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I'm working on creating a Custom Chapter, and was wondering who handled the history, lore, and such of the Chapter? I'm assuming it would be the Master Of Sanctity or the Chief Librarian, but I'm not sure~

I'd imagine that would be the chief librarian, if i had to guess

It's one of the mainpurposes of the librarium to write reports of the battles of the chapter. The lowest rank of librarians the lexicanium is mainly attached to the strike forces to make an eyewitness-report.

This is the primary duty of the Librarians, hence their titles.

Being a Warlock is mearly their battlefield role.

Ah, thank you, then. Due to the Master of Sanctity's rile
In guarding the Chapter's artifacts, I figured that they also had a chance~

As they often are amongst the oldest Marines of a chapter (Chaplains are the veterans of the 1st Company and the Master of Sanctity is the most venerable of all the chaplains), the Masters of Sanctity see themselfes often as the keeper of the traditions (see the entry in C:SM for Cassius for example) but that's not an official rank in the chapter.

What about chapters that don't have librarians?

I.E. Black Templars and (chuckle) Space Wolves?

Unit1126PLL wrote:What about chapters that don't have librarians?

I.E. Black Templars and (chuckle) Space Wolves?

The Wolves have their Rune Priests that seem to fill a similar role (No expert on SW fluff - correct me if I'm wrong someone...)

Black Templars is an interesting one actually... They have a higher percentage of Chaplains than most right? So maybe they have more "ranks" within the Chaplaincy that cover making records and the history.

Plus in pretty much all chapters there are the omnipresent, yet mostly invisible Serfs and Servitors that would likely assist.

Unit1126PLL wrote:What about chapters that don't have librarians?

I.E. Black Templars and (chuckle) Space Wolves?

On the SW, when it comes to lore-keeping, they have the Wolf Priests, which are a Chaplain / Apothecary combo.

But it is the Runepriests who tell the sagas. Space Wolves don't write gak down.

The only book they have (and lots of copies, allow me to say) it's the Codex Astartes, because they're cheaper than toilet paper, and serves well for that.

Tibbsy wrote:

Unit1126PLL wrote:What about chapters that don't have librarians?

I.E. Black Templars and (chuckle) Space Wolves?

Black Templars is an interesting one actually... They have a higher percentage of Chaplains than most right? So maybe they have more "ranks" within the Chaplaincy that cover making records and the history.

I don't know about having more than most chapters, but there is certainly a hierarchy within the Black Templar chaplains. The highest being the Master of Sanctity, followed by the Reclusiarch. Then there are the serfs and cenobyte servitors. The Black Templar's chaplains are indeed the ones that would be responsible for recording the deeds performed by the chapter, maintaining and keeping the Chapter's Relics, including the Black Sword and the Armor of Faith, bestowing these upon the appointed Emperor's Champion at the appropriate times.

Unit1126PLL wrote:What about chapters that don't have librarians?

I.E. Black Templars and (chuckle) Space Wolves?

Black Templars do actually have librarians, they are not allowed on the field of battle, a fluff point often misunderstood. A fleet based chapter with no psykers is pretty useless.

BluntmanDC wrote:

Unit1126PLL wrote:What about chapters that don't have librarians?

I.E. Black Templars and (chuckle) Space Wolves?

Black Templars do actually have librarians, they are not allowed on the field of battle, a fluff point often misunderstood. A fleet based chapter with no psykers is pretty useless.

You're talking about the navigators. Yes, they're psychers. But they are humans/mutants, depending on your point of view. Black Templars allow these to get from place to place. They limit any interaction with them, though.

These are not Librarians, though. A Librarian is an Astartes (Space Marine) with psychic powers and the training to use them. Black Templars most certainly DO NOT have Librarians.

I'd imagine a strictly non-combatant role like that is probably filled by a Marine who has been too injured to continue fighting, but still serves the Chapter. Or possibly by really trusted human Chapter Serfs.

kronk wrote:

BluntmanDC wrote:

Unit1126PLL wrote:What about chapters that don't have librarians?

I.E. Black Templars and (chuckle) Space Wolves?

Black Templars do actually have librarians, they are not allowed on the field of battle, a fluff point often misunderstood. A fleet based chapter with no psykers is pretty useless.

You're talking about the navigators. Yes, they're psychers. But they are humans/mutants, depending on your point of view. Black Templars allow these to get from place to place. They limit any interaction with them, though.

These are not Librarians, though. A Librarian is an Astartes (Space Marine) with psychic powers and the training to use them. Black Templars most certainly DO NOT have Librarians.

They need to use Navigators and astropaths (also in 40k fluff a navigatoris neither human or a mutant, they are abhuman, a seperate species) The main massive plot fall for the fluff is how do they eliminate recruiting potential psykers from recruitment when the only way to tell if someone is a potential psyker is with a psyker. Whether they are psyker or not however they would still need a librarius to record the chapters history.

BluntmanDC wrote:
They need to use Navigators and astropaths (also in 40k fluff a navigatoris neither human or a mutant, they are abhuman, a seperate species) The main massive plot fall for the fluff is how do they eliminate recruiting potential psykers from recruitment when the only way to tell if someone is a potential psyker is with a psyker. Whether they are psyker or not however they would still need a librarius to record the chapters history.

