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This article, Crimson Hounds, was written by NicDesigns. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
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This article, Crimson Hounds, is currently under active construction. The author, NicDesigns, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
With the recent Ultima Founding came the creation of so many new successor chapters. Possessing all the hallmarks of one of these newly incepted Chapters, the Crimson Hounds are known to be restless and possess a strong crusader's zeal. The Founding is filled with young Chapters that plunge into the battlefields of the far future almost as soon as they were created; the Crimson Hounds know this all but too well. Ever since their Founding, the Crimson Hounds have had a reputation as being stoic while absolutely savage in their techniques as a Space Marine Chapter - one that throws itself into battle without hesitation and emerges victorious in spite of overwhelming odds. They seem to be steadfast, then unleash savage hand-to-hand combat.
Chapter History
The Crimson Hounds are a secretive chapter with much of their early Imperial records lost. Some see similarities in the culture to the Ultramarines and their Successors the Emperor Spears; while others note the hounds that are with their space marines to the Space Wolves, though they seem to be more refined and do not use the hounds as actual battleline units. After much research, the chapter's librarians still dive deeper into historical records searching for the confirmation of their chapter's gene-seed.
More recently the chapter librarians found records that had previously thought to have been destroyed that detailed their history. The chapter gene seed lineage is still in question; however, the chapter's librarians believe that their Primarch lineage could be either from Rogal Dorn or Roboute Guilliman. There were also tomes that documented the Crimson Hounds training with the Ultramarines successors chapter the Emperor's Spears due to speaking similar languages. This is why they seem to be strategic and stoic as well as being savage during hand to hand combat.
Chapter Home World
Valcarium is the homeworld of the Crimson Hounds chapter, located in the Ultima Segmentum. This ocean planet is surrounded by an asteroid ring which creates a high level of natural protection and colossal electromagnetic storms which conversely cause the world's surface to constantly be storm-wracked. The surface is incredibly hazardous with the massive sea storms and cold temperatures. The raw landscape comprises of a system of isles, enormous cliffs surrounding highlands and frozen mountain ranges with forests at the bases. If the raw landscape does not kill the average human the horrifying creatures roaming above and below its surface certainly will. The harsh environment breeds strong people, perfect for recruitment into the Crimson Hounds.
Valcarium is on the verge of becoming a feudal planet, however, due to the waring of the tribes on the isles seems to always teeter back into a feral planet.
Fortress-Monastery
Áth na Fuinseoige is a large castle that sits at the base of the highest mountain, with passages that spiral through the inside of the mountain to the very top, where the keep sits atop the mountain.
Chapter Organization
The Crimson Hounds often ally with the Emperor's Spears as they have such similarities in chapter culture.
The Chapter is organized into the traditional ten companies. The Chapter Master of the Crimson Hounds is known as the "High King" while its captains are called "Lords". The Chapter's Veteran 1st Company is called "The Order." It is believed that they must undergo blood rites and other hidden rituals to gain their elite position. On the battlefield, they are fierce hunters, focusing on the elimination of enemy leaders. Their stories are the legends for the people of Valcarium.
Chapter Culture & Beliefs
The Chapter has close ties to the Adeptus Mechanicus as they are fascinated with technology. The many tribes of Valcarium represent a mono-culture of interacting pre-industrial Human tribes who loosely share certain touchstones, including beliefs, cultural practices and language. Some of the veteran marines keep the hounds from their homeworld. The hounds are the marines connection to things more human and nature, and remind them of their homeworld in which they fight for. They value the hounds unflinching loyalty, stoicism and efficiency towards them. Many outsides wonder how the hounds are connected to the Astartes, and to answer that we must understand the tribes on their home world of Valcarium. There are warrior trials within the tribes, and one is to tame a hound. If the warrior is successful the hound and warrior are bonded for life. Even after a warrior is selected to become an Astartes the hounds will seek them out, and the Astartes feels their call. Their bond is never broken and the Astartes believe that this bond elevates them within battle.
