Were there purity seals during the HH?

[tuco]

This is mostly for modeling purposes, but were there purity seals during the Horus Heresy or are they something that was developed later after the almost-complete-death of the Emperor?  

[Dagoth Ur]

No purity seals per sé, but there were Oaths of Moments, which look basically the same. As far as I know, these Oaths were pieces of parchment inscribed with a promise or oath concerning the comming battle and then affixed to the armor. Anyone who knows more?

[Halandaar]

My understanding (by no means concrete so I stand to be corrected) is that purity seals relate to the bearer being untainted by Chaos, and so are post-Heresy things.

 

That said, from a modelling perspective it should be fine to leave them on your models, as it was common for Marines in the Crusade/Heresy era to take an "Oath of Moment" before battle, which was inscribed onto parchment and affixed to their armour with a wax seal. I suspect that visually, they're the same.

[N1SB]

I totally agree.  For modelling purposes, if you're using a model that has a purity seal for 30k, no worries, don't shave it off, for that is an Oath of Moment.  In fact, because it's meant to be a temporary thing, IMHO it actually makes more sense in 30k to look like a piece of parchment affixed with a mere blob of wax, something to be taken off.

 

 

+++++

 

 

The difference between an Oath of Moment and a purity seal, you guys have already pointed out:

 

Oath of Moment - is a written declaration of what you vow to do BEFORE you are honour-bound do it

 

Purity Seal - a written declaration to recognise your honour AFTER you've done something to prove it

 

It's a Before vs. After thing IMHO, based on what I've read in the literature.

 

 

+++++

 

 

The above are the answers, but lore and even game mechanics archaeology is fun, so here's some more data points.

 

In 30k, the Space Wolves talk about Oaths of Moments, under the pen of Dan Abnett.  They describe it as a "to-do list", like a shopping list for Marines to remind themselves of which Xenos to kill, etc.  It's clearly supposed to be a temporary thing, because the Space Wolves mock the entire idea of it.  They think if you're dead set on doing something, just go do it!  Don't bother writing it down like a memo and sticking it on your armour, that's what short-term memory is for!  Their whole way of explaining it suggests it's supposed to be a short-term thing, not a permanent one like a badge of honour.  It's very telling.

 

(Sidenote - this was classic Dan Abnett, the same guy who brought you the version of the Guardians of the Galaxy you see in the films.  It's to show an outside observer's view of Space Wolves as barbaric is the complete opposite of the truth, as every Son of Russ is a man of his word, when he says something he'll do it immediately, without bothering to put it on a piece of paper.)

 

And does anyone still use Oaths of Moment in 40k to compare this with?  My personal interpretation is yes, at least in previous editions.

 

My initial thought for a good example was to look at Chaos Space Marines, because they stuck with old 30k practices, but I found a better answer is with a group of Loyalists that also retained their Legion ways: the Black Templars (with the old codex).

 

The Black Templars, as you know, never really bothered with the Codex Astartes, still favouring the 30k style of combat like regular large Troop squads in Land Raiders, never breaking up themselves into 1,000-man Chapters, etc.  You may also remember they can take Vows, that gives them bonuses, but also forces them to do certain things (must move towards a Psyker, must charge the nearest unit) BEFORE each battle starts, and they commit to them fully.

 

I think Black Templars' Vows are basically like what Oaths of Moment were meant to be, taken to a new and awesome extreme.

 

Just a piece of lore from the novels and an interpretation actually from game mechanics, to give context to the idea of these Oaths!

[Brother Captain Spud]

No purity seals per sé, but there were Oaths of Moments, which look basically the same. As far as I know, these Oaths were pieces of parchment inscribed with a promise or oath concerning the comming battle and then affixed to the armor. Anyone who knows more?

This, and there are no in game rules for them in 30k.

[Harrowmaster]

 

No purity seals per sé, but there were Oaths of Moments, which look basically the same. As far as I know, these Oaths were pieces of parchment inscribed with a promise or oath concerning the comming battle and then affixed to the armor. Anyone who knows more?

This, and there are no in game rules for them in 30k.

 

No rules in 40k either since the 4e codex. But yes oaths of the moment were taken before a battle and then fixed to a marine's armour, the whole ceremony is described in HH1 from Black Library.