A Communicant Anti-Tank Hunter (right), accompanied by a Mendelist Ammo Monk
Communicants are genetically engineered super-soldiers, serving among the forces of New Antioch and the Trench Pilgrims in Trench Crusade. Volunteers in the war against the legions of Hell, Communicants are those chose to partake in the Chemical Communion - an experimental process wherein the blood and flesh of a Meta-Christ is harvested and applied to the genome of volunteers by specialists of the Order of Mendelist Monks. The effects of this experimental procedure cause differing levels of damage to the volunteers psyche, but in return, turn them into towering warriors capable of facing off against the greatest threats the Heretic legions can muster.
Appearance[]
Communicants stand at roughly 10-13 feet tall, their lanky bodies covered in scripture and holy icons. These holy icons may be tattoos or physical icons, such as crucifixes, nailed to their bodies. There are three main types of Communicant that are known to march on the battlefields of the Great War.
The Pilgrim Communicant is often found amongst Trench Pilgrim processions, their faces covered by hoods and with crucifixes nailed into their arms and face. This variant wields a colossal flail into battle, and serves as line-breakers or bodyguards for Prophets and Castigators.
The Anti-Tank Hunter sports plate armour from the waist down and a full helm that obscures their face, alongside several ammo belts for their weapons. This variant serves only the Holy See, but can be found working as mercenaries for both New Antioch's armies and Trench Pilgrim processions.
The final variant, the Paladin, is the Church's most powerful weapon. Wielding only the best weapons and strongest armour the Church can muster, Paladins serve in only the most important battles, up to and including incursions into Hell itself. Paladins vary in appearance, but are always unique, due to the fact that only twelve have existed throughout history and the Mendelist Order has failed create any more in the years since the original twelve. One constant in their appearance, however, is their size. Paladins tower over even other Communicants, with Gérin, Paladin of the 3rd Circle of Hell, standing at 17 feet when fully arrayed for war.
Abilities[]
Communicants possess greater strength and durability than the humans they once were, partially due to their increased size, but also, due to the divine nature of their transformation. They also utilise holy weaponry in battle, with the Anti-Tank Hunter variant using an anti-tank gun chambered for blessed 50mm shells. However, this power comes at a cost. The Chemical Communion takes away the ability to speak for many Communicants, and for some, their higher brain functions become distracted by heavenly choirs only they can hear. As such, Mendelist Monks often accompany Communicants into battle, where they are the only ones who can communicate with their charges. Still, despite these weaknesses, the strength of a Communicant is so great, even the toughest of the heretical legions has learnt to fear their ability to reduce any man or hellspawned creature into a pink mist.