How do the more intolerant chapters such as Dark Angels and Iron Hands view librarians? They have them but I doubt they love the idea of deviation in their geneseed. The psyker is surely a mutant by default? And how do librarians from those chapters view themselves?

My backup character for a DW game will be an Iron Hands librarian, hence these sort of questions come to mind. My current guess is that said librarians may see themselves as proven pure by simply being accepted into their chapter or else their sheer power and knowledge obviously outweighs any dark shadow cast by their mutation.

Any thoughts, especially those supported by background, would be appreciated.

Decessor said:

The Dark Angels librarians are part of the Inner Circle and are in for the hunt of the Fallen.

Alex

To be honest the only intolerant Chapter in this regard I can think about are the Black Templars and they simply ditch the idea of Librarians and rock on with it. I don't really see either the Iron Hands or the Dark Angels as less tolerant than other Chapters. The Dark Angels of course has a problem with sub-humans but I don't think that they've got any problem with psykers. Or maybe that should be "I don't think that have any additional problems with psykers than the rest of the Imperium".

The Iron Hands seem to abhor flesh over steel. They do have librarians and do tolerate psychic power use. Like wise for most of the loyalist chapters. The only chapter that does not tolerate psykers are the Black Templar.

If memory serves me correct, every loyalist chapter watches their gene pool to ensure that there is little risk of gene seed corruption. Librarians are tolerated as their psychic abilities are useful to the imperium and the chapter at large.

According to Lexicanum, neophytes and aspirants are screened by the Chapter's Librarians for any signs of Psyker mutation. Recruits that display such mutation undergo rigourous training as do all space marines but also learn to harness their powers to protect themselves from the predations of the warp, lest they fall prey to daemons which would use their minds as portals to enter reality, corruption or possession.

The denizens of the warp see the enhanced physique of the librarian as a prized host. Thus the training for a librarian is like walking a narrow path as described in the Space Marine Codex. If such recruits prove to be unable to take the rigours of a training to become a librarian, they are quickly killed.

That said, Librarians are both mistrusted and may be isolated from their chapters. I believe that due to the stringent training and the mental discipline required to be a librarian, they would accord each other a sense of mutual respect. Librarians would probably see themselves as having an important role to play in battles as being able to engage enemy psykers as well as being the repository of knowledge for the chapter. That being said, Librarians are Marines and brothers in a chapter and psyker second. This is in my own opinion.

Let me just add that this portrayal of the role of librarians is too negative. With the Crimson Fists, when Pedro Kantor is absent, the Chief Librarian presides over the gathering of brothers. If he's absent too, the role falls to the High Chaplain.

And when Captain Alvez who was in charge of the defense of New Rynn City had sacrificed himself, a verabl fight threatened to break out between the Sternguard and Vanguard elements stationed at NRC over who would take over. The issue was settled swiftly by Epistolary Deguerro who took over overall command of the NRC forces temporarily, based on precedence.

In short: librarians aren't just distrusted, they are respected leaders near the top of the chain of command. Their counsel is usually taken very seriously.

Alex

From the looks of things, a librarian should expect a certain amoint of respect as a matter of course for having survived that long. Thanks for the input folks.

In some way space marines may view librarians as being closer to the ideal embodiment of the Emperor and therefore better than an average marine.

Space marines, unlike the average Imperial citizen, would know more and understand better what psykers are and how useful they can be. Not only is a Librarian just as physically capable of combat as any other marine, he has extra abilities the others don't. To me, this would mean that most Astartes have a good deal of respect for Librarians and an inherent trust in their training as Astartes.

Just getting into Deathwatch but have played 40K and been a fluff monkey for years. Librarians are some of the most disiplined Astartes. They not only go throught the regular training and drills of the Astares but they also have to endure the added training and tests the Librarium, Chaplains, and Apothacaries have them endure all their life. Chapters like the Iron Hands probably see them as exemplars of only the strong survive and Iron will, Iron Body, and Iron Soul can over come all things since they must always be on guard and fight every moment to over come the warp they have to delve into. But know matter who the chapter the librarians are always watched with some suspection due to the same perils they face and a bolt round is ready to be used just in case.

ak-73 said:

Very true!

My BT now has a Black Shield Librarian in charge of the Kill Team. I tell him that I respect his council, not his abilities. When being offered to be healed by him I told him that I will not suffer the unclean to live.

Their position as some of the chief advisors in chapters affords them a great honor. The reason for their council is because they can interpret the Emperors Tarot, and detect instabilities within the warp that may effect deployment/transport.