Difference between revisions of "The Shattered Legions"
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**The [[Voyage of the Sixty-Six]], in which sixty-six [[Salamanders]] survivors from [[Ultramar]] led by [[Artellus Numeon]]braved the [[Ruinstorm]] in an attempt to return [[Vulkan]]'s body to [[Nocturne]].{{Fn|21}} | **The [[Voyage of the Sixty-Six]], in which sixty-six [[Salamanders]] survivors from [[Ultramar]] led by [[Artellus Numeon]]braved the [[Ruinstorm]] in an attempt to return [[Vulkan]]'s body to [[Nocturne]].{{Fn|21}} | ||
**The [[Battle of Nocturne]], in which a force of [[Salamanders]] [[Neophyte]]s and the survivors of [[The sixty-six]] defended their [[Nocturne|homeworld]] from an invasion of [[Death Guard]] under [[Malig Laestygon]].{{Fn|21}} | **The [[Battle of Nocturne]], in which a force of [[Salamanders]] [[Neophyte]]s and the survivors of [[The sixty-six]] defended their [[Nocturne|homeworld]] from an invasion of [[Death Guard]] under [[Malig Laestygon]].{{Fn|21}} | ||
| − | *The [[Theft of the Kryptos]], when [[Raven Guard]] commando [[Nykona Sharrowkyn]] and [[Iron Father]] [[Sabik Wayland]] infiltrated a [[Dark Mechanicum]] fortress and stole a strategically valuable artefact from the traitors.{{Fn|16}} | + | *The [[Theft of the Kryptos]], when [[Raven Guard]] commando [[Nykona Sharrowkyn]] and [[Iron Hands]] [[Iron Father]] [[Sabik Wayland]] infiltrated a [[Dark Mechanicum]] fortress and stole a strategically valuable artefact from the traitors.{{Fn|16}} |
**The [[Assassination attempt on Fulgrim]] on [[Hydra Cordatus]], when [[Nykona Sharrowkyn]] made what should have been a fatal headshot on the [[Emperor's Children]] [[Primarch]].{{Fn|1}} | **The [[Assassination attempt on Fulgrim]] on [[Hydra Cordatus]], when [[Nykona Sharrowkyn]] made what should have been a fatal headshot on the [[Emperor's Children]] [[Primarch]].{{Fn|1}} | ||
**The [[Battle of Iydris]], where the forces of the [[Sisypheum]] interrupted the ascension of [[Fulgrim]] to [[Daemon|daemonhood]], [[Ignatius Numen]] slew [[Marius Vairosean]] and [[Nykona Sharrowkyn]] temporarily killed [[Lucius]].{{Fn|1}} | **The [[Battle of Iydris]], where the forces of the [[Sisypheum]] interrupted the ascension of [[Fulgrim]] to [[Daemon|daemonhood]], [[Ignatius Numen]] slew [[Marius Vairosean]] and [[Nykona Sharrowkyn]] temporarily killed [[Lucius]].{{Fn|1}} | ||
Revision as of 10:42, 29 January 2020
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This article is about the Part of the Legions; for the Horus Heresy Anthology, see Shattered Legions (Anthology). |
The Shattered Legions is a collective term for the Iron Hands, Raven Guard and Salamanders Space Marine Legions who suffered heavy losses in the Isstvan V Dropsite Massacre at the outbreak of the Horus Heresy and were effectively destroyed as fighting Legions, but continued to fight against the traitor Legions as scattered warbands numbering anywhere between hundreds or just a handful of marines for the duration of the war.[Needs Citation]
Contents
Origins
The Shattered Legions have their origins in the Isstvan V Dropsite Massacre, a large-scale ambush carried out by the traitor Warmaster Horus and those Legions loyal to him on the desert planet Isstvan V. The Death Guard, World Eaters, Emperor's Children and Sons of Horus Legions, their betrayal of the Imperium revealed by the virus-bombing of the Loyalist elements of their own Legions on Isstvan III, bunkered down in a large fortress on Isstvan V to await the arrival of a huge reprisal force organised and sent by the Emperor's Praetorian, Rogal Dorn. The Iron Hands, Salamanders and Raven Guard Legions formed the first wave of this force and touched down on Isstvan V under the leadership of Iron Hands' Primarch Ferrus Manus. Outraged by the betrayal of their brother Legions they launched a severe attack, the Iron Hands in particular driving deep into the Emperor's Children's ranks to avenge an earlier betrayal in the Carolis system. When the second wave of four more Legions arrived on the battlefield the Salamanders and Raven Guard fell back towards the dropsite to recover from the fierce fighting, while the enraged Iron Hands fought on and Ferrus Manus engaged