BLOOD ANGELS SUCCESSOR CHAPTERS – Sanguine Brotherhood | Warhammer 40k Lore

The Adeptus Astartes epitomise the  noble warrior creed of the Imperium. Cast in the image of their Primarchs, the  Angels of Death stand defiant against the   encroaching darkness and shed their  vitae in the name of the Emperor. For today we shall Elucidate the  many Chapters of the Space Marines  

Derived from lineage of the beloved  martyr and Great Angel: Sanguinius. The Successor Chapters of the  9th Legion: the Blood Angels. The legions of the Adeptus Astartes  founding chapters are the most renowned   and storied within the Imperium. Tales of valour, betrayal, defiance,   hubris and unyielding duty define  the foundations for both the loyalist  

And traitor legions and their successor  chapters whom followed within their wake.  Though of each of the nine loyalist founding  legion bear a burden. Some of secrecy, some of   protection, some of shame…yet one chapter amongst  them bears a burden which could more accurately   be described as a curse. The 9th legion  

Of Adeptus Astartes: The Blood Angels. Founded during the Unification Wars to unify   Holy Terra, the Blood Angels would be crafted  from the genetic materials left in the wake   of the scattering of their Primarch: Sanguinius. Inheriting many of their gene-father’s traits, the  

Terran-born Astartes would serve the Emperor in  only a handful of conquests. Ravaging His enemies   during audacious raids with their strategies  focused on close-range combat; the small in   number 9th legion would be deployed in some of the  most dangerous warzones of the Unification Wars. 

Recruiting their numbers from the dispossessed  souls of Terra, their stature would be remarkably   elegant, tall and fair. Despite their  legion often bearing marks of mutation   born from their gene-seed implantations. Yet rumours would abound of the 9th legion   within the Imperium. Rumoured to consume the  corpses of their enemies in battle, they would  

Earn the moniker of ‘The Eaters of the Dead’. Their mythic reputation bolstered by the   evidence of their genetically gifted  retractable so-called: ‘Angels’ Teeth’.  The 9th legion’s misfortune would only  increase with their deployment to backwater   planets such as Neptune and it’s Moons. Losing 12,000 warriors during their  

Conquest of the world, the 9th legion  would nonetheless survive their mission   and replenish their number with the barest of  human dregs within Neptune’s tunnel systems.  Enduring beyond excruciating losses and  circumstance, the 9th legion would define it’s   early service as a legion capable of being renewed  with each catastrophic loss only to grow stronger. 

With even Malcadore the Sigilite dubbing  the 9th legion as ‘The Revenant Legion’.  Fighting alongside similarly denigrated  legions such as the 12th Legion:   The War Hounds, the 9th Legion would go on to  fight during the Great Crusade as a brooding,   methodical and blood-thirsty symbol  of Humanity’s indomitable will. 

A task they would relish with grim-pride. The wider Imperium would shun the 9th   legion as it’s campaigns throughout the stars  would divide and distance the legion’s might.  Many ‘Red Cults’ would form from the  fractured legion, conducting bloody   pagan rituals that would invite censure  by the Imperium on several occasions. 

The Administratums of the Imperium  resolving to supply the barbarous   9th legion with little advanced weaponry  to attempt to reign in their blood-lust.  Yet an event would turn the 9th  legion from their heretical ways.  The discovery of a young child of  the Planet of Baal. The long-lost  

Son of the Emperor of Mankind: Sanguinius. With the re-discovery of the Primarch of   the 9th legion, Sanguinius would rename his  gene-sons to be known as The Blood Angels.  Merging the Terran-born Astartes of the  Unifications Wars with the sons of Baal. 

Their Primarch, the Great Angel would bow  before his sons. Offering them his loyalty   and service without reservation. A welcome gesture to the routinely   shunned and isolated 9th legion, the Blood  Angels would grow to adore their gene-father.  His shedding of blood alongside them in battle and  endeavours to cure the legion of their bloodlust  

Further bolstering their love for their Primarch. Serving alongside the Luna Wolves legion commanded   by Horus Lupercal, the 9th legion would  learn from the 16th legion’s martial   prowess and dignity for over a decade. Transforming the Blood Angels from   barbaric butchers, to noble warriors. With Primarch Horus Lupercal instilling  

Values within the Blood Angels such as pride,  to replace their desire for blood and carnage.  Sanguinius would instruct his legion to bring  planets under compliance with peaceful means.   Pacifying it’s peoples without the  need to shed a single drop of blood. 

Sanguinius would also teach his sons the cultural  hobbies he had adored on his homeworld of Baal.  Poetry and art would be instilled within  the legion as hobbies to adopt. Leading   to the Legion to go to extreme lengths to  procure materials for their art projects. 

Fighting hideous beasts that guarded their  precious Bloodstones, Fauna and Pigments   necessary to create their paintings. No longer were the Blood Angels monsters   spoken of to instil fear into the  hearts of men, now they were icons   of the Imperium’s nobility, courage and glory. Yet even with such accolades and reinventions  

Of the legion’s character, it’s sons would  continue to suffer greatly from their curse.  A curse which their genefather would  attempt to keep secret and one day, cure…  The bond between Horus Lupercal and Sanguinius had  grown immensely, as the two saw each other as the   closest of their brothers. Likewise their legions  

Would share a similar kinship. In an attempt to mitigate the chances   of facing his beloved brother and his legion in  battle, Horus Lupercal would dispatch the Blood   Angels to the Signus Cluster at the opening stages  of his treacherous rebellion against the Imperium. 

Snared by traps of the devising of the  Warmaster and his foul benefactors of Chaos,   the Blood Angels and their Primarch  would be beset by armies of Daemons.  With most of the legion’s fleet crew unaware  of the forces of Chaos, the Daemons would   wreak havoc amongst their number. Rallying his senior officers,  

Sanguinius would command his legion to  combat this unknown threat to the Imperium.  Facing the Bloodthirster of Khorne:  Ka’Bandha, Sanguinius would deny the   Daemon it’s victory. Yet be told by the  foul being of Horus Lupercal’s betrayal.  Rejecting the Daemon’s words, Sanguinius  and Ka’Bhanda would duel. Landing a deadly  

Blow to the Daemon’s chest with his sword, the  Primarch’s legs would be broken in retaliation.  Retreating from the battle, Ka’Bhanda would  decimate 500 Astartes within his wake.  Their deaths creating a psychic-backlash  that would rend Sanguinius unconscious.  The Blood Angels would become enraged with a  berserker fury, fuelled by their dark curse. 

With victory achieved their rage would subside  and in time, their Primarch would awaken.  His wounds already healing, Sanguinius  would nonetheless bear a heavy heart for   the thousands of his loyal sons whom now  lay dead on the surface of Signus Prime. 

Beseeched by the Primarch of the Imperial  Fists: Rogal Dorn, the Blood Angels would   be recalled to defend Holy Terra. Unaware that the legion’s Homeworld   of Baal has been ravaged by the traitor forces,  the Blood Angels would travel to the Ultramar  

System with the birth of the Ruinstorm  and the splitting of the galaxy in two…  With the aid of Primarchs Roboute Guilliman of  the Ultramarines legion and Lion El’Jonson of   the Dark Angels, the Blood Angels would traverse  through the ruin-storm and return to Holy Terra. 

Combining the strength of the Adeptus  Custodes, Astra Militarum, Imperial Fists,   White Scars and their Primarchs Rogal Dorn and  Jaghatai Khan; the Blood Angels would aid in   the defence of the Imperial Palace of Holy  Terra from the onslaught of traitor forces.  Their Primarch Sanguinius would confront  Warmaster Horus Lupercal aboard his flagship  

Vessel: The Vengeful Spirit. Duelling him in single-combat.  The Warmaster would slay the Great Angel,  his violent death unleashing a psychic   imprint amongst the Blood Angels  that would haunt them for eternity.  With the death of the Warmaster by the hands of  the Emperor and the traitors repelled from Holy  

Terra, the Blood Angels would demand  retribution for their father’s death.  With many of the 9th legion  succumbing to their genetic flaw,   they would envision the dying moments of their  Primarch and be driven into a psychotic rage.  Forever known thereafter, as the Black  Rage. A curse which would only grow in  

The years following the end of the Horus Heresy… ‘The Flaw’ as it would come to be known would   linger within the 9th legion and it’s many  Codex Astartes compliant successor chapters.  Developing a psychological hunger to  drink blood, the Blood Angels regularly  

Drink the donated blood of their serfs  to quench their so-called ‘Red Thirst’.  Despite the blood bearing no nutritional value  to the sons of Baal, without regular consumption   the sons of Sanguinius begin to show signs of  aging. Such as white hair and wrinkled skin. 

Draining their mental stability, it is a  necessary evil which the Blood Angels and   their successors must partake to keep  their chapter in fighting condition.  Though should a Blood Angel not resist  the call of the Red Thirst he shall become   mutated and monstrous in form. His teeth  replaced with fangs, his face resembling  

That of a bat and causing his stature to  force him to walk on all four of his limbs.  For it is said…the blood of a living  host is all the more delicious   compared with the ‘Karash’ wine of donated blood. And for those whom should the Red Thirst not take,  

The Blood Angels can suffer the Black Rage. Embodying their Primarch’s struggle against   the Warmaster, they shall see his  hideous apparition before them and   lash out at anyone within their vicinity. Unable to distinguish friend from foe,   the Black Rage causes a Blood  Angel to strike upon his own kin. 

An incurable affliction, those under the  thrall of the Rage are transferred to the   Death Company within their chapter. Unless  their affliction is too violent to contain,   whom are subsequently put  down to end their suffering.  Though for the sons of Baal there  is hope to contain their bloodlust. 

When a battle-brother partakes in activities such  as painting, their soul becomes soothed of their   inner rage. Drastically decreasing the incidence  of their curse spilling out into the world.  With their Primaris generation of battle-brothers  further protected from the call of their curse.  

Though that is not to say that the threat of  the Rage overcoming them is gone entirely…  Since the origin of the Chapter, the Blood Angels  had numbered 120,000 strong. Though during the   41st Millenium like many Loyalist legions of  the Adeptus Astartes, the 9th legion’s Chapter  

Now only consists of 1,000 Space Marines. Recruiting new Aspirants from the Chapter’s   homeworld of Baal and it’s orbiting moons,  The Blood Angels arrange for contests   held at Angels’ Fall, the place wherein  Sanguinius was first discovered on Baal.  Tasked with traversing to the Place  of Challenge via a hostile desert,  

Fire Scorpion infested canyons and other perilous  environmental hazards; the Aspirants then   must face one-another in gladiatorial battle. Of the 50 surviving Aspirants from the trials,   they are taken within Thunderhawk gunships to  Baal’s Fortress Monastery: the Arx Angellicum.  Standing vigil for 72 hours without rest,  the Aspirants that fall asleep are removed  

By the Monastery’s Blood-Servitors. Their  fates unknown to those outside the Chapter…  Once their vigil is ended, the Aspirants are  offered a Chalice by the Sanguinary Priests.  Drinking the blood within, which many claim  contains a portion of the Great Angels’ own blood;  

The Aspirants are left comatose and entombed  within caskets within the Hall of the Sarcrophagi.  For a year, the slumbering recruits are kept  alive by the casket’s life support systems.  Continually injected with the blood of  Sanguinius, their bodies undergo rapid changes.  Causing many of the Aspirants  to die from the traumatic  

Transformation wrought by their Gene-seed. Some awaken during the process. Becoming insane   within their dark, cold, claustrophobic existence. With only a small number adapting,   overcoming the odds and becoming new  members of the Blood Angels Chapter.  Consisting of Ten Companies, each  one is commanded by a Captain who  

Is in-turn defended by an Honour Guard. With exceptions given only to the companies   of the Sanguinary Guard and Death Company. Governed by the ‘Red Council’ consisting   of Senior Officers, the highest ranking  soldiers of the legion nominate the Chapter’s  

Master and oversee all aspects of waging war. Whereas the ‘Council of Blood’ formed of Chaplains   and Sanguinary Priests, monitor the Chapter’s  spiritual and physical health. Keeping a watchful   eye on Astartes that may be in the fledging stages  of being consumed by the Red Thirst of Black Rage. 

