Necrons

The Necrons are a fictional ancient, machine-based humanoid race in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. They appear as skeletal, emerald-glowing cyborgs and are known for their patient, relentless expansion across the galaxy. After millennia of dormancy in tomb worlds, they periodically awaken to reclaim territories and restore their long-vanished empire.

Origins and transformation: The Necrons began as the Necrontyr, a mortal species with harsh genetics and short lifespans. In search of immortality, they made a pact with the C'tan, star-born beings of immense power. Through a process called biotransference, the Necrontyr consciousness was transferred into immortal robotic bodies. The price was the loss of personal identity and emotion, as the minds inhabited living metal. The C'tan’s power was later restrained by the Necrons, and their star-souls were bound within the Necron race, stored in the Infinity Circuit that guides and remembers the dead.

Society, culture, and warfare: Necron society is organized into dynasties that rule many tomb worlds. Leadership centers on figures such as the Silent King and the Triarch, who oversee warfare and policy across dynasties. Their armies blend durable infantry with potent war machines and Canoptek constructs. Common units include Warriors, Immortals, Lychguard, and Destroyers, along with Canoptek Scarabs, Spyders, and Wraiths. Their war infrastructures feature Monoliths, Ghost Arks, and Doomsday Arks, all designed to reshape battlefields with relentless attrition. Weaponry emphasizes gauss technology and Tesla/particle-based devices that annihilate matter or disrupt targets.

Role in the setting: The Necrons seek to rebuild their ancient empire, awakening across the galaxy to reclaim domains and reassert their dominion. They interact with other powers—sometimes as conquerors, sometimes as strategic adversaries—driven by a cold, methodical desire to restore their millennia-lost civilization.