Black Orthodoxy

The Black Orthodoxy chapter is a religious loyalist chapter with a strong connection to both the Ecclesiarchy and the Ordo Hereticus. They pull their recruits from the religious death world of Anglos- a bleak and dismal world of unconquerable nature, constant storms, and near-impossible farming conditions. They allow no psykers amongst them and employ many pariahs (psychic blanks) as battle brothers to combat them. They are stern, odd, reclusive, secretive, and slavishly devoted to the Emperor.
== Anglos ==
To some Anglos would have been a punishment but it was settled by a deeply religious group of settlers who saw the adversity as a way to grow closer to the Emperor. Though stern perseverance and strict laws they tamed the wilderness of a world that was ravaged by constant storms and deadly predators who stalk the deep woods of the planet. The population of Anglos produced more pariahs than any other planet and the Black Orthodoxy is happy to recruit them.
== Gene Seed ==
Imperial records do not contain information on who the Black Orthodoxy chapter was descended from but the two most popular guesses is that they have Dark Angel stock or perhaps Grey Knight. While they do produce the occasional psyker- they kill them the instant they are detected and thus have none in their ranks.
== Pariahs / Blanks ==
The Black Orthodoxy chapter employs a large number of so called “pariahs” or “psychic blanks”. They fill much the same role that a chapter’s Librarian would normally fill. These are called “The Purified” among the Black Orthodoxy. They believe that the hate they feel for pariahs is Chaos’ attempt to get them to forsake pariahs because they are so effective against Chaos. Armed with this knowledge they actively work to treat them better, which is an uphill battle for sure. However, to fall to that temptation is to succumb to Chaos in their minds and shows a lack of faith.
It should be noted that not all of the blanks in the chapter are omega level. The vast majority are Sigma to Psi level when graded on the Imperial Assignment of negative psionic levels.
== Attire & Names ==
All members of the Black Orthodoxy are supposed to wear simple, formal, respectable clothing. This generally means a black frock coat or a black waistcoat over a matching waistcoat and bitches with stockings. Most wear black hats with a wide brim to keep the sun out of their eyes while doing labor. They often wear their hats into battle as a sign of humility and write scripture upon their armor so that they can keep it with them at all times.
When they join the chapter they take a hortative religious name. These honorific names are their formal, legal, names and are often quotes from scripture that they identify with. Some examples are:
* Richard Praise-the-Emperor Nelson
* Joseph And-They-Shall-Know-No-Fear Rathborne
* Bartholomeu Righteous-Is-The-Fury-Of-The-Anointed-And-Pale-Is-The-Might-of-The-Faithless Kelly
* Jose My-Life-For-Terra Hernandez
* William Suffer-Not-The-Witch-The-Mutant-Or-The-Heretic-To-Live Anderson
== Chapter History ==
The Black Orthodoxy is a 5th Founding chapter of unknown descent. They were believed to have been founded around 600.M33.
=== Notable Campaigns ===
* War of the False Primarch: Reconstructed data shows that they may have fought in the War of the False Primarch.
* 1st Impaler's Crusade: Soon after their inception they began a crusade against a quasi-official group of psykers after they learned about it. They purged everyone there, impaling a good number of them on spears. The Black Orthodoxy claimed they had data of a credible threat and an Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor later backed up their claim. They continued on to 6 nearby worlds, seeking out psykers (even latent ones) and impaling them outside their cities. The Imperium turned a blind eye to this but they received an official rebuke for their actions in private. The Ordo Hereticus was pleased however.
* 1st War of Faith: Working in concert with the Ecclesiarch, the Black Orthodoxy waged war against Confederation of Light. Their actions did not take place on Dimmamar but on other worlds where secret elements of the cult were believed to be hiding.
* War of the Confessor: The Black Orthodoxy took part in the War of the Confessor, serving without being asked to do so.
* 2nd Impaler's Crusade: After discovering a cult of chaos worshipers the Black Orthodoxy went on a crusade that saw them locate and kill over two thousand psykers and cultists across eight planets, impaling many of them.
* The Barbarus Incursion: It is believed that the Black Orthodoxy may have partaken in The Barbarus Incursion as an auxiliary compliment to the Black Templars.
* Daggers in the Night: During the The Reign of Blood, forces loyal to Goge Vandire attempted to ambush a Black Orthodoxy ship under the guise of pirates. Goge feared Black Orthodoxy might aid the other side The Black Orthodoxy destroyed the invaders, impaled them on the hull of their own ship, snuck inside, sent the hulk back to the small moon the imposter pirates had been operating from, and killed all of the Vandire-aligned forces. The moon became known as “The Spiked Moon” for all the bodies that were implied there.