Uncharacteristically for a Space Marine  legion, the Blood Angels do not signify   their squad denomination on their shoulders  with Imperial Gothic numerals or coloured   trim; instead marking their warriors by  symbols adorned on their right knee-pads.  Their Right Pauldron denotes their Company. With  the Veteran 1st Company signified by a skull. 

Battle companies are denoted  by a coloured Blood-Drop.  The Reserve Companies adopt twin coloured Blood  Drops and the 10th company: The Scout Marines,   garner a black skull on their right shoulder plate  and their chapter emblem on their left plate.  Their Helmets also unlike most  chapters of Astartes do not denote  

Rank but rather operational specialisation. Red as standard for Battle-line combatants,   Yellow for Close Support, Blue for Fire  Support and Gold for Command staff.  Seargeant Officers of the Chapter bear  black pauldrons displaying the Blood   Angels blood-drop with red trim, with Veteran  Sergeants adorning the blood drop with wings. 

Whilst Lieutenants and Captains bear more  ornate versions of the chapter’s heraldry.  The Librarians of the chapter donne Blue armour  with their left shoulder plate painted Red.   Their chapter-badge marked on their right  knee plate, black with a red background.  Sanguinary Priests bear red armour trimmed  with white. Their rank emblazoned on  

Their left shoulder plate in white. And for the unfortunate souls of the   Death Company their armour is re-painted  black. Marked with red crosses to denote   their sacrifice to their Primarch and doomed  fate to fight until death for their chapter.  With the Honour Guard of the legion  each signified with a golden helmet  

To distinguish them from their brethren as  the vanguard against threats against the   Chapter’s most crucial senior officers. And though there are many successors   of the Sons of Sanguinius, many bear great  resentment for the dividing of their legion.  Their curse now more vulnerable than  ever to gain sustenance from the doubts,  

Dreads and burdens placed on the 9th legion. With even the golden sons of the Sanguinary   Guard no longer beyond the reproach  of the Imperium under the tutelage   of their current Chapter Master: Dante. Yet there will come a time to further  

Discuss the Revenant Legion and their deeds. Whether those tales tell of their valour or   their savagery…is in the hands of The Emperor… The Angels Encarmine are a Second Founding Successor Chapter of the Blood Angels.

The most aloof of all Chapters of the Blood, their arrogance is derived from their relentless Eternal Crusade waged with no relent nor reprieve.  Said to be active in the most concurrent campaigns  of any Space Marine Chapter, the zealous fury of   the Angels Encarmine is attributed to the  pure warrior spirit of their Primarch. 

Few can match the plaudits nor  battle honours of the Chapter,   though by virtue of their endless warring  the cost incurred for such glories is high.  Their fervour preventing their recuperation  nor reinforcement between battles, the fires   of war swiftly weed out unworthy  new initiates within their ranks. 

Seen to be a method to harness and stave off  their gene-flaw, other observers believe this   method of warfare is done solely to thin their  Death Company to reasonable levels of deployment.  Rarely at full strength as attrition  erodes their forces, their Death Company  

Exceeds of any of their contemporaries. Said to be no fewer than 30 Astartes at   any given time, it is unclear if this is due  to their high rates of curse affliction or the   sheer stubborn survivability of their fallen kin. Never recorded to have rejected a request for aid,  

The Angels Encarmine clad in their red armour  trimmed with black and bearing a yellow aquila   symbolises their noble yet furious countenance. Their death company and Sanguinary Guard bedecked   in alabaster white with black trim,  all bear the sigil of a red droplet  

With ebon wings proudly on their armour. Relatively Codex Compliant in their structure,   the Angels Encarmine follow the example  of their Blood Angels primogenitor.  Reinforced with Primaris Space Marines,  it is the hope of the Imperium that with   such fresh and flawless recruits, the  Angels Encarmine can continue to conduct  

Their relentless campaigns without their  Gene-curse costing them their glories…  The Angels Sanguine are a Second  Founding Successor of the Blood Angels.  Crucial in purges in the forces of Chaos invading  from the Eye of Terror, these examples of the  

Blood are noted for their heroism and nobility. Refusing to remove their hooded helmets to those   outside their Chapter, the Angels Sanguine invite  suspicion and misgivings for their secrecy.  Comprised of twice the Librarians of any Chapter  of the Blood, many Imperial Forces speculate as to  

Their deeds made within their catacombs beneath  their Fortress Monastery of Baalus Trine.  Partially compliant in structure to the Codex  Astartes alike to their Blood Angels compatriots,   the warriors clad in halved red and  black ceramite wear their symbol of a   White Skull centred on red wings proudly. Utilising white paint to mark their squad  

Specialties on their right pauldron,  black Gothic numerals are centred on   their squad symbol with their company  number emblazoned on their right knee.  Cherishing their artefact: the Grail of Angels  above all, each Sanguinary High Priesthood has   consumed the blood of their Primarch to  allow for it’s continued rejuvenation. 

Initiates of the Chapter must drink  from the Grail in order to ascend   as true Angels Sanguine and partake in  absorbing the essence of their gene-sire.  Though rumours persist that their bloodline  has been tainted by the rabble of Baalus Trine,  

They remain a stalwart Chapter of the Angel. The Angels Vermillion are a Second Founding   Chapter of the Blood Angels. Originating from the 9th Chapter of   the Blood Angels Legion during the Horus Heresy,  their involvement in the Scouring of the Nostromo  

Sector and pillaging of the Night Lords vessel:  Shroud of Eventide and subsequent transformation   into their own flagship ‘Crimson Intent’  belies their capable and resourceful nature.  A reclusive and solitary Chapter, the  Angels Vermillion refuse to co-operate   nor aid their kindred Chapters. Spurning all offers of Brotherhood  

From the Angels of the Blood, the Chapter’s  isolation stems from their intent to bear the   gene-flaws of their Primarch alone. Threatening to reveal the Red Thirst   and Black Rage to the wider Imperium  should their boundaries be crossed,   the Primogenitor of their Chapter and their  Lord Commander: Dante bids all to keep a wide  

Berth from such a stubborn and volatile Astartes. Exemplary warriors all despite their antisocial   tendencies, their banishing of the Greater Demon  Ag’thrax’rae’phael on the world of Parnassium   and relief of the world of Quatandril  Templesiege are among the few records   willingly given by the Chapter. Residing on the world of Corinal,  

It’s varied landscapes of vast deserts, ice  caps, jungle canyons and a vast cobalt ocean;   it’s single continent is flanked by  greenery cut into by five winding rivers.  Their Fortress Monastery of Bloodspike standing at  fifteen hundred feet tall juts into the heavens as  

Befitted the hearth of the Angels of Death. It’s peak topped with a hooded golden angel,   it’s bowed and haloed visage oversees the domain  of the Angels Vermillion as ocean winds buffet the   energy shield of the Bloodspike’s defenses. Partially codex compliant alike to their  

Primogenitor Chapter, their dark red armour  trimmed with black and emblazoned with a yellow   aquila or Imperialis bears striking  similarity to the Angels Encarmine.  Their Chapter symbol depicting a winged drop  of blood atop a bare skull symbolises their   duty to slay the enemies of the  Angel and preserve his bloodline. 

Routinely feeding upon mortals to stave  off the affliction of the Red Thirst,   very few of it’s Astartes fall prey to their  gene-curse each year and forestall the inevitable   Black Rage of it’s Astartes for decades. Ashamed of their flaw, the Angels Vermilion   seek atonement for their methods of  staving off their affliction and as  

Such devote themselves to wars of penitence. Engaging in brief skirmished and battles that   shall never be recorded in the annals of history,  the Angels Vermillion believe that vainglory alike   to their Primogenitor blinds the disciples of  Sanguinius to their true nature and purpose. 

Believing their Primarch to be cursed, the  Angels Vermilion do not hold the Great Angel   in the same regard as their peers for in  their mind he had doomed all Blood Angels   Successors to a terrible fate with his death. Knowing themselves to be monsters of war the  

Chapter embraces the era of darkness in  order to feed themselves to the flames of   war to keep the light of the galaxy burning. Conducting ‘The Sorrowing’ each five solar   decade wherein the Astartes painlessly drain  the blood from mortal labour serfs of their  

Homeworld of Corinal, the bodies of  their victims are flenses of flesh.  Cleaning their bones and interring them within  the Chapel of the Isle of Martyrs, those that   sacrifice their lives for the Chapter are forever  honoured and treated with the utmost respect. 

Bathing in the collected blood of their  harvest, a single Sanguinary Priest opens   his veins to pour the essence of Sanguinius  into their bounty and with his death store the   collected vitae for use in battle as nourishment. Knowing their spoils to be bought at the cost of  

Countless innocents, the Sorrowing is a necessary  evil of the Chapter in order to enable the   longevity and battle-readiness of their Astartes. Their ritual discovered by High Chaplain of the   Blood Angels: Hereon during 428.M41 during his  investigation of a lost refugee vessel of Dovar; 

Chapter Master Chauld warned the High  Chaplain that should he reveal their   secret the Angels Vermillion shall reveal  gene-curse of the blood to the Inquisition.  Should the Angels Vermillion perish, they  shall take all their peers down with them.  Despite the risk, Hereon relayed his  findings to Lord Commander Dante,  

Yet knowing the fallout should he act further  Dante ordered all Chapters of the Blood to shun   the Angels Vermillion forevermore and  never accept their petitions for aid.  Regardless of their fractured relationship to  their primogenitor, a contingent of the Angels  

Vermillion aided the Chapters of the Blood during  the Devastation of Baal lead by Captain Fen.  Their force of one hundred and twelve warriors  though initially refused to fight by their side   would begrudgingly be accepted to join the  fold in the repelling of the Great Devourer. 

Revered by the Chamber Militant of the Ordo  Xenos: the Deathwatch, the Angels Vermillion   serve with dignified and revered service  yet make every attempt to not co-operate   with contingents of their brother Chapters. Due to several members of the Blood Angels   Chapters serving as senior members of the  Jericho Reach contingent of the Deathwatch,  

The Angels Vermillion refuse to  serve within such jurisdictions.  Their clandestine nature and fell rituals  preserving their numbers as they continue to   purge the void of the Imperium’s enemies… The Angels Penitent are a Successor   Chapter of the Blood Angels. The only known Chapter made from  

The 9th Founding of the Astartes, the Chapter  for millennia bore the title of ‘the Angels   Resplendent’ before changing their identity. Established upon the world of Malpertius,   within the Fortress Monastery of Kanvolis  the Chapter began a slow descent into   madness derived from their gene-curse. Obsessed with opulence and displays of artistry,  

The Chapter’s early years of service  would be epitomised by their pursuits   as Artisans above their duties as warriors. Deriving joy from nobility rather than duty   or slaughter, the Angels Resplendent  cited no instances of the Black Rage  

Within their ranks and for a time were seen as  the purest of all the Chapters of the Blood.  Clad in gold armour trimmed with red and silver,  the warrior artists bearing the symbol of a hooded   angelic figure with arms outstretched saw warfare  as an artform in itself and pursued such campaigns  

With a unique if strange discipline. However with the intervention of a   mysterious mortal, the Chapter  began a drastic shift in beliefs.  Known as ‘The Undying Martyr’ due to his  miraculous survival crossing the River Tristesse   surrounding their Fortress Monastery, a feat which  even a Space Marine would struggle to accomplish; 

Absent of their Chapter Master and their  1st Company the human would be interrogated   by Chaplain Icharos Malvoisin and espouse his  puritanical perspective of the Imperial Creed.  For nineteen days the Chaplain conversed  with the human until bringing him to his  

Kin to proclaim him a prophet of the God-Emperor. His dark revelations citing humanity as beyond   redemption, the Adeptus Astartes were the  greatest sinners of the Imperial Creed for   their failure to prevent ruin at the hands of  the slain Warmaster of Chaos: Horus Lupercal. 

