Knights Despoilers

The lions' bloody jaw, the Knights Despoilers infamous symbol

Colour scheme of the Knights Despoilers, depicted by a firstborn marine, full of several battle trophies

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fedelitas Obscurus*)

### **Successor of**

Red Crusaders
(Unknown lineage)

### **Homeworld**

N/A; Fleet-Based (Currently)
Sevaria (formely)

### **Specialty**

Terror tactics, widespread use of No Man's Land strategy

### **Battle cry**

"Burn them all, slaughter every single cursed soul, suffer none to live!"

### Successor Chapter(s)

None

Striking from the void relentlessly and eager to punish the unworthy, the **Knights Despoilers** embody the fervent zeal of their foster chapter, the Red Crusaders, with a savage urge to kill the enemies of the Emperor. In the wake of their battles, where prosperous green fields stood, now only lifeless charcoal husks of baren land remain. The Knights exploit these terror tactics to quickly disencourage most opposition, being specialists in dealing with planetary rebellions and cultist uprisings.

The reason for such disparity of behaviors between the Knights Despoilers and the Red Crusaders is rooted in their history, especially the time of the Indomitius Crusade and the birth of the Great Rift. At the aftermath of Abbadon's 13th Black Crusade, when the Imperium was torn apart, the Knightborn, these astartes previous Incarnation, would be trapped inside the realspace anomaly, surrounded by chaotic forces thirsting for their deaths.

For countless years or even decades, for the passage of time greatly differs between different parts of the galaxy, the Despoilers saw themselves waging a constant, survival war against splinter warbands of the Black Legion. Hit and run combats, guerrilla warfare and appropriation of enemy resources were recurrently employed by the chapter in order to live through this period. In the end, attrition of war transformed the stalwart Krightborn into the blicous Knights Despoilers, a battIe-hungry brotherhood who must constantly expunge their inner hatred by cleansing the galaxy of the Emperor's opposition.

This chapter is also well known for the great amount of earlier patterns of power armor stored in their arsenal, although later patterns are also used. Their chapter master, Case Voldron, even wears in battle a venerable Mk I power armor, an ancient relic of the Unification period that renders him to be widely respected by other astartes leaders. This amalgamation of such venerable artefacts is due to the Knights Despoilers close ties with serveral Rogue Trader dynasties wich they helped during the Great Rift's birth, battlefield scavengers in possesion of many Great Crusade and Heretry eras.

Now, returned from the brink of total annihilation by the hands of the dark servants of chaos, and greatly changed in their manners and personalities, this brotherhood of warriors meets again their honoured progenitors. Even though similarities between the two forces have all but vanished, both would never hesitate to aid in the other's time of needing, forming an alliance that would make all humanity's foes trumble at such glorious sight.

## Chapter History

### Legendary Heritage

At the year of 738.M41, the Magus Biologus of the Adeptus Mechanicus approached the mighty Red Crusaders, seeking their aid in a new founding that was to come. The Crusader's gene-seed had been long studied and deemed sufficiently stable for its usage in the creation of a new chapter. Grandmaster UIther gladly received the news and, after some days of debating with his Grail Knights, his closest councilors, he would send a positive answer to the priests of Mars.

Certain Arkash Phoros of the 3rd company, a mighty warrior with many past victories in his career, stepped forth, asking his master the honour of leading the new brotherhood into combat as its first chapter master. A conflagration of captains and other high ranking members would vote for this matter, and again would be favorable to such proposition. Thus came to be the Knightborn, created from elements of the Red Curadrs 3rd company and many neophytes.

