Crimsonmarines

"Lives of Heretics are the scourge of mankind. There is only one resolve for these hideous traitors: Annihilation. When Mankind is free from corruption, only then will we be truly worthy of our Emperor's return."

- Karl Braecker, first Kapitel Meister (Chapter Master) of the Crimsonmarines

The Crimsonmarines are a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter and Successor of the Ultramarines Legion, first intended to be a [https://wh40khomebrew.fandom.com/wiki/Fleet-Based_Chapters#targetText=Fleet%2DBased%20refers%20to%20Space,among%20the%20most%20mobile%20Chapters. Fleet-Based] chapter. Believed to have been created as a part of the 5th Founding sometime in M33, this ancient and proud Chapter are lenient adherents of the Codex Astartes who consider the writ of the sacred text, penned by their blessed Primarch Roboute Guilliman, to be a divine guide of duty and honor rather than a law book to be strictly following and holding on. They are recorded to have made their own decisions and not have strayed too far from the Codex.

Crimsonmarines are best known for their extreme hatred towards heretics also well known for a hybrid tactic of large arsenals of superweapons combined with various tortuous assault tactics. Even though in possession of advanced weaponry and a large number of marines, having 13 Kompanien (companies) the chapter has usually a small assault force on any mission as the Crimsonmarines are thinned across the wide area of unexplored Wilderness Space throughout Löwenheim.

The Crimsonmarines' virtue and honor are such that they have been held up as an example to other Chapters of what it means to be of the Adeptus Astartes and of Roboute Guillimans bloodline, much like their parent Chapter. They have no known Successor Chapters, at least not officially, but they are believed to have had the honor of their brethren being selected to provide a portion of the gene-seed used in the Founding of several Ultramarines Successor Chapters in the past and dark rumors to have accepted renegades into their chapter.

The Chapter's homeworld of Löwenheim is to be found between the borders of the Ultima Segmentum and the Segmentum Obscurus, a great distance from the Ultramarines' Realm of Ultramar. The region is sparsely populated. The Chapter's sphere of influence and area of operations is very large. The vast tracts of unexplored Wilderness Space around Löwenheim, are host to all manner of ancient threats, nascent alien empires and as-yet-undiscovered lost human colony worlds from the Age of Strife, much the same as their current homeworld of Löwenheim once was before the discovery. As a consequence, the Crimsonmarines have seen action against a wide range of enemies, from terrible Xenos monstrosities to isolationist human realms that refuse to bow to the rule of the Emperor of Mankind. Perhaps partly because the Crimsonmarines operated across such a wide area, the Chapter has very rarely gathered all 13 of its Kompanien (companies) in one place, so active and far-flung are its companies' operations. As a Successor Chapter of the Ultramarines, the Crimsonmarines maintain close links to the present-day Ultramarines and their other Successor Chapters. The great distance between Löwenheim and Macragge means that the Chapter is unable to send representatives to the court of Marneus Calgar as often as its brother Chapters, but every Crimsonmarine aspires to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Primarch on Macragge at least once in his lifetime. Those that have done so traditionally mark the fact by adorning parts of their battle armor with white laurel wreaths, a mark of honor that the Chapter's Scout Marines behold with awe and dream of one day earning for themselves.

Chapter History
"The Imperium is stained with heretics."

- Sammael Poltersinn, Kaplan (Chaplain) of the Crimsonmarines

The Crimsonmarines Chapter was based on the Imperium's fringes along the desolate void-wastes to the galactic East-Northeast, between the borders of the  Ultima Segmentum and the Segmentum Obscurus as a fleet-based chapter, although in its long history it has been accustomed to great voyages and forlorn quests, having fought the width and breadth of the Imperium in the past. After a long time of crusading, near the closing years of the 35th Millennium the Chapter had made its home on the world of Löwenheim; A newly discovered planet by the chapter with a small population of humans possessing very advanced technology. After exploring the planet and its population, several artifacts (ancient technology and lost Standard Template Constructs or STCs) were found, tracing back to the dark age of technology explaining the population having advanced technology, which is suspected to be the reason the chapter conquered and established on the newfound world so hastily.

The planet, however, seems to have warp immunities since Psykers, the Bibliothekar (Librarian) felt a great amount of pain solely in orbit of Löwenheim it is currently unknown what caused this. The Techniker's (Techmarines) of the Crimsonmarines suspect the presence of a warp negating artifact, however, nothing could be found or proven. Since the planet could cause a great amount of torment to Psykers, the chapter has established another fortress on Knote the outermost moon which is the 4th of Löwenheim. The moon Knote is a rocky Ice moon with a habitable atmosphere also very rich in minerals. Currently unpopulated by any others than the Psykers of the Crimsonmarines. The various findings and research on ancient tech-artifacts have granted a large arsenal of advanced weaponry to the chapter by the Tech-priests who had accompanied the Crimsonmarines to Löwenheim.

Beginning of the Crimson Crusade
To understand the nature of the "Crimsonmarines", one must look back to its founder, Karl Braecker. Karl was once of the Ultramarines and noted to be an honored champion and effective tactician. In spite of being permissive towards the codex, his acts of glory earned him the honor of founding a Chapter. The founded Chapter Titled the Crimsonmarines, was founded Fleet-Based mainly to hunt traitors and heretics during times of The Forging. This hunt by the chapter is later dubbed by their marines as The Crimson Crusade. Establishing Chapter Keeps upon each world they have conquered, to keep watch for treachery, to stage future Purges or Cleanses, and to recruit new Battle-Brothers.

The long Imperial Crusade of the Crimsonmarines has seen its warriors entailed in an extensive purging and cleansing of worlds. The traces of their crusade could be found in the histories of many worlds. Having left histories of mass-purgings and many records of hunts for traitor marines everywhere they have been.

It is believed by many within the Inquisition specifically, the Ordo Hereticus who states to have evidence on the Crimsonmarines to have accepted many Renegade Space Marines and members of chapters who were declared Excommunicate Traitoris, who sought redemption and desired to prove their allegiance to the Imperium once more, into their ranks during their crusading times. Knowing this, even when the inquisition conducted a gene-seed purity check on many of their marines, the Crimsonmarines gene-seed seemed to be surprisingly pure, bearing the least evidence of mutation or corruption.

