Blood Jaws

The Blood Jaws are a formerly Loyalist Chapter of Space Marines created during an Unknown Founding, and from uncertain lineage, in 013.M37. This bellicose and ferocious Chapter was created in order to stand as a bulwark against constant attacks in and around the Eye of Terror, from both the Forces of Chaos and various xenos threats. Unfortunately, within the first century of their creation the Chapter fell from the light of the Emperor, for unknown to them, their first Chapter Master had been corrupted by a Greater Daemon of Khorne. Following their ill-fated sojourn into the Eye of Terror, the Blood Jaws were slowly corrupted by the insidious touch of the Blood God. When they finally emerged, they had been transformed into a large Chaos Warband, wholly dedicated to slaughter and murder. Now they commit the most obscene levels of carnage wherever they go, in tribute to their brutal and bloody deity.

Warband History
The Blood Jaw Space Marine Chapter were created in the early years of the 37th Millennium to combat the various Chaos and xenos threats in and around the Eye of Terror, following an incident in which nearly eight Imperial worlds near the Eye were taken by an unknown xenos race. To combat this threat, the High Lords of Terra sanctioned the use of the gene-seed of the ferocious Charcharadons to be used to create a new Chapter, whos purpose would be much like many other Chapters stationed around the Eye. Though the Blood Jaws' mission was to provide a stalwart defence of Imperial worlds, they chose to take a more proactive role to seek out the various threats of the Forces of Chaos and xenos that existed in and around the Eye.

This was a role the Blood Jaws Chapter performed admirably, as they brutally slaughtered any and all foes who dared to assail Imperial worlds under their protection. The Chapter excelled in their role as bloody-handed retributors for nearly a century, though this all changed when their Chapter Master, Ukkaja Elkram, came into contact with a daemonic artefact - a flaming powersword that was possessed by a Bloodletter of Khorne, named Arguando'thrua. The daemon took hold of the Chapter Master and possessed him - mind, body and soul - bending the Chapter Master's very soul to his will. Eventually, Arguando'thrua began corrupting other members of the Chapter, eventually amassing enough followers of the Blood God to kill the few remaining loyalists and remaking their Chapter into a true Chaos Warband.

It appears that the Greater Daemon had foresight as well. Ukkaja Elkram made a devil's bargain with the infamous, former fallen Emperor's Children Chief Apothecary, Fabius Bile. If they could provide him the resources and test subjects he desired for gruesome experiments, he would repair and enhance the Blood Jaws' gene-seed.

Now the Blood Jaws roam the Eye of Terror as a marauding force - killing xenos, taking skulls and enslaving humans for Fabius Bile and his vile experiments, all in the name of the Blood God.

Warband Home World
As the Blood Jaws are a fleet-based Warband they do no possess a home world of their own, therefore they are not tied down to a demesne and may continue in their twisted Crusade in and around the Eye of Terror.

The Megalodon
Ruled by a single Astartes who's word is law amongst the Blood Jaws, he is called the Megalodon, their leader is chosen in a bloody trial by combat. He must defeat the current Megalodon in unarmed combat, so as to provide equal footing. This single Astartes is said to be a sight to behold. The Megalodon by tradition wears what appears to be an ancient set of Heresy Era Emperor's Children Cataphractii pattern Terminator Armour, presumably given by Fabius Bile as payment for providing numerous test subjects. He is described as a living incarnation of a daemon upon the battlefield - destroying swathes of innocents, soldiers, and even his own Astartes - with a flaming unidentified power sword which is possibly daemonic in nature.

Neverending Slaughter
The Blood Jaws sole mission was, and is, still believed to eradicate the Chaos-corrupted heretics and xenos populations around the Eye, as they continue to quest on a near, never-ending eternal Crusade, which has now become a dark and twisted Blood Crusade. The Blood Jaws have also liberated several human worlds formerly under the control of a now unknown and extinct xenos race's occupation, but arguably, the men upon these world's might have been better off under the xenos' rule.

Whereas their forefathers practice violent sacking and pillaging of worlds for new recruits for their own Crusade, the Blood Jaws take near everything including survivors, likening it to a predator's eternal hunger.

