Emperor's Legion

Emperor's Legion armorial with Chapter iconography.

Emperor's Legion Firstborn Legionnaire of the 2nd Cohort, 5th Battleline Squad.

"*Some see the Galaxy as a giant chess game of the Gods! People that think that way, are often the pawns. We, on the other hand, are the important figures, like the tower and bishop. Guilliman and the Imperator know that! And so does the enemy!*"
—A Emperor's Legion Centurion to a High Lord of Terra
The **Emperor's Legion** are an ancient and proud Loyalist Successor Chapter created from the lineage of the Primarch Roboute Guilliman. Created during an unknown founding, this venerable Chapter is believed to possible hail from the 2nd Founding, which occurred in 021.M31, when the original Legiones Astartes were broken down into separate Chapters. Stripped of their original Legion livery and past deeds, these newly formed Chapter were granted their own livery and wargear and forced to make their own way in a dark and unforgiving galaxy. Despite the paucity of records, there are no mentions of the Emperor's Legion in official Imperial records until at least the early decades of the 32nd Millennium. This cast doubts as to whether or not the Emperor's Legion are one of the original Primogenitor Chapters.

Steeped in deep traditions and ancient practices, this Chapter resembles the culture of Old Earth's Romanii in a lot of similar ways. They are very organised and strict in their ways of war and have earned a reputation as merciless and fearless warriors in battle. Despite being a Successor Chapter of the Ultramarines, the Astartes of this Chapter are strict adherents of the worship of the Imperator as a God, but are not officially a part of the Ecclesiarchy. On the outside, these stalwart warriors might seem cold and without emotions, but between wars they are very friendly and relaxed. Resembling ancient Romans, they are structured in the same way, from a simple Legionnaire to the Caesar himself.

They are very structured and organised in their methods of conducting warfare, always walking into battle in disciplined formations, which might seem like a disadvantage, however, the Emperor's Legion is a very powerful chapter. They are especially good tacticians and are very adaptable. Between battles, within the vessels of their Chapter fleet, they take off their armour and instead don long robes, like the ancient Romans, and drink, eat and like to play board games.

## History

"*It was glorious! It was like in the tales of old! It was clear, we were meant for greatness!*"
—10th Centurion Tiberius Sextus to a Remembrancer
The history of this Chapter is neither a mystery, nor is it a tragic story, but a glorious event. The Emperor's Legion maintains that their Chapter was derived from the Ultramarines Legion shortly after the end of the Great Scouring - the war of reciprocity, conducted by the Loyalist Legions against the hated forces of those still loyal to the fallen Arch-Traitor Horus. They maintain that their first Chapter Master and patriarch was the Ultramarines Captain Flavius Acis, a veteran of both the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy. When Captain Flavius Acis led his men into a battle against a large Ork force, the battle was brutal and wild, but the Astartes managed to pull off a glorious victory. It was clear that the Ultramarines hero and those warriors he led were meant for greatness. Even the Ultramarines saw this, and the first Emperor's Legionnaires were honoured with the creation of their own glorious Chapter.

## Notable Campaigns

* ***The Siege of Kalkar -*** This event took place before the Emperor's Legion were a Chapter. An ork warboss had taken over the planet called Kalkar. The resident humans had been slaughtered. As a revenge mission Guilliman sent the Captain Flavius, to take the warbosses head. First they cut of the orks, so they couldn't call for reinforcements. Killing all the ork defences, they were met in a last, bloody battle. The Ultramarines had surrounded their enemies and were bombarding them from afar. At last, the Space Marines marched into the orks base, exterminating every resistance. The ork warboss met Flavius in a last duel. The Captain beheaded the xeno and showed Guilliman the head. After such a feat, the Ultramarines, that were sent, were honoured with their own Chapter.

* ***Battle of Jerno -*** A Chaos Warband had taken over a Hive World called Jerno. They had allied with the local gangs. In this way world had been attacked from the out- and inside. The 5th Cohort was sent to deal with the problem. The first step the Emperor's Legion took, was to destroy the enemy ships. The Legion surrounded the planet. Only the Chaos forces on the planet remained. The Space Marines made landfall on the least guarded places of the city-like-planet. They killed and exterminated the Chaos forces one by one, in a systematical order. Finally having trapped the Warlord, they moved in. But there was a error in the plan of the Legion. They had forgotten the gangs. They helped the Warlord to escape into the Under hive. After several days of searching they gave up. The Warlord still resides on Jerno, but the local imperial forces managed to stop him from ever reaching such power again.

