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{{DeathGuardPortal}}
 
{{NurglePortal}}
 
 
The '''Death Guard''', formerly known as the '''Dusk Raiders''' and known amongst themselves as the '''Unbroken'''{{Fn|26a}}, were the '''XIV Legion''' of the original twenty [[Space Marine Legion]]s. Their [[Primarch]] is [[Mortarion]], who relocated their base to his homeworld of [[Barbarus]] after his discovery by the [[Emperor]].  During the [[Horus Heresy]], Mortarion and the majority of the Legion swore allegiance to [[Horus]], becoming one of the nine [[Traitor Legions]] who betrayed the Emperor.  After Barbarus was destroyed during the Heresy, they relocated to the [[Plague Planet]] inside the [[Eye of Terror]].{{cite this}}
 
 
Because of Barbarus's toxic environment, the Death Guard took great pride in their resistance to poisons, disease, and mortality in general.  This fascination led them to worship the [[Chaos God]] [[Nurgle]] and in return he infests their armour with pestilence and disease, and elevated  Mortarion to a [[Daemon Prince]].{{cite this}}
 
 
<br clear=all>
 
 
{{Traitor Founding Legions
 
{{Traitor Founding Legions
|Marine=Deathguard.jpg
+
|Marine=DGMarine.jpg
|Marine Px=250
+
|Miniature=Corpulux.jpg
 
|Name=Death Guard
 
|Name=Death Guard
|Current Banner=DGSymbolNew.jpg
+
|Current Banner=Deathguardsymbol.png
 +
|Marine Image=DeathGuardMarine8th.jpg
 
|Primarch=[[Mortarion]]
 
|Primarch=[[Mortarion]]
 
|Legion Number=XIV
 
|Legion Number=XIV
Line 19: Line 12:
 
|Colours=Putrid Green, Rusty Iron trim
 
|Colours=Putrid Green, Rusty Iron trim
 
|Pre-Heresy Banner=DeathGuardSym2.jpg
 
|Pre-Heresy Banner=DeathGuardSym2.jpg
|Specialty= [[Plague Marine]]s, Endurance, Chemical & Biological Warfare{{Fn|13}}
+
|Specialty=Chemical & Biological Warfare{{Fn|13}}, Bombardment, Heavy assault and attrition{{Fn|84}}
 
|Battle Cry= None.
 
|Battle Cry= None.
 +
|Warbands=
 +
*[[Apostles of Contagion]]{{Fn|7b}}
 +
*[[Bilious Ones]]{{Fn|25c}}, [[Bringers of Putrid Salvation]]{{Fn|34b}}, [[Brotherhood of Reaping]]
 +
*[[Carrion Brotherhood]]{{Fn|54b}}, [[Carrion Hounds]], [[Children of Blain]]{{Fn|29}}, [[Congregation of the Blessed Foul]]{{Fn|54b}}, [[Corpsemakers (Death Guard)|Corpsemakers]]
 +
*[[Disciples of Pustulence]]{{Fn|54b}}, [[Dolorous Gnaw]], [[Drowned Lords]]{{Fn|65}}
 +
*[[Empyrion's Blight]]
 +
*[[Favoured Sons]], [[Fecund Ones]], [[Festering Scar]], [[Festerlung Brotherhood]]{{Fn|31}}, [[Fifth Sept]]{{Fn|62}}, [[Filthfavoured]]
 +
*[[Glooming Lords]]
 +
*[[Hand of Filth]], [[Heralds of Despair]], [[Heralds of the Fly]]{{Fn|38}}, [[Hollow Ones]]{{Fn|63a}}
 +
*[[Infested Brethren]]
 +
*[[Legion Host]], [[Lords of Decay]] {{Fn|7a}}, [[Lords of Silence]]
 +
*[[Missionaries of Putridity]]{{Fn|54b}}, [[Maggotborn]]{{Fn|63b}}, [[Mouldering Claw]]
 +
*[[Neverdead (Death Guard)|Neverdead]]
 +
*[[Pallid Hand]], [[Poisoned Chalice]], [[Poxherders]]{{Fn|59}}, [[Pox Mortis]], [[Prophets of Plague]]{{Fn|63b}}, [[Prophets of the Seven]], [[Pus Brothers]]{{Fn|38}}, [[Putrid Brotherhood]], [[Putrid Choir]]
 +
*[[Rotworm Brotherhood]], [[Rusted Claws (Warband)|Rusted Claws]], [[Rustwalkers]]{{Fn|59}}
 +
*[[Selminster's Curse]], [[Sevenfold Filth]], [[Seventh Knell]]{{Fn|63b}}, [[Seventh-day Morbidians]], [[Sevens (Warband)|Sevens]], [[Smogrot Brotherhood]], [[Sons of Glorious Decay]]{{Fn|54b}}, [[Sons of the Maggot]], [[Sons of Sorrow]], [[Suppurant Sting]]
 +
*[[The Tainted]] {{Fn|7b}}, [[Tainted Cohort]], [[Tainted Lung]], [[Tainted Sons]], [[Tide of Filth]]{{Fn|58}}, The [[Tollguard]]
 +
*[[Venomariners]]{{Fn|54c}}
 +
*[[Weeping Legion]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Home World==
+
The '''Death Guard''', formerly known as the '''Dusk Raiders''' and known amongst themselves as the '''Unbroken'''{{Fn|26a}}, were the '''XIV Legion''' of the original twenty [[Space Marine Legion]]s. Their [[Primarch]] is [[Mortarion]], who relocated their base to his homeworld of [[Barbarus]] after his discovery by the [[Emperor]].  During the [[Horus Heresy]], Mortarion and the majority of the Legion swore allegiance to [[Horus]], becoming one of the nine [[Traitor Legions]] who betrayed the Emperor. After Barbarus was destroyed during the Heresy, they relocated to the [[Plague Planet]] inside the [[Eye of Terror]].{{Fn|1}}
The Pre-Heresy Homeworld of the Death Guard was the toxic world of [[Barbarus]]. After exile into the [[Eye of Terror]] the Death Guard made the [[Plague Planet]] their new home.{{cite this}}
+
 
 +
Because of Barbarus's toxic environment, the Death Guard took great pride in their resistance to poisons, disease, and mortality in general.  This fascination led them to worship the [[Chaos God]] [[Nurgle]] and in return he infests their armour with pestilence and disease, and elevated  Mortarion to a [[Daemon Prince]].{{Fn|1}}
 +
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
[[Image:DeathGuard2.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Pre-Heresy Death Guard Space Marine in Mark IV Power Armour with armorum ferrum helmet.]]
+
[[Image:XIV Legion.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Dusk Raider Space Marine{{Fn|16d}}]]
  
 
===Dusk Raiders===
 
===Dusk Raiders===
The base [[gene-seed]] stock of the Dusk Raiders, originally known as the XIVth Legion, came from [[Terra]] or more specifically the warlike and tough clans of [[Albia]]. In the [[Unification Wars]] the XIVth Legion quickly developed the use of tactics and methods of warfare that their ironside fore-bearers would have found familiar. Operating in the role of heavy infantry, they were experts at survival, endurance, and stubborn defense. Their grey [[Power Armour]] began to carry battle decorations as well as the modified imagery of Albia. As the Unification Wars came to an end and the [[Great Crusade]] began, the [[Emperor]] gave them the title of the '''Dusk Raiders''', a nod to their use of the ancient Albian tactic of conducting major ground attacks at twilight when the shift of light confused an enemy's watch and gathering shadow would advance across open ground.{{Fn|16a}}
+
[[Image:DuskRaidersSymbol.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Symbol of the Dusk Raiders{{Fn|16b}}]]
 +
The base [[gene-seed]] stock of the Dusk Raiders, originally known as the XIVth Legion, came from [[Terra]] or more specifically the warlike and tough clans of [[Albia]]. In the [[Unification Wars]] the XIVth Legion quickly developed the use of tactics and methods of warfare that their ironside fore-bearers would have found familiar. Operating in the role of heavy infantry, they were experts at survival, endurance, and stubborn defense. Their grey [[Power Armour]] began to carry battle decorations as well as the modified imagery of Albia. As the Unification Wars came to an end and the [[Great Crusade]] began, the [[Emperor]] gave them the title of the '''Dusk Raiders''', a nod to their use of the ancient Albian tactic of conducting major ground attacks at twilight when the shift of light confused an enemy's watch and gathering shadow would advance across open ground.{{Fn|16b}}
  
 
The Dusk Raiders' armour was originally unpainted, but with their right arm and both shoulders coloured crimson.  This was done with the intent to show their enemies that they were the Emperor's red right hand, relentless and unstoppable. Many enemies simply threw down their weapons at nightfall so they didn't have to fight the terrifying Dusk Raiders.{{Fn|2a}}
 
The Dusk Raiders' armour was originally unpainted, but with their right arm and both shoulders coloured crimson.  This was done with the intent to show their enemies that they were the Emperor's red right hand, relentless and unstoppable. Many enemies simply threw down their weapons at nightfall so they didn't have to fight the terrifying Dusk Raiders.{{Fn|2a}}
  
For more then eight decades the Dusk Raiders fought across the Galaxy in the Great Crusade, earning a fierce reputation by failing to reunite with their Primarch.{{Fn|16a}}
+
For more then eight decades the Dusk Raiders fought across the Galaxy in the Great Crusade, earning a fierce reputation by failing to reunite with their Primarch.{{Fn|16b}}
  
 
===The Great Crusade===
 
===The Great Crusade===
 
 
====Formation====
 
====Formation====
When Mortarion was found by the Emperor upon the troubled world of Barbarus, he was swiftly given control of his Legion. Upon first seeing them he told them, "You are my unbroken blades. You are the Death Guard." The Legion's name was then changed in accordance with this decree, and Mortarion's words engraved above the airlock door of the [[Battle Barge]] ''[[Reaper's Scythe]]'' in honour of the moment.{{Fn|2a}} While the Legion was known as the Death Guard formally, its older members referred to themselves as the '''Unbroken''', after Mortarion's words, in a tradition that still continues.{{Fn|26a}} Mortarion based the new Death Guard on his armored toxin-resistant fighters of the same name that had fought beside him on [[Barbarus]]. Their armour's colour was changed, and whilst their main armour remained unpainted, the trim colour became dark green. Mortarion's veterans of Barbarus formed the core of his new Legion.{{Fn|16a}}
+
When Mortarion was found by the Emperor upon the troubled world of [[Barbarus]], he was swiftly given control of his Legion. Upon first seeing them he told them, "You are my unbroken blades. You are the Death Guard." The Legion's name was then changed in accordance with this decree, and Mortarion's words engraved above the airlock door of the [[Battle Barge]] ''[[Reaper's Scythe]]'' in honour of the moment.{{Fn|2a}} While the Legion was known as the Death Guard formally, its older members referred to themselves as the '''Unbroken''', after Mortarion's words, in a tradition that still continues.{{Fn|26a}} Mortarion based the new Death Guard on his armoured toxin-resistant fighters of the same name that had fought beside him on Barbarus in the [[Overlord Wars]]. Their armour's colour was changed, and whilst their main armour remained unpainted, the trim colour became dark green. Mortarion's veterans of Barbarus formed the core of his new Legion.{{Fn|16b}}
  
 
====Combat Disposition and Record====
 
====Combat Disposition and Record====
Line 45: Line 59:
  
 
The Death Guard tended to be organised into units of foot-slogging infantry, rather than mechanised squads. Mortarion ensured that his men were well-equipped and highly-trained. He also ensured that they could fight in almost any kind of atmosphere, and placed little emphasis on specialised units using jump packs or bikes. The Death Guard did not have dedicated Assault and Tactical Squads. Every Marine was equipped with a bolter, bolt pistol and close combat weapon and told to fight with whatever weapon circumstance dictated. The Legion was also well known for its use of Terminator Armour. Possibly as a result of this, the Death Guard were highly successful at high-risk boarding and close-quarter operations such as space hulk clearance.{{Fn|1}}
 
