Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Factions Explained
Mar. 2, 2023Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Factions Explained
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader’s latest dev diary explores the various factions that we’ll encounter in the Koronus expanse.
TheWarhammer 40,000: Rogue Traderuniverse is full of different races andfactions, all vying for control of the Koronus Expanse.
We’ve already known quite a lot about the game, but the latest Dev Diary from Owlcat Games gives us a glimpse at the actual groups that we’ll get to encounter in the game.
The first and largest faction in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is definitely the Imperium of Mankind. This monolithic group represents the vast majority of humanity as well as the millions of planets under their control. Thousands of years of infighting have corrupted the once glorious regime imagined by the immortal God-Emperor of Mankind. Where there was once science, free thinking, and progress, is now filled with zealotry, heresy, as well as other dissidence.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader takes place in the Koronus expanse, far from the clutches of the Imperium of Mankind. However, our character is still part of this coalition and still abides by the laws of the Emperor.
The Imperium of Mankind is so large that it has become a behemoth that has started consuming itself from within. Bureaucracy and propaganda stifle free will. It is also further subdivided into different factions.
TheAstra Militarumor simply theImperial Guardmakes up the largest portion of the Imperium’s military. They are normal men and women who’ve taken up arms to defend the many worlds under the Emperor’s Watch.
We also have the mighty Adeptus Astartes or the Space Marines, stalwart and legendary protectors that have been born from the Emperor’s very image. The Ecclesiarchy handles the religious ministrations of the Imperium, much like theSister of Battle,Sister Argenta, and the InquisitorHeinrix van Calos.
There also exist the mysterious techpriests of the Adeptus Mechanicus from Mars. These men and women believe that machinery is incorruptible, and thus that stripping out their mortal flesh in exchange for mechanical limbs will make them “pure”.Pasqal Haneumannis one such tech priest and is a worshipper of the Omnissiah or the Machine God that lives within every piece of technology.
The Asuryani are a subgroup from the old and forgotten Aeldari Empire. Millions of years ago, the Aeldari ruled the stars with technological and psychic prowess. However, their hubris caused their eventual downfall, destroying their people and homeworld. As a result, they escaped into planet-sized ships called “Craftworlds” and have aimlessly floated through the void since.
Asuryani or Eldar (as called by outsiders) are exceptionally gifted in tapping into the psychic energies of the Warp. They even have the potential to become even more powerful than the most gifted human Psykers (sorry,Idira Tlass!). The Aeldari are also led by Farseers; mystical and ancient witches and warlocks who can even tap into the threads of the future.
As the Asuryani have become distrustful of other races, especially mankind, most encounters that the Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader will have with them will be strenuous at best, and a bloodbath at worst. However, there is still hope as not everyone has chosen hostilities. We even have an Aeldari rangercompanion, Yrliet Lanaevyss.
Aeldari who chose to stay behind as the Craftworlds sailed away into the void are called the Drukhari or simply put, the Dark Eldar. These are some of the most twisted and sadistic groups in the Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader universe. Their cruelty and malice know no bounds.
Drukhari raiding parties scour the universe for any hapless targets, but they do not aim to kill. Instead, their weapons are designed with the twisted goal of inflicting as much pain as possible. This is so that they can gain the energy from their prey’s pain and torment.
Anyone unlucky enough to be captured alive by the Drukhari would beg for death. They are dragged into the interdimensional capital city of Commorragh. There, the Drukhari “Masters of Flesh” enact painful experiments and torture on their victims.
However, despite the horrors that the Drukhari inflict upon their foes, their presence pales in comparison to the ruinous powers of Chaos.
The corrupting powers of Chaos tests the minds and bodies of every living being. They are especially prominent in influencing the billions of men and women of the Imperium of Mankind. Anyone can fall to the temptations that are whispered in the darkness.
Once tempted, the soul is fully enslaved. Their minds and bodies become twisted aberrations, mockeries of their former selves. Chaos itself can then destroy the body, creating horrific mutations that the mortal mind cannot comprehend. Disease and insanity can spring forth, spreading tendrils all across the expanse.
We do know that in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, we will encounter theWord Bearer Legionas the primary agents of chaos. They are one of the original Adeptus Astartes to fall to Chaos and are even responsible for putting the Horus Heresy into motion.
Our Rogue Tradermust be ever vigilant, lest they fall prey to Chaos and go down a path of no return.
Unconfirmed in the Warhammer 40,000:Rogue Traderdev diary, but heavily teased in some promotional material, are the Necrons. This is an ancient race that predates even the Eldar. Once masters of the universe, their bodies then succumbed to many diseases brought upon by the harsh environment of their home worlds.
In an effort to prolong their lives, they made a pact of immortality with ancient star gods and went to war with another ancient race. Though they were deceived, as it is this immortality that replaced their bodies with living metal.
The Necrons were eventually put to sleep into millions of “Tomb Worlds” scattered across the galaxy, waiting for something to stir them from their slumber. Perhaps the Rogue Trader themself came across one of these Tomb Worlds and unknowingly started the awakening of this ancient race?
These are but a glimpse of the groups that we will encounter in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of sub-factions under each of the ones mentioned today. We aren’t even sure if we’ll get to see even more groups and races. Perhaps we’ll see someTyranidsor Orks running about?
Be sure to check out ourWarhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Wikifor more info on the game.
For more news, check outProject Fantasy An Online RPG is Hitman Developer’s Next ProjectandAtlas Fallen Action-RPG Gets Release Date for May.
Auberon
Writer at Fextralife. I really like vanilla ice cream.
