IL V - The Halcyon Wardens

[bluntblade]

Out of curiosity Sim, how many do the Athenoi number?

[simison]

Works for me

How's about "Diarch"? Sounds a bit more Greek and is a bit more generic than "consul" - interestingly, it sounds like the Pandyan dynasty (in southern india) was another diarchy, as well as obviously Sparta, and the succession system of some germanic trIves could lead to co-rule ; so that can all be linked to your Legion's influences

 

Originally it was to show that Alexandros was adopting more Roman elements to reflect his new position as Warmaster. Trying to be more universal and all of that. 

 

But those are a strong arguments in favor of Diarch, and I approve. Basically, I wanted to give Ruel a position to reflect his due rank and impressive experience, and this was my solution. He is still called Lord Commander though. 

[Doctor Perils]

To be clear, I'm not sure if "Diarch" was a title that was used in those places, but they are described as Diarchies (as opposed to Monarchies)

[simison]

It certainly sounds fancy enough to stand on its own.

 

Blunt, based on current theory I’m estimating the Athenoi standing at 5-6,000 strong.

[bluntblade]

That seems a lot for the Legion's absolute peak warriors. Can I suggest Alex has a larger body of Terminator companies? I'm currently reading Tides of War so I've got its description of the Spartan line fresh in my mind. The Athenoi can be the like the utterly elite, 300-strong Corps of Peers, with other Terminator companies forming a broader grouping.

[simison]

I’m not sure if this was already answered on Discord, but I’ve mentioned that the Athenoi are often deployed in their own companies.

 

Also, the Athenoi is not the entirety of the Terminators of the Fifth. There’s another 5-6,000 Terminators that are simply ‘standard’ Terminators. This is where one can find the ranged Terminators and basically every terminator configuration outside the Athenoi.

[bluntblade]

I get that, but I just think that as as well as the sixth thousand, Alex should have his 300 Peers or something similar

[simison]

I’m not sure if Alexandros would ever grant a formal title like that to avoid the appearance of favoritism, but it might be something informal.

[bluntblade]

Perhaps an informal name then

[simison]

[saved from the original Lost Legion version.]

 

 

A Foolish Choice [Original Fate] 

 

Alas, as we already know, Fate would not allow them to reap their just rewards for their service to the Great Crusade. Yet, it is unfortunate that we come to the least understood moment of the IInd Legion: its Fall. I will begin withe the facts that were given to us by the Imperium. In the year 969.M30, the entire legion had been redeployed into a single expeditionary fleet under the command of Alexandros. Locating an entry node to the mysterious Webway, a message recorded by Alexandros himself suggested he had located the primary base of the Dark Eldar, a xenos foe that had terrorized his home planet before he personally drove them off. Due to a mixture of revenge and overconfidence, Alexandros committed his entire legion to an assault and promptly vanished.

 

After a few weeks of no communication, the Emperor sent Leman Russ and his Wolves to investigate. They returned with the worst news. Alexandros and his legion were destroyed. Scout ships had made entry into the Webway and discovered the Wardens engaged in a losing battle with their enemies, apparently being outnumbered over a 100-to-1. Before the Wolves could reinforce their brothers, the Dark Eldar collapsed the entry point, sealing the Wardens to their doom. With a heavy heart, Leman Russ returned only with bodies and pieces of wreckage that marked the end of the legion. To mark the death of his son, the Emperor proclaimed a time of mourning before the Halcyon Wardens and their gene-sire were to be removed from memory.

 

Many point to this last decision for believing that something else occurred from the official story. Defenders have made counter-arguments, pointing out that the Wardens the only legion to have ever been completely destroyed, it was a source of great embarrassment to the legion itself, its Primarch, and, most importantly, to the Emperor. Thus, it was better to be erased from existence instead of being forever remembered for incompetence and, therefore, a kindness. The argument has merit, merit which has faded since the fall of the XIth legion and the Horus Heresy.

 

However, while the Emperor's reaction was plausible, of greater mystery, were the actions of Alexandros. Renowned for his ability to navigate the future and read his opponents' moves well before they had conceived it themselves, many, especially former sub-commanders, questioned how the xenos could have surprised or trapped the Strategos. Further muddying the truth were reports of Warden warships appearing in Ultramar space after the supposed destruction of the IInd Legion. Then there are the Space Wolves. We now know of their reputation as the Emperor's executioners. Which begs the question, what event established this identity that they cultivate. Taken together, these facts have led some to believe an alternative view of the Wardens' end.

 

What if they hadn't been destroyed? 

 

The Emperor's imposed silence has ended further speculation, but not before the rumors were allowed one last chance to 'illuminate' the truth. The Wardens were sent on a secret crusade in the labyrinthine Webway to eliminate the Eldar. The Space Wolves betrayed the Wardens. Lastly, the Wardens had fled from the Imperium. 

 

Whatever the truth may be, one fact cannot be denied. The Halcyon Wardens were never seen again.

 

 

Origins Subsection #1 - Force for Brotherhood - [salvageable?]

 

While it was well-known to the general public that the Wardens had reforged their reputation as a legion to defend the common man, it was also true that Alexandros strengthened ties between his legion and their cousins. Out of all of the Primarchs, Alexandros was perhaps the most dedicated to fostering a sense of familial roots between them with varying degrees of success. After his first campaign as Legion Master, he enacted a cross-legion service program where legionnaires, squads, and rarely entire companies would be rotated to fight alongside other legions. Not only were battle-forged friendships made, but returning Wardens often brought valuable experience and training to the IInd Legion. Alexandros himself spent almost half of his time as Legion Master standing side-by-side his brothers both on and off the battlefield and was rewarded with many close friendships even with Primarchs who held rivalries between themselves, such as the Lion and Leman Russ.

 

There were exceptions, of course. Whether it be personal disgust or a professional disagreement, there were those among Primarchs and legions that never made positive ties to the Wardens. Chief among them were the World-Eaters led by their butcher of a Primarch. Finding their blood-soaked tactics as something heinous, no Warden and World-Eater ever fought on the same battlefield, even going as far as to ignore requests for reinforcements from each other. Likewise, the Night Lords and Halcyon Wardens fought in only one battle together, which nearly erupted into a fight when the Warden commander attempted to save a group of prisoners from the Night Lords' 'justice'. Konrad Curze was known to refuse any attempted meeting that Alexandros instigated, though the reason why is denied to us. Finally, the Alpha Legion along with their Primarch Alpharius, had consistently refused to be in the same physical vicinity, claiming the Seer and his sons' telepathy would lead to compromise among the XX's tactics and strategy. In the case of the Death Guard and the Imperial Fists, the legions would fight as allies, but suffered from ideological differences that led to either a strained friendship or a competitive rivalry.

