Vitrian Dragoons
The Vitrian Dragoons are Imperial Guard Regiments from Vitria.[6a]
Contents
Combat Doctrine
The Vitrians are governed by a strict honour code known as the Byhata.[1b][1c]
The Vitrian Dragoons prefer to deploy with larger than average squads of twenty men each. In terms of weaponry, they make little use of heavier weapons, favouring standard lasguns, which they prefer to set on maximum power. They do not exclusively use lasguns, however; some Vitrian troopers are instead armed with plasma guns.[1b]
Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt, who served alongside the Vitrian Third on Fortis Binary, described them as well-drilled, impressive soldiers. However, he also noted that they were more rigid and less used to the fluid nature of battle than his own Tanith First troopers.[1]
Equipment
The Vitrians are famous for their crystalline armour.[1a] This armour is obsidian in colour and appears similar to a primitive, metallic mail, but it is actually far more sophisticated.[1b] The outer layer is made out of mica bead, covering an insulating thermal fabric beneath.[1d] This offers superb protection from energy fire without a compromise in mobility.[6a] The wearer can alter the armour's reflectivity to blend in with their surroundings and prevent enemies from seeing them clearly in dark conditions, [1b] by rotating the scales, revealing a dark underside that provides nocturnal camouflage.[6a] Each Guardsman wears a full-face helmet with a visor.[1a]
The standard weapon for a Vitrian Guardsman is a typical lasgun, which can be fitted with a spike bayonet.[1b] The lasgun is permanently set to the highest discharge setting for maximal stopping power, to facilitate a first-hit kill. The bayonet is a dagger known as sulic. It is manufactured from glass, featuring a sharp cutting edge.[6b]
Each Vitrian Guardsman also carries a copy of the Byhata with them, printed on sheets of monofilament paper and stored in a pouch worn above the heart, underneath the Guardsman's flak tunic. The paper is gene-coded to prevent others from reading the text.[1c]
Notable Actions
- Famine Wars — A Vitrian detachment under Colonel Zoren was part of the Imperial peacekeeping garrison on the planet Idolwilde. They were stationed in the city-state of Kenadie when a series of riots broke out and toppled the planet's government. It eventually transpired that the riots were orchestrated by a renegade government faction. The Vitrians were able to suppress the rebellion, defeating two corrupt regiments in the Battle of Altatha.[1g]
- Sabbat Worlds Crusade[1a][1h]
- Fortis Binary — The Vitrian Dragoons Third, led by Colonel Zoren, were deployed to reinforce a push by the Tanith First into a series of trench networks controlled by the Shriven.[1a] With the help of the Vitrians, the Tanith disrupted a Chaos ritual that the Shriven were attempting to enact.[1e][1f]
- Menazoid Epsilon — Colonel Zoren repaid his regiment's debt to the Tanith First by attacking the treacherous Jantine Patricians, who had been ordered to slaughter the Tanith from the rear. By flanking the Patricians and achieving total surprise, the Vitrians, despite suffering heavy casualties, annihilated the 700 or so Patricians.[1h]
- Solypsis Campaign — The Vitrian Dragoons fought alongside the Volpone Bluebloods against the treason of Governor Gideon.[3]
- Samid Alpha campaign — Imperial forces are defeated by the Sons of Sek; Vitrian Dragoons are among the 50,000 Imperial soldiers captured alive by Etogaur Shida-kai.[5]
Notable Regiments
- Vitrian Dragoons Third — Fought in the Sabbat Worlds Crusade.[1h]
- 331st Vitrian Dragoons — Disappeared on Donoria Prime, alongside regiments of Kanak Skull Takers and Savlar Chem-Dogs, under mysterious circumstances after they were ordered there to wipe out an infestation of Donorian Fiends and close a Webway breach.[2]
Notable Members
- Zoren — Colonel, Vitrian Dragoons Third. Active during the Sabbat Worlds Crusade.[1a][1h]
See also
Sources
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- 1: First And Only (Novel) — The Founding (Omnibus)
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- 2: Gathering Storm: Fracture of Biel-Tan, pg. 37
- 3: The Battle of Solypsis (saved archive page, dated June 2006, last accessed 8 August 2019)
- 4: Warhammer Community: Look Inside The Sabbat Worlds Crusade (posted 12/4/2019) (last accessed 10/8/2020)
- 5: Whose Voice is Heard No More (Short Story)
- 6: The Sabbat Worlds Crusade (Background Book), 2nd Edition:
