- "You may think your walls shall stand, that your will is unending, yet entropy is the great victor. Whether it takes a week, or a millenia, your stone shall crumble to dust, your flesh will rot to nothing, and your will shall falter at the sight of true, unending ruination, thus says the Grandfather"
- — Lord Amigrad Rustheart, Lord of the Praetors of Ruin
The Praetors of Ruin are a Renegade Astartes Chapter descended from the Imperial Fists. Founded during the 17th Founding as the Praetorian Masters. It's unknown when they fell to Chaos, but they have become some of the vilest, most loyal followers of the Plague God, Nurgle.
Warband History[]
Founded as the Praetorian Masters in the 17th Founding, the Praetors of Ruin fell to chaos before M38. Originally founded as a fleet-based chapter, the Praetorian Masters became known for their siege assaults and arrogance, being responsible for many successful campaigns throughout the Imperium. However, disaster would strike when the entire chapter was sent to resolve the Siege of Tinneas, a world held by cultists of Nurgle. A gruelling siege followed ending with the cultist defeat, however, the Nurglite followers had one last trick up their sleeves, a vial of Nurgle's Rot
Upon exposure to this virulent disease, the Praetorian Masters quickly sickened and despite the determination of the chapter, the Chapter Master Aikos Amigrad secretly pleaded to anyone that was listening to save them from their torment, a prayer that was headed by the Grandfather. Saved from the pain, yet still corrupt and diseased, the surviving members of the Praetorian Masters realised only one choice left; to follow the path of Nurgle, turning against the Imperium that would no longer accept them. Reborn as the Praetors of Ruin, the warband took Tinneas as their homeworld, and since that fateful day they have used the gifts of the grandfather to tear down the walls, bodies and wills of the servants of the Imperium.
Notable Campaigns[]
- Siege of Icherrard Maximus (134.M38): The first known campaign of the Praetors after their fall, the hive world of Icherrard Maximus was known throughout its sector as a world of martial skill, with a well-trained PDF and on-world production of many basic patterns of Militarium armor and supplies. However the coming of a warpstorm surrounding the system and the well-timed arrival of the Praetors fleet lead to a long, 2 year siege that left the world a crumbling, decayed mass of rusted metal, shattered rockcrete and rotten flesh. Once the warpstorms lifted and the Imperium arrived in-system, the only surviving structure on the planet was a rusted warning to the followers of the Corpse-Emperor, a city block-sized symbol of Nurgle, crafted from decaying flesh.
- Siege of Por'Aloh Sept (937.M40): Hearing about an ancient Nurglite artifact found on the Tau Sept of Por'Aloh, a force of the Praetors of Ruin headed out to the unaware planet to lay siege and claim the treasure. Striking suddenly and without warning, the Tau were not prepared and quickly started evacuations, leaving a small Battlesuit Cadre to defend the landing pads. However, the Cadre was unprepared for the brutallity of the followers of Nurgle, and fell to the myriad plagues and blades that surronded them, leaving the once peaceful world of Por'Aloh nothing but a disease-ridden wasteland.
Organization[]
The Praetors of Ruin have maintained a relatively high coordination amongst themselves, with the Heretic Astartes of the warband split into 7 companies of roughly 100 members. The former chaplains, librarians and apothecaries of the Praetors of Ruin have become known as Priests of Pox, a guiding hand that maintains order amongst the fractious followers of Chaos.
The warband is headed by Lord Amigrad Rustheart, formerly the chapter master of the Praetorian Masters known as Aikos Amigrad, and now Chaos Lord of Nurgle, Lord Rustheart is a jolly, convivial man, much to the joy of the Nurglings that follow the Praetors of Ruin around, although he is quick to anger in the face of betrayal or in battle.
Since swearing loyalty to Mortarian, the Praetors of Ruin have served as part of the 3rd Plague Company of the Death Guard, although they remain mostly independent of the Death Guard itself outside of major campaigns.
Warband Beliefs and Culture[]
Pre-Fall[]
The Praetorian Masters were a dour, serious chapter, dedicated entirely to the defeat of mankind's enemies. The Praetorian Masters were noted for their arrogance and refused to call for assistance even in the direst situations. As a fleet-based chapter, the chapter didn't absorb much culture from their recruits, leading to them having a very Imperial Fist mentality and culture.
After Fall[]
The Praetors of Ruin are a jolly and open warband, accepting any into their ranks that would follow the word of Nurgle. The former seriousness and discipline of the chapter is all but non-existent amongst the heretics of the Praetors. The Praetors of Ruin have adopted much of the culture of their stolen homeworld, although even this culture has become diseased and distorted by Nurgle's plagues, the world being as sick as any life on its surface.
