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This article, Crusaders Inexorable, was written by SkaromasArt. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
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This article, Crusaders Inexorable, is currently under active construction. The author, SkaromasArt, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
The Crusaders Inexorable are a stalwart Loyalist Space Marine Chapter created from the lineage of the stoic and hardy Imperial Fists. They were created during the 8th founding, as part of the Gauntlet Crusade in an effort to reclaim large parts of the Gauntlet Sector from Ork forces that had taken over the sector, alongside other more minor Xenos threats. They are known for their insular ways, and their dogged pursuit of their foes, never ceasing in their hunt against the enemies of the Imperium.
The Crusaders Inexorable seldom work willingly with other chapters, preferring to fight independantly, often refusing aid and rarely trusting forces other than their own, this has lead to the Chapter having a somewhat sour reputation among their fellow Astartes. They have stewardship over a number of planets within the Gauntlet Sector, within the Ultima Segmentum. With the birth of the Cicatrix Maledictum connections to some parts of the Gauntlet Sector have faultered, and the Crusaders Inexorable have launched into the Second Gauntlet Crusade in an effort to re-establish control of the Sector.
Chapter History
The Founding of The Crusaders Inexorable is surprisingly well recorded for an event that happened well over seven millennia ago. It is written in the records of The Crusaders Inexorable that their Chapter's founder, and first High Marshal was an Astartes by the name of Arkus Farus, who had been instrumental in the destruction of a minor Aeldari Craftworld. Farus was chosen for his relentless spirit and unbreakable force of will to be the founding Chapter Master of the new chapter, a position which he eagerly took.
Farus and his new Chapter's charge, and purpose, was to reclaim and expand the Gauntlet Sector, a small sector of the Ultima Segmentum that had long been dominated by numerous Orkish warbands. In this they were one of several chapters created to undertake the First Gauntlet Crusade, alongside chapters such as the Phoenixes of Vulkan and the Tempest Lords. Due to the Valiance of the Crusaders inexorably during many key conflicts in the 1st Gauntlet Crusade, such as the Battles of Goron Primus and Kalak IV, and the Siege of Garahk, the Crusaders Inexorable were granted stewardship over a vast majority of the Gauntlet Sector, to protect and recruit from.
Notable Campaigns
- 1st Gauntlet Crusade (600.M35 - 658.M35) - The reason for the Crusaders Inexorable's existence, the Gauntlet crusade was an immense undertaking that saw the Crusaders Inexorable, alongside other forces, cleansing great parts of the Gauntlet Sector from Xenos threats, primarily targetted at the numerous Ork warbands that roamed the sector. It was a long campaign, but an overall successful one, building the respect and valour of the Crusaders Inexorable.
- Farus' Fall (007.M36) - Farus' Fall is a memorable event in the Crusaders Inexorable's history, that saw a massive development in the chapter's beliefs and culture. The campaign that would become Farus' Fall began when the planet of Cadari VII called for aid from any source nearby, hearing the call Farus deployed 8 out of the 10 Orders of The Crusaders Inexorable to the Cadari system. Following Farus' ordered mobilisation against the Craftworld, The Crusaders Inexorable hastily made their way to the System that the Craftworld was in the process of attacking. Seeing an opportunity, Farus sent the 4th, 5th, 8th and 10th Orders down to Cadari VIII, to push back the primary forces of Sola'bàsech, sending the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 9th Orders into the Craftworld itself, leaving only the 6th and 7th Orders , in case the campaign went poorly for the Chapter.
Farus Lead the assault on Sola'bàsech, punching deep into the Craftworld, pushing into the core of Sola'bàsech, for Farus, victory seemed near at hand. As on the Craftworld, the Battle on Cadari VIII went well for the Crusaders Inexorable, pushing back the Aeldari and relieving pressure the local Planetary Defence Force, and soon the battle was determined a victory. It is thought that the pressure on the Craftworld itself caused the Aeldari to drop back to Sola'bàsech, allowing the victory on the ground. However on the Craftworld the battle had turned sour, as large numbers of reinforcements from the Aeldari cornered Farus' 4 companies deep within the Craftworld. Seeing that victory had turned unlikely, Farus turned his aims towards taking down the Craftworld, a feat which he managed to do. Unfortunately the destruction of the Craftworld lead to the death of Farus, and nearly half of the Battle-Brothers of The Crusaders Inexorable. In the end, the campaign was both a great victory for The Chapter and a great loss, seeing their first High Marshal lost in battle, alongside half on their number, was a setback that took over a century for the Chapter.
