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The Painted Hounds', known as the 'Bua Cekegulu (translated as the 'Hounds of Cekegulu'), is an Ultima Founding Successor Chapter created from the lineage of the mighty Space Wolves. This tenacious chapter is composed entirely of Primaris Space Marines. Their inception took place at the end of the Indomitus Crusade. The Painted Hounds were created exclusively from those Sons of Russ not born on Fenris, who had previously already formed a close bond, due to often working as Vanguard Space Marines in the Unnumbered Sons.
Following their creation the Painted Hounds quickly gained a reputation as tireless pursuers and unseen hunters, who would end many a-war without the enemy even knowing about their presence until the last moment, when the Painted Hounds would reveal themselves and slay the enemy with one final blow. Since their inception the Painted Hounds have done their best to build a close relationship to their Space Wolf brethren. Despite their aloof and secretive way of war, the Painted Hounds take great pride in their martial skills and ability to win wars with minimal loses.
Chapter History
Ultima Founding
As the 41st Millennium drew to a close and the Forces of Chaos grew ever stronger, a miracle occurred - the Primarch of the Ultramarines, Roboute Guilliman, was revived from his ten-millennia long stasis. With his awakening came the arrival of the Primaris Space Marines, a brand new type of transhuman warrior. After gathering the full might of the Imperium's military forces, Guilliman - the newly-dubbed Lord Commander of the Imperium - launched his Indomitus Crusade outwards into the Galaxy, to reclaim those worlds lost to the Ruinous Powers and restore the Imperium to its former glory.
With the revelation of the newly created Primaris Space Marines, Guilliman ordered a new Founding - the Ultima Founding. Among the chapters created - who were composed entirely out of these new transhuman warriors - was the Painted Hounds chapter. Like their fellow chapters of the Ultima Founding, they were created from one of the genetic lines of the nine original Loyalist First Founding Space Marine Legions. This newly created Space Marine Chapter was descended from the gene-seed of the most loyal Primarch Leman Russ - the Great Wolf.
Indomitus Crusade
The Painted Hounds began as Greyshields, Primaris Space Marines who fought alongside Guilliman's fleets during the Indomitus Crusade. Consisting exclusively of Space Marines recruited from outside of Fenris, these warriors were extremely utilitarian and willing to prove their worth as Sons of Russ.
During the Indomitus Crusade the Space Marines that would later become the Painted Hounds served in the Indomitus Crusade Fleet Tertius, as part of Battlegroup Oenoe.
Battle of Deritian Reach
The Battle of Deritian Reach was the last battle the Greyshields that would later form the Painted Hounds, fought in the Indomitus Crusade.
Engaging the Bringer´s of Plague, a large Warband worshipping the Lord of Decay, Nurgle, sought to foil the warbands attempt to increase the Great Rift by enlarging the Warp Storm, known as Haunu.
The Imperial Crusade Fleet split into three segments, the first consisting of 3 Battlegroups that were to attack the fleet of the Warband at the edge of the Deritian System. The second segment was formed out of 2 Battlegroups that fought the followers of Chaos that emerged from the Warp Storm. Meanwhile Battlegroup Oenoe was to engage the Bringer´s of Plague directly on the surface of Deritian III and disrupt their ritual to enlarge Warp Storm Haunu.
Battlegroup Oenoe assailed the forces of the Warband, losing their command ship Eclipse of Absolution to an orbital laser. However a landing party led by Captain Zula Nquada of the lineage of Leman Russ, was able to take foot on the planet's surface. After fighting through hordes of cultists and Deathguard Marines, the Space Marines were able to surround the fortress Nurgle´s Treasure, in which the ritual took place. A small group of Astartes under the command of Sergeant Mhambi `Thunder-Fang` Resego , dupped Lycus Four, were able to transport Inquisitor Helia Natures into the place of the ritual. Helia Natures was able to use an undocumented Relic to stop the ritual and Lycus Four eliminated the last survivors of the warband.
The Battle brought the Lukaon Sector under Imperial control. To protect the Lukaon Sector and keep vigil over Warp Storm Haunu, the Painted Hounds chapter, an understrength chapter composed of eight companies, was created and received the world Cekegulu as their homeworld.
Notable Campaigns
- Purgatio Campaign - Following the Battle of Deritian Reach, warbands of the ruinous powers terrorised the star systems surrounding the Warp Storm Haunu. After a pouring of the Runes predicted that the Warp Storm would lead to the total destruction of the Sector, the Painted Hounds rallied their forces and the imperial forces in the sector to begin the purging of the forces of chaos.
