Corsaegan Cuirassiers

## Corsaegan Cuirasseurs

A Golden Swallow

* Sangleon
* Sangjevai

A Bladeswain of the Corsaegan Cuirassiers

"*A world with a past written in blood,
A faraway land called Corsaega.
What will you pass on to your children?
A ransacked scorched earth or the wonderous blue seas,
Choose your destiny well.*"
—First verse of the marching song *Lament of Corsaega*, translated to Low Gothic

The Imperial Cuirassier Cavalry and Infantry Corps of Corsaega, or more simply the **Corsaegan Cuirassiers**, is a name given to Astra Militarum regiments hailing from the Civilized World of Corsaega located at the edges of the Realm of Ultramar within Segmentum Ultima.

The Corsaegans have a long history of service to the Golden Throne, dating back to the final years of the Great Crusade. However, prior to the Horus Heresy, their planet and overall military might was completely different to its current state. Once classified as a Paradise World, Corsaega had undergone extremely rapid technological advancements during the Horus Heresy as a planet wide war between secessionists and loyalists broke out. The war, brought on by requests of aid at the birth of the Ruinstorm, transformed Corsaega forever.

Within seven years of constant fighting, a great deal of the planet’s natural beauty gave way to industry focused on the art of war. Forests and rolling green hills were replaced with trenches and defensive forts. The viridian seas and oceans dried up due to nearby fleets of differing loyalties requiring water for coolants and the resulting dust bowls were prime foundations for factories that produced arms and armor. Many species of animals became extinct, either due to the destruction of their habitat or through overhunting. Most notable were many species of equestrian that the Noble Houses of Corsaega once owned as symbols of wealth and prestige.

Ever since the rebellion, Corsaega had vowed to always provide troops of the highest caliber to the Imperium of Man. Although the planet exports either mechanized or siege regiments, a combination of selective breeding programs as well as vigorous training produced regiments of fearless warriors whose physique and mental fortitude allow them to make the most of close quarters combat. Coupled with each regiment’s officer corps consisting of highly trained noble rough riders, the Corsaegans’ approach to warfare is a spectacle of disciplined brutality.

Their propensity to close the distance allowed them to stand their ground against overwhelming odds multiple times as their ferocity and skill with the blade faltered enemy charges time and again. While they are most effective against rebels and traitors, the Corsaegans have been bloodied for millennia in battlefields crawling with the greenskin menace. Some cunning warbosses have even opted to spare the last remnants of an overwhelmed regiment so that another glorious battle brought about by the vengeful return of more Corsaegans may commence. Regiments seconded to the Damocles Crusade had also gained the respect of the Kroot, who relished in close quarters combat.

Those who have not managed to earn the right to have their next of kin be chosen as a trainee would find purpose in tending what little remained of the planet’s agriculture or working in the manufactorums that produce the Corsaegans’ iconic uniforms. The war between secessionists and loyalists during the Horus Heresy left behind knowledge of the usage and manipulation of plasteel as well as an enormous stockpile of the material that would be used for generations. From the Corsaegan Daggers to the iconic plumed helmets of the Warborn, plasteel equipment is a key component in the Corsaegans’ wargear.

Given their strict training regimes and obsessively thorough selection process, a Corsaegan Regiment is on the smaller end of the size spectrum for an Astra Militarum Regiment. With their reputation and pride as close quarter specialists, they also are bound to suffer more casualties than most per engagement. Thus, there is a higher than normal frequency of two Corsaegan Regiments merging together. The decision of which banner should the merged regiments march under is made based on seniority of the officer corps and overall experience of the regiment. However, honour duels are also an alternative method that is chosen if an agreement could not be made peacefully.

## **Regiment Homeworld**

Formerly a Paradise World with vast oceans of the deepest blue and testaments of natural beauty as far as the eye can see, Corsaega is a world that has fallen from grace. Currently classified as an Industrial World for the multitude of manufactorums that litter the dust bowls, the planet is self-sufficient when it comes to supplying its troops for the Imperium’s unending wars. What little vegetation and water remain are wholly utilized for industries dedicated to feeding the populace.

