The Sons of the Morning

The Sons of the Morning, also known as “The Morning Sons” or “The Blades of Sol,” are a Firstborn Primaris Founding Legion and Firstborn of the Imperial Marine Legions, raised by the Emperor of Mankind upon Terra in the waning decades of The Terran Unification Wars, before the dawn of The Sol Reclamation Wars, and before the Great Crusade in the mid 90th Millennium. After the Emperor discovered the Legion's Luminarch, Llucerian Morningstar, upon the world of Lecarro, and subsequently gave him command of the Ist Legion—Llucerian would go on to lead the Ist Legion in earning thousands of battle honors over the span of the Great Crusade. 
Few other Legions could match their achievements and of those that could, few could rival the Ist Legion for the brightness with which their victories shone. Spread across hundreds of expeditionary fleets and on countless battlefields, the Sons of the Morning would break the enemies of The Stellar Imperium against the might of Imperial Metal and push the Great Crusade ever forwards. The position of Llucerian as the Emperor's favored and twice first son undoubtedly enhanced their triumphs. As the Emperor fought alongside all of the Luminarchs, and led all of the Legions at different times and in differing measures, but Llucerian and the Sons of the Morning stood beside him for many of his greatest victories. The Sons of the Morning stood with the Emperor from the near beginning of the Great Crusade and the Stellar Imperium itself.
== Origins and History ==
=== The Primaris Founding ===
The Primaris Founding, or referred to as the "First Founding" of the Imperial Marine Legions, also titled the Legiones Imperialis, occurred in the middling days of the 90th Millennium in the year M90.474 after the end of the Dark Ages of the Long Dark and during the waning years of the Terran Unification Wars that founded the Stellar Imperium upon Terra.
The firstborn Eight Imperial Marine Legions, along with the subsequent Parousian and Trichotomic Foundings were created from the Inheritance-Helix clusters of the 20 superhuman Luminarchs engineered by the Emperor of Mankind from His own genetic code in His gene-laboratories beneath the Imperial Palace on Terra in the Kilaminjanto (Kilamanjaro) Ranges.
In spite of the fact that the gestalt Luminarchs were still in their pre-embryonic stages, the Emperor still waged his Unification Wars of Terra and later the reclamation Wars of Sol—and to these ends He managed to forge complete and viable samples of each Luminarch's DNA—at least prior to their scattering and subsequent far-flung births.
The Emperor used the First Eight of these templates to create the first generation of eight Imperial Marine Legions by genetically enhancing His own Terran-born soldiers with the Inheritance-Helix derived from the genomes of the first eight Luminarchs. The Imperial Marine Legions born of this process were tutored by the still surviving Veterans of The I'cartes Regiments and subsequently utilized to complete the Unification Wars upon Terra, forging the iron hold and cleansing terra of all elements that would undermine the Empire so many had already died to create.
==== The First Sons — The Waning Battles of Terra ====
In the time when the Emperor's eye first began to fall beyond Terra and to the Worlds of Sol, He raised new armies to fight His Great Crusade to reunify all of Humanity across the galaxy. He drew these new troops in part from the forces that had already unified Terra during the Unification Wars of the mid 90th Millennium, from willing Terran volunteers like those who comprised the first Eight Imperial Marine Legions, and who were implanted with the Inheritance-Helix of their missing Luminarch, Llucerian Morningstar. These recruits were also drawn in part from the Emperor's subjugated enemies, and together they represented the first generation of Imperial Marines.
Like the whole of the First Found Legions, and a scant few of the Second founding Legions, the Ist would draw all of its first generation of recruits from the conquered and allied Terran populations. Though it is difficult to be certain based on the existing Imperial records from this time, there are indications that many of the Ist Legion's early intake came from the hunter-killer clans of the Llou’Isian Coastal Islands, the feudal peoples of the Panoply Khalai Dominica, the Tech-Clans of the Adirondack Mountain Ranges and the Nile Basin of Hios Country. Of these disparate peoples, the near-perpetual conflicts and the harshness of life upon these desolate and war-torn margins of Nord’ Erikan society had given these people the hard edge of ruthlessness and independence that would serve an Imperial Marine well.
The Ist Legion in their brash youth would make war with abrasive aggression. Perhaps through the influence of their genetic heritage or the use the Emperor put them to, the Imperial Marines of the Ist Legion became synonymous with sudden and overwhelming shock assaults. For to the Ist Legion fell the swift prosecution of battle and the bloody termination of campaigns. Their attacks were preemptive as often as they were part of an existing conflict, their forces either the first deadly threat burgeoning unleashed by the Imperium or preservedto enact a final, killing blow. It is said that the Imperial Marines of the Ist Legion were unleashed to begin and end wars their enemies did not even know they were fighting. They'd strike in the pale hours of dawn or dusk, carried in the holds of Prototype Hellvultures and the lumbering ancestral designs of the Hurricane Shield Combat Transport, flanked by squadrons of escorting Thunder-Shrieks. 
