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Please bear with me, this is VERY rough and just an outline of the idea for the origins of my chapter. Some parts have "INSERT" typed, this is merely a place holder for future material. I have a poor understanding of how the Warp works and since a significant part of my back story is based on that, I need some help from some better lore educated people to round it out. Please, take a look. - While on patrol near INSERT, the Imperial Fist cruiser, INSERT, suffered a catastrophic event. One of the astropath on board was found in his chambers screaming uncontrollably, repeating the phrase, "the reaper has come, the reaper has come..." - Additional astropath confirm that a warp storm located in the INSERT system had occurred and a strong presence of chaos could be felt. - The INSERT and her associated battle group (4 ships in total and 65 marines) change course to investigate. A message is relayed to the main Imperial Fist fleet to request support. - Upon arrival in the INSERT system, IF forces encounter a sizable chaos force near the 9th planet. - Fragmented IF records indicate the INSERT system dates back to pre-heresy days and possibly contains an ancient temple or citadel on the 4th planet. This is assumed the possible reason for the chaos invasion, to secure possible equipment left at the citadel. - Believing the citadel to be the objective of the invasion, the INSERT makes a direct line toward the 4th planet using her support craft as to delay the chaos fleet. - A small scout squad dispatched ahead of the shifting battle confirms the location of the citadel. - In a desperate act the INSERT launches her remaining marines (30 in total) via drop pod onto the 4th planet to defend the citadel until reinforcements arrive. The 30 marines join the scouts that are already planet side. The INSERT is destroyed and the small force on the planets surface are left to defend themselves. - IF forces mount an impressive defense of the citadel, lasting 162 days and at the cost of all but 12 marines and 10 scouts. 1 additional battle brother was able to be stabilized from his wounds but later was interred into a dreadnought sarcophagi. A mixed force of IF, Ultramarines and Black Templars arrive and destroy a significant portion of the chaos fleet that has become known as the Doomreaver's. Though crippled they are not broken and with the help of their leader, known only as the "Reaver" they retreat back into the warp. - With the conclusion of the battle a further assessment of the citadel is conducted. It is determined that this was more than a shrine or temple to honor the emperor. It was in fact a great Moslem housing the remains of heroes from many of the original legions. Additionally there was found deep in holds of the citadel a sizable supply of armor, munitions and other equipment hat would have greatly benefitted the Doomreaver's. This great mosleum and this system had been forgotten with time. - A portion of the IF fleet is left in orbit of the system and the 10 marines and 12 scouts insist on staying planet side to guard the temple. They are reinforced by the Ultramarines and IF's. - The Inqusition INSERT learns of the historical find and dispatches a force to secure the planet. - With the inquisition and 2 Astrades fleets in orbit around INSERT tensions run high as it is determined what is to become of the temple, planet and system. - Tensions peak when a spy is found wondering the halls of the INSERT. Accusations abound and the inquisition flag ship is boarded by IF marines. The Inquisition backs down on their demands and agrees to the forming of a new chapter. Much of the equipment in storage is seconded to the new chapter but portions are divided among the ultras, if's and Bt's. Other chapters are made aware of the location of the chapter so that they may come to honor or move heroes from their past. Many choose to leave the fallen in the catacombs. - The Temple Guard is founded during the INSERT founding. The original 22 IF survivors are seconded into the chapter as is Brother INSERT as the chapters first dreadnought. A small number of Additional Black Templars and Ultramarines that were present at the original battle were also allowed to be seconded into the Temple Guard. - Additional information gathered from with in the archives of the temple identify further systems and other temples that have been forgotten with time. - The temple guard maintains open relations ships with many SM chapters. Particularly those from the early foundings letting them come and honor their fallen and view the banners that hang in the great hall. - The Temple Guard continues to maintain a relationship with the inquisition. As the Guard investigates information and locations. This relationship is looked on poorly by some chapters but understood as needed, because the Guard have always insured that relics, remains or equipment that is found is always returned to the second founding chapter of origin when possible. Other such equipment that can not be returned is honored and stored within the walls of INSERT or returned to Tera to be placed in the emperor's palace. - Since their founding the guard continues to investigate information that is recovered from their records. They have participated in several crusades that have identified forgotten systems and lost worlds. A larger portion of their forces are fleet based, searching for what has been forgotten. - Specialize in drop pod warfare, drop pods as singed to squads, not kept in the armory. - Orange and grey colors - Have a sizable number of tech marines to assist in the gathering of info and the locating of relics. - Sizable fleet broken into 3 watches. Once a place has been discovered the watches rotate between checking in on them. - Works openly with other chapters and when possible invites delegates from them. Particularly when items from that chapter have been located, they are invited to participate in the fight.

I am not all too familiar with the exorcists chapter but they have a cool colour scheme and a cool theme of demon hunting. but what what else is there to them? Ive read that they get demons to possess their initiates.... if so then how have they not been declared as heretics as such a practice is surely forbidden? apart from the demon possession, do the exorcists have a nasty/evil side to them (beause to me they don't seem squeaky clean)??

Greetings Brothers. I have been a long time lurker on these forums and have made the odd post here and there but that has little bearing on this topic. I shall give you a little back ground on my 40k career thus far. I started this hobby due to being over at my friends place while he was having a battle his DA vs. some traitorous rabble. I had heard of 40k before, knew a little bit of fluff but had never seen it played before. "Hey X does that guy have a chainsaw for a sword?" I said pointing to one of his Sergeants "Yup." replied X and then I preceded to ask him everything I could about his armies weapon load out. After the game and a couple hours of talking with my buddy I went out and picked up an AoBR starter set 2 tactical squads and a box of Devs and a Razorback the next day. I now have oh lets call it a demi chapter I have 20 tactical TDA, 18 sniper scouts 2 w/missile 6 tactical squads with sarg w/ chainsword/ bolt pistol and missile/flamer, 2 10 man tactical with plasma gun/ cannon and sarg w/ plasma/power sword, 2 10 man tactical melta/multi melta sarg w/ combi melta/power sword, 3 10 man Dev 1 with 2 missile/ 2 plasma 1 with 4 las and 1 with 4 hb, 2 10 man assault 1 with packs w/ 2 plasma pistols sarg w/ power fist/storm shield the other no packs with flamers bare bones sarg, 2 IC dreads, 2 Ven dreads and 5 dreads all various load outs pretty much one of everything. 1 vindi, 1 whirlwind, 2 preds dakka, 2 thunder fire cannons, 3 speeder typhoon, 1 storm talon. 1 LR crusader, 1 LR phobos(godhammer) 3 drop pods, 3 rhino/razorback. I may have missed a unit or two in this list but I shall now get to the point. I know I want my marines to be sons of Dorn. What I have little or no idea on is which founding are they from. Why were they created? I do know I want to have a sort of CF feel to them that what I have is all that is left from the chapter and that there current strength is due to Necrons(the other 40k army I play). They are fleet based now. Seeing as I have not painted any of my models and barely half of them are even based black a colour scheme is something I need to figure out as well. So what I am asking Brothers is help figuring out a colour scheme, a founding, and a reason for there founding.

I quote from http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Astral_Knights ... Chapter's Fate Sometime shortly after the destruction of the Necron World Engine and the loss of nearly the entire Astral Knights Chapter, an envoy of the newly formed Sable Swords Chapter, led by 1st Company Captain Daegan visited the world of Obsidia to inform the remaining Astral Knights that they were to claim stewardship of their Fortress-Monastery. The remaining Astral Knights, numbering only thirty Battle Brothers, were led by the Chapter's last surviving Dreadnought, Brother Thade. Thade, angry at the thought of his proud and noble Chapter being so easily cast aside and replaced with a Chapter so young and inexperienced nearly came to blows with Daegan, instead demanding what deeds could the Sable Swords offer the remaining Astral Knights. Daegan simply stepped aside, clearing a path from the chamber deep within the fortress and said: "Take a ship from here and ply the stars as the Astral Knights once did, before they set down roots in stone and iron. Fight on in the Emperor's name until you can fight the no more, and when that day comes, know that in death your duty has ended." There are no known Imperial records that follow the Astral Knights into their final moments. So they are uber cool, they are sons of Dorn, they are just 30 tacticals and a dreddy so I can manage to paint all the chapter, and they have a kick ass colour scheme... but I can't understand clearly what was their fate (damn my lack of english skill). They was wiped out ? They was merged to Sable Swords Chapter ?