It is archived by the Ordo Hereticus to have conducted tests on the Crimsonmarines very often during the 34th to the 36th millennium all of the results proved them to be pure from corruption or mutation. Hower the inquisition still added the Crimsonmarines to their suspicion list justified by some of the marines seem to have tendencies for paranoia and sadistic behaviors displayed by many within the chapter. Some of the Crimsonmarines are proven to thrive in the use of psychological warfare and terror tactics, exemplified by their chapters Fünfte Kompanie (5th Company) who seem to take immense pleasure in seeing the enemies of the golden throne suffer merely for the sheer, sick joy of it. Thus the Inquisition having the Ordo Astartes oversee the Crimsonmarines under very heedful watch.

Discovery of Löwenheim
Not much is known on how the Crimsonmarines discovered the planet, it is said within the chapter that the Astronomican light flickered and teetered during their crusade causing the chapter to went adrift for some time until they reemerged into this unknown system.

The first writings regarding this mysterious planet were documents recorded by their pasts Bibliothekaren (Librarians) subjected to the planets torment producing abilities towards Psykers and warp energy nullifying effects. Several reports of their explorations indicated a numerous amount of artifacts and relics dating back before even the age of strife (STCs) and a low population estimated to be around 10,500,000 divided into many tribes, all tribes seem to possess a great amount of knowledge on advanced and never before seen technologies. These findings of the chapters scouts only inspired more interest in this newfound star system.

Upon openly making their presence known to the tribes the Crimsonmarines adopted the native name of Löwenheim for the planet in their records. Having to make a decision between forcing the population into submission or simply cleansing the planet of all tribes, the Kapitel Meister (Chapter Master) took his most trusted brothers to go explore for one last time, needing more information to effectively base his decisions on.

Unacceptable Traits of Heresy
Many months have passed. The Kapitel Meister (Chapter Master) Karl has gained much knowledge on his quest of exploring more regarding various tribes, having heard of a very powerful group of tribes to be hunting other tribes and demanding tributes of humans from other tribes. Karl grew very suspicious over this particular group of tribes calling themselves xudeus. Upon investigation by the Kapitel Meister himself, Karl found out a disturbing truth. The xudeus were physically and spiritually tainted by an unknown chaos entity, very surprised despite the planet being warp negating. Karl also discovered the tribe performing mass sacrifices in the numbers of many hundred-thousands every year from prisoners of won conquests and demanded human tributes in hopes of opening a gateway to their god.

This gave the Chapter Master enough reasons to purge the planet. Calling for aid to all the other Crimsonmarines upon every Keep-Established world attempting to balance out the differences in war equipment against the xudeus, by enticing all his forces to a great "Cleansing" and bringing great honor to the Imperium. A great force of Crimsonmarines was amassed but still not evenly matched against the estimated 1,400,000 Xudeus, aggravated even worse by the fact the Crimsonmarines could not deploy any of their psykers. Being on the disadvantageous side both in numbers and in weaponry Karl being known for his looseness towards the Codex accepted unorthodox methods both in warfare and strategics instead of the honorable and direct methods their predecessors the Ultramarines favored. His tactics relaying mostly upon guerrilla, Infiltration, terror and shock tactics.

"Cleansing"
The conflict did not take too long to reveal its victor, mostly benefited from the indirect methods used by the Crinsonmarines. Knowing a direct assault would cost the chapter too many losses due to the highly improved weapons and by the difference in numbers of the Xudeus.

The chapter started by using Infiltration and guerrilla-warfare to get in enemy bases and cities sabotaging and preventing the enemies from holding any solid grounds before quickly retreating not giving the Xudeus any chances to counter-attack. Their next stage was Terror, initiating an orbital bombardment in the nights upon strongpoints and impenetrable bases or fortresses which lasted for many solar hours. Following the bombardment, the artificial darkness remained. Soon a heavy downpour thick with chemicals rained upon the fearful defenders from the seeded clouds above. The Crimsonmarines descended from the artificial night sky on jetpacks, butchering any who crossed their paths. The screams of terror and battle echoed through their drug-weakened minds. The Crimsonmarines left the decimated cities before dawn. Repeating and intensifying the above-mentioned processes over and over again.

This is believed to be the first time the Crimsonmarines had used such tactics against an enemy and the begin of their continual utilization and improvement of such tactics over the years. All the other tribes who were once being terrorized by the Xudeus slowly started to side with their new allies the Crimsonmarines, aiding by granting the chapter never before seen weaponry and armor.

In spite of having used indirect methods to win, the chapter still suffered many losses due to the differences in equipment prior to the tribe's support. the conflict ended as a result of the chapter's tactics causing heavy losses by systematically eradicating any possible footing and generating great disorganization to the Xudeus. Shattered and unorganized the Xudeus were hunted and hoarded up for mass executions. Proven to be too many to execute at once the chapter was forced to stay on the planet to continue their purges for many decades. Having won the conflict but not entirely cleansed the planet, Karl decides to end their crusading nature and change their fleet-based ways to use Löwenheim as the chapters homeworld to rebuilt and harness the technologies for the Imperium.

After the Conflict, the Crimsonmarines forced their former allies into the imperial creed and molded them as one under the light of the Emperor. Using Löwenheim as the chapter's primary world of recruitment the chapter slowly absorbed the population's culture, traditions, as well as their unique language which is assumed to be a mix between the main language from the age of technology and an unknown accent of Low Gothic.

Tierherr
"I hunt in the darkness for the light of our emperor."

