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+++INCOMING TRANSMISSION+++ +++FID Indicator - ALPHA+++ +++Via Astropath 7NBS2069LVP1+++ +++Via Astropath 8849042+++ +++Via Astropath 100496-B7+++ +++Thought for the day: Do not wait for death.+++ +++Begin message+++ My noble and revered cousins of the Legio, Attached for your consideration, you will find a datafile containing the summation of the noble and resolute Astartes Chapter, the Sanguine Gargoyles. It is a most esteemed honor to have been entrusted with compiling this Index, with the hope of inclusion in the Liber Astartes. Within the datafile you will find my own annotations; please forgive my additions, but I do not feel my Librarium staff quite captured the soul of my beloved Chapter, and I felt the need to elaborate and explain certain aspects I felt were noteworthy. Once again, I humbly thank you for the opportunity to honor my Brothers in blood and arms of the Sanguine Gargoyles. May the Emperor ever watch over you. Your humble servant, Pellegrino Tempest-wright of the Sanguine Gargoyles +++Begin Datafile+++ Index Astartes: Sanguine Gargoyles "May your soul be cleansed by the rain." Index Astartes Chapter Datafile [INSERT CHAPTER EMBLEM HERE} CHAPTER NAME: .............. Sanguine Gargoyles PRIMOGENETOR: .............. Sanguinius GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR): ... Blood Angels (IXth Legion) FOUNDING: .................. 21st, 991.M35; Ultima, 999.M41 [Rebirth] CHAPTER MASTER: ............ Lucian, Chapter-wright and Master of Pandemonium HOMEWORLD: ................. Fleet-Based, semi-nomadic SEGMENTUM: ................. Obscurus FORTRESS MONASTERY: ........ Pandemonium, Forgeship COLORS: .................... Dark stone gray w/ dark crimson right shoulder pad SPECIALTY: ................. Terror, Guerilla Warfare SUCCESSORS: ................ None STRENGTH: .................. Unknown (estimated to be nominal to above strength) BATTLE-CRY: ................ "For Sanguinius!"/"We avenge the Angel!" The steadfast warriors of the Sanguine Gargoyles Chapter stand amongst the ranks of the Emperor's finest, ever ready to deliver His wrath and justice upon those that would seek to subvert the Imperium. Origins The First Millenium When: 992.M35; 21st "Cursed" Founding Why: Strategic Prgonostication Founded as Saviors of the Chalice Captain, Chaplain, Librarian, Sanguinary Priest, five Veterans, Veteran Sergeant and ten Marines permanently seconded as training cadre The Aerie Fortress Monastery on Bowden IV Bowden IV destroyed in Gothic War Battle Barge Light of the Angel used as de facto fortress monastery until new homeworld can be found Friends and Enemies The Mutant Gene-seed manipulation by Mechanicus to remove progenitor flaws appears successful at first, but is later seen to have made genetic flaws devastatingly worse Genetic instability leads to weakening of chapter's forces Death of a Chapter Gothic War - Most of chapter lost in destruction of homeworld Less than 200 battle-ready Astartes left Remaining forces give up on finding new homeworld, decide to embark on crusade until they are destroyed or the chapter is rebuilt A Chapter Reborn Chapter gene-seed is stabilized with help from Mechanicum and Blood Angels' Brother Corbulo Primaris reinforcements from Guilliman's Unnumbered Sons Some Firstborn undergo the Rubicon Primaris, many do not; those who remain Firstborn continue to experience exacerbated genetic mutation New Primaris forged with stabilized gene-seed lift the chapter out of the ashes of death and into Chapter is reorganized to make best effect of new troops and Guilliman's new strategic force organization Voidborne Mechanicus gift the chapter a forgeship Geneseed Progenitor: Blood Angels Purity: Flawed Data archives list the known, stable, gene-seed mutations the Sanguine Gargoyles currently suffer from. No known cure or treatment for any of them has been found thus far: Melanchromic Organ Malfunction [Some Astartes' skin bears grayish discoloration; severe cases have stone like growths over large portions of their bodies.] Mutated Catalepsean Node [This causes what is effectively extreme insomnia; all members of the Chapter suffer this mutation.] Non-Functioning Betcher's Gland [All members of the Chapter suffer from this mutation, as well as calcification of their vocal cords, which appears to be one side effect of the mutation. However, the severity of calcification varies widely from one brother to the next. One might be unintelligible when he talks, nothing but the sound of cascading rocks or rushing water issuing from his throat; another might simply have a rich baritone voice; a third might offer a barely audible whisper.] The Apothecarion and the Ordos Biologis have been unable to decipher why only some members of the Chapter suffer certain mutations while others don't. But hope still remains that a solution might be found, for once every few generations, a battle brother suffers none of the Chapter's genetic mutations. Fleet-Based Fortress-Monastery: Forgeship Pandemonium Recruiting: tithe agreements (demands) from saved worlds/systems as primary source of new recruits; small number of volunteers from within fleet taken as supplemental recruits; kidnapping all children, ages 5-13, from an entire planet as emergency source of recruits (also used as a punishment against a planet in some circumstances) Beliefs & Culture Chapter Beliefs: Revere the Primarch Daily meditations include prayers to Sanguinius for guidance, thanks, and forgiveness "Sanguinius blesses you," "May the Angel guide your body and mind," and "I offer my actions to our father Sanguinius that he might judge my soul," are common benedictions heard throughout the Gargoyles' fleet. Against the forces of the Black Legion, the Gargoyles fly into an almost murderous rage, eager to exact revenge from every single traitor legionnaire. Characteristic Chapter Training: Mens et Manus This chapter believes in