- "The betrayal by our former brothers, the wrath you feel within? That shall be our weapon of last resort! Before you learn to wield it, to kill with ferocity and abandon, you must master fighting with skill,sublety, and restraint! After all my brothers, the honed blade cuts the deepest!"
- — Warleader Prime Barius Kor of the Brazen Lions
The Brazen Lions are a Loyalist Codex-divergent Space Marine Chapter created sometime between late-M35 and early-M36 during the mysterious 13th 'Dark' Founding from unknown genetic lineage. For much of the Chapter's history, the Brazen Lion have operated as a fleet-based, crusading force, though older extant records indicate that they once occupied a Chapter homeworld during their earliest years of service. Today, however, this world is a blasted waste, consumed by the wars of the Age of Apostasy. Though no trace of the culture from which the Chapter originally recruited from now exists, something of its ancient feudal traditions was carried over and lives on in the rites and character of the Chapter. Since the loss of their former homeworld, the Brazen Lions have continued to forever quest and give battle, knowing no home but the grace of the Emperor's mercy, finding purpose only in the destruction of the enemies of Mankind.
A bellicose and unforgiving Chapter by nature, the Brazen Lions have established themselves at the apex of military force, applying overwhelming force to bring about the total and immediate destruction of the enemy. Since their inception, this Chapter has earned the respect of their fellow Adeptus Astartes and the Imperium at large, through their acts of courage, valour, battle-prowess and centuries of loyal service in the Emperor's name. However, there once was a time not long ago that the Lions' loyalty was called into question, for it is to the Chapter's eternal shame that they are successors of the formerly loyalist Astral Claws - a Chapter's whose name that is villified within the Imperium, and is synonymous with infamy and treachery. Despite the aspersions and acrimony often displayed towards them, the Brazen Lions continue to stoically carry on, determined to raise themselves above the sins of their genetic forebears.
Chapter History[]
- "What are our oaths?
- The steel that binds our lives to the Emperor.
What did we swear?
- Our lives are as nought in the vision of the Emperor, save that by them we shall destroy all foes.
What is the fate of all foes?
- To perish in the fire of battle and be cleansed from the galaxy."- — Chaplain Carnaelos Sol of the Brazen Lions
Chapter Banner of the Brazen Lions
The Brazen Lions is a Chapter of Space Marines created during the 13th Founding, the so-called "Dark Founding" which occurred sometime between the 35th and 36th Millennium, before the start of the Age of Apostasy. Since the bygone era of the Horus Heresy, the Adeptus Terra had maintained a bank of original gene-seed tithed by every single Chapter ever created, up until that time. However, with the advent of this particular founding, there are no reliable records that indicate the number of Chapters created during this era or what became of them. There are very few verified Chapters created during this mysterious founding. While the Lions have always officially maintained they were forged from the gene-stock of the Ultramarines, certain defects and variations in the samples of Lions' gene-seed still held in the archives of the Adeptus Terra speak against this and the sons of Roboute Guilliman have never acknowledged any kinship, fueling suspicions as to their true heritage.
Much to the eternal shame of the Brazen Lions, there is some extant evidence that they hail from the lineage of the once-noble Astral Claws - a Chapter once held up as paragon examples of the Adeptus Astartes - they later became villified throughout the Imperium following their actions during the Badab War that occurred in the late 41st Millennium. Today their name is synonymous with infamy and treachery, however, it was not always so. For more than five millennia, the Astral Claws Chapter stood shoulder to shoulder with the finest of the Imperium's warriors, their deeds were legendary and their honour unquestioned. Despite their impressive tally of victories some of their detractors accused the Chapter of a greater lust for glory than the rewards of duty. However, despite such recriminations, the Astral Claws are stated in some extant sources as having "three sons" which most likely implies that three Successor Chapters were drawn from their ranks. Given their relative youth as a Chapter at the time, this would be a remarkable number if true, and if so, a testament to the high regard in which they were held.
The Brazen Lions were one of these so-called "sons", created during the mysterious 13th Founding. Early on, the Brazen Lions distinguished themselves from the beginning of their history, by bravely entering the conflicts of the Age of Apostasy, a tumultuous and bloody period in Imperial history that pitched the galaxy into an age of civil war and anarchy, when the Imperium was controlled by the tyrant Apostate High Lord Goge Vandire. Many Adeptus Astartes Chapters refused to take sides and get involved in the countless internecine conflicts of faith, and instead, focused on the security of the regions about their own home worlds and continued to prosecute long-standing wars against ancient and vile xenos foes. They felt to do so, was a betrayal of their sworn duties as the Emperor's avenging Angels of Death. However, the Brazen Lions had no such compunction to stay uninvolved, and wholeheartedly threw themselves into the raging conflicts of this bloody age. The Brazen Lions are one of the few beacons of light in a galaxy full of despair, as they attempted to protect the few star systems they could from the ravages of the Age of Apostasy and the carnage of Vandire's Reign of Blood.
