Death Spectres

"You give up your Humanity that the citizens of the Imperium may keep theirs. Pity or despise them, but never expect them to understand."

— Apothecary Bharan, Adeptus Astartes Death Spectres

The Death Spectres are a Loyalist Chapter of Space Marines of the 13^th ("Dark") Founding. The Death Spectres are only the second Chapter of Astartes besides the Exorcists known to have been created in that unusual Founding and less is known of its creations than of any other Space Marine Founding. The Death Spectres are a rare Successor Chapter of the Raven Guard and share many of the same mutations found in that Chapter's gene-seed.

Stationed beyond the bounds of the Imperium, the Death Spectres keep constant vigil. Even with the Great Rift yawning wide in the Era Indomitus, their thankless duty remains ensuring that the mysterious, deathless inhabitants of the Ghoul Stars such as the Necron Flayed Ones and the Cythor Fiends never again ascend to threaten the galaxy.

The Death Spectres' homeworld is the Cemetery World of Occludus.

During the 13^th Black Crusade, the Death Spectres infiltrated the world of Lelithar to assist the Astra Militarum regiments seeking to retake that world from the forces of Chaos with stealth raids and hidden strikes.

Chapter History

Origins

Of the dark and terrible times known to later historitors as the Nova Terra Interregnum, when the Imperium fractured into warrior factions during the late 34th Millennium, there exist in what records remain from this era scattered and veiled references to a great threat arising from the Ghoul Stars known as the Pale Wasting.

Much of the extant evidence relating to this threat has been censored or purposely destroyed, but there are contradictory indications which describe the nature of the threat as both a "star-spawned plague" that swept away scores of worlds and as "nightmare engines" slaughtering the populations of whole sectors.

Those partial records which have been uncovered suggest that the threat was xenos in nature and that more than one Space Marine Chapter may have been completely destroyed in the course of the conflict. The xenos threat briefly mentioned in Imperial historical records might be the Thexian Elite of the Thexian Trade Empire, a biomorphic species few in number but strong in influence.

They hail from the iron-oxidised worlds known as the Bloodmoons of Thex Prime, which are located in the region of space called the Ghoul Stars. These vile xenos are known to be masters of manipulation and have worked themselves into integral positions in the Borlac, Loxatl and Nicassar civilisations. Though Thexians are famously persuasive, when guile is not enough their battle form is quite horrifying to behold. Eleven Space Marine Chapters were lost in the final battles of what must have been a truly apocalyptic struggle.

The chronicles of many Chapters who took part in this campaign as noted in other sources are curiously empty of any reference to this conflict, and it is quite possible that this ancient threat may also account for the unusually large number of formerly Human-inhabited Dead Worlds in the region.

Following this lamentable period of history, the 13th Founding, also known as the "Dark Founding," occurred sometime between the 35th and 36th Millennia, and is one of the very rare Foundings of Space Marine Chapters that were not recorded in exact detail.

Since the Horus Heresy, the Adeptus Terra has maintained a bank of original gene-seed tithed by every single Chapter ever created, with one notable exception: the 13th Founding. There are no reliable records that indicate how many Chapters were created during the Dark Founding or what became of them. Full disclosure of the exact details of this mysterious Founding may lie buried deep within the record office of the Adeptus Terra.

The Death Spectres are one of two known Chapters to have been created during this unusual Founding. They were created as a Successor Chapter of the Raven Guard, sharing many of the same mutations and genetic flaws found in that venerable Chapter's gene-seed. Following their creation, the Death Spectres were stationed beyond the frontiers of the Imperium and charged by the High Lords of Terra to maintain a constant vigil to ensure that the inhabitants of the Ghoul Stars never again threatened the galaxy as they had in the Pale Wasting. The nature of the threat could not be overstated enough, and the containment of such a species as the Thexians was worthy of the attention of an entire Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes.

When the newly created Chapter's first Megir (Chapter Master), Merrin Corcaedus, was swearing his oath of loyalty and service to the Emperor at the foot of the Golden Throne itself, he received a vision. Guided by this vision, Corcaedus led his Chapter to the world of Occludus and to the very spot where they raised Logopol, their future fortress-monastery. It was at this location that the Chapter would find the source of its destiny -- the Shariax.