building their brother's minds and bodies to peak performance, the better to be ready for anything. Demeanor: See But Don't Be Seen Armor is matte where possible, and appears chiseled from stone rather than forged of metal; overall appearance of statues when standing still Flaw: We Stand Alone Will only request support from other descendants of the IXth Legion except in the most dire of circumstances Will offer aid to those in need, but will disappear without word Will not fraternize with anyone outside the Chapter, even other Chapters of Sanguinius' line; will not even remove helmets around outsiders, except under very exceptional/dire circumstances Angel Graces/Warrior's Virtues The Gargoyles strive to embody the Graces of the Angel and the Virtues of the Warrior. Ever a work in progress, they understand is less about achieving those things, but rather that they continue to better themselves every day. Naming/Cultural Traditions Because of numerous different sources of recruits, the Gargoyles have no standardized naming practices. The chapter utilizes sculpturing and masonry as a way to hone body and mind; their statues are some of the finest in the sector, and numerous humanitarian efforts have been aided by their stone-working. They even apply the practice to their armor, often sculpting leering, howling faces onto their helms and valleys and ridges on their armor to allow water to flow better and create more "natural" sounds when running off them. When not armored, brothers wear a leather jerkin or linen tunic, leather trousers, boots and bracers, a stonemason's belt and tools, and a double-layered linen neck gaiter. Organization Unique Organization Over-Strength 7 Flights (Companies) Each Flight has thirteen Talons (Squads) except 7th, which has the normal ten. 1st Company has unique structure: First seven squads form Veteran Squads (Bladeguard, Sternguard, Terminator, and Vanguard), while the last six form the "command" echelons; Captains and Lieutenants are pulled from 1st Flight ad-hoc to lead Strikes, based on their strengths and capabilities. No Company Captain rank; instead, they are given the title Shisa (function is similar to the Black Templar's Emperor's Champion, but less dogmatic and less exclusive). It is their duty to mentor the Marines in their respective company. Chapter Leadership The Conclave, Chapter Leadership Chapter-wright Lucian, Master of the Pandemonium, [Chapter Master] High Blood-wright Armand, "the Anointed" [Master of the Apothecarion] Soul-Warden Philippe [Master of the Reclusiam] Tempest-wright Pellegrino [Master of the Librarium] Chief Forge-wright Solarus [Master of the Forge] Maester Lamonte [Primary Wing Commander] Maester Bellon, "the Young" [Strike Wing Commander] The Prefecture, Chapter Council Commander of the Arch-Angels; Primus Damascus Master of Reconnaissance; Prefect Zaphiel [2nd Flight Captain] Master of the Marches; Prefect Mercutio [3rd Flight Captain] Master of the Fleet; Prefect Namora [4th Flight Captain] Master of the Arsenal; Prefect Valenti [5th Flight Captain] Master of Relics; Prefect Xorbel [6th Flight Captain] Master of Recruits; Prefect Tovaani [7th Flight Captain] Specialty Restrictions: Limited Tech-Marines Chapter-specific terms Chapter Master - Chapter-wright Techmarine - Forge-wright Librarian - Storm-wright Apothecary/Sanguinary Priest - Blood-wright Chaplain - Soul-wright Sanguinary Guard - Arch-angel Death Company - Revenant Commander - Maester Company Champion - Shisa Captain - Stone-wright Lieutenant - Artisan Sergeant - Mason Brother - Apprentice Dreadnought - Golem Company - Flight Demi-Company - Strike Squad - Talon The Arch-Angels An Arch-Angel, the Gargoyles' Sanguinary Guard After the mutation of the Chapter's gene-seed, and with the chapter in near-ruin, a glimmer of salvation appeared. It took the form of a small number of brothers, seemingly untouched by the ravages inflicted upon their brethren. These warriors formed the core of the Chapter's forces during its dark years of recovery. After the Chapter had rebuilt its numbers enough to venture on its own once more, the Sanguinary Guard changed its name, to honor the warriors who brought the Chapter back from death. Just as with all Chapters descended from the IXth, the Arch-Angels stand apart from the structure of the Chapter's main force. They are the most highly skilled and venerated of the Gargoyles' brothers, each a Chapter legend in his own right, surviving battles against all manner of foe. There are no specific requirements to become an Arch-Angel; instead, spots are awarded based on merit and skill, regardless of rank within the Chapter. Like all iterations of the Sanguinary Guard, the Arch-Angels each bear a Glaive or Sword Encarmine and Angelus Boltgun or Inferno Pistol. Unlike the others, however, they eschew the golden armor of their forebears; instead they color their armor an alabaster white. [It is a curiosity worth noting that, throughout the millennia, a high percentage of brothers unmaligned by the Chapter's gene flaws have gone on to become Arch-Angels. It remains to be seen if there is a correlation between these two occurrences, or if they are merely coincidental.] The Revenants A Revenant, the Gargoyles' Death Company ... Chapter Fleet As a fleet-based chapter, the Sanguine Gargoyles possess a larger fleet than other Chapters might, though not its vessels all are commanded by Astartes. Though not nearly a match in scale, it is reminiscent of the vast fleets of the Great Crusade in regards to its composition. The Gargoyles' fleet is a blend of the Astartes' flotilla, the remnants of Penal Legion Theta-Delta-Beta's troop fleet, a few Explorator vessels from the Adeptus Mechanicus, and a permanent detail from the Order of the Shrouded Martyr (including their Dominator-class Cruiser, the Dominus Irae), plus the swarms of the fleet's attendant ships. The Gargoyles command the battle barges and strike cruisers while the rest