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Description

The Hurian Phantoms

"The enemies of man should be vary of both our wrath, and the wrath of the restless spirits whose duty is not yet finished even in death."
- Unknown Hurian guardsman, battle of Serpent's Cradle

The Phantoms are a shadowy unit raised from the world of Huria, veiled in whispered rumours of both fear and respect within the standard ranks, half-truths told by the officer corps of Hurian forces and the stuff of legends and myth. Officially, the Phantoms are yet another grenadier type, much like the famous storm brigadiers and the fanatical hell-walkers. They are raised within their own regiments, whose sizes are primarily kept secret. Only high-ranking members of the officer corps, Munitorum and sector command are truly aware of the exact number of Phantom regiments, nicknamed “hunts” and their size. In truth, a typical hunt has around 2,500 men, including any possible auxiliary staff. Unlike every other Hurian formation, Phantom units make no effort to distinguish themselves from each other. They are all alike, a faceless legion that stalks the night, further aiding in keeping their reputation. Phantoms work together with other Hurian forces, even when primarily isolated from interacting with them. They take tasks that few other Hurians willingly do, as they have little honour or glory. Secret acts of sabotage, the assassination of enemy commanders, important figures, and the disruption of enemy supplies are a part of their missions, alongside waging guerilla warfare should the need arise-

They can thank most of their reputation for their brutal, precise assassinations and their frequent usage of tactics that aim to bring horror and disarray to the foe. These terror tactics feature ruthless attacks from the dark, leaving no survivors, except for perhaps one, who is forced to watch the slaughter of their comrades and their subsequent mutilation before the attackers vanish into the night. Phantoms leave a mark upon these “survivors” via specific cuts or wounds, which signal any of their hunters to spare them should they discover them and further mystify their name. The traumatized survivor is used as a tool to spread further terror and fear of the phantoms that haunt the night, and the more broken they are, the better they shall fit this objective. By the time any response is mounted, they are long gone and likely already planning their next attack.

A hunt from within

“A blade in the dead of night can do what a thousand guns cannot at the break of dawn.”
-Unknown Hurian Phantom, Helghen Offensive

Phantoms are said to fight with ferocity and deadliness akin to some vengeful spectre. No corpse of theirs was ever acquired by either any enemy or standard Hurian forces, not once do they ever speak of their own names, their conquests or victories. Some regard them as embodiments of dead spirits, returning into the fray within half corporeal forms. Other, more veteran guardsmen believe them to be mortals, guided by the dead, or once passed spirits taking up arms once more after being reborn. Such beliefs are ever common within Hurian culture, as birth marks such as that of the warrior’s mark indicate that the newborn had fought in a past life, and in their later years, they are said to live up to the expectations that come with the mark. In a way, these rumours could be considered half correct. The Phantoms are made up of expert guardsmen, veterans of many battles, who have shown a particular skill at subterfuge and hidden warfare. Should they gain the interest of Phantoms, one of their recruiters may appear to them in the dead of night and grant them an offer to serve the God-Emperor and Huria, above and beyond what they have done so far. They are given a mission to truly prove their skills. These missions are given in secret, and typically consist of hunting down a dangerous target, all the while one of the Phantoms tracks the hunter who they must avoid. Should they succeed, they will be marked, and in an upcoming battle, a false death is set up for them. The only things that are ever recovered are their re-breathers and blades, which are ensured to leave for the great catacombs of Huria for an honoured burial.

The new recruit goes through a ritual of blooding. They abandon their old identity, they cast down their personal quest for glory, their old life, and embrace the identity of a nameless Phantom. They are given a new helmet, new weapons, new armor, and with that, they become a vengeful spirit for their people. Should a Phantom ever fall in battle, their corpses are retrieved, their bodies are burned and their equipment and one trophy they collected given to another Phantom. In their eyes, this gives the spirit a chance to aid his replacement, who in return carry their mantle.

