|
This article, Blades of Retribution, is currently under active construction. The author, CorvusObscurum, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
The Blades of Retribution are a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes created during the recent Ultima Founding. They were created as Successors to the Judicators of the Lion, who themselves are descended from the lineage of Primarch Lion El'Jonson.
Chapter History:
The Chapter was created during the Ultima Founding in 999.M41, a desperate measure that was enacted in the aftermath of Abaddon the Despoilers 13th Black Crusade and the cataclysmic fall of Cadia. The galaxy was reeling from the Cicatrix Maledictum splitting reality itself and plunged vast swathes of the Imperium into the Dark Imperium. This meant that in this darkest hour that once Roubute Gulliman returned as one of the Emperor's sole active primarch, he unleashed the culmination of a contingency plan that was commissioned over ten thousand years earlier: this was the mass deployment of Primaris Space Marines and these were warriors that were crafted to be the ultimate defenders of Humanity.
They were amongst the numerous chapters that were created from this great endeavor and their gene-seed was stable and pure and was drawn from the noble lineage of the Dark Angels that was refined through the tireless work of Belisarius Cawl himself. Their command cadres were drawn from two distinctive sources and the majority of their officers were selected from the Greyshields and these were Primaris warriors that had fought under Gulliman's direct command during the Indomitus Crusade. As they were hardened by years of ceaseless war across a thousand battlefields, these Greyshields were known for bringing with them the discipline and cohesion of veterans that was tempered by fire.
The other source would be seasoned officers from the Judicators themselves who willingly crossed the Rubicon to lead their successors and carried with them the traditions and beliefs of their forebears to ensure that their counterparts would embody Gulliman's vision for the future while remaining firmly anchored within the legacy of the Unforgiven
Notable Campaigns:
Chapter Homeworld:
The chapter's main recruitment world would be a feudal world named Velkaris that's located deep within the Segmentum Obscurus. This planet is known for being harsh and unforgiving and it shapes it's population into warriors before the Chapter ever calls upon them. The vast brooding forests have been known for cloak much of it's surface and stretch for hundreds of kilometers without end and their trees have been known for blotting out the sun in endless twilight. Between these woods rise jagged mountains and broken highlands, where isolated keeps and fortresses endure as the last bastions of civilization. Humanity survives here not through ease or abundance but through vigilance and the strength of arms for predators have been known for lurking deep within the forests depths.
As a result of the planet being classified as a Feudal World, the people are bound to a warrior culture that prizes loyalty, oaths and martial prowess above all else. These fortresses are ruled by lords that maintain retinues of armed retainers and men at arms. There's tournaments that're held to honor ancestral myths and rival houses can settle disputes with swords and lances rather then words. To live on this planet is to understand the cycle of war and feuds between clans and noble lines are commonplace and survival is measured by the strength of a households blades. Despite this insularity, the world has remained steadfastly loyal to the Imperium, although it's traditions have been combined with the beliefs of the Chapter.
Fortress-Monastery:
The chapter's main fortress-monastery would be a massive battle barge known as the Spear of Judgement that serves as their home and operational base across the Segmentum Obscurus. Unlike a static citadel, the ship is fully mobile and is capable of deploying their forces to any theatre of war while remaining self sufficient for extended campaigns. Within the interior, the ship houses all aspects of the Chapter's life: These include armories, training halls, meditation chambers and the private quarters of the crew. This allows the Chapter to operate independently and project their presence whenever they're needed without reliance on planetary support.
The interior of the Ship is known for being designed for efficiency and marital discipline. These including training halls that prepare aspirants and battle-brothers for the myriad challenges of war while docking bays and launch tubes allow for rapid deployment of strike craft and vehicles. The chapels within the ship often remind the Chapter's warriors of their commitments and heritage and reinforce their discipline and loyalty in every marine. There's numerous archives and gene-banks to safeguard the genetic and historical legacy that was inherited from their progenitors and ensure that every mission is known for reflecting the traditions and ethos of the Chapter. The chapter's exterior is what defines it as a formidable war machine as the hull bristles with macro-cannons, lances and missile launchers that're capable of engaging enemy fleets before deploying forces to a planetary surface. The hidden strike bays allow for the boarding of enemy ships while the void shields and reinforced hull makes it capable of withstanding sustained assaults.
Chapter Organization
Officer Ranks:
- High Castellan(Chapter-Master): They serve as the supreme commander of the Chapter and has absolute authority over the Chapters military operations and strategic direction while determining where the Chapter's strength will be brought to bear across the Imperium. During wartime, his word has been known for being unquestioned law and it's his duty to balance the demands of ongoing campaigns and the readiness of his Chapter as a whole.
