The Red Eagles

[DeathcompanyDante]

Hi guys, rather new to this end of the forum so please bear with me! I have been building and painting my successor chapter for a number of years now and battling the enemies of the emperor on many tabletops. I recently decided to note down the lore for my chapter and id greatly appreciate a look over from some folks just to make sure there are no glaring mistakes. I have typed up over 6,500 words so rather than post itall (unless that would be better?) ill post it over the next few days or weeks in more manageable chunks. Any feedback, thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

Also quick question, I saved a painter image of my chapters colours to my BaC gallery but im unsure how to post get that into a forum post. Any help for a novice would be greatly appreciated!
 

 

Chapter Name- RED EAGLES

 

 

▪ GENE-SEED Blood Angels

▪ FOUNDING: 1^st/ 4^th

▪ CHAPTER MASTER: Lord Legatus Alfonso Vespasianus (The Young Eagle)

▪ CHAPTER WORLD: Miliatum Secundus.

▪ FORTRESS MONASTERY: The Eyrie (Broken Blade)

▪ FLAGSHIP: The Reforged Blade

▪ MAIN COLOURS: Red and Gold

▪ SPECIALITY: Shock and Awe assault balanced with defence in depth. Fleet combat.

▪ BATTLE CRY: “LET US SOAR”

▪ CURRENT STRENGTH: 600

▪ KNOWN DESCENDANTS: Talons of Sanguinius (MIA)

▪ ALLEGIANCE: Oaths of loyalty are sworn to Sanguinius first and the Emperor second

 

ORIGIN OF THE CHAPTER:

During the Great Crusade, the 99th Chapter (Hereby known as Red Eagles), were members of Sanguinius’s host and fought alongside their Primarch. When during “The War of Murder” Sanguinius was attacked by a host of Xenos creatures when the assault Vanguard became scattered due to a powerful storm. Alone aside from his sanguinary guard the Primarch was beset on all sides when Chapter master Agricola of the Red Eagles disobeyed orders and deployed on their lord’s station with his entire chapter. Relying on the skill of his pilots the chapter deployed around the Primarch forming a ceramite wall protecting Sanguinius from the tide of Xenos creatures around him. Fighting with their Primarch and elements of the sanguinary guard, the force formed a defensive perimeter and held out until the rest of the assault force regrouped. Honouring the actions of the Red Eagles, their current roster were granted gold helmets symbolizing the gratitude of their Primarch. 

 

From this point onward the Red Eagles often served as a reserve force, waiting in low orbit before deploying to capitalize on breakthroughs, halt enemy reinforcements or reinforce weak points in the line. Due to this skill set the chapter’s flight crews and assault companies became extremely proficient, providing more golden helmed veterans than most other chapters. The chapter followed Sanguinius from Signus Prime to Terra fighting on the walls of the imperial palace at the eternity gate where again the Eagles found themselves fighting with their liege lord nearby. Under the leadership of Master Agricola the Eagles poured fire into the traitors who approached Sanguinius. It was at this stage, during a lull in the combat, Sanguinius drank from Agricola’s chalice, offered to him by the Chapter master, which remains in the possession of the legion to this day.

 

During the battle for Terra, on the walls of the palace, many rivalries were established which last to this day. The Eagles had been rivals of the World Eaters before the heresy began, their hatred rising from the excessive brutality employed by Angron’s sons. On the walls of the palace, that enmity became one marked in blood. Angrons sons were followed by members of the Death Guard who tried to take the walls. The eagles matched their diseased strength with righteous fury, sending traitorous bodies to the ground below. However, the greatest hatred was reserved for the Sons of Horus. Before the heresy there had been strong links between the Angels and the Luna Wolves. A member of Horus’s Legion had fought with the Eagles, attached for a period of time to share knowledge and build links between them. Agamemnon Hydrake had been a popular comrade in arms who had fought side by side with the eagles during the great crusade. When he departed, he took with him a power sword, forged and crafted by the officers of the Eagles as a gift to honour their shared experience. Agamemnon spat on his former comrades. During the siege Agamemnon tied captured Eagles to the front of his warband’s rhino’s and combat vehicles, forcing the Eagles to kill their own brothers as the traitors approached the walls. After this particular engagement, there was a noted darkening in the mentality of the Eagles. Agricola was cautioned by Raldoran for failing to fully control his Chapter as the Eagles became more and more reactive, regularly sallying from the wall to raid the Siege Camps of the traitors and only withdrawing from combat after being repeatedly ordered too by the Legions High Command. 