The Death Guard tended to be organised into units of foot-slogging infantry, rather than mechanised squads. Mortarion ensured that his men were well-equipped and highly-trained. He also ensured that they could fight in almost any kind of atmosphere, and placed little emphasis on specialised units using jump packs or bikes. The Death Guard did not have dedicated Assault and Tactical Squads. Every Marine was equipped with a bolter, bolt pistol and close combat weapon and told to fight with whatever weapon circumstance dictated. The Legion was also well known for its use of Terminator Armour. Possibly as a result of this, the Death Guard were highly successful at high-risk boarding and close-quarter operations such as space hulk clearance.{{Fn|1}}
[[Image:HHDG.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Heresy-era Death Guard Marine]]
+
[[Image:HHDG.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Heresy-era Death Guard Marine{{Fn|60}}]]
By the time of the Horus Heresy, the Death Guard is known to have had roughly 95,000 Space Marines.{{Fn|16a}}
+
By the time of the Horus Heresy, the Death Guard is known to have had roughly 95,000 Space Marines.{{Fn|16c}}
  
 
===The Horus Heresy===
 
===The Horus Heresy===
At the beginning of the Horus Heresy, many Death Guard who remained loyal to the Emperor were [[Battle of Isstvan III|massacred]] on Isstvan III by their fellow Space Marines, including Captain Ullis Temeter. Roughly a third of the Legion was still loyal to the Emperor.{{Fn|16a}} Shortly after, they battled Imperial forces in the [[Drop Site Massacre]].
+
At the beginning of the Horus Heresy, many Death Guard who remained loyal to the Emperor were [[Battle of Isstvan III|massacred]] on Isstvan III by their fellow Space Marines, including Captain Ullis Temeter. Roughly a third of the Legion was still loyal to the Emperor.{{Fn|16c}} Shortly after, they battled Imperial forces in the [[Drop Site Massacre]]. A number of Death Guard Marines, and one Luna Wolf who renounced his Sons of Horus status, led by Battle-Captain of the 7th Company [[Nathaniel Garro]], remained loyal to the Emperor. They formed part of the crew of the [[Eisenstein]], a frigate which ran the Traitor blockade in the Isstvan system in order to bring news of Horus' descent into Chaos to the Emperor on Terra.{{cite this}}
 
 
During the Horus Heresy, the Death Guard joined Warmaster Horus in many battles and raids on the Imperium. The Lord of Death split his fleet, commanding one himself and [[Calas Typhon]] the other. Mortarion's smaller fleet led a [[Second Battle of Prospero|failed attempt]] on [[Prospero]] to convince [[Jaghatai Khan]] and the [[White Scars]] to join with them, and the Mortarion found himself in combat with the Great Khan. After the White Scars managed to abandon the Death Guard fleet, Mortarion had his Legion embark on a spiteful purge of the Prospero System.{{Fn|18}} Mortarion then fought alongside Horus in the [[Battle of Dwell]] and [[Battle of Molech]] before rejoining Typhon's main fleet, which had been waging a campaign of misdirection and misery against the [[Dark Angels]] since the [[Battle of Perditus]].{{Fn|17}} Later, Horus himself tasked Mortarion with finding and destroying the White Scars. Eager to settle the score with the Great Khan, the Death Guard and [[Emperor's Children]] allies under [[Eidolon]] cornered the Scars at the [[Dark Glass]], but failed to destroy them in the [[Battle of Catallus]]. Angered, Mortarion realized that his divided legion was hampering his war effort and ordered Eidolon to find Typhon and his splinter fleet.{{Fn|20}}
 
  
When the Death Guard's fleet embarked for [[Terra]] Typhon killed the [[Navigator]]s, whom he alleged remained loyal to the [[Emperor]], and assured his Primarch that he could lead the fleet to Terra without their help.  Instead, he led them into a trap - becalming the Death Guard fleet in the warp, adrift, helpless and at the mercy of [[Chaos]]{{Fn|19}}. Then came the [[Destroyer Plague]] and the Death Guard were struck down, but Typhon received his reward from "Grandfather [[Nurgle]]" and he absorbed the full power of the plague. His body became home to the flies of Nurgle, his armour a hive of pestilence. He then became '''Typhus, Herald of Nurgle''' and the Host of the Destroyer Hive{{Fn|4b}}.
+
During the Horus Heresy, the Death Guard joined Warmaster Horus in many battles and raids on the Imperium. The Lord of Death split his fleet, commanding one himself and [[Calas Typhon]] the other. Mortarion's smaller fleet led a [[Second Battle of Prospero|failed attempt]] on [[Prospero]] to convince [[Jaghatai Khan]] and the [[White Scars]] to join with them, and the Mortarion found himself in combat with the Great Khan. After the White Scars managed to abandon the Death Guard fleet, Mortarion had his Legion embark on a spiteful purge of the Prospero System.{{Fn|18}} Mortarion then fought alongside Horus in the [[Battle of Dwell]] and [[Battle of Molech]] before rejoining Typhon's main fleet, which had been waging a campaign of misdirection and misery against the [[Dark Angels]] since the [[Battle of Perditus]].{{Fn|17}} Later, Horus himself tasked Mortarion with finding and destroying the White Scars. Eager to settle the score with the Great Khan, the Death Guard and [[Emperor's Children]] allies under [[Eidolon]] cornered the Scars at the [[Dark Glass]], but failed to destroy them in the [[Battle of Catallus]]. Angered, Mortarion realized that his divided legion was hampering his war effort and ordered Eidolon to find Typhon and his splinter fleet.{{Fn|20}} On the world of [[Ynyx]], Typhon again showed himself and was secretly disappointed that Mortarion and his forces had yet to embrace the Ruinious Powers.{{Fn|27a}}
 +
[[Image:Plague Marines.jpg|thumb|135px|right|'''Plague Marines'''{{Fn|61}}]]
 +
====Fall of the Death Guard====
 +
When the Death Guard's fleet embarked for [[Terra]] Typhon made his move. The First Captain had his [[Grave Warden]]s frame and kill the [[Navigator]]s, whom he alleged remained loyal to the [[Emperor]], and assured his Primarch that he could lead the fleet to Terra without their help using his own corps of [[Librarian]]s.{{Fn|27a}} Instead, he led them into a trap - becalming the Death Guard fleet in the warp, adrift, helpless and at the mercy of [[Chaos]]{{Fn|19}}. Then came the [[Destroyer Plague]] and the Death Guard were struck down, but Typhon received his reward from "Grandfather [[Nurgle]]" and he absorbed the full power of the plague from [[Ignatius Grulgor]]. His body became home to the flies of Nurgle, his armour a hive of pestilence. He then became '''Typhus, Herald of Nurgle''' and the Host of the Destroyer Hive{{Fn|4b}}. Mortarion himself succumb to the Destroyer Plague, facing its agony with his sons. [[Nurgle]] himself came before Mortarion, stating that if he did not pledge himself to the Plague God they would be doomed to torturous undeath for all eternity. Mortarion broke and pledged himself to Nurgle. Though the agony ended, the Death Guard were remade into a shambling army of diseased [[Plague Marine]]s, bearing little resemblance to what first entered the Warp. Mortarion himself was remade into a [[Daemon Prince]].{{Fn|27b}}
  
A number of Death Guard Marines, and one Luna Wolf who renounced his Sons of Horus status, led by Battle-Captain of the 7th Company [[Nathaniel Garro]], remained loyal to the Emperor. They formed part of the crew of the [[Eisenstein]], a frigate which ran the Traitor blockade in the Isstvan system in order to bring news of Horus' descent into Chaos to the Emperor on Terra.{{cite this}}
+
The forces of Horus besieged Terra and the Imperial Palace itself.  After a breach in the Palace defensive wall was forced by Titans of the Legio Mortis Titan Legion, the Traitor Legions, including the Death Guard, poured into the breach only to be met by loyalist forces led by the Primarchs Rogal Dorn and Sanguinius.  It is recorded that Mortarion personally led his pustulent Plague Marines into the thickest fighting that day.{{Fn|4a}} Following the departure of [[Perturabo]] and the [[Iron Warriors]] from the battle, Horus gave Mortarion command of the [[Lion's Gate Spaceport]]. However this was assailed in a sudden counterattack by [[Jaghatai Khan]] and the [[White Scars]]. At the height of the fighting, Mortarion and Jaghatai Khan dueled. At the end of the battle a badly wounded Jaghatai Khan managed to banish Mortarion to the Warp, while the loyalist Primarch himself grievously wounded. After the banishing of Mortarion command of the legion fell to [[Typhus]].{{Fn|64}}
 
 
Despite Garro's efforts, the forces of Horus besieged Terra and the Imperial Palace itself.  After a breach in the Palace defensive wall was forced by Titans of the Legio Mortis Titan Legion, the Traitor Legions, including the Death Guard, poured into the breach only to be met by loyalist forces led by the Primarchs Rogal Dorn and Sanguinius.  It is recorded that Mortarion personally led his pustulent Plague Marines into the thickest fighting that day.{{Fn|4a}}
 
[[Image:Plague Marines.jpg|thumb|135px|right|'''Plague Marines''']]
 
  
 
===Horus Heresy Aftermath===
 
===Horus Heresy Aftermath===
 
After Horus' defeat, Mortarion led his Death Guard in a campaign of destruction over a score of planets, until finally retreating into the Eye of Terror. Here he received Nurgle's ultimate reward and became a full-fledged [[Daemon Prince]], ruling over one of Nurgle's greatest [[Plague Planet|Plague World]]s in the [[Eye of Terror]]. Mortarion sends out fleets of Plague Ships into the Warp to carry their contagions throughout the galaxy. Concerned himself with matters of the [[Warp]] more and more, Mortarion has periodically returned to lead his Legion but in his absence it has largely splintered into many smaller warbands.{{Fn|1}}
 
After Horus' defeat, Mortarion led his Death Guard in a campaign of destruction over a score of planets, until finally retreating into the Eye of Terror. Here he received Nurgle's ultimate reward and became a full-fledged [[Daemon Prince]], ruling over one of Nurgle's greatest [[Plague Planet|Plague World]]s in the [[Eye of Terror]]. Mortarion sends out fleets of Plague Ships into the Warp to carry their contagions throughout the galaxy. Concerned himself with matters of the [[Warp]] more and more, Mortarion has periodically returned to lead his Legion but in his absence it has largely splintered into many smaller warbands.{{Fn|1}}
 
+
[[Image:DeathGuardActivity.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Recent activity of the Death Guard{{Fn|25f}}]]
However though it was factionalized, the Death Guard never fully disintegrated as a cohesive force. Their fragments continued to fight under a singular purpose, and never resorted to the civil in-fighting of many other Traitor Legions. The Death Guard remains one of the most ordered and coherent of all the surviving Traitor Legion's.{{Fn|25}} At the end of the [[41st Millennium]], Mortarion senses his [[Roboute Guilliman|Brother Primarch's rebirth]] and reasserted direct control over the Death Guard once more. The Death Guard launched a major assault on [[Ultramar]] in what became known as the [[Plague Wars]].{{Fn|23}}
+
However though it was factionalized, the Death Guard never fully disintegrated as a cohesive force. Their fragments continued to fight under a singular purpose, and never resorted to the civil in-fighting of many other Traitor Legions. The Death Guard remains one of the most ordered and coherent of all the surviving Traitor Legions.{{Fn|25a}} At the end of the [[M41|41st Millennium]], Mortarion senses his [[Roboute Guilliman|Brother Primarch's rebirth]] and reasserted direct control over the Death Guard once more. The Death Guard launched a major assault on [[Ultramar]] in what became known as the [[Plague Wars]].{{Fn|23}}
  
 
==Notable Engagements==
 
==Notable Engagements==
[[Image:DeathGuardActivity.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Recent activity of the Death Guard]]
 
