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===Dusk Raiders===
The base [[gene-seed]] stock of the Dusk Raiders, originally known as the XIVth Legion, came from [[Terra]] or more specifically the warlike and tough clans of [[Albia]]. In the [[Unification Wars]] the XIVth Legion quickly developed the use of tactics and methods of warfare that their ironside fore-bearers would have found familiar. Operating in the role of heavy infantry, they were experts at survival, endurance, and stubborn defense. Their grey [[Power Armor]] began to carry battle decorations as well as the modified imagery of Albia. As the Unification Wars came to an end and the [[Great Crusade]] began, the [[Emperor]] gave them the title of the '''Dusk Raiders''', a nod to their use of the ancient Albian tactic of conducting major ground attacks at twilight when the shift of light confused an enemy's watch and gathering shadow would advance across open ground.{{Fn|1616a}}
The Dusk Raiders' armour was originally unpainted, but with their right arm and both shoulders coloured crimson. This was done with the intent to show their enemies that they were the Emperor's red right hand, relentless and unstoppable. Many enemies simply threw down their weapons at nightfall so they didn't have to fight the terrifying Dusk Raiders.{{Fn|2a}}
For more then eight decades the Dusk Raiders fought across the Galaxy in the Great Crusade, earning a fierce reputation by failing to reunite with their Primarch.{{Fn|1616a}}
===The Great Crusade===
The Death Guard tended to be organised into units of foot-slogging infantry, rather than mechanised squads. Mortarion ensured that his men were well-equipped and highly-trained. He also ensured that they could fight in almost any kind of atmosphere, and placed little emphasis on specialised units using jump packs or bikes. The Death Guard did not have dedicated Assault and Tactical Squads. Every Marine was equipped with a bolter, bolt pistol and close combat weapon and told to fight with whatever weapon circumstance dictated. The Legion was also well known for its use of Terminator Armour. Possibly as a result of this, the Death Guard were highly successful at high-risk boarding and close-quarter operations such as space hulk clearance.{{Fn|1}}
By the time of the Horus Heresy, the Death Guard is known to have had roughly 95,000 Space Marines.{{Fn|1616a}}
===The Horus Heresy===
At the beginning of the Horus Heresy, many Death Guard who remained loyal to the Emperor were massacred on Isstvan III by their fellow Space Marines, including Captain Ullis Temeter. Roughly a third of the Legion was still loyal to the Emperor.{{Fn|1616a}}
During the Horus Heresy, the Death Guard joined Warmaster Horus in many battles and raids on the Imperium. When Horus led his forces against Earth and the Emperor, the Death Guard's First Captain, [[Calas Typhon]], killed the [[Navigator]] of their capital ship. Pretending that they were still loyal to the Emperor, Typhon led the Chapter's Fleet into the Warp but instead of going to Holy [[Terra]] to defend the [[Imperium]], the ships became trapped and unable to return to Real Space. The Destroyer Hive flooded the ship while they were trapped in the Warp. The stinking pestilence flooded the gut and distended the flesh, while the Marines were blacked out the Destroyer Hive swarmed over them and laid eggs inside the sores of the Marines. Craving salvation, the Death Guard called upon Nurgle to help them. Nurgle corrupted them beyond measure, transforming them into the grotesque warriors they are now. Typhon then inherited the Destroyer Hive: having already sacrificed his soul to Nurgle. The flies entered Typhon and thus [[Typhus]], Herald and Champion of Nurgle, was born.
During the Horus Heresy the Death Guard are known to have possessed the following vessels:{{Fn|3}}
*''[[Endurance]]'' - Capital Ship
*''Reapers Scythe'' - Capital Ship{{Fn|16a16b}}
*''Indomitable Will'' - Capital Ship
*''Spectre of Death'' - Capital Ship
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Index Astartes III]]: The Lost and the Damned
*{{Endn|2}}: [[The Flight of the Eisenstein]] by [[James Swallow]]
**{{Endn|2a}}: Chapter Five, pppgs. 118-120
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Horus Heresy: Visions of Death]] by [[Alan Merrett]]
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)]], ppg. 14
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Galaxy In Flames (Novel)]] by [[Ben Counter]]
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Horus Heresy Collectable Card Game]]
*{{Endn|7}} [[Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three]]
*{{Endn|8}} [[Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition)]]:
**{{Endn|8a}}: ppg. 17**{{Endn|8b}}: ppg. 9
*{{Endn|9}} [[The First Heretic (Novel)]] by [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]]
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Deathwatch: First Founding]] , pg.85*{{Endn|11}}: [[Collected Visions]] pg, pgs.354-356*{{Endn|12}}: [[Apocalypse]] , pg.171*{{Endn|13}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks - Part Three]] pgpgs. 141-143
*{{Endn|14}}: [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod890005a Games Workshop]
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (6th Edition)]] pg, pgs.22-23*{{Endn|16}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book One - Betrayal]] pg**{{Endn|16a}}: pgs.120-129**{{Endn|16a16b}}: pg.137
[[Category:Death Guard|*]]
