Skitarii Conclave
Conclaves were the chief organisational unit used by the Skitarii during the Age of Strife, Great Crusade, and Horus Heresy.[1a]
Overview
The original Skitarii Conclaves were drawn from the Age of Strife-era cybernetic scavenger-clans of Mars by the newly ascendent Fabricator General of the Cult Mechanicus. These new cybernetic warriors, dubbed "Skitarii", were organised into small self-sufficient armies which were capable of operating far from Mars for long periods of times with limited support. The exact number of Conclaves varied over time as the Great Crusade unfolded, but at the outbreak of the Horus Heresy there were around 30.[1a]
During the subsequent Horus Heresy, roughly 2/3rds of the Skitarii Conclaves remained loyal to the traitorous Fabricator-General Kelbor-Hal and his New Mechanicum and fought for Warmaster Horus. The remaining third stayed loyal to the Emperor and sided with the exiled Fabricator Locum, Zagreus Kane.[1a]
After the Traitor defeat in the Siege of Terra, the Skitarii Conclaves were seemingly disbanded as their organisation now differs. Today, the Skitarii are organised into Legions which are sworn to specific Forge Worlds.[2]
Structure
The Skitarii Conclaves were sworn directly to the Fabricator-General of Mars as his personal armies. They were operationally commanded by the Arch-Ordinator, who was directly subservient to the Fabricator-General. These two figures were the only Imperial authorities with permanent command over all the Skitarii Conclaves.[1a]
Each Conclave was broken into 16 individual Themata, which in turn were divided into 22 Lochos, which were further divided into 12 Corpus each made up of 16 Skitarii dubbed Battle-Pilgryms. These formations were commanded by Skitarii Marshals of varying ranks and authority, who were not permanent officers but instead granted authority over their respective formations for specific missions and campaigns. This gives a standard Conclave 67,584 Skitarii troops, and given around 30 such formations existed at the time of the Heresy there would have been around 2 million total Skitarii. However size seems to vary, with some conclaves being observed operating up to 88,000 Skitarii. The Conclaves were usually accompanied by support troops and forces from other branches of the Mechanicum, which were dubbed Bonepicker Hosts.[1a]
Formations of any size or type in the Conclave could call upon a variety of armoured vehicles and artillery platforms for support. These included the Triaros, Karacnos, Krios, and Krios Venator. They also utilized Vultarax Stratos-class Robots.[1b]
Clade Parameters
Clade Parameters referred to the governoring behavior protocols, rituals, and tactics of a given Skitarii Conclave. Each of these Clade Parameters was dedicated to an aspect of the technological spectrum that formed the Cult Mechanicus, and these shaped their organisation, tactics, and rituals of their Conclave. Some specialized in Atomantic technology, while others wielded powerful Plasma relics. Rumours exist that some Conclaves even dedicated themselves to the pursuit of forbidden technology and even Xenos relics, which were then sealed away any watched over by the Priests of Mars.[1a]
Known Clade Parameters included:
- Incursus Clade (Ad membra ferrax) - Responded with dauntless and impetitous aggression in the face of any enemies.[1a]
- Excipio Clade (Acquisitor et cognitio) - Sworn to the acquisition and analysis of technological relics above all else, no matter the cost.[1a]
- Speculor Clade (Occulus Omnisior) - Acted as the eyes and ears of the Arch-Ordinator.[1a]
- Vigilus Clade (Contra Cladem) - Protected the technological vaults of the Mechanicum.[1a]
- Expurgis Clade[1g]
- Vindicor Clade[1d]
Known Conclaves
- Vigilus-Alpha-Omega[1e] aka the First Conclave - Guarded technological relics sealed in the vaults of Phobos. These relics could only be opened by direct order of the Fabricator-General.[1a]
- Incursus-Omega-Psi - Followed the Incursus Clade parameters. Maintained a nominal strength of 75,008 Skitarii.[1a]
- Incursus-Lambda-Psi - Followed the Incursus Clade parameters. Loyalist Conclave which obtained the Sarcophagus of the First Fabricator General during the Schism of Mars.[1e]
- Excipio-Kappa-Delta - Followed the Excipio Clade parameters. Maintained a nominal strength of 76,387 Skitarii.[1a]
- Speculor-Alpha-Theta - Followed the Speculor Clade parameters. Unknown strength.[1a]
- Speculor-Gamma-Mu - Followed the Speculor Clade parameters. Traitor host that engaged in the Battle for Vault Tharsis Deca-Nine.[1f]
- Vigilus-Alpha-Omega - Followed the Vigilus Clade parameters. Maintained a nominal strength of 88,000 Skitarii, but also had four stasis-locked themata held in reserve at an undisclosed location.[1a]
- Vigilus-Gamma-Phi - Loyalist Conclave. Took part in the Harrowing of Lastrati.[1h]
- Expurgis-Zeta-Phi - Loyalist Conclave of the Expurgis Clade. Specialised in heavy armour and took part in the Battle of Cambrae.[1g]
- Vindicor-Kappa-Delta[1d]
