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This article, Fanged Templars, was written by Vuncle. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
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This article, Fanged Templars, is currently under active construction. The author, Vuncle, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
- "The thirst is a crawling darkness, threatening to consume every single one of us, we must fight it or fall into the clutches of savagery our progenitor so despised. We are warriors not slavering uncontrollable beasts, remember that brothers. "
- — Lord Chaplain Aldaric Voss
The Fanged Templars are a 14th Founding Codex-compliant Successor Chapter of the noble Blood Angels and their Primarch Sanguinius. Just like the rest of the Angel's sons they suffer from the devastating flaws of the Black Rage and the Red Thirst. While the number of brothers that has succumbed to the Black Rage is luckily low, the Red Thirst is terrifyingly common (though not in such a severe and devastating state as for the Flesh Tearers) and many a battle-brother has succumbed to it. Unlike many other of Sanguinius' sons, the Fanged Templars have grown (for unknown reason) to mistrust psykers and rarely accept anyone with psychic abilities into their ranks.
Chapter History
Founding (977.M35)
The Fanged Templars were created during the 14th Founding using Blood Angel gene-seed. Even now, their true lineage remains uncertain with many unsure if they are direct descendants of the Blood Angels or one of their successor chapters, the most likely contenders being the Flesh Tearers or Charnel Guard. The true reason for their creartion is seemingly lost to Imperial Records, whether this is a purposeful redaction of information or not remains unknown. The chapter's fortress monastery was set up on the cold and barren dead world of Vespera despite the world's lack of healthy male stock to recruit from, the true reason for this remains unknown. The chapter would not see action however for another 3 years since its initial creation.
The Siege of Mumbain V
The Fanged Templars saw their first true battle, that being the twelve-year long siege of the treacherous hive world of Mumbain V. Planetary Governor Lord Ayush Kaulin had declared independence from the Imperium and proclaimed the world of Mumbain V as a free world. The Fanged Templars were dispatched at the end of the 36th Millennium to bring Mumbain V to compliance. Upon beginning the bloody siege, it instantly became obvious, that the world had succumbed to chaos corruption, with numerous cults dedicated to the Dark Gods having infiltrated the planet's government. Soon, a warband of the Word Bearer traitor legion joined the world's defenders. However, the Fanged Templars were eventually able to push through the defenses of the foul heretics and into Hive Primus, where they would confront and kill the horribly mutated governor. This brutal campaign would cost the lives of hundreds of marines, and result in the chapter's first ever chapter master Denis Aurelian being interred in a dreadnought sarcophagus.
The Librarius Debate
A major debate erupted amongst the battle-brothers of the Fanged Templars regarding the chapter's librarians. Half of the chapter was strictly against Librarians, arguing that they were born of the Warp and can thus be considered heretics and enemies of the Emperor, the other half of the chapter (including the chapter's librarians) argued that the Emperor himself was a Psyker and thus the Librarius of the chapter deserves to continue existing. While said debate did become extremely heated it was eventually solved with the decision that the chapter shall retain its librarians, if and only if they are found stable enough and successfully complete the Trial of Seeing.
Notable Campaigns
Homeworld
Vespera
The barren mining world of Vespera is not a hospitable one, rocky and cold this planet does not offer much for human habitation. The gaunt and pale people of Vespera spend their entire lives in the world's deep and dark tunnels mining precious minerals and ores. Many a miner has disappeared in these dark depths, dragged of by unseen creatures in the darkness, only to be found dead months later on the world's rocky surface drained of blood. Here stands the Citadel of Sanguinius, the fortress-monastery of the Fanged Templars. It is a truly imposing and breath-taking sight, sitting at the top of the world's tallest peak. The Fanged Templars rarely recruit from the miners of Vespera, with their primary recruitment world being Cadmus which provide healthy male specimen, perfect for the chapter's future battle-brothers.
