Warhammer 40K: Tyranid Brainbugs
Come, Inquisitors, today we study the greatest known “leader-beasts” of the Tyranid species, aka the “Brainbugs”.
Norn Queens
Norn-Queens (also known as Splicer-Beasts) are the productive parts of the Tyranid swarm. They live upon massive Hive Ships in huge chambers at the centre of the Hive Fleet. They ingest genetic materials, churning out all the countless types of creatures that make up the Tyranid Hive Fleet. All Tyranids have links back to a Norn-Queen, as the only way for Tyranids to reproduce is via this cloning technique. It is said that they lead the Tyranid forces and direct the evolution of the Tyranid race.
Reproductive Methods
Norn-Queens require a constant supply of fuel, in the shape of genetic material. This is used to reproduce or bring forth new Tyranid life forms. This mainly consists of the fluids formed in Reclamation Pools, that are pumped up into the Hive Ships through massive Capillary Towers. Genetic material is also supplied directly to the Norn-Queen via living creatures and scavengers, such as Coffin-Crawlers. All this, including transport creatures, is pumped into the great jaws that are located at the top of the Norn-Queen, and synthesized by the Queens genetic shredder organs. The dissembled DNA structures form a gene-bank, which provides the raw material from which new creatures are created. Once a type of bio-construct has been designed more identical creatures can be cloned by the Norn-Queens.
Norn-Queens are capable of bringing forth new bio-constructs in a variety of different ways. Each designed to ensure maximum efficiency. Most bio-constructs are born as tiny wriggling larvae. Some begin life as eggs that must be nurtured further before they hatch and develop into adults. Clusters of eggs spill from rows of ovipository orifices along a Norn-queen’s flanks. Fluid filled depressions on its upper surface writhe with maggot-like larvae. Fetal sacs hang like ripe fruit from umbilical branches, and huge larval Teleporter Worms burst from incubator pouches on the Norn-Queen’s sides. Simpler bio-constructs may emerge already in their adult form. These are gathered and directed by the horde of attendent creatures that feed and serve the Norn-Queen.
The Hydra Effect
Upon the extinction of the class of xeno-form known as a Norn Queen, a psycho-temporal event approaching level Gamma 12 is generated. A level sufficient to temporarily obscure the light of the Astronomican. It is believed that this phenomenon represents the ‘death knell’ of said xeno-form. Its purpose is to trigger those bio-vessels that intercept the signal to calve. This has been dubbed the ‘Hydra effect’, for, upon the death of one Norn Queen, a number of others are calved. Thus the advance of the Tyranids is merely slowed, not stalled.
Dominatrix
The Dominatrix (plural: Dominatrices, species name: Tyranicus praepotens ) is a Tyranid species which exerts a controlling psychic aura to bring lesser Tyranid creatures under its will. This allows the swarm under its command to operate with uncanny efficiency and tactical ability. However, a Dominatrix is extremely rare and only seen in the most advanced Tyranid swarms.
A Dominatrix possess a large array of Bio-weaponry. It is of colossal mass, dwarfing that of an Imperial Super Heavy Tank. It has an intelligence akin to that of a mighty Hive Tyrant, but its link to the Tyranid Hive Mind surpasses even a Hive Tyrant’s.
A Dominatrix is a gargantuan composite creature of nightmarish proportions. It is equipped with ripping claws and fangs, and a stunning profusion of symbiotic weaponry. Dominatrixes are the brood queens of the Tyranid hordes, their children spawning into all the different Tyranid classes. Inside her rides a Norn Queen, with all the gene sequences of the galaxy’s most lethal creatures, ready to be spliced and twisted into new monstrosities.
Because of the importance of a Dominatrix, which is also the most powerful link to the Hive Mind a horde has, they are strategic targets of the highest priority. Destroying a Dominatrix can decide whether a planet falls to the Great Devourer, or is saved.
Swarmlord
The Swarmlord is a legendary Tyranid creature created by the Hive Mind with the purpose of out-thinking the enemy and developing new strategies when standard Tyranid strategies of physical and biological adaption fail. It has destroyed empires and driven civilisations to extinction, and now it is the foremost Tyranid threat to the Galaxy. Known as the Swarmlord by the Imperium, it has been known by many other names including the Tyrantlord of the Hive Mind, the Herald of the Great Devourer, and the Destroyer of the Kha’la Empire.
Birthing Circumstances
It is the pinnacle of the evolution of the Hive Tyrant bioform, a truly unique monster. The Swarmlord is essentially immortal, like a Hive Tyrant, as once killed it is reborn by the Hive Mind with the exact same experiences, character and knowledge. In essence, it becomes stronger than its predecessor every time because of its new experience. But unlike a Hive Tyrant, the reincarnation of the Swarmlord appears to be a stress-induced response. It is triggered only when conventional strategies of the Hive Mind fail and greater resourcefulness and tactics are needed. To this end, the Swarmlord possesses more autonomy from the Hive Mind than any other Tyranid creature. Its connection with the Hive Mind is so strong it can emerge amongst any Hive Fleet, transcending any physical limitations separating the different Fleets. The Swarmlord has aeons of battle experience and bloodshed to draw upon. In fact, it is as old as the Tyranid race itself.
As weapons the Swarmlord wields four bone sabres, crackling with disruptive power. These are capable of slicing through adamantium and force fields as if they were nothing. They differ from commonly seen Tyranid Boneswords in that each sabre has a crystalline growth, not indigenous to the galaxy, at its core that partially protrudes through the blade’s serrated surface. The Swarmlord can parry with these sabres at such speed that its foes find it all but impossible to inflict a hit on the creature.
Emerging Threats
We must be vigilant as the Hive Fleets are constantly evolving. New, unseen Brainbugs may emerge at any time. There are already battlefield reports of previously unknown psychic organisms from the newly invigorated Hive Fleet Leviathan attacking through the Segmentum Pacificus.
Learn More of the Tyranids
Lexicanum
~ Let us use this knowledge to better plan the destruction of the Hivefleets.
