Broken Wings

The Broken Wings were a semi Codex-compliant Chapter descended from the lineage of the heroic Blood Angels. They are an ancient and venerable Chapter who has valitantly served the Emperor of Mankind throughout the existence of the Imperium. Although officially their Founding is Unknown, they were already an existing Chapter of the old IX Legion that had been assigned to watch over an untamed region of the Galaxy during the final days of the Great Crusade. When the Horus Heresy broke out, the Broken Wings Chapter were unable to return to the Imperium and were effectively cut off due to the formation of the impassable Ruinstorm. When they did return they found that the Emperor had been mortally wounded, and worse, their Primarch Sanguinius had been slain at the hands of the Arch-Traitor Horus!

The Broken Wings became beset by grief, blaming themselves for not being present during the Siege of Terra to aid in the final battle. Although no one damned them or blamed them, the mournful Broken Wings struck out into the stars so that they could avenge Sanguinius and "heal their wings". Based on extant Imperial records, this would indicate that the Broken Wings were possibly created as one of the many 'First Born' Chapters during the 2nd Founding, but due to the scarcity of records from this era, it is not known with any certainty, whether or not they truly were created as a separate Chapter at this time. But their earliest recorded battle campaigns indicate they have served since at least the dawning of M32.

Alas, after millennia of service, the Broken Wings fell on Baal Secundus where they sacrificed themselves to bring down a vast number of a massive Tyranid swarm of Hive Fleet Leviathan. To all who know of the Broken Wings' sacrifice, they regard it as the Chapter's redemption come at last.

Days of Glory
Upon taking command of the Legion, Sanguinius gathered his troops and while standing alongside the famed Primarch Horus bent the knee to them, offering them his total loyalty and service without reservation. To the shunned and isolated IX Legion, known by the unflattering epithet, the ' Revenant Legion ', this treatment was new and unexpected. He further earned the hearts of his legion at Teghar Pentaurus, where he gave his blood in the maelstrom of combat and came to understand the true nature of his sons after witnessing their bloodlust and hunger. Sanguinius knew that if this path would continue, one day his Legion would become monsters. Yet, he did not despair. He was able to instill a sense of pride in them to replace their desire for carnage and bloodshed. Soon enough fury became tempered by wisdom, and Sanguinius succeeded in his quest to reforge the Blood Angels. They soon not only became noble warriors of their own rights, but also icons across the entire Imperium.

Although all Blood Angels looked up to Sanguinius, one particular Chapter within the Legion idolised him like no other. The 258th Chapter known as the ' Angel's Wings ' and, while they were not as well known as Nassir Amit's ferocious 5th Company, nor had the respect as mighty Raldoran, they had garnered a small reputation as admirable assault specialists. But this Chapter were most notable for their utter devotion to their angelic Primarch Sanguinius. Some called it love, while more critical minds labelled it as obsession for how the Angel's Wings were so devoted to the Red Angel. Regardless the Angel's Wings strove to be the best their beloved Primarch needed them to be. When they fought on the same battlefield as he, they would fight on with extreme vigor in an attempt for him to even glance at their direction, and when they fought away from him, they did their utmost to ensure the Angel would hear of their glory.

A New Duty
By the time of the ascension of Horus Lupercal, Primarch of the Sons of Horus Legion to the esteemed rank of Warmaster at the dawning of the 31st Millennium, the Angel's Wings had earned a long line of honours as the the Great Crusade went on. However, the Imperium was slowly running out of systems to conquer as it spread across the Galaxy, and soon there might've been nothing left to fight. It was then the Angel's Wings found that they were being assigned to root out an insurrection in a newly conquered sector out in the Veiled Region, far from their Legion and the Imperium. Though they were horrified at the notion of leaving their Legion and Primarch, the Angel's Wings resolved to do their duty. They were further inspired when a squad of the Sanguinary Guard of the Legion's elite Orders of the First Sphere was assigned to them, such a thing only occurring as a sign of the Angel's favour.

When they arrived, the 258th Chapter immediately engaged the insurrectionists that gripped the sector. Having been brought into compliance by the destructive and brutal warriors of the XIV Legion, the worlds of the sector saw the Imperium as violent oppressors and rebelled the moment they got the chance. With 500 Astartes, a squad of Sanguinary Guard, other Legion assets and five regiments of the Imperial Army at his command, Captain Caroleon Devincin was confident in suppressing the rebellion. Though the rebels fought fiercely, they were ultimately no match for the Imperium as the Angel's Wings reclaimed the rebel planets one by one. However, all was not well for the Angel's Wings as contact with the Imperium outside the sector became choppy and even lost for a duration.

Disturbingly some transmissions spoke of treachery, civil war and death. Talk of Horus turning traitor with half the legions in tow, the death of the Iron Hands Primarch Ferrus Manus and Prospero burning came through in scrambled messages but what really worried the Angel's Wings was the little news of the Blood Angels. Although worried for their brothers, the Angel's Wings were unable to leave the sector as the warp had become turbulent and made travel outside the sector impossible. To make matters worse, with Imperial forces dealing with the insurrection, the rebels were suddenly reinforced by unknown creatures that seemed to made of the stuff of the warp itself. These creatures quickly made their dangerous nature known as the rebels became insane fanatics. Thus, the Angel's Wings were forced to continue their campaign.

Rage Unleashed
Forced to fight a war against rebels and these mysterious creatures, reclaiming the sector became a much more difficult task than thought but eventually the Angel's Wings finally came to the rebellion's last planet and launched their attack. Significantly weakened from the fighting, the rebels were on their last legs and their monstrous allies had largely disappeared. The fighting had taken a toll on the Imperials as well; a full third of the Chapter had been killed and the Imperial Army regiments had suffered extremely heavy losses. Even so, the Imperial's resolved to end this campaign and return to the Imperium in the hope it had already crushed Horus's rebellion.