Those who witnessed such attacks say that the Ist Legion were fighting eye-to-eye with the enemy before the roaring thunder of their first missile volleys and shell-strikes had faded. 
The warriors who fought these battles were of a character wholly in keeping with their reputation. Proud, little given to humor or empathy, nor to mysticism or even the tradition and ritualized pageantry that took many among the military elite and even their other firstborn Brother Legions. Raising well above their Mortal Auxiliaries, they were a breed set apart from even the Imperial Legions that had fought at their side from their first birth-wars. As their aggression was clear in their every action, but so was the strength of the control that held it in check, and the needs of that ancient age easily accommodated and rewarded such a belligerent and cantankerous attitude.
At some time the notion of the Emperor sending His "black footed wolves" to break intractable or potential enemies would take root in the consciousness of the new-born Stellar Imperium, with Operation Silent Night in the later months of M90.487, and The Lunar Spearhead in M90.551-573—considered by many the Last Battle for Terra, and the first true battle of the Great Crusade—its apocryphal source. The Ist Legion would therein embrace the epithet "Wolves of Black Feet," or “The Black Foots,” both titles that they had earned after their first campaigns with relish.
The snarling wolf's head soon became a common icon for the Imperial Marines of the Ist Legion, the link being somewhat abstract, as the Terran animals once called wolves had been all but extinct for several standard millennia, largely relegated to existence as gene-stock for bio-engineered weapon-beasts on Terra itself, though the name remained synonymous in most Terran dialects with the concept of controlled savagery. The wearing of pelts of such augmented canid predators increasingly marked out the field commanders and officers of the Black Foots. The Ist would not be the only Imperial Marine Legion to bear such a title and embrace this imagery as their own, but they were the first.
=== The Sol Reclamation Wars ===
=== The Early Great Crusade ===
==== A Legion Reforged ====
=== The Great Crusade Proper ===
== Notable Campaigns ==
=== The Terran Unification Wars ===
* Operation Silent Night (M90-482) — The Flagship combat Operation for the original Eight Firstborn Legions of the Primaris Founding. Wherein the 8 Legions, each a 6–20,000 strong force, would either bring aid or a quick end to the already ongoing conflicts of the Unification Wars. The Ist Legion specifically would be seconded by the VIth and VIIth wherein the three forces—each already well-suited for the tasks—would commit mass Assault Raids, Rapid Deployment Operations, Strategic Surgical Strikes, Guerrilla Assaults, and Low-Collateral Damage Imperative Compliance Operations against many of the Techno-Barbarian States of Old Terra. Decapitating many outright as they Infiltrated Palaces and Combat Emplacements all under the cover of a single night across the entire war-torn planet, leaving a thousand Barbarian States leaderless and easy pickings for the much stronger I’cartes and Imperial Troop Regiments once the dawn touched down once again. Specifically, the Ist Legion would ride upon prototype Path-Runner & Dagger Quick Deployer Units into the shattered Gyptian Territories even as the Warlords had once kept the bulk of Imperial forces at the bay on the edges of their Empire. And to this end, the 7,000 Strong Force pierced across the dunes, slaughtering guard outposts and encampments even as they gutted and blinded multiple Gyptian Territories by surgically disabling communication networks and resource depots.
* The Silencing of Gar (M90-485) — The Madlands of Gar is an island territory comprising the main island of Madhaghask (Madagascar) and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of the Terankan Continent, it was once a rallying point for forces hailing from the Junker-Kingdom of Rallia. On Madhaghask, these rust-lords, notorious for their depravity and brutality, used the island as a staging ground for their relentless sieges against the Southeastern Terankan kingdoms and nations. Their campaigns were marked by the unleashing of mad machine abominations and vat-forged beasts upon the populations, creating chaos and devastation. With the arrival of the Legions, the First Legion would demonstrate what would make them the greatest of their brethren. Supported by elements of the Third and Fifth Legions, they launched a coordinated assault upon the Madlands. With the Fifth Legion's formidable siege engines pounding against the Madhaghaskan fortresses, creating breaches and weakening defenses. Meanwhile, the warriors of the First and Third, far more nimble and quick compared to their heavily armed Fifth Legion brothers, exploited these breaches, reaving through the fortresses with unmatched ferocity. The Fifth Legion's artillery fire created a constant barrage, holding down the enemy forces and preventing them from regrouping. This allowed the First and Third Legions to move with precision and speed, their specialized units executing strikes that crippled the rust-lords' strongholds. The combined might of the Legions proved overwhelming, showcasing their tactical superiority and the lethal efficiency of their coordinated assaults. As the First Legion led the charge, piercing through heavily laid interior defenses, the warriors of the Third tore through those who dared to remain standing. The brother Legions cut through the enemy lines, their advance relentless and unstoppable. In a series of decisive battles, the Legions dismantled the Junker-Kingdom's hold on Madhaghask. The island's fortresses, once impregnable bastions of rust-lord power, fell one by one to the combined assault over the course of two years.
