Emerald Spears

Emerald Spears armorial with Chapter iconography

Emerald Spears Primaris Intercessor of the 3rd Company, 3rd Battleline Squad.

"*Independence and heroism may seem the ideal, but they pale to unity and planning*"
— Captain of the 6th Company, Battle-Brother Darragh
The **Emerald Spears** are a loyalist Space Marine Chapter created from the lineage of the heroic Ultramarines during the 25th 'Bastion' Founding. Since their founding they have become notable for their exceptional level of coordination and teamwork. The Emerald Spears are ruthless warriors who pursue their enemies until every last foe has been slain. With tactical precision and fearless resolve do the Emerald Spears wage war on the enemies of the Imperium.

Every battle is meticulously planned, every foe tactically analysed and every ally carefully scrutinised to ensure that victory is achieved in the most efficient manner possible. Then, when the battle is won and the fallen counted, all is recorded once again, the better to serve the Emerald Spears in their next war.

## Chapter History

### Origins

The Emerald Spears were founded in the 25th Founding as a fleet-based chapter. For the first century of their service their campaigns took them from Holy Terra deep into Segmentum Tempestus where they came across an uncharted system, Merast, which was home to a lost colony of the DAOT. The Emerald Spears upon landing on the world discovered that the humans living there were exemplars of coordinated and planned warfare thanks to the extremely dangerous natural predators of the plains they called home.

The humans of Merast Tertius, while relatively primitive and unaware of the Imperium as large, had managed to maintain hold onto some advanced technology such as powered weapons and las-weaponry and recognised the Astartes of the Emerald Spears as kin despite the technological and cultural differences between the groups.

Shortly afterwards, the first chapter master of the Emerald Spears, Captain Taharius, petitioned the high lords of Terra to grant them the Merast system as their homeworlds, a petition that was granted.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Cleansing of Sylphis XI (760.M40) -** The first known campaign of the Emerald Spears, upon arriving in the Sylphis system the Chapter discovered the Hive World of Sylphis XI was in anarchy after the assassination of the planetery governer. A long campaign followed, the details of which are mostly unknown to the wider Imperium. What is known however is that the chapter was heavily wounded afterwards, leading to their promotion of forethought and coordination in all future campaigns.
* **Anakis Tyranic Campaign (Unknown Date) -** Upon heading a report from the Imperial Fists concerning a Tyranid splinter fleet in Segmentum Tempestus, the 6th Company headed towards the system of Anakis to intercept them. A long campaign ensued, leaving the company with a little over half it's strength, yet the assistance of the 12th, 19th and 48th Anakis Raptoris regiments, along with a company-strength force of the Penitant Gates ensured that the Splinter Fleet was destroyed with only Anakis Ultima being left barren and lifeless.
* **Siege of Kristos Delta (319.M41) -** Acting on intelligence received from Inquistor Archanis of Ordo Hereticus, the Emerald Spears' Stalwart Lances (10th Company) headed out to Kristos Delta in the eastern Segmentum Tempestus, where alongside a unit of Tempestus Scions and a small contigent of the Angels Celestial, they broke the siege of Kristos, opening the malignant foretress to the attentions of the Imperial guardsmen, leading to the destruction of a chaos cult dedicated to the Changer of Ways.
* **Thanatos Crusade (Early M42) -** (TBA)

## Chapter Homeworld

Originally founded as a fleet-based chapter, the beautiful yet dangerous world of Merast Tertius became the homeworld of the Emerald Spears after it's discovery as a lost colony of humanity. The Merastian natives were naturally intelligent and pre-disposed to coordinated hunts, the similarities between the native's style of warfare and the tactics of the Emerald Spears being the main factor of it's eventual colonisation as the chapter homeworld. Merast Tertius is offically classed as a Garden/Civilised world, the incredibly large and dangerous local predators being the only source of danger for the native population, leading to the local's warlike nature despite the lack of need for conflict between the Merastian communes.

