Hierodule
The Hierodule is a large Tyranid Bio-construct, around the size of an Imperial Super Heavy Tank.
Contents |
Overview
Like many Tyranid creatures the Hierodule seems to be a mutable breed, able to be created in different forms depending on the needs of the Hive Fleet. There have been two different forms of Hierodule observed my Imperial forces so far, namely the "Scythed" and the "Barbed" variants.
Scythed Hierodule
History
The Scythed Hierodule was first encountered on the Imperial planet Hamman's World. In the assimilation of Hamman's World, the Scythed Hierodule was in the Vanguard of the Tyranid forces beside masses of Gaunts. They were especially effective against prepared defenses, such as bunkers.
The Scythed Hierodule has only been encountered in a single tendril of Hive Fleet Kraken and there infrequently.1 Xenos Biologists have tried to capture a live sample, but have, so far, failed (as every Xenos Hunter team, on this quest, have failed to return).
Observations
The Scythed Hierodule is armed with four huge razor sharp claws, each capable of slicing through a battle tank, and heavily protected by chitin plates, in places up to 30 cm thick. A Hierodule is far larger than a Carnifex. As well as its claws, the Hierodule also bears a symbiote creature which appears to live in its back, growing out between the armour plates. This toxic creature helps defend its host from attack, squirting a jet of potent mutagenic acid against any enemy that gets too close.
Basic Info
| Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record | |||
| Designation | Scythed Hierodule | Main Weaponry | 4x scything claws |
| Common Title | Scythed slaughterer | ||
| Species Name | Sica Hierodule Domitor | Secondary Weaponry | Acid spray |
| Average Height | Disputed. 4.9m2 to 5.8m1 | ||
| Average Weight | Disputed. 6 tonnes1 to 14 tonnes2 | Tertiary Weaponry | Multiple claws and fangs |
| First encountered | Hamman's World | ||
| Role | Heavy assault | ||
| Threat evaluation | Extreme | ||
Barbed Hierodule
History
After losing Harmman's World to Hive Fleet Kraken, the Imperial forces reinforced the Moran system. The assault, by Hive Fleet Kraken, was soon manifested. While the Imperium had learned from its losses, the Tyranid had evolved. The Hierodule had evolved into the Barbed Hierodule with a powerful ranged attack. It was quite a shock to the Imperial forces when it appeared on Maxima Moran.
Observations
The Barbed Hierodule replaces two of the Scythed Hierodule's claws with a pair of massive Barbed Strangler bio-cannons. Unlike the Scythed variant, it has no symbiote acid spray but instead has thicker armour plates.
Basic Info
| Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record | |||
| Designation | Barbed Hierodule | Main Weaponry | 2x bio-cannon |
| Common Title | Barbed slaughterer | ||
| Specied Name | Uncus Hierodule Domitor | Secondary Weaponry | Scything claws |
| Average Height | Disputed. 4.9m2 to 5.8m1 | ||
| Average Weight | Disputed. 6 tonnes1 to 17 tonnes2 | Tertiary Weaponry | Multiple claws and fangs |
| First encountered | Moran Prime | ||
| Role | Heavy assault/support | ||
| Threat evaluation | Very high | ||
Epic Scale
The original epic scale Hierodule model produced in the mid 1990s depicted the creature to be larger than its more modern Forge World counterpart. In this incarnation it was only slightly smaller than the Hierophant, therefore closer in size to a Titan compared to the current creature which is closer in size to a Super Heavy Tank.3
Sources
- 1: Imperial Armour Update 2002
- 2: Imperial Armour Volume Four - The Anphelion Project
- 3: White Dwarf 189
