Atavists

**This article, Atavists, was written by Cyren1. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.**

## Atavists

Atavist armorial with Chapter iconography.

White armour, blue cloaks and tabards, gold trim and feet

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fidelitas Totalis*)

### **Successor of**

Blood Angels
(Sanguinius lineage)

### **Fortress-Monastery**

The Angels' Rise (Currently fleet-based, centered around the Battle-Barge *Windbreaker*

### **Specialty**

Close range gunfights, axe and pistol combat, unorthodox passageways, point blank grenade usage

### Successor Chapter(s)

None

The **Atavists** are a *Codex*-divergent chapter of Blood Angels gene-stock, founded at the dawn of M42 during the recent Ultima Founding. As one of the chapters involved in the campaign of the Unnumbered Sons, wearing the red and black of the venerable Blood Angels. However, the chapter was quarantined and all identifiable gene-sons rounded up almost immediately after the beginning of the Indomitus Crusade before they could participate in the combined-legion offensives spearheaded by the Emperor's returned son, Roboute Guilliman. Their gene-curse was greater than that of the average Sanguinary Brotherhood Chapter and their unique logistical requirements necessitated their organization as a Chapter long before Guilliman released his Greyshields into individual service. The Atavists' unique traits and the strange timing of their organization led to the investigation of Charieu, where the newly formed Chapter and several other suspect chapters were examined for heretical taint or mutation.

During the following Charieu War, the Atavists received censure for their actions, as they joined the heretical Silver Bolts in open conflict. Even so, their honour and an examination of their situation and mutations exonerated them from the worst punishment. The chapter was relegated to a vanguard role in the Indomitus Crusade, losing much of its independence as an Astartes chapter and its ability to recruit new marines until the end of its fleet's leg of the ongoing Indomitus campaign. A fresh chapter with a black stain on their record so soon after founding, the Atavists seek glory and prove their worth as loyal sons of Sanguinius.

## Chapter History

### A Salvaged Gene-Line

The story of the Atavists begins long before the first implantation of Astartes' organs into a compatible recruit. While synthesizing enough gene-seed for the creation of the Primaris Space Marine legions, a group Genetor Adepts discovered a mutation within the gene-stock reserved for the Atavists. The Biscopea and Ossmodula were mutated, and any replication or splicing of fresh samples into the gene-seed only resulted in more mutated organs. During any other Founding these zygotes would have been discarded, and the Priests Biologis would lament the wasted potential of an Astartes chapter. They would have moved on.

But this was the Ultima founding, and the Genetors involved in the Primaris project knew that somehow, they were on the cutting edge of Astartes technology, granted permission to act by Belisarius Cawl. An attempt was made to stabilize and save the gene-seed of the Atavists.

The solution was found in the new Primaris organs that would be implanted within the new marines. Namely, the Sinew Coils and the Magnificat. By transplanting genetic information from these two organs to the two defective ones, a stable set of gene-seed was developed, though not without its own flaws. Not all Atavist neophytes developed the broad stature and thick muscles of an Astartes. Many remained lithe while their height developed. Their features and limbs are lanky and gaunt. By comparison to a normal Astartes they seemed almost malnourished, ethereal. Some who developed the angelic grace of the Primarch Sanguinius could seem almost beautiful. But it was difficult to call them Astartes by sight until they were seen in action.

Though these Primaris marines seemed to be weaker and too light for Astartes' duty, their operational effectiveness proved otherwise. With a proper Astartes' diet, the Atavists developed a wiry network of muscles within their gaunt frame. Combined with the sinew coils their strength and weight matched many other Astartes samples. Their flesh and bones were denser, compact to the point where a combat knife glanced off their chest like it was ceramite plate. The divergent Atavists were not weak, they were lean. Every bit of Astartes strength and durability is packed into their frame. With hushed confirmation from "higher-ups" in the Primaris Program, the Atavists were allowed to take place in combat trials along with their brother-chapters.

### Immediate Tribulations

The flaws in the Atavists were apparent the moment armoured combat trials commenced. With their different stature and build, the Atavists had to have their armour modified to suit their gaunt forms. These changes required direct intervention on the part of the Tech-Priests involved in their upbringing, and as such the Atavists were rounded up from the various Blood Angels staging grounds before they were sent off to join Guilliman's command for the Indomitus Crusade. Though necessary, many Atavists believed themselves to have fallen short. While their brothers-in-arms fought against the tide of horrors that followed the Fall of Cadia, they were resupplying, repairing themselves to eventually join the ongoing campaigns.

