Cerastus Knight-Lancer

A Cerastus Knight-Lancer is one of the more uncommon patterns of Imperial Knight-class armoured walkers, but also the most highly valued fielded by the Knight Houses. The Cerastus Knight-Lancer is a first strike weapon, attuned to rapid assault tactics and lethal outflanking charges against a foe. It is justly renowned for its speed and its power, as well as for the temperamental and restive nature of the machine-spirits which dwell as anima within its colossal frame. Because of this reputation, the most impetuous and glory-hungry of the Knight Households are driven to bond with these war machines, their own souls a match for the fury caged within their mounts. The greatest of these pairings will go on to create martial legends among their lineage, while for those whose temper cannot fully master that of their Knight-engine or whose own lust for glory might see valour outweigh caution on the battlefield, their triumphs are likely to blaze brightly, if briefly, in the chronicles of their Households.

History
The Lancer is the most widely known variant of the Cerastus type Knight armour, a highly sophisticated chassis whose speed and agility far exceed the clumsier Errant and Paladin types. The Cerastus type Knights appear to have been designed solely for war, not as protectors but as blood-handed conquerors and tools of destruction, a legacy of the violence that marked the beginning of Age of Strife. The Cerastus Knight-Lancer is held in high esteem by the more impetuous of a House's scions, its potent Ion Gauntlet Shield and Shock Lance perfectly suited to battling the foe face to face, where only a perfectly timed thrust of the lance stands between a scion and death. In particular those scions who follow the Uhlan traditions favour the speed and ferocity of the Lancer, and when rival Knight Houses meet in combat, these warriors race ahead of the Household to clash in single combat with the enemy's champions.

Canon Conflict
The history of the Cerastus Knight-Lancer as presented above is canon culled from the game Titan Legions and the corresponding Codex Titanicus, as well as in the White Dwarf Magazine #178 (UK) Edition and the new Codex: Imperial Knights for the 7th Edition of the game. The original incarnation of the Knight Lancer was provided in the supplement found in White Dwarf Magazine #126. This account of the Knight Lancer's history differed greatly from that given above and has largely been superseded by newer canon, however, it has been included in the article and is presented below. Please note that this version contains old background information that is no longer considered canon according to the current iteration of the Warhammer 40K universe:


 * Knight Lancer - The Knight Lancer is a variant of the standard Knight suit that has been designed for speed and agility. The Knight Lancer is most usually used to perform scouting actions, outflank enemy forces and distract them while heavier units can position themselves to attack. The Knight Lancer is equipped with a Battle Cannon to give it long range fighting capability, but its true armament is the Power Lance. The Power Lance is a relatively simple upgrade to the standard Shock Lance that is mounted on other Knight patterns. It operates by intensifying the bolt of energy normally expelled from Shock Lances, changing it into a searing arc of lightning capable of rending all but the strongest of armour plating and causing havoc in enemy ranks. The Power Lance has a very short range, but its nature makes it the perfect weapon for hit-and-run attacks.

Wargear

 * Cerastus Shock Lance
 * Ion Gauntlet Shield

Gallery
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