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I vaguely remember a short story where a Magos Biologis was called back to a planet where he had cataloged all of the lifeforms because he supposedly missed an apex predator that was killing people.

It turned out that this "apex predator" was actually a Hormagaunt that was being controlled by implants and being used by the local Ecclesarch as a "demon" to ensure people were going to his sermons.

A Radical Inquisitor on the fifth Ciaphas Cain book managed to capture and control TWO lictors, I believe... one of them he let into an arena along with a trio of psykers in order to kill Cain... and the other one underneath a Sororitas order, so that he could wipe them out so that he would leave no evidence of his heresy.

what? how can you control a lictor?

Ask Sandy Mitchel.

You can't.

It's important to note that Mitchell has stated that the Cain novels are written as very "tongue-in-cheek".

Cain, as we see it, is a huge coward. But the books are intended to kind of come across as Imperial propaganda, wherein the Imperium always wins, no matter the odds or the foe.

Ya, I thought the point of Cain was he was a douche.

Kanluwen wrote:You can't.

It's important to note that Mitchell has stated that the Cain novels are written as very "tongue-in-cheek".

Cain, as we see it, is a huge coward. But the books are intended to kind of come across as Imperial propaganda, wherein the Imperium always wins, no matter the odds or the foe.

Certainly there are some aspects of it I don't like. Though I did like how he treated the lesbian couple (gives more respect than most authors at any rate)...

I haven't read Mitchell's stuff, as I found him to be a bit of an ass at a BL reading years ago.

So, he got crossed off my list of BL authors to read--before the Cain books were even really available no less.

he wrote some HH books though didn't he? I probably read those then.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:what? how can you control a lictor?

He wasn't controlling the lictor just keeping it in stasis and releasing it whenever he needed to
In the sisters fortress he just let it loose as the psychic connection would bring the swarm down on the place.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Ya, I thought the point of Cain was he was a douche.

Too true, although it's also heavily implied over the course of Cain's story that he might not actually be giving himself quite enough credit, and might in fact be a bit of a relucant, self-denying hero after all.

There's like, character depth ! *gasp*



As for the "controlled" Lictors, I'm pretty certain that they were just "captured" creatures held against their will rather than directly controlled. Risky business if you ask me, given that a few Lictors are quite capable of summoning a Hive Fleet...

The Hive Fleet was already coming anyway, so it wasn't a big deal.

Tongue-in-cheek means humorous, not false.

As I understand it, if the BL publishes it, then its canon. While we, as gamers, may not like it (I have despised a good chunk of the Horus Heresy) we are stuck with it. Until they decide to change it. Which, of course, is their right as the ultimate designers and controllers of this little game world.

As to why the Imperium always wins in the Cain novels, I think that there is a bit of cart and horse mixup here. Cain doesn't manage to pull out an Imperial victory no matter the odds, every time. He just happens to be skilled or lucky enough to be present and in a position to be given the credit for a ridiculous number of Imperial victories.

I respect your opinion though, in that you don't like the books, and I even respect your reasoning. I too, have abandoned an author's work simply because they were a jerk to me personally.

Melissia wrote:The Hive Fleet was already coming anyway, so it wasn't a big deal.

ya, no biggie.

That's funny, I abandoned most of Black Library because I don't like how they treat Sisters (I've only read ONE book where they were looked upon kindly...)

Jimsolo wrote:Tongue-in-cheek means humorous, not false.

As I understand it, if the BL publishes it, then its canon. While we, as gamers, may not like it (I have despised a good chunk of the Horus Heresy) we are stuck with it. Until they decide to change it. Which, of course, is their right as the ultimate designers and controllers of this little game world.

As to why the Imperium always wins in the Cain novels, I think that there is a bit of cart and horse mixup here. Cain doesn't manage to pull out an Imperial victory no matter the odds, every time. He just happens to be skilled or lucky enough to be present and in a position to be given the credit for a ridiculous number of Imperial victories.

I respect your opinion though, in that you don't like the books, and I even respect your reasoning. I too, have abandoned an author's work simply because they were a jerk to me personally.

It wasn't even me that he was a jerk to. I was sitting chatting with Mr. Abnett about the Horus Heresy when I heard Mitchell being an ass to someone who asked for nothing less than him to sign the book they'd just bought of his, while he was sitting at the signing booth.

What do you mean? Sisters are known to be the most ruthless of all the Imperium's armed forces. Or is that the problem? That they make them wusses?

KamikazeCanuck wrote:What do you mean? Sisters are known to be the most ruthless of all the Imperium's armed forces. Or is that the problem? That they make them wusses?

That they make them mentally incompetent.

Melissia wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:What do you mean? Sisters are known to be the most ruthless of all the Imperium's armed forces. Or is that the problem? That they make them wusses?

That they make them mentally incompetent.

but is it metal incompetence brought on by blind religious fanaticism? cuz they do got a lot of that going on.

No, they are soldiers of the Emperor. Holy warriors, not crazed nutjob fanatics without a brain.

That's what Repentia and the Frateris Militia are. Sisters are far more competent.

idunno if you need to burn an entire city's worth of maybe-heretics one by one you call the Adeptus Soriatus. People often think of Sisters as just being some army of chicks but they are the most fanatical. Most systematic genecides of humans are done by the sisters. Its the only codex that throws around the word pogrom.

Yes, and? Systemic genocides are done by the Guard, too. Also, by the Marines. Also, by the Navy.

The Sisters are religious fanatics, but they are not slowed. Many books describe them as arrogant, stupid, wasteful, and etc, and I despise it. Black Library books are low quality enough without this kind of crap.

Lukus83 wrote:Fluff in the codex talks about how Kryptman captured a brood of stealers to divert Hive Fleet Leviathan. Also on Tarsis Ultra they captured a lictor and engineered a biological plague that destroyed the synapse relays thus inducing IB in all the nids on the planet. They haven't been able to reproduce the plague though.

Are you referring to Warriors Of Ultramar?
BTW I've seen a guy with Ork servitors... If you can make Fungus into Servitors, why not Bugs

Melissia wrote:Yes, and? Systemic genocides are done by the Guard, too. Also, by the Marines. Also, by the Navy.

The Sisters are religious fanatics, but they are not slowed.

Yes, but the Sisters do it with flamers and meltaguns!!! Probably pitchforks and torches too. I mean they really take a hands on approach to their pogroms.

No, they do it with chainsword, bolter, flamer, and melta. Weapons which all three ground-based branches have access to to some extent or other.

It's the "trinity" of Bolter, Flamethrower, and Meltagun.

Not the quadrinity of Chainsword, Bolter, Flamer, and Meltagun.

Sisters use chainswords, therefor I included it.

Melissia, check out 'Cain's Last Stand.' Sandy Mitchell (who is apparently an ass in real life) handles the Adeptas Sororitas with a degree of balance. While in his books they do have their fanatical-to-the-point-of-blindness members (as do the IG, and the Marines, etc) they also have competent, dedicated and wise individuals. Its good stuff.

Any follower of your false emperor is stupid, Sisters or not.
(I can totally make the 5 year old Chaos is better argument!)

As for enslaving 'Nids, Control node and brain are the only problems that need to be overcome. I am sure that a society capable of making servitors, and Space Marines, could figure it out. The biggest concern would be that it is "heresy" However that has never really stopped the Mechanium, or the Inquisition, or the Astartes.

thegrav wrote:The biggest concern would be that it is "heresy"

There are plenty of other traps and tricks built into Tyranids as well as them simply trying to slice you up though, like a body full of hostile Phage Cells that try and digest whatever they touch...

Honestly, outside of a few specific examples it's probably not worth the hassle.