Darksworn

"...for we, blessed of Chaos, vow to deliver the Materium unto our Dark Masters, to salt the earth of a thousand worlds and water it with the blood of the unbeliever..."

- Darksworn Battle-Chant

The foremost of the splinter warbands that make up the forces of the Dark Covenant, the Darksworn are the elite warriors led by the Coryphaus Errant himself, Xaphuris. Battle-seasoned veterans of the Horus Heresy, these former Word Bearers have been molded into a potent strike force by the Arbiter of Chaos, their dark fanaticism tempered by their leader's tactical ability, making them formidable opponents on any battlefield.

Warband Culture
Even amongst the zealous ranks of the Covenant are the Darksworn considered to be the most devout, though not in the sense one would think. Rather than conduct lengthy sermons or pray during occult rituals like their former Word Bearer brethren, the Darksworn take their prayer to the battlefield, conducting thunderous sermons while simultaneously bringing the wrath of the Dark Gods upon their foes in the form of massed bolts and blades. To them, actions speak of greater depths of devotion than simple words, which is why they function as more of a military body than a fanatical host of crusaders, much to the surprise and dismay of many an enemy.

Because of this there is an almost cult-like sense of brotherhood amongst the ranks of the Darksworn, strengthened only by the fact that many have been battle-brothers-in-arms since the days of the Great Crusade. In fact, most of their number are veterans, and more still have been under Xaphuris' command since his first days as Coryphaus, and as a result this not only ensures that the Darksworn react to his commands almost instinctively and without question, but ensures their absolute obedience. For indeed, any one of these unholy crusaders would kill or be killed while fulfilling Xaphuris' orders.

However, despite the Darksworn's segregation from the other children of Lorgar, some of their influences still remain. For example the Darksworn still retain the crimson-and-silver colors of the Word Bearers despite having long ago having forsaken the Legion. Besides the usual marks and fetishes of Chaos, verses from the Book of Lorgar can be found etched into their armor or even tattooed into their flesh. Xaphuris allows these influences to remain due to the fact that allowing his chosen warriors to honor their Primarch raised morale, and because Xaphuris himself finds no fault in his genefather's leadership, only that of the Dark Council that lords over the Word Bearer's in His absence.

Organization
Due to their small numbers, the Darksworn do not adhere to the standard unit types followed by most Chaos Space Marines. Rather, each member of the Darksworn in a unique unit in his own right, armed with whatever wargear best serves their personal fighting style. However at the same time all of said Chaos Marines are well-organized, grouped into small Squads of ten to twelve lead by the most experienced and battle-hardened of their number, who goes under the title of Sergeant.

At the same time, members of the Darksworn with similar preferences are often grouped together into the same squads, in order to increase their overall effectiveness. Amongst their ranks it is very common to see Havoc-like squads laden with heavy weaponry marching alongside Jump Pack-equipped assault Squads or warbike-riding raiders, thus is the variety of the Darksworn, one of their greatest strengths.

Because of the myriad types of Darksworn are rarely at a disadvantage during combat, due to the tactical flexibillity that it affords them. However, the one thing that the Darksworn do lack is heavy armor, as they have precious few tanks amongst their number being mostly made up of infantry. To make up for this often work in concert with other warbands of the Dark Covenant, serving as elite shock troops and commanders while in combat.

Favored Tactics
Most of the Darksworn's members were once part of the Chapter of the Osseous Throne, a Chapter of the Word Bearers Legion that excelled in infantry wave assaults, and thus their tactics have only evolved since. While they are open to many different forms of attack, the Darksworn's most reliable tactic begins with a massed charge of hard-hitting fast attack units such as Bikers and/or Assault Squads. Once the enemy lines have been successfully broken open, the enemy is rushed by a second wave of massed Chaos Space Marines, backed up by weapon-laden Havocs and the rare Squad of Chaos Terminators that provide fire support.

(MORE TO COME)