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The Ferric Bulls are a dedicated and stalwart Loyalist Space Marine Chapter created from the lineage of the calculating and remorseless Iron Hands. They were created during the 23rd 'Sentinel' Founding as part of the widespread efforts to reinforce the reach and power of the Adeptus Astartes that had been worn away during the prior millennia.
Since their founding, the Ferric Bulls have earned a reputation for their mechanical, heartless precision in the face of their enemies that almost matches that of their progenitor chapter, though without the total contempt for the flesh that the Iron Hands are known for.
Chapter History
Founding
The Ferric Bulls were founded early on in the 23rd 'Sentinel' founding, in the late 37th Millennium, from the gene-stock of the Iron Hands, using genes donated from the then Iron Hands Veteran Tamarthor, 'The Iron Bull'. Tamarthor was offered a position as the first Chapter Master of the new chapter, a position he accepted, and was allowed to take with him a few loyal battle-brothers to help him guide his new chapter, which, by Tamarthor's own request, was granted the feral world of Volanzen, a world he had fought on in the past and deemed strategically positioned, and with hardy inhabitants, to be its Homeworld, and place of recruitment.
Once settled upon their new Homeworld, the Ferric Bulls went about securing the Duamka System, the Home System of Volanzen. Their first target was the ancient industrial world of Duamka IV, called Ironclad by Volanzen's native population. Some record of the world existed within the databases of the Imperium, noting it as having once been rich in metallic resources, with a surface of Iron sand.
Fiery Beginnings
As the Ferric Bulls attained a full battle-ready strength, Tamarthor and the upper echelons of his chapter, those few Battle-Brothers he had taken with him from the Iron Hands, figured that the Ferric Bulls would need to test their skills in a real battle at some point, to assess the Chapter's readiness to serve the Imperium. This resulted in the Ferric Bulls being the first Imperial force prepared to answer the calls for aid that came from the small planet of Raikaal VII, when it was assaulted by an unidentified group of Chaos Space Marines.
When the Ferric Bulls reached Raikaal VII they found it to still be actively under attack from the unknown Chaos Space Marines, and so launched a counter-attack against the forces battling on the planet.
Upon landing forces on Raikaal VII, the Ferric Bulls found the planet to be in a state of extreme disarray, with much of the planet set aflame. The Chapter took surveying the planet carefully, moving from one major area to another, sending out multiple scouting groups. Across most of Raikaal VII they found cities left in ashes, few survivors, and a small amount of chaos cultists, who were dealt with quickly. Eventually the Chapter had cleared the majority of the planet.
When they reached the final unsurveyed point on Raikaal VII the Ferric Bulls encountered a small force of the unknown Chaos Space Marines. The Ferric Bulls' full force arrived at the point just as the Chaos Space Marines were making their exit, leaving a burned husk of a planet in their wake, Chaos flames burning still in many places.
The Ferric Bulls under Tamarthor's command made short work of the Chaos Space Marines, and the cultists accompanying them. However as the Ferric Bulls finished purging Raikaal VII of its destroyers, they received another distress call from a nearby planet. This repeated for planet after planet, sometimes they would reach the planet and find it abandoned, still burning, and sometimes they would find the world in the early stages of invasion. Eventually the chapter command received a communication from a fellow group of Space Marines, the Crusaders Inexorable.
After a series of communications the Crusaders Inexorable revealed to the Ferric Bulls that they had been following one of three strange trails of spiralling incidents, all caused by the same group of Chaos Space Marines, that the Crusaders Inexorable revealed to be called the 'Phoenixes of Conflagration'. Based on these three trails of activity it appeared that the Phoenixes of Conflagration intended to perform their final assault on the world of Caldainiel, a small frozen planet with a few thousand civilians on it. The Ferric Bulls agreed to pre-emptively go to Caldainiel, before any distress call was sent, alongside the Crusaders Inexorable, in order to get the upper hand on the Phoenixes of Conflagration.
The Battle of Caldainiel
- "Brothers, we will not be fuel for daemon flame today. Let us show these hell-cursed warriors the extent of our fury. Let us show them how the hammer falls upon the Emperor’s foes. Let our wroth bring ruin to these enemies of the Imperium. For we are the Sons of the Gorgon of Medusa, Ferrus Manus of the Iron Tenth, and we will know no peace until this world is cleansed. For the Emperor! For the Gorgon! For Volanzen!"
- — Excerpt from the end of the speech of Tamarthor before the Battle of Caldainiel
Of the Three forces of Space Marines that had agreed to assault the forces of the Phoenixes of Conflagration together on Caldainiel, the Ferric Bulls were the second to Arrive, discovering the 3rd Crusading Order of the Crusaders Inexorable already in orbit, and the Chaos Invasion of the Planet. Unable to wait for the soon arriving Heralds Angelic, the two forces began their assault against Caldainiel, and the battle began.
The Ferric Bulls began their battle by punching deep into enemy lines and establishing wide areas of control, with the Crusaders Inexorable providing close support, the two chapters working together seamlessly. After some time, the Ferric Bulls advance began to slow against the onslaught of Chaos Marines, the strategy becoming evidently less effective as the surprise wore off. Chapter Master Tamarthor ordered the Chapter to fortify their position, to approach the enemy in a different way. However, the forces of the Crusaders Inexorable were dissatisfied with this change in tactics, and continued their own assault on the enemy.
The battle would meet its end for the Ferric Bulls when Tamarthor, alongside his Honour Guard, and Iron Masters, managed to break through to the enemy commander of the Phoenixes of Conflagration, Champion of the 1st Flame, Attoth V’var, and his close commanders. The two groups entered into a fierce battle, with several casualties on both sides. But eventually the Ferric Bulls, under leadership of Tamarthor, managed to defeat the Chaos Champion, sending him back to his master. The battle reached its end, resulting in a victory for the Imperial forces.
After the day was won, Tamarthor and his honour guard, met with the commanders of the other Space Marine forces present, Chryos Korras of the Heralds Angelic, and Marshal Ivand Sigismund of the Crusaders Inexorable's 3rd Order, who promptly left. The two remaining chapters formed a fast friendship, and vowed to support each other as allies. The Heralds Angelic claimed Caldainiel as their Homeworld, and the Ferric Bulls left to return to Volanzen.
