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{{redirect|Blackstone|other uses of the term|Blackstone (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:Blackstone - Mechanicus (Game UI).jpg|thumb|right|120px|Blackstone fragment{{Fn|17}}]]
'''Noctilith''', commonly called '''Blackstone''',{{Fn|2}} is a strange metallo-organic compound superficially similar to obsidian.{{Fn|18}} It has the mysterious capability to strengthen or weaken [[warp]] influence. Blackstone is found across the [[Galaxy]].{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|16a}} Once thought to be of little worth by [[Humanity]], control of this resource could potentially win or lose the war against [[Chaos]] in a galaxy split in two by the [[Great Rift]]'s opening.{{Fn|16a}}
==Overview==
[[Image:Blackstone Tech-Priest Acquisition.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Tech-Priest]] acquiring Blackstone from a Necron structure.{{Fn|13b}}]]
Noctilith is the substance which the [[NecronsNecron]] s use to create their star-spanning tetrahedral zones of stable space and is known to be highly resistant to the powers of the [[Warp]]. Noctilith is known to hold back Empyric energies, limiting both [[Psychic]] abilities and the manifestation of [[Daemon]]s.{{Fn|3}} Found in abundance on [[Tomb World]]s, the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] under [[Belisarius Cawl]] in particular has sought out deposits for blackstone.{{Fn|1}} Conversely, Noctilith can also enhance the effects of psychic powers,{{Fn|5}} acting as a locus for warp energy.{{Fn|16a}} Noctilith can be tuned by specialized devices to either amplify or nullify the Warp.{{Fn|6}}
[[Image:Blackstone (Liber Xenologis).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Blackstone fragment{{Fn|18}}]]
The Imperium covets Noctilith, which some call "[[Blank|Pariah]] stone" due to its similar effect. Cawl and more ambitious members of the Mechanicum wish to mine enough Noctilith and empower it in order to create a shield against [[Chaos]], perhaps subverting the growth of the [[Great Rift]].{{Fn|3}} The Necrons have been able to use Noctilith to create entire regions of space free from the touch of the Warp, such as the [[Pariah Nexus]].{{Fn|4}} [[Szarekh]] hopes to create this array on a galactic scale.{{Fn|5}}
Further effects of Noctilith have been observed. Any living creature within the area of influence of Noctilith will find themselves afflicted with a numbing despair that only worsens with time until they become little more than a mindless husk - a perfect vessel for Necrons' experimentation on the reversal of [[biotransference]].{{Fn|5}}
It is said that the [[Chaos Gods]] have their own plans for Noctilith.{{Fn|5}} During the aftermath of the [[13th Black Crusade]], [[Black Legion]] forces used Blackstone shards of the [[Cadian Pylons Pylon]]s to cut off [[Warp routes route]]s to [[Terra]].{{Fn|9}}
Noctilith has a variety of uses, fragments and shard are able to be repurposed in a variety of augmented armaments or psychic defences.{{Fn|13c}} A [[Tech-Priest]] could alter their weapon of choice, whether it be a simple [[data-wand]], or an [[Omnissian Staff]] or [[Omnissian Axe|Axe]], it could be augmented to have both give or leech motive force from organic, mechanical, or even supernatural entities.{{Fn|13d}}
==History==
[[Image:CadianPylon.jpg|thumb|right|120px|The [[Cadian Pylon|Cadian]] [[Pylon]]s, which were made of Blackstone{{Fn|3}}]]In the distant past of the galaxy, ancient races understood the workings of blackstone. Something more advanced than both the [[Aeldari]] and [[NecronsNecron]] s created the [[Blackstone Fortresses]] long, long ago. Despite this, only the Necrons would carry the secrets of blackstone into the future.{{Fn|16b}} Millions of years ago, the ancient [[Necron]]s Necrons used Noctilith to build a variety of [[Warp]]-dampening [[Pylon]]s across the [[Galaxy]].{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|13a}}
In the time of the [[Great Crusade]], the [[Adeptus Custodes|Custodian Guard]] constructed a [[Blackstone (Prison)|prison]] on [[Terra]] made of Blackstone salvaged from [[Cadia]] to hold their most dangerous captives.{{Fn|12}}
Some time before 338.M41, the [[radical]] Inquisitor [[Quixos]] developed an interest in the warp-altering properties of the Cadian [[Pylons]], in the hope of permanently closing the [[Eye of Terror]]. Controlled through Quixos' enslaved [[daemonhost ]], [[Cherubael]], a cult calling itself the "[[Sons of Bael]]" studied the pylons. These studies bore fruit, and Quixos duplicated the pylons on other worlds using corrupted merchant cartels and personal supplies of Blackstone.{{Cite this}}
Unfortunately these plans never came to fruition as he was executed by an Inquisitorial taskforce led by [[Eisenhorn]]. It is unknown if Quixos' plan would have succeeded regardless - he was deeply addled by warp corruption and it was well within reason that his experiment could have instead torn the Eye of Terror asunder, which would have resulted in the [[Noctis Aeterna]]'s devastation and the formation of the [[Great Rift]] almost six centuries early.{{Cite this}}
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Defiant]], pg. 90
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Forgebane]], pgs. 2-13
*{{Endn|4}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/06/26/into-the-pariah-nexusgw-homepage-post-3/ Warhammer Community: Into the Pariah Nexus (posted 626/2606/2020)] ''(last accessed 6/27/June 2020)''*{{Endn|5}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/07/12/necron-lore-playing-the-long-game/ Warhammer Community: Necron Lore - Playing the Long Game (posted 712/1207/2020)] ''(last accessed 7/13/July 2020)''
*6: [[Avenging Son (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|6a}}: Chapter Twenty-Six
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 9th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 323 - Crusade Relics
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Watchers of the Throne: The Emperor's Legion (Novel)]], Chapter 29
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Ablaze]], pg.31
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2]] - Mission 3, Machinus Divinitus, Project Aurora File Archive
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Saturnine (Novel)]] - Part 1, Chapter 4
*{{Endn|14}}: [[The Silent King (Novel)]], Chapter 4
*{{Endn|15}}: [[The Infinite and the Divine (Novel)]] - Act 4, Chapter 1
*16: [[White Dwarf April 2018]]:**{{Endn|16a}}: pg. 7, - "Designer's Notes: [[Forgebane]]"**{{Endn|16b}}: pg. 141, - "Vox Chatter"
*{{Endn|17}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus]], Blackstone UI element
*{{Endn|18}}: [[Liber Xenologis]], pg. 114
