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Space Marine Chapter Articles ---

Ash Scorpions
The Ash Scorpions are a Loyalist semi-Codex compliant Space Marine Chapter and 8th Founding Successors of the Imperial Fists Chapter. They are a Proud Chapter and they try to adhere to the Codex Astartes wherever possible but have been known to disregard it if the situations warrants it.

History
The Ash Scorpions are an old and proud Chapter created during the 8th Founding from the Imperial Fists Chapter. Their Homeworld is found on the outskirts of the Sigma cluster in the Segmentum Ultima. The Cluster is home to all many of Xenos including Orks, Hrud and there are even Elder Exodite Worlds located on the Northern Frontier of the Cluster. This close Proximity to enemy Forces have given the Chapter a Long and Storied History and their Battle-Brothers have fought in Hundreds of Campaigns not just against the Xenos Forces in the Sigma Cluster but all foes of the Emperor from Rebel Forces to the Traitor Marines of Chaos and have Earned Fame that Rivals even 2nd Founding Chapters. It is almost certain that they were Created in order to watch over the Cluster and the Choice of Imperial Fist Gene-Seed adds credence to this as those of Rogal Dorns Blood are known to be almost fanatical in Defence and were therefore the Obvious choice to defend this area of Space. Most recently they have been involved in ongoing Skirmishes with the Farsight Enclaves as well as fighting in the 13th Black Crusade, before these actions they lead the fight against a splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Leviathan on the Planet of Granicus.

Battle of Granicus
The Battle of Granicus was fought in 999.M41 against what was first thought to be a new Hive Fleet, code-named Granicus, after where it was was expected to be first Engaged but was found to be an offshoot of the Hive Fleet Leviathan tendrill that was Destroyed at Tarsis Ultra. The Battle was an immense undertaking and the Ash Scorpions commited 8 full Companies to the Fighting. The Hive Fleet was first identified by the telltale signs of Tyranid Activity on  Several Worlds in the Ultima Segmentum and by 999.M41 it was Determined that a Small but Significant Hive Fleet was Headed for the Granicus System. Lord Commander Corvo was given overall Command of the Imperial Forces and Decided to make his Stand on the Agri-World of Granicus V. Granicus V was an almost perfect World to Fight the Tyranids as it possesed just 1 City with High Walls surrounded by flat open Spaces that gave the Tyranids no cover or places to hide, and when the Hive Fleet appeared on the Edge of the System the Imperial Navy forces were waiting and immediatly engaged the Tyranids in a Great Battle. The Massive Hive Ships were the main target and 2 of the 3 were destroyed before the Imperial Forces Pulled back to enable the  Hive Fleet to move further in-system, This was done because there were no Worlds between it and Granicus V and so no Chance for the Tyranids to Recover their Losses. Lord Corvo was well aware of the Tactics used at Tarsis Ultra and repeated them at Granicus. The Tyranids were allowed to fire Mycetic Spores at the World while the Orbital Lasers remained silent but Allowing the Torpedo Silos to fire at Will, with the Fighting now Raging on the surface the Imperial Navy attacked again in order to draw the Hive Ships screen back in to orbit just as had been done at Tarsis Ultra but the Tyranid Forces did not Follow what had happend at Tarsis Ultra and the screening forces remained in position but it was a futile effort as there were just not enough Tyranid Ships to defend from Orbit and from the Surface Lasers and finally the last Hive Ship was Destroyed and sending the Tyranid Forces into Panic as their Link to the Hive Mind was broken, after that it was just a Mopping up operation. With the Fighting over studies of the Tyranid Corpses confirmed that they were part of Hive Fleet Leviathan and not a New Fleet.

Battle of Granicus Order of Battle
Adeptas Astartes ~ Ash Scorpions (8 Companies) ~ 1 Battle Barge, 6 Strike Cruisers, 13 Escorts

Imperial Guard ~ Valhallan Ice Warriors (2 Under-Strength Regiments - About 3000 Men - 200 Vehicles)

Planetary Defence Force ~ Granicus Home Guard (7 Companies - About 4000 Men)

Imperial Navy ~ 1 Mars Class Battlecruiser, 1 Front-Line Cruiser Squadron, 2 Light Cruiser Squadrons, 2 Escort Squadrons

Notable Campaigns

 * Siege of Balle Alpha (755.M38) - The Ash Scorpions support their gene-brothers, the Imperial Fists, against the Ork's of WAAAGH! Gogard. The enemy is destroyed when a detachment of Blood Angels arrives.
 * 12th Black Crusade (139.M41) - The Ash Scorpions are known to have fought during this campaign. No other information is avaliable in Imperial Records.
 * The Centurion War (931-954.M41)- A campaign to eradicate Secessionist Forces including an Astartes Chapter, Lord Commander Corvo is Given overall Command..
 * Tau Skirmishes (996.M41 - Present) - A Series of skirmishes and battles against the Tau Empire and principality. the Lark-Ta Sept.
 * The Battle of Granicus (999.M41) - Defense of the Granicus System Against a Hive Fleet Leviathan Tendril.
 * 13th Black Crusade (999.M41) - The Ash Scorpions are known to be currently fighting during this campaign against the Forces of Chaos. No other information is available in Imperial Records.

Homeworld
The Ash Scorpions Homeworld of Volcanum is officially designated as a Hive World due to the 5 Hives that dot it's Surface but is more akin to a Death World due to the fact that the Land outside the Hives is a Barren and toxic Desert World riddled with Volcanoes and home to numerous Mutants and Huge Scorpions that are more than capable of Killing a Man and which are hunted for their Venom. The Ash Scorpions fortress-monastery the Scorpions Claw is actually based on the Planets Largest Moon and the Ash Scorpions only descend to the World to Take Recruits.

Volcanum is, like other other Hive Worlds comprised of several separate Hives that vary in size from the relatively small Hive Gamma to the Massive Hive Alpha that holds several Million People. The 5 Hives are Named for the Ancient Greek Alphabet and Descend in Importance from Alpha which is the De-facto Capital and home to the Planetary Governor to Epsilon which is the Newest Hive built to Hold the growing Population and is just 400 Years Old. Each of the Planets Hives Officially answer to the Planetary Governor and Hive Alpha but have on occasion gone to war with Each other for Control of the World and therefore have their own Armed Forces with whichever Hive is in the Ascendant their Forces are considered the Planets PDF and have control over the Planets Orbital Defences and the Systems Defence Fleet. Volcanum's main Export is Promethium that is Extracted from Massive Wells in the South of the World.

Organisation
Like most Space Marines Chapters, the Ash Scorpions are divided into 10 companies comprised of 100 Space Marines each. Each company is led by a hero of the Chapter with the rank of Captain, who - in addition to his company command - is in charge of a particular aspect of the Chapter's logistics. They therefore are a typical Codex Chapter for the most part but differ in that they have just 2 Reserve Companies, the 8th and 9th rather than the 4 Reserve Companies of other Chapters and so the 1st to 7th Companies are Battle Companies with the 10th being the Scout Company, all Battle Companies save the 1st Company are organised identically and are intended to be able operate independently of each other and each have their own Battle Tanks, Artillery and Transports as well as their own Fleet Assets.

Gene-Seed + Traditions
The Ash Scorpions are Descended from the Imperial Fists and therefore Boast one of the Purest and Least Mutated Gene-Seed in the Imperium. However, over time they like all other Imperial Fist Descendants have lost the use of two of the special organs produced by the basic Astartes genetic template: the Betcher's Gland, which allows a Space Marine to produce poisonous/acidic spittle, and the Sus-an Membrane which allows an Astartes to enter a state of suspended animation. Another peculiar and unexplained quirk of the Chapter is the Ash Scorpions pathological need to scrimshaw the bones of their dead when off-duty, a need inherited from the Imperial Fists themselves. Scrimshaw is considered a solemn undertaking to the Astartes of this Chapter. It is seen as a way to practice mental discipline, focus, and attention to detail. Oftentimes the finished scrimshaws are worn as jewelry and ornamentation, particularly by the Chapter's officers. None know the roots of this practice, which for many Imperial Fists and their Successors becomes an obsession they must indulge every hour they are not fighting or training. The bones of slain kin are engraved in minute detail, every surface lovingly covered in lines of devotional script and illuminated scenes depicting the deeds of the fallen.

Armour is also highly Ornamental and it is rare for a Battle-Brother's Armour not to have some level of Personalisation

Like their Imperial Fist Brothers they are also well-known for their passion for dueling, a tradition thought to date back to the earliest days of the old Legion, before it even left Terra on the Great Crusade. The Ash Scorpions engage in ceaseless duels against one another, sometimes to settle a point of honour but more often to test themselves and their swordsmanship. They like the most experienced and long-serving Imperial Fists sport numerous duelling scars all over their bodies, each a reminder of a hard-won victory, or a salutary defeat.

They continue to practise Self-Castigation and make use of a Pain Glove which encases the whole body and stimulates its pain neurons. The Ash Scorpions like Imperial Fists constantly feel the need to punish themselves for the smallest inadequacy, failure or infraction.

Noctis Aeterna
During this dark period the hopes of trillions was reignited with the return of one of the Emperors loyal son's, the Primarch of the Ultramarines Roboute Guilliman and he brought with him the fruits of 10,000 years of research, the Primaris Space Marines. Hearing of this momentus event the entire chapter set course for ultramar immediently where they pleged to serve son of the Emperor in perpetuity and soon Primaris Astartes were serving with distinction and they recieved not only fully grown and battle hardened Primaris but also the technology and knowledge to create their own Primaris Space Marines.

The wargear to arm these formidable warriors was also recieved including 500 suits of Mk X Power Armour in their various Patterns, Hundreds of Cawl  and Belisarius Pattern Weapons,4 Redemptor Dreadnoughts Chassis and 2 Repulser Grav Tanks. Thanks to this great fortune the Ash Scorpions prosecute their wars with even greater vigour. The numbers of Primaris Astartes currently serving are unknown but during the battles of the Indominatus Campaign they were able to field an entire company.

Battle Doctrine
As with most Imperial Fists Descendents they are nominally Codex-Compliant but are known to use the Codex as a base that can be added to or adapted to suit a particular Foe and therefore sometimes find themselves at odds with some of the more rigged Codex Chapters. In many ways though they are the Mirror of their Parent Chapter and have the same Drive and Determination to succeed as the Famed 1st Founding Legion Indeed, like the Imperial Fists if the Ash Scorpions have a fault, it is that they continue to strive when others would yield or withdraw. Such unquestioning steadfastness has rescued many a victory from the ashes of defeat, but only at a steep cost in lives but if it serves the Emperor than it is a Price worth paying.

The Scorpions also have a unique Battle Plan known as the Scorpion Contingency that has been Proven against Many Foes. Using this Plan a Battle Company will deploy Devestator's, Tactical Marines and Armoured Units as a Defensive Bulwark in the centre of their Lines which is Known as the Scorpions Sting, Fast Moving Assault Units deploy on the Wings as the Scorpions Claws. An Enemy is deliebrately drawn towards the centre and are then surrounded and destroyed by the Wings. This has been devastatingly effective against more tactically deficient Foes such as Orks and Tyranids but not as Effective against Tau and Traitor Units.

Scout Units also utilize a Special Kind of Venom extracted from the Massive Scorpions of their Homeworld that they are named for. When Delivered directly to a Targets Bloodstream it is Capable of Killing a man-sized target within a Standard Terran Hour, it therefore is only of use in assassinations and not on the Battlefield. . The reason it is used over more common Neuro-Toxins is that it is completely undetecable by any Form of Imperial Technology, it also has an instantaneous anesthetic effect and the target is Completely unaware that he has been hit. It does however have several Drawbacks such as a complete ineffectiveness against Astartes, Eldar and has less than a 50% chance of killing even a lesser Ork let alone a Warboss. It has however been discovered to be devastatingly effective against Tau Forces and has an almost 100% Success rate against them and will kill in under 30 Standard Terran Minutes

Notable Ash Scorpions

 * Lord Commander Corvo - The Current Chapter Master, he is known to have a brilliant mind for strategy and has lead numerous Campaigns.
 * Chief Librarian Vladimir - Chief Librarian of the Ash Scorpions, he is an immensely Powerful Pysker and has proven the Difference in a multitude of battles.

Fleet
The Ash Scorpions Chapter fleet is known to contain the following starships:


 * The Sting of the Scorpion (Battle Barge) - Flagship of the Ash Scorpions


 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser) -


 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser) -


 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser) -


 * Dorn's Light (Strike Cruiser) -


 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser) -


 * Shield of Dorn (Strike Cruiser) -


 * Sword of Sigismund (Strike Cruiser) -


 * Names and Class Unknown, 17 Ships (Escorts) -

Chapter Relics

 * The Armour Relictus - The Armour Relictus is a master-crafted suit of Terminator Armour used by the Lord Commander Corvo.
 * The Scorpions Blade - Master-crafted Power Sword, used by the Lord Commander Corvo.
 * The Axe of the Scorpions - Master-crafted Force-Axe used by Chief Librarian Vladimir.

Allies

 * Imperial Fists - The Imperial Fists are the Progenitor Legion of the Ash Scorpions and the two are Gene-Brothers.
 * Black Templars - Supported each other During several Campaigns and are also Gene-Brothers.

Enemies
Iron Warriors - Like their Fellow Sons of Dorn the Iron Warriors are the Ash Scorpions greatest enemy

Quotes
Feel free to add your own

By the Ash Scorpions
Feel free to add your own

About the Ash Scorpions
"Oh would you look at that...the oh so great scions of Rogal Dorn have their own little chapter that takes after scorpions. How cute."

- Bariel, Forge Walker Crimson Scorpions commenting upon the Ash Scorpions

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Flesh Rippers
The Flesh Rippers are an infamous Loyalist Chapter of unknown origin and Founding, said to be created in the early years of the 34th Millennium, though there is some conflicting evidence on this in the Imperial records, with some reference to the Chapter existing as early as the 32nd Millennium. This discrepancy has not yet been reconciled and apart from several fragmentary accounts nothing indicated that they even existed. This rather optimistic view was shattered once the Flesh Rippers returned to the greater Imperium during the Centurion War. They are suspected, due to their pale skin, to be descended from the Raven Guard but they are known to be extremely stubborn and have shown signs of paranoia and they are noted to fall into a berserk fury during battle similar to Blood Angels further clouding their origins, others have claimed a link to the World Eaters traitor legion, whatever their origins the Flesh Rippers are bloody handed monstors, vicious and violent beyond what is expected even of Astartes. They are Loyalists of the Emperor of Mankind though the significant evidence of major genetic flaws has led to their investigation on charges of heresy by the Inquisition. They have been cleared of suspicion at present but the calls for them to be declared Excommunicate Traitoris have increased in recent years. Interestingly, since their return they have been witnessed on several occasions to operate alongside the Charnel Brethren, Corvus Legion and the Skull Reapers - chapters of Blood Angels, Raven Guard and Iron Hands descent. What reasons for this, are unknown.

