Inheritors of Caliban

The Steed Kindred are a Codex Compliant Chapter created in the Ultima Founding descended from the venerable Dark Angels. Though a noble and pious Chapter, their name hides a dark secret few of them are privy to. The Inheritors of Caliban did not just inherit the genetic legacy of Lion El'Jonson, but the dark secrets hidden by the Dark Angels. Of course these secrets were not granted to the Inheritors easily, for the Dark Angels were hesitant to trust the Primaris with the secrets the First Born had kept for millennia. However the Inheritors of Caliban were earn the trust of their kin though how they did is a secret kept from all, even themselves.

A New Kind of Warrior
For ten millennia, Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl has been working on a task set for him by the Primarch Roboute Guilliman before he was mortally wounded by the Daemon Primarch Fulgrim in the days after the Horus Heresy: a new legion of transhuman warriors. Developed on orders from Guilliman 100 standard centuries past, Primaris Space Marines were diligently developed and perfected by the Priesthood of Mars during the long intervening millennia. This new breed of Astartes would be the next step in the evolution of the Emperor's Angels of Death - genetically altered to be bigger, stronger and faster than their First Born Kin. Furthermore these Primaris Space Marines would be timely reinforcements for the Imperium's armies as their enemies close in for the kill in the wake of Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade and the birth of the Great Rift dividing the Imperium in two. As the Imperium of Man is poised on the brink of annihilation at the hands of Chaos, the Primaris were awakened from their cyro-pods at the behest of Roboute Guilliman and the Indomitus Crusade began. In this time, lies the origins of the Inheritors of Caliban.

By Crusade's end what remained of the Unnumbered Sons was divided into Chapters as part of the Ultima Founding. One of these would become the Inheritors of Caliban, sons of Lion El'Jonson. However, the Dark Angels were not warm in welcoming. Mistrusting of others by nature, the Dark Angels and the Unforgiven were not quick to assimilate these new arrivals. The Primaris Marines of the Ultima Founding had not heard the apocryphal tales or gone through the long indoctrination like those of the Unforgiven. They were not tested in battle. Their loyalty to their parent Chapters had not been ascertained in the painstakingly detailed way the Firstborn Dark Angels preferred.

Immediate concerns over the integration of the Primaris Space Marines among the Unforgiven were soon assuaged as the new warriors adapted to the Unforgiven's ways of war and performed well alongside their Battle-Brothers. But those who had suffered most at the Darkmor Massacre, the Angels of Vengeance, Consecrators, and Guardians of the Covenant, were more eager than others to use the Primaris. Thus began a great period of intensive testing and scrutiny.

The Primaris were found to adapt well to the Unforgiven's ways of war and fight competently alongside their Battle-Brothers. In addition, their various squad types, weapons, and vehicles proved useful assets for those commanding Dark Angels strike forces across numerous war zones. Bonds were forged in battle, and many observed that their Primaris brethren's temperament and tendencies were very much like their own, presumably as a result of shared gene-seed.

As for the Ultima Founding Chapters, they were placed under heavier scrutiny.

Kept in the Dark
In the early years of their Founding, the Awakened of the Primaris found little trust from the First-Born. In fact it was suspected by Supreme Grand Master Tassadon that the Indoctrinated were more welcomed by the First Born as they were created absent external influence from Mars. It would seem that his suspicions were confirmed as the Awakened were slowly replaced by the Indoctrinated. Furthermore, he could feel secrets forming around him as more and more marines bore the hoods their Primogenitors wore. However, he could not discover the secrets within his own Chapter. For another made sure of that.

No one knows what happened at the Battle of Suruka Matalox. It would seem that the Inheritors of Caliban sustained heavy casualties, including the loss of Supreme Grand Master Tassadon as well as almost every single Awakened within the Chapter. Even so, after the battle the Inheritors of Caliban reorganized and fully assimilated the ways of their primogenitors under the leadership of Supreme Grand Master Nibril Haldacian. Of what exactly happened at Suruka Matalox, none will say for it appears as if the Inheritors of Caliban have wiped it clean from memory.

Secrets Revealed
When Haldacian rose to Supreme Grand Master, he was already privy to a number of secrets given by the Unforgiven, now more was revealed to him as he entered the higher ranks of the Inner Circle. With that, the Inheritors of Caliban had fully assimilated into the Unforgiven and became willing hunters of the Fallen to redeem the honour of the First Legion. Though their length of service is not as long as the other Chapters of the Unforgiven, the Inheritors of Caliban have already contributed greatly in service to the Imperium and the hunt for the Fallen.

Even so, the keeping of secrets always brought its own problems. Those uninitiated were rarely given reason why they were to suddenly abandon battles in favour of new objectives and even then were the reasons vague. Only those who knew the truth could deal with the fact that they abandoned their allies when they had to. The honour of the First Legion had to come before all others. Already they have captured a fair number of Fallen and apparently made some of them repent. However, one target continually evades them.

Hunt for the Vindicta
It was on the world of Narkona where a strike force of the Inheritors of Caliban engaged a force of Heretic Astartes. Unbeknownst to all but the Force Commander and attached Blackwing, the Chaos Lord of the warband was supposedly a Fallen Angel. With their fury guiding them, the Inheritors of Caliban finally reached the throne of the Lord; only to find another marine, a First Born, in armour and livery of the First Legion beheading him with a single blow. Immediately knowing that he was Fallen, the Inheritors of Caliban charged him with intent on claiming one Fallen Angel. Yet, they did not consider the fact that the Fallen may have already devised an escape plan. They found out a second later as shapes appeared from the shadows and tore into the advancing Unforgiven with a storm of bolter fire. Seconds later the Fallen Angels vanished, leaving only corpses and a message on the Chaos Lord's corpse.

Vindicta.

When this was reported back to the Inner Circle, they immediately knew who the Strike Force encountered. They had encountered members of the Vindicta, a warband of Fallen Angels who apparently hunted down other Fallen out of some form of penance for their treachery on Caliban. The Unforgiven had been hunting them for many millennia. Thus the Inheritors of Caliban made it their quest that they would be the ones to bring the Vindicta to repentance. So, the hunt for the Vindicta began.

