vizn3r/warhammer40k-lore huggingface dataset:
Tesseract Vault - Armament: All Necron Tesseract Vaults are armed with the following:4 Tesla Spheres – A Tesla Sphere is a form of Necron Tesla Weapon. An Obelisk mounts four around its hull to provide it with a defence against anything that enters the airspace around the war machine. Tesla Spheres have an extremely high rate of fire, even more so than a Tesla Destructor, and unleash bolts of living lightning that crackle from foe to foe after hitting their target, charring flesh and melting armour. Tesla bolts feed off the energy released by the destruction they cause, thus making their lightning become more furious with every fresh arc.Necrodermis – The armour of Obelisks is made up of the same living metal Necrodermis that makes up all Necron android bodies and vehicles. Its remarkable regenerative properties allow it to automatically repair damage to itself; whether this is the regeneration of parts of its hull, the reknitting of metal plates, or the reconnection of circuits and other delicate systems to bring its various weapon systems online once more.
Tesseract Vault - Sources: Apocalypse (6th Edition), pp. 170, 173Codex: Necrons (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), pg. 180White Dwarf 404 (July 2013) (AUS), pp. 10-13, 144-145
Testudo - Testudo: The Testudo was an armoured personnel carrier (APC) that was used by the Imperial Army during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy. The Testudo was lightly armed and armoured and was phased-out and replaced by the more common Chimera. The Chimera features heavier weapons and armour yet retains the Testudo's transport capacity of twelve infantrymen. Another disadvantage of the Testudo was that it used solid rubber tires, which were less dependable than the metal tracks later used by the Chimera. The vehicle's main advantage over most other military vehicles of the time was its speed, as the absence of thick armour or heavy metal tracks allowed the vehicle to reach impressive speeds. During off-road operation, the vehicle would kick up large amounts of dust, which itself was an advantage as it would conceal the vehicle, acting as a natural smoke screen. The Testudo's main function was to protect Imperial Army infantry from enemy small-arms fire, but due to the vehicle's light plating it was unable to ward-off heavier munitions, leaving it vulnerable to attacks from enemy heavy armour.
Testudo - Armament: The Testudo was armed with an Autocannon mounted on a small turret, which was capable of turning a full 360 degrees, which allowed the vehicle to engage enemy units whether it was travelling towards them or fleeing. The Testudo's troop compartment was capable of carrying an entire infantry squad, up to twelve soldiers, yet lacked the Lasgun mounts featured on the Chimera. The troop compartment only had a single exit, a rear ramp wide enough to allow two soldiers to exit the vehicle side-by-side. The inside of the troop hold featured benches that ran the length of the hold, allowing the passengers to sit down. Near the front of the passenger hold were ammunition baskets that held the ammunition for the vehicle's turret-mounted Autocannon. It is unknown if the Testudo was able to be outfitted with other weapons or upgrades.
Testudo - Known Users of the Testudo: While the Testudo was used by the Imperial Army, it is unknown if the vehicle was widely used by many Army regiments or if the vehicle was only used by regiments that were near the vehicle's planet of origin. Regiments that made use of the Testudo are as follows:Tanagran Dragoons - 8 regiments of the Imperial Army's Tanagran Dragoons made use of Testudos during the defence of the Imperial Forge World of Diamat from rebels during the opening stages of the Horus Heresy.
Testudo - Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications: Testudo Armoured Personnel CarrierVehicle Name:TestudoMain Armament:Turret-mounted AutocannonForge World of Origin:UnknownSecondary Armament:UnknownKnown Patterns:UnknownTraverse:360 degreesCrew:1 Driver, 1 GunnerElevation:UnknownPowerplant:UnknownMain Ammunition:UnknownWeight:Approx. 40 tonnesSecondary Ammunition:UnknownLength:UnknownArmour:Width:UnknownHeight:UnknownSuperstructure:UnknownGround Clearance:UnknownHull:UnknownMax Speed On-Road:UnknownGun Mantlet:UnknownMax Speed Off-Road:UnknownVehicle Designation:UnknownTransport Capacity:12 InfantrymenFiring Ports:UnknownAccess Points:Rear RampTurret:Unknown
Testudo - Also See: Imperial Guard Vehicles
Testudo - Canon Issues: There are no known official pictures of the Testudo; the image used above is a photo of a wheeled variant of the Chimera APC that preceded the Testudo in use by the Imperial Army. If official images are released this page will be updated accordingly.
Tethys Expanse - Tethys Expanse: The Tethys Expanse is a league of the Leagues of Votann that is located in the galactic core. The territory of the Tethys Expanse is extremely widespread over a large expanse of space. Its Kindreds maintain contact with one another by means of a singularly potent interstellar communications network, whose proprietary technologies they will only lease to other leagues for a substantial fee.
Tethys Expanse - Trivia: "Tethys" here is a play on Tethys from Greek mythology, who was a Titan daughter of Uranus and Gaia, the personifications of the sky and earth, a sister and wife of the Titan Oceanus, and the mother of the river gods and the Oceanids.The use of the name here coincides with the general reliance upon the mythological nomenclature and imagery, particularly that of legendary giants, used in the fictional culture of the Leagues of Votann.
Tetra - Tetra: The Tetra is a lightweight, fast, anti-gravitic scout speeder or skimmer used by the T'au Empire, and excels in its roles of reconnaissance and long range infiltration. Crewed by two T'au Pathfinders, it is lightly armed and not designed for direct engagements. As a support unit however, it is extremely effective, using its High Intensity Marker Light to guide T'au firepower.