Far from the preservation territories of Old Corsaega, large cities bear the scars of the short period of oppression by the IVth Legion. Primitive homes of brick and timber had been replaced by fortified hab-blocks of rockrete and plasteel. The walls of ancient chevalier kingdoms had either been decorated with looming watchtowers, reinforced with adamantium and barbed wire or outright destroyed by the uncaring Astartes of the Iron Warriors. Whatever beauty this paradise once had was stripped away for the fortresses and industries of rebellion. Even the planet’s liberation by the Ultramarines could not restore Old Corsaega and as such its people had to adapt to the new regime of unbending iron and ferocious fire.

Most of the populace live within minor hive cities near the arid dustbowls, with some living in more rural areas along the mountainsides. Very few are allowed to venture into the reservations without strict supervision by the local clergy, not even the Warborn are exempt from this rule.

### The Eight Noble Houses of Corsaega

* House Haesus
* House Iatta
* House Alatheus
* House Talida
* House LeCarvennec
* House Aureggan
* House Marcellus
* House Caedica

## **Regiment Organization**

In order to maximize their tithe as well as ensure the uniformity of training amongst the Bladeswain and Warborn, the Corsaegans create multiple regiments under the banner of a corps during a muster. The regiments of a corps are not beheld to the command of a single entity, but are united by mutual respect and cooperation. At the beginning, each Corps would have 6 regiments of Mechanized Infantry and a single regiment of Artillery as the Corsaegans had doggedly clung to the methods of war that allowed them to survive the Heresy. However, after the 114th Sangjevai’s legendary defense of Veydaun IV on 521.M34, a Corsaegan Corps would henceforth have 2 regiments of Artillery and 5 regiments of Mechanized Infantry. These corps allowed multiple regiments to fight together as an independent and cohesive unit capable of surviving against overwhelming odds.

A Corsaegan Regiment, whether Mechanized Infantry or Artillery, is organized by order of threes. Mechanized Infantry have three battalions of Bladeswain, and each battalion is divided into three companies of three platoons per company with a platoon consisting of three squads. However, there is a caveat to this rule as a platoon of Sappers are attached to each battalion as well as a platoon of Voltigeur auxiliaries. On the other hand, an Artillery Regiment has three artillery batteries where each battery has three fire sections and each fire section has three self-propelled guns - either Basilisks or Medusae. Much like the Mechanized Infantry Regiments, each battery has a caveat in the form of a barrier section where a force of Bladeswain, Sappers and Anti-Air equipment are tasked to defend a battery. All regiments also have an Armored Company attached to act as both the speartip and anchor of a deployment. This organization allows a regiment to be flexible and highly mobile in a battlefield, where commanders at each level are allowed a degree of autonomy at their discretion.

In fact, the Corsaegan doctrine of rapid and overwhelming concentration of force led to the abandonment of dedicated Heavy Weapons Cadres in favour of more mobile and versatile infantry squads. Opposed to the Astra Militarum standard of 10 man squads, the Corsaegans utilize 12 man squads that allows a two-man team to operate a heavy weapon and another trooper would have access to a specialist weapon. Although, due to the more static and methodological doctrine of an Artillery Regiment, the Bladeswains of the Sangjevai can use two heavy weapons. Extra training is given to heavy weapons specialists of the Sangjevai so that they could effectively utilize heavier armaments such as auto-cannons and las-cannons. Furthermore, it is not unheard of for an Artillery Regiment to have a squadron of Macharius Heavy Tanks rather than the favoured Leman Russ Conquerors as their greater bulk and firepower make them far better deterrents than a Leman Russ.

In addition to these organizational peculiarities, the Corsaegans utilize homeworld equivalents to Astra Militarum ranks in the command structure. These titles are intended to invoke ancient memories of a time when Corsaega was filled with life and colour, whilst also stoking flames of vengeance that should never snuff out or weaken. While they will still answer to the Astra Militarum standard, the Corsaegans view an outsider’s usage of their homeworld’s ranks as a sign of respect and would be more amicable to said outsider.

