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This article, Blood Aurochs, was written by JordanThorne19. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
The Blood Aurochs are an 8th Founding Successor Chapter of the Blood Angels, one of the many Chapters of the Blood. They were created sometime in the middle of the 34th Millennium, due to the ongoing Nova Terra Interregnum, as the High Lords of Terra felt a new collection of brutal and ruthless chapters were necessary to pacify the Imperial population during this period of unrest. The Blood Aurochs were one of many chapters created during this time.
As Scions of Sanguinius, the Blood Aurochs are susceptible to the twin flaws all Astartes of Sanguinius's lineage are cursed with: the Red Thirst and the Black Rage. As a chapter of the 8th Founding, the Blood Aurochs are of a particularly vicious mien, their battle-brothers prone to falling to the fury of the Red Thirst in the midst of battle. Like the aurochs they are named after, a species of old Terran cattle long since extinct, the Blood Aurochs are prone to bouts of violence, causing the deaths of countless of their enemies. They are swift and fast, like their namesake, attacking their enemies like a herd of stampeding aurochs, and then retreating and re-grouping before their foe can organise a counter-assault.
The Blood Aurochs' homeworld is Incar X, a world of grassy steppe lands and valleys, prone to brutal storms of sleet and rain, personified by the glaciers in the north. The world is home to many species of cattle, mammoth, birds and the predatory creatures that prey on them. The people on this world live out a primitive existence, not benefiting from the technologies the wider Imperium make use of, living a primitive existence, foraging off the land and sheltering in caves, much like the cavemen of Terra did in the early centuries of mankind's existence.
It is from these people that the majority of the Blood Aurochs' recruits are taken. They all proudly bear their chapter's badge, the skull of an auroch with two drops of blood descending from each horn, on their left pauldron. Unlike their namesake, the auroch, however, the Blood Aurochs vow to never become extinct. They will fight their enemies until the end of time.
Chapter History
The Blood Aurochs are a brutal and ruthless chapter, prone to falling to the grips of the Red Thirst during the midst of battle. This is actively encouraged by the chapter's commanding officers, and has caused them to maintain close ties with many bloodthirsty Chapters of the Blood, such as the Flesh Tearers, Blood Swords, Blood Drinkers, Blood Scorpions, Red Mammoths and the Blood Vultures.
The Blood Aurochs are masters of close-quarters combat actions, such as space hulk purgation, boarding actions, line-breaker assaults, and they also excel at shock assault, aerial assault and melee combat. The Blood Aurochs eschew long-ranged combat, believing that it is cowardly. This has put them at odds with xenos such as the T'au Empire, whom they believe to be cowards due to their preference for long-ranged combat. However, they did develop a reluctant respect for Commander Farsight during the Damocles Gulf Crusade, both for his expertise at close-ranged combat and for his sense of honour, mainly for allowing the Imperial forces to withdraw from T'au space without being fired upon.
Whilst they did develop a sense of respect for the Tau following this campaign, they still believe them to be abhorrent xenos, and would not hesitate to exterminate them. This caused them to come into conflict with the T'au Empire many times, enacting many furious campaigns against key T'au Sept worlds. They harbour a particular hatred for human worlds that choose to side with the xenos and join their empire, and do not hesitate to butcher every single lifeform on these worlds, the streets running red with blood.
The Blood Aurochs have also launched many campaigns against the Tyranids, including boarding actions into the Tyranid Bio-ships, purging the Tyranid lifeforms from the inside. Most recently, the Blood Aurochs participated in the Devastation of Baal, a massive assault by the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Leviathan against the homeworld of the Blood Angels, Baal and her two moons, Baal Prime and Baal Secundus. Along with dozens of other Blood Angels successor chapters, the Blood Aurochs rushed to the aid of their parent chapter.
During the campaign, the Blood Aurochs, like many of their fellow successor chapters, found their ranks sorely depleted. It seemed as if they would be wiped out completely, and this might have been the case were it not for the arrival of Roboute Guilliman and the Indomitus Crusade. Reinforced by the Primaris Space Marines, the Blood Aurochs were able to bring their numbers up to full fighting strength once more.
Following the rebuilding of their numbers, the Blood Aurochs returned to their homeworld of Incar X, located in the Incar System in the Segmentum Ultima of the Imperium Nihilus in the Eastern Fringe. However, the Blood Aurochs homeworld is not considered to be a part of the Realm of Ultramar. They have a great respect for the sons of Guilliman, but wish to operate independently from them.
Due to their location in the Eastern Fringe, the Blood Aurochs have often come into contact and fought against the Necrons of the Sautekh Dynasty, as well as the members of the T'au Empire, and the Aeldari of Craftworld Saim-Hann. They harbour a particular hatred for these xenos, and have launched numerous attacks against them, including most recently a boarding action assault against the Eldar of craftworld Saim-Hann. However, they were forced to retreat from the craftworld when they were alerted that the Greater Daemon of Khorne, Ka'Bandha, had launched an assault against their homeworld of Incar X, and their fortress-monastery, the Hearth of the Aurochs.
Whilst Ka'Bandha eventually retreated in the face of the Blood Aurochs' counter-assault, the world of Incar X was overrun with Khornate demons. Millions were slaughtered, and were it not for the intervention of a crusading force of their fellow Blood Angels successor chapters, comprised of the Red Mammoths, Crimson Bones, Red Tusks and the Red Panthers, they may have been overrun. Unfortunately, during this campaign, the Red Panthers turned towards the worship of Chaos during this campaign, turning against their allies as they devoted themselves wholly to the worship of Khorne.
The Blood Aurochs and their allies eventually banished the daemons back to the warp, and drove the Red Panthers from the surface of their homeworld. To this day, they have devoted themselves to the destruction of the Red Panthers as well as the annihilation of all Khornate daemons and worshippers.
The Blood Aurochs charge at their foes like a stampede of aurochs, and just like the aurochs, only the greatest evils can put them down. They are bloodthirsty, but noble and honourable Astartes, crushing the skulls of their enemies beneath the tread of their ceramite boots. They are prone to falling to the violence of the Red Thirst, as well as the Black Rage. It is rumoured that once almost half of the Blood Aurochs' numbers were inducted into the Death Company, although this has never been proven.
Like the Blood Angels, the Blood Aurochs have a deep respect for the members of their Death Company, as they known that one day it will be their fate to join the ranks of their black-armoured brethren. Due to the colour of the power armour of the Death Company, black is seen as a sacred colour to the Blood Aurochs. The Blood Aurochs have many traditions that can be considered tribal in aspect, which is appropriate considering the primitive state of their homeworld.
Battle of the Gathus System
One of the most famous battles the Blood Aurochs ever participated in was the Battle of the Gathus System in early M42. The 71st Company Host of the Word Bearers launches an assault against the world of Gathus Rex and the Forge World of Cybian V, both located in the Gathus System. They are accompanied by the fleet of the Apostles of the Code, a warband of Chaos Space Marines led by the Warpsmith Pyrun Carrionblade. However, there is dissension among the Chaos forces, particularly between the Word Bearers Coryphaus, Kol Geryon, and Warpsmith Pyrun Carrionblade. Kol Geryon suspects that the Apostles of the Code have ulterior motives, but he is helpless to stop them when his Dark Apostle, Ghon Azu, allows Carrionblade to commit his forces to their assault.
A portion of the 71st Company Host's fleet and Pyrun Carrionblade's fleet arrive in the Gathus System beforehand, ready to take on Battlefleet Gathus. The Astropath of one of the fleet's ships, the Executioner's Daughter, detected a vessel moving through the Warp towards their system. A flotilla of Light Cruisers - the Silver-heart, Goldenborne, Lord Rafeel, and the Blood of Doom - were sent ahead to scout. It was discovered that they were ambushed and destroyed when Captain Lysander of the Soul of Iron when to investigate their whereabouts when it was discovered their electronics were being blocked.
Pyrun Carrionblade, in his warband's flagship, crippled the rest of the fleet using his ship's Nova Cannon. The rest of the Chaos fleet then arrived in-system to begin the planetary assault. Half of the Chaos forces attack the world of Gathus Rex in order to gain access to a vital objective, specifically a series of weapons in a strategically hidden bunker, kept on Gathus Rex so that none but the highest ranking members of the Cybian Mechanicus know of their existence. However, a mole in league with the Chaos forces reveals this secret to the 71st Host of the Word Bearers, and they attempt to take these dangerous weapons for themselves. Simultaneously, the other half of the Word Bearers forces, accompanied by a small group of Chaos Knights of House Morbidia, attack the Forge World of Cybian V. However, as forces of the Apostles of the Code gain the hidden weapons bunker, they turn upon their allies of the 71st Word Bearers Host. Anarchy spreads through the Chaos forces, allowing a band of Gathus Rex's citizens to take advantage of the chaos between the forces of the Archenemy to disrupt the jamming technology the Chaos forces were using in order to send an urgent plea for Imperial aid.
A portion of the Imperial forces remain on their ships to take on the Chaos fleet. A terrific void battle takes place, commanded by the 2nd Captain of the Red Tusks, Sebastian Themiskon, who also serves in the role of Master of the Techmarines. Despite his expertise in technology and the art of void combat, Themiskon struggles against the power of the Apostles of the Code's Nova Cannon. Seeing no other option, he organises a strike force of his fellow Red Tusks, along with a portion of Crimson Bones battle-brothers, to board the flagship of Pyrun Carrionblade and destroy the ship from the inside. It is undoubtedly a suicide mission, and yet several battle-brothers volunteer themselves for the task. Those that are chosen are known as Strike Force Angel.
Boarding the enemy vessel in a Boarding Torpedo, the deadly cargo of Strike Force Angel is unleashed. Each battle-brother is armed with a belt of Melta Bombs, ready to start a chain reaction of reactor explosions. It is unlikely any of Strike Force Angel will survive, and yet even in death, if their mission should turn out to be successful, their names will go down in legend.
Meanwhile, the rest of the forces of the Red Mammoths, Blood Aurochs, Crimson Bones and the Red Tusks deploy via Drop Pod and Thunderhawk to the surfaces of Gathus Rex and Cybian V. The assault against the Word Bearers and the Apostles of the Code on Gathus Rex is led by the Blood Aurochs and the Crimson Bones as they attempt to lay siege to the bunker of weapons the Chaos forces are attempting to take for themselves. Captain Moriar of the 9th Company of the Blood Aurochs comes into personal combat with Pyrun Carrionblade after he witnesses the Chaos Warpsmith slay the leader of the force of Word Bearers attacking Gathus Rex. He fires a burst of superheated blue-white plasma at the Chaos Warpsmith, but misses.
Moriar orders the 3rd Captain of the Crimson Bones, Segundo, to wrestle the weapons bunker from the hands of Chaos. Moriar charges into battle, his Chainsword revving his anger. Meanwhile, his lieutenants engage Carrionblade's Obliterator bodyguards in combat as their captain fights in the biggest, most epic duel of his lifetime. It is during this battle that the front of Moriar's helmet is cut off, taking his face along with it. It is entirely likely that Moriar would have died were it not for the intervention of his Chapter Master, Lysandor Turit.
Meanwhile, the Red Mammoths and Red Tusks launch the counter-assault on Cybian V. The Chaos forces that attacked the Forge World of Cybian V, were led by the Dark Apostle Ghon Azu, accompanied by the Major of War of the Apostles of the Code, Carrionblade's lieutenant Phar Bonecleaver. Part of their forces include a unit of Knights from House Morbidia. As they attack the Forge World, they are set upon by the Skitarii of the Cybian Mechanicus. The members of the Mechanicus are relieved when the Red Mammoths and the Red Tusks come to their aid. The Red Tusks deploy almost their entire armoury of war machines, focusing their assault on the Knights of House Morbidia, whilst the Red Mammoths attack the Word Bearers and the Apostles of the Code.
Strike Force Angel move through the confines of the Chaos flagship, attempting to reach the reactors in order to destroy the ship and the Nova Cannon before it can cripple the Imperial fleet. They are harassed at every intersection by Chaos warriors, almost all of them mutated so that they are barely recognisable as the proud Astartes they once were. Even the human crew are little more than mutants.
It was during the assault on Cybian V that the Word Bearers forces' motives were revealed. Unbeknownst to the Cybian Mechanicus, a Warp Gate was hidden on the Forge World. Prior to the assault on the Gathus System, the Sorcerer of the 71st Company Host, Adocius, had been in a meditative trance with the entities of the Immaterium. Dark Apostle Ghon Azu wished for him to summon forth a Greater Daemon of Tzeentch, a Lord of Change known as Fluxhand. Ghon Azu wished for Adocius to perform a ritual to help him absorb Fluxhand, in order to elevate him to the status of a Daemon Prince.
Whilst Adocius opened the Warp Gate, the rest of the Chaos forces held off the Mechanicus and the Space Marines. Completing the ritual, Fluxhand was brought forth, along with a legion of other Chaos entities. However, before the ritual to elevate Ghon Azu to the status of a Daemon Prince could be completed, the Red Mammoths and Red Tusks overran the Morbidia Knights, the heavy firepower of the Red Tusks' war machines felling many of the mutated Knights. As the Red Tusks surged forward in their war machines, the Red Mammoths pushed through the lines of the Chaos forces, led by their Chief Librarian, Meshach.
The Warp Gate, guarded by the 19th Coterie of the Word Bearers 71st Company Host, opened fire on the Red Mammoths. Chief Librarian Meshach's strike force, composed of Terminators of the 1st Company, were able to weather this heavy firepower due to the durability of their Tactical Dreadnought Armour. Accompanied by Epistolary Liventius, Chief Librarian Meshach launched a psychic assault against the Word Bearers Sorcerer, Adocius. This first assault of psychic power sent Adocius careening across the room. As Epistolary Liventius rushed to engage Adocius, Chief Librarian Meshach worked to close the Warp Gate to cut off the psychic energies feeding Fluxhand.
Meshach manages to close the Warp Gate, banishing Fluxhand back to the Immaterium before Adocius can complete his ritual, but in the process the Dark Apostle is able to escape. The remnants of the 19th Coterie of the Word Bearers rescue Adocius, fleeing in a transport back to their flagship, killing Epistolary Liventius in the process.
Meanwhile, Strike Force Angel plan their melta bombs, setting off a chain reaction of reactor explosions on Pyrun Carrionblade's flagship. None of the strike force's members survive, but their names will go down in history. Their sacrifice allow the Red Tusks' ships to fire on the ships of the large Apostles of the Code fleet, however the strike cruiser of the 71st Word Bearers Host manages to escape largely unharmed.
Notable Campaigns
- Mid-M34-M35 Nova Terra Interregnum and the 8th Founding - A new founding of Space Marine Chapters was declared to be necessary by the High Lords of Terra during this period of anarchy in the Imperium's history, known as the Nova Terra Interregnum, during which the Imperium fractured into two warring factions for over 900 standard years. The Blood Aurochs was one such chapter created during this founding, a brutal, relentless chapter believed to be necessary to pacify Imperial worlds and prevent any future uprisings. Much of the records of this tumultuous time are missing, including in the Blood Aurochs' own records, however it is known that they fought in many campaigns during this time to quell uprisings on rebellious worlds which had declared for the Ur-Council. The Ur-Council was declared to be heretics.
