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Cressid - The 41st Millennium: In 801.M41, Watch Station Cressid was attacked by Human Renegades. A routine Deathwatch patrol identified these Renegades, and the battle-brothers saw to their elimination.Unfortunately, later reports have suggested that those Humans represented only a comparatively small portion of the Renegades who currently inhabit the planet. Continued monitoring by the watch station indicates that there may be a sizeable population still resident.Seismographic recordings from the watch station suggest that the Renegades arrived when a significant impact hit the planet's surface. Corroborating that data with recordings generated by its auger arrays suggest that the impact was generated when an Imperial cruiser crashed upon Cressid's surface.Nobody has been able to get a precise count of the survivors, but they are likely to number into the hundreds. The vessel could well to be one lost from the Achilus Crusade. As the watch station has recorded no distress calls from these survivors, they are presumed to be deserters who turned away from their responsibility to the Imperium.Crusade High Command routinely sends scout vessels out in search of any ships that have gone missing. While Cressid remains far from all three of the crusade's salients, it is present on Imperial charts. Presumably, crusade vessels are obligated to investigate it for signs of life as part of these routine investigations.The Deathwatch is aware of this protocol, but -- as they do not wish to have their watch station further disturbed -- they have taken no action to accelerate this process.These Renegades suffered significant losses in the aftermath of their attack upon the watch station, but a few survivors have gone missing under other mysterious circumstances as well. It is unclear if these deaths were due to exposure to Cressid's inhospitable climate or if there might be other threats present on the world.There are no confirmed reports of xenos activity, but there may be elements that could have escaped notice. The watch station has been scheduled for more regular visits, so that the Deathwatch may respond to any new threats in a timely fashion.
Cressid - Environment: Cressid orbits near the edge of its star's habitable range, and is a frigid world as a consequence. It also has a remarkably low amount of surface water, most of which is concentrated as ice in the planet's small polar caps. Most of the remainder of the planet is a windswept desert.Powerful cyclonic windstorms regularly sweep across these barren regions, dramatically shifting the planet's sand and exposing hidden portions of bedrock. Watch Station Cressid has recorded wind speeds in excess of 500 kilometres per hour, and they seldom drop beneath 100 kph.The powerful storms have worn the surface of the planet virtually flat; there are no mountains and very few hills of any note. This factor undoubtedly contributes to the severity of the storms, as there are few surface elements to break them up.The changing geography also makes surface navigation extremely challenging. The watch station is the only feature on the planet that Imperial forces can consistently locate because of its triggered vox response. Often, even it is buried beneath hundreds of metres of sand.Other landmarks on the planet are most easily located based upon their position relative to the watch station.The hostile conditions have left little opportunity for native life. Flora consists largely of fine scrub plants, which are as capable of growing while held aloft by the winds as they are when settled on Cressid's surface. During rare moments of calm, the plants settle to the ground and litter the surface of the endless desert.When the windstorms come, they are often blown and hurled by the sand. When the scrub becomes shredded by the storms, each part is capable of eventually growing into another plant. This adaptability has enabled them to become the world's dominant life forms.Confirmed reports on native animal life recount little more than a variety of slow-moving insect and other arthopod analogues, which dwell within the sand dunes. These feed upon the fragments of scrub as well as one another. In principle, they could threaten the reserves of any Humans, but they are extremely slow-moving and not known to swarm.Any stockpiled goods are far more likely to be lost to windstorm than they are to these small creatures. Visitors have little to fear from the predators -- a rare mercy, given how deadly the weather conditions can be.The planet's deep mines, however, represent a substantially different ecology from its surface. The environment remains absolutely frigid, but it is at least isolated from the scouring winds. Most of the passages were constructed millennia ago during the height of the Jericho Sector.Some of these interconnect with natural passages that are millions of Terran years old. A variety of fungal life forms have taken root within these regions, taking advantage of the comparatively favourable conditions, though even these must function with very limited amounts of water.Cressid's unusual concentration of heavy metals dictates that the fungus-like growths have a biochemistry that is extremely toxic to Humans. For Humans to survive, even within the mines, they must have some means to synthesise food that is not dependent upon local agriculture.Anecdotal reports suggest that there may be some larger fauna that dwell within the mine shafts. However, none of these reports are confirmed. This might represent a native life form that developed during a time when the world's surface had more favourable conditions or indicate that the planet's depths have a completely distinct ecology.Alternatively, due to the region's previous Human habitation, these might be descendants of some organism that Humanity inadvertently introduced during the mine construction.
Cressid - Culture: Even at the height of the Jericho Sector, Cressid was scarcely inhabited. Those who worked in the mines were brought from off-planet, as the costs of establishing a permanent colony were deemed irrecoverable.Most of the workers came as transfers from penal colonies. These poor wretches repaid their crimes against the Imperium by dying in the planet's depths.A few of the remaining immigrant workers consisted of more highly trained miners and administrators. These individuals travelled to the world under contractual terms. A few were lucky enough to even survive, fulfil their contract, and flee the planet.The only others were followers of the Machine Cult who oversaw the necessary development and ongoing maintenance of the planet's mine system.Even among these devotees, service upon Cressid was considered a chore, as the brutal winds left surface maintenance an endless and unrewarding task. Ultimately, none of these groups developed a significant culture and none left a legacy behind.An enclave of Imperial deserters from the crashed vessel Malleus Veritatis represents the only current Human habitation on Cressid. The community is not large, but over the past two solar decades it has become self-sustaining. This is largely due to the resources that survived their vessel's impact upon the world's surface.The light cruiser had a crew of thousands and was reasonably well provisioned for those numbers. It also had substantial capability for hydroponics growth as well as a corpse starch reclamation facility. The majority of these deserters continue to live aboard the ruined hulk, which is now often buried beneath the world's endless sands.As the watch station has not detected any transmissions from the craft, it is assumed that either the astropath and the vessel's vox systems were both damaged or the current residents would prefer to dwell upon the planet rather than return to active duty with the crusade.Under some weather conditions, Watch Station Cressid can detect transmissions from the internal vox systems on the ruined ship. Analysis of the recordings suggests that the deserters have divided into at least two factions, which are at war with one another. The reasons for this condition remain unclear but may simply be a consequence of their desperation.When Deathwatch Battle-Brother Skorsa eliminated the Renegades that attempted to attack Watch Station Cressid, his reports indicated that they were particularly well-equipped. Further studies of the armaments recovered indicated that they were standard-issue equipment for the regiments of the Scintillan Fusiliers regiments of the Imperial Guard.There was little indication that any of the equipment had been defaced, so at least those units may have maintained their loyalty to the Imperium.His report has not yet been passed on to the Achilus Crusade. In the intervening years, the survivors may not have been able to maintain their loyalties. Encounters between Imperial forces and these deserters might turn decidedly violent.
Cretacia - Cretacia: The planet of Cretacia is the Chapter Homeworld of the Flesh Tearers Space Marines. The world is teeming with violent saurian life, similar to the dinosaurs of prehistoric Terra, and the Flesh Tearers supposedly hunt these beasts unarmoured and weaponless as sport. The oversized world of Cretacia was the fourth planet in a star system of seven worlds, and at first approach it appeared to be uninhabitable. Finding Cretacia perpetually shrouded in dense clouds, the Flesh Tearers effected landings on the planet to discover what lay below. What the Space Marines discovered was a planet to rival any Death World known in the galaxy due to its lethality to human life.Cretacia was a world marked by a trackless landscape of dense jungles and steamy swamps that harboured many vicious reptilian, amphibious and insectoid forms of life. Many Space Marines were lost to these hostile creatures on the first day before effective perimeters could be established. Even so, patrols still reported casualties from insects as big as men with sharpened proboscises that could penetrate Power Armour, and huge reptilian predators, almost as large as Scout Titans, that ripped through entire squads. There were also herds of gigantic herbivores that could easily crush an unwary Space Marine with a single massive foot.
Cretacia - History: The Flesh Tearers Chapter was created in the 31st Millennium after the Primarch of the Ultramarines, Roboute Guilliman, who led the reformations sweeping the Imperium after the Horus Heresy, determined that all of the existing Space Marine Legions would be broken up into 1,000-man Chapters so that no single military commander could ever again wield the dangerous power of an entire Astartes Legion. This event is known as the Second Founding and the Flesh Tearers were one of the Chapters formed from the Blood Angels Legion, even as they continued to grieve for their fallen Primarch, Sanguinius, who had been slain by Horus at the climax of the Battle of Terra.When the Flesh Tearers Chapter was brought into being during the Second Founding, Captain Amit, the commander of the Blood Angels Legion's 5th Company, was chosen to be its first Chapter Master. Of all the IX Legion's captains, Amit's reputation – and that of his company –- was the most bloodthirsty. More than once, the 5th Company had been called to censure by Sanguinius for their zeal in pursuing enemy forces. It was not for nothing that the outspoken officer had earned the nickname "the Flesh Tearer," and rather than deny the epithet, he had made it his own. Amit had a predatory way about him, a sense of aggression barely held in check that was often unleashed in full many times on the field of battle throughout the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy. Like their commander, the Battle-Brothers of the 5th Company were known to bear Bolters and flaying knives in battle.After their official formation, the Flesh Tearers immediately left Terra to embark upon a new Imperial Crusade to eliminate Traitor forces still loyal to Horus as well as continuing to purge Chaotic infestations from Imperial worlds during the period known as the Great Scouring. The Flesh Tearers were assigned the Battle-Barge Victus from their former Legion, which served as their mobile fortress-monastery for the next three thousand standard years. The Flesh Tearers' initial Crusade eventually led them deep into the western reaches of the galaxy. It only ended when the Chapter discovered an isolated Death World, which they named Cretacia. The newly discovered world was marked by a trackless landscape of dense jungles and steamy swamps that harboured many vicious reptilian, amphibious and insectoid forms of life. Many Space Marines were lost to these hostile creatures on the first day before effective perimeters could be established. Even so, patrols still reported casualties from insects as big as men with sharpened proboscises that could penetrate Power Armour, and huge reptilian predators, almost as large as Scout Titans, that ripped through entire squads. There were also herds of gigantic herbivores that could easily crush an unwary Space Marine with a single massive foot.The Flesh Tearers fought back against these immense creatures. Squads were engaged in hunts to cull as many of the native monsters as possible, ostensibly to clear more landing areas, though garrulous Imperial savants now speculate that these hunts were for no other reason than to satiate the Flesh Tearers' lust for death. As the patrol squads ranged further through the jungles and swamps, incredibly, they discovered the existence of human settlements.The people of Cretacia were apparently descended from some long-lost human colony that had settled the planet millennia before during the Dark Age of Technology, but had since devolved into an extremely primitive state. Lacking all but the most rudimentary aspects of a language, these primordial humans had somehow managed to not only adapt to living amongst the titanic monsters that roamed Cretacia, but to actually thrive in the planet's hostile environment. They proved to be incredibly strong and had developed superior reflexes compared to baseline humans to compensate for their more limited intellects, giving rise to a mutant subrace of Mankind that was fierce enough to defend itself against the largest of the creatures that preyed upon them.The Flesh Tearers promptly rounded up hundreds of the ferocious humans and the Chaplains and Sanguinary Priests of the Chapter set to work, testing their minds and bodies in soul-destroying trials to determine if there was any evidence of corruption caused by their long isolation from the rest of humanity. Though extremely backward and primitive, the Flesh Tearers ultimately deemed them free of deviancy.Chapter Master Amit of the Flesh Tearers saw the value of Cretacia. The inhospitable terrain and deadly creatures provided an ideal testing ground for his troops, whilst the primitive humans already inhabiting the world could easily be moulded into potential Battle-Brothers. Declaring the world now belonged to the Imperium by the right of conquest, Amit founded a permanent home for his Flesh Tearers.
Crimson Accord of Mars - Crimson Accord of Mars: The Crimson Accord of Mars, also known simply as the Crimson Accords, are one of the cornerstones of doctrinal law of the Adeptus Mechanicus. They were first promulgated during the foundation of the ancient Mechanicum on Mars in the midst of the Age of Strife, and forever forbade the creation of the abominable and soulless artificial general intelligence known as the Silica Animus and required the destruction of any still existing.The Accords pronounced a death sentence on any Magos or mortal who would seek to create them anew. These accords, however, allowed the survival and creation of the "lesser and righteous works" of synthetic life deemed sacred, such as the Bestia Mechanica and their kindred, and of those robotic engines designed for warfare and slaughter.These included the Battle-Automata of the newly-founded Legio Cybernetica. When the wars of the Horus Heresy came, the independent nature of the Legio Cybernetica 's robotic Cohorts ensured that, as a whole, they sided in particular neither with Loyalists or Traitors, but were split in many cases between masters they had long fought for.Other Cohorts, mindful of their oaths of loyalty to the Emperor and fearful of a descent into anarchy, saw the Traitors as base Renegades to be destroyed, while others harboured ambitions to be free of the Crimson Accords, and saw Horus' war as a chance to pursue long-forbidden rites and technologies.
Crimson Axes - Crimson Axes: The Crimson Axes were a Loyalist Space Marines Chapter that was a Successor Chapter of the brutal Executioners Chapter and was created during an unknown Founding. There is very little information in official Imperial records about this obscure Chapter other than it was reported lost circa 092.M39. Circumstances unknown.
Crimson Axes - Chapter Colours: The Crimson Axes Chapter colours are not listed in current Imperial records.
Crimson Axes - Chapter Badge: The Crimson Axes Chapter badge is not listed in current Imperial records.
Crimson Castellans - Crimson Castellans: The Crimson Castellans was a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter of unknown origins and Founding. The Crimson Castelans became embroiled in a civil war between the members of their own Chapter after a portion of their brotherhood turned to Chaos.However, the Chapter, both Loyalist and Renegade factions, was largely destroyed in 993.M41, when the Tyranid Hive Fleet Jormungandr unexpectedly descended upon the world of Sephrax where the Loyalists were battling their Renegade brethren.The Chapter's homeworld of Vorl Secunda was subsequently abandoned due to the outbreak of a mysterious illness known as the Grey Phage, forcing the Crimson Castellans to become a fleet-based Chapter.Later, the Loyalists of the Chapter were forced to defend the world of Ector in the Valedan System during their decennial recruitment ritual from a simultaneous assault of a splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Kraken and the main body of Hive Fleet Leviathan.It is unknown at the present time whether the Chapter still exists in some form in the wake of the conflict on Ector.
Crimson Castellans - Hive Fleet Jormungadr: In 993.M41, a portion of the Crimson Castellans was somehow corrupted by Chaos and turned Renegade, becoming a piratical warband of Chaos Space Marines. The Loyalist Castellans hunted their corrupted brethren down on the Hive World of Sephrax.But while they were engaged in battle, the Tyranid Hive Fleet Jormungandr unexpectedly descended upon the world and forced both sides to lay down their animosity to defend themselves against the swarms of bloodthirsty Tyranids that threatened to destroy the world and both groups of Astartes.However, the Hive Fleet's sheer numbers soon overwhelmed all the combatants. The Crimson Castellans Chapter Master Sojai Antiro died in the bowels of the underhive of Hoventa Hive alongside his 1st Company Veterans, growling his defiance with his last breath even as Tyranid Raveners encircled him and tore him to bloody shreds.The Renegade Crimson Castellans' leader, the pirate and self-styled "Arch-Commodore" Bloodspite, fled with the remainder of his forces to the lair he had established in an asteroid in orbit of Sephrax. But the asteroid and its defenders were ultimately swallowed by a Hive Ship of truly enormous size. The Crimson Castellans' Chapter homeworld of Vorl Secunda was abandoned shortly thereafter, following the outbreak of a mysterious affliction known as the Grey Phage.
Crimson Castellans - Defence of Ector: There have been times when the starfaring Tyranid bio-fleets have fallen afoul of Warp Storms, never to appear again. The splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Kraken that was sent head-long into the Empyrean by the Aeldari Seers of Craftworld Iyanden had an even stranger fate.Its bio-ships later emerged from a dimensional rift into the Valedan System (known to the Aeldari as the Dûrien System), deep in the Segmentum Solar. The splinter fleet had crossed the span of the galaxy in a matter of standard years. Worse still, it had emerged right in the path of Hive Fleet Leviathan. At this time, the Crimson Castellan Space Marines were conducting their Landing of the XIV Ascension upon the Hive World of Ector.This was the Chapter's recruitment rite, which tradition and obligation demanded they undertake across five selection worlds every ten standard years. Yet, in the midst of this important event, Valendan's Astropath Prime Hostor Mazurn detected the first signs of the Shadow in the Warp. The coming of a Tyranid Hive Fleet is preceded by a smothering psychic signal that envelops entire star systems and disrupts all forms of Warp travel and communication.This disruption heralded the imminent invasion and horror that was about to confront the Valedan System. It was suspected by the Crimson Castellans that this Hive Fleet was in fact a branch of Hive Fleet Leviathan. It would enter the system periphery within a solar week. They plotted its course as best they could, and believed it would fall first upon the world of Daea, then Megus, Valedor and Ector in turn.Regrettably, the Crimson Castellans knew that the star system was already lost. They could not hope to hold the Tyranids in space, for there were too few warships in the system to mount a workable counteroffensive. There was also no time to gather sufficient reinforcements to repel them. Informing the world's Planetary Governor of their findings, they prepared for the inevitable destruction of all life and consumption of the planet's biomass.At most, the best the Crimson Castellans could do, was lay their defences and attempt to hold back the Tyranid onslaught to evacuate as much of the population as time and resources allowed. Only seven hundred thousand out of a population of forty billion people could be saved. All Imperial servants of the higher orders were to be saved. The remainder were drawn from the women and children only, no exceptions.This was done by a random lottery, allowing everyone an equal chance, or else the planet's population would be killing one another before the xenos arrived. To compound matters, it was brought to the attention of Brother-Sergeant Yoth, the Commander of the Crimson Castle of Ector by local Adeptus Arbites authorities that there was possible xenos bioforms sightings in the deepest reaches of the underhive.Taking the threat seriously, Brother-Sergeant Yoth and Senior Enforcer Schreck were led into the dank depths of the underhive by a pair of failed Neophytes. Guiding the two Imperials into the tenebrous depths, they encountered a Lictor, a Tyranid scout bioform, which brutally slew the Enforcer and nearly killed Schreck. Fortunately for the humans, they received assistance from an unexpected arrival. A small cadre of Aeldari warriors slew the Lictor with their advanced Shuriken Weapons.The leader of the Aeldari introduced himself as Isarion the Dispossed, an agent of the Hand (Asurmen, the Hand of Asuryan, the so-called Phoenix King, and most powerful deity of the Aeldari pantheon). He explained that he had no quarrel with the humans, and the Aeldari were on the planet to help fight against their common foe. The Crimson Castellans were known to be highly xenophobic, and Brother-Sergeant Yoth was quite wary of trusting anything that the Aeldari had to say. After making his explanations, Isarion and his warriors disappeared as mysteriously as they had arrived.While the Crimson Castellans and the inhabitants of the world prepared their defences as best as they could, Astropath Prime Mazurn detected the presence of another Hive Fleet en route towards Ector, the leading edge of the splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Kraken that had arrived in the system through a dimensional rift. There was little time to redeploy the world's defence grid, for much of the planet's orbital weaponry had been moved to the sunward side of the planet, which was the expected approach vector of Hive Fleet Leviathan.Against the Kraken, coming from the other side of the world, Ector's depleted defensive stations and war satellites held but briefly before collapsing. The Kraken soon enveloped the world of Ector like a hand, as multiple tendrils encircled the globe. By this time, Brother-Sergeant Yoth reported the findings of his exploration of the underhive to Brother-Captain Raankin, explaining that they had encountered a Lictor, but the beast had been slain. He also informed the Space Marine Captain of his encounter with the Aeldari.Yoth vowed to hunt down the notoriously devious xenos and wring the truth of their true purpose from their scrawny necks himself. Informing Yoth of a second Hive Fleet that was rapidly approaching the planet, Raankin countermanded Yoth's desires and ordered him back to the surface. Now was the time when the Crimson Castellans would test their mettle against the Great Devourer.The scouring of the northern pole by the Tyranids took five solar hours. After this, there was no living thing larger than a snow hyrax above the planet's fiftieth parallel. The few human installation were overrun, the fires of their demise glittering upon the carapaces of a billion Tyranid creatures. With one purpose, the Great Devourer turned south. By the ninth evening of the battle, the forces of the Kraken came upon Hive Valentis, the Ice Spire, the most northerly of all Ector's city-peaks, and the smallest.The lottery for the refugees fleeing the doomed planet was over. Those not chosen to flee their homeworld were ready to fight, propaganda broadcasts booming out of city-wide Voxes constantly, extolling their duty to the Emperor and to instill devotion to their purpose. All would fight or else all would die. At the Fire Control Center of Valentis Hive, Brother Karsikon made ready the hive city's numerous artillery and heavy weaponry emplacements. When the chitinous horde of the Tyranid swarm made their rapid approach towards the hive city, Karsikon ordered the bombardment of the swarm.For two solar hours the guns rained a hellish barrage down upon the Tyranids. Ceasing fire after the third hour of the bombardment, Karsikon wished to see what it had accomplished. The first wave of bioforms had been utterly destroyed. But there would be others.Seven solar weeks passed and the Crimson Castellans' vigilance did not cease. After the first attack they had been expecting the Tyranids to mass immediately for a second, larger assault. From what Brother-Captain Raankin said, their tactics were unsubtle but brutal. Karsikon was disturbed by this. It was at this time that he discovered the reason for xenos' delay. Multiple contacts were detected approaching the Crimson Castellans' position. The enemy was now at elevation.This new wave of Tyranids was on the Space Marines and their allies in only minutes after their detection, streaking through the cold dawn of Ector. This Tyranid horde was composed of bioforms all outfitted with wings. Some were truly exceptional in size, Harridans with broods of Gargoyles clustered at their bellies. The Tyranids were testing their defences. This was the true attack. The Defence Lasers lit the swarm red, scores of searing energy beams striking lines of Tyranids burning from the sky. But the horde moved very fast, far faster than the terrestrial creatures that had composed the first onslaught.Tens of thousands were slaughtered, but the creatures did not falter. They closed the range quickly. Shortly after, the screams began as the hideous chittering swarm assailed the ramparts of Valentis. Informing Brother-Captain Raankin of the hive's dire status, before signing off, Karsakon communicated his intentions to die a glorious death. Grimly, Raankin wished Brother Karsakon to meet the Emperor with honour. Within only hours Hive City Valentis fell, and all the remaining hive cities of Ector fell to the Great Devourer only a few solar days later.With the help of Isarion and his Aeldari cadre, Chaplain Gorth, Brother-Sergeant Yoth and the two failed Neophytes, a handful of Crimson Castellans managed to make good their escape from the doomed world aboard a Thunderhawk gunship. The Aeldari soon disappeared (presumably through a Webway portal) as mysteriously as they had come.The Crimson Castellans also managed to evacuate the majority of their Chapter Serfs and human auxilia. But despite the Castellans' heroic efforts, the world of Ector had fallen to the Tyranids, another casualty in the seemingly endless war of Mankind against the Great Devourer.
Crimson Castellans - Chapter Combat Doctrine: The Crimson Castellans are masters of defensive warfare. They play to their strengths, as all wise warriors must. During the defence of the Valedan System from a splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Leviathan, they focused all their efforts on devising ranged kill patterns far superior to any that could be conceived by the mortal men of the Imperial Guard. Their efforts, largely focused on ambush tactics that assured an extremely high kill ratio, in which every Astartes traded his life for hundreds, if not thousands, of Tyranid bioforms.Though the indigenous Imperial forces thought, at first, that the Crimson Castellans were cowards for hiding rather than facing the foe head-on as they had done, their opinions quickly altered once they witnessed the devastation wreaked upon the foe by their Astartes defenders.Even so, the Planetary Defence Forces of the Valedan System lived longer than could be expected in the face of such an implacable foe through the aid of their Astartes allies. The time for meeting the Tyranids in savage melee eventually came, but not before the Crimson Castellans had rebalanced the scales a little in their favour through the use of such defensive-minded tactics.