* Plague of Unbelief: The Black Orthodoxy was one of the chapters that helped clean up the 50 converted worlds during the Plague of Unbelief caused by Bucharis.
* 6th Black Crusade: Eight full circles (roughly 4 companies) of the Black Orthodoxy were destroyed during Abaddon’s 6th Black Crusade.
* Emperor’s Trap: A priest of the Imperial Truth turned from the light and convinced her loyal followers that the Emperor was locked on Holy Terra and trying to get out. She said she had a vision that he was trapped by the so-called hero “Sanguinius”. The Black Orthodoxy dispatched 4 circles to quell the heretical priest upon the suggestion of the ecclesiarchy. During this affair they worked cooperatively (though not together) with the Death Cult chapter.
* Children's Crusade: Reports claim that the Black Orthodoxy was deployed during the Children's Crusade.
* 8th Black Crusade: Seeking revenge the the Black Orthodoxy deployed in force again Abaddon. While they fought bravely, they lost another 3 circles to Abaddon’s Black Legion.
* Great Malagantine Purge: There is a persistent rumor that the Black Orthodoxy was one of the five “Manus Irae” chapters that committed such slaughter in the heretical Malagantine Sector. It does fit with the Black Orthodoxy’s typical battle plan and they have not confirmed or denied this allegation.
* 10th Black Crusade: The Black Orthodoxy helped successfully drive back Abaddon’s 10th Black Crusade from the Iron Hand’s space. Their help was not requested but was given. The 23rd Circle was lost during this battle, following the Black Legion back into the warp and have never been heard from since.
* Durellious Crusade: The Emperor's Marauders chapter was declared Excommunicate Traitoris and the church, through back channels, requested the Black Orthodoxy undertake the purge on their behalf. They joined with the Star Marshals and assaulted the renegade chapter's Fortress-Monastery. The crusade was short and bloody but ended prematurely due to the revelation that the Emperor’s Marauders had a massive super weapon (supposedly) designed by The Emperor himself capable of destroying not only the space hulk but quite possibly the entire sector. A ceasefire was called thought the Black Orthodoxy has remained ready to resume the crusade against their renegade brothers.
* 3rd Impaler's Crusade: Though the details are classified, the Black Orthodoxy has records of a 3rd Impaler’s crusade that saw the death of many heretics on a desert world.
* 13th Black Crusade: Black Orthodoxy forces saw combat in the Diamor Campaign of the 13th Black Crusade.
* The Sawtooth Crisis: A warband of former Thousand Sons marines, known as the Blood of Ahriman, at a planet deep in Imperial space. Their target was a large city known as Dextras North and a navigator by the name of Herodicus “Sawtooth” Minks. Sawtooth secretly fell to chaos and disrupted much of the planetary defense force by getting them lost in warp space during a training exercise and allowing the Blood of Ahriman to invade. The Tallarn Redeemers arrived in short order and with their first company they purged them all. However, the Black Orthodoxy chapter arrived unbidden and mistook the Tallarn Redeemers as the heretics. The two chapters fought, even after the matter had been cleared up, and two of the Redeemers’ honored veterans were impaled and put on display. The Inquisition hushed up the matter but the two chapters have a intense hate for each other to this day.
* Extermination of Höllenschlund: A large pocket of Rangdan were discovered. They had ravaged an imperial world, conquered the entire system, and were breeding to start another large crusade that would have rivaled that of the xenos forces during the Rangdan Xenocides. A massive number of Imperial forces undertook the campaign of extermination on the Höllenschlund system. The Black Orthodoxy arrived about half way through once the details of the “Eiswelt Nightmare” and its mind-breaking effects reached them through back channels. They arrived unbidden with 1 circle lead by the The Puritanical. They were able to reveal psychic brain parasites that had affixed themselves to the psychic presence of each of the members in the warp. While they saved some others died in the process of removal. The Black Orthodoxy would act independently of all other Imperial Forces for the entirety of the campaign, though they focused much of their effort on planet Eiswelt. As they employed many blanks, known as “Purified” marines in their chapter, they were able to successfully cleanse the world. They would eventually encounter a being known in reports as the “Eiswelt Nightmare” who they did battle with. After suffering heavy losses the The Puritanical drove the beast back into the warp by destroying its physical form with one of their consecrated power lances. At the end of the general of the Imperial Guard forces was discovered to have secretly been a witch that had been hiding her psychic abilities for nefarious ends (Main Article: The Slaying). A band of Black Orthodoxy marines purified her and two of her witch-coven after alerting the Inquisition. The Jerionites, who worship ancient scrolls rather than The Emperor, fought back and attempted to kill the band of brothers, preventing them from leaving the ship. The coward Craster DeLuca of the suicidal Emperor’s Servants chapter demanded blood some, in the spirit of defusing a situation, one of the brothers of the chapter offered himself as a sacrifice to appease the frothing masses. When Craster decapitated him he laughed and took joy in the act. Thanks to the witch’s sedition, the other forces who were involved with the Extermination of Hollenschlund campaign have an unfounded grudge against the Black Orthodoxy.