None could ascend to the Emperor’s light and  only penitence and pain could bargain to wipe   clean the collective sins of the past. Enacting a ‘Great Purge’ of the Chapter,   blasphemy and ostentation was  cleansed from the Fortress Monastery.  Converting all Astartes within  the Chapter to his beliefs,  

The Undying Martyr’s influence saw to the Space  Marines banishment of all gaudy displays of art.  Renaming themselves as ‘The Angels Penitent’  and banning all production of artistic creation,   the Penitent Angels now dedicated themselves to  castigate themselves and the Imperium of sin. 

Chief Librarian Athanazius chose to spurn  the preachments of Chaplain Icharos and for   his denunciation was branded a heretic. Slaying Athanazius and his followers,   Icharos bellowed that ‘The Emperor  condemns’ before sundering those   loyal to the Chapter’s past ideals. Now ruled by the council of Chaplains  

Known as ‘The Crown of Thorns’, the masters of  the Angels Penitent keep a close eye on their   kin for signs of adherence to their old ways. The change in their ideology exacerbating   the Black Rage, many Battle-Brothers  have surrendered to their gene-flaw. 

Creating the first Death Company to assign  the first of their kin to ever fall victim   to it’s clutches, the Angels Penitent continue  their acts of punishing vanity and expression.  Aiding in the defence of the Devastation  of Baal against Hive Fleet Leviathan,  

The Chapters of the Blood know not of  the reason for their kin’s change in   mentality yet gladly accepted their  might in defending the Baal system.  Clad in black ceramite with streaks  of umber vines barbed with thorns,   the Imperial Aquila or Imperialis is worn  with white paint upon their breastplate and  

Their squad iconography on their knee plate. Adopting their new symbol of a white skull   adorned with a grey crown of thorns, the Angels  Penitent strike an imposing and dour figure.  Though seemingly resolute in their  quest to scour the galaxy clean of sin,  

There remain some within the ranks of the  Chapter who pine for their former glory.  Hoping to one day free themselves from the  shackles of their Outsiders influence many   hope for the return of their Chapter Master:  Varzival Czervantes or ‘the Knight Resplendent’  

After his after long campaign in the void. Though many speculate that Czervantes is been   long-dead and all hope for the restoration  of the Angels Resplendent is a naïve dream…  The Blood Drinkers are a Second  Founding Chapter of the Blood Angels.  Founded following the great civil war of  the Horus Heresy, despite their sinister  

Title the Chapter maintains good relations and an  exemplary record among the ranks of the Astartes.  Retaining immense bonds of loyalty with Chapters  such as the Crimson Fists, Howling Griffons and   Novamarines, their intervention during  the Devastation of Baal has only further   bolstered their honourable reputation. Refusing to conceal their blood-lust and  

Embracing their need to quench their thirst,  their rituals and temperament have seemingly   allowed the Chapter to control their gene-flaw. Clad in carnelian red with golden-yellow icons   on their breastplate, they bear the icon  of their Chapter: a droplet of black blood   descending into an ebon chalice with pride. Adorning their right pauldron with Codex  

Compliant squad marking with black Low gothic  numerals to indicate their squad number,   their pauldron trim adheres to the colour  coding standards of the Codex Astartes.  Their Sanguinary Priests coating their right  side of their armour white in it’s entirety,   they also bear a vertical yellow stripe  down the center of their helmets. 

Their Librarians coat their left pauldron red  and adopt the blue of the Librarium with their   knee-guard identifying their chapter sigil. Yet beneath the façade the Chapter has come   close to extinction on occasions such  as the 37th Millennium wherein many of   their initiates succumbed to the Black Rage  instantly with their ascension into Astartes. 

The Chapter’s revered saint: Holos set  forth to find a cure for their affliction   and after witnessing a divinely-induced  dream resolved to climb the Mount of his   Chapter’s homeworld of San Guisiga. Upon Calicium the mightiest of the   planet’s volcanic peaks, Holos fought  the lord of the Xenos Astorgai: Lo’tan. 

Casting off his battered and broken Power Armour  and slaying the Xenos, Holos was visited by   a splendid golden Angel which imparted the  secret to staving off his Chapter’s curse.  Returning solar weeks later to his Fortress  Monastery, Brother Holos imparted the Angel’s  

Wisdom to his Chapter to much uproar. Dividing his Chapter into the ‘Blood   Schism’, Holos’ Return despite it’s  initial turmoil with time ended the   madness of the Black Rage within his Chapter. Now known as ‘The Rite of Holos’, their secretive  

Ritual allows for the Blood Angels to achieve  a balance between nobility and savagery that is   the envy of their peers but incurs a heavy toll. Assembling all Battle Brothers within the Hall   of Life of their Reclusium, the  warriors dressed in scarlet and  

Black are stripped of their rank insignias. With rank of no import during the ritual,   the Chaplains and Sanguinary Priests  watch as labour serfs willingly offer   their vitae to the assembled Astartes. Drained of blood, the serfs’ blood   channels into the stone floor of the  chamber forming a droplet of blood. 

Enacting their ‘Blood Tithe’ by  drinking the collected blood,   the Reclusiarch of the Chapter leads them in  prayers of atonement as they quench their thirst.  Reaffirming their oaths, the Blood Drinkers beg  for forgiveness from one-another for the cost of  

Their reprieve as the Techmarines of the Chapter  take a sample of their own blood to offer to the   machine-spirits of their weapons and armour. Believing the monster within to be unkillable,   they resolve instead to tame it and sate  it’s thirst to postpone their own demise. 

In truth the Angel of the peak of Calicium  was a Daemon of the Warp cited to be the   Vizier of Tzeentch: Kairos Fateweaver. Bargaining his kin’s reprieve for the   ability to replace the visions of his  Chapter’s Death Company from those of  

Horus’ fratricide to the pact made upon Calicium. Perceiving the Black Rage as a blessing rather   than a curse the Blood Drinkers whom have  seen the vision of Kairos have each in turn   been offered a compact with the forces of Chaos. All such all have refused such a poisoned chalice,  

Yet Kairos Fateweaver needs only one Blood  Drinker to utter his compliance in order   to claim the Chapter for his own purposes. The true fate of the contract known only to   the Recliarchs of the Chapter, their  fate is balanced on a knife’s edge. 

Strictly adherent to the edicts of the  Codex Astartes the Blood Drinkers by   all appearances are the paragon to which  the Chapters of the Blood should aspire.  Though looks can be deceiving and  deeds undone by the smallest mis-step,   and it is unclear when they shall take  the first step in their fall from grace… 

The Sons of Sanguinius are a Second  Founding Chapter of the Blood Angels.  Originally sired from the ranks of  the former Legion’s 6th Company,   their bonds of fealty and trust to their  Primogenitor Chapter is among the strongest.  As their title suggests, the Sons of  Sanguinius uphold the memory and glories  

Of their Primarch above all duties  and have earned a gloried reputation.  Choosing not to deny their blood-lust  nor innate genetic flaws, the Sons of   Sanguinius harness their rage to best  serve the objectives of their campaigns.  Utterly zealous in their purges  of heresy throughout the galaxy,  

The Chapter shows a callous disregard for civilian  lives during their prosecutions of the wicked.  Adhering closely to the Codex Astartes alike  to their Primogenitor Chapter, by adhering to   it’s strictures the Sons of Sanguinius use such  disciplines to control their thirst for blood. 

Strangely among Chapters of the Blood, the Sons  of Sanguinius do not maintain a Death Company   nor do their elite 1st Company utilise any  suits of Terminator Amour due to their armoury   only contained a dozen of such working suits. Preferring to deploy Assault Bikes and Jump  

Packs rather than heavy munitions, the Sons  of Sanguinius also field fewer Devastator   Marines than their contemporaries with only  two squads in each of their Battle Companies.  Slow and steady in their approach regarding an  abundance of Tactical Squads, the Chapter limits   outbursts of uncontrolled violence through  measured and sound strategic formations. 

Though possessing Librarian positions  within their ranks who conduct scholarly   duties required of their post, none within the  Chapter utilise Psychic powers due to their   distrust of such phenomena as tools of Chaos. Recording the Chapter’s deeds and records of  

Their mightiest heroes, the Librarium also study  the ancient texts of their archives in order to   memorise holy chants, verses and battle hymns. Supporting their brethren through such verse   during battle, they are an inspiring presence  despite their lack of psychic powers.  Maintaining 30 veteran warriors within the  ranks of their Sanguinary Guard, each elite  

Member of the cadre is powerful enough to match  a full squadron of his peers in martial prowess.  Though their Sanguinary Priests function alike  to their Primogenitor of the Blood Angels, their   Chaplains champion their sole duty to prevent  their kin’s surrender to their Thirst and Rage. 

Recruited from the most sombre and  depressed members of their Chapter,   the Chaplains supplant their sadness with  hatred for Heretics, Apostates and Traitors.  The other duties befitting a typical Chaplain  of the Blood are the responsibility of   the Sanguinary Priests lead by the most  senior ranking Chaplain: the Reclusiarch. 

Conducting a ritual known as ‘The Feast’ prior  to each and every campaign, the Astartes of the   Sons of Sanguinius gorge themselves on blood  and vitae to stave off their gene curses.  Sacrificing a single Astartes proven to  valiant above all his peers, the vitae of  

Such a promising scion of the Chapter fills the  gold chalices of the Sanguinary Priests as each   of his kin drinks a sample of his blood. Spreading his courage throughout each and   every warrior of the Chapter should this  ritual be observed by their peers and be  

Seen as an extreme ritual, it’s efficacy in  staving off the Red Thirst is beyond question.  Painting a piece of their battle-armour  black to symbolise their mourning of the   death of their Primarch, the Sons of the Great  Angel know in their heart that their deeds and  

Valour shall never be observed by their liege. The most morose of their kin prefer to paint   larger portions of the armour black, with a  select few coating the entirety of the armour   alike to a Death Company Astartes. Said to have seen through the eyes  

Of their Primarch in their dreams, these  sullen killers take to the field of battle   with bloody and relentless focus. Clad in terracotta red hued tones of   ceramite trimmed with black, the Chapter  identify their squad specialty on their   right pauldron with white paint. The Sanguinary Priests of the  

Chapter trim their armour with white, whilst the  Librarians adopt the blue of the Codex Astartes.  Company markings are superimposed on  their tactical marking whilst their   helmet colour further defines their role. White helmets symbolise Tactical marines,   Bone for Assault Marines, Light Blue  for Devastators and Black for Veterans. 

Those who have proven especially brutal in their  acts of war are known as ‘Blooded’ and mark the   mouthpiece of their helmet with red paint. Adopting a unique heraldry system for use on   their right knee plate, each Astartes  bear heraldic symbols of differing  

Colours to signify their Squad such as White  Skulls, Red Blood Drops or an Angelic Wing.  Wearing their Chapter icon with pride on  their left pauldron, the Golden Skeletal   Chalice overflowing with blood flanked with  angel wings epitomises their uncompromising   pledge to serve in the Great Angel’s name. Preserving his spirit within the hearts of  

All the Successor Chapters of the Blood,  the Sons of Sanguinius give new life to   the Angel through deeds made by his descendants. Though whether these uncompromising descendants   of the Great Angel can continue to stave off  their gene-flaw is a question yet to be answered… 

The Adeptus Astartes are a  terrible force to be reckoned with.  Moulded to be the greatest warriors to ever  grace the stars by the Master of Mankind,   each Chapter embodies virtues and traits  such as honour, sacrifice and vengeance.  Yet not all of the Angels of Death have  a reputation which could be regarded as  

Noble and one among them is infamous  across the length and breadth of the   Imperium as wrothful butchery incarnate. The savage yet dutiful sons of the   Great Angel: the Flesh Tearers. In the wake of the Horus Heresy   the catastrophic civil war had proven the  calamity of the unfettered strength of the  

Astartes should they be turned from the path of  light and delivered into the clutches of Chaos.  Sundering of the Legionnes Astartes as  a precaution for further destruction,   Lord Commander and Primarch of the Ultramarines:  Roboute Guilliman devised a new organisational   structure to limit the Angels of Death  from once again threatening the Imperium. 