Tetra - Construction: The Tetra is a small and lightweight vehicle, as befits its role. It utilises the same anti-gravity jet propulsion systems as other T'au vehicles, and has its engines integrated into the main body of the vehicle. Its chassis is also composed of the same as-yet-unknown nano-crystalline alloy that is used in other T'au vehicles, although the armour on this speeder is not as thick.Two Pathfinders crew a Tetra in tandem, with the forwards Pathfinder piloting the vehicle while his companion who sits in the seat behind operates the speeder's Marker Light.
Tetra - Combat Role: First encountered by the Imperium during the Taros Campaign, the Tetra is designed for long range infiltration and reconnaissance, often operating with little or no support and relying on speed and stealth for protection. Pathfinders most often use Tetras as a light and fast transport, which allows them to get into position far ahead of a Hunter Cadre before dismounting and continuing to their targets on foot so as to remain undetected.Missions range from simple surveillance to ambush, spotting for artillery, and sabotage and can last for solar weeks in enemy territory. Once the mission is completed, the Pathfinders will return to their Tetras and race back to the main T'au force. However, the Tetras themselves can also be used to locate and identify enemy forces.To aid them in this forward role, each Tetra is equipped with powerful surveillance and tracking equipment, as well as secure, long-range communications to transmit data back to the main forces. During an armed battle with the main enemy forces, a Tetra would acquire targets and spot for other T'au gunships such as the Hammerhead and Fire Warrior infantry.Tetras will often operate in pairs to form four-warrior Pathfinder Teams on the ground, and during the Taros Campaign, these teams would conduct surveillance, ambush and sabotage behind enemy lines. They are often found in squadrons of up to four. The Tetra is a recent innovation of the T'au military and is thus rarely deployed with most T'au frontline forces to date.
Tetra - Pathfinder Search and Destroy Cadre: Specialised detachments of rapid-moving, highly manoeuvrable units operating forwards of mainline Hunter Cadres to reconnoitre and disrupt enemy movements and destroy targets of opportunity have proved their worth to the Fire Caste time and time again. Such Pathfinder Search and Destroy Cadres are formed around the most skilled T'au Pathfinder Teams, who serve to direct and control their cadre's actions; providing Marker Light guidance and selecting which targets should be concentrated on by the cadre's sudden attacks.The formation's main fighting force is comprised of DX-6 Remora Drone Stealth Fighters that excel in conducting high speed hit-and-run attacks and rapid flanking manoeuvres. The Remoras work to disrupt and scatter enemy troops whilst singling out and destroying targets of strategic importance, such as command vehicles and support units with their heavier armaments. The cadre's eyes and ears on the move will often be Tetra scout speeder teams who range ahead of the Remoras and Devilfish to relay battlefield data.In battle, Pathfinder Search and Destroy Cadres are continually on the move, hunting down their prey and attacking targets before moving swiftly on. A Pathfinder Search and Destroy Cadre will always consist of at least one Pathfinder Team mounted in a Devilfish, at least one Remora Drone Fighter team, and at least one Tetra scout speeder team. A single Devilfish in the cadre will usually be designated as the command tank.
Tetra - Armament: All Tetras are equipped with the following equipment and weapons as standard:Twin-linked Pulse Rifles - All Tetras are armed with under-slung twin-linked Pulse Rifles for basic self-defence.High Intensity Marker Light - A High Intensity Marker Light emits a far more powerful beam than normal Marker Lights. Drone-controlled gyros keep it steady as a Tetra moves, providing greater accuracy and also allowing multiple strikes to be performed on a single target.Marker Beacon - A Marker Beacon consists of the advanced optical processors and long-range communicators built into the Tetra. This feeds data back to the main T'au force, and can also allow for the more accurate deployment of other T'au Empire units.Disruption Pod - Disruption Pods display distorting holographic images in the visual and electromagnetic spectra to make the vehicle harder to target.Tetras can also be upgraded with any of the following: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 skimmer's 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 vehicle's thruster arrays from enemy missiles.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.Target Lock - A Target Lock computer automatically identifies potential targets and plots fire plans accordingly. This grants the gunners more choice and accuracy in engaging various targets.Targeting Array - Computer-aided Targeting Arrays are sophisticated targeting systems that aid the gunners' aim in firing upon enemy targets.
