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This article, Bleeding Moon Hunters, was written by VictorDahl99. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
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The Bleeding Moon Hunters are a non-Codex-compliant Chapter of Space Marines of flawless abomination hunters roaming the galaxy in search of heretics, xenos and demons to hunt and slay. The Bleeding Moon Hunters were created from the gene-seed of a rapid response force sent to suppress an ancient pandemic known as 'the Curse of Blood'. This affliction mutated humans into monstrous beasts, spreading like wildfire to neighboring worlds.
Over the centuries, the Hunters developed a unique cult: they do not revere the Emperor as a god but as the 'First Hunter', the protector of Mankind against "inner beasts and outer shadows." This deviation from Ecclesiarchal dogma has led to numerous accusations of heresy, though no sufficient proof has ever been presented to condemn them officially, some inquisitors even use them as hounds for the hunt.
The Hunters have isolated themselves from the rest of the Imperium, maintaining minimal contact with other Chapters. Hunting in quarantined sectors and across the galaxy in small forces or even individually.
Chapter History
The Chapter's Founding and Curse of Blood
The 'Curse of Blood' is the origin of the Bleeding Moon Hunters's torment and purpose. This mysterious affliction ravages the world of Blutmond Primus and the other ten star systems around it, marking its people with a history of horror, mutation, and despair. The curse serves as both the foundation of the Chapter's creation and the shadow that perpetually haunts their existence.
The exact origins of the 'Curse of Blood' remain shrouded in mystery, lost to time and obscured by fragmented records. According to fragmentary lore unearthed by the Chapter, The curse spread through an experimental treatment known as Sanctified Blood. Promoted on Yharn, capital of Blutmond Primus, as a miracle capable of curing any ailment, distributed widely, this ailment' creation involved the manipulation of bio-alchemical substances, derived from the blood of fallen xenos and Chaos-tainted creatures. Though this blood-elixir initially appeared successful, imbuing the users with enhanced physical strength, regenerative abilities, and a heightened resistance to disease, it also awakened something primal and uncontrollable within the human genome. The subjects developed an insatiable thirst for blood and progressively devolved into monstrous, beast-like forms. This condition, later referred to as the 'Curse of Blood', spread rapidly through Blutmond's population, contaminating food supplies, water sources, and even airborne particulates. The curse soon mutated further, becoming both biological and psychic in nature. The Warp fed on the despair and rage of the afflicted, and in turn, the afflicted drew energy from the Warp to sustain their monstrous transformations. The combination of the curse’s physical effects and its connection to the Immaterium made it a perfect breeding ground for Chaos corruption.
The Chapter's Founding
During the initial outbreak of the 'Curse of Blood', the Imperium dispatched an unknown Astartes force to contain the infection. However, they found themselves overwhelmed by the curse’s rapid spread and the psychic toll of battling its abominations. Traditional methods of purging, orbital bombardments and mass executions, proved ineffective, as the curse often persisted and reawakened after purges. So this force remained in the quarantined Star System until M34 when the Bleeding moon hunters were created from the astartes survivors of the first outbreak. The High Lords of Terra authorized the creation of this new Astartes force accustomed to battle the curse. The Hunters learned to both suppress and harness the curse's effects. They became resistant, but not immune, to the transformation into beasts, their own blood became unstable, and the risk of succumbing to the curse still lingered within them. Even after the containment of the initial outbreak, the 'Curse of Blood' remains a persistent force in the Hunters’s lives. They view it as both a curse and a gift, a mark of their eternal struggle and a tool to hunt their enemies. This belief fuels the Hunters’ religious practices, as they see themselves as humanity’s last defense against not only the physical manifestations of the curse but also its spiritual corruption. The Chapter’s Librarians, known as Moonseers, spend their lives studying the psychic nature of the curse, warding against its influence, and seeking ways to contain or destroy it once and for all. The Curse of Blood remains an enigma and a nightmare. Entire sectors have been quarantined due to fears of its resurgence, and the Hunters are often viewed with suspicion due to their ties to the curse. Despite their heroic deeds, they are shunned by many other Chapters and Imperial authorities, who see them as little better than the abominations they hunt.