Gleaning knowledge from the secrets concerning the Vindicta, the Inner Circle learned all they could about the mysterious warband before mobilizing at full Chapter strength to search the Galaxy. Interrogator-Chaplains intensified their torture of captured Fallen to divine knowledge of the Vindicta's hide outs and methods while Librarians cast their minds across the warp in efforts to find whispers of the warband. Names such as Alvun, Torvus and the Seeker were learned or tales of Kurin's Fall or Gawain's duel were told. Every scrap of information gained led the Inheritors of Caliban closer and closer to the Vindicta. Their efforts did bear fruit at times; bringing the fight to the Vindicta where ever they found them. yet their prey seemed one step ahead every time. Until one chance rose.

It was by chance that word of a black armoured Astartes allegedly being sighted on an empty world reached the ears of the Inheritors of Caliban. Suspecting the Vindicta were seeking a place for their so called "Sanctuary", the Inheritors of Caliban made their preparations and awaited the coming of the Vindicta; secreting a squad of veterans outfitted with Eliminator loadout to keep watch. They did not need to wait long as members of the Vindicta arrived individually or in pairs or threes until, finally, Umaril the Vengeful himself arrived. The veterans gave the signal and immediately a whole force of Banewing veterans teleported in, right before the Vindicta who, for the first time in millennia, were caught off guard. Always a small force, further reduced by the ravages of time, the Vindicta relied on stealth and deceit to achieve their goals; now they had been robbed of their advantages with this ambush. Yet 10,000 years of warfare had taught them to be ready for anything and Umaril ordered for the warband to flee; using preplanned escape routes to break free from the Inheritors' assault. Even so, the Unforgiven's relentless and sudden assault was not unsuccessful; many of the Vindicta had been wounded and three of the Fallen lay dead, corpses riddled with bolter shells. What's more, one other was taken and placed into a stasis vault to be taken back to the Lion's Will

Since that day, the Inheritors of Caliban have kept their eyes open for the Vindicta for their threat has not diminished. In fact they have only become more dangerous since their wounding at the hands of Inheritors. It is perhaps only a matter of time before the Vindicta retaliate. The Interrogator Chaplains have intensified their efforts to draw information, and repentance, from their prisoner. So far, however, he has chosen not to utter a single word for his loyalty to the brothers he has fought beside for 10,000 years goes beyond any level of pain.

Notable Battles

 * Indomitus Crusade - Arkus Tassadon begins his service as a Greyshield amongst the thousands of Primaris in the Indomitus Crusade. He fights alongside Achestus Benarin, future High King of the Dawn Guardians Chapter, and the Company he serves in also contains Fabian Alric; future Hauptmann of the 5th Company of the Mordekaisers. Tassadon finds a friend in Benarin and remain so even as they separate to found new Chapters.
 * Battle of Raukos
 * Battle of Hydallus (Unknown Date.M42) - The Inheritors of Caliban fight their first battle as a Chapter and successor of the Dark Angels against Chaos warbands on Hydallus. Despite proving themselves a mighty Chapter, the Awakened Primaris find themselves less well received than the Indoctrinated.
 * Battle of Suruka Matalox (Unknown Date).M42 - The details surrounding the battle of Suruka Matalox are shrouded and largely unknown. All that is known is that the Inheritors of Caliban engaged a gigantic Ork horde and came out victorious; though Supreme Master Tassadon was slain and the remaining Awakened Primaris were wiped out, leaving only the Indoctrinated Primaris. Though the circumstances are suspicious, there has never been any acknowledgement from the Inheritors of Caliban that this battle ever even happened.
 * A Successful Hunt (Unknown Date.M42) - In light of truths revealed to him, Nibril Haldacian leads the Inheritors of Caliban in a hunt for a Fallen Angel under the guise of campaigning against Black Legion forces. The newly formed Stormwing runs down the Fallen Angel at the height of the campaign and drag him back to the Lion's Will.
 * Hunt for the Vindicta (Unknown Date.M42 - 199.M42) - After encountering members of the mysterious Vindicta in a hunt for a Fallen Angel; the Inheritors of Caliban devote their efforts to hunt down and capture every single member of this Fallen warband.
 * Skirmish of Mudi (Unknown Date.M42) - The Inheritors of Caliban follow a lead to the seemingly empty world of Mudi; however not only do they encounter three members of the Vindicta but a massed force of the insane World Eaters. Though the heretics batter the Inheritors, the attached force of Stormwing Astartes are able to corner the Vindicta. However, the arrival of the Dawn Guardians, coming to relieve the beleaguered Inheritors, unwittingly helps the Fallen escape. Thus, instead of being well received, High King Benarin gets only a curt thanks and no answer as to what happened to Arkus Tassadon, his comrade in the Indomitus Crusade.
 * The Seeker's Wrath (Unknown Date.M42) - A strike force of Stormwing Astartes lead by High Master Garros deploy in the warzone of Carisa to hunt down the Seeker, a member of the Vindicta. Two whole months of searching bear no results and the Stormwing prepares to leave; only for Garros' head to suddenly blow apart from a sniper bullet as he steps onto the Overlord. As the gunship's door close, the strike force briefly spot an Astartes matching the description of the Seeker standing in front of an abandoned crypt; the first place the Stormwing searched.
 * Denying a Prize (180.M42) - The Inheritors of Caliban pursue the Vindicta onto Kalstalla where they unexpectedly find a den of Fallen Angels that their prey was also seeking. What commences is a race between the two groups to reach the Fallen. Ultimately the newly promoted Derius Seddon reaches the Fallen first and capture them; though the Vindicta themselves escape.
 * The Vindicta Bested (199.M42) - After perhaps decades of hunting, the Inheritors of Caliban finally get one step ahead of the Vindicta and lay an ambush for them at their Sanctury on an unnamed planet. When the Vindicta arrive, the entire Banewing Company teleports in with guns blazing. Caught by surprise, the Vindicta can only flee. Though most of them escape, four of them are slain and one Vindicta was apparently captured.
 * War of Beasts/War of Nightmares - the Inheritors of Caliban were present on Vigilus though their actions have been left unknown for reasons the Inheritors have not disclosed.

