Librarian
From Warhammer 40k
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Each Chapter is vigilant against corruption of their gene-seed through mutation. The psyker mutation, however, is often encouraged. Marines with psyker abilities are inducted into the Chapter's Librarium, where they can - with extensive training and rigorous screening processes - become immensely powerful Space Marine Librarians. These warriors are trained to use their talents on the battlefield as weapons and as tools of precognition. Off the battlefield, Librarians are responsible for maintaining and adding to the Chapter's annals and the collective knowledge built up over millennia of service.
[edit] Librarian Armor
Librarians use a psychic hood as part of their equipment. The hood's cables tap into implants in the brain and act as an extension of the wearer's consciousness, alerting him to the use of other psychic abilities.
A Librarian's power armor is traditionally painted blue, with the Chapter icon on the left shoulder pad and a horned skull (the symbol of the Librarium) on the right.
[edit] Librarian Training
The path to becoming a Librarian is a difficult one. Aspirants must not only be strong enough to survive their training, they must possess mental discipline strong enough to fend off the daemons and Warp creatures, as these beings see the enhanced form and mind of a Librarian as a rich prize for possession.
[edit] Librarian Advancement in Rank
Librarians do not progress through Chapter ranks as normal Marines do, but instead progress from the rank of Lexicanium to Codicier, and from Codicier to Epistolary. The highest rank a Librarian may attain is Chief Librarian. This man, in addition to being the Chapter's most potent psyker, is head of the Chapter Librarium, and, more often than not, is a valued adviser to the Chapter Master himself.
[edit] Librarian Deployment
Librarians are often isolated from the rest of the Chapter, for they carry abilities all Space Marines are expected to abhor in others. For this reason, many Chapters distrust the Librarium and the more puritanical, such as the Black Templars, do not field Librarians at all.