History
The Flesh Rippers are a relatively unknown Chapter having spent much of their history seemingly outside of the the greater Imperium. The reasons why are very much unknown to many, but during the Centurion War it soon became apparent that the Flesh Rippers were a Chapter unlike many others. While other Chapters may maintain a facade of humanity despite their transhuman state the Flesh Rippers are utterly divorced from the humans they once were. Whatever gene-seed was used in their creation has turned them into inhuman monsters who live only for the thrill of battle and the slaying of their enemies. Imperial commanders have found out, to their cost, that for the Flesh Rippers even their supposed allies can become victims of their unrestrained violence.

The exact origins of this infamous Chapter are hard to pinpoint in Imperial archives as the Flesh Rippers have left very few records of their activities. The few records that are avaliable give this Chapter diffrences in name or title, such as the Death Ravens or Raptor Legion but all the accounts are consistent on certain similarities of iconography and operation, and in their description of the Flesh Rippers bestial savagery in combat.

The only other tantalizing clues to this Chapter’s origins can be offered up by those few Imperial servants who have had the dubious honour of encountering the enigmatic Flesh Rippers in the flesh. For the most part, these individuals have been those despatched to explore the outermost bounds of the galaxy: Explorators, Rogue Traders, and the like. However, beyond these rare encounters recorded in various fragmentary Imperial data-vaults, the only information forthcoming on the Flesh Rippers is the stories of their often bloody deeds across the galaxy.

Notable Campaigns

 * The Pentarchy of Blood (860-940.M33) - During the dark and bloody episode of Imperial history known as the War of the False Primarch which plunged the Segmentum Pacificus into anarchy and is now largely lost to myth and purged from the Imperial record, the Pentarchy of Blood was convened by the High Lords of Terra to enact their judgement. Five Chapters, the Carcharodons, the Charnel Guard, the Death Eagles, the Flesh Eaters and the Red Talons are used to systematically destroy eleven Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes judged Traitoris Perdita and lay waste to their homeworlds, finally drawing the eight decade conflict to a close. Although the Flesh Rippers are not Listed in the Order of Battle there is an Imperial Report of an Astartes Chapter in black and red battle plate with raven insignia and carrying chainaxes that were attached with chains, brutally destroying one of the Traitor Chapters. An Imperial Navy witness reported that the unknown Chapter disregarded any form of bombardment and launched the entire Chapter in a massive drop assault against the fortress-monastery. In the battle's aftermath, the Imperial Navy and Imperial Guard reinforcements claimed that the inside of the fortress was filled with the dismembered and mangled corpses of the defenders with wrecked and destroyed bits of power armour scattered about the halls, and that almost all of the Traitor Marines were missing their heads. It was an absolute slaughter, the fortress having been transformed into an abattoir of human blood. Although not confirmed to be the Flesh Rippers, the similarities and the Chapter's known violent history seems to indicate that this is the first known reference to them.


 * The Centurion War (931-954.M41) - The Chapter's first confirmed appearance is in the works of the field notary Ciaphis Quilp, in his account of the Centurion War. Sometime during 940.M41 as the war finally began to turn in favour of Imperial forces Lord Commander Corvo (Chapter Master of the Ash Scorpions) was informed by his Chief Librarian that a significant force was making their way through the Warp and break into realspace behind Corvo's main force. Fearing that it was secessionists he removed his entire chapter from the fighting against the Knights of Guilliman and prepared for arrival of this unknown force, what emerged from the warp was not what Corvo had expected. A full Astartes Chapter had arrived, this new Chapter immediately began broadcasting that they were friendly and even lowered their shields to show peaceful intent, they offered a parley on the nearby world. Leading a single squad Corvo met with these unknowns and through he was wary of them his Chief Librarian stated that he believed that they were not followers of the Dark Gods but nor could he certain they were followers of the Imperium. The unknown Astartes introduced themselves as the Flesh Rippers, a name Corvo dimly recalled hearing before, and their leader named himself Captain Moloch of the 10th Company. He told Corvo that the Lord Reaper would only talk through him. Over the course of several hours the two parties conversed until finally Corvo was convinced that the Flesh Rippers were true to the Emperor at least, and so, with some reservations he allowed them into his order of battle. Following this meeting, Lord Reaper Uric Draf leads the entire Chapter against the Knights of Guilliman on their Homeworld of Jorvick. The Secessionist Chapter defended their Fortress-Monastery in the North of the World. The Flesh Rippers were supported by Imperial Guard Units as well as two Titans deployed in support. Astartes support came in the form of the Salamanders, but Lord Reaper Draf would not wait for the Salamanders to arrive, and so, the Flesh Rippers launched their attack using Drop Pods and Thunderhawks. This resulted in the destruction of Secessionist forces for the loss of 374 Flesh Rippers. The Flesh Rippers lost all self-control during the final assault on the fortress-monastery. The citadel was heavily defended and the Flesh Rippers took 9 hours to break into the fortress-monastery. Eventually, a ramp of corpses led up to a single breach in the wall, and the Astartes of the Flesh Rippers Chapter plunged in. Filled with rage they were merciless. By the time the Salamanders, who were supposed to support the Flesh Rippers, arrived, the battle was all but over. The inside of the fortress was filled with the dismembered and mangled corpses of the defenders, for not one soul had been spared the fury of the Flesh Rippers. It was an absolute slaughter with shattered weapons and armour scattered about the halls, the fortress having been transformed into an abattoir of human blood. The Salamanders were disgusted by this savage behaviour and reported the Flesh Rippers barbarism to the Inquisition. Following the battle, the Flesh Rippers rejoined the main Imperial Force, and for the next two years, they were used as a spearhead by Lord Corvo, who although was disgusted by the Flesh Rippers' actions, he could not deny that they were effective. As the Forces of Chaos revealed themselves to be the true architects of the war, the Flesh Rippers' aggressiveness was put to good use, as world after world fell to their savage berserker fury. But problems began to surface, and reports began filtering back of excessive casualties in tactic-less displays of horde warfare. Even the Flesh Rippers' Imperial allies were sometimes subject to the Flesh Rippers' fury. In 942.M41, the Flesh Rippers broke away from the main force to travel to an Imperial World far away from the Centurion Cluster, and for reasons known only to themselves, launched an all-out assault against the world, and soon fighting raged across the world as the Flesh Rippers lost what little control they had. They proceeded to systematically slaughter almost all the world's entire population over the course of a single day. Why they attacked this world is unknown, and the Flesh Rippers have refused to even discuss the attack, leaving only the vid-captures, pict-Logs and the horrified and traumatized survivors as evidence. Further investigation showed that thousands of young men were missing, and Imperial scholars believe that they were taken as future recruits by the Flesh Rippers. Following this devastating attack, the Flesh Rippers retired from the war for reasons unknown, and aside from a single Strike Cruiser that attended the hearings at Lycan and various reports from other Chapters including the now infamous attack on Teutoburg, they have not been seen since...
 * The Teutoburg Campaign (999.M41) - When a massive Ork invasion struck the Teutoburg System, the Adepta Sororitas Order of the Emperor Resplendent responded in kind. They sent seven whole companies of Battle-Sisters to assist the beleaguered sector. In one notable incident during the brutal campaign, the Order found themselves fighting alongside the Militia of Gaius City on Teutoburg VI as well as the notorious Flesh Rippers Space Marine Chapter, who had appeared and joined the war. They deployed their 6th and 7th companies. Also serving were the Charnel Brethren, Skull Reapers and Corvus Legion Chapters. Chapter Master Uric Draf denied Canoness Anastasia any tactical counsel whatsoever and even refused to meet with her. Talks between the two Imnperial forces was conducted by the Captain of the 6th Company, Shadow Captain Allokan. Many Sisters doubted whether Uric Draf was even present, but several reports indicated a giant Space Marine leading the Astartes forces. After nearly a century in leading her Sisters to war, occasionally alongside Space Marine Chapters, this treatment came as no surprise. But the Order's main grievance was with the way the notorious Chapter conducted themselves during the ensuing battle. The Battle-Sisters struck Warlord Nazgrubba's army as it changed positions from shelling the main Defences of Gaius City, to occupying the settlement. Battered by three days' bombardment, the population of Gaius City had dug underground and, under the careful ministrations of the Order's Sisters Superior, were determined to form an ad hoc militia to defend their homes. The Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren launched their attack on the Ork column when it was approximately one Imperial mile from Gaius City and, hitting the Orks in the rear and flanks, they drove the disorganised enemy into the Battle-Sister's waiting guns. Caught between Battle-Sisters and Space Marines, many Orks were slaughtered, with the survivors mounting their vehicles to escape with all haste. The Sisters first noticed something was very wrong when three mobs of Orks, deserted by their cowardly leaders, formed up and assaulted their front line, choosing to engage the Gaius City militia, rather than the Sisters' deadly accurate bolt guns. The Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren, apparently driven mad by some kind of battle frenzy, crashed into the Ork's rear ranks just as the first Orks reached the militia. The crazed Marines fell upon the Orks in an orgy of blood letting. Many Marines removed their helmets and, eschewing the use of pistols and other ranged weapons, set about the Orks with chainsword, chainaxe and knife and tooth. Canoness Anastasia witnessed in mute horror, Marines ripping out the throats of Orks with their bared teeth. The raw fury and love of carnage she saw in their faces as they literally tore the enemy apart made her shudder in fear. The Orks were annihilated within seconds of the Marines' attack, but the small number of the enemy were simply not enough for the Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren who by now seemed to have been driven into a fever pitch of absolute blood lust. With no more Orks for them to butcher, they scrambled over the barricades on the perimeter of Gaius City and smashed into the thin line of militia. Properly driven into a true battle frenzy now, the Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren performed acts of the most debauched nature in the name of violence. Men, women and youths, all fell beneath their blades. The old, the infirm, none were spared the Marines crazed attack. The Canoness later reported that she had personally witnessed cannibalistic acts committed by the frenzied Marines. She ordered a hasty withdrawal of her Sisters from the Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren with all haste, before they reached their positions. The Canoness later reported the incident to the Inquisition. Her report stated that both the Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren were unstable beyond redemption and that they were not fit for duty anywhere within their mighty Imperium. The Canononess firmly believed that it was evident that the Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren had devolved far beyond any point reached by a loyalist Chapter and requested their immediate destruction. The Corvus Legion and Skull Reapers were spared a request for their destruction. The last known sighting of these four Space Marine Chapters was made by an Explorator augury-beacon, which marked them tacking course through the Warp towards the Eastern Fringe. The current whereabouts and operational activities of the Flesh Rippers remain unknown.

Chapter Homeworld
The fragmentary records of the Flesh Rippers indicate that the Chapter has no set homeworld. This is not uncommon for Space Marine Chapters; the renowned Black Templars Chapter, for example, operates solely from its substantial warfleet as part of a perpetual Imperial Crusade. However, the Flesh Rippers do not appear to follow the Crusade Chapter pattern of operations, relying instead on a much rarer operational strategy known as the "Nomad-Predation" pattern. The Nomad-Predation pattern evolved in use by Space Marine Chapters and certain Rogue Trader fleets operating beyond the Imperium's boundaries for extended periods of time. It refers to an entirely self-contained force that can sustain itself without any Imperial support whatsoever. A Nomad-Predation fleet may contain as many support vessels as true warships, or it may contain voidships capable of both combat and maintenance repairs. This second possibility may be more likely in the case of the Flesh Rippers; given the bellicose Chapter's propensity for combat, it seems unlikely they would tolerate vessels in their fleet's ranks that could not hold their own on the battle line.

A Nomad-Predation fleet voyages endlessly, pausing only to identify and engage its foes. It must choose its targets carefully, selecting those within its means to destroy without threatening the fleet's viability as a fighting force. Once it selects the appropriate victims, it can descend upon them quickly and savagely, engaging and destroying potential threats or launching spoiling attacks against foes too large to attack in force. The fleet obtains resources from the vanquished foe before vanishing, safe from any potential retaliation.

Though one cannot be certain that this is the means by which the Flesh Rippers operate, the tactics do seem to perfectly fit their observed behaviour. If this is the case, the Flesh Rippers most likely replenish their ranks in the same manner as other Chapters that follow the Nomad-Predation pattern. Namely, they cull potential Initiates from amongst the young of the survivors of their assaults, provided those survivors are human and free of the corrupting influence of the Warp. This culling for potential Aspirants is known amongst the Flesh Rippers as a  Blood Tithe. These Initiates must be subjected to intensive hypno-conditioning and other harsh procedures designed to strip away any past loyalty, replacing it with the will and attitudes of the Flesh Rippers.

Chapter Beliefs
Despite their long isolation from the Imperium, the Chapter and its Battle-Brothers seem deeply loyal. All of the Flesh Rippers encountered have shown a seemingly overwhelming desire to serve the Emperor and have dedicated themselves to destroying his enemies wherever they can be found.

Chapter Traditions

 * Head Taking - One of the most inhuman traditions of the Flesh Rippers is the practice of removing the head of fallen foes although for what reason imperial scholars are at a loss. Many believe that it is simply a rather macabre way of determing enemy casualties
 * Gladiatorial Combat - Since their return, a few imperial forces have had the dubious honour of being allowed to witness another of the Flesh Rippers' traditions, that of Gladiatorial Combat which takes place in specially designed pits in the depths of the Death's Herald, known as the Blood Pits. When the Flesh Rippers Battle-Brothers have a disagreement many choose to settle their problems in these pits. Two combatants will enter naked, save for a loincloth, and be chained together where they fight until first blood is drawn, or in some cases, results in death.
 * Binding Weapons - The Flesh Rippers have also been known to bind their weapons to themselves by using large dense black chains, removing them only once victory is achieve, much in the same way as the Astartes of the Black Templars.

Chapter Gene-Seed
Nobody knows what Primarch’s gene-seed led to the creation of the Flesh Rippers and the Flesh Rippers themselves have never revealed anything about themselves. A Deathwatch Apothecary reportedly examined a corpse said to have been from the Flesh Rippers and interestingly, the gene-seed bore several markers reminiscent of both the Raven Guard and Blood Angels bloodline. These markers are uncommon, and a link to either Raven Guard or the Blood Angels would explain several other details about the Flesh Rippers as well. However, apart from those few similarities to Raven Guard and Blood Angels gene-seed the Flesh Rippers gene-seed is so different in other aspects that it is unlikely that they are descended from either Chapter. Due to their brutal nature and close-combat prowess there have been some Imperial scholars that have claimed that they are somehow connected to the World Eaters, but that is clearly impossible and most think it is just a rumor, albeit a rumor that has increasing evidence supporting it.

