Bix's Blood Drinkers

[Bix]

Origins of the Blood Drinkers

 

The exact details of the formation of the Blood Drinkers have been lost to all but the Chapter itself. Through the passing of millennia, the initial records so scrupulously gathered by the Administratum; transcribed and revised countless times. Have been incorrectly edited, purposely censored; misplaced, buried and forgotten.

 

Even the Chapters ancient chronicles owe more to myth and legend rather than hard facts.

 

The Apocrypha of Davio written in M33 mistakenly records them as a Chapter of the 2nd founding an error which neither the Administratum, nor the Blood Drinkers seem inclined to rectify.

 

To many scholars of the 41st millennium they are considered an unknown founding. Although this has led some to speculate that their origin may lie with the lost records of the 13th ‘Dark Founding’.

 

What is known; is that some time during M33 the High Lords of Terra commissioned the formation of a successor Chapter from the gene seed stocks of the legendary Blood Angels. That this was done despite the known risks of the Flaw would suggest some dire need for new marines and lends weight to the claims of the Dark Founding theorists.

 

The Blood Drinkers own chronicles ‘The Liber Potoris ’ recount the Chapters founding as being undertaken by an Astarte named Julius Vladarius; a Sanguinary Priest of the Blood Angels. It is a stirring tale of an epic vision quest instigated by the spirit of Sanguinius himself, full of mortal danger and valiant battles. Charting Vladarius’s discovery of the Death World of San Guisuga. His defeating of an ancient evil dwelling there and subsequent unification of the planets various human tribes.

It goes on to detail the establishment of a fortress monastery on the planet. The recruiting of the first of the Chapters aspirants from the warriors of the planets tribes. Whose ferocious martial prowess and blood drinking rituals befitted a chapter born of Sanguinius. Vladarius’s structuring of the Chapter around the tenants and teachings of the Sanguinary Priesthood and also his implementation of rigid Codex structure.

Vladarius became the Blood Drinkers first Chapter Master; commanding it through its infancy. Upon his death some three hundred years later, his body and precious gene seed was returned with reverence to Baal. The Blood Angels granted their new brethren leave to establish a shrine at Vladarius’s tomb and a small honour guard is maintained there. All Blood Drinkers visit the shrine at least once in their long lives during their pilgrimage to the tomb of Sanguinius.

 

The Planet of the Blood Drinkers

 

San Guisuga is classified as a Death World by the Imperium. It is situated in the Binary Star System of Helios in the Scatha Sub.Which in turn is part of the Draco Sector of the Segmentum Tempestus; close to the border of The Veiled Region.

It is an almost barren world of blasted bare rock and desolate desert wastes. Save for a continent sized enclave of habitable terrain, roughly nine million square miles in size; located across the equator and southern hemisphere. Surveys conducted by Artisans of the Chapter suggest that this was not always so. That San Guisuga was once a verdant and bountiful world before some great cataclysm befell it countless millennia before. They have also uncovered evidence of an advanced ‘amphibian’ Xeno culture in existence during this period.

 

The human inhabitants today are most certainly descents of a settlement during the Dark Age of Technology. Their tribal legends tell of an immense Ark carrying the tribes of Terra; forced to make landfall on San Guisuga. The tribes were stranded and many thousands perished from a plague called ‘the Rot’. (Much of the planets plant life release spores that are fatal to the majority of humans causing this incurable, lingering and painful death). Four brothers Sarumat, Dushara, Mauru and Elabus were touched by the gods and immune to the Rot, They shared their blood with their peoples and in doing so saved them from certain death. This now long forgotten immunisation process is echoed in the Blood Oath rituals of the tribes today.

The four brothers and their followers founded four tribes known together as ‘The Children of the San’ they spread out across the enclave and lived in peace for many years. But the island peoples of Elabus found tunnels into ancient ruins and delved deep into the secrets they discovered. They practiced dark arts and the tribe descended into madness; becoming depraved beasts who craved the flesh others of their kind. They fell upon the other tribes; reaping death and destruction.