On their adopted homeworld of Phelmenor VII, the Atavists developed a strong bond with the forge-fanes that inhabited the planet and served to make and modify their power armour. Within a few years, the Atavists were fully equipped for combat and moved to join the Indomitus Crusade.

#### Charieu (012.M42)

The calling of the Charieu Conclave caught the Atavists off guard. After ridding an agri-system of Red Corsairs and their associated cults, the Atavists were called to Charieu at chapter strength by the Inquisition, with orders from the High Twelves that all who refused would be considered renegades at best, and traitors at worst.

Inquisitor Eloise Farnsbern of the Ordo Astartes led the proceedings, calling upon other Space Marine chapters and dozens of regiments of Guard, Inquisitorial Stormtroopers, and Skitarii maniples to provide security. Once again, the Atavists found themselves sidelined while the greatest Crusade the Imperium had seen in millennia raged around them. Their purpose in creation was to pass the Atavists by once more. The sons of Sanguinius grew restless, and as the weeks of hearings and training sessions dragged on, so did most of the other Chapters. In this gloomy wait on a Paradise World that all involved were ordered not to disturb to a noticeable extent, the Black Rage began to flare up among the Atavists. Brothers who had not yet seen intense combat were beginning to fall to the maddened visions of their Primarch. Those that had to be inducted into the Black of the Death Company were chained up, and locked away without armour or weapons for when their day of glory could come. Especially since there were no enemies to fight on Charieu.

The weeks dragged into months, and an incident where a Kraken round killed an Atavist during a combat exercise almost brought them to blows with the Nemesis Chapter who were also called to Charieu, though as bodyguards and wardens for Inquisitor Farnsbern. When a mortar attack upon the Silver Bolts' compound caused the fervent chapter to declare the Charieu Conclave an excuse to contain and exterminate the Chapters under suspicion, the Atavists agreed. Fed up with the waiting and insult to their loyalty, the Atavists joined with the Silver Bolts in their revolt against the Conclave, beginning the Charieu War.

For one year, the Atavists fought an extended campaign against the mortal troops that made up the majority of the armed forces on Charieu. With the Ecclesiarchy's order not to damage the planet, the rebel Astartes were able to prosecute an effective guerilla campaign, forcing the Inquisitorial and Loyalist Astartes forces to fight on their terms, without fear of reprisal from orbital bombardment or overwhelming air power.

That wasn't to say that aircraft was not a factor. As the main advantage of the Inquisitorial forces, Eloise Farnsbern used her much larger Imperial Navy and Aeronautica forces to launch precision strikes upon Astartes' cells. The withering fire from supersonic aircraft cracked apart many Silver Bolts companies, allowing the Nemesis Chapter and Rainbow Warriors to defeat the numerically superior Silver Bolts within the Terran year's end.

With most of Inquisitor Farnsbern's air power focused on the Silver Bolts, the Atavists had free reign over their domain, striking out against supply lines and bases of the Stormtrooper Regiments that had been sent to pacify them. However, the Atavists refused to deploy their Death Company, considering this was a sad turn of events not worthy of the Death Company's glorious charge.

#### Ambushed (013.M42)

Banner-Captain Aphraim al-Dizier's Veteran Company, protecting Gene-Marshal Uxan un-Vercance, was ambushed by Imperial Angels Raptor Squads during a pursuit of fleeing Guard elements. Though the Company quickly flocked to the stricken Land Raider housing their Chapter Master, the rest of the Company's vehicles were quickly scattered, pinned down, or immobilized by hidden Anti-Armour emplacements. Gene-Marshal Uxan un-Vercance's Terminator escort held their guard through the night as the company braced for a night assault on their formation of burning, blown-out vehicles. But it never came. Though they were certainly outnumbered by the Imperial Angels and Blessed Scions in the forest around them, the elusive Astartes never assaulted their position. Though they certainly threatened to overrun the stranded First Company, they did not, allowing 4th Company Marshal Exar un-Dal to assemble three nearby companies and their armoured contingents to rescue their Chapter Master.

Exar un-Dal offered to parley with the interim leader of the Loyalist forces, Severain Losf. Though the Master of Stories of the Imperial Angels pressed Marshal un-Dal's force to surrender, the brash 4th Company Blood-Marshal refused, citing Losf's lack of any armour or vehicle support for the coming battle. Even after an analysis of the *Codex Astartes* before Severain Losf did not sway the Chaplain.

