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 Mr Nobody wrote:
I think the golden throne is one of those pieces that's deliberately left vague so different people can imagine what they want.

It used to be, then they went and defined a whole bunch of things about it and now it's just boring.

Durn Kids, stop defining things on my lawn!

Other than some old artwork, I don't think the notion of 'a hundred psykers sacrificed per day' actually means people lined up and literally SACRIFICED. I was always led to understand (and seem to recall some BL author saying the same) that the concept simply referred to the rate of burnout in the Astropathic Choir of the Astronomican. The strain of channeling their psychic energy into the Golden Throne (where the Emperor can act as a focus to project the Warp beacon) can burn out up to one percent of their ten thousand strong multitude per day. It's still insane, but that interpretation fits more with the monolithic, unfeeling nature of the setting.

In the 6th Edition BRB, it simply says "The efforts of generating so much mental energy soon drains them, leaching their souls and reducing them to empty husks ... They are given wholly to the weird machinery that surrounds the Master of Mankind and their souls are siphoned, slowly and agonisingly, to feed his mighty spirit".

I do remember reading something about this from the perspective of a psyker in the Choir, though. I think they go into a sort of mad, mindless dream-state, simultaneously blinded and in awe of the Emperor's light and in terrible pain from the enormous strain of their duty.

Depending on how long it takes, I'd say that the machines they are plugged in to are life support. I imagine that the psykers are cut and sliced and modified, fitted with tubes and pipes that keep their brain alive while they carry out their fatal task. Then, when they inevitably die, a replacement is inserted in their place. I imagine it as enormous banks of alcoves, each fitted with a tortured soul unable to move or scream.

It's important to remember that this is the fate of psykers that the Imperium can find no other use for - ones whose power will probably drive them mad if not already.

Guys, this stuff is awesome! Keep it coming!

Loving the images, they're very useful (both the 5- and 6-fingered variety ), plus all the comments, facts, assumptions and conjecture.

It's all good - keep it coming!

BTW - I may have to ask BL (if they will hear me) for their official opinion on this matter, since the more I'm discovering on this thread, the more I find myself needing to know...