Drafting the Codex Astartes: the outlines  for the new order of war, each of the   Legions would be broken down into smaller  ‘Chapters’ comprised of 1,000 Space Marines.  The Time of Rebirth had begun and each of the  storied defenders of Humanity remaining loyal  

To the Imperium formed new brotherhoods  derived from their gloried legions of old.  Yet among all the Legions, many retained the  leadership of their Primarch with but a handful   still grieving for the loss of their Gene-sire. The Iron Hands had long languished due to death  

Of their Primarch: Ferrus Manus yet during the  final battle to destroy the Warmaster of Chaos;   another vaunted son of the Emperor had been slain. Sanguinius: Primarch of the Blood Angels had   fought valiantly to oppose his corrupted  brother: Horus Lupercal, and regardless of  

His foresight knowing his death to be inevitable  had sacrificed his life to stave off the darkness.  The Loyalists had won, yet with the  fresh scars of victory etched into   their skin and souls none incurred more  suffering than the scions of the Blood. 

Their father’s death had allowed for the Master  of Mankind to vanquish his fallen protégé yet had   also incurred grievous injury during their duel. Among the Captains of the harrowed and mourning   Legion, Nassir Amit of the 5th Company  looked upon the tattered glories of his  

Legion and spat upon the notion that their  brotherhood should be further diminished.  Reluctantly accepting the appointment as Chapter  Master of the newly founded Successor Chapter:   the Flesh Tearers, the remnants of the 5th  Company under the banner of the moniker of  

Their ruthless leader pursued the fleeing Traitor  Legions with slaughter foremost on their minds.  Sharpening their flaying knives and  preparing their armaments during their   voyage aboard their acting Fortress  Monastery: the Battle Barge Victus,   the Flesh Tearers demanded oceans of traitor  blood for the death of their beloved liege. 

Crusading for years in their efforts to purge  the galaxy clean of their duplicitous and   malevolent former comrades, the Flesh Tearers  left scores of butchered foes in their path   and began to earn their reputation as the most  untamed and brutal warriors of the Imperium. 

Their numerous campaigns across a hundred worlds  causing untold misery to both the wicked and   innocents of the void alike, the reputation  of the most bloodthirsty scions of Sanguinius   spiralled into notorious frenzied massacres. Several Astartes Chapters refused to co-operate   with the volatile butchers including  their compatriot sons of the Blood. 

For two centuries the Chapter remained  mobile until Chapter Master Nassir Amit   resolved to find a world to call their own. Locating a nigh-inhospitable Death World to   the galactic west, Amit proclaimed during  his Declaration of Conquest during 238.M31:  It’s surface inhabited by colossal beasts,  magma geysers and electrical storms;  

The regular tectonic shifts of it’s  crust erupting with lava boasted   only a handful of human settlements  populated by feral yet hardy people.  The neolithic warrior culture of the Humans  proving to be a reliable source of recruits   to the Chapter, the Flesh Tearers  replenished their reduced strength. 

Their tendency to succumb to the Black Rage  intensifying in orders of magnitude over time,   the Chapter staved off it’s  influence for only 200 cycles.  By the time of the 41st Millennium only four  combat-ready companies would remain unafflicted   by the Rage or lying cold in their graves  for the Chapter’s tendency to shred their  

Opponents to ribbons yielded among the  highest casualty rates of any Chapter.  Regularly questioned by the Emperor’s Holy  Inquisition in order to ascertain their purity   of cause and efficacy, actions such as the  Kallern Masscare of the 36th Millennium only   worsened their relations with the wider Imperium. Under the watchful eye of the Ordo Hereticus,  

Despite their long-standing  service of over ten millennia,   during 837.M41 Inquisitor Corvin Herrold boarded  the flagship Victus to seek an audience with   their current Chapter Master: Gabriel Seth. Enquiring as to the events of the Shrine World   of Lucid Prime regarding their confrontation  made against the revered Primogenitor Chapter:  

The Space Wolves, reports from the Vylka  Fenryka cited their extermination of   civilians and exhibited signs of Chaos corruption. A decoy in truth, the true Inquisitor Herrold had   infiltrated the Victus in search of  proof pertaining to their gene-flaw.  Finding an Astartes chained within the bowels of  the vessel fully surrendered to the Black Rage,  

The Inquisitor would be discovered  by Chaplain Appollus and captured.  Librarian Balthiel linked Herrold’s  mind to that of Gabriels and forced   him to endure the full measure of the  Red Thirst within Seth for mere moments.  Driving the Inquisitor to the brink of  insanity, Seth explained that he was  

Not worthy to judge his men for the burden they  carried; for they lived with such all-consuming   fury every moment of their lives. Allowing Herrold to depart the Victus,   Seth removed Corvin’s rosette of office and  decreed him unworthy of serving the Inquisition. 

For the Angels of Death though not beyond  reproach would not be besmirched by mewling   bureaucrats or conceited mortals. Despite their fractious relationship   with their Primogenitor Chapter: the Blood  Angels, the long-standing feud between the   brash sons of Amit and ostentatious ranks  of the Lord of Angels would soon be tested. 

During 988.M41 a tendril of the Tyranid Hive  Fleet Leviathan endangered the Cryptus Sheild.  The first line of defence against an invasion  of the Blood Angels homeworld, every planet   within the Cryptus system perished as the maw  of the Great Devourer consumed all life within. 

Rallying as many Successor Chapters of  the Blood to defend the holy site of   their entombed gene-sire and the ancestral  homeworld of the Great Angel, Lord Commander   Dante beseeched his kin to defend Baal. The first to heed the call to action,   the Flesh Tearers met with the Blood  Angels and set aside their personal  

Grudges for the greater good of their Chapters. Seeking redemption in the presence of their peers,   the Flesh Tearers fought valiantly  to defend the Great Angels’ home.  Entrusted by Lord Dante with the  ancient relic: the Reliquary of Amit,   within the golden stasis field capsule  crafted by the Flesh Tearer contained  

The last remaining feather of the Great Angel. Said to be taken from the warzone of the Siege   of Terra, the presence of the holy quill imbued  Seth’s warriors with divine peace and prevented   their ranks from succumbing to their gene-flaws. Scarcely four hundred Astartes in number at the  

Beginning of the Cryptan War, five under-strength  companies fought within the warzones of Armageddon   far from the devastation unfolding. Hoping to die as martyrs of the Blood and   vindicate their long besmirched legacy as mindless  killers, the Flesh Tearers lead by Gabriel Seth   now relieved of their thirst for vitae. Reconciling their differences,  

Dante and Seth commanded the final  defensive manoeuvres to preserve the   Arx Angellicum and the priceless soil of Baal. The Swarmlord of the Hive Fleet critically   wounded Lord Commander Dante and in their  moment of inevitable defeat an unforeseen   force of Avenging Angels joined the fray. Roboute Guilliman: the returned son of the  

Emperor at the head of his gargantuan Indomitas  Crusade Fleet unleashed innumerable warriors clad   in all manner of heraldries upon the battlefield. Laying waste to the Tyranids, warriors clad in   unknown marks of Power Armour and wielding  armaments of immense technological brilliance  

Purged the Tyranids from the surface of Baal. With the war won in the name of the Imperium,   Lord Commander Roboute Guilliman appointed  Commander Dante as the Regent of Imperium   Nihilus due to the Cicatrix Maledictum or  ‘Great Rift’ carving the galaxy in half. 

Bestowing each Successor of the Blood new  Primaris Spaces Marine to replenish their   ranks, though seemingly stronger and  purer than their first born peers Seth   looked at this new warrior breed with disgust. Accepting the Primaris within his own Chapter,  

Gabriel knew in his heart that their seeming  immunity to the call of the Red Thirst and   Black Rage would prove antithetical to the Flesh  Tearers embodiment and harnessing of their flaws.  Observing such novice Astartes raised far  from the culture of Cretacia or even Baal,  

These Ultramarines in all but name would  need to undergo drastic changes in order to   prove themselves worthy to bear their heraldry. Yet only time will tell if such Space Marines   are capable of upholding their duty to the Angel  and earning the respect of the Guardian of Rage. 

Refusing to imbibe their neophytes  with blood transfusions alike to   their former traditions as Blood Angels  using the relic known as the Red Grail;  many scholars of Imperial History believe  the eschewing of this practice to have   exacerbated their genetic flaw  of the Red Thirst and Black Rage. 

Moving from warzone-to-warzone during their  initial 200 years as a crusading fleet, the   Flesh Tearers had been exiled in all but record by  the Blood Angels from their own territories and as   such required a base of operations of their own. Cretacia proved to be a perfect recruitment  

Ground for such feral killers and with time  mastered their hunts against the colossal   beasts of the planet and induction  of fresh initiates into their order.  The populace of Cretacia inordinately athletic and  with excellent instincts for survival, the Flesh  

Tearers could not have hoped for a more fitting  breed of Humans to induct into the Astartes.  Despite their obvious signs as a civilisation  brought low via societal collapse and the loss   of spoken language, these primitive souls were  taken first as prisoners of the Chapter before  

Being subjected to examination tests of  physiological, mental and spiritual purity.  Respectably pure in their genetic biology,  the Flesh Tearers began to implant their   new subjects with gene-seed and reversed their  communicative deficiencies through indoctrination.  Fortifying their new Fortress Monastery and  embarking upon their nearby vicinities of space,  

The ascended warriors of Cretacia soon proved  to be a boon for the safety of the Sector.  Despite their reinvigorated and replenished  state, it would not take long for the looming   threat of the Black Rage to ravage  their numbers and as the millennia  

Passed their genetic purity began to wane. Said to be hasten by a genetic mutations   combined with their martial traditions,  no Chapter of the Blood has suffered more   than the Flesh Tearers in surrendering it’s  battle-brothers to the madness of the Rage.  Rejecting the Insanguination ceremonies of  their Primogenitor, the Flesh Tearers lack  

Of their Primarch’s salving blood causes them to  be consumed with an endless battle to deny their   thirst and reject the delights of slaughter. Said to be gifted a potential life-span   in excess of any of their Astartes  peers, such a boon is mitigated by  

Their low life expectancy due to conflict. Coming close to extinction during the 41st   Millennium, under the stewardship  of their current Chapter Master:   Gabriel Seth the Chapter has determined to fight  and die as valiant warriors before the clutches  

Of the Rage lead them to commit ruinous actions. Now reinforced with the stock of Primaris Space   Marines, the seeming immunity of  their reinforcements though said to   offset their losses to the clutches of the  gene-flaw have to be proven beyond doubt.  Conducting nightly bloodletting  rituals to purify their souls,  

The sons of Amit do little to stave off the call  to gorge on blood and appointment to the ever   burgeoning Death Company seems inevitable to many. Increasing the appointment of Battle-Brothers to   the role of Apothecaries to aid in recovering  their often unsalvageable gene-seed,  

Their tendency to charge head-thirst into violent  melees often causes the slain to lose recoverable   organs to chain-blades and explosives. Due to their induction of vast quantities   of Primaris Space Marines into the fold, the  Flesh Tearers once again after long millennia  

Field full-strength Battle and Reserve Companies. Half of their number of Firstborn Marines stock,   many Veterans of the Devastation  of Baal field officer positions   within the Chapter and watch over their  Primaris kin for signs of the gene-flaw.  Prior to the defence of Baal, the Chapter  divide it’s elite 1st Company Veterans among  

Each of their under-strength Companies, these  co-called ‘Vanguard Strike Forces’ formed of   three Tactical Squads, one assault squad, one  vanguard Veteran squad and a single Furioso   Dreadnought proved effective in staving  off the forces of the Great Devourer.  With the remainder of such Veteran survivors  returning to the positions of the 1st company  

It has proven deadlier than ever. The appointment to the Chapter’s Death   Company seemingly inevitable to all veterans of  the Chapter proven too deadly to die in battle;  with grim resolve even the most junior of  Astartes take no heed for their own self  

Preservation in combat should it provide a more  glorious end than their descent into madness.  Unlike their peers such as the Blood  Angels, the Flesh Tearers do not grant   merciful death to those Brothers who survive  their first combat within the Death Company.  High Chaplain Appollus binds the Death  Company looks upon such venerable survivors  

As the purest state a Flesh Tearer  can become and as such re-captures   and redeploys such rabid warriors to unleash  Sanguinius’ judgement upon the battlefield.  Confronting the High Chaplain of the Blood Angels:  Astorath the Grim for slaying a Death Company of  

The Flesh Tearers without his sanction,  Gabriel Seth allows none to cull his men   no matter their sanity; for even in such a feral  state they shall fight in the name of the Angel.  Contained within the Strike Cruiser: Death’s Cowl,  none save the Chapter Master and High Chaplain  

Of the Flesh Tearers known the full extent  of Death Company Astartes still in service.  Yet under the watchful eye of the  Death’s Cowl’s commanding officer:   Chaplain Zuphias they shall be unleashed whenever  called upon to earn redemption in slaughter. 

