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"The art of war is a pursuit of vital importance to matters of our Imperium. For it is war that that defends our borders from those who turned from the light of the Emperor. War that drives back the Xenos savages, war that cleanses the stars of the foulborn warpkind, and war in which an Astartes is ascendant. In war we may practice our grim art of death, let our dao be the brushes we wield and blood be our ink, as the precise strokes we write upon our enemies carve through those who would bring ruin upon the Khagans worlds, we shall mark our enemies with our calligraphy of blades. Strike in the way of the Primarchs writ itself. our art made as our strokes intertwine and support each other, we dictate the battlefield as it yields to us. For we apply pressure and force to our enemies like a brush dictates the flow of its ink. But any art must have discipline and strength, both within and without, the lack of such discipline would make us beasts, like the bloodhounds of Angron. nothing more than honourless weapons awaiting their death. For only in death may our duty end, and only in death may we rise to the dragons."
—1st Zhāichāo: Fadian Zhu
The Jade Knives are a Loyalist Successor Chapter created from the lineage of the proud and noble warrior, PrimarchJaghatai Khan of the wild and savage First Founding White Scars. This Chapter was created as one of several newly incepted Chapters during the 26th Founding in 738.M41. The Jade Knives were created to stand as a bulwark against the new xenos presence in the Eastern Fringe of the Ultima Segmentum - the ever-expanding Tau Empire.
Following the death of their first chapter master, the Chapter was torn in two, which resulted in an internecine conflict that nearly saw the Chapter destroyed before it had barely been able to make its mark in the annals of Imperial history. This destructive conflict resulted in the Chapter being torn in two, due to their divergent believes and differences in overall beliefs. This resulted in the formation of a Successor Chapter - the Jade Paladins. Despite this troubled era, the Jade Knives rose from the ashes of their near-destruction, and have continued to prove themselves as stalwart and dedicated defenders of the Imperium.
The Jade Knives are a 26th Founding Chapter of loyalist Adeptus Astartes, descended from the genetic lineage of Primarch Jaghatai Khan and the White Scars. Created as a reactionary measure to the alien presence in the eastern fringes of Segmentum Ultima that is the Tau Empire. The chapter was intended to be a defensive measure against the Tau Empire, executed to be at full strength and combat effectiveness by the end of the crusade, and to therefore be the First line of defence against the Tau counterattack after the Damocles Gulf Crusade.
however with members of the chapter being ready ahead of schedule, a decision was made to "rush" the founding so they may participate in the offensive stages of the war. this resulted in the chapter being less hypno-indoctrinated and having common disciplinary issues when compared to other chapters as well as being marginally understrength with only numbering in the 900s, once they were deployed.
Damocles Gulf Crusade
During the Damocles Gulf Crusade, the Jade Knives would be deployed alongside several Astra Militarum regiments and other Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes to attack vital Tau Sept worlds, the most notable being the Tau Sept homeworld of Dal'yth. Upon Dal'yth Chapter Master Jalair Sakhat would be mortally wounded by a Riptide pattern xenos walker. His protege, Captain Tarkhut, would advance to succeed him.
The Sundering
The chapter would be torn in two after the death of their Chapter Master Jalair Sakhat, with the First Captain and Sakhat's protege Tarkhut taking reigns as a leader, retreating to his inner sanctum. For days, returning with a script known as the Fadian Zhu, a huge series of overwhelmingly radical reforms to the chapter's structure and battle doctrines, with such tenets as the abolishment of dreadnoughts and a byzantine and complex set of honour codes. The attempts to implement this would lead to a brutal civil war known as 'The Sundering', as secessionists led by Captain Zhelan Dai, broke away, after sabotaging the armouries and stealing much of the Chapter's heavy vehicles, terminator suits, and devastator equipment. This internecine conflict would end in a stalemate, only ending when the Jade Paladins were officially reclassified as their own chapter.
The Age of Fire
Devastated from The Sundering's grinding death rate, the Jade Knives would find themselves in peril once more as Zhongqian was attacked by Tau forces, unable to stop them alone, their distress beacon would be answered by the Dragons Sanguine and Rectifiers of Justice chapters, fei would use this immenent threat to push reforms, arguing they would ensure the chapters surival
after Feis instrumental role in the sundering war, and subsequent crisis, it was little suprise to anybody when the tribunal voted to give him the rank of Jiangjun. ironically the change from the previous system of nominatong a sucessor to elective succcesion was one outlined by the fadian zhu.
upon his elevation to the rank of jiangjun, fei would begin sweeping reforms using the immenent threat as motive, caliming the chapter isked desrtuction if it was to not accept and fight with all strength available to it. such as the former abolishment of dreadnoughts being lifted however this would not recreate the role of dreadnoughts as honoured warriors prevalent in other chaptersfei had much... darker aspirations fei would take the long dormant shells of empty dreadnoughts, and use them to ensure discipline for to the jade knvies, a dreadnought was spiritual and mental torment, forced into an enclosed shell, and constrained to the shackles of the suit. in all cases, death was preferred to internment. fei knew this well those who had failed the chapter, and disgraced them beyond any measure of redemption wold not be granted the release of death instead they would be interred into a dreadnought, forced to live a half life of screaming physical and spiritiual agony, to be forgotten and discarded, without respect or reverence.