Hi there, This is really my first post and I just wanted to ask if anyone creates chapters baised on books they may have read? I've read Soul Drinkers by Ben Counter and loved the story so much that I've started to model a force based on the book. So far I've got Sarpedon and Telos finished and starting to work on the others as well as some mock up rules to use at my local game club. I will put up some pics of what I've done so far soon as Im quite proud of them as they are also my first attempt at conversion work. Please tell me what you've done and photos if possible( maybe I'll get some ideas from you all) Thanks

I got a fast start on building and priming the tactical squad. The rhino transport is taking a bit longer than expected. Will be posting pics shortly as soon as I figure out the process of posting pics

I need to update my Crimson Fists to take to the finals of the UKGT this year. They did kind of ok before but now, with the rules from CA, Vigilus and White Dwarf, I hope to do... kind of ok. But with a slightly different army featuring a load of veteran intercessors. Now all I need is a load of veteran intercessors! The army will be led by Pedro Kantor. Actually he probably won't be allowed to be Warlord due to his dreadful warlord trait, but he'll certainly be lending moral support - telling the intercessors to hit things again and the hellblasters not to blow themselves up. I've assembled the figure for him, based on some guy called Marneus Something. I've purged a bunch of old dead photobucket images and replaced them with my nearly finished Pedro Kantor. His arms are taken from the deathwing terminators in the old 7th edition starter. I'd never built them, but I like the studded power fist. He's got an aggressor shoulder pad from the IF sprue and the eagle one from his own kit. Banner is from an old Termie. The fist on his belt comes from the IF sprue's power fist. These are kind of crap - obviously too small for Primaris marines - but the badge was just the right size to replace the U that started there. I'm pleased I've been able to join the ammo feeds that he came with onto the Dorn's Arrow I made, which is just the bolter things off his power fists stuck together. More green stuff will be needed there to join it to his arm. This guy here is one of my existing Sergeants, with on of Calgar's fists (minus the U symbol and bolter). I reckon he looks like he means business! I've also stripped a load of layers of paint off these guys. They are from the starter set and had been used for various test schemes and things. Using these guys can save me from having to buy and build another box of Intercessors, and actually the models are pretty decent. The Sergeant is getting a pointing power fist. Stripping these guys took ages - several baths in Dettol, which left them with a nasty slime on. A final bath in some watered-down brush restorer got that off. They are pretty much as good as new now. Next step is to build everyone I think. I'll then spray them all and get started on the batch painting. I'm working on 30 guys. 5 are done (apart from the Sergeant's power fist), 4 are basecoated, 8 are stripped and that leaves 13 still to assemble. I'm thinking about how to represent the fact that these guys are veteran intercessors. One option is to paint both hands red for everyone. Another might be to give them rather more battle damage, bionics and wounds than they'd usually start with - but that would require a lot of work! There's only one bionic arm and no legs that I know of for Primaris guys so far. I do have some random necrons I could go to work on, but I worry that they'd be too obviously necron legs. If anyone's got a good way of doing this I'd be interested.

Hi all, just gathering info about the exorcists chapter. do we know if they are featured in any novels or anything? I know they were in one of the imperial armour books, was any important fluff mentioned about them in that book? cheers

This is going to be a new project I will be working on .Already have some of the shoulder pads made up .Just waiting for some bits and have to get some fresh paint.And will be posting a test fig soon.

Greetings esteemed battle brothers. A couple of days ago i received my copy of Daenyathos :) and i was wondering, has anyone else purchased it? Thoughts? Did you like it or not? First of all the book arrived less than 48 hours after i ordered it via UPS. I live in Greece and from order to arrival it took less than 48 hours. Veeeery nice! My copy is the 29th out of 1000, signed by Mr Counter too. The cover is a very rich and beautiful purple colour. At last... it is not printed in china, rather in Malta and you can tell the difference. So far so good. However the book is very small. I read fast and finished it the same day. I paid 45 pounds(with mailling expenses) which i find a rather hefty price for such a small book. With the text inside there are pencil drawings. I didn't like them very much. However all this is my personal opinion. I would pay for any Soul Drinkers book any price because i like them very much regardless of how expensive i might think it is, and i like Mr Counter's writing style. Your opinions?

On the suggestion of midnight angel, I am setting up a new thread for the actual contest. Rules are basically the same as those posted in the discussion earlier, the only change being that an independent character can be added to another unit. Rules 1. Each Participant may only enter 1 legal unit from Codex: Space Marines. This may include an attached independent character and/ or dedicated transport. They may be painted in the colours of the Imperial fists, official successors, or homebrew successors. Official chapters of other lineages are not allowed. 2. To enter a participant must post their intention to enter the contest in this thread along with a photo of the assembled models. These models may be primed or un-primed. 3. A successful contestant must post photos of their completed models in this thread before 11:59PM November 30, 2013 Eastern Standard Time. 4. Voting. There shall be 2 categories that will be voted on: first is best painted unit; second is best conversion. I am willing to consider submissions for other categories until the second of November. 5. Who can vote. Anyone who enters the contest can vote in any or all categories. Once I have the voting thread up, people will have 1 week to vote. Your vote will be cast by posting in the voting thread. You are not allowed to vote for your own models in any category. If you have any questions feel free to ask them. Posted at 0.820.013.M2

Defenders of Saint Chaste, Saviours of Sarment, Attack Dogs of the Cardinal... all these titles and more could once have described the War Wolves. However, all were set aside when they betrayed the Imperium on Sarment Prime and decimated the Ecclesiarchy's main powerbase in the sector. Where once their rage was seen as righteous, a manifestation of the Emperor's Wrath, it is now held in ignominy, a sign of their corruption and Heresy... Hello, and welcome to my new DIY project! After having suffered a fair amount of hobby burnout in the second half of 2018, Ive decided to start afresh, stripping my old Shadow Wolf models and ripping the core of my old DIY fluff out - I should therefore be able to start on a more stable base. I've decided to attempt a sort of a blog format here, where I'll take you through my thought process, as I think it could be of use for those who are starting out on their first DIY project and have no idea where to start. That doesn't mean I'm attempting to claim any knowledge that isn't already out there (quite the opposite - learning new snippets of fluff is a constant endeavour), or to have the best writing and/or creative skills (I'm not quite self centered enough not to realise that there are many better things popping out all over the place). Still, I do have a certain experience in writing Indices (that never quite get finished), and my short time as a moderator here forced me to examine the different pitfalls that are all too frequent (many of which I have fallen victim to more than once). As such, I hope this thread will be both entertaining and informative to you (even if it is just to see where I make mistakes). I welcome all (constructive) criticism - after all I wouldn't be writing this on a forum otherwise - but I still wish this project to be my own, so do not feel snubbed if I don't follow your recommendations. --- In terms of format, I shall attempt to maintain the index up to date in the second post, and the first "blog" entry should find itself in the third post. If you notice I haven't updated the IT in a bit of time after my latest blog entry, don't hesitate to poke me - I'm very bad at keeping the final document ship shape and sparkling ^^ And off we jolly well go!