of the fleet, with the exception of the Sororitas vessels, is commanded by Imperial Navy personnel. This arrangement between the Chapter and the Navy ensures the Gargoyles can prosecute their enemies as they desire, and the Navy gets to do its job, without either side getting in the other's way. The fleet of the Sanguine Gargoyles is split into three smaller fleets. The Main Fleet makes war, wherever it may take them. Up to five separate, flight-strength campaigns could be supported individually, though it is most often the case that numerous small-scale operations are taking place around one or two larger scale engagements. Additionally, The Rook heads a small splinter fleet, a fast strike force intended to neutralize the most dangerous threats present, or to offer Flight-strength support as rapidly as possible. The last of the fleets, the Fledgling Fleet, traverses the trail of outposts the Gargoyles have set up in their region, termed by the Chapter the "Aeyrie." The members of Seventh Flight see to the Chapter's recruiting as part of their training duties, and they draw aspirants from a handful of such outposts. Combat Doctrine Terror (primary) Lightning Strike/Stealth (secondary) Appearance Standard armor coloration of the Sanguine Gargoyles fair-skinned, but some have patches of stone-like growths; hairstyles vary based on tribe or planet recruited from Livery Prior to their rebirth as the Sanguine Gargoyles, the Saviors of the Chalice wore alabaster white armor with crimson pauldrons and gold detailing and decoration. Following the traditions of their brethren, helmets identified a warrior's squad type, with individual squad markings worn on the right knee pad. The Chapter Badge was worn on the left pauldron, while company markings and personal heraldry were worn on the right. Veteran status was denoted by a golden helm and pauldron trim. After the Ultima Founding and the rebirth of the Chapter, the Sanguine Gargoyles bear new colors. Their armor is a dark, stone gray, with the right pauldron painted crimson. Members of the Librarium, Reclusiam, and Sanguinary Priesthood follow their orders' traditional coloring, with the left pauldron painted the same dark stone gray as their battle-brothers' armor. Flight (Company) is denoted by pauldron trim, and battlefield roles are still identified by helmet color, however squad markings and personal heraldry are no longer worn. Sergeants' helms and right pauldrons are colored the same as the rest of their armor. Lieutenants are identified by a gray helm and right pauldron, while Captains bear an almost-white helm and pauldron. Chapter Badge White wings outstretched behind a golden chalice was the original badge of the Saviors of the Chalice. Since their transformation, the Sanguine Gargoyles' emblem bears only a small resemblance to their original; instead of angel-like wings, stone-gray bat wings spread open, with a crimson skull replacing the chalice. Veterans who wear the chapter badge have the skull colored gold. The Arch-Angels and the Revenants Both of the Blood Angel's unique companies, the Sanguinary Guard and the Death Company, bear visually unique armor colorations from their brothers. This is also the case for the Sanguine Gargoyles' interpretation of them. The Arch-Angels are adorned in sculpted plates of ceramite colored a white marble, evoking imagery of statues from the ancient Achaemid Empire, and their helms and chest detailing are gold The Revenants wear armor colored a pale, ghostly gray, with a deep bronze helm and chest detail. Red saltires are still emblazoned on various surfaces of their armor, and their helms' lenses are also colored crimson. Honored by their brothers for their sacrifice, the Revenants bear gold trim on their pauldrons, conferring the (honorary) status of Veterans on those in this baleful brotherhood. Chapter Arsenal Special Equipment: Blessed Wargear, Modified Jump Packs Dreadnoughts Storm-Golem Carmine, Librarian Dreadnought Dreadnought Force Weapon Frag Cannon Golem Verson, Furioso Dreadnought Frag Cannon Blood Fist with Heavy Flamer Golem-Ancient Quintus; Venerable Hellfire Dreadnought Paired Twin-Linked Lascannons Golem-Ancient Alessandro, Venerable Ironclad Furioso Dreadnought Paired Blood Fists, with Heavy Flamer and Meltagun Draugr; Death Company Dreadnought Paired Blood Talons, with Heavy Flamer and Meltagun Soul-Golem Derceus; Venerable Chaplain Dreadnought Plasma Cannon "Stonefist" Reliquary Angel's Light [Ryza pattern "Sunspite" plasma pistol; badge of office of the Master of the Librarium] Aza'zel [Relic force sword; badge of office of the Master of the Librarium] The Dread Spear [A relic spear of unknown origin, made from a xenos metal with a marble-like appearance; badge of office of the Chapter Master] Stonefist [A Blood Fist crafted using the shattered remnants of Soul-wright Derces' Crozius Arcanum, with a built-in meltagun] Death Masks [I think everyone with clearance to read this will already have knowledge of the death masks worn by those of the Angel's line.] The Fleet Common areas are subjected to constant "rain" from the ships' fire suppression system; this doubles as decontamination, and puts the Marines' minds at ease. Personal quarters have knobs to adjust the flow of the rain for desired strength. Pandemonium Forgeship gifted to the Gargoyles from the Adeptus Mechanicus [Once again, I have added a sub-list below containing the breakdown of the Sanguine Gargoyles' fleet disposition, for your perusal.] Chapter Legends Chaplain Derceus Derceus led his Chapter in many glorious campaigns, slaying hundreds of the enemy’s greatest champions. In the end, he was brought down by the Chapter's enemies, and is a reminder to all Battle Brothers of their holy duty. Brother Alessandro Referred to as Alessandro the Selfless; suffered mortal wounds fighting to recover the bodies of a squad of Initiates and their Sergeant from a Dark Eldar raiding party. Notable Battles & Campaigns ... ca. ~142–160.M41: The Gothic War (Abaddon's 12th Black Crusade) ca. ~999.M41: The Devastation of Baal The Sanguine Gargoyles, though barely a surviving chapter at the time, sent a squad of Marines and a pair of warships to aid in the void battle against Leviathan and its splinter fleets. None of the seconded members survived. Allies & Enemies Chapter Allies Adeptus Mechanicus Adeptus Sororitas (Order of the Shrouded Martyr) Astra Militarum (Wilson's Irregulars) Chapter Enemies Abbadon & the Black Legion Valorous Host Warband Kha'Banda Hive Fleet Leviathan Slaghulk's Killa Mob +++End Datafile+++ +++Closing Thought: Only in death does duty end.+++ +++End Message+++