in a ferocious single combat with Emperor's Children Primarch Fulgrim, almost managing to kill him until Fulgrim gave in to the whisperings of a Greater Daemon of Slaanesh housed in the pommel of his sword and became possessed, giving him the required strength to recover and strike Manus down. The four Legions comprising the second wave entrenched at the dropsite, and in the most infamous betrayal of the Imperium's history opened fire on the retreating Salamanders and Raven Guard. The Word Bearers, Night Lords, Iron Warriors and Alpha Legion had all secretly already sided with Horus, and slaughtered the vastly outnumbered Loyalist Legions in a huge and well-planned betrayal.[8],[17],[18]
Escaping Isstvan
Despite catastrophic numbers of casualties, a small number of Loyalist survivors managed to fight their way back to landed Stormbirds and Thunderhawks. Of those that did so almost all were wounded, many badly so, and of the ships that managed to take off from the dropsite many were shot down by traitor anti-aircraft guns. Those that escaped the planet then had to run the gauntlet of the traitor fleet, which prowled the Isstvan system for some time after the initial battle hunting for escaping craft, while Sons of Horus and Emperor's Children purge-fleets were dispatched to chase those who made it out of the system. Nevertheless, a comparatively tiny number of Loyalist marines did manage to escape through luck, skill and sheer indomitable will. Furthermore, relatively small task forces of Iron Hands, Salamanders and Raven Guard that nevertheless numbered into the hundreds were not present at the massacre, and the Iron Hands in particular were not wholly destroyed as Ferrus Manus had been so eager to take the fight to the traitors that he had not waited for the entire Legion to assemble before spearheading the attack. Of particular note are the Iron Hands forces of Shadrak Meduson, who commanded part of the reserve fleet held in orbit during the Dropsite Massacre and escaped, going on to become a feared Loyalist commander who wreaked significant damage on traitor assets and forces.[25a]
The Raven's Flight
Of the three Loyalist Legions caught in the trap on Isstvan V the Raven Guard were the only ones who did not lose their Primarch, Ferrus Manus of the Iron Hands being killed by Fulgrim and Vulkan of the Salamanders being captured by the Night Lords. Corvus Corax was able to escape from the battlefield and regroup with three thousand surviving Raven Guard, and for 98 days they fled the pursuing traitor forces before being forced into a final stand against the World Eaters on the planet. At the very moment they were preparing for their deaths the Raven Guard were rescued by Branne Nev, the commander of the Raven Guard garrison on Deliverance, who was persuaded to abandon his post by the prophetic dreams of Therion Cohort Praefector Marcus Valerius and arrived with a rescue fleet in time to save his Primarch and the other survivors. The rescue fleet was then able to evade the traitor fleet and escape the Isstvan system, though unbeknownst to the Raven Guard, this was contrived by the Alpha Legion, whose operatives had infiltrated the survivors' ranks by surgically removing the faces of slain Legionaries and re-grafting them onto Alpha Legionaires.[5],[6],[13b]
Actions undertaken by Shattered Legion forces
The military actions undertaken by the Shattered Legion survivors against the traitor forces are too many to number, and most have been forgotten by history, the brave Loyalists who carried them out slain on forgotten worlds during failed missions and last stands. Nevertheless, through sheer daring and strategic skill, some elements of the Shattered Legions managed to strike significant blows against the Traitor Legions, conducting sabotage and hit-and-run attacks, disrupting supply lines and bolstering the defenses of Loyalist worlds. Horus had planned to remove the Raven Guard, Salamanders and Iron Hands completely as factors in his plans to conquer the Imperium, but, through the heroism of the Shattered Legion survivors, he was forced to rue their escape from Isstvan V.[27]
Some notable actions undertaken by Shattered Legion forces during the war are listed below.
