The Tymon

The Tymon are a technologically advanced human empire situated on the outskirts of the Eastern Fringe that survived the Age of Strife. The Great Crusade never reached their pocket of space and until establishing contact with the Imperium they believed that they were the sole remnants of humanity. It is ruled nominally by Domus Tiamat, the current High Domus, though the real power is Adrammelech the Undying.

Beginnings
The people who would come to be known as the Tymon settled far out in the Eastern Fringe, the very edge of human civilization at the time of late M22. These small colonies were intended to be research facilities, with only modest populations, but with a larger amount of technology made available to them, including an entire library of STCs. When the warp storms erupted, starting off the Age of Strife, their system, like many others, were cut off from the rest of humanity. Rather than risk traveling through the perilous conditions, the colonists decided to wait the storms out.

Founding
By the time the Age of Strife ended, the people of these distant colonies had developed into a nation of their own, complete with an economy, military and government. Once the warp storms abated, they sent out expeditions to find out what had happened to the rest of humanity. To their shock, they found that where there had once been prosperous human worlds, nothing but ruins remained. Even backwater colonies had been utterly wiped out. These were grim findings; these worlds had also been at the edge of human dominance in the galaxy and if they had been destroyed, then it was all but assured that everything else was as well. Now convinced that they were the last of humanity left in the galaxy, the people declared themselves the Tymon, and vowed that they would not let humanity fade into nothingness.

Building an Empire
The Tymon now set about establishing a resurgent human empire in the galaxy. Unlike the Imperium's Great Crusade, this was a slow and meticulous process; as there was no evidence of any other human activity, the Tymon felt they could not afford to overextend themselves and thus be vulnerable to any number of outside forces. Each new world they colonized or conquered was carefully nurtured to become an integral part of the Tymon in order to minimize internal turmoil. By M29, the Tymon controlled an empire of almost fifty worlds.

As they expanded, the Tymon encountered several alien races. At first, the Tymon attempted diplomacy with them, but the xenos thought that it would be more profitable to conquer what appeared to be a weak empire. This proved disastrous for the aliens, for although the Tymon were small in territory, their technology more than made up for that. After several wars, the Tymon came to the conclusion that there was no such thing as a friendly alien race, and so any further contacts with a xenos species involved either conquest and enslavement, or outright extermination.

Battle of Gula
The Tymon's first contact with the Eldar was not a pleasant one and would start a chain of events that would lead the Tymon to declare all Eldar their sworn enemies. During M31, an Eldar Craftworld came across one of their Maiden Worlds, now named Gula, that the Tymon had occupied and used as a burial site for their honored dead. Enraged by what they felt was a defilement of what was rightfully theirs, the Eldar attacked without warning, massacring the world's caretakers and desecrating the resting places of the Tymon's dead. Outraged, the Tymon quickly marshaled their forces to take revenge on the Eldar, only to be soundly defeated.

It was now that Adrammelech, the one who would come to be the power behind the Tymon, would show his merit. The Eldar remained on the world, continuing to destroy the Tymon's burial grounds. Once more, the Tymon returned to take revenge for the insult against their dead. The Eldar thought little of the second attack; they had beaten the Tymon before and they would do so again. This arrogance would cost them dearly.

Based on what he had seen from the first battle against the Eldar, Adrammelech concluded that they preferred hit-and-run tactics, rarely engaging in a head-on fight. To counter this, he had ordered the creation of the Shadow Walkers, who would come to be the Tymon's hidden hand in future battles. It was his plan to distract the Eldar with an obvious force while the Shadow Walkers did the real damage.

When the Tymon began their assault, the Eldar fought exactly as Adrammelech had predicted, striking hard and then retreating before they could suffer heavy losses. So focused were the Eldar on the main force, and blinded by their hubris, they were unprepared for the Shadow Walkers. Whenever they fled, the Shadow Walkers pursued them, picking them off with their own guerilla tactics. Eventually, the Eldar realized that they could not hold the world. Vowing to return with a greater Warhost, they retreated back to their Craftworld. What they did not know was that one of their number had been infected by a virus engineered by Domus Eresh to target anything that did not have human DNA with exceptional speed. No Eldar Warhost ever came back, so it is believed that the virus performed its task.

The Slave Rebellions
By late M32, alien slavery had become an integral part of Tymon society. Over a dozen different xenos species had been conquered and enslaved, fulfilling the niche of menial laborers and other tasks deemed unsuitable for human hands. As time went by, the Tymon developed a large xenos population within their empire; normally, the masters of the slave-races would have lived in fear of a sudden uprising, where they would be murdered in their beds, but the Tymon had long before taken precautions against such an event. Every slave was implanted with a biomechanical parasite that exerted total control over its host's mind and any attempt at removal would result in a fatal collapse of all bodily systems. The xenos could no more turn on their masters than a servitor could exhibit independent thought.

Unfortunately, this sense of complete safety was to be short-lived. During 230.M33, a Dark Eldar scouting party belonging to the Kabal of the Bloody Thorn had discovered the Tymon via a long-forgotten Webway Portal. To them, this was a fresh source of victims, cattle to be slaughtered. They retreated back to Commorragh, where they informed their Archon of their find, who promptly decided to make his presence known and he would do so by shattering their illusions of safety.

In secret, the Kabal's agents infiltrated the Tymon and began deactivating the mind-controlling parasites that kept the slaves obedient and docile. Advanced though they were, the Tymon's technology was child's play for the Dark Eldar. Soon, thousands of xenos were freed of their mental subjugation and, at the behest of the Dark Eldar, started to form a massive rebellion against their human masters. Arms were stolen, supplies were stocked and the aliens prepared for war. Throughout it all, the Tymon never suspected a thing.

Finally, years later, the rebellion was launched. The Tymon were shocked to find that a large portion of their slaves had risen up and begun killing them wherever they were found. Several Lesser Domum were wiped out, and the military found itself beseeched on all fronts for help. As the war raged, the Dark Eldar began their raids, abducting thousands of hapless Tymon citizens and killing even more. The military's response, although decisive, was unable to mount any credible countermeasures to the swift Dark Eldar marauders. Eventually, the Dark Eldar just left, having pillaged their fill, and left the Tymon to sort out the remaining alien rebels. It took a decade to finally put down the uprising. The Slave Rebellions, as it came to be called, would go down as one of the bloodiest moments in Tymon history, and further increased the hatred they felt for the Eldar.

Betrayal at Barag
Centuries later, the Tymon recieved their first daemonic incursion. Up until this point, the Tymon had not been overly concerned with psykers and mostly let them be. Unfortunately, one very powerful psyker, who would have ranked as an Alpha-plus on Imperial charts, was possessed by the Daemon Naz'oth, who quickly opened a Warp portal on the planet Barag. The world was soon swarmed by countless daemons, each one intent on ravaging Barag in the most horrible manner.

The Tymon forces found themselves fighting a foe that defied their comprehension. Their most powerful weapons, while able to slay the lesser creatures of the Warp, proved ineffective against Naz'oth. With contemptuous ease, he swept aside everything the Tymon sent against him. Adrammelech could see no way for victory to be achieved, save for the destruction of the entire planet.

Then, unexpectedly, he recieved a transmission from the Eldar of Biel-Tan. Autarch Umaril offered to aid the Tymon in combating the incursion. Adrammelech was skeptical; the Eldar had never offered to aid them, and in fact skirmished with the Tymon regularly for reasons unknown. Nevertheless, Adrammelech was desperate for aid, and the Eldar claimed knowledge in battling the forces of the Warp; without further thought, Adrammelech accepted the Autarch's offer.

The Eldar Warhost landed and immediately began combating the daemonic forces, relieving the badly mauled Tymon forces. The hordes were gradually pushed back, and victory seemed within reach. Then, the Eldar suddenly turned against the Tymon, all but crippling their combat abilities. Enraged beyond words, Adrammelech sent a transmission to Umaril, demanding to know why he had betrayed them. With cold contempt, the Autarch declared that he had only aided the Tymon in order to recover a cache of Spirit Stones that had been lost millennia ago and had attacked the Tymon to ensure that they would not be able to stop them from retreating. Umaril and his forces then abandoned the Tymon, leaving them to combat the daemon hordes alone. No sooner had they left when Naz'oth renewed his assault with great enthusiasm. Left with no other choice, Adrammelech ordered the ships orbiting Barag to destroy it. The incursion was defeated, but at the cost of a world and millions of Tymon lives, both military and civilian.

