Arachnid Warriors

**This article, Arachnid Warriors, was written by Chapter Master Nexus. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.**

## Arachnid Warriors

Arachnid Warriors armorial with Chapter iconography.

Arachnid Warriors Tactical Marine of the 4th Company, 2nd Battleline Squad.

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fedelitas Totalis*)

### **Homeworld**

N/A; Fleet-Based (Currently)
Madrigal (Formerly)

### **Fortress-Monastery**

*Venom* (Flagship; Currently)
Ostium (Formerly)

### **Number of Marines**

1,000 (Full Strength)
700+ (*Excommunicate Traitoris* - Pre-Indomitus Era)
400+ (Penitent Crusade - Post-Indomitus Era)
800+ (Post-Penitent Crusade)

### **Specialty**

Shock Assault, Ambush Tactics, Close-Quarters Combat

### **Battle cry**

"For Emperor and Imperium!"
"Strike from the shadows!"

### Successor Chapter(s)

N/A

The **Arachnid Warriors** are a *Codex*-compliant Chapter formed during the 23rd 'Sentinel' Founding during the 37th Millennium. Formerly declared Renegade (*Excommunicate Traitoris*) from 752.M41 to 013.M42, the Chapter has since been brought back into the Imperial fold after an investigation by Inquisitorial forces determined the original charges of Heresy against the Chapter proved to be unfounded, as well as the Chapter proving it's loyalty and lack of corruption in the Hyperion War that lasted from 999.M41 to 013.M42.

As part of the Imperium's condition for the Chapter to regain it's status as a full Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, a half-century long Penitent Crusade was launched from 013.M42 to 063.M42, just over half a century before the end of the Indomitus Crusade.

Since the end of their Crusade of Penance the Arachnid Warriors have been reinforced with ranks of Primaris Space Marines from the Unnumbered Sons to bolster their badly depleted numbers, and are currently operating in the Eastern Fringe of the Imperium.

## Chapter History

### Founding (M37)

The Arachnid Warriors were formed during the 23rd 'Sentinel' Founding during 637.M37, from an unknown gene-seed, receiving their training from a contingent of Astartes Officers hailing from other Chapters for half a century before they were deployed to the Eastern Fringe to help reinforce against unchecked Xenos aggression in the region. Upon arriving in the region the Chapter Master of the Arachnid Warriors, Andreas Yularus, sent scouting teams out to search for a suitable world for the Chapter to claim and establish a Fortress-Monastery.
The search eventually yielded results when the world of Madrigal was discovered. A recently colonised planet within the Actium Sector, Madrigal System. It housed two separate Human populations, a Primitive Warrior society in the southern hemisphere that was determined to be free of deviancy and prime recruitment material, and a newly established Imperial colony in the northern hemisphere, both divided by a vast jungle/desert that spanned the planets entire equator and housed immense and dangerous creatures worthy enough for the Astartes to test themselves against. These factors combined proved the value of Madrigal, and within solar weeks the foundations of the new Fortress-Monastery, Ostium, were laid in the equatorial region, thus establishing a permanent base of operations for the Arachnid Warriors to operate out of in the region.

### Invasion of Meridanus (787.M37)

The world of Meridanus and it's population had suffered under Ork tyranny since the Greenskins had captured it during the Age of Apostasy, efforts to re-claim the world being hampered by the Orks defences and the needed Imperial forces being directed elsewhere during the Reign of Blood. Seeing how well the Orks had entrenched themselves upon Meridanus it was determined a frontal assault would prove ineffective, and instead the warriors of the Adeptus Astartes were called in to assist in the invasion.

The Arachnid Warriors, being the closest, responded by sending five full Companies. Instead of a frontal assault it was decided that the Space Marines would carry out a decapitation strike on the Ork Warboss and his lieutenants, effectively crippling the Ork leadership and driving them into massive infighting due to them being contained on Meridanus and lacking much of anything to fight. This strike proved successful, with the Orks being thrown into disarray from the sudden appearance of the Space Marines and from infighting among those Orks trying to take command, leaving the world wide open for the Guard and Navy to move in a seize it.

### Declared Renegade (752.M41)

For over a solar year the Arachnid Warriors had been deployed in the Kofi Sector, defending its world from a series of Drukhari raids, when an Inquisitorial task force arrived in the Sector. The Sector and it's inhabitants had been declared corrupted by the radical Inquisitor Lord leading the fleet, due to the encounter of a singular chaos cult on one of its outlying worlds, leading him to believe that corruption was running rampant among all Imperial forces present. Rather than complying with the Inquisitors demands that they aid him in purging the Sector, the Arachnid Warriors came to blows with the Inquisitorial task force, seeking to defend the people of the Sector whom they had come to respect after the past year of conflict.

The ensuing conflict resulted in the Arachnid Warriors being declared *Excommunicate Traitoris*, with an Imperial retribution force being sent to destroy the Chapter. Understanding the nature of the situation his Chapter now faced, Chapter Master Aeneas Tarantus had the Chapter load all that could be taken onto the fleet, and their Fortress-Monastery on Madrigal abandoned as they made their retreat further into the Eastern Fringes to avoid destruction. Attempts to pursue were made, but ultimately failed as the Mobile Starfort, *Venom*, and the rest of the Arachnid Warrior Fleet had vanished without a trace.

