Brothers Encarmine

> "*We are the Legiones Astartes, the bravest and greatest warriors the galaxy has ever known, moulded to the ideals of heroism that have persisted in mankind since the dawn of our species. Should we not live up to those ideals? Should we not strive to be the champions our people want us to be? Because that is what the Brothers Encarmine are; the heroes mankind has cried out for ever since we crawled out of Terra's ancient oceans. The honoured champions of man!*"
> ― Euphrano Geminius
>
>

### **Legion Colours**

Ruby & WhiteRuby & Black (Widow Companies)

The Brothers Encarmine are the XIIth Legiones Astartes. From their inception they were known as valiant warriors and champions of the Imperial cause. Before their reunion with their primarchs, Astartes of the XIIth Legion were known as the Imperial Talons, but they would not come into their own until after Vinicius and Euphrano Geminius were returned to the Imperial fold.
The most distinct cultural and organizational trait of the Brothers Encarmine is the concept of the Cojunx; two Astartes partnered together through the exchange of gene-seed organs and psychic conditioning, in a mirroring of their primarchs’ twin nature. The Cojunx was already an element of the Imperial Talons before the rediscovery of the Twins, but they were not established during the implementation process. Back then, they were far weaker. The Imperial Talons commonly reported strong bonds to a single battle-brother. These ‘natural’ bonds were the result of a quirk in their gene-seed. The Cojunx Bonding process is essentially a refining and strengthening of this quirk.

A Brothers Encarmine Cojunx fights as one. On the battlefield, one could assume that they can see through one another's eyes and hear one another’s thoughts and they would not be entirely incorrect. The link of a Brothers Encarmine Cojunx is superficially psychic in nature, though neither of the two partners needs to be psychic. The Conjunx bonds make the Brothers Encarmine a force to be reckoned with when engaged in infantry combat. A Cojunx’ ability to outthink, outmaneuver and outflank and opponent is near unrivaled. Additionally, the Conjunx bonds make it the Brothers Encarmine adept at many other forms of rapid assault warfare, including jetbikes and fighter air/voidcraft.
The Conjunx isn’t just a vital part of the Brothers Encarmine’s way of war, the bonds formed through the Conjunx process are stronger than any other bond of felt between battle brothers. Conjunx partners serve as one another’s life partner, best friend and source of courage. Usually, due to their joined nature, Cojunx partners tend to die together. Occasionally, tragically, this does not happen. If an Astartes of the Brothers Encarmine survives the death of their Cojunx partner, they are usually admitted into the ‘widow companies’. There they will throw themselves into battle with unmatched fervor, hoping to die in service to the Emperor, so that the existential suffering they feel can end.

Derived from its importance in their homeworld’s culture, gladiatorial combat is very important to the XIIth Legion. Brothers Encarmine engage in gladiatorial combat for a variety of reasons, from regular sport to the settling of disputes. The outcome and importance of the fights are respected by every Brother Encarmine. The fights never result in death, unless both opponents specifically request the right to a Blood Feud, which then has to be agreed to by both their superior officers, which rarely happens.
The Brothers Encarmine have a strong appreciation for the finer aspects of Imperial culture. One would be hard pressed to find a XIIth Legion ship that did not have a considerable stock of fine wines and exotic foods. Victories won by the Brothers Encarmine are celebrated lavishly, with drink, music and dance. Revelling comes as naturally to the XIIth Legion as waging war.

## History

### The Great Crusade

#### Vinicius and Euphrano Geminius

After being taken from the Emperor’s subterranean laboratories on ancient Terra, the gestation pod marked with the number XII exited the warp above a small world, known as Bion. Bion was a relatively peaceful world; its people had not known outright war for decades. That is not to say there was no conflict, but the conflicts that had torn down humanity’s worlds throughout the galaxy had not afflicted Bion for a long time.

