In the vast universe of Warhammer 40,000, few races embody the tragic irony of existence as the Necrons do. This ancient, technologically advanced race achieved unity, yet in the process, lost their individuality. Their story is a chilling tale of transformation and deceit, of power and loss, and an endless cycle of war that shook the very fabric of creation.
Once a race divided, the Necrons found unity in their transition to metallic bodies, a process known as biotransference. With their minds now governed by command protocols, it was the dynasty that mattered, not the individual. A sense of absolute unity pervaded the entire Necron race. However, this newfound unity came at a terrible price.
An unexpected side effect of the transition was a state of dysphoria – a deep disconnect between their consciousness and their new, metallic bodies. The Necrons felt the need to breathe, yet no mouth or lungs existed within their mechanical forms. This paradoxical existence led to a state of panic, akin to a perpetual feeling of suffocation. Whether all Necrons suffer from this, or if some have learned to cope, remains unknown.
Their unity, however, was not the only significant change brought about by the biotransference. The Necrons found themselves deceived by the K’tan, the Star Gods, who had lured them into this transformation. Despite the resentment, the alliance remained intact, and the Necrons, now immortal and possessing the ability to regenerate, were prepared to confront their ancient adversaries, the Old Ones.
The War in Heaven, an epic battle between these great races, was reignited with newfound intensity and destructive power. The Necrons, armed with their regenerative bodies and the cataclysmic energy power of the K’tan, began to turn the tide of war. The K’tan, feeding on stars, leveraged their power to extinguish entire star systems, erasing the existence of countless worlds.
In this cosmic clash, the Necrons and K’tan wielded technologies that altered the very fabric of existence. The Old Ones, in an act of desperation, created the Eldar, a race of powerful warriors to aid in their fight. Despite this, they found themselves losing ground, and eventually, the Old Ones were almost completely annihilated.
In a moment of triumph, the K’tan, blinded by victory, began consuming souls and engaging in conflicts among themselves. The Necrons seized this opportunity and struck at their former allies. Though the K’tan were immortal and could not be killed, they could be shattered into shards and manipulated. A Necron Pharaoh even turned one of these shards into part of his flying throne.
As the dust settled from the wars in heaven, the Necrons emerged dominant. They were virtually soulless machines, possessing consciousness and intellect but devoid of soul and free will. Their obedience was absolute, their loyalty to the Pharaoh unwavering. However, their moment of triumph was fleeting. The Eldar, their powerful new adversaries, posed a serious threat. Realizing this, the Necrons retreated into the shadows, their dominance ending as abruptly as it had begun.
The fate of the Necrons is a matter of endless debate. Some blame the Silent King and the Patriarchs, who initiated the catastrophic deal with the C’tan. Others suggest that without the war, the Necrons would have perished in internal conflicts. Regardless of the blame, the Silent King opted to deactivate the command protocols and went into self-imposed exile.
His journey, which lasted 60 million years, led to the discovery of the Tyranids, super-predators that consume all life in their path. The Silent King, who viewed himself as guilty for turning his race into unliving beings, now strives to save all life from this new galactic threat. The future of the Necrons and the galaxy hangs in the balance, making their story one of the most intriguing sagas in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
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