Legio Tritonis - Origins: The name of the Legio Tritonis is one few would commonly associate with the Forge World of Arachnus, for the nascent Titan Legion did not exist within any known records before the onset of the Horus Heresy and the seccession of Arachnus from the Imperium of Man.Indeed, it is the Legio Venator that was first founded upon the distant Forge World during the Age of Strife as wardens against the gargantuan arachnid-like fauna that roamed the planet. The legacy of the Iron Spiders, to use the more common appellation of the Legio Venator, is integral to the foundation of the Legio Tritonis, for many of the former's princeps formed the core of the latter, loyal to Arachnus before any other.The motivations behind the creation of the Legio Tritonis are complex and rooted in the desire of Arachnus to remain independent of distant rulers. When the Forge World was discovered by the Great Crusade, it heavily resisted integration with the Imperium, surrendering only after several standard years of warfare that left both sides bloodied.Even after they were subjugated and brought into the Imperial fold, Arachnus appeared, at times, malcontent, working tirelessly to build a power base within the Belt of Iron and assert its influence within the wider Imperium.At the forefront of such efforts was its attempts to increase its power in the Martian Parliament, with fleets dispatched from Arachnus seeking out undiscovered lesser Forge Worlds and offering them patronage in return for control of the newcomer's vote in the parliament of the ancient Mechanicum.Furthermore, Arachnus proved adept at shielding its inner workings from outside interference, delaying tithe ships and concealing forge-fanes from Martian delegations. The Forge World's defiance was balanced by its securing of supply deals with the Emperor's own Legio Custodes; possessing skill in laser technology that proved second to none. Arachnus became indispensable in ensuring the Custodes had access to rare weapons technology, earning the Forge World political leeway in its dealings with other Imperial parties.The Legio Venator also showed a measure of dissension during the Great Crusade, at least in those princeps left to watch over the domain of Arachnus. While the principal strength of the Titan Legion was dispatched to the forefront of the Great Crusade, and in doing so developed a firm belief in self-sacrifice and a devotion to the wider Imperium, the remaining god-engines remained closer to their home Forge World.Such elements of the Legio Venator proved resistant to Imperial commands, lending aid to nearby beleaguered worlds at the behest of the Arachnus magi and ignoring any orders from external commanders.The stark difference in ethos of those of the Legio Venator deployed across the expeditionary fleets and those remaining within the borders of Arachnus' holdings would eventually lead to an ideological split in the Titan Legion, with princeps from both elements publicly trading barbs on numerous occasions.Matters only intensified when the principal strength of the Legio Venator was rotated back to Arachnus for repair and refit, with escalating tensions threatening bloodshed. Such an outcome was delayed, but not halted, by the outbreak of the Horus Heresy.