Fortress-Monastery
The Citadel of Sanguinius is a massive, heavily fortified keep located on Vespera's tallest mountain. From the outside, the keep is a grim and imposing sight to behold, black battlements rise from a pyramid-shaped structure. However, inside, the Citadel Of Sanguinius is a grand and beautiful structure, filled with statues of the Angel himself, and those of the greatest of his sons as well as the chapter masters of the Fanged Templars. Grand banners hang from the walls, depicting notable campaigns in the history of their parent chapter. At the very center of the Citadel, stands the grandest statue of them all, one that depicts the death of the Angel, it is here in front of this statue that a newly inducted battle-brother will swear an oath of loyalty to the Emperor and to his Primarch.
Hidden deep beneath the citadel, lies the chapter's greatest secret: the Crimson Sepulcher. In this sealed chamber, on a pedestal adorned with High Gothic scriptures, lies a shard of what is believed to be Sanguinius's armor. The existence of the Crimson Sepulcher is kept as a closely guarded secret and its existence is only known to the Lord Chaplain, Grand Commander, Chief Librarian and Sanguinary Priests. No other brothers are permitted to know about this holy relic.
Cadmus
Cadmus
Cadmus is a jungle-covered feral world located in the Vespera system. The primitive human population is forced to coexist alongside the world's native reptilian predators. Every day is a fight for survival against the bloodthirsty therapods who seek to devour anyone that enters their territory. Some of the local tribesmen have found ways to domesticate (though not perfectly) some of the local fauna, yet these partnerships are commonly short-lived and result in the seemingly 'tamed' predator turning on its 'master'. The world's shallow and warm oceans are home to large serpentine predators that the coastal tribes hunt for food and sport. Due to its brutal conditions, Cadmus makes a perfect recruitment world for the Fanged Templars. The world's locals see the Fanged Templars as ancestor spirits come from the heavens to claim young warriors to fight in a legendary war in the sky.
Chapter Organization
Officer Ranks
- Lord Chaplain- Chapter Master equivalent
- Grand Commander- 1st Captain Equivalent
- Commander- Captain equivalent
- Lieutenant
Specialist Ranks
- Bloodkeeper- Chaplain equivalent
- Sanguinary Priest- Apothecary equivalent
- Librarian
- Master of the Forge
- Techmarine
- Chapter Champion
- Company Champion
- Ancient
Line Ranks
- Veteran Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Battle-Brother
- Neophyte
- Scout
Specialist Units & Formations
- Damned Sons- The Damned Sons are a specialist division made up of those battle-brothers who have completely succumbed to the Black Rage. They are kept in the depths of the Citadel of Sanguinius until they are needed, at which point they are released screaming and hollering onto a battlefield to decimate the enemy forces head-on. Their armor is painted completely black, and the chapter's heraldry is erased from it. The Damned Sons serve as the Fanged Templars version of the Death Company that can commonly be found amongst the rest of the sons of the Great Angel. They are regarded as little more than feral animals by their fellow brothers, who refuse to associate with them. The Death Company Chaplains who are assigned to the Damned Sons view their underlings with disgust as those who have strayed too far from the path appointed by their father.
- Sanguinary Guard- Just like the rest of the angel's sons, the Fanged Templars' chapter master is guarded by the Sanguinary Guard. Those Fanged Templars selected to join the Sanguinary Guard must take a vow of silence and may never remove their armor unless they are completely alone. They are no longer referred to by name, but rather by a High Gothic numeral. Who these brave astartes once were is now forgotten, for they have sacrificed their identity to serve the greater good of the chapter.
Order of Battle
Companies
- 1st Company (Veterans; Terminators)
- 2nd-5th Companies (Battle-Companies); Frontline Combat Role
- 6th-7th Companies (Reserves)
- 8th Company (Close Support Company):
- 9th Company (Fire Support Company)
- 10th Company (Scout Company):
Chapter Recruitment
The Fanged Templars primarily recruit from the many different tribes of Cadmus, which provide healthy male specimen, perfect for the chapter's future battle-brothers. Once selected; to become a full-fledged battle-brother, a recruit must go through a number of certain trials that shall see him worthy of becoming one of the sons of Sanguinius, this procedure is known as ' the culling of the herd'. The first trial an aspirant must complete is the Trial of Exposure, he will be thrown out into the barren wastes of Vespera and must find his way to the Citadel of Sanguinius without freezing to death, dying of dehydration or starvation, or being snatched by one of the mysterious creatures that dwell deep within the world's forgotten mines.
