Axion Cohort

Axion Cohort insignia from the time of the Horus Heresy

A line soldier of the Axion Cohort.

The **Axion Cohort** are the elite Astra Militarum regiments that hail from the world of Axios. Resplendent in their golden-plate armour, these regiments are renowned for their extreme discipline, iron-will and bravery in the face of the most ferocious of enemies.

## Homeworld

Axios as a planet is “tidally locked”; the rotation of the planet matches it's stellar orbital period. This pattern of orbit and rotation means that one side of the planet always faces the planet's star, constantly being barraged with energy, while the other side is a land of constant cold and darkness.

This has caused the extreme bright and dark sides of the planet to be referred to as "Luxios" and "Nocturnia" respectively.

Most of the natural life upon Axios is found upon the lush ring that forms the barrier between the two contrasting sides; this belt has become known as the "Verdant Oasis" in low gothic. This ring has vast plains of grassland and lush areas of vegetation, with much of the Verdant Oasis generally being left to nature by order of the Axion Nobility on the grounds of conservation, zoological hobby projects, or hunting grounds.

Thanks to the constant barrage of heat to Luxios, the Verdant Oasis is intersected with grand volcanic mountain ranges, with magma vents that tend to almost "lean" away from the hotter areas, appearing in places like the arcing defensive spines of the old terran “hadge-hog”.

### **The Gazi chasm “The Great Hole”**

An ongoing mystery of the planet's geology comes from a great dark area of the Luxios desert known as the Gazi chasm. This patch of the planet appears to be many hundreds of miles in diameter, and seems to be recessed deep into the planet’s crust upon the closest part of the planet to the star.

The area is as of yet unexplored, but definitely not for lack of trying. Scans of the planet seem to penetrate only into the hemisphere of nocturia, with the majority of Luxios and the verdant oasis giving back only an incomprehensible mess of corrupted scan data.

Any attempt to reach the Gazi chasm, whether by air or by land, or direct burrowing has resulted in failure. Direct drops onto the area seem to uncontrollably veer off course away from the chasm, reports state that the drops are “spirited away from the intended drop site by a thin, hazy, cloud” upon every attempt. Ground expeditions always report a disorientating environment, with reports of the vast sand dunes constantly shifting around them, as if slowly juggling the expeditions to turn them back the way they came while their positioning and communication signals are mysteriously blocked. Finally air and void recon flights over the area bring back nothing but a dark cloud of static in their picts, severely obscuring detailed images of the area, and only giving the vaguest notion of what may be within.

As is to be expected, there is no end to the speculatory theories as to what the chasm actually is, and what mysterious force seems to prevent it’s study, some even link the chasm to other mysteries of Axios, the Aeternian vaults.

### **The Aeternian vaults**

The Aeternian vaults are a sporadic collection of flat, slab sided subterranean stone interiors dotted around the planet. The interior of each vault is similar in appearance but vary in scale, each has a dark grey slab door, floor, walls and ceiling, with a simple raised slab within the centre of each one. There has been no pattern found of why each vault is the size that it is, however each and every vault discovered has been below the verdant oasis.

Early experiments conducted upon the vaults, after re-discovery of the planet following long night, found the stone material to be a slate-style substance with micro-pores across the entire surface. Further experiments found that humans who enter the vaults for any extended periods of time report headaches, with longer periods of exposure eventually causing people to develop feverish symptoms, followed often by <REDACTED>. The cause of such an effect is unknown, with some speculating it to be something to do with the acoustics of the porous stone walls, or could be something to do with the reports of a slight metallic taste in the air.

Luckily however the headaches and other symptoms swiftly subside upon exiting the vault, and do not seem to cause any lasting damage.

The vaults vary in size and shape, from the size of a man’s coffin, to a cavernous space that could host a warmachine of the Adeptus Titanicus, and as with much of the planet, any scans of the crypts return frustratingly little information.

The most curious and compelling property of the vaults, however, is that the vaults each seem to materialise or alter a specific piece of technology at certain intervals, with technology ranging from hoods of psychic amplification, to weaponry, to agricultural vehicles and tools.

Archaeologists of Axios, along with the Mechanicum, dedicate much time and resources to discovering, studying, and attempting to unlock the secrets of each vault. Where some vaults will produce it’s materials when it’s previous materials have been destroyed, others seem to produce with set intervals.