Fortress-Monastery
As a fleet based Chapter the Inheritors of Caliban have no homeworld. Instead they have the Lion's Will, a Ramilles Class Starfort, for a Fortress Monastery. Though the Chapter operates across the Galaxy, the Lion's Will rarely leaves the Ultima Segmentum, where its recruiting worlds are located, unless matters are deemed important enough for it to move. The Lion's Will is far too big for a Chapter of 1,000 to completely occupy, thus much of it is left alone by much of the Chapter. These unattended areas are supposedly left occupied by servitors carrying out duties long rendered unneeded.

Just like the Chapter it carries, the Lion's Will is host to a number of secrets within its halls. Areas off limits for unexplained reasons and rooms forbidden to even be looked upon. The deeper halls and chambers hold many secrets that few may know. Only those admitted to the Unseen Order may enter and even then few know the full truth.

Chapter Organisation
As with the rest of the Unforgiven, the Inheritors of Caliban largely adhere to the Codex Astartes with some differences. The Inheritors of Caliban are organised just like their primogenitors. Like all Unforgiven, they maintain two elite formations comprised of the 1st and 2nd Companies, known as the Banewing and Stormwing, which are comparable to the Deathwing and Ravenwing who they frequently operate alongside in their hunt for the Fallen Angels. The Inheritors of Caliban also have an Inner Circle instead of a typical Chapter Council, this secretive council is referred to as the Unseen Order and its existence is known only to the most senior members of the Chapter.

As a fully Primaris Chapter, the Inheritors of Caliban do not have access to the same First-Born squads such as the Tactical or Assault squads. However the modular and flexibility of their own squads make up for this.

Officer Ranks

 * Supreme Master (Chapter Master) - the Supreme Master is the title taken by the Chapter Master of the Inheritors of Caliban. While leading the Chapter, he must also chair the secret meetings of the Unseen Order as well as grant repentant Fallen with the mercy of an end to their misery. Only the Supreme Master knows all of the dark secrets hidden by the Unforgiven, and even then there are darker secrets hidden from him.
 * High Master of the Banewing - The High Master of the Banewing is the Captain of the Inheritors of Caliban 1st Company, also known as the Banewing, the Chapter's equivalent of the Dark Angels' Deathwing, as well as the Master of the Keep. Should the Supreme Master fall then it is the High Master of the Banewing who will take his place. As one of the most senior members of the Unseen Order, the High Master of the Banewing is privy to almost every secret within the Chapter; only the Supreme Master knows more than him.
 * High Master of the Stormwing - The High Master of the Stormwing is the Captain of the Stormwing, the 2nd Company of the Inheritors of Caliban, which is the equivalent of the Ravenwing of the Dark Angels. The High Master of the Stormwing usually knows as many secrets of the Inner Circle as the High Master of the Banewing, and is normally considered as the natural successor to take leadership of the Banewing should his predecessor falls in battle or is promoted to Supreme Master. The High Master of the Stormwing also serves as the Chapter's Leader of the Hunt; it is his duty to locate and hunt down a member of the Fallen anywhere in the galaxy.
 * Master Interrogator - The Master Interrogator is the Reclusiarch and Master of Sanctity of the Chapter. His duty is to oversee the Chaplains as well as train the Interrogator Chaplains in the art of interrogation and psychological torture. As such, he is a member of the Unseen Order and knows the truth of the Fallen.
 * Master of the Librarium - Serving as the Chief Librarian of the Chapter's Librarium, it is the responsibility of the Master of the Librarium to maintain all of the Inheritors' of Caliban Chapter records and the security of its secrets. He is a member of the Unseen Order and is thus one of the only members of the Chapter privy to the whole truth surrounding the Fallen though, of course, not even he knows everything.
 * Master of the Apothecarion - The Master of the Apothecarion is the Chief Apothecary of the Chapter and oversees the medical needs of all Inheritors of Caliban as well as all biological research conducted by the Chapter. It falls to him to preserve and maintain the purity of the Chapter's stock of gene-seed, a daunting task for a Chapter whose bloodline is considered one of the most pure in the Imperium. As a member of the Unseen Order, he too knows the whole truth surrounding the Fallen.
 * Master of the Fleet - The Master of the Fleet is skilled at naval warfare and is placed in overall command of all of the Chapter's capital warships, transports, and air assets. As a Master, he is a member of the Unseen Order though he is not granted knowledge of the full truth of the Fallen.
 * Master of the Forge - The Master of the Forge plays an important role in the Inheritors of Caliban for he oversees the maintenance of the Chapter's armouries and Fleet. However his dual loyalty to the Chapter and the Adeptus Mechanicus means that he, and all Techmarines of the Chapter, are never inducted into the Unseen Order and are thus only privy to secrets of the machine and not the secrets of the Unforgiven.
 * Master (Captain) - A Master serves as commander of one of the ten Companies of the Inheritors of Caliban. They are the equivalent of the standard Space Marine Captain of other Chapters and fall under the command of the Supreme Master. Every Master serves as a member of the Unseen Order but he is not privy to the entire truth surrounding the dark past of the Unforgiven. Each Master bears additional honorific titles depending on his duties within the Chapter. They also exemplify the taciturn and monastic traits the Unforgiven are known for; they do not care for laurels and adulation nor roles requiring diplomacy and visibility, they are shadowy figures who prefer cowled seclusion instead of leading from the front. Even so, the Masters are no less commanding, in fact their grim silence perhaps make them more menacing. None can claim to be more disciplined than the Unforgiven; a single barked order can start any number of flawlessly executed manoeuvres. Furthermore, the Masters are not just superb strategists, but highly skilled warriors who have fought for years to reach where they are now. Armed with the finest wargear drawn from the Chapter's armoury, and with ancient relics, a Master can slaughter entire hordes of enemy combatants and slay even the mightiest of foes in single combat.
 * Lieutenant - When Roboute Guilliman revised the Codex Astartes upon his return, he added a new rank -- the Lieutenant. These officers serve as the right hand of the Masters, aiding in the directing of troops in battle and adding flexibility to the command structure. There are two Lieutenants in each Company. It is common practice for Companies to divide into two Battle Demi-companies, each of them commanded by a Lieutenant. Like the rest of the Unforgiven, the Inheritors of Caliban had no issue incorporating the Lieutenant into their structure; for the heavy fighting in the Imperium Nihilus has claimed the lives of many Masters, requiring quick replacement. The position of Lieutenant gives rising leaders vital experience in command, and creates the perfect training ground for these Battle-Brothers to become Masters. The longest serving and most honoured Lieutenants of the Inheritors of Caliban are presented with robes and cowls -- the austere markings of a Veteran amongst the descendants of the 1st Legion.

