Chaos corruption/infestation/whatever limits

[NecronLord]

Normal humans, I suspect, but there might be blanks mixed in.

Normal. Blanks are a creation of the C'tan.

Eisenhorn presented a theory that psykers are humans that are especially capable at utilizing electrical fields or something like that, and blanks are simply the other end of that extreme, which is why they cause a natural revulsion effect in ordinary humans. I'll need to dig out Malleus and have another look at his exact theory in that novel, but Ershaddon's psyker powers are temporarily disabled by a major EMP burst, which Eisenhorn uses based on that theory.

The necron codex has an Eldar farseer - a far greater authority on psychic phonomena than Eisenhorn - say they're the product of deliberate engineering.

As for the EMP theory, he's probably wrong. EMP does affect the human brain - subjects have headahces - that doesn't mean psykerness is electromagnetic, so much as the part-electromagnetic-brain that controls it is affected

Similarly, in Duty Calls, the cloaked psyker assassin shorts out Cain's vox link by the electrical interference generated as a side-effect of his cloak.

Presumably, null rods operate on the same principle that blanks or the EMP burst do by affecting electrical fields over a limited area.

This seems rather simplistic.

[Connor MacLeod]

Blanks are the far end of the psychic spectrum. I dont recall if the pariah/blank thing is a psychically-based phenomenon off hand (I vaguely recall it might) but its probably just some alternate "field/aura" effect that a parrticular kind of human is designed to emit (diff aspect of warp power, or something else entirely). And, as NL said, they were engineered by the C'tan (just as psykers were engineered), so they're not natural.

Therefore, like psyker phenomenon, blanks/pariahs are also exclusive to the 40K universe and its unlikely other universes would develop them.

As for the electromagnetic thing.. I dont think the Warp is EM related.. all that stuff seems merely to be a "side effect" of Warp phenomena (the same way that in some cases warp activity can create unnatural coldness or temperature drops)

[Imperial Overlord]

Malleus makes it quite clear that Eserharden's abilities are affected by the EMP affecting the electrical flow to his brain, not because electromagnetic fields have any effect on the warp. Untouchables are essentially negative psykers, mobile masses of warp disruption. That's why they block psychic powers, hinder warp entities, and make anything with a soul dislike them (because having warp disruption touch your warp soul really isn't pleasant even if you don't understand what's happening at a conscious level). There's a reason powerful Untouchables are called Pariahs.

Anti-psychic fields are present in Scourge the Unclean, but little detail is provided. I assume that the technology is related to Gellar Field tech, but there is no direct evidence for that.

[Teleros]

Blanks are the far end of the psychic spectrum. I dont recall if the pariah/blank thing is a psychically-based phenomenon off hand (I vaguely recall it might) but its probably just some alternate "field/aura" effect that a parrticular kind of human is designed to emit (diff aspect of warp power, or something else entirely). And, as NL said, they were engineered by the C'tan (just as psykers were engineered), so they're not natural.

I have been wondering if there are different types of blanks, based perhaps on how their abilities work:

> Jurgen's aura is powerful enough to disrupt the aura generated by Necron Pariahs, and his touch is physically painful to a fairly powerful daemon.
> Vandire used a Culexus assassin to permanently wipe the head of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica's psychic powers during his reign, whilst keeping the man alive via a life support machine.
> The test subjects for the Culexus assassins, kept on Mars, were able to dampen the Astronomicon (!). No idea on how many the AdMech was keeping for study however, except that it was a "large number".
> Culexus assassins can drain the life force of psykers, to the point where they can kill them using this. Doesn't work on normal models: according to the 2nd Edition codex, this ability works because psykers use their powers to enhance their physical attributes.
> Culexus assassins have "no presence in the warp, there is just a void", contrasted with "shining beacons" or "minute sparks" for psykers and normal people. From the 2nd Edition codex.
> Culexus assassins are trained to "shoot" their anti-psychic abilities at enemies. Their aura is contained to an extent by the helmet they wear, but when activated lets them shoot anti-psychic energy.
> Ravenor's pet blank was "worn out" by prolonged contact with a powerful, if untrained, child psyker trying to communicate with him.
> One of Eisenhorn's (I think) blanks was overwhelmed by psychic feedback from a Chaos titan.

Dan Abnett's treatment of blanks may be an indication of that perhaps some are psykers with an unusual ability (rather like pyromancy or the like), or that expression of the pariah gene varies wildly between individuals. Perhaps its possible for both pariah and psychic genes to co-exist in someone.

[Lancer]

Jurgen has the ability to passively disrupt both psykers and untouchables/pariahs. Warp-charged artifacts which would normally kill a man on contact become inert in his presence (Duty Calls), and there's the aforementioned incident in Caves of Ice where he nullifies the amplified aura of Pariahs.

There's another unusual reference which we can draw upon. Ephrael Stern (from the Daemonfuge series) is a massive reservoir of psychic power, yet a daemon using its warpsight saw nothing when attempting to look at her soul. Much later on, she fights with a rather powerful Culexus assassin who is attempting to drain her life force. She responds by letting him have some, and the Culexus is flayed to the bone by the energy she unleashes.

[Imperial Overlord]

Jurgen is a very powerful Untouchable. Culexus assassins are powerful Untouchables who undergo extensive specialized training, are physically modified by their shrine, and use specialized equipment designed specifically for them and their abilities. That's why they're different, just as a common foot soldier doesn't possess the abilities of a Callidus or an Eversor.. IIRC, the helmet actually collects and stores warp energy and does the blasting, not the assassin himself.

On the void of the warp issue, the most powerful Untouchables appear as voids or vortexes in the warp where their souls should be.

[The Spartan]

So what happens to a blank when they die if there is a void where their soul should be?

[Imperial Overlord]

So what happens to a blank when they die if there is a void where their soul should be?

They die. Nothing lives on in the warp. The souls of ordinary humans lose coherence when they die and become basically a nonsentient bit of energy and residual emotions. Psykers and eldar souls can remain conscious and coherent following the death of the body.