Tears of Blood W.I.P IA

[Valdr Fell-fist]

Hail, my battle-brothers.

Confession time here. I jumped on the Blood Angels Bandwagon. I couldn't help it. The fast vehicles, the dreadnought heavy lists and the shear beatstick potential...perfect. But, i didn't want to be just another Blood Angel player, oh no. My warriors had to be mine. So i started throwing a few ideas around for a chapter with a difference. And the Tears of Blood were born. So this Index Astartes was created after much draftwork. It is by no means complete (Though it is quite a legnthy read) so any input is greatly appreciated.

 

“One last charge, brothers! One last push for the Emperor, for Sanguinius and Lost Key’lith! In the name of the Emperor, charge!” Host-Commander Duranis, the last day of the Tyrok Cleansing.

 

The Tears of Blood, a Chapter of Astartes respected by all they fight alongside, have spent the last two Millennia searching for their lost homeworld, Key’lith and the brothers they lost there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origins

 

Formed on the first day of the 32nd Millennium, as part of the vaunted Third Founding, the Tears of Blood have a long and glorious history.

Taking the gene-seed of the Blood Angels and the planet of Key’lith, far to the galactic north for themselves where they spent the first century of their existence recruiting and settling themselves into their new homeworld. Their first Chapter Master was Johann, who had been the 3rd Captain of the Blood Angels. He named his new charges the ‘Son’s of the Blood’ in honour of their deceased Primarch, the Angel Sanguinius.

It was on 101.M34 that the Son’s of the Blood assembled before Johann as a full Chapter for the first time. One thousand battle-brothers and support staff, their ranks and organisation a perfect copy of that laid down in the Codex Astartes, set out for war against a newly emergent Waaagh!.

Many were the honours won that day, but they almost suffered a major tragedy. Face to face with the warlord of the foul xenos, Master Johann slipped in the pool of foul orkoid blood at his feet, remains of his glorious efforts that day. The Ork took advantage of that momentary distraction, sweeping the massive axe, larger than a warrior in full power armour, in a two handed grip, slicing clean through both of Johann’s legs, bringing him crashing to the floor.

At the sight of their lord’s fall, the Son’s roared with incoherent rage, pushing themselves even further than they had before. More orks fell in the next ten minutes than had in the previous two hours, the Son’s stretching their enhanced bodies to the limit. They succeeded in pushing back the warlord, but not one of them could find a gap in its crude fighting style.

Only when they pushed it back to the site of Master Johann’s body did the ork fall. Johann, though wounded nigh unto death, his body a bloody ruin, did manage to pull himself up, leaning upon the body of one of his battle-brother’s slain by the warlord. With a battle-cry, he swung his power sword, shearing through the ork’s left leg, bringing it to its knee’s. With one more blow, he sliced clean through the neck of the beast, separating head and body.

His warrior’s, seeing him triumph, despite such dolorous wounds, against so mighty a foe, threw their back their heads and roared with joy. Such was their exultation, near the entire Chapter began to weep, and not tears, but blood.

After he had been healed by the apothecaries, and the Techmarines had built him a pair of bionic legs, Johann assembled his brothers once more, making a grand speech in front of them.

“Brothers, you honour me. Now is our Chapter complete, for we have seen our first blooding and have emerged victorious before the Emperor. Though I did fall, you fought on all the harder for it, routing the orkoid menace. In our actions that day, we have proved ourselves worthy of the lineage of Sanguinius, and I feel no shame in taking up a new name for our Chapter. Henceforth, we shall be known as the Tears of Blood! Let the enemies of Mankind cower in the shadows, for we are watching, and we strike with the hand of the Emperor!”

 

Homeworld

 

The Tears of Blood took the planet named Key’lith to be their home, early in the 32nd millennium. The only planet in its solar system, Key’lith orbits its star at a longer distance than Terra and its own sun. As such, much of the planet’s surface is covered in ice and snow, and is regarded as a Death World by the Imperium. Before the coming of the Tears’, Key’lith had only housed a meagre population of perhaps a million souls. Most of these were employed as hunters, for the beasts of Key’lith were highly sought after as game beasts by the rich and hedonistic aristocracy of the Imperium.