In addition to

### Ranks of the Warborn

* Seneschal
* Commandant
* Kajtaine
* Ljotenant

### Ranks of the Bladeswain

* Serzhant
* Senior Maurseine/Senior Terraseur - Colloquially referred to as the ‘séma’ or the ‘séteur’, the Senior Maurseine and Senior Terraseur is the Corsaegan equivalent of the Astra Militarum Corporal. As such, they are the second-in-command of an Infantry squad and can be tasked with leading a fireteam should the squad be split into two.
* Maurseine (mawr-sehn) - An old South Corsaegan term, maurseine roughly translates to ‘sea folk’ in Low Gothic and is the Corsaegan Sangleon (Mechanized Infantry) equivalent of the Astra Militarum Trooper. Initially, it referred to seafarers that braved the vast oceans during Corsaega’s Age of Exploration. The term became an official military rank when House Aureggan’s founders reformed its armies from a motley crue of militia and mercenaries to a professional force funded by the government. The maurseine became the lowest rank of the reformed Navy and would carry a reputation borne from fierce boarding raids against enemy ships up to the 41st Millennium. This reputation leaves an imprint of expectation on every Corsaegan to uphold their ancestors’ legacy.
	+ Terraseur - A more modern term hailing from the Corsaegan Civil War, the terraseur or ‘men of the trench’ are the Sangjevai’s (Siege Infantry) equivalent to the maurseine. The long war had radically shifted the Corsaegan method of organized lines of fire to the modern way of entrenched attrition and blitzing assaults. As such, the newly dubbed terraseur became masters of holding the line and precise artillery barrages against their foes. While not as storied as the maurseine, the terraseur have their own proud legacy of unwavering discipline to uphold in the face of threats both human and inhuman.

#### Bladeswain Specialists

* Field Courier
* Sapper

## **Combat Doctrine**

Corsaegan combat doctrine can be summarily described as “to fire and maneuver”. Regardless of regiment type, the Corsaegan mentality to war revolves around being highly mobile in order to bring a swift end to a conflict. This preference for rapid shock assaults was initially used by House Caedica as they had a history of taking part in wars with a smaller army than their neighbours before being adopted by loyalists. In theory, this style of war would mitigate any form of numerical superiority through iron will and superior skill at arms. However, should they be faced against something that is immune to morale shock or firmly entrenched, then this gambit would fail as it relies on demolishing the enemy’s will via the ferocity of a melee or strategic encirclement. This is most prevalent with the Mechanised '*Sangleon*' Regiments, but the lumbering Artillery '*Sangjevai*' Regiments are also able to carry out these sort of maneuvers should the situation call for it albeit in a slightly different manner. Nevertheless, the Corsaegans are at their most effective when deployed as a Corps or something akin to a Corps when attached to a larger Imperial force as they are some of the most effective battering rams within the Imperial Guard.

### Unique Equipment

#### Tauros *Assegai*

As the basis of the Corsaegan doctrine revolves around speed and power, many commanders require accurate battlefield information regarding the lay of the land and enemy positions. Initially, they had used specialized Rough Rider units for such a task due to their effectiveness in a wide variety of terrain as well as the fact that they are quieter than an engine. However, these Rough Rider scouts began to experience much higher casualty rates compared to the rest of the regiment, especially when they were forced to engage with an enemy, resulted in the adoption of the Tauros and the Tauros Venator. While their performance was exemplary,

## **Regiment Recruitment and Training**

### The Corsaegans

The process to become one of the Cuirassiers is equal parts rigorous training from birth and eugenics. At a very young age, every Corsaegan child is groomed to become a warrior of the God-Emperor’s innumerable legions. Once they reach 12 Terran Years of age, they are subjected to a series of physical and mental tests as well as a duel against an overseer - typically a Serzhant of a yet to be deployed regiment - to see if they meet the minimum requirements for further training. Should they succeed, they are matched with a partner of the opposite sex whose genetic profile compliments their own and would yield offspring that would theoretically be genetically superior. From the moment they are paired together, these bondmates are duty-bound to remain united and are expected to produce offspring at the end of their training - typically in six years time.

If either one were to attempt to produce offspring with anyone other than their assigned bondmate, both parties would be dishonorably discharged and sent to work in the manufactorums for the rest of their days. If they fail to produce offspring before the next mustering, then it is seen as an acceptable loss of potential and the bondmates would be allowed to separate from each other to join their assigned regiments. However, if they were successful, then the mother would be given sufficient time to deliver her child and recuperate before she is assigned to the next available regiment that matches her training. The child itself would be given to one of the Scholas run by nobles and select members of the population that had shown aptitude for childcare from a young age where they would undergo the same grooming process as their parents did.