Notable Campaigns
The Incendiary Spiral (874.M37-877.M37)
This was a campaign in which the fledgling Ferric Bulls, alongside the 23rd founding chapter The Heralds Angelic, and a small detachment of Crusaders Inexorable would pursue small parts of a Chaos Warband called the Phoenixes of Conflagration. It resulted in the Battle of Caldainiel, where the Ferric Bulls, the Heralds Angelic, and two companies of the Crusaders Inexorable fought against the First and Third Flames of the Phoenixes of Conflagration, and came out victorious, preventing the young world from being defiled and burned by the Phoenixes of Conflagration.
The Defence of Duamka (85-102.M38)
The Defence of Duamka was a short defensive campaign undergone by the Ferric Bulls during the reign of Tamarthor. It would see a large force of Orks attempt to invade the home system of the Ferric Bulls, Duamka. The Defence would end in the battle of Duamka IV, where Tamarthor slew the Ork leader, Duhkon Kruh, but was unfortunately slain himself by the ork forces. Though the battle would be a victory, and result in the end of the Defence of Duamka, it was bittersweet, for many Battle-Brothers were lost that day. The Defence began as a prolonged siege, with Astartes defending the three Ironclad Holds, but eventually the outer walls of Hold Medusa, and Hold Stheno were broken, and the battle transitioned from siege to urban warfare.
The Laethel Disaster (561.M38)
The Ferric Bulls, fresh off of a long string of glorious victories, were called on by Rogue Trader House Ercol to provide backup for a diplomatic negotiation with a force of Aeldari on the word of Laethel. The meeting was to establish boundaries between the two groups, to forestall conflict over a few contested items and worlds. Though normally such an interaction would be beneath the Ferric Bulls, the Chapter were on good terms with the Rogue Trader, and so elected to send a contingent of Space Marines to act as guardians of the Rogue Trader in the Proceedings on Laethel. Unfortunately, the presence of the Space Marines caused the Rogue Trader to become overly cocky, and vitriolic, demanding more than initially planned and ultimately ordering his guards to open fire on the xenos diplomats, and declaring war.
Soon after this, within days, a Warhost of the Aeldari Craftworld Y'landralei arrived on Laethel with vengeful fury, and though the Ferric Bulls and Rogue Trader's guards and soldiers had organised a small defence it proved futile against the fast-moving xenos. The defending forces on Laethel were quickly swept aside, and the Ferric Bulls were left as the only force on world to defend the honour of the Imperium. However the tactics of the Ferric Bulls, ingrained in them to a level of near-complacency by their string of prior victories proved to work against them, for their fast, heavy assaults proved ineffective against a force with greater speed and strategy. The contingent of Ferric Bulls was forced into defeat after defeat, eventually having to surrender the battlefield or lose their lives.
In the aftermath of the Laethel Disaster, the Ferric Bulls was forced to reconsider its combat doctrine, a thought supported by its younger members who had escaped the Laethel Disaster. A series in internal councils and reports led by Ferric Lord Matahn 'Reodfaex' and the upper echelons of the Chapter, resulted in the creation of the Laethel Protocols, a series of stratagems, directives, and commands that would ensure a more tactically sound approach to future battles, whose sole aim was to ensure that practicality and flexibility were not sacrificed through complacency.
The Fellgaol Wars (M39)
The Fellgaol Wars were a series of conflicts undertaken by Imperial forces, including the Ferric Bulls, against the Fellgaol, a mobile station that terrorised parts of the Ultima Segmentum during the the 39th Millennium. The Fellgaol was the base of the Iron Gaolers Warband, originating from the traitorous Iron Warriors. Many of the Fellgaol Wars targeted Adeptus Mechanicus Forgeworlds, and Astartes Homeworlds, which brought the eye of the Ferric Bulls to the Warband. The Chapter, with aid from the Adeptus Mechanicus and other allied forces, tracked the central base of operations of the Fellgaol to the Hredrit Reach, a region of space outside the Imperium.
The Cleansing of Amalagam (727.M40)
The Ferric Bulls were called to put down a large rebellion to the galactic north of the Wecta subsector centred on the industrial world of Amalagam. After putting down rebellions on several planets apparently started by the Amalagam rebels, the chapter noted oddities. On Amalagam itself the Imperial Guard had made a foothold for the chapter in the planet's northern hemisphere, where the Ferric Bulls Landed and began the reclamation of the world. Pushing out of the foothold, the Ferric Bulls found more and more resistance the closer they got to the central Hive Spires of the Amalagam leaders, and discovered obvious evidence of chaos dealings. Nearing the command points of the Amalagam rebels the enemy armies would exhibit strange phenomena. A unit of rebels that the Ferric Bulls fought in Amalagam Sector-C63 had their own dead get up and keep fighting. Amalagam Sector-A14, was almost more like a swamp than a factory sector. At the central command point of the rebels, Amalagam Sector-A01, was almost unrecognisable, the seed of chaos having taken root so deep. After a long and hard fought battle, the Ferric Bulls had Sector-A01, and other heavily corrupted sectors were destroyed, and the world was repopulated with faithful citizens of the Imperium.
The Decimation of Harkth (800.M41)
After being too late to save the Imperial world of Bishop from annihilation at the hands of an awakening necron dynasty that had sought to reclaim ancient holdings, the Ferric Bulls marched on the planet Harkth, where the dynasty had awakened. Whilst sitting in Orbit, planning their attack upon the necrons, another chapter, the Starforgers, entered the Orbit of Harkth. Though the Ferric Bulls tried to invite their fellow Astartes into their planning, the Starforgers seemed unwilling to partake in any proposed strategy, which greatly infuriated the leader of the Ferric Bulls. This, compounded with the two chapters' opposing personalities, lead to the two chapters beginning their campaigns independently. This would prove to not last very long however, as the overwhelming technological prowess of the necrons would force the two chapters to work alongside each other.