Throne of Glass

When Megir Merrin Corcaedus first swore his oath of office before the Emperor and placed his blade at the foot of the Golden Throne, he received a vision from the Emperor Himself. This vision led him to the world of Occludus and the mysterious artefact known as the Shariax, the Throne of Glass.

Little is known of its purpose and nothing of its origins. The Shariax is an archaic throne, contained in an ancient, secret dome, called the "Temple of Voices," deep beneath the planet's surface, and directly underneath the Chapter's fortress-monastery of Logopol.

The Throne of Glass is where the Megir rules Occludus and the Chapter, but it is also where he will inevitably die. All Megir of the Death Spectres, upon taking that position within the Chapter, ascend the Throne of Glass the same day as they take their oaths of office. Upon sitting upon the Shariax, they never rise again, and only rarely communicate with the Chapter, and when they do, only with a few select members.

Exactly what the Shariax does is vaguely hinted at. In return for immense power (power that can be felt even in the planet's orbit by psykers) the Throne of Glass slowly drains the life out of whoever sits in it, while also slowly petrifying them, eventually turning the Megir to stone. What this mysterious power is that the Megir is gifted with is unknown, except for the sheer scale of it.

When the Megir turns even a portion of this power to some task, the implications are apparently staggering. The fact that it seems to be a psyker-based technology implies that one must be a psyker to use it, reinforced by the fact that when the Megir finally passes, the current Mesazar (Chief Librarian) of the Chapter takes his place, but the references are vague, and it may just be based on the fact that the Chapter's strongest warrior must be the new Megir, and thus it is he who must sit upon the Throne of Glass.

Over the millennia, the Death Spectres have been preparing for the Cadash, which translates to "Living Chalice," someone of great significance who, upon taking their place upon the Shariax, will bring about the "Great Resurrection." The leadership of the Death Spectres has apparently been sowing the seeds of fate to bring about the Cadash's rise throughout the Chapter's history.

Notable Campaigns

• Vern IV Offensive (140.M40) - In 140.M40 Vern IV was the scene of a conflict between the Death Spectres, the Drukhari Kabal of the Envenomed Thorn and the Void Dragons Aeldari Corsair warband.

• Macharian Crusade (392-399.M41) - The Death Spectres took part in the Macharian Crusade, which was a monumental, seven-year-long Imperial Crusade fought between 392.M41 and 399.M41, led by Lord Commander Solar Macharius, the Imperium's greatest Astra Militarum commander of all time and a recognised tactical and strategic genius on a par with the primarchs themselves. This crusade took place on the far western edge of the galaxy within the Segmentum Pacificus, reaching as far as the border of the galaxy with intergalactic space and even reaching into the unknown regions of the Halo Zone. The furthest extent of this crusade reached just beyond the edge of the Segmentum Pacificus, where not even the blessed light of the Astronomican could penetrate the dark void. Most Imperial savants agree that Macharius was the most successful and brilliant Imperial Warmaster since the Arch-traitor Horus. Nearly a thousand worlds were brought back into the Imperial fold in only seven standard years of fighting, yet upon his death the newly-won territories erupted into the civil war known as the Macharian Heresy as Macharius' various generals vied for control, fighting over the spoils as degenerate warlords.

• Achilus Crusade (777.M41 - ???) - The Death Spectres deployed forces in service to the Achilus Crusade to retake the Jericho Reach for the Imperium.

• Evacuation of the Xin-Cyn Research Station (Unknown Date.M41) - The world of Xin-Cyn was home to an Adeptus Mechanicus Research Station when it was attacked by a tendril of Hive Fleet Dagon. Two squads of Death Spectres Space Marines landed on Xin-Cyn and helped to evacuate the magi stationed there before retreating from the doomed planet.

