Carcharodons

Carcharodons armorial with Legion iconography.

Brother Kahi, 5th Company of the Tangi Tribe.

### Observed Strategic Tendencies

Shock Assault, Planet-Kill & Extermination Operations, Close-Quarters Actions (Space Hulk Purgation, Boarding Operations, Line-Breaker Attacks, 'Forlorn Hope' Objective Assaults), Rapid Deployment Operations, Infiltration, Guerilla Actions, Deep-Range Raiding Operations, Extended Unsupported Operations within Hostile Domains

### Allegiance

Imperium of Man
(*Fedelitas Sine Recursu*)

### Unique Organisations

Red Brethren, Devourers, Deep Walkers, Hunters, Blood Crazed

### Warcry

None, the Legion fights in eerie silence.

"*Real power is silent.*"
—A common saying among the Legion first spoken by their Primarch, Dakuali.
**The Carcharodons** are the XI Legion of the Legiones Astartes and are the proud gene-sons of Dakuali, the Deep Lord. The Carcharodons are an enigmatic and mysterious Legion, operating in complete silence and rarely opening up their secrets to anyone other than their own marines. Despite what they lack in public opinion they make up for in skill and efficiency, having ferocious brutality and brilliantly effective close-combat skills. The marines of the legion adorn their equipment in tribal and ritualistic markings, as well as the bones from the beasts of their namesake; these tribal practices are not unlike the Polynesians of ancient Terra.

Despite their ruthless assaults and bloodthirsty demeanor, they are also surprisingly stealthy and unseen, attacking usually under the cloak of midnight. Usually, if the Carcharadons are making an assault, the victims wont realize its even coming until the very last moment. This attack style is also exemplified by the Carcharadons favorite terrain for assault, coastal and ocean warfare.

## Legion History

### The Deep Lord

"*They rose from the serf, figures marching in complete silence with only the roar of the sea, and the feral cries of Manovir as their heralds. Everything seemed to freeze in place as the moon reappeared, its light shining off slick black armor and gleaming pearly white bone. Burning red eyes picked out their targets. And the night was torn asunder by barking bolt fire.*"
— Imperialis Auxilia soldier's journal.
The XI legion holds its origins in the Segmentum Pacifica, upon a world known as Temeura. Temeura was a feudal Ocean World with constant Roaring, thrashing storms resulting in the populous having to seek shelter in seabed facilities, floating hives, or more commonly in nomadic tribal fleets. it was on this world that the XIth's Primarch, Dakuali landed as an infant in his gestation capsule.

After the arrival of Dakuali and his Eight years of warring, battling and bloodshed, the shattered tribes and clans of Temeura stood united under one banner, just prior to his Gene-Father, the Emperor of Mankind reclaiming him.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Siege of Fraxon** - Thirty legionaries were sent to the planet Fraxon to reinforce a cut off imperial regiment; only to be surrounded by several xenos forces such as the rangden or saccarians. They were able to defeat the the larger opposing force with no casualties. Mortal or otherwise.
* **Hive Trycosti** - A hive world resisting imperial conquest. Conquered in 5 days.
* **Taming of Baras** - One of several ocean worlds taken by the carcharadons. Known for its eel-like abhuman pirates.
* **Damocles Gulf** - The siege of the growing tau empire. Cut short when other threats appeared.
* **The Fear Crusade** - The carcharadons and soul drinkers respond to reported eldar corsair activity. First meeting of Dakuali and Hamartia.
* **Fraxon II** - The second battle of the Fraxon wars; the carcharadons were notable for fighting alongside the Black Dragons, Templars, and Minotaurs against another encroaching Rangden Force. Participated in the pushback of the western front of Rangden systems and purged the saccarian home system along with the Minotuars. Could not participate in the crushing of the Rangden.
* **Cursed Abyssal Crusade** - A force of blood ravens and carcharadons assaulted the traitorous worlds of the Abyssal Sector. A whole tribe fell to the crimson hunger; slaughtering ally and foe alike, and revealing the flaw to the blood ravens. The council of Concursus followed. Pitting brother against brother.
* **Cleansing of Aon** - The purging of several major genestealer cults on the civilized world of Aon. Vanguard for a devourer tendril.
* **The shameful crusade** - Following the council of Concursus; a crimson company fell fully into the hunger. Mauling their overseer and killing thousands of imperial citizens before being put down.
* **The tides of woe** - The crimson hunger only worsens among the legion. Several crimson companies go rogue on various fronts of the legion. Dakuali isolates himself more in search for a cure.

