon hardly needs encouragement to maim and slay -- the Daemon bound within its black heart is as wrathful and murderous as any in Khorne's service. Indeed, a Skull Cannon is more wilful and proud than the wildest of Juggernauts, and pays little heed to the snarling creatures harnessed to its mechanical glory.As the Skull Cannon grinds across the battlefield, its spiked wheels mangle everything in its path. Those who die the instant as the engine rumbles over them can be counted the most fortunate of its victims. Others, crippled and broken, are fed screaming into the Skull Cannon's gaping maw, there to be roasted by daemonic fire and ground into fragments.Most of the remains are ejected at the Skull Cannon's rear in a red wake of bone splinters and blood. Only the skulls are retained, fleshless and scorched, but otherwise whole. They are infused with the Blood God's endless and abiding wrath until their empty eye sockets weep blood and their slack jaws jibber with rage.Only then, with an echoing boom, does the Skull Cannon discharge its namesake payload from its main weapon, the Skull Cannon.The skulls catch fire as they are launched, and roar with evil laughter as they fly. They slam into the enemy ranks, burning them from cover and leaving a trail of scorched and blazing dead.
Skull Cannon of Khorne - Bloodletters: Hellblade
Skull Cannon of Khorne - Vehicle: Skull Cannon
Skull Cannon of Khorne - Ordo Malleus Departmento Analyticus Technical Specifications: The Ordo Malleus has not yet determined the technical specifications for this Daemon Engine, if such a thing is even possible.
Skull Cannon of Khorne - Sources: Codex: Chaos Daemons (8th Edition), pp. 43, 114Codex: Chaos Daemons (6th Edition), pp. 33, 61White Dwarf 399 (UK), "New Releases," pp. 4, 15Games Workshop Webstore: Daemons of Khorne Skull Cannon
Skull Helm - Skull Helm: The Skull Helm is the Power Armour helmet worn by a Space Marine Chaplain that is often carved to resemble the face of a human skull, an ancient symbol of death now used to mark the memory of the Emperor of Mankind's great sacrifice for humanity during the Horus Heresy.The armour of a Space Marine Chaplain is a daunting sight, adorned with icons of battle and death. Every aspect of a Chaplain's garb serves as a reminder of mortality's impermanent nature, and thus, the significance of preserving the immortal soul. One of the most iconic elements of a Chaplain's wargear is his Skull Helm, a stern visage that evokes the Emperor's wrath and terrible sacrifice. These helms may take many different forms and have been crafted by numerous Space Marine artificers across the galaxy. Universally, however, they are all fearsome in aspect.
Skull Helm - Sources: Deathwatch: Rites of Battle (RPG), pg. 143
Skull Hurler - Skull Hurler: The Skull Hurler is a large Daemonic Weapon that is commonly used by the Lord of Skulls Daemon Engine, typically mounted on its left arm. The Skull Hurler is aptly named, as this weapon hurls burning skulls of destructive force at its foes. The weapon's barrel is shaped in the form of a large metal skull with the Mark of Khorne emblazoned upon its forehead. The large skull that serves as the Skull Hurler's barrel is filled with smaller skulls that are either fired out of the larger skull's open mouth or the over-sized skull itself can be fired out of the weapon, accounts for the weapon's potent explosive force.
Skull Lands War - Skull Lands War: The Skull Lands War was a conflict fought in the Realm of Chaos in the Immaterium as part of the Great Game between the major Chaos Gods. At the zenith of one of the Blood God's reigns of dominance in the Great Game, Tzeentch encouraged Nurgle to invade the realm of his brother Khorne, assuring him that both his own daemonic legions and those of Slaanesh would aid him.Convinced, the Great Corrupter sent his most faithful servants to the Skull Lands, instructing them to take the bounty of his garden with them. Sure enough, powerful Tzeentchian illusions drew many Blood Legions away to chase phantom armies, rendering Khorne's armies vulnerable to the combined forces of his rivals. So great were the Blood God's losses in the ensuing conflict that the minions of Khorne were pushed back to the very walls of his keep, the Brass Citadel.All around that indomitable fortress, vast swathes of the Garden of Nurgle had sprouted, the land ploughed and seeded by Horticulous Slimux and watered by Rotigus the Rainfather. With victory seeming certain, a supposedly stray spark of Warpflame from a Herald of Tzeentch ignited Nurgle's flora, dried out as it was by the desert heat of Khorne's underground forges.The resultant inferno created a wall of flame around the citadel that utterly engulfed Nurgle and Slaanesh's daemonic legions, and began to spread uncontrollably back to the centre of the Plague God's domain. Only by Rotigus' quick thinking was the blaze prevented from reaching all the way back to his master's manse, as he called forth a bigger variant of Nurgle's Deluge than he had ever previously manifested. Seeing the towering flames around the citadel, Khorne's Blood Legions realised they had been tricked, and returned to repel the last of the invaders.
