Index Astartes: Fists of Light (Iron Gauntlet 2024)

[Rusted Boltgun]

Chapter Name: ……………………………….Fists of light

 

Founding: ……………………………………….Ultima Founding

 

Chapter World: …………………………....Cantab IV

 

Fortress Monastery: ……………………Name (Note)

 

Gene-Seed (Predecessor): ……………..Salamanders

 

Known Descendants: ……………………N / A

 

“Duty and Service take many forms.  We will perform our duty with honour, we will serve as our Primarch expected.”

- Lord Chaplain Hruoh

 

 

Origins

 

The Fists of Light are a Salamanders Successor chapter from the Ultima Founding.

The Torchbearer Fleet ‘Honest Truth’ under the auspices of Custodian Auxilian was dispatched to Cantab IV to reinforce the the Dark Shepherds chapter, the remains of which had sought refuge and reinforcement on the Imperial agri-world.

The Dark Shepherds had been en route to Cantab IV when they fell foul of a Word Bearers warband, The Illuminated Page.

The fierce void battle cost the Shepherds dearly. Whilst they had numerical superiority in terms of ships, the Astartes were spread thinly across them. They had always been a small chapter and had not been reinforced for some time.

In a desperate attempt to send a call for assistance, a small force of 30 Shepherds under Chaplain Arcan headed for the nearest Imperial world, their original destination nation - Cantab IV.

Chapter Master Quintos fought desperately against the Chaos warband and the two fleets traded blows until the the Chaos warband was forced into retreat. Their forces now insufficient to launch an offensive on the planet.

Upon planetfall, Chaplain Arcan’s Shepherds were greeted by the incumbent Sisters of Battle, the Order of the Eternal Flame and sent out a request for aid and reinforcement.

The Astartes fleet had been an unwelcome distraction for the Chaos Legionnaries. Once restored and rearmed, the Warband commenced their original plan, decimated the remaining Astartes ships laying in orbit and descending to the plant surface. Of the Shepherds, only Arcan and his small force remained.

The heretics laid siege to the capital city and the Shepherds lent their forces to the Sisters. In a gradual war of attrition,  the remaining Shepherds were lost. The last was Lord Chaplain Arcan, falling to the cursed blade of the Word Bearer’s Aspiring Champion.

One of the Sisters, Susannah, had received a vision dream of the city being struck by a beam of bright light, cleansing fire sweeping away the heretics. The next day their prayers were answered in the form of Drop Pods delivering the green-clad Greyshield Primaris, with Auxilian at their head. Those that emerged from the forest surrounding the city did so with hands stained with the blood and gore of their enemies.

The Illuminated Page vanquished, the Primaris marines were left without a chapter to reinforce and no-one to instruct them in the ways of the Dark Shepherds. To the Sisters, they weren’t a gift from Guilliman or Cawl but a gift from the Emperor himself, sent down in the shaft of blinding light, as in Susannah’s dream, and presented to them with hands red with heretic blood. They were the Fists of Light.

 

The emblem of the Fists of Light is the mailed fist, common across numerous Astartes Chapters.

Battle plate is often enhanced with addition emblems, seals and other personalisations. These may help to bring squads together or mark an andividual’s journey.

Each marine is encouraged to record a journal, an oppportunity to reflect on their experiences, place them in context. These histories are then available to new initiates, not so much as training manuals but as guides, multiple perspectives on what it means to be an Astartes, what has come before and how it shaped their brethren.

 

 

Fists of Light Assault Intercessors

 

Homeworld

 

Cantab IV is primarily an agri world, producing livestock to export. Surrounding worlds in the system are valuable mining planets, producing ore.

Cantab IV’s capital, Cascara, is home to the Sisters of The Eternal Flame.

They are resident in the Hyume cathedral, sworn to protect the artifact held in its highest tower – The Lantern of St Stephen.

This Light, which has never gone out, was brought to Cantab IV by Saint Stephen. He was sent forth by his superiors who had recognised the power and the draw of the relic. Stephen somehow survived four attempts on his life before being exiled to Cantab IV with a mission of Sisters accompanying him. They were not there to protect him, but to keep the artefact safe. Their duty remains the same now – to the relic over the populace.

 

Combat Doctrine

 

Captain Vargen has been keen to incorporate as much of the Dark Shepherds philosophy – doctrine and tactial- as possible to provide a grounding for the new chapter.

This has included updating bike squads to Outriders and incorporating Phobos armoured troops into the force organisation.

Phobos troops have been deployed in covert squads, typically utilising flanking methods to encircle their enemies. Vox clicks and high pitched whistle signals are used to co-ordinate squads who isolate elements of enemy forces upon which they concentrate attention before repeating the exercise to whittle down their opponents.

The FoL have two In Victor Tactial Warsuits to call upon in lieu of any warriors having been elevated to dreadnought status.

When Lord Chaplain Hruoh takes to the field, he will often do so on his bike, followed by a retinue of Outriders.