- Leon Kenner, Fünfte Kompanien Kapitän (5th Company Captain) of the Crimsonmarines

Only in the succeeding years was it revealed by their Fünfte Kompanien Kapitän (5th Company Captain) Leon Kenner known within the chapter for his barbarous and brutal tendencies, who found out who the chaos god the Xudeus worshipped was. Having traced some of the Xudeus to the far north where they were hiding in deep underground cave systems. In his hunt, he went deeper and deeper through the caverns slowly and silently ending their lives one by one in the dark brutally and mercilessly. He found one of the elders who is said to once have glimpsed at their god, instead of ending his life on the spot Leon decided to bring him back to the chapter's headquarters for extraction. In the headquarters, Leon interrogated the elder himself, made him describe their god and extracted information on the whereabouts of other cultists. The elder died but before describing their wicked god to be an entity with an always twisting, smiling and an endless number of animal faces. This was enough for the chapter to conclude Tzeentch as the true god of the xudeus.

The Last Xudeus
Near the extinction of their tribe, the Xudeus consulted their remaining elders for guidance. Having not only lost their planet but also most of their kind, the Xudeus elders had to gather for a consult, planning a final resolve. The confers did take a long time for all the remaining strayed elders to arrive in one place. Originally there were 10 elders titled differently, such as; the Elder of Heads, The Elder of Arms, The Elder of Body, The Elder of Hands, The Elder of Feet, The Elder of Eyes, The Elder of Instinct, The Elder of Legs and The Elder of Perception. Their titles are believed to be all the gifts their god Tierherr had once given to them. In their secret meeting, only 8 elders were present the other two missing elders are The Elder of Feet and The Elder of Heads.

The elder which captain Leon found and interrogated is believed by the Crimsonmarines to be the elder of Heads. The other missing elder suspected to be the elder of Feet believed by the chapter to have died during their purges. In their conclusion, the Xudeus decided to give their lives to their god by performing a last forbidden ritual kept secret by the elders which is said to grant a final gift to the Xudeus called the Ultimatum ritual. The ritual in their beliefs is to give back all the gifts their god had once given to them back to him and requesting a final gift by representing all the elders as each gift once given to them but not being able to offer the other two lost elders it is assumed by the remaining elders to satisfy their god by alternatively sacrificing every last remaining xudeu believing their god would resurrect them to this side after giving their lives to their god. The ritual took place in one of their secret halls kept secret by all the elders calling the place Halle der Ersten Änderung des weges (hall of the first change of way) explaining to be the place Tierherr gifted them with his many gifts.

The Dark Truth and Birth of the Arch-Heretic
In the halls, the sacrifices were carried on starting from the smallest Xudeu to the largest Xudeu who were not elders or priests, followed by their lowest ranking priests to their highest in the Xudeu belief system. Tzeentch originally planned to use the Xudeus to accumulate sufficient soul energy by the annual sacrifices to him in his halls to destroy the planet by transforming the stored soul energies into non-warp based forms through his halls.

Tzeentch could only see the events on the planet when sacrifices were made to him, as a result of the nullifying effects from the planet. Forced to act as he now sees his servants had failed to execute his master-crafted plan as a consequence of the interference from the Crimsonmarines. Tzeentch was forced to use all the stored soul energies within his halls to create a creature powerful enough to end all lives of those who know of the planet, fearing the Imperium might learn to replicate and utilize its abilities to become obstacles for his schemes. The remains of the xudeus started slowly melt together forming a wicked and twisted form, Tzeentch baptized it as Jahovay the bringer of change.

It is during this time, the psykers of the Crimsonmarines who were on the battle barge the Himmlischer Wille (Divine Will) orbiting the far moon of Knote started to feel immense pain which seems to have originated from the planet it is believed the psykers had bled from their eyes, ears and from their mouths so intense was their torment. On the planet, an electromagnetic storm engulfed Löwenheim rendering all technological devices useless and cutting off all the communications to or on the planet. Currently on the Battle Barge Karl chapter master of the Crimsonmarines went to see his Librarians after having heard them to heavily suffer from warp disturbances. When Karl reached his psykers he was informed by his master librarian whose pain was unbearable and near of collapsing, of a warp presence being manifested upon, telling Karl of the approximated locations from which the warp signatures originated from before he fainted. Karl upon considering what powerful warp creature could have the might to be materialized upon a warp-negating planet, dropped all of his psykers and librarians on Knote to lessen their sufferings and to keep them as far away from both the planet and the warp-presence which are generating torment towards them, knowing the moon has habitable atmosphere.

Karl took the battle-barge and all available void-ships to bombard the described location. Only being reported later on of the planet's communications being cut off by his crew. The chapter master became very certain after hearing of all the anomalies happening, ordered a full-scale bombardment of the location his psykers described. The bombardment was only able to destroy the halls in which the rituals were made, the creature had already escaped the place. Karl acknowledging he could not confirm the extermination of this being due to all his radars' inability to scan the planet caused by the electromagnetic storms currently engulfing the planet. Karl apprised the Crimsonmarines of a warp-being to have been manifested upon the planet dubbing the abomination as the Arch heretic encouraging his brothers to join in his search to end its life as well as its wicked intentions. The Crimsonmarines and their chapter master landed on the planet via drop pods unable to reach planet by any other landing methods due to the storm. The only weapons they could have used were bolters and various melee weapons, other tech weapons and vehicles proofed to be useless on the storm engulfed the planet.

The Arch Heretics' height and size were described by those who had seen it as to be the same size as an Imperator-class Titan, speculated to have grown from its original size by an ability to grow in size depending on the lives it had taken. Sadly no records or anyone could specifically describe the details of this so-called Arch-Heretic, only being unclearly described as an abomination with many hands holding various items, even its head was described to be a hand saluting to Tzeentch.

The Battle Against the Arch-Heretic
It is said the chapter had to use old means of communicating, believed to have used light-based and smoke signals to communicate and amass a force on the planet. The main battle went unrecorded as a result of the many anomalies happening during that time. The chapter estimated the battle to have taken 6 months. The surface of Löwenheim was scared by the battle, oceans have turned into deserts, massive craters so deep as the eye could see only the blackest darkness below were left behind.

