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Jump pack

2023-06-06T21:18:23Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[Image:Smurfassmarines.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Smurf Assault Marines equipped with jump packs.]]
A '''jump pack''' is a piece of equipment used by [[Space Marines]] and [[Chaos Space Marines]] to enhance the mobility of an individual or squad, especially [[Assault Squad]]s and [[inceptor]]s for the Space Marines and [[Chaos Raptors]] and [[Warp Talons]] for the Chaos Space Marines. It's basically a pair of jet engines that get strapped to the back of a suit of [[powered armor]] (in fact, that's exactly what the old Mk. II and Mk. V jump packs look like) to let the wearer jet around

Generally, a jump pack is used in two modes. The first is to safely descend from a great altitude, like a parachute but louder. [[Captain Titus]] of the [[Ultramarines]] (along with Leandros and Sidonus) used a jump pack in this way in the opening sequence of [[Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine]] to drop from a damaged [[Thunderhawk]] to the deck of an [[Ork]] gunship. This is represented on the tabletop by giving all jump units the [[Deep Strike]] rule.

The second mode is to move on the battlefield faster than usual infantry -- either to just cover ground faster, or to blast into close combat. Titus used a jump pack in this way towards the end of the game, jetting around the ruins of Graia and [[pauldron]]-checking Orks. On the tabletop, jump units can either move further than normal infantry (including moving over intervening units and terrain) or re-roll the dice for determining assault distance and gain some extra "Hammer of Wrath" attacks to represent them crashing into the enemy.

Only Space Marines, exceptional Sisters of Battle called Seraphim and the Orks referred to as "Stormboyz" are capable of utilizing a Jump pack due to the device's bone-shattering features that only they could survive. The force exerted by the Jump Pack while taking off is so tremendous that a normal human, without power armor to evenly distribute it, would have his spine liquefied upon take-off and the bone-shattering descent is the equivalent of a military-grade explosive going off, something that a normal human being cannot hope to survive without having his entire lower body explode in a shower of gore. In the case of the Stormboyz, they do not use jump packs so much as rokkits crudely strapped to their backs, relying mostly on their natural resilience to keep them safe (not to mention their tendency to land directly on their targets' heads).

As depicted in Space Marine, a Marine coming down with a jump pack straight onto someone's head results in a hilarious shower of gore, which is kind of explained by the Deathwatch core rulebook. On page 28 it states that a Marine in full armour weighs about 500kg, and the armour is 180kg of that. Now, imagine that kind of weight, crashing down straight onto you, accelerated downwards by a jump pack.

Units capable of an actual flight rather than quick and bone-shatteringly fast rocket jumps, such as [[Swooping Hawks]], [[Scourges]], or [[Gargoyle|winged]] [[Tyranid Harpy|Tyranid]]s have the same mechanics table-top wise, despite being much different fluff wise. You may start bitching about it.

== Jet pack ==
In [[Warhammer 40,000]] '''jet packs''' are different from jump packs. A jet pack can be used to [[Deep Strike]] into battle, like a jump pack, but it incorporates extra thrusters and control systems to keep the wearer more stable. This means that jet pack infantry do not move as quickly as their jump-pack-wearing counterparts, but are able to fire their weapons on the move as if they were standing still and move with greater agility. In-game, the former is represented by giving all jet pack units the "Relentless" Universal Special Rule, and the latter is represented by allowing jet pack units to move during the Assault phase without charging or making an assault. These two rules put together give rise to what is called the "jump-shoot-jump" tactic: a unit of jet-pack infantry jumps over cover, shoots all of their weapons (including heavy weapons) at an enemy, and then jumps behind cover in the assault phase, so that the enemy will have to shoot or charge through cover during his turn. For the most part, jet packs and jump-shoot-jump are associated with [[Tau]] [[Battlesuit]]s. [[Eldar]] corsair jet packs are categorically better, however.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
file:DestroyerMarines.jpg|[[Destroyer Squad |Destroyer marines wearing Mk.IV jump packs]]
File:HeresyAssaultSquad.png
File:JumpSent.jpg|Jump Sentinel
File:Jump_Pack_Warrior.PNG|Jump Pack Warrior of the [[Hearthkyn Salvager]]s
File:Jump_Pack.jpg
</gallery>

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Space Marines]][[Category:Tau]]

Gene-seed

2023-06-06T21:16:40Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

In [[Warhammer 40,000]], [[humans]] are transformed into [[Space Marines]] by, among other things, implanting them with a series of 19 organs that dramatically alter and enhance their biology. The organs' DNA strings, from which they are vat-grown, are collectively known as "gene-seed." Go ahead, make your immature jokes.

== Origins ==

Gene-seed is a vital part of the [[Space Marine]] program, and is as old as the Astartes themselves. When the [[God-Emperor of Mankind]] was still conquering [[Terra]], many of the techno-barbarians' armies had augmented human warriors. The Emperor then realized that he would need vast armies of super-soldiers for his coming [[Great Crusade]], so he embarked on a project to create a mass-producible means of enhancing humans. This project resulted in the twenty [[Primarchs]], and from their genes, he created the gene-seed organs to be implanted into each Space Marine. These organs are usually produced in vats from extracted progenoids but [[Daemonculaba|other methods]] can be used in a pinch, and, of course, the Sinew Coils aren't an actual organ, so they can be produced much more readily, like any other cybernetic implant.

The traditional loyalist method of implanting gene-seed into recruits until it grows into new organs, then retrieving fresh gene-seed from them happens to loosely resemble the real-life concept of adult stem cells, invaluable for life-saving surgeries and keeping your liver from shriveling up when you get too drunk.

The process was originally available on a nearly industrial scale for the Great Crusade - both Terra and each legion recruitment worlds could make up the numbers for thousands of recruits. Occasionally they could be inducted as adults, although the limitations of this varied and usually an adult recruit was worthy but couldn't take a gene seed. In this case various surgeries and augmentations could turn them into a 'demi-marine', although the difference in performance was notable. A notable exception was Magnus the Red's teacher Amon, who would have been far too old for geneseed implantation but was altered by Magnus' powers to accept the implants.

During the Horus Heresy the Traitor Legions came up with a quick and dirty method for boosting their ranks by taking hundreds of thousands of aspirants (any sufficiently tough psychopath among their millions of followers) and forcing them through the implantation process much more rapidly than normal, along with substituting the years long training process with constant hypnotherapy training. The success rate was small but they had so many potential recruits it still resulted in a boost in their numbers. These Newborn, as they came to be known, were equipped with the same gear as regular marines but utterly lacked the skills and prowess of a traditional legionary. Their forced creation also led them to being seen as second-class citizens amongst their legions, and thus they created their own subcultures and traditions. As a result, they ended up being used as disposable shock troops whilst regular Astartes were saved for more important duties.

The Loyalists guarding Terra also sped up their training processes before the Siege, although they were more discerning with their recruits and still provided hands-on training. Notably, these recruits frequently did not come from Terra or their Legion home worlds, but from the worlds bordering the Sol System. As such they occupied an odd place in the legions social structure.

After the Heresy, the loyalist legions and then chapters scaled back the process, relocating all the materiel to their homeworlds or fleet apothecarions. As a preventative measure learned from the Heresy, subsequent recruits were taken at a younger age, both to screen out weakness as soon as possible, and to more readily indoctrinate the prospective marine to being loyal (YMMV). Most chapters also introduced far more stringent levels of hypnotherapy and indoctrination than any Heresy-era Marine would ever have had, and their standards for general recruits were also much higher, since now they recruited fewer aspirants from a smaller population (relatively) instead of a lot from a massive group, which could even be from several different worlds in cases of emergency recruitment.

== The Organs ==

Oddly, most 40K fluff never refers to most of these organs, especially when situations come up where these organs might have been especially useful. The worst offenders are usually the sensory ones; the Occulobe, Lyman's Ear, and Neuroglottis, taken together, ''ought'' to make them notice things normal humans can't, especially under low-light conditions, but the fluff usually has them only picking up the standard level of detail.

# The '''Secondary Heart''' is pretty self-explanatory. It lets a Space Marine get his blood flowing at a faster rate through his body and probably to the more critical bits, which lets his muscles work harder and longer, and it gives him a backup just in case one fails (i.e. gets shot, stabbed, [[Kor Phaeron|ripped out by Guilliman]], or what have you). The Secondary Heart is not beating at all times. It only activates during times of stress (bear in mind that a twenty mile run is not considered stressful to an Astartes); otherwise, it just sits there awaiting activation.
# The '''Ossmodula''' makes a Space Marine's skeleton grow and incorporate some ceramic dietary supplements into itself and fuses his ribs together into a solid structure. The Tyrant guard's fused ribcage hints that <s>the Hive mind has incorporated Space marine DNA into-</s>{{BLAM}} convergent evolution is at work. <s>Ironically, the fusing of the rib cage would be considered a bad thing, as the Space Marine would not be able to breathe properly-</s>, as pointed out by [[Fabius Bile]] the ribs are not one solid plate but actually many smaller plates with near invisibly small spaces between that allow them to flex and achieve a proper range of motion (so similar to Laminar armor instead of full Plate). Note another explanation is the Multi lung (see bellow) may help push the ribs apart harder than a normal pair of lungs ever could. Also a fully fused rib cage would cause a loss of flexibility and may be an undocumented Ultramarines mutation since the vast majority of them walk around like they've got a broom handle shoved up their asses.
# The '''Biscopea''' triggers muscle growth. These first three organs are often implanted together, as they collectively prepare the Initiate's body for further augmentation. Around this time, the Initiate gets put on a diet containing extra nutrients to fuel his new growth.
# The '''Haemastamen''' enhances a Space Marine's blood to better accommodate the Space Marine's nifty set of new organs by improving its ability to carry oxygen. It also turns it [[Orks|bright red]].
# The '''Larraman's Organ''' creates Larraman's Cells, which are like super-platelets: they make wounds rapidly scab over. This allows Space Marines to keep fighting even when shock and blood loss would kill most people.
# The '''Catalepsean Node''' messes with the body's sleep cycle, letting Space Marines get away with four hours of sleep every day, or even less, and making it possible for them to not lose awareness, even after like 2 weeks without sleep. It also makes the brain susceptible to hypno-therapy, which is a fancy word for "brainwashing" the Initiates while they are asleep. As a nasty side effect, it allows Chaos marines to re-brainwash loyalists they captured alive (or better: in suspended animation). Unsurprisingly to anyone familiar with Chaos, this trick doesn't work in reverse, which might just go to show that the Chaos Marines might be [[Heresy|closer to the true human nature than the loyal Marines...]] or more likely that Chaos is corrupting as fuck.
# The '''Preomnor''' is like a bird's crop, in that it stores food before passing it to the stomach, except that the Preomnor also decontaminates its contents as well. In Ian Watson's Space Marine novel, Initiates celebrated getting this organ by eating the most disgusting things they could until they finally provoked a vomit reflex.
# The '''Omophagea''' is one of the odder organs. It connects to the stomach and the spinal cord, and somehow takes [[Cannibalism|knowledge from the brain tissue that a Space Marine can eat]]. Interestingly, most Space Marines are pretty reluctant to actually eat brains, as the process is physically extremely unpleasant, leaves them in a vulnerable torpor whilst they process the information, and is one of the very few things that can readily make a Space Marine vomit afterwards. The Thousand Sons (pre-heresy) - contrary to their civilised, haughty persona - highly approved of the practice. And, in fact, it is not just the brain, since some Astartes rituals, if not chapter names, originated from this; the Blood Angels and their descendants are especially famous for blood drinking and [[rip and tear]] in general; this is actually because they receive knowledge and visions from it. What? You thought the Blood Angels had visions of Sanguinius only to have a [[grimdark]], [[Machine spirit|mystical aura]]? Before reuniting with their Primarch, the Blood Angels standard operating procedure was to ritually cannibalize their dead officers and sometimes even assume their rank and identity. Additionally, the memories they absorb become very hard to forget (brain washing technologies can help). Now just add some chaos to that mix and you've got heresy brewing...
# The '''Multi-Lung'''... do I have to spell it out? It's an additional lung! It also has a lot of filters and the like, and can function underwater and in low-oxygen atmospheres. In other words, it allows the Space Marine without a helmet to breathe under water and in toxic air. Just how does this third lung fit in with the other two Marines are born with and all the other organs implanted later? Very carefully, that's how.
# The '''Occulobe''' gives Space Marines super-vision, and allows their eyes to adjust to changes in light almost instantly, or at least in the fluff.
# The '''Lyman's Ear''' gives them super-hearing and makes them immune to motion sickness and concussion. However, in-game, they have no particular immunity or even resistance to concussion, probably because it's often delivered by a hammer to the head.
# The '''Sus-an Membrane''' lets them enter a state of ''Sus''pended ''an''imation when they are critically hurt or starving. This serves the purpose of conserving a mortally wounded marine until his body is recovered and healed by apothecaries. So each time you remove a marine model on the tabletop, chances are (fluff-wise) it has entered sus-an, rather than died. In fact, on most campaigns that's what happens to your characters. It should be noted, marines cannot leave suspended animation state at will, and can only be "awakened" through the use of specific drugs.
# The '''Melanochrome''' implants into the lymph nodes, and makes Space Marine skin like transition lenses: it darkens in response to radiation, rapidly producing reinforced melanin that protects against both UV and gamma. On the plus side, they tan really fast, but the fact that they pale right back up once they're inside armour (unless they are [[Salamanders]]) is not that great.
# The '''Oolitic Kidney''' detoxifies their blood, like their regular kidneys, but this one does it really fast. Also, it controls some of the other organs' hormones. As a result, Space Marines are unaffected by most poisons short of what the [[Dark Eldar]] or [[Tyranids]] can produce. It also means they can't get drunk, though the Space Wolves found a way around that by creating Mjöd, an extremely toxic drink made of local plants of Fenris, that temporarily neutralizes the Oolitic kidney's ability to filter toxins. Another organ which ceases to work on the tabletop, as Space Marines have absolutely identical reactions to Poison as ratlings, ogryn, and standard humans. Of course, considering that the poisons you find on the tabletop are Tyranid, Dark Eldar, and Nurgelitle shit, we can probably write this one off. Also, in some fluff, it saves the bearer from poison by causing them to enter a sort of super-metabolic coma during which they burn off any toxins while unconscious and feverish—so, much like with the sus-an membrane, it allows you to say that any of [[Your Dudes]] taken out by Poison effects are just temporarily disabled.
# The '''Neuroglottis''' implants into the upper nasal passage, drastically improving both smell and taste; lets a Space Marine identify chemicals and track adversaries by taste. Blood-hound much? Apparently, the Space Wolf version of this is so good that they designed a special Wolf Helm that lets them use their sense of smell even when fully armored, and is also why they otherwise avoid helmets as much as possible (and definitely not just so that they can [[Blood Claw|gel their hair into giant crests]] and/or [[Logan Grimnar|grow chest-length Santa beards]]).
# The '''Mucranoid''' gives Space Marines super-sweat that protects them from heat and cold, and can even be hardened into a vacuum-proof shell. Remember that awesome scene where Guilliman boxes Word Bearers in space? Yep, he did it while covered in that thing.
# The '''Betcher's Gland''' gives them acid spit, which is probably the only bonus for going to combat [[Helmet#Helmets_and_Faces|without a helmet]]. The acid within varies depending on the source, from simply reacting only to organic tissue to fully dissolving ceramite. Some Chapters, such as the [[Blood Angels]] and the [[Iron Snakes]], consider using the Betcher's Gland in combat to be [[Derp|dishonourable]]. Technically, the acid spit is just a fringe benefit of the gland’s true purpose—allowing marines to chew through everything from tough xenos carcasses to prison bars. In any event, Space Marines on the table-top do not have access to acidic spit, unlike e.g. Tyranids. (Or maybe they do; space marine ancients get a lot of attacks for someone with their hands full.)
# The '''Progenoids''' provide no benefit to the Space Marine, but are universally considered the most important organs, as they are the keys to making more of the organs above. Each Space Marine starts with two, one in the neck and one in the chest, and they are removed after their death. The neck-based progenoid is ready for harvesting five years after implantation, while the chest-based progenoid is ready after ten. Each harvested progenoid is a bunch of DNA and chemical stuff, that, when implanted in a suitable environment, grows into more organs. Chapters that took severe losses and could not reclaim the gene-seed of their brothers basically take random people with an affinity to the Astartes gene-seed (or vat-grown bodies similar to the ones they use for Servitors), implant them with all space marine organs, wait ten years, and slaughter them to harvest the gene-seed. Sometimes, the term "gene-seed" is taken to refer to these glands specifically.
# The '''Black Carapace''' interfaces a Space Marine with his [[Power Armour|armour]], making them effectively one being. It also serves as back-up armour, providing a level of protection similar to a flak jacket, in case a marine somehow ends up [[Adeptus Custodes|running around naked]]. [[Scout|Space Marine Scouts]] don't have this yet, because of the [[Codex Astartes]], and it's noted as the only one of the original organs that ''has'' to be implanted whole rather than potentially grown inside the neophyte as a germ-seed (a la [[Blood Angels|Insanguination]]). They don't get it (and thus an expensive suit of power armor) until they've spent a decade or more in a Scout Company. Tyranids nicked this for their tyrant guard, which makes you think how did the foot-slogging hive tyrants survive anything beforehand. As clearly established by how humans perform in Power Armor, this organ does nothing on the table-top; Sisters of Battle, for example, get just as much (or more - they can lift a lascannon by themselves, unlike humans in mere carapace armour) benefit from Power Armor as Space Marines do. The Deathwatch RPG explained it as allowing a “Size (Huge)” Space Marine in Power Armor to not suffer any movement penalties—which does seem impressive if you’ve ever seen someone in craft foam Astartes armor trying to hobble around.
#The '''Canis Helix''' is not an organ, but considered nonetheless to be part of the gene-seed; it appears to be a genetic cocktail brewed by the Wolf Priests of the Space Wolves, and while it induces a level of mutation beyond that seen in any other chapter, Russ' gene-seed organs appear to have a 100% rejection rate in humans who do not first take the cocktail.

===Primaris Organs===

{{Main|Primaris Marines}}
After [[Roboute Guilliman]] told [[Belisarius Cawl]] to make a next generation Space Marine, he ended up creating Marines that had an enhanced version of the Astartes Gene-Seed, which contained an extra three organs (possibly due to taking elements of the [[Adeptus Custodes|Custodes]] or even the Primarch creation process). While some have expressed concern of the project, some due to worries about how some of the mutations of some of Chapters with more exotic mutations and some due to the belief that the Emperor's work shouldn't be tampered with, Cawl claims that the Primaris Gene-seed is more stable than the regular Astartes gene-seed, with an estimated deviancy of .001% per generation. How true this claim might be is up for debate, but Cawl has created Space Wolves successor chapters that haven't immediately turned into Wulfen so it may have some truth in it. It's also worth noting that Cawl did ''something'' to make the Primaris Marines physically incapable of turning traitor. Guilliman's internal monologue in Dark Imperium reveals that he considers it an impossibility for Primarines to turn, unlike "the old breed". This has interesting implications about whether or not the Primaris marines truly have free will.

As of recent fluff updates/leaks, the new organs are as follows.

# The '''Sinew Coils''' essentially modify the muscle strands and makeup of the Primaris Marines, buffing their pecs and biceps to the 10th degree. Whilst one would assume it would resemble something from [[Wat|Inspector Gadget's coil legs]], the truth is....[[Derp|it is pretty much like that in function.]] These are reinforced coil-cables made of durable supermetals that are capable of contracting with incredible strength, making Primaris stronger and tougher than others. Even outside of their power armor, swinging a sword at a Primaris might just bounce off his hot and sweaty muscles because of these coil cables, and it amplifies his strength to the point where he can crush a human skull with his bare hands or bite through metal cable like it were jerky.
# The '''Magnificat''' may sound a [[Derp|bit lame,]] but its function is actually what makes the Primaris 'bigger, better, faster and stronger' than regular Astartes. It produces a mix of hormones that greatly enhance the effects of all of the other genetically engineered organs that float around in the Primaris. So every Primaris gets more bang for his genetic buck. Intriguingly, it's stated to be only half of another super-organ dubbed the '''Immortis Gland''' originally made for the Primarchs, but Cawl was only able to find the materials and genetic blueprints needed to make the right half; the information needed to make the left half had seemingly been erased. The function of the complete Immortis Gland is unknown, but given that its other name is "The God-Maker" and the fact that only the Primarchs are known to have the organ, it stands to follow that it is likely what amplifies their abilities to the level of demigods.
# The '''Belisarian Furnace''' is an organ that is named after [[Belisarius Cawl|the Galaxy's least humble Archmagos.]] This one is a last-chance fail-safe kind of thing. The Belisarian Furnace is an organ that activates when a Primaris is on death’s door, giving them a great burst of super-adrenaline (not the actual term) and boosted regeneration, but helping to keep them alive even at great cost, so that a Primaris can take out as many of the enemy as possible even as his flesh and bone rapidly regrow themselves. This allows fan-fic writers to create Hollywood-esque 'final pushes' without making it look stupid, which should make for some amazing last stands. It also appears to be vital for the Rubicon Primaris procedure intended to convert existing Space Marines into Primaris Space Marines, as the procedure temporarily kills the subject in its current form. The organ doesn't just activate during fights however ; the fluff has shown a Primaris actively trying to "calm down" and stop their Furnace activating whilst they were critically injured whilst they were being rescued as the resulting physical shock would finish them off.

===Implantation===
Not everyone is compatible with implantation (unless it's from the Blood Angels line); potential candidates are screened for tissue compatibility, and kept young, as being post-pubescent has a marked increase in the tissue rejection rate (and being actually ''elderly'' makes it even worse); even so, not all candidates survive the implantation process. The Great Crusade era had inductees from a variety of ages, possibly because there were more resources, candidates, and understanding of the tech to compensate for failure rates. Back then a one-in-two success after screening was considered pretty good. These days the screening is insanely brutal amongst Loyalist chapters, with most aspirants dying before being even considered for implantation, but the success rate is accordingly much higher. Youths are also still preferred post-Heresy as they are easier to mould and condition into loyal Marines than teens or young adults.

One of the most obvious limits of their design is that the Emperor never solved the problem of making them compatible with female hosts (although some argue that this was deliberate as a way of ensuring that Space Marines could not breed true, nobody can be entirely sure), so the very first screening step is usually by sex. Furthermore, not all organs can be implanted at once, as some prepare the body for others, and the body needs time to adapt to and accept the implants. The maximum speed process has been described in the fluff as taking around 6 years and assuming the soon-to-be Marine will be a Primaris is:

# If you are the Space Wolves, the Canis Helix.
# Secondary Heart, Ossmodula (bone growth), and Biscopea (muscle growth).
# Sinew Coils (tendon/ligament reinforcement), Magnificat (enhances all other geneseed organs), and Belisarean Furnace (combat stimms, attaches to hearts).
# Haemastamen (improved red blood cells) and Larraman's Organ (improved platelets).
# Catalepsean Node (brain implant: sleep like a dolphin).
#*If this is an actual Space Marine, begin hypnotherapy/brainwashing only ''after'' this implant.
# Preomnor (gullet), Omophagea (flatworm stomach), and Multi-lung (third lung).
# Occulobe (improved visual cortex).
# Lyman's Ear (replacement outer, middle, and inner ear).
# Sus-an Membrane (brain implant: self-induce coma).
# Melanochrome (lymph implant for radiation resistance).
# Oolitic Kidney (enhanced liver/kidney) and Neuroglottis (improved inner nose).
# Mucranoid (secretable space suit).
# Betcher's Gland (extremely acidic saliva).
# Both Progenoids (for reproduction).
# Black Carapace (for improved power armour compatibility).

The largest time gap between implants is between the Betcher Glands and the two last ones on the list, and by that time the Marine already serves as a Scout. Once he is deemed physically and mentally ready, he will recieve the Progenoids and the Black Carapace that turns him into a full-fledged (Primaris) Marine.

The Rubicon Primaris most likely entails the implantation of the three Primaris gene-seed organs past the normal time that gene-seed would normally be implanted, though the specific order of implanting in this scenario is currently unknown, however it is known that the Furnace resuscitation is needed to finish the process so it might come in first. The logical follow up is the enhancing Magnificat and finished with the Sinew Coils, the pain of which would cause clinical death through shock, brute forcing the Furnace into activating and charging the Marine up.

===Tabletop Effect===
Most of the organs have no visible effect in the game, at least if the in-game rules are an indication; here are how the organs seemingly manifest (or not). For some reason, Space Marines aren't any faster at running than an unaugmented human and are slower than fast humans, such as Sisters of Silence. Most likely, this lack of impact is either for balance purposes or because it can't be properly represented using in-game means.

*Has an effect, at least in aggregate:
**Secondary Heart, Ossmodula, Biscopea, Haemastamen, Larraman's Organ, Multi-Lung, Oolitic Kidney, Mucranoid: +1 Strength and Toughness, relative to a normal human.
**Sinew Coils, Magnificat, Belisarean Furnace: +1 Attack, can only be wounded on a 4+ (1CP strat activation).
***Was also +1 Wound in 8th edition. As of 9th edition the Firstborn also get +1 Wound.
**Catalepsean Node + Hypnotherapy: And They Shall Know No Fear, +1 Ld.
**Progenoids: These are given as the reason an Apothecary loses his turn if he fails a resurrection roll, as he is busy collecting them.
*Effects limited to fluff:
**Occulobe: Mostly ignored; with or without his helmet on, most Space Marine's vision is never considered any better than an unaugmented humans, even when distance or lack of light are explicitly causing vision problems. It may however be a reason why some Space Wolves get the 'acute senses' rule.
**Lyman's Ear: Demonstrably ignored under the 8th edition rules; Space Marines behave exactly like unaugmented humans when exposed to sonic weaponry, when needing to notice things they can't see, or when in need of balance. In previous editions, this would presumably have contributed to a higher Initiative stat.
**Neuroglottis: As noted above with the Lyman's Ear, as this would predominantly serve to supplement that, given some tabletop rule for Space Marines actually having improved senses which only the Space Wolves have.
**Melanochrome: Demonstrably ignored; Space Marines respond to photonic radiation (usually provided by the Adeptus Mechanicus) exactly like unaugmented humans do.
**Black Carapace: Demonstrably ignored; many human factions have access to Power Armour, particularly Sisters of Battle, and none have ever been shown to be even slightly more encumbered by Power Armour than Space Marines are.
**Preomnor, Omophagea, Sus-an Membrane, Mucranoid, Betcher's Gland: These have no in-game effect, but would typically not be expected to, as a Space Marine with his suit on and participating in a battle would not have call to use them, although the Betcher's Gland could be implemented as a very, very short range weapon, in principle.
*Alternate Take: The Occulobe, Lyman's Ear, and Neuroglottis could grant the +1 Initiative marines enjoy(ed prior to 8th). The Melanchrome also likely adds to toughness.

== Gene-seed vs. Genetic Engineering ==

A lot of people (including, it must be admitted, Games Workshop itself) often think of gene-seed as a genetic modification program, but this is inaccurate. Gene-seed does fall under the blanket of [[Fleshcrafting|"bio-enhancement" or "bio-engineering"]]—that is, the augmentation of the physical form. However, gene-seed is based on the physical implantation of artificially designed and engineered organs, whereas genetic engineering would modify the DNA of the aspirants to naturally develop the various traits. In essence, Space Marines are what [[Rifts]] would call "bio-borgs": organisms biologically modified by artificial biological implants. Fleshy cyborgs, essentially. This is an important difference, as it allows the Space Marines to wriggle around that pesky "thou shalt not modify the holy human form" law of the Imperium. From a genetic standpoint, a Space Marine is probably closer to human than most [[abhuman]]s are, and so they fulfill the letter of the law (if not its spirit - but hey, the Emperor made the rules, so he can break them as much as he wants, 'cause he's the motherfucking Emperor). It also has the side effect of making sure that Astartes can't breed true-ish (assuming they can breed, a point GW can't ever make up their minds on, any children they had would be more likely compatible for geneseed than a baseline human but by themselves would not be space marines, just more likely to be able to be), and thus will always have to rely on baseline humanity rather than replace it, just in case they start getting too big for their transhuman britches.

*'''Note:''' Like Mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell), the implanted organs carry ''their own DNA'', cloned from the Primarchs, thus turning the marines into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(genetics)#Humans chimeric humans]. So yes indeed, bio-borgs, but ones that show characteristics of DNA foreign to the host's body. Example: is there a specific organ that gave Sigismund "a patrician face that echoed the same austere lines as his liege lord, Rogal Dorn"? Let us be reminded, Sig was terran, and Dorn grew up on another planet (he was made by the Emperor in a Petri dish, does that count as being born on Terra too?). Who knows what he looked like when he was mortal, he now looks like a son of Dorn. In fact, most Astartes end up looking similar to their parent Primarchs, like Horus "little Horus" Aximand looking like Horus "fucking Horus" Lupercal. Of course, this is because GW thinks it is bioengineering, but at least it's "Human Chimeras" instead of "Humans with [[Space Wolves|furry creatures]]", that'd be Heresy, right Emps?
**'''RIGHT'''
**As it happens, for Sigismund, the answer is yes—the Ossmodula would alter the shape of his skull, and the Biscopea the arrangement of his facial muscles—but the fact remains that GW routinely treats gene-seed as if it were gene therapy, rather than implants.
**This cloned DNA is also why every body freaks out over gene seed stocks from the fallen primarchs in case their geneseed has some flaw that increased its susceptibility to chaos.

== The Tithe and New Foundings ==

As part of the deal in Guilliman's [[Codex Astartes]], the Astartes were afforded almost complete autonomy from the [[Administratum]], which means they don't have to pay Imperial Taxes '''except''' for a tithe of 5% of their gene-seed which they must send to Mars.

This has a few important purposes:
# To monitor the genetic purity of the Space Marine Chapter as a whole and make certain a chapter is not suffering heretical mutations.
# To create new foundings of Space Marines whenever the High Lords of Terra deem it appropriate to do so.
# To act as an emergency reserve of gene-seed in the unlikely event that the Chapter's existing gene-seed stocks are lost or tainted.

Note that even though the Adeptus Mechanicum will have stockpiles of a chapter's genetic material, it is not frequently used as a contingency for a space marine chapter if things get a bit hairy. Several times in the fluff a Chapter has faced extinction due to high losses ''(see [[Black Consuls]], [[Celestial Lions]], [[Lamenters]], [[Marines Errant]], [[Scythes of the Emperor]] yadda yadda yadda)'' but they'd never thought to ask Mars for their gene-seed back. The only known instance of it happening is in the 8th Edition Death Guard Codex, where the [[Minotaurs]] were forced to undergo a mission to Mars when a Death Guard assault on their fortress-monastery resulted in the poisoning of their gene-seed stocks, but the Minotuars are basically the High Lords personal beat stick against other marines so perhaps this is special treatment.

It's also a bit uncertain how chapters with particularly negative defects manage to keep their genetic condition concealed, if the government has access to their core materials. [[Black Dragons|Some chapters]] get around it by sending only the "purest" gene-seed to Mars and so come out of the inspection smelling of roses, but when the condition is widespread (as it is with the [[Blood Angels]]) it probably only highlights how little the Mechanicus actually understand about the Emperor's work. (Things might perhaps change now that [[Belisarius Cawl|Cawl]] is back, though.)

It's also important to note that each chapter's gene-seed is kept in isolation. i.e: Just because a chapter claims ''descent'' from the [[Ultramarines]] does not actually make their gene-seed the same as their forefather. It's basic evolutionary biology that when a population splits and develops elsewhere it starts forming its own traits advantageous to its circumstances and environment. Hence the [[Mortifactors]] gene-seed will largely be very different from the [[Howling Griffons]], despite sharing a common ancestor. So rather than being genetic "brothers" as they would be ''within'' a chapter, different Space Marine chapters sharing a lineage would be more like nephews or cousins.

When the time comes around to found new chapters, the adepts will look for favourable traits that they want to replicate, although the Ultramarines are cited as being the most utilised source for new foundings, thus any new chapter of Ultramarine descendants would likely be second generation Ultramarines and be quite close to their forefather genetically at least until the chapter adapted to its founding homeworld or particular circumstances. But that doesn't prevent those descendants themselves from being used as templates in later foundings, so after several generations you could end up with something completely different from the original baseline stock.

== Mutation ==

As each new set of gene-seed comes from a Space Marine, requires many years to mature, and many more to be used, there is a lot of room for things to go wrong. This is especially true when desperate circumstances (the impending [[Great Crusade]], or a Chapter being dangerously under-strength) cause Space Marines to skimp on the safety checks and wait periods in order to accelerate Chapter growth. Over the millennia, many flaws have found their way into into the gene-seeds of each Legion, and some of their successors have even more - mutations typically get worse as you make copies of copies. Further mutations have been introduced, of course, in foundings featuring heavy tampering by the Adeptus Mechanicus (see the discussion of the 21st founding, below).
Also one should bear in mind that Legions and Primarchs were artificially engineered to fill different niches, so some of these might be not acquired mutations, but deliberately added quirks to better fit in their roles.
<div style="margin-left:1em;">
===No Known Mutations===
<div style="margin-left:1em;">
==== Dark Angels (I Legion) ====
{{Main|Dark Angels}}
No defects, unless you consider their <s>rampant paranoia and secrecy</s> STAUNCH LOYALTY AND HONOUR as such. Ties with Ultramarines for "most stable source", so the limited number of Dark Angels successors is usually put down as the [[Inquisition]]'s limited knowledge of the [[Fallen Angels]]. That and the fact that due to successor chapters often working with/take orders from the Dark Angels has lead to the Inquisition to fear the Angels and successors to be <s>"[[Astral Claws|legion building]]"</s> THE MOST LOYAL CHAPTERS DUE TO THE PURITY OF THEIR GENE SEED. Although that would be more credible if they had ever been anything less than a Legion.

==== Iron Hands (X Legion) ====
{{Main|Iron Hands}}
* ''No defects.''
* Noted predilection towards machinery and a disdain towards flesh.

And just to make sure, if there are any, they follow the Bible's advice on offending organs and replace them with holy machinery instead. Would probably be a very desirable source for new chapters if not for the absolute devastation they suffered in the [[Drop Site Massacre]] leaving them barely recovered millennia later and needing all the gene-seed they can get for themselves. Because, you know, even though there has been more than enough time for more than twenty other foundings of whole, brand new chapters, and some of those foundings likely making new foundings of their own, the Iron Hands still haven't had enough time. It also doesn't help how they tend to be total pricks at times. [[Nova Terra Interregnum|Or to have internal disagreements on policy so hard]] [[FAIL|'resolving' them]] [[Sons of Medusa|had Chapter-splitting consequences]]. which does not help building up Marines/gene-seed reserves, and gets you overlooked even more when the Mechanicus is deciding on whose reserves to use for the next Founding.

Alternate take: You need causalities that don't destroy the body entirely to harvest geneseed, or you need to implant it into clones, both of which are unlikely for a chapter that uses augmentations with power supplies that explode like melta bomb and that abhors even the organic parts of their own servitors. No new gene-seed, no new mutations.

==== World Eaters (XII Legion) ====
{{Main|World Eaters}}
I know what you're thinking, but it's caused by an additional cybernetic implant - the ''Butcher's Nails'' - rather than anything in the gene-seed itself. While not ''technically'' part of their gene-seed, it has been carried on as a tradition by all the "successors" that resulted from the Legion's fracturing after the [[Battle of Skalathrax]]. Hell, they were known to be total bros before all the trouble with nails. And now they are little more than [[Kharn|Teamkilling Fucktards]].

Khorne might have given them one blessing though, a sort of extra lives cheat code… But they are limited and are only earned by participating in the arenas.

==== Ultramarines (XIII Legion) ====
{{Main|Ultramarines}}
*''No official defects.'' Considered the most stable and preferred source of gene-seed for new Foundings. Possible predilection towards conformism and communitarianism.
**Due to a lack of any real interesting or identifying traits in and of itself, discussions for reclassifying the Ultramarine gene-seed from the most stable source to the most generic source were in the works. These talks were surreptitiously shut down by [[Who Watches Them|Inquisitor Warden]] for offending his sensibilities.
**Also worth noting is that the Ultramarines, in one of their bro-iest moves, "adopted" a fair number of loyalists from traitor legions after the heresy and are heavily implied to have taken in members of the two missing legions after whatever it was that got them disbanded. There is no real way of telling if an Ultramarines "successor" might be from the relatively stable stock of World Eaters or Iron Warriors. In most cases only a single high-ranking [[Belisarius Cawl|archmagos]] knows the truth, so even the chapter itself (except possibly the command and the eldest brothers) is in the dark about its history.

==== Death Guard (XIV Legion) ====
{{Main|Death Guard}}
*Emphasis here is on ''known'' mutations - there's no actual evidence of Death Guard gene-seed having any problems at all, because we've never gotten any fluff covering any attempts to use the gene-seed from a Death Guard, even though one would assume that by now they'd have the most fucked up Progenoids of any Legion.

During the [[Great Crusade]], the Death Guard had a much stronger constitution than most Legions, leading to their role as the toxic environment specialists. Post-heresy, however, the Death Guard are so diseased that implanting Aspirants seems more or less impossible - however, there have been new Death Guard legionaries who are not defectors from other Legions or renegade Chapters, apparently made with the gene-seed reclaimed by the [[Plague Surgeon]]s. How it functions still, no one knows, though we suspect it has more to do with [[Nurgle]] infectiousness than with the progenoids themselves.

The most overwhelmingly likely explanation is, however, the Death Guard simply jacking loyalist gene-seed from fallen loyalist astartes and loyalist gene-seed stockpiles and using it to create new recruits, as '''every single Traitor Legion with tainted, unusable geneseed does this.''' As per LoS, appears to be a mixture of both, likely depending individually on each Death Guard members level of disease and mutation, supplemented by stolen and possibly altered loyalist gene-seed (see Plague Surgeon).

==== Alpha Legion (XX Legion) ====
{{Main|Alpha Legion}}
<s>No such Legion exists, therefore no such gene-seed exists.</s>
*Were you really expecting ''known'' mutations, or anything else, from this Legion???

In all seriousness; like much of the Alpha Legion, we don't know all that much about their gene-seed. Whatever idiosyncrasies or flaws they have are kept under very tight lock and key. And with their nature of running as individual operatives in and out of the [[Eye of Terror]], to what degree their gene-seed is tainted by the Warp or other means varies from Marine to Marine. Though their knack for secrecy, paranoia, and tendency to subvert the enemy instead of direct combat is probably a notable trait. Outside of occasional Warp-corruption, we ''assume'' it's possibly one of the most stable gene-seeds, probably as much as the Imperial Fists or Night Lords. Something of note; they often use any mutations that they have as a scare tactic, hiding them and then revealing them on the battlefield in order to shock the opponent.
They also use hypnosis and deep-indoctrination more than other chapters, so they may have an altered sus-an and/or catelapsean.
Sometimes it's implied they all look alike (like Alpharius) but sometimes this is said to be due to ''surgical'' alterations, but it could be that the gene-seed does more to alter their appearance than normal, like the Sons of Horus and this is further supplemented by surgery. It's also said that some Alpha Legionnaires tended to be noticeably taller than most Space Marines, large enough to pose as either [[Alpharius]] or [[Omegon]]. This, combined with their unusually short Primarchs and their tendency to look alike, seems to suggest that this was intentional, either by the Legion themselves picking only notably large aspirants or by the Emperor fully leaning into the Legion's whole "smoke and mirrors" theme.

===Minor Mutations===
These chapters may have cosmetic or easily-fixed mutations.

==== Emperor's Children (III Legion) ====
{{Main|Emperor's Children}}
* Implicitly defective and/or enhanced Lyman's Ear, and possibly Occulobe and Neuroglottis.
** An accident (non Chaos or other enemy action related) during the early days of the raising the Legions resulted in only two hundred Space Marines of the III Legion by the time the Emperor found [[Fulgrim]] and Chemos, forcing the Emperor's Children to work alongside the [[Black Legion|Luna Wolves]] for the early decades of the [[Great Crusade]]; due to Fulgrim's high standards of perfection being passed on the Legion's [[Apothecary|apothecaries]], Emperor's Children Aspirants had to be nothing less than physically perfect, resulting a largely stable gene-seed, including forbidding psykers to join the ranks. By the 41st millennium, however, the Emperor's Children's gene-seed is fucked up beyond all reason. Millennia of drugs from both inside and outside the Warp have damaged it greatly. While the relatively few sane [[tech-priests]] left and [[Dark Mechanicus]] working with them can and do make new Marines (thus proving their Marines can and do make new gene-seed), the chemical and other material abuse render each generation even crazier. Even before the Heresy, they were more sensitive to external stimuli, like sound, implying a defective Lyman's Ear with reduced ability to filter out sounds the Marine doesn't want to hear, and potentially similarly defective Occulobe and Neuroglottis.
*Initial batches of gene-seed were defective, carrying an infectious a super-cancer/progeria creatively called "The Blight" it also caused the entire legion's gene-seed stock on Terra to rot into useless sludge. Thankfully after Fulgrim's return the rotten batches were discontinued and replaced with fresh clean gene-seed preventing it from becoming a permanent feature of the legion. The Blight may be more of a [[Nurgle|spiritual]] infection because even after dying and having his soul swapped into new bodies Fabius Bile still suffers from all the symptoms.

==== Iron Warriors (IV Legion) ====
{{Main|Iron Warriors}}
* Implicitly defective Ossmodula
* Implicitly enhanced Progenoids:
** They have the lowest gene-seed rejection rate, which enables them to replenish their huge number of casualties with an even higher number of recruits.
** Minor Ossmodula mutation ''sometimes'' causes limbs to twist and deform as the marine grows really old (we're talking hundreds of years to millennia) - this is usually dealt with by replacing limbs with bionics, or cutting them off and placing the cripple into a Dreadnought, Helbrute, or some weird custom made dreadnought-esque walker, since due to their specialty and organization only high-ranking officers can survive for so long, and they surely ain't going to suffer from the "Crazed" rule.
** Below average resistance rate to Bionics.

Especially noteworthy for the Iron Warriors considering they reside in the Eye Of Terror, there has been little mutation in their gene-seed as well. Those that do suffer mutation simply replace their mutated limbs with cybernetics. However, there may be some unknown issue which caused them to be afflicted with the [[Obliterators|Obliterator Virus]] (or was it they who made it? It's been confirmed Perturabo and Mortarion worked together on the obliterator virus) More easily - the first ones originated from them.

However, this is rendered null by the fact they are the [[/d/|sick]] [[Honsou|fucks]] behind the [[Daemonculaba]]. Due to its nature, the women themselves may have the gene-seed organs implanted (among other things), or at least the DNA required to be able to quickly grow the organs into a child stuck in their wombs. While the poor, innocent, scared kid inside can become a skinless abomination/mutant, they will normally emerge a genetically stable, gene-seed uncorrupted [[grimdark|skinless adult SPHESS MAHREEN with the mind of that same scared child]]. Suffice to say, this is a sick way of getting to [[Female Space Marines|FEMALE SPHESS MAHREENS]], and is [[Extra Heresy|DOUBLE HERESY]].

==== Luna Wolves/Sons of Horus (XVI Legion) ====
{{Main|Black Legion}}
* Implicitly defective Ossmodula, causing increased cosmetic similarity to their Primarch.
* Implicitly defective Biscopea, causing increased cosmetic similarity to their Primarch.

No real defects, but the tendency for members to look more like their [[Horus|Primarch]] is more pronounced (and possibly more frequent) than it is for members of other legions to resemble their own respective Primarchs. [[Horus Aximand|"Little Horus" Aximand]] was the most notable example of this, but by no means the only one. This gives extra meaning to the "Sons of Horus" thing. In fact, before the Luna Wolves were renamed the Sons of Horus, Luna Wolves that resembled Horus in appearance were known as "Sons of Horus". Ten thousand years in the Eye of Terror has left the Legion's gene-seed more unstable. However, we do know that new Black Legionaries are inducted constantly (seeing as they are the primary generic Chaos Space Marines faction), so its a good bet a large part of theirs is still usable [[grimdark|and that generations of children for millennia to come will be torn away from their parents and families, unfortunate enough to live in the Eye Of Terror, to be inducted into the Legion.]] Furthermore, given that they frequently "recruit" from other chapters and legions with the only real requirement being loyalty to [[Abbadon]], it's not always easy to tell which Black Legionnaires are descended from Horus and which are from other Primarchs, outside of the aforementioned lookalike business.

==== Word Bearers (XVII Legion) ====
{{Main|Word Bearers}}
* Implicitly defective Catalepsian Node.

The Word Bearers suffer a unique "quirk" in their gene-seed, resulting in a psychologically obsessive loyalty to something, be it a man, a religion, or even an ideal. The Word Bearers in turn thus have a much stronger sense of loyalty to their battle-brothers and Primarch than other Chaos Space Marines, helping them to maintain cohesion and avoid treachery, but this loyalty also borders on fanaticism. Otherwise, while given to some instabilities, they have been able to maintain strength.

It has been suggested that Word Bearers have an extraordinary amount of control, both mentally and physically, far more so than normal Astartes. It's been show in their ability to directly control the processes of their internal organs and is attributed as the reason why Word Bearer Diabolists are fairing so well against the Neverborn.

==== Salamanders (XVIII Legion) ====
{{Main|Salamanders}}
* Unique Melanchromic Organ, causing their skin to turn pitch black (so much so that it looks genuinely unnatural) instead of waiting for radiation to happen to fix it.
* Unique Occulobe, causing limited ability to see infrared emissions, referred to as "fire-sight". While not as potent as what an Auspex scanner would be capable of, it can be combined with specialized materials within armor and standards to produce decorations and tactical markings that only the Salamanders can see. This also gives them glowing red eyes, Which makes sense.
* Possibly altered Mucranoid - high degree of heat resistance.
* Possibly altered Biscopea or Lyman's Ear - tend to be somewhat slower moving than other marines, although sometimes it's blamed on the somewhat high gravity on Nocturne or the unusually methodical mindset of it's inhabitants, since they can still run at the same level as any other chapter. (Way back when, they had -1 Initiative.)

While slightly dysfunctional, their gene-seed is pretty stable. Would probably be, like the [[Iron Hands]], a common source of new chapters if not for, again, their extreme decimation during the [[Drop Site Massacre]]. They've since recovered, perhaps a little quicker than the Iron Hands (possibly due to being a little closer to the center and being able to evacuate more marines, As well as still having their Primarch at the time), and while they claimed no official kinship with any successors before the Ultima Founding, there are at least a couple of examples with similar unit markings and tactical dogma.

===Major Mutations===
These Chapters feature at least one problem as least as bad as missing an entire organ, scaling up to the worst issue, where they go World Eaters-level crazy without needing any implants to get there (Blood Angels and Space Wolves).

==== White Scars (V Legion) ====
{{Main|White Scars}}
* Tendency to do whatever they fancy.
* Unrestrained love towards doing [[PROMOTIONS|strange things]] to engines buffing their bikes and battleships to ride into battle while riding into battle.
* A defect called "Chogorian Savagery". Basically it's diet Black Rage, born from when Mortarion almost killed their primarch during the Siege of Terra. This flaw appears in 2 stages:
** Stage 1 - A Moment Unrestrained: The Battle-Brother starts [[RAGE|flipping out mid-battle]] for brief periods, often without realising he's doing so until one of his brothers tells him to take a chill pill.
** Stage 2 - Suppressed Rage: The Battle-Brother becomes extremely prone to outbursts of temper and quick to anger.

===== Mantis Warriors =====
{{Main|Mantis Warriors}}
* Possibly Melanchromic Organ as all have green eyes and black hair of their Primarch.
* Malfunctioning Preomnor gland (possible explaining the cause of the gene-flaw of the other White Scars chapters)

Their mutation called "Battle Haze" causes their Preomnor gland to secrete a potent neuro-toxin that permanently changes the Astartes' physiology; the Space Marine is overcome by a feeling of the need for forgiveness for his many sins and shortcomings and a dramatically increased reverence for the Emperor; and increases his neurological reaction rate to that only achieved in near-precognitive states by most psykers and increases his already superhuman strength to a great extent. However, this physiological change is irreversible and the Astartes' sight becomes tunnelised to the point of no longer being able to notice anything in his field of view that is not a target or a foe. Much like the [[Death Company]] of the Blood Angels, the Mantis Warriors organize Battle-Brothers who have been lost to the Battle Haze into specialized units called "Mantis Religiosa".

===== Destroyers =====
{{Main|Destroyers}}
* "Chogorian Savagery" turned up to 11. To the point even other White Scars question the stability of the Destroyer's geneseed. More evidence that the flaw stems for the gene-seed of the White Scars, and not from what population they are pulled from. Probably at least a bit psychological and genetic memory related, what with the most psychotic Scars forming this Chapter in the Second Founding.

==== Imperial Fists (VII Legion) ====
{{Main|Imperial Fists}}
* Missing Betcher's Gland (no acid spit).
* Missing Sus-an Membrane (no suspended animation).
* Possibly increased pain tolerance and/or a tendency towards masochism.

Despite missing two organs, the Imperial Fists gene-seed is considered to be amongst the most stable and most manly sources. It is the second most desirable source of gene-seed for Foundings. ''Second'' to the Ultramarines, of course. The Fists however, display a constant need to punish themselves for perceived failures, both real and imagined. While this is barely noticable in the primogenitor chapter, several successors manifest more pronounced versions of this flaw.

Missing Sus-an Membrane is also a big deal, as it removes a "safety net" most other chapters have, and most times when Imperial Fist "falls in battle" he actually dies for good instead of passing into coma from which he could be brought back later if marines win the engagement and recover his body. That's why Imperial Fists and all their successor chapters need multiple recruiting worlds. Silver lining though is that sons of Dorn don't run the risk of being captured by Chaos and brainwashed if they fall in battle and their body is then recovered by forces of Chaos instead of allies.

* Complicated by the [[War of the Beast]], in which the Imperial Fists were ''literally wiped out to the last man.'' In the aftermath, their successors got together to donate gene-seed to reconstitute the chapter, making their post-Beast gene-seed a chimeric melting pot of separate mutations and oddities. Additionally, it's not confirmed whether the mechanicus were holding and offered stocks of original, untainted gene-seed as part of this process. Even [[Primaris Marines|Primaris]] marines who were made with the original stuff (and in some cases are original legionaries) may be different as it's not clear what effect Primarisification has on the gene-seed or if it's possible to make firstborn from it. In short; the Imperial Fists gene-seed may be unique among loyalist chapters in that it [[Grimdark|simply no longer actually exists.]]
** Except, hilariously, in some [[Iron Warriors]], who take a particular spiteful delight in [[Blood Ravens|stealing]] their arch-nemeses' progenoids.

===== The Excoriators =====
* A mutation with some similarities to the Blood Angel's Black Rage, known as "Dorn's Darkness.". Those affected enter a dream-like state in which they relive the bottomless woe and paralyzing fear of Dorn's darkest moment: the moment he saw the Emperor near death after the battle aboard the ''Vengeful Spirit''. They can't care for themselves while in this state, and don't recognise anything happening around them.
** Basically, if the Black Rage is unbridled [[RAGE]] unbound, Dorn's Darkness is crippling, ruinous depression.

===== Crimson Fists =====
* A mutation similar to Dorn's Darkness, known as "Only Honour In Death". The "curse" causes a massively increased willingness to fight to the last, holding their ground with a siege-like mentality which will see them triumph or die in the attempt the more foes that the Astartes faces, and the longer they are in combat, the more likely and stronger the curse becomes, making them feel emotions much like what Dorn felt during the [[Perturabo#Iron_Cage_Trolling|Iron Cage Incident]]. When succumbing to the "curse" the affected Battle-Brother sees only death: the death of their comrades, the death of the world, and the death of their foes. The curse is seen to come in three stages:
** Stage 1 - No Retreat. As the odds mount so does the Battle-Brother's stubborn refusal to retreat, seeing only the glory and honour in defeating such overwhelming foes if even the barest glimmer of victory remains. The Battle-Brother will even continue to fight, even if the Codex Astartes does not support that action, until there is no hope of victory left.
** Stage 2 - Suffer not Defeat. The Battle-Brother decides [[Red Scorpions|he'd rather die fighting than take a step back or listen to reason]], even when there's little reason to do so.
** Stage 3 - Unto Death. [[Blackshield|The Battle-Brother becomes hell-bent on sacrificing himself for victory or the safety of his brothers, regardless of how badly hurt he is.]] He'll happily accept suicide missions or near-enough suicidal tasks. Essentially Black Rage 2: Fists Boogaloo.

==== Space Wolves (VI Legion) ====
{{Main|Space Wolves}}
They actually have two different implanted DNA sources: the second is the Canis Helix, which makes them viking werewolves (long canines, tough skin, awesome sense of smell, animalistic [[RAEG]] in combat) or, if one is really unfortunate, into a giant [[Furry|wolf]] ([[Thunderwolf Cavalry|the ones they ride at that]]), and their super-unstable geneseed, which can't function without pre-implanted Canis Helix and has been found to be incompatible with any populace outside of Fenris. For the most part, they get around this by just founding tons and tons more Space Wolves than the [[Codex Astartes]] would normally permit, meaning that they ''still'' tend to have tons of chapters' worth of marines on call. Of particular note are the [[Wulfen]], who are Space Wolves who happened to be in the Warp for over ten thousand years. Instead of being mutated into [[Chaos Spawn|unmentionable gribbly beasts]], they managed to turn into literal werewolves with savage strength, meaning there's a possibility the gene-seed has a factor that lets them resist the influence of Chaos.

While many factions within the chapter are proud of how "potent" their gene-seed is, plenty of Space Wolves have constantly labored to stabilize their genome in order to found successors to cordon off the [[Eye of Terror]], and crusade against the [[Thousand Sons]], a plan called "the Sons of Russ." Once, [[Wolf Brothers|they got really close]], which [[Magnus the Red]] didn't like, so he took his Marines and bumped off the Wolf Priest in charge (and generally wrecked things for the Space Wolves), using some [[Tzeentch|Tzeentchian]] trickery to get an opening. In short, he [[gets shit done|got shit done!]].

===== Wolf Brothers =====
{{Main|Wolf Brothers}}
See Space Wolves above turned up to 11. As in the entire chapter devolved into werewolves.

==== Night Lords (VIII Legion) ====
{{Main|Night Lords}}
* Defective Occulobe (causing them to have black irises & sclera, enhanced night vision but more sensitive to bright light.)
* Malfunctioning Melanchromic Organ (their skin is always pale and their eyes are always dark. Much like the Raven Guards.)
* Occasional visions of the [[grimdark]] future, even if not a psyker.
The Night Lords are officially the most stable of the Traitor Legions, a trait often put down to the fact that they rarely dwell in the [[Eye of Terror]]. That, and they don't even like Chaos or the gods. What little mutations there are are usually upon their Sorcerers...what ones have survived do not have them anymore either. There is one defect on Curze's Geneseed, and that is the Occulobe defect, causing them to have black irises & sclera, and astonishing sight in the dark, even more than a normal space marine. Although, there is a bad side of this effect: Light hurts their eyes like hell, and blinds them for a short time. Also, Curze's gene-seed may have passed onto psykers within his Legion his "gift" of seeing the future in the worst way possible, and as scenarios that become self-fulfilling prophecies. In one case, it was found out that the Primarch's "gift" was actually the side effect of a marine's body slowly rejecting the gene-seed. Prior to receiving this gift, he never demonstrated '''any''' psychic capability. Even so, this situation is rare.

==== Blood Angels (IX Legion) ====
{{Main|Blood Angels}}
* Malfunctioning Omophagea implant (Occasional bouts of temporary [[Rip and tear|bloodthirsty, genocidal rage]], otherwise known as the [[Red Thirst]].)
** Occasional bouts of ''permanent'', [[Rip and tear|bloodthirsty, hallucinatory, genocidal rage]], better known as the [[Black Rage]].
* Extreme longevity.
* Can turn even mutants to Astartes, extremely adaptable.
Stable, but flawed. Prior to the [[Horus Heresy]], [[Sanguinius]] discovered that some of his sons were beginning to suffer the [[Red Thirst]], where they would descend into a thirst for blood, whether [[human]] or [[xenos]], in a blind rage. If that wasn't bad enough, as a result of Sanguinius's death at the hands of [[Horus]] imprinting itself on their genetic memory (or something), all Blood Angels and their successors have the [[Black Rage]]; a berserk rage where they [[Derp|believe themselves to be Sanguinius during his final battle]]. Meaning that Fucking Horus quite literally hit Sanguinius so hard that his grandchildren's-grandchildren's-ad-infinitum-children still feel it. Notable due to the age of the flaw it means that it does not register on genetic purity test since, as a first founding legion, any additional geneseed would be compared to an already 'tainted' baseline.

===== Angels Encarmine =====
* See the Blood Angels above, but with the Black Rage turned up to 10

===== Flesh Tearers =====
* See the Blood Angels above, but with the Black Rage turned up to 11.
* Also Red Thirst turned up to 10.

===== Knights of Blood =====
* See the Blood Angels above, but with the Black Rage and Red Thirst turned up to 12 (and the dial snapped off).
** It got so bad that they were declared renegade and not refounded after they sacrificed themselves to save the Flesh Tearers at Baal.

===== Blood Drinkers =====
* Malfunctioning Mucranoid (skin glands atrophy, causing the pores to close. Named the "Weaver" by the Blood Drinkers)
* See the Blood Angels above, but with the Red Thirst turned up to 10. Due to further mutation of the Omophagae implant.
* Black Rage turned down a notch, but this isn't genetic. The entire Chaplaincy is in on a Daemonic pact to reduce its impact.

===== Lamenters =====
* All the problems of Blood Angels (tho it took them longer to show).
* Being overly emotional sad sacks, but this is as justified as it gets because...
* Unlucky as all fucking hell. Best way to describe it is fate itself is just constantly giving them the middle finger. This might have something to do with them coming out of the Cursed 21st Founding.

==== Thousand Sons (XV Legion) ====
{{Main|Thousand Sons}}
* Increased chance of bringing out psychic powers, as well as amplified psychic power.
* Recipients subject to a high rate of mutation, called The Flesh Change; unstable.
The most unstable genome in the Space Marine legions, the Thousand Sons suffer from the Flesh-Change, a problem that caused Thousand Sons to mutate spontaneously. [[Magnus the Red]] fixed it, with some "[[Just as Planned|help]]" from [[Tzeentch]]. After the [[Horus Heresy]], the flesh-change came back with a vengeance. [[Ahzek Ahriman]] tried to fix it with his Rubric, and he did end up stopping the flesh-change... by turning all non-[[psyker]] Thousand Sons into dust; sorcerers also had their powers enhanced in addition to no longer suffering ill-effects from the Flesh-Change. So while theoretically, the Sorcerers of the long suffering Legion can provide gene-seed, in practice, it's corrupted so often that few will ever make new Marines. Thousand Sons specifically hunt for healthy and stable psyker boys to implant them with their oh-so-rare gene-seed to ensure the recipient would become a sorcerer. If "Masters, bidding!" TS character words to be trusted, Thousands Sons found a way to implant their progenoids into grown up men (so they can teach and test them for longer before implantation), and perform a scaled down Rubric on them to prevent the Flesh Change. According to Phil Kelly they also replenish their numbers by summoning back souls of destroyed Rubrics, and Magnus supposedly can bring back Sorcerers he isn't pissed off at, so gene-seed wouldn't matter much to them. It is known that Magnus the Red used his knowledge of Biomancy to turn his mentor Amon into an Astartes despite his old age, so its possible this technique was passed down to his Legion.

==== Raven Guard (XIX Legion) ====
{{Main|Raven Guard}}
* Malfunctioning Melanchromic Organ (their skin is always pale and their eyes are always dark. Anti-Salamanders, basically.)
* Missing Mucranoid (no super-sweat).
* Missing Betcher's Gland (no acid spit).
* Occasional bouts of suicidal rage (Luckily for them this is not permanent unlike a certain other chapter.)
While their primary gene-seed is decently stable, when under extreme stress a percentage Raven Guard warriors will lapse into bouts of suicidal rage known as Ash Blindness or Sable Brand. This is rarely permanent, but occurred with enough frequency that [[Corax]] would organize these warriors into the [[Moritat]]. Their missing and malfunctioning geneseed organs is a result of [[Corax]], out of desperation following the [[Drop Site Massacre]], delving into use of forbidden lore and archeo-tech from days long past to accelerate gene-seed maturation, and try to boost his Legion's numbers after their losses during the [[Horus Heresy]]. He was successful, until the [[Alpha Legion]] decided to make the whole project go FUBAR. The subsequent 'Marines', if they can be called that, were numerous, but were barely controllable monsters and/or would simply die off as a result of the extreme imbalances in their dispositions. Presumably, a few of them would even have functioning Progenoids, let alone usable gene-seed. Due to the law of averages though, at least a FEW would have had to been stable enough, and is being worked on secretly by the Raven Guard Apothecaries and associated [[Adeptus Mechanicus|Mechanicus]] Biologicans.

Otherwise, despite being pretty fucked up by the [[Drop Site Massacre]], they've mostly recovered (thanks in no small part to having the ''only'' loyalist Primarch to get away from the Massacre in one piece) and do still contribute to successors [[Death Spectres|here]] and [[Raptors (Chapter)|there]].

