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{{Otheruses
 
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|USE=Chaos Space Marine Legion
 
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|OTHERUSE=novels
 
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|OTHERPAGE=Word Bearers (Novel Series)
 
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{{WordBearersPortal}}
 
{{WordBearersPortal}}
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{{ambig|subject=Chaos Space Marine Legion|disambiguation=Word Bearers}}
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The '''Word Bearers''', originally known as the '''Imperial Heralds''', were the '''XVII Legion''' of the original twenty [[Space Marine Legion]]s.  They were the original of the nine Legions which betrayed the [[Emperor of Mankind|Emperor]], becoming the first known [[Chaos Space Marine]]s, their allegiance pledged to their [[Primarch]] [[Lorgar]] and to [[Chaos]] as a whole.
 
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Known for their extreme religious fervor even before their conversion to [[Chaos]], they are some of the most fanatical Chaos Marines, notable for using [[Dark Apostle]]s (a corrupted version of Space Marine [[Chaplain]]s) to inspire their Marines and their [[cultist]] allies in battle.
 
  
 
{{Traitor Founding Legions
 
{{Traitor Founding Legions
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|Marine=Word_Bearers_Marine_1.jpg
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|Marine=WBMarine.jpg
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|Miniature=WBPraetor2.jpg
 
|Name=Word Bearers
 
|Name=Word Bearers
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|Current Banner=WBSymbolNew.jpg
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|Current Banner=Wordbearers.png
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|Marine Image=WBMarine.jpg
 
|Legion Number=XVII
 
|Legion Number=XVII
 
|Primarch=[[Lorgar|Lorgar Aurelian]]
 
|Primarch=[[Lorgar|Lorgar Aurelian]]
 
|Homeworld Pre-Heresy=[[Colchis]] (Destroyed)
 
|Homeworld Pre-Heresy=[[Colchis]] (Destroyed)
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|Homeworld Current=The [[Daemon World]] of [[Sicarus]], in the [[Eye of Terror]], and<br> the [[Forge World (planet class)|Forge World]] of [[Ghalmek]], in the [[Maelstrom]]
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|Homeworld Current=[[Sicarus]]<br>[[Ghalmek]]
 
|Chaos God=[[Chaos Undivided]]
 
|Chaos God=[[Chaos Undivided]]
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|Colours= Dark Crimson and a Gunmetal Trim
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|Colours= Crimson with gunmetal trim (Post-Heresy)<br>Grey (Pre-Heresy)
 
|Pre-Heresy Banner=WBSymbolPreHeresy.jpg
 
|Pre-Heresy Banner=WBSymbolPreHeresy.jpg
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|Specialty=[[Daemonancy]], [[Dark Apostle]]s
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|Specialty=[[Daemonancy]], [[Dark Apostle]]s, Combined arms & garrisoning (Pre-Heresy){{Fn|52}}
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|Battle Cry=An appropriate passage from their sacred texts and dolorous roars.
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|Battle Cry=An appropriate passage from their sacred texts and dolorous roars.{{citethis}}
 +
|Warbands=
 +
*[[The Blessed]]{{Fn|38}}
 +
*[[Bringers of Enlightenment]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[The Brotherhood]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[The Faithful (Warband)|The Faithful]]{{Fn|43}}
 +
*[[The Foresworn (Word Bearers)|The Foresworn]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[Holy Sons of Lorgar]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[Iconoclastic Brotherhood]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[Infernal Host of Kor Megron]]{{Fn|55}}
 +
*[[Ivory Fang]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[Lords of Desolation]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[Prophets of the Blighted Path]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[Runic Blazon]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[The Sanctified]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[Screaming Mind]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[Sons of Damnation]]{{citethis}}
 +
*[[Weeping Veil]]{{citethis}}
 
}}
 
}}
 +
The '''Word Bearers''', originally known as the '''Imperial Heralds''' and the '''Iconoclasts''', is the '''XVII Legion''' of the original twenty [[Space Marine Legion|Space Marine Legions]]. They were the first of the nine Legions which betrayed the [[Emperor of Mankind|Emperor]], becoming the first known [[Chaos Space Marine|Chaos Space Marines]], pledging their allegiance to their [[Primarch]] [[Lorgar]] and to [[Chaos Undivided]].
 +
 +
Known for their extreme religious fervor even before their conversion to [[Chaos]], the Word Bearers are some of the most fanatical Chaos Marines, notable for using [[Dark Apostle|Dark Apostles]], a corrupted version of Space Marine [[Chaplain|Chaplains]], to inspire their Marines and their [[cultist]] allies in battle.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
−
===Formation===
+
[[Image:WBSymbolPreHeresy.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Pre-Heresy Word Bearers symbol]]
 +
===Unification Wars===
 
The [[Primarch]] of the Word Bearers, [[Lorgar]], vanished while still an infant, just like all of the other Primarchs. The earliest days say the '''XVIIth Legion''' stand apart from their brother [[Legiones Astartes]] in duty and outlook. They fought with utter devotion and a fanatical zeal. Their original recruits were drawn from the sons of defeated enemies, raised to know the crimes of their fathers and the price of the [[Emperor]]'s forgiveness. Thus while the other Legions went to war with righteousness, the XVIIth fought with the cold fury that only the condemned and redeemed could know. While other Legions took some time to acquire formal names, the XVIIth was named the '''Imperial Heralds''' almost immediately after their founding. This was due to their early role to deliver the Emperor's ultimatum, delivered by a lone herald in black armour with a skull-faced helmet and a winged mace: submission or destruction.{{Fn|18b}}
 
The [[Primarch]] of the Word Bearers, [[Lorgar]], vanished while still an infant, just like all of the other Primarchs. The earliest days say the '''XVIIth Legion''' stand apart from their brother [[Legiones Astartes]] in duty and outlook. They fought with utter devotion and a fanatical zeal. Their original recruits were drawn from the sons of defeated enemies, raised to know the crimes of their fathers and the price of the [[Emperor]]'s forgiveness. Thus while the other Legions went to war with righteousness, the XVIIth fought with the cold fury that only the condemned and redeemed could know. While other Legions took some time to acquire formal names, the XVIIth was named the '''Imperial Heralds''' almost immediately after their founding. This was due to their early role to deliver the Emperor's ultimatum, delivered by a lone herald in black armour with a skull-faced helmet and a winged mace: submission or destruction.{{Fn|18b}}
  
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Eventually, [[Lorgar]] was discovered on a [[Feudal World]] named [[Colchis]], which he had eventually unified in a series of brutal religious wars in response to his visions of the Emperor's coming arrival. When the Emperor did arrive, as Lorgar had foreseen, the Primarch dropped to his knee, leading the population of his world in rejoicing and worship of the Emperor as a god. At the conclusion of these festivities, the Emperor bade Lorgar take his best warriors and induct them into his Space Marine Legion (at that time known as the Imperial Heralds{{Fn|7h}}) and join him on the [[Great Crusade]]. Lorgar appointed trustworthy regents to rule over Colchis and devoutly complied with his father's direction.{{Cite this}}
 
Eventually, [[Lorgar]] was discovered on a [[Feudal World]] named [[Colchis]], which he had eventually unified in a series of brutal religious wars in response to his visions of the Emperor's coming arrival. When the Emperor did arrive, as Lorgar had foreseen, the Primarch dropped to his knee, leading the population of his world in rejoicing and worship of the Emperor as a god. At the conclusion of these festivities, the Emperor bade Lorgar take his best warriors and induct them into his Space Marine Legion (at that time known as the Imperial Heralds{{Fn|7h}}) and join him on the [[Great Crusade]]. Lorgar appointed trustworthy regents to rule over Colchis and devoutly complied with his father's direction.{{Cite this}}
  
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Lorgar was an unusually pious Primarch. While other Legions were rapidly conquering planet after planet, the Word Bearers proceeded much more slowly, as they would build temples and shrines in veneration of the Emperor, who was also deemed the God of the [[Imperium]] by Lorgar, on each newly conquered planet. All forms of blasphemy and heresy that threatened the Emperor's realm, all manner of ancient scrolls, books, artworks and icons were burned and smashed before the advancing ranks of the Legion. In their place, vast monuments and cathedrals, all dedicated to the Emperor, were erected upon the mounds of dead of those who had resisted conversion. The greatest [[Chaplain]]s of the Legion produced enormous works on the divinity and righteousness of the Emperor, and Lorgar himself delivered countless speeches and sermons, converting millions to the Emperor with his words alone.{{Cite this}}
+
Lorgar was an unusually pious Primarch. While other Legions were rapidly conquering planet after planet, the Word Bearers proceeded much more slowly, as they would build temples and shrines in veneration of the Emperor, who was also deemed the God of the [[Imperium]] by Lorgar, on each newly conquered planet. All forms of blasphemy and heresy that threatened the Emperor's realm, all manner of ancient scrolls, books, artworks and icons were burned and smashed before the advancing ranks of the Legion. In their place, vast monuments and cathedrals, all dedicated to the Emperor, were erected upon the mounds of dead of those who had resisted conversion. The greatest [[Chaplain]]s of the Legion produced enormous works on the divinity and righteousness of the Emperor, and Lorgar himself delivered countless speeches and sermons, converting millions to the Emperor with his words alone.{{Cite this}}
  
−
One of the conflicts during the Great Crusade was a [[Corrinos Campaign]] where the Word Bearers fought with renegade [[Psykers]] that didn't want to join the [[Imperium]].{{Fn|18c}}
+
One of the conflicts during the Great Crusade was the [[Corrinos Campaign]] where the Word Bearers fought with renegade [[Psykers]] that didn't want to join the [[Imperium]].{{Fn|18f}}
  
−
===A Legion Kneels===
+
====A Legion Kneels====
−
Despite being pledged to the Great Crusade for around a century, the Emperor had never once rebuked Lorgar or his Legion for their zealous worship even though such doctrine clashed with the Emperor's [[Imperial Truth]]. However 43 years prior to the events of [[Isstvan V]] the Emperor brought his wrath to bear on the Word Bearers. The Emperor ordered the [[Ultramarines]] to utterly destroy the city of [[Monarchia]], a perfect city that was testament to all that Lorgar and the Word Bearers stood for. In the ashes of the city the entire Word Bearers legion gathered to be reprimanded by the Emperor, [[Roboute Guilliman]] and [[Malcador (Character)|Malcador the Sigilite]]. The Legion in its entirety was forced to kneel in the ashes of their greatest achievement and re-pledge themselves to the [[Great Crusade]] and to the Emperor.{{Fn|7a}}
+
Despite being pledged to the Great Crusade for around a century, the Emperor had never once rebuked Lorgar or his Legion for their zealous worship even though such doctrine clashed with the Emperor's [[Imperial Truth]]. However 43 years prior to the events of [[Isstvan V]] the Emperor brought his wrath to bear on the Word Bearers. The Emperor ordered the [[Ultramarines]] to utterly destroy the city of [[Monarchia]], a perfect city that was testament to all that Lorgar and the Word Bearers stood for, and the capital of [[Khur]]. In the ashes of the city the entire Word Bearers legion gathered to be reprimanded by the Emperor, [[Roboute Guilliman]] and [[Malcador (Character)|Malcador the Sigilite]]. The Legion in its entirety was forced to kneel in the ashes of their greatest achievement and re-pledge themselves to the [[Great Crusade]] and to the Emperor.{{Fn|7a}}
  