After many months of indoctrination in the ways of Santus, the Krighthorn would be deemed ready to depart and forge their own legend. The now chapter master Arkash Phoros began a long crusade through the Segmentum Ultima in search for a homeworld to call their own. In this meantime, the young chapter would atend many distress signals from Astra Militarum regiments as unending forces preyed upon the Imperium.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Battle for Geall (808, M41)**- the first major confrontation the Knightborn partook was the battle for Geall, an important agri-world in the outskirts of the GrenadI Sector. The planet was under heavy attack by an aggressive xenos race known as the Barghesi. So belicous the aliens were that Geall's planetary defence force struggled hard to keep the line against the foul creatures. Fortunately to these brave mortal souls, the astartes arrived on time, being able to dispatch the invaders off-planet and auxiliate in the reconstruction of the planet's reconstruction.
* **Finally Home (842,M41)** - The Knightborn find a civilized planet in the border of the Ghoul Stars called Sevaria. Brimming with life and having a loyal, zealous population of humans, chapter master Arkash Phoros deems the planet worthy of their protection, deciding to make it their permanent homeworld. Settling in the planet's moon's, Sevaria Prime, the Knights waited eagerly for the construction of their *Fortress-monastery.*Barely they knew how cursed their choice was.
* **Prate's Slavers (875, M41)**- In the close stellar system of Prate, several raids from Dark Eldar pirates have been harassing the local population for slaves to serve their hideous desires. The Knightborn send their 1st, 2nd and 3rd companies to hunt down the degenerate aliens. Although this coalition is not able to prevent the xenos from erupting from their webway, their vigilant duty makes it almost impossible for the Drukhari to get new servants, forcing them the abandon the planet. The three companies remain in the close system to assure the pirates do not return, and 1st captain Case Voldron is deemed co-ruler of the system, receiving the title of Surveyor of Prate.
* **Chapter's Fall (887.M41)** - In the year of 887.M41, after all facilities that would serve the chapter were built, disaster struck. From the depths of the planet, a poisonous gas cloud erupts, englobing Sevaria's entire atmosphere. Although the sickening gas is harmless to the astartes, it instantly kills the mortals that inhale them and turn them in plague zombies. In mere hours the entire planet is overrun by the putrid creatures and the Krightborn's Fortress-Monastery, *Palatius Sanctorum*, is sieged by the putrid servants of the great grandfather at all diseases. Distress signals are sent to the Knights' three first companies, requesting their assistance in retaking the planet and purging the enemies of the Emperor from its holy dominions. Surveyor Case Voldron quickly responds, sending astropathic relays to communicate of their arrival and quickly departing onboard their voidcrafts to help their brothers in need. However, through Nurgle's malignant powers, the warp coiled and collapsed onto itself, and the three companies would be cast adrift inside the Ghoul Stars region. For the very dismay of the battle-brothers that departed Prate, the ultimate fate of their compatriots that remained in Sevaria remained a mystery, as all communications seemed lost. Now, these brave yet small 300-men force would have to quell in unknown space, where the light of the Astronomican didn't shine and Imperial authority seemed nothing but a far whisper in the dark.
* **Finding Shelter (888.M41)**- After arriving in unknown space, the three companies' elements are compelled to find any type of sign from the Astronomican and, finally, their comrades in desperate need. After months travelling through the unexplored region, heading toward what the ship masters believe is the galactic south, the small fleet's astropaths start picking a faint yet steady psychic signal which they believed was a resonance of the *Golden Throne*in deep space. They start to be attracted to the opposite direction they were initially going to, and, although the voidcrafts' captains find the new route odd, to say the least, the company leaders faith in the Emperor compels them to push forward.
* **Strange Moon (889, M41)** - Through months the three companies of the Despoilers travelled in the void, searching for the psychic beacon emanating from the depths of unknown space. When provisions started to shorten and all hope seemed lost, the signal finally began to intensify, and quickly. The relay was being emanated from a gas giant's second moon, a mysterious astral body full of enormous craters all over its surface, similar to ancient descriptions of Luna. Descending upon the natural satellite, a scouting squad aboard three thunderhawks approached, investigating if there was any sign of intelligent life there. Silence shrouded the place, like no soul ever stepped at the moon, yet analysis suggested the atmosphere was breathable. To top the mistery, deep geological signatures implied the hills and mountains of the strange place were empty, as if they were entirely carved from the inside. Answers were necessary, and fast.
* **Living Construct (889, M41)** - After extensive searches at the moon's surface, it is discovered a large complex of caves under the ground, from where the psychic beacon seemed to be coming. All three companies descent to investigate, finding a weird and gigantic xenos artifact who somehow was linked to the warp. The alien relic spoke to the astartes, screaming in their minds. It, wichever it was, was in desperate pain and tried to pass such suffering to the marines. Gathering all their strength of mind, the knights were able to destroy the being with a salvo of missile barrages, obliterating it to pieces. The caves started to collapse onto each other, threatening to trap the Knightborn forever. At the last moment, however, the majority the companies were able to escape tre the ship. With the disappearing of the xenos' psychic might, the *Astronomican's* light could be seem once more and the small fleet headed to Sevaria.
* **A Cruel Fate (890, M41)** - The remaining Knightborn arrive at Sevaria, only to find out that the planet Wills entirely destroyed by the plague infestation. To prevent the cursed disease to ever spreading to other planets, the chapter commander, Arkash Phoros ordered the overcharge of their Fortress' nuclear reactor, unleashing a devastating explosion that completely annihilated the attacking zombies, alongside the brave marines. After learning of their brother's fate, Case Voldron is named chapter master, and the three companies take shelter in the proximal Prate system, refilling their numbers in preparation to once again depart in alone crusade.
* **The Day of Change (999, M41)** - Over a century has passed since the destruction of Sevaria. The Knightborn have retrieved pretty much of their fighting power and have been Once again patrolling Mankind's territories for a couple of decades now. Receiving news about Abbadon's 13th Black Crusade, the entire chapter heads toward Cadia to help in the world's defense. The astartes arrive, yet not on time. Their fleet is trapped inside the growing anomaly that is the Great Rift, surrounded by threats, and must use all their arsenal to survive the coming years.
* **Despoil Let Loose (014,M42)** - For years, the Knightborn have been under constant harassment by the forces of the Black Legion. Being able to hide and evade the never ending persecution by the chaos maines, the Knights are able to track the splinter warband's leader to a close planet, its name long lost to history. Tired of the surprise attacks and several lossess, chapter master Case Voldron orders his brothers to forget such ideas as honour and glorious battle, and simply let their fury flourish. Descending to the planet howling maddening prayers the the Emperor, claiming revenge for their fallen brothers, the astartes quickly dispatch the heretics. At the end of the battle, lord Voldron decides that his chapter's name must change, for they were no longer the same. Thus are born the Knights Despoilers.