===== Raptors =====
* Same as the Raven Guard, except they have functional Bletchers Glands (making them more like [[Night Lords|another black-eyed / pale skinned gene-line]]).

===== Death Spectres =====
* Similar Melanchromic Organ as Raven Guard, though a specific shade of albino and their eyes universally glowing red (basically albino Salamanders).
** also gives them a 100% certain chance of alopecia. (They are genetically bald From the day they were born till the day they die)

==== Marines Errant (Ultramarines Successors) ====
* Suffer a psychological flaw called "Crusaders Call", which makes them unable to refuse the call for a crusade. This flaw manifests in three stages:
** Stage 1 - Unending Valour: The Battle-Brother has become filled with pride in the history of his Chapter's bravery and devotion and sees his own existence as a vital part of continuing its traditions. When his squad is required to do its duty he will make sure that it is carried out, squashing any doubt his fellow Battle-Brothers might have or any weakness they might show in the face of honour.
** Stage 2 - Duty through Sacrifice: True duty can only be proven in death or an equally potent sacrifice, a fact which is known to all true servants of the God-Emperor. The Battle-Brother knows that to prove himself he must be the one to stand in the way of the blade or shield his comrades from the blast, so that there can be no doubt about his devotion or his loyalty to the Emperor.
** Stage 3 - Lead the Charge: In boarding actions, the greatest honour goes to those first through the breech and first to face the foe. The Battle-Brother accepts that he must take this role as his honour demands it, and it is just another way to prove his courage and loyalty in the eyes of his peers. If there is a choice or a chance to lead a charge or be the first to face the enemy, the Battle-Brother must take it. Furthermore he will seek out such opportunities, volunteering for dangerous duties if they mean he will get to lead others into the fray. In combat, the Battle-Brother will also seek out the most dangerous or powerful-looking foes, even at the cost of ignoring closer or more pressing enemies to his brethren's tactical disadvantage.

It is unclear if these are actually geneseed flaws or cultural issues ascribed to geneseed.

==== Soul Drinkers ====
* Enhanced Omophagea organ (In addition to gaining the consumed creature's memories, the Soul Drinkers could also experience the creature's emotions during the events recorded in their memories as a result of their mutation). This is despite being a 2nd Founding chapter, such that their gene-seed shouldn't have had flaws like that. And the gene-seed was enhanced, not degraded....

==== Blood Ravens ====
{{Main|Blood Ravens}}
* A mutated Catalepsean Node - gives them perfect memory recall, but unable to enter REM (deep) sleep.
* Increased chance of bringing out and enhancing psychic powers.
* Small tendency towards mutations (hurr sounds like [[Thousand Sons|any other Legions]] we know of?).
* Horrendously massive tendency to develop kleptomania.
* The pores in their scalps secrete a substance not all too dissimilar to hair gel, often resulting in a higher tendency to develop hair-etical hair compared to other chapters.
** Alternatively, the pores on their scalps may prevent hair from growing altogether, giving the marine Astartes-pattern baldness. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZfvIg_M5yE It has been long thought to be a terrible weapon to behold.]
* Unknown mutation referred to as "unavailable voice actor syndrome" that results in their voices changing every few years.

==== Carcharadons ====
* Malfunctioning Melanchromic Organ (pale skin and black eyes like the Night Lords and Raven Guard)
* Mental deterioration called "Chill of the Void". This deterioration proceeds like a mini-version of what Konrad Curze went through as he became the Night Haunter. This deterioration occurs in three stages:
** Stage 1 - Coldly Formal: The Battle-Brother withdraws even more from the company of his colleagues, taking refuge in a chill and formal demeanour. In addition, the Battle-Brother tends to speak almost entirely in High Gothic when addressing a non-Carcharodon, although they can speak in Low Gothic if need be (but they really do not want to).
** Stage 2 - Merciless: The Battle-Brother does not tolerate any enemy, whether xenos, Heretic, or even fellow humans who may have been misled into rebellion against the Imperium's rightful rule. The Battle-Brother grimly executes any opponent he encounters, even if they have surrendered, possess valuable intelligence, or are not front-line combatants.
** Stage 3 - Silent as the Depths: The Battle-Brother withdraws almost entirely from interacting with others. He will not lead squads and will almost always carry out missions on his own.

==== Black Dragons ====
* Extreme Ossmodula defect. causes them to grow bone spikes all over. Including full on Wolverine type claws from their arms.
* Moderate Betcher’s Gland defect. Their mouths, both inside and lips, are usually black in colouration. So too, their tongues, which taper to a sharp point like a dagger.
Also causes purple venom to be secreted from their teeth (which resemble fangs) and their tongue.

==== Flame Falcons ====
* Spontaneous combustion into warp fire.
* Increased abilities from said spontaneous combustion instead of horribly burning to death.

==== Minotaurs (21st Cursed Founding-type) ====
* '''ABSOLUTELY BATSHIT GOD DAMN ASSFUCK INSANE'''

These guys had....problems....big problems. They'd basically wipe their asses with any battle plans made by other Imperial forces, before bee lining it to the nearest horde of enemies (not bothering with any of that pussy shit like "recon", "intel", or "even bothering to look out the window at the enemy") and rushing into melee ranges to [[RIP AND TEAR]]. But, this doesn't apply to the original and current units. You see, the Minotaurs chapter have a good chance of actually being a cover to get a loyalist (they had missed out on the Heresy entirely due to their distant posting and spent the interim years unaware of the situation holding the frontier) Iron Warrior garrison unit rediscovered in the [[Great Scouring]] legitimized by the [[High Lords of Terra]]. See their article ([[Minotaurs]]) or the [[Traitor Legion Loyalists]] article for further details.

==== Sons of Antaeus ====
* Unknown mutation that makes them exceptionally durable and tough. To the point of easily being a match for the Death Guard (who are boosted by Chaos energies).

==== Storm Giants ====
* Unusually physically strong, even by Astartes standards. Speculated to be from a mutation or alteration in their Biscopea.

=== A Note On That Sick Fuck Fabius Bile ===

[[Fabius Bile]] is fucking insane. I mean shit, his labcoat is made of <strike>human</strike> ASTARTES skin - normally only [[Space Wolves]] and [[Night Lords]] wear clothing made of that stuff. While originally the Chief Apothecary of the Emperor's Children, he is now a freelancer. His goal even before the Heresy was to find and unlock the secret to the creation of the Space Marines. In the [[Warp]], he provides a valuable service to the Chaos Legion warbands and their auxiliaries of billions more regular Chaos humans - while often millions strong even now, the warbands still need to replenish their numbers. Considering how many die and how often they are away from any place where they can produce more, that's a lot. Even with slave raiding into the Imperium, child abduction both in and out, breeding centers (stop touching yourself), and many [[Daemonculaba|other creative ideas]], it's still not enough. Fabius provides services of human cloning, along with gene-seed production, among his many skills. As he is not a super-devotee of Chaos, the gene-seed he has and makes is some of the least corrupted found within the [[Eye Of Terror]]. Of course, he fucks this all up by hopping up his own warband's clones with the same psycho drugs and shit that make monsters out of men. Lore hints that his genetic tinkering is far more than we have been lead to believe - much of his 'changes' to even the standard human genome are genetic and now passable by both men and [[Female Space Marines|women]]. Even now, the Imperium is trying to hunt and eradicate what they call his '[[Twilight|New Men]]'. He also has access to a small quantity of what is alleged to be the blood of the Primarch Sanguinius. Why did he get that last part? To clone the Emperor. Never let it be said that this fuck, sick as he may be, lacks ambition.
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===21st Founding ===
{{Main|21st Founding}}
Over the millennia, further mutations have afflicted the many Successor Chapters, but the 21st or "Cursed" Founding deserves a special mention, because a bunch of [[Adeptus Mechanicus|tech-priests]] decided that they wanted to try and fix the flaws, but failed so hard they actually created some new ones.

* Bursting into Flames: Yes, the [[Flame Falcons]] really were covered in fire. The Flame Falcons thought it was a blessing from the [[God-Emperor of Mankind]], but the [[Inquisition]] disagreed, and sent the [[Grey Knights]] to wipe them out.
* Bone Growths: Due to a malfunctioning Ossmudula, the [[Black Dragons]] suffer a bone solid growth to harden and extend from their forehead and forearms during times of stress. The ones on the forearm can be used as weapons against unarmored opponents, so they decided to coat them in adamantium. So in essence, they're space-Wolverine-after-the-bone-claws kind of guys. Issue is that this is a very visible mutation, and as this is the [[Grimdark|grim]][[Derp|derp]] Imperium, mutations from the sacred human form are EVUL, even if they are fucking awesome.
* Indestructibility: The [[Sons of Antaeus]] are much tougher than normal marines, and nobody knows why. Some speculate something about a super-reinforced skeleton, some say it's [[Nurgle]]'s doing, etc. The only real truth to it is that there's some sort of mutation present in the gene-seed.
* Bad Luck: The [[Lamenters]] chapter's modifications seemed to have fixed the Red Thirst and Black Rage, but as a trade off they seem to be cursed with some of the worst possible luck, essentially giving up the Khornate Curse for a Tzeentchian one. Many other chapters of the 21st Founding were also cursed with bad luck but the Lamenters are the only known ones that didn't get wiped out by it so that may say something about how badass they are.

=== A Note On Implant Organs/DNA Elsewhere ===

While the SPHESS MAHREENS are the most widespread users of artificial glands, organs, and such, they are not the only ones. [[Inquisitor]]s likely have access to organs or other artificial mutations they require thanks to their influence in the Imperium. Depending on what world they hail from and its beliefs, Imperial Guard regiments and PDF may also have artificial organs, or even whole new ones derived from millennia of mutations, which of course has certain advantages. Furthermore, Warp Exposure can result in a change of the functions of organs - a simple example of this is the [[Cadia]]ns, who nearly universally have powerful, violet colored eyes. [[Gland War Veteran|Gland Warriors]] were an [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] project to help legions of Guardsmen heading into battle against a [[Tyranid]] hive fleet. They were to do battle in an incredibly toxic and hard environment, and a variety of experimental organs and DNA strands were utilized - including organs that would secrete stims, painkillers, and various medical drugs, more powerful natural air filters, and the like. While only [[grimdark|three survived]] the whole campaign in the end, the AdMech was pleased and took the three to be debriefed.

It is also noted that Gene-seed can be decoded, but it requires eons of knowledge about biology, medicine, and so on. Only the Emperor or AdMech, with their advanced equipment, is able to do so (and even the AdMech couldn't fully work it out). The hard part is to decode the "impossibly complex" amino acid chains of the gene-seed (which FYI makes no sense, since DNA is encoded in nucleic acid base pairs, and amino acids are used to construct proteins but whatever) and extract the necessary information encoded within the Gland's stored zygotes. [[Thunder_Warriors|Arik Taranis]] was able to decode it in a dusty, old, half-broken lab—with a box of scraps—using the knowledge gleaned by just watching the Emperor work, and remade it to fit in his Thunder Warrior body.

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Space Marines]]

Gene-seed

2023-06-06T20:54:20Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

In [[Warhammer 40,000]], [[humans]] are transformed into [[Space Marines]] by, among other things, implanting them with a series of 19 organs that dramatically alter and enhance their biology. The organs' DNA strings, from which they are vat-grown, are collectively known as "gene-seed." Go ahead, make your immature jokes.

== Origins ==

Gene-seed is a vital part of the [[Space Marine]] program, and is as old as the Astartes themselves. When the [[God-Emperor of Mankind]] was still conquering [[Terra]], many of the techno-barbarians' armies had augmented human warriors. The Emperor then realized that he would need vast armies of super-soldiers for his coming [[Great Crusade]], so he embarked on a project to create a mass-producible means of enhancing humans. This project resulted in the twenty [[Primarchs]], and from their genes, he created the gene-seed organs to be implanted into each Space Marine. These organs are usually produced in vats from extracted progenoids but [[Daemonculaba|other methods]] can be used in a pinch, and, of course, the Sinew Coils aren't an actual organ, so they can be produced much more readily, like any other cybernetic implant.

The traditional loyalist method of implanting gene-seed into recruits until it grows into new organs, then retrieving fresh gene-seed from them happens to loosely resemble the real-life concept of adult stem cells, invaluable for life-saving surgeries and keeping your liver from shriveling up when you get too drunk.

The process was originally available on a nearly industrial scale for the Great Crusade - both Terra and each legion recruitment worlds could make up the numbers for thousands of recruits. Occasionally they could be inducted as adults, although the limitations of this varied and usually an adult recruit was worthy but couldn't take a gene seed. In this case various surgeries and augmentations could turn them into a 'demi-marine', although the difference in performance was notable. A notable exception was Magnus the Red's teacher Amon, who would have been far too old for geneseed implantation but was altered by Magnus' powers to accept the implants.

During the Horus Heresy the Traitor Legions came up with a quick and dirty method for boosting their ranks by taking hundreds of thousands of aspirants (any sufficiently tough psychopath among their millions of followers) and forcing them through the implantation process much more rapidly than normal, along with substituting the years long training process with constant hypnotherapy training. The success rate was small but they had so many potential recruits it still resulted in a boost in their numbers. These Newborn, as they came to be known, were equipped with the same gear as regular marines but utterly lacked the skills and prowess of a traditional legionary. Their forced creation also led them to being seen as second-class citizens amongst their legions, and thus they created their own subcultures and traditions. As a result, they ended up being used as disposable shock troops whilst regular Astartes were saved for more important duties.

The Loyalists guarding Terra also sped up their training processes before the Siege, although they were more discerning with their recruits and still provided hands-on training. Notably, these recruits frequently did not come from Terra or their Legion home worlds, but from the worlds bordering the Sol System. As such they occupied an odd place in the legions social structure.

After the Heresy, the loyalist legions and then chapters scaled back the process, relocating all the materiel to their homeworlds or fleet apothecarions. As a preventative measure learned from the Heresy, subsequent recruits were taken at a younger age, both to screen out weakness as soon as possible, and to more readily indoctrinate the prospective marine to being loyal (YMMV). Most chapters also introduced far more stringent levels of hypnotherapy and indoctrination than any Heresy-era Marine would ever have had, and their standards for general recruits were also much higher, since now they recruited fewer aspirants from a smaller population (relatively) instead of a lot from a massive group, which could even be from several different worlds in cases of emergency recruitment.

== The Organs ==

Oddly, most 40K fluff never refers to most of these organs, especially when situations come up where these organs might have been especially useful. The worst offenders are usually the sensory ones; the Occulobe, Lyman's Ear, and Neuroglottis, taken together, ''ought'' to make them notice things normal humans can't, especially under low-light conditions, but the fluff usually has them only picking up the standard level of detail.

# The '''Secondary Heart''' is pretty self-explanatory. It lets a Space Marine get his blood flowing at a faster rate through his body and probably to the more critical bits, which lets his muscles work harder and longer, and it gives him a backup just in case one fails (i.e. gets shot, stabbed, [[Kor Phaeron|ripped out by Guilliman]], or what have you). The Secondary Heart is not beating at all times. It only activates during times of stress (bear in mind that a twenty mile run is not considered stressful to an Astartes); otherwise, it just sits there awaiting activation.
# The '''Ossmodula''' makes a Space Marine's skeleton grow and incorporate some ceramic dietary supplements into itself and fuses his ribs together into a solid structure. The Tyrant guard's fused ribcage hints that <s>the Hive mind has incorporated Space marine DNA into-</s>{{BLAM}} convergent evolution is at work. <s>Ironically, the fusing of the rib cage would be considered a bad thing, as the Space Marine would not be able to breathe properly-</s>, as pointed out by [[Fabius Bile]] the ribs are not one solid plate but actually many smaller plates with near invisibly small spaces between that allow them to flex and achieve a proper range of motion (so similar to Laminar armor instead of full Plate). Note another explanation is the Multi lung (see bellow) may help push the ribs apart harder than a normal pair of lungs ever could. Also a fully fused rib cage would cause a loss of flexibility and may be an undocumented Ultramarines mutation since the vast majority of them walk around like they've got a broom handle shoved up their asses.
# The '''Biscopea''' triggers muscle growth. These first three organs are often implanted together, as they collectively prepare the Initiate's body for further augmentation. Around this time, the Initiate gets put on a diet containing extra nutrients to fuel his new growth.
# The '''Haemastamen''' enhances a Space Marine's blood to better accommodate the Space Marine's nifty set of new organs by improving its ability to carry oxygen. It also turns it [[Orks|bright red]].
# The '''Larraman's Organ''' creates Larraman's Cells, which are like super-platelets: they make wounds rapidly scab over. This allows Space Marines to keep fighting even when shock and blood loss would kill most people.
# The '''Catalepsean Node''' messes with the body's sleep cycle, letting Space Marines get away with four hours of sleep every day, or even less, and making it possible for them to not lose awareness, even after like 2 weeks without sleep. It also makes the brain susceptible to hypno-therapy, which is a fancy word for "brainwashing" the Initiates while they are asleep. As a nasty side effect, it allows Chaos marines to re-brainwash loyalists they captured alive (or better: in suspended animation). Unsurprisingly to anyone familiar with Chaos, this trick doesn't work in reverse, which might just go to show that the Chaos Marines might be [[Heresy|closer to the true human nature than the loyal Marines...]] or more likely that Chaos is corrupting as fuck.
# The '''Preomnor''' is like a bird's crop, in that it stores food before passing it to the stomach, except that the Preomnor also decontaminates its contents as well. In Ian Watson's Space Marine novel, Initiates celebrated getting this organ by eating the most disgusting things they could until they finally provoked a vomit reflex.
# The '''Omophagea''' is one of the odder organs. It connects to the stomach and the spinal cord, and somehow takes [[Cannibalism|knowledge from the brain tissue that a Space Marine can eat]]. Interestingly, most Space Marines are pretty reluctant to actually eat brains, as the process is physically extremely unpleasant, leaves them in a vulnerable torpor whilst they process the information, and is one of the very few things that can readily make a Space Marine vomit afterwards. The Thousand Sons (pre-heresy) - contrary to their civilised, haughty persona - highly approved of the practice. And, in fact, it is not just the brain, since some Astartes rituals, if not chapter names, originated from this; the Blood Angels and their descendants are especially famous for blood drinking and [[rip and tear]] in general; this is actually because they receive knowledge and visions from it. What? You thought the Blood Angels had visions of Sanguinius only to have a [[grimdark]], [[Machine spirit|mystical aura]]? Before reuniting with their Primarch, the Blood Angels standard operating procedure was to ritually cannibalize their dead officers and sometimes even assume their rank and identity. Additionally, the memories they absorb become very hard to forget (brain washing technologies can help). Now just add some chaos to that mix and you've got heresy brewing...
# The '''Multi-Lung'''... do I have to spell it out? It's an additional lung! It also has a lot of filters and the like, and can function underwater and in low-oxygen atmospheres. In other words, it allows the Space Marine without a helmet to breathe under water and in toxic air. Just how does this third lung fit in with the other two Marines are born with and all the other organs implanted later? Very carefully, that's how.
# The '''Occulobe''' gives Space Marines super-vision, and allows their eyes to adjust to changes in light almost instantly, or at least in the fluff.
# The '''Lyman's Ear''' gives them super-hearing and makes them immune to motion sickness and concussion. However, in-game, they have no particular immunity or even resistance to concussion, probably because it's often delivered by a hammer to the head.
# The '''Sus-an Membrane''' lets them enter a state of ''Sus''pended ''an''imation when they are critically hurt or starving. This serves the purpose of conserving a mortally wounded marine until his body is recovered and healed by apothecaries. So each time you remove a marine model on the tabletop, chances are (fluff-wise) it has entered sus-an, rather than died. In fact, on most campaigns that's what happens to your characters. It should be noted, marines cannot leave suspended animation state at will, and can only be "awakened" through the use of specific drugs.
# The '''Melanochrome''' implants into the lymph nodes, and makes Space Marine skin like transition lenses: it darkens in response to radiation, rapidly producing reinforced melanin that protects against both UV and gamma. On the plus side, they tan really fast, but the fact that they pale right back up once they're inside armour (unless they are [[Salamanders]]) is not that great.
# The '''Oolitic Kidney''' detoxifies their blood, like their regular kidneys, but this one does it really fast. Also, it controls some of the other organs' hormones. As a result, Space Marines are unaffected by most poisons short of what the [[Dark Eldar]] or [[Tyranids]] can produce. It also means they can't get drunk, though the Space Wolves found a way around that by creating Mjöd, an extremely toxic drink made of local plants of Fenris, that temporarily neutralizes the Oolitic kidney's ability to filter toxins. Another organ which ceases to work on the tabletop, as Space Marines have absolutely identical reactions to Poison as ratlings, ogryn, and standard humans. Of course, considering that the poisons you find on the tabletop are Tyranid, Dark Eldar, and Nurgelitle shit, we can probably write this one off. Also, in some fluff, it saves the bearer from poison by causing them to enter a sort of super-metabolic coma during which they burn off any toxins while unconscious and feverish—so, much like with the sus-an membrane, it allows you to say that any of [[Your Dudes]] taken out by Poison effects are just temporarily disabled.
# The '''Neuroglottis''' implants into the upper nasal passage, drastically improving both smell and taste; lets a Space Marine identify chemicals and track adversaries by taste. Blood-hound much? Apparently, the Space Wolf version of this is so good that they designed a special Wolf Helm that lets them use their sense of smell even when fully armored, and is also why they otherwise avoid helmets as much as possible (and definitely not just so that they can [[Blood Claw|gel their hair into giant crests]] and/or [[Logan Grimnar|grow chest-length Santa beards]]).
# The '''Mucranoid''' gives Space Marines super-sweat that protects them from heat and cold, and can even be hardened into a vacuum-proof shell. Remember that awesome scene where Guilliman boxes Word Bearers in space? Yep, he did it while covered in that thing.
# The '''Betcher's Gland''' gives them acid spit, which is probably the only bonus for going to combat [[Helmet#Helmets_and_Faces|without a helmet]]. The acid within varies depending on the source, from simply reacting only to organic tissue to fully dissolving ceramite. Some Chapters, such as the [[Blood Angels]] and the [[Iron Snakes]], consider using the Betcher's Gland in combat to be [[Derp|dishonourable]]. Technically, the acid spit is just a fringe benefit of the gland’s true purpose—allowing marines to chew through everything from tough xenos carcasses to prison bars. In any event, Space Marines on the table-top do not have access to acidic spit, unlike e.g. Tyranids. (Or maybe they do; space marine ancients get a lot of attacks for someone with their hands full.)
# The '''Progenoids''' provide no benefit to the Space Marine, but are universally considered the most important organs, as they are the keys to making more of the organs above. Each Space Marine starts with two, one in the neck and one in the chest, and they are removed after their death. The neck-based progenoid is ready for harvesting five years after implantation, while the chest-based progenoid is ready after ten. Each harvested progenoid is a bunch of DNA and chemical stuff, that, when implanted in a suitable environment, grows into more organs. Chapters that took severe losses and could not reclaim the gene-seed of their brothers basically take random people with an affinity to the Astartes gene-seed (or vat-grown bodies similar to the ones they use for Servitors), implant them with all space marine organs, wait ten years, and slaughter them to harvest the gene-seed. Sometimes, the term "gene-seed" is taken to refer to these glands specifically.
# The '''Black Carapace''' interfaces a Space Marine with his [[Power Armour|armour]], making them effectively one being. It also serves as back-up armour, providing a level of protection similar to a flak jacket, in case a marine somehow ends up [[Adeptus Custodes|running around naked]]. [[Scout|Space Marine Scouts]] don't have this yet, because of the [[Codex Astartes]], and it's noted as the only one of the original organs that ''has'' to be implanted whole rather than potentially grown inside the neophyte as a germ-seed (a la [[Blood Angels|Insanguination]]). They don't get it (and thus an expensive suit of power armor) until they've spent a decade or more in a Scout Company. Tyranids nicked this for their tyrant guard, which makes you think how did the foot-slogging hive tyrants survive anything beforehand. As clearly established by how humans perform in Power Armor, this organ does nothing on the table-top; Sisters of Battle, for example, get just as much (or more - they can lift a lascannon by themselves, unlike humans in mere carapace armour) benefit from Power Armor as Space Marines do. The Deathwatch RPG explained it as allowing a “Size (Huge)” Space Marine in Power Armor to not suffer any movement penalties—which does seem impressive if you’ve ever seen someone in craft foam Astartes armor trying to hobble around.
#The '''Canis Helix''' is not an organ, but considered nonetheless to be part of the gene-seed; it appears to be a genetic cocktail brewed by the Wolf Priests of the Space Wolves, and while it induces a level of mutation beyond that seen in any other chapter, Russ' gene-seed organs appear to have a 100% rejection rate in humans who do not first take the cocktail.

===Primaris Organs===

{{Main|Primaris Marines}}
After [[Roboute Guilliman]] told [[Belisarius Cawl]] to make a next generation Space Marine, he ended up creating Marines that had an enhanced version of the Astartes Gene-Seed, which contained an extra three organs (possibly due to taking elements of the [[Adeptus Custodes|Custodes]] or even the Primarch creation process). While some have expressed concern of the project, some due to worries about how some of the mutations of some of Chapters with more exotic mutations and some due to the belief that the Emperor's work shouldn't be tampered with, Cawl claims that the Primaris Gene-seed is more stable than the regular Astartes gene-seed, with an estimated deviancy of .001% per generation. How true this claim might be is up for debate, but Cawl has created Space Wolves successor chapters that haven't immediately turned into Wulfen so it may have some truth in it. It's also worth noting that Cawl did ''something'' to make the Primaris Marines physically incapable of turning traitor. Guilliman's internal monologue in Dark Imperium reveals that he considers it an impossibility for Primarines to turn, unlike "the old breed". This has interesting implications about whether or not the Primaris marines truly have free will.

As of recent fluff updates/leaks, the new organs are as follows.

# The '''Sinew Coils''' essentially modify the muscle strands and makeup of the Primaris Marines, buffing their pecs and biceps to the 10th degree. Whilst one would assume it would resemble something from [[Wat|Inspector Gadget's coil legs]], the truth is....[[Derp|it is pretty much like that in function.]] These are reinforced coil-cables made of durable supermetals that are capable of contracting with incredible strength, making Primaris stronger and tougher than others. Even outside of their power armor, swinging a sword at a Primaris might just bounce off his hot and sweaty muscles because of these coil cables, and it amplifies his strength to the point where he can crush a human skull with his bare hands or bite through metal cable like it were jerky.
# The '''Magnificat''' may sound a [[Derp|bit lame,]] but its function is actually what makes the Primaris 'bigger, better, faster and stronger' than regular Astartes. It produces a mix of hormones that greatly enhance the effects of all of the other genetically engineered organs that float around in the Primaris. So every Primaris gets more bang for his genetic buck. Intriguingly, it's stated to be only half of another super-organ dubbed the '''Immortis Gland''' originally made for the Primarchs, but Cawl was only able to find the materials and genetic blueprints needed to make the right half; the information needed to make the left half had seemingly been erased. The function of the complete Immortis Gland is unknown, but given that its other name is "The God-Maker" and the fact that only the Primarchs are known to have the organ, it stands to follow that it is likely what amplifies their abilities to the level of demigods.
# The '''Belisarian Furnace''' is an organ that is named after [[Belisarius Cawl|the Galaxy's least humble Archmagos.]] This one is a last-chance fail-safe kind of thing. The Belisarian Furnace is an organ that activates when a Primaris is on death’s door, giving them a great burst of super-adrenaline (not the actual term) and boosted regeneration, but helping to keep them alive even at great cost, so that a Primaris can take out as many of the enemy as possible even as his flesh and bone rapidly regrow themselves. This allows fan-fic writers to create Hollywood-esque 'final pushes' without making it look stupid, which should make for some amazing last stands. It also appears to be vital for the Rubicon Primaris procedure intended to convert existing Space Marines into Primaris Space Marines, as the procedure temporarily kills the subject in its current form. The organ doesn't just activate during fights however ; the fluff has shown a Primaris actively trying to "calm down" and stop their Furnace activating whilst they were critically injured whilst they were being rescued as the resulting physical shock would finish them off.

===Implantation===
Not everyone is compatible with implantation (unless it's from the Blood Angels line); potential candidates are screened for tissue compatibility, and kept young, as being post-pubescent has a marked increase in the tissue rejection rate (and being actually ''elderly'' makes it even worse); even so, not all candidates survive the implantation process. The Great Crusade era had inductees from a variety of ages, possibly because there were more resources, candidates, and understanding of the tech to compensate for failure rates. Back then a one-in-two success after screening was considered pretty good. These days the screening is insanely brutal amongst Loyalist chapters, with most aspirants dying before being even considered for implantation, but the success rate is accordingly much higher. Youths are also still preferred post-Heresy as they are easier to mould and condition into loyal Marines than teens or young adults.

One of the most obvious limits of their design is that the Emperor never solved the problem of making them compatible with female hosts (although some argue that this was deliberate as a way of ensuring that Space Marines could not breed true, nobody can be entirely sure), so the very first screening step is usually by sex. Furthermore, not all organs can be implanted at once, as some prepare the body for others, and the body needs time to adapt to and accept the implants. The maximum speed process has been described in the fluff as taking around 6 years and assuming the soon-to-be Marine will be a Primaris is:

# If you are the Space Wolves, the Canis Helix.
# Secondary Heart, Ossmodula (bone growth), and Biscopea (muscle growth).
# Sinew Coils (tendon/ligament reinforcement), Magnificat (enhances all other geneseed organs), and Belisarean Furnace (combat stimms, attaches to hearts).
# Haemastamen (improved red blood cells) and Larraman's Organ (improved platelets).
# Catalepsean Node (brain implant: sleep like a dolphin).
#*If this is an actual Space Marine, begin hypnotherapy/brainwashing only ''after'' this implant.
# Preomnor (gullet), Omophagea (flatworm stomach), and Multi-lung (third lung).
# Occulobe (improved visual cortex).
# Lyman's Ear (replacement outer, middle, and inner ear).
# Sus-an Membrane (brain implant: self-induce coma).
# Melanochrome (lymph implant for radiation resistance).
# Oolitic Kidney (enhanced liver/kidney) and Neuroglottis (improved inner nose).
# Mucranoid (secretable space suit).
# Betcher's Gland (extremely acidic saliva).
# Both Progenoids (for reproduction).
# Black Carapace (for improved power armour compatibility).

The largest time gap between implants is between the Betcher Glands and the two last ones on the list, and by that time the Marine already serves as a Scout. Once he is deemed physically and mentally ready, he will recieve the Progenoids and the Black Carapace that turns him into a full-fledged (Primaris) Marine.

The Rubicon Primaris most likely entails the implantation of the three Primaris gene-seed organs past the normal time that gene-seed would normally be implanted, though the specific order of implanting in this scenario is currently unknown, however it is known that the Furnace resuscitation is needed to finish the process so it might come in first. The logical follow up is the enhancing Magnificat and finished with the Sinew Coils, the pain of which would cause clinical death through shock, brute forcing the Furnace into activating and charging the Marine up.

===Tabletop Effect===
Most of the organs have no visible effect in the game, at least if the in-game rules are an indication; here are how the organs seemingly manifest (or not). For some reason, Space Marines aren't any faster at running than an unaugmented human and are slower than fast humans, such as Sisters of Silence. Most likely, this lack of impact is either for balance purposes or because it can't be properly represented using in-game means.

*Has an effect, at least in aggregate:
**Secondary Heart, Ossmodula, Biscopea, Haemastamen, Larraman's Organ, Multi-Lung, Oolitic Kidney, Mucranoid: +1 Strength and Toughness, relative to a normal human.
**Sinew Coils, Magnificat, Belisarean Furnace: +1 Attack, can only be wounded on a 4+ (1CP strat activation).
***Was also +1 Wound in 8th edition. As of 9th edition the Firstborn also get +1 Wound.
**Catalepsean Node + Hypnotherapy: And They Shall Know No Fear, +1 Ld.
**Progenoids: These are given as the reason an Apothecary loses his turn if he fails a resurrection roll, as he is busy collecting them.
*Effects limited to fluff:
**Occulobe: Mostly ignored; with or without his helmet on, most Space Marine's vision is never considered any better than an unaugmented humans, even when distance or lack of light are explicitly causing vision problems. It may however be a reason why some Space Wolves get the 'acute senses' rule.
**Lyman's Ear: Demonstrably ignored under the 8th edition rules; Space Marines behave exactly like unaugmented humans when exposed to sonic weaponry, when needing to notice things they can't see, or when in need of balance. In previous editions, this would presumably have contributed to a higher Initiative stat.
**Neuroglottis: As noted above with the Lyman's Ear, as this would predominantly serve to supplement that, given some tabletop rule for Space Marines actually having improved senses which only the Space Wolves have.
**Melanochrome: Demonstrably ignored; Space Marines respond to photonic radiation (usually provided by the Adeptus Mechanicus) exactly like unaugmented humans do.
**Black Carapace: Demonstrably ignored; many human factions have access to Power Armour, particularly Sisters of Battle, and none have ever been shown to be even slightly more encumbered by Power Armour than Space Marines are.
**Preomnor, Omophagea, Sus-an Membrane, Mucranoid, Betcher's Gland: These have no in-game effect, but would typically not be expected to, as a Space Marine with his suit on and participating in a battle would not have call to use them, although the Betcher's Gland could be implemented as a very, very short range weapon, in principle.
*Alternate Take: The Occulobe, Lyman's Ear, and Neuroglottis could grant the +1 Initiative marines enjoy(ed prior to 8th). The Melanchrome also likely adds to toughness.

== Gene-seed vs. Genetic Engineering ==

A lot of people (including, it must be admitted, Games Workshop itself) often think of gene-seed as a genetic modification program, but this is inaccurate. Gene-seed does fall under the blanket of [[Fleshcrafting|"bio-enhancement" or "bio-engineering"]]—that is, the augmentation of the physical form. However, gene-seed is based on the physical implantation of artificially designed and engineered organs, whereas genetic engineering would modify the DNA of the aspirants to naturally develop the various traits. In essence, Space Marines are what [[Rifts]] would call "bio-borgs": organisms biologically modified by artificial biological implants. Fleshy cyborgs, essentially. This is an important difference, as it allows the Space Marines to wriggle around that pesky "thou shalt not modify the holy human form" law of the Imperium. From a genetic standpoint, a Space Marine is probably closer to human than most [[abhuman]]s are, and so they fulfill the letter of the law (if not its spirit - but hey, the Emperor made the rules, so he can break them as much as he wants, 'cause he's the motherfucking Emperor). It also has the side effect of making sure that Astartes can't breed true-ish (assuming they can breed, a point GW can't ever make up their minds on, any children they had would be more likely compatible for geneseed than a baseline human but by themselves would not be space marines, just more likely to be able to be), and thus will always have to rely on baseline humanity rather than replace it, just in case they start getting too big for their transhuman britches.

*'''Note:''' Like Mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell), the implanted organs carry ''their own DNA'', cloned from the Primarchs, thus turning the marines into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(genetics)#Humans chimeric humans]. So yes indeed, bio-borgs, but ones that show characteristics of DNA foreign to the host's body. Example: is there a specific organ that gave Sigismund "a patrician face that echoed the same austere lines as his liege lord, Rogal Dorn"? Let us be reminded, Sig was terran, and Dorn grew up on another planet (he was made by the Emperor in a Petri dish, does that count as being born on Terra too?). Who knows what he looked like when he was mortal, he now looks like a son of Dorn. In fact, most Astartes end up looking similar to their parent Primarchs, like Horus "little Horus" Aximand looking like Horus "fucking Horus" Lupercal. Of course, this is because GW thinks it is bioengineering, but at least it's "Human Chimeras" instead of "Humans with [[Space Wolves|furry creatures]]", that'd be Heresy, right Emps?
**'''RIGHT'''
**As it happens, for Sigismund, the answer is yes—the Ossmodula would alter the shape of his skull, and the Biscopea the arrangement of his facial muscles—but the fact remains that GW routinely treats gene-seed as if it were gene therapy, rather than implants.
**This cloned DNA is also why every body freaks out over gene seed stocks from the fallen primarchs in case their geneseed has some flaw that increased its susceptibility to chaos.

== The Tithe and New Foundings ==

As part of the deal in Guilliman's [[Codex Astartes]], the Astartes were afforded almost complete autonomy from the [[Administratum]], which means they don't have to pay Imperial Taxes '''except''' for a tithe of 5% of their gene-seed which they must send to Mars.

This has a few important purposes:
# To monitor the genetic purity of the Space Marine Chapter as a whole and make certain a chapter is not suffering heretical mutations.
# To create new foundings of Space Marines whenever the High Lords of Terra deem it appropriate to do so.
# To act as an emergency reserve of gene-seed in the unlikely event that the Chapter's existing gene-seed stocks are lost or tainted.

Note that even though the Adeptus Mechanicum will have stockpiles of a chapter's genetic material, it is not frequently used as a contingency for a space marine chapter if things get a bit hairy. Several times in the fluff a Chapter has faced extinction due to high losses ''(see [[Black Consuls]], [[Celestial Lions]], [[Lamenters]], [[Marines Errant]], [[Scythes of the Emperor]] yadda yadda yadda)'' but they'd never thought to ask Mars for their gene-seed back. The only known instance of it happening is in the 8th Edition Death Guard Codex, where the [[Minotaurs]] were forced to undergo a mission to Mars when a Death Guard assault on their fortress-monastery resulted in the poisoning of their gene-seed stocks, but the Minotuars are basically the High Lords personal beat stick against other marines so perhaps this is special treatment.

It's also a bit uncertain how chapters with particularly negative defects manage to keep their genetic condition concealed, if the government has access to their core materials. [[Black Dragons|Some chapters]] get around it by sending only the "purest" gene-seed to Mars and so come out of the inspection smelling of roses, but when the condition is widespread (as it is with the [[Blood Angels]]) it probably only highlights how little the Mechanicus actually understand about the Emperor's work. (Things might perhaps change now that [[Belisarius Cawl|Cawl]] is back, though.)

It's also important to note that each chapter's gene-seed is kept in isolation. i.e: Just because a chapter claims ''descent'' from the [[Ultramarines]] does not actually make their gene-seed the same as their forefather. It's basic evolutionary biology that when a population splits and develops elsewhere it starts forming its own traits advantageous to its circumstances and environment. Hence the [[Mortifactors]] gene-seed will largely be very different from the [[Howling Griffons]], despite sharing a common ancestor. So rather than being genetic "brothers" as they would be ''within'' a chapter, different Space Marine chapters sharing a lineage would be more like nephews or cousins.

When the time comes around to found new chapters, the adepts will look for favourable traits that they want to replicate, although the Ultramarines are cited as being the most utilised source for new foundings, thus any new chapter of Ultramarine descendants would likely be second generation Ultramarines and be quite close to their forefather genetically at least until the chapter adapted to its founding homeworld or particular circumstances. But that doesn't prevent those descendants themselves from being used as templates in later foundings, so after several generations you could end up with something completely different from the original baseline stock.

== Mutation ==

As each new set of gene-seed comes from a Space Marine, requires many years to mature, and many more to be used, there is a lot of room for things to go wrong. This is especially true when desperate circumstances (the impending [[Great Crusade]], or a Chapter being dangerously under-strength) cause Space Marines to skimp on the safety checks and wait periods in order to accelerate Chapter growth. Over the millennia, many flaws have found their way into into the gene-seeds of each Legion, and some of their successors have even more - mutations typically get worse as you make copies of copies. Further mutations have been introduced, of course, in foundings featuring heavy tampering by the Adeptus Mechanicus (see the discussion of the 21st founding, below).
Also one should bear in mind that Legions and Primarchs were artificially engineered to fill different niches, so some of these might be not acquired mutations, but deliberately added quirks to better fit in their roles.
<div style="margin-left:1em;">
===No Known Mutations===
<div style="margin-left:1em;">
==== Dark Angels (I Legion) ====
{{Main|Dark Angels}}
No defects, unless you consider their <s>rampant paranoia and secrecy</s> STAUNCH LOYALTY AND HONOUR as such. Ties with Ultramarines for "most stable source", so the limited number of Dark Angels successors is usually put down as the [[Inquisition]]'s limited knowledge of the [[Fallen Angels]]. That and the fact that due to successor chapters often working with/take orders from the Dark Angels has lead to the Inquisition to fear the Angels and successors to be <s>"[[Astral Claws|legion building]]"</s> THE MOST LOYAL CHAPTERS DUE TO THE PURITY OF THEIR GENE SEED. Although that would be more credible if they had ever been anything less than a Legion.

==== Iron Hands (X Legion) ====
{{Main|Iron Hands}}
* ''No defects.''
* Noted predilection towards machinery and a disdain towards flesh.

And just to make sure, if there are any, they follow the Bible's advice on offending organs and replace them with holy machinery instead. Would probably be a very desirable source for new chapters if not for the absolute devastation they suffered in the [[Drop Site Massacre]] leaving them barely recovered millennia later and needing all the gene-seed they can get for themselves. Because, you know, even though there has been more than enough time for more than twenty other foundings of whole, brand new chapters, and some of those foundings likely making new foundings of their own, the Iron Hands still haven't had enough time. It also doesn't help how they tend to be total pricks at times. [[Nova Terra Interregnum|Or to have internal disagreements on policy so hard]] [[FAIL|'resolving' them]] [[Sons of Medusa|had Chapter-splitting consequences]]. which does not help building up Marines/gene-seed reserves, and gets you overlooked even more when the Mechanicus is deciding on whose reserves to use for the next Founding.

Alternate take: You need causalities that don't destroy the body entirely to harvest geneseed, or you need to implant it into clones, both of which are unlikely for a chapter that uses augmentations with power supplies that explode like melta bomb and that abhors even the organic parts of their own servitors. No new gene-seed, no new mutations.

==== World Eaters (XII Legion) ====
{{Main|World Eaters}}
I know what you're thinking, but it's caused by an additional cybernetic implant - the ''Butcher's Nails'' - rather than anything in the gene-seed itself. While not ''technically'' part of their gene-seed, it has been carried on as a tradition by all the "successors" that resulted from the Legion's fracturing after the [[Battle of Skalathrax]]. Hell, they were known to be total bros before all the trouble with nails. And now they are little more than [[Kharn|Teamkilling Fucktards]].

Khorne might have given them one blessing though, a sort of extra lives cheat code… But they are limited and are only earned by participating in the arenas.

==== Ultramarines (XIII Legion) ====
{{Main|Ultramarines}}
*''No official defects.'' Considered the most stable and preferred source of gene-seed for new Foundings. Possible predilection towards conformism and communitarianism.
**Due to a lack of any real interesting or identifying traits in and of itself, discussions for reclassifying the Ultramarine gene-seed from the most stable source to the most generic source were in the works. These talks were surreptitiously shut down by [[Who Watches Them|Inquisitor Warden]] for offending his sensibilities.
**Also worth noting is that the Ultramarines, in one of their bro-iest moves, "adopted" a fair number of loyalists from traitor legions after the heresy and are heavily implied to have taken in members of the two missing legions after whatever it was that got them disbanded. There is no real way of telling if an Ultramarines "successor" might be from the relatively stable stock of World Eaters or Iron Warriors. In most cases only a single high-ranking [[Belisarius Cawl|archmagos]] knows the truth, so even the chapter itself (except possibly the command and the eldest brothers) is in the dark about its history.

==== Death Guard (XIV Legion) ====
{{Main|Death Guard}}
*Emphasis here is on ''known'' mutations - there's no actual evidence of Death Guard gene-seed having any problems at all, because we've never gotten any fluff covering any attempts to use the gene-seed from a Death Guard, even though one would assume that by now they'd have the most fucked up Progenoids of any Legion.

During the [[Great Crusade]], the Death Guard had a much stronger constitution than most Legions, leading to their role as the toxic environment specialists. Post-heresy, however, the Death Guard are so diseased that implanting Aspirants seems more or less impossible - however, there have been new Death Guard legionaries who are not defectors from other Legions or renegade Chapters, apparently made with the gene-seed reclaimed by the [[Plague Surgeon]]s. How it functions still, no one knows, though we suspect it has more to do with [[Nurgle]] infectiousness than with the progenoids themselves.

The most overwhelmingly likely explanation is, however, the Death Guard simply jacking loyalist gene-seed from fallen loyalist astartes and loyalist gene-seed stockpiles and using it to create new recruits, as '''every single Traitor Legion with tainted, unusable geneseed does this.''' As per LoS, appears to be a mixture of both, likely depending individually on each Death Guard members level of disease and mutation, supplemented by stolen and possibly altered loyalist gene-seed (see Plague Surgeon).

==== Alpha Legion (XX Legion) ====
{{Main|Alpha Legion}}
<s>No such Legion exists, therefore no such gene-seed exists.</s>
*Were you really expecting ''known'' mutations, or anything else, from this Legion???

In all seriousness; like much of the Alpha Legion, we don't know all that much about their gene-seed. Whatever idiosyncrasies or flaws they have are kept under very tight lock and key. And with their nature of running as individual operatives in and out of the [[Eye of Terror]], to what degree their gene-seed is tainted by the Warp or other means varies from Marine to Marine. Though their knack for secrecy, paranoia, and tendency to subvert the enemy instead of direct combat is probably a notable trait. Outside of occasional Warp-corruption, we ''assume'' it's possibly one of the most stable gene-seeds, probably as much as the Imperial Fists or Night Lords. Something of note; they often use any mutations that they have as a scare tactic, hiding them and then revealing them on the battlefield in order to shock the opponent.
They also use hypnosis and deep-indoctrination more than other chapters, so they may have an altered sus-an and/or catelapsean.
Sometimes it's implied they all look alike (like Alpharius) but sometimes this is said to be due to ''surgical'' alterations, but it could be that the gene-seed does more to alter their appearance than normal, like the Sons of Horus and this is further supplemented by surgery. It's also said that some Alpha Legionnaires tended to be noticeably taller than most Space Marines, large enough to pose as either [[Alpharius]] or [[Omegon]]. This, combined with their unusually short Primarchs and their tendency to look alike, seems to suggest that this was intentional, either by the Legion themselves picking only notably large aspirants or by the Emperor fully leaning into the Legion's whole "smoke and mirrors" theme.

===Minor Mutations===
These chapters may have cosmetic or easily-fixed mutations.

==== Emperor's Children (III Legion) ====
{{Main|Emperor's Children}}
* Implicitly defective and/or enhanced Lyman's Ear, and possibly Occulobe and Neuroglottis.
** An accident (non Chaos or other enemy action related) during the early days of the raising the Legions resulted in only two hundred Space Marines of the III Legion by the time the Emperor found [[Fulgrim]] and Chemos, forcing the Emperor's Children to work alongside the [[Black Legion|Luna Wolves]] for the early decades of the [[Great Crusade]]; due to Fulgrim's high standards of perfection being passed on the Legion's [[Apothecary|apothecaries]], Emperor's Children Aspirants had to be nothing less than physically perfect, resulting a largely stable gene-seed, including forbidding psykers to join the ranks. By the 41st millennium, however, the Emperor's Children's gene-seed is fucked up beyond all reason. Millennia of drugs from both inside and outside the Warp have damaged it greatly. While the relatively few sane [[tech-priests]] left and [[Dark Mechanicus]] working with them can and do make new Marines (thus proving their Marines can and do make new gene-seed), the chemical and other material abuse render each generation even crazier. Even before the Heresy, they were more sensitive to external stimuli, like sound, implying a defective Lyman's Ear with reduced ability to filter out sounds the Marine doesn't want to hear, and potentially similarly defective Occulobe and Neuroglottis.
*Initial batches of gene-seed were defective, carrying an infectious a super-cancer/progeria creatively called "The Blight" it also caused the entire legion's gene-seed stock on Terra to rot into useless sludge. Thankfully after Fulgrim's return the rotten batches were discontinued and replaced with fresh clean gene-seed preventing it from becoming a permanent feature of the legion. The Blight may be more of a [[Nurgle|spiritual]] infection because even after dying and having his soul swapped into new bodies Fabius Bile still suffers from all the symptoms.

==== Iron Warriors (IV Legion) ====
{{Main|Iron Warriors}}
* Implicitly defective Ossmodula
* Implicitly enhanced Progenoids:
** They have the lowest gene-seed rejection rate, which enables them to replenish their huge number of casualties with an even higher number of recruits.
** Minor Ossmodula mutation ''sometimes'' causes limbs to twist and deform as the marine grows really old (we're talking hundreds of years to millennia) - this is usually dealt with by replacing limbs with bionics, or cutting them off and placing the cripple into a Dreadnought, Helbrute, or some weird custom made dreadnought-esque walker, since due to their specialty and organization only high-ranking officers can survive for so long, and they surely ain't going to suffer from the "Crazed" rule.
** Below average resistance rate to Bionics.

Especially noteworthy for the Iron Warriors considering they reside in the Eye Of Terror, there has been little mutation in their gene-seed as well. Those that do suffer mutation simply replace their mutated limbs with cybernetics. However, there may be some unknown issue which caused them to be afflicted with the [[Obliterators|Obliterator Virus]] (or was it they who made it? It's been confirmed Perturabo and Mortarion worked together on the obliterator virus) More easily - the first ones originated from them.

However, this is rendered null by the fact they are the [[/d/|sick]] [[Honsou|fucks]] behind the [[Daemonculaba]]. Due to its nature, the women themselves may have the gene-seed organs implanted (among other things), or at least the DNA required to be able to quickly grow the organs into a child stuck in their wombs. While the poor, innocent, scared kid inside can become a skinless abomination/mutant, they will normally emerge a genetically stable, gene-seed uncorrupted [[grimdark|skinless adult SPHESS MAHREEN with the mind of that same scared child]]. Suffice to say, this is a sick way of getting to [[Female Space Marines|FEMALE SPHESS MAHREENS]], and is [[Extra Heresy|DOUBLE HERESY]].

==== Luna Wolves/Sons of Horus (XVI Legion) ====
{{Main|Black Legion}}
* Implicitly defective Ossmodula, causing increased cosmetic similarity to their Primarch.
* Implicitly defective Biscopea, causing increased cosmetic similarity to their Primarch.

No real defects, but the tendency for members to look more like their [[Horus|Primarch]] is more pronounced (and possibly more frequent) than it is for members of other legions to resemble their own respective Primarchs. [[Horus Aximand|"Little Horus" Aximand]] was the most notable example of this, but by no means the only one. This gives extra meaning to the "Sons of Horus" thing. In fact, before the Luna Wolves were renamed the Sons of Horus, Luna Wolves that resembled Horus in appearance were known as "Sons of Horus". Ten thousand years in the Eye of Terror has left the Legion's gene-seed more unstable. However, we do know that new Black Legionaries are inducted constantly (seeing as they are the primary generic Chaos Space Marines faction), so its a good bet a large part of theirs is still usable [[grimdark|and that generations of children for millennia to come will be torn away from their parents and families, unfortunate enough to live in the Eye Of Terror, to be inducted into the Legion.]] Furthermore, given that they frequently "recruit" from other chapters and legions with the only real requirement being loyalty to [[Abbadon]], it's not always easy to tell which Black Legionnaires are descended from Horus and which are from other Primarchs, outside of the aforementioned lookalike business.

==== Word Bearers (XVII Legion) ====
{{Main|Word Bearers}}
* Implicitly defective Catalepsian Node.

The Word Bearers suffer a unique "quirk" in their gene-seed, resulting in a psychologically obsessive loyalty to something, be it a man, a religion, or even an ideal. The Word Bearers in turn thus have a much stronger sense of loyalty to their battle-brothers and Primarch than other Chaos Space Marines, helping them to maintain cohesion and avoid treachery, but this loyalty also borders on fanaticism. Otherwise, while given to some instabilities, they have been able to maintain strength.

It has been suggested that Word Bearers have an extraordinary amount of control, both mentally and physically, far more so than normal Astartes. It's been show in their ability to directly control the processes of their internal organs and is attributed as the reason why Word Bearer Diabolists are fairing so well against the Neverborn.

==== Salamanders (XVIII Legion) ====
{{Main|Salamanders}}
* Unique Melanchromic Organ, causing their skin to turn pitch black (so much so that it looks genuinely unnatural) instead of waiting for radiation to happen to fix it.
* Unique Occulobe, causing limited ability to see infrared emissions, referred to as "fire-sight". While not as potent as what an Auspex scanner would be capable of, it can be combined with specialized materials within armor and standards to produce decorations and tactical markings that only the Salamanders can see. This also gives them glowing red eyes, Which makes sense.
* Possibly altered Mucranoid - high degree of heat resistance.
* Possibly altered Biscopea or Lyman's Ear - tend to be somewhat slower moving than other marines, although sometimes it's blamed on the somewhat high gravity on Nocturne or the unusually methodical mindset of it's inhabitants, since they can still run at the same level as any other chapter. (Way back when, they had -1 Initiative.)

While slightly dysfunctional, their gene-seed is pretty stable. Would probably be, like the [[Iron Hands]], a common source of new chapters if not for, again, their extreme decimation during the [[Drop Site Massacre]]. They've since recovered, perhaps a little quicker than the Iron Hands (possibly due to being a little closer to the center and being able to evacuate more marines, As well as still having their Primarch at the time), and while they claimed no official kinship with any successors before the Ultima Founding, there are at least a couple of examples with similar unit markings and tactical dogma.

===Major Mutations===
These Chapters feature at least one problem as least as bad as missing an entire organ, scaling up to the worst issue, where they go World Eaters-level crazy without needing any implants to get there (Blood Angels and Space Wolves).

==== White Scars (V Legion) ====
{{Main|White Scars}}
* Tendency to do whatever they fancy.
* Unrestrained love towards doing [[PROMOTIONS|strange things]] to engines buffing their bikes and battleships to ride into battle while riding into battle.
* A defect called "Chogorian Savagery". Basically it's diet Black Rage, born from when Mortarion almost killed their primarch during the Siege of Terra. This flaw appears in 2 stages:
** Stage 1 - A Moment Unrestrained: The Battle-Brother starts [[RAGE|flipping out mid-battle]] for brief periods, often without realising he's doing so until one of his brothers tells him to take a chill pill.
** Stage 2 - Suppressed Rage: The Battle-Brother becomes extremely prone to outbursts of temper and quick to anger.

===== Mantis Warriors =====
{{Main|Mantis Warriors}}
* Possibly Melanchromic Organ as all have green eyes and black hair of their Primarch.
* Malfunctioning Preomnor gland (possible explaining the cause of the gene-flaw of the other White Scars chapters)

Their mutation called "Battle Haze" causes their Preomnor gland to secrete a potent neuro-toxin that permanently changes the Astartes' physiology; the Space Marine is overcome by a feeling of the need for forgiveness for his many sins and shortcomings and a dramatically increased reverence for the Emperor; and increases his neurological reaction rate to that only achieved in near-precognitive states by most psykers and increases his already superhuman strength to a great extent. However, this physiological change is irreversible and the Astartes' sight becomes tunnelised to the point of no longer being able to notice anything in his field of view that is not a target or a foe. Much like the [[Death Company]] of the Blood Angels, the Mantis Warriors organize Battle-Brothers who have been lost to the Battle Haze into specialized units called "Mantis Religiosa".

===== Destroyers =====
{{Main|Destroyers}}
* "Chogorian Savagery" turned up to 11. To the point even other White Scars question the stability of the Destroyer's geneseed. More evidence that the flaw stems for the gene-seed of the White Scars, and not from what population they are pulled from. Probably at least a bit psychological and genetic memory related, what with the most psychotic Scars forming this Chapter in the Second Founding.

==== Imperial Fists (VII Legion) ====
{{Main|Imperial Fists}}
* Missing Betcher's Gland (no acid spit).
* Missing Sus-an Membrane (no suspended animation).
* Possibly increased pain tolerance and/or a tendency towards masochism.

Despite missing two organs, the Imperial Fists gene-seed is considered to be amongst the most stable and most manly sources. It is the second most desirable source of gene-seed for Foundings. ''Second'' to the Ultramarines, of course. The Fists however, display a constant need to punish themselves for perceived failures, both real and imagined. While this is barely noticable in the primogenitor chapter, several successors manifest more pronounced versions of this flaw.

Missing Sus-an Membrane is also a big deal, as it removes a "safety net" most other chapters have, and most times when Imperial Fist "falls in battle" he actually dies for good instead of passing into coma from which he could be brought back later if marines win the engagement and recover his body. That's why Imperial Fists and all their successor chapters need multiple recruiting worlds. Silver lining though is that sons of Dorn don't run the risk of being captured by Chaos and brainwashed if they fall in battle and their body is then recovered by forces of Chaos instead of allies.

* Complicated by the [[War of the Beast]], in which the Imperial Fists were ''literally wiped out to the last man.'' In the aftermath, their successors got together to donate gene-seed to reconstitute the chapter, making their post-Beast gene-seed a chimeric melting pot of separate mutations and oddities. Additionally, it's not confirmed whether the mechanicus were holding and offered stocks of original, untainted gene-seed as part of this process. Even [[Primaris Marines|Primaris]] marines who were made with the original stuff (and in some cases are original legionaries) may be different as it's not clear what effect Primarisification has on the gene-seed or if it's possible to make firstborn from it. In short; the Imperial Fists gene-seed may be unique among loyalist chapters in that it [[Grimdark|simply no longer actually exists.]]
** Except, hilariously, in some [[Iron Warriors]], who take a particular spiteful delight in [[Blood Ravens|stealing]] their arch-nemeses' progenoids.

===== The Excoriators =====
* A mutation with some similarities to the Blood Angel's Black Rage, known as "Dorn's Darkness.". Those affected enter a dream-like state in which they relive the bottomless woe and paralyzing fear of Dorn's darkest moment: the moment he saw the Emperor near death after the battle aboard the ''Vengeful Spirit''. They can't care for themselves while in this state, and don't recognise anything happening around them.
** Basically, if the Black Rage is unbridled [[RAGE]] unbound, Dorn's Darkness is crippling, ruinous depression.

===== Crimson Fists =====
* A mutation similar to Dorn's Darkness, known as "Only Honour In Death". The "curse" causes a massively increased willingness to fight to the last, holding their ground with a siege-like mentality which will see them triumph or die in the attempt the more foes that the Astartes faces, and the longer they are in combat, the more likely and stronger the curse becomes, making them feel emotions much like what Dorn felt during the [[Perturabo#Iron_Cage_Trolling|Iron Cage Incident]]. When succumbing to the "curse" the affected Battle-Brother sees only death: the death of their comrades, the death of the world, and the death of their foes. The curse is seen to come in three stages:
** Stage 1 - No Retreat. As the odds mount so does the Battle-Brother's stubborn refusal to retreat, seeing only the glory and honour in defeating such overwhelming foes if even the barest glimmer of victory remains. The Battle-Brother will even continue to fight, even if the Codex Astartes does not support that action, until there is no hope of victory left.
** Stage 2 - Suffer not Defeat. The Battle-Brother decides [[Red Scorpions|he'd rather die fighting than take a step back or listen to reason]], even when there's little reason to do so.
** Stage 3 - Unto Death. [[Blackshield|The Battle-Brother becomes hell-bent on sacrificing himself for victory or the safety of his brothers, regardless of how badly hurt he is.]] He'll happily accept suicide missions or near-enough suicidal tasks. Essentially Black Rage 2: Fists Boogaloo.

==== Space Wolves (VI Legion) ====
{{Main|Space Wolves}}
They actually have two different implanted DNA sources: the second is the Canis Helix, which makes them viking werewolves (long canines, tough skin, awesome sense of smell, animalistic [[RAEG]] in combat) or, if one is really unfortunate, into a giant [[Furry|wolf]] ([[Thunderwolf Cavalry|the ones they ride at that]]), and their super-unstable geneseed, which can't function without pre-implanted Canis Helix and has been found to be incompatible with any populace outside of Fenris. For the most part, they get around this by just founding tons and tons more Space Wolves than the [[Codex Astartes]] would normally permit, meaning that they ''still'' tend to have tons of chapters' worth of marines on call. Of particular note are the [[Wulfen]], who are Space Wolves who happened to be in the Warp for over ten thousand years. Instead of being mutated into [[Chaos Spawn|unmentionable gribbly beasts]], they managed to turn into literal werewolves with savage strength, meaning there's a possibility the gene-seed has a factor that lets them resist the influence of Chaos.

While many factions within the chapter are proud of how "potent" their gene-seed is, plenty of Space Wolves have constantly labored to stabilize their genome in order to found successors to cordon off the [[Eye of Terror]], and crusade against the [[Thousand Sons]], a plan called "the Sons of Russ." Once, [[Wolf Brothers|they got really close]], which [[Magnus the Red]] didn't like, so he took his Marines and bumped off the Wolf Priest in charge (and generally wrecked things for the Space Wolves), using some [[Tzeentch|Tzeentchian]] trickery to get an opening. In short, he [[gets shit done|got shit done!]].

===== Wolf Brothers =====
{{Main|Wolf Brothers}}
See Space Wolves above turned up to 11. As in the entire chapter devolved into werewolves.