 

When Sanguinius was struck down by Horus aboard his flagship, the eagles felt personally responsible lamenting they had not gone with the Primarch to protect him. When Horus was in turn cast down and the traitorous legions became unorganized, the Eagles charged from their positions pursuing the traitors to their landing ships before attempting to board their own transports to pursue the enemy into the warp. Before the traitors left Terra, Agricola himself chased Agamemnon down. In a duel which caused combatants from both sides to halt as they watched a contest of arms which had rarely been matched in skill and intensity, both former brothers battled it out. After initially losing the upper hand, something within Agricola changed after Agamemnon taunted the leader of the Eagles over the death of their Primarch. With a speed, intensity and disregard for his own safety which had not been seen in the Chapter Master before, Agricola cut Agamemnon in two, the once gifted sword shattering from an overhead blow which Agricola delivered. Perhaps the blade chose itself chose to shatter rather than be wielded by a traitor.

 

 They were prevented from continuing their pursuit until the codex Astartes was introduced to the loyalist legions in the wake of the heresy where the 99th chapter was separated from the rest of the legion. The Red Eagles had a strength of around 600 and donned a gold helmet to commemorate their actions on Murder, and a black fist so to remember their failure to protect their lord, and their duty to bring death to those who sought it. Almost immediately they boarded their vessels and began hunting the traitors through the galaxy, particularly the Sons of Horus. After fighting alongside them during the War of Murder their betrayal was felt even more keenly by the Red Eagles who hunted their once comrades destroying any that they found. It was at this point the Eagles pursued a warband by the name of “The eternal Hydra” into the warp never to be heard from again. In hindsight, it is abundantly clear that Chapter Master Agricola, alongside many of the high command, were some of the first to fall to the black rage, thus explaining their incredible zeal and simple bloody minded tactics during the period following the defence of the Palace. When pursuing the traitor fleets into the warp, the Eagles were alone in their charge as all other loyalist forces held position. Orders to hold position were met with a solitary statement from the bridge. “I am coming Horus. I am coming.”

 

Chief Librarian Marcus was a lowly initiate when he followed his Chapter Master into the warp. Millenia later interred in dreadnought armour Marcus seldom speaks of the battle that raged in the warp. The small squadron of Red Eagle ships were surrounded immediately by daemons and traitor ships. In a desperate attempt to survive the Eagles brought their ships together and formed them into one large interconnected hulk of armour plating, gun batteries and launch bays. In a battle which lasted 365 days the Eagles held their ground bravely, every step bought in herectic blood. As all seemed lost, Captain Marius separated the Flag ship from the hulk and towed the hulk through a rift in the warp. The psychic power of brother Marcus was awoken that day, guiding the remaining eagles towards the rift while Marius defended him from desperate attack. When Marius was asked why he chose to leave the warp he replied simply:

 

“I saw our father. I was on one knee, my armour rent and torn, I wanted it to end. I was so tired, we had not rested since before the Eternity gate, my body simply failed me and I welcomed the numbness in my mind. I closed my eyes but suddenly I felt a soft finger on my chin. It was him, he smiled and bid me rise. He said to me “Brother Marius rise for me as I will one day rise for you.” He gestured out of the Bridge window and where he pointed I saw the rift which Marcus had sensed. When I looked back he was gone and where he had stood my blade rested in the floor, the hilt pointing towards me as if it knew I would rise.”

 

While the battle in the warp lasted 365 days, 1500 years passed in the Imperium. During their absence, after waiting 500 years the high lords of terra removed the chapter from the records, not wanting to acknowledge the loss of a full chapter so soon after their formation. However more than 1000 years after their disappearance a lone battle barge emerged, towing behind it a hulk of broken and battered vessels, severely damaged, from the warp bearing long forgotten symbols and heraldry. Less than 100 battle brothers were left on the Battle barge “Crimson Sword” and the hulk. Immediately put into quarantine by elements of the Ultramarines, who were the first to find the eagles adrift in the galaxy, sent word to both Terra and Baal. Representatives arrived and began examining the marines, finding that although scarred and few in number, they were still combat effective and eager to serve. At first the Eagles were to be slain, as surely even astartes could not come through over 1000 years in the warp unscathed and un marred by the taint of chaos. However, the Blood Angels protested and eventually the representatives from Terra agreed, deciding to reform the chapter as one of the many formed in the recent fourth founding. Re gifted the planet that they had originally been granted the Eagles limped to their planet of Miliatum Secundus in the Miliatum sector, between the forge world of Mezoa and the Pelegron cluster. The Eagles have continued to serve since M32 with great distinction.

