The Hernkyn Pioneers are the fast-moving, bike-riding scouts of the Leagues of Votann. They range far ahead of the Kin, hunting resources and enemy positions, and they’re the first thing many foes ever see of a Votann force.
What the Hernkyn pioneers actually are
Pioneers are the mounted arm of the Hernkyn, the Leagues’ professional explorers. They ride sturdy, heavily armed bikes and act as the armoured cavalry of a Votann army: quick, tough, and surprisingly shooty for a scout unit.
Unlike the rest of their kin, they wear lighter armour. That trade-off buys speed and range, which is exactly what a frontier force needs.
Why the Hernkyn matter to the Leagues
Hernkyn leave their Kindred for decades at a time, prospecting in the dark between stars. Most cultures would treat that as running away. For the Leagues, it’s a high honour.
Every discovery they make gets added to the Ancestor Core when they die, so the whole League grows smarter. They also find trading partners, chart safe void routes, and mark resources for the Cthonian Mining Guilds.
How they fight
Pioneers carry bolt pistols and bolt shotguns, but the real punch comes from their bikes. Those can mount an ion beamer, a magna-coil autocannon, or a HYLas rotary cannon.
They’re loaded with scanners and intelligence gear, so they double as spotters. When they find something worth taking, they call in the Hernkyn Yaegirs, the footslogging elite who secure the site.
| Role | Key gear |
|---|---|
| Scout and armoured cavalry | Magna-coil bikes |
| Anti-infantry and anti-armour | Ion beamer, magna-coil autocannon, HYLas rotary cannon |
| Recon and resource marking | Pan spectral scanners, claim-beacons |
Key facts
- Hernkyn Pioneers are the Leagues of Votann’s bike-mounted scouts and armoured cavalry.
- They wear lighter armour than other Kin, trading protection for speed.
- Their bikes can carry ion beamers, magna-coil autocannons, or HYLas rotary cannons.
- Hernkyn serve for decades away from their Kindred, and their discoveries enrich the Ancestor Core after death.
- Hernkyn Yaegirs are the footbound elite who secure what the Pioneers find.
FAQ
Are Hernkyn Pioneers the same as Hernkyn Yaegirs?
No. Pioneers ride bikes and scout ahead. Yaegirs are footbound hunters who follow up and hold ground, acting as the Hernkyn’s elite fighters.
What army do Hernkyn Pioneers belong to?
They’re part of the Leagues of Votann, the clone-soldier civilisation also known as the Kin.