 

Regardless of his failures, detractors of Alexandros were not reassured by the wide influence the Strategos did have. Able to count on a little over half of the legions as faithful allies, the critics warned that Alexandros could be a danger to the Imperium if he ever chose to rebel. While it is not hard for us to imagine a Primarch going rogue, in those days the Emperor still personally led the Great Crusade and few took the warnings with any real serious agreement. With the destruction (or disappearnce) of the Halcyon Wardens, many Primarchs lost more than an allied general. Many had lost a true brother and were grieved for it. Few must wonder how would the Horus Heresy have played out if Alexandros and his Wardens had remained. Could the Strategos have used his personal friendships to guide his brothers away from traitorship, or would the Seer have ensured Horus' victory?

Origins Subsection #2 - History of Disobediance [Need to adapt to Warmaster appointment]

 

Perhaps the greatest example of Alexandros' ability to weave public opinion in favor of his legion was how he was consistently able to persuade the greater Imperium to ignore his unusual choices. Although professing to be loyal to the Imperium, an unbiased investigation into Alexandros actions reveal that he did not accept its commands with complete conformity. Throughout the Wardens' history of service, it was deployed on the full range of missions expected of the Legiones Astartes. However, almost every extermination assignment against a fallen branch of Humanity given to the Shield-Lord of the Wardens, he never committed himself to it. Typically, he avoided campaign command through two ways. If available, he would offer full honors to one of his brothers if they would execute the mission for him, while giving them detailed enemy information before stepping back as the highlight fell upon them. Fulgrim was one such candidate and was more than happy to demonstrate his legions' perfection for his brother. Otherwise, command would fall to one of the Wardens willing to undertake the task. Such an individual, depending on character, would either be highly rewarded or reminded on the importance of human life by their gene-sire by campaign's end. Only once had Alexandros remained in command of an Extermination campaign. It was against the Tauren system and was no doubt enforced by the Emperor's personal appearance. The campaign was noted for its efficiency of force and for its short length.

 

Another issue brought against Alexandros was his unique view of compliance. While the worlds he brought into the fold of the Imperium were politically loyal and resilient to rebel or heretical pressures, rumors always existed of lax enforcement against superstitions and religion. If Lorgar was guillty of over-emphasizing belief in the Imperial Creed, then Alexandros was guilty of under-emphasizing it. There were exceptions. Some cults and religions were deemed too dangerous to be allowed to exist, according to Alexandros; though, it was unknown what criteria he used to judge them. In the cases of survival, many of these hidden religions existed and would reveal themselves much later with most of them being swallowed by the Imperial Cult.

 

Finally, Alexandros was a vocal supporter of offering protectorate status to wayward human civilizations who were not yet ready to be assimilated into the greater Imperium. Instead of forcing compliance as the only option, the Primarch suggested a three-phase process from encounter to protectorate to compliance for human civilizations that weren't ready to join the Imperium. More radically, the Shield-Lord suggested that even xeno races, provided they acknowledge the Imperium and were of a prerequsite intelligence, could be candidates as well. Since few xeno races fit within his offered standards, the point is usually forgotten, but it had existed within the records before the Emperor erased the legion. Alexandros, when pressed, did not offer any current examples, merely the Imperium should be open to the concept.

 

Thus, while Alexandros insisted on the loyalty of him and his legion, perhaps it would be more accurate to say he was loyal to Humanity. A small yet significant difference that did not go unnoticed by his detractors. Yet, little more could be done than hurl warnings and insults at the Halcyon Wardens. Despite the liberties their gene-sire took with the laws and commands of the Imperium, never did the Shield-Lord outright break them, choosing a more subtle path of rebellion that allowed him to continue onward, while making his dissent known, even as the crowds of Humanity cheered his name.

 

 

Unit Organization and Structure within the Legion - [Retcons have wrecked quite a bit of the viability of this section]

 

After the experimental deployment of the Ist Legion, the IInd Legion became the first 'standard' legion. Hierachy was divided as written in the Principia Belicosa. The squad was the smallest military unit, usually composed of ten marines. While the squad was organized to be able to operate independently for small periods of time, they were limited against what types of enemy units they could engage by their primary weapons. The company, a collection of ten squads, was the smallest independent military unit, capable of being fielded against enemy infantry or armor units as needed. When it was necessary for companies to operate interdependently during an operation, a battalion was deployed. At the zenith of the legion organization was the chapter. Although this organization would be shared with the rest of the legions (excluding the mysterious XXth), the IInd Legion made it a mark of pride that they set the standard, so to speak.

 

In one sense, Alexandros made only a few changes upon assuming command of the legion. Only those with narrow views would believe this. Beneath the official titles, Alexandros made large reforms to elevate the legion to his ideals after three campaigns with the legion as they are. After the successful conclusion of the Erkling campaign, change came to the legion. The legion was organized into eight cohorts divided into three hundred companies.

 

The first three cohorts were dedicated to expanding the Imperium's borders and were nicknamed the 'Disciples of Destruction'. Comprising the largest cohorts, the Wardens greatest warriors were found in their ranks. If a Warden only felt at home on the battlefield, his place was here. Over time, each of these cohorts exhibited an affinity for one particular aspect of war. The Ist Cohort became famous for within this cohort the Myrmidon made their names known. Any Warden who chose to master the shield would find themselves drawn here. While the IInd Cohort steadily became the masters of armored tactics. Prefects of all kinds were welcomed here, and it was this cohort that closely matched its Terran roots. Mirroring the Librarian Atman that led them, the IIIrd Cohort gathered a large following of the Warden psykers who could learn from their superiors as they mastered their esoteric abilities. If an enemy xenos race resisted the Imperium with warpcraft, the IIIrd Cohort was well-suited to putting an end to such magicks.