Immediately afterwards, Adrammelech declared that henceforth, all Eldar were the blood enemies of the Tymon. Wherever they were found, the Tymon would kill them and destroy all that they held dear. No mercy would be shown, and they would not cease their efforts until the Eldar were exterminated entirely.

The Fall of Gilgamesh
The blackest moment in Tymon history, one that the Tymon try to forget, is the day that Gilgamesh turned his back on his people in favor of the lure of Chaos. Second only to Adrammelech himself, Gilgamesh had been regarded as a hero and the pride of Domus Utu. Though he was placed on a lofty pedestal, Gilgamesh was never satisfied. Power was something he continued to crave, and not even the advanced technology of the Tymon provided him with enough.

One day, during the conquest of another alien world, Gilgamesh came across a shrine. Within it was a beautiful medallion, perfect in every concievable way. Entranced, Gilgamesh claimed the medallion for himself. What he did not know was that the pretty bauble was a Chaos artifact, imbued with the essence of Slaanesh. No sooner had Gilgamesh taken the medallion when he began hearing whispers in his head; they spoke of ultimate power, and how he could achieve it.

In secret, Gilgamesh began to acquire followers who would be fanatically loyal to him; among their number was a powerful psyker who had managed to escape the Tymon's notice, named Zamug. The psyker posessed many abilities, the most useful being his gift of foresight. Able to sift through the strands of time with uncanny accuracy, he served as a wondrous tool to avoid potential trouble while Gilgamesh prepared for his ascent. With great care, Gilgamesh began to corrupt his followers to the worship of Slaanesh; soon, where they had once been noble defenders of the Tymon, they became sadistic and perverse creatures, indulging in carnal pleasures and terrible acts of cruelty.

Finally, Gilgamesh was ready to proclaim his dark allegiance. Gilgamesh traveled to Hurasam, a world that was renowned for its art. Zamug informed him that a Dark Eldar raiding force would strike there. Gilgamesh knew that Slaanesh coveted the souls of Eldar more than any other; it was his plan to sacrifice both the world's population and the Dark Eldar raiders to the Dark Prince. Unexpectedly, though, he recieved an additional boon for his offering; an Eldar Farseer from Alaitoc foresaw the rise of a terrible foe, one who served She Who Thirsts and would come to be amongst the Eldar's worst enemies. Without delay, the Craftworld marshalled a great Warhost to stop the vision from becoming reality.

The Eldar made planetfall just as their dark kin began their assault. Anarchy reigned, both sides attacking each other indiscriminantly while the terrified population was caught in the middle. Gilgamesh stood atop a peak that overlooked the killing grounds. With a prayer to Slaanesh, he removed the medallion from his neck and held it in the air. A burst of Warp energy blasted from it and those upon the world, save for Gilgamesh and his followers, were struck down. Millions of humans and thousands of Eldar, both dark and light, had their souls ripped from their bodies and offered up to Slaanesh. Immensely pleased, the Dark Prince granted Gilgamesh the power he wanted and made him a Daemon Prince. He was eventually defeated by Adrammelech with help from his close companion Humbaba, though he would periodically return to plague the Tymon and the galaxy at large.

The Night Lords Descend
For thousands of years, the Tymon had believed that it was they and they alone that remained of humanity's once great empire. The Imperium of Man remained unknown to them, for their region of space was uncharted and considered to be far too dangerous to travel through. Everything the Imperium had gone through, the Horus Heresy, the Beheading, the Reign of Blood, the countless wars fought, all of these were mercifully absent from the Tymon's own history. Unfortunately, the long millennia of isolation would soon be brought to a brutal and bloody end.

In 832.M39, a Night Lords warband had entered, by chance, the Tymon's outer domain where new colonies had been set up. To the fallen Astartes, these worlds looked to be easy pickings and immediately launched raids upon them. The populaces were massacred without mercy, their bodies put up in hideous displays and their homes sacked. With utmost haste, the military marshalled a large force to combat these unknown invaders. When they attacked, they found that their foe was a hard one. Each Night Lord, though the technology they bore was inferior, was nevertheless equal to at least two of their warriors. The leader of the warband was the strongest, slaughtering and entire squad by himself.

Eventually, the Tymon forces prevailed, with the remaining elements of the warband retreating under their withering assault. Once they were gone, the Tymon began to examine the dead Night Lords that had been left behind. To their shock, they found that what they had first took to be another alien race, was actually another human faction! Even more surprsing was their physiology; though far technologically inferior, it was revealed that every one of the Night Lords bore a number of genetic enhancements which were of better quality than their own. This baffled Tymon scientists, as they could not fathom how a people with such crude technology could somehow create advanced biological enhancements. The sheer complexity of these augmentations was beyond the brightest minds of the Tymon; even in their most advanced labratories, they could not unlock their secrets. By all rights, such a primitive people should not be able to make these marvels of genetic engineering. Regardless of how these strange humans had acquired their advanced organs, it was quite obvious that the Tymon were not as alone as they thought, and that their newly-discovered cousins were far from friendly. They would have to prepare should they come back.

The Warriors of Khorne
Time, however, was something the Tymon did not have. The Night Lords who escaped managed to spread word of the existence of a human civilization, far in advance of the Imperium. This caught the attention of the Chaos Lord Destrios Calum, leader of the Carnage Wallowers, a Khornate warband. Needless to say, Calum was intrigued; a highly advanced civilization with such a heavy emphasis on military might would be a worthy offering to the Blood God. Without pause, he quickly marshalled his warband, composed of eight hundred Marines, half of which were bloodthirsty, battle-lusting Berzerkers and thousands of cultists, eager to attain favor in the eyes of their god and made for the far reaches of the Eastern Fringe. Finally, after a period of time, he came across his quarry; his fleet entered realspace above the planet Zikia, a small but prosperous colony. No sooner had his ships entered orbit when Destrios ordered the attack to commence.

The Khornate warband struck without mercy; the domus security forces tasked with watching over the world were overrun in short order and countless civilians were butchered in frenzied throes of bloodlust. Now firmly entrenched, Destrios waited for the Tymon to send their armies to stop him. He was not to be disappointed; just a few weeks later, a large Tymon force arrived, led by Sarrum Dinesh and composed of 50,000 warriors, 5,000,000 bio-soldiers and thousands of military vehicles. They landed unapposed, for the Chaos Lord wanted to fight against the full might of the Tymon military.

Finally, when the entire Tymon army had made planetfall, the Carnage Wallowers launched their assault. The cultists were cut down in short order, their pitiful weapons offering only scant threats. The Berzerkers, consumed with blind rage and bloodlust, followed close behind. Half their number was destroyed, but the other half managed to close the distance. They waded amongst the Tymon soldiers, slaughtering them left and right. For every one Berzerker killed, the Tymon lost ten soldiers. Meanwhile, the rest of the Carnage Wallowers sprayed forth bolter rounds and heavy weapon bursts, killing even more.

For the Tymon, this was without a doubt one of the bloodiest and most violent battles they had ever engaged in. Their enemy was utterly implacable, uncaring whether they lived or died, so long as they were able to kill. Each Carnage Wallower was a vicious opponent, at least twice as strong as any Tymon soldier and completely fearless. None of them, however, could compare to their leader, Destrios. Wreathed in daemonic flames, bearing an axe with a daemon bound to it and clad in warped Terminator Armor, Destrios was all but unstoppable. Any who stood before him died; finally, though, his rampage was brought to an end by a direct hit from a Bahamut tank.

In the end, the Carnage Wallowers were completely wiped out, but the cost was staggering. A quarter of the Tymon's warriors and half the bio-soldiers lay dead, with many more wounded, and a number of vehicles had been destroyed. For the Tymon, the battle enlightened them to just how hostile the galaxy had become. It seemed as though that there might be other human remnants that survived the Long Night, but those survivors had become something out of a nightmare.

Society
The Tymon hold human life to be precious, having long been convinced that they were the last of humanity and as such endeavor to make sure that even the lowliest of humans are given a place within society. In order to advance through the stations of life, one must show merit. Even if you are from a Greater Domus, you are not automatically granted a station of your choosing; you have to earn it. A lazy individual will not advance far, and one who becomes ineffective will be demoted. The military is very strict about this, and showing favoritism based on anything but how competent one is will face a hard punishment.

