The Legio Lysanda ("Sentinels of the Edge") is a Titan Legion of the Collegia Titanica, one of the military arms of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
During the Great Crusade this particular Legio was often tasked with guarding the dangerous frontiers of the Imperium, watching over newly Compliant worlds until expeditionary fleets pushed the Imperium's boundaries further outwards.
In this task they excelled, for their patience was legendary and their princeps were often devoid of the thirst for glory shown by more aggressive Titan Legions.
The Legio Lysanda's personnel perceive trophies of war gifted to them as the highest honour and display them proudly upon their Titans to show dedication to the Imperium.
Legion History[]
Legio Lysanda colour scheme as displayed by the Warlord-class Titan Lord of Virtues.
Origins[]
The founding of the Legio Lysanda was a far cry from the quasi-ritualistic affair that is normally associated with the creation of a new Titan Legion, for it was born not out of desire to seed a new Titan Legion but rather pure necessity.
As the Great Crusade pushed ever onwards and the borders of the Imperium expanded, it came into contact with increasing numbers of hostile empires, both xenos and otherwise, that offered a significant threat to the developing Imperium of Man. Given the widespread nature of the expeditionary fleets, it proved impossible for each threat to receive proper attention upon discovery, and in such instances containment became the goal until such time as a suitable force could be assembled.
Thus the newest borders of the Imperium, consisting of star systems only recently sworn to the Emperor, faced the persistent threat of invasion from creatures emerging from the darkest recesses of the galaxy to tear down the edifices of Mankind.
Mindful that the continued loyalty of newly-Compliant worlds would be impossible should many remain threatened by external foes, edicts were issued demanding the foundation of dedicated forces intended to watch over the boundaries of Imperial space. In the Ultima Segmentum, a Titan Legion, bearing the title Legio Lysanda, was founded as one such force.
Formed from Titans gifted by over a dozen Forge Worlds, though primarily the twin Forge Worlds of Konor and Gantz, the Legio Lysanda, or the "Sentinels of the Edge" as they soon became known, were tasked not with maintaining wardenship over a single Forge World but rather with protecting the edge of Imperial space. For this role, only princeps of keen mind and cool humours were chosen to fill the ranks of the Legio Lysanda, for a bellicose and vengeful nature was deemed detrimental to the task at hand.
Though only 21 god-engines were assembled for the founding of the Legio Lysanda, the Titan Legion soon proved its worth, throwing back the assembled might of the Yuntari Militia, a xenos-Human alliance of raiders that had long troubled the worlds at the edge of the Imperium's eastern border with assaults upon the mining belts of Danticoh Prime.
In the following solar decades, maniples of Legio Lysanda Titans were dispatched to over a dozen Imperial worlds deemed at threat, performing their duty as guardians with resolute efficiency and patience.
Each time the Imperium's borders moved outwards, a portion of the Legio Lysanda would depart the worlds they had sheltered for years, redeploying to an expeditionary fleet to aid the Imperial Compliance of a new world from which they would begin the cycle of guardianship once more.
In its role as temporary warden, the Legio Lysanda developed a reputation for even-temperament so precise that many who had served alongside the Titan Legion claimed its princeps could not be angered, no matter the trials that faced them. Indeed, it was noted that prospective Titan crew were required to undergo a period of solitude and introspection before being allowed to ascend to command their own god-engines.
Within the Legio Lysanda, there appeared little trace of a hunger for glory so prominent in many other Titan Legions and its princeps were instilled with the belief that they served as a counterpoint to the desires and lust for battle that oft-possessed the Machine Spirits (artificial intelligences) of their god-engines. To function within their role, a princeps must forever watch out for a changing in nature, lest they forsake all they had sworn to protect.
Horus Heresy[]
The Legio Lysanda Reaver-class Titan Unfolding Wrath depicted during the Horus Heresy.
More so than most Titan Legions, save those that served the Warmaster Horus and felt the touch of unholy pacts with the entities of the Warp, the Horus Heresy wrought significant changes upon Legio Lysanda. The onset of this war, mired in treachery and uncertain loyalties, saw the Sentinels of the Edge facing threats not from outside of the Imperium, as they had once, but inward, against the worlds they had sworn to protect.