 

The three other tribes lived in fear of the raiding parties of the Elabus until one day from the heavens an Angel clad in blood red armour arrived. Leading a host warriors, proclaiming their master to be the lord of ancient Terra, the Thunder God himself. The Angel led the three tribes against the Elabus, finally putting an end to their evil. The Angel then set about raising the worthy into his ranks to remain guardians of ‘The Children of the San’ and do the Thunder God’s bidding for ever more.

 

Today the land of the enclave is almost entirely covered in dense jungle and tropical rain forest, laced with countless rivers. It is alive with beasts and dangers too numerous to count. Within its depths are the fortified tree settlements of the jungle tribe the Sarumat. Great hunters of the beasts of the forest and skilled watermen, the Sarumat are completely at one with the planets lethal nature.

 

To the south east the green zone is bounded by a range of mountains, the Montes Tonitrus ‘Thunder Mountains’. So called as the upper atmosphere within the enclave is constantly in turmoil and violent electrical storms are frequent. Here among the peaks rising up to five miles in height dwell the Dushara tribe; their terraced cities of stone clinging to the vast mountain sides. Home to the fabled Griffon riders, who hunt the vast herds that graze the lush valley slopes.

 

In the north west of the enclave a thousand mile wide delta feeds a sea in which are dotted numerous pyramid islands with their many hidden ruins of the extinct Xeno civilisation. The former domain of the now extinct Elabus tribe; these islands are considered cursed and forbidden to all the tribes. It is here that the Blood Drinkers conduct much of their initial training.

 

Surrounding the enclave are the border dunes of the Magnus Solitudo ‘Great Desert’; home to the hardy dark skinned nomadic peoples of the Mauru. These wanderers scour the harsh wastes, searching the sands for treasures of the past and precious raw materials, which they then trade with the other tribes.

 

Beyond their domain lies the Lapis Balteus ‘Stone Belt’ the bones of the planet laid bare by the ancient cataclysim. Where the atmosphere becomes thin and during the hours of daylight the radiation levels from the systems twin suns turns flesh to ash in moments. It is out in this vast inhospitable waste that the Blood Drinkers fortress monastery known as ‘The Maw’ is located.

[Bix]

I'll take from the silence its either dull as ditchwater or you're all gripped. :D

 

So like Nero I shall continue to play while the city burns.

 

The Flaw

 

Despite all efforts, the gene seed for the new Chapter remained tainted and the Flaw was passed onto the Blood Drinkers. However through the Emperors divine hand, the blood drinking rituals (known as the Blood Oath) adopted from the tribes of San Guisuga have a sating effect. This coupled with the wise teachings of Vladarius on restraining and directing the Red Thirst; has meant that the Chapter seems to have achieved an unprecedented level of control over the Flaw.

However this is no cure. Brothers still fall to both the Black Rage and the Red Thirst, though in far fewer numbers than other sons of Sanguinius. And whether this path leads to salvation or damnation is still uncertain.

 

The Blood Oath

 

The warriors of the Blood Drinkers have adopted this ancient custom from the inhabitants of their home world, the drinking of another’s blood. They believe that sharing their blood with their brothers before battle, unifies and strengthens them. A Sanguinary Priest visits each squad in turn with every squad member donating a small portion of his blood to the Blood Chalice carried by the priest. The Chalice is then passed from brother to brother and the contents imbued.

This ritual has two very important effects. Firstly the marines Omophagea processes the blood and allows them to be instinctively linked to the other battle brothers in the squad; knowing their minds like they know their own. Repeated exposure to this ritual has meant that the Blood Drinkers fight as one lethal machine; almost a collective mind.

Secondly the blood lust that triggers the Red Thirst is somewhat stemmed by the offering; although the Drinkers like the other son’s of Sanguinius can manipulate and call on its savagery when required.

The ritual ends when as one, all the warriors committing to battle roar out their oath ‘We will do what is ordered and at every command we shall be ready’.

[Kalsir]

Great, it's good to see some fluff for the Blood Drinkers and it gives me some inspiration for making terrain. I thought their homeworld was called San Guisaga.

And the fluff justifies my blood drinking "Corbulo" :P Maybe you could make a whole article about them? I would also really appreciate it if you would write something about Blood Drinkers markings.

i

[Vel'Cona]

Awesome. Have you submitted this as an article yet? It definitely qualifies.

