Kharonean Martyrs

Kharonean Martyrs armorial with Chapter iconography.

Kharonean Martyrs Ferryman of the 3rd Company, 9th Fire Support Squad.

"*Great is the service we perform, and so our payment must be of equal worth. Our blades will carry you over the great rivers beyond, and our fires shall purify that which is impure. Nothing may be given freely, for the debt always comes due.*"
—Chapter Master Orthus
The **Kharonean Martyrs** is a loyalist Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, created during the 18th Founding, though the exact date of their inception has been lost to the shifting tides of time. They belong to the gene-line of Lion El'Jonson, which makes them a part of the Unforgiven successors of the Dark Angels Legion. They are, for the most part, adherent to the structures of the Codex Astartes, though many of their methods are somewhat unorthodox when stood beside other Space Marine Chapters.

On the field of battle, the Kharoneans Martyrs prefer to look their enemies in the eyes as they tear their bodies apart with the teeth of their chainswords and burn what remains in the purifying fires of their melta guns. As far as their beliefs are concerned, death is a personal affair that deserves due respect, for all brothers of the order see themselves as the ferrymen who carry the souls of the living, both saintly and foul, across the endless rivers of the afterlife. All who meet their fury are delivered to the other side of the veil, so that they may find the rest that must follow all life. This service, as they like to think of it, does not come without cost, however.

Whenever the Chapter comes to the aid of a beleaguered system or fights alongside other Imperial forces, they will demand compensation for the blood they shed. Once their blades are pledged to a cause, the ferrymen will perform their duty with utmost dedication and unrelenting determination, gladly accepting the martyrdom that awaits them in the fires of war. Even so, their services are never given freely, nor is their zeal. To replenish the high numbers of men, equipment, and other resources they expend, the officers of the Kharonean Martyrs will name a steep price to whoever possesses the means to pay them. It is merely their due reward, for a debt incurred through the sacrifice of Astartes lives, and so they feel little shame about taking what is rightfully theirs.

Many additional structures and roles have been incorporated into their organisation to facilitate the managing of resources and tithes collected by the Chapter, though much of their Chapter Cult is also dedicated to ensuring that their warriors do not succumb to greed and avarice. As important as the acquisition of resources is for the Martyrs, such wealth, in the end, is meant to serve a need.

## Chapter Organisation

The Kharonean Martyrs mostly follow the structure of a standard Astartes Chapter as laid out in the pages of the *Codex Astartes*. Rather than creating entirely new suborders and ranks, the already existing institutions, like the Reclusiam, Armoury and Apothecarion, have been invested with additional tasks and duties to perform, all in the name of maintaining order and control over their wealth and resources. Throne gelts, gold, machinery, ammunition, weapons, strategic intel, human labour. All are accepted currency, for the Chapter trades with anything and everything that they attribute value to.

To keep track of all transactions and their contents, the payments collected must be authenticated, appraised, accounted for, and stored. The overall flow and security of resources must also be strictly managed. To this end, most specialists and officers of the Kharonean Martyrs hold dual duties.

### Officer Ranks

* **Chapter Master**

* **Captain**

* **Lieutenant**

### Specialist Officer Ranks

* **Lord Authenticator (Forgemaster)**

* **Lord Appraiser (Chief Apothecary)**

* **Lord Accounter (Chief Librarian)**

* **Lampades Commander** - Leader of the Lampades Honour Guard

### Specialist Ranks

* **Authenticator** - More commonly known as Techmarines, the Authenticators, along with the Appraisers, are Marines in charge of inspecting and authenticating the goods that the Chapter receives in exchange for its services in battle. They confirm the condition and quantity of all collected payments and tithes, although machines and forms of technology are naturally their foremost area of expertise.

* **Appraiser** - Apothecaries. Though they serve the Chapter in the vital role of medical specialists, they also hold the duty of inspecting and appraising the goods that the Chapter receives in exchange for its services in battle. Whereas the Authenticators specialise in determining the value of machines and technology, the Appraisers are most skilled when taking stock of a human being and the usefulness they may have in serving the Chapter. The Kharonean Martyrs accept many forms of payment, including human lives.

