Flesh Rippers

**This article, Flesh Rippers, was written by Wolfman912. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.**

## Flesh Rippers

Flesh Rippers armorial with Chapter iconography.

Unidentified Battle-Brother of the Flesh Rippers Chapter.

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fedelitas Sine Recursu*)

### **Founding**

Unknown
(2nd Founding Suspected)

### **Successor of**

Unknown
(Corvus Corax or Sanguinius Presumed)
(Angron Suspected)

### **Specialty**

Obsessive Close-Quarter Combat, Shock Assault, Planet-kill & Extermination Operations, Line-Breaker Attacks (Berserkers)

### **Battle cry**

A guttural incoherent scream. They have also been known to chant 'Rip and Tear' as they slaughter their foe.

### Successor Chapter(s)

None

"*A Cavalcade of monsters, created for the Emperor's amusement, though I doubt those they have been unleased upon appreciates the jest.*"
—Anonymous
The **Flesh Rippers** are an infamous Loyalist Chapter of unknown origin and Founding, said to be created in the early years of the 34th Millennium, though there is some conflicting evidence on this in the Imperial records, with some reference to the Chapter existing as early as the 32nd Millennium. This discrepancy within the records has not yet been reconciled and apart from several fragmentary accounts little indicated that they even existed. This rather optimistic hope was shattered once the Flesh Rippers returned to the greater Imperium during the Hades Crusade.

This Chapter is suspected, due to its tendency to fall into a berserk fury during battle to be descended from the Blood Angels. Others have claimed a link to the World Eaters Traitor Legion. Whatever their origins, the Flesh Rippers are bloody handed monsters - vicious and violent beyond what is expected even of Astartes and when they are unleashed into battle, the Chapter's Astartes fight with gleeful savagery, tearing apart whatever enemy they are given to fight without mercy or falter, heedless of the risk and uncaring of the Chapters own losses. They fight as mad butchers, ripping apart their foes in a vain effort to quiet the fury in their blood. In battle, the whir of their chain weapons is lost beneath guttural snarls of hate and the pain of the Blood Rage that is the truth of their tattered souls.

The Flesh Rippers blood-rage has become infamous across the Imperium, as are the savage deeds said to have been performed by their Battle-Brothers. So divorced have they become from the rest of Mankind that most Imperial Commanders accept the Chapter's help only in the direst of circumstances.

There is good reason for this caution. On more than one occasion, the enemy body count has not been enough to sate their bloodlust, and many are the Imperial Commanders who have thought themselves saved only to watch in horror as the warrior angels sent to liberate them succumb to their curse.

Lost in the throes of slaughter, the Flesh Rippers often fail to recognise a battle's end, turning their weapons on their allies and even the Humans who thought them angelic saviours. They kill until nothing remains but bloodied ground, churned viscera, and the fading thrum of their double hearts.

This is their truth, the core of their beings -- not the imagined half-divinity believed by the Imperial masses, but the red truth of angels of death lost in a dream of suffering and slaughter.

They are Loyalists of the Emperor of Mankind though the significant evidence of major genetic flaws has led to their investigation on charges of heresy by the Inquisition, especially due to their widely-reported custom of cannibalistically consuming their defeated foes as well as ritually flaying them.

They have been cleared of suspicion at present but the calls for them to be declared *Excommunicate Traitoris* have increased in recent years and it is only a matter of time before events come to a head.

## History

The Flesh Rippers are a relatively unknown Chapter having spent much of their history seemingly outside of the the greater Imperium. The exact origins of this infamous Chapter are hard to pinpoint in Imperial archives as the Flesh Rippers have left very few records of their activities. The reasons why are very much unknown to many, but during the Cerberus Crusade it soon became apparent that the Flesh Rippers were a Chapter unlike many others. While other Chapters may maintain a façade of humanity despite their transhuman state the Flesh Rippers are utterly divorced from the humans they once were. Whatever gene-seed was used in their creation has turned them into inhuman monsters who live only for the thrill of battle and the slaying of their enemies. Imperial commanders have found out, to their cost, that for the Flesh Rippers even their supposed allies can become victims of their unrestrained violence.

The few records that are available give this Chapter differences in name or title, such as the Death Ravens or Raptor Legion but all the accounts are consistent on certain similarities of iconography and operation, and in their description of the Flesh Rippers bestial savagery in combat and when they are unleashed into battle, the Chapter Astartes fight with almost gleeful savagery, tearing apart whatever enemy they are given to fight without mercy or falter, heedless of the risk and uncaring of the Chapters own losses.

The first suspected appearance of the Flesh Rippers was found upon the world of Carranian Tertius in M32, this once prosperous world was one of the many that turned against the Emperor during the hellish days of the Horus Heresy, while they never followed the Arch-Traitor they nevertheless used the opportunity to return to the days before the Emperor, located as it was on the fringes of the nascent Imperium it survived the great Scouring and became a bastion for those who did not want to follow the rightful ruler of the galaxy. It remained for nearly two thousand years a thorn in the side of the Imperium, a seemingly endless flow of Armies emanating from it, forced to fight these enemies the Imperium had stationed vast forces within their path, battle after battle was fought before one day the flow mysteriously stopped. Determined to find out what exactly had happened, an expedition was launched, arriving in orbit they found a world of death, the citadels smashed to ruins, surrounded by vast fields of dead, it seemed that every living being on the planet was dead. Searching the wreckage of what had once been the rulers palace they found the so-called King upon his throne, crude life support measures had been put in place to keep him alive long enough to deliver a message, he spoke of Angels of Death that descended upon his world in great waves, these Angels butchered his people in droves, none were spared, his soldiers tried to fight back but they and everyone on the planet was killed, the Angels ripping them to shreds over the course of a single blood-soaked day, once they had finished their work they came to him, they told him why they had come, they had come to remind everyone that the Galaxy belonged to the Emperor and that nothing and no-one would ever change that. The fallen Kings description of these so-called Angels of Death match those details known of the Flesh Rippers and if true would push their founding back by at least one thousand years.

