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A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T U V W

Organization

The groups of units are called squads or squadrons.
All squads consist of one Sergeant and 4-9 Marines.
Bike squadrons consist of 1 Sergeant and 2-4 Marines.
Land Speeder squadrons consist of 2-4 vehicles.
Every leader from Sergeant upwards has a banner on top of their backpacks. Assault and Scout Sergeants cannot carry banners due to practical considerations.
A complete force is called a company.
The forces of the First Founding were called Legions.
The forces of the Second Founding were fixed at a nominal of one thousand fighting warriors, called Chapters.
There are about 1000 Chapters.
Seven years after the death of Horus the Second Founding changed the Space Marines organization after the Codex Astartes.
In the Second Founding all legions were divided into less than or equal to 5 new Chapters; the Space Wolves into just 2; the Ultramarines into more than 20 (or up to 37 because they were 50% of all Marines).

Notes on Space Marine Chapters

This is a list of known canonical Space Marine Chapters from the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
This list includes those chapters that turned to Chaos after the Second Founding.
Note that there are several Chapters that cannot be selected for use in Player Character backgrounds. The GM will determine the final choice on a case-by-case basis.

A

Angels Encarmine

A Second Founding chapter of the Blood Angels. They participated in the effort to reclaim the Crimson Fists' homeworld from the Orks. Their power armor is painted red, with black trim and a black backpack. The Chapter symbol is a bat-winged drop of blood. Unlike most other Blood Angels successor chapters, the Angels Encarmine are strict adherents of the Codex Astartes.

Angels Porphyr

The Angels Porphyr Chapter was founded in the 31st millennium. Their power armor is half blue and half white (with pad trims matching the pad). The Chapter symbol is the profile of a winged skull, and other skull icons are often incorporated into their armor. The Chapter participated in the Third War for Armageddon.

The Chapter appears almost identical to the 'Eagle Warriors' chapter, the only differences being the chapter badge (Eagle Warriors simply have a blue wing). This leads many to believe the Angels Porphyr and Eagle Warriors to be the same chapter.

According to Insigneum Astartes the Eagle Warriors denote company by the color of the left kneepad. The Angels Porphyr denote company by the color of the right kneepad.

Angels Sanguine

A Second Founding chapter of the Blood Angels. Their power armor is halved red and black. The Chapter's symbol is a winged skull. Librarian Ashok is a member of the Angels Sanguine chapter, and he wears the Shroud of Lemartes, to stave off the Red Thirst. He is also unique in the aspect that he is one of the few Space Marines to dislike his armor, and senses that its machine spirit is not fond of him either.

Angels Vermillion

A Second Founding chapter of the Blood Angels. The Chapter wears dark red power armor. The Chapter's symbol is a winged blood drop, with a small skull at the base of the drop.

Angels of Absolution

A Second Founding chapter of the Dark Angels. The power armor of the Angels of Absolution is painted bone-white, and the Chapter's symbol is a skull superimposed over a stylised wing.

Angels of Fire

A chapter founded during the 36th millennium. The Angels of Fire wear red powered armor, decorated with stylised orange flames. They participated in the Third War for Armageddon.

Angels of Redemption

A Second Founding chapter of the Dark Angels. The Chapter's powered armor is halved bone-white and dark green, and the Chapter's symbol is a winged skull.

Angels of Vengeance

A Second Founding chapter of the Dark Angels. The power armor worn by this chapter is black, and the Chapter's symbol is a white winged skull. An inverted red V rests over the skull (a hood).

Angels of Vigilance

The Angels of Vigilance wear yellow power armor (including trims) with a black chest eagle. The Chapter's symbol is a winged, flame-filled crucible.

The Armageddon3 Index Astartes article art puts the chapter as a being founded in M40 (which would most likely be 25th Founding), however the only written fluff for the chapter (from the Armageddon3 site) says, "It is suspected that the Chapter came into existence during the Second Founding, but it is unknown from which Legion their gene-seed originates."

Astral Claws

The Astral Claws were created during the 35th millennium to guard against the numerous threats emerging from the Maelstrom. The Chapter was led into Chaos by their traitorous Chapter Master Lufgt Huron (thereafter known as Huron Blackheart), igniting the Badab War. They currently form a group of rebel Marines known as the Red Corsairs, who ruthlessly attack supply lines in the name of Chaos. In the battle that pulled them into Chaos they nearly succeeded in pulling the Mantis Warriors with them.

Aurora Chapter

The Aurora Chapter is descended from Ultramarines gene-seed. The Chapter's symbol is a black, lower case alpha inside a white, twelve-pointed star. The Chapter's power armor is painted dark green, with trim in the company color.

Sources conflict concerning the time of this Chapter's founding; while some claim the Aurora Chapter to be one of the Ultramarines' Second Founding Chapters, others place the date of their foundation as much later. Mentioned in Dan Abnett's "Eisenhorn" Omnibus as saving an Inquisitor from a Demon Host, incidentially after it slew his entire retinue.

Avenging Sons

A 19th Founding chapter from the world of Tr�konnis Major. They wear navy blue power armor, and their symbol is a stylised white cross. A white diagonal stripe with a roman numeral in the centre denotes the company. A strike force of Avenging Sons fought in the war on Taros.

B

Black Consuls

The Black Consuls are a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter that were a Second Founding Successor or Primogenitor Chapter of the Ultramarines. The Black Consuls were recorded as having been annihilated at the Siege of Goddeth Hive in 455.M41 by elements of the Word Bearers Traitor Legion. Their current status is unknown, though Imperial records indicate that a force of Black Consuls is still operating in the Jericho Reach as part of the Achilus Crusade.

Chapter History
The Black Consuls are a Primogenitor Successor Chapter of the Ultramarines. As true sons of Roboute Guilliman, they have appeared numerous times throughout the long history of the Imperium, ever ready to stand in defiance of the enemies of the Emperor. The Battle-Brothers of this Chapter were known to have made regular pilgrimages to the Shrine of the Primarch on Macragge, and several past Black Consuls Chapter Masters were counted amongst the most valued counselors to the Master of Macragge. The Black Consuls fought alongside their Progenitor Chapter on hundreds of occasions as well as other Ultramarines Primogenitor Chapters and many other Space Marine units.

The Black Consuls were originally a fleet-based Chapter whose space-borne Fortress-Monastery, the Noctis Obscurum, was destroyed nearly a millennia ago by Dark Eldar saboteurs. With the destruction of their Star-Fort, the Black Consuls relocated to the planet Cyclopia and avenged their dishonour in a 300 year xenocidal purge that spanned fifteen star-systems and collapsed an entire sub-dimension of the Webway. The Black Consuls' last recorded action was during the Siege of Goddeth Hive in 455.M41, where the Chapter was believed to have been annihilated when Chaos Space Marines of the Iron Warriors detonated the hive's nucleonic stacks and vaporised much of the northern continent.

A definitive account of the Chapter's disappearance has yet to be chronicled, although the White Consuls suspect their brother Chapter may have been entirely wiped out by a substantial force of Word Bearers Traitor Marines. Even if the bulk of the Black Consuls was annihilated, some of the Chapter's Battle-Brothers undoubtedly survived, scattered across the width and breadth of the Imperium while assigned to various detached duties. It is a rare occasion when the entirety of a Chapter is present at any given battle, even if their homeworld comes under attack. It is likely that individual Battle-Brothers or entire squads of Black Consuls were seconded to other Chapters or to the Deathwatch or were even on pilgrimage at the Shrine of the Primarch on Macragge when the rest of their Chapter met its fate.

Imperial records show that a small force of Black Consuls was operating within the Jericho Reach following the launch of the Achilus Crusade in 777.M41. Due to the vagaries of Warp travel and communication, it took several decades for word of the Chapter's reported demise to reach those of its Astartes serving in this isolated sector of the galaxy's Eastern Fringe. Upon hearing the foreboding news, the remaining Black Consuls took council and every Battle-Brother was allowed to speak. When they concluded the gathering they agreed that a single Astartes of their number would be despatched to investigate the truth of the Chapter's fate and bring back word to his brothers. The remainder of the Black Consuls would continue to fight on, fulfilling their binding oaths to serve the Crusade until the messenger returned. Nearly 250 years has passed, and still no word has reached the remaining Black Consuls as to the true fate of their Chapter. The Black Consuls continue to fight the enemies of Mankind within the Jericho Reach, even as their numbers dwindle due to attrition.

While they have yet to learn of their Chapter's true fate, many Battle-Brothers of the Black Consuls are resigned to the fact that they may very well be the last of their Chapter. These warriors will fight to the death, determined that the history of their Chapter will be one that ends in glorious battle.

Notable Campaigns
Fate of the 4th Company (651.M37) - A Battle-Brother of the Deathwatch bearing no Chapter device arrived at Watch Fortress Erioch, located within the Jericho Reach. This Astartes called himself Hail, and was the lone Space Marine occupant of the rapid strike vessel Unquiet Angel. Hail claimed that he had learned the location of the remains of the vanished 4th Company of the Black Consuls Chapter, a force lost in its entirety a millennium before. Hail sought the aid of the Deathwatch Space Marines of Watch Fortress Erioch in seeking them out. Following the a meeting of the Chamber of Vigilance, a Kill-team joined Hail aboard the Unquiet Angel. Hail lead the Kill-team to a massive Space Hulk drifting in open space at the edge of the Phaegis System. The Kill-team boarded the vessel and succeeded in recovering the banner of the Black Consuls 4th Company and a number of other Black Consuls relics, despite being assaulted by scores of Warp Ghouls and other foul creatures. In gratitude for the eventual recovery of their fellow Battle-Brothers' remains some decades later after a conveyor ship despatched from Erioch reached their homeworld, the Black Consuls renewed their oaths to the Deathwatch and pledged to send three times the previous number of Astartes into the Deathwatch's service than the Chapter had before.

Baliaris Majoris (Unknown Date.M38) - The Black Consuls fought on Baliaris Majoris against the worldwide uprising of a powerful Chaos Cult. In the end they proved victorious and burned the heretic prophetess Constanze as justified retribution.

Siege of Goddeth Hive (455.M41) - The Black Consuls were recorded as being annihilated at the Siege of Goddeth Hive. The Chapter was believed to have been exterminated when Chaos Space Marines of the Iron Warriors detonated the hive city's nucleonic stacks and vaporised much of the northern continent. Their current status remains unknown. According to Chapter Master Xydias of the White Consuls, the Black Consuls were indeed wiped out during this campaign, and a Word Bearers Traitor Legion Infernus-class Battleship known as the Crucius Maledictus was known to have been present during their destruction, making this Traitor Legion the primary culprit in the Black Consuls' demise.

Chapter Combat Doctrine
The Black Consuls were notable for having the entire Chapter commence campaigns with a massed Drop Pod landing. Such an assault is a thing of terrible beauty, with a hundred or more Drop Pods descending like screaming harbingers of doom.

Chapter Relics
Lorgar's Bane - Lorgar's Bane is a master-crafted Astartes Power Axe. Over 100 Chaos Space Marines from the Word Bearers Traitor Legion have met their end at the razor edge of this Power Axe, named Lorgar's Bane for its bloody work. It resides for the moment in the vaults of the Deathwatch's Watch Fortress Erioch, but as the stories of the Word Bearers assault on the Black Consuls spread, some wonder if it will be brought against its ancient foes once more.

Chapter Appearance

Chapter Badge
The Black Consuls' Chapter Badge was a white eagle head on a black background. The white colored squad specialty symbol (Tactical, Assault, Devastator, Veteran) is indicated on the right shoulder pad, with the squad number stenciled in black on the center of it.

Chapter Colors
The Black Consuls painted their power armor black with gold trim.

Black Dragons

The Black Dragons were one of the Space Marine Chapters created during the Cursed 21st Founding. They are censured by the Inquisition due to mutation of the Chapter's gene-seed, which causes certain marines to develop blade-like outgrowths of bone on the head and forearms. Black Dragons afflicted in this way, sharpen these bone growths and sheath them in adamantium for use in close combat. They are then grouped together into specialist jump-pack equipped assault squads know as Dragon Claws.

The Black Dragons suffered heavily during the Third War for Armageddon and suspect Inquisition meddling, although this cannot be proven. Their losses have been so grievous that the Chapter itself is in danger of extinction. Nevertheless, the Chapter remains loyal to the Imperium, and is prepared to fight to the last man no matter the forces arrayed against them.

The Black Dragons wear black power armor, with white chest eagle and shoulder guard markings. Their chapter symbol is a white dragon on a black background, and dragons are often incorporated into their armor and weapons.

Black Guard

A Second Founding chapter of the Raven Guard.

Black Templars

Main article: Black Templars

Blood Angels

Main article: Blood Angels

Blood Drinkers

A Second Founding chapter of the Blood Angels. Unlike the other Blood Angels Successor Chapters, the Blood Drinkers are strict followers of the Codex Astartes. The Chapter participated in the effort to reclaim the Crimson Fists' homeworld from the Orks. The Chapter's armor is painted red, with yellow trim. The Chapter's symbol is a drop of blood above a grail.

