Penitent Engine
Penitent Engines are horrific machines utilized by armies of the Ecclesiarchy. They are frequently deployed alongside the armies of the Adepta Sororitas, who consider it their sacred duty to witness these machines in combat.[4]
Overview
When a penitent's crimes are so heinous that not even arco-flagellation is punishment enough, the repentant may be interred in one of the ancient and holy shriving machines known as Penitent Engines.[8] A multitude of wires, chemical injectors, and pain-nodes are implanted into the heretic's spine and body, which are then attached to the mechanical suit, as the pilot is suspended amidst the gears and electro-shackles, with their arms clamped wide and locked into the mechanisms of the Engine’s giant weapon-limbs[7b]. This configuration also ensures the long arms of the Penitent Engines cannot reach back towards the penitent themselves, ensuring the pilot cannot end their torment through suicide utilising the machine's weapons.[10] Some individuals who pilot Penitent Engines are also often individuals who were once seen as pious by the Ecclesiarchy, such as Priests or Battle Sisters. As a result, the Sisters of Battle consider it a sacred duty to witness these fearsome machines in combat, observing the actions of their fallen brethren as they atone for their sins.[1]
A key component of the Penitent Engine is the Excruciatum Locus, a parasitic pain regulation device, originally of Nostraman design, lodged directly into the pilot's thalamus. This device delivers artificial pain signals at least two orders of magnitude higher than can be achieved through physical infliction, magnifying the pilot's frenzied behaviour in combat without causing physiological harm.[6]
When outside of combat, chemical implants inject feelings of guilt and pain directly into their brains, reminding them of their sins. Driven by the heretic's frenzied need for forgiveness, the armoured machine charges forward into the enemy ranks, knowing that only in death can forgiveness be granted[8], though its been observed that even if the inmate pilot is killed and their neural pathways sundered, the exoskeleton of the Penitent Engine can still continue its massacre.[10]
Another use for Penitent Engines off the battlefield can also be the machines being put to use as bodyguards for influential members of the Ecclesiarchy like Confessors, acting as unmoving giants standing guard within the personal abodes of such figures, stinking of human waste, blood and funerary oil that emanate from their pilots until a certain codeword is spoken to them, urging the Pentinent Engines into a violent frenzy while attacking anyone or anything that is infront of them with the pilots loosely targetting the perpetrator of an attack.[10]
Armament
The Penitent Engine is armed with a variety of immense melee and ranged weapons. Armaments can include twin Heavy Flamers, large Chainfists, and circular saws mounted on each fist.[7b] Some configurations feature a flamer slung over a Chainblade.[7a] The Engines hurl out vicious streamers of flame, which can explode in promethium-laced clouds among the enemy.[7a]
Variants
Penitent Engines piloted by Sisters Repentia modified to wield heavier firepower are known as Mortifiers.[3]
Known Penitents
Images
Penitent Engine Miniature
Penitent Engine Miniature (8th Edition)[2]
Penitent Engine
Sources
- 1: White Dwarf 380, pg. 97
- 2: Warhammer Community: Breaking News: Sisters, Psykers and Skeletons (Posted 29/8/2019) (Last Accessed 29 August 2019)
- 3: Warhammer Community: Sisters of Battle: Situation Report (Posted on 18/11/2019) (Last accessed on 18 November 2019)]
- 4: Codex: Adepta Sororitas (8th Edition) pg.59
- 5: Warhammer Combat Cards, card description
- 6: The Remnant Blade (Novel) by Mike Vincent, Chapters 14 & 18
- 7: Stormcaller (Novel) by Chris Wraight
- 8: Codex: Witch Hunters, pg. 27
- 9: The Martyr's Tomb (Novel) by Marc Collins, Chapter Twenty-Seven
- 10: Assassinorum: Divine Sanction (Short Story)
Uncited
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