Deathshroud

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Death Guard

This article is about the Death Guard formation; for the Necron equipment, see Death Shroud.

Post-Heresy Deathshroud Terminators^[6]

The Deathshroud were the elite bodyguard unit of the Death Guard Space Marine Legion during the Great Crusade.^[5a][5b]

History

Pre-Heresy

Great secrecy surrounded them; they were chosen from the rank-and-file of the Death Guard by their Primarch, Mortarion, personally for their skill at arms, fearlessness and proven endurance - often being the sole survivor when the rest of their squad has perished.^[5b] Their identities were a mystery, since, after being inducted into the Deathshroud, they never spoke, never removed their helmets even in death, and were officially listed as being killed in action.^[1a]

Heresy-era Deathshroud^[7]

Deathshroud bodyguards were clad in highly artificed Terminator armour that gave them a tall and barrel-chested appearance. They were armed with Alchem Casters and, like their master, they wielded large power scythes known as Manreapers. They never strayed more than 49 paces from their Primarch.^[1a][5b] An intimidating presence, they were capable of achieving a uniformity so perfect that when at rest they gave the impression of grand statues, and when in motion, of mechanical automatons.^[1c] Mortarion was customarily attended by two Deathshroud at any one time, but there may have been more.^[1a][1b]

In the Battle of Iota Horologi, the Deathshroud accompanied their lord in a boarding action of a cylindrical Jorgall worldship.^[1b]

Before an attack on the Knight world of Molech, Mortarion killed all seven of his Deathshroud bodyguards with a single stroke of his Manreaper, Silence, inside the gene-vault aboard his flagship, Endurance, in order to feed the emerging daemon essence of Ignatius Grulgor, who had been killed on Isstvan III by the Life-eater virus.^[4]

Post-Heresy

As a Daemon Prince of Nurgle, Mortarion was still accompanied by his Deathshroud ten thousand years later, notably when he confronted the Grey Knights at the Battle of Kornovin.^[3]

Also called the Pale Harvestmen, the Scythes of Nurgle, or the Eyes of Mortarion, now the Deathshroud serve as Mortarion's representatives, and while they still often fight by his side they also form the honour guard for Chaos Lords and other Chaos Champions which have garnered Mortarion's favour. Their presence is a mixed blessing at best. The Deathshroud will fight with all their skill and strength in support of their assigned champion, and prove to be an undeniable asset in battle. Yet all the while the Deathshroud are judging upon their master’s behalf. If the champion is successful, the Deathshroud will serve him in battle or campaign. If their charge fails in his duties, however, the judgement of Mortarion is swift, deadly and utterly inescapable.^[11]

Notable Deathshroud Members

• Khorak^[8]
• Slaunn^[9]

Images

• 

  Deathshroud Terminator^[2] (pre-Heresy)

• 

  Deathshroud Terminators (post-Heresy)^[10]

See also

• Space Marine Honour Guard#Pre-Heresy
• Blightlord Terminator

Sources

• 1: The Flight of the Eisenstein (Novel):
  • 1a: Chapter One, pgs. 28–29
  • 1b: Chapter Two, pg. 44
  • 1c: Chapter Three, pg. 79
• 2: Forgeworld
• 3: Codex: Grey Knights (5th Edition), pg. 15
• 4: Vengeful Spirit (Novel), ^[Help], pgs. 163–171
• 5: The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal:
  • 5a: pg. 129
  • 5b: pg. 263
• 6: Codex: Death Guard (8th Edition), pg. 40
• 7: Collected Visions, pg. 229
• 8: The Horus Heresy Book Two - Massacre, pg. 49
• 9: The Lords of Silence (Novel), Chapter 5
• 10: Games Workshop Deathshroud saved page, original link: https://www.warhammer.com/en-US/shop/Death-Guard-Deathshroud-Bodyguard-2020?srsltid=AfmBOoqFtn6KoC6XBxycBSSN_w7tq_yTeQfeFAjb-B4tDcp_9l_AOG5r (last accessed 4/5/2025)
• 11: Codex: Death Guard (10th Edition), pg. 24 - The Deathshroud