Alternatively, he will take the Chapter’s sole suit of Tactical Dreadnought Armour – a relic that belonged to the last Dark Shepherds Lord Chaplain, Arcan.

The largest of engagements will involve planetfall by drop pods – the method from which they gained their name. Swift and with a mighty impact, like a hammer wrought by Vulkan.

 

Beliefs

 

As sons of Vulkan, the FoL are aware of the tome of but do not follow it to the letter. They are not born or Nocturne and this force of Primaris marines are disclocated, separated from the influence of Firstborn mentors following the loss of the Dark Shepherds.

They are left with the teachings of Lord Chaplain Arcan and the relics of their forebears

-         The staff

-         The horn

-         The hammer

It has fallen to Chaplain Hruoh to take up the spiritual mantle of the newly formed chapter and Hruoh has taken on the mantle of Lord Chaplain. They are, in some ways defined by what they are not rather than what they are. The Sisters on the planet are there to protect The Lantern. By contrast, the Astartes are there to protect the human citizens of the planet – the flock as Lord Chaplain Arcan referred to them in his writings.

The FoL use the writings of the esteemed Chaplain as a basis for the beliefs, themselves a distillation, a translation, of Vulkan’s writings via a Successor chapter.

 

Organisation

 

The Chapter is fully Primaris as none of the Dark Shepherds were alive by the time the Greyshield arrived on Cantab IV.

They also carry no Terminator armour, bar one suit of the late Lord Chaplain. This is the only relic armour that remains.

The Shepherds had suffered heavy losses even before the final assault by the Word Bearers and the only armour that remains comes from those marines who perished on Cantab IV. Elements of this armour have been bestowed on the most decorated warriors who have been given the deisgnation of Sternguard Veterans.

The chapter does not yet have a First, Veteran Company. The Fists of Light do not feeling that they have yet earned this right. They feel not fear or doubt and yet something holds them back from absolute cetainty of purpose.

The sole suit of Terminator armour is bestowed upon the Lord Chaplain. This relic armour from the Dark Shepherds has been repaired, the lower abdominal element where mortal would suffered by Arcan was received has been excised and replaced. The wound was struck by a daemon blade but the armour has been exorcised and reconsecrated by the Sisters of The Eternal Flame.

Auxilian bestowed the Chapter a company of Marines, spread across a wide range of abilities and armour variations with two Dreadnought Sarchopigia, however, they are yet to be brought to to life.

To aid the establishment of the Chapter, Magos M’GU-Haart has been left with his team of techno-serfs and equipment to reinforce the Astartes with suitable candidates from the population. At this point, permission for this to be established on the planet has not been granted by the Canonness.

Given their small numbers, emphasis is placed upon survival of the Astartes. Accordingly, in addition to their Chief Apothecary, they have Field Medics embedded within their Intercessor squads. These medics are trained and equipped to recover gene seed where absolutely necessary and will become full apothecaries in due course.

In place of a Judiciar, the Fists of Light have ‘Aspirant Chaplains’. These acolytes are Chaplains in training in the same way as the Judiciar.

 

Force Enhancement

 

Whilst the Chapter is currently smaller than average, it is fully expected that the Fists of Light will grow in number.

Not only do they have the Magos on hand to create new intakes of Astartes to swell the ranks, Auxilian has pledged to return with or send armour to bulk out the Chapter. Specifically  this will be Terminator armour.

As the Chapter expands, it is expected that a veteran 1st Company will be created.

 

Chapter Fleet

 

The Fists of Light have a small band of ships left to the by Custodian Auxilian, a splinter from his feet which brought the Greyshields to Cantab IV.

 

Gene-Seed

 

The Fists of Light are successors of Vulkan, their gene-seed having been defined by Arch-Magos Caul in their construction as Primaris marines.

 

Chapter Motto

 

In battle we serve. Our duty is to prosecute the foe.

 

Selected Battle Honours

 

The Release of Cascara, Cantab IV recovery [###.M42]

 

The battle started with the Astartes as Greyshields, emerging as the Fists of Light. Blooded arms and torsos became the colours of their battle plate, the chapter name reflecting their arrival on the planet.

The tattered remains of The Illuminated Page warband fled the world, without claiming their prize of the Lantern of St Stephen or even having breached the city walls.

 

Freebooter 1st incursion [###.M42]

 

On its journey to Cantab IV, the fleet containing the Greyshield Dark Shepherds was ambushed by an Ork Freebooter fleet as it dropped out of warp.

As the capital ship was waiting for the rest of the fleet to safely rejoin from the warp, the Freebooterz pounced.

A fierce void battle ensued but within minutes it was apparent that the Orks were severely outnumbered as the other ships from the fleet emerged from the empyrean and so they beat a hasty retreat.

The Greyshields had mobilised, ready in boarding torpedoes and void craft but never got the opportunity to rest their mettle against the greenskins.

 

Freebooter 2nd Incursion [###.M42]

 

The Freebooter’s shadowed the Greyshield fleet. Whilst this does not appear to be typical Ork behaviour, the Freebooterz Kaptin was no typical Ork.

