Carnifex
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In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, a Carnifex (Latin for "butcher") is a living "bio-tank", part of the Tyranid race used for shock assaults. As Tyranids are constantly evolving their forces, many different variants of the Carnifex exist. However, all Carnifexes share some common characteristics: they are very large creatures, standing significantly larger than a man; they have thick carapaces, which provide excellent protection from damage, and they frequently use some of the bio-weaponry utilized by the Tyranids. They are comparable to the Space Marine and Ork Dreadnoughts in purpose.
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[edit] Variants
Through the optional upgrades available for Tyranid armies, it is possible to get a wide range of attributes for a Carnifex. In Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tyranids (Kelly and Chambers, 2004), some combinations of upgrades are given nicknames, which represent some of the more common variants of Carnifex. Three examples of these variants are:
- Thornback
- The Thornback bears enhancements that resemble large spikes or thorns. It is used by Tyranid forces to more quickly push through an enemy's lines.
- Screamer-Killer
- The Screamer-Killer was the first type of Carnifex encountered by the Imperium (Priestley, 1992). As the name suggests, it is known for emitting a piercing shriek before crashing into its foes, destroying them with its many massive, scythe-like claws while spitting plasma at close range.
- Bile-beast
- As the name suggests, the Bile-beast spews acidic fluids onto its foes before attacking in close combat using its huge crab-like claws.
- Stone-crusher
- A siege variant Canifex that was originally introduced for Cities of Death, and then modelled and released by Forge world. It is armed with huge wrecking claws, capable of tearing down the thickest of fortifications, a heavier version of a scything tail, and battering rams; used for crashing into enemy ranks, and fortresses. Other sightings of this creature have been seen with a large wrecking-ball looking symbiotes.
Many players have used Carnifexes with two powerful shooting weapons; because of the continued popularity of these creatures fans have unofficially dubbed the creature the "Gunfex" or "Sniperfex". Fans have also created many other nicknames for their own invented forms of Carnifex.
[edit] Old One Eye
Old One Eye is a special character of a Carnifex. He is named for the fact that he is missing his right eye. However, what makes the creature unusual is that it bears an advanced form of regeneration, as well as being the first Carnifex seen wielding massive crab-like claws, which are very effective at crushing foes to death.
In Warhammer 40,000 fiction, Old One Eye was found in a glacier upon Calth of Ultramar and was excavated as a specimen for study. The crew of the tran-crawler that had found it was expecting a large bounty for the creature; however, only one of them escaped with his life. As they left for the nearby city, the crawler started to shake, the sound of metal crunching and screams came from the cargo hold. The drivers immediately leaped out and ran. Old One Eye then tore out from the crawler and gave chase. The only driver able to escape reported to the Inquisition of what had happened. After this, Old One Eye was rumoured to have called the Tyranid fleets back to plague Ultramar.
Old One Eye has not been seen recently, and it is theorized that it has been incorporated back into the Tyranid Hive Fleets, which can be seen by the recent emergence of other Tyranids bearing similar mutations.
[edit] References
- Kelly, Phil; and Chambers, Andy (2004). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tyranids, 2nd Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-650-X.
- Priestley, Rick (1992). Rogue Trader. Eastwood: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-872372-27-9.
- Tyranids – Old One Eye. Games Workshop. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
[edit] External links
- Tyranids – The Carnifex Revealed. Games Workshop. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