==== Night Lords (VIII Legion) ====
{{Main|Night Lords}}
* Defective Occulobe (causing them to have black irises & sclera, enhanced night vision but more sensitive to bright light.)
* Malfunctioning Melanchromic Organ (their skin is always pale and their eyes are always dark. Much like the Raven Guards.)
* Occasional visions of the [[grimdark]] future, even if not a psyker
The Night Lords are officially the most stable of the Traitor Legions, a trait often put down to the fact that they rarely dwell in the [[Eye of Terror]]. That, and they don't even like Chaos or the gods. What little mutations there are are usually upon their Sorcerers...what ones have survived do not have them anymore either. There is one defect on Curze's Geneseed, and that is the Occulobe defect, causing them to have black irises & sclera, and astonishing sight in the dark, even more than a normal space marine. Although, there is a bad side of this effect: Light hurts their eyes like hell, and blinds them for a short time.
Also, Curze's gene-seed may have passed onto psykers within his Legion his "gift" of seeing the future in the worst way possible, and as scenarios that become self-fulfilling prophecies. In one case, it was found out that the Primarch's "gift" was actually the side effect of a marine's body slowly rejecting the gene-seed. Prior to receiving this gift, he never demonstrated '''any''' psychic capability. Even so, this situation is rare.

==== Blood Angels (IX Legion) ====
{{Main|Blood Angels}}
* Malfunctioning Omophagea implant (Occasional bouts of temporary [[Rip and tear|bloodthirsty, genocidal rage]], otherwise known as the [[Red Thirst]].)
** Occasional bouts of ''permanent'', [[Rip and tear|bloodthirsty, hallucinatory, genocidal rage]], better known as the [[Black Rage]].
* Extreme longevity.
* Can turn even mutants to Astartes, extremely adaptable.
Stable, but flawed. Prior to the [[Horus Heresy]], [[Sanguinius]] discovered that some of his sons were beginning to suffer the [[Red Thirst]], where they would descend into a thirst for blood, whether [[human]] or [[xenos]], in a blind rage. If that wasn't bad enough, as a result of Sanguinius's death at the hands of [[Horus]] imprinting itself on their genetic memory (or something), all Blood Angels and their successors have the [[Black Rage]]; a berserk rage where they [[Derp|believe themselves to be Sanguinius during his final battle]]. Meaning that Fucking Horus quite literally hit Sanguinius so hard that his grandchildren's-grandchildren's-ad-infinitum-children still feel it. Notable due to the age of the flaw it means that it does not register on genetic purity test since, as a first founding legion, any additional geneseed would be compared to an already 'tainted' baseline.

===== Angels Encarmine =====
* See the Blood Angels above, but with the Black Rage turned up to 10

===== Flesh Tearers =====
* See the Blood Angels above, but with the Black Rage turned up to 11.
* Also Red Thirst turned up to 10.

===== Knights of Blood =====
* See the Blood Angels above, but with the Black Rage and Red Thirst turned up to 12 (and the dial snapped off).
** It got so bad that they were declared renegade and not refounded after they sacrificed themselves to save the Flesh Tearers at Baal.

===== Blood Drinkers =====
* Malfunctioning Mucranoid (skin glands atrophy, causing the pores to close. Named the "Weaver" by the Blood Drinkers)
* See the Blood Angels above, but with the Red Thirst turned up to 10. Due to further mutation of the Omophagae implant.
* Black Rage turned down a notch, but this isn't genetic. The entire Chaplaincy is in on a Daemonic pact to reduce its impact.

===== Lamenters =====
* All the problems of Blood Angels (tho it took them longer to show).
* Being overly emotional sad sacks, but this is as justified as it gets because...
* Unlucky as all fucking hell. Best way to describe it is fate itself is just constantly giving them the middle finger. This might have something to do with them coming out of the Cursed 21st Founding.

==== Thousand Sons (XV Legion) ====
{{Main|Thousand Sons}}
* Increased chance of bringing out psychic powers, as well as amplified psychic power.
* Recipients subject to a high rate of mutation, called The Flesh Change; unstable.
The most unstable genome in the Space Marine legions, the Thousand Sons suffer from the Flesh-Change, a problem that caused Thousand Sons to mutate spontaneously. [[Magnus the Red]] fixed it, with some "[[Just as Planned|help]]" from [[Tzeentch]]. After the [[Horus Heresy]], the flesh-change came back with a vengeance. [[Ahzek Ahriman]] tried to fix it with his Rubric, and he did end up stopping the flesh-change... by turning all non-[[psyker]] Thousand Sons into dust; sorcerers also had their powers enhanced in addition to no longer suffering ill-effects from the Flesh-Change. So while theoretically, the Sorcerers of the long suffering Legion can provide gene-seed, in practice, it's corrupted so often that few will ever make new Marines. Thousand Sons specifically hunt for healthy and stable psyker boys to implant them with their oh-so-rare gene-seed to ensure the recipient would become a sorcerer. If "Masters, bidding!" TS character words to be trusted, Thousands Sons found a way to implant their progenoids into grown up men (so they can teach and test them for longer before implantation), and perform a scaled down Rubric on them to prevent the Flesh Change. According to Phil Kelly they also replenish their numbers by summoning back souls of destroyed Rubrics, and Magnus supposedly can bring back Sorcerers he isn't pissed off at, so gene-seed wouldn't matter much to them. It is known that Magnus the Red used his knowledge of Biomancy to turn his mentor Amon into an Astartes despite his old age, so its possible this technique was passed down to his Legion.

==== Raven Guard (XIX Legion) ====
{{Main|Raven Guard}}
* Malfunctioning Melanchromic Organ (their skin is always pale and their eyes are always dark. Anti-Salamanders, basically.)
* Missing Mucranoid (no super-sweat).
* Missing Betcher's Gland (no acid spit).
* Occasional bouts of suicidal rage (Luckily for them this is not permanent unlike a certain other chapter.)

While their primary gene-seed is decently stable, when under extreme stress a percentage Raven Guard warriors will lapse into bouts of suicidal rage known as Ash Blindness or Sable Brand. This is rarely permanent, but occurred with enough frequency that [[Corax]] would organize these warriors into the [[Moritat]]. Their missing and malfunctioning geneseed organs is a result of [[Corax]], out of desperation following the [[Drop Site Massacre]], delving into use of forbidden lore and archeo-tech from days long past to accelerate gene-seed maturation, and try to boost his Legion's numbers after their losses during the [[Horus Heresy]]. He was successful, until the [[Alpha Legion]] decided to make the whole project go FUBAR. The subsequent 'Marines', if they can be called that, were numerous, but were barely controllable monsters and/or would simply die off as a result of the extreme imbalances in their dispositions. Presumably, a few of them would even have functioning Progenoids, let alone usable gene-seed. Due to the law of averages though, at least a FEW would have had to been stable enough, and is being worked on secretly by the Raven Guard Apothecaries and associated [[Adeptus Mechanicus|Mechanicus]] Biologicans.

Otherwise, despite being pretty fucked up by the [[Drop Site Massacre]], they've mostly recovered (thanks in no small part to having the ''only'' loyalist Primarch to get away from the Massacre in one piece) and do still contribute to successors [[Death Spectres|here]] and [[Raptors (Chapter)|there]].

===== Raptors =====
* Same as the Raven Guard, except they have functional Bletchers Glands (making them more like [[Night Lords|another black-eyed / pale skinned gene-line]]).

===== Death Spectres =====
* Similar Melanchromic Organ as Raven Guard, though a specific shade of albino and their eyes universally glowing red (basically albino Salamanders).
** also gives them a 100% certain chance of alopecia. (They are genetically bald From the day they were born till the day they die)

==== Marines Errant (Ultramarines Successors) ====
* Suffer a psychological flaw called "Crusaders Call", which makes them unable to refuse the call for a crusade. This flaw manifests in three stages:
** Stage 1 - Unending Valour: The Battle-Brother has become filled with pride in the history of his Chapter's bravery and devotion and sees his own existence as a vital part of continuing its traditions. When his squad is required to do its duty he will make sure that it is carried out, squashing any doubt his fellow Battle-Brothers might have or any weakness they might show in the face of honour.
** Stage 2 - Duty through Sacrifice: True duty can only be proven in death or an equally potent sacrifice, a fact which is known to all true servants of the God-Emperor. The Battle-Brother knows that to prove himself he must be the one to stand in the way of the blade or shield his comrades from the blast, so that there can be no doubt about his devotion or his loyalty to the Emperor.
** Stage 3 - Lead the Charge: In boarding actions, the greatest honour goes to those first through the breech and first to face the foe. The Battle-Brother accepts that he must take this role as his honour demands it, and it is just another way to prove his courage and loyalty in the eyes of his peers. If there is a choice or a chance to lead a charge or be the first to face the enemy, the Battle-Brother must take it. Furthermore he will seek out such opportunities, volunteering for dangerous duties if they mean he will get to lead others into the fray. In combat, the Battle-Brother will also seek out the most dangerous or powerful-looking foes, even at the cost of ignoring closer or more pressing enemies to his brethren's tactical disadvantage.

It is unclear if these are actually geneseed flaws or cultural issues ascribed to geneseed.

==== Soul Drinkers ====
* Enhanced Omophagea organ (In addition to gaining the consumed creature's memories, the Soul Drinkers could also experience the creature's emotions during the events recorded in their memories as a result of their mutation). This is despite being a 2nd Founding chapter, such that their gene-seed shouldn't have had flaws like that. And the gene-seed was enhanced, not degraded....

==== Blood Ravens ====
{{Main|Blood Ravens}}
* A mutated Catalepsean Node - gives them perfect memory recall, but unable to enter REM (deep) sleep.
* Increased chance of bringing out and enhancing psychic powers.
* Small tendency towards mutations (hurr sounds like [[Thousand Sons|any other Legions]] we know of?).
* Horrendously massive tendency to develop kleptomania.
* The pores in their scalps secrete a substance not all too dissimilar to hair gel, often resulting in a higher tendency to develop hair-etical hair compared to other chapters.
** Alternatively, the pores on their scalps may prevent hair from growing altogether, giving the marine Astartes-pattern baldness. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZfvIg_M5yE It has been long thought to be a terrible weapon to behold.]
* Unknown mutation referred to as "unavailable voice actor syndrome" that results in their voices changing every few years.

==== Carcharadons ====
* Malfunctioning Melanchromic Organ (pale skin and black eyes like the Night Lords and Raven Guard)
* Mental deterioration called "Chill of the Void". This deterioration proceeds like a mini-version of what Konrad Curze went through as he became the Night Haunter. This deterioration occurs in three stages:
** Stage 1 - Coldly Formal: The Battle-Brother withdraws even more from the company of his colleagues, taking refuge in a chill and formal demeanour. In addition, the Battle-Brother tends to speak almost entirely in High Gothic when addressing a non-Carcharodon, although they can speak in Low Gothic if need be (but they really do not want to).
** Stage 2 - Merciless: The Battle-Brother does not tolerate any enemy, whether xenos, Heretic, or even fellow humans who may have been misled into rebellion against the Imperium's rightful rule. The Battle-Brother grimly executes any opponent he encounters, even if they have surrendered, possess valuable intelligence, or are not front-line combatants.
** Stage 3 - Silent as the Depths: The Battle-Brother withdraws almost entirely from interacting with others. He will not lead squads and will almost always carry out missions on his own.

==== Black Dragons ====
* Extreme Ossmodula defect. causes them to grow bone spikes all over. Including full on Wolverine type claws from their arms.
* Moderate Betcher’s Gland defect. Their mouths, both inside and lips, are usually black in colouration. So too, their tongues, which taper to a sharp point like a dagger.
Also causes purple venom to be secreted from their teeth (which resemble fangs) and their tongue.

==== Flame Falcons ====
* Spontaneous combustion into warp fire.
* Increased abilities from said spontaneous combustion instead of horribly burning to death.

==== Minotaurs (21st Cursed Founding-type) ====
* '''ABSOLUTELY BATSHIT GOD DAMN ASSFUCK INSANE'''

These guys had....problems....big problems. They'd basically wipe their asses with any battle plans made by other Imperial forces, before bee lining it to the nearest horde of enemies (not bothering with any of that pussy shit like "recon", "intel", or "even bothering to look out the window at the enemy") and rushing into melee ranges to [[RIP AND TEAR]]. But, this doesn't apply to the original and current units. You see, the Minotaurs chapter have a good chance of actually being a cover to get a loyalist (they had missed out on the Heresy entirely due to their distant posting and spent the interim years unaware of the situation holding the frontier) Iron Warrior garrison unit rediscovered in the [[Great Scouring]] legitimized by the [[High Lords of Terra]]. See their article ([[Minotaurs]]) or the [[Traitor Legion Loyalists]] article for further details.

==== Sons of Antaeus ====
* Unknown mutation that makes them exceptionally durable and tough. To the point of easily being a match for the Death Guard (who are boosted by Chaos energies).

==== Storm Giants ====
* Unusually physically strong, even by Astartes standards. Speculated to be from a mutation or alteration in their Biscopea.

=== A Note On That Sick Fuck Fabius Bile ===

[[Fabius Bile]] is fucking insane. I mean shit, his labcoat is made of <strike>human</strike> ASTARTES skin - normally only [[Space Wolves]] and [[Night Lords]] wear clothing made of that stuff. While originally the Chief Apothecary of the Emperor's Children, he is now a freelancer. His goal even before the Heresy was to find and unlock the secret to the creation of the Space Marines. In the [[Warp]], he provides a valuable service to the Chaos Legion warbands and their auxiliaries of billions more regular Chaos humans - while often millions strong even now, the warbands still need to replenish their numbers. Considering how many die and how often they are away from any place where they can produce more, that's a lot. Even with slave raiding into the Imperium, child abduction both in and out, breeding centers (stop touching yourself), and many [[Daemonculaba|other creative ideas]], it's still not enough. Fabius provides services of human cloning, along with gene-seed production, among his many skills. As he is not a super-devotee of Chaos, the gene-seed he has and makes is some of the least corrupted found within the [[Eye Of Terror]]. Of course, he fucks this all up by hopping up his own warband's clones with the same psycho drugs and shit that make monsters out of men. Lore hints that his genetic tinkering is far more than we have been lead to believe - much of his 'changes' to even the standard human genome are genetic and now passable by both men and [[Female Space Marines|women]]. Even now, the Imperium is trying to hunt and eradicate what they call his '[[Twilight|New Men]]'. He also has access to a small quantity of what is alleged to be the blood of the Primarch Sanguinius. Why did he get that last part? To clone the Emperor. Never let it be said that this fuck, sick as he may be, lacks ambition.
</div>
<div style="margin-left:1em;">

===21st Founding ===
{{Main|21st Founding}}
Over the millennia, further mutations have afflicted the many Successor Chapters, but the 21st or "Cursed" Founding deserves a special mention, because a bunch of [[Adeptus Mechanicus|tech-priests]] decided that they wanted to try and fix the flaws, but failed so hard they actually created some new ones.

* Bursting into Flames: Yes, the [[Flame Falcons]] really were covered in fire. The Flame Falcons thought it was a blessing from the [[God-Emperor of Mankind]], but the [[Inquisition]] disagreed, and sent the [[Grey Knights]] to wipe them out.
* Bone Growths: Due to a malfunctioning Ossmudula, the [[Black Dragons]] suffer a bone solid growth to harden and extend from their forehead and forearms during times of stress. The ones on the forearm can be used as weapons against unarmored opponents, so they decided to coat them in adamantium. So in essence, they're space-Wolverine-after-the-bone-claws kind of guys. Issue is that this is a very visible mutation, and as this is the [[Grimdark|grim]][[Derp|derp]] Imperium, mutations from the sacred human form are EVUL, even if they are fucking awesome.
* Indestructibility: The [[Sons of Antaeus]] are much tougher than normal marines, and nobody knows why. Some speculate something about a super-reinforced skeleton, some say it's [[Nurgle]]'s doing, etc. The only real truth to it is that there's some sort of mutation present in the gene-seed.
* Bad Luck: The [[Lamenters]] chapter's modifications seemed to have fixed the Red Thirst and Black Rage, but as a trade off they seem to be cursed with some of the worst possible luck, essentially giving up the Khornate Curse for a Tzeentchian one. Many other chapters of the 21st Founding were also cursed with bad luck but the Lamenters are the only known ones that didn't get wiped out by it so that may say something about how badass they are.

=== A Note On Implant Organs/DNA Elsewhere ===

While the SPHESS MAHREENS are the most widespread users of artificial glands, organs, and such, they are not the only ones. [[Inquisitor]]s likely have access to organs or other artificial mutations they require thanks to their influence in the Imperium. Depending on what world they hail from and its beliefs, Imperial Guard regiments and PDF may also have artificial organs, or even whole new ones derived from millennia of mutations, which of course has certain advantages. Furthermore, Warp Exposure can result in a change of the functions of organs - a simple example of this is the [[Cadia]]ns, who nearly universally have powerful, violet colored eyes. [[Gland War Veteran|Gland Warriors]] were an [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] project to help legions of Guardsmen heading into battle against a [[Tyranid]] hive fleet. They were to do battle in an incredibly toxic and hard environment, and a variety of experimental organs and DNA strands were utilized - including organs that would secrete stims, painkillers, and various medical drugs, more powerful natural air filters, and the like. While only [[grimdark|three survived]] the whole campaign in the end, the AdMech was pleased and took the three to be debriefed.

It is also noted that Gene-seed can be decoded, but it requires eons of knowledge about biology, medicine, and so on. Only the Emperor or AdMech, with their advanced equipment, is able to do so (and even the AdMech couldn't fully work it out). The hard part is to decode the "impossibly complex" amino acid chains of the gene-seed (which FYI makes no sense, since DNA is encoded in nucleic acid base pairs, and amino acids are used to construct proteins but whatever) and extract the necessary information encoded within the Gland's stored zygotes. [[Thunder_Warriors|Arik Taranis]] was able to decode it in a dusty, old, half-broken lab—with a box of scraps—using the knowledge gleaned by just watching the Emperor work, and remade it to fit in his Thunder Warrior body.

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Space Marines]]

Graviton weapons

2023-06-06T20:52:21Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

'''Graviton weapons''' (not to be confused with [[Grav-Weaponry]]) are weapons wielded by [[Space Marines]] during the [[Horus Heresy]] and to a lesser extent during the 41st millennium. They are mostly used in boarding actions, where the explosive ammunition of [[bolters]] and other weapons would be dangerous to the weapon's user.

They come in man-portable size (the graviton gun) and vehicle-mounted size (the graviton cannon), but the only difference is range (18" vs. 36") and blast size (3" vs. 5"). They have the Concussion and Haywire special rules, but rather than having a strength, targets are forced to roll a d6, hoping to roll under or equal to their Strength (while avoiding a 6, which always fails). The region hit by a graviton weapon remains dangerous and difficult terrain for the following turn due to graviton flux.

== History ==

The graviton gun was released in [[Imperial Armour Volume Nine]]: The [[Badab War]] Part One as part of the '''Zone Mortalis''' mission sets as a stratagem that players may take, but the weapon persists all over the 30k series as a common special weapon alternative to plasma/meltaguns.

The 6th edition Space Marines codex gave them yet another kind of graviton toy, the reason for this was explained in Horus Heresy III - Extermination which revealed that the later "Grav" weapons are simply weaponised versions of the original design, which also had the benefit of being easier to manufacture.

Therefore it is easy to assume that the old graviton weapons just became rarer and rarer while all the kids are playing with Grav-guns these days.

[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Space Marines]]

Fortress-Monastery

2023-06-06T20:51:51Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:WhiteScars.JPG|200px|thumb|right|The Quan Zhou Fortress-Monastery of the [[White Scars]], located on [[Chogoris]].]]
A ''Fortress-Monastery'' is the central headquarters of a [[Space Marine Chapter]]. As [[Space Marines]] are viewed as warrior monks, a Fortress-Monastery holds elements of both a military base and an abbey. Exactly what constitutes a Fortress-Monastery will vary depending on the Chapter in question. Most Chapters will have their Fortress-Monastery based on their homeworld, usually isolated from the rest of the planet's population. In Fleet-based Chapters, the Fortress-Monastery may either be a star fort or space station (such as the [[Imperial Fists]] ''[[Phalanx]]'') or [[battle-barge]] which serves as the Chapter's flagship (such as the [[Black Templars]]' ''Eternal Crusader'').

==Overview==
Taking no chances with regards to defence, a Fortress-Monastery will be the most well defended bastion of [[Imperium of Man|Imperial]] strength on the planet it is located (the fact that most Space Marine Chapters live on [[Feral World|Feral]] and [[Death World]]s whose inhabitants are usually unaware of the greater galaxy is not an issue). Indeed, the only way a Fortress-Monastery is ''not'' the most defended base in the entire sector is on the off chance another Space Marine Fortress-Monastery is located in the same sector (though as the Night Lords and Red Corsairs demonstrate to the Marines-Errant, that sometimes doesn't amount to as much as it implies).

Each Monastery will have different buildings and substructures as per tradition or need, but the following locations are almost always present:

*Apothecarion: The fortress-monastery's medical center, where surgical suites for transforming Neophytes into full Astartes is done. It is also the place where [[gene-seed]] is housed and as such is possibly the most heavily warded and fortified area in the entire monastery. Possesses facilities to assist [[Apothecary|Apothecaries]] in gathering genetic data from progenoids and cultivate them into gene-seed organs.
*Armoury: The abode of the Master of the Forge and his [[Techmarine]]s. Serves as the Chapter's motor pool, forge, ammo dump, repair shops, and chapel to the [[Omnissiah]] all in one. Several Chapters with unique equipment, such as the [[Blood Angels]] and the [[Dark Angels]], have special [[Standard Template Construct|Standard Template Constructors]] which fashion unique vehicles and weapons. The Chapter's [[Dreadnought]]s will often be housed in a subsection of the Armory.
*Chapter Master's quarters: The private throne room and personal cell of the [[Chapter Master]]. Frequently the Chapter Council, composed of the chapter's [[Brother-Captain]]s and other senior officers, will meet here to plan campaigns and handle other official matters regarding the chapter as a whole.
*Communal dormitories: Housing for the [[Chapter Serf]]s, when they aren't attending to their duties. Depending on the chapter in question this may be a whole wing of the monastery or simply a janitor's closet next to the sewage system.
*Company blocks: Dormitories for each of the chapter's companies. Each Astartes is given a single small room, called a cell, which houses a bunk and a place to store their [[Power Armour]] and other nick-nacks. Each squad has a personal arming chamber which stores their weapons, ammunition, and replacement parts for their Power Armour. The Brother-Captain will have a larger cell that serves as an office where he can work on the logistical matters of company leadership and a private arming chamber. Each Company block will also house a Company chapel, where the [[Chaplain]] will lead them in prayer.
*Librarium: The abode of the [[Librarian]]s, where the Chapter's records are housed and where potential Librarians are tested. The Chapter's [[Astropath]]s will often work from warded cells located here as well.
*Reclusiam: The abode of the Chaplains, where rituals involving the whole Chapter, such as the coronation of a new Chapter Master or a funeral for an entire company, will be held. The Reclusiam also contains ancient Chapter relics and is overseen by the Reclusiarch, a post sometimes held by the Master of Sanctity. Think of a museum located in the middle of a Cathedral.

==Notable Fortress-Monasteries==

===First Founding===

*'''[[The Rock]]''': The Fortress-Monastery of the [[Dark Angels]]. Originally known as the ''Tower of Angels'', served as the primary headquarters of the Dark Angels on [[Caliban]]; its impressive [[void shields]] allowed it and the country size landmass (not hyperbole) it sits on to survive the planet's destruction. In the aftermath, the chapter installed massive warp and real-space engines into it's bulk, effectively turning an otherwise ordinary asteroid into one of the deadliest vessels in the Imperium. The Rock also serves as <s>a miniature Gitmo ''really, it's more Alcatraz'' for the [[Fallen Angels]]</s> NOTHING MORE THAN A STANDARD FORTRESS-MONASTERY, BECAUSE THE DARK ANGELS HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.
*'''Quan Zhou:''' The Fortress-Monastery of the [[White Scars]], located on [[Chogoris]]. Originally the site of [[Jaghatai Khan]]'s fortress in the Khum Kharta mountains, like the Blood Angels Fortress-Monastery, the White Scars fortress-monastery went years without an official name before finally getting one in 6th Edition. Perhaps its most notable feature is that the procession leading up to the fortress's main gate is lined with the [[Ork|pike born rotting heads]] of the chapter's enemies.
*'''The Fang:''' The Fortress-Monastery of the [[Space Wolves]], and the tallest mountain on [[Fenris]], also one of the three most fortified locations in the Imperium ''(The others being [[Terra]] and the [[Imperial Knight|Keep Inviolate]] on [[Imperial Worlds|Kolossi]])'' Unsurprisingly, whoever did the Fenrisian to Imperial Gothic translation screwed up. The Wolves (who call themselves the ''Vlka Fenryka'') refer to their fortress-monastery as the ''Aett'', which in Imperial Gothic means "clan home" or "den".
*'''[[The Phalanx]]:''' The Fortress-Monastery of the [[Imperial Fists]]. While it's origins remain conflicted it was first encountered by the Emperor during the Great Crusade in the [[Inwit]] System piloted by [[Rogal Dorn]]. Phalanx is described as the largest and most destructive man made creation in the Imperium. The size of a moon/planetoid, it's size is so vast that it shines like a star. It has bitch slapped everything it has come across and was totally badass during The 13th Black Crusade.
*'''Arx Angelicum:''' The Fortress-Monastery of the [[Blood Angels]], built upon Mount Seraph, the largest mountain on [[Baal]]. Despite more than 25 years, four novels, and three and a half codices (they split ''Codex: Angels of Death'' with the Dark Angels in 2nd edition) the damn thing wasn't given a name until Guy Haley's recent Dante novel.
*'''[[Land-Behemoth|Land-Behemoths]]:''' The Fortress-Monasteries of the [[Iron Hands]]. The planet [[Medusa]], the Iron Hands homeworld, is so tectonically unstable that the Iron Hands cannot risk making a single structure to house their gene-seed, Armoury, and Chapter relics, so each clan-company uses an [[Centurio Ordinatus|Ordinatus]]-sized vehicle known as a Land-Behemoth to travel around in.
*'''Fortress of Hera:''' The Fortress-Monastery of the [[Ultramarines]], located in the Mountains of Hera on [[Macragge]]. It was the site where [[Roboute Guilliman]]'s gestation pod landed as well, hence the significance of the place to begin with. Notable for housing the [[Spiritual Liege]] (until he got woken up by [[Belisarius Cawl|an old man in red robes]] and [[Yvraine|a sassy Eldar lass]], that is), being huge and having Maccrage's capital city, Magna Macragge Civitas, situated in the plain below its walls.
*'''Prometheus:''' The Fortress-Monastery of the [[Salamanders]]. Prometheus is the moon of [[Nocturne]], but in reality, the fortress-monastery is little more than a spaceport and barracks for the First Company, while the bulk of the Salamanders Chapter live in the Chapter's company Bastions in and around Nocturne's Sanctuary Cities.
*'''Ravenspire:''' The Fortress-Monastery of the [[Raven Guard]], located on [[Deliverance]]. Originally the guard tower for the Kiavharan enslavers, the Ravenspire was re-purposed as the stronghold of the Deliverance freedom fighters. [[Corvus Corax]] has a delicious sense of irony. Its edifice still bears the scars of battle received during the slave uprising ten thousand years later.

===Later Foundings===

*'''Eternal Crusader''': Fortress-monastery of the [[Black Templars]]. A heavily modified [[battlebarge]] which serves as the flagship of the High Marshal and base of the Black Templars. Later revealed to have been the Imperial Fist's designated [[Gloriana-class Battleship|Gloriana]] class ship during the Crusade, Dorn giving to the Templars as the Fists have the Phalanx.
*'''Watch fortress Erioch''': Space Fortress of the Deathwatch. Currently hanging around Segmentum Ultima.
*'''Arx Tyrannus''': Formerly located in the Hellblade mountains on Rynn's World, "Tyrants Fortress" was the home of the Crimson Fists before a surface to space missile malfunctioned and blew it to smithereens along with most of the chapter. The monastery was built around a landed battle-barge of the chapter sizable fleet when they took stewardship of the planet in roughly 800.M40.
*'''The Proud Eyrie''': Home of the [[Howling Griffons]] chapter located on their homeworld of Mancora. Built from the seeming remains of one of their chapter fleet's ships. Also, one of the few Chapter Monasteries we actually have a picture of.
*'''Raptorus Rex''': Fortress-Monastery of the [[Fire Hawks]], a warp-capable ''Ramilles''-class Star Fort. Lost in the warp with all hands. Possibly now owned by the [[Legion of the Damned]].
*'''Palace of Thorns''': The seat of power of the [[Lugft Huron|Tyrant of Badab]] and his renegade [[Astral Claws]]. It was destroyed during the climax of the [[Badab War]] when several loyalist chapters launched an assault against it.
*'''Memento Mori''': Fortress-Ossuary of the [[Star Phantoms]]. A [[battle-barge]] currently parked on the ice moon Jhaga in the ruins of the [[Badab Sector]]. The name means "Remember Death" and is shared with several other imperial (and chaos) starships.
*'''Nicor''': Fortress-Monastery and flagship of the [[Carcharodons]]. This Battle Barge dates back to the Great Crusade and is equipped with stronger void-shields than normal for a ship of its type, [[World Eaters|fuck-huge harpoons used to pull any poor enemy ships close]] so that the Space Sharks can [[Rip and Tear|do what they do the best]], something called the "Plasma Destructor", and [[Awesome|a massive teleport system capable of teleporting entire battle companies at once]]. It also has a gigantic shark tank built into the back of the bridge (for the record, both the tank and the sharks inside are gigantic), cementing the Chararadon's as having the coolest ship in the galaxy.

==See Also==
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kihIexKXJA| A slice of life in a Fortress-Monastery]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HowlingGriffonsFortress-ProudAerie.jpg|The Proud Aerie, Fortress-Monastery of the Howling Griffons.
</gallery>
[[Category:Space Marines]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]

Cowled Wardens

2023-06-06T20:50:16Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{stub}}
{{Infobox Spess Mahreen Chapter
|Name = Cowled Wardens
|Heraldry = Unknown
|Battle Cry = Unknown
|Number =
|Founding = Unknown
|Successors of = [[Dark Angels]]
|Successor Chapters =
|Chapter Master = Unknown
|Primarch = [[Lion El'Jonson]]
|Homeworld = Fleet Based
|Specialty = Investigating the [[Fallen Angels|Fallen]] in the Teras of Piruz
|Strength = Unknown
|Allegiance = [[Imperium]]
|Colours = Purple/Black
}}

The '''Cowled Wardens''' are a [[Dark Angels]] Successor Chapter mentioned in the 9th Edition codex. They operate out of several hollowed-out asteroids in the Sirikoid Belt in a region called the Teras of Piruz. Their cover story is that they are purging a [[xenos]] race called the Jehangir, but, of course, they are actually there to investigate a local network of [[Fallen Angels]]. Not that they probably aren't also purging a species of nasty space monsters.

[[Category: Space Marines]] [[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
{{Marines-Official}}

Cowled Wardens

2023-06-06T20:50:06Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{stub}}
{{Infobox Spess Mahreen Chapter
|Name = Cowled Wardens
|Heraldry = Unknown
|Battle Cry = Unknown
|Number =
|Founding = Unknown
|Successors of = [[Dark Angels]]
|Successor Chapters =
|Chapter Master = Unknown
|Primarch = [[Lion El'Jonson]]
|Homeworld = Fleet Based
|Specialty = Investigating the [[Fallen Angels|Fallen]]in the Teras of Piruz
|Strength = Unknown
|Allegiance = [[Imperium]]
|Colours = Purple/Black
}}

The '''Cowled Wardens''' are a [[Dark Angels]] Successor Chapter mentioned in the 9th Edition codex. They operate out of several hollowed-out asteroids in the Sirikoid Belt in a region called the Teras of Piruz. Their cover story is that they are purging a [[xenos]] race called the Jehangir, but, of course, they are actually there to investigate a local network of [[Fallen Angels]]. Not that they probably aren't also purging a species of nasty space monsters.

[[Category: Space Marines]] [[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
{{Marines-Official}}

Cowled Wardens

2023-06-06T20:48:38Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{stub}}
{{Infobox Spess Mahreen Chapter
|Name = Cowled Wardens
|Heraldry = Unknown
|Battle Cry = Unknown
|Number =
|Founding = Unknown
|Successors of = [[Dark Angels]]
|Successor Chapters =
|Chapter Master = Unknown
|Primarch = [[Lion El'Jonson]]
|Homeworld = Fleet Based
|Specialty = Investigating Fallen in the Teras of Piruz
|Strength = Unknown
|Allegiance = [[Imperium]]
|Colours = Purple/Black
}}

The '''Cowled Wardens''' are a [[Dark Angels]] Successor Chapter mentioned in the 9th Edition codex. They operate out of several hollowed-out asteroids in the Sirikoid Belt in a region called the Teras of Piruz. Their cover story is that they are purging a [[xenos]] race called the Jehangir, but, of course, they are actually there to investigate a local network of [[Fallen Angels]]. Not that they probably aren't also purging a species of nasty space monsters.

[[Category: Space Marines]] [[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
{{Marines-Official}}

Cowled Wardens

2023-06-06T20:48:19Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{stub}}
{{Infobox Spess Mahreen Chapter
|Name = Cowled Wardens
|Heraldry = Unknown
|Battle Cry = Unknown
|Number =
|Founding = Unknown
|Successors of = [[Dark Angels]]
|Successor Chapters =
|Chapter Master = Unknown
|Primarch = [[Lion El'Jonson]]
|Homeworld = Fleet Based
|Specialty = Unknown
|Strength = Unknown
|Allegiance = [[Imperium]]
|Colours = Purple/Black
}}

The '''Cowled Wardens''' are a [[Dark Angels]] Successor Chapter mentioned in the 9th Edition codex. They operate out of several hollowed-out asteroids in the Sirikoid Belt in a region called the Teras of Piruz. Their cover story is that they are purging a [[xenos]] race called the Jehangir, but, of course, they are actually there to investigate a local network of [[Fallen Angels]]. Not that they probably aren't also purging a species of nasty space monsters.

[[Category: Space Marines]] [[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
{{Marines-Official}}

Cowled Wardens

2023-06-06T20:47:48Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{stub}}
{{Infobox Spess Mahreen Chapter
|Name = Cowled Wardens
|Heraldry = Unknown
|Battle Cry = Unknown
|Number =
|Founding = Unknown
|Successors of = [[Dark Angels]])
|Successor Chapters =
|Chapter Master = Unknown
|Primarch = [[Lion El'Jonson]])
|Homeworld = Fleet Based
|Specialty = Unknown
|Strength = Unknown
|Allegiance = [[Imperium]]
|Colours = Purple/Black
}}

The '''Cowled Wardens''' are a [[Dark Angels]] Successor Chapter mentioned in the 9th Edition codex. They operate out of several hollowed-out asteroids in the Sirikoid Belt in a region called the Teras of Piruz. Their cover story is that they are purging a [[xenos]] race called the Jehangir, but, of course, they are actually there to investigate a local network of [[Fallen Angels]]. Not that they probably aren't also purging a species of nasty space monsters.

[[Category: Space Marines]] [[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
{{Marines-Official}}

Cowled Wardens

2023-06-06T20:46:00Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{stub}}
{{Infobox Spess Mahreen Chapter
|Name = Dark Hands
|Heraldry = [[Image:DarkHandsPlate.jpg|center|140px]]
|Battle Cry = Unknown
|Number =
|Founding = Unknown
|Successors of = Unknown (possibly [[Dark Angels]])
|Successor Chapters =
|Chapter Master = Unknown
|Primarch = Unknown (possibly [[Lion El'Jonson]])
|Homeworld = Unknown
|Specialty = Unknown
|Strength = Unknown
|Allegiance = [[Imperium]]
|Colours = Mint green with black fists and poleyns with company color aquila
}}

The '''Cowled Wardens''' are a [[Dark Angels]] Successor Chapter mentioned in the 9th Edition codex. They operate out of several hollowed-out asteroids in the Sirikoid Belt in a region called the Teras of Piruz. Their cover story is that they are purging a [[xenos]] race called the Jehangir, but, of course, they are actually there to investigate a local network of [[Fallen Angels]]. Not that they probably aren't also purging a species of nasty space monsters.

[[Category: Space Marines]] [[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
{{Marines-Official}}

Cowled Wardens

2023-06-06T20:45:28Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{stub}}
The '''Cowled Wardens''' are a [[Dark Angels]] Successor Chapter mentioned in the 9th Edition codex. They operate out of several hollowed-out asteroids in the Sirikoid Belt in a region called the Teras of Piruz. Their cover story is that they are purging a [[xenos]] race called the Jehangir, but, of course, they are actually there to investigate a local network of [[Fallen Angels]]. Not that they probably aren't also purging a species of nasty space monsters.

[[Category: Space Marines]] [[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
{{Marines-Official}}

Template:Marines-Official

2023-06-06T20:45:00Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

<center>
{|class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed table" cellpadding=2 style="margin: 1em; border: 2px solid black;border-collapse: collapse;border-spacing:1em 0em;"
|-
! align=center colspan=2 style="background-color:#3399ff;color:white;" | [[Space Marine Chapter|Chapters]] of the [[Adeptus Astartes]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[First Founding]] (M29):''' || [[Blood Angels]] - [[Dark Angels]] - [[Imperial Fists]] [[Iron Hands]] - [[Raven Guard]] - [[Salamanders]] [[Space Wolves]] - [[Ultramarines]] - [[White Scars]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Second Founding]] (021.M31):''' || [[Angels of Absolution]] - [[Angels Encarmine]] - [[Angels Porphyr]] [[Angels of Redemption]] - [[Angels Sanguine]] - [[Angels of Vengeance]] [[Angels Vermillion]] - [[Aurora Chapter]] - [[Black Consuls]] [[Black Guard]] - [[Black Templars]] - [[Blood Drinkers]] [[Brazen Claws]] - [[Crimson Fists]] - [[Destroyers]] [[Doom Eagles]] - [[Eagle Warriors]] - [[Excoriators]] [[Fists Exemplar]] - [[Flesh Tearers]] - [[Genesis Chapter]] [[Inceptors]] - [[Iron Snakes]] - [[Libators]] [[Lions Sable]] - [[Marauders]] - [[Mortifactors]] [[Nemesis]] - [[Novamarines]] - [[Obsidian Glaives]] [[Patriarchs of Ulixis]] - [[Purple Stars]] - [[Praetors of Orpheus]] [[Rampagers]] - [[Raptors (Chapter)|Raptors]] - [[Red Talons]] [[Revilers]] - [[Silver Eagles]] - [[Silver Skulls]] [[Soul Drinkers]] - [[Storm Lords]] - [[White Consuls]] [[Wolf Brothers]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Third Founding|Third]] to Twelfth Founding (M32-M35):''' || [[Astral Claws]] - [[Angels Penitent]] - [[Angels Revenant]] [[Charnel Guard]] - [[Dark Paladins]] - [[Executioners]] - [[Flesh Eaters]] [[Halo Brethren]] - [[Howling Griffons]] - [[Iron Knights]] [[Mantis Warriors]] - [[Marines Malevolent]] - [[Night Swords]] [[Sable Swords]] (initial) - [[Scythes of the Emperor]] - [[Space Sharks]] [[Sons of Guilliman]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Thirteenth Founding]] (M35):''' || [[Death Spectres]] - [[Exorcists]]
|-
| align=right|'''Fourteenth to Twentieth Founding:''' || [[Angels of Fire]] - [[Avenging Sons]] - [[Celebrants]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Twenty-First Founding]] (991.M35):''' || [[Black Dragons]] - [[Blood Gorgons]] - [[Legion of the Damned|Fire Hawks]] [[Flame Falcons]] - [[Lamenters]] - [[Minotaurs]] [[Sons of Antaeus]] - [[Tiger Claws]]
|-
| align=right|'''Twenty-Second to Twenty-Sixth Founding (M35-M41):''' || [[Angels of Vigilance]] - [[Celestial Lions]] - [[Dark Hunters]] [[Disciples of Caliban]] - [[Emperor's Spears]] - [[Fire Angels]] [[Hospitallers]] - [[Imperial Harbingers]] - [[Iron Lords]] - [[Knights of the Raven]] [[Marines Errant]] - [[Mentors]] - [[Relictors|Fire Claws/Relictors]] [[Star Phantoms]] - [[Subjugators]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Ultima Founding]] (999.M41/000.M42 to 012.M42):''' || [[Angels of Defiance]] - [[Black Vipers]] - [[Blades of Vengeance]] [[Castellans of the Rift]] - [[Covenant of Fire]] - [[Dark Krakens]] [[Fulminators]] - [[Knights Cerulean]] - [[Knights of the Chalice]] - [[Knights of Thunder]] [[Necropolis Hawks]] - [[Nemesors]] - [[Praetors of Ultramar]] [[Prime Absolvers]] [[Rift Stalkers]] - [[Silver Drakes]] - [[Silver Templars]] - [[Sons of the Phoenix]] [[Storm Reapers]] - [[Umbral Knights]] - [[Unnumbered Sons]] [[Valiant Blades]] - [[Void Tridents]] - [[Wolfspear]]
|-
| align=right|'''Unknown Founding:''' || [[Absolvers]] - [[Accipiters]] - [[Adulators]] [[Angel Guard]] - [[Angels Eradicant]] - [[Angels of Retribution]] [[Astral Knights]] - [[Blood Ravens]] - [[Blood Swords]] [[Brazen Drakes]] - [[Brothers Penitent]] - [[Carmine Blades]] - [[Cowled Wardens]] [[Crimson Castellans]] - [[Crimson Consuls]] - [[Crimson Scythes]] - [[Dark Hands]] [[Dark Sons]] - [[Death Eagles]] - [[Doom Warriors]] [[Emperor's Shadows]] - [[Fire Lords]] - [[Guardians of the Covenant]] [[Graven Spectres]] - [[Hammers of Dorn]] - [[Harbingers]] [[Hawk Lords]] - [[Invaders]] - [[Iron Crusaders]] [[Iron Talons]] - [[Jade Dragons]] - [[Knights of Blood]] [[Knights Unyielding]] - [[Marines Exemplar]] - [[The Nameless]] [[Night Watch]] - [[Rainbow Warriors]] - [[Reclaimers]] [[Red Hunters]] - [[Red Scorpions]] - [[Red Seraphs]] [[Red Templars]] - [[Retributors]] - [[Sable Swords]] (refounded) [[Shadow Wolves]] - [[Solar Hawks]] - [[Sons of Orar]] [[Star Dragons]] - [[Stormwatchers]] - [[Storm Giants]] [[Storm Wardens]] - [[Valedictors]] - [[Viper Legion]] [[Vorpal Swords]] - [[White Templars]] - [[Storm Wings]]
|-
| align=right|'''Unsanctioned Founding:''' || [[Consecrators]] (founding unknown, but likely after 2nd Founding) [[Sons of Medusa]] (separated from parent Chapters, ratified by edict) [[Steel Confessors]] (de facto 22nd Founding, de jure ratified by edict) [[Ashen Claws]] (separatist Raven Guard Legion exiles, nominal loyalists)
|-
| align=right|'''Others:''' || [[Astartes Praeses]] - [[Deathwatch]] - [[Grey Knights]] [[Judged]] - [[Legion of the Damned]]
|}
</center>[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Imperial]][[Category:Space Marines]][[Category:Official Space Marine Chapters]]<noinclude>[[Category:40k Templates]]</noinclude>

Template:Marines-Official

2023-06-06T20:44:18Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

<center>
{|class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed table" cellpadding=2 style="margin: 1em; border: 2px solid black;border-collapse: collapse;border-spacing:1em 0em;"
|-
! align=center colspan=2 style="background-color:#3399ff;color:white;" | [[Space Marine Chapter|Chapters]] of the [[Adeptus Astartes]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[First Founding]] (M29):''' || [[Blood Angels]] - [[Dark Angels]] - [[Imperial Fists]] [[Iron Hands]] - [[Raven Guard]] - [[Salamanders]] [[Space Wolves]] - [[Ultramarines]] - [[White Scars]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Second Founding]] (021.M31):''' || [[Angels of Absolution]] - [[Angels Encarmine]] - [[Angels Porphyr]] [[Angels of Redemption]] - [[Angels Sanguine]] - [[Angels of Vengeance]] [[Angels Vermillion]] - [[Aurora Chapter]] - [[Black Consuls]] [[Black Guard]] - [[Black Templars]] - [[Blood Drinkers]] [[Brazen Claws]] - [[Crimson Fists]] - [[Destroyers]] [[Doom Eagles]] - [[Eagle Warriors]] - [[Excoriators]] [[Fists Exemplar]] - [[Flesh Tearers]] - [[Genesis Chapter]] [[Inceptors]] - [[Iron Snakes]] - [[Libators]] [[Lions Sable]] - [[Marauders]] - [[Mortifactors]] [[Nemesis]] - [[Novamarines]] - [[Obsidian Glaives]] [[Patriarchs of Ulixis]] - [[Purple Stars]] - [[Praetors of Orpheus]] [[Rampagers]] - [[Raptors (Chapter)|Raptors]] - [[Red Talons]] [[Revilers]] - [[Silver Eagles]] - [[Silver Skulls]] [[Soul Drinkers]] - [[Storm Lords]] - [[White Consuls]] [[Wolf Brothers]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Third Founding|Third]] to Twelfth Founding (M32-M35):''' || [[Astral Claws]] - [[Angels Penitent]] - [[Angels Revenant]] [[Charnel Guard]] - [[Dark Paladins]] - [[Executioners]] - [[Flesh Eaters]] [[Halo Brethren]] - [[Howling Griffons]] - [[Iron Knights]] [[Mantis Warriors]] - [[Marines Malevolent]] - [[Night Swords]] [[Sable Swords]] (initial) - [[Scythes of the Emperor]] - [[Space Sharks]] [[Sons of Guilliman]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Thirteenth Founding]] (M35):''' || [[Death Spectres]] - [[Exorcists]]
|-
| align=right|'''Fourteenth to Twentieth Founding:''' || [[Angels of Fire]] - [[Avenging Sons]] - [[Celebrants]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Twenty-First Founding]] (991.M35):''' || [[Black Dragons]] - [[Blood Gorgons]] - [[Legion of the Damned|Fire Hawks]] [[Flame Falcons]] - [[Lamenters]] - [[Minotaurs]] [[Sons of Antaeus]] - [[Tiger Claws]]
|-
| align=right|'''Twenty-Second to Twenty-Sixth Founding (M35-M41):''' || [[Angels of Vigilance]] - [[Celestial Lions]] - [[Dark Hunters]] [[Disciples of Caliban]] - [[Emperor's Spears]] - [[Fire Angels]] [[Hospitallers]] - [[Imperial Harbingers]] - [[Iron Lords]] - [[Knights of the Raven]] [[Marines Errant]] - [[Mentors]] - [[Relictors|Fire Claws/Relictors]] [[Star Phantoms]] - [[Subjugators]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Ultima Founding]] (999.M41/000.M42 to 012.M42):''' || [[Angels of Defiance]] - [[Black Vipers]] - [[Blades of Vengeance]] [[Castellans of the Rift]] - [[Covenant of Fire]] - [[Dark Krakens]] [[Fulminators]] - [[Knights Cerulean]] - [[Knights of the Chalice]] - [[Knights of Thunder]] [[Necropolis Hawks]] - [[Nemesors]] - [[Praetors of Ultramar]] [[Prime Absolvers]] [[Rift Stalkers]] - [[Silver Drakes]] - [[Silver Templars]] - [[Sons of the Phoenix]] [[Storm Reapers]] - [[Umbral Knights]] - [[Unnumbered Sons]] [[Valiant Blades]] - [[Void Tridents]] - [[Wolfspear]]
|-
| align=right|'''Unknown Founding:''' || [[Absolvers]] - [[Accipiters]] - [[Adulators]] [[Angel Guard]] - [[Angels Eradicant]] - [[Angels of Retribution]] [[Astral Knights]] - [[Blood Ravens]] - [[Blood Swords]] [[Brazen Drakes]] - [[Brothers Penitent]] - [[Carmine Blades]] - [[Cowled Wardens]] - [[Crimson Castellans]] [[Crimson Consuls]] - [[Crimson Scythes]] - [[Dark Hands]] [[Dark Sons]] - [[Death Eagles]] - [[Doom Warriors]] [[Emperor's Shadows]] - [[Fire Lords]] - [[Guardians of the Covenant]] [[Graven Spectres]] - [[Hammers of Dorn]] - [[Harbingers]] [[Hawk Lords]] - [[Invaders]] - [[Iron Crusaders]] [[Iron Talons]] - [[Jade Dragons]] - [[Knights of Blood]] [[Knights Unyielding]] - [[Marines Exemplar]] - [[The Nameless]] [[Night Watch]] - [[Rainbow Warriors]] - [[Reclaimers]] [[Red Hunters]] - [[Red Scorpions]] - [[Red Seraphs]] [[Red Templars]] - [[Retributors]] - [[Sable Swords]] (refounded) [[Shadow Wolves]] - [[Solar Hawks]] - [[Sons of Orar]] [[Star Dragons]] - [[Stormwatchers]] - [[Storm Giants]] [[Storm Wardens]] - [[Valedictors]] - [[Viper Legion]] [[Vorpal Swords]] - [[White Templars]] - [[Storm Wings]]
|-
| align=right|'''Unsanctioned Founding:''' || [[Consecrators]] (founding unknown, but likely after 2nd Founding) [[Sons of Medusa]] (separated from parent Chapters, ratified by edict) [[Steel Confessors]] (de facto 22nd Founding, de jure ratified by edict) [[Ashen Claws]] (separatist Raven Guard Legion exiles, nominal loyalists)
|-
| align=right|'''Others:''' || [[Astartes Praeses]] - [[Deathwatch]] - [[Grey Knights]] [[Judged]] - [[Legion of the Damned]]
|}
</center>[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Imperial]][[Category:Space Marines]][[Category:Official Space Marine Chapters]]<noinclude>[[Category:40k Templates]]</noinclude>

Crysos Morturg

2023-06-06T18:46:20Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{Topquote|I can rebuild him. I have the technology.|Magos Calleb Decima, upon finding the broken remains of Lieutenant Morturg}}
{{Topquote|If you get hurt, hurt 'em back. If you get killed...walk it off.|Steve Rogers}}

'''Crysos Morturg''' was a loyalist member of the [[Death Guard]] and one of the hardest sons of bitches the XIV Legion ever produced. He is also one of four known survivors of the Isstvan III Massacre, alongside [[Garviel Loken]], [[Ancient Rylanor]] of the Emperor's Children, and the mad-scientist Mechanicum adept who brought him back. He was always at a disadvantage in his legion, for two reasons: first, he wasn't from [[Barbarus]], having been recruited into the legion as part of an emergency intake, and second, he was a psyker in a legion that loathed psykers with [[RAGE|a violent passion]]. In spite of all this, Morturg was a superb soldier and loyal to the Imperium, which saw him marked for death during the [[Battle of Isstvan III]].

==Biography==
===Great Crusade===
Morturg was inducted into the Death Guard as part of an emergency intake of recruits during the [[Rangdan Xenocides]], which had mauled the XIV Legion so badly that they had to bring in recruits from planets other than Mortarion's homeworld of Barbarus. As the Barbaran Astartes were already hilariously prejudiced against anyone who wasn't from the toxic, smoggy shithole they called home, Morturg faced an uphill battle for acceptance and glory within the legion's ranks, made even harder by his morbid and introspective personality. Nevertheless, he prospered and even reached the rank of lieutenant, at which point his latent psyker powers manifested themselves. The Death Guard, of course, was the one legion that despised psykers above everything else, so Morturg was promptly shunted out of his command and reassigned to the [[Destroyer Squad|Destroyer corps]]. This was effectively a death sentence, considering the toxicity of the rad and phosphex weapons that they used. Though this probably didn't improve Morturg's attitude any, he took it in stride, even when they handed him the worst recruits to work with and sent him into the heaviest fighting. He remained totally loyal to the Imperium and the Emperor, and so was sentenced to die on Istvaan III.

===Horus Heresy===
Morturg got righteously fucked up during the fighting on Istvaan to the point where his psychic abilities were the only thing keeping him alive. Magos Calleb Decima of the Ordo Reductor stumbled across his broken body in the wreckage and rebuilt him with cybernetic components, leaving only his head and a few other squishy bits. He was [[Meme|more machine now than man]], a weird and unholy fusion of biomancy and technology, held together by improvised power armor and his own bloody-minded determination. Morturg officially became a [[Blackshield]] at this time, and proceeded to acquire a ship and put together a warband of other Astartes: loyalist Death Guard like himself, survivors of the [[Drop Site Massacre]], and others with no clear allegiance, knocked loose from their legions by the shocks of galactic civil war. This warband ranged across the galaxy for part of the Heresy, running traitors down and killing them, until they encountered a renegade [[Deathshroud]] named Khorak, who had broken off from the XIV Legion after Mortarion had used sorcery on Molech. Khorak and Morturg recognized each other as fellow sons of the Death Lord, and had a brief chat about how much their dad sucked and why they wanted to kill him. Khorak was about to talk himself into allying with Morturg's crew until one of his fellow renegades tried to shoot Morturg, who deflected the bolt with his psychic powers. Khorak immediately tried to kill him, and Morturg's men put him down. Dispirited by this waste of a potential ally, Morturg opted to return to Terra to seek an audience with the Emperor, and at some point he testified to the Terran War Council as to what had happened on Istvaan III.

===Post-Heresy===
Morturg survived the Heresy and was made captain of the 108th Independent Company, suggesting that not all the [[Traitor Legion Loyalists|loyalists from Horus' side]] were absorbed into the loyal legions. He and his men spent the remainder of their days on patrol near the Ghoul Stars. They might possibly have evolved into the [[Marines Malevolent]].

==Tabletop==

{| class=wikitable
! || Pts || WS || BS || S || T || W || I || A || Ld || Sv
|-
| '''Crysos Morturg''' || 175 || 5 || 5 || 4 || 4 || 3 || 5 || 3 || 9 || 3+
|}

===Horus Heresy 1.0===

Morturg is an HQ for a Death Guard legion list, though if you're playing after Isstvan he can only be included in a loyalist army. He has the stats of a Centurion but +1W and I, along with Stubborn, Infiltrate, a Power Sword, a Combi-Flamer (strangely enough without chem-munitions, though if you want to you can still give him those at no cost), Hardened Power Armour and RAD grenades, all for the price of a kitted-out Praetor. He is also a level 1 psyker with the Endurance Psychic power to boost your squads in combat (because of Psychic Focus he also has Smite. A little bit of extra firepower is always welcome). As such, he can give that 10-man Deathshroud unit Eternal Warrior (preventing Instant Death, their main weakness), FnP(4+), rad grenades (so they now wound on 2+) and Infiltrate (always try to make him the warlord, more on that later) to get a second turn charge with 10 shredding flamers vs a -1T enemy, on top of Smite allowing him to kill a fair bit of enemy terminators already. So, he's a very competitive Librarian (quite rare in 30k unless you play Word Bearers) and the best attached HQ the Deathshroud could get, since he ''doesn't prevent them from Sweep Advancing'', unlike Typhon... Srsly Mortarion, why the fuck would you throw away one of your Legion's greatest assets?

Commander Asshole: His Warlord trait (Master of Ambush) is fantastic, letting him and three non-vehicle units of your choice in your army infiltrate. Sure, infiltrating a few squads pales a bit when compared to legions like the Raven Guard or the Alpha Legion, but the Death Guard can make good use of it, like infiltrating chem-flamer squads (now able to do their job turn 1 without needing a transport), or any flavor of Termie you want, complete with their LR/Spartan DTs (2+/4++ 2W EW FnP4+ AP2 Meltabombs, Spartan suicide squad? No, they won't be the ones dying). Or get that combi-weapon squad into position turn one. However, he doesn't have Master of the Legion (or else he'd be even more of an auto-include), so if you want a RoW you'll need to include a model that has MotL but isn't forced to be the warlord (like a regular Praetor). Infiltrating something like THREE 10 men Deathshroud/Grave Wardens/Special weapons squads can be devastating, especially when combined with Rites of War, and it gets around the Reaping's biggest flaw: Mobility (while coincidentally also bypassing deep strike's biggest counters: AA Dreads). This is powerful but very expensive. Boosted Deathshroud are seriously mean foes but cost a LOT, like 500 points for the squad without transport. They also can't take a Spartan without a rite which further narrows your options and Morturg himself is something of a pansy in combat (more on that later). It's an all-in tactic and not for the feint of heart.

You might think to take advantage of Master of Ambush with allies, however only Sworn Brothers may benefit from WTs...and the Death Guard's only Sworn Brothers, the Sons of Horus, have 'Bitter Pride', so it's best used in a Shattered Legion. Having said that, while the Death Guard don't really care for them, the Night Lords love the Death Guard (they're the only Sworn Brothers of the Night Lords), by doing this you can defensively use Terror Squads to stop Infiltrated Heavy Support Squads from getting bogged down in combat, or put Night Raptors in a better position for the Assault Phase (why bother crossing the board when you can start on practically the opposite side) not to mention it bypasses one of the bigger weaknesses for the Night Lords, that being their unit sizes in relation to transports. If you want to take full advantage of "A Talent For Murder" you'll usually need to make squads larger than the amount their DTs can carry, however with Infiltrate you have no need for one anyway. Make sure the Death Guard in such an army are busy shooting from a distance while the Night Lords rip and tear (you can even put Morturg in a Night Lord Squad, if they manage to outnumber the enemy they all wound on 2's thanks to his Rad Grenades AND he makes the unit Stubborn just in case you lose combat somehow), it's like they were made for each other.

Keep in mind that even with all his talents, Morturg is by no means a combat powerhouse and doesn't have the gear (such as AP2 weaponry or even an Invulnerable save) to tough it out under heavy or concerted assault. Field him and reap (pun intended) the benefits, but give him a good retinue (like Deathshroud) and keep him away from anything with AP3/AP2 weaponry and/or Precision Shot/Strike.

===Horus Heresy 2.0===

{| class=wikitable
! || Pts || WS || BS || S || T || W || I || A || Ld || Sv
|-
| '''Crysos Morturg''' || 175 || 5 || 5 || 4 || 5 || 3 || 5 || 3 || 9 || 2+/4++
|}

Morturg's been noticeably tweaked in the new edition, for better and worse.

Pros: He has +1T over his old statline and a 2+/4++ save plus Shrouded (6), courtesy of his new armour. He's also gained Relentless, Bitter Duty, and Counter Attack (1). His combi-flamer now has chem-munitions baked in, his sword is AP2 and has Reaping Blow (2), and he gets two disintegrator pistols for extra shooty fun. He's gained a new psychic power as well, Shielded by Hate, which lets him go into reserves with one wound instead of dying as long as he passes a psychic check.

Cons: He's lost Infiltrate and Master of Ambush. His new Warlord Trait is The Shadow of Death--during deployment, if any enemy unit is deployed within 18" of Morturg or any model in a unit he's joined, then once all Infiltrators and Scouts have been deployed on both sides, Morturg and all models in any unit he has joined can move up to 7" in any direction, but must end the move in coherency. In addition, Morturg and any unit he joins get a free Reaction when an enemy unit comes in from reserves (including deep-striking). Being able to scoot around the table during deployment and gaining extra Reactions are nice, but not being able to infiltrate units anymore is a real kick in the nuts, considering that was one of Morturg's greatest strengths as a warlord. He's also lost access to Endurance, and if he fails his Shielded by Hate test while joined to a unit, that unit suffers Perils of the Warp. His sword now has Overcharged, which is a bit of a pisser; any time he attacks with it you have to roll a dice and a result of 1 causes him to suffer a wound, though at least he can use his shiny new invuln save against it.

tl;dr, Morturg is no longer Commander Asshole, though being able to take extra reactions against units coming in from reserves isn't bad and he's now more survivable thanks to his improved toughness, saves, and Shielded by Hate.

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Space Marines]]
[[Category:Death Guard]]

Imperial Munitorum Manual

2023-06-06T18:44:59Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:Imperial Munitorum Cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|Right|Oh, McNeill. You've done it again.]]

The '''Imperial Munitorum Manual''' is a background book written by [[Graham McNeill]] and published by [[Black Library]], in the style of the basic instruction manual published by the [[Departmento Munitorum]] for [[Imperial Guard]]smen. It includes sections about the organization of the Departmento Munitorum and Imperial Guard Regiments, and several sections regarding equipment and its procurement and maintenance. It seems that each major recruiting world gets its own edition, presumably to reflect the local regiments' organization and operating procedures. The Munitorum Manual actually published by [[Black Library]] is the "[[Cadia]]n edition".

In many ways, it can be compared to the [[Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer]], in that it includes some useful information for a Guardsman mixed in with a comically rose-tinted depiction of the [[Imperium]], though the Munitorum Manual seems a little more frank about the [[grimdark]] parts. For example, it plainly declares that the life of a Guardsman is worth less than the equipment he carries (especially for ill-understood technologies, like [[plasma]] weapons), and that the average Guardsman dies within six months of his recruitment. It also includes sample requisition forms, the fine print for which includes the paragraph:

<blockquote>
''For the purpose of any event of dispute between the [[Departmento Munitorum]] and requisitioning soldiers, the Departmento Munitorum may treat the particular event that actually happened as not having happened and/or treat any particular event that did not actually happen as having happened.''
</blockquote>

Yeah.

