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This article, Iron Depurators, is currently under active construction. The author, Arxane Angel, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
The Iron Depurators are an 8th Founding Successor Chapter of the stoic and unforgiving Iron Hands, initially created to punish the blinded and Sectors during the Nova Terra Interregnum. Since their inception, the Iron Depurators have gone to war alongside numerous war machines and behind walls of flame as they carry out their quest to purge the galaxy of its weakness. They are ruthless and unrelenting, their marches fuelled by a hatred for the xenos and heretics that weaken the Imperium with their very existence.
Chapter History
As being descendants of the unrelentling Iron Hands during the 8th Founding, the Iron Depurators are able to trace their origins into the early 35th Millennium, where the Imperium was split asunder into two separate empires. The early history of the chapter has unfortunately been lost into the sands of time, but it is known they partook in many major actions during the Interregnum, including the infamous Moirae Schism.
During the Schism, the chapter came across their future homeworld of Iliaq. There, a branch of the Moirae Cult had spread its influence across the Iliaq System as well as several star systems nearby. When the insane cult took over a world they would sacrifice a half of its 'lower classes' to the Omnissiah while another half would be enslaved and forced into endangered labour which was specifically designed to be as dangerous and torturous as possible.
While usually this would raise alarm in the rest of the Imperium initially none of these actions led to any significant repercussions. Enslaved masses were made to work thrice as much as before, productivity of the system was actually skyrocketing and the upper classes appeared more devout to the Omnissiah than ever. As far as most neighbouring systems were concerned there was no problem and everything happening was an internal issue. Only a few planetary governors and high-ranking clergymen stood up an declared the Cult to be hereteks they were. Seeing that they alone would be unable to deal with such a large threat these people banded together and started sending requests for aid to any forces they could come by. It appears that one of these forces were the Iron Depurators.
Specific details of the campaign that ensued are unknown but most of it had no significant consequences to the Chapter's history in itself. Forces of the Moirae Cult were primarily trained and equipped to effectively suppress civilian population and as such they were completely unprepared to face another military force and even less so legendary Space Marines. In a short and brutal campaign the Iron Depurators landed on each of the corrupted worlds, crushing all military resistance, massacring all members of the cult and then establishing new temporary planetary governments, leaving the rest to the Administratum. As the war raged on the most high-ranking members of the Cult fled to their only realistically defendable stronghold, a bunker complex in the depths of a mining world called Maringard. This did not help them and the complex was successfully captured by the Iron Depurators with only minimal casualties. Unlike on other worlds the leaders were spared from immediate execution, only to be given an even worse end. By the Chapter Master's decision they were sent to Maringard's most dangerous mines in the North-East where they all perished within the fist months of their sentence, echoing the fate they had given to their own victims.
After the campaign the Iron Depurators established a relentless purge of the planet before leaving to continue their crusade against the hereteks. After several decades and the end of the Moirae Schism, Chapter Master Varrok Hexad decided to put an end to their crusade and start seeking a new homeworld. After several years of consideration it was concluded that Iliaq would serve Chapter the best and a request was sent to the High Lords of Terra for ownership over the world, which was granted. An underground fortress monastery was built, inspired by the original bunker complex on Maringard, though this one was made to be deeper and larger and would not fall to enemies so easily. This was the beginning of the modern Iron Depurators.
When the chapter was reinforced with the newly revealed Primaris Space Marine in the wake of the events of the 13th Black Crusade and the subsequent resurrection of Roboute Guilliman, these newly inducted Battle-Brothers would continue to compliantly follow the ways of their fellow older brethren, maintaining their brutality and coarse language as their culture.
Notable Campaigns
- Moirae Schism (099.M35) - After the beginning of the Moirae Schism and the follow-up conflict between the Adeptus Mechanicus orthodox and radical forces, the Iron Depurators sent several Iron Divisions to assist in the purification of the recalcitrant forge world alongside other allied forces. Hell rained from above where non-stop bombardment hailed from. Below, the screams of the populace could be heard over the fleet-wide vox, damning the Imperium for their betrayal. Even after the planet was reduced to ash, the Moirae cult continued to spread further. With new commands from the Fabricator-General of Mars and the tactic permission granted to the Chapter by the High Lords of Terra, the Depurators launched a murderous campaign against the hereteks, slaying any believer in such a twisted interpretation of the Omnissiah.
Chapter Home World
The homeworld of the Depurators is known as Iliaq, a feudal world which has become an accurate reflection of the chapter's mentality. Ravaged by the events of the a massive conflict that occurred during the Nova Terra Interregnum, the once lush world has been turned into a blasted and volcanic hellscape, where the civilian populace is constantly on the move to survive. The planet is dotted with scars from the conflict and has been transformed into a world covered in clouds of ash, with temperatures rising to extreme levels around the pockets of volcanoes that are scattered across the planet.
Using what remained after the battle, they have constructed massive cities that travel through the flatland areas of Iliaq, cities which consume each other to gather resources and grow stronger. With this constant struggle for resources and survival, the people of Iliaq have become rugged and unforgiving, purging themselves of any who display weakness or inability to contribute to survival.