The Brazen Lions' involvement would see their homeworld suffer for their temertiy, a fate that befell several Adeptus Astartes homeworlds such as Zhoros, the original homeworld of the Fire Hawks Chapter. During the battles against Vandire's apostate forces the Brazen Lions' homeworld of Nemial suffered a similar fate and was destroyed by a thermonuclear orbital bombardment unleashed by a fleet of the Ecclesiarchy's Frateris Templar. Despite the great loss of their homeworld and fortress-monastery, fortunately the majority of the Chapter survived the planet's destruction, having been on campaign several sectors away. The Brazen Lions were forced to adapt to their new status as a fleet-bound Chapter. Records from this era indicate that the Brazen Lions became a Crusading Chapter, despatched from warzone to warzone in order to battle Mankind's enemies, and have continued to do so every since.
Nomadic Chapter Fleet[]
Scattered records about the Brazen Lions imply that the Chapter has no set home world. This is uncommon for a Space Marine Chapter to operate solely as a warfleet on a perpetual Crusade. However, the Lions do not follow the standard Crusade pattern of operation when it comes to a fleet-based Chapter.
The Nomad-Predation pattern has allowed the Lions to be an entirely sovereign force that could sustain itself without any support whatsoever. Their Chapter fleet contains as many support vessels as true warships, and is said to also contain a number of voidships capable of both combat and maintenance/repairs. Because of propensity for combat, it seems unlikely that the Lions tolerate vessels in their fleet's ranks that could not hold their own on the battle line. As a Nomad-Predation fleet, the Lions voyage indefinitely, tarrying only to identify and engage the foes of man.
The Brazen Lions are among some of the most widely dispersed Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, having Prides spread across the width and breadth of the Imperium, often hundreds and hundreds of light years from the nearest of their Pride-Brothers. In part, this is due the nature of their Chapter, pressing upon them the duty to protect a large swath of space. It is also part of the nature of the Brazen Lions and great pride they inheret which drives them to send their Prides on crusade or to the far flung regions of space to prove their loyalty to the Emperor and the skill of their warriors.
The scattered nature of the Chapter does however gives it a perspective different to those Chapters which have a homeworld or are tied to a specific region or segmentum by their history. While it is true of all Space Marine Chapters that they fight wherever the Emperor sends them, taking them to far flung worlds and against a variety of foes, for the Brazen Lions there is no planet or world to which they will return, or grand Chapter fortress-monastery where their Chapter Masters reside. It is a small but significant fact that weights on the minds of every Pride-Brother.
Chapter Recruitment[]
- "We are Lions! Quietly we will endure, silently we will suffer, patiently we will wait! We are survivors, we are warriors! For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my battle-brother eternal!"
- —Chaplain of the Brazen Lions
Due to their Crusading nature the Brazen Lions are forced to recruit from many different worlds, often at the end of a long crusade, or if attrition is high during a particular campaign, on the fly when practical. The common form of recruitment utilised by the Lions given to their preferential mode of operation is to cull potential initiates from the young of the survivors of their assaults where practical, provided those survivors are human and free of the corrupting influence of the Warp. The young males are then forced to fight to the death to prove their worth. Those initiates who survive are then subjected to intensive hypno-conditioning and other harsh procedures designed to strip away any past loyalties.
Replacing a lost Pride is an extremely difficult process as reallocating and requisitioning extremely rare weapons, vehicles and armour is a tedious and drawn-out affair. While the Adeptus Mechanicus make take several centuries to provide the Chapter some of this basic wargear, other requisitions may never be fulfilled. As all Prides are expected to increase their initiation rates at such a time so that established Pride-Brothers may be tithed to a new company, unfortunately, on several occasions, once a Pride has been replaced, it is not unheard for one of these original Prides to miraculously return from an extended crusade.
This has resulted in the Brazen Lions possessing more than 10 companies and the Chapter has stood well over the Codex-mandated strength of 1,000 Battle-Brothers in each of these instances. Due to these circumstances, it is virtually impossible to accurately gauge the Chapter's true number of total assets at any given time.
Notable Campaigns[]
- Bargonon Insurrection (Unknown M36) - The Chapter's first recorded engagement was during the Bargonon Insurrection. They would prove that they would be able to carry the attack despite their then-relatively small numbers by sheer courage and the fury of the violence they could unleash. The Lions were tasked to subdue the asteroid prison world of Bargonon which had risen up in anarchic revolt in a state of near continuous rioting and mob violence. Initial attempts to impose order by Astra Militarum troops had been thrown back in disarray as it became apparent that among the insurrectionists was a renegade cadre of outlawed Space Marines, calling themselves the Condemned. The Brazen Lions were dispatched to Bargonon with explicit instructions to reclaim the planet and carry the Emperor's wrath to those that had defied Him. Within eight hours, a signal was received from the Brazen Lions that Bargonon-Primary had been returned to Imperial Compliance. When asked by the leader of the waiting second wave how many prisoners to expect to transfer into custody, the Lions replied that they had not been ordered to take any. The second wave of Imperial Army troops were tasked with the bleak task of clean-up operations in the wake of the Brazen Lions' assault, hunting down any survivors hiding in the warren of tunnels and passageways, of which there proved to be precious few. There were multiple reports of more than once coming across carcasses torn to pieces and of choke-points and defence posts turned into blood-soaked charnel houses and of scores upon scores of insurgents cut down from behind while fleeing in blind panic, their weapons abandoned.
