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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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The Animus Malorum is ancient, but its exact origin and nature is unknown, as with everything to do with the [[Legion of the Damned]]. However, according to [[Imperial Scholar]]s, it is almost certainly the skull of a [[Space Marine Captain]], maybe even one from the Legion of the Damned.{{Fn|1a}}
The Animus Malorum was interred in a [[Basilica]] of a [[reliquary-city]] on an [[Imperial]] planet of great significanceimportance, but over time the [[Imperium]] at large forgot the planet's significance. The planet was attacked by an [[Ork]] horde, and only [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Erices]]' [[Company]] went to the planet's aid. They were overwhelmed by the Orks and fell back to the Basilica district, setting detonation charges throughout the Basilicae catacombs to make sure that the holy site did not fall into enemy hands. However, while [[Techmarine]] [[Marco (Techmarine)|Marco]] was preparing to detonate the charges, the [[Legion of the Damned]] appeared within the catacombs led by [[Veteran Sergeant]] [[Attica Centurius]], in order to prevent them from destroying the reliquaries and causing the Animus Malorum to be lost. Centurius recovered the Animus Malorum, and the Legion drove back the Orks.{{Fn|2}}
The Legion's numbers had been falling for decades and they needed new Legionnaires, so Centurius asked Captain Erices to give his soul to the Animus Malorum and join the Legion. Erices accepted, and Centurius gave the other surviving Space Marines the choice to "Serve or Die", killing those who did not choose to join them, as he considered their souls forfeit as part of the [[Imperium]]'s debt to the Legion.{{Fn|2}}