 
In time, Lorgar came to realise that his worship of the Emperor as a god had been false. He still however maintained his view that faith was central to the human psyche and that it was still plausible that his views could be validated. His search began by investigating the [[Chaos|Old Faith]] of his homeworld, which in his certainty that the Emperor was a god he had destroyed during the [[The Brotherhood|First Purge of the Brotherhood]] prior to being discovered by the Emperor. He returned to Colchis to seek the answers he so desperately needed and sought the council of [[Magnus]] the Red, the wisest among the Primarchs.{{Fn|7b}}
 
In time, Lorgar came to realise that his worship of the Emperor as a god had been false. He still however maintained his view that faith was central to the human psyche and that it was still plausible that his views could be validated. His search began by investigating the [[Chaos|Old Faith]] of his homeworld, which in his certainty that the Emperor was a god he had destroyed during the [[The Brotherhood|First Purge of the Brotherhood]] prior to being discovered by the Emperor. He returned to Colchis to seek the answers he so desperately needed and sought the council of [[Magnus]] the Red, the wisest among the Primarchs.{{Fn|7b}}
  
−
===The Pilgrimage===
+
====The Pilgrimage====
 +
[[Image:WBHeresy.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Word Bearers Heresy-era Marine]]
 
Encouraged by [[Erebus]] and [[Kor Phaeron]], who had in truth already fallen to worship of the [[Ruinous Powers]], Lorgar came to realise that all of the belief systems which featured in countless other [[human]] cultures across the galaxy shared a common origin and underlying message. He believed that because all the countless legends of divinity, from so many disparate cultures, all agreed on other powers than exist beyond the veil, that the human species' most natural instinct could not be false. Thus he took [[The Pilgrimage]], a mythological journey to [[Eye of Terror|the place where gods and mortals meet]] in an attempt to discover the universal truth of the universe and enlighten humanity and his father.{{Fn|7c}}
 
Encouraged by [[Erebus]] and [[Kor Phaeron]], who had in truth already fallen to worship of the [[Ruinous Powers]], Lorgar came to realise that all of the belief systems which featured in countless other [[human]] cultures across the galaxy shared a common origin and underlying message. He believed that because all the countless legends of divinity, from so many disparate cultures, all agreed on other powers than exist beyond the veil, that the human species' most natural instinct could not be false. Thus he took [[The Pilgrimage]], a mythological journey to [[Eye of Terror|the place where gods and mortals meet]] in an attempt to discover the universal truth of the universe and enlighten humanity and his father.{{Fn|7c}}
  
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Ingethel the Ascended led the Serrated Sun Chapter of the Word Bearers into the [[Eye of Terror|Great Eye]] where the failure of the [[Eldar|Eldar Empire]] was witnessed first hand. Ingethel informed the Word Bearers that the Eldar failed and suffered [[Fall of the Eldar|the Fall]] because at the moment of their ascension they were unable to accept the [[Chaos|Primordial Truth]]. They gave birth to a [[Slaanesh|god of pleasure and promise]], yet they felt no joy.{{Fn|7e}} Their new god awoke to find its worshipers abandoning it out of ignorance and fear, thus was the endless storm of the [[Eye of Terror|Great Eye]] formed, an echo of the birth-cries of the Eldar's new god.{{Fn|7f}} The nature of the Primordial Truth was revealed to the Word Bearers in the ashes of the Eldar Empire, they learned that in order for humanity as a species to survive they must not commit the same sins the Eldar did, they must instead accept Chaos.
 
Ingethel the Ascended led the Serrated Sun Chapter of the Word Bearers into the [[Eye of Terror|Great Eye]] where the failure of the [[Eldar|Eldar Empire]] was witnessed first hand. Ingethel informed the Word Bearers that the Eldar failed and suffered [[Fall of the Eldar|the Fall]] because at the moment of their ascension they were unable to accept the [[Chaos|Primordial Truth]]. They gave birth to a [[Slaanesh|god of pleasure and promise]], yet they felt no joy.{{Fn|7e}} Their new god awoke to find its worshipers abandoning it out of ignorance and fear, thus was the endless storm of the [[Eye of Terror|Great Eye]] formed, an echo of the birth-cries of the Eldar's new god.{{Fn|7f}} The nature of the Primordial Truth was revealed to the Word Bearers in the ashes of the Eldar Empire, they learned that in order for humanity as a species to survive they must not commit the same sins the Eldar did, they must instead accept Chaos.
  
−
The Pilgrimage ultimately proved that the Emperor's [[Imperial Truth]] was in fact a lie and that gods truly did exist. Secretly pledging themselves to new Dark Gods, the Word Bearers hid their true allegiance for the next four decades.{{Fn|18b}}  
+
The Pilgrimage ultimately proved that the Emperor's [[Imperial Truth]] was in fact a lie and that gods truly did exist. Secretly pledging themselves to new Dark Gods, the Word Bearers hid their true allegiance for the next four decades.{{Fn|18b}}
  
 
Lorgar and the Word Bearers spent the remaining years of the Great Crusade attempting to enlighten humanity about the universal truths of the universe, and began the long process of sending their forces throughout the rest of the Astartes Legions to establish [[Warrior Lodge]]s and subvert them from within.{{Fn|7k}}. Through this subterfuge they eventually managed to sway several Primarchs to their cause, the most notable being [[Horus|Horus Lupercal]]. Meanwhile, the Word Bearers avoided suspicion by loyally waging a great many campaigns, soon becoming one of the most militarily successful Legions in the Crusade and seemingly making up for their past failures. In command of the 2nd largest Legion after the [[Ultramarines]], Lorgar's campaigns against predominately [[Human]] empires became vicious, brutal, and seemingly spiteful, perhaps a way for the Legion to vent its hidden frustrations.{{Fn|7}}
 
Lorgar and the Word Bearers spent the remaining years of the Great Crusade attempting to enlighten humanity about the universal truths of the universe, and began the long process of sending their forces throughout the rest of the Astartes Legions to establish [[Warrior Lodge]]s and subvert them from within.{{Fn|7k}}. Through this subterfuge they eventually managed to sway several Primarchs to their cause, the most notable being [[Horus|Horus Lupercal]]. Meanwhile, the Word Bearers avoided suspicion by loyally waging a great many campaigns, soon becoming one of the most militarily successful Legions in the Crusade and seemingly making up for their past failures. In command of the 2nd largest Legion after the [[Ultramarines]], Lorgar's campaigns against predominately [[Human]] empires became vicious, brutal, and seemingly spiteful, perhaps a way for the Legion to vent its hidden frustrations.{{Fn|7}}
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===The Horus Heresy===
 
===The Horus Heresy===
 
[[Image:FirstHereticCover.jpg|thumb|right|350px|[[Possessed Chaos Space Marine|Possessed]] Word Bearers battle the [[Adeptus Custodes]] during the [[Horus Heresy]]{{Fn|7}}]]
 
[[Image:FirstHereticCover.jpg|thumb|right|350px|[[Possessed Chaos Space Marine|Possessed]] Word Bearers battle the [[Adeptus Custodes]] during the [[Horus Heresy]]{{Fn|7}}]]
−
After the [[Drop Site Massacre]], the Word Bearers abandoned all their past pretenses of loyalty. They openly preached the [[Chaos|Primordial Truth]], changed their armor to crimson red, and utilized Daemonically [[Possessed Chaos Space Marine|Space Marines]] known as the [[Gal Vorbak]].{{Fn|8}} At the time of the [[Horus Heresy]], it is estimated that the Word Bearers legion numbered some 150,000 combat troops.{{Fn|11}}
+
After the [[Drop Site Massacre]] on [[Isstvan V]], the Word Bearers abandoned all their past pretenses of loyalty. They openly preached the [[Chaos|Primordial Truth]], changed their armor to crimson red, and utilized Daemonically [[Possessed Chaos Space Marine|Space Marines]] known as the [[Gal Vorbak]].{{Fn|8}} At the time of the [[Horus Heresy]], it is estimated that the Word Bearers legion numbered some 150,000 combat troops.{{Fn|11}}
−
 
 
  
 
====Ultramar====
 
====Ultramar====
 
*{{Main|Battle of Calth}}
 
*{{Main|Battle of Calth}}
 
*{{Main|Shadow Crusade}}
 
*{{Main|Shadow Crusade}}
−
As the Heresy unfolded, the Word Bearer ship ''[[Furious Abyss]]'' set off for [[Ultramar]] right after its construction was completed on the [[Jupiter|Jovian]] moon of [[Thule]]. The ''Furious Abyss's'' first kill was the [[Ultramarines]] ship ''Fist of Macragge'' as it was heading in for repairs in the [[Vangelis]] space port. The [[astropath]]s of the ''Fist of Macragge'' managed to send out a warning, ultimately received as a very powerful psychic scream at the Vangelis space port. Seeing visions of Macragge and the impending terror, Captain [[Lysimachus Cestus|Cestus]], Fleet Commander of the Ultramarines, quickly gathered a force of ships at the main Vangelis hub of [[Coralis]]. He managed to find seven ships: the [[Wrathful]] (which Cestus commandeered and commanded from) and her escorts, the ''[[Fearless]]'', the ''[[Ferox]]'', the ''[[Ferocious]]'', the ''[[Fireblade]]'', along with the [[Thousand Sons]] ship ''[[Waning Moon]]''. Captain [[Vorlov]] of the ship ''[[Bounless]]'' also requested to join Captain Cestus, and was accepted. The fleet pursued the ''Furious Abyss'' and battled with it, suffering heavy casualties (all ships but the ''Wrathful'' and ''Fireblade'' were destroyed), ending when the ''Furious Abyss'' entered the [[warp]] to continue its journey to Ultramar. The ''Wrathful'' and ''Fireblade'' made the transition as well, but the ''Furious Abyss'' deployed a psionic mine which disturbed the [[Warp]], causing the ''Fireblade's'' [[Warp Drive#Gellar Field|Gellar Field]] to fail, and the ship was torn apart by the forces of the Immaterium.{{Fn|5}}
+
As the Heresy unfolded, the Word Bearer ship ''[[Furious Abyss]]'' set off for [[Ultramar]] right after its construction was completed on the [[Jupiter|Jovian]] moon of [[Thule (Moon)|Thule]]. The ''Furious Abyss's'' first kill was the [[Ultramarines]] ship ''Fist of Macragge'' as it was heading in for repairs in the [[Vangelis]] space port. The [[astropath]]s of the ''Fist of Macragge'' managed to send out a warning, ultimately received as a very powerful psychic scream at the Vangelis space port. Seeing visions of Macragge and the impending terror, Captain [[Lysimachus Cestus|Cestus]], Fleet Commander of the Ultramarines, quickly gathered a force of ships at the main Vangelis hub of [[Coralis]]. He managed to find seven ships: the ''[[Wrathful (Saturnine Fleet)|Wrathful]]'' (which Cestus commandeered and commanded from) and her escorts, the ''[[Fearless]]'', the ''[[Ferox (Escort)|Ferox]]'', the ''[[Ferocious]]'', the ''[[Fireblade (Escort)|Fireblade]]'', along with the [[Thousand Sons]] ship ''[[Waning Moon]]''. Captain [[Vorlov]] of the ship ''[[Boundless]]'' also requested to join Captain Cestus, and was accepted. The fleet pursued the ''Furious Abyss'' and battled with it, suffering heavy casualties (all ships but the ''Wrathful'' and ''Fireblade'' were destroyed), ending when the ''Furious Abyss'' entered the [[warp]] to continue its journey to Ultramar. The ''Wrathful'' and ''Fireblade'' made the transition as well, but the ''Furious Abyss'' deployed a psionic mine which disturbed the [[Warp]], causing the ''Fireblade's'' [[Warp Drive#Gellar Field|Gellar Field]] to fail, and the ship was torn apart by the forces of the Immaterium.{{Fn|5}}
−
 
+
[[Image:WBSymbolNew.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Heresy-era Symbol of the Word Bearers after their fall to [[Chaos]]{{Fn|33}}]]
 
When the Word Bearers launched their attack against the Ultramarines, the strike against [[Calth]] was led by Lorgar's greatest champion, the former Master of the Faith, [[Kor Phaeron]]. He swore to utterly destroy the planet, and was very nearly successful. From his personal battle barge, now renamed ''Infidus Imperator'', Kor Phaeron directed a full-scale invasion of the Calth System. Calth's three sister planets were all destroyed, massive geo-nuclear strikes ripping them apart at the core. Its once gentle sun was laced with deadly metals and substances that increased the star's radiation output tenfold; within a century after the Heresy's end, the final elements of Calth's atmosphere were burned off and the world left airless, its populace forced to live in gigantic underground caverns.
 
