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Who/what are the crusader host?


mactire

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I would imagine they were some sort of "honor" unit drawn from the legions to serve some unknown purpose on terra. Maybe they were used to guard someone or something. Other than that not a clue, the book did not really say what their purpose before incarceration was.
As far as I could deduce, it's a delegation of astartes made from most or all of the Legions, hence the variety of Legionnaires in the book. I believe they performed a similar function to troops advertising war bonds in America during the second world war (although that's sorta kinda speculation), perhaps they were even just a vehicle for Imperial propaganda.

A few times it was said that they were at Terra to 'represent' their Legions. As the rule of Terra and the Imperium had shifted from the Primarchs and Emperor to a civilian council, I assumed that the Crusader Host was a collection of Legionnaire delegates to represent the concerns of their Legions to this new ruling body.

 

It stands to reason, since the Legions most likely to cooperate with this body, such as the Ultramarines, and most likely to have some sort of conflict with them, like the World Eaters, Sons of Horus, Thousand Sons, and Emperor's Children, were the most represented as part of the Crusader Host throughout the book. Ultramarines were their to coordinate and aid the body, the others were there to insure that their views and concerns were being taken seriously.

Considering most of their number (that we know about) held no significant rank, I doubt they represented their legions as part of a 'ruling body' . They'd pick legionnaires with more authority for that I'd think.

Only Atharva (?) seems to have held a higher rank.

 

I think it more likely they were on 'propaganda duty'. Not too far fetched for an Imperium that turns entire worlds into monuments to have a few hundred assorted legionnaires in an 'Astartes showcase' at their capital world. Kind of like a zoo, but not to their faces.

Considering most of their number (that we know about) held no significant rank, I doubt they represented their legions as part of a 'ruling body' . They'd pick legionnaires with more authority for that I'd think.

Only Atharva (?) seems to have held a higher rank.

 

I think it more likely they were on 'propaganda duty'. Not too far fetched for an Imperium that turns entire worlds into monuments to have a few hundred assorted legionnaires in an 'Astartes showcase' at their capital world. Kind of like a zoo, but not to their faces.

 

 

I can see that.

All sorts of theories were brought up in the first book discussion go-round: Exiles (members posited several various reasons), political/military attaches, Terran Marine recruitment cadres, Honor guard, criminals/undesirables and I think there were a couple of others. Nothing was ever really collectively decided upon; it is just too open with the info! Which makes for great discussion speculation :D

 

I personally think the Crusader Host (building) served as something of a Hotel/Staging Ground for Marine forces who happen to be in the Terran system, as well as being the launching point of the Space Marine's end of the Great Crusade. As far as saying the members of the Crusader Host/Outcast Dead were low ranking I would have to disagree with that only for the fact that some of the Outcast Dead were Terran Marines who had Crusaded with the Emperor in liberating the Terran System. A Veteran Sergeant would be at least a junior-officer equivalent. Still, I dont think Sergeants would speak for Legions and so for me the political/military advisory council thing seems out of the question. Others like the brothers Subha/Asubha would seem too low ranking to speak for a Legion. I think the Crusader Host is kind of just a way-station for Marines who have duties outside of their Legion/Chapter/Company; like Asubha getting ready to "get jyo' arse to Mawwhs" for his Techmarine training. I could totally see Tagore/Sgt Slaughter being some sort of recruiter for the Eaters. He is well-adjusted enough for a World Eater. Gyutha has enough of a history and reputation to warrant an advisory position in a Terran Political or Military council. It is just too neat and tidy to say they were part of some organized unit or group that worked together although their personal connections to each other would suggest bonds formed over time. It is a good mystery :P

My guess is that they served as a liaison. That is, they didn't so much "speak for the Legions" as much as they served as go-betweens.

 

I can see how it would still seem weird, though. Ultimately, I think their function was less about making sense in a conventional military way and more about imagining a reason for members of the rebel Legiones Astartes to be on Terra.

There are two possible comparison:

 

Feudal King: in the main hall there are the banners or sigils of the realms/provinces under his rule. For an Emperor, there is also a knight from each land as an honor guard.

 

Ceremony: every time there is the declaration of the start of an Expeditionary Force, there is a ceremony with all the Legions standards carried on the Emperor's hall. The banners were carried by Space Marines of the same legion.

 

 

I don't think they act as recruiters or advisors/liasion officers. In the book all of them, except Atharva, seemed to be common marines.

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