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Difference between revisions of "Death Spectres"
 
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The '''Death Spectres''' is a Chapter of Space Marines.
 
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{{Loyalist Chapters
 
{{Loyalist Chapters
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|Marine=DeathSpectres.jpg
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|Marine=DeathSpectresPrimaris.jpg
 
|Marine Px=200
 
|Marine Px=200
 
|Name=Death Spectres
 
|Name=Death Spectres
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|Founding Chapter=Unknown
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|Founding Chapter=[[Raven Guard]]{{Fn|7a}}
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|Founding=Unknown
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|Founding=[[Thirteenth Founding]]{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|21}}
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|Chapter Master=Unknown
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|Chapter Master=Unknown, currently enthroned upon the [[Shariax]]{{Fn|7g}}
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|Homeworld=[[Occludus]]<sup>1</sup>
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|Homeworld=[[Occludus]]{{Fn|1b}}
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|Fortress-Monastery=Unknown
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|Fortress-Monastery=[[Logopol]]{{Fn|7d}}
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|Colours=Black armour with bone aquila, helmet, and a white Left shoulder guard.
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|Colours=Black with white [[aquila]], helmet and left pauldron.{{Fn|18}}
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|Speciality=Unknown
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|Specialty=Guarding the [[Ghoul Stars]]{{Fn|1a}}
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|Battle Cry=Unknown
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|Battle Cry=Fear not death, we who embody it in His name!{{Fn|7e}}
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|Strength=Unknown
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|Strength={{Void}}
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|Symbol=Unknown.jpg
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|Symbol=Death Spectres Livery.jpg
 
|Symbol Px=125
 
|Symbol Px=125
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|Miniature=Unknown.jpg
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|Miniature=Death Spectres Devastator Mini.jpg
 
|Miniature Px=125
 
|Miniature Px=125
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''Death Spectres''' are a [[Space Marine Chapter]]. Stationed beyond the boundaries of the [[Imperium]], they maintain a careful watch over the [[Ghoul Stars]] to ensure that their supernatural inhabitants never again threaten the galaxy.{{Fn|1a}}
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==Background==
 
==Background==
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The '''Death Spectres''' are a Chapter of Space Marines that suffers from a genetic mutation which causes all of the Chapter's members to become albinos. During Abaddon the Despoiler's Black Crusade, the Death Spectres used jump pack equipped assault squads to quickly capitalize on every gain made by the Imperial Guard. Stationed Beyond the bounds of the Imperium, the Death Spectres maintain constant vigil to ensure that the supernatural inhabitants of the [[Ghoul Stars]] never again threaten the galaxy.<sup>3</sup>
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The date of the Death Spectres' [[Founding]] is unknown, though they are speculated to be of the [[13th Founding]].{{Fn|2}}
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===Notable battles and campaigns===
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[[Image:DeathSpectres.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Death Spectres [[Firstborn]]{{Fn|1a}}]]
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*[[Thirteenth Black Crusade]]<sup>2</sup> The Death Spectres fielded 6 companies against the forces of chaos in this campaign.
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Their parent chapter is the [[Raven Guard]].{{Fn|7a}} Their founder, [[Merrin Corcaedus|Corcaedus]], brought the Death Spectres to [[Occludus]] after receiving a vision from the [[Emperor]] Himself, which directed him to a secret cavern underneath the world's surface containing a [[xenos]] artefact of immense power, the [[Shariax]].{{Fn|7f}} After the [[Horus Heresy]] Occludus was controlled by the [[Death Guard]] [[Blackshield]] [[Crysos Morturg]], though his fate by the time of the 13th Founding is unknown.{{Fn|22}}
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 +
It is a closely guarded secret that each successive [[Chapter Master]] of the Death Spectres (known as the '''First Spectre''', or in the Occludan dialect of [[Low Gothic]], the ''Megir''), upon his ascension, takes his place on the [[Shariax]] (the '''Throne of Glass''') and does not step down again until he is dead. The Shariax grants some power to the Death Spectres that is vital to maintaining their watch over the Ghoul Stars, at the cost of draining the Chapter Master's life.{{Fn|7g}} Although he is semi-capable of directing the affairs of the Chapter, most daily command decisions are made by the ''Menrahir'', the Chapter Council. Only the [[First Captain]] and the [[Chief Librarian]] have regular access to the Chapter Master.{{Fn|7g}}{{Fn|7h}}
 +
 