The reason for this long era of peace was a cultural tradition that went back to Bion’s long forgotten past; the Blood Games. The Blood Games were held in honor of Bion’s ancient twin pair of gods: Amarst, God of War, and Bellusia, Goddess of Love. The point of the games was to resolve matters that would otherwise end in the deaths of thousands of innocents by having gladiatorial champions face off with each other in the arena. All of Bion’s nations accepted the Blood Games as a genuine way of gauging the demands of their twin gods and the people of Bion knew peace. Even when the Blood Games were not being held, Bion’s many arenas were filled with show matches and other events. Combative, gladiatorial fighting was deeply ingrained in Bionian culture.

The night that the gestation pod crashed was a night like many others. The city-state of Phenophia was lit by nothing but moonlight. Its arena was packed to the brim. Two warriors, the reigning champion Colomon and the eager challenger Thuvius, had just entered the third round of their bout when the fight was interupted by the violent impact of the metal pod. The two gladiators, along with other warriors who were quickly flooding the battleground, tore open the pod, only to find something none of them was expecting; two perfectly healthy baby boys.

Gregorian, the owner of Phenophia’s arena, took the two boys into his care. He was a wealthy man, but also a pious one. He believed that a pair of twins falling from the heavens into one of Bion’s sacred arenas had to be a clear sign from their twin gods. The baby twins, whom he named Vinicius and Euphrano, would have what they needed, but true luxury would be reserved for those who had earned it, though Gregorian had faith that that would never prove a problem.

At a very young age the two boys already exhibited exceptional traits. They grew quickly, quicker than any other children. In only a matter of years would the Twins stand as tall as regular men, with only a few more, ever taller. They were strong, quick and absurdly intelligent. They spent a lot of their youth around Phenophia’s arenas, observing and learning from the many warriors that bloodied its fields night after night. Gregorian had Vinicius and Euphrano trained by most of the warriors, including himself.

As the Twins matured to the age of ten, their father allowed them to appear in the arena for the first time. On the night that their first appearance was announced to be, the stadium was packed like never before. They were allowed to fight as a duo, as Amarst and Bellusia had clearly demanded. They were faced by the two warriors that had originally found them, Colomus and Thuvius, the honored champions of the arena. Their fight was an intense one, albeit over very quickly: the veterans would have been a worthy opponent for anyone, but the Twins proved much too strong. Besides the benefits of their incredible, superhuman bodies, the Twins’ ability to intuitively communicate without saying a word proved to be their winning edge, as they outflanked, outmaneuvered and otherwise outfought the legendary arena veterans.

Before the end of the year, the twins, or the Geminius Twins, as they were becoming known, had defeated every in-house warrior in Phenophia’s arena. They were the undisputed champions. The pair fought larger and larger groups of warriors and beasts. The fighting earned Vinicius and Euphrano a lot of wealth, allowing them to finally live the lives of luxury they had seen their father living. They enjoyed delicious wines, exotic foods and wore silks in the most delicately hand woven patterns.

Seeking to increase their fame and fortune, Vinicius and Euphrano set off to distant lands, travelling from city-state to city-state, arena to arena, taking on anyone willing to fight them. The Geminius Twins became famous across Bion, popular not only as heroes of the arenas, but as champions of Amarst and Bellusia as well. Across Bion the Twins’ fighting style, two warriors, back to back, covering for one another and fighting as one, was popularized. Eventually however, they received a letter, beckoning them to return to Phenopia, for their council of elders had called for Blood Games to be held.

Phenophia had come into conflict with the neighboring city state of Viscur. Border tensions had lead to a small scuffle between border guards and had ended in deaths on both sides. Both sides blamed the other for the incident and tensions were flaring. As was tradition, a third city-state, Thebban, hosted the Blood Games. The Twins were requested to represent Phenophia during the event and they accepted the honorable task without question.

The Twins were the first, and only, warriors to represent Phenophia during Blood Games. The pair faced all opponents the Viscurans threw at them, without taking a break. Before the Blood Games the Twins had never killed. Vinicius was the first to take a life, though Euphrano followed closely behind. The pair felt it came natural to them, though they were glad they could avoid any Phenophian casualties.

