Heralds of Hektor

"Fear the first light, for our vast numbers follow in its wake. Our brothers are not simply just those in our Legion, but every Legion!"

Excerpt from 'The Greatest of Us All, The Life and Death of Hektor', attributed to a member of the Heliotaroi after Ullanor.

Heralds of Hektor
Battle Cry	"We bring the dawn!"
Number	I
Founding	First Founding
Successors of	N/A
Primarch	Hektor Cincinnatus
Homeworld	Olmer (destroyed)
Strength	Peaked at 250,000 before the Heresy
Specialty	Shock Assault
Allegiance	Chaos Undivided

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.

The Heralds of Hektor, formerly the Warriors of Dawn, were a Traitor Space Marine Legion. Their Primarch was Hektor Cincinnatus, once revered as the finest creation and best-loved son of the Emperor. Crafted to be Hektor's hammer, they embodied some of the most forceful and direct aspects of several Legions. When they fell, their numbers and combat style led to massive causalities across the galaxy. They eventually reformed themselves after the Legion Wars into the Primordial Brotherhood.

History of the First Legion

The fall of the Heralds of Hektor began with a tale of salvation. For a time, they seemed beloved by fate, ever-blessed by good fortune. But in the end, their luck ran out and their death scream would crack the foundation of the Imperium.

The Primarch Project

The Emperor of Mankind's plan to unify humanity and set it above all other races in the Galaxy relied on the creation of superhuman soldiers. The first unleashed were the doomed Thunder Warriors, who lived and died so that Terra would be one. But they were only a crude instrument to be used up while their successors gestated.

Deep beneath the Himalayzian Mountains, the Primarchs were created. Each of these beings was destined to be a superlative soldier, general, and statesman - the spearheads of humanity's crusade. Foreseeing the threat, the Ruinous Powers conjured up a localised warp rift to steal the Primarchs away from the Emperor and scatter them across the broad Galaxy. They were almost entirely successful, but the Emperor's loyal vassal Malcador the Sigilite caught hold of one Primarch's gestation pod and held it fast until his master could seal the breach in reality.

Within that chamber was Hektor Cincinnatus, the last of the Primarchs.

Rather than create new Primarchs to replace those who had been lost, the Emperor adapted his plans. He still had at his hands the genetic material of the Primarch project and one of his god-like creations. Using the former, the Emperor painstakingly designed a series of artificial organs that could be implanted into young recruits, transforming them into supersoldiers more reliable than the wild Thunder Warriors. The last of the Primarchs was entrusted to the care of Malcador the Sigilite, and raised to be the general of the new Space Marine Legions.

Busy and believing that his ward would be best-raised by committee, Malcador delegated the upbringing of Hektor Cincinnatus to a brigade of tutors, nannies, and instructors. Some lasted only a few weeks before being deemed inadequate to the task. Epemitreus the Sage, Archeosavant of the Tarantia Hive-Spires, was perhaps the young Primarch's most enduring influence. For five years, he lessons that the sage had carefully pieced together from Terran history were passed on to Hektor. The youth listened enraptured to tales of conquerors and unifiers from Terra's Golden Ages of the past and his notebooks were filled with sketches of Sekander, Kai Zal, Carlos Main, and Sef Stelman. At the end of this time, Malcador deemed that Epemitreus's instruction served no further productive purpose. Above the protests of teacher and student, Epemitreus was dismissed from the Imperial Household and Hektor Cincinnatus was inducted into the ranks of the Space Marines.

The Unification Wars

The Space Marines

Due to uncertainty regarding the survival of the other Primarchs, the Emperor first experimented with a mixed body of Space Marines known as the Sacred Band. This formation, commanded by Hektor, had a squad to represent each of the gene-lines that would spawn the great Legiones Astartes. The experiment soon proved its short-comings, as only Hektor's own gene-sons truly prospered under his command, but the Sacred Band would still win its spurs in the Pacification of the Merican Hives. Though short-lasting, the Sacred Band left a legacy of brotherhood among the early Marines, as the most prominent members of most Legions had known and fought alongside one another. Hektor Cincinnatus benefited greatly from being identified as the first commander of the Space Marines.

The First Legion was born shortly after the fighting in Merica. Hektor was given command, with his favourites Ajax Camillus, Hephaestion Horatius, and Leonidas Manisicus appointed as his Lieutenants. These three warriors would soon bear the title Ouragos, drawn from the tales of Sekander that young Hektor had so enjoyed. Although the Emperor did not bias supply towards the First Legion, the presence of their Primarch made Hektor's sons by far the most effective of the Legiones Astartes and they would be the first choice for every difficult assignment. As the Unification Wars drew to a close, the First Legion were chosen to lead the assault on Luna.