The start of my Crimson Fist strike force is the command nucleus of Captain and Veteran Sergeant. Captain Tancred on the right and Veteran Sergeant Guy on the left. They don't mess around! http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/gallery/image/149862-captain-and-his-veteran-sergeant/

Imperial Fist Expansion II In the wake of the recent rise in Chaos and Warp activity, the Chapter Master of the Imperial Fists has decreed that his Chapter must bolster its strength to counter the rising and terrible threat. All battle-brothers have been recalled to the Phalanx to re-arm and prepare for the coming onslaught. New aspirants have been recruited in the hope that a number of them will complete the full transformation into an Astartes to replace losses caused by the upcoming conflicts. The Techmarines and their Servitors aboard Chapter Forge-Ships work ceaselessly to repair damaged wargear and produce new materials of war. The Chapter Ancients are being roused to better aid their Chapter with their extensive wisdom and knowledge in warfare. Hundreds of fully armoured Battle-Brothers assemble in the centre of the Phalanx, before their Chapter Master. The thousand voices all shout the same words, loud and clear, in defiance to the Warp-filth that spills forth from the Immaterium: "For Dorn and the Emperor!" After that little introductory bit of text, I welcome you all to the second Imperial Fist Expansion. The aim of this competition is to enable Imperial Fist players to get the motivation needed to paint their various units so that they can be proud to deploy a fully-painted army of yellow Space Marine on the battlefield! If you want to see how the first Expansion was like, click here! Rules You make a vow of how many models you will paint by the end of the competition. You may vow as many models as you wish, as long as they are painted up as Imperial Fists Astartes. No other Chapters accepted. Then, you crack out your paint pots, brushes and models and get painting! You must provide at least two Work in Progress (WIP) pictures of your vow and then a final picture of the completed model(s). You are allowed to add to your vow if you finish painting your first batch of models, but you cannot remove any already pledged models from your vow! You must do all of this before the end of the competition! As you can see, it is not difficult and it is a great oppurtunity to slap some paint onto your models and show the Imperial Fist community here on the B&C some support :) For the vow, please copy/paste and complete the following form: Vows Rhetoricus - a full Terminator Squad - [Progress thread] Brother Syth - a full Tactical Squad in MKVI armour and a Fellblade - [Progress thread] Battle-Brother Ludovic - half a Tactical Squad - [Progress thread] Grey Paladin - half a Tactical Squad - Kyram'vhett - two full Tactical Squads and First Captain Lysander - Captain Antonius - half a Bike Squad, a Captain on bike, and a Chaplain on bike - moric - a full Devastator Squad, a full Terminator Squad and an Aegis Defense Line - [Progress thread] Coopervisor - half a Devastator Squad - corai - a full Boarding Marine Squad (MkIII armour) and a Contemptor Dreadnought (boarding assault themed) - Mazer Rackham - a full Tactical Squad - Demon2027 - a full Tactical Squad - Lestat - half a Terminator Squad and half a Sternguard Squad (MkV armour) - almightyjesus55 - a full Tactical Squad - Reyner - Sigismund, First Captain - Nards08 - one Stormtalon Gunship - Eliath - two full Tactical Squads, half a Scout Squad, and a Terminator Librarian - Brother Mord - a Drop pod and half a Devastator Squad - Mystech1 - half a Tactical Squad - BattlebrotherJohn - a Captain and a Veteran Sergeant (count-as Veteran Sergeant Haas) - Brother Kataklysm - a single Tactical Astartes - Do not forget to enjoy yourself and if by some misfortune you are not able to complete your vow, just tell us here and then go and spend a couple of weeks in the Pain Glove ;) Last, but not least, here is the participation banner that you should all wear in your signature to show your participation in this Expansion! Sign up will go on until 6th October, so be speedy with your vows! Cheers, Ludovic

Sons of Dorn, The Eye of Terror has opened yet again. Tzeentch's daemonic legions, the treacherous Thousand Sons, and even their twisted Daemon-Primarch Magnus, have emerged from the Warp and are causing untold destruction to the worlds around Cadia. The Imperial Fists and their successors, stalwart defenders of the Imperium and its people, the Emperor's Praetorians, must push back this tide of horrors and liberate as many Imperial worlds as they can. Round up your neophytes, fire up your forges, arm your battle-brothers! The time of ending is near and the sons of Dorn shall not be found wanting... The dust has had time to settle since the last event in this subforum, Imperial Fists Expansion IV, which saw the Imperial Fists and their successors emerge victorious over the traitorous Iron Warriors. This smaller event is set to begin in March and will last a month. The format will be different from the original Walls Fail, Fists Do Not event and will instead resemble the Ultramarines' Reinforcement Rush in more ways than one. So, with those few hints given, prepare your models and make sure you don't miss this golden opportunity to kick Chaos in the teeth again.

