Warriors of other races unfortunate enough to encounter Pariahs often recognize little difference between these rare abominations and more common Necron horrors. The rare sharp-eyed and thoughtful combatant might notice they are bulkier than the skeletal legions that surround them. However, no psyker will ever mistakes a Pariah for anything else. Crafted from a terrible symbiosis of Necron technology and human evolution, Pariahs radiate a sense of palpable menace and horror to those around them. Blotting out psychic emanations and infusing those nearby with the sense of their own mortality. Resembling artificial beings of soulless perfection, Pariahs embody the one of the unspeakable horrors of the Necron threat.
Pariahs are the grim harvest of seeds sown by twisted Crypteks billions of years ago. Desperate for a weapon against psychic races, including their ancient foes the Old Ones and their progeny, these cabals launched a grand experiment. Their crafted tools unable to achieve more than the faintest sense of the power of the Warp, they resorted to the strategies of their ancient foes; to grow rather than build their weapons. Identifying the genetic code that seemed to allow these beings access to the immaterium, a twist was devised to create beings utterly antithetical to otherworldly energies. For generations this aberration has spread, a set of recessive genes expressed infrequently. So it is that these misnamed Blanks have emerged across the galaxy from widely disparate origins.
Necron Pariah Elite; 25 pts
WS 4, BS 4, S 4, T 4, W 1, I 2, A 1, LD 10, SV 3+
Unit Type
Infantry
Unit Composition
1 Pariah
Special Rules
Fear
Fearless
Feel No Pain
Preferred Enemy (Psykers, Demons)
Psychic Abomination: Psykers, friend or foe, within 12” of this model have -3 Leadership, do not generate any Warp Charge, and only harness Warp Charge points on a 6. This model can never be targeted or affected by psychic powers – other units that are hit by beam or nova powers, or by Witchfire powers that use templates, are hit/affected normally. Any blessing or malediction psychic powers affecting a unit immediately cease to be in effect if the unit moves within 12” of this model or visa versa.
Wargear
Phase Glaive; Str +2, AP 2, Melee, 2 Hnd, Phasing Hits
Phasing Hits; On a successful To Wound roll of a 6 the target cannot roll an Invulnerable save.
Upgrades;
May add up to 9 additional Pariahs at 25 points/model
May replace Phase Glaive with a Rod of Covenant on all models in the unit 5 pts/model
May add Gloom Prism to all models in the unit 5 pts/model
May add Shadowloom to all models in the unit 5 pts/model
May add Diffraction Matrix to all models in the unit 10 pts/model
May add equipment from the Technoarcana list, but all models in the unit must be equipped identically.
May add Voice of the Tomb special rule to all models in the unit - 25 pts/model
- Each model with the Voice of the Tomb special rule may individually choose to substitute their Phase Glaive with either a Staff of Light (free), a Rod of Covenant (5 points), or choose from the Melee Weapons list. They may also take weapons from the Ranged Weapons list individually.
Diffraction Matrix
The diffraction matrix acts as a lens for the unearthly horror that is the bearer's soul.
All units with the Daemon or Psyker special rule (friend or foe) treat all terrain, including open ground, within 12" of this model as dangerous terrain, even if they are normally not affected by terrain. In addition, while in the area of effect of one or more Diffraction Matrices all Daemons suffer a -1 penalty to their invulnerable save. This is cumulative with any other modifiers to a Daemon's invulnerable save, but cannot make it worse than 6+.
Voice of the Tomb
The result of lives of exile and loathing terminating in deaths of mind shattering torment, a Voice has been forged into an individual of eternal living steel where most Pariahs end up as simple shells. Thus, they have become a dark avatar worthy of taking a place as cupbearar and herald to the warriors and demigods of ancient dynasties.
This model is an Independent Character.
Formations;
Dark Experiment
Composition:
0-1 Lords or Overlords
1-3 Crypteks
1-4 Units of Pariahs
Restrictions;
There may be no more units of Pariahs in this formation than there are Crypteks, Lords, and Overlords.
Special Rules;
Close the Warp; Any model within 12" of a Pariah from this formation gains an additional die on all attempts to Deny the Witch.
