Angels Vehement

Angels Vehement Armorial

Angels Vehement Battle-Brother of the 2nd Company, 4th Close Support Squad.

### **Specialty**

Brutal close-quarters combat, counter-offensive campaigns, "head-hunter" and decapitation strikes, drop-pod assaults

### Successor Chapter(s)

Saints of Slaughter (currently Saints of Rot warband)

"*It is our duty to protect humanity. It is our duty to burn the heretic, kill the mutant, purge the xenos. This we will do willingly! These vile creatures have desecrated out home. For this they must be punished.*"
— Ral Naskir, Chapter Master of the Angels Vehement, shortly before the Fe'Zhor Exterminations.
The **Angels Vehement** are a semi-*Codex* compliant, savage, and secretive descendent of the heroic and noble Blood Angels. Created during an unknown founding this Chapter claims to have been a part of the ancient 2nd Founding, when the Space Marine Legions were torn asunder and reorganised into separate Chapters. Despite the paucity of records, these claims are considered by most Imperial scholars as dubious at best. The Angels Vehement have a well-kept secret, in the form of a unique gene-flaw called the 'Angel Curse'. While it appears to have replaced the Black Rage to some extent, it causes Astartes that get too caught in the throes of battle, or get too close to death, to become mutated, demonic figures. Only one Astartes has returned from this, though the Angels Vehement do not know it. They have defended the Segmentum Obscurus from the denizens of the Halo Stars since at least M33.

## Chapter History

### The Vehement Angel

*The following accounts are yet to be confirmed by Imperial records, so their reliability is dubious.*

The records of the Angels Vehement refer to their first chapter master simply as the Vehement Angel. If their records are as accurate as they claim, then the Vehement Angel was a captain of the Blood Angels at the time of the Siege of Terra. He had fought alongside their Primarch for a large portion of the Great Crusade. During the Siege itself, the Vehement Angel was among the staunchest of the Blood Angels in protesting to fight the early waves of traitors that made landfall. Were it not for the direct intervention of Sanguinius, the Vehement Angel would have sent his entire chapter to fight the hordes, and would very likely have died in the process.

When the fighting became more intense, and the Death Guard traitor legion made landfall, the Vehement Angel and his chapter volunteered to be on the front lines among the thick fighting around Bastion 16. As the fighting carried on, more and more of his chapter fell, until barely 100 were left.

When the traitors breached the walls, the Vehement Angel and these veterans fought nonstop to repel the traitors. When Sanguinius was struck down by Horus, the surviving veterans felt it, despite being on the outskirts of the Palace. They flew into a grief-driven rage, slaying traitors by the dozen. After Horus was slain by the Emperor and the traitors began to retreat, the Vehement Angel pursued them into the Segmentum Obscurus.

According to their records, the survivors were formally founded as the Angels Vehement from the Blood Angels as the Great Scouring came to an end, claiming the final world they fought on - Saan II - as their homeworld.

*The preceding accounts are yet to be confirmed by Imperial records, so their reliability is dubious.*
### Founding

Regardless of the exact nature of their founding, Imperial records do show a chapter operating under the name Angels Vehement since as early as M32. The location and similarities of combat doctrine suggest that these are indeed the same chapter.

The Saan system, upon which the Angels Vehement made their Fortress-Monastery, is located on the border of the Segmentum Obscurus, near to the Halo Stars, and commonly comes under attack from hostile xenos races that inhabit the Halo Stars.

### Extermination of the Fe'Zhor

Among the Halo Stars an incredibly hostile xenos race known as the Fe'Zhor had grown into a considerable threat to the outer reaches of the Imperium. One of their first major offences was in M35, into the Saan system. Unfortunately, barely a third of the Angels Vehement was stationed at Saan II, due to recent battle losses and their current engagement in another campaign.

The 10th and 5th Captains quickly hailed the Chapter Master and the other Captains, who abandoned their current campaigns and travelled to the Saan system at full speed. By the time they arrived, half the Angels Vehement in the system had died and the xenos had ravaged Saan I and III. Furious, Ral Naskir, the Chapter Master, ordered a brutal attack, repelling the invaders at the cost of a full Company falling to the Black Rage.

However, Ral would not stop there. Angered at the loss of over a quarter of the chapter, he ordered a crusade into the Halo Stars, to pursue the retreating xenos. Over the next 2 years, the Angels Vehement cut a bloody swathe through the Halo Stars, destroying any signs of the Fe'Zhor that they found. Eventually, they reached the Fe'Zhor's homeworld.

