Editing War Scribes (section)

=Legion Gene-Seed Status and Successors=

The War Scribes and their Successors exhibit a handful of genetic abnormalities. While their genetic stability has been called into question during millennia gone by, the Mechanicus' official records state that there are no dangerous mutations inherent to Arelex's descendants. 

Cosmetically, the War Scribes are known for their general hairlessness. It is very rare for them to have more than peach fuzz on their heads, and they are almost always beardless and bald. Their skin color varies wildly depending on how recently they've been exposed to radiation due to an overactive though highly effective Melanchrome system. A War Scribes Marine might begin the day as a bone-white albino, but end the day appearing as if carved from pitch black obsidian. Occasionally, reddish or purplish hues may appear as the Marine's body processes cellular damage and expels dead cells through the bloodstream. Notably, no War Scribe has ever been recorded as developing cancer or other tumors, though the reason why is unclear. 

On a more fundamental level, the Legion's gene-seed has broader tolerances than most when creating Marines, an unanticipated benefit of Pallas' genetic manipulation early in their history. Post-Heresy, the Scribes came to view this boon as fruits of a poisoned tree, but lacking the Lunarian's technical skill could do nothing to remove her influence from their gene-seed. Where other Legions must recruit children younger than 13 or 14, the War Scribes have shown success with adolescents as old as 16 or 17. This advantage, though slight, lets the Scribes recruit from a broader pool of aspirants than the other Legions and helps to maintain their numbers. 

Notably, the Scribes maintain the same rate of recruitment as a Chapter as was normal for their Legion, greedily drawing from all available pools of manpower. During the struggles to claim the Atalantos Worlds and the Sagittarius Arm, their casualty rates rose and fell erratically, so Arelex mandated that his Legion should at all times recruit as if preparing for a prolonged war of attrition. What began as mere practicality became habit and then ironclad tradition for the Scribes. Compared to other Chapters their recruitment rate is many times higher. 

But the Codex must be respected, and Legion-building must not be permitted, so during times of plenty the Scribes fission into smaller units, seeding new Successors far and wide as the main fleet wanders the Galaxy. Some fail to thrive, and some are simply lost to the mists of history, but with the passing of ten thousand years the Scribes are very well represented in terms of descendants. They have few Second Founding Successors compared to other Legions, but quite a few more younger descendants than most. Accordingly, Foundings have little meaning to the Scribes though they do participate when called upon. Most of the time the Chapter simply splits Marines off whenever it feels necessary, honoring the ancient Legion tradition of Wandering Chapters.

===Notable Successors===

Not many War Scribes survived the Heresy, but post-Heresy, their numbers began to grow rapidly. Eventually, a small number of Successor Chapters were split off during the Second Founding, and the Scribes were one of the last Legions to formally disband. 

As it now stands, the War Scribes are a fleet-based chapter, operating within the loose confederation of worlds known as the Atalantos Worlds. The War Scribes Chapter of the 40th Millennium looks much like it did in the 30th, wielding Crusade-era weaponry alongside small handfuls of even more ancient relics.  

'''Brothers Itinerant'''
{{Infobox Spess Mahreen Chapter
|Name = Brothers Itinerant
|Heraldry = [[File:Brothers Itinerant.jpg|200px]]
|Battle Cry = 
|Number = 
|Founding = Splintered after Dropsite Massacre
|Successors of = War Scribes
|Successor Chapters = 
|Chapter Master = 
|Primarch = Arelex Orannis
|Homeworld = 
|Specialty = Piracy
|Strength = Unknown
|Allegiance = Renegade
|Colours = 
}}
Pirates, cowards and traitors. The first Master of Brothers, Neheziah Bo'ash, had been a middling officer of the War Scribes legion. His accomplishments were hardly worth mentioning until his first commission to the command of an escort squadron. The man's prowess in ship-based combat became well noted over the years leading up to the Isstvan Massacre. 
It was the beginnings of the Massacre that truly forged the brotherhood. Their fleet had come under attack and in the confusion Neheziah ordered the squadron to retaliate against any ship that fired upon them. Having heard reports of the massacre on the planet, the fateful command of Neheziah came through to the other ships of the squadron: they were to quit the field until they could ascertain the best course of action and regroup with their legion.
In the aftermath of Isstvaan, when the squadron made their way to link up with the rest of their legion, they were fired upon. It was assumed they were in league with the traitors, or worse they were cowards.

Through out the duration of the Heresy, the Brothers raided loyalists and traitors alike, looting for supplies and materials for their ships. Any legionnaire unfortunate enough to have survived their attack and refused their offer to join the brotherhood were press-ganged into service. 

