Lords of Darkness (WHF CK2-Ish Quest)

[Ancient One]

Omake: Miscellaneous Technologies

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 11:36 PM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

A number of workings by the Undead heretics. The order will be brought forward as they discovered. Note the information here may be incomplete or otherwise incorrect. Due to the dangerous task of gathering said information in the first place.

Sky Districts: These are improbable workings by the heretics. Combinations of advanced technologies combined with the sorcery they use. Massive floating platforms that hover high above the ground. Forming a sort of secondary surface on the planets they reside on. When there is a surface to begin with. It is oddly impressive to behold in a way.

These massive creations hover using two methods. The first being a powerful form of antigravity like that of some vehicles of the Mechanicus. This is most likely derived from that source. Potentially from the artificial gravity used in star ships as well. All of it powered by multiple extremely potent miniaturized hextech reactors.

Another being the powerful sorcery ingrained into it. The latter comes in the form of numerous runes and implanted spell work. All of it acting in a number of ways to make the construction possible. One being to provide the levitation itself. The others being to reinforce the strength of the hull along with reducing it's weight greatly. I suspect it is a combination of Azyr and Chamon being used.

Combined these two factors allow these artificial islands to hover high in the atmosphere.

These platforms are used to provide additional space on Undead controlled worlds. Floating high into the atmosphere to provide a number of services. Ranging from additional factories to providing hangars for fighter craft. They are often used as launch stations for the latter. In addition they are often outfitted with potent shields to defend themselves with. As well as guard what is beneath them with said shields and a number of weapons. In that vein they are often points where long range weapons are planted to guard against orbiting vessels.

They also serve as a place to utilize gas giants. The Imperium has long known of the use of these worlds. Making use of it as living space or harvesting useful gasses from it. Though this usually falls under the purview of the Mechanicus. The heretics have taken it a step further though. Using their blasphemous methods to exploit these worlds to a much greater degree.

Vast networks of these islands reside on such worlds. Numbering in the hundreds at times. Deep within the Undead territory at least. It seems they wish to make use of every celestial body they can. These platforms act as sources for new Undead forces. Their location doing nothing to hinder their unliving puppets and war machines. Slime Undead providing all the material they need to produce new forces.

They also seem to add the planets to the Geomatic Network. Adding yet more power to the heretics cause.

@Alucard Vampiry

 

[Ancient One]

Omake: Miscellaneous Technologies 2

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 11:44 PM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

The Black Mist: A truly heinous creation of the Undead heretics. This all encompassing weapon has been the death of billions if not more imperials. And quite possibly several times that in the number of Xenos. It is the stuff of nightmares for many. A weapon that there is little way to truly fight.

This hellish weapon takes the form that it's name suggests. A vast black cloud with undertones of green and violet. With dim lighting of the same colors flashing in the larger gatherings. One that depending on the circumstances expand only a few hundred feet to covering the horizon and beyond. It covers the sky and blocks the senses. A looming reminder of the inevitability of death.

This creation is the work of the heinous hextech and sorcery of the heretics. Created from specialized great foundries built in claimed territory. Then mixed in with great rituals to enact it's more vile effects. The great chimney like structures pouring it forth into the world. Covering the ground and then rising up as it builds. Eventually blocking out any kind of natural sunlight like the dark of night.

The effects of this sorcery is several fold. One is that it causes great disorientation among those caught in it. They stumble around as vision and hearing is diminished. Eventually losing sight of any of their fellows. From there it only grows worse.

From the darkness comes terrible illusions. Spanning many things to deceive others. Ranging from horrific nightmares to terrorize to the stuff of paradise. All of it is false of course. The sorcery of the most create sight and sound where there is none in truth. Many souls are driven mad by what they see. Others are lured to their death at the hands of the enemy weapons. All the while their life force is slowly being leeched away.

This just part of it's purpose of course. The primary purpose of the mist is to sabotage defense efforts. It's darkness and confounding effects allowing the enemy to advance with impunity. Spirits rising to wreak havoc undetected until too late. With the unliving legions marching under it to strike. All without being seen until the attack itself begins. Even then it is often too late.

That is still not the worse though. When the mist reaches sufficient size the most dangerous effect takes hold. This causes the dead to rise wherever it reaches. Both corporeal and spectral rising to join the dark legions. They are low level things, but they are still dangerous. They will not fall so long as the mist persists. Rising again and again to attack the living. Many worlds have fallen to the mist because of this effect.

The madness of the heretics truly knows no limits.