The numbers of casualties are unknown but it is said the number of the remaining population was only one-third of its former population. The only surviving members of the Crimsonmarines were the Kompanien Kapitäne (company captains) of the 3rd,5th, 6th, and the 9thand only a small number of their battle-brothers respective to their Kompanien (companies), their Battle-barge with most of their void-ships and crew members were badly damaged surprisingly only three ships went missing suspected to have crashed on the planet. Not even the fate of their former Kapitel Meister (chapter master) Karl was known, it is believed by the inhabitants of Löwenheim and by most of the Crimsonmarines that he had sacrificed his life in order to end the abominations wicked existence, the only remainings of the chapter master are his severed left arm, his Thunder-Greatsword the Wahrheit-bringer and his helmet.

Whatever the truth may uphold the day it is believed to be the day the Crimsonmarines emerged victoriously is nowadays celebrated by Löwenheims' populations. Even the Crimsonmarines hold prayers to the god-emperor the entire day without any interruptions on this particular day called by the inhabitants of Löwenheim as Karmesintag (crimson day). On Karmesintag (crimson day) besides being feasted and celebrated as if it is the day the Crimsonmarines slay the Arch Heretic itself, stage-plays rumored to be the stories based upon the real events of that fateful day are played in every city center to remind the citizens of their saviors selfless sacrifice and their duty to mankind's true and only god the Emperor, the plot of the play is not very convincing or holding much clarity within its details still very interesting as it might contain some facts regarding the true events.

In the story, Karl or the chapter master is portrayed as a king in possession of a flying fortress, ruler of Löwenheim under the light of the god-emperor. The Arch Heretic being represented as a great winged beast as big and as powerful as a titan. The story begins with the king noticing a never before seen grotesque winged beast roaming the forests of Löwenheim kidnapping villagers and people of his kingdom before vanishing in a blue mist of thunderstorms, the king seeking to end the beast's tyranny over his people ordered his men to shoot the beast with a firestorm of blazing arrows from his flying fortress upon its lair where it was sleeping after having feasted on its prey, the king destroyed its lair but was not able to end the beasts life, the beast had escaped in its mystical mist of thunders. The beast enraged by the kings' actions rampaged through the kings' realm bringing destruction and loss everywhere it went, trembling with anger and hatred causing earthquakes and terrible waves of disaster.

The king, seeing the ferocity of the beast, decided to confront the beast with bravery and courage accompanied by his crimson armored warriors. The fight is described in the play to have taken a very long time, it is said they have fought until oceans dried and mountains eroded to dust. Near the end of the story when most of the kings' warriors have fallen and his fortress in the sky had burned and lost three large towers, the king concerned he might lose having lost so many of his warriors. The king intentionally let the beast grab him by his left arm, the beast saw this as an opportunity to end the kings' life smashed the king against the ground many times causing the king to bleed and suffer agonizing injuries. The king cut off his own arm while the beast was raising him above its head to smash the king against the ground one more time, the king fell upon the beasts head. With his right arm, he raised his greatsword with all the force he had left spiked his weapon in the beasts head causing the beast to lose its balance and fall to the ground.

The warriors who were still alive, seeing their king's sacrifice, quickly assisted to end the beasts' life. The beast rolled and resisted, the king near his last moments of life still on the beasts head gathered all of his might to spear the beasts head one more time, He lifted his greatsword with all the might he had left impaling the beasts head ending its wicked life. The ending of the story often varies between the king being ascended to the sky by black-winged angels and brought to the god-emperors' side or being cursed by the monstrosity he had slain, driven mad by the curse, broken both in body, mind and soul the king went missing in the same mist of thunderstorms the beast is said to have come from. The ending of the stories seems to depend on the cites the stage-play was played however, it is said the king will one day return for good or for ill no one will ever know for certain.

The Relieving and Expanding Times
After many years of recruiting and rebuilding under the Crimsonmarines former Fünfte Kompanien Kapitän (5th Company Captain), Leon Kenner who had survived the battle against Jahovay, now elected as their new chapter master sought to fully bring all nearby systems into the imperial rule, having located many worlds in nearby systems to be similar to Löwenheim in the means of having human populations who are believed to be descendants from the age of technology on never before discovered worlds.

It was during this time the Crimsonmarines thinned their forces across the vast unexplored voids around Löwenheim for conquest. Having used the same tactics their first Kapitel Meister (chapter master) had laid for them combined by improved equipment constructed from the knowledge obtained from the populations of Löwenheim. The forces of the Crimsonmarines expanded the territory of the Imperium very rapidly having learned from their failures on Löwenheim and have adjusted their tactics for the usage of experimental weapons constructed from the artifacts (STCs) of their newly titled homeworld with the help of the tech-priest who had assisted the Crimsonmarines since their crusades.

In this particular time in their chapter history was stated to be the beginning for the Crimsonmarines to have used superweapons in their conquests ranging from devices that could devastate continents to orbital cannons that could exterminate most lives on a planet. It is believed within the chapter that during this time the Mondlicht fortress on Knote was established.

The Inquisitorial Disaster
News of the various artifacts and STCs found on Löwenheim had reached the Ordo Machinum by the Ordo Astartes of the Inquisition who had closely observed the Crimsonmarines and archived many of the chapter's events. The Ordo Machinum upon hearing of an artifact and STCs rich world feared the many tech-priests who had accompanied the Crimsonmarines to have become greedy and withholding knowledge and information regarding the various discovered artifacts for themselves.

Inquisitor Milgra a radical inquisitor of the minor Ordo Machinum was sent to investigate, escorted by her servants and the Adepta Sororitas of the Order of the blue rose, lend by the Ordo Herecticus to aid in her journey and to protect from the many threads that may await her. Upon reaching the outer part of star-system of Löwenheim, one of the battle-sisters of the Order of the blue rose was revealed to be an Inquisitor of the major Ordo Hereticus, the puritan Inquisitor Siecillah, Siecillah accused Milgra of having committed the heresy of Transgenic Blasphemy, splicing Xenos organs and biological Xenos matter into human subjects. Inquisitor Milgra believing that the ends justify the means tried to explain to Siecillah of her experiments of trying to fight fire with fire but Siecillah would not listen and branded Milgra ''Excommunicate Traitoris. ''Inquisitor Siecillah revealed to Milgra of the Ordo Hereticus lending their forces to her was all Siecillahs' plan to execute her in deep voids of unknown space for her heresy by Siecillahs' most trusted forces, the battle-sisters of the Order of the Blue Rose.