When the Word Bearers launched their attack against the Ultramarines, the strike against [[Calth]] was led by Lorgar's greatest champion, the former Master of the Faith, [[Kor Phaeron]]. He swore to utterly destroy the planet, and was very nearly successful. From his personal battle barge, now renamed ''Infidus Imperator'', Kor Phaeron directed a full-scale invasion of the Calth System. Calth's three sister planets were all destroyed, massive geo-nuclear strikes ripping them apart at the core. Its once gentle sun was laced with deadly metals and substances that increased the star's radiation output tenfold; within a century after the Heresy's end, the final elements of Calth's atmosphere were burned off and the world left airless, its populace forced to live in gigantic underground caverns.
  
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Following the Shadow Crusade, the Word Bearers were ordered to muster at [[Ullanor]] for Horus' planned drive on [[Terra]]. By this point Lorgar had come to view Horus as weak for resisting the embrace of the Gods, and secretly planned to usurp him as [[Warmaster]]. Nonetheless, Lorgar, [[Zardu Layak]], and a small force journeyed into the [[Webway]] to find [[Fulgrim]] under the guise of returning him to the war. After successfully binding Fulgrim with his [[True Name]], Lorgar planned to use him in a coup to dispose of Horus. However in the end, Lorgar's treachery was exposed and the plan fell apart. Lorgar was exiled from Horus' sight, but 5,000 Word Bearers under Zardu Layak agreed to follow the Warmaster to Terra.{{Fn|27}}
 
Following the Shadow Crusade, the Word Bearers were ordered to muster at [[Ullanor]] for Horus' planned drive on [[Terra]]. By this point Lorgar had come to view Horus as weak for resisting the embrace of the Gods, and secretly planned to usurp him as [[Warmaster]]. Nonetheless, Lorgar, [[Zardu Layak]], and a small force journeyed into the [[Webway]] to find [[Fulgrim]] under the guise of returning him to the war. After successfully binding Fulgrim with his [[True Name]], Lorgar planned to use him in a coup to dispose of Horus. However in the end, Lorgar's treachery was exposed and the plan fell apart. Lorgar was exiled from Horus' sight, but 5,000 Word Bearers under Zardu Layak agreed to follow the Warmaster to Terra.{{Fn|27}}
 +
 +
While Lorgar and Layak went separete ways, a force of Word Bearers led by [[Zedak Mordakar]] would aid the Sons of Horus in the [[Siege of Cthonia|recapture]] of their home planet.{{Fn|53a}}
  
 
====Terra====
 
====Terra====
−
The Word Bearers under Layak would take part in the [[Siege of Terra]].{{Fn|27}} In the end, [[Horus]] was defeated, and the legions of Chaos were forced to flee. The Word Bearers were also forced to retreat to the [[Eye of Terror]], and there they have remained, returning to the Imperium to raid, pillage, and destroy.
+
The Word Bearers under Layak would take part in the [[Siege of Terra]].{{Fn|27}} In the end, [[Horus]] was defeated, and the legions of Chaos were forced to flee. Shortly after the defeat at Terra, the Word Bearers were defeated in the [[Bitter War]] and their homeworld of Colchis was destroyed.{{Fn|53b}} The Word Bearers were also forced to retreat to the [[Eye of Terror]], and there they have remained, returning to the Imperium to raid, pillage, and destroy.
  
 
===Post-Heresy===
 
===Post-Heresy===
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====Notable Engagements Post-Heresy====
 
====Notable Engagements Post-Heresy====
−
*'''???.[[M31]]''' - The [[Cleansing of the Orbstar]]
+
*'''???.[[M31]]''' — The [[Cleansing of the Orbstar]]
−
*'''344.[[M33]]''' - The [[Blackstar Liberation]]
+
*'''344.[[M33]]''' — The [[Blackstar Liberation]]
−
*'''734.[[M38]]''' - The [[Bissan Ambush]]
+
*'''???.[[M36]]''' - The [[Battle of Gerio]]{{Fn|32}}
−
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Crusade of Fire (War)|Crusade of Fire]]
+
*'''734.[[M38]]''' — The [[Bissan Ambush]]
−
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Battle of Naemloch]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' — The [[Crusade of Fire (War)|Crusade of Fire]]
−
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Kapua Campaign]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' — The [[Battle of Naemloch]]
−
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Scouring of Makenna VII]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' — The [[Kapua Campaign]]
−
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Oceania Campaign]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' — The [[Scouring of Makenna VII]]
−
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Ur-Clemait Civil War]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' — The [[Oceania Campaign]]
−
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Invasion of Tanakreg]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' — The [[Ur-Clemait Civil War]]
−
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Siege of Thanatos]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' — The [[Invasion of Tanakreg]]
−
*'''455.[[M41]]''' - The [[Siege of Goddeth Hive]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' — The [[Siege of Thanatos]]
−
*'''679-760.[[M41]]''' - The [[Defence of Hermetica|Siege of Hermetica]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Fall of Kanak]]{{Fn|42}}
−
*'''777.[[M41]]''' - The [[Achilus Crusade]]
+
*'''455.[[M41]]''' — The [[Siege of Goddeth Hive]]
−
*'''888.[[M41]]''' - [[Crusade of Wrath]]
+
*'''679-760.[[M41]]''' — The [[Defence of Hermetica|Siege of Hermetica]]
−
*'''946.[[M41]]''' - The [[Battle of Eagle Gate]]
+
*'''777.[[M41]]''' — The [[Achilus Crusade]]
−
*'''999.[[M41]]''' - The [[Battle of the Boros Gate]]
+
*'''888.[[M41]]''' — [[Crusade of Wrath]]
−
*'''999.[[M41]]''' - The [[13th Black Crusade]] and the [[Diamor Campaign]]
+
*'''946.[[M41]]''' — The [[Battle of Eagle Gate]]
−
*'''999.[[M41]]''' - The sacking of [[Sabatine]]
+
*'''999.[[M41]]''' — The [[Battle of the Boros Gate]]
−
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Battle of Gathalamor]]
+
*'''999.[[M41]]''' — The [[13th Black Crusade]] and the [[Diamor Campaign]]
−
*'''111.[[M42]]''' - The [[Battle of Raukos]]
+
*'''999.[[M41]]''' — The sacking of [[Sabatine]]
−
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Betrayal on Donatos]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[War in Gheldrith's Eye]]{{Fn|44}}
−
*'''???''' - The [[Thorados Crusade]]
+
*[[M42]] - With the formation of the [[Great Rift]] and [[Noctis Aeterna]], the Word Bearers begin a wave of unprecedented activity in [[Segmentum Solar]] which included instigating large uprisings. Even by the 5th year into the Indomitus Crusade, a sizable force of World Bearers continued to operate perilously close to Terra.{{Fn|51}}
−
*'''???''' - The [[War of Statues]]
+
*'''???.[[M42]]''' — The [[Battle of Gathalamor]]
−
*'''???''' - The [[Battle of Nepthys Madrigal]]
+
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The Invasion of [[Almace]]{{Fn|30a}}
−
*'''???''' - The sacrifice of [[Gruelbowl]]
+
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Battle of Srinagar]]
−
*'''???''' - The [[Battle of Irradium Alpha]]
+
*'''~12.[[M42]]''' — The [[Battle of Raukos]]
−
*'''???''' - The [[War of False Prophets]]
+
*'''???.[[M42]]''' — The [[Betrayal on Donatos]]
 +
*???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Invasion of the Odoacer System]]{{Fn|30a}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[War of Beasts]] on [[Vigilus]]
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Talledus War]]. [[Kor Phaeron]] himself leads the invasion of [[Benediction]].{{Fn|34}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Charadon Campaign]]{{Fn|43}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The Battle for [[Budor V]]{{Fn|36}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The Battle of [[Besel V]]{{Fn|39}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Nachmund Rift War]]{{Fn|46}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Arks of Omen Campaign]]. Battling in opposition to the [[Black Legion]].{{Fn|50}}
 +
*'''???''' - The [[Drakon Crusade]]{{Fn|31}}
 +
*'''???''' — The [[Thorados Crusade]]
 +
*'''???''' — The [[War of Statues]]
 +
*'''???''' — The [[Battle of Nepthys Madrigal]]
 +
*'''???''' — The sacrifice of [[Gruelbowl]]
 +
*'''???''' — The [[Battle of Irradium Alpha]]
 +
*'''???''' — The [[War of False Prophets]]
  
 
==Organisation==
 
==Organisation==
 
[[Image:WBCover.jpg|thumb|right|A Post-Heresy Word Bearer{{Fn|12}}]]
 
[[Image:WBCover.jpg|thumb|right|A Post-Heresy Word Bearer{{Fn|12}}]]
 
===Great Crusade and Horus Heresy===
 
===Great Crusade and Horus Heresy===
−
During the [[Great Crusade]] and ensuing [[Horus Heresy]], the Word Bearers Legion, 100,000 strong{{Fn|7a}}, was divided into many different Chapters, each bearing a name and icon representing one of the constellations of [[Colchis]].
+
During the [[Great Crusade]] and ensuing [[Horus Heresy]], the Word Bearers Legion, 100,000 strong{{Fn|7a}}, was divided into many different Chapters, each bearing a name and icon representing one of the constellations of [[Colchis]]. Typically a Chapter consisted of several companies with an overal strength of 500-3,000 warriors. While each Chapter maintained a formal military structure consisting of a [[Chapter Master]], [[Space Marine Captain|Captains]] and so on there was also a parallel hierarchy based around [[Chaplain]]s and spiritual authority.{{Fn|49}}
  
−
====Known Chapters and Sects====
+
====Known Chapters====
−
*The [[Ashen Circle]]
+
*[[Akrak Jal]]{{Fn|54}}
 
*[[Ark of Testimony]]
 
*[[Ark of Testimony]]
−
*[[Asps of the Sacred Sands]] - Destroyed on Calth {{Fn|19}}
+
*[[Asps of the Sacred Sands]] — Destroyed on Calth.{{Fn|19}}
 
*[[Black Comet]]
 
*[[Black Comet]]
−
*[[Bloodied Visage]] - 3,855th Expedition Fleet {{Fn|23}}
+
*[[Bloodied Visage]] — 3,855th Expedition Fleet.{{Fn|23}}
 
*The [[Brazenhead Chapter]]{{Fn|25}}
 
*The [[Brazenhead Chapter]]{{Fn|25}}
 
*[[Broken Scythe]]{{Fn|18b}}
 
*[[Broken Scythe]]{{Fn|18b}}
−
*[[The Brotherhood]]
 
 
*[[Burning Hand]]
 
