Welcome, fellow Warhammer 40k enthusiasts! Today, we delve into the dark and mysterious history of the Exorcists Chapter, a unique breed of Space Marines known for their resilience against demonic corruption. This tale takes us into the heart of the Halls of Tempering, a facility shrouded in secrecy and home to chilling rituals.
Every Space Marine initiated into the Exorcists endures a horrifying trial: possession by demonic entities, akin to the methods once employed by Argul Tal of Lorgar’s blessed Sons during the assault on Calth. The entities are summoned under strict control, and after a period of possession, the Marine’s brothers exercise the demon, returning the Marine to the Chapter for the next phase of recovery. This ritual, unique to the Exorcists, has been an unparalleled part of their initiation process for centuries.
The trials, while brutal, yield invaluable benefits. Each Battle Brother gains personal revelations about the nature of demons, serving as a vital tool in future encounters with the forces of Chaos. The process, however, leaves its marks, some physical, others mental, with the extent varying as widely as the types of demons themselves.
Possession by deceitful entities might result in chronic paranoia, while those who have hosted demons of wrath and fury might struggle to suppress their bloodlust beneath their power armor. The Exorcists also bear physical evidence of their trials, from discolored eyes and patches of scaly flesh to unnatural scars that require constant purification rituals. Yet, these anomalies are seen as badges of honor, symbolizing their victories over unholy entities.
Despite the Exorcists’ resilience, the trials have a high mortality rate among its neophytes, and the survivors bear scars for the rest of their lives. Yet, not all consequences of possession are burdensome. It’s rumored that some Battle Brothers possess heightened psychic abilities, though these claims remain unverified.
However, a significant concern remains: the banished demons could escape back into the warp, taking with them the secrets of the Exorcists. The Chapter found an unnerving solution to this: the failed recruits, the “Broken,” become vessels to contain the expelled entities. These Broken, saturated with warp spawn, remain in a state of eternal torment, their minds disintegrated but their bodies serving as prisons for the demons.
To maintain the purity of their gene-seed, the Exorcists send the Broken into deep space, to a secret prison known as Purgatory. Here, within the ultra-dense walls of secured chambers, the Broken writhe and scream in agony for eternity.
For approximately five millennia, Purgatory has served the grim purposes of the Exorcists. Its terrifying contents remain a well-guarded secret, for if even one Broken were to escape, the consequences for the Chapter and the Imperium would be dire. Thus, the Exorcists continue their silent vigil, their trials and tribulations hidden beneath layers of secrecy.
Till the next time we delve into the mysterious and intricate lore of Warhammer 40k, embrace the darkness and remember: “In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.”
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