Skull Probe - Skull Probe: The Skull Probe is a military device utilised by Loyalist Space Marine Chapters for reconnaissance. It appeared as a skull-shaped drone that hovered a meter above the ground, so it appeared to be a variant of the anti-gravitic Servo-skull commonly used by a wide variety of Imperial Adepta. It was capable of stealth and quick flight that was faster than most units could move on foot, though it could not hover over obstacles. A Skull Probe is valuable to the Space Marines as a scouting unit for its mobility and inexpensiveness, though they were unarmed and quite fragile. They were able to temporarily neutralise an enemy structure, allowing the Space Marines a temporary tactical advantage, though this usage would destroy the skull in the process.They appear only in the PC game Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and its three sequels.
Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren - Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren: The Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren are a warband of Chaos Space Marines drawn from the World Eaters Traitor Legion. The corrupted Heretic Astartes of this warband are all Khornate Berserkers. The Skull Takers are led by the infamous Chaos Lord Hans Kho'ren.The Skull Takers were responsible for the destruction of the Slaaneshi Flickering Blades warband of Noise Marines. The Flickering Blades had claimed that none could best them in swordplay. Hans Kho'ren proved this wrong when he and his Khornate Berserkers invaded the warband's pleasure den and slew the entire warband, dedicating his victory to Khorne.
Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren - Notable Campaigns: First War for Armageddon (444.M41) - The Daemon Primarch Angron, the favoured Champion of Khorne, unified his World Eaters after the Battle of Skalathrax, and led the XII Legion once again deep into the heart of the Imperium and invaded the Hive World of Armageddon in 444.M41, in a lesser known conflict that would come to be known as the First War for Armageddon. The Khornate Warband known as the Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren sent an entire company of Berserkers in support, carving a bloody trail of slaughter across the doomed planet. But in the end, victory was denied to the Forces of Chaos due to Angron's own foolish belief in his victory before completing a total conquest of the world and the successful intervention of the Grey Knights Chapter of Space Marines. The Grey Knights' assault banished Angron back to the Warp for one hundred standard years and led to the failure of the overall campaign. Leaderless and having suffered terrible casualties, the World Eaters' withdrew back into the, leaving a portion of the Foresworn warband behind on Armageddon. Neither the Imperium nor the Orks have proven able to eliminate these Traitor Marines in the centuries that followed.
Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren - Notable Skull Takers: Hans Kho'ren - Hans Kho'ren is a Chaos Lord of the World Eaters Legion. He led his warband to exterminate the Slaaneshi Flicker Blades warband of Noise Marines in their own pleasure den after they claimed that none were their equals in swordplay. He dedicated his victory to Khorne, once more showing the superiority of the Blood God to the Dark Prince.
Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren - Warband Colours: Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren, as devotees of the Blood God, wear the same colours as their parent Traitor Legion, the World Eaters; blood-red power armour with brass trim.
Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren - Warband Badge: The Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren's badge is the same as that of their parent Traitor Legion, the World Eaters, which is a fanged maw engulfing a world on a field of blood red. Some warriors of the Skull Takers have been seen without a world on their badge, only using the large, fanged maw.
Skullsworn, The - Skullsworn, The: The Skullsworn are an infamous and unusually large Khorne Daemonkin warband that has risen seven times to plague the galaxy, carving a bloody swathe across the stars in Khorne's name.
Skullsworn, The - Warband History: Seven times has the Daemonkin warband known as the Skullsworn risen to plague the galaxy. Seven times has it carved a bloody swathe across the stars for the Blood God, its mortal ranks gradually replaced by packs of frenzied daemons until not a single mortal remained. Seven times have its berserk warriors branded themselves into the minds of the galaxy's starfaring races. Now, as the doom of all draws near, they begin their eighth incarnation, seeking to summon not a cohort, but an entire daemon legion.Compared to many Daemonkin, the Skullsworn possess vast numbers. This is because the daemonic legion these blood-soaked lunatics venerate is that of Skulltaker himself. Built around the Cohort of Blood, the Scriptures of Slaughter tell how this horde is a vast assemblage of daemons many times the size of any of its counterparts. Accordingly, the Skullsworn number in their thousands, boasting every stripe of Khorne-sworn warrior amongst their ranks.Such a sprawling host of murderers cannot operate as one, for they would soon tear each other apart in their eagerness to offer worthwhile deaths to Khorne. Instead, the Skullsworn are scattered across the galaxy, each warband led by a mighty Chaos Lord who competes with his rivals to wreak the greatest slaughter. From the reaving hosts of Lord Ghalabrax that maraud through the Epstilos Cluster, to the blood-mad warband of the Daemon Prince Agrand the Annihilator, the many hosts of the Skullsworn each carve their own bloody path across the galaxy. It is written in the Scriptures of Slaughter that only the Blood God's Roar will see the Skullsworn reunited as one, and that their coming shall usher in a new age of endless carnage. If this is true, then the prophesied day must surely be close at hand; indeed, an entire conclave of Ordo Malleus Inquisitors have dedicated themselves to preventing this terrible event before it can come to pass.