Terra's celestial companion held within it scores of genetic-artisans who mixed mysticism with science. These savants considered themselves above servitude to the Emperor of Earth, spurning repeated attempts at diplomacy. The Emperor was determined to force a decision and dispatched the formidable Seventh and Tenth Legions in support of Hektor's men, despite His son's protests that the First could bring Luna into the Imperium on their own. This was not mere vanity on Hektor's part. An agent of the Eclipse Queen, Pallas Eugenesis, had made the Primarch aware that at least one of Luna's gene-cults wished for a further round of negotiation - providing that Hektor Cincinnatus would attend in person.

Informing the masters of the Seventh and Tenth that he would lead an advanced strike to secure their landing zone, Hektor departed to meet with Pallas. The tale of their meeting has been told and retold in countless varieties of truth and fiction, but it is clear that the talks ended in an alliance, to be sealed by a political marriage between the two genetically-engineered leaders. With the aid of Pallas's domain, the three Legions were able to land on Luna safely, though the fighting was far from over. Hektor chose to assign his own men to defend the landing zone, while unleashing Anton Kantner and Nikomedes to savage the enemy gene-wrights. The Seventh were particularly effective, tearing a bloody swathe through their opponents and being lauded by Hektor as "the Lunar Lions" for their courage and valour. Betrayed by one of their number and confronted by mighty foes, the lords of Luna submitted to the Emperor's will.

The victory opened up countless doorways to the Imperium. With Luna secured, the fledgling empire was able to make meaningful contact with their Martian brethren. Pallas Eugenesis established government across the moon in the name of her new father-in-law, using her own trusted servants to swiftly rebuild the gene-forges damaged during the conquest. Her rule would prioritise the needs of the First Legion, though Pallas was not fool enough to defy the Emperor's demands that the other Legions' gene-seed be produced as well.

The Great Crusade

The colour scheme of the Wolves of Dawn.

The first few campaigns spreading out from Sol the Wolves took part in were barely worth mention. It would not be until Syntagman Akakios Helale led a Speira of the Legion into the Olmer System that a truly noteworthy conflict arose for the Legion. Olmer had a single planet orbiting a single star, its position resembling Terra's to the Sun in many ways. Akakios found the world compliant, all of the citizens being part of a martial democratic structure. The Olmerites had organized themselves to fight off the generational invasions by the horrid Velerin Xenos race, who had plagued them since the days of the Long Night. The next invasion was due to happen only weeks after Akakios's arrival, meaning his forces would have to defend the wayward planet. Immediately however the Syntagman called desperately for aid, as the invasions had grown in ferocity with this latest one threatening to overwhelm the Expedition Fleet that had come to Olmer.

Hektor was the one to answer his call, arriving a month into the attack. The Velerin created multitudes of clone soldiers that were battering down Astartes and human alike. The six limbs humanoids had grown an extreme hatred for Olmer, vowing to never stop trying to destroy it so long as their race lived. Hektor led a strike force to kill the eldest Velerin, and with his death victory was achieved. As Hektor sat on the alien flagship, his fleet were able to take apart the enemy's with ease. After the final battle was concluded, the Primarch took to the surface of the war-battered world.

As many Legionnaires had, he came to love Olmer and the Olmerites. The place embodied facets that Hektor had brought close to his heart, as their beliefs on brotherhood and war came eeriely close to his own fundamental beliefs. Due to embracing the culture so readily, the Wolves came to bring vast amounts of Neophytes from the planet. Hektor decided to make it his Legion's homeworld, his base of operations. Overall, the planet was largely unimportant. It was not rich in metals nor did it hold blessed technology. But the wealth found there for the Wolves was uncountable. It gave them a home, something apart from Terra, and a culture to combine with the old facets of the peoples from ancient Earth.

The Heresy

Numeration: First Legion

Primogenator: Hektor Cincinnatus

Cognomen (Prior): Warriors of Dawn

Observed Strategic Tendencies: Elite formations, mobile artillery, shock tactics

Noteworthy Domains: The Olmer System (Primary), Tithe Rights to Merica Cities on Terra.