The Ferric Bulls, alongside the Starforgers, in combined strength, proved far more successful than when the two had operated independently. When they reached the Cenotaph of Souls, the palace of the Necron Dynasty, the two Chapters struck the necrons like a great storm, the Ferric Bulls using their heavy firepower to support that fast moving Starforgers. The joint wrath of the two chapters annihilated the necron forces, and lead to the success of the campaign. When the day was won, and the Tomb World's throne destroyed, the two chapters had gained a newfound appreciation for each other. Though the Starforgers left the area soon after the victory, the Ferric Bulls did receive a transmission of commendations from them, and sent a return transmission honouring the Starforgers and thanking them for their assistance in the campaign.
The Siege of Gorgyra V (987.M41)
Chapter Recruitment
The Ferric Bulls have been known to employ a series of challenges known as the Bull's Trials in order to recruit new members into the chapter. These trials are often large events positioned in important settlements, where young aspirants may come and attempt to join. Due to the irregular nature of this recruitment, there are no set tests that make up the Bull's Trials, however a popular trial to be used is the Trial of Loyalty, where aspirants are given a weapon (normally a sword or dagger made for soldiers on Volanzen) and then are ordered to use it to attack an armoured guard, often there is no correct response to this situation and it all depends on how the aspirant justifies their actions, and how the members of the chapter running the Trials judges that justification. Other popular tests include tests of ingenuity, often through the crafting, or repairing of a weapon, tests of bodily strength, normally by a ritualistic combat between aspirants, and a test of will, where the aspirant is made to show how much he is willing to devote himself to the chapter.
Trial of the Wild Bull
Though not an official part of the Ferric Bull's recruitment method, the Trial of the Wild bull is a commonly used extension to the traditional Bull's Trials that often takes place within the Scouts of the chapter. The Trial includes the individual taking it being dropped off in a random location distant from his clan's Hold, to which he must return, traversing the dangerous forests of Volanzen, facing a variety of its hostile fauna and flora.
Chapter Holdings
Chapter Homeworld
Pict file of the Ferric Bull's Homeworld, Volanzen
The Ferric Bulls' homeworld is that of Volanzen, within the Duamka System. Volanzen is a medieval world with a population of 12 million people, who are divided between numerous small nations and kingdoms that all pay fealty to the Ferric Bulls and their Ferric Lord. The world, when the chapter first took over governance of it, was primarily covered in dense forests and was at that point classified as a Feral World, however in the millennia of governorship from the Ferric Bulls, the planet has been reduced to thirty percent forest coverage and has developed enough to be considered a medieval world.
Fortress-Monastery
The Fortress Monastery is the Iserntorr, an enormous black tower that stretches far into the skies above Volanzen and delves deep within the planet's crust. The tower is built in a ring-like shape around a large artificial hill, within which the first Ferric Lord, Tamarthor the Isernfearr, is buried, alongside over one hundred Battle-Brothers. The Iserntorr's exterior, both on the outward-facing wall and on the circular wall surrounding the grave of Tamarthor is made of stone carved to show various forms of holy Imperial imagery, all covered in a layer of blackened iron.
The entire Fortress Monastery is located within a large crater, which is ringed by 3 large walls, ten, twenty and thirty feet tall each, with height decreasing the further you go from the Crater. Each wall has towers and parapets, and is also covered in a layer of blackened iron. The walls are mostly for show, and were constructed far more recently than the main tower, as a way to denote the borders of the Ferric Bulls' directly owned land.
Clan-Holds
Though the Iserntorr does act as a central hub for the seven Clan-Companies of the Ferric Bulls, each Clan-Company also has its own Clan-Hold, a well fortified citadel in that Clan-Company's respective kingdom. Each Clan-Hold is composed of a fairly basic structure, designed to blend into the architecture of the surrounding Volanzenite settlements, whilst still being an imposing construction that marks the presence of the Clan-Company. Alongside these surface structures that function as primary housing for members of the chapter, and audiences with locals, each Clan-Hold also has includes a large cavernous hall underground, in which all of the technological aspects of the Clan are held, including the Clan Forge-Temple, run by the Clan's High Forgecleric.
External Holdings
Alongside their Homeworld, the Ferric Bulls also hold dominion over all the planets within the Duamka system. However, most of these planets are of little use to the chapter, due to a lack of resources and liveable environments. These inhospitable worlds are most often used for training operations by the chapter, but serve little purpose otherwise.
The only planet of the Duamka system that is of any worth to the Ferric Bulls besides Volanzen, is Duamka IV, also called Ironclad by the native Volanzenites. Ironclad is a small planet covered in iron rich sand-like dust, and having contained a vast amount of minerals and useful metals, which has resulted in extensive mining operations on the planet in the distant past. However in modern times much of these resources are depleted.
Ironclad Holds
The Ironclad holds are the three fortress-mines from which minerals and materials on Ironclad were extracted. Each fortress is a grand construction, so esoteric in design and use that the Ferric Bulls have managed to restart only the surface level functions. Yet despite this, the Holds still harvest a good amount of resources from Ironclad that the Ferric Bulls can use for a variety of projects. For example the black-iron exterior of the Iserntorr was gathered in the Ironclad Holds. The resources obtained from Ironclad are split between the Ferric Bulls themselves, and the nearby Forge-World Adamant Sigma-4, who operate the fortress-mines on behalf of the Ferric Bulls.
When the Ferric Bulls arrived in the Duamka system, Ironclad and the Holds were populated by a race of degenerate abhumans which had devolved from the planet's original operators and inhabitants. The young Ferric Bulls were quick to eliminate these pests in each hold, one by one, restoring human control over the great Fortress-Mines. The three Holds are named for the mythical Gorgons of Ancient Times, Medusa, Euryale, and Stheno.
Chapter Organisation
The Ferric Bulls, like their progenitors, the Iron Hands, are made of a number of Clan-Companies that specialise in differing skills. The Ferric Bulls are made up of seven different Clan-Companies and a veteran company known as the Argent Horns. Each clan company is made up of 125 battle-brothers, divided into 25 squads of 5 battle brothers. The seven Clan-Companies of the Ferric Bulls find their origins in the seven great kingdoms of Volanzen, which Ferric Lord Tamarthor divided Volanzen into in his 'Tractatus de Historia et Cultura Volanzeni', or in Low Gothic, the Treatise on the History and Culture of Volanzen, a great book that was compiled by Tamarthor in his efforts to codify and understand the planet he ruled over.
