Warhammer 40K: The Sensei – True Children of the Emperor
The Emperor had other children besides his genetically modified offspring like the primarchs. Say hello to the Sensei.
The Emperor of Mankind lived many lifetimes and chose many different forms over the millenia. In those years he fathered more than a few offspring. Loremasters, today we are are going to take a look at the immortal sons of the Emperor known as the Sensei, and what they mean for the future of the Imperium.
The Sensei are the true immortal sons of the Emperor. who wander the galaxy as heroes and champions.
Original Sensei Artwork
Origin of the Sensei
Long before the birth of the Imperium, the Emperor lived in hiding amongst ordinary men and during this time he fathered many families. The Emperor’s sons, like their father, possessed special abilities of their own. While their father was a powerful psyker, the Sensei are psychic blanks and cannot be seen by other psykers. Due to their nature, the Emperor himself is also unaware of their relationship. Not all of the Emperor’s descendants are Sensei, but the genes inherited by the Sensei from the Emperor have granted them the gift of immortality. While the Sensei were sired by the Emperor, they themselves are infertile and the Emperor has no further descendants.
The Sensei’s Path Among Humanity
The Sensei have adapted to living in hiding within the ranks of humanity, while ignorant of their true heritage. Over the millennia, they have been vilified as ‘witches’ and ‘devils’ for their immortality. The Sensei are heroes who wander the galaxy, sometimes in the company of bands of other powerful heroes. In the age of the Imperium, few other than the Sensei themselves and the Illuminati are aware of their existence, other than as folk tales of the Captain Eternal or the Wandering Inquisitor.
Only when a Sensei encounters, or is drawn to, another Sensei does the truth emerge, and they are taught new abilities. They may tap into warpspace to channel energy for combat, sense daemons or disturbances in the warp, and the power to mask their presence from psychics. Trained Sensei are inducted into the Brotherhood and prepare for the final battle against Chaos. Some Sensei may flee to join the forces of Chaos and become Grey Sensei, becoming amongst the cruelest of dark servants.
The original lore for the Sensei appeared in the two Realm of Chaos books… Slaves to Darkness
The Sensei and Chaos
While a Sensei can be killed, they do not age. In addition they possess amazing powers of recovery. They are protected from the powers of Chaos and the warp, but they may join the forces of Chaos. A Sensei cannot experience hate, bitterness, or irrational anger, because these are emotions caused by the disharmony of the Chaos powers. The Sensei are invisible to the Chaos powers and their daemons and possess no emotions that are embodied by the Chaos powers.
Whereas the Chaos Gods possess their own champions, the Sensei act as the champions of the Star Child, the immortal soul of the Emperor and humanity. Every Sensei is born with the Mark of the Star Child, allowing them to draw upon the energy of the Star Child. The Star Child may reward the Sensei with a number of different abilities and protections, such as the power to slay daemons, sword mastery, marksmanship, endurance, and mastery of disguise amongst other rewards.
In time, a Sensei may achieve Apotheosis, being drawn through the warp to commune with the Star Child to become one of its special servants, known as a Sensei Master. A Sensei Master is the Star Child’s equivalent of a Chaos God‘s Daemon Prince. However, a Sensei’s individuality and mind is consumed, and they may return to the material universe unnoticed, even visiting mortal friends if in danger.
The Lost & The Damned…unveiled with the true origins of the Emperor!
Learn More on the Sensei
via Lexicanum
In many ways the Sensei were anti-chaos themselves. They were the children of the Emperor and they could become the Star Child’s version of a Daemon Prince. While the Sensei haven’t really been a part of Warhammer 40K’s tabletop game in a very, very long time it would be very interesting to see them make a return in some form or fashion.
Sensei were the OG Psychic Blanks – and so much more…