• Lazar Blockade (857-859.M41) - Five Space Marine Chapters, including the Death Spectres, Howling Griffons and the Silver Skulls, blockaded the Lazar System to purge the Necrons from its planets in vengeance for the damage suffered by the Silver Skulls' 4th Company. The Space Marines overwhelmed and obliterated the main Tomb World, however secondary bases throughout the system suddenly came to life. Rather than withdraw, the Silver Skulls dug in for a grueling campaign. The nomadic Necron Overlord Anrakyr the Traveller arrived in the embattled Lazar System and immediately joined his forces to those defending against the Silver Skulls' and other Space Marines' onslaught. Necron victory was finally assured at the Battle of Dreadpeak, when Anrakyr's Pyrrhian Eternals spearheaded an assault on the Silver Skulls' downed battle barge Argent Hammer. Though the Space Marines battled hard against the veterans of Pyrrhia, their efforts were undone when Anrakyr seized control over the Battle Barge's still-functioning weapon batteries and turned their fury on the Imperial defenders. With their Chapter Master slain and their forces in disarray, the Silver Skulls were forced to withdraw their blockade of Lazar -- though they took great care to ensure that word of their defeat did not spread. His duty done, Anrakyr took ship and headed out into the galaxy once more to aid the Necron cause.

• Ghoul Stars Crusade (990-998.M41) - The Ghoul Stars Crusade was the very first Crusade launched by High Marshal Helbrecht in 990.M41 after he attained his rank as the Black Templars' new High Marshal. This was a dangerous decision as no Imperial expedition had ever returned from the desolate region of space known as the Ghoul Stars. The Black Templars were intent on finally vanquishing the hostile alien species known only as the "Cythor Fiends" of the Ghoul Stars. The battles were bloody but decisive, and after eight Terran years the xenos population was all but destroyed, and the Black Templars began to push in towards the aliens' homeworld, a gas giant designated 9836-18 Grave Core. Upon reaching the Cythor Fiends' core star systems, they were found to be eerily empty. 9836-18 Grave Core served as the capital world of the Cythor Fiends' civilisation. It is unknown by what name the planet was called by the Cythor Fiends. 9836-18 Grave Core is the Imperial designation, with the number signifying it was the eighteenth world conquered during the Ghoul Stars Crusade. Grave Core was a mid-sized gas giant which appeared blue from high orbit. Its atmosphere was toxic and extremely cold, unfit for most intelligent species. Grave Core was regarded by the Cythor Fiends as their primary homeworld in the region. The xenos had erected platforms in the world's atmosphere that supported their great crystal fortress-cities. The Astartes of the Death Spectres Chapter who accompanied the Black Templars in the Crusade hinted that they had once also assaulted Grave Core, just as the Black Templars now did, but had also found it deserted by the xenos. The Black Templars had expected the Cythor Fiends to make their last stand of the Ghoul Stars Crusade there, but the entire species had already apparently fled the planet. Furious, the Black Templars attempted to destroy the world by unleashing an Exterminatus action, but failed even at that as the world seemed to be able to resist any form of damage through unknown means. As an alternative, the Black Templars then destroyed the Cythor Fiends' orbital platforms and tried to ignite the world's atmosphere by bombarding it with their armada. This took an unnaturally long time, and the Death Spectres' Captain Naroosh remarked that whatever the Imperials did to the gas giant, it would not matter in the long run, as the Cythor Fiends always returned to reclaim the worlds of their realm. No trace of the aliens was ever found, but before a proper investigation could be launched, a desperate call for help came from the besieged Hive World of Armageddon. The Third War for Armageddon had begun, and no more time or effort could be reserved for the mystery of the Cythor Fiends.

• Hive Fleet Jormungandr (995.M41) - The tendrils of Hive Fleet Jormungandr began to brush against the northeastern boundaries of the Imperium. The Death Spectres and Honoured Sons Chapters led the Imperial counterattack against this arm of the Great Devourer.

• 13th Black Crusade (ca. 999.M41) - The Death Spectres participated in the Siege of Lelithar and the defence of the Cadian Sector against the 13^th Black Crusade. The Death Spectres fielded 6 companies against the forces of Chaos in this campaign.

Chapter Organisation

The Death Spectres Chapter appears to be a Chapter organised around the standard dictates of the Codex Astartes.

The Death Spectres place a strong emphasis on Assault Marines and other close combat specialists, as was shown during a major assault undertaken by the Chapter during the 13th Black Crusade which involved some 600 Astartes equipped for a Jump Pack assault on a Traitor stronghold.