*[[Burning Hand]]
−
*[[Vakrah Jal|Consecrated Iron]]
+
*[[Coiled Lash]]{{Fn|18c}}
−
*[[Crescent Moon]] - 3,855th Expedition Fleet {{Fn|23}}
+
*[[Crescent Moon]] — 3,855th Expedition Fleet.{{Fn|23}}
 
*[[Crimson Mask]]
 
*[[Crimson Mask]]
 +
*[[Ebon Branch]]{{Fn|54}}
 
*[[Ebony Serpent]]
 
*[[Ebony Serpent]]
−
*[[Exalted Gate]] - Consumed by a unaligned greater daemon {{Fn|19}}
+
*[[Exalted Gate]] — Consumed by a unaligned greater daemon.{{Fn|19}}
−
*[[Flayed Hand]] - Destroyed under an Ultramarines ambush under [[Ventanus]] on Calth {{Fn|19}}
+
*[[Flayed Hand]] — Destroyed by an Ultramarines ambush under [[Ventanus]] on Calth.{{Fn|19}}
−
*[[Graven Star]] - Destroyed in the caverns of Calth {{Fn|19}}
+
*[[Graven Star]] — Destroyed in the caverns of Calth.{{Fn|19}}
−
*[[Harbingers of Death]] - Bodyguards of [[Erebus]]
+
*[[Inscribed]] — Destroyed by an Ultramarines counter-assault on Calth.{{Fn|19}}
−
*[[Inscribed]] - Destroyed by an Ultramarines counter-assault on Calth. {{Fn|19}}
+
*[[Iron Veil (Word Bearers)|Iron Veil]]{{Fn|19}}
 +
*[[Night's Chalice]]{{Fn|18c}}
 
*[[Chapter of the Onyx Maw|Onyx Maw]]
 
*[[Chapter of the Onyx Maw|Onyx Maw]]
 
*[[Opening Eye]]
 
*[[Opening Eye]]
 
*[[Osseous Throne]]{{Fn|18b}}
 
*[[Osseous Throne]]{{Fn|18b}}
 
*[[Perpetual Spiral Chapter|Perpetual Spiral]]
 
*[[Perpetual Spiral Chapter|Perpetual Spiral]]
−
*[[Serrated Sun]]{{Fn|18b}} - Commanded by [[Argel Tal]] and included the original [[Gal Vorbak]].
+
*[[Quillborn]] — Specialists in ship-to-ship fighting.{{Fn|5a}}
 +
*[[Scold's Bridle]]{{Fn|18c}}
 +
*[[Secret Boon]]
 +
*[[Serrated Sun]] — Commanded by [[Argel Tal]] and included the original [[Gal Vorbak]].{{Fn|18b}}
 
*[[Star of Judgement]]{{Fn|18b}}
 
*[[Star of Judgement]]{{Fn|18b}}
 
*[[Sundered Tower]]
 
*[[Sundered Tower]]
 
*[[Third Hand]]
 
*[[Third Hand]]
 
*[[Tri-Fold Crown]]{{Fn|18b}}
 
*[[Tri-Fold Crown]]{{Fn|18b}}
−
*[[Twisting Rune]] - Destroyed in the caverns of Calth {{Fn|19}}
+
*[[Twisting Rune]] — Destroyed in the caverns of Calth.{{Fn|19}}
−
*[[Unspeaking]] - Fought an Ultramarines company to mutual annihilation on Calth {{Fn|19}}
+
*[[Unspeaking]] — Fought an Ultramarines company to mutual annihilation on Calth.{{Fn|19}}
 +
*[[Veiled Eye]]
 +
*[[Venomous Thorns]]{{Fn|40}}
 +
*[[Chapter of the Void|Void]] — A reserve formation, the smallest Chapter of the Word Bearers.{{Fn|5b}}
 +
*[[Weeping Hand]]{{Fn|18c}}
 
*[[Weeping Veil]]
 
*[[Weeping Veil]]
−
*[[Vakrah Jal]]
+
 
 +
====Unique Formations====
 +
*The [[Ashen Circle]]
 +
*[[The Brotherhood]]
 +
*[[Harbingers of Death]] — Bodyguards of [[Erebus]].
  
 
===Post-Heresy===
 
===Post-Heresy===
 
The Word Bearers do not worship Chaos Gods individually. Instead, they are venerated and regarded as a Dark Pantheon of Chaos Gods. The sons of Lorgar view those who limit their worship to a single Chaos God with contempt and are partially at odds with the [[Emperor's Children]] for their decadence. Word Bearers rely on Daemons as shock troops, meatshields, and as the bulk of their armies. Their elite Chaos Space Marines are used to accomplish vital tasks. The Word Bearers have been known to have a massive cultist base, and have used cultists and insurgents since the Great Crusade. However, unlike the Alpha Legion, the primary use of cultists is as cannon fodder and distractions.
 
The Word Bearers do not worship Chaos Gods individually. Instead, they are venerated and regarded as a Dark Pantheon of Chaos Gods. The sons of Lorgar view those who limit their worship to a single Chaos God with contempt and are partially at odds with the [[Emperor's Children]] for their decadence. Word Bearers rely on Daemons as shock troops, meatshields, and as the bulk of their armies. Their elite Chaos Space Marines are used to accomplish vital tasks. The Word Bearers have been known to have a massive cultist base, and have used cultists and insurgents since the Great Crusade. However, unlike the Alpha Legion, the primary use of cultists is as cannon fodder and distractions.
  
−
The Word Bearers are notable for being the only [[Traitor Legion]] who still have a corps of Chaplains, now known as [[Dark Apostle]]s. The Word Bearers follow the words of their Dark Apostles with total faith in battle. The Dark Apostles divine through many ways how a battle is to be fought and won, and the warriors of the Host obey unquestioningly. Before battle, the Word Bearers gather in ritual prayer, chanting hymns and cult doctrine to affirm their faith in the power of Chaos. Often these chants will be answered and it is common for the Word Bearers to fight alongside daemonic entities.
+
The Word Bearers are notable for being the only [[Traitor Legion]] who still have a corps of Chaplains, now known as [[Dark Apostle]]s. The Word Bearers follow the words of their Dark Apostles with total faith in battle. The Dark Apostles divine through many ways how a battle is to be fought and won, and the warriors of the Host obey unquestioningly. Before battle, the Word Bearers gather in ritual prayer, chanting hymns and cult doctrine to affirm their faith in the power of Chaos. Often these chants will be answered and it is common for the Word Bearers to fight alongside daemonic entities.
−
 
+
[[Image:Word_Bearers_Marine_1.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Post-Heresy Word Bearer{{Fn|1}}]]
−
Alongside the [[Black Legion]] and [[Death Guard]], the Word Bearers are one of the three traitor Legion's that did not fracture in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy.{{Fn|29}} The legion is ruled centrally from the [[Dark Council]] of [[Sicarus]]{{Fn|6}}. This evil priesthood enforces a strict regime of worship of the Chaos pantheon upon their fellow Word Bearers and are also highly likely to be found leading the Legion in battle. Each is gifted an army of their own, known as a [[Host]]. The numbers vary, with the smallest typical size roughly analogous to that of a Space Marine [[Company]], and the largest exceeding the manpower of a Space Marine [[Chapter]].
+
Alongside the [[Black Legion]] and [[Death Guard]], the Word Bearers are one of the three traitor Legion's that did not fracture in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy.{{Fn|29}} The legion is ruled centrally from the [[Dark Council]] of [[Sicarus]]{{Fn|6}}. This evil priesthood enforces a strict regime of worship of the Chaos pantheon upon their fellow Word Bearers and are also highly likely to be found leading the Legion in battle. Each is gifted an army of their own, known as a [[Host]]. The numbers vary, with the smallest typical size roughly analogous to that of a [[Space Marine Company]], and the largest exceeding the manpower of a Space Marine [[Chapter]].
  
 
The organisational make-up of each Host differs wildly as well, and can change depending on the whims of the Dark Apostle that leads it. Often they will suddenly alter the hierarchy of their Host for reasons known only to themselves. These changes often result in seemingly unwieldy or tactically inflexible formations. The Word Bearers themselves accept these changes without question.{{Fn|1}}
 
The organisational make-up of each Host differs wildly as well, and can change depending on the whims of the Dark Apostle that leads it. Often they will suddenly alter the hierarchy of their Host for reasons known only to themselves. These changes often result in seemingly unwieldy or tactically inflexible formations. The Word Bearers themselves accept these changes without question.{{Fn|1}}
Line 163: Line 207:
 
The most commonly occurring structure is that roughly equating to a Space Marine company, with the Host broken down into units of about twelve warriors. Each is commanded by a champion of the Word Bearers who strives to become as devout a war leader as the Dark Apostle in the hope of one day being chosen to succeed him on the occasion of his death.
 
The most commonly occurring structure is that roughly equating to a Space Marine company, with the Host broken down into units of about twelve warriors. Each is commanded by a champion of the Word Bearers who strives to become as devout a war leader as the Dark Apostle in the hope of one day being chosen to succeed him on the occasion of his death.
  
−
The Word Bearers then march into battle beneath their standards, bellowing catechisms of hatred at their foe as drums beat out a dolorous thunder. The relentless advance of the Word Bearers is a terrifying sight, as the monotonous chant and beat of drums can break even the strongest will. The unshakeable belief of the Word Bearers in the truth of their cause has seen them marching into certain death, yet unwilling to take a single step backwards. A battle ends either in victory or the utter destruction of the Word Bearer host.{{Fn|1}}
+
====Known Hosts====
−
 
+
*The 1st Host - Commanded by [[Kor Phaeron]]{{Fn|45}}
−
====Known Post-Heresy Sects and Sub-factions====
+
*The 3rd Host - Commanded by [[Pridor Vrakon]]{{Fn|20}}{{Fn|45}}
−
*The 3rd Host{{Fn|20}}
 
 
*The 7th Host - Commanded by [[Ekodas]]
 
*The 7th Host - Commanded by [[Ekodas]]
 
*The 11th Host - Commanded by [[Ankh-Heloth]]
 
*The 11th Host - Commanded by [[Ankh-Heloth]]
Line 172: Line 215:
 
*The 30th Host - Commanded by [[Belagosa]]
 
*The 30th Host - Commanded by [[Belagosa]]
 
*The 34th Host - Currently commanded by [[Grand Apostle]] [[Marduk]].{{Fn|4}}
 
*The 34th Host - Currently commanded by [[Grand Apostle]] [[Marduk]].{{Fn|4}}
−
*[[The Brotherhood]]
+
 
−
*[[The Foresworn (Word Bearers)|The Foresworn]]
+
The Word Bearers then march into battle beneath their standards, bellowing catechisms of hatred at their foe as drums beat out a dolorous thunder. The relentless advance of the Word Bearers is a terrifying sight, as the monotonous chant and beat of drums can break even the strongest will. The unshakeable belief of the Word Bearers in the truth of their cause has seen them marching into certain death, yet unwilling to take a single step backwards. A battle ends either in victory or the utter destruction of the Word Bearer host.{{Fn|1}}
−
*[[Lords of Desolation]]
 
−
*[[Prophets of the Blighted Path]]
 
−
*[[The Sanctified]]
 
−
*[[Sons of Damnation]]
 
−
*[[Screaming Mind]]
 
−
*[[Ivory Fang]]
 
−
*[[Iconoclastic Brotherhood]]
 
−
*[[Weeping Veil]]
 
  
 