 
In timeline order:
 
In timeline order:
*'''???.[[M30]]''' - [[Conquest of Galaspar]] - during the [[Great Crusade]]
+
*'''???.[[M30]]''' - [[Conquest of Galaspar]] - during the [[Great Crusade]]{{Fn|16e}}
*'''???.[[M30]]''' - [[Conquest of One-Five-Four Four]] - during the [[Great Crusade]]
+
*'''???.[[M30]]''' - [[Conquest of One-Five-Four Four]] - during the [[Great Crusade]]{{Fn|40a}}
*'''???.[[M30]]''' - [[Battle of Gyros-Thravian]] - During the Great Crusade
+
*'''???.[[M30]]''' - [[Battle of Gyros-Thravian]] - During the Great Crusade{{Fn|11a}}
*'''???.[[M30]]''' - [[Battle of Iota Horologi]] - During the Great Crusade
+
*'''???.[[M30]]''' - [[Battle of Iota Horologi]] - During the Great Crusade{{Fn|2b}}
 +
*'''881.[[M30]]''' - [[Emancipation of Drune]] - During the Great Crusade{{Fn|41}}
 
*'''005.[[M31]]''' -[[Isstvan III]] - during the '''Horus Heresy'''{{Fn|5}}
 
*'''005.[[M31]]''' -[[Isstvan III]] - during the '''Horus Heresy'''{{Fn|5}}
 
*'''006.[[M31]]''' - [[Isstvan V]] - during the '''Horus Heresy'''{{Fn|9}}
 
*'''006.[[M31]]''' - [[Isstvan V]] - during the '''Horus Heresy'''{{Fn|9}}
*'''007.[[M31]]''' - [[Second Battle of Prospero]]- during the ''Horus Heresy''
+
*'''007.[[M31]]''' - [[Second Battle of Prospero]]- during the ''Horus Heresy''{{Fn|42}}
*'''008.[[M31]]''' - [[Battle of Molech]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''
+
*'''008.[[M31]]''' - [[Battle of Molech]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''{{Fn|17a}}
*'''009.[[M31]]''' - [[Battle of Perditus]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''
+
*'''009.[[M31]]''' - [[Battle of Perditus]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''{{Fn|17}}
*'''011.[[M31]]''' - The [[Malagant Conflict]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''
+
*'''011.[[M31]]''' - The [[Malagant Conflict]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''{{Fn|43b}}
*'''~011.[[M31]]''' - The [[Battle of Catallus]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''
+
*'''~011.[[M31]]''' - The [[Battle of Catallus]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''{{Fn|20}}
*'''???.[[M31]]''' - The [[Battle of Nocturne]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''
+
*'''???.[[M31]]''' - The [[Battle of Nocturne]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''{{Fn|44}}
*'''???.[[M31]]''' - [[Treab's World Campaign]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''
+
*'''???.[[M31]]''' - [[Treab's World Campaign]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''{{Fn|43a}}
*'''014.[[M31]]''' - [[Battle of Terra]] - during the '''Horus Heresy'''{{Fn|11}}
+
*'''011.[[M31]]''' - The [[Subjugation of Tyrinth]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''{{Fn|68}}
*'''781.[[M31]]''' - [[First Black Crusade]]
+
*'''013.[[M31]]''' - The [[Siege of Barbarus]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''{{Fn|68}}
*'''344.[[M33]]''' - [[Blackstar Liberation]]
+
*'''013.[[M31]]''' - The Battle of [[Luth Tyre]] - during the ''Horus Heresy''{{Fn|68}}
*'''560.[[M33]]''' - [[Second Mortis Gate Campaign]]
+
*'''014.[[M31]]''' - [[Battle of Terra]] - during the '''Horus Heresy'''{{Fn|11c}}
*'''101.[[M34]]''' - [[Bloodpox Campaign]]
+
*'''781.[[M31]]''' - [[First Black Crusade]]v
 +
*'''344.[[M33]]''' - [[Blackstar Liberation]]{{Fn|45}}
 +
*'''560.[[M33]]''' - [[Second Mortis Gate Campaign]]{{Fn|46b}}
 +
*'''101.[[M34]]''' - [[Bloodpox Campaign]]{{Fn|46a}}
 
*'''437.[[M36]]''' - [[Fall of Sanctia]] - [[Mortarion]] returns to lead his Legion in the planets fall.{{Fn|15}}
 
*'''437.[[M36]]''' - [[Fall of Sanctia]] - [[Mortarion]] returns to lead his Legion in the planets fall.{{Fn|15}}
*'''620.[[M39]]''' - [[The Dust War]]
+
*'''620.[[M39]]''' - [[The Dust War]]{{citethis}}
 
*'''747.[[M41]]''' - The destruction of [[Hydra Minoris]] - [[Typhus]] unleashes the [[Zombie Plague]] on the world.{{Fn|15}}
 
*'''747.[[M41]]''' - The destruction of [[Hydra Minoris]] - [[Typhus]] unleashes the [[Zombie Plague]] on the world.{{Fn|15}}
 
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The destruction of [[Nucon VI]]
 
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The destruction of [[Nucon VI]]
 +
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Battle of Shen'tzi Vo]]{{Fn|33a}}
 
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - [[The Scouring of Makenna VII]]{{Fn|12}}
 
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - [[The Scouring of Makenna VII]]{{Fn|12}}
 
*'''777.[[M41]]''' - [[Achilus Crusade]] - Death Guard forces under [[Ussax]] took part in the conflict{{Fn|10}}
 
*'''777.[[M41]]''' - [[Achilus Crusade]] - Death Guard forces under [[Ussax]] took part in the conflict{{Fn|10}}
 
*'''813-830.[[M41]]''' - [[Siege of Vraks]] - Several Death Guard affiliated warbands took part in the conflict{{Fn|7}}
 
*'''813-830.[[M41]]''' - [[Siege of Vraks]] - Several Death Guard affiliated warbands took part in the conflict{{Fn|7}}
*'''901.[[M41]]''' - [[Battle of Kornovin]] - [[Mortarion]] himself battles the [[Grey Knights]]
+
*'''901.[[M41]]''' - [[Battle of Kornovin]] - [[Mortarion]] himself battles the [[Grey Knights]]{{citethis}}
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - [[Battle of the Caliban System]] - the [[Plague Fleet]] of [[Typhus]] works together with the [[Fallen Angel]] [[Astelan]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - [[Battle of the Caliban System]] - the [[Plague Fleet]] of [[Typhus]] works together with the [[Fallen Angel]] [[Astelan]]{{citethis}}
 
*'''999.[[M41]]''' - [[13th Black Crusade]]{{Fn|8a}}
 
*'''999.[[M41]]''' - [[13th Black Crusade]]{{Fn|8a}}
 
*'''999.[[M41]]''' - Death Guard forces take part in the Chaos armada under [[Kossolax]] that attacks [[Agripinaa]].{{Fn|26}}
 
*'''999.[[M41]]''' - Death Guard forces take part in the Chaos armada under [[Kossolax]] that attacks [[Agripinaa]].{{Fn|26}}
 
*'''999.[[M41]]'''' - The Death Guard warband known as the [[Lords of Silence]] and [[Word Bearers]] allies from the [[Weeping Veil]] sack the [[White Consuls]] homeworld of [[Sabatine]].{{Fn|26}}
 
*'''999.[[M41]]'''' - The Death Guard warband known as the [[Lords of Silence]] and [[Word Bearers]] allies from the [[Weeping Veil]] sack the [[White Consuls]] homeworld of [[Sabatine]].{{Fn|26}}
*'''~111.[[M42]]''' - The [[Plague Wars]]. Mortarion reappeared at the front of the Death Guard in an invasion of [[Ultramar]].
+
*'''~012.[[M42]]''' - The [[Plague Wars]]. Mortarion reappeared at the front of the Death Guard in an invasion of [[Ultramar]].{{Fn|35}}
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Invasion of Konor]].
+
*'''~012.[[M42]]''' - The [[War in the Rift]]{{Fn|35}}
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Kellik Plague War]]
+
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Medusa Raid]]{{Fn|25d}}
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Battle of the Startide Nexus]]
+
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Invasion of Konor]]{{Fn|47}}
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The Battle of [[Korvon II]]
+
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Kellik Plague War]]{{Fn|48}}
 
+
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Battle of the Startide Nexus]]{{Fn|48}} under Captain [[Oratius Glurtosk]]{{Fn|82}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The Battle of [[Korvon II]]{{Fn|36b}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Cleansing of Ybrannis]]{{Fn|30a}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - Raid on [[Relthor Prime]]{{Fn|36b}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - Battles for the [[Kantakkha]] System{{Fn|51}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[War of Rust and Ruin]]{{Fn|25e}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[War of Beasts]] on [[Vigilus]]{{Fn|52}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[War of the Spider]]{{Fn|33}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Charadon Campaign]]{{Fn|37}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Nachmund Rift War]]{{Fn|66}}
 +
**[[Chromyd Front]]{{Fn|38}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[War for the Tri-forge Cluster]]{{Fn|54b}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - War against the [[Tyranids]] for [[Vermidium]]{{Fn|54c}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Arks of Omen Campaign]].{{Fn|83}}
 +
[[Image:DGAlumax.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Death Guard forces{{Fn|57b}}]]
 
Undated:
 
Undated:
*The [[Battle of the Borghesh Channel]]
+
*The [[Battle of the Borghesh Channel]]{{Fn|26c}}
*The [[Green Death]]
+
*The [[Green Death]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[Battle of Tsarvia II]]
+
*The [[Battle of Tsarvia II]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[Siege of Nebbus]]
+
*The [[Siege of Nebbus]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[Battle of Bosphodia]]
+
*The [[Battle of Bosphodia]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[Siege of Bellisos]]
+
*The [[Siege of Bellisos]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[Battle of Drogensul]]
+
*The [[Battle of Drogensul]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[Battle for Yultah]]
+
*The [[Battle for Yultah]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[War of Rust and Ruin]]
+
*[[Waaagh! Badsmak]]{{Fn|25e}}
*[[Waaagh! Badsmak]]
+
*The [[Siege of Godorian]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[Siege of Godorian]]
+
*The [[Battle of Vindor]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[Battle of Vindor]]
+
*The [[Paradaxian War]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[Paradaxian War]]
+
*The [[Battle of Anvarheim]]{{Fn|25e}}
*The [[Battle of Anvarheim]]
+
*The [[War of Slime and Metal]]{{Fn|53}}
*The [[Battle of Tsarvia II]]
+
[[Image:Deathguard.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Death Guard Chaos Space Marine{{Fn|1}}]]
*The [[War of Slime and Metal]]
 
  
 
==Geneseed==
 
==Geneseed==
 
The Death Guard's genetic traits always reflect the gaunt, shadow-eyed quality of their Primarch. Known for their hardiness, the contagion which led to their damnation corrupted them physically as well as spiritually. As a result the gene-seed of the Death Guard is putrid, infectious, and corrupted completely by Nurgle.{{Fn|1-p75}}
 
The Death Guard's genetic traits always reflect the gaunt, shadow-eyed quality of their Primarch. Known for their hardiness, the contagion which led to their damnation corrupted them physically as well as spiritually. As a result the gene-seed of the Death Guard is putrid, infectious, and corrupted completely by Nurgle.{{Fn|1-p75}}
 +
 +
==Home World==
 +
The Pre-Heresy Homeworld of the Death Guard was the toxic world of [[Barbarus]]. After exile into the [[Eye of Terror]] the Death Guard made the [[Plague Planet]] their new home.{{Fn|1}}
  
 
==Culture & Tactics==
 
==Culture & Tactics==
Line 130: Line 162:
 
When the Legion was trapped and infected by Nurgle in the warp, their arrogance and contempt for weakness turned against them. Their surrender to Nurgle caused them to become self loathing and now they seek to spread ruin and decay in order to let their own fate appear less shameful in comparison.{{Fn|1}}
 
