Iron Spears

Hailing from the feudal world of Ailinne, the Iron Spears (Hastae Ferrum in High Gothic) are a 22nd Founding successor Chapter of the Blood Angels. Operating from their Fortress-Monastery of Dunbairrche, the Iron Spears are deployed across Segmentums Obscurus and Ultima. The Chapter has been lead by High Chieftain Fionn Cathair for nearly five centuries since his predecessors passing in 634.M41

Organisation
The Iron Spears Chapter is organized into 10 Companies known as Clan-Companies (or simply Clans). The Iron Spears organization is very similar to Codex organization, the main difference being that the Iron Spears do not have a scout company. Rather five scout squads (containing five scouts each) is attached to every battle Company. The 10th Clan-Company is made up of one rotating squad from each Reserve Company (for a total of four squads). The 10th Clan-Company is charged with the defense of the Fortress-Monastery and almost never leave their home system.

Combat
The Iron Spears are adepts at using shock and awe tactic, rushing headlong at their enemies with overwhelming power, annihilating them as fast as possible. Through this they are able to disrupt their foes perception of the battlefield and destroy their will to fight. All the while they carry out their duty unflinchingly and with an unnerving amount of zeal. To many, the Chapter's tactic of an "all-out" brutal assault appears savage and barbaric.

The concept of retreat is almost anathema to the Iron Spears and will continue to fight until they are physically unable. It would require extreme casualties for Iron Spears force commanders to even consider the option of falling back.

Founding
The Iron Spears Chapter was created in the 37th Millennium during the 22nd Founding using the gene-seed of Sanguinius. They were created to be a standing force for the northern regions of the Imperium. It was from the ranks of the Blood Angels that the first officers of the Iron Spears originated, including Rinnal Boru who was chosen to be the first Chapter Master. Even the Iron Spears chosen homeworld is relatively near Baal.

Attack on Craftworld Feinnwe
In early M38 the Imperium re-encountered the small Eldar Craftworld Feinnwe that reappeared in Subsector Erin. By the time of it's reappearance the Craftworld was badly damaged but it was still considered a threat. Taking advantage of the situation, High Chieftain Chulainn Nuada led several Companies worth of Marines in a massive and devastating assault on the Craftworld, managing to slay more almost 1/3 of the Craftworld's population before being recalled.

Pacification of Mavros
In 236.M39, the population of the planet Mavros, homeworld of the Angels Vigilant Chapter, attempted to secede from the Imperium. During the Mavros Revolution the Angels Vigilant had entered a state of radio silence, never responding to any transmissions from the greater Imperium. The Iron Spears were sent to quell the rebellion and investigate the radio silence. When they arrived on Mavros, they discovered that the Angels Vigilant had fallen to chaos, and that this renegade chapter was the mastermind behind the planetary secession. The Iron Spears and numerous other loyal Astartes Chapters besieged the planet. The Iron Spears attempted to liberate cities individually in order to minimize casualties amongst the non-corrupted populace. However, upon discovering how deep-rooted the corruption of the world really was, the Astartes forces resorted to Exterminatus. However, some of the Angels Vigilant escaped the planet aboard a lone Battle Barge and fled into the Eye of Terror.

Battle of Ailinne
The Battle of Ailinne took place in the year 677.M39 and pitted the most of the Iron Spears Chapter against the Void Stalkers (who had returned after 441 years in hiding). The Void Stalkers were followed by a large contingent of Word Bearers, World Eaters, and various other Heretic Astartes warbands. The battle was actually instigated by 10th Clan-Company Chieftain Gofraid. Gofraid fell under the influence of chaos and created a secret alliance with the leader of the Void Stalkers Warband. During the Battle of Ailinne, Chieftain Gofraid was responsible for lowering the Fortress-Monasteries void shields and disabling the automatic defense systems. Despite the loss of the shields and automated defenses the Iron Spears prevented the enemy from breaching the inner-most sections of the Monastery. As the battle dragged on, Sergeant Murchadh was able to send out a distress call for reinforcements. The call was answered by the the Blood Angels and a nearby force of Black Templars who arrived to provide relief for the Iron Spears. The two loyalist chapters were finally able to drive away the traitors (including Gofraid, now known as Talexus Battlereaver). Despite successfully defending their Homeworld, 62% of the Iron Spears Chapter (including the Chapter Master) had perished in battle.

Battle of Da Great Rok
Sometime in the early 41st Millennium, the Kern Vanguard discovered the Orks of Kilandros were attempting to convert their homeworld's moon into a mobile fortress dubbed 'Da Great Rok' and it was believed they were planning to crash it into Terra. The Imperials put together a fighting force consisting of several Guard Regiments, Astartes from the Iron Spears and Ultramarines Chapter. The Imperium had underestimated the Ork presence and failed in their initial plan to disable the thrust system using meltabombs. Over the course of the battle, the Iron Spears managed to gain control of the area around the primary power generator and rigged it with manually activated incendiary devices. Though Iron Spears forces initially refused to follow the rest of the Imperials in retreat, the Ultramarines Captain convinced the Marines that it would be against the will of the Emperor to waste an entire fighting force doing a one man job. Chieftain Thoore, having had his honor stained in a previous engagement, elected to stay behind with the detonator while the other Imperial forces escaped in order to restore dignity to his name. The destruction of the primary power generator not only successfully destroyed the engines, but created massive tectonic upheavals that killed all the Orks on the planetoid.

