Brôkhyr

"Few things are as useful as a good COG. They don't complain, they do as they're told and they don't make mistakes. They're loyal, and by the Hearthfires they're strong. Not much for conversation, of course, but then, neither am I..."

—Brôkhyr Iron-master Skâln the Glare

Kin Brôkhyr at work in their hold's Forge. One Brôkhyr is at work at his A.N-vyl workstation, while a robotic COG delivers a finished suit of void armour to where it is needed.

The Brôkhyr are the engineers, craftsmen and artificers of the Leagues of Votann. They are amongst the most highly-skilled techno-artificers in the galaxy. Making full use of the incredible material bounty of the galactic core, coupled with the precious technical lore stored within the Votann, they craft technology and devices of superlative durability, reliability and power. In this way they are major contributors to the continued survival of their species.

Every hold's Forge is unique, built and augmented over Terran centuries to specifications determined by Votannic wisdom and the personal preference of its Kindred. Yet in some respects they are uniform. All Forges are sleepless hubs of activity, lit by the molten fires and searing plasma arcs of advanced technological manufacture, and all are filled with mechanisms of arfifice ranging from each Brôkhyr's personal A.N-vyl workstations, to colossal auto-foundries.

As well as overseeing the work of their COG robot-assistants, each Brôkhyr takes pride in constructing their own devices. They follow traditional schematics in deference to the wisdom of the Ancestors, yet there is also general recognition that -- to truly honour the Votann -- each Brôkhyr must humbly apply their own ingenuity, coupled with rigorous field tests, to improve upon traditional designs.

Through this process, each Brôkhyr develops their own preferences and quirks, which become known as their signature style in the technologies they craft. The most efficacious signatures are adopted by fellow Brôkhyr so that, over time, many Kindreds -- or even entire leagues -- have adopted bespoke methods of crafting and manufacture. This slow but relentless iterative process of improving upon already understood technologies has helped the Kin develop the contents of the original Standard Template Constructs inherited from the Ancestors' ancient Long March mining fleets even further, leading to true innovations.

Yet all Brôkhyr still prioritise certain principles when developing new technologies, including that their devices embody reliability, utility and efficiency over showy decoration or ideas of ritual significance. Kin technology and wargear is as rugged and pragmatic as the beings that wield it, and will be battered to destruction before it fails in its duty.

Brôkhyr Thunderkyn

A Brôkhyr Thunderkyn of the Urani-Surtr Regulates brings his SP Conversion Beamer to bear against the foe.

A Brôkhyr Thunderkyn is a combat engineering infantry unit used to provide heavy fire support and anti-armour support for the Oathbands of the Leagues of Votann.

A Brôkhyr Thunderkyn of the Greater Thurian League armed with an SP Conversion Beamer.

When a Brôkhyr hooks themselves into a powerful exo-frame, they become Thunderkyn. Adapted from the similar void-rigs used to maintain Kin voidcraft, these armoured exoskeletons exchange repair tools for massive heavy weapons. While not quite as scratch-resistant as the Einhyr Hearthguard's exo-armour, they can still weather considerable fire.

A Brôkhyr Thunderkyn of the Ymyr Conglomerate armed with a Graviton Blast Cannon.

The Thunderkyn are still powerful despite this, as their exo-frames allow them to heft the heaviest man-portable weapons the Leagues of Votann can muster with ease. Among them are Votannic Bolt Cannons, whose salvos of explosive bolts can slay hordes of enemies, Graviton Blast Cannons, and SP Conversion Beamers, whose unstoppable lances of directed energy can pierce their foes' heavy infantry. The Brôkhyr use these to lay down withering cover fire for their Oathbands and to pick off enemy armoured vehicles.

Brôkhyr advanced engineering equipment also helps out, with their Omni-visors able to pick out the telltale signs of enemy units through dense terrain.

