The Valorous Elpaqualindor Brigade

The 14th Elpaqualindor Brigade is from the high-peaked garden moon of Elpaqualindor where they train. The high altitudes and incredibly steep terrain means the soldiers who train there are well adapted to high altitude warfare. The Valorous Elpaqualindor Brigade specializes in mountainous assaults, HALO jumps/orbital insertion, and jump troops. They are famously stoic, silent, and smoke a particularly noxious kind of cigarette that is made from something in the nightshade family.
Their infantry is skilled at navigating difficult terrain that most machines would struggle to work in so they make use of native Elpaquan creatures known as “Elpaqua”. These beasts of burden are too dumb and too loyal to take much heed of even life-threatening situations like combat and a well trained one can carry absurd loads without any protest. Elpaqua are something of a mix between an alpaca, a lama, a bull, a horse, and some odd alien species. They possess the ability to climb nearly vertical surfaces, even while carrying daunting burdens, have acidic spit that can de-rust a lasrifle or melt the eyes of a foe, and can kick with force that can dent plasteel. Elpaqua are social animals and bond to humans quickly, making them great for use in the military and breed very quickly (making them great for the Imperial Guard).
The 14th Elpaqualindor Brigade got the epithet officially added preceding their name during the Battle of Long Falls. During this battle on the forsaken death world of Findorka IV the 14th Elpaqualindor did what even the valorous Adeptus Astartes could not and penetrated the heights of the tallest mountain on the planet from it’s base. Sorcerous magic prevented orbital insertion anywhere near the mountain and only by killing the daemon atop the peak could the full invasion truly begin. After losing two squads to the attempt the 14th Elpaqualindor Brigade ascended a peak three times as high as the fabled Mt. Everest on Holy Terra under supernaturally bad conditions while under heavy enemy fire. They claimed the peak in a matter of days, though lost nearly all of their men in the process. The final blow was struck from a Elpaqua-mounted manticore missile that obliterated the daemon and allowed the Emperor’s Angels to descend and cleanse the planet of taint. Ever since their sacrifice they have been known as “The Valorous Elpaqualindor Brigade” in Imperial records.
THE VALOROUS ELPAQUALINDOR BRIGADE.png