The Intruders

The Armor of the Intruders Space Marine Chapter

The Intruders are a 18th founding chapter of loyalist space marines who are regarded as the worst chapter not to be purged. Near the bottom of the list on just about everything, the Intruders are just useful enough to not be eliminated. They're just good enough to keep around but they've spent the last few centuries on and off the chopping block. They are perpetual underdogs but keep the faith with a fiery spirit.

## Gene-Seed

No chapter will claim them as successors but they are, secretly, a Ultramarine successor chapter. They have been disavowed by both their primarch and parent chapters. Their association has been so muddied and redacted that they are officially listed as having a “Unknown” lineage. They have been led to believe this scouring of their lineage is because Guilliman wants a covert chapter they can use for deeds that others are too famous to do.

## The Worst Olympians

Many think they have a flaw in their gene-seed but this is not quite the case; someone had to be “worst” among an organization filled with thousands of groups of super-soldiers. By human standards they are still unstoppable killing machines but by Astartes standards they get a solid “D-” on everything.

* They’re master strategists... but just about every other chapter is better than them.
* They are  unparalleled warriors... but they are outmatched by just about every other space marine chapter.
* They have an impressive battle record... just not as good as their peers.

This is particularly frustrating for the chapter as they’re damn good at what they do (it’s like being the worst Olympian; you could beat any normal athlete but you look like a chump for scoring last at the highest level of competition) but never win the honors bestowed upon other chapters. Their vaults lay bare, their triumphs outweighed by their shames, and yet... they persevere.

## Disposition

The Intruders are a crusading chapter. They were originally intended to drive off a Tyranid swarm and they, eventually, did. They were just one part of a larger effort and their record was dotted with more losses than victories but they ultimately managed to help drive it back. The chapter has been on a long series of unrelated crusades against various threats to the imperium. Only half-sure they’ll succeed, the Imperium tosses them in as “extra assistance” on any campaign the Intruders are near to.

## Chapter Cult: Faith of the Crucible

> “Any can keep the faith when their magazine is full. The true faith is when you are facing death with just 1 round in the chamber.”
> -Chaplain Henshaw, Intruders
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They are aware of their lack-luster performance but believe it to be some kind of divine test or punishment from The Emperor. They believe themselves to be chosen for some greater purpose and that after an era of suffering their perseverance and faith will be rewarded. Because of this chapter cult they do not see failure or being bested as a bad thing but a holy rite one must partake in.

## Livery

The colors of the chapter are somewhat unconventional. They are blue and red alternating quarters with white armor with black hearts. This is not their original livery. Originally they had a blue and orange livery with a heart pierced by an arrow. They were “awarded” with their new livery by the Ordo Astartes, being told it was “the livery of Guilliman’s secret guards”. Believing this to be one of their few “honors” they relish and exalt their livery, but tell no one of its “true purpose”. There is a legend that the black hearts are added for each of the chapter’s failures.

## The Citadel of Silver Medals

On the chapter’s fortress monastery ship there is a section known as “Honores Secundarii” or “The Citadel of Silver Medals”. Here they keep remembrances of their losses and “consolation prizes” for competing. A broken sword from a duel their chapter master once lost, a tyranid skull from a campaign they suffered more losses than victories in, a hundred Writs of Honor for “Adequate Service”, and bones (rather than a skull) from a Xenos hunt they partook in, etc.

## Notable Intruders

### Chapter Master Lotus

Chapter Master Lotus was originally a male Marine before transitioning to being non-binary later in their life. They have served the Intruders for centuries, rising through the ranks to become the Chapter Master. Lotus is a skilled warrior and strategist, having fought in countless battles and campaigns, but they are also known for their intensity and dark, brooding demeanor.

**Personality:** Lotus is a deeply intense and brooding individual, with a fierce determination and unshakable will. They are fiercely committed to the ideals of the Intruders, and see their own struggles with their identity as a reflection of the chapter's struggle to prove itself in the eyes of the Imperium. Lotus is also deeply troubled by the chapter's failures and setbacks, and sees them as a source of personal shame and responsibility.

**Appearance:** Lotus has long white hair and a thin, severe face with piercing blue eyes. They wear a suit of black artificer armor adorned with various honors and a Deathwatch shoulder pad. Their sword, the Sword of Second Chances, is a longsword crafted from the metals and mementos of failed battles, serving as a reminder of the chapter's struggles and the need to persevere. Despite it not being a power sword, it cuts though metal as if it were.

