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=Dawn Stalkers=

"This sword... This blade, broken and bloodied shall serve as a reminder, to the sacrifice given and the duty filled by our brothers now lost and our Chapter Master now struck down. This broken blade shall be our symbol of defiance to the heretic, the xenos and the mutant. This broken blade will be the banner upon which we gather and wage war. This broken blade shall be our light in the darkness to come. This broken blade shall be the sign that the Dawn Stalkers have come."

- Paltanor Kerazanov, Captain of the 3rd Company and the second Chapter Master of the Dawn Stalkers.

The Dawn Stalkers are a Successor Chapter created during the 22nd Founding, a chapter born of the legacy of Rogal Dorn. While they publicly declare themselves as successors of the noble and proud Imperial Fists, they are in actuality sourced from the Crimson Fists, a secret known only to them and chapter father, along with relevant administratum officials.

Upon becoming based on the world of Anakron, a civilised world of snow and mountains, the Dawn Stalkers began their lengthy process of setting themselves up ready to take to the stars, searching for war in the Emperor's name. War however, found them, and upon both the mentality and psyche of the chapter as a whole, changed them. For it was during the 'Sacking of Anakron' did the Dawn Stalkers find their purpose, in the defence of those defenceless, and to endure the storms of hell itself with an unrelenting will.

Chapter History
The birth of the Dawn Stalkers was one of hardship and sacrifice, but also of duty and unwavering loyalty, their path being first paved with the blood of friend and foe upon their own home-world, a mere seven after their raising in the 22nd Founding. On the temperate world of Anakron, named after the Great Wolf of old, this successor chapter of the Imperial Fists made its home near the snowy plains of the Capital City of Excaliburn, with the fortress monastery, The Rising Sun overlooking the people below, a new reminder of protection and fear. But as the years passed, and the Dawn Stalkers grew ready at a more progressive pace, a menace would come seeking to undo all they had built.

=The Sacking of Anakron=

Seven years after the Dawn Stalkers arrival, the world of Anakron came under threat by the Eldar menace, seeking to claim the world for the Biel-Tan craftworld. Their initial offensive was devastating, wiping out 50% of the population in a matter of days, with many more to follow. Following in the footsteps of the Primarch they held so dear, the Dawn Stalkers were caught off guard, losing a score of two hundred newly made brothers in the first days of combat before proper defence could be mounted. Once done so communication and travel through the warp became perilous, with not a word coming from the Imperium save one, 'Endure'. The then chapter master, Theroin Jakala took it as an order, and saw to it that the PDF forces around the world would man the same walls as the Dawn Stalkers. Every young lad and old man strong enough to simply hold a rifle were place upon the battlements, standing side by side to inexperienced but still far deadlier Astartes.

The fighting was brutal, if the word does justice by what was wrought and received by both sides of the conflict. The Eldar were unnaturally stubborn in their wish to take the world, and several times mere battle-brothers were called upon to rally mortal men to stand and fight, and if need be die. One such tale is that of Brother Zarakon, sadly fallen in the same battle he called these very words to rally the hearts of the men about him. "Fight! Fight now! Fight with fire in your heart! Fight with blood on your hands! Fight and die for your home, and the Imperium!" With these words of triumph he plunged back into the fray, his bolter howling and combat knife blunting. Those mortal men and women around him rose up and fought with determination matched only by Zarakons. Those left brought his body before his captain, struggling underneath his weight. The captain in question, Paltanor Kerazanov of the 3rd Company took up his fallen brother, and laid him to rest upon a marble table nearby. Said table was remade after the sacking and a statue was made in memory of Zarakon, whom the captain stated would have gone far. This was the day the Dawn Stalkers found that even the average man was capable of much, and in them saw a strength to aspire to.

The sacking itself, often dubbed 'The times of fire' began to turn into a war of attrition, one that the Astartes themselves found hard pressed to deal with, but became supremely experienced in said way of war. Their armour became white, assisting in hiding from xenos eyes. Their minds tuned to the ideal trench or the superb firing positions. And in their hearts a fire, raging strong and fierce to protect their home, and a new found appreciation for it's people. However, even Astares are not immortal, and thus rely on their Apothecaries to bear them from death. But the dwindling number of said specialists, and thus ad-hoc medical formations comprised of regular battle brothers began to appear. These small units would become a form of combat medic, capable of saving their brothers lives and retrieving the gene-seed as required. They would not become privy to the information full-fledged apothecarions have access to, but this led to a long maintained traditions of every Dawn Stalker having medical training and equipment to save life, or ensure it's legacy lives on. The Chapter Master himself was no exception either, taking it upon himself to become a full-fledged Apothecary upon the sackings end, and seeing to it that all those who succeed him do the same. Only the later would come to fruition.