Further light was shed on their origin in the aftermath of the Centurion War when the Knights of Guilliman were brought to trial by a conclave of Chapter Masters whose Chapters had not fought in the conflict, presided over by the master of the Ultramarines, Marneus Calgar. During the trial only a single Astartes from the Flesh Rippers attended, Captain Moloch with a single Strike Cruiser in orbit over Lycan. After the trial was over, Lord Calgar attempted to communicate with Lord Draf over a secure vox channel, but was met with only silence until Calgar accused the Flesh Rippers of being no better than the Traitor Legions, to which Lord Draf replied with the following, "Who are you to judge us? Those of our blood stood alongside the Emperor on Terra, while yours hid until it was over." This statement seems to rule out the Raven Guard as they did not fight on Terra but gives further credence to the Blood Angels. The Imperial Fists and White Scars are not thought to be the origin of the Chapter as the Flesh Rippers have use of the Betcher's Gland and Sus-an Membrane and the Imperial Fists do not. The Deathwatch Apothecary who examined the Flesh Rippers' gene-seed was from the White Scars Chapter and he noted no similarities between his own gene-seed and the ones he examined. No other Loyalist Legions fought on Terra, and so, if the statement is true then the Flesh Rippers must be descended from Sanguinius unless the rumours of a Traitor Legion origin are found to have merit.

All have greyish, pale skin with an almost deathlike pallor and jet black eyes. Rather unusually, when seen un-helmeted most battle-brothers seem to have some sort of bionic implanted into their skulls. No imperial scholars have found any evidence of its origin or function and it seems to be unique to the Flesh Rippers. Whichever Primarch the Flesh Rippers are descended from, the gene-seed of the Chapter has clearly affected these Astartes at a mental level. Simply put, the Space Marines of the Flesh Rippers have a physical need to shed blood and kill - a driving imperative that sends them into a berserk fury of unrestrained bloodthirsty psychosis. Despite the absence of irrefutable evidence there is clearly several major flaws in the Flesh Rippers' gene-seed, which will only increase over the next few years, many think the Chapter is living on borrowed time and that their end is nigh. Whether that end is to be declared Excommunicate Traitoris and be destroyed, or to turn Traitor and fall to Chaos is unknown.

Chapter Organisation
As previously mentioned, what few Imperial records exist about the Flesh Rippers suggest they are entirely fleet-based, which in turn would suggest they have fundamental differences from most, more conventional, Space Marine Chapters. Their long isolation may also have an effect on the Chapter's wargear. The few starships observed to be serving the Flesh Rippers are wildly different in the era of their construction, indicating the Chapter likely makes use of whatever vessels it can find, and performs extensive modifications and repairs in order to keep them sailing as long as possible.

Their Elite Veteran Assault Squads of the 1st company are known as Reaper Squads. Reaper Squads are Berserker assault units composed of the most savage and bloodthirsty killers in a Chapter comprised of savage and bloodthirsty killers that are deemed just too unstable and insane to serve in a regular Company. Within these units their are even Marines that are too far gone to be anything but restrained between battles and are informally known as the Crimson Brethren, these Elite units are akin to the Death Company of the Blood Angels, It should be noted that all members of the first Company are just one step away from joining these psychopathic Marines which provides an Endless Supply of new members for the Brethren.Their Veteran Sternguard squads are also Assault Squads but equipped with Boltguns rather than Bolt Pistols and close-combat weapons. The Battle-Brothers of the Battle Company's are no less Bloodthirsty but are simply those that manage to focus their desire for berserk slaughter through martial discipline, mastering a variety of macabre and savage weapons. Specialist Ranks The Flesh Rippers order of battle contains several officer positions not present in other Space Marine Chapters.

Lord Reaper(Chapter Master) Reaper Captain(Captain) Reaper Prime - A Reaper Prime is an additional title given to a Company Master. Beyond the Captaincy of their own company, it is their job to ensure the Chapter is constantly supplied with fresh Aspirants, normally achieved during the "Blood Tithes," when they return to the Imperium and descend on an Imperial world to harvest the population for Chapter Serfs and potential Aspirants. Harvester Prime - A Harvester Prime is an additional title that is also given to a Company Master. It is their duty to seek out archeotech and lost technology on the isolated worlds that lie in the outer dark. This acquisition of technology is achieved during a so-called "Tech Tithe,". Blood Sergeant(Sergeant) Brother of the Blood(Battle-Brother) Specialist Formations Crimson Brethren - Psychopathic Marines that have fallen so far to the Blood Rage that they must be chained up when not in battle, clad in Ancient MKII Battle-Plate they are unleashed on whatever enemy the Lord Reaper decrees. Reaper Squad (Veteran Assault Marines) Reaper Squads are Berserker assault units composed of the most savage and bloodthirsty killers in a Chapter comprised of savage and bloodthirsty killers that are deemed just too unstable and insane to serve in a regular Company.

Chapter Recruitment
Blood Tithes It is the duty of a Flesh Rippers Reaper Prime, beyond the duties of the Captaincy of their company, to ensure that the Chapter is constantly supplied with fresh Aspirants. This was normally achieved during the so-called Blood Tithes" when they return to the Imperium and descend on an Imperial world to harvest the population. The vast majority of those taken would go on to become slaves and serf labourers in the Chapter's great fleet, providing the means by which the Flesh Rippers could continue to function in exile. Those of the right age and temperament, however, would undertake the trials. Few survive the brutal training and gladitorial fights in the blood pits but for those that do a lifetime of service to Emperor awaits.

Tech Tithes It is the duty of a Flesh Rippers Harvester Prime, beyond the duties of the Captaincy of their company, to ensure that the Chapter is constantly supplied with arms and equipment. They are also responsible for seeking out ancient archeotech on long-lost worlds that lie within the vast void. This acquisition of technology is known as a "Tech Tithe." Unlike some other Chapters it is not known if they share the technology they discover with rest of the Imperium. One of the known pieces of technology they have discovered are the implants that are given to all Battle-Brothers that have proven themselves in battle.

Chapter Serfs
Like other Chapters, the Flesh Rippers possess an extensive support personnel comprised of thousands of Chapter Serfs as well as mindless servitors who are failed Aspirants given a second chance to serve the Chapter by crewing one of the Chapter's vessels in the Chapter Fleet.  As stated before, most servitors are failed Aspirants,  and the chapter serfs are made up of mortal men and women, some are rescued humans who have sworn themselves to the Chapter whilst others are serfs who were born into their status as the child of Chapter Serfs. These serfs are fanatically loyal to their transhuman masters, and indoctrinated into many of the lesser orders of the Chapter's Cult. Although human, they still benefit from remarkable training and access to superior weaponry, and this makes them a formidable foe in defence of their chapter's Barque and in ship-to-ship boarding actions, even without the support of their genetically modified lords.Such is the reduced number of Battle Brothers these support personnel make up the majority of the Chapters ship crews as well overseeing other menial tasks that are beneath the notice of their Superhuman masters. Each individual Battle Brother is assigned 3 serfs who act to assist their master in his daily tasks, much prestige is attached to those chapter serfs who are assigned to high ranking Battle Brothers and the de facto leader of the Chapter serfs is assigned to serve the Lord Reaper himself and is known as the Ordinator of the House, the currant ordinator is Lotora Spika but this role is often a thankless task as the she has to tread lightly not enrage the Lord Reaper and is constantly caught between between avoiding his uncontrollable fury and the performance of her duties whilst always making sure she measures her words when conversing with the rage-fuelled Lord Reaper. Naturally those unfortunate's who inducted into the Crimson Brethren no longer have these serfs assigned as it would be simply too dangerous for them to get within arms reach of these bloodcrazed marines but even those assigned to other battle brothers has to make sure they are constantly alert lest they become just another victim of the Flesh Rippers uncontrollable fury.

Chapter Equipment
Using pict-log and video-captures from the Centurion and Teutobourg campaigns, Imperial scholars were able to determine much about the Flesh Rippers appearance and weaponry. Armour is of ancient design, in fact, no marks of armour more recent than the MK VI have been observed. It also seems to be highly personalised, as no two Battle-Brothers' armour looks alike. Small tokens shaped as blood drops adorn the plates. Some Battle-Brothers wear a fully black-coloured helm rather than the black and red of other Battle-Brothers. This is often combined with red striations on the helm or a bloody hand print on the face, although the reasons for these honour markings is unknown. Red "tears" (more likely blood drops) painted beneath the eye lenses on a helm are thought to denote an Astartes' ritual scarification and kill tally marks are often carved into a vambrace or a warrior's individual weapon. A "blood-drop" decoration on a vambrace accorded an individual warrior status as having killed a fellow Flesh Rippers of higher rank in a sanctioned arena duel. Of the armour observed, the MK V Hersey Pattern is by far the most used. Vehicles often have the same decoration but some, Dreadnoughts especially, have script in an unknown language carved into the ceramite. Weaponry is also of an ancient design with the Umbra Pattern bolter the norm, but Tigrus and Phobos Patterns have also been observed. The Flesh Rippers have also seen to extensively using Chainaxes.

Flesh Rippers Librarians Unlike many of their fellow Chapters, the Flesh Rippers have never been observed making use of Librarians within their ranks, all this changed with the arrival of the Primaris Astartes and now the Flesh Rippers now count these immensivly powerful pyskers amoungst thier ranks. They also make use of 2 unique powers in addition to those used by others.

From the Void - The Flesh Rippers Librarian clouds the minds of his adversaries with a choking mental darkness, amplifying their fear and surprise so that it paralyses them. Their minds writhe with images of spectres and ancient predators, leaving them vulnerable to assault.

Death Maw - The Librarian calls forth the avatar of a great predator whose maw descends from the very sky. Jaws and teeth snap shut, consuming all within in a shower of gore.

Deathwatch Service
Though it has happened only rarely, lone Space Marines in dark grey livery and speaking ancient variants of High Gothic have, on occasions, arrived at the fortresses of the Deathwatch in the Jericho Reach (and perhaps elsewhere) in order to "fulfil the obligations of their sworn oath." When pressed, some of these Space Marines have said they hailed from a Chapter known as the Flesh Rippers. However, beyond these rare encounters recorded in the dusty data-vaults of Watch Fortress Erioch, the only information forthcoming on the Flesh Rippers are the stories of their fell deeds throughout the Imperium.

Chapter Numbers
As with many Astartes Chapters the number of Battle-Brothers fluctuate significantly. The Flesh Rippers' numbers are believed by Imperial observers to be at less than Full Strength. The available evidence indicates that the Chapter may have as few as 100 Battle-Brothers. The companies are so reduced, that they may have as few as one or two squads, per Company. However since the return of Robouth Guilliman the Flesh Rippers have returned to 1000 Battle Brothers.

Their flagship, the Death's Herald, has been extensively modified to be able to transport the entirety of the first five battle companies, and has had more extensive weapons retro-fitted and upgraded defence systems which makes it one of the most powerful warships in the Imperium. Their second Battle-Barge was formerly known as the Guilliman's Light, which was taken a prize from the Knights of Guilliman Chapter, it's name now, is unknown. The remaining five reserve companies each have a dedicated Strike Cruisers and the Chapter Fleet is complimented by nine Gladius Frigates and two Nova Frigates. Due to the Chapter's small number and the individual Battle-Brothers reluctance to crew a warship, their vessels have on average have only one Space Marine crew who commands a crew of servitors and serfs. The ships' Captains are often the most determined of the Chapter's Astartes, as they have managed to suppress the raging bloodlust within themselves, long enough to crew a starship, but even these determined Astartes can only hold out for so long before they too, fall completely to the Blood Rage and have to be replaced, this has left the Chapter short on experianced Astartes Captains leaving the escort ship to be crewed ad captaied by chapter serfs. Strike Cruisers and the Deaths Herald also have Techmarines on board, but their Frigates do not, instead relying on trained Chapter Serfs.

Noctis Aeterna
During this dark peroid the hopes of trillions was reignited with the return of one of the Emperors loyal son's, the Primarch of the Ultramarines Roboute Guilliman and he brought with him the fruits of 10,000 years of research, the Primaris Space Marines. Hearing of this momentus event the Flesh Rippers, Corvus Legion, Charnel Brethren and the Skull Reapers returned from the void where they had fought the enemy's of Mankind for many years and swore to serve the son of the Emperor in perpetuity and soon Primaris Astartes were serving with distinction but unlike many other Chapters that recieved full grown and battle hardened Primaris the Flesh Rippers instead recieved the technology and knowledge to create their own Primaris Space Marines.

The wargear to arm these formidable warriors was also recieved including 500 suits of Mk X Power Armour in their various Patterns, Hundreds of Cawl  and Belisarius Pattern Weapons,4 Redemptor Dreadnoughts Chassis and 2 Repulser Grav Tanks. Thanks to this great fortune the Flesh Rippers prosecute their wars with even greater vigour. The numbers of Primaris Astartes currently serving are unknown but during the battles of the Indominatus Campaign they were able to field an entire company. Despite these advances the Primaris Astartes have seen to afflicted with the same Gene-Seed flaws as the rest of their brothers and just as aggressive and unhinged as the rest of the Chapter, some have even been inducted into the Crimson Brethren. What other flaws may manifest in the future is unknown.

Chapter Combat Doctrine
Since their Reemergence the Flesh Rippers have become famous across the Imperium as little more than frothing, psychotic berserkers and now infamours for there berserk fury and uncompromising savagery."Merciless" is perhaps the best description for the Flesh Rippers in combat, but even that does not describe the depths of blood-soaked slaughter to which they descend.Those few who have witnessed their bloodthirstiness report that the Chapter displays savagery and cruelty on an unparalleled scale.A Flesh Rippers force in combat seeks nothing more than to come to grips with an enemy in close combat so they can rend them apart in a hail of blood with Chainaxes and Power Fists and, if need be, their bare hands and teeth.Imperial commanders are especially loathe to accept their assistance, due to the Flesh Rippers reputation for carnage and the inherent dangers of fighting alongside these crazed Astartes.There have been many documented occasions when allied forces have found themselves the victims of the Flesh Rippers unrestrained savagery in combat. Though the Flesh Rippers seem both competent and familiar with armoured vehicles, the core of their tactics rely on large detachments of mobile Space Marine infantry. In this way, the Flesh Rippers make use of the bloody prowess of their combat brethren to carry the day in battle. The Flesh Rippers often endeavour to be the initiator of combat actions and prefer not to fight on the defensive. Tactical operations often begin with a Battle Company using its reconnaissance units such as Land Speeder and Bike Squads to probe enemy positions and identify weak points and any target with strategic value. Once identified, the main Flesh Ripper forces hit these points with overwhelming force. They may use Drop Pods, Thunderhawks, or massed Drop Assaults to make these attacks, and the assaulting forces are often a mix of Tactical and Assault Marines, as well as Terminator Veterans. Once the assaults succeeds, and then the Flesh Rippers press the attack to the hilt. Once they commit fully, they dig deep into the enemy's vitals, endeavouring to do as much damage as possible as quickly as possible. At this point, the full fury of the Flesh Rippers is all too apparent, and little survives this stage of the assault. The Flesh Rippers prefer fighting at close range, either attacking with point-blank weapons fire, or in melee when they have broken through the enemy line.