* **Bookkeeper** - Another term used for the Librarians. Versed in the mystic ways of the Warp though they are, their responsibilities as chroniclers uniquely qualify them to keep track of the Chapter's transactions through the ages, thus maintaining an understanding of what the blood of its warriors is worth. Their task is to convert earnings to work and determine the cost of combat actions. It falls to the Bookkeepers of the Librarius to give out wages and control the flow of resources.

* **Chaplain**

* **Treasurer** - A secondary class of chaplains who, in addition to their role as spiritual guides, oversee and manage the Chapter Treasury. They are, in a sense, the salesmen and merchants of the order, converting material goods to currency. Though much of what the Kharonean Martyrs receive as payment has value on its own, some resources are more useful to the Astartes when sold.

### Line Ranks

* **Veteran Sergeant**
* **Veteran**
* **Sergeant**
* **Ferryman** - Battle Brother

### Specialist Units & Formations

"*We have sinned through avarice, the open hand became a fist, and greed a miser's drunkenness.*"
—Excerpt from the Hymn of Repentance
* **Avaricious Martyrs** - The acquisition of wealth and resources has great importance for the Kharonean Martyrs, yet it must never stray into the sin of greed. When a brother of the Chapter begins to put the value of coin over the value of his duty and his brother's lives, he is censured and condemned to the ranks of the Avaricious Martyr Squads to find redemption in death. These units are sometimes referred to as "Avaricious Squads", "Avarice Squads" or "Martyr Squads".

* **Lampedes Honour Guard** - These warriors are the personal protectors of the Chapter Master, sworn to give their lives for their lord without hesitation. They stride to battle with radiant war-flails, hurling burning lamps in place of spiked mace heads.

### Order of Battle

#### Headquarters

**-Chapter Master-**

**Orthus Drachmar**
**"The Excisor"**
**"The Two-Headed"**
**1 Land Raider (*"Miser's Redemption"*)**

**Lampades Honour Guard**

**-Lampades Commander-**
**Commander Hekatum the Hundred-Handed**
**14 Lampades**

**Chapter Equerries**
***-Forgemaster-***
**Ika'rus Sol**
*+ Lord Authenticator +*

 **28 Authenticators**
**10,000+ Tech-Servitors**

**25 Battle Tanks (multiple types)**
**20 Predators**
**19 Vindicators**
**11 Whirlwinds**
**30 Land Raiders**

**26 Gunships (Stormtalons and Stormravens)**

**24 Centurion Warsuits**

**33 Land Speeders**
**Assault Bikes**
***-High Chaplain-***
**Pytho Cadius**
*+ Master of Sanctity +*
*+ Lord of the Treasury +*

**10 Company Chaplains**

**10 Treasurers**

***-Chief Apothecary-***
**Asclepion Alaric**
*+ Corpus Helix +*
*+ Lord Appraiser +*

**16 Appraisers**

***-Chief Librarian-***
**Alekandri Elysi**
*+ Lord Accounter +*

**2 Epistolaries**
**4 Codiciers**
**5 Lexicaniums**
**2 Acolytes**

***-Master of the Fleet-***
**Assigned to the highest ranking officer present**

**2 Battle Barges**
**4 Strike Cruisers**
**1 Lunar Class Cruiser**
**10 Gladius Frigates**
**10 Conveyor Ships**
**25 Cargo Ships**

