Crypteks are Necron technological specialists whose purpose is to study the highly advanced and ancient technology of their race.
Overview
Their main fields of study include dimensional dissonance, singularity manipulation, atomic transmutation, elemental transmogrification and countless other reason-defying technologies. They are masters of the scientific and technological and in many ways a Cryptek's powers mirror those employed by the psykers of other factions such as the Imperium and Eldar. However they differ in that instead of using a mutant mind to channel Warp energies, the Cryptek employs arcane science to harness the universe's fundamental forces.[1]
Crypteks operate in pan-galactic conclaves, many of which specialise in a particular field of techno-sorcery. Though they have no official rank in the political structure of a dynasty, they wield incredible influence and often serve in the courts of Necron Overlords and Necron Lords as close confidants.[2b] The powers of Crypteks are highly sought after by Necron Overlords, who will meet whatever demands are made by the Crypteks in exchange for their services.[1] Crypteks wear Essence-Tomes, which are tiles forged from whatever substance that Cryptek is studying. As the Cryptek advances in his studies and mastery of his field, he adds additional tiles to the chain. Chronomancers have tiles made from time itself, while Voidmancers essence-tomes are constructed from black holes and dimensionalists from the wounds created between dimensions.[6]
Ultimately, the only thing that holds the ambition of a Cryptek in check is another of its kind. Should a retained Cryptek rise too far above his station, a Necron Overlord will attempt to replace him by luring a more tractable Cryptek away from his rival. Even this has complications, for while no Cryptek will knowingly replace another of the same conclave, a rival from another conclave will happily do so. Once his services are acquired, a Cryptek’s duties stretch far beyond the tomb world. It is common for an Overlord to grant a Cryptek the first pickings of precious resources in exchange for his services on campaign. Such a bargain serves both sides well; a tomb world’s resources are limited, and the Cryptek’s trade requires that he have a ready supply of raw materials.[3]
Crypteks sometimes have bodyguards known as Cryptothralls.[4]
Variants of Techno-sorcerer
The name of the related techno-sorcery conclave is in brackets.
- Chronomancer (Harbingers of Eternity): Masters of time and knowledge of the future flows through their every act. They can rarely be trusted as they always have an idea of how any event will unfold. They wield Aeonstaves with sapphire heads, capable of trapping a enemy in a bubble of slow-time, a Chronometron capable of changing time, and the ability to crystallize time around themselves in a a way that blocks their enemies' blows.[2a] A subsect of Chronomancy is known as Astromancy, whose disciples, also known as Astraturges or Stellasayers, are able to use the stars to divine the future.[6a][9]
- Datamancer:[6a]
- Dimensionalist: Masters of alternate dimensions and dimensional gateways.[6]
- Ethermancer (Harbingers of the Storm): Capable of manipulating the weather against their foes. Their Voltaic Staff shoots lightning and their Ether Crystal summons pressure waves and bolts of lightning to buffet their enemies. They are also capable of calling upon emerald Lightning Fields to protect their allies.[2a]
- Geomancer (Harbingers of Transmogrification): Also known as alchemists[2a] or metallurgists[6]. Practicing an art once known as alchemy, they specialize in the transmutation of matter from one form to another and to animate the inanimate. They use the Harp of Dissonance that can change Adamantium to brittle glass with a single booming bass note, the Seismic Crucible to induce seismic activity in rock, metal and air, and the Tremorstave causes quakes that knock enemies away.[2a]
- Astromancer[11b]
- Atomancer[11b]
- Observationer: Astronomical interpretations are their purview and their skulls contain bristling manes of observational orbs and astrolabes.[10]
- Paradomancer[11b]
- Photachromancers[11b]
- Plasmancer (Harbingers of Destruction): Masters of raw energy who can shoot devastating blasts and pulses of light that illuminate the entire battlefield from their Eldritch Lances in battle. Their gaze of flickering witch-fire falters the onset of even the bravest attacker.[2a]
- Prokaryomancer[11b]
- Psychomancer (Harbingers of Despair): Masters of influencing the organic mind and psychological warfare. With their Abyssal Staves they can spread madness among enemy ranks. They are also capable of causing dread in their enemies and of dematerialising and rematerialising their comrades.[2a]
- Technomancer: These masters possess the power to augment and swiftly repair Necron units and Canoptek constructs upon the battlefield.[7a]
- Voidmancer: Masters of the void of space and black holes.[6]
Antithetik Disciplines
Despite their arrogance and entitlement, even Crypteks have scientific fields which they deem taboo. Dubbed Antithetik Disciplines, these include such fields as the origins and mysteries of the C'tan and the quantum socio-political mechanisms of conflict. Typically, Crypteks who study these fields require special permission from a Necron Overlord, Triarch Praetorian, and in some cases even the Silent King himself.[11b]
Cryptek Technologies
- Abyssal Staff - Psychomancers[2a]
- Aeonstave - Chronomancers[2a]
- Atavindicator - Psychomancers[7]
- Canoptek Cloak - Technomancers[7a]
- Canoptek Control Node - Technomancers[7a]
- Cortical Subjugator Scarabs[7]
- Countertemporal Nanomines - Chronomancers[7]
- Cryptogeometric Adjuster[7]
- Cryptothralls[7]
- Dimensional Sanctum[7]
- Eldritch Lance - Plasmancers[2a]
- Entropic Lance - Chronomancers[2a]
- Ether Crystal - Ethermancers[2a]
- Gaze of Flame - Plasmancers[2a]
- Harp of Dissonance - Alchemists[2a]
- Lightning Field[2a]
- Nightmare Shroud - Psychomancers[2a]
- Photonic Transubjector[7]
- Seismic Crucible - Geomancers[2a]
- Timesplinter Cloak - Chronomancers[2a]
- Tremorstave - Geomancers[2a]
- Veil of Darkness - Psychomancers[2a]
- Voltaic Staff - Ethermancers[2a]
Notable Crypteks
- Szeras
- Orikan the Diviner
- Navgran the Eternal — Cryptek in the service of the Sautekh Dynasty. Known as the High Transmuter.[2c]
- Drizyan
- Kamoteph[8]
- Osiskor
- Toholk — Master-Artificer
- Ozkan the Codifier
- Rahkoz
- Harri'apt
- Kamoteph
- Sannet - Chief curator of Solemnace under Trazyn the Infinite[6]
- Vishani - Ammunos Dynasty[6]
- Omizhar Vohk - Chronomancer[9]
- Am-heht - Psychomancer. The Mad Cryptek of Carnotite
Images
See Also
Sources
- 1: Necron Cryptek
- 2: Codex: Necrons (5th Edition)
- 3: Codex: Necrons (8th Edition) pg.39
- 4: Warhammer Community: Warhammer 40,000 Preview – What’s in the Box? (Posted on 13/06/2020) (Last accessed on 13 June 2020)
- 5: Warhammer Community: The Codex Show (posted 9/12/2020) (last accessed 9/12/2020)
- 6: The Infinite and the Divine (Novel) Chapter 4-5
- 6a: Part 2 Chapter 1
- 7: Codex: Necrons (9th Edition) pg.61
- 7a: pg.90
- 8: Warhammer Community: Get a first look at this year’s exclusive Store Anniversary models (Posted on 04/01/2021) (Last accessed on 4 Janurary 2021)
- 9: Sons of the Hydra (Novel), Part II, Chapter ζ: Snake Oil
- 10: The Bleeding Stars (Short Story)
- 11: White Dwarf 499