The First Outbreak
The first manifestation of the Curse of Blood occurred during the colonization of Blutmond Primus. At the time, the planet was a thriving trade hub, with a rapidly growing human population supported by advanced biomedical technologies meant to enhance longevity and quality of life. It was this reckless pursuit of scientific progress, combined with dark, unknown forces, that marked the beginning of the catastrophe. Though the curse is largely biological, its psychic resonance makes it an anomaly tied deeply to the Warp. The Hunters believe that the curse represents a form of Chaos intrusion, though not directly aligned with any specific Ruinous Power. Some within the Chapter theorize that the curse is tied to an ancient, forgotten Warp entity a being that embodies humanity’s primal fears of losing control and succumbing to their basest instincts.
The Beginning of the Epidemic
The curse first spread through an experimental treatment known as Sanctified Blood. Promoted by the high clergy and scientists of Yharn as a miracle capable of curing any ailment, from physical decay to mental frailty, it was distributed widely, often with little oversight from the Adeptus Mechanicus. Entire districts of Yharn were treated with this miraculous substance. At first, the blood seemed to work: wounds healed almost instantly, terminal illnesses were reversed, and recipients gained supernatural vigor and strength. However, it did not take long for the first signs of mutation to appear. Those who had received multiple treatments began to exhibit strange behaviors: irritability, an insatiable thirst for blood, and eventually horrifying physical transformations. Within months, vast areas of the planet were consumed by an epidemic of violence and madness.
The local authorities attempted to contain the epidemic with quarantines and mass purges, but the Blood Beasts, the monstrous entities spawned from the curse, were far too powerful for the Planetary Defense Forces to handle. Psykers who tried to probe the nature of the plague were overwhelmed by horrifying visions and often went insane themselves. The line between humanity and monstrosity became increasingly blurred. Entire families barricaded themselves in their homes, only to be torn apart when one of their own succumbed to the transformation. The wealthy districts were devastated by the emergence of enormous beasts, former nobles who had indulged in repeated doses of Sanctified Blood more than anyone else.
The Arrival of the Space Marines
When word of the plague reached the Imperium, an unknown contingent of Space Marines, was dispatched to investigate and contain the outbreak. However, their immunity was not absolute: the Curse of Blood seemed to possess a will of its own, insinuating itself even into the enhanced biology of the Astartes changing even them. The battle for Blutmond was a massacre. The Space Marines fought not only against the Blood Beasts but also against the infection spreading among their own ranks. In the end, only a small fraction of them survived. These survivors, irreversibly marked by the corrupted blood they had tried to contain, chose not to abandon the planet. They believed the plague was a divine punishment for humanity’s arrogance and vowed to remain behind, continuing the hunt to purge Blutmond and any other worlds that might succumb to a similar curse. In ca. M34 this group rebuilt itself into the Chapter now known as the Bleeding Moon Hunters. Locked in the eternal struggle against their own corruption. The first outbreak of the Curse of Blood was not only the origin of their mission but also the burden they would carry for the rest of their existence. The quarantines are still seen with dread across the Imperium. Though few survivors can recount the truth, dark legends speak of an ancient power lurking beneath the city of Yharn on Blutmond Primus, perhaps a forgotten god or an alien entity tied to the Warp.
Erynhurst, the first hunt (ca.M35)
Erynhurst was a moon-locked planet, perpetually bathed in pale, scarlet-tinged moonlight due to the reflection of its nearby red giant star, Arteria Majoris. The moon’s ominous glow gave rise to a culture steeped in blood-related rituals, where sanguine imagery symbolized sacrifice and divine favor. This reverence for blood set the stage for tragedy when the Curse of Blood first emerged. The outbreak began in the heart of Erynhurst' gothic capital, Crimsonhold, during an annual religious festival known as the Sanguine Benediction. During this event, the nobility, clergy, and commoners would gather to partake in rituals invoking the Emperor’s blessing through ceremonial bloodletting.
The catalyst for the outbreak was an ancient relic discovered in the depths of the planet's Mines: a crystal chalice filled with what appeared to be eternally fresh blood. Dubbed the Chalice of Vitae, it was presented as an offering to the Emperor. However, the chalice carried a dark and insidious taint, the curse of blood itself. When the Chalice of Vitae was brought before the gathered crowd during the festival, its "blessing" was shared among the participants. Priests anointed their followers with the blood from the chalice, claiming it granted vigor and divine favor. Initially, the participants felt euphoric strength and heightened senses. Within days, the symptoms began to manifest. Entire districts of Crimsonhold descended into chaos as the infected spread the plague through violent attacks. The infection’s progression was alarmingly fast, with the Blood Beasts displaying immense strength, speed, and resilience.