**75 Thunderhawks**

#### Companies

**-Captain Xelos Tartarus-**

**2 Lieutenants**
**Company Herald**
**Company Champion**

**100 Veterans (Including Terminators)**

**3 Dreadnoughts**

**-Captain Denai Octarus-**

**2 Lieutenants**
**Company Herald**
**Company Champion**

**5 Battleline Squads**
**3 Close Support Squads**
**2 Fire Support Squads**

**2 Dreadnoughts**

**-Captain Ixion Agripus-**

**2 Lieutenants**
**Company Herald**
**Company Champion**

**6 Battleline Squads**
**2 Close Support Squads**
**2 Fire Support Squads**

**2 Dreadnoughts**

**-Captain Aegael Macragor-**

**2 Lieutenants**
**Company Herald**
**Company Champion**

**6 Battleline Squads**
**2 Close Support Squads**
**2 Fire Support Squads**

**4 Dreadnoughts**

**-Captain Tantalus Badabor-**

**2 Lieutenants**
**Company Herald**
**Company Champion**

**6 Battleline Squads**
**2 Close Support Squads**
**2 Fire Support Squads**

**1 Dreadnought**

**-Captain Kuinnitas Vigil-**

**2 Lieutenants**
**Company Herald**
**Company Champion**

**10 Battleline Squads**

**4 Dreadnoughts**

**-Captain Nemien Konor-**

**2 Lieutenants**
**Company Herald**
**Company Champion**

**10 Battleline Squads**

**3 Dreadnoughts**

**-Captain Rhodes Talledus-**

**2 Lieutenants**
**Company Herald**
**Company Champion**

**10 Close Support Squads**

**1 Dreadnoughts**

**-Captain Verpholii Nachmund-**

**2 Lieutenants**
**Company Herald**
**Company Champion**

**10 Fire Support Squads**

**2 Dreadnoughts**

**-Captain Eurydices Gathalamor-**
*+ Master of Recruits +*

**2 Lieutenants**

**Scout Squads**
**Unassigned Neophytes**

## Chapter Recruitment

When it comes to the aqcuisition of new recruits, the Chapter often finds itself spoiled for choice. The Kharonean Martyrs frequently accept serfs as part of their compensation, especially when fighting on worlds with vast populations. Naturally the Appraisers are still very selective when it comes to deciding which of them will serve as mere menials, and which will ascend to the ranks of the Astartes, yet even so the sheer number of fresh aspirants ensures that their ranks are replenished often.

Once suitable candidates have been selected to partake in further trials of ascension, they are put through many weeks of rigorous training regimen and unforgiving testing, all in order to forge their minds and bodies into worthy vessels for the Emperor's gifts. Education in all physcial and mental aspects is imparted, all in the name of creating great warriors of able form and function.

### Trial of Worth

One of the most important tests is the Trial of Worth. In this trial, an aspirant is placed within one of the Chapter's many treasury vaults, those ancient and vast chambers where the Kharonean Martyrs store all their riches and resources. The aspirant is then asked to select one object out of the thousands arrayed before him, that which he believes to be the most valuable, and which he will be allowed to keep, regardless if he makes the correct choice. The purposes of this test are twofold.

Firstly, it tempts the challengers with the prospect of wealth.

"Even if I do not pass this test, if I take a great treasure with me I will live as a king among the other serfs!" Such thoughts all too often corrupt the greedy hearts of those who might attempt to become part of the Kharonean brotherhood, and so they must be excised from any potential neophytes.

Secondly, it reveals if the recruit understands the true meaning of value, the true meaning of what a Space Marine requires to fulfil his duty.

Many of the artifacts and treasures inside the vaults are marked with seals to denote their estimated trade-price, though they are misleading in the context of the trial. For it is not the monetary worth of an object that the aspirants must ascertain, but its usefulness to the Chapter. A precious goblet of gold may be exchanged for many things, but it will not slay one's foes on the field of battle. A gleaming xenos weapon of destruction could surely render countless enemies to dust, but if an aspirant should choose it over a simple chainsword, he will quickly realize that he knows not how to fire it. Indeed, a worthy recruit must not know a thing's price, but its value.

Many other trials await the youths before they are gifted their gene-seed, but few who pass the Trial of Worth fail the stages which come hereafter.

### Trial of the Rivers

The Trial of the Rivers is the final trial a neopyhte has to overcome before being considered a true Space Marine and being granted his Black Carapace. At this point the neopyhte will already have fought in the Chapter's scout formations for some time, but in order to be accepted as a true ferryman, Trial of the Rivers must be passed.