Skullsworn, The - Notable Skullsworn: Barkor the Bloody - In the 33rd Millennium, the Chaos Lord known as Barkor the Bloody took the Scriptures of Slaughter from the Infernal Maze and forged the first warband of Khorne Daemonkin known as the Skullsworn. For over a Terran century, he led his followers on a violent rampage across the stars, depopulating more than a dozen worlds before he found his ascension as a Daemon Prince on the plains of Ossedor II.
Skullsworn, The - Warband Colours: The Skullsworn wear red Power Armour edged with brass. They display squad markings upon shoulders, greaves or knees, and the rune of their warband on their left shoulder guard.
Skullsworn, The - Warband Badge: The banner of the Skullsworn depicts the Mark of Khorne in black upon a background of dark, arterial red.
Skullsworn, The - Sources: Codex: Khorne Daemonkin (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), "The Bloodsworn Hordes - The Skullsworn," "Slaughter Without End," "Lords of Skulls," "The Skullsworn"Codex Heretic Astartes - Chaos Space Marines (8th Edition), "Revenge of the Silver Prince", pg. 48
Skulltaker - Skulltaker: Skulltaker, also known as U'zuhl, is an infamous Bloodletter and Herald of Khorne who has claimed a Juggernaut Daemonic Steed named Khul'tyran as its mount and has been anointed as the Blood God's own Sacred Executioner.Skulltaker often goes to war at the head of the Cohort of Blood, an assemblage of the greatest Bloodletters selected from amongst the daemonic legions' ranks.The Sacred Executioner's mere presence on the field of battle drives Khorne's Lesser Daemons to impossible heights of frenzy, as all Bloodletters regard him as the pinnacle of their kind and an exemplar of all that their bloodthirsty god demands.Whether battling against the armies of realspace, the legions of Khorne's rivals, or even against fellow warriors of the Blood God, Skulltaker will always seek out the greatest champions of the enemy.Upon sighting one worthy of his skills, Skulltaker will strike down all who stand between it and its quarry, contemptuously hacking its way through the press of melee so that it may confront its chosen opponent and offer them the rite of single combat.Those that flee are cut down or beheaded without thought, not worthy of any greater ceremony. Those brave or foolhardy enough to accept the Champion of Khorne's bellowed challenge suffer an even worse fate.
Skulltaker - Khul'tyran: Khul'tyran is the legendary Juggernaut mount of Skulltaker. Though Skulltaker prefers to fight alone, occasionally it will mount the beast.At the time the creature was claimed by Skulltaker from Khorne's infernal foundries, Khul'tyran was said to have been the toughest daemonic mount in the Juggernaut stockade. The Daemon-beast had killed more of its kin than any other before or since.It prowled the perimeter of the pens, regularly making bids for freedom -- it once shattered the compound's wall and would have escaped were it not for the dozen Heralds of Khorne who held it back. Skulltaker selected Khul'tyran from the pack when the Sacred Executioner witnessed the beast goring three Heralds at once.Since then, the pair has regularly erupted from the Warp to harvest a bounty of skulls for the Blood God. They have duelled others on countless worlds in the mortal realm, never yet losing a challenge.While Skulltaker decapitates its foes with the Slayer Sword, Khul'tyran tears into armour as if it were soft flesh, and flesh as if it were ash.So pleased is Khorne with the pair's bloody work that while in the Immaterium, Khul'tyran is the only Juggernaut permitted to prowl the smoke-choked passageways of the Blood God's Brass Citadel, as its reward for engaging in unbridled destruction.
Skulltaker - Wargear: Slayer Sword
Skulltakers - Skulltakers: The Skulltakers, also spelled Skull Takers, are an infamous Khornate warband of Chaos Space Marines. Formerly known as the Berserkers of Kharadon, this once-Loyalist Space Marine Chapter disappeared from the Imperium of Man from 153.M34 to 184.M39.During these five millennia the Berserkers of Kharadon turned to Chaos, and the bloody worship of Khorne, rechristening themselves the Skulltakers. With the Styx-class Heavy Cruiser Blood Dawn leading their fleet as its flagship, the Skulltakers have raided and plundered across the galaxy, killing indiscriminately and gathering skulls in the name of Khorne.The Skulltakers participated in the Cholercaust Blood Crusade in the 41st Millennium and suffered heavy casualties. The current disposition and composition of the warband are unknown.
Skulltakers - Specialist Ranks: Blood Cult - Outfitted in the finest Chaos Terminator Armour, Lord Zhufor's personal cadre, the so-called "Blood Cult," are the most numerous and most dreaded of the Chaos Terminators who operated on Vraks Prime. They fought with inhuman skill and savagery and were feared in equal measure by their enemies and their erstwhile comrades, whose blood they were more than inclined to spill when the Khornate battle-rage overcame them.