Following the declaration, the Arachnid Warriors largely disappeared from the records of the Imperium. Nonetheless, the Arachnid Warriors refused to be deterred by this edict, and they continued their sacred duty, purging the Emperor's foes from the worlds of the Imperium of Man and defending humanity, appearing in conflicts where Imperial forces are in dire need of reinforcements, before slipping away as Inquisitorial or fellow Astartes forces arrive. The only reliable source of communication, information, and resources were their fellow Astartes in the Nova Wolves Chapter, whom were closer to them than any other, sending out supply shipments to the far regions of the Eastern Fringe to be collected in secret by the Arachnid Warriors, so as to avoid this seemingly treasonous act being discovered by the rest of the Imperium.

### Hyperion War & Redemption (999.M41 - 013.M42)

The Hyperion War is the name of the devastating conflict that spanned the entirety of the Hyperion Sector in the days following the opening of the Great Rift, and is among one of the largest conflicts the forces of the Sector have participated in. Starting with probing raids from Chaos warships intercepted by Battlefleet Hyperion, the conflict escalated into an all out war similar to that of the Gothic War during the 12th Black Crusade, eventually expanding to include xenos forces from the Orks, Aeldari, and T'au. Imperial battlegroups comprising vessels from Battlefleet Hyperion, the Mechanicus, Inquisition, and at least four Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, including the near full force of the Nova Wolves and Arachnid Warriors. The conflict lasted over thirteen standard solar years until reinforcements from neighbouring Sectors arrived, the enemy beaten back, and the Sector secured once more.

Despite their status as a Renegade Chapter, and their lowered numbers due to the difficulty of finding recruits, the full might of the Arachnid Warriors was dispatched to aid the Nova Wolves defend their Sector despite the most likely outcome of the Chapter being destroyed by either the enemies of the Imperium, or the Imperium itself. Being met with open hostility by Imperial forces, especially those Astartes of the Omega Knights Chapter, the Arachnid Warriors were allowed to operate without persecution after the ranking representative of the Inquisition deemed the support of another Chapter of Astartes, renegade or not, too important to simply throw away, leaving the Arachnid Warriors to be dealt with once the conflict had been resolved.

The conflict raged for over thirteen years, with the Arachnid Warriors being involved in nearly every major battle from the Invasion of Hyperion to the Assault on Nexus Prime, Chapter Homeworld of the Nova Wolves. However the most important battle they fought had to be the Assault on the *Venom*, in which Traitor forces managed to board the *Venom* after a three day long void battle, resulting in hostile forces gaining a foothold on the ancient Starfort and raging a constant battle against the defenders for four solar weeks, before eventually being pushed out once Imperial reinforcements arrived to render aid.

The end of the conflict saw to the extermination of the Traitor and Greenskin forces, with those of the Aeldari and T'au being allowed to leave due to them allying with the Imperium against the greater threat. With the Sector rescued and reinforcements flowing in from neighbouring Sectors, attention was once more directed to the Arachnid Warriors. An Inquisitorial inquiry determined that the original charges of heresy against the Chapter had proven unfounded, and combined with the display of sheer loyalty, strength, perseverance and courage displayed by the Chapter over their near half millennia of exile, as well as the lack of any corruption, led to their classification as *Excommunicate Traitoris* being dropped, and the Chapter being given the opportunity to rejoin the Imperium as a full-fledged Chapter by Inquisitorial and Astartes representatives, after a Penitent Crusade of 50 Solar Years had been carried out, which the Arachnid Warriors had agreed to readily, and began as soon as possible.

### Penitent Crusade & Return to the Imperium (013-063.M42)

During the fifty year long Crusade of Penance undertaken by the Chapter, so as to fully return to the Imperium, the Arachnid Warriors engaged a large number of foes ranging from Traitor Astartes Warbands to Ork WAAAGHs!!!, and from Aeldari Corsairs to T'au incursions along the Eastern Fringe. During this period the Chapter suffered heavy losses due to being barred from recruiting, and the massive increase of enemy forces after the onset of the Great Rift, their numbers being reduced from well over 700 Astartes to just barely over 400. After the end of their Penitent Crusade and return to the Imperium, the Arachnid Warriors were gifted with their old recruiting world of Madrigal as well as it's neighbouring worlds so as to begin rebuilding their Chapter, along with the added influx of the new Primaris Space Marines and the technology required to create more of them, a gift from the recently resurrected Primarch Roboute Guilliman to aid them in rebuilding their depleted Chapter, the newly arrived four Companies of Primaris Marines being welcomed with open arms by their older brethren, seeing them as a gift from the Emperor, doubling the Chapter's manpower almost instantly.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Invasion of Meridanus (787.M37) -** One of the first recorded campaigns of the Arachnid Warriors. Lightning Strike assault on the Ork-held Imperial world of Meridanus, by the 3rd, 4th, 8th and 9th Companies, aimed to decapitate Ork leadership and cripple critical planetary and orbital defences. This assault proved to be successful and paved the way for an invasion by Imperial Navy and Guard forces.
* **Hyperion War (999.M41-013.M42) -** The Hyperion War is the first major engagement the Arachnid Warriors have undertaken since their excommunication from the Imperium, aiding in the defence of their brother Chapter, the Nova Wolves. Over the course of thirteen years the Chapter suffered heavy losses and had barely managed to repel an invasion of their Fortress-Monastery, *Venom*. Though as a result from this the Chapter has been re-integrated into the Imperium and cleared of all charges of heresy.
* **Penitent Crusade (013.M42-063.M42) -** In the next five-decades following the closure of the Hyperion War, the Arachnid Warriors made impressive strides across the Eastern Fringe, actively seeking and eliminating all manner of traitors and xenos throughout the course of their Penitent Crusade. AT it's ned the Chapter Fleet was met by vessels of the Indomitus Crusade, representatives from the Adeptus Custodes escorting the chapters new Primaris brethren to bolster their badly depleted numbers.