Chapter Homeworld
Cekegulu is a Death World located in the westernmost regions of the Segmentum Solar, near the borders of Segmentum Pacificus and the hazardous warp storm Haunu. This world of heat and dust serves as the Chapters homeworld and recruiting grounds for the 'Bua Cekegulu' Hounds Chapter. Cekegulu location of the Cape, the Painted Hounds´ massive fortress monastery, built in part from the remnants of an ancient spaceship. From their homeworld the Painted Hounds hold vigil over the worlds surrounding the warp storm Haunu.
Cekegulu is dominated by extremes of climate, listed in Imperial Records as one of the most deadly and turbulent worlds inhabited by humanity. Before the Long Night the world was covered in a thriving jungle and held a large human population. The World was rich in life and the population had a high level of technology. But with the appearance of horrendous warp storms and the Age of Strife, the stranded settlers were cut off from the outside world and Imperial Records are unclear regarding what happened to the planet. Some scholars speculate that the population had a civil war, others think it was xenos or a natural event that caused the world to drastically shift in its orbit. This shift increased the temperature of the planet dramatically and the population had to quickly learn to survive in the new, but incredibly hostile environment.
Over the following millenia the technology on the planet was irreversibly lost and the world became overtaken by nature and new dangerous predators that had not been documented before the Age of Strife. The survivors reverted back to a hunter-gatherer society. This was the state in which Cekegulu was discovered by Rogue Trader Caspiel Ghran in the early years of M40.
The native tribes of Cekegulu to live in the savannas and forest, which while dangerous and tumultuous, are rich in life. Living in a very hostile and quickly changing region, the Cekegulian to rely on their skilled warriors and mobility to survive. They survive the hot and dry summers by hunting in the dried up riverbeds and avoiding the storms of molten dirt and sand that haunt the land during this time of year. Game becomes scarce, making the hunter´s task to forage for food a race against time. During the winter months the land is hit by strong thunderstorms and floods, which bring life back to the land, even if just for a short time. The Rykheimian tribes spend much of the winter months gathering food in the form of plants and fish.
Cekegulian Culture
The Cekegulian e the epitome of survivalists, clad in colorful robes made from dyed fur and skirt-like clothing made from leather, the Cekegulians strike an impossing figure in the savannas of their homeworld.
The Cekegulians athletic; sinewy and well-muscled. They have well-defined and strong features, due to their constant exposure to the extreme elements of Cekeguluuliansheir haong and well-kept, with young men wearing their hair in long braids, while older men wear few or none braids, usually covering their hair under caps made from leather. Women wear their hair open and unbraided, unless they are hunters in which case they follow the same traditions as the men. During the summer the hunters cover their skin and hair in a mixture of hound blood and ashes, to protect it from the intense heat of the sun. Cekegulians ly live to 100 years or more, although their lifestyle and dangerous environment ensures that most only survive to the age of 60 if they are lucky, as most die of hunger, the elements or are slain by one of the many wild beasts that roam Cekeguluder Cekegulian is a fountain oe and skill, having a deep understanding for the land around them and being some of the best hunters around. It is those elders that often become Chiefs of their tribes.
The Cekegulians are proud and boastful people, speaking what comes to mind and not showing much care about the opinions of outsiders. They are known to be braggarts, for it is never clear if they will live to see the next day, but they never brag about anything they can not back up with their prowess. Many hunters proudly present their trophies, be they braided in their hair, worn as jewelry or used to decorate their homes. It is common tradition for men to court a woman by presenting them with they greatest trophies and dedicating hunts to her.
To prove one's worth as a hunter and warrior to the other members of their tribe, a young Cekegulian must follow the challenges bestowed onto them by their elders and experienced hunters of the tribe. A young hunter must prove their skills and prowess by acquiring numerous trophies if they want to be seen as a worthy member of their tribe. Some hunters are so dedicated to being seen as the greatest hunter in their tribe, to achieve immortality by having the stories of their hunts told, that they spend years of their life striving for nothing more. Long after their deaths their stories are told each year, when Kaghar and Haunu clash in the skies once again and the rainfalls begin.