- The Battle of Oqueth Minor, where a united fleet of Iron Hands, Raven Guard and Salamanders were ambushed by a Sons of Horus fleet under Tybalt Marr and the Iron Hands Clan-Fathers were killed, allowing Shadrak Meduson to rise to the position of Warleader.[25a]
- The Defense of Dwell, where Shadrak Meduson combined his forces with the local Imperial Army to defend the planet against the Sons of Horus, losing the battle but badly injuring Horus Aximand and in the battle's aftermath almost claiming the lives of Horus, Fulgrim and Mortarion simultaneously with a surprise gunship strike.[13c],<(sup>[4]
- The Battle of Hamart III, in which Meduson's forces overwhelmed Sons of Horus garrisoning the planet and recovered a large amount of supplies they had gathered.[27]
- The Battle of the Zanaeh Gulf, in which Meduson led a large Shattered Legions fleet in ambushing a Sons of Horus convoy whose position was given away by intelligence recovered from Hamart III. The convoy turned out to be bait for an ambush, but Meduson still managed to achieve a hard-fought victory. During the battle, Vulkan reappeared among the Loyalists for the first time since Isstvan.[27]
- The Battle of the Aragna Chain, where Meduson's fleet inflicted significant damage on Tybalt Marr's larger force, but loses the initiative when a captured enemy ship is suddenly retaken and Meduson's attempt to board Marr's ship and kill him instead results in his own capture. Meduson is abandoned by the majority of the Iron Hands in his force and executed by Marr.[27]
- The Kiavahr Uprising, where the Raven Guard successfully put down an Alpha Legion-engineered uprising on the world orbited by their home moon and purged their ranks of Alpha Legion impostors.[5]
- The Battle of Constanix II, where the Raven Guard under Corvus Corax marshalled Loyalist Mechanicum forces on Constanix II and led a successful uprising against traitor Archmagos Delvere and his Word Bearers allies.[19]
- The Scarato Uprising, where Corax' Raven Guard and their Imperial Fists and Legio Custodes allies liberated Scarato from a Sons of Horus occupation force.[24]
- The Battle of Carandiru, where Corax' force assaulted thePrison-world of Carandiru and foiled a plot by rogue Raven Guard Nathian to create a race of super-soldiers dubbed the New Men.[24]
- The Battle of Yarant III, where [[Corvus Corax|Corax]' forces came to the aid of the Space Wolves in a last stand against the Thousand Sons, Alpha Legion and Sons of Horus.[26]
- The Escape of Vulkan, when the Salamanders Primarch escaped imprisonment aboard the Night Lords' flagship after prolonged torture at the hands of Konrad Curze.[8]
- The Raid on Traoris, where a primarily Salamanders force led by Artellus Numeon sacrificed themselves to prevent a Word Bearers force under Valdrekk Elias obtaining the Fulgurite Spear.[8]
- The Voyage of the Sixty-Six, in which sixty-six Salamanders survivors from Ultramar led by Artellus Numeonbraved the Ruinstorm in an attempt to return Vulkan's body to Nocturne.[21]
- The Battle of Nocturne, in which a force of Salamanders Neophytes and the survivors of The sixty-six defended their homeworld from an invasion of Death Guard under Malig Laestygon.[21]
- The Theft of the Kryptos, when Raven Guard commando Nykona Sharrowkyn and Iron Hands Iron Father Sabik Wayland infiltrated a Dark Mechanicum fortress and stole a strategically valuable artefact from the traitors.[16]
- The Assassination attempt on Fulgrim on Hydra Cordatus, when Nykona Sharrowkyn made what should have been a fatal headshot on the Emperor's Children Primarch.[1]
