Iron Warriors on Hexis

Before the arrival on Hexis the Hadron Cohort and Hexis Campaign was under the the command of a “Commander Bezhok”, who is in command of the 3rd Grand Company of the Iron Warriors. Sarkow was a member of this Company and believed that Bezhok’s Astarte strength stood at around 5000, though some of these were believed to be members of the “Forlorn” Blood God Cult and so considered unreliable. The Sky Lords advised that recent memories are clear, but information such as solid numbers are always difficult to retrieve from their interrogation methods, so Sarkow may have known, it is impossible to tell.

Of course, Bezhok has been supplanted as commander of Iron Warrior and indeed Chaos forces as Stahl himself arrived, with significant reinforcements. Sarkow thought this was the end for Berzhok but apparently Stahl was sympathetic to Bezhok’s insistence that is was “unreliable allies” that had slowed his advance.

The Centre

In the centre of the Chaos forces remains Bezhok and his warriors. The core of his force is the 9th Line Company commanded by Captain Dazkhov. Alongside the 9th are Thorakitai Thureos 192-Gamma and 55-Beta, Scout Thorakitai Thureos 116, and         Armoured Century Echthra. Along with Dazkhov and Berzhok the other known officers were the Sorcerers Eznath “The Unveiled”, Nicator, Lieutenant Zoran and Razko “The Duelist”, Sergeant “Honourable” Horozhka and lastly the Warpsmith Tkalčec.

Commander Bezhok: Bezhok is a warrior of two parts, detached and analytical, but also bitter and petty. He carries a two handed power sword on the battlefield is a member of the Dodekatheon. He is beleived to Olympian born.

Captain Dazkov: Captain Dazkov was thought of by Sarkow to be a man aged by war. He was known to frequently carry clods of dirt with calculating battle plans, asking it to speak to him. Some considered him insane but others believed he was analysing the local terrain to find an advantage. In view to the latter, Dazkov is adept at city warfare, having ordered new firing drills upon his troops, the dense terrain appears to be offering the Astartes no impediment. Sarkow thought of him as “sullen”. He is believed to be Charybdian

Zidon Eznath “The Unveiled”: Zidon Eznath, “The Unveiled” was a person that Sarkow feared greatly, but for unknown reasons, he is a Sorcerer and apparently a specialist in dealing with Obliterators, leading me to believe he may be a member of the Lyssatra. A strong memory of Sarkows was being repulsed by the face of Eznath, apparently reconstructed completely for some unknown reason (likely injury) and his metal tinged skin is poorly stretched over his skull, and occasionally ripples like water. I am repulsed by such a vile creature profaning a world of the Emperors! His origin is unknown.

Nicator: Sarkow knew that Bezhok hated Nicator like few others in the Legion, for unknown reason. Sarkow, while he disliked Nicator for making his skin crawl, respected him. Sarkow suspected that Nicator was attempting to undermine Bezhok so Razko could take his position, though why, it would not be known. Nicator was a member of the Thitokana and openly experimented upon captured Imperial citizens, attempting to give combat enhancements to the Thorakitai, which at times have worked to great effect. Nicator is believed to be of Aleph origin, recruited after the Aleph Sectors compliance.

Sergeant “Honourable” Horozhka: Horozhka was universally respected by those Sarkow knew, even those who envied his skill and experience (which were many) would not openly challenge him. Sarkow believed that he could at least be Line Captain, if not Commander of the whole Grand Company if he wished, but his nature meant that he was more comfortable on covert missions. Sarkow was from Horozhka’s unit and so we have more information on him than the other officers, as he was in the recent memory of Sarkow, who believed he would be rescued by Horozhka, even unto his death.

Horozhka was born on Terra and his early years were part of a Gun Tribe that based near the Auro Plateau of Sek-Amrak. Having been recruited into the Legion following the fall of Sek Amrak he was a line Astarte for many years throughout the early crusade. Apparently Horoshka bears a great enmity of these early years, retelling to Sarkow several times that even then the IV were prostituted to enemy guns while less worthy Legions reaped the glory. He had fought with the 45th Grand Company of another Battalion in the Heresy, under the command of Soltarn Vull Bronn******, being felled at the retaking of Krade*******. Of all the individuals Sarkow remembered, it was Horozhka that made him believe they could not die if they were loyal to Stahl. Horozhka upper body was a mangled ruin and replaced with bionics of unknown and likely blasphemous origin. Apparently Sarkow imagined taking the shot that would have killed Horozhka many times according to the Sky Lords, who attest his fantasies of shooting his Sergeant in the throat would indeed be fatal.

Lieutenant Zoran

Zoran is a member of the Dodekatheon and a heavy weapons specialist. Known for his taciturn nature, Sarkow knew little the traitor himself save that he had a great hatred of another Lieutenant called Šalić who was reassigned to Commander Greghaz Grand Company. The little the is known is he is responsible with the efficiency of the “Havoc” units and most of those men quietly look to him for leadership, which caused Sarkow concern.

Lieutenant Razko “The Duelist”

The strongest word associations that came with the memories of Razko was “trýpima kólo” which I am afraid does not have a translation, though, it is negative. Razko is considered a snake within the Bezhoks retinue.

Warpsmith Tkalčec.

