Charybdis Astra

Charybdis Astartes armorial.

Charybdis Astra Firstborn Battle-Brother of the 4th Company, 7th Battleline Squad.

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fedelitas Totalis*)

### **Specialty**

Infiltration, Saboteurs, Assassination of High Value Targets, Ambush, Traps and Misdirection, Sibranite Alloy Blade, Subterranian Deepstrike

### **Battle cry**

"Charybdis Prima!"
"Death from the Depths!"

### Successor Chapter(s)

None

The **Charybdis Astra** is a Loyalist non-*Codex* compliant Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes that hailed from the oceanic death world of Moturoa. There are no records of the chapter's founding date nor the chapter's successors due to the chapter's recent disastrous events known as Moturoa's Deluge that destroyed the chapter's former Fortress-Monastery. The Chapter was created to support the Herzavar Sector against both the Forces of Chaos from the Maelstorm warp rift and to counter xenos forces be it marauding Orks, Asuryani and Drukhari raids as well as the emerging Tau Empire that encroach the Herzavar Sector Sub-sector Virginia/Kauranga.

The chapter is known for its deadly close combat specialists, master infiltrations, sabotage and assassination of high value targets as well as its possession of Sibranite Alloy Blade, a combat knife made from ancient alloy native to Moturoa that could disrupt warp entities, shield generators, or any radio frequencies.

## Chapter History

There are very few records indicate the chapter’s history other than few recorded Crusades when the Charybdis Astra serve alongside other Imperial Forces in fighting the Forces of Chaos, insurrections, and xeno invasions. Ionacus Valko, an Imperial scribe from Terra wrote on his journal upon his meeting with the Charybdis Astra. It is written that the chapter might exist since before 37th Millenium slightly before the 21st 'Cursed' Founding occurred. The Charybdis Astra were once a proud chapter that prefers to work alone and undisturbed. Very few of the Battle-Brothers will talk or even rare for them to share any information to fellow Imperial Forces nor to scribes. Researching further details through libraries in New Merica, Ionacus found that the chapter’s mastery of stealth and infiltrations makes nearly 0 traces for the enemy to realize they have lost the war. Records of hundreds of assassinated xenos from the loud and brutal Ork Warbozz to the smartest and cunning Eldar Autarchs across Herzavar Sector are carry out by the Charybdis Astra operatives. Ionacus later revealed to the High Lords of Terra that the chapter’s ocean world Moturoa had previously suffered three invasions from the Ork WAAAGH!, forces of the Word Bearers splinter warband "Undivided Lodge", and Craftworld Syradis. These invasions were a catastrophe that destroyed many islands and its inhabitants from Moturoa.

Later on, another scribe from Ophelia VII, sister Demanita Vyris in the 41st Millenium contributed records of the Charybdis Astra stating that the catastrophic event known as Moturoa's Deluge had further expunged the chapter's records due to the Tau Empire's expedition that devastated the chapter's fortress-monastery. The only chapter's information is about their existence and their oath to protect the Herzavar Sector and its surrounding planets and systems, uncovered from a rotting corpse of a Tau Ethereal and his retinue located at the highest peak of Ratenga Island, the largest island in Moturoa. The Charybdis Astra's greatest contribution that led to their downfall was during the Forces of Chaos invasion of Tlaxcala System. Using the entire chapter’s number, the Charybdis Astra muster desperate defenses to aid the local PDF, forge world Tetracis, and Sisters of the Order of the Blessed Laurel to defeat and destroy the Forces of Chaos that consist of six Chaos Warbands led by Alpha Legion master of deceptions, Chaos Lord Gylon Fros. For 3 Terran years the Charybdis Astra along with other Imperial Forces fought the enemy's deception and trickery until the remaining 200 veteran Charybdis Astra Astartes left that sacrifices themselves delivering a fast killing blow to the enemy through counter infiltration and assassinations of Chaos Lords, Sorcerers, Champions, and destroying the Alpha Legion Battle Barge *Hydra's Fist*.