This child

There are also instances where a match yields near perfect genetic compatibility. When this occurs, both the man and woman are given incentives to remain on Corsaega to

### The Auxiliaries

When a regiment of Cuirassiers is deployed on a campaign, they may recruit some of the local populace to bolster their ranks. The Auxiliary Corps, informally known as the “Bastard Legions”, are typically a company-sized group of PDF and civilians whose skills as soldiers or scouts have gained the attention of the Cuirassiers. Unlike the Corsaegans, the Auxiliaries don’t have to meet any genetic requirement to become a part of the regiment. Due to this, the Auxiliares are treated with indifference at best and outright contempt at the worst. Although the more inexperienced are trained rigorously so that they may have a semblance of Corsaegan discipline and martial prowess, it is not unheard of that a Corsaegan commander would recruit auxiliaries just so that they have cannon fodder.

The Auxiliaries are typically split between two designations: Voltigeur and Dragoon. Voltigeurs are the scouts of the regiment and are deployed at the vanguard with the luxury of having the most autonomy amongst the auxiliaries. They are typically recruited from locals who have. Marksmen also find a place amongst the Voltigeurs

Dragoon light cavalry that would fight alongside the Warborn.

## **Regiment Equipment**

The adage ‘With it or on it’ from Holy Terra’s long and forgotten past was brought to Corsaega by remembrancers hailing from the former techno-barbarian state of Boeotia and had since become an aspect of daily life amongst Corsaegans. Each Corsaegan is assigned a full kit of equipment at the beginning of their training and is expected to keep it well maintained until their assignment to a regiment. To the individual, their gear is the closest thing they would have to personal property during their training and subsequent displacement to the battlefields across the stars. To Corsaega, it is an unsaid oath between person and planet to spread a legacy spanning millennia across the stars. Losing equipment is akin to losing a piece of Corsaega. As such, failure to uphold the strict Corsaegan standard of a full kit will result in at least 30 lashes by either a ranking officer or the Regimental Commissar, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

* Corsaegan Dagger - Jokingly referred to as a pig-sticker by the Bladeswain, a Corsaegan Dagger is the standard issue combat knife with a mounting lug near the spine that allows it to be attached onto Lucius Pattern Lasguns. The weapon’s 14-inch blade and subtle leaf-like profile allows it to double as a machete for environments with thick vegetation. However, its most iconic feature is the saw implemented on the spine. While useful for cutting down small trees for barricades and fortifications, its reputation stems from the gruesome wounds it leaves when pulled out of an enemy.
* Corsaegan Cuirass - The most iconic component of their uniform, the Corsaegan cuirass lies between the standard Astra Militarum Flak Armor and the more specialized Carapace Armor in terms of weight and protection. It’s a thin slabs of shaped ceramite sandwiched between a layer of plasteel for improved integrity as well as the iconic sheen of burnished metal, and layers of plasfibre with padding for some degree of comfort as well as a final contingency in case of a puncture due to shrapnel. The cuirass’ profile stems from the armor of the chevaliers of Corsaega’s feudal age, albeit stripped down significantly to only protect the torso. Typically, both the front and back plates are worn by a Cuirassier but the back plate can be neglected if circumstances such as extreme heat necessitate it.
* Corsaegan Helmet -
* Battle Dress Uniform -
* 2 Smoke Grenades
* 2 Frag Grenades
* Poor weather gear
* Rucksack
* Basic toolkit
* Mess kit and water canteen
* Blanket and sleeping bag
* Rechargeable lamp-pack
* Grooming kit
* Dog tags
* Imperial Infantryman’s Uplifting Primer
* 2 weeks’ rations
* CBRN equipment - This includes, but is not limited to, a Corsaegan CBRN Helmet with rebreather, an air filtration device, and sealant tape.
* Micro-bead