- The Battle of Iydris, where the forces of the Sisypheum interrupted the ascension of Fulgrim to daemonhood, Ignatius Numen slew Marius Vairosean and Nykona Sharrowkyn temporarily killed Lucius.[1]
- The The Battle of Eirene Septimus, where the warriors of the Sisypheum attempted to assassinate Alpharius alongside Shadrak Meduson but became pawns in Alpharius' plan to eliminate Loyalists from his own Legion.[23]
- The Battle of Perditus, where the Iron Hands 98th Clan-Company led by Cassalir Lorramech fought a Death Guard task force led by Calas Typhon to prevent them from claiming a powerful alien sentience that was later requisitioned by the Dark Angels.[15]
- The Battle of Bodt, where forces under Autek Mor invaded the World Eaters recruitment world of Bodt and recovered precious Gene-tech from beneath its surface before destroying the planet by crashing its own moon into it.[20]
- The Xana Incursion, where Shattered Legions forces supported a Dark Angels attack on the traitor Forge world Xana and prevented its alliance with Horus.[20]
- The Battle of Nyrcon, where Salamanders forces supported by Imperial Army and Loyalist Titans reclaimed the Beta-Garmon system from the Emperor's Children and Legio Mortis.[20]
- The Malagant Conflict, where a single force of Raven Guard bogged down all of the Death Guard's reserves from Barbarus for three years before achieving victory when Imperial Fists reinforcements arrived from Inwit.[20]
- The Battle of Ohmn-Mat, where Iron Hands and Sons of Horus forces took sides in a civil war amongst the planet's Mechanicum, leading to a prolonged stalemate.[20]
- The Battle of Beta-Garmon, where Shattered Legions forces joined the Loyalists in defending the strategically vital system from Horus' advance.[26]
Known Shattered Legion survivors
Iron Hands
- Forces under Shadrak Meduson:
- Shadrak Meduson, Warleader and Captain of the 10th Company, Clan Sorrgol[13b]
- Jebez Aug, Iron Father and Hand-Elect, Clan Sorrgol[25a]
- Bion Henricos, Sergeant, 10th Company, Clan Sorrgol[13b]
- Goran Gorgonson, Apothecary, Clan Lokopt[25a]
- Augos Lumak, Captain, Clan Avernii[25a]
- Lars Mechosa, Captain, Clan Sorrgol[25a]
- Forces under Shadrak Meduson:
- From the Sisypheum:
- From the Veritas Ferrum:
- Achaicus[2]
- Anton Galba, Sergeant[2]
- Atrax, Dreadnought[2]
- Aulus, Sergeant[2]
- Camnus, Techmarine[2]
- Catigernus[2]
- Crevther, Sergeant[2]
- Darras, Sergeant[2]
- Durun Atticus, Captain, 111th Clan Company[2]
- Ecdurus[2]
- Ennius[2]
- Eutropius[2]
- Lacertus, Sergeant[2]
- Vektus, Apothecary[2]
- Aan Kolver, Clan-Father, Clan Ungavarr[25a]
- Karel Mach, Clan-Father, Clan Raukaan{Fn|25a}}
- Lech Vircule, Clan-Father, Clan Atraxii[25a]
- Loreson Unfleshed, Clan-Father, Clan Felg[25a]
- Ares Voitek, Knight-Errant[4]
- Autek Mor, Commander, Red Talon[9]
- Veur , Red Talon[9]
- Casalir Lorramech, Captain, 98th Clan Company[15]
- Lasko Midoa, Iron Father, 98th Clan Company[15]
- Castrmen Orth, Spearhead-Centurion[9]
- Crius, Crusader Host[11]
- Athanatos[11]
- Phidias[11]
- Verud Pergellen, Sniper (Fire Ark)[8]
- Domadus, Quartermaster (Fire Ark)[8]
- Eeron Kleve, Ultramar refugee (rank deferred in mourning)[7]
- Sardon Karaashison, Ultramar refugee[7]
- Erasmus Ruuman, Morlock[22]
- Ishmal Sulnar, Lieutenant[22]
- Tarkan, Sniper[22]
- From the Veritas Ferrum:
Raven Guard
- Corvus Corax, Primarch[5]
- Agapito Nev, Commander of the Talons[5]
- Aloni Tev, Commander of the Falcons[5]
- Branne Nev, Commander of the Raptors[6]
- Navar Hef, Lieutenant, Raptors[19]