Specialist Ranks and Formations

 * Interrogator-Chaplains - The Inheritors of Caliban maintain a very special cadre of Chaplains known as Interrogator-Chaplains who are tasked with getting any Fallen Angel who has been captured by the Chapter to admit their sins and repent of their betrayal of the Emperor. Interrogator-Chaplains are as skilled in the arts of interrogation, torture and psychological manipulation as the most experienced members of the Inquisition. Interrogator-Chaplains are not members of the Unseen Order, though their duties require that they have knowledge of many more of the Chapter's secrets than is normal for Inheritors of Caliban of their rank.

The Banewing
The Inheritors' of Caliban 1st Company of Veterans is referred to within the Chapter as the Banewing. The Banewing is comprised solely of Veterans who only take to the field of battle in Gravis armour, coloured bone-white in homage to their primogenitors and their duty. The Banewing is tasked with that mission which takes precedence over all others for the Chapter, even though they may be called upon to fight a wide range of foes. The Banewing are responsible for crushing all of the enemies of the Unforgiven, and there are no greater enemies than the Fallen.

As is the case for the Unforgiven, the Banewing does not comply with the standard organisation of Space Marine Chapters' 1st Companies as outlined by the Codex Astartes, though all of the other companies in Unforgiven Chapters generally do so.

The bulk of the 1st Company is composed of Veteran Squads clad in Gravis armour, making them indefatigable warriors who blast apart their enemies with Boltstorm gauntlets at range or smash them aside with power fists as they advance without mercy.

The Banewing typically arrive by teleporting to the battlefield at a prearranged time, often homing in on a signal from ranging Stormwing units. By the time foes see the flash signifying the arrival of the Banewing's Aggressors, it is already too late. The Banewing appear in a blazing hail of gunfire, as if they had begun firing while en route. They live up to their name, arriving like a sword stroke to deliver the deathblow.

Once the Stormwing has located the enemy, the Banewing are deployed to destroy them so utterly that not a single trace remains. In the case of the Fallen Angels, the Banewing cast down all of their works and grind them to dust beneath their Ceramite boots, so that none may ever know of the stain cast upon the Unforgiven's honour by their very existence.

The fortunate are destroyed in the unstoppable maelstrom that is a Banewing assault; the unfortunate are dragged away to the dungeons of the Lion's Will, to suffer the attentions of the Interrogator-Chaplains and to confess their sins in the vain hope of a merciful end.


 * Banewing Guardians - A Banewing Guardian is a fell-handed warrior of the Inheritors of Caliban, a member of the elite Banewing, whose glorious deeds on the field of battle are matched only by his unflinching devotion to the Chapter. Banewing Guardians are a truly imposing sight, for in them lives on some semblance of the Lion himself. They embody silent strength and a veiled, yet still palpable nobility. Within the Banewing, there are multiple circles of trust, with older, more experienced warriors ensnared ever deeper into the spiderweb of secrets. The most veteran Banewing warriors are given the title of Banewing Guardians, the uppermost level of the order before being named a Master. They become the ultimate upholders of ancient Chapter traditions and the most skilled fighting unit of the Inheritors of Caliban. In battle, the Banewing Guardians are fell-handed foes, Gravis armoured veterans armed with Storm Shields and ancient weapons specially forged for vengeance. Few foes dare to stand before them and none do so for long. In the stratified Chapter organisation of the Inheritors of Caliban and the other Unforgiven, the Banewing Guardians represent the elite -- only the Masters and Grand Masters of the Chapter rank higher, and they are only chosen from among the company of the Banewing Guardians, who are also members of the Chapter's Unseen order.

The Stormwing
The Inheritors' of Caliban 2nd Company is called the Stormwing. The members of the Stormwing are chosen not only for their skill at fast assaults using bikes and Land Speeders but also for their resilience to the heretical rantings of members of the Fallen Angels. The Ravenwing wear jet-black armour in the style of the Dark Angels during the Horus Heresy and specialise in lightning-fast assaults.

All but the highest members of the Chapter's Unseen Order are oblivious to the true purpose of the Stormwing, which is to hunt down and capture every last member of the Fallen. Only with the blood or full repentance of the Fallen do the Dark Angels believe that their sins against the Emperor during the Heresy may finally be washed away.

Like the Banewing, the Stormwing does not conform to the ideal of Space Marine Chapter organisation as laid out in the Codex Astartes. The Stormwing Company is mostly composed of Bike Squads and squadrons of assault Land Speeders. These vehicles are then divided into two groups; one serves as an attack squadron and the other as a fire support squadron. Biker Squads form over half of the 2nd Company's bulk and they are the centre of any Ravenwing attack. The Space Marine Assault Bikes lay down a torrent of fire from twin-linked Bolters and accelerate into combat should a vulnerable target reveal itself. It is Stormwing doctrine to avoid becoming bogged down such that their speed is negated and the enemy's superior numbers can be brought to bear.

The Stormwing is considered perhaps the most brutal and unrelenting of the Unforgiven, storming into battle like a raging tide that smashes apart any opposition foolish enough to get in their way.
 * Stormwing Lightning Knight - If the Stormwing are the thunder; then their elite Knights are the bolts of lightning that strike the enemy. Mounted on powerful, heavily customised Mark IV Assault Bikes, the Stormwing Lightning Knights of the Inheritors' of Caliban Stormwing, are heavily armed shock cavalry. Those who survive in the Stormwing long enough learn to take the doctrines of mobile warfare to the next level of mastery. If they can pass the Seven Rites of the Raven, they will be inducted into the Lighting Knights, the Inner Circle of the 2nd Company. There, they will learn the real reason behind their hunt for Heretics and the truth about their Chapter's history. To signify their exalted status, Lightning Knights carry Corvus Hammers, which are patterned after an ancient Calibanite weapon used to hunt the Great Beasts. The Lightning Knights' riding skills are supreme, and they can drive at top speed through almost any impediments to close on their foes. During this approach, their Plasma Talons tear gaping holes in the enemy lines before they literally ride over their prey, cracking armour and sundering flesh with their Corvus Hammers as they go. A Stormwing Lightning Knight is a vengeful killer who will not rest until he has run his prey to ground. If his Plasma Talons do not kill the foe, the razor-sharp bill of his Corvus Hammer surely will. Nothing will stop a Stormwing Lightning Knight from hunting down his prey.