At the end of Indomitus Crusade, there are only 120 strong Battle-Brothers of the Charybdis Astra left that struggled to defend their home world against the ravages of Warboss Killstompa's WAAAGH!. The invasion ended after the chapter received fresh reinforcements of Primaris Space Marines clad in Mark X Tacticus and Phobos Power Armour. It was said that the newly appointed Chapter Master of the Charybdis Astra welcomed their new brothers with open arms and within some period of time, instruct his remaining Firstborn Astartes including himself to cross the Rubicon Primaris.

Mastering the art of stealth, assassinations, misdirection and sabotage. The Charybdis Astra serve as a hidden blade ready to stab and kill the enemies of the Golden Throne.

## Chapter Homeworld

Moturoa is an ocean death world located in the Virginian Sub-Sector. Known for its eternal night due to the thick atmospheric layer that covers the planet, Moturoa never experiences any daylight, thus the planet only experience night time be it starry nights, nor heavy storm. the population of the planet is relatively small of only half billion souls.

The planet’s geography is 96% filled with globe-straddling ocean across the planet surface with 4% of landmass forming islands and archipelago with Ratenga Island serve as the largest Island in Moturoa. Beneath the planet surface, the ocean floor of Moturoa is filled with 120 trenchs, and ever cold abyssal plains. Coral beds, and Kelp Forests cover 30% of Moturoa’s Ocean. The island’s climate is tropical, ranging from as hot and humid as 28-degree Celcius to as cold as -3-degree Celcius.

Beneath the ocean floor, metropolis level city ruins from ancient civilization dotted the ocean as the Charybdis Astra Astartes and Chapter Serfs from their submarines salvage, gather, and mining for Sibranite Alloys. The trenches of Moturoa are rich with Sibranite Ores and many chapter submarines are used to mine the minerals for their blades.

The planet is also categorized as death world due to its deadly ocean beasts that lurks from the depths of Moturoa. Small flesh-eating predators such as Kelp Crocs, Bluefin Ocofangs, Razorfang Piranhas, Blade Barracudas, and Fleshpod Anemones haunt the coastlines and beachside of Moturoa while gigantic beasts such as Kaurangi Krakens, Tidal Serpents, Anglersaurus, and Gigalodon Sharks haunt the Moturoas depth ocean. But the largest of them all feared by all inhabitants of Moturoa were the Trench Charybdis that is sometimes worshipped by the local tribals. This giant funnel mouth sea serpent able to create whirlpools, and cause a great tidal wave across the Moturoan Archipelagos.

The civilization of Moturoa is largely primitive as all the tribes built their settlements on coastlines, jungles, and at the shallow grounds. They built their settlements, wood forts, and villages on shallow grounds from woods, leaves, rattans, and occasionally stones. The Rui Rui, Mautenga, and Kat’otor tribes are known as traders, pirates, and sea nomads thus they built their house on boats and ships. These primitive tribes are well known hunter-fisherman and kelp farmers, but occasionally headhunting, tribal wars, and Black Whale hunts are occurred. Some tribes such as Ibanites, and Tao-Tao are skilled Headhunters and known to practice cannibalism. No techno-barbarian, modern, nor void age technology is found among the tribes.

### Fortress Monastery

At the south edge of Moturoa lies a fog covered great island with a dead Volcano, known as Kua’Roa Island by the natives. Beneath it there is a giant subterranean Fortress Monastery that was built away from the prying eyes of the natives. The Fortress Monastery known as the Charybdis Lair is a home to the Charybdis Astra Astartes. Kua’Roa island surface served as a training ground for the aspirants. In this island, deadly land faunas from foreign planet such as Ambull, Jerasian Tyrodon, Wojtylan Death Warg, Viridum Black Adders, Leadquitos, and Catachan Devils can be found here. These beasts serve as hunting objects for the aspirants in order to become an Adeptus Astartes.

### The Recruitment Process

The Charybdis Astra recruit their aspirants through two methods. Kidnaping the potential candidates be it criminals, great warriors, youths with great cunnings, or psychotic headhunters. Or through recoverings of near deceased and uncoscious warriors that fought recent tribal battles. Once they were healed and regain their consciousness they will be trained in the arts of stealth, booby traps, close and ranged combat, as well as sniper training.