Over the following millennia, there have been precious few mentions of the Flesh Rippers, one of the few and possibly the first concerns The Pentarchy of Blood, which occurred during M33, the Flesh Rippers are suspected as being one of the loyalist Chapters that took part as in the aftermath a victory column was found that named them as such yet their name does not appear upon the official records of the war, this marks their first recorded appearance though the attack on Carranian Tertius a thousand years earlier is believed to have been their first, albeit unconfirmed appearance.

The only other tantalizing clues to this Chapter’s origins can be offered up by those few Imperial servants who have had the dubious honour of encountering the enigmatic Flesh Rippers in the flesh. For the most part, these individuals have been those dispatched to explore the outermost bounds of the galaxy: Explorators, Rogue Traders, and the like. However, beyond these rare encounters recorded in various fragmentary Imperial data-vaults, the only information forthcoming on the Flesh Rippers is the stories of their often bloody deeds across the galaxy.

The current whereabouts and operational activities of the Flesh Rippers remain unknown but reports from the fringes of Imperial Space have begun filtering back of excessive casualties in tactic-less displays of horde warfare and their are even reports that the Flesh Rippers' Imperial allies have sometimes become subject to the Flesh Rippers' fury even as as world after world falls to their savage berserker fury.

## Noctis Aeterna

During this dark period the hopes of trillions was reignited with the return of one of the Emperor's loyal sons - the Primarch of the Ultramarines - Roboute Guilliman, and he brought with him the fruits of 10,000 years of research and labour - the Primaris Space Marines. Representatives from the Primarch aboard hundreds of Torcebearer fleets were dispatched to every Astartes Chapter to gift these wondrous creations and soon Primaris Astartes were serving alongside their elder brethren with distinction. Where and when the Flesh Rippers encountered the Primarch's emissary's is unknow but encountered they were but unlike many other Chapters that received full grown and battle-hardened Primaris, the Flesh Rippers instead received the technology and knowledge to create their own Primaris Space Marines.

The wargear to arm these formidable warriors was also received including 500 suits of Mk X Power Armour in their various Patterns, Hundreds of Cawl and Belisarius Pattern Weapons, and over a dozen armoured vehicles and Dreadnoughts and even an Astraeus Heavy Grav Tank, all of which aside from High Librarian Vorias have been assigned to the newly raised 12th Company. Thanks to this great fortune the Flesh Rippers now prosecute their wars with even greater vigour. The numbers of Primaris Astartes currently serving are unknown but during the battles of the Indomitus Crusade they were able to field an entire company. Despite these advances the Flesh Rippers Primaris Astartes have witnessed to also be afflicted with the same gene-seed flaws as the rest of their brothers and just as aggressive and unhinged as the rest of the Chapter, some have even been inducted into the Crimson Butchers. What other flaws may manifest in the future is unknown.