Chapter Librarium
The Chapter's Librarium is organised such that each Company has 1 Runekeeper to write and create their Company Librarium, noting battles and other relatively unimportant things. Each company also has 1 Lorekeeper assigned to them in the Chapter Librarium, who will communicate with their Runekeeper and formulate recording of greater campaigns and multitudes of battles, to be included in the Chapter Librarium. 8 High Lorekeepers are kept by the Chapter Librarium to assign to strike forces as the need arises. This is the minimum expectation, and as such oftentimes there will be more than the standard 25 Librarians, including the Loremaster, within the Librarium.
Unique Psyker Abilities
- Avatar of the Gorgon - The Librarian calls upon their own psychic prowess, and the genetic memory of Ferrus Manus stored within their gene-flaw, the Wrath of the Gorgon, to transform themselves, or an ally, into an avatar of the Gorgon's immense hateful anger. The Avatar is a storm of destruction on the battlefield, crushing enemies with ease, inspiring courage and rightful fury in their allies, and terror in their foes.
Officer Ranks
- Ferric Lord: The title given to the Chapter Master, the title originates in ancient Volanzenite myth, when a group of armoured giants, believed by the chapter to have been an early Astartes, perhaps even ancient Iron Hands, landed on Volanzen, their leader who became mythologised on Volanzen was called the 'Brego Ísenian', or 'The Lord Clad in Iron', by the native people. When Tamarthor and his new chapter came to Volanzen and made it their homeworld, the natives saw him as the second coming of the 'Brego Ísenian', and so titled him thus, and when Tamarthor embraced the culture of the Volanzenites, he took the title, albeit modified slightly and in a more common tongue than the Volanzenite one.
- Commander: The title given to the Captain of the Ferric Bulls' 1st Company Argent Horns, sometimes called the Iron Commander, the Commander of the Argent Horns normally commands a great list of honours and victories.
- Clan-Lord: Each Clan-Lord commands one of the seven Clan-companies of the Ferric Bulls, acting in the place of regular captains. the title of Clan-Lord is not one set in stone however, and can be claimed by any Clan-Thegn of the Clan-Company through formal duels done in ancient Volanzenite tradition, though this practice is rarely called upon.
- Huscarl: The Huscarl is a recent addition to the command structure of the Ferric Bulls, being their version of the Lieutenant. In accordance to the revised Codex Astartes, each Clan-Company has two Huscarls, who serve as the Clan-Lord's most trusted advisors and are often the strongest battle-brothers of the Clan-Company, save for the Clan-Lord himself.
Specialist Ranks
- Iron Hero: The title of Iron Hero is an adaptation on the idea of the Chapter Champion. The title is both a modification of this pre-existing chapter role and also an adaptation of the Volanzenite traditions of Heroics and Clan Heroes, strong warriors and champions of the clan who would take up the duties of dealing with the hostile fauna of Volanzen, or as it is often put in the tales told on Volanzen, slaying 'monsters'.
- Clan Hero: The title of Clan Hero is a modification of the traditional Codex Company Champion, similar to the Iron Hero. For the Argent Horns (Veterans Company) the term 'Hero of the Horns' is used instead.
- Forgefather: the Ferric Bulls' term for the leader of the Chapter's Iron Fathers, who operate as part of a unified armoury, as opposed to being Clan based. The Forgefather maintains the Chapter Forge-temple, the sacred part of the Chapter infrastructure in which both armaments and faith are forged.
- High Forgecleric: a High Forgecleric is a Forgecleric given dominion over the Forge-temple of one of the 7 Clan-Companies of the Ferric Bulls, in one of the Clan Holds, or the forge of the Argent Horns. Four High Forgeclerics are also assigned to inhabit four hidden Vaults on Ironclad, or Duamka IV.
- Forgecleric: the Ferric Bulls' term for their Iron Fathers, combination Techmarine Chaplains who serve to both maintain the weapons of the chapter, and the faith of their brothers, much like the Iron fathers of the Old Iron Hands once did.
- Loremaster: the Ferric Bulls' chief librarian, and master of Psykers. The Loremaster is the most powerful pysker in teh chapter, and an expert on the history and records of the Ferric Bulls.
- High Lorekeeper: the Ferric Bulls' term for their Epistolaries.
- Lorekeeper: the Ferric Bulls' term for their Codiciers.
- Runekeeper: the Ferric Bulls' term for their Lexicaniums.
Line Ranks
- Heardinga: the name of the Ferric Bull's Veterans.
- Clan-Thegn: The title given to the leaders of each squadron, called a Fyrd by the Ferric Bulls. Like the position of Clan-Lord, the title can be claimed by any member of the Fyrd, provided they beat the current Clan-Thegn.
Order of Battle
Headquarters
Companies
| Clan-Companies | ||||
| Clan Ystdræf | Clan Bræsæn | Clan Guþbor | Clan Wyndan | |
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Chapter Culture & Beliefs
- "Thus, the Ferric Bulls shall not defer to the certainty of steel, but neither shall we deny its purpose. We of the Ferric Bulls shall master the balance, for iron alone is weaker than iron and flesh in combination, which is weaker yet than the transhuman flesh of our making."
- —Closing statement of the Dictate of Iron and Flesh, the guiding doctrine of the Ferric Bulls, written by Tamarthor himself.
Titles and Honorifics
The Ferric Bulls have, for much of its history, utilised a system of honorifics, nicknames, and unique titles to detail the achievements and importance of certain members of the Chapter. Most full battle-brothers of the Chapter will have a nicknames based on an achievement or notable trait about them. These nicknames are normally in the native tongue of the Volanzenite people, and are written after the brother's name. Also used are a series of unique titles, though these are far rarer, as the right to give a title is reserved for only the Ferric Lord Himself. Some notable titles that have been granted in the past are:
- Iron Master: This unique title was only granted to the few Iron Hands who were brought over to the new Ferric Bulls Chapter alongside Tamarthor himself.
