“ | This is very simple. We don't want your lives, your coin or that junk you call technology. We want your world. We want the riches you didn't even realise you had, and that you definitely don't deserve. Leave while you have the chance. Or don't. Either way, we're coming to claim what's ours. | „ |
~ Cthonian "Gauntlet" Consortium's ultimatum to a targeted planet |
The Cthonian Mining Guilds are minor antagonists in the Warhammer 40,000 franchise. They are the major mining guilds of the Leagues of Votann, factions of Abhuman clones known as Kin from the galactic core, and are known for their destructive and unyielding approach to 'mining'- namely, claiming resources at any cost, including the lives of other species.
History[]
The Leagues of Votann were founded in the galactic core long before the Imperium of Man, comprised of short, stocky Abhuman clones made from the bio-engineered descendants of human settlers who migrated to the core. Said Abhumans, known as Kin (derogatorily as Squats), formed many leagues headed by the ancient Votann Ancestor Cores, sapient supercomputers built by the original settlers. While the leagues have many differences, the Kin formed the Cthonian Mining Guilds outside the jurisdiction of leagues, allowing them to incorporate members of many major and minor leagues.
Life in the galactic core is incredibly harsh, and thus the Cthonian Mining Guilds embodied the belligerent acquisitiveness of the Kin, braving even the most extreme environments for coveted resources to be distributed among the leagues, from the fringes of black holes to the cores of planets and alien-infested space hulks drifting in the void. Thus, the Cthonians adapted themselves for extra hardiness, such as incorporating bionic augments to increase their strength, durability, and otherwise enhance traits such as their circulatory systems. Miners from across the leagues would often seek Guild accreditation, serving as Cthonians for a time, especially because the guilds are wealthy and prestigious enough to be best-equipped for securing distant resources, although others preferred to join the hundreds of unaffiliated minor mining guilds. The Cthonian Mining Guilds are also known to incorporate Ironkin, sapient robots manufactured by the Votann who are considered equal citizens of the leagues.
However, the Cthonian's unyielding, bloody-minded drive to acquire untold wealth often leads them into conflict with the other denizens of the galaxy. The mantra of the Cthonian Mining Guilds is that luck has, need keeps, but toil earns, driving them to take the resources of other species with the same cold pragmatism that they mine asteroids, believing that since they have toiled for the resources, they have the right to take it, something they have grim pride in. Regardless, Cthonian Mining Guilds have been known to attack groups who would have legitimate claims to the coveted resources by Kin standards, as the galaxy is an unforgiving place where many species have sacrificed much to earn the resources of their worlds. No matter the case, the Cthonians always regard themselves as toiling the most, and thus see the assets and even the very planets of other species as little more than concentrations of desirable resources, which are the right of the Cthonians to claim in conquest.
While Cthonians sometimes use trade as a first resort, they do not hesitate to turn to war if these measures fail, and will carve planets up to their base elements with massive plasma excavators, regardless of if the populace managed to evacuate. Indeed, the Cthonian Mining Guilds tear apart whole planets and harvest stars, leaving destroyed systems and an untold number of dead worlds in their wake, taking what they claim and moving on to the next 'mining' site. In battle, the guilds field Cthonian Beserks, infamous heavy assault warriors of the Cthonian Mining Guilds that relish the opportunity to break their foes with their concussion mauls and heavy plasma axes, always eager to prove who is the strongest.