The Cekegulians are raised with stories of the Bakulu, the mythical Hunters in the Sky, who hunt the evil in the Sky in the name of the Old One, since the Old One is on an eternal hunt for the greatest Beasts in the galaxy. Many young Cekegulian boys dream of one day being worthy of joining the Bakulu, to spend their lives hunting amongst the greatest warriors in existence.
They also believe in the great Hounds, beings that embody the will of their ancestors and the world itself. One of those Hounds is Ntu, the hound that gave birth to all other hounds, including those hounds that roam the world as the apex predators.
Fortress-Monastery
At the westernmost cliffs on Eldland, the largest continent on Cekegulu, stands the Cape, a gigantic fortress made from plasteel and partly hewn into the cliffs it stands atop. Against the flat land and the stormy ocean the Cape stands high and mighty, showing the strength of the Painted Hounds. The land in front of the Cape has become covered in Veorstadt, the largest city on Cekegulu. Those wanting to become Aspirants have to make the treacherous and dangerous travel during the Summer months, since the Cape sits at the Cape of the Storms on Cekegulu, making it almost impossible for any mortal to survive for long along the cliffside.
The Cape itself is a beautiful sight to see, a mixture of plasteel and rock that was built and shaped with the utmost detail. The entry to the fortress is a long path alongside which the in stone immortalized images of the heroes of the chapter stand tall and proud.
Cekegulian Life
Flora
Cekegulu has a rich natural fauna, with a majority of the world being covered in wide grasslands.
Fauna
Studies conducted by the Adeptus Mechanicus on the Fauna of Cekegulu' have determined that the animal life of Cekegulu is among the most dangerous found on the worlds of the Imperium. This has turned the inhabitants of the planet into incredibly skilled warriors.
- Lightning Bird - A large avian native to Cekegulu. This predatory bird, the size of a person, appears mostly during the winter storms. It's body is able to produce powerful bursts of electricity.
- Riven Queen - A gigantic snake like fish that lives in the rivers of Cekegulu. It spends the months of droughts buried underground.
- Roc - Rocs are birds of prey of immense size. They nest on the cliffs on Cekegulus continents and are large enough to bring down a thunderhawk.
- Death Snake - A relatively small snake with a head that of a mammal. It is highly venomous.
- Cekegulian Hound - The Cekegulian Hound, or Mbua as the inhabitants call it, is a semi-sentient carnivore similar in appearance to the ancient Terran Xenocyon that grows in size from that of a small horse up to that of an Imperial armoured vehicle. They are considered among the most intelligent and efficient predators in the galaxy and make use of terrifyingly coordinated hunting packs.
- Bonecrusher Hound - The largest sub-species of Cekegulian Hounds, the mighty Bonecrusher Hound can grow as large as an Impulsor assault transport.
- Monsoonhound - A sub-species of Cekegulian Hounds, the Monsoonhounds are massive beasts, so large and strong that they can be used as mounts by fully-armoured Space Marines.
- Whitebuck - Resembling the Antelopes of ancient Terra, the goat-sized whitebuck are consumed in fast quantities by the predators of the Cekegulian savanna.
- Cekegulian Elephant - The Cekegulian Elephant is a gigantic quadruped similar in appearance to the elephants of ancient Terra, that grow to the size of Human-Made buildings. Their large tusks are used by the inhabitants as decoration.
- Cekegulian Ape - The Cekegulian Ape is a monkey-like mammaloid reaching the size of an Astartes.
Chapter Recruitment
The Painted Hounds Chapter recruits from Cekegulu. On Cekegulu strangers clad in armor as black as the night, stalk the lands. Around the fires of many tribes, tales are told of these strangers known as the Eyes of the Old One - who watch silently and unseen as young hunters go about their hunts. Young men that show promise are approached by these figures and given a chance to join the Bakulu in the Sky. These mysterious strangers are the Fire Priests of the Painted Hounds. The youth they pick are tested to the extreme, starting with the travel to the Cape, before their trials have even begun. All of these tests are necessary to ensure that the aspirants are worthy of joining the Bakulu and receiving the Gene Seed of Leman Russ.
At the beginning of the winter months the trials for the aspirants begin. All aspirants that have managed to survive the long and dangerous trip to the Cape are rounded up and genescanned. Those that meet the criteria are allowed to continue the trials, while the rest is given the choice to stay and become serfs. The first trial is known to the chapter as the Hunt and requires the aspirants to slay the greatest beast they can find until the next moon. If the aspirants survive the trial and the prey is deemed worthy, they are allowed to continue. The next trial is known as the Pack and groups the aspirants into many smaller groups, who then are sent to fight against another group. Only those that survive and show the right mentality are taken for the trial of the blood. The exact nature of this trial is unknown, but it is known that upon completion of this trial, the aspirant receives the gene-seed implants.