After three years of hard pressed and brutal war through streets and across mountain peaks, the Dawn Stalkers had finally cornered the Eldar warhost. Numbering only 545 left, the Chapter Master did not wish to send any more brothers to die than he had to, a decision which would cost him dearly. He took the remaining 1st Company and attacked the Eldar head on upon an open field of battle. Nothing is known of the battle, until the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Companies led by Paltanor Kerazanov and Axionis Tarl, the Chief Apothecary had crested the hill to see but one Astarte standing. From the obvious melee many xenos lay strewn across the field, five for every marine, but the xenos numbered too many. It was then the Chapter Master, now known as the last marine still upon his feet, bearing nought but a blade, broken in half screamed his final words. "With Dorn as my Father and witness, I shall never break! Never Relent, Always Endure!" And as the light of dawn rose upon him, he stood taller than any xenos or Astartes there that day. He was cut down seconds after.

The Eldar leader cut through his neck, letting the silence that followed amplify the sickening thud of his severed head reverberate through the horrified marines upon the hill. It was then the mockery came, Eldar cries of challenge, to fight them sword to sword and die as their brothers did. ''Pitiful deaths await thee! Come and taste a defeat only you pathetic Mon'Keigh are worthy of, by tasting my sword!'' The Dawn Stalker looked on in near silence, a line of white against the now present shining sun, a grieving numbness took them, and then the rage. They looked to their leaders for guidance, lest they take the challenge issued. Axionis Tarl looked on in silence, and a few seconds passed before he uttered a simple word that focused the pure fury and grief of all Astartes present. "Fire."

Hell itself broke loose, as a full combined 297 Astartes let their bolters rip apart Xenos flesh and armour, who were now struggling to draw their ranged weapons from their holsters, only to be mulched apart by every projectile the Dawn Stalkers had in hand, pouch or even ground. Blood coated the snow, overlaying the white armour of the fallen 1st Company and coating the snow into a dark patch against the blinding white. Their rage came from bolt, plasma and shell, and did not cease until all standing were either dead or mulch. Axionis Tarl approached a nearby tree, on which the Eldar leader, he who killed the chapter master rest, bleeding from a chunk of his lower torso missing. He looked up, and through matted hair grinned. "I am willing to parlay now." A bolt pistol was too merciful for him the Chief Apothecary was noted to have said at a later date.

A sorrowful 3rd Captain approached the bodies of the 1st with tears in his eyes. He looked about, seeing brothers fallen and blade broken in twain, bolters spent and armour cracked. He came up to the body of the chapter master and dropped to his knees, looking upon the twisted, broken figure of his lifeless brother. As the other Dawn Stalkers gathered around him, they wept, silently and solemnly. It was then Paltanor Kerazanov picked up his Chapter Masters blade, broken from the middle down. He cradled it as if were a child and rose back to his feet. The then turned, holding the blade at the hilt and pointed it skywards. It was then he gave his words of remembrance and renewed to those present, with no more tears to weep.

''"This sword... This blade, broken and bloodied shall serve as a reminder, to the sacrifice given and the duty filled by our brothers now lost and our Chapter Master now struck down. This broken blade shall be our symbol of defiance to the heretic, the xenos and the mutant. This broken blade will be the banner upon which we gather and wage war. This broken blade shall be our light in the darkness to come. This broken blade shall be the sign that the Dawn Stalkers have come." ''

It was then all of the Dawn Stalkers present drew their swords and knives and pointed them skywards, before bringing them down upon their knees, breaking them all into two. Raising them aloft once more, the 3rd Captain spoke once more, his voice throwing the grief away, replacing it with fury in the hearts of the Astartes. "This day we shall remember, till the fire dies out and the stars grow cold! We shall remember our purpose clear as the dawn rises upon these very plains. Never again shall we falter, never again shall we break and fail! For when we brake we shall still strive and we shall still persevere! Never again shall the innocent fall while we draw pained breath! Never again shall we fall without our swords broken upon the necks of Xenos, the heretic and the mutant! We shall never relent, we shall always endure! As the rolling thunder of the cry repeated by the Astartes filled the plains, the Dawn Stalkers arose a new Chapter Master, and found new purpose in their existence. To protect those who cannot protect themselves, and to stand tall even when shattered in body and spirit. Thus were the Dawn Stalkers truly born. But these events would later have a strange effect on the Dawn Stalkers gene-seed, a soon to develop flaw which would be known as 'The burden'.