- The Clovis Rebellion (112-114.M37) - When a Black Crusade is launched in the Clovis Sector, a joint-Astartes strike force is sent to quell the five worlds that have become overrun by bloody insurrection. The Clovis Rebellion quickly escalates when a large force of Night Lords Heretic Astartes arrived and the Planetary Defence Forces of Clovis Prime crumbled. The Brazen Lions, Blades of Dorn, Blood Vultures and the Ebon Knights launched a counter-attack to secure vital Imperial artefacts before Exterminatus was declared. It takes the three Chapters two more years of brutal conflict to cleanse the rest of the sector's worlds before they are declared free of corruption.
- Siege of Callisto (834-840.M37) - Responding to a distress call, the Brazen Lions fleet headed towards the stellar wasteland of the Callisto Sector. The Callisto Sector had been sited near the galactic core in the Segmentum Ultima close to the realspace Warp rift known simply as the Maelstrom. The Brazen Lions' warships formed a single strike force aimed at the Laterus System. They came upon the besieged Adeptus Mechanicus station world of Callisto on the edge of the Maelstrom, founded during the Age of Strife, and long cut off from aid. Callisto was being besieged by the Drukhari who wished to take the Mechanicus's technological secrets for themselves. The tech-priests of the Mechanicus had endured alone for ages, subjected to the privations of raiders and enemies all around them and always requesting aid that had never yet managed to reach them. The Brazen Lions arrived as their saviours, smashing into the heart of the besiegers. Though dramatically outnumbered and outgunned, the Brazen Lions drew into close formation and smashed through the enemy armada. Once the enemy line of defence was breached, the Brazen Lions' fleet unleashed swarms of gunships and drop pods upon the planet's surface. In the meantime, baying for blood, the Brazen Lions ravaged the enemy armada, plunging in close so that the wildfire of their foes struck their own ships as often as those of the Imperials. Boarding torpedoes and assault rams screamed out from the Brazen Lions' vessels and slammed into the hulls of terror ships of the Drukhari vessels, disgorging the Brazen Lions in their unstoppable rage, turning the enemy ships into charnel houses. Meanwhile, on the surface below, the Drukhari died by the thousands, unable to coordinate a defence against this unforeseen direction of attack. The battle raged on for hours, and the Brazen Lions took horrific casualties but fought on nevertheless. The Kabalite overlords sensed at last that the battle was turning in their favour and called upon reinforcements from across the planetoid's surface to aid them. It was then that a false dawn flared blood-red in the skies above. Seconds later, a cyclonic torpedo barrage smashed into the surface all around the Brazen Lions, who fought on. In their wake came hundreds of gunships and assault rams that represented the Brazen Lions' second wave. These warriors descended upon the Kabal of Drukhari like vengeful gods of wrath. The Siege of Callisto had been broken as the Brazen Lions speared the fleeing enemy with barbed Ursus Claws - massive lances connected to heavy, dense chains - that could pierce the hull of an enemy ship and drag them back to their inevitable doom. When they were within a short distance of the Brazen Lions' ships, their commanders would then disgorged their elite assault formations to cross the short distance between them and board the enemy vessels to slaughter those within, leaving these enemy vessels as bloody abattoirs in their wake. The campaign that was to follow would last six standard years and see no fewer than 28 worlds and outposts ravaged and destroyed by the Brazen Lions, and two separate dangerous xenos species wiped out. The Brazen Lions' fleet cut a swathe of destruction through the wastes of the Callisto Sector, and even ventured into the perilous fringes of the Maelstrom itself.
- Compliance of Argo (284.M38) - The Brazen Lions fought against a xenos-adversary whose identity is not recorded in existing Imperial records while bringing the world of Argo into Imperial Compliance. This Compliance action was a long siege of the xenos fortress-states on Argo. The grotesque xenos were greatly skilled in the arts of combat, and rose against the Brazen Lions angrily the moment their Fleet made contact. The xenos used secret tunnels to infiltrate behind the besieging Imperial army and hundreds of enemy shock troops swamped the Imperial command encampment. Unprepared and unarmoured, the Brazen Lions took heavy losses, but managed to hold out until reinforcements could arrive. Incensed by the horrendous casualties suffered and also by the use of such a cowardly tactic, the Brazen Lions fury made short work of the remaining xenos threat. This genocidal campaign proved to be a long, bloody, and miserable affair for the Brazen Lions. The xenocide of this forgotten species was eventually successful and these xenos were all but wiped out.
