Title: The Word Bearers Legion
Description: New background revealed!
VESPASIAN - September 9, 2008 06:49 PM (GMT)
Think that you know everything about the Wordbearers Legion? Think that the Burning Book from the Index Astartes was their Legion symbol during the Pre-Heresy/Heresy period?...
Well think again!
Horus Heresy: Battle for the Abyss has augmented, changed and improved the rich background of the Word Bearers Legion; to find out more all you need to do is accept the Word and read on!
The Word Bearers Legion:
The Word Bearers Legion, like many others is sub-divided into Chapters. A full Chapter consists of 1000 Astartes, sub-divided into 10 Companies each 100 strong and led by captains. (Page 12)
However importantly despite being part of the '...Greater Word Bearers Legion. Every Chapter [has] its own traditions and its own role within Lorgar's Word.' (Page 174) Furthermore each Chapter has its own iconography, symbology, and specific tactical role within the Legion, giving each their own distinct appearance.
Word Bearers Chapters:
The Quillborn (Chapter Symbol: A Quill with a drop of Blood at its base):
| QUOTE |
| The Quillborn were so named because their traditions emphasised their birth, created in the Labratories and Apothecarions of Colchis. They were written into existence, born as syllables of the Word. A dedicated naval formation, the Quillborn were true marines, fighting ship-to-ship, completely at home battling through the cramped structure of a starship. |
(Page 174)
Chapter of the Void:
| QUOTE |
| ...Chapter Master Tenaebron bowed in supplication behind his Lord. The Chapter of the Void was probably the least respected among the Wordbearers Legion for it was by far the smallest, with less than seven hundred Astartes. There was little glory in its history, used moreover as a reserve force that enacted its missions behind the front line. This grim dishonourable purpose fell to the Void and Tenaebron. Their Master did not complain, for he knew that his Chapter's true role was to create and test new weapons and tactics for the rest of the Legion. it had not gone unnoticed that Lorgar's most recent orders to Tenebron had concerned the exploitation of the Word Bearers' psychic resources. |
(Page 310-311)
Chapter of the Opening Eye:
Chapter Master Faerskarel
The Crimson Mask Chapter:
Chapter Master Rukis-
| QUOTE |
| ...the faceplate of his helmet was wrought to resemble a fearsome red-skinned snarling creature |
The Burning Hand Chapter:
Chapter Master Deinos-
| QUOTE |
| ...in keeping with the name of his Chapter, Deinos's gauntlets were permanently wreathed in flames from gas jets built into his vambraces. |
The Ebony Serpent Chapter:
Chapter Master-Skolinthos
| QUOTE |
| Skolinthos's oesophagus had been crushed in the early years of the Great Crusade when it was the Emperor whom the Word Bearers vaunted above all others. His voice crackled sibilantly through a vocal synthesiser on his chest... |
Other Chapter Symbols:
| QUOTE |
| Wordbearers' banners hung...bearing the symbols of the Legion's Chapters: A quill with a drop of blood at its nib,an open hand with an eye in the palm, a burning book, and a sceptre crowned with a skull. |
(Page 214)
The Quill banner mentioned I believe is that of the Quillborn. The others are yet to be identified.
More details to follow soon!
Kaleb 'Angelus' Dante - September 9, 2008 09:32 PM (GMT)
Would the "open hand with an eye in the palm" not be the chapter of the opening eye possibly?
VESPASIAN - September 9, 2008 09:34 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Kaleb 'Angelus' Dante @ Sep 9 2008, 09:32 PM) |
| Would the "open hand with an eye in the palm" not be the chapter of the opening eye possibly? |
You know I was thinking exactly the same myself! :D
I think that it is certainly a very strong possibility! Glad I'm not the only one who thought it! :D
Lord_Mortirion - October 8, 2008 11:54 PM (GMT)
well, i think im gonna be living on this thread for a while... nods
Apologist - October 9, 2008 08:24 AM (GMT)
Cheers for the collection of background notes – I hope it inspires some Word Bearer models!
Note should also be made of the 'Horns of Colchis' that the Word Bearers have on their helmets – p'raps the reason that M41 Chaos Space Marines have horns! :o
Lord_Mortirion - October 9, 2008 04:02 PM (GMT)
how was the higher ranking officers organised... would it have been captain, chaplain, librarian (Oook!!!! :blink: ) and so on... or did they have different names???
malika - April 2, 2009 03:29 PM (GMT)
Any more info on their armour and colourscheme? Somebody on Warseer mentioned that the Word Bearers all destroyed their original grey armour after the Emperor told them to stop worshipping him and all that.