The Tymon's attitude towards psykers is similar to that of the Imperium's, viewing them as mutants and a danger to all around them. Every infant is screened at birth for traces of the psyker gene. If a child is born with the gene, they will try to permanently supress it; failing at that, the child will be euthanized. Even with these precautions, there are those who slip through, and it is the duty of all Tymon to report any psychic activity to the authorities.

At the opposite end are those who are born as psychic nulls; where the Imperium looks upon them with equal, or even greater, dread as psykers, the Tymon look upon these individuals as being as pure as humanly possible, a safeguard against the malice of the Immaterium. A family that births a null is set for life and an incredible amount of time and effort has been dedicated to discovering what makes the pariah gene appear; much like the efforts of unlocking the secrets of Necron technology, no breakthroughs have been made.

At the very bottom of Tymon society are the Wardum, a caste composed of bio-engineered creatures and alien slaves who perform menial and dangerous tasks. As a result of numerous wars instigated by xenos aggressors, alien life is considered worthless; those that are deemed useful are subjugated, the rest are exterminated. Occasionally, if someone commits a severe enough crime, they will be cast down to this level. This is seen as the most terrible form of disgrace, as that person is now considered to be no better than an alien in the Tymon's eyes. The most common recipients of this penalty are those who have been found guilty of corruption and can be identified by a brand on their forehead.

Imperium of Man
As a whole, the Imperium has little knowledge of the Tymon, other than the fact that they exist somewhere out in the far reaches of the Eastern Fringe. In spite of multiple expeditions launched into the all but uncharted region of space, the Imperium has thus far failed to find where the Tymon dwell. They are helped by the fact that their empire is situated not only far outside the Astronomican, but also in an area where the Warp currents are incredibly violent and unpredictable, giving it a worse reputation than even the Halo Stars within Segmentum Obscurus. The Tymon are appalled by many of the Imperium's actions and pity its citizens. Only a few times have the Tymon ventured into the Imperium's territory, aiding worlds along the Ultima Segmentum in times of need, and then vanishing without a trace. Even amongst these worlds, they are regarded only as legends and wives' tales. What is always agreed on is that they are powerful and wield technology that makes the finest crafts of the Mechanicus seem horribly crude and primitive. Some members of the Inquisition have managed to acquire aid from the Tymon, but keep their dealings discreet.

Eldar
To say the Tymon hate the Eldar would be a grave understatement; there exist no words to describe the depths of the Tymon's utter loathing of them. All Tymon are brought up to despise the xenos with every fiber of their being and to relish each and every misfortune that is inflicted upon them. They make no distinction between Craftworld Eldar, Exodites, or Dark Eldar; an Eldar is an Eldar, who is only good when dead. When something bad happens, even minor problems, it is commonly blamed on the Eldar and their elaborate plots. Due to this hatred, much effort and resources have been devoted to finding better ways to combat them, resulting in the Tymon being highly skilled in fighting Eldar. The Eldar, in turn, like the Tymon even less than their Imperial cousins (more because the Tymon are far more competent and effective at fighting them, as well as being harder to manipulate).

Tau Empire
Contact with the Tau has been scarce, with only the occassional Water Caste envoy reaching the Tymon's area of space. The Tymon humor the diplomats, listening to their offers of peace and prosperity if they were to join with them, and then sending them away with promises to consider their words. In truth, the Tymon would never join with the Tau for they see what they really mean when they talk about "alliances;" the Tymon would never be seen as equals, only vassals and the very thought of submitting to alien rule is utterly intolerable. The only way there could be a union between the two empires would be if the Tymon conquered and enslaved the Tau.

Orks
Much like the Tau, the Tymon have had little interaction with the Orks. Most of their contact with the greenskins comes in the form of Freebooterz and the occasional rouge warband. Commonly, the Orks are viewed as little more than a nuisance and there has only been one instance when they faced a full-blown Waaaagh! which, although defeated, wreaked incredible amounts of devastation. Fortunately, Domus Eresh has since concocted a viral strain; it is as virulent as the toxins of a Great Barking Toad, but only targets orkoid systems, even the spoors. Thus, even if another Waaaagh! was to be encountered, it would only be a fleeting issue.

The Domum
The Tymon are divided into houses (called a domus. pl. domum), each with their own social norms. The Greater Domum are the most powerful of all and excercise immense authority over their own realms, as well as the lesser domum, though all are subservient to the High Domus. For a domus to hold the title of High Domus, it must be ranked as a Greater Domus and then be voted into the position. Every domus is led by a Lugal (a citizen-king/queen), who wields absolute authority within their domus, though it is a foolish ruler who abuses their power; the military despises corruption and will forcibly remove a Lugal from power if it is felt that he or she has taken too many liberties with their authority. If they are truly unlucky, they might even be forced to wallow amidst the Wardum in disgrace.

Each domus has their own private security force that are used to keep peace and enforce their laws, as well as hold off an attack until the military can respond. Unlike the military, which is greatly respected and admired, members of the domum's personal forces are regarded with distrust since their alleigiance is only to the domus they serve rather than the entirety of the Tymon. These forces are made up of those who did not make it into the military or did not want to enlist, bio-soldiers and even veteran warriors who decided to retire from active duty. They undergo augmentations and gene-therapy to improve their capabilities, but their enhancements, along with their weapons, are inferior compared to members of the armed forces. Nevertheless, the forces of the domum are quite capable of handling most threats.

Domus Tiamat
The current High Domus of the Tymon, Tiamat has reigned for roughly 1,500 years. It is ruled by Lugal Amar-Sin, and he is perhaps the most powerful man outside the military; with both Adrammelech's support and strong ties to the Caresser Cults, Amar-Sin enjoys a very solid seat of authority. Domus Tiamat wrested the title of High Domus from Domus Utu, which had fallen into disfavor. Both domum bear deep grudges for each other, and the only reason the two have not tried to destroy one another is because Adrammelech forbid them to. Tiamat specializes in genetics and the creation of biological augmentations, and is the foremost exporter of alien slaves.



Domus Utu
Once the High Domus of the Tymon, Utu is now a shadow of its former self. Since the betrayal of Gilgamesh, who had originated from Utu, the domus has been blamed for the destruction he caused. Later, their Lugal was accused of collaborating with the Eldar and, with evidence provided by Tiamat, found guilty. Utu now is marked as a disgrace to the Tymon by Adrammelech himself and potential warriors that come from it are examined much more closely than those of any other domus for fear that another Gilgamesh will arise. Its ruler is Lugal Ilku, who has worked feverishly to erase the shame brought upon his domus and earn the forgiveness of Adrammelech. Utu's field encompases the production of arms and armor.



Domus Eresh
More commonly known as the Scented House, Eresh creates virulent diseases and other weapons of chemical and biological warfare. This domus is regarded with a fair amount of unease, as any kind of disease, no matter how thoroughly engineered, is still prone to unforseen mutations that can result in a plague that will ravage the Tymon. Unlike other domum, Eresh's Lugals are generally women, as are the warriors that come from Eresh; the current Lugal is Anatu.

Domus Melammu
A recent arrival amongst the Greater Domum, Melammu is at the forefront of gene-splicing and the breeding of bio-creatures to serve the Tymon. Their former Lugal Dumuzi managed to elevate his domus to the ranks of the Greater Domum, earning him a place amongst the revered heroes, particularly to those born under Domus Melammu.

Domus Isatum
The most powerful of the Lesser Domum, it is rumored that Isatum will soon become a Greater Domus. It is famous for its art and the forging of master-crafted vorpal weapons.

Domus Sinnu
Sinnu exports slaves from the Lurien xenos race; they are in high demand for their strength and endurance, a single one commanding a steep price.

Beliefs
The Tymon do not worship any gods, but instead revere their heroes and believe that they watch over them in death. These are generally warriors who performed incredible feats in battle, but can also include civilians who demonstrated exemplary service to the Tymon. One such example would be Lugal Dumuzi of Domus Melammu who managed to elevate his domus to the ranks of the Greater Domum.

The Warp is considered to be a place of ultimate evil and that they should have nothing to do with it. The Tymon hold a powerful fear of the Eye of Terror, which they call Nekelmu (Evil Eye), and try to bury their dead facing away from it in order to preserve their souls.

The Caresser Cults follow the teachings of Anzillu that pain is the one constant in the universe and one must embrace it in order to conquer it. Followers practice ritualized self-mutilation and the arts of inflicting pain (it should be noted that they consider being labled as torturers a grave insult and as such no one dares say the word in front of them). They are feared and respected in equal measure.

