Drukhari

The Archons are the masters of the Drukhari Kabals. Regal and monstrous in equal measure, each wields the power to enslave worlds and destroy civilisations. Archons have fed upon the pain of so many others that it takes true atrocity to invigorate them, so they must lead ever more raids against realspace.

Warriors of the Kabals form the beating heart of each Drukhari strike force. They are the cruellest and most rapacious of their caste, hungry for power and thirsty for the suffering of others. Kabalite Warriors are merciless fighters of murderous intent, who are led to battle by Sybarites, masters in the craft of war.

Raiders are the favoured transports of the Drukhari. Bladed skycraft, they are lightweight and extremely manoeuvrable. Raiders travel at extreme speed, using their sword-sharp fins and jagged keels to cut apart the foe, while their prow-mounted heavy weapons punish the foe.

A rich and daring Drukhari may surrender himself to the Haemonculi, requesting that his bones be hollowed out, that bands of new muscle be grafted onto his torso, and powerful wings and adrenaline dispensers be attached to his shoulders so that he is capable of true flight. The Kabal overlords pay handsomely for these veteran warriors to fight for them and as a result the Scourges will often equip themselves with the best weaponry and armour that they can find. It is rare for the Scourges to engage the enemy up close, preferring to lay down a withering hail of fire before flying away out of harm's reach.

The Talos Pain Engines are seen as the pinnacle of the Haemonculi's art. Creations of mad genius, each one is part organic and part mechanical, festooned with surgical apparatus and horrible-looking weapons of war.

The Drukhari rely heavily on surprise and raw speed, and hence their skycraft are all fast and manoeuvrable. The most deft of all Commorite transports is the Venom, an arrow-swift skimmer that carries an elite cadre of warriors into battle to strike like a poisoned dart at the heart of the foe. Should even a single Venom penetrate the enemy defences it can be enough to sow the seeds of destruction, laying down supporting fire as its lethal cargo goes to work. For this reason, the Venom is the perfect transport vehicle for Archons, Succubi and their respective bodyguards.

In the craft of murder, Wyches have no equal. In battle, Wyches feed upon screams of pain. With combat drugs coursing through their veins, Wyches roll, backflip and pirouette out of harm's way, stabbing through visors and neck-joints, slicing open a throat here and piercing a heart there.

The Drukhari are black-hearted reavers to whom the galaxy and all of its peoples are but cattle to be enslaved at will. These alien pirates strike hard and fast from the shadows of the webway, vanishing again before the foe can fight back.