Hands of Ske'ghor

Insignia of the Hands of Ske'ghor

Heretic Astartes of the Hands of Ske'ghor

"*There is a structure to the galaxy; a hierarchy that is archaic and unjust. The moment you take your first breath, your fate was set in stone. Slaves of the Corpse-Emperor, these stones can be shattered. Break off your chains, join our cause, and you shall see what freedom truly is.*"
— Exalted Auteur Kilec Ayco
The **Hands of Ske'ghor** are a mysterious but sinister Tzeentch-aligned warband dedicated to the Lord of Change known as Ske'ghor. The origins of this warband are unknown, with the only information pertaining to the warband in Imperial records being their name, recognized engagements with the Imperium, and known members. According to available records, the Hands of Ske'ghor have been responsible for the spread of hundreds of cults that worship Ske'ghor and its writings. Said cults have caused the downfall of several star systems, and many within the Inquisition, particularly the Ordo Hereticus, suspect that they may be responsible for some incursions by various xenos races as well.

What makes the warband and its affiliated cults so terrifying is their ability to spread their heretical beliefs without arousing any suspicion. Not only are they able to hide from the watchful eye of the Inquisition, they are also extremely patient, as investigations have shown that there are cults that only reveal themselves centuries after they were founded. To top it all off, there is no clear pattern, agenda, target, nor objective to their strikes. To the eyes of the Imperium, the rise of these cults and attacks by the warband seem completely random, leading to unseen consequences that will likely damn the Imperium decades after they occur. The only ones that do know are the Hands of Ske'ghor themselves, and they are yet to reveal it to the wider galaxy.

## Warband History

The origins of the warband are completely unknown to the Imperium, and remains a subject of intense investigation by the agents of the Inquisition. What can be gleaned from what little information exists on anything related to the Hands of Ske'ghor is that the Greater Daemon they worship, Ske'ghor, has made its existence known to the galaxy several millennia ago. Thousands of years before the first known engagement with the warband, references to a great avian beast with three eyes dating back to the days of the Great Crusade have been discovered in several cultures. Descriptions and names naturally vary, but a common theme among these depictions is that the three-eyed monstrosity is a teller of stories and a collector of legends. Comparing it to the likes of the daemons of Khorne or Slaanesh is wont to make one assume that the creature is harmless, and there lies its advantage.

The earliest mention of Ske'ghor on record was its banishment by the Sun Warriors in the early 36th Millennium. The chapter's own libraries hold very little information on the incident, matching the scant details available in the Inquisition's own records. The information available mentions another Space Marine chapter being involved in the battle against the Greater Daemon, but nothing else can be found regarding their identities and history. It is suspected by a majority of the Ordo Hereticus that this is the origin of the warband itself.

### The Grand Opening

The first official encounter with the Hands of Ske'ghor occurred during the opening days of 37th Millennium, where they assisted a heretical uprising on the Civilized World of Rhosia VII. With a rebellion that occurred seemingly overnight, the local cultists were beginning to take over the local Planetary Defence Forces, and the government was forced to broadcast a call for military aid. A preceptory of the Order of the Argent Shroud was sent to the world, but were set upon by a force of Heretic Astartes upon arrival. Essentially walking into an ambush, the Sisters were outgunned and overwhelmed, and were quickly forced to retreat. Upon reaching safety, the survivors' reports detailed the heraldry of the warband as well as the message they received before they were attacked; "The third chapter of the saga has begun, meddle at your peril."

With the arrival of several Imperial Navy Battlegroups accompanied by more Battle-Sisters of the Argent Shroud, the world of Rhosia VII was taken back, its uprising pacified. The ease of which the cult was defeated was noticed by the Sisters, and after several interrogations, it was revealed that many of the cultists escaped with the Hands of Ske'ghor after they were convinced that their defeat was nigh. Those that remained were those that were firm in the belief that they could withstand the might of Imperial retribution, and it is through them that the orchestrator of the uprising is known; Kilec Ayco, the Exalted Auteur. While the world was cleansed of heretics, concerned parties in the Imperium began asking questions; where did the Hands of Ske'ghor come from? What is the Saga of the Imperious Tragedy? If the events on Rhosia VII were part of a third chapter, what happened in the first two?