As Marshal un-Dal began his assault on Gladiator tanks and Storm Speeders, the reason for Losf's certainty was clear. Drop pods and Thunderhawk transports rained from the sky as the full force of the Imperial Angels and Blessed Scions Chapters present on Charieu descended upon his armoured spearhead. Marshal un-Dal found himself in a similar position to his Chapter Master, cut off, surrounded, and bombarded from all sides. An attempt to circle the vehicles was made, though many tanks and speeders were now immobilized husks on the field. The ring of armoured vehicles around Marshal un-Dal's disintegrating command offered little protection from the gunships that rained munitions and marines upon their position. By the time Exar un-Dal was offered surrender and he accepted, most of the vehicles that the Atavists had brought were immobilized or worse, and half their battle-brothers lay wounded or dead. The crushing blow from this battle spelt the end of hostilities for the Charieu War, and the Atavists would have to be censured.

#### A Harsh Verdict

After collecting testimony from all involved, a council of neutral inquisitors from across several Ordos declared the Atavists to have been misguided, but understandable in their motives. The delaying of such a fresh chapter from carving their own story and the environment of suspicion of the Conclave had forced their hand. Though the Atavists were not released without censure. As punishment for participating in a hostile military action against other Imperial forces, the Atavists were forced to become a fleet-based Chapter, to go on a penitent crusade under the command of one of the many Indomitus Crusade fleets that now worked their way across the Galaxy, following Guilliman's grand plan by their own methods. The Atavists would be barred from recruiting new marines for 200 years, or until the end of the Crusade. Their Fortress-Monastery would be held in stewardship until their return.

## Notable Campaigns

* **The Vaxius Campaign (009-011.M42)**: The Vaxius Campaign was the first major deployment of the Atavists, requiring four full companies to destroy and reclaim several worlds that had sprouted Chaotic cults in the wake of some Indomitus fleets. The pacification turned into a hunt when it was discovered that Red Corsairs had been spotted in the region, fomenting the cults. During this campaign, the Atavists cooperated with a splinter Crusade of the Black Templars. Some of the greenhorn line officers were tutored by the Crusading chapter and adopted the Black Templars' tradition of chaining one's weapon to their hands.

* **The Charieu War (012-013.M42)**: A short, intense conflict between Inquisition-aligned Chapters and a group of Chapters that were under investigation of heresy or mutation. The Atavists took part on the rebel side, but due to their relatively restrained conduct, were allowed a form of clemency.

## Chapter Homeworld

Phelmenor VII is a planet mostly covered by seas with a few archipelagoes of hilly land peeking above the surface of the water. The steady supply of coolant and geothermal vents on the relatively shallow ocean floors supplies power and regulation to the dozens of forge-fanes that make Phelmenor their home, and the aquatic wildlife seems to have adapted to life in the water very quickly, much quicker than natural selection. Genetor clades make their home below the waves, studying the wildlife, often comparing it to Tyranid samples from other research clades.

### Fortress-Monastery

The Angel's Rise is a series of islands that house the facilities for the Atavists Chapter. Designed to be relatively discrete among the sprawling array of rigs and mobile Home-Ships that ply the Phelmenorian seas, the Angel's Rise is anchored to the land itself, with many facilities underwater or scattered among the lagoons and beaches. The decentralized nature of the fortress-monastery combined with its mostly underground and underwater design is considered to aid in its defensive capabilities.

## Chapter Organization

### Officer Ranks

* **Banner-Captain** - Chapter Master

* **Blood-Marshal/Marshal** - Captain Equivalent

* **Steadmarshal** - Lieutenant Equivalent

### Specialist Ranks

* **Shepherd Marshal of the Lost** - Master of Sanctity Equivalent

* **Reclusiarch** - Per the *Codex Astartes*

* **Shepherd** - Chaplain Equivalent

* **Lord Portent** - Chief Librarian Equivalent

* **Codiciers, Epistolaries, Lexicaniums, Dreadnought Librarius** - Per the *Codex Astartes* and standard Blood Angels doctrine

* **Blood-Saint** Master of the Forge Equivalent, in lean times might be fused with the Gene-Marshal

* **Ministers** Techmarine Equivalent

* **Gene-Marshal** Chief Apothecary Equivalent

* **Bloodbearer** Ancient Equivalent

### Line Ranks

* **Husk-Brother** - Informal term for those that bear the triplicate curse of the Atavists' gaunt figure, the red thirst, and elements of the Black Rage

* **Soul-Brother** - Informal term for those that bear the gaunt figure present in many Atavist Marines. Those that channel the grace of Sanguinius in their form are often recommended for the Sanguinary Guard.