Imperial Fists Expansion III In the wake of the recent rise in Chaos and Warp activity, the Chapter Master of the Imperial Fists has decreed that his Chapter must bolster its strength to counter the rising and terrible threat. All battle-brothers have been recalled to the Phalanx to re-arm and prepare for the coming onslaught. New aspirants have been recruited in the hope that a number of them will complete the full transformation into an Astartes to replace losses caused by the upcoming conflicts. The Techmarines and their Servitors aboard Chapter Forge-Ships work ceaselessly to repair damaged wargear and produce new materials of war. The Chapter Ancients are being roused to better aid their Chapter with their extensive wisdom and knowledge in warfare. The Chaplains, deep within the Reclusiam, prepare their sermons and most holy relics. The Librarians steel their minds against the predations of thw Warp, expecting the surge of malefic psychic activity. The line Astartes, each confined for a short time to their hab-cells, reflect upon the upcoming war effort, each Battle-Brother with vows to their Primarch and the Emperor of Mankind upon their lips. And yet, despite the martial prowess of the Astartes under his command and the great war machines that he has at his disposal, the Chapter Master, ever concious of the Legions of Chaos that lie in wait within the Great Eye, has sent out astropathic hails far out into the galaxy, attempting to reach the ears of the other Chapters who claim to be of the great line of Dorn. The Crimson Fists, Celestial Lions, Excoriators, Executioners, Subjugators, Iron Knights, and even the renegade Soul Drinkers, have been contacted to send their own Battle-Brothers to fight back their traitorous brethren and corrupted followers. After many months of preparation, hundreds of fully armoured Battle-Brothers assemble in the Great Hall aboard the Phalanx, before the Chapter Master of the Imperial Fists. The thousand voices all shout the same words, loud and clear, in defiance to the Warp-filth that spills forth from the Immaterium: "For Dorn and the Emperor!" Rules You may enter any models that represent the proud Sons of Dorn. No other models/Chapters will be allowed (if unsure, this list gives you a good indication; please note that DIY Chapters are accepted); The Expansion runs from today, 15th September 2015, until 23:00 GMT on 15th December 2015. Any models submitted after this deadline will not be counted; You may make up to six vows over the course of the Expansion. However, if you do make multiple vows, but fail to complete the last one, the previous vows will be counted towards your vow completion total. You must also complete your first vow to be able to make a second one, complete your second before vowing a third, etc; Each vow must be made up of at least one unit from the latest Codex: Space Marines, Imperial Armour Vol 2 - War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes, or the relevant Forge World Horus Heresy books. No exceptions. After each vow is made, you must supply a "starting picture" (the state your models are in before you start building/painting them), at least one "work in progress" (WIP) update, and a final "completed" picture. If you wish to post more WIP updates, you are free to do so. Also, if you wish to post your progress in your own thread in the Forge or here in the subforum, you're also free to do so, providing that you send me a PM with a link to your thread! For those of you who like to write some fluff for your units, I can only encourage you to do so, as their might be a special something for you once the competiton ends (along with a few other potential surprises for others). If you have any questions, please do no hesitate to post them in this thread, or to PM me directly. For the vow, there is no "official" format, but if you copy/paste and complete the following form, you should be good: Vows Imperial Fists Expansion III Vows ID Frater Chapter Units Vow Complete I @Armond Executioners One Chaplain Link Link One five-man Tactical Squad Link Link One Razorback Link Link One five-man Assault Squad, one Land Speeder Typhoon Link Link One six-man Tactical Squad, one Razorback, one Ironclad Dreadnought, one Venerable Dreadnought, one Drop Pod, one Vindicator Link Link One eight-man Tactical Squad, one Razorback, one Ironclad Dreadnought, one Command Squad, one Captain, one Librarian Link Link One Dreadnought, one Drop Pod, three Terminators Link Link II @Augustus b'Raass Imperial Fists One five-man Scout Squad Link Link One Whirlwind Link Link One Whirlwind Link Link One Captain, one Primus Medicae on Bike Link Link One Attack Bike, one Whirlwind Link Link One five-man Devastator Squad, one five-man Tactical Squad Link Link One Razorback, one Attack Bike, one five-man Tactical Squad Link Link III @BattleBrotherJohn Soul Drinkers Two ten-man Tactical Squads Link Link IV @Brother Pheidias Imperial Fists One five-man Tactical Squad, one Captain, one Chaplain, one Librarian Link Link V Interdictors One Rhino Link Link VI @Capitano N/A One Sternguard Veteran Squad Link Link VII @deathspectersgt7 Iron Knights One Captain Link Link [/td] Executioners One Captain Link Link Fire Lords One Veteran Sergeant Link Link Excoriators One Chapter Champion Link Link VIII @Demus Ragnok Death Strike One Chaplain Link Link IX @DimDim Imperial Fists One Praetor Link Link X @Disruptor_fe404 Sentinels Three Honour Guard Link Link XI @Dosjetka Imperial Fists One Chaplain Link Link XII @Gaius Atticus Crimson Fists One ten-man Tactical Squad, one Razorback Link Link XIII @Grotsmasha N/A One Captain Link Link XIV @Helias Tancred Crimson Fists One Ironclad Dreanought, three Land Speeders, one Captain Link Link XV @jimbo13 Imperial Fists One Siege Breaker (Centurion) Link Link One Mortis-Contemptor Link Link One Support Squad Link Link XVI @krakenfiend Imperial Fists Two three-man Bike Squads, each with one attached Attack Bike Link Link XVII @Lachdannan Imperial Fists One Legion Apothcary Link Link XVIII @nightwing1511 Imperial Fists One Command Squad Link Link XIX @nusphigor CrimsonFists Three Captains, one Librarian Link Link XX @ShVagYeR Imperial Fists One Captain Link Link XXI Imperial Fists One First-Captain Sigismund Link Link XXII @valhalla130 Imperial Fists One ten-man Tactical Squad, one Captain, one Librarian Link Link XXIII @WITCHKING501 Imperial Fists One ten-man Breacher Squad Link Link One Sicaran Battle Tank, one five-man Destroyer Squad Link Link XXIV @Wulfgar Ironmane N/A One First-Captain Sigismund, one Captain Link Link XXV @Zopha Imperial Fists One three-man Outrider Squad Link Link + + + + + + + + Before I forget, here is the participation banner that you should all wear in your signature to show your participation in this Expansion! (500x100 pixels) (400x50 pixels) (300x100 pixels) (300x100 pixels) (33x100 pixels) Last but not least, enjoy yourselves! And if ever you fail to make it, there's always the Pain Glove

so, under the new rules if your army is unbound you cannot gain the 'objective secured rule'. but, just recently the FAQ's have gone up and pedro kantors rule has been changed to 'an army that includes pedro kantor, friendly units of sternguard have 'objective secured' so in a unbound army they would still have this rule... im confused

I was thinking of getting a couple of terrain pieces to display my army with. What does everybody currently use? I thought the wall of Martyrs would be a good fit for descendants of Dorn, but the Shrine of the Aquila looks awesome, and is actually a good piece of LoS blocking Terrain, so would be good for games too.

After spending the last year or so ogling my buddy's Badab War books, I finally broke and ordered them for myself a while back, and having now had the chance to thoroughly examine the Exorcists entry, I find I really love the concept of the Orisons, the Occult brotherhoods which exist outwith the normal Codex-adherent structure of the Chapter. For a start, it goes a long way to restoring some sense of uniqueness to the Chapter, which I feel was lost when The Great Satan himself, Matt Ward( :lol: ) decided that the Grey Knights were going to change from paragons of virtue who wouldn't be seen dead with a radical; to xenos-loving, Battle Sister-murdering, sorcery-doing, daemon weapon-wielding radical hypocrites who pretend to be paragons of virtue who wouldn't be seen dead with a radical. With the Grey Knights recast as ruthless pragmatists(who apparently have Exorcists marines over for tea and crumpets on occasion), the Exorcists went from "shadowy possibly-Xanathite conspiracy" to "mass-produced pseudo-GK", and Forgeworld's occult secret societies bring back that subtle whiff of potential heresy that made the Chapter so appealing; to me at least. However, whether to provide players with an opportunity just like this one, or simply because there wasn't enough room, Forgeworld didn't fully detail these Orisons, just gave us a few examples, and some tantalising hints via the names of the Marines featured in the artwork. I think it would be fun to try and devise some new Orisons, and flesh out the existing ones, either for players to borrow and use for their own armies, or just use as a guide for their own ideas; anyone fancy pitching in? To start, lets lay out what we know already. Each Orison has a specific focus - is specialised in one field of esoteric knowledge - and that includes a body of literary work describing that knowledge. A Marine can be a member of any number of Orisons providing they meet any entry requirements, and from that we can infer that membership of multiple or more exclusive Orisons are marks of status and standing within the Chapter. The three Orisons already known are: The Enochian Guard; "hellslayers", composed primarily of 1st Co. Veterans, any potential candidate must have slain at least one daemonic foe in single combat. Their body of knowledge likely relates to advanced techniques for battling the daemonic. The Obelisk Thelemus; includes substantial numbers of Devastators and Techmarines, with no other info given. The Broken Tower; almost entirely consists of members of the Librarius, with no other info given. In addition, some ranks/honourifics are shown in the illustrations of squads which served in the Badab War, which are; Inceptor; no details given, but Inceptor Khal is listed as being part of the Enochian Guard, so this could be a generic title or one specific to that Orison. The word itself refers to a beginner, someone studying the rudiments of a subject, so if we attribute it to the Orison rather than the Chapter as a whole(which makes more sense given that Khal is a Veteran Sergeant), it would likely be the first title given to someone after their initiation into the group. Lector; no details given. The word has multiple meanings, so could refer to a teaching position of some kind, a reference to a non-Chaplain who conducts minor religious ceremonies/assists the Reclusiam in some manner, or a Marine who reads aloud from the Liber Exorcismus during ceremonies and/or battle. Almoner; listed prior to the rank("Almoner Sergeant" in the example), meaning a title rather than honourific. In the religious sense, the word refers to a priest or administrative figure responsible for dispensing charitable funds to the needy, however it has an additional and more thematically-consistent meaning via Masonic tradition, in which the Almoner is an office charged with looking after the wellbeing of their fellows - this could imply involvement with the Reclusiam, Apothecarion, or both. Athemae of the Broken Tower; an honourific rather than a rank. Appears to be based on a Wiccan/Pagan dagger blade used to "direct energy" during rituals. So, that's what FW have given us to work with. Their primary sources appear to have been the Thelemic Mysticism created and popularised by Alastair Crowley, Enochian Magick which was in turn derived from the heterodox biblical text the Book of Enoch, and various other forms of occultism, mysticism, and non-mainstream Abrahamic theologies. I would propose we use the same sources, and what little info exists regarding the Exorcists, in order to flesh out the existing three Orisons, and add a few more. Where to begin? Lets start with three things: 1. To what Orison, if any, should the "Lector" title belong, and which of the three definitions do you prefer? 2. A new Orison, implied by the "Almoner" title. Their body of work would be concerned with ensuring the physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing of their brothers, and as such would imply a membership containing many Chaplains and Apothecaries. An "Almoner" could perhaps refer to a full initiate of this Orison, well versed in it's works, who is not a member of either of those specialist groups. What should the Orison be called? What other ranks or honourifics would be fitting? 3. Another new Orison, this one beginning with even more vague foundations. There are references in the background for the Chapter which discuss the Exorcists' particular mental abilities, their capacity to use meditations to alter their state of mind such that fear and pain no longer trouble them ostensibly being greater than that of normal Space Marines. An expanded version of that discipline, perhaps even serving as justification for a unique tabletop unit, sounds like an intriguing basis for an Orison. Which occult mythos should we draw from for this one? Should it have a defined membership base, or be simultaneously more open(in that it's not primarily composed of one or two groups from within the chapter) and also more exclusive(in that the number of Marines capable of joining and mastering their discipline is small)? Anyway, I'll stop rambling for now, I hope we can generate some cool ideas.