@Alucard Vampiry

 

[Ancient One]

Omake: Miscellaneous Technologies 3

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 11:51 PM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

The Glyph Sphere: A device that is rather deceptive in terms of appearance. A metallic sphere of deep black in color. One that is lined with a number of runic arrays across it's surface. Despite this it does not appear to be harmful in anyway. Certainly not in comparison to the many monstrosities created by the Ascendancy heretics. A fatal mistake that far too many souls have made.

This artifact is in fact extremely dangerous. It is in fact one of the most varied weapons of the heretics. Capable of drawing in and manifesting effects from any of the sects of the Dragon worshippers. Each type manifesting a number of different effects.

Azyr: Tgis can manifest as multiple weather related phenomenon. One is a storm of small wind blades. Others call down a large bolt of lightning from the sky.

Hysh: This manifests as a blinding flash of light. Capable of permanently leaving someone blind. At the same time the effects see, to cause great suffering to the forces of Chaos.

Aqshy: This one erupts into a violent storm of extreme heat. Causing a grand sphere of plasma to spew forth. Melting metal into a slurry and turning flesh to ash. It makes short work of most infantry forces. At the same time causing murderous rage or taking away the will to fight at all.

Chamon: This one causes a number of changes. It can transmute flesh into lifeless metal. At the same time it can be used to dismantle war machines. Causing metal to rust and fall apart at the seams in the flash of power. At the same time it sabotages any type of cybernetic within reach.

Ghur: This one is less direct and dependent on the environment. On a less developed world it will summon extreme predators to attack the victims. On more developed worlds it will cause a total collapse of any and all reason in it's victims. Reverting them to animalistic behavior and making them kill each other.

Shyish: This erupts in a cloud of dark violet gas. This one is especially dead. Simply tearing the life out of any body caught in it's range. At times converting any flesh into violet crystal.

Ghyran: The green sect causes extreme rampant growth of all kind. Frequently causing extreme cancerous growth all across the body and causing immense misery in the process. At the same time it causes vast carnivorous plants to erupt. Entangling and devouring everything within their reach.

Ulgu: This can create a vast black spread upon the ground. Anyone caught in the area falls into it and is never seen again. Other times the shadows rise up and turn into blades. Tearing through those caught in the area. Leaving their bodies easy to gather later.

@Alucard Vampiry

 

[Ancient One]

Omake: Miscellaneous Technologies 4

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 11:58 PM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

The Glyph Bomb: This device is striking in terms of resemblance to the similarly named Glyph Sphere. A metallic sphere of deep black in color. One that is lined with a number of runic arrays across it's surface. The difference being the size of the two. The former being the size of an Ogryn's torso. While the latter is the size of a human head. The difference is far deeper than that of course.

The bomb possesses all the same abilities of the sphere. However this is increased to be around ten times as grand in scale. The latter can wipe out squads while the former can break regiments. The bomb is often used to deal far greater damage. Frequently being fired from specialized artillery units to bring down fortresses. Worse still is it's ability to combine different effects. Something the sphere can not do. Making it far more difficult to predict and defe pond against. As you can never be sure what fresh hell will come out of it.

Known Combinations:

Ghyran and Chamon: Creates a vast collection of metallic vines. They are covered with thorns that tear through armor. They reach out and expand fast choking and crushing any defenses they can reach before the power runs out.

Ghyran and Shyish: This one is a bit more subtle, but still useful. It releases a blast of violet light into every direction from the device. The point is it can be keyed to specific lifeforms. Killing only them and nothing else. Often used by the Undead to clear orks and ensure no spores survive. By sending the deathly power coursing through their system.

Chamon and Aqshy: Creates a storm of razor blade shards at high speed. Each one is searing hot to the touch and can metal through solid steel. Highly effective at clearing out tight spaces.

Azyr and Aqshy: Creates a violent fire storm that rushes about like a great tornado. Melting and burning everything around it. Frequently used to demolish any sort of industry such as hangars and factories. It is unfortunately highly effective at doing so.

Ghur and Ghyran: This one is particularly nasty in effect. It causes extreme physical mutation in those it reaches. Causing the eruption of wings, claws, and fangs. Often driving them to insanity in the process from the sudden change. Then sending them into bestial rages and attacking their former allies. A truly terrible fate to behold.

Hysh and Ulgu: One that spawns a sort of dark light. It spreads fast appropriately and engulfs everything in utter darkness. When it recedes all those caught in the effect are never seen again.

Ulgu and Ghur: Creates murderous monstrosities from any nearby shadow. These creatures are highly lethal and attack any thing they see.