Warband Gene-Seed[]
The Praetor's gene-seed is entirely unusable and corrupted by the gifts of Nurgle, as such to create new Praetor's the warband seeks out and captures gene-seed and healthy children from Imperial chapters and worlds. The warband has a noted history of seeking out known Imperial Fist Successors for the gene-seed, although it's unknown if this is due to hatred for their close brethren, or if they feel they must keep the warband pure, whatever that means for the devotees of Nurgle.
Warband Combat Doctrine[]
The Praetors of Ruin advance into combat as a slow mass of infantry, heavily bolstered by hundreds, if not thousands, of cultists and poxwalkers, the warband also maintains a small contingent of Daemon Engines of Nurgle providing armoured support. The warband is noted for its skill in siege warfare, and has been responsible for the devastation of at least 3 hive worlds purely through determination, stubbornness, and disease.
The Praetor's are infamous for their teleportation raids, with the elite core of the Warband teleporting in behind enemy lines once the rank and file have reached them, pincering the enemy in a wall of decayed flesh and rotten ammunition.
Notable Space Marines[]
- Amigrad Rustheart: Formerly known as Aikos Amigrad, Lord Rustheart is the leader of the Praetor's of Ruin. A jolly and enthusiastic person as befits a lord of Nurgle, Lord Rustheart is a ferocious and brutal warrior in combat, shaking nigh any wound off with his ancient and corroded terminator armor, while decimating the enemies with his vile scythe known to the Imperium as the "Bane of Hope"
- Ghloxelch the Vilechemist: Once an apothecary of the Imperium, after falling to Nurgle Ghloxelch found new joy in the brewing of the vilest diseases and poxs. Now a Biologis Putrifier of Nurgle, Ghloxelch strides the battlefield with his vials hanging from his rack, his injector pistol in hand, and his companion Nurgling Bloabungus hanging from his armor.
- Festungus the Maggotsage: A Plaguecaster of Nurgle, Festungus is notably the only member of the Priests of Pox to not be originally from the Praetorian Masters. Instead, the Maggotsage is a former member of the Death Guard, who Lord Rustheart convinced to join his service in exchange for an ancient librarian relic of the chapter.
Warband Fleet[]
- Vectorium of Ruination (Ironclad-patter Battleship): An ancient vessel it is now known as the Vectorium of Ruination. It serves as the warband's flagship and fleet-base of the Praetorian Masters. However over the centuries of service to the Plaguefather, this formerly noble ship has become a vile, organic beast that rather than being piloted by a mortal crew, is now driven exclusively by its own evil sentience.
- Unnamed Frigates: Stolen and captured by the Praetors of Ruin, these formerly Imperial cruisers now serve a much darker master. While none are as heavily blessed as the Vectorium of Ruination, each frigate is nigh unrecognisable as imperial pattern ships.
Warband Relics[]
- Bane of Hope: This ancient power scythe was gifted to Lord Rustheart upon his declaration of fealty to Mortarion. A powerful scythe with a bladed base, Lord Rustheart sweeps the foul, diseased blades of this weapon through enemy and vehicle alike, bringing a gruesome death upon any scratched by its rusted metal.
Relations[]
Allies[]
- Death Guard: Upon corruption of the chapter, the Praetor's fleet was drawn through the warp towards the Plague Planet where they declared loyalty to the Daemon Primarch Mortarion and joined the Death Guard as the Chosen of Nurgle.
- Pilgrims of the Plague Moon: A chaos cult dedicated to the service of the Grandfather. The Praetors of Ruin see the cult as the one's who opened their eyes to the love of Nurgle, however not all of the warband sees the Pilgrims as their saviours, leading to some conflict amongst the Praetors.
Enemies[]
- Imperial Fists and Last Wall Chapters
- Imperium of Man
- Thousand Sons
Warband Appearance[]
Warband Colours[]
The warband wears heavily rusted, dirty armor, however, the bronze and black of their former selves is still visible beneath the centuries of neglect.
Warband Badge[]
The warband's symbol consists of a broken ruin on top of a bronze background.
Notable Quotes[]
- "You may think your walls shall stand, that your will is unending, yet entropy is the great victor. Whether it takes a week, or a millenia, your stone shall crumble to dust, your flesh will rot to nothing, and your will shall falter at the sight of true, unending ruination, thus says the Grandfather"
- — Lord Amigrad Rustheart, Lord of the Praetors of Ruin
Gallery[]