- Wergeneát: The Wergeneát are those brothers of the Ferric Bulls who have maintained a long lasting position amongst the Deathwatch. It means, in Common Volanzenic, "Sworn Companion", and is of supposed relation to an Old Terran term for warrior who went to serve in the guard of emperors of ancient times. Curerntly only one brother holds the title of Wergeneát, Emenric 'the Wergeneát'.
The Cult Gorgonis
The Cult Gorgonis is the unique interpretation of the Imperial Creed preached by the Ferric Bulls' Forgeclerics. It is a curious blend of the Cult Mechanicus, and the Chapter's own immense respect and intrinsic connection to their Primarch, the Gorgon of Medusa, Ferrus Manus. Though primarily worshipped by the Ferric Bulls themselves, it is also preached upon their homeworld of Volanzen. It reveres Ferrus Manus as the greatest of the sons of the Emperor, who is the Cult Mechanicus' Omnissiah, who inherited most of his knowledge of craftsmanship and technology. Over time, the Cult Gorgonis has evolved to become a route through which the Chapter facilitates controlling the Wrath of the Gorgon, often through mechanisation of body, mind and soul.
The Month of Return
The Month of Return is a tradition maintained by the Ferric Bulls as a reward for service and recruitment. When a Scout marine joins the Ferric Bulls as a full battle-brother, has served 50 years in the Ferric Bulls since his last Month of Return, or has gained a significant battle honour, he may claim the Month of Return, to walk without the gear of an Astartes, amongst the citizens of Volanzen, to remind himself what he fights for and where he came from. The Month of Return is not mandatory, and most Battle-Brothers opt not to partake in it, though participation seems to grow more common amongst marines who earned their Month through battle honour. It was implemented by Cyneric Tamarthor as a potential way to combat the Wrath, though it was greatly ineffective for this purpose it has been shown to have other purposes, as Brothers who take these Months of Return often fight harder and fiercer than their brothers who do not.
Chapter Gene-Seed
Gene-Flaw - Wrath of the Gorgon
Though the Ferric Bulls do not bear their progenitor's cursed hatred of their own flesh, and desire to become machine, the Ferric Bulls have a curse all their own, that they call the Wrath of the Gorgon, for their Primarch' great fury in his last battle. The Wrath of the Gorgon first made itself known to the Chapter during the gruesome Defence of Duamka, during the battle of Duamka IV, when great numbers of Ferric Bulls Battle-Brothers fell to their Ork foes in defence of their homeworld. The collective hatred and rage in the Chapter broke through many a battle-brother, throwing them into a near mindless fury, aiding the victory of that day, but cursing each brother to eternally bear that inner fury. Over the millennia many ways have been uncovered for repressing the Wrath, but the most effective by far is the mechanisation of body and mind, leading to large amounts of cybernetic enhancements among brothers of the Chapter, more notable in older battle-brothers. However there is some proportion of the Chapter that follow the mortal path for combatting the Wrath, burying themselves in human emotion, becoming the polar opposite of their brothers who mechanise themselves. Despite this stark difference in outlook, there is no enmity between these brothers, for they all know that a brother does what he must do to stop the Wrath.
When the Chapter's genetic curse manifests itself in an affected Battle-Brother, it comes on in three stages:
- Level 1 (Chained Fury) - The Battle-Brother bears within him a deep hidden rage, a locked away fury that never fades. This makes him quick to anger, cynical, and irritable at times, and leaves him at risk of letting loose his caged anger and hatred. There are some means by which a he may further seal this fury within, commonly through the increased mechanisation of the mind, through logical and mechanical thought processes that push him from more man, to more machine.
- Level 2 (The Machine Holds) - The Battle-Brother's will begins to falter, and the restrictions he places upon his rage begin to loosen. He is generally irritable, and even small disputes can spark his anger, but still he maintains control, and can, with great difficulty, keep his anger locked away. The increased mechanisation of body and mind seals the fury deep, but it breaks through in places, and boils within.
- Level 3 (Gorgon Unchained) - The Battle-Brother falls to the Wrath of the Gorgon, his will finally failing, his inner rage unleashed in an intense burst. Commonly this occurs in times of great stress, or strife, where the brother loses control of his emotion, and cannot maintain his protections. Only through great internal effort can his inner fury be chained again, and the Wrath of the Gorgon subdued, but during these efforts, the brother is a ruthless machine, destroying his foes with greater strength than before, but with zero control over himself.
The Battle Within
When a Battle-Brother of the Ferric Bulls falls to the Wrath of the Gorgon, they lose control of their body, supposedly to the genetic memory of Ferrus Manus' fury and hatred during the Drop Site Massacre. When this occurs the brother must fight to regain control of himself, or be lost to the rage. It is thought that this battle within differs from person to person, and that there is no one way in which the Wrath of the Gorgon may be subdued and the brother given back control over himself, as it seems every brother tells a different story of how it feels to subdue the Wrath. Iron Master Kasterek Brahn described his experience falling to and facing the Wrath as a battle, occurring purely within his own mind fighting against himself, whereas Commander Strongric described his experience subduing the Wrath of the Gorgon as 'like wrangling a great beast'.
Embracing the Gorgon
Although most battle brothers attempt to wrest control from the Wrath of the Gorgon, and regain their senses, in some cases members of the Ferric Bulls have been known to embrace the rage and hatred and anger that causes the Wrath to grow, becoming a vessel for the Wrath of the Gorgon. It is said that those who undergo this gain massive benefits, but at a great cost. Becoming one with the Wrath is insanely taxing on the mind and body, and has been known to cause irreparably damage to brothers who attempt it.
It is thought that in his last battle against the Ork Duhkon Kruh, Tamarthor was struck by the Wrath of the Gorgon, and he embraced it. Though this is unconfirmed, as Tamarthor died after killing Kruh, being overrun by Orks, those who caught a glimpse of his duel across the battlefield saw him fight with a ferocity and strength that they had not seen the Chapter master use before.
Chapter Combat Doctrine
The Ferric Bulls value practicality, and therefore are trained in the myriad different forms of Warfare, from siege assault, to covert operations, however where they truly excel and specialise in is Heavily Armoured warfare, not dissimilar to their of their progenitors, the Iron Hands. Their primary battle-tactic is one of lightning-fast assaults using a variety of vehicles, with heavy fire support. This tactic is primarily utilised to punch through enemy lines in order to reach strategic positions, or enemy command-points. Under Laethel Protocols, established after the Laethel Disaster, the Chapter maintains a flexible approach to all battles, adopting a form of meticulous evaluation of the battlefield and campaign that is not dissimilar from the Calculum Rationale used by their progenitors.
