1,539
edits
Changes
De-plagarized section, corrected source.
{{DrukhariPortal}}
[[Image:HaemonculusArt.jpg|thumb|right|280px|A Haemonculus]]
The '''Haemonculi''' are [[Dark Eldar]] masters of pain, agonysurgeon-alchemists, adept at torture and biological manipulation.{{Fn|1}}
==Overview==
Haemonculi proclaim that the infliction of pain is one of the highest arts, if not ''the'' highest, and gleefully create choruses of screams and wails of agony whilst taking delight in every aspect of the discomfort of anyone unfortunate enough to fall under their blades. Haemonculi are also known as master manipulators of flesh, able to create horrific monstrosities and regenerate Dark Eldar slain in battle, provided enough of the body remains. Because of this, dark eldar of status will often make pacts with haemonculi, promising them fresh captives for their cruel art in exchange for medical treatment, biological enhancements, and even being brought back from the dead. Haemonculi ensure the near-immortality of Dark Eldar who can afford their services, and it is said they can be grown back to life from a single severed hand.{{Fn|1}}
Like most Dark Eldar groups they form into factions, known as [[Haemonculi Covens]] that base themselves across the Dark City. The Haemonculi and their covens are all secretly feared by the denizens of [[Commorragh]] despite their service, for one knows what horrors await if one crosses one of their order. Every Haemonculus considers himself akin to a god, and hence surrounds himself with a retinue of freakish acolytes that obey his every whim without hesitation. Many do not care to debase themselves by touching the ground, let alone sully themselves with physical labor. To this end, they are assisted at all times by exotic technologies and an entourage of abominations such as [[Wracks]] and [[Grotesque]]s. Notorious megalomaniacs, their egos require the constant obeisance of subservient beings, most of whom they have fashioned themselves. These servants ensure the Coven’s captives are hauled about, flayed or dissected according to their master’s orders.{{Fn|54a}}
As masters of fleshcrafting, Haemonculi heavily modify themselvestheir own bodies as their needs or whims dictate. Some keep Organs may be moved about as desired, with some keeping their blood, heart and lungs and heart in a muscledhunk of meat that sprouts from hump on their shouldersback, hollowing out their torsos and giving the Haemonculi a rich repositoryfor stimulants gaunt and stretched appearance. Secondary and elixirs that often boasts secondary tertiary limbs of itsown. Others replace their are common, as is replacing one's blood so that searing ichor with acid or even acidflows through other dangerous ichors. Some extend their modified veins. Their spines are elongatedand extended and their vertebrae meld intowhipping prehensile bone-bony tails that can curl around the throats of, or grow antlers and horns from their preybacks. From the upper backs sprout protrusions of{{Fn|4a}}bony matter that often frame the Haemonculus’ head, hung withpeculiar syringes Haemonculi are virtually immortal. The skills and drug dispensers technology that channel directly intoallows them to regenerate other Drukhari allows them to resurrect in their spinal sump. Because labs from complete destruction of their skills Haemonculi are functionally immortal, bodies. The only way to permanently end a Haemonculus' existence is to destroy them in body and soul. Anything less than that merely insures a methodical and always look inventive revenge upon death with a vengeful glee for they know they shall soon return to exact their retributionwould-be killer.{{Fn|52e}}{{Fn|4a}}
The Haemonculi are always seeking new ways to inflict horror upon the denizens of the [[Materium]]. Certain Covens, such as the [[Children of Bone]], specialize in developing thin Grotesques to aid them upon the battlefield, while the [[Ebon Sting|Coven of the Ebon Sting]] are famed for their especially venomous Engines of Pain. It is these hideous horrors and monstrous constructs that do the majority of the killing when the Coven mounts a raid. Having lived for thousands of years, the Haemonculi look upon the planet-wrecking wars of lesser races with a snickering amusement.{{Fn|2c}}
Haemonculi are known for carrying strange but lethal wargear unique to them. Some of this wargear is impossible to obtain even by [[Archons]].
As every Haemonculus is old, perverse, and cunning, they carry some "dirty tricks" in their tainted sleeves. Having access to arcane wargear of the [[Dark Eldar]], they might possess some truly dreadful array of technology such as:{{Fn|44b}}
*'''Weapons'''{{Fn|44b}}
**[[Agonizer]]
**[[Destructor (weapon)|Destructor]]
==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Codex: Dark Eldar (5th Edition)]], pgs. 3837-40
*2: [[Haemonculus Covens - A Codex: Dark Eldar Supplement]]
**{{Endn|2a}}: ''Disciplines of the Haemonculi''
**{{Endn|2f}}: ''A Hideous Beauty''
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Codex Supplement: White Scars (8th Edition)]], pg. 28 — Huntsmen of the Stars
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Drukhari (8th Edition)]], **{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 8768**{{Endn|54b}}: [[Codex: Drukhari (9th Edition)]], pg. 6887
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Rogue Trader: The Soul Reaver]], pg. 120
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Path of the Archon (Novel)]], Chapters 6, 14