Crimson Castellans - Chapter Recruitment: The Crimson Castellans were recruited from many different worlds, ever since the Grey Phage laid waste to their homeworld of Vorl Secunda and forced the Chapter into space. The Landing of the Ascension was the name given to the recruitment rite of the Crimson Castellans Chapter by its Space Marines.Tradition and obligation demanded they undertake five selections every ten standard years. If the Chapter failed to gather enough worthy Aspirants on one world, they would move on to the next world, and then the next, until they had recruited sufficient Aspirants, but only when the Reclusiarch or the Chapter's Master of Recruits decreed that their quota could not be fulfilled.As a spacefaring Chapter, this right was carried out on a number of vassal worlds within the Valedan System. During the final process of selection of potential novitiates, all mortal onlookers were to remain silent as the Crimson Castellans demanded; no congratulation or cheer would be offered until the final selection was made, on pain of death. Not for their Chapter the picking of an individual here, another there.They considered the quality of brotherhood above all others, and looked for it amongst their chosen. The Crimson Castellans believed that those who did not save a comrade were serving themselves. Men who fought as one so that none fell served all. The Crimson Castellans prized loyalty and solidarity above all other qualities.On every world the Crimson Castellans deigned to garrison there was a Crimson Castle. For long stretches of years the castles were mostly empty, as the Crimson Castellans were wont to spread their brothers and their men-at-arms across the worlds they protected. Often times, these garrisons contained only twenty or so Battle-Brothers along with their human servants. Higher-ranking Chapter Serfs ate with the brethren, at the same table, for such was the way of the Chapter.All endured simple fare as the rule of the Crimson Castellans demanded, protein-laced mulch of high nutritious value and little taste. Their singular luxury was their wine, which they drank from plain granite goblets. Many Chapters sought perfection outside of war in one way or another; however, the Crimson Castellans chose to be vintners, viticulturists and oenologists. They did little else.Following their selection, the prospective Aspirants would be brought forwards to the great hall to undergo the initiation ritual and become Neophytes, and to get their first taste of the grapes of the Chapter's sacred vine. This ritual consisted of the Aspirants being fed gallons of wine laced with pseudo-hormones that would catalyse their transformation into Space Marines by activating their gene-seed.
Crimson Castellans - Chapter Gene-Seed: Recruited from many worlds, each Crimson Castellan Battle-Brother bears the look of his native planet, but each was also in likeness to his brothers: tall and powerful, a giant among ordinary men. But it was in the eyes that their kinship was most apparent.These brothers born of a dozen star systems had eyes that were all the same: yellow, the colour of morning sunlight streaming through good, pale wine. Many mortals never noticed the other physical differences. The eyes were what people remembered of the Crimson Castellans. This Chapter is also noted for being highly xenophoboic.
Crimson Castellans - Notable Crimson Castellans: Chapter Master Caroman - Current Chapter Master of the Crimson Castellans.Chapter Master Sojai Antiro - Previous Chapter Master of the Crimson Castellans, Sojai Antiro died in the bowels of the underhive of Hoventa Hive on the Hive World of Sepherax while engaging Renegade elements of his Chapter. But while the Crimson Castellans were engaged in battle, the Tyranid Hive Fleet Jormungandr unexpectedly descended upon the world and forced both sides to lay down their animosity to defend themselves. Antiro died fighting alongside his 1st Company Veterans, growling his defiance with his last breath even as Tyranid Raveners encircled him and tore him to bloody shreds.Reclusiarch Gorth - Reclusiarch of the Crimson Castellans and overseer of the Chapter's recruitment process. Gorth was a grim character, short-tempered and dour, but possessed of a hidden love of coincidence and portent that could, on occasion, verge on the ironic.Captain Raankin - Master of Recruits of the Crimson Castellans Chapter, Captain of the 10th Company and Holder of the Key of the Ebon Tower. Of them all, it was Raankin who bore the most responsibility in the choosing of potential recruits. Raankin died during the defence of Ector from the onslaught of the Tyranid invasion.Sergeant Yoth - Commander of the Crimson Castle of Ector. He was one of only a handful of survivors of the Tyranid onslaught on Ector.Sergeant Philodon - Standard Bearer of the garrison banner of the Crimson Castle of Ector. Unlike his brethren, his crimson armour was mostly hidden beneath a white and gold surplice and hood. Tradition demanded it be so, and so it was.Andruk - Brother Andruk served the Crimson Castellans for over six decades before answering the call of the Deathwatch and taking his Apocryphon Oath at Watch Fortress Erioch. It is well that Andruk departed his parent Chapter when he did, for him and for the Deathwatch both, for the Crimson Castellans appear to have changed drastically since the Battle-Brother's days, becoming something he would barely recognise eighteen years later when, having discharged his first oath, he returned to its home world of Vorl Secundus. Andruk never once spoke of what transpired upon his first return to his parent Chapter, but whatever it was, he was soon back at Watch Fortress Erioch making his second Apocryphon Oath. Brother Andruk was known as a dour and taciturn individual, in many ways at odds with the demeanours of his Battle-Brothers in the Lux Veritatis. Some hold, however, that such a balance of natures was necessary and presented one of the main components that made the Kill-team as successful as it was. Andruk rarely spoke, even when directly addressed, yet when he did, his words cut straight to the heart of whatever was being discussed. His wisdom was much sought after, though he never explained how he had come into the often highly esoteric knowledge he seemed to have amassed over the years. Though he was not possessed of the powers of the psyker, Brother Andruk spent time with the Librarians of the Deathwatch and was known to have provided sage counsel to the incumbents of the Tower of Brass on several occasions. What knowledge a Space Marine might have that would cause an Inquisitor to seek him out remains but one of the countless mysteries that surround the Lux Veritatis.
Crimson Castellans - Chapter Colours: The Crimson Castellans primarily wore crimson power armour. The power pack was black. The Aquila or Imperialis on the chest was silver.The black squad specialty symbol -- battleline, close support, fire support, Veteran or command -- was indicated on the right shoulder plate.A white High Gothic numeral centred on the squad specialty symbol indicated squad number.The colour of the shoulder plate trim indicated company number in accordance with the Codex Astartes -- i.e. white (1st Company), yellow (2nd Company), red (3rd Company), etc.
Crimson Castellans - Chapter Badge: The Crimson Castellans' Chapter badge was an ebony castle tower, with a large, white human skull centred over it upon a field of crimson.
Crimson Castellans - Sources: Adeptus Astartes: Successor Chapters (Limited Release Booklet), pg. 25Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 30Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition), pp. 27, 30Deathwatch: The Emperor's Chosen (RPG), pg. 70The Last Days of Ector (Novella) by Guy Haley
Crimson Consuls - Crimson Consuls: Crimson ConsulsCodex AstartesSpace MarineChapterFoundingUltramarinesAlpha LegionChaos Space MarinesAlphariusOmegonThe Alpha Legion had targeted the Crimson Consuls for destruction so that their gene-seed stocks could be delivered to Abaddon the Despoiler and the Black Legion to help that Traitor Legion replenish its ranks before the unleashing of the 13th Black Crusade. The Crimson Consuls were based on the ice-covered Hive World of Carcharias in the fortress-monastery known as the Slaughterhorn, which lay at the peak of the world's capital hive city of Niveous.
Crimson Consuls - Chapter History: The Crimson Consuls were destroyed as a Chapter through a series of intrigues and deceptions arranged by an Alpha Legion Chaos Lord claiming to be the Primarch Alpharius. The entire elite 1st Company of the Chapter was destroyed during their assault upon the Ork-controlled Space Hulk Revenant Rex. The 1st Company was destroyed when they teleported into the conglomerate starship's Enginarium space to prevent the Space Hulk from escaping into the Warp by destroying its Warp-Drive.But the Warp-Drive had already been sabotaged by the Alpha Legion, and the Space Hulk's Warp-Drive imploded, destroying the vessel in a cascading Warp rift as well as the 1st Company and every single one of the Crimson Consuls' irreplaceable suits of Terminator Armour.Two further companies of the Chapter were destroyed on the Forge World of Phaethon IV when they were required to garrison this planet after the Celebrants Chapter was unable to meet its commitments. However, this transfer order had actually been given by Alpharius, masquerading as the Imperial Segmentum Command.Phaethon IV had the misfortune of bordering the Despot Stars and had long been coveted by Dregz Wuzghal, Arch-Mogul of Gunza Major. The Crimson Consuls soon found themselves placed in the way of the massive Ork WAAAGH! Wuzghal. While the Crimson Consuls nearly stopped the Greenskins' assault in their tracks, the fighting awakened the long dormant Necrons who had lain slumbering beneath the surface of Phaethon IV for aeons. Phaeton IV was in fact a Necron Tomb World. The two highly-decorated companies of Crimson Consuls as well as the Orks were utterly annihilated by the undying horrors.The 3rd and 5th Companies of the Chapter had been engaged in the Damocles Gulf Crusade against the Tau Empire in the Ultima Segmentum and were wiped out decades before while seeking to hunt down the Tau Commander O'Shovah, but Alpharius had arranged for falsified astropathic reports to be continually sent to their Chapter homeworld of Carcharias so that the Crimson Consuls would not learn of the loss. The Chapter's 8th Company was destroyed by the Alpha Legion while hunting a warband of Black Legion Traitor Marines near Carcharias in the Sarcus Reaches.By this point, the Crimson Consuls' Chapter Master Elias Artegall realised that the Chapter was coming under some form of assault. He ordered the Chapter's fortress-monastery, the Slaughterhorn, to be secured and fortified for an outside attack. But within moments of the order being given, the Crimson Consuls' remaining Battle-Brothers unexpectedly turned their Bolters upon one another. Artegall and his remaining officers, unaffected by their fellow Astartes' strange, trance-like killing frenzy, fought their way through the chaos of the internecine battles to reach the Slaughterhorn's heart, its Tactical Chancellorium.To their surprise, they discovered it was already occupied by a contingent of Chaos Space Marines from the Black Legion who were led by an Alpha Legion officer who claimed to be the Primarch Alpharius, though the truthfulness of this claim remains unknown. "Alpharius" explained that in the fashion of the Alpha Legion, he had worked for solar decades to lay a series of traps and intrigues intended to destroy the Crimson Consuls so that he might hand over their precious gene-seed stores to Abaddon the Despoiler and his Black Legion to replenish their ranks before the unleashing of the 13th Black Crusade.Alpharius revealed that he had gotten the Crimson Consuls to turn upon one another by psycho-indoctrinating all of the Chapter's recruits before they were ever even Aspirants by lacing the walls of the underhives of Charcharias' hive cities with psycho-sensitive graffiti. These carefully-crafted phrases slowly over time transformed the Crimson Consuls' recruits into walking psychotics who only required a single command word to be detonated as living weapons. Since the Crimson Consuls only recruited their new Astartes from the gangers and barbarians of the underhives on Carcharias, every Aspirant they chose was already corrupted before the first gene-seed organ was implanted.Only the officers, many of whom had been with the Chapter for many standard centuries, had been recruited before the Alpha Legion's insidious trap had been laid. Artegall managed to break free from the closing jaws of the trap and fled to his personal Armoury only to discover that his Bolter had been taken by Baldwin, his Chamber Castellan, a Chapter Serf recruited from the underhives, who shot his master in the head, eliminating the last of the Crimson Consuls. The Forces of Chaos won a great victory that day over the servants of the Emperor.
Crimson Consuls - Chapter Homeworld: Carcharias is an Imperial Hive World, though this bleak planet's extreme cold temperatures, vast glacier fields and frozen wastelands make it closer in approximation to an Ice World. The Crimson Consuls fortress-monastery, known locally as the Slaughterhorn, formed the largest spirepeak of Hive Niveous, the Carcharian capital city.
Crimson Consuls - Chapter Recruitment: Beneath the Slaughterhorn lay a lightless labyrinth of tunnels, cave systems and caverns that threaded their way through the pulverised rock and rust of the original hive city. Thousands of stories worth of spires and edifice had been erected on top of the ancient structures, crushing them into the bottomless network of grottoes from which the Crimson Consuls procured their most savage potential recruits. Far below the indifference of the aristocratic class and the habitat and industrial districts of the impoverished masses of the lower hive lay the gang savagery of the underhive.Below even this level of outlaws and brutal hive-gangers, lay a vast network of catacombs inhabited by feral tribes. Here, young Carcharian bodies were crafted by necessity: shaped by circumstance into small mountains of muscle and sinew. Minds were sharpened to keenness by animal instinct and souls remained empty and pure -- perfect for cult indoctrination and the teachings of Roboute Guilliman.The threats of these catacombs were very real, for even the full-fledged Battle-Brothers that ventured into the tunnels of the cave systems during recruitment sweeps maintained a healthy respect for the untamed dangers of the place. Not only would these barbarous brutes dash out their brains for the rich marrow in intruders' bones, their degenerate brothers shared their dark kingdom with Abhumans, mutants and wyrds, driven from the upper levels of the hive for the unsightly danger they posed.On the planet's surface lay Archaphrael Hive which made up a triumvirate of hive cities called the "Pale Maidens" that stood like ancient monuments to the fickle nature of Carcharias' extreme weather and fierce polar cyclones. A thousand years earlier the three cities had been devastated by a freak polar cyclone colloquially referred to by the hivers as "The Big One."The ghost hives later served as an impromptu training ground for the Crimson Consuls. The region surrounding Archaphrael Hive was referred to as the "Dry-Blind"; so-named because of the ghostly vapour created from the rime of frozen carbon dioxide that bled into the atmosphere a white swirl of blinding mist in all directions. This vapour hid the true lethality of the surface, as a maze of bottomless crevasses, fissures and fractures riddled the ice beneath. The Dry-Blind was extremely dangerous to travel over, as the crevasses were covered by a layer of soft snow that could disguise their existence. The danger of falling into the great cracks in the ice to one's death is real and ever-present.As a test of their worth and spirit, the Crimson Consuls' Scout Marines were forced to train in the harsh environment of their bleak planet, establishing and holding ambush positions within the bowels of the ghostly hive with their sniper rifles in the deep Carcharian freeze for three solar days. The Scouts would be bombarded endlessly with remembered readings from the Codex Astartes, faith instruction and training rhetoric across the open channels of the Vox.As an added challenge the Scout Marines often faced packs of fang-face shredders. These deadly creatures roamed the Dry-Blind, making the environment an even more perilous prospect. The shredders were dangerous and ravenous, having perfectly adapted to their icy environment. They possessed razor-edged talons and needle-like fangs and were able to fracture the ice shelf itself. Their bodies were carried close to the ground and were flat, enabling them to slide downhill and toboggan after their prey.
Crimson Consuls - Chapter Beliefs: The Crimson Consuls were not given to competitive rivalry. The Astartes of this Chapter did not desire success because others had failed. For them, serving at the pleasure of the Emperor was not a tournament spectacle, nor was the slaying of the enemies of Mankind an opportunistic arena.They were not a rash Chapter for they believed that to spill the precious commodity of Astartes' blood required them to carefully pick and choose their battles, spilling it wisely. For it was a Space Marine Chapter's prerogative to choose whether or not it fought. Not for the Crimson Consuls were the glory-seeking ways of other Chapters. The Crimson Consuls were staunch followers of the Codex Astartes. Within the pages penned by their Primarch Guilliman lay the wisdom of generations of those Astartes who had come before them. They put their trust in that accumulated skill and experience.
Crimson Consuls - Notable Crimson Consuls: Chapter Master Elias Artegall - The last Chapter Master of the Crimson Consuls.High Chaplain Enobarbus - The last High Chaplain and Reclusiarch of the Crimson Consuls.Lord Apothecary Fabian - The last Lord Apothecary of the Crimson Consuls.Chief Librarian Navarre - The last Chief Librarian of the Crimson Consuls.Master of the Fleet Hecton Lambert - The last Master of the Fleet of the Crimson Consuls.Master of the Forge Maximagne Ferro - The last Crimson Consuls' Master of the Forge.Master of Ordnance Talbot Fauks - The last Crimson Consuls' Master of Ordnance.Captain Bolinvar - Captain of the 1st Company.Captain BaptistaTechmarine Hereward - Techmarine of the 1st Company.Chaplain MercimundLexicanium Raughan StellanSergeant NotusScout-Sergeant Caradoc - Scout-Sergeant of the 10th Company.
Crimson Consuls - Chapter Fleet: The Crimson Consuls' Chapter fleet was known to have possessed the following vessels:Crimson Tithe (Battle Barge)Incarnadine Ecliptic (Battle Barge)Anno Tenebris (Strike Cruiser)Herald Angel (Frigate)
Crimson Consuls - Chapter Colours: The Crimson Consuls' were known to paint their Power Armour cream and crimson.
Crimson Consuls - Chapter Badge: The Crimson Consuls' Chapter badge is unknown in current Imperial records.
Crimson Fists - Crimson Fists: The Crimson Fists is a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter and a Second Founding Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists Legion. The Crimson Fists until recently was a Chapter on the edge of extinction, its fortress-monastery destroyed and its numbers all but annihilated when the Ork WAAAGH! Snagrod descended on the Loki Sector of Segmentum Tempestus and its Chapter homeworld of Rynn's World in 989.M41.Yet the Crimson Fists fought on, bearing the blows of a cruel fate with a stoicism that has become legend across the Imperium.Even amongst the elite ranks of the Space Marines, the remaining Crimson Fists are held as warriors without peer, forged in the fire of the most terrible and hopeless battles.As one would expect of successors to the Imperial Fists, the Crimson Fists are steadfast and stubborn warriors, reluctant to yield so long as victory is possible. Nonetheless, the Chapter's brush with annihilation has tempered this ardour with grim reality.The Crimson Fists' future lies with a handful of Space Marines, their lives to be expended for greater rewards than the salving of personal pride. Now the battle-brothers of the Crimson Fists fight for more than the Emperor of Mankind, more than honour and renown. They fight so that their Chapter may survive, and one day regain its former glories.Though they originated as a fleet-based Chapter, the Crimson Fists have become well-established as defenders of the Loki Sector. There are countless Ork empires active in the region, which represent an ever-present threat to the Imperium's interests.Over time, the Crimson Fists have become particularly adept at combating these savage xenos, though they have also engaged in countless battles against a broad spectrum of opponents across the span of the galaxy.As successors of the Imperial Fists, they proudly maintain the legacy of Rogal Dorn while also holding true to the teachings of the Codex Astartes.In recent years, the Chapter has suffered severe losses following the Battle of Rynn's World at the hands of the Greenskins of WAAAGH! Snagrod and the subsequent massive daemonic incursions during the Warp Storms that followed the formation of the Great Rift in 999.M41.The Crimson Fists found themselves clinging precariously close to existence. The Crimson Fists were successful in halting this incursion, though their stubbornness in the face of overwhelming odds cost them greatly.When the forces of the Indomitus Crusade entered orbit above Rynn's World, they brought more than just reinforcements to the Crimson Fists -- they brought a future and not a small degree of hope. From Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl's freighter-hulk Zar-Quaesitor, a new generation of Crimson Fists -- the Primaris Space Marines -- joined the fray.Their strength renewed, the Crimson Fists now fight to overthrow xenos despots and tyrants.
Crimson Fists - Foundation and Crusades: In the aftermath of the tragic conflict known as the Horus Heresy, Roboute Guilliman, the primarch of the Ultramarines Legion, penned his sacred manual of warfare, the Codex Astartes. With the creation of this tome, Guilliman demanded that his brothers accept his example by dividing their own Space Marine Legions into 1,000-member Space Marine Chapters so that no single commander could ever control the power of an entire Astartes Legion again.Initially, Primarch Rogal Dorn of the Imperial Fists Legion was opposed to such a notion. He argued that more than ever before, it was crucial for his Space Marines to remain as a consolidated Legion so that they could continue to work closely together in order to protect the Imperium from the remnants of the Traitor Legions.This issue became an increasingly critical point of contention between the two primarchs, as their arguments grew in intensity. Ultimately, following the events known as the Iron Cage, Dorn eventually relented, choosing to concede to Guilliman's demands and allow the surviving Astartes of his Legion to be divided into three Chapters. Two of the Chapters formed from the Imperial Fists Legion were the Black Templars and the Crimson Fists.The Crimson Fists Chapter's members were selected by Dorn from those Astartes who had been most recently initiated into the VII Legion, with the exception of its leaders, who were all Veterans. The newly founded Chapter's first Chapter Master was Alexis Polux, a battle-brother who had won the primarch's respect countless times.Known as much for his massive physical size and prowess as his leadership and tactical expertise, Polux led the Crimson Fists for the first 800 standard years of their existence. During this time, he did much to shape their interpretation of the Codex Astartes and their combat doctrines.The Crimson Fists were a crusading fleet-based Chapter for the next nine Terran millennia much like their brother Chapter the Black Templars. The Crimson Fists travelled throughout the Imperium, defeating the enemies of the Emperor. Their Battle Barge Rutilus Tyrannus served as their mobile fortress-monastery, though a large fleet of additional Strike Cruisers supported it.Across the ages, the Crimson Fists built a reputation of loyal service and utter competency in the fight against any who would oppose the Imperium of Man. Much of their activity was focused within the Loki Sector of the Segmentum Tempestus, but this was not the only region of the galaxy in which they defended the realm of the Emperor.No matter the nature of the foe, this Chapter remained loyal to the Imperium and its sacred cause, answering the calls of both the Inquisition and the Adeptus Administratum throughout its long service. Its service has led to that trust being reciprocal, to the extent that twice the Chapter has been assigned to eliminate other Space Marine Chapters that have embraced heresy. These were the Sons of Gideon, who surrendered to madness, and the Marines Vigilant, whose minds were shattered by xenos exposure.Perhaps their most famous Crusade was the Crusade of Righteous Liberation fought for 300 Terran years during the 36th Millennium that nearly destroyed the Chapter, leaving only 128 Crimson Fists Astartes remaining before it was completed. Unlike the Black Templars, the Crimson Fists showed a more rigid adherence to the Codex Astartes, and tended to maintain close ties with the worlds of the Loki Sector. It was not until almost eight hundred standard years into the 40th Millennium that the Crimson Fists were granted feudal rights to their own Chapter planet, Rynn's World, which was located in the Loki Sector.The world was granted to the Chapter as a reward by the High Lords of Terra for its success in the Voltigern Crusade. Over the course of this Crusade, the Crimson Fists had blunted countless significant Ork forces within the sector, preventing them from unifying into a single overwhelming threat. The proximity of Rynn's World to several of the Crimson Fists' primary recruiting worlds like Blackwater in that sector was ideal, and the Chapter constructed its fortress-monastery, the Arx Tyrannus, from the dismantled remains of their ancient Battle Barge Rutilus Tyrannus in the middle of the inhospitable and frigid Hellblade Mountains of the planet's southern continent.
Crimson Fists - Zealous Servants: While many Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes are firm in their beliefs and zealous in defending the Emperor's Imperium, the Crimson Fists' zeal is, if anything, greater than usual.This Chapter trait has led to the Crimson Fists being called upon numerous times by the High Lords of Terra to exterminate their fellow Space Marine Chapters who have been declared Excommunicate Traitoris.At least three such instances have been recorded in Imperial history. The first such occurred after the Crimson Fists were ordered to eliminate the Sons of Gideon Chapter, whose Astartes had embraced madness and heresy and turned Renegade.The second Chapter the Crimson Fists took action against was the Marines Vigilant, who had come under the influence of an unknown possible xenos phenomenon that had wiped away the Chapter's willingness to engage in any form of combat.Tragically, the Marines Vigilant put up no resistance at all as the Crimson Fists' fleet bombarded their verdant homeworld into a wasteland on the orders of the Inquisition and the Adeptus Terra.The third Chapter the Crimson Fists fought against were the Soul Drinkers. Dark rumours persist that there were 6 Second Founding Chapters of the Imperial Fists, the final one being the Soul Drinkers.For unknown reasons, in the last century of the 41st Millennium, the Soul Drinkers were declared Excommunicate Traitoris and all records of the Chapter were destroyed by an Inquisitorial Edict of Obliteration. Somehow these Renegade Space Marines escaped destruction.On Entymion IV, an entire Battle Company of the Crimson Fists sought to eradicate the remaining Traitors of the Soul Drinkers. Remarkably, the Soul Drinkers not only out-maneuvered the Crimson Fists but managed to escape the planet as well. While the Crimson Fists did manage to foil a brewing plot concocted by a Dark Eldar Kabal, the Chapter was furious that the Soul Drinkers had escaped the righteous retribution of the Emperor. The Crimson Fists' willingness to sanction their fellow Space Marines has earned them a reputation as the High Lords of Terra's lapdogs by the more unorthodox Chapters such as the Space Wolves, White Scars and the Exorcists.
