Chapter of the Eternal Apocrypha

"We are his emissaries sent out into the galaxy to bear the word of his coming. We must be bright, shining examples of all that is good and pure in the Imperium."

- Attributed to the Primarch Lorgar

A specialized formation within the ranks of the XVII Legion, the Chapter of the Eternal Apocrypha once represented for the noble ideal of re-uniting humanity under a common culture of faith and knowledge. It's warriors were not only destroyers, but builders as well, charged with overseeing the integration of compliant worlds through the teachings of the Urizen and his divine father, the God-Emperor of Mankind. However, come the fateful Razing of Monarchia the Chapter would be harshly censured for it's spreading of "false faiths". Alongside their brethren they fell from the Emperor's light and into the grasp of the Ruinous Powers, taking up arms against their former allies throughout the Horus Heresy tasked with a new mission: to pave the way for the creation of an empire united under the power of Chaos.

Legacies of the Stars
The constellations of faith-steeped Colchis had always been a source of reverence for it's people, for it was said that the symbols of their gods were written in the heavens. The Coiled Lash, the Twisting Rune, the Exalted Gate, the Night's Chalice, all of these great star-symbols represented the many humors and powers of their faith, but only one represented their legacies. Positioned just above the planet's twin suns was a silvery belt of light, forming uncannily neat rows of radiance in the nighttime sky, was the constellation known as the Eternal Apocrypha.

The Eternal Apocrypha was said to be the very words of the Gods, their histories and triumphs transcribed into starlight. Generations of Colchisian scholar-priests had dedicated their entire lifetimes to ruminating over it's true meaning, but the common man the Eternal Apocrypha simply represented one's own legacy, the truly great deeds left behind in one's wake to be admired and venerated for all eternity. It was perhaps with this meaning in mind that the Primarch Lorgar authorized the creator of a Chapter bearing this most holy of stellar signs, for he to wished to leave behind a legacy that would last forevermore.

The Urizen was well-known as an advocate of cultural progress throughout the growing Imperium of Man, but while his brother-Primarchs such as Fulgrim and Roboute Gulliman sought to improve compliant worlds through arts and sciences, Lorgar held a vision of an Imperium united by faith in his own divine father; the "God-Emperor" of Mankind. Thus he organized the Chapter of the Eternal Apocrypha to serve as both iconoclasts and heralds, tearing down primitive beliefs and religions to make way for the enlightenment that was the Word Bearers' Imperial Cult.

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Organization
The Chapter of the Eternal Apocrypha was based around a variant of the standard Astartes Legion organization, specifically the unique Chapter system utilized by the XVII Legion. A small, specialist force, the Chapter was made up of only three companies rather than the standard ten, thought each one divided into ten squads led by a Captain as was the norm. Overall authority over the Chapter was originally held by the current Chapter Master, though during the Horus Heresy leadership fell to one Amur Gholash, the ordained "Apostle" of the Eternal Apocrypha.

Chapter Formations

 * Chapter Command - First command of the Chapter of the Eternal Apocrypha went to Mard Heskel, a former child-soldier from the Colchisian Wars of Faith. Though an able tactician and fearsome warrior, Heskel was ultimately a young and brash commander, his recklessness tempered only by the cool wisdom of his subordinate, Chaplain Amur Gholash. However, Heskel was ultimately killed in battle only a few short years before the Massacre of Isstvan III, his position filled by replaced by the zealot Irchomai. The new Chapter Master proved to be a leader in title only come the Horus Heresy, reduced to little more than a fawning sycophant by the manipulations of Gholash, who would rise to be the true commander of the Chapter come the Horus Heresy.
 * Ashen Circle - An all-Terran detachment seconded to the ranks of the Chapter shortly after it's formation, the Ashen Circle Squad Bathsheba were the true iconoclasts of the Eternal Apocrypha, charged with destroying the false idols and fanes of their enemies with Rake-Axe and Hand Flamer, along with any who dared protect such travesties. Their role changed very little even after the fall of the Word Bearers. Most often they were sent into the fray alongside the Chapter's Destroyer Squads, to salt the earth in preparation for the creation of monuments to the Primordial Truth.
 * 18th Assault-Company - As the name implies, the 18th Assault-Company were on the forefront of any offensive made by the Chapter of the Eternal Apocrypha, screaming down from the heavens on their Jump Packs or rushing forward with Chainswords in hand to utterly obliterate any enemies they faced. The self-proclaimed "Speartip of Lorgar", the 18th was led by Captain Azaziah, a Word Bearer of such notorious temperament it was said that his battle-rages rivaled that of the infamous World Eaters. Chaplain Gholash meanwhile likened him to a "blunt but easily directed instrument", naming him his Sub-Commander after his ascension to leadership of the Eternal Apocrypha.
 * 32nd Tactical-Company - The Astartes of the 32nd Company were line-infantry through-and-through, making up the solid backbone of the Eternal Apocrypha's forces. In addition to their typical combat roles, the 32nd Company were well-versed in the arts of anti-insurgency tactics, brutally stamping out the rebellious elements of a thousand compliant worlds with ruthless efficiency.
 * 89th Tactical-Company - The 89th Company had always been somewhat of an oddity, as it contained an unusually concentration of Legion Destroyer Squads, typically deployed in tandem with the elite Ashen Circle to demoralize the foe through the use of their terrifying rad-cannons, bio-munitions, and Phosphrex bombs. Their numbers became even more segregated from bulk of the Chapter following their Legion's corruption, playing host to a coven of Diabolists led by the Sorcerer Xemal Torr, who counseled the 89th in the arts of fell warp-craft to make their advances all the more devastating in nature.

Trivia

 * The first quotation in this article is an actual piece of dialogue from the Horus Heresy Novel A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeil.
 * Many thanks, AmyTheStray, for the inspiration.