 +
==Chapter Culture==
 +
The Death Spectres have a special inclination towards Death and decorate their heraldry, armour, and fortresses with motifs associated with death and transcendence. They believe that those that die in battle will be reborn to once again fight in the [[Emperor]]'s service. Upon death, battle-brothers are mummified and placed beneath [[Logopol]], the Chapter's [[Fortress-Monastery]].{{Fn|9a}} Members of the Chapter utilize a special gesture known as the ''Masrahim'' known as the salute of skull and throne. This is achieved by placing the left hand palm up next to the abdomen then placing the right in the left hands palm as a fist.{{Fn|10}}
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 +
The Death Spectres are officially charged with protecting the Imperium from the horrors of the [[Ghoul Stars]], but this protection does not extend to the local humans whom the Chapter mostly regards as potential breeding material to produce [[Aspirant]]s. The Death Spectres are perfectly willing to let human worlds in the Ghoul Stars die, as long as saving them is of no benefit to the wider Imperium.{{Fn|17}} The Chapter holds out hope to one day achieve the '''Great Resurrection''', a prophesied event by their original founder [[Merrin Corcaedus]] that is somehow connected to the [[Throne of Glass]] and will make all their sacrifices worthwhile.{{Fn|7f}}{{Fn|7g}} In order to achieve the Great Resurrection, a "Living Chalice" or '''Cadash''' is required.{{Fn|7i}}
 +
 
 +
The 1st Company of the Death Spectres is known as the ''War-Gheists'' and wield [[Power Scythe]]s in battle.{{Fn|9a}}
 +
 
 +
Unique designations include:
 +
*''Megir'' - [[Chapter Master]] and Grandmaster of the Chapter Cult known as ''The Order''. Also known as the ''Eye that Pierces the Veil''.{{Fn|9a}}
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*''Mesazar'' - [[Chief Librarian]] and successor to the ''Megir''.{{Fn|7g}}
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*''Megron'' - [[Space Marine Master|Master of the Flag]]{{Fn|7f}}
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*''Menrahir'' - Chapter Council{{Fn|7g}}
 +
 
