Editing Chosen of Hecate (section)

===The Great Crusade===
Once finally reunited with and renamed by Lambach Kropor the Chosen of Hecate Legion was still deemed too small a force to strike out on their own. Until they could reach a force size high enough to be reckoned with alone the Chosen of Hecate would fight alongside their brothers of the Silver Blades. While the 414th expeditionary fleet would be managed by the Titan Marchers. Working so closely with these two Legions would ultimately cause the three Primarch brothers and by association their Gene-sons to become an incredibly close knit trio of Legions, even after the three legions would head their separate ways it was not an uncommon sight to see a small force of Chosen of Hecate working alongside these brothers and vice versa.

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====The Great Joust====
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Against his own expectations Radcliff Kaden of the Chosen of Hecate legion now stood in the arena, at the beginning of the final bout to decide upon the champion of the Lord Linares “Great Joust”. The Lord of Ale sat on an immense throne above the arena, stein in one massive hand happily watching the duels take place. Radcliff Kaden thought back briefly to the meeting with his Primarch. Lambach Kropor had informed the young captain that his brother of the Silver Blades sought to host a tournament. He bade that each Legion send a great champion to Kadir, to partake in a series of bouts until a winner could be decided. 

Kaden was surprised when Lambach had requested that he go and represent the Chosen. He knew he had a certain talent with a blade and considered himself an above average combatant but to be selected to duel with the best the other Legions had to offer was both humbling and an immense honour. Radcliff Kaden had accepted and swore to his Primarch he would return with no stains on the Legions honor.

Many of his bouts had been very close calls, Chanka of the Golden Mountains and Bzaa-Drakk of the Forge Lords in particular had come very close to overwhelming him with their sheer size and strength. Scurlock of the Gunslingers had fought dirty with two pistols, using every trick up his sleeve. He’d almost been undone by the awe inspiring skill of Sahir Al-Halib of the Sentinels and Diaz of the Silver Blades, and the frightening speed and ferocity of Crazy Grox who hailed from the Soaring Host again almost had him beaten. But despite all of these amazing combatants Radcliff Kaden had prevailed, he held to his diligent training and dogged surefootedness to carry him through and now against what he considered all the odds Radcliff Kaden stood before his final opponent and the last step between himself and a great and honorable glory for his Legion.

Zamalash of the Smoke Stalkers stood patiently waiting for the match to start. Kaden had witnessed Zamalash take several opponents that had underestimated his skill due to his lack of vision. The Stalker moved with a languid, almost relaxed grace. His twin blades flicking out only to make telling blows, not to say Zamalash himself had not had struggles reaching this vaunted position. 
The Smoke Stalker champion was perhaps a foot taller than Kaden, who, himself was by no means a short man, but did not match the Chosen captain in bulk. Both had trained their bodies to reflect their respective fighting styles and while Radcliff Kaden had the stocky build of one who favored a defensive fight everything about Zamalash screamed he was a duelist. 

The pale orbs of Zamalash’s eyes unnervingly followed Kaden as the Chosen captain circled gripping his spear tightly and hefting his shield reflexively. Kaden played the game of patience with his opponent. Both favored allowing their opponent to strike first and then react accordingly. 

Lord Linares raised his stein and said “The two of you have proven the best of the best, regardless of the outcome both of you have fought with honour and skill and do your Legions proud, but there may be only one winner” with that he slammed his stein down signaling the match had now officially started. 

Kaden advanced on his opponent warily, knowing it was exactly what Zamalash wanted but confidant that armed as they were he had the advantage of range. With a suddenness that caught Kaden completely off guard the Smoke Stalker champion launched himself directly at Kaden. His intention was clear and understandable. He too had studied his opponent and knew that Kaden preferred to keep his enemy at length. Zamalash planned to get inside Kaden's defensive stance and in doing so eliminate Kaden's ranged advantage.

Zamalash feinted towards Kaden's left hand side then quickly darted right chopping his twin blades towards the haft of Radcliff’s spear. Kaden predicted this move though as he knew it was a favored tactic to deal with a warrior armed as he was. He let his spear arm fall and rolled with blow, expecting to slam his shield into the back of Zamalash's head. A slower adversary would have been concussed with the force of such a strike but Zamalash was far to swift to be caught off guard. The Smoke Stalker dove to the side avoiding the hammer blow of a shield bash. The two fighters again separated, Kaden gave Zamalash a curt nod out of respect before realising the gesture would probably be wasted due to Zamalash's lack of sight and immediately chided himself for his lack of respect. Then to his surprise the Smoke Stalker returned the gesture. 