Cloak and dagger
“We only need one shot, you and I. May your aim be true, blessed machine, and may my eye not let you down…”
- Excerpt from the sharpshooter’s litany, weapon maintenance manual, page 121 Cerberus-pattern stealth set

The standard armor set of Phantoms which includes the uniform and helmet, this set was carefully designed for the ultimate goal of stealth in mind. The uniform is woven with fibers that are resilient, but are easy to stain, which makes blending in easier. The armour itself is a form of linked light carapace, which grants decent protection while not hindering mobility, all the while it is designed with space for attachments to further camouflage the wearer. In addition, the uniforms armour comes with a pair of so-called “whisper boots”, which contain sound dampeners within the boots’ soles that hush noise. A cameleoline cloak with a hood is also provided for further increased stealth. Perhaps most important of all is the helmet, which grants an excellent field of view, several vision modes, a double layered visor designed to reflect as little light as possible by subtly changing the colour of it according to the environment, and the shadowy image of a skull upon the inner layer of the visor. Lightweight but still protective, its most unique feature is the ability to reveal hidden tracks and biological markers by using an exotic chemical mixture within the helmet’s second inner filter, which when inhaled allows the user to practically follow a scent like a mastiff through the filter. This ability is generally ill-advised to use too frequently as it can cause addiction, but it can be used for a decent length of time before having to worry about such side effects. A stealth set does not only provide protection and an edge in remaining hidden, but it also provides a hidden weapon in the form of a spring blade gauntlet. This blade is coated in a mixture of deadly poisons, which are automatically coated by a tox vial and inner mechanism. At the right hand motion, the blade springs out, delivering a deadly blow. Mostly designed to stab, it makes for a poor weapon to attempt to parry hits with it, but should the surprising nature of the blade and the toxins make it excellent for unexpected attacks, and once that blade tastes flesh, the victim will only have a few seconds left before the poisons take effect. The Phantoms make sure that such sets stay within their hands, and any collectors would be wise to avoid trying to acquire them, be it through the manufacturer or more unregulated ways.

Mk.4 “deliverance” las-rifle
A las-rifle designed for marksmanship, the deliverance has earned its name by delivering death from afar with precision. The weapon is somewhat less compact than its more common las-gun brethren, with an extensive maintenance method, but its accuracy and unique ability to fire bolts invisible to the naked eye of humans make it a worthy trade off for Phantoms. This ability comes from the clear crystal focusing lenses which are etched and trimmed carefully, allowing for a narrower focus, which provides greater accuracy, while avoiding making any real color with the beam. This does come at the cost of overall power and the ability to rapid fire, as such an intense firing mode could crack the crystal in places.
This pattern is a rare sight, as once again, Phantoms use the vast majority of these guns. However, due to a need for funding, the manufactorum was given clearance to sell any excess stocks to carefully chosen buyers.

Description

The Hurian Phantoms

"The enemies of man should be vary of both our wrath, and the wrath of the restless spirits whose duty is not yet finished even in death."
- Unknown Hurian guardsman, battle of Serpent's Cradle

The Phantoms are a shadowy unit raised from the world of Huria, veiled in whispered rumours of both fear and respect within the standard ranks, half-truths told by the officer corps of Hurian forces and the stuff of legends and myth. Officially, the Phantoms are yet another grenadier type, much like the famous storm brigadiers and the fanatical hell-walkers. They are raised within their own regiments, whose sizes are primarily kept secret. Only high-ranking members of the officer corps, Munitorum and sector command are truly aware of the exact number of Phantom regiments, nicknamed “hunts” and their size. In truth, a typical hunt has around 2,500 men, including any possible auxiliary staff. Unlike every other Hurian formation, Phantom units make no effort to distinguish themselves from each other. They are all alike, a faceless legion that stalks the night, further aiding in keeping their reputation. Phantoms work together with other Hurian forces, even when primarily isolated from interacting with them. They take tasks that few other Hurians willingly do, as they have little honour or glory. Secret acts of sabotage, the assassination of enemy commanders, important figures, and the disruption of enemy supplies are a part of their missions, alongside waging guerilla warfare should the need arise-

They can thank most of their reputation for their brutal, precise assassinations and their frequent usage of tactics that aim to bring horror and disarray to the foe. These terror tactics feature ruthless attacks from the dark, leaving no survivors, except for perhaps one, who is forced to watch the slaughter of their comrades and their subsequent mutilation before the attackers vanish into the night. Phantoms leave a mark upon these “survivors” via specific cuts or wounds, which signal any of their hunters to spare them should they discover them and further mystify their name. The traumatized survivor is used as a tool to spread further terror and fear of the phantoms that haunt the night, and the more broken they are, the better they shall fit this objective. By the time any response is mounted, they are long gone and likely already planning their next attack.

