Draconis Auxilia Initiation and Recruitment

## Recruitment

The Draconis Auxilia, as a regiment of mortal men and women has a high demand for new recruits. Tough they are a hardy regiment, much more resilient than most guardsmen forces, through their tactics they tend to suffer high casualties in their goals of protecting civilian lives.

As such, the Draconis Auxilia recruits from a wide variety of worlds. Most frequently and consistently they do so on their glorious home world of Nocturn, granting the regiment it’s most resilient members. In addition, the Auxilia also take volunteers from planets all across the Ultima Sector, especially in places where the heroic deeds of the Salamanders forces can be felt. Some join for a sense of duty, and other for a chance to serve so closely beside the Adeptus Astartes. However, all united under the banner of Vulkan.

As a planet housing one of the original founding legions, Nocturn is exempt from paying an Imperial tithe. Instead, it’s people may wish to enlist among the Draconis Auxilia. Each member of the Auxilia joins willingly and happily, ensuring that it’s ranks are filled with nought but devotion and honest service. Once enlisting, these citizens of the Imperium are turned into fine-tuned weapons of war through their training, get equipped with equipment brought to life by the fires of Nocturn itself, and are introduced to the tenants and teachings of the Promethean cult.

## Initiation

The initiation ceremony is conducted to all who reach the rank of Private (PVT) right after their basic training. The initiation ceremony is conducted and blessed by either a Firekeeper or Chaplain under the tenants of the Promethean Cult and will usually be done before the initiate’s first battle. During this ceremony, the Imperial Aquila must also be present either through a carved figure, flag, or rosarius.

When conducted, all initiates are called forth to stand to the front of the parade in one rank. All are called to stand at attention and the Imperial Aquila is presented. The Firekeeper or Chaplain then start the ceremony with the Pledge of Smouldering Iron, read out from the Salamander's ceremony book: The Canticle of Immolation.

### Pledge of Smouldering Iron

“Guardsman. Upon this day you become more than a simple [man/woman] of the Imperium. With your heart, you shall uphold the tenants of Promethium. Within your fists you shall carry the fury of our sire Vulkan. You are now among the Draconis Auxilia, immortal defenders of Nocturne, the most resilient among mortal men and women. “

“So raise your head now guardsmen and answer me with pride and truth:”

“Do you pledge to stand tall even when you’re alone, surrounded by nought but corpses?”

[Answered as “I DO”, “YES”, or “I PLEDGE” by all guardsman initiated.]

“Do you pledge to hold above all else, Humanity and the [“Holy” if spoken by a Firekeeper] Emperor as your liege?”

[Answered as “I DO”, “YES”, or “I PLEDGE” by all guardsman initiated.]

“Do you pledge to sacrifice your body, mind, and soul to defend the weak and the wounded?”

[Answered as “I DO”, “YES”, or “I PLEDGE” by all guardsman initiated.]

“Repeat after me guardsman:”

“I hereby pledge my oath” [REPEATED] “to protect the Imperium” [REPEATED] “to tread ever forward” [REPEATED] “ to stand tall and let the fire in my chest guide me” [REPEATED] “and to stay faithful to Vulkan and the God Emperor.” [REPEATED]

“As the Holy Emperor as my witness, and by the authority invested onto me by the Cult of Prometheus, I declare you a true [sun/daughter] of Nocturne. Rise now guardsman, rise and let not kneel to the heretic, the xenos, or the renegade so long as you draw breath.”

“Into the fires of battle, unto the anvil of war!”

“FOR THE EMPEROR!”