The name "Blood Drinkers" comes from the Chapter's craving for blood, the result of a mutated omophagea gene-seed.

Blood Ravens

Main article: Blood Ravens

Brazen Claws

A Second Founding chapter of the Iron Hands. They participated in the defense against the Thirteenth Black Crusade. The Chapter's powered armor is painted in a quartered blue and red pattern. The Chapter's symbol is the depiction of red claws or talons.

Brotherhood of a Thousand

A later-founding chapter of unknown origin. The Brotherhood follow the Codex Astartes and are loyal to the Imperium of Man. Their armor is painted a bluish grey with the trim on the shoulder pads painted a different color for each company. Their chapter symbol is a black "M" on a slightly undersized white circle, the M representing the number one thousand.

C

Celebrants

A Chapter founded during the 36th millennium. They participated in the Third War for Armageddon. Their armor starts with yellow lower legs then seamlessly blends to orange for the mid body and then red for the upper body/helmet/arms; the chapter badge is a winged five-pointed star.

Celestial Lions

The Celestial Lions were founded during the 38th millennium. Their armor is primarily gold, with blue shoulder pads and helmet. The chapter symbol is a roaring lion, and lion decorations are often incorporated into their armor. The Celestial Lions participated in the Third War for Armageddon, and were almost completely annihilated in the titanic conflict.

Crimson Fists

Main article: Crimson Fists

D

Damned Company of Lord Caustos

A group of Space Marines that turned to the Chaos gods after they were declared traitor by an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus, based on some flimsy and circumstantial evidence. They only turned to chaos to survive in a galaxy hostile to them; they now live their lives as mercenaries.

Their armor is primarily grey/purple, with gold decoration. Their chapter's symbol is yet to be seen.

Dark Angels

Main article: Dark Angels (Warhammer 40,000)

Dark Hands

A chapter that fought the Hrud at Chinchare. The Chapter's armor is painted dull green, and the Chapter symbol is of an outstretched black hand facing the viewer as if in a halt gesture. The gloves are also painted black. It is possible the Dark Hands are an Imperial Fists successor but that is merely speculation.

Deathwatch

As the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Xenos, the Deathwatch is tasked with the study, and if necessary extermination, of alien races encountered by the Imperium. They are also tasked with the observation of alien races, and the acquisition of their technology for further study by the Adeptus Mechanicus.

The Deathwatch are unique amongst Space Marine Chapters as the Marines that make up the Deathwatch are drawn from many different Chapters; specially trained alien fighters that are sworn to serve a term with the Deathwatch before returning to their Chapter of origin. The term of service is not fixed, and a Space Marine will remain with the Deathwatch until the Commander or Inquisitor leading the detachment deems the necessary tasks are completed.

Death Spectres

The Death Spectres are a chapter of Space Marines that participated in the defense of the Cadian sector against the 13th Black Crusade. During the Black Crusade, the Death Spectres adopted a fluid style of combat, using jump pack equipped troops to quickly capitalize on any gains made by the Imperial Guard.

Their armor is black (including trim), with the exception of the left shoulder pad (white with black trim) and helmet and chest eagle (both bone). The chapter badge is a pair of black scythes located behind a skull.

All members of the Death Spectres are albinos.

Death Strike

Wearing light blue armor with a yellow winged lightning bolt as a chapter badge, the Death Strike Chapter participated in the Assault on Moros and acted as the rearguard during the Verdan II Extraction.

Destroyers

A Second Founding chapter of the White Scars. Their armor is acid yellow with a red chevron pattern down the arms. Their symbol is two crossed lightning bolts.

Doom Eagles

A peculiar, non-Codex Chapter, whose initiates are selected from the aspirants who survive particularly harrowing trials. At a basic level, all Doom Eagles accept that they are already dead. This is the root of their courage, their unshakeable determination to face the greatest odds. As such the men of this Chapter are almost impossible to deter, but they are dour, grim and depressive, albeit staunchly loyal to the Imperium.

Doom Eagles armor is primarily silver, with red decoration. The chapter's symbol is a stylized eagle, with a human skull replacing the eagle's head.

E

Eagle Warriors

This Chapter has a white uniform with blue detailing, with a blue wing as its badge. They participated in the Balur Secundus Strike Force.

Emperor's Warbringers

This Chapter has a grey-green uniform, with crossed swords as its badge. They are not averse to using camouflage on their vehicles.

Excoriators

One of the chapters founded to make up the Astartes Praeses, twenty chapters assigned to guard the regions surrounding the Eye of Terror. Their chapter is a stout Codex one. Their armor is white with silver gauntlets and trim, and their symbol is a flaming, double-headed axe.

Executioners

One of four chapters that rebelled during the Badab Uprising. The Chapter was believed to have found itself on the wrong side through little fault of its own, and was permitted to continue in its service to the Imperium. The Chapter's power armor is painted in a blue and grey camouflage pattern, with the exception of a single shoulder pad which is painted green for tactical squads, yellow for assault squads, purple/blue for devastator squads or red for recon squads. The symbol of the Executioners is an axe on a red background.

Exorcists

The Exorcists were founded during the enigmatic 13th "Dark" Founding sometime before the Age of Apostasy. They were created through secret Inquisition experiments in which test subjects were deliberately allowed to be possessed by daemons for a time before the daemons were banished by daemon hunters. There were casualties, but the majority of test subjects survived and were versed in the ways of combating daemon kind. The test subjects, two companies strong (200 Space Marines) were released onto a daemon-infested planet where they displayed extremely impressive results. They have since been sanctioned as an official Chapter and are often involved in operations overseen by the Ordo Malleus of the Inquisition. They wear red power armor with black trim. The chapter's symbol is a horned skull. The Exorcists participated in the Badab War, the Gothic War, the Third War for Armageddon and in the defense against the Thirteenth Black Crusade.

Extinction Angels

One of the chapters that turned to chaos after the Horus Heresy, the chapter is famous for its assault skill. During the 13th Black Crusade the chapter fought alongside the Black Legion on the planet Demios Primary, where they scattered the Skitarii forces who were protecting the many forges of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The planet was liberated by the Black Templar space marines and it is believed that the Angels are still hidden in the lower depths.

Their armor is a dark purple with gold details and their symbol is a skull wearing a red hood, behind a grey Scythe.

F

Fire Angels

This chapter wears white with red trim, and displays a red cross as their symbol. They fought in the Badab War and in the Battle of Sagan's Moon.

Fire Hawks

One of the chapters created during the Cursed 21st Founding, from Ultramarines gene-seed. The Fire Hawks disappeared into the Warp during the 41st millennium, and were declared Lost in the Warp.

Shortly after this, ghost Space Marines began to appear on various battlefields. These apparitions came to be known as the Legion of the Damned, 'fading' into existence to support beleaguered Imperial forces, and fading out again as soon as the battle was won. This has caused some to suspect that the Legion of the Damned and the Fire Hawks are one and the same.

The armor of the Fire Hawks is predominantly yellow, with red flame decorations. The Chapter's symbol is a mushroom cloud.

The Fire Hawks participated in the Badab War and in the Assault on Terra at the end of Goge Vandire's Reign of Blood.

White Dwarf magazine (issue 99) states that the Fire Hawks are the Legion of the Damned, but more recent material has attempted to make the connection more ambiguous.

Flame Falcons

One of the cursed Space Marine chapters created during the Cursed 21st Founding. Although their earlier successes promised a great future for the chapter, they were almost wiped out by the Inquisition before a hundred years had passed.

The cause of the Inquisition's attack was the fact that during an engagement, members of the Chapter burst into flame. These Marines came to no harm, and believing the flames to be a gift from the Emperor, fought with a fierce savagery that won the day.

The members of the Inquisition did not share this belief, and when the Chapter returned to their homeworld of Lethe to celebrate, they were attacked and almost destroyed by a force of Grey Knights.

Flesh Eaters

In very old literature, this chapter painted their helmets with snarling maws and sharp, blood- dripping fangs. They were loyalists. They have not been mentioned in literature over the last ten years at least, possibly because their fearsome appearance could confuse gamers who would naturally assume the Flesh Eater marines to be Chaos corrupted.

The Flesh Eaters are a Third Founding successor chapter of the Blood Angels. According to the literature, the taint indicative of a Blood Angel successor chapter has manifested itself in a dependency on the blood of others. If not given fresh blood or raw meat, the Space Marines eventually either wither away until they finally die as shriveled husks, or they succumb to the Black Rage. The Flesh Eaters are strongly distrusted by most forces of the Imperium, with some Imperial Guard regiments and Space Marine chapters refusing to fight alongside them due to their ruthlessness and brutality, their disregard for human life, and the constant rumors of cannibalistic rites. There are also persisting rumors that the chapter suffered from an internal conflict arising from heresy and treachery where an untold number of the chapter succumbed to Chaos, although the truth of this cannot be ascertained, for the secrecy and seclusion of the Flesh Eaters have made any investigations futile.

The chapter's armor was dark red, with white iconography and decoration. This was changed at some point in the chapter's history to black armor with red lower legs. The symbol of the Flesh Eaters is a stylized monstrous jaw.

Flesh Tearers

A Second Founding chapter of the Blood Angels, they are afflicted by a dangerous gene-seed alteration which causes most veterans to succumb to the effects of Black Rage. The Flesh Tearers participated in the Third War for Armageddon where the chapter was nearly declared Excommunicate and subjected to Inquisitorial investigation after they had, in a fit of the Black Rage, slaughtered civilians once they had run out of Orks to kill. Amongst the Orks of Armageddon the chapter became known as the 'Eaters of the Dead'. Later in the campaign, Orks were known to have retreated when Flesh Tearers attacked, a display virtually unheard of.

Notable members include: Chapter Master Seth - Guardian of the Rage and High Chaplain Carnarvon - Watcher of the Lost.

The chapter's color scheme is primarily red, with black shoulder pads, helmet and backpack. The chapter's symbol is a drop of blood on a white design similar to a circular saw blade.

G

Genesis Chapter

A Second Founding chapter of the Ultramarines. The chapter's power armor is red with yellow details; their symbol is an upside-down "V" on top of a white triangle.

Grey Knights

Main article: Grey Knights

Grey Slayers

Inquisitor Thrax purged them of mutants and daemons, and the Chapter Master took his own life. Untainted officers were raised up to lead the chapter. The Grey Slayers' eventual disposition is unknown.

Grief Bringers

A chapter that suffered heavy losses fighting against enslavers on Valhall II. Their color scheme is described as "principally a sickly pea-green, with engrailed chevrons of headachy purple." A majority of the chapter seems to favor facial tattoos.

H

Harbingers

The Harbingers hail from the Black Planet and are widely respected for their skill at planetary assaults and ship-to-ship fighting. They consider themselves sworn enemies of the Death Guard Traitor Legion, and as soon as word reached them of the 13th Black Crusade, they redirected their forces away from the Orks of the Piscinan Belt towards this new threat.

They are currently led by Nimrod Grudge, and sent eight companies to combat the threat of the 13th Black Crusade. Their chapter colors are white with a yellow helmet and their chapter symbol is falling star, with the star replaced by a skull.

Hawk Lords

A Codex chapter whose armor is colored purple with gold trim and chest eagle. The chapter symbol is of a hawk depicted in a similar style to the German Eagle. The color of this chapter is very similar to that of the pre-heresy Emperor's Children.

Heralds of Ultramar

A Codex chapter derived from the Ultramarines. Their appearance is identical to Ultramarines, except for the use of a winged, five-pointed star as the chapter's symbol.

Howling Griffons

A Codex chapter whose color scheme is a quartered red and yellow design, with a griffon as their symbol. They are loyalist veterans of the Badab War and saw extensive action in the 13th Black Crusade, fighting against traitor plague marines in the defense of Amistel Majoris.

For millennia, the Howling Griffons had a rancorous hatred of the war band of the Daemon Prince Periclitor, formerly of the Night Lords Legion, who slew their Chapter Master Orlando Furioso and the entire First Company on the 5000th anniversary of the chapter's creation. During the 13th Black Crusade however, the current Chapter Master Alvaro diverted his Battle Barge "Sword of Destiny" from the war effort to pursue the Daemon Prince. Revenge was finally obtained when Periclitor was banished at the height of a titanic space battle between the Howling Griffons First Company and the Chosen of the Daemon Prince.

I

Imperial Fists

The Imperial Fists are one of the first founding Legions of Space Marines. They are the Chapter most respected by the many institutions of the Imperium, and are considered the most stalwart Chapter in their faith.

History

Rogal Dorn
Little is known about the home and early life of Rogal Dorn. However, it is believed that he was one of the first Primarchs to rejoin the Emperor. Dorn presented the mobile space fortress Phalanx to the Emperor, to assist in the Great Crusade. Welcoming Dorn, and quickly recognizing the man as one of his twenty genetically engineered sons, the Emperor repaid Dorn by granting him command of the Seventh Space Marine Legion and returning the Phalanx to serve as their base. Rogal Dorn was the one to discover the Emperor of Mankind after he was mortally wounded by Horus.