It is, in essence, a fairly straightforward trial. Five rivers, artificially constructed deep within the bowels of the Chapter Flagship, must be crossed. The aspirants must swim to the other side of each river with naught but their arms and legs to carry them to the other side, for a ferryman should not be reliant on his boat and oar alone. Each tumultuous river is filled with a different chemical mix of poisons and acids, strong enough to cause incredible pain, but tame enough to not kill the scout instantly.

Whilst the neopyhte struggles against the surging currents of death, Chaplains stand on each shore, bellowing endless questions that are expected to be answered correctly and swiftly. Questions ranging from theoretical battle tactics to spiritual rites, from sword stances and boltgun maintenance protocols to prayers and matters of the Chapter's history. As soon as a question is answered another is asked, leaving the neophyte little room for breathing in the midst of his crossing.

The final river to be crossed under an incessant barrage of inquiries is filled with burning promethium, and tests the soon-to-be-ferryman's determination in the face of seemingly impossible obstacles. How exactly those who plunge into its fires survive is a mystery, for any who dare should by rights have their skin seared and their bones melted. And yet, most who take the plunge emerge on the other side, reborn as true warriors of the Kharonean Martyrs.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

The gene-seed of the Martyrs was initially as pure and stable as that of its parent Chapter, yet over the course of several millennia a flaw slowly evolved in the genetic material, for reasons not entirely known. It is known as the Ferryman's Avarice, a subtle yet dangerous flaw that could potentially threaten the culture and integrity of the Chapter.

### The Ferryman's Avarice

This genetic flaw, only identified as such in late M39, causes a disorder which slowly fills the afflicted with greed and a desire for material wealth. The Kharonean Martyrs are of course ever in pursuit of payment for their deeds, yet they have always been vigilant to not let this escalate into avarice, making sure that they only ever take what they need and by right deserve. Stomping out selfish desires is the foremost duty of the Reclusiam's chaplain, and so being cursed with a biological defect of this manner has proven troublesome indeed.

The flaw plants an unnatural urge to amass treasure and valuables, not for the vaults of the order but for oneself, driving loyal and normally selfless brothers to hoard all sorts of things in their personal quarters, and in the worst cases going so far as to endanger their brethren during missions, all for the sake of acquiring more wealth. But no matter how well a Marine hides his sickness, it will eventually become apparent to those around him.

Those Astartes who are deepest in the clutches of the Ferrman's Avarice will suffer from physical changes and distortions, ranging from sunken eyes to pale skin and rapidly growing hair and fingernails. The moment any of these symptons are discovered, the afflicted Space Marine is put under strict observation by both the Apothecarion and the Reclusiam. In most cases, they are censured and sentenced to expend their life in the ranks of the Avarice Squads. However, there have been cases in which a brother was able to resist the flaw and redeem himself, living in spite of the constant urge to steal and take from others. This requires immense self-control and purity of purpose, since the late stages of the gene-flaw cause extreme mental anguish unless satiated by excessive wealth.

The few cursed souls able to serve loyally despite the flaw are perhaps the most determined and strong-willed warriors of all.

## Chapter Culture and Beliefs

"*Take heed of our sacred creed: live free of avarice and greed, for wealth is meant to serve a need.*"
—Excerpt from the Book of Kharon
### The Ferrymen of Death

To the brothers of the Kharonean Martyrs Chapter, the fulfilment of their sacred duties is of course the highest priority of all, as is only natural for any brotherhood of the Astartes. All life must eventually meet its end, yet the journey to the other side can be fraught with peril. A quick death, delivered by worthy hands, and sanctified through the Emperor's mercy, is what the Kharonean Martyrs hope to bestow upon the beings of the galaxy. They are the ferrymen of the materium, aiding unfortunate souls, willing or not, to find their ultimate rest and cross the rivers of the empyrean. Be it the foul xenos or the despicable traitors, all shall be judged in the realms beyond and given their just rewards for deeds done in life.

One of many rituals performed by the Chaplains, named the Rivercrossing, revolves around aiding the souls of the dead to pass into the afterlife safely. It is their belief that such rituals may allow the souls of their brethren to reach a proper conclusion, resting by the Emperor's side, and preventing them from being consumed or destroyed by the warp and those who dwell within it.