Chapter Recruitment
The Crimson Hounds recruit off of their homeworld. Their home world, Valcarium, is a storm-wracked planet filled with isles that have high cliffs and highlands covered in a crimson like grass. The archipelago system has many warring tribes that constantly struggle for power over the majority of the isles. These tribes tame the local hounds to hunt with them; and taming the hounds is no small feat. The few feudal lords that have tried to claim control and a sense of peace and trace on the planet recognize the tribes and hounds as some of the fiercest, loyal, and respectful counterparts on the planet. The tribes hunters must go through ritualistic rites where they earn the respect and loyalty of one of the hounds. Once they bond with one of the hounds they are bonded for life.
The Astartes will choose the fiercest, most strategic leaders and warriors to become an Crimson Hound. The tribes look at becoming an Astartes as the ultimate ideal and have a comfortable respect for the Crimson Hounds, as their Fortress Monastery is on the planet atop the highest mountain.
Chapter Gene-Seed
The Crimson Hounds are still searching for the truth behind their gene-seed lineage.
During the Ultima Founding the chapter librarians found records that had previously thought to have been destroyed that detailed their history. The chapter gene seed lineage is still in question; however, the chapters librarians believe that their Primarch could be either Rogal Dorn or Roboute Guilliman. There were also tomes that documented the Crimson Hounds training with the Ultramarines successors chapter the Emperor Spears due to speaking similar languages. This is why they seems to be strategic and stoci while being savage during hand to hand combat.
Chapter Combat Doctrine
The Crimson Hounds are known for their hunger for battle and ability to be stoic right until the very moment they unleash their attack with the use of speed in hand to hand combat and tactical prowess toward the enemy. Iterators that have witnessed, cite that Crimson Hounds warriors aren't the berserk madmen one might expect of tattooed bloodthirsty warriors, but instead wage war in bursts of adrenal fury tempered by periods of strategic feints.
The Chapter does not use the hounds with them on the battlefield how the Space Wolves, however, the hounds of certain space marines can be seen with them as companions. These were with them before they go through the trials to become a Space Marine.
Notable Members
- High King Maximus Varseus
- Chief Librarian Malachy Fallsight
- Master Chaplain Klaus Godfrey
- Captain of The Order, Lord Finn Houndstooth
- Bronx Noctis - Redemptor Dreadnought.
- Bosco Wasserkrieger - Redemptor Dreadnought.
Chapter Appearance
This is where the Crimson Hounds differ from the Codex. They only display which company they are in by the right knee guard, not using the shoulder pad trim like most Codex-compliant chapters, while using the left knee guard to add their own personal heraldry from their clan. Many also mark their armour in runes or scripts from the lore of the chapter. Valcarium runes look similar to Ogham, an early medieval runic alphabet used to write early languages on Old Earth. This is the main connection that the Crimson Hounds have to the Emperor's Spears, as Valcarium runes are extremely similar to Nemetese runes. Outsiders cannot penetrate the meaning of these specific symbols, but they are never used elsewhere in the Nemetese or Valcarium tongue, and do not seem to be numbers and are thought to come from legends and ancient stories.
The non-commissioned and line officers of the Crimson Hounds utilizes black helmet for marines, sergeants wear crimson, while veterans wear white, veteran sergeants wear crimson with a white stripe, lieutenants wear black with a gold strip or black with gold helmet plumes and lords (captains) wear gold.
Chapter Colors
The Crimson Hounds primarily wear black power armour with the right arm and backpack being crimson red. The Aquila or Imperialis affixed to their plastron (chest guard) is black and gold in color.
Company Colors
Company colors are displayed on the right poleyn (knee guards), which are as follows:
- 1st Company - White
- 2nd Company - Yellow
- 3rd Company - Red
- 4th Company - Green
- 5th Company - Black
- 6th Company - Orange
- 7th Company - Purple
- 8th Company - Silver
- 9th Company - Blue
- 10th Company - No color , only the Chapters black poleyns.
Specialist Markings
A large white colored squad specialist symbol stenciled on the right shoulder pauldron denotes a battle-brother's assigned tactical role – Battleline, Close Support, Fire Support, Veteran or Command.
Squad Markings
The squad is identified by the High Gothic numeral on top of the specialist marking the right shoulder pauldron.
Crimson Hounds Chapter Badge - a white hounds head on a field of black
Chapter Badge
The Crimson Hounds Chapter badge consists of a large white customized hound's head centered upon a field of black.
Gallery