*The 4th Impailer’s Crusade: When the Imperium made a blunder and put a corrupted mutant psyker who had wormed his way into the church, the so called "Psyker-Priest Thurge", in the position of Cardinal the people of the Serovia system saw this offense against the Emperor for what it was and started a crusade against their oppressor. The Black Orthodoxy deployed all of its circles to aid them in their glorious cause and impaled millions of psykers along the way. The Imperial Guard used a few dozen of the Somnium regiments to try to keep the peace but they were really little more than a bandage on a gut wound. When the Black Orthodoxy had fought their way to the witch-lord's planet they were assaulted by the Tallarn Redeemers (a chapter who clearly have traitor gene seed in their blood) and the Order of the Black Moot (a order of sisters who are clearly worshiping chaos in secret) who save Thurge from the heroic marines of the Black Orthodoxy. The Imperium let the Black Orthodoxy do what they wanted because they knew they were right and didn't get in the way. In the end the cowardly psyker drank poison and committed suicide rather than have his corruption exposed.
*The Indomitus Crusade: The Black Orthodoxy fought in Roboute Guilliman’s crusade after having been reinforced with a small contingent of primaris marines. They
*The Psychic Awakening: With absolute glee the Black Orthodoxy rampaged from world to world, unbidden, and instigated mass impalings of any awakened psykers they came across. Their body count is in the millions and their spirits, and value to the Ordo Hereticus, has never been higher.
== Relations ==
=== Ecclesiarchy ===
The Black Orthodoxy and the Ecclesiarchy have similar viewpoints and though they do not have open communication between them and the Ecclesiarchy has no special power or relationship with them- the Black Orthodoxy tends to have views that align with them. When the Ecclesiarchy declares a war of faith the Black Orthodoxy will often join in either directly or indirectly. They may suddenly appear and join the the fray before leaving without so much as a word or they may hit a foes outer defenses while Adeptus Ministorum forces attack the main force. Oddly the Ecclesiarchy has offered them no official endorsement and the Black Orthodoxy would probably just turn down such a gesture.
=== Ordo Hereticus ===
Similar to the Ecclesiarchy, the Ordo Hereticus and the Black Orthodoxy do not have a formal relationship. Unlike the Ecclesiarchy, the Witch Hunters have requested Black Orthodoxy support on many missions and the battle brothers of the Black Orthodoxy have shown up when called. The Ordo Hereticus is believed to cover for the Black Orthodoxy when they go on their infamous psyker-crusades.
=== The Black Legion ===
Twice Abaddon’s Black Legion has slaughtered the Black Orthodoxy and twice the Black Orthodoxy has sworn revenge against them. They won back their honor during the 10th Black Crusade but the Black Orthodoxy will still go out of their way to hunt them.
=== Emperor’s Servants ===
After the events of the Extermination of Höllenschlund the chapter master of the Emperor’s Servants slew an Elder of the Black Orthodoxy in payment for the crime of killing General Naomi Samuels. The two have a deep and bloody feud to this day.
=== Star Marshals ===
The Black Orthodoxy has twice worked with the Star Marshals chapter; during the Capture of the Sons of Mars and the Durellious Crusade. While the Black Orthodoxy doesn't get along with anyone particularly well they respect the Star Marshals, though they regard the ceasefire during the Durellious Crusade that they agreed to as a major point against them (they still harbor some ill will against them).
=== Death Cult ===
During the Emperor’s Trap incident the Black Orthodoxy worked cooperatively with the Death Cult chapter. The two more or less ignored each other but the Black Orthodoxy wrote extensively, in a deemening fashion, of the many flaws of the Death Cult.
=== Emperor's Marauders ===
After the Durellious Crusade they Black Orthodoxy has been chomping at the bit to go on another crusade against the traitorous Emperor's Marauders chapter.