Notable Space Marines
Notable Living Characters
- Ferric Lord Heresunu Tamarthor, 'the Mægenhamor': Current Ferric Lord of the Ferric Bulls. Ferric Lord Tamarthor is a scion of the notable house Tamarthor and is the fourth of the Tamarthor lineage to be made Ferric-Lord. Though he has not had much experience as a chapter master so far, having gained the rank relatively recently, the Ferric Lord has already distinguished himself and showcased his commanding presence and tactical skills in the recent Siege of Gorgyra V.
- Strongric, 'the Folmhamor': Strongric is the current Commander of the Ferric Bulls' veterans company, the 'Argent Horns'. In early M42 Strongric Was Challenged for his position as Commander by a veteran Ferric Bull who had successfully crossed the Rubicon Primaris, a challenge which Strongric lost. Due to this, Strongric was emboldened to undertake the crossing of the Rubicon Primaris himself, seeing the benefits, and deciding that, for him, they were worth the potential costs. Strongric succeeded in crossing the Rubicon Primaris, and challenged his usurper for the title of Commander, reclaiming his title.
Pict-File of The Old Bull.
- The Old Bull: The Old Bull is the most ancient Dreadnought currently deployed by the Chapter, having been part of the same generation of battle-brothers as Ferric Lord Cyneric Tamarthor. The Old Bull was a valiant battle-brother who fought in many tense campaigns of the Ferric Bulls, eventually going on to become the next candidate for the Commander of The Argent Horns, if the position's holder, Cyneric Tamarthor, was ever to die or become Ferric-Lord. His expertise and skill would lead to him playing an influential role in the Battle of Duamka IV, fighting alongside Tamarthor and Cyneric. However in the battle, he would be wounded to near death, though he would survive the battle, he had to be interred within a dreadnought if ever he wished to fight again. Now over three millennia later, The Old Bull is a living part of chapter legend, as when he is woken, he rarely opts to speak much, and as such, his true name has been forgotten by all but himself and dusty records that sit unread for many long years.
Pict-File of Heregod wielding Fyrthubog.
- Iron Hero Heregod, 'Beorht-Beadu': Iron Hero Heregod is the Ferric Bulls current Iron Hero, and is known by many epithets, such as Battle-Bright, Steelsworn, Iron-doom, and the Judge of Gorgyra. Heregod earned his epithet of 'Beorht-Beadu', meaning Bright-Battle, during one of his early battles as Clan-Hero of Clan Bræsæn, when he ran into enemy forces with his clan sword, the powersword Egeslic, and its energy field flashed so intensely as he assaulted his foes that he seemed a force made of light. During the Siege of Gorgyra V, Heregod fought against the one of the enemy champions in a climactic duel, allowing the forces of the Ferric Lord to break through the enemy defences, nearly at the cost of his own life. In the duel, Heregod was disarmed by his enemy three times, managing to reclaim his weapon twice, but losing Fyrthubog in the chaos of the battlefield on the third time, before he could finish his enemy. Fortunately for Heregod, he managed to claim the Hornblade from the fallen Hero of the Horns, Raedwulf. With his fallen battle-brother's weapon, Heregod claimed the life of his enemy, and was able to rejoin his Lord just in time for the battle to be won.
- Brother Emenric, 'the Wergeneát': Brother Emenric is a notable member of the Ferric Bulls currently serving the Long Vigil in the Deathwatch. Emenric is, at current, the only Ferric Bull holding the role of one of the Wergeneát, a term meaning "Sworn Companion", the brothers of the Ferric Bulls who maintain a longer lasting presence within the Deathwatch. So long has Emenric held this rank alone that it has become his title amongst chapter records.
Notable Dead Characters
- Ferric Lord Tamarthor, 'the Isernfearr': The Original Chapter Master, and Ferric Lord of The Ferric Bulls, who after founding the Chapter on Volanzen grew to respect and even somewhat assimilate into the culture of the World, and he took the title of 'Isernfearr' which was a local translation of his prior title The Iron Bull. Tamarthor would also instil several traditions and practices into the Chapter's culture that the Chapter has maintained to this day. Tamarthor's most notable action as Chapter Master of the Ferric Bulls was the day of his death, during the Defence of Duamka IV when Tamarthor and His Ferric Bulls fought against a force of orks lead by an ork called Duhkon Kruh. Tamarthor accompanied by the Argent Horns Veterans Company fought his way through the orks, making straight towards Duhkon Kruh. In the ensuing battle, Tamarthor slew Kruh, but was mortally wounded, and died during the battle before any of his Iron Guard or Argent Bulls could come to help him fight off the surrounding orks.
- Ferric Lord Cyneric Tamarthor, 'the Ealdhorn': Ferric Lord Cyneric Tamarthor was second Ferric Lord of the Ferric Bulls, and the first Ferric Lord to be from the House of Tamarthor. The House of Tamarthor was founded by Cyneric son of Grimwald, who was the favoured personal servant of Ferric Lord Tamarthor the Isernfearr, when Cyneric lay dead after a life of service to Tamarthor, he declared that all those of Cyneric's Blood would be as kin to him and that they would bear the last name Tamarthor, for their ancestor had done such great service to him. Cyneric Tamarthor was himself named for Cyneric son of Grimwald, who was his great-grandfather. He was, like most Space Marines, selected as a neophyte from an early age, when he passed all the tests set before him with ease. Cyneric had a close relationship with Tamarthor in the last century or so of Tamarthor's life, and it was known that the Ferric Lord would often call him nephew. During the Battle of Duamka IV, Cyneric lead the Ferric Bulls to victory after Tamarthor fell when he killed Duhkon Kruh, and would go on to be chosen as the new Ferric Lord.
Pict-file of Iron Master Kasterek Brahn, bearing the Chapter Standard of the Ferric Bulls.