Those who were swayed to join the brotherhood would paint white their face plates and gauntlets, to represent their mockery of honour and loyalty, having been betrayed twice over. The lenses of their helmets are either replaced or dulled into a dark black to represent their merciless or soulless nature.
Over the years since the Heresy, the brotherhood has acclimated to a number of sorcerers or seers captured from their raids, who are sought after for their ability to guide their raids to success. Should however their fates be wrong one can only imagine the vicious repayment that would be visited upon them...

'''Iron Scribes'''

Little is known of this Chapter, only that the War Scribes annihilated the entire Chapter, for reasons that remain unknown. The Inquisition believes the Iron Scribes to have transgressed by using and possibly even reverse engineering xenos technology, though they have no proof. 

'''Blood Heritage'''

Unusual amongst Chapters, the Blood Heritage Marines almost never stand as a united whole. Their numbers fluctuate widely, sometimes dipping well below Codex standards and sometimes rising well beyond it during times of growth and prosperity. By ancient tradition, this Chapter operates in a completely dispersed fashion, moving about the Galaxy as individual squads of 10 Marines or so. They are the unseen thread which binds most of the former Legio Secundus together, roaming far and wide to keep the various Successors in contact with one another and spread news of triumphs and perils. Periodically, a War Scribes Successor will hear news of a Blood Heritage squad approaching and take heart knowing that a band of elite Marines has come to support them. Of all the warriors that carry Arelex's gene-seed, perhaps none are so skilled or well-equipped as these  Marines. It is not uncommon for a Blood Heritage warrior to go his entire career, perhaps many hundreds of years long, without seeing another squad from his own Chapter. 

The one exception to their rule is the Blood Heritage 1st Company which owes fealty to Terra itself. Continuing a tradition passed down from the Heresy, Chapter Master Ikan Ulam, 58th of his rank, stands eternal guard in Sol System with his Company. The War Scribes were kept away from Terra in her darkest hour, and it was the Legion's will that at least some War Scribe descendants should help stand the watch forevermore. Their home base is a large icy rock tumbling in the darkness far beyond Terra, in that rarified spatial region from which most comets dwell. From this forward operating base, the 1st Company makes sure that they will be the first to fight should any hostiles threaten Terra again. 

The Blood Heritage is ill-favored by the Inquisition and several Inquisitorial Agents follow their members at all times. While the Chapter's benefits to the Imperium cannot be denied, the Inquisition takes an exceptionally dim view of their community focused attitude. They also know full well that Chapter Master Ulam's private discourse reveals that he would gladly return all the sons of Arelex under one banner again and reform the Legion if he could. Though nothing has ever been explicitly proven, it is almost certain that the Inquisition has ordered the death of many Blood Heritage squads when they feel the Marines have stepped just a little too far out of line. 

'''Sons of Whitestone'''

Responsible for defending the Atalantos Worlds against the Necron threat. Generally fights the Ulkhesh Dynasty.

'''Sons of Atalantos'''

Responsible for defending the Atalantos Worlds against the Necron threat. Generally fights the Zelrakh-Khemta Dynasty.

'''Sons of Orannis'''

Responsible for defending the Atalantos Worlds against the Necron threat. Generally fights the Il'Kholas Dynasty.

'''Lore Bearers'''

Known for their tendency to engrave their armor and weaponry with words of antiquity, everything from old poetry, to technical blueprints, to mathematical equations. Notable for having extremely good memories. 

'''Shrouded Host'''

One of the few War Scribes Successors that is not stationed in or near the Core, the Shrouded Host is said to have uncovered some tidbit of data in the Primarch's records that says they will be needed in the fight against Chaos. Accordingly, they are fleet-based, in the space near the Eye of Terror, and maintain little contact with their parent Chapter. 

'''Sky Renders'''

Notable for their use of Teleport Homers in conjunction with Drop Pods. 

Because the Necron threat is so dangerous, and the planets near the Core so inhospitable to Scouts not wearing Power Armor, the Sky Renders have found the traditional deployment of homing beacons via infiltrating Scout Marines almost useless. Though many of the sons of Orannis have adopted this tactic, the Sky Renders are best known for it, using massed Drop Pod barrages to conceal a handful of Pods containing beacons. 

The Pods land and the Marines deploy as normal, forming a beachhead, and they are rapidly followed by a massed teleport of Terminators to reinforce the assault point. They also make *extensive* use of Deathstorm Drop Pods containing Whirlwind Launchers and Assault Cannons rather than troops to provide additional weight of fire.

