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6th Ed Imperial Knight Codex cover.. An Imperial Knight from House Terryn looming over a bunch of puny Space Marines (Ultramarines? Doesn't look like them).
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Knights are bonded to their Noble pilots through a rite known as the Ritual of Becoming, aptly name because the Noble "becomes" the Knight by fusing his mind with its machine spirit. Since the pilots are awesome Nobles with nerves of steel and sound mental fortitude, they don't go crazy, but just end up listening to the psychotic whispers of past pilots urging them to give in to the Dark Side...HERESY! BLAM! Ahem...give in to their bloodlust and rampage on the battlefield. This also allows the Noble to take control of the Knight inside the Throne Mechanicum, which is simply a fancy name for cockpit. C'mon, Games Workshop, even Gundam makers Bandai aren't so desperate to give their cockpits some sort of attempting-to-be-cool-but-failing name.
Knight Worlds were founded at the dawn of the Age of Technology, and right after that (some era of great expansion before the Imperium was founded). As such, these worlds are usually habitable planets that Mankind stumbled upon while searching for exploitable resources. They brought their technology with them to fight off the evil dangers inhabiting these planets, often in the form of monstrous predatory beasts or xenos races that resented the invasion, and used them to build giant robots! Using Standard Template Constructs, they were able to mass-produce a specific object flawlessly without the need for skilled engineers...so what did they build? Awesome giant robots! Huh, towering bipedal exo-suits sound cooler, and Knights sound cooler.
Anyway, these Knights are then piloted by a single pilot because he wants to monopolize such an awesome suit (and who could blame him?), and with their firepower, armor and shields, they were invincible in combat. They could combat colossal beasts and wipe out raiding armies, and thanks to their awesomeness, Mankind propsered in their attempts at interstellar colonization. Apparently, the machinery that bonded the Knight's pilot to his suit had mind-altering properties such as notions of honor and duty, nobility and fealty (which is actually not bad considering the alternatives...wouldn't want a psychotic nut to pilot that scary, amazing suit that's supposed to protect you, not destroy you) being ingrained in his psyche. This turned him into an amazing guy who ended up ruling because of pure epicness...so they actually started out as commoners and turned themselves into Nobles sworn to defend their home world. Cool.
Unfortunately, Mankind's darkest age arrived, the Age of Strife or the Long Night. Good thing the Knights were controlled by their pilots witout any sort of Artificial Inteilligence, or Humanity would have gone extinct. Thanks to that foresight, the AIs that "got smart" and swore allegiance to Skynet, uh, decided to rebel against humans didn't have these incredible machines on their side. I think we dodged a bullet...or at least a battle cannon round. Unfortuantely, the psykers went mad and inadvertently opened portals for daemons to jump in, and Warp storms joined the party to cut humanity off from each other. Damn. Across the galaxy, Mankind was assailed by unthinkable terrors from all sides.
Thankfully, the Knight worlds withstood the calamity, thanks to the awesome Knights offering unmatched protection. These guys continued to shore up their defenses and ruled over their world with an iron...or adamantium hand. A lot of these knightly houses were warrior aristocrats, and they ended up ruling over neo-feudal societies, and this continued for five thousand years. That's a pretty long time. Eventually, these Knight worlds were rediscovered by the Imperium when the Emperor launched their Great Crusade and found all of Mankind's lost colonies. The Imperium managed to assimilate the Knight worlds, eager to get their hands on a rich bounty of archeotech and unexploited resources, and the Mechanicum of Mars craved the STCs, so they desperately pursued alliances with them. This led to trade between Knight worlds and the Mechanicum, particularly because the former relied greatly on the latter to repair and maintain their Knights, as well as to build new ones. Tech-Priests and technicians seconded to Knight Houses are known as Sacristans, usually trained in Mars or some Forge World before returning to their Knight Houses, and thankfully they're more loyal to their Houses than they are to Mars. Yay. In any case, the Knight worlds and Forge worlds were entwined with each other in mutual support.