Chapter Companies
The remaining Companies of the Inheritors of Caliban are referred to as Battle Companies and Reserve Companies and largely follow the Codex Astartes.

The 3rd to 5th Battle Companies consist of six Battleline Squads, two Close Support Squads and two Fire Support Squads comprised of any combination of the types of squads delineated below. Most Inheritors of Caliban deployments consist of a single Battle Company, reinforced by elements of the Banewing, Stormwing, Scout and Reserve Companies as needed.

The 6th to 9th Companies are Reserve Companies, entirely composed of squads of the same designation. The 6th and 7th Companies are Battleline Companies, each consisting of between ten and twenty Battleline Squads. These act as a reserve which may be used to bolster the front line, launch diversionary attacks or stem enemy flanking moves.

The 8th Company is the Close Support Company, and consists of ten to twenty Close Support Squads, most often used wherever a strong hand-to-hand fighting force is needed.

The 9th Company is the Fire Support Company, consisting of ten to twenty fire support squads. It is the most heavily equipped company in the Chapter, and its heavy-weapon bearing Astartes provide suppression and raw destructive power. Squads from the Reserve Companies are often attached to a Battle Company in order to bolster a given force's capabilities. In such instances, they are identified as the 11th Squad, 12th Squad and so on.

The 10th Company serves as the training ground for new Battle-Brothers of the Chapter, and is made up entirely of Scouts and a force of 100 Vanguard Space Marines. Led by a Sergeant, these recruits will take to the battlefield alongside the strike forces of other companies, typically acting in a reconnaissance role. The Codex Astartes dictates no formal size for the 10th Company, as the rate of recruitment is not fixed.

Battleline

 * Intercessors - As the centre for any battle line -- a core of warriors that could lay down fire while advancing or equally as well hunker down to hold a vital objective -- the Intercessor is the backbone of any Inheritors of Caliban strike force, able to ravage enemy forces with storms of bolter fire. Their tactical flexibility and modular armament allows them to be outfitted as the battlefield demands.
 * Infiltrators - A Vanguard Infiltrator is a type of Vanguard Space Marine who is usually part of an Infiltrator Squad. Vanguard Infiltrators are Primaris Space Marines who are responsible for disrupting enemy communications and sabotaging targets of opportunity.

Close Support

 * Reivers - Even amongst the grim and shadowed brethren of the Unforgiven, the Reiver Squads are regarded as the most sinister squads within the Chapter. Here are terror troops, trained and equipped so that their sudden appearance spreads fear up and down the enemy lines. Each member of this Primaris squad is outfitted in Mark X Phobos Power Armour, constructed from a lighter-weight ceramite that allows its wearer greater mobility and stealth. The suit's servo-motors are engineered for silent running, as Reiver Squads rely upon infiltration and secrecy to launch their shock attacks. The element of surprise is key to any Reiver Squad, and they employ a host of different methods to ensure they can ghost through enemy lines to appear wherever on the battlefield they can inflict the most damage. Usually, the Reiver forms the first wave of a Inheritors' of Caliban attack.
 * Incursors - An Incursor Squad is a close support Primaris Space Marine unit that fulfils an aggressive, close-quarters gun-fighting role within Adeptus Astartes forces. Their missions typically see them storming defended positions, sweeping the flanks of spearhead advances or rapidly knocking out strategic enemy assets such as power generatorums and communication centres. Key to this role are the paired wargear technologies of their Occulus Bolt Carbines and the Divinator-class Auspexes that feed directly into their highly advanced transpectral combat visors.
 * Inceptors - These Primaris Space Marines are equipped with Mark X Gravis Power Armour and heavy built-in Jump Packs, leaping over obstacles and hurtling over great distances at speed. These fast-moving squads are capable of descending in the midst of the enemy and unleashing an absolute shellstorm with their assault bolters. Alternatively, an Inceptor Squad may be equipped with Plasma Exterminators, a loadout favoured by the Chapters of the Unforgiven due to their affinity with the dangerous and powerful technology behind their creation. Inceptors can be dropped from Attack Craft, even those in low orbit. Engaging their Jump Packs, they enter the atmosphere of a planet at blazing speeds, moving so quickly that few foes can react to their approach. As such, their speed and rapid assault tactics fits perfectly with the combat styles of a Space Marine Chapter.