Chapter Customs and Demeanor
The Chapter cult revolves on the zealous and near-fanatical reverence towards Sanguinius. Mighty statues of the thier Primarch grace the Dunbairrche’s halls alongside Chapter heroes and his words are taught and read by every Battle-Brother.

The Iron Spears dogma believes that nothing related to their foes should remain, the Iron Spears are driven to burn his corpse, destroy his works, and go to great lengths to sweep away anything remotely related to their enemy.

Battle-Brothers of the Iron Spears Chapter are known to become so engrossed in their mission that anything else is regarded as a secondary concern. The Iron Spears have no concept of the notion of defeat and would prefer to die a glorious death than accept that they have lost. They are unwavering in the face of adversity and are capable of the most awe-inspiring feats of courage. Yet on occasion stubbornness of Battle-Brothers has been to the detriment of the larger strategic situation.

The Iron Spears have a very close connection with the culture of their Homeworld, combining the native Ailinnean culture with their Chapter culture. Ailinnean culture is considered to be very similar to the Celtic culture found in Terra's ancient past.

Alinnean cultural influence on the Iron Spears have lead to;

-Unique terms for officers; The High Chieftain is the Chapter Master, Chieftains are Captains, Clerics are Chaplains, Druids are Librarians, Shamans were Apothecaries. Companies are also given a unique name within the Iron Spears and are refereed to as Clan-Companies (or simply Clans, with Squads being called Septs).

-Each Clan-Company in the Chapter has their own tartan pattern that is used as part of their battle standard. Some Marines were loincloths based on their Clan-Companies tartan.

-Clerics wear special loincloths bearing a prayer of the Chapter Cult, written in the Ailinnean language.

-Prayers are inscribed on the Chapter's Venerable Dreadnoughts written in the native language of Ailinne

-Marine's armor is often adorned with native cultural imagery

-Like their progenitors, the Iron Spears also have an appreciation for fine art and poetry, but like with everything in their Chapter, is filled with the iconography of Ailinne (poetry is done in the Ailinnean language).

Chapter Relations
While the Iron Spears have amicable relations with the majority of other Space Marine Chapters they maintain close connections to the Blood Angels, Blood Angels successors, and the Space Wolves. The Iron Spears have inherited much from their parent chapter, sharing their love of art and poetry as well as their preference for "shock tactics". Not only that, but the Iron Spears have a long history of cooperation with the Blood Angels, notable examples include the Pacification of Mavros where the Iron Spears partook in a battle against a a fellow Blood Angels successor (Void Stalkers) that had gone renegade, and the Battle of Ailinne where the Blood Angels saved the Iron Spears from total annihilation. Because of their relation with their parent Chapter and devotion to Sanguinius, they maintain close connections to the other Scions of Sanguinius. The Chapter also has good relations with the Space Wolves and even shares much in common with the Fenrisian marines, namely their "savage" nature and similar cultures despite hailing from different planets.

The Chapter takes pride in the defense of it's home sector, forming close bonds with the Imperial factions that are present. The Chapter is even somewhat active in the government, with a spot on the Sector Council designated for the Iron Spears Chapter. The Mechancius Forgeworld; Svarog III, gives unique weapons, vehicles, and munitions not normally produced by the Iron Spears Armoury in exchange for any STCs the Chapter comes across. Iron Spears Companies sometimes work in tandem with the Battlefleet Celtic and/or the Kern Vanguard to achieve their goals.

Current Officers and Historical Chapter Masters
Fionn Cathair: High Chieftain of the Iron Spears since 634.M41. High King of Ailinne. De Jure delegate of the Iron Spears Chapter to the Celtic Sector Council

Niall Ciotach: 1st Chieftain and Regent of the Iron Spears. Lord Lieutenant of Ailinne. De Facto delegate of the Iron Spears Chapter to the Celtic Sector Council

Padraic: 2nd Chieftain, Master of the Watch

Diarmid: 3rd Chieftain, Master of the Arsenal

Sinon: 4th Chieftain, Master of the Fleet

Gregor: 5th Chieftain, Master of Marches

Alistair: 6th Chieftain, Master of Rites

Conan: 7th Chieftain, Chief Victualler

Beowulf: 8th Chieftain, Lord Executioner

Domnall: 9th Chieftain, Master of Relics

Godric: 10th Chieftain, Master of Recruits

Cathbad: Grand Cleric, Master of Sanctity

Rónáin: Archdruid, Master of the Librarium

Oisín: High Shaman, Master of the Apothecarion

Gobannus: Chief Blacksmith, Master of the Forge

Previous Chapter Masters: Rinnal Boru (First High Chieftain; Early M37-???), Chulainn Nuada (Second High Chieftain; ???-Early M38; currently the Chapter's oldest surviving Venerable Dreadnought), Garmund Mor (Until 677.M39), Diare Barrach (Until 433.M41), Ulfric Torvin (433.M41-634.M41)