* The Rallian Persecutions (M90-477 - M90-514) — The Rallian Rad-Sea’s, The Rad-Basin or simply the Rallian Wastes are
* The Pacification of Taipan (M90-Unknown) — The Legion is tasked with quelling a rebellion within the sprawling Spire of Taipan City. With a focus on minimizing civilian casualties and swiftly neutralizing key insurgent leaders. The First utilized its mobility advantage with the usage of Experimental Jetbikes and Land-speeder designs to navigate within the narrow urban sprawl and execute precision strikes. Close-Combat Specialists lead surgical assaults on rebel strongholds, aiming to swiftly incapacitate resistance elements without causing widespread and unnecessary harm to the population.
* Suppression of Dissent Within the Ursholian Highlands (M90-Unknown) — Facing resistance in the northern mountainous regions of Ursholia from scorned rebels, the Legion is called in lieu of their Cousin forces to suppress dissent without causing extreme damage. Prototype Jetbike Designs would prove essential for navigating the challenging northern terrains swiftly, whilst Jumpack-equipped combat-squads would engage in hit-and-run tactics against rebel encampments. Crossfire tactics are employed to disorient and overwhelm the enemy, allowing for rapid strikes and withdrawal. The focus would be on maintaining control without resorting to large-scale warfare.
* Coastal Defense — The Legion is assigned to defend coastal territories from seaborne threats during the Unification Wars. Deploying Land-speeders along the shoreline, the Legion intercepts invading forces swiftly, preventing harm to civilian settlements loyal to the Imperium. Jetbikes conduct reconnaissance missions to identify potential landing sites, and Close-Combat Specialists engage in lightning-fast boarding actions against enemy vessels. The flexibility of the Legion ensures a rapid response to threats from multiple angles.
* Campaign Galeforce: Suppression in Open Plains(M90-Unknown) — Legion Forces face resistance in vast open plains where traditional armies struggle. Employing swift hit-and-run tactics with Land-speeders and Jetbikes, the Legion disrupts enemy supply lines and communication networks. Close-Combat Specialists use their mobility advantage to engage in lightning assaults on enemy command centers, preventing the coordination of large-scale attacks. The focus is on exploiting the flexibility of the Legion to control vast territories efficiently.
* Operation Whispering Winds: Infiltration and Sabotage (M90-Unknown) — The Legion is tasked with infiltrating enemy territories to gather intelligence and conduct surgical strikes on critical infrastructure. Utilizing stealth and speed, squads equipped with Jumpacks infiltrate deep into enemy lines to disrupt communication hubs and supply depots. Land-speeders provide a rapid extraction mechanism, ensuring the Legion's swift retreat after successful sabotage missions. The Legion's focus is on flexibility, mobility, and minimizing collateral damage.
* The Final Conflict of Hu'dons Bason (M90-527) —
=== The Sol Reclamation Wars ===
* 551-573 - The Luna Pacification
* 547-649 - The Black Cleansings of Mars
* 666 - The Mercury Gambit
* The Saturn Reclamation
* 732 - Conflict Upon The Forra'kiir Engine
* 740 The Jovian Accords (Treaty of Europa) 
=== The Great Crusade ===
== Legion Organization ==
=== Legion Command Hierarchy ===
=== Specialist Formations & Ranks ===
==== The Solariate Guard ====
The Solariate Guard are the elite veterans of the Sons of The Morning, handpicked by Llucerian Morningstar as his chosen Honor Guard. Comprising not only the mightiest warriors and blades-men of his Legion, the Solariate also includes expert tacticians and leaders who excelled in guiding and tempering their fellow Legionnaires’ ferocity. They serve a dual purpose: as the personal Honor Guard of their Gene-Father, and as the guiding shepherds for their brothers during the chaos of war.