"Give me a hundred Space Marines. Or failing that, give me a thousand other troops" - Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists

The Great Crusade
The Seventh Legion, which came to bear the name Imperial Fists, was extremely successful in the early days of the Great Crusade, acting as a strategic reserve to the Emperor's forces. Able to deploy quickly and reliably, the Legion struck the decisive blow in many campaigns. The Legion excelled in siege warfare, both in attack and defence and before the Heresy the newly-dubbed Warmaster Horus joked that a war between his legion and the Imperial Fists would last for all eternity, "the best in attack matched by the best in defence". It was this reputation that impressed the Emperor in the later days of the Crusade, and the Legion acted as his Praetorian Guard alongside the Adeptus Custodes.

Rogal Dorn, and by extension the Imperial Fists Marines, was regarded as exemplar of the qualities of truth, honor, courage and humility. However, Perturabo of the Iron Warriors saw Dorn and the Fists as arrogant and overly proud. This reached a head during an incident between Dorn and Perturabo, arguing over the honor awarded to the former of supervising the construction of the Emperor's Palace on Terra. This led to a bitter rivalry between the two Legions that would escalate to outright hatred.

The Horus Heresy
The frigate Eisenstein, commanded by Death Guard loyalist Nathaniel Garro, was discovered adrift in deep space by the Phalanx. Garro and the survivors - who had seen the events of Horus' treachery at Istvaan III for themselves - were brought aboard the Phalanx, which then destroyed the Eisenstein in order to prevent the plague onboard from spreading.

When Garro told Dorn what had transpired, the Primarch was furious; he saw Garro's words as a vile slander against Horus, and very nearly killed the Death Guard loyalist after Garro accused him of being blinded by his love for his brother. Only the recorded holo-vid from one of the remembrancers that had escaped with Garro - showing Horus declaring his intention to overthrow the Emperor, the bombing of Istvaan, the flight of the Eisenstein - convinced Dorn that the Warmaster had betrayed the Emperor.

After returning to Terra and reporting what he had been shown to the Emperor, Dorn was declared Supreme Commander of the Imperium of Man's forces. The Imperial Fists were one of the three loyal Space Marine Legions involved in the Siege of the Emperor's Palace, putting up a heroic defense that passed into legend.

Dorn was the one to discover the bodies of the Emperor and Horus after their titanic duel, and was the one who bore the body of the Emperor back to Terra, so it could be interred within the Golden Throne. Seeing that he had failed the Emperor, Dorn led his Legion on a crusade against the Traitor forces, until the Legion was recalled to Terra.

The New Imperium
Dorn was initially resistant to the idea for dividing the Space Marine Legions put forward by Roboute Guilliman of the Ultramarines. Three things happened that changed his mind. First was the realization that although the Imperial Fists could no longer serve the Emperor as they had, they must remain true to the ideals the Emperor had promoted. Second was the Iron Cage incident, an effort to dislodge Perturabo and the Iron Warriors from the stronghold they had fled to, following the Horus Heresy, a campaign in which around four hundred Imperial Fists Marines died. Third was the incident in which the Strike-cruiser "Terrible Angel" was fired upon by the Imperial Navy.

Emerging from the Iron Cage incident, the Imperial Fists split into three Chapters, the Imperial Fists, the Black Templars, and the Crimson Fists. (A fourth Chapter, the Soul Drinkers, was supposedly created from the Legion's Space-borne Assault Companies, and for this you should see the Soul Drinkers Contradiction below. In the same novel, the wording seems to suggest that several more Second Founding chapters were created as well.) Because the Imperial Fists' fortress-monastery, Phalanx, was spaceborne, the Imperial Fists Chapter was able to rapidly respond to incidents and calls for help across the Imperium. By building such a store of goodwill amongst many of the organizations of the Imperium, the Chapter was able to influence certain events more effectively than the other Space Marine Chapters.

As to Rogal Dorn's fate, it is known that he outlived many of the remaining Loyalist Primarchs. He fell in battle while attempting to head off a Chaos fleet heading towards Cadia, an attempt that proved successful. His actual fate is commonly thought to be unclear: the most recently published information states that the remains of Rogal Dorn were found, and his hands are the most prized relic of the chapter. However, this appears to contradict older material which states that his body was recovered and that Dorn's entire skeleton is now on Phalanx, though this is not necessarily the case - just because his hands were mentioned does not mean they were the only thing recovered. (According to the aforementioned book, Rogal Dorns lifeless body was returned and his skeleton encased in amber upon the Phalanx but his fists have been traditionally freed of his body and remain some of the most valuable relics the Imperial Fists have in their possession.)

It is the privilege of each Chapter Master of the Imperial Fists to inscribe his heraldry, as minutely as possible, on the bones of Rogal Dorn's hands. It is said that even though the signatures are so small a space marine can hardly read them, there is hardly any room left that is unmarked by a Chapter Master's sign.

Organization
Originally, the Imperial Fists Legion were an inflexible formation, each Company was identical in organization, while the Company Commanders were unimaginative. Since the Second Founding, this criticism has applied less to the Chapter, and the Imperial Fists are noted as second only to the Ultramarines when it comes to following the Codex Astartes.

The Imperial Fists have outposts on several worlds, but do not set themselves up as rulers or demand tithes from these worlds. The Imperial Fists were always present as esteemed guests, not masters, and Rogal Dorn himself is said to have claimed on the matter "I want recruits, not vassals!"

Homeworld
The homeworld of Rogal Dorn is unknown, although many place his origin at the Ice Hives of the planet Inwit. In older documentation, the homeworld of the Legion and later chapter was given as Terra itself. (The board game Horus Heresy has one of their Chapter Keeps attached to the western end of the Emperor's massive palace.) Current documentation depicts the Imperial Fists as a mobile chapter who recruit from a series of chapter keeps on worlds along Phalanx's patrol route, including Terra, Inwit and Necromunda.

Recruitment
As a space faring Chapter, the Imperial Fists do not rely on one world as a source of recruits, instead operating outposts on several worlds. Inwit, Terra and Necromunda are but a few of the worlds the Imperial Fists draw potential Neophytes from.

Gene-seed
Most of the genetic modifications common to Space Marines are found in the Imperial Fists, but there are some implants which have, over the millennia, either ceased to function or been lost entirely (sources are unclear on which). Imperial Fists no longer possess a functioning Betcher's Gland (an organ allowing Space Marines to spit venom). In addition, the Sus-An membrane (an organ which allows a Space Marine to suspend his vital processes for a time) is either non-functional or non-existent.

Chaplains of the Imperial Fists preach that a Fist should not allow these losses to trouble him. "Do we bemoan such losses? No! We are the Fists! We do not hibernate or spit venom, We crush our enemies."

The Gene-seed of Imperial Fists is also subject to a more subtle flaw - an Imperial Fist may become obsessed with conquering pain by force of will. As a consequence of this, Fists may well fight on despite injuries which would debilitate lesser marines, but some Fists are known to act in a way that invites injury.

Pain is therefore an important part of many rituals within the Imperial Fists' Fortress-Monastery. During their leisure time, Marines may test themselves with pain meters, to determine the extent of their ability to resist pain. A traditional initiation ceremony of six-month recruits is for them to be forced to negotiate the "Tunnel of Terror" - a large tunnel in which agonizing pain, as well as incandescent heat, freezing cold and hard vacuum are simulated by nerve-induction. Using a similar technology, marines convicted of breaches of regulations may be punished by being placed into a "nerve glove" (sometimes also referred to as the "Pain Glove"), an elastoweave body-glove which induces pain in the entire body.

Combat Doctrine
Throughout the Great Crusade, the Imperial Fists were used as a strategic reserve, waiting while other forces pinned down the enemy and identified weaknesses. The keystone of the enemy's defence would be shattered by the Imperial Fists, who would then serve as an anvil for the hammers that were the other Space Marine Legions.

Immediately after the Horus Heresy, the Imperial Fists began to fight with a noticeably fiercer approach, often failing to gather intelligence through reconnaissance prior to engaging, and would fight on even when a tactical withdrawal would be prudent. This behavior became tempered as the Legion adopted the doctrines of the Codex Astartes, the more fanatical of the battle- brothers volunteering to move into the Black Templars Second Founding Chapter.

Throughout their ten thousand year existence, the Imperial Fists have retained their skill as siege warfare masters, but are more than capable of engaging the enemy in any form of combat. But even after a hundred centuries, the Men of Stone are still the best the Imperium can muster to take an enemy's bastion.

Battlecry

"Primarch, Progenitor - To your glory, and the glory of Him on Earth."

Appearance
The armor of the Imperial Fists has been constant since their foundation; yellow with black and red decoration. The Chapter's symbol is a black, clenched gauntlet, positioned over a white or yellow field.

A large number of purity seals and devotional marking are worn by members of the Imperial Fists on their power armor, displaying their utter devotion to the Emperor of Mankind.

One notable departure in their appearance is that Imperial Fist veterans wear a red stripe on their helmets, as opposed to the standard white used by the Ultramarines and other Codex Chapters.

Notable Members

Vladimir Pugh: Current Chapter-Master of the Imperial Fists. Whilst not a particularly inspirational leader, Vladimir Pugh is as meticulous a planner as any Chapter Master in the Imperial Fists' history. In addition he excels in knowing who to promote and who to trust with critical missions - an appraising glance from Master Pugh can be bettered only by extensive probing from a Librarian. As a result when battle begins, Pugh can concentrate on commanding his Veteran reserve with absolute faith that his subordinates will not fail the Chapter. Believed to have had his taste-buds excised as self-punishment following an unspecified military disaster.
Chaplain Lo Chang: The moon-faced Chaplain is marked by crater-like wounds incurred when his helmet failed him. The craters feature the duelling scars common to the Imperial Fists. When Lo Chang preaches, he is swept up in devout ecstasy wherein his passion can inspire any Imperial Fists Space Marine to strive to be a true child of Dorn.
Librarian Franz Grenstein: Dusky-skinned, Grenstein's cheeks are criss-crossed with duelling scars. He is intense and preoccupied, taking his responsibilities to keep the Imperial Fists safe from psychic or daemonic enemies very seriously. On the rare occasions an Imperial Fists Space Marine is in contact with enemies bearing the taint of Chaos, it is Grenstein who will be assigned to help them regain their mental stability and ensure they have not brought the taint with them.
Appearing in the out-of-print novel Space Marine (by Ian Watson) Grenzstein was killed when a force of Fists invaded a Tyranid Hive Ship on a search-and-destroy mission.
Captain Lysander: Originally mentioned as a veteran sergeant in the 3rd edition Codex: Space Marines, noted for expertly drilling his squad in sustained bolter fire, and holding a bridge against heretics for several days. The 4th edition Codex states that he was promoted to Captain of the 1st Company after capturing the 'Blood of Khaine.'
Captain Lexandro D'Arquebus: Former high-hab resident of the Trazior hive on Necromunda, Lexandro D'Arquebus rose rapidly through the ranks of the Space Marines. He is the only surviving one of the Three Brothers of Trazior; the finger bones of his left hand are inscribed with the names of the two deceased brothers as a permanent memorial to them.
Captain Eshara: Led the third company during the later years of the 41st millennium. Aid to the Imperial Guard and Adeptus Mechanicus during the battle for one of the two universal geneseed production sites. Slain by the Iron Warrior daemon prince known only as "The Warsmith".
Captain Bannon: Featured in the novel 'Warriors of Ultramar' as the leader of an Ordo Xenos Deathwatch Kill Team under Inquisitor Kryptman. Made the ultimate sacrifice to allow Uriel Ventris and his team to escape from a besieged Imperial facility.
Captain Tialo: 2nd Company Captain during Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade. Solely held the breach in Kasr Vasan against several hundred mutants before succumbing to his wounds. He still lives, his body preserved in stasis. It is hoped he will be interred into a Dreadnought.
Captain Octavius: Imperial Fists Captain seconded to the Deathwatch. Featured in the novels "Warrior Brood" and "Warrior Coven." Proud of his Chapter of origin, and has a deep admiration for the aforementioned Captain Bannon, who he sees as the icon of duty and honor. It should also be noted that there is an Ultramarine Captain of the same name, featured in the Battle for Macragge Starter set. Octavius is killed by a Dark Eldar Machine in "Warrior Coven".

Soul Drinkers Contradiction
According to the Black Library novel Soul Drinker, there was a fourth Chapter created from the Imperial Fists during the Second Founding. The novel states that the Soul Drinkers Chapter was created from orbital assault divisions of the Imperial Fists Legion during the Second Founding.

However, the existence of this Chapter relating to the Second Founding is not mentioned in any of the Codexes associated with the Space Marines, in particular those published after the novel. At this time, the canonicity of the Soul Drinkers as a Second Founding Chapter is uncertain.

There is a mention of the Soul Drinkers in the Sisters of Battle codex for 2nd Edition. There was also a passing mention of the Soul Drinkers in the Black Templars codex, however they were not explicitly stated to be a Space Marine Chapter, nor a Second Founding Chapter based on the Imperial Fists.

