Paladins of the Imperium

[Brother Jynx]

Hello everyone, this is the test post for my chapter history and fluff. I will try and update it as I go, but I need to learn the formats so bare with me. Thanks

Paladins of the Imperium

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Origins and Founding

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uring the 13th founding in the mid 36th millennium (the exact date has been lost due to the destruction of records), the call went out from Titan that a new experiment was to take place under orders from the High Lords of Terra and The Inquisition. Inquisitor Roland Darkstar of the Ordo Malleus hand picked 20 Brothers from the Grey Knights to begin a new chapter of space marines. After the successful formation of the Exorcists Chapter in the early parts of the 36th Millennium, the understanding of fighting demonic corruption that they had discovered became paramount to this decision. The Exorcists were an excellent example of how demonic corruption could be purged without death, however: The Ordo Malleus felt that more strength was needed to help the Grey Knights fight the increasing demonic and Chaotic presence in the Imperium. The Grey Knights, not entirely on board with the idea grudgingly agreed to help with this assignment. It took a recomendation from Castilion Crow, who believed that more help for him and his brothers was a great idea wherever they could get it and from their own geen-seed seemed to be the most logical choice.

It took Roland over 10 years to assemble his new marines with the help of his 20 Grey Knight followers. The new chapter was dubbed the "Paladins of the Imperium" by one of the original 20 and the new chapter master, his name was Cecil Beronius. At first the chapter was fleet based for many years, answering the call for aid wherever they were needed in the Ultima Segmentum. Under Cecil's leadership the Paladins quickly made a name for themselves in the Segmentum, rooting out all forms of heresy and chaotic corruption where ever it may manifest. The Paladins spent much of their early years being an extra arm of the Grey Kights where they could not reach. Most notably was to answer a call to the Forge World of Ryza, where an incursion by the Chaos war-band known as the Iron Warriors had occurred. Ryza is the leading producer of ancient plasma weaponry in the Imperium and the Iron Warriors, crazy for all things technological, wished to posses this power. When the Paladins answered the call many of the manufactorums had become occupied, dispite all the Imperial Guard regiments assigned to the planet. Reinforcments were scarce as a warp storm in the region made travel near impossible. Many heard the distress calls from Ryza but because of the storm none could answer except Cecil and his Brothers. The Paladins quickly moved in to cut off supply lines and helped the Guard gain much needed ground. After a 6 month campaign with the help of Ryza's most cherished weapons at there disposal the Paladins were able to wipe the Iron Warriors off the face of the planet. To this day Ryza produces many of the weapons the Paladins use out of a dept of gratitude too the chapter. In addition all Techmarines in the chapter spend an extra tenure on Ryza learning the finer skills needed to service and understand the now revered and most holy of armaments used by the Paladins, plasma weaponry.

By the end of the 36th Millennium, the Paladins had grown from a small bad of 200 brothers too just short of the 1000 brothers needed to mark them as a full fledged chapter, sadly this would not last for a dark time was coming for the Paladins, when the very foundation of what they believe about evil would be shattered forever.

Now the Paladins needed a world to call home, their ships brimming with inhabitants. After much searching, a world was found by a survey team lead by Brother Kordova that was sent ahead 2 years before. They transmitted the location of a planet know at the time as LXT-437. When the Paladin fleet arrived the first reaction was understandably negative, for the whole planet looked like a gas giant, its atmosphere covered in a blue-green haze. Initial scans showed that the surface was volcanic and mostly hostile. Brother Kordova assured his Chapter Master that they needed to look closer to see the beauty and perfection of this world. Cecil and a team of his most trusted with Brother Kordova and his survey team, went down to the surface. The volcanic activity was intense and the light from the sun was tinted the same blue-green as the atmosphere. As Kordova explained how rich the planet was with resources however: the attitude quickly changed. Cecil's right hand adviser and Master Librarian Tellah also confirmed that warp energy seemed to radiate from the world, but not the dark chaotic energy they were used too. This energy seemed to have more of a pure balance too it, it closer resembled the warp energy used by the Eldar, it had chaotic potential but could be safely channeled by the proper users. Upon further inspection and guided by Kordova's team Cecil was also shown that though proper implementation of terraforming because of the vast resources and fertile landscape, this world could be inhabitable and the resources could be reaped by the Imperium in as little as 20 years.

Impressed by the new discovery, Cecil commanded that terraforming should start immediately. As soon as the surface was inhabitable the Fortress-Citadel of the Paladins was constructed, a beacon of light on a still barren and hostile world known as "Lights Hope". The Planet was named Aura, for the glow the clouds gave it during the daytime.