Technology
The Tymon are highly advanced, greatly surpassing the Imperium in all but a few areas, though they are still woefully inferior compared to the Eldar and Necrons. Unlike other elements of human civilization, when the Age of Strife began, the Tymon managed to retain the level of technology mankind had at its zenith, which they continued to refine and advance for millennia after. They still possess the STC library, which is now known as the Manzazu Mudutu (Dwelling Place of Knowledge), and is heavily guarded. Inquisitors and other Imperial agents that have had dealings with the Tymon believe that, had the Tymon been more aggressive in their expansions, they would have come to eclipse the Imperium in power. The military, being the dominant power, is given priority over the civilians. That being said, even the lowest born Tymon benefits in some way from their scientific knowledge.

Biomechanical Technology


The most notable example of their technology is their use of biomechanics, a fusion of organic and metallic components. This technology is utilized in virtually every field, from space travel to civilian life. Biomechanical crafts are grown rather than built, much like Eldar Wraithbone, and require little in the way of resources to be produced, allowing the Tymon to manufacture needed items at a fraction of the cost. Contstructs composed of this material are invariably smooth in form and move as if they were alive. The principle metallic alloy used in their creation is called orichalcum, a pink-colored artificially created metal whose composition is know only to the Molders, the builders and engineers of the Tymon.

FTL Drive
The Tymon do not use the Warp to travel through space as many other factions do. In their minds, Warp travel is simply too risky and can be hampered by Warp storms, not to mention that they consider willingly plunging into a realm filled with malevolent entities pure insanity. Instead, they make use of the Distortion Drive which works by folding the space around ships. Using this drive, the Tymon's ships do not actually go faster than the speed of light, but rather cause the space in front to contract and then expand behind it. It is far safer and more reliable than Warp travel, though a bit slower than a full-fledged Warp jump. This drive, however, is reserved solely for the military. Civilian spacecrafts are restricted to drives that will only serve to traverse small distances, mostly between planets in a system.

Reverse Engineered Tech.
Unlike the Imperium, the Tymon have no qualms about using alien technology to further their goals. Upon finding a race with technology that they deem to be worth having, they exterminate the population and work on figuring out how the technology works. The Tymon have gained several technologies this way and have recently been working on unlocking the secrets of Necron technology, specifically their gauss weapons and the living metal that composes them. To date, the Tymon have had no success in replicating the technology, though through imitation, they created their particle weapons. Knowing full well the Imperium's stance on xeno-technology, the Tymon are careful to keep their more closed-minded cousins in the dark about their efforts to understand alien tech.

Warp Technology
"This is a schematic for a weapon we call the Oblivion Cannon. Drawing power from the Warp, it could vaporize a planet with a single blast. We could mount it on all our ships, making our fleets all but unstoppable, and there is only a 0.01 percent chance of catastrophic failure. But we will never use it. Why? Because that failure is not simply an explosion resulting in immediate death; it is damnation, an eternity of suffering within the bowels of the Nether-realm."

- A senior Molder, instructing a new initiate.

The Tymon have access to a number of schematics for potent Warp-based technology thanks to their STC library, particularly in regards to weaponry. Due to the Tymon's fear of the Warp, however, none of these designs are implemented; as far as they are concerned, anything relating to the Warp should be left alone, no matter how low the risk. It is illegal to use any form of Warp-based technology, and carries the penalty of immediate execution and the destruction of the device. The only reason they have not deleted these schematics from the library is because they fear that it might become irreparably corrupted.

Military
Though the High Domus may claim to be the head of Tymon society, it is the military that holds the real power. Even the High Domus is answerable to its leaders and in fact it must have the support of the military in order to achieve its rank. As Adrammelech is the supreme commander of all military forces, it is he who truly rules over all Tymon. Unlike a Domus's personal forces, the military is regarded as being the protectors of all Tymon, and are greatly respected and admired. In turn, the military strives to live up to such lofty ideals, and interacts regularly with the populace.

Being foremost of all, much of their technology is devoted to improving and arming their forces. The Tymon abide by the idea of "quality over quantity;" as they have a far smaller population base to draw upon than the Imperium, they must instead rely on superior soliders rather than sheer numbers. It is a meritocratic system and promotion is based on how capable one is. The Tymon prefer to crush their enemies quickly, utilizing rapid deployments and fast, overwhelming assaults. Wars of attrition are something they try to avoid, as they lack the resources to engage in drawn-out conflicts.

The creation of a Tymon warrior is similar to that of a Space Marine. Both undergo extensive genetic modification and rigorous training in order to prepare them for the terrors that the galaxy has in store for them. The difference between the two is that the Tymon's modifications are somewhat inferior, which would be expected as the gene seed was created by the Emperor Himself, and though advanced, even the most brilliant minds of the Tymon cannot hope to match his understanding. However, that is not to say that they are without advantages; the augmentations are not limited to men and women are quite capable of undergoing the process themselves. In addition, these enhancements have a much lower chance of rejection. In terms of combat ability, the average Tymon warrior is comparable to a Space Marine Scout, and two or three would be the equivalent of a full-fledged Battle Brother. The Tymon's elites, by virtue of better training and equipment, are far deadlier and are quite capable of going toe to toe with even a veteran Astartes.

Mandatory Implants
Redundant Heart- Acts to increase blood flow and provides a backup in case the initial heart fails. Certain units, such as the Swift Strikers, have tertiary hearts.

Redundant Lungs- An extra pair of lungs, they allow the Tymon warrior to function in atmospheres that have low oxygen content or are incredibly toxic, as well as aquatic environments. The lungs also enhance the endurance of the warrior, increasing his or her oxygen intake.

Rapasu- Implanted at the base of the spine, this organ combines the functions of a Space Marine's Ossmodula and Biscopea, serving to stimulate growth of both the skeletal and muscular systems and to strengthen both. Once implanted, the warrior will continue to grow until he or she reaches roughly eight feet in height. This organ has to be monitored carefully, as it can easily cause a warrior's joints to grow at painful angles, or cause the muscles to grind the body up.

Vascular Symbiote- A bio-engineered organism implanted within the chest cavity, the symbiote enriches the blood, making it more efficient at carrying oxygen and protects its host from disease. Should its host become injured, it will also secrete special cells to staunch blood-flow and prevent infection, acting in tandem with the warrior's armor.

Sittu Node- Implanted at the back of the cerebrum, this organ allows a Tymon warrior to go for weeks without sleep.

Akalu Gland- Implanted into the stomach wall, this allows the Tymon to eat and digest virtually anything and will also neutralize toxic matter. As an added bonus, the stomach acids are rendered incredibly corrosive and some crafty warriors can induce a gag reflex to vomit on an opponent, allowing the virulent acids to dissolve the unfortunate enemy.

Asar- The counterpart to the Occulobe, this enhances eyesight, allowing the warrior to see into different spectrums of light, and can function almost in total darkness.

Electroreceptors- Bundles of nerves implanted within the neck and shoulders. They serve to sense the natural electric fields of creatures, giving the warrior a sixth-sense. It is highly effictive in aquatic environments.

Electro-organs- These electricity-generating organs are implanted along the length of the spine and serve as the power source for the armor.

Optional Implants
Nematocysts- A second skin rife with thousands of bulb-shaped dermal organs that fire off poisoned barbs with the force of a stubber round on contact with another creature. The venom in the barbs is highly lethal, some able to cause death within the span of two-thousandths of a second. This implant is greatly favored within the Caresser Cults.

Offensive Electro-organs- An upgraded version of the normal form, these organs are capable of storing enough electricity to fry an Ork Nob. They can also be used to temporarily incapacitate an opponent if they are wanted alive.

Dragon's Breath- Two glands implanted at the back of the mouth which release chemicals that ignite upon coming into contact with each other. The liquid clings to the target and it is difficult to extinguish.

Regenerator Symbiote- This implant grants its user regenerative abilities beyond a normal warrior. The symbiote is capable of healing severe wounds and even regrowing whole limbs in a short time by creating non-differentiated cell clusters. This implant is very difficult and costly to make, so it is reserved only for the upper echelons of the military.

Burning Blood- This implant works in tandem with the Vascular Symbiote to make the blood of the warrior highly acidic. Wounds inflicted upon them will likely result in an opponent being severely burned by the corrosive blood. This implant is generally taken by those who prefer close-quarters combat, such as those of the Caresser Cults. This implant, however, is quite dangerous; if the blood chemistry is not kept in check, the users could find themselves being dissolved alive by their own blood. As its presence will interfere with life-saving surgeries, it is often paired with the Regenerator Symbiote to compensate.