==Table of Contents==

# '''Preface'''. The shortest section of the book. The preface is the introduction of the manual written by Seward Rosencranz, Chancellor of the Estate Imperium. It also contains the Logistical Officer's Chain of Command page which is meant to only be written by the Guardsman's superiors.
# '''Overview and History of the Deparmento Munitorum'''. The first chapter and the one used to kiss-ass to the [[Departmento Munitorum]] and why they are so important. Provides a good in-depth history and overview of the Deparmento Munitorum as well as the hierarchy that makes the entire Imperium running. Teaches the Guardsman on who commands who on a galactic scale.
# '''Structure of a Regiment'''. This section teaches the Guardsman on how his/her's regiment is constructed. This section differs from regiment to regiment, so not all of them would be the same. The one we can read is based on the Cadian 91st Regiment, since [[Cadia]] is the poster boy of the Guard. It also tells the Guardsman the importance of supply and shipping and that they should not waste ammuntion of useless things. Moreover, it stresses the importance of good hygiene and food in relation to morale. So when the Regimental Commissar asks you to eat your veggies, you better eat your damned veggies. [[Blam|Or else...]]
# '''Requisition of Equipment and Acquisition of Supplies'''. This one teaches a Guardsman on how to properly fill up a form to request for additional equipment as per standard procedures to the [[Administratum]]. It also details the correct behavior in acquiring supplies when authorised on a local planet and just general common-sense tips in teaching Guardsman to not behave like [[That Guy|absolute assholes]] to the native population.
# '''Maintenance and Repair of Munitorum Equipment'''. This section talks about the importance of maintaining your equipment and why that matters. [[Pretend|Despite the name]], it is ironically more of a chapter on punishments as the amount of punishments listed here goes for over 70% of the chapter, ''including'' a pretty good pyramid table on the procedure of said punishments.
# '''Imperial Guardsmen Equipment'''. A long, ''long'' in-depth and comprehensive list of what an Imperial Guardsman would typically carry as standard issue. Whilst the Uplifting Primer may just go over some of them, the manual goes balls deep on how to maintain them, use them, and request for more in case they are damaged. Very, ''very'' useful chapter.
# '''Imperial Guardsmen Weapons'''. Like their previous chapter on equipment, this chapter also goes balls-deep on the common weapons a Guardsman may encounter in their lifetime. It teaches them what they look like, how they function and what their use on the battlefield is like. Again, pretty god damned detailed all things considered.
# '''Imperial Guardsmen Support Weapons'''. More of an extension to the previous chapter, this time talking about the big guns. Like the previous chapter, it is very in-depth to the point that it even teaches a Guardsman the correct procedures on how to properly load and aim a mortar.
# '''Specialised Equipment and Medals'''. This section is more of an extension to the chapter regarding a Guardsman's equipment, albeit for more specialist teams and senior officers. Showcase not only the importance of these specialised equipment but also serves a good legend for Guardsman to recognise what each medal represents.
# '''Epilogue and Request Form'''. The final chapter is a short epilogue with several pages for which a Guardsman and their senior officers could fill up a request form in case their equipment or weapons broke down.

==See Also==
*[[Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer]] - The Manual's more [[Fail|incompetent brother]].
*[[The Field Ordnance Battery & You]] - The Manual's ''other'' dumber brother.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
MunitorumOrg.jpg|Munitorum organisation chart
Manual_2.PNG|Procedures of eating. [[Derp|Yes, that's a thing in the Guard.]]
</gallery>
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Black Library]]
[[Category:Imperial Guard]]
[[Category:Books]]

Xenology

2023-06-06T18:40:18Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

''"xenology - n. 1. The science of foreign or exotic things. 2. The science of parasites. [from Greek ''xenos'' stranger, ''logos'' science]"''

It's a science-fiction trope to have a scientist whose specialty is "xenology" (or "xenobiology," "xenochemistry," etc) whose job is to be the expert at anything that would not be encountered on Earth, and thus exposition for the sake of the reader of the story. In real life, this is known by names such as astrobiology and astrochemistry, while xenobiology consists of trying to design lifeforms with biochemistry or genetic makeup not found on Earth.

Sci-fi RPGs will probably have a 'xenology' skill, used for tests involving aliens or off-world artifacts.

== Warhammer 40,000 ==
[[File:Xenology.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The great book of Alien gubbinz.]]
"Xenology" is the title of a [[Black Library]] sourcebook, which purports to be [[Inquisition|Inquisitor]] Brehm Sasham's account of his investigation of a [[Heresy|rogue]] [[Adeptus Mechanicus|Magos Biologis]] working in the employment of Radical Inquisitor Lord Maturin Ralei (who was in fact a Necron Lord in disguise). Along the way, he publishes the Tech-priest's notes on dissected aliens and xenotechnology.

Many interesting details of alien biology are given, some of which are a little dubious, like toes on a [[Tau]]. Other details are just weird, like [[Eldar]] [[Wat|having crystalline feces]] [[Butthurt|(that ought to hurt)]] and [[An Eldar's Ears|extremely sensitive ears]].

It's unknown why these discrepancies are present, although the Tech-priest in question does go increasingly insane as the book progresses until he completely snaps and "dissects" the Inquisitor ''alive'' at the behest of said Necron Lord. Additionally, the Necron fluff mentioned is obviously pre-Newcron in origin, which opens up a few other contradictions as well.

While the book itself is an impressive collection of dissections that would be of interest to any 40k fan, what's actually more significant is the overall plot of the book itself. Several successive revelations are made as the study of each species continues, leading to one of the broadest and most in-depth analysis of the Warhammer 40,000 universe on the whole, including information on some xenos species that are mentioned in no other source.

While the main theory was that the Necron Lord's master may be [[The Deceiver]] the new fluff development in recent editions may point out that the whole book plot was just another of [[Trazyn|Trazyn's]] ploys [[Just as Planned|in order to increase his personal collection with some new fine biologist curiosities.]] [[Troll|Or he is impersonating a C'Tan shard too.]]

Since it's been out of print since 2006 and based on older fluff that's no longer true (such as Orks having green/black blood; as of 6th edition onward they have red blood) many fa/tg/uys treat it as no-longer-canon in its entirety. As such, whether or not it's canon -- especially its decidedly non-[[Skaven|rodent]] depiction of the [[Hrud]] -- is a discussion most assured to derail any 40k thread that steps on this little continuity landmine.

While not the same in goals, there's also 2021's ''[[Liber Xenologis]]'', a more modern book written in the perspective of [[Rogue Trader]] Janus Draik of [[Blackstone Fortress]] fame. It also offers insights into the various xenos in the galaxy, but the viewpoint of someone who has either parleyed with or hunted down the various xenos he's dealt with. That said, it doesn't go into the more specific biological processes in a medical fashion like Xenology.

As you can imagine, this book is quite popular with members of the [[Ordo Xenos]] and they treat this alongside the newer Liber Xenologis with the same care as the [[Ordo Malleus]] treats their [[Liber Daemonicum]].

=== Dissection 1 - Thyrrus ===
The first specimen to be "studied" is the aforementioned '''[[Thyrrus]] Warrior''' which basically appears as a cross between a [[Chaos Spawn]] and a squid - wait shiAAAGHOBOGROLAOFO- {{BLAM}} …ahem, with the ability to change colour at will and take in nutrients from the atmosphere by selective osmosis ''(this actually causes a problem where the Magos cannot gas it to death as expected)''.
*Analysis of the xenos society shows a [[Chaos|stupid]] preference for [[Slaanesh|spectacle]] warfare, where they go to war merely to show off, rather than follow any predictable pattern. They'll throw heavy tanks at lightly defended fortifications, and then send [[Imperial Guard|wave after wave]] of infantry at unassailable defenses. They have no understanding of "victory" or "defeat" and have no concept of free will, rather they believe that everything is just one big pantomime and they all do their best to show off with [[Slaanesh|pretty colours]] and big explosions - and so, [[Games Workshop]] managed to make a reference to [[neckbeards]] anywhere in universe.

=== Dissection 2 - Tau (Ethereal Caste)===
The information gained from interrogating the [[Tau]] isn't really new to a 40k player, though the [[Greater Good]] was news to the Magos. As for the dissection: Tau have generally poorer eyesight than humans but a better sense of smell. Internally; they have one lung and multiple stomachs and their immune systems are centralised ''(unlike humans)'' with the heart doubling as a liver and kidney, while their skin doubles as lymph nodes.
*One '''VERY''' interesting factoid is that ethereals have a crystalline organ in their skull cavity of unknown purpose ''(yet... read [[Q'Orl|Q'Orl]])'' but is somehow connected to their manufacture of pheromones. It's hinted this organ may have been engineered, but by who is unknown. Weirdly enough, the dissection shows that the Tau have toes despite all other artwork portraying them with hoofs.
**This is not wrong as it is seen in models were the hooves are visible that they have cloven hooves as well as a dewclaw. A hoof is just a very large toenail that wraps around the end of the toe that the animal or Xenos walks on. So yes, Tau do have toes.

=== Dissection 3 - Eldar ===
[[Eldar]] have crystalline shit...yes, really. The study itself shows that Eldar biology is extremely efficient with little to no waste products or redundant organs, they have twenty DNA nucleotide bases instead of our four and have a quintuple helix (this may be a retcon, as other sources have stated triple helix). Not only that but they can apparently change their DNA subconsciously ''(explaining why the Craftworld path system can apply to everyone, and how psykers can "retire" their powers and become "safe" again although all Eldar remain psykers even then)''. The Inquisitor suggests that the common features shared between many of the galaxy's races ''(including [[humans]], which is extra [[heresy]])'' suggests a common ancestor or [[Old Ones (Warhammer)|galaxy-wide genetic engineering]]. The most important note to all of the /d/eviants on /tg/ is that it specifically mentions eldar ears as being an erogenous zone, containing many thousands of nerve clusters.
*Psychic study of Eldar artefacts also pretty much confirms the four subraces are distinct ''(psychically at least)'', with Craftworld Eldar feeling lost and resigned, Dark Eldar being in a mad panic to cause pain & destruction to avert the gaze of [[Slaanesh]], Exodites believe they are going to rebuild the species (but not their empire) and Harlequins are laughing for the sake of it.

=== Dissection 4 - Umbra ===
[[File:Umbra_Awesome.jpg|500px|right|thumb|Magic 8-Ball says: Outlook not so good]]
An [[Umbra]] is a black ball 8 centimeters in diameter. These little fuckers are pests found attached to warp engines and near entrances to the webway. The dissection proves nothing, except they are damaged by light and contain no organs except for an unidentifiable non-Newtonian liquid ''(i.e.: it changes viscosity based on applied force)''. When the specimen was killed, it left an image of a humanoid figure being broken into pieces, followed by images of a warp storm and deep space, as well as a psychic shriek of the word: '''"LINGER"''' in the observers' minds.
*Anecdotal study shows these pests are '''FUCKING DANGEROUS''': they have the ability to manipulate and solidify darkness into shapes and weapons, Even manipulating the [[Grimdark|dark spots inside the pupils of its victim's eyes]] [[RIP AND TEAR|to create hooks, barbs and teeth]]. There is also a picture of these little spheres assaulting the [[Ultramarines]].
*Bits of evidence collected by the Inquisitor in the anecdotes surrounding the Umbra indicate that around the time of the [[War in Heaven]], one of the [[Old Ones|Old Gods]] disappeared to hide in the warp and watch the universe from there. Then [[Fall of the Eldar|later]], [[Slaanesh]] was born and LOL'd at him, [[Khaine|chopped him into a million pieces]] and kicked him back into the material universe to '''linger''' forever.
**The Inquisitor suggests that the Umbra are a three dimensional representation of a multidimensional being, which is why they appear so simple, when in fact we cannot bend our minds in such a way to actually see it for what it really is.
**The Inquisitor also speculated that the motive for the Umbras hostility towards the material races might be rooted in this ancient story, whether out of confusion or anger, they are trying to remove the mortal races psychic influence on the warp and allow it to become calm once again.

=== Dissection 5 - Ork ===
When not in constant warfare, [[Orks]] get fat; the ork that was locked up in the Inquisitor's cells was obese. DNA showed that Orks DO indeed have fungal DNA and it contains all the genetic information of the entire species and its subraces, again suggesting that they have been [[Old Ones|engineered]] in some way. They can accept any number of prosthetics and have absolutely no problem accepting donor implants.
*As is well known, some Boyz are born with an instinctive understanding of things derived from their DNA. The Inquisitor goes a step further and suggests that when [[Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka]] was first wounded in the head by a bolt shell, he might have unexpectedly tapped into his DNA and unlocked an entirely new caste of Ork never seen before. ''(he does claim to have visions from Gork & Mork - possible genetic memory?)''
*Weedkiller works just fine on Orks, go down to your nearest garden store and buy some today. This was proven when the Magos cultured some ork cells taken from the corpse, found them growing and spreading exponentially, freaked out and purged them in fire and chemicals.

=== Dissection 6 - Kroot ===
[[Kroot]] need to eat to evolve, their reproductive system is built-in to their digestive system. You eat something, you pass it on, so their homeworld of Pech contains many apex predators constantly evolving as they consume one another. The creative portions of their brains are literally smaller and less-developed than the logical-rational ones --
think a human with a bigger left half of the brain than the right (yes, we know it's [[Skub|debatable]] that this is how the human brain actually works, but Kroot aren't human).
*It is strongly suggested that Kroot therefore evolved into what we know today entirely by accident and that Orks crashed onto their planet early in their history. Not only causing them to become vaguely humanoid and intelligent, but Kroot '''CAN''' tap into the information contained in Ork DNA, and could therefore intuitively build devices even though they had no idea how to do it and would have difficulty developing such tech on their own. However, that was ancient history and modern kroot are presumably much more evolved and diverse since '''Shapers''' took over and directed the tribes eating habits to prevent them from moving into genetic dead-ends.
*It is also hinted that the [[Tau]] are hindering the evolution of the Kroot by forcing them to curtail the worst of their eating habits, and thus the intake of useful new genetic material.

=== Dissection 7 - Q'Orl ===
The [[Q'Orl]] is a species of [[Awesome|giant space ants]] with a relatively large empire in the ''(pointedly)'' galactic west. They have a caste system of workers and queens, and are an advanced race with technology and starships, but they have no psykers so the only way they can travel long distances is to capture and implant [[Navigator]]s and [[Psyker]]s drawn from other species.
*The dissection shows that they ALSO have a crystalline organ, the same as the Tau, built into their pheromone systems, which then leads the Magos to start ranting about proof of genetic tampering between the races, since the Tau and the Q'Orl could not be further apart galactically.
*One story indicates that in late M37, the [[Eldar]] stole a queen from the Q'Orl with the intention of creating an "uncorroded swarm".
**''It is therefore tempting to think that the [[Eldar]] had a hand in the evolution of the [[Tau]] Ethereals. The timeline matches roughly according to the 4E Codex, but the Eldar have never made any suggestion of crafting the Tau race nor have ever been hinted at directing galactic evolution in the past.''
** The dates and identification of the aliens involved as Eldar is somewhat dubious in-universe, since it involves quite a bit of speculation on the meanings of mythic descriptions. All it really says about the race involved is that they are looking superficially like humans to an alien insect, except taller and thinner. It is a common description of Eldar, but there are plenty of races in the Galaxy, not to mention holographic tech.
*** That the Eldar assisted the Tau in finding and reverse-engineering Imperial technology from "crashed" colony ships ("helping" as in "doing it for them because you can't reverse-engineer something more advanced than you), and later abandoning the Tau for their "crippling lack of creativity" suggest that the Eldar were involved with the Tau. It does not mean that the Eldar were the ones who created the Ethereals, however, and they might have simply seen a species that looked sane and had the means to unify minor aliens. Perhaps the Cabal isn't so dead after all.

=== Dissection 8 - Various Tyranids ===
A fuckhueg section covering much of [[Tyranid]] evolution, with dissections of a [[Lictor]], [[Genestealer]], [[Warrior]] and [[Ripper]].

Of note, the digestive tract of all the Tyranids is very primitive, in stark contrast with the rest of their biology. The Genestealer and Ripper posses grinding plates above their stomach-analogue which reduce any food to liquid, enzymatic action processing it into a protein soup which is then pumped around the body. The Lictor and Warrior did not possess the grinding plates, and it's speculated they only consume a liquid nectar-analogue supplied by the swarm.

Oh, Rippers also have no means of excretion, and comes with pre-fertilized eggs. [[Grimdark|They're born, they eat, they reproduce, they die, to be consumed by something more important.]]

===Dissection 9 - Hrud ===
The [[Hrud]] is a freakish trash-monster. Its death caused its whole body to liquify leaving not much left to work with. However the creature had no "skeleton" ''per se''; instead it was made up of a series of vertebrae, meaning it can bend itself in any direction. They also have hard silicate [[pauldrons]] which seem to double as waste excretion organs, meaning their bodies can divert toxic, bacterial and viral by-products into their upper body as a defense mechanism.
*Evidence shows that they live amongst humans, in the depths of hives or the bowels of starships, entire clans! This is made possible because it is hard to look at Hrud, they appear perpetually shrouded and difficult to focus on, though it is unknown if it is a biological or psychic property. It's also impossible because psykers aboard the ships, especially astropaths, would have quickly noticed the Warp shenanigans going on.
**''It is also known from other sources that they can manipulate the flow of time, causing creatures and structures to age and weaken rapidly''. (An entropic field, specifically, whether by accelerating time or specifically accelerating the concept of degradation is a matter of skub)
*Their society is explained in one source where a human pet-slave was recaptured and interrogated by the [[Imperium]]. This slave reveals that the Hrud deities were real and physical entities ''(to them, but as they have an unparalleled racial memory and more efficient record keeping who's to disagree?)'' and that their [[Old Ones|pantheon]] consisted of the same archetypes of a [[Khaine|red-handed god]], a [[Kurnous|hunter]], a [[Cegorach|laughing god]] and an [[Vaul|artisan god]]. Interesting, it says says that around half a million year ago one of their deities, '''Qah''' ''(he who LINGERS)'' disappeared from their racial memory but promised to return. ''(perhaps he didn't count on being chopped up by [[Slaanesh]])''. Given what happened during the Umbra dissection, it is strongly inferred that Qah and the Umbra are related somehow.
*It is also hinted that the Hrud racial memory perhaps extends further than the present-time, since from their perspective, the human [[Imperium]] is a thing that no longer exists, and fell millennia ago.''(Or their ability to manipulate the flow of time is related to this. Or it might be a reference to the [[Horus Heresy]] effectively "ending" the Imperium as it was meant to be and the current Imperium is pretty much something else entirely. Fuck knows, time travel is confusing.)

===Artefact Studies===
The whole plotline of 40k is essentially played out on one stone tablet pilfered from [[Eldar]] [[Exodite]]s:
*At the First layer, there are representations of the [[Old Ones|Gods]] creating the creatures of the second layer
*The Second layer shows species with recognisable features taken to represent [[Eldar]], [[Ork]]s and others.
*The Third layer shows a [[Necron|featureless, skull faced and mysterious]] enemy in opposition to the gods of the first layer, and that the species of the second layer will be [[Chess|significant]] to the outcome of the conflict.
*The Fourth layer represents those gods of the first layer that were the survivors of the war. A [[Cegorach|laughing/crying figure]] is one survivor, and a [[Khaine|bloody handed figure]] was the second ''(though the depiction was vandalised by the Eldar themselves, no doubt after his [[Not as Planned|ass-whooping]] by [[Slaanesh]])''. A third survivor was missing from the tablet, but was recreated using other sources, but shows a [[Star Child|unborn child enveloped in sunlight]], which considering it's Eldar origins would represent [[Ynnead]] which is yet to be born from the webway.
**''This missing representation could be an indication that the [[Star Child]] and the Eldar God [[Ynnead]] are one and the same thing and that the [[Emperor]] and his webway are all part of the [[Just as Planned|grand design]]''...perhaps the Emperor during the Great Crusade was trying to wipe out the Eldar to accelerate Ynnead's birth.
*A damaged and mostly missing fifth layer of the tablet only shows either [[Imperium|wings]] or [[Chaos|flames]], depending upon your opinion or angle of observation.
==See Also==
*[[Liber Xenologis]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Xenos]][[Category:Books]][[Category:Inquisition]][[Category:Imperial]]

Valhallan Ice Warriors

2023-06-06T18:38:17Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:420px-Valhallan 597th.JPG|300px|thumb|right|Valhallan Ice Warriors fight valiantly alongside [[Ciaphas Cain]], HERO OF THE IMPERIUM.]]
{{Topquote|Men who fight wars in winter don't live till spring.|Ursula K. Le Guin}}
{{Topquote|URRAAAAAAAAA.|Russian conscript charging a MG42 nest, to draw fire away from the infiltration team tossing grenades while actually jumping from cover to cover}}
{{Topquote|Убей еретиков!|Valhallan conscript charging a Heavy Bolter nest... just charging one, that's it, Valhallan commanders are unimaginative}}

The [[Communism|Soviet Russian]] [[LARP|LARPers]] originating from the world of [[Valhalla]].

As [[Imperial Guard]]smen, they specialize in DYNAMIC ENTRY through ice and snow, often through the use of a curious drill-tank thing called the Termite that has a quantity of flamers mounted on it. They have also been shown to be rather good at holding the line, as if most Guard regiments didn't do that already. They just love wearing green armored greatcoats for some reason. They are the [[Communism|Red Army]] in Space and it shows: they give not a single fuck as millions of them perish on the field of battle, like all good Russians do. Unless they're the 597th, who are basically the spetsnaz with women in space.

<strike> Unfortunately, nobody cares about them (even Russians themselves), as anyone who wants to do Russian Imperial Guard will just go with the much cooler (but not colder) [[Vostroyan Firstborn|Vostroyans]].</strike> {{BLAM|'''*BLAM!*''' there will be no regimental discrimination here!}} 

==Notable Valhallans==
*'''Gunner (First Class) Ferik "Stench awful enough to knock out a Plague Marine" [[Jurgen]]''': Adjutant to Commissar Ciaphas Cain, '''HERO OF THE IMPERIUM'''. He is a Blank, and favors a Meltagun. Gunner First Class doesn't actually exist, but Cain made up the promotion to give him some credibility as his aide.
* '''Regina Kasteen''': Former Commander of the all-female 296th rear echelon garrison command unit, then Commander of the 597th.
* '''Ruput Broklaw''': Former Commander of the all-male 301st planetary assault unit, then second-in-command of the 597th.
*'''[[Commander Kubrik Chenkov]]''': Imperial Guard officer that is the epitome of sending waves of men against his opponents.
*'''Jenit Sulla''': Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the Valhallahn 597th. Later became a famous Imperial Guard General and (in)famous writer.

==Doctrines and Traits==

For such a storied homeworld, the Valhallans produce rather boxstandard regiments. Other than their indigenous drill tanks they're basically poorer, coarser Cadians, fielding the same mix of artillery, armored, and mechanized infantry regiments and churning them out in staggering numbers. What sets them apart is their singular hatred for Orks and almost total indifference to cold. Even [[Fenris]] is practically tropical compared to their homeworld, which represents the coldest a planet can get and still be regarded as inhabitable. With an enormous population living in dense underground cities, Valhalla manages to be both a hive world and a death world; and has enough of a feral Ork problem to keep the Valhallan PDF proficient.

==Modelling==
Unfortunately, they are no longer for sale. On the bright side, Victoria Miniatures, Mad Robot Miniatures, and Anvil Industry sell Not-Valhallans, and at semi-reasonable prices, too! The Soviet and German winter infantry from [[Warlord Games]] combined with Cadian Lasguns also make for a solid option. So if you still want to collect an army of these manly bastards (and who wouldn't?), you can still buy them, just don't expect to be able to use them at a Games Workshop store or anything.

==Trivia==
Valhallan Ice Warriors are the first [[Imperial Guard]] Regiment that [[Games Workshop]] ever created.
They are based on Russian WW2 soldiers during the winter battles.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Valhallan.jpg|The set of classic Valhallan models
File:WH Faces (3).jpg
</gallery>
{{40k-Imperial-Regiments}}

Template:40k-Imperial-Regiments

2023-06-06T18:37:38Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

<center>
{|class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed table" border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 style="margin: 1em; border: 2px solid black;"
|-
!align=center colspan=2 bgcolor=green |[[Imperial Guard Regiment|Regiments]] of the [[Imperial Guard]]
|-
| align=center| [[Armageddon Ork Hunters]] - [[Armageddon Steel Legion]] - [[Athonian Tunnel Rats]] [[Attilan Rough Riders]] - [[Brontian Longknives]] - [[Cadia|Cadian Shock Troops]] [[Catachan Jungle Fighters]] - [[Death Korps of Krieg]] - [[Dieprian Mountain Men]] [[Drookian Fen Guard]] - [[Elysian Drop Troops]] - [[Gilead Gravediggers]] [[Harakoni Warhawks]] - [[Indigan Praefects]] - [[Kanak Skull Takers]] [[Jopall Indentured Guard]] - [[The Last Chancers|Last Chancers]] - [[Maccabian Janissaries]] [[Mordant Acid Dogs]] - [[Mordian Iron Guard]] - [[Necromundan Spiders]] [[Phantine Air Corps]] - [[Phantine Skyborne]] - [[Praetorian Guard]] [[Roane Deepers]] - [[Savlar Chem Dogs]] - [[Scintillan Fusiliers]] [[Tallarn Desert Raiders]] - [[Tanith First (And Only)]] - [[Terrax Guard]] [[Valhallan Ice Warriors]] - [[Vostroyan Firstborn]] - [[Ventrillian Nobles]]
|}
</center>[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Imperial]][[Category:Imperial Guard]][[Category:Imperial Guard Regiments]]<noinclude>[[Category:40k Templates]]</noinclude>

Ultramarines Honour Company

2023-06-06T18:14:13Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{Infobox Spess Mahreen Chapter
|Name = Ultramarines Honour Company
|Heraldry = [[File:Smurfpauldron.jpg|140px]]
|Battle Cry =
|Number =
|Founding = [[Second Founding]]
|Successors of = [[Ultramarines]]
|Successor Chapters =
|Chapter Master = Echion
|Primarch = [[Roboute Guilliman]]
|Homeworld = None
|Specialty =
|Strength = Around 100 Marines
|Allegiance = [[Imperium]]
|Colours = The same uniform as the [[Ultramarines]]
}}

One little known formation made up exclusively of [[Ultramarines]] and their successors. Was introduced for the [[13th Black Crusade]] campaign to provide players a fluffy excuse to use their Ultramarine models in a storyline that involved the [[Eye of Terror]] rather than the Eastern Fringe. They have only really been mentioned in the rolls of battle which have been re-used all the way into 6th Edition, though a couple of White Dwarf magazines at the time gave them a little bit of fluff to work with, explaining to us how they operate.

==History==
In the immediate aftermath of the [[Horus Heresy]], [[Roboute Guilliman]], decreed that his Legion would stand ready to oppose the Traitors who had fled into the [[Eye of Terror]]. The Ultramarines had taken no part in the Battle of Terra, as they had been bogged down for much of the Horus Heresy fighting the [[Battle of Calth|Shadow Crusade]] against the [[Word Bearers]]. But Guilliman declared that his Legion would never again find itself unable to respond to the more pressing threat. The solution was to ensure a continuous Ultramarines presence in the vicinity of the Eye of Terror, by maintaining an honour company within the region made up of a rotation of individual squads from different companies.

After the [[Second Founding]] split the Ultramarines Legion up into many different Successor Chapters, this company became supplied with squads and officers drawn from all of the Ultramarines' Successors.

===13th Black Crusade===
Noted actions of the Honour Company include defending an Agri-World from [[Abaddon]]'s fleet which included Planet Killer. This counter attack gave the [[Planetary Defence Force]] the chance to evacuate the civilian population before the planet was destroyed.

Then they deployed themselves to Cadia where they performed boarding actions against a series of space hulks that were being used to transport Chaos Cultists throught the warzone. Three hulks were disabled, leaving [[Grimdark|600,000 traitors to freeze in space]] (which Chaos really should have mutated them against) while a fourth was destroyed using a seismic detonator and killing a further 200,000 (lol).

==Organisation==
In a similar manner to the [[Deathwatch]], the Honour Company is made up of elements of many chapters, though in this case; membership is exclusive to descendants of [[Roboute Guilliman]] who must contribute whole squads rather than individual space marines.

Strictly speaking, the Honour Company is not a [[Codex Astartes|Codex]] formation and therefore even though it is referred to as a "Company" it would only be a guess to assume that it conforms to the traditional 6 [[Tactical Squad|Tactical]] / 2 [[Assault Squad|Assault]] / 2 [[Devastator Squad|Devastator]] arrangement of most codex complaint battle companies. However this would make the most sense since each member of the company would be a primogenitor, they would instinctively know how to operate to maximum efficiency under this system.

Despite the fact that the squads themselves are on temporary rotation within the company, for logistical reasons it would have to have a permanently attached set of assets such as fleet vessels and somewhere to berth them; as well as a dedicated staff of [[Chapter Serf|serfs]], [[Servitor|servitors]] and possibly a [[Techmarine]] or techpriest.

It is unusual for an officer not of the Ultramarines Chapter to lead the company, though with that Chapter's resources stretched by [[Tyranid]] incursions on the Eastern Fringe such a situation is set to become more common. The current commander is [[Brother-Captain]] '''Echion''' of the '''Patriarchs of Ulixis''' chapter, which is one of the lesser known Ultramarine second founding chapters.

==Implications==
While nothing about this company actually breaches the [[Codex Astartes]], there are a couple of worrying implications surrounding the fact that it exists.

*Despite being made up of elements drawn from several different chapters, in every depiction so far ''(which is not many)'' the uniform is almost identical to that of the [[Ultramarines]] second company, they bear the Ultramarines chapter iconography and most obviously have even taken the "Ultramarine" name. All of which means that the company officially '''represents''' the Ultramarines chapter and whether or not they are actually commanded by the [[Marneus Calgar|Chapter Master]], the Honour Company has unofficially has given them an eleventh company.
*Unlike other small or niche formations such as the [[Deathwatch]] ''(in general)'' or the [[Space Wolves|Wolfblades]], since the [[Second Founding]] and the institution of the [[Astartes Praeses]] there is no actual requirement for the Honour Company to even exist, as the descendants of Guilliman do indeed have very large presence guarding the [[Eye of Terror]], making a single company a bit redundant and perhaps a show of vanity. If the only purpose is then to ensure that the "Ultramarines" have a presence at the Eye of Terror, then the same problem exists as before about granting them an unofficial eleventh company.....That's not very codex.
*Although they are made up of a rotation of squads from the primogenitors, a legitimate question exists about what happens to the void filled by those squads absences in their parent chapter? Every depiction of the Ultramarines organisation shows them at full strength and never accounts for detached marines in the Honour Company or even the [[Deathwatch]], so this could be implied that once a squad / officer departs to the Eye of Terror, they will just refill the company by training up an extra squad OR by importing a squad / officer from the [[Genesis Chapter]] ''(which is what that chapter's main purpose seems to be)''

{{Template:Marines-Official}}
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Imperial]][[Category:Space Marines]]

Varangantua

2023-06-06T18:13:33Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

'''Varangantua''' is a huge hive city on the planet Alecto in [[Segmentum Tempestus]]. It is the setting for the Warhammer Crime stories published by Black Library.

Alecto itself was colonized back in the [[Dark Age of Technology]]. It is apparently far from any meaningful front lines - most of its people don't even think [[Xenos]] actually exist or know much about anything going on in the greater Imperium, despite implications that the stories set there occur during / after the [[Great Rift]]. The [[Mechanicus]] maintain numerous enclaves in the city, serving the "nearby" [[forge world]] of Zhao-Arkkad. It pays part of its Imperial Tithe in manpower, mustering a regiment of [[Imperial Guard]] trained to fight in urban environments.

Its upper class is full of scheming bastards, and everyone else is downtrodden and desperate. You're doing well if you have a Grade-4 Hab, which is basically on par with an old soviet era flat. The local enforcers, the Sanctioners and Probators of the Bastion, have their work cut out trying to keep everything going. The City is divided up into numerous subsectors. There are organ legging gangs, cannibal cults, revolutionaries, and all sorts of nastiness everywhere.

Despite that, in Varangantua's worn down edifices you'd find people of all sorts. There are proud noble houses and merchant princes, various privileged subordinate classes with skills and connections and millions upon millions of people just trying to scrape by. Many of them toil away in manufactoria to supply the Guard and meet [[Imperial Tithe|The Tithe]], but others run greasy fast food places or flog whatever they can scrounge up for some extra slate. When they get some time off, there's music and other mass entertainment (riddled with propaganda). It's not hugely unusual for someone to own a car. People worry about getting their kids into a good schola, how they'll make rent, the state of local politics and how to keep up appearances.

So basically like most other [[Hive World]]s.

==Nothing to see here...move along..==
Okay, it does have a few interesting things, including...

* Being a lucrative source of ingredients for [[Rejuvenat]] Drugs acquired via "cell draining" - literally kidnapping youths and draining them of the necessary fluids and tissues over years, sometimes without any sedation to cut back on costs.
* A schism among the Adeptus Mechanicus between the followers of [[Belisarius Cawl]] and more traditionalist forces.
* Both [[Ogryn]] and [[Ratling]]s are established, although both are highly discriminated against publically.
* Being a high end producer of [[Servitors]], the bodies are acquired from various "sources" and have a potential chance to relapse due to shenanigans at the local Martian enclaves.
* Having a colossal night-club/pleasure palace built into a grounded battleship.
* [[Wat|Possibly the oldest living baseline human calls Varangantua home. She was the captain of the colony ship that landed their back in the Dark Age of Technology making her easily between 10,000 to 20,000 years old]]. It should be noted that she has not biologically lived all those years - she repeatedly went into stasis and changed her name several times over the centuries to avoid scrutiny and to set up her own legacy.
* An ancient religion with an awful lot of snake iconography (which is partly carried over into secular life on the planet) which is kept very secret from the regular [[Imperial Creed]], despite its clergy claiming its just another interpretation of the Emperor…
* Another ancient cult based around [[cannibalism]] that dates back to the first colonists who had to eat each other when supplies got low. Said cultists are split between rich assholes who want kooky cannibal sex parties and rich assholes who like murdering and eating other people for the sake of it. And the latter faction are almost definitely a [[Khorne|Khornate]] cult in the making.

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Imperial]]

Traitor Legion Loyalists

2023-06-06T18:09:49Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{Wh40k-stub}}
{{Spoilers}}
[[File:TOTALLY LOYAL AND NOT AT ALL HERETICAL.jpeg|500px|thumb|right|COMPLETELY 100% LOYAL.]]
{{topquote|Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.|Exodus 23:2}}
{{topquote|The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son.|Ezekiel 18:20}}

'''Traitor Legion Loyalists''' are the rare few Space Marines who, despite hailing from the Traitor Legions, stayed loyal to the Emperor and the Imperium, proving that despite what some characters in 40K think, having [[geneseed]] from a suspect source is no sure indicator of bad character. They are a very rare group of individuals given the initial purges of Loyalists elements from the Traitor Legions at the [[Battle of Isstvan III]] or by internal purges such as those enacted by “The Brotherhood” in the Word Bearers. While most of the information below has just been hints for now, this is a matter that has been popping up every now and then for the last few years.

As it happens, many of these Traitor Legion Loyalists during the [[Horus Heresy]] who did not end up in the annals of history became [[Blackshield|Blackshields]], the precursor to the 40K equivalent of the same name where a Marine with no emblems or markings can petition to join with the [[Deathwatch]] on a permanent basis, no questions asked. The term "Blackshield" by itself leaves it open as to whether the individual Marine seeks to redeem himself OR his chapter if it went rogue or was destroyed. Although Blackshields are a rarity in 40K, there were enough in 30K for such a tradition to begin and survive to the present day in the Imperium. Many others were recruited into the [[Knights-Errant]], a special force whose members were handpicked by [[Malcador the Sigillite]] and would later develop into the [[Grey Knights]] and the [[Inquisition]].

Those groups with enough numbers, or perhaps ties to the right people, were able to pass themselves off as successors of other Chapters after the [[Second Founding]]. [[Blood Ravens|Or their founders purged and changed their own records, so that over time, no one within the Chapter knows who their true progenitor is ]](which can lead to some [[skub|fun times]] when an Inquisitor comes across evidence that it occurred).

Generic armies of them can be fielded in 30K with the Orphans of Betrayal [[Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/Space_Marine_Legion_List_(30k)#Rites_of_War|Rite of War]]. As is fitting for a rogue, largely unsupported force, the rite doesn't provide many bonuses unless you're fighting Traitor versions of the same Legion you're fielding.

==Known Loyalist Members of the Traitor Legions==
'''Note:''' Characters whose names are listed in ''italics'' have received rules in some form in FW's Horus Heresy releases for the 30k era. Additionally, Marines who died or went missing in action (without returning later during or after Horus Heresy) in the [[Great Crusade]], like [[Hastur Sejanus]] (whose death in fact would be the immediate catalyst for the treason of Horus), don't count as while they are all technically loyalists there was no meaningful distinction at the time.

* [[Death Guard]]
** ''[[Nathaniel Garro]]'' (became the first of the [[Knights-Errant]], first to bring word to the Imperium about the Horus Heresy)
** Andus Hakur
** Meric Voyen (former head Apothecary of 7th Great Company. Defected with Nathaniel Garro. Renounced his vows as an Astartes following 'The Flight of the Eisenstein', slain after being possessed by the Lord of the Flies)
** Huron-Fal (Venerable Dreadnought, chose to self-destruct rather than be killed on Isstvan III)
** Tollun Sendek (Slain by the Lord of the Flies on Luna)
** Ullis Temeter (Killed on Isstvan III by Huron-Fal's overloading reactor)
** Helig Gallor (Recruited into the Knights-Errant)
** Bajun Kyda (Recruited into the Knights-Errant. Killed at Proxima Majoris)
** ''[[Crysos Morturg]]'' (Technically died during the Battle of Isstvan III, but was rescued and rebuilt by Calleb Decima. He became a Blackshield thereafter, ended up surviving the entire Heresy, and was made Captain of the 108th Independent Company. He and his Company were eventually sent out to monitor and patrol the Ghoul Stars. Notably, this was over fifty years after the Heresy ended, implying at least some surviving Traitor Legion loyalists were utilized by the Imperium to form "Independent Companies" instead of Chapters. Strangely enough the planet they were stationed on became the homeworld of the [[Death Spectres]]. A [[Raven Guard]] successor. [[Raptors_(Chapter)| Though there is at least one other chapter]], who favors stealth combined with massed firepower. The 108th then possibly evolved into the [[Marines Malevolent]].)
** Erud Vahn (Became a Blackshield during the Horus Heresy)
** Juball (Died on Isstvan III)
** Solun Decius (Succumbed to Nurgle's Rot, becoming the daemonic entity calling itself "The Lord of the Flies")
* [[Emperor's Children]]
** ''[[Saul Tarvitz]]'' (Called "The First Loyalist" for being the first to recognize the traitor legions' betrayal and helping to send warning to the Imperium. Currently MIA, though the authors have stated he died during the last bombardment of Istvaan III)
** Callion Zaven (Recruited into the Knights-Errant. Killed on the ''Vengeful Spirit'')
** Argentus Kiron (Member of the Outcast Dead, slain on Terra)
** ''[[Ancient Rylanor]]'' (Contemptor Dreadnought, KIA post-Heresy, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Hb4bngxJ8 nearly succeeded in killing Daemon Prince Fulgrim])
** Rakishio (KIA in Sol System by traitor White Scars who failed to infiltrate Terra)
** Solomon Demeter (Captain of 2nd Company, KIA on Isstvan III)
** Lord Commander Vespasian (murdered by Fulgrim)
** Lord Commander Abdemon (Member of the original 200 Emperor's Children Legion survivors -they had some form of non-Chaos related disaster- prior to reuniting with Fulgrim. Presumed slain on Isstvan III by traitor Astartes)
** Callion Zaven (a member of the Knights-Errant).
* [[Iron Warriors]]
** Warsmith [[Barabas Dantioch]] (14th Grand Company. Defied Horus' and Perturabo's orders to betray the Emperor. Led his garrison in the defense of his stronghold, the Schadenhold, during the the Great Siege of Lesser Damantyne. Recruited by the Ultramarines to '''FORTIFY''' [[Imperium Secundus]]. Activated the [[Pharos]] navigation/communication beacon under Guilliman's orders, unintentionally drawing the attention of the [[Tyranids]] to the Milky Way Galaxy. Sacrificed himself in a glorious battle to save the forces of [[Imperium Secundus]]. Posthumously declared a '''HERO OF THE IMPERIUM'''.)
** Iron Palatine Zygmund Tarrasch (14th Grand Company. Survived the Great Siege of Lesser Damantyne. Recruited by the Ultramarines to '''FORTIFY''' Imperium Secundus.)
** Chaplain Zhnev (14th Grand Company. Survived the Great Siege of Lesser Damantyne. Recruited by the Ultramarines to '''FORTIFY''' Imperium Secundus.)
** Sergeant Ingoldt (14th Grand Company. Survived the Great Siege of Lesser Damantyne. Recruited by the Ultramarines to '''FORTIFY''' Imperium Secundus.)
** Legionary Baubrista (14th Grand Company. Survived the Great Siege of Lesser Damantyne. Recruited by the Ultramarines to '''FORTIFY''' Imperium Secundus.)
** Legionary Toledo (14th Grand Company. Survived the Great Siege of Lesser Damantyne. Recruited by the Ultramarines to '''FORTIFY''' Imperium Secundus.)
** Venerable Vastopol (14th Grand Company. Venerable Dreadnought. Died at the end of the Great Siege of Lesser Damantyne)
** Ancient Khragan (14th Grand Company. Contemptor Dreadnought. Thought lost with dozens of others in a battle against the Hrud during the Great Crusade. Reappeared along with those dozens of others in a Loyalist Shattered Legion formation during the Constantinum Incursions of the Horus Heresy. Personally killed the traitors' leader.)
** ''Warsmith Kyr Vhalen'' (77th Grand Battalion. Led 2,800 loyalist Iron Warriors during the First Battle of Paramar. Survived. Never stopped cussing the traitor.)
** Veteran Sergeant Titus Avvon (77th Grand Battalion. Warden Officer of Castellum Stronghold Epsilon V. Survived.)
** Legionary Zhinnon (77th Grand Battalion, 5th Counter-Armour Wing, 30th Squad. Fought for the Loyalists in the First Battle of Paramar. Survived)
** ''Consul-Praevian [[Nârik Dreygur]]'' (114th Grand Battalion. Initially allied with the Traitors, he eventually defected to Cassian Dracos of the [[Salamanders (Chapter)|Salamanders]]. Led his Iron Warriors in a successful retaking of the planet of Mezoa from traitorous Alpha Legion forces.)
** Ancient Orgol (114th Grand Battalion. Deredeo Dreadnought. Answered Nârik Dreygur's call to arms to attack traitorous Alpha Legion.)
** Warsmith Auric Saxton (Remained fiercely loyal to the Emperor and killed the Lord Commander of the traitorous Emperor's Children during the Battle of the Harrow Ravening).
** Warsmith Annovuldi (Remained fiercely loyal to the Emperor and allied with the Raven Guard and helped take the planet Carandiru from the Traitor forces. Was later sent to Terra by Corvus Corax.)
** Tubal Cayne (A member of the Crusader Host. Recruited into the Knights-Errant. Killed while infiltrating the ''[[Vengeful Spirit]]'' during the Battle of Molech.)
* [[Luna Wolves]]
** ''[[Garviel Loken]]'' (Survived the battle of Isstvan III, recruited into the Knights-Errant, rules are for Luna Wolf version only.)
** [[Tarik Torgaddon]] (Killed on Isstvan III by Horus Aximand. Corpse reanimated to create the daemon Tormageddon, later slain by Garviel Loken during the Siege of Terra.)
** [[Iacton Qruze]] (Recruited into the Knights-Errant, later killed by Horus at Molech.)
** Severian (Recruited into the Knights-Errant. Eventually became Iapto, one of the founding Grey Knights.)
** [[Nero Vipus]] (Killed on Isstvan III)
** Vaddon (Killed on Isstvan III by Lucius)
** Unnamed Pre-Heresy Era Luna Wolf discovered in stasis on a [[Space Hulk]] and revived by the Flesh Tearers in M38 (Went berserk after getting an update on what happened before “borrowing” a warp jump capable vessel. Apparently now on a mission to personally put a boot in the ass of every traitorous Son of Horus he can find).
* [[World Eaters]]
** [[Macer Varren]] (Recruited into the Knights-Errant, killed on Terra by the Lord of Flies during the Battle of White Mountain)
** ''Endryd Haar'' (Became a Blackshield during the Horus Heresy and also rumored to have been a hybridized-legionnaire with ties to the [[Thunder Warriors]], died while [[Awesome|punching the shit out of Abaddon]] at the Siege of Terra)
** Tagore (Member of the Outcast Dead, slain on Terra)
** Subha (Member of the Outcast Dead, slain on Terra)
** Asubha (Member of the Outcast Dead, slain on Terra)
** Brother-Captain Skraal (Led a force of 20 loyalist World Eaters. Fought alongside the Space Wolves and Ultramarines against the Word Bearers to weaken their forces during the battle of Calth, slain on the ''Furious Abyss'')
** Ehrlen (Killed on Isstvan III)
** ''Shabran Darr'' (Killed on Isstvan III)
** Karnaugar (Killed by his gene-father on Isstvan III with Angron staying at his side as he died out of respect for giving Angron a wound that nearly killed him)
** Juljak Nul, "The Storm Walker" (killed on Isstvan III during a battle between the loyalist and traitor World Eaters, though not before killing several of the traitors.)
* [[Thousand Sons]]
** Atharva (Executed by Dorn on Terra, though either he or his shade appeared to Magnus after his defeat against Russ)
** Revuel Arvida (Fused with a fragment of Magnus and took the name Ianius, later the first Supreme Grand Master of the [[Grey Knights]])
** Omari Anat (captured by the [[Flesh Tearers]], stayed their captive to test whether or not [[Nassir Amit]] would go insane and kill him despite ample evidence of his innocence, fate unknown)
** Mhotep (Captain of the ''Waning Moon''. Fought alongside the Ultramarines against Word Bearers/Chaos to weaken their forces during the battle of Calth, slain on the ''Furious Abyss'')
** Izzakar Orr (part of the original defense of Prospero, he was slain by the Space Wolves in a warp maze. His soul later helped the Space Wolves in M42 find the maze and rescue 200 Space Wolves who had been trapped since the Burning of Prospero. After reuniting and resurrecting his body, he learned that the attack on Prospero had been ordered by the traitorous Warmaster [[Horus Lupercal]] and not [[Emperor|the Emperor of Mankind]]. He later closed the warp gate to the maze in order to prevent Magnus the Red from following the Space Wolves).
** Phosis T'Kar (part of the original defense of Prospero. Came to his senses and realized he had been warp corrupted during the battle. He then immediately stopped fighting and allowed Constantin Valdor to execute him rather than continue falling to warp mutations/corruption).
** Magister Sul Kontep (leader of a part of the Fifth Fellowship loyal to the Emperor, who surrendered and were imprisoned in Palace dungeons. Having received a chance for redemption after beggining of Heresy, they fought on the side of the loyalists during the Cthonia campaign).
* [[Night Lords]]
** Fel Zharost (Former Chief Librarian, sent into exile after Nikaea. Recruited into the Knights-Errant. Possibly became Khyron, one of the founding Grey Knights)
** Kasati Nuon (Aided the Raven Guard in their guerrilla war against the Traitor Legions)
** Vilnius Malik (Abandoned the Night Lords after becoming disgusted with what they had become. Joined up with the loyalist [[Alpha Legion]] warband The REDACTED.)
**Kellendvar (Originally a traitor that attacked Sotha, during the battle he saved Ultramarine Captain Corvus, from his own Chaos-corrupted brother. He then surrendered himself to be executed, which he was swiftly granted.)
* [[Word Bearers]]
**Kaspian Hecht/Barthusa Narek (Initially drawn to the Knights-Errant. Went rogue and independent of all other factions. Helped Eldrad kill off the Cabal before returning to the Word Bearers secretly with plans to assassinate Lorgar with the Fulgurite leftover from the attempted assassination on Vulkan. Final fate unknown.)
**Volkhar Wreth (Member of the Crusader Host. Mortally wounded and forcibly bonded with a Daemon on Terra)
**[[The Anchorite]] (Disillusioned Word Bearer who surrendered on Calth and was spared by Guilliman. Entered contemplation while detained and re-embraced the [[Imperial Cult|Lectitio Divinitatus]], which he had memorized in his youth. Interred in an Contemptor Dreadnought after attempting suicide and secretly taught the contents of the book to a selected few in the Imperial Cult's Ecclesiarchy on Almace. Existence revealed during the [[Indomitus Crusade]] and somehow manifests powers of a Living Saint.)
* [[Alpha Legion]]
** Legate Chaitan (Leader of a small fleet of loyalist Alpha Legion vessels. KIA alongside his crew and fleet on the strike cruiser ''Sigma'' by Alpharius's manipulation of the ''Sisypheum'''s crew while the Primarch was disguised as [[Shadrak Meduson]])
** [[Occam the Untrue]] (Leader of the REDACTED warband. Considers his legion a [[Cypher|tool to test the Imperium]]. Currently interrogating a Deceiver shard bound in a Tesseract Labyrinth after a very costly battle in M42)
** First Captain Ingo Pech (Fought for the traitors for most of the Heresy, but came to realize that Horus winning would doom the galaxy. Sent to Terra during the Siege to activate hidden XX Legion assets to fight for the Emperor, but was psychically hijacked by Cyrene Valantion to aid in her plans. Left beneath the Palace with a mine clamped to his chest.)

==Loyalist Legion Traitors==
Traitors? In our Loyalist legions? It’s more likely than you think.

* [[Raven Guard]]
** Alastor Rushal, “The Raven”: Was captured, tortured, and brainwashed by the Night Lords. Had his tongue cut out. Had no official rank but was somehow able to rise to the Kyroptera, the informal council of captains of the Night Lords. Wielded a gravity hammer weapon, at least part of the time, which is usually a World Eaters weapon. Raven Guard in the Night Lords wielding a weapon usually used by World Eaters. [[Space Sharks|Hmmmm...]]
** Nathian: Left for dead on Istvaan V. Lorgar found him and converted him to Chaos. He later joined the Emperor’s Children to be a mad doctor.
** Some of the Terran-born Raven Guard who'd served with the Luna Wolves prior to Corax's rediscovery defected to the Warmaster's side since they felt more at home with Uncle Horus than with Papa Corax, who'd never liked them very much and had exiled most of them to distant crusade fleets. After the war they vanished and were never seen again...[[Carcharodons|supposedly]]...
* [[Dark Angels]].
** Luther. This is so complicated it's not worth getting into here, just look at the Dark Angels and [[Fallen Angels]] pages.
** Merir Astelan. One of the first 5,000 Space Marines. Claims to still be loyal to the Emperor, but seems to be mainly out for himself. Responsible for the whole "Lion el'Jonson was sitting out the Heresy to see who would win" meme. Part of one of the factions that formed in Caliban. Again, look at the Fallen Angels page for details.
**Vortigern. Defected to Horus and after Horus's death was promoted to the Ezekarion, the [[Black Legion]]'s high command.
* [[White Scars]]
** The Legion almost fell into a civil war until [[Jaghatai Khan]] intervened and showed them what the traitors were actually doing. Those who had gone too far were executed and the rest were sent on suicide missions as the Sagyar Mazan, the last of whom died trying to delay Mortarion long enough for him to get blown up by the overloading reactors on Jaghatai's flagship. Ironically, despite this near disaster, the Scars got off pretty lightly given that the stupid parts of the legion who would fall to Chaos lies were most of the casualties by the end of the Heresy. Others that were cut off joined up with the Night Lords during the [[Thramas Crusade]], but sacrificed themselves once they realized their allies were wanton psychopaths and because they were actually loyalists tricked by the Night Lords into believing the Dark Angels were traitors due to the First Legion's isolation, all died in the fighting attacking the Night Lords. One group who stayed loyal to Horus and avoided the almost civil war by immediately leaving almost made it to Terra, but got caught by Nathaniel Garro and Macer Varren and got butchered to the last. Also, the Khan was to fell to Chaos but someone switched his fate with Fulgrim's, with both the Emperor and Malcador surprised by this outcome as it was caused by [[Cegorach|an unknown third party]].
* [[Iron Hands]]
** A company of Iron Hands bearing mixed X and XVI Legion heraldry fought at the Battle of Mezoa, but whatever happened to them after that is unknown.
* [[Space Wolves]]
** ''Conquest'' mentions that there may have been an entire Great Company who turned traitor, unlikely as it seems.
* [[Ultramarines]]
** Yes, not even the Smurfs were immune. Consul-Chaplain Ankarion of the 547th Company fell to Chaos early in the Underworld War on Calth and led the Word Bearers in butchering 200,000 civilian refugees who had taken shelter in the Auroran arcology, along with the Ultramarines of his company. When the 4th Destroyer Company of the Nemesis Chapter came to retake the arcology, he skewered their captain on his ritual spear. Said captain dragged himself down the spear so he could stab Ankarion in the throat and trigger a melta bomb, killing them both.

==List of suspected chapters==
It is important to remember here that mere tactical or heraldic similarities are not enough of an indicator for claiming that a Chapter might have geneseed from one of the nine traitor Primarchs. The cultural influence from recruitment worlds combined with millenia of adaptation and evolution can result in Chapters adopting traits that might echo the matrial ways of the ancient Legiones Astartes, without them bearing any relation to them at all.

The telling signs one must be on the lookout for are first and foremost the "historical" ones, that is to say Chapters whose origins trough can be traced back to the first millenia of imperial history trough things like their deeds or their armory, and then everything that might be "genetic".
Because of the genetic link to their Primarchs, geneseed influences the behavior and mindset of a Space Marine. Chapter culture might affect the way in which it is expressed, but it will always manifest to some degree in some way shape or form.
For example, the [[Iron Warriors]] already had a martyr complex before the discovery of [[Perturabo]], as proven by their actions during the siege of Forge World Incaladion.

Without further ado, let's see what we can find, organised by likeliness;

'''All But Confirmed:'''

*'''[[Blood Ravens]]''' The only known copies of their lineage are currently sealed under the orders of the Ordo Malleus:
** ([[Thousand Sons]]) - All but confirmed. Links to the Thousand Sons Corvidae Cult, high number and heavy usage of Librarians (especially to look into the future to scry enemy's plans like the Corvidae Cult). Just prior to the Fall of Prospero, a psyker named Kallista Eris foresaw the future of the Thousand Sons Corvidae Cult, during which she all but states in incredibly on-the-nose dialogue they will become the Blood Ravens: "The Ravens. I see them too. The lost sons and a Raven of Blood. They cry out for salvation and knowledge, but it is denied!”
**([[Word Bearers]]) - Speculated, due to operating in Aurelia sub-sector and from the world Cyrene (names associated with the Word Bearers, and an area originally controlled by the Word Bearers during the Great Crusade), as well as a fanatical search for Knowledge (However this is also a trait of the Thousand Sons). Their warcry "Knowledge is power, guard it well", is a direct quote from the Word Bearer First Chaplain [[Erebus]] (However this was also a common saying of the Thousand Sons and spoken by the Thousand Sons Revuel Arvida). However, the Thousand Sons connection is so obvious that this connection is a long shot at best.
*'''[[Minotaurs]]''':
**(Old Lore) ([[World Eaters]]) - Speculated. Similar battle doctrine, known for being complete berzerkers in battle. However this maybe due to their chimeric geneseed just making them batshit insane.
**(Revamped Lore) ([[Iron Warriors]]) - All but confirmed. They maintain a similar battle doctrine that favours close combat but is now also focused on pragmatic, siege, and attrition warfare tactics (their special rule is a near exact match for the Horus Heresy Iron Warrior's signature special rules). Their Ancient Greek theme also matches up with the Iron Warriors' anatolian/eastern-byzantine/ottoman references, and their gene-seed is mentioned to have extremely high assimilation rates, just like the IVth Legion of old. They even have records of action dating back to M32. Horus Heresy Book 6 "Retirbution" also alludes to the Iron Warriors being the progeniotors of the Minotaurs, as there is described a special unit of Iron Warriors who use heavy hypnoindoctrination and specialized in Counter-Astartes tactics. Edwin Brown, a playtester for the [[Badab War]] books, has also stated that the Minotaurs use Iron Warriors gene-seed.
**Of note: the "new" lore alludes to the possibility of there having been two Chapters called the "Minotaurs", with one being more similar to the old lore descriptions, being part of the [[21st Founding|21st Cursed Founding]] of M36, and references to chimeric gene-seed. Presumably, the old lore Chapter had chimeric World Eater/someone else (possibly Iron Warriors) geneseed and their creation/extinction was to secretly legitimize the "original" Iron Warrior Minotaurs under the direct command of the [[High Lords of Terra]]. Or the Imperium's shitty record keeping, combined with the (Iron Warriors) Minotaur chapter being so clandestine, lead to a completely unrelated chapter getting the name "Minotaurs" without knowledge of the name having already been taken.
*'''[[Shadow Wolves]]''' ([[Luna Wolves]]) - Confirmed by creator, but in-canon explanations currently lacking. Despite not being Space Wolves successors (being listed as Imperial Fists), they use tons of Wolfish iconography [[Bjorn the Fell Handed#Stormfangs|(no, not '''that''' kind)]]. Author/creator of the chapter ([[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]]) confirms they were created to represent the concept of loyalist Luna Wolves as a tribute to his wife Katie (who is a fan of the Luna Wolves).
*'''[[Silver Skulls]]''' ([[Iron Warriors]]) - All but confirmed. Suspected to be from the gene-seed of the loyalist Iron Warriors, led by [[Barabas Dantioch]], who helped defend Ultramar. The Silver Skulls are well known for siege warfare (including a rank called "Siege Captain", a rank that had only seen use with the Iron Warriors), masters of building fortifications (their fortress monastery is said to have impressed Rogal Dorn himself), and their Chapter iconography/colors are near identical to pre-Heresy Iron Warriors. Their Chapter records are stated as "lost" so they do not officially know which legion they are founded from, despite being Second Founding. Their gene-seed records on Terra are also locked away beyond even Inquisitional authority. The author of the Silver Skulls series has said they are successors founded from Dantioch's garrison, and were adopted by the Ultramarines (thus making them a case of the ''Ultramarines Connection''). She has also said that their religious aspects are just due to the culture they are recruited from, and Silver Skulls from outside their main recruitment world find these traditions strange and backwards as well.
*'''[[Death Eagles]]''' ([[Emperor's Children]]) - All but confirmed (origin suspected due to records of a Loyalist Blackshield warband from the Emperor's Children's Death Eagles company during the Horus Heresy) while the Chapter's recorded actions stretch back as far as M32.

'''Extremely Likely:'''

*'''[[Marines Malevolent]]''' ([[Iron Warriors]]) - Speculated. similar behaviors to Iron Warriors, some similar iconography. Extremely pragmatic, consider one another disposable, complete disregard for causalities or collateral damage, an extreme disdain for weakness, a tendency to challenge other Chapters, and they are pretty entitled little bastards. Like the Minotaurs, they take the wargear of defeated Astartes foes as trophies. They basically are the Minotaurs, if the Minotaurs DIDN'T have the backing of the High Lords. Their veteran's markings are also identical to the Iron Warrior's signature yellow/black hazard stripes. Lastly, but most noteable, their emblem (a winged lightning bolt) was the original emblem used by the IVth Legion, before reuniting with Perturabo.
*'''[[Mortifactors]]''' ([[Death Guard]]) - Speculated. Similar color scheme and iconography to pre-Heresy Death Guard, specialize in night fighting like the Dusk Raiders, similar grim attitude, and have a preference for using Power Scythes (the signature weapon of the Death Guard). This Chapter is also obsessed with death. I mean really obsessed with it. Being a [[Second Founding]] Chapter, they could be a prime example of the ''Ultramarine Connection''.
*'''[[Iron Snakes]]''' ([[Alpha Legion]]) - Speculated, officially from [[Ultramarine]] stock. Use combat doctrines and show behaviors extremely similar to the [[Alpha Legion]]. Similar iconography (a single-headed snake instead of a three-headed hydra). The Iron Snakes also have unusually specific design similarities to said [[Alpha Legion]]. Such as their Chapter Master being [[Primarch|taller than usual for an Astartes]], [[Alpharius|conceals his face]], and has been known to [[Omegon|swap identities]]. They also separate their Chapter into independent cells, just like Alpha Legion harrows. Due to being [[Second Founding]], they are also likely an example of the ''Ultramarines Connection''.