Tetra - Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Technical Specifications: Serial Number85673-908325Main ArmamentTwin-linked Pulse RiflesDesignationScout SpeederVehicle CodenameTetraSecondary ArmamentNoneVehicle TypeLight Grav-VehicleCrew2 (Pilot, Co-Pilot)Traverse0°Weight1.8 tonnesElevation0°Length4.8 metresAmmunition1000 roundsWidth2.75 metresArmour TypeNano-Crystalline Alloy; Composition Unknown to Adeptus MechanicusHeight1.75 metresMax Recorded Speed350 kilometres per hourSummary:Long Range Reconnaissance Vehicle
Tetrarch - Tetrarch: The title of Tetrarch, also sometimes given as Lord Martial, was a military and political rank utilised exclusively by the Ultramarines Space Marine Legion during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy in the late 30th and early 31st Millennia and reestablished in the early Era Indomitus.The Tetrarchs, combined with the Primarch Roboute Guilliman, comprised a governing body for the Ultramarines autonomous stellar domain, the Realm of Ultramar, known as the "Tetrarch Council." The Tetrarch Council was responsible for administering the many institutions of the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar and were entrusted with its defence. Each Tetrarch was a military dictator of one of the five "king worlds" of Ultramar, and ruled over an entire sub-sector of that realm.The Tetrarchs, who were made up of four highly distinguished Veterans of the Ultramarines Legion, were appointed by the primarch, who was himself the ruling lord of the capital world of Macragge and the core worlds of Ultramar. However, the primarch's duties as the political governor of these worlds often fell on his seneschal in practice, while he led the armies of his XIIIth Legion on the Great Crusade.The Tetrarch Council was revived by Roboute Guilliman following the end of the first phase of the Indomitus Crusade in the Era Indomitus when he and his forces returned to Ultramar to aid its defence against the servants of Nurgle during the Plague Wars. Guilliman tasked each member of the reborn Tetrarch Council with once more expanding the Realm of Ultramar to include all five hundred of its original member worlds.
Tetrarch - Tetrarch Council: The Lords Martial of the Realm of Ultramar in 007.M31:NamePositionRoboute GuillimanLord Macragge, Primarch of the XIII Legion and Lord of the Five Hundred WorldsEikos LamiadTetrarch of KonorTauro NicodemusTetrarch of SaramanthValentus DolorTetrarch of OccludaStolos AmyntasTetrarch of IaxThe known Lords Martial of the Realm of Ultramar in ca. 012.M42 of the Era Indomitus after the reestablishment of the Tetrarchy following the Plague Wars:NamePositionOriginResponsibilityRoboute GuillimanLord Commander of the Imperium, Imperial Regent and Lord of UltramarPrimarch of the Ultramarines LegionGovernor of the Realm of UltramarSeverus AgemmanTetrarch of KonorFirst Captain of the Ultramarines ChapterExpanding Ultramar's territories to the galactic northPortanTetrarch of AndermungCaptain of the Genesis Chapter's 2nd CompanyExpanding Ultramar's territories to the galactic southBalthusTetrarch of ProtosCaptain of the Doom Eagles ChapterExpanding Ultramar's territories to the galactic westDecimus FelixTetrarch of VespastorEleventh Captain of the Ultramarines ChapterExpanding Ultramar's territories to the galactic east
Thaddeus Hakk - Thaddeus Hakk: Thaddeus Hakk is an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos, a veteran of almost a standard century of service to the Imperium, and a former member of the Radical sect of the Ocularians.Very little of Hakk's early career is known to his peers, as he came to the Calixis Sector already in possession of the Inquisitorial Rosette. He now serves with the Achilus Crusade in its attempt to retake the Jericho Reach.
Thaddeus Hakk - Personality: In personality, Thadeus Hakk is driven to the point of insanity, yet grim and determined, and utterly focused on his quest for knowledge. He has visited Watch Fortress Erioch several times, and has addressed its Chamber of Vigilance.He fervently believes in penetrating the most hidden depths of the past, and of uncovering every last scrap of knowledge to be found within. His increasing obsession with the Black Library is a matter of some concern amongst his peers, some of whom claim he is likely to bring down the wrath of elder powers if he continues.Perhaps the mysterious Aeldari Harlequins are already hunting him, closing on him through the secret passages of the Webway. Inquisitor Hakk equips himself in a manner befitting his mission.He has no interest in finery or overt shows of power, and instead prefers to wear simple, utilitarian clothes. He often wears a battered, old armoured vacuum suit, suitable to protect him in the alien environments into which he delves.He equips himself with the tools of the explorer, and is always well-armed. Inquisitor Hakk is often accompanied in his expeditions by squads of retained troopers, each a veteran of scores of dangerous missions, as well as a cadre of expert xenologists, archaeologists and historator-savants.He owns several vessels, none of which appear on any registries as belonging to him, and it is thought that he returns to Footfall periodically, perhaps to consult the contents of some hidden repository of forbidden knowledge he is slowly building up.To what end, none can say, but it is certain that the Ocularians want Inquisitor Thadeus dead. Perversely, a small number of Inquisitors, including some former Ocularians, have aligned themselves with Hakk, and a nascent faction -- the Antiquarti -- has come into existence.Though yet small in number, the Antiquarti are an active force in the Jericho Reach, and one set to become increasingly influential as more forbidden knowledge is uncovered.
Thalion Vycorious - Thalion Vycorious: Thalion Vycorious is the presiding commodore of the Imperial Navy's Calixian 5th Expeditionary Battlefleet that is engaged in the Achilus Crusade to retake the Jericho Reach. She is the master of the Emperor-class Battleship Belial.Following Solomon Tetrarchus' ascent to the rank of Lord Militant and command over the crusade, she and her fleet served as the Imperium's vanguard within the Acheros Salient before being reassigned to the Canis Salient.
Thallax - Thallax: The Thallax, Thallax Cohort or Thallaxii were heavily augmented cyborg shock-troops utilised by the Ordo Reductor faction of the ancient Mechanicum during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras in the late 30th and early 31st Millennia.The Thallaxii differed from the standard Skitarii regiments both in their purpose and the unique extent of their augmetics. The Thallaxi centuries utilised a divergent form of power armour technology known as the Lorica Thallax, which, unlike the armour used by its Space Marine counterparts, was permanently, surgically bonded to the body of the wearer.Created exclusively by the Ordo Reductor, Thallax were often "gifted" by their archmagi to other factions, such as the Legio Cybernetica, in return for fealty and aid.So it was that the dread Thallax were found within the ranks of the Legio Cybernetica 's cohorts. It is not known if the Ordo Reductor still possesses the archaic technology used to create Thallaxii troops in the present era of the late 41st Millennium.