INDEX ASTARTES: DESERT EAGLES SONS OF GUILLIMAN Renowned for their adaptive warfare and righteous fury, few can resist the overwhelming onslaught of the Desert Eagles in their stride. Serving the Imperium since the earliest conflicts of the Great Crusade has earned the chapter numerous honours, as well as bitter enemies from the ranks of those who fled their advance. The Desert Eagles are proud descendants of Guilliman and honour his name with a storied list of campaigns won over his enemies. In contrast to the measured tactics of their progenitor the Desert Eagles utilise highly responsive advances, shifting entire frontiers of battle to exploit opportunities. This characteristic descends from the forging of the Chapter during the vicious battles against the Word Bearers of Lorgar in the Horus Heresy, when a Chapter of their Ultramarine forebearers were left isolated and betrayed on the deserts of Calth. The resourcefulness of the Astartes in reclaiming critical supplies and positions and their unrelenting nature during those crucial hours earned them the nickname ‘Carrion Eagles’ during the siege by local forces. The brown-and-crimson armour of the Desert Eagles now reflects the desert that defined them over mere hours, as well as the commemorating the lives lost in those cursed sands. A Desert Eagles assault unleashes The Emperor's Mercy upon a Chaos Warband Desert Eagles Astartes with Bolter When the Desert Eagles Chapter was brought into being during the Second Founding, Captain Catius Thassor, a renowned commander of the Ultramarines Legion, was chosen to be its first Chapter Master. Thassor's reputation was steeped in legend from the Battle of Calth, where he led what would become the Desert Eagles chapter against Word Bearers forces in desperate survival on the planet's surface. The savagery of the Word Bearers' assault upon the planet's surface was secondary only the conflicts within orbit. Even as Ultramarines forces were shattered at Komesh the fighting in the deserts of Cuneth grew fierce, where the planned betrayal faltered under sandstorms. Thrice Thassor led the united Imperial forces into the sands to reclaim vital communication facilities to allow their evacuation, splintering the ammassed followers of Lorgar under blinding walls of dust and fire. Such conditions proved fatal for many of the allied Imperial Guardsmen within the deserts, however the loyalist forces made frequent use of their littered supplies as the hours of desperate fighting bore continued. Battletanks and artillery positions were scavenged for shells and explosives, and the Ultramarine defence bore on. Communications reached the loyalist positions of the dire state of Calth, and with it news of impending destruction. The Word Bearers' obliteration of the system had destabilised its integrity, and soon the surface would prove fatal for any who remained on its surface. Thassor's forces turned their scavenged ammunition earthbound, and were able to detonate their way into the nearby subterranean networks where they would continue waging the Underworld War against Chaos forces until Ultramarines fleets returned several years later. By the time Thassor was able to return his Chapter to the Ultramarines Legion less than half of those he had led beneath the desert of Cuneth remained, and himself a hero of the Legion. With the completion of the Codex Astartes by Roboute Guilliman at the conclusion of the Horus Heresy, he commanded his sons to divide into 1,000-member Space Marine Chapters so that no single commander could ever control the power of an entire Astartes Legion again. As the Howling Griffons and Genesis Chapter ventured into the galaxy at the dawning of the Second Founding so to did the Desert Eagles, now united in their brown-and-crimson and once again being led into the unknown by Catius Thassor, Chapter Master of the storied survivors of Calth. The Desert Eagles' homeworld is located on the planet Audax, an Imperial Feral World in Segmentum Ultima. The planet consists of a pair of hive cities, both heavily damaged due to solar radiation, as well as the Desert Eagles' Fortress-Monastery Basilica Solitudinem. Audax's population still resides within the ruins of the two cities, as the remaining landscape of sun-scarred rocks and salt flats proves fatal to those who pass through. Life is fierce within the crumbling towers with scarce resources and even scarcer allies, and attempts to unite the cities by those residing fall quickly due to mistrust and infighting. The Desert Eagles Battlebarge "Heavenfall" hangs in orbit over Audax Watch the full animation here! The present-day Chapter utilises a variety of trials to select neophytes from those that remain clinging to the cities of eons past, their skills honed by the trials of living upon Audax. Representatives of the Desert Eagles descend upon each city twice within a normal human's lifetime and take the most skilled aspirants from the population, forcibly if required. Many that fail the trials are returned as servitors, and are tasked with rebuilding for the remnants of their short life-span. Some have noted that the cities may have yet been recovered if not for the recruitment and removal of their most hopeful youth who now litter the alleyways as glistening