Main Title: Death Guard’s Plague Marines: A Grim Oldhammer Battle Scene
Origins and Fall to Nurgle
The Death Guard, originally known as the XIV Legion of the Adeptus Astartes, were renowned for their resilience and unshakable endurance. Founded by the Emperor of Mankind during the Great Crusade, they were led by their Primarch, Mortarion, a grim and stoic warrior raised on the death world of Barbarus. Their combat doctrine emphasized tenacity, close-quarters engagements, and the ability to endure the harshest conditions. However, during the Horus Heresy, Mortarion and his legion succumbed to the temptations of Chaos. They pledged themselves to Nurgle, the Plague God, and were transformed into grotesque harbingers of decay.
The Plague Marines and Their Corruption
As servants of Nurgle, the Death Guard became Plague Marines, their bodies bloated and diseased yet immune to pain and fear. They are living embodiments of rot and decay, spreading Nurgle’s blessings across the galaxy. Their power armor is corroded and fused with their decaying flesh, a horrific symbol of their allegiance. The Death Guard march slowly but inexorably, their ranks bolstered by daemonic poxwalkers and plague-ridden war engines. Despite their horrifying appearance, they retain a grim loyalty to Mortarion, who serves as Nurgle’s chosen champion.
Death Guard on the Battlefield
In battle, the Death Guard are a relentless force, shrugging off damage that would annihilate lesser warriors. Their weaponry includes plague-ridden bolters, blight grenades, and custom-built daemon engines that unleash unholy devastation. They rely on their durability and the debilitating effects of their diseases to grind down their enemies in brutal, prolonged engagements. The Death Guard’s presence is often heralded by clouds of pestilence and the sound of tolling bells, spreading despair and chaos among their foes. They are a testament to Nurgle’s dark power, wielding corruption as both a weapon and a creed.