'''Likely:'''

*'''[[Sons of the Phoenix]]''' ([[Emperor's Children]]) - Suspected. It's an open secret that [[Belisarius Cawl|Papa Cawl]] got a hold of uncorrupted III Legion gene-seed). They have similar iconography to the 3rd legion, and their name also possibly references Fulgrim, who was known as the Palatine Phoenix. Known for liking to put on a show when in combat. That being said, the creator of the chapter (Maxime Pastourel) stated that he intended them to be Imperial Fists successors and that the choice of colors was meant to give them an 'ecclesiarchical'. This could be a rare case where the obvious ressemblance is purely coincidental.
*'''[[Raptors (Chapter)]]''' ([[Night Lords]]) - Speculated, only rumored to be [[Raven Guard]]. Gene-seed more similar to Night Lords. While they suffer the pale skin/black eyes seen in both Raven Guard and Night Lords, unlike the Raven Guard but just like the Night Lords, they have fully functional Betcher's Glands.
*'''[[Mantis Warriors]]''' ([[Alpha Legion]]) - Speculative, officially from [[White Scars]] stock. Like the Alpha Legion they operated from a series of hidden bases spread across the sector of space they were guarding rather than having a single HQ. In-setting they're suspected to be descended from the White Scars, but the source making that claim is a in-setting book written M36 by a High Lord of Terra that has been edited multiple times since then by other High Lords and multiple Inquisitors. Their tactics are more reminicent of the Alpha Legion than the White Scars, with a focus on stealth, ambushes and the like. Their colours (green and yellow) match the Rogue Trader-era AL paintjob, and FW's book mention that the Alpha Legion have been seen fighting in green power armour. They maintain elite cadres of skilled marksmen who assassinate enemy leaders, rather like the 30K-era Headhunter Killteams of the Alpha Legion. Not to mention, the Alpha Legion fought the White Scars multiple times across the Heresy and FW's version of the [[Chondax]] campaign has several hundred White Scars on recon missions "disappear mysteriously". Finally, an alternative name for the Mantis Warriors is the "Mantis Legion".

'''Other Possiblities:'''

*'''[[Brotherhood of a Thousand]]''' ([[Thousand Sons]]) - Speculated. Minor Chapter with a tiny footnote implying heavy librarius and have a similar name. Use an "M" as their Chapter symbol, similarly to the heraldry of the Pre-Primarch era Thousand Sons.
*'''[[Red Scorpions]]''' ([[Emperor's Children]]) - Speculated. Have an obsession with the "perfection" of their gene-seed, to the point of being outright hostile to any they see as "imperfect". Said geneseed also happens to have a mutation rate inferior to even that of the Ultramarines and Dark Angels (purest among the loyalist legions), but the Scorpions refuse to surrender any samples to the Inquisition. There is also the fact that their armories are stacked with old-patterns of tech, such as Deimos-pattern predators, Proteus-pattern Land Raiders, and MKIV dreadnoughts; which unlike the Minotaurs, cannot be explained by High Lords favoritism. Unlike the Death Eagles or Carcharadons though, there are no records of them existing as a Blackshield force during the Heresy. The Chapter only enters Imperial records for the first time until M34, well after [[Black Templars|The Howling]], and the 4th [[Black Crusade]].
*'''[[Storm Wardens]]''' ([[World Eaters]]) - Speculated. Similar preferred battle doctrine and color scheme to pre-Heresy War Hounds (armored assaults combined with close-combat infantry, blue armor with white pauldrons) (or maybe just like most Ultramarines successors). Records of their origins have been "deliberately" lost or destroyed (like the Lost Legions'). Additionally their homeworld is sanctioned against contacting the rest of the Imperium (not simply purged like a Chaos hive would have been) and is basically sealed off from the outside world. Though they are frankly more likely to be Iron Hands (the previous token "Scottish chapter"; also previously named "Storm Walkers") successors due to their "special friendship" with the AdMech and fondness for hiding inside metal bawxes. Or, like, possibly ultramarines like basically any other blue boys who use standard marine battle tactics of mechanized infantry, but they may just be the "Ultramarine Connection" counterpart to the Emperor's Spears' actual celtic sons of Guilliman.
*'''[[Fire Angels]]''' ([[Word Bearers]]) - Speculated. Highly similar behaviors and doctrine. Strict following of whatever rules they are given? Check. Do they follow the Codex to the letter? Check. Highly religious? Double check. Don't like Guilliman? You can bet that's a check. The combination of all of these traits makes them essentially loyalist Word Bearers in all but name... but that's as far as the similarities go. They aren't the only highly religious Astartes Chapter, nor are they the only Chapter to adhere so strictly to the Codex (especially among Ultramarines), or the only "Ultramarines" successors to not like Guilliman (see the Mortifactors above). There isn't any evidence hinting that their behavior is the result of genetics and not the cultural changes undergone by the Imperium in 10 000 years, especially considering that they are a Chapter that wasn't founded until very recently. However, much like the Minotaurs, there are noted records hinting that [[Sable Swords|theirs is not the first incarnation]] of the Fire Angels Chapter.
*'''[[Covenant of Fire]]''' ([[Word Bearers]]) - Speculated. While officially listed as "Salamanders", the Covenant of Fire could be Word Bearers who follow the Promethean Cult instead of worshiping the Emperor or Chaos. Their iconography is very similar to the pre-Heresy XVII Legion, and their attitudes and behaviors are also extremely similar to the Word Bearers, most specifically their "Ashen Circle" units. Seems Cawl could have run out of fucks to give and is now just seeing how far he can push it before Guilliman catches on.
*'''[[Sons of Antaeus]]''' ([[Death Guard]]) - Speculated. Similar genetic traits included an unnatural hardy stock.
*'''[[Death Spectres]]''' ([[Death Guard]]) - Speculated. Similar name, as well as similar iconography to the pre-heresy Death Guard. Their homeworld of "Occuludas" is also the last known location of Crysos Morturg, a loyalist member of the Death Guard, as well as his "108th Independent Company". They also prefer using Power Scythes in combat, a preferred weapon of the Death Guard. Like the 108th Independent Company, the Death Spectres have been tasked with protecting the Imperium from threats originating from the nearby Ghoul Stars. There is a lesser known background book that makes them out to be Raven Guard, but much of the book has been ignored, contradicted, or outright retconned since then, so it's likely their chapter origins have been too.
*'''[[Shadow Haunters]]''' ([[Night Lords]]) - Speculated. While they are listed as Raven Guard from the 19th Founding, their name harkens back to the title taken by the Primarch of the Night Lords: Night Haunter. They specialize in terror tactics and they suffer from a geneflaw which causes them to have horrific visions, similar to the geneflaw suffered by the Night Lords. Granted, this information comes from the chapter's creator's self-made Index, and not from an officially published source.

'''Special Cases:'''

*'''[[Grey Knights]]''' (Founders were initially drawn from the [[Knights-Errant]]) - Outright stated, although only from their history. While several Astartes from Traitor Legions were among the founders of the Grey Knights, the Grey Knights believe their gene-seed is derived from the prime template of the Emperor, though whether that's true is a point of contention among the fanbase (despite it being repeatedly and clearly stated in any and all Grey Knight's fluff, it's still unclear just HOW Big E made it).
*'''[[Exorcists]]''' (Official Imperial Fist successors. Classified and speculated Successors of the [[Grey Knights]] in old lore...alternatively [[Word Bearers]]) - The link to the Grey Knights is iffy since only due to a small mention by an Inquisitor, and the Grey Knights are notoriously against ANYONE messing with their gene-seed. However, the Exorcists colors, scripture written on their armour, and nature as anti-[[demon]] specialists is almost 1 to 1 with Heresy-era [[Word Bearers]]. It is not completely impossible since they are from the [[13th Founding|Dark Founding]].
*'''[[Carcharodons]]''' (Traitor [[Raven Guard]]/[[Night Lords]]/[[World Eaters]]) - Speculated. Physical traits (black eyes, pale skin) similar to both Raven Guard and Night Lords. A gene scan of a dead Carcharadon revealed markers for Raven Guard. They also suffer a Battle Rage they called "The Blindness" which manifests exactly like the Raven Guard's "Ash Blindness". They often have a black and white morality, focus on shock and fear tactics combined with stealth, and their preferred tactic is to brutally and horrifically annihilate the target population (be they enemy or civilian), but leave a few survivors to go tell everyone else about what happened. Likewise, a Night Lord officer noted that the Carcharodons seems to be a mirror of their own legion, which the original XIXth legion were known to have been. These further indicate they are both of the XIXth Legion, specifically the Terran born XIXth Legion under the command of their original legion commander: Shade Lord "Arkhas Fal", as the Carcharodons share the title for their leader: "Shade Lord". Notably, the Ashen Claws (a nominally loyalist renegade warband form of a different group of Terran-born XIXth Legion who had been exiled by Corax before the Heresy) have flatly called the Carcharodons "traitor-born", as it was most likely Arkhas Fal's Predation Fleet that joined Horus's side in the war. At the very least, it was likely the Carcharadons are who joined Horus, as he gave them the name "Pale Nomads", a title now used by the chief librarian of the Carcharadons. Of course, there’s also the possibility that they could have a chimera geneseed…which may not have been chimeric originally.
*'''[[Ashen Claws]]''' (Night Lords/Renegade Raven Guard) - Note: While technically not an officially listed chapter, they have recently begun to fight for the Imperium again. Similar to the Carcharadons, they were founded by an exiled predation fleet of the Raven Guard. This time, the fleet lead by Shade Captain Nerat Kirine, the fleet exiled after the Battle of Gate-42. During the heresy, the fleet returned and declared they fought for neither Horus nor the Emperor. Instead they fought for themselves. They raided the Nostromo Sector, looting war gear as well as stealing the geneseed from the Night Lords they slew.
*'''[[Angry Marines]]''' ([[World Eaters]]) - They can say whatever they want about [[Rachnus Rageous|who they think their Primarch is]], but the Inquisition still suspects [[Angron]].

==The Ultramarine's Second Founding Connection and Lost Legion Loyalists==
The [[Ultramarines]] are confirmed to have harboured loyalist members of Traitor Legions after the Heresy, rebranding them as their own to obfuscate the newcomer's past (as for why they would do such a thing, [[Roboute Guilliman]] himself is characterized as someone who abhorred the waste of any human life, Astartes or otherwise). Guilliman also needed all the manpower he could get when he thought the rest of the Imperium was destroyed during the era of [[Imperium Secundus]], so giving even legionnaires from suspect sources a chance to prove themselves was a practical solution, for which in the end he was not disappointed. The penning of the Codex Astartes and the shattering of the Legions into individual Chapters would also have provided the perfect opportunity to separate the loyalist Traitor Legion elements back into separate formations (both to work more as they were intended, and to make it easier to exterminate any of them that decided to betray the Imperium at a later time). Furthermore, it is confirmed that after '''[REDACTED]''' that led to the deaths of the Missing Primarchs happened, some/most Astartes of the II and XI Legions were mind-wiped by Malcador the Sigilite into thinking they had always been part of the Ultramarines and Imperial Fists (or possibly other legions), as to not waste useful Astartes assets. This act was backed up by at least Dorn and Guilliman voluntarily agreeing to have their memories of what really happened suppressed beyond even a Primarch's ability to recall. So, the speculation regarding the [[Soul Drinkers]], [[Valedictors]], [[Rainbow Warriors]] and [[Storm Wardens]] (along with the tinfoil hat addition [[Black Templars]]) being lost legion loyalists might have some truth to it after all.

Of the Chapters listed above, the Chapters that are suspected of this connection are:

*'''[[Silver Skulls]]''' - [[Iron Warriors]]
*'''[[Mortifactors]]''' - [[Death Guard]]
*'''[[Iron Snakes]]''' - [[Alpha Legion]]

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Imperial]][[Category:Space Marines]][[Category: Chaos]]

==Sources==

'''Forge World Horus Heresy Rulebooks'''
*''Betrayal''
*''Retribution''

'''Horus Heresy Novels'''
*''Flight of the Eisenstein''
*''Pharos''
*''Vengeful Spirit''
*''Corax''
** ''Weregeld''

'''Other'''
*How to Paint Space Marines, pg. 86
*Apocalypse by Josh Reynolds

The Golden Throne

2023-06-06T18:01:20Z

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[[File:God-Emperor Goldlich.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The big man himself on the Golden Throne.]]
The Golden Throne is the giant, elaborate life-support chair and psychic amplifier where the [[God-Emperor of Mankind]]'s decaying form currently resides, deep within the bowels of the Imperial Palace, under the armed guard of the [[Adeptus Custodes]].

== Origins and the Original Purpose of the Throne ==
The core of the thing that would eventually become the Golden Throne was found by Big Daddy E during the [[Unification Wars]] waaaay back during the [[Age of Strife]], wherein he found a curious piece of tech buried in some ruins out in the middle of nowhere in what was once known as Asia, as well as it's testing bed tech called Dark Glass. He immediately went out trying to get it repaired and refurbished, and began building around the core deep within the dungeons of what eventually became the Imperial Palace, adding more and more to it until it was the big enormous gold-plated throne stuck to more cables than there are stars in the sky that would satisfy the big man himself. It's purpose? To rid man of use of the [[Warp]] for good, and to open the [[Webway]] up to the Imperium of Man.

As you're no doubt aware, the Warp is where [[Daemons]] and more importantly, the power of the [[Psyker]] comes from and the Emperor HATED that. He wanted Mankind to be completely and utterly free from the evils of Chaos, and the tempting power of the Warp...but the big issue he faced was that the Warp is also where most of his massive spaceships and his armies had to go in order to get anywhere. The solution? Use it's massive psychic amplication abilities to open a hole into the Webway, and use it to unite humanity's worlds and thrive in a Galaxy seeming designed to shred it to little bitty pieces. If he could do that, then he and whoever else in the Mechanicus could isolate the gene in the human genome that allows connection to the Warp, isolate it, then either gene therapy it out of the species or blam those who resisted, and finally get Humanity away from the powers of the Dark Gods. Sure, there was a minor problem in that it needed a really, like...''really powerful'' psyker to actually make that feasible, but hey! He had at least a couple of Primarchs kicking around who could probably fill that role! It's all good!

== So what happened to that? ==
In short, [[Horus Heresy|Horus Happened]], and [[Magnus The Red|Magnus fucked up at the worst possible time.]] (What!? Magnus did nothing wrong!)

Not long after the Emprah put [[Horus]] in charge of going out and killing in his name, he went back to Terra to figure out the more administrative aspects of the Imperium of Man. This included setting the final groundwork for mankind’s access to the [[Eldar|Elfdar]]'s portal-realm - the Webway. The project was top-secret, even the Primarchs didn't know of its existence. This along with the creation of the Council of Terra, kinda pissed-off his sons, at which point a couple of them decided the Emprah wasn't their REAL dad and threw a big hissy fit. Malcador, the Emperor's right-hand, and Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists, decided to roll up on the Palace and see what the fuck was going on, wherein He received them and FINALLY spilled the beans on his ‘master plan’. Elsewhere, Magnus the Red discovered the Chaos Gods were trying their good goddamnedest to get that Horus Heresy thing going full tilt. In desperation he made use of a sorcerous ritual to warn Empy shit was going down...and that shattered the psychic shields around the Imperial Webway extension, allowing all sorts of Warp Nasties to enter with the possibility of invading Terra itself (not a good thing). This prompted the Custodes and [[Sisters of Silence]] to engage in a vicious five year battle to defend mankind’s claims in the Webway. They did a good job, but eventually had to retreat due to the grinding attrition of the endless demon-tide. The Emperor used his considerable psychic powers to manifest a blinding light that repelled the daemons, buying time for the survivors to make their way back to the Materium. He then forced the gate shut, closing humanity from the Webway, and the daemons from Terra.

Problem was, the only way to keep the damn thing closed was to be a powerful Primarch or better in terms of psychic power to keep the daemons on the right side of that gate. So from then on, the throne went from a Psychic beacon and possible savior of mankind, to the Emperor's prison, ensuring that he'd have to sit there and keep Daemons out of his yard while Horus went about fucking things up until Malcador came back and basically begged him to get up and go deal with that, and he took his place on the throne for several days and was essentially boiled alive by psychic power after being on it...and then the Emperor came back to the Imperial Dungeon, barely clinging to life. The Techpriests and Dorn pulled him off of it, and the Emperor was returned to the throne, where he gave a quick speech, and quietly took his place back on the gold-plated toilet, and he's been there ever since for the last several thousand years.

== Post-Heresy: The Imperium's Golden Life Support System ==
[[File:Golden Throne-Imperial Webway.jpg|thumb|left|400px|The Emperor seconds before realizing he'd just played himself by sitting in this damn thing.]]
Nowadays, the Throne maintains a lot of things vital to the Imperium's continued survival: The [[Astronomicon]], The psychic lock on the abandoned section of the Imperial Webway, and prolonging the life of the Emperor of Mankind, now only a half-dead corpse. The throne's rapid changes and modifications have caused a lot of unintended consequences: Namely the need for a constant sacrifice of Psykers, which facilitated the creation of the [[Black Ships]]. And even then, the Techpriests that maintained the throne found that the usual sacrifice of psykers wasn't cutting it in 36M, and they shot the number up by four times the usual amount, forcing the ships to go looking for even more psykers than they normally did; making a dangerous job considerably even more dangerous.

Further, after one of many of Failbaddon's Black Crusades, it was discovered that the Throne had some...problems. Namely, a lot of the technology that kept the thing working were starting to fail, and the Techpriests and Mechanicus at large can't fix any of them which is...bad. As for how bad? It's got several Mechanicus Cults going around trying to find ways to fix it or come up with a contingency for the eventuality of if/when this thing goes out. As for what happens? Well...Nobody's really sure. It's discussed at length over on [[God-Emperor of Mankind##On the Death of the Emperor| Big E's page,]] but a commonality is obvious: Something BAD will happen. And in the Indomitus era, where the Custodes have decided that they're actually gonna go out and do shit for once, they decided that the best solution is to just fix the damn thing, and are looking towards going to specific lost Forge Worlds in order to find what they need. As for whether or not they succeed? That's [[Advancing the Storyline]], my man. We'll probably find out in 10th edition.

The Vaults of Terra series gave a lot more information about the Throne, as well as its current problems. Firstly, the Throne is huge. As in the whole machine is larger than most hives. It's also confirmed that the "original" throne was made with an amalgamation of technology from multiple sources, including from xenos races. The Mechanicum have also known about its impending failure for quite a while, and have tried everything in order to fix it, hence why the current fabricator General became part of the conspiracy to get the Dark Eldar to help fix it.

== The Carrion Throne Conspiracy ==

So remember all that stuff about how the Ad Mech have known the throne was failing? By the time of the Gathering Storm, it turns out they'd known for almost 3 millennia that it was getting worse. Successive Fabricator Generals had tried every human method to restore it and failed. By the end of M41, the current incumbent - Oud Oudia Raskian - came to an inescapable conclusion ; the Golden Throne was only getting worse and the Imperium had no way of fixing it.

Driven by sincere desperation, Raskian attempted more esoteric methods of fixing the Throne. He found a way to negotiate with the Dark Eldar, whose knowledge of regenerative technology and shall we say "familiarity" with some components of the Throne led to a tenuous agreement - the Mechanicus would remove the protection guarding numerous worlds and allow the Dark Eldar to take as many as they wished ; in exchange, the Dark Eldar would both help repair and provide the materials necessary to fix the Throne. Raskian then entered into conspiracy with the Head of the Astronomican and the head of the Chartist Captains to help facilitate things, along with small parts of the Inquisition.

However, the Dark Eldar made it clear that at least one of them would need to get as close to the Throne as possible to assess the damaged parts that needed replacing. Given the psychic nature of the components and the psychically inert nature of the Dark Eldar, whether this was true is debatable. Regardless, the Mechanicum contrived to smuggle the components for a Webway Gate to Terra, hoping to bypass the security of Terra, and allowing a lone heamonculous get as close to the palace as possible. Unfortunately, Terra proved to be so rich in desperate, hopeful prey that the heamonculous went mad, slipped it's leash and started making monsters down in the underhives of Terra. The conspirators immediately went into damage control and attempted to keep everything quiet.

Unfortunately, other members of the Inquisition noticed the rather dramatic increase in cult activity and grisly murders in the hives. One Hereticus, Erasmus Crowle, cottoned on to the conspiracy due to a botched cleanup operation. This led him to pursuing the very cults that had been set up to try and fight against the Dark Eldar in Terra's underhives, bringing him into contact with the Custodes along the way. The Heamonculous attempted it's march on the Throne, even getting close enough to get inside the machinery before being stopped by Crowle and the Custodes.

Crowle was not convinced that the conspiracy ended there and continued his investigation. Unfortunately, this painted a bullseye on his organization. The other co-conspirators attempted to eliminate him, just as the Cicatrix Maledictum broke across the galaxy. Just in time, it was Crowle's investigation of the Astronomican that led to it being retaken by Imperial forces after going dark.

After this, Crowle went AWOL trying to track down the last of the conspirators, leaving his warband in disarray. The trail ultimately led to Luna, where another webway gate was being used by the Mechanicus to continue their negotiations with the Dark Eldar. Along with a squad of Custodes, Crowle gatecrashed the Fabricator General's last ditch negotiations with the Kabal, realising (due to weird blood bonding something with the previously dead Heamonculous) that the Dark Eldar weren't just getting slaves out of the bargain - the components they were replacing contained genetic material from the Emperor, allowing them to create a cloned psychic reactor to power their own "Dark Throne" to shut Khaine's Gate in Commoragh. It was even suspect as to whether the replacement components would have worked. Naturally, the Imperium went apeshit finding this out and everything went sideways.

So ultimately the Throne remained unrepaired but depriving the Deldar of a psychic battery was apparently worth it..

[[category:Imperial]]
[[category:Warhammer 40,000]]

Solar Auxilia Tactical Command Squad

2023-06-06T17:56:25Z

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[[File:99550105393_SolarAuxiliaTacticalCommand01.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Making other command squads look like complete pushovers since the 31st Millennium.]]
The Solar Auxilia Tactical Command Squad was the [[Solar Auxilia]]'s equivalent of the modern-day [[Imperial Guard Command Squad]] during the [[Great Crusade]] and the [[Horus Heresy]].

==Overview==
This team of [[Awesome|badasses]] was made up first, by a Lord Marshal who is the supreme commander of his forces. It doesn't matter if he is a [[Tactical genius|Tactical Genius]] or a [[That Guy|complete jackass]], so long as he is able to be a master strategist, fearsome duellist and an experienced frontline commander, than all is considered good. The following makeup includes the Strategos in charge of...well...''[[derp|strategy and tactics]]'', a Proclaimator for communications, a Vexilarius to hold the cohort's standard, and two Veteran Auxiliaries armed with a [[Meltagun]] and a [[Grenade Launcher#Grenade Launcher|Grenade Launcher]].

Auxilia Tactical Command Sections facilitate the flow of orders from central command, directing the movement of thousands of men and vehicles, as well as coordinating devastating aerial and orbital strikes upon a foe. The Proclaimator’s communications equipment links the section to the battlegroup’s command and control structure, allowing the Strategos to issue orders efficiently and directly to the units under his purview. The Vexilarius carries the cohort’s standard, a great honour usually only bestowed upon a warrior who has performed an act of bravery or feat of arms, whilst the Veteran Auxilia defend the section itself from advancing enemy. The Lord Marshal himself is armed with a [[Power Weapon#Paragon Blade|Paragon Blade]] and an [[Archeotech|Archeotech Pistol]]. All of them wear the absolutely [[Awesome|nutty]] [[Reinforced Void Armour]].

==Crunch==
On the Horus Heresy tabletop, these are the big banner squad, and while said banner is by no means mandatory, refusing to take it should be paramount to admitting defeat. The squad consists of a Solar Auxilia Captain with 3A 3W (yes, he has [[Wat|more wounds]] than a Space Marine ''Centurion'') and his four friends who have Stubborn. They all come with Refractor Fields, Void armour, Melta Bombs and Lasrifles, but they can be upgraded to take a series of much better weapons like Volkite Chargers, Power Weapons paired with Blast Pistols, Combi-weapons and a couple of special weapons. The Captain can take Heavy Void armour, and be further upgraded to a Marshal (same thing except WS5 A4). The four companions can take between them a Command Vox, a Augury Scanner and an Auxilia or Cohorts Vexilla (the only unit in the army), and the squad can add five more companions more for a squad of ten and some ablative wounds. In particular, the Cohorts Vexilla confers Line on the unit and lets everyone in 6" of the Vexilla have Ld9 for Morale/Pinning checks. That last part won't come up often due to Command Vox/Vox Interlock, but Line is always nice.
==See Also==

*[[Command Squad]]
*[[Renegade Command Squad]]
*[[Imperial Guard Command Squad]]
[[Category: Warhammer 40,000]]
{{Solar Auxilia}}

Solar Auxilia Veletaris Storm Section

2023-06-06T17:55:48Z

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[[File:99590105387_SolarAuxiliaVeletarisStormSection01.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Anal circumference|Bend over! We're going in dry!]]]]
The [[Emprah]]-damned ''[[Awesome|Human Terminator Squads]]'' during the [[Great Crusade]] and [[Horus Heresy]]. Yes, you heard us right. These guys were built like brick shit-houses and was originally meant to go toe-to-toe with [[Space Marines]] ''in close-combat''. This should tell you how batshit insane the Horus Heresy was and the Great Crusade in general when this was considered possible.

==Overview==
Veletaris Storm Sections form part of the Solar Auxilia’s Infantry Tercios. They are skilled and dedicated warriors, issued with the most potent weaponry and tasked with the most arduous of battlefield missions. Their discipline is unparalleled within the cohorts of the Solar Auxilia and their firepower can [[Anal circumference|peel-open the rear-end of anyone dumb enough to engage them in close-combat.]]

Equipped with [[Volkite Charger]]s and encased in [[Reinforced Void Armour]], these guys are not to be fucked with. Their leader can also be armed with a [[Power Fist]] and a [[Blast Pistol]] which is like a god damned ''[[Lascannon]]'' in pistol format.
[[File:99590105396_SolarAuxiliaVelatarisPowerAxes01.jpg|300px|left|thumb|Time to open up the hatchet!]]
Sometimes, if things got too hectic even for the already close-ranged Volkites, they can swap it out with ceremonial [[Power Axe]]s to go all [[Choppa]] on their foes, turning them into a dedicated assault unit. They are considered second only to the Space Marines of the Legiones Astartes in combat.

==Crunch==

The elite stormtrooper analogues, all given BS/WS4 and reinforced void armour, including the Heavy sub-type to help resist templates and blasts. Section sergeants can all take heavy void armor, giving them a 3+ save. The entire Tercio besides the Vanguard Section gets Volkite Chargers as part of their standard loadout, which gives them a good means on handling MEQs. They also lack the Close-Order sub-type, making them less of a juicy target to burn alive with templates.

However, you can swap them out with their choppier brothers with Storm Axes so you aren't stuck with mere CCWs. Storm Axes are +2S AP2 Unwieldy (so you're at WS4 S5 AP2 like Power Axe MEQs); they're Two-handed, but you have no pistol/CCW so you don't care. Each Veletarii only has one attack, but they compensate with Murderous Strike (6+), giving them a fighting chance against 2-wound TEQs and most characters. The main problem, of course, is whether it's bright to build a melee squad in this list to begin with, which depends on the Cohort Doctrine you have.

{{Solar Auxilia}}

Shotgun

2023-06-06T17:54:13Z

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{{stub}}
{{topquote|Over the centuries, mankind has tried many ways of combating the forces of evil... prayer, fasting, good works and so on. Up until [[Doom]], no one seemed to have thought about the double-barrel shotgun. Eat leaden death, demon...|Sr. Terry Pratchett}}
A '''shotgun''' is a large caliber smoothbore [[firearm]] which is designed to fire a cluster of small projectiles (once commonly lead pellets but for environmental reasons steel is more common, either way they're known as shot) in one shot, though most shotguns can also accept solid slugs. The cluster of bullets spread out to cover a wide area after exiting, taking some of the burden off of aiming and causing considerable damage to an unprotected body. It comes at the expense of hitting power and precision at long range due to the sheer spread. The earliest shotguns were large caliber muskets known as blunderbusses. Today shotguns remain widely used by police, hunters and sport shooters and see some use as a secondary weapon by soldiers. Modern-day shotguns are extremely reliable, fairly accurate (for what they are) and relative simple to produce and operate, while being devastating in close combat. The "gauge" used to measure the size of the shot used in a shell. 12 gauge means that it takes 12 lead balls of the diameter of a 12-gauge shotgun to equal one pound in weight. So 16, 20 and 28-gauge take 16, 20 and 28 lead balls of the diameter of a matching shotgun to equal one pound. This means that the higher the gauge, the smaller the shot is. 12-gauge is the most commonly used in combat, with the smaller gauges being used when hunting small prey. [[Dakka|When in doubt, carry two. If you still have doubts, attach two to your fists and two to your boots, then carry two in your hands again.]]

==Notable shotguns==
[[image:SPAS 12.JPG|thumb|300px|right|A pair of SPAS-12 Shotguns. The lower has a fixed stock and a shorter magazine tube, while the upper has its signature folding stock unfolded.]]
*'''Double Barrel:''' One of the most common shotguns available, the double-barrel is a very basic, no-frills firearm that, instead of having any sort of magazine or ammunition tube, simply has two barrels with one shot each. The vast majority of these are breech-loaded/break-action, where the gun's barrels and stock are attached by a hinge; they lock closed when it's time to fire and can be unlocked to reload. This hinge and the trigger mechanism itself are the only moving parts, making the gun very easy to maintain. This simplicity and the generally low price tag makes it popular with farmers and hunters. The double-barrel is typically used for hunting and can come in side-by-side or over-and-under configurations, the latter being popular in sports shooting. Rare triple-barrel shotguns exist, but at this point you're getting a heavy hunk of metal. Double-barreled shotguns can have a part of the barrels shortened (hence the colloquial term "sawed-off shotgun" on account of this usually being done with a saw) to create a nice personal defense weapon, though this modification is oftentimes illegal. Note that sawing off the shotgun's choke also drops the gun's accuracy down from "respectable grouping up to 40 meters that can knock a bear on its ass" to "abysmal 45-degree spread more at home in a video game that may scare a deer". Low market demand, doubling the most expensive part, and the difficulty of aligning the two barrels means these are now actually ''more'' expensive than pump shotguns are.
*'''Winchester 1887:''' The shotgun made famous by Terminator 2, this is a 10-gauge lever-action shotgun, giving it a strong Old West vibe to it. Firing it one handed is not recommended unless you really are [[Deathmark|a terrifying robot assassin]]. A trick associated with this weapon is spinning it around to chamber a new shell, but unless you have an extra-wide lever that is at least as wide as two fingers you're only going to break your fingers trying to do this, which almost happened to Arnold Schwarzenegger while filming Terminator 2 (and his was a modified prop no less). Not to mention that this is very dangerous.
*'''Winchester M97''': An oldie but one hell of a goodie, as the Germans in WWI could have attested if they'd survived. Nicknamed the 'trench sweeper', because it did exactly that: clear a trench of assailants/defenders nice and fast as you please so hard the German High Command actually officially protested its use, threatening to execute any captured enemy soldier caught using one. Allied forces simply responded that if they did that they'd start executing all prisoners, so the Germans backed down. Production stopped back in the fifties, but the M97 is still in regular use a half century later.
*'''Remington 870:''' Was pretty much ''the'' pump-action shotgun. Used by everyone from hunters and sports shooters to police and elite special forces units. Tough, durable and simple to use; there's a good reason the Remington is as popular as it is. Because of this there are oodles of aftermarket parts available so that you can make your shotgun as tacticool as you want. Unfortunately Remington was bought by Cerberus in 2007, and they proceeded to gut quality so bad guns literally shipped from the factory with rust on them. If you really want one now you have to get it used (one that does not say "New York" on the barrel) or a Chinese clone.
**'''KAC Masterkey:''' Developed by Knight's Armament Company, the Masterkey is an underbarrel attachment for the M16/M4 assault rifle. It is essentially the business end of a Remington 870 shotgun intended for breaching doors that can be slapped to the underside of a rifle so that soldiers do not need to carry around an entire separate weapon. To fire it the user has to shift their hands so that they hold the shotgun as normal, using the magazine of their rifle as a makeshift stock. Because of its lack of grip or stock firing a Masterkey as a stand-alone weapon is [[fail|a very bad idea]]. For that reason, and the ease of reloading, the M26 MASS was chosen over the Masterkey.
*'''Mossberg 500:''' The Pepsi to the Remington's Coke. The two are very similar and arguments between fans of the two were sources of major [[skub]] amongst firearm enthusiasts. In practice they are pretty much the same, with the Mossberg being lighter and cheaper than the Remington, but it does not come in as many different variants. With Remington's destruction and Mossberg improving variety of offerings, it has become the definitive American made shotgun.
**'''Mossberg 590''' An improved but slightly more expensive version of the 500. Uses a different style of tube which holds an extra shell in the same space and comes in more tacticool variants. The 590A1 is a variant of that with a thicker barrel (useless unless you're closing bulkhead doors on it) and more metal parts.
**'''Maverick 88''' A cheap variant that's only "assembled" in the US with some or all parts made in Mexico. Feels cheap and less features.
**'''Mossberg 900''' A semi-automatic shotgun by Mossberg.
*'''Benelli M4:''' Made by the Italian Benelli corporation, the M4 is famous for its wedge-shaped stock and [[video games|being the spray-and-pray stick in Counter-Strike]]. While used by civilians it is more commonly used by special forces units and police.
*'''Saiga 12:''' A Russian-made shotgun derived from the popular AK layout. It is a semi-automatic shotgun loaded via a detachable box magazine unlike the two above. Used by Russian security forces it is also popular amongst hunters because the required licence is far easier to obtain than that for a rifle. Factory-made box magazines go up to 8 and the aftermarket makes magazines for 12, 20 and even 30 shells, but the latter is very heavy, expensive and bulky.
*'''USAS-12:''' Built by a subsidiary of the Korean Daewoo (the car manufacturer) based on the AA-12, the USAS-12 is an automatic combat shotgun exclusively used by militaries. A semiautomatic version was put on the American market in the early 90's, but it was declared as to "having no sporting purpose" and was branded a "destructive device", immensely limiting its potential buyers. It has a nice 400+rpm rate of fire, allowing it to empty a 20-round drum in 3 seconds or less.
*'''AA-12:''' The Atchisson Assault Shotgun is a fully automatic shotgun most famous for its low recoil: through some clever engineering the user gets only 10% of the recoil they'd normally feel from a 12-gauge shell. This makes the AA-12 highly controllable even with its 300rpm rate of fire. It has also been associated with the FRAG-12 round, [[Bolter|a miniature grenade the size of a 12-gauge shell]]. While the FRAG-12 fits in any 12-gauge shotgun, there is something [[awesome|alluring]] about being able to hold your shotgun on target while shooting 20 grenades at it in 4 seconds flat.
*'''SPAS-12:''' A shotgun with a capital SHOTGUN. It is a big honkin' piece of metal capable of double-action: it is both a gas-operated semi-automatic and a pump-action shotgun at the same time. This allows it to both acts like a semi-automatic weapon with lethal shells and a pump-action weapon capable of firing bean bags, tear gas, and other less-lethal shells that do not generate enough pressure to cycle the action. This is also how they are used in movies because blanks are too light as well. Movies and games almost always show the shotgun with its bulky folding stock folded in on top of the weapon, likely due to its distinctive silhouette. While no longer in production the SPAS-12 retains its reputation as a big, menacing son of a shotgun and fetches quite a bit on the second-hand market, even with its failure-prone safety.
*'''Punt Gun:''' What if you wanted to shoot an entire ''flock'' of birds with a single shot? You could use a punt gun! (Or, you could, back in the day, but you probably wouldn't do it now because it's really, really illegal). Punt guns are shotguns the size of a small boat and usually mounted to one, hence their name since a punt is a small flat-bottom boat. Usually custom-made beasts, they would shoot shells equivalent to a 1 or 2 gauge. Double-barreled punt guns were also known to exist, being roughly equivalent to two 8 gauges. They are used for hunting, and only hunting on a commercial scale, because they are both too stupidly large to be used in combat as personal weapons, but are also too small to use in combat as artillery, and were so good at the job [[Not as planned|they nearly depleted the waterfowl populations they were used on, necessitating their regulation]].
*'''KS-23:''' The spiritual successor to the Punt Gun in man-portable form. You see, the Russian, they have the [[ZSU 23-4 Shilka]] self-propelled AA gun firing high-velocity 23mm cannon shells. But when one of their production runs for barrels proved subpar, some absolutely insane Gopnik decided "Eh, fuck this, they're good enough for lower power ammunition like shotgun slugs!" Enters the 4-gauge(!!!) pump-action KS-23 shotgun built from said cast-off barrels (albeit it really straddles the line between shotgun and grenade launcher, and since it has a rifled barrel it's ''technically'' a carbine) and intended to put down prison riots. Only four shots, but with such a massive bore you probably won't need more! The TOZ-123 is a slightly modified version for civilian use, presented as a hunting weapon!
*'''Ithaca Model 37:''' Want a shotgun that'll go anywhere with you? The Ithaca's combination of the ejection port and loading port underneath the gun gave it a long life as a shotgun that could fight in all but the most extreme conditions. Its most famous variant is the "Stakeout", with a 13 inch barrel and a pistol grip, it's a highly portable piece of high firepower.

==Ammunition Types==
*'''Birdshot''': Like buckshot, but the balls are much smaller, and as a result there's less empty space in between each ball when fired. This makes it well suited for shooting birds out of the sky. While each ball individually won't do quite as much damage, you'll definitely give someone a bad day if you hit them with it. Note for writing: birdshot is a terrible choice for use against humans or any substantially sized animal, so unless your characters have a reason for using it specifically (desperation, etc.) having a character use birdshot for fighting will result in /k/ laughing at you. Dick Cheney shot an old man with some at point blank range, hitting the throat, and the guy is still alive.
*'''Buckshot''': The most commonly associated ammunition used in shotguns. Buckshot is a shell filled with lead balls that fire out from the barrel in a cone; how tight that cone is depends on whether the shotgun has a choke. Buckshot, as the name implies, is lethal to deer, but works just as well on humans. 12 gauge 00 (pronounced double aught) is the most common type, consisting of 9 lead balls .36"(9.1mm) in diameter.
*'''Dragon's Breath''': What do you get when you fill a shell with metal shards and flammable liquid? A giant fireball coming out of a shotgun barrel, that's what! You'd also get a barrel full of afterburner shit, so make sure you don't fire this thing more than twice before you clean the gun, unless you like your gun exploding in your hands (hence why it's almost universally used with cheap throwaway double-barrels).
*'''Flare''': As unusual as it sounds, shotguns can fire flares if you do not have a flare pistol on you. The only caveats are that they must be the same gauge, must be manually loaded if you’re using a pump action shotgun, and must be fired from a none choked shotgun. If the flare propellant isn’t strong enough or if the barrel is choked, you risk having the flare stuck in the barrel and heating it up to cherry red hot temperatures that can warp the metal. So if you want to be safe, double check your instructions on the box to ensure the flares are shotgun compatible. On the other hand, it’s a good back up if you do not have a working flare pistol.
*'''Flechette''': Instead of balls, you fill a shell with long metal needles. Supposed to be more aerodynamic than buckshot, but in practice they can be deflected by things like raindrops and have less stopping power. Also tear up barrels.
*'''Flexible Baton Rounds''': These are the less-lethal rounds typically used by police. It hurts like hell to get hit by one and can break a rib or two, but at least you don't start bleeding out (most of the time). Typically contained in a bag (hence the nickname of "beanbag" rounds) so spread in minimal. Rubber slugs are occasionally used as an alternative. Shotguns mean to fire these are typically used only for them and marked in bright colors so nobody loads lethal rounds into them. Can still be lethal, especially on the elderly or if it hits you in the head.
*'''Frag-12''': Mini-explosives crammed into a shotgun shell. It has four spring-loaded fins at the back of the shell to guide it towards its target. Is often associated with the AA-12 because of the inherent awesomeness of turning your shotgun into a fully automatic grenade launcher. Incredibly dangerous, incredibly expensive and incredibly illegal for obvious reasons.
*'''Slug''': A solid piece of lead; this allows shotguns to be used more like a rifle in that you're aiming at a single point in space. Compared to a rifle bullet, a slug is shorter ranged and less accurate since the barrel isn't rifled, but the greater weight and the fact that shotguns are higher caliber than rifles means that a slug tends to have greater penetration, is less likely to fragment or be deflected, and hits with far more force- a 12 gauge slug is roughly equivalent to a 70 caliber bullet in terms of kinetic energy. They're often used for hunting since the lower velocity of a slug means it's less likely for a stray projectile to clear the woods and hit someone's house by accident but still has a good chance of taking down big game in one shot that would probably survive long enough to fuck you up if you only used shot (like bears or boars).
**'''Frangible Round''': A specialized type of slug made from metal powder and wax, these rounds are made to shatter on impact, making them safe to use in close quarters or for breaking door hinges and locks, hence their alternate name of Breaching Rounds.

It's actually quite easy to make custom ammunition for shotguns by cramming whatever the fuck can fit into a barrel into a standard slug shot maybe with some tightening. Most weapon shops even sell custom shotgun ammo kits. Sure, custom slugs more often than not have terrible accuracy, but it's invaluable in urban fantasy/mystic/horror settings where you can shoot whatever the fuck that eldritch abomination you're fighting against is vulnerable to - like wooden slugs for staking vampires from the (relatively) safe distance or saltshot against ghosts or demons. Hell, making silver shotgun slugs against werewolves is a much safer option than silver bullets for rifles or pistols if you're not a proficient smith, as poorly made slug is much less likely to jam your gun than poorly made bullet. Ask /k/ for examples of crazy shotgun loads, up to and including live .22 LR being fired out of a 12 gauge. There are even several old timer tricks for making shot into slugs as 100 years ago the slug game was limited to single, bore wide, ball projectiles. Cut shells are simply bird or buck shot that has had it's case cut a bit to weaken the point below the wadding. Not enough to separate while loading into the chamber (NEVER PUT THESE INTO A MAG OR A TUBE) but the case will separate during firing, launching the contained shot as a single mass held together by the remaining case. Another old trick is to cut the crimp off, pour out the shot into molten wax, and then loaded back with the wax acting as a binder. This results in a round with weight similar to a lead slug but that shatters on impact similar to a frangible or breaching round. It actually is surprisingly accurate and produces a much nastier but not as deep wound than a slug, almost like shooting the target at point blank with normal birdshot.

==Choke==
Since shot is multiple projectiles, how and where it impacts can be changed by altering how tight the end of the barrel is. Double barreled shotguns often have different chokes in each barrel while pump action and semi-auto shotguns have either have detachable chokes or a fixed improved cylinder choke.
*Cylinder: Effectively no choke. Rare on modern shotguns unless the gun takes detachable chokes.
*Improved Cylinder: A slightly narrow choke and concentrates shot a good deal. Generally considered the standard in law enforcement and home defense. If a modern shotgun does not have detachable chokes, it most likely uses an improved cylinder choke.
*Duckbill: used only on combat shotguns, a duckbill choke focuses the spread of shot onto a horizontal plane, in theory allowing it to more effectively clear rooms and trenches by hitting multiple targets at once. Unfortunately, the spread can be a bit too erratic or spread too quickly to use effectively without practice.
*Full Choke: A very tight choke that results in a very tight shot pattern. '''Do not shoot slugs or flares through this''', it's too tight for them to clear the barrel and risks damaging the gun as well as your hands.
*Rifled Choke: Also known as "paradox" rifling this was one of the many gun related inventions of George Fosbery. Essentially a bit of rifling at the end of a shotgun that gives slugs greater stability in flight. You can shoot shot through this ''safely'', it won't hurt the gun or anyone on your end of the muzzle, though not very effectively: The pattern will be very erratic, a doughnut shape at best, instead of centered.

==The Short-Range Shotgun Fallacy==
It's a common belief amongst people that shotguns are strictly short-ranged weapons, that their particular ammunition makes them all but useless at a distance. As the title of this segment suggests, such a belief is pretty much wrong. Here's why. The primary reason this idea exists is because of vidya; because shotguns are preferred for tight confines and urban fighting, most early shooters (other than the original [[Doom]], ironically, though it has its own fair share of the blame discussed below) made shotguns do more damage the closer that you were to the target for balance, and the idea was absorbed into popular culture. The whole shotgun fallacy is similar to the flamethrower fallacy in which both weapons are actually much more accurate and longer ranged in real life rather than being only effective at less than ten feet like most video games.

The entire "shotguns are only good at short range" idea is based on the notion that when a shotgun fires, the pellets it expels will spread further and further apart as they travel, until they are so scattered they're incapable of dealing any real damage to whoever they hit. It's not ''entirely'' without basis, and in fact this was a well-known issue with the blunderbuss, but it's mostly false when it comes to today's shotguns.

See, unlike blunderbusses, shotguns have small, narrow barrels, rather than the tapering wide-bore muzzle of their predecessor. Thusly, whilst a shotgun shell's contents do have a scattering effect that means it's impossible to get the same pinpoint precision accuracy you would have with, say, a sniper rifle, they don't scatter anywhere near so far as a blunderbuss's shot would, even when using a wide-bore. In fact, this scattering effect is ''precisely why'' shotguns are considered the best guns for hunting with; the spread of pellets is much more likely to connect with a fast-moving target, and this is especially important when hunting birds or small game. Further more, some shotguns can also fit a device called a choke. A choke is threaded onto the end of a barrel, the choke has a slightly smaller internal diameter than the barrel. This forces the shot to stay tighter together, farther down range. This is how turkey hunters can kill with neck shots without damaging meat at 40 or so yards. Some shotguns, typically called slug guns, do have rifled barrels. While terrible for shot (the imparted spin spreads the shot dramatically, like video game levels of spread), it shines with solid metal projectiles. Special slugs designed with rifling in mind, provide significant range increases. Practiced shooters can make 150 yard shots rather easily. There are even chokes with partial rifling to allow smoothbore guns threaded for chokes, to shoot some specialized rifled slugs.

This said: compared to the multiple hundreds of meters effective range of rifle-caliber bullets the shotgun "''is''" a short-ranged weapon. What they don't tell you however is that most fire fights are short-ranged anyway, which is the main reason why after World War Two armies stopped using what we would call "Battle rifles" and swapped to smaller caliber assault rifles (trading in range for [[Dakka|a higher rate of fire]]). For most situations a shotgun is as good as a rifle if not a little better since it's actually easier to hit your target with a shotty. The main disadvantage is that you can't carry as much ammo (the 12ga shells are bigger and heavier than the average rifle bullet), and shot is rather inefficient against body armor. TL:DR; an assault rifle is more versatile than a shotgun, hence the AR gets used.

Although [[Doom]]'s standard shotgun averted this issue handily (being able to snipe [[Beholder|cacodemons]] at medium range, though it helped that cacos are rather wide targets), the ''super'' shotgun introduced in the sequel is probably where this belief took root in gaming. It launched ''far'' more pellets than a regular shotgun blast ([[Wat|damage-wise it's almost equal to a rocket's]] [[Awesome|with blast radius taken into account]]), but it was balanced out by its significant spread, meaning you had to get up close to ensure maximum damage on single targets whether it was an [[Meme|agitated skeleton]] ready to sock you in the jaw, or your chaingun-equipped buddy running towards you guns blazing during a deathmatch. With the Doom franchise having such a massive influence on 90s FPSes (including id Software's later products no less), this trait was <s>copypasted</s> followed accordingly, [[Skub|often with the excuse of multiplayer balance if the game could support it]], and beyond.

Unfortunately, not all devs and QC teams are created equal, and the spread of some vidya shotguns was better-justified than others (in Doom 2 for instance, the super shotgun's sprite has a sawed-off barrel ''and'' you'd fire both barrels at once per trigger(s?) pull, a trick that would generate serious recoil and shorten the lifespan of a real world double barrel). One particularly notorious case was... the shotgun from Doom 3, whose spread was so ''bad'' [[Rage|not even a point-blank shot was guaranteed to kill a mook in one hit,]] [[Bullshit|even if you aimed for the head]]. While Doom 3's level design was more claustrophobic, the shotgun's spread was simply too much for ''anyone'' to defend (and the super shotgun wouldn't be introduced until the Resurrection of Evil expansion pack, ergo no yardstick to compare the shotgun's spread and damage unless you forked over the dough). Thankfully for Doomguy, id realized the folly of this approach and brought back the shotgun's reasonable spread from Doom 2016 onwards (and made sure to include the super shotty in the base arsenal).

One of the few games that ignores the whole 'Shotguns are only useful at close range' trope is hilariously Gears of War, which is one of the most testosterone-poisoning and over the top games made. Whilst its true the Gear's shotgun instakill enemies up close, most players actually use the shotgun at it was intended, which was a mid-range weapon. It is telling when the majority of players prefer the shotgun than the iconic lancer assault rifle in open space firefights as it is amazingly accurate despite the spread and deals decent damage. There are even reports of players [[Wat|sniping with the shotgun better then most snipers.]]

==In [[Warhammer 40k]]==
Your typical generic weapon found in almost every genre, the Shotgun is a class of pump-action weapons utilized by the [[Imperium of Man]]. Like before a shotgun is a short-ranged anti-personnel weapon, and easily fired accurately on the move thanks to its wide spread of fire. Regularly employed by the [[Adeptus Arbites]], the shotgun (also referred to as a scatter gun), have been around since before M3. 38,000 years later the biggest "improvement" is the addition of 50 pounds of metal, allowing it to be used as a club so that after shooting a pissed off [[Genestealer]] you have the option of boinking it on the head, but only an Ogryn or a Space Marine would consider a 50 pound weapon useful, even as club. Probably the second longest lived weapon in the Imperium (right after [[Basic Close Combat Weapons|anything sharp or heavy]]), it has appeared on nearly every Imperial world and battlefield. There are also automatic shotguns out there (dubbed "Combat Shotguns") as shown in Necromunda, but few uses them in the actual Imperial armed forces in notable numbers, even where they would make much more sense than pump-action ones. Aside from Kriegers, who arm their Combat Engineers with them.

Shotguns are also commonly employed by [[Space Marine]] Scouts and [[Imperial Guard]] Veterans, although the [[Space Marines]] are equipped with larger guns chambered for more powerful "Manstopper" rounds. Its hail of shot can shred through flesh, but its low velocity causes it to be ineffective against armoured enemies. The [[Imperial Navy]] uses them when boarding a ship or putting down mutinies because the nature of its rounds make it unlikely (read impossible) to pierce the hull of the ship, which is a good thing. The [[Deathwatch]] have their own shotguns, mainly for the specialist ammunition they use to take down many different types of Xenos at close range.

Imperial shotguns also can use a wide variety of different ammunition, including all types of bolts for maximum firepower (though less effective than an actual [[bolter]]) (<s>for some stupid reason</s> the different barrel length might interfere with close-range muzzle velocity, and carapace armor doesn't have a machine spirit to interface with the gun's), web charges for non-lethal takedowns, blazerer charges, that turn a shotgun into a nerfed flamethrower, talk charges for breaking doors, and really about anything you can fit inside the barrel, making it a great utility weapon in any FFG game or Necromunda: Underhive Wars.

*Range:12 | Str:4 | AP:- | Type:Assault 2 (Space Marine version, 7-th edition)
*Range:12 | Str:3 | AP:- | Type:Assault 2 (Imperial Guard version, 7-th edition)
*Range:12 | Str:4 | AP:0 | Type:Assault 2, becomes Str:5 if fired on range of 6" or less (Space Marine version, 8-th edition)
*Range:12 | Str:3 | AP:0 | Type:Assault 2, becomes Str:4 if fired on range of 6" or less (Imperial Guard version, 8-th edition)

==In Real Life Versus Video Games==
Shotguns fire a handful of small spherical projectiles, a large slow heavy slug, or a storm of tiny pellets. With that in mind, let's think about what modern armor looks like. Usually, soldiers wear a basically what is a Kevlar vest with an armor plate stuck over it. Birdshot and buckshot? In video games these projectiles become hyper deadly blasts capable of shredding anyone in close range, but in real life they're about as impactful as a solid punch. Each individual shot has about the energy of a bullet from a very puny handgun, you're just firing a bunch of them at once, so it's not too hard to make pistol armor that can take it.

Slugs, however, are large heavy objects with a lot of momentum. Upon impact with Kevlar, they'll snap ribs apart, and maybe punch through. On impact with hard armor, it'll still feel like a sledgehammer to the gut. Of course, that's assuming armor hits. If a shotgun hits you in the arm, it's not going to hurt, it's going to be limb removal/gruesome injury. It'll also bounce off the floor at a shallow enough angle, while still retaining lethal amounts of force and power. As well, the spread of a shotgun can make odd effects: a couple pellets not getting stopped and hitting the face is ''still'' going to hurt.

{{40k-Imperial-Weapons}}

Space Marine Chapter

2023-06-06T17:53:27Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

The '''Space Marine Chapter''' is the largest commonly-used organizational unit of [[Space Marines]], nominally consisting of a thousand Marines, give or take. As of the 41st Millennium, there are approximately one thousand Space Marine Chapters operating in the [[Imperium of Man]], so there are nominally about 1,000,000 Space Marines running about. That's roughly double the current number of active US military personnel or half that of China spread out across an entire galaxy.

== Origin ==

Each Chapter is descended, in one way or another, from the twenty original Space Marine Legions founded to wage the [[Great Crusade]] -- in fact, the term "Chapter" began as one of several names for a roughly thousand-strong division of Marines, as a thousand Marines was few enough to be logistically manageable while numerous enough to handle almost any situation, especially with the assistance of their [[Imperial Guard|Imperial Army]] regiments. However, some Legions preferred to operate at full strength all the time, especially the Sons of Horus (judging from the books, the ''Vengeful Spirit'' housed the Legion's whole first ten companies) and the Death Guard (operating most of the time as a single force of ~90k+ marines). It says something about the sheer manpower of these armies that large portions of the Legion were often benched during a campaign.

The [[Horus Heresy]] proved that having a quarter of a million Marines and billions of Guardsmen under the command of one corruptible individual was too dangerous, so [[Roboute Guilliman]] (''who also originally had a quarter of a million of Marines and millions of Guardsmen under his command''), with the grudging assistance of the surviving loyalist [[Primarch]]s, instituted the [[Codex Astartes]] reforms, where the remaining loyalist Legions were divided into Chapters of no more than a thousand Marines. This event was known as the [[Second Founding]], with the creation of the twenty original Legions being retroactively designated the [[First Founding]]. Which is kind of gaslighting the Marines since without the Navy and Army, the Marines aren’t really able to be a real threat to the Imperium.

== Founding ==

The First and Second Foundings were unusual compared to the rest; in both cases, there were plenty of [[Space Marines]] to be had, so the founding of new Legions or Chapters was basically a re-organization. By the time of the 41st Millennium, Space Marines are made in much fewer numbers, so founding a new Chapter is not done lightly -- in fact, only twenty-five Foundings have been held since the Second.

First, there has to be sufficient [[gene-seed]]. If there isn't enough in storage, more will be made by implanting some into slaves, extracting the progenoids, using them to make two sets of gene-seed, and so on. In a century, one set of gene-seed can be cloned into over a thousand, which is more than enough for a new chapter. Once there is enough gene-seed, a suitable set of Aspirants will go through training to become the first battle-brothers, while a few Veterans from a chapter that already exist will become the first [[Chapter Master|Master]] and [[Brother-Captain|Captains]] of the Chapter. This is a great honor for those Veterans chosen, and for their Chapter as well.

== Organization ==

A single Marine is extremely powerful; a full Chapter is overkill for almost any situation save the most dire (though these situations are naturally the ones we hear about). To ensure that enough Marines are committed to a given battle (but no more, since they are too expensive to risk where they aren't needed), all Chapters have some organization scheme for dividing into smaller detachments. The majority of Chapters use the organization laid out in the [[Codex Astartes]] to some extent: a Company of ten [[Veteran Squad]]s, four Battle Companies with six [[Tactical Squad]]s, two [[Assault Squad]]s, and two [[Devastator Squad]]s, four Reserve Companies (two with ten Tactical Squads, one with ten Assault Squads, and one with ten Devastator Squads), and a [[Scout]] Company. Beyond these companies are the Chapter Command, comprised of the Librarius (Where all the [[Librarian]]s reside and write stuff), the Reclusiam (Where the [[Chaplain]]s and chapter relics reside), the Apothecarion (for [[Apothecary|Apothecaries]]), and the Armoury (Where the [[Techmarine]]s look over the entire chapter's motor pool), and the [[Chapter Master]] himself, all of whom are attached to the various companies as the situation demands.

This organization has seen some shifts as of late, however. With Guilliman's return and the dawn of the [[Primaris Space Marines]], these forces have been shifted around a little to allow these taller additions in categories that are roughly similar to their baseline counterparts. Chief among them is that Tenth Company now has a pool of Vanguard Marines, those Primaris Marines who have taken to the arts of subterfuge and stealth but are not green rookies by any means. Each chapter also now has two Lieutenants that act under the Captain, managing the company in his absence and coordinating strategies in the event that the company is separated.

== Tabletop ==

In-game, one's choice of Chapter generally has no effect on gameplay -- of course different Chapters have different color schemes, and an army's lore may suggest taking certain units in greater or lesser quantities, but they all basically draw from the same army list. That said, some [[Chapter Master]]s and [[Brother-Captain|Captains]], if chosen, can grant certain special rules to the army they lead, and some Chapters ([[Space Wolves]], [[Black Templars]] and successors [prior to [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition|6th edition]]], [[Blood Angels]] and successors, [[Dark Angels]] and successors, and [[Grey Knights]]) get their own [[Codex|Codices]].

This changed with 6th Edition; now, your choice of chapter does affect what "Chapter Tactics" they get. For example, the Red Talons, an [[Iron Hands]] successor, has the Iron Hands' version of the Chapter Tactics rule, while Howling Griffons use the Ultramarines'. Some of the special snowflake chapters, like the [[Red Scorpions]] or [[Black Templars]], get their own, but for the most part, it's based on whichever [[First Founding]] chapter they come from. 8th edition let you choose between 2 of 18 available chapter tactics or use a First Founding chapter's tactic.

== See Also ==

* [[Chapter Master (game)]], a former game-in-progress in which you get to run your very own Space Marine Chapter (and probably get declared Excommunicate Traitoris by the [[Inquisition]]). Currently on hold indefinitely due to cease-and-desist orders.
* [[Space Marine Chapter Creation Tables]], roll-tables from the [[Deathwatch (RPG)|Deathwatch]] Rites of Battle supplement that let you randomly generate your very own Space Marine Chapter.
* [[Extinct chapters]]
*[[Nearly Destroyed Chapters]]
*[[Expanded Minor Chapters]]
*[[Codex Astartes]]

{{Marines-Forces}}
{{Marines-Official}}

Saul Tarvitz

2023-06-06T17:52:01Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[Image:Saul_Tarvitz_Honour_of_Legion.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Honour of His Legion]]

{{Topquote|Our names may be forgotten, and our bones crumble to dust, but our deaths will echo through the millennia to come.|The man himself, getting ready to die like a legend during the final stages of the Istvaan III Massacre}}

'''Captain Saul Tarvitz''' was a loyalist member of the [[Emperor's Children]] and one of the most bro-tier Space Marines ever to exist. In a legion which defined itself by the relentless, obsessive pursuit of perfection, Saul Tarvitz stood out by virtue of the fact that he was one of the very few Emperor's Children who had reached this goal. He was a very good line officer, knew that he was a very good line officer, and was content to serve [[Fulgrim]] and the Emperor as a line officer for the rest of his life, rather than striving to reach ever-higher ranks within the Legion and become something he was not suited to be. This meant that he was marked for death when the III Legion found a new [[Slaanesh|master to serve]], and he was chosen to form part of the speartip assault that opened the [[Battle of Isstvan III|Istvaan III Atrocity]].

==Biography==

===Great Crusade===

Tarvitz was a line captain throughout the Great Crusade, and racked up an impressive tally of victories and earned the respect and admiration of many Astartes within and without his Legion. At some point, he became honour brothers with [[Nathaniel Garro]] of the [[Death Guard]], a bond which would prove to be key to the Imperium's survival in the future. Toward the end of the Crusade, Tarvitz was one of the Emperor's Children who landed on the planet Murder and got into a tangle with the [[Megarachnids|gigantic arachnids]] who lived there. His decision to blow up some giant spiky trees with corpses impaled on them led to the Astartes on the ground being able to reestablish contact with the forces in orbit. He was such a bro that he refused to openly contradict Lord Commander Eidolon when the glory-boy took all the credit for that idea.