When the Legion was trapped and infected by Nurgle in the warp, their arrogance and contempt for weakness turned against them. Their surrender to Nurgle caused them to become self loathing and now they seek to spread ruin and decay in order to let their own fate appear less shameful in comparison.{{Fn|1}}
  
A modern Death Guard force is largely made up of [[Plague Marine]]s, and still follows the doctrines that their Primarch Mortarion taught them. Their tactics are based on the use of foot-slogging infantry, and the hardy use of their [[Boltgun|Bolters]]. Any vehicles that were in possession of the Death Guard at the time of the Horus Heresy have since fallen into disrepair, or have been commandeered by cheeky [[Nurglings]].{{Fn|1}} The Death Guard make full use of Nurgle's gifts, spreading turmoil, advancing solidly amidst a mist of choking disease, surrounded by Nurglings at their feet and summoning horrific [[Plaguebearers]] from the Warp. In larger battles where the outcome is of dire importance, a decaying [[Daemon Prince]] may take the reigns of the army, or a [[Great Unclean One]] may posses a [[Champion of Nurgle|Champion]].{{cite this}}
+
A modern Death Guard force is largely made up of [[Plague Marine]]s, and still follows the doctrines that their Primarch Mortarion taught them. Their tactics are based on the use of foot-slogging infantry and their [[Boltgun|Bolters]]. Any vehicles that were in possession of the Death Guard at the time of the Horus Heresy have since fallen into disrepair or been commandeered by cheeky [[Nurglings]].{{Fn|1}} The Death Guard make full use of Nurgle's gifts, spreading turmoil, advancing solidly amidst a mist of choking disease, surrounded by Nurglings at their feet and summoning horrific [[Plaguebearers]] from the Warp. In larger battles where the outcome is of dire importance, a decaying [[Daemon Prince]] may take the reigns of the army, or a [[Great Unclean One]] may posses a [[Champion of Nurgle|Champion]].{{cite this}}
 
+
[[File:DeathGuardUnderHelmet.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Death Guard Marine without helmet{{Fn|25b}}]]
As with all aspects of the Death Guard,
+
As with all aspects of the Death Guard, Mortarion has retained an iron grip upon the doctrines and dispositions of his champions. He expects even his most gifted sons to choose the path that best suits their talents, and then to cleave to it. In this way Mortarion ensures that even as the Lords of the Death Guard win the favour of Nurgle and progress along the path to glory, they still integrate with the pragmatic, infantry-based tactics of their warriors. Several specialties known collective as the '''Mantles of Corruption''' are practiced throughout the Death Guard, in particular their [[Chaos Lord]]s.{{Fn|25a}}
Mortarion has retained an iron grip upon
 
the doctrines and dispositions of his
 
champions. He expects even his most gifted
 
sons to choose the path that best suits their
 
talents, and then to cleave to it. In this way
 
Mortarion ensures that even as the Lords of
 
the Death Guard win the favour of Nurgle
 
and progress along the path to glory, they
 
still integrate with the pragmatic, infantry-based
 
tactics of their warriors. Several specialties known collective as the '''Mantles of Corruption''' are practiced throughout the Death Guard, in particular their [[Chaos Lord]]s.{{Fn|25}}
 
  
*[[Lord of Contagion]] - The most aggressive and belligerent Lords, clad in [[Terminator Armour]] and not valuing cunning or subtly.{{Fn|25}}
+
*'''[[Lord of Contagion|Lords of Contagion]]''' - The most aggressive and belligerent Lords, clad in [[Terminator Armour]] and not valuing cunning or subtly.{{Fn|25a}}
*'''Lords of Poxes''' - Favor spreading diseases to erode the enemy through attrition.{{Fn|25}}
+
*'''[[Lord of Flux|Lords of Flux]]'''{{Fn|25a}}{{Fn|54a}}
*'''Lords of Virulence''' - Masters of massed bombardment.{{Fn|25}}
+
*'''[[Lord of Parasitism|Lords of Parasitism]]'''{{Fn|25a}}{{Fn|54a}}
 +
*'''[[Lord of Poxes|Lords of Poxes]]''' - Favor spreading diseases to erode the enemy through attrition.{{Fn|25a}}
 +
*'''[[Lord of Virulence|Lords of Virulence]]''' - Masters of massed bombardment.{{Fn|25a}}
 +
*'''[[Lord of Withering|Lords of Withering]]'''{{Fn|25a}}{{Fn|54a}}
 +
*There is a rumoured seventh mantle.{{Fn|25a}}{{Fn|54a}}
  
Some Mantles of Corruption are taken
+
Some Mantles of Corruption are taken up only rarely, and by the most unusually gifted individuals. The Mantles of Parasitism, Withering, and Flux are some such infrequently bestowed rewards. It is further rumoured that one mantle exists which none have ever been worthy of, and that it would transform its bearer into a being of pure, malefic entropy.{{Fn|25a}}
up only rarely, and by the most unusually
 
gifted individuals. The Mantles of
 
Parasitism, Withering and Flux are some
 
such infrequently bestowed rewards. It is
 
further rumoured that one mantle exists
 
which none have ever been worthy of, and
 
that it would transform its bearer into a
 
being of pure, malefic entropy.{{Fn|25}}
 
  
 
==Organisation==
 
==Organisation==
[[Image:DeathGuardMarine8th.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Death Guard Marine (Post-Heresy)]]
+
[[Image:DGOrg.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Organisation of the Post-Heresy Death Guard{{Fn|54a}}]]
Following the discovery of Mortarion, the Death Guard Legion was based on their [[Primarch|Primarch's]] army of the same name on [[Barbarus]]. The Legion was divided into seven Great Companies, each with a nominal strength of 70,000 marines and divided into smaller battle [[Space Marine Company|companies]]. Some captains of the Great Companies had their own honorific titles based on Barbaran tradition; as such, the leader of the 2nd Company was known as 'Commander' while the leader of the 7th was known as 'Battle-Captain'.{{Fn|2b}}
+
Following the discovery of Mortarion, the Death Guard Legion was based on their [[Primarch|Primarch's]] army of the same name on [[Barbarus]]. The Legion was divided into seven Great Companies, each with a nominal strength of 70,000 marines and divided into smaller battle [[Space Marine Company|companies]]. Some captains of the Great Companies had their own honorific titles based on Barbaran tradition; as such, the leader of the 2nd Company was known as 'Commander' while the leader of the 7th was known as 'Battle-Captain'.{{Fn|2b}} The Legion favored heavy infantry above all else, usually equipped for extended operations without resupply or support.{{Fn|67}}
  
Due to Mortarion's traditionalism, the modern Death Guard uses roughly the same organization as it did before and during the Heresy. The primary force of the Death Guard consists of seven '''Plague Companies''', each with its own mountain fortress on the [[Plague Planet]]. These Companies consist of thousands of warriors and their own fleets, aircraft, tanks, [[Daemon|daemonic]] cohorts, and super-heavy vehicles, dwarfing modern Space Marine [[Chapter|Chapters]]. Each Plague Company consists of '''Sepsis Cohorts''' of roughly seven hundred [[Plague Marine|Plague Marines]]. A Sepsis Cohort is divided among two '''Maladictums''', each with seven '''Colonies''' which in turn are broken up into seven squads.{{Fn|25}}
+
Besides line infantry, the Legion also made heavy use of [[Dreadnought]]s and [[Terminator]]s. Despite a few exceptions such as the [[Grave Warden]]s, the Death Guard Legion lacked extensive elite units.{{Fn|67}} While not an especially large Legion, the Death Guard maintained a disprortionately potent fleet made up of heavy capital ships, many of which were relics from the [[Dark Age of Technology]]. Most infamous amongst these were the ''[[Terminus Est]]'' and ''[[Reaper's Scythe]]''.{{Fn|16e}}
  
The current organization of the Death Guard consists of:{{Fn|25}}
+
Due to Mortarion's traditionalism, the modern Death Guard uses roughly the same organization as it did before and during the Heresy. The primary force of the Death Guard consists of seven '''Plague Companies''', each with its own mountain fortress on the [[Plague Planet]]. These Companies consist of thousands of warriors and their own fleets, aircraft, tanks, [[Daemon|daemonic]] cohorts, and super-heavy vehicles, dwarfing modern Space Marine [[Chapter|Chapters]]. Each Plague Company consists of '''Sepsis Cohorts''' of roughly seven hundred [[Plague Marine|Plague Marines]]. A Sepsis Cohort is divided among two '''Maladictums''', each with seven '''Colonies''' which in turn are broken up into seven squads.{{Fn|25a}}
 +
The current organization of the Death Guard consists of:{{Fn|25a}}
  
*The '''1st Plague Company''' - Ruled by [[Typhus]] and consists of the infamous [[Plague Fleet]]. Its ranks are infested with hundreds of strains of [[Plague Zombie|Zombie Plague]].
+
*The '''[[Harbingers (1st Plague Company)|1st Plague Company]]''' - Known as ''The Harbingers''. Ruled by [[Typhus]] and consists of the infamous [[Plague Fleet]]. Its ranks are infested with hundreds of strains of [[Plague Zombie|Zombie Plague]].
*The '''2nd Plague Company''' - Favors mechanized assaults and boasts huge formations of tanks. Its warriors bear the Ferric Blight, which speckles their armour and vehicles with a crawling rust that infest foes.
+
*The '''[[Inexorable (2nd Plague Company)|2nd Plague Company]]''' - Known as ''The Inexorable''. Favors mechanized assaults and boasts huge formations of tanks. Its warriors bear the Ferric Blight, which speckles their armour and vehicles with a crawling rust that infest foes.
*The '''3rd Plague Company''' - Known as ''Mortarion's Anvil''. Excels in digging in and letting their foes bleed themselves against their defenses. They carry the Gloaming Bloat, a plague of fever sweats that slicks their armour and causes them to speak in wet gurgles.
+
*The '''[[Mortarion's Anvil (3rd Plague Company)|3rd Plague Company]]''' - Known as ''Mortarion's Anvil''. Excels in digging in and letting their foes bleed themselves against their defenses. They carry the [[Gloaming Bloat]], a plague of fever sweats that slicks their armour and causes them to speak in wet gurgles.
*The '''4th Plague Company''' - Ruled by the [[Daemon]] known as the [[Eater of Lives]]. Its members are wracked with the Eater Plague and prefer [[Sorcerer|Sorcerers]] and summoning daemons.
+
*The '''[[Wretched (4th Plague Company)|4th Plague Company]]''' - Known as ''The Wretched''. Ruled by the [[Daemon]] known as the [[Eater of Lives]]. Its members are wracked with the Eater Plague and prefer [[Sorcerer|Sorcerers]] and summoning daemons.
*The '''5th Plague Company''' - Known as the ''Poxmongers'', its members make great use of [[Daemon Engines]]. Its forces carry the Sanguous Flux, which causes endless half-clotted bleeding.
+
*The '''[[Poxmongers (5th Plague Company)|5th Plague Company]]''' - Known as the ''Poxmongers'', its members make great use of [[Daemon Engines]]. Its forces carry the Sanguous Flux, which causes endless half-clotted bleeding.
*The '''6th Plague Company''' - Called the ''Ferrymen'' or ''Brethren of the Fly'', the 6th Plague Company garrisons the Death Guards fleets and acquires new ships for their armadas. Their numbers boasts large numbers of [[Terminator|Terminators]] riddled with the parasite known as the drowning.
+
**The [[Weeping Legion]]{{Fn|54c}}
*The '''7th Plague Company''' - Known as being Mortarion's chosen sons. These are plague brewers and alchemists, blessed with the Crawling Pustulance.
+
*The '''[[Ferrymen (6th Plague Company)|6th Plague Company]]''' - Called the ''Ferrymen'' or ''Brethren of the Fly'', the 6th Plague Company garrisons the Death Guards fleets and acquires new ships for their armadas. Their numbers boasts large numbers of [[Terminator|Terminators]] riddled with the parasite known as the droning.
 +
**[[Venomariners]] - Raiding sub-formation{{Fn|54c}}
 +
*The '''[[Mortarion's Chosen Sons (7th Plague Company)|7th Plague Company]]''' - Known as ''Mortarion's Chosen Sons''. These are plague brewers and alchemists, blessed with the Crawling Pustulance.
  
