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Chapter Serf

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{{CI}}
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[[File:Chapter Serf DWFF.jpg|thumb|right|A Chapter serf bowing to a Space Marine]]
'''Chapter serfs''' (or '''Legion serfs''' during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy) are the normal human bondsmen and servants of a [[Space Marine]] [[Chapter]]. The Space Marines themselves are too few in number to manage all the tasks required to maintain all the aspects of the Chapter, its fleet, fortress, and other myriad aspects. It is the serfs who perform most of these vital functions.{{Cite thisCME}}
==Overview==
A Chapter's fortress-monastery is home to a large population of these hereditary servants. Although they occupy a humble position, they are loyal members of the Chapter. They are generally descended from individuals selected as potential recruits to the Chapter, but in the end, judged unfit to become actual Space Marines.{{Cite thisCME}}
The serfs are still inducted into the [[Chapter]] cult, and do not begrudge the status they could have obtained.{{Cite thisCME}} They are generally well treated within the Chapter, are educated and trained to a much higher standard than most other servants of the [[Imperium]], and have access to a better range of equipment. Many serfs were unsuccessful aspirants who failed to become Adeptus Astartes.{{Fn|1c}}
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 thisCME}}
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 [[slave]]s beneath the notice of most members of the Chapter.{{Fn|12}} Even before their fall to [[Chaos]] the [[Iron Warriors]] regarded serfs as little more than replaceable fodder.{{Fn|16}} In the [[Salamanders]] serfs often form genuine bonds of friendship and camaraderie with their masters.{{Fn|4}}
==Uncited==
{{Uncited}}
*[[Codex: Space Wolves (2nd Edition)]],{{Cite thisCME}}
*Battlefleet Gothic: Armada (Supplement), pg. 20
*[[Deathwatch: First Founding]], pg 106
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