### Specialist Units & Formations

* **Sanguinary Guard** - As with other Blood Angels Successors, the Atavists keep a corps of Sanguinary Guard in their number, with their names and titles transplanted directly from their primogenitor chapter. The Sanguinary Guard of the Atavists often favour the Encarmine Axes and will sometimes bring grenades of various types into battle. On more than one occasion the Sanguinary Guard of the Atavists have arrived in force with plasma and inferno pistols as main weapons, in tandem with Inceptors or Suppressors for close-range gunfire.

* **Death Company** - The Death Company of the Atavists wears the usual Black armour, though the bright blue and gold shoulder pads are used instead of the usual black with red crosses. The Death Company of the Atavists favour pistols and grenades, acting much like Destroyer squads of the ancient Legiones Astartes.

## Combat Doctrine

The doctrine of the Atavists is much like their fellow Blood Angels, focusing on rapid strikes delivered via jump pack or rapid transport vehicle. The chapter also has a Sanguinary Guard and a Death Company. The chapter has an affinity for axes and pistols in combat to better leverage the strength and agility that the Chapter cultivates within its battle-brothers. The Death Company in particular tends towards plasma weaponry and grenade bandoliers, and are often used as direct shock troops to turn an enemy to disarray before deploying the Chapter's main forces.

The Atavists have a much more strict view of what an honourable battle for a Brother of the Death Company should be, and endeavour to keep those that suffer under the Black Rage contained until a suitable battle can be found. The chapter has little issue executing fallen Brothers after a sufficiently brutal and effective battle, though the Chaplaincy places a great emphasis on reciting the proper rites before delivering the Emperor's Mercy.

## Chapter Culture & Beliefs

The Atavists are a generally aggressive chapter, with much to prove given their black-marked, short history. The Chapter is dour and efficient in combat, with an emphasis on gunfighting within effective melee range.

The Atavists apply a concept known as the Bloodscent to battle, where pennants stained with the blood of the enemy that the Atavists are about to fight are hung from their Ancients' banners, as well as from wax seals that are similar to purity seals, or even from the rallying banners for squads and sergeants. The scent of the enemy's blood is supposed to drive the Atavists into an aggressive flow state, to hunt the enemy in an almost primal dance of pistol and blade.

## Chapter Recruitment

As a fleet-based chapter on a penitent mission, the Atavists do not recruit at this time.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

The Atavists suffer from both the flaws of the Blood Angels' gene-seed, the Red Thirst and the Black Rage. The slip into the Rage for the Atavists seems to be more gradual than most, though the number that can fight it off or recover eventually are almost none compared to the sparse successes of their fellow gene-brothers.

In addition, the Atavists have a dysfunctional Biscopea and Ossmodula, patched into a functional state through integration with the Primaris organs' genetic material. As such, many Atavists develop a lithe figure with incredibly dense muscles, bones, and skin. This concentration keeps an Atavist's weight and strength within normal bounds of a Space Marine, though armour usually has to be specially refitted to fit the gaunt figure of a Soul-Brother.

## Chapter Fleet

* ***Windbreaker*  (Battle Barge)**

* ***Prince of Baal*  (Battle Barge)**

* ***Sanguine Hound*  (Battle Barge)**

* ***Scent of Gore*  (Battle Barge)**

* ***Ever Vigilant*  (Battle Barge)**

* ***Strident*  (Strike Cruiser)**

* ***Breakspear*  (Strike Cruiser)**

* ***Lawful Duty*  (Strike Cruiser)**

* ***Living Damned*  (Strike Cruiser)**

* ***Warrior's Creed*  (Strike Cruiser)**

* ***Iron Oath*  (Strike Cruiser)**

* ***Baal Star*  (Strike Cruiser)**

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

Off-white and Blue, rimmed with gold. The cloth used by the Atavists is usually the same blue as their cloaks, though any tabard or loincloth over a cloak is often red.

### Chapter Badge

A bloody right-handed dexter handprint, centered upon a field of blue, trimmed with gold.

## Relations

### About the Atavist

[Source]

 White Scars Successors
 Space Wolves Successors
 Imperial Fists Successors
 Blood Angels Successors
 Iron Hands Successors
 Ultramarines Successors
 Salamanders Successors
 Raven Guard Successors
 Unknown Lineage

[Source]