The remaining 500 Angels Vehement made landfall, decimating the unprepared xenos. Though many fell to the Black Rage, the Space Marines reached the xenos's central base, slaughtering all they found. However, with his last breath, the leader of the Fe'Zhor, who had begun to worship Tzeentch in secret, but a curse on the Gene-Seed of the Angels Vehement.

The Fe'Zhor were assumed extinct, but Tzeentch had brought a significant portion of the species into the warp. When the Great Rift opened, these xenos were scattered across the galaxy in multiple colonies. This was all unknown to the Angels Vehement and the Imperium at large. Despite many having conflicts with these colonies, no connection has been made. If one was, the Angels Vehement would embark on a galaxy wide crusade to once again scour the Fe'Zhor from the galaxy.

### Founding of the Saints of Slaughter

In reward for their slaughter of the Fe'Zhor, and the many other anti-xenos actions taken by the Chapter, a chapter would be founded from the gene-seed of the Angels Vehement. Due to the Imperium knowing of the mutations in the gene-seed of the Angels Vehement, but not the whole nature of it, they instead used a small amount of their unmutated gene-seed from the vaults on Terra. The 21st Founding was decided for the Chapter's founding.

With the 21st Founding being a huge failure, the Saints of Slaughter had a large gene-flaw which made them massively susceptible to disease. After fighting alongside the Angels Vehement from their void-borne Fortress-Monastery, the Ark Crimson, for around 200 years, the Chapter succumbed to the influences of Nurgle, and began to worship the Daemon Prince, Vailrok Hota, becoming the Saints of Rot Warband.

The Chapter was distraught that their scions would fall to Chaos, and vowed to destroy all of them, in order to preserve what little honour they had remaining.

### Battle for Baal

During the Battle for Baal against Hive Fleet Leviathan, the Angels Vehement sent 2 Companies of Marines, the 2nd and 6th, led by 2nd Captain Arenos Karleal and 6th Captain Aston'azth. The Angels Vehement were among those who fought in the defence of the Arx Angelicum.

By the time the Great Rift opened, only Arenos Karleal and 11 other battle brothers had survived, the rest having been slaughtered by Tyranid bio-monstrosities. Out of the 200 Angels Vehement, those who fell to the Black Rage were slaughtered and burnt in secret, for fear of having the extent of the gene-flaw be revealed.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Extermination of the Fe'Zhor (231-233.M35)** - In retaliation for the aggressive actions taken by the Re'Zhor xenos, Chapter Master Ral Naskir order them to be exterminated, swearing not to return from the crusade until they are extinct, or he is.
* **Slaughter of the Saints (003.M37)** - The Angels Vehement are forced to turn on their brethren, the Saints of Slaughter, after the extent of their chaos corruption is revealed. Many fall on both sides, but the Angels Vehement are forced to retreat after the arrival of the Daemon Prince, Vailrok Hota.
* **Purification of Marial (Unknown time, M38)** - In a rare period of co-operation, the Angels Vehement and Tidebenders worked together to purge Marial of genestealer taint. Predictably, the brutality of the Angels Vehement and the Tidebender's desire to save human life came into conflict. The Angels Vehement wanted to eradicate the civilians that had come into contact with the genestealers. While trying to do this, several Tidebenders tried to stop them. During the conflict they saw one of the Angels fall to the Angel Curse, and were killed by the rest of the Angels to protect their secret.
* **Defence of Baal (999.M41)** - The Angels Vehement take part in the defence of Baal against Hive Fleet Leviathan. Out of the 200 sent to Baal, 12 survive.

## Chapter Homeworld

The world of Saan II is a small jungle world, inhabited by many semi-isolated tribes. These tribes sustain themselves off the land and creatures of Saan II. There are 10 main tribes, whose names reflect the names of the Angels Vehement's companies.

The planet is known for the quality and quantity of natural marble. Many large strip mines have been dug across the planet's surface, and this marble is used on the armour of veteran Angels Vehement as a sign of rank.

### Fortress-Monastery

The fortress-monastery of the Angels Vehement is the Arc Sanguine. It is situated in the remnants of Saan II's former fortress, prior to the arrival of the Great Crusade and its destruction at the hands of the Blood Angels. The Arc Sanguine's central tower extends several hundred meters into the sky, and is surrounded by ever-shortening concentric rings of defences. It is defended by a powerful void shield and several large batteries of cannons, designed to stop enemy forces in the void, in the air and on land.