- 604.M34 Battle against the Flawless Host - The Blood Aurochs defend an Imperial world against a warband devoted to Slaanesh, the Chaos God of Pleasure, known as the Flawless Host, originally the Shining Blades Chapter of Astartes. The Flawless Host, formerly the Shining Blades, revealed their allegiance to Chaos during the Berillia Massacres. As they attempt to steal slaves for themselves and raise grotesque monuments to their dark god, the Blood Aurochs arrive, having answered the call for aid. Working alongside the Planetary Defence Force, they drive the Chaos Space Marines from the surface of the planet. The Blood Aurochs are praised with laurels for this campaign, and the world's Planetary Governor offers a tithe of the world's population to be used as recruits for the chapter. The planet, its name since lost to historical records, raised many statues of the Blood Aurochs and their primarch, Sanguinius, in place of the reviled monuments to the Prince of Pleasure, Slaanesh.
- 850.M34 Revenge for Grendel's World - Seven years before, the Night Lords exterminate the entire planetary populace of an isolated world, Grendel's World, on the Eastern Fringe. Seven years later, the Blood Aurochs enact their vengeance on the Night Lords when they attempt to commit a similar extermination on another planet. Every single traitor Astartes and crew member is slaughtered to a man. Their corrupted ship is sent hurtling into the system's fiery sun.
- ca.M35 Battle of the Broadsword - Alongside the Tallarn Desert Raiders, the Blood Aurochs participate in in suppressing the Chaemos Rebellion. It is during this rebellion that the Captain of the Blood Aurochs' 4th Company is killed. The Chapter Master and Chaplains appoint Sergeant Miguel Antorio as the new Captain of the 4th company.
- ca.M35 The Long Watch - The Blood Aurochs pledge several of their most experienced battle-brothers to join the ranks of the Deathwatch. Amongst these battle-brothers are Iscio Kanoso, who earns many laurels and honours during his time with the Deathwatch. He is promoted to be the leader of a Kill-team, and does not return to his chapter for thousands of years, not until the Blood Aurochs come to the aid of the Blood Angels when the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Leviathan attack Baal and her moons. Iscio's long experience with the Deathwatch allows him reap a large tally of tyranids, adding his valuable experience and expertise to the fight. Following the end of this campaign and the introduction of the Primaris Marines, Iscio returns home alongside his brothers, and is made the new Champion of the 1st Company.
- ca.M35 Battle of Mortrakk Eleven - The details of this campaign have been redacted from Imperial records. All that is known is that the Blood Aurochs participated in this campaign alongside their cousins, the Flesh Tearers. Following this campaign it is rumoured that there is a surge in the number of battle-brothers inducted into the ranks of the Blood Aurochs' Death Company.
- ca. 100-600.M36 Age of Apostasy - The Age of Apostasy was a period of civil war during the 36th Millennium that occurred due to a political struggle between the Administratum and the Adeptus Ministorum. The struggle began when control over the Imperium's government was essentially seized by a single man, the High Lord of Terra Goge Vandire, who commanded both the Administratum and the Ecclesiarchy as Master of the Administratum and ruled the Imperium according to his own wishes instead of in accordance with the Emperor's will. Fortunately, his brutal reign eventually came to an end with the coming of the reforming preacher Sebastian Thor and his reborn Confederation of Light, a sect of the Imperial Cult based on the previous Confederation of Light's banned teachings that were once a rival to the then-orthodox theology of the Imperial Cult's most dominant sect, the Temple of the Saviour Emperor. The Confederation of Light sought to end Goge Vandire's corruption of Imperial theology and reform the faith of the Imperium in what its adherents viewed as a more moral form that embodied the Emperor's own sacrifice for humanity. High Lord Vandire was in power for almost a standard century before finally being overthrown in the midst of the Wars of Apostasy and slain by his own bodyguards, the Daughters of the Emperor, who later became the Adepta Sororitas. Vandire was replaced as the Imperial ecclesiarch by Sebastian Thor, who unleashed the Imperium's second major era of reform following the Horus Heresy. The end of the Reign of Blood resulted in a major reformation of the Ecclesiarchy, the creation of the Inquisition's Ordo Hereticus to police those enemies of the Emperor who lay within the Imperium's own structures, and the creation of the Adepta Sororitas to serve as both the Ecclesiarchy's new military force and the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Hereticus. The Plague of Unbelief is considered to be part of the Age of Apostasy, although it occurred several solar decades after High Lord Goge Vandire's death and Sebastian Thor's ascension to the position of ecclesiarch. Many false prophets appeared throughout the anarchic Age of Apostasy, some little more than madmen leading rebel armies, others who were spiritual demagogues who commanded worlds and armies. The Plague of Unbelief is considered to be part of the Age of Apostasy, although it occurred several solar decades after High Lord Goge Vandire's death and Sebastian Thor's ascension to the position of ecclesiarch. Many false prophets appeared throughout the anarchic Age of Apostasy, some little more than madmen leading rebel armies, others who were spiritual demagogues who commanded worlds and armies. The most powerful of these was the Apostate Cardinal of Gathalamor, Bucharis, whose heresies reached such proportions they became known as the "Plague of Unbelief," not to be confused with the Zombie Plague, a potent arcane disease spread by servants of the Chaos God Nurgle in the 41st Millennium. The Age of Apostasy is considered to be one of the bloodiest eras in the Imperium's history after the terrible civil war that was the Horus Heresy. The Blood Aurochs are one of the many Space Marine Chapters that helped pacify Imperial worlds during this period.
- 811.M37 The 7th Black Crusade (Ghost War) Erupts - The 7th Black Crusade, also known as the Ghost War, is unleashed upon the Imperium. At this time, the forces of Chaos spewed forth from the Eye of Terror past Cadia and then disappeared. This event is what earned this conflict its informal name of the Ghost War. The following years saw a game of hide-and-seek played between the Forces of Chaos and the Imperium of Man which spread confusion, paranoia, disinformation and deceit across the galaxy. Raids became commonplace in far-flung areas but eventually the servants of the Dark Gods returned to the Eye of Terror, having caused great difficulty for the Emperor's Loyalists but having proven unable to significantly degrade Imperial defensive capabilities at that time.
- ca. 811.M37 The Ghost War and the Blood Angels - During this conflict, when the Blood Angels battled against the forces of Chaos at Midian, Abaddon singled them out with implacable fury. He led a band of Khornate Berserkers into the teeth of the Blood Angels' Devastator positions. Even the Blood Angels' own Assault troops could not dislodge the frenzied warband and recapture the bodies of their comrades. But there is an obscure reference to the Blood Angels being saved by an unidentified Space Marine Chapter of mysterious origin. Written within the The Canticle of Cassandria Lev - Vol. CVI, the eponymous Sainted Sisters' highly mythologised and oblique account of the wars of the 7th Black Crusade, is found mention of a "grey-clad" Space Marines Chapter who came from "The outer night" to aid the Imperium, and whose "Jagged maw did swallow the stars ... and whose ... black gaze did mirror the void of oblivion." In the course of the canticle this Chapter's ships set upon Abaddon's forces following the disastrous defeat and routing of the Blood Angels at Midian and attacked the pursuing forces as Saint Lev writes: "...fell upon the servants of the skulled-one with great fury from the darkness, unseen as the beast that lurks beneath the black waters, death for death, blood for blood...thus were the Sons of Sanguinius bought respite, and did turn back upon their pursuers and so were the damned traitors of the false gods driven unto their ruin." Images of these events can be found upon the walls of the Cemetery World of Hypasitis created to house the honoured dead of that war, depicted in repeated fresco and bar relief. Curiously, the faces of the intervening Space Marines depicted there are obscured with featureless disks of black obsidian. Given the largely unknown history of the star-faring Carcharodons Chapter, accounts of their activities can only be constructed from recorded historical incidents and fragmentary records that are believed to have involved the Carcharodons on balance of evidence. This notable engagement is listed by Imperial savants as a "[Special] Probable Encounter/Recorded Sighting" of this notorious and mysterious Space Marine Chapter. After their rescue at Midian, the full remaining might of the Blood Angels Chapter fell upon a vast Black Legion warband on the world of Mackan. Although the conflict ultimately ends in the near-extinction of the Blood Angels at the hands of Abaddon the Despoiler and his primary lieutenants -- the Sorcerer-Lord Iskandar Khayon and the swordmaster Telemachon Lyras -- the Blood Angels Reclusiarch Thalastian Jorus becomes one of the few Imperial heroes to ever land a blow against the Warmaster of Chaos. With his Chapter devastated, the Chaplain endures weeks of hardship in the wilderness and the constant trials of keeping his crazed warriors undetected on Mackan. When the time is right, Jorus leads his Death Company in a lightning raid behind enemy lines, butchering the unprepared sworn warriors of the Despoiler’s honour guard, and allowing the Reclusiarch to lock blades with Abaddon himself. It is said the Chaos Warmaster still bears the scars of that battle, even three standard millennia later. Whatever the truth of the matter, it is known that the Despoiler honoured Jorus once the war was over -- perhaps in mockery, or perhaps with nothing but sincerity. After Mackan, thousands of Blood Angels corpses were desecrated, their gene-seed ruined beyond recovery. Of all the Chapter, only a handful of bodies were left undefiled: Reclusiarch Jorus and his Death Company, clad in their battered and broken black ceramite, seated in makeshift thrones made from the armour of those Black Legion warriors they had killed on that fateful night. The Blood Aurochs, along with many other Chapters of the Blood, vow vengeance against the Warmaster of Chaos.
- ca.M38 Battle against House Ærthegn - The strike cruiser, Vermillion Revenant, of the Blood Aurochs 8th Company is attacked as they emerge from the warp a few hours away from their homeworld of Incar X. They are attacked by the Knights of House Ærthegn, corrupt, vile versions of the noble Knights that serve the Imperium. The battle-brothers of the 8th Company bring their expertise in close-quarters combat to bear, crawling onto the hull of their strike cruiser and doing battle with the Knights of the Chaos House. The 8th Company battle-brothers are like tiny red-armoured ants crawling across the metal skin of their ship, but these ants are vision, because they are not ants at all; they are the Blood Aurochs. The 8th Company succeeds in destroying the Chaos Knights, although they lose some of their own to the cold vacuum of the void.
- 301.M39 - The 11th Black Crusade erupts out of the Eye of Terror. The Blood Aurochs, along with their kin, the Red Mammoths, the Crimson Bones and the Red Tusks fight off the forces of Abaddon the Despoiler.
- 333.M39 - A force of Nurgle worshippers causes an uprising on the world of Icho's Fall. Soon, a force of Death Guard Chaos Space Marines arrive along with a mighty force of Nurglings, Plaguebearers, Rot Flies, Daemon Princes of Nurgle, and Great Unclean Ones. The 9th Company of the Blood Aurochs ("Flaming Bulls") arrives in its entirety to kill the minions of Nurgle with cleansing flame.
- ca.M40 - The Blood Aurochs fight alongside the Dark Angels in a campaign against a world attacked by the Drukhari. However, during this campaign, the Dark Angels randomly flee the world for unknown reasons. The Blood Aurochs are furious, and suffer heavy casualties because of this. They launch a formal complaint against the Dark Angels following this campaign, although nothing becomes of it. Since then, the Blood Aurochs have had a strained relationship with all sons of the Lion, believing them to be cowards.
- ca.M41 Scourge of the Xenos - The Blood Aurochs fight a vicious campaign against the Necrons of the Sautekh Dynasty, who they deem to be a threat to their homeworld and the Imperium as a whole. The Sautekh Dynasty is one of the most powerful and aggressive of all the Necron dynasties, with many believing that they represent the Necron race as a whole, with the other dynasties being offshoots of the Sautekh. The Blood Aurochs launch many campaigns against the Necrons in the 41st Millennium, but the counter assaults orchestrated by the Necrons mean that they make little progress.
- 025.M41 Infiltration of Dalthius Seven - Chaos Space Marines of the Alpha Legion infiltrate the world of Dalthius Seven, a frozen Mining World where the Blood Aurochs keep a repository of their gene-seed. As the Alpha Legion attempt to corrupt the store of gene-seed, the Blood Aurochs arrive in force to stop them. They kill many of the Alpha Legion Marines, but not before a portion of their gene-seed repository is contaminated beyond repair. It is with deep regret that the Blood Aurochs destroy this repository of their gene-seed in its entirety, lest it destroy their chapter from within. Unbeknownst to the Blood Aurochs, Incariah Halbeel is kidnapped during this campaign, and replaced with a spy from the Alpha Legion, his features altered surgically. Halbeel is interrogated relentlessly by the Alpha legionaries, but keeps his lips sealed about his chapter's secrets. Years later, he manages to escape, killing his captors. He links up with battle-brothers of the Red Tusks, who deliver him back to his homeworld. The fake Incariah Halbeel is interrogated by the Blood Aurochs' Chaplains, as is the real Incariah. When he is eventually declared free of Chaos taint, he is allowed back into the ranks of the chapter. Ever since then, he has harboured a personal vendetta against the Alpha Legion. Following this disaster, the Sanguinary Priesthood of the Blood Aurochs works desperately to increase their store of gene-seed. It is during this dark time that their fellow successor chapter, the Red Tusks, steps up and offers the Blood Aurochs a portion of their gene-seed. The ties of friendship between the two chapters strengthens.
- 032.M41 The Gathering - The Blood Aurochs host a friendly competition between themselves and their closest allies, the Red Mammoths, Crimson Bones and the Red Tusks. The competitions include tests of marksmanship, endurance, speed, strength and duelling prowess. The bonds of the four chapters strengthens following these competitions, and many battle-brothers of the Blood Aurochs share vows to become "honour brothers" with their cousins of the Red Mammoths, Crimson Bones and the Red Tusks.
- Damocles Gulf Crusade (742-745.M41) - This was the first military conflict between the T'au Empire and the Imperium of Man. The T'au Water Caste attempted to establish trade agreements with Imperial worlds on the Eastern Fringes of the galaxy in the Damocles Gulf region of the Segmentum Ultima. The T'au were attempting to show humanity the benefits of accepting the Greater Good. Exchanges of goods and technology were extremely common in this region of space. The Imperium was alarmed by the threat the T'au posed by contaminating humanity with their alien filth. The Adeptus Administratum organised a military response, an almost a century later the Damocles Crusade began. The Damocles Crusade dived deep into T'au space, destroying many T'au settlements. When the Imperial fleet reached the T'au Sept World of Dal'yth Prime, however, the crusade ground to a bloody stalemate as the formidable numbers and high technology of the T'au and their Kroot allies thwarted every attempt to capture the world or its star system. Many solar months of terrible fighting ensued with nothing gained on either side. By late 745.M41 the crusade's commanders eventually agreed to requests from the T'au Water Caste for peace talks. The negotiations were successful and the Imperial fleet withdrew from T'au space unmolested, primarily due to the impending approach of the Tyranid Hive Fleet Behemoth. The Blood Aurochs are one of the chapters that take part in this Crusade, and its here that they first develop their hatred of their T'au, believing them to be dishonourable and cowardly. However, they did develop a reluctant respect for Commander Farsight during the Damocles Gulf Crusade, both for his expertise at close-ranged combat and for his sense of honour, mainly for allowing the Imperial forces to withdraw from T'au space without being fired upon.