Though the rebels fought desperately against the Imperials, they were slowly being driven back to their palace. Suddenly, much to the Imperials' horror, something happened to the Angel's Wings. It was as if some wave of agony had passed through the Astartes for all they keeled over in shock and pain. A moment later every single Astartes went into a bloodthirsty rage never seen before. The insane Astartes tore through the palace's defences and killed every last one of the rebels before falling upon the stunned and horrified Imperialis Auxilia troops. Coming to their sense after some time the Angel's Wings were dismayed to find themselves standing over fields of corpses of their own allies. Though the battle had been won and the insurrection crushed, the foul taste of disgust and confusion haunted the Legionaries as they wondered what had happened. With a bad feeling in his hearts, Captain Devincin ordered that they would make haste for Terra and rendezvous with their Legion.

A Horrific Discovery
Instead of reaching Terra, the warp took the Angel's Wings to their Legion's homeworld of Baal, where they found it had been 20 years since they had set off from the Veiled Region. They were surprised to find that the Legion had become the size of a simple Chapter and a different organisation had replaced the one they knew. On Baal, Captain Devincin and his officers met with Raldoran. They were told that Horus had been slain and the Traitors defeated, but millions of lives had been lost and damage had been inflicted that would take centuries to repair. Even worse, the Emperor of Mankind had been mortally wounded in his duel against Horus Lupercal and thus was interred into his Golden Throne forever. As for Sanguinius, it seemed to Devincin that Raldoran could not quite find the will to utter the words he was trying to say. Losing his patience Devincin shoved him aside and made for Sanguinius's chambers in a walk that soon became a run as he grew more and more desperate. With a mighty push he opened the doors and came across a sight that froze him in his tracks and silenced him.

As his officers entered behind him gasps of shock and even a cry of terror emerged as they all saw what he saw. Before them was the Golden Sarcophagus, where a demi‐god lay in solemn, eternal rest within - Sanguinius the Angel. Raldoran explained, as he tried to hold his grief, that Sanguinius faced the Warmaster Horus and was brutally slain by his former brother. Devincin could not say anything so he simply stared until, suddenly, he fell to his knees and cried out his father's name as tears fell down his face. He wasn't the only one for his officers either followed him into grief or frantically called into the vox that Sanguinius was dead, spreading the grief and sorrow to the rest of the Angel's Wings. The Chapter who had idealised their father since his reunion with the Legion and did their utmost to be his greatest sons were broken. In his mournful cries Devincin ranted that they had failed him by not being present at his side and would not hear Raldoran's reassurances that there was nothing they could've done. The grieving became so intense that some marines were overwhelmed and fell into the same insanity that overtook them in the Veiled Region.

Eventually the grieving subsided and Devincin learned that the Legion and split into a number of Chapters at the behest of Roboute Guilliman's Codex Astartes. He was also told of the Black Rage that had gripped the sons of Sanguinius since their father's death which finally gave an answer to the insanity that took them in the Veiled Region. Apparently Devincin then spent three days in thought before emerging and declaring that he and his Chapter must find redemption. Thus Angel's Wings left Baal. The blood red of their Legion changed into mourning black while leaving only the arms red to signify the blood on their hands for failing to be there when Sanguinius needed them most. Deeming themselves unworthy of being angels for their sins, the Chapter became the Broken Wings and exiled themselves to the stars.

Eternal Repentance
The Broken Wings quickly adjusted to the new state of the Imperium as they cut a bloody swathe through xenos-held space and heretic worlds. Those who fought alongside them, be they a Chapter or other Imperial force, found the Broken Wings to be distant and wrathful allies who threw themselves into battle without a thought for their lives. The Broken Wings also rushed to the defense of beleaguered citizens no matter the importance or power of the enemy. If they weren't able to save Sanguinius then they would at least save those they could. Of course, this headstrong rush into battle had consequences as the Broken Wings incurred heavy losses as they fought battle after battle. What's more, the Chapter seemed to embrace the Black Rage as a form of penance rather than a genetic curse. Those who fell to it were seen as blessed to be able to relive the Battle of Terra and fight with their father. As such, the Death Company wore the red of the Legion so that they could meet their end as Blood Angels and not disgraced Broken Wings. Ultimately the size of the Chapter fell and rarely rose above 700. This did little to stop the Broken Wings who continued their war of penance and the Codex Astartes began to be less important to the Broken Wings as they reorganized to make up for their low strength.

Even though their desire for repentance made them rather unreliable allies in battle, those who fought alongside the Broken Wings nonetheless respected their might and willingness to fight on no matter the odds. Some even praised the Broken Wings for their valour but the Chapter never accepted praise for no matter how hard they fought or how many people they saved, misfortune seemed to afflict the Broken Wings.

Glory Ignored
For all their efforts at repentance it would seem that the touch of Chaos still crept inside. Moreover it was a Chaplain, the watchers of an Astartes' soul, who was corrupted. Chaplain Galileus spiraled into the clutches of Chaos after happening upon an account of the Signus Campaign that almost doomed the Blood Angles two thousand years ago. Reading the account of how the dreaded Bloodthirster, Ka'Bhanda, tried to sway Sanguinius over to serve Khorne, the Blood God, and in return save his Legion from the genetic curse afflicting them, Galileus fell into a delusion that by spilling blood in Khorne's name would return the Angel back to life and redeem the Broken Wings. Even worse, those who still had not come to terms with the loss of the Angel or were newly forged aspirants heard the corrupted chaplain's words and instantly lapped them up, desperate to see their father fly once more.

