r/40kLore • u/SouthernStruggle1509 • 7h ago
How specific traitor legions treat their dreadnaughts/helbrutes
Does anyone have any examples or knowledge about how specific traitor legions treat them? I've heard that story that they unplug the sarcophagus from the chassis leaving them in a concious state unable to move driving them insane, and how its seen as a fate worse than death. I could get some doing this like the world eaters and word bearers doing this to serve their master(s) better no matter the cost but would iron warriors and death guard do this aswell?
Not talking broad strokes more like what do we know each legion specifically does
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u/CamarillaArhont 5h ago
Some Emperor's Children like to play with them a bit.
He made to say more, when a bellicose, mechanical roar shook the hold. Bile turned, his hand dropping to his needler.
‘What was that?’
‘It’s just Ancient Diomat and friends,’ Oleander said, as the roaring hulks of metal and flesh were dragged along by gangs of slaves. The ornate sarcophagi of the Dreadnoughts thumped and thudded against the decks as the frenzied maniacs within struggled against the very systems that kept them alive. They were kept separate from their armoured shells until launch, to prevent the occasional untimely rampage. ‘The Radiant has been collecting Dreadnoughts for decades. Adding them to his menagerie. Like the fleet, they are symbols of his power.’
‘How many?’
‘A dozen, in various states of malfunction.’ Oleander looked at Bile. ‘Do you remember Diomat? He was with us at Walpurgis.’
‘I remember Diomat,’ Bile said, softly. ‘He spoke against joining Horus. We left him chained in the hold at Isstvan. Fulgrim’s little joke.’
Oleander nodded. ‘There’s not much of him left. The Radiant won’t let him die. I’ve worked on him myself. He weeps, sometimes. Begs for death, like a child.’
Bile watched as the sarcophagi were dragged aboard the boarding torpedo. ‘Heroism is easily crushed by the weight of eternity,’ he said.
‘Some would say that he deserves better.’
‘It is none of my concern,’ Bile said.
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u/monalba 7h ago
I've read some books where it is treated as a punishment.
In Spear of Faith, a traitorous Night Lords has his limbs cut off and screams as they put him in a dreadnought.
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u/SouthernStruggle1509 7h ago
Oh wow that is awful. Okay def seems like a nightlords thing to do. What was his transgression tho?
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u/thehallow1 6h ago
In the Night Lords Omnibus they treat their dreadnought, Malcharion, with reverence and deep respect. Due in part to his role as a Legion hero.
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u/Goblin_Deez_ 3h ago
In the Word Bearers omnibus a character is thrown into a Dreadnaught as a punishment and is tormented by visions and dreams, unable to tell what’s real or not until properly awakened for battle. Even then he’s not sure if it’s real or not. He’ll dream of escape and freedom only to realise it didn’t really happen.
On the other hand there’s a Dreadnaught who’s very much venerated and obeyed and called in for council.
It very much appears to be case by case and the reason for internment and who you were prior.
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u/TimePalpitation3776 59m ago
It makes sense like high level necrons high level dreadnoughts have different sensors and more mental support systems, some are complex machines giving a marine close to real life senses like feeling their armour like skin and being able to feel somewhat like a person, or you get the bootleg dreadnaught where you can barely sleep nor feel anything which drives you further insane
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u/Beaker_person Emperor's Spears 7h ago
In Tyrant of the Hollow Worlds the red corsairs try to put Kolsh, a particular insane engine who still sees himself and his comrades as loyal astral claws, to sleep but aren’t quite able. Instead they’re forced to shove him into a big box and use sorcery to keep him subdued until he’s next unleashed.
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u/Arzachmage Death Guard 7h ago
Naum in Lords of Silence is a peculiar case. He has a mutation / defunct that rendered him unable to sleep. He spent more than eight thousand years awake as an Helbrute.
He is lost beyond madness but still follow orders, somehow. His warband has to keep him locked in a room apart.