Thallax - Role: The Thallax were specialised, cybernetically-augmented shock troops manufactured and principally used by the Ordo Reductor factions of the ancient Mechanicum.Designed to operate in the most lethal and hazardous theatres of war, the design of the Thallax is arguably a bridging point between the most commonplace heavy combat servitors and the augmented Human Skitarii of the Forge Legions.The Thallax differed from the Skitarii regiments both in their purpose and the unique degree to which their bodies had been reshaped by augmetics.The particular augmentations undergone by one of the Thallax are both severe and extreme, retaining only the brain (and in many cases the skull and spinal column), the life-sustaining viscera and nervous system as the basis of the articulated and armoured robotic frame which encompasses it.For some within the Mechanicum this transformation of the Human mind skirted the edge of abomination such as that posed by sentient "Abominable Intelligence" (artificial general intelligence).Given the resources required, the difficulty of creating a Thallax and the fact that an individual's will to live was a factor in whether a usable measure of sanity was retained in the subject, Thallax conversion was often reserved for suitable Forge Guard (forge city security forces) and Skitarii fallen in battle and subjects obtained from more mysterious sources by the unfathomable and baleful Ordo Reductor.Other principal features of the design included a high-energy compact reactor system (whose emanations could not be endured by a less augmented organic system), allowing for extremely potent portable weaponry to be utilised and arcane implanted sensory apparatus operating outside the usual realm of organic perception.The unfortunate side-effects of these systems on the living components, however, were continuous agony and psychotic breakdown; effects ameliorated by the surgical excision of some of the brain's emotional centres.The resulting machine-creature is capable of far greater tactical flexibility and independent action than a mere combat servitor, although terminal deterioration of the subject's psyche was certain over extended periods of time.The armoured chassis and life support systems of the Lorica Thallax shared many technological underpinnings and common components with early patterns of Legiones Astartes power armour, and were both extremely adaptable and highly durable.This provided great strength and durability for the Thallax on the battlefield and allowed for a beneficial degree of cross-supply between the Space Marine Legions and the Ordo Reductor during the Great Crusade.The Lorica Thallax was developed from the same power armour technology which led to the development of Legiones Astartes battle-plate, but taken down along an entirely different avenue of development.
Thallax - Heraldic Devices of the Ordo Reductor: The various arms, sects, cults and factions of the ancient Mechanicum commonly displayed heraldry of widely varying degrees.To outsiders a great deal of the nuance, symbolism and application of these signifiers is lost, shrouded by the arcane doctrines and circles of the Cult of the Omnissiah's worship, but the broadcast and most general interpretations are widely understood.In many such sects of the Mechanicum, the deep crimson livery most associated with the Machine Cult is in fact reserved most often for its sworn and initiated priesthood: the magi, ordained Enginseers, logisters, autosavants and so on, and by lessening degree their initiates and close retainers.The bulk of the Mechanicum's soldiery, however, as well as their laymen servants, are usually clad in darker hue, often of a livery associated with their Forge World or particular order, but marked always with the heraldic device of their masters.Such is the common case with the Thallax. Where in service with the Ordo Reductor directly, it is common for the Thallax's armour and limbs to be over-plated with either burnished steel, polished bronze or, more rarely, gold or some environmentally protective coating.This is further adorned with colouration and iconography marked upon one or both pauldrons and/or more rarely the breastplate featuring the heraldry of their order of service, cohort designation, Forge Stamp and issue.During the Great Crusade and early Horus Heresy era, where the Ordo Reductor unit had been embedded for a time of service with a particular Space Marine Legion, Rogue Trader Militant, Titan Legion or Imperial Army battlegroup, it was often customary to adopt in part the heraldry of that larger formation, and often for the Broken Tower emblem of the Ordo Reductor to be heraldically parted with the symbol of the principal affiliation, as shown with the following examples:Top Row (from Left-to-Right):Ordo Reductor/Iron Hands Legion; Sicronus-Septus CohortOrdo Reductor/Sons of Horus Legion; Steel Wolves CohortBottom Row (from Left-to-Right):Ordo Reductor/Word Bearers Legion; Gravis Logos-Nul CohortOrdo Reductor Phaeton Sigma-5-Osedax Cohort
Thallax - Wargear: Lorica Thallax - The Lorica Thallax is a type of power armour worn by the Thallax and Ursarax troops of the ancient Mechanicum. Unlike their counterparts among the Legiones Astartes, it was permanently surgically bonded to the body of the wearer. It uses mechanical armatures to replace the primary limbs, and a compact Plasma Reactor core to generate power for the Thallax's weaponry. The armour is fused directly to the spinal cord and nervous system of the wearer, which marks them out as a warrior of the Mechanicum while simultaneously serving as a symbol of their eternal servitude to the Machine God.Jet PackDjinn-Sight - The sinister blank-faced helms of the Thalaxii conceal an array of inhuman sensory apparati through which they experience the battlefield as a raging storm of electromagnetic turmoil, blood-heat and seismic percussion. However, for the organic brain to handle this hurricane of data, it must be surgically mutilated, removing the mere Human senses such as sight and hearing.Thallax Augments - Certain Thallaxii were further implanted with augmetic systems to better suit them to a particular mode of warfare by their masters in the Ordo Reductor of the Mechanicum. A Thallax Cohort may only possess a single Augment upgrade.Lightning Gun - This aptly named weapon takes the form of a baroquely designed carbine either connected to a micro-reactor or, in the case of an Ordo Reductor Thallax, its firer's own cybernetic power core. It fires an ionizing las-beam down which a powerful phased discharge of electromagnetic force is unleashed, and is equally effective at slaughtering the living and overloading machine targets alike.Close Combat Weapon - The Thallax can make use of any number of common Imperial close combat weapons.Frag Grenades