Skulltakers - Warband Fleet: Blood Dawn (Styx-class Heavy Cruiser) -  Blood Dawn served as the flagship of the Skulltakers' fleet.
Skulltakers - Warband Colours: The Skulltakers wear copper coloured power armour, the colour of spilt blood with brass or silver trim. They are known for their obsession of polishing their armour with the powdered bones of their slain enemies.
Skulltakers - Warband Badge: The Skulltakers' badge symbol is a silver, double-bladed serrated battle-axe on a red background. It is also quite common for Skulltakers Chaos Space Marines to wear various icons of both Khorne, their patron god, and Chaos itself.
Skulltakers - Notable Skulltakers: Zhufor (Chaos Lord) - Also called Zhufor the Impaler and the Butcher of Vraks, this infamous Chaos Lord leads the Skulltakers warband. Zhufor was not always a servant of the Dark Gods. Once, millennia ago, he was known as Balzach, a former sergeant of the Storm Lords Chapter. During the sacking of the hive cities of Paramar, Sergeant Balzach was severely wounded and taken captive by the Traitor Marines of the World Eaters. Balzach was then drugged and subjected to torture and psycho-corrective surgery to alter his brainwave patterns in order to break his Imperial indoctrination. He was turned into a psychopathic killer and was reborn as Zhufor, joining the World Eater's ranks as a Khornate Berserker, hacking and slaying any who stood in his way until he rose to become the Chaos Lord of his own Khornate warband. In recent history, he led the Skulltakers and the majority of the Khornate warbands during the Siege of Vraks in the latter 41st Millennium. Following the dire events on Vraks Prime, Zhufor remains a grave threat to the Imperium and is still regarded as one of Abaddon's most lethal lieutenants. Zhufor commands the Skulltakers from the Styx-class Heavy Cruiser Blood Dawn, which has been identified as leading many bloody raids against Imperial targets from out of the Eye of Terror. At the end of the 41st Millennium, Zhufor and the Skulltakers would serve at the forefront of Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade. Four attempts by the Imperial Assassins of the Officio Assassinorum to find and eliminate him in the name of the Emperor have all ended in failure -- and the death of the Assassins.Gorfan - Gorfan is a Chaos Champion of Khorne and the commander of the Blood Cult, Lord Zhufor's elite bodyguard of Khornate Berserkers.
Sky Ray - Sky Ray: The TX78 Sky Ray Missile Defence Gunship is a specialised variant of the more common T'au Hammerhead gunship, and replaces its turret gun with an array of deadly Seeker Missiles; shifting its role to a dedicated missile platform that is used by the T'au Fire Caste to provide point attack fire support for Fire Warrior Teams, who lack their own heavy weaponry.When guided by the Marker Lights of T'au Pathfinder teams, the TX78 Sky Ray makes an exceptional perimeter and air defence missile system. The Sky Ray is often regarded as the T'au equivalent of an artillery platform, as they lack standard mobile heavy artillery platforms like the Basilisk vehicles that the Imperium utilises.Originally designed to neutralise enemy aircraft, the Sky Ray has also proven its value in a combined arms approach; fulfilling a supporting role where its ballistic arsenal can be called in by any T'au with a Marker Light to carry out a remote strike on a sufficiently valuable target.Alternatively, a Sky Ray can use its own Networked Marker Lights to direct its weaponry, most commonly when it meets an unexpected enemy breakthrough with a sudden volley of high explosive warheads.
Sky Ray - History: The TX78 Sky Ray was first developed and deployed towards the end of the Damocles Crusade, and served as a counter to the Imperium's air power. Thanks to its velocity tracker, the Sky Ray could lock its missiles onto any target it could see -- including the fast-moving flyers of the Imperial Navy.The Seeker Missiles that they carry are so fast that many enemy pilots are hit and downed before they can even take evasive manoeuvres. During the Taros Campaign, enemy pilots dubbed the vehicle the "sting ray" or "stinger" and they came to value confirmed Sky Ray kills above all others.During the Great War of Confederation, so many Ork bombers were lost due to the Sky Ray barriers positioned around T'au cities that even the daredevil Ork pilots soon refused to enter what they termed "deff alley."Yet the Sky Ray is not only deadly to flyers, as many enemy tanks have learned to their misfortune. Even enemy commanders have found themselves suddenly lit with Marker Lights and then targeted by Seeker Missiles. Several notable Space Marine heroes were thusly obliterated during the recent Zeist Campaign offensive in the Zeist Sector of the Eastern Fringe.