## Notable Campaigns

* **The Pentarchy of Blood (860-940.M33)** - During the dark and bloody episode of Imperial history known as the War of the False Primarch which plunged the Segmentum Pacificus into anarchy and is now largely lost to myth and purged from the Imperial record, the Pentarchy of Blood was convened by the High Lords of Terra to enact their judgement. Five Chapters, the Carcharodons, the Charnel Guard, the Death Eagles, the Flesh Eaters and the Red Talons are used to systematically destroy eleven Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes judged *Traitoris Perdita* and lay waste to their homeworlds, finally drawing the eight decade conflict to a close. Although not named, an unknown Chapter was responsible for the brutal destruction of one of the Traitor Chapters. An Imperial Navy witness reported that the unknown Chapter disregarded any form of bombardment and launched the entire Chapter in a massive drop assault against the fortress-monastery. In the battle's aftermath, the Imperial Navy and Imperial Guard reinforcements claimed that the inside of the fortress was filled with the dismembered and mangled corpses of the defenders with wrecked and destroyed bits of power armour scattered about the halls, and that almost all of the Traitor Marines were missing their heads. It was an absolute slaughter, the fortress having been transformed into an abattoir of human blood. A fragment of an ancient victory column was later found in the ruins of an Imperial World, this column was erected in honour of the Chapters that persecuted the war, upon this fragment was the name Flesh Rippers.
* **Cerberus Crusade (821-844.M41)** - The Chapter is also believed to have fought during the Cerberus Crusade. Sometime during 830.M41 as the war finally began to turn in favour of Imperial forces Lord Commander Corvo (Chapter Master of the Ash Scorpions), supreme commander of the Imperial forces had received word that the Knights of Guilliman had retired from the war and returned to their homeworld of Jorvick, sending word that they would surrender, preparations were begun to accept the surrender when events overtook them. In orbit over Jorvick an unknown Chapter suddenly broke from the warp, ignoring all hails from the Knights they immediately attacked the Knights fleet before launching their strength at the world below using Drop Pods and Thunderhawks. This resulted in the destruction of Secessionist forces while the unknown Chapter suffered heavy casualties. Following the battle this Chapter was not seen again until the attack on Albion, following which they disappeared once more only to reappear above an Imperial World far away from the Cerberus Cluster, where they for reasons known only to themselves, launched an all-out assault against the world, and soon fighting raged across the world as the Chapter lost what little control they had. They proceeded to systematically slaughter almost all the world's entire population over the course of a single day. Why they attacked this world is unknown, and all attempts to locate them to inquire why has come to nought, leaving only the vid-captures, pict-Logs and the horrified and traumatized survivors as evidence. Further investigation showed that thousands of young men were missing, and Imperial scholars believe that they were taken as future recruits for the Chapter, perhaps to replace their losses from the attacks on Jorvick and Albion. Later during the hearings at Lycan a single Strike Cruiser bearing the heraldry of this Chapter anchored near to the assembled fleet, this ship was identified as the Gladiator, previous reports had identified this ship as belonging to a Chapter called the Flesh Rippers although the Gladiator made no attempt to identify itself and left following an argument with the Lord of the Ultramarines, Marneus Calgar. Since then various reports from other Chapters and other campaigns including their now infamous actions during the Hades Crusade and the Slaughter of Hel confirmed them as the Flesh Rippers but aside from these scattered encounters, they have not been seen since.
* **Hades Crusade (078.M42-087.M42)** - The Chapter's first unequivocal appearance is in the works of the field notary Ciaphis Quilp, in his account of the Hades Crusade. In the aftermath of the Great Rift many worlds fell to infighting and anarchy as insurrections and outright rebellion swept across the Galaxy, thanks to the machinations of one man several Chapters of Astartes declared themselves to no longer beholden to the Imperium igniting the Cataclysmic Hades Crusade.
	+ **The Slaughter at Vorgoric (085.M42)** - Part of the larger Hades Crusade the Slaughter at Vorgoric occurred during the closing years of the War and resulted in one of the bloodiest episodes of the entire Crusade.
	+ **Morritaga Massacre (087.M42) -** The event that became known in Imperial records as the Morritaga Massacre was discovered by an Imperial Navy patrol in 087.M42. The wreckage of an Imperial outpost was discovered in the dust wastes of the forlorn world of Morritaga II. Within the outpost was a nightmarish scene of carnage and destruction rarely witnessed before by men. A bloody battle had been fought between two company-sized forces of Space Marines from the **Flesh Rippers** and the Secessionist Baleful Spectres Chapter. These two forces, infamous, for their savagery and unyielding stances towards their foes, had fought each other to a bloody standstill. The base around them was ripped apart and many of the bodies of both sides showed signs of having fought on despite suffering horrendous wounds, severed limbs and massive trauma that should have felled even an Astartes, and several were found locked in deathly, gore-splattered embraces, striking at their foes with their last ebbing strength. It is not known which Chapter's last warrior survived to the end to claim a bitter victory. Neither Chapter has acknowledged any survivors of the massacre living to tell of what happened at Morritaga II.

* **Slaughter at Hel (111.M42) -** The first to suffer the Wrath of the Flesh Rippers following Dreagar Lhorkes elevation to Chapter Master was the world of Hel. After falling to the dreaded World Eaters and their Deamonic allies the Flesh Rippers arrived in full force and unleashed their uncontrollable fury upon the the doomed world. In the aftermath the Flesh Rippers were last recorded tracking a course through the Warp, to visit their wrath upon another. The current whereabouts and operational activities of the Flesh Rippers remain unknown but reports from the fringes of Imperial Space have begun filtering back of excessive casualties in tactic-less displays of horde warfare and their are even reports that the Flesh Rippers' Imperial allies have sometimes become subject to the Flesh Rippers' fury even as as world after world falls to their savage berserker fury.

## Chapter Homeworld

The fragmentary records of the Flesh Rippers indicate that the Chapter has no set homeworld. This is not uncommon for Space Marine Chapters; the renowned Black Templars Chapter, for example, operates solely from its substantial warfleet as part of a perpetual Imperial Crusade. However, the Flesh Rippers do not appear to follow the Crusade Chapter pattern of operations, relying instead on a much rarer operational strategy known as the "Nomad-Predation" pattern. The Nomad-Predation pattern evolved in use by Space Marine Chapters and certain Rogue Trader fleets operating beyond the Imperium's boundaries for extended periods of time. It refers to an entirely self-contained force that can sustain itself without any Imperial support whatsoever. A Nomad-Predation fleet may contain as many support vessels as true warships, or it may contain voidships capable of both combat and maintenance repairs. This second possibility may be more likely in the case of the Flesh Rippers; given the bellicose Chapter's propensity for combat, it seems unlikely they would tolerate vessels in their fleet's ranks that could not hold their own on the battle line.

A Nomad-Predation fleet voyages endlessly, pausing only to identify and engage its foes. Unlike other Nomad Chapters who must select their foes carefully in order to preserve the Chapters fighting capability the Flesh Rippers will attack any and all foes they encounter and do not seem to care about the possibility that the Chapter may be wrecked, only that the enemy knows that it will never be able to escape the Emperors wrath. Once it selects its victims, it will descend upon them quickly and savagely, engaging and systematically destroying all threats that are encountered in a whirlwind of gore, the fleet obtains resources from the vanquished foe before vanishing back into the void, to visit its wrath upon another.

Though one cannot be certain that this is the means by which the Flesh Rippers operate, the tactics do seem to perfectly fit their observed behaviour. If this is the case, the Flesh Rippers most likely replenish their ranks in the same manner as other Chapters that follow the Nomad-Predation pattern. Namely, they cull potential Initiates from amongst the young of the survivors of their assaults, provided those survivors are human and free of the corrupting influence of the Warp. This culling for potential Aspirants is believed to be known amongst the Flesh Rippers as a Blood Tithe. These Initiates must be subjected to intensive hypno-conditioning and other harsh procedures designed to strip away any past loyalty, replacing it with the will and attitudes of the Flesh Rippers.

