Legion of the Damned
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Legion of the Damned | |
Primarch | None (Non-First Founding Chapter) |
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Battlecry | None (army fights in silence) |
Colours | Black with Flames/bones |
Copied to List of Space Marine Chapters
In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Legion of the Damned is a chapter of Space Marines which mysteriously appears to help overwhelmed Imperial forces, then vanishes just as mysteriously, leaving behind only the destruction which they have caused. The troops that make up the Legion of the Damned do not have strict uniform armour decoration like other Space Marine chapters. Instead, each marine has a variety of flame, bones, and skull motifs painted over their all-black armour. The Legion of the Damned is believed to be the remnants of the lost Fire Hawks chapter of Space Marines.
[edit] Chapter history
The Legion of The Damned are believed to originate from the disastrous Cursed 21st Founding of Space Marines. They are rumoured to originally be the chapter known as the Fire Hawks.
Their history, and reasons behind the change, is unclear, but the following is the rumour which is heard the most.
"The Fire hawks were founded as part of the cursed 21st Founding, but en route to pacify a planet they became trapped in the Warp. They were stuck there for nearly twenty years, and in the warp they were subjected to a plague that caused them hideous suffering. When they finally escaped from the warp the Chapter had been devastated. Most of them were gone and the survivors were no more than animated corpses, their flesh was gray and decaying and the suffering they endured had left them near insane and longing for release from the pain. However, they were still loyal servants of the Imperium and as such they were determined to give up what semblance of life they possessed for the Emperor. They abolished all ranks, as they were all equal in death. They decorated their armour with symbols of cheerlessly grinning skulls and souls writhing in the flames of purgatory. They no longer considered themselves Fire Hawks; they were now simply the Legion of the Damned. Obsessed with their fate, they do not fear death; indeed, they seek little else."
Only one recognizable member of the Legion of the Damned has been identified. An individual code-named Centurius has been seen occasionally in Legion actions. Cranial studs identify him as a Sergeant and he carries a skull which seems to have the ability to drain the life energy from an adversary. The character was a limited run miniature released by Games Workshop marking a company mile stone. Though rules existed for him in the second edition of Warhammer: 40,000, his profile has not been officially updated since then.
[edit] Apocalypse
A battle formation using the Legion of the Damned has been uploaded onto the US Games Workshop website.
[edit] References
- "Index Astartes – The Cursed Founding" (September 2001). White Dwarf: Australian Edition (261). ISSN 0265-8712.
- Space Marines – Cursed Founding Chapters. Games Workshop. Retrieved on 2006-03-23.
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