Thallax - Optional Wargear: Melta BombsHeavy ChainbladeAugment Upgrades (Destructor, Icarian, Ferrox or Empyrite)Multi-LaserPhased Plasma-fusilIrrad-cleanserMulti-MeltaPhoton Thruster
Thallax - Sources: Horus Heresy - Illuminations: The Art of the Isstvan Trilogy (Forge World Series), "The Mechanicum"The Horus Heresy - Book One: Betrayal (Forge World Series) by Alan Bligh, pp. 240, 270, 276-277The Horus Heresy - Book Two: Massacre (Forge World Series) by Alan Bligh, pp. 44-47, 273The Horus Heresy - Book Four: Conquest (Forge World Series) by Alan Bligh, pg. 27, 59-60, 63, 205, 290The Horus Heresy - Book Five: Tempest (Forge World Series) by Alan Bligh, pp. 61, 134-135, 221-222The Horus Heresy - Book Six: Retribution (Forge World Series) by Alan Bligh, pg. 125Forge World - Mechanicum Thallax CohortForge World - Mechanicum Thallax Cohort with Irad CleanserForge World - Mechanicum Thallax Cohort with Multi-MeltaForge World - Mechanicum Thallax Cohort with Phased-Plasma FusilForge World - Mechanicum Thallax Cohort with Photon Thruster
Thanatar-class Siege Automata - Thanatar-class Siege Automata: The Thanatar-class Siege Automata is a heavy class of Imperial robot utilised by the Legio Cybernetica during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras of the late-30th and early 31st Millennia. Designed as a mobile artillery platform rather than a general battle unit, it is armed with a Hellex Pattern Plasma Mortar. This is a terrifying weapon able to launch dense spheres of blazing plasma on arcing trajectories over defensive barriers and into the heart of enemy fortifications, incinerating anything in their blast radius with a liquid tide of sun-hot fire.The Thanatar's frame, built to accommodate the huge weapon and the power systems and fuel reserves required to supply it, is considerably larger than even the hulking Castellax-class Battle-Automata. Its frame is also heavily reinforced, both to withstand the stresses of firing its principal weapon and to protect it from incoming attacks. This factor, alongside the use of an Atomantic Shield array, make Thanatars notoriously durable. Such is their resilience that Thanatars are beyond the ability of most small arms, no matter how advanced, to harm. It is not known if this particular class of heavy-siege automata is still utilised by the mysterious Legio Cybernetica in the late 41st Millennium.
Thanatar-class Siege Automata - History: Unlike many of the Battle-Automata produced to enhance the Mechanicum's military power during the Great Crusade, the origins and lineage of the Thanatar Pattern remain uncertain, save perhaps for the fact that its armament was known to be the product of the Forge World of Ryza. Ryza remained the only locale where the Hellax Pattern weaponry utilised by the Thanatar was produced during the time of the Great Crusade.
Thanatar-class Siege Automata - Notable Variants: Thanatar-Calix-class Siege Automata - The Thanatar-Calix-class Siege-Automata is a potent war machine and a wonder of the Mechanicum's craft. Combining arcane and secret technologies, it carries a twin-linked Mauler Bolt Cannon alongside a rare Solex Pattern Heavy Lascannon, whose beams of coherent light can reach far across a battlefield to lethal effect. The Thanatar-Calix's most destructive armament though is the Graviton Ram, a weapon whose origins are lost in the Dark Age of Technology. The ram's crushing waves of gravitational force can pulverise infantry and vehicles alike, and it can be utterly devastating at both range and close quarters. The Thanatar's frame, designed as a heavy weapons platform, is well-armoured and further protected by Atomantic Shield generators, making it nearly impervious to all but the heaviest of weapons fire. Whilst it is slow to advance, the Thanatar-Calix's durability allows it to close steadily on its target, moving ever-nearer until its formidable weaponry can be brought into range.Thanatar-Cynis-class Siege Automata - Unlike the lauded Thanatar-Calix, this variant of the potent Thanatar-class Siege Automata, known as the Cynis, was met from its creation by the Magi of Estaban III with ill-fortune and acrimony. An unashamed attempt by the Mechanicum faction on Estaban to increase their power within the order of the Machine God's domains, the Cynis was intended to replicate the Thanatar Siege-Automata on a wider scale. By doing so, the Magi of Estaban perhaps hoped to further usurp the sometimes troublesome Forge World of Ryza's importance in the eyes of the Fabricator-General. Without Ryza's mastery of plasma-arcana however, the Cynis proved an unstable and often self-destructive design, despite its obvious battlefield power; its Machine Spirits were equally believed to be erratic and malevolent by those Adepts whose task it was to tend them. Regardless, the Fabricator-General approved its design over the strong objectives of Ryza, worsening the feud which had broken out between Ryza and Estaban III, although the production of the class was far less successful than hoped. Accusations of sabotage and malifica by Estaban on the covert agents of Ryza were commonplace before the outbreak of the Horus Heresy, and when Estaban III declared for the Traitors and Ryza the Loyalists, bitter blood could at last be settled with iron and fire.