 
===Sub-factions===
 
===Sub-factions===
Alongside the [[Black Legion]] and [[Word Bearers]] the Death Guard are one of the three traitor Legion's that didn't fracture after the Horus Heresy.{{Fn|25b}} The Legion fights for a singular purpose under the will of Mortarion, but until recently much of his rule had become remote due to his interest in the [[Warp]].{{Fn|1}}  
+
Alongside the [[Black Legion]] and [[Word Bearers]] the Death Guard are one of the three traitor Legions that haven't fractured in the years since the Horus Heresy.{{Fn|26b}} The Legion fights for a singular purpose under the will of Mortarion, but until recently much of his rule had become remote due to his interest in the [[Warp]].{{Fn|1}}  
  
 
For all its theoretical cohesion, in reality the Death Guard Legion is broken up across thousands of galactic war zones, often at the whims
 
For all its theoretical cohesion, in reality the Death Guard Legion is broken up across thousands of galactic war zones, often at the whims
of [[Chaos Lord|Chaos Lords]], [[Chaos Champion|champions]], and the like. These warbands vary hugely in size and composition, but all are known as vectoriums. Those that fight together for any length of time will be named by their leader, and will often adopt – or simply manifest – a unifying colour scheme. Most vectoriums are drawn from maladictums or colonies of the same plague company, but some can be more disparate still.{{Fn|25}}
+
of [[Chaos Lord|Chaos Lords]], [[Chaos Champion|champions]], and the like. These warbands vary hugely in size and composition, but all are known as vectoriums. Those that fight together for any length of time will be named by their leader, and will often adopt – or simply manifest – a unifying colour scheme. Most vectoriums are drawn from maladictums or colonies of the same plague company, but some can be more disparate still.{{Fn|25a}}
 
 
Known warbands include:
 
 
 
*[[Apostles of Contagion]] {{Fn|7b}}
 
*[[Bilious Ones]]
 
*[[Brotherhood of Reaping]]
 
*[[Carrion Hounds]]
 
*[[Corpsemakers (Death Guard)|Corpsemakers]]
 
*[[Dolorous Gnaw]]
 
*[[Empyrion's Blight]]
 
*[[Favoured Sons]]
 
*[[Fecund Ones]]
 
*[[Filthfavoured]]
 
*[[Glooming Lords]]
 
*[[Hand of Filth]]
 
*[[Heralds of Despair]]
 
*[[Legion Host]]
 
*[[Lords of Decay]] {{Fn|7a}}
 
*[[Lords of Silence]]
 
*[[Mouldering Claw]]
 
*[[Pallid Hand]]
 
*[[Poisoned Chalice]]
 
*[[Pox Mortis]]
 
*[[Prophets of the Seven]]
 
*[[The Purge]] {{Fn|7a}}
 
*[[Putrid Choir]]
 
*[[Rotworm Brotherhood]]
 
*[[Sevenfold Filth]]
 
*[[Smogrot Brotherhood]]
 
*[[Sons of the Maggot]]
 
*[[Suppurant Sting]]
 
*[[The Tainted]] {{Fn|7b}}
 
*[[Tainted Cohort]]
 
*[[Tainted Sons]]
 
*The [[Tollguard]]
 
*[[Weeping Legion]]
 
  
 
Following the [[Noctis Aeterna]] and formation of the [[Great Rift]], Mortarion reasserted his control over the Death Guard and now leads it against the Imperium once more.{{Fn|22}}
 
Following the [[Noctis Aeterna]] and formation of the [[Great Rift]], Mortarion reasserted his control over the Death Guard and now leads it against the Imperium once more.{{Fn|22}}
Line 226: Line 211:
 
*[[Fugaris' Helm]]
 
*[[Fugaris' Helm]]
 
*[[Suppurating Plate]]
 
*[[Suppurating Plate]]
 +
*[[Plague Skull of Glothila]]
 +
[[Image:DGArt8th.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Death Guard forces{{Fn|25d}}]]
  
 
===Fleet===
 
===Fleet===
 
{{main|Known Vessels of the Death Guard}}
 
{{main|Known Vessels of the Death Guard}}
 
 
The Death Guard are known to have possessed the following vessels:{{Fn|3}}
 
The Death Guard are known to have possessed the following vessels:{{Fn|3}}
 
*''[[Barbaros' Sting]]'' - [[Strike Cruiser|Strike Craft]]
 
*''[[Barbaros' Sting]]'' - [[Strike Cruiser|Strike Craft]]
*''[[Eisenstein]]'' - [[Frigate]] (destroyed)
+
*''[[Fourth Horseman]]'' - [[Ramship]] configured for orbital descent attacks{{Fn|16e}}
*''[[Endurance]]'' - [[Gloriana Class Battleship]]
 
*''[[Fourth Horseman]]'' - [[Ramship]] configured for orbital descent attacks{{Fn|16b}}
 
*''[[Indomitable Will]]'' - Capital Ship{{cite this}}
 
*''[[Mia Donna Mori]]'' - Goliath class [[Battleship]]{{Fn|16b}}
 
*''[[Plagueclaw]]'' - [[Murder Class Cruiser]]
 
*''[[Reaper's Scythe]]'' - [[Battle-barge]]{{Fn|16b}}
 
 
*''[[Reaper's Shroud]]'' - [[Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser]]
 
*''[[Reaper's Shroud]]'' - [[Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser]]
*''[[Spectre of Death]]'' - Capital Ship{{cite this}}
+
*''[[Rotbringer]]''  
*''[[Solace]]'' - [[Repulsive Class Grand Cruiser]]
 
*''[[Stalwart]]'' - [[Battle Barge]]
 
 
*''[[Terminus Est]]'' - Capital Ship
 
*''[[Terminus Est]]'' - Capital Ship
 
*''[[Undying]]'' - Capital Ship{{cite this}}
 
*''[[Undying]]'' - Capital Ship{{cite this}}
*''[[Valley of Haloes]]'' - [[Supply Hauler]] (destroyed){{cite this}}
 
 
*''[[Writhing God]]'' - [[Space Hulk]]
 
*''[[Writhing God]]'' - [[Space Hulk]]
  
Line 253: Line 230:
  
 
===Notable Members===
 
===Notable Members===
[[File:Deathshroud.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Mortarion's [[Deathshroud]] bodyguard]]
 
 
*{{Main|Known Members of the Death Guard}}
 
*{{Main|Known Members of the Death Guard}}
 
 
=====Heresy Era=====
 
=====Heresy Era=====
*[[Mortarion]] - [[Primarch]]{{Fn|16d}}
+
[[Image:DSHHArt.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Deathshroud]]{{Fn|11b}}]]
*[[Caipha Morarg]] - member of the 24th [[Breacher Squad]], Mortarion's equerry{{Fn|17a}}
+
*[[Mortarion]] [[Primarch]].{{Fn|16g}}
*[[Calas Typhon]] - [[First Captain]]
+
*[[Caipha Morarg]] member of the 24th [[Breacher Squad]], Mortarion's [[Equerry]].{{Fn|17a}}
*[[Crysos Morturg]] - Lieutenant, remained loyal to the Emperor{{Fn|16e}}
+
*[[Calas Typhon]] [[First Captain]]
*[[Durak Rask]] - Siegemaster, Marshal of Ordnance{{Fn|16f}}
+
*[[Crysos Morturg]] — [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenant]], remained loyal to the [[Emperor]].{{Fn|16h}}
*[[Huron-Fal]] - [[Dreadnought]]{{Fn|6a}}
+
*[[Durak Rask]] — [[Siegemaster]], [[Marshal of Ordnance]].{{Fn|16i}}
*[[Holgoarg]] - [[Captain]]{{Fn|6b}}
+
*[[Ignatius Grulgor]] [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[2nd Company (Death Guard)|2nd Company]].{{Fn|2a}}
*[[Ignatius Grulgor]] - Captain, 2nd Company
+
*[[Gremus Kalgaro]] [[Siegemaster]].
*[[Gremus Kalgaro]] - Siegemaster
+
*[[Malig Laestygon]] [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]].{{Fn|44}}
*[[Kargul]] - [[Dreadnought]]{{Fn|6c}}
+
*[[Meric Voyen]] [[Apothecary]], [[7th Company (Death Guard)|7th Company]].{{Fn|2a}}
*[[Skorrvall]] - [[Contemptor Dreadnought]]
+
*[[Nathaniel Garro]] Battle-Captain, [[7th Company (Death Guard)|7th Company]], remained loyal to the [[Emperor]].{{Fn|2a}}
*[[Lhorgath]] - [[Contemptor Dreadnought]]
+
*[[Ullis Temeter]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[4th Company (Death Guard)|4th Company]], remained loyal to the [[Emperor]].{{Fn|16c}}
*[[Khorak]] - Veteran Sergeant
+
*[[Hadrabulus Vioss]] — [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] of the [[Grave Wardens]].{{Fn|27c}}
*[[Koray Barcu]] - [[Apothecary]] aboard [[Endurance]]{{Fn|17b}}
+
*[[Antavus Barrazin]] [[First Captain]] ([[Great Crusade]]).{{Fn|71}}
*[[Malig Laestygon]] - Commander
+
*[[Malek Vos]] [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]].{{Fn|2a}}
*[[Meric Voyen]] - [[Apothecary]], 7th Company
+
*[[Huron-Fal]] [[Space Marine Dreadnought|Dreadnought]].{{Fn|6a}}
*[[Nathaniel Garro]] - Battle-Captain, 7th Company, remained loyal to the Emperor
+
*[[Haldon-Tal]] [[Contemptor Dreadnought]].{{Fn|69}}
*[[Porphyricus]] - former [[Librarian]], later - [[Sorcerer]] of Chaos
+
*[[Holgoarg]] [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]].{{Fn|6b}}
*[[Solun Decius]] - Battle brother, 7th Company
+
*[[Erud Vahn]] [[Blackshields|Blackshield]].{{Fn|72}}
*[[Ujioj]] - [[Captain]]{{Fn|6d}}
 
*[[Ullis Temeter]] - Captain, 4th Company, remained loyal to the Emperor{{cite this}}
 
*[[Hadrabulus Vioss]] - Captain of the [[Grave Wardens]]
 
*[[Kolak]] - Captain
 
*[[Andus Hakur]] - [[Veteran Sergeant]] of the 7th Company, remained loyal to the Emperor
 
*[[Pyr Rahl]] - 7th Company
 
*[[Tollen Sendek]] - Member of the 7th Company's [[Command Squad]]
 
*[[Erud Vahn]] - [[Blackshields|Blackshield]]
 
*[[Morgax Murnau]] - [[Chaplain]]
 
*[[Vitas Phorgal]] - [[Moritat]]
 
*[[Ilyaster Faylech]] - Went on to join the [[Black Legion]]
 
*[[Vorx]] - Siegemaster
 
*[[Garstag]]
 