In solar decades of service, dozens of worlds had once held the Legio Lysanda as their protectors and many now burned with the fires of war. This alone was enough to scour away any notion of serenity within the minds of many of the Titan Legion's princeps, who soon became little more than husks that thirsted for vengeance, vowing never to rest until justice for those fallen worlds was achieved.
Worse still were those worlds that wholeheartedly turned against the Imperium, undoing the years of service the Legio Lysanda had offered to them and the lives spent in their protection.
Often, it fell to the Legio Lysanda to return to these worlds bringing the Emperor's justice. The fires of cities they had once watched over were forever seared in the minds of many princeps, the memory forever twisting the soul of the Titan Legion into one of vengeance instead of peace.
Notable Campaigns[]
- Battle for Armatura (007.M31) - In the wake of the Battle of Calth, the Word Bearers and the World Eaters Legions launched the Shadow Crusade against the Realm of Ultramar. This campaign saw Titans fighting alongside Space Marine Legions from both sides. During the Battle for Armatura, Legio Audax Warhound-class Titans stalked Legio Lysanda Titans at the behest of the World Eaters.
- Crusade of Iron (ca. 008-010.M31) - Tetaros Kast, master-princeps of Battlegroup Avalon of the Legio Oberon, was one of the few princeps to fight on Calth and return alive. He brought word to the Forge World of Gantz, homeworld of the Legio Praesagius, of the fate of their fellow Titans and the betrayal that had occurred on Calth. The Traitor Legions were at large among the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar, and their very survival was at stake. Princeps Dae Vergos, master-princeps of the Legio Praesagius Warlord-class Titan Pride of Konor, assumed the mantle of princeps ultima and swore vengeance upon the Legio Infernus. She vowed to purge the Five Hundred Worlds of the Traitors' god-engines. Already astropathic cries for aid were reaching Gantz, as the Word Bearers and World Eaters Space Marine Legions, alongside the Legio Infernus, Legio Audax and Legio Mordaxis, spread out from Calth, bringing ruin and despair to the Five Hundred Worlds. Heeding the call of Gantz, Mechanicum fleets gathered, Battle Titans in their holds. Vergos sent emissaries to gather the Legio Oberon and summon the Legio Lysanda back from the Eastern Fringe, while missives were sent to dozens of Knight houses throughout the Five Hundred Worlds, calling in debts of honour. Multiple houses heeded the summons, including House Orhlacc, House Vornherr and House Vyronii. In spite of the betrayal brought to the Five Hundred Worlds, Legio Praesagius gathered its allies and convened its councils of war; the horrors that the Loyalist Titans had faced at Ithraca on Calth would not go unanswered. Princeps Ultima Vergos promised her allies and her fellow Princeps that the Fire Master of the Legio Infernus would face the fury of those still loyal to the Imperium, and wherever the Traitor Titans set foot upon a world, they would find only death. Other Imperial forces soon flocked to their banner and the Legio Praesagius and their allies repeatedly clashed with Horus' forces. This Crusade of Iron would leave worlds burned by its battles and hideous and terrifying weapons were unleashed, such as the Psi-Titans of the Ordo Sinister. While it raged, the Loyalists fought to preserve the Ultramaran way of life, while the Traitors desired only to leave ruin in their wake.
- Raid on Lysanda (ca. 008.M31) - The Knights of the Traitor House Ærthegn participated in mutiple raids upon macro cargo haulers across Ultramar to cut off Loyalist supply lines and to secure materiel for the Crusade of Iron. The most audacious of these raids remains that of an assault upon a Legio Lysanda "coffin ship." The Traitor Knights overcame the Nobles of House Orhlacc who were tasked with defending the ship and captured those Titans that remained in their cradles.