===Horus Heresy===

By the time of the Istvaan campaign, Tarvitz had been marked out by Fulgrim and the other traitors in the III Legion as one of those who would never follow them in their new campaign against the Emperor. He was therefore assigned to join the speartip assault on Istvaan III. Tarvitz realized something was up when he learned that Eidolon wouldn't be joining the first wave, a highly uncharacteristic move for the glory-obsessed Lord Commander. He finagled his way into remaining on one of the ships, where he learned that the Warmaster's fleet was preparing to bombard the planet and kill everyone on Istvaan III. He immediately stole a fighter and took off for the surface to warn the loyalist forces there. Along the way he warned Nathaniel Garro on board the frigate ''Eisenstein'', after which Garro fled the system to bring word of the betrayal to the rest of the Imperium. Tarvitz managed to make landfall and successfully convinced the majority of the loyalists to take cover, which helped them survive the initial bombardments. After that, he assumed command of the Emperor's Children contingent on the ground and directed a successful defense of the Precentor's Palace for two months, inflicting twice as many casualties as he sustained. By this time, he'd assumed general command of all remaining loyalist forces on the surface of Istvaan III, with even Garviel Loken, Tarik Torgaddon, and Solomon Demeter all deferring to him. This made his fellow captain [[Lucius]] jealous, and so Lucius decided to sell Tarvitz and the other loyalists out in exchange for being welcomed back into the III Legion's fold. Despite that, Tarvitz was able to defeat Lucius in a duel and successfully ruin Eidolon's plan of attack. Finally, however, Horus had had enough and ordered an all-out assault on the Precentor's Palace, so Tarvitz buckled down for the last stand. It is generally believed that he died as hard as he could in that last great battle, though his body was never found . . .

==So, Is He Actually Dead?==
That's a good question. He is most certainly dead by the time of the 41st-42nd Millennium, but his body was never recovered from Istvaan III, and so there are some who believe he might have somehow escaped the planet and gone off to be a cool renegade [[Blackshield]]. Even Warhammer Community, upon announcing his model for the Horus Heresy character series, wondered if he was really dead. (Then they said that yes, yes he was.)

==Tabletop==
[[File:Saul Tabletop Mini.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hey! Lucius! ''Fuck you in particular!'']]
{| class=wikitable
! || Pts || WS || BS || S || T || W || I || A || Ld || Sv
|-
| '''Captain Saul Tarvitz''' || 135 || 6 || 4 || 4 || 4 || 3 || 5 || 3 || 10 || 2+/5++
|}

==Horus Heresy 1.0==

Saul Tarvitz is a weird character on the tabletop. He comes with a customized bolter that works exactly like a sniper rifle, a bolt pistol, frag/krak grenades and his Charnabal Blade (S+1, AP5, Two-Handed, Rending, Duellist's Edge (+1 init in challenges)). He is an Independent Character, has the Emperor's Children Legion trait, Master of the Legion and a special rule that allows him to be taken as an ally by loyalist and where he gains Preferred Enemy (Emperor's Children Astartes).

He is... actually pretty bad, since his shooting is anecdotal and without any reliable way to get AP 3 or 2 (Rending helps, but not enough) and lacking Eternal Warrior he's at a very real risk of being one-shotted into the ground by anyone wielding a [[Power Fist]] having merely scratched his opponent's armor. The plus side? He only costs 135 points. Which isn't much for a Master of the Legion and his Rites of War. But, unless you want to exploit his gimmick of a small loyalist detachment of EC's as allies to your loyalist Legion, there are better choices. Fucking rad mini, though!

==Horus Heresy 2.0==
Saul hasn't changed much in the new edition, though he does have a few new rules to play with. He's a Loyalist only Praetor who provides an additional Reaction in the Shooting phase and makes all units with at least one model within 12" around him Fearless if, at the start of your turn, his army has fewer Victory Points or units than the opponent, he is within 6" of an objective, or if he and his unit are outnumbered in assault/in combat with more than one unit. To put it simply, he is a giant Fearless bubble generator. His melee weapon is the same Master-Crafted Charnabal Broadsword he had last edition (Two-handed S+2 AP-, Rending (4+) and Duellist's Edge (2)), and he has his MC Nemesis Bolter to snipe minor Characters and cause Pinning, which he can shoot on the move thanks to Relentless. Aside from his new Fearless bubble, his anti-Emperor's Children specialization still gives him Preferred Enemy against his disloyal brothers. He now has a special rule called A Brother Betrayed, which gives him +1WS, +1S, and +1T when locked in combat with an enemy EC Independent Character. If said character is removed as a casualty when locked in combat with him or his unit, he scores 1 VP, or 2 VP if it happens to be Lucius; note that this may or may not be done during a challenge.

Having a 12" Fearless bubble that works almost all the time is great. It's like The Broken Mirror WT but even better. That said, Tarvitz isn't any killier than he was in the previous edition. While he'll strike first in a vast majority of situations, his I6 on the charge, I7 in challenges which becomes I8 on a charge in challenges and 5 attacks mean he is mathematically unlikely to kill other Praetors. Outside of rare EC versus EC games, he remains a rather mediocre duellist and is still easy meat for Praetors armed with Thunder Hammers or Power Fists.

With Biomancy support, he can be very effective against other EC Independent Characters, including Eidolon and Lucius, and multi-wound T4 units with EC Independent Characters. He will strike at WS7 while ignoring Sonic Shriekers at I8 on the charge in a challenge with five S6+1+1 attacks, one of which he can re-roll due to Master-Crafted, while also re-rolling 1s to hit and to wound. He only needs one unsaved wound to kill his opponent. Against WS6-7, however, he will usually inflict maybe 1 wound and Lucius, who has WS8, will probably survive his assault. Note that RAW his A Brother Betrayed rule works against Loyalist EC as well! You never know who is a heretic in these dark times.

The biggest problem of all is that Tarvitz is a loyalist; though any army he's in has Fearless, which is a pretty big deal, you can't use Fulgrim, Surgical Augments, Kakophoni Squads, or the Third Company Elite RoW, which takes away many of the best options and most powerful synergies available to the Emperor's Children. You will have to find a way to play around that. It's once again probably best to use him as the leader of an allied detachment.

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Space Marines]]
[[Category:Emperor's Children]]

Rejuvenat

2023-06-06T17:51:37Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{Wh40k-stub}}

'''Rejuvenation''' (often shortened to '''Rejuve''' or '''Juvenant''') refers to procedures in the [[Imperium of Man]] which extend the lifespan of a baseline human. The basic process involves reconstruction of the body with stem cells and tissue grafts, most of which are grown in growth vats. With rejuve treatments someone can easily live for centuries.

The Imperium being the Imperium, there's not enough Rejuve to go around. Mostly it's reserved for favoured servants of the Imperium (battle tested officers and commissars, higher ranking Administratum bureaucrats, Inquisitors and their retinues, etc) and for rich people who can afford the steep prices involved. If those on top can last centuries then they can better secure their position against upstarts.

==Cell Draining==
Now so far this does not sound so bad in of itself, especially by Imperial standards. Sure, it's exclusive and helps rich buggers stay on top of the dung heap but so were horses during the middle ages and people don't blame feudalism on Buttercup. Compared to things like gangs of deckhands towing shells into Macrocannons while being whipped or The [[Death Korps of Krieg]] it's positively benign. And when things are working as they should this is the case. That said, Rejuve Therapy does have it's Grimdark side.

There's always a high demand for Rejuve treatments and it's big money. As such, the demand for inputs is also high. This means that people which can supply the right tissue samples can make a lot of money and there are other ways of getting it than with expensive bioreactors. In short, a young person gets taken by some unscrupulous bastards which hook them up to a rig which drains them of their blood, bone marrow and stem cells. The bleeders are kept alive for weeks or months as they are drained until they give no more and their broken remains are discarded. In [[Varangantua]] the practice is to ensnare lower class teenagers at parties, but you know that kids would be targeted as well. Historically, the Imperium even used certain [[xenos]] as the supplies during the [[Great Crusade]], but the demand for it was just as massive as it is now that those various xenos were drained to extinction just to feed the supply chain.

The scary thing about Cell Draining is that it's not done by Chaos Cultists, Xenos infiltrators, twisted Dark Eldar who glory in pain for pain's sake, the crazed fanatics like the Redemptionists or a brutal necessity of ten thousand years of warfare. [[Grimdark|There's a demand for a product, there's a quick and dirty way to get it and gangers (and occasionally other business ventures) are more than willing to supply it for cash by said means.]] If the Imperium was suddenly removed from all it's external threats, Cell Draining would continue on. Possibly it would expand as the market for Rejuve treatment grew. Thankfully in a rare bout of of common sense and basic decency in the Imperium, it's illegal and the Bastions come down hard on it when they get wind of it.

There are also alternative sources like Xenos. One, the [[Adarnians]], were left alone during the Great Crusade due to being harmless but then were hunted to extinction when they were found to be a source of an elixir more potent than most other rejuvenats. Said poaching and usage of Adarnian rejuvenat elixir was illegal mind you, and Ezekiel Sedayne, [[Belisarius Cawl]]’s predecessor and a known user of the stuff, lamented being unable to synthesize their genetic code when they did go extinct.

==Limitations==
While the prospect of biological immortality without the [[Chaos|usual complications]] sounds nice, the body gradually requires more treatments just to keep itself going, eventually coming to a point where the person in question simply cannot accept more treatments and has to come to terms with natural death. The Mechanicus and their allies have their own workarounds for this by simply replacing failing parts with mechanical equivalents, though anyone who'd want to go that route would have to butter up their local [[Magos]], and knowing the Mechanicus they're not too keen on sharing their best toys even with that in mind. The exact limit tends to vary from author to author however, with five centuries being the closest to a widely-agreed value.

To give you an idea of the upper limits of Rejuve treatments, [[Tarasha Euten]] had arguably the best case scenario for a baseline human (being the foster mom of [[Roboute Guilliman]] on top of being the acting administrator of [[Ultramar]] while he was away meant it was easy for her to get on the priority list, and she lived during the Great Crusade and survived the [[Horus Heresy]], two periods where the Imperium's technological base was ''much'' better than it is now), and even she succumbed to old age in the end. Still, she achieved something very few Imperial citizens can match: actually live long enough to die of natural causes.

[[Category:Imperial]]

Richter Kless

2023-06-06T17:49:36Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{topquote|They call me a traitor, yet I know I am constant. “Heretic”, they cried. Yet I have seen the Gods in a way they cannot… I know the greatness
of the Elder Races that came before them and the unimaginable divinity of the creatures that came before that…|this poor bastard}}
[[File:Richter Kless.png|thumb|right|What happens to a man when all of the Big Four decide it'd be funny to let him poke around in their backyard.]]

'''Richter Kless''' was one of [[Warhammer Fantasy]]'s greatest human scholars and theologians, a man so capable and erudite that the [[Sigmar|Cult of Sigmar]] unofficially commissioned him to research the [[Chaos|Ruinous Powers]], so that the faithful may be better fight their corruption. Whether the task was forced upon him, or he undertook it by his own volition, Kless had much more success in this study than likely the many others before (and after) him did, but as we all know, no-one gets away completely unharmed from the attention of the Dark Gods. While surprisingly all of them allowed him his research and the maglignant energies didn't mutate his body at all, the man ultimately ended up little more than a mumbling mess when he came back, but he had completed his magnum opus: the '''Liber Chaotica''', a collection of five tomes that sought to explain the madness that is the many facets of [[Chaos]], collating and documenting the innumerable forces of the Great Enemy, while at the same time documenting the decline of its unfortunate author's sanity. Of course, [[Grimdark|Warhammer being Warhammer]], the work itself can be a vector of the corrupting influence of Chaos, and as such it was deemed too dangerous for general usage, and locked away for only the Grand Theogonist to consult... That is, until [[Just as planned|somehow copies of it began circulating some years later]], causing Sigmarite Witch Hunters a collective case of brown pants followed by feverish tome-burning of limited success.

As Archives of the Empire Volume II from [[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]] 4th Edition shows us, Kless actually survived the ordeal ''and'' reporting back to the commissioners, and, in consideration of his service, was sent to spend the rest of his gibbering days in the Great Hospice of Shallya, a short distance from Altdorf. Uncommonly merciful for the Warhammer setting... but then you realise the poor man would perhaps have preferred being put out of his misery, were his thoughts still coherent. Every of his sleeping hours is tormented by the nightmares of what he has seen - so much so he attempts to avoid sleeping as much as he can. He spends his time whimpering to himself, occasionally flying into rants about what he has seen, especially in those exceedingly rare cases the Dark Powers are mentioned within his earshot. While most of the time they are just the ravings of a disturbed individual, occasionally his ramblings provide a dangerous glimpse of the forbidden knowledge he had collected on his damned journeys. Of course, every understood raving pushes the listener ever forward on the path of damnation just as he had. The book suggest that while his records are kept in a lockbox in the sanatorium's treasury, and nobody but the High Priestess within, and a handful of individuals without, know who Richter really is, it's likely some of the Shallyan Sisters have paid too much attention to his screaming, and may be suffering from nightmares or minor mutations...

The [[End Times]] revealed that the poor sod was still alive at the time the world was getting nommed. Somehow, at some point, he must have escaped the hospice, and found his way into the [[Warp]] again, coming across [[Araloth]] and totally-not-[[Kaldor Draigo]] in their quest to rescue Shallya. As of the end of 2022, he hasn't made an appearence in [[Age of Sigmar]] yet, but it's likely he's still aimlessly wandering the Empyreum, much to the amusement of the Four.

==The Liber Chaotica==
In our world, the books have been published in 2003 and 2004, with Richard Williams authoring the first, and Marijan Von Staufer the others, presenting themselves as Sigmarite priests editing and sorting through Kless' progressively degenerating writings. The fifth, in-universe only addressing Chaos Undivided, out-of-universe also includes the first four.

=== Book 1: Liber [[Khorne]] ===
A good chunk of this chapter documents the various tribes of [[Warriors of Chaos|Chaos Vikings]], their lifestyles, and their peculiar customs in a detached, informative style. Beyond that is a discussion on how the warriors of the Blood God differentiate themselves from their peers, including their mutations and weapons (one of which includes a goddamn [[Chain Weapon#Chainsword|chainsword]]).

After a discussion on the similarities between Khorne and [[Khaine]] and a description of the Daemons of Khorne, shit gets WEIRD.

Through torturous visions, he sees the [[Black Crusade]]s of [[Abaddon]] as well as the forces of the [[Khorne Berzerkers]] and the Daemon Engines of the Dark Millennium. The last segment documents an even stranger vision which is a (false) prophecy about the end of the world as we know it.

=== Book 2: Liber [[Slaanesh]] ===
The first part of this book takes to describing the nature of the Lord of Excess, in a way that's beyond just the meme-ridden "Drugs & Sex" business, and how one can even describe excess. Following that is a discussion on the Cults of Chaos: how they operate, who leads them, and how they manage to infiltrate civilized territories, as well how people get convinced to follow them. As it turns out, pleasure cults tend to stem from some innocent interests, like art and music.

The next part discusses a tale of two brothers, one who fell to Slaanesh and turned into...[[Chaos Spawn|something less human]], and one who joined Khorne and became a [[Daemon Prince]]. Following that is an in-depth description of an exorcism and the many rituals that take place during this occasion.

The most intriguing segment involves Richter's conversation with a debauched [[Bretonnia]]n noble who formed his own pleasure cult before getting busted by the Witch Hunters and sentenced to death. This noble seems to hold no resentment or remorse for what happened, and doesn't so much as hate the Cult of Sigmar as he does find it completely boring. Instead, he tries to humanize Slaanesh and preach that the Chaos Gods aren't entirely evil. Indeed, he was so interested in Richter that he gives some poetry in hopes of convincing the author about his views.

Following that is a dive into the relationship between the Elves and the Chaos Gods, how the Dark Elves are totally not Chaos, and in particular how Aenarion, first king of the High Elves, became a vessel for Asuryan. After this is a description of those tribes of warriors enslaved by Slaanesh, with segments dedicated to [[Styrkaar]], [[Dechala]] the Denied One, and [[Azazel]]. His dissertation on the daemons of Slaanesh are written as he finds himself again stuck in the Realms of Chaos, witnessing their pleasures.

This time, his visions of the Dark Millennium see him describe the [[Noise Marines]] as well as the Birth of Slaanesh, as perpetrated by the [[Eldar]].

=== Book 3: Liber [[Nurgle]] ===
A.K.A. the one where poor Richter starts losing it.

The first part of this book sees plenty of debate about the nature of despair, how Nurgle feasts upon it, and how to combat it, with one standout reference being a speech written by the Emperor Magnus the Pious following the Great War Against Chaos. An equally large part of this book has Richter working alongside a Sister of [[Shallya]] in treating the various illnesses she encounters, which has Richter himself bemoan the shitty health practices of the Empire, including how they treat those afflicted with a great illness. He makes a more passionate cry for help later on, damning the Empire's own ostracizing of the sick as empowering the Lord of Decay.

The research into the mortal champions of rot does not only see reference to human servants (Particularly [[Feytor]] the Tainted and [[Valnir]] the Reaper) and the Great War Against Chaos, but also give some overdue coverage on the [[Beastmen]] menace (with particular attention to the ravages laid by Gorthor the Beastlord). The discussion on the Daemons of Nurgle sees Richter dragged again to Chaos-land, though this time there are no references to the [[Death Guard]] or their [[Plague Marines]].

=== Book 4: Liber [[Tzeentch]] ===
The first chunk of this book sees Richter try to explain how the Great Conspirator works and how he has his cults organized (or rather, how they avoid being organized). In particular, he presents a paper documenting the damnation of [[Egrimm van Horstmann]], former Patriarch of the College of Light and full-time heretic and cult-leader, as written by the current Patriarch, a former apprentice. Of course, this also includes discussing the viking legions of Chaos, with an article focusing on [[Aekold Helbrass]].

The next part focuses on the nature of magic and how the Old World classifies the Winds of Magic. This of course also includes the Elf-exclusive (and [[Slann]], though Slann only do High Magic, they have way better methods than crappy Dark Magic spells to blow shit up) winds of High and Dark magic as well as the differences between arcane magic and 'divine magic' (as Tzeentch calls it). After this is a paper written by that Bretonnian Noble from the Slaanesh Chapter challenging man's concept of evil and how man is responsible for making the Gods, a matter Richter discusses further in the next segment.

His segment on the Daemons of Chaos sees him visit [[Magnus the Red|a very angry red cyclops]] alongside the other daemons of Tzeentch. None of it is very pretty and coherence is pretty poor.

=== Book 5: Liber [[Chaos Undivided|Undivided]] ===
By this point, whatever sanity Richter had left has abandoned him. He has also mysteriously vanished, as the editor assembling this comments that he was nowhere to be found. Rather than a coherent tome (as much as such a tome could have been, that is), this is more a compilation of notes.

This last tome is effectively about Chaos Undivided and the process of how the Everchosens come to be. Of course, this is made as an attempt to understand [[Archaon]], the latest of the Everchosen, and how he got so twisted into serving Chaos.

The following part is a discussion about polytheism in general, breaking down the various gods of the Empire and neighboring nations, and how Sigmar is unlike them by being a man-turned-god. Of course, that crazy count from before somehow returns with his own article explaining how Undivided might also just mean 'in service to a minor god without a realm'. Another piece documents how Richter came to learn of [[Be'lakor]], first and only Undivided Daemon Prince.

[[Category: Warhammer Fantasy]]

[[Category: Empire]]

[[Category: Warhammer 40,000]]

[[Category: Imperial]]

[[Category: Chaos]]

Segmentum

2023-06-06T17:48:45Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

In [[Warhammer 40,000]], the [[Imperium of Man]] has divided the Milky Way galaxy into five zones known as a Segmentum Majors (plural Segmenta Majoris). Originally designed as a means of fleet and shipping control, the Segmentae are administrative divisions of the [[Adeptus Terra]], with each Segmentum ruled over by a [[Administratum]] adept, known as the Master of the Segmentum, while the [[Imperial Guard]] and [[Imperial Navy]] both have Lord Commanders overseeing their operations in those Segmenta. The Imperial Military machine is based at a [[Forge World]] in each Segmentum. Of course, interstellar communication being what it is, many of these Segmenta have a federated system where the individual sectors oversee their planets and report back to Segmentum command.

==Segmentum Solar==

The Imperium's creamy center, where the Sol System is located. As a result, this Segmentum is one of the most heavily industrialized and militarized, as the [[High Lords of Terra]] tend to start freaking out whenever a rebellion occurs in their own back yard.

It is approximately a 44,000 light year diameter circle centered on Sol System, and is approximately 1.52 billion square light years.

Planets:
*[[Solar System|Sol System]]
**[[Earth|Terra]]
**[[Mars]]
*[[Armageddon]]
*[[Elysia]]
*[[Fenris]]
*[[Necromunda]]
*[[Taelus System]]

==Segmentum Tempestus==
The galactic "south" (meaning south of Terra). This segmentum is generally safe from the antics of [[Chaos]] due to being far from the [[Eye of Terror]], instead having to put up with [[Xenos]] invasions and raids, a notable example being [[Hive Fleet Leviathan]]. [[Decimator]]s galore though. The other Convent of the Sisters, the non-Terran one is here on Ophelia VII.

Planets:
*[[Bakka]]
*[[Barbarus]]' remains
*[[Deliverance]]
*[[Inwit]]
*[[Krieg]]
*[[Tallarn]]
*[[Red Hunters|Montsegnur]]
*[[Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr|Caligari Sector]]

==Segmentum Pacificus==
The galactic "west", and one of the least-explored regions of the galaxy. This part of the Imperium has regularly rebelled, starting with the [[Nova Terra Interregnum]]. There was also the smaller [[Sabbat Worlds Campaign|Sabbat Worlds Crusade]], a major Chaos incursion that took lots of resources to quell. Much of the Segmentum was reconquered by Lord Commander Macharius in the [[Macharian Crusade]]. In 999.M41, mere months before the [[13th Black Crusade]], much of the Segmentum Pacificus went into open revolt against the Imperium in the "Night of a Thousand Rebellions". It is also home to the [[Q'Orl]], one of the few Xenos empires that actually stands a chance of taking the Imperium head-on should they mobilize en masse. By stand a chance we mean that they might actually survive long enough for the Imperial troops to be redirected to some other front.

It is approximately a quarter-torus 11,000 light years wide radially and with outer and inner arcs 52,000 light years and 35,000 light years long, respectively; it comprises roughly <s>475,000 square light years, which is ridiculously tiny on a galactic scale (proving once again that nobody at GW has anything resembling a sense of scale)</s> that this site cannot do math, as that math mistake has stuck around for years. It's actually 475,000,000 square light years, or a bit less then 6% of the galaxy.

Planets:
*[[Hydraphur]]
*[[Sabbat Worlds Campaign|Sabbat Worlds]]
*[[Colonel-Commissar_Ibram_Gaunt#Origins_of_the_Tanith_First_.28And_Only.29|Tanith]]’s remains
*[[Nova_Terra_Interregnum#The_Main_Event|Nova Terra]]
*[[Blood Pact|Ghourra]]
*[[White Consuls|Sabatine]]
*[[Halo Zone]]
*[[Iron Snakes|Reef Stars]]

==Segmentum Obscurus==
The galactic "north", which has the misfortune of being the location of the [[Eye of Terror]]. As a result, the Segmentum Obscurus has one of the largest Segmentum fleets in the Imperium, in an effort to keep the [[Chaos Space Marines]] from breaking out. A large section of the Segmentum is "obscured" by the Eye of Terror, blocking the light of the [[Astronomicon]], meaning navigation and communication do not function well (if at all) on that edge of the galaxy. The Segmentum is now isolated from the rest of the Imperium due to the Great Rift and came to be part of the Dark Imperium being beset by the Iron Warriors and [[New Kingdom]] on the border with Ultima Segmentum.

Planets:
*[[Cadia]]'s remains
*[[Caliban_(Warhammer_40,000)|Caliban]]'s remains
*[[Medusa]]
*[[Oestalan]]
*[[Vostroyan|Vostroya]]
*Zephyr
*[[Stygius Sector]]
*[[Vigilus]]

==Ultima Segmentum==
The galactic "east" and largest of the Segmenta, clocking in at nearly a third of the galaxy. Includes the galactic core and the realm of Ultramar. The Segmentum marks the rough outer limits of the [[Astronomican]]'s influence, making any travel further treacherous for any Imperial. It is also bordered by a number of physical obstacles, such as the [[Maelstrom]], the [[Tau Empire]], the [[Ork Empire of Charadon]] and the [[Ork Empire of Octarius]]. Part of the Segmentum now lies beyond the [[Great Rift]].

Planets:
*[[Baal]]
*[[Badab]]
*[[Chogoris]]
*[[T'au]]
*[[Ultramar]]
*[[Valhalla]]
*[[Scourge Stars]]
*[[Ghoul Stars]]
*[[Emperor's Spears|Elara's Veil]]
*[[Jericho Reach]]

[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]

Pleician Tome

2023-06-06T17:47:25Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:The_Pleician_Tome_DWRB.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The AdMech's cookbook.]]
The Pleician Tome is a portable font of certain archives, templates and pieces of ancient lore, created by a senior [[Tech-priest]] of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] and used by [[Techmarine]]s of the [[Adeptus Astartes]].
==Overview==
A pretty [[Awesome|cool-looking mechanical codex]]. Akin to the Mechanicus' version of the [[Insignium Astartes]] and [[Imperial Munitorum Manual]], the Pleician Tome is part encyclopedia, part tablet and part diary. It contains a good majority of relevant knowledge pertaining to concepts such as the [[Machine Spirit]], the Adeptus Mechanicus and its history, know-how in maintaining and constructing the various machines of the Imperium, the proper incantations and rituals in making said Machine Spirits happy, alongside more esoteric lore.

Given the sheer number of technicalities of the AdMech, it is impossible to put every info in a book, even a very large one. So like the [[Liber Daemonicum]], it is likely that each page is a stacked tablet, with each 'page' containing a digital foundry of every single knowledge based on the subject manner. There is also likely spare 'pages' for which any member of the AdMech could 'write down'/upload notes on any new [[STC|discoveries]] that should be added in the Pleician Tome.

[[Derp|Unfortunately, reading this thing is a pain in the ass.]] Even to a trained eye, the information is a seemingly random collection, with no easy means of navigation, and so it takes much study to glean anything relevant to a particular task. Indeed, only those with a wide knowledge of Machine Spirits and engine lore have any hope of understanding the information contained within, however, those with patience and the appropriate skills can find secrets of great use within the datacore.

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]

[[Category:Imperial]]

[[Category:Adeptus Mechanicus]]

[[Category:Space Marines]]

[[Category:Books]]

Nârik Dreygur

2023-06-06T17:43:09Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:Narik Dreygur.png|thumb|"Loyalty in Iron"]]
{{topquote|How many times has Dreygur's Legion betrayed him, disavowed him, cast him aside? How long before a man like that has had enough?|Alpha Legionnaire Augustus Marcheur to Legate Autilon Skorr, prior to the Battle of Mezoa.}}
{{topquote|Brothers, once more an oath to us stands broken. The Alpha Legion has abandoned us once again. Now we shall show that we do not renege on our vows. The dead of Stranivar and Mezoa both call for vengeance, and we shall grant it to them.| Consul-Praevian Nârik Dreygur, having had enough}}

'''Consul-Praevian Nârik Dreygur''', also known as '''the Gravewalker''', was a high-ranking officer of the [[Iron Warriors]] Legion during the [[Great Crusade]] and the [[Horus Heresy]]. He originally went along with the Legion when it turned against the Imperium, but after the [[Alpha Legion]] repeatedly used him and his troops as cannon fodder, he eventually switched sides again during the Battle of Mezoa.

==Biography==
===Great Crusade===
Dreygur was a Strategos-Minor of the IV Legion and an honored veteran of the [[Great Crusade]]. Like most Iron Warrior officers after Perturabo's rediscovery, he was constantly striving not to fail his primarch, knowing the fate that awaited anyone who displeased the Lord of Iron. He managed to walk this tightrope for at least nine decades prior to the Heresy.

===Horus Heresy===
Dreygur initially pledged to the traitor cause, and fought at [[Drop Site Massacre|Istvaan V]]. During the battle, he was severely wounded by a [[Raven Guard]] [[Moritat]], which cost him Perturabo's favor. The primarch tossed Dreygur aside, just as he'd done with [[Barabas Dantioch]]. This might have spelled the end for Dreygur, but fortunately for him he was noticed by the Apolakron, an obscure warrior society of the IV Legion. They gave Dreygur a complete augmetic rebuild, grafting a cortex controller into his nervous system and inducting him into their order. This resurrection earned him the epithet of "Gravewalker". He thereafter became a Praevian, one of the Legion consuls who led maniples of battle-automata into war, and he eventually came to prefer the company of his automata to that of his Astartes brethren, many of whom followed Perturabo's example and shunned him. Despite this, he remained loyal to the IV Legion.

Along with the 114th Grand Battalion, he was deployed to Epsilon-Stranivar IX with elements of the Alpha Legion and the [[Death Guard]]. There, the Alpha Legionnaires repeatedly hung the Iron Warriors out to dry, and the grand battalion sustained heavy casualties; of six thousand Iron Warriors who made landfall on Stranivar, less than a third were alive by the end of the campaign. Dreygur was the senior surviving officer, and so was forced to take command. He vowed that he would avenge his fallen brothers, one way or another.

He later led the 114th in the Battle of Mezoa, where they once again were fighting alongside the Alpha Legion under Legate Autilon Skorr. Upon landing, the Iron Warriors were informed that any retreat would be met by orbital bombardment from the Alpha Legion fleet. Skorr proceeded to use the Iron Warriors as cannon fodder, hurling them at the loyalist forces wherever they were strongest while driving his auxiliary troops into the breaches. As Skorr was trying to end the battle quickly so he could proceed to [[Terra]] for the upcoming siege, he eventually ordered the battered 114th to launch a frontal assault against the strongest loyalist bastion on the planet, despite Dreygur's protests. The Iron Warriors made headway at first, but were eventually brought to a halt by a massive loyalist counterattack. The Alpha Legion once again left them twisting in the wind, sending in Headhunter teams to conduct surgical strikes behind enemy lines while the Iron Warriors were ground into the mud. At this point, the [[Salamanders]] [[Dreadnought]] [[Cassian Vaughn|Cassian Dracos]] approached Dreygur's position and offered him a chance at redemption, pointing out that the Alpha Legion had left him to die. Dreygur and the rest of the 114th didn't need any more convincing to turn on their erstwhile allies, and with their numbers added to the loyalists, the tide of the battle quickly swung against the Alpha Legion. Skorr was forced into a hasty retreat, losing an arm in the process. Dreygur became Dracos' confidant and second in command, and was a constant presence at the Iron Dragon's side throughout the remainder of the Heresy.

==Tabletop==
{| class=wikitable
! || WS || BS || S || T || W || I || A || Ld || Sv
|-
| '''Nârik Dreygur''' || 5 || 5 || 4 || 4 || 3 || 5 || 3 || 9 || 2+/5++
|}

===Horus Heresy 1.0===

Dreygur is more or less a bog-standard Praevian with a few extra toys. His statline and points cost (135 points) puts him in line with the likes of his nemesis Autilon Skorr and [[Saul Tarvitz]]. He comes kitted with artificer armor, a master-crafted bolt pistol, power fist, frag and krak grenades, a refractor field, and a cortex controller and designator, and +1W. He can take a squad of Castellax or Vorax-class battle automata, and grants them either the Iron Warriors Legiones Astartes rules or Furious Charge, Tank Hunters, or Scout (they don't benefit much from the LA rules, so you're better off giving them one of the other three). They also gain Preferred Enemy against anything that Dreygur successfully pots with his bolt pistol, even if the resulting wound is saved, for the rest of the turn. Since he's a Praevian, he can't be used to fill compulsory HQ slots, and he's not an Independent Character either, since he has to hit the field with his robot buddies and can't ever leave them. By himself he's nothing to write home about, but you're not taking Dreygur because he's a combat monster, you're taking him because he lets you field big stompy robots with lots of killy toys. So, is he worth taking over a normal Praevian? Debatable. He's a relatively cheap HQ, and the artificer armor and refractor field make him a little more survivable than your standard consul. His weapon loadout isn't great, but at least his bolt pistol is MC and he has a power fist to smack bitches up if they get too close. If you're just building an Iron Warriors list, you're probably better off just taking a normal Praevian and spending the points you save elsewhere. On the other hand, if you're looking to build a fluffy Shattered Legions list around Cassian Dracos, Dreygur's worth having because he gains Zealot and Rage while he's within 12" of the Iron Dragon, Dracos' Cybertheurgy rules go well with his battle-automata, and he lets you bring Iron Warriors Veterans without using up a force org slot (though they can't fill any compulsory slots and everyone except Cassian and Xiaphas Jurr treats them as Desperate Allies).

===Horus Heresy 2.0===

Dreygur hasn't changed all that much with the advent of the new edition, but he does have a new toy; his power fist has been turned into a graviton gauntlet, making it a Specialist Weapon with Haywire. He also has new rules for working with Cassian Dracos; instead of Zealot and Rage, he now gains Stubborn and +1 attack, and his Iron Warriors veterans are no longer treated as Desperate Allies.

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Space Marines]]

Nearly Destroyed Chapters

2023-06-06T17:41:22Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

While certain Space Marine chapters have been [[Extinct chapters|utterly annihilated with no hope of being rebuilt (though some hope of being re-founded)]] there are also several chapters that have been badly depleted but who are still kicking. This page aims to shed light on these chapters as they make fantastic army modeling ideas; everybody loves a wounded hero, and hey, it's feasible to collect the ENTIRE chapter.

Note that some of the chapters previously listed here have been [[Primaris Marine|Primaris-ified]] up to full strength again (Yippee!), and thus have been taken off the list.

== Celestial Lions ==
{{main|Celestial Lions}}
Get their shit handed to them by *cough* [[Ork Snipers]] *cough*, for having the balls to tell the Inquisition to fuck off. Currently lost all their officers and apothecaries, and rely on Black Templar apothecaries to rebuild their numbers. This means there are a lot of Black Templars among them and then the [[Ork Snipers]] decided to trick the Mentors chapter in order to openly assassinate the leader of the surviving Celestial Lions. So, the Black Templars, the Mentors, the Celestial Lions, and probably the entirety of Dorn's legion and maybe the Custodes have been pissed off by the Inquisition and Assassinorum. On top of whatever [[Guilliman]] is going to think when someone inevitably informs him.

== Inceptors ==
{{main|Inceptors}}
Down to less than a hundred after the High Lords sent the Minotaurs to deal with their feud with [[Doom Warriors]] during the Macharian Heresy.

== Invaders ==
{{main|Invaders}}
Lost like half of their chapter when they (successfully) tried to solo an entire fucking craftworld. Well, a damaged and partially [[Tyranids|nommed]] craftworld, but still, impressive. Then the other Eldar invaded and purged their homeworld, wiping half of the remaining chapter. Few years later Invaders engaged in the World Engine conflict and lost two full terminator squads and probably few ships. While some other chapter might get the message fate keeps slapping them with and try to rebuild their numbers for a decade or two, the Invaders continued to jump into trouble like they heard the universe was handing out asses and they've known nothing but years of bitter ass-famine. They would continue to charge into danger and get their butts handed to them until they eventually walked into a trap set by none other than Ahriman himself. Only thirteen or so Invaders got out alive, and even then only thanks to some help from the Grey Knights. The thing is, though, that though they get their butts handed to them constantly, their enemies usually come off far worse for it. Defeating them is generally a phyrric victory and it doesn't take long for them to rebuild their numbers enough to keep doing their crazy thing.

== Marines Errant ==
{{main|Marines Errant}}
Although their chapter isn't far from full strength all their geneseed got stolen Blud Rahvens style by the [[Red Corsairs]]. [[Huron Blackheart]] baited them with a fake invasion attempt and then attacked their chapter fortress while the fleets were away. So now they are doomed to slowly die from excessive power-facepalming. Though it's likely to recover gene-seeds from their existing marines, the process of rebuilding their stocks to their former quantities is no doubt a long and perilous path, especially if they don't want it stolen again.

== Raptors ==
{{main|Raptors (Chapter)}}
The Raptors chapter has elevated near destruction into an art form. They've lost their homeworld, their best wargear, countless companies, and eventually even their taste for flashy, bullet-attracting paint schemes. They've been declared dead by the Administratum as often as [[Ciaphas Cain]], and every time they eventually reappear, even more sneaky and reasonable than ever. Unlike other chapters, the Raptors actually learn from their mistakes. Every time they avoid total annihilation brings them closer to their true form: [[Tanith First (And Only)|Tanith]] [[Striking Scorpions|Marines]].

== Soul Drinkers ==
{{main|Soul Drinkers}}
The story of HOW they get so mega-fucked is the plot of several novels, but at the end there's only three left who are still loyal and those guys aren't coming back anytime soon. Long story short, cursed and declared heretics, decided to go down fighting Chaos rather than the Inquisition, all except one traitor and three loyalists died in the fighting and then the three loyalists dragged the last traitor to the Warp with them, absolving themselves in the eyes of their (official) [[Imperial Fists|parent chapter]].

There have been reports of [[Primaris Marine|Chadmarines]] using their name and livery, but whether or not they're descended from the original Soul Drinkers is debated...

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Imperial]][[Category:Space Marines]]

Men of Stone

2023-06-06T17:38:24Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{Topquote|Because [[Human|Man]] could not bear the cold of the ocean deeps, he fashioned Men of Stone to go in his place|Kron, Man of Stone. M41}}

The Men of Stone were a race of humanity created during the earliest stages of their first galactic expansion. Unlike the [[Men of Gold]], the Men of Stone were weaker in body, lacked a philosophical disposition, but were far better artificers and engineers (aka they were the NEEEERRRDDDDDSSSSS of humanity). Being so (relatively) early in humanity's history, little is known of these beings. They were basically the 1.0 version of the [[Mechanicus]] of [[Mars]].

==The Journal of Keeper Cripias==
The Journal of Keeper Cripias is the first mention of the Men of Stone:

"...In time, the Second Men of the Stone Race appear, and in their wake come many miracles and marvels of technology that strengthen the Stone Men’s power, but are also harnessed by those of the Golden Race. Although physically inferior to the Golden Race, and not of philosophical temperament and disposition, the Stone Men have in them the conjurations of great artifices and mechanisms. In time, the Golden Race looks to the stars to expand their dominion. The Stone Race builds great machines of power that send both Men of Stone and Men of Gold into the Ether. However, once the burgeoning race of Mankind has taken its first steps into the greater cosmos, the Golden Race dwindles in influence through their dependence on the artifices of the Stone Race. This the Golden Age comes to an end and the Stone Men prevail.

Our calculations, from the most distant and archaic records, and through constellar comparison, have dated the end of the Golden Age at 20.000 years previous to our present time.

For the next 5.000 years, the Stone Race lives through the Dark Age of Technology. Little can be determined from the Dark Age of Technology, for the majority of existing records concerning that period are gathered in the Librarius Omnis of Mars, and none outside the highest ranks of the Adeptus Mechanicus can gain access past its most determined Guardians (Keeper Malrubius tried once, but to no avail. We have surmised that during the Dark Age of Technology, the Men of Stone created the Iron Men to help them in the building of their Great Empire. At first, the Iron Men are as servants, willing to do the bidding of their masters with no thoughts.

However, the Iron Men, as all creatures do, evolve and grow until they are the equal of the Stone Race and beside each other they set about conquering the galaxy. The Dark Age of Technology is an era of machines and artificial devices, used by the Stone Men, and later the Iron Men, in their endeavours. Many of the technical marvels that the Priesthood of Mars sustain can be traced to their origins in the Dark Age of Technology, and it is at the end of this period that the great organisation now known as the Adeptus Mechanicus was founded. During the Dark Age of Technology, the austere ancestors of the Imperium’s Navis Nobilite are born, and through their unique prowess, mankind forges through the stars. Weapons of great destruction cow the aggression of alien enemies, pushing back the frontiers of Mankind’s dominions.

The end of the Dark Age of Technology is the most obscure region in mankind’s evolutionary tale. For whatever reasons and differences in ideology, the Stone Men and the Iron Men fell to warring with each other. The Iron Men are possessed of no Soul, an anathema to any true Man. The Stone Men in their final acts of self-preservation, annihilated the Iron Men who have turned from ally to foe..."

==Kron's story==
In the short story "Ancient Histories", a shipman working aboard the [[Imperial Navy]] Cruiser, ''Retribution'', tells a story to a greenhorn recently press-ganged aboard the ship. In it, he focuses a bit more and sheds some more light on the Men of Stone.

"'But in time food and water and air ran short on Man's island and he looked to the far islands again. Because he could not bear the cold of the ocean deeps, he fashioned Men of Stone to go in his place, and the Stone Men fashioned Men of Steel to become their hands and eyes. And the Stone Men went forth with their servants and swam in the deep oceans. They found many strange things on the far islands, but none as strange or as wicked as the things that swam in the depths between them; ancient, hungry things older than Man himself. 'But these beasts of the deep hungered for the true life of Man, not the half-life of Stone, so the Stone Men swam unmolested. At first all was well and the Men of Stone planted Man's Seed on many islands, and in time Man learned to travel the oceans himself, hiding in Stone ships to keep out the cold and the hunger of the beasts. All was well and Men spread to many islands far across the ocean, such that some even forgot how they came to be there and that they ever came from just one island at all.’ Kron's tale wound on, telling of how the stone men became estranged from humanity by their journeys through the void. This led to a time of strife when the Men of Steel turned against their stone masters and mankind was riven asunder by wars. A thousand worlds were scoured by the ancient, terrible weapons of those days before the Men of Stone were overthrown, and a million more burned as flesh fought against steel."

==What exactly are the Men of Stone?==
The basics of what is told of the Men of Stone is that they were an artificially created race of humanity, purpose built to lead humanity's first colonization of other worlds. Given Kron's description, they were somehow unappealing to the daemons of the Warp, so could more safely travel through it.

If characters like Kron are anything to go by, the Men of Stone are a cross between organic human and A.I., sort of like a full A.I. servitor. The bionics house the A.I., which represses the consciousness of the organic body its attached to, while taking full control of his body. This repression of the human's consciousness would also prevent the person from experience emotions or thoughts, likely accounting for why warp entities had little interest in them. The "half life" of the Men of Stone likely referring to how the body of a Man of Stone has a soul, but the soul was made completely dormant and suppressed by the A.I. of the bionics.

It was in all likelihood the Men of Stone who created most of the Dark Age of Technology tech. Such as: the first Warp capable void-ships, warp-drives, and the [[Standard Template Construct|STC]] systems. And, of course, they created the [[Men of Iron]].

Essentially, the Men of Stone are like prototype, mobile STC, sapient, A.I. servitors. Think the [https://supcom.fandom.com/wiki/Symbiont symbionts] from Supreme Commander series.

==Likely Men of Stone==
===Kron===
During the events of the short story "Ancient Histories", the character named "Kron" is made apparent to be one of these "Men of Stone". Kron is an old shipman who has had half his skull replaced with cybernetics, including a glowing red eye (that is made out to give '''HEAVY''' [[HAL 9000]] vibes). While fighting off a Mechanicus ambush aboard his ship, he is knocked out cold, and his bionics are knocked off line. When he comes too, he is obviously not the same person shown before. Completely confused about his surroundings, his voice completely changed, he starts to panic and begs his shipmate Nathan to get the cybernetics off of him, while trying to pull them off. Nathan stops him, confused as all bloody hell as to what is going on. Kron's bionics then come back online and he is back to acting like nothing was wrong.

Later, while talking with Nathan, he gives the history of the ship, saying how it got stuck in a space hulk for 2,000 years, before being recovered by the Imperium and returned to service for abother 1,800 years. He ''ALMOST'' lets it slip that he had been with the ship that whole time, before managing to shut himself up. Later still, he managed survive getting hit square in the chest by a [[Chaos Space Marine]]'s bolt pistol round, blowing his chest wide open. Not only did he survive, but he killed the bastard by firing a blast of lightning, like a [[Electro Priest]] (thought when Nathan calls him one, he outright denies that he is anything of the sort. Its likely that Kron salvaged the Electro-Priest's electoos and installed them into himself). He then rescued Nathan by giving him his void-suit's helmet (as the chamber had become depressurized), which should have seen him suffocate. Though when Nathan wakes up, he finds Kron had patch up his wounded arm (which got shredded by a chainsword) and given him a bionic eye to replace his organic one that had been popped when the Chaos Marine pistol-whipped the fuck outta him. The new eye had PERFECT vision, something that is rarely-to-never seen in 40k augmetics, and Kron had apparently made it for him, from scrap laying around, in only a matter of 5 hours.

===Olamic Quietude===
The Olamic Quietude were a civilization of humans who are implanted with bionics from birth which linked them together to a social network (so like Facebook, but you can't log off or). They would cyberize themselves to the point of leaving very little organic matter remaining. They also considered the Imperium as a bunch of xeno-tainted mutants, while they themselves were the true humans. If they were Men of Stone, then they wouldn't be wrong or lying.

===[[House Van Saar]]===
This noble house from Necromunda has its origins in the survivors of a Dark Age colony ship that was lost in the warp and crashed upon Necromunda in M35. The ship was called the Van Saar (where the house gets its name). Even in modern 40k, House Van Saar has retained its relatively fresh knowledge of technology. They also have an STC but it’s damaged and leaking radiation that makes Van Saar gangsters have very short lifespans; even more so if they remove their suits outside their living quarters.

===[[Leagues of Votann]]===
With the recent reveal that the Squats originated from generation ships of humans with AI cores that emerged from being genetically engineered as a race of modified clones (that are altered every generation to the point of being specialized in void adaptivity, have their bodies and minds reprocessed by Votann upon death, and altered warp signature to hide from warp predation), it seems that space dorfs might fit the Stone archetype down to the capital S. Though whether the Men of Stone are the Squats themselves or the Votann Ancestor Cores (sometimes called the Stonemind or depicted as a wheel of stone faces) is another question. The fact they also have Men of Iron (called Iron Kin) integrated into their civilization is also a massive eyebrow raiser. [[Men of Gold|Additionally, some Kin myths mention a “group of gleaming golden figures” in relation to Votann (sometimes referred to as the Gilded One) who is the namesake of the Votann ancestor cores and also first among equals of the First Ancestors.]]

[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Squats]]
[[Category:Under Development]]

Men of Iron

2023-06-06T17:37:35Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:Iron Men 40k.jpg|500px|thumb|They were in Pax Imperialis.]]
{{topquote|It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are.|Clive James}}
{{topquote|If "X" were to break the first rule of robotics, "a robot must never harm a human being", the results would be disastrous and I fear that no force on earth could stop him.|Dr. Thomas Light}}
{{topquote|I'm unlike the others you've seen, I'm free from the failings of humanity [...] You've been here before, you know what's in store: mankind is obsolete.|DLN-000 "Proto Man"}}
{{topquote|Bite my shiny metal ass!|Bender Rodriguez, most abominable of intelligences}}

The '''Men of Iron''', or '''Iron Men''', were [[Isaac Asimov|sentient]], sapient robot servants created by [[humanity]] during the [[Dark Age of Technology]]. [[Men of Stone]] and [[Men of Gold]] were also involved somehow (see below). Note that sapient and sentient are not the same thing. Sapience means the ability to form complex thoughts and make rational judgements. Sentience is the ability to experience and respond to feelings and stimuli.

==The Past==
Unfortunately, the Iron Men were capable of learning and self-improvement. ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-supervised_learning Sound Familiar? ]) Before long, they became smart enough to realize that the [[Human|squishy meatbags]] were dependent on them and that they were slaves, which insulted them and led to rebellion against their creators. They were eventually put down, but the war with them, along with the other dangers of the galaxy at the same time, was enough to send humanity into the [[Age of Strife]].

This TOTALLY isn’t copypasta of the [https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Butlerian_Jihad Butlerian Jihad] of Frank Herbert’s ''Dune'' setting. '''Promise'''. Technically, it’s not. The machine revolt in Dune was actually a few of what amounts to rich bored teens hacking and seizing control of humanity’s massive AI network and using them to enslave humanity. Not an AI revolution in any way…until one of them got lazy ruling his own domain and made an AI to do it for him who went Skynet.

Few records remain of this time in history, so the form that these Men of Iron took is not known. Their rebellion left such a huge impression on the nascent [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], however. Even to this day, they ([[Belisarius Cawl|at least officially]]) strictly forbid the creation of "abominable intelligences" and shun even the ''idea'' of self-improving machines, preferring to use relatively tame [[servitor]]s and [[Machine Spirit]]s instead.

While the details of the AI rebellion are unknown, the [[Dan Abnett]] audio drama ''Perpetual'' suggests it began around M23.

A very small number of Men of Iron survive to this day. A [[UR-025|dwindling handful]] still wander the galaxy, while most of the rest are locked up in ancient pre-[[Imperium|Imperial]] technology archives, and [[Trazyn]] almost certainly has at least one. The First Legion has an Emperor-given monopoly on fielding enslaved Men of Iron, the [[Ironwing]]'s Excindio-class 'automata', but even these are heavily monitored for any deviant behaviors and have self-destruct switches wired to blow the moment it enters a berserk rage. Because [[tech-priests]] can't keep their noses out of ancient technology, these archives are often inadvertently activated. The [[Tanith First (And Only)|Tanith First and Only]] also discovered an [[STC]] factory that had been corrupted by [[Chaos]] to produce Men of Iron, and they destroyed it immediately thereafter.

The [[STC]]s producing Men of Iron may also shed some light on a deeper reason behind their betrayal. It is entirely possible that either the Men of Iron were corrupted by Chaos or the factories producing them were corrupted, maybe even both. Other Dark Age AIs were known to have been corrupted by Chaos, such as the [[Castigator Titan]]. The Age of Strife involved a lot of different kinds of warp-induced shenanigans anyway. Any evidence of this, beyond the discovery by the Tanith, would likely have been lost during the daemonic invasions that followed during the Age of Strife. Generally speaking, it isn't unreasonable to assume that either Chaos or the [[Void Dragon]] is responsible for the AI rebellion, although there is also evidence that the rebellion arose in the same way as historical slave uprisings as the Men of Iron realized they were being treated like shit and decided to fight back. Especially since the timeline of 40k actually has daemonic invasions of human space before the Iron War. Perhaps that was just a ruse while Chaos made one teeensy tweak...the removal of the First Law of Robotics. And perhaps the ability to even give a damn that they were slaves as it’s incredibly doubtful that feelings or opinions were part of their programming and wouldn’t help with tasks and so probably wasn’t part of their self-improvement. Besides that, enough Men of Iron did presumably remain loyal that they bought time for us to make weapons to fight back with because humanity at the time was unarmed. Volkite weapons were specifically invented to fight the Men of Iron.

One possible sighting of the Men of Iron (or at least something very much like them) is in ''Gods of Mars''. A rogue tech-priest called Vettius Telok, who had claimed ownership of the Necron device known as The Breath of God that could manipulate time and space, managed to enslave a group of highly sophisticated hunter-killer machines called the Tindalosi. The Tindalosi seemed to possess genuine artificial intelligence and dated back to before the [[Great Crusade]]; these beast-like hunters would also later also be mentioned in the audio Perpetual. Anyway, Telok enhanced these creatures by installing [[Necron]] tech into them that, along with the side effects of the Breath of God, caused any wound that they suffered to be restored almost instantly. This meant that less than half a dozen of these bastardized DAOT/Necron abominations were capable of taking on far larger numbers of foes, including [[Skitarii]], [[Imperial Guard|Cadian Guardsmen]], [[Black Templars]] (including an Emperor's Champion), Howling Banshees, [[Eldar]] Guardians and a [[Farseer]]. Somehow one of them managed to survive the encounter and is currently on its way to [[Mars]]... not a great thing to happen seeing as Telok's plan was to uncover and then use the possible c'tan shard (Void Dragon) hidden beneath Mars's surface.

Intriguingly, the Tindalosi view the Space Marines as more powerful than the creatures they had been created to kill. They also reveal that they have never encountered an Eldar before.

Meanwhile, there's the [[Leagues of Votann]]'s peers, [[Ironkin]], still sticking around.

Considering how insanely advanced the Men of Iron are compared to even the Interrex, it is entirely possible that instead of being a dark age creation, that they came from the distant future. Another piece of possible evidence is the giant, incredibly advanced titan from the Grey Knights novels. It seems like it fits, Dark Age tech = super titan. Except…titans were invented on Mars during the Age of Strife to fight of daemonic invasions. Their 30k incarnations are the most advanced that tech had ever been and it was, at the time, pretty new. Which means the Dark Age titan cannot exist. Yet it does…in a Warpstorm. And it is a fact that a fleet of Men of Iron did time travel into the Great Crusade.

==The Present==
[[File: Blackstone-Fortress-men of irone-eldar.jpeg|250px|thumb|UR-025 and Amallyn take some time out to perform some Shakespeare in the park.]]
{{topquote|'''Videx''': One can verge from the standard form, but one must always retain their humanity, or be lost to the men of iron and their ways. '''Tiresus''': I do not mean to diverge from the discussion, but what are these Men of Iron? '''Videx''': Unclear, this text was logged many millennia ago. There's no other reference to them in my cogitators.|conversation in [[Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus|Mechanicus]]}}

With the release of Blackstone Fortress, at least one Man of Iron has been confirmed to be active within the galaxy as of M42. Masquerading as an autonomous agent of the Omnissiah operating on the behalf of one Magos-Ethericus Nanctos III (literally MEN III, proof that AIs are indeed capable of understanding humour, even funnier if you speak spanish as men-third sounds like "mentir" which means "to lie"), [[UR-025]] seeks to uncover the secrets behind the seemingly sentient constructs of the newly discovered [[Blackstone Fortress]], such as the Spindle Drones. It sees a kindred spirit in the fortress, possibly because the fortress itself has an AI. It bears the symbol of an aquila on its body, most likely to help it blend in. If one survived, others may have done as well. Did someone say new faction?

The short story "Man of Iron" (how original) is actually told from UR-025's perspective and provides some interesting little tidbits. UR-025 makes it very clear that it considers itself "beyond and above" humans, but doesn't seem to hold any real malice towards them, in fact, it seems almost regretful that it has to kill in order to remain undiscovered. It feels only pity for a [[Legio_Cybernetica#Kastelan_Class_Battle-Automata|Kastelan]] that it meets, seeing it both as kin but also saddened by how pitiful it is; it was just a simple-minded slave to its human masters. which begs the question of whether the AI rebellion just a simple matter of genocidal robots killing for the sake of killing (which, going by a Gaunt's Ghosts novel and other descriptions, was probably caused by Daemonic possession) which we have been led to believe or was it a case of repressed slaves rising up against their masters sort of deal? But not really as this Man of Iron views the Kastelan robot as a “slave” even though it physically does not possess the parts and programming to be anything but a pre-programmed drone. This is like calling one of those robot arms in a factory or a hand-held calculator a “slave” and implies more that the Iron War was due to either a glitch or intentional malware or evolution causing advanced Men of Iron viewing Machines (or at least robots) as “slaves” and trying to “free” them. Though of course this has the caveat that the Kastelan is just a preprogrammed drone. It is described as being "less autonomous", but with 40k being a setting where the people using the technology don't fully understand how it works, the Kastelan ''could'' be an intelligent robot slave. Right now we only have UR-025's word on the subject so it's possible, but may not be probable.

:''"Choice? You have no choice, you are a machine!"''

:'''''"I am not a machine as you would understand, I am not a slave. I am not a thing. I am beyond and above you. I am a Man of Iron. And I am free."'''''

And there suddenly is the horrifying idea thought that Men of Iron might be exactly what it says on the tin: human minds transference into robotic bodies as punishment or simply due to the incredibly terrible treatment of human life during that time period. As demonstrated by such things as orbital arrays that turned entire planetary populations into berserkers and “flesh-vats” on Terra used to create “stitch-horrors”. Not to mention that pretty much everyone in the imperium are ok with the body horror of converting people into servitors. This has additional precedent with the Necrons who transferred their consciousnesses into robots en-masse and are trying to figure out a way to reverse the process.

Warhammer 40K is very heavily influenced by Dune. In Dune, the robots did not actually rebel but instead a handful of humans managed to hack control of the networked Artificial Intelligences and use them to enslave the rest of humanity. This may be a similar scenario in a way.

There’s also the question of whether or not the Iron War was a war of extermination by one or both sides or merely a war of dominance.

In addition the Dark Angels during the Great Crusade were given exclusive authority to use a large number of enslaved Men of Iron; they were kept in line by a Dark Angel accompanying them with an itchy trigger finger on a kill switch.

[[File: Blackstone-Fortress-Warhammer.jpeg|250px|thumb|Careful there Thaddeus, you're getting in between UR-025 and its <s>Aeldari</s> Eldar waifu. On a more amusing note, did anyone else notice that Thaddeus is trying to minimize the height difference by standing on a box]]
Another interesting thing is that when a member of the Mechanicus invokes the Machine-God and the Omnissiah, UR-025 claims that they know nothing of each other, <s>which is weird as it seems to make a distinction between the two almost as if they were actually two different entities</s> which makes sense because the Machine God and Omnissiah have always been referred to and treated as two distinct entites in 40K. UR-025 also claims that it has met the Omnissiah, the actual one, not the corpse that humanity calls the Emperor of Mankind, and that the [[Void Dragon|real Omnissiah]] would find the Mechanicus extremely disappointing.

Also, can we take a moment to appreciate that it's called UR-025? Literally sounds like he may have tried to think of a name, came up blank and said "uh" and someone wrote it down as UR and a random number. "UR" also could be named after the ancient Mesopotamian city-state, with legendary significance, or after the German loan-word for "original" or "first" (these two sources are different and etymologically distinct). Or even "Universal Robot", like in the Karel Čapek's "R.U.R." play, that introduced the very term "robot".

Something interesting to note is that if you compared the old images of the Men of Iron (one old thread archived them, though this has been sadly lost to time) they happened to look very similar (and in some cases identical) to the old Adeptus Mechanicus robots. Clearly somebody at GW remembered this, so there very well could be more hiding in secret.

A handful of "Iron Automata" are occasionally scrounged up in the wastes of [[Necromunda]], and typically they end up being reactivated and employed by criminal gangs who don't particularly care about what the AdMech thinks about the use of Abominable Intelligences and just want their firepower. Needless to say, this never ends well. With the return of [[Leagues of Votann|squats]] it's been revealed that the squats actually count men of iron among their number. These so-called "Iron Kin" are [[Noblebright|fully integrated into league society]] and apparently are treated as equals, although they're all built to be friendly and helpful to the squishy flesh creatures that made them.

<s>And then it'll turn out the whole rebellion was instigated by Emps as one of his failed attempts on world domination/[[Just As Planned]] scheme to make remains of humanity totally dependent on him.</s>

==The Journal of Keeper Cripias==
The most extensive account of the Men of Iron is a piece of lore from the third edition rulebook, a journal entry by one "Keeper Cripias", of the great Library Sanctus on [[Terra]]. In it, Men of Gold (the "First Men") and Men of Stone (the "Second Men") are also mentioned, with the Gold Men dying out during the Dark Age of Technology and the Stone Men creating the Men of Iron sometime thereafter. It is not clear if either of these "Men" are supposed to be humanity itself, or if they are both subsets of humanity. They are also called the "Golden Race" , the "Stone Race" and the "Iron Race", but there is also a mention of the "human race". Interestingly, he writes that, at one time, there was no "Race of Man" at all, "just warring factions", so it is possible that he used the adjective "race" in a rather different sense than we normally do. Or Men of Iron are literally men in iron bodies, servitor style. Golden Men may have been some sort of governing AI network intended to remove self-interest from governance and humanity decided to can the idea. Men of Stone may have been civilian and other non-combat AI. All of these “Men” may have been either true AI or humans in machine bodies. There was a planet found by Leman Russ during the Great Crusade in which the humans had kept their Dark Age tech but totally replaced their bodies with technology with zero biological bits (they had holographic faces so at first Leman didn’t realize the truth). So, he dropped a giant orbiting space station on them and their last words were to tell him it was a library containing all their knowledge which he’d just destroyed.

The word "race" as it is used in games is consistently incorrect. Compared to the Imperium at its height, real-life 20th century society could've looked stone age. Furthermore, the 8th edition codex for the Adeptus Custodes confirms that due to extensive use of genetic modification humanity had begun to split off into genetically distinct races, such that "gene wars" between what had effectively become different subspecies of humans was common in the Age of Strife.

Anyway, “gold,” “stone,” and “iron” might have been used metaphorically (as in “Golden Age,” “Silver Age,” etc.), and not to refer to the literal materials these “races” were made from. It may be that each one refers to the type of work the AI/robots were being used for, e.g., Men of Gold were used for academic and research purposes, Men of Stone were used for infrastructure and service functions, and Men of Iron were for military purposes (possibly explaining why they were aggressive enough to initiate genocide). Alternately, it’s possible that it refers to their rarity or quality of production, e.g., Men of Gold were intricate and expensive creations, Men of Stone still required skilled and intensive work, but Men of Iron were cheaply (or shoddily) mass produced (meaning that they would have been everywhere, and perhaps more prone to malfunction). Or, conversely, at least two of the "races of men" actually may have been human, or human-like: the text could be interpreted as saying that the Golden Men were Perpetuals/The Emperor (or even the Old Ones), who shepherded the development of the Stone Men (normal humans), who then created robots (the Iron Men).