Pariahs are the grim harvest of seeds sown by twisted Crypteks billions of years ago. Desperate for a weapon against psychic races, including their ancient foes the Old Ones and their progeny, these cabals launched a grand experiment. Their crafted tools unable to achieve more than the faintest sense of the power of the Warp, they resorted to the strategies of their ancient foes; to grow rather than build their weapons. Identifying the genetic code that seemed to allow these beings access to the immaterium, a twist was devised to create beings utterly antithetical to otherworldly energies. For generations this aberration has spread, a set of recessive genes expressed infrequently. So it is that these misnamed Blanks have emerged across the galaxy from widely disparate origins.
Study of these beings is scarce among other races, the least powerful considered “soulless” abominations for the mistaken impression they lack a Warp connection. However, where races such as the nascent Necrontyr had virtually no connection to the warp, these beings’ aura is more akin to a black hole, yawning open and hungrily pulling. Psyker’s attempts to perceive them indirectly almost always fail; the thin strands of energy drawn in and shredded by the aura of these untouchables. Beyond mere “absence,” this drain can be perceived by even the least psychically sensitive individual. A feeling which creates an instinctive terror as it draws on their very life force. When directly viewed by beings attuned to psychic energies these yawning abysses horrify pure and damned alike.
The Necrons are not the only race to have found use for this ancient mutation. The Ordo Assasinorum has long sought these creatures out. Winnowing them down to the most effective to impress into service for the Imperium of Man destroying the taint of Xenos Psychers and Chaos alike. The Necrons have little interest in such refinement of their chosen tools. Instead, they gather and lobotomize them, wholly replacing their fore-brain with control circuitry, before invasively installing various cybernetic armor and upgrades. When needed in larger numbers, generation after generation will be grown in vast rows of ancient cloning vats before being modified and released onto the battlefield.
Voice of the Tomb
While the minds of Pariahs that are captured by the Necron Crypteks are generally destroyed, keeping only the minimum functions necessary to generate their psychic shields, a few are given a far worse fate. Chosen for reasons known only to their new masters they are allowed to retain their higher brain function. Though, enduring the process of becoming a Pariah destroys most minds outright. The process of being flayed, vivisected, and dismembered before being remade with living metal and more arcane machines is more than most minds have the capacity to handle while conscious and capable of feeling.
While the initial dismantlement is typically done in utter silence, the Pariah's new master personally attends their reconstruction, beginning their indoctrination. The result is often fanatical loyalty even before the inevitable application of more direct influence and control, such as mindshackle scarabs. However, such shattered minds are generally unstable, producing a result little better than the shambling, lobotomized monstrosities these failures are inevitably converted to. A few, however, have their biological and psychic alienation from all living things sealed within the horrors of their transformation. These damned spirits, fully knowing that they have become trapped forever on the cusp between life and eternal undeath, become hateful of all life; a dark madness that provides the drive to prolong their tortured existence.
Those who create such servants are often so inhuman and arrogant as to feel interacting with mere mortals is beneath them. So these broken souls are used as mouthpieces and vengeful avatars by their ancient masters. It is this use as heralds and intermediaries that resulted in their becoming known as the Voice of the Tomb.
Datasheet;
While the minds of Pariahs that are captured by the Necron Crypteks are generally destroyed, keeping only the minimum functions necessary to generate their psychic shields, a few are given a far worse fate. Chosen for reasons known only to their new masters they are allowed to retain their higher brain function. Though, enduring the process of becoming a Pariah destroys most minds outright. The process of being flayed, vivisected, and dismembered before being remade with living metal and more arcane machines is more than most minds have the capacity to handle while conscious and capable of feeling.
While the initial dismantlement is typically done in utter silence, the Pariah's new master personally attends their reconstruction, beginning their indoctrination. The result is often fanatical loyalty even before the inevitable application of more direct influence and control, such as mindshackle scarabs. However, such shattered minds are generally unstable, producing a result little better than the shambling, lobotomized monstrosities these failures are inevitably converted to. A few, however, have their biological and psychic alienation from all living things sealed within the horrors of their transformation. These damned spirits, fully knowing that they have become trapped forever on the cusp between life and eternal undeath, become hateful of all life; a dark madness that provides the drive to prolong their tortured existence.