To add more to the mystique of the Soul Drinkers, 1st edition Warhammer 40K's Book of the Astronomican (now called the First Book of the Astronomican), describe that the White Scars utilize specialized assault squads known as Souldrinkers. This book was also the first to introduce the White Scars in detail to the game system. Interestingly much of the heraldry of the current Soul Drinkers (armor color and chapter badge) is similar to the "Souldrinkers" of the Book of the Astronomican.

In the Soul Drinkers Omnibus, a collection of all three Soul Drinkers novels published by the Black Library, it is claimed that the Imperial Fists formed more than 4 chapters after the Second Founding. The chapter didn't incur losses as heavy from the Horus Heresy, and 7 - 16 chapters were formed post-heresy. The current state of the additional chapters is unknown, and, in the thousands of years that have passed, many events could have spawned subsequent foundings or the attrition of constant warfare in the service of the Imperium.

However, the defection and then rejection of Chaos by the Soul Drinkers as ample reason for erasure from Imperial knowledge, which is what in essence forms the backbone of Imperial codexes. In fact, in the novels from the Black Library all record of the Soul Drinkers is expunged from the Library of Terra.

Inceptors

A Second Founding chapter of the Ultramarines.

Iron Champions

The Iron Champions were one of the chapters that participated in the 3rd Armageddon War; they dispatched seven companies. During the war, the chapter launched a massive drop-pod assault to support the Celestial Lions and were it not for the two chapters, Hive Volcanus would have remained in Ork hands.

The chapter's power armor is painted black with the helmet and shoulder pads painted grey. The chest eagle is red and the face of the helmet often has a gold skull painted on it. The chapter's symbol is a skull in the middle of an Iron Halo.

Iron Fists

They are said to "bear shields moulded into the shape of a medieval armoured gauntlet." Their power armor is painted a light blue-grey with gold arms. Their symbol is a gold gauntlet in the shape of a fist upon a field of light blue-grey.

Iron Hands

Main article: Iron Hands

Iron Knights

A chapter of Space Marines who were on a self-imposed penitence crusade when they were called into action during the 13th Black Crusade. They are described as having "gleaming, blue-grey armor".

The chapter's marines curiously bear their squad marking on both shoulderpads, with the chapter badge relegated to a small shield located in the front corner of their left shoulerpad.

The Iron Knights are a smaller chapter and are primarily a strike force style chapter which focus on attacking with terminators and other heavily armored units and vehicles.

Iron Snakes

One of the many chapters of Space Marines who participated in the defence against the Thirteenth Black Crusade. The chapter also contributed Marines towards the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. Amongst the battles fought in that Crusade were: the relief of the Guard on Ambold Eleven and the assault on Pelbury Civitas, the cleansing of the daemon- infested Fornax Aleph, the support of the final extermination of the Zoican horde on Verghast and, of course, the destruction of the mechanised mutant army of Presarius.

Their power armor is silver, and the Chapter's symbol is a blue snake on a white background.

L

Lamenters

One of the chapters created during the Cursed 21st Founding. The Lamenters are believed to have been created from Blood Angels gene-seed, modified to remove the effects of the Black Rage and Red Thirst. This appeared to have been in some way successful.

However, the Lamenters are considered an unfortunate chapter. During the early centuries of the 41st millennium, they became involved on the wrong side of the Badab Uprising. They were eventually granted forgiveness for their actions and sent on a one hundred year crusade of penance. Unfortunately, this crusade led them straight into the path of a Tyranid Hive Fleet. The Lamenters were almost entirely destroyed by the Tyranids.

The power armor of the Lamenters was originally (according to WD101) yellow except for a red helmet stripe and the right shoulder pad which was decorated with white and black checks, upon which rested the Chapter's symbol: a bleeding heart.

The above scheme referred to MkVI Corvus pattern Power Armor. The recent How To Paint Space Marines book includes a MkVII Eagle pattern Power Armor scheme that darkens the armor to a mustard yellow, and (following standard MkVI to MkVII conversion rules) transfers the chapter badge (and the checked pattern) to the left shoulderpad and drops the helmet stripe completely.

Legion of the Damned

See Fire Hawks

Libators

A Second Founding chapter of the Ultramarines. Their armor is blue with a maroon checked pattern on the leg armor; their emblem is two crossed black pickaxes on a red field. The color changes to designate the company. Their one peculiarity is that their basic weapon is the storm bolter.

M

Mantis Legion

Sometimes referred to as the Mantis Warriors, the Mantis Legion was one of the three chapters that joined the Astral Claws in rebelling during the Badab Uprising. However they later rejoined the Imperial forces and joined the attack on Huron Blackheart and the Astral Claws.

Since then they have been treated with suspicion and are under constant scrutiny. Before they rebelled they had an above average induction rate for the Deathwatch, but since rebelling only a handful have been accepted. They are no longer banned from recruiting by the Inquisition although the chapter size is still dangerously low. The chapter was birthed from the Mordriana System, near the Eye of Terror, though they have had their right to a homeworld revoked and so currently reside in their space fleet.

A current rumor indicates the Mantis Legion's use of a unique unit known as a 'Tranquility Sniper Squad'. How this relates to their background, if at all, is still unknown. The only other non-Codex troops mentioned are the elite 'praying mantidae'. This elite cadre are selected from the most driven and pious members of the chapter and live for the sole purpose of hunting the Red Corsairs in order to bring honor back to the chapter. They are recognizable by snake-like tattoos covering their body, extending high up their necks.

Though a successor chapter, Mantis Warrior gene-seed is unusual and is rumored to allow the Mantis Warriors to enter a haze-like state in which the warrior's perception of space and time are slowed down, allowing him to react and fight at an accelerated speed. This battle haze is a permanent state and the marine is caught in it until he dies. Their melee combat is also helped by the notched adamantine blades attached to the lower arm armor.

The chapter color scheme was orignaly green with their symbol being a flying insect, but has changed to shining green with gold edging. The chapter symbol is a flaming mantis claw. All marines in this chapter appear to have green eyes and long black hair.

A few members who have "unofficially" joined the Deathwatch through death in battle: Librarian Shaidan, Sergeant Ruinus (Devastator Squad), and Sergeant Soron (Assault Squad).

Marauders

A Second Founding chapter of the White Scars. Marauders' power armour is yellow.

Marines Errant

Their chapter colors are a bisected blue and white scheme, with a shooting star, graduating from red to yellow, as their symbol. They participated in the Second Outer Galactic Expeditionary Force and the Badab War.

Marines Exemplar

The Marines Exemplar dedicated all but one reserve company to the efforts against the 13th Black Crusade of Chaos. They were one of the chapters founded to make up the Astartes Praeses, twenty chapters created to guard the regions surrounding the Eye of Terror.

Their power armor is black with red arms and shoulderpads (including trim); their chapter badge is a black skull with spikes radiating from the top.

Marines Malevolent

The Marines Malevolent Chapter was founded in the 32nd millennium. Their power armour is yellow (including trim) with the exception of the torso and backpack which are black. Their chapter symbol is a black winged thunderbolt.

During the Third War for Armageddon, the Marines Malevolent were censured for launching attacks that cost the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians. Apparently this chapter believes that the end justifies the means and are therefore prepared to conduct war as they see fit regardless of who is hurt in the crossfire. Captain Vinyard of the Marines Malevolent and Master Tu'Shan of the Salamanders were involved in a tense altercation in the aftermath of this incident. Some sources imply that one participant went so far as to strike the other - a severe gesture in the ethos of the Adeptus Astartes - but this is unconfirmed.

Mentors

Often referred to as the Mentor Legion. They are the second chapter to be designated number 888 (the first one being the Star Scorpions). The Mentors' armor is painted dark green over the body and helmet, with white arms, shoulders and legs. The chapter's badge was originally the stylised face of an owl, but was later changed to a plain red falcon's head, seen in profile. The Chapter-Master of the Mentors, named Nisk Ran-Thawl, has visited Earth, and is rumored to have been granted an audience with the God-Emperor.

The chapter enjoys close links with the Adeptus Mechanicus, and is known to be technologically innovative in its own right. Consequently, Mentors' equipment is of a superior standard in terms of reliability and technical complexity.

Minotaurs

One of the chapters created during the Cursed 21st Founding, the Minotaurs possess a reputation for being extremely xenophobic soldiers, along with being considered an unreliable and unpredictable force by many commanders within the Imperium. This chapter saw action on Rynn's World during the attempt to reclaim it from the Orks.

Minotaur power armor is yellow, with red decorations (usually warning markings). The chapter's symbol is a blue bull's head.

Mortifactors

A chapter founded during the 40th millennium from Ultramarines gene-seed. The Mortifactor's armor is painted bone and black, with the shoulder pad trim being in the company color. The Mortifactors recruit from the night world Posul, where the nomad population practice cannibalism. The fortress monastery of the Mortifactors is adorned with skulls and bones of those that died in the service of the chapter.

The chapter symbol is a human skull on a black background. This chapter participated in the Third War for Armageddon.

Brother Artemis of the Deathwatch was a member of the Mortifactors chapter.

N

Night Watch

One of the chapters founded to make up the Astartes Praeses, twenty chapters created to guard the regions surrounding the Eye of Terror. The Night Watch do not appear to follow the Codex Astartes as rigidly as most chapters, having at least eleven active companies at the start of the 13th Black Crusade.

Novamarines

A Second Founding chapter of the Ultramarines. The Novamarines contributed six companies to the defense against the Thirteenth Black Crusade. The power armor of the Novamarines is quartered navy blue and bone. The chapter's symbol is of a skull surrounded by a stylised star.

O

Omega Marines

A chapter founded during the 40th millennium. The Omega Marines wear divided white and black armor, shoulder pad trim and chest eagle are in the company color, veterans wear entirely black helmets. The chapter symbol is a white omega on a black background, with a skull surrounded by the omega. They participated in the Third War for Armageddon.

P

Patriarchs of Ulixis

A Second Founding chapter of the Ultramarines.

Praetors of Orpheus

A Second Founding chapter of the Ultramarines. Stationed on the world of Beta Entebes II within a subterranean base called the Labyrinthe of Orphia (sourced from Imperial Armour Vol. II), these Space Marines wear predominantly white armor with distinctive sky-blue shoulder pad trims, backpack, chest eagle and gun casing. Company is denoted both by a Roman numeral on the left kneepad and also the color of the pad itself. The chapter badge is a blue shield with a yellow sunburst in the center, with the exception of the top left quarter which is white with a blue Ultramarines symbol.

R

Rainbow Warriors

The Rainbow Warriors were mentioned in Rogue Trader (the first edition of Warhammer 40,000), but there is no mention of them in later editions of the game. They are however illustrated in the Space Marine Chapter Gallery (Games Workshop) as having dark blue armor with a multi-colored rainbow stripe along the centre of their helmets. Due to their appearance in Rogue Trader, they are often erroneously referred to as a First Founding Legion.

Rampagers

A Second Founding chapter of the White Scars. Their power armor is red. The chapter symbol is of a fist clenching a yellow lightning bolt. According to How To Paint Space Marines, squad badges are placed on the outer side of the right greave.

Raptors

Successors of the Raven Guard, originally known as the Raptor Legion, they wore blue armor with yellow face, shoulder pads, gloves, boots, and greaves. When the chapter was revisited during 3rd edition the 'Legion' was dropped from their name and they became specialists in jungle warfare, their armor color changing to a dull green, ideal for fighting within flora-dominated spaces. The chapter is featured in the game Fire Warrior and uses a hawk's head as its symbol. Material published by Forgeworld after this time retains the 3rd Edition dull green.

The chapter prides itself on extreme zeal, but "their reckless disregard for the Codex is legendary" according to Captain Ardias of the Ultramarines.

Raven Guard

Main article: Raven Guard

Reclaimers

A chapter that took part in the anti-Tyranid action at Coronia. They are mentioned several times in Sandy Mitchell's Ciaphas Cain series of novels, and are also one of the Astartes Praeses. They wear cherry-red armor and their symbol is a pair of gauntleted fists imposed on a blue pentagram.

Red Hunters

This chapter has strong ties to the Inquisition; the entire Chapter has been known to serve under an inquisitor lord on occasion. Their uniform is red, with a white skull with a black Inquisition symbol on its head as a Chapter badge.

Red Scorpions

The Red Scorpions are the Chapter responsible for the Land Raider Helios artillery support vehicle. The Chapter is distrustful of the Imperial Guard and other marine chapters, possibly due to their exteme xenophobia and also consider it tantamount to heresy to deviate in the slightest from the Codex Astartes.

Red Scorpions power armor was originally black with yellow helmet stripe and shoulderpad, leg and arm trims. Imperial Armor Volume Four has amended this to charcoal grey with mustard shoulderpad trim, chest eagle and helmet stripe (irrespective of company). The chapter's symbol is a red scorpion centred on a white field.

They are known to have participated in the Badab War and the Third War for Armageddon, appearing at the end of the first year of conflict. They also appear to have fought in the Anphelion project alongside Inquisitor Soloman Lok.

