Fluff for my Word Bearers that should fit the fluff of the new codex nicely

[greensentinel7]

Let me know what you think :yes:

Before the Horus Heresy, Chaplain Malin was the Chaplain of the 8th company. Many were the tales of how he fearlessly led his squadron into the direst situations, only to annihilate the opposition before him. As the worship of Chaos spread throughout his legion, Malin found himself moved by the grand speeches made by Erebus, as preached from the Book of Lorgar. It was not long before Malin found favor within the eyes of Erebus and others, and as such he became privy to the dark secrets of Chaos early on.

When Horus’ plans to attack Terra came to fruition, Malin’s 8th company, joined by a detachment of terminators of the 1st company, launched the secondary assault spearhead against the Ultramarines on Ultramar. Joined with the already engaged forces of Kor Phaeron, the Word Bearers drove the Ultramarines to seek refuge within the underground city of Carth. It was only by the arrival of reinforcements from Macragge that the Word Bearers were forced to flee into the Maelstrom.

Upon their arrival into the warp, the Word Bearers pledged themselves to the dark gods, effectively becoming Chaos Space Marines. Since that time they have struck from the warp to attack Imperial cities, sack entire planets, and to join forces with all 13 Black Crusades. Yet, over the last 10,000 years casualties from every encounter began to take their toll.

Malin has since become the Dark Apostle Malignus. Since the Heresy, he has led his Word Bearers in the destruction of 42 imperial cities, sacked 14 imperial and xenos planets, and led them to victory in every engagement that they took part in during the Black Crusades. In this time his forces have developed a deep hatred for the Black Templars, and have often left the warp simply to engage their hated foe. All of this fighting has led to the loss of countless of the original legion. As a method of recruitment, Malignus seeks out the renegades that would defect from their parent Astartes chapters. Using his skills as an orator, Malignus has successfully adopted several squadrons form their Imperial chapters. His crowning achievement being the induction of two full squadrons of Ultramarines that were the remnant of a battle where the Word Bearers laid siege to an imperial outpost on Mordax prime, though their inclusion was induction through brutally forced indoctrination.

Even know Malignus emerges from the warp to do battle with the armies of the hated Imperium, invoking whichever Chaos gods he feels are needed for the coming battles.

[harlequin2262]

I like it. Personal touches in the character without overpowerment.

[Zema]

i like it too, greensentinel, i gather you write fiction more often? This doesn't read like a one off story

[X-Slash-X]

I agree with Hezu. This has an underlying vibe that says it was meant to be continued.

Might I suggest fleshing out the character a bit more? This short pieces has the makings of something much bigger. Perhaps you could describe what sort of tactics your Word Bearers use?
Do they favour any type of troop choice, or are they Daemon-reliant like other warbands from that legion? Does Malignus have any Leutenants?
What encounters have they had with the Black Templars? What is the reasoning behind their rivalry and hatred against that particular chapter of the Emperor's Finest?

These questions just scrape the surface of how you can flesh out a truly great piece of work. My motto and creed has always been that an Army's background gives them reason to exist. Without a decent piece of Fluff to back them up, they're just toy soldiers on a table.


X-Slash-X