Editing Eternal Zealots (section)

=Culture=

Since the XVI legion’s earliest days as the Emerald Doom, they have been fanatically devoted to the Imperial Truth. The Sixteenth Squad of the Sacred Band served as the Emperor’s falling hammer, destroying all false religions and superstition that would hold humanity back. This practice continued with the discovery of their primarch Aubrey the Grey. Aubrey saw the Imperial Truth as a logical extension of his dreams of a united galaxy and pushed his legion to further embody those ideals. Under the able guidance of Aubrey, the fangs of the Emerald Doom were tempered. The Eternal Zealots were surgical and precise, excising the cancers of corruption from the heart of the Imperium. 

In spite of their viciousness in prosecuting campaigns, the Eternal Zealots often showcased a more humanitarian side after the cessation of combat. The Zealots would selflessly provide newly pacified worlds with men and material, to assist in the rebuilding process. Particular care was taken to ensure that the new worlds of the Imperium were well-versed in science, medicine and humanities.

Following their fall to Chaos, the Eternal Zealots regressed to their days of barbarism and violence. Now in service to the Ruinous Powers, they prosecuted their campaigns with no less zeal, but now heralded worship of the Primordial Truth. All opposition to the Zealots would be violently crushed, their enemies beheaded to serve as warnings for those who would not submit. They were no longer guardians of humanity, but consorted with daemons and heretics and xenos, bringing the vileness of the warp into reality. 

==Notable Domains==

*'''Lazarus'''. Lazarus was a warm world of great deserts, sweltering jungles and open savannahs lapped by sun-kissed seas. The emerging Lazarite civilisation took great pride in their architecture, constructing beautiful crystal spires as part of their planetary communication network. Surrounding Lazarus was a thin planetary ring, the remnant of several ancient moons colliding together in the distant past. It was often used as cover by raiders approaching the planet, and later several star-forts of the Legion were secreted within the Ring to defend the planet, though they would be overrun during the Lazarus Rebellion and turned on the forces of the Imperium. Serpents were highly important to Lazarite beliefs, considered symbols of immortality and warrior prowess. The greatest Lazarite commanders hunted the great Snakes to prove their prowess, and those that killed one would wear its skin as a cloak as a symbol of their skill and authority.

*'''Campeche'''.  A lush, jungle world on the outer borders of the Sol Segmentum, Campeche became one of the most important of the Emerald Doom's conquests, and would eventually supply over a fifth of the Legion's numbers by the apex of the [[Great Crusade (Hektor Heresy)|Great Crusade]].

*'''Agqumare'''. A planet where over 90 percent of the surface was covered by water, Agqumare was home to great ship-cities that sailed the eternal seas, harvesting food from the depths. While a challenging world for the Eternal Zealots to conquer, the planet would prove to provide hardy recruits, especially skilled in void warfare.

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==Notable Members==

'''Zachery Irisus "Emerald Storm, The Doombringer"''' was one of the very first Terrans inducted into the Legion after the Sacred Band, and was a proven and fearless commander who was always at the very point of the spear, wielding a massive two-handed Chainsword. Though he was a proven commander, he shunned high command and resisted promotion, so when the Primarch was found he was merely a line-captain. The Primarch could see much potential in him and inducted him into the ranks of the Mentors, the new breed of inspiring officers who would act as his will amongst the Legion. Irisus would end up rising to the rank of Legion Grand Mentor, one of the Primarch's inner circle along with the Praetor of the First Chapter and the Primarch's equerry. However Irisus was a child of Terra, and he was distrustful of the Cyfectii. He would end up refusing to obey his Primarch's commands, and in a ritual duel died at his Primarch's hand.

'''Varus Tithonus "Lance of the Primarch"''' Varus (Lazarus) Tithonus was another one of the initial Terran recruits and was one of the two highest-ranking commanders of the Emerald Doom during the few decades of decline before they were saved by the Primarch. Though he was bold, always seizing the initative and forcing his foes to react to his moves, he was also hot-blooded and harsh in the punishment of rebels and those who failed his command, which led to several Imperial Army formations requesting to leave his command after public and highly humiliating rebukes from him. Praetor of the Second Chapter, he preferred not to rise further, and turned down the chance to become First Chapter Master several times. He was instrumental in the destruction of Valshada, slaying their Farseer Ylima in single combat. A fanatical servant of his Primarch, he willingly followed him into damnation. However after the Rebellion's failure and the Legion's retreat into the Eye, Varus came to be disillusioned with the sorry state of the Legion and the fact that the war with the Imperium appeared to have been forgotten. He abandoned the Legion (losing an arm in the process) and went on to found the Warp Riders Warband that continues to plague the Imperium to this day.

'''Azra Zachariah "Shepherd of the Damned, First of Khorne, The Blood Priest"''' Born into the Gladiator Pits of Kustrinda, Zachariah grew up as a warrior, a master of single combat. His Homeworld resisted the coming of the Zealots, but were swiftly brought to heel with much of the planet left in ruins. An orphan of war, Zachariah was considered a perfect candidate for the Legion due to his youth and combat skills. He saw the Legion as his new home and Aubrey as a willing master to serve. Always self-conscious of his position as an outsider and a recruit from a bitter enemy, he demanded much respect within the Legion even if he had to fight for it in the gladiatorial arena, much like his youth. This combination of martial skill and earned respect would see him placed into the Mentors, though it was rumoured that was a deliberate ploy to remove him from the normal chain of command. As a Mentor, Zachariah preached the wisdom of his adoptive father, often adding a more grounded, realistic and cynical touch. Though not as gifted an orator as Siyuren Sil, his skill on the battlefield was worth a dozen speeches, and could reach the twin hearts of many legionaries to such a degree that he needn't utter a word on the battlefield.

'''Xan Khorsah "Thunderfist, the Infernal Reaver"''' One of the initiates from Campeche, Khorsah was fanatically loyal to the Legion which had pacified his homeworld and a proud student of Zachariah. Promoted to Praetor of the Third Chapter of the Zealots, he would willingly follow his Primarch down the road to damnation and carve out a brutal reputation for himself during the Battle of Dolsene and the Burning Crusade.

'''Galle Nacht "Hell's Apothecary"''' Squad Sergeant of the Sixteenth Sacred Band and a recruit from Albia, Galle Nacht was a brave and resourceful officer who was tipped for higher command but chose to become an Apothecary, and was one of the very first batch who trained under [[Lyster Larrey]]. He would be personally affected by the Gene-Seed crisis and go to extreme lengths to try and stabilize and secure the Gene-Seed of his Legion.

'''Siyuren Sil "Voice of the Damned, The Butcher of Cattegirn"''' recruited from the ocean world of Agqumare just as the Legion was being rebuilt under Aubrey, Sil was a highly charismatic leader and a master orator who was swiftly inducted into the ranks of the Mentors, where he excelled. His pre-battle speeches became legend, as did his courage under fire and his willingness to risk himself to inspire his men. He took the destruction of Lazarus hard and was briefly removed from Legion service. When he returned, he was a fanatical convert to Aubrey's new way and with his oratory helped spread it throughout the Legion. His loyal service continued throughout the Rebellion and even beyond as he became one of the highest ranking members of the Zealot's inner circle. He often was attached to Legion Warbands under direct orders from the Primarch, and he was part of the massive Legion assault force that brought fire and death to the famous Knight World of Cattegirn in M37.