===== Solariate Praetors =====
In the heat of battle, the Solariate of the Praetors Brotherhood play a vital role in guiding the superhuman wrath of their brothers. Ensuring that the Legion’s fury is well-directed and controlled, they act as beacons of leadership and discipline. Their presence on the battlefield not only a symbol of strength but also a practical necessity for maintaining order and achieving victory. The Solariate of the Praetors are adept at channeling the Legion’s intense aggression, ensuring that it is focused on strategic objectives rather than dissipating into uncontrolled violence. They employ a combination of tactical commands, inspiring presence, and personal intervention to keep their brothers’ killing urges in check, preventing friendly fire and unnecessary casualties.
Serving as living symbols of the Legion’s ideals, the Praetors lead by example, embodying the discipline, honor, and ferocity expected of the Sons of The Morning. In the thick of combat, they often take the forefront, demonstrating the correct application of force and tactics, inspiring those around them to emulate their actions. When other commanders falter or are absent, the Praetors step in to fill the leadership void, ensuring continuity of command and cohesive execution of battle plans. With their extensive experience and training, they can seamlessly assume command, rallying the troops and directing the flow of battle to maintain momentum and pressure on the enemy.
The chaotic nature of battle often leads to confusion and disorder, especially when the afflictions of the First Legion's Prey Drive rears it's ugly head. Therein a Praetor’s ability to navigate through this chaos is crucial to the Legion’s sustained success. Using a combination of keen situational awareness, strategic acumen, and psychic abilities, they cut through the confusion, providing clear directives and maintaining order amidst the chaos. The Solariate Praetors often position themselves at the forefront of the battle, leading charges and engaging the enemy directly. And in key moments, the Solariate intervene to break enemy lines, rescue surrounded units, or exploit weaknesses. They employ decisive and calculated strikes, using their elite skills to execute maneuvers that disrupt enemy formations and create opportunities for their brothers to exploit.
===== Solariate Dhezyèmha =====
The Solariate Praetorian Guard Dhezyèmha(deh-ZYEHM-ha) stand as living embodiments of the Legion’s ideals and the oaths they swore. Selected, trained, and armed similarly to their brother Solariates of the Praetor Brotherhood, the Dhezyèmha Troops are the sworn retainers and personal Honor-Guard of Llucerian Morningstar. Their presence is a testament to the might and unity of the Legion, symbolizing the unwavering commitment to their leader and their cause. The Dhezyèmha are divided into a collection of Troops, each numbering nine Marines. Among these, three Troops are always stationed to accompany their Luminarch into battle, providing a formidable shield against any threat that dares approach him. The remaining Troops are strategically deployed to defend key Legion assets, such as the Legion's Palace Monastery, or to safeguard individuals of significant importance to the Legion.
In their role as protectors, the Dhezyèmha demonstrate unparalleled loyalty and prowess. Their training regimen is rigorous, ensuring they are always at peak physical and mental condition. They are equipped with the finest weapons and armor, crafted to enhance their already formidable combat abilities. Each Dhezyèmha Marine is a master of warfare, skilled in various forms of combat, from close-quarters engagements to strategic battlefield maneuvers. Their dedication to Llucerian Morningstar is absolute. They stand vigilant, ready to lay down their lives for their leader without hesitation. Their presence at his side is not only a symbol of protection but also a declaration of the Legion’s strength and unity. The Dhezyèmha embody the spirit of the Solariate, representing the highest standards of honor, duty, and courage.
In battle, the Dhezyèmha are a force to be reckoned with. Their coordination and discipline are unmatched, allowing them to operate seamlessly as a single entity. They move with precision and purpose, each Marine anticipating the actions of their comrades, creating a near-impenetrable wall of defense around their Luminarch. Their combat strategies are honed through relentless training and real-world experience, making them adaptable and deadly opponents. The Dhezyèmha’s responsibilities extend beyond the battlefield. In times of peace, they serve as advisors and enforcers of Llucerian’s will, ensuring the stability and security of the Legion’s territories. They are involved in key decision-making processes, offering their insights and expertise to shape the future of the Legion. Their loyalty and wisdom make them invaluable assets to Llucerian, who trusts them implicitly.
==== The Nullifier Courts ====
The Nullifier Courts are the distinguished body within the First Legion tasked with managing the Legion’s unique psychic mutation known as the Nullifier. Comprised of scholars, mentors, and psychically attuned Marines, the Courts travel across the universe to various Cousin Imperial Legions to assist in the training and development of their psychically sensitive initiates. Their mission is to ensure that these individuals do not succumb to the eddies of the Void and fall into madness, thereby safeguarding the stability and effectiveness of their psychic abilities.