Hey y'all, I need a little love getting my new Chapter worked out. I got some things I like already, those are written in white*. There are also some things I need help with, either putting it "in better words" or having facts straightened (meaning if I'm getting fluff or things wrong, let me know). The things I got so far are: Chapter Master: Brictius/ Bastium (Brick/ Bastion). I got the model and loadout, working out the fluff accordingly. Needs a strong name, something with a B like the ones I got. Brictius is latin for piebald, which for some reason I like. Like a "petname" from his battle-brothers. (I imagine he's got pigment spots or something on his head). This wouldn't be on his profile, everyone just "knows" it. Theme for the Chapter: As all Imperial Fists, they are Siege specialist, but they in particular are adept at the gritty in-yet-face-hows-me-powerfist mess of trench fighting. I'm thinking (heavy) flamers, stormshields etc. Colors. Funnily enough, they look alot like the old colors for the Raptors (still called Raptor legion back then). There's good yellow in it, to show they affiliation to the Fists. Facts for the Chapter: Stubborn SOBS like all the sons of Dorn, they have been in many prolonged campaigns and suffered for it. The previous Chapter Master died in their current campaign and the First company's Captain stepped in to fill his shoes. He'll be in command until the end of the campaign after which the Chapter's council will vote in a (new) Chapter Master. They are currently involved in a campaign alongside the Celestial Lions** Chapter, fellow sons of Dorn. The colours. The piebald. (Painting him is next on my agenda). Equipment: Thunderhammer (fist looks more boss tho), Digital weapons (in case it's all 1's rolled to wound NOT ON MY WATCH) and the Shield Eternal. I believe it makes a good combination but I'm open for suggestions all the time. Magnetising his backpack in case he ever needs a Jumppack. So why am I posting this? It's not only to show off my (few) models, it's also because I'm in dire need for a good Chapter name for these boys. I had originally called them the Disciples of Wrath and even tho I still like the name, I someone don't see it fitting for them. I want something that ties them in with the Imperial Fists/ Dorn more than just a "random cool name". With this I would really love some help. In advance, I thank you. *I'm also making this my WIP thread for the Chapter, hence the white text reference. Stuff posted at a later date that I'm not sure about will be in yellow or something. * *The Celestial Lions reference is because they're my primary army. I love the IF Chapter Doctrine and having one army that follows the same rules just helps play. I know the lore on the Celestial Lions. Please don't start telling me things about them. I know it. New and old. This thread is for the boys in the blue-yellow pyjamas.

This thread is to document my WIP of my chapter, the Temple Guard. Progress will be slow, but progress will happen. Once I finish rounding out the fluff I will post it for those interested. In the mean time, here are some ideas I have been throwing around for color and chapter symbol. I came across this image and loved the green, I would like to work with this I think. I would like to give a nod to the original 7th Legion, so I came up with the following that uses this green color; I also played around with some grey, but i feel they look a little "Space Wolves"-ish Personally I like the second, with the Khaki Green and white the best, I think the green/yellow combo is too "Packers"-ish. As for the Chapter symbol I was thinking a Raptor head set against crossing lighting bolts, something very similar to the original iconography of the 7th. I also briefly played around with the idea of using the Dark Angel logo since I have a Dark Vengeance box, but I dont think it works. I am not sure though. Anyway, going for a very military feel with these guys, hoping to build a decent drop pod army and possibly an Assault Marine army using BA rules. A.