## Chapter Homeworld

Prior to being declared *Excommunicate Traitoris* the Arachnid Warriors were based on the world of Madrigal, located in the Ultima Segmentum, close to the Eastern Fringe. Madrigal is a temperate world similar to ancient Terra, with the main difference being an impenetrable vast jungle/desert around it's equator, inhabited by various deadly creatures, the most dangerous of which being a species of man-sized arachnids, comprising multiple sub-species resembling ancient Terran arachnids such as spiders and scorpions. These creatures are capable of tearing through armoured vehicles, requiring heavy firepower to bring down, they are also responsible for the cultural divide of the planet, with Madrigal's Southern Hemisphere hosting a population of feral warriors that are engaged in constant fighting with one another, and hunt the creatures of the equator for sport. Meanwhile the Northern Hemisphere resembles a Civilised World in terms of technology and it's appearance.

Once the Chapter had been declared *Excommunicate Traitoris*, any remaining Chapter holdings and their contents on Madrigal were seized and secured until such time that a new Chapter would deploy to take over their post. It was not until the end of the Chapter's excommunication that the world was offered back to them at the end of their Penitent Crusade, now serving as one of heir main recruiting worlds due to the Chapter becoming Fleet-Based to more effectively wage war against the enemies of the Emperor.

### Fortress-Monastery

#### *Venom* - Mobile Starfort, current Fortress-Monastery

The Arachnid Warriors are currently based out of their mobile Fortress-Monastery, Venom, within the Eastern Fringe. The Venom is a massive starfort found by the Arachnid Warriors in the late 39th Millennium, abandoned in the frontier regions of the Ultima Segmentum, during the Chapters pursuit of an Aeldari Corsair fleet harassing Imperial convoys in the region. The immense starfort was coaxed back to life by the efforts of the Mechanicus and the Chapter's Techmarines over the course of a century, taking its place in the Chapter Fleet soon after, a symbol of hope for the forces of the Imperium, and one of terror for those that dare oppose the Imperium.

It resembles the ancient Ramilies-Class Starforts in terms of appearance, though appears to be slightly smaller in size, though this is more than made up by its ability to maintain mobility much easier than the Ramilies with it's powerful plasma and warp-drives, not requiring the effort of a fleet to tow it between locations, but still taking a great deal of time to relocate regardless. It possesses multiple void shield arrays and thick adamantium armour plating to shield against all but the most determined assaults, and is bristling with sensorium arrays weaponry along its hull ranging from plasma macro-batteries to heavy lance turrets, dozens of torpedo silos to bombardment cannons, and even a pair of mighty nova cannons mounted on either side of the Venom, with blisters of defence lasers dotted around the station to protect against munitions and attack craft.

Looking away from the Venom's powerful armament, defences, and mobility it can be seen as the support station it is intended to serve as. It's docking facilities can house hundreds of fighters, shuttles, and other small craft, with it's larger docks able to house up to five Strike Cruisers or Battle Barges at any time around its circumference, and up to a dozen of the Chapter Fleets smaller Escort-vessels. Beneath it's hull is a series of hangar bays full of fighter craft and shuttles, and the tight maintenance/engineering areas, these areas separated by layers of automated blast doors, ranks of automated bolter and flamer turrets, and sections of the outer deck that can be vented into the void from the Command Center. Past these internal defences lies the heart of the Venom and the center of the Arachnid Warrior's operations.

The entirety of the north quadrant is dominated by training facilities, ancient in design and capable of simulating most environments such as the crushing depths of Ocean Worlds to dense jungles of Death Worlds, with some being filled with life forms encountered by the Chapter, such as the deadly arachnid beasts of Madrigal's equatorial regions or the aquatic predators of Gyrus, serving to create dangerous combat scenarios befitting of Astartes. In the south quadrant is located the vast forges and armouries of the Venom that produce and house the war material of the Chapter, as well as firing ranges that allow the Battle-Brothers of the Arachnid Warriors to further their own fire discipline and test new weaponry and equipment created within their forges.