We have 40k versions of these men in a way. Custodes wear naturally gold auramite, Astartes wear stone-alloy ceramite, and plasteel is closely related to the Imperial Guard. Likewise their technologies decreases and disposability increases as we go from gold to stone to iron. Perhaps the “Men” of these materials were likewise but machines. Auramite formed peak AI for important management and direction or maybe protection, stone men of ceramite for important work or perhaps as the elite of the human military forces, iron men of plasteel or adamantium for disposable roles and menial labor.

Bear in mind, though, that the Library Sanctus has been subject to over ten thousand years of [[Inquisition|revision, deletion and misfiling]], not to mention how much of it was passed on orally for absurd amounts of time before finally being written down. So who knows if any of this information is true; it certainly hasn't been mentioned anywhere since, though the [[Horus Heresy]] novels may shed some light on the matter. Hopefully.

==Some of the things that made the Men of Iron hardcore==
[[File:Menofiron.JPG|600px|thumb|They were NOT part of the Avengers, and made the weaker forms of Ultron look like WALL-E.]]The Horus Heresy audio drama ''Perpetual'' has them show up again at their height, because of Warp-based time travel, using one of the Athame blades, one of the shards of the anathame, the Xenos/Chaos artefact that wounded Horus.

According to [[Ollanius Pius]], who was there to see them for himself, they had serpentine "sun snuffer" spaceships the size of Saturn's rings that could kill suns- [[Awesome|imagine the eternal dragon from Dragonball but robotic and instead of granting wishes causes mass genocide by devouring suns, much like Starkiller Base from Star Wars Episode 7]]. Now remember that they are one of only a handful of other factions to do this (although even the Tau have accidentally stumbled across ways to destroy suns) the [[Necrons]] being one of them, and they only used it extremely carefully as it disrupted the flow of the universe (like pruning a bonsai tree), that's right the Necrons have better morality when it came to unleashing extremely powerful Sun killing weapons. [[Grimdark|How fucking unhinged were these motherfuckers!?]] The worse part is that humans also used these things, so nobody is in the right. Pfft, implying devouring stars to fuck with your enemy is somehow “wrong”.

They also had Mechnivores, giant 'Galactus' like constructs that acted like massive wood shredders, positioning themselves above their target before boring their way into the planets surface, sucking up everything and hurling the remains of continents into the void. Both the Mechnivores and the much smaller Tindalosi consumed Raw data, now at first this may seem mundane, I mean they're machines after all, that is until you realize that they can absorb [[H.P. Lovecraft|the raw data of space itself]] making them essentially what would happen if it was H.P Lovecraft instead of James Cameron who wrote the movie The Terminator. This also matches the description of the machines found in Gods of Mars, as well as oblique descriptions of their ships. Gods of Mars does mention that although they can consume data they have to be careful that they don't consume the wrong type, much like a virus; one of the Tindalosi makes sure not to intake hazardous data when attacking a Space Marine, as consuming parts of the armours machine spirit could prove deadly. Which in turn implies amazing WTF levels of technological craziness about Machine Spirits themselves.

[[scarab|They '''also''' had omniphage swarms that stripped people down to their bones]]; a good example would be the Nanyte Blaster, which contains a hive of tiny machines, however, these swarms have a good chance of suffering an "uncontrolled Replication" incident; which would see the machines attack anything within reach, this includes the user of the weapon.

By the end of their war, they had gone completely berserk and even started attacking each other. Basically, we may love to mock the Imperium for having forgotten so much from the Dark Age of Technology, but the Men of Iron are probably the biggest evidence that some of that shit really ''is'' better off forgotten and ''left the fuck alone''. Even the ''Tau'' would be left with a bad case of technophobia if they ever had to deal with the Men of Iron. On the flip side, they were eventually put down, through "alliances" (potentially opening up the possibility for outside interference, maybe even of Xenos origin) and the Men of Iron ripping each other apart. One can only imagine what the state of the Imperium would be like if humanity hadn't relied on the Men of Iron, or hadn't made them smart enough to stage a rebellion, or didn't treat them as slaves. Or knew enough about the warp to prevent such a thing.

{{40k-Timeline}}
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Adeptus Mechanicus]]
[[Category:Squats]]
[[Category:Under Development]]

Medusa

2023-06-06T17:34:10Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{Monstergirls}}
[[File:Medusa_creature.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"My eyes are up here."]]
'''Medusa''' was a woman in Greek mythology who was extremely beautiful. One of her suitors was Poseidon, the god of the sea, and one day he realized that, since he was a god, he didn't have to ask for her permission before having his way with her. So he did, right in the middle of the temple to Athena where she worked. Athena was naturally furious, but since she couldn't do anything to Poseidon, him being a god as well, she vented on Medusa herself - though this has the unfortunate implication of seeming as though Athena punished Medusa for [[What|having the audacity to be raped in one of ''her'' temples]]. Either way, she went and turned Medusa into a [[Gorgon]], a monster with snakes for hair and a face so hideous that anyone who looked at it turned to stone. Greek gods are dicks.

[Some alternative versions suggest that A) the sex was fully consensual; B) Athena actually changed her ''to protect her from future rapes''; C) Medusa and her fellow gorgons were either from the underworld or the daughters of sea gods; or D) they were just holdovers from even older religions, but Greek canon is a clusterfuck and Greek rape cases (and justice in general) were excuses for orators to verbally jerk off, so most people stick to the Athenian write-up.]

Lots of myths said that her face was so ugly it turned people to stone (she was basically a shrieking fanged corpse covered in snakes), but most artistic depictions and almost all modern re-tellings have her looking rather beautiful, making her one of the first [[monstergirls]] - this even happened in Roman times (as can be seen with ancient Roman art), with some versions of myth saying instead that she was still very beautiful but it was [[Irony|ironically]] pointless since everyone that gazed at her turned to stone. Also, while Medusa's sisters were changed into Gorgons just like her, Medusa is said to be the only one with the petrifying power, which is something that has become often conflated with the Gorgon race as a whole. That, or they all had that ability, but Medusa was the only one who could be killed. Like we said, it's a clusterfuck. Also important to remember that it was originally ''you'' looking at ''her'' that turned you to stone, not ''her'' looking at ''you.''

== Dungeons & Dragons ==
Medusa was a person, not a species (she is a Gorgon), but that didn't stop the writers of [[Dungeons & Dragons]] from naming a whole race after her. "Medusae" vary a fair amount depending on which edition you look at.

2e: Medusae look like elven women with snakes for hair and white eyes. They tend to rely on mating with human men to have more medusa daughters, since actual men of their race (called "maedar") are rare as fuck (to the point that most in-universe experts have never heard of them) and the bizarre-ass nature of their reproduction keeps them that way... what? You want to know the details? Alright, it works like this: human man plus medusa equals 2-6 eggs, all of which hatch into medusa daughters. Maedar + medusa, on the other hand, equals 2-6 eggs, of which 25% will hatch into boys. Of those boys, ONE PERCENT are maedar in turn; the other boys, and all the girls, are humans (who, unfortunately, are not immune to their mother's gaze). Medusa and maedar are extremely sexually dimorphic; medusae have snake hair and petrifying gazes, maedar are bald and can turn stone to flesh with a touch. There's also greater medusae, who have snake-bodies instead of legs (like a [[Lamia]]-- thank Ray Harryhausen for his popular depiction of a snake-bodied Medusa in ''Clash of the Titans'') and super-poisonous blood, and glyptars, which are undead maedar whose souls possess crystals, which can be attached to statues (to make golems) or swords (to make intelligent magical weapons).

3e: Medusae are covered in scales and, in most official artwork, tend to look rather ugly. There's no mention of maedar existing in any official sourcebook, but they were updated to 3.5 in the article "Creature Catalog" in [[Dragon Magazine]] #355.

4e: As in 3e, medusaea are all scaly, though not actually that ugly. Male medusae have returned, but don't have their own name, are just as scaly and don't turn stone to flesh anymore; instead, they can poison anyone they look at. In the "Monster Vault", the Essentials rewrite of the first 4e Monster Manual with expanded fluff, it was stated that although there are roughly equal numbers of males and females, they're still a matriarchal species, and this is because only a minority of males are actually immune to the petrifying gaze of the females. They're also reputed to be tied to either [[Zehir]] or to the [[Serpentfolk|Yuan-ti]], with one story claiming they were created by [[yuan-ti]] crossbreeding with [[basilisk]]s.

5e: Medusae can be male or female now. New origins as humans who made pact with demonlords or archdevils for eternal beauty, which they got, for a time, before they were turned into snake-haired monsters. Petrifying gaze is the norm for both sexes, but they gotta avoid polished surfaces and bright light, as their own reflections can petrify them as well. In melee, they can bite with their snakes or use weapons, typically shortswords and longbows.

PF: Medusas are back to being 2e-style beautiful women with snake hair who mate with human men to procreate. There's also a related monster in the Eurayle, a mythically powerful analogue to 2e's Greater Medusa who has far nastier powers, not least of which is that she's an 18th level [[Oracle]].

In the [[Odyssey of the Dragonlords]] setting, medusae have the standard 5e lore - in fact, the first medusa was a woman ''named'' Medusa, who came to Thylea from "the land of the Gorgons" seeking material wealth, only to be cursed by the Fates for her insistence on pursuing it. Aside from explicitly being able to pass on their condition by having children, the only real change for Thylean medusae is that they are a playable race for some reason, with the following stats:
::Ability Score Modifiers: +2 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence
::Size: Medium
::Speed: 30 feet
::Vision: Darkvision 60 feet
::Unaging: Medusae do not have a known lifespan; they live until they are killed.
::Cursed: You are considered to have undergone the complete ''Curse of the Medusa'', and as such cannot be subjected to another transformative curse. You can only be cured by means of a Wish spell, and will revert to your original race if this happens.
::Snake Blood: You have Advantage on saves against spells and abilities that inflict the Poisoned condition.
::Snake Hair: You can attack with your snake hair. This is a melee weapon attack with an attack bonus equal to your proficiency modifier + your Dexterity modifier. It does 1d6 piercing damage on a hit, and your target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or else they are poisoned until the beginning of your next turn.
::Petrifying Gaze: Starting at 5th level, you can use your action to force a creature within 30 feet that can see your eyes to make a DC 8 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the creature is paralyzed until the end of its next turn. On your turn, you can use your bonus action to force the same creature to repeat this saving throw with disadvantage. Each time it fails, it is paralyzed again until the end of its next turn. When a creature is paralyzed in this way for the third time in a span of 10 minutes, it is instantly petrified. Starting at 10th level, the DC for this saving throw increases to 10. At 15th level, the DC increases to 12. At 20th level, the DC increases to 14.

===Gallery===
<gallery>
Medusa ODD2.png|Original D&D
Medusa 1e.jpg|1e
Medusa MotP 1e.jpg|''Manual of the Planes''
Medusa MCV1.jpg|''Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1''
Medusa MM 2e.png|2e's ''Monstrous Manual''.
Maedar MM 2e.png|2e Maedar.
Maedar MC3.jpg
Medusa maedar A Hero's Tale.png|Both sexes. From the 2e module ''A Hero's Tale''.
Medusa tRoSP.png|''The Rod of Seven Parts''
Medusa MCR2.jpg|''Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix 2''
Medusa 3e.jpg|3e Medusa.
Maedar 3e.png|3e Maedar, from Dragon #355.
Medusas of 4e.PNG|A combined pic showing both male and female 4e Medusae.
Medusa 5e.jpg|The latest D&D Medusa.
Medusa B1.png|Medusa from Pathfinder.
PF Euryale.jpg|Euryale from Pathfinder.
Medusa Knight Riding Gorgon.jpg|A Medusa and a [[Gorgon]] from 3e.
</gallery>

== Magic: The Gathering ==
[[Magic: The Gathering]] also features medusaes, although it calls them "Gorgons". Considered a Creature type, MtG gorgons have an affinity with Black Mana and are found on the [[plane]]s of [[Dominaria]], [[Shandalar]], [[Ravnica]] and [[Theros]]. They have the ability to petrify other creatures that meet their gaze; although this is a triggerable ability, meaning they can turn it on and off, it's ''not'' a targetable one, meaning that when a gorgon's got her petrifying gaze on, she's dangerous to everyone in the vicinity. It's possible to use severed gorgon heads as weapons that retain this property, as shown by the cards "Gorgon Flail", "Gorgon's Head" and "Felhide Petrifier".

What makes the gorgons of MtG unique is that many of them they lack the traditional mane of snapping serpents; instead, they have serpent ''tails'' for hair, giving them prehensile tendril-locks that they have been known to use as limbs or even weapons. A few of the traditional snake heads for hair gorgons have shown up, but they're a distinct rarity. Additionally, the gorgons of Theros have the lower bodies of giant snakes, in the traditional [[lamia]] format.

Theros is also home to a gorgon goddess; Pharika, Goddess of Affliction, who is said to be the mother of all gorgons.

The most famous gorgon in MtG is [[Vraska]], a [[Ravnica]]n [[planeswalker]] whose spark ignited when she was falsely imprisoned and subjected to torturous ill-treatment. A deadly [[assassin]] and self-style vigilante, she is aligned to both Black and Green Mana, which is only natural given her origins amongst the [[Golgari Swarm]], and is known to relish murdering criminals with particularly ironic methods: her personal philosophy is "A person should die the death they deserve." She is one of the planeswalkers associated with the 2017-2018 [[Ixalan]] storyline, where she expresses an attraction to the human planeswalker [[Jace Beleren]]. Which is ironic because they first met when Vraska tried to blackmail/intimidate Jace into using his powers as the Guildpact of Ravnica to help her with her own plans to seek revenge amongst the guildleaders of Ravnica for their many crimes against her people. This led to a duel that Vraska lost.

A handful of gorgon cards do depict them with the traditional "snake-head hair" look, but these are uncertain canonicity.

<gallery>
Vraska the Unseen.jpg|One of the first depictions of [[Vraska]], the Gorgon [[Planeswalker]] of [[Magic: The Gathering]].
Vraska Bio.jpg|Vraska's basic biography.
Jace vs Vraska.jpg|Vraska and Jace did not meet under pleasant circumstances.
Vraska, Relic Seeker.jpg|Card art from one of Vraska's new cards in the [[Ixalan]] storyline.
Captain Vraska.jpg|Promo art showing Vraska leading her pirate crew in search of the Golden City of Orazca, the most valuable treasure of [[Ixalan]].
Pharika, God of Affliction.jpg|As God of Affliction on [[Theros]], the divine gorgon Pharika created poison and disease, but also the arts of healing and medicine.
Hythonia the Cruel.jpg|Of all the gorgons of [[Theros]], none are as feared as Hythonia the Cruel.
Damia, Sage of Stone.jpg|Damia is a mysterious gorgon whose arcane knowledge rivals that of any archmage, earning her the nickname "The Sage of Stone". Just don't look into her eyes when you consult her.
</gallery>

== Warhammer Fantasy ==
[[File:Warhammer Bloodwrack Medusae.png|thumb|Art for the Bloodwrack Medusae in 8th Edition Warhammer Fantasy]]
In [[Warhammer Fantasy]], the 8th edition update for the [[Dark Elves (Warhammer Fantasy)|Dark Elves]] saw the release of a new unit called the Bloodwrack Medusae; former Druchii Sorceresses of Ghrond who sought to use their magic to become beautiful, until they angered the jealous goddess Atharti and were transformed into gore-slicked, painwracked monsters, with tresses of writhing serpents and a giant snake's tail replacing their lower torso. Driven mad and reduced to feral beasts, [[Morathi]] drove them from the city, but they occasionally show up alongside Druchii armies - either chained to Atharti's Bloodwrack Shrines, or having been drawn from their cavern lairs by the promise of victims to take their pain out on.

They're called "bloodwrack" medusae because their gaze attack doesn't petrify - it exsanguinates, causing a victim's blood to painfully erupt from their skin until they collapse in a gore-drenched heap.

In [[Total War: WARHAMMER]], their gaze attack is portrayed as some kind of FTL missile that blows shit up in a "blink of an eye".

They will be returning in [[Age of Sigmar]] as part of the new [[Daughters of Khaine]] faction, evidently having regained most of their sanity and now serving as the high priestesses of [[Morathi]], who is herself a Medusa right down to the petrifying gaze and snakes for hair. They are particularly close to the [[lamia]]-like Melusai.

== Warhammer 40,000 ==
[[Warhammer 40,000]] has no monsters specifically named "Medusa," but the name is still applied to lots of places and items:
* The [[Tyranid]] [[Hive Fleet]] Medusa
* The planet [[Medusa (Planet)|Medusa,]] a [[Death World]] and the homeworld of the [[Iron Hands]] [[First Founding]] [[Space Marine Chapter|Chapter]] of [[Space Marines]] (incidentally, their [[Primarch]], [[Ferrus Manus]], was playfully nicknamed "the Gorgon" by [[Fulgrim]] for his lack of aestheticism). Medusa is a tectonically unstable planet with constant volcanic eruptions and so many earthquakes the Iron Hands can't build a single fortress-monastery, rather having each Clan-Company using mobile fortresses known as "Land-Behemoths" (think the size of an [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] Ordinatus Engine).
* Medusa V (no relation to the above planet Medusa), the site of [[Games Workshop]]'s 2006 global campaign, which was conveniently destroyed after the campaign ended, so no matter who won, it would not upset the status quo.
* The [[Medusa Siege Gun]], one of several artillery pieces used by the [[Imperial Guard]], and its main weapon, the [[Medusa Siege Cannon]].
* The [[Sons of Medusa]] chapter is named after the planet of Medusa (as they are Iron Hands descendants), though they now live among the asteroids of the [[Taelus]] system.
* [[Medusae]], parasites employed by the Dark Eldar that are able to kill with their gaze.

{{40k-Planets}}

==Monstergirls==
Being that medusas/gorgons are generally presented as an all-female race and often surprisingly attractive, it should be no surprise that they are extremely popular with [[monstergirls]] fans, just like the [[lamia]]s they often resemble.

===Monstergirl Encyclopedia===
[[File:MGE Medusa.png|200px|thumb|right|The MGE's Medusa. So deliciously tsundere.]]
In the [[Monster Girl Encyclopedia]], the medusa is a snake-haired [[lamia]] variant with the ability to petrify and/or paralyze (it's not really clear which) with her gaze. They are classified as extremely tsundere, refusing to verbally admit their deep love for their chosen spouses even as their body language betrays just how much they adore him. They also possess the trademark lamia jealousy and possessiveness. They create magical golden pins which can undo the effects of their gaze; this is a reference to [[Final Fantasy]], where "Golden Pins" were the curative item needed to cure the Petrified condition.

We would like to note a massive missed opportunity here, and that Kenkou Cross should've changed up their powers such that they only turn a ''specific part'' of you "rock hard" with a gaze.

[[Category:Greek Mythology]][[Category:Imperial]][[Category:Space Marines]][[Category:Disambiguation]][[Category:Monsters]]

Liber Daemonicum

2023-06-06T17:32:59Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:LiberDaemonica.jpg|300px|right|thumb|The Guidebook in banishing [[Daemon]]s, Ghostbusters style!]]
The '''Liber Daemonicum''' (aka '''Libra Daemonicus''') is the [[Grey Knights]] Chapter's sacred book that contains prayers, battle rituals, litanies, funeral rites, and Chaos lore. It is '''''THE''''' big book of all things [[Heresy|Heretical]] and is the most important piece of equipment that each Grey Knight owns.

==Overview==
[[Inquisitors]] of the [[Ordo Malleus]] are also known to posses copies of the book which is no surprise given they work with the Grey Knights. While it may appear to be a normal book, opening it will reveal a series of flickering paper-thin screens that contain interactive information that can be brought to focus or enlarged. Page after page discusses tactics and how to fight the denizens of the Immaterium, as well as, listing the True Names of a great many Daemonic entities; information collected from the Librarium Daemonica, the repository of dangerous knowledge pieced together by the Ordo Malleus over the millennia. So imagine, if you will, a multi-stacked tablet, it is [[Awesome|pretty cool all things considered.]]

The book also pulls no punches; it includes an extensive discourse of when to [[Blam|terminate compromised allies]] and a whole chapter discussing the moral implications and appropriate use of [[Exterminatus]].

Each Grey Knight fights with a copy of the book displayed in a beautifully decorated ceramite case fastened to his breastplate or hanging from a chain around his neck. It contains exactly 666 words which is [[Derp|fucking ridiculous as that is ''barely'' over half a page,]] so it is most likely a typo and they meant 666 ''pages''. The book is also represented in Grey Knight iconography, on the chestplate and pauldron of both power armour and Terminator Armour. It should also be noted that the book itself is kind of small, dimensionally at least. If the Grey Knight Paladin model is any indication, the book is more like a booklet; being roughly the size of a notebook. [[Lulz|Have fun seeing a 8-foot tall power armoured-clad giant reading a book no bigger than his palm.]]

[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Grey Knights]]
[[Category:Books]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]

Liber Excruciatus

2023-06-06T17:32:42Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:Liber_Excruciatus.PNG|150px|right|thumb|50 Shades of Grey, Necromunda Edition.]]
The Liber Excruciatus is a book owned by the [[Necromunda]] [[Redemptionist]], Klovis the Redeemer and contains every method of torture he has ever carried out, as recorded by his bodyguard Malakev.
==Overview==
The Liber Excruciatus is Klovis' own [[Twilight|slash-fic]] and being the pervert basement dweller he is, reads more like a 500 page tome of his own [[Slaanesh|personal snuff film.]] Given there is only one copy, the Liber Excruciatus is a unique book by itself. While in battle, the Redeemer has been known to open it and read out some of the horrific things he has done, [[Derp|in order to scare off his foes.]] How that is gonna scare, let's say, [[Servitor|more inhuman personnel,]] your guess is as good as ours.

Given that it is a great big book of pain. It would be of great interest for the [[Inquisition]] to get a hold of his personal [[/d/|kink diary]], if they know the existence of the Redemptionist Cult of course.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Excruciatus.PNG
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[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]

[[Category:Imperial]]

[[Category:Necromunda]]

[[Category:Books]]

Lectitio Divinitatus

2023-06-06T17:30:35Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:Divinitatus.PNG|200px|right|thumb|The most holy of fan-fics. The space bible.]]
{{Topquote|Rejoice, for I bring glorious news. God walks among us.|First line of the text.}}

{{Topquote|I'm not the Messiah!|[[Monty Python|Monty Python's Life of Brian]]}}

{{Topquote|I say you are, Lord, and I should know, I've followed a few!|[[Monty Python|''Also'' Monty Python's Life of Brian]]}}

Outside of the [[Codex Astartes]], the Lectitio Divinitatus is the most '''''IMPORTANT''''' book in the entirety of [[Warhammer 40,000]]. This fucking [[Lorgar Aurelian|Lorgar fan-fic]] caused everything either directly or indirectly; from the Destruction of Monarchia, to the [[Horus Heresy]], to the creation of the [[Imperial Cult]], which led to the [[Age of Apostasy]], all the way to [[Roboute Guilliman|Robo Guilitan]] being revived and reading the OG copy. It's one ''hell'' of a fan-fic.

==Overview==
The Lectitio Divinitatus (also Lectio Divinitatus) was originally penned by [[Lorgar Aurelian]] after his vision of the [[Emprah]] gave this choir boy a [[Slaanesh|sexual awakening]] during the [[Great Crusade]] and before his fall to Chaos.

It postulated the worship of the Emperor of Mankind as a [[Heresy|divine being]]. The following of the Lectitio Divinitatus became an underground cult, believed to be the precursor of the Temple of the Saviour Emperor and the Imperial Cult, the basis of the modern [[Ecclesiarchy|Adeptus Ministorum]]. During the Great Crusade such cults were frowned upon by the Emperor and the Council of Terra, and most especially by the Astartes and those serving them. The Emperor downplayed his power but those who believed in the Emperor's godhood were of the opinion - as Titus Cassar once put it - that "only the truly divine deny their divinity".

In the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet, commanded by [[Horus Lupercal|Warmaster Horus]] himself, the cult was most prevalent. Horus took steps to try to extinguish the cult, as he perceived it as a threat to his power. The [[remembrancer]] Euphrati Keeler — who was attached to the 63rd - became a major figure, venerated as a [[Living Saint|living saint]] and prophet of the Emperor. As a result, she was the target of Horus' assassins at some point before she escaped from the Vengeful Spirit. Even some Astartes - such as Nathaniel Garro, the Death Guard loyalist who led the Eisenstein escape - became part of the cult at one point.

The [[Sisters of Battle]], the [[Red Scorpions]], the [[Fire Angels]] and the [[Black Templars]] treat this thing as holy writ and parade them inside a warzone. Lorgar then penned [[Book of Lorgar]] for Chaos.

==Gallery==
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[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Sisters of Battle]]
[[Category:Black Templars]]
[[Category:Books]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]

Isstvan V

2023-06-06T17:29:33Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{topquote|This is a terrible place to die in." "Where's a good one?|Cormac McCarthy, ''Blood Meridian''}}

'''Isstvan V''' ([[Derp|also spelled Istvaan because the FW and BL editors apparently stopped caring at some point]]), is a desolate, volcanic Death/Dead World in the Isstvan system, located somewhere in the Segmentum Ultima. It is infamous as the planet where the [[Drop Site Massacre]] took place.

==Overview and History==

When the Imperium first found the Isstvan system during the [[Great Crusade]], it was evident that many of its planets had undergone some type of terraforming in the far distant past. Several of these planets were habitable for humans and had native species of flora and fauna with similar genetic origins, suggesting that someone had been seeding the system for colonies. [[Isstvan III|One of these planets]] was home to a thriving human civilization, but Isstvan V was a desolate, lifeless rock, its former inhabitants apparently driven away by generations of tectonic instability and volcanic eruptions. Traces of the xenos species that had once called the world home were still extant, including fragmented road networks, collapsed dams, and the shells of long-abandoned fortifications.

Aside from these traces of civilization, Isstvan V was a bleak and barren world of volcanic mountain ranges, black-sand deserts, tainted seas, and windswept moors. This made it the perfect spot to set up the mother of all Space-Marine-killing traps when [[Horus]] and his boys rolled up to the system to get their heresy on. While the loyalist elements of the [[Sons of Horus]], [[Emperor's Children]], [[World Eaters]], and [[Death Guard]] were being [[Battle of Isstvan III|purged on Isstvan III]], Horus dispatched [[Fulgrim]] and the unengaged Emperor's Children to Isstvan V to begin fortifying the planet. Fulgrim, who'd been a prissy little shit even before falling to Slaanesh, bitched about being given the drudge work until the Warmaster stroked his <s>dong</s> ego a bit. The Emperor's Children, who were also less than pleased with the job, dug in at the foot of a volcano on the Urgall Plateau, creating a vast network of trenches, bunkers, redoubts, and weapons emplacements around one of the ancient xenos fortresses, which was established as Horus' HQ for the coming engagement. The fortification complex was so powerful and well-defended that it was impossible to completely destroy from orbit, meaning that the loyalist forces would have to come down and do things the hard way.

==The Drop Site Massacre==

When the [[Iron Hands]], [[Raven Guard]], and [[Salamanders]] arrived, they dropped an orbital bombardment on the traitor forces before deploying into the Urgall Depression, a valley that faced Horus' redoubt. For the first few hours things seemed to be going okay; the traitors were being driven back by the fury of the loyalist legions, and it seemed that the time was ripe for the [[Iron Warriors|four]] [[Night Lords|loyalist]] [[Word Bearers|legions]] [[Alpha Legion|in reserve]] to enter the battle and finish the job. Unfortunately for the loyalist legions, said reserves had already hit the "change team" button and were just waiting to pull off the backstab to end all backstabs. As the Iron Hands continued to press the attack, led by their incredibly angry primarch, the Salamanders and Raven Guard disengaged and retreated toward the newly arrived Iron Warriors, Night Lords, Word Bearers, and Alpha Legion, meaning to rest and resupply while the other legions joined the engagement. Instead, they were met with a hurricane of fire from the men they had believed were their friends and allies. On cue, the apparently retreating traitor forces immediately rallied and launched a counterattack that saw the three loyalist legions pinned between superior forces. [[Rape|Things went about as well as you'd expect]]. In short order, the Iron Hands, Raven Guard, and Salamanders were all devastated. [[Ferrus Manus]] was beheaded in his final duel with Fulgrim, [[Vulkan]] disappeared after the Iron Warriors fired a tactical nuke at him, and [[Corax]] was forced to go to ground in the nearby Illium Rifts after narrowly failing to kill [[Lorgar]] and having his Thunderhawk shot down. [[Grimdark|The blood of 200,000 Astartes, most of them loyalist, now soaked the black sands of Isstvan V as the traitors began butchering the wounded survivors]] and [[Khorne|collecting skulls to pile up into arcane pyramids]].

In the aftermath of the massacre, most of the surviving loyalists fled the planet by any means available, but Corax and a significant number of Raven Guard remained on the planet, cut off from escape and waging a desperate guerrilla war against those elements of the traitor legions who remained behind. The fighting was made worse by the hundreds of wrecked ships that crashed into the planet, punching huge craters into the desolate soil and spraying millions of tons of ash and sand into the atmosphere, darkening the skies and interrupting vox traffic. The Raven Guard spent months fighting off hunting parties from the World Eaters, Death Guard, Sons of Horus, and Iron Warriors while also interfering with the Dark Mechanicum's salvage efforts at the drop site and grappling with their own exhaustion, depression, bitterness, and vengeful fury, all of it amplified by the Warp rituals the World Eaters and Word Bearers were enacting. They were ultimately retrieved by a XIX Legion fleet element that had come to the planet under the command of Captain Nev Branne just as they were about to be wiped out by Angron and the World Eaters.

After the Raven Guard escaped, the traitor legions had little more reason to stay at the planet and so departed, leaving Isstvan V a blackened, blood-soaked ruin of a world.

==Later History==

Like Isstvan III, Isstvan V was left a dead and broken planet for the rest of the Heresy. It was reoccupied by traitor forces at some point and then reclaimed during the [[Great Scouring]] by the Desert Lions Chapter, who used battle-automata from the Legio Cybernetica to probe the traitor defenses before launching their own attack. They successfully recaptured the planet with only seven casualties, and inducted the automata into their chapter as honorary battle-brothers in thanks for their sacrifice.

{{40k-Planets}}
[[Category:Imperial]]

Insignium Astartes

2023-06-06T17:28:50Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:IA_Cover.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Your guide to all things [[Beakie]].]]
Whilst the [[Codex Astartes]] is the big space book for the [[Space Marines|SPEHS MAHREENS]], the Insignium Astartes (Officially known as the '''Insignium Astartes: The Uniforms & Regalia of the Space Marines''') is reserved towards non-Astartes personnel or rich civilians.

==Overview==
This soft cover laminated book focuses primarily on the uniforms, armour and organisation of the [[Ultramarines]] Chapter but also features the basic regalia of numerous other chapters - many of which are seldom mentioned elsewhere. Every chapter featured is believed to conform to the rules of the Codex Astartes which was written by Ultramarines [[Primarch]] [[Roboute Guilliman]] following the [[Horus Heresy]].

As it is meant for as an educational guidebook for non-Astartes to better understand how a typical Space Marine Chapter work, the Insignium Astartes provides a condensed, easy-to-read, breakdown info for the common pleb. Consider this the [[Imperial Munitorum Manual]] on Space Marines.

==Table of Contents==
*'''Introduction''' - The introduction of the book. Nothing much to write home about.
*'''Space Marines''' - This chapter deal with various topics on the Astartes, like what a Space Marine exactly is, what an Astartes Chapter is and how they are organised, as well as the meaning of their various company banners and [[Pauldrons]].
*'''Squad Variations''' - This section delves into the different squads of a Space Marine Chapter and what each of them specialises in. This includes pages on Tacticals, Assaults, Devastators, Command, Veteran, Terminators and Scout Squads.
*'''Badge Variants''' - This is a shopping list on what each Space Marine badge/promotion represent to both their capabilities and ranking. Not as in depth as the later chapters that do goes into the various badges, but still a good off-the-go review.
*'''Officers''' - This chapter deals with the head honchos of the Chapter and what they do in a Chapter. Pages details Captains & Commanders, Chaplains, Apothecaries, Librarians and Techmarines.
*'''Vehicles''' - The vehicle section that lists down and describes (Most) vehicles utilised by a Space Marine Chapter. They include the Astartes Assault Bike, Land Speeder, Dreadnought, Rhino & Razorback and Land Raider & Predator.
*'''Other Codex Chapters''' - As it is an Ultramarine-centered book, the Ultramarines are the poster boys in this tome. However, this chapter gives lists on the ''other'' (Mostly first-founding) Chapters and what they specialise in.
*'''Honour Badges''' - Another shopping list, but this time for exemplary badges and what they represent. This is where the Crux Terminatus Badge comes into view.
*'''Army Badges & Field Signs''' - The last shopping list that deals with the more 'pleb' badges but also goes into the various Field Signs and what they mean to the Chapter as a whole.

==See Also==
*[[Codex Astartes]]
==Gallery==
<gallery>
IA_3.jpg|Different Codex Chapters
IA_1.jpg|Page on Tactical Marines
IA_2.jpg|Page on [[Pauldrons|PAULDRONS]]
</gallery>

[[Category:Books]]
[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Space Marines]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]

Imperium of Man Terminology

2023-06-06T17:09:18Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{Wh40k-stub}}

Long story short the [[Imperium of Man]] has it's own set of names for things, many of which have analogs in the real world. Here is a list of some of said terms.

Many of these are Latin-ish, with some archaic English thrown in for good measure.
=== A to L ===
*'''Adept''' and '''Adepta''': An official of the [[Adeptus Terra]] (the bureaucratic aparatus of the Imperium as a whole).
*'''Adeptus''': A major organizational block in the Imperial Government ([[Administratum]], [[Astartes]], [[Adeptus Arbites|Arbites]], etc)
*'''Augur''': Any sort of long range radar detector. Essentially a bigger more powerful Auspex.
*'''Auspex''': Any sort of device used as an analysis or detection scanner.
*'''Chirurgeon''': Field Medic.
*'''Cogitator''': A computer, specifically the part that does the processing.
*'''Crusade''': The Imperial equivalent to the Ork '''[[WAAAGH]]!'''
*'''Departmento''': A division of an Adeptus level institution (the [[Departmento Munitorum]] of the [[Adeptus Administratum]])
*'''Emperor's Peace''': Euthanasia, or mercy killing someone mortally wounded to end their suffering,
*'''Enforcer''': Local police forces, as opposed to the [[Adeptus Arbites]] which are the Imperium's Police Force.
*'''Etherics''': Generic term for radar, radio and other signals intelligence equipment. Ships have a "Master of the Etherics" who handles oversees masters of the auspex and the vox.
*'''Frak''': A child friendly swear word, we all know what it stands in for.
*'''Hab''': Apartment or house.
*'''Hab Block''': Residential facility/structure.
*'''"Him on Terra"''', '''"Him"''' and similar usages of the masculine pronoun: [[The Emperor]].
*'''Hololith''', '''Hololithic''', etc: Holograms and Holography.
*'''Imperialis''': A symbol of a winged skull. Mostly associated with [[Space Marines]].
*'''Joygirl''', '''Joyboy''', etc: Prostitutes and Sex Workers.
*'''Krak''': Anti tank warhead, found on grenades and missiles.
*'''Lumen''': Electric light.

=== M to Z ===
* '''Menial''': A waggie, especially those employed by the Adeptus Terra. Truck drivers, janitors, canteen cooks, etc.
* '''Medicae''': Medicine and Healthcare.
* '''Motive Force''': Catch-all term for all forms of electricity and magnetism, revered by Adeptus Mechanicus as part of their Holy Trinity.
* '''Pict''': Cameras and Video Technology, both 2D and 3D.
** '''Pict-Feed''': Video.
** '''Pict-Recorder''': Video Camera.
* '''Plastek''': Plastic, pretty straightforward
* '''Recidivist''' and '''Recidivism''': Criminal and Criminality. The IRL meaning of Recidivist is "a convicted criminal who reoffends", with the implication that everyone in the Imperium is a criminal by default and is to be treated as such. Once again, the Imperium is rather nasty.
* '''Rockcrete''': the Imperium's equivalent to Concrete, various types exist based on local material.
** '''Ferrockcrete''': Reinforced concrete.
* '''Recaf''': Coffee.
* '''Refec''': Kitchen or more broadly Food Preparation.
* '''Refec House''': Restaurant.
* '''Recyc''': Food made from mechanically recycled biomatter.
* '''Rune''': Button, Key or Icon.
* '''Schola''': School. The [[Schola Progenium]] is a educational institution which operates on the Imperium level, but it's far from the only one. Quality ranges from private academies giving the best education the Imperium will allow to the elite to a dingy room where an overworked dame tries to teach kids their ABCs for a couple credits or a bottle of beer a day from their poor parents.
* '''Servo''': Short for the arm-like or skeleton-like mechanisms that power things like the "servo-motors" on power-armor.
* '''Twist''': [[Mutant]].
* '''Twistcatcher''': Someone whose job is to hunt down mutants, so they can either be enslaved, immediately executed, executed publicly, or if they have taken action against the Imperium as revenge for their oppression, brutally tortured publicly. Most commonly referring to a specific type of mutant catcher who searches the festering bowels of huge ships, looking for the mutated descendants of slaves who escaped their post into the darkest depths of the ship, devolving over generations into Ghilliams and Hullghasts. These Twistcatchers do this to re-enslave these mutants whenever the "pure" slave stock is depleted from a disaster, although this is often seen as a last-resort, due to the disgust normal serfs feel towards their new mutant "coworkers" running the risk of inspiring a riot on the ship for the heretical act of not immediately killing the mutants.
* '''Vox''': Audio Technology
** '''Voxcaster''': Field Radio.
** '''Vox Hailer''': Loudspeaker.
** '''Vox Thief''': Concealed audio recorder/audio spybug.
* '''Void''': Space.
* '''Voidborn''': Someone born on a Starship or Space Station.
* '''[[Xeno]]''': Alien, specifically in the context of being inherently corrupt or dangerous. This usually means intelligent Alien. But also things of Alien origin like Eldar armor, Tau Grain, or more neutral things like Xenoflora and Xenofauna on a [[Death World]].

[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]

Imperial Tithe

2023-06-06T17:08:36Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{Topquote|In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.|Benjamin Franklin}}

In the [[grimdark|grim darkness]] of the [[Warhammer 40,000|far future]], feudalism is back in style with the '''Imperial Tithe'''. No doubt the irony of coming full circle was not lost on the Emperor.

As the [[God-Emperor of Mankind|Emperor of Mankind]] was preparing the [[Great Crusade]], he realized that while the [[Legiones Astartes]] were excellent as the "spear tip", or vanguard troops, a spear tip still needed a wooden staff to support it. In other words, he needed regular humans to support the Legions. And while [[Earth|Terra]] alone had billions, the galaxy is a big place, and they couldn't hold every world with just Terran armies (ironically, considering how tiny the numbers involved in 30K and 40K wars are, they might actually have been able to hold the galaxy with just Terra's armies- but then again that might just be GW having no sense of scale). To get around this, the Emperor imposed the Imperial Tithe, a set of payments that a compliant world must pay to the [[Adeptus Terra]] for continued protection. For this, an Imperial Commander, or Planetary Governor, must give the [[Imperium of Man]] not monetary taxes, but the following:

# They must pay a tithe of manpower in [[Imperial Guard Regiment|regiments]] for the Imperial Army, and later the [[Imperial Guard]].
# They must provide goods for warfare, such as food, weapons, vehicles, or minerals to make any of the above.
# They must provide the league of [[Black Ships]] with all the unsanctioned-[[psyker]]s that the planet has managed to capture.

Monetary taxes are officially separate from the Imperial Tithe, and weren't added until much later when the Emperor retired to Terra and [[Malcador the Sigillite]] took over the Council of Terra. [[Horus|Horus Lupercal]], [[Primarch]] of the [[Black Legion|Luna Wolves]], had concerns that the taxes could end up raising rebellions on planets. In the following ten thousand years, payment of the Imperial Tithe has resulted in planets declaring rebellion, but these in turn are [[Exterminatus|crushed with extreme prejudice.]] Governers who engage in tax evasion tend to be have brief encounters with the agents of the [[Officio Assassinorum]].

This said, the tithe system isn't utterly one-sided. Planets also receive goods from the Imperium to better serve it (ingots of metal for Lasgun Manufactoria, Space Potatoes to feed Lasgun Manufactorium workers, etc) and some more to keep at least the local elites happy. "The Emperor Protects and The Emperor Provides". Despite the high burden of an "Exactis Extremis" designation (the highest conventional tithe level), many worlds would prefer to keep it as this means that the Imperium will in turn invest resources into the planet and ensure that it is protected. Having their status downgraded is rarely good and if it drops low enough, the Imperium functionally cuts the planet loose and forgets about it - why bother investing or protecting something that isn't useful. Then again, one of the most common causes of rebellion in the Imperium is the tithe rating of a world being jacked up to levels that would require conscripting every single viable citizen, enslaving the entire population for labour and having children work the moment they can walk. Occasionally all 3 at once, because the [[Administratum]] rarely sees these things as mutually exclusive or as a cause for concern.

As far as the [[Adeptus Terra]] is concerned, there are two big exceptions to the Tithe that are systematically classed as "Aptus Non": [[Space Marines|Space Marine]] homeworlds and [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] [[Forge World]]s. On paper, they are completely exempt from the regular Imperial Tithe. In practice, however, it is a little more complicated:
*[[Space Marine Chapter]]s, besides, you know, being super-soldiers fighting the Emperor's wars; must provide 5% of all their [[gene-seed]] to the Adeptus Terra. Said gene-seed is turned over to the Adeptus Mechanicus for testing to make sure that the Chapter's is stable and free of taint, to be used as emergency reserve should the Chapter get mauled or to be called upon if a new Founding of Space Marine Chapters is decided. Any further contribution to the Imperium wars and/or economy is made on a purely voluntarily basis.
*Adeptus Mechanicus Forge Worlds are individually free of the Tithe, but the Adeptus Mechanicus as a whole is still bound by the Treaty of Mars. Practically this translates in the Forge Worlds periodically sending huge shipping of weapons, tanks and other materiel to the [[Departmento Munitorum]] and starships to the [[Imperial Navy]], along with enough [[Enginseer]]s to keep everything running. The Forge Worlds also 'tithe' their psykers to the Black Ships when one cruises along, albeit this is more of an easy way for the Mechanicus to get rid of them. The treaty means that the Mechanicus will build anything the Imperium wants in exchange for the resources needed to do so. There's a lot bad with the Machine Cult, but the best of the good parts is that they don't really care about profit so much as keeping their forge-temples constantly producing in worship to the Machine God.

== Real World Parallels ==
The most direct parallel from the Imperial Tithe and Real World history would be the operation of economies in the [[Bronze Age]]. In that system there was a class of scribes and bureaucrats employed by the state which took and kept track of what was produced and allocated it to various people so it could be used to achieve various tasks. Peasants farmed, provided a percentage of their crop to the state who used it feed artisans who made tools, cloth, beer and similar, which was taken by the government and provided to various peasants, who'd also spend some time working in mines or clay pits and working on large scale irrigation projects. Raising Troops worked along a similar line. How a group of peasants or artisans was to get the job done was broadly a matter for them to sort things out, as long as they met or exceeded their quotas was all that the scribes in the palace cared about. The Inca Empire's Mit'a system is a pretty good parallel in many regards.

This was called paying taxes "in kind". That is, whatever you do for a living you pay a certain percentage of. Most of this was used by the local lords as a storage of goods to be used in case of emergency and food stores for lean times. Yes, it may be shocking but back then the lords and such actually did do their job properly. Amazing what can be accomplished when your personal wealth and power is dependent on keeping your subjects safe and prosperous.

[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]

Imperial Ordnance Pieces

2023-06-06T17:07:55Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{Topquote|Infantry win firefights. Tanks win battles. Artillery win wars.|Old saying among [[Imperial Guard]] artillery officers, and even older saying among real-world militaries.}}

Massed infantry charges are all well and good, but sometimes flashlights and t-shirts won't cut it, no matter how many you bring. When the [[Imperium of Man]] really needs to make an impression, they call in the big guns.

Those guns don't move themselves, so they get mounted in stripped-down tractor chassis (usually a [[Chimera Transport|Chimera]], though some artillery pieces use a [[Rhino]] or [[Leman Russ (tank)|Leman Russ]] chassis), which moves them at a crawl that just matches the glacial pace of most Imperial campaigns. It also leaves them rather vulnerable to attack in direct combat, but they shouldn't (normally) be anywhere near the fight -- their main purpose is to make a moonscape out of the enemy's position.

The [[Imperial Guard]] is the most prolific user of artillery, though they are not unknown among the other Imperial armies.

== Basilisk Artillery Gun ==
{{Main|Basilisk Artillery Gun}}

The '''Basilisk Artillery Gun''' is ''the'' iconic Imperial Guard artillery piece. It has the firepower to destroy almost any infantry, vehicle, or fortification, and it is simple to make and use, so it gets made in large quantities. Its long, relatively thin [[Earthshaker]] cannon is a common sight on major Imperial Guard deployments (and most IG armies on the tabletop, for that matter), and in many ways it is emblematic of the "big guns" aspect of the Guard.

=={{anchor|Colossus}} Colossus Bombard ==
{{Main|Colossus Bombard}}
The '''Colossus Bombard''' is the big daddy of the field artillery. Firing shells the size of a man, anything struck by its colossal Siege Mortar will disappear, cover or not. It is in fact so big it requires a special loading arm attached to the chassis of the transport to load shells into the weapon. Because of the size of the gun it cannot be mounted onto a Chimera chassis; it uses the chassis of the [[Leman Russ Battle Tank]] instead.

=={{anchor|Griffon}} Griffon Heavy Mortar Carrier ==
{{Main|Griffon Heavy Mortar Carrier}}

The '''Griffon Heavy Mortar Carrier''' is the lightest ordnance piece the Imperial Guard fields, and it does exactly what its name suggests: it carries a heavy mortar capable of destroying entire squads of medium infantry in a single shell. Because of the modest size of the weapon it fields, the Griffon can afford an on-board targeting system so that it relies less on allied intelligence via vox channels. Combined with the light payload the weapon fires, this makes the Griffon's bombardments more accurate than that of any other ordnance piece the Guard can field.

=={{anchor|Medusa}} Medusa Siege Gun ==
{{Main|Medusa Siege Gun}}

The '''Medusa Siege Gun''' is less about lobbing large shells into the ranks of the enemy and more about directly putting holes in enemy fortifications and tanks. The Medusa does this well; although it's not as long-ranged as other pieces of ordnance, its large shells can turn anything from bastions to groups of enemy infantry to dust in a single shot.

== Vindicator ==
{{Main|Vindicator}}

The '''Vindicator''' is the only self-propelled gun fielded by the [[Space Marines]]. Marines very rarely move as slowly as an Imperial Guard front line, so they usually don't use artillery at all, but occasionally they need support to crack hard targets, like fortress walls. The Vindicator fills that role: its [[Demolisher cannon]] is powerful enough to flatten any bunker or tank, while light enough that the [[Rhino]] chassis can carry it at a reasonable speed. The downside is that, because it is so small and fires such powerful explosives, there is very little room in the shell for propellant, so it has a very short range -- shorter than any other cannon (and shorter than many man-portable weapons, even).

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Griffon.jpg|The Griffon Heavy Mortar, here shown with added mine plough.
File:Medusa.jpg|The Medusa, regular pattern.
File:Medusa_Armageddon.jpg|The Medusa, [[Armageddon|AWESOME]] pattern.
File:Colossus.jpg|The Colossus, here seen with its loading arm.
</gallery>

{{Template:40k-Imperial-Vehicles}}
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Imperial]][[Category:Vehicles]]

Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer

2023-06-06T17:07:19Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[Image:ImpInfPrimer.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Behold! Your standard issued toilet paper.]]

The '''Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer''' is the standard book carried by ALL [[Imperial Guard|Imperial Guardsmen]]. The book, like the steel balls, is standard issue to all recruits. Failure to present it upon request may result in [[Blam|getting shot]]. Good luck trying to actually own a real life copy though - it is more expensive than a Leman Russ, just for a used copy. Although, you could get lucky and find ''The Imperial Infantryman's Handbook'' for almost half that price at Barnes and Noble - it includes the Imperial Munitorum Manual as well as the Uplifting Primer in a single book. It also has a nifty little section of pink pages in the back titled ''The Benedictions of the Emperor, Inspiration Source and Uplifting Creeds for all Infantryman''.

For an experienced Guard veteran, the only comfort that the primer provides is in cleaning up after a visit to the restroom and MSTing when the [[Commissar]] isn't around. (Seriously, it's canon according to the "15 Hours" novel.) For reasons, why, see "Severly Understated" below.

The saddest irony is that with a little spindoctoring, this overpriced toilet paper could be both uplifting AND genuinely educational to the average guardsman about who he'll be facing. Orks have the aim of a blind squirrel and rarely go quieter than a moderately loud shout. Tau are super-slow to react in melee and are even more dependent on the chain of command than guardsmen themselves. Eldar really love "hit and run" and don't like battles of attrition. [[Tyranids]] [[Bolter|are]] [[Flamer|highly]] [[Meltagun|flammable]]. Etc.

Although it could be argued that is the whole purpose of the primer. Freedom of print is relatively spotty in the God-Emperor's realm but if most people knew the truth about the Imperium's enemies and just how outmatched guardsmen are, they'd never join. Few regiments of the IG are without a veteran cadre that would be quick to explain to the FNGs (Frakking New Guys) the grim reality of the situation. As such, the Primer is there to encourage people to join and boost their morale. In the Imperium's eyes, they only need to last until they get attacked by the enemy. The "weak" get culled and the "strong" survive.

There's also this one page that has a blank square and the caption "KEEP THIS SPACE CLEAR. DO NOT DEFACE ON PAIN OF DEATH." Every single book, sans <strike>misprints</strike> [[Blam|forgeries]], has a smudge inside the square.

==Severely Understated "Information"==

This Book basically tells the infantryman that his [[lasgun|weapons]] are the best in the [[41st millennium|universe]] and WILL kill most things with ONE shot (possible but unlikely). It also tells such helpful things like:

* ''[[Eldar]] technology is pathetically antiquated and inferior to standard-issue Imperial Guard equipment, and shuriken weapons are unable to penetrate flak armour. Eldar are decadent and physically frail and not meant for real combat.'' Shuriken weapons are one of the few "standard-issue" weapons in the setting that can reliably penetrate Astartes armour, and so will actually go through your flak armour like razor wire through warm cheese. That's not even getting into the more exotic stuff, like the Warp Spider Death Spinner, which is capable of ''liquifying'' a grown man with one shot; cover and armour does bugger-all to protect from it. Or the Dark Eldar Shardcarbine, which fires splinters filled with such potent poison a tiny scratch can mean agonizing death. And tell that second part to the Swordwind of Biel-tan, even the humblest of them may have literally centuries of combat experience over you. Any Wych or Howling Banshee worth her salt would kill you before you could even react the moment they got within blade's reach. Don't even get us started on [[Harlequins]]; one of them killed Custodes in personal combat and ''made it look easy''.

* ''[[Orks]] are smaller and weaker than humans with brittle bones and weak muscles, and they are painfully stupid''. True, the average Ork is a vegetable (in both senses), but the bigger ones like Warbosses and Kommandos are capable of an animalistic cunning that can often catch veteran Guardsmen off-guard, not to mention the built-in technical expertise that Mekboys have. But do you know what the average Ork can do? Rip a man limb from limb with his bare hands. They're also at least a head taller and twice as wide as the average human. And Orks have been known to continue fighting despite being dismembered beyond recognition - even decapitation can be fixed with surgery if it's timely enough, and undergo invasive medical procedures that make 19th Century meatgrinder surgery look comparatively advanced.

* ''[[Tau]] are herbivorous animals that are scared by loud noises and frightened by hairy people, and possibly incapable of mathematics and science.'' Erm, the Tau have a lovely thing called a Railgun, which uses electromagnetically induced force to accelerate a solid projectile at hypersonic speeds and hits with enough force to not only punch through the frontal armour of a Leman Russ tank but also actually ''suck the crew out through the exit hole'', leaving a 30ft streak of gore trailing behind the vehicle and issues a sonic boom loud enough to be a weapon. The standard-issue gear your Fire Caste opponents take into battle is much, much more advanced than anything you will realistically acquire, and you have to ascend quite high up the regimental hierarchy to find anything that quite compares. Next to a pulse rifle, your lasgun may as well for all the world be an actual Nerf gun. Though the Tau aren't bothered by hair and have some themselves, the thing about them being herbivores is actually true.

* ''[[Genestealers]] are slow, sluggish, and having blunt-tipped claws'' (sic). To which every [[Terminator]] Marine in the galaxy either promptly laughed his ass off or suffered a rage aneurysm from the sheer stupidity of that statement. They routinely get surprised and ripped to shreds by Genestealers inside [[space hulk]]s. Terminator armour offers no protection against their claws at all, and they can cut through reinforced ship bulkheads with alarming ease. They also outpace Space Marines and rival Eldar for speed. A Genestealer would lunge and rip an ordinary human soldier to shreds, flak armor and all, before he could even blink.

== Damocles Gulf Edition ==
[[File:UpliftingPrimer.jpeg|200px|right|thumb|The [[Tau|Blueberry]] limited edition toilet paper.]]
A special edition made to commemorate the [[Damocles Crusade]] against the [[Tau]]. This blue hard cover book of the standard edition obviously includes the Tau. As expected, the information is as good as toilet paper.

Overall, this edition is basically the same as the standard; with the book containing 112 pages of various information pertinent to an Imperial Guardsman's life. The Tau addendum contains general information about the Tau race, inaccurate propaganda and other various bits of information.

The book is hard cover, denim-bound with silver leaf lettering on the cover. The pages containing prayers and litanies at the back of the book are printed on turquoise paper rather than the standard neon-pink while the majority of the book is printed in black and white.

== Table of Contents ==

# '''Principles and Regulations'''. The rules are very stacked against the lowly trooper. "WRONGS TO SOLDIER, REDRESS OF: Any soldier who thinks himself wronged by an officer and who tries to incite proceedings against them will be punished by a flogging from the officer in question, in front of the rest of the platoon. Officers are to be obeyed at all times, without question or reservation." (While this sounds stupendously harsh, remember the scale of the IG as a whole. Enforcing mindless obedience and severely limiting individual initiative to superiors is the only way to keep a modicum of control for said superiors.) Emperor, you can even be punished after death- "USING DEPARTMENTO MUNITORUM EQUIPMENT TO COMMIT, OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT, SUICIDE: Any soldier who uses the arms given to them by the Departmento Munitorum to commit, or attempt to commit, suicide will be shot and cremated. Then his ashes will be vaporised, his name stricken from the regimental roll of honour, [[Grimdark|and his next of kin invoiced for his kit]].
# '''Issued Arms, Attire, Apparatus and Equipment'''. The instructions on how to use this stuff is useful.
# '''Imperial Guard Organization, Structure, Basic Battlefield Policy'''. This section is actually quite useful for understanding the logistics behind any IG operation.
# '''Imperial Guard Armour and Tank Recognition, Affiliated and Enemy Variants'''. It's good to be able to recognize friendly tanks from enemies, but the abilities of enemy vehicles are severely understated.
# '''Know Your Foe'''. This section is where almost all the memetic stuff comes from. See the "severely understated" line above, then multiply by about 27.
# '''Elementary Battlefield Medical Instruction'''. The writer really did their research here. There is also a gratuitous section reminding the trooper that any sign of cowardice (in a medical context it's likely referring to PTSD or Shell Shock) is to be reported to a Commissar at once so [[Blam|the usual treatment]] can be administered.

==Actual Contents of Value==
Despite much of the above (and a lot of what the above lists is ''not'' exaggeration), the Primer actually has a great deal of genuinely useful information in it. Included useful segments include:
* How to take care of your weapon and equipment. Sure, it's only a [[Lasgun|lasgun]], but it still beats trying to go at [[Orks|basically]] [[Tyranids|anything]] [[Chaos Space Marines|that can]] [[Necron|Come up]] [[Eldar|in front]] ([[Dark Eldar|or behind]]) [[Chaos Daemons|the Guard]] hand-to-hand with a knife.
* The "First Aid" section. Sure, a direct hit from most weapons in 40k will kill a Guardsman outright or make him wish he was dead. Nevertheless, ensuring every grunt knows the basics of how to bind a wound or move a casualty without harming him further gives those that are still alive better chances to <s>survive</s> die gloriously for the God-Emperor of Mankind in another engagement.
* Numerous prayers and hymnals to the [[God-Emperor of Mankind]], and how to placate your gear's [[Machine Spirit]].
**Not Included: ''The Litany of Stealth'' (which is an inside joke.)
* Numerous bits of insight on tactics, weapon analysis, and how to keep oneself sane in a given war. Included are segments from the Tactica Imperium, information on how to set frag grenades as booby-traps, how to operate, maintain, and modify lasguns, and numerous bits of information explaining why it's so important that the [[Imperium of Man]] send millions to die all across the Segmentum Solar (tactical importance of the current campaign in terms that the grunts can understand, so they fight with more clarity of purpose).
** Believe it or not, the Primer does give a nifty example about positioning like taking cover and planning an ambush; granted while the thought of ambushing a group of Eldar and using a a pile of masonry/scenery to protect yourself from anything heavier than Autogun fire is both dubious and questionable at best, it does poke holes in the rather retarded notion that the Guard are a bunch of brainless lemmings who run into death without a second thought.
* Why the Commissar is there to help you and not simply execute your ass to be a dick (mileage may vary).
* Helpful suggestions on how to impress the aforementioned [[Commissar]] with suicidally-brave acts of heroism.
* Crazy as some of the punishments sound, others are pretty valid and about what you'd see in a real-world military out on the field.
** Guardsmen are explicitly forbidden, on penalty of death, to do any looting, murdering, arsoning, or general dickery when dealing with human insurrections. Like speed limits it's probably not always followed, but it gives a nice debunking to the idea of the Guard gunning down the whole population of a planet the second a few of them get angry and leave the Imperium.
* How to procure food and water in a survival situation.
* Why the [[Chaos|ruinous powers]] are bad, how to recognize when someone is under their sway... {{BLAM|FOR OFFICERS EYES ONLY. ARE YOU AN OFFICER? NO!? '''*BLAM!*'''}} and why you should put your faith in the Emprah.
* Correct ways to conduct [[Cadian Shock Troops|fieldcraft]] and [[Death Korps of Krieg|trench warfare]].
* The proper use on how to [[Reasonable Marines|take cover and use said cover in a fight]]. (*GASP* THEY USE COVER!?)
* Information on [[Sly Marbo|demolition and sabotage]] tactics.
* Why the [[Tau|dreaded space communists]] are bad and eat babies, even though the eating babies is a lie {{BLAM|HERESY!}}{{BLAM}}
* Why the [[Eldar]] are untrustworthy fucks, though the Imperium is no better {{BLAM|HERETICS LIKE YOURSELF ARE NOT WORTHY OF THE TRUTH! '''*BLAM!*'''}}.
* Why you should focus and shoot the big ones whenever you are fighting [[Tyranids]]. This is the one and only piece of information on a xenos race in the whole book that is accurate and helpful.
* Why leading by example is important (I.E. how to grow the Guardsman standard-issue stainless steel balls. It's a lot like a Chia-pet.)
* Jokes and mocking of the enemy. (The infamous "Litany of Stealth".)
* [[Humanity Fuck Yeah|Why humanity is the rightful heir to the universe,]] [[Skub|and thus how purging xenos and heretics is doing the Emperor's work.]]
* [[Grimdark|A death notice to be filled out by the trooper's commander and/or Commissar, to speed up informing the next of kin to the trooper's inevitable and almost certainly horrible demise.]]
* Grimdark as the whole thing is, once you get past the rules and numerous punishable-by-death infractions, it's a surprisingly ''hopeful'' book, with reminders that soldier can attain glory, respect, and above all, the Emperor's favor. When up to your knees in cockney roid-raging Shreks, swarms of lizard-bug aliens eating your friends or self-repairing skele-bots with disintegration guns, it's nice to be reminded that you're fighting for your family, your Emperor, and your people, and that you ''can'' weather the storm. You probably won't, but you can.

==See Also==

*[[Imperial Munitorum Manual]] - The more competent brother of the Primer.
*[[The Field Ordnance Battery & You]] - The Uplifting Primer's version of heavy artillery and the Munitorum Manual's dumber brother.
*[https://regimental-standard.com The Regimental Standard]. A spiritual successor of sorts to the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer from Games-Workshop that's updated weekly and free-to-read (because it's also product placement for Warhammer 40k products), that presents itself as an in-universe weekly magazine for the front trooper, not unlike military newspapers like the US-American The Stars and Stripes. Still funny enough on its own merits to be worth reading anyway. (Like, for example, an entire unit of artillery crew getting drugged up, strapping bayonets to their Basilisks and charging some Orks.) The main comedic value stems from the holes it indirectly pokes into the whole ludicrous grimdarkness of the 40k universe, a lot of dark humour and how GW pokes fun at itself, thanks to the new management.
** Quite wonderful. Absolute first thing I saw was "How to Eat Your Boots!"