- Caldainiel Campaign (874.M37) - This was a campaign in which the 4th and 5th companies of the Crusaders Inexorable, alongside the fledgling Ferric Bulls and Heralds Angelic, would pursue small parts of the Phoenixes of Conflagration. It resulted in the Battle of Caldainiel, where the two newly-founded chapters, and the 2 companies of the Crusaders Inexorable fought against the Third Flame of the Phoenixes, and came out victorious, preventing the young world from being defiled and burned by the Phoenixes of Conflagration.
- 2nd Gauntlet Crusade (999.M41-Current) - After the Fall of Cadia and the opening of the Great Rift, large parts of the Gauntlet sector, which the Crusaders Inexorable had long been charged to protect, now border Chaos itself, and have been invaded by forces of Chaos Space Marines and their daemonic allies. The Gauntlet Crusade was launched in response to this, an attempt to push back any invading forces in the Gauntlet and secure the Sector. What start as a frantic scrambling rush to fend off invaders has since become a rather organised and well fought campaign, and thus far it has been a success for the Chapter, with their new Primaris Reinforcements proving useful in securing their homelands once again.
Chapter Organisation
Officer Ranks
- High Marshal: The title utilised by the Chapter Master of the Crusaders Inexorable.
- Crusader Marshal: The title used for the leader of A Crusading Order, made up of multiple orders, typically the title is given to the highest ranking Marshal participating in a Crusading Order, though it is sometimes given to the Marshal who is best suited to the task of the Crusading Order
- Marshal: the tile used to refer to captains of the Crusaders Inexorable, each Marshall controls an order, and may at any time be appointed to a Crusading Order, or made a Crusader Marshal.
- Lord Paladin: the term used by the Chapter Champion.
Specialist Ranks
- Paladin: the equivalent of a Company Champion.
Line Ranks
Specialist Units & Formations
Order of Battle
In accordance to the Codex Astartes, the Crusaders Inexorable are divided into ten Orders, which at any one time may be organised into larger Crusading Orders.
Headquarters
Companies
| Veteran Company | Battle Companies | ||||
| 1st Order "The Relentless Fists" |
2nd Order "The Adamant Scions" |
3rd Order "The Ironclad Sentinels" |
4th Order "The Eternal Breakers" |
5th Order "The Unceasing Heralds" | |
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| Reserve Companies | Scout Company | |||
| 6th Order "The Tireless Hammers" |
7th Order "The Resolute Guardians" |
8th Order "The Unbending Warriors" |
9th Order "The Tenacious Wardens" |
10th Order "The Punishing Eyes" |
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Chapter Recruitment
The Crusaders Inexorable recruit from most of the worlds of the Gauntlet Sector, which they have long guided to be ideal recruitment worlds for a zealous chapter such as themselves. When the Crusaders Inexorable are in need of new space marines, they call to them applicants from all across whatever world the recruitment is taking place on The Applicants are guided to a compound where they are left with access to clean water, but no food, told only that they should stay in the compound if they wanted to join the Crusaders Inexorable, but could leave at any time. Successful applicants are then taken on to do another two tasks.
Chapter Culture & Beliefs
The Name of Honouring
It is common amongst the Battle-Brothers of The Crusaders Inexorable upon becoming a full Space Marine to take what is referred to by The Crusaders Inexorable as The Name of Honouring. The Name of Honouring is typically the name of The Battle-Brother's Mentor, or an esteemed Battle-Brother of the Chapter's past. This name usually replaces the Battle-Brother's last name. Occasionally, a Battle-Brother will take the name of the Chapters Primarch as their name of honouring, and some even take names that reference the Emperor of Mankind, in honour of the Imperium's eternal leader.