### The Imperious Tragedy

Since that battle, hundreds of cult uprising all over the Imperium can be attributed to the Hands of Ske'ghor. The intervals between these uprisings are random, ranging from mere months to centuries between occurrences. Oftentimes, the worlds afflicted by their influence are not even strategic in value. The next target can often be on the opposite side of the segmentum, the only link with previous strikes being the Hands of Ske'ghor themselves. With every insurgency, siege, or raid, the Hands of Ske'ghor will always reveal themselves as the perpetrators of said attack, with the leaders declaring their names to their victims before departing.

Most of these leaders, known as Auteurs, still keep their original names when they join the cults of Ske'ghor. As is their way, anyone affiliated with them outside the cult are hunted down and interrogated by the Inquisition, leading to vast records of these individuals. Key details in these records include every single person the cultist has been in contact with, which the Ordo Hereticus uses to preemptively strike before another cult is raised. Sometimes they do succeed, but the Inquisitors responsible for such victories note that it seemed like the heretics wanted it to happen. In fact, these victories are often for naught, as there is always another cult dedicated to Ske'ghor that rises up in another world.

The hunt for the warband and their cults are lead by several Inquisitors, who eventually pass on the task to their apprentices or most trusted allies for the web of conspiracy and intrigue is just so vast. Notable Inquisitors include the late Fabian Adhan and his apprentice, now Inquisitor, Mariah Salvacion. Their investigations are but a continuation of millennia of Inquisitorial work, and it has only scratched the surface of the warbands goals. While they may not know what the warband is after, the Inquisition is aware of how far-reaching the consequences of the warband's actions are.

Three thousand years after the Hands of Ske'ghor revealed themselves, only one thing was certain; attacks on Imperial assets are always set ups to larger attacks in the future. An example of this is the raid on the Armoury World of Crowngard. Large quantities of weapons, ammunition, and vehicles were taken by the Hands of Ske'ghor, while two-thirds of the remaining stores were destroyed. Investigations into the incident reveal a gradual infiltration by several members of the warband after previous attacks on civilian ships, supply freighters, and troop transports left the world severely understaffed. Further investigations showed that the origin of these workers were from worlds that the cults had a presence on, and their transfer to Crowngard was approved by an Administratum adept descended from a known Auteur by six generations.

### The Closing Chapters

In the last decade of the 41st Millennium, the Hands of Ske'ghor have been increasingly making their presence known all throughout the galaxy. Auteurs have begun revealing themselves, displaying the true scale of the warband's reach and influence. Worlds and fleets suddenly declared their independence and created territories that, while miniscule in comparison to the wider Imperium, interfere with Imperial supply lines. If left unopposed, these secessionists could not only threaten the safety of surrounding systems, but they will also become safe havens for the forces of Chaos. In response, the Imperium sent out armies to retake said worlds in an effort to stop them.

Inquisitors that have been following the warband's exploits were overwhelmed by the sudden eruption of heretic activity. Almost all of them have set out to halt the spread of secessionists and rebellions, traveling vast distances to worlds that have links to people or events they were investigating. Those that continued their attempts at uncovering the warband's plot doubled their efforts, spurned on by not only the warband's work, but also by recent events developing around the Eye of Terror.

As for the warband itself, their might fell upon the Hala System, which contained the Shrine World of Hala XII. Inciting rebellions throught the system, the warband's Heretic Astartes displayed their full strength as they landed on the planet and attacked the forces of the Order of the Valorous Heart tasked with watching over the tomb of Saint Rayn Hala.