## Chapter Organisation

As previously mentioned, what few Imperial records exist about the Flesh Rippers suggest they are entirely fleet-based, which in turn would suggest they have fundamental differences from most, more conventional, Space Marine Chapters. Their long isolation seems have also had an effect on the Chapter's wargear. The Flesh Rippers are a dedicated assault force and are almost exclusively comprised of Assault Squads that deploy with Jump Packs or in transports. Tactical Squads operate much in the same way, often deploying by armoured transports or gunships, and even then they will charge across the battlefield in order to engage the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. The Flesh Rippers also contains no Devastator Squads, as the few heavy weapons the Flesh Rippers possess are distributed amongst the various squads, and those few are invariably anti-infantry such as Heavy Bolters and Flamers. But even amongst their tactical units, heavy weapons are often left behind, as many sergeants are unable to hold their units at range long enough for the weapons to be used effectively, besides which the sergeants are often the first into the fray anyway.

Their Elite Veteran Assault Squads of the 1st company are known as Ravager Squads. Ravager Squads are Berserker assault units composed of the most savage and bloodthirsty killers in a Chapter comprised of savage and bloodthirsty killers that are deemed just too unstable and insane to serve in a regular Company. Within these units their are even Marines that are too far gone to be anything but restrained between battles and are informally known as the Crimson Butchers, these Elite units are akin to the Death Company of the Blood Angels, It should be noted that all members of the first Company are just one step away from joining these psychopathic Marines which provides an Endless Supply of new members for the Butchers. The Battle-Brothers of the Battle Company's are no less Bloodthirsty but are simply those that manage to focus their desire for berserk slaughter through martial discipline, mastering a variety of macabre and savage weapons.

The few starships observed to be serving the Flesh Rippers are wildly different in the era of their construction, indicating the Chapter likely makes use of whatever vessels it can find, and performs extensive modifications and repairs in order to keep them sailing as long as possible. Vehicles with the exception of transports are used sparingly and while transports and battle tanks are allocated to individual companies while maintaining a reserve at the Chapter level, air assets are spread across the fleet to support the Companies assigned to individual Ships. Individual Companies are assigned their own vessels with the 1st, 3rd and 5th Companies garrison the Chapter Flagship the Cruor Caedes and the 12th, 11th and 8th the Gorehead, 5 of the remaining 6 Battle Companies garrison their own Strike Cruiser while the 10th Company have been given the singular honour of garrison the Chapters Forge Ship, the means with which the Chapter can wage war.

### Specialist Ranks

The Flesh Rippers order of battle contains several officer positions not present in other Space Marine Chapters:

* **Blood Reaver (Chapter Master)**
* **Blood Captain (Captain)**
* **Reaper Prime** - A Reaper Prime is an additional title traditionally given to a Company Master. Beyond the Captaincy of their own company, it is their job to ensure the Chapter is constantly supplied with fresh Aspirants, normally achieved during the "Blood Tithes" when they return to the Imperium and descend on an Imperial world to harvest the population for Chapter Serfs and potential Aspirants, currently the High Priest Ramiel serves in this role as he alone has shown the necessary skill to do so.
* **Harvester Prime** - A Harvester Prime is an additional title that is also given to a senior Officer. It is their duty to seek out archeotech and lost technology on the isolated worlds that lie in the outer dark. This acquisition of technology is achieved during a so-called "Tech Tithe". Currently the Master of the Forge Sepharon serves as the Harvester Prime.
* **Blood Chaplain (Chaplain)**
* **Centurion (Lieutenant)**
* **Blood Sergeant (Sergeant)**
* **Brother of the Blood (Battle-Brother)**

### Specialist Formations

* **The Devourers (Honour Guard)** - The Devourers are the Blood Reavers bodyguard (whether he needs one is another matter), only 5 of the most vicious and bloody-handed members of the Chapter are chosen for this honour, clad in Ancient Cataphractii Terminator-Plate and wielding an assortment of macabre weapons they are utterly relentless in their singular goal, the defence of their lord. Access to its ranks is only attained by defeating a Devourer in single combat to the death or, should one of its number fall in battle against an enemy, a successor is selected by a contest open to all Astartes of the Flesh Rippers, only one of which will survive.
* **Red Hand Destroyer Squads -** Among the ranks of the Flesh Rippers, many of those who bear the mark of the Blood Hand are drawn together not though brotherhood but by enmity and hatred, beneath the Devourers, Ravagers and Butchers there stands no more an example of the savagery and pure undiluted rage of the Flesh Rippers than the Red Hand.
* **Ravager Squad (Veteran Assault Marines)** - Ravager Squads are Berserker assault units composed of the most savage and bloodthirsty killers in a Chapter comprised of savage and bloodthirsty killers that are deemed just too unstable and insane to serve in a regular Company.
* **Crimson Butchers or 'The *Caedere'*** - Frothing Psychopathic Berzerkers that have fallen so far to the Blood Rage that they must be chained up when not in battle, clad in Ancient Battle-Plate and wielding a variety of macabre and savage weapons, they are unleashed on whatever enemy the Blood Reaver decrees. Herded into battle by Blood Chaplain Gideon, screaming with incoherent rage they fight with uncontrollable savagery and bloodlust and only death will end their charge. They are sometimes referred to as the '***Caedere',*** a name that simply means Butchers in a ancient language.