Chapter Organisation
Like their progenitors the Painted Hounds chapter has a structure that is notably different from a standard codex chapter. Rather than 10 companies with 100 astartes, the Painted Hounds consists of 8 Great Companies of varying strength. Each Great Company is based in the Cape and is led by a Chief who answers only to the High Chief.
Each Great Company is its own fully self-contained army, with all the troops and equipment necessary to make war. They each have their own forges and traditions. As each Great Company serves as an independent army, they usually maintain a greater force than a standard codex company. Each Great Company is composed of packs that have fought together for a long time.
Officer Ranks
Specialist Ranks
Line Ranks
Packs
Like their progenitors, the Painted Hounds form their Battle Brothers into Packs. Each Pack is made up of A started who generally have fought together for a long time and work together as Cekegulian Hounds do. Packs will work closely together to get behind enemy lines, using their keen senses, especially their sense of hearing, to remain hidden and quickly find their target. When stalking their prey the Battle Brothers in a Pack will stay completely silent to outsiders, using signals and vox. Once the fighting has begun, the Pack turns from a silent group of predators into a loud and imposing horde. The Painted Hounds primarily field five types of Packs, including Blood Coats, Brindled Hunters, Bare Fangs and Wolf Guards. There are also Carnal Scouts, who are an oddity amongst the Adeptus Astartes and even other Chapters that belong to the lineage of Leman Russ.
- Blood Coats - A Blood Coat is a newly inducted Astartes of the Painted Hounds Chapter and the equivalent of a codex Chapter’s Neophytes. Still struggling to control their ferocity, Blood Coats are notoriously savage and fiercely aggressive. These hot-blooded young warriors want nothing more than to prove their worth in battle, charging in howling packs at the enemy. They prefer to fight in close quarters and are armed with melee weapons such as chainswords and bolt pistols. The Blood Coats are the shock troops of the Painted Hounds and are generally used to break the enemy lines fully. If they survive to become mature and capable warriors, they will eventually be elevated to the ranks of the Brindled Hunters. Their name stems from the cekegulian tradition of hunters to cover their hair in a mixture of blood and dust, something that is particularly visible on braids mostly worn by younger men.
- Stormcoats - A subset of the Blood Coats, the Stormcoats are culled from the ranks of the Blood Coats when the Chapter needs an aggressive, close-quarters assault force. The young and ambitious Blood Coats are well suited to this role. In addition to forming a rapid assault force, Stormcoats will occasionally be tasked with knocking out key enemy assets such as power generators and communication centers. Given the opportunity to get behind enemy lines and cause the maximum amount of destruction and chaos possible, these young warriors apply themselves with particular relish in the performance of their duties. Some Blood Coats are so taken by this role - not to mention the opportunity of carnage that comes with it - that they demand the permanent position as a Stormcoat.
- Brindled Hunters - If a Blood Coat survives long enough to tame their ferocity and turn into seasoned Astartes, they are promoted to the ranks of the Brindled Hunters. The Brindled Hunters form the greater mass of the Painted Hounds warriors, acting as the equivalent of a codex Chapter's Tactical Marines. They are strong and resolute Fighters, tempered by battle, but as hungry for honour and the hunt as any proud hunter of Cekegulu. In battle they function as autonomous units and are trusted to fulfill their duties with much reliance on their senior command. They are expected to deal with all kinds of challenges on their own if so needed, and above all to get behind enemy lines unseen. The title of Brindled Hunters originates from the grey hair the members of the chapter get as they age, which often appears in the shape of stripes.
- Bare Fangs - Bare Fangs form a cadre of Veterans within the Chapter. Hoary with age, proud and wise, they are endowed with long fangs and have lost the hair they once proudly wore, for as a Painted Hound ages their fangs grow long and their hair first grows stiff and grey, before they lose it as the centuries pass. After fighting for many Terran centuries, they are respected as the storms during Cekegulus winter months, commanding awe and honour from those of lesser years. There are few Bare Fangs within the Chapter as many warriors die in battle so only a minority survive to reach a venerable age. These veteran warriors are disciplined and steady even in the heat of battle, and hence are entrusted with the Great Company's heavy weapons. They are the equivalent to a codex Chapter's Devastator Marines. Having fought and survived so many battles the Bare Fangs are rarely unsettled even by the most serious threats.