Crimson Fists - Battle of Rynn's World: In 989.M41, an Ork Warlord known as Snagrod, the Arch-arsonist of Charadon, united many of the warring Ork factions surrounding the Loki Sector and began a massive WAAAGH!, taking several human colonies with minimal resistance, Snagrod boasted that his next conquest would be Rynn's World. WAAAGH! Snagrod's first primary attack against the Imperium occurred when they conquered the lightly defended colony world of Badlanding.The world's Imperial citizens cried out for aid, and the Crimson Fists' 3rd Company responded in force. However, due to faulty intelligence, the Space Marines suffered a brutal defeat at the hands of overwhelming numbers of Orks. The size of Snagrod's forces had been significantly underestimated, and only a few Space Marines escaped to relay vital intelligence back to Chapter Master Pedro Kantor. Kantor ordered the immediate recall of all Crimson Fists, and set about organising the defences of Rynn's World.When Snagrod's WAAAGH! hit Rynn's World, it was with a force unseen among Orks since the Second War for Armageddon. The Chapter recalled all of its forces to Rynn's World, in preparation for a defensive action against the oncoming Ork WAAAGH!, suspending any further raids until further information became available.After all of the Crimson Fists companies had returned, but before the Chapter could plan a counteroffensive, the WAAAGH! Snagrod reached the Rynnstar System. The Chapter responded by enabling their many tiered, tactically capable, and technologically sophisticated network of orbital defensive satellites. The system annihilated the initial waves of Ork Roks, Kroozers, and planetary assault craft.Then, tragedy struck when one of the planet's defensive missiles suffered a catastrophic failure. The weapon never made it out of the atmosphere, and instead crashed back into the Crimson Fists' fortress-monastery from which it had been fired. There, its plasma warhead, designed to punch through Void Shields and bore deep into the dense hulls of armoured warships, detonated and in the course of the explosion also set off the structure's vast and ancient arsenal.Secondary explosions ripped through the fortress-monastery, destroying it, miles of defences around it and killing hundreds of Space Marines who had gathered to plan the counter-offensive against the Ork WAAAGH! Six entire companies of Crimson Fists were destroyed. Only sixteen Space Marines, including Chapter Master Pedro Kantor, who had been manning the outermost perimeter defences, managed to survive the devastating explosion.As the Crimson Fists' fortress-monastery served as the primary control for the world's defensive satellites, with its destruction, the planet's defensive network completely collapsed. The Ork invaders were able to nearly overwhelm the planet's resistance as they descended to the world's surface. The survivors, forced to move stealthily through territory captured by the Orks, were able to link up with a detachment of Crimson Fists assigned to defend Rynn's World's capital, New Rynn City, in the process remaining awake for 328.7 standard hours.There, they reunited with nearly four hundred surviving Crimson Fists battle-brothers who were shocked to find their Chapter Master yet lived. Faced with the destruction of the vast majority of his Chapter at Rynn's World, Kantor was faced with a choice few Chapter Masters have ever had to make.He could lead the remnants of his decimated force in a vainglorious last stand, determined to slaughter as many of the enemy as possible before succumbing to their overwhelming numbers, or, as he eventually chose, he could marshal his resources and deploy his remaining force in missions that favoured small, elite units, looking to the eventual rebuilding of the Chapter and retaking of his world.It has been noted that many Chapter Masters in Kantor's position would have chosen the former option, ensuring their Chapter a place in legend rather than accept their virtual defeat. It is to Kantor's eternal credit, and is a mark of a leader of superior character, that he made the choice he did, for the Imperium can ill afford the loss of such a fine Chapter of Astartes as the Crimson Fists.The survivors held out against the encroaching Orks for eighteen solar months until a massive Imperial Navy fleet arrived in 990.M41. Through the inspired leadership of Pedro Kantor, and thanks to the heroic sacrifice of scores of Crimson Fists, the Imperium won out against impossible odds. Wave upon wave of Orks crashed against Kantor's lines in New Rynn City, but the Space Marines never wavered, and countless Greenskins were brought down by Bolter fire. When ammunition ran dry, the Orks fell instead beneath Chainswords, Combat Knives and ceramite-clad fists. Still the Crimson Fists held firm, channeling in that desperate hour a measure of the close-quarters might of their long dead founder, Alexis Polux.The newcomers who arrived with the Imperial relief fleet, which included multiple regiments of the Astra Militarum, contingents from several different Space Marine Chapters and several battlegroups of Imperial Titans, managed to rout the xenos forces from the planet and liberate the surviving Space Marines and people of Rynn's World.However, the damage had been done. In addition to losing their fortress and nearly 60 percent of their brethren, the Chapter also lost much of its irreplaceable gene-seed stock and ancient wargear. The effort to fully cleanse the planet of Greenskin taint took many Terran years.The Rynn's World Campaign resulted in catastrophic losses for the Crimson Fists, with the Chapter almost completely wiped out. As a result, Kantor's primary focus turned to rebuilding the Chapter. Though famous across the Imperium as Ork fighters, Snagrod's WAAAGH! has induced a deep hatred of Greenskins within the Chapter, and it is said that Crimson Fists Space Marines will go to any lengths to defeat any Ork forces they encounter.The Crimson Fists are often on the move, no longer having a true home base and reverting to their ancient practice of operating as primarily a fleet-based Chapter. Yet, they often return to Rynn's World to mourn the battle-brothers who died so heroically in its defence.
Crimson Fists - Battle for Traitor's Gorge: One tale of the reclamation of Rynn's World from the Orks of WAAAGH! Snagrod is not so widely told, and known only to the Crimson Fists' Chapter Master Pedro Kantor and his closest battle-brothers. The tale begins a half-year after the completion of the reclamation of Rynn's World from WAAAGH! Snagrod.Although the planet was officially designated by the Imperium as secure once more, Orks are always a difficult species to truly eradicate once they have made planetfall. Several Greenskin warbands were known to be lurking in the planet's Jaden Mountains, conducting raids that the surviving weary and war-torn populace of Rynn's World could ill-afford.As the Crimson Fists' few surviving Techmarines salvaged and repaired what little had survived the WAAAGH!'s assault, Chapter Master Kantor dedicated himself to the cleansing of the Jaden Mountains of the remaining Orks that lurked within their confines. It was a difficult campaign, for the Orks defended every crag and cavern, and Kantor had neither the men nor the equipment he would have wished for such a task.Nonetheless, the Crimson Fists forged on, slaying Greenskins wherever they could be found. Under such a threat, it was perhaps only a matter of time before the Orks of the Jaden Mountains united. So it was that when Kantor's force came under attack in Traitor's Gorge, they found themselves assailed not only by the warband that they had been hunting, but by every Ork for leagues around in every direction.Though but two dozen in number, Kantor and his Crimson Fists fought as heroes of legend, taking a grievous toll on an Ork horde that numbered hundreds. With Kantor at the forefront, the Space Marines battled their way clear of the ravine's treacherous confines and sought the high ground. There they planted their feet and fought shoulder to shoulder against the horde, but still the Orks kept coming. With all the Crimson Fists' Thunderhawk gunships lost in battle or under heavy repair, Kantor knew that both evacuation and reinforcement were impossible, and the Orks showed no sign of giving up the battle.Three of Kantor's battle-brothers had been slain in the escape from the ravine, and only the Chapter Master remained unwounded. In return, the Crimson Fists made Traitor's Gorge run red with the blood of slain Greenskins, and fought from behind barricades of the bulky Orkish dead, but Kantor knew that the odds were stacked against him.Without warning, the Greenskin tide began to slacken. Seeking the reason, Kantor's keen eye saw ghostly figures on Widow's Spire to the west and Darkridge to the east, high above and behind the encircling Orks. Graceful were these newcomers, darting from cover to cover and paying no heed to the treacherous footing as their longrifles brought precise death to the Ork horde. Who his fresh allies were, Kantor could not immediately tell, for their forms shimmered as insubstantial as mist in the morning sunlight, but nor did he care. All that mattered was that this intervention gave his battle-brothers the chance that they needed to counterattack and turn the battle's tide.Giving a mighty shout, the Crimson Fists charged over their rampart of dead greenskins and set upon the Orks with new vigour. Caught between the re-doubled rage of the Crimson Fists and fresh attackers on the slopes, the Orks were thrust back. The Greenskins fled down Traitor's Gorge, leaving more than ten score dead and twice as many wounded behind them. As Kantor's men walked amongst the carnage, ending the lives of those Orks too foolhardy or injured to flee, a robed figure detached itself from the shadows clustered on Widow's Spire and strode swiftly to Kantor's side. Coldly contemptuous of any threat posed by the watchful Space Marines, it cut through the Chapter Master's wary greeting:"The surviving beasts cower in the shadows below, ensnared in a web of our devising. Pursue them into the darkness and a great victory shall be yours.""And should I choose not to do so?" Kantor asked, for he could not bring himself to place his trust in the elaborately helmed alien, now revealed as a warrior of the Aeldari race, that stood before him."Then they will escape and grow ever stronger in the darkness. In fifty years a shadow of their making will arise to envelop this area of space which, unopposed, shall be the doom of your people and mine. Catastrophe will reign, and you shall lament your inaction this day.""Will you aid us in the gorge as you did here?" Kantor demanded, but the figure shook its head."Be not so swift to embrace us as allies. Auspicious fate dictated that we should fight side-by-side this day but, fate is a fickle creature. At our next encounter, it will be my fists that bear the stain of your blood."And with that, the alien turned and was gone, and the shadows that lurked amongst the scree of Widow's Spire and Darkridge were gone also. Kantor weighed the words and actions he had borne witness to and led his men into Traitor's Gorge. There in the darkness a great victory was indeed his, forever ending the Ork threat in the Jaden Mountains.Returning to the lowlands, Kantor continued the rebuilding of his Chapter, and in time raised the Crimson Fists out of ruin to once more stand alongside the greatest champions of Mankind. But in all the years of triumph that followed, the robed figure's words would dwell heavily on Kantor until, at the last, they met again...
Crimson Fists - Bloodied But Unbowed: Following the losses of the Rynn's World Campaign, the Crimson Fists found themselves in the unusual position of having a disproportionate number of Veterans and specialists amidst their ranks, Techmarines and Apothecaries in particular. The presence of these experienced brothers was vital to the rebuilding of the Chapter, for without the Techmarines' intricate knowledge of the workings of the Machine God, the Crimson Fists could not maintain the wargear of their armoury and remain a viable fighting force.Without the Apothecaries' knowledge of the complex process of creating new warrior brethren, the Chapter would dwindle and disappear within a short span of years. The safeguarding of the Chapter's gene-seed is of paramount importance to the Crimson Fists, and it is a rare day when they will withdraw from the field of battle before their Apothecaries have recovered the Progenoids of every last fallen brother, even in the face of overwhelming enemy attack.The Crimson Fists have begun recruiting additional brethren from not only Rynn's World, but across the entire Loki Sector. The process couldn't be rushed, however, for the Crimson Fists had a long and noble tradition to maintain, and to compromise on the quality and suitability of Aspirants at such a critical juncture could one day spell its doom.Though the newly re-formed 10th Company consisted of only a few Scout Squads, the Chapter had begun to forge the future of the Crimson Fists with every battle they fought. These squads had been the recipients of much of the Chapter's knowledge and experience and had already distinguished themselves in their early actions against Ork forces in the sector; tellingly, the Scouts were also developing an abhorrence for Greenskins rivalling that of even the Chapter's Veterans.As one would expect of Successors to the Imperial Fists, the Crimson Fists are steadfast warriors, reluctant to yield so long as victory is possible. Defeat is a bitter pill to swallow for their battle-brothers and they would rather die fighting than accept that failure. Nonetheless, the Chapter's brush with annihilation has tempered this ardour with grim reality, forcing them to withdraw when they find themselves in futile conflicts.The Crimson Fists' lives were to be expended for greater rewards than the salving of personal pride or the pursuit of vengeance, even against the despised race of Orks who nearly brought the Chapter to its knees. Now the battle-brothers of the Crimson Fists fight for more than honour and renown -- they fight so that their Chapter may survive, and one day regain its former glories in the service of the Emperor.
Crimson Fists - Indomitus Crusade: During the recent events of Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade, the long-standing Fortress World of Cadia was destroyed. With Cadia's fall and the loss of the network of Necron-built Cadian Pylons that had long prevented the Eye of Terror from naturally expanding into the Materium, the Warp rift began to expand exponentially across the width of the known galaxy.This tear in reality, known as the Great Rift, effectively rent the Imperium in half. The beleaguered forces of the Imperium increasingly found themselves overwhelmed as the power of Chaos and the xenos hordes grew unstoppable. Whole sectors of the Imperium lost contact with Terra, while others reported the onslaught of rabid Greenskin hordes, aggressive T'au fleets or undying Necron hosts, seemingly driven to conquest in the face of the expanding Warp Storm fronts.Heretic Chaos Cults and rogue psykers rose up in the billions, and every Imperial world now seemed set to burn in the fires of unending war. But all was not lost, for upon the Ultramarines' homeworld of Macragge during the Ultramar Campaign of 999.M41, the genius of Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl combined with the power of Ynnead, the Aeldari god of the dead, to resurrect the Primarch Roboute Guilliman from his millennia-long, deathless slumber.Before his wounding, Guilliman had anticipated the need for a new breed of hero for this, the darkest age in the Imperium's history. He knew that the galaxy would need warriors resilient enough to stand against the forces of Chaos as the Imperium found itself poised on the brink of annihilation. To that end, for 10,000 standard years, Archmagos Cawl had been working upon improving the Adeptus Astartes themselves.The result were the Primaris Space Marines of the Ultima Founding, a more powerful corps of transhuman warriors, more potent than even the original Astartes. New armies were raised in breathtaking numbers and new and terrible weapons were developed whose fury even the worshippers of the Dark Gods would be unable to withstand. Gathering a great new armada, composed of elements of the Adeptus Custodes, the Silent Sisterhood and a vast war host of Primaris Space Marines from many newly founded Chapters, the Lord Commander of the Imperium launched his Indomitus Crusade.
Crimson Fists - Coming of the Avenging Son: History seemed doomed to repeat itself when Rynn's World was struck by daemonic incursions during the Warp Storms that followed the birth of the Great Rift. Though Rynn's World found itself far to the galactic south of the primary anomaly, like much of the Imperium Sanctus this did not save the planet from an outbreak of unregulated psychic phenomena and Warp Storm activity. The Daemon Prince Rhaxor -- a daemonic warlord of terrible might -- and his hellish legions attacked, and the Crimson Fists were once more outnumbered and besieged upon their homeworld, their forces barely restored to half-strength.Three times Pedro Kantor led spearheads out to drive back the foe. When the Indomitus Crusade arrived unlooked for at Rynn's World, they broke the daemonic legions of the Daemon Prince. Roboute Guilliman himself led the relief of Rynn's World, linking his forces to the surviving Crimson Fists and the Rynnsguard Planetary Defence Force, before working with Pedro Kantor seemingly as equals to coordinate the annihilation of the daemonic menace. After the fighting was done, Roboute Guilliman himself gazed upon the piled dead of their foes and commended both the Chapter and their stalwart leader.The Crimson Fists marvelled at the return of the legendary primarch, but were even more grateful for the arrival of Primaris Space Marines bearing their own heraldry. In the wake of the planet's second salvation, Archamgos Cawl's Ark Mechanicus Zar-Quaesitor, delivered an equal measure of redemption to the Crimson Fists themselves in the form of company after company of Primaris battle-brothers. The technologies to fashion new Primaris Astartes were gifted to the Crimson Fists' Apothecarion, and hope kindled anew in the hearts of those battle-brothers who had survived the daemonic invasion of their world.Guilliman had decreed that those Chapters who had suffered the keenest losses and the highest rates of attrition fighting against the myriad foes of Mankind would be the first to receive Primaris Space Marine reinforcements.The Crimson Fists proved to be one of the first recipients of these new transhuman warriors, and would be able to finally rebuild their decimated Chapter. Here were warriors whose genetic composition was closer to their own primarch, Rogal Dorn, than had ever before existed. For his raw material, Cawl had selected warriors of Terra, and had taken them only a few generations after the original Imperial Fists had been created by the Emperor.Indeed, some had been held in stasis since the days of the Great Crusade; a few of the Primaris Space Marines could recall having seen Rogal Dorn himself. When these transhuman warriors of the Ultima Founding had been brought before their parent Chapter, it was like a meeting of brothers separated at birth. Arriving at a time of great darkness and upheaval, the Primaris Astartes' strength was welcomed.
Crimson Fists - Rising From the Ashes: In the aftermath of the battles upon Rynn's World, Pedro Kantor had much to do. The Daemons had brought ruin to much of the planet. The Chapter, so painstakingly rebuilt, was once more decimated, and with Primaris Marine reinforcements from Archmagos Cawl, there were entire new companies of Crimson Fists that had never known Rynn's World or the Chapter's rituals.They required swift cultural integration to ensure that, like a wounded body fitted with a hurried prosthetic, the Chapter did not reject these newcomers for the strangers they were.As in awe of the Ultramarines primarch as Kantor was, the Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists was simply too overstretched to do more than thank the Lord Commander of the Imperium for his timely arrival. Pressed for time, Guilliman spent but three solar days on Rynn's World as his Crusade refitted itself.Before he left, Guilliman summoned Pedro Kantor. The Chapter Master arrived late, still arrayed in his blood-soaked and battle-worn Power Armour. Noticing the Chapter Master's discomfort, the Lord Commander of the Imperium put Kantor's mind at ease, for he had not summoned him for censure, but to speak to him both sincerely and most gravely.He commended the stalwart Chapter Master for his leadership, tenacity and stubbornness in the face of overwhelming odds, as well as his dedication to the performance of duty above all else. He assured Kantor that he upheld the proud genetic legacy of his gene-father Rogal Dorn.The primarch told Kantor that he would need such men in the days ahead, as they faced the encroaching darkness on all sides. He ordered the Chapter Master to reassemble his Chapter and to look towards the future rather than the past for the Imperium had great need of him and his Crimson Fists.This speech inspired Kantor beyond the ability of words to describe. The thought that his genesire would have approved his choices stilled many questions that had long churned in his mind, and he set about the restoration of the Crimson Fists with a will. Yet the galaxy does not stand still; the war for the survival of Humanity raged on, and with the opening of the Cicatrix Maledictum the Imperium's battlefields had redoubled and its plight became more desperate than ever before. Even as he worked to build his Chapter's numbers back to full strength, and to integrate the Primaris Space Marines into the Crimson Fists' ranks, Kantor ordered other plans set in motion, some of which he had discussed with Guilliman on the day of the primarch's departure.The turbulent years of destruction and the long, slow fight to rebuild had left the Crimson Fists with a greater than normal strength of Veteran warriors, whose expertise was now desperately needed amongst beset neighbouring star systems. Kantor therefore authorised the deployment of Veteran Kill-teams to nearby war zones.Their duty was either to escort Techmarines and Apothecaries while they aided local Imperial forces, or else to strike carefully aimed blows to destabilise enemy forces, remove tyrannical war leaders from power and the like. For the first time in many decades the Crimson Fists were able to despatch a substantial number of veteran xenoshunters to join the ranks of the Deathwatch, sharing their invaluable Ork-hunting expertise with their fellow Space Marine Chapters.Kantor also wasted no time in despatching strike forces to worlds that seemed in the greatest need of aid. Provided with such a sudden replenishment of martial strength after so many years of hand-to-mouth survival, some Chapters might have charged recklessly into every battle they could find, feeling the need to prove their worth anew or exorcise a long-felt desire for vengeance. Not so the Crimson Fists. Pedro Kantor's deployment of his warriors was measured, carefully planned and meticulously orchestrated. Crimson Fists strike forces arrived upon Vigilus, plunged into war zone Ryza and initiated hammerblow offensives upon half a dozen worlds in the Loki Sector.Always, they deployed just enough strength to ensure the maximum conquest to casualty ratio; always they struck at the most strategically consequential targets. Always they demonstrated that long years of hardship had taught the Crimson Fists how to husband their strength and fight without ego or undue optimism. They must get the absolute most out of every shot fired, every blow struck, every warrior deployed before falling back the moment victory threatened to become pyrrhic.With each victory, the Crimson Fists removed another Greenskin infestation, another daemonically possessed rogue governor or alien despot from power and strengthened the Imperium's hold upon the Loki Sector. Such was Guilliman's command to Pedro Kantor, the last words he had spoken to him before boarding his transport and continuing about his long crusade:"Make of this sector a fortress, untouched by alien hand, untainted by the touch of the Ruinous Powers. Create a stronghold of Imperial space that, in direst need, can become the lynchpin of the entire Segmentum. Lay low the works of the tyrant and the despot, Pedro Kantor, and in their place raise fortifications of adamantine and ceramite so that, in our darkest hour, you might do for the Segmentum Tempestus what you have done for your noble Chapter."
Crimson Fists - War of Beasts: The Imperial Fists were not the only Sons of Dorn to defend Vigilus against the alien during the War of Beasts. With them came their foremost Successor Chapter, the Crimson Fists, who had lost so much to the Greenskin species on Rynn's World a solar decade before. On Vigilus, that debt would be paid in blood.The Crimson Fists were amongst the most numerous of the Adeptus Astartes Chapters present upon Vigilus. That in itself was a significant achievement, given their tragic past. The integration into the Chapter of the Primaris Space Marines brought to Rynn's World by Roboute Guilliman had gone well. They had worked hard to bring their new Primaris brethren into the fold, teaching them the rites of battle and training alongside them night and day until the new warriors fought seamlessly with the old. Each new recruit to the Chapter underwent the trials of the Bloodied Fist, returning with his bare hands stained with the gore of a barb-dragon and the right to wear crimson upon his right hand.There were a few traditionalists of the Chapter who saw the induction of so many off-worlders into their ranks as permanently changing the soul of their brotherhood, but with Guilliman and Pedro Kantor united in their new vision for the Imperium, they kept their counsel to themselves.The Crimson Fists too had heard tell of Vigilus' plight. Resolving to harden the bonds of kinship between newcomer and veteran, Pedro Kantor led five entire companies -- a full half of his Chapter -- to battle in the Nachmund Gauntlet. It was a statement, after a fashion, its intent as clear as the clarions that announced their arrival and the stark blue-and-red heraldry of their battle plate. The Crimson Fists were back in force, ready to fight and die not just for their home territory, but for far-flung worlds that the Imperium at large could not do without.Upon making planetfall at the capital of Saint's Haven, the Crimson Fists did not plunge straight into battle, raining from the skies in thunderous drop assaults as did so many of their fellows. Instead they deployed via Thunderhawk gunship -- many of which had yet to earn a single battle scar, for the armorium of the Chapter had been replenished alongside its warriors by the grace of Guilliman's crusade.Pedro Kantor presented himself to the governing Vigilus Senate that had been set up by the Ultramarines Chapter Master Marneus Calgar, consulting the war leaders of that august assemblage and seeking the wisdom of Calgar himself. Kantor was there to serve, not to win glory -- he would pay back the faith that Primarch Guilliman held in him through solemn duty.Much to the disappointment and simmering anger of many Crimson Fists, the companies from Rynn's World were not despatched to shatter the Ork forces upon Vigilus. Instead, they were given orders to aid the war effort in the Dirkden Hivesprawl. Their task was to slow down the Genestealer Cultists that had boiled out of the subterraneanlevels of Dirkden, rising up in such impossible numbers that many thought that misbegotten series of hive cities already lost.Without a word of protest, Kantor made haste for the Hyperia-Dirkden Fortwall -- in doing so coming under attack from elements of the cult known as the Pauper Princes -- and crossed to the war-torn hellscape of the Rescalid Underworks. His forces fought nobly and without pause against the Purestrain Genestealers that scuttled like hideous alien insects through the streets, purging nests of the vile creatures with flame and sustained volleys of Bolter fire.Their aim was not simply to exterminate, for even with their newly bolstered companies, there was no way they could have taken on an entire nation of Genestealer Cultists and survived. Instead they fought a complex, overlapping web of battles designed to buy time for the untainted Imperial citizenry to escape the Genestealer's Curse.The populace of Dirkden, having been plunged into a nightmarish existence where every building, hab-site or bunker could harbour twisted alien mutants, had all but given up hope. With the Crimson Fists working alongside Cadian troops to clear as many citizens as possible, tens of thousands of lives were spared, flowing in refugee convoys into the dusty southern reaches of the Hyperia hivesprawl, where the Brazen Claws had so recently hurled back the Ork invaders.When the Adeptus Ministorum decreed that they had overloaded the capacity of Hyperia to harbour more unfortunates, and that agents of the Pauper Princes were also escaping Dirkden disguised as refugees, Pedro Kantor argued for a stringent checking procedure at the southern gate of the Fortwall.He did so with such passion and eloquence that the Ministorum agreed to a compromise, and put into place the checkpoints requested under the purview of veteran Cadian regiments. In the end, even that was not enough -- the Fortwall and Dirkden both ultimately fell to the xenos cultists that had so long prepared the way for their ascension.Yet without the efficiency, conviction and compassion of the Crimson Fists, Dirkden would have fallen long before the culmination of the War of Beasts, and doomed millions more innocent souls.