After a year of gruesome training, the aspirants should hunt and fought the beasts that inhabits the Kua'Roa Island nor fighting a deadly sea creatures that dwells underneath the sea. They should bring back the beasts skin, teeth, claws, and eyeball as their trophy. Should the aspirants succeed, they will be given Black Carapace and a Sibranite Combat Knives as a gift from the chapter. Some aspirants will also be tattoed on their backs, arms, and face as a symbol of proud warriors of the Charybdis Astra. There are no failed aspirants as those who failed usually ended death devoured by the beasts or torn to pieces thanks to the Island's defense system.

## Chapter Organization

Charybdis Astra is a reclusive and secretive chapter that will not share their own information to other Imperial allies nor the authorities of the Imperium, thus very minimum information could be traced from them. No trace of renowned Astartes from the chapter’s records ever exists other than the Chapter Master, Reclusiarchs, and Chief Librarian names. No known number of Astartes and definitely they are non-*Codex* Compliant Chapter. They are no trace of how many companies, how many war machines they possess, and any recorded battles, crusades, or incidents are reported in the briefest way possible. The only information that could be spared is that the chapter is entirely consist of Primaris Space Marines and they possess an elite Primaris unit known as the Headhunters that equipped with cloaking devices and Multivision Goggles and armed with Stalker Bolt Rifle, Heavy Bolt Pistol or Plasma Pistol, and Sibranite Combat Knifes.

### Special Units & Formations

* **Headhunters** – This is an elite exclusive unit of the Charybdis Astra. Headhunters are picked among the most stable, and deadliest Astartes of the Chapter. The Headhunters are equipped with Mark X Tacticus Power Armor, Multi-Vision Goggles, Wrist equipped cloaking devices, Grapnel Pistols, and Booby Trap Kits. They are armed with Stalker Bolt Rifles with special issued rounds, Heavy Bolt Pistol and or Plasma Pistols, and Sibranite Combat Knifes. Some of the Headhunters are often seen with Omni Scramblers at their power pack and some equipped with Sibranite Combat Machetes. They are often deployed as tactical assassins, tasked to hunt, sabotage, and assassinate the deadliest enemy leaders or champions of the Imperium. These elite Primaris Space Marines are known to possess a great sniping skill equal to Raven Guard’s legendary Mor Deythan and (according to Vyris’s record) equal to Vindicare Assassin.

## Combat Doctrines

The Charybdis Astra is known for its mastery of infiltration, sabotage, assassinations, and close combat specialist. They are often seen deployed in many missions with high value targets that needs to be taken out before causing further harm and defeat to the Imperium’s forces.

The Charybdis Astra is a Primaris Space Marine Chapter that is often seen deploying more Reivers, and Incursors to battle. The Silent Terror Formation is the Chapter's main tactics. Terrorizing enemy and slaughter the vanguard with the Reivers while the Intercessor’s and Infiltrators gun down the rest of the enemy formation as the Incursors set a booby trap to the location where next assault may occur and proceed with destroying enemy communications, shield generators, and slaying their leaders or champions.

Their possession of xenos alloy combat blade, the Sibranite Alloy Blades are bane to enemy’s signal and conversion fields. The Sibranite Blade allowed the Astartes to stab through the enemy’s communication system and shield generators. The alloy could disrupt warp energy flows, weakened shield generators, and jamming and disrupt radio frequencies. The Sibranite Alloy is harvested from the oceanic trenchs beneath the vast Ocean of Moturoa. These black-reddish metal is then forged, creating a Serrated Combat Knife or Machete that is used for chapter's Astartes.

The Charybdis Astra is also well known for their stealth warfare. Most of the Astartes are trained to blend in with the location they are deployed, creating near zero chances of detection and move with the least noises.

The Charybdis Astra Astartes never shout and seek for glory in battle and some of them fight in near silent but some berserk tendencies are often seen from the enemy’s body that sometimes hacked to pieces or shot multiple times on their vital organs.

The Astartes years of Services are marked on their tattoos at their neck back. They did not wear service studs like general Astartes Chapter.

The Charybdis Astra also master and favor of ambush and booby trap tactics. Most of their battle records are often mention ambushes followed by deadly booby trap that cause distortion, immobility, and havoc among enemy troops. The ambush also occurred for the enemy forces that possess larger numbers than the Astartes team itself that usually numbered only in a Kill-Team size of 5 men.