Fire Support

 * Aggressors - "Advance and destroy" is the directive that the Unforgiven Chapters have put in place for their Aggressor Squads. Each of these Primaris Marines is clad in heavy Mark X Gravis Power Armour and equipped with a pair of gauntlet-mounted weapons, turning them into a walking bastion of firepower. An Aggressor Squad can wade into the largest of enemy hordes, plug breaches in defensive lines, or lead the advance across open terrain. Aggressor Squads have proven effective in many different deployment positions, although one of the most common is advancing between two formations of Intercessors. Armed with Boltstorm Gauntlets, an Aggressor Squad can spray wide volleys of explosive bolts, mowing down waves of enemy infantry. Back-mounted Fragstorm Grenade Launchers add to the carnage, blasting holes into oncoming formations with great blossoms of shrapnel-filled explosives. Should any foes live through such a hurricane of firepower, they are met by swinging Power Fists, each blow able to crumple a battle tank. Other Aggressor Squads are equipped with Flamestorm Gauntlets, allowing them to send fiery bursts outwards in searing sheets. This is certain death for tightly-packed enemies, or for cowardly foes that thought to take refuge behind thick cover or in bunkers. In the wake of such a firestorm, nothing remains of their enemies save brittle and blackened bones, and these are soon crunched to powder as the Aggressor Squads stride forward to bring their next target into range.
 * Eliminators - An Eliminator Squad is composed of dedicated marksmen. These fire support Primaris Vanguard Marines haunt the shadows of the battlefield, seeking out high-value targets and bringing them down with pinpoint volleys of bolt rounds.
 * Hellblasters - Due to the Unforgiven's affinity for Plasma weaponry, the Hellblaster is a well regarded role for the might of the Plasma Incinerator they wield. Not even the thickest armour plating can withstand such tremendous plasma blasts for long. As with all other Plasma weaponry, the Plasma Incinerator may be overcharged. With a blazing roar, each weapon glows dangerously hot before discharging plasma bolts of extraordinary force. This is a dire choice however, as it may end with the Hellblaster's own martyrdom. While the Unforgiven are not afraid to martyr themselves in a starburst of self-immolation, they will only do so if such an act is justified by the situation at hand. For their sacrifice, their names are recorded in the Tome of Martyrs that lies within the Archive of the Inheritors' of Caliban Fortress Monastery. They stand as a hallowed and eternal reminder to the living that no cost is too high to pay for victory.
 * Suppressors - Suppressors are a type of fire support Vanguard Space Marine and usually members of a Suppressor Squad. Suppressors are Primaris Space Marines who specialise in rapid responses to heavily armoured enemy threats, entering battle either by dropping directly into the action via the Grav-Chutes or in long leaps using the Jump Packs integrated into their Mark X Omnis Power Armour. As soon as a target is sighted, the Suppressors engage their shock-absorbing servo plates and let fly with their portable Accelerator Autocannons. The brutal ferocity of the foot-long, armour-piercing shells they unleash will blast apart anyone caught in their path and force even the most stoic enemies to seek shelter from the murderous firestorm.

Chapter Support
All of the companies of the Chapter maintain Repulsor and Impulsor transports for each of their squads and Masters. More vehicles are held centrally by the Chapter Armoury, while Drop Pods are held by the Chapter fleet.

The chapter also maintains a high number of Redemptor Dreadnoughts and it is customary for Dreadnoughts to remain a part of the company in which the warrior served before being interred within his cybernetic sarcophagus. When not active, Dreadnoughts can be found powered down in the Silent Crypts of the Lion's Will.

The Inheritors of Caliban Chapter includes a large number of support staff, the great majority of whom are human Chapter Serfs, though there are a few Space Marines amongst their number. Most of these are non-combatants of advanced years, tasked with leading the day-to-day administration of the Chapter, such as the Victuallers, or the Master of Recruits.

A particularly vital branch of the Chapter's support staff is that which serves within the Armoury. These include the Chapter's Techmarines, and the vast number of mono-task Servitors that perform mundane work and maintenance. Due to the unreliability of the mortal minds of serfs, servitors are more common in the Chapter.

The Unseen Order
The Unseen Order is a secretive organisation within the Inheritors of Caliban that serves as the Chapter's Inner Circle. Meeting in chambers deep within the abandoned wings of the Lion's Will, it is here the members discuss matters concerning the Fallen.

Combat Doctrine
The Inheritors of Caliban follow the standard combat doctrine of the Codex Astartes for the most part, but their dogged resistance against overwhelming odds is legendary. The Inheritors of Caliban will stubbornly stand their ground in combat, refusing to give ground to the enemy, even if it is tactically beneficial to do so.

A typical battle plan is to destroy their foes in a storm of bolter and plasma fire before they have a chance to retaliate. The Inheritors of Caliban favour a quick and clean battle over a grinding battle; the quicker an enemy dies the better.

As loyal Space Marines, the sons of the Lion deploy to defeat the enemies of the Imperium as would any Space Marine Chapter. Nevertheless, each Battle-Brother is vigilant for signs of sedition on every battlefield. To most of the Inheritors of Caliban this is simply a part of their loyalty to the Emperor. To those of the Unseen Order, anything found could be an essential clue in the hunt for the Fallen Angels.

This is because the primary driving force of the Chapter is the hunt and capture of the remaining Fallen. Only by forcing every single one to repent do the Unforgiven believe they can restore their honour. If a member of the Fallen or someone who may know of the location of one is present on the battlefield, the Inheritors of Caliban will ignore their objective and do all in their power to capture this individual.

Everything else is second to the capture of a Fallen Angel, including any other human life. It is not unknown for Inheritors of Caliban to fire upon friendly targets in order to prevent them from discovering the secret of the Fallen. Any survivors are usually mind-wiped and fed a cover story to conceal the deed while more unfortunate ones are taken back to the Will of the Lion to be turned into Servitors to silence them permanently. While most other Unforgiven dismiss this as necessary sacrifice, the Inheritors of Caliban will only feel shame and regret for the slaying of allies.

As like other Unforgiven, the Inheritors of Caliban are also notoriously intolerant of non-humans and mutants, even those like Squats, Ogryns or Ratlings who are considered benevolent by the Imperium of Man. They are also highly mistrustful of the Imperial Inquisition, and will refuse to fight alongside any force that incorporates members of the Inquisition, or non-human soldiers, except in the most dire of circumstances. This is due to the fact that they do not want the Inquisition investigating the Chapter or discovering its dark secrets.

With the exception of the Banewing and Stormwing companies, the Inheritors of Caliban follow standard Space Marine combat and organisational doctrine as written in the Codex Astartes. Tactical flexibility, rapid deployment, and combined arms are key components of their strategies.

The advanced infiltration and reconnaissance skills all Primaris Space Marines learn as a part of their training in Vanguard Marine squads is of great value to a Chapter seeking hidden foes whilst keeping secrets of its own.

The omniscramblers of Infiltrator Squads can severely disrupt enemy communications, enabling Stormwing squadrons to strike without the possibility of their quarry being warned. The Divinator-class auspexes and transpectral combat visors of Incursor Squads collect data from battlefields that previously would have been almost impossible to extract, and yield new intelligence for the Round Table to act upon without the Vanguard Space Marines' knowledge.

The Inheritors of Caliban favour the use of plasma weaponry due to its destructive power, even at risk of the harm it can cause to users. As such, the Hellblaster is a revered role within the Chapter and those who serve as one are honoured. Plasma pistols are equally favoured and it is rare for an Inheritor of Caliban to discard a plasma pistol. The mighty Gravis armour is also popular amongst Masters for its durability and strength.