'''Venom Quills'''

A 26th Founding Successor of the War Scribes, the Venom Quills fight xenos threats on the Galactic Fringe, and despite their relative youth are quite well traveled. This Chapter favors the use of toxic weapons to rapidly subdue threats, and they keep a reserve of deadly poisons on hand at all times for any occasion or task. When they encounter and destroy a new species of xenos, the Chapter's Apothecaries take great pleasure in rending them down for useful components, sending most to the Genetors or the Inquisition, but keeping any novel toxins for themselves. 

Currently they are very busy assisting in defense against the Tyranids. Their toxins are proving useful for now because of their sheer variety, but the Tyranids in their area are rapidly evolving countermeasures. Soon, the Venom Quills will have to come up with a new strategy, or perish.

'''Lightbringers'''

Known for using laser weapons almost exclusively, renowned for relentless campaigns and resistance to attrition. Masters of foraging and using weapons that require little ammunition or repair.

'''Belleron Thrashers'''

Stationed on their homeworld of Belleron Tertius, the Thrashers are charged with bolstering Imperial defenses in the Pacificus Segmentum. Practically still Neophytes, the Chapter was only recently founded less than 100 years prior to the present day. While Imperial commanders in their area appreciate the support, the Thrashers have yet to truly temper themselves and find that iron will so critical to Astartes. What they lack in tenacity they try and make up for in zeal however, and eagerly hurl themselves into any and all conflicts within their reach. Accordingly, they have the dubious distinction of sustaining the highest casualty rate of any War Scribe Successor in the modern era, but are also adding battle honors to their banner at an exceptional rate. Adversity forges the finest warriors, but in a galaxy ablaze the Thrashers may very well disintegrate and be lost to history. Only time will tell. 

'''Blue Swords'''

The Blue Sword Marines exemplify both the best and the worst aspects of what it is to be a Marine. One the one hand, they are nearly peerless when it comes to defending a planet or breaking a siege's grip on Imperial worlds, and their loyalty is beyond question. Chapter Master Wenden Elstrom is said to have almost a sixth sense for his opponent's weaknesses, and drives his Chapter to exploit these points like a surgical instrument. This Second Founding Chapter has delivered hundreds of Imperial systems from certain destruction and their victory banner is laden down with all manner of honors and decoration. 

But though respected, few Imperial regiments relish the thought of fighting at the Blue Swords' side. These Marines are ruthless to a fault, and they think absolutely nothing of laying waste to everything around them if it means the enemy is destroyed. Though no precise tally can be obtained, the Administratum privately estimates their friendly fire casualty count over the past ten thousand years to exceed one trillion souls. They also use their allied forces like utterly expendable pawns, sacrificing entire regiments of Guardsmen if necessary. 

Perhaps the only reason the Administratum has not declared the Blue Swords traitors is that in every case (so far), the Blue Swords have been able to prove that necessity in ''exacting'' detail, citing endless amounts of well-crafted documentation. After all, they are children of the Second Legion, they do not act without careful consideration. 

'''Ebon Clan/Men of Gold [EXCOMMUNICATE TRAITORUS]'''

Once a loyal 5th Founding Successor Chapter known as the Ebon Clan, these Successors betrayed the Imperium in such a fundamental way that thousands of years later even the disciplined War Scribes have been known to abandon active theaters of war in order to pursue them. The Men of Gold remain a terrible reminder that while the strongest bonds are forged in blood, so too can family betray someone worst of all. Chapter Master Adren Tomassinov stood head and shoulders above his Marine brethren, peerless in his mastery of lore and ancient records. He peered deeply into Humanity's past, convinced that by doing so he carried out the will of his Primarch. In time, he learned many secrets of the Dark Age unknown even to most Second Legion Successors and began showing his findings to his Captains. 

In particular, the dream of Men of Gold, avatars of thought who ruled over lesser men and the Men of Iron, forbidden AI servants. Chapter Master Adren began to dream himself the master of such beings, and plunged ever deeper into rightfully forbidden tomes. Enhancing themselves with all manner of arcane technology, the Ebon Clan won victory after improbable victory, shattering enemies of the Imperium across the Galactic North. Even the forces of Chaos fell before their might on many occasions, and the Chapter Master began attempting to sway other Marines of various Chapters to embrace his way of doing battle. Eventually, the red-robed acolytes of the Machine God began to take notice, for a Chapter succeeding this easily violated their statistical predictions severely. 

After a short investigation, the Mechanicus spotted the tell-tale signs of forbidden technology immediately. Even worse, some of the higher-ranking Marines were suspected of using AI in the making, training and growing them as part of their armor and implants to assist them on the battlefield. While none had breached that final barrier of sentience yet, it was more than enough for Mars to act. After seventeen years of bloody struggle the Ebon Clan was shattered completely, but Adren stole his Chapter's cache of resources and technology, escaping into the Galactic Fringe with a handful of loyalists on a single Strike Cruiser. 