@Alucard Vampiry

 

[Ancient One]

Omake: Miscellaneous Technologies 5

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 1:34 AM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

The Pillars: The Undead can be described many ways. An unnatural perversion to life in all forms. A grevious insult to the eyes of the Emperor. An unending tide of pure evil. Unfortunately not all of these things are net negatives. They can also be called highly efficient and industrious. That part much to the dismay of many can be labeled as true.

Midnight forges are arguably the most productive industrial centers in the galaxy. Arcana and technology working to meet the production quo. Tireless puppets of both metal and flesh manning the work levels. Overseers directing it all with mental commands. So it is no surprise that they are capable of immense projects. The likes of which that are almost unheard of in the rest of the galaxy. Including the building of immense megastructures upon their worlds and in their space. Something that only senior forgeworlds in the imperium possess. Something the Undead are building in large numbers unfortunately. All part of the development of their industry. Especially for the forgeworlds that have been fully converted to their standards.

By far one of the most significant projects undertaken by the Undead however, is the construction of the 'Pillars'. It is a bit daunting, to see it with your own eyes. Billions of tons of material is set aside for this momentous task. Massive cables as wide as a Titan form the core of the structures, affixed to massive space stations in orbit and anchored to the ground on platforms the size of a city, and hundreds of much smaller cables run between them in addition to the larger ones. Enormous elevator platforms are attached to the cables, fitted to carry immense cargoes and equipped with anti-gravity modules to reduce the strain on the system. With that may be seen as a finishing touch, this entire ensemble is covered up by sheets of plating, meant to protect the cables and the lifts. The end result are strutures that, from the ground, appear to be pillars of incredible size, reaching infinitely into the black jeweled skies of the Midnight worlds of the Undead. On average four such monstrosities are built, lining the equator and perfectly spaced from one another.

Not just the technology wither though. Arcana is heavily carved into the leviathan constructs. Countless runes being carefully embedded in the metal. Serving multiple purposes for this work. Primarily being to further reduce weight and reduce strain on other systems. Another being to manage the conditions of the pillars. Being to reduce heat build up and exploit the environment. Wind energy is converted into usable power for the pillars so to be a nonissue. The last purpose being to strengthen the metal used in all parameters. Such as increasing tensile strength and longevity.

@Alucard Vampiry

 

[Ancient One]

Omake: Miscellaneous Technologies 6

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 1:41 AM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

Nanotechnology: A rare and extremely complex form of technology. A remnant of the Dark Age of technology. Something rarely seen outside of elder forge worlds such as Mars. This form of technology is little understood by most. Indeed even few in the Mechanicus can reliably understand this field of technology. I can see why that might be. After all how could you reliably create something so small precisely. Let alone give it a way to really interact with the world. Not to mention how to program it at all.

Unfortunately the Undead heretics have no such issue. Their dark powers and nature allowing them to overstep many obstacles in research. So they have recreated this technology to a limited degree. Though it is far below what our ancestors once used. No rapidly producing everything they need. Thankfully no there are no grey tides engulfing the planets. Still it has proven to be a concerning boon to them.

Nano sifting: An industrial application of the technology. One that is commonly found on forge and mining worlds across the Ascendancy. One that provides a rather sizable boost to their operations. What is does is allow the heretics to squeeze out that much more material for them to use.

It is a bulky thing, meant to be integrated into the great refineries at an early step in the process, where the nanites forcibly separate metals and other useful materials from useless rock and sediment, the former passing along to be refined into metal while the latter is reduced to a fine powder and disposed of.

Nano welding: An industrial application of the technology. A surprisingly mundane one at that. Still one that given our enemy a boon. The machines greatly altering the industrial process of just about every assembly line. Allowing for fine precision welding and this increasing durability.

Appearing like a set of towers and gates that loom over the assembly line. When a piece of equipment or vehicle is passed through it, it releases a swarm of simple minded, microscopic machines that seek out the areas they are meant to join together. Out of necessity, their programming is simplistic, and can only understand how to weld a few different items at once, and must be reprogrammed in order to understand a different thing if the assembly line is shifted to handle something else.

Nano Recycling: Industrial processes tend to leave a surprisingly large amount of 'waste material', small bits and pieces or seemingly insignificant shavings or even piles of mineral dust. The idea behind the recyclers, is to simplify the process of reusing those materials, by having the nanomachines process the 'waste' into solid ingots, sorting one material from another in the process.

This also helps them recycle other things. Wreckage from the battlefield can be rapidly reclaimed and reused to build new machines.

@Alucard Vampiry

 

[Ancient One]

Omake: Miscellaneous Technologies 7

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 2:25 AM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

Runic Circuitry: This form of technology is one of the most widespread in the entire Ascendancy. If it can really be called such. I believe I previously mentioned just what Runecraft is in another transmission. It is only now that I received more in depth details about it. Still I feel that the basics bear repeating.

