Changes

Word Bearers do not worship Chaos Gods individually. Instead, they are venerated and regarded as a Dark Pantheon of [[Chaos Gods]]. Word Bearers rely on Daemons as shock troops, meatshields, and as the bulk of their armies. Their elite Chaos Space Marines are used to accomplish vital tasks. The Word Bearers have been known to have a massive cultist base, and have used cultists and insurgents since the Great Crusade. However, unlike the Alpha Legion, they use cultists as cannon fodder and distractions, not as spies, infiltrators, saboteurs, or political tools.¹

The Word Bearers are notable for being the only [[Traitor Legion]] who still have a corps of Chaplains, now known as [[Dark Apostle]]s. This evil priesthood enforces a strict regime of worship of the Chaos pantheon upon their fellow The Word Bearers and are also highly likely to be found leading follow the Legion words of their Dark Apostles with total faith in battle. Each The Dark Apostles divine through many ways how a battle is gifted an army to be fought and won, and the warriors of their own, known as a the Hostobey unquestioningly. The numbers varyBefore battle, with the smallest typical size roughly analogous Word Bearers gather in ritual prayer, chanting hymns and cult doctrine to that affirm their faith in the power of a Space Marine [[Company]], Chaos. Often these chants will be answered and it is common for the largest exceeding the manpower of a Space Marine [[Chapter]]Word Bearers to fight alongside daemonic entities.

The organizational make-up This evil priesthood enforces a strict regime of worship of each Host differs wildly as well, the Chaos pantheon upon their fellow Word Bearers and can change depending on are also highly likely to be found leading the whims of the Dark Apostle that leads itLegion in battle. Often they will suddenly alter the hierarchy Each is gifted an army of their own, known as a '''Host for reasons known only to themselves. These changes often result in seemingly unwieldy or tactically inflexible formations'''. The Word Bearers themselves accept these changes without question. The most commonly occurring structure is that numbers vary, with the smallest typical size roughly equating analogous to that of a Space Marine company[[Company]], with and the largest exceeding the Host broken down into units manpower of about twelve warriors. Each is commanded by a champion of the Word Bearers who strives to become as devout a war leader as the Dark Apostle in the hope of one day being chosen to succeed him on the occasion of his deathSpace Marine [[Chapter]].

==Combat Doctrine==The Word Bearers follow the words organizational make-up of their Dark Apostles with total faith in battle. The Dark Apostles divine through many ways how a battle is to be fought and woneach Host differs wildly as well, and can change depending on the warriors whims of the Host obey unquestioninglyDark Apostle that leads it. Before battle, Often they will suddenly alter the Word Bearers gather in ritual prayer, chanting hymns and cult doctrine hierarchy of their Host for reasons known only to affirm their faith themselves. These changes often result in the power of Chaosseemingly unwieldy or tactically inflexible formations. Often these chants will be answered and it is common for the The Word Bearers to fight alongside daemonic entitiesthemselves accept these changes without question.¹

The largest known Host numbered over two thousand Chaos Marines at its peak. The size of this force required that the Dark Apostle be served by two chief lieutenants, his '''First Acolyte''' and a champion, entitled as the '''Coryphaus'''. Additionally, the Host possessed an Icon Bearer and an elite unit of [[Possessed Space Marine Squad|Possessed Space Marines]] known as the Annointed.⁴ The most commonly occurring structure is that roughly equating to a Space Marine company, with the Host broken down into units of about twelve warriors. Each is commanded by a champion of the Word Bearers who strives to become as devout a war leader as the Dark Apostle in the hope of one day being chosen to succeed him on the occasion of his death. The Word Bearers then march into battle beneath their standards, bellowing catechisms of hatred at their foe as drums beat out a dolorous thunder. The relentless advance of the Word Bearers is a terrifying sight, as the monotonous chant and beat of drums can break even the strongest will. The unshakable belief of the Word Bearers in the truth of their cause has seen them marching into certain death, yet unwilling to take a single step backwards. A battle ends either in victory or the utter destruction of the Word Bearer host.¹