[font=Trebuchet MS; background-image:url(http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/hq2.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 8px 2px; padding: 12px 8px 12px 8px; border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-left: 0 auto; text-align: left; color: #fff; text-indent:50px; font-size:130%; width:50%;">Excoriators: A Comprehensive History [/font] The Excoriators are a Successor Chapter created during the dark days of the Second Founding from the genestock of the Imperial Fists. This was done in recognition of these Astartes stalwart defence of the Imperial Palace during the Battle of Terra. The ancient tome of knowledge known as the Mythos Angelica Mortis lists the Excoriators as one of the 20 Chapters of Astartes founded to make up the Astartes Praeses, an ever-vigilant Space Marine task force assigned to guard the regions of the Imperium surrounding the Eye of Terror. Their duty of garrisoning the sectors bordering the Eye of Terror is never easy. The servants of the Dark Gods are ever ready to test the mettle of the Excoriators bastions, gauntlets and cordons, and with recent misfortunes the numbers of battle-brothers holding such precarious boundaries were dwindling. Chapter Symbol http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f262/SGM-Daly91/Warhammer%2040K/ExcoriatorsLivery.jpg Chapter Organisation The Excoriators are regarded as a Codex Astartes-compliant Chapter, as their organisation, order of battle and tactical operations adhering closely to the tenets laid down in that most sacred of tomes to the Adeptus Astartes. There are, however, several noteworthy and substantial deviations from the Codex's prescribed doctrine. Most notable among these deviations are the use of certain honourific ranks and titles within the Chapter, including the following: Vanguard or Honoured First (the Veteran 1st Company) Chapter Scourge (Chapter Master’s Champion) Santiarch (Senior Chaplain) Lord Apothecary (Senior Apothecary) Corpus-Captain (Captain) Chief Whip (Senior Veteran Sergeant) Veteran Squad Whip (Veteran Sergeant) Squad Whip (Sergeant)) Chapter Appearance The Excoriators' Power Armour is painted a cream colour with silver Aquila and trim. Each gouge and las-burn in their Power Armour has the dates and locations where these scars of battle were earned meticulously inscribed into the battle-plate in High Gothic script. The battle-plate of the Excoriators' is often covered in such markings. The Chapter's badge is taken from their lost Chapter standard, the Stigmartyr. This adopted emblem is a scarlet gauntleted fist shot through with lightning bolts that protrude both in front and behind the fist like wicked spikes. Chapter Appearance http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f262/SGM-Daly91/Warhammer%2040K/ExcoriatorAstartes.jpg Beliefs their fellow Successor Chapters of the Imperial Fists, the Excoriators have a morbid fascination with pain and ritual scarring. They too, possess their own unique Chapter traditions. Most notable of these are the "Rites of Castigation" and "Donning Dorn’s Mantle," the latter of which involves ritual mortification of the flesh, particularly about the neck and shoulders. The Excoriators take great pride in the scars they earn through self-mutilation, a practice eerily similar to the World Eaters Traitor Legion's practice of the "Triumph Rope," or Lucius the Eternal's early ritual scarification of his face. However, the Excoriators take this practice to a whole new level, in that they do not concern themselves with just the wounds of the flesh. Scratched in High Gothic lettering, adorning each nick, sword slash and bullet hole on their Power Armour are inscriptions. Their battle-plate is often covered in such markings, with each gouge and las-burn bearing its own notation, dates and location where these battle honours were earned in glorious combat. The ebon-coloured script stands out boldy on the Chapter’s cream-coloured Power Armor. The Exoriators are pious, zealous and uncompromising Astartes who have a deep and abiding faith in the Emperor of Mankind and their Primarch Rogal Dorn. When saluting a fellow Battle-Brother or before going into battle, an Excoriator often recites the ritual prayer Dextera Dornami, which loosely translates as the "right hand of Dorn." Then they form a fist with their right gauntlet before touching their forehead with one knuckle, then their lips and then their breastplate -- one Astartes heart, then the other. As an Imperial Fists Successor Chapter, the Excoriators are known to take part in the Feast of Blades. This tradition was established and first presided over by Rogal Dorn himself, immediately after the Battle of the Iron Cage with their mortal enemies, the Iron Warriors Traitor Legion, on the world of Sebastus IV. Dorn wanted to foster brotherhood between the various Imperial Fists Successor Chapters that resulted from dividing his Legion during the Second Founding. To maintain Chapter relations, the bonds of brotherhood were to be strengthened and tempered through routine competition. Tradition has it that the Feast is a centennial tournament where each of the participating Chapters presents ten of their finest champions. A series of individual fights are scheduled and fought, until only one clear winner remains. The Chapter that claims victory in the Feast is allowed to schedule another one before a hundred Terran years has passed, in order to further capitalise on their previous success. The Feast of Blades serves its purpose. Many pacts are created and obligations honoured amongst the Sons of Dorn – but all Astartes are bred for victory. Reigning Chapters want to build on past triumphs so that their success will echo through eternity and catch Dorn’s approving eye or ear, wherever the Primarch might be. They call the Feast to best complement their advantage – the prowess of their champions and the perceived weaknesses of their opponent Chapters. Like any Space Marine Chapter, they want to win. The recent trials the Excoriators experienced may have been a factor in the Feast’s most recent calling. On occasion a Chapter could request another take its place due to unforeseen circumstances, but a fellow Chapter’s respect is hard won. The Feast of Blades is not, however, an empty exercise. Chapter relations often bear real fruit for Imperial security. During the 816th Feast, the Fire Lords Chapter sent some of their forces to relieve the Excoriators’ beleaguered 2nd Company at Celator-Primus. Combat Doctrine The Excoriators are a fairly pragmatic Chapter of Astartes, for they seek to cause maximum attrition amongst the foe while minimising their own casualties by any means necessary. Fluidity, timing and technique are all subservient to the Excoriators' simple, primordial desire to be the last men standing in any fight. To them, survival is everything. Magnificence with a Bolter or blade is worth little to the dead. Not for them the Imperial Fists’ bombastic last stands or the Black Templars’ relentless advance and indiscriminate purges. Given that their Chapter has managed to survive and thrive in such close proximity to the Eye of Terror, this approach to warfare has seemed to work for them for the last ten millennia. Gene-Seed The Excoriators believe themselves to be pure of heart but not of blood. As former parts of the Imperial Fists Legion and now as a Chapter, they are not alone in their experience of genetic deficiency. The Space Wolves and the Blood Angels, as well as the brethren of other Foundings, carry the flaws of their blood heritage on to new generations. The Excoriators are afflicted by a genetic curse known as Dorn's Darkness. When Dorn's Darkness takes one of their number it might appear to the untrained eye as merely a wretched palsy: slackness of the jaw, a tremor of the limb, the blankness of the eye. But those who survive it report the experience as a living nightmare, a sleeping wakefulness in which they relive the bottomless woe of Dorn’s most trying time – the grievous loss of the Emperor during the Battle of Terra, at least as the ancient Astartes once knew him. This is both their Primarch's genetic blessing and a curse to his sons. It is to know the possibility – for even a second – of an Imperium without the Emperor. To feel what Dorn felt. The profound misery of a Primarch. The paralysing fear that even one as great as Dorn experienced, for himself and for humanity, over the Emperor’s broken body after the end of his battle with Horus. Whilst enthralled by the Darkness, its victims cannot speak or communicate. They cannot feed themselves or take water and seem feverishly insensible to everything happening about them. Unique Relics, Wargear and Abilities Dornsblade - The Dornsblade is an ancient and highly revered artefact of all of the Sons of Dorn. At the end of the Horus Heresy, Rogal Dorn purposely broke the blade he jad used aboard Horus' flagship the Vengeful Spirit after it had failed to protect his beloved father, the Emperor. His second sword, the weapon which is referred to as the Sword of Sebastus or the Dornsblade, emerged with the Primarch from the Iron Cage. It is one of the Sons of Dorns' most revered artefacts, a weapon carried and used by the Primarch himself. The Chapter that wins the Feast of Blades has the honour of retaining the blade and the solemn duty of presenting it at the next Feast – the contest they will host one hundred years later. The Stigmartyr - The Stigmartyr was the Exocoriators' sacred Chapter standard. Rogal Dorn himself entrusted his sons – the Excoriators' ancient predecessors – with the standard over ten thousand years ago during the Second Founding. It displayed the Second Founding’s decree and was threaded with the honours of every battle fought in the Chapter's long, bloody history. It carried the distinction of the Astartes Praeses and the Excoriators' service in garrisoning the Eye of Terror. It bore the Stigmartyr – the emblem that the Chapter adopted as its own - a scarlet gauntleted fist clenching