- Wolf Guard - On Cekegulu it is a common tradition for a Chief to choose their close relatives and most skilled hunters of their tribe to be the ones that take down the target. These hunters receive the most valuable trophies from a hunt and get the best food and weapons in a tribe, to ensure that they are always in their best shape. Similar to this a Chief of the Painted Hounds will hand-pick a group of Painted Hounds who are utterly loyal to him and have achieved great deeds, to serve as his Wolf Guard. These mighty warriors often lead the Blood Coats and other Painted Hounds into battle, serve as the Honour Guard for the most venerated Battle Brother in a deployed force of the Painted Hounds. In Cekegulian tradition, the warriors of the Wolf Guard have earned access to the best suits of power armour and most advanced wargear available to the Chapter, which includes the right to wear the highly valued Terminator Armor. Should a Chief die, it is from the ranks of his Wolf Guard that the next Chief is chosen, often this is already decided by the Chief beforehand, otherwise the veterans of the Great Company will vote on which member of the Wolf Guard replaces their lost Leader.
- Carnal Scouts - Due to the Painted Hounds placing loyalty to one's brothers above all else, they have a close-knit brotherhood and very few Painted Hounds would ever even consider leaving their Pack, even fewer actually doing so. This has led to the Chapter not being able to fill the role of Wolf Scouts with the numbers of marines the chapter requires. To remedy this issue the Painted Hounds instead make use of Carnal Scout Packs. These packs consist of members that before joining the Chapter showed a desire for the open land and have been together ever since becoming a Blood Coat. These packs act as the equivalent to scouts and eliminators in Codex Chapters.
Order of Battle
Headquarters
Companies
Chapter Beliefs
The Painted Hounds are brought up to revere the Emperor, known as the Old One, above all. The people of Cekegulu tell stories of star-striding Hunters, horrendous monsters and mighty heroes. Boastful and noble people, the people of Cekegulu care little for advanced technology, instead trusting in traditions and rituals that have consisted for millennia. This bearing has made it's way deep to the core of the Chapter's culture through their recruits.
Painted Hounds refer to their own souls as spirits, for when a Painted Hound dies it is said that his spirit returned to the Old One. Slain Painted Hounds are burned in the fire of Eternity, a fire that has been kept burning ever since the chapter was founded. Following the death of particularly important, high ranking or respected member of the Chapter, his ashes are placed in the ground together with the seed of a plumbumwood tree.
Before each battle, the Great Company retells the stories of the deceased heroes of the Chapter. During this time the hall is sealed and none may enter or leave until all heroes are honored with stories and the burning of food, drink and other items. Once the battle is over, the Great Company holds a large feast, retelling the heroic stories from the battle of variable length and nature from every member of the Great Company. These feasts can last an indeterminate amount of time, however long it is necessary to tell all of the battle brother's stories, and as such, can last days or even weeks.
Traditions
- Magadi - Known as the Blood Scars, these blood markings are worn on the armor of the Painted Hounds. They are made with the intention of warding of evils and to protect the battle brother. Each battle brother has his own markings, using his blood to paint them before battle, the origin of which comes from his tribe and his family.
- Piboko - Vapna refers to the ritual each Painted Hound must undergo before becoming a full-fledged Battle Brother. After receiving the Gene-seed, the initiate is taken before the Fire of Eternity, known as Kudu Joto, where a Flame Priest blesses him by touching his chest with a glove heated up using the Fire of Eternity.
- Dark Evil - This is a term used by the Painted Hounds to refer to the Ruinous Powers.
- Runes - The Painted Hounds Rune Priests use a form of divination known as Pouring the Runes to tell the future and advise the Chapter's Chiefs and High Chief on decisions of great importance.
Great Hounds
Th
- Kubua the Blackclaw - The largest and deadliest of all Great Hounds.
- Ntu the White Hound - The White Hound is the oldest of the Great Hounds, being the ancestor to all Cekegulian Hounds. He embodies wisdom and restraint.
- Kujedi the Moon Hound - Kujedi is the Cekegulian Hound who searches the stars and moon on the hunt for new prey. This Hound teaches the Painted Hounds that, no matter how distant, they are never far from their pack and the pride of Cekegulu.