- Battle of Last Harbour (009.M31)
- Battle of Ulixis - The Wyrm's Lair (ca. 009.M31) - Ulixis was used as a staging ground by the Legio Infernus to both harm Ultramar and deal severe damage to the Loyalist forces. Ulixis was one of the principal producers of munitions in Ultramar and, knowing its destruction would deal a severe blow to the Ultramarines' effort to rebuild, Princeps Maximus Horgoth Nyr of the Fire Masters set upon the world. In truth, the Traitor Titan Legion's invasion was the first step towards springing a trap upon the Loyalists. When a combined force of both the Legio Lysanda and the Legio Oberon were drawn to the world, they found its surface devoid of Traitor Titans despite reports to the contrary. It was then the Traitors sprang their trap, seizing control of the planet's orbit and unleashing a fierce orbital bombardment upon the Loyalists on the surface. Though the initial bombardment was devastating, most of the Loyalist forces were driven into the system of caverns beneath the surface, forcing the Fire Masters to commit to a series of running battles beneath Ulixis. For solar days the two Titan forces fought in the dark, their massive weaponry tearing apart the guts of Ulixis. It was within the Wyrms' Lair, a vast cavern littered with the remains of the burrowing creatures that had carved it long ago, that the conflict came to a head, both sides committing their forces in an effort to eradicate the other. As the fighting raged between the two opposing sides, Princeps Raynal Hess in his Warlord Titan Astra Obsurus, leading a Legio Lysanda Myrmidon maniple, charged out to meet Princeps-Maximus Nyr and his Warlorld Titan Mons Ingnum in battle. However, Hess was unaware of Nyr's fellow supporting Fire Masters Titans, which laid in waiting. Their combined volleys crippled the legs of Hess' Titan. However, before the Traitors could strike the killing blow, Hess overloaded his Titan's reactor, and the pitch darkness of the Wyrm's Lair turned to blazing day. When the explosion finally receded, those princeps still in functioning war engines were surprised to see the light remained, for a massive hole had been blown in the cavern ceiling, and a stairway of rubble and broken Titans led up to it. More surprising still was the vox message that came streaming down across all bands -- the Loyalist fleet had returned with reinforcements, and the Traitors were in full retreat. Kast rallied Legio Oberon and the survivors of Legio Lysanda, and pushed the Traitors back. Though Nyr and many of his Titans managed to escape, their hold on Ulixis was broken, and perhaps most crucially of all, the Loyalists had driven the Fire Masters back, disproving the invincibility of their enemies.
- Dark Waters (ca. 009.M31) - Despite their defeat on Espandor, the Loyalist Titan Legions eroded the strength of their enemies across the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar. The Legio Mordaxis, a Traitor Titan Legion that had been transformed by the machinations of the Word Bearers Legion, were charged by their Legio Infernus allies to hunt down and destroy Loyalist Mechanicum forces across the western regions of the Realm of Ultramar. Here, their spies came to the fore and, following reports from Traitors among the Loyalist ranks, the Legio Mordaxis fleet sailed for the remote water world of Zarathusa Secundus. The people of this isolated world existed on floating cities, whose ancient technologies farmed the planet's geothermal wealth. The Loyalists had recently pacified an uprising sparked by Dark Mechanicum cells on the planet, and the aftermath of that war was still evident throughout its shallow seas. The Traitors commenced their attack as the Loyalist forces, commanded by Princeps Tesarius Solomere Krane of the Legio Lysanda, aboard his Reaver-class Titan, Purantum Bellos, awaited extraction upon the principal landmass of Zarathusa, known as the Aquila Atoll. The Traitors seized control of both the planet's orbit and the Loyalist vox-net, masquerading as loyal servants of the Imperium until the trap was sprung. As landers approached the surface of Zarathusa, they revealed themselves not as the intended extraction ships but rather transports carrying the Titans of the Legio Mordaxis. Desperate to deny the atoll to the invaders, Legio Lysanda and the Imperial Knights of House Vornherr scrambled to form an effective defence, aware that retreat was not an option without abandoning those ground forces unable to wade through the seas of Zarathusa; seas that turned black as the battle raged and toxins that had ravaged the Legio Mordaxis polluted the ground they walked upon. Despite their valiant efforts, the Loyalist forces were led into a cunningly laid trap by the Dark Mechanicum allies of the Legio Mordaxis. Much later, the Loyalists would learn the fate of Zarathusa Secundus and its defenders, though not before the corrupted remains of the Purantum Bellos was encountered on Drooth II, along with the blackened Knight armours of dozens of House Vornherr scions, now enslaved to the Legio Mordaxis machine curse.