 

Will you be addressing the BD's choice to use the Codex Astartes style squad markings? (as per the painting information in C:BA) :P

[Bix]

Thanks for the support Gents :D

 

Hopefully have some more up over the next couple of days. I hadn't thought about doing it as an article but now that you mention it, it could well be worth while once completed. I'll have to read the Dummy's guide. I know that Jux2p0ze has already done one, hopefully he'll not mind an alternate view.

 

For San Guisuga. Im using the spelling I have in my old yellowing notes out of a shoe box from when I was a kid ;) I sadly don't still own the copy of Space Marine I took them from :cry: so I couldn't swear to it being correct.

 

I will attempt to explain the use of codex markings. I've got some adjusting to do on that score, as you can see from my pics my guys have still got the old skool yellow chalice chapter marking. Everything now leans towards the black chalice and it may be easier to paint in the long run.

 

So the question is to paint it black or stay mellow yellow? :D

[Bix]

Latest update of fluff, enjoy :D

 

The Creation of a Blood Drinker

 

Every ninety years the comet Mjolnjr ‘The Hammer’; enters the Helios system and passes close to the Blood Drinker’s home world. On San Guisuga , the restless skies above the enclave cease their constant disquiet and clear; leaving the jade green smear of the passing comet’s tail to cast a haunting light across the surface during nightfall.

This period, called ‘The Ascension’ lasts for one hundred and fifty days and is a time of great celebration and feasting among the tribes; for this is the time when the Warriors of the Emperor will walk amongst them.

 

Young male warriors from every clan of the three tribes journey to the great merchant city of Nabatari in the Auster Valley, an ancient crossroads between the territories of the three tribes. There to compete in a series of gruelling games and brutal gladiatorial contests which test their skill, strength and courage to its limits and cost many their lives. Supporters and spectators throng in their many thousands to witness these events known as ‘The Trials of Ascension’ and a vast tented encampment springs up around the walls of the city. Fortunes can be made betting on the outcomes also great honour, respect and of course power goes to the clans of the victors.

 

Throughout the trials, Huskarls from the Chapter mingle amongst the clan camps and the massed crowds of the arenas. Assessing the competing warriors potential, highlighting those of most promise and passing that information back to the Master of Recruits and his staff.

The final day of the trials begins with the marines themselves arriving to oversee the last hundred or so warriors compete for the hallowed titles of Aspirant. Roaring from the heavens, a Thunderhawk sets down atop a colossal stone pedestal raised above the arena in the shape of an armoured fist clenching a raised chalice. The giant demi-gods, clad in their blood red armour descend to the baying of war horns, the thundering of drums and the roar of the amassed thousands their voices raised as one, in praise.

 

At the end of the day, the Master of Recruits selects usually fifty of the bloodied but unbowed warriors. Calling them in turn by name, to approach and kneel before him. There he crowns them with a laurel and presents them with a bag of gold for their clan and a Rudis ‘a wooden training sword’ inscribed with their name. He touches them on the shoulder and the crowd roar their approval as the Aspirants rise.

The Aspirants are then carried away on a tide of their supporters to be feted like kings and enjoy one final night of revelry before their new life begins. This final night is known as ‘The Feast of the Red Dawn’. For as Mjolnjr pulls away from the system its calming effects on the planet wane. Roiling clouds start to fill the sky once more and a hot wind begins to blow out of the Magnus Solitudo. As the twin suns rise the next morning, the air is stained with dust from the desert; casting a red pall over the valley. If rain should fall it falls in heavy droplets of blood red.

 

The Aspirants make their way to the Campus Gladius a great flattened expanse to the north of the city bounded on all sides by statues of legendary Blood Drinker heroes. They are escorted by those warriors that failed the trials, for though their hearts are heavy with defeat. There is still honour to be found in having faced the trials and the Blood Drinkers do not turn their backs on such bravery.