Alliegence: Traitoris Maximus

"We must not fall to pride, or arrogance. Our Legion must be exemplary, showing in equal measures mercy and judgement in our dealings. Rejoice my kin; we are the sons of Hektor! Let all of our brothers see it in our actions!"

Unknown Warrior of Dawn, M.30

Culture

Corrupted by the Eternal Zealots, and pushed down the path to beginning the Heresy. They were the most even-keeled of all the legions - able to enjoy themselves as well as be serious when required. Their fall was the greatest shock, as if the most well-rounded could fall, what does that mean for the other legions? Upon the death of Hektor, his council, the Heralds of Apollo, briefly fought to decide who would take his place. Agamemnon, leader of the Wolves of Dawns first company would rise triumphant, and after the heresy, would repeatedly try to out-achieve his Primarch. The Wolves were the largest legion before the Heresy, and now make up a large percentage of most of the Traitor legions attacks.

Every squad carried over their own traditions, decided upon by the members. Some would carry over references to fallen brothers or past deeds of glory. These were represented in several symbols drawn on the squad's Vexilla. Every Company would keep a group of Scribe-Serfs who would keep down the records of all these symbols, their origins, and every tiny tradition. This was especially important when a squad or even Company would be entirely wiped out. These Scribe-Serfs would tell the replacements of their predecessors, with some even taking up their traditions and some squad leaders taking names of those before them.

Organisation and Doctrine

From the beginning, the First were with their Primarch. His ideals for the perfect force shaped every facet of their battle philosophy. Although the original organisation of the Legion was based on the Logos Terra Militia, Hektor was quick to implement changes. He drew heavily on the military of his idol, Sekander, even renaming his formations and ranks to match those of the ancient Terran warlord. For ease of understanding, the equivalent forms from the Logos Terra Militia are presented in brackets after the First Legion's own style.

The smallest formation within the First Legion was the squad, known as a Lochos within the Legion. Squads varied widely in both size and specialisation, with the majority of units ranging between 10 and 20 Space Marines, with 16 as a commonly occurring number. Each squad was commanded by a Lochagos (Sergeant). The specialities and equipment of squads in the Wolves of Dawn included all of those generally found in other Legions. They had no qualms about the use of Destroyer and Seeker units. Hektor's men also maintained a substantial pool of armour and vehicles, thanks to the industrial worlds in their domain and good relations with the Mechanicum.

At the heart of Hektor's Legion was the Speira (Company). This was a grouping of roughly sixteen Lochos under the leadership of a Syntagma (Captain) and his Ouragoi (Lieutenants). The number of Ouragoi varied depending the Syntagma's make-up. Common formations were based around a "square" or "triangular" format. In either case, each Ouragos would command two tactical Logos and a support Logos, while the Speira's specialist assets (such as Veterans, Dreadnoughts, support weapons, tanks, and flyers) remained under the command of the Syntagma.

The larger formations of the Legion were often purely organisational, as much of the Great Crusade was fought by relatively small groups of Astartes. A handful of Speira, knows as a Taxis (Battalion) fell under the authority of the Strategos (Lieutenant Commander). The Strategos was responsible for deploying Strike Cruisers and Super-Heavy Vehicles to the toughest theatres of war. He also maintained an elite bodyguard, known as the Agema. These veterans were hand-picked from the ranks of those who had followed a Strategos through his career and could only be parted from him by death or the word of Hektor.

The highest sub-division of the Legion was the Phalanx (Chapter led by a Phalangiarch (Chapter-Master). Each Phalanx was commanded from a powerful Capital Ship and Hektor's Phalangiarchs were among the most powerful warlords of the Imperium. Like the Strategoi who served them, the Phalangiarchs each maintained an Agema, though their bodyguards would often number in the hundreds.

Exalted above all others was the Primarch Hektor Cincinnatus and his war council, the Homotimos (Equals). The demands of unending war meant that this cabal rarely met in person, but they would regularly holo-conference using the sophisticated facilities of the Legion flagship, the Bucephalus. Among the Homotimos were the most ancient and knowledgeable warriors of the Legion, together with plenipotentiaries from Hektor's most important vassals. Together, they were responsible for administering the First's vast war machine and planetary domains. Ajax Camillus the Shield of Hektor, and Leonidas Manisicus the Unyielding, were the main "trouble-shooters" among the Homotimos, travelling from one difficult area to the next and re-imposing the will of the Primarch.

Tactics

A terminator from Hektor's elite guard, the Heliotaroi.