- Serkis Compliance (692.M38) - The Ivaldi System was settled by humanity in the distant past and had remained isolated for millennia. Even without Warp-capable starships the people of Serkis had still managed to flourish instead of regressing to barbarism. Though bringing Serkis into Imperial Compliance would bring the Imperium great renown, this formidable civilisation refused to bend the knee to the light of the Imperial Truth, and instead were prepared to fight to maintain their independence. Their warfleet was formidable, and managed to push back the initial invasion of the Imperium. But if the Serkis warships proved formidable, their warriors proved to be downright deadly. Drawn from the system's prison colonies, each was already a formidable killer and survivor. Implanted with drug glands, vat-grown muscle and bone grafts, mind-wiped and conditioned with battle-memes, they were lethal and dangerous, even to Astartes. Armoured in partially powered battle plate, bearing high penetration laser weaponry and fractally sharpened blades, they posed a grave risk to the Imperial forces. The Imperium wanted Serkis's wealth and resources to harness to their needs. So the securing of Serkis fell to Brazen Lions, supported by selected elements of the Astra Militarum and the forces of the Mechanicum. Despite meticulous planning, the campaign did not begin well as substantial losses were inflicted upon the Imperial forces. Changing their strategy, the Brazen Lions decided that instead of focusing on a systematic conquest of the system's void stations, moons and planets, they would instead focus upon Serkis's fleet. Without the ability to redeploy their strength, each of the Serkis domains would become a closed tactical problem. But the Serkis had anticipated such tactics, and instead deployed multiple strike fleets to attack the Imperial fleet. Substantial losses were incurred during this initial engagement as the Serkis took advantage and attacked the Imperial toehold on their outer moons and stations. The Brazen Lions recognized the dire circumstances of their situation and issued a request to Terra for reinforcements. Soon elements from the Blades of Dorn, Ice Dragons, Impalers, and Silverbacks arrived in-system to augment the beleaguered Imperial forces. Despite his misgivings the Brazen Lions accept assistance and immediately drew up plans for prosecuting the second offensive against the Serkis. Utilising the strength of their new reinforcements, the Brazen Lions launch a successful second offensive against the Serkis that would soon see an Imperial victory.
- Saria Insurrection (378-384.M39) - In 379.M39, contact with several worlds in the Sarias' Landing sub-sector has ceased. Something was blocking communications and all Imperial shipping had stopped without warning. Sending an Administratum investigatory fleet to discover what was happening in the sub-sector, but after a week, had failed to return to report their findings to Imperial authorities. Concerned, small Inquisitorial teams were sent to investigate. When they returned, they brought troubling news. The majority of the sub-sector had fallen into strife and open insurrection, and to make matters worse, several of these worlds were held in the grip of the Forces of Chaos. Unwilling to countenance such audaciousness, the High Lords of Terra dispatched an Imperial Crusade to take back the fallen sub-sector. Both the Brazen Lions and the savage Hounds of Kerberos Chapters were the first to answer the call-to-arms, and alongside several regiments of Astra Militarum and supporting Adeptus Mechanicus Skitarii forces, they launched their crusade into the sub-sector immediately. Entire populations and ragtag fleets were led into battle by chanting Traitor Marines, clad in a panoply of colours, drawn from countless warbands. The Brazen Lions and the Hounds of Kerberos found themselves tied up in protracted conflicts and trench wars, caught in a cobweb of a much wider heresy. As the weeks became months and the months became years, more and more of both Chapters arrived to punish, cleanse, and reclaim the rebellious worlds. The Rolls of Honour run black with the ink of millions of enemies slain, but the Brazen Lions and the Hounds of Kerberos suffered casualties beyond their ability to sustain a fighting front. With dozens of Astra Militarum regiments arriving alongside several relief Chapters, the Brazen Lions and the Hounds of Kerberos withdrew from the conflict with their heads held high. Yet the bitterest blow was yet to be struck: it came as the remnants of their fleet mustered above Sarias' Landing itself, when a Traitor armada broke from the Warp, hungry for the chance to wipe the Lions and Hounds from the face of the Imperium. The battle that followed lasted for four days of void war and vicious boarding actions, during which Brazen Lions and Hounds of Kerberos were responsible for the taking and scuttling of nine capital-class vessels. When the Brazen Lions and Hounds of Kerberos at last stood victorious and took stock of their losses, fewer than four hundred Space Marines in total still drew breath.
- Fall of the Creed (562.M40) - An Imperial Compliance campaign which was conducted against the barren, desert plant Nuranus and its masters, the heretical cult known as "The Creed". These self-appointed arbiters of human purity, life and death, were twisted and withered creatures that had once been human in ages past. They had extended their lifespans into millennia with the help of technology as ancient as it was dark. Encased within mechanised war machines controlled by cybernetic implants, in order to live they required regular infusions of fresh human genetic material extracted through a painful, fatal arcane process.From their towering pyramid structure known as "Acumen of All" they held sway over a dozen nearby human-inhabited worlds through terror, offering a devil's bargain of protection from xenos assault in return for a tribute of the young and healthy. The Brazen Lions bent up fury toward such shameful atrocities would soon be unleashed upon the Creed who were to suffer the Brazen Lion's pent-up hatred and wrath. By design, the enemy was crushed without mercy and their domains were stripped of every valuable resource and technology; wreckage and weapons amassed by the Brazen Lions' fleet and the Creeds' long guarded secrets fell. The Creed forces were utterly annihilated by the victorious Brazen Lions and several planets were left in the care of its survivors.