In the central hall of the Ark Sanguine is a large gold and marble statue of the IX Primarch, Sanguinius. The wings of this statue are filled with an unnatural amount of glass feathers. When a battle brother dies, a small amount of their blood, if recoverable, is placed inside of one of these feathers, and their name and an account of their deeds is engraved upon it. When all the feathers are filled, they are removed and placed within the Vault of the Dead in the depths of the Fortress's tunnels. The process then repeats.

Despite all its magnificent marble architecture and defences visible to the enemy, the Arc Sanguine's true strength lies underground. Beneath the Fortress-Monastery's central spire is a large natural canyon, the sides of which are riddled with tunnels. Many of these have no known exit, and were built so long ago that their purpose has been forgotten. The upper tunnels lead to secondary fortresses, and allow for evacuation to and from the Arc Sanguine, should it ever fall.

The deeper within the chasm you go, the more esoteric the tunnels become. Many are hidden completely, while some exit at the top of a mountain range, despite having no detectable incline. It is within these tunnels that the Chapter's Librarius is stationed, as well as its relic halls, many of which contain dangerous relics or beasts that can't be destroyed. In addition, those of the Chapter that have fallen to the Black Rage and Red Thirst are kept deep below the Fortress-Monastery, in a place only known to the High Chaplain. The Chapter's secondary armoury, which contains the rarest and most destructive weapons of war the Chapter possesses, is also within these tunnels.

### Recruitment

The Angels Vehement have a short but brutal recruitment process. Once every year, the Chapter's Chaplains travel to each of the 10 tribes that inhabit Saan II. There they deliver the same speech each year, called the Invite of the Recruits. Those who hear it and wish to become an Angels Vehement must then travel through Saan II's jungles to the Ark Sanguine.

Upon reaching the Ark Sanguine, the aspirant is asked to recount their journey, and all deeds committed during it. Those whose stories are proved false by the thousands of servitors hidden within Saan's jungles are instantly rejected and forced to return to their tribe. Those who are truthful are allowed to pass on to the next stage of gladiatorial combat.

During the gladiatorial stage of the recruitment, initiates are put first into squads of 10, 5, 2 and then 1 and forced to fight another squad of equal size. Purposeful killing is not allowed during this stage, though accidents do occur. The performance of each aspirant is monitored, and the top 50 are allowed to ascend to the ranks of the Angels Vehement.

The 50 aspirants that reach the next stage then drink a concoction of *vitae* and viral catalysts that prepare them for the implantation of the Gene-Seed. Then, over the next year, they are entombed within ancient sarcophagi in the depths of the Ark Sanguine while the Gene-Seed begins its transformation process. Once they emerge, they are neophytes of the Angels Vehement.

## Chapter Organisation

The Angels Vehement are mostly compliant with the doctrines of the *Codex Astartes*. They field a larger number of assault companies and squads than usual and have an unusual Death Company which rarely sees actual combat.

### Order of Battle

#### Headquarters

**Sanguinary Guard**
**Brother Dahzon, *Herald of Sanguinius***
**25 Sanguinary Guards**
**Chapter Equerries**
**Brother Zophas**
***Master of the Blade***
**44 Techmarines**
**90 Servitors**
**25 Predators**
**21 Baal Predators**
**13 Vindicators**
**7 Whirlwinds**
**10 Hunters**
**9 Stalkers**
**43 Land Raiders**
**23 Repulsors**
**Ecaros the Bloodied**
***Redeemer of the Lost*, High Chaplain of the Angels Vehement**
**Brother Kadael**
***Sanguinary High Priest***
**Brother Beldaron**
***Master of the Librarius*, Furioso Dreadnought and Chief Librarian of the Angels Vehement**
**9 Epistolaries**
**15 Codiciers**
**11 Lexicaniums**
**15 Acolytum**
**7 Furioso Librarian Dreadnoughts** | **Brother Amatus**
***Keeper of the Heavengate***
**4 Strike Cruisers**
**1 Battle Barge (*Blood Hatred*)**
**15 Rapid Strike Vessels (Escorts)**
**28 Thunderhawk Gunships**
**6 Thunderhawk Transporters** | **Brother Alotros**
***Warden of the Gates***
**474 Chapter Equerries**