Life on Merast Tertius is harsh yet rewarding, the squalor and disease found on most Imperial planets are rarely encountered, due to this background and the intelligent nature of the Merastian people, many orators and Adeptus Ministorum clergy have come from Merast Tertius, bringing the word of their homeworld to the far reaches of the Imperium.

Merast Tertius has a much longer orbital period compared to Terra, with a local year taking almost 3 terran standard, the planet also has a heavy axial tilt, leading to large fluctuations between the Merastian Summer and Winter.

Since the Emerald Spears assumed stewardship of the planet, this has lead to a martial culture where children of all social levels are trained from a young age in the local forms of combat, tactics, spearmanship and coordination between warriors being the most prized qualities. All boys are tested on the Merastian summer of their 11th birthday in the form of tournaments and competitions in order to gain a place within the chapter, while very few of the initiates end up successful, the surviving children are respected and granted their position in Merastian society, being tested at 14 for incorporation into the Gallowglass. Girls are also trained just as strictly as the boys and are tested at 14 for incorporation into the many regiments of the Merastian Gallowglass, where they remain on reserve until the Imperium requests their service, leading to Merast Tertius having a potent PDF unmatched by many planets of similar populations.

### Fortress-Monastery

The **Halberd** is a large fortress complex found in the Fiadh mountain range, the largest and most foreboding of the many mountains of Merast Tertius' large central continent. The mountain peak's themselves have been carved and shaped into the many halls, training yards and residential chambers of the chapter. Due to the Emerald Spear's respect for the natural wilderness of their home planet, the fortress-monastery lacks the visible construction of many imperial buildings, but beneath the seemingly natural landscape lies a well crafted and well defended base of operations, complete with forges, space-docks and the multitude of other required buildings.

The 10 companies each hold a castle within the fortress, with their own training yards, apothacarians, libraries and chapels, due to the independence of each company from each other. Despite this however, the largest and grandest of the constructions is home to the chapter master himself, and serves as a common ground for each company to spar, feast and re-ignite bonds between companies and even between chapters on the rare occurences that Merast is visited by them.

## Chapter Organisation

The Emerald Spears are considered partially Codex Compliant, due to the lack of seperation between company roles. Each company of the Emerald Spears contains it's own compliment of veterans, assault squads, scouts, and more. Specialists are assigned to each company on a mostly-permanent basis, only moving between companies to maintain balance between them.

The Emerald Spears maintain a relatively large contingent of librarians due to both their prefered style of war and the slightly above average rate of psyker mutation amongst the population of their homeworld.

The Sage of the Emerald Spears is assisted by a council of specialists and mortals, along with any Company Captains that may be present at the homeworld at the time and the Venerable Dreadnought of Taharius, first Sage of the Chapter. Upon the death of the Sage, the Astartes of the council elect a new Sage from amongst the captains and lieutenants of the Chapter

## Combat Doctrine

The Emerald Spears are known for a high level of pragmatic forethought and planning before campaigns, with months or even years of planning and preparation before they commit themselves to the final assault, over which time the company captains, support staff and even select mortal representatives debate the merits of each plan before landing upon decision. In times of crisis this preparation has been abstained from but this has nearly universally ended up with much higher fatality rates than would be expected.

In battle the Emerald Spears rely on coordinated teamwork and ruthless application of precise force in order to complete their objectives, each battle-brother of the chapter being one of the many. The Emerald Spears disdain the individuality and heroism seeking behaviour of some other chapters and in return are considered overly cautious and cynical by these same chapters.

Each company is tasked independently with dealing with issues, with multiple companies typically only being conjoined on campaign against larger, more pervasive threats (such as heretic Astartes invasions).

### Weaponry

The Emerald Spears typically prefer to use long handled chain or power spears over the swords and axes chosen by other chapters, this gives the chapter a slight disadvantage in close-quarters against other Astartes as their chosen weaponry leaves them vulnerable in very close quarters. To remedy this most battle-brothers of Sergeant rank or above maintain and use short power daggers for extreme close combat.