Current Warleader Prime Barius Kor of the Brazen Lions
- The Agmus Crusade (901-912.M41) - The Agmus Crusade was an Imperial Crusade launched by the Brazen Lions and led by their Chapter Master Barius Kor. Agmus was a long-isolated star system, only rediscovered by the Imperium in the late 40th Millennium on the outer fringes of the galaxy. Attempts were made to integrate its worlds into the Imperium, but the system had long been prosperous and independent, and scorned Imperial interference. The first missionaries from the Missionaria Galaxia were slaughtered, but when a second group of Imperial priests came to the system they brought the Brazen Lions with them. Under the direct command of Chapter Master Kor, the Lions fought the forces of the rebel worlds with great success until they came to the well defended hive cities of Agmus itself. Chapter Master Kor believed the Agmus Crusade progress was being stalled and was becoming a war of attrition. For months, each attempt to capture the hives was fought back with great losses and it seemed like the Lions would be unable to force their way into the sprawling arcologies. But the answer was found, a means to use Land Raider Crusader tanks. Armed to smash through enemy defences and disgorge squads of Astartes right into the thick of the fighting, the Crusader was the perfect weapon for breaching the defences of the Agmus hives. The campaign ended with the successful capture of hive cities of Agmus and the Brazen Lions ultimately reestablish Imperial rule within the system.
- Badab War (912-913.M41) - Delayed by numerous conflicts the Chapter was already engaged in, a Brazen Lions contingent finally arrived in the Badab warzone in 912.M41. Though they did not take part in the wider conflict that raged across the system, as a highly mobile taskforce, for the remainder of the war the Brazen Lions guarded vital space lanes for Imperial shipping and fought small-scale and vicious battles on several frontier worlds against their traitorous former progenitors. Whenever the Brazen Lions saw the opportunity to mete out vengeance to the Astral Claws, these battles were bloody in the extreme - with no quarter - often fighting one another to mutual annihilation. In this way, at least the Brazen Lions were able to gain some small measure of vengeance against their hated foes.
Chapter Organisation[]
As a fleet-based Crusading Chapter, the Lions maintain an organisational structure that follows the Codex Astartes in its basic pattern of organisation, however, in practice the Chapter has modified its tenets to better suit the needs and patterns of its deployments. An example of this is that the Chapter's company captains ('Warleaders') and senior officers are also assigned flag command of a particular starship in the Chapter's fleet and expected to act autonomously of a higher authority for long periods if needed. Due the bellicose nautre of the Brazen Lions they also have a special affection for the use of assault tactics that make use of jump pack-equipped Close Suppport Marines or boarding assault tactics by specially designated Violator Assault Squads.
Although the Chapter maintains the usual ten companies in accordance to the dictates of the Codex, they instead refer to these standard divisions as 'Prides', which are equivalent to a company-sized element. They also maintain the usual Chapter Command, Reclusiarchy, Apothecarion, Librarius and Armoury departments of other Chapters. However, due to their cultural heritage and longstanding Chapter traditions, the Brazen Lions utilise their own unique rank stucture and titles as well as various specialist squad designations that are unique to their Chapter.
The Chapter's 1st Pride (Veteran Company) and 10th Pride (Scout Company) are nominally based on their flagship battle barges with the majority of their number being dispersed as needed to individual commands which can vary considerably in size and operational terms. The Brazen Lions are known to roam the space lanes across the width and breadth of the known galaxy in order to come to the aid of any imperial world at any time or in any given place. This enables the Chapter to maintain as broad of a reach as possible. The Brazen Lions Prides regularly operate on independent duty dispersed throughout the galaxy. With each Warleader acting functionally as commander of a strike vessel (usually Strike Cruisers), they might also command one of the Chapter's many Light Cruisers or few Battlecruisers as part of the Chapter's armada.
Each of the Brazen Lions vessels maintain a separate Armoury of vehicles, weapons and equipment, in addition to its normal complement of Space Marines. Each of the Chapter's vessels is supplemented by members of the 1st and 10th Companies. In this way, each has access to the expertise offered by the Chapter's Veteran 'Pride-Brothers' (Battle-Brothers) as well as the opportunity to train initiates ('New Bloods') and complement of Scout Marines ('Pride Stalkers') and use the latter on infiltration missions. Due to historical losses of irreplaceable advanced equipment that has never been fully replenished, the Brazen Lions have learned to carefull shepherd their resources in terms of technology such as Terminator Armour.
Due to their inability to re-equip properly because of their nomadic nature, the Brazen Lions have often had to make due with older arms and patterns of power armour throughout their existence. Due to this reality, even at present the Brazen Lions uses a significantly larger number of more ancient patterns of power armour than most Chapters and the individuals that are lucky enough to be gifted with such revered relics view themselves as being blessed by the God-Emperor. The Chapter's Forge-Wrights (Techmarines) have become particularly adept not only in maintaining and repairing said equipment, but in reclaiming and restoring weapons and gear they might come across in their long crusades.
The nature of the Chapter's errant forces and their often unorthodox lines of supply due to their separation from the bulk of the Chapter for long periods of time, has forced many Prides into the adoption of modified equipment and weapons in order to maintain an effective fighting force. Various Brazen Lions forces have been observed to wield arms and armour obviously field-modified in a variety of ways, sometimes simply to keep it functioning in the isolated conditions under which these forces often operate, but often to improve said equipment in its performance in some manner. Such modifications are not authorised by Codex Astartes doctrine and are often in flagrant contradiction of the laws of the Cult Mechanicus, though such heretical practices have never been proven.