- Castellan(Captain): These veterans are known for being entrusted with the executions of campaigns while being responsible for ensuring their companies remain disciplined, supplied and being ready for battle at all times. They're known for commanding their forces with near total authority over their assigned forces. They're known for being chosen for their ability to embody their Chapter's code and their talent for leading from the front and coordinating complex operations.
- Adjutor(Lieutenant): They serve as the right hand of the Castellans and are junior officers whose role is to support and to extend the reach of their commanders. They're entrusted with the commanding of strike forces, vanguard detachments or specialized mission groups and ensure that the Castellans can direct entire campaigns without losing warriors on the battlefield.
Specialist Ranks:
- Votaris(Chaplain): They act as the spiritual guardian of the Chapter and oversee the conduct and the cohesion within the Chapter. They often ensure that every Battle-Brother remains bound to their oaths, honor and the ideals of service to humanity. They're known for conducting rituals of reflection and remembrance while inspiring courage and acting as mediators within the Chapter.
- Magister (Chief Librarian): They oversee the training of other Librarians and ensure the mastery of their powers to ensure they don't become corrupted or misuse. They're often known for chronicling battles, victories and losses while maintaining the archives of strategic knowledge.
- Medicus (Apothecary): They serve as the Chapter's healer and the guardian of their genetic purity. They often look after the health and gene-seed of the Chapter, oversee the initiation of aspirants and tend to battlefield injuries. They're known for ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of the Chapter by maintaining strict biological and medical standards.
- Shieldbearer(Veteran-Sergeant): These seasoned warriors are known for leading a squad of battle-brothers. They're known for being veterans of numerous campaigns and are responsible for enforcing discipline, upholding the Chapter's oaths and mentoring younger warriors. On the battlefield, they ensure their men fight as a cohesive units and uphold the honor as a chapter.
- Oathsworn(Veteran): These veteran warriors are known for distinguishing themselves by their unwavering loyalty and exceptional valor. They're known for taking additional vows of service and are often chosen for high risk missions and elite strike forces.
- Warden(Sergeant): They command a squad of Knights underneath the command of a Castellan or Adjutor. They often act as battlefield leader and ensure their tactics are executed with precision and the squads honor is maintained.
- Knight(Battle-Brother): They're known for being a full warrior of the Chapter and are sworn to uphold its oaths and fight with unyielding courage. They often form the backbone of the Chapter's might and bring the Emperor's justice to the foes of mankind with blade and bolter alike.
- Squire(Aspirant): These aspirants often serve underneath the watchful eyes of veteran warriors. They often learn the Chapter's codes, rituals and martial traditions while enduring harsh trials of body and spirit.
Specialist Units & Formations
- Ironwing: They serve as the Chapter's elite assault formation and are often composed of the most elite veteran warriors. They specialize in shock assaults, boarding actions and the destruction of heavily fortified positions. They're clad in terminator or gravis armor and wield specialized weapons.
- Nightwing: They serve as the Chapter's rapid response and recon formation. They're often composed of fast moving warriors that're equipped for mobility and stealth. They often excel at lightning strikes, flanking maneuvers and surgical raids. They're known for operating ahead of the main force and gather intel, ambush enemy supply lines and harrying traitorous forces before disappearing into the shadows.
Order of Battle
Headquarters:
Companies:
| Veteran Company | Battle Companies | |||
| 1st Company | 2st Company | 3rd Company | 4thCompany | 5th Company |
| Reserve Battleline Companies | Reserve Close Support Companies | Reserve Fire Support Companies | Scout Company | |
| 6th Company | 7th Company | 8thCompany | 9thCompany | 10th Company |
Chapter Beliefs:
The chapter has been known for their rejection of the Emperor's divinity. They view him not as a god, but instead a mortal leader whose vision and guidance forged the Imperium. Their faith lies in principles of duty, honor and loyalty rather than worship. Their battle-brothers have been known for being bound by a solemn code to uphold the safety of humanity and the Imperium through actions, oaths, and personal responsibility rather then devoting themselves to a deity.
Despite their rejection of the Emperor's godhood, they're known for being deeply committed to the protection of Imperial citizens. They often act as stewards and guardians that defend humanity from heretics and xenos. Unlike the salamanders, that're known for centering compassion and mercy in their beliefs, the Chapter believes in a form of pragmatic protection where civilians are protected as humanity itself is the ultimate bulwark against the forces of chaos.
Gene-Seed:
The chapter is descended from the Judicators who themselves are are 3rd Founding successor of the Dark Angels. As a result of them being created during the Ultima Founding, they were created from the Primaris gene-stock that was crafted and perfected over ten-millennia by Belisarius Cawl himself. Their gene-seed is noted for the exceptional stability and genetic purity that produces warriors with enhanced resilience, disciplined minds and unwavering loyalty.
