Scythes of the Emperor

Scythes of the Emperor Armorial

Legionarry of the Scythes of the Emperor

### Observed Strategic Tendencies

Ship-borne Assaults & Boarding Actions, Mass Assault, Targeted Decimation, Strategic Decapition Strikes, Planetary Pacification

### Allegiance

Imperium of Man
(*Fedelitas Totalis*)

### Warcry

"For the Emperor!" (Former)
" We are the Scythes!" (Current)

"*Truth is a weapon, guard it well.*"
—Anonymous
The **Scythes of the Emperor** are one of the ten Legions of the Legiones Astartes that make up the so-called Black Halo - the formation of ten Legions consisting of Legions XXI through XXX, which are responsible for providing tactical support to the First Founding Legions as well as guarding and maintaining Mankind's most endangered zones. The Scythes are the XXIV Legion, hailing from the lineage of their Primarch Kolokai Krav.

## Legion Beliefs

Though the Scythes of the Emperor have a reputation for ferocity in battle, they are also known for priding themselves on their fury and courage above all else. Failure in battle is not tolerated, surrender is never countenanced and mercy is a quick death delivered to a foe that has fought with bravery. Cowards themselves deserve no more than savage butchery in reward for their fear. This simple but resolutely brutal code of war is the Scythes' article of faith and they extend it to both their own number and their enemy.

## Legion Gene-Seed

The gene-legacy of Krav is proudly borne by the Scythes of the Emperor. It seems the legacy of Krav's genetic material has no known aberrations in its genetic structure. However, their gene stock appears to be stable and displays some interesting qualities.

### Primarch's Curse: Death Before Dishonour

The Scythes of the Emperor have garnered a reputation as a stalwart and indefatigable Legion who refuses to withdraw in the face of the enemy, even when it would be tactically beneficial to do so. They are willing to fight to the death, down to the last, holding their position with siege-like mentality which will either see them triumph or die a beautiful death in the attempt. This expression of duty can become exaggerated in warriors of the Legion after long periods of combat, especially against numerous and unrelenting foes like the , Ork hordes of a WAAAGH! or the chitinous hordes of ravaging Tyranids. The Scythes of the Emperor consider that the only righteous and glorious path lies in the expenditure of their lives for these purposes and will face them with a stoic heart and single-mindedness that can only lead to the complete annihilation of everything and everyone they face, often eventually including themselves and those that fight alongside them. When the Legion's genetic curse manifests itself in an affected Battle-Brother, it comes on in three stages:

* **Level 1 (Hold Your Ground)** - As the odds mount so does the Battle-Brother's stubborn refusal to retreat, seeing only the glory and honour in defeating such overwhelming foes if even the barest glimmer of victory remains. Even if the doctrine and teaching of the *Principia* dictate retreat or flexible defence, the Battle-Brother will be loath to disengage until there is absolutely no choice, though often this can come too late. When the Battle-Brother wishes to retreat from combat, he must summon all his willpower to do so. If there is clearly no chance of victory, he will not withdraw until either himself or one of his brothers is wounded.

* **Level 2 (Suffer Not Defeat)** - Defeat is a bitter pill to swallow for the Battle-Brother and he would rather die fighting than accept that he has failed. This can lead to reckless behaviour as he throws himself into the fray or takes on excessive odds to win when prudence and tactical reason would dictate he withdraw. If the Battle-Brother suffers multiple wounds or if one of his squad mates is incapacitated or killed, he will renew the vigour of his attacks and launch himself into the foe. In this circumstance, he will attack, heedless of the mortal danger to himself. The Battle-Brother will often seek out the most able or dangerous of his foes. Only reluctantly, and with great willpower, will he retreat in the face of the enemy.

* **Level 3 (Fight Unto Death)** - The Battle-Brother has come to accept that perhaps only the cost of his own life will be enough to secure victory and is gladly willing to give his life. This can have dire consequences should the circumstances present him with a chance to martyr himself for the Emperor and bring ruin to the enemies of the Imperium. Should a Battle-Brother suffer mortal wounds, he gains a fatalistic desire to sell his life for the cause and will choose to expend his own life for a chance at victory or the safety of his brothers. This means he will fight on regardless of his wounds and continue to attack or place himself in the path of attacks even though the next blow could mean his end. He will also gladly accept suicidal or near-suicidal tasks (such as disarming unstable warheads, leading a forlorn hope or holding a breach to buy time for his companions) without complaint.

## Legion Appearance

### Legion Colours

The Scythes of the Emperor primarily wear yellow Power Armour. This includes the power pack, plastron (chest guard) and groin armour. The helm, both pauldrons, arms and legs armour are black in colour. A large white coloured squad specialty symbol is stenciled on the right shoulder pauldron, indicating Legionary's designated operational specialty (Devastator, Destroyer, Assault, Tactical, Veteran or Command). A black coloured High Gothic numeral is stenciled in the center of it, indicating squad assignment.

Veteran status is denoted by a yellow coloured left poleyn (knee guard) and adorned with a black skull.

### Legion Badge

The Scythes of the Emperor's Legion badge is a pair of crossed yellow scythes on a field of black or a single black scythe in a field of yellow.

## Legion Fleet

The vessels of the Scythes of the Emperor' fleet are a mismatch of old and heavily modified classes and capabilities. Within its line of battle are numerous examples of either very ancient, salvaged or extensively repaired vessels. Many fleet-based Space Marine Legions use the conventional Crusade Legion pattern, but the Scythes of the Emperor follow the rarer, so-called "Nomad-Predation" pattern.

The Scythes of the Emperor had used this unique pattern due to their long durations operating beyond the Imperium's borders. Acting as a self-contained force which could function with recourse to the Imperium. They possessed an original complement of thirteen capital voidcraft and a score of smaller starships, most of their exact classes unknown:

* ***Honour's Might* (Unknown Class Battleship)** - It is the personal flagship of the Scythes of the Emperor and serves essentially as the Legion's mobile Fortress-Monastery. A monster of a vessel and a weapon of terrible destructive presence, easily outclassing many warships utilised by the Imperial Navy. One of many vessels that had been out of commission since the days of the Heresy and being one of a number of vessels considered too powerful to be left in the hands of any single commander after the betrayals of the Heresy. This massive vessel is covered with weapons towers, crenellations and Macrocannon-studded flanks, the arching crest of its bridge block and, most fearsome of all, the vast, spinal-mounted exo-laser battery that runs down its length. This formidable vessel serves as their primary location for command operations and Legion coordination. This grants the Legion a greater level of flexibility for those instances when it becomes necessary to assemble multiple companies prior to embarking upon a Crusade. The Legion's flagship also contains the Legion's main Reclusiam, Reliquary and Apothecarion, where the Legion's genetic legacy is securely stored within the bowels of this mighty vessel. The Fero Karcharos bears substantially powerful void shields and a small, dedicated garrison for the ship's defence. The Scythes of the Emperor take extreme measures to ensure the safety of their genetic legacy. Often, several vessels will fly in close formation to the flagship, offering additional protection by it's void shields, and will willingly sacrifice themselves in order to ensure the survival of their genetic heritage at any cost.