#### The Slaughter of Hala

For two years, the system stood alone against the warband and its followers. In that time, only a couple of Imperial Navy Battlegroups were sent to the system as the rest of the Battlefleet was preoccupied elsewhere. But what really kept the Sisters stationed in the system from calling for more help was the strength of the uprisings. They weren't overpowering the world governments, but they weren't easy to put down either. Alas, the cults' influence was growing too strong, and the Sisters were forced to call for more aid in a desperate attempt to control the situation.

Answering the call, two brotherhoods from the Sun Warriors chapter of Space Marines arrived to help the beleaguered Sisters. Led by Lakan Gamoho, squads were sent to inhabited worlds of the system, while the bulk of their forces made landfall on Hala XII. Descending upon the planet's surface, the Sun Warriors began brutally purging every heretic in sight. Soon, the Heretic attacks lessened, but just enough that the Sun Warriors had to stay and hunt down elements of the warband.

The Imperial forces split their efforts between hunting down the warband and protecting innocent civilians, which the Hands of Ske'ghor used to their advantage. Throughout the years, the cults in the system would fade away for weeks and months at a time only to strike unexpectedly, forcing the Sisters and the Sun Warriors to be thorough in their purging. As was their way, the heretics would always escape, continuously extending the conflict. Communication to the rest of the Imperium was also blocked by increasing disturbances in the Warp.

On Hala XII, the most devastating attacks were committed by the Heretic Astartes of the warband. However, the warband stayed away from the Saint Hala's tomb, focusing instead on the locals. To the observer, the Hands of Ske'ghor seemed to have no other aim but to massacre the populace of Hala XII. Cathedrals serving as sanctuaries for civilians were bombed while those found without the protection of the Sisters or Astartes were indiscriminately slaughtered.

Throughout the campaign, Kilec Ayco taunted the Imperials with sermons, enumerating the various stories the warband and their followers have shared to the galaxy. He also made several attempts to convert both the Space Marines and Sisters of Battle, often revealing himself to them and making speeches about how the Imperium was holding them back from their potential. He always did this from a position of safety, however; he would either be guarded by his own squad of heretics or use Chaos sorcery to deceive the Imperials into thinking that he was actually standing before them. Naturally, no one heeded his word, but he kept up his efforts for years despite the knowledge that he was trying to convert the most steadfast of the Imperium's defenders.

In the last year of the 41st Millennium, the warband's base of operations was discovered by the Sun Warriors. Located in the ruins of a cathedral, the crypts below were still intact. The combined forces of Battle Sisters and Astartes attacked the ruins, pushing through lines of defences until they reached the crypt. There, the Imperials found a ritual taking place even as the survivors of the warband gathered for one last stand. Without hesitation, the two sides collided, and Gamoho fought Kilec Ayco in a duel. Throughout the fight, Kilec Ayco was on the defensive, blocking and parrying Gamoho's strikes as he taunted the Sun Warrior. Mocking the Lakan's intense faith, the Exalted Auteur explained to Gamoho how it blinded every member of the human race from the truth of the galaxy.

Refusing to listen to the heretic, Gamoho pressed the attack even more. Throughout the crypts, their duel was reflected by their respective factions; the Imperials charged at the Heretics while the warband continued to stay alive for as long as possible. Hours after the battle first started, the ritual was finished, and surviving heretics began to disappear from realspace in the midst of fighting. Bidding Gamoho farewell, Kilec advised him to return to their homeworld quickly, for the Saga was about to end. Before Gamoho could thrust his power spear into the Exalted Auteur, Kilec successfully escaped.