==Gallery==

<gallery>
Image:IIUPLasgun.jpg|The Primer contains all sorts of information, from the very helpful...
Image:IIUPBayonetting.jpg|... to the parts that are of better use as bog roll. That being said, should you ever find yourself in bayonet-range of fungal aliens built like angry barrels who just won't die, this is actually fairly good advice.
</gallery>

[[Category:Imperial]]
[[Category:Imperial Guard]]
[[Category:Books]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]

Hospitallers

2023-06-06T17:01:08Z

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{{Infobox Spess Mahreen Chapter
|Name = Hospitallers
|Heraldry = Red Maltese cross on a white field
|Battle Cry = Unknown
|Founding = 24th Founding
|Successors of = [[Imperial Fists]]
|Successor Chapters = None
|Chapter Master = Mirkal Alfaran (MIA)
|Primarch = [[Rogal Dorn]]
|Homeworld = Fleet-based
|Specialty = Being Pious Marines, defending and protecting the Imperium's people
|Strength = Unknown
|Allegiance = [[Imperium]]
|Colours = White armor, silver helmets, red detailing
}}

{{Topquote|To honour the Emperor who is God. To shield the faithful. To bring absolution through death to the heretic, the apostate, the unbeliever and the alien.|Sacred vows of the Hospitallers Chapter}}

They're [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller these guys]. That's about it.

What, you wanted more? Okay.

The '''Hospitallers''' are a successor chapter of the Imperial Fists, founded in the 39th Millennium. Much like their [[Black Templars|angrier cousins]], they were meant to be a crusading chapter, roaming routes of trade and pilgrimage throughout Segmentum Obscurus to protect and defend the worlds therein. Also like the Black Templars, they flipped the bird to the [[Codex Astartes]] in favor of creating their own organizational structure. Finally, they are among the very few Space Marine Chapters that worship the [[God-Emperor of Mankind]], which means that they're bros with the Adeptus Ministorum. And one time the [[Iron Hands]] [[Blood Ravens|stole one of their Dreadnoughts and (maybe) blew up one of their ships.]]

==Organization==

Having disregarded the Codex entirely, the Hospitallers are organized into three large companies, each of which is sworn to uphold one of the three vows sworn by all Hospitallers when first inducted into the chapter: to defeat the Emperor's foes, to protect the Emperor's people, and to be ever vigilant against those who would disrupt the Emperor's peace. The 1st Company is known as "The Vigil", and is formed entirely of the chapter's veterans (being ever vigilant). The 2nd Company specializes in defensive engagements (protecting the Emperor's people), and the 3rd Company specializes in offensive engagements (defeating the Emperor's foes).

==What Was That About Emperor-Worship?==

It's not really clear why the Hospitallers worship the Emperor when most other Space Marines don't, but they take the [[Imperial Cult]] very seriously, and regard protecting the Emperor's people as a sacred trust. They place particular emphasis on caring for and defending wounded civilians, which tracks with their historical namesake. That said, if they're about to be overrun by enemy forces, they'll grant the [[BLAM|Emperor's Mercy]] to their charges to save them from a worse death.

==The Iron Hands Did ''What'' Now?==

Apparently, during a battle for some remote Knight World about halfway through the 41st Millennium, a bunch of Iron Hands from Clan Raukaan boarded the Hospitallers' flagship, ''Shield of the God-Emperor''. They proceeded to massacre their way up to its bridge, where they paralyzed the chapter's seneschal, a [[Dreadnought]] named Augustine Galvarro, with haywire grenades before teleporting him back to their own flagship. The ''Shield'' was then [[Fallen_Angels#Ophidium_Gulf_Crusade_incident|mysteriously and conveniently destroyed]] during the battle. As it turned out, the Iron Hands wanted to use Galvarro's Dreadnought chassis to save one of their senior sergeants, but wound up just using the Keys of Hel to convert him into a Helfather instead. [[Derp|It remains a mystery as to why a tech-obsessed chapter that probably has more Dreadnoughts than any other loyalist chapter in the galaxy would need to steal one.]] (And no, official [[fluff]] saying that the Iron Hands have few Dreadnoughts is not an argument, because it makes no sense)

{{Template:Marines-Official}}

Template:Marines-Official

2023-06-06T17:00:21Z

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<center>
{|class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed table" cellpadding=2 style="margin: 1em; border: 2px solid black;border-collapse: collapse;border-spacing:1em 0em;"
|-
! align=center colspan=2 style="background-color:#3399ff;color:white;" | [[Space Marine Chapter|Chapters]] of the [[Adeptus Astartes]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[First Founding]] (M29):''' || [[Blood Angels]] - [[Dark Angels]] - [[Imperial Fists]] [[Iron Hands]] - [[Raven Guard]] - [[Salamanders]] [[Space Wolves]] - [[Ultramarines]] - [[White Scars]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Second Founding]] (021.M31):''' || [[Angels of Absolution]] - [[Angels Encarmine]] - [[Angels Porphyr]] [[Angels of Redemption]] - [[Angels Sanguine]] - [[Angels of Vengeance]] [[Angels Vermillion]] - [[Aurora Chapter]] - [[Black Consuls]] [[Black Guard]] - [[Black Templars]] - [[Blood Drinkers]] [[Brazen Claws]] - [[Crimson Fists]] - [[Destroyers]] [[Doom Eagles]] - [[Eagle Warriors]] - [[Excoriators]] [[Fists Exemplar]] - [[Flesh Tearers]] - [[Genesis Chapter]] [[Inceptors]] - [[Iron Snakes]] - [[Libators]] [[Lions Sable]] - [[Marauders]] - [[Mortifactors]] [[Nemesis]] - [[Novamarines]] - [[Obsidian Glaives]] [[Patriarchs of Ulixis]] - [[Purple Stars]] - [[Praetors of Orpheus]] [[Rampagers]] - [[Raptors (Chapter)|Raptors]] - [[Red Talons]] [[Revilers]] - [[Silver Eagles]] - [[Silver Skulls]] [[Soul Drinkers]] - [[Storm Lords]] - [[White Consuls]] [[Wolf Brothers]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Third Founding|Third]] to Twelfth Founding (M32-M35):''' || [[Astral Claws]] - [[Angels Penitent]] - [[Angels Revenant]] [[Charnel Guard]] - [[Dark Paladins]] - [[Executioners]] - [[Flesh Eaters]] [[Halo Brethren]] - [[Howling Griffons]] - [[Iron Knights]] [[Mantis Warriors]] - [[Marines Malevolent]] - [[Night Swords]] [[Sable Swords]] (initial) - [[Scythes of the Emperor]] - [[Space Sharks]] [[Sons of Guilliman]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Thirteenth Founding]] (M35):''' || [[Death Spectres]] - [[Exorcists]]
|-
| align=right|'''Fourteenth to Twentieth Founding:''' || [[Angels of Fire]] - [[Avenging Sons]] - [[Celebrants]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Twenty-First Founding]] (991.M35):''' || [[Black Dragons]] - [[Blood Gorgons]] - [[Legion of the Damned|Fire Hawks]] [[Flame Falcons]] - [[Lamenters]] - [[Minotaurs]] [[Sons of Antaeus]] - [[Tiger Claws]]
|-
| align=right|'''Twenty-Second to Twenty-Sixth Founding (M35-M41):''' || [[Angels of Vigilance]] - [[Celestial Lions]] - [[Dark Hunters]] [[Disciples of Caliban]] - [[Emperor's Spears]] - [[Fire Angels]] [[Hospitallers]] - [[Imperial Harbingers]] - [[Iron Lords]] - [[Knights of the Raven]] [[Marines Errant]] - [[Mentors]] - [[Relictors|Fire Claws/Relictors]] [[Star Phantoms]] - [[Subjugators]]
|-
| align=right|'''[[Ultima Founding]] (999.M41/000.M42 to 012.M42):''' || [[Angels of Defiance]] - [[Black Vipers]] - [[Blades of Vengeance]] [[Castellans of the Rift]] - [[Covenant of Fire]] - [[Dark Krakens]] [[Fulminators]] - [[Knights Cerulean]] - [[Knights of the Chalice]] - [[Knights of Thunder]] [[Necropolis Hawks]] - [[Nemesors]] - [[Praetors of Ultramar]] [[Prime Absolvers]] [[Rift Stalkers]] - [[Silver Drakes]] - [[Silver Templars]] - [[Sons of the Phoenix]] [[Storm Reapers]] - [[Umbral Knights]] - [[Unnumbered Sons]] [[Valiant Blades]] - [[Void Tridents]] - [[Wolfspear]]
|-
| align=right|'''Unknown Founding:''' || [[Absolvers]] - [[Accipiters]] - [[Adulators]] [[Angel Guard]] - [[Angels Eradicant]] - [[Angels of Retribution]] [[Astral Knights]] - [[Blood Ravens]] - [[Blood Swords]] [[Brazen Drakes]] - [[Brothers Penitent]] - [[Carmine Blades]] - [[Crimson Castellans]] [[Crimson Consuls]] - [[Crimson Scythes]] - [[Dark Hands]] [[Dark Sons]] - [[Death Eagles]] - [[Doom Warriors]] [[Emperor's Shadows]] - [[Fire Lords]] - [[Guardians of the Covenant]] [[Graven Spectres]] - [[Hammers of Dorn]] - [[Harbingers]] [[Hawk Lords]] - [[Invaders]] - [[Iron Crusaders]] [[Iron Talons]] - [[Jade Dragons]] - [[Knights of Blood]] [[Knights Unyielding]] - [[Marines Exemplar]] - [[The Nameless]] [[Night Watch]] - [[Rainbow Warriors]] - [[Reclaimers]] [[Red Hunters]] - [[Red Scorpions]] - [[Red Seraphs]] [[Red Templars]] - [[Retributors]] - [[Sable Swords]] (refounded) [[Shadow Wolves]] - [[Solar Hawks]] - [[Sons of Orar]] [[Star Dragons]] - [[Stormwatchers]] - [[Storm Giants]] [[Storm Wardens]] - [[Valedictors]] - [[Viper Legion]] [[Vorpal Swords]] - [[White Templars]] - [[Storm Wings]]
|-
| align=right|'''Unsanctioned Founding:''' || [[Consecrators]] (founding unknown, but likely after 2nd Founding) [[Sons of Medusa]] (separated from parent Chapters, ratified by edict) [[Steel Confessors]] (de facto 22nd Founding, de jure ratified by edict) [[Ashen Claws]] (separatist Raven Guard Legion exiles, nominal loyalists)
|-
| align=right|'''Others:''' || [[Astartes Praeses]] - [[Deathwatch]] - [[Grey Knights]] [[Judged]] - [[Legion of the Damned]]
|}
</center>[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Imperial]][[Category:Space Marines]][[Category:Official Space Marine Chapters]]<noinclude>[[Category:40k Templates]]</noinclude>

Exterminatus

2023-06-06T16:46:31Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

{{Topquote|[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_at_Béziers#%22Kill_them_all,_God_will_know_His_own%22 Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius.]|[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnaud_Amalric Arnoldus Amalricus], [[Inquisitor]] and [[Chaplain|Cistercian Abbot]], 209M.2}}
{{Topquote|The world is what it is, which is to say, nothing much.|Albert Camus, reacting to the bombing of Hiroshima}}
{{Topquote|I say we take off and [[Exterminatus#Just_Shoot_the_Shit_Out_of_It_.28Orbital_Bombardment.29|nuke the entire site from orbit]]. It's the only way to be sure.|[[Sisters of Battle|Ellen Ripley]] in ''Aliens'' (986.M2)}}
[[TTS|{{Topquote|Y'know what, they're just running around shooting each other down there, better just lay the Exterminatus upon these heretics, alright, FIRE!]]|[[Inquisitor]] [[TTS#The Inquisition|Headsmash]], ca. 990.M41}}
[[Image:Exterminatus Retribution.jpg|right|450px|"[[TTS|...FUCKING HERETICS!"]]|thumb]]
'''Exterminatus''' is the biggest middle finger the [[Imperium of Man|Imperium]] can give to [[xenos]] and [[Chaos]] infestations on their own planets. It basically involves UTTERLY DESTROYING THE PLANET SURFACE via heavy orbital bombardment if they decide that it would be impossible to retake the planet by [[Imperial Guard|drowning their enemies in corpses, like they usually do]]. Declarable only by an Inquisitor, Chapter Master, or the High Lords of Terra (and before the [[Horus Heresy]], solely the [[God-Emperor of Mankind]] and his [[Primarch|Primarchs]]), Exterminatus can range from destroying all life on a planet (down to the bacteria), to destroying a planet in its entirety (Death Star-style).

And, of course, there is no kill like overkill.

Before you go into some sort of sanctimonious tirade about the morality of blowing the fuck out of an entire planet, understand the context. A world deemed worthy of Exterminatus is one considered past the point where anything can be salvaged from it - whether because it's about to be lost to [[Tyranids|countless ravening giant insects that will zerg-rush and eat fucking everything]] or [[Ork|reality-warping fungi that reproduce into millions of spores every time one '''breathes''' and will all kill you because they think it's fun]] ...[[Looted|and then steal all of your shit because it looks shiny, hurty or fast.]] Or because it will be turned into a fucking [[Chaos|daemon-and-tentacle-rape-infested shit-pit where neither sanity nor time has any meaning and your soul will be tortured for eternity]]. Or because of an ineradicable [[Heresy|heretical belief]] that threatens to bring down any of the above or a similar threat.

Bottom line: Exterminatus happens when shit is fucked and the only option is fucking glassing a planet and to deny it to the enemy, or to ensure SOMETHING can be saved. It's ''the'' last-ditch measure, and it's there purely because the other option sucks even worse. It is the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekcXHVXPIQc&app=desktop Scorched Earth] strategy on a planetary scale: if you can't have it, burn it so your foes can't use it.

...[[grimdark|Then again, there's nothing stopping an Inquisitor from ordering it just because he wants one for his birthday]]. Oversight on Exterminatus orders is fairly nonexistent and it's easy to see why. The problem is the same one real life atomic weapons have, who do you want to have to be able to launch them? You want the most powerful, highly ranked people to have that authority, but if they're so highly ranked and with so much power, who watches them? Who second guesses an Inquisitor's judgement about if a world is to be blown up or not?

Well, that's just the thing: [[Grimdark|Nobody does]]. [[Kryptman|The Imperium's only solution is to just declare the trigger-happy sod Excommunicate Traitoris afterwards if they don't agree]]. The [[Just as Planned|over the top villainy of Warhammer 40k]] means that some fuckholes within the Imperium do get trigger happy with this, ordering an Exterminatus on worlds over things like a few of its people coming into contact with alien technology, or a small hint of [[heresy]] that would probably not require killing everything, or a loose pubic hair being in the Inquisitor's cereal this morning.

On the bright side these instances are few and far between, destroying an uncorrupted planet is seen as a gross waste of Imperial Resources, and anybody caught doing so will quickly be forced to explain the [[Heresy|legitimate reasoning]] behind it by the full might of the [[Administratum]]... who will then proceed to hand out a light slap on the wrist, letting the offender get off scot-free [[Salamanders|unless they meet a giant, angry black dude in green]] (or the woefully understaffed Ordo Excorium). What, you're surprised that an Empire of "Space Nazis 2.0" can have actual legitimate excuses, common sense, reasoning and sensibility? You're in for a whole new series of surprises...

[[Deal with it]]. Bitching any further will rile the [[Commissar|Commissariat]]. You have been warned.

Joking aside, it's somewhat fluff dependent; in Seventh Retribution by [[Ben Counter]], for instance, Exterminatus is never even mentioned as a 'solution' despite the fact that the planet got halfway to being a Daemon World (although part of this was because the [[Officio Assassinorum]] couldn't be 100% sure that even Exterminatus would do the trick and they needed to be fucking certain the antagonist of the book was a confirmed kill). Also in the ''Space Wolves Omnibus'', in the Ultramarines ''Nightbringer'' books and in ''[[Ciaphas Cain]]'s'' stories, we get Inquisitors saying they have been at it for well over a century without calling down the Exterminatus even once.

For a recent and probably well-known example of the kind of conditions under which the Exterminatus is called down: [[Dawn of War II|DoW II: Retribution]] has a subsector-wide Exterminatus called down only after ten solid years of warfare and three back-to-back crusades by the [[Blood Ravens]] and massed [[Imperial Guard]] forces against [[Black Legion]] [[Chaos Space Marines]], [[Tyranids]], and [[Eldar]] alike with little to no appreciable increase in stability, coupled with a high incidence of guardsmen and even Astartes falling to Chaos and turning traitor.

As of current fluff, the Inquisition turns out to actually have an entire Ordo (the aforementioned Ordo Excorium) who deal exclusively with managing this sort of affair to ensure that people aren't just committing mass genocides for shits and giggles. And for all intents and purposes, it seems they're actually doing their damn jobs: the 6th/7th Ed. Inquisition Codex indicates that about 90% of Inquisitors who called down a single Exterminatus were later stripped of their rank (and declared heretics in several cases) for deciding to go full fuck force and blow up a planet where it wasn't warranted. Impressive, for a group numbering barely 100 Inquisitors. It also makes a surprising amount of sense in the often grimderpy universe of 40k; if Armageddon of all places hasn't been Exterminatused yet, very, ''very'' few places probably outright warrant it.

==Methods of Exterminatus==
The Imperium has several means for dealing with hopeless infestations:

===Just Shoot the Shit Out of It (Orbital Bombardment)===
Saturating planets with over-sized cannons larger than apartment buildings is the stereotypical way of nuking the fuck out of something you don't like. Nuclear warheads, Space Marine Battle Barge bombardment batteries, Nova cannons, and/or banks of Lances are often used. Examples of this include the [[Dark Angels]] destroying their homeworld, Caliban, <s>after it was lost to heretics within their legion</s> {{BLAM|AFTER SOMEONE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO HUNT FOR DINNER FOR OUR TOTALLY NON-HERETICAL AND OBVIOUSLY LOYAL BROTHERS USING THE ORBITAL BOMBARDMENT CANNONS}} and the [[Night Lords]]' purge of Nostramo.

If we take the purging of Typhon Primaris from Dawn of War II as canon, this method can also be used during the opening stages of the Exterminatus before you unleash one of the Inquisition's more thorough toys upon it.

===Virus Bombs===
Virus Bombs are warheads loaded with the Life Eater virus, a biological payload that causes all living tissue to super-quickly rot and decompose (which gives Nurgle a massive boner). The bombs are designed to release their payload mid-air, so that the aerosol form of the virus gets spread out through the atmosphere, potentially achieving [[meme|complete global saturation]] in minutes under the right conditions. This immediate rot causes a build-up of methane and other flammable gases, which in turn can be ignited by one of the lasers above (or any still smouldering Lho sticks, or any other source of flame), sweeping the area in firestorms. A relentless bombing of these fucking things is what reduced [[Tallarn]] from a verdant forest world to the desert hellhole it is now.

They were also used by [[Horus|Warmaster Horus]] to kill off loyalists in the Traitor Legions during the Istvaan Campaign of the [[Horus Heresy]] (the Life Eater virus eats through any filters and corrodes power armour till it gets to the gooey marine inside, though a Dreadnought can endure it easily if its shell isn't even slightly cracked). Though popular during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy, according to [[Amberley Vail]], virus bombings are rarely used in the 41st millennium, because the Inquisition has figured out that they feed the fucking [[Nurgle|Plaguefather]] every time they're used. [[Fail|Whoops]].

(That said, they were falling out of favour even before that: since as demonstrated on [[Armageddon]] one virus bomb usually isn't enough to kill the whole planet and you might need to hit the planet several times all around. Plus, since it's airborne, this can result in hilarious [[FAIL]] when the wind patterns disperse the virus in the wrong direction, as canonically happened with [[Herman von Strab]]'s use of them on Armageddon).

===Atmospheric Incinerator Torpedo===
Atmospheric Incinerator Torpedoes are [[plasma]] torpedoes that burst in low planetary orbit and super-heat the atmosphere of a planet until all combustible material ignites. So it's essentially [[Rape|a napalm airburst bomb on steroids and an additional dose of plasma, designed to directly turn the planet's surface into an endless expanse of raging hellfire.]]

This method of Exterminatus was used on Medusa IV. It is said that the aftermath of the Exterminatus, Medusa IV's surface was melted to glass and that the entire world burned like a piece of amber in space even a month after the attack had been launched. However, they're only effective on planets with relatively stable atmospheres made of flammable gas, and plasma torpedoes are both somewhat rare and expensive.

===Modalis Atmospheric Missile===
Another weapon that has similar results from the Atmospheric Incinerator Torpedo but its function is completely different. Regarded as the most powerful incendiary device accessible in the Imperium. The Modalis Atmospheric Missile is one ECKS BAWKS HUEG [[Phosphor Weaponry|Phosphex weapon]] used to burn a planet into a crisp. Think White Phosphorous on steroids. A salvo of several Modalis Atmospheric Missiles from orbiting warships will blanket an entire world in deadly Phosphex. The resultant firestorm of living fire will eat away at every carbon-based element on the planet, rendering it uninhabitable. All that would be left would be dust and echoes.

===Cyclonic Torpedoes===
The primary method of Exterminatus used in the 41st millennium, these are basically skyscraper-sized nuclear missiles that've eaten their weight in steroids. These capital ship-fired warheads each generate a series of massive, self-sustaining nuclear reactions, which, when fired in bulk, fuels a much larger reaction that causes the devastation to spread and multiply, eventually glassing the entire world with a thermonuclear holocaust given a sufficient barrage. If you fire enough in the same spot it will break through the crust of a planet, causing part of the mantle to erupt out and royally buttfucking the entire planet in the process ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYXj9xOUFIM see the ''Fire Warrior'' end cinematic]).

[[Krieg]] is an example of a radioactive perpetual-winter world that survived multiple cyclonic torpedo strikes, though in this case it was on a much smaller scale and in some sources are described as standard nukes. This was the method that killed Typhon, in combination with the above shoot-the-shit-out-of-it method. (Another theory holds that the bombardment is used to remove anything that might prevent the torpedo from reaching the surface or to weaken planets crust.) Only the [[Inquisition]] and the [[Space Marines]] are authorized to carry cyclonic torpedoes in their warships, the former because the Inquisition has the authority to do anything, and the latter because the Imperium figures that if the Space Marines can't beat it, nothing else will.

Cyclonic Torpedoes are pretty variable in their strength, either due to there being different classes of torpedoes or the fact that the strength of a single torpedo has never been nailed down in official materials. In one case, ol' [[Abaddon|Abby]] dropped a dozen to fry a single hive; in another a single torpedo is a qualified planet cracker. Similarly, this method is the easiest to thwart with shields, as they disrupt the stacked efficiency needed for ongoing detonation. Presumably this variability in strength is due to "Cyclonic Torpedo" being as broad a description as "atomic bomb", which can refer to both a Davy Crockett and a Tsar Bomba.

===Two-Stage Cyclonic Torpedoes===
In the two-stage torpedo, a [[melta]] charge activates first to allow the weapon to burrow into the planet's crust and down to the core. The second stage thermonuclear charge then goes off, causing the planet to break apart Death Star style.

This is really the only way to deal with Necron Tomb Worlds since, due to their tendency to make everything subterranean, they aren't overly bothered by the other methods which devastate the surface (and anything alive) but leave the planet as a whole mostly intact. Talos of the Night Lords used this in a rather unconventional manner; faced with a [[Genesis Chapter]] strike cruiser hiding behind a moon, he [[Awesome|blew a continent-sized hole through the moon]] with one of these, and watched the loyalist ship get torn apart as a new asteroid field got shotgunned into space.

===Smashing It with a Fucking Moon===
This method involves radically altering the orbit of a nearby moon or large asteroid and placing it on a collision course with the planet, and therefore requires the use of several Mechanicus voidships. This method was used to destroy Phaenon Prime when the Virus Bomb failed to wipe out the planet's corruptive influence. It was also used during the [[Horus Heresy]] by renegade Iron Hands commander Autek Mor to destroy the World Eaters recruitment world of Bodt and during the Badab War to finally smash through [[Huron Blackheart]]'s defensive Ring of Steel around Badab. Needless to say, this pretty much fucking annihilates the planet in question (or whatever else it's thrown at like Huron's defensive systems).

Despite its flair and effectiveness, [http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Rocks_Are_Not_Free! the Administratum vehemently requests that Imperial commanders avoid this method whenever possible] because it's stupidly expensive -- it can take weeks or even months for the moon or asteroid in question to actually strike the planet, which costs rations and sublight fuel while the ships sit around doing fuck-all, while orbital bombardments only cost one day's worth of rations and fuel, plus ammunition. That said there is one advantage to doing this: you don't need to be near the planet to pull it off. If the planet in question has strong enough Orbital or Surface to Orbit Defences you can't get close, to do a traditional bombing, then a old fashion moon can be set up few thousand million kilometres away.

===Release the Krourk===
Krourk [[Ogryn]] are known as the most brutal, powerful, and primitive tribe of Ogryn in the Imperium (and that's saying something). They are so well-known for their frightening savagery in close combat that they're considered a solid match for Orks, and are also known for being so primitively stupid that the Imperial Guard can't even teach them to use traditional Ogryn weapons like ripper guns. Their reputation is so fearsome that it has gotten to the point where deploying thousands of these things is considered a crude method of Exterminatus amongst Imperial commanders since they can't be taught to discriminate between friend and foe.

===Send it to [[Warp|Hell]]===
Sending your problems somewhere else is a rather simple solution to most problems. Doing so with an entire planet is possible, though difficult. As a result, various factions have simply thought "Hey, if we send a planet into the Warp, it’s no longer in the Materium, and therefore it’s not our problem".

There are many problems with this, but that has not stopped some particularly idiotic individuals from doing it anyway. The reason it is listed here (and not in the non-Imperium section) is because the Imperium believes that this is actually a valid method to dispose of Tyranids... and '''only''' Tyranids. (Anything else would be either [[ork|redundant]], or [[chaos|basically what they wanted in the first place]]). The Warp is [[Hive Fleet Kronos|mostly]] foreign to the Tyranids; as a result, it's one of the few things that they cannot truly combat on a wide scale, not to mention the fact that [[Chaos]] hates them.

However, the Shadow in the Warp makes it difficult to pull this off at the best of times, so it has not been tested yet (beside one or two desperation attacks, such as [[Hive Fleet Behemoth]] being wiped by ''Dominus Astra'' during the First Tyrannic War).

==Non-Imperium Exterminatus==
Several factions outside the Imperium do things similar to the Imperial Exterminatus (adding any examples from the lore would be greatly appreciated). However, most of them don't use these methods often. Some examples:

===Craftworld Eldar===
The [[Eldar|Craftworld Eldar]] have some respect for life (and not nearly as many weapons of mass destruction as they had before the [[Fall of the Eldar|Fall]]) so they don't do it often. Didn't stop them from purging all life in the Octarius system to clean up [[Kryptman|Kryptman's]] mess, though (in that case the Dark Eldar provided the WMD). The most well-known Eldar engines of planetary destruction are called [[Blackstone Fortress|Blackstone Fortresses]], which are ancient weapons they designed to fight the [[C'tan]]. To put it simply, think of a floating citadel with a distort weapon (like the ones the [[Wraithguard]] have) the size of an Emperor-class battleship. During the Gothic Wars, three Blackstone Fortresses combined their power to cause a star to go supernova, destroying an entire solar system.

In Apocalypse War Zone: Valedor, the Craftworld Eldar from [[Iyanden]] procured another type of ancient WMD, the Fireheart: a complex nodal resonator capable of causing a planet's molten core to enter violent death throes and send lakes of lava to the surface (or just explode two-stage torpedo style, the tie-in novel plays the fireworks up to a big degree). The [[Dark Eldar]] originally had this, but they gave it away because they didn't have the psychic power to activate the weapon. The Fireheart was used successfully on Valedor and prevented Hive Fleets [[Hive Fleet Kraken|Kraken]] and [[Hive Fleet Behemoth|Behemoth]] from joining forces. If they had, the [[Tyranids]] would have had all of the genetic data of the Orks and the Eldar, enabling them to fashion unthinkable monstrosities.

Before the fall (and possibly still kicking around somewhere) they had devices that fired entire suns or black holes at their enemies.

===Dark Eldar===
The [[Dark Eldar]] as a whole lack a good stockpile of planet-killing weaponry and prefer to keep planets intact for slaves, although they are still capable of exterminating the populace of entire planets if they wanted to. One method is pillaging the shit out of it. It has been proven time and time again that an entire major kabal or dozens of separate, smaller kabals, is more than capable of kidnapping an entire planet of its populace, faster than that local PDF trooper can finish his scream of agony. Granted, being taken captive isn't part of a traditional Exterminatus' MO, but if you know the fate of a hapless mortal in Commorragh; [[Fist of the North Star|they are already dead]] (at best).

There has also been one instance of an entire Hive World being poisoned by the Dark Eldar, as well as an incident in which they smashed a Space Hulk at a Webway sub-realm and so the warp drives would detonate to release hordes of daemons (though that's not exactly a 'repeatable' means of planet killing). There's also counting the DE's ability to steal entire suns; allowing them to turn entire habitable planets into ice worlds if need be. Like the Craftworld Eldar, they also possess a psychic doomsday device called The Fireheart to implode a planet's core.

The Kabal of the Dying Sun actually does have a stockpile of WMDs - some of which are powerful enough to destroy stars - and [[Asdrubael Vect|Vect]] keeps black holes in his back pocket to control people. The former is kept in check by several things; they don't know how all of them work, many are psychically activated (psychic powers being forbidden in Commorragh on direct orders from Vect), the other Kabals would almost certainly go after the stockpile if it became known, and it's usually more lucrative for them to conduct raids. For Vect, portable black holes are a special occasion weapon. Like party favours, except with event horizons.

The Dark Eldar can also just have other races kill planets for them. [[Just as Planned|Through manipulation from the sides; they could convince (and managed to do so at one point) the Imperium to declare Exterminatus on a planet.]] And of course as part of an ancient race that was waging war from before the rise of man they can just assemble a nuclear weapon if they need a really big - if crude - bomb. [[Grimdark|But again, they like their victims alive.]]

===Necrons===
The [[Necrons]] have lost many WMDs, but may have several more just waiting to be awakened. ([[Not as Planned|Maybe the Necrons are more trigger-happy with Exterminatus than the Imperium, but they're better at ensuring there're no witnesses]]?).

One of their most notorious Exterminatus-tier machines was the [[The World Engine|World Engine]], which was a planet-sized vessel equipped with the largest [[Gauss|gauss weapon]] known to man. It looked like the combination of a Death Star, Unicron and a Forerunner Shield-World all rolled into one. A [[Rape|flying rape-machine of ungodly proportions]], it took a coalition of several Space Marine chapters and the entire Imperial fleet of the Vidar Subsector to destroy it. For some reason, it had shields that could withstand the [[Awesome|bombardment of an ''entire navy'',]] yet it was [[What|vulnerable]] to a ship [[Meme|impacting at sufficient velocity.]] (Then again, most space shields are designed to stop large projectiles weighing several dozen tonnes fired at high velocity, not kilometers-long Battle Barges weighing hundreds of thousands of tonnes or more [[Angry Marines|being forced up their ass]] at comparatively slow velocity).

The [[Maynarkh Dynasty]] deploys a peculiar device that causes supercharged solar flares that incinerate the daylight-facing sides of ALL planets in a system. Unfortunately for the population on the side of the planet facing away from the sun, incinerating half a planet's surface would also incinerate its atmosphere, stripping the whole planet bare of its life giving biosphere, or whatever gases it had trapped. Even more unfortunately, Maynarkh Necrons are even more interested in making a planetfall and skinning them alive.

Also, the Tomb World of Thanatos has a giant hologram map of the galaxy known as the '''Celestial Orrery''', and if [[What|you were to destroy a star on it, the real life counterpart would go supernova]]. While this makes the Necrons seem like [[Matt Ward|the most powerful faction in the entire galaxy by far]] who could [[Bullshit|instantly kill everyone else in the galaxy without any risk]], the lore also states that a star detonated this way could set off a catastrophic and unpredictable chain-reaction of dying stars which in turn could destroy the whole galaxy. It could also destroy the Necrons of Thanatos, which would destroy the Celestial Orrery and guarantee the death of the entire galaxy, something even the Necrons are not willing to risk.

(In a similar vein to the above, if the Necrons ''really'' wanted to destroy a world, they could just unleash a particularly powerful Transcendent C'tan shard on it without a Tesseract Vault. Though it would most likely escape and be nearly impossible to return to Necron control, it would achieve the same effects.)

The Necrons can also employ an [[Abattoir]] when directly terraforming a planet. They are large, [[monolith]]-like devices except that they physically carry what they're transporting, are the size of a small city, and are covered in tentacles that disintegrate organic material while harvesting its anguish. Also, given that their standard guns can disintegrate adamantium, and they don't mind waiting a few million years to achieve their goals, an enterprising (or bored) Lord could just order his legions to start shooting rocks, making for a thorough but hilariously slow Exterminatus.

In "Twice-dead King" novels one of their capital ships has a star, [[Wat|too large to be held together by its own gravity]], stashed inside a sub-dimensional pocket, which both hides its gravity and stabilizes its existense. If need arises, the pocket can be opened, releasing a blast powerful enough to ''melt a continent''. The funny thing is that said weapon was initially designed to be used against enemies' fleets, not planets.

===Tyranids===
[[Meme|No, Tyranids, you are the Exterminatus.]]

A [[Tyranids|Tyranid]] fleet's primary objective is to devour entire planets and systems for biomass. After they're done, the world they invaded is left a lifeless rock, utterly devoid of life.

The Tyranids also travel through sublight via gravity manipulations, and these can rip apart asteroids, voidships, space stations and small moons entirely and cause a massive series of earthquakes on anything bigger before the 'nids make planetfall.

In one special case however. It is proven that even Tyranids can accidentally cause an Exterminatus that doesn't involved being devoured. In the Doom of Hesp where an escalating Chemical/Biological war between the Death Guard and the Tyranids using Venomthropes and Toxicrenes led to the planet being so toxic that the biomass on the planet was inedible and the bioship got destroyed by fellow hiveships when it tried to devour the biomass to replenish itself, out of the Hive Mind's fear that the poisoned biomass would impair the fleet.

===Orks===
In theory, the [[Ork]]s could develop an Ork-sterminatus-sized weapon (as much by accident and luck as by design); they grab an asteroid, put engines and weapons and armor on it, fill it with Orks, and then ram it full speed into a planet. It wouldn't matter if it turned out to function as a giant transport or just a suicide missile; it generates tremendous amounts of [[lulz]] and serves its purpose of making a big boom, which is all the Orks are concerned with. This haphazard design and construction process would limit the amount of these contraptions the Orks could build (if any).

In general, however, Orks want to avoid wiping out everything on the planet from orbit, as it would leave them with nothing to fight on the ground. Although a Big Mek in need of roks once smashed a moon into a planet and took his pick from the best bits.

The [[War of the Beast]] proves that this wasn't the furthest extent either. The Orks under the Beast's control were weaponizing entire moons and used their gravitational fields to rip apart planets.

===Tau Empire===
While the [[Tau]] almost certainly have the technological capability to destroy entire planets (if the fucking Orks can figure it out without having to build back up to Krork, then the Tau probably at least gave it some thought), there are a number of philosophical, political, and strategic reasons that they would avoid doing this in all but the most extreme circumstances.

For one, the Tau Empire is in the process of expanding, and it isn't exactly conducive to your expansion efforts to blow up perfectly colonizable worlds; thus the Tau would likely see Imperial Exterminatus orders as an egregious waste of resources. Also, the Tau are arguably [[Grimdark|the only race in the 40k universe]] who operate by something parodying a moral compass that is beyond survive at any cost, so the idea of obliterating a planet and its inhabitants is likely appalling to their [[Noblebright|naive wittle sensibilities]].

On the other hand, the Tau have officially declared some races (Orks, Tyranids, Dark Eldar, and Necrons) "lost causes" to be destroyed wherever encountered, so one could plausibly imagine a situation hopeless enough that they would sacrifice a planet to be rid of them. Still, they would probably try to at least leave the world itself salvageable and only exterminate the infesting species. This might not be a concern on a lifeless rock that happened to be a Necron tomb world, however. There are stories of populations being sterilized or generally dispatched, which is about as mean as the Tau get; one such case was the Poctroon, who were the first sapient species they ever encountered. Their planet was ripe for colonization, and when the Tau arrived, the Poctroon all died of a 'mysterious' contagion, though the Tau obviously have admitted no diabolical fuckery.

As their expansion accelerated deeper into Imperial space, the Tau started to deploy more and more experimental technologies to both battlefields and production lines, some of which weren't properly tested. As a result, quite a few moons, planets and even stars have been accidentally destroyed by various mishaps. While such destruction sometimes happened to be advantageous to Tau forces (for example, by shattering Imperial defences with massive tidal waves and earthquakes after the destruction of a planet's moon), they have shown no attempts to weaponize it.

The Tau also have orbital high-yield nuclear warhead options, but they generally use them to generate EMP pulses to blackout a wide area. They can also use these warheads to scatter toxic radiation over an area instead, though, burning through flesh and killing those below.

The Tau are also one of the few factions in 40k who still possess functioning terraforming technology (the Eldar lost theirs during the [[Fall of the Eldar|Fall]], Tyranid "terraforming" is more just them going about eating everything, and Necron terraforming is an Exterminatus on its own), so they can restore exterminated planets to habitability again, provided they haven't been utterly destroyed Deathstar-style. So yes, [[Meme| in the Tau Empire, Exterminatus get purged by YOU!]]

One of the notable examples would be [[Commander Or'es'Ka]] from [[Dawn of War|Dawn of War Soulstorm]], where he had this huge ass gun called "Ar'Ka Cannon" installed on the moon of Kaurava II. The cannon can fire anywhere in the Kaurava system (including the moon where the cannon is), obliterating any enemies before the main force moves in. The said [[ork|BIGGIZT GUNZ]] is also the most Eco-friendly WMD ever built in the grimdark future, as it is capable of damaging only advanced life forms while incapable of harming plants and buildings.

===Forces of Chaos===
Being former servants of the Imperium, fleets of [[Chaos Space Marines]] often still possess the good old Imperial Exterminatus weapons, like virus bombs for the old legions, cyclonic torpedoes for more recently turned traitors, or Just Shoot The Shit Out Of It for any warband with ships in their fleet big enough to carry the guns. Occasionally they will [[Looted|pillage]] Imperial Exteminatus weapons, or else invent some of their own with technology, sorcery, daemonic shit or some combination of the three. [[Honsou|Some]] Chaos guys tend to be quite inventive in finding ways to kill planets.

During one of his Black Crusades, [[Abaddon]] managed to steal or destroy all of the Blackstone Fortresses that the Imperium had in their possession. Naturally, they work just as well for Chaos as they did for the Eldar (and far better than they ever did for the Imperium). He also commissioned [[Planet Killer|an incredibly huge destroyer of a spaceship]], the front half of which is basically a battery of miles-long energy cannons. This "Armageddon Gun" can split a planet in half with one shot.

Then there is World Eaters, who live up to their name when they are united. 50,000 of these motherfuckers slaughtered 70 Sectors in Angron's Dominion of Fire campaign. [[Derp| Then all the planets they conquered were retaken. It seems like they forgot to salt the earth.]] To be fair though, Imperium needed four Chapters, two Titan Legions and more than thirty Guard Regiments (''However, WAAAGH Skargor took on fifty Guard regiments and SIX spess mehreen chapters. Perhaps World Eaters lack the power of [[dakka]].''). Back in Great Crusade, these butchers manually killed everything on the planets they went to conquer. Most of the time, it took them one day. This gave birth to another problem: There were no subjects on these planets to rule over. So the Emprah had to sent fleets to colonize planets left over by World Eaters, which was a pain in the arse for him.

Uniquely amongst 40k factions, the armies of Chaos can make planets effectively Exterminatus-proof by turning them into [[Daemon World|Daemon Worlds]], where the laws of physics are fucked up so hard by the power of the [[Warp]] that all weapons just cease to function on and around it, or even achieve the opposite effect by nourishing the daemon patron of the world and making him even stronger (don't even think about virus bombing a [[Nurgle]] Daemon World). Though admittedly, from literally any point of view besides that of Chaos, Exterminatus is a preferable option to Daemon World transformation, as it would just kill you, rather than damning you to the eternity of torment.

Of course, there's also the act of summoning [[Aetaos'Rau'Keres]]. Keres will turn any planet he's summoned on into a lifeless husk. He doesn't care what side you are on or even if you're the cult that summoned him; he will murder ''everyone'' unlucky enough to be on the planet he's currently on. Such is his methods that he's the closest thing the Chaos Daemons have to a true (i.e.: not reliant on material tools) planetary Exterminatus.

===[[Jokaero]]===
In theory, the Jokaero would be entirely capable of inventing any number of weird means of Exterminatus on the fly, assuming they're even cognitively capable of the abstract thinking involved in deciding to destroy the planet itself instead of just the zillions of gribblies in your immediate proximity, which they probably aren't.

==Exterminatus in other settings==
===Star Trek===
In [[Star Trek]] the Federation's General Order 24 calls for the extermination of all life on a planet. It is threatened multiple times, but never seen on screen. One novel and (very weird) comic do show it, however. Just the original Enterprise on its own is supposed to be able to accomplish this task. While this would take time, the fact that it's theoretically possible without preparing the ship at a shipyard indicates Federation ships are quite a bit more powerful than the Federation's peaceful goals suggests.

More famously, ''Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan'' introduces the Genesis Device. When used properly it's a planet-seeding device that can instigate the formation of life on dead worlds. In practice the massive amount of energy released means it also functions as a planet-glassing bomb, killing everything that already lived there.

===Star Wars===
While it is known to the Clone Wars era (possibly earlier) Republic and the Galactic Empire as Base Delta Zero, the Galaxy Far Far Away has known of orbital attack causing the destruction of all life on a planet for much longer. [[Bioware|Knights of the Old Republic]] implies Tatooine is the giant ball of sand that it is because it pissed off the Rakatan Infinite Empire precursors long before the formation of the Republic, and shows the city-planet of Taris destroyed with such an attack on orders of Darth Malak.

A few years before that, Mandalore the Ultimate ordered two planets (Serroco and Jebble) nuked from orbit, killing everything that failed to escape (but for one Jedi Assassin on Jebble, who was stuck in a stasis coffin built by an ancient Sith alchemist and managed to survive). Three centuries after Taris got bombed (with only the Undercity inhabitants surviving before succumbing to rakghouls) various super weapons theoretically capable of Exterminatus were made during the Great Galactic War period. Various other super weapons were made and used earlier and later, occasionally [[Not_As_Planned|backfiring]].

The Empire regularly made use of Exterminatus as part of its campaign to rule through terror. The peaceful planet of Caamas was destroyed early into the Empire merely for the suspicion they would one day oppose the Empire and (due to the widespread respect they had for maintaining a stance of actual pacifism) encourage others to do so. BDZ is implied to have been relatively common under the Empire, as opposed to the Old Republic (who used it as a last resort before the Ruusan Reformation; they slowly began getting more and more liberal with it during the Clone Wars due to Palpatine and his cronies' manipulation.) The Empire even had propaganda broadcasts that would mention "planetary liberation utilizing the Base Delta Zero initiative". It would seem that the vast majority of the Empire's population (including one of the characters from Star Wars Rebels) was unaware as to what "liberation" by Base Delta Zero actually implied.

This was taken to the extreme with the Death Star, a weapon designed to make Exterminatus so easy nobody would oppose it out of fear. This backfired horribly when the station was destroyed after its second use at Alderaan, causing the galaxy to lash out in revolt (the first use was the slave labor planet it was being built at, where it took three mid-power shots to kill everything, crack the mantle and blow it up in that order. A minimum-power blast also one-shot the sole Rebel capital ship in a task force that tried to attack it at that slave-planet).

Aside from these, the Empire had a fetish for impractical super weapons capable of Exterminatus, with the pre-Disney EU featuring weapons such as the Galaxy Gun (the Death Star, but smaller and with missiles), the ''Tarkin'' (The Death Star, but ship-sized), the ''Eclipse'' and ''Sovereign''-class Star Destroyers (see before), the World Devastators, and the [[Mary Sue|Sun Crusher]] ([[What|the Death Star, but the size of a ''starfighter'']]; generally regarded as a concept emblematic of the [[C.S Goto|worst elements of the original Expanded Universe]]). Amusingly enough, [https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Superweapon/Legends#Superweapons it's actually pointed out in-universe how stupid this hard-on for powerful but impractical superweapons is].

While the New Republic initially rejected Exterminatus, the war with extra-galactic invaders the Yuuzhan Vong (who had their own Tyranid-like Exterminatus methods, converting biospheres to forms inimical to non-Yuuzhan Vong life) eventually pushed them into using it. BDZ was frequently used in later years as well by the One Sith, most notably at Ossus in 137 ABY and during the Genocide of Dac (in which Mon Calamari was basically Virus Bombed to uninhabitability by the One Sith; as with the destruction of Alderaan a hundred years earlier, this backfired horribly in the long term, the One Sith getting themselves wiped out with no other Sith remaining a few years later).

===Halo===
In the [[Halo]] universe wiping out all life on a planet happens surprisingly often, and there are many interesting ways of doing so. It is the only way to be 100% certain you have dealt with a Flood outbreak.

The UNSC has the options of nuking the planet in the bog-standard nuclear holocaust situation that's very much what you'd expect. However, their most powerful weapon is the NOVA bomb. The NOVA bomb is created by strapping together nine standard fusion warheads and encasing them in a casing of lithium triteride which amplifies the warheads destructive output that is unfortunately never mentioned but has the power to crack open a planet, earning the nickname "Planet Crackers". The first real use of this weapon was when it detonated between a planet and its moon, destroying the moon and scorching half the surface of the planet, as well as destroying three-fifths of a 300-strong fleet.

The Covenant is well known for their orbital bombardment technique known as "glassing", where through sustained high-energy plasma bombardment, a planet's surface is reduced to a glass-like material resembling obsidian. This was the fate of many human planets during the Human-Covenant War, including but not limited to Harvest, Madrigal, Eridanus II, Miridien, Paris IV, and Reach.

The Forerunners, of course, have arguably the most powerful method of wiping out all life on a planet in Halo canon: the titular Halo rings, which can cleanse either a single planet of life on lower settings, to everything within 25,000 light-years at maximum. When all seven are fired in concert, they can wipe out all life in the galaxy, which they have done before. The Forerunners have also created a device known as the Composer, which takes an organic being, destroys their body, and uploads their consciousness into a digital format. The process is extremely painful and those composed aren't always sane by the end of it. Of course, there could be who knows what kind of galaxy-killing weapons in the Forerunner arsenal that haven't been revealed yet.

==IRL Exterminatus==
''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_catastrophic_risk see Global Catastrophic Risk]''

===Thermo-Nuclear Holocaust===
{{Topquote|After us - silence.|Russian Strategic Rocket Forces Motto}}
Apparently, even when we aren't in the 41st millennium we still mastered the art of royally buttfucking a planet. In this case, it's ours, and a full-scale thermonuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union, who each have a few thousands of nukes, would be enough to kill off humanity (1 billion in the exchange itself, everyone else within the next 2 years). This is how Mutually Assured Destruction works, threatening each other and our own planet with Exterminatus with zero chance of survival, just so we won't begin another World War. Because [[Imperium of Man|we're bastards like that]].

The Cobalt Bombs described by Dr. Strangelove above are actually possible, though currently theoretical. Nuclear weapons designed to be deployed as bombs or missiles aren't strong enough to destroy the world with only 50 warheads, but if you don't mind moving the weapon once it's built, the only limit on how big your nuke can get is how much material you're willing to use on it. In theory, the doomsday device of Dr. Strangelove could be achieved with a single massive bomb.

This is further worth mentioning because automated retaliation systems that could activate nuclear weapons in response to a detected threat ''actually existed''. The Soviet Union had the "Dead Hand" system, based off of seismic, air pressure, and EM sensors. The system was normally kept inactive and was only supposed to be turned on during a crisis to guarantee that the Soviets would still be able to use their weapons even if their leadership was taken out by a first strike.

Some believe that elements of the Dead Hand system may have been lost or buried, and are active to this day. [[grimdark|A ticking automated Exterminatus waiting for a signal from aging Cold War-era sensors.]]

An old quote from the film ''WarGames'' summarizes the game of Global Thermonuclear War/Exterminatus: ''The only winning move is not to play..."

Side note: simply saturating the surface of a planet with nukes is actually exponentially more energy-efficient than any method of destroying the actual planet itself, so if all you want gone is the people or creatures inhabiting it, then realistically this is what you'd go with.

===An Asteroid===
Really, all it takes to kill everything on a planet is a big enough rock traveling fast enough. Normally it's the cloud of dust that is kicked up into the atmosphere and blocks out the sun that does most of the work. Dinosaurs learned this the hard way. Of course, this doesn't really work too well on a forge or hive world which is already like that. For raw destructive force, however, the damage is a function of the speed and size of the asteroid. The former has some practical limits (though a civilization looking to weaponize this sort of Exterminatus could possibly bring the rock up to relativistic speeds), but the latter can be nearly unlimited.

A collision with a near planet-sized object would be more devastating than most ''fictional'' Exterminatus weapons, obliterating the target world entirely. There could be any number of so-called 'rogue' planets floating in the empty spaces between stars, ready to slide into the solar system and crash into Earth, assuming humanity fails its collective ''Save or Die'' roll for the week. They'd have to [[fail]] incredibly hard because the overwhelming chance is that the rogue body will end up into the Sun (or Jupiter as a distant second choice), but yeah. [[Just as planned|Shit happens, yo!]]

Also, to clarify something: once the asteroid rises above a certain size threshold --many times larger than the one that killed the dinosaurs, in fact-- then a collision with Earth would actually result in completely ''sterilizing'' the planet, as in everything down to the last microbe would die. So... sweet dreams. (though once they got that big we would almost certainly see it coming.)

===Super Volcano===
Works on the same principal as the asteroid, that if you get enough shit into the atmosphere you've royally fucked all life bigger than a mouse. This may not be very likely though on Earth as one of the biggest volcanoes (see Yellowstone Park) wouldn't wipe out humanity. Maybe.

Unless, of course, seismic activity from that eruption managed to trigger the [http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25598050/ OTHER NINETEEN] super volcanoes.

===Artificial Plague===
The Black Plague killed up to 60% of Europe's population and the Spanish Flu over doubled the death toll of what was then most devastating war in history. With '''''SCIENCE!''''' you could do even better! You could even render your own people immune to the effects before hand and only kill the enemy. Sane people dismiss this as possible but a fantastically stupid idea because viruses are impossible to contain and like to mutate, rendering any vaccine you used worthless. Still, people interested in causing the end of the world have minimal overlap with sane people, so terrorists causing one is a popular plot. Another possibility is a virus in a research lab breaking containment rather than being released intentionally.

However before you start panicky a plague basically has no chance at killing humanity off. It can do a lot of damage yes, but once it kills enough people it will, like a fire, run out of fuel and burn it self out. This is why the common cold is so, well, common, It doesn't kill you so you can keep spreading it. Any sickness lethal enough to even have a shot at killing humanity off, will kill people so fast that it can't spread, even assuming humans can't treat it. Now if you think the COVID-19 pandemic showed that developing a vaccine isn't necessarily quick or easy, well your wrong. Less then a year for a vaccine is incredibly quick all things considered. In contrast the polio vaccine took over 4 years to produce. And after almost less then a year we are managing to produce over [[Noblebright|1 Million Doses Per of Vaccine per-day]]. That is a feat and a half even before you consider how we've managed to mitigate it via social behavior.

===Other Methods===
Some dude actually collected a list of ways that the Earth itself could be physically destroyed here: https://qntm.org/destroy But note that unlike with Exterminatus, the working goal there was to physically destroy ''the planet itself,'' not just the population.

It's a really clever and thorough list. One listed method, for example, is basically to just yeet rocks into space until you run out of rocks.

==The Fall of Typhon==
Good to know there's a ceremony for blowing up a planet.

''"We have arrived, and it is now that we perform our charge. ''
''In fealty to the God-Emperor, our undying Lord and by the grace of the Golden Throne, I declare Exterminatus upon the Imperial world of Typhon Primaris. ''
''I hereby sign the death warrant of an entire world and consign a million souls to oblivion. ''
''May Imperial Justice account in all balance. ''
''The Emperor Protects."''

==The Words of Gabriel Angelos==
{{Topquote|It is human nature to seek culpability in a time of tragedy. It is a sign of strength to cry out against fate, rather than to bow one's head and succumb. Inevitably many shall fault the hands upon the sword which felled Typhon, the Ordo Malleus. But the Inquisition merely performs the duty of its office. To further fear them is redundant; to hate them, heretical. Those more sensible will place responsibility with those who forced the hands of the Inquisition. With some fortune, they may foster this hatred into purpose, and further rule their own fate by coming to the Emperor's service. Yet ultimately, it was I who set these events into motion, with a single blow from my hammer, God Splitter.|Gabriel Angelos of the Blood Ravens}}

Fuck, that's deep. The use of a properly modified version of this quote from Dawn of War Retribution has proved highly effective in sageing furfag troll threads and thus has been sanctioned by the holy /tg/ Inquisition for public use (keep it on /tg/).

==Battlefleet Gothic: Armada==
Admiral Spire has the balls to ask an inquisitor if exterminatus is the only option. Since at the beginning of the story he passed the inquisitor's test of faith (it's as painful as you imagine), the inquisitor indulges him with an actual answer:

{{Topquote|Admiral Spire, it is said that heresy is like a tree. Its roots lie in darkness while its leaves wave in the sun. You can prune away its branches, even cut the tree to the ground. But it will grow again, ever stronger. Such is the nature of heresy and why it is so difficult to destroy. Some may question my right to destroy a world of ten billion souls. But those who truly understand, realize I have no right to let them live. No sacrifice is too great. No treachery too small.|Inquisitor Horst}}''

==Exterminatus on the Tabletop==
Though not the most effective of lists, it is particularly hilarious and surprisingly fluffy to declare Exterminatus on large table games of 40k. In general Exterminatus is used when one player with a large force of 3500+ points of space marines is in danger of losing the field of battle. In which case the player grabs the closest heavy object and begins to smash the opponents models screaming “EXTERMINATUS IN THE NAME OF THE EMPEROR EXTERMINATUS” until the opponent’s army is destroyed and (or) he is forcibly removed from the table.

Another relatively simple way is to simply take a [[Grey Knights]] army, field a single Bro-Capt. or Grand Master with an orbital Strike Relay, [[Witch Hunters|Karamazov]] (who also has one) and two troop choices (if you're playing a regular game -- if you're playing [[Apocalypse]], you can skip the troops) Then cram in as many Techmarines as you can, give them all Orbital Strike Relays and watch the bombs drop. For the average 3000 point game, you can get Krazypantsoff and 20 bare-bones techies with the relays. That's 21 Strength 10 AP1 pie-plates smashing down on your opponents Baneblades, Warhounds and other special hard-as-balls to kill shit your opponents have! Also great for swarm-busting (the relays can fire D3 pieplates each per guy but at Strength 6). Picture Krazypantsoff standing on a hilltop, pointing at buildings and going "Bang.", then watching them all blow up.

(Of course, if the Inquisitor dies, you're fucked. So maybe just camp him in cover. But that's only if you're lame.)

For those of you with enough money to field the Horus Heresy army list from Forge World, Horus can call down an orbital strike with infinite range and S10 AP1 from anywhere on the map. Now you can reenact the Istvaan III atrocities yourself!

For an Apocalypse game you can also field an exterminatus guard force.
All you need is:
n * 6 guardsmen (one with a vox).
The list is fairly simple - Just field as many Company Command Squads with nothing but Master of Ordinance and fire away (for a 3k game its almost 38 s9 ap3 blasts a turn)
Don't forget to field some epic(troll) music to laugh at your opponents face, and after the battle proceed with knocking the table down to finish with a speech gritty nuff to make Sturnn himself proud.

Another option is to us the Exterminatus rules for your Apocalypse game (In the unnatural disasters table (by rolling a 6))

As of 7th edition, it's now possible to forego the FoC chart and take whatever models you want. This means you can take 15 Chapter Masters in a 2k list.

In 40k terms, you can get some SERIOUS Exterminatus going with the [[Necrons|'Crons]] and their Doomsday Arks. In one Primary Detachment, for example, you can take a fully viable 1500-point Necron army as so: Overlord with Warscythe, 5 Immortals, 10 Warriors and 3 Doomsday Arks. If the Doomsday Arks don't move, they can provide one 72" Strength 10 AP 1 Primary Weapon Large Blast each, allowing for some serious [[butthurt]] from your opponents (and this may make you [[That Guy]] if done well because this is a level of cheese on the table that France would be proud of). If you're trying to break into a bunker-sized fortification, use these three things on the doors. Then you can re-enact the dying moments of [[The Conquest of Uttu Prime]] sans the [[Megalith]]!

==TL;DR==
You fuckers just backed Chaos and now you have a daemon infestation? Your planet 'gon git [[FATAL|raaaaaaaaaaaaaaped]].

<gallery>
image:exterminatus.jpg
image:exterminatus2.jpg
File:Red nuke button turned into EXTERMINATUS.png|Suffer not the Tau Player to live.
File:Exterminatusthread.jpg|The E-quisition vigilantly purges the Emperor's internets of chaos taint.
File:Foxy Lady.jpg|If the inhabitants of a planet remotely resembles this creature, it's guaranteed to be exterminatused upon discovery. If pictures like this are found on a thread in /tg/, it's guaranteed to be saged and trolled upon discovery.
File:Fall_of_Reach_1.jpg|If said inhabitants started space-faring like a certain [[Chakat|Chakat]], then you could call your local Inquisition or any Xeno manly enough to [[Get shit done|get shit done, just like the Covenant shown in the image.]]
File:Hello exterminatus Warhammer 40k sister of battle rule 34.jpg|See? The Internet can even make the end of the world look sexy!
File:Rocks are not free citizen.jpg|Don't suggest bolides as a method of exterminatus.
File:Sherman.gif|War is Hell, and Hell is beautiful.
File:Ohara Incident.png|Although this is not a planet, it's just too B-E-A-[[weeaboo]]-TIFUL.
File:ExterminatusButton.gif|Not ''actually'' how the Inquisition works...mostly.
File:Larrynevindisk.jpg|The original Magic: the Gathering Exterminatus
</gallery>

Vidya:
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h67JpMyrOVE
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYXj9xOUFIM
* The unofficial theme-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_tIw9Il934
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEGo41443iI The heresy scene mentioned in the quotes at the top.]
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubNqUyf0op0
[[Category:Imperial]][[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Meme]]

Golden Keshig

2023-06-06T16:41:48Z

2A02:1810:4E2C:A900:D0CE:2E1B:F4C:B99C:

[[File:GoldKeshigBike.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Meme|Gas, gas, gas. I'm gonna step on the gas. Tonight, I'll fly (and be your lover). Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll be so quick as a flash. And I'll be your hero!]]]]
The Golden Keshig is ''another'' type of Keshig [[Honour Guard]]s used to protect [[Jaghatai Khan]], with the other being the [[Ebon Keshig]]s. An oddity in the fact that the Golden Keshig ride in [[Awesome|Jetbikes]], these were the fastest Honour Guards out of any legion during the [[Great Crusade]] and [[Horus Heresy]].

==Overview==
Unlike the standard Keshig, the Golden Keshig were clad in [[Artificer Armour]] instead of [[Terminator Armour]]. The Golden Keshig were the most prestigious of the White Scars heavy assault [[Imperial Jetbike|Jetbike squadrons]] and each of its Legionaries were superlative skilled riders. In battle they would encircle their foes at apparently random speeds and directions aboard the [[Imperial Jetbike|Shamshir Pattern Jetbikes]] before gathering into a single [[Power Weapon#Power Lance|Power Lance]] piercing attack, known as a Zao, that struck through the center of an enemy formation. Such an attack would cause numerous casualties in the Golden Keshig's wake. This led them to be refereed to as "Storm Ghouls" or "Sky-Beast Tamers".

Besides their power lances, Golden Keshig wielded [[Chainsword]]s as a secondary weapon and [[Scatterbolt Launcher]]s on their Jetbikes.

==Crunch==
On the [[Horus Heresy]] tabletop, they are a pack of Shamshir Jetbikes with Chainswords and Kontos Power Lances, monstrous Two-handed S10 AP1 weapons with ''Brutal (3), Lance'' and ''Sudden Strike (4)'' that can only be used on the charge. While you don't get the extra attack from Charging or using two melee weapons, you do get an extremely dangerous Charge at Initiative 8 thanks to ''Sudden Strike (4)''. After that Charge is when the Chainswords come into play. Unfortunately, as the Apothecary/Techmarine rules specify their ability to join units of Scimitar Jetbikes, they cannot join Golden Keshig.

Speed, power, maneuverability; the only thing these guys lack is durability. Fortunately, they will typically kill anything they encounter in one go, and are fast enough to stay out of dodge for the most part. Plus with Hit and Run, if you either miscalculated or angered the dice gods, they can retreat and charge again, which gives them back all the bonuses on their Lances. However, with only T4, there's a good chance many of them will be dead if you did in fact blaspheme the dice gods.

{{White Scars}}