In the space of a night more than a quarter of the Broken Wings had turned and the Chapter fleet was thrown into turmoil as the maddened Chaplain preached the word of his corrupted creed. Although the fighting had started so suddenly, those who still retained their sanity and common sense were not taken by surprise and thus reacted swiftly to the traitors. It was clear that Galileus had underestimated the loyalty of his brothers, he did not realise that, though the loss of Sanguinius would forever pain the Chapter, they had accepted his death and that grief fueled every blow they struck. What's more the mere thought of service to the powers that took Sanguinius away from them was insulting to the Broken Wings. At the end of the 12 hours of fighting, Galileus was torn apart by the unleashed Death Company and his followers utterly purged.

The Broken Wings did not celebrate for this event meant that they had failed Sanguinius once again, and now the Chapter was 150 marines short because of it. So it came to pass that Chapter Master Francois declared that they must atone for their sins again. For the next 400 years, the Broken Wings threw themselves into a crusade against the forces of Chaos, barely restraining the rage of the Red Thirst as they vented their wrathful grief. When the last year ended did the Broken Wings declare themselves cleansed but still unredeemed.

Since Galileus' failed coup, the Broken Wings continued their constant war as they raged against the upstart Tau to the hated Forces of Chaos. Their rage did not abate even when their numbers dwindled to critical levels, the Black Rage threatened to consume them and extinction almost claimed them. The Broken Wings endured and constantly rebounded up to strength, though they never reached the full strength of 1,000. They rejected offered honours of recognition and glory from those they fought alongside or saved, knowing they could never accept such things until they were able to right the wrongs they committed ten thousand years ago.

The Devastation of Baal
When the sun began to set on the 41st Millennium, the Broken Wings heeded summons from the Blood Angels to come to the defense of Baal as the tendrils of Hive Fleet Leviathan slowly encroached upon the home of their progenitors and father. Hearing how their brothers and Primarch were in need, the Broken Wings rushed to Baal. When the Tyranids finally entered the system the Broken Wings were on the first line of defense against the xenos swarm. Taken by rage that these aliens would even dare invade their ancestral homeworld, the Broken Wings threw themselves into the thick of battle and slew many hive ships. Some even undertook boarding actions on the hive ships and destroyed them from within, disrupting the synapse net many times.

Alas, 700 marines can do only so many against untold billions of xenos and casualties were beginning to mount as ships were caught and ripped apart by the grips of hive ships. Finally, the Chapter's Battle Barge and Fortress-Monastery, the Momento Sanguinius, and the last of it's Chapter fleet was surrounded over Baal Secundus. The last of the Chapter fought desperately as the tyranids boarded their ships and tore through the defenders. Countless acts of heroism were made that would only be remembered for a brief moment. Galus, of the Sanguinary Guard single handedly held a passage to the bridge until the ship he was on detonated it's engines and took five hive ships with it. Scout Squad "Blooded", even though they were the last of the 7th, made their stand on the bridge of their ship and exacted a bloody toll on the genestealer hordes before finally dying. Inevitably, however, one by one the ships fell until the Momento Sanguinius itself died as it unleashed one last broadside into a dying hive ship, taking Chapter Master Xavius, the 1st Company and what was left of the Chapter with it. The destroyed remains of the Chapter fleet fell down to Baal Secundus.

The Final Hours
Kept safe from the crash by drop pods and hastily boarded thunderhawks, the survivors of the Broken Wings scattered across Baal Secundus. Many died on the way down, crushed by falling wreckage or caught by flying bioforms while others landed on the surface only to be overrun by Tyranid swarms the moment they touched the ground. Of course, this did not stop the Broken Wings from continuing the fight. It is known that Chapter Ancient Tiber and the last of the 3rd Company marched across the region and held off a tyranid swarm until the surviving chapter serfs could get to Imperial lines safely. However, the serfs would not flee and instead fought to the last alongside their masters. Across the land the Broken Wings fought and died. With nowhere to go and all hope of surviving lost, it was all they could do. Yet one was determined to keep fighting more so than any other.

Vanguard Veteran Alucir made planetfall alongside what remained of the Death Company. In total they numbered only 15 Astartes. They watched as pieces of the great Battle Barge rained down above them that were followed by uncountable tides of mycetic spores. Occasionally they would see drop pods of survivors or hear garbled vox transmissions pleading for an answer. Sadly, Alucir was not able to reach any surviving brothers in time before they were overrun by the arriving Tyranids. Unwilling to sit by and allow the tyranids to devour the world of their father and craving vengeance for his lost brothers. Alucir rallied the Death Company and charged into battle, their jet packs screaming in fury as they descended upon the swarms. Alucir guided the rabid Death Company into attacking the main synapse creatures of the swarms rather than waste time killing the entire horde. Though they reaped a great tally and disrupted many of the tyranid swarms, Alucir soon found himself alone as the Death Company gradually died out. Yet he would not give into despair and pressed forward, diving alone into swarms and eliminating the synapse creatures before escaping.

He fought on for hours until his jump pack finally ran out of fuel and his lightning claws ran low on power. Trapped without fuel or support and surrounded by thousands of tyranids, Alucir accepted his fate. With a roar of defiant rage, he charged towards the wave of ferocious xenos and swung his lightning claws in wild fury as the Red Thirst took him and the wave engulfed him. He swung, stabbed, slashed and gored even when his lightning claws blunted and broke, his armour was breached and his body filled with bio-toxins. Every tyranid dead was in payment for the deaths of his brothers, every shout was a song of vengeance and every blow he took yet endured was a curse on the vile xenos. Alas, Alucir could only hold for so long and he was finally brought to his knees as the tyranids tore him to pieces. Even as claws stabbed into him, Alucir kept fighting but his swipes and stabs became more and more slow as he began to die. Throwing his head back to the sky, in his final breath, he cried "Father! Forgive us!" and then he died and the swarm moved on.