- The Tendril Uncoils (ca. 999.M41) - The Baal System is reinforced like never before. Answering Commander Dante's call, one Blood Angels Successor Chapter of the Sanguinary Brotherhood after another arrives to lend much -- if not all -- of their strength to their primogenitors. Slab-sided defences are raised upon the blasted sands of Baal Prime and Secundus, and even around the fortress-monastery of Arx Angelicum on Baal itself. Fleets of Cruisers and Battle Barges gather in the void around Baal and its moons, their combined might enough to crush star systems and end worlds. Still, as deep-void Auspex screens turn blood red with contact runes, and a ten-thousand-kilometre-wide tidal wave of chitin and flesh surges into the Baal System, it seems unlikely that it will be enough.
- Desperate Measures (ca. 999.M41) - With the Tyranids closing in, Commander Dante and his closest lieutenants authorise deeds that would have been unthinkable in brighter days. The Blood Angels' precious gene-seed reserves are removed from their storage crypts, packed carefully for transit under the watchful eyes of Sanguinary Priests, and then sent away on a swift starship with a hand-picked complement of guards. At the same time, millennia of tradition are cast aside as Blood Angels gunships gather every viable Aspirant they can from amongst the nomadic tribes of Baal Prime and Secundus. These youths are armed, and then ferried to the Arx Angelicum. There they form defence garrisons whose strength will augment that of Sanguinius' sons. At least forty thousand wide-eyed youths are gathered in this way, and told that any who survive the coming battle will surely prove their worthiness to join the Chapter's ranks. Of the remaining tribesmen of Baal little is said. Given what extra weapons and rations the Blood Angels can spare, they are left to hide or stand as they see fit. Any Tyranids they kill will be fewer monstrosities to beset the Blood Angels and their successors, but the tribesmen are not expected to weather the horrors that follow.
- Devastation of Baal (ca. 999.M41) - Unwilling to cede void supremacy to the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Leviathan without a fight, Commander Dante orders his naval vessels to strike at the enemy and slow their advance. Across a hundred fronts, the red-armoured voidcraft of the Blood Angels and their successors strike at the fleshy Tyranid Hive Ships. Brother Angelo, the Master of the Fleet of the Blood Aurochs, coordinates the ships of his chapter. Lances and gun decks split the darkness with their fury. Ruptured bio-ships tumble away, slicks of ichor spilling from their sundered innards to freeze in the merciless void. Dozens of Tyranid bio-ships are butchered, hundreds of thousands of warrior organisms slain before they ever see the irradiated sands of Baal. Still the Blood Angels are driven back, every victory carrying its own butcher's bill in flaming hulks and dead battle-brothers. Soon enough the void war becomes unsustainable as more and more Tyranids flow from the darkness in squamous waves. With their surviving voidcraft forced to fall back and harass the Hive Fleet's flanks, the Blood Angels now face the full fury of the Tyranid invasion. On Baal, Baal Prime and Baal Secundus, aircraft-sized Mycetic Spores darken the skies in their millions. The Shadow in the Warp settles like a shroud, choking off any further hope of reinforcement. The Sons of Sanguinius stand alone.
- Death From Above (ca. 999.M41) - Tyranids pour from the skies in ever-increasing numbers. Their spores slam down like hellish seed pods to spill ravenous waves of war beasts directly into battle. Orbital lasers and hurtling gunships take a mighty toll upon the xenos, in some regions wreaking such carnage that purple ichor falls like storm rain across the defenders below. Yet still the Tyranid waves come on, Tyrannocytes falling thicker and thicker while Gargoyles and Harpies swoop between them, spitting acidic gruel that sends Blood Angels aircraft spiralling down in flames. On Baal and Baal Secundus, rippling tides of warrior organisms surge onto the defenders' guns and are shredded amidst storms of fire. Their corpses pile up in hideous drifts, yet still they press forwards, metre by metre. On Baal Prime the situation is worse still, the Tyranids hurling overwhelming forces into battle. Angel's Fall becomes a blood-drenched altar to the gods of battle, its defenders massacred by an avalanche of chitinous bodies and razored talons. Gabriel Seth and his berserk Flesh Tearers lead the counterattack, tearing the heart from one Tyranid swarm after another, but their victories do not come without cost.
- Driven Back (ca. 999.M41) - For solar weeks the fighting rages on. The Tyranid body count spirals upwards with breath-taking speed, Dante's warriors felling hundreds of xenos for every one of their own that falls. Yet fall the Sons of Sanguinius do, as their defence lines are breached and overwhelmed one after another. At last, the defenders stand defiant within the Arx Angelicum's final fortifications. Still the Tyranids fall from the skies. Still the slaughter continues.
- Secundus Defiant (ca. 999.M41) - On Baal Secundus, the Carmine Blades hold firm in the face of each Tyranid attack. Feet planted, Bolters roaring, they hold Baal's astropathic relay against impossible odds, bringing honour to their names with each bloody day that dawns.
- Last Stand (ca. 999.M41) - The greatest Tyranid wave yet slams into the defences of the Arx Angelicum and breaches them. Three Successor Chapter Masters fall in the battle of the Dome of Angels alone. Bodies pile high amidst the sundered defences. Still the defenders fight on, even throwing open the gates of the Tower of Amareo and letting the captive members of the Death Company loose. If the Sons of Sanguinius are to die, they will do so in battle and on their own terms. The Blood Aurochs stand alongside them, the members of their Death Company and their close support squads leading the charge.
- The Storm Breaks (ca. 999.M41) - The Great Rift tears across the galaxy. Warp storms spill from its howling maw, engulfing the war-torn worlds of the Baal System in empyric insanity. The Tyranids are cut off from their fleet, while on Baal Prime the sudden fury of a massive daemonic incursion is unleashed. Perhaps it is solar hours that pass, or days. Perhaps it is Terran years relative to the rest of the galaxy. Amidst the reality-bending energies of the Warp, Sanguinius' sons and the beasts of Hive Fleet Leviathan fight on towards mutual annihilation. Then, at last, the stars emerge again, revealing not a single bio-ship. Where the xenos voidcraft have gone, none can say, but as the Tyranid ground forces reel in confusion, a new fleet is revealed in their place. The Indomitus Crusade has arrived, Roboute Guilliman guided to Baal by the signal of its astropathic relay. With a word, he unleashes his fury...
- Angels and Daemons (Unknown Date.M42) - The salvation of Baal does not come quickly, or without cost. Even as Guilliman's forces rain down to relieve the siege of the Arx Angelicum, even as they join forces with the surviving Sons of Sanguinius and fight to purge Baal and its moons of xenos, still more Imperial lives are lost. Yet hopeless defeat has become a glorious victory against the odds. Meanwhile, if certain grim secrets of the Blood Angels are laid bare to the eyes of the Ultramarines Primarch, he chooses to keep his own counsel and leaves such things unspoken. Baal and Baal Secundus are cleansed of Tyranids before a solar month is out. The slaughter is spearheaded by Primaris Space Marines clad in the panoply of the Blood Angels and their successors. On Baal Prime no such martial efforts are required. The moon has been utterly scoured of life, both Imperial and Tyranid. Though Gabriel Seth and his last surviving Flesh Tearers escaped the unnatural cataclysm, the only sign of life that remains on Baal Prime is the immense Khornate sigil of the Greater Daemon Ka'Bandha, ancient foe of the Blood Angels, wrought in Tyranid skulls piled mountainously high and dominating much of the moon's southern hemisphere.
- The Great Rebuilding (999.M41) - During the Devastation of Baal, the Blood Aurochs, like many of their fellow successor chapters and the Blood Angels, found their ranks sorely depleted. It seemed as if they would be wiped out completely, and this might have been the case were it not for the arrival of Roboute Guilliman and the Indomitus Crusade. Reinforced by the Primaris Space Marines, the Blood Aurochs were able to bring their numbers up to full fighting strength once more.
- Assault on the Saim-Hann (002.M42) - Due to the location of their homeworld on the Eastern Fringe, the Blood Aurochs have frequently come into contact with the Aeldari of Craftworld Saim-Hann. Recently they launched a boarding action assault against the Eldar of craftworld Saim-Hann. However, they were forced to retreat from the craftworld when they were alerted that the Greater Daemon of Khorne, Ka'Bandha, had launched an assault against their homeworld of Incar X, and their fortress-monastery, the Hearth of the Aurochs.
- Ruination of Incar X (002.M42) - The Greater Daemon of Khorne, Ka'Bandha, launches an assault against the Blood Aurochs' homeworld of Incar X, accompanied by a legion of daemons. The Blood Aurochs send out a distress call to their allies and the neighbouring systems for aid, and their cousin chapters, the Red Mammoths, Crimson Bones, Red Tusks, and the Red Panthers come to their aid. Whilst Ka'Bandha eventually retreated in the face of the Blood Aurochs' counter-assault, the world of Incar X was overrun with Khornate demons. Millions were slaughtered, and were it not for the intervention of a crusading force of their fellow Blood Angels successor chapters, comprised of the Red Mammoths, Crimson Bones, Red Tusks and the Red Panthers, they may have been overrun. Unfortunately, during this campaign, the Red Panthers turned towards the worship of Chaos during this campaign, turning against their allies as they devoted themselves wholly to the worship of Khorne. The Blood Aurochs and their allies eventually banished the daemons back to the warp, and drove the Red Panthers from the surface of their homeworld. To this day, they have devoted themselves to the destruction of the Red Panthers as well as the annihilation of all Khornate daemons and worshippers.
- (005. M42) Battle of the Gathus System - The 71st Company Host of the Word Bearers launches an assault against the world of Gathus Rex and the Forge World of Cybian V, both located in the Gathus System. They are accompanied by the fleet of the Apostles of the Code, a warband of Chaos Space Marines led by the Warpsmith Pyrun Carrionblade. Half of the Chaos forces attack the world of Gathus Rex in order to gain access to a vital objective, specifically a series of weapons in a strategically hidden bunker, kept on Gathus Rex so that none but the highest ranking members of the Cybian Mechanicus know of their existence. However, a mole in league with the Chaos forces reveals this secret to the 71st Host of the Word Bearers, and they attempt to take these dangerous weapons for themselves. Simultaneously, the other half of the Word Bearers forces, accompanied by a small group of Chaos Knights of House Morbidia, attack the Forge World of Cybian V. However, as forces of the Apostles of the Code gain the hidden weapons bunker, they turn upon their allies of the 71st Word Bearers Host. Anarchy spreads through the Chaos forces, allowing a band of Gathus Rex's citizens to send an urgent plea for aid to nearby Imperial forces. The Blood Aurochs, Red Mammoths, Red Tusks and the Crimson Bones arrive to aid the Gathus System, driving the Chaos forces from the system. As the Red Tusks' ships fire on the ships of the large Apostles of the Code fleet, however the strike cruiser of the 71st Word Bearers Host manages to escape largely unharmed.
Homeworld
The homeworld of the Blood Aurochs is the world of Incar X in the Incar System, located in the Segmentum Ultima on the Eastern Fringe. Due to its location, the homeworld of the Blood Aurochs is prone to attack by many of the Imperium's most powerful threats, including the Necrons of the Sautekh Dynasty and the Aeldari of craftworld Saim-Hann, as well as the prolific T'au Empire.
Incar X is a world of grassy steppe lands and valleys, prone to brutal storms of sleet and rain, personified by the glaciers in the north. The world is home to many species of cattle, mammoth, birds and the predatory creatures that prey on them. The people on this world live out a primitive existence, not benefiting from the technologies the wider Imperium make use of, living a primitive existence, foraging off the land and sheltering in caves, much like the cavemen of Terra did in the early centuries of mankind's existence.
Due to these harsh conditions the human population of Incar X live in, they are a hardy stock, the perfect population for a recruiting world of the Adeptus Astartes. Due to their primitive lifestyles, the citizens of Incar X are largely unaware of concepts such as space and the idea of a wider galaxy, and the majority, apart from those who are inducted as neophytes into the ranks of the 10th Company of the Blood Aurochs, remain ignorant of this for all their lives.
Despite this, the human population of Incar X is incredibly resourceful, using the herbs and plants, as well as their roots, for food and seasoning, as well as making use of the plants for medicinal purposes. Many of the Blood Aurochs' Sanguinary Priests were once humble healers from these beginnings, treating infections, illnesses and conditions such as arthritis with poultices, washes or teas made from plants. The people of Incar X make use of the flint available on the planet to craft tools, such as axes and spear tips, using these to chop wood, create more tools and, most importantly, to hunt.
The many clans of Incar X often come into violent contact, with disputes thrown over matters such as territory, lack of resources or old rivalries. The Blood Aurochs do not interfere in these fights, believing them to be a good way to root out the weakest and create strong candidates for their chapter. Once every human lifetime a Blood Auroch, usually a Chaplain, but not always, will descend from the fortress-monastery of the chapter, the Hearth of the Aurochs, to bear witness to these battles between the clans of Incar X.
It is always a shock for the citizens of Incar X to see a Blood Auroch for the first time. Clad in their power armour, the battle-brother is like a metal giant, his armour's power pack growling with each step. He is often believed to be a creature of the spirit world, second only to a god, and that god is the Emperor. He is a deity little known on Incar X, but the topic of much adoration when he is spoken of in the legends of the clans.
Whole clans are wiped out during the clan conflicts, and the bravest and youngest of the warriors are chosen to become aspirants of the Blood Aurochs. If an aspirant is chosen from a particular clan, it is the subject of much renown for many years, despite the fact that the clan never knows if their aspirant survives their trials. Even so, it is an honour simply to be chosen, but even more so to succeeded. There is no greater honour.
Incar X is classified as a Feudal World, home to vicious clans that battle amongst themselves, as well as many vicious predators that the people have to compete with for resources such as food and shelter. Some of the animals that inhabit Incar X include many creatures similar to those that inhabited Old Earth in the Ice Age, such as the gigantic woolly mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, herds of bison, deer, steppe horses, ibex, chamois, mouflon sheep, and of course, the majestic aurochs. There are also many smaller creatures, including vicious ermines, badgers, minks, wolverines and martens, as well as many types of birds.
The people of the clans, as well as sometimes the Blood Aurochs themselves, often hunt these creatures. They primarily hunt the bigger creatures such as the bison and mammoths during the summer, saving the meat for winter, when it is necessary for the clans to hibernate in their caves, tents (made of animal skin) and earth lodges until spring. They keep the hide and the fur for clothing, using bone tools to scrape the hide clean to make leather, and scraping pelts to make fur. They also use other useful organs such as the bladder and intestines, drying them to be used as containers, for example. The people of the clans mainly subsist on the meat of these kills, as well as using the fat for a range of uses, not just sustenance. The bones can also be used for a range of uses, such as tools or to be sharpened for spear points.
This is the home of the Blood Aurochs, the world that shapes their entire character as much as their gene-seed does. The destruction of Incar X would cause untold devastation upon the psyche of the the Blood Aurochs.
Fortress-Monastery
The fortress-monastery of the Blood Aurochs is the Hearth of the Aurochs. It is a sprawling fortress built into the side of one of Incar X's mountains, isolated from the territory of the human clans. The location of the Hearth of the Aurochs is ideal, as it allows them to have a clear view of the surrounding landscape, ideal for spotting any incoming enemies, should any dare to attack the fortress-monastery. Its location on the side of a mountain allows the Blood Aurochs to have the advantage of the higher ground in any engagement, aside from a drop-assault, but it is unlikely due to the large array of weapon emplacements that a drop-pod or a platoon of drop-troopers would ever get close.