Red Talons

A Second Founding chapter of the Iron Hands. Their power armour is red with black trim, and the chapter's symbol is of a red bird's talons on a black circular background.

Relictors

Founded in the 36th millennium as one of the twenty Astartes Praeses Chapters, created to protect the regions surrounding the Eye of Terror. The Relictors were a radical chapter that utilised the weapons of Chaos to destroy the minions of Chaos themselves. This frequently brought them into conflict with the Inquisition, eventually culminating in their being stripped of their homeworld and being sent on penitent crusade. Continued conflict with the Inquisition during the 13th Black Crusade resulted in their being excommunicated and all but destroyed by the Grey Knights. Only a few hundred now remain.

Their power armor is dark grey (including trim) with black shoulder pads, and often bears white penitence markings.

The Chapter participated in both the Third War for Armageddon and the defence of the Cadian sector against the 13th Black Crusade.

Revilers

A Second Founding chapter of the Raven Guard. Their armour color is grey; the chapter symbol is a human skull shot through from top left to lower right by a yellow thunderbolt. Each company is assigned a color, which is painted on a stripe on each Marine's helmet.

S

Salamanders

Main article: Salamanders (Warhammer 40,000)

Scythes of the Emperor

Adeptus Astartes Chapter 874, the Scythes of the Emperor were founded at some point during the middle of the 41st millennium. Their gene-stock is speculated to have come from the Ultramarines. The Scythes served during the Damocles Gulf Crusade, and played a vital role in the capture of Sy'l'kell from the Tau Empire. However, the crusade stalled and withdrew when it was learned that the newly-discovered Tyranids were heading for Ultramar, home of the Ultramarines.

After the Badab War, the Scythes were charged to watch over the Lamenters, who were performing a crusade of penance for their role in the rebellion. They continued in this role until the final years of the 41st millennium, when the chapter's homeworld was attacked and destroyed by Hive Fleet Kraken. The Scythes are presumed destroyed with their homeworld, but rumours indicate that a small number of survivors may be active and are pursuing splinters of Kraken.

The armor of the Scythes of the Emperor is black and yellow, with crossed yellow scythes depicted on the shoulder panels.

Silver Skulls

An Ultramarines successsor chapter founded during the 31st millennium. The armor of the Silver Skulls is silver (including trim) with black shoulderpads. According to some sources the chapter denotes company by the color of the squad badge. The chapter symbol is a silver, stylised skull mask. They participated in the Third War for Armageddon. They are headhunters, wearing the heads and skulls of their enemies as trophies.

Skull Bearers

This chapter wears bone-colored power armor. Its chapter symbol is a black skull with yellow eye sockets and nasal cavity. The participated in the "Imbach Genoside".

Sons of Antaeus

A chapter created during the Cursed 21st Founding, records of the Sons of Antaeus are few. In these, the reporters marvel at the Space Marines bearing grey and black heraldry, the Marines apparently larger and hardier than even the other superhumans of the Adeptus Astartes.

Sons of Guilliman

A chapter created during the 33rd millennium from Ultramarines gene-seed. The Sons of Guilliman wear quartered, alternating blue and white powered armor. They have been shown with both red and yellow chest eagles; Insigneum Astartes however states that they denote company by the color of the left kneepad (pad trims match the respective pads). The chapter symbol is an inverted omega, imposed over a pair of wings. This chapter participated in the Third War for Armageddon.

Sons of Malice

The Sons of Malice turned to Chaos some time prior to the Thirteenth Black Crusade. The chapter was founded to watch over the Eye of Terror, but were excommunicated for ritually sacrificing and devouring an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus who had (violently) objected to them ritually devouring some heretical cultists.

Their homeworld was Scelus, in the Cadian Sector, although it was declared Perdita when the Chapter turned on the Imperium.

The armor of the Sons of Malice is quartered black and white, with silver trim. The chapter is believed to have links to Malal, at one time the fifth God of Chaos.

Sons of Medusa

This chaper played some small part in the Badab War. Their armour is green with white highlights. Their chapter symbol was originally Medusa's head, but was later stylized into a white skull with a white halo about it.

Soul Drinkers

A Rogue Space Marine Chapter, excommunicated by the Inquisition due to rampant mutation, but still very loyal to the Emperor, even though they have been exposed to the raw stuff of Chaos. They were formed from the Imperial Fists' orbital assault contingent during the Second Founding. They participated along with the Imperial Fists, Fire Hawks and Black Templars chapters in the assault on Terra at the end of the Reign of Blood.

The current Chapter Master is a powerful Librarian by the name of Sarpedon. He is unique in that he has grown eight arachnoid-like legs. He can telepathically send but not receive thoughts.

Their armor is purple with bone colored shoulder pad trims and gold chest eagle. Their chapter badge is a golden chalice with a halo.

The chapter's name derives from a mutation in their Omophagea. Normally this organ allows a Marine to absorb some of the memories of a creature by consuming its flesh; in addition to this the Soul Drinkers also experience the creature's emotions and memories. Philosophically speaking they "see into the creature's soul".

See also Soul Drinkers contradiction for inconsistencies within published material about the founding of the Soul Drinkers.

Space Sharks

The Space Sharks Chapter wears grey armor with a red helmet stripe. Its symbol is a black shark, viewed from the front, with its mouth gaping. They were involved in the Badab War for a short period of time.

Space Wolves

Main article: Space Wolves

Star Scorpions

The Star Scorpions were a chapter of the 25th Founding. Unfortunately, they produced mutated gene-seed and were also presumably devastated by Warp entities when their fleet was lost in the Warp. They were declared Lost and, due to their unusable gene-seed, could not be refounded. In the 26th Founding, the Mentors were given the Star Scorpions' uniform pattern and number, 888, but were equipped with a completely new set of gene-seed. However there are reports of ancient Marines in Star Scorpions uniform fighting in the Third War for Armageddon.

Steel Cobras

A chapter of Space Marines that turned on the Imperium after a puritanical crusade was led against them for their worship of the Emperor as an animal-totem. The Steel Cobras are now based beneath the ammonia seas of Tukaroe VII, where nothing short of an invasion by another Space Marine Chapter will dislodge them.

The chapter's power armor is dark brass with dark metallic green details; their chapter symobl is yet to be seen.

Steel Confessors

A chapter created in M36 by the Adeptus Mechanicus for its own use using Iron Hands gene-seed. The Inquisition discovered its existence, but the High Lords allowed it to continue providing it took all the vows other chapters have to take. They are harsh and uncompromising, and are currently under investigation by the Ordo Hereticus after the destruction of the Tallarn 54th for "Failure to complete objectives".

Storm Giants

A chapter founded during the early 41st millennium. The Storm Giants wear bone-colored armor (including trim) with a yellow or gold chest eagle; according to Insignium Astartes they bear no company markings on their armor at all. The chapter symbol is a stylised red thunderbolt, pointing upwards. The chapter is believed to be descended from Salamanders gene-seed. They participated in the Third War for Armageddon.

Storm Lords

A Second Founding chapter of the White Scars. Their power armor is painted half-white half-red with yellow helmet. The chapter's symbol is a skull superimposed over three lightning bolts. The Storm Lords participated in the effort to free the Crimson Fists' homeworld from the Orks.

There is conflicting fluff as to the chapter's organization: some sources claim it is a Codex chapter with the helmet being painted in the company color, other sources claim it follows the White Scars division into "Brotherhoods" in which case the helmet colors are an unknown quantity.

Storm Warriors

The Storm Warriors committed their entire chapter's forces to the defence of the Cadian sector during the Thirteenth Black Crusade. The chapter's power armor is painted grey, with shoulder pad trim in the company color. The symbol of the Storm Warriors is a vertical sword, flanked by two lightning bolts.

Subjugators

Founded only a short time before the 13th Black Crusade, the Subjugators were almost wiped out during the various actions on Cadia. While fighting a campaign against the Cell-kin of the Technetium Belt, several of the marines were infected by the Xenos they fought (the Cell-kin breed by viral dissemination, their DNA infecting the body of the host, reshaping it into another Cell-kin). Though most of the chapter were cured, twenty of the 3rd Company couldn't be cured; they escaped and are still at large in the galaxy.

Their power armor is mid-green (including trims). The chapter badge is a black clenched fist.

T

Terror Tigers

Short mentioned in WD article.

Thunder Barons

A Traitor Chapter mentioned in several Black Library publications, devoted to Khorne.

Tiger Claws

The original name of the Astral Claws.

U

Ultramarines

Primarch: Roboute Guilliman

Battlecry: "Courage and honor!"

Colors: Ultramarine

The Ultramarines are considered to be one of the greatest of all the Space Marine Chapters in the Imperium of Man, almost single handedly holding the Imperium together after the Horus Heresy. Highly disciplined and courageous warriors, the Ultramarines have remained true to the teachings of their Primarch for ten thousand years.

"Ultramarines" is a nod to both their standing among Space Marine chapters, as well as the overall color scheme of the army; which also lends its name to one of the main paint colors sold by Games Workshop. They are loosely themed upon Ancient Rome, as exemplified in their names and their strict adherence to the Codex Astartes, as well as on the Spartan hoplites, as exeplified by their homeworld and method of recruitment.

History

Roboute Guilliman
The Primarch of the Ultramarines Legion, Roboute Guilliman, appeared without explanation on the planet Macragge, a rocky, inhospitable world in what would become known as the Eastern Fringe of the Imperium.

Guilliman's arrival was a time of great omen for the people of Macragge. Konor, one of the two Battle Kings, received a vision of a mighty warrior fighting away the darkness. After leading an expedition to the site portrayed in the vision, Konor found a golden-haired child.

Naming the child Roboute, Konor adopted him, and was amazed at the speed at which the child learned. Roboute was put through the compulsory military training academies; two years later he was considered the finest warrior on Macragge. Joining the military, he led a campaign to pacify the previously-unconquered Illyrium, the northern region of the planet. Within two months, he had both pacified and befriended the savage tribesmen.

Returning from his successful campaign, he found his home city in a state of anarchy. Leading his troops to the Senate house, he organized details to bring the city back under control. Entering the building, and defeating a hundred soldiers in the pay of the rival Battle King, Gallan, he found his adoptive father assassinated.

With the assistance of the troops loyal to both him and his adoptive father, Roboute brought the city under control, captured and executed the leaders of the rebellion, and assumed the role of Battle King. As Macragge and the surrounding systems flourished, the attention of the Emperor was attracted.

It was said that Roboute instantly recognised his true father, swearing loyalty to the Imperium and receiving command of the Ultramarines Legion in return.

The Great Crusade
Roboute Guilliman quickly assimilated the knowledge required for him to lead a Space Marine Legion, and took command. His talents lay in the art of war, and he led his soldiers to victory after victory, liberating countless worlds from oppression by alien races and the forces of Chaos, fighting in a way that caused minimal collateral damage, and winning over the hearts and minds of the people.

Back on Macragge, the Ultramarines who had remained behind began construction of the Fortress of Hera, and the training and genetic modification of new recruits. They were so effective, the Ultramarines Legion quickly became the largest of the twenty Space Marine Legions fighting in the Crusade. Guilliman accepted Horus's elevation to Warmaster without much resentment and Horus usually sought his counsel. Horus comments in False Gods, however, that Guilliman felt he deserved to be proclaimed Warmaster just as much as he.

The Horus Heresy
When Warmaster Horus turned his back on the Imperium and began the Horus Heresy, his first act was to decoy as many loyalist Legions away from Terra as possible. Horus ordered Guilliman to lead an expeditionary force to the Calth system, where, Horus claimed, an Ork Waaagh! had been massing. On arrival Guilliman was puzzled: no Orks were present, only the vessels belonging to the Word Bearers Legion. Unknown to Guilliman, this Legion had turned traitor, having gleefully accepted Horus's orders to close the trap on their hated rivals. The Word Bearers' sudden attack decimated Guilliman's fleet, and the Ultramarine ground troops quickly found themselves impossibly outnumbered by their former allies. The Word Bearers were slaying their loyalist foes in droves and driving them back over huge stretches of territory, and rejoiced. Unknown to them, Guilliman's ship, which had survived the initial attack, effected emergency repairs and regrouped with the other surviving ships in space. Having taken stock of his remaining forces, Guilliman sent an immediate distress call to Macragge.

The Marines on Calth had been forced into a fighting retreat, but now occupied fortified positions. Many Ultramarines had been born on Calth, and proved more resolute than the Word Bearers anticipated. In space, Guilliman's vessels began hit-and-run attacks on their over-confident enemy. Guilliman assessed his ground troop's positions and broadcast clear, concise orders to each pocket of defense, coordinating them into a cohesive force. One Ultramarine force led by Captain Ventanus led a breakout and retook Calth's defense laser silos, aiding the sorely-pressed Ultramarine fleet. They slowed the Word Bearers down long enough for the remainder of Ultramarines Legion to arrive and fall upon the traitors in force and rout them from the system. Bloodied but unbowed, the Ultramarines then received Malcador the Sigilite's orders and immediately set course for Terra.