Kaptin Zigbutt was paricularly long-lived for an Ork, with many decades of realspace sailing experience which he put to good use in the pursuit of the Imperial fleet. His obstinance and persistence had paid off before – he had shadowed the original Dark Shepherd fleet, claiming their ruined ships as his own after their downfall at the hands of The Illuminated Page.

Piles of Dark Shepherd equipment lay up at the back of the bridge, loot the Kaptin was particularly proud of. These included the former Chapter Master’s helmet and pauldrons.

Having realised that they were being followed, Auxilian’s fleet lay a trap as they reached the system containing Cantab IV. One of their cruisers, the Lachrimosa, separated from the main body of the fleet, moving out of sensory range of the Orks, behind the nearby sun.

The manouvre was a success, as the the Orks descended upon the stationary fleet, the Lachrimosa appeared behind the. The Imperial cruiser released a devastating salvo of torpedoes – both explosive and carrying a transhuman payload.

It does not take long for the Greyshields to take control of the Kaptin’s bridge, only to find it deserted. The wily old Kaptin masterminded the attack from another vessel and was now disappearing  into the void, vowing vengeance on da ‘umies for not playing fair.

 

Great Heroes

 

Lord Chaplain Hruoh

 

Greyshield Chaplain Hruoh was elevated by Auxilian to lead his chapter in terms of faith a doctrine.

His natural aptitude to assimilate text and produce inspiring oratory in excess of his already accomplished brethren made him the inspired choice.

Hruoh had taken his forebear’s writing s to heart, feeling them to be the link to the Chapter of which they should have been a part, the Dark Shepherds. The Shepherds has referred to their battle brothers as being part of ‘a flock’, shepherded on their path of righteousness by the Chaplains.

This Hruoh took the mantle of Lord Chaplain, like his Shepherd predecessor. Canonness Nagra presented him with two artefacts left by the Shepherds – a Chaplain’s Crozius that was unusual in its design – instead of typical eagle wings, it was topped with a crook. There was also a horn, ivory carved from the horn of some grazing animal, such as a shepherd on a basic agri-world might carry.

 

I am the Shepherd of my flock. We are all sons of the Primarch. We have been raised, elevated to serve the Emperor for the benefit of our lesser brethren and to spread his Light across the galaxy.

 

 

Captain Vargen

 

Captain Vargen led the assault on Cantab IV, first among his troops to land on the planet and first to fight. Duty overrides all and his desire to cleanse the world, to bring safety and security to it’s inhabitants drives his zeal. As Hruoh reminds him, they were once all of the flock, all under the God-Emperor.

Vargen spent much of the time in the travel to Cantab IV in the company of Auxilian. In both the training cages and the stateroom he learned his role, expanding upon the knowledge implanted by Cawl.

His command experience was further honed in the battles they entered into on their journey to their destination.

 

Duty weighs heavy on the soul. Our Primarch is lost to is. Guilliman is not our Father, Cawl is not our Father. As we fight on the fringes of the galaxy we must band together as brothers and take strength from our unity of purpose. We are Astartes. We are the will of the Emperor made real.

 

 

Edited May 16 by Rusted Boltgun
Added dates

[Rusted Boltgun]

This is technically my second homebrew chapter, the first being the Marines I painted as a kid.

 

 

 

The Iron Gauntlet challenge came along just as I was revisiting the colour scheme of my original marines and it seemed too good an opportunity to miss.

 

What I don't have in place yet are

 - a time

- a location in the galaxy

[sitnam]

As far as location, I think what matters is whether you want Sanctus or Nihilus to be their realm. Both have narrative advantages. I think given the lore of them reinforcing a beleaguered chapter, Nihilus might be more suitable. 

 

I would worry too much about dates. The post-Great Rift timeline is kind of in flux and not as well defined. For my own force, I simply wrote ~M42 for events happening post-rift.

[Trokair]

While I can see that the Chapter respects the Sisters on the planet, I am not sure any Space Marine chapter would stand for an external authority denying them the ability to recruit on what is designated as their homeworld.

What was your intention with the Canoness not granting permission?   

[Rusted Boltgun]

Thanks @sitnam, I've amended to show M42. Had a look at Nihilus too, feels like it should be the most fitting setting.

 

Thanks also @Trokair that's much appreciated.

In my head, this world falls under the rule of the Ecclesiarchy, making the Astartes 'guests' on the planet.

However, perhaps I should revisit this point. Is the Canonness really in a position to say 'no' to Astartes - Astartes presented to the world by a Custodes too!*

Given that my next IG vow is meant to include Scouts I think the next chapter in this story will be the establishment of the FoL on Cantab IV.

 

*Already writing the 'discussion' between the two parties in my head 

[sitnam]

One advantage of Nihilus is that the norms of the Imperial hierarchy are broken in many sectors. The Spears of the Emperor were shown as either commanding Imperial Navy elements or just straight up using Navy ships in their book. I think the unique governing situation of Cantab IV can fit into Nihilus well, and could help explain how Astartes have an Ecclesiarchal world as their world

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

The entwined dichotomy between the Astartes and the Sororitas vis a vis recruiting is an interesting one indeed--presumably the world has a Scholam, which the Sisters get fresh blood from, what's to say that eventually the FoL couldn't recruit from amongst the boys of the schola?