The fortress-monastery is protected on all sides by the mountain range, forming a shield around it. The Hearth of the Aurochs is also protected by a series of shimmering void shields, shielding the fortress-monastery in the event of an orbital bombardment. The fact that the majority of the fortress-monastery is built into the side of a mountain is a natural shield against any assault.
The surrounding area of the fortress-monastery, as well as the fortress-monastery itself, is bristling with weapon emplacements. These include (but are not limited to), macro-cannon turrets, heavy bolter bunkers as well as missile launchers. The orbit of the Blood Aurochs' homeworld is defended by Orbital Defence Platforms, armed with large defence lasers capable of firing on an encroaching enemy fleet. Only an army of unbeatable might or armed with incredibly powerful weapons could bring these defences down.
Chapter Organization
The Blood Aurochs adhere to the tenets of the Codex Astartes, just as their parent chapter, the Blood Angels, do. Whilst they do adhere to the Codex, they do not use it as the means for all their combat doctrine, feeling that to adhere ritualistically to the Codex would be to sacrifice their individuality, as well as to limit their flexibility during battle.
Like the Blood Angels, the Blood Aurochs use the Codex as a means to restrain the Red Thirst, however unlike the Blood Angels, the Blood Aurochs are actively encouraged to fall to the bloodthirsty frenzy of the Red Thirst in the midst of battle. They believe that allowing themselves to fall to the Red Thirst will strengthen their resolve and allow them to overcome the flaw of the Red Thirst, like an appetite that needs to be quenched. This appears to work for the Blood Aurochs, although it is unknown if this allows them to gain a deeper control over the Black Rage.
The 1st Company is comprised of the chapter's Veterans. The 2nd through 5th are the chapter's Battle Companies, used as the primary fighting force of the Blood Aurochs, as per the tenets of the Codex Astartes.
The 6th through 9th companies are the chapter's reserve companies. The 6th and 7th Companies are the Blood Aurochs' Tactical Companies, used to reinforce the battle companies or strike forces if they require reinforcements or become overstretched. The 8th Company is the Reserve Close Support company, composed of assault squads. The 9th Company is the Reserve Fire Support company, comprised of fire support squads.
Each company of the Blood Aurochs can operate as a separate fighting force, capable of sustaining itself for a period of time. A Blood Aurochs strike force, however, is usually comprised of several squads from different squads, assembled on an ad hoc basis according to the needs of the the mission at hand.
Nonetheless, a strike force will inevitably be referenced by the company from which most of its personnel are drawn, or the officer that leads it. The company that forms the core of such a strike force can be reinforced by auxiliary squads drawn from the Reserve Companies. Such squads will often become the 11th Squad and upwards of that company for the duration of the strike force's action.
In addition to the personal armour and weaponry required by its Battle-Brothers, each company, save the 10th, also maintains a host of support vehicles. These range from Rhino and Razorback transports to bikes and Land Speeders -- such tools are drawn upon whenever the tactical situation requires. This allows even a single Blood Aurochs company to fulfil a multitude of tactical and strategic roles.
The Blood Aurochs, like their progenitor chapter, also make use of modified vehicles, such as the Baal Predator, which mounts a twin-linked Assault Cannon, and is modified to lay down a torrent of fire as the Blood Aurochs advance, devastating infantry and light vehicles. The Blood Aurochs also make use of the Furioso Dreadnought variant, which eschews the heavy weaponry normally carried by Space Marine Dreadnoughts, replacing it with a second close combat weapon.
Chapter Command
Supreme command of the Blood Aurochs falls to the Chapter Master of the Blood Aurochs, Lysandor Turit. In the absence of the Chapter Master, either because he was away on campaign, falls in battle or is overcome by the Black Rage, command of the Chapter temporarily falls to the High Chaplain and the High Sanguinary Priest (Chief Apothecary) equivalent whilst they search for a replacement, or rule in the Chapter Master's stead if he is away on campaign.
Like their progenitors, the Blood Aurochs' Sanguinary Priesthood and Reclusiam are also part of the Chapter Command, rather than subordinate organisations as would normally be the case. This is so that there is a stable transition of command, and in the event of the Chapter Master's death, a good choice can be made for who will be the successor to the Chapter Master.
Officer Ranks
- Chapter Master - the supreme commander of the Blood Aurochs Chapter. He is a warrior and diplomat supreme, with centuries of experience of warfare. This rank is currently held by Lysandor Turit.
- Captain - the Captain is a rank held by those who command their own company. Depending on what company they command, the Captain holds a specific, unique title. For example, the Captain of the Blood Aurochs 1st Company holds the title of Regent of Incar X, and is the commander of all the Blood Aurochs forces in the event of an invasion against their homeworld.
- Lieutenant - there are two lieutenants per company, and whilst they are above the rank of sergeant, they still serve under the command of their Captain, helping to command the company and claim many of the responsibilities of their Captain so he can focus on the bigger picture.
Specialist Ranks
Like their progenitors, the Blood Aurochs make use of several specialist ranks not present in other Space Marine Chapters:
- Grand Librarian - Chief Librarian equivalent.
- Librarian - A battle-brother that can command the powers of the warp, as he is extremely psychically sensitive. Aspirants of the Blood Aurochs are screened early to determine if they have psychic abilities, and if they are found to possess psychic powers they are inducted into the Chapter's Librarius department in order to control their abilities and hone them to be able to use them as a weapon.
- Sanguinary Priest - The Sanguinary Priests are the Apothecary equivalent of the Blood Aurochs. They serve in the Chapter's Apothecaries, in charge of preserving the chapter's stores of gene-seed. They also partially fulfil the role of spiritual leaders, exhorting the battle-brothers to unleash the power of the Red Thirst in order to cleanse themselves of its taint, unleashing their wrath against their enemies.
- Chaplains - The Chaplains of the Blood Aurochs are the spiritual leaders of the chapter, ministering to those battle-brothers that have fallen to the Black Rage. They are also in charge of safeguarding the Blood Aurochs' most sacred shrine within the Reclusiam, in their fortress-monastery, the Hearth of the Aurochs.
- Warden of the Forge - Master of the Forge equivalent, the most senior Techmarine of the Chapter.
- Techmarine - a battle-brother that serves in the chapter's forge, a specialist in technology, trained by the tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
- Company Champion - the Company Champion is a warrior of supreme skill, and in the event of duels, is the one nominated to fight them. He is a renowned warrior, highly respected amongst his peers, famous for his deeds across the length of the galaxy. However, due to his status as company champion, it is unlikely he will ever achieve the rank of Captain, however if he achieves enough experience he could become part of the Sanguinary Guard, a great honour that many aspire to.
Line Ranks
- Veteran Sergeant - a sergeant of veteran status with centuries of combat experience.
- Veteran Marine - A battle-brother of veteran status with exemplary experience in warfare, usually serving within the 1st Company.
- Sergeant - A battle-brother with the rank of sergeant leads a squad of his fellow battle-brothers into battle.
- Battle-Brother - A battle-brother is a fully fledged Space Marine serving in the 1st-9th Companies, in either a Battleline, Close Support or Fire Support squad.
Specialist Units & Formations
- Death Company - Like all of their fellow Chapters of the Blood, the Blood Aurochs have a specialised unit known as the Death Company, made up of the battle-brothers that have fallen to the curse of the Black Rage. These Blood Aurochs abandon their traditional red armour, adopting the morbid black of the Death Company. They are led into battle by a Chaplain, who calms their bloodthirst with his sermons and prayers, leading the Death Company Astartes into the teeth of the enemy's attacks.
- Auroch Guard - Each company Captain charges into battle surrounded by the members of his Auroch Guard, a squad of veteran Astartes charged with protecting the life of their captain. They are equipped with the finest power armour, or in the case of some Auroch Guards, Terminator armour, as well as being supplied with the finest weapons the Chapter can supply. The Company Champion is not usually a part of the Auroch Guard, as the Auroch Guard's sole responsibility is to ensure the wellbeing of their Captain. If a Captain falls in battle, it is possible the next Captain could be selected from the previous Captain's Auroch Guard, but it is more likely to be a Sergeant as they have more leadership experience.
Order of Battle
The following is the Order of Battle of the Blood Aurochs in the Era Indomitus. It consists of the Chapter Command, Sanguinary Priesthood, Reclusiam, Librarius, Fleet Command, Logisticiam and the Armoury. These exist apart from the companies, along with the Death Company, which is considered to be its own auxiliary force separate from the chapter's companies.
Headquarters
| Chapter Command | ||
|
| ||
| Sanguinary Priesthood | Reclusiam | Armoury |
 Brother Hanzez Artatis, Sanguinary High Priest Keeper of the Burgundy Grail 26 Sanguinary Priests |
 Leonial Turus,
Master of the Faith, 15 Chaplains |
 Brother Gasparo Gadratis, Warden of the Forge 39 Techmarines 87 Servitors 10 Rhinos 10 Razorbacks 50 Drop Pods 29 Predators 10 Vindicators 10 Whirlwinds 12 Hunters 9 Stalkers 39 Land Raiders 25 Repulsors 15 Stormbirds Assault Bikes Attack Bikes |
| Librarius | Fleet Command | Logisticiam |
 Brother Girolimo Armon Master of the Librarius and Grand Librarian of the Blood Aurochs 13 Codiciers 12 Lexicaniums 14 Acolytums |
Brother Angelo, Master of the Fleet (Escorts) |
Brother Cleutah, Warden of the Gates 489 Chapter Equerries (Chapter Serfs) and Servitors |
Hosts of the Aurochs (Companies)
| Veteran Company | Battle Companies | |||
| 1st Company, "Sanguine Aurochs" |
2nd Company, "The Blooded Hooves" |
3rd Company, "Wardens of Sanguinius" |
4th Company, "The Auroch Knights" |
5th Company, "Custodians of the Blood" |
|
Captain Erasmas Tamah, Regent of Incar X 7 Auroch Guards 1 Company Ancient Iscio Kanoso, Company Champion 100 Veterans (including Terminators) |
Captain Belarius, Master of the Charge 7 Auroch Guards 1 Company Ancient Sanguinas Kanus, Company Champion |
Captain Lorenzo Machiavi, Master of the Arsenal and Guardian of the Hearth of the Aurochs 7 Auroch Guards 1 Company Ancient Incariah Halbeel, Company Champion |
Captain Martellos, Bearer of the Archangel Shard 7 Auroch Guards 1 Company Ancient Piero Danit, Company Champion |
Captain Glorian, 7 Auroch Guards 1 Company Ancient Ranan Halbel, Company Champion |
| Reserve Companies | Scout Company | |||
| 6th Company, "Horde of the Angel" |
7nd Company, "Horns of the Auroch" |
8rd Company, "Stampeders" |
9th Company, "Flaming Bulls" |
10th Company, "The Vicious Calves" |
|
Captain Goriel, 7 Auroch Guards 1 Company Ancient Tarneg Norico, Company Champion |
Captain Omnio, Master of Sieges 7 Auroch Guards 1 Company Ancient Dakheo Gabrim, Company Champion |
Captain Claudio, Lord Executioner/Lord of Skyfall 7 Auroch Guards 1 Company Ancient Taharos Gabreo, Company Champion |
Captain Moriar, Master of the Fires 7 Auroch Guards 1 Company Ancient Nemedath Archatis, Company Champion |
Captain Zoreal, 7 Auroch Guards 1 Company Ancient Danug Asbia, Company Champion 10 Vanguard Space Marine Squads 457 Unassigned Neophytes |
| Death Company | |||||
 Warden of the Lost All Blood Aurochs Space Marines that have succumbed to the Black Rage are inducted into the ranks of the Death Company, including Dreadnoughts. |
Chapter Recruitment
The Blood Aurochs primarily recruit from their homeworld of Incar X, a primitive world with no technology distributed amongst the human population. The clans that live on this world regularly compete amongst themselves for resources such as food and shelter, or partaking in elaborate battles due to ancient rivalries. Occasionally, a clan will be taken out by one of the world's natural predators, such as a cave lion, although this is rare.
The strongest and youngest warriors of the battling clans will be taken as aspirants for the Blood Aurochs, put through intense trails until only the strongest remain. It is common during the trials of the Blood Aurochs' aspirants for them to be taken to an isolated training camp, put through tests of endurance, stamina and strength, as well as bonding exercises, leadership exercises, and exercises to practice military stratagems and the like. The exact details of all the trials of the aspirants are unknown, but it is known that the final trial of the aspirants of the Blood Aurochs is to make it back safely to the fortress-monastery. The aspirants must battle dangerous predators, such as pack of wolves and cave lions, as well as enduring the fury of the heat or blizzards, depending on the time of year. They must hunt for their own food, usually by first crafting their own weapons, without the aid of Imperial technology. They subsist on meat if they are able to, but the land, depending on the location, also contains a range of plants that are edible, and medicinal, which is useful if an aspirant is injured, which is likely. They can also feast on bird eggs, but despite the range of food available, this depends on the time of year, as animals migrate depending on the season. It is incredibly likely that many of the aspirants will die on the journey back to the fortress-monastery. Those that do make it back with will become neophytes of the chapter.
For the first few years, the Neophytes remain unassigned to a Scout Squad, continuing to go through extensive training exercises as they are implanted with the genetically-engineered organs that make a Neophyte a fully-fledged Space Marine. These surgeries are incredibly painful, and some aspirants die during the surgeries, or due to complications resulting from the surgeries. Eventually they are promoted to a Scout squad, trained to undergo reconnaissance and infiltration missions, as well as becoming master snipers. Once the final organ, the Black Carapace, is implanted, the Neophyte gains the status of a fully fledged Space Marine, and is inducted into either one of the Battle Companies (2nd through 5th), or one of the Reserve Companies (6th through 9th). Only once they gain Veteran status is a battle-brother inducted into the ranks of the 1st Company.
Chapter Beliefs
Sanguinius was always a visionary. During his early days he desired to lead his people to a new and better life. When he joined the Great Crusade he transferred this vision to a far wider arena, but did not abandon it. He wanted a better life for all Humanity and an end to the horrors brought on by the collapse of human civilisation during the Age of Strife.
The Primarch of the Blood Angels did much to shape his Chapter. There is a mystical streak to many of the Blood Angels' doctrines, and also a strong belief that the way of things can be changed for the better. After all, the process of transforming an irradiated, genetically-damaged scavenger into a tall, proud and handsome warrior is living proof of this tenet.
The Blood Aurochs also live by this tenet of their primarch. They wish to perfect themselves above all else, particularly in terms of their twin genetic flaws, the Red Thirst and the Black Rage. They believe they are purifying themselves by falling to the Red Thirst in the midst of battle, as if by falling to the Red Thirst and venting the wrath all Sons of Sanguinius carry in their veins, he will have purged this flaw from his system. This appears to help them combat the Red Thirst, however it is unknown if this helps them combat the Black Rage.
The Blood Aurochs believe that they best uphold Sanguinius' tenets by devoting themselves wholeheartedly to their duty as Adeptus Astartes. They believe that through this commitment to their duty as Space Marines, they can best live up to the legacy of their primarch, which was the desire to create a better future for humanity. Their progenitors, the Blood Angels, have a strong belief that things can be changed for the better. The Blood Aurochs also share strongly in this belief, and like the Blood Angels' example of this tenet by turning an irradiated scavenger into a noble, handsome warrior, the Blood Aurochs take a primitive, barbaric clan member and turn him into a fearsome warrior of epic proportions.
