Stone Prophets

This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the /tg/ Heresy Timeline and Galaxy pages for more information on the Alternate Universe.

Stone Prophets
Battle Cry	"Enlightened in death!"
Number	49
Founding	Second Founding
Successors of	Eyes of the Emperor
Chapter Master	Arcturon Harnevos (Founding)
Primarch	Shakya Vardhana
Homeworld	Urassa's Watergourd
Strength	1,000 at establishment
Specialty	Generalists
Allegiance	Imperium of Man
Colours	Sand with bone/steel accents

The Stone Prophets were an Institutorum Astartes-compliant Space Marine Chapter and a proud successor of the Eyes of the Emperor from the Second Founding.

Chapter Combat Doctrine

The original Marines seconded to the Stone Prophets never truly overcame the shell-shock left over from Hektor's betrayal, nor the hideous aftermath of the Scouring. Rocked to their very core, the Stone Prophets distrusted their natural tendencies as warriors and instead sought knowledge and guidance through more esoteric means. Because the signs and portents would often shift at a moment's notice, the Chapter quickly realized that to adhere to their new ways of life, they must focus on nothing, and so be ready for anything. Accordingly, though the Stone Prophets often fall short of more specialized Imperial forces, contemporary records evoke almost a sense of wonder at how freely these Marines could abandon entire swathes of tactical or strategic doctrine in favor of new techniques, almost at whim. As no man ever enters the same river twice, no opponent ever fought the same Stone Prophets more than once.

A number of Imperial observers made comments over the centuries prior to the Stone Prophets' destruction that their hypno-conditioning was far more impactful and invasive than most other Chapters, frequently placing Marines in the psycho-chambers even when no pressing need seemed evident. Inquisitoral records of the era make the supposition that in fact the Stone Prophets may have artificially implanted multiple menory-engrams within themselves, even whole personalities layered one atop another with different training indoctrinations, which the warrior might call upon at need. No proof was ever obtained of this however, and the Chapter's destruction rendered the question moot. Had the Stone Prophets lived on however, they would certainly have come under close scrutiny.

Chapter Beliefs

The Imperium broke. It was supposed to be impossible, but it happened anyway. And those men who would become the Stone Prophets never forgot this fact. Rather than chase an unattainable, ephemeral sense of perfection then, they turned to ancient ways of thought, of philosophies more suited to a fragmented, fallen galaxy. The universe reveals itself only through destruction, and it is folly to resist this. To study the fundamental forces of reality, one must shatter cells, molecules, atoms, quarks, and all the strange and marvelous particles smaller still, until ultimate truths reveal themselves. Truths not bound to the fallible minds of men or xenos, but written indelibly into the impartial cosmos itself.

The Stone Prophets ritually destroyed all manner of items to meditate upon the fragments produced and divine auguries of the universe's will hidden therein, but none resonated more with the Chapter than rock and stone. It is from this practice that the Chapter took its name, a philosophy founded by their first Chapter Master during his final years with the Eyes of the Emperor Legion. Every chip of stone and puff of dust held echoes of the future to those with eyes to see it, and the Chapter's Librarians in particular made excellent use of geological samples to peer beyond the mortal veil. Pebbles from historically significant worlds were worth more than an Astartes' weight in throne-gold, and ruined fragments of an Imperial hero's war panoply were worth any risk to obtain from some xenos-infested battleground.

So too did the Chapter seek to break down its own soldiers, to crush their preconceptions, pulverize their hesitancy, and batter down the distinction between the Self and the Whole. Gone was the caste system and specialized formations of their parent Legion, something which shocked the Eyes of the Emperor to no end. Almost uniquely among the Second Founding Chapters, the Stone Prophets fearlessly separated from their predecessor's ways with an astounding finality, pursuing their new way of life deep into Ultima Segmentum, where they found an isolated world perfect for their needs to call home. Had they not strayed so far, perhaps a better fate would have awaited them, but for all their auguries and mental discipline, they yet remained blind to the Vetrovnak tidal wave that would ultimately claim them.

Chapter Appearance

Sand, the final fate of rock. Bone, the final fate of man. In this combination, the Stone Prophets stand.