Welcome to Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum! Log in and join the community.

Difference between revisions of "Astronomican"

From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Jump to: navigation, search
(Overview)
(34 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''Astronomican''' is a psychic beacon which the [[Navigator]]s utilize to pilot the spaceships of the [[Imperium]] through the otherwise unnavigable chaos of warp space. As the beam generated is psychic it exists within the psychic universe of the warp.
+
{{GalaxyPortal}}{{ImperiumPortal}}
 +
The '''Astronomican''' is a [[psychic]] beacon which the [[Navigator]]s use to pilot the spaceships of the [[Imperium]] through the otherwise unnavigable chaos of [[Warp]]-space. As the beam generated is psychic it exists within the psychic universe of the [[Warp]].  It is the duty of the [[Adeptus Astronomica]] to maintain all aspects of the Astronomican, including training those who will power it.
  
It is the duty of the [[Adeptus Astronomica]] to maintain the Astronomican.
+
==Overview==
 +
The Astronomican was originally constructed in [[M30]] in preparation for the [[Great Crusade]]. The [[Emperor]] brought in large numbers of [[Tech-Priest]]s and drafted much of [[Terra]]'s population for the gargantuan task of constructing the [[Chamber of the Astronomican]] at the [[Forbidden Fortress]]. At the time of its construction, the Astronomican was the single largest structure on Terra, though this would later be surpassed by the [[Imperial Palace]]. In the days of the Great Crusade, the Astronomican was powered by the Emperor's own psychic might directly. Without the beacon of the Astronomican to guide their ships through the Warp, Imperial armies would not have been to have waged the Great Crusade.{{Fn|4}}
  
The Adeptus Astronomica is based on Terra within the [[Forbidden Fortress]], built within a mountain range. The leader of the organization is known as the [[Master of the Astronomican]], representing the organization as a [[High Lord of Terra]].
+
After the Heresy, the Emperor became interred within the [[Golden Throne]] and required increasing numbers of [[Psyker]] sacrifices to maintain the Astronomican. Today, the Astronomican is powered by ten thousand{{Fn|1}} [[psyker]]s trained by the [[Adeptus Astronomica]]. The omnipotent will of the Emperor constantly directs this energy across around fifty thousand light years of the galaxy.  Although the Emperor does not provide the energy of the beacon, only he has the psychic power to handle such immense energy and direct it across the galaxy. The psykers who power the Astronomican are recruited into the organisation through the [[Adeptus Astra Telepathica]].  They are initiated into the Adeptus Astronomica as Acolytes, and taught how to use their powers, philosophy, the meaning of their lives, and the Lore of the Astronomican.  Some achieve a mystic state, gaining the status of Chosen.  It is these Chosen who are eventually called to serve in the Chamber of the Astronomican.  Here they fuel the Astronomican beacon with their psychic energies; as their powers are drained the Chosen slowly fade and die.  Up to one hundred Psykers die each day powering the Astronomnican.{{Fn|1}}
  
Young psykers are initiated into the Astronomica as Acolytes. They are taught not just how to use and control their psychic powers but are introduced to the Lore of the Astronomican. They learn the value of their lives, study philosophy and are gradually brought to an inner understanding of the universe and the nature of the warp. Those who achieve this mystic state become the Chosen and are eventually called to serve in the [[Chamber of the Astronomican]]. Here they fuel the Astronomican beacon with their psychic energies; as their powers are drained the Chosen slowly fade and die. This psychic power is directed as a beam across light years of space by the mind of the Emperor.
+
However, the psychic power they generate through their sacrifice is directed by the mind of the Emperor across about fifty thousand light years of the [[galaxy]]. Because Terra is situated in the galactic west, the Astronomican does not cover the extreme eastern part of the galaxy. Warp travel beyond the Astronomican's reach is severely limited - this creates the effective borders of the Imperium.  Because of this, destroying the Astronomican would most likely halt all Imperial Warp travel within the galaxy, effectively bringing the Imperium to its knees.{{Cite This}}
  
Sometimes on Imperial worlds, people willing to sow the seeds of [[Chaos]] and corruption or those that simply doubt the divinity of the [[Emperor]] will say the Emperor is dead (and indeed in the pure physical sense he may be). Those refuting these arguments cite the Astronomican as proof, for if the Astronomican is still functioning, then the Emperor must still be alive.
+
[[Navigator]]s, as well as other psykers, can sense the Astronomican.  It is described as a sensation of silvery light and a chorus of many heavenly voices, beginning first with a solitary voice and progressively growing into an angelic choir.  It is suggested that "pious marines" who can hear the Astronomican can fall into a meditative trance when they focus on it.  [[Space Marine Captain]] [[Gabriel Angelos]] occasionally entered a sort of battle trance when he heard the Astronomican while fighting, improving his prowess in combat for the duration.{{Fn|5}}
  