 

[gripschi]

Its a good Story. But you mean 2nd Not 1st Founding.

 

Iam eager to read more about there Organisation and Equipment. Surley they have leftovers from there Old Times.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Good job, overall. I think the result of welding the Red Eagles ships together, is better described as a "Hulk-like improvised star fort," to indicate the Chapter retained control over it; Games Workshop publications indicate Space Hulks form on their own, enter and exit the Warp on their own, and humans cannot direct the process and control the Hulks' travel without using forbidden Warpcraft (like those certain renegade and Chaos Space Marines use). I also question the necessity of separating the battle barge from the improvised star fort to tow the latter, unless the engines of all other ships whose hulls form the fort, were damaged or disabled.

 

As the Chapter was formed millennia ago, it should be at full strength, unless it suffered heavy casualties in a recent battle; this battle should be mentioned in the Chapter history.

[gripschi]

It would make more Sense for me, that they Stick to there Bastion.

 

As Björn mention, they should be at Full Strengtz since These. Maybe they participate in some was at the Battle of Baal. Would explain there understrength.

[DeathcompanyDante]

Thank you for the replies! Yes the chapter has suffered in more recent years due to the nature of their deployments, ill provide more detail in later posts but its been a tough few years for the chapter. Ill stick to Star-Fortress I think, to stay on the right side of the lore. In terms of being towed i believe the information in the post below should cast some light as to why I chose that aspect. However perhaps the engines still work but due to its vast size it needs to be aided when choosing a course and changing direction. However i am open to suggestions!

 

CHAPTER HOME WORLD/FLEET:

 

The Miliatum sector is at the very edge of the galaxy, meaning that the Eagles are largely responsible for themselves. The sector is made up of 9 planets and a series of 12 moons, with an asteroid belt surrounding the edge of the system. Miliatum Prime is the capital, and is the only hive world of the region with a population of 79 billion providing a sizeable workforce and two vital moons. “Wing” is the largest of the two moon and holds a space port, providing a vital link to the rest of the imperium, as both a trade route, and naval base. The moon provides the naval yards for the planets defence fleet. The second moon “Claw” is a fortress, providing the barracks for the “Eagles Talons”, the 53^rdMiliatese Airborne. The regiment excels in rapid deployment and drop assault due its almost constant deployment against various xenos raiders, pirates and chaos warbands in the area. 

 

Miliatum Secundus is a feudal world in the heart of the sector and provides a recruiting world for the Eagles, and the Miliatese lancer and dragoon cavalry regiments. With a small population the world is divided into family houses and knightly orders who vie for dominance amongst themselves. The world is made of three continents occupied by humans and a fourth occupied by orks. Due to a lack of technological advancement there are few firearms and vehicles and hence the combat is almost always hand to hand and transport is by either horse, ship or foot. Every decade or so the orks launch an invasion of the rest of the world often resulting in vast naval and land battles, providing the knights and their retainers the opportunity to impress the astartes and imperial army recruiters who watch from afar. However in the centre of the world is the fortress of the Red Eagles “Eyrie”. 

 

As the chapter limped home in M32, the battered Battle Barge eventually gave up, the ship and the hulk it towed crashing into the planet. The hulk itself crashed into a large mountain, occupying the centre of the planet, while the Battle Barge managed to land in the sea at the front of the mountain. From the wreckage, the Eagles created a fortress monastery of almost unparalleled strength. The mountain itself was tunnelled and hollowed, while the various remains of ships were refashioned into defensive fortifications, gun batteries and launch hangers, while the battle barge which came to be known as ‘Broken Sword’, was integrated into the fortress. Resting at the foot of the mountain, any foe must first confront a Battle Barge, before facing a mountainside of weaponry designed to destroy warships.

Although incapable of flight, according to the Eagles, ‘Broken Sword’ it is a living fortress in itself, with many extra shields and weapons systems deployed along with a vast dock yards. This man-made construct holds the barracks and great assembly of the chapter, while also providing hangers and barracks for the auxiliaries of the legion. Few inhabitants of the world other than those attempting to join the Eagles ever see it never mind step foot on it as it is surrounded by craft crewed by the chapters auxiliaries and treacherous waters which greatly test any potential neophyte. It is whispered that the techpriests and engineseers are often seen working on the long silent engines of the battle barge but such talk and speculation is surely wishful thinking. 