 +
===Recruitment===
 +
Due to the scarcity of suitable [[Adeptus Astartes Recruiting World|recruiting worlds]] within the [[Ghoul Stars]], the Death Spectres recruit new members of the Chapter by scouring worlds for the best [[Human]] specimens that meet their selection parameters. The Death Spectres' call these Humans '''Prime Stock''' and take them to the Chapter's [[Adeptus Astartes Homeworld|Homeworld]] of [[Occludus]]{{Fn|9b}} or several nearby planets designated as [[Breeding World]]s{{Fn|17}}. The population of these Death Spectre-held planets are then supposed to breed future Aspirants for the Chapter.{{Fn|9b}}{{Fn|17}} To support its "breeding worlds", the Death Spectres raids human-inhabited worlds of the Ghoul Stars; as a result, the local humans often regard the Death Spectres as just as dangerous as Xenos horrors such as [[Necron]]s.{{Fn|17}}
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==Geneseed Defects==
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Death Spectres lack a functioning [[Mucranoid]] and [[Betcher's Gland]].{{Fn|7b}} Their [[gene-seed]] also suffers from relatively minor genetic mutations: Death Spectres lose their hair during the gene-seed implant process,{{Fn|7c}}, though some are able to retain it{{Fn|17}}, and their [[Melanchromic Organ]] does not work as intended. As a result of this, all Space Marines of this Chapter are albino{{Fn|3a}} and have eyes that are as red as their blood.{{Fn|17}}
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==Notable Campaigns==
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*'''Unknown date before late M41''': Attempted extermination campaign against the [[Cythor Fiends]]{{Fn|16}}
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*'''140.[[M40]]''': [[Vern IV]] offensive{{Fn|6}}
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*'''392-399.M41''': [[Macharian Crusade]]{{Fn|5}}
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*'''770s.M41''': [[Achilus Crusade]]{{Fn|3b}}
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*'''Late M41''': [[Lazar Blockade]]
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*'''Late M41''': Evacuation of the [[Magos]] from the [[Xin-Cyn]] [[Research Station]].{{Fn|8}}
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*'''Late M41''': [[Ghoul Stars Crusade]]{{Fn|15}}{{Fn|16}}
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*'''Late M41''': Battle on [[Thirsis 41-Alpha]]{{Fn|15}}
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*'''Late M41''': Evacuation of [[Sandran]]{{Fn|17}}
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*'''995 M41''': Operations against [[Hive Fleet]] [[Jormungandr]] alongsode the [[Honoured Sons]] on the north-eastern noundaries of the Imperium.{{Fn|1c}}
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*'''999.M41''': [[13th Black Crusade]]: The Chapter fielded six [[Space Marine Company|companies]] against the forces of Chaos. There they participated in the Siege of Lelithar, aiding [[Imperial Guard]] and [[Legio Ignatum]] forces by conducting guerrilla raids.{{Fn|12}}
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==Chapter Elements==
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===Relics===
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*''[[Arquemann]]'' - [[Force Sword]] said to have been laid at the feet of the [[Golden Throne]] by the first [[Chapter Master]] [[Merrin Corcaedus]]. The sword is said to have a psychic mind of its own and will bind itself to the user. It was wielded by [[Chief Librarian]] [[Athio Cordatus]], who eventually passed it to the [[Codicier]] [[Lyandro Karras]].{{Fn|10}}
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*''[[Torch of the Vigil]]'' - master-crafted [[Heavy Flamer]].{{Fn|13}}
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 +
===Vessels===
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*''[[Revenant (Death Spectres)|Revenant]]'' - [[Strike Cruiser]], commanded by captain [[Naroosh]].{{Fn|23}}
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*''[[Somnium Nihilo]]'' - [[Strike Cruiser]]{{Fn|20}}
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*''[[Swift as the Blade]]'' - [[Vanguard Class Light Cruiser]] last known to be doing long range patrols in the [[Ghoul Stars]] area. {{Fn|14}}
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*''[[Luminous Fury]]'' - [[Gladius Class Frigate]] last known to be doing long range patrols in the [[Ghoul Stars]] area. {{Fn|14}}
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*''[[Vox Silentii]]'' - [[Nova Class Frigate]]{{Fn|15}}
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*''[[Honoured Prophecy]]'' - Strike Vessel, [[Cobra Destroyer]] built in [[Entelheim]] shipyard.{{Fn|1b}}
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 +
===Notable Members===
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*[[Athio Cordatus]] - ''Mesazar'' ([[Chief Librarian]]), ''de facto'' Chapter Master, and heir apparent for the next ''Megir''.{{Fn|7f}}
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*[[Anzigus]] — communications specialist, took part in the [[Battle of Lion's Gate]].{{Fn|24}}
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*[[Bharan]] — [[Apothecary]]{{Fn|19}}
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*[[Hasrid]] - [[Deathwatch]] member and [[Kill-Team]] leader, operating alongside the [[Ordo Xenos]] under [[Inquisitor]] [[Talala Tazir]]{{Fn|11}}
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*[[Karnos]] — Battle Brother{{Fn|17}}
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*[[Lyandro Karras]] - [[Codicier]], squad leader of [[Deathwatch]] [[Kill-team Talon]]{{Fn|7f}}
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*[[Merrin Corcaedus]] — First [[Chapter Master]] or ''Megir''{{Fn|7a}}
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*[[Naroosh]] — Captain, Fourth Company{{Fn|16}}
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*[[Quintus (Death Spectre)|Quintus]] — [[Battle Brother]]{{Fn|17}}
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*[[Rohiam Elgrist]] - [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]], [[Space Marine Company|Third Company]], and ''Megron'' ([[Master of the Flag]]){{Fn|7f}}
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*[[Ternus]] – Battle-brother,  [[Space Marine Company|Second Company]], 5th Squad (battleline){{Fn|21}}
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*[[Vilda]] — [[Space Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]]{{Fn|17}}
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 +
==Images==
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<gallery mode="packed" heights="250">
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File:Space Marine 2 - Death Spectres.jpg|Marine from ''[[Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2|Space Marine 2]].''
 +
</gallery>
  