When the midnight hour came, the Blood Games ended. The final results were devastating. Viscur had lost 50 great warriors. Phenophia had lost none. The Viscurans returned to their home, disgraced. Vinicius and Euphrano Geminius were hailed as heroes for the ages upon their return to Phenophia. Their victory was celebrated with a festival held in their honor.

Unfortunately however, celebrations would not last long. The disgraced Viscurans were outraged. Their king, who had always been a prideful man, had, through unknown means, convinced his city-state’s priesthood that the Blood Games had been a fraud. The Viscuran king claimed that this reason only further justified his war. They chose to ignore the results of the Blood Games and were mustering an army to march on Phenophia. Once the winds of winter had lifted an army would be at Phenophia’s borders.

Vinicius and Euphrano took personal insult to the act of defiance. The Viscuran king had committed an act of heresy against the twin gods of Love and War. Resolved to bringing the Viscur king to sacred justice. The Geminius Twins gathered an army of their own, consisting of career soldiers, guardsmen, gladiators and civilian volunteers. They began preparing their army to fight a real war, something they once again found came naturally to them.
They trained their warriors to fight like them, paired in duos and fighting in a synchronized fashion at all times.

Once winter lifted an spring came, the Geminius Twins’ army was lying in wait at the river crossing that formed the natural border between Phenophia and Viscur. Once the Viscurans had finished crossing the shallow waters, the Geminius Twins and their army burst from the trees, caverns and other hiding places. They caught the Viscurans by suprise, and their disciplined and well-trained soldiers covered one another excellently. Before long, the enemy forces were routing, scurrying back across the rivers, back to their homes.

The Twins followed behind. Even though they fought skirmishes and suffered some casualties along the way, they ultimately tracked their enemies back to their capital. There, the last remnants of the Viscuran army could do little to stop the still highly motivated Phenophians. Together, Vinicius and Euphrano stormed the Viscuran king’s throne room, whom they quickly slew as retribution for his heretical war.

Upon returning to Phenophia, the Geminius Twins were once again hailed as heroes. This time however, someone else was waiting for them; a priest from a distant land. The priest, who introduced himself as Homaerus, had come from a distant land, bearing gifts; the spears of Amarst and Bellusia, ancient tridents said to have once been wielded by the gods themselves. Homaerus had heard the story of the Geminius Twins’ lives, from their arrival on Bion, to their gladiatorial career, decisive role in the Blood Games and retributive war against Viscur. Homaerus’ temple had guarded the weapons for generations, but he had come to believe that the Vinicius and Euphrano Geminius were sent by Amarst and Bellusia and that the weapons should this be given to them.

With their new holy gifts, the Geminius Twins returned to their lives before the Blood Games, travelling the world, fighting in distant arenas and revelling in worldly luxury.

#### The Coming of the Imperium

Their lives would be changed on a single fateful day, however. A decade and a half after their participation in the Blood Games, the Twins returned to Thebban. After faces their opponents, a new challenger entered the ring, a single man clad in simple armor, demanded the Twins fight him, together. Laughter filled the arena, as no single man could ever hope to defeat the Geminius Twins. The challenger would not budge however, and the Twins agreed.

The two advanced on their opponent together, but the challenger swayed under their coördinated blow like it was nothing. With a few quick steps he was behind the pair and he swung his sword, which erupted in flames as he swung, at Vinicius. Vinicius was sent flying through the arena. Euphrano quickly countered with another sweep and stab, but was quickly parried by the challenger. The Twins rapidly regrouped and refocused, choosing not to underestimate their surprisingly dangerous opponent. The fight continued for several more minutes, until eventually, for the first time in their gladiatorial carreer, the Geminius Twins lost.