The Gathering
The Blood Jaws are given the opportunity to recruit any of those taken during the Gathering if they are not chosen by Fabius. If they are chosen, they are implanted with their corrupted gene-seed and made to live and survive amongst the daemon and mutant-infested parts of their flagship. To survive, they must find a way to break out of the labyrinthine bowels of the massive vessel and get themselves to the "safety" of the Astartes-controlled area of the ship. This often results in a low rate of recruitment, with often only maybe 3 or 4 surviving the grueling trial out of 80 or so potential Aspirants that are sent in. Those that do survive, possess a predator's cunning and lust for savagery, that overshadows a constant urge to commit violence and carnage.

Notable Campaigns

 * The Slaughter of the Vya (087.M40)- During a xenos extermination campaign on the world of Ja'jeki, the Astral Warriors attacked, and nearly defeated the Nurglich, insectoid xenos race known as the Vya. During the final battle, the Astral Warriors 4th Host was attacked by the Blood Jaws, who's forces overwhelmed both sides, killing off the remaining Vya and leaving of the 270 Astral Warriors Marines only 30. The retreating Astral Warriors are still hunted to this day, constantly hounded by the ever pursuing Blood Jaws, who are intent on taking their gene-seed.
 * Siege of Okrutta (Unknown Date) - Okrutta was a colony world of a relatively large Chaos-aligned xenos empire the Blood Jaws had discovered. This resulted in a grueling campaign against the xenos under the worship of Tzeentch, with the number of the Blood Jaws falling dangerously low before the Megalodon struck down the xenos Leader. Though, this resulted in the xenos declaring an "Oath of Malice", to slay the Blood Jaws for destroying one of their hard-earned worlds.

Warband Gene-Seed
Originally Charcharadon Astra, now a large chimera of Gene-Seed origins The result of Fabius Biles experiments on the Blood Jaws Gene-Seed.

Chapter Command

 * The Megalodon - Ruled by the Megalodon, who's word, while law amongst the Warband, must be overthrown in single combat to be dethroned. The Megalodon leads the Warband into their campaigns from his ship, only intervening if his presence upon the battlefield is needed.

Companies
The Chapter's 2nd and 6th Companies are all that remained from the culling the first Megalodon preformed, though they have now swelled up to large sizes due to the sheer amount of recruits they can be given.

Specialist Ranks

 * Beserkers of the Feeding - These savage beasts were once Astartes, now reduced to ravenous, ever-hungering shells of their former selves. So tainted by the touch of the Blood God are these vile creatures, that they must be chained in the holds of the Blood Jaws' vessels in between battles, where they foam at the mouths and scream in impotent rage, until such time that they are released. This only occurs on those rare occasions when the flow of battle begins to show too much favour for the opposing side. Once loosened, the Berserkers charge blindly into the ranks of the foe, slaughtering and hacking with savage abandon. Once the battle is over, the Berserkes are once again taken aboard their warband's ships and secured, until they are needed for the next massacre. The Beserkers are perhaps one of the most dangerous weapons the Warband possess.
 * Enslaved Saharduin - Shortly after their corruption, they came across a world inhabited by xenos, ones bearing a great resemblance to the long extinct creature their Warbands and Progenitors name. The First Megalodon did something unexpected. He said this was a gift of the Blood God, that they found a race of slaves meant for them, they're very appearance was a sign of it. After a near three year campaign, the amphibious Saharduin were made into slaves for the Warband. Now, they live lives of misery, torment, and often times slaughter. They are the first force sent out into ground combat with broken weapons and often useless armor.
 * Sons of the Clonelord - The twisted Apothecaries of the Blood Jaws are apprenticed to the Clonelord, and are utilised to oversee interrogations, contrive inventively malignant punishments and keep their "subjects" alive and lucid far longer than they wished to be. Responsible for keeping the Warband alive, they are taught first hand by the Clonelord using captured Loyalist Adeptus Astartes as test subjects and learning tools. These twisted Apothecaries also specialise in harvesting the gene-seed from fallen Space Marines - from both allies and enemies alike - a blasphemy which has guaranteed the bitter hatred and enmity of any loyalist Adeptus Astartes who has fought the Blood Jaws in open battle.

