The Long Vigil

Within the Fire Keepers Legion, over time a unique rite of passage has emerged for the initiates. Those that have survived the various tests and trials; up until the final implantation of the Black Carapace, are deemed lacking in just one trait. Discipline is a major element of the Legion, and to be expected of all its sons.

To test an initiates' discipline, they are abandoned on one of the several Death Worlds the Legion has visited. The only three pieces of equipment that they receive, is an Astartes combat knife, a jar of lamp oil and a lamp, which is already alight.

The Initiate is expected to survive the harsh environment they may find themselves in, such as the irradiated wasteland of a desert world, or the vast expanse of frozen tundra on an ice world. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, the initiate must keep their lamp lit at all times. This is told to them, to be of utmost importance.

Upon the planet, the Initiate may soon realise the scope of the task with which he is faced. On an Arctic world, the Initiate may find that even as soon as he emerges from the hold of the Thunderhawk, sharp winds may threaten the frail life of his charge.

We're he to shield the lantern with his own body, he would be directly taking the full force of the cold, and the wind. So finding shelter would become a priority. Avoiding the wild animals native to their respective homeworlds is of itself a challenge. And where few would threaten a full Astartes, this isn't the case. With just one free hand, every engagement is potentially life threatening.

If the lamp remains lit, it brings another benefit for the Initiate. It reduces their need for light sources, and provides a source with which to easily make a fire. Many of the initiates will naturally find that what starts as a mere task, becomes almost a labour of love.

Different Astartes have approached the task in different manners, which also helps to show their superiors their mindsets. Some opt to build a little nest of sorts within their chosen shelter, refilling the lamp before they go hunting for food. Their artificial little structure around the lantern will shelter it from the wind, and conceal it from enemies until they return. Of course, there is always the risk that something could happen to put the light out whilst they are absent, not to mention the fast burning oil needs regular refilling.

Others prefer to keep the lantern with them at all times, constantly at arms length and within sight. Such a manner brings with it its own unique threats. The lantern is fragile, and one wrong impact or drop would render their Vigil redundant, and the light could scare away potential prey.

And, very rarely, there is a third option. On those worlds where several initiates have been dropped, the potential exists for them to work as a team. One amongst them will take responsibility for the lamps of his peers, whilst they hunt or rest, only to switch with one of them later. Despite some of the traditionalists arguing this is against the spirit of the test and a particularly heated debate within the Circles of the Chaplaincy, it was deemed a suitable method to pass. It was agreed that the discipline required to keep the lanterns of the others alight, despite having no personal stake, was a virtue of its own right.

Several of the initiates have had to fight off wild creatures drawn in by the light of the flame, and at no point has an Initiate been able to rest easy, the accumulated effort up to this point, now resting on the fragile flame of their charge.

It isn't uncommon for initiates to have "lost" their lamp oil, or run out before the allotted time. When this has occurred, a new test begins.  The Legion is known for its value on the ability to think for oneself, hence their value of the Circles of Chaplaincy and their seemingly endless debates. Those who find themselves able to keep the lantern alight, by burning any natural fuel of their respective deathworlds, are held in high regard, and are rumoured to have a future in leadership.

It is possible to pass the trial without presenting a lit lantern to the Legion. However, such a process will involve the Chaplain in charge of their recruitment and several of his peers, assessing the initiates every action. The attitude these unfortunates bring to their criticism is considered a telling display of their readiness to join the Legion.

Those who provide a lit lantern to their superiors upon their return, are granted the right to have a small tattoo of their success upon their right beast, a small commemoration of a feat of almost superhuman attention and devotion.