Chapter Culture & Beliefs
As part of the Unforgiven, the Inheritors of Caliban are monastic and reclusive to Chapters not of the Lion's blood. They also are oath-bound to hunt down the Fallen and bring them to repentance.

The Inheritors of Caliban also believe that their Primaris gene-seed, that is purer than the First Born's, makes them closer to the original blood of their Primarch, Lion El'Jonson thus they hold themselves to a high standard in genetic purity and actions. As such, warriors of the Inheritors of Caliban strive to follow the example of Lion El'Jonson in the hope that he will approve of them when he returns to lead the Unforgiven once more.

Almost every aspect of the Chapter contains secrets, from its own history to even its battle tactics. Every Company seems to have its own circle that is in turn part of a large circle that where the Chapter's commanders discuss higher secrets. Even then the Inheritors of Caliban are part of the large circle that is the Unforgiven. As a battle brother advances through the ranks and learns more and more of the hidden tales, he will realise just how deep the shame of the Unforgiven goes and even then he will still not have the whole truth. Not even the Supreme Master knows everything.

Helms of the Knights
When a Battle Brother reaches veteran status, they will take on the robes and cowls of the Unforgiven as well as granted the option of a Knight Helm. These helms are a throwback to the Knightly Orders of lost Caliban and bring honour to the bearer. Those who take a Helm will use for the rest of his life and will be incorporated on his tombstone when he is finally martyred.

Chapter Gene-Seed
As the First Legion of the Space Marine Legions, the gene-seed of the Dark Angels' was already one of the purest and least degraded of all. The Inheritors of Caliban, being a Primaris Chapter, have an even more improved Gene Seed. Thus their Gene-Seed is universally of the highest quality and the stock is qualitatively and quantitatively in excellent health.

As the part of the Unforgiven, the Inheritors of Caliban have an unusually close bond, often working hand-in-hand with their brother Chapters. Furthermore, they have a tendency to be highly suspicious of outsiders and can be perceived as unreasonably aloof and intransigent.

Indeed, there have been a number of occasions where the Inheritors of Caliban have withdrawn suddenly and with no explanation from a warzone when confronted by an Inquisitor or Missionary. Rumours continue to persist of nepotism and "Legion-building." Over time these factors have led to the Unforgiven being regarded with distrust by the Inquisition and other arms of the Imperial government.

Dark Nature
Although only the upper echelons of the Chapter are aware of the awful truth of the Unforgiven's past, even those newly recruited are possessed of a secretive, even introverted nature. The idea that outsiders are not to be trusted is drilled into the recruits from an early stage, and they are tested continuously to ensure their compliance until it becomes second nature. After all, a brother who cannot be entirely trusted to keep the Chapter's secrets is unlikely to advance through its ranks. Although the Inheritors of Caliban have fought beside all of the branches of the Imperium's vast military machine, they prefer to stand beside other Space Marines.

Many, even brother Astartes, find the Dark Angels aloof and uncommunicative. The Inheritor's of Caliban, for their part are impatient and unforgiving with strangers who pry into their affairs. The Dark Angels are also notoriously intolerant of non-humans and will often refuse to fight alongside armies that include abhuman warriors or alien races.

Yet, despite such incidents of friction, many Inheritors of Caliban have served with distinction and honour. Their taciturn nature and stubborn refusal to accept anything other than total victory over their foes has served the Unforgiven well.

Chapter Recruitment
As the Inheritors of Caliban area fleet based Chapter, they draw their recruits from a variety of different Imperial planets, mainly those Feudal Worlds with a pre-industrial level of technology like that of Caliban before the coming of the Emperor. Representatives of the Dark Angels visit each recruiting world once within a normal human's lifetime, and take the strongest juveniles from the population.

Each Aspirant is thoroughly screened, and from the moment he is accepted into the Chapter as a Neophyte Space Marine, his past becomes irrelevant. Once the recruit is accepted he will undergo the normal rites to become a Space Marine. However, should he fail, his mind will be wiped clean and his body converted into that of a Servitor, the mindless cybernetic automatons that carry out the laborious tasks of the Chapter. The Inheritors of Caliban make use of less Chapter Serfs or bondsmen than other Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. They prefer the use of Servitors for most Chapter labour, as they fear that human serfs could be compromised to reveal all of the Chapter's secrets.

Notable Members

 * Nibril Haldacian - Nibril Haldacian is the current Supreme Master of the Inheritors of Caliban Chapter and Lord of the Unseen Order. He succeeded Tassadon after the former Supreme Master's mysterious demise in the Battle of Suruka Matalox that also saw the deaths of the last of the Awakened Primaris, giving way for the Chapter to be completely of the Indoctrinated Primaris. Haldacian is remarked to be a shrewd and cunning strategist who tricks his foes into a false sense of security before tearing their delusion down with his attacks. He is also a master of combat, making him a foe to be reckoned with. As Lord of the Unseen Order, it is his duty to oversee the meetings as well as keep the secrets of the Unforgiven. As Chapter Master, he is privy to the whole truth of the Unforgiven, more so than anyone else in the Inheritors of Caliban, yet even he does not know the full truth.
 * Arkus Tassadon - Arkus Tassadon was the first Supreme Master of the Inheritors of Caliban when it was founded after the Indomitus Crusade. As an Awakened Primaris, Tassadon found that he and his kind were met with distrust and suspicion from their First-Born kin and felt that secrets were deliberately kept from them. He was made further suspicious by the fact that the Indoctrinated Primaris were seemingly more welcomed by the Unforgiven. However he was never able to uncover the truth for he perished under mysterious circumstances in the battle of Suruka Matalox, a battle that also saw the remaining Awakened Primaris completely wiped out as well.
 * Harkiel Eradin - Harkiel Eradin is the High Master of the Banewing and High Master within the Unseen Order. Wielding a power axe that can scythe down a number of foes with one swipe; it is little wonder that he is one of the most dangerous warriors within the Chapter.
 * Derius Seddon - Derius Seddon is the High Master of the Stormwing and one of the High Masters of the Unseen Order, recently succeeding Garros. As High Master of the Stormwing it is his duty to hunt down the Fallen across the Galaxy, meaning he is often away from the Lion's Will for a period of time.
 * Marinis - Marinis is the 3rd Company Champion. His skills as a combatant have earned him much acclaim.