Specialist Ranks

The Death Spectres' order of battle contains several specialist formations and officer titles not present in other Space Marine Chapters which are derived from the language of the natives of Occludus:

• Megir - A title equivalent to the esteemed rank of Chapter Master in other Space Marine Chapters.

• Mesazar - A title equivalent to Chief Librarian of the Chapter (also the de facto master of the Chapter in the Megir's absence).

• Megron - A title equivalent in fellow Chapters to Master of the Flag, a position held by one of the Chapter's captains.

• Menrahir - The title given to the Death Spectres' equivalent in fellow Chapters of a Chapter Council. The word means "sage" in the native Occludian language.

• Terrorblade - A unique position within the ranks of the Death Spectres Chapter's Command Squad whose definition is not fully understood by outsiders. As it is uniquely named it can be assumed that the position is different than that of a standard Company Champion or some other title commonly used amongst other, more standard Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes.

War-Geists

The Veteran 1st Company of the Death Spectres is known as the "War-Geists." They are known to wield power scythes in melee combat.

Death Spectres Librarians

Like their fellow Astartes Chapters, the Death Spectres also maintain a Librarius of potent battle-psykers who are highly talented and trained to master the power of the Warp at the highest levels.

Each Chapter selects its Librarians in its own way, either from its seed worlds, as it does with the bulk of its Initiates, or from the ranks of gifted psykers brought to the Scholastica Psykana.

Most Chapters train and test chosen psykers following the ancient ways laid out in the Codex Astartes. The Chapter's Librarius, known as "The Order," possesses a size and power that is unique amongst Space Marine Chapters. The Mesazar (Chief Librarian) is known to command the Chapter in the absence of the Death Spectres' Megir (Chapter Master). There are some references in sources referring to the Death Spectres that claim the Megir is also always a psyker, who would then of course also be considered a member of the Chapter Librarius.

The Death Spectres' Librarians appear to place great emphasis on reading the tides of fate and time, and appear to have an unparalleled mastery for changing the future they foresee. The Chapter's Mesazar are noted for being able to place prophetic notes in time itself, through their sheer power, enabling the Death Spectres to be in the appropriate place in the event certain eventualities come to pass, passing on information, and even psychic aid, if and when those eventualities actually occur. Through these techniques the Chapter Librarius seemingly alters the future to a degree that few Imperial organisations can dream of.

Chapter aspirants (at least of those of the Librarius) are known to experience two deaths while trying to earn a place within the Chapter. The first death is experienced at around ten Terran years of age, when an aspirant first begins the gene-seed organ implantation process. The aspirant is injected with a lethal toxin, and remains dead until he revives on his own. Failure leads to oblivion. The second death takes place at the end of the aspirant's implantation process, when the neophyte takes his place amongst the Chapter as a full initiate. This death is much more intense, as the aspirant experiences death for solar hours rather than minutes. A third death can also sometimes take place, but this is only for members of the Librarius who wish to attain the rank of codicier, and greater power as a result.

A deeply held belief within the Death Spectres Chapter is that of the "Black River," which is seen by aspirants of the Librarius during the ritual deaths they experience (it is unconfirmed if non-psyker aspirants experience this as well).

Though their first death is for the shortest duration, it also is the greatest, as during the trial, one is assailed by the Black River's currents (which seem to symbolise fate and time) and the "forces" that are drawn to it and the person experiencing it (Chaos Daemons by another name). This first trial is an arduous one, as it is a task the aspirant has no experience in dealing with, and so failure is quite common.

Chapter Recruitment

The Death Spectres have an unsettling way of recruiting new aspirants into their Chapter. By the orders of the Megir, the Death Spectres seek out suitable Human-settled colonies far from the heart of the Imperium where they collect the best genetic specimens of women they can find.

The women are taken to a suitable breeding world established near the Death Spectres' homeworld of Occludus. There, the women are expected to bear future generations of adolescent males who might prove capable of joining the ranks of the Death Spectres as neophytes.

Chapter Gene-Seed

Like their Raven Guard progenitors, the battle-brothers of this Chapter possess a minor mutation that causes the Melanochrome organ (which controls the amount of melanin in an Astartes' skin tone) to not function properly, leading to the development of albinism in Death Spectres Astartes.