Subjugator Symbiote- A vat-grown biomechanical organism, the Subjugator is implanted in the chest cavity and produces mind-controlling parasites. Normally, the parasites are used to control the Tymon's slaves, but the Shadow Walkers have a tendancy to use these parasites to infect an enemy combatant and then force him to sabotage their own forces. The parasites are injected into a host via two tentacles that are implanted in the arms and attached to the symbiote. The tentacles themselves are quite strong and durable, capable of cracking bones and lashing out with enough force to sever limbs. After entering a host, the parasite quickly attaches itself to the spinal cord, usually between the lungs, and then takes control of the host's body. These parasites can also infect non-sentient lifeforms, so long as they have a fully developed nervous system.

Etlu Armor
The standard issue armor for Tymon warriors, this is a biomechanical suit that directly interfaces with the user's nervous system. It enhances strength tenfold and works to keep the warrior alive if gravely injured for a short while until proper treatment can be given. Much like the Power Armor of Space Marines, the Etlu Armor makes use of various sensors and auxiliary systems. It is also lightweight and allows for greater maneuverability. Though slightly less durable than the ceramite armor of the Space Marines, it is still capable of weathering incredible amounts of punishment and can even repair itself. Each suit of armor is specifically modeled for one particular individual, and will not work with another.

Sepsu Armor
Sacrificing speed for durability, the Sepsu Armor renders its user a nigh-unstoppable force of destruction. Most commonly worn by the Utukku, it is composed of bio-synthetic musculature and interlocking biomechanical alloys, this armor can shrug off even the most devastating of attacks and, in the event of damage, the armor makes use of auto-repair features. More advanced patterns also incorparate shield generators, granting the wearer even greater protection. It is most suited for using heavy weapons or for close quarters combat.

Sharur Armor
This armor is made for espionage and hit-and-run tactics. Capable of refracting light around the individual, the suit renders its user almost entirely invisible. This armor is worn by veterans of the Tymon, normally Shadow Walkers, as it offers less protection against attacks.

Ilat Armor
One of the most advanced examples of Tymon armor, this is not so much a suit of armor, but a combat walker. This is reserved for the Sarrum, who by virtue of being the best of the military are afforded the finest armor and armaments possible. This armor functions similarly to the Dreadnoughts of the Space Marines, with the warrior being interred in a heavily fortified pouch with specialized nerual links allowing him or her to interact with the outside world. Over the years, the armor will gradually grow and integrate its host until he or she literally becomes one with their armor.

Mul Armor
The pinnacle of Tymon armor, this is reserved for the Empty Ones; not even a Sarrum is afforded such treatment. Being very rare and viewed as the embodiments of physical purity, these psychic nulls made as hard to kill as possible. This armor works to not only protect its user from harm, but to also enhance their nullifying aura. Each suit is equipped with a special cannon mounted in the chest area that fires off a concentrated burst of anti-psychic energy.

Wargear
Equally advanced, the Tymon's weapons are incredibly powerful. Compared to the Tymon, the Imperium may as well be fighting with stone axes, and any Imperial General, or any other high-up official for that matter, would gladly pay an exorbitant amount for even the crudest of weapons. Ever since the Slave Rebellions, the Tymon have added a lockout protocol in their weapons; they now only work when they recognize the DNA of a human.

Speargun


The standard issue weapon of the Tymon army and the domus security forces, this biomechanical gun fires razor-sharp flanged metallic spikes at a target at hypervelocities, capable of easily piercing most armors; even a Space Marine's power armor can be penetrated if a spike should happen to find a weak point. These spikes are often coated with virulent toxins or powerful anti-coagulants to ensure the target bleeds out; for heavier targets, like Space Marines, there exists explosive spikes that blow up after penetrating deep enough and heavier anti-armor spikes. The spikes can be fired at semi or full-automatic. The Speargun does not have a cartridge, but instead "grows" its spikes, essentialy providing an unlimited amount of ammunition, though it takes time to grow them; it is possible to hyper-accelerate the growth rate, but it has a chance of damaging the gun. The energy required to fling the spikes at such high velocites also produces a large amount of heat, and so the Speargun, as well as its counterparts, requires a specialized thermal clip to absorb the thermal output. The normal capacity of each thermal clip is fifty spikes, after which it must be ejected and replaced in order to prevent overheating. Fortunately, these clips are small and easily stored, allowing warriors to carry dozens of them at any given time.

Spear Rifle


A longer range version of the speargun, this weapon is almost completely silent and is used to take out foes from a great distance. The force behind each shot is over twenty times greater than the speargun.

Spear Pistol
A close quarters weapon, it works the same as its bigger counterparts, only with a shorter range.

Plasma Gun
The Tymon's version of the plasma gun combines the best of both the Imperial and Tau versions; it is reliable and does not put the user at risk of overheating without sacrificing power. The one drawback is that it is incapable of rapid fire, but the Tymon hardly regard that as a major issue.

M1 Tempest
This gun fires off a searing, lightning-like bolt of protonic energy at a target. The bolt disrupts the atomic structure of the target, causing it to rapidly deteriorate, making it capable of reducing all but the toughest of opponents to slag.

Flash Rifle
Known more commonly amongst the Imperium's forces as "the Boiler," the Flash Rifle uses concentrated microwaves against targets. At its lowest setting, the rifle merely causes the body's fluids to heat, causing great pain; this makes its useful for crowd control. At its highest setting, this gun can cause someone to literally explode due to the rapid evaporation of fluids. It isn't much good against vehicle armor, and so is primarily an anti-personnel weapon.

Grenades
The grenades the Tymon use come in all forms; normally, a Tymon warrior will be armed with either frag, plasma or EMP grenades, but there also exist more powerful kinds, such as the Gravity Well Grenade, which is essentially a tiny black hole held in the palm of one's hand and the Anti-Matter Grenade. A domus's forces normally make use of grenades that focus on crowd control, such as flashbang, smoke and gas types, though at times they are authorized to use the more lethal versions.

Dissever Cannon
A scaled-up version of the Speargun, the Dissever Cannon fires armor-piercing spikes at a rate of 12,000 rounds a minute. It incorporates a far more efficient thermal clip, which is capable of absorbing fifty times the heat of a standard clip. This weapon can be wielded by an individual warrior, or be mounted on vehicles or turrets. Anyone caught in its path will be reduced to little more than bloody chunks.

Excoriator Rifle
One of the deadliest weapons a Tymon warrior can be armed with, this weapon fires ionized particles at a target, capable of taking down infantry and even light vehicles.

Plasma Cannon
The larger counterpart of the Plasma Gun, this weapon fires a more powerful plasma bolt, capable of destroying even heavily armored targets. It is either wield by heavy-weapons teams, or mounted on vehicles such as the Zephyr Fighter.

Solar Lance
A dedicated anti-vehicle weapon, this weapon has a long barrel and is able to project a melta blast a considerable distance.

Concussion Blaster
A truly powerful weapon, the Concussion Blaster fires off a blast of concentrated gravity. Though effective against infantry, this weapon is more suited in the anti-vehicle role, capable of delivering enough force to punch through layers of armor with a single blast. The gun produces a tremendous amount of recoil, and so can only be wielded by warriors who are clad in Sepsu Armor, though it can also be mounted on vehicles or used as a stationary emplacement.

Cerebral Shredder
One of the more gruesome weapons the Tymon wield, this gun shoots a cluster of projectiles that home in on the brain waves of potential targets. Upon being fired, the projectiles detect a target and fly towards its head. Once it makes contact, it burrows into the head of the unfortunate victim and then explodes, killing both the target and anyone in the immediate area.

Desiccator
Another less-than savory weapon employed by the Tymon, the Desiccator is similar in function to a shotgun; it fires a cartridge that bursts in a wide arc. Each cartridge contains numerous biomechanical parasites that, upon coming into contact with a target, burrow through armor and into flesh. They then drain the target of all bodily fluids, from blood to bile, leaving it a withered husk. It has short range and is more suited for close combat. The parasites are also used in mines and grenades.

Vorpal Weapons


Much like power weapons, vorpal weapons emit a field of energy that allows them to disrupt molecular bonds. The difference between the two is that vorpal weapons also induce a tremendous amount of trauma by causing a chain reaction at the cellular level; often, the victim dies of shock instead of the wound itself. Vorpal weapons come in all forms, including swords, axes, claws, polearms and even scythes.