 

 

Organization Subsection #1 - The Warrior Lodges [still a critical component, will be adapted to BotL] 

 

While there are similarities between the Warden lodges and the later ones established by the Word Bearers, the differences are significant. One of his first acts as legion commander was to establish a recreational hall on most Warden warships. Given the nature of a space marine, many commented on the usual decree. Within these halls were various partitions, equipment, and supplies to offer a wide variety of activities should one chose. One hall may feature a variety of esoteric obstacle courses to challenge the body, while another offered an extensive library to illuminate the mind, typically dictated by the vessel's marine commander. Most lodges offered food, while the better stock lodges could produce delicacies that far outmatched a ship's standard fare.

 

What truly separated these lodges from their latter cousins were there transparency. Not only were these lodges made known to the general populace, any solider or warrior who fought for the Imperium was welcomed to take part, whether they be transhuman, human, or abhuman. Rank was to be left at the entrance and mutual respect enforced between those gathered. Violations both within and without (such as a soldier forgetting to address a superior accordingly due to time spent within the lodge) could result in loss of lodge privileges, while serious offenses could lead to general bans. The Imperium's military forces had various reactions to this unique aspect of the IInd legion. From utter disdain (Death Guard, World Eaters, Iron Hands, etc) to mild bewilderment (Mechanicum, Ultramarines, Luna Wolves, etc) to enthusiastic support (White Scars, Thousand Sons, Imperial Army, etc.) With the Wardens' records expunged, the warrior lodges were tainted with a dark reputation, which would further be ruined the Horus Heresy.

 

The IVth, Vth, VIth, & VIIth Cohorts emphasized maintaining the Imperium's growing borders whether through force or words, earning these cohorts the nickname the 'Disciples of Protection'. While their numbers matched the first four, in reality, these legions were the most dispersed as their numbers were spread throughout the entire Imperium. The IVth Cohort was the official designation for all Wardens who were deployed alongside their brother legions. Operating as specialists, squads, or companies, their mission was to fulfill a needed support role and to foster ties with their battle brothers. Although one of the least glorious duties in terms of warfare, legionnaires of the Vth Cohort were devoted to directly service Humanity in a variety of roles. At times, acting as a safeguard against insurrection or raiding xenos, though monotonous, these Wardens were often the public face to the Imperium and, as such, were prepared to lend their services to the local authorities as deemed necessary. If words or peacekeeping efforts failed, the VIth Cohort was charged with ending rebellions and secessions. Specializing against their fellow Man, when prosecuting their duties, the VIth was regarded as a necessary evil by their Primarch and were often subjected to his special scrutiny, for good or ill. Finally, it was the Wardens of the VIIth whom the upper echelons of society would deal with. For of all Wardens, these were the ones dedicated to diplomatic missions and reminding newly compliant worlds of their loyalty to the Imperium.

 

Although the 'last' cohort, the VIIth cohort was given a mission of great honor, defending the Delos system. While combat was improbable, it was one of the few postings that Alexandros himself would grant and was one of the few ways for a Warden to be guaranteed a chance to meet with their noble gene-sire. The VIIIth Cohort was an honorary cohort whose roll-calls encompassed all who had died in service. To "transfer to the eighth" became a common metaphor for death within the legion.

 

Beneath the familiar military structure of the legion was a sophisticated ranking system surrounding the concept of dharma or Paths of arete. According to the vision of their Primarch, each space marine was more than a warrior. Each was a man in their own regard and as such were encouraged to apply themselves to disciplines that had either indirect or no impact on the battlefield. With such a broad definition, options were nearly limitless from artistry to engineering to one known instance of trophy-hunting. While participation was encouraged, no Warden was forced to choose a dharma with the most famous example being Alexandros' right-hand general, Irvin Ruel. Although not the only Primarch to encourage other talents within his legion, Alexandros was known as the most supportive and emphasized the connections that could be created between his sons and general humanity. Wardens who devoted themselves to their dharmas were supported with the most advanced students typically becoming Chaplains. And Wardens were not limited to a single dharma but may choose as many as they had the time for.

 

Despite the nicknames, the Cohorts' official designations listed only their numerations. Unlike the Cohorts, companies and squads/squadrons received two designations. First was simple numeration and, once given by Alexandros, never changed. The second designation was a name or title chosen by the current leader. For example, one of the oldest named companies within the IInd legion is the Thunder of Taranis, commanded by Prefect Nisveil. Nisveil had served as a tank commander during the Battle of Mount Ararat, and when presented the opportunity to rename his unit, chose to honor the famous Thunder Warrior. Next to their name stands their other designation: Seventh Company, Second Cohort. Since the name was chosen by the current leader, they had a choice to either keep the original name or to choose a new one upon taking command. In one unfortunate case, Ninth Squad, Fourteenth Company, Fourth Cohort (or 9-14-4) lost six sergeants over a single campaign and was renamed each time. Hence, why both designations are important. One to allow personal expression and generating esprit de corps, while their numeral designation allowed logistics to track the unit with little headache.

 

While cohorts are known by numeration alone, standing opposite to them are brigades. Due to their temporary nature, brigades are only known by the title chosen by the Brigade Commander (otherwise known as a Brigadier) upon formation. Most brigades eventually disband and their titles become part of honor rolls attached to those who served and led. One of the few exceptions are the Crimson Crusaders. Formed from eight companies, the Crimson Crusader's mission was to exterminate an Ork empire on the border between Segmentums Solar and Ultima. Two years into the campaign the Wardens painted their armors in reverse colors, red highlighted by purple, to act as a psychological ploy against the greenskins and their strange superstitions. The campaign lasted six years and only ended when the legion was expunged, meaning the brigade never concluded its campaign and disbanded before fleeing into the unknown. The only permanent brigade within Halcyon Wardens are the Kindred Guardians. Comprising the entire VIIth Cohort, they were established by Alexandros personally.

 

Legion Command Hierarchy - [Mixed bag, save what can be] 

 

While Alexandros was renowned for his friendly personality and one-on-one audiences, when acting in his official capacity, he was the undisputed Lord of the Halcyon Wardens. Not only was his authority beyond reproach, but he was held up as a living icon to his sons. Upon ascending to Master of the IInd Legion, Alexandros enacted a series of reforms on his officer corps. The overall structure remained the same. Ten legates were only outranked by Alexandros himself and his council. Beneath them were the Three-Hundred Captains with their lieutenants beneath them. Sergeants were the only non-commissioned officers, while the simple warrior formed the foundation of the legion. While the numbers of legates and captains were fixed, the number of lieutenants and sergeants were in near-constant flux depending on the company's situation. This was because the number of cohorts and companies were fixed, causing the size of any given company to be the most elastic. While the ranks changed little, for the sake of efficiency, Alexandros allowed and encouraged a personal touch. As a leader may choose a secondary name of his unit, so too was he given the option to choose a secondary title. Legates could also be known as Rajas, Lochagos was synonymous with captain, and so on.