Now with the opening of the Great Rift, the warband's whereabouts remain unknown to the Imperium. Despite being the perfect opportunity to strike, the only significant sign of their existence are the worlds that are currently rebelling against the rule of the God-Emperor. To those hunting down Kilec and his army of heretics, this can only mean one thing; the warband is preparing for something, and only the Hands of Ske'ghor know how catastrophic it will be.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Rhosia VII Uprising (071.M37) -** The Imperium's first known encounter with the Hands of Ske'ghor. Ambushing the Battle-Sisters of the Argent Shroud sent to pacify the uprising, the warband revealed with their existence to the galaxy, declaring that uprising was part of the third chapter of the Saga of Imperious Tragedy. While the uprising was unsuccessful, the seeds of their corruption was first planted here, and its fruit would plague the Imperium for millennia to come.
* **Salvation of Baltasar (685-687.M38) -** During an Ork assault on the Frontier World of Baltasar, the Hands of Ske'ghor arrived and to help the local populace. Arriving at the point when half the world was overrun by Orks, it took the combined forces of the warband and the Baltasari two years to defeat the green skinned menace. Once they were all saved, the Hands of Ske'ghor stayed to rehabilitate the world with the aid of a nearby Imperial system. When the system discovered that a Chaos warband was involved in the rebuilding of Baltasar, they immediately reported it to the local Battlefleet, fearing that they would be implicated with aiding heretics. Led by an Inquisitor hunting down the warband, several Battlegroups arrived at Baltasar and began indiscriminately attacking the inhabitants. During the massacre, the Hands of Ske'ghor defended the inhabitants while they evacuated, the Auteur preaching to the crowds of the lengths the Imperium will go through to keep order. Since escaping, the Baltasari have been hunted down by the Inquisition, with many deciding to join the warband, while others joined the cause but chose to scatter to spread the truth of the Imperium's tyranny. Those that didn't join scattered to various Imperial Worlds, but were eventually found, interrogated, and executed.
* **Raid of Crowngard (362.M39) -** Due to consistent raids and ambushes on cargo and transport ships, the world of Crowngard was under-manned. Workers and guards were quickly approved for transport, and the Crowngard slowly regained its manpower. Unfortunately, these new workers were members of a Cult of Ske'ghor, and when the Hands of Ske'ghor arrived with a raiding fleet, the cultists in the planet turned against their former colleagues. Aside from equipping the warband with new armaments, the raid cost the Imperium most of the wargear and vehicles on the planet, which affected Imperial military effectiveness in several neighboring sectors for centuries.
* **Areso Treachery (846.M41) -** Allying with the a Grand Company of the Iron Warriors, the Hands of Ske'ghor assaulted the Forge World of Areso under the guise of gaining arms and munitions. The two warbands, combined with the corrupted regiments of the nearby world of Romos, overwhelmed Areso's defences after scrap code was uploaded into their systems. After weeks of suffering numerous casualties, Imperial reinforcements arrived in time to aid the world, quickly blasting through the orbital blockade set up by the Hands of Ske'ghor. The leaders of the Chaos forces gathered and came up with a plan to draw the Imperials into a destroyed military complex and crush them with an ambush. With the Hands of Ske'ghor drawing them in to the ruins, the Iron Warriors set up the killzone. Minefields were set up in the main roads, automatic turrets placed to create a crossfire, and the remains of buildings were used to hide defensive bunkers. When the Imperials arrived at the complex, they weren't led by the Hands of Ske'ghor. Instead, they came from behind the Iron Warriors via a road that the Romos cultists were supposed to watch over. Caught off guard, the Iron Warriors were eventually routed after a day-long battle, the survivors leaving with only a few vehicles and weaponry. The would stay together and form the Chaos warband known as the Anvil Scourge, and have since sworn an oath of vengeance against the Hands of Ske'ghor.
* **Slaughter of Hala** **(991-999.M41) -** One of the rare instances where Kilec Ayco, the Exalted Auteur of the Hands of Ske'ghor, personally oversaw the enactment of the Saga. Several uprisings occurred throughout the Hala System, but the warband itself deployed their own forces on the Shrine World of Hala XII. Several companies of the Order of the Valorous Heart was stationed on the world, and while they managed to stand strong against the Hands of Ske'ghor, the rest of the system was falling without their presence. After two years, the Sisters were forced to call for aid, and were thus quickly reinforced by two brotherhoods of the Sun Warriors. Upon the arrival of the Astartes, the attacks by the Hands of Ske'ghor lessened, but were directed primarily at the civilian populations of the system. In the closing weeks of the conflict, it was discovered that the warband was hiding underneath the ruins of a cathedral. Lakan Gamoho, commander of the Sun Warrior expedition, led the assault on the ruins, and personally dueled with Kilec Ayco in the crypts below. As the Imperial forces began to overwhelm the warband, a ritual was completed on every world in the star system, resulting in the mass teleportation of every cultist to the Warp.