This creature, is seemingly the senior Warpsmith within Bezhok’s staff and while he has several serviles at his command he primarily commands the Armoured Centuries within the Grand Company. Little is known besides this, and that he has served as emissary to several Mechanicum seeking to turn traitor.

Recommendations:

While the 144th have an organisational structure that is startling for a traitor warband, it is my firm belief they are ruled by force of will and personality just as much as any other Traitor Warband. Razko and Nicator appear to the be the weak links within Bezhok’s command staff, if these individuals were able to rise to positions of power, this may have a destabilising effect upon Bezhok’s Grand Company.  

The Western Front

While the Western front is not a problem for Imperial forces at this time should they redeploy or when the Glorious armies of the Imperium crush the disgusting Xenos “Alliance” the traitors of the IV Legion will have to be dealt with. Unfortunately, given the level of paranoia of the average Iron Warrior, Sarkow knew even less of value for the Western front than he did on the Northern front. Nevertheless, the Iron Warriors there still have a similar perverted command structure as one the Northern front. The 4th Grand Company is active throughout the West with unknown units of Thorakitai and enslaved humans.

Commander Gerghaz

Gerghaz is known as a particular bellicose and belligerent warrior that Sarkow had heard of. He is known to prefer brute force, likening his fire patterns and assaults to a perfectly swung sledge hammer. Gerghaz is known to be well versed in boarding actions in the void, leading to Sarkow to wonder if he was a member of the Kheledakos. He is known to prefer large Terminator and Obliterator assaults when leading an attack. Sarkow knew nothing of Gerhaz’ background.

Line Captain Erazmuz

Line Captain Erazmuz was under Bezhoks command before the 144th arrived in the Aleph sector. He is known to have risen to prominence during the “Iron Wars”, one of the many wars within the Eye of Terror, this one a civil war within the Iron Warriors. As Sarkow understood it Erazmuz uncovered a plot to depose Stahl and betray the Battallion to another Warsmith, by whom Sarkow did not know, but what is clear is that Erazmuz stopped the plotters and rose to Line Captain soon after.

He is believed to be Olympian born.

Lieutenant Šalić

Sarkow unfortunately knew nothing of Šalić, other than his name and the knowledge that he and Zoran hated each other to such a degree they had to be kept separated. Perhaps the fact that both specialised in heavy weapon teams had something to do with it?

Lieutenant Kevohk

Kevohk is an outrider operating the roadways in and out of the city alongside Meliton. Sarkow did not know Kevohk, but only of reputation as an insane warrior who alone survived to charge into Imperial lines years ago during the war for Zadoc. Since the coming of the Cicatrix Maladictum rumour has that Kevohk has started to descend into madness, that is, Iron Warriors standards of madness. Sarkow heard that Kevohk was from Ravitane and recruited during the Great Crusade.

Sorcerer Meliton

Meliton is an outrider with Kevohk. Almost nothing is known about him. Sarkow heard a rumour that he has been assigned to outrider units to keep Kevohk functioning. Nothing more is known.

Sorcerer Khozarian

Unfortunately this is another that Sarkow knew nothing of and though he is known to be active in the city, nothing is known of this vile creature.

Warpsmith Dimas

The vile creature known as “Dimas” was encountered by the Howling Griffons Chapter when they (unsuccessfully) attempted to intercept his Armour Century back in late 11.018M42. He was believed dead, though the Howling Griffon Scout team on orders to sweep and clear to see if they could confirm the kill went missing, so we assume at this time he is still at large. Unfortunately Sarkow knew nothing of this individual.

Experiment MVI

This Daemonic entity was also involved in the massacres at Hegrist and Grathos, after the Howling Griffons failed ambush. Believed to be a Daemon Prince that has sworn to Stahl’s cause in return for offerings, Sarkow’s memories seem to have a contrary view. Sarkow strongly viewed Daemonic forces to be “Untrustworthy and vile lesser Xenos creatures, useful for only as fodder or fuel for our machines” - a quote which was recovered from a conversation he had from another Iron Warrior. From the memories it appears that most of the 144th share this belief, or at least they have deluded themselves into thinking they are not disgusting heretics and damned for all eternity. Sarkow believed that Stahl had discovered a way to “Construct” a facsimile of a Daemon Prince and Experiment MVI was believed to be his latest creation. I would not worry too much however, this sounds like the deluded ramblings of a mad man.

Zhophokles the Inheritor

This is possibly the most greatest threat among those on the Western Front. A vile orator and member of the Thitokana Brethren. When the Librian Traitor base fell to the Librians it was Zhophokles the Inheritor who enslaved the survivors and converted them to the cause of Chaos. Naturally these base human scum would have proved no problem no doubt. He is known to turn human cowards into howling madmen who fling themselves at Imperial Guns. Sarkow knew of Zhophokles as he herded literal carpets of “Expendable Flesh” as the Iron Warriors refer to them into the enemy guns. Sarkow knew that Zhopokles was looked upon by the other Iron Warriors with contempt, though it was thought that he did not “Preach” as a Word Bearer would, but rather turn humans towards their own doom by other unknown methods.

****** Soltarn Vull Bronn was known to be an associate of “Honsou” and was present in the invasion of Ultramar in late M41 by Honsou’s Warband.

******* Krade was one of the many worlds that the Iron Warriors Garrisoned during the Heresy. The Sky Lords inform me that a measure of their gene heritage lay in the Ultramarine Companies that retook Krade for the Imperium.