 

The one rank not allowed a secondary title was the Brigadier. While a temporary rank, after the disbandment of a brigade, the Brigadier became a permanent title to the honored commander. For example, during the Liberation of the Zemio system, Captain Dyomideze was given command of five companies as they eliminated the Zan Consortium. After the completion of the campaign, Dyomideze held the rank of Brigadier-Captain.

 

To become a sergeant merely required an excellent service record and a desire for a leadership role. Being promoted to a lieutenant required additional training in low-level strategic and tactical instructional courses, but time of service in the Vth Cohort to be exposed to other legion styles of war. Which brother legion the lieutenant-in-training served with was typically a matter of availability followed by preference. If enough Wardens were serving with the desired host legion, the cadet was given a command assignment or apprenticed to the current Warden officer. Thus, fortunate Wardens received command experience before accepting a command within the IInd Legion proper.

 

Any lieutenant aspiring to captaincy, three requirements were necessary. First was a recommendation from a superior officer. Second was a required tour of duty in the VIth and Vth Cohorts. The goal was to acquaint the would-be captain with all possible aspects of compliancy from diplomacy to successful integration to rebellion. Additionally, such assignments familiarized candidates with human behavior and protocol outside the battlefield, in case the candidate had yet to do so. The final requirement was an open position. To reach the rank of Legate only one test was required. A test administered by none other than Alexandros. For better or for worse, there was no standard. The Wardens who have reached this rank report a wide variety of encounters, from simple conversations to feats of martial fortitude. Whatever pattern the Shield-Lord held to, only he knew it.

 

Four groups existed outside the normal chain of command. The Council was a body of Wardens chosen by Alexandros and convened every so many years to discuss legion matters. Council membership wasn't fixed as those chosen for one Council may never be chosen again, and those chosen ranged from high-ranking officers to talented champions to simple rank-and-file. The two most regular members were Pyrrhicles and Irvin Ruel. While granted no official title, a Councilman, even if only picked once, was granted prestige from his fellow Wardens.

 

The Order of the Shield was a much larger body whose membership was any Warden who desired to wield the titular item. Entrance was simple. All members swore an oath of duty and protection and to never forsake the shield in battle. Initiates were given a plain combat shield and forbidden from painting a design on it until after they had survived their first battle. Once accomplished, the Warden was recognized henceforth as a full member. Technically, there was no higher rank as any of the particular shields were equal to one another. In practice, most Shieldmen aspired to become Nikanors or 'Warriors of Victory'. Nikanors were masters of the legion's own tower shields and were the leaders of the Myrmidon. Hardened veterans and experienced leaders, Nikanors were viewed as the elite of the elite and the ultimate expression of a Shieldsman.

 

The Order of the Mind encompassed the legion psykers. While, every school of psyker power was represented and organized into sub-groups, the Vraben, masters of divination and telepathy, composed the lion's share. Psykers like the fiery Mahtva, who devoted themselves to other schools, were viewed as oddities though treated with respect. Ranks were divided by power and self-discipline as those who could wield Warp-powers with greater skill were deferred to and encouraged to train newer members.

 

The last group was an unofficial group referred to the Diplomatic Corps. Comprising mostly Wardens of the Vth Cohort, these marines were considered the most capable warrior of words throughout the legion. Entry was a two-step process starting with a recommendation from a member in good standing. After recommendation, the initiate must pass a test of his eloquence by debating a member of his choosing of a topic of their choosing. Due to the spread out nature of the Vth Cohort, rare it was for for any gathering of the Corps to reach more than a dozen or two. In addition to a mastery of words, members gained prestige by completing dharmas, which was done by becoming experts in their fields. Warden Shankara earned his high standing by reaching the zenith in five dharmas, from sculpturing to navigation.

 

Beneath this byzantine labyrinth of freedom of choice, the Halcyon Wardens were still able to match their brothers in efficiency and skill on the fields of war. Encouraging a dualism of self-reliance and a trust in others, Alexandros navigated this narrow path until the bitter end.

 

War Disposition - [Almost completely useless]

Before becoming 'Lost', the Halcyon Wardens stood as one of the most widely dispersed legions of the Great Crusades. With ennumerable space marines assigned to other legions, diplomatic missions, and so forth, creating accurate records of the legion's strength was a challenge, becoming nearly impossible after the Emperor's Ban. From what records that survived, Alexandros commanded a legion with numbers ranging from 120,000-180,000 marines. Given the time and assuming the lower end of estimates, this still placed the Halcyon Wardens firmly in the upper tier of legions. What enabled the legion to maintain such high numbers were the numerous protectorate treaties established with prior conquests. While each treaty could differ quite a bit from each other, several elements existed within all of them, including: fidelity to the Imperium and all that entails and legion recruitment rights. Since many of the worlds liberated and conquered by the Halcyon Wardens were able to quickly rebuild and enjoy Imperial prosperity, so too did the IInd legion profit as well, seeing a stable new influx of aspirants mirroring their progress through the galaxy.

 

As difficult as it was to estimate the Wardens' legion strength, it is impossible to measure the breadth of their influence. Beyond brute numbers of space marines and planets, the Halcyon Wardens were renowned for fighting alongside a wide variety of allies. Often, campaigns concluded with oaths of support and friendship. Such oaths could be called on either party to come to the aid of the other, when possible. To put tangible grasp on this practice, during the Lek'twi Extermination, The 18th and 27th Assault Companies of the Blood Angels provided critical support to the Wardens' 191st Expeditionary Fleet. Once victory was secured, promises of friendship were made between the two detachments. Six years later, the 18th, called upon the Warden's 5th Company when it was briefly pinned on the planet Labasta. The 5th Company quickly responded and re-deployed half their company from their current campaign to their brothers' aid. When one recalls that an entire Warden Cohort was dedicated to fighting beside the Imperium's other military forces, it should be obvious as to how far and deep their influence could traverse.

