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*'''998.M41''': The [[Third War for Armageddon]].  Records show them to have been deployed to [[Armageddon]] during the Third War. Here they deployed seven out of ten companies of Space Marines to fight the Orks.{{Fn|3}}
 
*'''998.M41''': The [[Third War for Armageddon]].  Records show them to have been deployed to [[Armageddon]] during the Third War. Here they deployed seven out of ten companies of Space Marines to fight the Orks.{{Fn|3}}
  
*'''999.$1''': The [[Zeist Campaign]].  The Silver Skulls heeded the call of [[Lord Macragge]], and provided tactical squads to fight for the liberation of [[Augura]] (a staging point for the [[Tau]] forces).{{Fn|6b}}
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*'''999.M41''': The [[Zeist Campaign]].  The Silver Skulls heeded the call of [[Lord Macragge]], and provided tactical squads to fight for the liberation of [[Augura]] (a staging point for the [[Tau]] forces).{{Fn|6b}}
  
 
*Late M41 - the [[Lazar Blockade]]{{Fn|5a}}
 
*Late M41 - the [[Lazar Blockade]]{{Fn|5a}}
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*'''The Purging''' — (M41, exact date unknown) - Receiving distress signals from the planet [[Equinox]], a small detachment of Silver Skulls arrived, with the aim of cleansing the planet of the influence of [[Chaos]]. They tirelessly swept through the city-states of Equinox one by one in a bloody massacre. The population, already halved by disease and starvation, was halved again and whole areas of city-states were used as mass graves. The Silver Skulls left as quickly as they had struck, fading to nothing more than a bloody memory in the collective consciousness of the survivors.{{Fn|17}}
 
*'''The Purging''' — (M41, exact date unknown) - Receiving distress signals from the planet [[Equinox]], a small detachment of Silver Skulls arrived, with the aim of cleansing the planet of the influence of [[Chaos]]. They tirelessly swept through the city-states of Equinox one by one in a bloody massacre. The population, already halved by disease and starvation, was halved again and whole areas of city-states were used as mass graves. The Silver Skulls left as quickly as they had struck, fading to nothing more than a bloody memory in the collective consciousness of the survivors.{{Fn|17}}
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 +
*The [[Second Relief of Mordian]] - [[M42]]. The Silver Skulls aid the [[Iron Hands]] and their successor chapters against [[Chaos]] forces.{{Fn|26}}
  
 
*Battle of [[Skataurus]] — year unknown. There Silver Skulls found that only [[Centurion Assault Squad]] could make headway through the rubble of previously proud avenues of the main city. Heretics of Skataurus soon understand that not dug-in tanks, not reinforced bunkers of the hive could stop the hulking warriors. Massed cultist ambushes also proved useless and soon rebellion was suppressed.{{Fn|25}}
 
*Battle of [[Skataurus]] — year unknown. There Silver Skulls found that only [[Centurion Assault Squad]] could make headway through the rubble of previously proud avenues of the main city. Heretics of Skataurus soon understand that not dug-in tanks, not reinforced bunkers of the hive could stop the hulking warriors. Massed cultist ambushes also proved useless and soon rebellion was suppressed.{{Fn|25}}
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*{{Endn|25}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition)]], pg. 73
 
*{{Endn|25}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition)]], pg. 73
 
*{{Endn|26}}: [[Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Defiant]], pg. 79
 
*{{Endn|26}}: [[Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Defiant]], pg. 79
 +
*{{Endn|27}}: [[Codex Supplement: Iron Hands (8th Edition)]] pg.32-33
 
[[Category:Armageddon Wars]]
 
[[Category:Armageddon Wars]]
 
[[Category:Later Foundings]]
 
[[Category:Later Foundings]]
 
[[de:Silver Skulls]]
 
[[de:Silver Skulls]]
 
[[fr:Silver Skulls]]
 
[[fr:Silver Skulls]]

Revision as of 06:13, 22 September 2019

Victory does not always rest with the big guns, but if we rest in front of them we shall be lost.

Lord Commander Argentius, Chapter Master of the Silver Skulls[6d][13]
Silver Skulls
SilverSkullsShoulder.JPG
SilverSkullsPrimaris.jpg x160px
Founding Chapter: Ultramarines[24]
Founding: Possibly Second Founding[N.B.]
Descendants: Unknown
Chapter Master: Argentius[13]
Homeworld: Varsavia [2a][6a]
Fortress-Monastery: Unknown
Colours: Steel color armor, silver helmet, and black shoulder guards. Right shoulder markings are in red (may be company color). Symbol is a stylized silver skull.[22]
Specialty: Prognosticators
Strength: Unknown
Battle Cry Primus inter pares[14a]
(First Amongst Equals)

The Silver Skulls are an Ultramarines Successor Chapter.[24]

Background

A Silver Skulls Marine (Rogue Trader Era)[1]

