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This article, Ophidian Blades, is currently under active construction. The author, Phoenix Arcanum, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
The Ophidian Blades are a Successor Chapter of the savage yet noble White Scars, arising during the 7th Founding. Like their progenitors, the Ophidian Blades have a fierce independence streak and often operate separately from most other Imperial forces. This attitude has given the Chapter a reputation as enigmatic isolationists. For those few who manage to make a friend out of the Ophidian Blades, they will find no ally more loyal than them. The Chapter's Battle-Brothers are renowned for their innate skill in bladed weapons and their penchant for speed and precision. The Ophidian Blades place a great deal of emphasis on personal honour.
The Ophidian Blades operate from their fortress-monastery of the Gauntlet on the Feudal Jungle World of Raiden within the Koda Sector of the Eastern Fringe. Despite their reputation as isolationists, the Chapter is quick to throw themselves into the most brutal warzones across the galaxy, deploying rapid hit-and-run attacks to devastating effect. The Chapter's most hated enemies are the perfidious xenos of the T'au Empire.
Chapter History[]
The Ophidian Blades Chapter was formed during the 7th Founding using the gene-seed of Jaghatai Khan. The Chapter was initially founded to help keep watch over the largely isolated, unexplored, and incredibly dangerous region known as the Eastern Fringe. Despite their initial purpose being focused on guarding the Eastern Fringe, the Ophidian Blades soon saw deployments on battlefields across the galaxy. In the Ophidian Blades' early days, they forged an immutable pact with the Ruby Consuls, another Astartes Chapter founded at the same time to operate in the same theaters of war.
The chosen homeworld of the Ophidian Blades is the Feudal Jungle World of Raiden, located within the Koda Sector, just on the edge of the Eastern Fringe. The Koda Sector is north, northeast of Ultramar and Raiden is not far from Macragge. By the late 41st Millennium, the Koda Sector was considered dangerously close to the borders of the T'au Empire, leading to near-constant conflict between Imperial and T'au forces.
Among the Chapter’s earliest engagements saw Shogun Seishi Tarin (the first Chapter Master of the Ophidian Blades) lead an assault against a vast force of Heretics, Traitors, and Renegades. The Shogun personally slew the enemy commander and claimed his sword for himself. This sword proved to be a relic of the ancient White Scars Legion, once belonging to the revered Zenjin Khan. The Blade of Zenjin Khan has since become the most important Chapter Relic within the Ophidian Blades's Reliquary.
Notable Campaigns[]
Cleansing of Solace (454.M35): After the Imperial Pleasure World of Solace was captured by the Princes of Quintessence warband of the Emperor's Children Traitor Legion, the Ophidian Blades Chapter was dispatched to take back the planet before it could be transformed into a Daemon World. The Ophidian Blades were personally led by their Chapter Master, Seishi Tarin, who slew the Chaos Champion leading the Traitor's assault and claimed the lost sword of Zenjin Khan.
Restoration War (M36): Not even the isolated Koda Sector was spared from the horrors of the Age of Apostasy. While most of the Sector had descended into apostasy, the forces of the Ecclesiarchy waged a holy war of restoration to bring back the light of the Imperial Cult. Eventually, the apostates turned to traitors and the Ophidian Blades were forced to step in.
Damocles Gulf Crusade (742.M41 - 745.M41)
13th Black Crusade (999.M41)
Indomitus Crusade (M42)
Blight Conflict (M42)
Chapter Home World[]
The Chapter home world of the Ophidian Blades is the Feudal Jungle World of Raiden, located within the Koda Sector of the Eastern Fringe. Raiden is a planet of endless, steaming jungles with a warm, if not tropical environment. The local Raidenese are divided into several warring clans and warlord-states. The constant civil strife across Raiden breeds exemplary recruits for the Ophidian Blades. More than one war had been fought between clans for the right to send their first born off to join the vaunted ranks of the Astartes.