The Flesh Rippers also have an unique battle cry that they let loose as they attack their foes. While the cry is created by the Space Marines vocal cords, it is enhanced and amplified by their Power Armours Vox-systems. First hand reports confirm that opponents are often stunned into immediate submission when they hear the terrible sound as defenders come face to face with the savagery of these Battle-Brothers. When undergoing boarding operations during ship-to-ship void battles, the Flesh Rippers are known to employ an ancient and crude, but unique weapon known as "Ursus Claws" -- large barbed lances that are the size of smaller Escort ships in their own right. Fashioned like massive harpoons, these massive lances puncture through an enemy vessel's hull, and once impaled, the immense spears become active, locking to their prey's ravaged insides with magnetic strength. With malicious slowness, the Flesh Rippers vessels can then recall their spears, as the lances ratchet back towards the vessel that fired them, dragging them home on massive chains. Once the doomed vessel is within reach of the Flesh Rippers, they then disgorge their Astartes into the bowels of the impaled enemy ship, and the blooding begins in earnest. This technique was first pioneered during the Great Crusade by the barbarous and bloody-handed World Eaters Legion. The fact that the Flesh Rippers use the same tactics as the traitor World Eaters has caused the Inqusition to regard them as even more corrupt

Notable Flesh Rippers

 * Lord Reaper Amit - Listed in ancient records as the Chapter's Lord Reaper, it is unknown when he obtained the position and when and where he was slain.
 * Lord Reaper Uric Draf - The currant Lord Reaper(Chapter Master) of the Flesh Rippers is a truly gigantic Space Marine, It is said that he even approaches some of the great Primarchs in size. He wears a pelt taken from a giant predator that he hunted in his youth, hanging with the skulls of slain World Eaters. He has been Chapter Master for an estimated 400 years, obtaining his current position by challenging the former Lord Reaper to single-combat, for the Right to Command. This unprecedented event occurred barely a year since his transformation into a Space Marine. This was unheard of, as no new recruit had ever challenged a veteran Battle-Brother to combat, let alone the Lord Reaper himself. But the Flesh Rippers' Chapter Master could not refuse the challenge once the gauntlet had been thrown down, and so, he entered the Blood Pits. The bout lasted all of 5 seconds, before Uric Draf butchered his opponent with assault after brutal assault. The Lord Reaper just couldn't cope with Uric Draf's unrelenting fury, With their former Chapter Master laying in a bloody heap in the sand, the Astartes of the Flesh Rippers proclaimed Uric Draf the new Lord Reaper, and so he left the pit to the howls of his Battle-Brothers. Uric was then gifted with the Armour of Redemption, which was found to fit him perfectly, as if it had been made for him, and wielding the twin relic Chainaxes, Death's Herald and Death's Hand, he led his brothers to war. Uric is believed to have been born on Terra itself. Like most of his Battle-Brothers, he is a frothing psychopathic berzerker who feels nothing outside of slaughter -- no smiles, no tears, nothing. One of the few living people to have met him described him as a mutilated, bloody, reeking, wrathful figure that stalked amongst his brothers - a giant in massive armour with a pale and tattooed face, long dreadlocked-like connectors attached to implants in the back of his skull which connects him to his armour. Outside of battle Uric possesses a dead-eyed glare, murmuring to himself in a low monotone between battles, until he is once again turned loose upon an enemy and his eyes light up with the thrill of battle as he rampages across the battlefield in his overwhelming urge to destroy his foes.
 * High Chaplain Ulric - The High Chaplain of the Flesh Rippers, Ulric is believed to have been High Chaplain for over 200 Years. He acts as the spiritual head of the Chapter. He wears a suit of master-crafted artificer power armour that looks like exposed muscles, and wears a jump pack with wings.
 * Chapter Champion Morgrim - Chapter Champion of the Flesh Rippers, Morgrim wields a massive two-handed chainsword in battle. He too, also wears a suit of Artificer Armour.
 * Bjorn the Butcher - The Current Leader of the Crimson Brethren is a frothing psychopathic berzerker, who, like his charges, can only be restrained outside of battle. He wears the Badge of the Lord Reaper Uric Draf, in order to show that he is the Chosen Warrior of the Chapter's current Chapter Master. It is said that aside from the Uric Draf and Morgrim, he is most formidable warrior in the Chapter.
 * High Priest Ramiel - The currant High Priest (Chief Apothecary) of the Flesh Rippers. Ramiel wears a suit of Indomitus armour, modified to enable him to perform his Apothecary duties.
 * Chaplain Molochia - Molochia is a senior Chaplain, second only to the High Chaplain himself. He acts as the head of the Reclusium and is a senior advisor to the Chapter Master, often being the voice of reason to the Lord Reaper's insane fury. He wears a suit of Indomitus Terminator Armour and Carries an Ornate Crozius Arcanum that was a gift from the High Chaplain himself.
 * Captain Magron - Captain of the 1st company. He wears a suit of Tartaros Terminator Armour.
 * Captain Merir - Captain of the 4th assault company, Merir wields a Thunder Hammer and is noted for his savagery in combat. He wears an ancient suit of MK IV Maximus pattern Power Armour with an upgraded jump pack.
 * Captain Belor - Captain of the 5th Assault Company, Belor wears a suit of MK VI Corvus pattern Power Armour with an upgraded jump pack. He wields a pair of Lightning Claws in battle.
 * Captain Moloch the Wise - Captain of the 10th Company. Uniquely amoungst his Battle-Brothers, Moloch has not become a bloodthirsty killer and is considered the most calm and level-headed member of the Chapter and is a military genius. He serves as an advisor to the Chapter Master. In battle, Moloch wears a modified suit of MK V Heresy pattern Power Armour and carries a Storm Bolter and Power Fist.
 * Ancient Borek - Borek the Slayer is a Battle-Brother formerly of the 2nd Company, who is now encased in a pre-heresy relic Comtemptor Pattern Dreadnought. He is the oldest Flesh Ripper, having been entombed over four thousand years before the present.

Chapter Fleet
The Chapter Fleet is small but extremely powerful. They possess two Battle-Barges ,the truly ancient Death's Herald and an unknown vessel that was formerly known as Guilliman's Light. The following are the known vessels of the Flesh Rippers as of 999.M41:
 * Death's Herald (Battle-Barge) - Flagship of the Flesh Rippers Chapter
 * Unknown (Battle-Barge) - An unnamed Battle-Barge that was formerly known as Guilliman's Light.
 * Blood Reaper (Strike Cruiser) - Belongs to Flesh Rippers' 6th Company.
 * Salvation (Strike Cruiser) - Belongs to the Flesh Rippers' 7th Company.
 * Revenge (Strike Cruiser) - Belongs to the Flesh Rippers' 8th Company.
 * Reaper of the Lost (Strike Cruiser) - Belongs to the Flesh Rippers' 9th Company.
 * Emperor's Light (Strike Cruiser) - Belongs to the Flesh Rippers' 10th Company.

Chapter Banner
The Flesh Rippers Chapter Banner is an ornate and superbly crafted banner replete with the symbols of the Flesh Rippers and of the image of a Flesh Rippers Astartes under the gaze of the Emperor of Mankind himself. Like all Chapters Banners it is a unique icon of the Chapter and on the rare time it is carried into Battle the Flesh Rippers will fight even harder to make sure no harm comes to it

Chapter Colours
The Flesh Rippers wear red and black coloured power armour. The main part of the backpack, the upper portion of the helmet, shoulder pauldrons, arms, knees, greaves and sabatons are red in colour. The top of the backpack, main exhaust ports, faceplate, breastplate, groin and upper leg are black in colour. The white coloured squad specialty symbol on the right shoulder guard designate operational specialty -- Tactical, Devastator, Assault or Veteran. A squad number is not displayed. A black coloured gothic numeral is stenciled on the left knee guard, which designates company number.

Chapter Badge
The Flesh Rippers Chapter Badge is is a stylised, white, monstrous jaw centred on a field of bright red, the same badge as the infamous Flesh Eaters Chapter

Chapter Relics

 * Armour of Redemption - The Armour of Redemption is the oldest relic in the Flesh Rippers' Armoury and the Flesh Rippers actually have no idea how old it is, only that it is at least six thousand years old, and might be older. This mighty relic is a master-crafted suit of Artificer Armour that has been modified extensively into an exquisite suit that contains ancient technologies that were rare even before the Heresy. The Chapters' Chaplains proclaimed that the the this Chapter relic had been made for the Chapter's True Leader, and that the one who could wear it would lead the Chapter to Redemption. The fact that it seems to fit Uric Draf perfectly, only enhanced his standing with his Battle-Brothers, and he is now considered the Chapter's prophesied saviour.
 * Death's Hand and Death's Herald - A formidable pair of Chainaxes that use the Teeth of a predator that is capable of cutting through Power Armour with ease, they were Created at the Same time as the Armour of Redemption and were intended for use with the Suit
 * Word of the Emperor - A Crozius Arcanum used by the Chapters High Chaplain in M.37 and held in stasis aboard the Death's Herald.
 * Blood Reaper - A Massive two-handed Chainsword that is used by the Flesh Rippers Chapter Champion, it uses the same teeth as the Death Reapers Chainaxes.

Allies
None known, but the Corvus Legion, Skull Reapers and Charnel Brethren were seen to have operated with the Flesh Rippers on Teutoberg VI.

Enemies

 * World Eaters -  Although as a Loyal Chapter, the Flesh Rippers have a hatred of all things Chaos, they seem to have an almost unheard of hatred of the World Eaters and have even been known to abandon an operation at the merest rumour of their presence. The current Chapter Master even wears chains hanging with the skulls of slain traitor Khorne Berzerkers.
 * Knights of Guilliman - The Flesh Rippers were responsible for the near-destruction of their Chapter, and the Knights have now vowed to have a reckoning between them.
 * Ultramarines, Salamanders, Space Wolves- These Chapter are known enemies due to their known humane nature, and the fact that the Flesh Rippers have slaughtered Imperial civilians on a number of occasions.
 * Inquisition - The Inquisition believe that the Flesh Rippers are no better than the Traitor Marines of Chaos and have attempted to have them Declared Heretics several times, but have yet to provide irrefutable evidence.

Notable Quotes
Feel free to add your own

By the Flesh Rippers
"Who are you to judge us? Those of our Blood stood alongside the Emperor on Terra while yours' hid until it was over!"

- Lord Reaper Uric Draf to Chapter Master Marneus Calgar of the Ultramarines

"We Know what we are and what you think of us..you think us monsters. Creatures not fit for the Emperor's galaxy, and you may be right. Yes we are monsters, but we are the Emperor's monsters. Never forget that."

- Unknown Flesh Ripper Astartes

About the Flesh Rippers
Feel free to add your own

"Reports of Flesh Rippers squads sighted on one of the nearby worlds sir." "Avoid contact, I don't want any unneeded collateral damage." "Sir, the locals have lost several settlements." "New order. Shoot on sight.""

- Chapter Master of the Blood Wights, Agathus Colchian

"I wonder Uric, whom would you say is the finer swordsman, Mogrim or Kerventes? I propose a duel! And to the winner goes the honour of first sip from the chalice! And the eternal enmity of his foe!"

- Eulitus Ephrain and the Wings of Salvaxes in post-battle celebration with the Flesh Rippers

"The Flesh Rippers are no enemy we want to face, but are a truly relatable chapter no matter how much you wish it untrue. A templar is bound by oath, not by morals."

- A Brigadier of the Crimson Templars

"Raving psychopaths more akin to wild animals than Astartes. Keep your eyes open and your senses sharp, Emperor only knows when they will turn on those they once called allies."

- Lophess Ovair, Obsidian Blades First Captain

"Of brethren lost and brethren found, vipers dead beneath the ground. Our brothers clad in blooded feathers, tied and bound by bladed tethers. Forsaken from the honoured sons, descended from the savage ones. Pure of mind and pure of soul, to absolve their sins their eternal goal."

- Unknown Astartes of the Mortarchs Serpentia



Gallery
All Artwork except for a couple of pics from space marine painter were created by Algrim Whitefang ---

Lions Malevolent
The Lions Malevolent are a Successor Chapter of the line of Primarch Lion El'Jonson, supposedly created during the 5th Founding sometime during the 33rd Millennium, as they were counted amongst the many Adeptus Astartes Chapters deployed during the Lagomort War fought in 238.M33. As descendants of the Lion they are a part of the Dark Angels Successor Chapters collectively known as the Unforgiven. Like the Dark Angels, they too, formed their own Inner Circle to guard the knowledge of their progenitor's secret shame. This Dark Angels Successor Chapter displays a particular zeal in prosecuting their quest against the Fallen Angels. Nothing can dissuade them from this most sacred of quests, to right the ancient wrongs of their progenitors. Even though the Chapter has proven itself in battle, their help is sometimes refused due to their reputation for acting against orders and on occasion withdrawing from a campaign in order to pursue their own, undisclosed ends.

History
As an Astartes Chapter of ancient provenance, the Lions Malevolent have a long and storied history, having fought in numerous campaigns and wars for nearly eight millennia. Though they didn't appear in official Imperial records until the widely recorded Lagomort War in 238.M33, sealed and secured records within the Inquisition's vaults might shed some light on the truth of the origins of this Chapter. The oldest of these ancient treatises on the wars of the Imperium of Man may be found within the pages of the Mythos Angelica Mortis, written by the savant-scribes of the Secretariat Militum of Terra in the late 35th Millennium. References are made of a Space Marine Chapter identified as the Leonum Malivolus. This text stems from a far older work, now lost, dating back to the mid 32nd or early 33rd Millennia. Within this text, it mentions the Ebon Blade Campaign, an oft-forgotten campaign that took place in the Scarus Sector in 532-542.M32, to cleanse a multitude of Chaos cult uprisings across four sub-sectors. The venerable Dark Angels are known to have taken part in this campaign, but did not make their presence known until the final campaign upon the Hive World of Gudrun. Two Chapters of the Unforgiven are known to have taken part. Though not specifically mentioned, one of these Chapters matched the panoply of the Lions Malevolent Chapter. As for the identity of the other chapter, it had been mysteriously omitted from the official record. This would indicate that the Lions Malevolent might be much older than originally suspected, perhaps founded during the 4th Founding or even as early as the 3rd Founding.

The Lagomort War
Whatever the truth to their origins, the first recorded action of the Lions Malevolent was during the Lagomort War against the Forces of Chaos commanded by Chaos Lord known as the Slaughter King, a fanatical follower of Khorne. During this campaign, the Lions Malevolent were joined by two other Chapters -- the Angels of Vengeance and their progenitors, the Dark Angels themselves. Unknown to any but the Unforgiven, the Lagomort War was in fact a cover for the hunt for a member of the Fallen -- those Dark Angels who followed the Arch-Betrayer Luther, the Ist Legion's second-in-command, into damnation and resulted in the destruction of the Dark Angels' home world of Caliban at the conclusion of the Horus Heresy. These so-called Fallen Angels have been continuously hunted for ten millennia by the Dark Angels and the Chapters of the Unforgiven.

This particular Fallen, known as Brother Luciferus, was well known to the Inner Circle, for he was a true heretic that was utterly devoted to the Ruinous Powers -- a powerful psyker who would appear before the Dark Angels' and the other Unforgiven Chapters' Librarians -- taunting them for their failures and their sad devotion to an Emperor and a Primarch long since gone. He would further insult them by naming himself Lion El'Jonson. He had been hunted for nearly two millennia, but always managed to stay one step ahead of his pursuers. Every time he was cornered by the Unforgiven, he would always somehow manage to effect his escape. Now Luciferus was operating openly on Lagomort IV, and the Dark Angels and their Successors were determined that this time, there would be no escape. The Inner Circle committed all available forces to the war -- three companies from the Dark Angels, one company from the Angels of Vengeance and the entirety of the Lions Malevolent Chapter, launching an all out assault on the Lagomort System.