The only uniformity found between all vaults known to materialise technology is that their slab stone doors must be shut with nothing left inside for the mysterious process to take place. Some researchers claim that when not observed, some of these doors will slowly close by themselves, trapping any unfortunate distracted researchers within, never to be seen again.

## The eternal leader - Alexandros Cassander "The Lion of Androcles"

Often a point of curiosity when it comes to the Axion Cohort is that their leader has always been listed as the same person, Alexandros Cassander.

Alexandros Cassander aka "*The Lion of Androcles*" is a name and title bestowed upon the leader of Axios upon undergoing the "*Aeternus Ceremony*", a ceremony that uses an archaotech headpiece from the dark-age of technology in order to permanently alter it's human subject's mind and bearing into that of Alexandros Cassander. It is rumoured that aspects of previous wearers persist and are combined with the subject each time, yet the precise nature of the transformation is yet unknown.

### The Axion crown

By far the most heavily guarded and valued of the vaults found on Axios is that of the "*Pithos Protoi*", which houses the most vaunted relic of the world, the Axion crown. It is situated beneath the planet’s ancient capital fortress “*Kale-Vardar*”.

The Axion crown is the key to rulership upon Axios and of all of the known treasures bestowed upon humanity from the Aeternian vaults it has by far drawn the most interest of those few within the priests of Mars who have been allowed knowledge of it's effects.

When not upon a human head, the crown appears to be a golden laurel wreathed tiara, with bright silver pins protruding from the inside, pointing inwards towards the head.

In order for the crown to be activated, the pins must be forced into the subject’s skull, usually through blunt force; after this point, removal of the crown is ill advised, with previous attempts at removal resulting in an exceedingly high mortality rate.

### Selection of the Lion

The Crown is bestowed upon an individual selected by the council of the “*Artos Andras*” (the 100 most elderly members of the population) in a ceremony known as the “*Aeternus Ceremony*'' or the “*Aeternus Ascension*” upon the grand throne atop Kale-Vadar. Any citizen that is not serving a penal sentence is eligible for the Ascension, and once selected, ascension is mandatory.

Almost every time, the council of the Artos Andras selects the most prominent/powerful member of the Noble houses to wear the crown, with much politicking and many bribes being attempted to sway the decision. However it is not unheard of for the Artos Andras to grant the crown to a youthful up-and coming soldier/citizen who has proven themselves by receiving a large number of “*Aeternus commendations*”, granted from their superiors for exceedingly heroic deeds.

Should the council not reach a decision, or should the selected not survive the ceremony, another is then chosen via semi-random lottery, where names are given extra entries in accordance to their commendations and the favour of council members.

### The Aeternus Ceremony

With the selection complete, the selected is positioned at the head of the table for a grand feast of celebration, the grand feast lasts for a full day, and consists of copious food and alcohol, along with dance and dramatic performances recounting the history of Axios and the Imperium.

With the initial feast and celebrations out of the way (yet with much more jubilation to continue), the selected person is seated upon the grand throne atop the fortress-palace of Kale-Vardar as attendants proceed to hammer the crown into place upon the subject’s head to the cheering screams of the excited crowds.

In what seems to be a strange Axios tradition, any scream or cry from the subject while this is happening is echoed back at them by the crowds in a dramatic, and frankly startling, fashion.

Once the crown is firmly in place, and should the selected still be alive, the subject is granted the title of “*The Lion of Androcles*”, and must proceed to the next part of the ceremony; Rising from the throne, to yet more chanting, cheering, and hollering, the Lion of Androcles will have to make the long journey from the peak of Kale-Vadar, down through the interior and subterranean levels of the fortress, to the Pithos-Protoi Aeternian vault from which the crown was initially taken. Within the vault, the Lion must lie within the coffin sized vault, with the door securely sealed.

Roughly a day later, once the door to the vault opens the Lion of Androcles should be present, and upon rising from their slab coffin, their eyes will be an Emerald green colour of such intensity that some say that they actively glow with an eerie light.

The Axion crown will no longer be visible upon their head, no wounds will remain from it’s placement, and a golden laurel tattoo is observed to be around the back and sides of the Lion’s neck, with the front resting just on their collarbone.

The person who emerges will climb back up to the peak of Kale-Vadar. To jubilant crowds and yet more grand celebrations (which have been known to last for days) they proclaim themselves Alexandros Cassander, taking their place as the highly revered Lord high governor of Axios, and the Grand Marshal of the Axion Cohort.