==Notable Elements==
 
==Notable Elements==
−
 
 
===Word Bearers Armoury===
 
===Word Bearers Armoury===
 
{{main|Word Bearers Armoury}}
 
{{main|Word Bearers Armoury}}
 +
===Fleet===
 +
{{main|Known Vessels of the Word Bearers}}
 +
During the Horus Heresy the Word Bearers are known to have possessed the following vessels:{{Fn|2}}
 +
*''[[Fidelitas Lex]]'' — Flagship of the Word Bearers Legion, shot down over [[Armatura]].{{Fn|7i}}{{Fn|21}}
 +
*''[[Kamiel (Battleship)|Kamiel]]'' — [[Battleship]].{{cite this}}
 +
*''[[Furious Abyss]]'' — Specially-built [[Abyss Class Battleship]]. Commanded by Fleet Captain Zadkiel. Crippled before it could strike at [[Macragge]].{{Fn|5}}
 +
*''[[De Profundis]]'' — Flagship of the [[1,301st Expedition Fleet]].{{Fn|23}}
 +
 +
After the Horus Heresy the Word Bearers are known to possess the following vessels:
 +
*''[[Dark Chorus]]'' — [[Desolator Battleship]].{{Fn|14a}}
 +
*''[[Anarchus]]'' — [[Battleship]] under [[Ankh-Heloth]].{{Cite this}}
 +
*''[[Crucius Maledictus]]'' — Massive Bulk transport capable of holding [[Titan]]s.{{Fn|6}}
 +
*''[[Vox Dominus]]'' — Carrion-class. An extremely huge ship, commanded by [[Dark Apostle]] [[Nahren]]. Lost in the warp for a few seconds while most of the 3rd host were aboard, and returned to real space with all the ship's crew dead and with the Garden of Nurgle taken root on the ship.{{Fn|20}}
 +
*''[[Ayamandar]]'' — [[Styx Class Heavy Cruiser]].{{Cite this}}
 +
*''[[Infidus Diabolus]]'' — [[Strike Cruiser]] under the command of [[Jarulek]]/[[Marduk]].{{Cite this}}
 +
*''[[Firebrand (Warship)|Firebrand]]'' — Vessel of [[The Blessed]].{{Fn|38}}
  
 
===Notable Word Bearers===
 
===Notable Word Bearers===
 
*{{Main|Known Members of the Word Bearers}}
 
*{{Main|Known Members of the Word Bearers}}
 
====Heresy-Era====
 
====Heresy-Era====
−
*[[Lorgar|Lorgar Aurelian]] - Primarch of the Word Bearers.{{Fn|1}}
+
*[[Lorgar|Lorgar Aurelian]] — Primarch of the Word Bearers.{{Fn|1}}
−
*[[Erebus]] - First [[Chaplain]] of the Word Bearers.{{Fn|1}}
+
*[[Erebus]] — First [[Chaplain]] of the Word Bearers.{{Fn|1}}
−
*[[Kor Phaeron]] - Black Cardinal and First Captain of the Word Bearers.{{Fn|1}}
+
*[[Kor Phaeron]] — Black Cardinal and First Captain of the Word Bearers.{{Fn|1}}
−
*[[Amyric Kel]] - Techmarine{{Fn|18a}}
+
*[[Zardu Layak]] - The Crimson Apostle{{Fn|27}}
−
*[[Argel Tal]] - Crimson Lord of the Gal Vorbak.{{Fn|5}}
+
*[[Amyric Kel]] — Techmarine{{Fn|18a}}
−
*[[Baelanos]] - Assault-captain of the Furious Abyss.{{Fn|5}}
+
*[[Argel Tal]] — Crimson Lord of the Gal Vorbak.{{Fn|5}}
−
*[[Garand]]
+
*[[Xaphen]] — Chaplain and later member of the [[Gal Vorbak]]
−
*[[Ikthalon]] - Brother-Chaplain of the Furious Abyss.{{Fn|5}}
+
*[[Zadkiel (Word Bearers)|Zadkiel]] — Fleet Captain of the Furious Abyss.{{Fn|5}}
−
*[[Jarulek]] - Dark Apostle.{{Fn|4}}
+
*[[Jarulek]] — Dark Apostle.{{Fn|4}}
−
*[[Kol Badar]] - Captain
+
*[[Kol Badar]] — Captain
−
*[[Morpal Cxir]] - Commander
+
*[[Morpal Cxir]] — Commander
−
*[[Deinos]] - Chapter Master
+
*[[Foedral Fell]] — Commander
−
*[[Skolinthos]] - Chapter Master
+
*[[Sor Talgron]] — [[Dark Apostle]]
−
*[[Rukis]] - Chapter Master
+
*[[Xaphen]] — Chaplain and later member of the [[Gal Vorbak]]
−
*[[Faerskarel]] - Chapter Master
+
*[[Barthusa Narek]] — [[Reconnaissance Marine]]
−
*[[Foedral Fell]] - Commander
+
*[[Quor Vondar]] — [[Chief Librarian]]
−
*[[Xaphen]] - Chaplain and later member of the [[Gal Vorbak]]
 
−
*[[Malforian]] - Weapon Master of the Furious Abyss.{{Fn|5}}
 
−
*[[Maloq Kartho]] - [[Dark Apostle]]{{Fn|9}}
 
−
*[[Nahren]] - Dark Apostle of the 3rd host, who fought along the Primarch Lorgar during the great crusade. Was left behind wounded along with Enusat at the Garden of Nurgle at the Vox Dominus.{{Fn|20}} Was too infected to be saved and was mercy-killed by Marduk.{{Fn|22}}
 
−
*[[Quor Gallek]] - Dark Apostle
 
−
*[[Sarabdal]] - Dark Apostle
 
−
*[[Quor Vondar]] - Sorcerer
 
−
*[[Sorot Tchure]] - Captain
 
−
*[[Reskiel]] - Sergeant-commander of the Furious Abyss.{{Fn|5}}
 
−
*[[Sor Talgron]] - [[Dark Apostle]]
 
−
*[[Sor Bakphal]] - [[Dark Apostle]]
 
−
*[[Tanus Kreed]] - [[Dark Apostle]] during the [[Horus Heresy]]
 
−
*[[Valdrekk Elias]] - Dark Apostle{{cite this}}
 
−
*[[Zadkiel (Word Bearers)|Zadkiel]] - Fleet Captain of the Furious Abyss.{{Fn|5}}
 
−
*[[Zardu Layak]] - [[Dark Apostle]] during the [[Horus Heresy]]
 
−
*[[Hol Beloth]] - Officer during the [[Horus Heresy]]
 
−
*[[Barthusa Narek]] - [[Reconnaissance Marine]]
 
−
*[[Kurtha Sedd]] - [[Dark Apostle]]
 
−
*[[Iarto Khoura]] - [[Chaplain]]
 
−
*[[Sor Gharax]] - [[Contemptor Dreadnought]]
 
−
*[[Eduhkar]] - [[Contemptor Dreadnought]]
 
−
*[[Toc Derenoth]] - The Unburdened
 
−
*[[Volkhar Wreth]] - Predicant
 
−
*[[Kolos Undil]] - Bodyguard of [[Erebus]]
 
  
 
====Post-Heresy====
 
====Post-Heresy====
−
*[[Lorgar|Lorgar Aurelian]] - [[Daemon Prince]]
+
*[[Lorgar|Lorgar Aurelian]] — [[Daemon Prince]]
−
*[[Erebus]] - [[Dark Apostle]] and member of the [[Dark Council]]
+
*[[Erebus]] — [[Dark Apostle]] and member of the [[Dark Council]]
−
*[[Kor Phaeron]] - [[Dark Apostle]] and Member of the [[Dark Council]]
+
*[[Kor Phaeron]] — [[Dark Apostle]] and Member of the [[Dark Council]]
−
*[[Paristur]] - Dark Apostle and member of the [[Dark Council]]
+
*[[Paristur]] — Dark Apostle and member of the [[Dark Council]]
−
*[[Mothac]] - Dark Apostle and member of the [[Dark Council]]{{cite this}}
+
*[[Mothac]] — Dark Apostle and member of the [[Dark Council]]
−
*[[Burias Drak'Shal]] - Former possessed marine and Icon Bearer for the 34th Host, now Chaos Dreadnought{{cite this}}
+
*[[Pridor Vrakon]] - Dark Apostle of the Third Host.
−
*[[Davroth]] - Warlord{{Fn|15}}
+
*[[Burias Drak'Shal]] — Former possessed marine and Icon Bearer for the 34th Host, now Chaos Dreadnought
−
*[[Drachmus]] - Warlord{{cite this}}
 
−
*[[Ekodas]] - Dark Apostle{{cite this}}
 
 
*[[Eliphas]] the Inheritor - Dark Apostle, leader of the Dark Crusade on [[Kronus]].{{Fn|3}} Defected to the [[Black Legion]].{{Fn|13}}
 
*[[Eliphas]] the Inheritor - Dark Apostle, leader of the Dark Crusade on [[Kronus]].{{Fn|3}} Defected to the [[Black Legion]].{{Fn|13}}
−
*[[Enusat]] - Replaced Ashkanez as first acolyte of the 34th host, left behind on the Vox Dominus at the Garden of Nurgle.{{Fn|20}} Later rescued by Marduk and Sabtec.{{Fn|22}}  
+
*[[Enusat]] — Replaced Ashkanez as first acolyte of the 34th host, left behind on the Vox Dominus at the Garden of Nurgle.{{Fn|20}} Later rescued by Marduk and Sabtec.{{Fn|22}}
−
*[[Erelek]] - [[Dark Apostle]]
+
*[[Jarulek]] — Dark Apostle. (Dec.) {{Fn|4}}
−
*[[Sarabdal]] - [[Dark Apostle]]
+
*[[Marduk]] — Dark Apostle, former First Acolyte of Jarulek.{{Fn|4}}
−
*[[Garand]] - Warmaster of a Thousand Hosts.{{Fn|10}}
+
*[[Kol Badar]] — Coryphaus of Jarulek and then Marduk. {{Fn|4}}
−
*[[Iskavan]] the Hated - Dark Apostle. (Dec.){{Fn|10}}
+
*[[Sor Talgron]] — [[Dark Apostle]] and [[Chaos Dreadnought]]
−
*[[Jarulek]] - Dark Apostle. (Dec.) {{Fn|4}}
+
*[[Sargon Eregesh]] — [[Chaplain]] and ally of [[Abaddon]]
−
*[[Kol Badar]] - Coryphaus of Jarulek and then Marduk. {{Fn|4}}
+
*[[Maloq Kartho]] — [[Dark Apostle]], now the [[Daemon Prince]] [[M'kar]].{{Fn|9}}
−
*[[Kor Daradan]] - Dark Apostle
+
*[[Anchorite]] - [[Dreadnought]], loyal to the [[Emperor]]{{Fn|30b}}
−
*[[Ankh-Heloth]] - Dark Apostle
 
−
*[[Kor Megron]] - [[Daemon Prince]]
 
−
*[[Kyrus]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
−
*[[Leyak]] - Dark Apostle{{Fn|16}}
 
−
*[[Ashkanez]] - Acolyte Apostle and [[Kor Phaeron]] loyalist
 
−
*[[Maloq Kartho]] - [[Dark Apostle]], now the [[Daemon Prince]] [[M'kar]].{{Fn|9}}
 
−
*[[Marduk]] - Dark Apostle, former First Acolyte of Jarulek.{{Fn|4}}
 
−
*[[Moefranc]] - [[Chaos Lord]]
 
−
*[[Mor Jalchek]] - [[Dark Apostle]]
 