Local planetary governors and Arbites declared martial law, isolating Crimsonhold and attempting to purge the infected with PDF forces. The effort failed spectacularly; the beasts overwhelmed the defenders, and many soldiers succumbed to the curse themselves. The clergy and their fanatical followers fortified the Moonspire, attempting to hold out against the tide of Blood Beasts. It was said the corrupted priests who first handled the chalice became the most horrifying monstrosities, known as Highblood Abominations, leading the infected in a siege against the fortress.
The outbreak would have consumed the entire planet had it not been for the intervention of the Hunters , who were called to action by desperate astropathic pleas. A strike force of veteran Hunters descended upon Erynhurst, led by the Master of the Hunt himself.
After months of brutal warfare, the Hunters successfully eradicated the infected population and contained the curse. However, the cost was devastating: Crimsonhold was Destroyed, the city was left in ruins, its population reduced to ash and rubble, the planet was placed under a permanent quarantine, with orders for orbital bombardment should any signs of resurgence appear and The Chalice of Vitae was sealed, the relic was recovered by the Hunters and sealed within their most secure vaults. Its exact fate remains unknown, though some whisper it may still influence the dreams of the Hunters who fought on Erynhurst.
To this day the planet is a ghastly sight, with pale phantoms roaming its ruined gothic cities, vampiric abominations lurking in ancient blood-soaked mansions, and a new order of vampiric overlords that established their rule. The Bleeding moon hunters periodically declare nights of the hunt upon the world, plunging into a bloody hunt across the planet's cities.
Current History
To this day the chapter acts in secrecy fighting the cursed beasts, xenos and heretics in the Segmentum Obscurus' quarantined star systems under their jurisdiction and across the galaxy. Each of these systems stands as a grim reminder of the Curse of Blood’s devastation, and the Hunters view them as sacred battlegrounds in their endless hunt. These systems reflect the myriad ways the Curse of Blood has shattered Imperial worlds, leaving behind grim tales of horror and desolation. They remain shrouded in superstition, places where few dare to tread, and only the most determined Hunters venture to cleanse the lingering taint. The chapter works for the inquisition to maintain the quarantine, aiding inquisitorial parties in the eternal war against the curse.
Primaris Arrival
The Hunters reluctantly accepted their new brethren, fearing their biology couldn't accept their sanctified blood rituals, but as they soon dicovered, not even the new perfected primaris weren't immune to the curse, although far more resilient than their firstborn brethren. Many firstborn crossed the rubicon with ease, through multiple purified blood infusions and given the enhanced regenerative ability granted by the curse. Soon after their arrival the new primaris were sent around the quarantined sectors in patrol routes, but given their inexperience in battling the blood beasts, many primaris were annihilated on various worlds. Five whole primaris companies disappeared all across the quarantine zone, only to reappear sporadically as turned abominations.
Notable Campaigns
The Hunters operate mainly in the eleven quarantined star systems of the Segmentum Obscurus, under the inquisition's watchful eye, and are often seen in inquisitorial retinues or deathwatch kill-teams.
Blutmond's first outbreak
Not much is known about the first outbreak of the curse of blood, after months of brutal warfare, the marines who would later become the Hunters successfully eradicated the infected population and contained the curse. However, the cost was devastating: Psykers probing the plague succumbed to insanity. Society crumbled, with even wealthy districts devastated by nobles who transformed into enormous beasts after excessive treatments. The battle for Blutmond Primus was catastrophic, with many Marines falling to infection.
Erynhurst Prime's first great hunt.
The newly funded Bleeding Moon Hunters, launched a first great hunt to purge the world of Erynhurst, there they established their tactical approach. The Hunters quickly assessed the situation and deployed just two squads, using precision strikes. Rather than engaging the Blood Beasts in massed battles, they relied on surgical exterminations, targeting key areas of infection. Armed with alchemical weapons, flame projectors, and their signature sawblades, chainswords, chainpikes, as well as all kinds of bladed weapons, they began reclaiming Crimsonhold, Erynhurst capital district by district. the planet is locked in a perpetual hunt since then, with the hunters containing the curse with recurring purges called "night of the hunt".
Quarantined Star Systems:
1. Ashmourn System, ten planets.
- Key Planet: Ashmourn Prime
- Once a prosperous mining hub, Ashmourn Prime succumbed to the curse when shipments of Sanctified Blood were sent to treat laborers suffering from industrial diseases. The miners became hulking, bestial monstrosities, turning the planet's cavernous depths into a nightmarish labyrinth. The system is now quarantined, with occasional reports of Blood Beasts escaping on derelict ships.
