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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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The Legio Mortis was formed during the [[Age of Strife]], before the founding of the [[Imperium]] itself. According to legends of the [[Mars|Martian]] [[Lexmechanic]]s, they were one of the [[Triad Ferrum Morgulus]], the three original [[Titan Legion]]s created by the besieged [[Adeptus Mechanicus|Cult Mechanicum]] during the bloody wars to take the Red Planet from hordes of [[Cy-Carnivora]] and [[Mutant]]s. Legend holds that their original purpose was to serve as the personal guardians of the [[Fabricator-General]]'s domain and the annihilation of any who would threaten the cult of the [[Omnissiah]]. Before the union between the Mechanicum and the Imperium, the Legio Mortis was frequently employed as the Praetorian Guard of the Fabricator-General, punishing any who would dare challenge the authority of the Priesthood, including other Titan Legions. Their status garnered rivalry from other Legions, most notably the [[Legio Ignatum]] and [[Legio Venator]].{{Fn|1a}}
Even after joining with the Imperium, the Legio Mortis was looked upon with suspicion by the fledging fledgling Imperial military staff, many accusing them of being solely loyal to the Fabricator-General as opposed to the [[Emperor]]. To both demonstrate and deepen their loyalty to the Imperium,{{Cite this}} the Legio Mortis was assigned to [[Horus Lupercal]] and the [[63rd Expeditionary Fleet]] during the last years of the [[Great Crusade]] - for example they fought in the [[War on Murder]].{{Fn|11}} With the charismatic Primarch they fought over a hundred campaigns, scoring victory after victory. However rather then becoming loyal to the Emperor or his Imperium, the Legio Mortis instead developed a fierce allegiance to Horus himself. Thus it was that they willingly followed their [[Warmaster]] into treachery.{{Fn|1a}}
[[Image:MortisReaver.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Reaver-class Titan ''Ferrum Mori'' during the opening stages of the [[Horus Heresy]]{{Fn|1b}}]]
===Horus Heresy===
By the time of the Horus Heresy, the Legio Mortis possessed around 200 Titans, 2 support armor battalions, five [[Skitarii]] Legions, and 9 air support squadrons. It is said only the [[Legio Destructor]] possessed more Titans than the Legio Mortis, and they possessed the greaterst number of [[Emperor Titan]]s.{{Fn|13}} The legion was corrupted by the powers of [[Chaos]] which enveloped the rebel forces under Horus, and most of the Death's Heads fell towards the vile decay of [[Nurgle]], ironically that same entity which had so disgusted the Titan crews fighting against the hordes of [[Plague Bearer]]s on the moon of [[Davin]] before Horus fell. The Legio Mortis became the most notorious of the traitor Titan Legions. The Legio directly supported Horus before his daemon-possessed treachery against the Emperor. The Legio followed him willingly. When the Horus Heresy began with the virus-bombing of [[Isstvan III]], it was the Legio Mortis which made the landings to scour the corpse-packed hives for the last survivors.{{Cite this}} Later during the [[Fall of Prospero]] a Legio Mortis contingent was dispatched as part of the [[Space Wolves]]-led force. However the Legio Mortis force was near-annihilated during the battle, saved only by the [[Ordo Sinister]]. The humiliation caused their involvement to largely be covered up.{{Fn|9}}
During the [[Schism of Mars]], the Legio Mortis forces supported the traitor [[Fabricator General]] [[Kelbor-Hal]], and were the first titan legion to walk in support of [[Horus]]. These contingents of Legio Mortis, however, were all but destroyed by [[Legio Tempestus]], save for the Hellstorm Cannon of the [[Imperator]] ''[[Aquila Ignis]]''.{{Cite this}}
**{{Endn|12a}}: Chapter 15
**{{Endn|12b}}: Chapter 21
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Adeptus Titanicus: Traitor Legios]], pgs. 28-30
===Uncited===