The ferrymen themselves are not concerned with death itself, but rather with how it is they die. To find honour and glory as martyrs is what they each aspire to, an end worthy of their sacred duty, a death delivered by those who would deny their beliefs. One might assert that all loyal souls who die for the Emperor are, in a way, martyrs for mankind, yet the Kharonean Martyrs take pride in their ultimate fates more than most. They do not seek out death of course, but nor do they grieve for those who manage to perish in the resplendant light of martyrdom, for what destiny could be greater than to give one's life for the survival of humanity?

### Payment for the Ferrymen

However, carrying out their sacred duty is something they wish to achieve as swiftly and efficiently as possible, unrestrained by the limitations of their manpower and resources.The idea of being restricted by a lack of equipment and warriors seems almost ludicrous, and though they are wise enough to not break the dictates of the Codex Astartes, they employ unusual methods to make sure that their armouries remain full, and their ranks replenished. Many souls wait to be ferried into that which waits beyond, and the more guns and blades the Chapter has, the more souls may be given peace.

As such, the Chapter demands payments for its services. They accept many forms of payment, be it a portion of a planet's annual tithe, war gear, vehicles, ammunitions, Throne Gelts, or human beings, the Kharonean Martyrs always charge a price for their martyrdom, a just compensation for each drop of blood spilled by their ferrymen. It hardly matters who pays them, a planetary governor, a high ranking Guard commander, or even the Chapter Master of a different order, as long as the debt is paid, the Martyrs will be satisfied.

Much wealth is amassed through this practice, and whilst many suspicious eyes look unfavourably upon the Chapter for it, there is little that can be done, given the autonomy afforded to the Adeptus Astartes. Some call them honourless mercenaries, or soulless sellswords, insults that the ferrymen could not care less about. Most Space Marines simply requisition what they need from the Imperium, content to do their duty without reward. The Kharonean Martyrs refuse to be shackled by what the bureaucracies of Terra and Mars decide for them. Weapons, starships, technologies. All can be aquired independently, for the right price, from the right source. The titanic vaults and treasuries of the Chapter Fleet burst with artifacts, machines, and valuables of various sorts, ready to be exchanged or sold to whomever is willing. In the same way, the brothers who fall in battle are quickly replaced by fresh neophytes, for such is the magnitude of the order's recruitment that they rarely want for new blood in the ranks. This is almost necessary to their operations, given how high attrition tends to be when the Martyr's take the field.

### Marks of Worth

Each of the Kharoneans keeps on his person a piece of currency, usually a coin, which represents something unique to the Marine in question. A primitive piece of copper from one's homeworld, the first Throne Gelt earned in service to the Chapter, or maybe a gold coin engraved with a brother's oath of loyalty. Each one is different, and each one symbolises something precious to the Space Marine who carries it. It is not an exaggeration to say that these Marks of Worth, as they're known, are a warrior's most valuable posession. They are often borne on a chain around the neck, or attached to the armour in some way. Some are used as talismans hanging from weapons or as personal heraldry marks imbedded in ceramite.

### System Names

Because they are a fleet based Chapter, the Martyrs draw from a vast and diverse recruitment pool. The names that these recruits carry are just as diverse, yet their last names are given to them by the Chapter. To signify the many different systems of origins for their warriors, each one is assigned his system name. As the name implies, these are simply the names of the systems from which the recruits hail, giving rise to individuals such as Hgh Chaplain Pytho Cadius from the fortress world of Cadia, or Nemien Konor, born on the world with the same name. In the case of those rare few who were not born in a system but rather on a traveling void vessel, they are given the name of the ship on which they were born as a surname, like the current Chapter Master Orthus Drachmar, who first saw the light of life whilst his mother was travelling the interstellar void aboard a cargo ship called "Drachmar".