They demanded to know the victor’s name. Out of nowhere, the figure’s form was covered in a golden light. Once the light faded, a tall, black haired, olive skinned and golden armored figure stood in the center of the arena. He declared himself to be the Emperor of Mankind, rightful ruler of all humanity, who had come from a distant world to reunite the lost colonies of man. The Geminius Twins, he revealed, were not the champions of ancient gods, but his creations, meant to lead his armies against the darkest dangers the galaxy had to offer.

The Emperor brought the Twins back to humanity’s homeworld and the Imperium’s capital, Terra. There they were taught about the Imperium of Mankind and what role they would play in its future. They were told that a legion of warriors had been created from their genetic template. They were to take command of that legion, whose new recruits would come from Bion. They were equipped in the finest weapons and armors, though the spears of Amarst and Bellusia were considered worthy of the Imperium’s legions.

Before assuming full command of their legion, the Twins returned to their homeworld. Using the Imperium’s resources, they also took time to discover more about their homeworld’s history, including the origins of Amarst and Bellusia, whom they had been told by the Imperium had not in fact been gods. Using mining equipment, they ultimately uncovered the remains of a ship once used by colonists who first arrived on Bion. On board they found records of the two captains who had lead the ship there; the strong and firm Amarst and the beautiful and wise Bellusia. The Geminius Twins soon came to realize that their gods had in fact simply been heroes that protected Bion’s settlers and had been deified through generations upon generations of legend.

They also oversaw the transformation of their XIIth Legion, which they trained to fight in pairs like they once trained their army and redubbed ‘the Brothers Encarmine’. After paying final respect to their now passed adoptive father, the Vinicius and Euphrano Geminius set off to the distant stars, to bring the Emperor of Mankind’s vision to the rest of the galaxy.

## Legion Organization

The Brothers Encarmine’s structure is generally the same as originally laid out by the Principa Belicosa. The legion’s most major deviation lies in the fact that major command positions aren’t filled by a single person, but by a Cojunx. While having two Astartes in a command position might lead to issues, due to the nature of the Cojunx bond, this turned out to be more practical.

The XIIth Legion also adheres to different names for certain command levels. Companies are referred to as brotherhoods, while chapters are referred to as grand brotherhoods.

Another noteworthy deviation from the standard legion structure is the presence of so called ‘widow companies’. Note: these are actually called companies, not brotherhoods. These are companies consisting entirely of Brothers Encarmine that lost their Conjunx partner, or had their partners interred in dreadnoughts, and managed to survive on themselves. Many of them are interred in dreadnoughts themselves. Most members of the widow companies enter battle with exceptionally zealous fervor, hoping that in death in service to the Imperium, they can find absolution from the pain they feel from their partners’ deaths.

## Notable Brothers Encarmine

### Caero Latrodectus

Caero Latrodectus is the chief librarian of the Brothers Encarmine. He is an oddity amongst the Brothers Encarmine, for he is a widower, but he never opted to join any of the widow companies. Instead, Caero only further immersed himself into his duties as librarian, eventually attaining the rank of chief.
His Cojunx partner, Untero, died at the hands of an Eldar Wraithguard of Craftworld Ysukin. Caero, who only barely survived the encounter himself, managed to defeat the Eldar construct, but collateral damage caused by his psychic lightning cost him an arm and leg himself.

### Valens and Quintin Ballis

Valens and Quintin Ballis are the Conjunx Equerry to their primarchs. The pair of them are the Geminius Twins’ most trusted advisors and confidantes. They first grabbed the attention of their primarchs during the Siege of Alzong, during which the pair, who were still captains at the time, went against their chapter masters’ orders, lead their unit around an enemy fortification and broke through a weakness in the vile xenos’ defenses. This decisive, bold and creative decision was exactly what the Geminius Twins were looking for and Valens and Quintin have been kept close ever since.