## Chapter Home World

The original home world of the Emperor's Legion is the planet *Romana,* but because the Chapter's tendencies to go on crusades, they abandoned it. In the planets honour they named the Caesars fleet after it.

### Fortress-Monastery

The Monastery is named after the original planets capital *Colossus.* It is huge . It is the size of a small moon. It is decorated in the ancient Roman way. On the inside, as well as on the inside. The bridge is called Pantheus.

## Chapter Organisation

### Officer Ranks

* **The Caesar** - Chapter Master equivalent.

* **Centurion** - Captain equivalent.
* **Optio** - Lieutenant equivalent.

### Specialist Ranks

* ***The Praetorian Guard -*** The Bodyguards of the Caesar.
* ***The Gladiators -*** The best fighters in the Legion. They take down the enemies leaders.

* ***Auxilia -*** The elite close combat Legionnaires.
* ***Triarii -*** The elite long- to mid-ranged Legionnaires

### Line Ranks

* **1st Legionnaire -** Sergeant equivalent.
* **Legionnaire -** Battle-brother.

### Order of Battle

#### ***High Council***

The High Council is the most elite company of the Emperor's Legion. It is led by the Caesar him self.

* The Caesar, Flavius Acis
* The Praetorian Guard

#### Companies

* ***1st Cohort -*** ( Centurio = Titus Maximus )
* ***2nd Cohort -*** ( Centurio = Lucius Opiter )
* ***3rd Cohort -*** ( Centurio = Octavius Gaius )
* ***4th Cohort -*** ( Centurio = Faustus Gallus )
* ***5th Cohort -*** ( Centurio = Flaminius Quintus )
* ***6th Cohort -*** ( Centurio = Hostus Gavius )
* ***7th Cohort -*** ( Centurio = Appius Decimus )
* ***8th Cohort -*** ( Centurio = Marcus Garvus )
* ***9th Cohort -*** ( Centurio = Paullus Numerius )
* ***10th Cohort -*** ( Centurio = Tiberius Sextus )

## Combat Doctrine

" *We march united! We crush our enemies! We stand together in this Age of Darkness!*"
—2nd Centurion Lucius Opiter to his Cohort.
 The Emperor's Legion is what someone imagines the Space Marines to be. They walk in formation and look down on lesser humans. They never leave formation or get distracted. The attack is carefully structured and the battles are always planned ahead of time. Because of this preparation time they can develop the perfect tactic. The Legion is famed for it's incredible tacticians.

The deployed units are separated in the shooting and in the close combat troops. The shooting ones are the first to arrive. They wound the enemies from a far. The enemy will be under pressure. In the cover of the ongoing ranged battle, the close combat units can charge in and wreak mayhem. This of course is all in formation.

The Chapter specialises in Sieges. They make a foothold on the enemy planet and stay there. Slowly, but surely the take out more enemy bases and close in for the kill. They also like the use of vehicles and turrets.

## Chapter Beliefs

Like many other Chapters the Emperor's Legion do see the Emperor of Mankind as a god, but they are not part of the Ecclesiarchy and do not support the ways of the Inquisition in an way.

Marines the Emperor's Legion believe that the only way to restore the God-Emperor and his Imperium, is to reconquer all that was lost during the Horus Heresy. And the only way to do this is through merciless calculation and tactics. A sword can split a man in half, but it needs a hand to guide it. The Emperor's Legion whole concept of warfare is based on the believe, that tactics are the centrepiece of any war, not the actual fighters. They are just the instrument to execute these plans. The Marines of the Chapter look down on Chapters that prefer to charge into battle without a plan and often refuse to cooperate with such Chapter.

For them war isn't a playing field. It should fill someones heart with joy. For them war has to be merciless and without emotions. One has to keep a cool head and not get exited. Marines of many other Chapters rely on getting exited in battle, as they think it gives them a boost to fight on. But the Emperor's Legion believes that if Marines like the World Eaters charge head-first into battle, with a blood lust which overwhelms them with emotions and excitement, soon they will all be slaughtered. A simple trap could decimate such an attack. The Marines of the Emperor's Legion stay calm in battle, with their only goal being to execute their given orders. They don't fall into a blood lust and can quickly make rational decisions in battle.