The Brazen Lions rarely gather en masse due to their Crusading nature, except at the commencement of a major Imperial Crusade called by the 'Warleader Prime' (Chapter Master). Most of the time, the Chapter's forces are dispersed to multiple task forces deployed to various expeditions and war zones spread over the vast distances of space. Due to this isolation, it is not unheard of for a Pride or individual task force to be out of communication with the majority of the Chapter for several standard years, or even solar decades at a time. Given these factors, each Pride and battle group has to manage its own affairs and the recruiting of new Initiates when and wherever opportunities arise. As they posses no single source of Aspirants, the Brazen Lions recruit from many different worlds, returning their new brethren to the ranks of the 10th Pride to complete their formal training when practical.
Officer Ranks[]
- Warleader Prime - Chapter Master equivalent.
- Warleader - Captain equivalent.
- Pride Leader - Lieutenant equivalent.
Senior Specialist Ranks[]
- Deathspeaker Prime - Reclusiarch equivalent.
- Spiritwalker Prime - Chief Librarian equivalent.
- Lifebinder Prime - Chief Apothecary equivalent.
- Forge Lord - Master of the Forge equivalent.
Specialist Ranks[]
- Deathspeaker - Chaplain equivalent.
- Spiritwalker - Librarian equivalent.
- Lifebinder - Apothecary equivalent.
- Forge-Wright - Techmarine equivalent.
Line Ranks[]
- Pride-Sergeant - Sergeant equivalent.
- Pride-Brother - Battle-Brother equivalent.
- Pride Stalker - Scout Marine equivalent.
- New Blood - Neophyte equivalent.
- Cub - Aspirant equivalent.
Specialist Units & Formations[]
- Den of Lions - Modelled after the Senatorum Imperialis of Terra, the Den of Lions encompasses a commission of Brazen Lions Astartes of the highest rank who draw together on matters of import facing the Chapter. The group offers advice to the Brazen Lions' Chapter Master, and while ultimately it is he who holds the final sanction over all commands, he is able to draw upon the knowledge and advice of all his company captains, his senior Chaplain, Apothecary, Forge Master and Librarian.
- Lionwatch - Honour Guard of the Warleader Prime, they are the epitomy of the warrior elite and are the martial pride of the Chapter. These Terminator-armoured elite are an elite cadre made up the most veteran skilled Pride-Brothers to be found in the Chapter. The Lionwatch serve as the Warleader Prime's close companions in war and council. They specialise in harrowing actions, shock assaults and strategic decapitation strikes.
- Violator Assault Squads - These Close Support Astartes are a specialised formation that harkens back to the bygone Legion Breacher Siege Squads of the ancient Legiones Astartes. They utilise specialised tactics and wargear for the explicit purpose of acting as a vanguard assault force in the worst combat conditions imaginable and in the direst of war zeons, known as 'Zone Mortalis' for the sheer likelihood of death faced by any who are forced to fight within them. These elite Close Support specialists specialise in fighting in the most hazardous and desperate spheres of warfare such as boarding actions amid the cold void of space and forlorn hope of the first wave of attackers into a breached fortress. Violatores are trained to fight from behind their shield wall to deadly affect; its armoured protection and the immense firepower at their command provides a deadly match for any foes who dares to assail them.
- Honoured Ancestors - Honoured Ancestors are the Chapter's venerable Pride-Brothers that are encased within the shell of a might Dreadnought. Despite suffering mortal wounds in life, these ancient warriors continue to serve the Chapter beyond the point of death wthin formidable shell of these cybernetic combat walkers. They are war incarnate, towering over their fellow Pride-Brothers as they advance forwards with thunderous strides to bring fiery death and slaughter to their foes. Many of these venerable warriors are thousands of years old, and can still recall the Chapter's early years and long-lost homeworld of Nemial. They are a tangible link to the Chapter's past, and when rarely awakened from their millennia-long slumber, they regail their Pride-Brothers with tales of the Chapter's past glorious deeds and legends of heroic Pride-Brothers of ages past. Within each Pride's vessel lies their armoury, deep within the bowels of the ship's hull. Here, these ancient heroes slumber in-between battles, until such time their might is needed and they are stirred to wakefulness once again when war beckons. Those most ancient of the Honoured Ancestors reside within the hold of the Chapter's main Armoury, located on the Brazen Lions' capital ship, the Lion's Pride.
Order of Battle[]
Headquarters[]
| Chapter Command | ||||
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| Den of Lions |
Armoury | Reclusium | Apothecarion | Librarius |
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 (Epistolaries, Codiciers, Lexicaniums) |
Companies[]
| Veteran Company | Battle Companies | |||
| 1st Pride | 2nd Pride | 3rd Pride | 4th Pride | 5th Pride |
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| Reserve Companies | Scout Company | |||
| 6th Pride | 7th Pride | 8th Pride | 9th Pride | 10th Pride |
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Combat Doctrine[]
- "We do not submit to fate! We shape it!"
- —Chief Librarian Rogann Hus
Being a Crusading Chapter, the Brazen Lions maintain a strong fleet and favor rapid strike missions and boarding actions, and as such they field strong additional auxiliary contingents of assault squads and Dreadnoughts in its armouries. Rapid speed and relentless attack are the cornerstones of the Brazen Lions' combat tactics.