**Role in the Chapter:** As the Chapter Master of the Intruders, Lotus is responsible for leading the chapter and directing its actions. They are a skilled warrior and strategist, but also serve as the spiritual and emotional heart of the chapter. Lotus's intensity and brooding nature can be unsettling to some, but it is a reflection of their deep commitment to the chapter and their determination to overcome its challenges. Their past as a Deathwatch veteran only adds to their fearsome reputation, and the rumors of a tryst with an Inquisitor only serve to add to their mysterious and dark persona.

### Captain Haldor Ironhand

Captain Haldor Ironhand is a grizzled veteran of many campaigns with the Intruders, having served the chapter for over two centuries. He lost his hand in battle against the Tyranids and his eye to an Eldar ranger's rifle, but he refused to let these injuries slow him down. Instead, he saw them as a challenge to overcome, and had his damaged limbs replaced with powerful bionics that made him even deadlier in combat.

**Personality:** Haldor is a hard-bitten and gruff warrior, with a no-nonsense attitude towards battle and a deep-seated hatred of the enemies of the Imperium. He is fiercely loyal to his chapter and the ideals it represents, and will stop at nothing to protect the Imperium from those who would seek to destroy it. Despite his injuries, Haldor is a formidable opponent in battle, using his bionic hand and eye to devastating effect.

**Appearance:** Haldor is a towering figure, standing nearly eight feet tall in his blue and red quartered Terminator armor. His armor is adorned with numerous battle honors and the black hearts that mark the chapter's failures, a constant reminder of the challenges the Intruders face. His bionic hand is made of gleaming silver and is adorned with various weapons and tools, while his bionic eye glows with a fierce red light. Haldor's face is heavily scarred and weathered, with a thick beard and piercing blue eyes.

**Role in the Chapter:** Captain Haldor Ironhand is the commander of the 1st Company, the most elite and experienced warriors in the Intruders. He is responsible for directing the chapter's most critical missions and leading its most dangerous assaults. Despite his gruff demeanor, Haldor is deeply respected by his fellow Marines for his unwavering courage and unbreakable will. He is a living embodiment of the Intruders' ideal of the underdog who keeps going despite the odds, and serves as a source of inspiration and motivation for the entire chapter.

### Brother-Sergeant Gideon

Brother-Sergeant Gideon is a veteran of many crusades with the Intruders, having served in the chapter for over a century. He was originally a member of the Ultramarines, but was seconded to the Intruders after a particularly brutal campaign against the Tyranids left the chapter with heavy losses. Gideon quickly proved himself to be a skilled warrior and a natural leader, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant after his first campaign with the Intruders.

**Personality:** Gideon is a disciplined and stoic warrior, with a deep sense of duty and loyalty to the Imperium. He is respected by his fellow Marines for his tactical acumen and combat skills, and is known for leading from the front in battle. However, Gideon is also haunted by the memory of his former chapter and the sense of disavowal that comes with being part of the Intruders. He feels a sense of shame and inferiority compared to his Ultramarine brethren, and is driven to prove himself worthy of their respect and recognition.

**Appearance:** Gideon is a tall and imposing figure, with a heavily scarred face and close-cropped hair. He wears his blue and red quartered armor with pride, but is always conscious of the black hearts that adorn it as a symbol of the chapter's failures. He carries a master-crafted bolter and a power sword into battle, and is often accompanied by a squad of his most trusted battle-brothers.

**Role in the Chapter:** Brother-Sergeant Gideon is the leader of the chapter's 1st company, 3rd Tactical Squad, and is responsible for directing their actions in battle. He is also a member of the chapter's Reclusiam (though not a chaplain), serving as a spiritual advisor to his fellow Marines and leading them in prayer and meditation. Gideon is widely regarded as one of the most capable and respected members of the chapter, and his leadership is critical to the Intruders' continued survival.

## Trivia and Notes

* **Livery:** The eye-burning livery this chapter uses is actually from an old Warhammer book on Robots. It is the livery for the Imperial Catraphract class robot.
* **Non-Binary:** Hey, they’re called “Transhumans” for a reason.