### Order of Battle (ca.111.M42)

The following is the disposition of the Flesh Rippers Chapter organization during the Slaughter of Hel, ca. 111.M42:

#### Command

**Dreagher Lhorke 'The Red Angel', Blood Reaver****Chapter Master of the Flesh Rippers**
**5 Devourers (Honour Gurad)**
**Chapter Equerries**
**Unknown Number of Chapter Serfs & Unknown Number of Servitor's**
**Brother of the Blood Sepharon****Master of the Forge**
**11 Techmarines 86 Tech-Servitors**
**11 Rhinos (Chapter Reserve)**
**3 Predators (Chapter Reserve)**
**3 Vindicators**
**7 Land Raiders**
**17 Stormtalons**
**18 Stormravens3 Stormhawks**
**Vorias****Master of the Librarius & High Librarian of the Flesh Rippers**
**2 Epistolaries**
**5 Codiciers**
**7 Lexicaniums**
**Brother of the Blood Ramiel****High Priest of the Flesh Rippers****Chief Apothecary**

#### Companies

**Apothecary Vulkov**
**52 Veterans (including Terminators & Ravager Squads)**
**3 Venerable**
**Furioso Dreadnoughts**
**3 Land Raiders**
**7 Rhinos** | **Blood-Captain Skane****Centurions (Raguin & Darnito)****Blood Chaplain Zkorroth**
**Apothecary Esca**
**3 Battleline Squads**
**7 Close Support Squads**

**2 Scout Squads**

**3 Dreadnoughts**
**11 Rhinos**
**2 Razorbacks**
**2 Predators**
**2 Land Speeders**
**8 Bikes** | **Blood-Captain Mica Vulkov** **Centurions (Serar & Syross)****Blood Chaplain Haskal**
**Apothecary Ralakas**
**3 Battleline Squads**
**7 Close Support Squads**

**3 Scout Squads**

**1 Dreadnought**
**11 Rhinos**
**4 Razorbacks**
**3 Predators**
**4 Land Speeders**
**8 Bikes** | **Blood-Captain Merir****Centurions (Reszae & Kurthoran)****Blood Chaplain Kharad**
**Apothecary Krydal**
**3 Battleline Squads**

**5 Close Support Squads**

**2 Scout Squads**

**1 Dreadnought**
**11 Rhinos**
**2 Razorbacks**
**2 Predators**
**5 Land Speeders**

**Apothecary Fabrikus**
**7 Close Support Squads**

**2 Scout Squads**

**8 Rhinos**
**3 Razorbacks**
**2 Land Speeders**
**3 Bikes** | **Blood-Captain Amadeno****Centurions (Rogrus & Sanchus)****Blood Chaplain Roghrax**
**Apothecary Scyrak**
**5 Battleline Squads**
**5 Close Support Squads**

**2 Scout Squads**

**4 Dreadnoughts**
**11 Rhinos**
**1 Razorback**
**4 Predators**
**2 Land Speeders**
**5 Bikes** | **Blood-Captain Endryd****Centurions (Myrdiah & Korlail)****Blood Chaplain Kalibos**
**Apothecary Castivarus**
**3 Battleline Squads**
**4 Close Support Squads**

**2 Scout Squads**

**4 Dreadnoughts**
**8 Rhinos**
**2 Razorbacks**
**2 Predators**
**1 Land Speeder**
**6 Bikes** | **Blood-Captain Kargos****Centurions (Morlare & Sirus)****Blood Chaplain Vrakha**
**Apothecary Machiavi**
**1 Battleline Squad**
**4 Close Support Squads**
**2 Ravager Squads**
**2 Scout Squads**

**1 Dreadnought**
**6 Rhinos**
**1 Razorback**
**2 Predators**
**3 Land Speeders**

**Apothecary Endryd**
**3 Battleline Squads**
**3 Close Support Squads**

**2 Scout Squads**

**1 Dreadnought**
**7 Rhinos**
**2 Razorbacks**
**4 Predators**
**2 Land Speeders**
**4 Bikes** | **Blood-Captain Moloch****Centurions (Orthor & Callian)****Blood Chaplain Macer**
**Apothecary Zkorroth**
**7 Battleline Squads**
**3 Close Support Squads**

**2 Scout Squads**

**5 Dreadnoughts**
**11 Rhinos**
**1 Razorback**
**1 Predator**
**2 Land Speeders**
**8 Bikes** | **Blood-Captain Zhukel Dror****Centurions (Threl & Haradrine)****Blood Chaplain Erasmus**
**Apothecary Varren**
**2 Battleline Squads**
**3 Close Support Squads**
**4 Dreadnoughts**
**6 Rhinos**
**1 Razorback**
**2 Predators**
**3 Land Speeders**
**7 Bikes** | **Blood-Captain Primaris Hellskret Skraal '​The Gorehand'****Epistolary Primaris Lhorke**
**Blood Chaplain Primaris Styvath the Bloody**
**Apothecary Primaris Endryd**
**Centurions (Sevorax & Drave)**
**4 Battleline Squads**
**8 Close Support Squads**

**2 Scout Squads**

**4 Redemptor Dreadnoughts**

**2 Dreadnoughts**

**2 Repulsers**
**2 Repulsor Executioner's**
**2 Gladiators**
**1 Astraeus**
**4 Impulsor's**
**2 Overlords**
**8 Rhinos**
**3 Razorbacks**
**2 Land Raiders**
**3 Predators**
**4 Land Speeders**

**7 Bikes**

**Bjorn the Butcher**
**Blood Chaplain Gideon**
**Venerable Dreadnought Borek the Slayer**

**Crimson Butchers Squads**
**Crimson Butchers Squads include all those Space Marines that have succumbed to the madness of the Blood Rage, including Dreadnoughts (Exact number unknown to outsiders.)**