### Bladeswain Wargear

* **Lucius Pattern no.93 ‘Luzvimida’ Lasgun** - The standard firearm of the Corsaegan Bladeswain. After the attempted secession from the Imperium during the Horus Heresy and the subsequent years of recovery, Corsaega began holding weapon trials for a service weapon that would suit their combat doctrine. It had been a three-way tie between the light weight Voss-Pattern, the versatile Triplex-Pattern, and the powerful Lucius-Pattern. In the end, the consistency of the Lucius-Pattern’s stopping power was more appealing to the Corsaegans. The weapon’s profile being a rough equivalent to the Kalibrax and Mars Pattern las-weaponry that the warring factions used during the Civil War played a factor in its adoption. The variant utilized by the Corsaegans, dubbed the *Luzvimida* or *Lightbringer* variant, was initially made for drop regiments such as the vaunted Elysian Drop Troops as a marksman's rifle. Along with a reinforced and lengthened barrel to mitigate the wear from repeated high-power lasbolts whilst increaseing the overall accuracy, the weapon had a rock-back system for its magazines rather than the standardized magwell-based system as well as a foldable buttstock. Although the weapon was shafted to the side in favour of the more compact Accatran Las-Rifle, the Corsaegans found that it suited them just fine as its increased range and accuracy allowed them to take more shots from a greater distance before closing in for a brutal melee. An added bonus was that its bayonet lug was just the right fit for the regiment's rather hefty combat knife. Once the folding stock mechanism was replaced with the standard stock seen in the more common Lucius No. 95 and its average power output was decreased slightly to improve the barrel's service life, the Luzvimida was mass-produced and adopted as Corsaega's main firearm against the enemies of humanity.
* **Bladeswain Sword** - If the horse is the pride of the Warborn, then the sword is the pride of the Bladeswain. Each sword is made to very high standards from the Corsaegan manufactorums, where the plasteel ingots that would become the blade are treated with adamantium and forged to perfection. There are two types that are manufactured en masse for the regiments of Corsaega, one for the Sangleon and the other for the Sangjevai. Both of which are differentiated from the utilitarian swords of the Departmento Munitorum with elegant yet simple ring-hilts.
	+ The Sangleon Regiments are issued side-swords that were once the service weapon of the pikemen and fusiliers of House Haesus and Iatta during the pre-Imperial age. These were once eschewed as service weapons for tithed Corsaegans in favour of the katzbalgers due to the more potent threat of Orks during the Great Crusade. However, this gained a resurgence during the Corsaegan Civil War as shock troops armed with these weapons from loyalists made quick work of secessionist defensive positions. The adamantium-plasteel alloy of the long and rather thin blade was able to puncture body armor with ease while offering a reach advantage over conventional Imperial styled sabers. Once the war ended, the side-sword’s blade was thickened slightly to accommodate for large xenos threats before entering service as part of the Sangleon arsenal.
	+ On the other hand, the Sangjevai Regiments are issued the shorter and more robust katzbalger swords. Where the side-swords relied on the precision of a thrust, the katzbalger relied on the brutality of a powerful cut. However, the weapon’s shorter blade length made it difficult for its user to battle a larger opponent. Once the preferred weapon of siege tunnelers during the pre-Imperial age, the construction of these blades made them suitable for the close quarters fighting that would break out within tunnels. This made it also a potent weapon in trenches that littered a defensive position or an artillery nest. Unlike the Sangleon side-swords, the katzbalgers did not undergo any changes from its original form since its usage during the Great Crusade.

#### Sapper Wargear

* **Sapper Axe** - Unlike the standard infantry, the unit of veteran combat engineers known as Sappers carry a modified forest axe instead of a sword. Equally a status symbol and a functional piece of equipment, the wedge shape of the axe head coupled with the long haft allows its user to fell trees and fortifications alike with great speed. On the other end of the axe head is a hammer head that enables the Sappers - who are typically deployed at the vanguard just behind the Voltigeurs - to construct fortifications as they advance.
* **Carapace Armor** - As they are deployed at the vanguard of a campaign, the Sappers are more heavily armored than the rest of a regiment. Clad in ornate Carapace Armor from head to toe, a Sapper can withstand more punishment than a Bladeswain and many soldiers of this unit take advantage of this by spearheading assaults with reckless abandon. However, unlike their compatriots, Sapper Carapace Armor is dulled and blackened for both intimidation purposes as well as practical reasons since Sappers can be expected to conduct night raid operations should the circumstances require such a daring mission.
* **Bearskin Hat** -
* **Lucius Pattern Shogun**
* **Lucius Pattern Hotshot**

### Warborn Wargear

* Warborn Cavalry Sabre - A heavy cavalry sabre with a single-monomolecular edge. Many of the Nobility's sabres are dowries between two houses, which in turn are passed down to their offspring, and are typically engraved with litanies or the motto of a Noble House.
* Corsaegan Horse - The pride of Corsaega, the horses that the Cuirassiers mount have been bred to perfection through ancient traditions that have been in place long before the planet's rediscovery by Imperial Expedition Fleets.
* 1 Saddle
* 2 Saddlebags
* 1 Set of Riding Tack - This consists of reins, harness, ect. that is necessary for maintaining a mount.