A hunt from within

“A blade in the dead of night can do what a thousand guns cannot at the break of dawn.”
-Unknown Hurian Phantom, Helghen Offensive

Phantoms are said to fight with ferocity and deadliness akin to some vengeful spectre. No corpse of theirs was ever acquired by either any enemy or standard Hurian forces, not once do they ever speak of their own names, their conquests or victories. Some regard them as embodiments of dead spirits, returning into the fray within half corporeal forms. Other, more veteran guardsmen believe them to be mortals, guided by the dead, or once passed spirits taking up arms once more after being reborn. Such beliefs are ever common within Hurian culture, as birth marks such as that of the warrior’s mark indicate that the newborn had fought in a past life, and in their later years, they are said to live up to the expectations that come with the mark. In a way, these rumours could be considered half correct. The Phantoms are made up of expert guardsmen, veterans of many battles, who have shown a particular skill at subterfuge and hidden warfare. Should they gain the interest of Phantoms, one of their recruiters may appear to them in the dead of night and grant them an offer to serve the God-Emperor and Huria, above and beyond what they have done so far. They are given a mission to truly prove their skills. These missions are given in secret, and typically consist of hunting down a dangerous target, all the while one of the Phantoms tracks the hunter who they must avoid. Should they succeed, they will be marked, and in an upcoming battle, a false death is set up for them. The only things that are ever recovered are their re-breathers and blades, which are ensured to leave for the great catacombs of Huria for an honoured burial.

The new recruit goes through a ritual of blooding. They abandon their old identity, they cast down their personal quest for glory, their old life, and embrace the identity of a nameless Phantom. They are given a new helmet, new weapons, new armor, and with that, they become a vengeful spirit for their people. Should a Phantom ever fall in battle, their corpses are retrieved, their bodies are burned and their equipment and one trophy they collected given to another Phantom. In their eyes, this gives the spirit a chance to aid his replacement, who in return carry their mantle.

Cloak and dagger
“We only need one shot, you and I. May your aim be true, blessed machine, and may my eye not let you down…”
- Excerpt from the sharpshooter’s litany, weapon maintenance manual, page 121 Cerberus-pattern stealth set

The standard armor set of Phantoms which includes the uniform and helmet, this set was carefully designed for the ultimate goal of stealth in mind. The uniform is woven with fibers that are resilient, but are easy to stain, which makes blending in easier. The armour itself is a form of linked light carapace, which grants decent protection while not hindering mobility, all the while it is designed with space for attachments to further camouflage the wearer. In addition, the uniforms armour comes with a pair of so-called “whisper boots”, which contain sound dampeners within the boots’ soles that hush noise. A cameleoline cloak with a hood is also provided for further increased stealth. Perhaps most important of all is the helmet, which grants an excellent field of view, several vision modes, a double layered visor designed to reflect as little light as possible by subtly changing the colour of it according to the environment, and the shadowy image of a skull upon the inner layer of the visor. Lightweight but still protective, its most unique feature is the ability to reveal hidden tracks and biological markers by using an exotic chemical mixture within the helmet’s second inner filter, which when inhaled allows the user to practically follow a scent like a mastiff through the filter. This ability is generally ill-advised to use too frequently as it can cause addiction, but it can be used for a decent length of time before having to worry about such side effects. A stealth set does not only provide protection and an edge in remaining hidden, but it also provides a hidden weapon in the form of a spring blade gauntlet. This blade is coated in a mixture of deadly poisons, which are automatically coated by a tox vial and inner mechanism. At the right hand motion, the blade springs out, delivering a deadly blow. Mostly designed to stab, it makes for a poor weapon to attempt to parry hits with it, but should the surprising nature of the blade and the toxins make it excellent for unexpected attacks, and once that blade tastes flesh, the victim will only have a few seconds left before the poisons take effect. The Phantoms make sure that such sets stay within their hands, and any collectors would be wise to avoid trying to acquire them, be it through the manufacturer or more unregulated ways.

Mk.4 “deliverance” las-rifle
A las-rifle designed for marksmanship, the deliverance has earned its name by delivering death from afar with precision. The weapon is somewhat less compact than its more common las-gun brethren, with an extensive maintenance method, but its accuracy and unique ability to fire bolts invisible to the naked eye of humans make it a worthy trade off for Phantoms. This ability comes from the clear crystal focusing lenses which are etched and trimmed carefully, allowing for a narrower focus, which provides greater accuracy, while avoiding making any real color with the beam. This does come at the cost of overall power and the ability to rapid fire, as such an intense firing mode could crack the crystal in places.
This pattern is a rare sight, as once again, Phantoms use the vast majority of these guns. However, due to a need for funding, the manufactorum was given clearance to sell any excess stocks to carefully chosen buyers.