Lictor

Lictors (Latin: Tyranicus chameleo) are an evolved strain of Tyranid Warrior which feature in Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 universe. Part terror weapon, part scout, Lictors are usually found far in advance of the main Tyranid attack.

Description
Taller even than the lankiest of men and displaying the six-limbed configuration common to many Tyranid organisms, the lightning fast and superhumanly strong Lictors possess a pair of scythe-like talons on their upper limbs (which project over their shoulders to stab down into their victims), a more human-like pair of arms in the centre, whilst the hind pair are used for locomotion. They sport a Cthulhu-esque “beard” of tendrils over the lower portion of their faces which are used to burrow into a victim’s head in order to devour the brain; this process is not only used for sustenance, but also allows the Lictor to absorb a portion of the prey’s memories, giving the creature valuable intelligence on where to find more like it.

Whilst Lictors have a bony, armoured hide, their skin is unusual in that it possesses chameleonic properties which allow it to effortlessly blend in with its surroundings. This ability is part of the reason that makes Lictors so feared: their preferred method of attack is to leap on prey as if from nowhere, slaughter a few of the hapless victims, then disappear, leaving no clue to their presence other than shattered bodies. As can be imagined, this is a highly effective method of psychological warfare.

Another role which Lictors perform in the Tyranid war machine is that of pathfinders. These beasts leave a pheromone trail wherever they go which other Tyranid organisms feel compelled to follow. The greater the concentration of prey creatures the Lictor encounters, the stronger the pheromone trail it leaves behind; this in turn encourages larger numbers of other Tyranids to follow, allowing the Tyranids to focus their forces in those places likely to give the most resistance. As a result, Lictors, unlike many Tyranid organisms, do not rely on the guidance of the Hive Mind to perform their duties; as the nature of their activities means that they will frequently be out of touch with this psychic gestalt, they have been evolved to rely on their natural intelligence to conduct their functions.