Signifer

Impervious

“War is all I have ever known. From that day I realized just how fragile our peace is. How every second of our reign is a balance between victory or our absolute annihilation. I could not rest idle while my brethren where being slaughtered by vicious bestial hordes.
With blade, shield and rifle, I have fought more battles than I can count on my remaining eight fingers. I have witnessed the deaths of more of my countrymen than I could even fathom.
Yet, my faith in our mission is unshakeable. Through my service the greatest of honours are bestowed onto me. To carry the signum of my cohort into battle. My will alone is a raw conduit of power that cascades through the banner. Through the weaving of faith and technology, I erect great barriers and augment the volleys of my allies as we press on through hell and hailstorm into our promised Golden Dawn.”

Origin

The Signifer has existed since before the Golden Empire itself. They originated out of the separate human tribes as standard bearers and the stewards or honoured few of their warlords.
When Ysand brought the tribes unity through diplomacy and conquest the warlords forged the first legions, organized by their aquilifer that served as the first and most elite of the signifier. Through different gestures and signals given with the standards, the legionaries would tell what tactics to employ as well as bolster their morale. Though as their enemies and battles grew larger and more chaotic, every cohort was manned with a signifer. The most decorated, loyal and skilled of each band of brothers was given the honour to relay the visual orders all the way to the frontlines and give their enemies a reason to fear the crest of their legion.
In modern times, the Signifer has only become more important in the field. Using a magitech staff as a foci for faith and willpower, they can unleash the energies of their comrades' fury and belief to actively ward and empower their weapons and spirits to fight with unnatural skill and fervour.

Powers

Sacrifice

Through the blood drenching the battlefield and the pain and death from their brothers and sisters, the signifer channels their divine will through the blooming scarlet on the killing fields. As blood and holy magics meet, healing and shielding powers soothe the pains and close the wounds of the soldiers. Boiling their blood with fury to press on to the last breath. Granting them strength and vitality to survive injuries that should have been lethal, or form stalwart barriers that can cast projectiles and cannon balls aside.
Through the resonant metallurgy of a Sage, binding the weapon of the soldier to the foci of the Signifer, the banneret may also unleash the power of the sun through the iron of the blood into the flaming will of their faith. Ripping the metal aspect out of the gore, into the energy stored foci, to then resonate the magic right into the rifles of their troop. Allowing them to unleash a hail of scarlet flaming ballistics, regardless of their guns being loaded or not. This is but one of the many ways the blood can be used to enact the Empire’s will on their foes.
To the most fanatic and noble of signifer, when all hope should be lost and all their comrades lay dead, the last man standing can choose to expunge all their willpower along with the force within the foci to unleash a Solar Rupture to rid the world from filth, several yards spanning from the suicidal blast.

Psychic Energy

Fear, anger, suffering and all other emotions found in the warfront. Signifer are masters of channeling the dread from their comrades and soothing their minds with bravery and fury, while unleashing curses upon their foes. Inflicting them with terror and disorientation to shatter their resolve.
Wielding this psychic magic strategically, they can bolster specific squads and troops to hold the line, or cause the warbeasts of the enemy to hesitate, giving them a terrifying presence on the fields.
These forces may also allow them to read the fears and emotions of their enemies, giving the most skilled of signifer a chance to guess the intentions of the opposing force. Allowing them to coordinate with the centurion to absolutely dominate.

Written by Tonarus

Armour

Regalia of the Imperial Signifer

Donned in a red linen and gambeson coat that runs crimson down their thighs, above the segmentata lorica that protects their internals. The classic signifer sports the same gold and scarlet colours as the Gilded Legionaries, though with animal or skull shaped helmets and masks.
Their biggest trademark to recognize the Signifer, besides their weapon, is the long blood red cape that rolls from their shoulders and down into the sands. Often considered a poor choice for mobility, though as a mostly stationary role, it serves its role to impress and intimidate.

Weaponry

Magitech Signum

There would be no signifer without their signum. A weapon standard which is made of a resonant metal core of either steel, silver, gold or bronze. Within, copper wiring and runeslates - a semi-mechanical and magical runestone; are placed within the hollow staff. The signum works through channeling magical energies into its cap, which usually is molded to a shape representing the cohort or troupe of the signifer.
Drawing from the emotional psychic and blood sacrifice energy traces of the battlefield’s living and dead, the signifer channels their own willpower through the spell-triggers, unleashing incredible magics through the energy stored up in the foci.

Weaknesses

While the signifer can seem like an indomitable powerhouse, they have a jarring weakness in the signum standing out as a massive target to the enemy. Should they lose the signum, it would be considered a great dishonour. As would the demise of a signifer ravage the morale of his comrades.
Their powers are also something long term brewing as the fight goes on. The longer and more brutal a battle, the more sacrifice and psychic force to draw from, ensuring that it is imperative for the soldiers to protect their banneret until they have channeled enough energy to turn the tide of combat.

Modern Versatility

In recent times, the Signifer have become popular outside the Golden Empire’s legions. While the most decorated and powerful remain the elites in Imperial service, many warbands and mercenaries from various cultures and races have adopted the archetype.
Depending on their purpose, culture and values, the various foci and symbols on their signums and war-banners may channel different magics, such as nature to restore woods or summon gripping thorns, rather than sacred blood magic.
Certain groups have even adapted standards with holy scriptures to allow those within its aura to channel the specific spells stored within the scroll, regardless of magical skill and competence.