The Yrch, creatures scarcely a metre tall, seemed not to fit in as creatures of an ice world. Reptilian in appearance, they are in fact warm-blooded and possess an extraordinarily robust circulatory system for such small creatures allowing them to survive in a climate that would freeze and unprotected man within minutes. Sharp of claw and teeth, they are natural predators, attacking in swarms of up to a hundred at a time. Using such numbers, they have claimed many an unwary ‘predator’.

Snow lions are, without a doubt, the apex predator of Key’lith. Standing almost 8 foot high at the shoulder, and averaging 12 from snout to tail, they pose a threat to even an experienced Astartes, and countless over-confident Scouts have met their end at the tip of it’s fearsome claws and jaws powerful enough to bite clean through even power armour.

The Tears of Blood built a mighty Fortress-Monastery at the northern pole of Key’lith. For over three thousand years, it housed a large Astopathic choir that kept in contact with distant Terra.

 

The Storm of Woe

 

It was just before the Reign of Blood that a large Warp Storm burst suddenly into existence at the edge of the sector, the forces of Chaos spilling out into the mortal realm. Cries for help were received from over a dozen worlds in the sector, calls that the Tears of Blood were only too happy to answer.

Leaving but a single Captain and half the Third Company to defend Key’lith, the rest of the Chapter split into dozens of small task forces to combat the forces of Chaos.

Thus begun millennia of near constant warfare, with the Tear’s numbers dwindling to near extinction several times.

The Warp Storm, cause of so much bloodshed in the sector, raged constantly for three and a half thousand years, cutting off the region from the Imperium. Numerous expeditions were launched to discover the reason for the lost contact with one of their Astartes Chapters, but every one was turned back by the ferocity of the storm.

Eventually, midway through the 39th Millennium, the Warp Storm contracted. The Tears of Blood had been campaigning in the galactic east, where the storm had always been weakest, when this happened. Though the contraction allowed them access to the Imperium once more, it came at a terrible price.

Key’lith had vanished.

Not been destroyed, but simply moved.

At the time, almost all of the Chapter’s novices, as well as the Master of Recruits, had been on Key’lith resupplying. Though several transmitter signals still emanated from the spot where Key’lith had been, the planet was no longer there.

The Chapter was devastated. Most of it’s relics, it’s formidable librarium, a large portion of the armoury and worst of all, most of their future battle brothers, were no more.

Since then, the Chapter has become a crusading Chapter, bringing the light of the Emperor to His enemies from their Chapter fleet.

 

Beliefs

 

The Tears of Blood believe, like most Astartes, that the Emperor was a great man and a father to all Mankind in the most spiritual sense but do not ascribe to the belief of his Divinity.

As brothers of the Blood, the Tears venerate Sanguinius as their father, in the physical sense. They maintain very close relationships with all of their cousin Chapters, the Angels Encarmine in particular. They have taken to the field alongside their cousins on many glorious occasions, believing that there is not greater honour than fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with their familial Chapters.

The Tears of Blood place a great stress upon the importance of bonding between warriors. Squads are formed on a kinship basis, with many warriors partaking in the rite known as the ‘blood-sharing’. This entails slashing the palm and inner forearm of a brother and clasping wrists with one another so that their blood is shared when their Larraman cells heal their wounds.

The Tears believe that Key’lith still exists, somewhere in the galaxy. They have spent the last two thousand years searching relentlessly for their lost homeworld.

 

Recruitment

Before the Storm of Woe, the Tears recruited from the planets in their sector. Once every fifty years, they would visit each planet in turn, seeking the most suitable young men to join the Chapter. These potential recruits would be tested in fighting abilities, stamina and physical prowess before being accepted. The failure rate was usually around 64%, showing how suitable the worlds’ offspring were as warriors.