## Chapter Homeworld

The Knight's Despoilers previous homeworld was Sevaria, a distant civilized planet in the Imperium's northeast border. Full of beautiful landscapes and green fields, it possessed a sufficient food production for the astartes and the mortal population, although lacked rare minerals that justified its exploration.

Eventually, it was discovered that the planet was a trap placed by the Plague God Nurgle, aiming to bring the space marines to his pestilent blessing. The inside of the world was filled with a poisonous gas able to turn any mortal human into a plague zombie in mere moments, as well as to demoralize even the toughest astartes.

In the end, Sevaria was declared *Mundus Perdita*by the holy orders of the Inquisition and put under naval blockade by a rotating squadron of strike cruisers. The Knights Despoilers, to this day, form a fleet-based fighting force, never staying too long in a specific point, for they have long learned that stagnation means defeat.

### Fortress-MonasteryEdit

The chapter's fortress-monastery, the *Zealous Rampant*, is a venerable battle barge bestowed upon them as a gift by the ruling class of the Prate system. Although it was previously used for merchant purpose, the ship's great size has allowed for a series of modifications that made it a powerful war tool against mankind's foes.

Inside its reinforced walls, the battle records of the chapter are guarded fiercely, and read aloud proudly by the librarians as recruits join the Despoilers in eternal crusade. It is a fast ship even though its enormous mass, allowing for the implementation of vast hit-and-run tactics to be employed in a chapter-wide scale.

## Chapter Organisation

### Command Ranks

In addition to the standand ranks of a codex-compliant chapter, the Despoilers also have a cadre of rveteran marines that serve the chapter master called the Destructors. Their numbers can vary from 3 for up to 18, although such a high number of marines has almost never been granted such honour.

They are not the wisest, but the most fervent, the best killers, the astartes wwith the highest amounts of confirmed deaths in the shortest time posible. To face a single one of them in combat is to face death incarnated, for murdering His enemies is all that remains in their savage minds, faith being the only confort that prevents bloody madness.

### Junior Ranks

All recruits are allocated in the chapter's 10th 'Scout' company. Here they go mainly in medium risks stealth missions, although there have been desperate times in the Knights' troubled history when there was no option but to send the young astartes to war.

The company follows the same structure the battle companies, with squad sargeants, lieutenants and a company captain, besides their own armoury and ships, although these last are generally small and fast vehicles and wargears to maximize their specialty.

### Line Ranks

Each one of the nine line companies have a relatively large freedom on how they'll organize their battle-brothers. Unlike most *Codex Astartes* compliant chapters, however, there are no such things as reserve companies in the Knights Despoilers, and every able member must go to war when called forth. Even though this fact reduces the Knights' counter attack capabilities, it greatly bolster their offensive capacity, allowing them to fight in multiple fronts at the same time.