Many have speculated on the nature of the transformation, with many condemning it as profane or sorceress in nature, but always in hushed and secretive tones, lest they be dragged away by the Lion guard and never seen again.

The ceremony has occasionally been known to fail. On such occasions, when the coffin lid within the Pithos Protoi is pried open after the vault doors have opened, the only thing found inside will be the Axion Crown, pristine and as if newly produced by the vault, waiting for another to be crowned. No trace of any of these failed Lions is ever found.

*“There must always be a Lion”* is an old proverb of Axios, as while Alexandros Cassander, The Lion of Androcles does not walk the galaxy, none of the Aeternian vaults function, and not until the Lion walks again will the vaults continue materialising their gifts to the populace.

### Imperial views on the Ceremony and Alexandros Cassander

The Martian Priesthood marvel and wonder at the bio-technological triumph they see within the Ascension, noting that the effect of the crown and the ceremony don’t seem too dissimilar to the machine spirits of the great titan legions, with both having the consciousness, memories, and very essence seemingly meld and join with that of all the former Alexandros Cassanders.

Psykers who have been granted access and permission to study the Lion report that the Lion’s “soul” or presence within the immaterium is nothing like they have ever seen. The little of their findings that they are permitted to report state that wherever Alexandros Cassander is at any time, there is a form of link that protrudes through the immaterium that leads directly back to Axios, through the Pithos Protoi vault, and into the core of the planet itself.

To date, the Ordo Hereticus has investigated the Cohort and the planet of Axios several times, each time they closely scrutinise the worshipping patterns of the Imperial Cult on Axios for any sufficiently heretical patterns of worship. Axions worship for the most part in the standard manner of the wider Imperium but with an added twist, they see the Lion of Androcles as a prophet of the Emperor and as an avatar of the Emperor's virtue made manifest. While the Ordo Hereticus has had many internal debates over whether this constitutes worship of a false idol, the steadfast loyalty of the Axios to the Imperium, combined with the combat record of the Cohort, have satisfied all investigations to date.

## Population

The Aristocracy, noble households, and citizenry of esteem are the primary demographic permitted to live upon the lush greenery of the Verdant Oasis, with the exception of the occasional rebel group, who use the natural state of the Oasis to their advantage, with some managing to intercept ,and subsequently loot, low flying cargo conveyors, or very occasionally, attempting to raid low ranking noble homesteads.

The majority of the population are left to toil within the sporadic hive cities dotted across the dark side of the planet. Such life is only possible on this cold side of the planet thanks to vast energy cables from the "star-leech" solar energy farms on Luxios, these run through the populous areas of the Verdant Oasis, all the way to the eternal twilight of the Nocturnian hives. The scale of the mass energy transfer cables are a true sight to witness, with some of the surface cables being as wide as a Baneblade tank.

Some among the sociologa-imperia postulate that the political value of these cable crossings on the oasis are how the nobles of the planet have managed to quell any potential uprising coming from the hives, as diverting the power from an area of Nocturnia for just a few hours can cause mass panic and riots, with occasional bloodbaths among the citizens as their mass heating systems are starved of energy; with such an iron fist, any rebellion can be swiftly quelled.

## The Cohort

The Axion cohort is a wonder to behold, ranks of regimented and iron-disciplined men and women, resplendent in their golden armour, loose unflinching salvos of fire in defiance of the enemies of the Imperium.

The men and women of the Axios are described in a multitude of ways by different sources. Some admire their heroic deeds in devotion to the Imperial Creed. Some call them blind and foolish zealots, constantly looking to outdo each other in order to impress their excessively idolised leader. While others see them as an enthralled cult who’s reverence of their leader "The Lion of Androcles" qualifies as worship, and thus should be expelled from the Imperium on the grounds of seeming to defy the tenants of the Imperial Creed.

Regardless of view or interpretation, the Axion Cohort has proven itself time and time again within the crucible of battle as a valuable, steadfastly loyal asset of the Imperium of Man throughout the Great Crusade all the way until current times.

## Equipment and gear

With the wealth granted by the mysterious archaotech of the Aerternian vaults, the Cohort is wealthy and is thus well equipped and well maintained. Each base trooper wearing a light void-capable suit, complete with an optical assisted helmet, multi-setting lasrifle, and grenades.

Most Riflemen of the lines are equipped with the distinctive visor helmet of the Cohort, with Veterans exchanging this for a different pattern of helmet which sports a black obsidian mask, topped with a sculpted Lion’s head.