Not a plot fail at all.

Once the Black Templar has realized that he has developed or is developing psychic powers, he joins the Deathwatch as a Black Shield.

The Black Templars use their Chaplains to maintain their "library" or history.

kronk wrote:
Once the Black Templar has realized that he has developed or is developing psychic powers, he joins the Deathwatch as a Black Shield.

Do you have a source for that? Not disagreeing outright, but I would like to see a source

Tibbsy wrote:

kronk wrote:
Once the Black Templar has realized that he has developed or is developing psychic powers, he joins the Deathwatch as a Black Shield.

Do you have a source for that? Not disagreeing outright, but I would like to see a source

The Deathwatch RPG books from FF Games describes the Black Shields as "outcasts" from their parent legions. A lot of training and resources and time go into making an astartes. Simply killing him for being "different" would be a waste. I can only think of one very obvious reason why the Black Templars would cast out an Initiate.

You can read a little more about the Black Shields here. Granted, it is the Lexicanum.

Lexicanum is better then any other 40k information website. Its not perfect but it does a good job of citing its sources and organizing everything.

Grey Templar wrote:Lexicanum is better then any other 40k information website. Its not perfect but it does a good job of citing its sources and organizing everything.

Fair enough.

Plus, the only reference on the Lexicanum page is the FFG Deathwatch book that I also referenced!

Chaplains are keepers of Tradition and Chapter Law, Librarians keep the Psyker laws the forbidden texts on the warp and warp craft. They may have knowledge of traditions and lore but its not their role.

Chaplains are the heart and soul, they keep chapter law, traditions, customs and Histories. They preach on Heroes and battles, histories, the spiritual dimension of the chapter, morale and the spiritual purity of the Marines under his charge.

LEXICANUM

A Librarian is a Space Marine psyker and command unit. They fulfil several important specialist roles in the Chapter: off the battlefield they are responsible for interstellar psychic communications. In battle they utilise their abilities as powerful psykers. They are among the most knowledgeable of the Chapter's history and traditions


They are among, is the key phrase. e.g one of peers. They do not exclusively hold this information and it does vary from Chapter to Chapter, Sanguinary Priest for example (apocathery) Or Wolf Priest or Rune Priest, or an Iron Father (Apocathery/techmarine/Chaplain/Commander).

Chaplain Responsibilities

Chaplains are the most well-versed in the knowledge of the Chapter's cult. This knowledge is put to practical use as Chaplains are responsible for the spiritual health, discipline and faith of the Chapter brethren. The bond between Marines and their Chaplains is a strong one. Chaplains are present in a Marine recruit's life as soon as he is chosen as a neophyte, presiding over their indoctrination as recruits as they progress toward becoming full battle-brothers.
Within a Chapter's fortress-monastery is the Reclusiam, a large chamber devoted to cult activities, and where the Chapter's holy relics and, sometimes, the body of its Primarch, are housed. The Chaplains lead their sermons from here, and rouse the Marines in their love of the Emperor. The battle barges and ships of the Chapter's fleet also include huge cathedrals in the heart of each ship, allowing the Space Marines to pray while away from the fortress. Chaplains always lead the Space Marines in prayer, but a Chaplain is not always needed for a Marine to pray.
Each company comprising a Chapter has its own Chaplain. At the headquarters level of the Chapter organization are Chaplains holding the ranks of Reclusiarch and Master of Sanctity, whose responsibilities extend to the Chapter as a whole.

kronk wrote:

Tibbsy wrote:

kronk wrote:
Once the Black Templar has realized that he has developed or is developing psychic powers, he joins the Deathwatch as a Black Shield.

Do you have a source for that? Not disagreeing outright, but I would like to see a source

The Deathwatch RPG books from FF Games describes the Black Shields as "outcasts" from their parent legions. A lot of training and resources and time go into making an astartes. Simply killing him for being "different" would be a waste. I can only think of one very obvious reason why the Black Templars would cast out an Initiate.

You can read a little more about the Black Shields here. Granted, it is the Lexicanum.

I actually read through the FFG fluff yesterday, about the Black Shields in particular. I suppose it's possible, in fact, I would go so far as agree that it's possibly even true. But no Black Shields are mentioned as being psykers?

Tibbsy wrote:
I actually read through the FFG fluff yesterday, about the Black Shields in particular. I suppose it's possible, in fact, I would go so far as agree that it's possibly even true. But no Black Shields are mentioned as being psykers?

That doesn't really matter, does it?

A Space Marine left his chapter to become a Black Shield. You can fill in the reason why.

Given the low numbers in psykers supposedly occur, the apparent effectiveness of the Inquisition in controlling them, and the low size of an Astartes Chapter (even the Black Templars) the chances of inadvertently recruiting a psyker would in any case be pretty slim.

It's also worth remembering that (at least in older fluff) the initiates destined to become Librarians are supplied by the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, not among the general body of recruits found on a Chapter's recruitment world(s).