The aspirants who survived the first trial must then overcome the second trial, The Trial of Combat. A young Aspirant must fight and kill one of the many beasts held in the beast-pits below the chapter's fortress monastery in gladiatorial combat, if he succeeds, he shall continue onto the final trial: The Trial of Blood. The aspirant must drink the Blood of Sanguinius and then meditate in a sealed dark cell for three months, many an aspirant has gone mad with visions of lost Primarchs and unholy truths brought upon him by the Great Angel's blood, but those who emerge from the chamber successfully have the right to become a battle-brother of the Fanged Templars.
If an Aspirant is found to be psychically powerful, he will be led down to the deepest chambers of the Citadel by the chapter's Librarians to undergo the Trial of Seeing, almost nothing is known about this trial except the fact that it can only have two outcomes: the aspirant emerges as a novice librarian or disappears in the fortress-monastery's bowels never to be spoken of again.
Chapter Beliefs
Similar to the rest of the successors of Sanguinius they work closely together with their sister chapters, viewing them as their direct blood brothers. To a Fanged Templar each and every one of Sanguinius' sons is a brother, no matter the chapter. Due to this, they will always come to the aid of a fellow sister chapter, even if it means hurling their entire chapter into mortal danger. A cult of Sanguinius is extremely developed among the Fanged Templars, the Ecclesiarchy permits this cult to develop and flourish as long as the Fanged Templars remain loyal to the Emperor of Mankind and the wider Imperium. The chapter's chaplains have indoctrinated many of Vespera's population into this cult, teaching the miners to sculpt statues of the mighty Primarch. It is not uncommon for battle brothers of the Fanged Templars to shave their heads and tattoo their bare scalps with ancient Baalite runes that tell of the great deeds of their mighty Primarch.
The Fanged Templars are known for their mistrust of psykers, seeing them as dangerous and uncontrollable, while they do hold a few librarians, said librarians are kept on a short leash and are mistrusted by the rest of the brothers. Despite this, there have been great Librarian heroes among the chapter's battle brothers who died and were martyred as per the chapter's traditions. Those battle-brothers who died with great honor on the battlefield are martyred as the chapter's greatest heroes, their likenesses depicted on the stained-glass windows of the Citadel of Sanguinius.
Due to the terrible effects of the Red Thirst, the brothers of the Fanged Templars engage in ritual fasting and meditation before every battle, to calm their nerves and make them better prepared to handle the flaw's sudden onset. Every battle brother is a craftsman and artist, decorating his armor and weapons with depictions of the Great Angel.
Chapter Gene-Seed
Just like every successor of the Blood Angels, the Fanged Templars suffer from the twin flaws of Sanguinius. While the Black Rage is rather rare among the battle-brothers of the Fanged Templars, the Red Thirst is terrifyingly common. Many of the chapter's noble heroes have succumbed to this horrific bloodlust. Those battle-brothers who have completely lost themselves to this affliction are said to be released into Vespera's deepest mines, to roam in the darkness for centuries to come. Eventually these starved creatures will come crawling back to the Citadel of Sanguinius on pure instinct, where they shall be finally granted the Emperor's Mercy.
As expected, just like the rest of their sister chapters, battle-brothers of the Fanged Templars possess elongated (almost fang-like from here the origin of their name) eye teeth, unnaturally pale unblemished skin (that has a chance, with time, to degrade into an unhealthy corpse-like grey, most likely due to damage done to the melanochrome organ) and an unnatural, almost inhuman beauty. Some vague rumors say that the Fanged Templars were the result of 'hybridizing' the gene-seed of the Blood Angels with that of a more stable legion to breed out the twin flaws of Sanguinius, however even if said rumors are true, the process was not successful, and the gene-seed remained flawed.