Chapter Homeworld
Departmento Cartgraphicae pict-file of Zhongqian, Chapter home world of the Jade Knives.
Compared to the other planets in the system, Zhongqian is a comparatively giant planet, with a history dating back to the Great Crusade, it would be a stiff resistor of early attempts to be integrated into the Imperium, due to the heavily aquatic landscape of the southern hemisphere and large variety of hostile apex predators, like the Zhonqian dragon and Azure Serpent. With the failures of the Imperial Army to secure it, the task would fall to four legions to pacify it; the White Scars, World Eaters, Raven Guard and Death Guard. Formerly an honour world of the White Scars, chosen to become a chapter world in preparation for the Damocles Crusade.
Zhongqian is considered by many to only be permanently habitable in the areas closer to the equator due to the fact its poles freeze over bringing harsh and devastating cold climates to the north and south of the planet.
The human population ranges from modern cities, in the equator, to industrial kingdoms, and roving steppe tribes in the plains. The tribes of the world emigrate to the equator every 5.3 Terran years often led by chapter scouts, as is a tradition when the poles freeze. This marks the start of every new year
Its heaviest density of permanent population is located in the equator. Nomadic Tribes people and Feudal Emperors in the north rule over mountains and valley passes however with decreasing distance to to the equator, the tech level is shown to increase slowly. from tribes living an agrarian lifestyle in the north pole, to settled empires south of the plains in the far north, to life on the outskirts of the equator, from sector frontiers to he equator itself which is a massive hivesprawl stretching around the entire planet that
The chapters Literati documenter serfs classify the northern hemisphere into the following classifications:
The North Steppes - The most remote area of Zhongqian, this area is populated by various nomadic tribes of a feudal tech level, as a result the local population is mainly occupied with its own inter tribal wars, which has prevented them from doing much more than having various dynasties rise and fall amongst each other with little to no impact on the wider planet, although some tribes are known to be allied or even directly controlled by the emperors of the southern dynasties.
The Great Kingdoms - Comprising a large area in the north, this area has a wide range of geographical biomes, from mountain ranges to temperate valleys and desert, as a result the region is split into innumerable kings sworn to various great dynasties who empires rule vast swathes of land. most feudal kings have only the technology to create crossbows and other non explosive weapons for the most part. with the empires they swear fealty to possessing the ability to make early black powder weapons like fire lances and crude artillery and using these in combination with polearms to create bizarre but effective "gunglaives" capable of delivering percussive explosions from barrels attached to the blade with the dominant qo dynasty wielding crude las weapons such as the laslocks amongst the Emperor's personal guard, how they acquired these is unknown, but many theories exist ranging from a stolen shipment of guard weapons, a gift from the Chogorian dynasty of the same name, or a strategic decision by the white scars in the days of it being an honour world, to ensure a ruling power could maintain their dominance
Outer Equator - Technically part of the central cities, these are the first areas to not possess a feudal tech level, operating at a somewhat modern democracy comparable to sector frontiers outposts, there is no discernible border where these end an the inner equator cities start, due to the slow advancement of technology the closer to the equator here.
Inner Cities - The inner cities are less technologically advanced than the Core cities, but for many people, the less chaotic lives of the population here make migration from the core to the inner cities a desirable option.
Core Cities - A vast cramped hivesprawl acting as a trading hub between the north and south. the jade knives fortress-monastery Tianshang Baolei is situated here upon a huge mountain protruding above the city spires.
The South - The southern hemisphere of the planet is vastly different. comprising of only one biome, a vast ocean permeated my a myriad of islands and peninsulas.
Chapter Recruitment
Scouts ride from the fortress monastery upon the equator to bring the tribes of the north into the central areas of the planet during the times the poles freeze, not only for tradition but to assess potential inductees, a scout sergeant being send to lead a tribe almost guaranteed they are of very high importance to the chapter for multiple men worthy of induction amongst the core cities, highly educated citizens can be chosen to act as the chapters mortal staff and record keepers. in addition many noble Dynasties of the settled kingdoms are known for their tradition of sending children south to join the chapter. or to be trained as literati serfs.
