Silica Mutus (High Gothic), more commonly known as Stalkers, is the term describing the constructs used by the Dark Mechanicum during the Horus Heresy.[1a] First seen on Mars during the Horus Heresy, particularly in the destruction of Magma City, they had spread across the galaxy and became key elements of the Traitor Mechanicum's forces. These constructs replaced traditional militant orders on minor Forge Worlds and provided both flexibility and strength in battle.[1a]
Description
Stalkers were designed for specialized roles, such as 'Archer' stalkers for tracking and predicting enemy movements, and 'Butcher' stalkers for close combat with dynamic target prioritization. Their advanced neural cortices allowed them to adapt to battlefield situations, though they were not fully autonomous due to anima shackles that limited their actions.[1a]
Stalkers exhibited a form of collective intelligence, sharing information and adapting to battlefield changes. With a 'Controller' construct, such as the 'Cyclops', they could break free from their usual restrictions, demonstrating a higher level of learning. Despite concerns about potential disobedience, their adaptability and destructive power made them valuable assets.[1a]
Stalkers were first deployed upon the opening of the Vaults of Moravec by the traitorous Fabricator-General Kelbor-Hal, shortly into the Horus Heresy. They were originally built on Mars and took part in the opening shots of the Martian Civil War, first being observed at the fall of Magma City.[1a]
Patterns
Tennebrax "Archer" Pattern
Tennebrax "Archer" Battle Stalkers are one of the most ubiquitous stalker patterns, owing to the relative ease and low cost of its construction. Lacking the protective construct shields of other patterns, the Tenebrax was utilized as mobile light artillery, mounting a Storm Laser Flenser, Exo-Planar Cannon and a variety of other smaller weapons such as Maxim Bolters or Volkite Culverins. Overcharged laser capacitors sat within its thorax, increasing the effective range of the storm laser and providing additional power to locomotion for rapid movement.[1c]
Errax "Butcher" Pattern
Errax "Butcher" Assault Stalkers are the most common type of Stalker. Designed singularly for slaughter[3c], they are close combat orientated Stalkers equipped with an array of blade-tipped Mechadendrites, Maxim Bolters, Lascutters, Meltaguns, and sharpened limbs. Acting as fast-moving shock troops, they often move in after Tennebrax have softened up the enemy.[1][3c] In the absence of other Stalker patterns, they fall into savage animalistic behavior that identify and slay the "weakest" prey.[1a]
Serperos "Overlord" Pattern
Serperos "Overlord" Heavy Stalkers are heavily armored and armed Stalkers, operating as siegebreakers for the Dark Mechanicum. Thick armour plates and several shield generators allowed them to withstand all but the heaviest firepower, while it wielded heavy weapons in the form of a Exo-Planar Bombard or Storm Laser Array and smaller Lascutters or Irradiation Engines.[1c]
Scintillax "Cylops" Pattern
Scintillax "Cyclops" Noospheric Stalkers are command units that are equipped with sophisticated Tri-cortex Noospheric Controllers, which form a Silica Mutus gestalt with the Stalker Cohorts and accompanying Harpax Swarmer Scout Hosts. This networked anima allows the collective warmachines to become even more organized and efficient, as the Cyclops can use the Tri-cortex to quickly disseminate orders to them.[1] Of all the stalker designs, it possesses the great semi-autonomy and can disseminate tactical data and orders to the wider stalker cohort. Besides its command equipment, it is equipped with a Lascutter, Storm Laser, and Exo-Planar Cannon.[1c]
See Also
Sources
- 1: Legions Imperialis: Rise of the Dark Mechanicum
- 2: Warhammer Community: Heresy Thursday – Raise your oily manipulators to the sky in praise of the Dark Mechanicum (Saved archive page, dated October 10 2024, last accessed 10 October 2024, original link: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/xd9mklal/heresy-thursday-raise-your-oily-manipulators-to-the-sky-in-praise-of-the-dark-mechanicum/)
- 3: Warhammer Community: Warhammer Day Preview – More machines roll out from the Martian forges (Saved archive page, dated October 5 2024, last accessed 10 October 2024, original link: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/pg4mfy13/warhammer-day-preview-more-machines-roll-out-from-the-martian-forges/)
| Dark Mechanicus Forces | |
|---|---|
| Command | Heretek Archmagos • Heretek Tech-Priest Auxilia • Hellwright • Idolator |
| Troops | Dark Skitarii • Thallax • Myrmidon Destructor • Myrmidon Secutor • Ursarax • Harpax • Negavolt Cultist • Adsecularis • Servitor |
| Vehicles | Eviscerator • Triaros • Krios • Karacnos |
| Robots & Daemon Engines | Castellax • Domitar • Venetar • Vorax • Errax • Thanatar • Vultarax • Stalker • Helstalker • Decimator • Venomcrawler • Defiler • Plague Hulk • Blood Slaughterer • Brass Scorpion • Subjugator |
| Knights | Knight Despoiler • Knight Rampager • Knight Desecrator • Knight Abominant • Knight Tyrant • War Dog Brigand • War Dog Executioner • War Dog Huntsman • War Dog Stalker |
| Titans | Warhound • Reaver • Warbringer Nemesis • Warlord • Warmaster • Imperator |
| Aircraft | Hell Blade • Hell Talon • Harbinger • Heldrake |