- Iron Master Kasterek Brahn, 'the Ealdor': Kasterek Brahn is the oldest space marine in the Ferric Bull's history, having been one of the original Iron Hands who came into the newly founded Ferric Bulls alongside Tamarthor. Although his exact age is unknown, it is known that he served over 6 and a half centuries under the Ferric Bulls, and came to the new chapter with many decades of experience under his belt already, leading to him being one of the most elite battle-brothers the Chapter has ever had. When Tamarthor died, many in the Chapter suggested that he take the position as the new Ferric Lord, however Brahn objected to this, believing that it would be better for Cyneric Tamarthor, the then Commander of the Argent Horns, to step up instead, as he was near-idolised by many of his Volanzenite kinsmen, and knew how they thought far better than Brahn ever would.
Brahn served as Chapter Ancient of the Ferric Bulls for much of his time there, being Tamarthor's personal standard bearer, and going on to serve the same role under Tamarthor's successor, Cyneric Tamarthor. During the Battle of Duamka IV, Brahn would experience the Wrath of the Gorgon first-hand, falling to it in the moment he saw Tamarthor overrun and slain by the Orks. Brahn, overcome with the Wrath cut a path through the Orks to Tamarthor's position, followed by the Iron Guard, and the two other remaining Iron Masters. Brahn would recover from the Wrath in time to recover Tamarthor's body, and is the single reason any of the precious artifacts of Tamarthor remain much as he made them.
- Iron Master Tyroetar Cenouh, 'Exarch of the Gorgon': Tyroetar Cenouh, like his fellow Iron Masters, was seconded to the Ferric Bulls from the venerable Iron Hands. Cenouh had been an Iron Father of the Iron Hands, and had offered to join Tamarthor's young chapter to advise him, taking the tile of the first Forgefather of the Ferric Bulls. It was Cenouh who instituted the roles of the Forgeclerics and High Forgeclerics, and the designations of the Clan-Armouries as according to the ancient lore of the Iron Hands and his own personal design. Tyroetar Cenouh would die in the Defence of Duamka IV, whilst holding the inner wall of Hold Medusa, one of the three Fortress-Worksites on the planet Ironclad, alongside the mustered force of the Chapter Armory. When the battle was over his corpse was found at the great gate to the inner workshops of Hold Medusa, surrounded by slain Orks and fallen Forgeclerics. During his time as Forgefather, Cenouh would also implement the Cult Gorgonis, to reinforce the teachings of Ferrus Mannus, and maintain the respect of the Cult Mechanicus within the Chapter.
- Iron Master Mask Waylaine, 'the Iron of Death': Mask Waylaine was a steadfast member of the Iron Masters who held the role of Chapter Champion for all his time in the Ferric Bulls. Before joining Tamarthor in founding the Chapter, he had served in the Deathwatch, the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Xenos. During that time Waylaine had developed a particular interest in swordplay through his friendship with Brother Signar Richter of the Black Templars.
- Iron Master Gnaeus Calastron:
Chapter Fleet
The fleet of the Ferric Bulls, though of appropriate size for its chapter, lies on the smaller side of fleet-size when it comes to Space Marine fleets.
As of the 42nd Millennium, the fleet of the Ferric Bulls consists of the following vessels:
- 2 Battle Barges: Horn of the Gorgon, and Iron-Storm.
- 6 Strike Cruisers: Brimþyssa, Doomhammer, Dread Unchained, Iron Unending, Wrathful Oath, Wyrdwrought.
- 14 Escort vessels
Notable Vessels
- Horn of the Gorgon (Battle Barge): the current flagship of the Ferric Bulls' forces, the Horn of the Gorgon was discovered by the Forces of the Ferric Bulls early into the 38th Millennium, its restoration was one of the last orders of Tamarthor. Since then the Horn of the the Gorgon has seen great use, and been one of the most valued assets of the Ferric Bulls.
- Iron-Storm (Battle Barge): the second Battle Barge of the Ferric Bulls. The Iron-Storm was badly damaged in the recent offensive within the Gorgyra System.
Chapter Relics
Major Relics
Ferric Lord Heresunu Tamarthor, wielding the Iron-Breaker, and wearing the Bull's Mail.
- The Iron-Breaker: The Iron-Breaker is the large relic hammer typically wielded by the Chapter Master. It has a long history in the Chapter, being the primary weapon of their first chapter master, Tamarthor, who created it before he was chosen to create the Ferric Bulls. It has since been passed from chapter master to chapter master with its current wielder being the current Chapter Master, Ferric Lord Heresunu Tamarthor.
- The Bull's Mail: The Bull's Mail is a set of relic artificer armour traditionally worn by the Chapter Master. Originally made and modified by Tamarthor himself, it has seen service as the armour of many chapter masters in the Ferric Bulls' history. It was designed by Tamarthor to have some aesthetic similarity to the armour worn by elite ancient Volanzenite soldiers and chiefs.
- The Tauric Plate: The Tauric Plate is a set of relic Cataphractii terminator armour typically worn by the Commander of the Argent Horns. It is decorated in a way similar to how many armours of the Ferric Bulls are, featuring furs, chains and cogs.
- Fyrhtubog: The relic power-sword wielded by the Iron-Hero, named 'Dreadblade' in the Volanzenite language, it is a long unornamented blade that was made for Iron Master Mask Waylaine, back when he served as Chapter Champion of the Ferric Bulls. Named 'Dreadblade' by Waylaine, over the millennia its name was translated into the Volanzenite tongue. Fyrhtubog was almost lost and destroyed during the Siege of Gorgyra V, but was recovered by techmarines of the Ferric Bulls after the battle and restored.
- Tractatus de Historia et Cultura Volanzeni (Cultura Volanzeni): The Tractatus de Historia et Cultura Volanzeni, comonly referred to as the Cultura Volanzeni, was a great tome written by the first ferric lord, Tamarthor. The tome details the culture and mythologies of the Volanzenite peoples, with each page being inscribed into iron plates twice, once in High Gothic and once in Common Volanzenic.