### Specialist Formations

There are some specialist fornations inside the Knights Despoilers rank structure that are unique to the chapter. These are the greatest warriors of the brotherhood, and include:

* **Priders**: these astartes are specialits in close combats and three dimensional warfare. They are deplayed to zero gravity battlefields and usually raid enemy voidcrafts during naval confrontations, aiming to either swiftly dispatch ship commanders or sabotage vital systems.

* **Conquerors**: the Despoilers terminators are called the conquerors, powerful soldiers with enough firepower each to rival an entire squad of line bothers. These armoured warriors are widely known to have a great amount of early cataphractii armors, although modern patterns are also found in their arsenall.
* **Spectres**: masters of infiltration and stealthness, the spectres are basically an upgraded version of the scout company. Usually recruited from the 10th company best members, the Spectres only go to the direst missions where a single mistake could be fatal.
* **Revergers**: the chapter's greatest warriors. They serve the Destructors' members directly and form their revenge hosts, special strike teams inside the brotherhood that take independent missions to kill specific powerful individuals inside the traitor forces. All of them wear artificer power armors and masterfully crafted weapons, and each carries countless battle trophies.

## Chapter Culture

The Knights Despoilers, although hailing from the proud, noble Red Crusaders, have few in common with their progenitors. They are brutal, taking their recruits from younglings of defeated rebels, savage tribes and hive worlds' gang members. The rulers of the chapter are not the oldest or more wise, instead are the ones with the greatest number of confirmed enemy deaths.

The commanding brotherhood of the Knights, direct counsellors of the Chapter Master, form the Destructors, the chapter's most savage, brutal and efficient members. Each one of these men have countless hundreds of deaths in their hands, having survived through many campaigns.

The battle-brothers of the Despoilers are also widely known to wear the parts of fallen enemies on top of their power armors as battle trophies. These include human skulls, beasts' jaws, chaos space marines helmets, xenos appendages and many more. Truly, watching a combat in which the Knights Despoilers take arms is a nephastous thing indeed.

## Chapter Beliefs

Fervent worshippers of the God-Emperor of Mankind, the Knights Despoilers have a similar praying practice to the various death cults around the Imperium. They believe the only way to pay back for their failure at the monarch of humanity millenia ago is through blood, through the slaughter of all who would oppose Him.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

The gene-seed of the Knights Despoilers is derived from that of the mighty Red Crusaders. Although the primarch that originated their genetic inheritance is unknown, their seeds, much like that of their progenitors, used to be extremely stable.

Such stableness changed, however, when, from 999, M41 to 021, M42, the Knights got stuck inside the Great Rift during its birth. This has caused a noticeable increase in gene-organs attachment failure and mutations in many battle-brothers. The amount of new mutant apparitions is, yet, not enough to draw the attention of the inquisition, as the Despoilers have seemed to be able to eliminate these inner threats swiftly and efficiently.

No one outside the chapter, allegedly, possess the knowledge of this dark stain in these astartes genes. But, if that was to ever change, that could most likely mean the extermination of these once proud and respectful warriors.

## Chapter Fleet

The Knights Despoilers base the bulk of their operations around the *Zealous Rampant*, an impressive battle barge largely modified by their techmarines. It was a gift by the rulers of the Prate System, an ancient relich with modern technology. The ship not only is one of the fastest of its kind, but also have a great firepower when compared even to larger ships.

The remaining ships of the Despoilers fleet, led by fleet master Zardon Meramus, is composed of small, usually escort ships that can rapidly deploy troops to any battlefield when needed, granting the scattered Imperial garrisons the available reinforcements. For their preference on small, fast and usually poorly weaponized voidcrafts, the Knights are not particularly good at naval confrontations.

## Chapter Relics

The chapter's greatest relics are the worthiest battle trophies. These astartes believe they represent their duty fulfilled in the eyes of the Emperor. Usually they are held in war by the members of the Destructors and other high ranking brothers. Some include:

* **The Black Horns**: the decapitated head of the chaos champion Zaledax the Regressive of the Black Legion. He was the first greater member of Ahaddon's forces to be slayed by the newborn Knights Despoilers, and his barren, horned skull is worn in combat by chapter master Prac E'Talap to fill his enemies with fear.

## Gallery

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

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