Legio Skyphos

Leader: Princeps Majoris Venedicta Kantharos

Strength: Unknown

Alternative Name: The King Slayers

Colours: Violet/Cerulean Blue Marble.

Forgeworld: Unknown

Founded: Pre-Great Crusade.

Known Engines:

• Lapis Infernus
• Engine type: Warlord
• Princeps: Venedicta Kantharos
• Status: Active
• Location: Hexis
• Ostrum Inberius
• Engine Type: Reaver
• Princeps: Barek Purilias
• Status: Active
• Location: Hexis
• Phobos Alpha
• Engine type: Warhound
• Priceps: Valda Calsonica
• Status: Active
• Location: Hexis
• Phobos Beta
• Engine type: Warhound
• Priceps: Kalderas Katsophis
• Status: Wrecked
• Location: Hexis

History

Legio Skyphos were an unknown force until their appearance in the Aleph sector. Records of them are none existent after the Horus Heresy. However, recent events had shed light upon their appearance and allegiance.

Legio Skyphos were believed to be a sister Legio, or rival to Legio Krytos, who were a renowned Legio that fought alongside the Iron Warriors during the Horus Heresy, notably at Tallarn. Legio Skyphos fought in a number of campaigns alongside the IV during the Heresy but were lost in the warp after attempting an emergency translation at Schindlengeist before the assault on Terra. It was believed that the Traitor Legio transport fleet were lost with all hands. That was until 019.M42, when the repeated use of the Necron Device upon Hexis, lashing to the Enceladus Sector, the Tau Empire, to Macragge and back to the Enceladus sector swept up what was initially believed to be debris, but was later found to be powered down transport ships of Legio Skyphos. The fleet of Admiral Thok initially attempted to claim the fleet as salvage for their own purpose, the Iron Warrior Commander at Charybdis ordered Thok stand down. Naturally, Thok had no intention of listening to the upstart Commander and proceeded to attempt the claim anyway. Thoks fleet was heavily damaged from his extended battle with Admiral Cardale, and was only able to spare 3 Idolator Raiders for initial salvage, while his fleet remained at anchor. The Iron Warrior Commander did not want to risk the ire of either the Warsmith or risk the loss of Thoks fleet, so was paralysed with indecision. As the three Raiders approached 2 of the lead vessels from the drifting fleet powered up and launched a blistering barrage far greater than their transport vessels would be expected to have. The Raiders were raked with fire stripping them of their shields leaving them exposed to lances charged and ready to fire. The Vox crackled to life as the voice Princeps Majoris Venedicta Kantharos echoed through all channels:

“This is Princeps Majoris Venedicta Kantharos of the Legio Skyphos! Declare your allegiance, Warmaster or False Emperor. Fail to comply and my Legio will burn your fleet and world to ash.”

The dead silence through the varied command chambers were deafening. Admiral Thok had no idea how to respond to this turn of events, his ships were were at anchor, undergoing repairs. Ship after transport ship was showing powering up showing energy signatures far in excess of what a transport ship should be capable of, unless.of course, it was a Titan Legio like they said. Luckily for Thok, and the Charybdis system, the Iron Warriors Commander responded first.

“Princeps Majoris Venedicta Kantharos, you will know me as Legionary Aegeus, 7th Storm Squad, 23rd Grand Company, IV Legion. I fought with you at this systems compliance, check your records, my name will be there. This is the Enceladus system, it belongs to the IV Legion. Your Legio was oathsworn to fight with my Legion in the war. We thought you were dead?”

Venedicta Kantharos was renowned, she had fought alongside the Iron Warriors for decades and was respected by a number of high ranking officers within the Legion. Aegeus explained to her all that had happened, the Heresy, Horus’ lies, the Scouring, the saviour Lycurgus Stahl and his ambitions for salvation from the treachery that had damned the Legion. Venedicta had seen some of the degeneration of the legions such as the III, VIII and XII had fallen to madness and corruption. She had not expected the IV to succumb. Nevertheless, rather than revel in corruption, the Iron Warriors sought to conquer all, and that was the Legion Legio Skyphos had always remembered; unbreakable, they were tainted, but unbroken. Moreover, the history of the long war had been laid bare, the hypocrisy of the Imperium of the 42nd Millenium. The Federacy had been a momentary temptation, but their long cooperation with Xenos was nothing more than subjugation by creatures that had no right to exist in humanities galaxy. The IV were tainted by the Warp creatures, but warriors bore many scars. The IV were unbroken and so Legio Skyphos’ oaths to them would remain the same.

Battle Doctrine

Legio Skyphos battle strategy is largely unknown, though from recent engagements it appears to circle around a combined approach to combat with each engine performing a role complementing the next. Perhaps, unsurprisingly, they specialise in focussed fire, which will bring down other titans with alarming speed. Their engines are well maintained, however it appears their princeps are easily provoked.