Lost Legion vague reference in 6th ed book?

[Yodhrin]

Even assuming that it is a banner featuring the number "2" and a dragon device, why make the assumption that it's a legion banner? The Luna Wolves appear to have two banners in the image, so they could well be chapter/great company banners, with the dragon device being the heraldry of one of the present Emperor's Children formations, or of a Salamanders force not "in frame". While it -could- be an incredibly subtle hint at Legio II, that's the least likely explanation.

[TheDungen]

I thought the hydra was adopted as the alpha legions emblem after the death of their primarch? representing that the ultramarines had just cut the head of the hydra. is it possible the hydra only had one head in the original design.

[Johnnya10]

I'm going with Emperor's Children. It looks a little like a long necked bird, surrounded by fire, such as a Phoenix. As that was one of Fulgrim's symbols, I think that would fit well with the EP stood in the foreground. Just a thought...

[Veteran Sergeant]

There's about a 0% chance of the 2nd or 11th Legions ever appearing in any fluff or art. If you ever think they might be, just go with the default answer that no, you're just mistaken and there must be another explanation.

[Lord Damocles]

another explanation.

Fishmen!

[LegionX]

No-one's mentioned the Iron Hands banner (two down from Lunar Wolves, under the farthest Reaver Titan)

Lunar Wolves and Ultramarines are obvious (as is Iron Hands, imho) - I don't know what the other two are, though I agree with the OP that the one directly behind the Emperor does look like it has a '2' in the centre...

[BeatTheBeat]

I think that we can honestly discard the "is it a 2" discussion, as unless you look at the digital version (that is - look in the book, people) you can actually see the whole number, leaving no doubts open as to whether it is a neck or something else. The entire number 2 is visible. So, let's leave that behind...

There are a whole lot of other arguments against the "lost legion" hypothesis though, including it being a company banner for some other Legion, and the non-roman character of the number itself, while the legions are almost always presented with roman numerals. The most likely candidate seems to be an Alpha Legion company banner, and therefore it would be nice to know exactly when they adopted the hydra heraldry and even when they were founded as a Legion.

As for the "we will never see a lost legion in fluff so this can't be it" argument, that's circular reasoning

Still, it's a vain hope and a far fetched idea, but it would be kind of cool if it really is an easter egg.

Cheers,
BTB

[FlashGordon]

I think that we can honestly discard the "is it a 2" discussion, as unless you look at the digital version (that is - look in the book, people) you can actually see the whole number, leaving no doubts open as to whether it is a neck or something else. The entire number 2 is visible. So, let's leave that behind...

There are a whole lot of other arguments against the "lost legion" hypothesis though, including it being a company banner for some other Legion, and the non-roman character of the number itself, while the legions are almost always presented with roman numerals. The most likely candidate seems to be an Alpha Legion company banner, and therefore it would be nice to know exactly when they adopted the hydra heraldry and even when they were founded as a Legion.

As for the "we will never see a lost legion in fluff so this can't be it" argument, that's circular reasoning

Still, it's a vain hope and a far fetched idea, but it would be kind of cool if it really is an easter egg.

Cheers,
BTB

The small thing in the middle looks like an 8 to me stylized with sharp edges. i cant se a "2" unless you mean the snakes squirming looking like a "2". I doubt a company banner/ squad banner would be that close to the emperor in a lineup like this. (?)

[BeatTheBeat]

FlashGordon, I think you are looking at the wrong banner. Check out the picture posted on page one of the thread, and then check that same picture in your rulebook as the digital version is a little blurry and doesn't clearly show the number. I also doubt there being a company banner this close though.

Cheers,
BTB

[baphomael]

I'd like to think its an Easter egg. May not be, but really it doesn't give us any more info on the 2nd legion if it is. The horus heresy novels tell us more than that banner does.

[Wazzahamma]

The theory lacks in-universe consistency. Legions I, 2, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, 11, XII...is a bit silly. If it is artistic "license", he's having a laugh.

[Navar]

Are legion banners even a thing?

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[agurus1]

looks like a two to me. I also think it would be a bit odd for a company banner to be that close to the emperor. the scene seems to depict the legions upon their original departure from Terra at the onset of the great crusade, no primarchs, only the emperor with his grand gesture towards the stars. it makes sense that the 2nd and 11th legions would be there.

[MooseOnTheLoose]

Too me it looks more like part of the Emperor's Children but we can't see the bottom portion and its not fully defined as its in the background of the photo. Alternatively I don't know of any source with pre heresy symbols for a few traitor legions, and "if" your eyes think they see some form of "dragon/snake head" which is really questionable anyways...
Thousand_Sons_sym.jpg

Potentially in some shape or way is that banner... either way interesting too surround him in all visible traitors lol

[Unclejo]

Why would the symbol of the second legion literally be a big number two? Are they called The Twosies or something? Seems that they were at the back of the line when Legion iconography was handed out. Everyone else gets mythological beasts or ancient greek letters etc etc and they get a euphemism for poop.

[BeatTheBeat]

Unclejo - Have you even looked at the banner? It is a number two within a circle, which is in turn surrounded by a bigger shape which looks to be a snake or dragon head.

I need to get a high res pic up so that the debating of the banner itself could get put to rest... It is pretty clear what it depicts, not so much what it means.

Cheers,
BTB

[Unclejo]

Unclejo - Have you even looked at the banner? It is a number two within a circle, which is in turn surrounded by a bigger shape which looks to be a snake or dragon head.

It actually looks more like an Alpha Legion serpent within a bigger serpent to me, or a really weird number 8, but I digress.

[BeatTheBeat]

Unclejo - Sorry if I came off as a rude, reading my post again I realise it sounds a bit so. I think it looks really clear, obviously that's not everybody's opinion and I'll have to get some (hopefully) convincing high res pictures up it seems.

Cheers,
BTB

[Chem-Dog]

Attachment 144985

Not really, the OP has a point, in my opinion...

Thanks Lupe, I'm away from my copy and this has piqued my interest.

The Emperor seems very windy compared to all of the banners in that picture...

There's something about Mary The Emperor of Mankind.

There's about a 0% chance of the 2nd or 11th Legions ever appearing in any fluff or art. If you ever think they might be, just go with the default answer that no, you're just mistaken and there must be another explanation.

It's obviously Trazyn replacing genuine articles with dodgy knock-offs, just after this picture he managed to snag himself a genuine baroque armoured screamer....

Why would the symbol of the second legion literally be a big number two? Are they called The Twosies or something? Seems that they were at the back of the line when Legion iconography was handed out. Everyone else gets mythological beasts or ancient greek letters etc etc and they get a euphemism for poop.

Yep, the Second Legion were know as the Poop Snakes, after some particularly vicious ribbing from Fulgrim, the Primarch Rage-quit, afterwards the Emperor and the others agreed not to talk about him as he was a butt-munch.


Anyway....
the 2 on the digital copy performs all sorts of magic eye tricks when one examines it, so I can't say yay or nay on it but it did occur to me that it might be a stylised Phoenix, symbolic of Fulgrim in person.

[Baraqiel]

The first thing I thought when I saw this was that it looks like a Celtic horse. Such as :

http://www.ma-shops.com/goudbeek/item.php5?id=3483