Differing Melanochrome gene-seed from Chapter to Chapter leads to variations in skin and hair colour, and in some Chapters all of the Space Marines may have identical colouration, such as is found in the albino warriors of the Death Spectres Chapter. Another aspect of the genetic flaws of their gene-seed is that it causes all members of the Chapter to possess glowing, blood-red eyes as well.

Over time the Death Spectres have lost the use of two of the special organs produced by the basic Astartes genetic template: the Betcher's Gland, which allows a Space Marine to produce poisonous/acidic spittle, and the Mucranoid, which causes a Space Marine's body to secrete a waxy protein substance similar to mucus through his pores that seals his skin. Space Marines are normally cocooned in this way before they enter suspended animation, and the process can even protect them from the harshness of the vacuum and other extremes of temperature, particularly deeply frigid environments.

Chapter Beliefs

The existence of indigenous and often unique cult belief systems, martial philosophies and variations of the Cult Imperialis within the Adeptus Astartes is far from uncommon.

To the Death Spectres, death is important to them in the nature and traditions of their Chapter. It is not important in the more morbid sense such as the way the Mortifactors Chapter celebrates it, but in a more sombre, respectful sense, such as the way the Star Phantoms embrace it.

True to Imperial dogma, the Death Spectres hold as a central tenet of their beliefs, "that only those who die in battle will be reborn," and while they give little leeway or respite to the living, they deeply honour those who fall in the Emperor's service and hold the many martyrs of the Imperium and the dead of their Chapter with extreme reverence.

Upon the death of a battle-brother of the Chapter, those Death Spectres whose bodies can be recovered are returned to Logopol on Occludus, and are mummified and then interred within the fortress-monastery's catacombs. Death Spectres find great comfort and peace in the quiet of the endless graveyards and tomb cities of their homeworld, which includes Logopol.

Battle-brothers of the Chapter are also known to utilise a unique gesture, known as "The Masrahim"; the salute of skull and throne. This is done by placing the left hand, palm up, next to the abdomen, and then placing the right hand, in a close fist, in the palm of the left.

Notable Death Spectres

• Megir Merrin Corcaedus - First Megir (Chapter Master) of the Death Spectres Chapter and former holder of the Force Sword Arquemann, the Chapter's most revered and ancient relic. It was this weapon that Merrin Corcaedus laid at the foot of the Golden Throne when he received the vision that led him to the world of Occludus and the remains of the Shariax.

• The Megir - Title of the Death Spectres' Chapter Master. Known as The First Spectre, Grandmaster of the Order, The Eye that Pierces the Veil. The name of the current Megir is unknown.

• Mesazar Athio Cordatus - Current Mesazar (Chief Librarian) of the Death Spectres Chapter and de facto Chapter Master. Mentor to Lyandro Karras.

• Captain Rohiam Elgrist - Captain of the Death Spectres' 3^rd Company and current Megron (Master of the Flag) of the Chapter.

• Deathwatch Watch Captain Harsid - Seconded to the Deathwatch, Captain Harsid currently leads his own Kill-team in close collaboration with Inquisitor Talala Yazir of the Ordo Xenos. Since an Aeldari attack on the Dawnbreak Cluster, Harsid and the Inquisitor hunt for a series of dangerous xenos artefacts that they believe to have corrupted several high-ranking magi of the Adeptus Mechanicus and whose corruption could quickly spread to other Adeptus Mechanicus-aligned factions, such as the Iron Hands Chapter.

• Codicier Lyandro Karras - Lyandro Karras is a Death Spectres codicier currently seconded to the Ordo Xenos' Deathwatch. Karras, known as "Scholar" to his Kill-team, leads an elite squad of Astartes specialists. It was this squad that slew the Ork Warboss Balthazog Bluddwrekk.

• Sergeant Ischus Corvinnus - Brother-Sergeant of the Death Spectres who was seconded to the Inquisition along with remnants of the 68^th Vostroyan Firstborn Regiment after they were devastated on Danik's World (circa. 767.M41). The fates of the Regiment and the Brother-Sergeant are unknown.