2. Varnow's Veil System, twelve planets.
- Key Planet: Saint Varnow
- Named for the shrine world dedicated to Saint Varrow, this system fell to the curse after relics soaked in Sanctified Blood were distributed to the faithful during a massive pilgrimages. The transformation of entire congregations into Blood Beasts shattered the system's faith and left its planets abandoned, with ghostly chants said to echo through the ruined cathedrals.
3. Drakenmyr System, nine planets.
- Key Planet: Drakenmyr VII
- Known for its sprawling hive cities, Drakmyr VII was consumed by the curse when gangs in the underhive began trafficking black-market Sanctified Blood. The infection quickly spread upward, turning the planet into a charnel house of bloodthirsty horrors.
4. Kaelith System, eleven planets.
- Key Planet: Kaelith Secundus
- Kaelith Secundus was a center of experimental bioengineering, with its moon, Grythane, serving as a research facility. When the curse reached the system, the experiments on Sanctified Blood amplified the plague, creating hybrid monstrosities that destroyed both the planet and the research outpost. The Kaelith system is now a forbidden zone, patrolled by the Ordo Xenos and Ordo Hereticus.
5. Iscarra System, eight planets.
- Key Planet: Iscarra Prime
- A former agri-world, Iscarra Prime was devastated when the curse spread through contaminated food supplies. The farmers and their livestock mutated into grotesque amalgamations, creating a living nightmare across the system's verdant plains. The planet's overgrown ruins are said to house "Blood Gardens," where the flora itself seems tainted by the curse.
6. Veltraxis Rift System, eleven planets.
- Key Planet: Veltraxis Prime
- Located on the fringe of Imperial space, Veltraxis Prime was a thriving trade hub until an unsanctioned Rogue Trader smuggled vials of tainted Sanctified Blood into the system. The curse spread rapidly among the merchant guilds, turning their luxurious spires into blood-soaked abattoirs. its system now callaed "The Rift" is now a perilous no-man’s-land, filled with derelict ships and Blood Beasts prowling the wreckage. Veltraxis Prime now burns eternally under an Exterminatus order, its atmosphere ignited in a desperate attempt to purge the curse.
7. Tarnoviel System, ten planets.
- Key Planet: Tarnoviel IV
- This garden world was home to a renowned Ecclesiarchy monastery dedicated to healing pilgrims through the "miracles of the blood." When the curse emerged, the holy waters of its famed Blood Springs became corrupted, transforming the serene world into a hellscape of mutated wildlife and crazed, bloodthirsty cultists. Tarnoviel IV is now a battleground for puritan Inquisitors and radical Blood-worshipping sects and blood beasts.
8. Krythos Nebula System, six planets.
- Key Planet: Krythos Delta
- Krythos Delta, a heavily industrialized forge world, fell to the curse after a failed experiment to synthesize Sanctified Blood for servitor augmentation. The planet’s skitarii and tech-priests were turned into half-machine monstrosities, leaving the system as a haunting graveyard of blood-rusted machinery and horrors.
9. Obrum’s Pyre System, nine planets.
- Key Planet: Obrum Secundus
- Obrum Secundus was an arid shrine world where martyrs’ blood was ritually spilled to sanctify the soil. The curse infiltrated through infected blood vials that reached the planet, when the blood celebrations started the celebrants turned into frenzied beasts, massacring the system’s population.
10. Erynhurst System, fifteen planets.
- Key Planet: Erynhurst Prime
- A jewel of the Segmentum Obscurus, Erynhust Prime was known for its vibrant noble houses and intricate politics. When a powerful noble family fell victim to the curse, it unleashed a bloody civil war as factions turned into monstrous horrors. The planet’s great palaces are now twisted ruins, haunted by cursed aristocrats who endlessly relive their courtly games as vampiric beasts.
11. Blutmond System, thirteen planets.
- Key Planet: Blutmond Primus
- Homeworld of the Bleeding Moon Hunters, Blutmond Primus, once a flourishing world now is ravaged by the curse. Yharn stands as the capital of this world, with magnificent architecture, gothic cathedrals and monuments, its streets run with the blood of an eternal hunt against the blood beasts.