#### Optional Warborn Wargear

* Snuff (Khamat) - Khamat is a plant native to Corsaega that has medicinal qualities and is a popular alternative to lho. Whether through cigars or dried leaves for pipes, Khamat is famous for the sharp yet tangy aroma it exudes when ignited as well as the pleasantly subtle sweetness of the leaf itself. While Khamat cigars or pipe leaves are something available to all Corsaegans, snuff is only available to the Warborn. Snuff is a fine powder that is the product of Khamat that was fermented for months being dried and ground up. The powder loses the subtle sweetness of the leaf and the medicinal properties, but becomes a very potent hyper-stimulant. Ingested via inhalation, snuff causes a heightened state of aggression and the dulling of the central nervous system. This makes a Warborn become a feral caricature of themselves, capable of carrying out great feats of strength and endurance. However, the side effects of consumption are severe and the risk of addiction is high. As such, snuff is carefully regulated under the iron fist of the chirurgeons and are only used under very dire circumstances.

## **Regiment Culture**

### Legacy of the Ruinstorm

Corsaega’s location at the edge of the Realm of Ultramar during Horus Heresy meant that it was subjected to the horrors of the Ruinstorm throughout the seven year duration of the galactic civil war. This meant that the planet experienced an influx of psychic awakenings as well as warp-induced mutations. Given that it was classified as a Paradise World at the time, the Corsaegans were ill-prepared for the warp's malign influence upon the physical plane. Newly awakened psykers were unfortunately unable to control their abilities and many perished trying to reel in their power, only to be consumed by warp flame. Those who were fortunate or sturdy enough to control themselves were kidnapped by Seperatists when the Secession began, so that they could be used as living bombs. This fate of being used as fodder in war was shared by mutants, whose minds were broken by their violent transformation, as they were nothing more than rabid monsters fit only to disrupt the lines of loyalists who were unfortunate enough to face them.

After the Horus Heresy, the mental scars of their war against Secession had resulted in Corsaegan culture to become more militaristic and puritanical. This meant that any mutants and unsanctioned psykers that would face against the Corsaegans would be disposed off with extreme prejudice. Purges are conducted on a semi-regular basis upon Corsaega in order to weed out those that are seen to be unworthy of life due to their unnatural being.

### Children of Sirens

While Corsaegans have garnered a reputation of being proud and ferocious soldiers, one facet of Corsaegan culture that has persevered through the millennia of martial indoctrination is music. From small village performances to baroque operas, every Corsaegan has the love for music beating deep in their hearts. Either as a means of boosting morale amongst comrades or a solemn sign of mourning, Corsaegan music is an integral part in a Cuirassier's day-to-day life as it is their only means of coping with the grim realities of the Imperium's numerous battlefields. Those who have served alongside the Corsaegans would always hear the marching songs of a mobilizing regiment long before they could see the blue overcoats and burnished steel cuirasses.

### Sect of the Leonine Saint

In the southwest region of Corsaega, a branch of the Imperial Cult had emerged following the planet’s liberation from its traitorous occupiers. It called itself the Sect of the Leonine Saint and while the majority of its tenets were similar to the ones prescribed by the Lectitio Divinitatus, it had an interesting edict regarding hair. The Sect believed that each strand of hair held a miniscule part of one's soul that was blessed by the Emperor's grace. To cut it would not only mean that they would be shearing their souls in twain, but also meant that they were denying the Emperor's blessing. As such, practitioners of this variation of the Imperial Cult don a pure white turban made from plas-fibre to contain their long manes rather than a plasteel helmet like their fellow Corsaegans. The loss of helmet and the increased risk from its absence is offset by the Sect's reputation of bearing some of the most ferocious warriors that Corsaega would ever field. Given that they believe that their soul was blessed by the Emperor's grace, members of the Sect would fight with such religious fervor that it seemed they had superhuman strength and stamina. This fearlessness and grand feats of physical prowess made members of the Sect, and Corsaega as a whole, be valued soldiers in the Imperial Guard whom are highly sought after by ambitious generals. Their devotion to the Emperor is so great that many followers of the Leonine Saint would take upon suicide missions without any hesitation if it means to serve the Emperor.