−
*[[Quor Karmain]] - Dark Apostle
 
−
*[[Sor Talgron]] - [[Dark Apostle]] and [[Chaos Dreadnought]]
 
−
*[[Sargon Eregesh]] - [[Chaplain]] and ally of [[Abaddon]]
 
−
*[[Gorath Hel]] - [[Dark Apostle]]
 
−
*[[Angra Mainyu]] - [[Daemon Prince]]
 
−
*[[Periclitor]] - [[Daemon Prince]]
 
−
*[[Oriax (Word Bearers)|Oriax]] - [[Dark Apostle]]
 
−
*[[Saqqara Ur-Damak Thresh]] - [[Diabolist]]
 
−
*'''[[Dontiac]] of the Ivory Fang''', Brother, first into the Adaxis Breach{{Fn|26}}
 
−
*[[Kor Loxiat]] of the Screaming Mind, bearer of the Creed Infectious{{Fn|26}}
 
−
*[[Garagrakh the Bloody]] - [[Possessed]], formerly '''Kor Dredron''' of the Sixth Star{{Fn|26}}
 
−
 
 
−
===Fleet===
 
−
{{main|Known Vessels of the Word Bearers}}
 
−
 
 
−
During the Horus Heresy the Word Bearers are known to have possessed the following vessels:{{Fn|2}}
 
−
*''[[Fidelitas Lex]]'' - Flagship of the Word Bearers Legion, shot down over [[Armatura]].{{Fn|7i}}{{Fn|21}}
 
−
*''[[Kamiel]]'' - [[Battleship]]{{cite this}}
 
−
*''[[Lorgar's Spite]]'' - [[Battleship]]{{cite this}}
 
−
*''[[Destiny's Hand]]'' - [[Battle Barge]]. Commanded by First Chaplain Erebus.{{cite this}}
 
−
*''[[Infidus Imperator]]'' - Battle Barge. Commanded by Lord Kor Phaeron.{{Fn|1}}
 
−
*''Infidus Diabolus'' - [[Strike Cruiser]].  Commanded by Dark Apostle Jarulek. {{Fn|4}}
 
−
*''[[Furious Abyss]]'' - Specially-built Battleship. Commanded by Fleet Captain Zadkiel. Crippled before it could strike at [[Macragge]].{{Fn|5}}
 
−
*''[[Blessed Lady]]'' - Sister ship to the [[Furious Abyss]]
 
−
*''[[Trisagion]]'' - Sister ship to the [[Furious Abyss]]
 
−
*''[[Chronicle of Ashes]]'' - [[Gloriana Class Battleship]]
 
−
*''[[Misericorde]]'' - [[Desolator Battleship]]{{Fn|17}}
 
−
*''[[De Profundis]]'' - Flagship of [[1,301st Expedition Fleet]]{{Fn|23}}
 
−
*''[[Unending Reverence]]'' - lost in the Warp during the Pilgrimage.{{Fn|7j}}
 
−
*''Dark Page'' - [[Cruiser]]{{Fn|23}}
 
−
*''Vox Deus'' - [[Cruiser]]{{Fn|28}}
 
−
 
 
−
After the Horus Heresy the Word Bearers are known to possess the following vessels:
 
−
*''[[Dark Chorus]]'' - [[Desolator Battleship]]{{Fn|14a}}
 
−
*''[[Inexorable Ruination]]'' - [[Battle Barge]]{{Fn|14b}}
 
−
*''[[Infidus Imperator]]'' - [[Battle Barge]]
 
−
*''[[Anarchus]]'' - [[Battleship]] under [[Ankh-Heloth]]
 
−
*''[[Crucius Maledictus]]'' - Massive Bulk transport capable of holding [[Titan]]s{{Fn|6}}
 
−
*''[[Vox Dominus]]'' - Carrion-class. An extremely huge ship, commanded by Dark Apostle Nahren. Lost in the warp for a few seconds, while most of the 3rd host were aboard, and returned to real space with all the ship's crew dead and with the Garden of Nurgle taken root on the ship.{{Fn|20}}
 
−
*''[[Ayamandar]]'' - [[Styx Class Heavy Cruiser]]
 
−
*''[[Infidus Diabolus]]'' - [[Strike Cruiser]] under the command of [[Jarulek]]/[[Marduk]]
 
  
 
===Unique Troops===
 
===Unique Troops===
 
*[[Dark Apostle]]s
 
*[[Dark Apostle]]s
 
*[[Diabolist]]
 
*[[Diabolist]]
 +
*[[Anointed (Word Bearers)|Anointed]]{{Fn|42}}
 
*[[Anakatis Kul]] (Heresy-era)
 
*[[Anakatis Kul]] (Heresy-era)
 
*[[Gal Vorbak]] (Heresy-era, became [[Possessed Chaos Space Marine]]s)
 
*[[Gal Vorbak]] (Heresy-era, became [[Possessed Chaos Space Marine]]s)
 
*[[Ashen Circle]] (Heresy-era)
 
*[[Ashen Circle]] (Heresy-era)
 
*[[Mhara Gal]] (Heresy-era)
 
*[[Mhara Gal]] (Heresy-era)
 +
*[[Order of the Procurators|Procurator]] (Heresy-era){{Fn|48}}
  
−
==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}}
 
−
 
−
{{cite}}
 
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
 +
{{Cite}}
 
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Index Astartes IV]],{{cite this}}
 
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Index Astartes IV]],{{cite this}}
 
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Horus Heresy: Visions of Death]] by [[Alan Merrett]]
 
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Horus Heresy: Visions of Death]] by [[Alan Merrett]]
 
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade]]
 
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade]]
−
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Dark Apostle (Novel)|Dark Apostle]] by [[Anthony Reynolds]],{{cite this}}
+
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Dark Apostle (Novel)]]{{cite this}}
−
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Battle for the Abyss (Novel)|Battle for the Abyss]] by [[Ben Counter]],{{cite this}}
+
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Battle for the Abyss (Novel)]]{{cite this}}
−
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Dark Creed (Novel)|Dark Creed]] by '''Anthony Reynolds''': {{Cite This}}, p. 9
+
**{{Endn|5a}}: Chapter Eight
−
*{{Endn|7}}: [[The First Heretic (Novel)|The First Heretic]] by [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]],{{cite this}}
+
**{{Endn|5b}}: Chapter Sixteen
−
**{{Endn|7a}}: {{Cite This}}, pp. 60-66.
+
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Dark Creed (Novel)]]{{Cite This}}, pg. 9
−
**{{Endn|7b}}: {{Cite This}}, pp. 155-169.
+
*{{Endn|7}}: [[The First Heretic (Novel)]]{{cite this}}
−
**{{Endn|7c}}: {{Cite This}}, pp. 166-169.
+
**{{Endn|7a}}: {{Cite This}}, pgs. 60–66.
−
**{{Endn|7d}}: {{Cite This}}, pp. 236-263.
+
**{{Endn|7b}}: {{Cite This}}, pgs. 155–169.
−
**{{Endn|7e}}: {{Cite This}}, p. 289.
+
**{{Endn|7c}}: {{Cite This}}, pgs. 166–169.
−
**{{Endn|7f}}: {{Cite This}}, p. 290.
+
**{{Endn|7d}}: {{Cite This}}, pgs. 236–263.
−
**{{Endn|7g}}: {{Cite This}}, pp. 341-343.
+
**{{Endn|7e}}: {{Cite This}}, pg. 289.
−
**{{Endn|7h}}: {{Cite This}}, p. 336.
+
**{{Endn|7f}}: {{Cite This}}, pg. 290.
−
**{{Endn|7i}}: Chapter Six, p. 91
+
**{{Endn|7g}}: {{Cite This}}, pgs. 341–343.
 +
**{{Endn|7h}}: {{Cite This}}, pg. 336.
 +
**{{Endn|7i}}: Chapter Six, pg. 91
 
**{{Endn|7j}}: Chapter Thirteen
 
**{{Endn|7j}}: Chapter Thirteen
 
**{{Endn|7k}}: Chapter 22
 
**{{Endn|7k}}: Chapter 22
−
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Daemon World (Novel)|Daemon World]] by [[Ben Counter]],{{cite this}}
+
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Daemon World (Novel)]]{{cite this}}
−
*{{Endn|9}}: [[The Chapter's Due (Novel)]] by [[Graham McNeill]], Chapter Twenty-Four
+
*{{Endn|9}}: [[The Chapter's Due (Novel)]], Chapter Twenty-Four
−
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Deus Encarmine (Novel)|Deus Encarmine]] by [[James Swallow]],{{cite this}}
+
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Deus Encarmine (Novel)]]{{cite this}}
 
*{{Endn|11}}: [http://youtu.be/lWxl0TnkeYA?t=8m33s Interview with Dan Abnett (8m33s)]
 
*{{Endn|11}}: [http://youtu.be/lWxl0TnkeYA?t=8m33s Interview with Dan Abnett (8m33s)]
 
*{{Endn|12}}: [http://www.blacklibrary.com/Blog/bearers-of-the-word.html Word Bearers Omnibus]
 
*{{Endn|12}}: [http://www.blacklibrary.com/Blog/bearers-of-the-word.html Word Bearers Omnibus]
Line 345: Line 321:
 
**{{Endn|14a}}: pg. 79
 
**{{Endn|14a}}: pg. 79
 
**{{Endn|14b}}: pg. 87
 
**{{Endn|14b}}: pg. 87
−
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Apocalypse]] pg.172
+
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Apocalypse]], pg. 172
−
*{{Endn|16}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Ten]] pg.109
+
*{{Endn|16}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Ten]], pg. 109
−
*{{Endn|17}}: [[Deus Sanguinius (Novel)]] by '''James Swallow''', {{Cite This}}
+
*{{Endn|17}}: [[Deus Sanguinius (Novel)]]{{Cite This}}
−
*18: [[The Horus Heresy Book Two - Massacre]]
+
*18: [[The Horus Heresy Book Two - Massacre]]:
 
**{{Endn|18a}}: pg. 43
 
**{{Endn|18a}}: pg. 43
−
**{{Endn|18b}}: pgs. 136-141
+
**{{Endn|18b}}: pgs. 136–141
−
**{{Endn|18c}}: pg. 152
+
**{{Endn|18c}}: pgs. 142-143
−
*{{Endn|19}}: [[Mark of Calth]] edited by [[Laurie Goulding]]
+
**{{Endn|18d}}: pg. 144
−
**{{Endn|19a}}:[[The Underworld War]] by [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]]
+
**{{Endn|18e}}: pg. 145
−
*{{Endn|20}}: [[Vox Dominus (Short Story)]] - [[Treacheries of the Space Marines]]
+
**{{Endn|18f}}: pg. 152
 +
*{{Endn|19}}: [[The Underworld War (Short Story)]] — [[Mark of Calth (Anthology)]]
 +
*{{Endn|20}}: [[Vox Dominus (Short Story)]] — [[Treacheries of the Space Marines]]
 
*{{Endn|21}}: [[Betrayer (Novel)]]{{Cite this}}
 
*{{Endn|21}}: [[Betrayer (Novel)]]{{Cite this}}
−
*{{Endn|22}}: [[The Tallyman (Short Story)]] by [[Anthony Reynolds]]
+
*{{Endn|22}}: [[The Tallyman (Short Story)]]
 
*{{Endn|23}}: [[Fear to Tread (Novel)]]{{Cite this}}
 
*{{Endn|23}}: [[Fear to Tread (Novel)]]{{Cite this}}
 
*{{Endn|24}}: [[Aurelian (Novella)]]{{Cite this}}
 
*{{Endn|24}}: [[Aurelian (Novella)]]{{Cite this}}
−
*{{Endn|25}}: [[Talon of Horus (Novel)]] - ''Dramatis Personae''
+
*{{Endn|25}}: [[Talon of Horus (Novel)]], ''Dramatis Personae''
 