And so the Broken Wings were finished, wiped out amongst the thousands of Astartes who fell in the Devastation of Baal. Only their kin, who were few, would weep for them.

Legacy
Though the Broken Wings, and thousands of Astartes, had perished in the battle, the Devastation of Baal was ultimately won by the Imperium when unexpected reinforcements arrived in the form of Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines, and the newly forged Primaris Marines. This new breed of super soldier reinforced the devastated Chapters of the Blood Angels and those that were almost extinct were rebuilt. However, Dante personally stopped the rebuilding of the Broken Wings. While they may not have known it as the last marine of the Chapter fought to the last, the Broken Wings had fought in the defense of Baal, their brother Chapters and Sanguinius' tomb. Dante declared that the Broken Wings had finally earned the repentance they fought for millennia to reach.

The Broken Wings died not as failed sons, but as Blood Angels and sons of Sanguinius.

Notable Campaigns

 * The Fateful Departure (Unknown Date.M31) - the 258th "Angel's Wings" Chapter of the Blood Angels Legion is sent to quell an insurrection in the Veiled Region. Though they are reluctant to leave their Legion and Primarch, the 258th accept their task. Though the Chapter makes good progress initially, they are soon bogged down by mysterious foes from the warp who join the rebels and a warp storm also cuts the sector off from the greater Imperium as reports of Warmaster Horus Lupercal and 8 other Primarchs turning traitor emerge. Things get worse when, at the final battle on the last rebel world, the Angel's Wings suddenly come under some sort of berserk rage and completely slaughter the rebels, and the Chapter's Imperial allies. Horrified by what they had done, the Angel's Wings immediately set off for Baal in the hopes of returning to a victorious Imperium and their Legion.
 * Despair of the Angels (034.M31) - The Angel's Wings return to Baal 20 years after they left the Veiled Region and hear of the Horus Heresy and the wounding of the Emperor. Then they are told of Sanguinius. Unwilling to believe their ears, Carolean Devincin, Master of the Angel's Wings, and his officers stormed through the Arx Angelicum and found their Primarch lying in a tomb. Numb with shock, the entire Chapter fell into despair and grief as the news of Sanguinius' death tore through them. When the grief subsided, the Angel's Wings reformed along the lines of the newly introduced Codex Astartes and were reborn as the repentant Broken Wings.
 * Vengeful Wrath (035.M31 - Unknown Date.M32) - The Broken Wings' first act was to join in the Great Scouring. Though many heretics fell to their blades, it was the Sons of Horus, whose father slew Sanguinius, that bore the brunt of the vengeful Chapter's wrath.
 * Defence of Oronos (Unknown Date.M32) - The Broken Wings arrived to Oronos to aid in defending the world from rampaging Orks. It was thanks to the Broken Wings that no greenskin made it into the city and the refuge halls the civilians were hiding in. Once victory is achieved the Broken Wings departed without ceremony.
 * Boris's Folly (Unknown Date.M32) - When the Broken Wings came to the aid of beleaguered Astra Militarum forces on Regadin against the treacherous World Eaters, they were enraged to find that the regiment had been left to their fate by it's commander, Boris Yelt. Bolstering their defences and utilising class bait and trap tactics, the Broken Wings and Imperial Guard led the crazed World Eater warbands into redoubts and mined valleys where they slaughtered them in storms of fire or explosives. When the last warband was slaughtered, Boris finally reemerged from his hidden bunker and attempts to take credit. He was thrown off the cliff by the Broken Wings.
 * Vengeance for the Father (Unknown Date.M35) - A warband of the Black Legion invaded an Imperial sector that the Broken Wings also happened to be in. Always willing to take revenge on the slayers of their father, the Broken Wings engage the Black Legion and bloody and brutal fighting ensues. A month later, the Broken Wings left the sector after slaying every last Black Legionnaire.
 * Galileus' Fall (673.M38) - Chaplain Galileus fell to Khorne when he came under the belief that service to the Blood God will bring back Sanguinius. Rallying a full third of the Chapter to his cause, the Broken Wings fell into civil war that only ended when the Death Company was unleashed and tore the insane Chaplain apart.
 * Cleansing the Sins (673.M38 - 824.M38) - Stained by Galileus' betrayal, the Broken Wings underwent a penitent crusade that lasted for 150 years. After the last year, the Broken Wings considered themselves purified and ready to continue their quest for repentance.
 * Devastation of Baal (999.M41) - The Broken Wings rushed to the defence of Baal when it came under attack from Hive Fleet Leviathan. Though they fought valiantly and killed untold thousands of Tyranids, the Chapter Fleet was destroyed and the few survivors scattered on Baal Secundus. Unwilling to go down without a fight, Veteran Alucir led the last of the Death Company against the landing swarms until he was the last one remaining. Ultimately Alucir fought a last stand against a large swarm until he, at last, fell. The Broken Wings were gone, but they died as Angels that earned their redemption at long last.

Chapter Organisation
At first glance it might seem odd that a Space Marine Legion so proud of its traditions would set aside its individuality, but the events of the Horus Heresy had shaken the Blood Angels to their core. The Blood Angels were thus amongst the first Space Marines to adopt Roboute Guilliman's Codex Astartes. The Broken Wings, however, initially rejected the Codex Astartes as they did not want to be split from the Legion once more. Ultimately Raldoran was able to convince them that it would be better if they accepted it.

The Broken Wings adhered as closely to the Codex Astartes as they could but their flaw and always being under strength forced several changes.