Seism Weapons


Considerably more powerful than vorpal weapons, these weapons generally take the form of blunt instruments, such as hammers or mauls. A field generator is placed at the head which, upon impact, will unleash a gravitational pulse that can shatter virtually anything it hits. A normal sized weapon is capable of crushing power armor with ease; a scaled-up one in the hands of a Sarrum can pulp an entire squad of Orks or smash a Chimera with one swing. Unlike vorpal weapons, these are not standard issue and are used only by high-ranking leaders.

Caresser Weapons
Unlike vorpal weapons, which are made to kill quickly and efficiently, the weapons utilized by the Caresser Cults are made to inflict severe pain upon an opponent. One such example is the Splinter Spear, a biomechanical spear that, upon being stabbed into an enemy, will sprout multiple barbs from its head which will then detatch from the spear. Other weapons can secrete neurotoxins that act on pain receptors or deadly acids that melt flesh from bone.

Plasma Projector
Rather than shooting a bolt of plasma, this weapon unleashes a massive stream of super-heated plasma at a target. While devastating, it lacks range and so is used by vehicles that focus on getting up-close during combat.

Onager Artillery Cannon
The principle artillery weapon of the Tymon, the Onager can fire a multitude of munition rounds. These include projectiles that can be high-explosive, incendiary, chemical, anti-armor or even nuclear, as well as plasma rounds and the greatly feared Anti-Matter Shell.

Alal Missle Pod
A long range artillery weapon, the Alal can fire off several different missile types, most commonly homing or cluster. These missiles will posses warheads that range from high-explosive to Implosion Warheads.

Maelstrom Cannon
A scaled-up version of the Tempest Gun, this weapon fires off either a single concentrated energy bolt to deal more damage to a single target, or several, each one arcing off from one enemy to the next. It is quite capable of wiping out entire squads with a single blast and will even melt through vehicle armor.

Umbra Blaster
Able to call forth the very essence of darkness itself, the Umbra utilizes dark energy via complex mechanisms and special elements to tear apart anything unlucky enough to be in its sights; its strength increases when it is twin-linked. It is similar in function to an Imperial Lascannon, firing off a beam of energy at a target and, also like the Lascannon, is a very heavy and power-consuming gun, making it a poor anti-personnel weapon. Against vehicles, however, it is highly effective. The Umbra Blaster will typically be mounted on the Bahamut Tank, or be set up as a stationary anti-vehicle weapon. The size and energy requirement renders it impossible to be carried by hand, unlike the Lascannons used by Space Marine Devastator squads.

Singularity Cannon
There are few weapons in the Tymon's armoury that can match the power of the Singularity Cannon, save for those on starships and Titans. This weapon fires off a miniature black hole that swallows up anything within a fifty-foot radius and crushes it into a ball the size of a man's fist. Though its power is immense, it is not without drawbacks; the cannon must be recharged after every shot, which takes up to a minute or longer, giving enemies time to strike before the cannon can fire again. It is typically mounted on heavy vehicles that serve as long-range support, or on units such as a Sarrum or Gigas, which are capable of withstanding punishment.

Charged Particle Cannon
A massive version of the Excoriator Rifle, the Charged Particle Cannon fires off accelerated particles that tear apart a target at the atomic level. It is the single most powerful vehicle weapon the Tymon wield, surpassed only by Titan and starship weapons. Much like the Singularity Cannon, this weapon requires a tremendous amount of energy to fire, and has to be recharged after every shot.

Point-Defense Systems
Purely for defending ships, defense systems function to pick off enemy fighters and incoming ordnance. Most of these are direct energy weapons, though some are flak systems.

Aurora Lance
Though its name may sound pretty, the damage an Aurora Lance can inflict is anything but. Hyper-efficient photovoltaic cells absorb solar energy and convert it into a searing beam of brightly colored light that can melt through even the thickest armor. This weapon is especially popular on ships, which mount them all along their lengths. Smaller ones serve to keep enemy fighters and smaller crafts at bay, while larger ones lacerate enemy ships.

Meson Blaster
Normally mounted on starships, a Meson Blaster fires hadronic subatomic particles in cohesive bursts. These blasts appear as balls of blue light, slamming into enemy craft. Smaller mounts serve as anti-fighter guns, while larger ones serve as broadsides.

Flare Projector
The fury of a sun in liquid form, a Flare Projector functions by ejecting a stream of molten metal at a fraction of the speed of light. The sheer heat of the liquid metal far exceeds that of either flamer or plasma weapons. A single burst is capable of ripping through most craft, or at the very least scouring them badly. This weapon is a common sight on titans, though less so on ships as the coldness of space greatly reduces their effectiveness.

Wormhole Beam
Similar in function to a Singularity Cannon, the Wormhole Beam creates a temporary wormhole directly at an enemy's location. The difference between the two is that, instead of the target being sucked into a black hole, a portion of its physical being simply vanishes into another dimension.

Giga Cannon
Whether mounted on titans or warships, the Giga Cannon is a truly destructive weapon. A single blast will eradicate even the most resolute of obstacles, leaving nothing but a smoking crater to mark their passing. This weapons is essentially a gigantic version of the various particle weapons employed by the Tymon. It is so large that even the largest titan can only carry one. A battleship will often mount the Giga Cannon as its primary weapon.

Sarrum


The highest rank of the Tymon's military hierarchy, these beings are battle embodied. They tower over their subordinates, with even the massive Utukku appearing tiny before them. When a warrior has proved himself (or herself) to be without peer, they are offered the gift of the venerable Ilat Armor. Over the course of the years, the armor comes to fully assimilate its wearer, and it can no longer be removed. It serves as a permanent reminder of their status and service to the Tymon. Much like the Chapter Masters of the Space Marines, each one has centuries, if not millennia, of combat experience that stretches back to being a simple warrior. Normally, they stay in the back, directing their forces from behind the scene, but if a battle should require their power, then they shall strike with a terrible fury. Few can stand before a Sarrum and live to tell the tale.

Master of Tribulation
Where a Sarrum is held as the embodiement of courage, a Master of Tribulation is the embodiement of fear. With centuries of knowledge in the art of inflicting pain, this being ensures that whoever has the misfortune to stand against him or her will know what it means to truly suffer. He or she bears terrible mutilations, all self-inflicted, and are so used to living in constant pain that injuries suffered in battle barely even register. Some have even gone to the extreme and undergone surgeries so that they may in fact derive pleasure from feeling pain. Even the bravest of warriors keep their distance from a Master of Tribulation and make sure that they do nothing to offend them.

Cohort Company
The Cohorts are the backbone of the Tymon army and fulfill a wide variety of combat roles. After years of genetic enhancement, a Tymon joins a Cohort Company as a Seher (i.e. a private) and is placed under the tutelage of a veteran warrior where his or her training will truly begin. Over the years, the young warrior will learn how to use different weapons, how to stay alive in hostile terrain and how to kill anything that stands in his way. Advancement is based on the aptitude one shows, not just in a single aspect of war, but in multiple ones.

Ranks

Seher (Novitiate, literally "young")

Redum (Soldier, basically a sergeant)

Ul'Redu (Captain, literally "high leader")

Sut'Res (Commander)

Malku (High Commander, literally prince/princess)

Cenobites
For the Caresser Cults, war is just another theater for them to practice their trade, and the Cenobites are the actors. Like the rest of their order, Cenobites bear self-inflicted mutilations and grotesque augmentations. They revel in close combat, dancing around their enemies and gifting to them painful deaths. Their cries of agony are sweet music to their ears, for they have given yet another the gift of pain. They normally do not wear much armor, for to do so would deny them the chance to feel pain themselves. Though they are lacking in protection, they make up for it in speed. It is said that it is easier to shoot a fly on the wing than a moving Cenobite. Their complete disregard for personal safety and their fetish for pain causes Tymon warriors to keep these macabre creatures at arm's length, or even further if possible.

Slave Auxiliary
The practice of alien slavery is a key part of Tymon society; owning slaves is a symbol of wealth and prestige and proves that mankind is indeed destined to be the dominant force in the galaxy. Those that are physically strong and adaptable are snapped up by the military. After a series of genetic engineering and extreme psycho-indoctrination, these creatures are set loose as expendable shock troops. Some are used as sappers, with powerful explosive devices grafted to their bodies, others simple meat shields. Those of particularly vicious species will be augmented to serve as mindless berserkers, slaughtering enemy forces until they are finally brought down.