Meanwhile in the east quadrant are the housing facilities and chapels of the Battle-Brothers and Chapter Serfs. It is here that they eat, sleep, pray, and conduct various other daily duties when not in training or battle. It is also here that the smaller exercise chambers are located for the Astartes to challenge each other in duels of all kinds, safely contained within these chambers as spectators look on from viewing galleries. Within the west quadrant is located the specialist facilities such as (but not limited to) the Apothecarion, Reclusiam, Librarium, Burial Chambers, Great Hall, Trophy Halls, and Reliquary. This is the true heart of the Chapter for it is here that the Chapter's future resides in the form of the Gene-Seed vault held within the Apothecarion, one of the most heavily defended areas of the Venom, as well as the Chapter's history within the Reclusiam, Librarius, and Great Halls where ancient Chapter Lore, Relics, and Trophies are held, and within the Burial Chambers rest the Chapter's fallen heroes over the centuries.

Finally in the Central Citadel at the center of the Venom resides the Control Center (Bridge), the Chapter Master's Sanctum, the Chapter Council Chamber, teleportarium arrays, detention facilities, as well as the main generatorum that powers the ancient station and it's many systems.

It is with this immense station that the Arachnid Warriors have been able to prosecute war against the Emperor's many enemies wherever they may be, no foe ever able to hope to outmatch it's guns or defences without the overwhelming firepower of a great many fleets.

#### *Ostium* - Madrigal Chapter Keep, former Fortress-Monastery

The previous Fortress-Monastery, and current Chapter Stronghold on the recruiting world of Madrigal, of the Arachnid Warriors, Ostium, is a large citadel located within the planet's equatorial region, guarding against interactions between the native feral warrior population, and the more advanced imperial population in both hemispheres, raise and train Chapter Initiates, and serves as a secondary base of operations for the Arachnid Warriors should the Venom ever become unavailable.

It is among one of the most heavily defended locations in the planet, partly due to it being a former Fortress-Monastery, and due to the nature of its location. It is located among the equatorial region which is similar to a Death World in terms of its hostile terrain, and fauna and flora, providing a constant hazard for all Chapter operations in the area. In the first days of landing over three squads were lost to ambushes from massive insectoid predators until the proper defensive perimeters could be established, even then more were lost to attacks as the creatures of the region had ways of evading sensors, leaving the Marines to adapt to these monsters tactics, eventually being able to hold them at bay as construction on Ostium began.

The construction of the Fortress-Monastery was constantly delayed to more attacks however, as well as the local geography, and constant growth from the native flora threatening to overtake any construction efforts, requiring squads equipped with flamers to push them back. Eventually, once the Fortress-Monastery was completed, the location could be properly secured. The area was ringed with automated Tarantula batteries, heavy bolter bunkers, missile batteries, defence lasers, anti-air and anti-tank emplacements, minefields, trenches, checkpoints, hidden hangars and passageways, and bastions, with the only accessible route being a road leading from the outer defence perimeter to the gates of the Fortress-Monastery, said route being covered in layers of defences.

Should these defences fail, Ostium itself has gun emplacements built into its walls, as well as three layers of void shielding to protect from orbital strikes and bombardment. The Monastery consists of dozens of ramparts, watchtowers and bastions built along a natural mountainscape standing above the equatorial jungle. Every entrance is sealed with heavy adamantium, ceramite or stone gates, barred by ancient and complex locks, often keyed to the unique genetic code of the Arachnid Warriors. Covering every entrance and approach, macro-cannon turrets, heavy bolter bunkers and missile batteries scan the horizon for foes. Within its structure, hundreds of great security doors layered in adamantium, clusters of turrets, twisting hallways leading to dead ends, and gas vents are but a few of the many defences that protects its heart from assault. However even with these mighty defences the occasional predator manages to find its way within the Fortress-Monastery, sneaking in over a blind spot in the walls, or burrowing through the subterranean passageways, proving a constant challenge for the defenders within.

## Chapter Organisation

### Command Ranks

* **Chapter Master**
* **Captain**
* **Lieutenant**
* **Chief Apothecary**
* **Master of Sanctity**
* **Reclusiarch**
* **Master of the Librarius**

### Veteran Ranks

* **First Company Veteran**
* **Veteran Sergeant**
* **Sergeant**

### Line Formations

* **Tactical Squads**
* **Devastator Squads**
* **Assault Squads**
* **Scout Squads**
* **Intercessor Squads**
* **Hellblaster Squads**
* **Aggressor Squads**
* **Inceptor Squads**
* **Reiver Squads**
* **Vanguard Squads**

### Specialist Formations

#### Honour Guard

The Honour Guard of the Arachnid Warriors Chapter are the sworn guardians of both the Chapter Master and the Chapter Banner, while also enforcing
the Chapter Masters will when assigned to other Company's to be the eyes and ears of the Chapter Master.

To become an Honour Guard is to display courage, honour, and loyalty above the normal call in a given combat situation. Each Honour Guard is equipped with ornate Master-Crafted Artificer Power Armour, each possessing a component of the Power Armour worn by past heroes of the Chapter, while they are also given free reign of the Chapter Armoury for their weapons of choice, though most usually settle for dual Master-Crafted Power Swords and a twin Master-Crafted Bolt Pistol set with specialist ammo.