Hektor's peculiar military genius was his eye for terrain. He had a knack for surveying a battlefield - be it a seemingly featureless desert, foreboding mountain range, or the void of space - and picking out the focus-point or "place of decision". Battle-plans were then developed intuitively, but a typical pattern was to use the Space Marines' firepower to shape the enemy deployment before a devastating assault was launched by the Legion's elite formations.

This style of warfare came readily to the Primarch's gene-sons, but others found the method to be startling. Hektor came to play on this, privately studying cartographic data ahead of allied conferences then feigning a nonchalant manner as he greeted outsiders and pretended to look at the lay of the land for the first time. The Primarch would then appear to concentrate intensely for a few moments, before stabbing out a finger and declaring, "There! That is where the battle will be won!"

In pursuit of their model battle, First Legion developed several elite formations. Most common were the Agema that accompanied her Strategoi and Phalangiarchs. These were veteran soldiers, often trusted with Terminator armour and relied upon to carry the day on countless battlefields.

Above the regular Agema formations were the Heliotaroi, or ‘Companions’ as they were called in Low Gothic. These were Hektor's hand-picked bodyguards, led by his life-long friend Hephaestion Horatius. They were veteran warriors, chosen for their skill-at-arms, fearlessness and their combat record. Honoured with golden Terminator armour, they were often seen as kin to the Emperor's own Custodes. The Heliotaroi's customised armour was further augmented with systems that generated and discharged bursts of blinding light to incapacitate nearby foes. Their equipment, morale, and tremendous battle-skill made their charges almost irresistible.

Almost as important as their crack troops were the First Legion's artillery, romantically named the Lithoboloi in line with Hektor's reverence of Sekander. The First fielded a wide profusion of artillery vehicles, including customised super-heavies with awesome firepower. Their ability to move their guns was almost as impressive as the earth-shattering effect of the weapons.

Fleet

The First Legion's armada was extremely formidable. They were organised under the command of Orion Mucius, a veteran of the Sacred Band. Orion had been famed for his keen eyesight in the battles of the Unification Wars but this mere physical acuity was only a clue to the scope of his mind's eye. Few outside of the Primarchs had Orion's ability for grasping the intricacies of a void battlefield, and he strove to impart his understanding to his captains.

Orion Mucius' bodyguard were known as the Hypaspezete and were drawn from the ranks of the Breacher Marines. They were armed with round boarding shields and telescopic power-pikes with weighted ends that could be used as maces. The Hypaspazete were well-accustomed to fighting in tight formations, thrusting forward a devastating thicket of pike points to annihilate their enemies. Although they specialised in boarding operations, they were often deployed to planetary assaults to provide an added shock element.

At the eve of the Heresy, the Heralds of Hektor could deploy 128 Battleships and Battlebarges, 97 Grand Cruisers, 342 Heavy Cruisers, 408 Light Cruisers, 612 Frigates, 695 Destroyers, and 87 Auxiliary vessels. The true scope of the warships sworn to them by the Imperial Army and Dark Mechanicum is unknown, but it was likely that the allied ships were even larger in number than the Herald's own fleet.

Notable vessels

Hektor's flagship was known as the Bucephalus, a modified Scylla Pattern Gloriana Class Battleship where the climatic confrontation at the end of the Heresy between Hektor and the Emperor would take place.

Support Formations

Apothecarion

Strong ties with the gene-wrights of Luna gave the First some of the best-trained Apothecaries among the Legions, second only to the Eternal Zealots and Life Bringers. Their commander was Machaon Empiricus, but they revered Pallas Eugenesis as their teacher and "mother of the Legion".

Armorium

The First Legion were exalted above all others in the eyes of the Tech-Priests of Mars. No other Legion would have their requests granted so swiftly - or sometimes even anticipated. These ties were essential in building Hektor's formidable artillery train. The Legion's Armorium was commanded by Daedalus Appius, a veteran of the Sacred Band who had witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Mars. His Techmarines were extensive enough to field their own elite formation, dubbed the Olympians and equipped with swift and deadly Jetbikes.

Castra

When the Castra was split off from the Armorium, it was placed under the supervision of the highly-capable Sebastion Rex. The great fortresses built by the First Legion were not merely defensive emplacements and arsenals. Each sheltered substantial manufactorums and hydroponic farms to replenish the Legion's Expeditionary Fleets.

