Imperius Serpentes

The Imperius Serpentes are an Astartes Chapter of Unknown Founding and Descent. Hailing from the sweltering heat of the jungle world of Tikal, these astartes are as cold blooded as the massive serpents that haunt its depths but when roused they are terrible in their anger.

History
The Imperius Serpentes are an old and storied Chapter but little known across the galaxy, they are not famous like the Ultramarines nor are they infamous like the Blood Angels, they live in obscurity which suits them but there are those who do know a little of their history. These scholars know of the Battle of the Poisoned Fang where the entire chapter stood alone against a horde of deamons and the Last Stand on Tepis, 1 company held for 19 hours before being overrun by the vast tide of greenskins, these battles will never enter the hallowed halls of the great library's across the galaxy but they matter, they matter to those who fought them and to those whose lives were saved by them, if only they knew

Noctis Aeterna
During this dark period the hopes of trillions was reignited with the return of one of the Emperors loyal sons - the Primarch of the Ultramarines - Roboute Guilliman. With his return, he brought with him the fruits of 10,000 years of research and labour - the Primaris Space Marines. Representatives from the Primarch were dispatched to every Astartes Chapter to gift these wondrous creations but unlike many other Chapters that received full grown and battle hardened Primaris the Imperius Serpentes instead received the technology and knowledge to create their own Primaris Space Marines.

The wargear to arm these formidable warriors was also received, including 500 suits of Mk X Power Armour in their various patterns, hundreds of Cawl and Belisarius Pattern Weapons, four Redemptor Dreadnoughts Chassis, 2 Overlord Gunships and two Repulser Grav Tanks, all of which have been assigned to the 11th Company. Thanks to this great fortune, the Imperius Serpentes now prosecute their wars with even greater vigour. The numbers of Primaris Astartes currently serving are unknown but during the battles of the Indomitus Crusade they were able to field an entire company.

Notable Campaigns
Last Stand on Tepis (054-M42) - The 5th Company defending the last city, stood alone for 19 bloody hours against the vast tides of greenskins, only when the last marine fell was the line finally broken but they held long enough for the city to evacuate. The entire chapter subsequently avenged their brothers, destroying the entirety of the xenos, in the aftermath a vast monument stretching 100 kilometers into sky and made from the fused bones of the greenskins was raised in their honour so that all would remember their sacrifice.

Battle of the Poisoned Fang (111.M42) - The first battle since the elevation of Titus Veegrad to Chapter Master. A massed horde of Slaaneshi daemons conquered the world of Colis, turning it into a hellish landscape where the laws of real space no longer held true. The Imperius Serpentes attacked in full force and pushing the foul creatures back to a final last stand on the jagged mountain now known as the poisoned fang, the Lord of Serpents Titus Veegrad ended the battle by battling a daemon prince of Slaanesh and sending it screaming back into the warp. The world was subsequently destroyed.

Combat Doctrine
As specialists in reconnaissance operations and special forces the Imperius Serpentes follow a rare pattern of battle, venom squads and scout units range ahead of the main force, often landing weeks ahead. Once they have landed they will identify strategic points as well as sowing discord by attacking important defence points and units. When the main force arrives it will attack at once, aiming for the previously identified targets and doing as much damage as possible before withdrawing and attacking another target, keeping the defenders in a constant state of panic as they never know where the attack will come from.

Beliefs
The Imperius Serpentes believe with their whole being the supremacy of humanity, they are the sole rulers of the galaxy and all others are merely obstacles to overcome. Their beliefs stem from their time as mortals on the world of tikal, the pre industrial people of tikal worship the emperor and give thanks to him by sacrificing the willing atop the great flat top pyramids that dot the landscape, to them the emperor and his people are the epitome of evolution, and all other races are merely failures.

Organization
The Imperius Serpentes specialise in reconnaissance operations and special forces. They broadly follow the Codex as it was laid down 10 thousand years ago, having 10 companys, 1 veteren, 4 battle, 4 reserve and the 10th and final scout company. Where they differ is in this 10th company, for most chapters the 10th is where the chapters newest recruits are placed, equipped with scout armour they operate behind enemy lines while undergoing further training to prepare them to be inducted fully into the chapter and don the ancient armour of a fallen hero. This remains true for the Serpents but other, veteren astartes will often don the lighter scout armour, so as to operate as lone operatives, ranging far in advance of the main force, sowing discord and hindering the enemy wherever they may be found. Another more recent change to Codex is the addition of the 11th Company, formed with the arrival of the Primaris Astartes it has been designated for purge operation against the growing tide of deamons

Specialist Formations & Ranks
Lord of Serpents - Chapter Master

Venom Squads - Special reconnaissance squads, equipped with camoline cloaks and sniper rifles along with special ammunition infused with the venom of the massive snakes that inhabit tikal.

Chapter Fleet
The Chapter's fleet is relatively small compared to some other Chapters, it consists of the Chapter flagship  'The Serpents Fang' along with 12 Strike Cruisers complemented with an unknown number of Rapid Strike Vessels

Gene-Seed
Which Primarch the Imperius Serpentes are descended from is unknown and the Serpentes themselves have been singularly unhelpful in revealing this information. Evidence that points to a particular Primarch is scarce, they show no universal traits that would determine the Primarch such as the coal-black skin and red eyes of the Salamanders, rather they retain the colouring's they had before their transformation. They do have some traits that are universal among the Astartes, most notably a tendency towards secrecy and a preference for reconnaissance and special operations.

Homeworld
The Imperius Serpentes hail from the World of Tikal, located somewhere within the Ultima Segmentum it is a World of Sweltering Jungles that stretch from the northern pole to southern ocean. Within the sweltering jungles there are patches of clear land where massive flat top pyramids tower above the canopy, it is upon these pyramids that the native people sacrifice captured foes to the Emperor. They are a primitive people who live in great tribes that wander the jungle, fighting between them is common and open bloodletting is the preferred way to settle arguments.

The Serpents massive fortress is located within the southern ocean, Tenochtitlan is a gigantic flat topped pyramid 20 miles across at its apex, it emerges from the water and rises to over 50 miles into the sky. Vast defence platforms stud its walls along with cavernous hangers able to accommodate hundreds of transport ships at once.

Within the jungles there are gigantic snakes, the largest of which are over 50 m long, these creatures are hunted by the Astartes of the Imperius Serpentes as part of the ritual of Serpents. Only the greatest  warriors of the Chapter will attempt the great hunt, they will travel into the jungle wearing only a loin cloth and carrying a stone tipped spear, only a handful will ever return but for those that do entry into the inner circle of the Chapter awaits as well the right to wear the fangs of these creatures upon their armour, provided they survive the following ritual of venom, whereby they injected with venom of the massive creature they hunted into their veins, only the strongest will survive this.

Notable Members
Titus Veegrad - The current lord of serpents (Chapter Master), obtaining his position just before the Battle of the Poisoned Fang, a massive astartes, he strides into battle wielding the mighty Spear of the Serpent and clad in the Scales, he is a truly mighty warrior.

Captain Colix- Captain of the vaunted 1st company, clad in ancient terminator plate he is a stalwart warrior

Captain Gorth - Captain of the newly formed 11th Company and a hulking Primaris Astartes, one of the first to have been raised, clad in Mk X Tacticus power armour and wielding weapons of magnificent workmanship he is a truly formidable warrior.

Chapter Relics
Spear of the Serpent - A mighty power spear of ancient origin, it's twin points able to pierce armour with ease.

The Scales - An ancient suit of artificer armour, held in stasis for thousands of years it is a masterpiece of workmanship.