As their progenitors strive for perfection in everything they do, including their art, the Blood Aurochs dedicate themselves endlessly to perfecting the art of combat. The teeth of their chainswords are never missing or blunted, apart from in the midst of battle, and their power armour is always gleaming, as if it was freshly made. They train multiple times a day within the sparring cages, as well as in friendly duels against one another.
The Blood Aurochs have a tradition of hosting a series of competitions with their closest allies - the Red Mammoths, Crimson Bones, and the Red Tusks. These competitions consist of tests of marksmanship, endurance, speed, brute strength, and duelling. It is customary for the Chapter Champion of each of these chapters to duel one another in these competitions, testing themselves against warriors of an equal footing, strengthening themselves as well as their bonds of friendship with the Red Mammoths, Crimson Bones and the Red Tusks. It is also customary for the company champions to duel one another, usually to first blood, although sometimes even to second or third blood. Sometimes, battle-brothers of different chapters team up against another a pair and attempt to best them in a 2 v 2 duel. The battle-brothers that team up for these paired duels often become "honour brothers," swearing oaths of brotherhood and friendship for life.
The Blood Aurochs have many traditions and beliefs that can be considered tribal in nature. This is appropriate considering the primitive state of their homeworld. One of these is the tribal-esque ritual that a Scout Marine goes through once he has earned his Black Carapace, and is officially recognised as a fully fledged battle-brother. Once he has earn his Black Carapace, he is ready to initiated into one of the chapter's battle or reserve companies. Before this can happen, however, he must go through the ritual known only as the "Ascension." Just as an aspirant drinks his primarch's blood from the Chapter's Burgundy Grail - the Grail made and gifted for them at their inception as a Chapter by the Blood Angels - to become a Neophyte, a Scout must complete the ritual of Ascension after receiving his Black Carapace to leave the 10th Company.
During this ritual, the Blood Aurochs' High Chaplain, Leonial Turus, has the Scout, now a battle-brother, remove his armour and body glove so that he stands bare before his brothers. His body is then rubbed with a paste made of red ochre and aurochs fat, a creature that is sacred to the chapter, and forbidden for the humans of the clans to hunt. The brother must then intone a series of prayers to Sanguinius and the Emperor, begging for his soul to be made pure, his body as strong as the Angel's, and his heart and mind free of corruption. He is then fed a broth prepared by the chapter's Sanguinary Priests, the contents of which are unknown to all save the Sanguinary Priests themselves and their Chaplain brothers.
After being fed this mysterious broth, it is said that the battle-brother will be overcome by visions which are believed to be sent by the Emperor himself. If the battle-brother is found unworthy of his new status, he will not survive, driven insane by these visions. He will then be slaughtered mercifully by the High Chaplain and his body left to be fed on by the carrion birds after his gene-seed has been extracted.
Blood Aurochs Librarians
Like almost all of their fellow Astartes Chapters, the Blood Aurochs maintain a Librarium of potent psykers who are trained to masters the powers of the warp. Each Chapter selects its Librarians in its own way, either from seed worlds, as it does with the bulk of its Initiates, or from the ranks of gifted psykers brought to the Scholastica Psykana. Most Chapters train and test chosen psykers following the ancient ways laid out in the Codex Astartes. Librarians of the Blood Aurochs are trained in this way, and, with few minor traditional variances, have been taught to live by the word of the Codex.
When not devastating the plans of enemy warlords in war zones from Damocles to the Cadian Gate, Librarians have a host of other, less violent, duties to attend to. In addition to testing recruits and tending to their own training, Librarians are responsible for maintaining their Chapter's Librariums. Overseen by the Librarians, each is a silent and sacred place of whispered secrets and hidden truths. Filled with ancient tomes and sacred scrolls, every piece of text laid down by the Chapter, or relevant to its existence, is housed within. Every fortress-monastery will have a Librarium to house the lore, battle records, and certain psychically-active artefacts like Force Weapons. Famous victories, shameful defeats and the legends of the Chapter's heroes are recorded there, and the Librarians are fiercely devoted to their role as keepers of this legacy.
In addition to the main Librarium on a Chapter homeworld, many battle barges maintain smaller Librariums for use during their long campaigns. While no two Librariums are exactly the same, they are often built around a central pillar, its racks of books and scrolls spiralling out into antechambers that hold rows of written works, data-slates, chronicle-stones and mnemo-slates recording the accounts of great battles, the final words of its heroes, and the secrets of vanquished foes. The central pillar of the Librarium houses its oldest available copy of the Codex Astartes, held in a stasis-plinth or protected by holo-reflection. Many lords of the Adeptus Astartes visit the quiet, dusty halls of the Librarium to draw their inspiration and resolve from the ancient book in times of darkness.
Abilities
The following are a list of psychic abilities used only by the Librarians of the Blood Aurochs:
- Charge of the Aurochs - With a blast of psychic power, the Librarian conjures a hulking, raging aurochs made of the raw power of the warp and sends it charging into his enemies, goring them with its massive horns and churning them into little more than paste beneath its hooves.
- Fury of Sanguinius - The Librarian conjures up the rage within him that is present in all of Sanguinius' Sons, and sends a blast of psychic power across the battlefield, immolating his enemies in a manifestation of his rage.
- Strength of the Aurochs - The Librarian can infuse himself or his brethren with the strength of the mighty aurochs, sending himself or them charging into battle, infused with the full power of the warp and the majestic aurochs.
- Sanguine Bloodlust - The Librarian infuses his Force Weapon with the deadly powers of the Immaterium, driving himself and his brethren into a bloodthirsty frenzy that is but a shadow of their dead primarch's rage.
Blood Aurochs Librarian Dreadnoughts
To be entombed within the armoured sarcophagus of a Dreadnought is the greatest honour a Space Marine can be awarded, for even though his body may have been broken, his mind and spirit remains in the service of the Chapter, his Primarch, and the Emperor. Most of those who are entombed in such a manner are Veterans, line officers or company captains, warriors who fell at the front line.
Very occasionally, another type of warrior may be interred -- a Librarian, whose fearsome psychic potential remains even after his body is ruined. Librarian Dreadnought combine the firepower and armour of a Furioso Dreadnought, enhanced by the abilities of the Librarian entombed within. The Librarian's mind is a terrible weapon in itself, able to unleash fearsome blasts of raw Warp energy, seething arcs of etheric power and waves of dread that blast the enemy's morale to ashes.
Some Librarian Dreadnoughts substitute one of their Power Claws for a Force Blade, a large, Dreadnought-grade weapon laced with a network of psycho-conductive material through which they are able to focus their psychic powers. The point of impact is torn asunder as the bonds of reality are severed by the force of the Librarian's mind and his mastery of the Warp, and few types of armour are proof against such a potent and arcane weapon. Librarian Dreadnoughts are amongst the most revered of all the Chapter's ancients, and even the most experienced company captain heeds their words of counsel.
It is nearly unheard of for Blood Aurochs Librarian Dreadnoughts to serve in the Deathwatch. This has only occurred under nearly unique circumstances, notably when a Librarian has fallen whilst standing the Long Watch and a Dreadnought body has been available in which to inter his ruined remains. Most Battle-Brothers who fall in such a manner are of course returned to their Chapters, but on a handful of extremely rare occasions the Librarian has insisted that he remains at the Watch Fortress, his wishes expressed not through burned and bloodied lips, but through mind speech communicated directly to his brethren.
The spirits of such warriors are invariably so indomitable and mighty that not even the Watch Commander would gainsay their wishes, and the wounded hero is interred within a Dreadnought so that he may continue to stand his Vigil until it is over and his remains may be returned to his home Chapter. Some choose to remain long after their Vigil is completed and their Apocryphon Oath discharged, slumbering for centuries on end within the stasis-sealed vaults at the heart of the Watch Station until such times as they are required to fight once more.
Chapter Gene-Seed
As Scions of Sanguinius, the Blood Aurochs suffer from the twins flaws of the Red Thirst and the Black Rage. Their progenitors, the Blood Angels, attempt to cleanse themselves of their flaws when they slumber in their sarcophagi, through his blood being filtered by arcane machineries so that the Flaw might be cleansed away. Unlike the Blood Angels, the Blood Aurochs do not use this process to attempt to cleanse their blood, instead believing that by falling to the grips of the Red Thirst in the midst of battle, it will purify them.
Genetic Flaws
The Blood Aurochs, believing they will purify themselves by succumbing to the Red Thirst in the midst of battle, are prone to fits of bloodthirsty rage. Like the aurochs they are named after, the Space Marines of this Chapter are famed for their violent outbursts. They have a unique genetic flaw, similar to the Red Thirst but of an even greater level of hostility known as the Fury of the Aurochs, otherwise shortened to the "Fury." It comes on in the following three stages:
- Stage One - Purity through the Red Thirst: The battle-brother believes he will purify himself and release himself of the shackles of the Red Thirst by falling to its grasp in the midst of battle. It is actively encouraged by the commanding officers of the chapter, and the battle-brother soon finds it is the only way to soothe his rage.
- Stage Two - Hot Blooded Rampage: The fury of the Blood Aurochs manifests itself more strongly in the battle-brother of the Blood Aurochs, causing him to take even greater risks during battle. The battle-brother will take risks such as foregoing his helmet during battle, or sacrificing himself unnecessarily, or charging into the midst of a horde of enemy warriors without the support of his brethren. He can become wilfully disobedient, ignoring the orders of his superior officers or causing confrontations with his squad mates or allies. He struggles to keep a lid on his rage, and spends ever greater periods of time in the sparring cages or in duels with his peers to defend his honour against the smallest slights.
- Stage Three - Mark of Fury: At this stage of the flaw, the battle-brother is bitter, and has made enemies amongst his own chapter. He is considered to be a rogue, and many refuse to fight alongside him. It is considered likely that he will fall to the Black Rage at any time. By this point, the Blood Aurochs battle-brother is little more than a bloodthirsty beast, sensing weakness in everyone he meets. He engages in many fights, taking incredible risks on the field of battle. This battle-brother can often be spotted by the many scars and wounds he bears, and his foul temper. On some occasions, he will even attack his own allies, and due to the fact that he retains his own sanity, he is considered to be a traitor. At least those suffering from the Black Rage can be controlled by the Chaplains and use their affliction for good.
Combat Doctrine
The Blood Aurochs are masters in close-quarters actions, such as boarding actions, space hulk purgation, and line-breaker assaults. They also have a penchant for shock assaults, melee combat and aerial assaults, much like their parent chapter, the Blood Angels. The Blood Aurochs fight in much the same manner as other Space Marine chapters do, with an emphasis on aggressive, decisive attacks utilising highly mobile forces. Like many Sons of Sanguinius, the Blood Aurochs strive for perfection in all they do, but unlike their progenitors they believe they can be freed from their twin genetic flaws of the Red Thirst and the Black Rage by releasing their rage in the midst of battle, often purposely succumbing to the Red Thirst. This practice is actively encouraged by the commanding officers of the chapter. However, it can sometimes lead to a battle-brother developing the chapter's unique genetic flaw, known as the Fury of the Aurochs, or simply the Fury.
Due to these beliefs in the chapter, pure aggression can often take precedent over organisation and tactical planning. This is particularly true as a battle-brother of the chapter can fall to the curse of the Black Rage at any time, causing him to lose his grip on reality and charge forwards, often causing a gap in the lines of the chapter. However, pure aggression alone has been known to wrestle some unlikely victories for the chapter, although it is generally considered unacceptable for anyone but battle-brothers suffering from the Black Rage to disobey a direct order from a superior.
The Blood Aurochs disdain long-ranged warfare, and this has caused them to develop a particular hatred of the xenos of the T'au Empire. They believe that those who practice long-ranged warfare are cowards, unwilling to wet their blades in the blood of their enemies. This has caused them to come into confrontation with many of their supposed allies, particularly those brothers who suffer from the Fury.
During a planetary assault or an assault on a stronghold or boarding action, the Blood Aurochs will typically deploy via Drop Pod, Thunderhawk, Thunderhawk Transporter, Storm Eagle, Stormraven, Caestus Assault Ram, or Teleportation. The chapter's Scout and Assault squads are usually in the vanguard, along with any light vehicle mounted squads, such as Bike Squads. Following this, the Blood Aurochs will then deploy their heavier armour.
In the midst of battle, the Blood Aurochs are often in a frenzy, usually in the grip of the Red Thirst, purposely using it to increase their savagery. This has caused many other Imperial forces to disapprove of their actions, believing they are little more than savages. For these reasons, they often only maintain ties with some of the most barbaric chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, such as the morbid Crimson Bones, the behemoth Red Mammoths, the deadly Red Tusks, the ferocious Flesh Tearers, the Blood Scorpions and the ghastly Blood Vultures. Other Imperial forces often disdain to fight alongside them.
Deathwatch Service
Like almost all Space Marine Chapters, the Blood Aurochs contribute a portion of their more experienced battle-brothers to serve the in the Deathwatch. As they are based on the Eastern Fringe, the Blood Aurochs have come into contact with the Necrons of the Sautekh Dynasty numerous times, as well as the Aeldari of craftworld Saim-Hann. The Blood Aurochs' more experienced battle-brothers have extensive experience fighting these xenos lifeforms, usually having developed many strategies to combat the Necrons and the Eldar. The chapter's Sanguinary Priests have devoted an extensive amount of their time to studying the biology of the xenos they come across, and they share this knowledge throughout the chapter.
This experience fighting Necrons and Aeldari mean that those of the Blood Aurochs who choose to take up the Long Vigil, already have a wealth of knowledge about the xenos that they can use to their advantage during their service with the Deathwatch. This base of knowledge serves them well, and it has helped many of the Blood Aurochs to flourish during their time with the Deathwatch. The Blood Aurochs have a passionate hatred for the xenos, particularly the T'au and their allies, seeing them as dishonourable and cowardly due to their penchant for long-ranged warfare.
The Blood Aurochs have a long history with the Deathwatch, the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Xenos of the Inquisition. They are specialists in close-quarters combat, as well as aerial assaults, shock assault and melee combat. Those Blood Aurochs serving in the Deathwatch excel in missions where a Kill-team is charged with clearing a space hulk of an infestation of Genestealers or Orks. They enjoy wetting their blades with the blood of the alien, and will stop at nothing to complete a mission they are charged with. Blood Aurochs battle-brothers that take the Apocryphon Oath serve with zeal and honour, along with their usual penchant for bouts of violence. However, they are competent in all they do.
It can be difficult for a battle-brother of any chapter to be away from his chapter, although the Blood Aurochs do enjoy the experience they earn during their Long Vigil. However, none save his fellow Sons of Sanguinius know of his genetic flaws, and he struggles each night and day to control them around the other members of the Deathwatch. None save his fellow Blood Aurochs also serving the Long Watch, along with his cousin chapters will ever know what he struggles through. It is especially difficult for the Blood Aurochs as they are prone to bouts of the Red Thirst during battle, something that is actively encouraged by their chapter's commanding officers. They believe that in this way they will cleanse themselves of their genetic flaws. During their Long Vigil, the Blood Aurochs bear their flaws with silent dignity. However, they will never truly feel understood until their return to their chapter, and it is only then that they can ignore their flaws openly.