Now, however they are forced to recruit from any planet that they encounter suitable warriors on. Any young men they encounter, any at all, are given a capability test by the nearest Sanguinary Priest or Apothecary. If they pass, as very few do, they are given the chance to join the Chapter. Never would the Tears of Blood even consider forcing potentials to join them, even if it meant their own extinction.

However, upon a few planets that they have previously recruited from, with a high percentage of success, they maintain recruitment centres. These planets are expected to send all of their male sons once they reach the age of thirteen for testing at the facilities. In return, the Tears maintain a garrison on the world, usually of a single squad, a Sanguinary Priest and a Chaplain, in order to protect their recruits. The Tears do not count these warriors as part of a Host, and so they exceed the thousand battle-brothers limit set by the Codex Astartes. Having been confronted about this, they point out that the Primarch Gulliman did not set out a formal limit to the size of the recruitment company, which they regard these warriors as.

 

 

 

Combat Doctrine

 

The Tears of Blood prefer to engage their enemy at close range, believing that they only test themselves when they come within striking distance of a foe. As such, their forces often consist of large numbers of assault troops, be they borne aloft on ‘Angel Wing’ jump packs, riding an attack bike or mounted upon a Lucifer-engine equipped razorback.

Though they are masters of blade to blade combat, they are still Space Marines above all else, so their marksmanship is as flawless as any other chapter and their Devastator squads are much praised for their restraint in maintaining distance from the enemy.

The Chapter has a large number of Librarians and each Host tends to have three or four to call upon. Whether through some quirk in the Gene-seed, or just random chance, very few of the Librarians manifest truly offensive psychic abilities. Their powers tend more towards the enhancement of themselves and their battle-brothers.

 

Organisation

 

Originally, the Tears of Blood were a true Codex chapter, adhering to the tenets of that holy tome as closely as any chapter outside of the Ultramarines. After the Storm of Woe however, the Chapter Council decided to break away from the Codex and organise themselves according to their own needs.

They split the ten companies into four Hosts, each with a nominal strength of two hundred and fifty battle brothers, in addition to command and support staff. Each ‘Host-Commander’ is given leave to decide the make-up of his own host, meaning that they vary wildly in composition. In addition to the Host-Commander, each Host has four ‘Zars’. This is an old Key’lithian word meaning ‘Leader of Fifty’. Each Host is split into five ‘Zarens’, meaning ‘a gathering of fifty. Each of the Zarens are lead by one of the Zars, with the first being lead by the Host-Commander. Each often performs different combat roles within the Host, complementing each other upon on the field of battle.

The Tears of Blood do not maintain an Honour Guard within their Chapter. Instead, the first squad of each Zaren has a banner bearer, showing the personal heraldry of their Zar or Host-Commander. The squad sergeant of such a unit is often referred to as the command sergeant, and to him falls command of the Zaren should the Zar fall.

Each of the Hosts has a Battle Barge and several Strike Cruisers as well as a small fleet of Thunderhawks and a small squadron of the relatively new Stormraven Gunship, having found a copy of the STC file on a long abandoned Mechanicus research facility on the edge of the Ghoul Stars.

In addition, the Chapter Master keeps a battle barge for himself and his ‘life-company’. These warriors, normally numbering around 50 battle brothers, are the cream of the Chapter’s recruits, taken straight from the ranks upon their initiation as full warriors of the Chapter. The life-company spends much of its time with the other Hosts, supporting each in turn.

Each Host chooses a moniker for itself upon the death of a Host-Commander. These are inspired by one of the glorious victories they had whilst under his command. The amount of time they take to decide upon a particular victory is a sign of a Commander’s greatness.

 

Gene-Seed

 

The Tears of Blood were formed using the gene-seed of the Blood Angels, and suffer from the twin curses of the Flaw.

The Tears see the Red Thirst as a strength rather than a weakness however. They believe that it allows them to force their bodies to limits unattainable by even other Space Marines and regularly indulge in the power of it.

The Black Rage, however, is rarely discussed however. They perceive it as a sign of the failure of a brother’s warrior spirit rather than a twist of genetics. They feel it is a sign that their actions have not pleased the Emperor. Brothers inducted into the Death Company are given one chance at earning redemption, by achieving a glorious death in battle. As such, their attacks are often preceded by a shock assault by the Death Company.