#### Companies

**Veteran Company**
**Captain Zephon Abel**
***Shield of Saan***
**2 Lieutenants**
**100 Veterans**
**6 Furioso Dreadnoughts**
**2 Leviathan Dreadnoughts**
**Battle Company**
**Captain Nakaran**
***Master of the Watch***
**2 Lieutenants**
**5 Battleline Squads**
**3 Close Support Squads**
**2 Fire Support Squads**
**6 Dreadnoughts**
**Battle Company**
**Captain Leynatos**
***Master of Sacrifice***
**2 Lieutenants**
**4 Battleline Squads**
**2 Close Support Squads**
**4 Fire Support Squads**
**5 Dreadnoughts**
**Battle Company**
**Captain Iscon**
***Lord Adjudicator***
**2 Lieutenants**
**4 Battleline Squads**
**4 Close Support Squads**
**2 Fire Support Squads**
**4 Dreadnoughts**
**Battle Company**
**Captain Varon**
***Keeper of the Arsenal***
**2 Lieutenants**
**5 Battleline Squads**
**3 Close Support Squads**
**2 Fire Support Squads**
**2 Dreadnoughts**

**Reserve Battleline Company**
**Captain Netos**
***Caller of the Fires***
**2 Lieutenants**
**10 Battleline Squads**
**5 Dreadnoughts**
**Reserve Battleline Company**
**Captain Khitas**
***Master of the Marches***
**2 Lieutenants**
**10 Battleline Squads**
**4 Dreadnoughts**
**Reserve Close Support Company**
**Captain Nihilim**
***Lord Executioner***
**2 Lieutenants**
**10 Close Support Squads**
**1 Dreadnoughts**
**Reserve Fire Support Company**
**Captain Orexis**
***Master of Sieges***
**2 Lieutenants**
**10 Fire Support Squads**
**5 Dreadnoughts**
**Scout Company**
**Captain Bexris**
***Master of Recruits***
**2 Lieutenants**
**Scout Squads**
**10 Vanguard Space Marine Squads**
**~370 Unassigned Neophytes**

**Chaplain Deforihn**
***Warden of the Lost***
**The Death Company of the Angels Vehement is odd. It features few actual Astartes; instead, those who have fallen to the Angel Curse and been recovered are held in cells underneath the Fortress-Monastery for purposes unknown to the wider Imperium.**

### Unique Units

* **Headhunter Squads** - The Angels Vehement have used a unique type of squad since their earliest days. Known as Headhunter squads, these jump-pack equipped Astartes hang back in a conflict, waiting for enemy elites and leadership to make their presence known, then launch themselves at them with the singular purpose of eliminating them and crippling their foe's command structures. Depending on the situation Head-hunter squads may be deployed via drop-pod. Commonly, Headhunter squads are equipped solely with melee weapons. They don't have a standard squad structure, often foregoing the presence of a sergeant in the true sense in favour of greater autonomy. Being assigned to one is a great honour.

## Combat Doctrine

The Angels Vehement favour fast and highly aggressive fighting, frequently undergoing boarding actions and flanking manoeuvres to close distance with the enemy quickly. They are particularly skilled in close combat and possess a higher percentage of close combat squads and vanguard veterans than other chapters.

They mostly rely on accompanying forces of the Astra Militarium to hold the line in a conflict, while they flank and cripple the enemy's forces. Head-hunter squads are employed liberally to quickly destroy enemy command, while the bulk of the Angels Vehement cause havoc among the rest of the enemy.

## Chapter Beliefs

Like most chapters of Adeptus Astartes the Angels Vehement follow the Imperial Truth. To them, their Primarch Sanguinius was the peak of humanity, and the Emperor, his father, the only being above him. They do not worship them as deities, simply as a point to strive for.

The Chapter believes that the Angel Curse was a punishment, and that the Fallen Angels - those who have succumbed to it - are nothing more than things to train against and use to soak up bullets in dire situations. They hate mutants and xenos with a tenacity that is considered extreme even among Astartes. There have been examples of the Angels Vehement completely massacring civilian populations that even have a slight potential of genetic corruption.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

Like that of the Blood Angels, the Gene-Seed of the Angels Vehement causes its warriors to resemble their Primarch Sanguinius, though this trait is slightly more diluted in the Angels Vehement. In addition, the Angels Vehement suffer from both the Red Thirst and the Black Rage. Both of these are particularly potent in the Chapter, earning them a violent and brutal reputation. The latter is also amplified through the Angel Curse.

### Primarch's Curse: Angel Curse

The Angels Vehement's gene-flaw is due to the leader of the Fe'Zhor, who put a curse on them immediately preceding his death. This curse, the origin of which would be hidden from all but the Chapter's highest-ranking individuals, would become known as the Angel Curse.

