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Silly question, but I gotta know.

Is the skull head their actual head? Or just a modified helmet/face mask?

Just wondering'

Helmet.

More specifically, it represents the current face of the Emperor. It's supposed to bolster morale and scare the gak outta enemies.

I'm pretty sure that Chaplains pre and during the heresy wore skull-like helmets.

I don't think there were pre heresy chaplains.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:I don't think there were pre heresy chaplains.

From what I recall Erebus' rank was First Chaplain all throughout the Heresy. I think I also recall a skull masked (chaplain?) in the later tussles on Isstvan III. But my recollections are to be taken with potentially toxic quantities of sodium.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:I don't think there were pre heresy chaplains.

There was indeed Chaplains pre-heresy. They were tasked with much the same as they are now, without the religious aspect. They were to guide and council, as well as provide inspiration in battle.

Only some Legions took the idea on though, much like Librarians. The Word Bearers were the 'creators' of the Chaplain rank (As said above, Erebus was ranked First Chaplain), and Lorgar petitioned the other legions to take on the idea. I know the Dark Angels at least did so (One of the main characters in Fallen Angels is a Chaplain), but I don't know which others did.

--

It is indeed a skull-faced helmet, meant to be an image of the Emperor on the Throne.


Hopefully the above image makes it more clear, even if that model is clearly inferior to everyone's beloved Terminator Chaplain .

VenerableBrotherPelinore wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:I don't think there were pre heresy chaplains.

It is indeed a skull-faced helmet, meant to be an image of the Emperor on the Throne.

UselessSage wrote:

VenerableBrotherPelinore wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:I don't think there were pre heresy chaplains.

It is indeed a skull-faced helmet, meant to be an image of the Emperor on the Throne.

Spoiler:

Hours Heresy - Book 03 - Galaxy In Flames - Chapter 14

Then he saw it; armour trimmed in black instead of gold, a helmet worked into a stern, grimacing skull: Chaplain Charmosian. The black-armoured warrior stood proud of the top hatch of a Land Raider, directing the battle with sharp chops of his eagle-winged crozius. Lucius grinned manically, setting off through the battle to face Charmosian and slay him in a fight worthy of the Legion's epics. 'Charmosian!' he yelled, his voice sounding like the most vibrant music imaginable. 'Keeper of the Will! I am Lucius, once your brother, now your nemesis!' Charmosian turned his skull helmet towards Lucius and said, 'I know who you are!'

Yeah, Black Library aren't necessarily the best at keeping their collective lore in line with each other all the time .

It may have been that it was originally meant to mean something else, but as with the rest of the Imperium, the meaning has morphed since the time of the Great Heresy... I truly don't know.

Trying to remember more places I've seen it, but:

'Their skull helms are death masks that invoke the stern visage of the eternal Emperor.'

Quoted from page 58 of Codex: Space Marines, 5th edition.

VenerableBrotherPelinore wrote:Yeah, Black Library aren't necessarily the best at keeping their collective lore in line with each other all the time .

Yes, that's what us who have nothing else to do at 2:30 am are here for. I am sure the Emperor's most divine blessings for discovering this little discontinuity will be coming to us from GW very shortly.