The two warriors circled each other for a moment before both diving into an attack. Kaden swept his spear towards Zamalash's legs in an attempt to trip the sword master. When the Stalker jumped over the strike Kaden expertly followed up with a thundering uppercut from his shield arm. The blow caught Zamalash off guard and sent the Legionnaire sprawling. With a shake of his head Zamalash recovered just in time to dodge the full momentum of Kaden's follow up bull charge. He twisted to the right catching Kaden across the back with the flats of both his swords this time sending Kaden over. Deftly, Kaden rolled back into a recovery pose but lost his spear in the process. Zamalash pressed his advantage raining blows down onto the Chosen of Hecate Captain. Kaden struggled to fend off the onslaught. Taking as many hits as he could with his shield but for every blow he warded off two more opened his armour causing great wells of blood to splash onto the arena floor. With his vision blurring Radcliff Kaden let out a mighty roar and drove to his feet. He grabbed Zamalash around the throat with his free hand and rammed his head with full force into the Smoke Stalkers face, shattering Zamalash's nose and dazing the Smoke Stalker before hammering his shield into the Stalkers unprotected face twice. Kaden hurled Zamalash away from him and swept up his weapon. The Smoke Stalker was quick to recover, regaining his composure and opting for a defensive duelists stance. Both opponents were clearly on their last legs and it was obvious to the onlookers that if the match didn't end soon one of the champions would perish. None dared interfere though, for to do so would besmirch the honor of the duel.

Kaden noticed Zamalash was not moving as surely and seemed less confident in his footing. The silent warrior’s blind eyes still unnervingly followed Kaden's every move but Kaden picked up on slight shakes of the Smoke Stalkers head. Radcliff Kaden made a gamble on the guess that the repeated blows to the head had in some way damaged Zamalash's hightened senses. The Captain of the Chosen of Hecate hefted his spear and hurled it directly at his opponent. Zamalash cut the weapon from the air with his twin blades but with his dulled senses was just not swift enough to avoid Kaden's follow up charge. The Smoke Stalker tried again to dance away but this time Kaden, braced behind his shield, barreled into Zamalash and smashed the air from his lungs. Kaden drove his opponent to the edge of the arena. Zamalash gave a final push back and the two astartes locked in a brutal scrimmage. Slowly, inexorably Kaden's superior strength won out and he was able to push the Smoke Stalker from the ring. Zamalash landed on his back with a heavy thud as a great cheer rose from the assembled onlookers.

Lord Linares was on his feet. Applauding the performance as Kaden, close to blacking out sunk to his knees with exhaustion. Radcliff Kaden Captain of the Chosen of Hecate had just won the Great Joust. With a smile on his lips Kaden closed his eyes for a mere second that felt like an eternity as the situation set in. When he opened them again Zamalash stood over him, the silent warrior seemingly staring right into Kaden’s soul with those unseeing, unnerving orbs. Kaden was unsure of what to say and so remained silent until the Smoke Stalker offered his hand. Kaden took it and Zamalash helped him to his feet. Barely above a whisper the Stalker champion spoke for the first time. "You fought valiantly son of Kropor, there is no shame in losing to you only a great lesson for which I owe you my thanks".
"And you brother, such skill I have never witnessed. This fight could easily have been yours, it was an honor to face you Zamalash of the Smoke Stalkers".

That night Lord Linares held a feast to honor all those who had participated in the tournament. Each warrior was addressed by name and Linares spoke with each about the highlights of their fights. No detail had he missed for he greatly appreciated the martial arts. Food and Drink was plentiful and each warrior swore an oath of brotherhood to each other. At the peak of the night Linares gifted the tournament winner with a magnificently crafted Shoulder Guard that he had had constructed specifically for the occasion and in the direct wake of the tournament painted and tailored to the exact specifications of Radcliff Kaden. At the same time announcing that in ten years time another great Joust would be held. No Chosen of Hecate warrior would ever go on to win again. Though some came close, none ever matched the honor attained by Captain Radcliff Kaden. The first champion of the Great Joust. 
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It would be almost twenty years after their renaming that the Legion could stand on their own. The Chosen of Hecate would fight alongside the Silver Blades, Ussaran Liberators and the vaunted Emperor’s Dragoon during the compliance of a xenos controlled system. Little documentation survived on this conflict save for the fact the previous First Captain was slain in the battle and Radcliff Kaden was unsurprisingly promoted to the position. It was after this that Lambach decided his legion was strong enough to stand alone and retake the reigns of the 414th fleet.

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====A Storm by Candlelight====
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Dancing Devil sliced down, utterly destroying the six limbed xenos warrior before him. Je’she, Primarch of the IX Legion, The Sentinels, took a moment to consider the battlefield. His Legionaries, for the first time fought alongside the Chosen of Hecate. 