Thanatar-class Siege Automata - Unit Composition: 1 to 5 Thanatar-class Siege Automata (comprising a Maniple)
Thanatar-class Siege Automata - Wargear: Hellex Pattern Plasma Mortar - Shunning the crude shells favoured by most siege guns, the Hellex Plasma Mortar fired high-density charges of burning plasma in programmed trajectory arcs timed to detonate over their targets. These airbursts created rolling waves of incinerating energy which engulfed the surrounding area, burning through anything they encountered.Twin-linked Mauler Bolt Cannon - The Mechanicum utilised a variety of Bolter weaponry which, while operating on similar principles to the standardised weapons of the Legiones Astartes, were often more sophisticated and difficult to maintain. Such weapons include the Mauler Pattern Bolt Cannon, a fearsomely-baroque and bulky automatic cannon using substantially larger and denser shells than a standard Heavy Bolter.Infravisor - This simple visor allows its user to see across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum. So equipped, they can see better in low-light conditions than a normal human could see in optimal daylight.Atomantic Shielding - Certain Battle-automata featured particularly powerful Atomantic Reactor cores designed to energise defensive field generators built into the Battle-automata's exterior armour plating, as well as power its combat systems.
Thanatar-class Siege Automata - Optional Wargear: SearchlightEnhanced Targeting Array
Thanatar-class Siege Automata - Sources: The Horus Heresy - Book Three: Extermination (Forge World Series) by Alan Bligh, pg. 227The Horus Heresy - Book Five: Tempest (Forge World Series) by Alan Bligh, pg. 226The Horus Heresy - Mechanicum Taghmata Army List (Forge World Series) by Alan Bligh, pg. 52Forge World - Thanatar Siege-AutomataForge World - Thanatar Siege-Automata TriptychForge World - Thanatar Calix
Thaszar - Thaszar: Thaszar, or Thaszar the Invincible as he prefers to be known, is a Necron Overlord who has become a self-styled Necron pirate king, originally of the Sarnekh Dynasty. Exiled from his Tomb World of Zapennec during the War in Heaven to what would eventually become the Imperial colony world of Athonos, he has since awoken in the 41st Millennium and now leads raids across his region of space after retaking control of Zapennec for himself and naming himself the phaeron of the Sarnekh Dynasty.
Thaszar - History: In 824.M41, the shadow-shrouded Imperial world of Athonos was wracked by severe earth tremors. The cause remained a mystery to the planet's populace until a colossal Cairn-class Tomb Ship, captained by the Necron pirate king Thaszar the Invincible, emerged from beneath the ground; shedding soil, rock and fragments of hab-block from its hull as it rose after sixty million standard years of hibernation during the Great Sleep.The world's defences were, understandably, in disarray due to the event, but fortunately for Athonos' inhabitants, Thaszar had yet to realise that Humans are an intelligent form of life, and paid no more attention to the panicked defenders than he would to a nest of insects. Whilst the Athonosian planetary capital lay in ruins, the rest of the planet survived relatively unscathed as the Tomb Ship headed into the stars, towards the Tomb World of Zapennec, the crownworld of the Sarnekh Dynasty Thaszar had been exiled from, pausing only to obliterate a holo-stealthed Aeldari listening post hidden in near-orbit for long millennia.Upon reaching Zapennec after being driven by an urge he could not identify, Thaszar found its people deep in hibernation. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he inveigled his way into the Tomb World's master program. In short order he convinced the master program that he, Thaszar the Invincible, was no dishonoured Necron noble returned from exile, but in fact the rightful phaeron of the Sarnekh Dynasty! For good measure, he then ordered that his updated status be engrammatically encoded into the minds of the Tomb World's slumbering Necrons.So did the most notorious outcast of Zapennec become its ruler, and those who had banished him become his servants. Under Thaszar's command, the ancient and noble crownworld of the Sarnekh Dynasty has been made over into the "Reaveworld."In the shroud of orbital wreckage surrounding the planet dating back to the War in Heaven, Thaszar has access to all the raw materials he will ever need to build a Necron pirate fleet the scale of which has not been seen for 60 million standard years; in the reprogrammed Necrons of Zapennec, he has crews and captains of unfailing loyalty. Thaszar's vessels have already begun to prowl both the Webway and realspace, and the galaxy will surely come to rue the day he awakened.
Thaxis System - Thaxis System: The Thaxis System is an Imperial star system located in the Yasan Sector of the Ultima Segmentum near the Warp rift known as the Maelstrom.The system is currently under the control of the forces of Chaos led by the Red Corsairs warband of Heretic Astartes.