Their apothecaries are known for playing a central role in the maintenance for their genetic purity. They're known for their meticulous attention to detail while leaving no procedure unchecked and no ritual of preservation neglected. Another role these apothecaries have is to uphold a strict tradition of examination, trials and biological
Chapter Recruitment:
The Chapter is known for drawing their recruits from the warriors of Velkaris and this feudal world is stepped in ancient martial customs. Their towering cities and fortified citadels are known for producing hardy, disciplined warriors that's raised from childhood in strict codes of honor, loyalty and martial skill. Every ten years, the Chapter sends emissaries that descend from the stars to claim those who display strength of body, clarity of mind and the will to endure and these virtues are what forms the chapter's creed. To be chosen is a highest honor a Velkarian can attain, although few amongst the selected can survive the arduous trials that can follow.
These aspirants are taken to the Spear of Judgement and this acts as the chapter's fortress monastery and their orbiting citadel of war where they undertake the Rites of Ascension and these are three sacred trials that determine their worth. The first trial is known as the Trial of Flesh and this tests their endurance through pain, deprivation and relentless physical hardships. The second one is known as the Trial of Darkness and this means that aspirants are placed alone within a labyrinthine maze deep within the lower decks of the fortress monastery. They must navigate the twisting corridors while maintaining their calm and composure under extreme stress to reach and activate a beacon using their occulobes for guidance. They're given no light and sustenance and must complete this task in 72 Terran hours.
The final test would be the Trial of Oaths and this measures their loyalty and selflessness. These survivors are placed in a simulated crucible where they're forced to choose between their own survival and the preservation of their comrades. The aspirants that sacrifice themselves for their lives of their brothers are instead deemed worthy of full induction. They're saved and are implanted with all of the organs and are transformed into full members of the Chapter. These rigorous process ensures that every member the Chapter's ideals that include selfless devotion, unwavering loyalty and the perfect fusion of body, mind and spirit that's tempered by the fires of trial and the weight of responsibility
Combat Doctrine:
The chapter's main combat doctrine is a combination of of Close Quarters Combat, Lightning Strikes and Stealth.
Close Quarters Combat acts as their primary portion and their forces are known for excelling in the clearing of confined spaces that include corridors, fortresses and urban ruins where their squads can clear rooms, secure chokepoints and neutralize resistance at point blank range. These assault teams are often trained to move as a single coordinated unit and use terrain and timing to their advantage.
Their secondary doctrine is lightning strikes and this emphasizes rapid precise strikes against critical enemy positions. These include small detachments that're often delivered by drop pods or strike craft, seize objectives or disrupt command structures before enemy reinforcements can react. The Onyxwing has been known for spearheading these assaults and overwhelm fortifications and creating opportunities for follow on forces.
Their tertiary doctrine is stealth and this is employed when surgical elimination and recon is required. Teams and veteran squads are often known for infiltrating, observing and eliminating key targets quietly, while preparing the battlefield for lightning strikes or CQC engagements. The chapter emphasizes the integration of these doctrines and it allows units to shift seamlessly between stealth, rapid assaults and close quarters dominance.
Deathwatch Service:
Service in the Deathwatch is only reserved for the most experience and proven veterans within the Chapter. The battle-brothers that have demonstrated absolute loyalty, composure and skill in both commanding and combat are considered for nomination. The High Castellan and Magister are required for jointly approving each candidate and ensure that only those of exemplary service and clarity of purpose represent the Chapter beyond it's ranks.
The members that're selected serve within the Deathwatch's small, elite kill teams and are often tasked with boarding actions, infiltration missions and close quarters purges against xenos threats. Veterans of the Onyxwing and Umbralwing are often valued due to them bringing precision, speed and tactical adaptability to the Watch. During their service, these members are often known for upholding the Chapter's strict codes of conduct and are expected to maintain a sense of discretion and restraint when serving alongside their squadmates.
When these members return from Deathwatch Service, they're often treated with great respect within the Chapter. These members often bring with them not only hard-earned knowledge of aliens but a renewed sense of leadership and perspectives. Many of these veterans serve as instructors or commanders within their company and their experiences further refine the Chapter's doctrine of precision, discipline and silent retribution.
Notable Space Marines:
- High Castellan Malachiel: The current leader of the Chapter for over 300 standard years, he's been known for his stoic leadership and a unyielding sense of justice. As he was a former Greyshield, he fought alongside numerous formations during the Indomitus Crusade before he assumed command of the Chapter during it's earliest campaigns. His demeanor is known for being calm and absolute and his words are precise and deliberate.
