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Hi guys, I'm currently writing a little story for my Skitarii Legion that explains their colours and their origin, and I had the idea for them to be part of a quite big expedition on a Diluvian-class World, so covered by oceans on 92% of its surface, with its ocean lowering drastically all X years, allowing for the sea ground to be seen and explored freely for a short period before the sea rises again. But I wanted to give them a permanent enemy to face for a long time on the planet, all by themselves (no contact with the other planets because of Warp reasons). However I don't know which faction/race could play this part, as they'd need to be able to live in an oceanic environment. The only ones that can pull this trick for me are the Necrons, the world could be an ancient Necron base (a Necropolis may be too big) and so they're awoken by the works of the Mechanicus on the land and in the ocean (drilling and the likes of it). But I have a question, when Necrons wake up from stasis, do they all wake up at once or could they wake up over different periods of times, because of technology problems in their stasis systems ? If they'd wake up continuously over a long time this could justify a long, constant war against them, but if the whole place rises then my expedition would just get destroyed mercilessly.

Is this possible for Necrons ? Is there a case in the lore where they didn't emerge from their sleep in order ?

Thanks for reading and apologies for the few English mistakes

You could always take Nids, who adapted to live underwater. After all, there are Nids on Fenris, who've slept under the oceans for unspecified period of time.

You can absolutely have necrons awaken over a period of time. In fact, this is the most common type of necron awakening, it is very rare for a tomb world to wake up quickly.

If you want, you could do a crossover with my own dynasty, the Hyrek, who have control of an ocean covered moon. I can post/pm you the details if you like. But I totally understand if you would rather create your own world.

 Xathrodox86 wrote:
You could always take Nids, who adapted to live underwater. After all, there are Nids on Fenris, who've slept under the oceans for unspecified period of time.

Hey I totally forgot the Tyranids. That's a good idea actually, but I think they'd be better off against an army with shooting and such, because of my shooty-playstyle.

Anrakyr-the-Traveller wrote:
You can absolutely have necrons awaken over a period of time. In fact, this is the most common type of necron awakening, it is very rare for a tomb world to wake up quickly.

If you want, you could do a crossover with my own dynasty, the Hyrek, who have control of an ocean covered moon. I can post/pm you the details if you like. But I totally understand if you would rather create your own world.

Thanks, I wanted to be sure about that ! I have the Necron codex, but I read something about a Mechanicus force that got overrun on a diluvian world too, with Trazyn the Infinite stasing them all in the end.
Hey, thanks for proposing ! But I don't think that would really fit the theme, they're supposed to be like omnipresent enemies, coming wave by wave or something like that. I mean they are supposed to have moments of respite to build stuff and explore between two clashes. But I'm interested in reading your stuff, did you write it in the Dakka Fiction section ?

I haven't posted it yet, but I will soon, keep an eye out for it!

I will !

Apocalypse (1st ed,), pg.163 outlines [apparently Imperial theorising on] how tombworlds awaken.

The first forces to activate are the Primary Awakeners - Tomb Spyders, Scarabs, and presumably other Canoptek units (Wraiths, Stalkers etc.) which set about repairing the tomb and awakening other troops.

Next to awaken are Raider Forces - Warriors and Scarabs (just like the very first Necron rules) which scout the local world/system.

Then comes Reserve Command and Silver-level Lords who take command of all raider forces and Line Formations led by Bronze-level Lords. These formations also include Destroyers/Heavy Destroyers and Immortals, Monoliths, following the IRL releases.


If tombs are intruded upon, different units will awaken to defend them - most commonly depicted as Warriors. Deathwatch: The Emperor Protects has non-canoptek Wraiths ('Spectral Harbringers') as amongst the first to awaken too (pg.84).

Thanks for the info, I'll make sure to include that in my story.

OK, without launching into a climate change debate, how do the oceans subside on the planet? Extreme tides? Extreme evaporation? Extreme freeze cycle? A crazy empty chamber under the seas that fills and then empties? I kinda gots to know.

If it's a secret revealed in the story (or not), Ignore my post.

Oh, and nothing says "unintended consequences" like accidentally awakening a Necron army.

The planet Lysios from the Shield of Baal campaign had a 'world tide' which was like a tsunami which constantly circled the planet, caused by the planet's moon doing odd things with gravity.

 Gobbla wrote:
OK, without launching into a climate change debate, how do the oceans subside on the planet? Extreme tides? Extreme evaporation? Extreme freeze cycle? A crazy empty chamber under the seas that fills and then empties? I kinda gots to know.

If it's a secret revealed in the story (or not), Ignore my post.

Oh, and nothing says "unintended consequences" like accidentally awakening a Necron army.

Ha ! I have yet to decide for a "realistic" reason, I was thinking about the water going down enormous holes that lead to the undercrust of the planet, to be released a short period after. As for the ratio emerged/flooded, I have yet to decide too, I'm still at the beginning of the writing, I started just today to write where they originally came from Hey, I suddenly got an idea for the water going nuts...

If all that interests you I'll post my Legio's story in Dakka Fiction once it's completed

 Xathrodox86 wrote:
You could always take Nids, who adapted to live underwater. After all, there are Nids on Fenris, who've slept under the oceans for unspecified period of time.

Are they really Nids though, or just big creatures?

TheLumberJack wrote:

 Xathrodox86 wrote:
You could always take Nids, who adapted to live underwater. After all, there are Nids on Fenris, who've slept under the oceans for unspecified period of time.

Are they really Nids though, or just big creatures?

Big ocean creatures "rumoured" to be related to ancient Tyranids. Same as the Catachan Devil. It's never been proven one way or another.

TheLumberJack wrote:

 Xathrodox86 wrote:
You could always take Nids, who adapted to live underwater. After all, there are Nids on Fenris, who've slept under the oceans for unspecified period of time.

Are they really Nids though, or just big creatures?

Heavily rumored to be ancient Nids, perhaps a long range scout organism.

No one else thinking of aquatic orks who all wear sailor hats and construct huge submarines?

 Exergy wrote:
No one else thinking of aquatic orks who all wear sailor hats and construct huge submarines?

That could be fun. But actually I'm considering another story for my Legion so there may not be use of any race for now actually, still got to write this up and share with you all !