Bio-Soldiers
Since the Tymon have such a small population compared to most other entities, the military compensates by breeding special bio-engineered creatures to increase the numbers the Tymon can field in battle. They have short lifespans, the most being twenty years, and are specifically bred to battle in almost any environment. Though there are a variety of strains, most can be divided into certain categories. They posess a rudimentary intelligence and are capable of following simple orders. A Tymon warrior called a Taskmaster oversees and directs them to where they are needed. The bio-soldiers develop a strong bond with their Taskmaster and will fly into a berserk rage should he be killed.

Jackal- The cannon fodder of the Tymon forces, Jackals are mass produced in the millions and in short order. They are not very durable, but they are still capable of inflicting a fair amount of damage. They stand about as tall as a man and are engineered to be twice as strong and fast as one. Jackals are typically armed with guns called Spikers which fire super-heated metallic spikes; though crude compared to the speargun, Spikers can still cut down even heavily armored targets. Jackals have three pairs of eyes on either side of their heads, giving them an almost 360 degree vision range. Though not really built for it, if a Jackal must engage in close combat, it can use its talons to maul an opponent and its jaws can exert enough force to bite through flesh and bone.

Lurker- As the name would suggest, Lurkers are engineered for stealth and ambush. They are able to change their skin color to match the surrounding environment and can remain almost perfectly motionless. A hapless foe often never sees a Lurker until it's too late. They are far faster than Jackals, reaching speeds of up to 85 mph in a dead sprint, and are very agile. Unlike Jackals, Lurkers cannot wield weapons; they use vicious claws and venom-laced fangs to kill their targets. Shadow Walkers make extensive use of these creatures and delight in watching these beasts tear through enemies like rags and vanishing before they have time to react.

Mangler- A purely close-quarters oriented strain, Manglers are equipped with multiple razor-sharp claws on its fingers which are capable of cutting through most armors almost effortlessly. They stand between eight to ten feet tall, and have strength comparable to that of an Ork Nob. Due to its role as a melee strain, Manglers are engineered to have a high metabolism, enabling them to heal most wounds in a short amount of time. They are further enhanced by cocktails of combat drugs, injected into their bodies from a back-mounted system. Their high metabolic rates and the volume of stimulants pumped into them causes them to have the shortest lifespan of any bio-soldier, a decade at most.

Carnal- Large and very strong, Carnals are far more resilient than their smaller kin, though at the cost of being slow and much easier to target. A Carnal will stand up to sixteen feet in height, and boast strength enough to crack open Terminator armor with ease. Generally, they come in two forms, either with ranged weapons surgically attached to their limbs, or slabs of armor grafted to their skin so that they can wade amongst enemy troops and crush them with its brutish strength. Since it is noticeably a large bio-soldier, a Carnal takes longer to breed than its smaller cousins.

Shadow Walkers
Masters of infiltration and guerilla tactics, the Shadow Walkers are the unseen hand of the Tymon forces. While the enemy is busy fighting the obvious foe, the Shadow Walkers operate behind them, sabotaging their equipment, assassinating commanders, and slowly chipping away at their numbers. Shadow Walkers were originally created in order to combat Eldar more effectively and as such are perhaps the best out of all other Tymon forces at fighting them. They are composed of warriors who have chosen to follow the path of those that lurk in the darkness, as opposed to those who face their opponents head on. Each one has centuries of experience in the art of stealth and it is said that you will only see a Shadow Walker if he wants you to see him. As part of their training, each hopeful initiate is taught numerous martial arts, sharpening both armed and unarmed combat skills. A veteran Shadow Walker, even unarmed, is capable of dealing with almost any foe. They wear the Sharur Armor and are armed with a Spear Rifle (though other weapons will be utilized if need be) and a special dagger called "Midnight's Kiss," which is given to them upon being inducted into the ranks. Shadow Walkers have a high degree of autonomy and serve as special operations forces.

Iazu
The closest translation in Gothic is "Physician," the Iazu serve as battlefield medics. Even the strongest of warriors can only take so much, and the Iazu step in to keep them alive. Each one has extensive medical knowledge, from surgeries to transplants and, coupled with the advanced medical technology made available to them, there is very little that an Iazu cannot fix. Due to this, they are prime targets for enemy fire, and so an Iazu is always well armored and armed. On a side note, the Iazu are almost always followers of the Caresser Cults, and so their familiarity with inflicting pain allows an Iazu to perform interrogations upon captured enemies. Though they may lack the skill that true disciples possess, their medical expertise ensures that the subject will not die until they have what they want.

Regenerators
Those Tymon who prove themselves to be warriors without peer are granted the chance to be implanted the the Regenerator Symbiote. Few are afforded this gift, for the organ involves a great deal of effort to create. Combined with the Vascular Symbiote, a warrior that is implanted with the Regenerator Symbiote can heal from even the gravest of injuries. This make Regenerators very hard to kill, as limbs, flesh and even internal organs can be regrown in a short time. The only ways to guarantee that a Regenerator will die is to inflict severe brain trauma, decapitation or total vaporization.

Utukku
When a battle calls for raw power, few can match the sheer ferocity of the Utukku. They are engineered to be large, strong and very hard to kill. When a warrior has distinguished himself, he or she becomes eligible to be further augmented to become an Utukku. The subject first has the Rapasu stimulated to increase the growth of the body, carefully monitored so that bone deformities and other ailments will not appear. Afterwards, two more hearts and an extra pair of lungs are implanted to maintain a functioning circulatory system, followed by lacing the bones and muscles with super-dense bio-synthetic fibers that are far stronger than anything that could be naturally produced. The finished result is a daunting, towering being, ranging from ten to thirteen feet in height, boasting immense strength and the durability of a tank. Each Utukku is given a suit of Sepsu Armor, further increasing their already prodigious physical might. Though they may be tough, their obvious weakness is the fact that their sheer size and brawn makes them slow, something that smaller, faster opponents can capitalize on.

Purebred Bio-Soldiers
More advanced strains of the normal Bio-Soldiers, these creatures are more intelligent and are capable of a degree of independant thought, though they still require the ministrations of a Taskmaster. These strains typically stand between ten to twelve feet, but rarely any larger. Invariably, they are more physically adept, though they are engineered for more complex tasks rather than raw physical power and are treated as more important than their lesser brethren.

Steelmaws- One of the more common strains of Purebreds, Steelmaws serve the role of shock troops during battle, as well as bodyguards of high-ranking Tymon officials. They get their name from their massive jawstrength, which is sufficient to bite through solid steel. Their muscles are engineered to be sinewy and, while they may appear relatively frail compared to other strains, these muscles generate a great power-to-mass ratio, allowing them to deal powerful blows at incredible speeds, a useful trait during close combat. The majority of the body is encased in surgically-grafted armor plates, but not to the point of hampering their movements and speed. They typically wield heavy weapons, and can serve as either anti-vehicle or anti-personnel units.

Longshots- Engineered to have incredible vision and the ability to cling to sheer surfaces, Longshots serve as dedicated snipers and as such are armed with a Spike Rifle, a long-range version of the Spiker, capable of punching through even heavily-armored targets. Though they lack the Lurker strain's camouflage abilities, they are nonetheless adept at staying hidden, often choosing vantage points that would appear impossible to reach. Given that their focus is on long-range combat, Longshots are frail creatures, though they are not without their defenses; their fangs secrete a potent toxin that causes the flesh to decay at an accelerated rate.

Ghast- While the Longshot strain is engineered to have impeccable vision, the Ghast strain has very poor vision; to compensate, it is given spectacular hearing capabilities, as well as a highly developed sense of smell. Due to this, it can operate in complete darkness, sensing enemies by sound and smell. This makes it very good at detecting infiltrators and hidden snipers, or when tracking quarry, as odds are if one of their senses fails them, the other will not. Often, at least a dozen of these creatures will accompany a Cohort company, alerting them to potential traps and ambushes. Of course, these hyper-sensitive senses can be as much a liability as a benefit; too loud a noise or too strong a smell will overwhelm them. To prevent this, each ghast is fitted with a special device that serves to dampen sounds and scents that it deems to be too powerful for the Ghast to handle. Though it may seem frail, in reality Ghasts are very fast and strong, able to easily rip apart most enemies. Should it meet a particularly resilient one, it can also spit corrosive acids from special glands in its mouth.