Imperial vessels will not go further than the reach of the Astronomican; this creates the effective borders of the Imperium.
+
The Astronomican, unbeknownst to the Imperium, is what is drawing the [[Tyranid]] [[Hive Fleet]]s to threaten the [[Galaxy]] and all of the Imperium.{{Fn|2}}
  
Destroying the Astronomican would most likely halt all Imperial warp travel within the galaxy, effectively bringing the Imperium to its knees.
+
==See Also==
 +
*[[Pharos (Device)]]
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
* [[Warhammer 40,000 3rd Edition Rulebook]]
+
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader]], pg. 140
*[[White Dwarf 140]], Jervis Johnson, Andy Jones, Simon Forrest & Rick Priestley
+
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition)]], pg. 28
 +
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 168
 +
*{{Endn|4}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal]], pg. 21
 +
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Dawn of War (Novel Series)]], {{Cite This}}
 +
===Uncited===
 +
{{Uncited}}
 +
*[[Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader]], pgs. 25-26
 +
*[[Warhammer 40,000 3rd Edition Rulebook]]
 +
*[[White Dwarf 140 (UK)]], Jervis Johnson, Andy Jones, Simon Forrest & Rick Priestley
  
 
[[Category:Adeptus Astronomica and Adeptus Astra Telepathica]]
 
[[Category:Adeptus Astronomica and Adeptus Astra Telepathica]]
 +
[[de:Astronomican]]
 +
[[fr:Astronomican]]

Revision as of 06:01, 26 February 2016

The Astronomican is a psychic beacon which the Navigators use to pilot the spaceships of the Imperium through the otherwise unnavigable chaos of Warp-space. As the beam generated is psychic it exists within the psychic universe of the Warp. It is the duty of the Adeptus Astronomica to maintain all aspects of the Astronomican, including training those who will power it.

Overview

The Astronomican was originally constructed in M30 in preparation for the Great Crusade. The Emperor brought in large numbers of Tech-Priests and drafted much of Terra's population for the gargantuan task of constructing the Chamber of the Astronomican at the Forbidden Fortress. At the time of its construction, the Astronomican was the single largest structure on Terra, though this would later be surpassed by the Imperial Palace. In the days of the Great Crusade, the Astronomican was powered by the Emperor's own psychic might directly. Without the beacon of the Astronomican to guide their ships through the Warp, Imperial armies would not have been to have waged the Great Crusade.[4]

After the Heresy, the Emperor became interred within the Golden Throne and required increasing numbers of Psyker sacrifices to maintain the Astronomican. Today, the Astronomican is powered by ten thousand[1] psykers trained by the Adeptus Astronomica. The omnipotent will of the Emperor constantly directs this energy across around fifty thousand light years of the galaxy. Although the Emperor does not provide the energy of the beacon, only he has the psychic power to handle such immense energy and direct it across the galaxy. The psykers who power the Astronomican are recruited into the organisation through the Adeptus Astra Telepathica. They are initiated into the Adeptus Astronomica as Acolytes, and taught how to use their powers, philosophy, the meaning of their lives, and the Lore of the Astronomican. Some achieve a mystic state, gaining the status of Chosen. It is these Chosen who are eventually called to serve in the Chamber of the Astronomican. Here they fuel the Astronomican beacon with their psychic energies; as their powers are drained the Chosen slowly fade and die. Up to one hundred Psykers die each day powering the Astronomnican.[1]

However, the psychic power they generate through their sacrifice is directed by the mind of the Emperor across about fifty thousand light years of the galaxy. Because Terra is situated in the galactic west, the Astronomican does not cover the extreme eastern part of the galaxy. Warp travel beyond the Astronomican's reach is severely limited - this creates the effective borders of the Imperium. Because of this, destroying the Astronomican would most likely halt all Imperial Warp travel within the galaxy, effectively bringing the Imperium to its knees.[Needs Citation]Navigators, as well as other psykers, can sense the Astronomican. It is described as a sensation of silvery light and a chorus of many heavenly voices, beginning first with a solitary voice and progressively growing into an angelic choir. It is suggested that "pious marines" who can hear the Astronomican can fall into a meditative trance when they focus on it. Space Marine Captain Gabriel Angelos occasionally entered a sort of battle trance when he heard the Astronomican while fighting, improving his prowess in combat for the duration.[5]

The Astronomican, unbeknownst to the Imperium, is what is drawing the Tyranid Hive Fleets to threaten the Galaxy and all of the Imperium.[2]

See Also

Sources

Uncited