  
===== Post Heresy =====
+
=====Post Heresy=====
*[[Mortarion]] - [[Daemon Prince]]
+
*[[Mortarion]] [[Daemon Prince]].{{Fn|1}}
*[[Festardius]] - Warband leader{{Fn|12}}
+
*[[Festardius]] Warband leader.{{Fn|12}}
*[[Gideous Krall]] - Warband leader
+
*[[Gideous Krall]] Warband leader.{{Fn|27a}}
*[[Thagus Daravek]] - Warband leader and rival of [[Abaddon]]
+
*[[Thagus Daravek]] Warband leader and rival of [[Abaddon]].{{Fn|74}}
*[[Herperitus]] - [[Daemon Prince]] and [[Plague Lord]]
+
*[[Typhus]] — Herald of [[Nurgle]].{{Fn|1}}
*[[Ignatius Grulgor]] - [[Daemon Prince]]
+
*[[Porphyricus]] — former [[Librarian]], later [[Chaos]] [[Sorcerer]].
*[[Necrosius]] - [[Sorcerer]] of Nurgle
+
*[[Ignatius Grulgor]] [[Daemon Prince]].{{Fn|2a}}
*[[Porphyricus]] - Unfortunate [[Sorcerer]] of [[Nurgle]]
+
*[[Necrosius]] [[Sorcerer]] of Nurgle.{{Fn|78}}
*[[Scabarulous the Virulent]] - Warlord
+
*[[Ilyaster Faylech]] Became a member of the [[Black Legion]].{{Fn|74}}
*[[Festrus]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
+
*[[Eater of Lives]] [[Daemon]] and commander.{{Fn|25g}}
*[[Typhus]] - Herald of [[Nurgle]]
+
*[[Vorx]] [[Chaos Lord]].{{Fn|26c}}
*[[Ussax]] - The 'Blight-Master'{{Fn|10}}
 
*[[Odricus]] - of the '''fifth sept'''. Was killed during the attack on the [[Espandor]] planet during the invasion of the [[Death Guard]] to [[Ultramar]] - so called [[Plague Wars]].{{Fn|21}}
 
*[[Noctilious Glauw]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
*[[Gulgoth]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
*[[Glottox]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
*[[Urgloth Rotheart]], Plague Champion of the [[Death Guard]], see also [[Quotes Chaos#U|his quote]]{{Fn|24}}
 
*[[Ilyaster Faylech]] - Became a member of the [[Black Legion]]
 
*[[Corpulux]] - Plague Brethren
 
*[[Blight Stalker]] - Plague Brethren
 
*[[Dipetron]] - Plague Brethren
 
*[[Eater of Lives]] - [[Daemon]] and commander.
 
*[[Vulguthrot]] - [[Lord of Contagion]]
 
*[[Gothax]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
*[[Fugaris]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
*[[Fulgous]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
*[[Sluthgor]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
*[[Fethius]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
*[[Vorx]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
*[[Garstag]] - [[Terminator]]
 
*[[Blathlok]] - Sorcerer
 
*[[Repugnus]] - Champion
 
*[[Dulthrox Globbergor]] - [[Malignant Plaguecaster]]
 
*[[Nauseous Rotbone]] - [[Plague Surgeon]]
 
*[[Khorag Sinj]] - [[Apothecary]] and follower of [[Fabius Bile]]
 
*[[Dragan]] - [[Plague Marine]]
 
*[[Slaunn]] - [[Deathshroud]]
 
  
 
=====Unique Troops=====
 
=====Unique Troops=====
 
*[[Lord of Contagion]]
 
*[[Lord of Contagion]]
 +
*[[Lord of Virulence]]
 
*[[Malignant Plaguecaster]]
 
*[[Malignant Plaguecaster]]
 
*[[Noxious Blightbringer]]
 
*[[Noxious Blightbringer]]
Line 339: Line 276:
 
*[[Biologus Putrifier]]
 
*[[Biologus Putrifier]]
 
*[[Grave Wardens]] (Heresy-era)
 
*[[Grave Wardens]] (Heresy-era)
 +
*[[Mortus Poisoners]] (Heresy-era)
 
*[[Foetid Bloat-Drone]]
 
*[[Foetid Bloat-Drone]]
 
*[[Myphitic Blight-Hauler]]
 
*[[Myphitic Blight-Hauler]]
 
*[[Plagueburst Crawler]]
 
*[[Plagueburst Crawler]]
 +
*[[Tallymen (Death Guard)|Tallymen]]
 +
*[[Miasmic Malignifier]]
  
==Related Articles==
+
==See also==
 
*[[Chaos Space Marine Legions and Warbands (List)]]
 
*[[Chaos Space Marine Legions and Warbands (List)]]
 
*[[Space Marine Forces (List)]]
 
*[[Space Marine Forces (List)]]
{{SMLegions}}
+
 
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
 +
{{Cite}}
 
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Index Astartes III]]: The Lost and the Damned
 
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Index Astartes III]]: The Lost and the Damned
*{{Endn|2}}: [[The Flight of the Eisenstein]] by [[James Swallow]]{{cite this}}
+
*2: [[The Flight of the Eisenstein]]:
**{{Endn|2a}}: Chapter Five, pgs. 118-120
+
**{{Endn|2a}}: Chapter Five
**{{Endn|2b}}: Chapter 1
+
**{{Endn|2b}}: Chapter One-Two
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Horus Heresy: Visions of Death]] by [[Alan Merrett]]
+
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Horus Heresy: Visions of Death]],{{Cite this}}
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)]]
+
*4: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)]]:
 
**{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 14
 
**{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 14
 
**{{Endn|2b}}: pg. 55
 
**{{Endn|2b}}: pg. 55
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Galaxy In Flames (Novel)]] by [[Ben Counter]]
+
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Galaxy In Flames (Novel)]]{{Cite this}}
 
*6: [[Horus Heresy Collectable Card Game]]
 
*6: [[Horus Heresy Collectable Card Game]]
 
**{{Endn|6a}} R ---- 12/-
 
**{{Endn|6a}} R ---- 12/-
Line 362: Line 303:
 
**{{Endn|6c}} HH -- 63/152
 
**{{Endn|6c}} HH -- 63/152
 
**{{Endn|6d}} SG -- 83/120
 
**{{Endn|6d}} SG -- 83/120
*{{Endn|7}} [[Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three]]{{cite this}}
+
*{{Endn|7}} [[Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three]]{{Cite this}}
 
**{{Endn|7a}}: pg. 141
 
**{{Endn|7a}}: pg. 141
 
**{{Endn|7b}}: pg. 142
 
**{{Endn|7b}}: pg. 142
*{{Endn|8}} [[Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition)]]{{cite this}}
+
*8: [[Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition)]]
 
**{{Endn|8a}}: pg. 17
 
**{{Endn|8a}}: pg. 17
 
**{{Endn|8b}}: pg. 9
 
**{{Endn|8b}}: pg. 9
*{{Endn|9}} [[The First Heretic (Novel)]] by [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]]
+
*{{Endn|9}} [[The First Heretic (Novel)]]{{Cite this}}
 
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Deathwatch: First Founding]], pg. 85
 
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Deathwatch: First Founding]], pg. 85
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Collected Visions]], pgs. 354-356
+
*11: [[Collected Visions]]:
 +
**{{Endn|11a}}: pg. 143
 +
**{{Endn|11b}}: pg. 229
 +
**{{Endn|11c}}: pgs. 354-356
 
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Apocalypse]], pg. 171
 
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Apocalypse]], pg. 171
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three]] pgs. 141-143
+
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three]], pgs. 141-143
 
*{{Endn|14}}: [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod890005a Games Workshop]
 
*{{Endn|14}}: [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod890005a Games Workshop]
 
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (6th Edition)]], pgs. 22-23
 
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (6th Edition)]], pgs. 22-23
*16: [[The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal]]
+
*16: [[The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal]]:
**{{Endn|16a}}: pgs. 120-129
+
**{{Endn|16a}}: pg. 54
**{{Endn|16b}}: pg. 137
+
**{{Endn|16b}}: pgs. 120-126
**{{Endn|16c}}: pg. 263
+
**{{Endn|16c}}: pgs. 128-129
**{{Endn|16d}}: pg. 264
+
**{{Endn|16d}}: pgs. 130-134
**{{Endn|16e}}: pg. 266
+
**{{Endn|16e}}: pgs. 136-137
**{{Endn|16f}}: pg. 267
+
**{{Endn|16f}}: pg. 186
**{{Endn|16h}}: pg. 262
+
**{{Endn|16g}}: pg. 270
*{{Endn|17}}: [[Vengeful Spirit (Novel)]]{{cite this}}
+
**{{Endn|16h}}: pg. 272
 +
**{{Endn|16i}}: pg. 273
 +
*{{Endn|17}}: [[Vengeful Spirit (Novel)]],{{Cite this}}
 
**{{Endn|17a}}: {{cite this}}pg.164
 
**{{Endn|17a}}: {{cite this}}pg.164
 
**{{Endn|17b}}: {{cite this}}pg.165
 
**{{Endn|17b}}: {{cite this}}pg.165
 
*{{Endn|18}}: [[Daemonology (Short Story)]]
 
*{{Endn|18}}: [[Daemonology (Short Story)]]
 
*{{Endn|19}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]], pg. 53
 
*{{Endn|19}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]], pg. 53
*{{Endn|20}}: [[The Path of Heaven (Novel)]]{{cite this}}
+
*{{Endn|20}}: [[The Path of Heaven (Novel)]], Chapters 21-27
*{{Endn|21}}: [[Dark Imperium (Novel)]] by [[Guy Haley]], Chapter Eleven
+
*{{Endn|21}}: [[Dark Imperium (Novel)]], Chapter Eleven
*{{Endn|22}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition Rulebook]] pg.98
+
*{{Endn|22}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 98
*{{Endn|23}}: [[Index: Chaos (8th Edition)]] pg.57
+
*{{Endn|23}}: [[Index: Chaos (8th Edition)]], pg. 57
*{{Endn|24}}: [[Dark Imperium (Game)]], Death Guard Booket pg. 11
+
*{{Endn|24}}: [[Dark Imperium (Game)]], Death Guard Booket, pg. 11
*{{Endn|25}}: [[Codex: Death Guard (8th Edition)]] - pg.12
+
*25: [[Codex: Death Guard (8th Edition)]]:
*{{Endn|26}}: [[The Lords of Silence (Novel)]]
+
**{{Endn|25a}}: pg. 12
 +
**{{Endn|25b}}: pg. 14
 +
**{{Endn|25c}}: pg. 53
 +
**{{Endn|25d}}: cover
 +
**{{Endn|25e}}: pg.20-23
 +
**{{Endn|25f}}: pgs. 18-19
 +
**{{Endn|25g}}: pgs. 30-35
 +
**{{Endn|25h}}: pgs. 100-103
 +
*{{Endn|26}}: [[The Lords of Silence (Novel)]],{{Cite this}}
 
