Krylithid

Artifacts and ships drifting in the void of space, deposited forth from Warp Storms or crashed millenia ago on undiscovered planets, are the only evidence the galaxy has for the existence of the Krylithids. A mysterious, bizarre, strongly psychic xeno race, arguments rage among those who know of them about the origins of the Krylithids. Whether they are from the distant past or future, or perhaps even extragalactic origin, one thing the Ordos Xenos and Malleus can agree on is that the Krylithids do not exist in any great number in the present. This is the sole source of relief among researchers of this vile race, for Krylithids represent a race that was favoured by Chaos to an extent comparable to, if not greater than Humanity itself.

History
There are certain disturbing parallels between Krylithid recorded history and human history, as much as can be deciphered by Inquisitorial Xenolinguists. Scittering heiroglyphs inscribed on the petrified walls of ships describe a ‘Grand Hive’, controlled by an immortal High Queen. The Queen created lesser genetic copies of herself, who controlled their drone subjects with pheromones.

One soldier, a legendary member of the Warrior Caste, was chosen from their number by the Ruinous Powers. Touched by all four Chaos Gods, this warrior led a rebellion against their homeworld and their Queen Caste. The war lasted several centuries, lasting roughly 1,000 standard Terran years, before the High Queen fell, mauled to death and eaten by the Everchosen Warrior, and her own genetic spawn fallen to the temptation of Chaos.

From this point what remained of the extremely advanced Krylithid society degenerated into feuding warbands, under charismatic Warriors or Queens and fell into infighting common to servants of the ruinous powers. Different Hives dedicated to different Gods tore each other to shreds, reducing their Empire and large swathes of the Galaxy to ruins.

The Ordo Xenos and Malleus note a very disturbing parallel between the fall of the Krylithid Empire and the Horus Heresy that almost consumed the Imperium of Man. The Krylithid Empire worshipped analogues of all four Chaos Gods, even Slaanesh, who seems to have blessed them through the alinear nature of the Warp. Because of the fall of their realm to the utter depravity that is Chaos, they were eventually consumed in a Warpstorm. Artifacts, ships, and in very rare cases, the cryonically frozen specimens of the race are occasionally vomitted forth from the swirling eddies of the Immaterium.

Biology
Krylithids are extremely large, approximately three meters from head to tail. Their bodies are segmented carapace and arthropodlike, with several appendages sprouting from the central mass, with prehensile tendrils for dextrous tasks. The head of the creature is an elongated, proboscis with a bony crest protecting six eyes and a very large brain. Six sinewy wings sprout from the creature’s back.

A Krylithid’s brain is by far its greatest asset. It is biologically simply more intelligent than most races in the galaxy, capable of complex problem solving and feats of science and mathematics nearly unconsciously. They are also naturally psychics, which makes them ideal targets for Chaos. Interestingly, even in a Hive based society, Krylithids were not controlled by a Hive Mind, instead a drug-like addiction to Queen Pheromones, one that was sublimated by the Ruinous Powers.

Krylithids reproduce via implanting their embryos into a living host. After feeding on the host’s biomatter, the larva bursts from a ruptured bag of skin and liquefied meat slurry to grow into an adult Krylithid within hours.

Technology
From specimens collected, it is clear that Krylithid technology vastly outstrips most others, being comparable to Eldar or Necron Tech. Krylithid technology seems to be an unsettling blend of biomatter and technology, fused seamlessly, and often seething with Warp energy.

Krylithids have fully embraced Chaos and almost all their weapons are in some way mutated or utilize the Warp as an energy source. Their ships have no Gellar field, but are coated in a psychically-resistant slime to protect the crews. Krylithid vessels travel the Immaterium at a speed almost unheard of by humans.

Artifacts and weaponry made by Krylithids are sometimes usable by humans. These relics are greatly sought after, as they are mastercrafted works of Xenoarchitecture, seething with Chaotic energy.

The most rare kind of artefact discoursed into realspace are the majestic Dyson Hive, a small, artificial moonlet that houses the cryogenically frozen remains of a Krylithid Hive. The appearance of such a seething nexus of Immaterial energy almost always heralds a Warpstorm consuming the surrounding area.

Society
After the fall of the Grand Hive (previous records being unavailable similar to Pre-Heresy human records), Krylithid society degenerated into something resembling the Traitor Legions in the Eye of Terror, thousands of squabbling warbands, dozens of xeno champions competing for the attention of the Dark Gods. It appears that the Krylithids recognized four Chaos Gods, rough equivalents of Khorne, Tzeentch, Slaanesh and Nurgle. Their names are unpronounceable, but roughly translate to Carnage-Eater, Silent Weft, The Queen Eternal and the Barren King. Krylithids recognize countless lesser Chaos powers as well, including the Masked God and Malice.

Different Krylithid Hives are either dedicated to a specific God or Chaos in general. Each Krylithid serves a function within the Hive, but each one is permitted and indeed expected to grow its own esteem in the eyes of the Hive’s patron. Chaos Champion Krylithids, bearing true Marks of Chaos, are terrifying opponents, capable of tearing entire Space Marine battalions apart. Like those of the Traitor Astartes, these Champions are followed by lesser warriors that follow the same God or path.

Krylithids certainly exist who worship one God exclusively but it is far more common for Krylithids to worship a pantheon. They often favored two allied Gods.

Krylithids in the Dark Millenium
Krylithids exist in the Milky Way only when their derelict ships and artefacts are discourged from the Warp and found by unfortunate Void Sailors. Krylithid ships sometimes, though very rarely, contain thawable, living samples of cryogenically frozen Krylithids, but the xenos are universally hostile, carnivorous and depraved Chaos worshippers.

It is possible and often viable for organizations like the Dark Mechanicus to scavenge functional xenotechnology. Said technology often tends to be haunted, possessed or cursed, but that rarely deters organizations with such interests.

Some hardline factions among the Traitor Legions despise the Krylithids, especially those who see humans as Chaos’ most favored subjects.

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