The world of Warhammer 40,000 takes place – as the name suggests – 40,000 years into the future. However, some of the most important events occur much earlier in the past and involve a race that is slowly awakening in today’s Warhammer: the Necrons. These warriors made of living metal are perhaps the greatest power in the universe. MyMMO explains who the Necrons are and where they come from.
To the untrained eye, the Necrons resemble robot zombies in space. They are made of black metal, look like walking skeletons, and do not speak. Their buildings and culture somehow resemble that of ancient Egypt.
But there is much more behind the Necrons. Their race truly lived and breathed 60 million years ago and became the soulless creatures they are today through a trick and a terrible war – long before the Emperor was even born.
Necrons possess technology that can bring an end to the entire universe – at least as we know it in Warhammer 40,000. And especially with one other power, the Necrons are particularly in conflict: Chaos.
In the rulebook it states about the Necrons: “Few races are as horrifying and dangerous as they are.” And there is a reason for that.
A mini-series by Games Workshop goes into the Necrons even more, and with The Tithes there is even a new series about the space bots:
A life plagued by disease – A war that wipes out an entire species
Over 60 million years ago, in the world of Warhammer 40k, there was the race of the Necrontyr, a species with enormous knowledge of technology and science. The major problem of the Necrontyr at that time, however, was their high mortality rate.
Due to solar winds and the resulting radioactive storms, the Necrontyr have been doomed to severe illness and short lives since their existence on their home world. Although they possess technology that allows them to traverse space, their short lifespans make colonizing foreign worlds difficult.
Nevertheless, the Necrontyr eventually encounter the “Old Ones,” one of the first intelligent species ever, blessed with such long lives that it is almost akin to immortality.
Despite the sickly Necrontyr’s pleas, the Old Ones are unwilling to share their knowledge. The Necrontyr, who have been torn apart by unrest until then, find a common enemy image, and a war breaks out that ultimately wipes out the Old Ones – and incidentally gives rise to many other species.
From frail sickly beings to immortal machines
During the “War in Heaven,” the Old Ones nearly defeat the Necrontyr. In a final desperate attempt, the Necrontyr turn to beings made of pure energy: the C’tan, or star gods.
Together with the C’tan, they plan a new war against the Old Ones. One of these gods, Mephet’ran the Deceiver, promises the Necrontyr eventually the things they desire the most: immortality and unity.
The rulers of the Necrontyr accept the offer, and the entire race undergoes “Biotransference”: In soul forges, the flesh of the Necrontyr is replaced by living metal. The souls of the people are lost in the process, and the Necrons are born.
Those who refuse have their limbs broken and are dragged to the forges. The last resistance is ultimately eradicated through another trick.
Immortal bodies without souls
The technology of the Necrons, and previously the Necrontyr alone, creates a weapons arsenal that is still considered the most powerful today:
- Gauss disintegrators vaporize any matter, which ensures that Necrons are the declared enemies of the gluttonous Tyranids.
- Anti-grav technology makes vehicles fast and agile.
- Tesla weapons melt flesh and metal.
- Beam weapons turn even small metal shards into deadly energy lances that pierce everything.
The living metal of the Necrons, however, is their most important material. This metal ensures that the bodies cannot essentially be destroyed anymore. Limbs simply reassemble. If a Necron is completely destroyed against all odds, it leaves the “phase” and reappears in a tomb world, where it is repaired or recreated.
Through the transformation and the constant cycle of death and life, most Necrons ultimately lose awareness of who they are: they become automatons. Only a few retain their mind and intelligence.
Necrons and C’tan ultimately defeat the Old Ones, who in their desperate attempt to protect themselves, create new races, inadvertently unleashing the very Warp into the world. They are eventually extinguished.
The Long Sleep after the War
After the war against the Old Ones, the Necrons strike against their weakened gods. As punishment for their betrayal, the C’tan are shattered into shards, as they cannot be completely destroyed.
The leader of the Necrons, the Silent King, recognizes, however, that the time of his people is over for now, and the Eldar are the dominant species that rule the galaxy. He puts his entire race into a stasis sleep.
The cities of the Necrons are transformed into necropolises, known today as tomb worlds. One of these is visited, for example, in Space Marine 2. The warriors are supposed to sleep there for 60 million years – until “now”.
Over time, many tomb worlds have been lost, others have awakened too soon or have been stirred. The Necrons are only slowly coming together again. Should they ever fully awaken, their number is said to be able to easily take on the Imperium of Man.
The Necrons’ alleged plan is to cleanse the universe and destroy the “lower species,” which for them are “nothing more than vermin.” However, they first need to eliminate one thing: the Chaos, which seeks to destroy all order.
Blackstone – The end of Chaos?
Necrons and Chaos are essentially exact opposites. Since the C’tan cannot comprehend the Warp and cannot live within it, their creation is also vulnerable to the powers of the Immaterium. However, the Necrons have a weapon against Chaos: Blackstone.
This strange material can simply sever the connection between the real world and the Warp. The Necrons have erected a vast network of Black Fortresses and Pylons that are supposed to shield the entire galaxy from the Immaterium.
However, due to the ongoing wars in Warhammer, many of the bastions have been destroyed. One of these strongholds was Cadia. Which of the two powers would ultimately win the war is difficult to gauge, but the Necrons strive to rebuild their shield.
The problem is that humans and other psychic beings like Eldar need a connection to the Warp. Their souls are said to be at home there. What happens to them if the Warp “disappears” can only be speculated. What the awakening of the Necrons means could already be hinted at in Space Marine 2: The ending of Space Marine 2 could massively influence the future of Warhammer 40,000.