Wargear

 * Gore Grenade - An experimental weapon of Fabius Bile, Gore Grenades were engineered from strange, unidentified xenos DNA and daemonic flesh. These small spherical balls of meat are filled with volatile liquid chambers. When shook and squeezed, they have a five second delay before exploding in a spray of debilitating acid and chemicals, melting armour, flesh and bone.
 * Gore Flamer- Similarly engineered by Fabius Bile, the Gore Flamer is a large, heavy bolter-sized construction of flesh and brass attached directly to a Heretic Astartes' arm. It harnesses, through it's connection to the Warp, fire from Khorne's Brass Forges, resulting in flames which melt near anything in the weapon's path.

Combat Doctrine
Often times the Blood Jaws will stay put in orbit for several weeks and examine a planet's weakspot, before preforming an asteroid bombardment of the largest centers of government. In the ensuing chaos they make planetfall and proceed to take as many people and other resources as possible, though even more are slaughtered in the name of the Blood God.

In ground combat they first send in the Saharduin to exhaust the opponent, before dropping down in drop pods.

Warband Beliefs
Though the Blood Jaws are worshippers of Khorne, they seem to only pray for strength and power during their wars and during the Gathering.

Notable Blood Jaws

 * Ukkaja Elkram the First Megalodon - When Ukkaja Elkram was given control of a new Chapter born of the Charcharadons gene-seed no one would have suspected that he was already corrupted by Chaos. Specifically a Bloodletter of Khorne had possessed his body due to his coming into contact with an artefact of Khorne in the form of a flaming powersword. On the start of their Crusade in the Eye, Ukkaja had begun to slowly expose more of his crew to the malevolent Warp energies of the Daemon in his sword. Shortly after, he slaughtered any loyalists in the Chapter, and established himself as the first Megalodon.

Warband Colours
The Blood Jaws primarily wear battle-plate painted in darkest black with rust red on parts of their armour, with bronze trim and embellishments.

Warband Relations
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Allies
It seems even though they are a pragmatic Warband, they do not seem to hold any other Astartes Warbands as "allies" in any way shape or form. Though they do seem accept help from most any Chaos Warband if they are not pledged to Tzeentch.

Feel free to add your own

Enemies

 * Xenos - The Blood Jaws Megalodon wage a war against any Xenos race which inhabit the Eye of Terror.
 * The Imperium - The Imperium they deem weak and useless.
 * Tzeentch Followers - Those that follow the ways of Tzeentch such as the Thousand Sons.
 * The Astral Warriors - The Astral Warriors and the Blood Jaws have been at each others throats since 087.M40. During an early campaign, the Astral Claws 4th Host came in contact with the Blood Jaws warband. The relative inexperience of the host resulted in their annihilation at the hands of the ravaging Blood Jaws. The warband also committed the worst of blasphemies - the managed to fight their way aboard the Astral Warriors' flagship and breached the ship's sanctum vaults in search of their prize - the Chapter's gene-seed. Though a small cadre of Astral Warriors' Apothecaries valiantly resisted, they were overwhelmed by the larger force of Blood Jaws Heretic Astartes. Any resistance was brutally slaughtered, and the Traitor Apothecary leading them ordered the massacre of the remaining Astral Warriors they had taken prisoner. They then stripped the fallen Astartes of their gene-seed whether alive or dead. The Blood Jaws then withdrew their forces after stealing a large amount of gene-seed and used it to enhance themselves after the battle. Enraged by such a transgression, the Astral Warriors have vowed to hunt the Blood Jaws whenever they can, with the hope that these traitors discovered the mystery that is their Primarch.

Notable Quotes
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By The Blood Jaws
"For our time is now. Let the ways of the Imperium be forgotten from out minds. For now, we make the xenos cower and die like it deserves with the power of the Blood God."

- Ukkaja Elkram, Megalodon of the Blood Jaws

"Your gene-seed will be ours!"

- Rinku Bellarn to Dallatus Fryn of the Astral Warriors

Feel free to add your own