- Xanda Neroka, Lieutenant, Raptors[24]
- Devor, Sergeant, Raptors[24]
- Foss, Sergeant, Raptors[27]
- Calda, Raptor[27]
- Drayk, Raptor[26]
- Fannas, Raptor[26]
- Garba, Raptor[26]
- Kaddian Styrus, Raptor[27]
- Kannak, Raptor[26]
- Kelpel, Raptor[26]
- Kharvo, Raptor[27]
- Nakaska, Raptor[27]
- Nastar, Raptor[27]
- Sannad, Raptor[26]
- Volb, Raptor[26]
- Chamell, Shade-Sergeant, Mor Deythan[24]
- Gherith Arendi, commander of the Shadow Wardens[24]
- Shray Chavyon, Lieutenant, Black Guard[26]
- Soukhounou, Commander of the Hawks[14]
- Ashel, Sergeant[14]
- Balsar Kurthuri, former Librarian, later inducted into the Knights-Errant[5]
- Fara Tex, Librarian[26]
- Ghelt, Dark Fury Chooser of the Slain[26]
- Hadraig Dor, Sergeant[5]
- Lukar Fereni[5]
- Marko Diz[5]
- Stradon Binalt, Techmarine [5]
- Syth Arriax, Librarian[26]
- Vincente Sixx, Chief Apothecary[5]
- Avus (Fire Ark)[8]
- Hriak, former Codicier (Fire Ark)[8]
- Inachus Ptero (Veritas Ferrum)[2]
- Jaquos Zanak[9]
- Judex (Veritas Ferrum)[2]
- Khalen, Sergeant[10]
- Kirhane, Warlock[9]
- Morikan (Obstinance)
- Morvax Haukspeer, Apothecary[22]
- Napenna, Techmarine[24]
- Nathian, planetary commandant[24]
- Nykona Sharrowkyn (Sisypheum)[1]
- Rama Karayan, Knight-Errant[4]
- Reve, Crusader Host[12]
- Sallahn[10]
- Tallor, Crusader Host[12]
- Verano Ebb, Captain, Ultramar refugee[7]
- Corvus Corax, Primarch[5]
Salamanders
- Vulkan, Primarch[8]
- From the Charybdis:
- Artellus Numeon, Pyre Guard Captain (Fire Ark, Charybdis)[8],[21]
- Barek Zytos, Sergeant[21]
- Rek'or Xathen, Pyroclast Sergeant[21]
- Phaestus Var'kir, Chaplain[21]
- Far'kor Zonn, Techmarine[21]
- Igen Gargo, metalsmith and amateur Apothecary[21]
- Atesh Tarsa, Apothecary (Sisypheum)[1]
- Donak[3]
- Heka’tan, Captain[13a]
- K'gosi, Pyroclast (Fire Ark)[8]
- Khi'Dem, Sergeant, 139th Company (Veritas Ferrum)[2]
- Leodrakk, Pyre Guard (Fire Ark)[8]
- Nomus Rhy'tan, Lord Chaplain[9]
- Ra'stan, Epistolary[22]
- Shen'ra, Techmarine (Fire Ark)[8]
- Ven'tal[9]
- Vor'shar, Crusader Host[12]
Sources
 |
- 1: Angel Exterminatus (Novel) by Graham McNeill,[Needs Citation]
- 2: The Damnation of Pythos (Novel) by David Annandale,[Needs Citation]
- 3: Strike and Fade (Audio Drama) by Guy Haley
- 4: Vengeful Spirit (Novel) by Graham McNeill,[Needs Citation]
- 5: Deliverance Lost (Novel) by Gav Thorpe,[Needs Citation]
- 6: Raven's Flight (Short Story) by Gav Thorpe
- 7: The Unremembered Empire (Novel) by Dan Abnett,[Needs Citation]
- 8: Vulkan Lives (Novel) by Nick Kyme,[Needs Citation]
- 9: The Horus Heresy Book Two - Massacre,[Needs Citation]
- 9a: p. 230
- 10: The Horus Heresy Book Three - Extermination,[Needs Citation]
- 11: Riven (Short Story) by John French
- 12: The Purge (Novella) by Anthony Reynolds,[Needs Citation]
- 13: Age of Darkness (Anthology)
- 14: The Value of Fear (Short Story)
- 15: The Lion (Novella) by Gav Thorpe,[Needs Citation]
- 16: Kryptos (Short Story) by Graham McNeill
- 17: Fulgrim (Novel) by Graham McNeill,[Needs Citation]
- 18: The First Heretic (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden,[Needs Citation]
- 19: Corax: Soulforge (Novella) by Gav Thorpe,[Needs Citation]
- 20: The Horus Heresy Book Six - Retribution,[Needs Citation]
- 21: Deathfire (Novel) by Nick Kyme,[Needs Citation]
- 22: Scorched Earth (Novella) by Nick Kyme,[Needs Citation]
- 23: The Seventh Serpent (Novella) by Graham McNeill,[Needs Citation]
- 24: Ravenlord (Novella) by Gav Thorpe
- 25: Shattered Legions (Anthology)
- 26: Weregeld (Novella) by Gav Thorpe
- 27: Raptor (Short Story) by Gav Thorpe