Among the Honour Guard three individuals stand out, the Chapter's Ancient, the Chapter Champion, and the Honour Guard Apothecary. The
Chapters Ancient is the bearer of the sacred Banner of Madrigal, while the Chapter Champion is the mightiest of the Honour Guard often
acting as the personal bodyguard of the Chapter Master and also being his envoy, and the Honour Guard Apothecary who has the sole job to see
to the physical well being of the Honour Guard so other Apothecaries may tend to the other wounded Battle-Brothers.

#### Arachnid Warriors Librarians

Like their fellow Astartes Chapters, the Arachnid Warriors also maintain a Librarium of potent psykers who are highly talented and trained to
master the power of the Warp at the highest levels. Each Chapter selects its Librarians in its own way, either from seed worlds, as it does with the bulk of its Initiates, or from the ranks of gifted psykers brought to the Scholastica Psykana. Most Chapters train and test chosen psykers following the ancient ways laid out in the *Codex Astartes*. Librarians of the Arachnid Warriors are trained in this way, and, with some minor variances, have been taught to live by the word of the *Codex* unless their Judgement and Instinct proves to be sounder.

### Order of Battle

Like most *Codex Astartes* compliant Chapters, the Arachnid Warriors are divided into 10 companies of 100 Space Marines each. Each company is led by a Captain of the Arachnid Warriors, who -- in addition to his company command -- is in charge of a particular aspect of the Chapter's logistics. Each Company is also given a Chaplain, Librarian, Apothecary, and Techmarines to assist them. An Arachnid Warriors Company designation is indicated by the colour of his left knee pad on his power armour.

#### Headquarters

**Aeneas Tarantus,**
***The Arachne,***
**Chapter Master of the Arachnid Warriors**
**18 Honour Guard**
**Chapter Equerries**

**Tyranus Agathon**
***Master of the Forge***
**37 Techmarines**
**183 Tech-Servitors**
**66 Battle Tanks**
**11 Land Raiders**
**79 Gunships**
**Centurion Warsuits**
**Land Speeders**
**Assault Bikes**
**Attack Bikes**
**Ulysseus Baltar**
***Master of Sanctity***
**Perseus Uther**
***Chief Apothecary***
**14 Apothecaries**
**Theseus Aurelius**
***Master of the Librarius***
**3 Epistolaries**
**3 Codiciers**
**7 Lexicaniums**

#### Companies

 **1st Company**
***"The Apex"*** | **2nd Company**
***"Madrigals Blades"*** | **3rd Company**
***"The Dawnstrikers"*** | **4th Company**
***"The Deathstalkers"*** | **5th Company**
***Master of the Watch*****2 Lieutenants** **Company Champion****Company Ancient****Company Veterans****6 Battleline Squads****2 Close Support Squads****2 Fire Support Squads** **3 Dreadnoughts****Transports** |  **Captain Gerus**
***Master of the Arsenal*****2 Lieutenants** **Company Champion****Company Ancient****Company Veterans****6 Battleline Squads****2 Close Support Squads****2 Fire Support Squads** **3 Dreadnoughts****Transports** |  **Captain Orior**
***Master of the Fleet*****2 Lieutenants****Company Champion****Company Ancient****Company Veterans****6 Battleline Squads** **2 Close Support Squads** **2 Fire Support Squads** **2 Dreadnoughts****Transports** |  **Captain Phodon**

***"The Armored Sting"*** | **7th Company**
***"The Hornets"*** | **8th Company**
***"The Striking Fangs"*** | **9th Company**
***"The Deathweavers"*** | **10th Company**
***Master of the Rites*****2 Lieutenants****Company Champion****Company Ancient****Company Veterans****10 Battleline Squads****Battle Tanks**3 **Dreadnoughts****Transports** |  **Captain Tarin**
***Chief Victualler*****2 Lieutenants****Company Champion****Company Ancient****Company Veterans****10 Battleline Squads****Land Speeders****Gunships****2 Dreadnoughts****Transports** |  **Captain Ostes**
***Lord Executioner*****2 Lieutenants****Company Champion****Company Ancient****Company Veterans****10 Close Support Squads** **Assault Bikes****Attack Bikes** **2 Dreadnoughts** **Transports** |  **Captain Mire*****Master of the Relics*****2 Lieutenants****Company Champion****Company Ancient****Company Veterans****10 Fire Support Squads** **4 Dreadnoughts****Transports** |  **Captain Kyber**

## Chapter Gene-Seed

The gene-seed of the Arachnid Warriors is believed to be drawn from the stocks of either the Raven Guard or White Scars Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes due to similarities in combat doctrines, however their true Primarch is still as of yet unknown, so their is the possibility it may come from a different Primarch altogether. Whatever the case is, the gene-seed of the Arachnid Warriors is within acceptable stability levels, with few singular or notable physical mutations beyond the expected pattern, with full functionality of implanted organs to projected specifications, and only a thirteen percent chance of mutation.

