Devil Boys

### Battle Cry

"Look. Praise the Emperor and fuck you. Now you can shoot at the orks with us or you can try to fight us too and fight a war on two fronts."

Loyalist? Heretic? Renegade?
The Devil Boys have been called each of these, sometimes simultaneously. Dyed-in-the-wool defenders of both humanity and The Emperor, their irreverent, mocking, and sarcastic disposition put them at odds with the Imperium’s dogmatic and repressive rule.

## Founding

The Devil Boys are old. Older than the spittle on the Emperor’s holy ass where Horus kissed him. They’re the missing link between Thunder Warrior and true “Space Marine”. Whose genetics do they have in them? The Emperor only knows but it’s sure as hell not one of those milk-soft Primarchs; and before you ask, they’re too rough to be the Emperor’s own gnad-spawns though. The Emperor put one of his own flesh-and-blood sons, a stooge named “Første Ásmundur Kristbergsson”, in charge of them for the first few centuries. The Devil Boys, originally called “The Champions of Kristbergsson” (that didn’t last long), couldn’t pronounce his name so they just called him “Asmund”. The mad-lad died scrapping with some orcs; at least he went out fighting properly with a knife in hand and an orc femur in the other.

They never properly got culled due to an administrative error which classified them as a proper space marines (they were about 50/50 by that point). They later got refreshed by some “real” marines based on their own rather screwy genetic structure. They were a little screw-loose but fought like hell so they got what they needed. They were largely confined to Holy Terra, eradicating insurrections and fighting local wars and whatnot.

## The Great Scuffle (Horus Heresy)

The Devil Boys more or less stayed on Holy Terra during The Great Scuffle. Everyone else called it the “Horus Heresy” but the Devil Boys didn’t regard Horus highly enough to name a war after him. They thought Russ was an ok lad and Jaghatai had some balls but didn’t much care for the rest of them. They got deployed a few times during the Great Scuffle, lost some fights and won others, but weren’t used for any fancy big battles. The Devil Boys got to crush a few rebel skulls on Terra during its big defense but largely got their ass handed to them.

## On the Run From the Law

After The Great Scuffle the Imperium finally noticed their little administrative mistake and attempted to fix it. They sent a hit squad, some “holier than thou” lads from a prissy chapter called “The Doves of War” to “purge” their “impure” ranks but the Devil Boys protect their own. They smoked the ninny marines who came to cap them and fled in their assailant's battle barge. The hijacked barge was a mess as they had to kill the staff that normally piloted it and they only people they could hire to help were some gangers, a few rogue tech priests, and disgraced mangos who was hopped up on Obscura so bad he couldn’t tell a screw hole from a power coupler.

None the less they made it off world, sold the barge to a Rogue Trader for safe passage to a world on the fringe that owed them a favor from the days of The Great Scuffle, and set up shop protecting the populace from whatever wanted to kill them. This world, Greymark, was a horrific scum-heap of a hiveworld but it welcomed their protector and kept them off Imperial radars. Now the Devil Boys might not have been Remembrancers but they knew that the Imperium knew about them- they were probably just ignoring them or saving their destruction for later. The Devil Boys decided to live free and die fast if their days were numbered.

## Numbered Days

The Devil Boys fought like hell protecting Greymark and even did some war-making against threats to the Imperium farther afield. They wrecked themselves a whole Drukhari Kabal after the poor bastards popped into realspace near where the Devil Boys were making hell for some local orks. They scrapped with some Chaos Marines and set them packing, they busted up some Eldar trying to enact some delicate little plan on Greymark, and they even managed to kick a Tyranid splinter fleet in the teeth so hard it turned around and went elsewhere. They avoided fighting with or against any Imperial folks, though they did sometimes make informal alliances while in defense of the rim.

## Back in the Fold

During this time the chapter gained a reputation for honesty, directness, a dark sense of humor, and (above all) effectiveness. This got back to Holy Terra and (probably with a lot of bitching and moaning) the bureaucrats “suddenly found” records indicating the Devil Boys founding as a 4th founding chapter of space marines. The Devil Boys knew this was complete bunk but they allowed it to happen. They were officially declared the lost chapter known as “The Red Doves”, which the Devil Boys took a lot of pleasure in because, on paper, that made them the descendants of the bastards who tried to purge them.

Every now and then the Devil Boys send veiled threats in the form of “tithes of honor” to their “parent” chapter. These include things like ork-skulls painted in their parent chapter’s livery, the pelts of exotic xenos with slogans like “come join us on the hunt next time” painted in blood, and the severed hands of Necrons permanently welded into crude gestures.

Now that they were back in the fold the “Red Doves” were reinforced with new battle brothers who were appalled at the nature of the chapter. They eventually chilled out and got with the program but not after a whole lot of hazing and jokes at their expense.