Knowing she had been surrounded, Milgra activated an experimental device she had made with the help of her Xanthite allies within the Inquisition which was able to induce others with the help of the immaterium. The possible theory on how the device operates is the fact of the Immaterium being the direct result of the existence of sentience in the universe, the dark reflection of the material universe, the Warp is an ocean of chaotic psychic energy simply raw emotion given physical form. This device being able to strongly influence the immaterium in a small radius for a short time should also be able to manipulate the emotions and sentience of those who are in its radius in the material realm.

Milgra never intended to use such a device on a fellow Inquisitor knowing the risk of maybe gaining unwanted attention from the immaterium, but having tested the device several times convinced her of using it once more as another test to prove the device's capabilities. Whatever the thoughts Milgra wanted to induce Siecillah into believing, using such a device. This proved to be a grave mistake, the device acted not only as a manipulator of the immaterium but could also act as a manipulator of reality with the involvement of warp entities from the immaterium. The device warped the realities of both the material realm and the immaterial realm together on the location the device was activated on for a short period of time opening a bridge between realms long enough for demonic entities to manifest on the Inquisitors transport ship.

The entity which had influenced the gateway to corrupt reality was Slaanesh possibly interested in female warriors to corrupt, clearly elucidated by the demons' physical forms which had the elements of the perverse and unnatural beauty, beguiling and monstrous which had infested the ship. Those who were too close in the device's radius including Milgra and Siecillah disappeared in the warp leaving the other battle-sisters of the Order of the blue rose on an inquisitorial transport ship infested with Slaanesh demons.

The Ketzer
The battle sisters who were not in the radius of the device were quickly overrun and cornered by the demons which had infested the transport. In desperation, the battle sisters reached out for the Crimsonmarines in hopes of aid.

The sisters fought fiercely in hopes of surviving long enough for the Crimsonmarines to arrive. During their clashes, a mysterious cloaked Astartes looking warrior who fought with only one arm had saved them many times, not really having time to question the aid they had received accepted his help. The warrior later introduced himself to the sisters as Ketzer but did not reveal his face nor what lied beneath his cloak. Short conversations did happen between the sisters and the mysterious warrior, the warriors claimed to be Milgras helper, the sisters did not trust him but as long as he helped them the sisters would not question the warrior. "My name....Ketzer, I....will help. I...helper of.....Milgra...you can....trust me."

- The cloaked warrior (Accidentally recorded by one of the surviving battle-sisters)

Together the battle-sisters of the Order of the blue rose and the cloaked warrior withstood the demon hordes and pushed them back. The warrior, despite fighting only with one arm fought very aggressively he suggested to push the demons further back in hopes they might find their inquisitor. The sisters did not know of the demise of the Inquisitors, agreed and followed the warrior having lost many but still wanting to save their master. "Follow...me... must....save....Inquisitor."

- The cloaked warrior (Accidentally recorded by one of the surviving battle-sisters)

Only when they reached the same room the inquisitors were consumed by the warp the warrior showed his true intentions, he immediately rushed for the device Milgra had left behind and activated it. Almost instantly when the device is activated caused the sisters to be enveloped in a light-blue aura, the sisters slowly weaken and fainted.

The Crimsonmarines having never heard or encountered the Adepta Sororitas imputable to the founding of the Adepta Sororitas to have occurred during the Crimsonmarines' times after their battle against the Arch Heretic (36th Millennium), times the Crimsonmarines were disorganized and almost decimated. Thus the Crimsonmarines hastily responded in curiosity, Leon the Kapitel Meister (chapter master) himself went help the battle-sisters of the Order of the blue rose with his 4th and 6th Kompanien (companies) who were present on Löwenheim that time. When Leon arrived, he led his forces to investigate the transport. Slowly fighting his way trough remaining demons. Leon found only the remains of demons and female warriors assuming he might be too late, Leon sought to at least find out what had occurred.

Leon felt as if someone is calling him from afar, he ordered his marines to spread out and search for any survivors while he will be following his instincts and his old habits of hunting alone. Slowly approaching and slaying all the demons in his way. The calling he felt became more powerful in each step Leon took. Finally having reached the source of the calling, he found a cloaked warrior awaiting him with light-blue energy spheres, containing the battle sisters by his side.

Reunion
Leon did not hesitate to attack the cloaked warrior, but the cloaked one evaded all his attacks before slowly revealing its face. Leon stood still in shock of what he saw, It was Karl his predecessor the first Kapitel Meister (chapter master) who disappeared after the battle against the Arch heretic. Karl with his half chaos twisted face smiled and talked to Leon with two voices the first being the normal voice Leon was familiar with the second being a twisted voice mixed of joy and pain.

Karl with his normal voice started to explain how he survived, the Arch Heretic near its death had split its mind and interjected its wicked conscious into him while he was also dying from his injuries causing he became partly possessed by fragments of the Arch Heretic its powers caused his body to regrow his lost arm as big chaos deformed arm before showing his concealed body part to Leon. The second voice interrupted by laughing in a joyful and twisted way stating this reunion to be all his plan all along. His normal voice continued to explain that he has currently no control over his body so he pleaded Leon to end his life reborn as an abomination. After Karl had finished explaining, his possessed body attacked Leon with his regrown chaos arm while Karl's other voice laughed and screamed with his twisted voice.

In their battle, some of the sisters of battle who were caged in the energy spheres began to wake up and attack Leon while some were still confused about what had happened. Karl with his normal voice pleaded them to leave and explained that his other half had used the device to turn most of the battle sisters to chaos but Leon's interruption had caused some not to fully turn.

Retreat
Their battle continued on, the battle sisters who were not turned to chaos by the device aided Leon in his fight against his former chapter master, while those who were successfully turned attacked Leon and the other sisters mercilessly without any signs of recollection of their sisterhood.

The other battle-brothers of the Crimsonmarines having scoured the transport and discovered the warp engines to have been somehow activated started to warn all the others of the transport preparing to warp jump. Unable to reach their chapter master their Bibliothekaren (Librarians) who were present at that time accumulated their powers to reach out via telekinesis to Leon who was in a brutal confrontation with his possessed predecessor.