Those who create such servants are often so inhuman and arrogant as to feel interacting with mere mortals is beneath them. So these broken souls are used as mouthpieces and vengeful avatars by their ancient masters. It is this use as heralds and intermediaries that resulted in their becoming known as the Voice of the Tomb.
Datasheet;
Necron Pariah Elite; 25 pts
WS 4, BS 4, S 4, T 4, W 1, I 2, A 1, LD 10, SV 3+
Unit Type
Infantry
Unit Composition
1 Pariah
Special Rules
Fear
Fearless
Feel No Pain
Preferred Enemy (Psykers, Demons)
Psychic Abomination: Psykers, friend or foe, within 12” of this model have -3 Leadership, do not generate any Warp Charge, and only harness Warp Charge points on a 6. This model can never be targeted or affected by psychic powers – other units that are hit by beam or nova powers, or by Witchfire powers that use templates, are hit/affected normally. Any blessing or malediction psychic powers affecting a unit immediately cease to be in effect if the unit moves within 12” of this model or visa versa.
Wargear
Phase Glaive; Str +2, AP 2, Melee, 2 Hnd, Phasing Hits
Phasing Hits; On a successful To Wound roll of a 6 the target cannot roll an Invulnerable save.
Upgrades;
May add up to 9 additional Pariahs at 25 points/model
May replace Phase Glaive with a Rod of Covenant on all models in the unit 5 pts/model
May add Gloom Prism to all models in the unit 5 pts/model
May add Shadowloom to all models in the unit 5 pts/model
May add Diffraction Matrix to all models in the unit 10 pts/model
May add equipment from the Technoarcana list, but all models in the unit must be equipped identically.
May add Voice of the Tomb special rule to all models in the unit - 25 pts/model
- Each model with the Voice of the Tomb special rule may individually choose to substitute their Phase Glaive with either a Staff of Light (free), a Rod of Covenant (5 points), or choose from the Melee Weapons list. They may also take weapons from the Ranged Weapons list individually.
Diffraction Matrix
The diffraction matrix acts as a lens for the unearthly horror that is the bearer's soul.
All units with the Daemon or Psyker special rule (friend or foe) treat all terrain, including open ground, within 12" of this model as dangerous terrain, even if they are normally not affected by terrain. In addition, while in the area of effect of one or more Diffraction Matrices all Daemons suffer a -1 penalty to their invulnerable save. This is cumulative with any other modifiers to a Daemon's invulnerable save, but cannot make it worse than 6+.
Voice of the Tomb
The result of lives of exile and loathing terminating in deaths of mind shattering torment, a Voice has been forged into an individual of eternal living steel where most Pariahs end up as simple shells. Thus, they have become a dark avatar worthy of taking a place as cupbearar and herald to the warriors and demigods of ancient dynasties.
This model is an Independent Character.
Formations;
Dark Experiment
Composition:
0-1 Lords or Overlords
1-3 Crypteks
1-4 Units of Pariahs
Restrictions;
There may be no more units of Pariahs in this formation than there are Crypteks, Lords, and Overlords.
Special Rules;
Close the Warp; Any model within 12" of a Pariah from this formation gains an additional die on all attempts to Deny the Witch.
~~*~~
For discussion on the origins and some discussions on balance you can find where I originally posted this here; http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/650384.page
In short, even as references to variants of the Pariah gene have proliferated through Imperial codexes, the Necron Pariah itself vanished. I believe that this unit was removed to provide greater design space for the Lychguard, Warrior/Immortals, and Praetorians, but it removed amazing fluff and a much-needed anti-psyker. With the new focus on Psykers in 7e this seems like a bigger gap than ever.
The biggest struggle I had was with creating something that felt like unique individuals that had been converted by unique individuals without it being a character and trying to accommodate the two cannon sources of the original codex (unit) pariah and the (theoretically) equally cannon Dawn of War/Macabee (individual) pariah.
While I'm not entirely happy with the outcome one of the costs of creating things is understanding that, if you actually turn a critical eye to your own work, you never actually are. At least, I'm not. There will always be a rough edge or something that could have been done better. This is why I'm a huge proponent of formula balancing; because it removes the art from keeping things from being broken and lets designers focus on the things that should be art.
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