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Librarian

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Librarian Lexicanium - Codicier - Epistolary - Chief Librarian
Psychic lightning bolts from a Librarian
Salamanders Librarian
White Scars Stormseer

A Librarian is a Space Marine psyker and command unit. They fulfil several important specialist roles in the Chapter: off the battlefield they are responsible for interstellar psychic communications. In battle they utilise their abilities as powerful psykers. They also among the most knowledgeable of the Chapter's history and traditions.1, 3

Contents

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

All potential recruits into a Chapter are scrutinised by Librarians for psychic ability. Those with psychic powers undergo judgement that divides them into those who will join the Chapter as Librarians, and those who are too weak in power or character that they would present a danger. Worthy psychic candidates are passed on to the chapter Librarium for training.1

The rate of attrition is the greatest for psychically gifted candidates, as they must not only be strong enough to survive the training that the normal candidate must undergo, but possess the mental strength to endure the shaping of their minds and to fend off the daemons and entities of the Warp who see the strong form and mind of a Librarian as a great prize.

During their training they must hone their psychic power as well as gain some measure of protection from the predators of the warp. The greatest danger psyker recruits face is the loss of their very sanity.1

Role

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 include interstellar communication and screening potential recruits for psychic abilities.1

Librarians are often treated with distrust due to their nature. Marines are taught to hate the deviant and abnormal, particularly mutants and those with psychic powers. This creates a gulf between the Librarians and the rest of the chapter brethren, though the powers they can bring to bear on the battlefield makes them always welcome in combat.1

On the battlefield, Librarian psychic 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 incorporate psychically-nullifying crystals which provide defence against enemy psychic attacks. 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

Heraldry

According to the guidelines of the Codex Astartes, the armour of Librarians is blue with gold and yellow highlights, regardless of chapter colours. The left shoulder plate of the Librarian's armour displays the chapter symbol in the case of power armour; for Terminator armoured Librarians, the chapter symbol is displayed on the right shoulder armour (leaving the Crux Terminatus for the left). The free shoulder pad displays the Librarian symbol, its exact form denoting the rank of the Librarian. Librarians wear golden yellow tabards which are edged with black patterns, the complexity of the pattern denoting the Librarian's rank.

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

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

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
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