- Battle of Drooth II (ca. 009.M31)
Legion Combat Doctrine[]
Before a newly-promoted Legio Lysanda princeps could ascend to command a Titan, they were required to sit in silent contemplation for seven solar days to ensure only those with true inner peace ascended to the role. Many Legio Lysanda princeps spent time between conflicts alone in their god-engines, embracing the silence a sleeping Titan offers to better rouse it in times of war.
However, with the betrayal of the Warmaster Horus and his cohorts, the personnel of the Legio Lysanda -- once famous for their calm -- irrevocably changed. The horrors of the Horus Heresy twisted their princeps until they were filled with anger beyond measure.
Despite this, surprisingly, some of their princeps were untroubled by the horrors of the galaxy, believing that only through opposition of them without fear could they truly be defeated. Many fought at the fore of any battle, setting an example for all who followed.
Notable Titans[]
- Astra Obsurus (Warlord-class Titan) - The Astra Obsurus was commanded by veteran Princeps Raynal Hess, who led a Lysanda Myrmidon maniple during the Battle of Ulixis. The Battle Titan was destroyed when Hess overloaded the reactor of the wounded Astra Obsurus and sacrificed himself.
- Lord of Virtues (Warlord-class Titan) - During the Great Crusade, for two solar decades, Lord of Virtues, depicted above, stood in defence of those worlds settled on the edge of the Ghoul Stars, vigilant for threats undescribed in known records. Its tenure as sentinel ended when called to war in Ultramar, participating in numerous battles during the Crusade of Iron upon nearly a dozen worlds. Armed with two Sunfury Pattern Plasma Annihilators, Lord of Virtues operated as master of a Vilicus Maniple, recording seven confirmed god-engine kills before being redeployed. Drawing upon patience earned through its long solar decades of service, Lord of Virtures would power down and wait in silence as accompanying Warhounds drew the enemy into an ambush, the sudden flare of the Warlord's Plasma Reactor bursting into life signalling the death of Traitors.
- Iron Prince (Reaver-class Titan) - This was one of several Loyalist Titans that took part in the valiant defence of Zarathusa Secundus during the Crusade of Iron. During the subsequent fighting against the Traitor Titans of the Legio Mordaxis, the Iron Prince was overwhelmed by the Traitors' barrage, and its reactor exploded spectacularly, making the Iron Prince the first Loyalist Titan to fall.
- Parantum Bellos (Reaver-class Titan) - This Battle Titan was commanded by Princeps Tesarius Solomere Krane, who led the Loyalist defence of Zarathusa Secundus during the Crusade of Iron. Though the Loyalist Titans of Legio Lysanda made a valiant stand, their efforts were all for naught, as they had been led into a carefully laid trap by the Dark Mechanicum allies of the Legio Mordaxis and suffered the dread fate of being enslaved to the Traitor Titan Legion's machine curse.
- Unfolding Wrath (Reaver-class Titan) - Though the Sentinels of the Edge were famed for their patience, such a reservoir was not infinite. The magnitude of betrayal during the Horus Heresy wrought many changes upon the Legio Lysanda and a handful of princeps amongst their number cast aside reason in favour of wrath. In recognition of their new creed, such princeps marched to war under new names, for Unfolding Wrath, depicted above, was once known as Argent Flame. To match its newfound purpose, this Reaver Titan was armed with weapons focused on total annihilation, taking to battle on Ulixis as leader of a corsair maniple that stalked the tunnels of the world, tearing into Traitor forces they came across with a reckless abandon far removed from the reputation of their Legio.
