Hexagrammic Wards
| This article is about the Human wards; for the Aeldari wards, see Runes of Warding. |
Hexagrammic Wards (also spelled Hexagrammatic)[7][9] are techno-arcane devices from the Dark Age of Technology, designed to protect against psychic forces.[4] These wards strengthen the boundaries between realspace and the Warp in a small area, reducing the effects of warp incursions.[9] These wards are utilised by a variety of Imperial[1] and Chaos forces.[11]
Hexagrammic Wards are used heavily in facilities regularly dealing with psykers or similar warp interactions, such as Astropathic Relay Stations.[7] They're also seen throughout Black Ships (alongside pentagrammic wards, a type of ward specially designed to repel Daemons and their corruption).[4] These wards are also utilised thoroughly by the Grey Knights in both their armour and ships.[5][6] Space Marine Librarians of chapters such as the Exorcists utilise hexagrammatic wards, alongside purifying incense, in their vaults of lore detailing ways to combat the daemonic.[8] These wards are also sometimes worn by Inquisitors when they know they will encounter psykers.[1] For example, an Ordo Xenos inquisitor might have various hexagrammic wards tattooed on their forearms or elsewhere.[10] These wards can otherwise be used by the Inquisitor as powerful charms and canticles of faith to psychically unnerve heretical psykers in proximity.[2] Subdermal electoos of hexagrammic wards are also effective defences against malign assault, but one must still defend themselves against the very physical threats Warp Entities can bring to battle.[11]
During the Indomitus Crusade, such wards were engraved in blessed silver on the back of relic badges known as Aegis Indomitus.[3]
See also
Sources
- 1: Codex: Witch Hunters (3rd Edition), pg. 21
- 2: The Inquisition (Background Book), pg. 44
- 3: War Zone Charadon - Act II: The Book of Fire, pg. 116 - Crusade Relics
- 4: Dark Heresy: Purge the Unclean, pg. 74
- 5: Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters, prologue intro cutscene
- 6: Codex: Daemonhunters, pg. 8
- 7: Rogue Trader Rulebook, pg. 163
- 8: White Dwarf 462, pg. 47
- 9: Imperium Maledictum: Inquisition Player's Guide, pg. 127
- 10: Carcharodons: Outer Dark (Novel), Chapter VI
- 11: Primogenitor (Novel), Chapter 5