 

 

Battle Cry

Whilst each Host has it’s own battle-cry, a popular one when multiple Hosts are gathered together is ‘Blood and Death, in the name of the Emperor and the Angel! For His glory!’

 

 

 

 

 

A History of Blood

 

001.M32 A Chapter Born

On the first day of the 32nd Millennium, the Son’s of the Blood Adeptus Astartes, successor Chapter to the glorious Blood Angels, are formed. They take Key’lith, to the galactic north-east of Terra, as their home planet and spent the next century building their stregnth under the leadership of Johann, former Blood Angel 3rd Captain.

 

101.M32 A Chapter Renamed

The Chapter’s first major victory is almost their first defeat, as Johann falls against the might of an Ork Warlord. Thankfully, he succeeds in slaying the beast. Healed by the sanguinary priests, he renames the Chapter as the Tears of Blood.

 

473. M32 The Traitor’s Hand

2nd Captain Parmenion turns traitor after a fierce battle against the forces of the World Eaters. Turning upon the Imperial Guard regiment he had fought alongside, he takes almost half of his company into damnation with him before escaping the wrath of Chapter Master Johann

 

481. M32 A Black Day

Chapter Master Johann, founding father of the Tears of Blood is slain by the renegade captain Parmenion. Johann was leading the 4th and 10th Companies in a war against the forces of the Hrud when he was ambushed with only a single squad of scouts alongside him. Parmenion slew him in single combat whilst his warriors butchered the novices. Taking his head and his armour as trophies, the renegade left his mutilated body for his former brothers to find. 1st Captain Duren swears vengeance.

 

782. M34 Tempered Blade

The entire Chapter are forced to a single planet to combat an expansion by a Great Brood of Loxatl warriors, numbering in the millions. Upon the soil of Lunaphage, the Tears of Blood meet the reptilians in a single pitched battle that lasts for almost a full week. At the end of combat they are battered and bloodied, losing almost two entire companies but the piles of vanquished enemies testify to their greatest victory yet.

 

847. M35 The Bloody Fist

The 3rd Company is joined by a strike force from the Imperial Fists in the purging of a world that has turned its back upon the Emperor’s Light. Once the bloody work is done, the Captain of the Fists and Captain Malichai of the Tears swear an honour-debt of mutual aid.

 

097. M36 A Time of Woe

The Storm of Woe erupts, trapping the Chapter within their home sector, forced into a millennia spanning war against the forces of the Warp.

 

467. M39 The Veil Lifted

The Storm of Woe recedes, taking Key’lith with it. The Chapter Council, after a series of debates, decide to break away from the Codex Astartes, reorganising the chapter to suit their new needs.

 

532. M39 Masters of Iron

The 4th Host, led by Host Commander Teren, come upon a Mechanicus outpost upon the planet of Kivar, a world they are in the process of reclaiming from Eldar deviants. Hidden in a valley they stumble upon the entrance to a large research centre, the size of a continent, buried deep under the surface. Entering it, they find all sorts of horrifically altered mutants within. Slaying the last, they begin to explore. They find that it was once an weapons research facility, dating back to before the Horus Heresy. Once the planet is reclaimed, they send out a signal to the nearest Forge World of Lucius who immediately despatch an Explorator team.

 

535. M41 A Debt of Iron

After detailed investigation and experimentation, the Magi of Lucius declare that they are reopening the facility on Kivar. They swear oaths to supply the Tears of Blood with the materiel they need to continue the Emperor’s work. In return, the tears swear a mutual protection treaty with the Forgemasters and the Titan Legio Astorum. The first productions of the newly emergent forge is a shipment of Mark IV ‘Maximus’ power armour. They send a dozen such suits to the Tears of Blood 4th Host.