Crimson Fists - Notable Campaigns: The Scourging of Uralek Prime (Unknown Date.M31) - Uralek Prime was the scene of the Crimson Fists' first ever large-scale martial action as a Chapter. Though only partial records remain of the battle, it is known that Chapter Master Alexis Polux led a masterful campaign to liberate the Imperial colony on the world of Uralek Prime. The colonists had come under attack from several fast-moving tribes of Aeldari Exodites, who hit them again and again with remarkable ferocity. The xenos were determined to eradicate every last human on the face of the planet; the Crimson Fists were equally as determined that they would not succeed. During the early stages of the conflict, the Chapter's partially-recovered histories suggest that Polux relied heavily upon his orbital superiority, laying waste to great swathes of the lush forests that provided the Exodites with cover and facilitated their hit-and-run tactics. With his enemies flushed out into the open, Polux led a series of textbook drop assaults that saw the Exodite tribes smashed and scattered. Those xenos that broke through to the colony's defences found themselves faced by the superior firepower of Crimson Fists Devastator Squads and battle tanks, and were rapidly cut to pieces. Though the Space Marines' casualties were not insignificant, the Aeldari were utterly devastated and the colony on Uralek Prime freed to flourish into a world-spanning civilisation.War of the Beast (544-546.M32) - In the middle of the 32nd Millennium the Imperium came under threat from the largest Ork WAAAGH! ever encountered to that time. Led by a Warlord known only as The Beast, the Imperium -- still recovering from the Horus Heresy-- was plunged into a fight for survival once more. On Ardamantua, the Imperial Fists -- gene-sires of the Crimson Fists -- battled The Beast's colossal armies and were virtually wiped out. The last surviving Imperial Fist -- Captain Koorland -- enacted the Last Wall protocol, calling for the Successor Chapters of the Imperial Fists Legion to be reunited once more. The Crimson Fists joined the Black Templars, Fists Exemplar, Iron Knights and Excoriators in the defence of Terra as an Ork Attack Moon entered the Sol System. A huge assault was launched on the moon and the Ork onslaught was ultimately defeated. Following the successful defence of Terra, the Crimson Fists joined the Imperial Crusade to Ullanor, the planet where The Beast made its lair. Chapter Master Quesadra of the Crimson Fists was among the many warriors killed by The Beast during the fighting and though the leader of the Orks was supposedly slain by the returned Primarch Vulkan, the war with the Greenskins continued for several more Terran years. Koorland was killed during the war and with him the Imperial Fists Chapter died. The Crimson Fists -- alongside their fellow Successor Chapters -- donated a portion of their strength to rebuild their parent Chapter.Crusade of Righteous Liberation (Unknown Date.M36) - The Crusade of Righteous Liberation was the most legendary military campaign executed by the Crimson Fists in their history. The Crusade lasted for over three hundred Terran years before the Crimson Fists had given up their original role as a fleet-based Chapter and settled on their new homeworld of Rynn's World. This Crusade occurred during the Age of Apostasy when the Imperium was wracked by internal strife. In total, 84 worlds were reconquered by the Crimson Fists over the course of the Crusade. The Chapter's numbers dwindled as a result of attrition during the long campaign, because the Crimson Fists were unable to recruit new Initiates to replace their losses whilst on Crusade. Only 128 Crimson Fists were left at the successful conclusion of the Crusade, and forever after the Chapter's 1st Company has always been kept at 128 Astartes in memory of this time, and is always led by the Crimson Fists' Chapter Master. Known as the "Crusade Company," it is considered a bad omen if the Chapter goes to war without the 1st Company being at full strength.Thule Intervention (978.M39) - A conclave of Aeldari Farseers from the Iyanden Craftworld appeared without warning in the throne chamber of the High King of Thule. The inscrutable xenos issued the planetary ruler with simple demand -- the entire human population must depart Thule within the month or be ejected by force. Before the High King could answer, the Farseers vanished, but he soon decided to flee Thule and abandon his people to their fate rather than face the wrath of the Aeldari. A month later, a large Aeldari army arrived at Thule, only to find a deployment of Space Marines from the Crimson Fists Chapter arrayed in force against them. Finding themselves trapped, the Aeldari attempted to withdraw, the Crimson Fists inflicting heavy losses before the last of the xenos escaped.Chapter Dispute (819.M41) - A perceived slight caused the Mortifactors and Crimson Fists to come to blows. Only a personal intercession by the Ultramarines' Chapter Master Marneus Calgar ended the dispute before it escalated into open warfare. The matter was kept from the attention of the Adeptus Terra.Battle of the Steel Cross (853.M41) - During the decisive moments of the Battle of the Steel Cross, Captain Cortez single-handedly slew an Ork Warlord and his entire bodyguard. Cortez had managed to disarm the Ork leader with a twist of his torso after the Ork's sword had become embedded in Cortez' ribs.Hellabore Assault (867.M41) - Captain Alessio Cortez and the Crimson Fists' 4th Company battled the Eldar of Craftworld Iyanden on the world of Hellabore. Despite suffering grievous wounds, including a stab wound to one of his hearts, Cortez led the final assault that routed the Eldar from Hellabore.Vaxhallian Genocide (926.M41) - The Chaos Renegades known as The Purge chose the verdant Imperial world of Vaxhallia as their next victim. The planet's surface was soon riddled with consumptive disease and crippling famine. Over the course of a single solar month, The Purge engineered the destruction of no fewer than fourteen billion Imperial citizens. This atrocity did not long go unnoticed; Vaxhallia had served as an astropathic relay hub and a Fortress World, vital to the defence of the Herakles System. As a result, when the Imperium finally responded, it did so in grand style. The entire Hammers of Dorn, Fire Lords and Crimson Fists Chapters initiated the planetstrike, reinforced by twelve battle-groups of Cadian Shock Troopers and the Imperial Knights of House Raven. Soon Vaxhallia was a roiling caldera of war that drew in forces from across the sector. Vaxhallia's fate grew yet more dire when the plague ship Terminus Est arrived in orbit, disgorging hundreds of Plague Marines and countless millions of Plague Zombies onto the planet's surface. Typhus led this fresh assault and, with each day that passed, more of the Cadians succumbed to the Zombie Plague -- soon the Space Marines and Knights found themselves fighting alone against a tide of Traitors and walking dead. When a second Imperial battlefleet arrived, its commander deemed the world irretrievably lost and began preparations to evacuate the survivors and commence Exterminatus.The Toran VI Massacres (934.M41) - The Crimson Fists defeated the warband of Chaos Lord Sathash the Golden.Hunt for Haxan the Defiler (Unknown Date.M41) - Haxan was originally a captain of the Crimson Fists who turned against the Imperium during an Exterminatus action against the world of Hydra Secundus. Inquisitor Rabe had ordered the destruction of Hydra Secundus due to an uprising against the Imperium that in fact had never taken place. Instead, Rabe simply sought to obfuscate the crimes he had committed during his time on the world. That an Inquisitor could so callously send an entire world to its death on his own corrupt whim led Captain Haxan to lose faith in the Emperor and the Imperium of Man itself. Haxan slew the Inquisitor and the demi-company of Crimson Fists that he had commanded, knowing they would never turn against a member of the Holy Ordos. Deeply disillusioned, Haxan reasoned that it was, "better to serve the Darkness; Old Night hungers but it does not lie." Haxan ultimately joined the Red Corsairs warband of Chaos Space Marines and rose to become a powerful Chaos Lord in their service known as "Haxan the Defiler." For the next 60 Terran years, Haxan preyed upon the Imperium, showing particular contempt for Shrine Worlds and the faithful of the Imperial Cult, for he could not countenance the worship of a God-Emperor who led a political system as unjust as the Imperium. His raids swept across the Serpentis Reach and deep into the Loki Sector. However, he finally fell into a trap set by the Crimson Fists, who had long sought to cleanse the stain of the dishonour created when Haxan had turned Traitor. The Crimson Fists arranged to secretly escort a target that they knew would draw Haxan's ire -- the grand cruiser Duchess of Hespera, which was transporting a high-ranking prelate of the Ecclesiarchy and 12,000 Imperial pilgrims to reconsecrate the cathedral on the world of Cereus Ultra. Haxan's flagship, the stolen Gothic-class Cruiser Scourge of the Faithless, was destroyed by the Crimson Fists Strike Cruiser Intractable commanded by Veteran Brother Fuentas in the Cereus System. Haxan himself was executed during the battle by Veteran Sergeant Sandor Galleas.Declates Crusade (Date Unknown.M41) - The Declates Crusade was a joint Imperial Crusade against the Ork WAAAGH! Gitzmott carried out by both the Crimson Fists and Black Templars Space Marine Chapters in the heavily-populated Declates System. As a symbol of solidarity against what seemed to be an innumerable foe, Astartes from both Chapters "exchanged" iconography and often fought in mixed squads. Black Templars painted their left hands red, and Crimson Fists painted a Templar Cross onto their right knee. This unusual gesture of unity helped establish a tight bond that steeled the resolve of the brave warriors involved in the ultimately successful cleansing of the system from the Greenskins' taint.The 104th Feast of Blades (949.M41) - The ravages of war dictated that only eight Chapters were in attendance at this ancient feast amongst the Successor Chapters of the Imperial Fists Legion, but the tradition was still observed. Supremacy was tied between the Imperial Fists and Crimson Fists Chapters when their nominated champions simultaneously rammed their swords through each other's primary heart in a closely fought duel.Battle of Rynn's World (989-990.M41) - The Battle of Rynn's World began in mid-989.M41 when the Ork Warlord Snagrod, the Arch-Arsonist of Charadon, united the warring Greenskin factions bordering the Loki Sector and launched the largest WAAAGH! the Peryton 163 Cluster had seen since the Great Crusade, attacking the isolated Imperial Agri-world of Badlanding. The Imperial defenders of Badlanding were utterly unprepared for the invasion, and within days the only major strongpoint of resistance was the capital city of Krugerport, where the remnants of the 18th Mordian, 24th Lammas and 49th Boros Imperial Guard Regiments, commanded by Commissar Alhaus Baldur, put up a bold, but ultimately doomed, defence. Confident that he had the world in his grasp, Snagrod put out incessant, ranting broadcasts, boasting that his next conquest would be Rynn's World, which lay only a few weeks Warp travel from Badlanding. Chapter Master Pedro Kantor responded immediately, despatching the 3rd Company under Captain Ashor Drakken to Badlanding to stall the Ork WAAAGH! and determine its strength. The Battle of Krugerport was a tragic defeat for the Crimson Fists who found WAAAGH! Snagrod to be far larger and more aggressive than any could have predicted. In the resulting defeat, the Crimson Fists suffered a loss of 56 Space Marines out of a detachment of 84; Captain Drakken was among the fallen. The handful of Space Marines that survived the battle were able to escape to bring valuable intelligence back to Rynn's World. Upon hearing of the size and strength of the Ork war host, Chapter Master Kantor ordered the immediate recall of all Chapter companies fighting away from Rynn's World, mobilised the Planetary Defense Force, and prepared for the inevitable invasion. When the WAAAGH! Snagrod hit Rynn's World, it was with a force unparalleled by any other Ork invasion save for the second Greenskin assault on the Hive World of Armageddon that would come 9 standard years later. As the Ork dropships and "Roks" fell through the night sky, the Chapter's automated defence systems responded, and all was well until a malfunctioning plasma missile from the Space Marines' surface-to-space defence system, in a trillion to one malfunction, impacted on the Crimson Fists' Fortress-Monastery. The errant missile scored an impressively accurate, if altogether unintentional, hit on the fortress-monastery's main Armoury. The arsenal, the fortress-monastery, the mountain, and an area half a mile wide were instantly atomised. The Chapter was almost obliterated in the ensuing holocaust. Only 16 Crimson Fists garrisoned in their fortress-monastery survived its destruction, including Pedro Kantor and Captain Alessio Cortez. These Astartes then traveled overland while protecting what civilians they could until they linked up with what remained of the Chapter in New Rynn City. There they held out against the Ork siege of the city. The siege of New Rynn City ground on for 18 months, but the Crimson Fists maintained their stoic defence of the beleaguered city until Imperial reinforcements which included 6 Space Marine Chapters finally arrived in 990.M41, 18 months after the invasion began, to drive the Orks from the world, although small pockets of Greenskins would remain to trouble the planet's reconstruction for years afterwards. These reinforcements arrived just in time, as the Orks had constructed a series of Gargant war machines that not even the Crimson Fists' heroism could have repelled. The Chapter's losses in the wake of the reclamation of Rynn's World proved most grievous, with the loss of 60% of the Chapter's battle-brothers.Zeist Campaign (999.M41) - The Zeist Campaign was a military conflict fought between the Imperium of Man and the T'au Empire in the Zeist Sector of the Ultima Segmentum. Taking place in 999.M41, during the T'au Empire's Third Sphere Expansion, it ran concurrently with Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade and the assault on Imperial space by the Tyranid Hive Fleet Leviathan. As the Imperium's military was heavily involved with preventing the breakout of the forces of Chaos from the Cadian Gate on the other side of Imperial space, the T'au took advantage of this distraction to rapidly expand their territory. Marneus Calgar despatched Captain Cato Sicarius and the 2nd Company to the Zeist sector where they would draw a line in space to halt the Tau advance. Word was also sent to all nearby Chapters, asking for aid in the coming campaign. Heeding the Lord of Macragge's summons, the Crimson Fists send fresh tactical squads to be placed under Sicarius' command. Putting aside all rivalries of Chapter and status to fight as brothers against a deserving foe, a formidable strike force of close to a dozen Space Marine Chapters assaulted the Tau occupied world of Augura. The T'au could not hope to prevail against such an assemblage of might. The fortresses of Augura were smashed asunder and its shipyards and weapons factories destroyed. This effectively ended the Tau expansion as their forces retreated to more secure territory in dismay. Though fully prepared to carry the assault into the Tau Empire and reclaim those worlds captured at the start of the campaign, it was not to be, for the might of the Adeptus Astartes was needed elsewhere.Death of Torkvar the Dread (Unknown Date.M41) - During the era of dark omens that preceded the opening of the Great Rift, the Khornate warlord Torkvar the Dread invaded the Laernoth System. Leading a brutal warband of Heretic Astartes known as the Gorehounds, Torkvar ripped through the Astra Militarum regiments defending the Industrial World of Laernoth IV and spread a blood madness that saw billions of its labourers degenerate into frenzied killers. Into this cauldron of carnage plunged a force of just thirty Crimson Fists, led by the tactically brilliant Captain Julius and provided with very specific mission parameters. Julius' entire force was made up of Veteran battle-brothers and specialist Techmarines, who swiftly went to ground amidst the madness engulfing Laernoth IV and put their plans in motion. Utilising a series of Kill-team strikes against key targets, the Crimson Fists steadily destabilised the thermal macro-reactors that governed the planet's continent-sized tank manufactorum. Though hunted constantly by their Khornate foes, the Crimson Fists fought only those battles they had to, ensuring that every blow they struck was a telling one. Six solar months after arriving on Laernoth IV, the surviving two-thirds of the Crimson Fists strike force were extracted via Stormraven gunship, fighting a last, furious battle as they made their escape. In their wake, Torkvar and his chosen champions were left crowing of the cowardice and weakness of the Imperial warriors. Their bragging was cut short, however, when the critically destabilised reactors detonated in a vicious chain reaction that scoured eighty-six percent of all life from the planet's surface. Only when the firestorms had died down did the Adeptus Mechanicus' reclamation force make planetfall, easily gunning down the last of the Chaos forces and reclaiming the subterranean riches of the planet for their own.Vengeance for Rynn's World (Unknown Date.M42) - Rejuvenated by the great influx of Primaris Space Marine battle-brothers in the wake of the Indomitus Crusade's arrival on their homeworld, the Crimson Fists declared a crusade of vengeance against the entire Ork race. As this news spread across the galaxy, several WAAAGH!s were diverted by their Warlords to meet the Crimson Fists in the hopes of a truly apocalyptic punch-up.War of Beasts (000.M41-015.M42) - Alongside their progenitors the Imperial Fists, the Crimson Fists sent five companies to aid the Imperial defence of the crucial Sentinel World of Vigilus from attacks by various xenos forces and the servants of Chaos who sought to seize this crucial terminus of the Nachmund Gauntlet connecting the Imperium Nihilus to the Imperium Sanctus. Pedro Kantor personally led the forces of the Crimson Fists to the beleaguered Sentinel World. Kantor and his Astartes proved instrumental in the defence of the Hyperia-Dirkden Fortwall and the Dirkden hivesprawl from the Genestealer Cult of the Pauper Princes.
Crimson Fists - Chapter Organisation: The Crimson Fists are classified as a Codex Astartes-compliant Chapter, because they are strict followers of the sacred tome with only a few minor variants. At the end of the Crusade of Righteous Liberation in the 36th Millennium, only 128 Marines were left in the Chapter. Since that time the Crusade Company (1st Company) has always numbered 128 Space Marines. Since the Crimson Fists started as a crusading Chapter, they always had access to a large, well-maintained fleet of starships. Although many vessels were lost over Rynn's World, the surviving fleet was more than capable of entangling the Orks' space forces until the Imperial Navy was able to reinforce the system.With few exceptions, the Crimson Fists are compliant with the Codex in terms of organisation and battlefield procedures. They consistently follow the tactics presented in the Codex, efficiently making use of different standard units in the manner that sacred tactical manual requires. Their training is broad and all-encompassing, so that the Chapter can effectively counter opponents who use vastly different tactical approaches to battle.In this way, the Crimson Fists quickly adapt their tactics to defeat any who would oppose the will of the Imperium. Their millennia of active crusading also necessitated that the Crimson Fists would have a higher number of specialists than the Codex dictates. During this time, they assembled a significant armada of Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers. Since their settlement of Rynn's World, the Chapter has maintained the size of this fleet. Their Techmarines traditionally maintain the fleet's vessels as well as the Chapter's vehicles. Every major vessel also maintains at least one Apothecary to ensure that gene-seed may be harvested and secured until needed.After the Battle of Rynn's World, the Crimson Fists found themselves in the interesting position of having more specialists than standard battle-brothers. The Chapter's Apothecaries and Techmarines have been forced to take on roles not normally assigned to them, although without their skills the Chapter would have dwindled beyond repair within a few Terran years. The process of rebuilding the Chapter has been slow and arduous, although any rush would result in complications that would corrupt or destroy the Chapter at a later date. A number of Scout Squads have been inducted into a newly formed 10th Company, and are said to be forging the future of the Chapter with their every action.Various Imperial sources seem to conflict over the actual number of battle-brothers who survived the Rynn's World Campaign. One set of records indicate that just after the destruction of their fortress-monastery, but before the battle for New Rynn City began in earnest, the Crimson Fists numbered 400 Battle-Brothers, mostly those stationed in New Rynn City, in their fleet and on outlying settlements.However, given the length of the Battle of Rynn's World, it is unlikely that anything even approaching that number of Space Marines were still alive at the end of the campaign. One quote made in reference to the Crimson Fists mentions the fact that a Chapter reduced to less than a company of battle-brothers is unlikely to recover. However, an additional record mentions that the Crimson Fists fielded four "reduced companies" at the turning of the millennium.Given that this is less than a solar decade after the end of the Rynn's World campaign (997.M41), it is unlikely that the Chapter has managed to "graduate" many new battle-brothers from its reduced Scout Marines cadre. While the actual number of Crimson Fists Marines who survived the Rynn's World campaign is unknown, it seems fair to assume that the Chapter was unlikely to field more than 200 Battle-Brothers before the arrival of the Indomitus Crusade's Primaris reinforcements.
Crimson Fists - Order of Battle, ca. 989.M41: Like all Codex Astartes-compliant Space Marine Chapters, the Crimson Fists were divided into ten companies of 100 Space Marines each when at full strength, with the exception of the 1st Company fielding 128 battle-brothers. Each company was led by an officer with the rank of captain who is a hero of the Crimson Fists.Each Captain -- in addition to his company command -- is in charge of a particular aspect of the Chapter's logistics. The following represents the order of battle of the Crimson Fists Chapter as it stood during the invasion of Rynn's World in 989.M41, before the introduction of the Primaris Space Marines:Chapter Command <a href="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/a/a3/Kantor_Livery.png/revision/latest?cb=20160903060951" class="image"><img alt="Kantor Livery" src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/a/a3/Kantor_Livery.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/110?cb=20160903060951" decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="110" height="88" class="thumbimage" data-image-name="Kantor Livery.png" data-image-key="Kantor_Livery.png" data-relevant="1" data-src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/a/a3/Kantor_Livery.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/110?cb=20160903060951" /></a> Pedro Kantor, Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists, Lord HellbladeHonour GuardChapter EquerriesSerfs & ServitorsArmouryReclusiumApothecarionLibrariusJavier Adon,ForgemasterMaster of the TechnacarumTechmarinesServitorsBattle TanksLand RaidersGunshipsThunderfire CannonsMarqol Tomasi,High ChaplainChaplainsCurien Droga,Chief ApothecaryApothecaries <a href="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/0/02/Librarius_Icon.png/revision/latest?cb=20160516003316" class="image"><img alt="Librarius Icon" src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/0/02/Librarius_Icon.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/110?cb=20160516003316" decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="110" height="107" class="thumbimage" data-image-name="Librarius Icon.png" data-image-key="Librarius_Icon.png" data-relevant="1" data-src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/0/02/Librarius_Icon.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/110?cb=20160516003316" /></a> Eustace Mendoza,Chief Librarian, Master of the LibrariusEpistolariesCodiciersLexicaniumsAcolytumCompanies <a href="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/a/a3/CF_Icon.png/revision/latest?cb=20160903062133" class="image"><img alt="CF Icon" src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/a/a3/CF_Icon.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/90?cb=20160903062133" decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="90" height="90" class="thumbimage" data-image-name="CF Icon.png" data-image-key="CF_Icon.png" data-relevant="1" data-src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/a/a3/CF_Icon.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/90?cb=20160903062133" /></a> Veteran CompanyBattle Companies1st Company2nd Company3rd Company4th Company5th CompanyCrusade CompanyPedro Kantor, Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists, Lord HellbladeVeteransDreadnoughtsBattle Company"The Shieldwall"Captain Drigo AlvezMaster of the ShieldTactical SquadsAssault SquadsDevastator SquadsDreadnoughtsBattle Company"The Red Lightning"Captain Ashor DrakkenMaster of the LineTactical SquadsAssault SquadsDevastator SquadsDreadnoughtsBattle Company'"The Crimson Lancers"Captain Alessio CortezMaster of the ChargeTactical SquadsAssault SquadsDevastator SquadsDreadnoughtsBattle Company"The War Riders"Captain Selig TorresMaster of SteedsTactical SquadsAssault SquadsDevastator SquadsDreadnoughtsReserve CompaniesScout Company6th Company7th Company8th Company9th Company10th CompanyReserve Tactical Company"Iron Guardians"Captain Olbyn KadenaMaster of the WatchTactical SquadsDreadnoughtsReserve Tactical Company"The Wardens of Rynn"Captain Caldimus OrtizMaster of the GatesTactical SquadsDreadnoughtsReserve Assault Company"The Red Path"Captain Matteo MorrelisMaster of BladesAssault SquadsReserve Devastator Company"The Fists of Rynn"Captain Raphael AcastusMaster of SiegeDevastator SquadsDreadnoughtsScout Company"The Wayfinders"Captain Ishmael IcarioMaster of ShadowsScout Squads
Crimson Fists - Chapter Recruitment: Though Rynn's World is the Crimson Fists' home, it is not a planet from which they actively recruit. During their millennia as a crusading Chapter, the Crimson Fists established the practice of recruiting on many worlds of the Loki Sector. While a few had significant technological bases, the Chapter has generally recruited preferentially from Feral Worlds such as Blackwater, which is situated relatively close to Rynn's World.The natives of this world are renowned for their ferocity and courage, but are far from barbarous primitives. They are a noble people, whose lives are a daily struggle against adversity, and it is this stoic nature that makes them such ideal raw material to become Crimson Fists. While Aspirants are sometimes taken from other worlds, this practice has become increasingly uncommon. However, the Crimson Fists have never sought out those who engaged in savagery for its own sake. Rather, they seek the most appropriate candidates who are characterised by a combination of honour, athleticism, and stoicism in the face of overwhelming odds.However, the Crimson Fists also now recruit from Rynn's World itself and other worlds near to it. Having been a fleet-based Chapter for several millennia, the Chapter had grown accustomed to recruiting from many worlds but always came back to Blackwater and several nearby star systems for a steady source of reliable recruits, making the move to become a ground-based Chapter relatively simple.The Chapter annually travels to Blackwater to conduct the Festival of the Bloodied Fist. Through the course of this ceremony, Aspirants are subjected to a battery of trials that are used to evaluate their martial, mental, and spiritual prowess. Few of those who attempt the trial make it to the later stages. For those who do, the final challenge requires a worthy Aspirant to travel deep into the planet's toxic swamps and kill a barb dragon with their bare hands. Each year, there are few who manage to complete this brutally challenging test. However, those who successfully survive are far more likely to complete their initiation into the Crimson Fists Chapter than are Initiates with most other Chapters.Upon recruitment, a Crimson Fists Neophyte will serve in the Chapter's 10th Company as a Scout Marine just as in any other Codex Astartes-compliant Chapter. Upon completing the ritual known as "The Steeping", the Neophyte goes on to become a full battle-brother of the Chapter and takes his place in one of the Crimson Fists' Reserve Companies. Failed Aspirants, primarily those whose bodies proved metabolically and/or immunologically unable to accept the Chapter's gene-seed and Astartes implants, become Chapter Serfs.
