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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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When Space Marines go to war, the serfs maintain the fortress and defend it from attack. It is unlikely that the Chapter Serfs would ever be deployed in battle alongside their Space Marine masters, as their human limitations would be incapable of keeping pace. They would still be trained to levels at least equivalent to that of the [[Imperial Guard]], expected to assist in the defense of chapter assets such as fortresses and vessels. Indeed when facing down a Space Marine [[Battle Barge]] it would be a chapter serf manning the gun turrets, as a full Space Marine would be too valuable for the task.{{Cite this}}
The treatment of Serfs varies from chapter to chapter. While many have privileged and honors roles such as in the [[Space Wolves]]{{Fn|6}} and [[Imperial Fists]] successors such as the [[Excoriators]]{{Fn|5}}, in chapters such as the [[Carcharodons]] they are regarded as slaves beneath the notice of most members of the Chapter.{{Fn|12}} In the [[Salamanders]] Serfs often form genuine bonds of friendship and camaraderie with their masters.{{Fn|4}}
Some Clans such as the [[Iron Hands]] [[Clan Borrgos]] do not operate Serfs at all, and instead rely entirely on [[Servitor]]s while [[Clan Garrsak]] has tens of thousands of serfs alone.{{Fn|15}}
==Serf Specialties==
*'''Refectorium''' - Oversee cooking in the Fortress-Monastery.{{Fn|3a}}
*'''Shipmaster''' - Oversee Chapter Fleet vessels.{{Fn|1d}}
*'''Conversi''' - Serfs who operate and manage a bridge aboard an Astartes warship.{{Fn|9}}
*'''Warrior Serf''' - Serfs trained for combat.{{Fn|1d}}
*'''Logisticiam Illuminati''' - Serfs that assist the Chapter in logistical matters.{{Fn|1d}}
*'''Historitors''' - Serfs that assist in the recording of the Chapter's history.{{Fn|1d}}
*'''Serf-Pilot''' - Operate various vehicles and aircraft of the Chapter.{{Fn|13}}
*'''Serf-Laborer''' - Given construction duties.{{Fn|13}}
*'''Scholiasts''' - Serf Scholars.{{Fn|1d}}
*'''Enginarium Laborer''' - Toil within the reactor and engine complexes of Chapter Warships.{{Fn|12}}
*'''Brander-Priest''' - Used in the [[Salamanders]] Chapter. These Serfs brand their masters with hot irons while they recite litanies from the [[Promethean Cult]].{{Fn|4}}
*'''Lictor, Seneschal, Absterge''' - Used in the [[Excoriators]] Chapter. Each [[Battle-Brother]] of the Chapter have 3 of these armoury specialists. The Seneschal maintains the Marine's armour, the Lictor whips him during the donning of the armour, and the Absterge tends to the wounds after.{{Fn|5}}
*'''Helot''' - Used in the [[Mentor Legion]]and [[Ultramarines]]{{Fn|14}}. These Serfs are assigned to a Battle-Brother of the Chapter and relay vital battlefield data from a [[Damocles Command Rhino]] to the Marine. They also assist in a variety of other roles such as donning armor, maintaining weaponry, and they themselves are trained in the use of weapons.{{Fn|2}}*'''Knave''' - A lower form of Serf used in the [[Dark Angels]]. These are slaves who are only above [[Servitor]]s in the chapter hierarchy.{{Fn|11}}
==Title Variations==
*'''Servile''' — in the [[Angels Excelsis]]{{Fn|1a}}
*'''Helot''' - Used in the [[Mentor Legion]]{{Fn|2}}
*'''Mortal''' - Used in the [[Space Wolves]].{{Fn|8}}
*'''Zart''' - Used in the [[White Scars]].{{Fn|10}}
*'''Clan-Serf''' - Used in the [[Iron Hands]]. Sworn to a specific Clan of the Chapter.{{Fn|15}}
==Notable Chapter Serfs==
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Space Wolf (Novel)]] - Chapter 9
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Deathwatch: Rites of Battle]] pg. 210
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Battle of the Fang (Novel)]] - Chapter 12
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Savage Scars (Novel)]] - Chapter 1
*{{Endn|10}}: [[The Last Hunt (Novel)]] - Chogorian Lexicanum
*{{Endn|11}}: [[The Unforgiven (Novel)]] - Penance
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Carcharodons: Red Tithe (Novel)]] - Chapter 11
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Soul Drinker (Novel)]] - Chapter 1
*{{Endn|14}}: [[The Chapter's Due (Novel)]] - Chapter 9
*{{Endn|15}}: [[The Eye of Medusa (Novel)]] - Chapter 4
==Uncited==
