The Imperial Harbingers

Xth Legion Armorial

Xth legion legionary bearing bare-bones and unspecialized Mark V: Thunder Armor

### Observed Strategic Tendencies

Shock Assault, Combined Arms & Multi-Spectra Warfare, Exterminatus and Purgation Campaigns, Strategic Decapitation Strikes, Planetary Interdiction Campaigns, Extended Independent Void Operations

### Colors

Bisected Alternating Blue, Gray, and White

The **Imperial Harbingers** are the Xth Imperial Legion of the Legiones Angelus and the Gene-scions of Metatronous Godwin III. The Imperial Harbingers are a Legion of very staunch zealots who view the Emperor of Mankind as a holy and religious figure, regardless of the Emperor's position on his own divinity. The Imperial Harbingers originate from the Inheritance-Helix of Metatronous Godwin - a charismatic warrior, leader and worshiper of the Emperor as his personal God, who is also known as the Radiant Harbinger.

The Imperial Harbingers are loyal without question, and their master is often lauded for his dedication and unquestioning loyalty to the Master of Mankind. The Legionaries of the IX Legion exemplify what an Angelus is supposed to be; brutal, ruthless and unwavering but also honorable

## Legion Beliefs

The Imperial Harbingers Legion are renowned for their fervent dedication and zealotry the prosecution of their duties to eradicate those that would dare assail the realm of Mankind. Their faith in the Emperor is often described as fanatical, for they believe it is Humanity's manifest destiny to rule the known Galaxy, and they will crush every last enemy in order to make it so. The Legion's dogma reserves a special hatred for particular enemies - the mutant, the apostate and the witch.
Since their inception, the Imperial Harbingers have been eternal crusaders, forever on the leading edge of the Great Crusade to push the boundaries of the Imperium of Man ever outwards. They are utterly ruthless towards anyone or anything perceived as a threat to the Emperor and his vision for a united Humanity. Unlike most other Legions of the Legiones Astartes, the Imperial Harbingers have come to revere the Emperor as the one, true god of Mankind, just as the mortals of the Imperium do, and this belief has driven them to new heights of fanaticism.

However, this is tempered by the fact that the Imperial Harbingers are first and foremost Imperial Marines, and so even their faith is superhuman in its focus and dedication. Their gruelling rites are every bit as tasking as their battle drills -to the Imperial Harbingers, ceremonial dedications to the Emperor and their martial drilling are one and the same. When not engaged in battle, the brethren of the Imperial Harbingers are invariably to be found preparing for it. They pass their time in prayer and meditation, or engaged in exacting training rituals.

The Imperial Harbingers have been known to mercilessly wipe out entire planetary populations to expunge the sin of heresy, while the mere presence of a witch on the battlefield drives them into a zealous fury against which few enemies have any hope of standing.

In temperament, the Battle-Brothers of the Imperial Harbingers Legion are united by the fiery zeal that burns within the heart of each, a fire first sparked by Luminarch Ascalon Troyes himself and stoked each day by the oratory of the Chaplains and by the exemplary texts that each brother reads every hour he is not on active duty.

While each Imperial Harbinger is inspired by the same crusading drive to utterly crush the enemies of the Emperor, there nonetheless exists a degree of variation within the ranks. Those brethren only recently initiated into the Legion as full Battle-Brothers might be driven to prove themselves in the eyes of their more experienced peers.

Only when they have done so will they be granted the right and the responsibility to train a neophyte themselves. Throughout his service as an Initiate, the Battle-Brother gains experience and wisdom, until he may, if he survives long enough and is judged worthy, enter the ranks of his Marshal's household as a Sword Brother. These warriors have learned to temper the fires of hatred with the wisdom of their years, and they are an example to the entire Legion.

### Chapter Traditions

* ***Devotion Chain*** - Most Imperial Harbingers use Devotion Chains to bind their weapons to their fists on the eve of battle, removing them only once victory is achieved. This tradition harkens back to the early years of the Great Crusade. The tradition of using chains to bind weapons to one's arms was originally started by the Knightly Orders on Clairvaux. This practice was incorporated into the Legion following the re-discovery of their long lost Luminarch and the induction of new Legionaries from their Ascalon's homeworld.
* ***Chain of Zeal*** - Unlike the Devotion Chain, the *Chain of Zeal* is no such fleeting token. It is secured to weapon and armor with a permanent weld that lasts as long as the Imperial Marine serves. Furthermore, because taking off a gauntlet with the chain still attached is a shameful act that entails great dishonour, the wearer of the *Chain of Zeal* must keep his armoured glove donned and weapon in hand every minute for the rest of his days.
* **Crusader Seal** - The Imperial Harbingers utilise a different kind of seal known as a Crusader Seal. These Seals are awarded specifically for participating valiantly in a certain Crusade as opposed to a standard Legionary Purity Seal.
* **Sanctus Lamps** - Sanctus Lamps are decorative items worn on the power armor of a legionary. These lamps are lit by a commanding officer such a Marshal or High Marshal and are awarded for exceptional service. Some High Command are honored enough to don a Sanctus Lamp lit by the Luminarch himself.

## Legion Appearance

### Legion Colors

The Imperial Harbingers Legion primarily wears black coloured power armour with white shoulder pauldron insets. However, the actual application of the colour scheme varies from Astartes to Astartes, and individual Imperial Harbingers usually decorate their armour with devotional imagery, litanies, and Purity (and Crusader) Seals. The black colour is a sign that like their gene-sire, Ascalon, and the black-armoured Chaplains of other Legions, the Imperial Harbingers serve the Emperor directly and with deep faith.

Squad type is denoted through different coloured pauldron borders, while squad number is stenciled upon the right armorial inset in the form of High Gothic numeral. Sword Brethren, the elite of the Legion, are identified by their deep red coloured shoulder pauldron trim and red coloured Legion icons prominently displayed on both armorial insets. Initiates are identified by a white coloured inset with black shoulder pauldron trim, while Assault Marines are identified by their white coloured insets with deep red shoulder pauldron trim.

Chaplains wear all-black coloured battle-plate, their Legion iconography painted in white, and prominently displayed on both shoulder pauldrons. Apothecaries wear all-white coloured power armour with red shoulder pauldron trim.

The Legion icon is proudly worn on both shoulder pauldrons. A large white coloured roman numeral is stenciled on one of their poleyns (knee guards) indicates a Legionary's Chapter assignment. Unique seals are often painted on the left greave (shin armour) to show which Crusade the Battle-Brother belongs to. However, these unique seals are more commonly displayed as a small livery shield worn on the right shoulder pauldron.

Imperial Harbingers Techmarines and tank crews have a predominantly red colour scheme for their armour (the colour favoured by the servants of the Machine God); however, they still display their Legion colours so as to not anger the Machine Spirits of their tanks and armour.