### Chapter Recruitment

#### Blood Tithes

It is the duty of a Flesh Rippers Reaper Prime, beyond the duties of the Captaincy of their company, to ensure that the Chapter is constantly supplied with fresh Aspirants. This was normally achieved during the so-called Blood Tithes" when they return to the Imperium and descend on an Imperial world to harvest the population. The vast majority of those taken would go on to become slaves and serf labourers in the Chapter's great fleet, providing the means by which the Flesh Rippers could continue to function in exile. Those of the right age and temperament, however, would undertake the trials. Few survive the brutal training and gladiatorial fights in the blood pits but those that do are gifted with the Ancient Armour of a fallen Battle-Brother and welcomed into the ranks of a Battle Company as a full Battle-Brother. As they do not have a dedicated Scout Company each Battle Company contains its own Scout Units which are drawn from the Chapters pool of Unassigned Neophytes. Some Initiates will even fall to the Blood Rage before joining a Battle Company, for these unfortunates the only option is to be inducted into the Crimson Butchers where their Berzerker Fury will be unleashed on whatever enemy the Blood Reaver decrees.

#### Tech Tithes

It is the duty of a Flesh Rippers Harvester Prime, beyond the duties of the Captaincy of their company, to ensure that the Chapter is constantly supplied with arms and equipment. They are also responsible for seeking out ancient archeotech on long-lost worlds that lie within the vast void. This acquisition of technology is known as a "Tech Tithe." Unlike some other Chapters it is not known if they share the technology they discover with rest of the Imperium. One of the pieces of technology believed to have been discovered are the implants that are given to all Battle-Brothers that have proven themselves in battle.

### Chapter Serfs

Like other Chapters, the Flesh Rippers possess an extensive support personnel comprised of thousands of Chapter Serfs as well as mindless servitors who are failed Aspirants given a second chance to serve the Chapter by commanding and crewing one of the Chapter's vessels in the Chapter Fleet. ' As stated before, most servitors are failed Aspirants while the chapter serfs are made up of mortal men and women, some are rescued humans who have sworn themselves to the Chapter whilst others are serfs who were born into their status as a child of Chapter Serfs. These serfs are fanatically loyal to their transhuman masters, and indoctrinated into many of the lesser orders of the Chapter's Cult. Although human, they still benefit from remarkable training and access to superior weaponry, and this makes them a formidable foe in defence of their chapter's Barque and in ship-to-ship boarding actions, even without the support of their genetically modified lords. Such is the reduced number of Battle Brothers these support personnel make up the majority of the Chapters ship crews as well overseeing other menial tasks that are beneath the notice of their Superhuman masters. Each individual Battle Brother is assigned 3 serfs who act to assist their master in his daily tasks although it is very rare for the number of serfs to actually reach the numbers required, much prestige is attached to those chapter serfs who are assigned to high ranking Battle Brothers and the de facto leader of the Chapter serfs is assigned to serve the Blood Reaver himself and is known as the Ordinator of the House, the currant ordinator is Lotora Spika who also commands the Chapters mighty flagship 'The Cruor Caedes' but this role is often a thankless task as she has to tread lightly not enrage the Blood Reaver and is constantly caught between between avoiding his uncontrollable fury and the performance of her duties whilst always making sure she measures her words when conversing with the rage-fuelled Blood Reaver. Naturally those unfortunate's who inducted into the Crimson Butchers no longer have these serfs assigned as it would be simply too dangerous for them to get within arms reach of these bloodcrazed marines but even those assigned to other battle brothers has to make sure they are constantly alert lest they become just another victim of the Flesh Rippers uncontrollable fury.

### Chapter Equipment

Using pict-log and video-captures from the Cerberus and Hades campaigns, Imperial scholars were able to determine much about the Flesh Rippers appearance and weaponry. As expected for a Chapter that exists beyond the fringes of Imperial Space, Power Armour tends to be is of older design, this includes suits of the Mark II Crusade, Mark III Iron, Mark IV Maximus, Mark V Heresy and Mark VI Corvus armours. Indeed few examples of armour more recent than the Mark VI have been observed among the Chapter's Firstborn Marines. Of the armour observed, the MK V Hersey Pattern is by far the most used. It also seems to be highly personalised, as no two Battle-Brothers' armour looks alike. Weaponry is also of an older design with the Umbra Pattern bolter the norm, but Tigrus, Godwyn and Phobos Patterns have also been observed. The Flesh Rippers have also seen to extensively using Chainaxes, something of a rarity in the 42nd Millennium. Vehicles, Dreadnoughts especially, often have script in an unknown language carved into the ceramite.

### Flesh Rippers Librarians

Unlike many of their fellow Chapters, before the 42nd Millennium the Flesh Rippers had never been observed making use of Librarians within their ranks, all this changed with the arrival of the Primaris Astartes and now the Flesh Rippers now count these immensely powerful pyskers amongst their ranks, however only two Primaris Librarians have been recruited, the High Librarian and the 12th Company Librarian with the remainder Astartes of the old type. Despite their acceptance the Flesh Rippers are careful to ensure that the Gene-Seed taken from these Brothers of the Blood are only implanted in potential pysker recruits, thus saving the rest of the Chapter from any unwanted mutations. They also make use of 2 unique powers in addition to those used by others.

* ***From the Void*** - The Flesh Rippers Librarian clouds the minds of his adversaries with a choking mental darkness, amplifying their fear and surprise so that it paralyses them. Their minds writhe with images of spectres and ancient predators, leaving them vulnerable to assault.