Imperial archeohistorians often note that the culture of the Raidenese is similar in many respects to the culture of feudal Japan from Ancient Terra's long-forgotten past. They draw particular attention to the Raidenese Code of Honor, emphasis on swordsmanship, and the appreciation for similar arts and proses
Fortress-Monastery[]
The fortress-monastery of the Ophidian Blades Chapter is the vast and imposing monolithic structure known as the Gauntlet. The architectural style of the Gauntlet is seemingly inspired by the pagodas that dot the landscape of Raiden
Chapter Organisation[]
Officer Ranks[]
Specialist Ranks[]
Line Ranks[]
Specialist Formations[]
Order of Battle[]
Headquarters[]
Companies[]
| Veteran Brotherhood | Battle Companies | |||
| 1st Brotherhood | 2nd Brotherhood | 3rd Brotherhood | 4th Brotherhood | 5th Brotherhood |
| Captain Berushido Akira, Master of the War Council
100 Veteran Marines |
Captain Savurien Jotaro, Master of Lore
60 Battleline Marines 20 Close Support Marines 20 Fire Support Marines |
Captain Chorakku Baroren, Master of the Hunt
60 Battleline Marines 20 Close Support Marines 20 Fire Support Marines |
Captain Dinerasu Goemon, Master of the Blades
60 Battleline Marines 20 Close Support Marines 20 Fire Support Marines |
Captain Isanami Barusu, Master of Spirits
60 Battleline Marines 20 Close Support Marines 20 Fire Support Marines |
| Reserve Companies | "Scout" Brotherhood | |||
| 6th Brotherhood | 7th Brotherhood | 8th Brotherhood | 9th Brotherhood | 10th Brotherhood |
| Captain Shiraji Ezuban, Master of Shields
100 Battleline Marines |
Captain Tiru Mishashi, Master of the Watch
100 Battleline Marines |
Captain Katsuru Jofuri, Master of Steeds
100 Close Support Marines |
Captain Dorashi Daisuke, Master of Bows
100 Fire Support Marines |
Captain Banaru Karien, Master of Recruits and Reconnaissance
100 Vanguard Marines Neophytes |
Chapter Beliefs[]
Chapter Gene-Seed[]
Primarch's Curse - Only Honour in Death[]
The Ophidian Blades are more than willing to fight to the last, holding their ground with an adamantine will which will see them triumph or die in the attempt. This expression of duty can become exaggerated in members of the Chapter after long periods in combat, especially against numerous and unrelenting foes like the Ork hordes of a WAAAGH! In these instances the Battle-Brother sees only death; the death of their comrades, the death of the world, and the death of their foes.
They consider that the only righteous path lies in the expenditure of their lives for these purposes and will face them with a stoic heart and a single-mindedness that can only lead to the complete annihilation of everything and everyone he faces, often eventually including himself and those that fight beside him. When the Chapter's genetic curse manifests itself in an affected Battle-Brother, it comes on in three stages:
Level 1 (No Retreat): As the odds mount so does the Battle-Brother's stubborn refusal to retreat, seeing only the glory and honour in defeating such overwhelming foes if even the barest glimmer of victory remains. Even if the doctrine and teaching of the Codex Astartes dictate retreat or flexible defence, the Battle-Brother will be loath to disengage until there is absolutely no choice, though often this can come too late.
Level 2 (Suffer Not Retreat): Defeat is a bitter pill to swallow for the Battle-Brother and he would rather die fighting than accept that he has failed. This can lead to reckless behaviour as he throws himself into the fray or takes on excessive odds to win when prudence and tactical reason would dictate he withdraw.
Level 3 (Unto Death): The Battle-Brother has come to accept that perhaps only the cost of his own life will be enough to secure victory and is gladly willing to give it up. This can have dire consequences should the circumstances present him with a chance to martyr himself for the Emperor and bring ruin to the enemies of the Imperium. Should a Battle-Brother suffer mortal wounds, he gains a fatalistic desire to sell his life for the cause and will choose to expend his own life for a chance at victory or the safety of his brothers. This means he will fight on regardless of his wounds and continue to attack or place himself in the path of attacks even though the next blow could mean his end. He will also gladly accept suicidal or near-suicidal tasks (such as disarming unstable warheads, leading a forlorn hope or holding a breach to buy time for his companions) without complaint..
Combat Doctrine[]
Deatwatch Service[]
Notable Members[]
Chapter Fleet[]
Snake Palace: Battle Barge and Flagship of the Ophidian Blades Fleet
Chapter Relics[]
Chapter Appearance[]
Chapter Colours[]
The Ophidian Blades are identified by their mustard yellow armor with jade green trim. Some Battle-Brothers of the Ophidian Blades are known to decorate their armor with decals and paraphernalia reminiscent of feudal Japan. Snake iconography is also not uncommon
The Ophidian Blades sometimes adorn their helm with tribal patterns and markings, which are mostly undecipherable to those outside the Chapter. These often represent oaths, kills or Terran years of service.
Brotherhood, Squad, and Specialist Markings[]
Specialist marking used by the Ophidian Blades are the same as those once worn by the bygone White Scars Legion during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy.
Within the Ophidian Blades, a Battle-Brother's squad is indicated by a jade green lighting-bolt icon emblazoned on their left poleyn. Brotherhood was marked by a green lightning bolt design on the right greave the Chapter's officers (Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Captains). The designs for squad and Brotherhood markings are identical to those used by the White Scars
Within the Ophodian Blades, Veterans are identified by a green trim on their pauldrons, Sergeants are identified by a green helm, and Lieutenants are identified by a green stripe on a yellow helm.
Chapter Badge[]
The Ophidian Blades' Chapter badge is that of two crossed katanas the color of jade.
Relations[]
Allies[]
Enemies[]
Notable Quotes[]
By the Ophidian Blades[]
About the Ophidian Blades[]
Gallery[]