The Knight Houses of Anaximund
The Questor Imperialis During the early years of humanity’s colonisation of the stars, before the emergence of the Emperor, many worlds were seeded with human life. Accompanying some of these early colonies were an ancient pattern of exosuits, single-pilot walking frames similar to the technology used in the Titans of the Collegia Titanicus. Unlike Titans, these Exoframes were intended for construction and colony support, but over time, they were armed and armoured by their riders in order to protect the colonies as the Age of Strife progressed. Influenced mentally by their bonds with their machines, the riders of these suits came to view themselves as noble defenders and in time on many such worlds this psychological change brought about the emergence of a feudal nobility of suit pilots, the so-called Knights.
The Machine Cult encountered many such worlds in the waning years of the Age of Strife has made it a quest to locate the worlds where these exosuits were seeded, often indoctrinating the riders and their maintenance crews into their religion, creating a dependence on the Machine Cult to maintain their Knight-suits. There are Knight-Worlds that the Imperium found before the Cult where the Knights serve the Imperium, and some Knight-Worlds have come to serve the Imperium of their own volition after breaking from bonded service to the Mechanicus – something of a point of political tension in the troubled times of the 41st Millenium.
When one refers to a Knight, they refer both to the exosuit and the pilot, for they are one and the same – often when a Knight-suit becomes available the closest legitimate ‘heir’ to the Noble Houses that have formed around the pilots that command them will compete in various tests in order to undergo a sacred rite known as the ‘Ritual of Becoming’ where Knight-suit and pilot blend. As with all the arcane technological rites of the age, it is possible to fail in the ritual – the results of doing so are often psychologically and socially devastating, as a rejected scion is no use at all to a Knight House
House Qureshi The satrapy of Anaximund Alpha has long been a part of the colonies and dominions of the Naximus Prime, the Prosperitas Sector’s sole Knight World. For many years, the planet’s rulers, House Qureshi, have been yoked to their Adeptus Mechanicus rulers, but the relationship between them is tense. The Mechanicus have always treated the House as servants, and the House has rankled at the disrespect they have received; the Machine Cult has done little to improve things, their contempt for the House, who they perceive as backwards, ill-treatment, and their induction of the barbarian tribes on the moons of Anaximund have all served to drive a wedge between them. The grip of the Ouroborus Omnissiah of Naximus on Anaximund began to slip with the arrival of the Imperium. Despite resistance from Naximus, there is an Imperial presence on world and missionaries from the Imperial cult have found willing ears amongst the upper echelons of the Household. Consigned to defensive operations of the Forge for years, the House has seized upon the Prosperitas Crusade to engage in more ‘noble’ endeavours.
The house’s leader Satrap-Princeps Lalah Qureshi is believed to be a convert to the Imperial Cult, but as yet she has not formally breached the Sidonis Protocols and broken with Naximus Prime in an act of sedition. An honourable warrior, she is divided by her belief in honouring the ancient ties she has with her Masters, and her desire to serve the good of humanity by aiding the forces of the Prosperitas Crusade.
House Qureshi - text rescued from Anaximund
The leaders of Anaximund, House Qureshi are a political family that have held a grip on the world since Mechanicus records first began here thanks to the armoured steeds their Knights ride. Concerned less with blood ties, new members of the ‘family’ are chosen and adopted in from the most promising vassals within the planet’s high society, their lives scrutinised according to the Sixteen Universal Laws by the Archmagos and the incumbent Head of House. The current leader of the Qureshi Knights is Laleh Qureshi who has recently gained the title after the far overdue passing of her infamously orthodox predecessor Gul Qureshi. As the only Knight World within the sector the House has often been called upon by other Forge Worlds within the Sector and even by the Imperial High Command when their firepower was desperately needed. No matter the riches promised or consequences threatened, Gul only ever answered the call when their patron allowed it. This has left bad blood within some Imperial Guard and Navy regiments on this frontier who have taken to sarcastically asking under their breath for “The Qureshi Cavalry” when a loss is certain and backup far from sight. In the past half a decade however Laleh has been reported holding meetings with some of the more forward thinking of Naximund’s Magos as well as reportedly sending invites to high profile individuals across the Sector. With a political divide apparently developing within their patrons Forge World some wonder whether Laleh is preparing to dramatically shake up the nature of the Protocols she is bound under and look for greater independence. Others decry this as dangerous sedition and cannot believe she would be so bold when it is as yet uncertain that any other Mechanicus in the Sector know the secrets of the Knight technology Qureshi relies so much upon.