Combat Doctrine
The Fanged Templars believe in the art of glorious melee combat, charging at the foul heretic with chainsword in hand or cutting through a roaring WAAAGH!!! of Orks is one of the greatest pleasures that a battle-brother can achieve, while bolters and long-ranged weapons are not unheard of, the Fanged Templars consider them less noble than close-combat weapons such as chainswords and chainaxes. Like many other Blood Angels successors, battle-brothers of the Fanged Templars use jump-packs to assault their opponents on the battlefield.
The Fanged Templars are skilled in anti-psyker combat and are specifically trained to kill the witch more effectively and quickly. They are also notable for their use of Scorched Earth tactics. They commonly employ biological and incendiary weaponry such as promethium and the dreaded chemical agent vasgotox to cause massive damage to the enemy.
Deathwatch Service
It is quite rare for a battle-brother of the Fanged Templars to join the Deathwatch. The reason for this is that a battle-brother sees it as a betrayal of his fellow brothers to join a different chapter even if it is for the greater good of the Imperium. Only two Fanged Templars have ever joined the Deathwatch, though their names are long forgotten, it is suspected both fell in battle to the foul xenos the plague the galaxy and mankind.
Notable Members
- Lord Chaplain Aldaric Voss: Aldaric Voss is the current Lord Chaplain (Chapter Master) of the Fanged Templars. Said to have been recruited from the coastal regions of Cadmus, he braved the chapter's trials with ease and quickly proved himself to be a skilled warrior and master tactician. He eventually ascended to the rank of the chapter's Lord Chaplain.
- Grand Commander Valerius Tyrus: The chapter's current 1st captain, Grand Commander Tyrus was recruited from Cadmus to become a battle-brother of the Fanged Templars. Dressed in terminator armor and armed with fierce lightning claws he is the bane of the heretic and the scourge of the mutant.
- Commander Mikaelus Hyreius: Mikaelus Hyreius is the chapter's second captain. Being a good friend of Valerius Tyrus, he also came from Cadmus and became a battle-brother alongside the grand commander.
- Ancient Denis Aurelian: The ancient dreadnought Denis Aurelian was once the first Lord Chaplain of the Fanged Templars. Following the brutal siege of Mumbain V, he was interred in the cybernetic sarcophagus of a Furioso pattern dreadnought after being fatally wounded by a dark apostle of the Word Bearers during the attack on Hive Primus of that damned world.
- Chief Librarian Oleander Vlious: Not much is known about the battle-brother who calls himself Oleander Vlious other than the fact that he was born on some distant Ice-covered Feral World inhabited by savage human tribes. Chief Librarian Vlious is a calm and reserved man, rarely ever starting conversations with his fellow battle-brothers, always consumed in his own thoughts.
Chapter Fleet
Battle Barges
- Hand of the Angel: The flagship of the chapter's fleet and it's only battle barge. The Hand of the Angel is more comparable to a massive cathedral then an actual battle barge: so severe are the changed made to it by the chapter's techmarines. Similar to their fortress monastery, the flagship of the Fanged Templars contains a statue of their primarch: the Great Angel.
Strike Cruisers
- The Vendetta: A quick ship designed for fast attacks against enemy fleets.
- Aurelian's Hammer: Named after the chapter's first Lord Chaplain Denis Aurelian.
Destroyers
- Emperor's Word: The largest and oldest of the chapter's destroyers. Said to have been the only one of the ships from the chapter's original fleet to have survived the brutal Siege of Mumbain V.
- Sanguinius's Wrath: The newest addition to the chapter's fleet.
