Death Guard
The Death Guard, formerly known as the Dusk Raiders, 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.[Needs Citation]
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.[Needs Citation]
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Contents
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.[Needs Citation]
History
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.[16a]
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.[16a]
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] 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.[16a]
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]
By the time of the Horus Heresy, the Death Guard is known to have had roughly 95,000 Space Marines.[16a]
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.[16a] Shortly after, they battled Imperial forces in the Drop Site Massacre.
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]
When the Death Guard's fleet embarked for Terra Typhon killed 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. 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. 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].
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]
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.[4a]
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]
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. 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:
- ???.M30 - Conquest of Galaspar - during the Great Crusade
- ???.M30 - Conquest of One-Five-Four Four - during the Great Crusade
- ???.M30 - Battle of Gyros-Thravian - During the Great Crusade
- ???.M30 - Battle of Iota Horologi - During the Great Crusade
- 005.M31 -Isstvan III - during the Horus Heresy[5]
- 006.M31 - Isstvan V - during the Horus Heresy[9]
- 007.M31 - Second Battle of Prospero- during the Horus Heresy
- 008.M31 - Battle of Molech - during the Horus Heresy
- 009.M31 - Battle of Perditus - during the Horus Heresy
- 011.M31 - The Malagant Conflict - during the Horus Heresy
- ~011.M31 - The Battle of Catallus - during the Horus Heresy
- ???.M31 - The Battle of Nocturne - during the Horus Heresy
- 014.M31 - Battle of Terra - during the Horus Heresy[11]
- 344.M33 - Blackstar Liberation
- 560.M33 - Second Mortis Gate Campaign
- 101.M34 - Bloodpox Campaign
- 437.M36 - Fall of Sanctia - Mortarion returns to lead his Legion in the planets fall.[15]
- 620.M39 - The Dust War
- 747.M41 - The destruction of Hydra Minoris - Typhus unleashes the Zombie Plague on the world.[15]
- ???.M41 - The destruction of Nucon VI
- ???.M41 - The Scouring of Makenna VII[12]
- 777.M41 - Achilus Crusade - Death Guard forces under Ussax took part in the conflict[10]
- 813-830.M41 - Siege of Vraks - Several Death Guard affiliated warbands took part in the conflict[7]
- 901.M41 - Battle of Kornovin - Mortarion himself battles the Grey Knights
- ???.M41 - Battle of the Caliban System - the Plague Fleet of Typhus works together with the Fallen Angel Astelan
- 999.M41 - 13th Black Crusade[8a]
- ~111.M42 - The Plague Wars. Mortarion reappeared at the front of the Death Guard in an invasion of Ultramar.
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]
Culture
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]
Organisation
During the Great Crusade-era after 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 Company's, each of which consisted of smaller Companies. Each of the Companies had its own honorific titles based on the Barbaran tradition. The commander of the 1st Company. The captain of the 2nd Company was known as "Commander" while the leader of the 7th was known as "Battle-Captain".[2b]
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 the hardy use of 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 have 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]
The Death Guard often organizes squads by multiples of seven, based on the sacred number of Nurgle.[1]
Known special units:
- The Deathshroud Terminator squad, Mortarion's personal bodyguards, two of whom who accompany him at all times.[16c]
- The Grave Wardens
- Legion Destroyer Squad[16h]
Sub-factions
Since the ascension of Mortarion to Daemonhood, his hold over the legion has become more and more remote. While he broadly orchestrates the Guards actions through his throne on Plague Planet or from the Warp, the Death Guard has since fragmented into many warbands and sub-factions.[1-p74] Some of these factions include:
- Apostles of Contagion [7b]
- Carrion Hounds
- Corpsemakers