Rune craft is in a way akin to the sorcerous version of programming. Nothing like the messy scrap code of Chaos or the venerable machine spirits. It lacks the method to truly corrupt thankfully. Though it is still highly flexible and dangerous. In short it introduces and enforces a specific phenomenon once engraved. Then it is ignited with arcane energy to activate the effect. So long as the fine work persists the effect will be far longer lasting than any other known sorcerous effect. Far more stable and less costly too.

These effects can be any number of things. One would be greatly enhancing the durability of the device in question. Another would be enforcing the concept of cold on it. Reducing any form of heat production by the mechanisms. Greatly extending its time of use. A third one would be to greatly reduce the weight or pull of gravity on the artifact. A fourth still would be to serve as an amplifier for any form of sorcery. Essentially any number of effects could be possible with sufficient runework and energy.

Which leads to the runic circuitry. The Ascendancy has a fondness for engraving runes into a wide variety of machines. Using them in combination with advanced technology to produce terrible effects. This allows them to instill all manner of effects among them. It also means that they can exert other effects on the field. For one runic circuitry is how the Necrotects control their creations.

As you all know machine intelligence has always been a touchy subject for the Imperium. Leftover scars from the Dark Age of Technology. Especially those left by the Men of Iron. The Silica Anima that nearly destroyed all of mankind back then. Since then AI has been banned for good reason. Whether due to its own corrupt nature or the risk of Chaos corruption is up for debate. Which leads us to depend on the machine spirits to properly function. Unfortunately they are unusual and fickle entities at the best of times.

Which lies in how the Ebony Steel legions function. The fact of it being they have no intelligence of their own. Sure the runework and cogitators allow for some degree of intelligence. Threat assessment, simple problem solving, and networking with each other for example. Still there is no actual intelligence behind them. Rather they are all controlled by the minds of their masters. Relays of hextech design allows a single strong mind to directs large armies of these machines.

@Alucard Vampiry

 

[Ancient One]

Omake: Miscellaneous Technologies 8

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 2:56 AM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

Heat Capture System: What is one of the biggest problems with weaponry in the Imperium? The answer is the heat build up they experience with use. Their mechanisms channeling energy and warming the material. Every weapon from the bolters of the Astartes to the humble lasgun have this issue. It is especially prominent in plasma based weaponry. No surprise there though considering their nature. Even industrial machinery suffers from this issue. As do certain pieces of hardware such as cogitators from processing large amounts of information.

The Undead heretics have sadly found a way around this issue. Through the use of their sorcerous technology they found a way. Not just to eliminate the problem, but to make it beneficial to them.

A series of runes and spell work integrated into their technology. This holds certain elements I have already brought up before. Greater metal strength and reducing the issue of heat build. The runes capture the heat and transfer it elsewhere. Converting it into a more beneficial form. Typically by channeling it back into the weapon. Adding extra power to its attacks. Alternatively it is transferred elsewhere for use.

Thankfully this is not a simple working and seems to only be found in their more complex technology.

Solar Capture System: The primary difference of this piece of hardware from the previous topic is one of scale. The former is relegated to individual weapons and machinery. This one however is far from discriminating in its effect. Rather it covers every single thing in its intended radius. Showing off just how wide the effect of the heretical hextech can be.

The second is the exact form of energy that it targets. The intended purpose of this is to capture solar energy. Namely in the form of light, heat, and the radiation put out by stars. This is how the Midnight worlds maintain their constant shrouds of nighttime. The effect of this heresy extends across the planet. Reaching up into the atmosphere and doing its vile work. Absorbing the light en masse all across the planet at once. Not all of it just most to maintain the darkness.

This is also why they are so frequently colder. The heat energy being captured in much the same way. Causing temperatures across the planet to drop by noticeable amounts. It may not seem like much energy wise, but it is very substantial. This allows the colonization of desert worlds or others with high temperatures. By making it so the heat is no longer a concern.

The same can be said of radiation. Certain worlds are incapable of supporting life due to high radiation from their stars. Only the Mechanicus possesses the knowledge to reliably inhabit such worlds. Now the Ascendancy can say the same.

All of this energy it then funneled into their Astromantic Web. Providing yet more power for their industry.

@Alucard Vampiry

 

[Ancient One]

Omake: Miscellaneous Technologies 9

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 7:45 AM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

Mobile Factories: One of the biggest issues of waging war on a large scale in the modern era is the sheer length that your supply chains often end up being, and all the problems that come with that. This is often reduced by a mix of massive stores and naval production, but both solutions have their problems. This is especially true when forces are far from any available planet with the necessary production power. Another reason that the forge worlds of the Mechanicus are so important to the Imperium.