The Sundering - The paladins don't like the Fadian Zhu. A brutal civil war ensues, the frontlines are drawn as ships fall to either side, distrust is rampant among both sides, and with lacking leadership amongst the scattered knives the paladins are able to coordinate the first battles to their advantage.
Battle for Zhongqian - The forces of Tau Septs Va'nu and Xe'Voh strike against the knives homeworld of Zhongqian, with the chapter still reeling from the sundering, with] many of its forces displaced, the chapter is made to call aid in the form of the Rectifiers of Justice and Dragons Sanguine Chapters who alongside the Xi'anese 42nd, 442nd and 88th regiments of Astra Militarum would drive the tau back out of the planet. the first of many attacks against the world, setting a precedent for the world as a thorn in the side of the T'au Empire for years to come.
A Clash of Claws - Zhuhou Zhelecao would engage a brutal war of blunt force against the Chaos forces of the word bearers, upon the world of Amonicaeus and wider sector, the chaos forces would be routed from their world after the captain was able to lure the vanguard of heretic forces into a trap, utilising local civilian population suspected of harbouring heresy as bait, believing the vain apostle commander of the force to contact them personally, and descending upon the group alone. the cultists would soon become embroiled in a maelstrom of viscera and gore, as they threw themselves against the duelling blades of the captains power axe, Scaleclaw and the Dark Apostle's Lightning claw, Divine Talon. Upon his victory, Zhelecao would take the talon of his enemy as a personal piece of wargear.
Battle of the Broken Stars - The 8th Company of Zhuhou Zhelcao are ambushed in a warp nebula, by a force of Death Guard utilising the powers of their Sorcerors as psychic concealers, allowing them to hunt within the warp fissure undetected. Zhelecao would be killed after Blightlord Terminators emerged, hidden in the pustule growths of the deck. cutting down the captains guard before turning to him and the duelling Contagion Lord, Pylorus Plaguescryer. The Nurglites would emerge victorious, despite heavy losses and the destruction of the psychic technology the Death Guard had created, the Chaos lord would escape, leaving his ship and crew stranded in the rapidly emerging warp storm.
Balten Crusade - A meeting of the will breakers against the forces of Khagor the warlord, former son of Horus and his Lupercii. The Rongyu are formed after the shouru simply are shown to be inadequate as guards against veterans of the long war. Shourus role is upheaved
Plague Wars - the Primaris warriors of the Jade Knives would be sent south upon their arrival to the chapter, lead by Zhuhou Baihu and the fifth brotherhood, instead of directly defending the planets of Ultramar alongside the Ultramarines they would use the teachings of the khagan to counter the death guard, striking from outskirts and stalking death guard ships, luring the glory-seeking sons of Mortarion into engagements where they were outmaneuvered and crippled. this lightning war culminated in the purging of the Fortissimus.
After Action Report- The purging of the FortissimusReported By- Sitan Li, head literati serf
Location: Subsector 24- north Ultramar
Resistance Encountered:
Hostile machine spirits and automated ship defences,
Daemons of Nurgle, Corrupted Gellar field serving as a warp conduit.
Losses: None
Full Summary: Recon Group Khagan's Fist identified barbarosi distress signal at 0300, cruiser Josan sent to reconnoitre.
Visual contact confirmed that the signal emitted from the uncorrupted death guard derelict
cruiser relentless, contained in the artificial gravity well of the fractured
plaguecraft fortissimus.
Visual indicated the larger plagueship was attempting a corruption of the cruiser, by pinning
in place with "tentacles" and attempting amalgamation through the growth of fleshy tissue to
seal the hulls together. cruiser relentless observed to have resistance to the fleshy
growths attempting to envelop it.
Intercessor squads Geom and Byeongae boarded from the dorsal loading bay, chang and hwasal
deployed alongside squad taepung to take the bridge of the relentless
Due to its abnormal resistance, reiver squads Kal and Dangeom deployed to the relentless to i
identify the possibility of non-corrupted wargear and extract any potential specimens.
Upon entering they would find automated weaponry, IFF regarded them as "friendly" despite
primaris identifiers unknown to heresy era technology.
Turrets were noted to fire on stray lesser daemons of nurgle, and automated systems would
close and open doors to lead the the teams to converge on one point.
The prevalent theory remains the machine spirit of the ship was benevolent to the marines, and
led them towards the ships reliquary.
Upon finding the reliquary, squad kal confirmed the presence of 17 Cataphractii suits of
tactical dreadnought armour, 35 Mark III suits of power armour, and assorted small arms
bolters. the vault containing these items was hermetically sealed by maglocks, with dataslates
confirming it was unable to be opened while under prolonged attack to prevent potential
attackers from being able to access the weaponry, again showing the ship did not regarded the
Primaris as invaders.