Meanwhile in Holy Terra's orbit, Horus' allies delivered the fateful news. The Ultramarines, Dark Angels and Space Wolves Legions were only hours away from reinforcing the Emperor. Horus knew that his gamble had failed, and was pushed into making a fatal mistake: he dropped his vessel's shields, allowing the Emperor to teleport aboard and slay him, ending the heresy. The Ultramarines did not arrive until after Horus's defeat, and they found the Imperium in ruins. Guilliman steadfastly refused to allow the Imperium to fall, and began dispatching his Legion to all corners of the galaxy to stem the tide of invasion and unrest as the other Loyalist forces recovered and rearmed. After a decade of intense fighting, stability was restored. To prevent such an event happening again, Guilliman presented his masterwork the Codex Astartes, dividing the Space Marine Legions into smaller and more manageable Chapters, each a thousand men strong. Never again would one man wield the power of a Space Marine Legion.

After the Heresy
Roboute Guilliman continued to serve with the Ultramarines Chapter, leading them for a hundred years after the Second Founding. It was said that during those years, Guilliman led several incursions alongside his brother Primarchs against the remaining Chaos Space Marines. An unreliable source states that during one incursion, Guilliman faced Alpharius of the Alpha Legion and defeated him in single combat. The Ultramarines could not liberate the planet, as the Alpha Legion was adept at fighting independently, despite the (apparent) death of Alpharius; eventually the Ultramarines moved on. He was finally defeated by one of the traitor Primarchs, Fulgrim of the Emperor's Children, who had become a Daemon Prince of Slaanesh.

Fatally poisoned by his one-time brother, Roboute was transported back to Macragge in a stasis field, and has remained entombed in the field for ten thousand years. Although physically impossible in a stasis field, it is believed that his wounds are healing, and one day he will awaken again.

The Tyrannic Wars
Some of the most notable events in the ten thousand year history of the Ultramarines are classified as the Tyrannic Wars, the Chapter's efforts against the extragalactic invasion of The Great Devourer. During the latter half of the 41st millennium, the incursions of the Tyranid Hive Fleets began to draw the attention of the Imperium.

Directly in the invasion path of the Hive Fleet codenamed Behemoth, the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, Marneus Calgar, ordered the deployment of the entire Chapter's forces in an effort to stall Behemoth's progress. Facing defeat on all fronts, Calgar ordered the forces under his command to retreat for Macragge, to mass for one last stand.

Despite horrendous losses from the orbital and polar defense grids protecting the Ultramarines' homeworld, many Tyranid organisms were able to reach the surface of the planet. Intense fighting spread across the planet, worst in the region of the northern polar defense installations, and while Calgar and the Ultramarines fleet were able to destroy the Tyranid ship- organisms, horrific casualties were suffered on the planet's surface. The entire elite First Company were wiped out to a man while defending the defense grids, and it took nearly one hundred years for the Ultramarines to rebuild the Company.

Since this time, the Ultramarines have become instrumental in the wars against other Hive Fleets. In response to the threat, and counter to the Codex Astartes, many of the veterans of the battle at Macragge have been formed into elite, specially trained anti-Tyranid squads. These Tyrannic War Veterans make up half of the reformed First Company, and are often seconded to the Deathwatch because of their experience and training.

Organization
The Ultramarines Chapter follows the teachings of their Primarch and the Codex Astartes with a religious dedication. They follow the organizational format laid out during the Second Founding with strict devotion, only deviating from their Primarch's teachings when the situation leaves them no other choice (like the creation of the Tyrannic War Veterans).

Tyrannic War Veterans
During the first incursion of the Tyranid hive-fleets, the Ultramarines were constantly fighting the extragalactic menace. The invasion of Hive Fleet Behemoth was halted at Macragge, in a series of battles that completely wiped out the elite First Company.

Veterans of Tyranid conflicts are often grouped into elite units of Tyrannic War Veterans, also known as Tyranid Hunters. These units are specially trained to effectively fight the extragalactic menace. They are deployed in the Reserve Companies, to allow maximum flexibility of use, and are only ever used against Tyranid invasion. Currently, half of the Ultramarines First Company are composed of Tyrannic War Veterans.

Ultramarines Honor Guard
The Honor Guard are comprised of Ultramarines who guard the Chapter Banner. To become an Honor Guard, one must display courage that goes above and beyond the normal call in a given situation. Those that do are rewarded with a decorative, but practical, suit of power armor, with its most notable feature being the wings of the Imperium Eagle across the face of the helmet, and an Axe of Ultramar, a powerful weapon forged by the Techmarines in the Chapter's Forge and constructed with rare ores excavated beneath the world of Prandium. Among those in the Honor Guard are two special individuals, the Ancient (an Honor Guard designated to carry the scarred Banner of Macragge into battle and wears stronger Artificer Armor) and the Champion (an Honor Guard who carries the Honor Blades, a matching set of broadsword and poniard that only he may carry, and also wears stronger Artificer Armor).

Marneus Calgar is usually accompanied by a squad of Honor Guard in battle. Other Chapter Commanders can be accompanied by a squad, as well. Sometimes, individual Honor Guard members can join a normal Command squad, Tactical squad, or Devastator squad by replacing one marine from the squad.

Company Disposition
Like all Codex Chapters, the Ultramarines are divided into ten Companies. Each Company is led by a hero of the Ultramarines, who - in addition to his Company command - is in charge of a particular aspect of the Chapter's logistics. The current Company commanders are as follows:

First Company (white trim): Captain Agemman, Regent of Ultramar
Second Company (gold): Captain Sicarius, Master of the Watch
Third Company (red): Captain Ardias (dec.) Captain Fabian, Master of the Arsenal
Fourth Company (green): Captain Idaeus (dec.) Captain Ventris (exiled), Master of the Fleet
Fifth Company (black): Captain Galenus, Master of the Marches
Sixth Company (orange): Captain Epathus, Master of the Rites
Seventh Company (purple): Captain Ixion, Chief Victualler
Eighth Company (grey): Captain Numitor
Ninth Company (blue): Captain Sinon
Tenth Company (if displayed then white): Captain Antilochus, Master of Recruits

Note: Until 745.M41, Captain Ardias led the Third Company, but died in battle against Tau in Damocles Gulf Crusade. Mikael Fabian was confirmed as the successor captain before Battle of Macragge against Tyranids, and, with his Third Company success in the reconquest of the North Pole Fortress, as is said in Codex Tyranids (2nd ed).

Note: Until 999.M41, Captain Lucius Idaeus led the Fourth Company, but died in battle on Thracia. Uriel Ventris was confirmed as the successor captain shortly after, but has been exiled from the Ultramarines for failing to adhere to the Codex Astartes.

Fleet Disposition
These were taken from John Lambshead's Battlefleet Gothic article about the Ultramarine Fleet. Normally, Chapters would possess two or three battle barges but the Ultramarines can field five as the Realm of Ultramar depended on them for sector naval protection.

5 Battle Barges: Aeternus, Emperor Incarnatus, Adsidus, Seditio Opprimere, Lord Laomedon
10 Strike Cruisers: Vae Victus, Iter Splendere, Fidelis, Internecio, Accipiter
14 Rapid Strike Cruisers
34 Thunderhawks

Combat Doctrine
The Ultramarines adhere rigidly to the tenets laid down in the Codex Astartes. For ten thousand years they have fought in the manner described in its holy pages. Other Chapters may freely interpret the words of Guilliman but, to the Ultramarines, such deviation is unthinkable. The Codex Astartes is a work of divine wisdom, sanctified by the Emperor himself, and the Ultramarines see no reason to deviate from its wisdom. The life-long lessons of discipline and self-reliance that are taught to the people of Ultramar from birth give them the strength of character to hold true to teachings over ten thousand years old.

For any given tactical situation, the Codex has hundreds of pages devoted to how it may be met and overcome. Each warrior of the Chapter is required to memorize whole sections of the Codex so that within a Company there exists an entire record of the Codex's tenets. The wisdom of thousands of Imperial warriors have contributed to the Codex, and details on everything from unit markings to launching a full-scale planetary assault are contained within its pages. The Codex also holds the basis for imperial cities, giving blueprints for certain buildings and road systems, and also issuing a bog standard outline for defenses; the Codex also gives guidelines for keeping Imperial populations in line, prescribing social structures and PDF (Planetary Defence Force) recruitment techniques. Within the book is also the command structure for the armies of the Imperial Guard. Because of the Codex, armies can colonize entire systems and get to the stage of thriving cities with lightning fast precision and speed.

Battle Cry

"Courage and Honor!"

Appearance
The Ultramarines typically paint their power armor and vehicles a medium (Ultramarine) blue, and their symbol is an inverted white Omega. The Ultramarines also utilise black-and-yellow chevrons, usually on weapons such as power fists. They also incorporate the double-headed Imperial Eagle (especially seen in command and elite squads) in their armory. They also have a gold (shining gold) trim on their Imperial Eagle. Their shoulder armor trim color varies depending on the Company the Marine belongs to, with the First Company being White, Second; Gold, etc.

Notable Members:

Marneus Calgar - Ultramarines Chapter Master during the 41st millennium. He wields The Gauntlets of Ultramar.
Chief Librarian Tigurius - Believed to have survived contact with the Tyranid Hive Mind.
Chaplain Cassius - Defined as "the Master of Sanctity", Cassius is one of the oldest Ultramarines not contained in an armored Dreadnought sarcophagus, and acting mentor of the Tyrannic War Veterans.
Chaplain Varnus - He assisted the Cadian 412th Imperial Guard with his Ultramarine forces to get the Titan crew to the Imperator-class titan Dominatus during the course of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Winter Assault. Varnus has been known to have single-handedly defeated a Khorne Bloodthirster in combat - a remarkable feat even for a Chaplain.
Brother Captain Idaeus - Idaeus commanded the Fourth company from 627.M41 to 999.M41, earning a reputation as something of a maverick amongst the Ultramarines. His attitude was tolerated simply because he achieved victory with one of the lowest casualty figures in the entire Chapter. His penchant for thinking beyond the strictures of the Codex Astartes had earned him some powerful detractors within the Chapter and some say it was this that led to his company being posted to some of the most dangerous warzones throughout the galaxy.
Captain Agemman - Captain of the Ultramarines Veteran 1st Company. Said to be one of the Chapter's greatest heroes.
Captain Cato Sicarius - Captain of the Ultramarines 2nd Company, hero of the Medusa Schism and overall commander of the Imperial Forces in the Medusa V campaign.
Captain Ardias: He was the captain of the Ultramarines 3rd company. He allies with the Tau to defeat the Chaos forces during the conflict of Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior.
Captain Uriel Ventris - featured in the novels Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar and Dead Sky, Black Sun. Captain of the Ultramarines 4th Company. He is armed with the Sword of Ideaus, Lucius Ideaus being his predecessor and mentor. He was exiled from the Chapter for not adhering to the Codex Astartes after leading an Ordo Xenos Kill Team into a Tyranid fleet to kill the Norn Queen.
Lord Admiral Lazlo Tiberius - Current acting Master of the Fleet during Ventris' exile, and a veteran of the Tyrannic War.
Sergeant Pasanius Lysane - 1st Sergeant of the 4th Company under his friend, Captain Ventris. His notable feature includes a self-repairing bionic arm, crafted for him after his original arm was lost in a battle with the Nightbringer, a Necron C'tan, and Terminator armor parts incorporated to his power armor due to his huge size. He wields a heavy flamer. He was exiled along with Uriel Ventris for the same offence at the Battle of Tarsis Ultra.
Veteran Sergeant Learchus - Once Uriel's nemesis when they trained together at Agiselus Barracks, Learchus has grudgingly accepted Uriel has his company commander. They fought together on Pavonis and he has respect for his captain, though they are never going to be friends like Uriel and Pasanius. He is a typical Ultramarine, honorable and noble, though he tends to look down on those cultures not as enlightened as those of the Ultramarines. Learchus represents the letter of the law as laid down by the Primarch in the Codex Astartes and this is what has driven him to accuse his captain of heresy.
Captain Kruger - He lead the Ultramarines against the forces of the Word Bearers in Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate.

Background and Character
The backstory of the Ultramarines Legion takes many elements from the ancient Greek (particularly Spartan) and Roman societies, namely in terms of military organization. They are portrayed as the pre-eminent, stereotypical Space Marines army, as they do not require any additional rules or supplements beyond the Codex. This portrayal has resulted in many players believing that the Ultramarines have no real 'character', an opinion recent changes have attempted to rectify, for example by introducing the concepts of "Honor Guards" and "Tyranid Hunters".

As the Ultramarines are one of the armies included with the boxed set of the game, there is a high proportion of new players amongst those fielding Ultramarine armies.

The Ultramarines dominion over Ultramar gives these Astartes unparalleled contact with Imperial citizenry. Many sources (such as the Warriors of Ultramar series) suggest that this administrative role, and Ultramarine recruits coming from all across Ultramar, has led to an unusual level of affinity for the common citizenry. The Ultramarines regard themselves as protectors of the innocent, and not simply the Imperium's best warriors. This indicates the Ultramarines may be considered one of the noblest of Marine Chapters, fighting for not merely honor and martial pride, but to protect their own.