**{{Endn|26a}}: Chapter 14
 
**{{Endn|26a}}: Chapter 14
**{{Endn|25b}}: Chapter 9
+
**{{Endn|26b}}: Chapter 9
 +
**{{Endn|26c}}: Chapter 2
 +
**{{Endn|26d}}: Chapter 5
 +
*27: [[The Buried Dagger (Novel)]]
 +
**{{Endn|27a}}: Chapters 1-3
 +
**{{Endn|27b}}: Chapters 6 - Epilogue
 +
**{{Endn|27c}}: Chapters 4-5
 +
*{{Endn|28}}: [[Conquest 46]] — ''Power Struggle''
 +
*{{Endn|29}}: [[White Dwarf September 2019]], pg. 43 — ''Galactic War Zones: Frozen Wastelands''
 +
*30: [[Codex Supplement: Salamanders (8th Edition)]]:
 +
**{{Endn|30a}}: pgs. 28-29
 +
**{{Endn|30b}}: pg. 33
 +
*{{Endn|31}} [[White Dwarf November 2019]], pg. 25
 +
*{{Endn|32}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/02/11/no-respite-new-arrivalsgw-homepage-post-1/ Warhammer Community: No Respite – New Arrivals (Posted on 11/02/2020)] (Last accessed on 11 February 2020)
 +
*{{Endn|33}}: [[Psychic Awakening: War of the Spider]], pg. 7
 +
*34: [[Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Ablaze]]:
 +
**{{Endn|34a}}: pg. 32
 +
**{{Endn|34b}}: pg. 73
 +
*{{Endn|35}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/12/05/the-warhammer-preview-online-black-library/ Warhammer Community: Warhammer Preview Online: Black Library (posted 12/5/2020] – Interview with Guy Haley (last accessed 12/5/2020)
 +
*36: [[Conquest 01]]:
 +
**{{Endn|36a}}: ''Your First Battle''
 +
**{{Endn|36b}}: ''Mission Briefing: Battle for Korvon II''
 +
*{{Endn|37}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/01/05/the-charadron-campaign-begins-and-a-big-rules-lowdown-inside-white-dwarf-460/ Warhammer Community: The Charadon campaign begins and a BIG rules lowdown: Inside White Dwarf 460 (Posted on 05/01/2021)] (Last accessed on 5 January 2021)
 +
*{{Endn|38}}: [[White Dwarf 460]], pgs. 16-21
 +
*{{Endn|39}}: [[Crusade (Novella)]], Chapter 2
 +
*{{Endn|40}}: [[Promethean Sun (Novella)]], Part 1
 +
*{{Endn|41}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book Eight - Malevolence]], pg. 150
 +
*{{Endn|42}}: [[Scars (Novel)]], Chapter 22
 +
*43: [[The Horus Heresy Book Six - Retribution]]:
 +
**{{Endn|43a}}: pg. 223
 +
**{{Endn|43b}}: pg. 31
 +
*{{Endn|44}}: [[Deathfire (Novel)]], Chapter 20
 +
*{{Endn|45}}: [[Codex: Blood Angels (7th Edition)]] — ''A Chronicle of Heroes''
 +
*46: [[Codex: Dark Angels (6th Edition)]]:
 +
**{{Endn|46a}}: pg. 36
 +
**{{Endn|46b}}: pg. 22
 +
*{{Endn|47}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/12/05/the-warhammer-preview-online-black-library/ Warhammer Community: Warhammer Preview Online: Black Library (posted 12/5/2020] – Interview with Guy Haley (last accessed 12/5/2020)
 +
*{{Endn|48}}: [[Codex: T'au Empire (8th Edition)]], pg. 39 — ''March of Conquest: Plague Wars''
 +
*{{Endn|49}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 7th Edition Rulebook]] (E-Book) — ''The Pandorax Incursion''
 +
*{{Endn|50}}: [[Fabius Bile: Clonelord (Novel)]], Chapter 1
 +
*{{Endn|51}}: [[Conquest 09]] — ''Outbreaks of War''
 +
*{{Endn|52}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 9th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 130
 +
*{{Endn|53}}: [[Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus (8th Edition)]], pg. 35 — ''The Quest for Knowledge: War of Slime and Metal''
 +
*54: [[Codex: Death Guard (9th Edition)]]:
 +
**{{Endn|54a}}: pg. 13
 +
**{{Endn|54b}}: pg. 16
 +
**{{Endn|54c}}: pgs. 22-25
 +
*{{Endn|55}}: [[White Dwarf 461]], pg. 66
 +
*{{Endn|56}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/03/12/get-a-first-look-inside-the-book-of-rust/ Warhammer Community: Get a First Look Inside The Book of Rust  (Posted on 12/03/2021)] (Last accessed on 12 March, 2021)
 +
*57: [[White Dwarf 462]]
 +
**{{Endn|57a}}: pg. 7 <not cited>
 +
**{{Endn|57b}}: pgs. 64-65
 +
*{{Endn|58}}: [[War Zone Charadon - Act I: The Book of Rust]], pgs. 81-92
 +
*{{Endn|59}}: [[White Dwarf 463]], pgs. 26-27
 +
*{{Endn|60}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book Four - Conquest]], pg. 155
 +
*{{Endn|61}}: [[Dark Millennium (game system)]]
 +
*{{Endn|62}}: [[Dark Imperium (Novel)]] 2nd Edition, Chapter 20
 +
*63: [[War Zone Charadon - Act II: The Book of Fire]]:
 +
**{{Endn|63a}}: pg. 7
 +
**{{Endn|63b}}: pg. 43
 +
*{{Endn|64}}: [[Warhawk (Novel)]] - Chapters 24-27
 +
*{{Endn|65}}: [[White Dwarf 465]], pg. 21
 +
*{{Endn|66}}: [[War Zone Nachmund: Rift War]], pg. 32
 +
*{{Endn|67}}: [[The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness]] Rulebook, pg. 86
 +
*{{Endn|68}}: [[White Dwarf 478]], pg. 109
 +
*{{Endn|69}}: [[Horus Heresy (Artbook Series)]] - Collected Visions: pg. 412
 +
*{{Endn|70}}: [[White Dwarf June 2017]] — ''Designers' Notes: In the Grim Darkness of the Future''
 +
*{{Endn|71}}: [[Mortarion: The Pale King (Novel)]], Chapter 4
 +
*{{Endn|72}}: [[Blackshields: The False War (Audio Drama)]]
 +
*{{Endn|73}}: [[Distant Echoes of Old Night (Short Story)]]
 +
*{{Endn|74}}: [[Black Legion (Novel)]], Chapter 1
 +
*{{Endn|75}}: [[Blackshield (Short Story)]]
 +
*{{Endn|76}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/01/17/horus-heresy-exemplary-battles-a-new-mission-and-free-rules-for-dark-angels-and-death-guard-squads/ Warhammer Community: Horus Heresy Exemplary Battles – A New Mission and Free Rules for Dark Angels and Death Guard Squads (Posted on 17/01/2022)] - [https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mouvfePNquxVdprP.pdf The Battle of Perditus: Umbral-51 PDF] - pgs. 2-4 (Last accessed on 17 January 2022)
 +
*{{Endn|77}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Two (First Edition)]], pg. 191
 +
*{{Endn|78}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three]], pg. 143
 +
*{{Endn|79}}: [[White Dwarf 85 (2015)]] — ''Parade Ground''
 +
*{{Endn|80}}: [[Index Chaotica: Plague Marines (Background Book)]],{{Cite this}}
 +
*{{Endn|81}}: [[Index: Chaos (8th Edition)]] — ''Death Guard''
 +
*{{Endn|82}}: [[Shadowsun: The Patient Hunter (Novel)]] - Chapter 2
 +
*{{Endn|83}}: [[Arks of Omen: The Lion]], pgs. 14-17
 +
*{{Endn|84}}: [[First Founding (Background Book)]], pg. 10
 +
 
 +
<br>
 +
{{SMLegions}}
  
 
[[Category:Death Guard|*]]
 
[[Category:Death Guard|*]]
 
[[Category:Nurgle]]
 
[[Category:Nurgle]]
 
[[Category:Space Marine Legions]]
 
[[Category:Space Marine Legions]]
 +
 
[[de:Death Guard]]
 
[[de:Death Guard]]
 
[[fr:Death Guard]]
 
[[fr:Death Guard]]

Latest revision as of 14:06, 2 March 2024

Simple Badge Chaos Space Marines.png
Chaos Portal
Death Guard
Deathguardsymbol.png

DeathGuardMarine8th.jpg

Legion Number XIV
Primarch Mortarion
Homeworld Barbarus
Current Base Plague Planet in the Eye of Terror
Chaos Affiliation Nurgle
Colours Putrid Green, Rusty Iron trim
Specialty Chemical & Biological Warfare[13], Bombardment, Heavy assault and attrition[84]
Battle Cry None.

The Death Guard, formerly known as the Dusk Raiders and known amongst themselves as the Unbroken[26a], were the XIV Legion of the original twenty Space Marine Legions. Their Primarch is Mortarion, who relocated their base to his homeworld of Barbarus after his discovery by the Emperor. During the Horus Heresy, Mortarion and the majority of the Legion swore allegiance to Horus, becoming one of the nine Traitor Legions who betrayed the Emperor. After Barbarus was destroyed during the Heresy, they relocated to the Plague Planet inside the Eye of Terror.[1]

Because of Barbarus's toxic environment, the Death Guard took great pride in their resistance to poisons, disease, and mortality in general. This fascination led them to worship the Chaos God Nurgle and in return he infests their armour with pestilence and disease, and elevated Mortarion to a Daemon Prince.[1]


History

Dusk Raider Space Marine[16d]

Dusk Raiders

Symbol of the Dusk Raiders[16b]

The base gene-seed stock of the Dusk Raiders, originally known as the XIVth Legion, came from Terra or more specifically the warlike and tough clans of Albia. In the Unification Wars the XIVth Legion quickly developed the use of tactics and methods of warfare that their ironside fore-bearers would have found familiar. Operating in the role of heavy infantry, they were experts at survival, endurance, and stubborn defense. Their grey Power Armour began to carry battle decorations as well as the modified imagery of Albia. As the Unification Wars came to an end and the Great Crusade began, the Emperor gave them the title of the Dusk Raiders, a nod to their use of the ancient Albian tactic of conducting major ground attacks at twilight when the shift of light confused an enemy's watch and gathering shadow would advance across open ground.[16b]

The Dusk Raiders' armour was originally unpainted, but with their right arm and both shoulders coloured crimson. This was done with the intent to show their enemies that they were the Emperor's red right hand, relentless and unstoppable. Many enemies simply threw down their weapons at nightfall so they didn't have to fight the terrifying Dusk Raiders.[2a]

For more then eight decades the Dusk Raiders fought across the Galaxy in the Great Crusade, earning a fierce reputation by failing to reunite with their Primarch.[16b]

The Great Crusade

Formation

When Mortarion was found by the Emperor upon the troubled world of Barbarus, he was swiftly given control of his Legion. Upon first seeing them he told them, "You are my unbroken blades. You are the Death Guard." The Legion's name was then changed in accordance with this decree, and Mortarion's words engraved above the airlock door of the Battle Barge Reaper's Scythe in honour of the moment.[2a] While the Legion was known as the Death Guard formally, its older members referred to themselves as the Unbroken, after Mortarion's words, in a tradition that still continues.[26a] Mortarion based the new Death Guard on his armoured toxin-resistant fighters of the same name that had fought beside him on Barbarus in the Overlord Wars. Their armour's colour was changed, and whilst their main armour remained unpainted, the trim colour became dark green. Mortarion's veterans of Barbarus formed the core of his new Legion.[16b]

Combat Disposition and Record

Before the Horus Heresy, the Death Guard differed from the other 17 known Legions in that they had only seven Great Companies, although these held far more men than those of other Legions such as the Ultramarines or Space Wolves. There were three privileged titles held by captains of the Death Guard. The captain of the First Company was known as the First Captain, the captain of the Second Company was known as Commander, and the captain of the Seventh Company was known as Battle-Captain.[Needs Citation]

The Death Guard tended to be organised into units of foot-slogging infantry, rather than mechanised squads. Mortarion ensured that his men were well-equipped and highly-trained. He also ensured that they could fight in almost any kind of atmosphere, and placed little emphasis on specialised units using jump packs or bikes. The Death Guard did not have dedicated Assault and Tactical Squads. Every Marine was equipped with a bolter, bolt pistol and close combat weapon and told to fight with whatever weapon circumstance dictated. The Legion was also well known for its use of Terminator Armour. Possibly as a result of this, the Death Guard were highly successful at high-risk boarding and close-quarter operations such as space hulk clearance.[1]

Heresy-era Death Guard Marine[60]

By the time of the Horus Heresy, the Death Guard is known to have had roughly 95,000 Space Marines.[16c]

The Horus Heresy

At the beginning of the Horus Heresy, many Death Guard who remained loyal to the Emperor were massacred on Isstvan III by their fellow Space Marines, including Captain Ullis Temeter. Roughly a third of the Legion was still loyal to the Emperor.[16c] Shortly after, they battled Imperial forces in the Drop Site Massacre. A number of Death Guard Marines, and one Luna Wolf who renounced his Sons of Horus status, led by Battle-Captain of the 7th Company Nathaniel Garro, remained loyal to the Emperor. They formed part of the crew of the Eisenstein, a frigate which ran the Traitor blockade in the Isstvan system in order to bring news of Horus' descent into Chaos to the Emperor on Terra.[Needs Citation]