### The Story of Brother Mack

One fine day the Devil Boys received a formal request for a marine to be sent to join the Deathwatch, as all chapters must send representatives. In true Devil Boys fashion they decided to send Brother Mack. Brother Mack you see was the crudest, most foul-mouth, marine in the chapter. He also happened to be one of the best assault marines the Imperium ever produced. After serving for only 5 years he was sent back with honors. Along with the return of Brother Mack there was a document sent with him, officially exempting the Devil Boys from the service requirement imposed by the Deathwatch. It effectively said, “Thank you for your service. Please don’t send any more Devil Boys.”. This document, known as “Mack’s Triumphant Shame” is revered as a chapter relic and is displayed as a battle standard to this day.

### The Scrap At Moon Mountain

The Imperium threw their worst, an irreverent chapter known as “The Devil Boys” at one of the worlds infected by The Filth. The moon was a pleasure planet and was home to a sprawling amusement park known as “Moon Mountain”. The Filth had turned it into a disgusting, plague-ridden, OSHA hazard and the Devil Boys just about had the time of their lives purging heretics and riding roller coasters. At the end of the day it was a draw as the tiny moon’s crust was shattered by heavy weaponry and virus bombs to hell.

## The Halloween Crusade

All was not forgotten by the Imperium however and the Devil Boys were sent on a penitent crusade for a period of 100 years. The chapter happily obliged and cut a line of destruction extending from their home world of Greymark to the stars. The primary target of their crusade were the heretical forces of the “Overworld Legion”- the remnants of a demonic incursion that had infected a dozen worlds. The so-called “Halloween Crusade” lasted a hundred years and saw the chapter both regain its honor and blow it all at once. The chapter began to loot horns, spikes, and other icons from defeated foes and adorned their armor with them to look more intimidating. This led to some accusations of heresy, some misunderstandings that ended with a few Imperial Guard commanders getting a few ribs broken, and the eventual pronouncement of them as traitors (again).

## Current Events

The Devil Boys are still kicking around. They recruit from Greymark and other hiveworlds to source their recruits from their most vicious gangers but are largely fleet based these days. They show up, out of the blue, aid Imperial war efforts when needed and pull their butts out of the frying pan before vanishing.

A textbook example of this can be seen in the “Defense of the Zobian Forgeworld”. While Forgeworld Zobian was being besieged by tyranids the Devil Boys arrived, attacked the forge world’s ammo depot, stole a large number of munitions, and immediately proceeded to the nearby warzone. With the stolen munitions they were able to overwhelm the tyranid and drive them from the forgeworld. This assault on the forgeworld was later “adjusted” by Imperial historians to have been a “peaceful requisition request by the Red Doves chapter”.

Otherwise, they mostly keep to their own affairs, protecting the fringe of the Imperium and knocking around humanity’s enemies. They’re favorites of the Rogue Traders who often hire entire squads of Devil Boys to help them on their missions. They haven’t exactly got many supplies from the Imperium so they definitely haven’t got any primaris marines or any of the fun new toys they come with.

### Status Unknown

Not everyone agreed with the pronouncement of the Devil Boys as traitors or heretics. Their detractors had lots of evidence against them but their supporters had an equally long list of triumphs and acts of nobility that are rivaled by few other chapters. To this day there is still a fierce and ongoing debate on Holy Terra over their status. The Devil Boys, for their part, don’t give a drop of their acidic spit for the distinction and keep on fighting the good fight and flipping off their foes.

### Relationship with the Realms of Ultramar

The chapter that both attempted to purge them and later was officially declared their parent chapter (on paper) is known as The Doves of War. The Doves are an Ultramarine successor chapter, thus (on paper) the Devil Boys are also an Ultramarine successor chapter. Because of this they get occasional awkward invitations and requests for aid from the Realms of Ultramar. They keep these invites and proclamations of their ancestral glory on a large dart board and use it for target practice.

### Devil Boys Retirement Party

Several Devil Boys have been secretly seconded to the Perditus Legio for their heinous actions.

## Tactics & Organization

Despite being irreverent as all hell, The Devil Boys are surprisingly a predominantly codex-compliant chapter. They have captains and companies and squads- the whole shebang. However, they do have an outsized fast-attack compliment. Their Battle Companies have 4 tactical squads, 2 devastator squads, and 4 assault squads. Their assault squads are primarily bikers squads and even their devastator squads are often mobile.

The Devil Boys favor improvised weapons and much of their arsenal is rather piecemeal. They often ride into battle on custom built bikes, swinging chains, shooting guns from various cultures and eras, and wearing a hodge-podge of power armor from many different patterns. Despite the chaotic nature of their equipment, each maintains their own and their scrappy nature makes them excellent at adapting the enemy tactics and technology.

## Notable Devil Boys

**Brother Mack:** Mack is the first and only Devil Boy to ever serve in the Deathwatch. His service was commended but after he served for just 5 years they sent him home with a request never to send any more Devil Boys to the Deathwatch. He was noted to be crude, foul-mouthed, and particularly talented with a chainsword, even by the Devil Boys’ standards.