 

It would be an interesting read indeed to look inside the canoness's reasons for initially denying recruitment rights to the chapter, and how she's brought about, especially since one of her Sisters had a vision of the crusade arriving. Is it possible that Susannah and the Canoness don't get along? Some disciplinary problem, perhaps, or an interpersonal conflict, that would make her suspicious of the FoL? A "we thank you for your aid, now get lost, this is our jurisdiction" type thing?

 

That's definitely excellent fodder with the scouts to work on figuring out how the whole thing goes down.

[Rusted Boltgun]

Here are the Kill Team of Scouts completed for Challenge Two of the Iron Gauntlet.

 

 

 

Sergeant Echt's Heavy Intercessors 

 

 

And the Chief Medicae - Gulnar

 

 

[Rusted Boltgun]

Iron Gauntlet Challenge Three - Battle Report

 

Cantab IV had been enjoying a spell of relative peace simce the Fists of Light had made the planet their homeworld.

With the Astartes having defeated the Word Bearers , the citizens of the Cascadia had set about rebuilding their capital city.

The FoL also set about building their own fortress in the hills outside Cascadia – the city being the home of the Ecclesiarchy and the Sisters of Battle. Having got themselves established and with Cascadia having the capability to increase their ranks with new recruits, suitable candidate were selected from the Schola. They were plenty to choose from as many had been left orphaned after the invasion and subsequent battle.

 

Scout Team Alpha under Sergeant Brandt were garrisoned in Cantab IV with a specific remit of patrolling the ‘badlands’; an area outside the city walls yet to be reclaimed from the post-invasion ruins. The villages had been half-demolished under the Chaotic assault and the district had been left a lawless wasteland until sufficient resources could be brought to bear and bring it back under control.

 

Sergeant Brandt looked out on his Aspirants. His squad was one of the first of the Cascadian youth who had been selected to join the Astartes.I t had been ten years since the formation of the Firsts of Light, ten years since Brandt had faced off against the traitor space marines through the streets of the city.

 

Each of the Scouts was developing a specialised skillset, building on their natural aptitude for certain combat forms.

Thokk supported his Sergeant with his natural tactical ability, his ability to interpret the Auspex, clicking away in Brandt’s ear using sub-vocalisations to direct the squad as it worked it’s way through the ruined building s at the edge of Cascadia.

 

The squad was bolstered by two heavy weapon specialists - Manner and Ongar - with the Heavy Bolter and Missile Launcher, respectively. There were two further specialists, Drago, a Sniper, and Strag, the Hunter. The Squad was rounded out with three Scout Warriors - Wyser, Phytek and Leema - who all favoured Shotguns.

 

During a routine evening patrol through the village ruins, the Auspex of Thokk picked up readings which were more than the average human scavenger they usually came across. Large enough to be Astartes signatures therefore likely hostile.

 

The squad advanced, primed for contact. The light was fading as the evening drew in, the breeze had dried down leaving the deserted buildings in dim light, almost silent.

 

-+++++++++-

 

Agarth’s Kill Team had returned to Cantab IV to search for the Book of Law, a relic of ancient times that had been lost in the previous battle when its bearer, Morfhast The Learn*d, had been brought low by the loyalist forces. In the hasty retreat, the body of the veteran of the Long War had been left behind, his fellow Word Bearers not realisong that he had the tome about his person. Agarth was determined to locate the book so took a small force to covertly visit the planet and retrieve the relic.

 

His Kill Team included Pyrate, his Balefire Acolyte – a scholar of the dark arts who was able to manifest psychic powers, Hooknar the heavy Gunner with his Heavy Bolter, the Shrievetalon, Kadarn The Butcher with double handed chainaxe and finally Shrake the Anointed.

 

-+++++++++-

 

 

The Auspex pinged and the Scouts deployed to cover the incoming enemies. Drago immediately went up high to identify any targets while the three Warriors took the left flank.

 

 

Strag struck out down the centre, despite warning from his Sergeant who hung back at the rear. The Hunter was covered by Thokk and the missile launcher of Ongar while Manner prepared to cover the right flank with the Heavy Bolter.

 

Auspex pings indicated that the enemy was coming at them from the centre and the right of the small group of ruined habs ahead of them.

 

Suddenly, with the roar of a chainaxe, an immense Heretic was upon Strag, cutting him down with two swipes of an enormous bladed weapon, swept across him with two hands. Strag’s killer stood with the double-handed chainaxe above his head, roaring with glee.

 

 

Ongar reacted immediately with two Krak missiles which streaked towards the Word Bearer, exploding on target and grievously wounding the heretic.

 

Manner registered movement on the squad’s right flank and loosed off a salvo, striking his opponent with a series of mass reactive shells that brought an enraged roar from his opponent. Manner’s heavy Bolter bucked again and the enemy marine wasn’t going to trouble them any more.

