The Imperial records concerning the origins of the Space Marine Librarians are murky and mired in legend rather than hard facts like much of the history of the Imperium's early days. However, according to the chronicler Saphrus the Ancient, during the Great Crusade of the early 31st Millennium the Emperor of Mankind held a great Imperial conclave, the Council of Nikaea, on the newly-terraformed planet of the same name, to determine whether human psychic powers and the practice of psychic sorcery presented a danger to the newborn Imperium of Man and its people. We can no more ignore or suppress our connection to the Warp than we could walk through a raging firestorm and imagine that we did not burn. We must master this gift, make a weapon of it, lest we be consumed by its fury." Blessing of the Machine - A dormant Machine Spirit is coaxed into vital life by the psyker's mental command. Though granted only fleeting animus, when such a spirit is roused from its slumber, it will not hesitate to lash out at those it deems a threat, transforming a vehicle into a more potent weapon of war. Most Librarian battle-disciplines focus on enhancing their already formidable combat prowess. Many can use their psychic powers to throw powerful energy bolts, project telekinetic force shields or increase their might to demigod-like proportions. Some can step outside of the flow of time, slow the enemy's movements or redirect bullets with the sheer power of their minds.

Mind Raid - The psyker peers into the mind of the foe, raiding their thoughts for secret codes, battleplans, the location of hidden forces and any other tactical information that might be useful. Such brute psychic interrogation doubtless inflicts severe cerebral trauma on its victim.

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As Space Marines are far stronger mentally and physically than an ordinary man, their flesh is ideal for Daemons to inhabit as a daemonhost. For a Librarian, each day is a long walk along a narrow path which, should they stumble or stray, leads only to madness, possession and the deaths or destruction of all that they hold dear. Understandably then, to even become a Librarian, a Space Marine must be an exceptionally talented psyker and undergo years of gruelling training within the depths of their Chapter's fortress-monastery. This training continues throughout their lives, and Librarians are constantly testing their minds and bodies to reinforce the strength and breadth of their willpower. Therefore, just as a Chapter's Apothecaries test the genetic suitability of potential Space Marines, the existing Librarians are responsible for assessing all potential recruits to the Chapter for psychic ability. Their equipment is often heavily ornamented by artificers of the chapter due to the heroism and valour shown by the Librarians, making every piece individual. [5] A Librarian is a Firstborn or Primaris Marine combat psyker of the Space Marines who survives an Adeptus Astartes Chapter's rigorous screening and training to bend the powers of the Warp to their will for the benefit of their fellow battle-brothers and in service to the Emperor of Mankind. Beyond their psychic duties, the Librarians of the Astartes are also expected to record the great deeds of their Chapter and maintain the Chapter's storehouse of ancient lore, the functions for which they are named. This repository is a wealth of knowledge that the Chapter Master guards well, knowing that in times of need he may have to call upon the counsel of his Librarians and the lore they possess to guide him in battle.

Every psyker's mind holds within it a miniscule link to the Warp, through which they access that metaphysical dimension to power their abilities. Each time a psychically sensitive individual uses the power of the Warp, they expose themselves to the malevolent entities that dwell there, their minds glowing in that realm like bright candles in a dark fog. With ruthless and often life-threatening training, psykers learn to obscure and defend themselves against these forces. Should their focus waver or their mental defences fall, however, a psyker's mind and body will be vulnerable to all manner of horrific fates. If a daemon gains access to realspace through the mind of a weak psyker, they could wreak untold havoc through the act of possession. Worse yet, they could even spell the doom of entire sectors by tearing a rift in the skein of reality and causing a daemonic incursion. By the time a Librarian reaches the rank of codicier, his command of his powers is almost fully realised and only the truly gifted will advance beyond this point. Warhammer Community: Shadowspear Focus: Vanguard Units (posted 5/3/2019) (Last accessed 4 September 2019) Overseen by the Librarians, each is a silent and sacred place of whispered secrets and hidden truths. Filled with ancient tomes and sacred scrolls, every piece of text laid down by the Chapter, or relevant to its existence, is housed within.Chief Librarians also spend a great deal of time training their lesser codicier and lexicanium battle-brothers in the dangerous ways of the Warp. As the warring armies close upon one another and vicious firefights erupt, the Codex lays out strategies for swiftly seizing the initiative and combining versatility with firepower.While this combat doctrine is active, improve the Armour Penetration characteristic of every Rapid Fire and Assault weapon that models in this unit are equipped with by 1. Within the Chapter, all Librarians hold a rank based on their level of training and their standing amongst their peers. Chief Librarians very seldom take to the field of battle, as their abilities are far more valuable to the Chapter in other ways. However, when they do take part in a battle, it is a glorious and terrifying sight to behold.