Crimson Fists - Specialist Ranks and Chapter Titles: As Scions of Rogal Dorn, the Crimson Fists are regarded as a Codex Astartes-compliant Chapter, as their organisation, order of battle and tactical operations adhere closely to the tenets laid down in that most sacred of tomes for the Adeptus Astartes. There are, however, several noteworthy and substantial deviations from the Codex-prescribed doctrine. Most notable among these deviations is the use of certain honourific ranks and titles within the Chapter in place of the standard Space Marine ranks, which include the following:Lord Hellblade - Noble title accorded by the people of Rynn's World to the Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists, who is recognised as a member of the Imperium of Man's feudal nobility with Rynn's World as his demesne. Lord Hellblade is also always the commander of the Chapter's elite Crusade (1st) Company.High Chaplain - Informal title for the Crimson Fists Reclusiarch who serves as the Master of Sanctity for the Chapter.Master of the Librarius - The title used by the Chapter's Chief Librarian.Master of the Technacarum - The formal title used by the Chapter's Master of the Forge.Master of the Shield - Title held by the Captain of the 2nd Company.Master of the Line - Title held by the Captain of the 3rd Company.Master of the Charge - Title held by the Captain of the 4th Company.Master of the Watch - Title held by the Captain of the 6th Company.Master of the Gates - Title held by the Captain of the 7th Company.Master of Blades - Title of the Captain of the 8th Company.Master of the Siege - Title of the Captain of the 9th Company.Master of the Shadows - Title of the Captain of the 10th Company.Master of the Fleet - Rank held by a senior headquarters Astartes of the Chapter with proven void combat experience, rather than a company captain.The Chosen - The Chapter's Serfs are made up of failed Astartes Aspirants collectively called "The Chosen", who serve the Chapter in multiple combat support roles. It is from these Serfs that messengers, skilled labourers and even the Chapter Master's Major-Domo are all drawn.
Crimson Fists - The Arx Tyrannus: The Arx Tyrannus, the former fortress-monastery of the Crimson Fists, was situated in the Hellblade Mountains of the Sorocco Province on Rynn's World. While they were still a crusading Chapter, the Arx Tyrannus was a mighty Battle Barge and the Chapter's flagship. Once they settled, they dismantled the Arx and reconstructed it as their fortress-monastery. It comprised a central citadel surrounded by buildings dedicated to the Chapter Reclusium, Apothecarion, Technicarum and other specialist enclaves.At its heart was the sacred Monument Hall where the name of every fallen battle-brother of the Chapter was inscribed. The Arx was protected by a curtain wall featuring four mighty towers known as the Sercia, Protheo, Marez and Laculum Bastions. It was an anti-ship torpedo fired from the Laculum Bastion that ultimately destroyed the Arx Tyrannus during WAAAGH! Snagrod's invasion of Rynn's World in 989.M41. Roughly 600 Astartes were within the Arx Tyrannus when it was destroyed and the loss of all but 16 of them was the greatest loss of life the Chapter has suffered since the Siege of Barenthal.At its height, the Arx Tyrannus was staffed by specialised Chapter Serfs, including a senior Astropath known as The Monitor who presided over the fortress' Communicatus, and the Major-Domo who served as the overseer of the Chapter Serfs and the personal attendant and confidante to Lord Hellblade himself. The last serving Monitor was Durlon Cholo, while the last Major-Domo was a failed Aspirant named Ramir Savales.Savales had been a promising recruit to the Chapter but was unable to become a Space Marine when his body rejected the Astartes implants and the genetic alterations initiated by the gene-seed's viral machines. Savales' direct predecessor was a man named Argol Kondris. As with many of the Chapter's serfs, Savales became Major-Domo after being selected as an apprentice to Kondris, which was a tradition for many of the more important positions held by the Chapter's support staff. All but 400-odd Chapter Serfs were killed when the Arx Tyrannus was lost, and none within the fortress survived the explosion.In addition to the Arx Tyrannus, the Crimson Fists possessed a Chapter keep known as The Cassar within New Rynn City, an orbital dock known as Raxa Station that serviced the Chapter fleet and had lunar tracking stations on Rynn's World's moons of Dantienne and Syphos. Of these assets, only The Cassar apparently survived the invasion of the Arch-Arsonist and his WAAAGH!. It is unknown at this time if the Crimson Fists will begin the reconstruction of the Arx Tyrannus or move their fortress-monastery to an entirely new location.
Crimson Fists - The Cassar: The Cassar is a Chapter keep of the Crimson Fists that was situated in the Zona Regis, also known as the Silver Citadel of New Rynn City. The Citadel is situated on a small island at the center of New Rynn City, with the rapid flowing River Rynn on either side. The Cassar and the entire Silver Citadel are protected by potent Void Shields which made it the most protected location on the planet next to the Arx Tyrannus itself.With the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus, the Crimson Fists based themselves within The Cassar until such time as the Chapter can salvage the ruins of the Arx Tyrannus and build a new fortress-monastery. Fortunately, 400 Chapter Serfs and nearly 30 Servitors were despatched to The Cassar to prepare it for Snagrod's invasion, ensuring that the Chapter still possesses some of its original support services as it attempts to rebuild its strength.
Crimson Fists - Crimson Fists Librarians: Like their fellow Astartes Chapters, the Crimson Fists also maintain a Librarium of potent psykers who are highly talented and trained to master the power of the Warp at the highest levels. Each Chapter selects its Librarians in its own way, either from seed worlds, as it does with the bulk of its Initiates, or from the ranks of gifted psykers brought to the Scholastica Psykana of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica. Most Chapters train and test chosen psykers following the ancient traditions laid out in the Codex Astartes. Librarians of the Crimson Fists are trained in this way, and, with few minor traditional variances, have been taught to live by the word of the Codex. Crimson Fists Librarians have a number of unique psychic abilities only used by the psykers of their Chapter, including:Bloody Fist - Crimson Fists Librarians have mastered powers which aid them in the destruction of xenos, especially those with tough hides and thick skins that might thwart a normal attack or rob it of its power. With the Bloody Fist power, the Librarian infuses his melee attack with extra force, allowing him to inflict some damage even if his blow does not breech the creature's armour or hide.Enduring Duty - Duty is paramount to a Crimson Fists Space Marine and even when the shadow of death falls upon him or his companions he will continue to fight on to the end. The Librarian steels his own spirit or that of one of his companions to fight on, even when the body should have given up and all hope is gone. Either the Librarian or a single ally within range can be the target of Enduring Duty. While this power is maintained, a battle-brother can continue to fight on, even after suffering mortal wounds which will eventually kill him, ignoring his fatigue and extreme pain.Hammer of Man - The Crimson Fists Librarian focuses his hatred of xenos into a tangible force which he projects out around him, causing pain and anguish to any sentient beings who are not human.
Crimson Fists - Deathwatch Service: Though brought to a fraction of full strength by a devastating Ork attack at Rynn's World, the Crimson Fists are famous for never giving up -- they still tithe warriors to the Deathwatch whenever the need arises. For centuries the Crimson Fists have waged the Emperor's wars against the alien, fighting in all corners of the galaxy against a vast myriad of xenos. However, none have suffered as much under the blades and bolts of the Chapter as the Orks, and over the years the battle-brothers of the Crimson Fists have become exceptionally skilled at dispatching the greenskinned alien warriors.Such is the skill the Chapter has displayed against the Orks that both Imperial forces and the xenos themselves have taken note, and Imperial commanders are quick to request the Crimson Fists should they fall under the shadow of a WAAAGH! The Deathwatch recognises the Crimson Fists' hard-won expertise, and over the course of many centuries a strong relationship has been forged between the Deathwatch and the Crimson Fists. Many of the most senior and adept battle-brothers of the Chapter have served within the Deathwatch and honed their combat arts for its Inquisitors.These men make sure that the Deathwatch has its due and many within the Crimson Fists are seconded for service, an arrangement which benefits both the Chapter and the Ordo Xenos. The result is that Crimson Fists have both great pride for their place in the Deathwatch and a great responsibility to live up to the Long Vigil's expectations. This can sometimes grate with the other members of a Crimson Fists Astartes' Kill-team as the Space Marines of other Chapters consider them aloof and entitled, as if the right to wear the silvered shoulder plate of the Deathwatch was always their due and not something to be earned only through glory and death.
Crimson Fists - Chapter Homeworld: Rynn's World is a feudal Agri-world within the Loki Sector. Its primary exports have historically been particularly exotic foods, which became renowned delicacies among the Imperial nobility of the sector. The world is largely isolated from other human-inhabited planets, but the Crimson Fists' presence has led to the implementation of an extensive planetary defence system. Further, the Chapter's actions during the Voltigern Crusade in the 40th Millennium significantly mitigated the Ork presence within the sector.
Crimson Fists - Fortress-Monastery: The Crimson Fists have little direct involvement with the human population of Rynn's World. Their fortress-monastery, the Arx Tyrannus, is located within the Hellblade Mountains. The huge structure's main hall is dominated by a statue dedicated to the memory of The Great Father, Alexis Polux, which remained within the Chapter's former Battle Barge for centuries before it was dismantled and reconstructed as the Crimson Fists' fortress-monastery.With its arrival on Rynn's World, the restructured fortress-monastery's main hall continued to serve as one of the Chapter's most sacred sites until it was destroyed during WAAAGH! Snagrod's attack. The Chapter has been heavily involved in the reconstruction of much of Rynn's World's infrastructure in the years since the world was reclaimed by Imperial forces from the Orks of WAAAGH! Snagrod, though it is currently unknown if they have begun the process of reconstructing the Arx Tyrannus or have chosen to establish a new fortress-monastery altogether.
Crimson Fists - Chapter Combat Doctrine: When the Crimson Fists Chapter was formed, Primarch Dorn granted Chapter Master Polux its membership from among the most recently initiated members of the Imperial Fists Legion. While these battle-brothers were thoroughly trained and loyal men, they were among the Legion's most levelheaded members. Because of this, the new Chapter Master was able to more effectively implement the teachings and new traditions of the Codex Astartes.With few exceptions, the Crimson Fists are very consistent with the Codex in terms of organisation and battlefield procedures. They usually follow the tactics presented in the Codex, efficiently making use of different standard units in the manner that sacred tome describes. Their training is broad and all encompassing, so that the Chapter can effectively counter opponents who use vastly different tactical approaches to battle. In this way, the Crimson Fists quickly adapt their tactics to defeat any who would oppose the will of the Imperium.While the Chapter has served throughout the galaxy, they have made the Loki Sector their primary base of operations for millennia. As the sector has been dominated by Orks since humanity first encountered the region, the Crimson Fists have engaged in countless wars with these savage xenos. Though they are not specifically devoted to overcoming these foes, the Chapter's battle-brothers are well versed in Ork psyche, physiology, and tactics. The near-constant supply of Ork warbands in the region makes this training necessary and profoundly useful. As this ability has become associated with the Chapter, the Adeptus Administratum and even the Inquisitorial Ordo Xenos have often requested assistance from the Crimson Fists when significant Ork forces gather throughout the Imperium.As successors to the Imperial Fists, the Chapter does show a marked competency with defensive engagements. The Chapter's Warp-capable vessels and Fortress-Monastery are all thoroughly defended. Even their first engagement as a Chapter after their Founding involved defending an Imperial colony on Uralek Prime from a substantial force of Eldar Exodites.During the nine thousand years of their Crusade, the Crimson Fists became skilled at combating many alien species, most notably the Orks. These skills have been valuable to the Inquisition, with many members of the Chapter serving terms with the Ordo Xenos' elite Deathwatch. Captain Octavius, an Imperial Fist seconded to the Deathwatch once commented that no other Chapter has provided as many Space Marines to the Deathwatch as the Crimson Fists. As a result, the Crimson Fists are among the most highly regarded xenos fighters in the Imperium. Captain Octavius also ruminated on the loyalty and sense of duty possessed by the Chapter and its Astartes. Despite their severe losses on Rynn's World, the Crimson Fists continue to second battle-brothers to the Deathwatch. In fact, no less than one quarter of Captain Octavius' own eight-man Kill-team were Crimson Fists.Though famed for their stubborn, intractable defensive actions, much like their progenitors, the Imperial Fists, after the Battle of Rynn's World, the sheer number of casualties suffered by the Crimson Fists has prevented the Chapter from fighting in the way prescribed by the Codex. Instead, Chapter Master Pedro Kantor has fielded his surviving Astartes as infiltrators and guerrilla troops, attacking specific, high-value targets in an attempt to minimise casualties as opposed to engaging enemies in open battle. This will change in the coming decades once the Crimson Fists begin to refill their depleted ranks.
Crimson Fists - Chapter Beliefs: Chapter Master Polux reorganised his battle-brothers in a format that followed closely with the structure proscribed by the Codex Astartes. However, he continued to follow many of the tactics and traditions that he had learned at the hand of the primarch as a member of the Imperial Fists.For this reason, the Crimson Fists remained expert at defensive actions, just like their progenitors. The Chapter maintained the tradition of permitting a single warrior to assume the heraldry and status of the Emperor's Champion prior to entering a major conflict, but this practice has only been invoked upon rare occasions. Similarly, the Crimson Fists are one of the twelve Chapters that participate in the Feast of Blades, alongside the Imperial Fists.The Chapter has come to embrace the Codex Astartes, including much of its core philosophy as regards preparation for battles. Their use of oral history as a reminder of their ancestors' actions, their ability to adapt to battle against hundreds of different races of xenos, and their aptitude for all phases of warfare all leave the Crimson Fists as a Chapter that is capable of facing with a broad range of different opponents -- a lesson that they had to learn through the course of their extended Crusades.Through their time as a fleet-based Chapter, the Crimson Fists became adept at warfare against the many xenos foes present in the galaxy. At the same time, their constant warfare against the Ork scourge of the Loki Sector has led to a particular focus against those foes. The Chapter has a proud history of service amongst the Deathwatch, which enables them to both hone and share these techniques with other Kill-team members.The Crimson Fists never hesitate to demonstrate their devotion to the Imperium and embody it with their battle cry: "There is only the Emperor. He is our shield and our protector!"
Crimson Fists - Chapter Traditions: The Crimson Fists are noted for having an extensive calendar of sacred days to honour the Emperor and their primarch as well as practising a number of traditions and rituals unique to their Chapter:Miracle of the Blood - A sacred ritual that is observed by the Crimson Fists is known as "The Miracle of the Blood", which is performed once every standard year on the Chapter's Foundation Day. A group of 20 or so Chaplains collectively known as the Sacratium perform the ritual in which a small portion of Rogal Dorn's blood, preserved for 10,000 Terran years in an ornate scepter, reverts from a dried lump to liquid blood once more before the eyes of the onlookers. The Miracle of the Blood is a constant reminder to the Chapter that its lost primarch is still with it in spirit.Festival of the Bloodied Fist - A number of the Chapter's promising Scout Marines undergo their final trials before becoming a full battle-brother. The last of these trials requires the aspirant to travel to the Death World of Blackwater and kill a barb-dragon with their bare hands. Those that succeed take part in another ritual known as "The Steeping".The Steeping - When a Crimson Fists Scout Marine is ready to be elevated to the status of a full battle-brother, he participates in a ritual known as "The Steeping" in which the Scout submerges his left fist into the blood of one of his kills. The ritual reflects the right of the new Astartes to wear the crimson gauntlet that is the namesake of the Chapter over his left fist.Crimson Gauntlets - Once a Crimson Fists Neophyte becomes a full battle-brother, his left gauntlet is painted crimson. Upon becoming a Veteran member of the Crusade (1st) Company, he is allowed to paint his right gauntlet crimson as well. The most honoured Crimson Fists warriors are gifted with one of the Chapter's ancient Power Fists as a symbol of their might at arms.Ork Bone Talismans - Ork teeth and skulls are a common sight among the trophy rooms of the Crimson Fists Chapter and some battle-brothers carry these talismans into battle as a reminder of their prowess over the alien. While this can sometimes be a whole skull or the ragged banner of a vanquished Ork clan, more often it is a tooth carved into a relief showing a great victory of the Chapter or the slaying of a large and powerful Nob. While such a token reminds the Battle-Brother of his skill over the Ork, the sight of them can also inflame any Greenskins who see such a trophy, spurring them on to greater efforts to slay the Space Marine.Emperor's Champion - The Crimson Fists, true to their ancestry, have been observed on occasion to field an Emperor's Champion. While the Crimson Fists traditionally fielded an Emperor's Champion far less frequently than other Imperial Fists Successor Chapters such as the Black Templars, there have been occasions recorded when a battle-brother on the eve of battle was overcome by visions of the Emperor. These battle-brothers would take up the Black Sword and the Armour of Faith and lead their brethren into battle. However, no instance has been recorded of the Crimson Fists fielding an Emperor's Champion since the destruction of the Chapter's fortress-monastery on Rynn's World in 989.M41. It is entirely possible that the sacred vestments of office were lost in the fortress' destruction. It is also possible that no brother has taken up the vestments of the Emperor's Champion since the Battle of Rynn's World, but given the great loss suffered by the Chapter it is likely that many relics were lost forever, and some may never be replaced.Day of Foundation - Through the centuries, as the Chapter continued to develop and build its own traditions, it began to maintain a series of sacred days within each year. These were devoted to honouring and commemorating, but never worshiping, the Emperor and their Primarch Rogal Dorn and Great Father Alexis Polux. The most important of these dates is the Day of Foundation, in honour of the Chapter's creation after the tragedy of the Horus Heresy. To celebrate this day, all available members of the Chapter congregate at the fortress-monastery, while those who are on missions far from Rynn's World hold private ceremonies. Extracts from the writings of Alexis Polux and Rogal Dorn are read to the assembled battle-brothers, and then individuals recount tales from the Chapter's history and a few more recent events. In this way, the brethren are reminded of the works of their ancestors and how they continue to be applied today. This sort of critical introspection is encouraged by the Codex Astartes, but actually practised by very few Space Marine Chapters, whose pride will often preclude any admission that they have anything to learn from past mistakes, or indeed that their predecessors erred in any way.Day of Renewal - A new sacred day has been added to the Crimson Fists' Chapter traditions -- the Day of Renewal -- marking when the Chapter and its gene-banks were unexpectedly replenished by the Indomitus Crusade. The Crimson Fists renew their vow on this day to repay their debt to Roboute Guilliman.
Crimson Fists - Chapter Gene-Seed: As a Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists Legion, the Crimson Fists share their genetic legacy with that First Founding Chapter, and have inherited many of the characteristics of their common primarch, Rogal Dorn. The Chapter's gene-seed is highly stable, though the Imperial Fists', and therefore the Crimson Fists', genome is lacking the Betcher's Gland that allows a Space Marine to spit corrosive acid, and the Sus-an Membrane that allows him to enter a life-sustaining state of deep hibernation.The Crimson Fists' gene-seed is remarkably stable and healthy, free of all other major mutations and Chaos contamination. Were it not, it is unlikely that the Chapter could have survived the multiple incidences of extreme loss that they have suffered during their history. As a result of these losses, the Chapter has been forced to recruit new members at rates substantially higher than would normally be expected. Under such conditions, the failure rate of the surgeries required over the course of an Initiate's career increases substantially, a fact that is likely due to the heavy workload of individual Apothecaries.The Chapter only narrowly escaped extinction during the destruction of its fortress-monastery on Rynn's World. According to the Genetors of the Adeptus Mechanicus, a Chapter reduced to less than a single company of brethren has only a 20-25% chance of long-term survival, for the failure rate of the Progenoid Glands will often preclude the successful harvesting of new gene-seed, resulting in an inability to induct new brethren. It was only the Chapter's superior gene-seed that saved it from extinction, for the Crimson Fists were reduced to less than a company of brethren before their renewal during the Indomitus Crusade. Yet even before that reversal of fortune, they seemed more than capable of rebuilding their numbers.
Crimson Fists - Primarch's Curse: Only Honour In Death: Like their founding Chapter, the Crimson Fists are more than willing to fight to the last, holding their ground with a siege-like mentality which will see them triumph or die in the attempt. This expression of duty can become exaggerated in members of the Chapter after long periods in combat, especially against numerous and unrelenting foes like the Ork hordes of a WAAAGH! In these instances the battle-brother sees only death; the death of their comrades, the death of the world, and the death of their foes.They consider that the only righteous path lies in the expenditure of their lives for these purposes and will face them with a stoic heart and a single-mindedness that can only lead to the complete annihilation of everything and everyone he faces, often eventually including himself and those that fight beside him. When the Chapter's genetic curse manifests itself in an affected battle-brother, it comes on in three stages:Stage 1 - No Retreat - As the odds mount so does the battle-brother's stubborn refusal to retreat, seeing only the glory and honour in defeating such overwhelming foes if even the barest glimmer of victory remains. Even if the doctrine and teaching of the Codex Astartes dictate retreat or flexible defence, the Battle-Brother will be loath to disengage until there is absolutely no choice, though often this can come too late.Stage 2 - Suffer not Defeat - Defeat is a bitter pill to swallow for the battle-brother and he would rather die fighting than accept that he has failed. This can lead to reckless behaviour as he throws himself into the fray or takes on excessive odds to win when prudence and tactical reason would dictate he withdraw.Stage 3 - Unto Death - The battle-brother has come to accept that perhaps only the cost of his own life will be enough to secure victory and is gladly willing to give it up. This can have dire consequences should the circumstances present him with a chance to martyr himself for the Emperor and bring ruin to the enemies of the Imperium. Should a battle-brother suffer mortal wounds, he gains a fatalistic desire to sell his life for the cause and will choose to expend his own life for a chance at victory or the safety of his brothers. This means he will fight on regardless of his wounds and continue to attack or place himself in the path of attacks even though the next blow could mean his end. He will also gladly accept suicidal or near-suicidal tasks (such as disarming unstable warheads, leading a forlorn hope or holding a breach to buy time for his companions) without complaint.