He’d met his brother briefly before they’d deployed and while Je’She gave the outline of the battle Lambach Kropor had added little, just sat at the strategy table with a half cocked smile, he seemed companionable enough but Je’she had expected more input from his fellow Primarch and was a little off put that one of his brothers could seem so placid. By comparison Radcliff Kaden, the Chosen’s first Captain cut a highly impressive figure, even amongst his brother astartes. Giving voice to solid and effective battle strategies. The Stone Sentinel had heard mixed things about Kropor. Raj Vokar spoke very highly of the man but others had claimed that he was perhaps unprepared to properly lead one of the Emperors Legions. Je’She was yet to make up his mind.
The Chosen fought in close knit units following in the wake of assault kitted Dreadnaughts. Their technique seemed effective but lacked any real flair. Je’She had heard they made extensive use of the psychically inclined but so far witnessed no evidence of it. 

The fighting was hard, the multi-limbed opponents were swift, strong and deadly. Je’she had requested that Kropor advance with him and stoically push the xenos back, however Lambach’s unit had pushed hard up the middle and was in danger of being cut off.

Je’she gave a sigh. Surely Lambach must know the danger he was placing himself in, he seemed a formidable warrior at least and Je’she had to admit he admired his form with a polearm. Still being an excellent fighter was one thing. Lambach was a Primarch and should have a better grasp of battlefield awareness. 

Mustering three squads to his side Je’she made to cut a path to his brother in order to extract him before he was trapped. Fighting picked up in intensity as they drove deeper. Dancing Devil accounting for hundreds of filthy xenos lives. The further in they were carried the more Je’she brooded on his brothers carelessness. Could he not see that they risked collapsing the line  when they were cut off, harsh words formed in his mind as he sought the correct way to properly berate someone who was meant to be his equal. Perhaps Einchurt and the others had been right. Lambach Kropor was no general.
Finally the Sentinels reached the Chosen.

“Lambach, what are you doing, you’re separating yourself from the main battle line”

Without turning to look at the approaching Sentinels or letting up his fighting Lambach’s answer was short and simple. “I know Brother, come fight with me, just a little further”.

Considering where they were Je’she had few other options. Also slightly intrigued by the completely different person his brother now appeared to be Je’she added his strength to that of Lambach’s and the two brothers fought like warrior gods. Laying waste to all xenos before them, their accompanying astartes falling in behind the two lords of war. 
Seemingly arbitrarily Lambach stopped his advance.

“Gaius” was all he said.

A robed figure in hulking, fearsome Terminator armour, perhaps the only suit that Je’she had noticed amongst the Chosen stepped towards his Primarch while the other Chosen warriors formed a ring around the man, protecting him from the enemy. Following suit Je’She gave the command for his men to do the same.

The already intense fighting picked up as the Terminator began to chant. Whatever he was doing was driving the xenos into a frenzy. Several marines were cut down under the barrage of attacks now assailing the ring of warriors.

“What is the meaning of this Lambach?” Je’she demanded “We are about to be over run”.

“Just a moment longer, you’ll see” there was that half cocked smile again, Je’she could hardly believe he had followed this madman.

Suddenly the chanting stopped, so too did the attacks. The legionnaire in the Terminator armour stood as rigid as a rod. The xenos began to mill, as if confused and became easy targets for the marines. Swiftly the xenos were over run, in a matter of minutes a battle that could have lasted days was over.

“I ask you again Lambach, what was that?” Je’she was unsure of exactly how to approach his brother at the moment, on one hand he was elated that the battle had been won with minimal casualties on the Imperial side. On the other he was desperately confused as to exactly what was happening.

“A hive mind Je’she, I noticed it in your briefing, the way these xenos behaved all pointed to it. I simply took my most powerful weapon, Gaius here to the very centre of the battlefield and had him block the enemies signal, much like jamming a ship's communications, I’m sure it was very taxing for him”

“But why would you not share this information with me, what if I had not rushed to your aid?” Still Je’she could barely believe what had transpired.

“I had a back up plan, my Librarians would have seen to my safety, plus I wanted to see how you would react, I wanted to see the type of warrior my brother was. There are those who would have left me to my devices and perhaps seen me slain. I am very glad to not have to count you among them”. Lambach offered his hand in the manner of the warriors grasp. After a second of thinking Je’she took it.

“You are an odd man Kropor” with a smile he added “I’m glad to say Raj was right about you, I almost had you pinned for a fool but your actions here saved the lives of many of my men. For that I thank you brother”

A remembrancer had taken a pict of the two Primarchs sharing in this handshake, and had events not transpired the way they had the pict would have become famous in the history books. Je’she himself still has a copy of the pict and in the rare moments he gets to himself looks back to it and wonders if events could have played out differently. 
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During the Crusade the Chosen of Hecate would integrate many worlds into the Imperium and while they failed to attain the some levels of glory and renown garnered by some of the other legions The Chosen still had an impressive field record. Primarily the Legion would be deployed against forces that hosted large numbers of psykers as the Chosen's experience in neutralizing such a threat was second to none. In one such occasion Lambach and his legion would earn the respect and favor of future Warmaster Je'she.