Members of the Nullifier Courts are not only highly trained in their own psychic-nullification potential but are also experts in the management and guidance of others with similar abilities. They employ rigorous training regimes and advanced psychic techniques to help their charges harness their powers safely and effectively. Their expertise is called upon to stabilize and control the potent Psycasts, those individuals whose psychic abilities are particularly strong and potentially volatile.
The Courts are headquartered on the Fortress Moon of Vralaes, a bastion of psychic training and discipline. From this location, they oversee the collection and pacification of potent Psycasts. This involves not only training but also extensive psychological support and supervision to ensure these individuals can wield their powers without succumbing to the inherent risks.
Additionally, the Nullifier Courts are responsible for the induction of these Psycasts into either the Legion's Librarium Lodge or the Nullifier Courts themselves. This induction process ensures a steady stream of highly trained and controlled psychic warriors who can serve the First Legion with distinction. 
===== Nullifier Prètahns =====
The Nullifier Prètahns, known to the First Legion simply as the Prètahns or even more simply as Nullifier Priests, are the elite guardians and enforcers within the Nullifier Courts. These seasoned warriors have mastered their psychic abilities and the abilities gifted to them by the Nullifier mutation, making them formidable both in combat and in their role as stabilizers of psychic energies. Prètahns are responsible for leading expeditions to identify and pacify particularly potent Psycasts, often venturing into dangerous and volatile environments. Their presence ensures that the psychic energies of their comrades remain balanced, preventing any uncontrolled outbursts that could endanger the Legion or the mission at hand. Clad in specialized armor equipped with psi-reactive systems, the Prètahns are both protectors and enforcers of the First Legion’s psychic stability.
===== Hunter Nulls =====
Hunter Nulls are the specialized operatives of the First Legion, tasked with seeking out and neutralizing psychic threats both within and outside the Legion. Trained extensively in tracking and combat, these operatives, in tandem with a control of the Prey-Drive Affliction seen only in the Grangou-Blacks, possess an acute sensitivity to Void energies, allowing them to detect and pursue psychically active targets with unparalleled precision. Equipped with advanced Chamelo-Systems integrated into their armor, Hunter Nulls can move stealthily through various terrains, in tandem with their Psychically Invisible natures, they remain nearly invisible to their prey whether psychic or otherwise. Hunter Nulls operate both independently and in small teams, their missions often involving the capture or elimination of rogue Psycasts, Witches, and other psychic threats that pose a danger to the stability of the Stellar Imperium.
==== The Grangou-Blacks ====
The Grangou-Blacks are the most notable of the First Legion's Specialist Units, distinguished by their exceptional prowess and unique abilities. This elite special operations unit comprises members of the First Legion who have not only conquered the Afflictions of the Prey-Drive but have also harnessed it to their advantage. The Prey-Drive, a powerful and near-primalistic force that afflicts many among the Legion, has been honed and subdued, allowing the members of the Grangou to maintain their higher faculties while accessing the extraordinary benefits of this affliction.
The members of the Grangou-Blacks exist in a near-constant state of heightened awareness and predatory instinct. This controlled form of the Prey-Drive endows them with the supernatural ability to identify and exploit weaknesses in their opponents, whether these vulnerabilities are hidden or overt. Their keen perception and sharp instincts make them formidable foes on the battlefield, capable of turning the tide of battle through their strategic and precise actions. Through rigorous training and discipline, the Grangou-Blacks have mastered the balance between their primal urges and their tactical acumen. They can seamlessly transition from calculated strategists to relentless hunters, adapting their approach to suit the demands of the situation. This duality allows them to operate effectively in a wide range of scenarios, from covert infiltration missions to full-scale assaults.
Their exceptional skills are complemented by advanced weaponry and technology, tailored to enhance their combat capabilities. Each Brother among the Grangou-Blacks is equipped with specialized gear that maximizes their speed, agility, and lethality. The advanced Chamelo-Systems interwoven within their armor plating provide them with the ability to shift in and out of sight, making them nearly invisible to the naked eye. This advanced camouflage technology allows them to approach their targets undetected, strike with precision, and disappear without a trace. 
The armor of the Grangou-Blacks is designed not only for protection but also to maintain their mental stability. Equipped with nerve-stimulators and regulatory systems, the armor constantly pulses within their bodies, ensuring the Grangou-Blacks remain balanced and do not succumb to the throes of the Apex. A dangerous mental state where the warrior becomes a silent killer, driven solely by a primal urge for wanton slaughter, killing with supernatural efficiency but losing all sense of strategy and control. The regulatory systems act as a safeguard, keeping the Grangou-Blacks on the razor's edge of their abilities without allowing them to fall into uncontrollable bloodlust.