## Legion Homeworld

The homeworld of the legion is the water world of Temeura; a wild world of frequent storms, lapping waves, crushing depths, and small islands dotted around the equator of the planet. Humanity was a beast on this world; with tribes, pirates, and slaving empires scattered across its wet shifting surface, as well as feral abhuman tribes known as the Manovir and a number of ancient settlements isolated in complexes upon the ocean floor. It was a world of blood like so many others during this era, but it was not totally fallen into darkness. Now it is a loyal imperial world; new floating habs, ocean city-rings, and spires ride the waves and descend into the depths, though plenty of human tribes and tamed Manovir still cling to the old ways, the planet's future seems to be assured under the protection of the Imperium and their steward legion the Carcharadons.

### Fortress-Monastery

The fortress Monastery of the Carcharadons legion is a notorious mobile Ramilies-class Starfort, '*Lurke*', who's last known location was in Segmentum Solar. Though it has likely moved since then, having been pulled to the next shadowed war-zone where the Carcharadons have decided overwhelming force is needed. *Lurke* is a heavy war station covered in weapons batteries, lances, and hundreds of missile tubes. But the most important aspect of *Lurke* is it's capability to be pulled through the warp and placed in a completely different location sectors away. Utilizing this the Carcharadons have set many a trap and ambush for an unwitting enemy fleet.

## Legion Organisation

Organization is as follows:
Chapter-Tribe,
Battalion-Shoal,
Company-Ljuske,
Sqaud-Teeth.

Each marine in the Carcharadons belongs to a specific tribe. Each Tribe has its own markings and insignia, along with bone ornamentation; which the tribes members wear with pride. These markings differentiate brothers from Astartes of another tribe. The needs of the tribe are managed by a so called shade lord; such duties include medical oversight, equipment management, and burial rights. In this capacity the Shade Lord is a chieftain of sorts, with only the Captains, Primarch, and the Emperor being above them. The shade lord also has oversight over a small amount of Librarians, Apothecaries and Techmarines.

The tribe is likely the most important aspect of the Charcharadons legion; it defines their habits, morals, and even their view of war and their place in it. The only other things besides the tribe that hold more sway over the collective mindset of the legion, is Dakuali himself, and the hunger of the aquatic predator in their veins.

### Specialist Formations

* **Wave Stalkers** -

* **Tempest-Born** -

* **Crimson Brethren** - A sect of elite melee focused Astartes pulled from various tribes among the legion. These battle-brothers swear oaths by blood and blade, to rend and tear the enemies of the Imperium and the legion. They often scratch kill marks of blood into their armor, and usually wield chain weapon, power weapons, or fists and hammers. Led by the Black Terror. Have recently begun taking skulls and flesh as trophies.

* **Devourers** - Astartes equipped with heavy weapons for when an armored target or fortress needs devouring. Wield weapons such as heavy bolters, spear cannons, plasma/melta weapons, rockets, and portable drills.

* **Deep Walkers** - Specialized to brave the icy depths and crushing weight of a worlds lifeblood, these tribes of Carcharadons have dedicated their lives to mastering the art of deep ocean warfare. Equipped with specially pressurized suits designed by the Mechanicus; these Astartes own the deepest leagues of the sea, able to fight in the darkness of the ocean floor and the sheer walls of ocean cliffs. They are adept at slaying xenos species so far down beneath the waves for even their own brothers to reach. When assaulting non-compliant human worlds, the Deep Walkers will destroy vital ocean infrastructure such as oil rigs, pipes, bases, submarines, as well as ships passing on the surface. They are often accompanied by the hardiest of Manovir and other abhuman species suited to the depths.

* **Shade** **Hunters** - Elite headhunters for the legion, the Shade Hunters are sent far ahead of the main forces of the legion, paving the way for a worlds conquer months or years before its first assault by the Imperium. They are adept at assassination, subterfuge, and sabotage. As the crusade has marched onward the gene-curse of Dakuali, the cursed Crimson Hunger has only worsened. More and more Astartes have fallen to its scarlet temptation; and the Shade Hunters are equally as affected. But these already elite hunters refuse to let the call for blood control them, they refuse their urges to spill blood from vulnerable flesh. Instead they use and hone their new instincts to be evermore adept at their hunts, and when their control finally does begin to slip? They complete their current mission, raise a bolter to their temple, and refuse to give in one last time.

