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Reason why I ask is that I don't recall any Word Bearers Librarians in the fluff and I don't think I've ever read about a WB Sorcerer either. I know Lorgar is like the 4th most powerful psyker in the galaxy or something (Big E - Malcador - Magnus - Lorgar or somesuch), but what about his Legion? Did pre-heresy Word Bearers use psychic powers, and just how are Sorcerers regarded within the current Church Infernal?

Once they embraced the Chaos Gods they certainly had Sorcerers after that, but I don't know about beforehand. There doesn't seem to be any mention of psykers or a Librarius department.

The Chaplains of the Word Bearers were sent out amongst the other Legions to make sure that the Nikaea Decree was being upheld from what I recall. So I would imagine that they didn't make use of Pyskers until their fall.

I would assume they'd have some form of Librarius since they aren't just used in battle, but also to document the various campaigns in the annals of the Legion.

Yep. they did have Librarians.

Well, I have not read about any thus far, but in terms of rules 30k Word Bearers can use them and it does say that they can access Malefic daemonology.

Now, it is game mechanics of course, but why bother to specifically grant them access if they didn't have any in the lore?

 Ashiraya wrote:
Yep. they did have Librarians.

Well, I have not read about any thus far, but in terms of rules 30k Word Bearers can use them and it does say that they can access Malefic daemonology.

Now, it is game mechanics of course, but why bother to specifically grant them access if they didn't have any in the lore?

But I guess this is after Istvaan, when they have thrown their lot in with Chaos?

Yes, but I doubt they just popped up like that - becoming a Librarian takes time.

Are they actually called Librarians in the book? You can be a sorcerer without being a psyker as far as I know.

Not doubting you Ashiraya, just trying to get an answer for the OP.

Yes, they are indeed called Librarians.

 Ashiraya wrote:
Yes, they are indeed called Librarians.

There you go then

 Pilau Rice wrote:
Once they embraced the Chaos Gods they certainly had Sorcerers after that, but I don't know about beforehand. There doesn't seem to be any mention of psykers or a Librarius department.

The Chaplains of the Word Bearers were sent out amongst the other Legions to make sure that the Nikaea Decree was being upheld from what I recall. So I would imagine that they didn't make use of Pyskers until their fall.

Just a quick point, the chaplains from the WBs weren't sent to other legions to make sure the Edict was followed, Malcador created the chaplains in each legion to make sure it was upheld, but he based them on the Chaplains from the Word Bearers, not realising they were already traitors by then.

 ImAGeek wrote:

 Pilau Rice wrote:
Once they embraced the Chaos Gods they certainly had Sorcerers after that, but I don't know about beforehand. There doesn't seem to be any mention of psykers or a Librarius department.

The Chaplains of the Word Bearers were sent out amongst the other Legions to make sure that the Nikaea Decree was being upheld from what I recall. So I would imagine that they didn't make use of Pyskers until their fall.

Just a quick point, the chaplains from the WBs weren't sent to other legions to make sure the Edict was followed, Malcador created the chaplains in each legion to make sure it was upheld, but he based them on the Chaplains from the Word Bearers, not realising they were already traitors by then.

Is that from Collected Visions, as I think it's mentioned in there about them being sent out. But I might be wrong. Under what pretence did the Word Bearer Chaplains get sent to the other Legions as I don't recall that either, trainers? The Chaplain with the Raven Guard on Deliverance says something about it.

Yeah it's in collected visions. 'His thoughts turned to Lorgar and the Word Bearers Legion. Whilst the Emperor worked His secret labours in the Palace Vaults, Malcador the Sigillite issued a new edict through the Council of Terra in the name of the Emperor. This was the Order of Observance, more commonly known as the Chaplain Edict, and its inspiration was the Word Bearers Legion. The Word Bearers Primarch, Lorgar, had been raised on the cult world of Colchis. In time, Lorgar had become its martial and spiritual leader. His first meeting with the Emperor was believed to be a fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, an event that reinforced the religious fervour of the people of Colchis, and Lorgar himself. On becoming Primarch, Lorgar had introduced officer-clerics to his Legion. These warrior-priests were named Chaplains, and their role was to minister to the needs of the Space Marines and ensure that their faith in the Emperor was strong.
Inspired by this, Malcador ordered the other Space Marine Primarchs to appoint Chaplains who would ensure the spiritual well-being of their Legion and enforce the psyker ban. These officers were to be picked from those Space Marines who were the most steadfast in their duties, and who had demonstrated the strongest loyalty to their Primarch and to the Emperor. Most of the Primarchs loyally followed the edict and began to appoint officers to the rank and duties of Chaplain. Some did not.'