 

As the smoke from the Krak missiles cleared, Thokk could see the monstrous heretic that had slaughtered Strag had withstood the impact from the two Krak missiles. What does it take to kill a heretic?! He stowed his Auspex and swung his Boltgun round. This time, the Butcher wouldn’t be getting up again.

 

 

Drago caught sight of movement on the edge of the same hab block as another heretic appeared. He confirmed the target in his sight and pulled his rifle’s trigger. Seeing the foe stagger, the sniper quickly reloaded and sent another round at them, relishing in seeing the Word Bearer fall to the ground by the crater left by Ongar’s Krak missiles.

 

The Warriors advanced on a other heretic who was creeping down the left flank. It spotted Leema who took some hits from a bolt pistol as they were fired into the semi-dark.

 

-+++++++++-

 

Manner set off to take a look at the enemy he had brought low with the heavy Bolter. Who were these goes? What were they doing in the ruins?

 

Manner didn’t see the eyes flashing from the ruins nearby, didn’t see the plasma pistol aimed towards him. It roared and Manner was felled. Having taken revenge for the loss of his Heavy Gunner, Agarth set off for more blood and came across Ongar, swinging his power maul. A single swipe and the Scouts had lost their second heavy weapon specialist.

Having heard Manner’s anguished cries, Drago swung round and with a single shot, felled the Aspiring Champion.

 

Screaming with hate at the loss of his leader, Pyrate amassed his fell powers and loosed two bolts of psychic fire at the sniper. They dissipated with no effect and Pyrate roared in frustration.

 

 

Despite his wounds, Lemma raised his shotgun towards the dread figure that appeared in the murk. He fired twice and the ragged mess dropped to its knees, gurgling before collapsing in the dust.

 

 

Witnessing the psychic attack, Thokk tracked the source and raised his Boltgun again striking the Balefire Acolyte twice with the mass reactive shells, seeing the traitor stagger under the hits.

 

Wyser heard the sounds of the fighting coming from the other side of the hab block and scrambled up on top of the building.

 

 

Spotting the wounded heretic, he raised his shotgun. “Just in range”, he mused, pulling the trigger.

 

The last heretic dropped to the ground.

 

-+++++++++-

 

This game of Kill Team was played with Boltgun Jr in command of the Scouts.

 

We usually play Kill Team ‘Lite’ with no engage / conceal or tac ops or strategies. This time we added engage / conceal though I’m sure we made a couple of dodgy calls on cover.

Jr had some amazing dice rolls with his sniper and I was surprised how effect the Scouts’ shotguns were. Also, the combat blade seemed more effective than a double-handed chainsword?!! Ah well, it made for a fast-paced game where the WB were demolished in two turns – just what the narrative needed!

[Rusted Boltgun]

Iron Gauntlet Challenge Four - Notable Characters

 

Here we have three notable characters from the Fists of Light.

 

The first is the Captain of the FoL on Cantab IV, presented with the Keys of Cascadia upon freeing the city from the grasp of the Word Bearers.

 

Garden wields as a relic power fist – elements of the fist are incorporated from one inherited from the Dark Shepherds.

His build is a nod to the old ‘Commander Chavez’ mini from the Citadel Combat Cards (see below).

 

Second is an 'Aspirant Chaplain' Brother Larklo. The newly founded Chapter is in need of spiritual reinforcement as it grows, recruiting new members from the populace of Cantab IV. As it does so, the Chaplaincy needs to grow with it to maintain the standards expected of the Astartes. 

 

Larklo is in the process of becoming a Chaplain. Somewhat bookish by nature and prone to quoting scripture more often than his Brothers, Larklo is an Assault Intercessor Sergeant who has been gifted a relic storm shield by the Lord Chaplain Hruoh. If Hruoh is not present on the battlefield, Larklo will deputise for him.

 

Our final character for the moment (for this challenge, at least) is Field Medic Skane. Skane is an Apothecary in training, available to provide support to his Brothers when the Chief Medicae Gulnar (see challenge two) is unavailable for combat.

 

Captain Vargen

 

 

 

Chaplain Aspirant Larklo

 

 

 

 

Brother Aspirant Chaplain Larklo leading his squad of Assault Intercessors

 

 

Field Medic Skane 

 

 

 

I took some inspiration for these characters from the old Citadel Combat Cards. 

 

 

I loved these when they came out and poured over them for hours, along with my copies of White Dwarf (sadly long lost to the warp). The only 40k games I ever actually played as a kid were Space Hulk and Epic 40k but a lot of time was spent in my head  imagining what could be with my handful of beanies and a couple of metal marines. It is such fun to bring some of those imaginings (now re-imaginings!) to life with the Fists of Light.

 

 

Edited September 10 by Rusted Boltgun
Expansion of photos and fluff

[Rusted Boltgun]

A bonus character, not included in the challenge as there won't be an accompanying dataslate or model within in the required timeframe. A bit of in though...