Chapter Relics
- The Mace of Sanguinius: An impossibly ancient Power Maul wielded by the Lord Chaplain (Chapter Master) of the Fanged Templars. It's true origin remains unknown, though most legends say that it was constructed during the dark days of the Horus Heresy. It is the holiest of the chapter's relics.
- The Mask of Woe: An incredibly life-like mask depicting the Primarch Sanguinius, an imitation of the true Death Mask worn by Lord Commander Dante. It is a symbol of the Lord Chaplain and can only be worn by him.
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
The Fanged Templars primarily wear red-coloured power armour the colour of spilt blood with black as a secondary colour, which includes: backpack vents, top of the helmet, armorial insets, couters (elbow guards), wrist trim and both sabatons (boot armour).
Company Designation
The Aquila or Imperialis affixed to their plastron (chest guard) is colored in accordance with the Codex-approved coloration based on company assignment:
- 1st Company (White)
- 2nd Company (Yellow)
- 3rd Company (Red)
- 4th Company (Green)
- 5th Company (Black)
- 6th Company (Orange)
- 7th Company (Purple)
- 9th Company (Grey)
- 9th Company (Light Blue)
- 10th Company (Blue)
Squad Designation
Unlike their progenitors, who make use specific colour-coded heraldry to designate squad specialty, the Fanged Templars make use of symbols from the Codex to identify a battle-brother's assigned squad specialty role. They favour a white coloured symbol, indicating either fire support, close support, battleline, veteran or command. A large red blood drop is centered upon this symbol.
Also, unlike their genetic forebears, the Fanged Templars use simple Low Gothic numeral to identify a battle-brother's assigned squad, commonly presented on the warrior's right armorial inset.
Chapter Badge
Chapter icon of the Fanged Templars.
The symbol of the Fanged Templars is a fanged mouth dripping with fresh blood. In truth, this badge symbolizes the terrifying effects of the Red Thirst on the chapter's brave brothers.
Relations
Allies
| Blood Angels |   |
As the Blood Angels are their progenitors, the Fanged Templars have a close connection with them, commonly working together to achieve great victories. |
| Adepta Sororitas |  |
The Fanged Templars are closely allied with the sisters militant of the Adepta Sororitas as both are known for their extreme religious fervor. It is not uncommon for the battle sisters to be accompanied by the ceramite-clad warriors that are the Fanged Templars. |
| Ordo Hereticus |   |
The Fanged Templars and the inquisition have worked closely on numerous occasions to purge worlds of heretical taint, or defend loyalist imperial strongholds from the dark tides of the Immaterium. |
Enemies
| Word Bearers |   |
Following the brutal Siege of Mumbain V, the Fanged Templars have gained a notorious hate for this traitor legion of Heretic Astartes in particular. Viewing them as the vilest of all traitors possible. The Fanged Templars hunt the bearers of Lorgar's foul word throughout every corner of the galaxy where they suspect they might be hiding. |
Notable Quotes
By: Fanged Templars
- "We are the Sons of Sanguinius and the shield of Mankind. We are the sword that cleaves through the foul heretic and we are the hammer that shatters their dark altars!"
- — Lord Chaplain Aldaric Voss
About: Fanged Templars
- "The brothers of the Fanged Templars burn with religious zeal; this is the torch that drives them forward through the darkness. "
- — Lord Commander Dante of the Blood Angels
- "The sons of the angel are mere fools, believing themselves to be the blade of the Carrion Lord of Mankind. They are as blind to the blessings of the Gods as they are deaf to the knowledge of our great patrons. "
- — Anonymous Dark Apostle
| Fourteenth Founding Space Marine Chapters | |
|---|---|
| Dark Angels Successors | Ingvarians • |
| White Scars Successors | • |
| Space Wolves Successors | N/A |
| Imperial Fists Successors | Tempest Absolvers • Templars Moline • |
| Blood Angels Successors | Fanged Templars • |
| Iron Hands Successors | • |
| Ultramarines Successors | Castigators • |
| Salamanders Successors | • |
| Raven Guard Successors | • |
| Unknown Lineage | • |