The Infinite Empire: An Introduction to the Necrons in Warhammer 40,000 - a Lore Series (@xenowolfza/from-dust-they-rise-an)
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As we continue our journey through Necron lore, today we are delving into the Tomb Worlds and the ruling hierarchy of the Necron Empire.
Hierarchy of the Necron Empire
The sprawling Infinite Necron Empire contains many powerful Dynasties that rule over clusters of Tomb Worlds scattered across the stars. The ultimate ruling body of the Empire was the Triarch, comprised of the Silent King Szarekh and two advising Phaerons. After Szarekh’s self-imposed exile, this body has remained vacant, as the Silent King’s successors are unknown.
Below the empty Triarch, each Dynasty contains:
Phaerons – The rulers of entire Dynasties that can span dozens to hundreds of worlds. Phaerons hold near-absolute authority over their domains.
Overlords – Necron nobles who rule clusters of multiple Tomb Worlds within a Phaeron’s territory. They are bound by oaths of loyalty to serve their Dynasty.
Lords – Individual Necron nobles charged with awakening and ruling over a single Tomb World. Lords command enormous forces on their planets.
Necron royalty have Royal Courts with advising Necron Lords, Cryptek technomancers, and other specialists. Below this hierarchy are the main fighting forces, including Warriors, Immortals, Tomb Blades, and Destroyers.
Outliers like the Flayed Ones act independently from Dynasty rulers, while Canoptek constructs serve as automatons and scouts bound to their Tomb Worlds.
The war doctrines and personalities of Necron Overlords can differ wildly across Dynasties. Some seek to reforge the ancient empire through endless conquest and the extermination of “lesser races.” Others simply protect the territory already under their control. Inter-dynasty conflicts are all too common, as rulers clash over resources and grudges. Ultimately, however, all Necrons are united in their goal of restoring their race to galactic dominance.
Necron Dynasties
The Infinite Empire itself is highly hierarchical. The highest of the Necrons are the Phaerons, rulers of entire Dynasties comprising many worlds. Beneath these are the Overlords, who command clusters of Tomb Worlds within a Phaeron’s domain. Below the Overlords are the Lords, each overseeing a single Tomb World.
Phaerons and Overlords are served by a Royal Court of Necron Lords and Crypteks. The size of a Royal Court is not only a mark of prestige but also an indication of the military power of its ruling noble. Much like in human societies, Necron Courts are rife with webs of political intrigue.
Below the Royal Court:
War-Phalanxes: These include Necron Warriors (the core of any Necron legion), Immortals, and war engines.
Auxiliaries: These are more akin to allies than true warriors, such as the Destroyer Cults and Flayed Ones.
Canoptek Constructs: Fully autonomous constructs used for support and reconnaissance.
C’tan Shards: The bound remnants of the Necrons’ once-godlike captives, used as weapons.
Tomb Worlds
Even within the Imperium of Man, the Necrons are poorly understood, with only a handful of individuals aware of the true scale of the threat they represent to humanity’s dominion over the galaxy.
Just as Necron society is rigidly hierarchical, so too are its Tomb Worlds. The most important are the Crownworlds, the oldest and proudest of all the Necron-held planets and the governing sites for their Dynasties and planetary clusters.
Types of Tomb Worlds:
Crownworlds: Once hubs of galactic power, Crownworlds are the most prestigious and resource-rich planets. Their stasis-crypts are the most reliable, preserving their inhabitants in excellent condition.
Coreworlds: These planets form the heart of a Dynasty's interstellar territory. They are ruled by close kin of the Crownworld's regent to ensure dynastic loyalty.
Fringeworlds: These are of tertiary importance, often poor or distant colonies contributing manual labor or serving as penal institutions.
Notable Dynasties:
Maynarkh Dynasty
Mephrit Dynasty
Nephrekh Dynasty
Nihilakh Dynasty
Novokh Dynasty
Sautekh Dynasty
Szarekhan Dynasty
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Next Time
In the next post, we will dive deeper into:
The C’tan
The Wars of Secession
The War in Heaven
The Silent King and his guardians
Who are the Flayed Ones?
Thanks for reading!
Until next time - Peace😀✌️!
@XenoWolfza🐺🤓
Credits to sources (info and research derived from , but written in my own understanding and words):
https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/
https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/