As part of the Emerald Spears love for nature in all forms, they tend to disdain the use of Devastator squads and their representive weapons. Exterminatus is also only considered as an extreme last resort.

### Librarians

The Druids (Librarians) of the Emerald Spears have been shaped by the culture of their homeworld, utilising a combination of Imperial standard psyker practises along with the runic, ritualistic actions of the Merastians. Most Druids of the Emerald Spears have a large psycrystal gemstone mounted into their power armour, serving as a channeling point and focus for their abillities.

The Emerald Spears maintain the Codex ranks of the Librarius, although they use new titles and symbols taken from the Merastians.

The Druids of the Emerald Spears have inherited some unique librarian powers from their parent chapter, along with a couple of their own unique abilities:

* ***Inspiring Word*** - The Druid calms the minds of nearby allies and completely dispels their fear and doubt.
* ***War Cry*** - With a terrifying cry, the Druid demoralises and stuns nearby foes, forcing them to cower before his might.
* ***Word of the Emperor*** - The Druid recites a sanctified prayer to the Emperor, speaking holy words that burn the minds of the unfaithful and cast out the spirits of the Warp.
* ***Verdant Creepers*** - The Druid calls upon the spirit of their home, manifesting vines of energy to ensare their foes.
* ***Coordinated Mind*** - The Druid casts his mind out, allowing all willing allies to communicate at the speed of thought, ensuring coordination in the most chaotic of battlefields.

### Company Tactics

Despite the lack of seperation of roles found in the Emerald Spears' companies, some companies have become known for a specific facet of combat or skilled at facing specific foes.

* **1st Company (Taharius' Own):** The 1st company and the original company of First Sage Taharius, the former chapter master of the Emerald Spears. The vaunted 1st company is known for it's tactical brilliance amongst a chapter already founded on the ideals of planning and tactics. By tradition, the newly elected Sage (unless the new Sage is chosen from the 1st itself) becomes the captain of the 1st, while a new captain is advanced from the command structure of their former Company.
* **2nd Company (Jade Spectres):** The 2nd company are known for their skill with stealth and covert operations, leading to more Vanguard Marines calling this company home than is standard for the relatively homogeneous companies of the Emerald Spears.
* **3rd Company (Argent Retributors)**
* **4th Company (Reivers Vengeant):** The 4th company of the Emerald Spears, the Reivers are noted for their beligerance and battle-lust, leading to a higher than average number of assault squads calling this company home.
* **5th Company (Verdant Riders):** The Verdant Riders are known for their technological expertise, and as such most squads of this company go to battle as Biker Squads or as crew for the chapter's battle vehicles.
* **6th Company (Preservers of Life):** The 6th company are renowned for their marksmanship, along with their skill at facing the threat of the Tyranids. Their skill at facing the myriad Hive Fleets has lead to the company being known as the Preservers of Life, as the Tyranids are seen as the largest menace to the Imperium due to their decimation of life and wilderness.
* **7th Company (Sky Shrikes):** The 7th company are masters of the aerial assault, with most, if not all the Battle-Brothers of this company being equiped with jump-packs or Inceptor Configuration-Gravis plate. They're known for their skill at fighting in mountainous terrain, thanks to the training they undertake in the Fiadh mountains.
* **8th Company (Chosen of Gladiolus)**
* **9th Company (Harbingers of Caelus):** The 9th Company are the only company of the Emerald Spears to use what they call World-Killer weapons, such as heavy plasma weapons, chemical weapons or even the dreaded Life-Eater warheads. As such the Harbingers of Caelus are mistrusted by most of the chapter, although this reputation has decreased since the promotion of Captain Lazelius to the position of Great Sage.
* **10th Company (Stalwart Lances):** Known for their mastery of siege warfare, the 10th company stands mostly alone, the Battle-Brothers of the 10th being typically reclusive and cynical, a side-effect of their deployment in the gruelling art of the siege.