Crimson Fists - Notable Crimson Fists: Chapter Master Alexis Polux - Alexis Polux was the first Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists. He was a battle-brother of the Imperial Fists Legion who had won the Primarch Rogal Dorn's respect countless times during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy. His talents ranged from the vast and terrible ballet of void warfare to the bone-crunching savagery of melee combat. Known as much for his massive physical size and prowess as his coldly logical mind, fierce intellect and tactical expertise, Polux led the Crimson Fists for the first 800 standard years of their existence. During this time, he did much to shape their interpretation of the Codex Astartes and their combat doctrines. Polux was slain in battle on the world-designated HR8518.Chapter Master Pedro Kantor - Known as Lord Hellblade by the populace of Rynn's World, Pedro Kantor is the 29th and current Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists and the commander of the 1st (Crusade) Company. He brought the Chapter back from the brink of annihilation during the invasion of Rynn's World by WAAAGH! Snagrod in 989.M41. Kantor served the Chapter for 250 standard years before being elevated to the esteemed rank of Chapter Master and has now served in that position for nearly a century. He first achieved prominence at the Battle of Melchitt Sound. As a young Sergeant, Kantor led his squad in a boarding action of an Ork Kill Kroozer called the Growler. Kantor managed to disable the Kroozer, which allowed the Crimson Fists Strike Cruiser Crusader to break the Ork battle line and scatter the Ork fleet. Kantor also proved to be both courageous and compassionate when he led his squad, against all tactical sense, to hold open the pass during the Battle for Braxa Gorge, saving thousands of refugees. Later he became the Captain of the 3rd Company before his eventual election as Chapter Master. Kantor has defeated two Gargants personally, both in boarding actions, though 100 years separated the two feats. Faced with the near-destruction of the Chapter on Rynn's World, Kantor proved a wise leader by making the hard choice to fight on with guerrilla tactics instead of fighting to the last in a vainglorious final stand, a noble choice for the Imperium, as it can ill afford the loss of such a potent and honourable Astartes Chapter as the Crimson Fists.Chapter Master Visidar - Visidar was the 28th Chapter Master and direct predecessor to Pedro Kantor.Chapter Master Kordova - Kordova was the Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists during The Crusade of Righteous Liberation, and led the Chapter throughout the 300-year-long crusade until at its conclusion the Chapter was reduced to 128 battle-brothers. Since that time, the Chapter Master has traditionally been the Captain of the 1st Company, which has been renamed the Crusade Company and always possesses exactly 128 Astartes.Chapter Master Klede Sargo - The 17th Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists who was quick to scrap the serf-breeding program of Chapter Master Traegus.Chapter Master Traegus - Traegus was the controversial 16th Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists. Traegus tried to implement a serf-breeding program using the non-sterile failed Aspirants of the Chapter. However, the results were unpredictable at best and the program was quickly scrapped after his death.Chapter Master Quesadra - Quesadra was the Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists in the mid-32nd Millennium, and took part in the desperate battles against a massive Ork WAAAGH! that threatened the Throneworld of Terra itself during the War of the Beast. Quesadra was an intent and foreboding Chapter Master, who regarded even his allies in the same manner a warrior might size up a potential foe, mentally measuring their capabilities. He possessed bright blue eyes whose laser-like gaze was able to strip an individual down to their very soul. He represented his Chapter during the fateful meeting between the Imperial Fists Successor Chapters in the Phall System, when the last surviving Imperial Fists, Captain Koorland, invoked the "Last Wall Protocol". Chapter Master Quesadra would later take part in the attack by his fellow Scions of Dorn Successor Chapters against the greenskins' massive Attack Moon in orbit over Terra. He also led his Chapter as a part of a massive Space Marine strike force during the invasion of The Beast's capital world, upon the capital city of Gorkogrod, fighting alongside the returned Salamanders Primarch Vulkan. Quesadra and his Crimson Fists fought their way into the Ork Warboss' personal Gargant, but as they reached the doors leading to The Beast's personal chambers, they were ambushed by a large group of Killa Kans. Chapter Master Quesadra was killed when his body was cut in half.Commander Reinez - Commander of the 2nd Company, Rienez fought the Soul Drinkers on Entymion IV. While the Soul Drinkers escaped, the Dark Eldar trying to take over the world were thwarted in part thanks to the actions of Commander Rienez and the Astartes of the 2nd Company.Captain Cazaquez - Captain of the Crimson Fists 2nd Company. Ceded command of the company to Chaplain Inhuaca and Commander Rienez during the Entymion IV Campaign.Captain Drigo Alvez - Master of the Shield, Captain of the 2nd Company, Commander of the Crimson Fists in New Rynn City during the Ork invasion. Killed in action during the Battle of Rynn's World while defending the gates of New Rynn City.Captain Steffan - Captain of the 2nd Company following the death of Drigo Alvez.Assault-Captain Arca - Bearer of the Crimson Fists' 2nd Company banner during the Entymion IV Campaign. Arca was killed by one of the treacherous Soul Drinkers Chaos Champions early in the campaign.Captain Obiareus - Captain of the Crimson Fists' 3rd Company during the Third War for Armageddon.Captain Ashor Drakken - Master of the Line and Captain of the 3rd Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World. Drakken led the 84 Marines of his company in an attack on Badlanding to stall the Ork invaders but fell to a cowardly sneak attack by the Ork Warlord Urzog Mag Kull while attempting to drag a brother Space Marine to safety at the Ork invasion's opening during the assault on Krugerport. His death ended a decorated service to the Chapter spanning over two centuries. Only 28 Marines of the 3rd Company survived the Battle of Badlanding to return to Rynn's World.Captain Alessio Cortez - Master of the Charge and Captain of the 4th Company, Alessio Cortez rose through the ranks alongside Kantor and the two were close friends. Cortez fought in legendary actions such as the Battle of Steel Cross, the Defence of the Fortress Maladon and the Kardian Campaign. Cortez earned a reputation for being invulnerable amongst the Chapter's battle-brothers after he was the sole survivor of his squad in the battles for Kalaphax and Gamma VI Monserrat. Cortez was mourned greatly when he disappeared fighting Drukhari pirates and raiders in the Wheel of Fire, though many in the Chapter including Kantor believe that the legendarily invulnerable Astartes fights on still somewhere within the Webway. One of Cortez' most notable achievements was during the Battle of Steel Cross where he single-handedly slew an Ork Warlord and his bodyguard, having managed to disarm the Ork Warlord with a twist of his hips after the Ork's sword became stuck in Cortez's ribs.Captain Ruis Tracinto- Captain of the 5th Company at the time of the Thirteenth Black Crusade, he was killed in action during the second siege of Cadia during the Battle of Elysion fields.Captain Selig Torres - Former Captain of the 5th Company.Captain Olbyn Kadena - Master of the Watch, Captain of the 6th Company.Captain Caldimus Ortiz - Master of the Gates, Captain of the 7th Company.Captain Matteo Morrelis - Master of Blades, Captain of the 8th Company.Captain Raphael Acastus - Master of Siege, Captain of the 9th Company.Captain Ishmael Icaro - Master of Shadows, Captain of the 10th (Scout) Company.Captain Julius - Julius led the Crimson Fists operations on Laernoth IV against the Chaos Lord Torkvar the Dread and his warband of Heretic Astartes, the Gorehounds.Captain Isseus Coredo - Captain of the Chapter who died 200 Terran years before Pedro Kantor was even born. His statue was tossed onto a mountainside following the explosive destruction of the Arx Tyrannus.Deathwatch Watch Captain Esteban de Dominova - Deathwatch Watch Captain Esteban de Dominova is an intense, laconic, sallow-faced Battle Brother with pale, colourless eyes prone to brooding silences and piercing glares. Currently serving his fifth Vigil with the Jericho Reach Deathwatch, the Watch Captain is a highly respected Apothecary whose prowess in the operating theatre has reached near mythic proportions among the Kill-teams with which he has served. Indeed, many a battle-brother currently serving a vigil in the Jericho Reach owes his limbs, if not his very lives, to his quick thinking and sure hands. Along with his prodigious medical skills, and the usual finely honed warrior abilities possessed by every battle-brother, Watch Captain de Dominova is also a noted xenobiologist who is known to work closely with the Ordo Xenos and the Adeptus Mechanicus' Magi Biologis in various capacities.Chief Librarian Eustace Mendoza - Eustace Mendoza was the Chief Librarian and Master of the Librarius for the Chapter.Epistolary Delevan Deguerro - Epistolary who assumed command of the New Rynn City detachment of the Crimson Fists during the Battle of Rynn's World after the death of Captain Drigo Alvez.Codicier Ruthio Terraro - Librarian of the Chapter and present at the defence of New Rynn City.Codicier Corda - Librarian of the Chapter and present at the defence of New Rynn City.Codicier Thracio - Librarian of the Chapter and present at the defence of New Rynn City.Librarian Haxualpha - Librarian attached to the 2nd Company during the Entymion IV Campaign. Haxualpha was killed early in the fighting in a duel with a Renegade Soul Drinkers Sorcerer. Noted for wielding a Force Weapon in the form of a Rapier.High Chaplain Marqol Tomasi - Marqol Tomasi was the High Chaplain of the Crimson Fists Chapter who was killed in action during the Battle of Rynn's World.High Chaplain Marqol Tomasi - The Crimson Fists' Master of Sanctity prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.Ancient Chaplain Amentus - One of the first Chaplains of the Crimson Fists Chapter, a warrior who helped form the Chapter during the time of the Second Founding when the Astartes Legions were first split into Chapters over ten millennia ago. Chaplain Amentus wielded the Crozius Arcanum called Traitor's Bane, a weapon that survived the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus and is now wielded by the young Chaplain Argo.Chaplain Inhuaca - Inhuaca joined Commander Rienez' detachment on Entymion IV under the direct orders of Pedro Kantor, bringing with him the rest of the 2nd Company. Inhuaca and the Crimson Fists wished to destroy the traitorous Soul Drinkers once and for all, though they failed in this ambition for the Soul Drinkers' destiny was not theirs to determine. In the course of the campaign the detachment also thwarted the plans of a Dark Eldar Kabal that could have threatened the security of the Imperium throughout the entire sector. The victory was undermined nonetheless by the loss of Entymion IV and the failure to destroy the Soul Drinkers.Chaplain Rhava - Rhava was the Chaplain who fought alongside Captain Cortez at the Arx Tyrannus during the Battle for Rynn's World. Killed in the destruction of the Fortress-Monastery.Chaplain Argo - Young Chaplain present at the defence of New Rynn City. Suggested spreading the diminishing number of Crimson Fists around the walls of New Rynn City to inspire the defenders. Later led a single squad of battle-brothers to the contested world of Syral to recover a squad of scouts thought lost, trapped beneath the rubble of a demolished building. Promoted from the Scout Squad Nochlitan along with Apothecary Vayne seven years previous to the battle for Syral. Chaplain Argo wields the Crozius Arcanum Traitor's Bane that once belonged to Ancient Chaplain Amentus, one of the first Crimson Fists Chaplains.Chaplain Hauis Argento - Chaplain of the 2nd Company.Deathwatch Chaplain Jorge Martinez - Chaplain Martinez has become best known among the battle-brothers of Watch Fortress Erioch for his willingness to listen and offer sage advice. The Chaplain is believed to be over 400 standard years old -- clearly an established Veteran prior to his secondment to the Deathwatch. During his years of service within the Jericho Reach, he has consistently served as an advisor to the Watch Commander Mordigael. This has included consultation prior to and during numerous meetings with visiting Inquisitors. Chaplain Martinez has never been known to share any of the secrets revealed during these meetings. However, he has been known to issue assignments to Kill-teams, acting entirely upon his own authority. In several instances, he has even worked directly in the field with other Kill-teams, often acting in support of a team that had no knowledge of his actions. Watch Commander Mordigael has continued to seek out the Chaplain's counsel, which suggests to many battle-brothers that these missions may be taking place at Mordigael's indirect behest. In any case, the Chaplain clearly has the Watch Commander's trust and respect as well as access to many of the Deathwatch's secrets within the Jericho Reach.Forgemaster Javier Adon - Techmarine and Master of the Technicarum prior to the Battle for Rynn's World. Javier controlled the defences as the first Ork warships began their attack on the Chapter homeworld but was unable to prevent the faulty anti-ship torpedo from malfunctioning and destroying the fortress-monastery.Techmarine Ruzco - Techmarine present during the defence of New Rynn City. One of two Techmarines who joined the assault force of Pedro Kantor to retake New Rynn Spaceport. Re-activated the Air-Traffic Control Tower and then remained there to liaise with the incoming Imperial Reclamation Fleet alongside his battle-brothers Padilla and Lucevo.Chief Apothecary Curien Droga - Chief Apothecary of the Crimson Fists Chapter.Apothecary Arvano Ruillus - Apothecary attached to the 3rd Company during the assault on Badlanding.Apothecary Lyrus Vayne - Apothecary attached to the 3rd Company during the assault on Badlanding. Vayne was a squadmate of Chaplain Argo in Scout Squad Nochlitan. Vayne was badly burned by Daemonfire during the cleansing of the Warp-infested world of Chiaro two months before the Battle of Syral.Master Ceval Ranparre - Master of the Fleet for the Chapter, Hero of Hesperidon, killed in action during the orbital battle to defend Rynn's World from Snagrod's invasion.Veteran Sergeant Sandor Galleas - Member of the Crusade Company and a former member of the elite xenos-hunting Deathwatch. Galleas wields the formidable Night's Edge relic Power Sword which he used to slay many Orks during the Battle of Rynn's World. He also served alongside Pedro Kantor when he was with the 4th Company.Sergeant Phaedron - Participated in the Bunker 472 Incident.Sergeant Marnoc - Participated in the Bunker 472 Incident.Sergeant Barrien Gallacus - Veteran Sergeant and commander of the 1st Vanguard Terminator Veteran Squad.Sergeant Zarran - Veteran Sergeant and commander of a Terminator Veteran Squad, placed in command of the defences at New Rynn Spaceport.Sergeant Valdeus - Veteran Sergeant and commander of a Terminator Veteran Squad tasked with defending New Rynn Spaceport.Sergeant Phrenatas - Veteran Sergeant and commander of a Sternguard Terminator Veteran Squad tasked with defending New Rynn Spaceport.Segeant Grylinus - Veteran Sergeant and commander of a Sternguard Terminator Veteran Squad tasked with defending New Rynn Spaceport.Sergeant Rogo Victurix - Veteran Sergeant and commander of the Terminator Veteran Squad that met Pedro Kantor as he entered New Rynn City. Squad Victurix later spearheaded Pedro Kantor's assault on New Rynn Spaceport along with 19 other strike teams and fought to hold the lower levels of the Spaceport's Control Towers while Kantor and the others fought their way to the vital control systems to clear the way for the arrival of the Imperial Reclamation Fleet that drove the Orks from Rynn's World.Sergeant Erdys Phrenatas - Sergeant of the 4th Sternguard Veteran Squad during the defence of New Rynn City.Sergeant Hurien Thanatar - Sergeant of Vanguard Squad Thanatar during the defence of New Rynn City.Sergeant Zavier - Commander of Tactical Squad Zavier of the 2nd Company during the Entymion IV Campaign.Sergeant Padros - Commander of Tactical Squad Padros of the 2nd Company during the Entymion IV Campaign.Sergeant Kroya - Member of Caltax Squad during the Entymion IV Campaign. Kroya took over command of the squad upon the death of Sergeant Caltax.Sergeant Caltax - Member of Commander Reinaz' detachment commanding a Devastator Squad during the initial battle for Entymion IV. Killed in action against the Renegade Soul Drinkers.Sergeant Althaz - Member of Commander Reinaz' detachment during the initial battle for Entymion IV.Sergeant Ladric Lician - Sergeant of Devastator Squad Lician during the defence of New Rynn City. Joined Pedro Kantor in the assault on New Rynn Spaceport.Sergeant Tirius - Sergeant of the 3rd Company Devastator Squad Tirius sent to hold the Jadeberry Underpass open long enough for Pedro Kantor to make it into New Rynn City.Sergeant Viejo - First surviving Crimson Fist located by Cortez and Kantor after the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus Fortress-Monastery. Found defending the corpse of Chaplain Rhava.Sergeant Cabrero - Member of the 4th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.Sergeant Maurillo Rectris - Sergeant commanding Squad Rectris in the defence of New Rynn City.Sergeant Gualan - Sergeant commanding Squad Gualan in the defence of New Rynn City.Sergeant Salvador Ulias - Sergeant commanding squad Ulias in the defence of New Rynn City.Sergeant Anto - Sergeant commanding Squad Anto in the defence of New Rynn City.Sergeant Haleos - Sergeant commanding Squad Haleos in the defence of New Rynn City.Sergeant Leoxus Werner - Deathwatch Veteran who served with the Ordo Xenos for seven standard years and a member of the 3rd Company during the attack on Badlanding.Sergeant Solari - Commanded the Land Speeder Squadron of the 3rd Company during the attack on Badlanding. Tasked with searching the caves north of Krugerport for any survivors of the Ork assault. His search unfortunately found nothing but bodies.Sergeant Delos - Veteran Sergeant tasked with commanding the defence of the Northern Umbris Gate of New Rynn City.Sergeant Romnus - Member of the 2nd Company and prior officer of Captain Alvez's Command Squad, killed 3 years before the Battle for Rynn's World.Sergeant Huron Grimm - Veteran Sergeant in command of the 1st Tactical Squad and second in command to Captain Alvez of the 2nd Company. Grimm has served the Chapter faithfully for 103 standard years.Sergeant Dremir Soto - Veteran Sergeant of the 3rd Company placed in command of the Gorian Wall in the absence of Captain Alvez.Sergeant Faradis Anto - Member of the 2nd Company with over a century of service to Captain Alvez.Sergeant Ferraganos Daecor - Deathwatch Veteran and Sergeant commanding Squad Daecor during the defence of New Rynn City. Joined Pedro Kantor in the assault on New Rynn Spaceport.Sergeant Segala - Second Sergeant located by Kantor and Cortez and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Joined Pedro Kantor in the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Killed during a close-quarters fight with the Orks during the attack.Sergeant Demetrian - Sergeant of the 5th Company, Demetrian returned to Syral with the battle-brothers of his squad and Chaplain Argo to recover the lost Scouts of Squad Nochlitan. Demetrian is a Veteran of the Declates Crusade in which the Crimson Fists and Black Templars fought side by side in mixed squads against the enemies of the Emperor. He still wears the Black Templar Cross on one knee-plate in honour of that campaign.Veteran Sergeant Grevius - Veteran in service to the Deathwatch during the Herodian IV Campaign.Veteran Sergeant Huron Grimm - Second-in-command to Captain Drigo Alvez of 2nd Company.Veteran Sergeant Sandor Galleas - Galleas had been given his first independent command when he and his squad were assigned to the Strike Cruiser Intractable to help hunt down the Red Corsairs Chaos Lord Haxan the Defiler, a former Crimson Fists captain. Galleas and his squad had been in action on the world of Beryl Ultra to try and stop the advance of the Orks under the command of the Warlord Snagrod and the Arch-arsonist of Charadon when they were called to serve on the Intractable. The Intractable laid a trap for Haxan in the Cereus System by luring the Chaos Lord's flagship, the Scourge of the Faithless, to attack the grand cruiser Duchess of Hespera which was carrying a high-ranking prelate of the Ecclesiarchy and 12,000 pilgrims to reconsecrate the cathedral on the world of Cereus Ultra. After the Intractable defeated the Chaos cruiser in battle, Galleas was the one who killed Haxan during the void battle. Galleas was armed with a Phobos Pattern Bolter and bore the Power Sword Night's Edge, originally taken from Traitor forces during the Age of Apostasy in the 36th Millennium.Veteran-Brother Talazar - Member of Terminator Squad Victurix.Veteran-Brother Toma - Deathwatch Veteran and member of Squad Demetrian of the 5th Company during the battle for Syral. Returned with Chaplain Argo and his brothers of Squad Demetrian to recover the Scouts of Squad Nochlitan. Toma is quiet and reserved but a proficient and economical warrior, and wields a highly advanced Bolter gifted to him by the Ordo Xenos during his service in the Deathwatch.Veteran-Brother Imrich - Veteran Space Marine of the Chapter and member of Squad Demetrian of the 5th Company. Imrich is a promising and deadly warrior who personally killed Warboss Golgorrad during the Battle for the Cantorial Palace when the Crimson Fists first came to Syral in force. Later returned with Chaplain Argo and a handful of comrades to recover the lost brothers of Scout Squad Nochlitan. Imrich adorns his armour with scrolls of his deeds, bones from slain enemies and the skulls of seven of the biggest Orks Imrich has slain.Veteran-Brother Fuentas - Commander of the strike cruiser Intractable that hunted down the Chaos Lord and former Crimson Fists captain Haxan the Defiler, defeating his flagship the Scourge of the Faithless in the Cereus System.Veteran-Brother Efraim - Efraim was part of Veteran-Sergeant Sandor Galleas' squad during the Strike Cruiser Intractable's hunt for the Chaos Champion Haxan the Defiler.Veteran-Brother Ibraim Salazar - Salazar was part of the Veteran-Sergeant Sandor Galleas' squad during the Strike Cruiser Intractable's hunt for the Chaos Champion Haxan the Defiler. he was the newest member of the squad, having only just recently been promoted into the ranks of the Crusade Company, the Chapter's elite 1st Company.Veteran-Brother Timon Royas - Royas was part of Veteran-Sergeant Sandor Galleas' squad during the Strike Cruiser Intractable's hunt for the Chaos Champion Haxan the Defiler. He had served with the Crusade Company for almost 200 Terran years and had also served the Long Vigil with the Deathwatch, as was indicated by the silver Deathwatch pauldron he still wore.Veteran-Brother Yezim Olivar - Olivar was part of Veteran-Sergeant Sandor Galleas' squad during the Strike Cruiser Intractable's hunt for the Chaos Champion Haxan the Defiler. He wore no battle trophies on his armour, but preferred curls of parchment bearing verses sacred to the writings of the Ecclesiarchy.Veteran-Brother Valentus - Valentus was part of Veteran-Sergeant Sandor Galleas' squad during the Strike Cruiser Intractable's hunt for the Chaos Champion Haxan the Defiler. Both of his arms, a leg, and many of his internal organs had been replaced by cybernetic implants.Veteran-Brother Titus Juno - Juno was part of Veteran-Sergeant Sandor Galleas' squad during the Strike Cruiser Intractable's hunt for the Chaos Champion Haxan the Defiler. He had served in the Deathwatch before, and proudly bore two service studs on his forehead. He preferred to enter melee combat with a short, double-edged sword and was one of the best melee warriors among the Crimson Fists.Veteran-Brother Caron - Caron was part of Veteran-Sergeant Sandor Galleas' squad during the Strike Cruiser Intractable's hunt for the Chaos Champion Haxan the Defiler.Veteran-Brother Amador - Amador was part of Veteran-Sergeant Sandor Galleas' squad during the Strike Cruiser Intractable's hunt for the Chaos Champion Haxan the Defiler. He was known to possess a brash, confident and highly aggressive personality very similar to that of Captain Alessio Cortez.Kyama Shae - Renegade battle-brother who fought in the warband of the Raven Guard Renegade Ardaric Vaanes and was killed fighting the Iron Warriors in the Eye of Terror on the Daemon World of Medrengard.Ishmael - Participated in the Bunker 472 Incident.Adalbert - Member of Assault Squad Rodolf, 2nd Company.Jurgen - Member of Assault Squad Rodolf, 2nd Company.Walther - Member of Assault Squad Rodolf, 2nd Company.Wenzel - Member of Assault Squad Rodolf, 2nd Company.Olcama - Member of the 2nd Company, Tactical Marine armed with a Meltagun. Participated in the assault on the Dark Eldar-held palace during the Entymion IV Campaign alongside Commander Reinez.Arroyox - Member of the 2nd Company and the gunner of Commander Reinez' personal Razorback APC during the Entymion IV Campaign.Tehuaca - Member of the 2nd Company, Tactical Marine armed with a Flamer, killed by a Soul Drinkers Scout Marine in a ploy to pit the Crimson Fists against the Dark Eldar Kabal operating on Entymion IV.Paclo - Member of the 2nd Company and part of Commander Reinez' squad during the Entymion IV Campaign.Bacar - Member of Squad Segala during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Fell to the Ork Warlord Urzog Mag Kull's Power Klaw.Verna - Member of Squad Segala during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport.Lucevo - Member of Squad Segala during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Left to guard the Air-Traffic Control Tower.Oro - Member of Squad Daecor during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Remained behind on the Coronado landing plate as a rearguard for the assault force.Padilla - Member of Squad Daecor during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Left to guard the Air-Traffic Control Tower.Cassaves - Member of Squad Daecor during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport.Gaban - Flamer-bearing member of Squad Lician during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Killed in the same melee as Sergeant Segala.Morai - Heavy Bolter-wielding member of Squad Lician during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Killed in the same melee as Sergeant Segala.Romos - Plasma Cannon-bearing member of Squad Lician during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Killed in the same melee as Sergeant Segala.Santanos - Second to Veteran Sergeant Grimm and member of the 2nd Company.Rapala - Member of the 7th Company and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Temporarily commanded by Cortez.Benizar - Member of the 7th Company and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Temporarily commanded by Cortez. Died breaking through the Orks' line into New Rynn City.Fenestra - Member of the 5th Company and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Temporarily commanded by Cortez.Delgahn - Member of the 8th Company and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Temporarily commanded by Cortez.Alcador - One of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus.Galica - Member of the 5th Company and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus.Olvero - One of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Died breaking through the Orks' line into New Rynn City.Teves - One of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Died breaking through the Orks' line into New Rynn CityAgorro - Member of the 2nd Company and the driver of Captain Alvez' Land Raider, Aegis Eternis.Iamad - Member of the 4th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.Benedictus - Member of the 4th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.Silesi - Known as "old one-eyed Silesi" by his friends and comrades, Silesi was a member of the 4th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.Vesdor - Member of the 4th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.Mikael Tauros - Veteran who served more than 500 years with the Chapter. Unfortunately, he fell battling the Orks during the Invasion of Rynn's World. Tauros was a member of Veteran Sergeant Galleas' squad.Titus Juno - Former member of the Deathwatch who has two service studs in his forehead. Juno served alongside with Veteran Sergeant Galleas during the Battle of Rynn's World.Claudio Amador - Member of Veteran Sergeant Galleas' squad during the Battle of Rynn's World.Timon Royas - Former member of the Deathwatch and a veteran of more than 200 years of service. Royas served alongside with Veteran Sergeant Galleas during the Battle of Rynn's World.Ibrahim Salazar - Member of Veteran Sergeant Galleas' squad during the Battle of Rynn's World. He has more than 75 years of experience with the Crusade Company.Yezim Olivar - Member of Veteran Sergeant Galleas' squad during the Battle of Rynn's World. He is a devout follower of the Lectitio Divinitatus.Rodrigo - Legendary Sniper of 10th Company. He was a Member of Veteran Sergeant Galleas's squad during the Battle of Rynn's World.Valentus - Member of Veteran Sergeant Galleas' squad during the Battle of Rynn's World. He had received many prosthetics after venturing too far into a Space Hulk where he was attacked with acid by Tyranids.Caron - Member of Veteran Sergeant Galleas' squad during the Battle of Rynn's World.Cero - Heavy Bolter-wielding member of the 3rd Company during the assault on Badlanding. Injured while retreating from Krugerport, Captain Drakken attempted to drag Cero to safety but was slain by a shot from a Kustom Mega Blasta to the back by Warlord Urzog Mag Kull. Cero was left to try and kill as many of the Orks in retaliation as he could before death claimed him.Alexi Carmon - Upon first meeting Brother Carmon, many remark that his appearance bears an uncanny resemblance to that of artistic representations of Primarch Rogal Dorn. Of course, the battle-brother's stature is within the typical range for a Space Marine, but there is a distinct facial resemblance. While most laugh this off as an odd coincidence, a few think that this may be a sign that the battle-brother somehow has the favour of the primarch. In fact, such a granting of favour might well explain Brother Carmon's amazing luck. All Space Marines are, of course, expected to work comfortably around explosive ordnance, often in large quantities. As a Deathwatch Devastator Marine, the battle-brother is expected to regularly work with even larger than usual quantities. However, Brother Carmon has garnered a reputation for his predilection to set off inordinately large explosions over the course of his missions. On at least seven occasions, his Kill-team has successfully overcome xenos threats only after Brother Carmon detonated an entire ammunition dump.Julio - Battle-brother of the 3rd Company during the Third War for Armageddon.Scout Sergeant Ezra Mishina - While not yet a full battle-brother of the Chapter, Sergeant Mishina is nevertheless a highly accomplished and respected individual and a potent asset on the battlefield. Elevated to the 3rd Company as a full Battle-Brother after Badlanding.Scout Sergeant Bariax - Commander of Scout Squad Bariax tasked with providing intelligence for Captain Alvez in the defence of New Rynn City.Scout Sergeant Nochlitan - Veteran of the Crusade Company, Nochlitan chose to serve as an instructor for the Chapter's next generations of warriors. Chaplain Argo and Apothecary Vayne both served in Sergeant Nochlitan's squad before their ascension to full battle-brothers. Trapped with his squad beneath the rubble of the Cantorial Palace on Syral, Sergeant Nochlitan managed to survive the four-month wait for rescue and was the only survivor still able to speak after the experience, notedly complaining about the loss of his bolter.Scout Frael - Member of Scout Squad Nochlitan, lost under the rubble of the Cantorial Palace on Syral. Trapped beneath the ruins for four months, Scout Frael finally died just three or four days before Squad Demetrian's digging teams located the body, the first of the Scout Squad recovered.Scout Amadon - Member of Scout Squad Nochlitan, killed when the Cantorial Palace on Syral collapsed.Scout Zefaray - Member of Scout Squad Nochlitan and the Squad's Epistolary candidate. Trapped on Syral under the ruins of the Cantorial Palace with the rest of his squad, Zefaray screamed his voice through the Warp, his still largely untrained mind desperately seeking to catch the attention of one of the Crimson Fists' Librarians, his psyche jumping through a hundred minds to reach one that the Chapter might trust. He succeeded, though the effort nearly cost him his life, his mental calls bringing Squad Demetrian back to Syral to rescue the three survivors of the Scout Squad and the bodies of the fallen.Scout Janus Kennon - A young and impetuous Scout Marine but an absurdly good shot with his Sniper Rifle with the best accuracy of any recruit for over a hundred standard years. However, his lack of discipline resulted in the loss of many battle-brothers, including Captain Drakken, when he disobeyed orders to take a shot at the Ork Warlord Urzog Mag Kull. The shot never penetrated the warlord's force field and as a result of his disastrous actions, Scout Kennon was sentenced to become a servitor.Scout Vermian - Tasked with clearing a route through the Ork sentries to the water plant on Badlanding for Sergeant Werner's assault group.Scout Rogar - Tasked with clearing a route through the Ork sentries to the water plant on Badlanding for Sergeant Werner's assault group.Rhodomanus (Venerable Dreadnought) - Rhodomanus was a notable Venerable Dreadnought that led a suicide attack to sink an Ork Stompa into the glaciers of the Dead Lands on the Hive World of Armageddon during the Second War for Armageddon. Despite the ferocious nature of the assault, Rhodomanus survived, lost in the ice for 50 Terran years, until he was unearthed and recovered by the Black Templars of strikeforce "Ansgar's Avengers" during the Third War for Armageddon. With the assistance of the Black Templars, Rhodomanus completed his original task of 50 years previous and destroyed the Ork Stompa that was being uncovered by the Blood Scar tribe. He was eventually returned to his previous post with the 3rd Company of the Crimson Fists by Marshal Brandt of the Black Templars.Goremann the Elder (Deathwatch Dreadnought) - Goremann was a Dreadnought and celebrated Veteran of the Chapter who served honourably in the Deathwatch on 15 occasions prior to his internment within his Dreadnought sarcophagus. Goremann's craftiness and cunning as an Ork fighter were legendary and it is said that at the Battle of Urkano Rift even the Orks chanted Goremann's name to honour him after he slew their Warboss in single combat. During Goremann's last Vigil five centuries ago, he suffered mortal wounds and at his request the Deathwatch petitioned the Crimson Fists for his remains to be kept at Watch Fortress Erioch. Now he rests in the cyborganic web of an armoured sarcophagus so that in time of need he can fight alongside his battle-brothers once more. Goremann normally fights in his favoured Dreadnought armour, known as Furiosa Rex, with its twin Dreadnought-sized Power Fists and underslung Flamers. Goremann's heavy fire support is seldom required in the field and so his experience more often serves the Deathwatch in tactical analysis and threat assessments. In truth, the venerable warrior chafes at such mundane work and will seize any opportunity to see action once more.Ancient Amentus (Chaplain Dreadnought) - Ancient Amentus is a Chaplain Dreadnought of the Crimson Fists.Ancient Jerian (Dreadnought) - Jerian is a Dreadnought who served in the defence of New Rynn City. Ancient Jerian was entombed in his cybernetic sarcophagus after he fell with mortal wounds to the Tyranids in the Battle for Emerald Sands.Ancient Ulis (Dreadnought) - Ulis is a revered Old One (Dreadnought) of the Crimson Fists Chapter.Chapter Ancient Endigio Gomarex - Endigio Gomarex was the Crimson Fists Chapter Ancient who carried the Chapter banner proudly on Vigilus during the War of Beasts.