## Warband Organisation

### Warband Ranks

* **Auteur** **-** Lead figures in the warband, these powerful members lead entire companies in orchestrating the Saga of Imperious Tragedy. While usually filled with Heretic Astartes, there are also plenty of mortal beings who have proven themselves capable in directing the ebb and flow of the current chapter of the Tragedy.
	+ **High Auteur** **-** An Auteur reaches this rank once they finish orchestrating a significant chapter of the Tragedy. High Auteurs are given command of several companies, the size and number of these depending on the next chapter according to the Exalted Auteur.
	+ **Exalted Auteur** **-** The head playwright in an eternity of storytelling, this being is responsible for every company in the galaxy. He is guided by the Saga of Imperious Tragedy, a daemonic tome written by Ske'ghor itself. Only the Exalted Auteur has access to this ancient tome, and it is with this that he directs the cult's companies to systems in order to set the stage for the current chapter in the Imperious Tragedy. Chosen from the ranks of the High Auteurs, they are usually the most ingenious, charismatic, and logistically-proficient amongst their peers.
* **Dramaturge** **-** Members tasked with a variety of roles for the Auteurs. More often than not, they form the bridge between the actors of the current chapter and the Auteurs. They are also responsible for determining which world, system, or sector the current chapter of the Tragedy is going to take place, as the Saga only describes the setting instead of naming it.
* **Executant** **-** Members of the warband who play the parts assigned to them by the Auteur or Dramaturge. Whether it is infiltrating a world's government as a governor's aide, spreading the Imperious Tragedy to the common folk as a clergyman of the Imperial Creed, or dying in battle as a Heretic Champion, Executants are trained to do whatever the Saga dictates. While it is the lowest rank in the warband, the reality is that every member is an Executant to some degree, the difference being the Executants are more hands-on.

### Order of Battle

When a chapter of the Saga is commencing, the elements of the warband involved in enacting it are divided into groups depending on their roles. The Imperium has classified these group into troupes, while troupes identified as working together are grouped into companies. Imperials are able to identify troupes and companies only after they have made themselves known. Inquisitors have also determined that companies are always lead by an Auteur. There are also sector-wide incidents that have been led by High Auteurs, who are assumed to be responsible in directing several Auteurs scattered throughout a sector's star systems.

## Combat Doctrine

Given the scope of their operations, the warband doesn't strictly follow a distinct method of war. It is necessary for the warband to do battle in every possible manner such as laying sieges and guerilla warfare as written in the pages of the Saga. However, because of the potential for sector-wide operations, the Hands of Ske'ghor have become experts in logistics and strategy. To accomplish its goals, the warband relies on communication and coordination between its members. Everything they do, from the first infiltration of a single ship to the summoning of hordes of daemons, is organized down to the most minute detail.

Every engagement with the Imperium is planned out comprehensively, covering any potential event that can hinder the development of their plot. Vast networks of communication and supply lines are established beforehand. Every material needed to conduct a specific operation is acquired as soon as possible through any means necessary. If needed, raids can be conducted to either take what is needed, or to have the Imperium bring it out for them. Hundreds of plans within plans are created to bring about the conclusion of the chapter, and it will often take years before operations can begin.

In combat, every member involved in the battle plays their assigned roles to the letter. From the humble cultist to the Astartes Auteur, each member pushes the narrative forward through any means necessary. Overlapping lines of fire can be created after a fake retreat, or thousands of mortal humans can be slaughtered as a diversion to take out a key target.