## Chapter Recruitment

Prior to their excommunication, the Arachnid Warriors mainly recruited from Madrigal and her neighbouring worlds, the planets feral human population producing an extremely hardy type of people that are perfect Aspirant material due to their ability to survive the hellish equatorial jungle/desert and its many predators.

However, after their exile from the Imperium, the Chapter was forced to recruit from a wide variety of worlds and warzones after the loss of their recruiting worlds. Although they have since recovered their recruiting worlds the Chapter still maintains their recruitment abroad, seeing the value of being able to draw recruits from a range of backgrounds during their time in exile.

## Chapter Beliefs

The Chapter believes in the Imperial Creed, venerating the Emperor above all others but not worshiping him as an outright God like other organisations in the Imperium do. They believe in a unified Humanity standing triumphant above all xenos and heretic scum that dare to challenge humanity's right to rule the galaxy. While they do display xenophobia like much of the rest of the Imperium, they have been known to work alongside Xeno forces on occasions that demanded it, and have even formed a grudging respect for many of their enemies.

## Combat Doctrine

The Arachnid Warriors specialize in shock assault and stealth, much like the Arachnid predators of their Chapter Homeworld, Madrigal. As such they are often found leading quick, shock assaults against enemy forces, whether it be mass drop-pod deployments on top of an unsuspecting target, assault squads and land speeders shooting over the horizon to slam into the enemies ranks, or individual squads striking from the shadows before melting back in to them, leaving the enemy stunned and wary. It is because of this that the Chapter favours melee combat, with all Battle-Brothers carrying either a Chainsword or twin-Combat Blades, and is also the reason they possess a larger number of bikes and land speeder variants than most other Chapters.

## Deathwatch Service

The Arachnid Warriors, like all other Astartes Chapters, has a history of seconding their warriors to the Deathwatch due to Ancient Oaths. These warriors will often be the most skilled and deadly of their Brothers when it comes to fighting Xenos, and it is seen as a great honour to be sent to serve in the Long Watch by the Chapter.

Due to their exile in the 41st Millennium, the Arachnid Warriors have few warriors within the ranks of the Deathwatch compared to their cousin Chapters, with only several being present. Those few warriors sent however have more than proven their worth against the countless horrors of the void, and those that return bring back extensive knowledge and wisdom to the Chapter from their time in the Long Watch, while also retaining secrets they were sworn to.

### Notable Deathwatch Members

* **Ancient Devan -** Ancient Devan is a Venerable Dreadnought of the Arachnid Warriors who is currently seconded to the Deathwatch. Originally seconded as a Battle-Brother in the late 37th Millennium he has served more than five Vigils within the Deathwatch prior to his near death in his final Vigil (ca. 238.M40) and has since been interred within a Sarcophagus after his sacrifice at the world of Geiger in which he stopped an Ork Gargant from annihilating the last remaining spaceport in the process of evacuating Imperial forces by climbing it's outer-hull and detonating it's cockpit with a pair of melta bombs. The resulting explosion nearly killed the Astartes, but his sheer stubbornness saw him survive long enough to be interred with a Sarcophagus. When told he would be returned to his Chapter he refused, instead having the Deathwatch petition his Chapter to have his remains left with the Deathwatch so that he may continue to serve as a slayer of the Xeno threat. His Dreadnought armour is known as the *Furens Scorpionem* and is equipped with an Assault Cannon and Power Fist with an underslung Flamer. Of additional note is that even during his Chapter's time in exile he still bore their heraldry on his Dreadnought, refusing to remove it so as to continue to honour the Chapter he knew was falsely accused.
* **Watch Commander Kyran Angevin -** Watch Commander Kyran Angevin is perhaps one of the youngest Arachnid Warriors to see service with the Deathwatch, entering his Vigil

## Notable Members

* **Chapter Master Aenaes Tarantus -** Chapter Master of the Arachnid Warriors.
* **Ancient Devan -** Ancient Devan is currently one of several Arachnid Warrior actively serving with the Deathwatch, becoming permanently attached to the chamber militant of the Ordo Xenos after being interred within a Dreadnought.
* **Master of the Forge Tyranus Agathon -** Arachnid Warriors Master of the Forge.
* **Master of Sanctity Ulysses Baltar -** Master of Sanctity of the Arachnid Warriors.
* **Chief Apothecary Perseus Uther -** Chief Apothecary of the Arachnid Warriors.
* **Master of the Librarius Theseus Aurelius -** Arachnid Warriors Master of the Librarius.
* **Watch Master Kyran Angevin -** Kyran Angevin is a Space Marine of the Arachnid Warriors Chapter and currently serves as Watch Master of Watch-Fortress Black Bastion, a Deathwatch installation located on the north-eastern fringes of Imperial space. Angevin formerly served in his Chapter's 2nd Company and is one of the youngest to have stood Vigil with the Deathwatch from his Chapter, coming into service shortly before his Chapter's exile.