- Dem the Iron Hound - Dem the Iron Hound teaches the Painted Hounds to endure the harshest elements without complaint, for it is he who stalks the mountains and deserts of Cekegulu. Dem endures all and it is him that the Painted Hounds turn to for example, when faced with the worst environments.
- Kaghar the Storm Hound - In Cekegulian legend, Kaghar fights Haunu the Great Evil to protect his pack. It is these fights that cause the storms of winter.
- Jum the Thirsty - Jum the Thirsty stalks the endless landscape of Cekegulu on the search for water, bringing destruction and death upon those outside his pack.
- Luma the Great Hunter - The Great Hunter is a Hound that hunts the sun itself, one time having been able to take a bite, which caused intense firestorms on Cekegulu. Luma teaches the young Hounds the values of speed and ambition.
- Gila the Bloodied - Gila is the Hound of the hunt, a ferocious killer that enjoys nothing more than the killing of prey under the hot sun.
- Wulfen the Lone Hound - Wulfen is the cursed Hound, who left his pack to find glory on his own. Bestial in nature it is this Hound that the Painted Hounds must ever guard themselves against, less their feral nature lead them to madness. It is out of fear of this madness, that no Painted Hound would ever risk leaving his pack.
Deed Names
Most Painted Hounds bear a deed name that is appended to their given name. Deed names are awarded for particular feats of courage, daring, luck, skill or knowledge. Sometimes they describe an aspect of the warrior, like the Powerclaws of Zula ‘Blackclaw’ Nquada, or a unique upbringing, or the physical features of a warrior, such as the loud voice of Mhambi ‘Thunder-Fang’ Resego. Other times a names is earned through a particular accomplishment such as Okhule ‘Fogbringer’ Thagiso, who earned his name after single handedly taking destroying the enemy command structure during his time as a Stormcoat. Another example is Thato ‘Roc’ Ntuli, who is named after the gigantic and deadly Roc he slew during his trial of the Hunt. Other deed names need little imagination as to how they were acquired, such as the case with Lerato ‘Steelfang’ Kikuso. Deed names are many and varied, and often veteran warriors will acquire their fair share over time. Some replace the old as the common title of the warrior, while others stay in use for the rest of the warrior's life.
Great Rally
During particularly vicious summers Packs or even an entire Great Company may choose to go out into the wilderness on a Great Rally. Unarmed and unarmoured, the warriors must use their wits, skills and teamwork to aid them and the Great Rally only ends, once they have enough carcasses to feed the entire Great Company during a feast. For those participating in the Great Rally, this action alone is seen as a large honour, and those that manage to slay the most dangerous beast are richly rewarded by their Chief, sometimes even joining the lustrous ranks of the Wolf Guard.
Fresh Blood
The ritual of Fresh Blood I conducted up on the return of a Great Company to Cekegulus. During this ritual young Painted Hounds wanting to prove themselves go out and search for a pack of Cekegulian Hounds. After finding the pack, he will slay the leading pair of Hounds, resulting in him becoming the Alpha of the pack. Once returned to the Cape, he will enter a ritualistic fight with the Clan Lord, known as the Joining of Clans. The Clan is the part of a Great Company that encompasses all Cekegulian Hounds of the Company. In battle these Hounds are split into smaller groups and attached to packs that have earned the right to have them. According to rumour the Hounds of the Monsoonhound Cavalry have their own version of this ritual and their own clan.
Chapter Gene-Seed
Genetic Flaws
Deathwatch Service
Chapter Combat Doctrine
- "The Sons of Cekegulu, they are, molded under the hot sun of their world, eager for the thrill of battle and to earn honour. They are the shadows in the grass, loyal like the hounds, whose greatest joy is to hear the terror of their enemies as they realize their hopelessness."
- —Donna Du Chambaal, captain of the Warmonger (Strike Cruiser in service with the Bloodheelers)
The Painted Hounds have garnered a reputation as masters of guerilla warfare amongst the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes - as they make use of precise attacks and terror tactics, instead of fighting the enemies head on like many other successors of the Space Wolves. They value stealth and precision above anything else, waiting for the ideal moment to strike and overwhelm the enemy, just like the ancient terran wild dogs. No mercy or honour is offered to their prey, for the Painted Hounds use the enemy's death itself in their tactics. It is in these moments, when the time to strike has come, that the Painted Hounds show the savagery that only the Sons of Russ possess. Once the enemy´s command is butchered and their defenses are shattered, the more ferocious members of the chapter are allowed to fully attack. The following violence leaves little time for the foes force to organize, before they are little more than lifeless bodies on the ground.