It does not take a genius of military strategy  to assume the methods used by the Flesh Tearers   in combat, for if anything the sons of Amit  are the epitome of a blunt yet effective tool.  Nuance is among the least respected virtues  of the sons of Cretacia, for each and every  

Engagement is made with the implicit threat  of the Black Rage spilling forth from any   number of Battle Brothers at any given time. Independent in nature, each of the Battle   Companies prior to their reinforcement  of Primaris Space Marines trained with   cross-disciplines to better serve the Chapter. Each warrior may change from Tactical, to Assault,  

To Scout or Devastator role from skirmish  to skirmish should it be required of him   and as such the Veterans of the Chapter  have a wealth of experience to draw from.  Though trained to the standard of all  contemporaries of the Angels of Death,  

The Flesh Tearers seldom use certain  tactics and strategies in battle due to   the ever-changing nature of their battle-lines. Melee combat championed above all methods of war   by the Chapter, the sight of a company of  Flesh Tearers brandishing chainswords and   axes in full charge is among the  most terrifying sights to behold. 

Planning for outbursts of the Black Rage  throughout their advances, the senior officers   of the Chapter must account for contingencies  of outbursts of unforeseen friendly fire and   carnage every step of their campaigns. The vast majority of their ranks composed  

Of Assault Marines, the best laid plans of  the Captains of the Chapter can be undone   in an instant and as such the fielding of  Devastator Marines is largely ineffective.  Even the tactical units within the Chapter  are undermined by outbursts of the Red  

Thirst causing valuable armaments unbefitting a  berserker to be relinquished and lost in battle.  The Sergeants of the Chapter holding their forces  within long-range fire only reluctantly, their   long experience of seeing their ranks descend  into blood rampages precludes their strategies   from being too far from direct melee range. Despite the inflexibility of their battle  

Doctrine, there are no Chapters of the  Astartes imbued with fury alike to the   Flesh Tearers and it is feasible that none among  the Angels of Death can match their ferocity   or capacity for butchery in close-quarters. The majority of their vehicles being Rhinos and  

Razorbacks, all other methods of armoured warfare  cannot compete with the ability to transport   hordes of frenzied killers to the frontline. Veterancy is not a position to aspire to   within the Chapter, for the most heroic  and martially skilled warriors are rarely  

Destined to have a glorious death before  the call of the Black Rage claims them.  On occasion such ‘Old Ones’ are preserved  within stasis sarcophagus’ and Dreadnoughts   to preserve their martial genius  and stave off the call of the Rage.  Their time served as Dreadnoughts short-lived,  such Old Ones are deployed within the ranks of  

The Death Company and with their death free-up the  use of the Dreadnought chassis to contain the next   venerated war hero before his inevitable downfall. Screaming a war cry unique to their chapter in   battle, the amplified shouted chant  of the Chapter is so primal in it’s  

Nature that their enemies are stunned into  submission before being ripped limb-from-limb.  Cherishing the legacy of their  Chapter within their hearts,   the inescapable decline of their glories has  haunted the minds of each Chapter Master to   inherit the leadership of the Flesh Tearers. Cursed beyond all measure of their kindred  

Chapters, the Flesh Tearers alone truly understand  the depths of madness that their gene-flaw incurs.  Embracing the notion that heir legacy is destined  to either extinction in a violent yet righteous   moment of glory or slowly diminish with prolonged  doomed attempts to shoulder their burden, the  

Fate of the Chapter has been called into question  with the introduction of Primaris Space Marines.  Due to their fortitude in rejecting the Red Thirst  and Black Rage, many including Chapter Master   Gabriel Seth see such inheritors of the Flesh  Tearers hard-won and maligned glories as unworthy. 

For what is a Flesh Tearer bereft  of disciplined and controlled wroth?   Surely just another Chapter of the Avenging Son  masquerading as a true scion of the Great Angel.  Their nature moulded through suffering and  prevailing against the bleakest of toil,  

These new upstart pretenders have much to prove  in order to be accepted as true sons of Amit.  Regardless of their newly appointed and stringent  believers in the methods of the Lord of Ultramar,   the Flesh Tearer veterans shall  not deny their savage methods nor  

Allow their green initiates to forgo their  participation in their methods of waging war.  Constantly hounded by agents of the  Inquisition and derided for their purges,   the Flesh Tearers shall never seek forgiveness for  their means of purging Heretics across the stars.  Persecution forever at their heels, with  their intervention of the Defence of  

Baal their strengthened alliance with the  Regent of Imperium Nihilus has regardless   bought the Chapter a temporary reprieve. Among the most striking warriors of the   Angels of Death, their panoplies exemplify  their fell reputation and savage nature.  Maroon red paint covers their torso, arms and  legs whilst deepest jet black contrasts starkly  

Upon their helmets, backpacks and pauldrons. Designating their battleline role with white   symbols upon their right pauldron alike to their  Blood Angels peers, symbols such as skulls and   blood droplets are imposed on the design alike  to the outlined structure of their Primogenitor. 

However unlike the Blood Angels, rather  than placing symbols upon their right knee   plates to distinguish their squad, the Flesh  Tearers utilise simple low gothic numerals.  Librarians of the Chapter adopt the conventions  of the Codex Astartes by painting their armour   blue and similarly the Chaplains of the  order couple their skull helm designs with  

Purest black skeletal armour designs. The symbol of the Chapter: a serrated   blade centred with a single drop of red blood  symbolises the chainfist first carried into   battle by their founder Nassir Amit. It’s design now a symbol capable of   striking fear into the hearts of  even the ranks of Traitor Astartes,  

Any who gaze upon such a promise of violence  shall pray for a swift if not merciful death…  The Adeptus Astartes forge the  path of salvation, emancipation   and redemption for the waning Imperium. Forged from the Emperor’s sanctified will,   armed with His greatest weapons and  clad in his divine protection there  

Are no warriors more revered as His Angels. Yet among their ranks, one such Chapter stands   as the most tragic disciples of their warrior  creed and despite their best efforts prove   to be the recipients of unrelenting sorrow. The long suffering sons of the Great Angel:   the Lamenters. Among the Chapters  

Of the Adeptus Astartes there are none more  intimately familiar with misfortune and strife.  Founded during the 36th Millennium as one of the  so-called ‘Cursed Founding’ Chapters alongside   the Minotaurs, Sons of Antaeus, Fire Hawks,  Flame Falcons, Blood Gorgons and Black Dragons;  The attribution of such a maligned  founding was not made lightly. 

The Black Dragons had produced mutations  within their genetic code, causing their   bones to mutate into sharpened appendages, whilst  the Blood Gorgons had been declared Excommunicate   Traitoris only six decades into their service. Seeking to remove the genetic flaws and   deficiencies within the genetic code of each  Chapter to which the founding was derived,  

The Lamenters would be no exception. Their noble lineage of the Blood Angels   though venerated had nonetheless drawn censure  and scrutiny by the Imperium for the bloodthirsty   rampages caused by their successors. Removing the curse of both the Red Thirst   and Black Rage from their genetic coding, the  meddling of the Mechanicus though successful in  

Diminishing one curse would engender another. Steeped in a palpable aura of misfortune,   the Lamenters despite their  virtuous nature would forever   endure an endless slew of unfortunate events. Shunned by their fellow Astartes due to their   recorded campaigns costing the lives of their  own kin and allies alike in excess of even their  

Junior Chapter peers, the crestfallen sons  of Sanguinius through no fault of their own   have never achieved salvation from their plight. As the remainder of the Cursed Founding Chapters   spread dissent and unrest throughout the Galaxy,  the Lamenters chose to distance themselves from  

Such turmoil and departed to the fringes of space. Roaming as a fleet-based Chapter, The Lamenters   sought to prevent their involvement from  costly civil wars and political quagmires.  Serving for over a millennium as stalwart  warriors of the Emperor, the Lamenters faced  

Xenos threats throughout the western fringe of the  Imperium in their efforts to defend the Humanity.  Earning an enviable and reputed record of  victories, battle honours and relief efforts;   regardless of their plaudits the Astartes of  the Lamenters could never prevent catastrophe   from rearing it’s ugly head. Their first noted Crusade:  

The Siege of Corilla of Abaddon the Despoiler’s  9th Black Crusade during 537.M38 required every   able-bodied34e5ry crusading Chapter to  aid in repelling the Warmaster’s forces.  Fighting alongside the Mortifactors  Chapter, the sons of Guilliman refused   outright to stand alongside the Lamenters and  abandoned Corilla to prevent further ruin. 

Standing alone against the Black Legion,  the Lamenters fought a desperate battle   for six weeks incurring horrendous losses. Reinforced by the White Scars and Ultramarines   Chapters, only 200 Lamenters survived  their defiant stand against the Despoiler…  Traversing through the Warp, Imperial records  would deem the Chapter lost with no hope of  

Renewal yet be shocked to receive reports of  their beleaguered fleet returning to real-space   one century following their disappearance. Slowly rebuilding their fleet and Chapter   numbers until their replenishment  during the Millennia to follow,   the Lamenters now patrolled the galactic core to  fight and die far from the populace of Humanity. 

Yet with the petition for aid by the High  Lords of Terra during 587.M41 a threat required   opposing within the Maelstrom Zone of the galaxy. The second largest Warp Rift known to Imperial   Space, this naturally occurring rend in the  galaxy had proven a nest of Chaos spawn and  

Heretic filth exceeded in strength only  by the denizens of the Eye of Terror.  Requiring guardians to prevent the spill of  corruption from spreading across the Imperium,   a founding of Chapters were required to stand  vigil upon the precipice of the Great Lesion. 

Assembling the Lamenters, Mantis Warriors and the  renowned Astral Claws Chapter as their leaders,   the Maelstrom Warders would be  tasked with patrolling the expanse   of the Maelstrom’s western proximity to best  oppose piratical raids and Chaos incursions.  Taking to their appointment with pride and  zealous fervour, the Lamenters with years of  

Service would form a strong bond of camaraderie  with their Warder’s senior officer and Chapter   Master of the Astral Claws: Lufgt Huron. Offered respect and honour unlike so many   of their previous alliances with other Astartes  Chapters, the compassion of the Astral Claws would  

Prove their undoing in the years to follow. Aiding in joint-campaigns on occasion such   as the Charadon Campaign of 698.M41 alongside the  Ultramarines, Angels of Absolution, Silver Skulls   and Marines Errant; and the Corinth Crusade of  701.M41, the Lamenters dealing with the Chapter  

Master of the 13th: Marneus Calgar earned their  Chapter great renown and repute for their deeds.  Freeing 3 million enslaved souls from the  oppression of the Ork Xenos, the Lamenters once   more gave their lives dearly to save the civilian  populace of the planet of Slaughterhouse III. 

Though succumbing to their long repressed  Black Rage, the Lamenters still remaining   in a sane state would be forced to detonate  seismic charges to collapse the underground   tunnels of Slaughterhouse III; causing the  deaths of millions of the human slaves. 