Deathwatch Service
Though they are a recently founded Chapter, the Inheritors of Caliban have been seconding Battle-Brothers to the service of the Deathwatch without complaint. As sons of Lion El'Jonson, the Inheritors of Caliban are known for their resolute devotion to duty, undertaking the most arduous of missions with solemn dedication. It is also whispered that the Unforgiven are not always wholly altruistic in seconding Battle-Brothers to the Deathwatch, and it is undeniable that doing so greatly aids the Unforgiven's ongoing hunt for the Fallen.

Most Deathwatch Kill-teams are made up of but a handful of Battle-Brothers, sent alone into the far reaches of the void to pursue objectives unknown to even the highest tiers of the Imperium's government. The net is cast wide, and several Fallen are believed to have been captured by the Inner Circle following reports passed on from those serving in the Deathwatch.

Yet, the Inheritors of Caliban must observe the Apocryphon Oath or risk bringing dishonour to their Chapter and earning the wrath of the Deathwatch, and the Inquisition. Inheritors of Caliban often remain aloof from their Kill-team Battle-Brothers, yet in time, they learn that the Deathwatch has its own secrets, many every bit as damning as those kept by the Unforgiven.

Chapter Appearance
An Inheritor's of Caliban battlefield specialty -- battleline, close support, fire support, or Veteran -- is shown by the icon worn on the right pauldron; the iconography is in line with the Unforgiven's organisation.

In the Inheritors of Caliban, the brothers of the Battle and Reserve Companies wear their company markings upon their left knee plates. Campaign badges are symbols adopted during especially large, drawn-out wars that typically involve a range of different forces of the Imperium and are often worn on the right knee plate as depicted by the above image.

Veteran Inheritors of Caliban are commonly found wearing dark red hooded cloaks and tabards; this symbolises their shame over what the Fallen Angels had done near the end of the Great Crusade. Cloaks and hoods are worn by the Veteran Inheritors of Caliban and the Chapter's Unseen Order because they have learned enough about the Unforgiven's history, and thus their shame, prior to obtaining their rank within the Chapter.

Chaplains, Librarians, Apothecaries and Techmarines follow the Codex Astartes in iconography and colouration.

Chapter Colours
The Inheritors of Caliban wear a boneish and green colour scheme; their chest and power pack is coloured bone while their head and limbs are coloured green. The bone represents their hidden history and the green is in homage to their Primogenitors. Veterans and Masters usually wear dark red robes and cowls as a identification of their membership within the Unseen Order.

The Banewing have a black and boneish colour scheme; the kneepads, faceplate and pauldrons are coloured boneish while everything else is coloured black. The black is the Inheritors' own colour while the bone is in homage to the Deathwing of their Primogenitors and a reminder of their secret mission.

The Stormwing have a colour scheme of blue and black; their faceplate, pauldrons and kneepads are black while the rest of the armour is blue. The black is in reference to the Ravenwing of the Dark Angels and a reminder of their own duty.

Chapter Badge
The Inheritors' of Caliban have a golden robed figure wreathed raising a sword high in the air while clutching the head of a slain Daemon. While to many it is just a symbol of the Chapters' pledge to bring death to the Alien, Mutant and Heretic, it too holds a secret just like everything else does within the Chapters. The golden figure represents the Inheritors of Caliban and their inner shame while the sword is vengeance and the Daemon their secret quarry.

The Banewing have their own badge in the form of a golden robed figure with a skull-like head clutching a broken sword. The badge's secret is that the figure is the Banewing personified and the broken sword is the Unforgiven's shame wielded as a vengeful blade. The Stormwing also have their own badge which is a white winged angel in a robe holding a sword on a shield. The Angel represents the Stormwing itself with the wings representing their speed and the sword is their vengeance.

Chapter Fleet
The Inheritors of Caliban are a Fleet Based Chapter and thus are host to a mighty Chapter Fleet that travels across the Galaxy in the Chapter's eternal quest. The fleet is seldom united as the call for war brings the Companies to all corners of the Galaxy. any foe foolish enough to attempt an attack. However, those of the Imperium have received cold welcome from the Inheritors who do not wish for the many secrets within the Lion's Will to be discovered.
 * Lion's Will - The Lion's Will is a Ramilles Class Star Fort that the Inheritors of Caliban name their fortress monastery. Though it rarely moves beyond the Ultima Segmentum, staying within distance of the Chapter's recruiting worlds, its formidable defences and the fact that at least one Company is present at any given time provides suitable deterrent for
 * The Wrath of the First - The Wrath of the First is a Battle Barge of the Inheritors of Caliban.
 * Legacy of Angels - The Legacy of Angels is a Strike Cruiser in service to the Inheritors of Caliban. It is notable for bearing the hidden honour of transporting a Fallen Angel onboard.

Chapter Relics
Though they are only a newly founded Chapter, the Inheritors of Caliban have already attained a number of relics in the form of armour and weaponry. As with every aspect of the Chapter, the relics have a secret hidden within their intricate marks.

Relations
The Inheritors of Caliban work closely amongst other Unforgiven Chapters and thus have a close relationship built upon the shame they all bear as a result of the calamity ten thousand years ago. The Inheritors of Caliban also share a natural rivalry with the Space Wolves as all Unforgiven do and will frequently attempt to outdo them, or their successors, in battle should they be in the same campaign.

Enemies

 * Vindicta - Though the Inheritors of Caliban have a duty to hunt down all Fallen Angels, they have recently made it a priority to hunt down a group of Fallen Angels known as the Vindicta. Though the Vindicta have managed to evade capture so far, the Inheritors have already slain a few of them and even captured one.

By the Chapter:
"We inherit the legacy of our founders... and their shame."

- Common saying amongst the Inheritors of Caliban, the last bit is rarely said; even amongst the Chapter

"Ignorance is a blessing that we must sacrifice."

- Unknown member of the Inheritors of Caliban Chapter, the meaning of this saying is only known to few.

About the Chapter:
"Why are they called Inheritors of Caliban? There's nothing left to inherit at all. Except for some floating rocks, I suppose"

- Unknown marine of the Burning Blades.