Librarus

Initially the First Legion's Librarus was a small but prestigious component of the Victualary, and its mainly mortal staff worked to chronicle the campaigns of the Legion, paying close attention to the difficult problem of supply. Their work was little-noticed by the wider bodies of the Imperium but the Homotimos paid close attention to the findings of the Legion Librarians. However, the discovery of the psychically potent Primarchs Darius Cyaxares and The Voidwatcher led to a fundamental change in the Imperium's policy on psykers. Previously, inductees to the Legiones Astartes had been taught the discipline to restrain their powers, and mainly benefited from the uncanny insights of latent ability. However, from the fourth decade of the Great Crusade, these gifted Marines began to explore their powers. Recognising the potential of psykers, Hektor appointed loyal Cassandor Honorius to organise the Librarus' investigation of the powers of the Warp. Although they rarely attracted significant attention, the First Legion's Librarians specialised in the arts of telepathy and mind-reading. Their efforts were often coordinated with the Frumentarii of the Victualary. Some suggested that the most powerful in their ranks could read minds at long distance.

Victualary

Hektor Cincinnatus commanded the Victualary himself, citing the old Terran maxim, An army marches on his stomach. Though his interest in logistics was sincere and his efforts in the realm of supply both innovative and energetic, this department also served as a front for the Legion's military intelligence. The First Legion benefited greatly from Hektor's many admirers, both mortals and the Space Marine veterans of the Sacred Band. Those taken in by the Sun King's charm were often eager to impress him by disclosing the secrets they held. This informal network was supplemented with hired scouts and information-brokers, usually granted Warrants of Trade in order to further their efforts. Permanent factors set up shop on the centres of trade within the Imperium, and in major non-Imperial human domains such as the Core Worlds Confederation.

Gene-seed

Thanks to the superiority Hektor's own genome and the efforts of the gene-wrights of Luna, the First Legion's gene-seed was noted as especially pure and potent.

Rules

First Legion (Warhammer 40k using Forge World's Horus Heresy supplements)

Great Crusade Era: Warriors of Dawn

Age of Darkness: Heralds of Hektor

Special Characters and Units

Heliotaroi Squad

	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld	Sv
Heliotaroi	5	4	4	4	1	4	3	10	2+

Unit Composition

• 3 Heliotaroi

Unit Type

• Heliotaroi Infantry (Character)

Wargear

• Heliotaroi Tartaros Armour
• Combi-Bolter
• Power Weapon
• Frag & Krag Grenades

Options

• Add up to 7 more Heliotaroi for +XX Points per model.

Special Rules

• Implacable Advance
• Furious Charge
• Stubborn
• Chosen Warriors
• Heliotaroi Tartaros Armour: The Terminator Armour of the Heliotaroi is modified with systems that generate and discharge bursts of blinding light. This incapacitates nearby foes, greatly augmenting the force of their charge. When a Heliotaroi squad charges into close combat, roll a single D6. On the result of a 4+, all models within 6” of the unit must test as if they have been hit by a Blind weapon.

---

Hypaspezete Phalanx

The marines of the Hypaspezete were among the finest boarding forces in all of the Imperium. Their discipline and sense of brotherhood were as much a weapon as their mighty telescoping power-pikes. A Hypaspezete charge in narrow corridors was devastating.

	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld	Sv
Hypaspezete	4	4	4	4	1	4	2	8	3+
Illarche	5	4	4	4	1	4	2	9	3+

Unit Composition

• 4 Hypaspezete
• 1 Illarche

Unit Type

• Hypaspezete Infantry
• Illarche Infantry (Character)

Wargear

• Power Armour
• Bolt Pistol
• Boarding shield
• Kontos Power Spear
• Frag & Krag Grenades

Options

• The Hypaspezete squad may take up to 15 additional Hypaspezete for +20 points per model.
• One Hypaspezete may be upgraded to carry a Nuncio Vox for +10 points.
• One Hypaspezete may be upgraded to carry a Legion Vexilla for+15 points.
• The Illarche may take any of the following options: Artificer Armour for +10 points, Melta Bombs for +5 points.

Special Rules

• Kontos Power Spear: Unique to the Legion, the Kontos is a telescopic pike that allows the Hypaspezete to advance a thicket of spearpoints towards their enemies . The first profile applies during the first round of combat, the second for subsequent rounds.

• • Range: Melee
  • Strength: +1/As User
  • AP2/3

• Shield Wall: The Hypaspezete are highly disciplined specialists and experts at fighting in close formation. If an unengaged unit with this special rule has at least five models remaining, it doubles its initiative on the first round of a melee.