### Sin of Greed

It goes without saying that these practices hold an inherent risk, in that many a brother could become more concerned with wealth than the fulfilment of his duty. Steep and sudden is the slope down the pitfalls of avarice and greed, sins that the Chaplains of the Reclusiam condemn in the harshest way. No ferryman should ever take more than what he is owed, and never should he value the glitter of gold over the lives of his brothers. To prevent and punish excess is the most important task of the Chaplaincy, which is why the Treasury falls under their purview. Any who succumb to the selfish desire of amassing riches for themselves are censured and placed in the ranks of the Avaricious Martyr Squads, where they may be redeemed by charging to their deaths bearing the red armour of shame.

## Chapter Combat Doctrine

"*What can we accomplish? A full Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes stands ready to offer its services, governor. The question is not what we can do, only how much you are willing to pay for us to do it.*"
—Chapter Master Orthus
When the Kharonean Martyrs strike out against the alien, the heretic and the daemon, they do so using tactics that make the most of their strengths. Taking heavy casualties, though not desired, is something the Chapter can afford due to its high recruitment rates. And besides that, the chance to find glorious martyrdom is something the Martyrs welcome, thus they never shy away from taking risks if it serves a greater purpose. Even direct frontal assaults are at times the chosen way of attack, as it is something the ferrymen are highly experienced with.

Fighting in close quarters with bolt and blade is their favoured approach to any threat, assuming the situation favours it. But the Chapter is by far at its most deadliest when its melta guns open fire, vaporizing their enemies with fierce beams of pure heat. Truly, there is no purer death than that delivered by a melta.

### Sisyphean Regiment

"*"You come aboard* **my** *ship and tell* **me** *how I should pilot it? Watch your next words carefully, brother. You might be able to fight a hundred men, but there are far more than that on this ship; and you have no idea how many of* **me** *you can handle."*"
—Commissar Ephyra, commanding officer of the Sisyphean Regiment and captain of the Acheron.
The men of the Sisyphean Regiment are soldiers trained by the Kharonean Martyrs to serve alongside them in the darkness of Imperium Nihilus. Whereas before the Chapter only employed armed serfs and armsmen to protect their ships, now they have begun raising what can only be called a private army. Of course, this goes against the dictates of the Codex Astartes, and breaks many other rules of law and tradition which state that no order of the Adeptus Astartes may be allowed to field its own army of mortals, especially not in an offensive capacity. The separation between Astartes, Navy, and Guard has been a vital part of the Imperium's military structure, and so disregarding it is a great risk.

And yet, when the Martyrs found themselves trapped on the dark side of the Cicatrix Maledcitum, they decided that they had no other choice but to turn the thousands of serfs, menials and other servants that they had amassed throught their tithes into a pseudo-regiment. Communication with the rest of the Emperor's realm was completely impossible for a certain amount of time, as was warp travel. Even after the tides of the warp calmed, to an extent at least, it proved both difficult and risky to make use of navigators and astropaths. Coordinating with forces from the Astra Militarum was simply unfeasible, and so the role that the troops of the Guard usually fulfiled in the battles fought by the Martyrs were instead taken up by the Sisyphean Regiment.

They do not have the huge numbers that a proper Guard army would, yet being personally instructed and trained by the angels of death has its benefits, as do the large quantities of wargear and materiel locked away in their cargo bays and treasuries. The Sisyphean Regiment is therefore a well equipped and well trained fighting force, refined by the iron leadership of Commissar Ephyra. Overall their main purpose is to support the Kharonean Martyrs in battle by offering concentrated artillery fire and massed infantry assault. Sometimes they are nothing more than a distraction to keep the foe occupied while the Space Marines enact flanking maneuvers and deep strikes against the enemy command structure.

## Deathwatch Service

Whenever a call goes out from the fortresses of the Deathwatch, the Kharonean Martyrs respond, provided that they are able and in proximity. Due to the Chapter's high recruitment rate, they have always been generous with their contributions to the ranks of the Deathwatch, sometimes going so far as to send entire squads worth of warriors to take the black.

Those honoured to be chosen are dutiful and reliable when facing alien threats alongside brothers from other Chapters, and those who return from their Long Vigils do so with a deeper understanding of comraderie and humility. Both are important traits for the order, as they keep at bay the evils of greed and avarice.