 

Redemptor Dreadnought - Brother Frederich

 

He didn’t know how long he’d lain there, he didn’t even know where there was, his vision obscured so he could only sense light and dark. And it had been dark for quite a while. There was a dripping sound but he couldn’t ascertain from where it originated. Only that the irregular sound was there. And it did not want to stop.

 

His internal chronometer had malfunctioned and the vox had been silent for as long as it had been dark. While it had been light there had been the sounds of battle, the bolter fire, screams, explosions. But when he’d been struck by a melta blast it had been catastrophic. He’d lost control of his limbs, external speech, his vision obscured. But auditory sensors still worked and he could hear the screams of his dying brothers. Until he didn’t any more.

 

He spent his time reciting catechisms from the Shepherd’s Lore and recalling the battles in which he had fought before he was entombed in his sarcophagus. They had been many, they had been glorious. He’d always had a fondness for the Lascannon and was overjoyed when remade as a Dreadnought to find his right armament was his trusty heavy weapon, his left a mighty fist. They were dormant now, he didn’t know whether he still bore arms.

 

He knew he’d been dragged somewhere, he’d heard the clanking of the chains, felt them tighten round his frame and heard the roar of the engine as he was hauled from the light to the dark. He heard the harsh voices of his enemies, the thump of heavy objects hitting the ground, landing on him. Then the enemies had retreated from where he lay, battle was again enjoined before finally falling silent. Silent other than the drip, drip, drip....

-------

He heard movement, then pale light returned as objects were lifted from him

<Click>

“Brother, can you hear me?”

The voice was almost familiar. “Tankar, is that you?”

“No Brother, I am not Tankar. My name is Skrint.”

“I know not that name, are you a Shepherd?”

“No Brother. I was meant to be but we believed you were all lost.”

“Lost? I was here. You have found me. What of my flock?”

“Alas, as far as we can tell, you were alone. But fear not, we shake make you anew and we shall call you Brother.”

 

 

 

-------- +++++ --------

 

Brother Frederich is a Redemptor Dreadnought, rescued from beneath a pile of bodies in a Church on the outskirts of Cascadia after the Word Bearers had been vanquished.

 

It had been thought that the last of the Dark Shepherds, the Lord Shepherd, had perished before the arrival of Primaris reinforcements on the planet. Frederich, had survived, however, protected by his sarcophagus. He had been dragged into the Church along with the bodies of his fallen comrades who had been piled up around and on top of him. It is presumed that the heretics had intended to create a pyre to be set alight upon the fall of Cascadia but had never realised their aim, having been vanquished by the newly arrived Astartes.

 

Frederich was installed in a new Redemptor chassis but insisted on having a Twin Lascannon having always preferred the las as a ranged weapon, carrying one as a Devastator Marine.

[Rusted Boltgun]

Challenge V of the Iron Gauntlet. Apologies I'm advance for anyone who continues to read, I've not attempted to write any fiction in about 40 years.

 

 

The night air was cool, with a motes of ash from so many fires floating on the breeze. Sister Susannah felt pine needles prick the soles of her bare feet as she walked towards the upright stakes of the wall forming the perimeter of the village.

 

She could hear the chanting, the wailing of there heretics outside the tall wooden gates as they swarmed on the other side. The gates were shaking, hands reaching through gaps in splintered timbers but they held fast, rocking in time with the chanting.

 

Hear the Word

Read the Word

Your God is Dead

 

Hear the Word

Read the Word

Your God is Dead

 

Hear the Word

Read the Word

Your God is Dead

 

Louder came the chants, faster they were called. The chains rattled louder as the gates rocked back and forth, straining against the padlocks and chains. The breeze brace a wind, whopping up dust and ash all about her.

 

Hear the Word

Read the Word

Your God is Dead

 

Susannah was frozen to the spot, utterly immobile as the chants grew loader and the movement at the gate more frantic. She feared what would come next. Would the chains split? The gates break at the hinges? Would she feel those myriad Handley clawing at her face? She opened her mouth to scream but there was no sound.

 

A huge thunderclap sounded above all else, drowning out the chanting and even the howling wind for a moment. From high up in the sky, a shaft of bright light descended, bringing with it a huge roaring torment.

Susannah was still rooted to the spot, her face bathed in light as the wind seared against her, drawing her shift dress taut.

 

There was a shape at the base of the light shaft, a mechanical something that screamed as it descended.

 

Then it was down. The earth shook and clouds of dust billowed up, leaving Susannah choking, wiping away tears.

 

The gates were gone. The walls were gone. There were no heretics, the chanting had ceased as the dust dissipated and Susannah’s vision cleared.

 

She could see a figure, a massive silhouette that grew larger as it moved towards her. It was an Angel, she thought. A golden-eyed Angel. An Angel of Death.

 

Susannah woke and sat bolt upright, her skin sheathed in cold sweat. Sister Michael was by her side, a hand on her shoulder.

 

“You dreamed of them again, didn’t you?”