Entering through a triumphal arch carved with great deeds of the Chapter; the Aspirants are met by the Master of Recruits and a group of veteran Sergeants of the Chapters 10th Cohort –Venati ‘The Hunters’. After a ceremony of welcome they are led away to a small temple set at the far end of the field to the cheers of the escorting warriors. Here they are met by members of the Sanguinary Priesthood who asses them physically and spiritually; when the process is over the Aspirants are ushered to waiting Thunderhawks for transport to The Maw.

 

The warriors left behind are then given the choice of returning to their clans or serving in the Chapters Auxilia; a force devoted to the security and protection of the Chapters holdings.

 

The journey to The Maw is one of revelation for the Aspirants. For most it will be the first time they have ever taken to the air and for all it is the first time they have travelled beyond the Enclave. Within the bays of the Thunderhawks the Blood Drinkers finally remove their helmets and the Aspirants gaze upon the strong battle worn faces of these great warriors. Puzzling that despite traces of their former tribal heritage; the marines all share a noble countenance and skin pallor not found in the Children of the San. They also note with awe the enlarged canine fangs of each marine, a sign of the truly blessed.

 

The Thunderhawks streak across the red desert wastes into the north western hemisphere for several hours, finally the craft reach the Krake Rift; a former oceanic canyon running north to south for about ten thousand miles; reaching down almost four miles in its deepest sections. Here they bank and descend from the murderous heat and radiation of the surface; into the cool darkness of the depths.

The great ancient fortress monastery of The Maw is built into both sides of the rift, gun emplacements, landing platforms and towers jut out from its sheer walls like the teeth of a titanic beast giving the fortress its name. And an immense bridge the Pons Angelus spans the expanse. Much more of the fortress is buried deep into the rock face, catacombs, shrines, forges and vast armouries creating a labyrinth that even a marine with his unnaturally long life may never fully explore.

 

The Aspirants are taken directly to the Grand Temple of Sanguinius passing many wonders along their route. Here they observe vigil , gazing up at the golden statue of the primarch, arms out stretched clasping a chalice and sword and great wings unfurled; suspended by grav fields high above the temples marble floor.

The next day a service of initiation is held, the Sanguinary High Priest presents the Cruor Calix ‘The Blood Chalice’ and the Aspirants drink of the sacred blood of the primarch. Very soon a dark oblivion overwhelms them; scribes and servo skulls hurry to record their unconscious utterances as visions of past present and future assail them. Many prophecies are said to come from the lips of the newly initiated.

 

They are borne away to the Sanguinary Crypts and there the process of transforming them into mighty Astartes begins. Their heads are shaved and metal shunts are surgically inserted throughout their bodies; the vital and precious gene seed is implanted and reacts almost immediately to the key signatures of the ingested blood form the Calix. They are then placed in upright sarcophagi made of intricately carved platinum. The shunts are connected to the interior of the sarcophagi with a nest of snaking tubes. These serve as feed lines, life function monitors, Hypnomat probes and a multitude of other strange devices whose mysteries are known only to the priesthood.

Once the Aspirants are connected and securely nestled within the sarcophagi, they are sealed in and the interior filled with a suspension fluid. Here they will remain in fitful slumber for a full year as their bodies grown and transform both internally and externally. Some will die in the process, although the Blood Drinker Sanguinary Priest’s skills in the transformation process have reduced the average mortality to a level that other Sons of Sanguinius would greatly envy.

 

When the Aspirants emerge they are fast on the road to becoming a physically mature marine. They have increased considerably in size, their muscle mass has grown exponentially and many of the new internal organs germinated by the geneseed are fully functioning.

The Aspirants canines have grown into wicked looking fangs and their faces now carry echoes of their primarchs noble features. But they do not yet share the pallor of the older Battle Brothers; a side effect of the maturation of the Progenoid glands coupled with the Blood Drinkers blood purification processes.

The Aspirants are now ready to join the ranks of the Venati to train as scouts for the Chapter

[Bix]

Next up will be the Chapters organization chart, but before I set about that another question has arisen. Should I heed the few bits that James Swallow has written about the Chapter? I’m not personally a fan of his writing but that aside he has named a Chapter Master as Orlok (most probably current in time line respects), I’m using Ian Watson's choice of name for the home world so should this fragment from Swallow's texts be included also?

