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How are the word bearers set up organisation wise? Are they one whole legion? Do they often work with other legions? What exactly does a dark apostle do?

The dark apostle bring the word of the eightfold path to the mass. They are demagogue who sway mortals to the side of chaos. They are each backed by a warband. In practice they are to the word bearers at least the equivalent of a space marine captain and chaplain wrapped in dark faith and unholy powers

The Dark Council is a collection of the Word Bearers Legion's most powerful Dark Apostles and is the main ruling body of Sicarus. The council also leads the Word Bearers legion in the absence of Lorgar, who has isolated himself within the Templum Inficio for millenia, forbidding anyone to disturb his meditations.2 The council is based in the immense cathedral fortress – the Basilica of the Word. They have the power to elevate the First Acolyte of a Host to the rank of Dark Apostle and are said to have the power to pluck the souls of those who have failed them from the warp, and torment them endlessly for eternity.

From the Dark Council, this evil priesthood enforces a strict regime of worship of the Chaos pantheon upon their fellow Word Bearers and are also highly likely to be found leading the Legion in battle. Each is gifted an army of their own, known as a Host. The numbers vary, with the smallest typical size roughly analogous to that of a Space Marine Company, and the largest exceeding the manpower of a Space Marine Chapter.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Word_Bearers#.USkSkzDjdFk

There yah go!

As far as all the traitor legions go, the Word Bearers remain the only legion to have not fallen apart into war bands of petty leaders. They remain loosely organized as a legion, and are still all devout followers or Lorgar Aurelian, and the Word.