Unfortunately the Undead are keenly aware of this problem as well. They feel it even more keenly than we do in some ways. Their armies due to their nature frequently advance faster than their living counterparts. Being both tireless and needless as they are either dead or mechanical driven forward by sorcery as much as physics. The same however can not be said for their weapons and other such tools. Even the restorative powers of necromancy has its limits. Especially as they move farther from their established territory and infrastructure. Forcing them to rely more on individual sources. Their expansion being too time consuming to truly keep pace. So they developed a work around for it.

Mobile factories that can easily be set up close to the front line, and picked up and moved when the front gets closer. This allows for a steady supply of munitions to reach the front, without overly exposing industrial production to damage. These facilities also function as recycling centers to make the most use of available material. They are also supported by designed attendants to keep them constantly supplied. There are two varieties those being terrestrial and void based.

The former operates as massive moving facilities. Crawling along on vast treads across planets. Their numbers and attendant craft being more like a small city on wheels. Producing everything from guns to armor for infantry to tanks as needed by their forces. They also aid in setting up barebones infrastructure for the Undead to make use of before they move on. These facilities appear to be largely constructed on site from modular parts as a basis. Otherwise being transported by larger Undead ships as needed.

Void variants are much the same except on a larger scale. Being somewhere between mobile space stations and Mechanicus arks. They produce smaller star ships along with other things. Primarily being Undead fighter craft and parts for the existing vessels. They also function as mobile repair yards being able to attend to multiple smaller vessels at a time. Their attendants are large scale and almost entirely automated mining vessels designed to crack apart asteroids and planetoids as needed. Given time they can strip mine entire moons to fuel their masters. Thankfully these are fewer in number due to cost.

Given time one of these could make another of itself thankfully that is rare in active engagement areas.

@Alucard Vampiry

 

[Ancient One]

Omake: Miscellaneous Technologies 10

Warning: Unauthorized reading of this document will be punished with immediate execution.

Time: 7:56 AM Holy Terran Standard
Location: Starship Emperor's Fist.
Purpose: Information
Patron: Inquisitor Maximan. Ordo Hereticus

Begin Transmission

Quote of the day: Lives are the Emperor's currency. Spend them wisely.

Autonomous Automated Escorts: This is one of the most significant technologies of the Undead in regards to their navy. Though it is largely confined to their more purpose built vessels. Those being the ones they crafted from scratch in their shipyards. It is the culmination of the Undead's various technologies involving autonomous technology. Only instead of in a factory overseeing production this one is dedicated to warfare.

Dubbed as golem craft by the Undead these are to put it simply exactly as their name implies. Advances in their heretical automation and control have allowed for the creation of fully automated frigates. With no crew to protect or lose, these vessels are extremely deadly. Additionally, this extends to all forms of fighter, bomber, and drone craft. These vessels are completely without any form of crew on board. How they function is largely a mystery, but they are very effective.

What I do know is that they are effectively slabs of technology of all kinds. They are essentially just one giant machine. Their lack of crew having made such entirely possible. All of those pieces normally required have no place on such a vessel. There are no corridors or staircases. No barracks or resting facilities. Of course no life support systems of any kind. All of that space is instead turned over to other things.

Additional systems are embedded into the frame instead. Or rather existing ones are expanded to make use of it. Reactors are expanded upon or have whole new smaller ones added in. Shields are expanded upon and assigned more power. Weapons are directly connected to ammunition storage as needed. Cogitators are expanded to be the size of tanks to help manage it all. Scanners constantly working to study the space around them. Sorcerous systems are embedded throughout the hull. Runework and sorcerous crystals being a good portion of this. The only thing organic on board is shaped biomass here and there to help control the vessel.

These vessels are controlled in much the same way as the Ebony Steel Legions. Networks of sorcery and data intertwined with other systems to help manage them. The vessels being driven forward by the will of the commanding officer. Otherwise falling back on embedded programming to make any decisions. If left alone they will simply go looking for the nearest Undead stronghold to rejoin a fleet. Alternatively it will hurl itself at the nearest enemy stronghold to cause as much damage as possible before being destroyed.

Thankfully the space faring vessels have one major flaw. They are incapable of independent Warp travel. For that they must rely on their superiors to do. Following them closely like scavengers following close to a predator for meaningful travel.

These vessels are extremely dangerous do not underestimate them.

@Alucard Vampiry