Sky Ray - Construction/Crew: The overall design of the Sky Ray is based off the ubiquitous Devilfish chassis, which consists of a sleek and light design powered by complex dual anti-gravitic and jet-propulsion motive systems so that a Sky Ray almost glides over a planet's surface. The anti-gravitic engines generate "cushions" of air upon which the Sky Ray floats, and its armoured bulk is then driven forwards by its two powerful multi-directional jet engines mounted on the rear sides of the hull.By pivoting the propulsion units downwards, a Sky Ray pilot can gain extra lift to clear the many obstacles and terrain that often litters a battlefield; obstacles that more mundane tracked vehicles can never hope to traverse. These jet engines are reliable and efficient compared to Imperial designs, but are still relatively noisy. There are also two lift fins mounted on the front, each with a recess to house a weapon system or a Gun Drone.Most of the space within the tank is taken up by capacitors for its weapon systems, additional ammunition, and non-combat systems such as climate control and communications. As such, it cannot carry troops. The Sky Ray does have two crew members, which are the pilot and the weapon operator. Override systems are also in place inside the Sky Ray to allow any crew member to take over another's role in case of casualties. A Sky Ray's primary sensors are located in an array under the tank's forward housing in the vehicle's nose.The vehicle also features a hatch on each side along with a door in the rear to allow the crew inside to disembark if necessary. The armour of the vehicle is made from a dense nano-crystalline metal, named Fio'tak in the T'au Lexicon, that is light, malleable, strong and corrosive resistant; reducing the weight of the vehicle whilst also providing excellent protection.
Sky Ray - Known Formations: Skysweep Missile Defence Wing – In addition to deploying fighter wings tasked with clearing the skies above the battlefield, the ever-efficient T'au military doctrine also places great importance upon ground-to-air attacks to gain air superiority over their foes. There is little better in the T'au arsenal at turning aircraft into plummeting wrecks than the Sky Ray. All T'au Hunter Cadres maintain a pool of Sky Ray missile defence gunships, which are employed primarily in an anti-tank role, but they are also highly proficient as anti-aircraft weapon systems. When fighting larger-scale engagements, many T'au Commanders will call upon a so-called Skysweep Missile Defence Wing to secure dominance of the airspace over the battlefield. By massing all the Sky Rays the Fire Caste is able to muster, and attaching a dedicated Devilfish that acts as a command vehicle to sync up the combat network, the T'au can create a zone of destruction above the battlefield. Even the prenaturally agile fighters of the Aeldari are hard pressed to penetrate the airspace of a T'au army protected by a Skysweep Missile Defence Wing. The Devilfish part of a Skysweep Missile Defence Wing carries a suite of sophisticated command and control systems, with which its operator can monitor the airspace above the battlefield and then bring the weapons under his command to bear. With a single command, the operator can lock on to an enemy fighter, select how many weapons will be fired at it, launch those missiles, and issue an advisory warning to nearby friendly forces. The latter role is especially important, as T'au forces can then react accordingly by taking cover and avoid the worst of an enemy attack run, whilst Seeker Missiles which streak off are often followed moments later by a thunderous explosion and a fireball that briefly shows where the enemy aircraft used to be.Armoured Interdiction Cadre – The T'au’s expertise in anti-gravitic technology means that their armoured vehicles are swift yet well-protected. An Armoured Interdiction Cadre is a force composed of vehicles chosen to deal with enemy formations that do not specialise in anti-armour weaponry. Using their speed, an Armoured Interdiction Cadre will manoeuvre to concentrate its firepower on its target, trusting in its armour to protect it against return fire. The vehicles of the Cadre are networked together with an interactive tactical control system, allowing the Shas’el or Shas’o commander that supervises the Cadre in the command tank to direct fire quickly and efficiently. An Armoured Interdiction Cadre will usually be comprised of a number of Hammerhead and Sky Ray gunships.
Sky Ray - Primary Weapons: A Sky Ray's primary armament is a Seeker Missile turret array that can be fitted with up to 6 Seeker Missiles. This array also features two Networked Marker Lights. The Sky Ray's Seeker Missiles can be fired directly by the vehicle, or they may be launched by an independent ground operator, aimed at any target lit by a Marker Light.In this way, Pathfinders or Fire Warrior teams that do not carry their own heavy weaponry can still have instant access to the Sky Ray's potent Seeker Missiles by firing them remotely through the network.The actual missiles themselves are extremely fast and can take down enemy aircraft and medium armour alike from extreme ranges so long as the target has been designated with a Marker Light.The course of the missile is determined by data fed by the Marker Light, such as range, target speed and target type.
Sky Ray - Secondary Weapons: Secondary weapons are mounted in the front recesses of the vehicle and are primarily deployed to provide anti-infantry fire support. The vehicle's secondary weapons can include one of the following:Twin-linked Burst Cannon - Burst Cannons provide rapid-firing suppressive anti-infantry fire, acting as a self-defence weapon that can also be used to complement the fire of supporting infantry squads.Gun Drones – Sky Rays can be armed with two Gun Drones which ride with the vehicle in specially designed recesses. These Gun Drones are able to lend to their Hammerhead an additional weight of fire, or can detach themselves and move off independently to perform missions of their own.Twin-linked Smart Missile System - A Smart Missile System fires swarms of self-guided missiles, each with a built-in Drone intelligence so they can hunt down targets that could not normally be seen or targeted. Many Sky Ray crew prefer the Smart Missile System as it provides a high degree of close-ranged protection, and its self-guided missiles allow the Sky Ray to make maximum use of cover; sometimes never exposing itself to return fire.