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==Sources and references==
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==See also==
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*<sup>1</sup>:[[Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook]]
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*[[Loyal Space Marine Chapters (List)]]
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*<sup>2</sup>[[Codex: Eye of Terror]]
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*[[Space Marine Forces (List)]]
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*<sup>3</sup>:[[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)]], p.26
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*[[Trophies (Short Story)]]
 +
*[[The Uncanny Crusade (Short Story)]]
  
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==Related Articles==
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==Sources==
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*[[List of Space Marine Chapters]]
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{{Citation issues}}
 +
*1: [[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)]]:
 +
**{{Endn|1a}}: pg. 26
 +
**{{Endn|1b}}: pg. 30
 +
**{{Endn|1c}}: pg. 49
 +
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Exhumed (Short Story)]] — [[Hammer and Bolter 2]]
 +
*3: [[Deathwatch Core Rulebook]]:
 +
**{{Endn|3a}}: pg. 18
 +
**{{Endn|3b}}: pg. 339
 +
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Eye of Terror]], pg. 16
 +
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Angel of Fire (Novel)]], Chapter Four
 +
*{{Endn|6}}: [[White Dwarf 271 (UK)]], pg. 56
 +
*7: [[Deathwatch (Novel)]]:
 +
**{{Endn|7a}}: Act 2: The Watch, Chapter 10, pg. 100
 +
**{{Endn|7b}}: Act 2: The Watch, Chapter 2, pg. 60
 +
**{{Endn|7c}}: Act 2: The Watch, Chapter 10, pg. 99
 +
**{{Endn|7d}}: Act 1: The Call, Chapter 3, pg. 18
 +
**{{Endn|7e}}: Act 1: The Call, Chapter 6, pg. 29
 +
**{{Endn|7f}}: Act 1: The Call, Chapter 5
 +
**{{Endn|7g}}: Act 1: The Call, Chapter 6
 +
**{{Endn|7h}}: Act 2: The Watch, Chapter 14
 +
**{{Endn|7i}}: Act 3: Chapter 21
 +
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Deathwatch: Mark of the Xenos]], pg. 50
 +
*9: [[Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker (Novel)]]:
 +
**{{Endn|9a}}: Chapter 9
 +
**{{Endn|9b}}: Chapter 41
 +
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Headhunted (Short Story)]]
 +
*{{Endn|11}}: [[The Voice of Mars (Novel)]] - ''Dramatis Personae''
 +
*{{Endn|12}}: [[White Dwarf 112 (FR)]], pg. 49
 +
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Deathwatch: Honour the Chapter]], pg. 135
 +
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Outpost (Short Story)]] — [[Inferno! Presents: The Inquisition]]
 +
*{{Endn|15}}: [[What Wakes in the Dark (Short Story)]] — [[Inferno! (2018) Vol.2]]
 +
*{{Endn|16}}: [[The Eternal Crusader (Novella)]], Chapter 1
 +
*{{Endn|17}}: [[Flayed (Short Story)]]
 +
*{{Endn|18}}: [[How to Paint Space Marines]], pg. 89
 +
*{{Endn|19}}: [[Deathwatch: Rites of Battle]], pg. 36
 +
*{{Endn|20}}: [[The Flesh Tithe (Short Story)]]
 +
*{{Endn|21}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition)]], pg. 59 – ''Emperor's Finest'', ' Unknown Foundings'
 +
*{{Endn|22}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book Six - Retribution]], pg. 144
 +
*{{Endn|23}}: [[The Uncanny Crusade (Short Story)]]
 +
*{{Endn|24}}: [[Avenging Son (Novel)]], Chapter 1
  
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[[Category:Raven Guard Successor Chapters]]
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[[Category:Ghoul Stars]]
 
[[Category:Later Foundings]]
 
[[Category:Later Foundings]]
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[[de:Death Specters]]
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[[de:Death Spectres]]
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[[fr:Death Spectres]]

Latest revision as of 13:17, 25 February 2026


Death Spectres
 Death Spectres Livery.jpg
DeathSpectresPrimaris.jpg Death Spectres Devastator Mini.jpg
Founding Chapter: Raven Guard[7a]
Founding: Thirteenth Founding[2][21]
Chapter Master: Unknown, currently enthroned upon the Shariax[7g]
Homeworld: Occludus[1b]
Fortress-Monastery: Logopol[7d]
Colours: Black with white aquila, helmet and left pauldron.[18]
Specialty: Guarding the Ghoul Stars[1a]
Strength:
Battle Cry Fear not death, we who embody it in His name![7e]