The 1st Company was home to the Chapter's most experienced Veterans -- all of its Battle-Brothers steeped in solar decades, if not Terran centuries, of constant warfare. The 2nd through 7th Companies were the Chapter's backbone, the Battle Companies who formed the core of any strike force. Because they usually numbered around 700 strong, discounting the scout Company, the Broken Wings had no reserve Companies. Broken Wings Companies also had a close combat orientation and thus most squads were equipped for close assault. Finally, the 7th Company was seen by many as the future of the Chapter, for it was here that Scouts honed their skills in the Space Marine way of war. Though the Scouts are not yet fully trained Space Marines, their skills are highly valued. As a result the Broken Wings made great use of Scouts. Though each company could fight as a separate unit, the Broken Wings rarely fought apart.

In addition to the personal armour and weaponry required by its Battle-Brothers, each company, save the 7th, also maintained a host of support vehicles. These ranged from Rhino and Razorback transports to bikes and Land Speeders - such tools were drawn upon whenever the tactical situation required. This allowed even a single Broken Wings company to fulfill a multitude of tactical and strategic roles.

Chapter Command
The rule of the Broken Wings ultimately always fell to the Chapter Master and his council. Most seats at the high table were taken by the Brother Captains who commanded the Chapter's companies. Some, however, belonged to senior officers whose injuries were too great for continued combat, but whose wisdom still held great value. Such officers commanded the Chapter's vital support institutions, such as the Armoury, the Chapter fleet and the recruitment of fresh Neophytes.

Though ultimate power rested with the Chapter Master, the council was often called upon to act in its master's absence should he be slain. In addition to their role on the council, each officer also had an assigned title and duties necessary for the smooth running of the Chapter. Some such titles, such as Master of the Watch, were drawn from the pages of the Codex Astartes. Others, including the "Shield of the Gate" or the "Vengeful Blade" came from the Broken Wings' traditions.

Many Broken Wings commanders took to the field accompanied by a cadre of Veteran warriors. The Company Command -- known collectively as the Honour Guard -- were seasoned warriors, hand-picked for their skill and tenacity in combat. Fighting at the bleeding edge of the battle, the Company Command supported the Broken Wings' heroes.

Death Company
Unlike most successors of the Blood Angels, who see the Black Rage as a curse, the Broken Wings saw the Black Rage as the ultimate form of penance; the final step to redemption. A warrior who falls to the Black Rage believes himself back on Terra fighting against the Arch-Traitor and his foul legions. While this may be considered horrifying, this was perfect to the Broken Wings for they had been unable to fight at the Siege of Terra alongside their Legion and Primarch. Thus they saw the Black Rage as a second chance, a chance for themselves to fight with the Primarch. As such, every Broken Wings Astartes' goal was to fall to the Black Rage and earn his penance. Of course, they hid the Black Rage from the rest of the Imperium in the knowledge that it might have seen them damned further.

The Broken Wings Death Company wear the blood red of the Blood Angels Legion, symbolising that they were fighting on Terra as part of the Legion as they should have done ten thousand years ago. Death Company Astartes were also treated with the utmost respect and reverence.

Sanguinary Guard
When the Angel's Wings were sent out to the Veiled Region, they had five Sanguinary Guard assigned to them. Two of them died in the final battle and three remained to accompany the Chapter back to Baal following the end of the Heresy to out what happened to their Primarch. Being part of Sanguinius' personal guard, the remaining Sanguinary Guard took his loss harder than the rest of the Angel's Wings. As such, in remembrance of the Great Angels, the Sanguinary Guard of the Broken Wings painted their armour the same livery as the rest of the Broken Wings Chapter. They also purposely damaged the wings of their jump packs to represent their failure to protect their gene-sire. Only those battle-brothers who feel the loss of their Primarch more keenly than their brethren and grieve for the loss of the Great Angel more deeply, and possess a vengeful nature, are raised up to the vaunted ranks of the Sanguinary Guard. Each of these individual warriors bear the ancient title of Seraph and are tasked with the protection of the Chapter Master. They are Sanguinius' wrath incarnate, the Great Angel's stern resolve and watchful eyes each given form and purpose.

Broken Wings Librarians
Like their fellow Astartes Chapters, the Broken Wings also maintained a Librarium of potent psykers who were 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. Most Chapters train and test chosen psykers following the ancient ways laid out in the Codex Astartes. Librarians of the Blood Angels are trained in this way, and, with few minor traditional variances, have been taught to live by the word of the Codex.

When not devastating the plans of enemy warlords in war zones from Damocles to the Cadian Gate, Librarians have a host of other, less violent, duties to attend to. In addition to testing recruits and tending to their own training, Librarians are responsible for maintaining their Chapter's Librariums. Overseen by the Librarians, each is a silent and sacred place of whispered secrets and hidden truths. Filled with ancient tomes and sacred scrolls, every piece of text laid down by the Chapter, or relevant to its existence, is housed within. Every fortress-monastery will have a Librarium to house the lore, battle records, and certain psychically-active artifacts like Force Weapons. Famous victories, shameful defeats and the legends of the Chapter's heroes are recorded there, and the Librarians are fiercely devoted to their role as keepers of this legacy.

In addition to the main Librarium on a Chapter homeworld, many Battle Barges maintain smaller Librariums for use during their long campaigns. While no two Librariums are exactly the same, they are often built around a central pillar, its racks of books and scrolls spiraling out into antechambers that hold rows of written works, data-slates, chronicle-stones and mnemo-slates recording the accounts of great battles, the final words of its heroes, and the secrets of vanquished foes. The central pillar of the Librarium houses its oldest available copy of the Codex Astartes, held in a stasis-plinth or protected by holo-reflection. Many lords of the Adeptus Astartes visit the quiet, dusty halls of the Librarium to draw their inspiration and resolve from the ancient book in times of darkness.

