FLAYED ONE
Flayed Ones are horrifying Necron close-combat terror units consumed by the Flayer Curse, an ancient affliction that drives them to hunt organic prey and drape raw flesh over their living metal frames. Originating from the death-curse of the slain C'tan Llandu'gor, these insane automatons dwell in a pocket dimension and emerge onto battlefields uninvited to slaughter, flay, and attempt to sate an unquenchable phantom hunger.
Cronologia
Biografia
A Flayed One is a ghoulish, mentally twisted Necron unit consumed by the Flayer Curse—a horrifying mind-disease that infuses living metal machines with a relentless hunger for organic flesh and blood. Once Necrontyr who retained partial consciousness during biotransference into necrodermis bodies, these wretched beings have devolved into feral predators.
Because their machine bodies lack mouths or digestive systems, their insatiable desire to feed can never be satisfied, driving them to smear blood across unmoving steel jaws and watch it dribble through exposed ribs. On the battlefield, Flayed Ones serve as specialized close-combat infiltrators. Thin, wiry, and unnaturally agile, they ambush enemies from an alternate pocket universe known as the Flayer Dimension or Ghost Wind.
They habitually skin their victims alive, adorning their metallic frames with decaying hides, bones, and wet flesh to strike terror into opposing ranks. Clean Necrons view Flayed Ones with intense fear and loathing, terrified of contracting the contagious affliction. Suspected victims are exiled or destroyed before the infection spreads. Although Necron Overlords never invite Flayed Ones to join their military campaigns, they accept any tactical advantage their unexpected emergence provides, often ordering the survivors executed once the battle concludes.
Storia
The origins of the Flayed Ones date back roughly 60 million years to the climax of the War in Heaven, when the Necrons rebelled against their C'tan masters. The Maynarkh Dynasty, acting on the orders of Silent King Szarekh, completely obliterated the star-god known as Llandu'gor the Flayer rather than merely shattering it into shards.
In its dying breath, Llandu'gor cast a terrible curse upon its killers, echoing its own fathomless hunger into their necrodermis bodies. For aeons, the Flayer Curse lay dormant, but as infected Necrons traveled across the cosmos during their Great Sleep, the madness quietly spread across dozens of dynasties.
Once afflicted, a Necron undergoes a gradual erosion of sanity, developing an irresistible compulsion to slay fleshy foes and harvest their skin. Over time, their living metal necrodermis mutates to accommodate these predatory urges, sprouting elongated claws and extra jointing. Eventually, infected Necrons vanish into their own pocket dimension, gathering in charnel structures such as the Bone Kingdom of Drazak located in the Ghoul Stars. There, under the reign of Valgûl the Fallen Lord, packs of Flayed Ones dwell among mountains of rotting meat, embarking on periodical 'Times of Bounty' raids across nearby star systems.
I PEZZI DI FLAYED ONE
Evoluzione
Originally introduced in Warhammer 40,000's 3rd Edition as straightforward, terrifying close-combat infantry, the Flayed Ones have underwent a dramatic evolution in both lore and tabletop design. Initially depicted simply as malfunctioning machines driven by a glitched program to hunt flesh, their narrative was completely re-contextualized in 5th Edition (2011).
Games Workshop tied their condition to the cosmic tragedy of Llandu'gor the Flayer, transforming them from mere rogue robots into victims of an inescapable divine curse. Over the past decade, Black Library authors have deepened this narrative horror. Nate Crowley's 'The Twice-Dead King' duology elevated the Flayer Curse into a poignant, psychological metaphor for loss of identity, showing how even noble Phaerons like Oltyx can slowly succumb to its lure. Visually and physically, Flayed Ones transitioned from early metal models to fragile Finecast resin, and finally to detailed, multi-pose plastic kits featuring draped skins and twisted necrodermis frames.
Da Collezione
From a hobbyist and collector perspective, Flayed Ones represent one of the most distinct and visually striking units in the Necron range. Citadel/Games Workshop first released Flayed Ones in pewter during 3rd Edition (2002), which are now nostalgia-rich collectors' items. In 5th Edition (2011), GW reissued them in Finecast resin, though these sculpts were notoriously delicate and prone to casting imperfections.
The definitive modern release arrived with the multi-pose plastic kit introduced in 'Kill Team: Pariah Nexus' (2020) and packaged for 9th Edition. This set is highly sought after by collectors for its incredible detail, offering custom options for flensed skin aprons, severed trophies, and jagged necrodermis claws. On the secondary market and in gaming clubs, a fully painted unit of plastic Flayed Ones remains a proud centerpiece for any Necron army display.
Necron Overlords routinely order the execution of surviving Flayed Ones after a battle, but most slip back into their pocket dimension before they can be destroyed.