[simison]

[Lost Legion Exemplary Battles]

 

Exemplary Battles

 

While possessing a shorter tally of battle honors than the other legions, it would be mistake to claim that the Wardens accomplished less during the Great Crusade. For many times, it was Warden attachments to other legion expeditionary fleets that would provide dependable, sometimes critical support during a campaign. On the other side of the spectrum, many rebellions and wars were defeated before they could begin by agents of the VIth and their expertise in the war of words. This is compounded by Alexandros' willing to share or even give all credit of victory to his brother Primarchs. While derided by some voice, the Shield-Lord would always reply that there were more important things than battlefield glory. 

 

While detractors often accused the Halcyon Wardens of chaotic mimicry, due to the large focus on individuality and for their penchant to use tactics influenced by their brother legions, the IInd Legion maintained own identity throughout the Great Crusade. Beneath the byzantine veneer, a core of beliefs and tactics separated the Wardens as their own unique force. From the venerable armored spears of the Prefects to the shielded phalanxes of the Myrmidons, the IInd legion could channel their own diversity to adapt against any foe on the battlefield. 

 

Battle of Three Flags - [storm Riders, different Legion numeral but canon otherwise]

 

Having completed their reorganization after the Albyon campaign, the aggressive IInd would be deployed en masse on the former coastal regions of Nordafrik. Thunder Warriors and proto-Imperial Army units had been attempting a breakthrough at a key Conclave defense zone located near the transportation hub of Three Flags. Across a 64 kilometer front, the Nordafrik Conclaves had established an array of fortifications and several veteran armies of techno-barbarians. Critical to the defenses were a series of towers that created void 'umbrellas'. These umbrellas did not extend to the ground, but, in turn, protected a much larger surface area from aerial attack. Thus, with the exception of massed atomic bombardment which would ruin Three Flag's utility, the only available tactic were massed ground assaults. Unfortunately, in addition to the swath of defensive emplacements and masses of warriors, the Conclaves employed an elite armoured brigade that could reinforce and counter-attack any breaches the Emperor's forces had made up until then. 

 

This duty fell upon the shoulders of the IInd Legion's first commander: Legion Master Bizs'ark. Limited to a ground assault, he identified the enemy armoured brigade, known as the Desert Wolves, as the priority target. If they were eliminated, the enemy defences would be crippled as the enemy infantry would be unable to match the Imperium's mobility. Bizs'ark began the campaign with a series of small pushes against random enemy positions to test reaction times and to confirm intelligence reports on the enemy's strength. Once the weakest point was located, the Legion Master gathered his forces for a massive assault, requesting an additional fleet of rhinos for the task. Granted, he proceeded to fill the new rhinos with jump packs. At the same time, he assembled his Predators and had half of them reduce side armor and transferred to their front hull facing. To their commanders, he warned that no matter what, their tanks must face toward the enemy. 

 

Preparations complete, the Battle of Three Flags began. Forming the largest armoured formation at the time, the modified Predators formed the forward ranks, while the regular Predators were stationed on the flanks. Within the formation were the rhinos and their cargo. The opening shots occurred as evening faded in. Despite moving full speed into a whirlwind of anti-tank fire and explosives, only a fraction of the Predators were lost before they successfully penetrated the enemy defence lines. Here, the rear half of the rhinos halted as legionnaires poured out of them to secure the initial break. With the enemy coming straight for them, the Desert Wolves scrambled to their tanks and were forced to meet the enemy only a kilometer from their main base. 

 

Despite losing the initiative, the Desert Wolves regained control of the battle as they out-maneuvered the modified Predators, who were either reduced to stationary positions to maintain front armour facing or reduced to reckless driving to avoid being shot on their weaker sides. However, while the Predators suffered, they accomplished their main goal as a distraction force. The Rhinos who came with them came to a standstill. Out of half of them came assault troops who quickly entered the other half, which were used as mobile storehouses for their jump packs. Just as the Desert Wolves seem to take hold of victory, the air above their heads became field with Astartes as fired meltaguns and latched meltabombs onto the enemy tanks. 

 

With no infantry support and matched on maneuverability, the Desert Wolves were destroyed entirely. With the priority target dead, Bizs'ark left a small force to occupy the nearby enemy base before he had the rest of his forces turn around and head back to the breach. There, their brothers had established strong positions but were in danger of being overwhelmed as hordes of enemy infantry finally reached their lines from nearby strongholds. As Bizs'ark's armoured fist hit them, the Conclave forces panicked and a rout followed. The Predator commanders avenged their fallen brethen as they slaughtered the enemy. The breach was secured.

 

While other defences remained, these would be systematically dismantled in the days to come with few casualties. The Nordafrik Conclaves now faced an entire legion on a compromised flank. Due to the legion's heroism and prowess, they earned the nickname Storm Riders and the veterans of the battle would become the first Prefects. 

 

 

The Phireen Extermination [showcases Mahtva and Legion psykers]

 

As the Great Crusade entered into it's one-hundredth anniversary, a new adversary was discovered in Segmentum Obscurus. Hidden in the Xspiravite Nebula, a race of xenos began launching raids on nearby Imperium shipping lanes. Possessing the power to project their 'voices' into the Warp, human crews were lured by an irresistible 'song'. Translating from the warp, many ships ventured into the nebula never to return. It was long suspected that these ships were simply lost to the warp. It was only when a traveling Warden diplomat, who had booked passage on a Rogue Trader vessel, resisted the call and single-handedly assumed control of the ship and forced it past the point of hearing it.  

 

Now alert to the danger, the 209th Expeditionary Fleet was given the mission to purge the xenos. Commanded by the legendary Vraben Mahtva, his fleet possessed a large body of Caryana psykers would be critical for victory. As the fleet approached, the 'song' began its call and many of the human crew, though forewarned, fell prey to it. Pooling their efforts, the Caryana countered the 'song' as they entered the Imperial minds and rendered a temporary immunity as they protected the fleet from the warp power. 

 

The second obstacle was to locate the foul xenos. A series of buoys were found that caused the 'song' to echo and prevent the telepaths from tracking the song to its source. Here, the diviners of the fleet put their powers to use. Consulting the future, they located the Phireen havens. With much of his forces focused on simple resistance, Mahtva opted to bombard the havens into rubble. One by one, the havens fell, diminishing the strength of their 'song'. 