Psychic Abilities
The Librarians of the Broken Wings had access to several powers: Blood Angels Librarians have a number of unique psychic abilities only used by the psykers of their Chapter:


 * Blood Boil - With a blast of psychic power, the Librarian drives his enemy's blood into a seething frenzy, superheating the target's blood, flash-boiling it and causing it to burst from their eyes, mouth, and ears with explosive finality.
 * Blood Lance - The Librarian conjures a mighty psychic lance, glistening with gore. On a single word of command, the lance flies from his hands, hurling a blazing crimson lance of psychic power that skewers everything in its path.
 * Wrath of the Guilty - Focusing his will, the Broken Wings Librarian utilised the deadly powers of the Immaterium to flow into him, heightening his speed and strength to unimaginable levels and summoning up a deep well of rage to smite the foes of the Emperor.
 * Smite - Lethal bolts of ruby lightning leap from the Librarian's fingertips, tearing his enemies apart.
 * Repentant Fury - Reaching into the minds of his fellows, the Librarian unleashes the savagery formed from the collective guilt within the Broken Wings' psyche.

Chapter Recruitment
Being a fleet based Chapter, the Broken Wings had no homeworld or fixed recruiting worlds. Instead they would recruit from warzones, particularly seeking sons who had lost their fathers or had even fought, conscripted as child soldiers. The selected aspirants would then be taken back to the Chapter flagship, the Momento Sanguinius and escorted to the Great Chapel within.

All the Aspirants were left to observe vigil in the great Chapel of the Chapter, before drinking from the Sanguinary Chalice brought to them by the Sanguinary Priests which contains the viral catalysts that will begin the process of transformation into transhuman Astartes. Slumber soon overtook them and the Aspirants were borne by Servitors to the Apothecarion where the gene-seed of Sanguinius was implanted in their recumbent bodies. From the Apothecarion the Aspirants were taken to the Hall of Sarcophagi and each was placed within a mighty golden sarcophagus.

Life support nodes were attached to them and for the next Terran year they were fed intravenously with a mixture of nutrients and the Blood of Sanguinius while the gene-seed did its work. Many of the Aspirants died at this stage, their bodies unable to cope with the sheer strain of the physical changes that now overtook them. Those who lived grew swift and true, echoing the rapid growth of their Primarch. They put on muscle mass and acquired the extra internal organs that mark a true Space Marine.

At this time too they had strange dreams, for the gene-seed carries within it the memories of Sanguinius. Thus did the Primarch's essence begin to permeate the souls of his warriors. Uniquely for the Broken Wings, whose collective psyche was deeply wounded by Sanguinius' demise, these dreams would be visions of the past where the 258th Chapter was sent from the Legion to quell a rebellion and then returning to find their beloved father dead. Feelings of guilt, failure and despair would assail these aspirants, an unlucky few would be woken prematurely from their slumber and driven insane by the claustrophobia of the Sarcophagus. Those who did survive emerged forever changed. They were tall, strong and superhumanly powerful. Their restructured bodies and features had taken on a beauty that echoed that of their angelic forebear. Their senses were keener and their muscles stronger than tempered steel. They were ready to begin their training as Space Marines.

They are now Blood Angels Neophytes, though they have only completed the first stage of becoming a full Blood Angels Astartes. However, those who emerged were also left with the guilt that the Broken Wings bore since that fateful day and, though they held the likeness of one, the knowledge that they were not worthy to be angels.

Combat Doctrine
The Broken Wings' modus operandi was to charge at an enemy and engage them in melee combat, supported by covering fire from ranged outfitted dreadnoughts or devastators. The Broken Wings also favoured drop assaults or gunship deployments directly onto enemy positions for maximum effect. The deployment of deathstorm drop pods was also common. The companies of the Broken Wings generally fought in a similar fashion as most other Space Marine forces, with a tendency toward aggressive and decisive spaceborne and planetary assault actions utilising highly mobile forces. This usually resulted in actions in which dedicated assault units, including the Death Company, close with the weakest point of the enemy position at the earliest opportunity under covering fire from dreadnoughts or devastators. This then allowed the assault units to carry on into successive enemy positions behind the front line, preventing an organised response, while the rest of the units conducted a mop-up of the remaining enemies and move into positions of support, pinning down the next target with available firepower. It is noted that the Broken Wings had a preference for power weapons, usually a power sword, over chain weapons. The reason for this is unknown.

The Broken Wings held a passion for perfection in all things martial and otherwise which could be seen in their strategic and tactical planning, which was exemplary. However, they could not be counted upon to hold a position in the same disciplined way as the Ultramarines or Dark Angels, as the Black Rage can afflict any Marine in the midst of battle, inciting him to charge forward in an attempt to tear the enemy limb from limb. This often had the benefit of creating victories in the unlikeliest of situations through sheer aggression though the sheer violence was often a worrying sight to Imperial officers.

Chapter Beliefs & Traditions
The Broken Wings were bound to one core belief; the belief that they had failed Sanguinius by not being at his side at the Battle of Terra when he needed them most. It was around this belief that the Broken Wings took an eternal vow of repentance. The Broken Wings also took an oath of vengeance against the treacherous Sons of Horus whose father killed Sanguinius. The ultimate belief that the Broken Wings held is that they would only be redeemed when every last traitor, especially the Black Legion, had been slain.

The Broken Wings also held to the belief of protecting the common Imperial citizen, no matter the odds, from danger. As such they would frequently take rearguard actions and convoy protection as well as defences in order to safeguard civilians. This belief is spurred from their failure to save Sanguinius and thus vowed to never allow an innocent to die if they could prevent it. If they could not save their father, they would save everyone else.

