Blackshields
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This article is about the Space Marines; for the other uses, see Blackshield (disambiguation). |
The term Blackshields refers to irregular Space Marine units during the Horus Heresy. Small in scale, few numbered more than a thousand or so warriors.[1b]
Contents
Overview
Evoking martial tradition of ancient times, a Blackshield was a warrior who had entirely denounced his parent Legion, or in some extreme cases had never known which Legion they were originally from. They often fought under a false banner or bore no banner at all. Groups of Blackshields fought against both sides in the Heresy, dating back to the Battle of the Coronid Deeps of 006-008.M31. There, a force of loyalist Astartes clad in black and wearing no iconography other than the Aquila formed to fight the traitors, but refused the order to withdraw and were presumed lost.[1b]
The exact origins of the Blackshields phenomenon remains a mystery. However what is known is that many types of Blackshields existed, most defined by the circumstances of their formation. Some were Astartes driven beyond their limits, consumed by the grief and insanity of the Heresy. Some were so broken in mind and spirit they no longer recognized or acknowledged any lord, becoming determined to forge their own path in the Galaxy. Others were mere raiders determined to claiming their own domains from both sides. Some thought they were still continuing the work of the Great Crusade while others established petty empires, enslaving those they came across. Perhaps the most mythic type of Blackshields were those who actively turned on their own Primarch and Legion.[1b]
However one of the few defining factors common across Blackshields was the fact they all denounced their heritage and none considered themselves belonging to any Primarch. This led to most, though not all, painting themselves in a distinctive black. As with Shattered Legions forces Blackshields were encountered on both sides of the war and in many cases were fighting entirely for themselves. Some bore the Aquila while others bore the Eye of Horus, but none answered to any master but their own. The Imperium considered many of these bands to be little more than Pirates.[1b]
In battle, Blackshields were observed using "Pariah" Wargear, modifying their armour and weapons in ways that would have been considered illegal in the Legiones Astartes. They were also observed using Xenos weaponry.[1a]
Types of Blackshields
- Death Seekers — Blackshields consumed with a drive to find death in battle. They were psychologically unstable and could endure tremendous amounts of pain and injury.[1a]
- Orphans of War — Hardened veterans who are distrustful of both sides of the Heresy.[1a]
- Outlanders — Have turned to pursuing their own goals, often acting as marauders and pirates.[1a]
- Chymeriae — Warriors born from a combination of gene-seed from different Legions, often at the demand of a rogue Primarch or Apothecary. These warriors were mentally unstable and unpredictable, often suffering from madness and mutations.[1a]
Known Blackshield Bands
- The Company of the Sundered — Pirate band[1b]
- The Nine Blades — Established a petty slave empire in the Truan System[1b]
- The Umbral Hundred — Scoured twelve Systems in the Chonma Sector in 011.M31[1b]
- The Dark Brotherhood
- The Gerasene Host — Undertook unsanctioned gene-seed hybridization, creating "Chymeriae" Astartes[1a]
- The Ashen Claws
- The Third Covenant
- The Burnt Word - Took part in the Solar War[2]
- The Brotherhood of Set - Took part in the Solar War[2]
- The Twelfth Truth - Took part in the Solar War[2]
Known Blackshields
- Endryd Haar — Former World Eater
- Erud Vahn — Former Death Guard
- Crysos Morturg — Former Death Guard
- Nemean — Former Dark Angels
Related Articles
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: The Horus Heresy Book Six
- 2: The Solar War (Novel), Chapter 14
