Disciples of Jaghatai

## **Homeworld**

The harsh Desert world of Khatagin, homeworld to the Disciples of Jaghatai. The inhabitants of Khatagin are a hardy bunch, living in blistering heat and with limited water. They are a nomadic people, traveling from waterhole to waterhole, while trying to stay ahead of the constant sandstorms that ravage the land.

### **Relevant Fauna**

**The Olgoi-Khorkhoi**

The creature known as Olgoi-Khorkhoi, locally referred to as the ”death worm”, roam the lands of Khatagin. It is an enormous burrowing worm that travels just beneath the surface. The Olgoi migrate once every year, the typically solitary creatures gather into groups, with more joining on the way to their destination. It is during such a migration that the Nerge is held.

**Sayat**

Birds of prey, similar to that of falcons of ancient terra. The people of Khatagin use the Sayat to hunt Chagnaal. These hunters are called The *Sayatshy.*

The use of the Sayat is carried over to the astartes of the Disciples as well. Not only are they used to scout ahead by the marines, the armor of the chapter is also based on the coloration of these birds.

**Jaliqai**

The Jaliqai are equine creatures that roam the deserts of Khatagin in large herds. The rear of its body is light brown with no patterning, whereas the front has light brown and white stripes, like the stripes of a zebra. This pattern of stripes varies between each individual.

It plays a large role in the daily lives of the Khataginians and the wealthiest tribes posess large herds. Not only is it used as mounts, but the mare's milk is used to make cheese and bevereges and some are slaughtered for meat.

### **Rituals**

**Sky Burial**

The tribespeople of Khatagin practice a type of funeral called Sky burial, which leaves the body of the deceased on a high unprotected place to be exposed to the elements and devoured by wildlife. The spirit of the deceased is aided in it's journey towards the heavens by placing the body at a higher elevation, while at the same time discarding the now empty vessel in as generous a way as possible. Weapons and personal possessions are placed together with the body, so that the deceased may carry them with them on their journey to the sky father.

This practice is carried over to the astartes of the Disciples of Jaghatai. Their fallen are brought back to Khatagin so that the practice of sky burial may be carried out. A scroll of the marines deeds are left next to the body, so that the sky father may know his accomplishments. The bambai and barsha of the marine are also left with the body so that he may continue fighting at the side of the sky father and his fallen brothers.

**Chuonnasuan**

The Chuonnasuan is the master shaman tasked with overseeing the rituals connnected to the Nerge. He lives alone atop the Khentii mountain, until it is time for him to carry out his duties. After the completion of the Nerge the Chuonnasuan takes part in ritual sacrifice, his duties in this world having been completed and a new Chuonnasuan is appointed to begin his life in solitute until the time of the next Nerge.

### **Recruitment**

**The Nerge (Great Hunt)**

The Nerge is held every 12 years in order to evaluate the youths of Khatagin for their potential recruitment into the ranks of the Disciples of Jaghatai. Mukhali, The Udgan join the tribal elders and the Chuonnasuan atop the Burkhan Khaldun mountain to oversee the Nerge in order to handpick the candidates that prove themselves worthy.

The Nerge is a hunt for the greatest creature on Khatagin, the Olgoi-Khorkhoi. The candidates are divided into two units. One mounted on horses designed to break off one of the Olgoi from the migratory group and herd it into the Burkhan Khaldun mountain alcove; a naturally formed arena in the mountainside. The other half of the candidates form the kill unit, stationed atop the mountain with javelins and spears at the ready, they patiently wait for the Olgoi to come to them.

## **Doctrines and Codex Adherence**

Armoured vehicles, barring transports, are not used be the Disciples of Jaghatai.

Nor do they make use of Dreadnoughts. It is believed that the spirit must be allowed to reach the heavens after death so that it may be reborn, rather than be confined within the armored shell that is the Dreadnought armor.

## **Chapter Organization**

The Disciples largely adhere to the Codex Astartes and as such they are divided into ten banners (companies) each consisting of 100 space marines when at full strenght. Each banner is led by a captain with the rank of Orlokh. Some differences are however prevalent within their ranks.

**The Kurultai** (The Council)

The Disciples do not have a single chapter master, but rather a council comprised of:

* **Subutai**, The Ilkhan (1st Captain)

**Mori Kheshig** - Subutai's Nukher (Retinue), trained specifically as a bike unit. Their skill on a bike has been honed to perfection through rigorous training.

* **Khubilai**, The TarKhan (Master of Sanctity)

**Kelet Kheshig** - Khubilai's Nukher, masters with the jump pack, guided by an unwavering faith, few can match their ferocity in close combat battle. Donning full robes and skull masks, they are truly a terrifying sight to behold.

* **Bo'orchu**, The Yurtchi (Master of the Forge)

**Uran Kheshig** - Bo'orchu's Nukher, a veteran Devastator squad mounted in their personal transport. They have bionically enhanced their bodies as to increase their capabilities in long ranged warfare while still being agile enough to keep up with the speed of the rest of the army.

* **Mukhali**, The Udgan (Master of the Apothecarion)

Mukhali is deployed with Subutai and the Mori Kheshig. The Udgan is one of the most skilled bike riders within the chapter. Outmatched only by Subutai himself.

* **Khuril Ashigh**, The Darkhad (Chief Librarian)

Khuril Ashigh is the chief librarian of the Disciples of Jaghatai and as such an outcast among his brothers. He as his personal retinue, the Gelug Keshig, are nicknamed the untouchables. His duties include interstellar communication and screening potential recruits for psychic abilities, very rarely do the chapter make use of librarians on the battlefield, as they have a deep distrust of their warptouched abilities.

The **9 Orlokhs** (Captains) of the **9 Banners** (Companies) attend some of the council meetings as well, when their insight is needed.

**Altan Uruk**

The 1st Company of the The Disciples is the Altan Uruk, it consists of the:

* **The Kurultai** - The Council and their personal Nukher are included in the Altan Uruk, with Ilkhan **Subutai** being the primary leader.

* **Keshigten** - The collective squads of  Veteran marines, which is divided into:

- Mangudai (Vanguard)

- Khevtuul (Sternguard)

* **Bahadur** - Terminator squads, 20 suits of terminator armor were given to the chapter's armoury upon their founding.

**The 9 Banners**

The 2nd -10th companies are titled the 9 Banners and each are led by an Orlokh.

* **Yavgan Tsereg** - Tactical squad
* **Mori Tsereg** - Assault squad
* **Noum Tsereg** - Devestator squad
* **Harshin Tsereg** - Scout squad
* **Sayahan** - Primaris Marines

### **Primaris Marines**

The Primaris marines were welcomed with open arms by the Disciples because of the fact that the primaris marines' gene-seed is so close to that of their primarch.

**Sayahan** is the collective term for the new primaris marines.

The firstborn discples were soon underway to be reborn into Sayahan themselves, via the Rubicon Primaris operation.

## **Equipment**

* **Bambai -** A Plasteel combat shield widely used throughout the ranks of the Disciples. With it's built in bolter it brings a lot of versatility to the battlefield.

* **Barsha -** A Vibro-spear wielded together with the Bambai. Made from Vibronium, a unique metal excavated from the mining world of Aligora.

**Relics**