Surprisingly, the dour and often bitter Broken Wings were reputed to be superb practitioners of art. It was said that every Astartes of the Chapter knew how to play the harp or lyre and had voices that were almost angelic in sound. Though their poetry, musical compositions and choir songs were often filled with mournful and saddened lyrics, they were so beautiful that even the most hardened of Astartes even felt something if they heard the songs of the Broken Wings. Even the portraits and paintings created by the Chapter could be described as masterpieces that captured the emotion of a scene perfectly. The artistic style of the Broken Wings was even shown on their armour in the form of intricate patterns and exquisite designs. Thus it could be considered a terrible loss that the voices and songs of the Broken Wings would be heard nevermore when the Chapter met its end at Baal.

The artistic side of the Broken Wings is expressed even in how they name their battles and events. Usually every battle is given a poetic name. Weaponry, dreadnoughts, vehicles and ships are also given poetic titles.

Gene-Seed
Like all Blood Angels' Successors, the Broken Wings shared many traits with their progenitors, including the 'twin flaws' that afflicts so many of the line of Sanguinius. This curse manifested itself in many different ways, but in the case of the Broken Wings it had led to a fiery, zealous temperament that drove the Chapter to prove themselves in the eyes of their genesire. Like their genetic primogenitors, this Chapter also suffered from both genetic Flaws of the Red Thirst and the Black Rage. Those Broken Wings who were afflicted by the Black Rage were placed in a Death Company similar to that deployed by the Blood Angels.

Primarch's Curse: (Angel's Fury)
Unlike their genetic forebears and their fellow Chapters of the Blood, the Broken Wings were further along in their descent, carrying a heightened version of the flaw which might have spelled their doom within the space of a few short solar decades had they not been annihilated during the defence of Baal. When the Chapter's genetic curse manifested itself in an affected Battle-Brother, it came on in three stages.


 * Stage 1 - Heightened Frenzy - The Battle-Brother completely loses control when he frenzies and finds it almost impossible to claw his way back to reason as long as there are foes to fight and blades drawn. Even when foes are not near, the madness of the Red Thirst grips him and he rages endlessly for battle and blood, howling out his anger and striking the ground with his blade. The Battle-Brother must take care, lest he lose control at any moment. Any time the Battle-Brother takes damage, is confronted with a clear threat, or is put in position of great stress, he must summon all his willpower in order to contain his fury for the duration of an encounter with an enemy.
 * Stage 2 - Blood Rage - The Broken Wing thirsts for the blood of their foes when in the grips of the Red Thirst and longs to see it spilled across the ground in great arcs and gouts. They also crave the feeling of hot blood on their skin and splattering across their armour, staining the dark red battle-plate a darker shade still. The Battle-Brother must engage foes in close combat if possible, either making melee attacks against them or shooting point black with pistols so that their blood spills at his feet. When he downs a foe, he must resist the urge to hack or blast the foe's corpse apart. If the Battle-Brother is attacked by a new foe while he is in this state while hacking at another foe, he will turn his attention to his new attacker instead.
 * Stage 3 - The Beast Within - Near the end, an affected Broken Wing is little more than an animal filled with fury and madness striking out at all those around him. While he may still have lucid moments where he remembers the warrior he once was, these are fleeting and quickly gone to be replaced with only the thought of killing and the thirst for blood, and he will attack the nearest target (friend or foe) if there is more than one to choose from. At this point, the Battle-Brother is completely within the grip of the Black Rage and must be transferred to the Death Company.

Deathwatch Service
Though the Broken Wing were in a constant state of crusading and fighting, they did not ignore the call for marines to serve the Long Vigil in the Deathwatch. Broken Wings Astartes sent to serve were often useful assets for a Deathwatch Kill-Team due to their preference for close assault and melee combat, however their bloodthirst, dour mood and insistence on protecting any civilians when in battle did lead to friction between them and members of more disciplined Chapters. It is unknown if any Broken Wings Astartes were serving in the Deathwatch when the Chapter was utterly destroyed during the Devastation of Baal.

Chapter Fleet
The Broken Wings Chapter Fleet was known to contain the following vessels:
 * Momento Sanguinius (Battle Barge/Fortress-Monastery) - The Momento Sanguinius had been the Chapter's flagship since the Great Crusade and underwent significant refit to become the reformed Chapter's fortress monastery, changing from its old name to its one to fit the Broken Wings. It was described as a beautiful ship yet it's artwork seemed to convey feelings of mourning and guilt, a true representation of the Broken Wings. Alas, the Momento Sanguinius was destroyed in the Devastation of Baal, taking countless relics and beautiful pieces of art with it.
 * Lamentis (Strike Cruiser) - The Lamentis was the 2nd Company's Strike Cruiser and was almost as old as the Momento Sanguinius. Sadly, it and the entire 2nd were destroyed at Baal.
 * Tears of Grief (Strike Cruiser) - The Strike Cruiser Tears of Grief was said to have claimed a total of 8 hive ship kills in the Devastation of Baal before being overwhelmed.

Chapter Relics
Being a considerably old Chapter the Broken Wings had scores of relics, most of them dating back to the Great Crusade. Sadly, when the Momento Sanguinius was destroyed in the Devastation of Baal, every single relic, pieces of the Imperium's history, was lost. Only one relic is known to survive but it's location is unknown as of now.
 * Helm of Alucir - When the Devastation of Baal ended in a pyrrhic Imperial victory, they found the body of Alucir, Vanguard Veteran of the Broken Wings, surrounded by scores of slain tyranids. Although his body and armour was rent and torn, his helm was still intact. Repaired and granted new icons, Alucir's helm became the last remaining piece of the Broken Wings. Yet, this would not be the end. At some point, the helm disappeared from the Blood Angels' armoury and apparently ended up in the hands of a Chapter with a Jackal's head for an icon not long before they came under attack from a large Ork WAAGH! that they were able to utterly decimate. The Chapter attributed it to the helm. Then, the helm apparently disappeared once again. Legends began to rise of a helm falling into the hands of Chapters who were about to be attacked by an overwhelming force, Each time it seems that the helm brings an impossible victory before leaving to another Chapter. The Helm of Alucir is said to be more than a token of luck, those who wear it are said to be imbued with the fighting spirit of Alucir, their aim always holds true and the blows of their sword are filled with might. The Helm of Alucir roams the galaxy to this day, a sign that the Broken Wings serve even in death.