Squads Gyom and Byeongae encounter heavy resistance increasing as they approached the Gellar
field generator. All groups would then redeploy receiving intel from the Reiver squad about
the armoury. advancing on the engine bay to overload the ship, they would instead find a warp
portal consuming the generator, with fleshy veins pulsating across the ships hull and several
Gellarpox Mutants in the Gellar field bay. Summarily destroyed by massed bolt fire and krak
grenades. upon its the destruction the veins were observed to recede and shrink away, in
conjunction the tendrils pinning the ships together faded away, and the flesh growths were
observed to liquefy and fade away, separating the two ships.
Recovered armoury contents were as described in the armoury with two items unaccounted for in the dataslate: Sicaran battle tank.
Vigilus-The Jade Knives would be relatively early to join the Vigilus conflict, not out of any duty of loyalty or sense of strategic importance, indeed the planet was a far reach from the eastern fringes of the chapters homeworld, far from their usual area of operations. Instead they were driven to Vigilus by simple vengeance, and an unavoidable call for blood. The hunter company of Zhuhou Zuolin dedicated itself to the eradication of those who had stained the honour of the chapter, enemies who had survived the wrath of the chapter, and those who had laid its champions low with their blades. In this, the company had but a single goal, to rend the skull from the foul Lord of Contagion Pylorus Plaguescryer, who had bested the former captain of the 8th Company. Captain Zhelecao, the Lord of Dancing Blades.
The Shadow over Devotio
Chapter Organisation
Chapter Command
The Jade Knives are known to substitute standard Codex naming conventions with words of approximate meanings. Although not to the extent of some chapters, such as the Vylka Fenryka. These deviations are still of note, and are as follows:
Officer Ranks
Jiangjun - Chapter Master.
Zhuhou - Captain.
Specialist Ranks
Stormwarden - Librarian
Ghost Warrior - Dreadnought
Line Ranks
Specialist Formations
Shouru-Marines - Shouru-Marines who have fallen lax of the strict honour rules of the Fadian Zu. Sentenced to serve in this dishonoured company until they redeem themselves through heroic actions. Usually attached to captains or deployed as kill teams on high risk operations. Currently led by Catain Yama.
Rongyu- Astartes who have never fallen lax of the honour code of the Fadian Zu. Led by Qi Tianshi, they formed the guard of the current Jiangjun after the defeat of the Shouru at the First Battle of the Balten Crusade. During the reign of Jian Fei, the rongyu would be an elite force of jump pack infantry, equipped with storm bolters and power blades, however with his death to a chaos lord during the battle for Xian, they would be retired in this iteration. Feis' successor would restructure the Rongyu as an elite corps of Primaris veterans, functioning more as a personal company of the Chapter Master than the elite shock troops of the previous iteration, more fitting of Sejong's reputation as a more cold and calculating commander.
Sworn Squads- Every captain is given the honour of assigning men in his company to his favoured squad, in doing so they become members of his command retinue and sage advisors to him. shedding the livery of the chapter upon their left pauldron and in its place taking the honoured sigil of their captain. alongside the oath they swear to their captain, this marks them as sworn brothers to their captain.
"We come together as warriors. From this day forward, we shall join forces for a common purpose: to save the troubled and to aid the endangered. We shall avenge the emperor above, and serve the citizenry below. We seek not to be born on the same day, in the same month and in the same year. We merely hope to die on the same day as one blood.""
— Unknown Battle-Brother of a Sworn Squad
Order of Battle
Headquarters
Companies
The chapter deploys four specialist companies as laid out in the Fadian Zu. Each is named for a different beast of Zhongxianese mythology and is known for their specialisation in a specific battle doctrine:
these specialist companies comprise the First, Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth companies
01 -Jiaolong: Scaled Dragons
Led by Captain Tarkhut
The Jiaolong are the Terminator elite of the company, modelled after the legend of the Scaled Dragon and its reputation of near invulnerability, the company is also known among the chapter as the personal guard of former Jiangjun Tarkhut. In the closing days of the sundering, as Jiangjun Fei deposed Tarkhut. He would give him the position of 1st captain, and allow him to choose his personal veterans to serve as the chapters Terminator elite. As a result there are open rumours about the Jiaolong as being shadowy fanatics of Tarkhut, aloof and dour when not in battle and zealous in their devotion to the Fadian Zhu.
Veteran Sergeant Huang Gai, 1st Squad, Jiaolong
02 -Brotherhood Of The Tempest
(Fire Support)
The second company is known for specialising in the role of dedicated ranged firepower. somewhat an anomaly among the hotheaded and assault minded companies of their brothers, this is exemplified in their captain Zhang Yi, dour and humourless, his gunlines of Intercessors, Hellblasters and Devastators cutting swathes through advancing hordes, as their brothers from other companies chearge forward into their wounded foes. the Humourless reputation of their captain however does not advance to his battle brothers, despite their fondness for war at range, they retain the love for war albeit not quite so brash.