- Ardentor (Warhound-class Titan) - The Ardentor was one of several Titans of the Legio Lysanda to deploy to the War World of Armatura during the Shadow Crusade. During the subsequent fighting, the Ardentor became famous for nearly killing the Word Bearers Primarch Lorgar Aurelian. Observing the battle from orbit, the captain of the World Eaters' flagship Conqueror, Lotara Sarrin, ordered the Legio Audax Warhound Titan Syrgalah (known also as the Ember Queen) to destroy the Ardentor. Approaching the Ardentor from its unprotected flank, the Syrgalah used its Ursus Claw and harpooned the torso of the Loyalist Titan, impaling the cockpit, immediately killing the Ardentor's entire crew.
Notable Personnel[]
- Princeps Tesarius Solomere Krane - Solomere Krane was a princeps tesarius of the Legio Lysanda during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras. He commanded the Reaver-class Titan Purantum Bellos and took part in several notable battles during the Crusade of Iron.
- Princeps Raynal Hess (KIA) - Princeps of the Warlord-class Titan Astra Obsurus and commander of a Lysanda Myrmidon maniple, Hess was a veteran of the Eastern Fringe and the wars against the xenos. He sacrificed himself during the Battle of Ulixis.
- Princeps Maxamillien Delantyr (KIA) - Princeps of the Warhound-class Titan Ardentor. Killed during the Battle of Armatura.
- Moderatus Primus Ellas Hyle (KIA) - A moderatus of the Warhound-class Titan Ardentor. Killed during the Battle of Armatura.
- Moderatus Secundus Kei Adaras (KIA) - A moderatus of the Warhound-class Titan Ardentor. Killed during the Battle of Armatura.
Legion Specific Wargear[]
- Mantle of Responsibility - The personnel of the Legio Lysanda perceive trophies of war gifted to them as the highest honour and display them proudly upon their Titans to show their dedication to the Imperium.
Legion Allies[]
Space Marines[]
Legion Strength[]
Given that the Legio Lysanda was rarely assembled together for war, an exact count of their numbers is all but impossible to determine. What can be determined is based on the known worlds they garrisoned in the years prior to the outbreak of the Horus Heresy which placed the Legio Lysanda as a Tertius-grade Titan Legion, capable of fielding at least 53 god-engines, with an estimated upwards maximum of 72.
Owing to the relative youth of the Titan Legion at the time, the Legio Lysanda was unable to call upon rarer classes of Titan, relying almost exclusively upon Warlord, Reaver and Warhound-class Titans.
Nevertheless, the chaotic nature of the Horus Heresy, combined with the prevalence of scavenging enacted by many Titan Legions, may have lent opportunity for the Legio Lysanda to acquire Titan classes outside their pre-Heresy allocation.
Legion Appearance[]
Legion Colours[]
The Titans of the Legio Lysanda are primarily white with black and gold trim. Often, they paint checkered patterns on various parts of their god-engines.
Legion Badge[]
The Legio Lysanda badge is an aquamarine twelve-pointed star, with a small, white open circle centred within it, on a field of black.
Aegis Etchings[]
The worlds to which the Legio Lysanda were assigned held great value to the princeps of the god-engines tasked with watching over them. Indeed, many of the Legio's princeps were recorded to have regularly integrated themselves into the local culture, forming bonds with its rulers and walking amongst its people.
In some ways, the Sentinels of the Edge served in a capacity similar to, although far less influential than, that of an Iterator of the Great Crusade. When it came time for the Titan Legion to depart from a planet, the crew of each god-engine would personally carve a memento known as an "aegis etching" into the carapace of their Titan that marked the world they had protected.
Each held meaning to the individual crew, with the most seasoned Titans bearing a tapestry of its deeds engraved on its carapace.
Numerous recovered pict-captures of Legio Lysanda god-engines taken during the Horus Heresy show that many of the Legio's Titans bore such mementos that had been deliberately defaced; cross-references with the worlds they represented show that all such planets had either sided with Horus or were brought low by his wrath.
Sources[]
- Adeptus Titanicus: The Horus Heresy - Loyalist Legios (Specialty Game), pp. 156-161
- Adeptus Titanicus: The Horus Heresy - Shadow and Iron (Specialty Game), pp. 8-11, 13-15, 20, 28-30, 59, 61, 66, 70-71
- Betrayer (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Chs. 5, 6
Gallery[]