Unit Composition

• 3-6 Brôkhyr Thunderkyn

Wargear

• Thunderkyn Exo-frame

• Void Armour

• Votannic Bolt Cannon

• Graviton Blast Cannon (As optional replacement for Votannic Bolt Cannon)

• SP Conversion Beamer (As optional replacement for Votannic Bolt Cannon)

• Omni-visor

• Eye of the Ancestors

Brôkhyr Iron-master

A Brôkhyr Iron-master armed with a Graviton Rifle and a Graviton Hammer assisted by his Ironkin assistant and 3 E-COGs.

A Brôkhyr Iron-master is a highly skilled Brôkhyr engineer who is deployed with Kin Oathbands to service their vehicles.

Iron-masters are usually the most accomplished Brôkhyrs of their Kindred. In battle, they take on the duty of maintaining and repairing damaged Kin war engines, often aided by Ironkin and robotic COG repair crews. These veteran Brôkhyrs also bring their most powerful personal weapon creations to war, taking satisfaction in unleashing them upon the foe.

Unit Composition

• 1 Brôkhyr Iron-master

• 1 Ironkin Assistant

• 3 E-COGs

Wargear

• Void Armour

• Graviton Rifle

• Graviton Hammer

• Multispectral Visor

• Las-beam Cutter (Ironkin Assistant)

• Autoch Pattern Bolt Pistol (1 of the E-COGs)

• Plasma Torch (1 of the E-COGs)

• Manipulator Arms (1 of the E-COGs)

• Eye of the Ancestors

Brôkhyr Forge-master

A Brôkhyr Forge-master is the highest-ranked and thus most skilled Brôkhyr within any given Kindred, and will always sit upon their Kindred's Votannic Council when that military command panel is gathered to face the greatest conflicts -- usually when the entire Kindred or their hold face direct and potentially existential peril.

To become their Kindred's Forge-master, a Brôkhyr must prove not only their preeminence at the crafting of technological marvels, but also in overseeing their deployment. It is their duty o fashion the tools of war that will be wielded by their Kindred's greatest heroes in the coming conflict, themselves included.

They must further embody the fury of the Forge upon the battlefield, providing wise counsel on everything from siegecraft to field-repair, even as they blast and bludgeon their enemies to ruin.

A Forge-master is a true craftsman, and their experience executing battlefield repairs is second to none. Kin vehicle crews are much assured whrn this trusted old hand is on standby, even believing their touch will bestow good fortune.

Notable Brôkhyr

• Aktôl Vatyk - Aktôl Vatyk was a blind Brôkhyr of the Leagues of Votann, who created the relic called Aktôl's Fortress. It was painstakingly wrought by Vatyk and is considered to be the Brôkhyr's life's work. Crafted using conflicting harmonic abrasion fields rather than hammer blows, and shot through with a core of hyperdense stelanictite, this Armour Crest crest projects a complex gravitic repulsion field that can be directed by the bearer against their foes. Bludgeoned and restrained by the clashing grav-waves, the enemy is held at bay long enough for the crest's bearer and their comrades to press forward and lay them low.

Trivia

The name "Brôkhyr" could be inspired by the skilled dwarf craftsman Brokkr from Norse mythology. "Brokkr" translates from Old Norse as "the one who works with metal fragments" or simply as "blacksmith." Brokkr worked the bellows of the forge while his brother Eitri fashioned magical items. The two dwarves together forged Mjölnir, the god Thor's famous warhammer.

Sources

• Codex: Leagues of Votann (9th Edition), pp. 21, 32, 43, 63-65
• Warhammer Community - Drop the Wrench and Pick Up the Cannon – The Brôkhyr Thunderkyn Are Marching to War
• Warhammer Community - NOVA Open Reveal – The Leagues of Votann Unveiled

Gallery

A Brôkhyr Thunderkyn squad of the Greater Thurian League armed with SP Conversion Beamers.

A Brôkhyr Thunderkyn of the Trans-Hyperian Alliance armed with a Votannic Bolt Cannon and Omni-visor.