Crimson Fists - Chapter Relics: Aegis Eternis - The personal Land Raider transport of Captain Alvez.Book of Dorn - The principle sacred text of the Crimson Fists Chapter that is read aloud by the High Chaplain during important sermons and days sacred to the Chapter. It contains the recorded deeds and teachings of Rogal Dorn, the primarch of the VII Legion. It is unknown if the book survived the destruction of the Crimson Fists' fortress-monastery.Book of Honor - A holy tome of the Chapter that records the deeds of every fallen member of the Crimson Fists so that they may be remembered and held up as inspiration by those who follow in their footsteps. It is unknown if the book survived the destruction of the fortress-monastery.Dorn's Arrow - Dorn's Arrow is a relic Storm Bolter wielded by Chapter Master Pedro Kantor said to have once been used by the Primarch Rogal Dorn himself.Duty's Burden - Presented to Chapter Master Kantor by Roboute Guilliman on the day of his departure from Rynn's World, this master-crafted Bolt Rifle serves as a mark of the primarch's recognition for all the Crimson Fists have achieved, and a stark reminder of all there still remains to do. Bestowed upon those champions of the Chapter who face especially trying and crucial battles, Duty's Burden is an exceptionally lethal and utterly trustworthy weapon whose determined Machine Spirit echoes that of the Crimson Fists themselves.Fist of Vengeance - This master-crafted Power Fist is blood red, and chipped and marked with hundreds of battle scars. Forged many Terran years before the cataclysm that almost destroyed the Crimson Fists, the Fist of Vengeance was recovered from the ruins of the Chapter's fortress-monastery. In the years since that dark day, this symbol of resilience and defiance has been borne into battle by many heroes of the Chapter.Hand of Retribution - This finely crafted Power Fist had a storied history within the Crimson Fists before being lost in a desperate boarding action aboard the Space Hulk Malignant Eternity. It was recovered with the aid of information revealed by the Omega Vault about the nature and location of the Hulk. The grateful Chapter left the artefact in the care of those Crimson Fists Astartes of the Deathwatch who had aided in recovering it. The Hand of Retribution is finely crafted, containing the full heft and power of the mightiest Astartes Power Fist in what appears to be merely an oversized gauntlet. It lacks the unwieldy quality typical of Power Fists, and suffers only from a tendency to interfere with fine manipulation.Night's Edge - Night's Edge is a relic Power Sword of the Crimson Fists Space Marine Chapter wielded by Veteran Sergeant Sandor Galleas of the Crimson Fists Crusade Company. During the Battle of Rynn's World, Galleas slew many Orks with this potent weapon.Ork Bone Talismans - Ork teeth and skulls are a common sight among the trophy rooms for the Crimson Fists Chapter and some battle-brothers carry these talismans into battle as a reminder of their prowess over the alien. While this can sometimes be a whole skull or the ragged banner of a vanquished Ork tribe, more often it is a tooth carved into a relief showing a great victory of the Chapter or the slaying of a large and powerful Nob. While such a token reminds the battle-brother of his skill over the Ork, the sight of them can also inflame any Greenskins who see such a trophy spurring them on to greater efforts to slay the Space Marine.Riad - A Relic Blade carried by Captain Drigo Alvez during the defence of New Rynn City.Rynn's Might - Rynn's Might was a notable Land Raider that possessed a fierce Machine Spirit. It was thrown from the Crimson Fists' fortress-monastery after its fiery destruction during the Battle of Rynn's World. With no driver and alone, the Land Raider's Machine Spirit was overcome with rage at the xenos invaders and over several days Rynn's Might exhausted its weapons, killing countless Orks before finally overloading its engines to kill an Ork Warboss attempting to claim the disabled tank. The Machine Spirit of the venerable war machine was reverently recovered by the Chapter's surviving Techmarines for internment in a new chassis at a later date.Scepter of the Sacred Blood - An ornate Scepter containing a small amount of Rogal Dorn's sacred blood. During the celebration of the Crimson Fists' Foundation Day, a group of twenty Chaplains known collectively as the Sacratium perform a ritual called the Miracle of the Blood in which the dried blood of Rogal Dorn reverts back to liquid within the head of the Scepter. It is unknown whether the scepter has been recovered after the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus.Traitor's Bane - Originally wielded by Ancient Chaplain Amentus, one of the Chapter's Chaplains from the time of its Founding, this venerable Crozius survived the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus and is still in service to the Chapter in the hands of the young Chaplain Argo, a hero of the defence of New Rynn City.
Crimson Fists - Chapter Fleet: The Crimson Fists were once a fleet-based Chapter, but WAAAGH! Snagrod virtually obliterated their entire Chapter fleet. Pedro Kantor made a diplomatic request for new void assets to the Imperial Navy forces at Ramilies-class Starfort Goliath Vigilant -- in exchange for a permanent garrison of Crimson Fists.Battlefleet Tempestus made several squadrons of Imperial Navy escorts, a trio of cruisers, and the Emperor-class Battleship Throne's Fury available to the Crimson Fists.This allied void armada has become known as Battlegroup Vengeance, and they have borne out Kantor's strategic genius in their every action, from the Kielden Reach to the Second Cleansing of Badlanding.The Crimson Fists Chapter fleet is known to possess the following vessels:Throne's Fury (Emperor-class Battleship) - This battleship was only recently donated to the Crimson Fists Chapter by the Battlefleet Tempestus of the Imperial Navy. It currently serves as both the Chapter's flagship and the lead vessel of Battlegroup Vengeance.Intractable (Strike Cruiser) - This Strike Cruiser, commanded by Veteran Brother Fuentas, was responsible for successfully hunting down the Gothic-class Cruiser Scourge of the Faithless in the Cereus System commanded by the former Crimson Fists captain Haxan the Defiler, who had become a Chaos Lord of the Red Corsairs who often preyed upon Shrine Worlds and the faithful of the Imperial Cult.
Crimson Fists - Chapter Colours: The Crimson Fists paint their power armour deep blue, with crimson trim and white markings. When a neophyte finally joins the ranks of the Chapter as a full initiate his left gauntlet is painted crimson, symbolic of Rogal Dorn's tradition of cutting the palms of new recruits into the Imperial Fists Legion and sharing his blood with them directly, creating a bond between them.Upon reaching Veteran status and entering the Crusade Company, a Crimson Fist's right gauntlet is also painted crimson.A Crimson Fists lieutenant's rank is denoted by a red stripe down the centre of their helmet. Scout Marines of the Chapter are often portrayed with two red gauntlets but blue hand guards.The crimson squad specialty symbol -- battleline, close support, fire support, Veteran or command -- is centred within a crimson roundel, is indicated on the right shoulder guard.A white High Gothic numeral is stenciled in the centre of the squad specialty symbol, indicating the squad number. The Crimson Fists do not display company numbers.
Crimson Fists - Chapter Badge: The Chapter badge of the Crimson Fists is a left-hand gauntlet, raised and clenched. It symbolises not only the strength and determination of the Crimson Fists, but also their defiance of Heretic and Traitors.The Crimson Fists symbol is derived from that of their parent Chapter -- the Imperial Fists -- albeit painted red in honour of Alexis Polux, the first Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists.The badge is usually shown as a crimson fist on a black field surrounded by a black border.
Crimson Fists - Sources: Adeptus Astartes: Successor Chapters (Limited Release Booklet), pg. 26Codex Adeptus Astartes - Space Marines (8th Edition), pp. 21, 40-41, 105, 120, 135, 199, 201Codex: Dark Angels (4th Edition), pg. 44Codex: Deathwatch (7th Edition), pg. 20Codex: Orks (8th Edition), pg. 31Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition), pg. 68Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition) (Revised Codex), pg. 34Codex: Space Marines (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), pg. 140Codex: Space Marines (6th Edition), pp. 19, 47-49, 115, 154Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pp. 29, 46-48, 90Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition), pg. 72Codex: Space Marines (3rd Edition)Codex: Witchhunters (3rd Edition)Codicium Imperialis, "The Battle for Rynn's City"Deathwatch: Honour the Chapter (RPG), pp. 58-65Deathwatch: Rising Tempest (RPG), pp. 18, 129Deathwatch: Rites of Battle (RPG), pp. 66, 235-236Games Day (UK Program 1999)How To Paint Space MarinesImperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition, pp. 136-137Imperial Armour Volume Two, Second Edition - War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes, pp. 19Insignium AstartesPlanetstrike (4th Edition)Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (1st Edition)White Dwarf 29 (January 2019), "Index Astartes - Crimson Fists", pp. 102-111White Dwarf 338 (UK), "Battle for Rynn's World"White Dwarf 315 (UK), "Fists of Dorn - Space Marine Showcase", by Glyn Hames, pp. 56-59White Dwarf 288 (UK) ,"Index Astartes - Crimson Fists"White Dwarf 275 (US), "Codium Imperialis: The First War for Armageddon"White Dwarf 248 (US), "The Third War for Armageddon"White Dwarf 236 (UK), "Bloodied Fist: The Rynn's World Incident", pp. 57–62White Dwarf 94 (UK), "Skirmish on Rynn's World", by Andy Chambers, pp. 56–61Crimson Tears (Soul Drinkers Novel) by Ben CounterDeathwatch (Novel) by C.S. GotoHeroes of the Space Marines (Anthology) edited by Nick Kyme and Lindsey Priestly, "One Hate" by Aaron Dembski-BowdenLegends of the Space Marines (Anthology) edited by Christian Dunn, "The Relic" by Jonathan GreenRynn's World (Novel) by Steve ParkerLegacy of Dorn (Novel) by Mike LeeTraitor's Gorge (Novella) by Mike LeeShadows of Treachery (Anthology) Edited by Christian Dunn, "The Crimson Fist" (Short Story) by John FrenchWarrior Brood (Novel) by C.S. GotoPredator, Prey - The Beast Arises, Book 2 (Novel) by Rob SandersPedro Kantor: The Vengeful Fist (Short Story) by Steven ParkerThe Emperor Expects - The Beast Arises, Book 3 (Novel) by Gav ThorpeThroneworld - The Beast Arises, Book 5 (Novel) by Guy HaleyThe Beast Must Die - The Beast Arises, Book 8 (Novel) by Gav ThorpeWrath & Glory RPG Art - Crimson Fists Scout MarineImperial Nihilus - Vigilus Defiant (8th Edition), pp. 84-85Warhammer 40,000: Rulebook (7th Edition), pg. 43None More Loyal (Short Story) by Mike Lee
Crimson Guard - Crimson Guard: The Crimson Guard is a Codex Astartes-compliant Loyalist Space Marine Chapter of unknown Founding and genetic lineage.
Crimson Guard - Chapter Colours: The Crimson Guard's power armour is painted halved red and metallic-yellow. The Aquila or Imperialis on the chest plate is dark grey.The yellow squad specialty symbol -- battleline, close support, fire support, Veteran or command -- is indicated on the right shoulder plate.A black Low Gothic numeral centred on the squad specialty symbol indicates squad number.The colour of the Aquila or Imperialis on the chest indicates company number in accordance with the Codex Astartes -- i.e. white (1st Company), yellow (2nd Company), red (3rd Company), etc.
Crimson Guard - Chapter Badge: The Crimson Guard's Chapter badge is a pair of red, single-headed axes crossed over a field of metallic-yellow.
Crimson Gulf - Crimson Gulf: Crimson Gulf is a Hold World of the Greater Thurian League of the Leagues of Votann located in the galactic core. It is situated in the central region of Thurian space and is a major trade hub for the Leagues. Crimson Gulf is famed among the Kin alongside its fellow Thurian Hold World Ûrvymm's Bulwark for its sheer size and nearly impenetrable defences.
Crimson Hunters - Crimson Hunters: The Crimson Hunters are amongst the most unusual of the Asuryani Aspect Warriors. Their ritual wargear is not blade or sidearm, but instead a sleek aerial fighter that represents the pinnacle of Aeldari aeronautics.These formidable aircraft, known as Nightshade Interceptors, are just as much a part of the Crimson Hunter's wargear as the Howling Banshees' power sword or the Dire Avengers' Shuriken Catapult. Their lethality, however, is measured on a different scale altogether.The Crimson Hunters are few in number, though their Aspect Shrines are becoming ever more widespread amongst the Asuryani craftworlds. These temples to Khaela Mensha Khaine, the Aeldari god of war, are unlike any other. They are not buildings or landscapes at all but tunnel-linked collections of transparent atriums that float around the periphery of their craftworlds like archipelagos at the edge of a vast landmass.It is within these realms of captive sky that the Crimson Hunters duel, their weapons of choice the Bright Lances and Pulse Lasers gracing each interceptor's curving fuselage. During the breakneck battles that take place in these shrines, the weapons of the Crimson Hunters are set to illuminate rather than to pierce, for the Nightshade Interceptor has been designed specifically to hunt down and destroy aircraft of any kind -- even those of the Asuryani's dark Aeldari kindred, the Drukhari.A single beam of light can be the difference between victory and defeat, though it is said that the reflexes of a Crimson Hunter are so preternaturally sharp that they can evade even these.By training every night against their own kind -- in essence, the most gifted fighter pilots in the galaxy -- the proud warriors of the Crimson Hunters ensure that the act of destroying the aircraft of the "lesser races" is a simple exercise that proves their inherent superiority over the sluggish would-be pilots that pollute the skies of the universe. The Crimson Hunters embody the war god Khaine's ability to leave a more powerful foe reeling and ready for slaughter.The Crimson Hunters are also known to have a special veneration for the Aeldari god Kurnous, the god of the hunt, and they refer to themselves at times as the "Hawks of Kurnous."Soaring through the air in a blur of colour, the Crimson Hunters hunt down and destroy the aircraft of the foe, ensuring total air superiority for the Craftworld Aeldari so that the ungainly bulk of the enemy army is left blinded and slow to react.Once the pinpoint strikes of the Crimson Hunters have ensured the enemy army is ripe for destruction, the barbaric horde is taken apart at leisure by the rest of the Asuryani warhost.
Crimson Hunters - Exarchs: Crimson Hunter Exarchs are very similar to the standard warriors of their Aspect Shrine, save that they fly Nightshade Interceptors that have been modified to carry heavier Laser Weapons, including two Starcannons in place of the standard complement of two Bright Lances.A Crimson Hunter Exarch is known to possess uncanny night vision and to generally be an even more accurate marksman when behind the controls of his fighter craft than a standard Crimson Hunter combat pilot.
Crimson Hunters - Notable Shrines: Ascendant Strike ShrineFalling Blood ShrineScions of Kuron Shrine
Crimson Hunters - Wargear: Nightshade Interceptor - The Nightshade Interceptor is a potent Craftworld Aeldari fighter that is equipped with the following weaponry:2 Bright Lances - Aeldari Laser Weapons use psychically-grown crystals to refine their already intense bursts of coherent light to their optimum potency. Many Aeldari consider the laser weapon the most elegant of all, exulting in the fact that their technological mastery extends even to light itself. Some heavier Aeldari Laser Weapons are calibrated to send out a staccato series of blasts, whilst others narrow their focus to such a degree that they can pierce any armour, no matter the thickness. The Bright Lance is one such Aeldari Laser Weapon and the equivalent of the Imperium's Lascannon. It operates the same way, firing a concentrated blast of coherent light capable of destroying enemy vehicles, though the Bright Lance is far more efficient thanks in part to the use of psychically-grown Aeldari crystals. It is also more accurate than an Imperial Lascannon, making armour below a certain thickness redundant.Pulse Laser - The Pulse Laser is a highly advanced Aeldari Laser Weapon capable of firing a stream of powerful laser bolts. Compared to the Bright Lance, it has a higher rate of fire and longer range, though at the expense of penetrative power.2 Starcannons (Crimson Hunter Exarch Only) - The tech-adepts of the Imperium of Man have never really harnessed the full power of Plasma Weapons technology; only the Aeldari have truly mastered its potential. To the Aeldari, it is further testament to the idiocy of Mankind that he has created a weapon that frequently maims or even kills its wielder. The sophisticated Starcannons of the Craftworld Aeldari have no such flaws. Each weapon's plasma core produces the incandescent heat of a star, but sophisticated electromagnetic containment fields ensure that the weapon's exterior remains cool to the touch. A Crimson Hunter Exarch may replace their Nightshade Interceptor's Bright Lances with the more potent Starcannons.
Crimson Hunters - Sources: Codex: Eldar (6th Edition), pp. 39, 62-63Death from the Skies (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), "The Hawks of Kurnous"On Wings of Blood (Anthology), "Wraithbound" (Short Story) by J.C. Stearns
Crimson Knights - Crimson Knights: The Crimson Knights is a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter and a successor of the Blood Angels. They were created during an unknown Founding in the 35th Millennium as a standing force intended to bolster the defences of a region of Imperial space against the predations of the Craftworld Aeldari; specifically, this led the Chapter to fight a series of battles against Craftworld Kaelor.Their 3rd Company captain is regarded as a hero for successfully leading a raid against this craftworld, earning both the captain and the Crimson Knights the eternal enmity of the Asuryani.The Chapter is currently rebuilding its numbers after having suffered severe losses in battle. During one notable incident, the Chapter's forces were saved due to the timely intervention of an Imperial Navy battlefleet. Due to this event, the Crimson Knights now count the Imperial Navy as one of their closest allies.The Chapter's homeworld is the distant world of Tembron, where the Chapter's leadership is also regarded as the world's ultimate authority.
Crimson Knights - Chapter Homeworld: The Crimson Knights hail from the distant planet of Tembron, which is classified as a Feudal World by Imperial cartographers. The world's predominant terrain is a wasteland. The wind-scoured and polluted wastes are dominated by massive, looming keeps where the feudal lords of this planet control and protect the peasants of their households. The Crimson Knights have taken to directly ruling the barren planet, meaning the Chapter's leaders are figures of ultimate authority on this world.
Crimson Knights - Chapter Gene-Seed: The Crimson Knights' gene-seed originates from their progenitors, the Blood Angels. As such, they too, suffer from the effects of the inherited genetic Flaws of the Red Thirst and Black Rage.
Crimson Knights - Chapter Colours: The Crimson Knights' Chapter colours are primarily red with golden greaves.
Crimson Knights - Chapter Badge: The Crimson Knights' Chapter badge is a sword flanked by multiple blood drops.
Crimson Knights - Trivia: The Crimson Knights and Tembron were created by Fantasy Flight Games, long a licensee of Games Workshop, who created many of the Warhammer 40,000 board games and roleplaying games like the two editions of Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader and Deathwatch. The Crimson Knights were used as an example of how to create a Space Marine Chapter using the rules in the Deathwatch RPG sourcebook Deathwatch: Rites of Battle.
Crimson Legion - Crimson Legion: Crimson LegionSpace MarineChapterBlood AngelsFoundingCreated as they were from the Blood Angels' gene-seed, they carried the genetic flaws inherited from Sanguinius.Like many of their contemporary Successor Chapters founded in later centuries, the Crimson Legion was greatly affected by the genetic flaws of their Blood Angels' heritage, the Black Rage and the Red Thirst.When a Battle-Brother fell to the throes of the Black Rage he was placed within the ranks of the Chapter's Death Company.Unlike their forebears, the Crimson Legion was known to take a much harsher, punitive attitude to their battle-lost brothers, hurling their Death Companies into battle with no concern for their lives and using them as a blunt instrument to break enemy front lines no matter the cost.This Chapter displayed such merciless disregard many times across the span of millennia.
Crimson Legion - Chapter Colours: The Crimson Legion's Chapter colours are not listed in current Imperial records.
Crimson Legion - Chapter Badge: The Crimson Legion's Chapter badge is not listed in current Imperial records.
Crimson Paladins - Crimson Paladins: This article is about the Crimson Paladins Chapter; for the Blood Angels Legion's Order of the First Sphere active during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy era, see Crimson Paladins (Blood Angels).The Crimson Paladins is a Loyalist Codex Astartes-compliant Space Marine Chapter of unknown origin and Founding.The name of the Chapter's homeworld is Fortress, and its fortress-monastery is known as Honour Hold.Much of this fortress is below ground as added protection against orbital strikes.