Knightly houses are actually self-contained organization, ruled by a single leader called the High King, or if closely aligned with the Adeptus Mechanicus, Princeps. They are also known as Ritter or Patriarch or even Shogun on different planets. The most powerful of the knightly houses are known as the Great Houses, which include House Cadmus, House Terryn, House Griffith and House Hawkshroud. They kind of forgot House Raven, and I'm going to introduce House Yato (and their allied House Uesugi and House Takeda) as another. Yay. The nobles who serve under these High Kings or Princeps (or Shogun) are known as Barons, but they also go by many other names, such as Caliphs, Kaisers and...yes, Daimyos! MY KNIGHT HOUSE IS CANON! Thank you, Games Workshop and Forge World! WOOHOO! They made my Japanese-inspired Knight House canon!
Anyway, Imperial Knights are devided into those Knightly houses loyal to the Imperium and those aligned with the Adeptus Mechanicus. The latter are often called upon to support Titan Legions, and escorted by Skitarii (wow, I actually have a fluffy army if that's the case). Anyway, the alignment with Mechanicus gives these Knight worlds benefits such as greater technological resources. On the other hand, an Imperial-aligned House would have more freedom and greater autonomy, and are not bound by ancient pacts with the sinister Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus, who often conceal insidious motives. Go ask Baron Roland of House Cadmus if you don't believe me. He got so pissed off by an idiotic Tech-Priest, Adept Nemonix, that he took his entire Knight army off the planet of Vondrak and left them to the jaws of the Great Devourer when the dumb Adept tried to backstab and have him killed. Serves him right.
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7th Ed Imperial Knight codex cover. Featuring Baron Roland from House Cadmus, perhaps?
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Anyway, here's a list of Knightly houses and their worlds.
House Taranis - Mars (Man, these dudes were awesome in the novel Mechanicum by Graham McNeill! If you haven't read that yet, I urge you to read it...NOW! Oh, and add Lightning Hall to that list! Don't ask me why Black Library spelled it as Lighting Hall, they screwed up the title in their website. They are also known as the Knight Patriarchs, they usually serve alongside one of the Triad Ferrum Morgulus - basically Legio Ignatum, the Fire Wasps, Legio Tempestus, the Storm Lords, and the traitor Legio Mortis, the Death's Heads, of Mars. Fought alongside Legio Tempestus against Legio Mortis on Mars shortly after the Death of Innocence)
House Zavoa - Mars (A retcon if I ever saw one, they are known as the Wayward Knights, usually fighting alongside the Triad Ferrum Morgulus like House Taranis, and the surviving Loyalists sought refuge in Ryza after most of them were wiped out or turned Traitor on Mars)
House Morbidia - Mars (Traitors who deserve to burn)
House Sidus - Ryza (has a lot of cool, exotic Mechanicum-exclusive Knight armors such as Knights Styrix, Knights Magaera and Knights Atrapos, known as the Scions of Ryza or The Shackled)
House Raven - Kolossi (they are supposed to be bonded to Legio Metallica, the Iron Skulls, of Metallica, but somehow they don't have their own rules in Adeptus Titanicus. Wait, what? You're kidding, right?)
House Terryn - Voltoris (They're tearing the upstart Tau Empire a new one! I want a novel on how the Imperial Knights kicked the Tau's asses on Voltoris! They are known as the Marshalls of Serenity and have some relationship with the forge world, Lucius, aand Voltoris is known as the "Tranquil World")
House Cadmus - Raisa
House Griffith - Dragon's End
House Hawkshroud - Krastellan (These are the guys you want on your side - once they owe you a debt, they'll always come running to you whenever you ask for help. YAY!)
House Mortan - Kimdaria
House Althalos - Kimdaria
House Thalmus - Kimdaria
House Vulker - Aurous IV
House Krast - Chrysis (Take the h away and you'll get Crysis, an awesome game by Crytek)
House Agaron - Silverdawn
House Raven - Kolossi (they are supposed to be bonded to Legio Metallica, the Iron Skulls, of Metallica, but somehow they don't have their own rules in Adeptus Titanicus. Wait, what? You're kidding, right?)