 

Finally, the 209th discovered their true home: a rogue planet located deep within the nebula. Surrounding it were not only various xenos ships but the stolen Imperial vessels, now turned against their former owners. Now with his psyker support no longer stretched thin, Mahtva ordered a full attack. As the two fleets engaged, stormbirds and drop pods landed on the Phireen homeworld. There, they saw the true forms of the xenos: floating blobs of fleshy bubbles with five tentacles for environmental manipulation and three mouths filled with razor-sharp teeth. Faced with slow but strong opponents, Mahtva lead the purge, armored in fire. In a single day, the Phireen threat was ended. Of the lost vessels, not one human, alive or dead, was found. 

 

The Febian Defence - [supposed to be the Order of the Shield, but rectons jeopardize feasibility]

One of the few times the Order of the Shield was deployed with most of its members was to save the Febia system. A series of agri-worlds, the Imperium's arrival was met with little fanfare and did little to change the lives of the average Febian as the system agreed to Imperium rule. That peace was disrupted, not by xeno raiders, but by their fellow man. In the neighboring system of Mynwowan, their introduction to the Imperium was far bloodier. While the Febians had been liberated by the Blood Angels, the Mynwowans had suffered at the hands of the Death Guard. Festering from the scars caused by Compliance, their frustration had boiled into hate. The Imperial governor, Fyodar Gulenbard, feared for his life, for before Compliance, a sophisticated warrior system had been kept alive by tradition called The Path to Serenity. Since the Death Guard operation hadn't exterminated the populace, some of the serene warriors had survived and, in the following decade, raised a new batch of serenes. 

 

When rebellion erupted, Gulenbard surrendered and joined forces with the Mynwowans. Blinded by their quick victory, they strove to defeat the Imperium, beginning with the Febia system. To their misfortune, less than a few weeks' travel away was a grand meeting of the Order of the Shield. At the time, Alexandros was fighting alongside the Lion and the Dark Angels with an army comprising mostly of the Third Cohort. Called by Pyrrhicles, the grand conclave was to briefly unite the shield-marines in a week of celebration of accomplishments and tests of skill among their members. It was on the conclave's second day that word came of the rebellion. With considerable haste, Pyrrhicles immediately organized his brethren into a functioning war host and made way to Febia.

 

The two opposing warrior orders would clash on the fourth planet known as Svirnta. 

 

While the rebel fleet contained more ships, the Imperial fleet held more capital ships. Pausing long enough to deploy the Shield-Wardens, the Imperial fleet engaged their opponents and quickly nullified them from threatening the ground forces. Planetside, Pyrrihcles established defense, forming three lines of infantry several miles long. In the first rank were seasoned members of the Order, the Bastions, most who had earned the right to wield boarding shields. In the second rank were the masters, the Myrmidons and those who wore the tower shield, known as the Citadels. In the final rank were the junior members, many armed only with combat shields, the Gates. While the Bastions were to absorb the initial attack, the Citadels were to plug any initial breaches, while providing long range fire from batteries of missile launchers. To the Gates, they were to provide a mobile reserve and, more importantly, the counter-attack that would deal the final blow. 

Augmenting the Wardens were the PDF survivors, which included a few armor companies. The armored companies were set to protect the flanks and to funnel the enemy forces into the center.

 

For the final piece, Pyrrhicles personally voxed the enemy Serene commander. Known by the title of Student of Water, the man was given one last chance to surrender, which he promptly laughed off. Following the rejection, Pyrrhicles sent one last message insinuating that the Student often had relations with serpents. Before Compliance, the serpents of Mynwowan were viewed with near-religious reverence due to their role in past mythology. What Pyrrhicles accomplished was to make the ultimate insult to the enemy commander. The Student vowed personal retribution before launching an all-out attack against the Order. 

 

Over four million warriors launched themselves against the defense lines of twenty thousand Wardens. Although possessing armored units and long-range ballistics, it was the Serene way for warriors to seek glory in close combat, seeking to pit themselves against individuals. The Wardens rarely offered them the opportunity as they fought together, shields interlocked to create impromptu walls that the Mynwowans would try to breach. Within the first hour, a fourth wall was inadvertently being created by the Mynwowan dead. It was only as bolters ran dry when the Bastions were pushed back. Even then, the ground was soaked with blood as Bastions fought with fist and whatever weapon was on hand, some bashing heads with their shields as they became isolated. 

 

Breaks happened, but only after great cost. Worse for the Mynwowans, for every breach they created, only minutes passed before the Serenes came face-to-face with the Myrmidon. These adamantium giants repelled these rebels and closed the gaps by filling in the void with themselves. Gradually, the wall grew not weaker but stronger as terminator armor replaced power armor. At the fifth hour, Wardens in the first rank could see the distant end of the Mynwowan army. It was then that Pyrrhicles unleashed the Gates. Fresh and mobile, the Gate line broke in half as they raced around the flanks of the Warden line. In less than an hour, they attacked the Mynwowan sides, slowly squeezing them between vice. As the Gates squeezed, Pyrrhicles ordered the rest of the army to advance. Now, the Serenes were on the defensive. 

 

Any hope of escape closed as Warden aircraft deployed the PDF infantry units behind the Mynwowan army. Revenge was theirs as first as they fought and executed the panicking enemy forces. With no hope of escape, the Serene masters and adepts fought with renewed fury, while the common Mynwowan warrior surrendered to despair. The battle ended when Pyrrhicles struck down the Student, the last of the Mynwowans. 

[simison]

An Unexpected Appointment

 

The Halcyon Wardens would serve the Great Crusade with a quiet humility modeled by their liege lord. Due in no small part to their defensive tactics and a skill at diplomacy, the ranks of the V^th Legion would grow throughout the decades to become the largest Legion at the Emperor's service. With a focus on protecting the common man, the Halcyon Wardens would fulfill many of the necessary garrison duties throughout the new conquests and became the common face of the Legiones Astartes to the Imperium, despite other Legions securing greater glory on the battlefield. It was assumed that the Fifth would continue serving as one of the background forces that subtly kept the Great Crusade working at peak condition. 

 

On the Qarith homeworld, those assumptions would prove wrong.