 

As always thoughts and feedback welcome ;)

[Vel'Cona]

Well, the problem with equating yourself with Swallow's background is the inevitable knee-jerk reaction you will get from those of us who didn't like the Deus series. Let it be known I am not a Swallow-hater as a matter of course (assuming you've read Flight of the Eisenstein, which is quite good), but for me his take on the Blood Angels left a bad taste I haven't quite been able to overcome. That said, I do admire some of his background, particularly regarding the foundation and organization of the BA successors, especially the Flesh Tearers and Angels Sanguine (sorry OMG :) ).

 

I would say the choice to take what Swallow wrote in regards to Blood Drinkers as canon has to be one you make yourself. I for one have no problem with equating the successors with the Deus background, especially for something as trivial as the chapter master's name at the time (which is a fluid thing for many Astartes chapters, in the grand scheme of things).

[Kalsir]

Venati :), good to read more fluff the only problem is that if you go more and more in to detail I might have to change my models etc according to the fluff :P, but I'm okay with that.

And I think Orloc (or is it Orlok?) is just fine, maybe I will once make him a model. Any ideas on what he should look like?

Looking forward to the organisation chart and I will read all of the fluff again later on (not now due to lack of time) and give some feedback if that is even needed.

[Bix]

Wise words as always Vel'Cona. Yes I liked Eisenstein, thats what led me into the Rhino wreck that was the Deus series :lol:

 

Kalsir yes your term Venati fits in very nicely :lol: . I wouldn't worry about changing your marines, its only my mad ramblings, take what you like the look of leave the rest. I need to tweak some bits myself. The Black Chalice being one such change.

 

I think you're right I think it is spelt Orloc and as Vel'Cona stated it's such a minor issue it may be worth inclusion despite the ill feeling towards Swallow. As it happens my friends and I have re launched our 40k gaming with a retro campaign setting of 404.M41 to catch up on loads of stuff we've missed. My original Chapter Master was Tiberius but I've decided to re work that by having Tiberius reduced down to 2nd Cohort Captain (that way I envisage a time when he will rise to Chapter Master) and place Orloc as the current Master right through to 999.M41.

 

As for his look, I think Astorath the Grim looks perfect for a Blood Drinkers Chapter Master. As soon as I saw the figure I thought if we had our own Primarch thats what he'd look like. Very much like Gary Oldmans Vlad Draculea, so I think he'd make and excellent Orloc. Besides I don't like the idea of the actual Astorath, its just plain daft to think that one Marine could police all the sons of Sanguinius. He'd have more frequent flyer miles than Richard Branson. B)

[Bix]

Ok so the force organisation chart is still a WIP, I've had litte time for it at the moment. :) But just to keep the thread ticking over here is my map of The Draco Sector. San Guisuga is in the far left of the Scatha Sub

[Race Bannon]

Zomg.

 

If I were to ever use the BA Codex for a real BA successor I would play Blood Drinkers. This is great stuff and you do them honor.

 

:P

[Vel'Cona]

Wow. Awesome dude. This is really coming together.

 

Have you submitted it yet? :P

[Lynnean]

how did you make that map, if i may ask?

[BrotherAtrox]

Awesome looking map!

[Bix]

Thx as always guys for all the comments :lol:

 

I haven't got round to submitting it yet Vel. Do you think it should be complete first?

 

FS in answer to you. Its pretty much a collage of stuff from various sources I've collected over the years; photos and drawings. Cut resized and pasted using the basic MS paint package. Assembled to a sketch map I've been slowly expanding over the last few months. But has been kicking round in my head for a long time. Greatly inspired by the works of Dan Abnett (hence the dateline of 404.M41).

 

I have another map which places the Sector in the wider Segmentum Tempestus and to the best of my ability I have also added all GW fluff worlds and sectors in the Segmentum (obviously some planets etc will be open to conjecture due to the fluid nature of GW's 40k verse). I'll post it up if peeps want.

[Lynnean]

Thx as always guys for all the comments :huh:

 

I haven't got round to submitting it yet Vel. Do you think it should be complete first?