House Terryn - Voltoris (They're tearing the upstart Tau Empire a new one! I want a novel on how the Imperial Knights kicked the Tau's asses on Voltoris! They are known as the Marshalls of Serenity and have some relationship with the forge world, Lucius, aand Voltoris is known as the "Tranquil World")
House Cadmus - Raisa
House Griffith - Dragon's End
House Hawkshroud - Krastellan (These are the guys you want on your side - once they owe you a debt, they'll always come running to you whenever you ask for help. YAY!)
House Mortan - Kimdaria
House Althalos - Kimdaria
House Thalmus - Kimdaria
House Vulker - Aurous IV
House Krast - Chrysis (Take the h away and you'll get Crysis, an awesome game by Crytek)
House Agaron - Silverdawn
House Aramos - Rapture
House Blackskull - Scuptium VII
House Borgius - Dutonis
House Navaros - Dutonis
House Brahmica - Alaric Prime (Go read Sanctus Reach: The Red Waaagh! It's an awesome campaign featuring the Cadian Imperial Guard and the Imperial Knights of Alaric Prime!)
House Calestros - Alaric Prime
House Blackskull - Scuptium VII
House Borgius - Dutonis
House Navaros - Dutonis
House Brahmica - Alaric Prime (Go read Sanctus Reach: The Red Waaagh! It's an awesome campaign featuring the Cadian Imperial Guard and the Imperial Knights of Alaric Prime!)
House Calestros - Alaric Prime
House Coldshroud - Gryphonne Octad (known as the Gryphonne Sires, they are bonded to Legio Gryphonicus of the forge world, Gryphonne IV, the War Griffons)
House Col'Khak - Atar-Planitia (known as the Col'Khak Collective, bonded to Legio Atarus, the Firebrands, of forge world Atar-Median)
House Curtana - Karastus
House Degallio - Alaric Prime (Ouch, this poor House ended up being destroyed by the end of Sanctus Reach: The Red Waaagh! campaign...or at least in the Hour of the Wolf. Sigh)
House Helmast - Alaric Prime
House Hermetika - Kaldeia
House Illius - Vorinth
House Nero - Vorinth
House Kamata - Alaric Prime
House Kestren - Alaric Prime
House Khord - Avalane VI (Cerastus Knight-Lancers! WOO!)
House Orhlacc - Dark Haven (That sounds ominous, and it's their prime world) and Wychval (a secondary world, apparently) (known as the Knights of the Manticore, they are also nomadic, having to evacuate Dark Haven during the Horus Heresy and fight against the Warmaster. Apparently they returned to recolonize Dark Haven after the Heresy, where they continue to operate even today)
House Trainor - Mancora (why not just name them Trainer?)
House Vornherr - Luhnborg-IX (known as the Luhnborg Uhlanii or the Bloody Dukes, they became the Black Lancers after the betrayal at Calth, bonded to Legio Praesagius, the True Messengers, of forge world Gantz, and Legio Tempestus, the Storm Lords, of Mars and Orestes - the Loyalist Legio Tempestus, anyway, not the Traitors, and almost wiped out at Calth)
House Vyronii - Damaetus III/II (the awesome Knight house who fought against the Horus Heresy after being stabbed in the back by traitorous Mechanicum Adepts, known as the Wardens of Felweather, 'God-eaters' and allied to forge world Mezoa, they fought against the Mitu Conglomerate with help of the Dark Angels)
House Wentorth - Baroda
House Col'Khak - Atar-Planitia (known as the Col'Khak Collective, bonded to Legio Atarus, the Firebrands, of forge world Atar-Median)
House Curtana - Karastus
House Degallio - Alaric Prime (Ouch, this poor House ended up being destroyed by the end of Sanctus Reach: The Red Waaagh! campaign...or at least in the Hour of the Wolf. Sigh)
House Helmast - Alaric Prime
House Hermetika - Kaldeia
House Illius - Vorinth
House Nero - Vorinth
House Kamata - Alaric Prime
House Kestren - Alaric Prime
House Khord - Avalane VI (Cerastus Knight-Lancers! WOO!)