Fortress-Monastery
Chapter Organisation
Officer Ranks
- Lord Ferranus (Chapter Master)
- Division Commander (Captain)
- Division Leader (Lieutenant)
Specialist Ranks
Line Ranks
Specialist Units and Formations
Order of Battle
Headquarters
Companies
Chapter Beliefs
The Iron Depurators despise weakness of any kind, even among themselves. They seek to cleanse the galaxy of its weakness, which manifests itself as the xenos and heretics that obstruct the Imperium from achieving its manifest destiny. Their beliefs extend to that of their own flesh, which they will quickly replace when it proves to fail them. Knowing that one has failed and shown weakness is an immense shame to any Iron Depurators, and they will quickly replace their weakness with steel or even outcast themselves, serving penance for their failure.
Their appreciation for technology as a replacement for weakness and view of it as infallible has brought them in close relations with the Adeptus Mechanicus. They will quickly come to aid and will jump to assist the Mechanicus in purging whatever weakness that obstructs their paths. Their relationship has only made the Depurators more unrelenting and close-minded, their fighting becoming more and more devastating to their enemy and the worlds they liberate as they use the gifts of the Mechanicus to completely obliterate any form of weakness in their path.
Gene-Seed
The gene-seed of the Iron Depurators descends from the line of Ferrus Manus, carrying with it an utter hatred and extreme reaction to weakness, especially in the form of flesh and bone. This gene-seed does possess an imperfection and flaw, one that is often the cause of many Depurators replacing parts of their face and body to purge themselves of. Their Betcher's Gland has mutated, and they have lost the ability to control it. Instead of becoming dormant, they now actively produce acidic saliva, which causes them to exist in a state of pain until it is replaced.
Primarch's Curse: Iron over Flesh
When the Chapter's genetic curse manifests itself in an affected Battle-Brother, it comes on in three stages:
- Stage 1 - A Disdain for Flesh: The Battle-Brother perceives his own flesh as a hindrance. Scarring or punishing the biological portions of his body is the only way to soothe his anger.
- Stage 2 - Cold Fury: The ruthlessness of the Iron Depurators manifests more strongly in the Battle-Brother, making him prone to aggression. The Battle-Brother must summon forth all his considerable willpower when confronted by an enemy or by something he considers "weak;" failure means that the Battle-Brother's fury is released in some way, most likely causing a feud, confrontation, or escalating into open violence.
- Stage 3 - Zero Tolerance: All Iron Depurators abhor weakness, but the Battle-Brother has taken this attitude to an extreme. The Battle-Brother will seek to remove any perceived source of weakness, to the point of refusing to fight alongside allied forces such as the Astra Militarum - in extreme cases, even entering into open conflict with an allied but mortal force.
Deathwatch Service
The Iron Depurators have been committing Battle-Brothers to the Deathwatch for millennia. In most cases however, the Space Marine has stood but a single vigil before returning to his parent Chapter. It is whispered by some that the Chapter only ever allows its brethren to stand the Long Watch if and when it suits them.
Combat Doctrine
The Iron Depurators are specialists in armored assaults, using the chapter's vehicles to smash through the defenses of their foe and safely transport the warriors of the chapter into the fight. They will often begin their assault with heavy artillery from Whirlwind tanks or Helios-pattern Land Raiders, bombarding the enemy both as a tool to weaken the foe and an aggressive announcement of their arrival. Following that, armored columns will begin their approach, transports rolling towards their foe as tanks and air support blow apart the enemy lines.
Once the enemy's weakness has been exposed and exploited, the transports while take point, arriving at preset coordinates and deploying the warriors waiting within. Once on the field, the Depurators will utilize copious amounts of heavy and special weaponry, utterly destroying their foe with ruthless firepower.
Notable Iron Depurators
Chapter Fleet
- Steel Hussar (Legatus-Class Battle Barge)
- Purgatory's Kingdom (Mortis-Rex-Class Battle Barge)
- Cognatus Damnatus (Hades-Class Line Cruiser)
Chapter Relics
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
The Iron Depurators adorn onyx-black armour, reflecting their parent chapter's stoic and unforgiving personality, as well to echo their proud lineage. Dark Magenta is the secondary colour of the Iron Depurators and is found on an Astartes' shoulder pads, helmet and arms. The Magenta is to exemplify the chapter and their sibling chapters' bond between flesh and machine, mixing blood and oil together, forming a Dark Magenta hued colour. Finally, the accent colour of the Iron Depurators is Gold, which is used on company markings and honour symbols. Additionally, the Iron Depurators' eye lenses are typically a bright cyan, both intimidating yet calming compared to the red of other chapters.
Chapter Badge
The Iron Depurators' chapter badge is a flame surrounded by a large cog.
Relations
Allies
Strained/Conflicted
Enemies
Notable Quotes
By the Iron Depurators
About the Iron Depurators
| 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 • |
Gallery