Having received the warning of his brothers but unale to answer to his men Leon due to his communications being damaged in his fight, he suggested the unturned battle-sisters to retreat. The battle-sisters at first disagreed not wanting to leave their sisters behind but realized the battle could not be won being badly outnumbered thereupon agreed. In his attempt to cease his fight against his former chapter master and commence their retreat Leon used a blind grenade modified by the chapter to not only blind the enemies sight but also weaken their minds by including a special neurotoxin before he used the grenade he instructed the sisters to start their withdrawal. Had to leave his former chapter master behind with the device Leon and the remaining sisters made their way out of the fray and reached a group of battle-brothers he ordered an immediate evacuation of all his forces fearing the unknown destination the transport is headed to. After all his forces and the remaining battle sisters had teleported upon the Crimsonmarines ships Leon ordered to fire the transport with plasma warheads directly after arriving. The transport despite being heavily damaged still successfully entered the warp and disappeared.

Repercussions
The secret of their former chapter master assumed to be alive is a dark secret only past down to the succeeding chapter masters of the Crimsonmarines passed down only verbally to protect the name and honor of their first chapter master, since Leon never told anyone except his succeeding chapter masters who the cloaked warrior was knowing the battle-sisters were unconscious during his conversations with Karl, Leon had nothing to worry about the chapters' dark secret to be exposed by the sisters.

The remaining battle-sisters blamed the entire event to be Milgras' fault for having invented such a hideous device. Their reports to the Inquisition of the event stated a chaos incursion to be caused by a device created by the heretic Inquisitor Milgra who was instructed to obtain the rediscovered pieces of knowledge from Löwenheim. The sisterhood honored the death of their missing Inquisitor, Siecillah who had known of Milgras' dark deeds and tried to execute her.

Most surviving battle-sisters only discovered later that they had seen visions while they were unconscious their recollection of their visions was very strange for at first, they seemed to have seen nothing but as time goes by strange memories start to fill their heads, visions and voices giving them an unending nightmare of a realm filled with blue light, faces of a multi-headed beasts and voices so disturbing that only the recollection of those visions can cause great torment to the remaining sisterhood. All of them were mind-wiped and believed to be accepted into the Inquisition as apprentices, their remaining fates are unknown as mysterious as their origins.

Normally the device should only work to shortly influence the battle-sisters to fight for Karl but it is suspected by Leon that his possessed former chapter master might have unholy assistance from the Immaterium to make the effects permanently, Tzeentch is the first of the four gods Leon suspects due to the fractures of the demon prince now possessing his predecessor is one of its disgusting creations. Leon even suspects the whole event to be a well-carried plan laid out by his predecessor.

Each time the Inquisition had tried to acquire knowledge of the various STC's or simply tried to reach the planet ended by similar disasters intercepted by warp entities or simply not re-emerging from the warp. It is speculated by Leon the chapter master of the Crimsonmarines that the surviving battle-sisters who were successfully turned to chaos by the device and now serve Karl his possessed predecessor who is now under control of Chaos and lead his forces to prevent and destroy all those who try to reach Löwenheim to harness its secrets. Leon also believes them to plot to one day destroy the planet of Löwenheim itself.

The Inquisition was not very pleased about all that had happened fearing such disaster might occur once again due to the great danger lurking and never explored distances of Löwenheim. The inquisition used the authority invested in them to demand the Tech-priest of Löwenheim to come meet and provide the inquisitorial representatives with their knowledge harvested from Löwenheim upon fortress worlds to ensure their security.

The Crimsonmarines fearing the dangers that might occur to their Tech-priests who were essential for their rediscovery of knowledge were forced to escort the Tech-priests. The Tech-priest of Löwenheim were escorted by an entire Kompanie (mostly the 13th) and a fleet of warships as if they were on a crusade to ensure their Tech-priests security and to prevent their knowledge not to fall into other hands than those loyal to the Imperium.

Notable Campaigns

 * The Crimson Crusade (Unknown Date.M33) - The detailed history of their long crusade has been long lost all that could tie the Crimsonmarines now to their crusading past are the artifacts and records found on purged worlds. The chapter has stored many artifacts from their crusade in the Bibliothek (Librarium) within the Mondlicht Fortress on Knote. For certain the Crimsonmarines have purged many heretic worlds on their crusade. Recorded by the purged worlds as well as by artifacts in possession of the chapters Reliquienmeister (Master of Relics) of the Crimsonmarines. It is believed by the inquisition, the Crimsonmarines had accepted many Renegade Space Marines who sought to redeem themselves and prove their allegiance to the Imperium once more into their ranks during their crusading past. Knowing this even when the inquisition conducted a gene-seed purity check on many of their marines, the Crimsonmarines gene-seed seems surprisingly pure, bearing the least evidence of mutation or corruption. Hower the inquisition still added the Crimsonmarines to their suspicion list justified by some of the marines seem to have tendencies for paranoia and self-destructive behaviors displayed by many within the chapter. Some of the Crimsonmarines are proven to thrive in the use of psychological warfare and terror tactics, merely for the sheer, sick joy of it.

"Heresy is a pollution to the galaxy."