- Appendices Cultura Volanzeni: The Appendices Cultura Volanzeni are a series of twelve additional manuscripts scribed in the same manner as the primary Cultura Volanzeni. Each manuscript was written by a Ferric Lord who felt he had something to add to Tamarthor's Cultura Volanzeni. A prime example of this is the 1st of the Appendices Cultura Volanzeni, written by Ferric Lord Cyneric Tamarthor, it addressed the House of Tamarthor, founded from the descendants of Cyneric son of Grimwald. This Appendix included family trees, written histories and conjecture, and began the tradition of the Appendices Cultura Volanzeni. Cyneric would write the first three of the Appendices.
Minor Relics
- The Clan-Swords: The most important of the minor relics, the eight Clan Swords of the Ferric Bulls, are the power-swords wielded by each of Clan-Heroes of the Chapter, including the Hero of the Horns. The Clan swords are: the Hornblade (the Argent Horns), Forsetl (Clan Isirmund), Broga (Clan Mægenael), Banfáh (Clan Dunfȳr), Andsæc (Clan Ystdræf), Egeslic (Clan Bræsæn), Bardand (Clan Guþbor), Hwisprian (Clan Wyndan).
- Hide of Norðcyning: The Hide of the Norðcyning is the great fur pelt of the largest Astrochsen ever found on Volanzen. The Norðcyning was a grand beast, six metres tall, eleven metres long, and nearly four metres wide. It was named Norðcyning, or in the Volanzenite tongue, North-King, for the roaming ground of his herd was so large that it encompassed much of the northern territories of Volanzen. Unfortunately Norðcyning's herd wrought havoc upon the fields of the northern territories, so much so that when time came for a Great Hunt by the Chapter Heroes of the Ferric Bulls, Norðcyning was the prime target. In the following hunt much of Norðcyning's herd was felled, including the great Northern King Himself.
Chapter Appearance
The Ferric Bulls' power armour is of a primarily black colouration, with their helmets, leg armour, and pauldron trims all being painted dark red. 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 Chapter uses modified power armour, designed with theming of the Iron hands, and helmets representing those worn by Volanzenite warriors. Chains are often added to the Armour of the Ferric Bulls, but these have meaning, each length of chain represents a brothers success against subduing the Wrath of the Gorgon, their genetic curse. Chainmail adornments do not represent this however.
Badge worn by The Argent Horns.
Battle-Brothers of The Ferric Bulls often wear grey Astrochsen Pelts or Furs as capes or cloaks, a tradition they have inherited from their ancestors on Volanzen, where warriors would hunt Astrochsen and wear their furs as symbols of strength.
Members of the Argent Horns, the Chapter's veterans company also wear badges upon their armour, depicting the head of a black bull, with two upright silver horns, placed upon a black cog or gear.
Chapter Badge
The Chapter Badge of the Ferric Bulls takes the form of a Bull's head split in two, with the left side being whole, but with cybernetic enhancements, including mechanical tubes and a cybernetic eye, and the right side being the bare skull of a bull. The symbol makes reference to both the Mechanicum, who the Ferric Bulls have good relations with, and the name of the Ferric Bulls himself.
Relations
Allies
| Iron Hands |   |
The Ferric Bull's respect for their progenitors is immense, and despite some of the differences in opinion between the Ferric Bulls and the Iron Hands, the two chapters still would consider themselves close allies. |
| Heralds Angelic |
  |
The alliance between the Heralds Angelic and the Ferric Bulls was born in the Battle of Caldainiel, the first major campaign in the Ferric Bulls' history. After facing the treacherous Phoenixes of Conflagration together, the two Chapter-Masters of the two chapters developed a fast friendship over their mutual dislike of the Crusaders Inexorable and their mutual respect for each others' chapter's skills. From there their alliance would only strengthen, with a large contingent of Heralds Angelic joining the Defense of Duamka IV. |
| Forge World Gobbanos | The closest Forge World to the Ferric Bulls' homeworld of Volanzen, Gobbanos' alliance with the Ferric Bulls began with the joint occupation of Ironclad, the fourth planet of the Duamka system. What started in the 39th millenium as a mutually beneficial agreement made so that both sides could gain resources from the ancient world of Ironclad has, in the millenia that followed, flourished into a close alliance, both militarily and economically, with many of the unique aspects of Ferric Bulls' armour being obtained from Gobbanos. |
Enemies
Feel free to add your own
Notable Quotes
By the Ferric Bulls
Feel free to add your own
- "The Wrath is our curse, and our blessing. Used properly it gives us strength, and rightful fury. Yet at the same time it is the antithesis of our way, for a brother experiencing the Wrath is unable to obey the commands of his superiors, and thus fails the Chapter."
- —Unknown Ferric Bulls Clan-Thegn
About the Ferric Bulls
Feel free to add your own
- "Minds of steel and cogwork, they have; obsessive, singular, uncompromising. I've seen their tactics on the battlefield, and it would be perhaps disrespectful to call it predictable, though it certainly is. It is predictable in the way a machine is predictable, or a cogitator is predictable, following precisely shaped paths and intent to produce a statistically perfected outcome. This is perhaps derivative to reduce them to unfeeling automatons, they are so much more...complex...rich...spiritual, perhaps? But it is in battle where the soul is laid bear, and their soul is one of Iron and Surety. I would fight along side them on any battlefield; who wouldn't want an ally who will do just what you expect - and win - every time? "
- —2nd Company Captain Duas Crenalian, Optimus Legion
Gallery
Chapter Imagery
Chapter Command
Clan-Lords
Other Characters
Miscellaneous
Trivia
- The name Tamarthor used both by the chapter's founder, and the house of Tamarthor on Volanzen finds its roots in Adûnaic, the language of the Numenoreans from Tolkien's writings. The name roughly means Smith's Son, from the roots Tamar, meaning smith, and the suffix -thôr, meaning son.
- The Ferric Bulls, and their homeworld of Volanzen fairly obviously draw many inspirations from the Old English Anglo-Saxons, alongside other general germanic influences.
- The name of the Ferric Bulls' home system, Duamka, finds its origins in Dumac Dwarfking, the last king of the dwemer in the Elder Scrolls universe. There is no good reason for this.
- Similarly, the name for the Ferric Bulls' homeworld, Volanzen, finds its origins in Volendrung, the hammer of the dwemer clan Rourken in the Elder Scrolls Universe.