The Charybdis Astra is one of the few Adeptus Astartes Chapter that possess and operates subterranean Termite Assault Drill. It was said in the Demanita Vyris’s journal that during the Siege of Kasr Makrodan, the Charybdis Astra utilize subterranean deepstrike inside the fort in order to stop the Warpgate rituals as well as slaying Chaos Lord Mardygun the Relentless. Another record shown during the War of Beasts where 5 Termite Assault Drill is used for the Charybdis Astra to seek the Genestealer Cult of Pauper Prince’s central command headquarter depth below the Hive City.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

It is unknown which lineage does Charybdis Astra Gene-Seed came from. The Moturoan Deluge had caused the chapter’s crucial ancestral information to be lost. But records from Ionacus Valko journal wrote that the Charybdis Astra Astartes are known for their overcautious behavior and a borderline tendency of bloodthirsty hunter that could only be tamed if they have slain their enemies or finished their tasks. Furthermore, the Charybdis Astra Gene-Seed empower’s the Astartes tendon, allowing great reflexes and quick movement for the Astartes.

There is a unique mutation on the Charybdis Astra’s melanochromic organ, causing the the skin of the Chapter’s Astartes to lose its pigment, regardless of its original hue and turn the Astartes’s sclera and pupil to a jetblack color. This unique mutation found on Ionacus’s journal as he encountered a Charybdis Astra Astartes for the first time during the Gattyran War where the Charybdis Astra is tasked to destroy an underground vast Chaos Basilica before it summons a Greater Daemon of Tzeentch.

The flaw of Charybdis Astra’s Gene-Seed lies on its Neuroglottis corruption. It is said in the Ionacus’s journal that an Astartes of Charybdis Astra during Valkutta Campaign was given a meal ration from a guardsman he saved. Most guardsmen and Sisters of Battle complained about briny soup and high sodium content of the ration and many of the soldiers and Battle Sisters decide not to ate it and thrown it away, but the Astartes of Charybdis Astra eat it without any expression. It is later revealed that what he ate is bland but when Ionacus taste it, he spits it out claimed that the ration is too salty for his standard.

## Chapter Beliefs

The Charybdis Astra Astartes is a believer in the Imperial Truth, but many Battle Brothers possess a tattoo and wearing fetishes to honor their ancestors and serve as a symbol of strength and wisdom. The chapter viewed the Emperor as a leader of mankind and exemplar of what pinnacle of Mankind should be. Nevertheless, the chapter saw the Imperial Cult and adoration of Emperor of Mankind as a God is nothing but major culture of Emperor’s Great Imperium and rituals for his adherence is nothing but symbol of loyalty.

## Deathwatch Service

Although known for its secrecy and undetailed records, many Charybdis Astra Astartes serve in the Deathwatch. Their skill in close combat as well as their stealth and sniping skills are praised resource to the Watch Masters of the Deathwatch. Every Terran years there are at least two Charybdis Astran Astartes that serve in the Deathwatch.

## Chapter Fleet

No exact records wrote how many Strike Cruisers, Battle Barges, and Frigates the chapter possess. There is only one flagship ‘Depth Terror’ that is identified as the Charybdis Astra’s flagship. These Battle Barges are slightly longer and possess more Laser Destroyers than the usual Battle Barge.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colors

The Charybdis Astra wore Dark Teal coloured power armor, with Mechrite Red shoulder trim and Jet Black Pauldrons. The Aquila or Imperialis symbol on the chest plate is dark silver in colour and white squad markings. There are no differences or special color for certain ranks such as Sergeants, Veteran Sergeants, Veterans, Lieutenants, Captain or Chapter Master.

### Chapter Badge

The Charybdis Astra Chapter Badge symbolize the tooth of Moturoa's Titanic Beast the Trench Charybdis. The Trench Charybdis is a legendary sole apex predator of Moturoa. The Charybdis Astra mark their badge with such to symbolize the chapter's strength and their ability to subdue the enemies of the Imperium. It is rumored that the ancient first Chapter Master of Charybdis Astra had tamed and defeated the Trench Charybdis, thus he used the beast's teeth as the Chapter's Badge.

## Gallery

Charybdis Astra Deathwatch Battle-Brother.