**Big Man Sam:** Sam was the biggest Devil Boy who ever lived. He was easily 1.5x the size of the average marine and was as flabby as a Great Unclean One. He was probably a mutant but no one seemed to care because he could swing power hammers like they were marching band batons and wrestled ork warchiefs for sport. He was also a genuinely nice guy who’d give you the reactor off his back if yours ran out. Big Man Sam died doing what he loved during one of the Black Crusades- killing Khorne berserkers while eating a haunch of meat.

**Leonardo “Sarge” Segreto:** Sgt. Segreto, aka “Sarge” aka “The Great Sarge”, was a sergeant who refused to move up the ranks. Sarge was one of the oldest marines in the chapter who some believe might have been the oldest marine ever (based on nothing other than tradition). When he was finally mortally wounded, after having mentored hundreds of battle brothers, he was put into the chapters only dreadnought. To this day “Sarge” marches to battle with those he mentored, cursing them out all the while.

**Chapter Master Big Nose:** Herman “Big Nose” Le Blu was a short lived Chapter Master of the Devil Boys. He was famous for always using Mark VI Corvus Power Armor and decorating the “beak” of his suit. One of his trophies, an ork bone that he pierced his nose cone with got infamously got stuck on a rhino and was dragged to his death. His helmet is now a chapter relic that Devil Boys wear after they lose a bet or are shamed. It’s called the “Cone of Shame”.

**Assault Captain Horatio "Stubby" Bigglesworth:** Assault Captain Stubby is famous for an incident wherein he "stole" a Dawneagle Jetbike from the Adeptus Custodes Vertus Praetor squad. While history recounts that he "stole" it, the truth is that good ol' Stubby antagonized a Shield-Captain until he accepted a race with him. After Stubby (who 100% cheated) won the race he claimed the Shield-Captain's jetbike as his prize. The Custodes' honor did not allow him to refuse but a feud has existed every since.

## Tabletop Options (Homebrew)

### Chapter Tactics:

* **Indomitable** (autopass combat attrition tests)
* **Whirlwind of Rage** (exploding 6s on melee to-hit rolls)

### False Narrative

Though officially successors of the Ultramarines, the tactics and traditions of the Devil Boys have little in common with those of Roboute’s sons. Devil Boys may not make use of Ultramarine relics or stratagems, but they may use the relics and stratagems listed below.

### Relics

#### Mack’s Triumphant Shame

The physical reminder of Mack’s legend drives the Devil Boys to emulate his renowned insults and shit talking to this day, driving enemies into a blundering fury. At the start of each enemy Charge phase, you nominate a single enemy unit within 9” of this relic’s bearer and not within Engagement Range of your units. That unit must attempt to charge at least one Devil Boys unit this phase. (Units that cannot charge are unaffected.)

#### The Cone of Shame

The blood-boiling indignity of wearing the chapter dunce cap renders its bearer a poor leader, but a terrifying warrior. Devil Boys Captain or Lieutenant unit only. The bearer loses any Aura abilities it possesses. The bearer may charge during a turn that it advanced and may pile in and fight twice during the Fight phase.

#### Sam’s Last Haunch

After his death, the haunch of meat upon which Big Man Sam was feasting during his demise was placed in a stasis field to preserve its freshness and flavor. From time to time, the chapter removes the haunch that its ancient flavor may be savored in remembrance of Sam’s noble fate. Replaces a bolt pistol. When the bearer of this relic loses its last wound, it may shoot or fight immediately after resolving any enemy attacks being made against it. The bearer is removed from the table after shooting/fighting.

#### The Gnarly Doom

When Devil Boys come across particularly toxic or tetanus-ridden piece of scrap metal, they sometimes forge their findings into a graceless, poorly-assembled hunk of sharp things on a stick. Though lacking in the immediate lethality of a power sword or thunder hammer, few foes survive the long-term health effects inflicted by such weapons. Replaces a chainsword. Uses the profile of a chainsword. Mark models that lose one or more wounds from attacks made with this weapon. At the end of the battle (before scoring), marked models are considered to be destroyed even if they have wounds remaining.

#### Stubby's "Stolen" Jetbike

This "stolen" Dawneagle Jetbike has been tuned up and modified by the Devil Boys and is covered in slurs and curses against their foes (and allies). Devil Boys Captain or Lieutenant unit only. Replaces a bike. Increases the leadership score of a unit by 1.

#### Chain O' Command

This is a short adamantium chain supposedly stolen from an adornment on a titan. It's usually carried by an officer to beat some discipline in to a rowdy Devil Boy if they're out of line (they're always out of line). Replaces a power weapon. Increases the leadership score of a unit by 1.

## Trivia

* The devil boys were inspired by the art of Space Marines in the original Rogue Trader and other older editions of the game. In these editions marines were more crude, punk, and barbaric. They also looked uglier (lumpy faces, oversized body parts, etc), something I always liked.
* The chapter name is a reference to the TV show "Wildboyz" (a spin-off of Jackass) and Devilman: Crybaby.
* They also draw inspiration from the descriptions of Thunder Warriors. I always wanted to do more "techno-barbarians". I didn't think "a bunch of Thunder Warriors that managed to thrive and survive to the present day" made a lot of sense.