“The Battle-Brothers of the Adeptus Astartes are the finest warriors in the galaxy, indeed, the finest in the history of Mankind. We are strength, zeal, and wrath made flesh. Those who stand against us shall only know fear and utter annihilation.”
–Brother-Captain Belshazar of the Black Templars

Among those few brave Space Marines who are singled out and seconded to the Deathwatch , fewer still rise to become Deathwatch veterans. Most Space Marines who are given the honor to fight for the Emperor in the Deathwatch serve their time, and then return to their chapters with all of the glory and admiration that being a member of the Deathwatch carries. The Emperor’s Chosen , an upcoming supplement for Deathwatch , explores the select few who ascend to veteran status.

A Brotherhood Apart

Those Deathwatch Space Marines who, for whatever reason, elect not to return to their chapters after their secondment, may find that despite the different backgrounds of the Battle-brothers in their Kill-team, the Deathwatch is home. The bonds between the brethren of a Deathwatch Kill-team are forged from arduous battles endured together, and countless heroic and dangerous exploits that are all part of the job description of a Deathwatch Space Marine. To become a true veteran, acts of tremendous valor a nd glory must be performed in the name of the Emperor. Deeds carried out by one bring honor to the Kill-team. Secret knowledge is revealed, and long and lonely trips to the Outer Reach may shake the foundation of what the Space Marine, and his Battle-brothers, thought they knew. This new understanding of the galaxy and the weight of duty to the Emperor may be why some Space Marines take their oaths again and again with the Deathwatch, as they become veterans, and heroes.

The Emperor’s Chosen details just a few of the legendary veterans of the Deathwatch in the Jericho Reach. Those who ascended to such heights inspire great deeds and heroism on the battlefield for those who follow in their footsteps. The following pages (pdf, 766 KB) excerpted from Chapter II of The Emperor’s Chosen provide a sneak peek at the lives and deeds of the mighty few who came before.

Legacy of a Hero

Even rarer than a Deathwatch veteran is an entire Kill-team composed of those who have become veterans together. Through the horrors of innumerable battles, to leaving behind Chapter and identity to form a highly skilled and deadly unit, veteran Kill-teams become the ultimate weapon of the Emperor. Their skills are highly prized by the Watch Commanders, as well as the Chamber of Vigilance. Even the I nquisition may reach out to such stalwart units and ask for their help directly. The deeds and reputations of such teams will often precede them, becoming the stuff of legend to spur on the fledgling Kill-teams that will come after.

The Emperor’s Chosen provides new rules for creating Heroic Legacies for veteran Battle-Brothers of the Jericho reach. Kill-teams may jointly purchase these Legacies, to access combat roles, manoeuvres, and more, that an experienced Kill-team can use to better crush their enemies in the name of the Emperor. The following pages (pdf, 860 KB), excerpted from Chapter III of The Emperor’s Chosen , set the stage for the acquisition and use of Heroic Legacies in this supplement for Deathwatch .

Gather your Battle-Brothers and become legendary. With the ability to assume Heroic Legacies, and an adventure which puts players in the footsteps of their predecessors, The Emperor’s Chosen is an epic foray into the history of those who came before, as players work to become the legends of the future. Keep checking back for more news and previews of the upcoming Deathwatch supplement, The Emperor’s Chosen !