Although, there exists a single instance where to cut one's hair is allowed and actually encouraged. When a member of the Sect is to be married, regardless of their status within Corsaegan hierarchy, they are allowed to cut off a lock of their hair as part of the ceremony. This lock of hair is to be given to the spouse as a sign that the Sect member has entrusted a portion of their soul to their significant other. The recipient may do as they please with this lock of hair, but they are forbidden from parting from it henceforth lest they offend their beloved. The most common method of ensuring that this lock of hair would remain with a person at all times is to encase it in either a resin-like substance or a gem before mounting it upon a ring. In turn, should the recipient of the hair accept this responsibility, the donor would become as devoted to their spouse as they were to the Emperor. There had been many instances when a member of the Leonine Sect would conduct daring maneuvers in order to rescue their beloved or beat insurmountable odds just so that they could survive long enough to reunite with their beloved one last time. In other parts of Corsaega and even with allied Regiments all throughout the Imperium, this degree of fraternization is frowned upon, but many begrudgingly accept it as those who are married are as ferocious, if not more, than those who have remained celibate and/or spouseless.

## **Notable Regiments**

### *Sangleon* Mechanized Infantry Regiments

* 6th Sangleon Regiment, “The Sirens” - Formerly a well loved and respected regiment, the 6th Sangleon is a cautionary tale of corruption and disgrace.

* 33rd Sangleon Regiment, “The Lucky 33rd”
* 40th Sangleon Regiment
* 96th Sangleon Regiment
* 172nd Sangleon Regiment, “The Leper’s Bastards”
* 220th Sangleon Regiment
* 383rd Sangleon Regiment
* 759th Sangleon Regiment
* 935th Sangleon Regiment

### *Sangjevai* Artillery Regiments

* 55th Sangjevai Regiment
* 114th Sangjevai Regiment, “Children of Iron”
* 290th Sangjevai Regiment
* 293rd Sangjevai Regiment
* 536th Sangjevai Regiment
* 668th Sangjevai Regiment
* 941st Sangjevai Regiment

## **Notable Members**

* **Reynauld DeVries, the Leper King**: Born from an arranged marriage between two of the most powerful noble houses of Corsaega, Reynauld had been a very sickly baby and Corsaegan law demands that the child would be killed as its weakness brings forth shame to both families. Natalia Chantillion, Reynauld’s mother and an accomplished veteran, disobeyed the ancient edicts and refused to kill her child. Instead, she gave the boy to a peasant family with a promise that she would return for him once she had ascended to the highest echelons of Corsaegan nobility. Years pass and Reynauld grew, but due to his initial sickness he did not develop as well as other Corsaegan children. His legs were palsied, his body was thin and weak. However, his mind was his greatest asset. He surpassed many children of his age, and some of greater age, at tactical exercises in his Schola. When he was 16 Terran Years old, he had beaten many of his instructors in theoretical war games and had earned the respect of the peasant populace. It was at this time that Natalia returned to make true her promise. With her was her second-born and Reynauld’s younger sister, Filacosa Chantillion. Unlike her brother, Filacosa was a true war-born child of Corsaega. Strong of body and a skilled combatant. She despised her brother due to his weak body and had many times questioned their relation. Regardless of her daughter’s feelings, Natalia welcomed Reynauld back to the family and rewarded the peasants who took care of him handsomely. His reintroduction to the Natalia’s family was not a smooth endeavour. Many Nobles had damned Natalia for breaking the law, but others who have heard of Reynauld’s exploits from their peasant servants were interested in him. His father, Lacroix DeVries had been skeptical of his talents and publically challenged the boy in a war game. Without doubt in his heart of his skill, Reynauld accepted. When the time came, Reynauld had surprised many Nobles with how well he was able to keep up with one of Corsaega’s most decorated Generals. However, Lacroix had the advantage of experience and was able to defeat Reynauld. Despite the loss, Lacroix embraced his long lost son as weak body was greatly overshadowed by the gifted mind of a strategist. When Reynauld was finally of age to become one of the Cuirassiers, his condition and status as a noble granted him an officer’s rank which allowed him to operate away from frontline combat where he was most useful. His reputation as a gifted tactician was well-known by the peasants but many of the Nobles were still skeptical. None more than his own sister.

