Editing Conservators (section)

===All Debts Shall be Paid===

This is the chapter motto of the Conservators, and is a very important component of their philosophy. Early during the rebuilding process, the chapter suffered from an identity crisis. So many new battle brothers being inducted to such a young chapter diluted what little tradition they already had. The Remembrance was a direct response to this, providing some core of history to build on, but for the majority of the chapter it was just stories of a bygone age being told to them by the grizzled survivors, not something that really affected their lives. The marines were instilled with a sense of honor and decency, but at the same time had to reconcile that with their need to loot and scavenge to survive, even if it meant taking things from their allies. This was a sad necessity, something done because the chapter was unable to provide for itself, and when they were strong again in the future they would ensure that all the debts they incurred when taking materiel from other imperial forces would be paid in full, that their debts of honor would be satisfied in the future.

From this the chapter motto came. All debts shall be paid. Often spoken as an oath before a battle, or as a promise to an ally. This mentality took root in the minds of the new marines and they carried it forward, shaping the young chapters traditions around that concept, to a certain extent. While they may have to take some things to survive, they can also give back with what they have. Imperial Guard regiments that fight beside them will find at the end of the campaign that the Conservators have arranged a massive feast in their honor, with all the troopers enjoying free food and drink at taverns and alehouses. If the force is large enough it can become a planetwide celebration of their victory with the officers given cloaks and capes, blades and portraits and great tapestries commemorating the battle. These are given in exchange for the various items that have been scavenged, flak armor and fallen lasguns and expended charge packs forgotten on the battlefield.

Most sacred of all is the gene debt, the debt of honor the chapter incurs when they harvest the gene seed from a fallen brother of another chapter in order to make yet more battle brothers of their own. In general they return the body, gene seed included, to the chapter, but if that is not feasible then they refuse to let it go to waste. To repay a gene debt is among the most serious of affairs, with chapter forces venturing far beyond their own territory to fight alongside the chapter to whom they owe the debt, who oftentimes are never told why the Conservators rushed to their aid. More than a few chapters have been left confused but grateful when several squads of tactical marines from an all but unheard of chapter arrive to fight at their side with little explanation.

This belief can also extend to individuals outside the Imperium, though the chapter is naturally very suspicious of such occasions. Most notably are the chapters interactions with a local Eldar faction who has often been seen on the battlefields of the Asharn March, helping to contain the ork threat without explanation. While contact between the humans and Eldar is rare, should the Conservators meet with the xenos following a battle they feel honor bound to offer the xenos a place by their fire and a share of food as is due to anyone who fights at their side. The Eldar have thus far almost universally refused such offers, if they even stay around long enough to be spoken to after the battle has ended.