The Death Spectres are a Space Marine Chapter. Stationed beyond the boundaries of the Imperium, they maintain a careful watch over the Ghoul Stars to ensure that their supernatural inhabitants never again threaten the galaxy.[1a]

Background

The date of the Death Spectres' Founding is unknown, though they are speculated to be of the 13th Founding.[2]

 
Death Spectres Firstborn[1a]

Their parent chapter is the Raven Guard.[7a] Their founder, Corcaedus, brought the Death Spectres to Occludus after receiving a vision from the Emperor Himself, which directed him to a secret cavern underneath the world's surface containing a xenos artefact of immense power, the Shariax.[7f] After the Horus Heresy Occludus was controlled by the Death Guard Blackshield Crysos Morturg, though his fate by the time of the 13th Founding is unknown.[22]

It is a closely guarded secret that each successive Chapter Master of the Death Spectres (known as the First Spectre, or in the Occludan dialect of Low Gothic, the Megir), upon his ascension, takes his place on the Shariax (the Throne of Glass) and does not step down again until he is dead. The Shariax grants some power to the Death Spectres that is vital to maintaining their watch over the Ghoul Stars, at the cost of draining the Chapter Master's life.[7g] Although he is semi-capable of directing the affairs of the Chapter, most daily command decisions are made by the Menrahir, the Chapter Council. Only the First Captain and the Chief Librarian have regular access to the Chapter Master.[7g][7h]

Chapter Culture

The Death Spectres have a special inclination towards Death and decorate their heraldry, armour, and fortresses with motifs associated with death and transcendence. They believe that those that die in battle will be reborn to once again fight in the Emperor's service. Upon death, battle-brothers are mummified and placed beneath Logopol, the Chapter's Fortress-Monastery.[9a] Members of the Chapter utilize a special gesture known as the Masrahim known as the salute of skull and throne. This is achieved by placing the left hand palm up next to the abdomen then placing the right in the left hands palm as a fist.[10]

The Death Spectres are officially charged with protecting the Imperium from the horrors of the Ghoul Stars, but this protection does not extend to the local humans whom the Chapter mostly regards as potential breeding material to produce Aspirants. The Death Spectres are perfectly willing to let human worlds in the Ghoul Stars die, as long as saving them is of no benefit to the wider Imperium.[17] The Chapter holds out hope to one day achieve the Great Resurrection, a prophesied event by their original founder Merrin Corcaedus that is somehow connected to the Throne of Glass and will make all their sacrifices worthwhile.[7f][7g] In order to achieve the Great Resurrection, a "Living Chalice" or Cadash is required.[7i]

The 1st Company of the Death Spectres is known as the War-Gheists and wield Power Scythes in battle.[9a]

Unique designations include:

Recruitment

Due to the scarcity of suitable recruiting worlds within the Ghoul Stars, the Death Spectres recruit new members of the Chapter by scouring worlds for the best Human specimens that meet their selection parameters. The Death Spectres' call these Humans Prime Stock and take them to the Chapter's Homeworld of Occludus[9b] or several nearby planets designated as Breeding Worlds[17]. The population of these Death Spectre-held planets are then supposed to breed future Aspirants for the Chapter.[9b][17] To support its "breeding worlds", the Death Spectres raids human-inhabited worlds of the Ghoul Stars; as a result, the local humans often regard the Death Spectres as just as dangerous as Xenos horrors such as Necrons.[17]

Geneseed Defects

Death Spectres lack a functioning Mucranoid and Betcher's Gland.[7b] Their gene-seed also suffers from relatively minor genetic mutations: Death Spectres lose their hair during the gene-seed implant process,[7c], though some are able to retain it[17], and their Melanchromic Organ does not work as intended. As a result of this, all Space Marines of this Chapter are albino[3a] and have eyes that are as red as their blood.[17]

Notable Campaigns

Chapter Elements

Relics

Vessels

Notable Members

Images

See also

Sources

 

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