*{{Endn|26}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (8th Edition)]], pg. 41
 
*{{Endn|26}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (8th Edition)]], pg. 41
−
*{{Endn|27}}: [[Slaves to Darkness (Novel)]] - Chapters 17-19
+
*{{Endn|27}}: [[Slaves to Darkness (Novel)]], Chapters 17–19
−
*{{Endn|28}}: [[Wolfsbane (Novel)]] - Chapter 26
+
*{{Endn|28}}: [[Wolfsbane (Novel)]], Chapter 26
−
*{{Endn|29}}: [[The Lords of Death (Novel)]] - Chapter 9
+
*{{Endn|29}}: [[The Lords of Silence (Novel)]], Chapter 9
 +
*30: [[Apocalypse (Novel)]]
 +
**{{Endn|30a}}: Chapter 1
 +
**{{Endn|30b}}: Chapter 16
 +
*{{Endn|31}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition, 2nd Codex)]], pg. 15
 +
*{{Endn|32}}: [[Codex Supplement: Ultramarines (8th Edition)]], pg. 17
 +
*{{Endn|33}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2016/12/08/relics-of-treachery-chaos-artefacts-in-traitor-legions/ Warhammer Community: Relics of Treachery – Chaos Artefacts in Traitor Legions (Posted 8/12/2016)] (Last Accessed 28 August 2019)
 +
*{{Endn|34}}: [[Psychic Awakening: Faith and Fury]], pgs. 8-9
 +
*{{Endn|35}}: [[Know No Fear (Novel)]], Part 2 Chapter 1
 +
*{{Endn|36}}: [[White Dwarf February 2020]], pg. 60
 +
*{{Endn|37}}: [[Sons of the Selenar (Novella)]], Chapter 1
 +
*{{Endn|38}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2017/02/19/bearers-of-the-word-article-one/ Warhammer Community: Andy Clark's Bearers of the Word – Article One (Posted on 19/02/2017)] (Last accessed on 15 July 2020)
 +
*{{Endn|39}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition)]], pg. 79
 +
*{{Endn|40}}: [[Kryptos (Short Story)]] — [[Legacies of Betrayal (Anthology)]]
 +
*{{Endn|41}}: [[The Gates of Bone (Novel)]], ''Dramatis personae''
 +
*{{Endn|42}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf]] - Wrath of the Damned Mission
 +
*{{Endn|43}}: [[War Zone Charadon - Act I: The Book of Rust]], pg. 14
 +
*{{Endn|44}}: [[Codex: Grey Knights (9th Edition)]], pgs. 30-31
 +
*{{Endn|45}}: [[Throne of Light (Novel)]] - Dramatis Personae
 +
**{{Endn|45a}}: Chapter 2
 +
*{{Endn|46}}: [[War Zone Nachmund: Rift War]], pg. 32
 +
*{{Endn|47}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Prophecy]]
 +
*{{Endn|48}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/06/27/this-free-horus-heresy-mission-sees-ghastly-word-bearers-procurators-descend-on-the-blood-angels/ Warhammer Community: This Free Horus Heresy Mission Sees Ghastly Word Bearers Procurators Descend on the Blood Angels] - [https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TLbrp4me5GEfL37Q.pdf The Scouring of Gilden's Star PDF (Posted on 27/06/2022)] (Last accessed on 27 June 2022)
 +
*{{Endn|49}}: [[The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness]] Rulebook, pg. 97
 +
*{{Endn|50}}: [[Arks of Omen: Abaddon]], pgs. 30-37
 +
*{{Endn|51}}: [[The Iron Kingdom (Novel)]] - Appendix
 +
*{{Endn|52}}: [[First Founding (Background Book)]], pg. 10
 +
*53: [[Campaigns of the Age of Darkness: The Siege of Cthonia]]:
 +
**{{Endn|53a}: pgs. 34-43
 +
**{{Endn|53b}}: pg. 116
 +
*{{Endn|54}}: [[The End and the Death: Volume II (Novel)]], 8:vii
 +
*{{Endn|55}}: [[White Dwarf 370 (UK)]], pgs. 90-97 – ''[[Army Workshop]]: [[Word Bearers]]''
 +
 
 +
<br>
 +
{{SMLegions}}
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Chaos Undivided]]
 +
[[Category:Space Marine Legions]]
 +
[[Category:Word Bearers|*]]
  
−
[[Category:Word Bearers|*]] [[Category:Space Marine Legions]] [[Category:Chaos Undivided]]
 
 
[[de:Word Bearers]]
 
[[de:Word Bearers]]
 
[[fr:Word Bearers]]
 
[[fr:Word Bearers]]

Latest revision as of 06:16, 18 April 2024

WBSymbolNew.jpg Chaos Portal
Word Bearers
Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Chaos Space Marine Legion. For other uses of Word Bearers, see Word Bearers (disambiguation).
Simple Badge Chaos Space Marines.png
 Chaos Portal
Word Bearers
Wordbearers.png

WBMarine.jpg

Legion Number XVII
Primarch Lorgar Aurelian
Homeworld Colchis (Destroyed)
Current Base Sicarus
Ghalmek
Chaos Affiliation Chaos Undivided
Colours Crimson with gunmetal trim (Post-Heresy)
Grey (Pre-Heresy)
Specialty Daemonancy, Dark Apostles, Combined arms & garrisoning (Pre-Heresy)[52]
Battle Cry An appropriate passage from their sacred texts and dolorous roars.[Needs Citation]
Known Warbands


The Word Bearers, originally known as the Imperial Heralds and the Iconoclasts, is the XVII Legion of the original twenty Space Marine Legions. They were the first of the nine Legions which betrayed the Emperor, becoming the first known Chaos Space Marines, pledging their allegiance to their Primarch Lorgar and to Chaos Undivided.

Known for their extreme religious fervor even before their conversion to Chaos, the Word Bearers are some of the most fanatical Chaos Marines, notable for using Dark Apostles, a corrupted version of Space Marine Chaplains, to inspire their Marines and their cultist allies in battle.

History

Pre-Heresy Word Bearers symbol

Unification Wars

The Primarch of the Word Bearers, Lorgar, vanished while still an infant, just like all of the other Primarchs. The earliest days say the XVIIth Legion stand apart from their brother Legiones Astartes in duty and outlook. They fought with utter devotion and a fanatical zeal. Their original recruits were drawn from the sons of defeated enemies, raised to know the crimes of their fathers and the price of the Emperor's forgiveness. Thus while the other Legions went to war with righteousness, the XVIIth fought with the cold fury that only the condemned and redeemed could know. While other Legions took some time to acquire formal names, the XVIIth was named the Imperial Heralds almost immediately after their founding. This was due to their early role to deliver the Emperor's ultimatum, delivered by a lone herald in black armour with a skull-faced helmet and a winged mace: submission or destruction.[18b]

Upon defeating an enemy, the Imperial Heralds would empty their libraries and records of any contents deemed heretical or sorcerous. Condemned works, individuals, and buildings would be destroyed in the name of the Imperial Truth. The Imperial Heralds repeated this process all across Terra during the Unification Wars. This gave the Imperial Heralds a rarely-spoken nickname among the greater Imperium: the Iconoclasts.[18b]

The Great Crusade

Pre-Heresy Word Bearer color scheme

Eventually, Lorgar was discovered on a Feudal World named Colchis, which he had eventually unified in a series of brutal religious wars in response to his visions of the Emperor's coming arrival. When the Emperor did arrive, as Lorgar had foreseen, the Primarch dropped to his knee, leading the population of his world in rejoicing and worship of the Emperor as a god. At the conclusion of these festivities, the Emperor bade Lorgar take his best warriors and induct them into his Space Marine Legion (at that time known as the Imperial Heralds[7h]) and join him on the Great Crusade. Lorgar appointed trustworthy regents to rule over Colchis and devoutly complied with his father's direction.[Needs Citation]

Lorgar was an unusually pious Primarch. While other Legions were rapidly conquering planet after planet, the Word Bearers proceeded much more slowly, as they would build temples and shrines in veneration of the Emperor, who was also deemed the God of the Imperium by Lorgar, on each newly conquered planet. All forms of blasphemy and heresy that threatened the Emperor's realm, all manner of ancient scrolls, books, artworks and icons were burned and smashed before the advancing ranks of the Legion. In their place, vast monuments and cathedrals, all dedicated to the Emperor, were erected upon the mounds of dead of those who had resisted conversion. The greatest Chaplains of the Legion produced enormous works on the divinity and righteousness of the Emperor, and Lorgar himself delivered countless speeches and sermons, converting millions to the Emperor with his words alone.[Needs Citation]

One of the conflicts during the Great Crusade was the Corrinos Campaign where the Word Bearers fought with renegade Psykers that didn't want to join the Imperium.[18f]

A Legion Kneels

Despite being pledged to the Great Crusade for around a century, the Emperor had never once rebuked Lorgar or his Legion for their zealous worship even though such doctrine clashed with the Emperor's Imperial Truth. However 43 years prior to the events of Isstvan V the Emperor brought his wrath to bear on the Word Bearers. The Emperor ordered the Ultramarines to utterly destroy the city of Monarchia, a perfect city that was testament to all that Lorgar and the Word Bearers stood for, and the capital of Khur. In the ashes of the city the entire Word Bearers legion gathered to be reprimanded by the Emperor, Roboute Guilliman and Malcador the Sigilite. The Legion in its entirety was forced to kneel in the ashes of their greatest achievement and re-pledge themselves to the Great Crusade and to the Emperor.[7a]

In time, Lorgar came to realise that his worship of the Emperor as a god had been false. He still however maintained his view that faith was central to the human psyche and that it was still plausible that his views could be validated. His search began by investigating the Old Faith of his homeworld, which in his certainty that the Emperor was a god he had destroyed during the First Purge of the Brotherhood prior to being discovered by the Emperor. He returned to Colchis to seek the answers he so desperately needed and sought the council of Magnus the Red, the wisest among the Primarchs.[7b]

The Pilgrimage

Word Bearers Heresy-era Marine

Encouraged by Erebus and Kor Phaeron, who had in truth already fallen to worship of the Ruinous Powers, Lorgar came to realise that all of the belief systems which featured in countless other human cultures across the galaxy shared a common origin and underlying message. He believed that because all the countless legends of divinity, from so many disparate cultures, all agreed on other powers than exist beyond the veil, that the human species' most natural instinct could not be false. Thus he took The Pilgrimage, a mythological journey to the place where gods and mortals meet in an attempt to discover the universal truth of the universe and enlighten humanity and his father.[7c]

The Word Bearers Legion rejoined the Great Crusade as a front for the Pilgrimage and scattered itself across the stars, bringing more worlds into compliance than any other Legion in the last fifty years of the Crusade. Lorgar himself joined the 1,301st Expedition Fleet and eventually came to Cadia where they received validation for their theories that all of the Old Faiths across the galaxy shared similar origins, and thus shared a universal truth. Ingethel, a native of Cadia was anointed by the gods as Lorgar's guide in revealing the Primordial Truth and undertook a ritual to do so which elevated her to the ranks of the daemonic as Ingethel the Ascended.[7d]

Ingethel the Ascended led the Serrated Sun Chapter of the Word Bearers into the Great Eye where the failure of the Eldar Empire was witnessed first hand. Ingethel informed the Word Bearers that the Eldar failed and suffered the Fall because at the moment of their ascension they were unable to accept the Primordial Truth. They gave birth to a god of pleasure and promise, yet they felt no joy.[7e] Their new god awoke to find its worshipers abandoning it out of ignorance and fear, thus was the endless storm of the Great Eye formed, an echo of the birth-cries of the Eldar's new god.[7f] The nature of the Primordial Truth was revealed to the Word Bearers in the ashes of the Eldar Empire, they learned that in order for humanity as a species to survive they must not commit the same sins the Eldar did, they must instead accept Chaos.