House Orhlacc - Dark Haven (That sounds ominous, and it's their prime world) and Wychval (a secondary world, apparently) (known as the Knights of the Manticore, they are also nomadic, having to evacuate Dark Haven during the Horus Heresy and fight against the Warmaster. Apparently they returned to recolonize Dark Haven after the Heresy, where they continue to operate even today)
House Trainor - Mancora (why not just name them Trainer?)
House Vornherr - Luhnborg-IX (known as the Luhnborg Uhlanii or the Bloody Dukes, they became the Black Lancers after the betrayal at Calth, bonded to Legio Praesagius, the True Messengers, of forge world Gantz, and Legio Tempestus, the Storm Lords, of Mars and Orestes - the Loyalist Legio Tempestus, anyway, not the Traitors, and almost wiped out at Calth)
House Vyronii - Damaetus III/II (the awesome Knight house who fought against the Horus Heresy after being stabbed in the back by traitorous Mechanicum Adepts, known as the Wardens of Felweather, 'God-eaters' and allied to forge world Mezoa, they fought against the Mitu Conglomerate with help of the Dark Angels)
House Wentorth - Baroda
House Procon Vi - Procon VI (bonded vassal Knight House to Legio Solaria, or Imperial Hunters, of forge world Tigrus)
House Devine - Molech (bloody traitors who deserve their extinction)
House Kaska - Molech
House Kaushik - Molech
House Donar - Molech (one of the most epic Houses ever, made a last stand against the Death Guard)
House Mamaragon - Molech
House Indra - Molech
House Tazkhar - Molech
House Moritain - Ceamira (often helping out Legio Astraman, the Morning Stars, of forge world Graia, and notably artistic, scholarly and incredibly intelligent - basically the nerd Knights of Horus Heresy, and I bet they get along really well with the Thousand Sons)
House Malinax - Xana II (the archenemy of House Yato, the 2 Knight Houses clashing as early as the Razing of Prospero where House Yato fought on the side of the Thousand Sons. House Yato would continue to fight against forces of House Malinax throughout the Horus Heresy, particularly during the Battle of Beta-Garmon, the Crusade of Iron and the Siege of Terra)
House Yato - Draconis III
House Uesugi - Draconis III
House Takeda - Draconis III
House Uesugi - Draconis III
House Takeda - Draconis III
House Akita - Draconis III
House Oda - Draconis III
House Tokugawa - Draconis III
The last six houses, in particular the three main houses, House Yato, House Uesugi and House Takeda, will be written in a separate article because they're my original creations and I would like to expand a bit more on their fluff and history. Yay.
And then there's the lovable Freeblades, such as Gerantius, the Forgotten Knight, and the Obsidian Knight! They are basically pilots who broke off from the Knight houses and become independent, fighting wherever they want and whenever they want. I kid you not. Well, it's usually because they have sworn revenge on a particular enemy and decides to hound them to death, chasing them to the ends of the galaxy to wreck bloody vengeance. And stuff. So yeah. Plus they are legendary characters who kill their enemies LIKE A BOSS! Just look at what Gerantius did to the Orks in Alaric Prime! And the Obsidian Knight...there's no killing him! I know he fell into a ravine in Kauyon, but I bet my entire Imperial Knight collection that he will be back in Mont'ka! Yeah! Well, turns out I was right. Not that it matters.
Other Links:
The last six houses, in particular the three main houses, House Yato, House Uesugi and House Takeda, will be written in a separate article because they're my original creations and I would like to expand a bit more on their fluff and history. Yay.
And then there's the lovable Freeblades, such as Gerantius, the Forgotten Knight, and the Obsidian Knight! They are basically pilots who broke off from the Knight houses and become independent, fighting wherever they want and whenever they want. I kid you not. Well, it's usually because they have sworn revenge on a particular enemy and decides to hound them to death, chasing them to the ends of the galaxy to wreck bloody vengeance. And stuff. So yeah. Plus they are legendary characters who kill their enemies LIKE A BOSS! Just look at what Gerantius did to the Orks in Alaric Prime! And the Obsidian Knight...there's no killing him! I know he fell into a ravine in Kauyon, but I bet my entire Imperial Knight collection that he will be back in Mont'ka! Yeah! Well, turns out I was right. Not that it matters.
Other Links:
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