Chapter Home World
Fortress-Monastery
Chapter Organisation
Officer Ranks
Specialist Ranks
Line Ranks
Specialist Units & Formations
Order of Battle
Headquarters
Companies
Combat Doctrine
Chapter Culture & Beliefs
To this day, the curse influences nearly every aspect of the Chapter’s culture, combat doctrine, and rituals:
- The Blood Purification Ritual: Before every battle, the Hunters consume a distilled form of Purified Blood, an alchemical concoction derived from their own gene-seed. This blood temporarily suppresses the effects of the curse, granting them increased strength, resilience, and focus. However, overuse of the purified blood can heighten the risk of madness and transformation into a Fallen Beast.
- The Fallen Beasts: Despite their genetic resilience, not all Hunters are able to resist the curse indefinitely. Those who begin to show signs of the beast’s emergence are hunted down by their brothers in secret rituals known as the Bloodmoon Hunts. This grim duty ensures that the Chapter remains pure, but it also takes a heavy toll on the Hunters’ morale.
- The Beast Within Doctrine: The Chapter’s combat philosophy revolves around controlling the inner beast that dwells within every Marine. They are taught to channel their rage and hunger into calculated, precise violence, maintaining their humanity even as they teeter on the edge of madness. This discipline is a cornerstone of their survival.
Chapter Recruitment
Chapter Gene-Seed
Genetic Flaw: Curse of Blood
Symptoms and Transformation
The 'Curse of Blood' manifests in stages, each progressively more horrifying:
- The Hunger: The initial phase begins with an intense craving for blood, heightened aggression, and amplified physical attributes, such as strength and endurance. Victims also begin to exhibit heightened senses, especially smell, often detecting the scent of blood from miles away.
- The Beast’s Emergence: Over time, victims lose control over their minds, descending into feral states of rage and paranoia. The body begins to transform, with muscles growing unnaturally dense, bones elongating, and teeth and claws developing. At this stage, the cursed resemble monstrous hybrids of man and beast.
- The Final Form: In the final stage, the cursed are fully consumed by the beast within, becoming hulking abominations devoid of any trace of their former humanity. These Blood Beasts are nearly impervious to conventional weaponry, driven solely by an insatiable lust for slaughter.
Spread of the Curse
The 'Curse of Blood' is both a biological pathogen and a psychic plague that can infect anyone. It can spread through direct blood contact, ingestion of tainted substances, or proximity to strong Warp resonances associated with the curse. Even those with no physical exposure to the curse can succumb to it through psychic suggestion or prolonged exposure to the horrors inflicted by the cursed. Entire planets neighboring Bludmond Primus fell to the curse during its initial outbreak, with Hive Worlds collapsing under waves of feral hordes.
The Curse of Blood defines the Hunters’ tragic existence. They are warriors forged in a crucible of horror, forever battling the monsters outside and the ones within. Their legacy is one of sacrifice, a lonely struggle in the shadows of the Imperium, where the line between salvation and damnation is as thin as a blade’s edge.
Deathwatch Service
Notable Members
Chapter Fleet
Chapter Relics
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
The Bleeding Moon Hunters' power armour is predominantly matte black, accented with ancient bronze trim that reinforces their image of somber dignity and martial authority. Bone-colored details—such as skull motifs, aquilas, and purity seals - adorn the armour, providing stark contrast and emphasizing their funereal aesthetic. Their armour is heavily ornamented with baroque detailing, particularly around the knees, shoulders, and helm. Each piece is engraved with gothic studs, skulls, and trim, lending a sense of dark reverence to the Chapter's appearance.
Notably, senior warriors such as sergeants and veterans wear ceremonial crests upon their helms - lateral or horizontal crests - further amplifying their aura of martial nobility. Many warriors don tabards, studded leather, and parchment relics, reinforcing the Chapter’s ancient warrior traditions and their penitential culture. Bolters and weapons are painted in similarly subdued tones—mostly jet black with silver fittings and bronze seals—underscoring their brutal efficiency and lack of flamboyance. The overall impression is that of knightly executioners, steeped in ritual and clad for judgment.
Chapter Badge
The Bleeding Moon Hunters' chapter badge takes the form of a stylised white crescent moon pierced by a vertical spear, set against a black field. A single blood droplet falls from the lower cusp of the moon, symbolizing sacrifice, vengeance, or perhaps the eternal toll of warfare. This emblem is typically borne on the left pauldron, often battle-worn and scarred, reflecting the Chapter's relentless service. The black-and-white motif of their iconography reflects both the lunar symbolism of the hunt and the bleak duality of death and duty, while the bronze and bone detailing evokes a sense of antiquity and unyielding honor.
Relations
Allies
Enemies
Notable Quotes
By: Bleeding Moon Hunters
About: Bleeding Moon Hunters