Grey Steeds

Grey Steeds armorial with Chapter iconography.

A Grey Steeds Ride Brother (Battle-Brother), unknown company.

### **Specialty**

Shock Assault, High-Mobility Warfare, Rapid Cavalry Charges, Strategic Interdiction Operations, Reconnaissance in Force, Guerrilla Actions, Harrowing Actions and Extended Unsupported Operations within Hostile Domains,

### Successor Chapter(s)

Unknown

The **Grey Steeds** are a semi-*Codex Astartes* compliant Chapter stationed in the planet of Grassia, located in the Laanah Sector in the Segmentun Pacificus. These Astartes are known to employ mainly hit-and-run tactics in combat, while riding their genetically enhanced steeds, descendants of their worlds own original fauna.

They are also well known for being one of the few, if not the only chapter of space marines to not possess a fortress-monastery on purpose. Instead, while in their homeworld, the warriors of this order live a nomadic lifestyle similar to that of the planet's population. When an encounter between one of the nomad clans of Grassia and the astartes occur, the Emperor's soldiers will recruit the nomad's best warriors and mountings to undergo the genetic processes that allow them to join the chapter's ranks.

When the Steeds are needed outside their homeworld, they will rely on the Imperial Navy to provide the means of transportation to the order and their favored animals. In battle, they are fierce yet swift fighters, striking where the enemy suffers the most. Although able to fight alongside their cousin chapters and other imperial forces, these grey riders would rather handle the battle on their own, as to better maneuver the equines without ally interference.

## Chapter History

### Adapting to the Environment

The Grey Steeds were created during the 23rd 'Sentinel' Founding from the proud lineage of Roboute Guilliman in order to safeguard a strategic planet in the Laanah Sector, as it protected one of the main supply routs of the newly conquered imperial territory. After this chapter's birth, they were trained by the legendary Fire Hawks, who introduced the steeds to the art of war and to the teachings of the *Codex Astartes*, wich they follow to this day.

When arriving on the planet, the Emperor's soldiers rapidly realized that conventional warfaire was not going to be efficient on that world. The landscape was mainly composed of grassy plains, with no signs of trees for miles. The planet had no mountain formations too, to the construction of a fortrees would take the time and the resources that the Grey Steeds didn't possess.

Instead, they recurred to the local population on how to better survive and defend Grassia against the malefactors that threatened the Imperium. And after years of cultural exchange, the way of life the chapter practices still today was established: they would mimic the nomadic clans costumes, roaming the countryside, patrolling their homeworld's surface searching for any sign of heresy.

However, the common horses that inhabited the planet and were used by the locals, although impressive for terran standards, just couldn't sustain the sheer weight of an astartes fully clad for war. So began the chapter's techmarines arduous task of creating a genetically superior lineage of equines that could stand as a trustworthy mount both inside and outside of battle.

Thus was created the Grassian Steed, a war mount bigger and stronger than any animal of its kind in service of the Imperium. The Grey Seeds claim that the best animals could carry even a primarch in battle and falter no single time. The secrets of creating there mounts, however, is known only by a few, and almost none of these fierce animals have been seen outside of the chapter.

### Divide to Conquer

In Grassia, resources are scarce and disputed by its inhabitants. To assure that the chapter is always provided with the supplies it needs for maintenance, the old masters of the ride instituted the geographical division of the ten companies around the green globe, each acting as an individual clan searching for mineral depots and other valuables. All captains rule over their respective companies, assuring that the 100-men quota is reached and maintained. The companies can also be even further divided in its forming squads, if the captain believes a wider area must be covered.

When the full strength of the Grey Steeds is required, all officers will report to the master of the wide, who is essentially the chapter master. He alone has the authority to unite the clans under one coordinate fighting force, capable of ravaging the countryside with the fury of the Emperor's angels of death.