 

The 4th Host

 

 

Host-Commander Ixion

Commander Ixion leads the 4th Host, traditionally the equal in rank to the 1st Host. He has been the master of the Host for over four hundred years, after his mentor Commander Turalis met his end at the hands of a Daemon Prince of Chaos. Ixion led the subsequent hunt for the Daemon and claimed it’s head in the bloody battle that followed.

Commander Ixion is the most successful Commander for over two millennium, combining tactical brilliance with lethal combat prowess. Wearing beautifully crafted power armour and carrying a massive chainaxe, he has triumphed against everything the galaxy has thrown at him. There are whispers that he is the most likely candidate to succeed the current Chapter Master, Turen, if he meets his end. But, as Ixion will gladly tell any who ask him, he is more than satisfied being a simple line Commander.

He leads the 1st Zaren, called the Angel’s Blade. This forms the infantry assault portion of the host and consists entirely of Assault and Vanguard squads. Whilst they rarely fight wearing jump packs they are no less swift for it, often mounted upon Lucifer-modified transports. The 1st Squad, lead by Command Sergeant Turcio, march to war wearing near-complete suits of Maximus power armour.

 

Zar Dominus

Dominus leads the 2nd Zaren, known as the Angel’s Hammer. This group of warriors form the heavy infantry and siege breaker element to the Host. Each warrior is fully trained in the use of Tactical Dreadnought armour and how to operate any heavy weaponry they may come across. It is common for this Zaren to split into two groups, one of Terminators lead by Dominus to engage the enemy, whilst their Devastator brethren pin down the foe. Dominus has fought for the Chapter for over 300 years, two hundred as a Zar. Whilst his approach to combat, that of closing quickly to deliver the hammer blow, is not particularly subtle, none can deny its effectiveness.

 

Zar Maximus

Maximus is the only other surviving member of the original Scout team in which Host-Commander Ixion was trained, all those decades ago. Tall even before the implantation of the Tear’s gene-seed, Maximus soon became a true giant. So large is he that elements of a badly damaged terminator suit were needed to forge his own power armour, so he now stands as tall as one of the chapter’s terminators in his own wargear. Monstrously strong, he carries no close combat weaponry, relying on the strength of his own mighty arms to slay his foes. For longer range engagements, he carries the boltgun he carried as a member of the Sternguard, specially modified to house a small melta charge. Angel’s Fist, Maximus’ Zaren, consists almost entirely of Tactical squads, with a single squad of Sternguard at their head.

 

 

Zar Augustine

Angel’s Wing, the Zaren lead by Zar Augustine, are the fast response unit of the Host. Whether born aloft upon jump packs, or mounted on bikes, the Zaren’s forces are constantly moving, seeking an opponents weak spot and capitalising on it before the foe even has chance to react. Augustine is an exemplar of what it means to be a son of Sanguinius. Beautiful of countenance, noble of spirit and quick to strike, Augustine takes the form of a golden thunderbolt at the head of his Vanguard. Armed with his majestic power sword and potent infernus pistol, infantry and vehicles alike are not safe from his reach.

 

Zar Julius

Julius leads the Zaren known as Angel’s Eyes. Formed mostly of scout squads, the Zaren has spent years at a time deep behind enemy lines, sowing mayhem so that when the rest of the Host arrives, the foe is unable to bring anywhere near their full stregnth to bear against either force. Julius wears a suit of specially modified power armour. Whilst it has the stealth qualities of a normal piece of scout armour, it also has powered fibre bundles meaning that he suffers no loss of protection while allowing him to keep up with his novice warriors.

 

 

 

Chief Librarian Vaddon

Vaddon is the current Master of the Librarium, a rank he has held for almost eight hundred years. Like most of his psyker brothers, Vaddon has not displayed any offensive psychic abilities. Instead, he has crafted a number of ‘wards’, as he calls them, a practiced he is believed to have pioneered. These are a number of permanent, though latent, powers he has woven around himself. These combine to make him perhaps the most potent fighter of the entire Chapter. He is stronger, tougher and far faster than any other, for certain. Countless enemy leaders have met their doom at the end of his mighty force sword, ‘Victorious Blood’.

 

So, what do you all think?

thanks in advance, brothers.