Understanding of their duty, the prisoners uttered  a prayer to the Emperor as the rubble collapsed   on top of them, they would die as free men and  woman emancipated from their Greenskin jailors.  Crippling the Ork klanz’ infrastructure,  though considered a great victory by the  

Imperium the Lamenters successful campaign  soured with their knowledge of the many   deaths incurred through their intervention. Refusing to accept a gift of an Iron Halo   by Marneus Calgar as recognition for their  deeds, the Lamenters though accused of great  

Insult by the Crusade’s commanding officers would  receive no bad blood from the Lord of Ultramar.  However even in the wake of hundreds of their men  and millions of their charges lost to the flames   of such a terrible war, the tribulations  of the Lamenters, had only just begun… 

During 901.M41 Lufgt Huron: Chapter Master  of the Astral Claws would succeed the   Maelstrom Warders from the Imperium. Upholding the autonomous nature of the   Adeptus Astartes above even the authority  of the High Lords of Terra, the hubris of  

The Tyrant of Badab would not go unpunished. Seeking to lead a crusade to cleanse the Maelstrom   once and for all of it’s corrupted denizens,  Huron’s commands saw the end of tithes to the   Imperium in materials and resources in order  to fuel his ambitions to purge the Warp Rift. 

Allied with the Mantis Warriors, Executioners and  Lamenters, as loyalist Chapters such as the Fire   Hawks, Salamanders, Fire Angels, Novamarines, Red  Scorpions, Exorcists, Howling Griffons, Marines   Errant, Raptors, Sons of Medusa, Minotaurs,  Carcharodons, and Star Phantoms entered the fray;  The next twelve years of conflict proved  to be the greatest stain of dishonour the  

Lamenters Chapter could ever hope to achieve. Incurring massive casualties whilst fighting   against the Minotaurs Chapter, the Lamenters  surrendered from the war during 908.M41 to   prevent their Chapter’s extinction. Only 311 Astartes in number,   each surviving member of the Chapter would  be imprisoned within the Prison Hulk of  

Sagan II for the remainer of the war. Brought before the Consistorial Court   and put on trial for their crimes, the  Lamenters for their actions received the   judgement of five Astartes Chapter Masters  whom had not partaken in the conflict.  According to Astartes tradition the  Lamenters once found guilty for being  

Found in breach of the outlines of the  Codex Astartes and broken their covenant   with the Emperor must endure a Penitent Crusade. Pride had been their downfall, not treachery,   and as a result the Lamenters had been  given an opportunity to redeem themselves  

In the eyes of their Space Marine kin. For one hundred years, the Lamenters   must earn the forgiveness of the Master of  Mankind by undertaking campaigns across the   stars against His enemies; with no replenishment  of their numbers nor support from the Imperium. 

Their fate left in the hands of the Emperor, the  Adepta Sororitas mended their tattered and broken   battle standard and saw to it’s purification  as they embarked on their quest for redemption.  Openly weeping as they mended the banner of  the Lamenters, such was their purity that as  

They weaved the fabric to it’s former glory  the Sisters of Battle did contemplate the   Emperor’s great sacrifice in the name of  Humanity and did truly know the terrible   depths of sin the Lamenters had wrought. Embarking upon their Penitent Crusade,   the Lamenters fight with unrelenting yet  remorseful fury as the weight of their  

Past crimes pushes them to breaking point. The shame of their failures to protect the   innocent, defend the Imperium and embody  the Emperor’s holy will, the Lamenters   seek out their duty to absolve themselves  of sin despite their endless misfortune.  Combating the Tyranid Hive Fleet Kraken  during the Second Tyrannic War of 992.M41,  

The Lamenters could not hope to face a  more deadly foe at such depleted numbers.  Slowing the advance of the Great Devourer, their  last stand on the planet of Malvolion allowed for   many Imperial citizens to escape at the cost  of more lives sacrificed for their honour. 

Barely four whole companies of the Chapter  remained as the Chapter continued to face   Hive Fleet Kraken for a further year of conflict. Aiding the Red Hunters Chater during their battles   against Kraken, the task force assigned to track  the Lamenters progress in their Crusade suffered  

Heavy losses alongside their calamitous allies. Reduced further to three Battle Companies, during   999.M41 the Lord Commander of Imperium Nihilus:  Dante would call upon the Lamenters for aid.  The Tyranid menace and forces of the Ruinous  Powers sought to destroy the homeworld of their   Primogenitor Chapter: the Blood Angels  and would require every Successor of  

The Blood to prevent it’s devastation. Yet among all Chapters of the Blood,   the Lamenters by virtue of their depleted numbers  abstained from aiding their brothers in arms.  The only Blood Angels absent from  it’s founder’s direst hour of need,   the Lamenters have further fractured  their standing with their closest allies. 

And in these dark times, none can be certain  if such a beleaguered and lamentable Chapter   is capable of surviving further losses… During their service as a fully replenished   Chapter, the Lamenters bore a unique  tradition among the warriors of the Blood. 

Seemingly unshackled from the flaws of the Red  Thirst and Black Rage, their compliance to the   Codex Astartes in principle allowed for  the Chapter to be exemplars of the optimal   potential of each successor of the 9th Legion. Ascribing to the Codex’s outlines of 100 Astartes  

Per battle company, during their peak strength  the Chapter comprised of four battle companies,   and one company of Veterans, Devastator Reserves,  Tactical Reserve, Assault Reserve and Scouts.  Experts at flexible battlefield deployments  combining their forces into effective   strike forces, the Lamenters champion  practicality above all virtues of war. 

Recruiting their aspirants from Feudal Worlds and  distant colonies prior to their Penitent Crusade,   as a Fleet-Based Chapter the Lamenters do  not favour a single world or it’s populace   as a means to draw fresh recruits. Fighting without direct support from   Imperial forces for much of their service,  their independent nature has instilled  

Within them a self-reliant reputation  uncommon for a Codex-compliant Chapter.  Favouring shock assault tactics such as drop-pod  assaults with close air support, the Chapter’s   reliance on Thunderhawk gunships and Storm Ravens  facilitate predictable yet effective tactics.  Their panoplies of war more alike to  a Codex compliant Chapter than that  

Of their own lineage as sons of Sanguinius,  the Chapter retains few relics or cultural   trappings from the culture of Baal. Their command hierarchy incorporating   the Sanguinary Priesthood of the Chapter, these  Chaplains are known as ‘The Calix’ by their peers. 

Monitoring their kin for signs of the Red  Thirst or Black Rage, though the Chapter   has recently founded a Death Company it is  rare for such damned souls to fill its ranks.  Integral for the spiritual well-being of this  tormented Chapter, it is not hyperbole to state  

That without the Calix the Lamenters Chapter  would have surrendered to their woes long ago…  The gene-seed of the Chapter though adapted to  diminish the effects of their gene-curse is little   understood by the Genetors of the Imperium. An alluring prospect for the scions of the  

Blood to alleviate their suffering, such  experimentation’s likely mutation of their   inherited curse into one arguably far worse  has prevented future study and experimentation.  Seen as a necessary characteristic of their  creed by the Astartes such as the Flesh Tearers,   to remove the imprecation of their  bloodline is to court with disaster. 

Seen by their kin as damned souls unable to  redeem themselves from their fell adversity,   the temperament and idiosyncrasies of  the Lamenters Astartes seem unfavourable   to even the most troubled Angels of the Blood. For it is said that among the Lamenters the grief  

Of the loss of their Primarch is felt more keenly  than any of their peers which as a result casts a   melancholic pall throughout their ranks. Clad in gleaming yellow armour,   the symbol of their Chapter: a bleeding  heart upon a black and white checkerboard  

Design is worn solemnly upon their left pauldron. Their squad speciality whether it be Battleline,   Close Support, Fire Support, Veteran of  Command Staff is worn on their right pauldron;   a white Low Gothic numeral centred upon  their symbol to identify their squad number.  The colour of their left knee plate  indicates their company as-is outlined  

By the Codex Astartes, each colour is  identical to the conventions of the Codex.  A sight of salvation to the naïve of the Imperium  and a foreboding warning to their veteran allies,   the Lamenters though valiant in their intentions  bring both hope and despair in their wake. 

Harbingers of bitter victorious and glorious  defeats, regardless of their continued misfortune   they shall never falter in their duty to  carry their burden without apprehension   or rejection of the Emperor’s will. For it is believed by their current   Chapter Master: Malakin Phoros that with  every tribulation they endure they shall  

Overcome and grow stronger from it’s endurance. And it is the hope of the Imperium, that such   posturing is not proven to be mistaken… The Blood Scythes are an Ultima Founding Successor Chapter of the Blood Angels. Raised during 999.M41 entirely from the stock of  

Primaris Space Marines, the Astartes of the Blood  Scythes though seen as green in the eyes of their   peers are swiftly proving their mettle in combat. Uniting with their Primogenitor Chapter following   the relief effort of the Devastation  of Baal enacted by the Avenging Son:  

Roboute Guilliman; the Chapter has been quick  to adopt the traditions of the Blood Angels.  Rapidly earning a reputation as honourable  warriors the Blood Scythes are imbued with the   zeal of the mightiest deeds of the Great Angel. Their first Chapter campaign: the Battle  

Of Acrabellar launched within the Red  Scar wages to this day as the Chapter   combats the Tyranid Hive Fleet Leviathan. Aiding their might to the Halo Campaign by   defending the Shrine World from the Splinter  Fleet alongside the Cruor Blades and Flesh  

Eaters earning them great respect and plaudits. Clad in white power armour trimmed with black,   the Aquilas and Imperialis on their  breastplates symbolise their devotion to   spill their blood in the name of the Imperium. Designating their iconography in line with the  

Outlines of their Primogenitor, the Blood Scythes  utilise blood drop icons to symbolise their   company numbers placed upon their right pauldrons  and their squad designation on their knee plate.  Upon their left pauldron the Chapter symbol  of a Black Scythe weeping a single red droplet  

Of blood from it’s tip, bodes ill for  their enemies should they be unfortunate   enough to be within reach of their blades. For though among the most novice of all Astartes   Chapters, the Blood Scythes have already proven  themselves to be a reliably deadly adversary… 

The Knights of the Chalice are a  Successor Chapter of the Blood Angels.  Created during the Ultima Founding of  999.M41, all warriors of the Chapter   are comprised of Primaris Space Marines. Deployed during the Indomitas Crusade   to test their abilities, the Knights  of the Chalice would be renowned for  

Their aggressive orbital strike manoeuvres and  proclivity to deploy vast amounts of Inceptor   Squads to scour their enemies defences. Supporting such engagements with Reiver   Squads to sow disorder and confusion  among their opponents ranks, the Knights   of the Chalice are adept at subterfuge. Clad in bright red ceramite to honour their  

Primogenitor Chapter, their Mark X Power Armour  bears black helmets, Aquilas and Imperialis’.  Utilising the blood drop heraldry scheme of  their forebears, each Astartes designates   their company number on their right pauldron and  heraldic squad motif on their right knee guard.  Wearing the symbol of their Chapter on  their left pauldron: a Black Chalice  

Centred on a crimson field, though their  iconography can be misinterpreted as that   of the Blood Drinkers Chapter their  methods could not be more dissimilar.  Swift in their conquest of rebellious  and Xenos-occupied planets, though much   mystery still surround the Chapter they have  proven to be promising acolytes of the Blood… 

The Atlantian Spears are a Successor  Chapter of the Blood Angels.  Waging war for millennia in the attempt to  pacify the Enclave of Alkina and Sanctuary of   Konstantyah within the Segmentum Tempestus, the Atlantian Spears utilise their many   Librarian’s gifts of precognition to  thwart the many threats to their domain. 

Ignoring the petition for aid from Lord Commander  Dante to combat the Tyranid Hive Fleet of   Leviathan during the Devastation of Baal, Their own preoccupations in defending   the Imperium from Xenos and Heretical  invasions prevented their involvement.  Sending a portion of their strength to serve  the returned Primarch: Roboute Guilliman of  

The Ultramarines during the Indomitas Crusade; their Task Force XI of Battle Group Kalides   within the Crusade Fleet Primus fought against  the Necrons during the Pariah Nexus campaign.  Further entrenching their position within the  Argovon Campaign within proximity of the Pariah  

Nexus Region, to this day the Chapter devotes the  majority of the strength to quell the Szarekhan   and Oruskh Dynasties. Spearheaded by High Field Marshal   Janred Remko Hyrnflagger, their efforts have  proven valuable in opposing the ancient threat.  Bearing teal blue ceramite trimmed with  golden yellow, these ostentatious warriors  

Appoint their tactical designation upon  their right pauldron with black paint.  Utilising a heraldry scheme unique to  their chapter upon their right knee plate,   such icons denote their squad number in a  similar fashion to their primogenitor whilst   a black high gothic numeral indicates  their company on their left knee. 