Notable Members
- Chapter Master Lysandor Turit - Lysandor Turit is the current Chapter Master of the Blood Aurochs. Outfitted in form-fitting Artificer Armour, he is a majestic sight on the field of battle, ever bit the image of Sanguinius. He fought valiantly alongside the other Chapter Masters of the Chapters of the Blood during the Devastation of Baal in M41, as the Tyranid wave threw itself against the defences of the Blood Angels fortress-monastery, Arx Angelicum. He almost became the fourth Chapter Master to fall in the battle of the Dome of Angels. He managed to fight off the Tyranid horde through will and fury alone, the remnants of his Sanguinary Guard closing in to defend him like a phalanx. Following the rebuilding of the chapter in the Era Indomitus, and the introduction of the Primaris Marines, the Blood Aurochs' homeworld was attacked by the Greater Daemon Ka'Bandha. The Crimson Bones, Red Mammoths, Red Tusks and Red Panthers came to the aid of the Blood Aurochs to defend Incar X. It was during the course of this campaign that the Red Panthers turned to the worship of Khorne. During M42, Lysandor Turit participated in the battle of the Gathus System against the Apostles of the Code and the Word Bearers of the 71st Company Host. Lysandor Turit deployed to the surface of Gathus Rex, coming into personal combat with Warpsmith Pyrun Carrionblade, saving Captain Moriar's life in the process, but not before Moriar's face was cut off.
- Corbuliel Castilo - Corbuliel Castilo is the "Golden Auroch," the title given to the Chapter Champion of the Blood Aurochs. He is a warrior of unparalleled experience and skill, second only to the Chapter Master himself. In competitions between their allies, the Chapter Champions, as well as the Company Champions of each chapter often duel one another for sport and to perfect their skill against warriors of equal standing. Corbuliel Castilo represents the martial supremacy of the Blood Aurochs. His armour is decorated in a unique manner, incorporating his personal heraldry, which includes the markings of the Clan of his origin. It also incorporates campaign badges and other designs he has chosen to work into his armour. Uniquely, as the Golden Auroch, Corbuliel Castilo's helmet incorporates two golden horns, like those of an auroch's. He wears form-fitting red Artificer Armour, similar to that of the Sanguinary Guards' armour. He is an exemplar of what all Blood Aurochs strive to be, a perfect blend of violence and nobility.
- Captain Erasmas Tamah - Erasmas Tamah is the Captain of the 1st Company of the Blood Aurochs, the "Sanguine Aurochs." As Captain of the 1st Company, Erasmas Tamah also holds the title of Regent of Incar X. This means that in the event of Incar X being invaded, Erasmas Tamah is in charge of coordinating the defence of Incar X and deploying the chapter's forces, as Incar X has no Planetary Defence Force. Erasmas is one of the oldest battle-brothers of the chapter, a member since its conception. He was raised on Baal as a youth, and was selected one of the first neophytes of the Blood Aurochs chapter. He was transformed from an irradiated child into a noble, angelic and handsome young man, the spitting image of Sanguinius himself. Erasmas combines the nobility and tactical acumen of Sanguinius with the Angel's own rage, tempered in the fires of responsibility and discipline. During the Devastation of Baal, he helped coordinate a large portion of the Scions of Sanguinius' forces, earning many victories which could have easily turned into tragedies if it were not for his experience and superb intellect.
- Captain Belarius - Belarius is the Captain of the 2nd Company of the Blood Aurochs, "The Blooded Hooves." Due to his position as captain of the 2nd company, he holds the title of Master of the Charge. As Master of the Charge, Belarius has the honour of leading his company into the teeth of the enemy first in the event that multiple chapters of the company are fielded on the same battlefield. Due to his position as Master of the Charge, Belarius has a preference for close-quarters combat, often charging somewhat recklessly into battle in the opinion of outsiders. However, all the Blood Aurochs know that there is no one better to lead the charge than Belarius himself. He is accompanied by his Auroch Guard, the Blood Aurochs' equivalent of an Honour Guard, as well as the 2nd Company's Ancient, their Standard Bearer, and at least one of his two lieutenants. He is an inspirational sight on the field of battle, and many of the Blood Aurochs fight all the better for seeing him. Due to this, Belarius's position as Master of the Charge also doubles as a spiritual role, and he works closely alongside the chapter's Chaplains to exhort his warriors into ever greater heights of battle frenzy and zeal. It is role to inspire his brothers into even greater feats of slaughter and victory above all else.
- Captain Lorenzo Machiavi - Lorenzo Machiavi is the Captain of the 3rd Company of the Blood Aurochs, the "Wardens of Sanguinius." As well as holding the rank of Captain of the 3rd Company, he also holds the title of Master of the Arsenal. As Master of the Arsenal, Machiavi is also tasked by his Chapter Master with overseeing his chapter's munitions of weapons and ammunition. The 3rd company is often the company that leaves behind a force of battle-brothers to guard the fortress-monastery, as this falls within the realms of Machiavi's duties, to safeguard the chapter's emergency supplies of weapons and ammunition. Due to this, he also holds the title of Guardian of the Hearth of the Aurochs. However, this does cross over slightly with the 1st Captain's duties as the Regent of Incar X, and therefore Erasmas and Machiavi work closely together. However, Machiavi does refer to Captain Erasmas in his presence, as befits the chain of command.
- Captain Martellos - Martellos is the Captain of the 4th Company, the "Auroch Knights." He also holds the title of Bearer of the Archangel Shard. When Sanguinius battled Horus, he wielded a magnificent blade that was tragically shattered against the Warmaster's profane battle-plate. The shards of that blade were gathered up and new Power Swords forged to incorporate them, each one gifted to a different Blood Angels Successor Chapter. The Blood Aurochs were one of the successor chapters gifted one of these Power Swords. Captain Martellos is the man privileged to wield this blade, gifted to him from the Chapter's armoury as a token of gratitude for saving his Chapter Master's life. Since then, it was decreed that it would be a tradition of the Blood Aurochs for the 4th Company Captain to wield this relic blade.
- Captain Glorian - Glorian is the Captain of the 5th company, "The Custodians of the Blood." He also holds the title of Chief Victualler. He is responsible for all non-armament provisions of the chapter. Glorian is required to manage the the serfs and servitors of the Blood Aurochs. He is also required to be a master in logistics. Glorian does his duty with humility, shouldering his responsibilities without expecting any duty. During his trials as an aspirant of the chapter, it was said that Glorian fought off a group of vicious birds to survive the journey back to the fortress-monastery, the last and toughest trial of all the chapter's trials. He returned to the Hearth of the Aurochs wearing a cape made of the bird's feathers. He wears the cape to this day, and the feathers are as white as snow, like the wings of an angel. Sometimes when people see him in silhouette they believed he is Sanguinius returned from death, or The Sanguinor.
- Captain Goriel - Goriel is the Captain of the 6th Company, the "Horde of the Angel." He also holds the title of Master of the Rites. This means he is in charge of upholding the traditions of the chapter. Captain Goriel does this duty with honour. He studies the tenants of the Codex Astartes and the teachings of his primarch, the Angel Sanguinius, religiously. His company can recite whole passages from memory. Captain Goriel leads his company with a tight fist, ensuring that they are an example for all their fellow Space Marine Chapters and their fellow companies of the Blood Aurochs. The members of the 6th Company, Goriel himself in particular, can often be seen in ceremonial attire, or preaching the teachings of the chapter. They train vigorously, and for this reason are a shining example of what a Blood Aurochs should be, particularly their captain. Goriel wears his ceremonial armour at all times, coupled with the traditional aurochs cape that all high ranking officers wear, along with the horned helmet, which when worn is reminiscent of an aurochs' skull, the symbol of their chapter.
- Captain Omnio - Captain Omnio is the Captain of the 7th Company, the "Horns of the Auroch." As captain of the 7th company, he also the Master of Sieges. All members of the 7th company are experts in the art of siege warfare. Captain Omnio in particular is almost unparalleled in his skill at planning and enacting sieges. During the midst of battle, Omnio can often be seen in bright red power armour, decorated with his own unique gold heraldry, his Combat Shield strapped to his arm. It is said he is the equal of any Imperial Fist at the art of siege warfare, and has often engaged in many battles against the Iron Warriors. He is often known as the "Doom of the Iron Warriors," or the "Slayer of the IVth."
- Captain Claudio - Captain Claudio is the captain of the 8th company, the "Stampeders." As leader of the 8th Reserve Close Support Company, he is known as the "Lord Executioner" or "Lord of Skyfall." He is the master of the close-quarters assault. He almost always wears a winged Jump Pack, traditionally worn by the members of the Sanguinary Guard. He often uses this Jump Pack to parachute into battle, able to soar over the heads of his enemies with a boost of thrust. He is usually armed with his Power Axe, Bite of Sanguinius.
- Captain Moriar - Moriar is the Captain of the 9th Company, "The Flaming Bulls." Moriar's face is crafted from the angelic stone that all those of Sanguinius' genetic lineage come from, although it is rumoured that the rest of his body is a twisted mess of scarred burn tissue. He carries his legendary Plasma Pistol, Fury of Baal, into battle, along with his Plasma Incinerator, Vengeance of Sanguinius. His legendary Plasma Pistol has been wielded on hundreds of battlefields, bringing death and destruction to millions of the Imperial's foes in a burst of blue-white superheated plasma. During the Battle of the Gathus System, he fought in a duel against the Chaos Warpsmith Pyrun Carrionblade. Tragically, during this battle, Carrionblade cut off the front of Moriar's helmet, along with his face. It was only through the intervention of Chapter Master Lysandor Turit that Moriar still lives. His face was later replaced with a golden mask, similar to a Death Mask, mimicking Moriar's features before his face was cut off. This mask only served to make him look more like his father, not less.
- Captain Zoreal - Captain Zoreal is the Captain of the 10th Company, the "Vicious Calves." As captain of the 10th Company, Zoreal also serves as Master of the Recruits. Unlike the other captains of the chapter, Zoreal wears Scout Armour, along with Carbon/Titanium Weave Fatigues, capable of turning the most powerful of small arms fire. Like the Scouts under his tutelage, Zoreal is well versed in every aspect of war, as is necessary for his Scouts. He also has a supreme understanding of concealment tactics and is well versed in the art of camouflage, as is necessary for all Scouts. These camouflage schemes may be applied to the armoured sections and fatigues of the Scout kit as well as on capes worn over the armour if the mission demands it. Furthermore, like his Scouts, Zoreal is an expert at covert warfare and will take account of the local environmental conditions when preparing for a mission. Zoreal takes great pride in what he does, and in many ways is the future of the chapter, as he is training its neophytes, Scouts and Vanguard Marines.
- Iscio Kanoso - Iscio Kanoso is the Company Champion of the 1st Company. Iscio Kanoso did a Long Vigil with the Deathwatch. During this time, Iscio earns many laurels and honours during his time with the Deathwatch. He is promoted to be the leader of a Kill-team, and does not return to his chapter for thousands of years, not until the Blood Aurochs come to the aid of the Blood Angels when the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Leviathan attack Baal and her moons. Iscio's long experience with the Deathwatch allows him reap a large tally of tyranids, adding his valuable experience and expertise to the fight. Following the end of this campaign and the introduction of the Primaris Marines, Iscio returns home alongside his brothers, and is made the new Champion of the 1st Company.
- Sanguinas Kanus - Sanguinas Kanus is the Company Champion of the 2nd Company. The 2nd Company is renowned as a bloodthirsty chapter, its Captain renowned for exhorting its warriors to ever greater blood frenzy. Known as the "Scourge of the Greenskins," Sanguinas is most famed for slaying a Warlord before he even obtained the rank of sergeant of his own squad. Since then, he has gone on to slay many Greenskins, displaying their heads proudly on his battle-plate as trophies. He served as a sergeant in the 2nd company for decades, although he did not feel that leadership suited him. He longed for the simple glory of fighting for his company and his chapter. After his squad was wiped out for the second time, he petitioned his company captain, Belarius, to serve as Company Champion. He has brought renown and glory to the 2nd company ever since, a warrior and duellist equal to no one in his company but Captain Belarius.
- Incariah Halbeel - Incariah Halbeel is the Company Champion of the 3rd Company. As the captain of the 3rd company is Master of the Arsenal, Incariah is always outfitted with the best warplate and weaponry. During M41,Chaos Space Marines of the Alpha Legion infiltrate the world of Dalthius Seven, a frozen Mining World where the Blood Aurochs keep a repository of their gene-seed. As the Alpha Legion attempt to corrupt the store of gene-seed, the Blood Aurochs arrive in force to stop them. They kill many of the Alpha Legion Marines, but not before a portion of their gene-seed repository is contaminated beyond repair. It is with deep regret that the Blood Aurochs destroy this repository of their gene-seed in its entirety, lest it destroy their chapter from within. Unbeknownst to the Blood Aurochs, Incariah Halbeel is kidnapped during this campaign, and replaced with a spy from the Alpha Legion, his features altered surgically. Halbeel is interrogated relentlessly by the Alpha legionaries, but keeps his lips sealed about his chapter's secrets. Years later, he manages to escape, killing his captors. He links up with battle-brothers of the Red Tusks, who deliver him back to his homeworld. The fake Incariah Halbeel is interrogated by the Blood Aurochs' Chaplains, as is the real Incariah. When he is eventually declared free of Chaos taint, he is allowed back into the ranks of the chapter. Ever since then, he has harboured a personal vendetta against the Alpha Legion.
- Piero Danit - Piero Danit is the Company Champion of the 4th Company. He is known for single-handedly slaying a Norn Emissary of Hive Fleet Leviathan during the Devastation of Baal. Piero Danit has high hopes of becoming Captain of the 4th company one day, but for now is content to serve as the champion of his company.
- Ranen Halbel - Ranen Halbel is the Company Champion of the 5th Company. He was once believed to be cursed, as the clan of his birth on Incar X was obliterated in its entirety. He was the only survivor. His status as cursed continued during his service amongst the Blood Aurochs. He had very severe reactions to the implantations of the organs of his gene-seed, only just surviving the incredibly painful surgeries. As a Scout, his entire squad was killed, and when it happened once more, his fellow battle-brothers began to believe that he was cursed. Many felt sure he would die in combat at any moment, quite possibly taking many of his brothers with him. It was only when he earned the title of company champion of the 5th that he found his purpose. It seemed Ranen's bad luck was at an end.
- Tarneg Norico - Tarneg Norico is the Company Champion of the 6th company. Known for his deadly marksmanship, Norico has killed many of his enemies with the deadly accuracy from a shot from his Bolter. The 6th company is renowned for upholding the chapter's traditions, producing some of the best marksmen and duellists in the history of the Blood Aurochs. Tarneg Norico is one of the best warriors ever produced by the 6th company, second only to Captain Goriel himself.
- Dakheo Gabrim - Dakheo Gabrim is the Company Champion of the 7th Company. The 7th company are masters of the art of siege craft, their Captain holding the rank of Master of Sieges. Dakheo is famous for participating in some of the most famous sieges in the history of the Imperium. Captain Omnio sees a shadow of himself in his company champion, and always entrusts a significant proportion of the company's forces to Dakheo's command. He is a promising candidate to take over the 7th company.
- Taharos Gabreo - Taharos Gabreo is the Company Champion of the 8th Company. He is unparalleled in the art of close-quarters assault. Only Captain Claudio can best him in combat. Taharos is famous for infiltrating a space hulk and slaying its genestealer patriarch, known as the Six-Armed Overlord. It was only through Chief Librarian Armon attacking the genestealer patriarch on the psychic field that Taharos was able to slay the foul xenos creature. Following this victory, Taharos commissioned the chapter's artificers to craft one of the genestealer patriarch's blade-limbs into a sword that he has wielded ever since. Others outside of the chapter consider this weapon heretical, but the Blood Aurochs believe that any trophies from their battles are fair game.