 

“Agricolas Anvil” is the sectors only forge world which is located within the asteroid belt and is home to three moons, “Gold”, “Silver”, and “Diamond”. Due to the moons and asteroids which are rich in precious metals and promethium the forge world is vital to the systems economy, and to the rest of the imperium. Due to this the system can afford to support a larger military than normal while also supporting the demands of the Red Eagles.

 

The fourth notable world is a death world home to various creatures and poisonous toxins that plague the worlds human population. “Deaths Breath” These human tribes are hardy people and those who wish to join either the astartes or the “Eagles Talons” are dropped to the word for a year where they must adapt and survive under their watchful eye. Only once an aspirant has proved themselves in an act of sheer skill and intense bravery, be them from hive world, forge world, feudal world or death world may they be admitted to the chapter to serve as either neophyte or auxiliary. Those that survive for two years or longer are drafted into the Eagles Talons where they will serve with as much dignity as an aspirant of the Eagles.

 

Of the remaining five worlds, there are two agricultural worlds, a mining world, a shrine world and a gaseous planet. The system is generally well maintained but is isolated from the rest of the Imperium. The neighbouring systems are often in disrepair. As mighty and noble as the Red Eagles are, they often extinguish a fire in one corner of their region, only to find another three have sprung up in its other corners.

 

Before leaving for Baal the Red Eagles had a large sizable fleet. With three battle barges and seven strike cruisers the Eagles had a strong component, while a further three strike cruisers and single battle barge was kept in reserve. These reserve ships were salvaged from the fall of the Sanguine Talons chapter. Largely they were kept in reserve and only called to action during moments of dire distress, as even Alfonso was wary of growing the chapter fleet to such a large size.

 

 

PRESENT ACTIVITIES:

At the current moment the Red Eagles are beset on all fronts. With a strength of 600 out of 1,300 the Eagles are stretched thin due to their recent actions and the state of total war that the galaxy is in.The chapter deployed 1,000 marines to Baal while leaving 300 to defend their home system as it was assaulted by forces from the ‘Five headed Hydra’ Chaos warband. From Baal only 300 of the 1,000 marines returned and of those defending the Eyrie 100 survived. With 400 from 1,300, the Eagles are in a grave situation. Lord Legatus Alfonso Vespasianus has had no option but to utilise 200 of the new Primaris marines despite being wary. Even with these recruits the Eagles are below half strength, a fact which will not be rectified for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

 

The Eagles defend a region on the outskirts of the Imperium. Initially there were five Space Marine chapters within the region of systems near the Pelegron Cluster. Of the five, two remain. Two were redeployed to other combat theatres, never to return. The ‘Falchions of the Khan’ were destroyed to a man while the ‘Rampant Lions’ chapter were decimated by an attack from the ‘Five headed Hydra’ Chaos warband. The Eagles provided a home for the Lions in a neighbouring system and together they fight to defend the outskirts of the Imperium. 

 

To maintain their grip on the region, the Eagles militarised their system. Every citizen in the system is trained for service in the PDF. Each PDF regiment is given a locality to establish itself within, and must be capable of forming its regiment for battle within 36 hours. Such practices may be viewed as excessive by other systems, but time and time again the PDF have been vital for the systems defence. 

 

The military units within the region are simply too spread out to be effective, and thus the Eagles directed each planet to raise regiments of combat troops for service out with the system, to augment the existing regiments of Astra Militarum that were assigned to the region. The same goes for naval assets, with each planet contributing funds and manpower to create a system defence fleet. Although it has never constructed a ship larger than a cruiser, it has captured some heavier ships from enemy forces. The system defence fleet works with the systems assigned naval units, and Chapter assets of the Red Eagles.

 

The Eagles themselves are extremely militarised, with each marine raising a 100 man company of chapter serfs. These serfs are heavily armed and act as auxiliaries for the chapter, although in recent years they have often been called upon to aid the Eagles in battle.

 

The actions of the Eagles have often been criticised by outsiders from Terra and the Inquisition. Yet the Eagles position is simple. Until the Imperium can provide the aid the region needs, the Eagles will do everything they can to prevent the system from falling from the Emperors light.

 

The Tragedy of the Talons

 

In M38 the Eagles were told of a successor chapter, formed directly from the Eagles gene seed. For the Eagles, this was a moment of great pride. After everything the chapter had gone through from its birth, the formation of a successor chapter was a symbol of the strength of the Eagles. Not long after its creation, the Talons were sent to the region in the aftermath of the destruction of the ‘Falchions of the Khan’ chapter. Together the Eagles and Talons purged the system, working in tandem and forging bonds of brotherhood between the chapters. 