Battle Brothers of the Chapter retain golden  yellow paint on their helmets whilst Sergeants   affix a small silvered skull icon upon their brow. Veterans bear black Helmets whilst Veteran   Sergeants affix a golden yellow vertical stripe  to their forehead centred by a silvered skull.  Lieutenants bear the golden-yellow  helmet and paint a black vertical  

Stripe upon their forehead centred once more  with the silver skull to denote officer rank.  Upon their left pauldron the Astartes of the  Chapter bear the symbol of a black trident   upon a teal field of blue and march into  battle ready to hunt the prey of the void. 

Additionally assigning 300 Battle-Brothers to aid  in the Octarius War to prevent further catastrophe   from spilling forth from the region. Yet within among the most deadly of all   such campaigns, many wonder if the Atlantian  Spears can survive the relentless onslaught   of such benighted foes… The Blood Dragons are a  

Successor Chapter of the Blood Angels. Created during an unknown founding,   their mysterious origins have only bolstered  their infamous and feared reputation.  Harbingers of ruination caring little  for civilian casualties or plights,   the Blood Dragons desire only the utter  extermination of the Emperor’s enemies. 

Believing that the Master of Mankind will save  the worthy on their behalf, the warriors of   the Chapter vindicate any method acceptable in  purging the wicked for the truly loyal subjects   of the Imperium shall be stayed their wroth. Clad in dark red ceramite with black trim  

And bearing a golden Aquila or Imperialis  on their chest, the Blood Dragons utilise   the heraldic blood drop system of their  primogenitor alike to many of their peers.  Designating their company number on their right  shoulder and squad designation on their left  

Knee plate; the Chapter’s symbol of a large  Black Dragon’s head loosing a single droplet   of blood from it’s maw instils fear into the  hearts of both the heretic and the innocent.  Reinforced with Primaris Space Marines the  enigmatic and ruthless Chapter has proven  

Especially effective at obscuring and redacted all  records of their homeworld, campaigns and deeds.  Though all that needs to be known is that their  presence during any skirmish or warzone is an   ill omen for all involved… The Blood Swords are a   Successor Chapter of the Blood Angels. Created during an unknown founding utilising the  

Gene-seed of the blood, despite their assertions  to not be of the bloodline of Sanguinius no   records indicate another source for their origins. Their homeworld of Jaggafall within close   proximity of the planet Draconith ruled by the  Space Marine Chapter: the Star Dragons; due to  

Their close proximity the cousin Chapters have  fostered a strong bond of respect and kinship.  Their successful campaigns further bolstering  their friendship, such a bond would be threated   with the mysterious events surrounding  the Blood Sword banishment from Jaggafall.  Undertaking a Penitent Crusade to redeem  themselves in the eyes of the Master of Mankind,  

The Blood Swords would once more be supported by  the Star Dragons in their quest for redemption.  Renewing their bond of fraternity with no talk  of debts nor honour, the two Astartes factions   transcended the bonds of Brotherhood  typical of even blood-related Chapters.  When co-operating in battle the Chapters  unleash immensely efficient and deadly  

Manoeuvres beyond even the efficacy of  among the most revered Astartes Chapters.  Purging the Inando System during 845.M41 causing  100 Billion Imperial Citizens lives in the process   of Exterminatus, by the end of the 41st Millennium  the Blood Swords embarked upon a venture to  

Define a cleaner legacy of their actions. Joining forces with the Star Dragons in their   traversal of the Eye of Terror, the Chapters  have formed a containment fleet designated   ‘Kappa’ to contain the threats of Chaos invasion. Deployed to the Balanor System to investigate the  

Mysterious Space Hulk: ‘Accursed Eternity’  alongside the Star Dragons during 998.M41,   the Ordo Malleus’ intervention further exacerbated  their purge of the vessel due to an unspoken debt   to the Inquisition haunting the Star Dragons. Awakening an ancient evil within the Space Hulk:   a Daemon of Tzeentch long imprisoned by Kairos  Fateweaver within the Accursed Eternity,  

With the death of the senior Inquisitor  Remigius the Chapters fired upon the Space   Hulk with every void-craft at their disposal. Banishing the Accursed Eternity once more into   the Warp, the Blood Swords and Star Dragons  survived the ordeal yet would be separated  

Due to a petition for aid the following year. The Devastation of Baal would soon ravage the   domain of the Blood Angels Chapter: the Baal  System with Lord Commander Dante petitioning   aid from all successors of the Blood to join him  in defending the homeworld of the Great Angel. 

Aiding in the defence of the sacred Golden  Sarcophagus of Sanguinius from the clutches   of the fell Bloodfiend clones created by  the Blood Angels Apothecary Caecus; the   Blood Swords tithed a number of their men to help  replenish the ranks of the Blood Angels Chapter. 

Defending Baal from the invasion of the Tyranid  Hive Fleet of Leviathan, the Blood Swords once   more upheld their bonds of fraternal duty in  preventing the downfall of the Blood Angels.  Clad in crimson Power Armour with unified  trim across all symbols of their armour,  

Their left pauldron bears the symbol of their  Chapter: a double-edged sword dripping droplets   of blood each centred upon a field of white. Choosing not to employ the trapping of their   Primogenitor to display their  company nor squad designations,   the Blood Swords utilise the prescribed doctrines  of the Codex Astartes using black paint with Squad  

Specialisations upon their right pauldrons. Continuing their Penitent Crusade alongside   their stalwart friends the Star Dragons, these  inseparable brethren continue to patrol the Eye   of Terror for signs of Chaos invasion. Their bonds of camaraderie epitomising   the compassion and valour of the Great  Angel and stoic resolve of the Gorgon… 

The Carmine Blades are a Successor  Chapter of the Blood Angels.  Their founding unknown, what can be gleaned  from Imperial Records is that the Chapter   hails from the Feral World of Haldroth. Originally known as ‘The Swords of Haldroth’   for much of it’s service the Chapter had been  mistaken as Successors of the Ultramarines,  

Whether this was done intentionally or  merely as a clerical error is unknown.  Drawing the attentions of High Chaplain of the  Blood Angels: Astorath the Grim during the 41st   Millennium, with his investigation of sensing  cursed brethren the true heritage of the Chapter  

Would be revealed by the Redeemer of the Lost. Finally understanding the nature of their   strange ‘Blood Curse’ symptoms  of the Red Thirst and Black Rage,   the Chapter began to induct Sanguinary Priests  into their ranks to tend to their genetic flaws.  Renaming themselves as the Carmine  Blades henceforth, the Chapter has  

Grudgingly accepted the traditions of  the Blood Angels into their doctrine.  Struggling to contend with their new  understanding, the Astartes of the Chapter   ritually scar and flay captured adversaries  as an act of venting their frustrations.  A resourceful, resilient and somewhat  barbaric Chapter, the Carmine Blades  

Despite only accepting their Revelation late  in their service aided their Primogenitor:   the Blood Angels during the Devastation of Baal. Sending 8 companies of their Chapter to defend   the Baal System, the Carmine Blades oversaw the  protection of the Astropathic Choir on the moon  

Of Baal Secundus and suffered heavy losses. Their Chapter Master Kaan slain by the Great   Devourer and over 600 of  their men killed in action,   the arrival of the Avenging Sons would prove to  be instrumental in the survival of the Chapter.  Reinforced with Primaris Space Marines,  the Chapter now overwhelmingly fields  

Such warriors takes to the field  of the campaign of the Golden Host.  Alongside the Blood Angels, the Carmine Blades  attempt to reclaim the Dhormet System from the   Black Legion and test the strength of  their newly integrated reinforcement.  Launching a shadow-war upon the world of  Heddoth followed by a co-operative strike  

Alongside the Tallarn 44th Armoured Regiment  upon the world of Zhongal; their victories   would be undercut by the Black Legion’s  counterattack of the Feudal World of Tydor.  Their armour painted with carnelian red and  bone-white trim, the Chapter assign their company   markings on their right pauldron with their  right knee plate identifying their squad marking. 

The symbol of their Chapter: three blood  drops atop a white skull resembling a chalice,   their relatively new icon of their order  represents the first Blood Chalices to be   presented to the Blood Angels during it’s  founding by their Primarch: Sanguinius. 

Such relics mostly lost to the ravages of  war and it’s surviving number given only to   the most faithful warriors of the blood, the  symbol of the Chapter honours their pledge   to serve in the name of the Great Angel. For though the Chapter still struggles  

To contain their gene-flaws, their devotion to  fight as true sons of the Blood in undeniable.  The Charnel Guard are a Successor  Chapter of the Blood Angels.  Their First Chapter Master: Dominion Zephon of  the 9th Legion of a brooding and cold demeanour,  

His exemplary service made during the Siege  of Terra would in time be rewarded with his   leadership of his own morose band of warriors. Suspected to have been raised as part of the 3rd   Founding, peculiarly they are the only Chapter  sired from Sanguinius not recognised as part of  

The Sanguinary Brotherhood by their Primogenitor. Said to be created with a mixture of both the   Bloodline of Sanguinius and an unknown strain  of another Chapter, this mutated Chimeric breed   of warriors bear elongated teeth, white pupilless  eyes and grey skin said to smell of rotting flesh. 

Reclusive and secretive in nature, this  fleet-based Chapter roams the galaxy   laying dormant within stasis crypts until  unleashing their forces upon their foes.  Possessing several ancient armaments  such as ancient Dreadnought variants,   Fellblade super-heavy tanks and several Fire  Raptor variants of Storm Eagle gunships;   their sizeable armoured contingents  are the envy of their peers. 

Their storied service spanning from the  War of the False Primarch of 860.M33,   Great Malagatine Purge of 770.M38 and Angevin  Crusade of 322.M39 eclipsing the plaudits and   glories of their bloodline, the ill-regard by  the Sanguinary Brotherhood nevertheless remains.  A member of the Maelstrom Warders since  it’s inception during 587.M41 alongside  

The Lamenters, Mantis Warriors and Astral Claws; With the Tyrant of Badab: Lufgt Huron’s Crusade   to cleanse the Maelstrom the Charnel Guard  withdrew from the alliance during 651.M41.  Re-appointed to the Thanatos Crusade by the  High Lords of Terra, the Charnel Guard’s wisdom  

Spared them from the wroth which would later  be endured by their naïve and misguided peers.  A member of the Successors of the Blood  known as ‘The Triarchy’ alongside the   Blood Eagles and it’s two Successors Chaters  the Angels Numinous and Red Seraphs, this band  

Of Astartes dedicated their service to purging  the Emperor’s enemies within Imperium Nihilus.  Resolving to purge their enemies root and  stem even should it cause the extinction   of their Chapters, should the Triarchy manage to  locate the Indomitas Crusade of the Avenging Son:  

Roboute Gulliman they would all pledge fealty  to serve the Ultramarines Primarch in battle.  Dispatching their 1st Company Veterans to the  Blood Angels Chapter during the Devastation of   Baal, despite their mistreatment and alienation  by their Primogenitor the Charnel Guard fought   valiantly to defend the Baal System. Conducting rituals by their Mortuary Cult,  

The Chapter preserves the bones of their  fallen battle-brothers and enshrine them   within the vast crypts of their Battle Barges. Decorating their armour with the bones of   their fallen heroes, their glories  shall live-on as their mere presence   inspires their kin to fight in their name. Their ceramite a mixture of black and maroon,  

Their armour is polished to mimic  the sheen of volcanic glass.  The symbol of their order: a stylised  black Fluer-de-Lis cross centred by a   fanged skull embellished with lily petal  flourishes is among the most ornate and   recognisable designs of the Astartes Chapters. Their methods of war permitting the loss of  

Civilian lives should it enable victory,  the lack of restraint exhibited by the   Chapter is further embellished by their active  practise of torturing their captures enemies to   further break the resolve of their opposition. For woe betide both the wicked or the innocent  

Should they stand in the path of the Charnel  Guard’s onslaughts, for the Chapter’s reputation   whilst efficient is nothing if not bloody… The Cruor Blades are a Successor   Chapter of the Blood Angels. Of unknown founding nor origin,  

The most notable facet of the Chapter’s reputation  is that of a stain of guilt for their inaction to   aid their kin during the Devastation of Baal. Utterly loyal to their Primogenitor,   a twist of fate would prevent the Cruor  Blades from reaching Baal in time to combat  

The Tyranid menace of Hive Fleet Leviathan  despite their best efforts to join the fray.  Embarking on a self-imposed Penitent  Crusade for their failure, the Chapter   traversed the Red Scar in order to purge  the Great Devourer from Imperium Nihilus.  Currently deployed to the Angel’s Halo  to reinforce the Battle of Acrabellar,  

Their efforts to preserve the Shrine  World alongside the Blood Sycthes,   Flesh Eaters and Blood Angels enables them to  pursue redemption in the eyes of the brethren.  Charging into battle wielding swords  as befits their title, each blade of   their arsenal is personally crafted by it’s  bearer using ancient techniques of forging. 