The Silver Skulls claim[8] and are believed to be descendants of the Ultramarines Chapter, however, with the passage of time this remains unconfirmed, although they behave as a Codex Chapter[15] and fight alongside the Primogenitor Chapters as if they were their own kin[15]. During the Thirteenth Black Crusade, their beliefs were confirmed to be true when the Primarch Guilliman returned to the Imperium and the Chapter was recognized as one of the Scions of Guilliman.[24]

Hailing from their homeworld of Varsavia in the Ultima Segmentum, they are surrounded by numerous Xenos species, recently fighting costly yet significant battles against the Dark Eldar and Necrons.[15] The Silver Skulls also tattoo the skin of their entire bodies in honour markings, with the face being the last area to be marked; the right to do so earned in battle.[13]

There are two ways in which the Chapter cult deviates from the Codex Astartes, the first a custom inherited from their recruiting worlds: the practice of head taking. Especially powerful enemies are beheaded during battle, serving as trophies until victory is achieved. As part of its post-battle rituals, the Chapter selects the heads of the most powerful enemies, flense flesh from bone and layer the skulls in a coat of silver to be displayed within the Fortress-Monastery.[13][15]

The second Codex deviation is their specific use of Prognosticators, the Silver Skulls Librarians and partial spiritual advisor alongside their Chaplains.[13][15] These warriors are the seers of the Chapter, reading the Emperor's Tarot or Rune-stones for divination of the future, granting the squads and companies they are attached to an edge for the coming battle.[13][15] The Chapter takes the readings seriously, as such that on some occasions, the Prognosticators have counselled against the Chapter becoming embroiled in a particular war, however this can prove problematic as the honour of the chapter at times demands that they take part in a battle they know will end in defeat. Despite this somewhat fickle nature, the Chapter is known to fight with honour the length and breadth of the Imperium.[15]

After the opening of the Great Rift, the Silver Skulls have been amongst the most active of all Chapters fighting against the forces of Chaos and are now fighting on many fronts.[24]

Notable Campaigns

A Silver Skulls Marine by Clint Langley[16]
  • 165.M37: The Antecanis Massacre: During the 9th Black Crusade, Abaddon, the Black Legion and their allies attack and decimate the Hive World of Antecanis with the aim of denying the Imperial Naval Shipyards at Cancephalus with their source of manpower. As Chaos rampages across the planet, the Silver Skulls are the first to arrive and harry the Chaos fleet in hit and run attacks, denying orbital support to Chaos ground forces. Finally, with Imperial reinforcements inbound, Abaddon loads the Black Legion ships with slaves and plunder and breaks the Silver Skulls blockade of the system, leaving his allies behind to distract the Imperium. [2b]
Silver Skulls Captain [18b]
  • 954.M41: The imminent attack by the Soulmaw. The Silver Skulls' Librarians suspected an imminent attack by the Daemonic warband, the Soulmaw, on their homeworld. Most of the chapter was absent from Varsavia due to answering a distress call from the Silver Skull vassal world of Aragave which was being ravaged by an unidentified warband of Daemons. The Daemons quickly vanished as soon as the Silver Skulls forces arrived, successfully luring them away from Varsavia. This could have be in retribution for Librarian Lucius Clave reportedly destroying the Soulmaw champion years before in 892.M40 during the scouring of Ammas.[10] In 956.M41, the Soulmaw assaulted the Silver Skulls homeworld, but they managed to resist the attack.
  • 998.M41: The Third War for Armageddon. Records show them to have been deployed to Armageddon during the Third War. Here they deployed seven out of ten companies of Space Marines to fight the Orks.[3]
  • The Gildar Rift (M41, exact date unknown) - after destroying a Red Corsairs battle force, the Silver Skulls pursue the renegade fugitives to a string of inhabited worlds across the Gildar Rift, wiping them out in a matter of weeks.[6a][14x]
  • The Purging — (M41, exact date unknown) - Receiving distress signals from the planet Equinox, a small detachment of Silver Skulls arrived, with the aim of cleansing the planet of the influence of Chaos. They tirelessly swept through the city-states of Equinox one by one in a bloody massacre. The population, already halved by disease and starvation, was halved again and whole areas of city-states were used as mass graves. The Silver Skulls left as quickly as they had struck, fading to nothing more than a bloody memory in the collective consciousness of the survivors.[17]
  • Battle of Skataurus — year unknown. There Silver Skulls found that only Centurion Assault Squad could make headway through the rubble of previously proud avenues of the main city. Heretics of Skataurus soon understand that not dug-in tanks, not reinforced bunkers of the hive could stop the hulking warriors. Massed cultist ambushes also proved useless and soon rebellion was suppressed.[25]

Known Chapter Elements

Chapter Fleet

Notable Silver Skulls

Calvus — a Damocles Command Rhino of the 7th Company which took part in the Beta-Garmon IV Expedition[11]

Images

Silver Skulls Firstborn[22]

Notes

  • N.B.: The Silver Skulls are listed as hailing from a later Founding (not 1st or 2nd) in Chapter Approved 2001[20], however, in other sources[18a][22] it is stated that the Silver Skulls are indeed a 2nd Founding Chapter.

Related Articles

Sources