- Castellan Uriel: He's the current commander of the Onyxwing for over 290 years and he's been considered one of Malachiel's top lieutenants. He's been known for being a paragon of patience and precision. He leads his warriors with quiet intensity and favors swift, coordinated strikes that can crush the enemy before resistance can take form.
- Magister Remiel: As a result of him being one of the numerous Awoken primaris that the Chapter has recruited, he's been known for serving as the custodian of the Chapter's libraries. His immense age hasn't dulled his insight or authority and he's been known for a scholarly nature and his words are known for being laced with the wisdom of millennia.
Chapter Fleet:
Battle Barges:
- Spear of Judgement: This serves as the Chapter's main fortress monastery and the seat of their leader. It's a Barge of an ancient design that bears layered macro-plating. The main armaments include bombardment cannons, cyclonic torpedo silos and lance batteries that allow it to raze orbital fortresses. The ships interior houses vast training sanctums, gene-vaults, reliquaries and the Council of Blades, the Chapter's inner command chamber.
- Voice of Retribution: This serves as a hybrid between a command and a strike platform as it's equipped with extensive augur arrays and astropathic chambers to coordinate assaults. It's equipped with lances and torpedo batteries to make it devastating in fleet engagements and the while the teleportarium decks allow the Onyxwing to strike into the heart of enemy ships.
Strike Cruisers:
- Indomitable Oath: This ship carries the 4th company and is known for it's reliability and sheer endurance. It's been reinforced with void-hardened armor plating that means it can sustain bombardments and deliver it's payloads of Astartes. The bombardment cannons means it often serves as a formidable siege vessel and is often used in planetary assaults and sieges of entrenched enemy vessels.
- Virtue's End: This ship carries the Chapter's 7th Company and the torpedoes, bombardment cannons and other armaments allow it to cripple enemy capital ships before boarding actions commence. The hull bears scars of countless void battles that're each to serve as a mark of service and humility.
- Valiant Shadow: This serves as the rapid-reaction platform for the Umbralwing. It's been known to strike without warning and has numerous plasma batteries and torpedo launchers. It's been known for being deployed for recon and covert ops behind enemy lines.
Destroyers:
- Penitent Blade: This Gladius class frigate is known for acting as a scout and rapid response craft for the main fleet. They're often equipped with weapons batteries and are optimized for interception and patrol duties.
Chapter Relics:
- Blade of Judgement(Power Sword): This weapon was gifted to them by their Progenitors as a token of their shared lineage and trust. It's served as the symbol of command ever since the Chapter's inception and represents both duty and finality
- Revenant Aegis(Power Armor): This suit of Iron Armor was restored and modified for Primaris physiology. It was presumably recovered from the ship that was known as the Glory of Andronicus that was drifting near the Halo Stars.
- Ferrum Noctis(Tank): This vehicle was recovered from a space hulk named the Anaximander's Pride that was found deep within the ship's halls and re-sanctified in a year long-rite.
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colors:
Their color scheme is as equally evocative for their grim knightly lineage. Their primary color would be a deep gunmetal grey that reflects the somber weight of their vows and their role as executioners of the Emperor's justice. Black acts as their secondary color and is predominately uses on trims to serve as stark reminders of sacrifices and mourning while white acts as their color for accents as is often found in kneepads, helms or tabards and symbolizes the purity of their cause and the oaths they hold. The overall effect is known for austere, foreboding and unadorned and befits these warriors who reject flamboyance in favor of silent devotion in their duty.
Chapter Badge:
The chapter's symbol would be a flaming sword and this heraldic device is known for being as stark and uncompromising as their nature and it symbolizes their lineage from the Dark Angels and their creed with the sword symbolizing the retribution and judgement while the flames serve as a reminder of the wrath that they bring upon the enemies of Mankind.
Relations
Allies:
Enemies:
Notable Quotes
By: Blades of Retribution:
- "Faith isn't blindness, The emperor himself doesn't demand our worship but our endurance."
- —High Castellan Malachiel
- "When the void screams and the walls close in, remember this: fear shall be the first enemy that shall die"
- — Master of the Onyxwing
- "Knowledge acts as the Emperor's true light and every truth that's forgotten is another candle that's extinguished in the void"
- —Magister Uriel, Chief Librarian
About: Blades of Retribution
- "Their reverence for the Emperor is one of grim understanding as they fight to ensure that it's never extinguished"
- —Lord Inquisitor Varnak Tressian, Ordo Hereticus
- "They speak no litanies or dogma and they fight with a calm that defies madness."
- —Dark Apostle Xarul Vane, Word Bearers
- "They're emotionless, deliberate and every strike was a statement of their control. I've seen them butcher my subordinates without passion or cruelty"
- —Archon Veylra, Kabal of the Twisted Veil
