Warhammer 40,000 is known for its absurd scales. Everything is simply bigger, worse, more powerful. In particular, the Imperium of Man shines here with megalomania, which is especially evident in an absurd battle suit: the Imperial Knight.
For most newcomers and fans, Space Marines are likely at the top of the absurdity scale in Warhammer 40,000: over 2 meters tall superhumans with two hearts, three lungs, literal bones made of steel and muscles like wire ropes.
In addition, there are armor plates several centimeters thick that can withstand even heavy ammunition. Only special weapons can penetrate a Space Marine’s power armor. On the battlefield, few soldiers can stand against such a monster.
Unless he himself wears armor that is almost 5 times larger than the armored Space Marine. The Imperium of Mankind has exactly such armors, operated by just one person. The Imperial Knights count among the largest ground weapons that the Imperium possesses.
In the series Broken Lance
, you will see Imperial Knights in action:
A golden throne for each knight
Strictly speaking, Imperial Knights are not the soldiers, but the battle suits. Their pilots are called Knight Scion.
However, the knight and his pilot are not really separable, as the pilot sits, similar to the Emperor, on a throne, and his brain is directly connected to the suit. He “becomes” the knight.
The connection is not permanent, so the pilot can step out again. However, it often happens that part of the Scion’s personality is transferred to the machine over a lengthy process.
Imperial Knights, like most weapons of the Imperium, come in various versions and “patterns.” The most well-known variants are the Knights Paladin and the Knights Errant. Depending on the type of knight, the size and armament differ, but most have:
- a thick armor made of Adamantium
- an ion shield for additional protection
- various weapons on the arms like meltas or plasma weapons
- built-up weapon systems, often missile launchers
- melee weapons as an alternative to firearms, because swords are still important in Warhammer 40,000
Feudal knights who are not just called that
Imperial Knights do not just carry a name from the romanticized past; they also come from knightly worlds that are often ruled by a feudal system with lords and vassals. Chivalric values such as morality and honor are also important.
The knights come from a time before the Imperium even existed as such. Settler fleets set out to alien worlds to colonize them. Their ships served as initial shelter and source of building materials. For this reason, some of the old knights still contain ancient tech that is now lost – such as atomic reactors.
Knight suits, where available, provided protection on the alien and often hostile worlds until a certain dependency eventually developed. The knight house provides protection, and everyone else benefits from it but works for the knight.
Due to the isolation, these governments persisted until the priests of the Mechanicus rediscovered the worlds and united them under Forge Worlds until they were later incorporated into the Imperium. Accordingly, there are various “oaths of loyalty”:
- a Questor Imperialis serves only the Emperor
- a Questor Mechanicus serves the Omnissiah – who is technically also the Emperor
Giant mechs are not even the biggest the Imperium has to offer
If you think this is already megalomaniacal, you should take a look at Titans. Titans are basically the “adult” version of the Imperial Knights and practically walking fortresses, literally.
Imperial Titans, or “God-Engines”, come in various configurations. The largest among them are over 100 meters tall. Unlike knights, however, Titans require multiple pilots for the many systems.
If that is still not enough for you, then the warrior-priestesses of the Adepta Sororitas may quench your thirst for megalomania. The Sisters of Battle start a fight by throwing a literal cathedral onto a planet and attacking from there.
The truly absurd size ratios in Warhammer 40,000, however, are not found on planets, but in space. Spaceships in the universe have unimaginable dimensions; there is even at least one case where someone has simply attached engines to a planet. And in these dimensions, there are weapons so powerful that there are even scruples about using them: Exterminatus is the worst weapon in Warhammer 40,000, and even the insane Imperium uses it only very rarely.
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