## The Lion's Mandate & Conscript Detachments

For normal ongoing galactic warfare activities, the fanaticism and loyalty of the population overall means that the rate of recruitment through voluntary admission is sufficient to man the Cohort, however with new warfronts and crusades opening up across the galaxy it is sometimes required to raise troops quicker than usual.

When this need for rapid mass recruitment arises the Cohort will put out a “Lion’s Mandate” to the vast populations of the hive, this mandate demands that entire sections of the population submit themselves to the Cohort and to accelerated training in order to swiftly join the lines within Conscript detachments, which are otherwise composed of criminals, disgraced cohort members and other such undesirables.

If the Lion’s mandate is not answered by enough of the chosen population, then Conscription deployments will enter the cities; these squads of heavily armoured soldiers carry shock batons, gas grenades, and are often accompanied by battle automata to eliminate any who dare fight back, and round up those who don't.

When the Lion’s mandate is issued you are best to answer, and Terra forbid you dare to fight back.

With weapons of much lower grade and accuracy, alongside mostly makeshift armour that provides little protection from enemy fire, let alone the cold of the void, the equipment of these Conscripts pales in comparison to that of the regular troops of the Cohort.

### Axion Criminals

Provided their crimes haven't sent them for execution, many men and women of the Conscript detachments have been found guilty of crimes against Axios or the wider imperium, any such criminal individuals, whether they be former soldiers of the Cohort’s lines, or civilians, are pressed into service within the vast ranks of the Conscript detachments.

To be convicted of a crime on Axios has existential repercussions, as it means that the convict can nevermore have a chance of ascending to become the Lion, and thus are divorced from their chance at immortality, condemned to die with their memory unremembered and uncared for, and blown away like dust upon the winds of time.

## The Lion-Guard

The Lion-Guard are the elite bodyguards of Alexandros Cassander, wielding impressively sized power axes, and adorned in the pelts of the felines of their namesake, the Lion-Guard are formidable executioners, dispatching the Lion of Androcles’ enemies with sweeping strikes and precision ferocity.

## Great Lions

The Great Lions are enormous feline creatures, while their origins are unknown, upon the field of battle they have shown themselves to be formidable, terrifying, and most importantly: useful beasts.

## Notable battles

* **The Horus Heresy (005.M31)** - The Axion Cohort fought in many battles throughout the Horus Heresy including a small contingent who found themselves at the Siege of Terra.

## Notable Regiments

* 1st Grand Battalion “The Lion’s Own”, headed the 94th Expeditionary Fleet throughout the Great Crusade and the **Horus Heresy**

## Notable Members

* Alexandros Cassander "The Lion of Androcles" - Lord High Governor of Axios and Grand Marshal of the Axion Cohort (Commander in-perpetuo)
* Roxana Veles - Tank Commander, Marshal at arms of all armoured battlegroups.
* Zara Lontarus - Troop Master

## Regimental Appearance

### Regimental Colours

All battle armour of the Cohort is a bright, polished gold, with black trousers and a deep red shirt.

Officers are usually marked via beige colouring on the cuffs and hat of their dress uniform, while High-command and Senior officers are gifted a crimson sash to wear upon promotion.

### Regimental Insignia

The cohort go into battle accompanied by several differing depictions of Lions, the most common is that of a Lion's head.

## Relations

### Allies

* Legio Atarus ("Firebrands") Titan Legion.
* Mechanicus Skitarii of Forgeworld Atar-Median.
* Imperial Knight house Col'Khak.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Axion Cohort

* "*Through the Lion we know the Emperor, through the Emperor we know grace, through grace we know clarity, and through clarity we repel the enemies of the Imperium!*" - Common battle-chant of the Axion Cohort
* "Blessed be our holy Emperor, as we follow his avatar and prophet, our Lion of Androcles." - A modern battle-hymn of the Cohort
* *“There must always be a Lion”* - Old proverb of Axios, thought to refer to how the archaotech vaults of the planet only operate as long as The Lion of Androcles walks the galaxy.

### About the Axion Cohort

* "Zealots, the lot of them! They walk a fine line with their devotion to that 'Lion of Androcles' of theirs. If their devotion to the Emperor should falter the slightest bit, I will sanction that regiment for worship of their false idol!" - Inquisitor Dijkstra of the Ordo Hereticus
* "I don't know, something is off about them. They are much too calm and joyous in battle, which really doesn't sit right with me. But my word can those people hold a wall!" - Attributed to a member of the Armageddon Steel Legion.