mechanised corpses. The method of fighting forced upon those of Audax for survival has served the Desert Eagles suitably over the millennia. Their modus operandi consists of fluid and interchanging attacks conducted by highly trained forces, destroying the enemy before any attack can be properly responded to and never allowing the enemy to force a static engagement. The Chapter emphasises the usage of shifting terrain and resources to their advantage, and each unit has a vital role within the overarching structure deployed. As a result, on some occasions that the tide of battle turned against the Desert Eagles the losses were significant, such as in M36 when they were ambushed by Drukhari forces who were able to interrupt communications systems between the Chapter. Although preferring to keep the foe at arms-length, the Desert Eagles are still capable of engaging in bloody close-combat just as readily as at range, and are readily feared by the enemies of the Imperium. Despite their seemingly indecisive nature when employing tactics, the Desert Eagles disdains the notion of recklessly charging against an enemy without sufficient intelligence of the situation or the surrounding landscape which could be used to their advantage. The Desert Eagles are classified as a Codex Astartes-compliant Chapter, and they follow the sacred tome with few variations in terms of organisation. They follow the tactics presented in the Codex, efficiently making use of different standard units, but frequently intermix and alter tactical decisions so that the Chapter cannot be readily countered. The addition of Primaris reinforcements has been received poorly due to their slow uptake of these decisions, a reflection of their Terran upbringing and previous engagements rather than ability. Desert Eagles Shoulder Pad (6th - 10th Company) The Desert Eagles are currently operating at near full-strength and organise their Chapter into 10 companies. In a reflection of the two cities of Audax the Chapter is often divided as two 5 Company forces known as Strikes, with the 1st - 5th Companies' shoulder pads being crimson to denote this whilst the 6th - 10th Companies have brown shoulder pads with a crimson trim. The appointment to Strike Captain is an incredible honour within the Chapter and often precludes appointment to Chapter Master, as a Chapter Master cannot himself lead a Strike as he must focus on the operation of the Chapter as a whole. The Desert Eagles were established in the Second Founding (M31) from a Chapter of Ultramarines that survived the Battle of Calth, and are therefore descended from Roboute Guilliman. They have not experienced any significant issues from their gene-stock and answered Guilliman's call for aid upon his return, though the deviation of their combat doctrine has brought issues when fighting alongside other Astartes forces. PRE-HERESY Chapter Master Catius Thassor - Catius Thassor was a former Captain of the Ultramarines Legion during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, achieving esteem for his service during the Battle of Calth. He became the Desert Eagles' first Chapter Master during the Second Founding and led them to their Homeworld of Audax, establishing the fortress-monastery Basilica Solitudinem upon the planet's weathered surface. POST-HERESY Chapter Master Martellis Riol - Martellis Riol is the current Chapter Master of the Desert Eagles following the death of his predecessor during the early Indomitus Crusade. Riol was formerly the Captain of the 5th Company and inherited Talonstrike, a Master-Crafted spear with attached bolt-pistol that is the pride of the Chapter. He was notoriously besieged by Desert Eagles forces for three days at the peak of one of the few remaining towers on Audax where he had made his lair prior to joining the Chapter, a feat thrice that of any previous aspirant. Utilising the crumbling nature of the ferrocrete building against them he was able to combat the incapacitating weaponry deployed against him in a cruel reflection of the Chapter's tactics. Only the intervention of an apothecary saved him at the conclusion of the siege from dying due to exhaustion, and the legend of his stand spread quickly throughout the Chapter. Strike Captain Adonis Rake - Adonis Rake was a former Captain of the 1st company and Strike Captain in M36, when he led the 1st, 3rd and 4th Companies as a Strike against a significant Drukhari pirate threat. The two forces tactics were each a reflection of the other, however the lightning speed of the forces of Commorragh caught Rake both unaware and unprepared. The ensuing destruction led to the complete obliteration of the Strike, and the loss of experience and resources was a severe hit against the Desert Eagles, who sorely swear vengeance upon those who inflicted their destruction. Ever since the Chapter has favoured younger leaders and highly commemorates exceptional service of an individual, rather than solely years in service. "Fluid/interchanging/responsive tactics" is justification for my terrible choices during actual games of 40k, thought it might reflect nicely in the lore as well. I understand that Calth was an Agri-World prior to the Horus Heresy, and though I haven't read the books covering the Battle of Calth I'm banking on an image of Calth pre-heresy containing what appears to be deserts. If there's any issues I could switch the planet that the desert fighting takes place on, I just imagined that the Battle of Calth would be such a significant and defining moment in the Ultramarines' history that it'd send shockwaves even 10,000 years later in how some chapters function. Full credit for the images goes to two very talented artists on DeviantArt, Kai Lim for the first which was for a series of Soul Drinkers novels, and Algrim-Whitefang for the Astartes image which I combined from a few of their images. I believe the shoulder pad is from the 5th ed. Space Marine Codex? Very easy to find on the various wikis. All were recoloured in Photoshop using Hue/Saturation layers. I've now designed a custom insignia similar to the Necropolis Hawks, however it invokes the look of a saw blade. I enjoy the Flesh Tearers' iconography a lot, and used it as influence here. If you wish to replicate the banners I've used here I'm more than happy to send the Photoshop file through.

