From Lexicanum

Librarian

Lexicanium - Codicier - Epistolary - Chief Librarian

A Librarian is a Space Marine psyker and command unit.¹

History

The early history of the Librarians is chequered with mistrust and intrigue. The Librarian training schemes were created by Magnus the Red, a powerful psyker in his own right, along with some of the other Primarchs, although the rest were completely against using psykers in the Space Marine legions, most notably Leman Russ, Corax, Rogal Dorn and Mortarion.²

The first Librarian experiments were sanctioned by the Emperor. They were seen as a good way of controlling the random development of psychic powers among Space Marines. Magnus and his fellow pro-psyker primarch then asked the Emperor to allow recruitment of psychic individuals into the ranks of the legions. The Emperor accepted, and the Librarians became some of the most loyal troops to the Emperor. The debate over Librarians came to a head when Mortarion accused Magnus of sorcery. The Emperor summoned a meeting at Nikaea in an effort to provide a final solution to the Librarian issue.²

The Council of Nikaea, as it became known, more decided the guilt of Magnus than the fate of the Librarians. Magnus was banned from using psychic powers but also to disband his legion's psychic corps and redistribute them back into the battle companies as standard troops. He threatened Magnus with destruction should he delve into the psychic realm again, but this was not to stop him.²

Training

Psychic powers are considered mutations by Apothecaries and intensive screening processes are used to discover those with any psychic abilities. They are then passed on to the chapter Librarium for training.¹

Training Space Marines is a gruelling, and often destructive, process. Many fail the process and either die or become Serfs but the fallout is even higher for psychically gifted individuals. As well as the normal training routines all Space Marine initiates are subject to, psykers have to endure the shaping of their minds. This includes extreme mental control to project their psychic abilities in meaningful ways as well as protecting themselves from the warp. The greatest danger for a new psyker is the chance of losing control and being possessed by daemons from the warp.¹

Once a psyker has completed his training, he will be allowed to join the Librarius as a Lexicanium and can then rise through the ranks, becoming a Codicier, Epistolary and eventually Chief Librarian. His duties become linked with the warp, including interstellar communication as well as detecting the arrival and departure of ships using warp drives and identifying others with psychic abilities.¹

Librarians are often treated with distrust due to their nature. Marines are taught to hate all that is not 'normal' for humans, including psychic powers. This sets them apart, making a gulf between the Librarians and the rest of the chapter, though their presence on the battlefield is always welcomed.¹

On the battlefield, Librarian powers often manifest in useful, and often destructive, ways. These can include anything from projecting energy bolts to erecting powerful protective fields. The more powerful Librarians tend to use their powers in more subtle ways, stepping out of time for a moment to anticipate their enemy's next move or redirecting bullets away from friendly targets. To aid them in using these powers, and protecting themselves, Librarians wear psychic hoods. These devices consist of a number of psychically-attuned crystals which nullify enemy psychic powers. They are often armed with force weapons, which only Librarians and other psykers can use to full effect, channelling their powers through the weapon.¹

Colours

The Codex Astartes gives strict guidelines on how Librarians should appear. Their armour is always blue with gold and yellow highlights, regardless of chapter colours. Chapter heraldry is put on the left shoulder pad on power armour, and the right on terminator armour (leaving the Crux Terminatus for the left). The free shoulder pad is given over to denoting the rank, and power, of the Librarian. This is often a simple pattern for ease of recognition. Their equipment is often heavily ornamented by artificers of the chapter due to the heroism and valour shown by the Librarians, making every piece individual.⁵

Chapter variations

Several Chapters have different names for Librarians such as the Space Wolves, who call them Rune Priests⁴, and the White Scars, who call them Stormseers.⁸ Some exclude their use entirely, like the Black Templars⁷. Other chapters, such as the Blood Ravens, revere Librarians greatly, having a higher likeliness of them being included in their forces.⁹

The Dark Angels Librarians have a similar role to play as most other Librarians do, but they also watch over the dungeons of the Rock and aid in extracting confessions from the fallen by reducing their mental barriers and gathering the truth from the web of lies they speak.⁶

Ranks and Roles

• Lexicanium: Rune Skald⁴
• Codicier: Rune Priest⁴
• Epistolary: Rune Master⁴
• Chief Librarian: Rune Lord⁴

Notable Librarians

Some of the best well known Librarians are shown below, and other notable, but less well known, ones are listed here.

Tigurius of the Ultramarines

Mephiston of the Blood Angels

Ezekiel of the Dark Angels

Njal Stormcaller of the Space Wolves

Images

2nd Edition

Terminator Librarian

Space Wolves Terminator Rune Priest

3rd Edition

Space Wolves 13th Company Rune Priest

4th Edition

Terminator Librarian

Axe and Plasma Pistol

Staff and Book

Sword and Bolt Pistol

Sources

• ¹:Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)
• ²:Horus Heresy (Artbook Series)
• ³:Genestealer (1990, Space Hulk expansion)
• ⁴:Codex: Space Wolves (2nd Edition)
• ⁵:Codex: Ultramarines (2nd Edition)
• ⁶:Codex: Dark Angels (4th Edition)
• ⁷:Codex: Black Templars (4th Edition)
• ⁸:Index Astartes I - White Scars
• ⁹:WD305 - Index Astartes Blood Ravens

Space Marine Infantry
Command	Master • Captain • Master of Sanctity • Reclusiarch • Epistolary • Codicier Command Squad • Apothecary • Company Standard Bearer • Company Champion
Standard	Tactical • Assault • Devastator • Scout • Veteran • Tyrannic War Veterans • Honour Guard
Terminators	Terminator Squad • Terminator Assault Squad • Terminator Command Squad