 

However, in M39 the Eagles responded to a distress call in a neighbouring system in the West, the Talons responded to an Ork pirate fleet in the East. With no warning, the Eagles lost contact with the 'Sanguine Talons'. Immediately, the Eagles responded sensing that something was wrong. When they arrived at the scene, they faced heartbreak.

 

The talons had deployed to the world to aid the population in its fight against the Orks, only for the ‘Five Headed Hydra’ to arrive and cast a damning spell of immense power, crafted by the newly arrived cadre of former Thousand Sons. The spell sent the Talons to the Black Rage, the entire chapter falling to its embrace.

 

A small consolation was that sorcerers had underestimated the potency of an entire chapter in the thrall of the Black Rage and had promptly been eviscerated by the fallen marines. It was little solace for the Eagles who watched their pride and joy fall to the rage which stalked the Sons of Sanguinius. The Eagles decided to take their fallen brothers and place them in stasis alongside their own Death Company, while taking the fleet assets and geneseed for themselves. It is this factor which allows the Eagles to maintain an extraordinary number of fleet assets, and a combat strength of 1,300 marines. It was at this stage that the Eagles donned a second black fist to honour the fallen chapter.

 

COMBAT DOCTRINE: 

The Red Eagles, when fighting with their preferred method, will defend against a numerically superior foe in depth. Falling back in ordered ranks and lines to prepared positions, each more defensible than the last, wearing down their opponent while specifically targeting elite units and commanders drawing them into choke points. Upon reaching the final line of defence the defenders will hold until the battle begins to turn against them at which point the counter attack begins. The defensive line will start to advance using flamers to push the foes back while Stormravens, Stormhawks and Talons will arrive from above destroying units at the rear of the enemy preventing their retreat. Armoured elements of the chapter will then reinforce the head and attack the flanks of the enemy with their overcharged engines giving the enemy no space to breath. At This point the chapters veterans, assault marines and other combat units will enter via jump pack assault, now beset on all sides with an enemy in their midst the enemy has no room to manoeuvre and no capability to redeploy or retreat. 

 

Occupants of Miliatum Secundus have a deep affinity with the sea which transfers to the various naval units of the chapter, providing a basis of naval and aerial skills matched by few others. The Chapter like their forebears excel in shock and awe campaigns giving the enemy little room to breathe while drawing them into choke points to finish them.

 

When a marine falls to the black rage he will be put in stasis and brought aboard the cruiser “Angels Doom” which bears the death company from their fortress monastery to combat. The death company are kept permanently in stasis despite criticism from high chaplain Astorath from the blood angels. The Eagles believe that the death company deserve the right to continue their fight if their will and ability is strong enough, and retain the hope that one day a cure may be found.

 

One other notable mention is the close relationship between the Red Eagles and the Blood Angels. Despite thousands of years having past since both chapters were one the bond has stood the test of time. Through tradition and practice the Eagles have striven to earn the honour of being one of the few chapters to be included within the Blood Angels command structure. One such tradition is for junior officers and neophytes from both chapters to be switched for a decade, experiencing each other’s units and bringing that experience home to their parent units upon their eventual return. Therefore, if needed, both Angels and Eagles are familiar with each other’s tactics, formations, orders and commands, allowing both chapters to act as one homogenous unit on the rare occasions that they meet. 

[Brother Cambrius]

It's a good start here and great to see an original chapter of a Legion being written out with some viable explanation on how they originated after the 2nd Founding. I like the character and flaws of the Red Eagles and the tale of their lost successors is a great touch.

Will we see any further detail on the Eagles' beliefs and how they cope with the Red Thirst and such?

Also, I had a look in your Gallery and took the liberty to put your Chapters colours together again in the Veteran format you made and as a Tactical Marine you can use if you submit your chapter to Philip S's 1000 Chapter Gallery:

And here's the coding you need to post images on the B&C:

Veteran Marine:

[img=http://bolterandchainsword.com/uploads/gallery/album_1503/gallery_26154_1503_40219.jpg]

Tactical Marine:

[img=http://bolterandchainsword.com/uploads/gallery/album_1503/gallery_26154_1503_20476.jpg]

Cambrius

[Bjorn Firewalker]

I recommend putting the red eagle on a non-red pauldron, so it will stand out. Maybe a red eagle on a white pauldron, so it'll be visible when viewed in black-and-white (through infrared and night vision goggles)?

[Gamiel]

I recommend putting the red eagle on a non-red pauldron, so it will stand out.

I agree with Cambrius here. White is always a good background colour to red, but more or less any other colour also work as a background colour to red/red-ish.