## Chapters Sayings

"*Non ducor, duco!*"
— translates to "I'm not led, I lead!"
"*Imperator aqua de vitae*"
—translates to "The Emperor is the water of life!"
"*Astra inclinant, sed non obligant.*"
—translates to "The stars incline us, but they don't bind us!"
"*Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.*"
—translates to "If I cannot bend the will of Heaven, i shall move Hell!"
"*Oderint dum metuant.*"
—translates to "Let them hate so long they fear!"

## Notable Personnel

### The Caesar, Flavius Acis

Originally a Captain of the Ultramarines, after he led his men to victory against the orks, he became the Chapter Master of the Emperor's Legion. He is a formidable duellist and his tactics are unbeatable.

The Caesar dwarfs most other Astartes and is very muscular. He looks down on lesser humans and despises the Inquisition. To other Chapters he seems grim and intimidating. He demands respect and sees few as his equals. From his own Legionnaires he still demands respect, but is friendly and kind.

His respect is well deserved. The best Duellist of his Chapter, he has beaten many Chapter Masters in friendly duels. He likes to duel the enemy leader. After all the enemy soldiers have been dealt with, he challenges the leader to a duel. He has never lost before.

His tactics are excellent. More than his fighting skills, he is famed for beating his enemy on the intellectual level. It is as if he could see wright through them.

## Chapter Fleet

Every Cohort of the Emperor's Legion has it's own small fleet. These ships are mostly manned by Guardsmen or other humans.

### Olympus

The *Olympus* is the fleet of the Caesar. It is the biggest and most powerful fleet.

* ***Main Ship - Colossus***
* ***2 Grand Cruisers***( Furious Class )
* ***5 Cruisers***( Dictator Class )

### Classis Cerberus

The fleet of the 1st Cohort.

* ***Battleship -*** ( Nemesis Class )
* ***3 Frigates -*** ( Tempest Frigate )

### Classis Drakis

The fleet of the 2nd Cohort.

* ***Battleship -*** ( Oberon Class )
* ***3 Frigates -*** ( Tempest Frigate )

### Classis Magis

The fleet of the 3rd Cohort.

* ***Battleship -*** ( Retribution Class )
* ***3 Frigates -*** ( Tempest Frigate )

### Classis Felix

The fleet of the 4th Cohort.

* ***Battleship -*** ( Retribution Class )
* ***3 Frigates -*** ( Tempest Frigate )

### Classis Magister

The fleet of the 5th Cohort.

* ***Battleship -*** ( Retribution Class )
* ***3 Frigates -*** ( Tempest Frigate )

### Classis Ares

The fleet of the 6th Cohort.

* ***Battleship -*** ( Retribution Class )
* ***3 Frigates -*** ( Tempest Frigate )

## Chapter Relics

### The Laurel Wreath

The Laurel Wreath of the Caesar is the holiest relic of the Legion. It is made out of pure gold. Only the Caesar is allowed to wear it. The only people allowed to hand it to the Caesar are the 1st and 2nd Centurion. The Caesar wears it in battle or in meetings. He only stops wearing it when only his Legionnaire are around and even then only if all the Legionnaires wear their robes.

It is said that the Wreath gives the bearer unreal strength and reflexes.

## Chapter Wargear

 The Emperor's Legion is heavily based on the ancient Romans. Their Art of way is also influenced, by the ancient war-geniuses.

Their Armour is coloured and fashioned in the roman way. The colours are silver and grey. The helmets are made like their ancient predecessors.

Their melee weapons are spears and swords. Their elite warriors have shields.

## Relations

### Allies

* ***House Drogon***

This Imperial Knight House is honourable and fearless. Their main speciality are sieges, which makes them regular allies with the Emperor's Legion. Even sporting similar colours, they perfectly work together and no planet can stand before them.

* **Swords of Guilliman**

With the heritage and the culture of the two Chapters so similar, it is no surprise, that they would get along. When allied in battle they blend together very well, the Swords of Guilliman being adaptable and changing their tactics mid-battle and the Emperor's Legion relying on stern and deadly tactics. These two different styles make for a deadly combination, which gives the enemy little to no chance of winning.

* **Nemean Lions**

Both fairly tactical and strategic chapters, it is no too little surprise that these two chapters work well together. The two chapters have fought several battles together and have often proven themselves to be a formidable combination.

*Fell free to add your own*

## Gallery

An Emperor's Legion Primaris Auxilia of the 8th Cohort, 9th Close Support Squad.