Search the Community

Death Lords NOTE: This is a very early rough draft (ei WIP), so many things like the chapter heraldry and much of the lore will be added onto and changed. In fact, the primary reason I'm posting this is to get constructive criticism and ideas on how I can make this chapter more solid since I'm still learning a lot about the backstory and lore behind Warhammer 40k. Motto: "We are the fear that haunts your mind." (Alternatively: "I am the fear that haunts your mind," when being stated by a lone Death Lord.) Battle Cry: Commander- "We are fear, we are despair!" Battle Brothers- "We are agony, we are death!" Founding: 2nd Successors of: Raven Guard Successor Chapter(s): Unknown Number: Unkown Primarch: Corvus Corax Chapter Master: Lord Commander Augustus Valarius Chaplain: Nishesh Chapter Librarian: Maxentius Quintillus Homeworld: Adiran Fortress Monestary: Stygian Fortress Allegiance: Imperium of Man (Renegade) Colors: Black, White, Gold Trim Rival(s): Emperor's Children ​SUMMARY The Death Lords is a renegade chapter that specializes in terror tactics. Despite being declared Excommunicate Traitoris by the Inquisition due to their use of noise marine weapons and hostile actions towards agents of the Inquisition (the Death Lords hate the Inquisition to the point of threatening any agents that get in the way of their goals), the Death Lords still consider themselves, and claim to be loyal to the Emperor of Mankind. However, due to being branded as renegades, it is rare that another chapter will fight alongside the Death Lords. BELIEFS HEAVY METAL: The Death Lords have a passion for heavy metal and war ballads/battle anthems. This Chapter is known for its additional three companies, known as Metal Warriors, who charge into battle jamming out on guitar bolters and sonic weapons looted from defeated Noise Marines. Additionally, members compose war ballads/battle anthems to remember their great victories, as well as their loses and tend to rock out in much of their spare time (especially the Metal Warriors). The Death Lords even have different battle anthems for different occasions, like suicide missions, invasions, etc, to get pumped before and during a fight. FLAWED EMPEROR: The Death Lords believe that the Emperor is the one truly to blame for the Horus Heresy. Believing that his punishment of the Word Bearers was completely overkill and served as the catalyst for the civil war that would very nearly shatter the Imperium. Despite this, the Death Lords still believe that the Emperor is mankind's best hope and worship him as a god, albeit a flawed god. HATES HUMANITY: Due to humanity just being stupid in general (ei. not using a blinker when changing lanes, getting stuck behind someone who walks really slowly), the astartes of the Death Lords tend to be very annoyed, condescending and sarcastic when dealing with normal humans. This actually basically goes for anyone and any race with the exception of Sisters of Battle and most other Astartes. HISTORY The history of the Death Lords is steeped in mystery, much of it lost to time or closely guarded against outsiders. This fairly secretive chapter claims to be a 2nd Founding successor chapter of the Raven Guard, it is only the Chapter Master, Chapter Librarian, and several others that know that the Death Lords truly originate from the Night Lords. TIMELINE OF EVENTS 024.M31 Second Founding: The Death Lords, a loyalist successor chapter from the Night Lords traitor legion, claim to be a successor of the Raven Guard to avoid suspicion. 109.M31 Homeworld Established: The Death Lords establish Adiran as their homeworld and build their fortress monastery, the Stygian Fortress. 109.M31 The Dagon Confilict: The Death Lords engage in a conflict on Adiran's moon, Elegia, against a group of Dark Mechanicus lead by Kasimir Dagon. This results in the near destruction of the entire chapter to the point where it was believed to be destroyed. M32 /REDACTED/: Restricted or lost data. M33 /REDACTED/: Restricted or lost data. 041.M34 Reemergance of the Death Lords: The Death Lords reestablish communications with the Imperium. 053.M34 Investigation and Excommunication of the Death Lords: Due to their reemergence, the Death Lords were investigated by the Inquisition to make sure that they were still loyal to the Emperor. The inquisitor in charge of the investigation found that the Death Lords were using sonic weapons looted from defeated Noise Marines. When the inquisitor demanded that the chapter hand over the corrupted weapons, the Death Lords ran him off of their homeworld, resulting in them being excommunicated and branded as renegades. M35 /REDACTED/: Restricted or lost data. M36 M37 M38 M39 /REDACTED/: Restricted or lost data. M40 M41 M42 HOMEWORLD Adiran, the Death Lords' homeworld, located in the Calixis sector, is a dark and cold planet, with its moon perpetually eclipsing its sun. Adiran itself is a temperate marine planet, with vast oceans and sprawling forests (much like Washington state). The Death Lords' massive fortress monastery, the Stygian Fortress, sits atop the Casicus Mountain, coated in black and gilded in gold trim. Adiran is where the Death Lords recruit new forces, its people already hardened by the many dangers that lie in wait in the shadows of its dark forests. TACTICS The Death Lords specialize in terror tactics, taking time to learn the fears of their enemies and exploiting those fears. This is only the first stage of their attack, and is more so just preparation. After their enemies are paranoid and on edge, the Death Lords attack quickly with strike craft, under the veil of night. This is the second stage. Once the enemy is dazed and confused from the ensuing chaos, the Death Lords crush their enemies with a final heavy assault, blaring heavy metal (often from sonic weapons looted from Noise Marines) to further disorient their enemy, while at the same time motivating their own forces. METAL WARRIORS The best way to describe the Metal Warriors is to describe a bunch of punk rockers and heavy metal fanatics wearing power armor and wielding sonic weapons and various musical instruments (usually guitars and drums) that have been modified with various weapons (like bolters and flamers). While the entire chapter has a passion for heavy metal, the Metal Warriors, who actually consist of an additional three companies (the 11th, 12th, and 13th Companies) are generally the only ones who actually charge into battle while blaring heavy metal. In fact, the Metal Warriors are one of the reasons the Death Lords were excommunicated, because of their use of Noise Marine sonic weapons. In addition to having built a tolerance to sonic weapons, the Metal Warriors also have a special implant to make sure they don't explode from the power of the corrupted weapons they like to use. These same implants also help fight the taint of chaos, although there are still several incidents where a Metal Warrior has been corrupted. (NOTE: This obviously is not meant to be taken as seriously, and is simply a nod to the goofiness of the first two editions of Warhammer 40k, as well as being a reflection of my own personal preference for rock and metal.) FLEET 1x Oberon-class Battleship: Maw of Terror 1x Ironclad (outfitted with a ship-killer cannon): Obsidian Blade 1x Dictator-class Attack Craft Carrier: Might of the Imperium 3x Lunar-class Cruiser: Black Night, Night Terror, Fulgrim's Bane 1x Squadron (6) Firestorm-class Frigate 4x Squadron (2) Gladius-class Frigate 3x Squadron (5) Cobra-class Destroyer The Repulsive-class Grand Cruiser Metal Storm was last seen transporting the 12th company of Metal Warriors while chasing Noise Marines into the Warp and are believed to be lost. The Endeavor-class Light Cruisers Eclipse and Hound were destroyed during the acquisition of an Oberon-class Battleship space hulk, which is now the chapter flagship known as the Maw of Terror.