Imperial Marchers

Koschei Kharkovic

### Colours

Imperial grey with black trim. Lower arms, legs, and power pack are orange. All cloth elements are black, with orange trim. All armorial markings are orange.

The **Imperial Marchers** are a chapter of the Godslayers Legion that decided to remain loyal to the Imperium during the Third Ruin.

## Background

When the Primarch Koschei Kharkovic made his decision to break from the Imperium, he reached out to each of his Veliteľ. He told them of his intentions and invited each of them to speak their minds. While there were those who voiced their reservations about the prospects of separating from the Imperium, all but one Veliteľ reaffirmed their loyalty to their Gene-sire.

Gavril Doren, Veliteľ of the 37th Kapitola pleaded with Koschei to reconsider. But when the Primarch of the Godslayers indicated that his mind had been made up, Doren requested leave to break with the legion, and return to Terra. To the surprise of his sons, Koschei granted the Veliteľs request, and bade him leave in peace. His men, as well as any others, were permitted to do so as well if they wished.

When the Thirty-seventh Kapitola returned to Terra, it was in escort of Koschei’s own Equerry, Maximilián Jovanovi, who carried a message to the Council. When the Lord of the Eighth’s declaration was made, the Legionaries of the Thirty-seventh waiting in the palace courtyard laid down their bolters in unison, and surrendered to the Imperial forces that descended upon them. Gavril’s only request was that he be given the chance to speak to the High Regent before judgement was passed upon his brothers, and himself. Instead he was informed that the Regent would be traveling to Zbruch in person to confront his misguided brother, and that he, and his men, would have to wait for his return in the palace dungeons. When he did return, an audience was granted, and Gavril was granted the opportunity to serve, granted he, and his men, submitted to scrutiny by the High Regent first.

Having regained their honour, and proven their loyalty, the Thirty-seventh, who had reclaimed the Eighth Legion’s previous cognomen, the Imperial Marchers, deployed to the galactic north to serve in the ongoing Khrave Extermination Campaign. Afterwards, they would deploy to various conflicts, under the order of the High Regent, returning to Terra only shortly before the fateful events of the Siege of Terra perpetrated by the Traitorous Chaos Legions. There, they would suffer terrible losses while trying to halt the advance of the Demon Prince Theoderaf, losing both their Chapter Master, Gavril Doren, as well as ninety-five percent of their total number.

After the Siege of Terra, the remaining Imperial Marchers would be absorbed into the ranks of the Obsidian Guard under the command of the Primarch Lukas Keath. There, they would be allowed to slowly regain their numbers until the fateful day that they returned to full chapter strength, and once again became an independent Chapter in service to the Imperium.

The Imperial Marchers of that age, however, were by then nearly unrecognizable to their Separatist Godslayer kin, as the battle against Theoderaf had left an originally imperceivable mark on the very gene-seed of the loyalist chapter. One which only grew more severe as time went on. Gone were the high-minded ideals of the Dreamer, now replaced with a brutality which bordered on the psychotic, and a penchant for the wanton elimination of human life, though the methodical nature in which they went about their campaigns remained. So severe was this change, that by the time of the fortieth millenia, calls for the deployment of the Imperial Marchers were reserved only for worlds in which no mercy was intended.

## Notable Members

* **Gavril Doren** - First Chapter Master