### A Lost Leader

During the galactic invasion of Hive Fleet Leviathan, the previous master of the ride - Hodie Via - alongside most of the chapter's five first companies embarked on a perilous journey to fight these nightmarish creatures. Unfortunately, after a warp storm their fleet was lost. Librarians scoured the Immateriam in search of their fallen master, but simply couldn't find him. A new master of the ride had to be appointed, even if it had to be one of the less experienced officers.

In acordship between the remaing clan chiefs, Noren Lupus was the one to take the mantle of chapter master, even if this presence made the librarians, and even the non-psykers, unease. The reason for this, unbeknownst to all, was that Lupus is actually an omega-level anti-pryker, leaving almost no trace of his soul in the warp.

The arise of Petrus to the position of master of the ride coincided with the start of the Indomitus Crusade led by the new Lord Commander of the Imperium, the newly ressurrected Primarch Roboute Gmillman. When the crusading forces arrived at the green planet, a massive chaos incursion was occurring in the sector. The Grey Steeds were fighting against warband of Tzeentch worshippers, powerful chaos sorcerers in the possesion of a rare *Warlord*-class Chaos Titan, who alone could have defeated the chapter.

With the introduction of the Primaris Space Marines on the chapter and the crusading forces, however, the tide of the battle changed, the chaos sorcerers were either killed or fled the planet, and their titanic war machine was captured by the loyalist forces. Now, with their strength reinvigorated by the primarch's aid, the Grey Steeds once more departed their homeworld with iron resolve, lending their forces to the imperial military branches that needed their fast deployment to assure swift and decisive victory over the threateners of humanity.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Ancient Undercover (983.M38)** - The first major outworldly campaign of these Astartes was a joint venture between them and the Adeptus Mechanicus forces of the Forge World Erbullen. Their mission was to escort the tech-priests to a desert, uncolonized planet rumored to harbor fragments of STC technology. When arriving though, it was discovered that the rumors had been planted by Eldar corsairs in an attempt to divide the chapter and attack them with overwhelming numbers. The riders, however, managed to evade the attack and evacuate the Mechanicus forces, flee to a better strategic position and eliminate the xenos forces.

* **Battle for Petalasse (451.M39)** - Strange reports regarding the Imperial knight-world of Petalasse, home to house **Mastores**, arrive via traders to Grassia. Rumors of infighting between the nobles seem strange and unlikely to occur. Yet , the master of the ride sends forth second and third company elements to investigate. When arriving on the planet, the Steeds are met with hostility by half a dozen of renegade knights, probably the sole survivors of a much bigger treacherous group that sought to take control of the house and eventually the planet. Even fighting as best as they could, the Astartes suffered several losses and were not able to destroy the corrupted machines, only dive them offworld.

* **First Pillage of Grassia (739.M40)** - A massive warband of Khorne bersekers know as the Blood Hounds, led by the Greater Daemon of Khorne - Khult'el'Manic - appeared out of nowhere in the skies of Grassia, seeking to strip it of its resources and spread bloodshed in their wake. The Grey Seeds rapidly reacted to the situation, but in no time to spare several nomads lives. Together with forces of the Astra Militarum and elements of the Grey Knights, the defending forces are able to defeat the heretics and ban their leader back to the warp.

* **Piron Trap (134.M41)** - A group of chaos cultists is spotted among the people of the nomadic clans of Grassia. The chapter's seventh company, led by Noren Lupus, rides to intercept what they believe are fanaticals trying to conduct a blasphemous ritual. The pursuit, however, proved to bea trap, for when the last Cultist is slain, a toxic mist appears out of thin air, affecting several animals and brothers before they have the time to activate the power armor air filter. After the chemical attack, they are ambushed by a small warband of Nurgle worshippers known as Sons of Poison, led by the Lord of Contagion, Toxul Evermist. After the fierce combat both forces withdraw due to heavy losses.