the length of a thunderbolt-shaped scar. The standard was lost upon the world of Ignis Prime, when the Excoriators' Chapter Master Ichabod came to inspect the Excoriators' garrison there. The Alpha Legion waited in ambush and attacked the outnumbered Exocoriators. In the ensuing melee, nearly the entirety of the Honoured 1st (the Chapter's Veteran 1st Company) was destroyed, with the sole exception of Brother Tiberias, as well as the entirety of Ichabod's inner circle, with the exceptions of Santiarch Balshazar and the Chapter Scourge Zachariah Kersh. Ichabod was severely injured, leaving him envenomed by an unknown poison. About the Author Algrim Whitefang (aka Zach Wooten) has been involved with the Warhammer 40K universe since 1989. He is a long time Space Wolves and Angels of Vengeance player, but hasn't been an active player since the mid-90's, but that hasn't stop his love for acquiring as much fluff and artwork as possible. He is a very active contributor to the Warhammer 40K Wiki and is also an avid reader of all things 40K, owning practically every novel ever written, his first being Inquisitor by Ian Watson. Algrim is also fascinated with writing short-stories, creating artwork and trolling the various 40K forums. His DIY Chapters include the Sons of Odin and the Blood Seekers. Chapter Fleet This is a short list of known Excoriator vessels operating within the Imperium: Angelica Mortis (Strike Cruiser) Cerberus (Battle Barge) Scarifica (Frigate) Notable Campaigns The Defence of Certus-Minor (Unknown Date.M41) -The entirety of the Excoriators' 5th Company was lost in garrisoning the Imperial Cemetery World of Certus-Minor against the predations of the Cholercaust Blood Crusade. Certius-Minor lay directly in the path of the Keeler Comet, an ancient blood-red comet whose strange path embodied the will of the Chaos God Khorne, leading the Cholercaust across the stars in a celebration of slaughter for the Blood God. That was until the comet appeared in the skies of the tiny Cemetary World in the Praga Sub-sector. The 5th Company did request reinforcement from the rest of the Chapter but had little expectation of its arrival in time to make a difference. The 5th Company sent long-range astrotelepathic requests to the regiments of the Imperial Guard's Viper Legion at Hellionii Reticuli, the 2nd Company of the Novamarines Space Marine Chapter stationed at Belis Quora and the Angels Eradicant Chapter at Port Kreel. They even sent a message to the Vanaheim Cordon, in full knowledge of its futility, for the Imperial Fists, Exorcists and Grey Knights Astartes stationed there would not leave the line of defence for fear that the Keeler Comet and the trailing Cholercaust Crusade might resume its progress on towards Terra. The Adeptus Astartes contingents stationed at Vanaheim would never leave the sacred soil of Terra open to attack to help defend a tiny Ecclesiarchy Cemetery World. The Excoriators' Battle Barge Certius attempted to reach the Cemetary World to answer their Battle-Brothers' call and halt the progress of the Cholercaust, but they were delayed by strange Warp currents in the wake of the crimson Keeler Comet. The doomed 5th Company faced their inevitable deaths at the hands of the Forces of Chaos, and in desperation sent a last, prayerful plea to the Emperor of Mankind for assistance of any kind. For a miracle. Beyond all hope, their prayers were answered. The Blood God's butchers soon became the butchered as they were completely wiped out by the timely intervention of the mysterious Astartes revenants known only as the Legion of the Damned, though the entirety of the 5th Company was lost in the effort. 13th Black Crusade (999.M41) -The Excoriators fielded 8 companies against Abaddon the Despoiler and his Forces of Chaos during the infamous 13th Black Crusade. Known Characters Demetrius Katafalque (First Chapter Master) –A former Captain of the Imperial Fists Legion, Demetrius had once fought at Rogal Dorn’s side during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy that followed. During the Battle of Terra, it was Katafalque who bled with his men before the walls of the Imperial Palace, under the horrific onslaught of the Warmaster’s siege, putting his body between the enemy and his Emperor. He made them pay in blood for every treasonous step. Rogal Dorn designated Demetrius to become the first Excoriator; the first Chapter Master of a Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists. He also took part in the post-Heresy Crusades of penitence against the Traitor Legions during the Great Scouring. Katafalque scribed the sacred tome, The Architecture of Agony, a treatise dedicated to devotional suffering. Demetrius favoured their Primarch’s practice for his brother Excoriators. On their Primarch’s foster world of Inwit, the winters were cold and the lash was hot. Such instruction was adopted across Dorn’s early empire and was favoured by the Primarch personally as a form of martial communion and as purification for the soul. Quesiah Ichabod (Former Chapter Master) –The direct predecessor of the Excoriators' current Chapter Master Zachariah Kersh, Chapter Master Ichabod was known as the greatest Excoriator to have ever lived. When Chapter Master Ichabod had come to the world of Ignis Prime to inspect the Excoriators’ mountaintop garrison of Kruger Ridge, he found a slaughterhouse rather than a Chapterhouse, and a waiting ambush in the form of heretic Alpha Legionaries. It was there, barricaded in the oratorium, that Chapter Scourge Zachariah Kersh had fallen to the Darkness, failing both his Master and his Chapter, and allowing the Alpha Legion’s victory to become complete. Ichabod was severely injured during the failed assassination attempt. Though strong, the Chapter Master’s wounds were grievous, leaving him writhing in envenomed agony. The Alpha Legion’s assassination had ultimately failed, but they had employed a virulent toxin for which the Excoriators' Chapter Apothecarion had no record, nor antidote. Zachariah Kersh (Chapter Master) –As Chapter Scourge, Zachariah Kersh (known as "the Scourge") had spent a lifetime at his Chapter Master Quesiah Ichabod’s side, fighting experienced warriors of all creeds and species, defeating the best sent at him. It had been his singular honour to slay them before they could slay his master. Until the day Kersh failed to stop the Alpha Legion’s nearly-successful assassination attempt and crippling of Ichabod, and their theft of the Stigmartyr, the ancient and revered Chapter standard of the Excoriators dating back to the days of the Second Founding. This was a devastating blow to the Excoriators' morale, and the cause of many problems for the Chapter. These tragic events marked Kersh as persona non grata in the eyes of his Battle-Brothers. To make matters worse, Kersh continually finds himself afflicted by Dorn’s Darkness – a condition in which he constantly relives Dorn’s darkest hour, when he finds the mortally wounded Emperor on the bridge of Warmaster Horus’ Battle-Barge, the Vengeful Spirit. While it is not clear whether the Darkness caused Kersh’s recent failures or was triggered by them, the implication is that this is not a unique occurrence, although far from the inevitable Black Rage or Red Thirst of the Blood Angels. As punishment ‘the Scourge’ is placed in stasis, only to find himself begrudgingly awoken by his peers as their last chance to win the famous Feast of Blades, in a desperate bid to restore some of the Chapter’s rapidly declining morale. So it is under these circumstances that, with a heavy heart, the chapter decides to risk waking the Scourge, as a desperate bid to salvage some honor, after seven of their competitors have been defeated early in the tournament, and the other two are hopelessly outclassed by their upcoming match-ups. It takes a risky intervention to the catalepsean node in order to bring Kersh out of the Darkness, and into something resembling a functional state. Shortly after, the Scourge begins to see things – a revenant in midnight black power armour that shadows him at every step – and questions the effectiveness of the procedure. Still, despite all his concerns and protests, the reluctant Kersh is pressured into fighting in the Feast by the very brothers that despise him. His performance in the tournament causes the Excoriators to win the Feast of Blades for the first time, despite a debatable move that pits him in a three-way duel with the Black Templars and Imperial Fists champions. The victorious Kersh is scheduled to return to Eschara with the prized Dornsblade to show for their triumph. However, new orders from Chapter Master Ichabod change things for Zachariah, when he is given Captaincy of the recently devastated Fifth Company which is now at half-strength and lacking a captain, after a mission to retrieve the Stigmartyr turned out to be a carefully planned Alpha Legion ambush. Kersh is now in charge of the battered remains of a company that hates him, with only Apothecary Ezrachi, who brought him back from the brink of madness, as an ally. To make matters worse, he is constantly questioning his sanity – due to the constant haunting by a revenant Astartes – as well as his suitability for a command position. His first mission as Corpus-Captain is not the revenge against the Alpha Legion that every battle-brother longs for, but a distress call from the obscure High Lords of Terrarld]] of Certus-Minor, where a pyramid of skulls has just emerged from the lake. The world held no strategic importance whatsoever. However, ancient oaths between this world and the Imperium, as well as the fact that a tomb of a very important Ecclesiarch and High Lord of Terra was located there, contributed to Chapter Master Ichabod's decision of deploying the Fifth to such an ignominious goal. Not to mention 'the Scourge' had every intention of not failing his Chapter Master again. This strange phenomenon leads Kersh to postpone revenge even further, when word reaches him that a sizeable Khornate Crusade, known as