While the majority of the Astartes from the three Unforgiven Chapters fought against the massed forces of the Slaughter King, the Dark Angels elite 1st and 2nd companies (the Deathwing and Ravenwing) headed straight for the Fallen who was taking refuge within his stronghold. They would be joined by some of the finest Astartes the Lions Malevolent had to offer -- ten of their most promising recruits who had been chosen right at the start, by the Dark Angels, to form the Lions Malevolent own elite 1st and 2nd companies. Only the Grand Masters, their veteran elite and the Unforgiven Chapters Masters knew the full truth of this war and the Fallen in question. Using all the skill and determination that the Emperor's Astartes are famed for, the Lions Malevolent would prove themselves to be true Sons of the Lion. Brother Luciferus was captured after a long hard fought battle and the Slaughter King and his Khornate hosts were lain by the fury of the Lion-borne.

Turned over to the 'tender' mercies of the Interrogator-Chaplains, soon the prison cells of The Rock resounded with the agonised screams of the Fallen, who would either repent or suffer a long, agonising and drawn out death. The Interrogator-Chaplain chosen for this task would be the first Interrogator-Chaplain raised from the ranks of the Lions Malevolent themselves, Brother Anaziel. He would ultimately fail in his task, for Luciferus was utterly corrupted by the powers of Chaos, therefore he was granted extreme unction for his crimes. Anaziel would go on to become the Chapter's Master of Repentance and would eventually make four Fallen repent during his long and illustrious career, but would forever after be haunted by this failure for the rest of his days.

Notable Campaigns

 * Ebon Blade Campaign (532-542.M32) - An oft-forgotten decade-long campaign that took place in the Scarus Sector to cleanse a multitude of Chaos cult uprisings across four sub-sectors. Several of these corrupt cults had been largely instigated by Deimos the Defiler and his splinter Alpha Legion warband, The Formless. The Lions Malevolent and an unnamed Unforgiven Chapter began a decade-long campaign beset with many battles to hunt down and slay Deimos. During this time they successfully uprooted many hidden cults and corrupt officials across four sub-sectors. But the wily Chaos Lord always managed to elude his pursuers by staying one step ahead. When they finally cornered Deimos upon the vitally important Hive World of Gudrun, the venerable Dark Angels made their presence known, and took part in the final battle of the campaign. What exactly occurred is not recorded, but the Lions Malevolent were recognised by their progenitors and awarded command of the venerable Chapter Barque, the Undying Vengeance, whilst the other unnamed Unforgiven Chapter faded into obscurity following this campaign.
 * Lagomort War (238.M33) - The first recorded official action of the Lions Malevolent Chapter. This was a joint campaign launched by the Dark Angels and two of the Unforgiven Chapters -- the Angels of Vengeance and the Lions Malevolent -- to quash the incursion of the Chaos Lord known as the Slaughter King and his Khornate war hosts. In reality, the Dark Angels and their Successors had their own secret agenda, and used the war as a cover to seek out and capture a notorious Fallen known as Brother Luciferus. Eluding capture time and again, the Fallen had finally made a mistake when he decided to operate openly on the world of Lagomort IV. While the majority of the three Unforgiven Chapters fought against the massed forces of the Slaughter King, the Dark Angels elite 1st and 2nd companies launched a planetary assault upon Luciferus' stronghold, alongside some of the finest Astartes the Lions Malevolent had to offer. At the campaign's successful conclusion, the Unforgiven succeeded in slaying the Slaughter King and laying waste to his Khornate war hosts. But the Unforgiven's true victory was achieved when they finally managed to capture Brother Luciferus, who was spirited away to the Rock, to be interrogated by the Dark Angels' malevolent Interrogator-Chaplains.
 * The Centurion War (931-954.M41) - This was a brutal campaign launched by the several Adeptus Astartes Chapters to eradicate secessionist forces located in the Centurion Sector of the Segmentum Ultima. The secessionist forces included (sadly) two Renegade Astartes Chapters. The war would later be determined to have been the work of Chaos. The Lions Malevolent and the other Space Marine Chapters eventually pushed the Forces of Chaos to Iterium VI, and broke them in a cataclysmic final battle. One of the Astartes Chapters would be nearly destroyed while the other would fall to Chaos and become known as the Bringers of Change.
 * Invictus War (980.M40) - The Lions Malevolent were called upon by the Segmentum Pacificus command to take part in a series of fleet operations against marauding Eldar Corsairs in the Invictus Asteroid Field. To this day, the dead vessels of the Eldar float lifelessly within the gravitational field of the asteroid field, a grim tableau of a brutal and swift victory.

Chapter Home World
The Chapter Barque Undying Vengeance serves as the Lions Malevolent's flagship and mobile fortress-monastery. This vessel of ancient provenance, is believed to be pre-Imperial in origin and constructed some time during the Dark Age of Technology. It is recorded to have participated as a vessel of the venerable Ist Legion in numerous Compliance campaigns of the Great Crusade. It is believed that the Lions Malevolent was rewarded the command of the Undying Vengeance by their Progenitors in the distant past, for their diligence and valour for some unrecorded campaign.

Chapter Recruitment
"Your past life is irrelevant. From this day forth, you are simply a son of the Lion -- a Lion Malevolent -- nothing else matters. The Chapter is all that is of consequence."

- Supreme Grand Master Balthasar addressing newly inducted recruits As a fleet-based Chapter, the Lions Malevolent have no home world to speak of, and instead 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 Lions Malevolent 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 labourious tasks of the Chapter. Unlike other Chapters, the Lions Malevolent do not make use of human Chapter Serfs or bondsmen, only servitors, as they fear that human serfs could be compromised to reveal all of the Chapter's secrets.

Chapter Beliefs
The Lions Malevolent are very close to their progenitor Chapter in both doctrine and temperament.

Noctis Aeterna
During this dark period the hopes of trillions was reignited with the return of one of the Emperors loyal son's, the Primarch of the Ultramarines Roboute Guilliman and he brought with him the fruits of 10,000 years of research, the Primaris Space Marines. Hearing of this momentus event the entire chapter set course for the Rock immediently and from there to Ultramar where they pleged to serve son of the Emperor in perpetuity and soon Primaris Astartes, created from the purest Gene-Seed of the LIon were serving with distinction and they recieved not only fully grown and battle hardened Primaris but also the technology and knowledge to create their own Primaris Space Marines.

The wargear to arm these formidable warriors was also recieved including 500 suits of Mk X Power Armour in their various Patterns, Hundreds of Cawl  and Belisarius Pattern Weapons,4 Redemptor Dreadnoughts Chassis and 2 Repulser Grav Tanks. Thanks to this great fortune the Lions Malevolant prosecute their wars with even greater vigour. The numbers of Primaris Astartes currently serving are unknown but during the battles of the Indominatus Campaign they were able to field an entire company. None have yet to be inducted into the inner circle but it is only a matter of time.

Organisation
The Lions Malevolent, like their Progenitors and their fellow Unforgiven, are not organised according to the dictates of the Codex Astartes, instead maintaining their own unique order of battle which is intended primarily to aid their continued hunt for all of the remaining Fallen Angels, and to maximize their secrecy in doing so. The Lions Malevolent are organised exactly the same as their parent Chapter. Their 1st and 2nd Companies are specialist formations known as the Knights of the Lion and the Lions Claws. Both of these specialist companies work closely with their Dark Angels' counterparts -- the Deathwing and Ravenwing, combining their resources in order to hunt far and wide in search of their nemesis, the Fallen.

Gene-Seed
As descendants of the Dark Angels, the Lions Malevolent boast one of the purest and non-mutated gene-seed of all the Loyalist Primarchs, they are however, prone to the same stubbornness and resolve as their brother Unforgiven Chapters. The Lions Malevolent are also notably more aggressive than other Unforgiven, and have at times shown a disturbing and callous disregard for the lives of the civilians of the Imperium as long as their mission objectives are obtained.

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

The primary driving force of the Chapter is the hunt and capture of the remaining Fallen Angels. Only by forcing every single one to repent do the Dark Angels 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 Dark Angels 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 the Lions Malevolent to fire upon friendly targets in order to prevent them from discovering the secret of the Fallen. Those friendly units that survive are often taken to The Rock to be turned into Servitors, to silence them forever.

The Lions Malevolent 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.

Notable Members

 * Grand Master Mortikah - The first Grand Master was originally an Astartes of the Dark Angels, he was chosen to lead the newly Founded Chapter by the then-Supreme Grand Master Alloken of the Dark Angels. He fell some two hundred years later after assuming this position.
 * Grand Master Balthasar - The Current Chapter Master of the Lions Malevolent, he is considered a warrior very much in the mould of Azrael of the Dark Angels, and has led his Chapter in the Hunt for the Fallen for thirty years. He wields an ancient and powerful master-crafted power sword of immense craftsmanship, and in the hands of the Grand Master, it is a deadly weapon.
 * Interrogator-Chaplain Anaziel - First Interrogator-Chaplain drawn from the Lions Malevolent, he is considered the greatest Interrogator-Chaplain in the Chapter's history having made four Fallen repent, earning four black pearls for his Rosarius.

Chapter Fleet
The Lions Malevolent are a fleet based Chapter that comprises the following vessels
 * Undying Vengeance (Chapter Barque)
 * Vengeance of Caliban (Battle Barge)
 * Absolute Fury (Strike Cruiser)
 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser)
 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser)
 * Repent (Strike Cruiser)
 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser)
 * 19 Escorts (Type Unknown)

Chapter Colours
The Lions Malevolent wear primarily black coloured power armour. The faceplate, chest guard, groin and upper leg armour is green in colour. The Aquila of Imperialis symbol on the chest plate is silver in colour. The specialist formations of the elite 1st and 2nd company also wear wear the same panoply as the rest of their fellow battle-brothers. The white-coloured squad specialty insignia (Tactical, Assault, Devastator, or Veteran) is indicated on the right shoulder guard, whilst the Chapter iconography is painted on the left shoulder guard. Squad designation is indicated by a black-coloured Gothic numeral stenciled on the centre of the squad specialty symbol. Company colours are designated on the centre of the right knee guard.

Like their parent Chapter and fellow Unforgiven, Veteran Lions Malevolent are commonly found wearing crimson-coloured 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 Lions Malevolent and the Chapter's Inner Circle because they have learned enough about the Dark Angels' history, and thus their shame, prior to obtaining their rank within the Chapter.

Chapter Badge
The Lions Malevolent's Chapter Badge is a stylised white coloured lion head superimposed over a downward-pointing great sword, centred on a field of sable.

By the Lions Malevolent
Feel free to add your own



"Remember the Fallen is our only goal, all others are secondary, and if anyone gets in our way..eliminate them."

- Master Molochy, Lion's Claws Captain

About the Lions Malevolent
Feel free to add your own

"I watched them gun down my brothers who drew too close to their prize. The sons of the Lion are always cold and capricious, but these scum are vile excuses of astartes and no brethren of mine. And come the day they need a friend in the shadows, I will not be there."

- Lophess Ovair of the Obsidian Blades, on the Lions Malevolent.

"To think they were once as brothers to us. They are sycophants to our elder brethren...blindly obeying without question and killing without remorse. They would put an entire world to death if it meant capturing even one of our wayward kin. I am ashamed we share the same bloodline."

- Knight-Sergeant Linus Galatine of the Sable Knights, on the Lions Malevolent

"Our Brethren believe that the ultimate victory will be found at the repentance of the Fallens' sins. I believe that they shall be sorely disappointed when they arrive at their goal, and look around to see nothing but ashes, all that remains of the Imperium they neglected to defend."

- Zephyer Kize of the Invokers



"You call me Fallen. You are wrong! I have risen from the ashes of Caliban itself! I rode the waves of the Warp on the corpses of hundreds of my so-called Battle-Brothers! What makes you think that you are worthy of anything but my axe at your throat?! You think yourself an Angel? You are nothing but a motherless, bastard-seeded, lap-dog of a betrayer and a whore! Death to you! Death to the Lion! Death to the Imperium of Man!"

- Heshgar the Heathen, Draugar Lord of the Storm Draugar's 7th Storm, as he stands defiant with his forces during the Siege of Aludan against Master Nicodemus of the Lions Malevolent 4th Company

"I usually get along with Unforgiven but not these guys. 'Malevolent' does not belong in a Space Marine Chapter Name or Astartes psychology."

- St. Athaliah the Flame

Gallery
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Corvus Legion
The Corvus Legion are an Astartes Chapter that of Unknown Founding created from the line of Corvus Corax, like their parent Chapter they are renowned as cunning and patient hunters, adept at biding their time until the moment to strike was at hand and then attacking with overwhelming force that leaves their foes with no chance of resisting. Their Founding is unknown but many suspect that it was relatively early, perhaps as early as the 32nd Millennium, whenever their founding was they have served the Emperor with a cool-headed, even intellectual temperament, superb infiltration skills and skill at furious close-quarters engagements as the foes of Mankind are destroyed in a flurry of crackling Claws and the bark of Bolters, many an enemy has considered himself safe only to come face to face with the pale skin and jet black eyes of these Astartes.

History
The Corvus Legion are an old and storied Chapter with a history and record that would rival even Second Founding Chapters. Descended from the Raven Guard they are masters of stealth, able to strike from the shadows and attack with impunity. Although their exact Founding has never been confirmed but as noted above it is likely to have been early. The first recorded mention of the Corvus Legion was during the Battle of Alpha 11, an action to defeat Ork forces of the Deathskull Clan which took place in 784.M32. The fighting was particularly brutal as Imperial Guard forces had been bogged down for three years. Encircled by the Orks, the Imperial forces were unable to break out of their shrinking cordon. It seemed as though they were doomed to a slow destruction by the Kommandos and Stormboyz of the Orks, who delighted in their slow destruction of the Imperial Guard Forces. Finally receiving news that Astartes forces had arrived, their orders were to launch an assault when they saw the the Thunderhawks of their Space Marine rescuers. When the time came, they launched their attack, but were soon on the verge of destruction, when suddenly, the Orks seemingly lost focus and began to not only retreat, but to fight amongst themselves. Easily brushing aside the Orks, the Imperial Guards' elite Storm Troopers made their way into the Warlord's stronghold, only to find that he and his entire retinue had been killed, ripped apart by Lightning Claws and Chainswords. The Space Marines who had rescued them were nowhere to be seen, for they had returned to orbit and left without a word. In one surgical strike the Space Marines had turned the tide of the entire war. Later investigations determined that these unknown Astartes were the Corvus Legion.