++ INDEX ASTARTES ++ SOMETHING LURKS BENEATH THE SUFACE The Thalassians Space Marines Chapter Cruel and fierce, the Space Marines of the Thalassians Chapter bring a ruthlessness to the battlefield matched by few others. Sailing the inky darkness of the void as easily as the oceans of their aquatic homeworld, Vathys, they have engaged enemies of the Imperium in several vicious campaigns, leaving devastation in their wake - from raids against the enigmatic Eldar to brutal wars of attrition with the endless swarms of the Tyranid hivemind. While their effectiveness cannot be questioned, the sheer carnage of their methods and their preference for taking prisoners for dark purposes leave few Imperial forces willing to fight alongside them, and have at times drawn the scrutiny of the Inquisition's most suspicious orders. Origins Created in the mysterious Thirteenth Founding, the true purpose behind the creation of the Thalassians is lost to time. Even within the chapter, all that is known is that in roughly M.36, a great Adeptus Mechanicus fleet arrived in the dark skies above Vathys carrying progenoid glands and all of the material necessary for the operation of a chapter. The fleet brought with it ancient technologies and artefacts that would form the foundation of the chapter's fortress-monastery beneath the waves. The representatives of the High Lords of Terra sought out the populace on the various islands and atolls that scatter the surface of Vathys's endless oceans. These were hardy people, descended from ancient colonists who had adapted to survive among the world's massive predators and violent storms. From these isolated communities, the first recruits were taken to form the nascent chapter. Preferring to allow local custom and belief to influence chapter doctrine, it was decided to call the chapter Thalassians after the natives' deep-rooted fear of what dwelled in the depths. Whether the High Lords truly understood the nature of these beliefs, and what dark things the locals whispered prayers to beneath the waves, remains uncertain. What is known is that the chapter took readily to these traditions, incorporating them into their rituals and combat doctrine. The numbers of the chapter swelled quickly, and in training, it developed an affinity for close-quarters combat that went beyond mere skill. Their instructors noted a level of savagery far beyond that of even chapters as ferocious as the Blood Angels, though the Thalassians' brutality was cold and deliberate rather than born of battle-fury. They easily integrated the pack tactics they used to hunt megafauna on the high seas into Astartes combat doctrine, herding their foes into traps before closing in for the kill. Once readied, the chapter easily took to void warfare, its similarities to conflict upon the sea making for an easy transition. Aboard their newly christened battlecruiser The Breaker, they set out to dispense the Emperor's justice wherever it was needed. Their first recorded campaign was a series of lightning raids against Eldar corsairs in the Damocles Gulf, where they earned their reputation for taking prisoners and conducting bloody spectacles for the chapter's entertainment. Home World The ocean world of Vathys is the third world in a system of eight. Almost entirely covered in water, it is dotted with atolls and short island chains - peaks of massive mountains that push through to the surface. Wracked by hellish storms and with seas full of gargantuan beasts, the human population has to fight daily to survive. Multiple moons create complex tidal patterns that can swallow whole settlements, while deep-sea predators large enough to swallow small vessels whole prowl the depths. After the chapter's establishment, the Thalassians had it within their power to cull the monsters that lurk beneath the waves, but instead left them to continue their predations against the scattered settlements as they had since time immemorial. In this way, potential aspirants would be tested their entire lives, and only the strongest would survive to adulthood to even attempt the trials. The chapter views these losses as necessary sacrifices, though some whisper they serve as offerings to whatever dwells in the deepest trenches of Vathys. The native population lives in a constant state of vigilance, building their settlements on stilts and maintaining extensive warning networks. Each community maintains a fleet of vessels, both for fishing and defense, crewed by warriors who learn to track and fight leviathans from an early age. These skills serve as the foundation for the chapter's own combat doctrine, though the Thalassians have transformed these survival techniques into methods of warfare that would horrify their mortal counterparts. The chapter's fortress-monastery, known as the Abyssal Reach, lies hidden in one of Vathys's deepest trenches. Its exact location is known only to the chapter, though passing vessels sometimes report hearing strange hymns carried through the water, accompanied by the screams of those who have drawn the chapter's dark attention. KAJAE SOMNIOS, CHAPTER MASTER OF THE THALASSIANS Chapter Master Somnios has led the Chapter of the Thalassians for over two hundred years. In this time he has stood at the forefront of two major campaigns. The first, in the Betalis System, saw him orchestrate a series of brutal trap-and-ambush operations against the Eldar of the Mymeara and Alaitoc craftworlds who had been harrying Imperial settlements. The second proved even more devastating - defending the Vathys system from a tendril of the