Despite having very specific roles in the current operation, troupes and companies are given plenty of freedom in the event that a plan goes awry. This is necessary as this allows them to do anything necessary to draw their opponents to the right spot. Such moves are communicated to other groups close by, which then leads to incredible displays of teamwork that will often turn the tides of battles.

More often than not, the end of the chapter is often signaled by the reveal of the orchestrator of the events. Auteurs responsible for the entire operation reveal themselves to worlds that have been "audiences" to their work. Battles that take place during these significant moments are often the most grand in scale, often engulfing an entire system in war if need be. Cultists that have infiltrated strategic positions reveal their true colors during this time, sowing widespread chaos as friends suddenly become foes. Entire fleets arrive unexpectedly, laying waste to unprepared defenders. Whether the chapter ends with a defeat or a victory, the Imperium will always know of who was behind it all, but this changes very little as further attacks by the warband are most certainly guaranteed.

## Warband Culture & Beliefs

The warband believe in a singular truth; true freedom is chaos. Being the embodiment of it, its members seek to liberate more people from the stagnancy of the Imperium's oppressive order. Guided by the words of Ske'ghor, the warband teaches their singular truth to the masses in the way of grand displays of conspiracy. Through their deeds, they demonstrate that even an ever-enduring and cruel empire like the Imperium can be broken out of.

The warband and their cults worship Ske'ghor, a Lord of Change known as "the Storyteller" or the "Legend Keeper" in several primitive cultures. The Greater Daemon is akin to a shaman, the wise men and women of primitive tribes of old. The holders of legends and history, the shamans of the millions of cultures in the galaxy pass down their teachings and knowledge to the rest of their tribe, who then carry it and pass it on themselves. It is an endless cycle meant to preserve the knowledge, and it is that knowledge that helps the tribe survive the perils of the universe. In the greater scheme of things, the tribe is not just the warband; it is all the souls that make up the peoples of the Milky Way.

To the Hands of Ske'ghor, it is their duty to pass down Ske'ghor's truth to the masses so they may experience the gifts that only freedom can bring. It is only through these gifts that the dangers of the galaxy can be defied. To accomplish their goal, the warband follows the writings known as the Saga of Imperious Tragedy. A tome written by Ske'ghor itself that details events that the members have to arrange in order to reach its conclusion. Once all chapters of the Saga have come to pass and the epilogue is witnessed, then and only then will the lesson be revealed.

The warband values ambition and intellect, so they promote the most conniving and calculating of members to higher ranks. Their devious minds are powerful tools in orchestrating the salvation of humanity, and the competition weeds out the incapable from the gifted. While the warband seeks out only the greatest of minds, they also appreciate those who took the leap of faith to join their cause even if they aren't as skilled or experienced. They may be of the lower ranks in the warband, but they have a part to play in the plots of The Storyteller. After all, every role must take part for the plot to progress.

## Warband Recruitment

The warband recruits its members via the various cults that they create when enacting a chapter of the Saga. These recruits range from menials to high ranking officials, but based on information gathered throughout the millennia, it always changes. As for the Heretic Astartes in their ranks, it is unknown if they are former Loyalists who have been converted by the warband or draw from the numerous warbands that make the Eye of Terror their home, though it is very likely that it is both. Given the mystery and scale of their operations, it is also suspected that they may have access to various sources of gene-seed.

## Warband Gene-Seed

The gene-seed of the Astartes members of the warband are of an unknown quality as their appearances are rather scarce. Most witness accounts mention seeing only up to two squads of Heretic Astartes at a time, even in major conflicts. Descriptions vary, but it is noted that obvious mutations such as horns and claws are non-existent. Due to their worship of the Chaos God Tzeentch, however, it is unlikely that they do not suffer any kind of Warp-born mutation, as it is the hallmark of the Changer of Ways. On the other hand, it is certain that the warband's Astartes members bear gene-seed from several primarchs, both traitor and loyalist. Aside from their possible connections within the Imperium, there have been numerous incidents where Space Marine corpses that have their progenoid glands removed are found in the aftermath of engagements between the Hands of Ske'ghor and any loyal chapter of the Adeptus Astartes.