### Unique Formations

* **The Sage Wardens:** The Sage Wardens takes the place of an honour guard found in some other chapters. Rather than being drawn exclusively from the 1st Company, each of the 10 members of the Sage Wardens are drawn from veterans of each company, providing the Sage a range of opinions to assist with planning and is selected as representative of the company by the company command. Each member of the Wardens is equipped with a power halberd, a storm shield and their own pick of a ranged weapon, typically either a bolt pistol, neo-volkite pistol or a plasma pistol.
* **Navis Guardians:** As part of a long running pact with the Rogue Trader household House Noirheel, one squad of Emerald Spears is assigned to the protection of the household's Capital Ship, the Aeternus Octavius. The squad's chosen to serve aboard the Aeternus are rotated once per quarter century, and are selected from whatever company has currently returned to Merast Tertius for re-supply between campaigns.

## Chapter Beliefs

The culture of the Emerald Spears has been heavily shaped by their homeworld, marines of the chapter are known for their appreciation of nature and the arts, Battle-Brothers are encouraged to practise in forms of art such as painting or sculpture as a form of meditation and devotion to the Emperor.

The tribal culture of their homeworld has led to each company of the Emerald Spears competing with each other to refine their skills and learn from what each other has learnt on the campaign, these findings then being compiled, studied and incorporated into the planning stages of future campaigns. The Merastian culture is also reflected in the livery of the chapter; the greens, golds and blacks of their armour and the vine and flower symbolism being direct parallels to their home.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

As standard for successor chapters of the Ultramarines, the Emerald Spears have extremely pure gene seed and can produce all of the implants with little mutation. During their history as a fleet chapter there was little consistency between genetics of different Battle-Brothers, however since adopting Merast as their home the pale skin and ginger hair of the Merastian's has come to dominate.

## Deathwatch Service

The Emerald Spears don't typically serve the long vigil due to their dislike of working without the coordination of their brothers. However over the centuries a few Emerald Spears have done service with the Deathwatch, typically as one part in the myriad campaigns the chapter is active in.

## Notable Chapter Members

* **Sage Taharius:** Chapter Master (Sage) Taharius was the first Sage of the Emerald Spears, Taharius was noted as extremely level-headed and calm, traits that had served him well in his tenure as Chapter Master. Taharius is known as the Hero of Sylphis by his chapter due to his exemplary leadership and command during the ill-fated campaign of Sylphis XI, early in the chapters history. After a gruelling war in the early 42nd millenium, Sage Taharius was honoured with being incorporated into a Dreadnought where he remains still, serving his chapter as an advisor and potent homeguard.
* **6th Captain Darragh:** One of the first Merastians to advance up to the rank of Company Captain, Battle-Brother Darragh was an exemplery marksman, a trait which has encouraged his Company to focus on the art of marksmanship over that of the melee. Darragh was a veteran of many campaigns, including multiple successful battles against the Tyranids.
* **Master Druid Marcus Cathail:** Assigned to the 7th company in the late 41st millenium, Druid Cathail was first noted as a man of rare psychic talent, leading to his fast progression in the ranks of the Emerald Spears LIbrarius.
* **Sergeants Caedmon & Caradoc:** Merastian twins, the so-called Twin Souls both passed the trials and advanced to the Emerald Spears at the same time. Since their rebirth as Astartes Caedmon & Caradoc have become notable for the almost pretenatural level of coordination between them, leading to Company Command to, in an unprecedented move, advance both brothers to the joint rank of 9th company, 6th squad sergeant.
* **Sage Lazelius:** The current Sage of the Emerald Spears and former Captain of the 9th, Lazelius Morrigan is known throughout the Segmentum Tempestus as a man of high honour and rigerous forethought. Sage Lazelius inherited his position after the Thanatos Crusade and became one of the first Emerald Spears to cross the Rubicon Primaris, although not without months of personal deliberation.
* **Master Smith Grashius:** Grashius serves as the Master of the Forge for the Emerald Spears. A kind yet bellicose smith, Grashius is famed for his combination of wisdom, artificer skill and willingness to teach the younger generations.
* **Apothecary Chief Padraigh:** Apothecary Padraigh is the current chief Apothecary of the Emerald Spears and the former Apothecary of the 9th, Padraigh is known amongst the chapter for his cantankerous nature, but his skills in the arts of battlefield-surgery and gene-seed implantation are considered to more than make up for the old medic.