Chapter Relics

• Arquemann - Arquemann is a relic Force Sword that belongs to the Death Spectres Chapter. The sword was once laid at the feet of the Emperor on the Golden Throne by the Chapter's first Megir (Chapter Master). Seconds after laying the sword down, the Megir received a vision of the Shariax -- the Glass Throne on Occludus. Little is known of its purpose and nothing is known of its origins. The first Megir then proceeded to build the Death Spectres Fortress-Monastery of Logopol directly above the cavern that contained the Glass Throne. The sword itself seems to have a psychic spirit bound to it. The sword's spirit will meld itself with the spirit of the wielder, making it even more deadly. The sword was initially owned by the first Megir of the Death Spectres, but after his ascension on the Glass Throne, he passed the sword on to the Mesazar (Chief Librarian) Athio Cordatus, who then passed the sword onto the Librarian Lyandro Karras when Karras was selected to join the Deathwatch. It is said that the bite of Arquemann is certain death whenever it glows with otherworldly energy. Arquemann is lethally sharp even without the power of the Immaterium running through it.

• Torch of the Vigil - The Torch of the Vigil is a master-crafted Astartes Heavy Flamer. Late in the 36^th Millennium, a Deathwatch Kill-team was allied with a squad of Space Marines belonging to the Death Spectres Chapter in an action against a vile xenos species deep in what would one day become the Orpheus Salient of the Jericho Reach. Together, the two squads were able to eradicate the alien threat, but not before the sergeant of the Death Spectres, an honoured Veteran of the Chapter, was eviscerated by the vicious beasts. It was only by the actions of the members of the Kill-team that the sergeant's gene-seed was preserved and harvested and his ancient wargear recovered. As a reward for their aid, the Death Spectres presented the stewards of Watch Fortress Erioch with this mighty relic.

Chapter Fleet

• Honoured Prophecy (Cobra-class Destroyer)

Chapter Appearance

Chapter Colours

The Death Spectres primarily wear black power armour. The inset of the shoulder plates are white with black trim.

The Aquila or Imperialis on the chest plate as well as the helmet are bone white.

The white squad specialty symbol -- battleline, close support, fire support, Veteran or command -- is painted on the right shoulder plate.

A black Low Gothic numeral is stenciled in the centre of the squad specialty symbol, which indicates squad number.

The colour of the stripe on the right knee plate indicates which company a battle-brother belongs to.

Chapter Badge

The Death Spectres' Chapter badge is a large bone-white skull with a pair of crossed, ebon scythes directly behind it, centred on a field of white.

Sources

• Adeptus Astartes: Successor Chapters (Limited Release Booklet), pg. 33
• Codex: Black Templars (4th Edition), pg. 44
• Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition), pg. 16
• Codex: Necrons (5th Edition), pp. 26, 57
• Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pp. 26, 49
• Codex: Space Marines (6th Edition), pp. 19, 73, 155
• Codex: Space Marines (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), pg. 139
• Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition) (Revised Codex), pg. 47
• Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition), pg. 69
• Deathwatch - Core Rulebook (RPG), pp. 18, 339
• Deathwatch - Honour the Chapter (RPG), pg. 135
• Deathwatch - Mark of the Xenos (RPG), pg. 50
• Deathwatch - Shadowbreaker (Novel) by Steve Parker, Ch. 37
• Hammer and Bolter #2, "Exhumed" (Short Story), pg. 30
• How To Paint Space Marines (2004), pp. 77, 89
• Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One, pp. 30,31, 76, 118
• The Eternal Crusader (Novella) by Guy Haley, Ch. 1
• Warhammer: 40,000 Rulebook (5th Edition), pg. 117
• White Dwarf 270 (UK), pg. 82
• White Dwarf 271 (UK), pg. 56
• White Dwarf 283 (UK), pg. 68
• Heroes of the Space Marines (Anthology), "Headhunted" by Steve Parker, pp. 251-304
• Deathwatch (Novel) by Steve Parker, pg. 49
• Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker (Novel) by Steve Parker, Ch. 9
• The Eye of Medusa (Novel) by David Guymer, pp. 166-167, 356-360
• Flayed (Short Story) by Cavan Scott