“Yes”

“You’ll have to tell the Canonness, you can’t keep this to yourself any longer”.

“I know”

“I can’t help you any more, you’ll have to tell her”

“I know”

“The others are getting suspicious , you don’t want someone going to Her before you”.

“I know. I can go now. I know what it means.”

“You do?”

“Salvation”.

 

---------------

 

“It would seem that you have had a vision” decreed Canonness Nagra, Head of the Order of the Eternal Flame on Cantab IV. They were stood in the great hall of the Cathedral, the fortress which held the relic they were sworn to protect, The Lantern of St Stephen.

 

“I am grateful to Sister Michael for urging you to come forward. Hiding this from us would have been very unwise.

It comes at a fortuitous moment. Whilst we can’t hear them in here, the heretics are well encamped outside the city. But the walls are strong, I doubt they would be able to break through without assistance. And they shall not receive that from anyone inside the city - the purges have seen to that.

I will seek out the astropaths and see if they have received communication, any response to our calls for aid.

Alas, the Shepherds are no longer able to aid us since Lord Chaplain Vinter succumbed to his grievous wounds. If only we had the facilities to remedy those inflicted by daemonic blades.

But whilst our prayers for him have proved insufficient, perhaps they have been answered in another way.”

But time is short, Sister. Take your leave of here and go to the walls. Ensure we are safe behind them and there is no danger that we may lose The Lantern.

We have held fast for so long, I do not intend to give in to the heretics now.

Sister Michael, you go to the armoury for inventory – I want every Sister armed and ready should the worst happen."

 

-----------------

 

There was a dull roar from outside, insulated as the Astartes were from the atmosphere by the shell of the drop pod.

The pod vibrated and shook, lumens blinked as they descended towards the surface of the planet.

 

Sergeant Skrint’s view was limited as he was harnessed tightly into his seat. He closed his eyes and ran through the battle plan. Descent. Release. Doors. Exfil. Assessment. Contact.

The Greyshields had been briefed on what they might encounter once they exited the drop pods. Auxilian had warned them that the city was under siege by heretics. Not only cultists but traitor Astartes – Word Bearers. This would be the first time that the Primaris Marines would come face to face with an enemy that was once...what...their brothers? It seemed incomprehensible that an Astartes would turn from the Emperor, renounce their duty to their Primarch and humanity. And yet...they had.

 

Skrint’s mind took the opportunity to wonder as they continued their descent. It was the end of their mission, their quest to reach their brethren and take their place in a Chapter, like so many of the other Primaris who were already embedded in the Ultramarines. But they had no Primarch, only Vulkan’s teachings were left behind. At least now they would join the Dark Shepherds, take their sigil upon their pauldrons and learn the ways of their brothers.

Skrint wondered what his battle brothers in the pod thought about joining the Dark Shepherds after their years together on the journey to Cantab IV. He didn’t have much time to think on this point, as the pod hammered into the ground.

 

------------

 

The boys were in the room at the top of the hab block when the Astartes landed. They had barricaded themselves in against the horrors that roamed the streets below, the fiends that had claimed their parents and their friends.

Dawn was breaking when suddenly, it got so much brighter, as if time had accelerated and it was midday already. The boys cleared sleep from their eyes and went to the window, hands up to stop blinding glare but unable to stop themselves from craning to see what was causing the light and the noise.

 

The drop pods crashed to the ground in the old sports fields, Krump. Krump. Krump, each impact making the low rise hab block shake and sending up plumes of dust. The dust clouds grew in height and expanded out towards the jab blocks, swiftly enveloping the boys in choking dust. They fell to floor, gasping for clear air bit as soon as it had come, it blew past and they were back up at the window.

 

The drop pod doors slammed down and squads of green-clad giants strode forth, activating their monstrous swords with glittering teeth - louder the foresters from deep woods, thought Kan, the bigger of the two boys, much louder.

 

Cultists emerged at the edge of the field, streaming towards the giants, waving their own blades – combat knives, makeshifts swords, ancient flails, spiked clubs, what ever they could find. Their hollering couldn’t match the sound of the volume of the Astartes chainswords and turned to screams as the Marines swept forth, slicing into their ranks and cutting them down as if they were the summer crop.

 

The boys watched in horror as the green armour turned red but they were unable to tear themselves away from the masscre unfolding before them. Bodies were trampled under the feet of the advancing and then there was a roar from near the bottom of the boy’s hab block as one of the Fiends emerged to face the newcomers.

 

As one, the chainsword wielding arms dropped and heavy bolt pistols were raised. A storm of bolt shells slammed into the figure which howled in pain and rage. Sak, the smaller of the two boys, dropped to the floor, whimpering. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he soiled himself, the acrid smell making Kan’s nose wrinkle. He didn’t blame the kid - he too was terrified, rooted to the spot as the menacing figures advanced on the building in which they hid. The guns roared again and this time their target fell to the ground and didn’t get up again. The blood-drenched murderers advanced, scanning for more targets. The leader looked up and saw Kan. The boy looked straight at glowing eye lenses and this time it was Sak gagging from the smell.

