Crimson Fists

Crimson Fists armorial with Legion iconography.

Crimson Fists Tactical Legionary.

"*May every mast hold its own sail*"
—An ancient Rynn's World proverb and a common phrase among the Legion.
The **Crimson Fists**are the VII Legion of the Legiones Astartes and are the gene-sons of Primarch Magellan, the Navigator. Specializing in anti-xenos warfare, they are always ready to defend the Imperium from the threat of hostile aliens. The Crimson Fists have a specific hatred for the Orks because of the damage they caused them during the Ullanor Crusade. Since the catastrophic losses of the Ullanor crusade, legionaries are encouraged to procure trophies from fallen Orks.

## Legion History

The VII Legion Originates from Terra but after the discovery of Magellan, their recruitment and homeworld has been relocated to the planet of Rynn's World. The culture evolved to include many of the traditions of their Primarch's adopted world, though several of those that evolved from their time alone have been kept.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Ullanor Crusade (Unknown Date.M32)** -

## Legion Combat Doctrine

The Crimson Fists specialise also in naval warfare due to the naval and nautical traditions of their homeworld of Rynn's World and a natural tendency towards the subject.

One of the many interesting quirks is their use of Companion Canids Typically Orpeon Mastiffs which are a hardy breed from their homeworld. this tradition is another one developed on their homeworld that spread to the Legion mainly through the influence of Magellan.

## Legion Gene-Seed

The Crimson Fists Legion have inherited many of the characteristics of their Primarch, Magellan. The Legion's gene-seed is highly stable and therefore the Crimson Fists', genome is lacking the Betcher's Gland that allows a Space Marine to spit corrosive acid, and the Sus-an Membrane that allows him to enter a life-sustaining state of deep hibernation.

The Crimson Fists' gene-seed is remarkably stable and healthy, free of all other major mutations and Chaos contamination. Were it not, it is unlikely that the Legion could have survived the multiple incidences of extreme loss that they have suffered during their history.

Another peculiar and unexplained quirk of the Legion is the Crimson Fists' pathological need to scrimshaw the bones of their dead when off-duty. Scrimshaw is considered a solemn undertaking to the Astartes of this Legion. It is seen as a way to practice mental discipline, focus, and attention to detail. Oftentimes the finished scrimshaws are worn as jewelry and ornamentation, particularly by the Legion's officers. None know the roots of this practice, which for many Crimson Fists becomes an obsession they must indulge every hour they are not fighting or training. The bones of slain kin are engraved in minute detail, every surface lovingly covered in lines of devotional script and illuminated scenes depicting the deeds of the fallen.

### Primarch's Curse: Death Before Dishonour

All Space Marines are the product of their genetic inheritance, benefiting from its blessings as well as suffering from its shortcomings, and the Crimson Fists are no different. The Legion's Primarch was a deeply devoted warrior who fought tirelessly at the right hand of the Emperor, but even this towering exemplar had his flaws, as he himself is known to have acknowledged. Magellan's glorious legacy lives on through the Crimson Fists, but so too does his curse. This usually occurs in three levels:

* **Stage 1 - (Suffer Not Failure)**: The Battle-Brother believes himself deficient in some manner, whether real or imagined, and becomes truculent and obstructive when ordered to redeploy in the face of a stronger foe. When acting as a squad leader or Deathwatch Kill-team leader, he makes demands of his squad that others might consider unreasonable, and views any disagreement as outright disobedience.

* **Stage 2 - (Beware Hubris)**: The Battle-Brother spends his every waking moment brooding on past battles, seeking even the slightest flaw in his own deeds, and those of others. While he stops short of outright criticism of his Battle-Brothers, he condemns his own actions as falling short of the example set by his Primarch, and seeks to redeem himself in the fires of battle.

* **Stage 3 - (None Are Flawless)**: The Battle-Brother obsessively reviews every detail of every mission he takes part in, finding fault with his own actions and those of his squad. He becomes withdrawn, maudlin and confrontational, and unwilling to accept or issue any order that does not result in imminent battle.

## Notable Members

* Magellan - Primarch of the Crimson Fists

## Legion Appearance

### Legion Colours

The Crimson Fists paint their Power Armour deep blue, with crimson trim and white markings. When a Neophyte finally joins the ranks of the Legion as a full Initiate his left gauntlet is painted crimson, symbolic of Magellan tradition of cutting the palms of new recruits into the Crimson Fists Legion and sharing his blood with them directly, creating a bond between them.

Upon reaching Veteran status and entering the Crusade Company, a Crimson Fist's right gauntlet is also painted crimson.

A Crimson Fists Lieutenant's rank is denoted by a red stripe down the centre of their helmet. Scout Marines of the Chapter are often portrayed with two red gauntlets but blue hand guards.

The crimson squad specialty symbol -- battleline, close support, fire support, Veteran or command -- is centred within a crimson roundel, is indicated on the right shoulder guard.

A white High Gothic numeral is stenciled in the centre of the squad specialty symbol, indicating the squad number. The Crimson Fists do not display company numbers.

### Legion Badge

The Legion badge of the Crimson Fists is a left-hand gauntlet, raised and clenched. It symbolises not only the strength and determination of the Crimson Fists, but also their defiance of Heretic and Traitors.

The Crimson Fists symbol is painted red in honour of their Primarch Magellan of the Crimson Fists.

The badge is usually shown as a crimson fist on a black field surrounded by a black border.