 

FS in answer to you. Its pretty much a collage of stuff from various sources I've collected over the years; photos and drawings. Cut resized and pasted using the basic MS paint package. Assembled to a sketch map I've been slowly expanding over the last few months. But has been kicking round in my head for a long time. Greatly inspired by the works of Dan Abnett (hence the dateline of 404.M41).

 

I have another map which places the Sector in the wider Segmentum Tempestus and to the best of my ability I have also added all GW fluff worlds and sectors in the Segmentum (obviously some planets etc will be open to conjecture due to the fluid nature of GW's 40k verse). I'll post it up if peeps want.

i love it =]

[Bix]

Ok force chart still not done but I've been fighting my first battles since the rebirth of my 40k career. Both against the Eldar who fought to a bloody stalemate in the first and I cut to pieces in the second.

So heres the Tempestus map I promised to place the Draco Sector into the wider context. Like I've said Im sure some positions and names are open to debate. I moved Krieg inside the Uhulis Sector as the area it occupied just outside seemed too small for a sector and why waste one of the few official GW sectors? And I chose to place the Hulk Death of Integrity in the Segmentum as I believe its more likely that the BD's would be carrying out the majority of their actions nearer to home.

[Bix]

Finally my Chapter composition chart is finished. This caused me more headaches and late nights than I care to mention, fitting my old ideas around the new feel of the BA codex. Trying to be a little different but still wanting to acknowledge the great shadow cast by our Primogenators. I'm fairly satisfied with it, so trumpets please. :)

My thanks again to Kalsir for the very cool and fitting name suggestions for 2nd, 5th and 10th companys. <_<

[Vodunius]

Nice, though why no speeders outside of the 8th Company?

[Demoulius]

Finally my Chapter composition chart is finished. This caused me more headaches and late nights than I care to mention, fitting my old ideas around the new feel of the BA codex. Trying to be a little different but still wanting to acknowledge the great shadow cast by our Primogenators. I'm fairly satisfied with it, so trumpets please. :P

My thanks again to Kalsir for the very cool and fitting name suggestions for 2nd, 5th and 10th companys. :D

;) woah alot of effort went into that! and i feel guilty for chuckling at the title of the head of your SG, it reminded me of mass effect 2 :(

*deactivates guiltymode* amazing effort brother :) could you explain how you made that? (as in with what programme and such)

[Bix]

My thinking behind that was, that the 8th are a specialist support company. Rarely do they fight as a whole, instead most of the time they are engaged in attachments to other Companys. Providing their mastery of the air (the majority of the Talons are from the Dushara Tribe, The Griffon Riders)and lightning fast close combat strikes in whatever undertaking it is required.

 

So their Land Speeders and Stormravens (I thought it fitting that the Talons had custody of these rather than the Forge) are really utilised by the whole Chapter, hence the large number. Although they are not actually all in one place.

 

Im even toying with the idea of having an 8th Command squad mounted on Jetbikes. Yeah I know the DA's are supposed to have the only one, but I remember a time when the whole Raven Wing was mounted on the things. What happened to them all? Maybe the Drinkers stole some of the keys while the DA's were bleaching their cowels ;)

[Bix]

:D woah alot of effort went into that! and i feel guilty for chuckling at the title of the head of your SG, it reminded me of mass effect 2 :(

 

*deactivates guiltymode* amazing effort brother :D could you explain how you made that? (as in with what programme and such)

 

Cheers Demoulius ;) I just looked up the Harbinger ref (I played ME 1 but not 2) no I don't think there's a family resemblance ;)

 

Again its a simple yet time consuming (well for me cos Im dead slow and get distracted easily) use of MS paint. I just started with a Jpeg of parchment and repeatedly cut,pasted and resized the same pic for the different info boxes. The other pics again are odds and sods I've collected over years of surfing the net etc..

[TrentL]

Sorry to ask another How too but I'm wondering if you could share your skin method I like how yours turned out very much.

[Vel'Cona]

It gets better and better :D

 

Yes, I would wait until you have it all reasonably compiled, then submit it. You may have to do some revisions or indexing to make it meet quality standards, but I think the Librarius here is pretty lenient as long as the content is strong, which it is ^_^

 

Note: There's a Star Trek reference in the name of your Auxiliaries. +1 for that.