== Legion Inheritance-Helix ==
The Inheritance-Helix of the Sons of The Morning is highly regarded as one of the most stable and reliable genetic blueprints within the ranks of the Firstborn Imperial Legions. This stability ensures that no singular or notable physical mutation runs rampant throughout the Legion, maintaining a uniformity that aligns closely with the expected physiological baseline. Many members of the Legion, both those who served before and after the Luminarchal reunification, exhibit the characteristic golden eyes—a distinctive trait that has become synonymous with the Legion's physiognomial pattern.
The Sons of The Morning possess fully functional Luminaire organs, encompassing both the Era Angelus and Luminous Helix iterations. These organs consistently meet projected specifications, ensuring that the Legionnaires operate at peak efficiency. The probability of mutation within these organs remains exceedingly low, estimated at a mere one to ten percent. This already minimal risk is further reduced in cases where diligent Apothecarial care is administered, maintaining the health and operational effectiveness of the warriors.
From a psycho-organic perspective, initiates of the Sons of The Morning display increased rates of aggression, a common trait among many Legions. However, what sets them apart is a marked tendency towards an innate primal cohesiveness. This manifests as the adoption of inbuilt hierarchies, not unlike those observed in wolf packs, fostering a sense of unity and collective purpose. Additionally, the Legionnaires exhibit an almost pathological dedication to achieving assigned goals, demonstrating a level of focus and determination that is particularly pronounced when compared to the psychological profiles of certain other Legions.
For instance, Legions such as the Stormwrath Scions or the Legio Corvorum Mortis are noted for their more pronounced individualistic and fractious tendencies post-ascension. Members of these Legions often prioritize personal glory or exhibit behavior that disrupts unit cohesion, whereas the Sons of The Morning channel their aggression and drive into a cohesive and disciplined force. This collective mindset not only enhances their effectiveness in battle but also reinforces the hierarchical structure that defines the Legion.
=== The Psychic-Nulls ===
The First Legion's Inheritance-Helix carries a unique genetic mutation akin to the more psychically sensitive Imperial Legions, such as The Hierophants of Fire, Dune Wardens, and The Astral Marauders. However, in the First Legion, this quirk manifests as the Nullifier.
The Nullifier is a mutation found in the more psychically attuned members of the First Legion. As in approximately 70-90% of Psycast-Born initiates, their psi-reactive organs are mutated by the Nullifier—a collection of adaptive glands that redirect the energies of the Aspirant. This mutation transforms what would otherwise be a volatile beacon of Void Energies into a pillar of psychic calm. The Nullifier neutralizes both positive and negative Void energies, reducing the psychic activity of an area to a state of normalcy. This affects all forms of psychic phenomena, whether they are "positive" actions, like those of Witches and Sorcerers who channel the void for specific purposes, or "negative" actions, like those of Psychic Pariahs whose existence actively drains Void energy.
Due to this mutation, the First Legion's Librarium Temples lack a significant number of Magus-Marines. However, the few Magi present are exceptionally potent Psycasts, with abilities rivaling those of even the IVth Legion's Masters. Instead, the First Legion's Librarium Temples are replaced by the Nullifier-Courts. These Courts are comprised of scholars and mentors who travel from Legion to Legion, assisting in the training and tutelage of psychically sensitive initiates. They also collect and pacify particularly potent Psycasts, bringing them to the Legion's Fortress Moon of Vralaes. 
On Vralaes, these Psycasts undergo further assessment and training. Depending on their abilities and the degree of their Nullifier mutation, they are either inducted into the Legion's Librarium Lodge or become members of the Nullifier Courts upon their ascension as Imperial Marines. This system ensures that the First Legion maintains control over its psychic potential, using the Nullifier mutation to its advantage. The Nullifier-Courts play a crucial role in this process, ensuring that the psychic energies within the Legion are balanced and that any potential threats from uncontrolled Void energies are neutralized.
=== The Prey-Drive ===
The Sons of The Morning are renowned for their genetic stability and cohesive pack-like mentality, but this also comes with a darker side: the "Prey-Drive." This particularly nasty trait is an intense and overwhelming activation of a Son of the Morning's innate instincts, triggered by the din and chaos of war. The Prey-Drive is an instinctual response to heightened stimuli in the heat of battle that heightens the marine's senses to an extreme degree. When afflicted, a Son of the Morning becomes hyper-focused, his perceptions sharpened to a razor's edge. This state of heightened awareness, while beneficial in some aspects, leads to a mindless revelry where the marine loses his ability to distinguish between friend and foe. The afflicted marine is driven to exploit every weak point he perceives, attacking with a ferocity and single-mindedness that can be as dangerous to allies as it is to enemies.
