Ark of Omen
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This article is about the Chaos vessel; for the other uses of Arks of Omen, see Arks of Omen. |
The Arks of Omen are colossal space vessels designed by the Daemon Vashtorr that are built around the cavernous bodies of Space Hulks the Traitor Legion claimed from the Warp.[1]
Overview
Construction of the Arks of Omen began when the Daemon Vashtorr entered into an alliance with Abaddon the Despoiler and his Black Legion. Many months were spent clearing various Space Hulks of foes and preparing them for transformation by Vashtorr into something greater at a Dark Mechanicus fleet station deep within Imperium Nihilus. Each hulk became transformed by the powers of Chaos, heavily weaponised and augmented with the means to steer them through the stars through Daemons known as Ferrymen. Though no two are alike, each is heavily corrupted by the Warp and monstrously powerful. Many are easily the size of small planetoids and required entire military campaigns to clear of various Xenos and warp-horrors in order to secure them for use by Abaddon.[4a]
Despite their varying appearances and size, each Ark of Omen is built around a similar operational template. Components include:[4b]
- Wardings - Used to prevent rebellion by the corrupted control systems and Machine Spirits.
- Fleshmetal Gangliaxos - Swarms of silvery cybernematodes created by Vashtorr that burrow deep into the Hulk, exuding warp-silicae strands and creating a synapse-like fleshmetal cabling. As these autocognitive pathways spread through the hulk they connected and enslaved any mechanical system still viable, creating a control nexus within the Ark.
- Warp Portal - Each Ark includes a captive Warp Portal for a purpose known only to a select few outside of Vashtorr and Abaddon.
- Obelyskane - Another design of Vashtorr, it is an empyric beacon powered by a warp-furnace fed with the souls of Psykers in dark mockery of the Astronomican. These short-ranged devices transform each Ark into a highly viable waypoint, allowing fleets of escorting ships to navigate the Great Rift by its presence.
- Ferryman - Created by the Arks Gangliaxos, which converged to create a daemonic pilot-entity. This mutated monstrosity serves as both the ship's bridge and crew, allowing for these obscenely large vessels to operate. They are bound to obey the commands issued by their master, though in truth their ultimate loyalty is to Vashtorr.
- Slave-Psyker Covens - Augmented with insectile Daemon-helms that allow them to lock onto Key Fragments across time and space.
- Additional exotic systems that include temporal and probability-based weapons, neutron shielding, quantum communications, counter-ballistic teleportation batteries, and many more. While formidable many are unreliable, and are further augmented by the Dark Mechanicum with Weapons Batteries, shield generators, vox arrays, hangar bays, and engines wherever they could be attached. Many of these installations we are self-contained, generating their own air and power and in no way conjoined with the greater Arks own systems.
Accompanying each Ark is a flotilla of conventional Chaos Space Marine vessels in a dark mirror of the fleets of the Indomitus Crusade. Collectively, they are known as Balefleets. Some of the Arks also carry Possessor Tech-Daemons in order to protect themselves.[4c]
Known Arks
- The Unhallowed - One of the first Arks to be created.[4b]
- Herald of Misery - Commanded by Iron Warriors Warsmith Czagra.[4b]
- Stygian Heart - Commanded by Apophari Quen of The Scourged.[4a]
- Ogre - Commanded by Gulthorg the Blighted of the Sons of Rot.[4b]
- Bloodmaw - Engaged in a war against the forces of Graia on Aggamedes.[4b]
- Bane of Life - Plunged into a war between the Kronus Hegemony of Orks in the Rasputar Cluster.[4b]
- Blackened Tower - Damaged by Enslavers[4c]
- Sobbing God - Besieged by Hive Fleet Kraken. Commanded by Scourgemaster Ulghata.[4c]
- Beast in Scarlet - Raided the Necron Tomb World of Vol, ensuring the ire of Overlord Somtatek. Commanded by the Thousand Sons Sorcerer Lord Hasomet.[4c]
- Colossus - Destroyed by an Ultramarines boarding part at Onalpa.[4c]
- Devourer of Hope - Boarded and crippled by Eldar Corsairs.[4c]
- Netherworld Blade - Rampaged through War Zone Chalnath, battling fellow Renegades.[4c]
- Reaper's Shadow - Mysteriously destroyed due to Inquisitorial machinations.[4c]
- Morbidius - Boarded by the Iron Hands under Captain Albaar.[4c]
- Night Terror - Destroyed by mysterious Bolter-wielding attackers (Likely Legion of the Damned)[4c]
- Neverlight - Destroyed by the Word Bearers after they assaulted the Ark and unleashed its Daemonic wardings.[4c]
- Dirge Discordant - Scuttled by Khornate forces, requiring Abaddon's direct attention.[4c]
- Stygian Heart - Commanded by the Khornate Lord Apophari Quen of The Scourged.[5a]
- Clarion Dire - Commanded by World Eaters lord Karakka Bloodfist. Took part in the battle for Malakbael.[5b]
- Orac Unleashed - Commanded by Vashtorr
- Unnamed Ark commanded by Thavak of the Night Lords. Engaged in a war against Ulthwe and the Kabal of the Iron Thorn.[4b]
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Community: Warhammer Day Reveals – What Are the Arks of Omen? (posted on 8 October 2022) (last accessed 5 January 2023)
- 2: Warhammer Community: Arks of Omen: Abaddon Is Your First Step Into an Even Grimmer, Even Darker Future (posted on 5 January 2023) (last accessed 5 January 2023)
- 3: Warhammer Community: White Dwarf 484 Ushers a Corrupted Ark of Omen Out of the Warp With Six New Missions (posted on 9 January 2023) (last accessed 9 January 2023)
- 4: Arks of Omen: Abaddon
- 5: Arks of Omen: Angron