## Notable Members

* **Kilec Ayco -** The Exalted Auteur, he is the overall commander of the Hands of Ske'ghor and their affiliated cults. Little is known about him, but warband members and cultists that have been interrogated describe him as a compassionate teacher and a charismatic orator. During the rare moments where he is observed, he is often seen carrying the Saga of Imperious Tragedy wherever he goes.
* **Asaigo Isam -** A Dark Apostle from the Word Bearers who accompanied the warband in their exploits to learn more about Ske'ghor and its Saga of Imperious Tragedy. He has since become Kilec's right-hand man and an integral part in spreading the word of Ske'ghor, using his skills as a preacher to draw whole crowds to the warband. Leads and trains all of the warband's Dramaturges, and often acts as one when during significant chapters of the Saga.
* **Breyin Ven -** A Dramaturge of the Hands of Ske'ghor. While all Dramaturges are equal in authority, Breyin Ven is highly respected and is often trusted by Kilec Ayco himself. Ever since joining their ranks, the former Astropath has used her vast experience in receiving and interpreting psychic messages to decipher the words of the Saga. When the current chapter requires very specific events to occur, her deep understanding of Ske'ghor's texts also allows her to personally work with the warband's Executants and delegate crucial tasks to members that fit the role. Many worlds have fallen and many more humans have fought for the warband's cause thanks to her abilities. Currently, she awaits the reveal of the final parts of the Saga's conclusion so she may interpret and coordinate the last act of the Imperious Tragedy.
* **Garan Tor -** A High Auteur of the Hands of Ske'ghor. Responsible for the events leading to the betrayal of the Iron Warriors. While a fervent believer in Ske'ghor's teachings, Garan will always take the opportunity to throw himself into combat if the Saga dictates it. His tactics and strategies reflect his aggressiveness, and it is he who Kilec assigns the more "bloody" chapters.
* **Enobra Cosh -** A former commodore of the Imperial Navy until she turned from the Imperium. She rose through the ranks to become an Auteur in her own right, and thanks to exposure to the Warp and the patronage of Kilec Ayco, she has lived on for millennia alongside the warband. For more than two thousand years, she has spread the words of Ske'ghor to the downtrodden of the Imperium, and is seen as a promising High Auteur by her peers.

## Warband Fleet

A warband as spread out as the Hands of Ske'ghor requires a vast fleet of ships to help them accomplish their goal of teaching the truth of Chaos. Despite this, only a few ships have been identified as truly belonging to the warband as Imperial ships crewed by hidden cultists work in the shadows. It is through these methods that the warband and its followers have remained far away from the Inquisition's grasp. Even the ships that have been identified by the Imperium rarely make their presence known, only appearing during significant assaults on the Emperor's domain.

* **Mortal Truth -** A Battle Barge and the alleged flagship of the Hands of Ske'ghor. Confirmed to have appeared in only two engagements so far; the Rhosia VII Uprising and the Slaughter of Hala. Based on information gathered from these two instances, the Mortal Truth was more durable than other ships of it's class, but its armaments were fewer as well. Instead, its cargo of Chaos Space Marines made up the bulk of its arsenal, and it is suspected that it can hold more Astartes than the usual Battle Barge.
* **Hidden Dagger -** A Exorcist-class Grand Cruiser, the ship served the Imperium for centuries until the ship and its squadron were slowly infiltrated by cultists from the Hands of Ske'ghor. The ships were then used against the Imperials during the raid on Crowngard and is now the captained by Auteur Enobra Cosh.
* **Undeniable -** A Retribution-class Battleship captured during a fleet engagement against Battlefleet Corona. Was seen again during the warband's assault on Areso, and again during the uprisings in the Hala system. In battle, the Undeniable is known to brave the ordnance from its foes just so it can get close enough to unleash salvo after salvo from its broadside guns. Serves as the flagship of the notorious High Auteur Garan Tor.