* **Second Pillage of Grassia (842.M41)** - This time, the prepares to take control over the valuable resources of Grassia and the passing ships

## Chapter Organisation

### Officer Ranks

* **Master of the Ride** (Chapter Marter)
* **Clan Chief** (Captain)
* **Clan Elder** (Lieutenant)

### Specialist Ranks

* **(To be added)** (Reclusiarch)
* **(To be added)** (Chaplain)
* **(To be added)** (Chief Librarian)
* **Wind Speaker** (Librarian)
* **(To be added)** (Master of the Forge)
* **Tamer** (Techmarine)

### Line Ranks

* **Ride Veteran** (Veteran Sergeant)
* **Veteran**
* **Ride Leader** (Sergeant)
* **Ride Brother** (Battle-Brother)
* **Neophyte**
* **Aspirant**

### Specialist Units & Formations

* **Spirit Steeds** - Formation of the first company terminators. In open battle, they wear power armor and their mounts are the only ones amongst the chapter that also possess protective plating. When their fighting prowess is needed where riding is not an option, they will go to war clad in terminator armor.

### Order of Battle

#### Headquarters

The Grey Steeds possess no such thing as a stationary garison, like a *fortress-monastery*. Instead, they live a nomadic lifestyle in their homeworld, each company, or clan, covering a specific geographical area of the planet, recruiting from the local population and gathering when the full might of the chapter is needed.

#### Companies

* **1st Company, "Spirit Steeds"**
* **2nd Company, "Blood Steeds"**
* **3rd Company, "Wind Riders"**
* **4th Company, "Iron Riders"**
* **5th Company,"Sun Raiders"**
* **6th Company,"Moon Raiders"**
* **7th Company,"Air Disciples"**
* **8th Company,"Stone Fighters"**
* **9th Company,"Grass Fighters"**
* **10th Company,"Shadow Steeds"**

## Chapter Combat Doctrine

### Savage Order

The Grey Steeds rely mainly on hit-and -run tactics, diving the enemy forces, making them confused in the fray of battle and delivering the blows that will bleed the harassers the most. When unable to employ their glorious mounts, the steeds are gonna still pose a Serious threat to the Imperium's foes, utilizing general yet perfectly executed tactics that can change in the middle of combat to react to enemy movement.

## Chapter Culture & Beliefs

### A Planet to Call Home

The Grey Steeds, since their arrival on Grassia, have been greatly influenced by the local culture, going so far as to incorporate such cultural elements in their fighting style. While in the scarce moments of peace experienced by the Imperium's soldiers, they will practice the same traditions of the local population.

### Bonded for Life

Bothers of the Grey Steeds, regardless of rank, are expected to have a horse of their own, whom they must care for throughout their military life. To lose a mount in combat brings great sorrow to the Astartes, and the most long-lived animals are held in the same respect of a veteran marine. When counting the great deeds of the rider, sagas will be sung of how the animal valiantly fought alongside its master.

### For the God-Emperor

There Grey Steeds Astartes, like great part of the Imperium's population, follow the dictates of the Imperial Creed, believing in the divinity of He who lies in the Golden Throne. Before going to do battle againt their foes, the Space Marines will pray long to their god, blessing weapons, armor, vehicles and animals that will accompany them.

## Recruiting Practices

### Ancient Practices

The Grey Steeds draw their recruits from the nomadic clans they stumble upon. When in contact with one of those people, the astartes will enact their authority over them, arriving that the most talented warriors and the strongest mounts join the chapter. The aspirants, then, live a certain period of time with their to be brothers, learning the traditions of the chapter and what is needed of them. If they can keep up with the clan for the time to be decided by the clan chief, they are allowed to enter the Steeds ranks.

## Notable Members

* **Noren Lupus** - Chapter Master, former captain of the chapter's seventh company. A great tactician and rider, he has proved countless times to be a great leader and defender of the Imperium.

## Chapter Fleet

The Grey Steeds have no such thing as a chapter fleet. Instead, they rely solely on the Imperial Navy to provide the means of transportation to their ground forces.

## Notable Quotes

### About the Grey Steeds

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