=A planet burnt, a chapter reborn=

Even with hearts filled with renewed vigour, the Dawn Stalkers were still set before a new task. Rebuilding what was lost during the sacking, and re-forging their now depleted numbers, for they totalled a mere 425 Astartes once the last of the Eldar has been slain and their Webway gate turned to ash. It was then, after Kerazanov was elevated to the status of Chapter Master did he hold council with those remaining Captains and high command staff. Of those present was the Captains of the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th companies, the Chief Apothecary, in which rank now bears the title 'Blood Father' Axionis Tarl, the newly made Reclusiarch Valandior and Master of the Forge Exios Qwanz. The council came to several agreements which would change how the chapter itself would operate and function.

For starters, every marine of every rank would be made to undergo more advanced and in depth medical training in order to properly care for their brothers should an apothecary be unavailable. Along with this the forges of the Dawn Stalkers would create equipment which would allow the Astartes to extract gene seed from fallen brothers in said cases. This would see every high ranking member, Chaplains, Captains and even tech-marines be seconded as Apothecaries should the need arise. Secondly, the 1st Company itself would be empty forever more in remembrance of the fallen. Their names will be the only ones to roster the 1st, and those worthy of said status will simply be placed into the remaining 9 companies in single squads, creating 9 over-strength companies of 110 Astartes each. This was hoped and proven to have additional effects, such as those veterans being able to more readily teach and mentor the Astartes of the companies to higher standards, albeit a small effect but useful none the less. However, if the requirement of a large number of veterans arise the elite members of the company would form together to create the 'Sundered Sons', a company strength ad-hoc formation capable of fulfilling the role of the 1st Company in such circumstances. Finally, the council saw it fit to reintroduce an older piece of equipment not seen in large numbers since the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, the Boarding Shield.

The reason for this is due to the 6th Company, who during a lengthy battle against Eldar skirmishers throughout the thick woodland of the plains demonstrated a good need for such equipment. As Eldar forces encircled the Astartes the members of the 6th company ripped metal plates and even stone slabs from nearby vehicles and rocks to act as mock shields. It proved effective in keeping the Eldar constantly moving to gain better vantage points to flank the Astartes, which only gave their positions away to howling bolt rounds. This show of ingenuity would see the 6th company fully equipped with the shields, and thus named The Stone Wall. They took to this name with pride, painting their shields a dull grey, similar to the stone they wielded before. This also led to them becoming the prime participant in Zone Mortalis operations, scuttling enemy ships and protecting those of the Dawn Stalkers fleet.

The reforms garnered suspecting eyes from the administratum and criticism from other chapters. Granted, for such a young chapter the Dawn Stalkers dared to question the words of the Codex Astartes, and see itself bend to it's own will rather than that of the holy tome of the Adeptus Astartes. However, in all other aspects the Dawn Stalkers remain codex compliant, and to the Imperium it offers loyalty and their lives, and their aspect in medical training chapter wide often saw companies of Astartes requested to be present on the most brutal and savage of campaigns. Thus, with the chapter rebuilt several decades later, the Dawn Stalkers plunged back into the stars, to see itself cemented into the legends worthy of the Sons of Dorn.

Notable Campaigns
The earliest conflict the Dawn Stalkers took part in was also an extremely fundamental event in it's history that shaped the chapter into what it is today. The Sacking of Anakron, often dubbed by the citizens of the world as 'The times of fire' were a vast collection of brutal battles fought all across Anakron. This period forged the Dawn Stalkers from war into a chapter knowing of purpose and goal, and saw several reforms across the chapter which caused their attitude to civilians to shift to one of a protector, and the idea of the enemy as something to blunt akin to a storm. This was also the time which saw the icon of the 'Broken Blade' become reality, a symbol of the eternal sorrow of the Dawn Stalkers, but also their defiance of submission. However, even for all the Dawn Stalkers fought for and survived against when fighting the Eldar invaders, this conflict would later see the flaw known as 'The burden' develop in the gene-seed of the Dawn Stalkers, something they carry still to this day.
 * The Sacking of Anakron (189-193.M37)