=== Tallarn Redeemers ===
The Black Orthodoxy is convinced that the Tallarn Redeemers are born from Thousand Sons genetic stock and represent a very real threat to the Imperium. They killed two of the Redeemers' honored veterans (and would do it again if given the chance) and fought them during the 4th Impailer's Crusade.
=== Order of the Black Moot ===
Despite both the Order and the Black Orthodoxy possessing nulls the two are sworn enemies after the 4th Impailer's Crusade where they fought. The Black Orthodoxy suspects that the sisters of the Black Moot are heretics who are hiding their worship of chaos (and they're probably right).
=== Forces at Höllenschlund ===
During the Extermination of Höllenschlund the Black Orthodoxy executed General Naomi Samuels and two members of her command squad for being psykers. The chapter lost 2 marines during the incident and the Elder of the circle offered this life as payment. The Imperial Guard regiments from Neo-Jericho, the Brotherhood of the Mammoth chapter, the Ilen 1st Ranger Regiment (The Redhawks), and the Senza Corona Collegio have it out for the Black Orthodoxy due to this.
== Chapter Beliefs ==
Some key tenants of the Black Orthodoxy’s viewpoints are:
* “Witches” (psykers) are the greatest threat to the Imperium.
* Pariahs are “hated” because Chaos tries to psychically “scare” people away from them.
* Be simple, humble, and unadorned except by proclamations of faith.
* Save your words for when they are needed.
* Anything in excess is wasteful and harmful.
The Black Orthodoxy has a tradition of implailing their defeated foes, particularly psykers or heretics. They see it as educating people and making a proclamation of faith.
They speak very little, believing that speaking too much devalues your words.
They hold that, as they are descendants of the Emperor in a way (genetically, spirituals, etc) they should be held to the highest standards. As such they are always polite, humble, and live simply.
Their humility comes from the notion they hold dear that says that things in excess are bad. Pride is excess honor, lust is excess love, heresy is often excess curiosity, betrayal is often excess ambition, etc. They try to channel and constructively use their excess. Their sin-eaters, who flagellate themselves, are believed to be atoning for the sins of the Imperium by using their own excess honor.
== Units ==
Unproclaimed: Those who are new to the chapter are expected to prove their faith by taking a vow of silence, except during prayer, so that they may learn its value.
Brethren: Those who pass various tests of faith and impale at least one witch are welcomed as full brethren. Brethren form a council of war. Many Brethren cary power spears into combat to impale their opponents.
Elders: The eldest 5 brethren are given positions of honor and are allowed to speak first. If all 5 Elders of a circle veto something, it cannot pass. Elders generally run circles.
Black Priests: The one responsible for a circle is ultimately the priest that leads them. They are effectively chaplain / captains.
Purified: Space marine pariahs employed by the Black Orthodoxy. They are given positions of honor but distance- keeping them apart from their Brethren and even other Purified.
Sin-Eaters: The Black Orthodoxy has groups of brother marines who carry out self-flagellation as a way to absorb the sins of the rest of the Imperium. These holy units are armed with two sets of electro-flails. One is asked to become a sin-eater if they have earned a great honor so that their excess of honor may be used to abaite sins of the Imperium. Being a sin eater is a temporary assignment.
Impalers: A group in each circle is assigned to the ritual task of maintaining their weapons and the holy spears they use to impale witches. They serve as the group’s heavy weapon specialists and wield rock-launching lances.
The Puritanical: The senior Purified, often an ancient one who has been ritually purified and anointed, advises the council of the chapter on matters and provides a unique perspective on matters.
Other: In addition to these units a Black Orthodoxy circle may have Techmarine, Apothecary, or other character attached to them. They typically take the place of an elder.
==== Rough Equivalents ====
While war gear, implementation, and place within the chapter varies, the roughest equivalent of each of the Black Orthodoxy units is listed below.
* Unproclaimed: Scouts
* Brethren: Tactical Marines
* Elders: Sergeants
* Black Priests: Chaplain / Captains
* Purified: N/A (Veterans or possible Librarians)
* Sin-Eaters: Assault Marines
* Impalers: Devastators
* The Puritanical: Chapter Master
== Organization ==
The Black Orthodoxy do not follow the dictates of the Codex Astartes; they organize their groups into “circles”. A circle is a group of about 50 marines and their attendants/support staff. A circle is run by all Brethren in good standing and matters that cannot be settled by them are decided on by the 5 Elders, who also have veto power if they unanimously reject something. Each circle is overseen spiritually by a Black Priest who represents them on the “Orthodox Council”. This council, comprised of a Black Priest from each circle, discusses high level military matters and is guided by “The Puritanical”- the most ancient pariah who serves as their defacto chapter master. Black Priests bring back battle orders and the Brethren decide how to approach it.