- Fecund Ones
- Empyrion's Blight
- Heralds of Despair
- Glooming Lords
- Lords of Decay [7a]
- Mouldering Claw
- The Plague Fleet of Typhus[8]
- Pox Mortis
- The Purge [7a]
- Putrid Choir
- The Tainted [7b]
- Tainted Sons
- 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.[22]
Noted Elements of the Death Guard
Legion Artifacts
Fleet
During the Horus Heresy the Death Guard are known to have possessed the following vessels:[3]
- Barbaros' Sting - Strike Craft
- Eisenstein - Frigate (destroyed)
- Endurance - Gloriana Class Battleship
- Fourth Horseman - Ramship configured for orbital descent attacks[16b]
- Indomitable Will - Capital Ship[Needs Citation]
- Mia Donna Mori - Goliath class Battleship[16b]
- Plagueclaw - Murder Class Cruiser
- Reapers Scythe - Battle-barge[16b]
- Reaper's Shroud - Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser
- Spectre of Death - Capital Ship[Needs Citation]
- Stalwart - Battle Barge
- Terminus Est - Capital Ship
- Undying - Capital Ship[Needs Citation]
- Valley of Haloes - Supply Hauler (destroyed)[Needs Citation]
All of these 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
- Mortarion - Primarch[16d]
- Caipha Morarg - member of the 24th Breacher Squad, Mortarion's equerry[17a]
- Calas Typhon - First Captain
- Crysos Morturg - Lieutenant, remained loyal to the Emperor[16e]
- Durak Rask - Siegemaster, Marshal of Ordnance[16f]
- Huron-Fal - Dreadnought[6a]
- Holgoarg - Captain[6b]
- Ignatius Grulgor - Captain, 2nd Company
- Gremus Kalgaro - Siegemaster
- Kargul - Dreadnought[6c]
- Khorak - Veteran Sergeant
- Koray Barcu - Apothecary aboard Endurance[17b]
- Malig Laestygon - Commander
- Meric Voyen - Apothecary, 7th Company
- Nathaniel Garro - Battle-Captain, 7th Company, remained loyal to the Emperor
- Porphyricus - former Librarian, later - Sorcerer of Chaos
- Solun Decius - Battle brother, 7th Company
- Ujioj - Captain[6d]
- Ullis Temeter - Captain, 4th Company, remained loyal to the Emperor[Needs Citation]
- Hadrabulus Vioss - Captain of the Grave Wardens
- 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 - Blackshield
- Morgax Murnau - Chaplain
- Vitas Phorgal - Moritat
Post Heresy
- Mortarion - Daemon Prince
- Festardius - Warband leader[12]
- Gideous Krall - Warband leader
- Herperitus - Daemon Prince and Plague Lord
- Ignatius Grulgor - Daemon Prince
- Necrosius - Sorcerer of Nurgle
- Porphyricus - Unfortunate Sorcerer of Nurgle
- Scabarulous the Virulent - Warlord
- Typhus - Herald of Nurgle
- Ussax - The 'Blight-Master'[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.[21]
- Noctilious Glauw - Chaos Lord
- Gulgoth - Chaos Lord
Unique Troops
- Lord of Contagion
- Malignant Plaguecaster
- Noxious Blightbringer
- Deathshroud
- Grave Wardens (Heresy-era)
- Foetid Bloat-Drone
Related Articles
Loyalist | I - Dark Angels · V - White Scars · VI- Space Wolves · VII- Imperial Fists · IX- Blood Angels X- Iron Hands · XIII- Ultramarines · XVIII- Salamanders · XIX- Raven Guard |
---|---|
Traitor | III- Emperor's Children · IV- Iron Warriors · VIII- Night Lords · XII- World Eaters · XIV- Death Guard XV- Thousand Sons · XVI- Luna Wolves/Sons of Horus · XVII- Word Bearers · XX- Alpha Legion |
Sources
- 1: Index Astartes III: The Lost and the Damned
- 2: The Flight of the Eisenstein by James Swallow[Needs Citation]
- 3: Horus Heresy: Visions of Death by Alan Merrett
- 4: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)
- 5: Galaxy In Flames (Novel) by Ben Counter
- 6: Horus Heresy Collectable Card Game
- 7 Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three[Needs Citation]
- 8 Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition)[Needs Citation]
- 9 The First Heretic (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- 10: Deathwatch: First Founding, pg. 85
- 11: Collected Visions, pgs. 354-356
- 12: Apocalypse, pg. 171
- 13: Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three pgs. 141-143
- 14: Games Workshop
- 15: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (6th Edition), pgs. 22-23
- 16: The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal
- 17: Vengeful Spirit (Novel)[Needs Citation]
- 17a: [Needs Citation]pg.164
- 17b: [Needs Citation]pg.165
- 18: Daemonology (Short Story)
- 19: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex), pg. 53
- 20: The Path of Heaven (Novel)[Needs Citation]
- 21: Dark Imperium (Novel) by Guy Haley, Chapter Eleven
- 22: Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition Rulebook pg.98
- 23: Index: Chaos (8th Edition) pg.57