Tyranid hive fleet Megalodon, where he personally led boarding actions against the largest bio-ships. It was during this campaign that Somnios lost his left eye in single combat with a Tyranid Lictor in the flooded corridors of a bio-ship. His face now horrifically scarred, rather than receive cybernetic implantation to replace the eye, he instead chose to have an ornate bronze eyepatch permanently bolted to his skull. The patch bears the chapter's symbol, the eye of the kraken, a reminder to those who would challenge him of the price of underestimating the Thalassians. In battle, he embodies the chapter's ruthless nature, often staging elaborate traps that result in the complete annihilation of his enemies. He has been accused of being careless with the lives of his men, and Thalassians are known to have a high rate of attrition in the process of completing their objectives. While the Inquisition has investigated these losses multiple times, they can never quite prove they're anything more than the brutal cost of victory. When not called to battle, however, he displays an unsettling joviality, often found sharing tankards with rank and file Space Marines, telling tales of battles old and new. These drinking sessions frequently end with him presiding over ritual combat between prisoners in the chapter's fighting pits, his laughter echoing over the roar of the crowds. Such practices, while questioned by other chapters, are carefully maintained within the bounds of Imperial doctrine - at least on the surface. Combat Doctrine The Thalassians are considered by Imperial strategists to be experts in vehicular fast assault. Ever eager to meet their foes in combat, they race towards their enemies with all haste so that they may quickly engage with bolter and chainsword. Those who have witnessed a Thalassian assault describe brother marines hanging from transport vehicles like ancient whalers on their boats, ready to strike the moment prey is sighted. Rather than the traditional power sword, Thalassians prefer to employ long-hafted power spears and harpoons reminiscent of those used in great hunts. These weapons, often decorated with maritime iconography and ancient runes, are as much symbols of rank as they are tools of war. Their fondness for chainswords persists, with many warriors modifying the teeth of their weapons to match the serrated patterns found in the maws of Vathys's deep-sea predators. For centuries, the Thalassians have employed large contingents of bike and land speeder squadrons, treating the battlefield like ocean currents to be navigated. With the introduction by the Adeptus Mechanicus of anti-gravitic tanks such as the Repulsor, these swift and agile troop carriers have found their place in many Thalassian deployments, piloted with the same predatory grace as the watercraft native to the Vathian seas. Heavy weapons are eschewed in all but the largest engagements, as the toll on mobility is often seen as too great a burden. When such firepower is required, the chapter relies primarily on vehicle-mounted weaponry, such as the twin-linked lascannons of their Land Raiders or the fearsome arsenal of their Repulsors. This preference for mobile firepower allows them to maintain their aggressive hunting strategies even in larger conflicts. The incredible savagery of a Thalassian assault has made many other Imperial forces wary of fighting alongside these Space Marines. Their thirst for blood often manifests in ritualistic brutality - hearts torn from bodies with cruel, hooked weapons, trophies claimed mid-battle, and war cries that sound more like hunting calls than battle hymns. Those who survive a conflict with the Thalassians quickly learn that death in battle might have been a mercy. Prisoners are stripped of their armour and dignity, given crude weapons reminiscent of ancient fishing tools, and forced to fight in bloodsport arenas while the chapter's warriors place bets on the outcomes. These grim spectacles often take place in partially flooded chambers deep within their vessels or fortress-monastery, where the losers' bodies are said to be offered to the depths. Beliefs It is whispered in many corners of the Imperium that the Thalassians only pay lip-service to The Emperor of mankind, and instead owe allegiance to some fel-entity lurking deep beneath the waves of their abyssal homeworld. Their rituals, while ostensibly devoted to the Emperor, often involve offerings cast into the depths and strange hymns in ancient Vathian dialects that make observers uneasy. During these ceremonies, it is said that the waters around their fortress-monastery grow unnaturally still, as if something vast were listening. Others have told tales of the chapter's librarians holding some kind of psychic bond with what can only be described as "a great eye," and that it is from this communion that the Thalassians receive instruction. These librarians are known to spend long periods in meditation chambers that face the deepest trenches of Vathys, and some claim to have witnessed their eyes turning completely black during these sessions, like the endless depths themselves. Some hold that the eye that the chapter bears on their shoulder guard is that of this creature, while others maintain that it is merely a representation of the massive beasts that claim Vathys as their home, and the harpoon running through the eye a symbol of the Thalassians' domination of these monsters. The chapter itself offers no explanation, though it is notable that their oldest treaties speak not of hunting these creatures, but of proving worthy of them. When questioned by Imperial authorities, the Thalassians display all the proper devotions to the Emperor, and their battle records show nothing but loyal service to the Imperium. Yet those who have fought alongside them speak of battle-prayers that sound more like ancient summonings, and victories that come at suspiciously opportune moments, as if guided by some