In the unyielding grimness of the 41st millennium, the Death Guard stands as an eternal reminder of the corrupting power of Chaos. Founded as the XIV Legion, this once-noble force of Space Marines was known as the Dusk Raiders before their transformation. Led by Mortarion, the Death Lord, they have become a relentless instrument of decay, spreading disease and despair under the malign influence of Nurgle, the Chaos God of rot and ruin.
The Origins of the Death Guard: The Dusk Raiders
Initially forged from Terra’s war-hardened clans of Albia, the XIV Legion was known as the Dusk Raiders, a force feared for their endurance and unbreakable defense. Their combat doctrine focused on dusk assaults, confusing and demoralizing enemies who would see the Emperor’s “red right hand” approaching as darkness fell. Adorned in grey Power Armour with crimson details, the Dusk Raiders’ tenacity made them indispensable during the Unification Wars and Great Crusade.
Mortarion and the Great Crusade
The Emperor discovered Mortarion, their Primarch, on the toxic world of Barbarus, where he had battled against the tyrannical overlords of his home. Embracing the brutal, resilient philosophy of Barbarus, Mortarion molded the Dusk Raiders into the Death Guard, instilling in them a disdain for mechanized warfare and a preference for tough, foot-slogging infantry. He emphasized resistance to the toxic atmospheres and extreme conditions found on many worlds, qualities that would eventually draw them towards a dark allegiance with Nurgle.
The Fall into Chaos: The Horus Heresy
The Horus Heresy marked the Legion’s descent into damnation. By this time, the Death Guard numbered nearly 95,000 strong. Under Mortarion’s leadership, they pledged allegiance to Horus, betraying the Emperor and becoming one of the nine Traitor Legions. When the loyalists within the Legion were purged during the battle of Isstvan III, Captain Nathaniel Garro and a handful of others defied Mortarion’s orders, escaping to bring news of the betrayal to Terra.
Trapped in the Warp by the treacherous Calas Typhon (later known as Typhus, Herald of Nurgle), the Death Guard fell prey to the Destroyer Plague. Mortarion and his warriors were ravaged by unending waves of disease, enduring agonies that ultimately led them to pledge themselves to Nurgle. This choice transformed the Legion into the twisted, plague-ridden warriors known as Plague Marines, their armor and flesh fused in decay, while Mortarion ascended to Daemonhood as Nurgle’s favored Prince.
Tactics and Approach: Death Guard Warfare
The Death Guard’s approach to warfare is defined by slow, relentless advance and unyielding endurance. Unlike the assault-focused tactics of other Legions, they rely on attrition, wearing down foes through the sheer resilience of their foot-soldiers. The Plague Companies that compose the Legion each possess unique strengths and abilities, from specialized poisons to corrosive weaponry, all designed to break enemy forces through constant, brutal assault.
Daemon engines and plague-ridden war machines, like the Foetid Bloat-Drone, bolster their ranks, acting as mobile artillery to lay waste to enemy defenses. The Death Guard’s infamous Grave Wardens serve as elite guardians of the Legion’s most sacred relics, while the Mortus Poisoners deploy stealth and toxins to eliminate key targets, instilling fear and despair in their enemies.
Legacy of Corruption and Notable Figures
The legacy of the Death Guard is one of unrelenting decay, embodied by key figures whose names resonate with dread:
- Mortarion: The Primarch and unyielding master of pestilence.
- Typhus, Herald of Nurgle: The Legion’s First Captain, whose betrayal marked the beginning of their transformation.
- Calas Typhon: Former First Captain, who would later wield the Destroyer Plague and spread Nurgle’s corruption.
- Crysos Morturg: A lieutenant who remained loyal to the Emperor, representing a rare glimmer of defiance within the Legion.
A Grim Warning: The Consequences of Betrayal
The Death Guard’s tragic history, from loyal servants of the Emperor to disciples of Nurgle, serves as a warning of Chaos’s seduction. As they march across the galaxy, they bring rot, despair, and the stench of death, reminding all who face them that no force, no matter how resilient, is immune to corruption. Now, Mortarion has re-emerged to lead his Death Guard into the Plague Wars, assaulting Ultramar and reigniting the flames of their dark crusade, spreading ruin across the Imperium.
The Death Guard remains one of the most cohesive Traitor Legions, united in their unwavering devotion to Nurgle and their shared, twisted purpose. As they bring disease and decay wherever they march, they remind the galaxy of the cost of betrayal and the dark allure of Chaos.
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