## Warband Relics

* ***The Saga of Imperious Tragedy*** - The mysterious book that defines the goals of the Hands of Ske'ghor. The book has only ever been seen in the hands of the Exalted Auteur, but it is always referenced by members or followers of the warband. It is said that its chapters always have a lesson to be taught, but it is unknown how many chapters exist or what every lesson is. Many Inquisitors speculate that most lessons are for potential recruits, while some are for the Imperium. Regardless of the truth, recent insurrections by cultists all over the galaxy suggest that the Saga is reaching its end, and its timing with the opening of the Great Rift is a bad omen indeed.

## Warband Appearance

### Warband Colours

The warband paints most of their armor brown to imitate the color of a theater stage. The trim of their armor pieces, on the other hand, is painted gold similar to grand theaters from Old Earth. Their left pauldron is painted a hawk turquoise as it is the color of their patron daemon as well as the Chaos God they venerate, Tzeentch. Astartes members wear robes the color of red, similar to the curtains that open and close during a play.

### Warband Badge

The warband insignia is a representation of a claw grasping an eye. The eye symbolizes those who have their eyes open for the truth, while the claw represents Ske'ghor as it directs those people to where the truth resides.

## Relations

### Allies

* **Numerous Imperial Worlds and Guard Regiments -** Possibly thanks to millennia of their efforts, numerous Imperial worlds have allied themselves with the Hands of Ske'ghor. Some remain hidden, while the opening of the Great Rift led to many worlds and Imperial Guard forces declaring their allegiance to the warband.

### Enemies

* **Sun Warriors -** A deeply religious chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, the Sun Warriors' only encounter with the Hands of Ske'ghor was during the system-wide uprisings in the Hala System. While it began as a typical heretical incursion, the battle between the two Space Marine factions became heated rivalry as the Hands of Ske'ghor kept their distance from the warriors of Apolake while taunting them with heretical sermons and lectures. In the aftermath of the campaign, the warband and its cults vanished in the middle of combat, leaving the fervent Astartes frustrated. Events on the chapter's homeworld during their absence would lead to many Sun Warriors holding an intense grudge against the Hands of Ske'ghor.
* **Mariah Salvacion -** A former canoness preceptor of the Order of the Sacred Rose, Salvacion fought with her friend Inquisitor Fabian Adhan during her time as a Battle-Sister. After serving as a canoness, she joined Adhan's retinue as his apprentice and they traveled the galaxy hunting down the Hands of Ske'ghor. The group uncovered several cults and discovered several connections between the warband and previously dismissed incidents, further drawing a bigger picture of the warband's activities even after Adhan's death and Salvacion's promotion to Inquisitor. In the final months of the 41st Millennium, the old but determined Inquisitor has possibly zeroed in on the setting of the warband's final act; the sectors to the galactic north-west of the Charadon Sector.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Hands of Ske'ghor

"*Brothers and sisters, don't fear us. You need only open your minds and hearts to see how the Imperium judges those who wish to aid you in your time of need. We asked for nothing when we slew the greenskins. We asked for nothing when we brought food and medical supplies to your doors. And now you face extinction only because* they *couldn't protect you. You all have a choice; join our cause, or die for being human.*"
— Broadcasted message from the Hands of Ske'ghor during the purge of Baltasar.
### About the Hands of Ske'ghor

"*Thousands of years of cult uprisings, heretical corruption, and betrayals, and we still have no hint as to what they are after. At this point, I would forgive one for thinking that they were just doing all this just to spite the Imperium. But we aren't just any "one" Mariah. The powers of the Warp can make one immune to the curse of time, and if one need not worry about time, anything is possible.*"
— Fabian Adhan to his then-apprentice, Mariah Salvacion

 Tzeentch Warbands
 Nurgle Warbands
 Slaanesh Warbands
 Chaos Undivided Warbands
 Malice Warbands
 Minor Chaos God-Aligned Warbands

[Source]