Notable Campaigns

 * Battle of Alpha 11 (784.M32) - A Battle against Ork Forces, Corvus Legion arrive in 3rd year and eliminate the Ork Warlord and ending the Ork Manace.
 * Centurion War (931-54.M41) - A Crusade against Secessionist and later Chaos Forces, the Corvus Legion's action were notable in the Battle of Sigma VI where they destroyed 4 regiments of the Atilla Legion without losing a Single Astartes and during the battle of Albia where the Shadow Lord led his entire chapter in a brutal shadow war against the Night Lords 38th Company in the pitch black darkness of Hive Tarantine
 * The Teutoburg Campaign (981-989.M41) - When a massive Ork invasion struck the Teutoburg System, the Adepta Sororitas Order of the Emperor Resplendent responded in kind. They sent seven whole companies of Battle-Sisters to assist the beleaguered sector. In one notable incident during the brutal campaign, the Order found themselves fighting alongside the Militia of Gaius City on Teutoburg VI as well as the notorious Death Ravens Space Marine Chapter, who had appeared and joined the war. They deployed their 6th and 7th companies. Also serving were the Charnel Brethren, Skull Reapers and Corvus Legion Chapters. Chapter Master Uric Draf denied Canoness Anastasia any tactical counsel whatsoever and even refused to meet with her. Talks between the two Imnperial forces was conducted by the Captain of the 6th Company, Shadow Captain Allokan. Many Sisters doubted whether Uric Draf was even present, but several reports indicated a giant Space Marine leading the Astartes forces. After nearly a century in leading her Sisters to war, occasionally alongside Space Marine Chapters, this treatment came as no surprise. But the Order's main grievance was with the way the notorious Chapter conducted themselves during the ensuing battle. The Battle-Sisters struck Warlord Nazgrubba's army as it changed positions from shelling the main Defences of Gaius City, to occupying the settlement. Battered by three days' bombardment, the population of Gaius City had dug underground and, under the careful ministrations of the Order's Sisters Superior, were determined to form an ad hoc militia to defend their homes. The Death Ravens and Charnel Brethren launched their attack on the Ork column when it was approximately one Imperial mile from Gaius City and, hitting the Orks in the rear and flanks, they drove the disorganised enemy into the Battle-Sister's waiting guns. Caught between Battle-Sisters and Space Marines, many Orks were slaughtered, with the survivors mounting their vehicles to escape with all haste. The Sisters first noticed something was very wrong when three mobs of Orks, deserted by their cowardly leaders, formed up and assaulted their front line, choosing to engage the Gaius City militia, rather than the Sisters' deadly accurate bolt guns. The Death Ravens and Charnel Brethren, apparently driven mad by some kind of battle frenzy, crashed into the Ork's rear ranks just as the first Orks reached the militia. The crazed Marines fell upon the Orks in an orgy of blood letting. Many Marines removed their helmets and, eschewing the use of pistols and other ranged weapons, set about the Orks with chainsword, chainaxe and knife and tooth. Canoness Anastasia witnessed in mute horror, Marines ripping out the throats of Orks with their bared teeth. The raw fury and love of carnage she saw in their faces as they literally tore the enemy apart made her shudder in fear. The Orks were annihilated within seconds of the Marines' attack, but the small number of the enemy were simply not enough for the Death Ravens and Charnel Brethren who by now seemed to have been driven into a fever pitch of absolute blood lust. With no more Orks for them to butcher, they scrambled over the barricades on the perimeter of Gaius City and smashed into the thin line of militia. Properly driven into a true battle frenzy now, the Death Ravens and Charnel Brethren performed acts of the most debauched nature in the name of violence. Men, women and youths, all fell beneath their blades. The old, the infirm, none were spared the Marines crazed attack. The Canoness later reported that she had personally witnessed cannibalistic acts committed by the frenzied Marines. She ordered a hasty withdrawal of her Sisters from the Death Ravens and Charnel Brethren with all haste, before they reached their positions. The Canoness later reported the incident to the Inquisition. Her report stated that both the Death Ravens and Charnel Brethren were unstable beyond redemption and that they were not fit for duty anywhere within their mighty Imperium. The Canononess firmly believed that it was evident that the Death Ravens and Charnel Brethren had devolved far beyond any point reached by a loyalist Chapter and requested their immediate destruction. The Corvus Legion and Skull Reapers were spared a request for their destruction. The last known sighting of these four Space Marine Chapters was made by an Explorator augury-beacon, which marked them tacking course through the Warp towards the Eastern Fringe. The current whereabouts and operational activities of the Corvus Legion remain unknown.

Homeworld & Fleet
The Corvus Legion's homeworld is the Hive World of Coraxium that is located somewhere in the Segmentum Solar, but like their parent chapter, they are actually based on the planet's moon. Their Fortress-Monastery is known as the Fortress of the Raven, and like all Astartes' citadels, it is a massive structure containing everything that an Astartes' Chapter needs to wage war.

The Corvus Legion's Fleet is relatively small compared to other Chapter containing just 1 Battle-Barge and 4 Strike Cruisers but it contains far more escorts than is normal, the exact composition of the Fleet is not known at present.

Gene-Seed
The genetic material of the Corvus Legion come from Corvus Corax and has shown several mutations over the years and further degeneration in the gene-seed has caused several of the implants to fail. The Betcher’s Gland and Mucranoid gene-seed organs are no longer functional for Corvus Legion Astartes and other defects within the gene-seed cause Raven Guard Space Marines' skin to become paler over time until it is as white as their Primarch’s. The eyes and hair of all Corvus Legion Astartes will eventually become a deep black.

Noctis Aeterna
During this dark peroid the hopes of trillions was reignited with the return of one of the Emperors loyal son's, the Primarch of the Ultramarines Roboute Guilliman and he brought with him the fruits of 10,000 years of research, the Primaris Space Marines. Hearing of this momentus event the Flesh Rippers, Corvus Legion, Charnel Brethren and the Skull Reapers returned from the void where they had fought the enemy's of Mankind for many years and swore to serve the son of the Emperor in perpetuity and soon Primaris Astartes were serving with distinction but unlike many other Chapters that recieved full grown and battle hardened Primaris the Corvus Legion instead recieved the technology and knowledge to create their own Primaris Space Marines.

The wargear to arm these formidable warriors was also recieved including 500 suits of Mk X Power Armour in their various Patterns, Hundreds of Cawl  and Belisarius Pattern Weapons,4 Redemptor Dreadnoughts Chassis and 2 Repulser Grav Tanks. Thanks to this great fortune the Corvus Legion prosecute their wars with even greater vigour. The numbers of Primaris Astartes currently serving are unknown but during the battles of the Indominatus Campaign they were able to field an entire company. The Primaris Astartes have proven to be just as adept at the stealth and furious close combat that defines the rest of their brothers and their Reivers have become a truly devastating element of their wars.

Organization & Wargear
While the Corvus Legion are organised along the guidelines of the Codex Astartes, their application of its principles are subtly different. Far more assault units are deployed and fewer Devastators, Armour is also used sparingly and the Chapter often deploys without them. Older Marks of Armour are used with a particular emphasis on the Mk VI Corvus Pattern that was named after their Primarch.

The officers of the Corvus follow their Parent Chapter and are known as Shadow Captains and the Chapter Master is called the Shadow Lord. Corax himself is reputed to have ordered the use of these titles in the Raven Guard before he disappeared and the Corvus Legion has made use of them ever since. Corvus Legion Captains are fiercely independent, and it is incredibly rare for the Chapter to fight as a whole. Individual companies are completely autonomous and are quick to lend their aid to Imperial commanders across the galaxy, but only with the sanction of their Chapter Master.

As masters of stealth, infiltration and sabotage, all Corvus Legion Neophytes are trained by the finest Shadow Masters of the Fortress of the Raven. Despite their Astartes-enhanced physiology and their cumbersome armour, they are taught to move with silence and invisibility, shifting from one pool of darkness to another within the shadows. Like their Parent Chapter this art of silent and stealthy movement particular to Sons of Corax is known as wraith-slipping. Neophytes are trained in this art firstly in the Hives of Coraxium where they hunt the Gangs and Mutants that infest the lower Levels of these huge edifices, if they prove their worth here they will be returned to the Fortress of the Raven where they will gifted with the Gene-Seed of Corax and turned into Astartes, when this is complete they will undergo years of further training as their bodies grow and strengthen into Astartes, finally they will return to the massive hives but this time they are hunted by a Veteran Battle-Brother of the Chapter, their goal is to make it off-world and back to the Fortress-Monastery on Coraxiums moon. Only the very best recruits will make it back, most will be caught by their tracker but if they impressed enough they will accepted into the Scout Company but for those who do not impress their punishment is to killed by their tracker thus ensuring that only the very best are accepted.

Unique Formations

 * Moritat - Named for the Raven Guards formation the Corvus Legion's Moritat are certain Astartes who display suicidal urges and a blatant disregard for overall combat doctrine. Operating independently or in groups on the battlefield, these individuals are often employed as efficient shock assault troops and tactical assassins and they are often used to undertake missions from which they were not expected to return. They forsake all pretence of self-preservation, fighting with a terrifying, silent determination and the sole aim of causing as many casualties and as much destruction as possible before succumbing to their foe. This strange blood-soaked ennui that drives many amongst the Corvus Legion to sacrifice themselves in battle is known amongst thse Astartes as becoming "Ash Blind". They are formed into a special unit commanded by the the Shadow Lord Kaedes who is eerily named for the Moritat Prime of the Raven Guard.

Combat Doctrine
The Corvus Legion, like their parent Chapter, generally follow the dictates of the Codex Astartes, though like the Raven Guard themselves, there are some differences in how they choose to carry out tactical deployments. The Chapter specialises in guerrilla tactics behind enemy lines, using precisely coordinated attacks and refraining from frontal attacks or protracted attrition warfare. The Corvus Legion will hit weak points in their foes lines and carry out precise strikes against important targets that will cripple the enemies ability to resist.

The Chapter's typical tactical doctrine consists of rapid maneuver engagements consisting of the deployment of Assault Marines, Land Speeders and Attack Bikes aimed at harassment, sabotage and the destruction of key strategic targets over the frontal engagement of enemy forces at large. The Chapter also relies heavily on Scout Units who will operate behind enemy lines for far longer than is normal for other Chapters to identify key targets who will then be destroyed in sudden strikes by the Chapters Assault units, in this way they operate as a series of Special Forces units, very much in the style of their Primarch.

Notable Corvus Legion Astartes

 * Shadow Lord Aremis - The very first Chapter Master of the Corvus Legion, he fell sometime during the later years of M.32.
 * Shadow Lord Rhargrimm - The Current Chapter Master he has led his Chapter for almost 400 Years. A massive Astartes that bears a striking resemblance to Corvus Corax himself, he is a master of stealth and has perfected the Arts of the Raven Lord.
 * Shadow Captain Korax - Captain of the 5th Company and the Chapters Master of the Shadow, he strikes from the darkness with a speed that puts other Astartes to shame.
 * Shadow Captain Kaedes - A dark figure of gruesome repute amongst the Astartes of the Corvus Legion and a sullen and withdrawn Astartes, Kaedes is a highly aggressive Astartes that has led the Moritat for 500 years.

Chapter Relics

 * Corvus Talons - Master Crafted Lightning Claws fashioned after those of Corvus Corax himself, used by 5th Shadow Captain Korax.
 * The Raven's Panoply - An exquisite suit of Artificer Armour with inbuilt Jump pack and combined weapons that are used by the Shadow Lord.

Chapter Colours
The Corvus Legion wear black coloured Power Armour with white coloured arms and shoulder pauldrons. The faceplate of their helmets are also painted white.

Chapter Badge
The Corvus Legion's chapter badge is the same as their parent chapter, a large black coloured stylised raven, centred on a field of white.

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Skull Reapers
The Skull Reapers are an Astartes Chapter of Suspected Iron Hands descent created during an unknown Founding, but are suspected to be a Chapter of the mysterious 21st Founding, the so-called 'Cursed Founding', as they are extremely similar in appearance to the mysterious Sons of Antaeus Chapter. The Astartes of the Skull Reapers Chapter are unusually large and robust physical specimens, even among their kind, and they are capable of surviving wounds and physical injuries that would kill even other Space Marines. The Chapter's detractors point out that the Skull Reapers appear every bit as resilient as the Death Guard Traitor Legion and some have even opinioned that they are somehow connected to them, but this is an impossibility as the Skull Reapers were created thousands of years after the Horus Heresy and have, on many occasions, willingly submitted themselves to the mandatory purity tests of their gene-seed which has seemingly confirmed their status as an Iron Hands Successor Chapter.

History
Belived to be created sometime during the 36th Millennium (although there is significant evidece that they were from the 3rd Founding) the Skull Reapers have become a byword for strength and resilience beyond what an Astartes is thought capable of, specializing in combat in the most brutal and unforgiving environments the Skull Reapers will fight until the last man and do not care about casualties only that an objective is completed.

Organization
The Skull Reapers follow the doctrine of their supposed parent Chapter the Iron Hands in that they do not have companies rather they are divided into 7 Battle Clans of equal size and capability whilst the 8th Clan is the Veteran Company, each of the Battle Clan's recruit its own aspirants from their Homeworld while the 1st Clan is made up of veterans from the other 7. The 1st Company resides in the Chapters Fortress-Monastery high in the mountains of their Toxic Homeworld whilst the Battle Clans travel the World's surface in massive Land Crawlers, like their progenitors conflict amongst the Battle Clan's is not unheard of but each of the Battle Clans are careful not to anger the Powerful 1st Clan or to blood their Astartes too badly but sometimes death's are unavoidable.

Battle Doctrine
The Skull Reapers are specialists in fighting in toxic environments, their Armour is modified with additional breathing apparatus and when combined with their seemingly natural resilience to toxins it makes them the perfect choice for attacks on Death Worlds and other Toxic Worlds.

Notable Campaigns

 * The Devastation of Killian (560.M36-555.M36 - A campaign to recapture the world of Killian from the foul Death Guard Tratior Legion who had turned the world into a toxic wasteland that soon descended into a brutal war of attrition between 2 legendarily ressiliant foes. The Skull Reapers were victorious only at great cost.
 * The Centurion War (931-954.M41)- This was a brutal campaign launched by the several Adeptus Astartes Chapters to eradicate secessionist forces located in the Centurion Sector of the Segmentum Ultima. The secessionist forces included (sadly) two Renegade Astartes Chapters. The war would later be determined to have been the work of Chaos. The Skull Reapers and the other Space Marine Chapters eventually pushed the Forces of Chaos to Iterium VI, and broke them in a cataclysmic final battle. One of the Astartes Chapters would be nearly destroyed while the other would fall to Chaos and become known as the Bringers of Change.

Noctis Aeterna
During this dark peroid the hopes of trillions was reignited with the return of one of the Emperors loyal son's, the Primarch of the Ultramarines Roboute Guilliman and he brought with him the fruits of 10,000 years of research, the Primaris Space Marines. Hearing of this momentus event the Flesh Rippers, Corvus Legion, Charnel Brethren and the Skull Reapers returned from the void where they had fought the enemy's of Mankind for many years and swore to serve the son of the Emperor in perpetuity and soon Primaris Astartes were serving with distinction but unlike many other Chapters that recieved full grown and battle hardened Primaris the Skull Reapers instead recieved the technology and knowledge to create their own Primaris Space Marines.