* ***Death Maw*** - The Librarian calls forth the avatar of a great predator whose maw descends from the very sky. Jaws and teeth snap shut, consuming all within in a shower of gore.

## Chapter Beliefs

Despite their long isolation from the Imperium, the Chapter and its Battle-Brothers seem deeply loyal. All of the Flesh Rippers encountered have shown a seemingly overwhelming desire to serve the Emperor and have dedicated themselves to destroying his enemies wherever they can be found. The Flesh Rippers take a flippant view in regards to collateral damage and the use of excessive force. If innocent civilians or other Imperial forces happen to die due to their brutal tactics, then so much the better and they are not above laying waste to an entire system and it's defenders in order to achieve their objectives, even in the face of insurmountable odds.

As the Blood Rage continues to consume its membership, the leaders of the Flesh Rippers have come to the inescapable conclusion that their beloved Chapter may be doomed to eventual disintegration. They continue to seek a cure for this curse, but some consider their eventual depletion inescapable. Some among the leadership have begun to embrace the notion that if they cannot continue then their best approach is to make certain that they leave a bold legacy in keeping with the Chapter's proud traditions.

Most vital to these traditions is the way that they embrace savagery in combat. This is likely a combination of their susceptibility towards the Blood Rage as well as their supposed primogenitors the Blood Angels' tradition of excellence in assault actions. Despite the many millennia they have spent in the void the Flesh Rippers continue to proudly exhibit this preference. For the their survival in the face of the voids endless terrors requires an ability to overcome even the most extreme odds through constant warfare. The Flesh Rippers have a long tradition of attempting to honour the memory of ages past by fulfilling their Primarch's and the Emperor's wish for a galaxy under complete Imperial Compliance. In many instances, the only way the Chapter had a reasonable chance to achieve victory is by taking the most extreme of actions against its opponents. There are no known instances where Flesh Rippers commanders ever hesitated to unleash weapons of cataclysmic proportions.

With each battle won, Battle-Brothers of the Flesh Rippers Chapter feel confident that their Primarch's legend has been preserved. This serves as the most effective method of preserving his glory as well as that of the Legion he once led. In many cases, the worlds targeted by the Chapter have strayed in some significant way from the Imperium. It is these conflicts that offer the greatest temptation for Flesh Rippers to fully engage their thirst for savagery. Those who show any taint of heresy, or who even choose to ally themselves, however briefly, with Heretics, are targeted for purging. In some instances, purges have continued well beyond a reasonable level, as Battle-Brothers of the Chapter continued their acts of savage brutality long after any justifiable conflict had been completed.

For many Flesh Rippers Space Marines, such frenzied battles represent a very real warning of the doom that inevitably encroaches upon their minds. With each period of savagery, their chance to return to a more normal state of consciousness can become increasingly difficult. This represents a very real sign to these Battle-Brothers that their final emotional and mental collapse approaches them.

### Chapter Traditions

* **Head Taking** - One of the most inhuman traditions of the Flesh Rippers is the practice of removing the head of fallen foes although for what reason imperial scholars are at a loss. Many believe that it is simply a rather macabre way of determining enemy casualties
* **Gladiatorial Combat** - Since their return, a few imperial forces have had the dubious honour of being allowed to witness another of the Flesh Rippers' traditions, that of Gladiatorial Combat which takes place in specially designed pits in the depths of the Cruor Caedes, known as the Blood Pits. When the Flesh Rippers Battle-Brothers have a disagreement many choose to settle their problems in these pits. Two combatants will enter naked, save for a loincloth, and be chained together where they fight until first blood is drawn, or in some cases, results in death.
* **Binding Weapons** - The Flesh Rippers have also been known to bind their weapons to themselves by using large dense black chains, removing them only once victory is achieve, much in the same way as the Astartes of the Black Templars and the ancient World Eaters Legion.
* **Cannibalism -**Once every century the entire Chapter will gather to offer thanks to the Allfather (Their name for the Emperor), during the gathering they will descend to blood drenched depths becoming a horde of fevered maniacs, having worked themselves into a state of animalistic barbarity over the course of their celebrations. The Blood Reaver's armour will be splattered in gore, and blood will run from his mouth as he presides over the ceremony. Slaves and war captives from every race and ilk are brought back to the Fleet and at the climax of the celebration they will be ritually sacrificed to the Allfather. Each Battle-Brother retreats to their cells where they begin their oblations by eating their captives alive -- the massive halls of their ships echoing with the din of their unheeded screams for mercy. Evidence also shows that the Flesh Rippers practice cannibalism during combat.
* **Flaying -**The Astartes of the Flesh Rippers have been known to Flay their enemies, both during their Chapter wide celebrations and during the heat of battle, for what purpose it can only be guessed at.
* ***Caedere Remissum -*** One of the most honoured rights within the Chapter, despite them being forbidden is the right to wear the twin mantles of the *caedere remissum,* although technically forbidden by the chapters masters*,* many Brothers still choose to wear the bladed horns of the *remissum* as a warning to their foes. Many outside of the Chapter have noted that the ancient World Eaters also wore this style of helm and it has also become synonymous with the warriors of the Khornate Berserker cults, a fact regularly pointed to by the Chapters detractors.
* **Blood Hand -** There stands no honour higher for the Flesh Rippers than the Blood Hand, this symbol, a bloody hand print across their faceplate marks a warrior as having demonstrated exemplary ferocity in the name of the Chapter, be it the sheer carnage they have shown upon the field of battle or the besting of a superior foe in single combat, most who bear this symbol are grouped together in the Red Hand squads but not all and it is not uncommon for even the newest of recruits to bear the mark for it is given to any regardless of rank, the Brother need only have proven themselves.
* **Honour Marks** - Small tokens shaped as blood drops adorn the plates while many Blood Brothers incorporate spikes into their shoulder pads, gauntlets and vambraces so that their armour itself can be turned into a weapon. This is often combined with red striations on the helm or a bloody hand print on the face, although the reasons for these honour markings is unknown. Red "tears" (more likely blood drops) painted beneath the eye lenses on a helm are thought to denote an Astartes' ritual scarification and kill tally marks are often carved into a vambrace or a warrior's individual weapon. A "blood-drop" decoration on a vambrace accorded an individual warrior status as having killed a fellow Flesh Rippers of higher rank in a sanctioned arena duel.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