- Nemedath Archatis - Nemedath Archatis is the Company Champion of the 9th Company. Known for roasting his enemies in cleansing flame, Nemedath has earned a reputation for burning his enemies alive. Like all Blood Aurochs, he has an abnormal hatred for long-ranged warfare. He is known for getting dangerously close to his enemies, often blinding his retinas when he releases a burst of white-hot plasma from his Plasma Pistol, or searing his skin with a jet of burning promethium from his Flamer. He is known to be incredibly reckless, having earned many burns and scars from his dangerous conduct, but his aggressive tactics have earned him nothing but respect from his battle-brothers.
- Danug Asbia - Danug Asbia is the Company Champion of the 10th Company of the Blood Aurochs. Outfitted in Scout Armour and his Cameleoline (Camo Cloak), Danug Asbia is like a wraith moving across the battlefield. He is such an expert at stealth and subterfuge that few outside of the 10th Company know what he really looks like.
- Chief Librarian Girolimo Armon - Girolimo Armon is the Chief Librarian of the Blood Aurochs. Known for his tremendous psychic powers, particularly his epic psychic battle against the Genestealer Patriarch, the Six-Armed Overlord, Armon is a force to be reckoned with. His powers are second only to the likes of Mephiston of the Blood Angels, and Te Kahurangi of the Carcharodons. He has come up against some of the mightiest psychic entities of Chaos and the vile xenos, and has emerged victorious ever time. Like his father, Sanguinius, Armon has precognitive abilities, allowing him to read the threads of the future with an uncanny accuracy. However, like Sanguinius, Armon struggles to retain control of his rage, and has been known to attack and even kill his fellow battle-brothers in his youth. If any were to find out, the consequences could be devastating....
- High Sanguinary Priest Hanzez Artatis - Hanzez Artatis is the High Sanguinary Priest of the Blood Aurochs. As High Sanguinary Priest, he presides over many of the chapter's rituals, including the Ascension and the drinking of the primarch's blood from the Burgundy Grail. The Burgundy Grail is a master-crafted chalice gifted to the Blood Aurochs by their progenitors, the Blood Angels, at the time of their inception. It is in the permanent possession of the chapter's High Sanguinary Priest, kept on his person at all times. The Burgundy Grail has been unmarked by the ravages of war, its surface as gleaming as the day it was made. To allow harm to befall this relic of the chapter would be an unforgivable mark of shame, and each Blood Auroch, especially the High Sanguinary Priest, would give up his life to protect the chalice. The Blood Aurochs belief the chalice contains the essence of Sanguinius, and may even be one of the original Blood Chalices, although it is unknown if this is true. What is known is that it represents the bond of friendship, honour and respect between the Blood Aurochs and the Blood Angels. Guarding this relic is the most important of all Artatis' duties, along with caring for the chapter's reserves of gene-seed. He would sooner give up his life than allow harm to befall either. He was pristine in his alabaster armour, the paint providing a striking contrast to his brown skin. High Sanguinary Priest Artatis has a deep rivalry with High Chaplain Leonial Turus, believing that he is a poison to the chapter. During the invasion of the Alpha Legion on Dalthius Seven, Artatis and Chaplain Leonial were forced to work closely alongside one another by the orders of their Chapter Master. However, instead of smoothing over relations between them, this campaign only served to widen the chasm between them.
- High Chaplain Leonial Turus - Leonial Turus is the High Chaplain of the Reclusiam of the Blood Aurochs. His role is to guard the relics kept in the fortress-monastery's Reclusiam, as well as to keep the spirits and faith of his battle-brothers high. As High Chaplain, his role is also to preside over the duties of the other Chaplains. He is known for giving long sermons to his warriors before battle, exhorting them to ever greater heights of zeal. During his service as a Chaplain, Leonial Turus penned the Catechisms of War, a tome of battle strategies and legends of the chapter. Leonial Turus was an intimidating figure in his ebony power armour, even without his skull-faced helm. His gaunt features were bathed in the harsh glow of the fire, highlighting his pale skin and the scar tissue stitched across his neck and the left half of his face. He has a deep hatred for High Sanguinary Priest Artatis, believing he is arrogant and unworthy of his position within the chapter.
- High Warden of the Forge Gasparo Gadratis - Gasparo Gadratis is the High Warden of the Forge of the Blood Aurochs, a rank equivalent to Master of the Forge. As High Warden of the Forge, Gasparo presides over the other Techmarines and is in charge of everything to do with the chapter's Armoury. He is a master of Imperial and xenos technology, outfitted with several cybernetic augmetics. Almost all of his body has been dedicated to the Machine God, barely a shred of flesh remaining. It is thanks to Gasparo that the Blood Aurochs have been able to maintain such strong ties with the Adeptus Mechanicus.
- Brother Angelo - Angelo is the Blood Aurochs Master of the Fleet, in charge of coordinating the chapter's fleet. He is the most experienced battle-brother in the skill of void combat, all crews on the ships of the fleet obeying his every command.
- Brother Cleutah - Cleutah is the Master of the Blood Aurochs' Logisticiam, otherwise known as the Warden of the Gates. He oversees all of the chapter's logistical issues.
- Sergeant Kanenzo - Sergeant Kanenzo is a sergeant of a Tactical squad of the Blood Aurochs Third Company. When the Alpha Legion attacked the cache of gene-seed the Blood Aurochs kept on Dalthius Seven, the Third and Second Companies, along with squads of the Fifth Company, deployed to defend the repository of gene-seed. Techmarine Petrus was deployed alongside Kanenzo's squad, and was key in ensuring the destruction of the Alpha Legion warband. With the last remnants of his squad, Kanenzo launched a daring boarding action against the flagship of the Alpha Legion warband, using Techmarine Petrus's knowledge of the machine to destroy the ship from the inside. He died in the flames of the ship's destruction.
- Brother Ishtar - Ishtar was a member of Sergeant Kanenzo's squad, their heavy weapons specialist. His weapon of choice was a heavy flamer rig. He died on board the Alpha Legion warband's flagship, Sigma Theta.
- Brother Jeriel - Jeriel was a member of Sergeant Kanenzo's squad. He was killed by an Alpha Legion warrior on the surface of Dalthius Seven.
- Techmarine Petrus - Petrus was a Techmarine of the Blood Aurochs chapter. He greatly admired the Warden of the Forge, Gasparo Gadratis, wishing to one day take over as Warden of the Forge. He was stationed alongside Sergeant Kanenzo's squad when the Third and Second Company were sent to combat an Ork WAAAGH! assembling in the Dykard System. When the Blood Aurochs learned of the Alpha Legion warband attacking Dalthius Seven, Techmarine Petrus chose to travel to the Dalthius System to stop the Alpha Legion warband. He was instrumental in the destruction of the majority of the Alpha Legion warband's fleet, using his knowledge of the machine to destroy the flagship from the inside.
Chapter Fleet
The following are the vessels in the fleet of the Blood Aurochs:
- Dauntless Aurochs (Golgotha Class Warship) - The Dauntless Aurochs is a Golgotha Class Warship from the Great Crusade Era, once a part of the IX Legion Fleet under a different name. This ancient ship was gifted to the Blood Aurochs at their inception as their flagship. Since then, it has served them faithfully, as brutal and hot-headed as the Astartes it serves. The Chapter Master, Lysandor Turit, Lord of the Aurochs, rules his chapter from the throne aboard the bridge of the Dauntless Aurochs when he sails the void of space. The ship contains some of the chapter's most prized relics, including many ancient suits of war plate, archaic weapons, banners, and so forth. It is a powerhouse of ordnance, having served the Sons of Sanguinius faithfully since the Great Crusade, and so long as the Blood Aurochs draw breath, it shall contain to do so.
- Vermillion Revenant (Strike Cruiser) - The Vermillion Revenant is the strike cruiser of the Blood Aurochs 8th Company. During M38, the Vermillion Revenant and the 8th company was attacked as they emerge from the warp a few hours away from their homeworld of Incar X. They were attacked by the Knights of House Ærthegn, corrupt, vile versions of the noble Knights that serve the Imperium. The battle-brothers of the 8th Company bring their expertise in close-quarters combat to bear, crawling onto the hull of their strike cruiser and doing battle with the Knights of the Chaos House. The 8th Company battle-brothers are like tiny red-armoured ants crawling across the metal skin of their ship, but these ants are vision, because they are not ants at all; they are the Blood Aurochs. The 8th Company succeeds in destroying the Chaos Knights, although they lose some of their own to the cold vacuum of the void.
- Crusader of Blood (Strike Cruiser) - The Crusader of Blood is a strike cruiser formerly of the 5th Company of the Blood Aurochs. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during the Damocles Gulf Crusade.
- Sanguine Burden (Dauntless Light Cruiser) - The Sanguine Burden was used by Squad Valefion of the 6th Company during the defence of Baal and her twin moons against the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Leviathan. It was only saved from destruction by the Tyranids by the timely arrival of Roboute Guilliman and the Indomitus Crusade.
Chapter Relics
The following is a list of the relics of the Blood Aurochs. These are the most prized possessions of the chapter, aside from their gene-seed. They are stored securely in the Chapter's Reclusiam if not in use, kept in Stasis Fields to preserve them from harm. Each relic is an integral part of the Blood Aurochs' history, the sight of even one of them enough to fill a battle-brother with pride and zeal on the field of battle.
- Banner of Host of the Aurochs - The banner of the Host of the Aurochs is the Blood Aurochs' chapter banner, emblazoned with their chapter's badge, the skull of the mighty auroch. The name of every Chapter Master of the Blood Aurochs is woven into the banner in golden thread. It is carried by the Chapter's Ancient onto battle, a warrior of Chapter Master Lysandor Turit's Command Squad. All battle-brothers of the Blood Aurochs feel their hearts skip a beat when they see the Banner of the Host of the Aurochs on the field of battle, for they know that it means their Chapter Master has come to fight alongside them. It feels each battle-brother with pride and awe to see this banner, and they fight all the harder underneath its gaze. The Chapter's Ancient would sooner die than have his banner fall from his grasp in the midst of honour. Such a tragedy would be a worst fate than exile, and each battle-brother of the chapter would sooner slay themselves than see it fall. It is said that when the Chapter's previous Ancient died, the members of the Sanguinary Guard were almost unable to remove it from his death grip.
- Burgundy Grail - The Burgundy Grail is a master-crafted chalice gifted to the Blood Aurochs by their progenitors, the Blood Angels, at the time of their inception. It is in the permanent possession of the chapter's High Sanguinary Priest, kept on his person at all times. The Burgundy Grail has been unmarked by the ravages of war, its surface as gleaming as the day it was made. To allow harm to befall this relic of the chapter would be an unforgivable mark of shame, and each Blood Auroch, especially the High Sanguinary Priest, would give up his life to protect the chalice. The Blood Aurochs belief the chalice contains the essence of Sanguinius, and may even be one of the original Blood Chalices, although it is unknown if this is true. What is known is that it represents the bond of friendship, honour and respect between the Blood Aurochs and the Blood Angels.
- Auroch Capes - The auroch, a creature of Old Earth during the Ice Age, is the namesake of the Blood Aurochs. A creature incredibly similar was found on their homeworld of Incar X, perhaps even genetically engineered based on DNA of the auroch of old, although the truth is unknown. The auroch is a sacred creature of the chapter, and it is forbidden for the humans of the clans to hunt these magnificent creatures. Only the Blood Aurochs have that honour, and even then they do not kill what they do not have to, and they use every part of the auroch if they do. It is common for members of the Blood Aurochs, particularly high ranking officers such as captains, lieutenants, sergeants and the Chapter Master himself, to wear capes made of the fur of aurochs. It is not forbidden, however, for lower ranking officers such as regular battle-brothers to wear these "auroch capes," although it is looked down upon for Scouts or Neophytes to wear them, as they are not worthy of such honours.
- Fury of Baal (Plasma Pistol) - The Fury of Baal is a relic Plasma Pistol wielded by the Captain of the Blood Aurochs 9th Company, Moriar. It was gifted to him by the artisans of Baal and her twin moons, the domain of their progenitor chapter, the Blood Angels, when he was elevated to the rank of captain. It contains the power of a small sun, capable of atomising Moriar's enemies in a burst of white-hot plasma.
- Vengeance of Sanguinius (Plasma Incinerator) - This relic Plasma Incinerator is wielded by Captain Moriar of the 9th Company. It was gifted to Moriar by his cousin chapter, the Crimson Bones. It has been lovingly scrimshawed with chapter markings of the Blood Aurochs, and campaign badges of Moriar's many battles. It was created for him by Techmarine Marcello, an actual blood relative of Moriar's serving as a battle-brother in the Crimson Bones. It is a sign of the brotherhood they share, that goes much deeper than the origins of their gene-seed.
- Panoply of Castilo (Artificer Armour) - This relic suit of red, form-fitting Artificer Armour, is currently worn by the Blood Aurochs Chapter Champion, Corbuliel Castilo. Corbuliel Castilo is the "Golden Auroch," the title given to the Chapter Champion of the Blood Aurochs. He is a warrior of unparalleled experience and skill, second only to the Chapter Master himself. In competitions between their allies, the Chapter Champions, as well as the Company Champions of each chapter often duel one another for sport and to perfect their skill against warriors of equal standing. Corbuliel Castilo represents the martial supremacy of the Blood Aurochs. His armour is decorated in a unique manner, incorporating his personal heraldry, which includes the markings of the Clan of his origin. It also incorporates campaign badges and other designs he has chosen to work into his armour. As the Golden Auroch, Corbuliel Castilo's helmet incorporates two golden horns, like those of an auroch's. It was crafted for him by the artificers of Mars, lovingly etched with his personal heraldry by Castilo himself.
- Archangel Shard - Captain Martellos of the 4th Company also holds the title of Bearer of the Archangel Shard. When Sanguinius battled Horus, he wielded a magnificent blade that was tragically shattered against the Warmaster's profane battle-plate. The shards of that blade were gathered up and new Power Swords forged to incorporate them, each one gifted to a different Blood Angels Successor Chapter. The Blood Aurochs were one of the successor chapters gifted one of these Power Swords. Captain Martellos is the man privileged to wield this blade, gifted to him from the Chapter's armoury as a token of gratitude for saving his Chapter Master's life. Since then, it was decreed that it would be a tradition of the Blood Aurochs for the 4th Company Captain to wield this relic blade. Martellos has wielded it ever since with honour and nobility in Sanguinius' name.
- Bite of Sanguinius (Power Axe) - This Power Axe is wielded by Captain Claudio of the 8th Company. It is rumoured to have once belonged to the renegade chapter, the Red Panthers, although this is unconfirmed. Legends do say that when the Red Panthers turned to the worship of Khorne, Captain Claudio risked life and limb to retrieve this relic of the Sanguinary Brotherhood. However, this is just speculation, and the true origins of this Power Axe remain a mystery.
- Sanguine Wings (Jump Pack) - This relic winged Jump Pack, similar to those worn by the Sanguinary Guard, is a relic of the Great Crusade. Its original user is unknown, although it is known that it was gifted to the Blood Aurochs at their conception. It is rumoured that Sanguinius commissioned for it to be made during the Great Crusade for one of his captains.