During the 38th Millennium the 3rd Company, now led by Captain Belcar 'Ironfist' was requested to assist in a local campaign against the greenskin invasion on the agri-world 'Shiril'. Seeing as the Orks outnumbered local PDF and present Imperial Guard forces, the 3rd Company swiftly accepted the request, and made their way to Shiril to stand alongside those already embattled against the Orks. As the Dawn Stalkers entered the system they noticed a small Ork Fleet in orbit, still combating the local defence flotilla. The plan was to use Thunderhawks to quickly transport the ground force to the area in most dire need of reinforcement, while the fleet stays in orbit to assist the local defence fleet. A mere three hours later the Thunderhawks were soon heard roaring over the fields, darting towards the outlying hive city of 'Arcburn'. Meanwhile, the Dawn Stalkers fleet, headed by the Battle Barge 'Crimson Arrow' plunged towards the Ork fleet, carving metal from rock and stone from steel. They did so without letting another system ship fall, and none of their own, a resounding success to be sure over the 4 days of orbital conflict. Planet side however, things did not fare well. When the Dawn Stalkers arrived at Arcburn they found a city with walls already breached and soldiers already failing. The 11 aircraft quickly deposited the 11 squads throughout the city, with the Sternguard veterans being placed where the fighting was thickest alongside the 7th squad. Accounts are scarce, but any and all sources mention that numerous times Astartes were seen throwing themselves between citizens and guardsman and what would have been death. While the Astartes were more than capable of enduring the Ork attacks, it left many wounded and some fallen. As the battle came to a close and the greenskins were soon driven from the city Belcar saw it fit to investigate this strange desire not only his men, but also he had experienced to save the humans whom they fought alongside. He ordered his company to go about the planet in teams of 2 squads to areas which required their assistance most while he investigated the matter with this apothecaries. The findings took several years after the invasion to confirm, but it was confirmed nonetheless. Their gene-seed had developed a flaw, one which saw them possessing a dire need to see the mortal lives of humans safe, but the life anything else be destroyed with a passion and fury unnatural for even Astartes. It was thus dubbed, 'The Burden', and it was such in both naming and context.
 * Birth of Burden (255-256.M38)

Chapter Gene-Seed
The Dawn Stalkers trace their lineage back to the Primarch Rogal Dorn, and are known to be decedents of the Imperial Fists to all save their own and those affiliated. It is in reality, a lie that the Dawn Stalkers are sires of the Imperial Fists, for they are in actuality descended from the stock of the Crimson Fists, a chapter of the 2nd Founding. It is not known why this is kept secret to all save the Dawn Stalkers, Crimson Fists and the administratum, but it is a secret they hold, even from the Imperial Fists themselves.

The gene-seed the Dawn Stalkers possess is quite stable, as is with most Sons of Dorn. They possess no mutation and are actually capable of utilising the Sus-an Membrane, which allows an Astartes to enter a form of hibernation in order to survive extensive bodily trauma. However, there is in the gene-seed a flaw, one known to the chapter and the chapter alone. A flaw known only as, 'The Burden'.

=The Burden= It is unknown how the flaw developed, nor is there a cure for the effects. While it is not a deadly concern as of the moment, it is still a concern that the Apothecarion of the Dawn Stalkers as would be any flaw discovered by any chapter, regardless of the effects. The Burden however, has only two known effects, The 'Shield' and the 'Sword'.

The Shield: The Shield is a desire that a Dawn Stalker may feel on the field of battle. A sudden urge to defend those weaker than he, and to protect the strength of humanity, even at the cost of his own life will overtake him. He will do anything and everything he can to protect mortal men and women, only disregarding orders if the loss of life he could prevent is substantial enough. While only felt under rare circumstances, the conviction an Astartes will feel under this effect is so strong that some find it difficult to adhere to given orders as stated before. But this feeling pales in comparison to the direct contrast of 'The Sword'.

The Sword: There The Shield ensnares an Astartes to protect and defend the innocent, The Sword compels them to kill, more so than the already near murderous intent Astartes feel towards all enemies of the Imperium. While easier to control one-self under the effect of The Sword, Astartes will experience this part of the flaw far more commonly than The Shield, and will often divulge into the need to hack apart the xenos, turn to ash the mutant, and foricbly 'repent' the heretic.

It is unknown if an Astartes can or has felt the effects of both parts of the flaw at the same time, but it is known that the feeling and urges each part brings appears and dissipates in the blink of an eye, occasionally leaving an Astartes unaware as to what had just transpired.