 

Standing on the conquered world from which the Qarith had once built their empire, the Emperor announced that he was retiring from the Great Crusade. Such a declaration alone shocked the Imperium, but he immediately named his successor. Instead of the renowned Icarion, Alexandros was chosen as Warmaster, a surprise to all, especially to the Halcyon Wardens. In a single day, Fate pulled the V^th Legion into the spotlight of the entire Imperial war machine. Amidst the mystery of the Emperor's decision and the grumbling of others who felt jealously towards them, Alexandros and the Halcyon Wardens dedicated themselves to living up to the high honour the Emperor bestowed upon them. From that day forward, the Halcyon Wardens forged themselves into a zealous and disciplined weapon in the Great Crusade, holding themselves to a demanding standard above the other Legions even as they strove to treat their cousins no differently than before. 

 

Despite their best efforts, such a dramatic change in their status affected their efforts, and the Warmaster was no Emperor. Before they were a welcome presence, their eccentricities easily forgiven by those who were more awed by the Lightning Bearers, the Crimson Lions, and the Warbringers. Now, every decision and habit was analysed and criticised. Many assumed it was the Warmaster's and his Legion's duty to devote everything they had to fighting on the front lines of the Great Crusade. But the Halcyon Wardens would not forego their duties to protect the average citizens and insisted on maintaining their garrison forces. Nor would Alexandros ignore the political world to become warlord alone. Often the Warmaster would return to Terra to work with and against the new Council of Terra to ensure the Imperium was strengthened within as much as it expanded without. Although this only increased the commoners' love of the Fifth Legion and their Primarch, their reputation suffered greatly among the elites and the more aggressive military elements of the Imperium. The former resented the Warmaster's 'meddling', while the latter saw weakness and distraction.

[Grifftofer]

So sim and I went through the Warden's Legiones Astartes rule earlier and made a coupe of tweaks to make it more fitting to them in their guise as the Warmaster's Own and to reduce overlap with other Legions. This is what we came up with:

 

 

Paragons of Discipline: Models with the Legiones Astartes (Halcyon Warden) special rule, if caught by a Sweeping Advance, are not destroyed but remain locked in combat instead. Additionally, models with this special rule always count as having charged during the first round of a combat they are involved in.

 

Burden of the Warmaster’s Own: The opponent of an army with a Halcyon Wardens Primary Detachment may choose which player deploys their army first.

[simison]

Likewise, the brotherhood among the Emperor's sons fractured and strained. Before Qarith, Alexandros had been the most active force in uniting these demi-gods of war through friendship and alliance. While several Primarchs rejected any such overtures to bind them to one another, Alexandros' efforts had succeeded in creating a level of cohesion that only benefited the Great Crusade. This fragile web of ties promptly shattered with the Warmasters' elevation. Alexandros' relationship with several of his brothers became poisoned by his newfound authority, while his most critical brothers only became more vociferous in their condemnations. 

 

Yet, it seemed that his most treasured relationship with his brother Icarion had survived and weathered the new challenges besieging the Warmaster. The pair formed a quick partnership after Alexandros became Warmaster. Whenever Alexandros' attention was called to Terra, he would cede overall operational control of the Great Crusade to Icarion until the Warmaster returned. In a way, it was a situation that held true in the past with Icarion often acting as the Emperor's chief lieutenant. 

Edited November 28, 2018 by simison

[simison]

Alas, this merely hid the true seed of dissent nurturing beyond appearances. In the final days of the Great Crusade, the Warmaster was racked by periodic visions of destruction and calamity. None of these were made public and only shared with Alexandros' closest confidants. The sole exception was an emphasis of the eternal need for vigilance he would often mention in his speeches and public writings. Of particular note, Alexandros recorded no mention of Icarion making any attempts to bring him to his banner; nor did Alexandros ever suspect his closest brother might be the source of the impending disaster. Thus, as the Great Crusade came to an end, the Halcyon Wardens were standing vigilant, waiting for a threat to materalise but never suspecting the true source of danger to them all.

[simison]

Unit Formation and Structure Within the Legion

 

For all of the effort Alexandros invested into reforming the V^th Legion's martial philosophy to aligning with his own, much of the original tenets of the Prinicipia Belicosa matched what he sought to maintain in his Legion in regards to organisation. The tactical flexibility afforded by the straightforward guidelines enabled an ability to switch from offensive to defensive operations and back again as the situation required. This was highly valued among the Halcyon Wardens given their wide-ranging assignments, ranging from breakthrough operations to garrison duties. The Legion's wide dispersal throughout the galaxy in fact encouraged detachments to maintain a balanced ratio of combat units in order to increase self-sufficiency and to better support allied forces. To a degree, the Halcyon Wardens could not part with these simple tactical formations. Halcyon Wardens were encouraged to create and utilise their own terminology in regards to unit name. For example, the commanding officer of the 100-marine Century could choose to be titled as a Centurion, a Lochagos, a Subedar, or a Captain. While this was often encouraged to create an improved sense of personal attachment and esprit de corps, it was necessary to maintain a simple system of unit organisation to avoid confusion on the battlefield. 

 

However, while Alexandros greatly respected the tactical advantages provided by the Prinicipa Belicosa, it was not without its flaws. Written at a time when the Legiones Astartes was a much smaller force, the Warmaster found its strategic applications to be lacking as the V^th Legion grew in size. Alexandros compensated by establishing the Brigades and the Cohorts. The former was nothing more than a macro unit, composed of ten 1,000-marine Battalions. The latter was an ad hoc evolution that grouped Brigades based on a coordinated front. At first, the Cohorts consisted solely of Brigades fighting on the frontlines of the Great Crusade. As the number of Halcyon Wardens garrisons expanded, new Cohorts were designated to unify their command structure as well. A few years after ascending as Warmaster, Alexandros restructured the Cohorts into a standardised 9 Cohorts. The first four Cohorts, nicknamed the Disciples of Destruction, were Halcyon Wardens assigned to combat duty on the front lines of the Great Crusade, divided into the Galactic East, North, South, and West fronts, in that order. Also known as the Disciples of Protection, the Fifth and Sixth Cohorts divided the galaxy between the West and East, respectively, and oversaw the wide-ranging number of Halcyon Warden garrison and protectorate deployments. The Seventh Cohort was the last member Cohort of the Disciples of Protection but concerned itself solely with the protection and defence of Terra, capital of the Imperial, and Delos, homeworld of the Halcyon Wardens. The Ninth Cohort handled Halcyon Warden officer candidates and units who were seconded to another Legion, while the Eighth Cohort was a memorial unit, listing the name of every V^th Legionary to have died in honour. 

