Scythes of the Emperor

Space Marines Portal Scythes of the Emperor

The Scythes of the Emperor (or Emperor's Scythes) are a Codex Astartes Space Marine Chapter. The armour of the Scythes of the Emperor is black and yellow - their symbol is crossed yellow scythes.¹ The advance of Hivefleet Kraken overwhelmed the Chapter's home world of Sotha and virtually destroyed the Chapter⁵.

Scythes of the Emperor 65px x160px Chapter Master: Thrasius6 Homeworld: Sotha (destroyed) Fortress-Monastery: The Heart of Sotha, last remaining flagship Colours: Black and yellow, with two crossed yellow scythes on the shoulder armour.1 Strength: ~100 marines

Engagements

Damocles Gulf Crusade (745.M41)

Chapter banner of the Emperor's Scythes

It was in the years following the Damocles Crusade against the Tau in M41.742 the Scythes of the Emperor would come to the forefront of Eastern Fringe warfare.

The Scythes led the first landing onto Tau territory, the world of Sy'L'Kell. After establishing the landing zone. The Brimlock Dragoons moved on to expand the Imperial foothold. The Dragoons were nearly destroyed by a Tau ambush which the Scythes, leading Imperial Storm Troopers, broke through averting a near disaster.

After claiming Sy'L'Kell, the Crusade moved to cross the Damocles Gulf. After a brutal first fleet engagement with the Tau, the Imperials landed on the a major Tau world of Dal'Yth Prime. Joining members of the venerated Ultramarines and Iron Hands Chapters, the Scythes were part of several spearhead assaults and kept up constant night patrols against Tau infiltrators during the months long fighting.

With news of a Hivefleet Behemoth bearing down upon the Eastern fringe and the stalemate between the two sides, the Crusade withdrew, though a mutual respect between both sides had been forged.

Second Tyrannic War (992.M41)

Among the planets overwhelmed by the locust-tide of Tyranid hive fleet Kraken was the chapter's homeworld Sotha. Even for a well-defended Chapter planet, there was little hope against such vast numbers and relentless hunger, and in the end the Chapter brethren were killed in the last stand on the planet. All brethren were presumed destroyed, but a small number had escaped in order to preserve their chapter and geneseed.

Sotha, along with so many other planets in the inexorable advance of the Kraken, was reduced to the state of an asteroid by the Tyranid swarms. Two hundred Marines broke through the Tyranid assault. With much of the region overwhelmed by the Tyranids, there was nowhere to escape. The last of the Scythes eventually landed on the Miral death world. Somewhere on the surface of this planet, a huge rocky outcrop called the Giant's Coffin rose from the jungle. The surviving forces of the Scythes prepared to make this their final stronghold. The Giant's Coffin was a tremendous natural citadel whose steep cliffs would slow the invaders and the rocky promontories would provide excellent firing positions for heavy weapons.⁴

Although the defenses of the Scythes were strong they were still overwhelmed. Their Chapter Master Thorcyra met his end on Miral and the Scythes were forced to withdraw. Captain Thrasius became the new Chapter Master and planned a series of hit and run attacks against the Tyranids. This pattern of defense and retreat continued until Hive Fleet Kraken was finally broken by the Ultramarines on Ichar IV. ⁶

The fate of the planet is unknown, although at the end of the Tyranid onslaught, little more than a company of the Scythes of the Emperor remained.²

Notable Space Marines

• Chapter Master Thorcyra - was the Chapter Master before the destruction of Sotha at the hands of the Tyranids. Died on the death world of Miral against Hive Fleet Kraken⁶
• Chapter Master Thrasius - is the current Chapter Master of the Scythes of the Emperor. Was Captain under Chapter Master Thorcyra, being promoted to Chapter Master upon his death.⁶
• Sergeant Tiresias- commander the 21st Salvation Team.⁶
• Sergeant Quintos - commander of the 121st Salvation Team. He recover the body of Sergeant Tiresias along with his gene-seed and that of Commander Cassios.⁶
• Captain Theodosios - Was Captain of the 5th Company, sent out to the fringes of the east before Hive Fleet Kraken was discovered. His company was annihilated, with the only known survivor being Commander Cassios⁶
• Commander Cassios - 5th Company member who survived for three years onboard the a hive ship, to be discovered by the 21st Salvation Team of Sergeant Tiresias. Met his death destroying the heart of a new hive ship.⁶
• Forge Master Sebastion⁶
• Neophyte Narro - Neophyte serving under Sergeant Tiresias during the 21st Salvation Team. Killed whilst destroying the new Tyranid ships heart.⁶
• Neophyte Hwygir - Neophyte serving under Sergeant Tiresias during the 21st Salvation Team. Killed whilst destroying the new Tyranid ships heart.⁶
• Neophyte Vitellios - Neophyte serving under Sergeant Tiresias during the 21st Salvation Team. Killed whilst destroying the new Tyranid ships heart.⁶
• Neophyte Pasan - Neophyte serving under Sergeant Tiresias during the 21st Salvation Team. Killed whilst destroying the new Tyranid ships heart.⁶

See also

• List of Space Marine Chapters

Sources

• ¹:How to Paint Space Marines, p. 88 (colour scheme, listed under Codex chapters)
• ²:Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition) p. 14
• ³:White Dwarf 264(uk), p. 96 Index Xenos: The Kroot
• ⁴:White Dwarf #48 (French) (scenario for Epic 40k by W. Kinrade)
• ⁵:uk.games-workshop.com/tau/farsight-enclaves/ Farsight Enclaves
• ⁶ Orphans of the Kraken (Short Story)