- Erick Rachenwille, Reliquienmeister (Master of Relics) of the Crimsonmarines
 * Cleansing of Löwenheim (982.M35) - It is unknown how the Crimsonmarines have discovered Löwenheim. Upon their arrival and exploration, they quickly noticed the advanced technology of the local population, the various tribes of Techno-barbarians. Wanting to understand more about the advanced technologies Karl Braecker, Kapitel Meister (Chapter Master) of the Crimsonmarines took his most trusted Marines to investigate. They learned of artifacts (believed to be STCs) suspected to be from the dark age of technology and intolerable facts about the populations. Groups of large tribes called by the other tribes as the Xudeus were somehow (first considered impossible due to the warp negating effects of the planet) chaos-tainted and had their own cult called by the members as the Illuminatoren, who were sacrificing hundred thousands of lives every year to their patron god Tierherr (Tzeentch) or sometimes called Herr der wege (Master of ways) by claiming to be one day able to open a gateway to their god. Immediately after learning the horrible truth Kapitel Meister (Chapter Master) Karl Braecker ordered a planet-wide genocidal hunt for the Xudeus and convinced the population to the Imperial Truth. The cleansing is recorded by the various local tribes to have lasted many decades. Cities were burnt, altars and temples destroyed with heretics being purged in masses every day. After many decades of constant "cleansing", the remaining populations or tribes are finally united and brought into Imperial rule
 * Battle against the Arch Heretic (Unknown date.M36) - After Löwenheim being finally united and brought into Imperial rule. The last groups of xudeus led by their remaining elders fearing their extinction gathered in a secret underground hall known as the Halle der Ersten Änderung des weges (hall of the first change of way). The hall was a secret only known to the eldest of all the tribes and was untouched by the constant "cleansing" of the Crimsonmarines. The hall was the only nexus point to the Immaterium on this world the only gateway for Tzeentch to influence Löwenheim in many ways, these halls are suspected to be constructed long before the humans from the age of technology to ever colonize the planet. How or by whom is still unknown, it is suspected for the halls to have acted as storage for soul-energies from all the past xudeus sacrifices. In hopes of taking back their world, the last xudeus made one last sacrifice to Tierherr (Tzeentch) begging their God for the eradication of the Crimsonmarines. The powers of the Immaterium, however unable to correctly function on the planet, Tzeentch whose original plan was to harness and store the sacrificed energies in his halls until a sufficient amount is gained, to releasing a non-warp based energy wave to destroy the planet of Löwenheim and all of its artifacts (to Tzeentch the planet and its warp negating effects are a threat to his Grand Schemes). Realised his plans to be endangered by the Crimsonmarines, Tzeentch depleted all the stored sacrificed energy to amalgamate the remains of the sacrificed xudeus into one single immensely powerful being, merely powerful enough for using the powers of the warp on Löwenheim, influencing the planet and its populations on a large-scale (regardless to the warp energies being negated on the planet). The being called itself Jahovay, the bringer of change, the Crimsonmarines however, call this abomination the Arch Heretic.  The Bibliothekaren (Librarians) which could not be deployed for the Cleansing of Löwenheim, were stationed on the chapter's flagship the Himmlischer Wille. For the first time the Bibliothekaren (Librarians) could sense a menacing presence from Löwenheim, despite great pain Immediately reported this anomaly to their Kapitel Meister (Chapter Master) Karl Braecker. The Chapter Master of the Crimsonmarines instantly after been reported of a warp presence on the planet, started a bombarding upon the Location which the Librarians believe the warp signatures to be originated from. The halls were destroyed, the battle, however, was unrecorded. It is not known how long or how many gave their lives to defeat the Arch Heretic, Karl Braecker's fate is also unknown believed to have sacrificed himself in order to defeat the Arch Heretic.The_Arch_Heretic.jpg


 * The Crimson Patron Crusade (458.M36- until now) - Following many years of rebuilding and recruiting the Crimsonmarines began to crusade anew through the vast tracts of unexplored Wild Space around Löwenheim and patroling a very large area of space the Crimsonmarines had conquered. Aiding all those in need and any call for battle unto this day. All events that have occurred after the beginning of The Crimson Patron Crusade are still considered to be a part of this crusade by the chapter.
 * The Bada'gap Xenocide (164.M37-170.M37) - The Bada'gap Xenocide was an Imperial Crusade carried out by the Crimsonmarines against the foul Bada'gap Xenos from 164.M37 through 170.M37. These bulky ophidian aliens, having damned themselves in the worship of the Ruinous Powers, had risen up to carve out a pocket empire to the galactic north of the Warp anomaly known as the Storm of the Emperor's Wrath in the Segmentum Ultima. Given their rapid expansion and the massacre of several Imperial colonies and mining outposts in the region, the decision was thereby taken by the Crimsonmarines to scour them from the stars before they could grow into a greater threat. Under the Crimsonmarines' direction, the alien demesnes were systematically blockaded by the chapter. The chapter also supported the numerous Deathwatch Kill-teams which were sent by the Imperium to attack and destroy the isolated Bada'gap outposts and nest-worlds, often employing experimental weaponry granted from the rediscovered STC's found on Löwenheim. Nothing now remains of the Bada'gap's. This campaign is notable for being one of the lasts missions the Crimsonmarines fought together at full Chapter strength.
 * Damocles Gulf Crusade and Lithesh Sector Crusades (740.M41) - The Crimsonmarines were also involved in the Damocles Gulf Crusade and the Lithesh Sector Crusade -- both conflicts fought by the Imperium against the rapidly expanding T'au Empire.


 * 13th Black Crusade (999.M41) - The Crimsonmarines contributed three full Kompanien (companies) to the defense of the Cadian Sector against the Forces of Chaos during the 13th Black Crusade. The Crimsonmarines 7th Kompanie (Company) was destroyed during the Fall of Cadia by the forces of Chaos while assisting the Cadian Shock Trooper Regiments.


 * Plague Wars (ca. 999.M41-111.M42) - The Crimsonmarines contributed two Kompanien (companies) to the defense of Ultramar during the Plague Wars, a campaign that costed two-thirds of both Kompanien (Companies) sent by the Crimsonmarines attacked by Nurgle's forces.
 * The Vengeance Campaigns (Unknown Date.M42) - The Ultramarines lead a coalition of their Successor Chapters including the Crimsonmarines and the Knight Houses across neighboring star systems. While attempting to free seven worlds from daemonic enslavement, the combined forces utilized hit-and-run campaigns to break a vast Ork force before it can reach the Forge World of Metalica. Using rapid strike attacks, the Space Marines won hundreds of battles, but only manage to slow the rampaging Greenskin hordes as they focus the majority of their efforts on the daemonic legions. Three of the targeted seven planets are saved, but the bulk of the Tartella System remains in the hands of daemon overlords.