- Shield of the Aurochs (Combat Shield) - This relic Combat Shield is worn and used by Captain Omnio of the 7th Company, the Master of Sieges. During the midst of battle, Omnio can often be seen in bright red power armour, decorated with his own unique gold heraldry, his Combat Shield strapped to his arm.
- Omnio's Armour - This relic suit of Power Armour is worn by Captain Omnio of the 7th Company, the Master of Sieges. During the midst of battle, Omnio can often be seen in bright red power armour, decorated with his own unique gold heraldry, his Combat Shield strapped to his arm. He is a majestic, noble sight in the midst of battle, ever bit the image of his father, Sanguinius.
- Goriel's Helmet - Captain Goriel of the 6th Company can often be seen wearing ceremonial armour at all times, coupled with the traditional aurochs cape that all high ranking officers wear, along with the horned helmet, which when worn is reminiscent of an aurochs' skull, the symbol of their chapter. He keeps it shined to perfection, so that in the light of the sun or the glow of the moonlight, his visage is like that of a skull's. On its forehead is etched a Blood Drop pendant, filled with Goriel's own blood.
- Blood Drop Pendants - Like their progenitors, the Blood Angels, the Blood Aurochs incorporate Blood Drop Pendants into their heraldry. These ornaments are representations of the Sanguinary Brotherhood's symbol and the blood of Sanguinius that runs through their collective veins. Some are literally filled with the Battle-Brother's own precious blood, while others are jewelled or crystalline representations. They are most often, but not always, worn around the neck.
- Death Mask - Like their progenitors, the Blood Angels, the Blood Aurochs use Death Masks fashioned from a likeness of the fallen's features. Blood Aurochs heroes wear Death Masks both to honour the dead and strike terror into their foes. There can be no denying their power when one sees the coruscating golden energy arcing across the mask's surface and the baleful light shining from its eyes. A Death Mask is worn over a Battle-Brother's helmet and provides no additional protection. These same death masks are also worn by members of the Sanguinary Guard which crackle terrifying haloes of golden light. The Machine Spirit of each mask bonds closely with its wearer, its loyalty to him absolute. When a Sanguinary Guard falls in battle, his death mask is removed with much ceremony and placed in a sarcophagus deep in the ground. The mask is left in its dark tomb for seven solar days and seven nights, by the end of which it will have taken on the stylised features of its former wearer. These transformations are claimed by the Blood Aurochs to be miracles, and none has ever proven otherwise. Once the mask has taken on the features of its wearer, it is rubbed with a mixture of red ochre and aurochs fat and placed Stasis Field with a marked plinth bearing the wearer's name. It is one of the chapter's most sacred ceremonies.
- Golden Icons - Blood Aurochs frequently hang sacred gilded icons on their armour or from their belts. The exact form of these items varies, but they are considered a display of devotion as well as serving as a focus for spiritual meditation.
- Glaives Encarmine - Glaives Encarmine, a broad, two-handed Power Weapons wielded only by the Sanguinary Guard. The secrets of their creation are known only to the artificers of the Blood Angels. The Blood Aurochs often commission the Blood Angels to craft these weapons for them, as the secrets of their creation are unknown even to them. Forged from an alloy known only as "Angelsteel," whose secrets are known only to the Artificers of the Blood Angels, these blades never scratch, warp or break, no matter what violence they are subjected to.
- Aurochs Kopis - On their homeworld of Incar X, the Blood Aurochs have genetically engineered the aurochs, a type of wild cattle that once roamed Terra during the Ice Age. The aurochs they engineered to inhabit their homeworld were of an even stronger breed than the original aurochs. Their horns, in particular, were bred to be even stronger, capable of cutting through ceramite with ease. For this reason, the Blood Aurochs use the horns to craft them into kopides, a heavy knife with a forward-curving blade. Lysandor Turit, their Chapter Master, wields a blade crafted from the biggest aurochs horn ever seen. It is called the Rufescent Horn, and it is strong enough to carve through Terminator Armour.
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
The Blood Aurochs predominantly paint their power armour bright blood red with black shoulder pauldron trim. The backpack and left poleyn (knee guard) is also black in colour. The helmet, backpack vents, buckle and knee guards are white in colour. The Imperialis or Aquila affixed to the plastron (chest guard) is also white in colouration.
The Blood Aurochs utilise the Codex-compliant symbols to show a unit's squad specialty. They use a white symbol to display their unit's squad speciality on their left poleyn (knee guard) - Fire Support, Close Support, Battleline, Veteran/Command.
Blood Aurochs' Librarians wear standard blue coloured armour with the left shoulder pauldron inset being painted red in honour of their Chapter's colours. The Chapter badge is located on the left shoulder pauldron.
Blood Aurochs Sanguinary Priests have red armour painted in white, with their Chapter badge display prominently on their left shoulder pauldron.
The Sanguinary Guard wear armour that is gold in colour, with white wings, and many Chapter markings displayed all over their battle-plate.
Heraldry of the Host
Blood Aurochs company markings differ from those outlined in the Codex Astartes in utilising symbols on their right shoulder pauldron inset instead of different coloured trim and Imperial Gothic numerals. The emblem of the 1st Company is a white auroch skull while all of the other companies use different coloured blood drops.
Once a battle-brothers joins the Death Company, his company emblem is replaced with the icons of the doomed brotherhood.
The following is a list of how each company represents itself:
Blood Aurochs company markings.
- 1st Company (Veteran): A white auroch skull over red background on the right shoulder plate. On Terminator (Tactical Dreadnought) Armour, the left shoulder plate shows the 1st Company's specific heraldry, the right shoulder guard displays the Chapter badge.
- 2nd Company (Battle): A single yellow blood drop a pair of auroch horns.
- 3rd Company (Battle): A single white blood drop a pair of auroch horns.
- 4th Company (Battle): A single green blood drop a pair of auroch horns.
- 5th Company (Battle): A single black blood drop a pair of auroch horns.
- 6th Company (Reserve Tactical): Twin yellow blood drops, side by side a pair of auroch horns.
- 7th Company (Reserve Tactical): Twin white blood drops, side by side a pair of auroch horns.
- 8th Company (Reserve Assault): Twin green blood drops, side by side a pair of auroch horns.
- 9th Company (Reserve Fire Support): Twin black blood drops, side by side a pair of auroch horns.
- 10th Company (Scout Marines): The Blood Aurochs' Scout Company wears a black circlet with a single red blood drop and a pair of horns centred within, and the Chapter badge on the left.
Unlike other Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, the Blood Aurochs' squad markings comprise a single symbol worn on the right knee guard.
Following Roboute Guilliman's recent revisions to the Codex Astartes and the reorganisation of the Reserve Companies in the Era Indomitus, ten additional squad numbers and icons have been introduced to the Chapter, which now allows more than 100 battle-brothers in a company in certain circumstances.
Blood Aurochs' squad markings, commonly displayed on the right knee plate; the numbers above correspond to each squad within a company, 1st-20th.
- 1st Squad: A white skull on a black background.
- 2nd Squad: A white skull on a blue background.
- 3rd Squad: A red blood drop on a yellow background.
- 4th Squad: A red blood drop on a black background.
- 5th Squad: A white X on a black background.
- 6th Squad: A white X on a blue background.
- 7th Squad: A yellow lightning bolt on a black background.
- 8th Squad: A black lightning bolt on a yellow background.
- 9th Squad: A yellow angelic wing on a black background.
- 10th Squad: A black angelic wing on a yellow background.
- 11th Squad: A yellow skull on a black background.
- 12th Squad: A black skull on a yellow background.
- 13th Squad: A white blood drop on a black background.
- 14th Squad: A white blood drop on a blue background.
- 15th Squad: A red saltire ("X") on a black background.
- 16th Squad: A red saltire ("X") on a yellow background.
- 17th Squad: A white lightning bolt on a blue background.
- 18th Squad: A white lightning bolt on a black background.
- 19th Squad: A red angelic wing on a black background.
- 20th Squad: A white angelic wing on a blue background.
Chapter Badge
The Blood Aurochs Chapter badge is a large bone coloured auroch skull with two large blood drops dripping from the tips of its horns. This central symbol is centred upon a field of bright blood red.
Relations
Allies
| Name | Iconography | Notes |
| Red Mammoths |   |
The Blood Aurochs have a close bond with their cousin chapter, the Red Mammoths, a fellow Blood Angels successor chapter. The Red Mammoths are a 6th Founding Space Marine Chapter, created from the lineage of Sanguinius in 831.M33 during the Year of Ghosts, a time when the honoured dead rose up to battle against the terrors of the Warp. Their homeworld is Sorrius II, a Feudal World where tribes competed amongst themselves and against one another for resources. Their fortress-monastery is the Tusks of the Mammoth, a fortress located on the western mountains, high up where there is little atmosphere. It is from this world that their main tithe of recruits is selected, although the Red Mammoths also have many other recruiting worlds, mainly feudal worlds. The Red Mammoths came to the aid of the Blood Aurochs when their homeworld, Incar X, was attacked by the Greater Daemon of Khorne, Ka'Bandha. |
| Crimson Bones |   |
The Crimson Bones, a loyalist chapter with chimeric gene-seed, descended from the Imperial Fists and the Blood Angels, are a close ally of the Blood Aurochs. They are of a morbid nature, believing they are already dead, and willing to take any and all risks to protect the realm of the Emperor and kill their enemies. The Crimson Bones, along with the Red Mammoths and Red Tusks, attend the Gathering of several of the Blood Aurochs' close allies to engage in various friendly competitions. The Crimson Bones are masters of siege warfare, and are able to both attack and defend a stronghold expertly. The chapter has their fortress-monastery on their homeworld of Palotern Quintus underground in the Palotern Catacombs. They maintain close ties with the Blood Aurochs, having fought alongside them in several campaigns. As part of their alliance, the Crimson Bones have built many strongholds for the Blood Aurochs on several of their recruiting worlds. |
| Red Tusks |   |
The Red Tusks are a 7th Founding Space Marine Chapter of the lineage of Sanguinius. They are a successor chapter of the Red Mammoths, and maintain close ties with their parent chapter. They are fleet based chapter, specialising in close-quarters assaults such as space hulk purgation and boarding actions, as well as aerial assault. However, unlike their parent chapter and their progenitor chapter, the Blood Angels, the Red Tusks also excel at armoured warfare, often striding into battle inside huge war machines, crushing the bodies of their foes beneath the tracks of their tanks, the red and gold metal skin of their war machines a resplendent sight in the midst of battle. The Red Tusks came to the aid of the Blood Aurochs when their homeworld of Incar X was attacked by the Greater Daemon Ka'Bandha. |
Enemies
| Name | Iconography | Notes |
| T'au Empire |   |
The Blood Aurochs harbour a special hatred of the T'au, not just because they are vile xenos, but for their penchant for long-ranged warfare. The Blood Aurochs eschew long-ranged combat, believing that it is cowardly. This has put them at odds with xenos such as the T'au Empire, whom they believe to be cowards due to their preference for long-ranged combat. However, they did develop a reluctant respect for Commander Farsight during the Damocles Gulf Crusade, both for his expertise at close-ranged combat and for his sense of honour, mainly for allowing the Imperial forces to withdraw from T'au space without being fired upon. |
| Saim-Hann |  |
The craftworld of Saim-Hann is based close to the homeworld of the Blood Aurochs. The Blood Aurochs share a hatred of the alien, but appreciate their brutal reputation as fighters. Due to the location of their homeworld on the Eastern Fringe, the Blood Aurochs have frequently come into contact with the Aeldari of Craftworld Saim-Hann. Recently they launched a boarding action assault against the Eldar of craftworld Saim-Hann. However, they were forced to retreat from the craftworld when they were alerted that the Greater Daemon of Khorne, Ka'Bandha, had launched an assault against their homeworld of Incar X, and their fortress-monastery, the Hearth of the Aurochs. |
| Necrons |   |
The Blood Aurochs revile the Necron race in its entirety, particularly the Necrons of the Sautekh Dynasty, as they pose a immense risk to their homeworld and the Imperium as a whole. The Sautekh Dynasty have claimed more territory than any other Necron dynasty, and threaten to bring imminent destruction to the Imperium at all times. They are undead creatures with no souls, and for this reason the Blood Aurochs hate them perhaps even more than they hate the T'au, for at least the T'au know some small measure of honour. There is no honour in the Necrons in the eyes of the Blood Aurochs, and for their blasphemous existence they must die. |
| Ka'Bandha |   |
Ka'Bandha is a Greater Daemon of Khorne, and was the sworn enemy of Sanguinius. Since their gene-sire's death, he is now the sworn nemesis of all Scions of Sanguinius, and they vow to destroy him in the name of their father and the Emperor. The Blood Aurochs harbour a particular hatred of Ka'Bandha as he once launched an assault against their homeworld and fortress-monastery, as well as for corrupting their cousin chapter, the Red Panthers. |
| Red Panthers | The Red Panthers are a renegade chapter that have turned from the light of the Imperium and fallen to the worship of the Chaos God, Khorne. They were once a loyalist Space Marine Chapter of the lineage of Sanguinius, created during the 8th Founding. However, they are no longer the noble sons of Sanguinius that they once were, and are reviled and despised with particular vehemence by all Chapters of the Blood, particularly the Blood Aurochs, as they caused immense destruction to their homeworld when they revealed their new allegiance to Chaos. Since then they have come into conflict with the Blood Aurochs on numerous occasions, as the Blood Aurochs have dedicated themselves to annihilating the Red Panthers and wiping away the shame they have left on the collective soul of the Scions of Sanguinius. |
Notable Quotes
By: Blood Aurochs
- " Today, I complete the ritual of Ascension. Today, I am a recognised as a battle-brother. Today I become one with my brothers, and with the Emperor and Sanguinius"
- — Attributed to an unknown battle-brother before he completes the ritual of Ascension
About: Blood Aurochs
- " If I had to choose anyone from another chapter to fight alongside on a day such as today, it would be one of the Blood Aurochs."
- — Attributed to Captain Talut of the Red Mammoths Chapter at the Devastation of Baal
- " Sir, I am honoured to die beside you today."
- — Battle-brother Nihilaius Kephal of the 4th Company of the Crimson Bones to Captain Omnio of the 7th Company of the Blood Aurochs at the Devastation of Baal
| Eighth Founding Space Marine Chapters | |
|---|---|
| Dark Angels Successors | Black Reapers • Ebon Angels • Sword of Achrial • |
| White Scars Successors | Black Scorpions • Desert Hawks • Destroyers of Worlds • Marauding Eagles • Rising Sons • |
| Space Wolves Successors | N/A |
| Imperial Fists Successors | Ash Scorpions • Bears of Kalum • Crusaders Inexorable • Sable Lions • Thunder Guardians |
| Blood Angels Successors | Astra Khalybes • Blood Aurochs • Great Bears • Immortals • Sanguinary Accipiters • |
| Iron Hands Successors | Iron Depurators • |
| Ultramarines Successors | Bronze Bastion • Bulls of the Emperor • Far Hunters • Tribunes • Warhawks • |
| Salamanders Successors | Silver Pachyderms • |
| Raven Guard Successors | Crow Stalkers • Illuminators • |
| Unknown Lineage | • |
| Renegades | Bloody Hymn • Dionysus Revellers • Gore Vultures • Verum Illuminate • |
Gallery