Thaxis System - History: In 999.M41, Huron Blackheart, the Chaos Lord of the Red Corsairs, launched a massive invasion of the Yasan Sector out of the Maelstrom.The bulk of the White Scars Chapter, which called the sector home, was deployed to other conflicts across the galaxy. The Chaos forces succeeded in occupying several systems within the sector and nearly overwhelming the White Scars garrison left on Chogoris itself.While the White Scars were able to rally their forces and successfully threw back the Red Corsairs' assault on their fortress-monastery of Quan Zhou, only the ebbing of the Noctis Aeterna and the subsequent loss of their daemonic allies as a result convinced the Red Corsairs to withdraw from Chogoris and pursue the destruction of the White Scars at a later date.However, the Red Corsairs have managed to maintain a presence on the Chogoris System world of Shovith and have essentially claimed the neighboring Thaxis and Gartuli Systems outright.The Heretics are currently using these footholds in the Yasan Sector to continue to launch new attacks upon the White Scars' homeworld.
Thaxis System - System Worlds: The Thaxis System's worlds in order of their distance from the system's star include:Sanctum (Defence Platform) - Sanctum is a former Imperial defence platform that orbited the Thaxis star. It has been conquered by the forces of Chaos and is now under the control of the Red Corsairs and their allies.Thaxis (Forge World) - Thaxis, the primary world of the system and the planet for which it was named, was once an Adeptus Mechanicus Forge World. It was conquered by the forces of Chaos during the Red Corsairs' invasion of the sector and is now under their control.Vydoria (Agri-world) - The Agri-world of Vydoria came under siege by the Red Corsairs but still remains contested with Loyalist forces.Shetlock Belt (Asteroid Belt) - The Shetlock Belt of asteroids which rings the outer bounds of the Thaxis System is currently contested territory between the Red Corsairs and the remaining Loyalist forces in the system.
The Abyssal Edge (Anthology Short Story) - The Abyssal Edge (Anthology Short Story): The Abyssal Edge is a short story published in The Primarchs series that was originally part of an anthology. The Abyssal Edge was first published as part of the Sons of the Emperor anthology in February 2018. The cover image used is that of Sons of the Emperor, as The Abyssal Edge has yet to be published separately.
The Abyssal Edge (Anthology Short Story) - Synopsis: When an archivist uncovers an unthinkable truth, he comes to the attention of the First Captain of the Night Lords, the dreaded "Prince of Crows" himself. Terrified yet enrapt, Ulatal listens as Sevatar tells him of Zoah and the moment when Konrad Curze and Magnus the Red almost went to war...
The Alien Beast Within (Short Story) - The Alien Beast Within (Short Story): The Alien Beast Within is a short story published in the Inquisition War series by Ian Watson. It is included in The Inquisition War (Omnibus) and Deathwing (Anthology).
The Alien Beast Within (Short Story) - Synopsis: Meh'Lindi, the foremost assassin of the Callidus Temple, is tasked with the most demanding mission of her career -- to infiltrate a Genestealer Cult disguised as one of the monstrous four-armed xenos hybrids and destroy them from within. As she adopts the mindset of a alien-influenced cultist, Meh'Lindi starts to worry that she may lose herself and, even worse, fail in her mission and doom a world to destruction...
The Ancient Awaits (Anthology Short Story) - The Ancient Awaits (Anthology Short Story): The Ancient Awaits is a short story published in The Primarchs series that was originally part of an anthology. The Ancient Awaits was first published as part of the Sons of the Emperor anthology in February 2018. The cover image used is that of Sons of the Emperor, as The Ancient Awaits has yet to be published separately.
The Ancient Awaits (Anthology Short Story) - Synopsis: Impelled by the Crimson King, Vistario of the Thousand Sons Legion journeys to a nameless world with his fellow Sorcerers, where they find the ruins of a city lost to myth and a labyrinth of catacombs that harbour a long forgotten secret. The Ancient Awaits, but for whom?
The Anointed - The Anointed: The Anointed are the most favoured Heretic Astartes warriors within the Word Bearers Traitor Legion and represent the members of an elite cult within the broader Legion.The Anointed wear fully enclosed, ancient suits of Terminator Armour and serve as Chaos Terminators on the battlefield. Each suit is a relic of unholy significance, as to don this armour is considered a great religious honour amongst those who serve the Ruinous Powers.Once a warrior-brother has entered the ranks of The Anointed, he is a member for life, and with lifespans extended indefinitely through a combination of their Astartes conditioning, bio-enhancement and the warping power of the Chaos Gods, the Anointed are only replaced on the rare occasion that one of their number falls in battle.Many of them had fought alongside older members of the XVIIth Legion and their holy Daemon Primarch Lorgar at the great siege of the Imperial Palace during the closing days of the Horus Heresy at the Siege of Terra.Unsurpassed warriors with the hearts of true fanatics in the service of the Dark Gods, the cult of The Anointed had won countless battles for the Legion. Their glories were sung in the flesh-halls within the shadowed temples of Sicarus, and their deeds recounted in the grimoire historicals housed in the finest scriptorums of Ghalmek.Additionally, a Word Bearers host often possesses an Icon Bearer and an elite unit of The Anointed, consisting of over 200 Chaos Terminators.It is also common for Anointed warriors to accompany important figures within the host, such as the Coryphaus or First Acolyte.
The Archivist - The Archivist: The Archivist is an independent Zoat who was involved in the plunder of the Seventh Blackstone Fortress.It is currently at large in the galaxy, pursuing its quest for the discovery of archeotech artefacts.