Crimson Paladins - Notable Campaigns: Destruction of Cavlock (905.M41) - Inquisitor Valeria discovered the Dimensional Forge in the salt caverns of the world of Cavlock. Before she could recover this wondrous alien artefact, a Daemon-infested space hulk crashed into the world, causing massive destruction and disgorging a horde of screaming Daemons onto the planet's surface. Valeria took command of Cavlock's defence forces, and immediately summoned assistance but, disrupted by the onset of Warp Storms, the Imperial counterattack took time to gather momentum. By the time reinforcements arrived -- a demi-brotherhood of Grey Knights, two companies of Silver Skulls and twelve regiments of Cadian Shock Troopers -- Valeria's forces had been forced to yield the snow-covered plains in favour of reinforcing the hive cities. The Imperial reinforcements took less than a solar day to change the fortunes of war. Acting in concert with the Silver Skulls, the Grey Knights slew many of the Greater Daemons at the head of the horde. Nevertheless, the Daemons remained too numerous to defeat, and further forces were drawn to Cavlock's defence: Astra Militarum regiments from Mordian and Armageddon, Space Marines of the Legion of Night and Crimson Paladins Chapters, and even a small contingent of Asuryani from the Alaitoc craftworld, who were doubtlessly pursuing their own goals under cover of the wider war. After solar weeks of unremitting campaign, the Imperial forces finally began to gain ground against the Daemons. By the time Inquisitor Emil Darkhammer arrived on Cavlock, three solar months after the daemonic incursion had begun, the battle was all but won. Nonetheless, Darkhammer, a staunchly Puritan Inquisitor with a vicious distrust of all things alien, issued the Exterminatus order that reduced Cavlock to a burnt cinder. Of the billions of warriors and civilians sill alive on Cavlock at the time of the bombardment, only a few hundred escaped. One was Inquisitor Valeria, who was thrown aboard the last departing shuttle by a faithful Acolyte. Perceiving that the chief motivation behind Darkhammer's precipitate act had been the destruction of the Dimensional Forge, rather than the cessation of the daemonic incursion, she declared Darkhammer to be Excommunicate Traitoris and swore to bring him to account.
Crimson Paladins - Chapter Colours: The Crimson Paladins primarily wear crimson power armour, which includes the helmet, shoulder plates, torso and groin area. The power pack, shoulder plate trim, arms and legs are red.The white squad specialty symbol -- battleline, close support, fire support, Veteran or command -- is indicated on the right shoulder plate.A black High Gothic numeral centred on the squad specialty symbol indicates squad number. The white High Gothic numeral on the left knee plate indicates company number.
Crimson Paladins - Chapter Badge: The Crimson Paladins' Chapter badge is a large white skull with an ebon Maltese Cross located on its forehead, on a field of crimson.
Crimson Paladins (Blood Angels) - Crimson Paladins (Blood Angels): The Crimson Paladins, also known as the Keruvim, or the "Storm Winds," for the sudden onset of their anger and the lasting fervour of their hate, was an Order of the First Sphere of the Blood Angels Space Marine Legion during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras.They served as the guardians of the primarch's halls and sanctums. At Sanguinius' command, they also at times served in the field as an elite formation of the IXth Legion.Like all of the Orders of the First Sphere, the Crimson Paladins forsook their original names and ranks to assume a new identity that erased all sense of self to better focus on the duties assigned to them.The Crimson Paladins no longer exist within the present-day Blood Angels Chapter or its successors.
Crimson Paladins (Blood Angels) - History: The origins of the Crimson Paladins lay in the reunion of the IXth Legion and its Primarch Sanguinius. The winged primarch was to bring a sense of order to the often fractious Legion, stamping a new structure onto it in the hopes of containing its genetic hunger. Though in essence this new order would seem to be in accord with the Principia Belicosa, the schema by which the other Space Marine Legions were organised, in actuality it also varied a great deal from the standard pattern.It retained the basic structure of companies, initially forming the Legion into 200 companies of approximately 300 warriors each, although by the last years of the Great Crusade this would have increased to 300 companies each of 500 warriors. However, past this basic structure there were many discrepancies, each chosen by the Great Angel to serve a purpose in his plans.These companies were grouped into "hosts" for campaigns requiring greater force of numbers than that possessed of a single company, though each host was a temporary creature broken and made as tactical need required. Sanguinius created three "spheres" to encompass his hosts, three chambers by which he would give order and purpose to the warriors of the Legion.Each was separate and distinct from the Three Hundred Companies of the Legion and the strictures of the Principia Bellicosa, forming a distinct strata of organisation that allowed the warriors of the IXth Legion to focus their hunger and rage towards a single end and to conquer it. Yet it was not merely a blunt tool, but an elegant and artful plan designed to promote the finer qualities of the Legion while providing an outlet for the more base. It was the Great Angel's masterwork, the fulfilment of an oath and the salvation of his children.The First Sphere, the final demarcation of Sanguinius' new Legion, comprised the ranks of the "Immortals." These warriors stood within the presence of the primarch; they did not operate within one of the Three Hundred Companies but as the guards and servants of the Great Angel himself. Each, when inducted into the ranks of the First Sphere, gave up his common name to take on another and gave up his identity to do the work of the primarch without guilt or regret.They were Sanguinius' wrath, his stern resolve and his watchful eyes each given form and purpose. Upon these warriors he depended for the most dangerous of tasks, to fight upon those battlefields and to act upon those errands that would tarnish the soul and bring the hunger for flesh and blood suffered by all the Blood Angels roaring to the fore. By the armour of the new names and persona that the warriors of the First Sphere wore like their own, they put off the toll of their actions and emerged from their service untarnished, to take their places in the ranks once again.The First Sphere was made up entirely of a series of warrior Orders, each of which operated independently of the Three Hundred Companies. The first and most famous of these were the Sanguinary Guard, the honour guard of the primarch himself, but there would be many others -- each assigned with a specific task and duty.Also known within obscure dogma of the IXth Legion as the Keruvim, or the "Storm Winds," the Crimson Paladins were one of the warrior Orders of the First Sphere. As with the other First Sphere Orders, they forsook name and rank to assume an identity and role that subsumed all sense of self and left them with only the singular duty assigned them.Such a sacrifice, made in the name of the Great Angel and for the sake of their brothers, bolstered the resolve of these warriors to the point that no threat or dire fate could turn them from their purpose. It was commonly held within the Legion that no warrior who wore the armour of a Crimson Paladin had ever taken a step backwards while the IXth Legion bore arms in righteous combat.The Crimson Paladins of the Blood Angels stood as the guardians of the primarch's halls, a grim counterpart to the Golden Seraphs, the Sanguinary Guard. When these warriors took to the field, clad in the reliquary armour of their Order and cloaked in the names of the Immortals, they stood as a bulwark against the foe and a shield for the sons of Sanguinius.They formed the unyielding anchor upon which the Crimson Host turned -- a single unshakeable bastion of blades and power shields. By their sacrifice and indomitable resolve were the Blood Angels freed to give vent to the noble fury of their Legion.
Crimson Paladins (Blood Angels) - Notable Crimson Paladins: Barbiel - Barbiel was the leader of the Crimson Paladins at the time of the Battle of Signus Prime. Barbiel defended the wreck of the Blood Angels flagship Red Tear on Signus Prime, his great hammer dripped with the ichor of slain Daemons.Hamonah - Venerable Hamonah once was the Lord of the Storm Winds and Principal of the Crimson Paladins. He participated in the Battle of Signus Prime in the chassis of the mighty Dreadnought Keruvim.Jophial - Jophial was a capable sculptor and continued to work marble even after he was interred in the sarcophagus of a Leviathan Dreadnought. Venerable-Exemplar Jophial was aboard the Red Tear, still engaged with enemy forces in the outer compartments, when that venerable warship slammed into the surface of Signus Prime. It is a testament to the formidable armour of his Dreadnought chassis that Jophial survived the impact of the crash landing, and a tribute to his valour that he was among the first of the survivors to dig himself free and secure the area around the wreck. After serving a vital role in recovery operations, the indomitable Ancient would go on to serve as a linchpin in the defence of the wreck.
Crimson Paladins (Blood Angels) - Unit Composition: 2 Crimson Paladins1 Crimson Exemplar
Crimson Paladins (Blood Angels) - Crimson Paladin: Cataphractii Pattern Terminator ArmourPower Weapon (Any type)Coriolis Pattern Power Shield
Crimson Paladins (Blood Angels) - Optional Wargear: Equinox Power Blade (Sunset Blade)Iliastus Pattern Assault CannonHeavy FlamerPlasma BlasterPower Fist
Crimson Paladins (Blood Angels) - Crimson Exemplar: Cataphractii Pattern Terminator ArmourPower Weapon (Any type)Coriolis Pattern Power ShieldBlade of Perdition (As replacement for Power Weapon and Coriolis Pattern Power Shield)Grenade Harness
Crimson Path - Crimson Path: The Crimson Path is the overall strategic plan of Abaddon the Despoiler, the Warmaster of Chaos and Chaos Lord of the Black Legion, to lead the forces of Chaos from the Eye of Terror all the way to Holy Terra itself in the final days of the 41st Millennium.Abaddon intends to succeed where his predecessor Horus failed, breaking the Imperial Palace wide open and tearing the Emperor's rotting corpse from the Golden Throne. Over the millennia, each of his conquests and Black Crusades has gradually paved the way from the Eye of Terror towards the Sol System, despite this grand design often being oblivious to the Imperium's defenders.Less obvious, however, is that along that path, his actions have gradually weakened the veil between realspace and the Warp, assisting the birth of the Great Rift after the successful conquest of the Fortress World of Cadia during the 13th Black Crusade in ca. 999.M41.It is for this reason that the servants of Chaos now also sometimes refer to the Great Rift itself as the "Crimson Path."
Crimson Path - History: During the course of his long years on the threshold of the Eye of Terror, Abaddon discovered a strange truth about the barrier between the Materium and Immaterium. Dotted across the galaxy were ancient structures of black stone, stark and monolithic on the outside but extremely complex within.There were many of these upon the Fortress World of Cadia. Known as "pylons" to the planet's militarised populace, they were so old that none gave them more than a passing thought. It was Abaddon's belief that these structures were the very things that maintained the stability of the Cadian Gate -- something about them kept the energies of the Warp from spilling through the Eye of Terror into realspace.For thousands of Terran years, the Despoiler sent his agents across the galaxy to locate these monoliths of blackstone. He spent many years calling in old alliances, striking daemonic bargains and invoking ancient pacts with the Traitor Legions and their corrupted Daemon Primarchs.Thread by tenuous thread, the Despoiler put together a plan to isolate and destroy these structures, using false objectives or even entire Black Crusades to conceal his true motives.Over the course of several world-scouring invasions, Abaddon shattered, toppled or blasted apart these structures wherever he found them -- sometimes in person, at other times with his agents, his flagship the Planet Killer, or the immense Blackstone Fortresses he co-opted during the Gothic War.The last of and greatest of these destructive campaigns was levelled at Cadia itself. Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade brought about so much death and destruction that his Daemonic allies could breach realspace wherever they wished and be sustained indefinitely by the unbridled mayhem that raged around them.The demolition of the strange black monoliths scattered across Cadia's surface was finally achieved, the capstone of a grand design that had seen the cataclysmic events of Pandorax, the Siege of the Fenris System, the return of the Planet of the Sorcerers to realspace and operations on a dozen worlds besides tied together into one galaxy-wrecking whole.Suddenly, all the manifold armies of Chaos were free to pour into realspace like blood from a deep wound. True to his claims, Abaddon had succeeded in ripping open the gates of hell.As the galaxy has split along its length, with Warp Storms raging in a hundred locations and more, those Traitor Legions and Renegade Chapters who had sworn allegiance to the Warmaster of Chaos formed the vanguard of the invasion.They are a broad-headed spear that has plunged deep into the heart of the Cadian System and emerged from the other side. Abaddon cares little how many casualties are amassed as his great agenda comes to fruition. His only concern is that enough blood be spilled to saturate the battlefields of the Imperium's defenders, and in doing so summon more daemonic armies to his cause.This is a strategy Abaddon intends to see replicated on world after world as he extends the Crimson Path, each planetary invasion taking the Chaos Space Marines closer to Terra, with the armies of the daemon lords following in their wake.With Cadia reduced to ruin, the Great Rift which has opened across the galaxy, the Cicatrix Maledictum, is being effectively weaponised by Abaddon's invasion. It spills out behind the 13th Black Crusade, roiling and growing more violent in Abaddon's wake, agitated by the scale of the Black Legion's many slaughters.Simultaneously, dozens of Renegade Chapters from the Warp rift once known as the Maelstrom are pouring out into the Segmentum Solar, forcing the Space Marines and their Primaris reinforcements to spread themselves thin as they fight on hundreds of fronts.Abaddon has driven a talon of unreality into the Segmentum Solar, its onset heralding the doom of the Imperium. The High Lords of Terra live in constant fear of realspace collapsing entirely, and are sending every military force they can muster to halt Abaddon's rampage. As the drama plays out to its desperate conclusion, one thing remains certain -- unending war.
Crimson Raptors - Crimson Raptors: The Crimson Raptors are a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter of an unknown Founding and genetic origin. Their homeworld is named Bloodpeak.Th Crimson Raptors have been active in many of the conflicts of the Era Indomitus.
Crimson Raptors - Notable Campaigns: War of the Prosperan Rift - Chancyll Suppression (Unknown Date.M42) - After the opening of the Great Rift, the Prosperan Rift became rife with war. Across multiple star systems, forces of Chaos loyal to the Daemon Primarch Magnus the Red and his divine master Tzeentch fought to expand Magnus' psychic haven in realspace centred on Sortiarius which had been moved through the use of a sorcerous ritual from the Eye of Terror to a position above his lost homeworld of Prospero. Populations rose up against their Imperial overlords and the beleaguered soldiery of the Imperium desperately fought back. At the world of Chancyll, the Crimson Raptors deployed 4 demi-companies to support the Adeptus Astartes of the Dragonspears and Knights of Doom, the Sisters of Battle of the Order of the Bloody Rose and the Order of the Blessed Martyr, the Astra Militarum troops of the Chancyllian Cannoneers, Chancyllian Musketry, Chancyllian Lightfoot and Praetorian Hussars regiments, and the Imperial Knights of House Brahmica and House Hawkwood.Pariah Nexus (Unknown Date.M42) - The Crimson Raptors are known to have participated in this campaign.Octarius War (Unknown Date.M42) - The Crimson Raptors were confirmed to have been present in this warzone, although due to the Adeptus Astartes' total operational autonomy it's unclear how long they stayed and how many forces they committed.
Crimson Raptors - Chapter Colours: The Crimson Raptors' Chapter colours are not listed in current Imperial records.
Crimson Raptors - Chapter Badge: The Crimson Raptors' Chapter badge is an eagle's head.
Crimson Sabres - Crimson Sabres: Crimson SabresSpace MarineChapterFounding13th "Dark Founding"The Chapter's reputation was built on ruthless efficiency and fastidious adherence to the Codex Astartes. Soon enough, signs that things were awry appeared in the Chapter's history. These problems culminated with the genocidal war on Umidia.This world proved to be the fulcrum of change for the Crimson Sabres. The fighting there proved so intense that it changed the Chapter, as its battle-brothers found themselves cursed by the Chaos God Khorne, forever haunted by the fell voices of the slain even after the combat had ended. They attempted to cleanse themselves and silence the voices howling in their minds by assaulting their future foes with an almost blatant disregard for honour or mercy.As a result they soon found themselves declared Excommunicate Traitoris by the High Lords of Terra. Determined to sell themselves dearly, the Crimson Sabres turned to the Eye of Terror, where they planned to die fighting the enemies of Mankind and so reclaim their honour.However, the Chapter was wracked by mutation and eventually corrupted into full-fledged Chaos Space Marines during their sojourn in the Eye. Renamed the Crimson Slaughter, the voices which plague them can no longer be silenced except by the most obscene levels of carnage, and wherever they go they are presaged by a bow wave of Warp-spawned horror.
Crimson Sabres - Chapter History: Once known as the Crimson Sabres, this Loyalist Space Marine Chapter was held up as a paragon of loyalty and virtue within the ranks of the Adeptus Astartes. It is unknown from which Founding the Crimson Sabres were created, or which Chapter served as their progenitor. Naturally, much speculation on both accounts has been made, including postulations made by members of the Chapter itself.Each brother amongst the Chapter had held his own theory, often claiming they were descended from such noble and proud Chapters as the Ultramarines, Blood Angels or Imperial Fists. There had been a few members of the Chapter down the centuries -- usually brothers of the Librarius or Reclusiam -- who held a different belief regarding their origins, in that they believed the Crimson Sabres were founded from a Chapter whose own roots lay on a Feudal World.This, they argued, was the source of the Crimson Sabres' prowess and fascination with the blade, but at the cost of the mastery of most other close combat weapons. Those who held to this particular school of thought bore maces, halberds and sometimes even axes into battle to honour this supposed tradition.The earliest mentions of the Crimson Sabres that have been uncovered are battle records that list them as participating in campaigns at the dawning of the 36th Millennium. That the Chapter's Founding is unknown seems tied to two events –- the Amalgamation Schism and the destruction of the planet Rhoghon. After long searches, keen-eyed Inquisitorial teams have been able to track down several sources regarding the Chapter's activity during the Wars of Apostasy.One, a brief report in the chrono-logs of the Silver Skulls, lists the Crimson Sabres' service in several battles, noting their disciplined fire support as exemplary. To aid the investigations, Silver Skulls Prognosticators delved further into their records, confirming that, at the time, they judged their brethren to be in perfect accordance to the Codex Astartes.Another reference in the data-scrolls of the Black Templars credits the Crimson Sabres as the leaders in hunting down and destroying a xenos threat that encroached upon the Segmentum Solar while the Imperium was distracted in their war with the rogue High Lord of Terra Goge Vandire.During the Cleansing of Danor IV, a standard-year-long campaign in which no less than six Chapters of Space Marines took part, it was the Crimson Sabres who gained the most commendations. The overall leader -– the then-Master of the Blood Angels, Commander Virgilus -– noted that the duty-bound Crimson Sabres were masters of quick-strike warfare, praising their Drop Pod assaults and claiming that they nearly rivalled those of his own legendary Chapter.The only cautionary note from this period comes from Brother Aerigulus, an Ultramarines Librarian who took part in the actions on Danor IV. It was his report that cited the Crimson Sabres as "overeager for acceptance." Later, in the same data-scroll, Aerigulus went on to clarify that this overwrought zeal might have been expected from a new Chapter fighting alongside such Imperial stalwarts as the Blood Angels and Ultramarines. This foreshadows what was to follow.
Crimson Sabres - Amalgamathian Schism: Although the Warp Storms that once cut it off had lifted, the Brakatoa System remained plagued by strange eddies in the Immaterium. Warp-transit in its vicinity proved particularly hazardous -– aside from being thrown off course, spacecraft faced increased risk of time alterations and daemonic incursion.Despite the warnings, many voidships were caught in the wayward crosscurrents. So many derelict spacecraft and Warp anomalies materialised just outside of Brakatoa that the region became known colloquially as "Hulk Alley." From their Chapter homeworld in the systerm of Rhoghon, the Crimson Sabres routinely launched missions to explore these hulks, their fleet blasting paths through the debris and using the larger clusters for target practice.Indeed, one of the few records of the Crimson Sabres that has been found in the archives on Terra compounds this fact, claiming that the location of the Chapter's homeworld in the Brakatoa System was specifically chosen so they could regularly perform this precautionary duty. Even before the space hulk designated Amalgamation fully emerged out of the Warp, psychic choirs in the Brakatoa System began receiving desperate pleas for help. Other communication channels followed as the process of solidifying into realspace took place.What appeared was a hulk in every sense of the word -- an enormous conglomerate made of a miserable mangle of many star-faring craft compacted together. At the heart of the sprawling Amalgamation was an Imperial pilgrimage transport, a barricaded vessel where many millions of Human colonists were under siege by Warp entities.All available elements of the Crimson Sabres were called into action, but they were not alone in responding. Following some trail of their own, the Dark Angels arrived shortly after and requested to enter the space hulk alone. This appeal was dropped after the arrival of a Blood Angels strike cruiser, which had also answered the distress signal. Having the most senior officer present, the Blood Angels claimed overall command –- but even as they did so, the Crimson Sabres followed their own protocols and launched Boarding Torpedoes towards the hulk.Soon, the other forces joined by Thunderhawk landings, while Deathwing Terminators teleported directly onto the craft. The Space Marines hunted the vast hulk, carving through bulkheads to enter blood-strewn corridors. Just as the chugging of bolter fire announced contact with the foe, the Daemons began to fade, disappearing back into the Warp. With the military aspect of the mission over, the Space Marines made ready to return to their respective voidships –- leaving the surviving colonists to the agents of the Inquisition that would arrive soon.In their zeal to follow procedures and their continued eagerness to prove themselves, the Crimson Sabres had not deferred to two of the most heralded Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. Although the two organisations couldn't be more different from each other –- the taciturn and simple-robed Dark Angels, the famed descendants of the Ist Legion, contrasting with the polished brilliance of the celebrated Blood Angels, warriors whose armour flashed with elaborate gold adornments –- both Chapters were proud and well aware of their respective First Founding status.Unspoken tradition had been breached, and the Crimson Sabres were coldly treated as impudent newcomers rather than as comrades-in-arms. There was further trouble besides. Against standard procedure, a Dark Angels Chaplain had captured one of the colonist-pilgrims. The Chaplain had been in the midst of harsh interrogations when several squads of Crimson Sabres interrupted his work.They challenged him, claiming that some Warp malady must have possessed the Dark Angel for him to act so, and a brief firefight ensued. This resulted in casualties amongst both Chapters, and the subsequent escape of the tormented hostage. Clearly infuriated, for moments it seemed the Dark Angels were on the verge of retaliation, but they soon disappeared with the arrival of the Inquisition.
Crimson Sabres - A Growing Estrangement: Even a small stone can cause many ripples. Although outwardly everything was the same after the minor rift that later came to be known to the Crimson Sabres as the Amalgamathian Schism, it set off a chain of events that was to have wider repercussions.Within solar days, the Crimson Sabres stronghold of Decavitum received words of censure from Terra, and most probably from their Founding Chapter as well, although no records remain. This was little more than remonstrance, a lesser rebuke that let it be known that failure to properly acclaim the Dark Angels and Blood Angels had brought the Crimson Sabres dishonour, a tarnish that did not sit well with their gloried predecessors.The leadership of the Crimson Sabres –- the Chapter's High Council of Company Masters and senior officers known as the Sword Council -- ordered a tribunal to investigate the matter. None wished the Crimson Sabres' deeds to be questioned and Chapter Master Nigellus was alarmed to learn that some of the group feared further Imperial censure.Concerned with what he felt was a growing element of unwarranted paranoia, Nigellus was outraged. To his mind, he felt the Crimson Sabres had followed procedure and acted swiftly and correctly in responding to the threat. If there was any misconduct it was not by his Chapter. Furthermore, any perceived slight to the First Founding Chapters' honour was unintentional and petty. They were all serving the same Emperor and fighting the same enemy were they not?Nigellus was determined to shed his Chapter's growing self-doubt and make a statement. In a bold move, he declared the Crimson Sabres would sever all ties to their brother Space Marine Chapters, including their founders. They would be loyal to the tactical guidelines laid out by the Codex Astartes and follow uncompromisingly all orders as issued by the High Lords of Terra.To all others, they would be unanswerable. By Nigellus' straightforward logic this was as it should be -- for their mission of service must not be corrupted by the influence of their comrades. Was it not dogged faithfulness to the Warmaster Horus that had allowed half of the original Space Marine Legions to be led astray? In this action, he sought to free the Crimson Sabres from faulty judgement and therefore all reproach.
Crimson Sabres - Born Again: At first, the Crimson Sabres maintained great pride in their resolve, but slowly, self-doubt began to gnaw at many within the Chapter. Never one to brook dissent, Nigellus banned all further debate on the matter and any mention of the deeds of the Amalgamathian Schism was forbidden. Although the Crimson Sabres remained resolute in their convictions, the break with their primogenitors was far from easy. Much of their Chapter lore had to be reconfigured so that no mention of their founders appeared in their history.Over and over, the Librarians and Chaplains were ordered to scrub clean all evidence of their forebears, and Rhoghon was scoured of statues, heirloom suits of power armour, and any relics of their ancient past that predated the Founding of their Chapter. Amongst the star-faring Chapter fleet, strike cruisers were renamed and the training regimen of the 10th Company was reconstructed anew. In essence, the Crimson Sabres were reborn -- new defenders of the Imperium, unencumbered by any ties to the distant past.Only in the Sanctum of the Sword, the innermost chambers of the tallest tower of Decavitum, their Chapter stronghold and fortress-monastery, was the Chapter's full history locked away. There it was decreed that the truth of the Crimson Sabres' birthright and the full history of their deeds would be kept. The sanctum was accessible only to the Chapter's senior officers -- the captains of each company, along with the senior Chaplains and Librarians.Beneath Nigellus' stern leadership, the Crimson Sabres were zealous in their duty. If any rumour or ill feeling towards the Chapter remained amongst any agents of the Adeptus Terra, this was soon forgotten. The red-armoured Space Marines firmly established a reputation for swift efficiency, being regarded as warriors of unimpeachable conduct.Indeed, their rigorous obedience to the Codex Astartes, for they followed its guidelines to the letter, earned them many commendations for their rapid actions. However, deeper within the Crimson Sabres, something dark was brooding.

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