Some made from purest gold mined from the  Chapter’s homeworld of Kremonas, the Astartes   raise and lower their blades in salute to  those they deem of the utmost admiration.  Clad in silver power armour with dark red  arm plating, shoulder pauldrons and helmets,  

The crimson of their ceramite represents their  honour paid to their Primogenitor Chapter.  Bearing a black Imperialis or Aquila  on their chest and likewise appointing   their squad speciality on their  right pauldron of the same colour;  Red low gothic numerals are centred upon  their designs to indicate their squad number. 

Revering the symbol of their Chapter on  their left pauldron: a red droplet of   blood crossed with two black swords, their  knightly customs and martial traditions   are of paramount import to the Chapter. For as their Penitent Crusade continues,   they shall espouse the glories of the Lord  Commander as the newly appointed Regent of  

Imperium Nihilis; and slay any wretched  heretics or Xenos within his domain…  The Flesh Eaters are a Successor  Chapter of the Blood Angels.  Created during an unknown founding, despite  their ominous title and rumours abounding of   their gorging on bodies, no evidence exists  of the Flesh Eaters incidents of cannibalism. 

Their first recorded campaigns documented during  the 33rd Millennium, their efforts in quelling the   War of the False Primarch gained them much glory. Fighting alongside the so-called ‘Pentarchy   of Blood’ comprised of the Carcharodons,  Charnel Guard, Death Eagles and Red Talons;  the Flesh |Eaters helped lay waste to  eleven Astartes Chapters deemed Traitoris  

Perdita and purged their homeworlds of life. The campaign lasting eight solar decades before   it’s conclusion, rumours have spread that after  millennia of service the Chapter has been quote:   ‘fatally undone by their gene-seed’. Records show that the Flesh Eaters   incurred massive casualties during the  Golance War, losing 350 Astartes during  

Their fight against the Aeldari; yet with the intervention of five   warriors of the Mentors Chapter the war  would be won in the name of the Imperium.  Aiding their remaining might to the Blood Angels  during the Devastation of Baal, with the combined   fury of several Chapters of the Blood and  Roboute Guilliman’s Indomitas Crusade;  

The Hive Fleet Leviathan was repelled from  Baal and it’s soil spared from annihilation.  Their Chief Librarian Scaraban crucial in  sharing his experience facing the Tyranid menace,   the intervention of the Flesh Eaters proved  extremely beneficial to the defence of the system.  Replenished with hundreds of Primaris Space  Marine reinforcements, the Chapter continues  

To fight in the name of the Emperor and  uphold the valour of their gene-heritage.  Wagin war alongside the Blood Scythes,  Cruror Blades and Blood Angels in defending   the Shrine World of Acrabellar, the Flesh  Eaters continue to uphold their reputation   as stalwart guardians of Humanity. Their bonds of fealty so strong with  

Their brother Chapters of the Blood, to incur the  wrath of one of their kin is to invite the wroth   of their own Chapter as an act of solidarity. Their armour painted bright red trimmed with   white, a single vertical stripe helps  to differentiate their forces from their  

Similarly identified Chapter: the Carmine Blades. Apothecaries of the Chapter painting both of their   pauldrons white to distinguish their rank,  their legendary ‘Jaws of Doom’ Assault Squad   decorate their helmets with monstrous open jaw  designs and adopt a white skull within a black  

Circle in the stead of their Chapter icon. The majority of it’s warriors bearing the   stylised White Maw in white replete with jagged  and bloodied teeth, it is no wonder why the laymen   of the Imperium are instilled with terror whilst  gazing upon the shark-like jaws on their armour. 

Craving the blood of their enemies, with  their forces now overwhelmingly of Primaris   Space Marine stock, only time will tell if  the genius of Belisarius Cawl has nullified   the Chapter’s hunger for flesh… The Knights of Blood are a   Successor Chapter of the Blood Angels. Created during an unknown founding their  

Ranks continually succumbed to the call of their  genetic curses of the Red Thirst and Black Rage;  and in their desperation to end  their suffering enabled them to   gorge on the blood of the innocent. Their consumption physically mutating   their bodies, their skin became red,  their eyes yellowed and their teeth  

Sharpened and elongated in their jaws. Fighting alone to conceal their change the   Knights of Blood committed untold breaches  in protocol and oversteps in authority.  Enacting an Imperial Crusade to purge the  Emperor’s foes from within his domain,   their centuries of wrothful campaigns  with time earning them censure. 

With the dawn of the 41st Millennium the  High Lords of Terra declared the Knights   of Blood as renegades to the Imperium,  causing the Chapter to disappear into   the void for many years yet continue their  Crusade to purge the rot with the Imperium. 

Their genetic purity ravaged by their inherited  gene-flaws and lack of support from the Imperium,   their combat doctrine further  escalated their loss of numbers.  Once considered the epitome of the Astartes  might when dedicated to an assault force,   the Knights of Blood’s butchery and melee  wrought carnage are the stuff of legends. 

Weidling chainswords and Power fists  to deadly effect, should a Knight of   Blood be disarmed his bare hands and teeth  shall suffice in ripping from foes apart.  Lacking in heavy weapons or armoured vehicles,  each warrior of the Chapter carries Bolt   Pistols and melee weapons into battle to  better sate their hunger for slaughter. 

Their submission to the Red Thirst and Black  Rage causing several instances of friendly fire   against their allies in battle, such instances  further hastened their censure by the Imperium.  Aiding Imperial forces on several  occasions despite their condemnation,   the Chapter appeared un-announced during  several conflicts in aiding Guard Regiments  

And beleaguered planetary defence forces. Their reputation that of carnage and   collateral damage, most Imperial Commanders  refused the aid offered by the Chapter   unless under the direst of circumstances. Protecting their charges from Inquisitorial   scrutiny by keeping a safe distance  during all engagements, the Knights of  

Blood vindicated their actions for only the  Emperor himself could judge their actions.  Operating within the Achilus Crusade of  777.M41, their battle against the Tau’s   Farsight Enclave during 999.M41 proved to  be the nail in their proverbial coffin.  Upon the world of Lub’grahl, the Knights  of Blood saw to the extermination of the  

Tau Earth Caste upon it’s surface and tallied  near 1,000 souls with their initial assault.  Confronted by Riptide and Broadside battle  suit teams the Knights of the Blood were   brought low through costly ambushes  orchestrated by Commander Farsight.  Knowing their losses to be off a scale  never to be replenished in conjunction  

With their renegade status, the Knight of Blood  resolved to make a final act of repentance.  Intercepting the call for aid by  Lord Commander Dante of the Blood   Angels to defend their homeworld, the  Knights of Blood joined their brethren.  Initially seen as interlopers worthy  only of the Emperor’s judgement,  

With time the Knights of Blood proved their  worth to their Primogenitor by confronting   the Daemonic and Tyranid hordes hell-bent  on destroying the Great Angels’ homeworld.  Keeping their distance from their peers, their  efforts would regardless of their reputation   prove invaluable in fending off the forces  of the Bloodthirster of Khorne: Ka’banda. 

Fighting alongside the Flesh Tearers, Gabriel  Seth’s men would witness the valour of the Knights   of Blood as their last act of defiance on the moon  of Baal Prime ended their service to the Emperor.  Their last Chapter Master Sentor Jool  facing Ka’Banda in single-combat,  

The Firstblader of the Knights of Blood lead his  men now entirely enraptured by the Black Rage into   their final act of glorious annihilation. Refusing to allow his men to be turned   to serve Ka’Bhanda and his fell  benefactor, Jool died fighting the  

Bane of the 9th as a noble son of the Angel. Ensuring the continued survival of the Flesh   Tearers Chapter, the impact of their sacrifice  and heed to not follow in their footsteps imparted   to Chapter Master Gabreil Seth would stay  with the Guardian of Rage as a great lesson  

For the remainder of his leadership. Clad in dark red and silver armour,   the Knights designated their company  designation on their right pauldron and   squad identifier on their right knee plate. The symbol of their Chapter: a White Shield  

Adorned with a red droplet of blood and two  crossed black swords a reminder of their nobility   among the butchery and torment of their men. With the arrival of Primaris Space Marines of   the relief effort of the Devastation of Baal,  Lord Dante concluded that the Knights of Blood  

Shall remain an extinct Chapter. Better to allow for their deeds to   forever be enshrined in their last act of  heroism for all Blood Angels Successors to   revere their sacrifice… The Sable Knights are a   Successor Chapter of the Blood Angels. Created during an unknown founding, of all the  

Descendants of Sanguinius the Sable Knights are  among the most enigmatic and mysterious Chapters.  Racing from warzone to warzone in order to  outrun their geneflaw of the Black Rage,   the baleful fleet-based warriors clad  their leg and torso armour in deep   ebon-black to represent their affliction. The remainder of their ceramite daubed in  

Dark red with black shoulder trim,  the Aquila or Imperalis of their   chest-plate of fine silver is the only visual  representation of their duty to the Emperor.  Indicating their tactical designation on their  right pauldron in white paint, the Chapter show  

Their squad designation on their left knee plate. The symbol of their order: three large white   droplets of blood on a field of dark  red promises only the shedding of   blood with no fanfare nor glory earned. Outrunning the Black Rage with hopes of  

Perishing in glory before it’s corruption of  their Chapter entire, their use of armoured   spearhead assaults and fleets of transports  ferries their soldiers into the clutches   of war to enable a swift yet worthwhile death. Dutiful yet dour in their resolve to die as useful  

Warriors of the Astartes, their intervention  during the War of the Beast and campaign of the   Nachmund Rift War epitomises their thankless toil. Heeding the call to return to Baal to defend the   holy soil of Sanguinius’ people, the  Sable Knights tried in vain to reach  

Their kin yet have been cut-off from the Baal  system due to the birth of the Great Rift.  Lead by their Knight Captain: Vorgas, the  Chapter heed the call to arms and attempted   to venture through the Nachmund Gauntlet. Their arrival to the Baal System unrecorded  

By Imperial Records, it is likely that  the Chapter still fights the forces of   Chaos in their attempts to breach the safe  passage through the Cicatrix Maledictum.  Their pledge to aid the Wardens of the Gauntlet  comprised of dozens of lost Space Marine Chapter  

Contingents sustained only until their passage  through the Nachmund Gauntlet can be achieved… This has been a tale of the Great Imperium of Man. Read by the Remembrancer. The sons of the Great Angel  have spilled their blood in   the defence of the innocent for generations.

The most noble of all the  Chapters of the Space Marines, despite their valour and glorious  deeds the dark undercurrent of   their bloodlust and Rage are a  ceaseless test of their will. Sanguinius though slain  watches over them to this day,

And in his image they shall stand against the  terrors of the void resolute in their duty. Never shall they surrender and no  matter the devastation they incur,   their blood shall not be split in vain…

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