the Cholerchaust, is making its way to the grave-world trailing a blood-red comet emerging from the Eye of Terror after ten millennia. Much to the Fifth Company’s dismay, he orders a defiant last stand against the invaders, and strands his forces on the world by sending their Apothecary and their crippled Strike Cruiser the Angelica Mortis to a nearby Forge World out of the comet’s path. The weight of the Khornate assault far exceeds Kersh’s estimates, and things start looking grim, until the mysterious Legion of the Damned makes an unexpected appearance stopping the Cholercaust's Blood Crusade dead in its tracks. Kersh was the sole survivor of the slaughter on Certus-Minor. He later succeeded Ichabod as Chapter Master of the Excoriators. Tiberias (‘Honoured First’ - First Company Veteran) -The only surviving member of the Veteran First Company that was slaughtered by the Alpha Legion on the world of Ignis Prime. Santiarch Balshazar (‘Santiarch’ - Chapter Chaplain) –Chaplain Balshazar managed those battle-brothers afflicted with the Darkness; a sort of spiritual treatment that those suffering the Darkness survive, or they do not. He had the afflicted interred within a decorative stasis casket, transported from the Chapter’s Holy Reclusiam on distant Eschara. The casket was beaten from dull adamantium, the box had the dimensions of a sarcophagus and the extravagant garniture to match. Its frontispiece featured a raised depiction of the Emperor-of-All; despite the casket standing upright, it represented him as prone, maimed and broken, following his confrontation with the beast Horus. Balshazar’s solution to the affliction of the Darkness; a darkness of his own. The most solitary of confinements, where no self-respecting Excoriator need look upon his weakness and invalidity. Dardarius (Chaplain) Shadrath (Chaplain) –The senior Chaplain attached to the devastated Fifth Company. He is killed defending the Imperial Cemetary World of Certus-Minor from the Khornate host known as the Cholercaust. Melmoch (Epistolary) –Senior Librarian attached to the devastated Fifth Company. He is killed defending the Imperial Cemetary World of Certus Minor from the Khornate host known as the Cholercaust. Absalom (Lord Apothecary) –Absolom was a former Apothecary of the 2nd Company, but was instead promoted to Lord Apothecary and tasked with coordinating the search and formulation of an antidote for their envenomed Chapter Master Ichabod, whom was mortally wounded and poisoned in a failed assassination attempt by the Alpha Legion. Ezrachi (Apothecary) –A veteran battle-brother of the Chapter. The Apothecary’s right leg was a full bionic replacement and almost as old as Ezrachi himself. While robust and powerful, his bionic leg sighed with hydraulic insistence and lagged a millisecond behind its flesh-and-bone equivalent, giving the impression of a slight limp. He was responsible for the experimental procedure to shock Zachariah Kersh from his fugue state, known as the Darkness. He was later assigned to the Fifth Company as the new Apothecary of the decimated Company and survived the slaughter on Certus-Minor when Corpus-Captain Kersh ordered him to take the company's crippled vessel to a nearby Forge World, effectively stranded the Fifth Company on the doomed planet. Shiloh Gideon (‘Corpus-Captain’ - Captain) - Following the failed assassination attempt of Chapter Master Ichabod by the Alpha Legion and the loss of their sacred standard, the Stigmartyr, the Chapter's morale is at an all-time low. Corpus-Captain Gideon is ordered take their chosen champions and still compete in the centennial competition known as the 816th Feast of Blades, and is order by the Chapter Master to win the contest at any cost. Gideon ultimately makes the painful decision to release 'the Scourge' from his prison within a stasis sarcophagus to fight as the Chapter's sole remaining Champion. Against all odds, Kersh manages to win the final three-way duel against champions from the Imperial Fists and Black Templars Chapters, respectively. It is the first time the Excoriators have ever won the Feast of Blades in the Chapter's history. This greatly raises the morale of the battle-brothers within the Chapter. Thaddeus (‘Corpus-Captain’ – Captain) -Former Captain of the Fifth Company, Thaddeus along with half his company, were ambushed and killed by a devious trap set by the Alpha Legion on the world of Veiglehaven. Bartimeus (‘Corpus-Commander’) –Senior commander of the Fifth Company Strike Cruiser the Angelica Mortis. Dancred (Techmarine) –Techmarine assigned to the Fifth Company. It is assumed that he is killed defending the Imperial Cemetary World of Certus Minor from the Khornate host known as the Cholercaust. Hadrach (Techmarine) Uriah Skase (‘Chief Whip’ – Veteran Sergeant) –Skase is a veteran and senior Veteran Sergeant of the Fifth Company. He is described as being a veteran as the torn and mangled flesh of his face testifies. His visible wound sat upon his face like an ugly, snarling mask, seemingly only held together by the staples, stitches and decorative rings that run across it. Skase was a legend within the company. An assault squad whip, he had more combat experience than the rest of his squad added together. He had walked away from the most grievous injuries and heaviest fighting of the Fifth Company’s many victories and had been at the forefront of the Excoriators’ efforts to reclaim the Stigmartyr from the filth Alpha Legion at Veiglehaven. He was loved by his men, who viewed him as an indestructible force. Skase was so unrelenting on the battlefield that on the midnight plains of Menga-Dardra, a Black Legion Land Raider slammed into him with its dozer blade, ran him down and crushed him beneath its tracks, only for the mauled and buckled Skase to get back to his feet and rush back into the heart of the fighting. He had been Corpus-Captain Thaddeus’s right hand and, with Chaplain Shadrath, had held the decimated Fifth Company together in the wake of the atrocities at Vieglehaven. The surviving battle-brothers of the Fifth have been reorganised by Skase into three full squads. He had taken command of the first squad, Squad Cicatrix. Every Excoriator in the Fifth had fully expected Uriah Skase’s promotion to Corpus-Captain as a given. That was, until Chapter Master Ichabod’s intervention and the promotion of Zachariah Kersh instead. He is killed defending the Imperial Cemetary World of Certus Minor from the Khornate host known as the Cholercaust. Silas Keturah (Veteran ‘Squad Whip’ – Veteran Sergeant) –Keturah was Veteran Squad Whip of the Tenth Company Scout Squads assigned to bolster the decimated Fifth Company. Out of all the Company whips, he was the only battle-brother not under Skase’s influence. Silas Keturah allowed for no other influence upon his neophytes but his own. He clearly did not relish using his young charges to bolster the depleted numbers under recently promoted Corpus-Captain Kersh’s command of the Fifth. He is killed defending the Imperial Cemetary World of Certus Minor from the Khornate host known as the Cholercaust. Ishmael (‘Squad Whip’ – Sergeant) –One of the remaining squad leaders of the decimated Fifth Company. The second squad, Squad Castigir, is led by Skase’s own right hand, Squad Whip Ishmael, an Excoriator crafted of much the same unforgiving brutality as the Chief Whip. He is killed defending the Imperial Cemetary World of Certus Minor from the Khornate host known as the Cholercaust. Joachim (‘Squad Whip’ – Sergeant) –One of the remaining squad leaders of the decimated Fifth Company. Brother Joachim had been recently promoted to whip of the third squad, Squad Censura in the wake of the disaster on Vieglehaven. Joachim was younger and fresher of face, but his devotion to Skase and his ideals was painfully clear, assuming the form of a kind of hero worship. He is killed defending the Imperial Cemetary World of Certus Minor from the Khornate host known as the Cholercaust. Usachar (‘Squad Whip’ - Sergeant) –Squad leader and veteran battle-brother. Loses his match during the 816th Feast of Blades. Basrael (Battle-Brother) Dathan (Battle-Brother) –A young battle-brother who was fast and had a way with a blade. He was severely wounded, losing his match during the 816th Feast of Blades. Occam (Battle-Brother) –During the 816th Feast of Blades he fought well, but not well enough and was killed. Jabez (Battle-Brother) –Jabez was seriously wounded fighting an honorific duel during the 816th Feast of Blades. Non-Astartes Personnel Old Enoch –Kersh’s human seneschal, he was the caretaker of the ceremonial ‘lash’ and overseer of his master’s devotional mortification. Aside from basic servitude, Enoch and his two children were tasked, above all else, to excoriate the flash of their master and purify him of weakness so that he might achieve endorphic communion with the Primarch. Oren -Enoch’s son, is barrel-chested and possess the thick arms of a scud-wrestler. It is Oren’s solemn function to administer ‘the purge’ with all the devotion of which he was capable. His father supervised the ritual, his eyes burning in disappointment that his own son had not been honoured with tissue compatibility for a life beyond mere humanity. Bethesda -Enoch’s elfin waif of a girl who was both gaunt and grim. Bethesda was Kersh’s absterge. She was charged with the routine cleansing and dressing of the Astartes’ ceremonial wounds. Sources Codex: Eye of Terror (3rd Edition) Legion of the Dammed (Novel) by Rob Sanders

So, I want to play Space Marines again.. I have some Space Wolves, But, You basicaly use 3 non HQ units in the book with little to no variation since the other stuff is a bit sub par.. And I kind of wanna play something newer while waiting for a new space wolf codex, And I do realy like the Crimson Fists. So I was wodnering, Are they good? Do they manage well, Or are they under powerd?

Hi, I'm posting on here on behalf of my wife, to hopefully gain some encouragement for her on her recent move to building a Space Marine Chapter,