### Yorgos and Andreas Statius

Yorgos and Angreas Statius are the Cojunx Champions of the Brothers Encarmine. They are the deadliest warriors the XIIth Legion has to offer, after the twin primarchs themselves. When fighting side by side the duo represents the absolute pinnacle of fury and killing intent that the Legiones Astartes represent. Whereas many of the Brothers Encarmine struggle when fighting without their Cojunx partner, Yorgos and Andreas remain deadly when separated. They are often labeled as the Pride of the XIIth.
The partners were born to two completely different families on Bion. Yorgos was the son of a pair of stable workers near the arena where Vinicius and Euphrano first landed. While Yorgos´ parents were lucky to catch a glimpse of the fights from the arena´s catacombs, Angreas was born to the nobles that filled the arena´s highest and loftiest seats; a pair of incredibly wealthy jewelers. When the Imperium came to Bion and the Twins took command over the XIIth legion, the two young boys were among countless others to be taken from their families to be raised into the ranks of the Legiones Astartes.
Those who were there when the two boys first locked eyes claim that their incredible connection was palpable then and there. Ofcourse, this is likely to have been exaggerated once their significance in the legion became clear.
The Statius Conjunx is different from the rest of their legion in that they do not waste time on the lavish pursuits of their battle-brothers. They appreciate the attention their skill gets them like any other Brother Encarmine, but they do not waste time on partying. Yorgos and Angreas can always be found on the training decks, in the arenas, or on the battlefield.
Yorgos wields a shield and carries a spear, in honor of their primarchs. He is swift on his feet catches blows as quickly as he can dish them out. Angreas is a master of the greatsword, wielding it with incredible strength and surprising control. Together, they make up for one another’s weaknesses with incomparable efficiency.

### Latros Dectusson

Latros Dectusson, also known as the ´Lord Widower´ and ´Black Widow´, is the commander of the widow companies. He serves directly under the Geminius Twins themselves as legion sub-commander. He is ultimately responsible for the ten percent of Brothers Encarmine that make up the widow companies; Brothers who have lost their Cojunx partners without losing their own lives. These Astartes are often in a dark place and filled with shame. Part of Latros’ duties is inducting these Astartes into the widow companies, where they will learn to function without their partners.
Latros’ partner, Omiros, sustained serious injuries during an early campaign after the Twins took command of their legion and the first recruits from Bion entered the formal ranks. Omiros was interred into a dreadnought, a fate comparable to death in almost every way. Latros, who was left alone and felt the weight of his failure to save Omiros, suggested the formal founding of the widow companies to their primarchs, as a way for the survivors of a conjunx to deal with the burden together, while also teaching them to wage war without them.
During the Warmaster’s civil war, Latros Dectusson and his widow companies led the attack on Shaaa Hydrades’ Ring. While they were ultimately incapable of taking the Ring in full, they did inflict serious damages upon the Star Guardians and bait the Praetorian of Terra away from the throneworld.

## Legion Fleet

### Notable Vessels

**The *God of War* & *Goddess of Love* (Gloriana-class Battleships)** - The *God of War* and *Goddess of Love* are the twin flagships of the 222nd Expeditionary fleet. Once the Twins were reunited with the Imperium, it took some effort on behalf of the Golden Sons to convince the Magi of the Mechanicus to construct a pair of Gloriana-class ships. Still, with the recommendation of the Emperor of Mankind himself, the Mechanicus went to work. At the request of the Twins the two ships were specifically built for maneuverability and speed. Individually the twin ships would likely be unable to stand against any of other Gloriana class vessels, but, like the Geminius Twins themselves, together the *God of War* and *Goddess of Love* are nigh unstoppable. The interiors of the ships have been lavishly decorated by Bion’s many artisans. Statues, paintings and other beautiful works of art fill the luxurious halls of the twin ships. The lower decks are home to carefully constructed gladiatorial arenas, which host fights on an almost daily basis when the legion is not at war.

## Legion Relics

* **Shield of Gregorian**- a shield once carried into battle in the gladiatorial pits of Phenophia by the Geminius Twins’ adoptive father, Gregorian. After their father passed, the Twins had his shield refitted to meet Legiones Astartes standards. It has been a relic of the legion ever since, representing the family, mentorship and combat prowess.