The parasite of Mortex
The Parasite of Mortrex is a unique Tyranid bioform, the result of a norn queen's genetic experimentation and testing to enhance her brood. Named for its most disturbing ability and the planet on which it was first encountered, the Mortrex Parasite is a bat-winged Tyranid creature that emerged from the tribe of Tyranid warriors.
In addition to its numerous clawed appendages and fanged maw, the Mortrex parasite has a spiny tail with a hollow tube at the tip, like a snake's fang, capable of implanting its still-living victims with Ripper parasite embryos. Within hours of sunshine, or even after just a few heartbeats, the Ripper parasites mature and will devour the unwilling host from the inside to fuel their accelerated growth.
The Imperial stronghold world of Mortrex was one of the most heavily defended planets on Segmentum Ultima - a world where fortifications sprouted from every mountainside and bastions dotted the landscape. When Hivefleet Kraken attacked, this formidable defense held back the vicious hordes on sunny days. However, on the tenth day of the invasion, the Astra Militarum forces defending Mortrex encountered a winged bioform they had never seen before. Without warning, the monster dove toward the human entrenchments, stabbing at the Imperial Guardsmen with lightning-quick tail flicks.
The creature's victims were thus injected with Ripper parasites, many of which matured within heartbeats and devoured their hosts from the inside out. Amid death screams of agony, a swarm of Rippers burst through broken bones and torn flesh as they emerged in a gout of blood. The few survivors told of the new Tyranid menace, a terrifying creature that implants organisms into its still-living prey. They called this creature the Parasite, and everyone knew that facing it risked the most horrific death. Two weeks later, the planet Mortrex was overrun by massive, ravenous tides of Ripper swarms.
All that remained was a single astropathic transmission warning of the parasite. Fortunately for the Empire of Mankind, it has not been sighted since the Battle of Mortrex. As with other "experimental" Tyranid bioforms, including the Red Terror or Fall of Malan'Tai, it remains to be seen whether the norn queen of this hive fleet will consider the bioform successful enough to justify its genetic maturation and eventual full production, or if it remains an ultimately sterile genetic test bed that will never be produced again.
This set contains 12 plastic components and is supplied with a Citadel 40mm Round Base. This miniature comes unpainted and requires assembly - we recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel Paints.