The wargear to arm these formidable warriors was also recieved including 500 suits of Mk X Power Armour in their various Patterns, Hundreds of Cawl  and Belisarius Pattern Weapons,4 Redemptor Dreadnoughts Chassis and 2 Repulser Grav Tanks. Thanks to this great fortune the Skull Reapers prosecute their wars with even greater vigour. The numbers of Primaris Astartes currently serving are unknown but during the battles of the Indominatus Campaign they were able to field an entire company. These new Astartes have proven to be just as capable of surviving wounds and physical injuries that would kill even other Space Marines.

Appereance and Gene-Seed
The Skull Reapers are believed to hail from the Iron Hands and have on many occasions allowed their Gene-Seed to be examined, this is because they have been compared to the Traitor Death Guard in both appearance and combat doctrine, this has led them to be suspected of a connection to the Traitors and forced them to allow the Inquisition to investigate them lest they are brought to trial on charges of Heresy, despite their passing of the test they still looked at with suspicion. Many Inquisitors have noted that all tests have been performed on the 7th Clan only and it is claimed that this a deliberate attempt to mislead any investigations and it is likely these matters will soon come to a head, one way or another. They are also known to carry Power Scythes into battle and this combined with their Chapter's style of battle have only fuelled the Inquisitions suspicions. Unlike other Iron Hand successors they do not gladly replace their bodies with augmetics but seen to accept them only grudgingly.

Notable Skull Reapers
Lord Melchor - Chapter Master of the Skull Reapers, he is a massive Astartes even amongst his notoriously robust battle-brothers. He wears an ornate suit of Artificer Armour and carries a massive Power Scythe.

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Charnel Brethren
The Charnel Brethren are an Astartes Chapter of Flesh Tearers' descent, and through them, the Blood Angels, of an unknown Founding. They are a slowly dying Chapter whose numbers have believed to have fallen below 300 Astartes. Though they are very loyal to the Emperor of Mankind their heavy affliction with the twin Flaws of their Primarch Sanguinius has led to their investigation on charges of heresy by the Inquisition. They have been cleared of suspicion at present, but many believe that that it is only a matter of time before they cease to exist. Like their Progenitors, the Charnel Brethren are known for their bloodthirsty nature in battle, bad temper and feared for the Flaws - the Black Rage and the Red Thirst - that they carry within their gene-seed. The Charnel Brethren follow the tactical organisation pioneered by the Blood Angels, favouring close combat over ranged warfare.

History
The Charnel Brethren were created sometime in the 32nd Millennium in either the 3rd or 4th Founding from the gene-seed of the Flesh Tearers. The choice of gene-seed from the notoriously violent Flesh Tearers might now seem a very suspect choice, but at the time the Flaws were not known to the wider Imperium, and so, the Charnel Brethren were created and unleashed upon the galaxy. Since that time they have gained a reputation for savagery and bloodthirstiness beyond what is expected of even a Blood Angels Successor Chapter, so divorced from the rest of humanity have the Charnel Brethren become, that they are shunned by the rest of the Imperium, and only in the very direst of circumstances is their help accepted as the  danger of fighting alongside these near-crazed Astartes is often too much for most Imperial Guard commanders to accept.

Like their Progenitors, the Charnel Brethren are also known to fall prey to the Black Rage and Red Thirst more often than other Sons of Sanguinuis. These twin-flaws are killing the Chapter as more and more of their Battle-Brothers fall to their ravenous effects. Those that do, are taken into the depths of the Fortress of the Blood where they are chained and bound, until such time they are needed, when they armoured and armed and unleashed upon the enemy.

Notable Campaigns

 * The Centurion War (931-954.M41)- This was a brutal campaign launched by the several Adeptus Astartes Chapters to eradicate secessionist forces located in the Centurion Sector of the Segmentum Ultima. The secessionist forces included (sadly) two Renegade Astartes Chapters. The war would later be determined to have been the work of Chaos. The Charnel Brethren and the other Space Marine Chapters eventually pushed the Forces of Chaos to Iterium VI, and broke them in a cataclysmic final battle. One of the Astartes Chapters would be nearly destroyed while the other would fall to Chaos and become known as the Bringers of Change.
 * The Teutoburg Campaign (999.M41) - When a massive Ork invasion struck the Teutoburg System, the Adepta Sororitas Order of the Emperor Resplendent responded in kind. They sent seven whole companies of Battle-Sisters to assist the beleaguered sector. In one notable incident during the brutal campaign, the Order found themselves fighting alongside the Militia of Gaius City on Teutoburg VI as well as the notorious Flesh Rippers Space Marine Chapter, who had appeared and joined the war. They deployed their 6th and 7th companies. Also serving were the Charnel Brethren, Skull Reapers and Corvus Legion Chapters. Chapter Master Uric Draf denied Canoness Anastasia any tactical counsel whatsoever and even refused to meet with her. Talks between the two Imnperial forces was conducted by the Captain of the 6th Company, Shadow Captain Allokan. Many Sisters doubted whether Uric Draf was even present, but several reports indicated a giant Space Marine leading the Astartes forces. After nearly a century in leading her Sisters to war, occasionally alongside Space Marine Chapters, this treatment came as no surprise. But the Order's main grievance was with the way the notorious Chapter conducted themselves during the ensuing battle. The Battle-Sisters struck Warlord Nazgrubba's army as it changed positions from shelling the main Defences of Gaius City, to occupying the settlement. Battered by three days' bombardment, the population of Gaius City had dug underground and, under the careful ministrations of the Order's Sisters Superior, were determined to form an ad hoc militia to defend their homes. The Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren launched their attack on the Ork column when it was approximately one Imperial mile from Gaius City and, hitting the Orks in the rear and flanks, they drove the disorganised enemy into the Battle-Sister's waiting guns. Caught between Battle-Sisters and Space Marines, many Orks were slaughtered, with the survivors mounting their vehicles to escape with all haste. The Sisters first noticed something was very wrong when three mobs of Orks, deserted by their cowardly leaders, formed up and assaulted their front line, choosing to engage the Gaius City militia, rather than the Sisters' deadly accurate bolt guns. The Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren, apparently driven mad by some kind of battle frenzy, crashed into the Ork's rear ranks just as the first Orks reached the militia. The crazed Marines fell upon the Orks in an orgy of blood letting. Many Marines removed their helmets and, eschewing the use of pistols and other ranged weapons, set about the Orks with chainsword, chainaxe and knife and tooth. Canoness Anastasia witnessed in mute horror, Marines ripping out the throats of Orks with their bared teeth. The raw fury and love of carnage she saw in their faces as they literally tore the enemy apart made her shudder in fear. The Orks were annihilated within seconds of the Marines' attack, but the small number of the enemy were simply not enough for the Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren who by now seemed to have been driven into a fever pitch of absolute blood lust. With no more Orks for them to butcher, they scrambled over the barricades on the perimeter of Gaius City and smashed into the thin line of militia. Properly driven into a true battle frenzy now, the Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren performed acts of the most debauched nature in the name of violence. Men, women and youths, all fell beneath their blades. The old, the infirm, none were spared the Marines crazed attack. The Canoness later reported that she had personally witnessed cannibalistic acts committed by the frenzied Marines. She ordered a hasty withdrawal of her Sisters from the Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren with all haste, before they reached their positions. The Canoness later reported the incident to the Inquisition. Her report stated that both the Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren were unstable beyond redemption and that they were not fit for duty anywhere within their mighty Imperium. The Canononess firmly believed that it was evident that the Flesh Rippers and Charnel Brethren had devolved far beyond any point reached by a loyalist Chapter and requested their immediate destruction. The Corvus Legion and Skull Reapers were spared a request for their destruction. The last known sighting of these four Space Marine Chapters was made by an Explorator augury-beacon, which marked them tacking course through the Warp towards the Eastern Fringe. The current whereabouts and operational activities of the Flesh Rippers remain unknown.

Organization
The Charnel Brethren were originally organised exactly like the Blood Angels but in the years since their founding the constant battle and the Flaws have reduced them to a fraction of their original number. The Charnel Brethrern are now organised into 3 Battle Companies, each expected to be able to fight on their own if needed, and each self-contained, maintaining their own Power Armour and fleet assets as well as their own Terminator Squads. Each Company Chaplain has the unenviable task of watching over his fellow brethren looking for the telltale signs of the Flaws and acting accordingly.

Noctis Aeterna
During this dark peroid the hopes of trillions was reignited with the return of one of the Emperors loyal son's, the Primarch of the Ultramarines Roboute Guilliman and he brought with him the fruits of 10,000 years of research, the Primaris Space Marines. Hearing of this momentus event the Flesh Rippers, Corvus Legion, Charnel Brethren and the Skull Reapers returned from the void where they had fought the enemy's of Mankind for many years and swore to serve the son of the Emperor in perpetuity and soon Primaris Astartes were serving with distinction but unlike many other Chapters that recieved full grown and battle hardened Primaris the Charnel Brethren instead recieved the technology and knowledge to create their own Primaris Space Marines.

The wargear to arm these formidable warriors was also recieved including 500 suits of Mk X Power Armour in their various Patterns, Hundreds of Cawl  and Belisarius Pattern Weapons,4 Redemptor Dreadnoughts Chassis and 2 Repulser Grav Tanks. Thanks to this great fortune the Charnel Brethren prosecute their wars with even greater vigour. The numbers of Primaris Astartes currently serving are unknown but during the battles of the Indominatus Campaign they were able to field an entire company. Despite these advances the Primaris Astartes have seen to afflicted with the same Gene-Seed flaws as the rest of their brothers and just as aggressive and unhinged as the rest of the Chapter, some have even been inducted into the Death Company. What other flaws may manifest in the future is unknown.

Homeworld
Initially the Charnel Brethren were a Crusading Chapter until they discovered the World of Sanguinuis Light in M.35, taking the world's name as an omen, they claimed the world for themselves and constructed their massive fortress-monastry in the wastes of the northern polar region. The worlds' inhabitants were of pre-blackpowder era, and were found to be perfect Astartes recruits. Once every generation the youths are rounded up in their thousands and for those that survive their transformation into an Astartes, hundreds of years of service await.

Their homeworld's exact location is unknown in currant Imperial records, but it may be located in the Segmentum Ultima as the Blood Angels were known to have captured a world known as Sanguinius Light during the Great Crusade ten millennia earlier, but whether their Chapter planet is one and the same, is unknown.

Chapter Gene-Seed
Descended as they are from Sanguinius they bear all the hallmarks of their Progenitors, suffering greatly from the Flaws, but unlike some other Chapters who feel its touch at a lesser rate, the Charnel Brethren constantly teeter on the edge of insanity. All the Battle-Brothers of the Chapter know that it is only a matter of time before the madness takes them too. At first their fall is subtle, but once it has taken hold it will rapidly take over every aspect of their being until they are ultimately lost.

Notable Charnel Brethren

 * Lord Michaelus - Chapter Master of the Charnel Brethren for over 600 Years, unknown to any outside the Chapter and their Blood Angels brethren, he is afflicted by the Flaws but has somehow managed to keep it in check. Whether he can continue to contain it, remains unknown.

Fleet
The Charnel Brethrens Fleet is comprised of the following vessels:


 * Blood of Baal (Battle-Barge)
 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser)
 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser)
 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser)
 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser)
 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser)
 * Unknown (Strike Cruiser)
 * Blood Chalice (Strike Cruiser)
 * 12 Escorts (Type Unknown)

Colour Scheme
The Charnel Brethren wear black and crimson coloured Power Armour. Like most Blood Angels Successor Chapters they field both a Death Company and Sanguinary Guard, both whom wear bone-white Power Armour, whilst the Sanguinary Guard wear black wings on their jump packs.

Chapter Badge
The Charnel Brethren utilise the same Chapter badge as their Progenitor's - the so-called 'winged drop' or as it is known in High Gothic, the alatus cadere - which consists of a pair of ebon-coloured angelic wings framing a droplet of precious vitae, centered on a field of crimson.

Gallery
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Knights of Guilliman
The Knights of Guilliman are a Loyalist Chapter of Novamarines descent and through them the Ultramarines. As expected from those of the Roboute Guilliman's blood, they are staunch adherents to the Codex Astartes and are often at odds with those that scorn it. Their homeworld is a feudal world very similar to the ancient Dark Angels' homeworld; Caliban. They are currently on a penitent crusade for siding with the Secessionists during the war known as the Centurion War. The Centurion War was fought in late M41 between the forces of the Imperium and Adeptus Mechanicus Secessionist forces under the rule of Magos Atilla who seized control over several Forge Worlds and led an attempt to secede from the Imperium.

History
The Knights of Guilliman are an old and storied chapter whose legends and deeds rival those of many other chapters. They were created during the 5th Founding. They are very much moulded in their parent chapter's image and like the Novamarines will answer any call for aid where they will fight with all the tenacity the Novamarines are famed for. This desire to help any that ask has caused them to make the decision to side with the Secessionist Forge Worlds in the Centurion War.

The Centurion Conflict
The Reason behind this decision dates a thousand years back when the Knights of Guilliman fought to defend the Iterium System from the foul Eldar and at the height of the war they, and the Forge Worlds Magos, swore an oath to help each other when needed and with their homeworld close to the Centurion Cluster their choice was clear and they entered the war on the side of the Secessionists. They were however an unreliable ally as their loyalty to the Emperor and the Imperium warred with their sense of honour and the need to honour their oath. They never operated under the command of of Magos Atilla and had few of his units in their ranks and tried to end any engagement with words rather than bolter and any foe that was beaten was granted a passage to rejoin the Imperial Forces. By 940.M41 they had however grown tired of the war and desired to end its involvement and they began to believe that they had been deceived and that Magos Atilla, the Grey Gorgons and the other Magos had been corrupted and turned to Chaos, but they would not get the chance to end it peacefully. Recalling the entire chapter and those units of the Atilla Legion that also wanted to end the war back to Jorvick and they began to prepare to surrender and submit themselves to the Emperors Judgement when an Imperial Force arrived in orbit led by the Flesh Rippers , any attempt to talk was ended as the Flesh Rippers' fleet opened fire on the Knights fleet and soon a great battle raged in orbit as the secessionists fought back. With the help of the Imperial Navy who kept the Knights ships and orbital defences busy, the Flesh Rippers launched their entire chapter into a massive assault against the world of Jorvick. Hundreds of drop pods and gunships roared through the atmosphere crashing into the ground outside the walls of the Fortess of Konor. Led by their Chapter Master, the Flesh Rippers erupted from their pods and Thunderhawks and without heeding injury or loss they hurled themselves at the walls and the Knights of Guilliman leapt to meet them matching the Ravens' pure fury with pure determination. For nine blood drenched hours the two chapters fought in the most vicious fighting imaginable until finally a ramp of corpses led up to a single breach in the wall, and the Astartes of the Flesh Rippers chapter plunged in. Filled with rage they were merciless. By the time the Salamanders, who were supposed to support the Flesh Rippers, arrived, the battle was all but over. The inside of the fortress was filled with the dismembered and mangled corpses of the defenders, for not one soul had been spared from the fury of the Flesh Rippers. It was an absolute slaughter, the fortress having been transformed into an abattoir of Astartes. When the Salamanders arrived they were disgusted by the savagery displayed.