## Chapter Fleet

Due to their status as a Fleet-Based Chapter the Arachnid Warriors have a much larger Chapter Fleet than most other Chapters, their main fleet often found guarding their mobile Fortress-Monastery, ***Venom***, while smaller strike fleets are sent out to deploy Companies as required across various warzones. In addition to serving as their mobile Fortress-Monastery and Flagship, the ***Venom*** also serves as a dockyard for Imperial vessels, resupplying and repairing them as needed.

The Chapter fleet of the Arachnid Warriors is known to contain the following starships:

* ***Venom* (Mobile Fortress-Monastery) -** The ***Venom*** serves as the Mobile-Fortress Monastery of the Arachnid Warriors as well as the main base for the Chapter Fleet. Discovered while in pursuit of a Renegade Fleet in the late 39th Millennium this ancient Starfort was captured and restored to by the Chapter and their Mechanicus allies, at which point it served as the Chapter's Mobile Fleet HQ, before eventually becoming their Fortress-Monastery after losing their Chapter Homeworld of Madrigal.
* ***Webstar* (Battle Barge) -** The ***Webstar*** served as the initial Chapter Flagship until the discovery of the ***Venom***. It is currently attached to the 1st Company.
* ***Redback* (Battle Barge) -** Currently attached to the 2nd Company.
* ***Funnel Web* (Battle Barge) -** Currently attached to the 3rd Company.
* ***Black Widow* (Strike Crusier) -** Currently attached to the 4th Company.
* ***Firefly* (Strike Crusier)**
* ***Hornet* (Strike Crusier)**
* ***Wasp* (Strike Crusier)**
* ***Mantis* (Strike Crusier)**
* ***Huntsman* (Vanguard Strike Cruiser) -** One of the three Arachnid Warrior Vanguard Strike Cruisers that managed to outmaneuver the Chaos Battleships ***Mortes Manu*** and ***Darkspear***, destroying them during the assault on the ***Venom*** in the Hyperion War.
* ***Scorpio* (Vanguard Strike Cruiser) -** One of the three Arachnid Warrior Vanguard Strike Cruisers that managed to outmaneuver the Chaos Battleships ***Mortes** **Manu*** and ***Darkspear***, destroying them during the assault on the ***Venom*** in the Hyperion War.
* ***Recluse* (Vanguard Strike Cruiser) -** One of the three Arachnid Warrior Vanguard Strike Cruisers that managed to outmaneuver the Chaos Battleships ***Mortes** **Manu*** and ***Darkspear***, destroying them during the assault on the ***Venom*** in the Hyperion War.

## Chapter Specific Vehicles & Wargear

* **Web Grenades -** Web Grenades are a specialized type of grenade utilized by the Arachnid Warriors. Each grenade is filled with the silk of Madrigalan Arachnids harvested from the silk glands of those creatures held on the *Venom*. When primed and detonated a thick stream of the silk will shoot out in all directions, entangling anything caught within a 7m radius of it in the rapidly strengthening material, capable of holding anything from T'au Battlesuits to Tyranid Warriors, for varying lengths of times.
* **Tarantula-pattern Terminator Armour -** A variant of the Indomitus-pattern terminator armour, the Tarantula-pattern was first devised by Techmarines of the Chapter when the venerable 1st Company were engaged with an unknown xenos infestation onboard a space hulk, capable of eluding the standard auto-senses and targeting systems of the armour through a combination of speed and adaptive camouflage. In order to counteract this, standard Indomitus suits were modified with enhanced auto-senses and targeting software, these upgrades being much more sensitive and faster than before and capable of tracking the aliens despite their speed and camouflage, allowing the 1st Company to exterminate them with ease. Since then nearly all suits of Indomitus terminator armour have been modified into the Tarantula-pattern, granting the Arachnid Warriors 1st Company the ability to track and eliminate targets that would otherwise be too fast or too well hidden for the Indomitus to detect. The upgrade of the auto-senses and targeters required a modification of the standard visor, replacing the two eye lenses with six independent lenses capable of individually tracking targets, this along with the addition of interdependently moving mandibles along the helms lower section for intimidation purposes, gives the Tarantula-pattern a uniquely arachnid-like appearance.

## Chapter Relics

* ***Banner of Madrigal* -** The ***Banner of Madrigal*** is the ancient Battle Standard of the Arachnid Warriors and considered to be among their most revered relics. It has been present at every major event in the Chapter's history, and has a powerful aura about it that boosts the morale and zeal of all those around it. Of note is that it is among one of the few surviving relics from before the Chapters excommunication, surviving throughout their exile despite being present in multiple engagements that should have destroyed it.
* ***Fortune's Sabre and Aegis* -** This ancient Power Sword and Storm Shield combination have been in service with the Chapter since it's inception, seeing combat across hundreds of worlds, in the hands of dozens of Champions of the Chapter. Why they had been initially created and by who has been lost to time, though such details are unnecessary for their wielders. These weapons have an unusual yet revered history starting with the first engagement they were in, wielded by then Chapter Champion Heracles Oricon, who managed to win an impossible duel against an Eldar Exarch of the Howling Banshees in single combat despite suffering debilitating injuries that should have seen him rendered dead at the xenos feet. The shield had managed to turn aside every blow perfectly, even when it should not have been able to, the sword striking hard and relentlessly, parrying every blow and hitting weak spots that had not been initially aimed for, eventually being able to overwhelm the Eldar and slay it. Similar reports have come in over the ages from each of their wielders, each telling of how the blade had managed to cut apart a foe it should not have been able to, or the shields ability to deflect strikes that it could not have been able to, all describing these weapons as if they had a life of their own during combat, the Chapters Techmarines eventually discovering the rather unique and battle-hungry machine spirits within both artifacts. It is due to this that they are allowed to be wielded only by the Chapter Champion, for only they have the skill required to control them and use them to their fullest extent in battle.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Arachnid Warriors primarily wear Brown Power Armour with Black shoulder trims. Like most other Codex Chapters the Arachnid Warriors indicate Company by the colour of the left knee-pad, with squad designation placed on the right pauldron. Veterans are denoted by White Helms, and Sergeants are denoted by Red Helms with Veteran Sergeants having a White stripe running down the center of the Helm.