The main effect of the curse was that, though it seemed to have replaced the Black Rage, those who fell to the throes of battle would degenerate into bestial, shrivelled figures, possessing extreme strength, decrepit wings and some measure of psychic power. They would become known as Fallen Angels over time. The Angel Curse also makes the Red Thirst more prevelant.

## Deathwatch Service

The Angels Vehement have had extremely limited Deathwatch service over the course of their existence. This is due to the risk of the extent of the Chapter's gene-seed flaw becoming known. If a Deathwatch brother was to fall to the Angel Curse, then the result for the chapter would be catastrophic. As a result, only the most stable battle brothers are sent to the Long Watch when necessary.

## Notable Battle-Brothers

* **Az'Kael** - Az'Kael is the current Chapter Master of the Angels Vehement. He is known for his skill with his Eviscerator, the Vehement Slaughter, which is thought to have been wielded by the first Chapter Master of the Angels Vehement. Under the command of Az'Kael, the Angels Vehement have won many battles.
* **{Ral Naskir}** - Ral Naskir was the Chapter Master of the Angels Vehement at the times of the Fe'Zhor Extermination. His hatred of all xenos was particularly infamous across the chapter. He fell to the Black Rage during the brutal defence of a border system against a marauding band of xenos.
* **Deforihn Kin** - Deforihn currently holds the position of Warden of the Lost, the Chaplain of the Death Company. He is known for his sombre nature and the seriousness with which he takes his role.
* **Varon Umbreal** - Varon is the first Primaris marine to become a captain of the Angels Vehement. His promotion to the captain of the 5th Company was not received well by the rest of the Chapter, as many viewed the new Primaris reinforcements as unworthy of the title of Angels Vehement, as they do not suffer from the Angel Curse.
* **Auron Sta'nzt** - Auron is one of the chapter's most skilled Primaris marines. He is incredibly self-confident, and due to his skill and stable gene-seed, he was sent to the Deathwatch.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Chapter's colour scheme is primarily red, with a bright gold aquilla, armorial rims and poleyns. The arms and legs are made from the natural marble of Saan II, reinforced with ceramite and plasteel. The Chapter badge is shown on the left armorial, and the Company badge is shown on the right. The squad number is displayed on their right poleyn, and the squad designation is on the right greave. Sergeants and officers have a marble helm, with Lieutenants having a red stripe down the center and Captains have a gold stripe.

### Chapter Badge

The Chapter Badge is a pair of jaws surrounding a winged blood drop.

## Chapter Fleet

* **Blood Hatred** - The Blood Hatred is a Battle Barge, which has been used by the Chapter for as long as its records show. Its engines have been modified for greater acceleration, and it has multiple additional boarding torpedo tubes.
* **Ral's Legacy** - A Strike Cruiser built following the Fe'Zhor Exterminations, Ral's Legacy was gifted to the Chapter Master as a reward for the Exterminations. It has been used by the 3rd Company ever since.
* **Fury of Angels** - The Fury of Angels is an ancient Strike Cruiser that has been used since M32. Like the Blood Hatred, which it frequently accompanies, it is modified for speed and boarding actions.

## Chapter Relics

Over the Angels Vehement's long history they have accrued many relics, many of which are weapons or pieces of armour worn by its heroes.

* **Vehement Slaughter** - Wielded by the Az'Kael, the Vehement Slaughter is a master-crafted Eviscerator. It is unknown how long it has been in the Chapter's armoury, but a remembrancers sketch from before the Fe'Zhor Exterminations shows a Chapter Veteran wielding a similar weapon.
* **Skull of the Fe'Zhor** - The skull of the last Fe'Zhor to be killed by Ral Naskir is kept in the centre of the Ark Sanguine. It is constantly monitored by members of the Librarium for traces of warp corruption. It has been gilded with gold over the 5 millennia since it was taken.
* **Armour Sanguine** - An ancient suit of Mk IV armour worn by the Lord of the Sanguinary Guard, the Armour Sanguine is known for its exceptional mobility and strength.

## Relations

### Allies

* **Flesh Tearers, other savage scions of Sanguinius** - The Angels Vehement maintain a good relationship with the other scions of Sanguinius known for their savagery, as they are looked down upon by their more restrained brothers.

### Enemies

* **Denizens of the Halo Stars** - The Angels Vehement consider it their eternal duty to kill and hold back the xenos races of the Halo Stars.
* **Saints of Rot** - Formerly the Saints of Slaughter, and the descendants of the Angels Vehement, the Nurgle warband is being constantly attacked by the savage chapter.
* **Tidebenders**

## Quotes

### About the Angels Vehement

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