 

The other major deviation Alexandros encouraged from the original founding was a number of distinct formations that existed outside of the standard battle line. The Order of the Shield, the Order of the Mind, and the Diplomatic Corps were three organisations directly founded by the Primarch, each reflecting an aspect of his power and idealism. The Order of the Shield was Alexandros' unstated favourite. Living up to the Shield-Lord's desires to protect the common man, every member of the Order carried a shield of some size and shape and have pledged their lives to defending humanity from its enemies. The largest Order, it was due to their numbers alone that the Legion as a whole was able to field almost as many breacher squads as the ubiquitous tactical squad. The Order of the Mind was the body of Librarians who reflect their gene-sire's talent for divination and telepathy. While the Halcyon Wardens remain one of the founding members of the successful Librarius program, the Order of the Mind stood apart from the Librarians since only those Librarians who wished to restrict themselves to those two arts and to explicitly use those powers for the betterment of Man.

Edited December 5, 2018 by simison

[simison]

The Diplomatic Corps was unusual in that it was an organisation united not in a specific martial style but for the ability to wield words in the service of peace. Although the smallest of the groups, their oratory and negotiating skills were in high demand for tense, post-Compliance scenarios, granting them an influence that far surpassed their small numbers. The final organisation claimed a legacy that predated the others and Alexandros. The Prefects were heirs to the Storm Riders' proven tank masters and counted some of the Legion's most veteran and aggressive Legionaries among their ranks. 

Edited December 5, 2018 by simison

[Doctor Perils]

Are the Prefects part of the diplomatic Corps or separate? If so, I'd mention them at the same time as Alexandros's three creations, and I'd make them a new paragraph

Also the diplomatic corps text is duplicated

[Nomus Sardauk]

Noticed a typo, where you've written about the Seventh Cohort you put "The Seventh Cohort was the last member Cohort of the Disciples of Cohort", I assume that was meant to say the Disciples of Protection? Edited December 5, 2018 by SanguiniusReborn

[simison]

Are the Prefects part of the diplomatic Corps or separate? If so, I'd mention them at the same time as Alexandros's three creations, and I'd make them a new paragraph

Also the diplomatic corps text is duplicated

 

Yeah, but then that'd be an entire paragraph just for the Prefects, while the previous paragraph would be that much bulkier. Eh, I suppose I could try to mention the existence of other informal organizations and just leave them unnamed.

 

Noticed a typo, where you've written about the Seventh Cohort you put "The Seventh Cohort was the last member Cohort of the Disciples of Cohort", I assume that was meant to say the Disciples of Protection?

 

Correct and thank you.

[bluntblade]

Sim, how about we call the retainer company within the Athenoi the Aegoi?

[simison]

What's the reference?

[bluntblade]

Armour, though I'll do some more digging for suitable names

[simison]

The other major deviation Alexandros encouraged from the original founding was a number of distinct formations that existed outside of the standard battle line. The Order of the Shield, the Order of the Mind, and the Diplomatic Corps were three organisations directly founded by the Primarch, each reflecting an aspect of his power and idealism. The Order of the Shield was Alexandros' unstated favourite. Living up to the Shield-Lord's desires to protect the common man, every member of the Order carried a shield of some size and shape and have pledged their lives to defending humanity from its enemies. The largest Order, it was due to their numbers alone that the Legion as a whole was able to field almost as many breacher squads as the ubiquitous tactical squad. The Order of the Mind was the body of Librarians who reflect their gene-sire's talent for divination and telepathy. While the Halcyon Wardens remain one of the founding members of the successful Librarius program, the Order of the Mind stood apart from the Librarians since only those Librarians who wished to restrict themselves to those two arts and to explicitly use those powers for the betterment of Man. The Diplomatic Corps was unusual in that it was an organisation united not in a specific martial style but for the ability to wield words in the service of peace. Although the smallest of the groups, their oratory and negotiating skills were in high demand for tense, post-Compliance scenarios, granting them an influence that far surpassed their small numbers.

 

The final organisation claimed a legacy that predated Alexandros. The Prefects were heirs to the Storm Riders' proven tank masters and counted some of the Legion's most veteran and aggressive Legionaries among their ranks. Although the Prefects might have been consigned to a fate of a slow decline, Alexandros was one of the few Primarchs that insisted on maintaining his Legion's tithe rights on noble Terra. This ensured a steady supply of recruits who often found their place among the Prefects. Furthermore, the Prefects allowed any Halcyon Warden to join their ranks provided the display mastery of the steel waves the V^th Legion was once renowned for. While these four formations were the largest and oldest of these organisations, this is not a comprehensive listing. Many other smaller associations, some as few as a dozen individuals, have been noted in other academic works. Some of these fraternities and societies have been short-lived, lasting only a single campaign, and have been known to cross Legions. So long as the activities and identities established did nothing to compromise the Halcyon Wardens' ability to make war, all were encouraged.  

[simison]

Legion Command Hierarchy

 

While Alexandros was renowned for his geniality and one-on-one audiences, he was the undisputed Lord of the Halcyon Wardens. Not only was his authority beyond reproach, but he was held up as a living icon to his sons. This did not mean, however, he would not heed the council of others. Even as Warmaster, Alexandros would often begin campaigns only after encouraging other commanders to share their knowledge and perspective. Although astute observers would note that this would only slightly change the Warmaster's initial plans, it had the effect of building an alliance between diverse forces that went beyond a simple allegiance to the Emperor. 

 

It was these qualities of charisma, adaptability, and diplomacy that would be sought for in those who would climb up the ranks of the V^th Legion. Simple combat experience would only bring a Halcyon Warden up to sergeant. Any sergeant who aspired to become a lieutenant received and in turn had to display mastery of advanced tactical thinking along with a rudimentary strategic aptitude. However, any lieutenant who wished to become a proper officer of the V^th was required to accept an assignment with the 9^th Cohort. It was through this deployment that a Halcyon Warden would spend time with another Legion, both to broaden their own martial knowledge and to experience a different culture in order to prepare them to fight alongside any army of the Great Crusade. Once successfully completed, a Halcyon Warden would be granted the rank of Centurion and receive his Century. 

Edited December 9, 2018 by simison