During the course of the Crusade Lambach would acquire for his legion a large influx of Dreadnought relics and at their peak strength the Chosen of Hecate would boast more of these venerable artifacts than any other legion. Retention and veneration of knowledge, wisdom and experience was held in the highest regard. Aspirants with psychic potential were also highly valued and sought after. The number of Chosen with warp gifts also soared compared to those of most other legions

Such was the trust Lambach placed in first captain Kaden's abilities that often times he would leave the fleet under Kaden's full command whilst the Primarch would chase down his own agendas and quests. Lambach would often be seperated from the legion for great periods of time, most notably whilst working with his brother Primarchs Calael Bishop and Pacha to instate the Librarian program throughout the legions. Such a burden was shouldered by the first captain with the dogged determination and skill he had become famed for and while Lambach may have earned the scorn of some of his brothers as unfit to lead, Kaden was afforded utmost respect. 

Overall the Chosen of Hecate enjoyed a largely successful run during the course of the Great Crusade, until the events of the Nikea council bought everything to a grinding halt.
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====Council of Nikea====
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Lambach Kropor, Lord of the VIII Legion, was the first to speak at the council of Nikea, as always he brimmed with confidence, certain as he was that the Emperor, his Father, shared his view on the matter and that this council was merely to put at ease the hearts of the more narrow minded amongst his brothers. Those that saw the Librarium programme that Calael, Pacha and himself had established amongst the Legions as a blight. Lambach gave a casual wave rising from his seat to his friend Linares as the giant of a man entered the room. The Lord of Ale overjoyed to again be in the company of one of his closest brothers rushed over, lifting Kropor from his feet in a bear hug of an embrace.

"Little brother too long we have been separated, does this council worry you?"

Lambach chuckled as he freed himself from his enthusiastic brother "Not at all Lin, Father himself has spoken with me at length on the subject, this is merely a gathering to let off some steam, nothing will change. How can it?"

"You heard of what happened to Kincaid while working with Gyhadread's Legion?"

Lambachs face grew uncharacteristically serious "I did, a terrible shame, something that I wish dearly to speak with both brothers about however this is all the more reason for us to continue our study into those that are powered by the warp. We must learn to control such powers"

"I agree with you, as always brother but I think you should consider this council more seriously than you think, for now we must take our seats, I will speak in favor of your Librarium programme be assured" with that the Lord of Ale moved to take his own seat.

Kropor stood his ground well, looking to his Father and to each of his brothers that were present, as well as each emissary sent by those that were not, careful not to make the Legionnaires filling in for their Gene sires feel unimportant.

"Brothers, Nephews, Father. I stand before you now in defense of a programme that should need no defending. The Librarium programme was designed as a means of not only weaponizing those of us that are gifted but also as a way of ensuring we have control over those gifts. Calael, Pacha and myself saw the dangers inherent with the Psychically gifted and also the merits to making use of those gifts. More and more common is the man who is born with Psychic talents. Many see it as an abhorrent mutation to be feared, however, I can tell you that this is not so. Clearly these gifts are the next logical step in mankind's evolutionary chain. We fight foul Xenos on a day to day basis who wreak havoc with their own Psychic energies, mankind must and indeed IS evolving, as it has always done to stand up and fight these threats" Lambach paused to read the room, He noticed several that clearly did not agree with his argument but for the most part the room seemed won over.

Lambach gestured to his own son Gaius Mendel. "Many of you know my son Gaius" the head Librarian of the Chosen of Hecate made acknowledgements as a room full of some of the most powerful people in the universe turned their attentions to him "he makes a habit of visiting each Legion that will have him and assisting with the Librarian programme, as an Alpha level Psyker Gaius is by far the most powerfully gifted man I have ever met, present company being the exception" Lambach bowed to his father and gestured to his brother Cal, earning a rare smile from the Emperor.

"My point is, Mendel is on our side, he is monitored and well trained in how to harness his powers. He is an asset not only to my Legion but to the very cause humanity fights for. Why disarm him of such talents? Fear? That's understandable. Mankind has always feared what it does not understand, what it does not know, but now is not a time for fear! We are better equipped now than ever to disable that fear, to make certain there are no more unknowns. There is no need to fear and shun something just because you do not possess it. Imagine if you will that my brother Isehko called a council of this magnitude to call a ban on the use of our eyes, simply because he cannot use his own" there was a murmur of laughter from those gathered "It would be madness and this council threatens the same thing. To remove our sight..."

With that Lambach bowed to his father once again and took his seat.
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