The Ultramarines are a byword for courage and honor, and their warriors are justly held in the highest regard throughout the Imperium. Unlike many other Chapters, who control a single planet or fortress-monastery, the Ultramarines control no fewer than eight systems from their homeworld of Macragge, the stellar realm known as Ultramar. It is from these worlds that the Ultramarines recruit their newest members, administer Imperial Justice and rule Ultramar with a just and disciplined hand. The Ultramarines fortress monastery - known as the Fortress of Hera - is situated in the highest peaks of Macragge, and it is here that the best and bravest of the children selected from the many training academies throughout Ultramar are brought to begin their training as Space Marines. Here, they will become the most feared fighting warriors of the Imperium - the Angels of Death, the Adeptus Astartes.

Roboute Guilliman, the Primarch of the Ultramarines, set down the foundations of the Imperium's fighting forces ten thousand years ago in a mighty tome known and revered as the Codex Astartes. This holy work embodied all the Primarch's military genius and set out precise guidelines for virtually every single aspect of war imaginable, everything from the correct conduct while marching to the precise execution of a planetary assault. But perhaps its most significant edict was the breaking up of the Space Marine Legions into the smaller Chapters that exist today. No longer would one man control force as powerful as a Space Marine Legion. Each Chapter would be broken up into a force of ten companies, roughly a thousand warriors strong. The Ultramarines have followed his teachings since those days and are strict adherents to the words of their Primarch's tome, and the organisation and combat doctrines of the Ultramarines of today are the same as those followed by the Ultramarines of ten thousand years ago. These tenets of belief have passed to the citizens of Ultramar and this stellar realm is as close to the ideal of a human Utopia as is imaginable in a galaxy of war.

Defenders of Ultramar
The Fourth Company of the Ultramarines has a long and glorious history, stretching back to the dark days of the Horus Heresy when brother Space Marines fell into the bloodiest civil war ever to tear at the Emperor's realm. They have fought and triumphed against traitors, fallen Space Marines and vile xeno creatures, bringing honor and glory to their Chapter. In most recent times, the Company has faced some of its greatest challenges and met some of the most powerful enemies. All of which its warriors have fought with courage and honor.

The Fourth Company is known as the 'Defenders of Ultramar' - an accolade won in the Chapter's earliest history, when Chaos Space Marines from the Word Bearers attacked the Ultramarines towards the end of the Horus Heresy and drove them back to the very heart of Ultramar. It was upon the world of Calth that the final battle would take place. Famed for its orbital shipyards, Calth was a typical world of Ultramar. Its inhabitants were wealthy and generous, knowing little in the ways of want or fear. In many ways, theirs was a paradise, and as such it was not to last.

When the Word Bearers launched their attack against the Ultramarines, the strike against Calth was led by one of the Word Bearers' greatest champions, the former Master of the Faith, Kor Phaeron. This mighty champion swore to utterly destroy the planet, and was very nearly successful. From his personal battle barge, he directed a full-scale invasion of the Calth system. Calth's three sister planets were all destroyed, massive geo-nuclear strikes ripping them apart at the core. Calth's once gentle sun was laced with deadly metals and substances that increased the star's radiation output tenfold. (Within a century after the battle's end, the final elements of Calth's atmosphere were burned off by its sun and the world left airless, its populace now dwelling in gigantic underground caverns.) Upon its surface, the Fourth company fought the Word Bearers to a standstill. The traitors held superiority in numbers, weaponry, and brutality, but the Ultramarines would never give in. As driven as the warriors of Lord Kor Phaeron were, they could not dislodge the Ultramarines, many of whom had once called the planet home.

The war upon Calth was devastating and horrific. Ancient codes of warfare and martial conduct were broken and set aside by the Word Bearers as all manner of death and destruction was unleashed. The Ultramarines were stunned by the millions of cultists the Word Bearers used as human shields and cannon fodder. The Word Bearers, in turn, had underestimated the tenacity and resolve of their hated foe. In the end, Lord Kor Phaeron was defeated when reinforcements from Macragge drove the Word Bearers from the surface of Calth. Kor Phaeron retreated all the way to the Maelstrom, a turbulent region of the galaxy where the Immaterium of Chaos seeps through into the material realm of the universe. The Ultramarines were victorious, and the leader of the Fourth company, Brother Captain Ventanus, would one day set foot upon the shattered homeworld of the Word Bearers, symbolically capturing the abandoned homeworld of the Legion that had once threatened to enslave Ultramar.

Guardians of the Eastern Fringe
The Ultramarines have always held the eastern fringes against the forces of darkness that threaten the Imperium from beyond the halo stars, and the Fourth Company have an especial hatred for the alien invaders known as the Tyranids. Rapacious, extra-galactic predators, these relentless alien killers consume all before them in their quest for bio-matter to feed the ever-hungry bio factories of their hive queens. The first Tyranid hive fleet, codified as Behemoth, smashed into Imperial space in 745.M41 and descended upon Macragge in a flurry of talon and claw. Forewarned by Inquisitor Kryptman, the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, Marneus Calgar, stood ready to face the deadly aliens, but nothing could prepare his warriors for the sheer horror of what was to come. Commanded at this time by Captain Idaeus, the Fourth Company fought at the forefront of the invasion and were instrumental in the destruction of several of the larger Tyranid vessels. At last the invasion of Behemoth was repulsed, but at terrible cost; the entirety of the First company was wiped out defending the northern polar defences and many great heroes met their end. The Ultramarines had won the first Tyrannic War, but Kryptman assured Calgar that the Tyranids would be back.

With the destruction of Behemoth, the Ultramarines set about consolidating their hold on Ultramar. Many of their best and bravest warriors had fallen to the Tyranids, and with their strength thus depleted, many other alien and piratical raiders took advantage of this lapse in security and launched their own raids throughout Ultramar to sack worlds previously unassailable. Thus it was that the Fourth company - which had been at full strength when the Tyranid fleet attacked - had come through the war with the fewest casualties, and were thus the first called upon to help liberate Vorhn's world, a Shrine world in a neighboring sub-sector.

The Ork Warlord known as the Arch Maniac of Cabela had sized the world, enslaving its population and defiling the holy temples of the Emperor. Such barbarity could not be countenanced on such a holy world and thus the Fourth company was tasked with its liberation. Idaeus once more led his warriors into battle, using a combination of rigid adherence to the words of the Codex Astartes and an uncanny ability to adapt to rapidly changing battlefield conditions to circumvent many of the Ork strongpoints and destroy many vital elements of their defences. With much of their energies spent hunting down the raiders in their midst, the Orks were unable to repulse the massed tank companies and regiments of the Jovian Hussars who overran the greenskins with a staggeringly low casualty rate. It was during the cleansing of Vorhn's World that a young Space Marine named Uriel Ventris came to Idaeus's attention. Descended from the legendary Lucian Ventris, who had died fighting the Tyranids of hive fleet Behemoth beneath the polar defence fortress one hundred and eighty years ago, Uriel displayed an exemplary courage, even amongst warriors for whom heroic feats of bravery were the norm. Taking command of his squad when his sergeant was killed by an Ork warlord, Uriel displayed the qualities that would one day lead him to command the Fourth Company itself.

Rebuilding
With the liberation of Vorhn's world, the task was now to secure the borders of Ultramar, and upon their return from the victorious campaign against the Orks, Idaeus's company joined their Battle Brothers in securing the borders of Ultramar against further attack.

For the next five years, the company patrolled the northern borders of their realm, running interdiction attacks and boarding actions against any and all raiders they encountered. Aboard the Vae Victus, an honourable ship commanded by Captain Lazlo Tiberius, himself a scarred veteran of the Tyrannic Wars, the Fourth company destroyed over three hundred vessels and achieved the highest number of kills to add to the banner in their company chapel.

Over the next few years, between occasional returns to Macragge for obeisances at the Temple of Correction, where the stasis-sealed corpse of Roboute Guilliman watches over his Chapter, the Fourth company regained its strength and inducted many new members. Returned to full combat readiness, the company was once again fit for duties beyond the borders of Ultramar and in the Mereneas Core, the company was to earn the gratitude of the Adeptus Mechanicus when they boarded and destroyed the space hulk, Flame of Iniquity, an agglomerated structure of scores of derelict spaceships that threatened a number of their Forge worlds, giant, factory planets where much of the armed might of the Imperium is produced.

Following this success, the determination and courage of the Fourth Company came to the attention of Inquisitor Markhov, who was in need of warriors of such great skill. He petitioned Marneus Calgar for the Ultramarines assistance in a matter of grave urgency. Calgar consented to allow the Fourth company to be seconded to the Inquisitor's service and Idaeus's company was despatched to the world of Epsilon Regalis - a world later to be made infamous by Witch Hunter Tyrus. Precisely what occurred on this world has never been made known, the events subsequent to the Ultramarines deployment on Epsilon Regalis having been sealed by the Ordo Hereticus. Immediately following this mysterious mission, the Fourth company were involved in the eradication of several indigenous life-forms on the world of Horranveth to allow colonization by an Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator team. Many among the Ultramarines felt that this was beneath them, but none dared defy their Chapter Master's decree.

Following the purgation of Horranveth, the company was recalled to take part in the Balur Crusade, a mixed Chapter- force led by Marneus Calgar himself. A strong coalition of xeno creatures (identified as Tau, Kroot and Tarellian) had launched an attack into Imperial held space and demanded that the inhabitants of the captured worlds swear allegiance to their blasphemous empire. Naturally, such naked aggression could not go unanswered and together with warriors from the Blood Angels, Marines Malevolent and the taciturn remnants of the Scythes of the Emperor, Calgar led the combined army to swift victory, destroying the nascent colonies and re-establishing Imperial rule.

Return of the Tyranids
The Fourth Company were to fight the Tyranids again on the world of Ichar IV when these xenos returned with yet another hive fleet, this time known as Kraken. Far from the battering ram of Behemoth, it appeared that the Tyranids had somehow learned from their defeat centuries before and attacked in a series of smaller, yet no less lethal splinter fleets - attacking across a much wider front. Many of these fleets were destroyed, driving the aliens to consolidate their attack on the industrial world of Ichar IV. Again, the Tyranid threat was met with courage and steel, the men of the Ultramarines fighting alongside hundreds of Imperial Guard regiments and seven other Space Marine Chapters. The Fourth Company were again in the forefront of the fighting, with Idaeus and Uriel both awarded the Imperial Laurel for their heroism. Once more the aliens were repulsed, though the threat of Kraken remains strong. The Tyranid fleet broke into a number of smaller fleets as it retreated from Ichar IV and it is known that many of these splinter fleets have penetrated deep into the galactic core. Some have even reached as far as Segmentum Solar though the massed guns of the Imperial fleet have destroyed these without mercy. However, whether every one of these splinter fleets has been destroyed remains unclear.

Following the defeat of the Tyranids at Ichar IV, the Fourth company was despatched to the world of Thracia, where the rumored involvement of the Night Lords Chaos Space Marines necessitated a force capable of meeting them blade-to- blade. Regiments of Imperial Guard pushed towards the planetary capital, meeting stiff resistance, but crushing all before it. As the campaign progressed, the Imperial lines became lengthy and strung out - all too easy to attack and destroy from the flank. Realising this, the Fourth company attacked the bridges that would allow such an attack, but in the process Captain Idaeus was lost, heroically sacrificing his own life to destroy the last bridge. Mourning his loss, the Fourth company returned to Macragge to inter their fallen captain within the sacred soil of their homeworld, whereupon Veteran Sergeant Uriel Ventris was elevated to the rank of Captain.

New Beginnings
Together with the newly appointed Captain Ventris, the Fourth company set off on their latest mission; to escort Adept Barzano of the Administratum to the troubled world of Pavonis. On the eastern fringes, Pavonis had been plagued by piratical raiders and civil insurrection and upon the Ultramarines' arrival, the planet was very nearly plunged into a bloody civil war between its competing industrial cartels. Captain Ventris and Adept Barzano (now revealed as an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos) went on to discover that the planet's troubles were at the instigation of a madman named Kasimir de Valtos who desired the release of an ancient and powerful star god imprisoned beneath the surface of Pavonis for millions of years. De Valtos was thwarted, though the ancient being known as the Nightbringer was freed from its aeons long slumber and set loose amongst the stars. Only time will tell whether its escape will cost the Ultramarines and the galaxy dear.

With peace and Imperial rule restored to Pavonis, the Fourth company journeyed to the northern reaches of Segmentum Tempestus to the world of Tarsis Ultra - a world liberated by Roboute Guilliman during the early days of the Great Crusade and with a proud history of upholding the traditions of the Ultramarines. Ancient oaths of brotherhood bound the fate of Tarsis Ultra to the Ultramarines and when a gargantuan space hulk drifted in-system, Captain Ventris led his men deep into its haunted depths to destroy it from within. Buried deep within its structure, the Ultramarines discovered nests of frenzied Orks. And something much worse: Genestealers. The fighting within the hulk was amongst the fiercest encountered by the Fourth company, but its warriors were able to fight their way clear of the hulk and watch its destruction from the bridge of the Vae Victus. But the victory was tinged with dread, for the ship's Astropaths detected the forward edge of a bow wave of warp interference - a phenomenon known as the Shadow in the Warp - which could mean only one thing. The Tyranids were approaching.