 

------------

 

Skrint’s squad swept forward, methodically working through the streets, clearing heretics as they went.

 

Such a waste of human life, felt Skrint as he cut down another cultist who had run at him with just a dagger and a book, screaming gibberish. He glanced down at the bloodied mess of rags at his feet. Someone’s daughter, maybe someone’s mother? Was it that easy for them to be swayed from the Emperor’s light? That they would throw everything away, for what?

 

“Sergeant. Keep your squad moving West” came a voice over the vox. “Auspex readings indicate hostiles two blocks over.”

 

Skrint signalled to his four brothers to tighten formation and follow his lead. They hadn’t seen any more traitor Astartes since the one they had encountered soon after landing but there were sure to be more.

 

At the corner of the block, Skrint edged round to take a view. His movement was met by a roar from across the street and chinks of rockcrete splintered by his head.

He ducked back and got on the vox. “Gor, can you hear me? We’re pinned by a heavy bolter, can you clear it for me?”

 

“I hear you brother, leave it to us. Keep them distracted, will you? Two minutes.”

 

The heavy bolter fire had ceased so Skrint edged a hand round the corner and the flash of his bloody fist was enough to start up the thump, thump thump of the heavy gun. Let’s waste of much of their ammunition as we can, he thought. The vox clicked, “get ready to advance, brother”

 

Skrint’s ears closed to suppress the effect of the krak grenades detonating. “Squad, with me” and the Assault Marines darted forward to the opposite corner of the block, wary of other foes lurking in the shadows.

 

The krak grenades had done their work, the carrier of the heavy bolter was a ruined mess, red armour split open like over-ripe fruit.

Skrint looked down at the former Astartes. So far had they fallen, how could it have happened? They had everything: their brothers, their Legion, their Primarch, the Emperor. How could they have thrown it all away?

“Thank you, Gor” he voxed to the Sergeant standing on the top of a building to his left, “I hope to repay you soon”

“You are welcome, Skrint. But first you’ll need to stop mithering and keep moving. There are more from whence that one came.”

 

--------------------

 

Vargen’s battle senses had led him to a ruined Chapel in the weaving district outside the city. It was a small, plain building, unlike most places of Imperial Worship, a single Aquila over the door. Or at least there had been – it lay broken in two on the threshold. Vargen stepped forward into the gloom.

 

“Well, well, well. Who do we have here?” Growled a voice from the back of the Chapel

“You must be one of those new meat puppets. It doesn’t matter. We’ve killed all sorts of your kind over the centuries.”

 

The speaker was a Space Marine. Or at least, had been. He was clad in gleaming red power armour, covered in gold writing in very small script. Vellum seals draped across him, mockeries of the purity seal Vargen himself wore with pride and honour. On his left pauldron, the Word Bearer had pinned an entire page of text. Even in the gloom, Vargen could make out some of the details of what mist have once been a beautifully illustrated work. I’m his left hand he held a dull blade, dripping with ichor, an ornate bolt pistol in his right.

 

Flanking the speaker were four further heretics, bolters levelled at the Greyshield Captain. Vargen was at a serious disadvantage and cursed himself for charging forward without his companions. He silently vox-clicked for reinsforcements.

 

“Do you know to whom you are yoked?

Do you not know that your Corpse-Emperor rests on a throne of lies?

We were there, you know. We have been around a lot longer than you, seen and learned far more than you may ever experience.

Perhaps I should write you a pamphlet? Something to bring you up to speed.”

 

“Enough of your word games, heretic. I am Vargen, son of Vulkan and here to mete the justice of the Emperor”

 

“Vargen? Mete justice? How very floral! And a challenge to single combat? I think not, I grow weary of this place. But fear not, we’ll return to deal with those Bitches in the Tower!”

and with the parting words, the coterie of renegades threw flash and smoke grenades, blinding the Astartes and confusing their auto-senses. And then they were gone, leaving Vargen to wonder quite what the Word Bearer’s tirade had meant.

 

------------

 

“Meet your battle brothers?”

 

“Yes, my apologies Canonness but we came to join our brethren, the Dark Shepherds, rather than your Sisters”

 

“Oh, I do not take offence, Captain Vargen, oh no. But I am afraid you are too late.”

 

“Too late?”

 

“Yes, quite late indeed.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Well we signalled for reinforcements when the Dark Shepherds arrived, there were so few of them. But that was before the Word Bearers came. Lord Shepherd Vinter was the last, slain by the daemon blade of their champion. He died mere weeks before you arrived.

We knew you were coming, Sister Susannah foretold it in dreams. You would literally descend to smite our foes. And you did.

But you have no Chapter, the Dark Shepherds are no more.

 

At the back of the room, Sergeant Skrint felt his heart sink. An Astartes might not feel fear but he felt loss, maybe even despair. The purpose of the crusade, their place in the galaxy, lost.

 

Canonness Nagra looked up at Captain Vargen with a beatific smile "Perhaps, with Auxilian’s grace, we could give you a new name?”