Legiones Astartes Daily
Rituals
0400
Morning Prayer
Day is begun with morning prayer and contemplation within
the Company Chapel, led by the Company Chaplain. The Company
standard and relics are displayed and the brethren repeat
their oaths of loyalty to the Chapter and the Emperor. At
this juncture the Captain may choose to address the brethren,
issue orders, make any appropriate announcements (such as
awards and promotions) and dispense summary punishments as
deemed necessary.
0500 Morning Firing Rites
After prayer is complete the brethren undertake the first firing
rites of the day. A variety of weaponry is used but the emphasis
is placed on practice with the Space Marine's personal weaponry.
Awards are made for consistently good marksmanship and punishments
are inflicted for poor weapon discipline and accuracy. The firing
rites may be undertaken in the ranges located in the armoury or
outside the fortress.
0700 Battle Practice
The first battle practice of the day is generally geared towards
hand-to-hand combat and close quarter fighting. The exact procedures
followed vary immensely but often include numerous live-firing exercises
and simulated battle conditions in a number of lethal or non-lethal
environments. For this reason (and for reasons of defence) most
of the Space Marine fortress monasteries are often situated in extremely
inhospitable areas be they arctic, volcanic, corrosive, swamp, carnivorous
jungle or a combination thereof.
1200
Midday Prayer
The brethren are gathered once more to give praise to the
Emperor and their Primarch. During extended battle practice
such prayer may be undertaken in the field, potentially while
live-firing exercises continue. At this time any brethren
severely injured in the morning battle practice are transported
to the Apothacarion.
1300 Midday Meal
The Space Marines partake of their first sustenance of the day at
this juncture. Frequently this will be a substance inedible to ordinary
humans or a local lifeform which is hunted and slain during the
morning battle practice.
1315 Tactical Indoctrination
Hypnotherapy and psychoconditioning are used to rapidly assimilate
the Chapter tactical doctrines on a number of subjects. New battle
languages are learned, alien weaponry, troops and vehicles are studied.
Squad and company tactics are reviewed and lessons learned from
the morning battle practice are examined.
1500 Battle Practice
Afternoon battle practice usually revolves around squad and
company level tactics and reinforcement of the tactical indoctrination
segment. Specialist squads such as devastators and assault
troops will often use this opportunity to hone their particular
skills while the tactical brethren practice close support
with Dreadnoughts, armour and personnel carriers.
2000 Evening prayer
Evening prayer is viewed as a time for contemplation and giving
thanks for the day's lessons learned. Once more praise is rendered
to the Emperor and the Chapter's Primarch for the inception and
existence of the Chapter. Gene-seed sampling may be undertaken at
this time as it has by now been stimulated by the day's activities.
2100 Evening Meal
The evening meal is a more sedate affair than that at midday,
with a substantial repast provided by the Chapter's serfs
under the watchful eye of the Lord of the Household. Substantial
quantities of protein rich food are made available, particularly
to the younger brethren. Indulgent Chapter Masters may even
permit the brethren to partake of alcoholic beverages at this
time if the day's activities have been expertly done.
2130
Night Fighting Exercises
Chapters based on worlds where there is no perceptible night
segment, or on ships in the void use this opportunity to practice
combat underwater, in zero gravity, through dense fog or smoke
or in other exotic conditions.
2315 Maintenance Rituals
Each Space Marine is expected to maintain and repair his own
armour and weaponry according to standard rituals. Seriously
damaged or defective gear is surrendered to the Master of
the Forge for inspection and repair. Every effort is made
to ensure that a Space Marine keeps the same set of equipment
after their investiture so that they develop a close bond
and understanding of the machine spirits they will rely on
in battle.
2345 Free Time
Some Chapter Masters view this period of free time as an unwarranted
luxury at best and a dangerous distraction at worst. It is maintained
in most Chapters out of reverence for the Codex Astartes and Roboute
Guilliman's words. "Consider (the) magnitude of your duty at
your leisure, but act without hesitation when (action) is required."
In honour of this Space Marines are permitted a short period of
leisure each day to consider the magnitude of their duty to the
Emperor.
0000 Rest Period Begins
Space Marines do not truly need sleep thanks to the Catalepscan
Node -- an implant in their brain that enables them to rest half
of their brain at a time whilst still maintaining awareness with
the other half. However extended interference with the circadian
rhythms of sleep has been shown to impair efficiency and induce
personality disorders. To prevent this Space Marines enter a dreamless
fugue state for four hours per day when not on campaign. The longest
recorded incident of a Space Marine unit going without sleep was
during the Ryan's World incident (Ref. 061.24/A) when the Crimson
Fists remnants led by master Kantor remained operational for a period
of 328.7 standard hours.
Complied from information
supplied by the Black Consuls, Salamanders, Fleshtearers,
Ultramarines and Silver Skulls Chapters. Additional notes
are culled from the Codex Astartes (M38.transcription) and
personal commentary by Captain Alhaus of the Black Templars.
Notes:
Many Chapter Masters
and Company Captains favour changing times and details
of the daily ritual to keep their brethren alert and
able to quickly assimilate new orders or situations.
Interruption of the rest period is frequent and the
elimination of meals and the shortening of prayer times
commonplace.
All Chapters have high
days or feast days which usually celebrate the ascendance
of the Emperor to the Golden Throne and the birth and
death of their own Primarch (the actual dates observed
for these practices vary immensely). On such special
days all members of the Chapter who are present at the
fortress will gather in the Assimularum for prayers
led by the Chapter Master followed by a day long celebration
which traditionally includes contests of skill and strength.
This is also the traditional time for the acceptance
of Neophytes, the elevation of Neophytes to Initiates,
and the elevation of Initiates to Full Brethren. When
there are worthy candidates, brethren may also be accepted
into the Veteran company on a feast day. In all cases
trials by ordeal are common, and in some cases fatal.
Typically brethren with
special skills are permitted to work in the forges or
the Apothacarion between the evening meal and rest period
at the discretion of the Company Captain. There they
are taught by the Techmarines or Apothecaries in their
arcane crafts. Exceptional artisans and chirurgeons
will be elevated to apprentice Techmarines or Apothecaries
after a suitable period spent in vigil within the Solitorium.
The honour of guarding
the Chapter Fortress is generally rotated between the
1st through 5th Companies according to which are present
at the time. The 6th through 9th (reserve) companies
train more regularly as they bear the majority of the
Chapters most recently inducted brethren.
Brethren undertake penitence
and purgation if they fail in their duties. This is
usually self-imposed as a mark of dedication to the
Emperor. Gross breaches of Chapter law may be met with
death or exile of permanent or temporary nature (temporary
exile is usually linked to the achievement of a specified
goal).
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