The Necrontyr are a mythical race in the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000. They were the precursors to the Necrons. Cover of the Warhammer 40,000 4th edition rulebook Warhammer 40,000 (informally known as Warhammer 40K or just 40K) is a science fiction tabletop miniature wargame, produced by the British gaming company Games Workshop. ... In the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000, the Necrons are a mysterious race of skeletal warriors that have lain dormant in their stasis-tombs for millions of years. ...

History

Not a lot is known about the origins or the natural history of the ancient race known as the Necrontyr. They seem to be one of the earliest sentient races in the galaxy. What little that is known portrays a bitter race, confined to their homeworld and cursed by drastically short lifespans due to a perilously close orbit around their sun.

The Necrontyr were desperate to free themselves from their tortured lives, and dedicated their scientific advance to two endeavours: studying their sun in search of a defence against its wrath, and planning an escape to another, more hospitable world.

The Old Ones

It was during their first difficult steps out into the wider galaxy that the Necrontyr first encountered the Old Ones. The differences between the two races were vast; where the Necrontyr had short painful lives, the Old Ones were blessed with incredible longevity, where the Necrontyr were impatient, the Old Ones were infinitely understanding and patient beyond belief. The Old Ones are a mythical race in the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000. ...

The Necrontyr grew bitter and jealous towards the Old Ones, and it was not long before this jealousy lead the Necrontyr into a futile war against the Old Ones' civilisation.

The Old Ones were worlds beyond the Necrontyr in terms of technology, and the attacks by the lesser race were easily shrugged off. But a new discovery about the Necrontyr home star would change this drastically; the discovery of the first C'tan. The Nightbringer, one of the Ctan In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Ctan originally lived as energy beings that fed on the stars themselves. ...

The C'tan

The scientists studying the Necrontyr home star had discovered a being of incredible power feeding off its massive energy output. The full weight of Necrontyr science was put behind detailing this discovery, and realising the potential implications such an incredible power might have on the war against the Old Ones. It was not long before other similar beings were discovered, and they were collectively called the C'tan, literally "Star Gods" in the language of the Necrontyr.

The scientists at last managed to communicate with the beings using signals many years long - long enough to be noticed by such a high level of sentience. Using new technologies of living metal, the Necrontyr crafted material bodies for the star vampires, and they invited the C'tan to possess and animate their new material forms.

As the awesome power of the C'tan became material, the Necrontyr began to see these new beings not as guests, but as gods. This suited the C'tan well, as in their material forms they had discovered a new delicacy to absorb, that of the living soul, and the flow of power from the Necrontyr towards their new gods was a welcome thrill.

Transformation

When told of the Necrontyr's troubled existence, and their struggled war against the Old Ones, the C'tan were quick to formulate a plan. Using their mastery of physics, the C'tan would fashion new, immortal bodies for the Necrontyr, forged from a living metal similar to that which the C'tan material bodies were composed of. This way the Necrontyr would get their prize of immortality, and would become an unstoppable force against the Old Ones.

Of course, the C'tan had a hidden agenda. As the Necrontyr entered their immortal bodies, their living essence would escape them, to be easily lapped up by their hungry gods.

In one swift action, the entire Necrontyr race was effectively destroyed, replaced with legions of skeletal robots, who lost the last dregs of their individuality shortly after their transformation. These new beings, from then on known as Necrons, were ideal minions for the C'tan, and served only to herd the star-gods' cattle, so that they could feed on all life in the galaxy. In the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000, the Necrons are a mysterious race of skeletal warriors that have lain dormant in their stasis-tombs for millions of years. ...

The Enslavers

During the terrible wars between the C'tan and the Old Ones that followed the grave birth of the Necrons, the Enslavers poured forth into the galaxy, and caused the deaths of many billions of lives. The C'tan, beings of pure physical energy, had no understanding of the warp, and the onslaught of psychic beings was something they had no ability to oppose. Of course, the Enslavers posed no direct threat to the Necrons or the C'tan, but they were killing the C'tan's cattle in droves, and the star gods and their legions were forced into hiding to wait out this plague. The Enslavers are a race of aliens that inhabit the Immaterium. ...

Awakening

Now, many millions of years after the Enlsaver plague, the Necrons and their masters finally awaken to reclaim their galaxy, and begin once again to herd the living as their cattle. The deathly silent ranks of the Necrons stalk forth across countless worlds, to reassert their masters' rule, and once again inspire fear into the living.

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