The company naturally holds many exemplar Dragontamers, capable of mastering the zen like battlefield focus that allows such pinpoint accuracy even with the heaviest weapons.
Devastator Sergeant Zhoufang, 2st Squad, 2nd Company. The white collar denotes him as a veteran of the Sundering.
03 -Brotherhood of the Falcon
(Hunter Company)
Led by Captain Zuolin
the third focus on hunting enemies of the chapter, which could be enemy commanders, or enemies who have simply offended the chapter with the death of a major figure, or humiliated them in battle. As a result they have formed a unique culture of competition. with battle brothers amongst squads competing for the biggest kills.
This is exemplified in the circle of blades, Captain Zuolin's personal veterans and advisors. who take no hesitation in battling a towering Tyranid bioform and and seeking to claim it as their victory.
Their Captain's bike is a perfect example of the chapters unique culture. Named as Purple Hare, it gained this name due to its reputation of Zuolin lashing Tyranid heads to the frame of the bike, covering its jade livery in a deep purple ichor. When asked why he chose to do this by his fellow captains, he simply replied "..because it attracts more Tyranids to fight me"
They are unique amongst companies in that they do not make their record banners from the standard vellum and parchment. Instead from the hide of their most recent kills, if the enemy cannot be skinned, such as Necrons or Tyranids, the characters are scored on their carapace, mimicking a practice on their homeworld of older forms of characters being carved on animal bones.
04 -Brotherhood of the Dragon
(Homeworld Defence)
Led by Captain Shaoxue
05 -Brotherhood of lightning
(Fast Attack)
06 -Brotherhood of the claw
(Close Support)
07-Yinglong: Winged Dragons
(Fast Attack Elites)
08-Qiulong: Horned Dragons
(Reserve close support)
09- Brotherhood of the Skies:
(Reserve fire support)
10-Chilong: Hornless Dragons
(Scouts) led by Captain Chen Long
An Infiltrator sergeant of the Chilong
11-Shouru
12-Rongyu
Combat Doctrine
The Jade Knives are known to eschew the traditional fast attack doctrine familiar to the sons of Jaghatai, instead preferring to attack in melee and close assault formations. supported by emplaced heavy firepower however, the chapter is known for their discipline and their grace in close combat, with the martial arts of the chapter involving a fluidity and grace uncommon among Astartes.
Chapter Gene-Seed
The gene-seed of the Jade Knives is documented to be stable and without corruption or mutation.
There is however, one huge aberrant in their otherwise perfect record. and that is the gene-seed of their Successor Chapter, the Jade Paladins being unstable to the point of destruction, naturally due to the unique relationship between the chapters and their functionally identical gene-seed. this has put great fears into the Jade Knives that they may suffer the same fate, and has even prompted the idea of reforging ties with the Jade Paladins, in the hop their research could fix the issue did it ever emerge in the Jade Knives.
In addition, the gene-seed seems to have inherited the savagery of their primogenitors
Despite the teachings of the Fadian Zhu, the constant threat of demotion to the Shouru, or the chilling concept of becoming a ghost warrior it is still common for unrest to emerge between fellow squad members, the aggressive and hot headed nature of the Jade Knives being one of the few constants among the Knives very different company cultures.
In addition to this, there have been several instances where Jade Knives have bloodily and recklessly gone beyond mere duty in their battle fury, such as the ongoing quest of Zhuhou Zuolin and his obsession with taking the heads of tyranid bioforms and mounting them on his bike, simply to attract more of the beasts to duel against them regardless of the risk it possesses to his brotherhood. Whether such incidents are as a result of some inherent flaw in the Jade Knives' genetic material or simply the legacy of the Primarch are unknown
Primarch's Curse: Dragonfire /Dragontaming
It is unknown if the savagery of the jade knives came originally from Jaghatai Khan, or from the wild and fierce people of Zhongqian themselves, but whatever the cause, there is a ferocity within their hearts and their blood that grants them great power, but which also threatens to consume their logic and reason.
The Jade Knives are taught from the Fadian Zhu to be watchful for this savagery, and are taught to embrace one of two spiritual disciplines to master their agresssive tendency
The two disciplines are known as "dragonfire" and "dragontaming" its a personal choice which a neophyte embraces, but its not something a neophyte can switch, once its begun, without a great effort at their core, dragonfire deals with the savagery by encouraging it, to always be that step more aggressive, and loud, but to channel it into ways that are constructive , and not detrimental. To use their aggressive and boisterous attitude in everything but to refine their actions into only what is suitable at the time, to solve a dispute by duelling, to always be heard in your actions, to never hesitate, be it in encouraging another, or in putting forth your own idea.