Psychologically, the first Legion's affliction of the Prey-Drive transforms a disciplined and strategic warrior into a primal force of destruction. The marine's cognitive functions are overridden by an instinctual need to hunt and kill, exploiting every witness he can find, resulting in a state akin to berserker fury. This poses significant risks in combat situations, as the afflicted marine may turn on his own comrades, mistaking theirs as the weaknesses he may find in his enemies in the throes of his frenzied state. Tactically, this affliction can disrupt carefully planned operations. The unpredictable nature of an afflicted marine can lead to breaches in formations, unplanned assaults, and potential casualties among friendly forces. Commanders within the Legion must be vigilant in identifying and managing instances of the affliction to mitigate its impact on overall mission success.
==== Stages ====
* Stage I: Predator's Edge - The Edge
** Description: The initial stage of the "Prey-Drive" where the marine experiences heightened senses and increased focus. The afflicted individual becomes hyper-aware of their surroundings, with a sharp increase in reflexes and reaction times beyond what should be the norm of a Marine. This stage often enhances combat performance but starts to show early signs of diminished distinction between ally and enemy, many among the First Legion teeter upon this desired edge.
** Symptoms: Enhanced sensory perception, heightened reflexes, increased focus on perceived targets regardless of true hostility.
* Stage II: Hunter's Frenzy
** Description: The marine's aggression intensifies, and they become more prone to ever more bouts of reckless behavior. The distinction between friend and foe begins to blur significantly. The marine may start attacking allies in the heat of battle, driven by an uncontrollable urge to dominate and destroy perceived threats. The Units of the Grangou-Blacks often are in a constant state of Hunter's Frenzy, though they are more capable of controlling their urges.
** Symptoms: Increased aggression, reckless behavior, partial loss of ally recognition, tendency to attack perceived threats indiscriminately.
* Stage III: Berserker's Rage
** Description: At this stage, the marine enters a near-mindless state of slaughter. The primal instincts completely override rational thought, leading to an uncontrollable and silent violence. The marine becomes a danger to both enemies and comrades, attacking anything that moves and quietly slaughtering with unnatural efficiency as they exploit every weak-point found. Communication and reasoning with the afflicted individual become nearly impossible.
** Symptoms: A quiet and near-mindless killing instinct overtakes the afflicted, total loss of ally recognition, uncontrollable outbursts, inability to communicate or reason.
* Stage IV: Apex Predation - The Apex State
** Description: The final and most dangerous stage of the "Prey-Drive." The marine is entirely consumed by his innate primal instincts, becoming a force of nature that strikes down everything in its path with silent ease. The afflicted individual is beyond control or redemption, and the only solution is to incapacitate or eliminate them to prevent further carnage.
** Symptoms: Complete loss of self-awareness, indiscriminate slaughter of all nearby entities, extreme physical exertion for even the enhanced physiques of the Imperial Marines, potential for self-destruction due to overexertion.
==== Management ====
The Sons of The Morning have developed various strategies to manage and contain the "Prey-Drive" phenomenon. These include:
* Pre-Combat Psychological Conditioning: Marines undergo rigorous psychological training to strengthen their mental resilience and reduce the likelihood of the Prey-Drive being triggered.
* Apothecarial Intervention: Apothecaries are equipped with specialized knowledge and tools to identify the onset of Pre-Drive and administer countermeasures, including sedatives and neuro-regulators, to calm the afflicted marine.
* Squad-Based Containment Protocols: Battle-brothers are trained to recognize the signs of Prey-Drive in their comrades and implement containment protocols, such as restraining the afflicted marine or redirecting their focus away from friendly forces.
* Specialized Equipment: Certain units are outfitted with equipment designed to monitor and regulate neural activity, providing early warnings of the Prey-Drive onset and allowing for rapid response.
** Most Notable of these Units of the Grangou-Blacks, a special operations unit of First Legion Elite who have conquered the Affliction's of the Prey-Drive, honing their minds into a near constant state of a more subdued form of the Affliction, wherein they supernaturally hone onto any weaknesses they see, whether hidden or not whilst even retaining their higher faculties.
== Legion Combat Doctrine ==
The combat doctrines of the Sons of The Morning are rooted in the relentless application of overwhelming and ferocious force. These strategies are meticulously crafted and expertly directed to exploit the precise vulnerabilities of their adversaries, ensuring that every strike is both devastating and decisive.
==== Strategic Overview ====
* Precision Devastation
** Description: The primary doctrine involves the employment of devastating strikes aimed at obliterating enemy command centers and critical strategic support infrastructure. By targeting the heart of an opponent's military capabilities, the Sons of The Morning aim to cripple the enemy's ability to coordinate and sustain their forces.