It is thought that the practice originated with the original Space Marines who were formed from the Gene-Seed of Arkus Farus. These Battle-Brothers were recruited from an feral world in the galactic southwest of the Gauntlet sector where, upon reaching adulthood, people would take the name of an ancient cultural hero or inspirational figure, a practice that many of these marines employed upon becoming full Space Marines. This tradition has evolved and grown over the millennia for which the Crusaders Inexorable.
The Legacy of Arkus Farus
The death of Arkus Farus left a deep imprint on the Crusaders Inexorable, as he became the first legendary hero of the chapter. As such, it is no wonder that he became a prime person for The Name of honouring. When Farus' successor became High Marshal, he changed his Name of Honouring to Arkus, a practice that the majority of High Marshals since have followed.
Chapter Gene-Seed
The Crusaders Inexorable are a chapter proud to be descended from the Gene-Seed of Rogal Dorn, though this does mean that they share the lost organs of the progenitors, and so do not have the use of either the Sus-an Membrane or the Betcher's Gland. Though these are useful organs, the Crusaders Inexorable do not particularly mind that they lacking the organs, viewing their absence as just another challenge placed before them.
Death Before Dishonour
Dorn's curse lives on in his descendants, the chapters of the Imperial Fists, including The Crusaders Inexorable. It is the reach for redemption through battle, all for the slightest deficiency, the curse pushes Battle-Brothers to see inadequacy in everything, knowing that it all pales in comparison to the image set by their Primarch.
When the Chapter's genetic curse manifests itself in an affected Battle-Brother, it comes on in three stages:
- Level 1 (Suffer Not Failure) - The Battle-Brother believes himself deficient in some manner, whether real or imagined, and becomes truculent and obstructive when ordered to redeploy in the face of a stronger foe. When acting as a squad leader or Deathwatch Kill-team leader, he makes demands of his squad that others might consider unreasonable, and views any disagreement as outright disobedience.
- Level 2 (Beware Hubris) - The Battle-Brother spends his every waking moment brooding on past battles, seeking even the slightest flaw in his own deeds, and those of others. While he stops short of outright criticism of his Battle-Brothers, he condemns his own actions as falling short of the example set by his Primarch, and seeks to redeem himself in the fires of battle.
- Level 3 (None Are Flawless) - The Battle-Brother obsessively reviews every detail of every mission he takes part in, finding fault with his own actions and those of his squad. He becomes withdrawn, maudlin and confrontational, and unwilling to accept or issue any order that does not result in imminent battle.
Chapter Combat Doctrine
The Crusaders Inexorable utilise a combat doctrine of rapid deployment in the face of the enemy, and prefer to fight in close combat, utilising large numbers of both power-swords and chainswords, depending on the Company. Like many other successors of The Imperial Fists, the Crusaders Inexorable are also masters of siege warfare, though this is not their favourite form of battle.
Deathwatch Service
The Crusaders Inexorable have long deemed the Deathwatch an important asset of the Imperium, not hesitating to send experienced Battle-Brothers who wish to serve against the Xenos with extreme fervour into their ranks.
Notable Space Marines
- Arkus Farus, 'the First Marshal': The Original High Marshal of The Crusaders Inexorable Farus' time as a Battle-Brother of The Crusaders Inexorable was short, but his achievements are well remembered. Farus took out The Aeldari Craftworld of Sgiathìrinn when he was still a member of The Third Company of The Imperial Fists, after being selected as the gene-seed for the Crusaders Inexorable, he lead an invasion of a second Aeldari Craftworld, Sola'bàsech, which would end in the destruction of the Craftworld and of Farus himself.
- High Marshal Malfas Rogal, 'the Fading Star': The 6th High Marshal of the Crusaders Inexorable, during his time in the role Malfas was a controversial figure, because when he ascended to the rank, he chose not to follow the tradition of changing his Name of Honouring, opting to keep his prior one, which had been dedicated to the Primarch of Their Progenitors. Following a skirmish within the Phaethras system, during which Malfus purseud the enemy into the warp, Malfus would disappear for 24 years. Upon his return he officially stepped down as Chapter Master, a role which had been filled since his disappearance by Codran Arkus, and Malfas joined the 1st Company as a Veteran Battle Brother once again, after being checked for warp-taint.