It is noteworthy that the Brazen Lions are exceptionally willing to offer their assistance to any who need it. Throughout their history, this has included virtually every Imperial organisation. This includes the Inquisition, the Departmento Munitorum, and even Rogue Traders. Even more noteworthy is that it has also often included other Space Marine Chapters. Upon countless occasions, the Novamarines have dispatched substantial numbers of units to aid the Battle-Brothers of other Chapters in overcoming threats far beyond the boundaries of the current Segmentum they are patrolling.
Chapter Gene-Seed[]
Though the source of the Astral Claws' own gene-seed remains suppressed, the Brazen Lions themselves still speculate that its provenance ranges from either basic Ultramarines stock to that of the Dark Angels. Pointing to the supposedly un-degraded quality of Astral Claws gene-seed as well as certain factors of temperament and style of warfare. But due to the Edict of Obliteration enacted by the High Lords of Terra and carried out after the conclusion of the Badab War, all signs and evidence of the existence of the Astral Claws has been removed from official Imperial records, and therefore, any possible evidence of the Brazen Lions' possible inheritance, if they are descended from such a notorious Chapter or not.
Nobody knows exactly which Primarch's gene-seed was utilised in the creation of the Brazen Lions, as their gene-seed doesn't contain any specific genetic markers. Few fragmentary records that remain show the Brazen Lions' gene-seed branded as 'Chimeric', as it has been adulterated or somehow altered during its creation. Even with these few facts, the truth of who the Brazen Lions' genetic forebears will more than likely never be known. This matters not to the Brazen Lions, for they hold their loyalty, first and foremost, to the Master of Mankind who is the maker of all Space Marines. It is to Him, and Him alone, that the Brazen Lions hold both their faith and devotion to, for the Emperor is the master of all.
Deathwatch Service[]
As the Brazen Lions are always seeking to hone their skills and improve the abilities of their Battle-Brothers, they always make it a point to send several of their Pride-Brothers to undertake the Long Vigil with the Deathwatch. Resting heavily on the shoulders of each Pride-Brother is his personal honour, as well as that of his predecessors. It is the duty of each individual to stand as an example to all, that they might inspire their comrades to even greater feats of heroism in the name of the Emperor of Man and His glorious Imperium. The Chapter takes great honour in fighting against all the enemies of the Emperor within this region and its companies are rarely if ever united in a single conflict, instead fighting enemies thousands of light years apart. All of this gives the Brazen Lions a broad knowledge of many different foes and an adaptability learnt through necessity and the needs of their ever-changing role.
Normally, a Space Marine serves a tour of duty with the Deathwatch for a predetermined length of time. However, due to the broad deployment of the Chapter, it is often challenging for a Pride-Brother of the Brazen Liosn to return to his Pride at a specific designated time. His Pride's current disposition might be unknown or they might be located in a portion of the galxy that is extremely distant from a Pride-Brother's current Watch Station. To accomodate this difficulty, Pride-Brothers of the Brazen Lions may serve with the Deathwatch long beyond their originally designated term. Then, when their Pride is once more at a known location within a resonable transit distance, they can abruptly return to service with their Chapter.
Notable Brazen Lions[]
- Warleader Prime Raban Veer - Patriarch and first Chapter Master of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Prime Barius Kor - Current Chapter Master of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Malak Vetala - First Captain of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Norvarus Kane - Second Captain of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Joranax Vash - Third Captain of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Korad Jul - Fourth Captain of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Brydal Lok - Fifth Captain of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Vorren Faar - Sixth Captain of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Torias Wrath - Seventh Captain of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Jorias Krull - Eighth Captain of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Rolakas Sol - Ninth Captain of the Brazen Lions.
- Warleader Dolvax Falk - Tenth Captain of the Brazen Lions.
Chapter Fleet[]
The Brazen Lions have existed as a fleet-based Chapter designed to operate solely as a warfleet on a perpetual Crusade. not follow the standard Crusade pattern of operation when it comes to a Fleet based Chapter. The Chapter functions exclusively on a much rarer operational strategy for its warfleet known as the 'Nomad-Predation' pattern.
Lion's Pride, Flagship of the Brazen Lions
This pattern utilised by the Lions has matured over the millennia when operating beyond the Imperium's boundaries for prolonged ages of time. The Nomad-Predation pattern has allowed the Lions to be an entirely sovereign force that could sustain itself without any support whatsoever.The Lions are ever vigilant, and are always ready for battle which is why they have chosen to remain a highly mobile, fleet-based Chapter.
The Chapter fleet of the Brazen Lions is known to contain the following starships:
- Lion's Pride (Unknown Class Battleship) - It is the personal flagship of the Brazen Lions and serves essentially as the Chapter's mobile Fortress-Monastery.
- Relentless Hunter (Unknown Class Battleship)
- Vengeance's Oath (Battle Barge)
- Merciless Wrath (Battle Barge)
- Invictrix Leonis (Strike Cruiser)
- Lionclaw (Strike Cruiser)
- Void Hunter (Strike Cruiser)
- Nemial's Wrath (Strike Cruiser)
- Warblade (Light Cruiser)
- Leonis Excrutio (Light Cruiser)
Chapter Relics[]
- Claws of Nemial - Amongst the oldest and most revered of all artefacts of the Brazen Lions, the Claws of Nemial are a ancient pair of master-crafted Lighting Claws, accompanied by a set of curved, razor-edged talons sheathed in a rippling power field. The Lighting Claws are only worn by the Brazen Lions' Chapter Master. These deadly weapons are only don by the Chapter Maser when he is called to battle in person.