The Dark Times

During construction of "Lights Hope" something was discovered below the surface that astounded the Librarians and Paladin Techmarines. They had uncovered an underground cavern with very curious crystal formations growing out of the ceiling and floor. When Tellah approached the crystal formations he was overwhelmed by the incredible amount of warp energy. It coursed through him so quickly that it took every ounce of strength he had not loose his mind in the rush. The Light in the chamber was blinding, when the light subsided, Tellah stood in the center of the chamber, his eyes shining with warp light. He spoke in a language not know by any of his brothers, after his speech in this ancient language he was aware of himself. He turned to his brothers unaware what had happened. His acolyte Samar recounted what he witnessed to his master, and played back a recording he had made of him speaking in the strange speech. Stunned by what had happened to him he told none to enter the chamber until he made more sense of what had occurred.

Tellah approached Cecil with this news and had Samar recount the event to him. Cecil, intrigued with what had transpired, told Tellah to take any means necessary to discover the secrets and meaning behind his experience. After the Citadel was constructed around the chamber 4 years latter Tellah had discovered that his message had come form, it was a message from lost souls trapped in the warp from days long since passed. They told him they were the lost souls of conflicts past. Startled by his discovery believing that this was demonic corruption trying to take over his mind he turned himself over to the Inquisition for questioning. After a grueling 2 years away from the chapter Tellah returned, the Inquisition releasing him with a command to continue researching the visions and the crystals. Further research showed that the crystal formations seemed to be pure warp energy vessels, and that he could command the power now that he was exposed to the forces within. During those 2 years away the Acolyte Samar had gone against his masters wishes and continued to study the crystals unsupervised. Through his research he gained much knowledge and power in channeling the warp however; he was careless and overconfident in his delving Tzeentch took notice of his vulnerable mind and sent a Lord of Change by the name of Xal'tendreck to toy with him and enslave his mind. Xal'tendreck told Samar that he was the new master and when Tellah returned he was going to plot to overthrow Cecil and take charge of the Chapter. Young and naive Samar believed that he was seeing the future and he needed to prevent this from happening at any cost. He continued to research the crystals and in turn combine the energy with arcane tomes; he devised a spell that would surly defeat his former master. He could not see that he was being manipulated by the Lord of Change to serve a much more sinister purpose.

After a time Cecil began to become suspicious of Samar and his activities. The chapter master with several of his trusted men confronted the young acolyte, demanding to know what he was doing. Samar told Cecil that Tellah had indeed been corrupted by Chaos and upon his return would attempt to assassinate him. Cecil could not believe this, and demanded proof to back up this allegation. Samar was overtaken by anger that his chapter master did not believe him, he was so certain of his "belief" that he decided that he was alone in this and out of desperation, cast the spell that he was intending to use on Tellah on Cecil instead. The energy rocked the chamber, a warp gate opened in the chamber, Samar, Cecil and all of the other marines, were taken into the portal. They found themselves on the plane of change, facing the bird-like Xal'tendreck . Knowing the danger he was in Cecil immediately attacked, the demon was ready for the onslaught and Cecil was caught in a wave of eldrich flame. When the flames subsided Cecil and his men were all on the ground unmoving. Samar thinking that they were all dead turned to the demon and offered himself to it's power, knowing that their was no going back from this. The Demon took the final lock off of Samar's mind and invaded his psyche. For his deeds Samar was grated the powers of a Deamon Prince. After his agonizing transformation, the Lord of Change waved it's deformed claws over Cecil and his fallen comrades, they stood, eldrich light shone from there eyes. They had in fact not perished but were now slaves. Twisted by the powers of Change, Samar had lost all humanity by giving himself fully to the Chaos god and now was put in command of the enslaved Paladins and Cecil. Xal'tendreck told Samar that he was to return to Aura and corrupt as many of the Paladins as possible. Back through the warp gate Samar cloaked himself to look like his former form and told Cecil and his brethren to summon all of the present Paladins to the chapter masters quarters. 2 days latter over half of the chapter was now a slave to the Lord of Change.

Tellah returned to the planet to find that all communications were disrupted. He was about to make planet fall when he received a distress call from the surface to stay away from Light's Hope and meet at a separate outpost on the planet. Tellah went to the location and discovered a small contingent of his Brothers there, in apparent hiding. The lone Sergent there by the name of Darrien Crow, explained all that he knew of the past 2 days events.