## Chapter Fleet

* ***Psychopompós* (Devourer-Class Battle Barge; Chapter Flagship) -** The Psychopompós is the mobile Fortress-Monastery and void-born home of the Kharonean Martyrs Chapter. It is of a rare and deadly class of Battle Barge known as the Devourer, its most notable armament being the devastating mauler nova cannon built into its prow section. The ship holds countless treasures and tithes collected, as well as the Chapter's prime treasury overseen by the Chaplaincy.

* ***Acheron* (Battle Barge) -** Though more conventional in design, the Acheron holds a unique place in the fleet, for it is the mobile base for the Sisyphean Regiment serving the Chapter. It is commanded by Commissar Ephyra, who takes great care to maintain order and discipline on every deck of her vessel. The main purpose of the Acheron is to house, train and deploy the human soldiery dwelling within, though the fury of her guns should not be underestimated.

* ***Styx* (Strike Cruiser)**

* ***Lethe* (Strike Cruiser)**

* ***Phlegethon* (Strike Cruiser)**

* ***Cocytus* (Strike Cruiser)**

* ***Eurydice* (Lunar Class Cruiser) -** The Acheron's chief escort ship, tasked with providing additional security to the Sisypheans' Battle Barge. It was appropriated from an Imperial fleet-turned-pirates, and re-named after Captain Eurydices, who took control of the vessel in a flawless example of a boarding action.

## Chapter Relics

* ***Nyx-Cutter*** - A mighty lantern flail, the chosen weapon of the Lampades Honour Guard, whose blazing lamp head divides the darkness of the night like a sharp blade cuts through flesh. It is the signature weapon of Commander Hekatum of the Lampades.

* ***Haemolacria* and *Auretactus*** - A pair of twin bolt pistols belonging to Chapter Master Orthus. One is red as blood, the other bright as gold, and each one is a marvel of Mechanicus artifice.

* ***Harenae Tempus*** - This Chronometron, wielded by High Chaplain Pytho Cadius, was one of many rare artefact devices that the Chapter has received in exchange for their services over the millennia. It allows the user to slightly manipulate the fabric of time in order to avoid death and gain the upper hand over an enemy. Its functions are poorly understood, however, and its wielders have only ever been able to use it in a limited fashion, for they lack the expert knowledge required to properly apply it.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

Most of the Chapter's armour is painted a dark cyan colour, accented by pitch-black pauldrons and night-blue robes. Certain parts of the livery and markings are bone-white.

### Chapter Badge

The badge of the Kharonean Martyrs shows a golden coin displaying an Imperial Skull on a black field, surrounded by dark blue waves.

### Markings

The Chapter uses standard *Codex* markings.

Combat role and squad number are marked on the right pauldron. Company number is indicated by a number on the left knee.

## Notable Kharonean Martyrs

### **Chapter Master Orthus Drachmar, the Excisor, the Two-Headed**

Chapter Master Orthus, he who bears the epithets of "Excisor" and "Two-Headed", was born into a life of serfdom in the bowels of one of the many cargo ships following in the wake of the Kharonean Martyrs' fleet.

Though subservient and well-behaved as a youth, the foul living conditions he and his family were subjected to in the warm depths of their void vessel would eventually stir in him a yearning for more. Not material desire, at least not at first, for he saw yet little value in such things. It was a spiritual emptiness that he sought to fill. Surely the monotonous slave work of hauling cargo and shovelling fuel was not all he was meant to do? Surely there was a higher purpose for which he had been born.

It was not simple desire, it was a nigh feverish obsession. He needed a reason to continue on, to keep waking and rising from the filthy rags serving as his sleeping quarters. It would be the day when his Astartes masters descended into the lower decks to search for potential recruits that he would finally get his chance.

Over the years of his apotheosis and training, Orthus found himself astounded time and time again by the treasures which could be found in the vast gulf between the stars. Gleaming metals, shining jewels, carved stones, and unnumbered wonders besides found their way into his hands in his service to the Chapter. He did not claim any of it for himself of course, for he followed the teachings of the Martyrs with fervour and zeal, hoping that his death, once it occurred, would carry meaning and honour with it. It was not until many years later that Orthus would begin showing signs of a deep-rooted sickness.