Taming the dragon, is the exact opposite, almost repressing that aggressive instinct, to enter a state of near supernatural measured calm, to innately master the aggressive impulses within yourself, and learning to calm and tame them, until you can block it almost entirely out, until you can only feel the drive to sate it, and it no longer feel compelled into aggressive actions, in this zen state, every successful kill feeds the instinct, pushing the marine to perform better with their next. almost like periodic hits from combat stimms, compared to the near overdose of power Dragonfire briefly gives when unleashed on the battlefield.
A meeting of those who embrace Dragonfire is likely to be like an argument between political rivals, as each one throws themselves into discussion and attempts to tear apart the plans and ideas of each other with the idea that if it still holds up after aggressive examination, the plan is good. While a meeting of those who embrace taming the dragon is more like entering a hall of scholars, instead of picking at every element of a plan, they reserve criticism on plans for deeply thought out components, offering alternate stratagems from their vast knowledge of similar cases, either from experience or study of battle reports
Chapter Beliefs
a core spiritual belief in the chapter is the concept of the four dragons of Zhongqian, four mythical beasts who gifted civilisation upon the world, each one a powerful being that existed in the age of myth. before the planet was integrated into the Imperium
The Scaled dragon was bone white, with emerald clad armoured scales. no mortal weapons could pierce its mighty armour. its multiple tails scored across the lands of the planet, each one wrought upon the world a different death.
The winged was fastest and savagest, like its brother its skin was white, running red streaks down its body, with power unimaginable.
The horned dragon was once again white skinned, with scales blue and red, with the greatest anger, and ferocity, levelling whole cities with its claws.
Finally. The hornless was different, for it bore no white skin lite ots three brothers. instead its hide was ebon as night. Black skinned and near invisible in nights air. only able to be seen through its black scales flashing red in combat. unlike its brothers, the Hornless had the ability to strike like no others, to rise from the unknown, to whisper in shadow"
The Firstborn amongst the Jade Knives are also notable for their variant views on Dreadnoughts, Which are regarded as heretical by some, most notably Rhe Jade Paladins. However to other sons of the Khagan, their attitude is more widely understood if not appreciated.
To the Jade Knives, to be interred in a dreadnought is not an honour, for it means constriction and tortre on a physical and spiritual level, to have ones body torn away and their soul encased in a shrieking metal shell, eternally constricted and pained, more akin to torture than honoured preservation.
This is not alone suspect of heresy. It is noted to be near identical to the view of their Primogenitor chapter, the White Scars.
These heretical allegations would begin after Dreadnoughts were be banned in the chapter by degree of Tarkhut, and then reinstated by Fei. These reinstated Dreadnought Sarcophagi would not be used to house veterans of the chapter, but to deal with the great lack of discipline in the chapter and strike fear into those who opposed him, many of the chapter hating him as zealots of Tarkhuts adages, who he had deposed. Fei ordered that any marine who failed the chapter would be put into a repentance company called the Shouru, to undertake the most dangerous missions, and be redeemed in victory. if they repeatedly failed in their duties, showed a lack of restraint and discipline deemed as un-fixable by the chaplaincy, or committed such a grave sin that redemption was considered impossible. then they would be forcibly interred into a dreadnought, to suffer eternal until they could be released by death. As a result, jade Knive dreadnoughts are incredibly rare but unimaginably destructive, as they carve bloody paths through their foes, wishing for death in a pain fueled rage of dishonour and near suicidal rage.
This horrific practice has naturally drawn the ire of many, frequently compared with the Hellbrites of Chaos warbands
The Primaris themselves have no issue with dreadnoughts, using Redemptors for their honoured dead.
However the Primaris are still strict adherents to the Fadian Zhu, even being encouraged to challenge it by Sejong.
As a result, the Redemptor dreadnoughts are not quite the preserved honoured dead in the way they are in other chapters.
To be interred in a Redemptor marks you as being a figure of such renown and such a damaging force, that you are reborn into the mortal world, effectively a phantom of the form you once had, but also a fighter of great martial renown and fury, worthy of your final chance for glory and destruction
Hence why they are called "ghost warriors". A ghost of their physical body., like a ghost, it is in the physical world, but not entirely. And a mighty fighter worthy of cheating death.
Redemptors are honoured, but their honour is in being granted the ability for a final set of battles.
They know their time in the chassis is limited, and as a result are dedicated hunters for tough threats, like tanks or terminators.
Deathwatch Service
Captain Zhang Yi - Sent to Deathwatch after betraying the Chapter during the Sundering.
Gunnery Recruit Hwarang - Sent to Deathwatch.