Sky Ray - Upgrades: All Sky Rays are equipped with a Targeting Array, Target Lock and Velocity Tracker as standard. Targeting Arrays are sophisticated targeting systems that aid the gunners' aim in firing upon enemy targets, whilst Target Lock systems automatically identify potential targets and plot fire plans accordingly. This grants the gunners more choice in targets to engage.Velocity Trackers are advanced motion detecting and heat seeking sensor systems that allow the vehicle to track the movements of airborne targets and fire with maximum effectiveness upon them.As with all other T'au skimmercraft based off the Devilfish chassis, Sky Rays are equipped with built-in landing gear to allow the vehicle to land on the ground if needed; either in the case of failure of the thruster engines, or for when the vehicle is simply at rest and deactivated.Sky Rays can also be equipped with any of the following T'au vehicle support systems:Automated Repair System - Automated Repair Systems consist of dispensers which release tiny maintenance Drones which swarm over damaged weapon and drive systems, repairing them in the midst of battle.Advanced Targeting System - An Advanced Targeting System assists the vehicle's gunner by identifying targets of particular value or danger, and plotting fire plans to counter them.Blacksun Filter - Blacksun Filters allow the vehicle's gunners to accurately see and target enemies in low-light conditions.Decoy Launchers - Decoy Launchers are a form of defensive measure that is mounted near the engines. They are capable of firing clouds of reflective strips and sophisticated electronic decoys, which are combined with flare and chaff launchers to protect the tank's thruster arrays from enemy missiles.Disruption Pod - Disruption Pods display distorting holographic images in the visual and electromagnetic spectra to make the vehicle harder to target.Flechette Discharger - Flechette Dischargers line the hull of the Sky Ray and fire high-velocity flechettes at infantry which try to assault the vehicle.Multi-Tracker - A Multi-Tracker consists of advanced stabilisers that allow the vehicle to fire accurately even whilst moving at speed.Point Defence Targeting Relay - Designed to provide superior covering fire for nearby Fire Caste units, a Point Defence Targeting Relay automatically targets and engages enemies that try to assault the vehicle or nearby friendly units.Sensor Spines - Sensor Spines feed data to an advanced ground-following flight control system. This allows the vehicle to avoid hazardous terrain that could otherwise damage the vehicle's drive systems.
Sky Ray - Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Technical Specifications: Serial Number85673-908457Main Armament6 Seeker MissilesDesignationMissile Defence GunshipVehicle CodenameSky RaySecondary ArmamentTwin Burst Cannons or Smart Missile SystemVehicle TypeGrav-TankCrew2: Pilot and GunnerTraverse360°Weight24 tonnesElevation+70° to 0°Length8.25 metresAmmunition6 MissilesWidth6.8 metresArmour Type35 millimetres-120 millimetres of Nano-Crystalline AlloyComposition Unknown to the Adeptus MechanicusHeight5 metresMax Recorded Speed70 kilometres per hourSummary:Air Defence Vehicle; also deployed for ground combat
Sky Ray - Sources: Apocalypse (6th Edition), pg. 183Apocalypse (4th Edition), pg. 160Apocalypse Reload, pg. 45Codex: T'au Empire (8th Edition), pg. 61Codex: Tau Empire (7th Edition), pp. 24, 101Codex: Tau Empire (6th Edition), pp. 51, 69, 103Codex: Tau Empire (4th Edition), pg. 41Deathwatch: Rites of Battle (RPG), pg. 196Imperial Armour Update, pg. 33Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, pp. 163, 285Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign (Second Edition), pp. 163-165War Zone Damocles: Kauyon, pg. 188War Zone Damocles: Mont'ka, pp. 30-31, 189Courage and Honour (Novel) by Graham McNeill
Sky Reavers - Sky Reavers: Sky Reavers are a species of avian reptiles that hunt in large flocks. They can be found on the Feral World of Aurum within the Jericho Reach.A single Sky Reaver is not a great threat. However, in large numbers they descend from the sky like a bladed storm. Indeed, their malleable cloud of avians easily disperses and reforms around incoming blows or weapon fire.
Sky Sentinels - Sky Sentinels: The Sky Sentinels was a Loyalist Codex Astartes-compliant Space Marine Chapter of unknown origin and Founding. The Sky Sentinels were killed to the last man when their homeworld of Pranagar was overrun by the forces of Magnus the Red, Daemon Primarch of the Thousand Sons in the wake of the 13th Black Crusade and the creation of the Great Rift in 999.M41.
