Excarnators

Excarnators Chapter iconography

Excarnator Iron Brother, 1st Squad, 2nd Metal Corps

-Anti-Armour Assault

-Counter Hell-Forge

-Combating Nurgle

*"Remove the flesh of the subdued, for it is host to the pestilence of Nurgle. Preserve your own flesh brothers, for we will need it when the Gorgon returns."*

- Mikail Fyffe, Iron Father of the Excarnators

The **Excarnators** are an Ultima Founding Successor Chapter of the proud and merciless Iron Hands of the Adeptus Astartes and is entirely comprised of Primaris Space Marines . The Excarnators exist to defeat the heaviest armor employed by various xenos and the Traitor Legions . They are responsible for reinforcing the Jericho Reach and Imperial Knights along the Eastern Fringe. Based on their natural resistances to plague and illness, Inquisitors of the Ordo Sepultrum choose to closely partner with the Chapter to combat the spread of pestilence by Nurgle and banish the daemons spawned as a result its presence.

## Chapter History

During conception, the Astartes of the Excarnators were referred to as the Metal Corps. Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl and the resurrected Ultramarines Primarch Roboute Gilliman created the successor chapter to aid the Adeptus Mechanicus in research and development of new weaponry and Astartes behavioral science. Iron Hands Astartes were an obvious progenitor for the initiative. Inquisitorial Agents from various Ordor Minoris were also assigned to monitor the progress and behavior of the newly realized Primaris partnered with the Mechanicus. Gilliaman and Cawl's vision was that the Metal Corps would reinforce the scattered and decimated Knightly Houses, assist with the reforging of the Houses' machinery and provide military support to those Inquisitors investigating matters involving Titan-class machinery, since the Metal Corps specialized in tactical acquisition and defeat of Titan-class war machines.

The first Astartes of the Metal Corps was Mikhail Fyffe, a Veteran Iron Hand who was seconded twice to the Deathwatch during the Vault of Aza'gorod campaign and the Ghosar Quintus Anomaly. He was selected by Iron Father Feirros for assignment with the Mechanicus and approved by the Iron Council for experimental transition to Primaris. After successfully crossing the Rubicon Primaris, Fyffe joined his brothers in the Iron Hands to assist with the introduction of the Ultima Successor Chapters and enlighten the Iron Council on his experience with the Adeptus Mechanicus.

During his time with the Mechanicus, Fyffe became an apprentice tech-adept. He quickly surpassed the skill levels of his peers still within the clans of the Iron Hands. After sharing his knowledge with the Clan Captains and the Iron Council, Fyffe was promoted to Captain and led numerous expeditions into Imperial occupied space, cleansing those human systems that were being influenced by the spread of Chaos after the formation of the Cicatrix Maledictum (or Great Rift). The brutality of Fyffe's strike force was shocking to those in the Imperium who were supporting the expeditions. Fyffe and his 12 Primaris were responsible for bringing entire continents back into compliance or exterminating opposition.

Regular inquiries by the Inquisition were made into the standard of conduct by Fyffe. Each investigation cleared Fyffe and his Marines, respectively. Though some speculated that Fyffe's long history with agents of the Inquisition influenced the outcomes of the investigations. As a badge of integrity, Fyffe and his forces began wearing each Inquisitors' published findings as trophies in the form of banners decorating their power armor. After the Metal Corps first fatality, Fyffe and his small band of Primaris performed the act of excarnation of the late Brother Jacken. It was believed by every member that the highest honour in death would be the removal of any flesh and organs before interment. Like all Iron Hands, the Metal Corps believed that 'The Flesh is Weak' and it was thought of disgraceful for any Brother of the Metal Corps to be laid to rest with any gifts afforded by the Emperor.

Rumors of these cult-like rituals spread and hyperbole led to more investigations by the Inquisition. The Inquisition's findings were ultimately inconclusive. Each finding made its way onto the belt or shoulder plate of the battle brother who was the target of the investigation. The Astra Militarum and other supporting forces began to refer to the members of Metal Corps as Excarnators or the Steel Flayers. These epithets made it to the ear of Fyffe, who was proud that the Metal Corps devotion to honoring their dead and the Emperor of Mankind was being widely spoken of.

After a decade of fighting against the 13th Black Crusade, the Iron Council realize the need for more Successor Chapters. After much calculation, Fyffe was chosen by the Council to form the Metal Corps as an official successor of the Iron Hands. Fyffe was honored to forge a new beginning in the name of his progenitor, but made one humble request of the council, that the chapter be named The Excarnators. The Iron Council deliberated and ultimately approved Fyffe's request and The Excarnators were realized.

## Notable Campaigns

### Hornung Expedition (100-110.M42)

**Hornung Sytem, Stygius Sector, Segmentum Obscurus**

The Hornung System has one inhabited agricultural planet with two occupied satellites and multiple mining colonies along its numerous asteroid belts.