Circles form squads on an adhoc basis. A circle generally has a small number of Unproclaimed, a large collection of Brethren, 5 elders, and a black priest. Some of the Brethren may spend time as Sin-Eaters if they have recently been given an honor, and each Brethren will eventually serve as a Impaler for a time on a rotating schedule. Most circles have 1-10 Purified in their midsts as well who are kept isolated from the circle’s living space but deploy alongside them. 
Because of their fluid nature, a circle is very tactically flexible. A typical battle deployment of a circle looks roughly like this:
* x1 Black Priest: Typically deploys along side a Brethren squad. (1 total)
* x2 Brethren Squads: Includes 10 Brethren and 1 Elder. (22 total)
* x1 Sin Eater Squad: Includes 5 Sin Eaters and 1 Elder. (6 total)
* x1 Impaler Squad: Includes 5 Impaler and 1 Elder. (6 total)
* x1 Unproclaimed Squad: Includes 10 Unproclaimed and 1 Elder. (11 total)
* x4 Purified: Typically deploys along side a Brethren squad or as an elder-less squad. (4 total)
There are roughly 20 circles in the Black Orthodoxy (~1,000 marines) though at times there have been as few as 13 and other times (particularly in the early years) as many as 26.
Most circles are considered equal but some have a special place in the chapter. The 1st Circle is the most senior circle and their Brethren wear terminator armor and lack Sin Eaters. The 13th Circle is known as the “Grey Circle”. It is comprised entirely of pariahs and is where Purified are trained and anointed. It contains only Purified and Unproclaimed (who are also pariahs). This circle has suffered immense bad luck and has been rebuilt 3 times. However, they are a potent anti-warp tool for the Imperium and have served with distinction many times. This 13th Circle does not have a Black Priest but instead is lead by The Puritanical. The 23rd Circle is currently lost somewhere in the warp, having pursued the Black Legion back into the warp during the 10th Black Crusade. Their battle standard is still kept flying and honored as if they are still serving.
== Unique Arsenal ==
Impaler Lances: These single-use long spears are similar to those used by the Rough Rider Squadrons of the Imperial Guard. They are long, 15-20 foot, spears with meta or krak tips on them. These are popular with Brethren who like to impale heretics and often is only employed when an enemy charges a squad.
Inferno Pistol: Many of these pistols resemble antique flintlock pistols crafted on Anglos.
Null Rods: The Purified carry null rods to add to their terror. The Puritanical wields a large null scythe that they use to kill psykers. 
Power Lances: These are long, power spears that many Elders carry and use to impale noteworthy psykers with. Once impaled the head of the weapon is removed, re-blessed, and affixed to a new shaft.
Electro-flails: Used by Sin Eaters in pairs these flails have 5-10 lengths of charged coils. They are much stronger than the versions used by the Ecclesiarchy’s flagellates and will eat away at most armor below that of a space marine. They are exceptionally useful for binding targets as they naturally coil around whatever they lash onto.
Pallbearers: The Black Orthodoxy has special vehicles called “Pallbearers”. These are carriages pulled by horses with a guillotine mounted on them, becoming mobile execution devices. While not well-suited to the battlefield the sheet scale of death and grief they have caused the innumerable psykers they have killed left an indelible mark upon them. Psykers who behold them are overcome with horrific fear and scrabble their concentration. However, daemons are attracted to such a bloody vehicle and are often summoned to it when emerging from The Warp. The Black Orthodoxy takes advantage of this by using it as bait for daemons during an incursion and as a tool of terror when fighting enemy psykers. A Pallbearer is driven by a Black Priest or some other Elder. Pallbearers use the serfs of the chapters as aids to capture any disgusting witch they come across and kill them as the elder rides.
== Tabletop Options ==
=== Black Orthodoxy Battle Hardened Formation ===
Battle Forged Armies of the Black Orthodoxy benefit from the “And They Shall Know No Fear”, “Defenders of Humanity”, and the following tactic:
Chapter Tactic- Burn the Witch: Any BLACK ORTHODOXY model can attempt a Deny the Witch test as if they were psykers.
PuritanTac2.png|A Brethren of the Black Orthodoxy With Close Combat Weapon and Bolt Pistol
PuritanMedic.png|A Black Orthodoxy Apothecary
PuritanTac3.png|A Brethren of the Black Orthodoxy With Bolter
PuritanTac.png|A Brethren of the Black Orthodoxy With Inferno Pistol
Category:Chapters of Unknown Lineage