Sky Sentinels - Notable Sky Sentinels: Nazartheth - As a Battle-Brother of the Deathwatch, Brother Nazartheth is remembered for the highly aggressive and proactive nature of his defence of Watch Station Midael. As an Assault Marine he led numerous efforts to disrupt the attackers' assault, and he is remembered as an inspirational figure, and one whose example those Battle-Brothers assigned to join him were keen to follow. Though Brother Nazartheth almost certainly had no knowledge of the fact, Brother Cuiris of the Blood Angels had recorded his opinion that the Sky Sentinel should be considered for the rank of Watch Captain should the Fifteen of Midael survive. It is just as likely that Cuiris knew that neither he, nor Nazartheth, nor any of their brethren would see out the battle, and he was recording his opinion in order to honour the Assault Marine's herculean efforts. Of all of the Fifteen, it is held that Brother Nazartheth engaged the enemy on the closest terms and on the highest number of occasions. It is suspected that in so doing he learned something of the true nature of the enemy and their origins and intentions in coming to the Jericho Reach. Sadly, any insight he gained was lost with the death of the Fifteen, and only won back at great cost when the Achilus Crusade was launched through the Warp Gate to cleanse the region of the taint of heretic, mutant, and fiend.
Sky Sentinels - Chapter Colours: The Sky Sentinels primarily wore sky blue Power Armour. Parts of their battle plate were dark blue, including the helm, shoulder plate trim, torso and groin. The black squad specialty symbol -- Tactical, Devastator, Assault or Veteran -- was located on the right shoulder plate. A white Roman numeral was stenciled in the centre of the squad specialty symbol, indicating squad number. The colour of the Aquila or Imperialis on the chest guard indicated company number in accordance with the Codex Astartes -- i.e. White (1st Company), Yellow (2nd Company), Red (3rd Company), Green (4th Company), etc.
Sky Sentinels - Chapter Badge: The Sky Sentinels' Chapter badge was a large white skull impaled with a black sword straight through, centred upon a field of sky blue.
Skyboard - Skyboard: A Skyboard is a single pilot, anti-gravity platform utilised exclusively by the Drukhari known as Hellions. They are the reprobates and miscreants who hunt in packs and haunt the desolate regions of the Dark City of Commorragh.These fast-moving platforms are highly coveted as symbols of independence. Each Skyboard is personalised with trophies and glyphs, though most have changed hands several times, won in ritual knife-fights or claimed as bounty. Often they will be bedecked with the severed heads of several previous owners.Skyboards often have numerous blades and compact anti-gravity technology that allows them to soar far above the battlefield and swoop down to the ground. Their Hellion pilots often use hooked chains to keep themselves from falling while moving.Skyboards are sensitive to the slightest pressure; because of this, and for the sheer thrill of it, Hellions take combat drugs that enhance their reactions still further until they can flip and jink at incredible speed, their reflexes as sharp as their artfully filed teeth.When not participating in realspace raids or their own aerial turf wars, Hellions can often be found fighting in the arenas of the Wych Cults. Every night the Cults scout out the sky-battles, looking for Hellions whose skill and panache could draw an audience.Those chosen are given the opportunity to hone their dog-fighting skills against all manner of alien enemies. The Skyboard riders are a perennial favourite amongst spectators, for invariably they either dispatch their opponents in some spectacular fashion or are themselves torn screaming from the sky.
Skyboard - Beastmaster Use: Beastmasters, those Drukhari responsible for controlling the various ferocious alien beasts employed by the Kabals in realspace raids as well as the arenas of the Dark City, utilise Skyboards as well. They hover above the gore-splattered ground upon Skyboards modified to automatically swoop around hazards, leaving the Beastmasters free to goad their charges into the fray with whip and lure.Splinter Pods slung beneath the Skyboard spit hails of toxin-coated shards, cutting through the closest enemies before the hunting pack even reaches them, and when the Beastmaster finally crashes into the staggering ranks they lay about themselves until their enemies are torn to shreds. Only when the prey has been thoroughly butchered does a Beastmaster allow their slavering pets to devour the dead and dying.
Skyfall - Skyfall: Skyfall is a planetoid-sized, Ultrus-scale Imperial starport, orbital fleet dock, shipyard and defensive void station of the Blood Angels Chapter that is located within the Baal System in orbit of Baal.Its surface is etched with a star map of the Imperium. The statue of an angel twenty miles tall, with a sword another seven miles long held aloft above its head, stands atop the starport.Skyfall is under the command of the Blood Angels' eighth captain, who is known as the "Lord of Skyfall," and it has undergone a number of major renovations during the Era Indomitus. This was done to both repair the immense damage caused by the Tyranid invasion of the Baal System during the Devastation of Baal, and to transform Skyfall into a hub for starships based in and transiting through the star system.Commander Dante intends for the Baal System to become the capital of the Imperium Nihilus since he was named as the regent of the Dark Imperium by Roboute Guilliman. Skyfall now reflects that new role for the Blood Angels, as the starport has been transformed so that thousands of orbital jetties now project from it. These allow Skyfall to service a massive number of starships simultaneously and also serve as the base of operations for the Blood Angels' newly-raised Fleet Nihilus armada.Thousands of Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-priests drawn from numerous Forge Worlds of the Dark Imperium populate it. Their primary purpose is to repair, maintain and refuel the starships docked there.Skyfall possesses the capacity to construct new Imperial warships, activity that is also overseen by the Mechanicus' Tech-adepts. The Blood Angels' own battle barge Baal's Fury was among the vessels constructed in the orbital docks of Skyfall.