Notable Members
Honoured Dreadnought Jalair Sakhat - Jalair was the first chapter master of the Jade Knives and a distinguished soldier of the White Scars. A wise and still character, he was well suited to the role of Chapter Master as a sage advisor. Tutoring his Captains under indirect mentorship. He is currently interred in a dreadnought after his near death destroying a Tau battlesuit on Dalyth and serves as an advisor to the tenth company, sacrificing his honoured death to continue his training and mentorship of new recruits.
First Zhuhou Tarkhut - Tarkhut is a former Chapter Master, he would be under the tutelage of Jalair and groomed for command as his successor. After Jalair was interred, Tarkhut was horrified at the form his friend and mentor now took, growing to despise the metal shell he occupied. Soon he would write the infamous tome known as the Fadian Zhu, with such tenets as the abolishment of all dreadnoughts in the chapter and creation of a penal company known as the shouru where men would atone for their breaches of these codes. he would command the knives during the sundering and his blunt tactics would prove effective but costly, responsible for the grinding death rate that characterised the war. he would be forced to step down by a coalition of Veteran Sergeant Jian Fei, Various Commanders, and Captains. Consequently being demoted to command of the massively diminished first company.
Jiangjun Jian Fei - Chapter Master.
Jian Fei,Jiangjun
Jian Fei is the current Chapter Master of the Jade Knives and the most divisive due to his beliefs being held as radical by all (and borderline heretical by some) within the chapter, due to his frequent attempts to rewrite the chapter's manuscript of honour codes, tactics, and philosophy. Penned by his predecessor, former Chapter Master, now First Captain Tarkhut. Formerly known as Jian Luo, Fei was an assault marine during the damocles war, and even then, ambitious and rebellious, he would advance to sergeant, after the death of his squad leader during the sundering, as a sergeant he would gain great respect among his peers for his use of unconventional tactics and a willingness to sell his own life for the chapter, however he would also become vehementy despised by those who sought to devote themselves to the fadian zhu, as he flagrantly broke its honour codes multiple times, and would actively challenge and undermine tarkhut. He woud be widely regarded as equal to the captains and veterans among those opposed to the fadian zhu, and seen as perhaps worse than the secessionist traitors of the jade paladins that the knives fought to many who were loyal to tarkhut. upon the end of the sundering, JIan ascended to the rank of captian. this rapid advancement was bolstered by his unnatural skill in bladecraft, his reputation amongst anti tarkhut members of the chapter, and the simple fact that many of the chapters higheer ranks had been killed or grievously wounded in the war. he would change his name to Fei, his new name meaning "flying blade" referencing a fighting style he devised noticeably, not a fighting style laid out in the fadian zhu, making his own name an act of defiance knowing that the chapter master would have to address him by it upon his coronation to captain, forcing Tarkhut to give legitimacy to his deviance, simply by uttering his name
Yi Sejong (courtesy name Lichezhong)- 9th Captain, Primaris Equerry.
Master Champion Han Xin
Master Chaplain Qiong He
Master Apothecary Li Shizhen
Master Stormwarden Wu Xi'an
Master Ancient Xun Huizhong
Second Zhuhou Zhang Yi - A joyless and grim warrior, unique among the jade knives for his cold personality. Captain Yi was irreparably damaged by the sundering, exiled to the deathwatch and expected to die there as a penance for his actions as a traitor to the knives. Returning a humourless and dour man, with no longer joy nor serenity in his expression as he took to the battlefield. only cold burning hate.
Third Zhuhou Zuolin - Known as the swordmaster, has gained a reputation as one of the greatest warriors of the Jade Knives to wield a blade. And commands the chapters hunter company, a formation dedicated to tracking enemies of the chapter across the galaxy and taking their heads. As a result the Third has developed a martial culture of competition amongst brothers for the biggest kills, be they vehicle, commander, xenos monster, or champion of a Chaos God. And is known for his close knit veterans and chapter command collectively known as the "circle of blades".
Fourth Zhuhou Shaoxue - The fourth company is known for its battle call, "sacrifice is the greatest duty" and this is embodied in their Captain. Shaoxue fought as a Captain in the sundering, fighting close to the homeworld as the line of defense to prevent attacks on the homeworld, a duty he took to with stalwart efficiency. During the battle for zhongqian his men would fight the tau first in the most dangerous areas, with him crippled after detonating a phosphex bomb, safe from the blast distance, but crippled by the fact the bomb ignited the very atmosphere, causing the snowfall to ignite into phosphex ash and corrosive rains. with his armour destroyed, and body failing. He would march through the blighted ash wastes, barely alive upon being found. He would be hastily seen to, with only a techmarine present, his recovery was driven by crude painful bionics over the careful regrowth of tissue an apothecary could provide. His sacrifice would earn him the name Shao Xue meaning “burning snow”. And found a begrudging peace and spirituality with his new biomechanical body, believing in sacrifice at all costs and cold efficiency. Seeking to suppress the human side that sakhat and Fei embraced in their leadership.