Nightcrawler- A quadrepedal, multi-limbed creature, the Nightcrawler is a dedicated anti-armor unit. Unlike other Purebred strains, the Nightcrawler is incapable of using weapons. Instead, it is engineered to spit streams of super-heated fluid, able to melt armor and flesh alike. It can also use its limbs in combat; while they may appear spindly, they are in fact very strong and can tear through just about anything in their path. In spite of their anti-armor role, Nightcrawlers are not very durable; one well-placed hit from something like a Leman Russ would be more than enough to put it down, and so they must rely on their agility to stay alive.

Zephyr Fighter
A multi-purpose craft, the Zephyr Fighter is the principle aircraft of the Tymon, able to function in both space and in a planet's atmosphere. It is typically armed with two Plasma Cannons and a Dissever Cannon, coupled with wing-mounted missles. The pilot is a bio-engineered humanoid that has been specifically modified to fly the Zephyr by directly linking its brain to the fighter. This allows for instantaneous manouvers that would take longer to perform manually. It is fast, but lacks the capacity to take hard punishments and so is relegated to making quick strikes or dogfights. As it is the basic design, there exist multiple variations.

Im-Kappu Jetbike
A single-person anti-gravity vehicle, the Im-Kappu (lit. wind-wing) is a sleek and surprisingly robust craft, capable of high speeds and incredible manoeuverability. Like most other examples of Tymon technology, the jetbike links with a warrior's suit and thereby the nervous system, allowing for a degree of control that otherwise would have been impossible. Standard armaments are twin Plasma Cannons modified to fire continuously, though there also exist variations that incorporate modified Tempest Guns. They are a common sight amongst the Tymon's forces, serving to strike fast and hard and then flee before the enemy has a chance to counter.

Swift Strikers
The skirmishers and scouts of the Tymon forces, these warriors are chosen from those who have demonstrated aptitude in being light on their feet and have a penchant for speed. Their most noticable features are their barrel chests, modified to house three pairs of lungs and three hearts, and their legs, which have had their muscles and bones greatly strengthened and reinforced to allow for faster speeds. Their neural pathways have been given a total rewiring, allowing them to form faster synapses and providing them with reflexes beyond any other unit. As a result of these modifications, Strikers are gifted with incredible powers of quickness. A seasoned Striker can sprint up to 200 mph, or make short dashes so fast that a normal human brain cannot process them, though such speeds can only be maintained for a short time. Their armor is a modified version of the standard Etlu model, being lighter and with more emphasis put on the lower body; it also comes with a built in heat displacer to get rid of all the excess body heat generated by running so fast. Each Striker is armed with a Spear Carbine, a rapid-fire and slightly enlarged version of the Spear Pistol, sacrificing range for firepower. With so much emphasis placed on speed, Swift Strikers lack endurance and fare poorly in drawn-out conflicts and so are limited to hit-and-run tactics. They are also ill-equipped for personal combat, though if there is no choice, they have some form of Vorpal weapon, usually a knife or sword.

Gigas


One of the largest strains of Bio-Soldiers, a Gigas is a walking mountain of muscle and armor; ranging in size from a mere thirty feet to a staggering sixty feet, even the formidable Carnal is but a runt in comparison. These Bio-Soldiers take years to fully mature and so are only brought out during times of war, when sheer raw power is needed to put a deciscive end to battles that draw out for too long. When they are unleashed, there is little that can stop their rampage; columns of enemy soldiers will be crushed underfoot and armored vehicles will be torn to shreds as if they were made of paper, all the while shrugging off enemy fire like a grox shrugs off flies.

War Strider
A quadrepedal walker vehicle, the War Strider is the primary artillery unit of the Tymon. Armed with either an Onager Artillery Cannon or Alal missile pods, it can lay down a withering volley of fire. Though it may appear ungainly, the Strider is in actuality quite mobile, able to traverse what would appear to be impassable terrain like a gigantic insect. Though it is predominantly focused on long-ranged combat, if close combat is unavoidable, the Strider will typically be armed with a Plasma Projector mounted on its front, as well as a Dissever Cannon. In addition, it can also use its limbs as weapons; its massive gripping claws are capable of ripping apart most armored vehicles and crushing enemy soldiers.

Bahamut Tank
As resilient as it is destructive, the Bahamut is the main battle tank of the Tymon. Its design is similar in function to the Predator utilized by the Space Marines, boasting thick armor and powerful weapons. Instead of Ceramite and Adamantium alloys, though, the Bahamut is layered with a special mixture of Orichalcum and Surrimite blended with the organic components that make up all Tymon craft, which bonds together at a sub-molecular level. When struck, the armor condences at the point of impact instantaneously, giving it an unprecedented amount of protection.

Variations:

Liquifier- Mounts a Plasma Projector for its main weapon.

Shadowspear- Mounts a twin-linked Umbra Blaster for its main weapon.

Stormbringer- Mounts a Maelstrom Cannon for its main weapon.

Abyss- Mounts a Singularity Cannon for its main weapon.

Disintigrator- Mounts a Charged Particle Cannon for its main weapon.

Land Crawler
Large, tough and relentless, the Land Crawler is the main armored personnel transport that the Tymon field in battle. Though its name would suggest otherwise, the Crawler is actually capable of decent speeds. The design of this vehicle focuses more on armor and so is typically lightly armed, usually with only a dual-mounted Dissever Cannon, though some versions boast larger amounts of firepower (but at the cost of transport capability).

Harbinger Dropship


The Harbinger is a dedicated orbital transport for ferrying Tymon troops and supplies across the battlefield. Unlike the Tau Orca, this anti-gravity ship is quite capable of entering a battle zone to provide support. It can hold up to fifty Tymon warriors, excepting the pilots. Despite its size and bulky shape, the Harbinger is fast and manoeuvrable. An enemy looking for an easy kill will be greatly disappointed if they attempt to bring down a Harbinger, thanks to a variety of heavy weapons that it can mount. Its armor is composed of a specialized nano-crystalline molecular alloy mixed in with the normal biomechanic self-repair feature, making it especially durable. As it is a flying craft, terrain that would prove insurmountable to even the hardiest land-based vehicles offers no hinderance, allowing for drops even within enemy lines.

Onslaught
The father of all tanks, the Onslaught is a truly destructive weapon of war. At least three times the size of an Imperial Baneblade, this colossal vehicle mounts no less than twenty-eight guns upon its chasis; the main gun alone wields firepower comparable to a starship weapon battery. This tremendous amount of power can lay waste to entire armies. It's offensive might is compounded by thick, self-repairing armor and powerful energy shields. These tanks are incredibly rare, and an army will normally have access to but a single one; only in times of dire need will more be brought to a single battle. In spite of its obvious might, the Onslaught does have its weaknesses; the most apparent is its lack of speed and mobility, and its sheer size makes it a primary target.

Empty Ones
For the Tymon, to be born as a psychic null is to be regarded as the living embodiment of physical purity, able to remain untouched by the malignance of the Warp. A null is considered to be absolutely irreplacable because of this and their extreme rarity, and as such, are afforded the best the Tymon can offer. At birth, upon being recognized as a null, the infant is taken to secret facilities where they will live their early lives out. Eventually, they will be placed within a suit of Mul Armor, the most technologically advanced armor model the Tymon have, which will serve not only to offer incredible protection, but also enhance their anti-psychic aura. These venerated beings are unleashed only when the Tymon face psychic aliens, such as the Eldar, or when a daemonic incursion occurs on a world. When not needed, they slumber away centuries in heavily guarded facilities.

Deathshead Guardian
The Deathshead Guardians are the personal bodyguards of Adrammelech the Undying, numbering roughly three hundred in strength. Since Adrammelech has reigned for so long, the Tymon cannot fathom the idea of life without him. Were he to die, then the Tymon would likely fall into anarchy. As such, only the Deathshead are fit to protect him. They are the product of extensive genetic engineering, artificially bred in vast labratories and engineered to be faster, stronger and smarter than a normal warrior. The process takes years to fully complete, and there is a fair chance that something will go wrong. Those that are "born" will then be trained in the most grueling training regimes, so harsh that a normal warrior would be killed if he underwent it. If they survive, they will then be afforded the honor of protecting Adrammelech and given the best equipment the Tymon can make. Their entire existence is dedicated to serving and guarding their lord and master; only at the behest of Adrammelech will they ever leave his side. In battle, they are without peer, striking down foes with almost contemptuous ease.