During the Horus Heresy, the Death Guard joined Warmaster Horus in many battles and raids on the Imperium. The Lord of Death split his fleet, commanding one himself and Calas Typhon the other. Mortarion's smaller fleet led a failed attempt on Prospero to convince Jaghatai Khan and the White Scars to join with them, and the Mortarion found himself in combat with the Great Khan. After the White Scars managed to abandon the Death Guard fleet, Mortarion had his Legion embark on a spiteful purge of the Prospero System.[18] Mortarion then fought alongside Horus in the Battle of Dwell and Battle of Molech before rejoining Typhon's main fleet, which had been waging a campaign of misdirection and misery against the Dark Angels since the Battle of Perditus.[17] Later, Horus himself tasked Mortarion with finding and destroying the White Scars. Eager to settle the score with the Great Khan, the Death Guard and Emperor's Children allies under Eidolon cornered the Scars at the Dark Glass, but failed to destroy them in the Battle of Catallus. Angered, Mortarion realized that his divided legion was hampering his war effort and ordered Eidolon to find Typhon and his splinter fleet.[20] On the world of Ynyx, Typhon again showed himself and was secretly disappointed that Mortarion and his forces had yet to embrace the Ruinious Powers.[27a]

Plague Marines[61]

Fall of the Death Guard

When the Death Guard's fleet embarked for Terra Typhon made his move. The First Captain had his Grave Wardens frame and kill the Navigators, whom he alleged remained loyal to the Emperor, and assured his Primarch that he could lead the fleet to Terra without their help using his own corps of Librarians.[27a] Instead, he led them into a trap - becalming the Death Guard fleet in the warp, adrift, helpless and at the mercy of Chaos[19]. Then came the Destroyer Plague and the Death Guard were struck down, but Typhon received his reward from "Grandfather Nurgle" and he absorbed the full power of the plague from Ignatius Grulgor. His body became home to the flies of Nurgle, his armour a hive of pestilence. He then became Typhus, Herald of Nurgle and the Host of the Destroyer Hive[4b]. Mortarion himself succumb to the Destroyer Plague, facing its agony with his sons. Nurgle himself came before Mortarion, stating that if he did not pledge himself to the Plague God they would be doomed to torturous undeath for all eternity. Mortarion broke and pledged himself to Nurgle. Though the agony ended, the Death Guard were remade into a shambling army of diseased Plague Marines, bearing little resemblance to what first entered the Warp. Mortarion himself was remade into a Daemon Prince.[27b]

The forces of Horus besieged Terra and the Imperial Palace itself. After a breach in the Palace defensive wall was forced by Titans of the Legio Mortis Titan Legion, the Traitor Legions, including the Death Guard, poured into the breach only to be met by loyalist forces led by the Primarchs Rogal Dorn and Sanguinius. It is recorded that Mortarion personally led his pustulent Plague Marines into the thickest fighting that day.[4a] Following the departure of Perturabo and the Iron Warriors from the battle, Horus gave Mortarion command of the Lion's Gate Spaceport. However this was assailed in a sudden counterattack by Jaghatai Khan and the White Scars. At the height of the fighting, Mortarion and Jaghatai Khan dueled. At the end of the battle a badly wounded Jaghatai Khan managed to banish Mortarion to the Warp, while the loyalist Primarch himself grievously wounded. After the banishing of Mortarion command of the legion fell to Typhus.[64]

Horus Heresy Aftermath

After Horus' defeat, Mortarion led his Death Guard in a campaign of destruction over a score of planets, until finally retreating into the Eye of Terror. Here he received Nurgle's ultimate reward and became a full-fledged Daemon Prince, ruling over one of Nurgle's greatest Plague Worlds in the Eye of Terror. Mortarion sends out fleets of Plague Ships into the Warp to carry their contagions throughout the galaxy. Concerned himself with matters of the Warp more and more, Mortarion has periodically returned to lead his Legion but in his absence it has largely splintered into many smaller warbands.[1]

Recent activity of the Death Guard[25f]

However though it was factionalized, the Death Guard never fully disintegrated as a cohesive force. Their fragments continued to fight under a singular purpose, and never resorted to the civil in-fighting of many other Traitor Legions. The Death Guard remains one of the most ordered and coherent of all the surviving Traitor Legions.[25a] At the end of the 41st Millennium, Mortarion senses his Brother Primarch's rebirth and reasserted direct control over the Death Guard once more. The Death Guard launched a major assault on Ultramar in what became known as the Plague Wars.[23]

Notable Engagements

In timeline order:

Death Guard forces[57b]

Undated:

Death Guard Chaos Space Marine[1]

Geneseed

The Death Guard's genetic traits always reflect the gaunt, shadow-eyed quality of their Primarch. Known for their hardiness, the contagion which led to their damnation corrupted them physically as well as spiritually. As a result the gene-seed of the Death Guard is putrid, infectious, and corrupted completely by Nurgle.[1-p75]

Home World

The Pre-Heresy Homeworld of the Death Guard was the toxic world of Barbarus. After exile into the Eye of Terror the Death Guard made the Plague Planet their new home.[1]

Culture & Tactics

Originally the Death Guard believed that humans should be free of oppression and that hardship should be faced with faith in inner strength, strong will and stern resolution. During the Heresy, these beliefs were twisted into contempt for the weak and the conviction that individuals were not fit to judge for themselves what was best for them.[1]

When the Legion was trapped and infected by Nurgle in the warp, their arrogance and contempt for weakness turned against them. Their surrender to Nurgle caused them to become self loathing and now they seek to spread ruin and decay in order to let their own fate appear less shameful in comparison.[1]

A modern Death Guard force is largely made up of Plague Marines, and still follows the doctrines that their Primarch Mortarion taught them. Their tactics are based on the use of foot-slogging infantry and their Bolters. Any vehicles that were in possession of the Death Guard at the time of the Horus Heresy have since fallen into disrepair or been commandeered by cheeky Nurglings.[1] The Death Guard make full use of Nurgle's gifts, spreading turmoil, advancing solidly amidst a mist of choking disease, surrounded by Nurglings at their feet and summoning horrific Plaguebearers from the Warp. In larger battles where the outcome is of dire importance, a decaying Daemon Prince may take the reigns of the army, or a Great Unclean One may posses a Champion.[Needs Citation]
Death Guard Marine without helmet[25b]

As with all aspects of the Death Guard, Mortarion has retained an iron grip upon the doctrines and dispositions of his champions. He expects even his most gifted sons to choose the path that best suits their talents, and then to cleave to it. In this way Mortarion ensures that even as the Lords of the Death Guard win the favour of Nurgle and progress along the path to glory, they still integrate with the pragmatic, infantry-based tactics of their warriors. Several specialties known collective as the Mantles of Corruption are practiced throughout the Death Guard, in particular their Chaos Lords.[25a]

Some Mantles of Corruption are taken up only rarely, and by the most unusually gifted individuals. The Mantles of Parasitism, Withering, and Flux are some such infrequently bestowed rewards. It is further rumoured that one mantle exists which none have ever been worthy of, and that it would transform its bearer into a being of pure, malefic entropy.[25a]

Organisation

Organisation of the Post-Heresy Death Guard[54a]

Following the discovery of Mortarion, the Death Guard Legion was based on their Primarch's army of the same name on Barbarus. The Legion was divided into seven Great Companies, each with a nominal strength of 70,000 marines and divided into smaller battle companies. Some captains of the Great Companies had their own honorific titles based on Barbaran tradition; as such, the leader of the 2nd Company was known as 'Commander' while the leader of the 7th was known as 'Battle-Captain'.[2b] The Legion favored heavy infantry above all else, usually equipped for extended operations without resupply or support.[67]

Besides line infantry, the Legion also made heavy use of Dreadnoughts and Terminators. Despite a few exceptions such as the Grave Wardens, the Death Guard Legion lacked extensive elite units.[67] While not an especially large Legion, the Death Guard maintained a disprortionately potent fleet made up of heavy capital ships, many of which were relics from the Dark Age of Technology. Most infamous amongst these were the Terminus Est and Reaper's Scythe.[16e]

Due to Mortarion's traditionalism, the modern Death Guard uses roughly the same organization as it did before and during the Heresy. The primary force of the Death Guard consists of seven Plague Companies, each with its own mountain fortress on the Plague Planet. These Companies consist of thousands of warriors and their own fleets, aircraft, tanks, daemonic cohorts, and super-heavy vehicles, dwarfing modern Space Marine Chapters. Each Plague Company consists of Sepsis Cohorts of roughly seven hundred Plague Marines. A Sepsis Cohort is divided among two Maladictums, each with seven Colonies which in turn are broken up into seven squads.[25a] The current organization of the Death Guard consists of:[25a]

  • The 1st Plague Company - Known as The Harbingers. Ruled by Typhus and consists of the infamous Plague Fleet. Its ranks are infested with hundreds of strains of Zombie Plague.
  • The 2nd Plague Company - Known as The Inexorable. Favors mechanized assaults and boasts huge formations of tanks. Its warriors bear the Ferric Blight, which speckles their armour and vehicles with a crawling rust that infest foes.
  • The 3rd Plague Company - Known as Mortarion's Anvil. Excels in digging in and letting their foes bleed themselves against their defenses. They carry the Gloaming Bloat, a plague of fever sweats that slicks their armour and causes them to speak in wet gurgles.
  • The 4th Plague Company - Known as The Wretched. Ruled by the Daemon known as the Eater of Lives. Its members are wracked with the Eater Plague and prefer Sorcerers and summoning daemons.
  • The 5th Plague Company - Known as the Poxmongers, its members make great use of Daemon Engines. Its forces carry the Sanguous Flux, which causes endless half-clotted bleeding.
  • The 6th Plague Company - Called the Ferrymen or Brethren of the Fly, the 6th Plague Company garrisons the Death Guards fleets and acquires new ships for their armadas. Their numbers boasts large numbers of Terminators riddled with the parasite known as the droning.
  • The 7th Plague Company - Known as Mortarion's Chosen Sons. These are plague brewers and alchemists, blessed with the Crawling Pustulance.

Sub-factions

Alongside the Black Legion and Word Bearers the Death Guard are one of the three traitor Legions that haven't fractured in the years since the Horus Heresy.[26b] The Legion fights for a singular purpose under the will of Mortarion, but until recently much of his rule had become remote due to his interest in the Warp.[1]

For all its theoretical cohesion, in reality the Death Guard Legion is broken up across thousands of galactic war zones, often at the whims of Chaos Lords, champions, and the like. These warbands vary hugely in size and composition, but all are known as vectoriums. Those that fight together for any length of time will be named by their leader, and will often adopt – or simply manifest – a unifying colour scheme. Most vectoriums are drawn from maladictums or colonies of the same plague company, but some can be more disparate still.[25a]

Following the Noctis Aeterna and formation of the Great Rift, Mortarion reasserted his control over the Death Guard and now leads it against the Imperium once more.[22]

Noted Elements of the Death Guard

Legion Artifacts

Main article: Death Guard Armoury
Death Guard forces[25d]

Fleet

The Death Guard are known to have possessed the following vessels:[3]

All of the Legion's Heresy-era vessels are likely to have been stranded in the Warp following Typhon's treachery. The Terminus Est still exists, as does at least one other capital ship known as the Plagueclaw. It is possible that this is another of the ships listed above which has been renamed in honour of the Legion's Chaos worship.[Needs Citation]

By the time of the 13th Black Crusade, Typhus was in command of a powerful Death Guard fleet. This included the vessels Plagueclaw and Terminus Est as well as two other Battleships, three Heavy Cruisers, five Cruiser squadrons, and twelve Escort squadrons.[8b]

Notable Members

Heresy Era
Post Heresy
Unique Troops

See also

Sources