The hunt continues for these men, but their forbidden technology gives them a crucial advantage in staying ahead of their pursuers. Golden-painted Marines have been spotted in different areas of the Segmentum, aiding Imperial forces and leaving behind "gifts" of a distinctly heretekal nature. Invariably, these packages unleash some sort of horror upon the populace, slaughtering millions but elevating a handful of "fortunates" to become the next Men of Gold, disappearing into the void by means unknown. 

Adren is clearly building an army, likely backed by Abominable Intelligence. Eventually he will surely unleash it, but the relentless AdMech pursuit will do anything to ensure his plans never bear their tainted fruit. 



'''Third Wave/Bloodgrinders [EXCOMMUNICATE TRAITORUS]'''
 
The Third Wave were 3rd Founding Successors of the Scribes, tasked with pressing into Segmentum Obscurus and taking the fight directly into the teeth of all the traitor Legions who fled there. They held great promise and were led by several of the War Scribes' finest recruits, men who had proven their worth a hundred times over during the Great Crusade and the Hektor Heresy. For almost 200 years the Chapter slaughtered their way across the Segmentum destroying many enemies of the Emperor and striking terror in the hearts of all who opposed them. Zealotry all too easily leads the zealot into dark places though, and so fresh and potent was the hatred of the Chapter's veterans that they slowly forgot the reason why they killed, only that they had to kill. Even as they cut down loyalists of Khorne, the Blood God slowly turned his attention ever more upon them. Without even truly noticing that they had changed, the Chapter fell from grace and turned to Chaos in their hearts. 

The Bloodgrinders lost the ability to discern friend from foe, so all that lives became their foes. They sing no praises to Khorne, not once have the words "Blood for the Blood God!" left a Bloodgrinder's lips. They emblazon no marks of Chaos upon their armor and do not dream of Daemonhood, only of the next moment their swords may taste flesh. Indeed, it is difficult even to tell that they ''have'' fallen to the Dark Powers when first their ships emerge from the Warp. Externally they appear as loyal as any other Marine Chapter, though they eternally m aintain vox-silence. Some within the Inquisition hypothesize that the Chapter is completely unaware of what they've done, lost in some twisted fantasy realm from which there is no awakening, dancing for the black amusement of Khorne. 

Even the name "Bloodgrinders" is not truly their own, it was given to them by the Administratum upon recording the Chapter as traitorous. Shortly after their fall became complete, the Third Wave struck a Hive World called Adler's Covenant, a backwater world used mostly for agriculture and famous for its hydroponics. Imperial citizens were murdered in their billions, one hab-block at a time. The Third Wave's two voidships, a Battle Barge and Strike Cruiser whose names have been struck from Imperial records, fired lance strike after lance strike into the planet's crust, carving Chaotic sigils five hundred miles across and dozens of meters deep into the soil. En masse, the Third Wave bled Adler's Covenant dry, severing the populace's heads, grinding the bodies to sludge and storing the blood in their very own hydroponic reservoirs to keep it fresh and liquid while they worked. After all, even fallen to Khorne the Marines were still of Arelex's gene-seed and industry their watchword. It was from this abominable act, unprecedented in Imperial history that they received their new name. 

To culminate the mad ritual the Marines emptied billions of gallons of hot, rich blood into the soil, filling the sigils to the brim and charging the entire planet with dark energy. A Warp Rift opened above the planet's surface and every dismembered body gave up its skull, plunging into the Warp like an apocalyptic reverse blizzard of flensed craniums. Strange creatures emerged from the void in return, not known to any Imperial scholar or heretical daemonologist. Even other chosen of the Blood God have not been able to identify the beasts, nor are they known to have answered any other summons. Giant leech-like beings nearly five feet long and about six inches thick wrapped themselves around each Marine in turn, latching onto the back of their necks and fusing their lower bodies with the Marines' stomachs. From that day forward they have never been separated save in death, and it is unclear if one or the other or both are in control of the body. 

The leeches feast on the blood shed by the Chapter, as the Marines gorge on fallen flesh the leeches swell with blood and Warp energy, healing the Bloodgrinders from almost any injury short of outright incineration. When fully fed the Warp-leeches can also project a blood-hued sphere of Warp energy to protect their host body as it charges fearlessly into combat. It seems the leeches grant a twisted immortality as well, for no Bloodgrinder has ever been seen to suffer from old age despite never dwelling within the Warp or the Eye of Terror. Whatever sort of life a near-mindless leech-bearer can be said to possess, they shall have it forever. The Lord of Slaughter surely feels satisfaction in such a punishment for those who dared strike at his followers.

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