Skyhammer Missile Launcher - Skyhammer Missile Launcher: A Skyhammer Missile Launcher is a weapon system that can be deployed by the Stormtalon gunship of the Adeptus Astartes.These weapons fire volleys of missiles that smash into their targets with devastating force; perfect for turning armoured vehicles into scrap metal.
Skylance Gunship - Skylance Gunship: The Skylance Gunship, also known as the Skylance Drop-ship, was a type of gunship used during the later days of the Unification Wars on Terra by the forces of the Emperor. The Skylance was used by the Thunder Warriors and also by the early Legiones Astartes, most famously during the assaults on the hive cities of Ceylonia and Ind, near the end of the Unification conflict.As the Unification Wars were coming to a close the Skylance was replaced by the more potent Stormbird in preparation for the oncoming Great Crusade, itself developed from the Skylance and Warhawk.In the 41st Millennium the Skylance is a near-mythical craft, with very few remaining in existence. However, several of these ancient relics can still be found in the Armouries of the First Founding Chapters.
Skyrak Slaughterborn - Skyrak Slaughterborn: Skyrak Slaughterborn is a Chaos Lord of the Black Legion of Chaos Space Marines and the current Lord Corruptor of the Chosen of Abaddon. Skyrak Slaughterborn leads the warbands of Nurgle within the Black Legion into battle. Collectively known as the Bringers of Decay, they spread their disease and corruption throughout the Realms of Man.Skyrak is known to have led the large warband of Chaos Space Marines known as the Slaughterkin in the assault on Cadia during the 13th Black Crusade. The Lord Corruptor is tasked with instilling fear and hatred amongst the Chaos Space Marines of the Black Legion. His trophy rack is adorned with the skulls of failed servants.
Skyrar's Dark Wolves - Skyrar's Dark Wolves: Skyrar's Dark Wolves, also called simply the Dark Wolves, is an infamous Chaos Space Marine warband. many of whose Heretic Astartes are members of a Renegade faction of Space Wolves who turned to the Dark Gods during the Horus Heresy. They were first sighted by Imperial forces operating in the Fenris Sector in the years after the Heresy.
Skyrar's Dark Wolves - Origins: The Dark Wolves are a Renegade Space Marine warband, their origins long shrouded in mystery. Some claim that the warband was once a Great Company of the Space Wolves Chapter, though none would dare cast such a dire dispersion within earshot of any of the fearsome sons of Fenris themselves.According to one legend, before their fall the Dark Wolves had been tasked with an all but impossible mission in punishment for some unrecorded failing or crime. This mission took the Dark Wolves to the very edge of the Abyss, and some say they lingered there overlong, the taint of the beyond poisoning their souls for all time.In truth, the Dark Wolves emerged during the Horus Heresy as an unusual warband of Blackshields alinged with the cause of the Warmaster Horus' Traitors. At the time, Cadre-captain Skyrar united the chapter of the Sons of Horus Legion he commanded with a contingent of Space Wolves of the 6th Great Company which had declared for Horus. Under Skyrar's leadership, the warband was tasked with ensuring the Dark Compliance of the westernmost fringes of the Imperium just after the galactic civil war's start.However, after the warband proceeded to massacre the entire population of the world of Neo Cadiz as well as those of various other star systems, Skyrar's forces effectively went rogue, betrayed Horus, and became a murderous force of corsairs in pursuit of their own agenda. In the final years of the Horus Heresy, the Dark Wolves were ordered to rejoin the Warmaster's forces for the final assault on Terra, but the warband ignored all messages so that its Heretic Astartes might continue to enjoy their own campaign of wanton slaughter and reaving.The existence of Skyrar's Blackshields was subsequently suppressed by the Imperial authorities, though rumours of the existence of Traitor Space Wolves persisted. It was even rumoured that the group represented an entire Great Company of the Space Wolves. Eventually, in the years after the end of the Heresy, the Dark Wolves returned from the galaxy's fringes and were sighted in the Fenris Sector. Their origins were largely a mystery by this point, resulting in the Imperium officially recording this as the "first sighting" of the warband.
Skyrar's Dark Wolves - 41st Millennium: The Dark Wolves have participated in at least three major invasions of Imperial space since the Horus Heresy, allying with the Daemon Prince of Khorne Tallomin, the self-proclaimed "Prince of Princes," and leader of the 3rd Black Crusade in the late 38th Millennium. This invasion was eventually halted by the Space Wolves, furthering the unvoiced suspicions regarding the true origins of the Dark Wolves.