Long quote, sorry. I'm not sure actually what pretence the WB sent Chaplains out but they did it to corrupt the other legions right?

I take from this discussion that the Word Bearers indeed had Librarians and a Librarius. Cool. That makes Word Bearers sorcerers easier to justify. Dunno, something about how the Black Legion Sorcerer was described in the Word Bearer Omnibus made me doubt they actually had them.

 ImAGeek wrote:
Yeah it's in collected visions. 'His thoughts turned to Lorgar and the Word Bearers Legion. Whilst the Emperor worked His secret labours in the Palace Vaults, Malcador the Sigillite issued a new edict through the Council of Terra in the name of the Emperor. This was the Order of Observance, more commonly known as the Chaplain Edict, and its inspiration was the Word Bearers Legion. The Word Bearers Primarch, Lorgar, had been raised on the cult world of Colchis. In time, Lorgar had become its martial and spiritual leader. His first meeting with the Emperor was believed to be a fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, an event that reinforced the religious fervour of the people of Colchis, and Lorgar himself. On becoming Primarch, Lorgar had introduced officer-clerics to his Legion. These warrior-priests were named Chaplains, and their role was to minister to the needs of the Space Marines and ensure that their faith in the Emperor was strong.
Inspired by this, Malcador ordered the other Space Marine Primarchs to appoint Chaplains who would ensure the spiritual well-being of their Legion and enforce the psyker ban. These officers were to be picked from those Space Marines who were the most steadfast in their duties, and who had demonstrated the strongest loyalty to their Primarch and to the Emperor. Most of the Primarchs loyally followed the edict and began to appoint officers to the rank and duties of Chaplain. Some did not.'

Long quote, sorry. I'm not sure actually what pretence the WB sent Chaplains out but they did it to corrupt the other legions right?

Yes, that's what I remember, thanks. This is from Fear to Tread, so I as kinda right.

Fear to Tread: pg 96
The acolytes of the Word Bearers had been sent to many fleets, placed in several of the Legions in the months that unfolded after the passing of the Nikea edict. The suspension of psychic warfare and the abolition of the Librarius contingent had been dealt with differently in each Legion according to their individual traditions and methods.

in a service offered by Lorgar to his brethren, the master of the XVII Legion had sent his most pious and vigilant apostles to help with the re-integration of those gifted back into the rank and file.

No help from the Word Bearers had been requested or required by the Blood Angels, however. The black-armoured wardens, their roles already embedded in the Legion proper, took on the task of policing the reformation.

So the legions appointed their own at malcadors suggestion and the WBs sent theirs?

 ImAGeek wrote:
So the legions appointed their own at malcadors suggestion and the WBs sent theirs?

Seems like it. But, like the Blood Angels, some already had the equivalent and just gave them the extra duties that were bought about by Nikaea.

Yeah I know the Salamanders had their Igniax which were basically chaplains too.

 Rasclomalum wrote:
Reason why I ask is that I don't recall any Word Bearers Librarians in the fluff and I don't think I've ever read about a WB Sorcerer either. I know Lorgar is like the 4th most powerful psyker in the galaxy or something (Big E - Malcador - Magnus - Lorgar or somesuch), but what about his Legion? Did pre-heresy Word Bearers use psychic powers, and just how are Sorcerers regarded within the current Church Infernal?

A decent novella which involves a Word Bearer Sorcerer is Daemonworld by Ben Counter if you're interested about reading about Word Bearer Sorcerers.