When he had already climbed the ranks to the esteemed position of Veteran-Sergeant, the now-hardened and experienced warrior slowly developed tendencies to collect ever greater tithes from those worlds where his men saw fighting. Unremarkable at first, these habits grew in scale, though Orthus tried his best to keep the truth concealed. He had realised that it was the genetic flaw of the Kharonean Martyrs, the Ferryman's Avarice, that had started to manifest in his blood, driving him to hoard more and more treasure for himself.

Suspicious gazes now followed him wherever he went, for the Chaplains of the Reclusiam had maintained a watchful eye on him for many years, waiting for a moment where his affliction may be proven without doubt. Eventually, the Veteran-Sergeant did not wait to be caught but rather confessed his symptoms and greed-filled crimes to the brothers of the Reclusiam. As a true believer in the Chapter Cult, Orthus was ashamed and disgusted by his own weakness, seeking redemption for his sickness.

Few could have predicted that his internment in the ranks of the Avarice Squads would be his ultimate redemption, though not by virtue of his death. Many years Orthus fought and survived, standing against all foes in the suicidal assault where he ought to have perished. As campaign after campaign passed, and he remained the only constant member of the Avaricious Martyrs, his mind started to deteriorate. After denying the gene-flaw for so long, holding true to his convictions no matter the cost, the agony of his ailment broke through the thin veil of sanity which kept him going. His personality, and perhaps even his very soul, was split in twain, divided into purity and corruption.

Yet even so, Orthus did not waver. He continued fighting, in the face of agony and constant temptations from his darker half, the condemned Space Marine refused to give in.

Eventually, the Chaplaincy ruled that he was one of those few brothers known to withstand the flaw, making him a chosen of the Martyr's Creed. In spite of his unusual mental state, or perhaps because of it, Orthus rose higher and higher in the ranks, until a fateful display of defiance on the world of Karahjat elevated him to take the place of the slain Chapter Master Sisyphus. It was his fury and madness in the face of insurmountable odds that saved the Chapter from destruction, and so he was pronounced its leader in the dark days of the 41st Millenium.

Since then, Chapter Master Orthus, he who is named the two-headed, has guided his brethren through countless hardhips, his split personality aiding him in overcoming fierce foes with his unpredictable and wild strategies. His collection of payments is also unique among his peers, for few can say when he will be generous or cruel to those from whom he gathers the Chapter's due. With one hand the Excisor gives, with the other he takes.

### **Commissar Ephyra**

Commissar Ephyra is the commanding officer of the Sisyphean Regiment and the captain of the Battle Barge Acheron upon which it is based. Though she had been in command of the Acheron long before the opening of the Great Rift, its onset forced her to take on the additional role of leading the Chapter's newly formed regiment in the darkness of Imperium Nihilus. And while she may be one of the most capable mortals the brothers of the Kharonean Martyrs have ever encountered, her successes and accomplishments are all too often overshadowed by her miserable personality.

Hers is a philosophy of strict perfectionism, the kind that allows no mistakes from anyone, not even herself. No matter how grand a victory or how effective her troops, her mind is only ever set on finding things that could have been done better, casualties that could have been avoided, tactics that could have been executed more sharply. Nor does it help that Ephyra constantly expects, and plans for, the worst case scenario. If asked, she would insist that everything that can go wrong, most certainly will go wrong.

These bleak expectations, coupled with her high standards being too demanding to be satisfied, is what has given rise to her nigh-constant foul moods. Being trapped on the dark side of the Cicatrix Maledictum has made her duties all the more difficult, and by no means improved her temperament. Despite her flaws, though she would never refer to them as such, Ephyra has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is worthy of being called the Iron Jewel of the Martyr's fleet. She is neither cowed nor impressed by her Astartes masters, a trait that the lords of the Chapter greatly appreciate. After all, too much deference can become rather tiresome at times, and the Commissar's cold attitude torwards the Space Marines is one she has earned through decades of loyal service and indomitable will.

## Notable Quotes

### About the Kharonean Martyrs

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