- Master of the Forge Chorris Rogal, The Hand of Dawn: Chorris Rogal was the Crusaders Inexorable's Master of the Forge in mid M.36. Chorris was fiercely intelligent, much more so than you average techmarine, and was uniquely gifted among his fellows in both his understanding of the doctrine of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and in his kinship with his chapter, and their lineage. Chorris became Master of the Forge at some point in early M.36, and stayed in his position for over 300 years. However he disappeared one day, without any notice or reasoning. Since his disappearance, a sort of cult has emerged within the chapter's Techmarines revering the works of Chorris Rogal, and it is not uncommon to see members of the Chapter's Armoury bearing Chorris' name as their name of Honouring.
- Lord Paladin Rozgir Dammon, 'the Blessed Blade': Rozgir Dammon was the Lord Paladin of the Crusaders Inexorable, who gained his fame during the Battle of Caldainiel, when he was Paladin of the 3rd Order, the Ironclad Sentinels. In the Battle of Caldainiel, Rozgir Dammon personally fought against Karnogh Praetasus of the Phoenixes of Conflagration's Third Flame, allowing time for his Marshal to regroup with the remaining forces of the Crusaders Inexorable, and rejoin the battle at large. Once his Marshal had been able to get away, Dammon handed over the battle against Praetasus to Chryos Korras, and his chapter of Blood Angels, before re-joining his Marshal, but not before dealing a great wound to Praetasus, which allowed Korras to slay him later on in the battle.
- Lord Paladin Kameron Rozgir: Current Lord Paladin of the Crusaders Inexorable.
- Marshal Aegus Alvoro, 'The War-Wise': Aegus Alvro, often called the War-Wise, is the current Marshal of the 10th Order, the Punishing Eyes, and also the current oldest living space marine of the chapter, having served in it for nearly 850 years. So long has he served in his role that three separate Marshals, the 2nd, 5th, and 7th, all served.
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
The Crusaders Inexorable's power-armour is mainly yellow, with their helmets, pauldron insets, poleyns (knee guards), greaves (shin armour), boots, vambraces (forearm armour) and gauntlets all painted blue-grey. Upon the left pauldron of every Battle-Brother is displayed the chapter's badge, in proud view, and upon the right pauldron is the Battle-Brother's squad-number and battlefield-role.
The Crusaders Inexorable use the iconography used by the Imperial Fists, who had taken it directly from the Codex Astartes. In addition to this, the right pauldron of each Battle-Brother has painted on it a numeral corresponding to the Brother's squad, these are typically placed to the front of the pauldron and painted in gold.
For the librarians of the chapter, the areas painted blue-grey are changed to a bright blue, from a past attempt to follow the Codex Astartes, that has just stuck with chapter. For the chapter's techmarines, the left half of the body is painted in traditional tech-marine red.
Chapter Badge
The Chapter Badge of The Crusaders Inexorable depicts an ancient Terran helmet worn by so-called 'crusaders', supported by a pair of wings, pieced by three sword rotated around the centre of the helmet. The Iconography for the badge is yellow, and the background is grey-blue.
Chapter Fleet
Chapter Flagship - The Vigil Eternal
The combined Flagship and Fortress Monastery of the Crusaders Inexorable, the Vigil Eternal is an exceptionally large battle-barge of unknown classification. It contains all of the vital functions of the Crusaders Inexorable, including their Forge, Reclusium, Librarium and Apothecarion.
Fleet Proper
- 3 Battle Barges: Hand of Grace, Sword of the Gauntlet, and Vigil Eternal.
- 10 Strike Cruisers: Dies Vigilantis, Judgement Unbridled, Intolerant Sentinel, Peregrinus Bellus, Fist of Righteousness, Sacrum, Unbroken Dawn, Retribution Unending, Storm of Faith, Honour-hammer.