* **Blood Crazed** - Carcharadons Astartes that have fallen to the blood curse of their gene-line. These Astartes have been herded into squads of berserk warriors let loose on battlefields where no allied forces can be caught in the crossfire. Contained and cared for by sane brothers, the Blood Crazed are stripped of all markings besides the Temeuran symbols of sorrow and the blood and gore from their enemies. They are sent forth to die, for to live is suffering, and to die in battle allows them to serve one last time.

### Legion Auxiliaries

Unlike some legions who often fight alone (or maybe have the occasional stint with an expeditionary fleet), the Charcharadons have their own standard auxiliary force that accompanies them into combat, this includes elite soldiers picked from Temeura´s defense force, slaves taken from defeated worlds, and abhumans such as the Manovir.

* **Manovir** - The fierce abhumans of Temeura, also known as the Deep Clans or the Manovir; are a sight to behold upon the field. Able to bound across a battlefield with alarming speed, easily able to shatter a man's bones with a single charge, claws rending flesh like paper as their shark toothed jaws open wide to tear apart the throat of a screaming foe. They tower over most humans at 1.8-2.4 meters, though smaller individuals are not unheard of. The thick hide of a Manovir can shrug of most blade wounds, blunt force, or small arms fire; while their raw strength and endurance enable them to rip enemies limb from limb, while also allowing them to fight 3 men at once with relative ease.

## Legion Gene-Seed

The gene-seed of the Charcharadons is relatively pure with only several notable mutations being prevalent throughout the legion; such as pitch black eyes, serrated shark-like teeth, as well as older marines growing a hide similar to the great sharks of Temeura. Notably though the Charcharadons have a dark secret that compromises their gene-seed. This genetic flaw pervades the legion in all aspects; not nearly as dangerous as it could be, the flaw dubbed the Crimson Hunger is a legion wide secret. The Crimson Hunger causes an Astartes who has caught the scent of spilled blood to want to kill the wounded party in question, no matter the individuals allegiance. Symptoms vary but a time will someday come when the hunger cannot be stopped.

### Primarch's Curse: Crimson Hunger

**First Stage:** The first stage of the Crimson Hunger is slight at first, but telltale in its symptoms. Firstly among this stage is the Astartes sensory focus for blood; they can smell a single drop from miles away. The afflicted legionnaires also often become more morose, and begin to have lapses in memory as well as awareness.

**Second Stage:**

## Notable Members

* **Dakuali** - Primarch of the Carcharodons
* **Isurus Mako** - First Captain and Shade Lord
* **Tangaroa Alqamar** - 2nd captain and shade lord of the Atarangi Tribe

## Legion Appearance

### Legion Colours

The Carcharodons Legion primarily wears light grey coloured power armour with dark grey coloured insets and brass shoulder pauldron trim. The faceplate of their helms are white. The Aquila or Imperialis worn on their plastrons (chest guard) are brass.

Instead of the usual *Principia Bellicosa*-proscribed markings and conventional emblems utilised by most Space Marine Legions, the Carcharodons make use of more idiosyncratic markings taken from their Temeuran culture. These marking take the form of abstract or depictive images and tokens concerning fanged maws, death's heads, oceanic predators and bloody wounds. Carcharodons almost universally decorate their armour with elaborate swirling glyphs as a way of honouring their homeworld's culture.

Instead of utilising the principal organisational unit as the Chapter, the Charcharodons instead designate these formations as a Tribe. Typically, Legionaries wear their tribal icons on their poleyns (knee guards) however, they do sometimes wear them on their shoulder pauldrons or other parts of their battle-plate.

### Legion Badge

The Carcharodons Legion badge takes the form of a large white coloured great white shark motif, it's jaw curling towards the tail fin to form a razor-toothed crescent upon a void of dark grey.

## Notable Quotes

### About the Carcharodons

"*I have felt a thousand emotions but never have I ever felt true fear but two times, and both were in the presence of the Carcharadons.*"
— Aymon musing about the Carcharadons to Hamartia