## Chapter Fleet

* **"Wrath of Gaia":** The former fleet-monastery of the Emerald Spears, the Wrath of Gaia is the flagship of the chapter and is base of operations for the 1st Company. The battle-barge is normally anchored above Merast Tertius. but on the days that the Sage leads his company and chapter into the void, the ancient vessel is awoken and the Merastian natives look up at a new star, and know that the One Above is looking down on them.
* **Viridian Raider Alpha - Iota:** The 9 chapter strike-cruiser vessels serve as the flagships of the companies; small, lightly armoured and nimble, the Viridian Raiders are adept at infilitrating and releasing their cargo of Marines, ready to complete their missions.

## Chapter Relics

* **The Spear of Kernos:** This relic power spear is uncountably ancient, being gifted to the Emerald Spears upon inception by their primogenitors the Ultramarines. The Spear of Kernos never needs sharpening, never seems to run dry on power and is as light and nimble as a sword. The Spear is currently wielded by Sage Lazelius after his promotion to Great Sage.
* **Blade of Caelus:** This ancient power sword, this blade was crafted for the first captain of the 9th Company and was inherited by Lazelius upon his advancement to that post. Upon Lazelius' promotion to Great Sage, the Blade was given to his successor, with Lazelius choosing to wield the Spear of Kernos.
* **Aegis of Merast:** The Aegis of Merast is an artificer crafted variation of the standard Gravis Mark X Power Armor. Crafted by the Mechanicum of Merast Septus, this unique battleplate incorporates an Iron Halo, along with thicker ceramite plates granting high defence than standard Gravis Plate.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Emerald Spears wear solid green power armour, with black and gold accents. The company insignia and squad classification is, as per codex, displayed on the right pauldron and left knee.

### Chapter Badge

The Emerald Spears chapter badge consists of two golden laurel vines circling a golden and green flower upon a black background.

## Relations

### Allies

* **Tempestus Wardens:** A coalition of chapters dedicated to defending the Segmentum Tempestus
	+ Penitent Gates
	+ Bladehounds
	+ Sable Claws

### Rivals

* **Space Wolves**
* **Black Templars**

### Enemies

* **Forces of Chaos**
* Lernean Vipers

## Quotes

(Feel free to add quotes about them)

"*Noble sons of Guilliman, it has been an absolute honor to fight by your sides. You may be young, but you are valiant and brave beyond doubt. May the Angels Celestial and the Emerald Spears be allies for ever more!*"
—Nathaniel Danatis, Chapter Master of the Angels Celestial to Lazelius Morrigan on the conclusion of the Siege of Kristos Delta
## Gallery

The *Spear of Kernos*, a relic Power Spear gifted to the Emerald Spears by the Ultramarines, wielded by Sage Lazelius.Venerable Dreadnought Sage Taharius, first Chapter Master of the Emerald Spear.Master Druid of the Emerald Spears, wielding a Force SpearUnknown Emerald Spears Firstborn Battle-Brother of the 2nd Company (Jade Spectres), 6th Battleline Squad wearing modified Mk VII Armour with a Mk IV Helmet.Emerald Spears Firstborn Techmarine.Intercessor Primaris Intercessor of the 3rd Company, 3rd Battleline Squad.Emerald Spears Chaplain wielding the unique pole-axe crozius of the Emerald Spears.Emerald Spears Apothecary.Great Sage Lazelius of the Emerald SpearsEmerald Spears Inceptor