Many factions in the 41st Millennium embrace the idea of mechanical soldiers, from the sleek drones of the T’au Empire and the horrifying biomechanical servitors of the Imperium to the silent wraithbone warriors of the Aeldari and… everything the Necrons have going on.
The Ironkin of the Leagues of Votann are similar in many ways, but in others they couldn’t be more different – not least because, for all their artificial nature, they are afforded every bit the same respect and rights as the flesh-and-blood Kin.
To understand why the Ironkin are treated as equals, it’s important to know that the Kin themselves are an entirely manufactured species. Though they share hallmarks of a distant common ancestor with humanity, they are a clone race. Each batch of new citizens emerges fully grown from their crucibles, with ancestral knowledge and societal bonds baked into their being.
Thus are the Ironkin, themselves crafted in mind and body by the Votann, not so different. The Kin see the hand of the Ancestor Cores on their mechanical siblings, and although the Ironkin do not share the same genetic recognition of their peers instilled at birth, they are welcomed into the Hearth as family.
At the moment of their creation, Ironkin are made up of two distinct parts – the cerebral unit, or CU, and their unique body. Though they can exist purely as a CU for extended periods of time, owing to built-in microfield generators, they are not truly whole until installed into the body made for them by the Votann, which may have been designed for labour, combat, or one of many other specialised roles. An Ironkin’s mechanical frame is as deeply personal to them as any biological person’s body, and will be meticulously repaired and renewed when damaged rather than callously replaced by other available parts.
Though designed to fulfill certain roles at the Votann’s behest – such as the mighty Steeljacks, born with larger and stronger frames – these designations are not set in stone, and the Ironkin may gravitate towards a different calling as their knowledge and experiences grow. Nevertheless, their programmed nature means they are not able to truly experience their own emotions and drives, so it is a rare Ironkin that shows ambition or a desire to command.
The aforementioned Steeljacks, for example, emerge from the forges of their birth as natural warriors, and relish the opportunity to use their Votann-given strength in battle. They are excellent shock troops able to smash aside defensive lines and run as swiftly as any mortal warrior, despite the weight of their heavy, void-sealed armour.
Steeljacks are well aware of their innate martial talents and train constantly to best utilise the privilege of their position, fighting through holopattern simulations and studying tactical treatises in their spare time. Rather than be intimidated or belittled by their presence, regular Kin and Ironkin look upon their hulking comrades with affection and pride, basking in the glory of their kindred’s most naturally gifted warriors.
With enemy forces making further inroads into League space and The Bane tearing its way ever further across the galaxy, more Ironkin than ever are needed to secure their kindreds’ borders. Yet the creation of these marvels happens only at the will of the Votann, and for all their ancestral knowledge, the Ancestor Cores are seeing fit to release fewer as time goes by…