Scout Zhuhou Chen Long
Veteran Sergeant Tian Da
Shouru Zhuhou Yama
Shouru Lieutenant Xie Bian
Shouru Lieutenant Fan Wujiu
Chapter Fleet
Mandate Of Heaven (Battle Barge) - Command vessel of the Chapter High Command and the Chapter's flagship.
Namjong Balachang (Battle Barge) - Command vessel of the hunter company
Chapter Relics
Dragonfang - A large relic blade, forged in the shape of a polearm similar to a power lance. The blade acts as a symbol of office among the chapter being wielded by all three Jiangjun of the chapter in its history, the blades design is seen as highly ergonomic, with it being used to equal effectiveness by all three Jiangjun in their different fighting styles:
Dragonfang. Relic Blade of office
Sakhat's Way of the Long Blade - Keeping an enemy away from a striking distance with the weapons long range and striking at the enemies defence with suppressive fire between strikes to disrupt the enemies composure
Tarkhut's way of the Clawed Mark - Aggressive close-up slashes with full use of the blades long handle to maximise the force of thrusts, combined with his chainfist allowing for the use of blindingly powerful, destructive strikes to exploit gaps in enemies defence from frantic attempts to defend, a purely melee fighting style with devastating effect
Fei's Way of the Flowing Tide - Like the clawed mark, the style focuses on aggressive attacks to disrupt the enemy, however unlike the slow brutal attacks, the flowing tide focuses on movement and evasion, taking influence from the way of the long blade, interspersing the flowing and agile movement of the blade with his bolt pistol, and martial close combat techniques.
Divine Talon - A lightning claw taken from a Dark Apostle by Shuhou Zhelecao, now possessed by his successor.
Purple Hare - A bike mastered by Zhuhou Shaoxue, made famous after he slew a Tyranid bioform, and lashing its head to the front of the bike. as he rode the bulk of the Tyranid forces made pursuit, drawn to the pheromones in the thick purple ichor that had oozed from the head and coated the jade livery a deep purple. The tyranid force would pursue the captain into a deep valley, where the bulk of the chapter had deployed en masse, and unleashed a fury of heavy ordnance, leveling the Tyranid threat.
"They are curious...Are they not? Underneath all the twisting machinations of the ruinous powers in their souls, you can still feel the shadow of the Fenryka lurking under them. Perhaps, they are a window into how the Great Heresy could have progressed had Horus turned his attention to the Wolves instead of the Sons?"
— Wu Xi'an, Chief Librarian of the Jade Knives
"You don't fight like one of us, new blood... Then again, you aren't really are you? You're slow, defensive. You have all the grace of a Death Guard! There's no soul in your Wushu! None of the Khagan's fire in you!
Nor any of his humility in you, your punches and strikes do nothing but highlight your arrogance! You mimic an Emperor's Child, flailing and dancing without reason as you duel, you treat it as a joke. I can predict your strikes before they begin, because you scream your superiority with every flaunting movement. I already know everything of you, and you nothing of me!"
— Unarmed duel between an unnamed Jade Knives veteran and Primaris Sergeant Hwarang
About the Jade Knives
Feel free to add your own
"I cannot claim to understand them, I don’t particularly like them, but these Sons of the Khan, these Jade Knives, are as indomitable as we Scions of Dorn. Like a seaside cliff face they stand unbowed and unbroken, a breakwater upon which the foe crashes and dissipates like ocean spray. If nothing else I respect them."
— Commander Lukas Keath, 3rd Company Captain, Imperial Sentinels Chapter.
"Look how they move! Full of grace and art and yet absolutely nothing wasted! See now how even these lesser creatures can teach about the nature of existence. They call themselves 'Jade Knives.' The perfect name, for they show that a thing need not be inefficient to be beautiful. Art and economy can be wed. Beauty and deadliness can be wed. Should be wed. A lesson all would do well to learn, even we. I only hope to face one in single combat, some day."
— Phaeron Ahmoset the Gallant, of the Khafretekh Dynasty
"At least the Falcons of Jade are thus that us of the Bloodmoon can seek the prey which is most fitting, Honor can only come after the mission is complete."
— Unknown Bloodmoon Hunter Sergeant
"Honor and glory to those who assist us against the foul Grayskins! Their Battlesuits is the living mockery of mankind! Show them the might of the Emperor's mailed fist, o sons of Zhongqian!"
—- Sergeant Grintzvaig of the Storm Zealot 2nd Company