Many of the other Chapters captains and even some Imperial Navy captains believed the attack had been wrong and that the Knights who had displayed such restraint in engagements deserved to be allowed to surrender rather than destroyed. The Flesh Rippers for their part responded that they had acted in the correct way and that the Knights were traitors that deserved no mercy.

As for the Knights of Guilliman, they had been almost totally destroyed and close to 900 Astartes and all of the chapter's serfs and servitors as well as the units of the Atilla Legion present had been slain and what was left of the chapter was in Imperial custody. Flesh Rippers' casualties were unknown but suspected to be heavy, total number of the Flesh Rippers present was also unknown but it is confirmed that they launched at least 60 Drop Pods and 30+ Thunderhawks, Stormeagles and Caestus Assault Rams.

After the war was concluded the Knights of Guilliman were put on Trial, the only surviving Captain Marneus Albrectus made an impassioned speech that moved the assembled chapter masters and with the support of the Novamarines themselves, who recognised that their Successors had been tricked into joining the Magos, they were granted the Emperor's Forgiveness and they were to undertake a 100 year penitent crusade to atone for their transgressions, and would have to do so without the right to recruit new brethren to replace their losses during this time of punishment. Their future survival would therefore, be left in their own hands and by the grace and benevolence of the Holy Emperor, their homeworld of Jorvick was given over to the Novamarines in trust rather than forfeited, to be returned if the Knights Survived their crusade.

The Knights of Guilliman were Left with just 117 Astartes but retained their fleet with the only exceptions being the Battle Barge "Guilliman's Light" which was taken by the Flesh Rippers as a war prize and those ships destroyed or claimed as prizes. Their new flagship was to be the Battle Barge Forgiveness (Formally; Macragge's Honour).

As for the Flesh Rippers, the Knights of Guilliman hold them in the deepest contempt for what they did and Marneus Albrectus has declared that there will be a reckoning between them.

Attacking Force
Adeptus Astartes Flesh Rippers (Entire Chapter) ~ 1 Battle Barge, 5 Strike Cruisers, 11 Escorts Salamanders (60 Astartes) ~ 1 Strike Cruiser

Imperial Navy ~ 1 Retribution-class Battleship, 2 Mars Class Battlecruiser, 2 Front-Line Cruiser Squadron,  3 Light Cruiser Squadrons, 6 Escort Squadrons

Titan's ~ Legio Invigilata ~ 2 Titan's Deployed, 1 Reaver, 1 Warhound

Imperial Guard ~ Unknown, Estimated at 2 Regiments

Defending Force
Adeptus Astartes Knights of Guilliman (Entire Chapter) ~ 2 Battle Barge's, 9 Strike Cruisers, 17 Escorts

Fortress Monastry ~ Unknown Defence Systems, At Least 2000 Chapter Serfs, Servitors

Atilla Legion ~ 7 Under-Strength Regiment's ( Estimated 3500 Men )

Imperial Forces
Adeptus Astartes            Flesh Rippers ~ Unknown, Believed to be Heavy, No Fleet assets  Lost Salamanders ~ None

Imperial Navy ~ 1 Cruiser, 7 Escorts Lost, Severe Damage to 11 Other Ships

Titans ~ None, 1 Warhound Titan Damaged

Imperial Guard ~ Equivilent of 7 Companies Lost

Secessionist Forces
Adeptus Astartes             Knights of Guilliman~ 891 Astartes Lost, 1 Strike Cruiser, 3 Escort Ships Lost

Fortress Monastery ~ Fortress Heavily Damaged, 2000 + Chapter Serfs, Servitors Slain

Atilla Legion ~ Entire Force Destroyed

Unknown Number of Civillian Pilgrims Slain, Estimated to be in the Tens of Thousends

Organization
Before their near-destruction the Knights of Guilliman were known to follow the Codex exactly but following the Centurion War thet were reduced to just over 100 Astartes, just over the size of a standard company, so they had to adjust themselves to their new situation. In order to continue their service to the Emperor they have now changed from the Codex standard of 10 Companies to just 1 Company and each marine now has to be proficient in all roles rather than specialising as just a Tactical or Assault Marine. The Knights were lucky in that all the chapter's Scouts were aboard the Knights fleet when the attack came and survived the battle relatively intact and after the battle they were promoted to full Battle-Brothers to make up for the losses and they now make up almost 90% of the Chapter's strength. The rest of the Chapter is made up of the ships' crew and of those Astartes that were stationed aboard. Marneus Albrectus was the Captain of the 4th Company, and as is usual, bore the title of the Master of the Fleet, he survived due to this as he was directing the fleet in orbit. He was promoted to Chapter Master during the aftermath.

In the almost 50 Years of their penitent crusade they have sustained relatively few losses and now count 71 Astartes in their ranks. The Gene-Seed recovered from the fallen has been stockpiled aboard the Battle Barge Forgiveness for use when they are permitted to recruit new Neophytes and along with those that were salvaged from their Fortress they have enough Gene-Seed organs to create 400 new Astartes.

Even though they number less than a standard company they have retained common squad markings on their shoulder pads which are changed when an Astartes performs a different role. Company markings were placed on the left knee but have been removed for the time being.

Most of the chapter's vehicles survived the battle intact and even after some the vehicles were taken as prizes by the Flesh Rippers, the Knights still have a massive surplus and and it is a common sight to see even Land Raiders deployed in small engagements.

As with the chapter's line Astartes the officers suffered massive casualties and numbers of Chaplains, Apothecaries, Librarians and Techmarines are so low they may number less than 10 in total.

The entirety of the Chapters serfs and servitors that were present at the Fortress of Konor were slain and only those crewing the fleet survived.

Deathwatch
The Knights of Guilliman believe that it is their solemn duty to extinguish all blasphemous xenos so that the Imperium can control the galaxy without fear of reprisal. The Chapter's brethren believe that xenos can never be trusted. There is no point in attempting to find diplomatic solutions with these creatures as there is no acceptable point of discussion. Elimination is the only option that Knights of Guilliman Battle-Brothers can condone. Because of their intolerance of xenos, the Knights of Guilliman enthusiastically second some of their most experienced and capable members for service in the Deathwatch. This service is considered a distinctive honour and privilege by the Chapter’s Battle-Brothers. In this way, the Knights of Guilliman can glean information about xenos that are not part of their Chapter’s direct experience, just as the Deathwatch can discover ways of dealing with additional xenos forms. Even during their Penitant Crusade they have Sent at least 2 Battle-Brothers to the Deathwatch despite their low Numbers.

Homeworld
The Knights of Guilliman hail from the pre-black powder Feudal World of Jorvick. The Planet's culture is very Similer to the Ancient Terran Period known as the Middle Ages and Knightly Orders vie for control of the World and great wars are fought between them, Wars that are not only tolerated by the Knights of Guilliman but even encouraged as a way to keep a constant supply of Battle Tested recruits. To the World inhabitants the Great Space Marines are the Emissary's of the God-Emperor and it is a great honour to have a Family Member join the Sky Warriors and Great Games are Held every Generation in order to find the Bravest Warriors who are then taken by the Chapters Chaplains, Never to be seen again as unlike some other Chapters the Knights of Guilliman do not interact with their Subjects except to Take recruits. Pilgrimages to the Fortres of Konor used to be undertaken regularly and it was a Rare Day that there are not Camps outside the Walls but the Pilgrims were Careful not to Approach the Fortess too Closely. During the Assault on their World the Population hid in their castles and waited for the Storm to Pass, as for the pilgrims outside the Walls nothing is Known and it is Thought that they were Slain by the Flesh Rippers. Since the Battle the Fortress of Konor has become an area to be Avoided and pilgrims no longer Traval to it.

Gene-Seed + Traditions
The Knights of Guilliman are descended from the Ultramarines and so their Gene-Seed is the Most Pure of all the Primarchs and shows no sign of Corruption or Mutation. The care that they take to preserve their gene-seed is much the same as that they show in carefully maintaining the many ancient war machines in their care. All of these elements represent the core of the Chapter’s traditions, which are considered absolutely vital for its preservation. However very little of the Chapters Stored Gene-Seed survived the Battle of Jorvick and what little did is now treated with reverence boardaring on the Extreme. Those Gene-Seeds Removed from the Chapters Heroes have been retained for implantation in the Most Promising Recruits although the Chapter Masters Gene-Seed will not be reused and instead will be Placed in a Place of Honour in the Chapters Reclusium.

The Knights of Guilliman have several traditions that hark back to the Feudal World they hail From, Power Swords are almost required Armament for Officers and Armour is often personalised and Helmets are often in the Style of Ancients Knights Helms. New Recruits do not Keep their original first name but are given a new name when they Are turned into Astartes, a name from the Ultramarines Glorius Past and the name given is often a sign of Greatness such Marneus Albrectus who was named for the Master of the Ultramarines and former Chapter Master Marius Gage Kruger who was named for the Heroic first Chapter Master of the Ultramarines who was chosen by Roboute Guilliman himself to be the Ultramarines 1st Company Captain

Noctis Aeterna
During this dark period the hopes of trillions was reignited with the return of one of the Emperors loyal son's, the Primarch of the Ultramarines Roboute Guilliman and he brought with him the fruits of 10,000 years of research, the Primaris Space Marines. Hearing of this momentus event the entire chapter retuned from their penitant crusade and set course for ultramar immediently where they pleged to serve thier genesire in perpetuity and soon Primaris Astartes were serving with distinction and they recieved not only fully grown and battle hardened Primaris but also the technology and knowledge to create their own Primaris Space Marines.

The wargear to arm these formidable warriors was also recieved including 500 suits of Mk X Power Armour in their various Patterns, Hundreds of Cawl  and Belisarius Pattern Weapons,4 Redemptor Dreadnoughts Chassis and 2 Repulser Grav Tanks. Thanks to this great fortune the Knights of Guilliman prosecute their wars with even greater vigour. The numbers of Primaris Astartes currently serving are unknown but during the battles of the Indominatus Campaign they were able to field an entire company.

Appereance
Before the Centurion War the Knights of Guilliman wore almost identical Armour to that of the Ultramarines but since then they have adopted a new colour scheme for their Armour in order to distance themselves from their past crimes, their new Armour is blue with white shoulder pads, their Chapter Badge was also changed to that of the Ultramarines, a black Omega letter drawn from the Greek alphabet, centred on a field of white

Allies
Novamarines - The Knights of Guilliman are descended from the Novamarines and as such are extremely close, the fact that they were on opposing sides during the Centurion War does not seem to have diminished this friendship as they never took the field against each other and the Novamarines vouched for them at their trial.

Ultramarines - The Ultramarines are the Founding Legion of the Knights of Guilliman and have supported their Desendents in a number of Campaigns

Enemies
Flesh Rippers - The Flesh Rippers are responsible for the near destruction of the Knights of Guilliman and the 2 Chapters have an unsurprising hatred

Magos Atilla - The Traitor Magos was the one who tricked the Knights of Guilliman into siding with them during the Centurion War and the Knights will not stop until he is made to answer for his Crimes.

Bringers of Change - Formaly the Grey Gorgons Chapter they were directly responsible for the corruption of Atilla and for the escalation of the Centurion War into a Chaos incursion and the Knights have vowed to hunt down these traitors how ever long its takes.

Fleet
The Knights of Guilliman, before their near-destruction possessed a relatively large Fleet with 2 Battle Barges and 9 Strike Cruisers known to be serving, numbers of Escort Ships was unknown but it is known that 3 were Destroyed during the Battle of Jorvick and at least 2 were taken as prizes by the victors and 4 are currently serving in the Knights present Fleet so is is almost certain that they possesed at least 9 Escort Craft but it is likely that more were taken as Prizes.

Known Starships as of M.42
Flagship - Battle Barge ~ Forgiveness (Formally Konor's Honour)

Strike Cruiser ~ Unknown

Strike Cruiser ~ Unknown

Strike Cruiser ~ Unknown

Strike Cruiser ~ Light of Ultramar

Strike Cruiser ~ Unknown

Strike Cruiser ~ Augustas

4 Escort Ships, Names and Class Unknown

Notable Campaigns
Anarth Campaign (879.M35) - A Strike Force of Ultramarines, Novamarines and Knights of Guilliman attack Ork Forces in the Anarth Cluster, Fighting lasts for 19 Standard Years before War is Declared Complete. 84 Knights of Guilliman Astartes are known to Have Fallen with Brother Torias Entombed in a Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought, He would later be the only Survivor of the Ground Theater of the Battle of Jorvick.

Battle of Signatus (190.M40) - Battle against the Eldar in which the Knights of Guilliman and Magos Atilla pleged to help each othe whenever possible.

The Centurion War (931.M41 to 954.M41) - The Knights of Guilliman sided with Magos Atilla and other Secessionists leading to their near-destruction in 940.M41 by the Flesh Rippers and Imperial Navy.

The Liberation of Lagan (989.M41) - The Ultramarines 3rd Company and the Knights of Guilliman liberates the Lagan System from the Tau Empire.

Chapter Relics

 * Sword of Calth: The Sword of Calth is a Master Crafted Power Sword very much like a Relic Blade currantly housed in the Reclusiam on the Battle Barge Redemption . It was First used by the very first Chapter Master Lord Remus and was a gift from the Chapter Master of the Novamarines in honour of their Founding. It was Recovered from the Ruins of the Fortress of Konor


 * Contemptor Dreadnought : The only Contemptor Dreadnought possessed by the Knights of Guilliman and Since M.35 it has housed the Brokon Body of Brother Torias.

Notable Knights of Guilliman
Lord Remus - First Chapter Master of the Knights of Guilliman who Claimed the Planet of Jorvick for his Chapter.

Lord Marius Gage Kruger - Chapter Master at the Time of the Centurion War, he reluctantly lead his Chapter in Siding with Magos Atilla but never believed in the War and soon desired to retire from the Conflict. He fell defending the Breach during the Flesh Rippers Assault and was killed by the Lord Reaper Uric Draf, he did however put up such a significant fight he was granted a measure of Respect from the Frenzied Flesh Rippers who recognised his Bravery and Skill.

Lord Marneus Albrectus - The currant Chapter Master and the only surviving Captain of the Battle of Jorvick by dint of being in Space at the time of the Attack. He has striven to erase the Shame on his Chapters Name and achieve a measure of Revenge against the Flesh Rippers,

Ancient Torias - A former Devastator Marine who fell during the Anarth Campaign and Entombed in a Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought, He was Present during the Battle of Jorvick and Defended the Northan Sector of the Defence, he was discovered under a pile of rubble which undoubtably saved him from being destroyed, he was the only Survivor of those present on the Surface and was repaired and continues to Fight at the forefront of every Battle. He remains the only Dreadnought in Service with the Knights of Guilliman and is most often Equipped as a Mortis Dreadnought. Like his Chapter Master he too hopes for a Reckoning against the Flesh Rippers

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