- 16 Escort Vessels
Chapter Relics
- Skull of The Chapter-Master: The first relic of The Crusaders Inexorable, the Skull of Arkus Farus, though missing the back half (which had been shattered irreparably when Farus died), it is still the most holy relic of the Chapter. When it was discovered in the ruins of the Craftworld, Captain Gunthfried Korath of the 7th Company took the skull, saying that Farus would have wished for it to be scrimshawed in the ways of his original chapter. Scrimshawed in meticulous detail by Gunthried and future Captains of the 7th Company, the front of the skull bears depictions of Arkus Farus during Farus' fall, whilst the back contains a list of all those who died with Farus on the ground or in the Craftworld.
- Malfas' Star: A power shield wielded by the former chapter master Malfas Rogal, Malfas' Star has, since Malfas Rogal's death, been wielded by the Chapter Champion, and is often used alongside a power or chain sword. For many centuries that accompanying item has been Dorn's Cinder, another Relic of the chapter. Malfas' star is known to produce a particularly powerful shield, though the reason for this has not been deduced.
- Dorn's Cinder: A power-sword discovered by the 4th Company in the 5th Century M.37, it was found in a great cavern on the planet of Unloges IX. The Blade was reportedly found being in the possession a small group of Chaos Cultists, who were swiftly dealt with by the 4th Company. The Blade was analysed and investigated by the Chapter's Master of The Forge, and Reclusiarch who agreed that it was both a powerful weapon, and one untouched by corruption, despite the chaos worship around it. Surprisingly given its original surroundings, the blade was covered in Imperial Fists Iconography, and prayers for the Emperor's might. Dorn's Cinder has long been wielded alongside Malfas' Star by the Chapter Champion, and was eventually made a Chapter Relic.
High Marshal Delen Arkus, wielding Dorn's Honour, one of the Twin Blades of Dorn.
- Twin Blades of Dorn: The Twin Blades of Dorn, sometimes known by the alternate spelling of Twin Blades of Dawn, also known as the Twin Blades of Chorris Rogal, are a set of swords utilised by the chapter master of the Crusaders Inexorable. The pair consists of Dorn's Honour, a ferocious power-sword, and Dorn's Justice, a vicious chainsword, both crafted by the former Master of the Forge, Chorris Rogal. One of these blades is often loaned to the First Marshal of the Chapter by the High Marshal.
Relations
Allies
Feel free to add your own
| Last Wall Chapters |  |
The Crusaders Inexorable are, like most other Imperial Fists successors, part of the Last Wall Protocol. Though it has not seen use during the Crusaders Inexorable's existence, the Crusaders Inexorable stand ready for when it is next called. Opinions on the Last Wall have varied from Chapter Master from Chapter Master, though the prevailing opinion in the chapter, stemming initially from Arkus Farus, is that it is a needed Protocol in situations of extreme distress. |
Enemies
Feel free to add your own
Notable Quotes
By the Crusaders Inexorable
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About the Crusaders Inexorable
Feel free to add your own
- "I do not like the Crusaders Inexorable. I fought alongside them in the Battle of Caldainiel and found them to be of the worst kind of Space Marine there is. They are blind zealots, who would rather charge into a trap seeking glory than think out any legitimate strategy. They care not whether they or their allies are in grave danger, only that the enemies of the Emperor die. When there is a noble brother amongst them, he is outshone by the sheer audacity of his brothers actions. On Caldainiel only when the Heralds Angelic showed up did the battle turn in our favour, and even then scarcely two dozen of the two hundred Crusaders Inexorable survived that confrontation. If I had the chance to never fight alongside these infuriating sons of Dorn again, then I would take it gladly. "
- —Ferric Lord Tamarthor, of the Ferric Bulls
- "Your pride is well earned and I have no doubts about your loyalty but be careful. I do not wish to see more brothers fall because they were too noble to understand their duty in its fullest. Our duty is not to die, o knight of Dorn; it is to the Emperor's domain. Be sure you are alive to keep it, and keep it well. Others may honor you if you fall needlessly but we will remember your martyrdom not as heroism but as failure. You may call this the folly of a youthful chapter and perhaps, in time, I will come to see the place of an honorable death, but I measure honor in the potency of victory and not in the folly of defeat. "
- —Chapter Master Seraph Lucien addressing High Marshal Delen Arkus after the chapter refused help from the Argent Executioners.
Gallery
Chapter Imagery
Chapter Command
Marshals
Other Characters
Miscellaneous
| 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 • |