As the Painted Hounds have inherited their progenitors´ ferocity they often have trouble remaining organized compared to the codex-oriented Chapters. To remedy this the members of the chapter are drilled to a strict discipline, so that they can stay organized even in long battles. This discipline does not come in the form of perfect rank and file; instead each and every possible action in a scenario is drilled and trained in a pack, to ensure that every member can stay organized without any need for cooperation. The Blood Coats of the chapter struggle with this discipline however and it is for this reason, that the chapter keeps the Blood Coats out of combat until the foe is shattered. When the time has come, the Painted Hounds relish the thrill of combat above all else. Very few chapters of the Adeptus Astartes take their discipline as seriously as the Painted Hounds, while also retaining their love for close combat.
Notable Space Marines
- Blood Claw Okhule ‘Fogbringer’ Thagiso - Stemming from the coastal desert in the north of Eldland. During his time in the Blood Coats he showed a great proficiency in tracking and his ability to remain unseen led Wolf Guard Cakaza to compare him to the Primaris Spaces Marines of the lineage of Corvus Corax. Due to his skills he gained the role of a Stormcoat, with Cakaza seeing that he be of most use here. He earned the name of Fogbringer when he destroyed a power plant on a traitorous planet, flooding the foe’s command center with poisonous fog.
- Pack Leader Thato ‘Roc’ Ntuli - Pack Leader of a Bare Fang Pack of Mhambi ‘Thunder-Fang' Resego’s Great Company. Thato’s pack participated in the assault on a daemon world during the Purgatio Campaign. Thato’s pack came under heavy assault and would have been lost, if not for the Pack Leaders quick-witted mind, overloading the power packs of their Heavy Plasma Incinerators, leading to an explosion that blocked the path of the forces of the ruinous powers.
- Chief Mhambi 'Thunder-Fang' Resego - Current Chief of one of the Chapter’s Great Companies. Mhambi has taken the symbol of the Storm Wolf. A towering, bellowing, vigilant beast of a man, Mhambi favors the life of his warriors more than most, for he reasons that a full pack is more keen both in spirit and mind. His Great Company excels in wreaking havoc and causing chaos behind enemy lines.
Chapter Fleet
Chapter Relics
- Darkness' Hold - A pair of powerful lightning claws wielded by High Chief Zula Nquada.
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
The Painted Hounds primarily wear a warm, dark brown battle-plate with their pauldrons varying in color and having a trim in the same color as the battle-plate. Like their progenitors, the Painted Hounds commonly adorn their battle-plate with tributes of the beasts of their homeworld. These tributes tend to come in the form of pelts, skulls and teeth. As a non-Codex Chapter, the Painted Hounds do not make use of the codex-standard markings, instead utilizing their own unique symbols to represent each Great Company, taken from Cekegulian Mythology. The Chapters warriors tend to bear their Pack markings on their right shoulder pauldron and their Company Icon on the left. These pack markings may also be repeated on one of their knee guards or in rare cases their power pack.
Chapter Badge
Relations
Allies
Enemies
 Space Wolves Successor Chapters 
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| Ultima Founding | Abyss Stalkers • Ascetics of Korit • Astral Bears • Beasts Undaunted • Blades of Morkai • Blood Predators • Blood Seekers • Bloodied Hunters • Cernachian Wardens • Crimson Prowlers • Dawn's Wolves • Dusk Howlers • Dusk Stalkers • Fangs of Fenrir • Fangs of Vidar • Ghost Wolves • Golden Boars • Gore Wolves • Grey Wolves • Greymanes • Hartlords • Iron Beasts • Kraken Reavers • Kraken Sons • The Mastodons • Maws of Fenris • Moonlight Stalkers • Night Wolves • Painted Hounds • Phantom Wolves • Red Wolves • Sky Wolves • Stone Bears • Tempest Fangs • Tempest Wolves • Void Selkies • Waveborn • West Khan Wolves • Wild Hunt • Wild Wolves • Wolf Knights • Wolfborn • Wolves of Blood and Bone • Wolves of Redemption • Wolves of Yggdrasil • |
| Extinct | Corpse Wolves • |
| Renegades | Bloodborn Wolves • † Skyrar's Dark Wolves • |