Notable Members

 * Xavius Leon - Xavius was the final Chapter Master of the Broken Wings, having ruled for 800 years by the time of the Devastation of Baal. While he was certainly an impressive leader and superlative warrior, he never really stood out from his predecessors, a fact that ate at him every passing day. It was perhaps due to this desperation to be better than his forebears that he committed every single warrior to the defence of Baal when it came under assault from the tendrils of Hive Fleet Leviathan. Furthermore, the Broken Wings were amongst the first line of defence. Even though they slew many Hive Ships, the Chapter was soon cut off and surrounded by the vast fleet of the Tyranids. Eventually it was only the Momento Sanguinius left and on the verge of being overtaken by boarding bioforms. Giving the order for evacuation, Xavius and his Sanguinary Guard stayed behind on his bridge as the Tyranids swarmed in. Whether he died to the Tyranids or when the Battle Barge finally exploded, Xavius fell gloriously and finally stood out from his predecessors.
 * Alucir - Alucir, the "Last to Fall", was a Vanguard Veteran of the Broken Wings who also bore the title of "Seeker of Vengeance", signified by the red faceplate. A Seeker of Vengeance was tasked with hunting down enemy champions and slaying them in order to offer their blood to Sanguinius' name. At the Devastation of Baal, Alucir was one of the few Astartes who made it down to Baal Secundus after the Chapter Fleet was lost. Leading what remained of the Death Company, Alucir rampaged across Baal Secundus as the wreckage of the Chapter Fleet rained down upon them, seeking synapse creatures in order to disrupt the horde and strike blows of vengeance against the Hive Mind. Eventually he was left alone as the Death Company dwindled away and the scattered groups of marines were wiped out. Refusing to fall into despair he continued his rampage as the Red Thirst began to take him. Eventually his jump pack ran out of fuel and he was surrounded by a large swarm of tyranids. He fought on for 15 minutes as he was engulfed by the tide before he finally fell and was torn apart. With his last breath, he cried out; "Father, forgive us!" before giving into oblivion and joining his Chapter in death. His helm was recovered and made a Chapter Relic that supposedly travels the Galaxy to assist Chapters in their time of need.
 * Copurnius - Copurnius was a Broken Wings Astartes who served in the Deathwatch as part of Kill Team Corinth. His skill with a power sword and veteran experience was of great aid to his Kill Team even though conflicts due to the major differences between each Battle Brother were common. When his Vigil ended, Copurnius returned to his Chapter. It is believed that he was present in the Devastation of Baal where he likely met his fate either in the ship fighting or on Baal Secundus.
 * Ruthus - Ruthus was a Scout Brother in Scout Squad "Blooded". He and his squad were on the Strike Cruiser Tears of Grief and where the last remaining brothers on the ship as the hordes of Genestealers overran it. Not content to sit idly, Ruthus and his squad made their stand in the barracks where they held for an unknown amount of time before being overrun.

Chapter Colours
The Broken Wings primarily wore black coloured power armour, with red trim the colour of blood. The Imperialis or Aquila worn on the chest guard is gold in colour. Unlike their progenitors, the Broken Wings were strict adherents of the Codex Astartes. Most unusual for a Blood Angels' Successor Chapter, instead of the utilising the same heraldic symbols to represent squad specialty and number as their progenitors, they instead utilised the Codex-proscribed squad specialty symbols. These appeared as a white coloured, open-faced squad specialty symbol stenciled on the right shoulder pauldron inset, which indicated a battle-brother's assigned specialty (Tactical, Devastator, Assault and Veteran). A white coloured roman numeral on the right armorial inset indicated a battle-brother's assigned squad. A white coloured roman numeral stenciled on the left poleyn (knee guard) indicated a battle-brother's assigned company. The Broken Wings also followed the Blood Angels' method of differing helm colours to designate different roles. Most unusual, the colours of their Death Company were red with black coloured shoulder pauldron insets, but still they bore the blood-red saltires to symbolise the wounds of the Great Angel on parts of their armour that was coloured black. Also, the Veteran Marines of their Sanguinary Guard wore the same black coloured battle-plate with red shoulder pauldron trim instead of the usual shining gold armour.

Chapter Badge
The Broken Wings Chapter badge is a stylised set of white coloured, bloody angelic wings, The right wing is broken, with some of the feathers falling from their pinion. This symbol was centered upon a field of black.

By the Broken Wings
"I don't know about you but I'm facing this end with a fight. Now listen, brothers, we may just be mere scouts. Throne, we might be the only scouts left. But is that any excuse to not go down as warriors? As Broken Wings? Would Sanguinius be proud of us if we sat by and let xenos eat us? No! If I shall end up as food then I'm going to be food that bites back! Are you with me?!"

- Scout Brother Ruthus of Squad "Blooded"

"When the Angels' Wings saw their father's tomb, a hole was torn in their hearts that still has not healed to this day. Our grief is matched by few."

- Early Broken Wings saying.

About the Broken Wings
"The Broken Wings fought in the belief that they were failures, unworthy to be angels. Yet here they stood, fighting to their last dying breath, as angels and true sons of Sanguinius. Their death will be a loss the galaxy will not recover from."

- Lord Commander Dante on the Broken Wings.