The Defense of Tarsis Ultra
With warning of the approaching Tyranid fleet given, Imperial response was unusually swift. The Ultramarines contacted a brother Chapter of Space Marines, the Mortifactors, though they had diverged considerably from the ideals of Roboute Guilliman - embracing a culture of death worship. A fleet led by Admiral Bregant de Corte aboard the Argus was assembled, including many ancient and noble ships of war; Sword of Retribution, Kharloss Vincennes to name but two. Soldiers from the Death Korps of Krieg and the Logres Regiments were shipped in and the local defense forces trained by Sergeant Learchus using the methods of the Ultramarine training barracks. Inquisitor Lord Kryptman once again lent his expertise to the commanders of Tarsis Ultra as well as bringing an elite Deathwatch Kill team led by the justly famous Captain Bannon. As far as any world could be defended, Tarsis Ultra was as secure as it could be made given the time available to its defenders.

Battle was joined in the system's outer reaches and though the world of Barbarus Prime was lost to the Tyranids, the first elements of their fleet were defeated. The advance of the hive fleet could not be stopped and Kryptman was forced to sacrifice the world of Chordelis - ordering the Mortifactors to virus bomb it from orbit before the Tyranids could assimilate its biomass. Despite fractures appearing in the Imperial alliance, the Tyranid threat was met with courage and honor on the surface of Tarsis Ultra, though the defenders were hard pressed to stave off the relentless attacks of the aliens.

Though many thousands of lives were lost, and a huge proportion of the Fourth company slain, the Tyranids were once more defeated when Captain Ventris cast off the teachings of the Codex Astartes and took command of the Deathwatch Kill Team. He led them on a last, desperate mission to deliver a lethal gene- poison to the heart of the last remaining hive ship. Having once served with the Deathwatch, Captain Ventris knew that this was where he could do the most good, and despite the grim warning from Veteran Sergeant Learchus that Marneus Calgar would hear of his flouting of the Codex, set off on his mission. Through alien terrors and biological horror, the Deathwatch and Captain Ventris were successful and the gene poison was administered to the Tyranid hive queen. Driven into spasms of uncontrolled mutation, the hive queen died and her death throes drove the slave organisms connected to it via the gestalt consciousness of the hive mind into paroxysms of self-destruction. The Tyranids were defeated, but like Ichar IV before it, the taint of the alien invasion would forever be impossible to remove.

With Tarsis Ultra secured, the Fourth company gathered its dead and returned to Macragge, the hearts of its warriors heavy as they contemplated the cost of honoring their ancient debt. But something worse was awaiting the Fourth company upon their return to their homeworld. Allegations of heresy awaited its captain and with it, the potential to strip the company of its honor...

V

Valedictors

Originally a First Founding Legion which saw action on the Eastern Fringe against Orks, Eldar, and traitors during the Horus Heresy. The status of the Valedictors changed, where they are said to be of a "later founding," (post-Second Founding). Therefore, the Valedictors are no longer a First Founding Legion.

The Valedictors armor is oak-leaf green with a teardrop on the kneecap plate with a roman numeral inside to denote the company. The symbol is a winged "V".

Violators

A Traitor Chapter dedicated to Slaanesh. Their armor is a shade of blue and their chapter symbol is a lightning bolt crossed with a dagger. They are known to use electrical pulses to stimulate certain parts of the brain to increase pleasure.

They fought in the 13th Black Crusade; most of their actions during it were in the Cadian Sector. During this war they repeatedly took recruits from the worst Imperial prisons.

W

War Bearers

A chapter whose symbol is a pair of black battleaxes, crossed. They have a Whirlwind Hyperios named "Ferrus Annihilatus" in their armory.

Warp Ghosts

A chapter that betrayed the Imperium and turned to Chaos, the chapter allying themselves to Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade. Being only a chapter, they have far less marines compared to the Chaos Legions, but are renowned for their ferocity.

Their chapter color is a dark green/white with black and gold details; the renegade chapter's symbol is yet to be seen.

White Consuls

A Second Founding chapter of the Ultramarines. Their armor is white with a blue hawk's head symbol, with shoulder pad trim in the company color. White Consul veterans wear blue helmets. Described as a member of the Astartes Praeses in the background and rules book Imperial Armor II, it is assumed that they are based near Cadia.

They participated in the Gothic War.

White Panthers

The White Panthers have only been recently founded (26th Founding). When the planet Thagra IV was invaded by the Alpha Legion, the White Panthers were sent to liberate the planet, and rounded up most of the mutant freedom fighters (who had been making guerrilla warfare on the Alpha Legion) believing them to be traitors. They would have killed them if Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn hadn't stopped them.

Their armor is black and white, and has been pictured with either red or yellow shoulder trim. Their symbol is a white panther's head.

White Scars

The White Scars were one of the First Founding Legions of Space Marines. Known and feared throughout the Imperium for their highly mobile way of war, the White Scars are considered the masters of the lightning strike and hit-and-run attacks.

History

Jaghatai Khan
Scattered across the galaxy along with the 20 other Primarchs, the child known as Jaghatai Khan was deposited on the fertile world of Chogoris. The inhabitants of Chogoris had achieved a blackpowder level of technology as of the Great Crusade, and most of the planet was under the rule of an organized aristocracy, led by a ruler known as the Palatine.

Jaghatai was discovered by Ong Khan, the leader of a small tribe known as the Talskars, who adopted the infant into his family, foreseeing that he would become a great warrior. Jaghatai's adoptive family was later killed by another of the tribes inhabiting the steppes, the Kurayed. Already the greatest warrior in the Talskar tribe, despite his young age, Jaghatai led many warriors in vengeance. He razed the enemy village to the ground, killing every inhabitant, and took the chieftain's head to mount above his tent.

Following this victory, Jaghatai became Khan of the Talskars, swearing to unite the tribes of the steppes and bring an end to the internecine war. Each tribe he defeated was integrated into the Talskar tribe, utilizing his military talents and the sheer force of his personality to win himself many followers. He made military service with his army mandatory, and combined warriors of various tribes into mixed units, to break up previous associations and to create a common loyalty.

Jaghatai's abilities enabled him to wield together a coalition of tribes to battle a Chaos cult whose power was spreading throughout the continent. In the final battle, he led ten thousand warriors on horseback in a gallant charge against the cultists and their crude cannons. Despite horrendous losses, the charge smashed the enemy. The tribesmen pursued the cultists, butchering every one of them as they tried to flee. Jaghatai went on to conquer most of the continent.

Ten years later, after having united the tribes of the region known as the 'Empty Quarter', Jaghatai was caught in an avalanche. He was discovered by the son of the Palatine, who like many nobles, had taken to the sport of capturing a tribesman and hunting him through the mountains. The exact course of events is unknown, but it was said that a single man of the hunting party returned, bearing the head of the Palatine's son along with a message. "The people of the steppes are yours no longer."

The enraged Palatine gathered his army and marched west, to engage the wild tribesmen in combat, but was soundly defeated in a battle that lasted a day and a night. Heavily armored, and accustomed to decisive hand to hand combat, the Palatine's army was no match for the light cavalry and relentless bowfire of Jaghatai's forces. The Palatine barely escaped, but was eventually killed as Jaghatai's army flowed into the lands once held by the aristocracy, either conquering or destroying everything in their path. Jaghatai's power now encompassed the planet's lone continent, an empire forged in less than twenty years.

The Coming of the Emperor
Jaghatai's campaign ended less than six months before the Emperor of Mankind came to Chogoris. Recognizing the Emperor as a man who embodied his ideal of unity, the Primarch swore his fealty to his father, and was granted leadership of the Fifth Space Marine Legion in return.

The Legion was quick to adopt the long honor scars of the Talskar tribesmen, and renamed themselves the White Scars. Many of Jaghatai's army chose to follow their leader, becoming the first generation of Space Marines recruited from their new homeworld.

Crusade and Heresy
The lightning fast style of warfare that served Jaghatai Khan so well on the steppes of his homeworld proved to be equally effective on the many battlefields of the Great Crusade; the White Scars becoming involved in some of the bloodiest battles of the time. Khan and Russ were said to be the best of brothers and when these two Primarchs joined forces they were unstoppable.

Their legend grew with the events of the Horus Heresy, the White Scars fighting on hundreds of worlds against the traitorous forces of Chaos. It is known that much of the Legion, including its Primarch, was present during the siege of the Emperor's Palace on Terra.

Jaghatai fought alongside his brethren for another seventy years, eventually disappearing into a region of space known as the Maelstrom. He is believed to have been in pursuit of the Dark Eldar responsible for attacking his home world during the Great Crusade, and has not been seen since.

Homeworld
Chogoris is a fertile world that still exists in a semi-feudal state. When Jaghatai Khan departed the unified nation he created dissolved back into the feuding tribes that had existed before his arrival. This was believed by some to be the intention of the Primarch, ensuring that his Legion would have a supply of strong recruits in the future.

The White Scars Chapter is based in the palace of Quan Zhou, which is located at the peak of the highest mountain on the planet. The Stormseers of the White Scars venture down to the steppes every ten local years, observing the tribes at combat, and taking the best of the young warriors to become Space Marines.

Inspiration
Jaghatai Khan is inspired by the actual historical character of Genghis Khan (Tem�jin). Rather than the western portrayal of the Khan as a bloodthirsty conqueror, he is more in line with how he is seen in Mongolia - a benevolent leader and master tactician.

Organization
The predominant unit of organization among the people of the steppes is the tribe, a fact reflected in the organization of the White Scars Chapter. Once a young warrior is selected from the feuding tribes of the steppes, loyalty to his tribe is replaced by loyalty to the Chapter and the Emperor.

As their Primarch did during his campaign to unite the steppes, recruits from different tribes are mixed together in squads. Each Squad becomes part of a Brotherhood, roughly equivalent to a standard Company.

The remainder of the Chapter is organized differently from most Codex Astartes chapters, due to the style of warfare favored by the Chapter.

Combat Doctrine
The method of war taught to the tribes by Jaghatai Khan has served the White Scars well in the following millennia. Their modus operandi consists of lightning fast hit and run attacks by highly mobile forces, destroying the enemy piece by piece and never allowing the enemy to force a decisive engagement.

In Epic 40,000, GW games designer Gav Thorpe gave them an experimental rule allowing them to make a retreat move at any time, which would enable them to make hit-and-run attacks.

The White Scars make heavy use of attack bikes, Land Speeders, and jump pack equipped Assault Squads to harass the enemy, and hit them when they are weakest. Although preferring to keep the foe at arms length, they are fully capable of engaging in bloody assaults, and are rightly feared by the enemies of the Imperium.

Being a very mobile force, they have a higher proportion of Bike squads and Land Speeder squadrons than other Chapters. Known as the "born in a saddle" rule, that means that every White Scars marine will not take to battle on foot and must have some mechanized deployment to the battlefield, either by Jump Packs (for their Assault Marines), Bike, Rhino, Razorback, Land Raider, Thunderhawk Gunship, or Drop Pods. Their combat doctrine is to deliver their forces with a single swift blow against the enemy; thus if drop pods are used in Epic Armageddon, the entire army must deploy in them in order to avoid the possibility of parts of the force arriving in reserves.

Also, the majority of heavy weapons are frowned upon, and any tank that cannot keep up with the rest of the army is avoided. For instance, they have no Devastator squads, and their Predators may not carry sponson weapons. The White Scars also do not field any Dreadnoughts, not only because of the slowness of these vehicles, but also because each Marine does not want to remain past the point of being mortally wounded to be entombed in a Dreadnought sarcophagus. With the Scouts due past to report on a possible Genestealer infestation in the town, their Assault Marines using their jump packs to quickly move into close combat with Genestealers and buy time for the Scouts to escape. The Assault Marines did not stay in melee too long, as they quickly whirled away just as a volley of frag missiles from the Devastators exploded into the tightly packed Genestealers.

Overall, White Scars are considered powerful in assaults, but lacking units with staying power, such as heavy weapons and Dreadnoughts means that their detachments are more fragile if not used at an appropriate moment.

Battlecry

"For the Khan and the Emperor!"

Appearance
White Scars power armor is predominantly white, with red trim. This has only varied slightly since the Pre-Heresy days of the Legion. The White Scars chapter symbol is a stylized red thunderbolt with a horizontal yellow bar behind it, exemplifying their style of combat and echoing the honor scars all members of this Chapter bear.

Members of the scout company are permitted to wear the thunderbolt on their shoulder pads, but an obscure piece of Chapter law states they may not have the horizontal bar, an honor only given to full Marines.

Wolf Brothers

A Second Founding chapter of the Space Wolves. They were eradicated due to rampant mutation of the unstable Space Wolf geneseed.

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