Chapter Home World
The planet of Löwenheim, located in the star system dubbed by the Crimsonmarines with the same name as the Löwenheim system. The planet appears as a blue-green orb enveloped in a white web of clouds. Its surface has vast bodies of water and is covered in snow-capped mountains, with patches of green grassy hills beside the natural beauty of the planet, Löwenheim bears many scars from the battle against the Arch Heretic, uninhabitable Wastelands in the middle of rain forests, extreme deep craters surrounded by mountain ranges and coasts or beaches partly turned into glass. The planet is also well known for its warp negating capabilities making it one of the few safer places in the galaxy. Löwenheim also has many ruins and structural remains from both the Crimsonmarines "Cleansing" of the Xudeus and many still undiscovered ruins of the population's ancestors from the age of technology. The many locations on Löwenheim covered with large amounts of ruins and remaining structures are called by the locals in the Löwenheim native tongue as Ruinenfelder translated roughly as ruin fields in which the tech-priests still explore and establish research outpost to study and perform experiments to this day.

The world of Löwenheim could be specified as a civilized world that has a wide range of societies and a high technology level, but unlike other civilized worlds, Löwenheim does not function as part of a larger Imperial sector. Without any trade links to other Imperial worlds outside the isolated parts near Löwenheim. Contact with other planets and people outside the Crimsonmarines sphere of Influence is relatively uncommon. The people of Löwenheim and other worlds that were pacified by the chapter mostly see themselves as loyal subjects of the greater Imperium.

The population of Löwenheim enjoys a reasonable standard of living (for the 41st Millennium!) but contrasting all other civilized worlds which are having societies where an infant is more or less guaranteed to reach maturity without becoming the prey to some ravening predatory beast or being enslaved by a rival tribe which makes them less suitable as a recruitment source for the Adeptus Astartes than any other world types, Löwenheim societies despite the vast technological knowledge inherited by the ancestorial tribes are imbued by a strong warrior code inspired by the many generations of service, rigorously enforced by a ruling military elite. The worlds conquered by the Crimsonmarines are such regions of the Imperium, where despite a reasonable standard of living, every family dreams of having a son accepted into the ranks of the Crimsonmarines, and ensures they are trained to the utmost degree as soon as they are able to walk.

Löwenheim maintaining the most rigid military traditions that are likely to appeal to the Adeptus Astartes as a source for Aspirants. On Löwenheim and other worlds, the Crimsonmarines had conquered, the populations shape the very highest tier of a stratified and regimented society entirely focused on martial pursuits, where all aspire to the example set by the Adeptus Astartes of the Crimsonmarines. On Löwenheim the Chapter's Astartes and civilian staff are fully integrated into a wider system of tradition, obligation, and service. The Crimsonmarines have a strong influence on Löwenheim, unlike other chapters of the Adeptus Astartes the Crimsonmarines openly interfere with the directorates of the populations and play a great part in the planets governing body. This kind of authority is believed to have lasted since the times the Crimsonmarines have brought Löwenheim under Imperial rule after the times of the "Cleansing" which the various tribes began to ally with the chapter.

On Löwenheim, the main population centers tend to be large cities and urban environments based on a self-sufficient economy supported by the planet's own agricultural production. The state of development both technologically and socially varies depending on the region of the planet but mostly above the current Imperial norm. Most adjuncts of the Imperial state will normally have a presence on the planet. Löwenheim has an estimated population of around 15,700,000 slightly above the minimum of the classification guidelines of a civilized world by the Imperium of 15,000,000.

Eklipse - The Wasteland Moon
Löwenheim has four large moons The first is the smallest named Eklipse, an unhabitable moon without an atmosphere riddled with tunnels and craters. Remains of colonizations could be found on the moon, it is theorized to have once been an outpost in times of the age of technology many Terran millennia ago. Nowadays the Tech-priests who are assisting the Crimsonmarines had built a shipyard ring for void-ships to repair and maintain their optimal functioning capabilities of the many vessels in possession of the Crimsonmarines the size of the shipyard, however, does not support the building of void ships (only for repair and maintenance). The moon is tidally locked making it easy to locate the moon in situations of urgent needs for repairs.

Tide - The Aquatic Moon
The second is Tide, which is covered in vast amounts of water home to many sea serpents and other sea animals unpopulated due to the lack of landmass and from fear of the many aquatic predatorial animals inhabiting the moon. Even the moons core is presumed to be a solid form of water called Ice VII, instead of a core of molten metal like Löwenheim or any of the other moons. The moon has a habitable atmosphere supporting the existence of many unique animals from giant aquatic avians given the nickname "Fish Eagles" to deep-sea serpents so massive hypothesized to be able to wrap around the entire moon of Tide.

Staub - The "Red Moon"
The third moon Staub is also known as the "Red Moon" the Forge moon of the Crimsonmarines, producing vast numbers of weapons, vehicles and other advanced technology for the chapter and its war efforts. Staub is also the headquarters to the Adeptus Mechanicus who had assisted and accompanied the chapter since the times of their crusade. The moon is the center of their research and experiments which is one reason why travel to the Red Moon for Imperial personnel who are not members of the Mechanicus and share its peculiar faith is restricted not even Astartes of the Crimsonmarines are allowed except for a small number of Mechanikers (Tech Marines) of the chapter who are believed to have been granted allowance by the Omnissiah are allowed to travel to Staub this is believed to be the reason for the shipyard ring to have been constructed on Eklipse instead.

Knote - The Mountainous Blizzard Moon
Knote the fourth moon of Löwenheim the only place for the Psykers of the Crimsonmarines to live within the system without having to suffer the great torment caused by the Planet since all the other moons are not far enough for Psykers to live a normal life without the constant pain generated from Löwenheim. The moon might have a habitable atmosphere but the freezing temperatures and the very high mountains covering the entire moon are the reasons Knote does not have any settlers besides the Psykers. The Psykers of the chapter have built a massive keep called the Mondlicht fortress serving not only as the Crimsonmarines second base but also as the heart of the chapter's communication since all the Astropaths and Navigators could only have their resting places on this particular moon within the system. Its harsh conditions are some of the initial trials for the aspirants of the Crimsonmarines to be mastered.

About the Crimsonmarines
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