The Pilgrimage ultimately proved that the Emperor's Imperial Truth was in fact a lie and that gods truly did exist. Secretly pledging themselves to new Dark Gods, the Word Bearers hid their true allegiance for the next four decades.[18b]

Lorgar and the Word Bearers spent the remaining years of the Great Crusade attempting to enlighten humanity about the universal truths of the universe, and began the long process of sending their forces throughout the rest of the Astartes Legions to establish Warrior Lodges and subvert them from within.[7k]. Through this subterfuge they eventually managed to sway several Primarchs to their cause, the most notable being Horus Lupercal. Meanwhile, the Word Bearers avoided suspicion by loyally waging a great many campaigns, soon becoming one of the most militarily successful Legions in the Crusade and seemingly making up for their past failures. In command of the 2nd largest Legion after the Ultramarines, Lorgar's campaigns against predominately Human empires became vicious, brutal, and seemingly spiteful, perhaps a way for the Legion to vent its hidden frustrations.[7]

When it became clear that humanity could not be enlightened without bloodshed whilst it remained shackled to the lies of the Emperor, Lorgar and Erebus helped orchestrate the corruption of Horus himself, initiating the Horus Heresy.[7g]

The Horus Heresy

Possessed Word Bearers battle the Adeptus Custodes during the Horus Heresy[7]

After the Drop Site Massacre on Isstvan V, the Word Bearers abandoned all their past pretenses of loyalty. They openly preached the Primordial Truth, changed their armor to crimson red, and utilized Daemonically Space Marines known as the Gal Vorbak.[8] At the time of the Horus Heresy, it is estimated that the Word Bearers legion numbered some 150,000 combat troops.[11]

Ultramar

As the Heresy unfolded, the Word Bearer ship Furious Abyss set off for Ultramar right after its construction was completed on the Jovian moon of Thule. The Furious Abyss's first kill was the Ultramarines ship Fist of Macragge as it was heading in for repairs in the Vangelis space port. The astropaths of the Fist of Macragge managed to send out a warning, ultimately received as a very powerful psychic scream at the Vangelis space port. Seeing visions of Macragge and the impending terror, Captain Cestus, Fleet Commander of the Ultramarines, quickly gathered a force of ships at the main Vangelis hub of Coralis. He managed to find seven ships: the Wrathful (which Cestus commandeered and commanded from) and her escorts, the Fearless, the Ferox, the Ferocious, the Fireblade, along with the Thousand Sons ship Waning Moon. Captain Vorlov of the ship Boundless also requested to join Captain Cestus, and was accepted. The fleet pursued the Furious Abyss and battled with it, suffering heavy casualties (all ships but the Wrathful and Fireblade were destroyed), ending when the Furious Abyss entered the warp to continue its journey to Ultramar. The Wrathful and Fireblade made the transition as well, but the Furious Abyss deployed a psionic mine which disturbed the Warp, causing the Fireblade's Gellar Field to fail, and the ship was torn apart by the forces of the Immaterium.[5]

Heresy-era Symbol of the Word Bearers after their fall to Chaos[33]

When the Word Bearers launched their attack against the Ultramarines, the strike against Calth was led by Lorgar's greatest champion, the former Master of the Faith, Kor Phaeron. He swore to utterly destroy the planet, and was very nearly successful. From his personal battle barge, now renamed Infidus Imperator, Kor Phaeron directed a full-scale invasion of the Calth System. Calth's three sister planets were all destroyed, massive geo-nuclear strikes ripping them apart at the core. Its once gentle sun was laced with deadly metals and substances that increased the star's radiation output tenfold; within a century after the Heresy's end, the final elements of Calth's atmosphere were burned off and the world left airless, its populace forced to live in gigantic underground caverns.

The war on Calth was devastating and horrific. The Ultramarines were shocked by the millions of cultists the Word Bearers used as human shields and disgusted by the hordes of daemons they unleashed. The Word Bearers, in turn, had underestimated the tenacity and resolve of their foe. In the end, Lord Kor Phaeron was defeated when reinforcements from Macragge drove the Word Bearers from the surface of Calth. Kor Phaeron retreated all the way to the Maelstrom, a turbulent region of the galaxy where the Immaterium of Chaos seeps through into the material realm of the universe. Meanwhile, Lorgar led his own Shadow Crusade in conjunction with the World Eaters, hoping to create a gigantic Warp storm to cut off Ultramar from Terra.[21]

Following the Shadow Crusade, the Word Bearers were ordered to muster at Ullanor for Horus' planned drive on Terra. By this point Lorgar had come to view Horus as weak for resisting the embrace of the Gods, and secretly planned to usurp him as Warmaster. Nonetheless, Lorgar, Zardu Layak, and a small force journeyed into the Webway to find Fulgrim under the guise of returning him to the war. After successfully binding Fulgrim with his True Name, Lorgar planned to use him in a coup to dispose of Horus. However in the end, Lorgar's treachery was exposed and the plan fell apart. Lorgar was exiled from Horus' sight, but 5,000 Word Bearers under Zardu Layak agreed to follow the Warmaster to Terra.[27]

While Lorgar and Layak went separete ways, a force of Word Bearers led by Zedak Mordakar would aid the Sons of Horus in the recapture of their home planet.[53a]

Terra

The Word Bearers under Layak would take part in the Siege of Terra.[27] In the end, Horus was defeated, and the legions of Chaos were forced to flee. Shortly after the defeat at Terra, the Word Bearers were defeated in the Bitter War and their homeworld of Colchis was destroyed.[53b] The Word Bearers were also forced to retreat to the Eye of Terror, and there they have remained, returning to the Imperium to raid, pillage, and destroy.

Post-Heresy

A Daemon World ruled by the Word Bearers

From the Daemon World of Sicarus, Lorgar watches over his Legion and orchestrates the vast corruption from within that the Imperium suffers at the hands of his cults and covens. Unlike many of the other Traitor Legions, the Word Bearers have remained a unified, if loosely organised, military force, the main ruling body of which is known as the Dark Council, which rules in Lorgar's absence.[6]

From the two primary bases of the Legion, Sicarus and the factory-world of Ghalmek, located within the Maelstrom, the Word Bearers launch twisted wars of faith against the Imperium. On each world they attack, they incubate a seed of heresy that will one day contribute to their ever-expanding web of cults. Sometimes however, this brings them into competition with the efforts of the Alpha Legion. Though the Alpha Legion and the Word Bearers have united several times to take part in the Black Crusades of Ezekyle Abaddon, they are more usually in states of bitter division and rivalry. However, these things are but distractions as their war against the Imperium of Man is total, and they do not intend for it to end until every icon of the Emperor lies shattered at their feet.

Notable Engagements Post-Heresy

Organisation

A Post-Heresy Word Bearer[12]

Great Crusade and Horus Heresy

During the Great Crusade and ensuing Horus Heresy, the Word Bearers Legion, 100,000 strong[7a], was divided into many different Chapters, each bearing a name and icon representing one of the constellations of Colchis. Typically a Chapter consisted of several companies with an overal strength of 500-3,000 warriors. While each Chapter maintained a formal military structure consisting of a Chapter Master, Captains and so on there was also a parallel hierarchy based around Chaplains and spiritual authority.[49]

Known Chapters

Unique Formations

Post-Heresy

The Word Bearers do not worship Chaos Gods individually. Instead, they are venerated and regarded as a Dark Pantheon of Chaos Gods. The sons of Lorgar view those who limit their worship to a single Chaos God with contempt and are partially at odds with the Emperor's Children for their decadence. Word Bearers rely on Daemons as shock troops, meatshields, and as the bulk of their armies. Their elite Chaos Space Marines are used to accomplish vital tasks. The Word Bearers have been known to have a massive cultist base, and have used cultists and insurgents since the Great Crusade. However, unlike the Alpha Legion, the primary use of cultists is as cannon fodder and distractions.

The Word Bearers are notable for being the only Traitor Legion who still have a corps of Chaplains, now known as Dark Apostles. The Word Bearers follow the words of their Dark Apostles with total faith in battle. The Dark Apostles divine through many ways how a battle is to be fought and won, and the warriors of the Host obey unquestioningly. Before battle, the Word Bearers gather in ritual prayer, chanting hymns and cult doctrine to affirm their faith in the power of Chaos. Often these chants will be answered and it is common for the Word Bearers to fight alongside daemonic entities.

Post-Heresy Word Bearer[1]

Alongside the Black Legion and Death Guard, the Word Bearers are one of the three traitor Legion's that did not fracture in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy.[29] The legion is ruled centrally from the Dark Council of Sicarus[6]. This evil priesthood enforces a strict regime of worship of the Chaos pantheon upon their fellow Word Bearers and are also highly likely to be found leading the Legion in battle. Each is gifted an army of their own, known as a Host. The numbers vary, with the smallest typical size roughly analogous to that of a Space Marine Company, and the largest exceeding the manpower of a Space Marine Chapter.

The organisational make-up of each Host differs wildly as well, and can change depending on the whims of the Dark Apostle that leads it. Often they will suddenly alter the hierarchy of their Host for reasons known only to themselves. These changes often result in seemingly unwieldy or tactically inflexible formations. The Word Bearers themselves accept these changes without question.[1]

The largest known Host numbered over two thousand Chaos Marines at its peak. The size of this force required that the Dark Apostle be served by two chief lieutenants, his First Acolyte and a champion, entitled as the Coryphaus. The role of the Coryphaus is to be the intermediary between the Dark Apostle and his host. This allows the Dark Apostle to be seen primarily as a spiritual and distant figure. Furthermore, the Coryphaus is essentially in charge of the majority of tactical decisions on the battlefield, freeing the Dark Apostle to commune with the Darker powers, fuel the hatred of the host and ponder strategic matters. Additionally, the Host possessed an Icon Bearer and an elite unit of over two hundred Terminators known as the Anointed.[4]

The most commonly occurring structure is that roughly equating to a Space Marine company, with the Host broken down into units of about twelve warriors. Each is commanded by a champion of the Word Bearers who strives to become as devout a war leader as the Dark Apostle in the hope of one day being chosen to succeed him on the occasion of his death.

Known Hosts

The Word Bearers then march into battle beneath their standards, bellowing catechisms of hatred at their foe as drums beat out a dolorous thunder. The relentless advance of the Word Bearers is a terrifying sight, as the monotonous chant and beat of drums can break even the strongest will. The unshakeable belief of the Word Bearers in the truth of their cause has seen them marching into certain death, yet unwilling to take a single step backwards. A battle ends either in victory or the utter destruction of the Word Bearer host.[1]

Notable Elements

Word Bearers Armoury

Main article: Word Bearers Armoury

Fleet

Main article: Known Vessels of the Word Bearers

During the Horus Heresy the Word Bearers are known to have possessed the following vessels:[2]

After the Horus Heresy the Word Bearers are known to possess the following vessels:

Notable Word Bearers

Heresy-Era

Post-Heresy

Unique Troops

See also

Sources

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The Space Marine Legions of the Horus Heresy
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

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