unseen intelligence from the depths. The chapter's chaplains hold a particularly complex role in maintaining this duality of faith. Officially, they are responsible for tending to the spiritual needs of their battle-brothers and maintaining devotion to the Emperor, as in all chapters. However, the Thalassians' chaplains, known informally among the chapter as "Deep Speakers," perform their duties in ways that differ subtly from Imperial doctrine. Their skull helms are cast in bronze rather than black ceramite, with eye lenses that glow with an unsettling blue-green light in darkness. These Deep Speakers lead their brothers in what they claim are ancient Vathian variants of Imperial litanies, though the words they speak seem to make the air heavy and cause nearby water to vibrate in unnatural ways. Their ceremonies often take place in partially flooded chambers, where the chaplains wade chest-deep in the waters while leading their warriors in call-and-response prayers. Whether these rituals truly venerate the Emperor or something else entirely remains a matter of grave concern to those few outsiders who have witnessed them. Most troubling to Imperial observers is the chaplains' role in overseeing the chapter's prisoner combats. What should be merely brutal entertainment is transformed into something more ritualistic under their guidance, with the Deep Speakers marking victorious prisoners with strange symbols in bronze paint before their next bouts. These marked warriors often fight with unusual ferocity, as if driven by more than mere survival instinct, though few live long enough to explain what the markings mean. Gene-Seed The true lineage of the Thalassians, like many chapters of the mysterious 13th Founding, remains a subject of speculation and debate. Their gene-seed displays several distinct characteristics that have led to various theories about their origins, though the chapter itself maintains no records of their genetic ancestry. The most obvious manifestation is their heightened predatory instincts, even by Astartes standards. While some point to this as evidence of Blood Angels lineage, the Thalassians lack both the Red Thirst and Black Rage that plague the sons of Sanguinius. Their aggression manifests not as uncontrolled fury, but as a cold, calculating brutality that speaks of different genetic stock entirely. Their innate grasp of rapid assault tactics and preference for lightning warfare has led others to suggest White Scars ancestry. However, the chapter lacks the tribal traditions and distinctive facial features common to sons of Jaghatai Khan. Moreover, their preference for terror tactics and psychological warfare stands at odds with the honourable combat doctrine of the White Scars. More troubling are the subtle changes that occur in long-serving battle-brothers. Their eyes gradually develop an unusual opalescent quality, appearing almost luminous in darkness, like those of deep-sea predators. The Apothecarion maintains that this is merely an adaptation to the dark waters of Vathys, though some whisper of similarities to certain pre-Heresy genetic markers that should have been long purged from Imperial record. Of particular note is the chapter's unusual resistance to pressure changes and ability to operate in both void and underwater environments with remarkable ease. While the Adeptus Mechanicus has recorded these traits as beneficial mutations, there are those who question whether these adaptations arose naturally, or if they speak to darker truths about the chapter's genetic heritage. The High Lords of Terra's records regarding the founding of the Thalassians remain sealed, and inquiries into their genetic lineage are routinely denied. This official silence has only fueled further speculation, particularly regarding why such a remote ocean world was chosen for their inception, and what purpose their creation truly served. Hunter's Wake The scattered lasfire did little to illuminate the corridor of the drifting hulk. Privateer Captain Lohrn cursed as another of his men fell to precise bolter fire. They had thought the ancient vessel would be easy salvage. Now they ran, pursued by ceramite-clad monsters who turned their own ship into a killing ground. "Seal the bulkhead!" he screamed, but it was already too late. The massive pressure door, designed to contain void breaches, opened smoothly at the command of better authorization codes than his own. Through it came the Thalassians, their deep sea-green armor marked with battle honors and their blue helmets reflecting the emergency lighting. Bronze aquilas gleamed on their chests, though the eyes of the Imperial eagles seemed oddly focused, almost alive. "Please," he began, "We surrender! We—" "The hunt is joined," spoke their leader, voice cold through his helm's vox-grille. "And you are witnessed." The last thing Lohrn saw before they took him was the chapter badge on their pauldrons – that stark white eye, pierced by its harpoon. In his final moments of freedom, he could have sworn the pupil followed his movement, like something vast and ancient gazing through from impossibly far away. Three weeks later, an Imperial Navy patrol investigated the derelict. The ship's logs showed a lawful boarding action by the Adeptus Astartes. Of the privateer crew, they found only corpses - those who had died fighting, their bodies bearing the precise wounds of bolter fire and power weapons. Of Captain Lohrn himself, they found nothing but his void suit, bearing strange marks that might have been claw marks, or might have been bronze ritual scarring. The suit's internal sensors recorded only a final spike in pressure, as if its wearer had been dragged down to impossible depths. The Thalassians had long since moved on, patrolling the void in search of new prey. But they had left their mark, as they always did. Another offering to the deep, another secret kept beneath the waves. Battlecry “Beneath the waves, we hunt!”