- Light's Bane - This master-crafted Power Sword is currently wielded by Brother Tragan Karib. One edge of the blade bears notched serrations. Years of heavy use saw the weapon's blade tarnished by burns from its power field.
- Felthorn - This is an ancient master-crafted Bolt Pistol that has served the warriors of the Chapter well over many millennia.
- Kull's Plasma Blade - Though this weapon appears to be an ancient and finely decorated knife, it actually houses a plasma generator in the handle. When thrown, the blade generates an intense plasma field which can penetrate most armour.
- Knight's Fall - This weapon was made for Captain Taelos Orric by the Chapter's master artificers, and was as much a symbol of status as it was a terrifying weapon of war. This Combi-Melta was perfectly calibrated and imbued with a Machine Spirit of exceptional nobility, never letting its master down.
Chapter Appearance[]
Chapter Colours[]
The Brazen Lions' Chapter colours primarily wear black battle-plate with yellowish gold displayed on their shoulder pauldron trim, faceplate and gorget. The Aquila or Imperialist worn on the chest guard is also yellish gold in colour. An open-faced squad specialty symbol displayed on the right armorial indicates a battle-brother's combat role (Tactical, Devastator, Assault and Veteran). A gold coloured gothic numeral stenciled on the right poleyn (knee guard) indicates company assignment while a small golden roman numeral displayed on the inset of the right armorial indicates squad assignment.
Chapter Badge[]
The Brazen Lions' Chapter badge is a large stylised black and gold coloured lion centered upon a field of sable.
Chapter Relations[]
Allies[]
| Astral Warriors |  |
The Astral Warriors are a fellow Scions of the former traitors, Astral Claws and share a close bond with the Brazen Lions. Despite their progenitors corruption to the Ruinous Powers, the Brazen Lions do not hold them responsible for their forebear's actions. For the Astral Warriors have earned the respect of the Brazen Lions through their courage, battle-prowess and honourable service to the Emperor of Mankind. Both Chapters have fought on dozens of occasions throughout their history. |
| Blades of Dorn |  |
The Blades of Dorn are a 12th Founding Successor Chapter descended from the Imperial Fists. In temperament, these stoic and taciturn Astartes seem aloof and standoffish. Like the Brazen Lions, the Blades are a Chapter that is often held in suspicion due to the actions of their genetic forebears. But despite such acrimony, the Blades of Dorn's personal honor to duty make them more than willing to fight to the last, holding their ground with a siege-like mentality which sees them triumph or die in the attempt. On multiple occasions, these two Chapters have shared common cause and have fought alongside one another down the millennia, decimating their foes in a hail of bolter and blade, ensuring their foes die in agony and fear. |
Enemies[]
Notable Quotes[]
By the Lion's[]
- "The Emperor commands us, our duty guides us, our honour shields us! Fear our name, for it is vengeance!"
- — Warleader Malak Vetala of the Brazen Lions of the 1st Pride
- "Form up ranks and stand fast my brothers! We shall show these traitorous degenerates the meaning of vengeance this day!"
- — Warleader Malak Vetala, 1st Pride commander, when confronting their former gene-sires for the first time.
- "Failure is not an option my brothers! Here we stand and here shall we die, unbroken and unbowed, though the very hand of death itself come for us, we will spit our defiance to the end! The lives of millions, and the honour of our Chapter, hang in the balance!"
- — Brazen Lions last stand against Vandire's apostate forces, as the Ecclesiarchy's Frateris Templar descends upon their homeworld of Nemial
- "Many of our brothers have fallen this day. We may be few, and our enemies many. Yet so long as there remains one of us still fighting, then the galaxy shall yet know hope."
- — Pride Master Aldrinvar Crane after the destruction of their home world of Nemial
About the Lion's[]
| Thirteenth 'Dark' Founding Space Marine Chapters | |
|---|---|
| Dark Angels Successors | Hyenas of Caliban • Knights Celestial • Onyx Blades • Prodigal Seraphs • Umbral Wraiths • |
| White Scars Successors | Blazing Hearts • |
| Space Wolves Successors | N/A |
| Imperial Fists Successors | • |
| Blood Angels Successors | Blood Vultures • Cold Blooded • Drakes Encarmine • Penitent Scorpions • |
| Iron Hands Successors | Hurricane Blades • |
| Ultramarines Successors | Icebound Sons • Silver Centurions • |
| Salamanders Successors | • |
| Raven Guard Successors | Jomravens • Twilight Shadows • |
| Unknown Lineage | Ashen Souls • Astral Leviathans • Bloodmoon Hunters • Brazen Lions • Graven Souls • Iron Boars • Night Guard • Night Wendigo • Noble Angels • Nomads of the Halo • Shadow Phantoms • Sigma Aons • Silver Hands • Void Krakens • |
Gallery[]