The Archivist - History: The Zoat known as the Archivist first crossed paths with Imperial agents on the space station Precipice, where species of many kinds gather and plan expeditions into the Seventh Blackstone Fortress that looms nearby. Even amongst the diverse populace of Precipice, the creature stood out, its large reptilian body and bio-technological augmentations unlike anything else seen on the station.Presenting itself as a data trader, the Archivist approached a group of explorers, offering an opportunity to quell the roiling chaos in an area of the Blackstone Fortress known as "the Seethe" -- a barely navigable region of constantly shifting matter.There the Archivist had identified fragments of an ancient Zoat spacecraft belonging to the individual it called The Forerunner and, ever driven by the desire for precious archeotech, had resolved to salvage the remnants of the vessel before they were lost to the churning maelstrom.Crucial to its plan was another Zoat relic, the Grayl Intulia, which would give its bearer a measure of control over the Seethe's riotous turbulence and grant access to areas otherwise impassable.Once the remains of the Zoat ship had been reclaimed with the explorers’ aid, the Archivist pledged that it would calm the upheaval of the Seethe permanently with the use of the Grayl Intulia.In truth, the Archivist's proposals were just one facet of a much wider manipulation that affected many differentexploring parties on Precipice and prompted several ventures into the Blackstone Fortress – some successful, others disastrous.Once the duplicitous Zoat had stockpiled a large personal cache of artefacts, it disappeared, leaving many promises unfulfilled and many hapless allies trapped in the maddening depths of the fortress.The Archivist now roams as a free agent, capitalising on the laxity of regional authorities and salvaging relics amidst the anarchy that has proliferated in the age of the Cicatrix Maledictum. Wherever it encounters theoperatives of other intelligent species, the Zoat draws upon all of its technology and intellect to disrupt their activities or mould them to its purposes, particularly when rare archeotech is at stake.Those the Archivist cannot coerce in this way soon find themselves facing much more hostile methods, as the creature will not hesitate to engage its formidable Atomic Disassembler or Eradicator Glove to destroy all who resist its manipulations.
The Archivist - Wargear: Atomic DisassemblerEradicator Glove
The Armour of Contempt (Novel) - The Armour of Contempt (Novel): The Armour of Contempt is the tenth volume in the Gaunt's Ghosts series of novels by Dan Abnett.
The Armour of Contempt (Novel) - Synopsis: Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt spent a year fighting as part of the underground resistance on the enemy-held world of Gereon. When he left, he promised that he would bring the forces of the Imperium to liberate Gereon's citizens from their oppressors. Now he has returned, a crusade army at his back, but he finds a world devastated by war and a people irrevocably damaged by the taint of Chaos. Now Gaunt must fight to save Gereon not only from the enemy, but from the Imperium itself.
The Beast Arises (Series) - The Beast Arises (Series): The Beast Arises is a novel series published by Black Library. Described as the biggest literary event of Games Workshop since The Horus Heresy, the series consists of 12 novels that were released over the course of a year describing the War of the Beast, the desperate Imperial war against the powerful Ork Warlord known simply as The Beast.
The Beast Arises (Series) - Series Description: 1,500 Terran years have passed since the end of the Horus Heresy, and the Imperium is at peace. The Space Marines keep the galaxy safe and the High Lords of Terra busy themselves with politicking and infighting. But something has been out there in the darkness, waiting...The Orks have returned, and they are more powerful than ever before. Can the Imperium hope to survive when The Beast arises?
The Beast Arises (Series) - Titles: The following is a list of the current titles in the main Beast Arises novels series:Released Titles#TitleAuthor1I Am SlaughterDan Abnett2Predator, PreyRob Sanders3The Emperor ExpectsGav Thorpe4The Last WallDavid Annandale5ThroneworldGuy Haley6Echoes of the Long War David Guymer7The Hunt for Vulkan David Annandale8The Beast Must Die Gav Thorpe9Watchers in Death David Annandale10The Last Son of Dorn David Guymer11Shadow of Ullanor Rob Sanders12The BeheadingGuy Haley
The Beast Must Die (Novel) - The Beast Must Die (Novel): The Beast Must Die is the eighth volume in The Beast Arises series of novels.
The Beast Must Die (Novel) - Synopsis: The Imperium has been brought to the edge of extinction by an Ork invasion of unprecedented scale and depth. Piecemeal strikes against the invaders prove ineffective -- for every Ork fleet destroyed, five more appear. The only solution is to find and kill the Orks' Warlord -- the Great Beast. Surely if its leader is killed, the Greenskins' empire will fall apart in agony of infighting and confusion. Lord Commander of the Imperium Koorland assembles a mighty army, but when they arrives on the Orks' homeworld, the forces of the Imperium discover they have disastrously underestimated the might and ingenuity of their enemy.
The Beheading - The Beheading: The Beheading was a coup d'etat against the Senatorum Imperialis instigated by Drakan Vangorich, the Grand Master of Assassins of the Officio Assassinorum and newly-selected Lord Protector of the Imperium. He had the entirety of the High Lords of Terra assassinated by his agents in 546.M32 so that he could take full political control of the Imperial government.He then installed puppet High Lords and oversaw the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts of the Imperium in the wake of the War of the Beast for nearly a standard century. He became corrupted by this ultimate power, and degenerated into a mad tyrant.Vangorich was forcibly removed from power and executed by a large Space Marine retribution force under the command of Maximus Thane, the lord commander of the Imperium, which included the Imperial Fists as well as the Halo Brethren and Sable Swords Chapters.