The Adeptus Custodes forms the Emperor's inner guard whose duties are to serve and protect the Master of Mankind. A continuous rota ensures that there are always several hundred of these select warriors active within the palace, as well as a small elite of guardians who never leave the Emperor's side. Their uniforms are traditional but effective, leather breeches and boots wit a long black cloak over a naked torso. Their helmets are ancient works of art; all-enclosing and tall they impart a threatening, impersonal appearance as well as providing a battery of protective equipment and communicators. The weapons carried by these guards look very much like spears or spear-guns, but are in fact lasers built to resemble the traditional and symbolic guardian-spear which has long association with the Adeptus Custodes and which appears on their banners, badges and other regalia. The guards themselves never leave Earth, and only rarely leave the imperial palace where their duties lie - their place is by the Emperor's side.

“And so a barrow to this hero was raised in that land, and there stands a token for men of later days to see, the trunk of a wild olive tree, such as ships are built of; and it flourishes with its green leaves a little below the Acherusian headland.”

BAs the carts of the Imperial Teamsters Guild made their stately way through the streets of Karr-Keel, gathering up the birthday dead, they were accompanied by marching bands and other entertainers sponsored by the guild to keep the crowds of intoxicated revelers looking on the brighter side of life. Unlike the professional musicians who came to Karr-Keel to compete for the Mayor’s favor, the Teamsters’ marching bands were mismatched groups of baggers, loaders, and haulers with enough skill with their instruments to put together a rousing tune and the stamina to keep playing while moving about throughout the city. Bagpipes, drums, trumpets, mouth harps, they played at the same time, if not always together, and added to the air of revelry. Of all the Teamsters’ marching bands in Karr-Keel, the most popular was the Load Shifters. Known for their high energy, driving sound, and carefree physicality, the Load Shifters were three brothers, Angmoos, Melmoos, and Smegmoos. Angmoos, a bagpiper, was known for his silly hat, short kilt, and ability to play while body surfing. Melmoos, a trumpeter with big hands and a silky smooth voice, handed out strings of beads to partygoers who gave him articles of their clothing. Smegmoos, the drummer, was a sight to see. Sweating and heaving, he walked alongside his brothers with a bass drum strapped to his back, a snare set hanging to his front, and a cymbal hat on his head. Together, they crashed, banged, tooted, and squealed their way to the Great Fire, a wall of sonic insanity. Together still, they haunt the ruins of Karr-Keel, whipping the restless undead into a frenzy for yet another night of revelry.

As the strange, masked figure approached camp,  Shak'nar knew his growing fame was spreading far across the chaos wastes. The Gods had told him that more followers would be flocking to his command and here was the proof of their generosity. Shak'nar returned the focus of this thoughts back to the warrior approaching. His helmet sported an impressive horse hair crest, indicating he must possess some skill, that crest would attract too much attention to survive in the chaos wastes without some skill. He was mostly armored, but his exposed arms were a swarthy color Shak'nar did not recognize...clearly the stranger had wandered a long distance to arrive at this place. Shak'nar also admired the leering demon face on his shield. Shak'nar smiled beneath his helm in triumph. "Soon..." he though, "Soon, I shall topple the world."

"Not all who worship the plague god gain the mutations of the truly devout. That is not to say that they are no less fervent in their devotion, but they lack the strength of will to attract the attention of their dark patron. But these cultists are the most worrisome, for they can blend in with the imperial masses to plot and scheme."

"And when the Plague God show favors upon those humans that flock to his cults, he sometimes bestows upon them mutations to make the cultists resemble the Plague Marines who's aid they pray for. Even though they look like the dreaded heretic Astartes, they are not. But they do posses greater strength and resilience then regular humans."

A VERY large cultist heavy weapon trooper