## **Regiment Appearance**

### Regiment Uniform

The Corsaegan Cuirassiers are distinguished by their navy blue overcoats with gold trimming and white insets, white pants with red trimming, and black knee-high boots underneath black gaiters. The significance of the blue overcoat hails back to the time of the Imperial Army and the Great Crusade. Much like the Vostroyans, the Corsaegans had adopted the uniform of the Emperor’s foot soldiers but had opted to change the blood red hue to that of Corsaega’s long lost oceans.

The white pants and the boots are another callback to Corsaega’s distant past, where explorers and naval warfare were a commonality. Many naval officers, especially those who served under the House \_\_, wore white pants and black boots since it was a homage to the sparrows that foretold the presence of nearby land.

However, the most iconic component of a Corsaegan’s uniform is their armor. A set consisting of a burnished metal cuirass and helmet.

While the Bladeswain are the face of the regiment, there are variations of the uniform that highlight certain units. The Warborn Nobility are distinguished by the red insets and epaulets of their overcoats along with the application of brass leaf over their cuirass and plumed helms. The Standard Bearers within a Warborn Command Squad don white overcoats with blue insets and gold epaulets but maintain the usage of the brass leafed armor. The medicae cadre are identified by their white epaulettes, regardless of their status as Bladeswain or Warborn. The Auxiliaries are set apart from the Corsaegans with the green overcoats with red insets and silver trimming, but are not provided the plasteel cuirasses. Dragoon Auxiliaries are also given a black pelisse with white trimming instead of a cuirass.

### Regiment Badge

The Corsaegan Cuirassiers’ regimental symbol is the golden swallow. The significance of the symbol dates back to a time when Corsaega had more water than land. The swallow was once a sign of good fortune for sea voyagers as it meant that land was nearby. Some parts of the planet consider the avian to be holy, and treated it with due reverence. However, the arrival of the Imperium during the Great Crusade had forced the Corsaegans to abandon such misguided beliefs and the subsequent Heresy rendered the small bird extinct due to the loss of its habitat. It was only through the rise of the Imperial Cult that the swallow’s old tales of good fortune had evolved to become the symbol of the Emperor’s guiding hand. It has also become a reminder of the planet’s sin of treachery, a sin that each Corsaegan is born with and spends their entire life absolving through their desire to achieve victory by any means necessary.

## **Allies**

### Death Korps of Krieg

One of the most unlikely groups that the prideful Corsaegaens would have positive relations with are the infamous Death Korps of Krieg. While the Cuirassiers often flaunt their seniority when in the company of the Death Korps, the Corsaegans respect and empathize with the soldiers of Krieg due to their similar circumstances. Both walk the proverbial path of atonement for the sins of past treacheries, but one seeks to atone in victory while the other seeks it in death. As such, the Death Korps’ single-mindedness and taciturn nature - traits that often cause friction with others - is something that the Cuirassiers are familiar with. Furthermore, their ways of war seem to compliment each other as the Death Korps’ skill in fortifications and siege allows the Cuirassiers to blitz through enemy territory with surety that their rear flanks would be covered.

## **Conflicting Regiments**

### Vostroyan Firstborn

It is no secret that the Corsaegan Cuirassiers have a vendetta against the Vostroyan Firstborn. This is due to the Vostroya's refusal to supply troops to the war effort against the Warmaster during the Horus Heresy. This black stain in Vostroyan history has gained the Corsaegans' contempt, despite the Firstborn being one of the most devoted Imperial Guard units of the Imperium. There have been cases where Corsaegans would only accept the seniority of a Vostroyan Officer if coerced by a Commissar. There have also been friendly fire incidents from either parties, where a unit of Corsaegans or Vostroyans were bombarded by their contemporary's artillery due to an error in the relaying of orders on both sides. While scapegoats are executed on the spot by ranking officers or Commissars for dereliction of duty, many third-party regiments have suspected that these incidents were deliberate and planned beforehand. Given the legacy of both the Corsaegans and Vostroyans, a thorough investigation by the Commissariat is pushed to the side as their stellar performances on thousands of battlefields outshine bloodshed borne from this ancient ongoing feud.