The original 26 Excarnators; Captain Fyffe, Apothecary Kinneth, Chaplain Yosh, Librarian Doucette, Lieutenants Kristoff and Hawlan along with the 1st and 2nd Squads of the 2nd Metal Corps are dispatch to the Hornung System to investigate reports of plague, rebellion, and disappearances of appointed Imperial Officials. Accompanying the first official expedition in the Excarnators' history is Inquisitor Sabrine Shepard, formerly of the Ordo Malleus, and subsequently transitioned to the Ordo Sepultrum upon its founding. The Expedition uncovered underground auxiliaries of Nurgle Cultists capturing Imperial Officials and offering them as daemonhosts until Nurgle's daemons established a nexus of control. The cultist shadow government also contaminated life supporting infrastructure creating a population of millions susceptible to Nurgle's Rot and a gateway for daemonic activity. The Expedition along with supporting cruisers of the Aeronautica Imperialis, elements of the 10th Mordian Regiment of the Astra Militarum, and House Franks successfully purged the presence of daemons and annihilated the cultist underground. In doing so, numerous monasteries belonging to the Ecclesiarchy were liberated. Lead by the Excarnators, Imperial forces established sufficient stability in the system for the Inquisition and Astra Militarum to resume control. 1st and 2nd Squads incurred 60% fatalities. Lieutenant Hawlan was slain and Lieutenant Kristoff was mortally wounded and subsequently interred in a Redemptor Dreadnought after excarnation. All gene-seeds were recovered. After the decade long expedition, Inquisitor Shepard graciously accepted the offer of permanent quarters in the Iron Crypt. As a result of the campaign, and with permission of the Metal Corps Council, the Adeptus Ministorum established the Adepta Sororitas Order of the Sacred Silence within the Iron Crypt.

**Casualties**

**Excarnators** - 12x Iron Brothers

**Aeronautica Imperialis** - 33 Sailors

**Mordian 10th Regiment, 2nd Battalion** - 98 Soldiers

Nurgle Cultists ~5,000

Daemonkin ~1,000

## Chapter Organisation

### Command Ranks

* Iron Father (Chapter Master)
* Keeper of the Iron Crypt (Master of the Forge)
* Keeper of Knowledge (Chief Librarian)
* Keeper of Rituals (Master of Sanctity)
* Keeper of Flesh (Chief Apothecary)

### Specialist Ranks

* Iron Keepers (Honour Guard)
* First Commander (1st Captain)

### Line Ranks

* Iron Brother (Battle Brother)
* Iron Sergeant (Sergeant)
* Lieutenant Commander (Captain or Lieutenant not in Command of a Metal Corps)
* Commander (Officer in Charge of a Metal Corps)

### Order of Battle

#### Headquarters

Metal Corps Council - The Metal Corps Council consists of the Iron Father, the Keeper of the Iron Crypt, Keeper of Knowledge (Chief Librarian), Keeper of Faith (Chief Chaplain), Keeper of Flesh (Chief Apothecary), the oldest 1st Line Ancient, and each Metal Corps Commander. Metal Corps Commanders are authorized to invite any of their subordinates to Council assemblies.

#### Companies

The Excarnator equivalent of a standard Astartes Company is called a "Metal Corps". Each Metal Corps is numbered in sequence from 2 to 6. The 1st Metal Corps is refereed to as "The 1st Line" and is comprised exclusively of Veterans and Ancients.

The 2nd through 6th Metal Corps each maintain four Intercessor squads, two assault squads, two heavy weapons squads, and three Invictus Warsuits. Each squad is supported by one Impulsor light-armored transport. Dreadnoughts are given the option to serve in the Metal Corps they fought with before internment or be an attachment from the the 1st line. Squads are paired based on their function and are subordinate to one Lieutenant per pair. Each Lieutenant is subordinate to a Deputy Commander (usually a Captain, Librarian, or Chaplain) who are subordinate to the Metal Corps Commander.

## Combat Doctrine

### Fire Superiority

Overwhelming firepower annihilates the foe. An adversary suppressed by the might of the Emperors' weaponry loses the freedom of choice. The Excarnators suppress and destroy priority targets whilst armored maneuver units close for combat.

### Armor Employment

The heaviest iron crushes the adversary. Armored maneuver coupled with support by fire positions enable the Excarnators to employ logical hammer and anvil tactics more flexible than those of other Iron Hands Sucessors. Each Metal Corps employs its own compliment of armored fighting vehicles, warsuits, and dreadnoughts.

### Anti-Armor Assault

Steel defeats steel. As masters of armor employment the Excarnators posses intimate knowledge of its vulnerabilities. The Chapter focuses calculated and precise firing solutions to decimate armored enemy units with ranged weaponry before annihilation through close combat.

### Counter Hell-Forge Operations

Eradicate abominations of daemon and metal at the source. The Chapter excels at targeting and exploiting the industry of the Dark Mechanicum. The Excarnators specialize in disrupting Hell-Forge operations and combating Daemon Engines, Chaos Titans, and other monstrosities of the Warpsmiths.

### Combatting Nurgle

Exterminate the influence of Nurgle. By the flaying blade and the flamer the Excarnators deny Nurgle's Rot any host. Partnered with Daemonhunter Inquisitors of the Ordos Malleus and Sepultrum, the Chapter ruthlessly hunts for any indicators of the presence of plague.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Chapter's primary color is grey (officially Dingy Grey) trimmed in white (officially Primal Pelt). The Excarnators armor is unpainted save for the trim which allows markings and insignia to be clearly identified. Their armor appears grey due to the minerals from Krypta dying the plate as it cures. The pigment used for the white is mixed from bones collected from encounters with adversaries that are not kept as trophies. Members of the Chapter's Command Council and the exalted Chapter ancients are further honored by not coloring their armor at all, choosing to wearing the natural color of their plate. The Excarnators do not utilize helmet or knee pad marking because it is likely the Astartes' augments replace the piece of armor reserved for markings in other Chapters.

### Chapter Badge

The Chapter badge is a skull encompassed by a cog, set over a sword and two crossed flaying blades. The skull and sword signify the Adeptus Astartes. The cog honors the Clans that comprise the Excarnators Founding Chapter, the Iron Hands. The two flaying blades overtly communicate the internment rituals practice by the Chapter.

## Notable Quotes

### About:

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