** Method: Utilizing a combination of orbital bombardments, precision strikes, and coordinated assaults, these attacks are designed to inflict maximum damage with minimal effort, often turning the tide of a conflict with a single, well-timed offensive.
* Ferocious Offensives
** Description: The Legion is known for launching brutal and unyielding offensives that overwhelm the enemy with sheer force. These attacks are characterized by their intensity and speed, leaving the opponent little time to react or regroup.
** Method: Massive, coordinated assaults employing heavy infantry, mechanized units, and air support. The goal is to break through enemy lines, sow chaos, and create opportunities for exploitation before enacting a retreat that would take from the enemy just as much as the assault did.
==== Tactical Doctrine ====
* Predatory Instincts
** Description: At the individual level, the Sons of The Morning embrace their doctrine with a predatory zeal. Much like the ancient wolves of Terra, they possess an innate instinct to exploit an adversary's critical weaknesses, encircling and dismantling exposed foes.
** Method: Small unit tactics that focus on flanking maneuvers, ambushes, and hit-and-run attacks. Each marine is trained to identify and exploit weaknesses, ensuring that even the smallest gap in the enemy's defenses can be turned into a catastrophic breach.
* Pack Tactics
** Description: Similar to the hunting strategies of wolves, the Sons of The Morning operate in tightly coordinated packs. These packs work together to encircle and isolate enemy units, preventing them from regrouping or reinforcing their positions. This can encompass as few marines as a squad to entire companies working in a near instinctive functions as they encircle and strike upon their enemies.
** Method: Utilizing a mix of swift assault troops and heavy support units, these packs are capable of adapting to changing battlefield conditions, ensuring that no enemy remains unchallenged or un-harassed.
* Overwhelming Force
** Description: Relentless application of force is a cornerstone of the Legion’s doctrine. They believe in leaving no quarter and applying maximum pressure until the enemy collapses under the strain.
** Method: Continuous and unrelenting assaults, using wave tactics where fresh units replace those that have taken heavy losses, maintaining constant pressure on the enemy.
=== Implementation in Battle ===
* Phase 1: Recon and Sabotage
** Description: Initial operations involve extensive reconnaissance and sabotage efforts to identify and weaken key targets.
** Method: Stealth units and spies are deployed to gather intelligence and disrupt enemy supply lines and communications.
* Phase 2: Decisive Strike
** Description: Following the preparatory phase, the main force launches a decisive strike aimed at critical enemy infrastructure.
** Method: Coordinated multi-pronged attacks, utilizing combined arms to achieve maximum impact and disarray.
* Phase 3: Exploitation, Pursuit and Prey-Capture
** Description: After the initial strike, the Sons of The Morning exploit the resulting chaos to pursue and annihilate fleeing or disorganized enemy forces.
** Method: Rapid response units and mobile reserves are deployed to chase down and eliminate any remaining pockets of resistance.
== Notable Legion Members ==
== Legion Fleet ==
* Star of Lecarro - 
* Solaris and Polaris - 
* Solar Claw - 
* Starlight Fang - 
* Wolf's Radiance - 
* Serpent's Gaze - 
* Sunfire Howl - 
* Lunar Serpent - 
* Star Viper - 
* Wolf's Eclipse - 
* Serpent's Dawn - 
== Legion Relics ==
== Legion Appearance ==
=== Legion Colors ===
Since its inception in M90-474, the Ist Legion donned a distinctive silver armor, a uniformity that was shared by nearly all Legions prior to their reunion with their Luminarch. However, following their reunion, the Ist Legion underwent a significant transformation, adopting the ivory and black armor of the clandestinely formed Sons of The Morning Legion, a group covertly established by the Emperor during Llucerian's 15-year formal education on Terra.
A visible manifestation of the sudden influence of the Legion's Lecarrite brethren was the early integration of Lecarrite gang-sigils and Black-Light Paints into an Imperial Marine's armor. These markings served as enduring records of the Marine's notable achievements, such as kills and heroic deeds, and indicated the specific company within the Legion to which they belonged. This tradition gained rapid momentum, especially after the Ist Legion initiated a large-scale induction of Lecarrite Born Marines into its ranks through its Mass Smart-Induction process penned my Llucerian himself.
=== Legion Badge ===
The Ist Legion's badge is a white orb representing Lecarro imposed over a stylized black sun surrounded by a bright halo.
== Notable Quotes ==
=== By the Legion ===
=== About the Legion ===
Category:Imperium
Category:Imperial Legions