### Chapter Badge

The Arachnid Warriors Chapter Symbol is that of one of the Arachnid creatures of their homeworld Madrigal, the Chapter choosing to use the image of these fearsome insectoid predators that a pose a threat even to them out of respect for the power and cunning shown by them, traits the Arachnid Warriors emulate on the battlefield.

## Relations

### Allies

#### Nova Wolves

     The Nova Wolves are some of the oldest, if the only, allies of the Arachnid Warriors among the ranks of the Adeptus Astartes. Relations between both Chapters formally began when the Arachnid Warriors had veterans of their Chapter assigned to oversee the training of the newly founded Nova Wolves Chapter during the 25th Founding in 938.M40.

After the excommunication of the Arachnid Warriors by the Ordo Hereticus, the reasons behind this extreme measure angering the Nova Wolves who saw their cousins in the Arachnid Warriors as only doing their sacred duty to the Imperium and being punished for it, an envoy from the Chapter in-exile slipped past the scouring Inquisition and arrived on Nexus Prime to request, in secret, aid from the Nova Wolves. This request for aid included material to continue their oath to defend the Imperium: Munitions, vehicles, supplies and other various equipment that they no longer had easy access to from the Mechanicus. Chapter Master Vexes accepted without hesitation, knowing full well the risks he accepted with this deal if the Inquisition were to ever find out.

For taking such a risk, and because of their close ties, the Arachnid Warriors were willing to break their years of secrecy to openly aid the Nova Wolves in the defence of the Hyperion Sector at the onset of the Great Rift, regardless of the risk to their own survival.

### Enemies

#### Knights of Arkanon

The Knights of Arkanon Warband is a large force of Chaos Space Marines formerly under the command of Chaos Lord Arkanon. The Knights and Arachnid Warriors first came to blows during the Hyperion War, these traitor Astartes making up the bulk of the enemies Chaos Space Marine presence in the sector, leading to both groups having multiple encounters with one another. Two events in particular are worthy of note; the first being the raid on the *Venom* in which Chaos Lord Malkev, one of Arkanon's lieutenants, led an assault on the void-borne fortress-monastery, and the final duel between Chapter Masters Aeneas Tarantus and Castarius Vexes against Lord Arkanon himself, resulting in the traitors death and throwing his warband into disarray.

Despite claiming victory in the Hyperion War and slaying the heretical commander, the Arachnid Warriors relentlessly pursue any sign of the Knights of Arkanon they can find, intent on fully paying them back for the lives of each Battle-Brother lost during the defense of the *Venom*.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Arachnid Warriors

"*My brothers are no traitors, and until the opposite can be proven to me Watch Commander I shall not strike our colours or symbol from my chassis. You'll have to kill me to do so.*"
— Ancient Devan, seconded to the Death Watch, to his Watch Commander in regards to the Arachnid Warriors being declared *Excommunicate Traitoris*
"*To each of us falls a duty, to uphold our sacred oaths to the Long Vigil and stand against the countless horrors of the outer dark. We are the shield that protects Humanity from the threat of the alien wherever they may be, no matter the cost. We are the Deathwatch, and we shall know no fear!*"
— Watch Commander Kyran Angevin addressing new arrivals at Watch Fortress Black Bastion

## Gallery

Official pict-file of Kyran Angevin, who is seconded to the xenos-hunting Deathwatch and is currently assigned as the Watch Master of Watch-Fortress Black Bastion.Arachnid Warriors Venerable Dreadnought, Ancient Devan, assigned to the Deathwatch.An Arachnid Warriors Veteran Marine of the elite 1st Company ("*The Apex*") arrayed in relic Indomitus Terminator Armour (modified into the Tarantula sub-pattern) and armed with a master-crafted Storm Bolter and Power Fist.Arachnid Warriors Firstborn Assault Marine of the 8th Company ("*The Striking Fangs*"), 7th Close Support Squad.

 White Scars Successors
 Space Wolves Successors
 Imperial Fists Successors
 Blood Angels Successors
 Salamanders Successors
 Raven Guard Successors
 Chimeric Lineage
 Unknown Lineage
 Renegades

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