Nobody knows what Primarch's gene-seed led to the creation of the Flesh Rippers and the Flesh Rippers themselves have never revealed anything about themselves. A Deathwatch Apothecary reportedly examined a corpse said to have been from the Flesh Rippers and interestingly, the gene-seed bore several markers reminiscent of both the Raven Guard and Blood Angels bloodline. These markers are uncommon, and a link to either Raven Guard or the Blood Angels would explain several other details about the Flesh Rippers as well. However, apart from those few similarities to Raven Guard and Blood Angels gene-seed the Flesh Rippers gene-seed is so different in other aspects that it is unlikely that they are descended from either Chapter. Due to their brutal nature and close-combat prowess there have been some Imperial scholars that have claimed that they are somehow connected to the World Eaters, but that is clearly impossible and most think it is just a rumour, albeit a rumour that has increasing evidence supporting it.

Further light was shed on their origin in the aftermath of the Cerberus Crusade when the Knights of Guilliman were brought to trial by a conclave of Chapter Masters whose Chapters had not fought in the conflict, presided over by the master of the Ultramarines, Marneus Calgar. During the trial only a single Ship from the Flesh Rippers attended, the Strike Cruiser Gladiator in orbit over Lycan. After the trial was over, Lord Calgar attempted to communicate with the ship over a secure vox channel, but was met with only silence until Calgar accused the Flesh Rippers of being no better than the Traitor Legions, to which the unseen Astartes replied with the following, "Who are you to judge us? Those of our blood stood alongside the Emperor on Terra, while yours hid until it was over." This statement seems to rule out the Raven Guard as they did not fight on Terra but gives further credence to the Blood Angels. The Imperial Fists and White Scars are not thought to be the origin of the Chapter as the Flesh Rippers have use of the Betcher's Gland and Sus-an Membrane and the Imperial Fists do not. The Deathwatch Apothecary who examined the Flesh Rippers' gene-seed was from the White Scars Chapter and he noted no similarities between his own gene-seed and the ones he examined. No other Loyalist Legions fought on Terra, and so, if the statement is true then the Flesh Rippers must be descended from Sanguinius unless the rumours of a Traitor Legion origin are found to have merit.

All have greyish, pale skin with an almost deathlike pallor, rather unusually, when seen un-helmeted most battle-brothers seem to have some sort of bionic implanted into their skulls. No imperial scholars have found any evidence of its origin and it seems to be unique to the Flesh Rippers, many have noted a resemblance to the Butchers Nails once used by the ancient World Eaters Legion. One of these devices taken from a body recovered in the aftermath of the attack on Jorvick gave the Mechanicum a chance to examine the device and from it they were able discover exactly what it does, far from increasing aggression, strength and speed as first thought the implants do not even interact with the Marines brain at all and so the implants have no discernible effect on them as shown that Flesh Ripper Astartes show the same level of aggression and bloodthirsty psychosis whether they have the implant or not, further examination of the implant show that it is merely an unusual part of their Power Armour interface. The mechanicus has further stated that the Butchers Nails may have operated in the same manner.

Whichever Primarch the Flesh Rippers are descended from, the gene-seed of the Chapter has clearly affected these Astartes at a mental level. Simply put, the Space Marines of the Flesh Rippers have a physical need to shed blood and kill - a driving imperative that sends them into a berserk fury of unrestrained bloodthirsty psychosis, this trait manifests itself almost as soon as they are implanted with their gene-seed, even within recruits who had shown little aggression during their screening. Despite the absence of irrefutable evidence there is clearly several major flaws in the Flesh Rippers' gene-seed, which will only increase over the next few years, many think the Chapter is living on borrowed time and that their end is nigh. Whether that end is to be declared *Excommunicate Traitoris* and be destroyed, or to turn Traitor and fall to Chaos is unknown.

## Primarch's Curse: Unending Rage

When the Chapter's genetic curse manifests itself in an affected Battle-Brother, it comes on in three stages:

* **Stage 1 - Extreme Frenzy:** The Battle-Brother completely loses control when he frenzies and finds it almost impossible to claw his way back to reason as long as there are foes to fight and blades drawn. Even when foes are not near, the madness of Frenzy grips him and he rages endlessly for battle and blood, howling out his anger and striking the ground with his blade. The Battle-Brother must take care, lest he lose control at any moment. Any time the Battle-Brother takes damage, is confronted with a clear threat, or is put in position of great stress, he must summon all his willpower in order to contain his fury for the duration of an encounter with an enemy.

* **Stage 2 - Blood Madness:** The Flesh Rippers thirst for the blood of their foes when in the grips of the Blood Rage and long to see it spilled across the ground in great arcs and gouts. They also crave the feeling of hot blood on their skin and splattering across their armour, staining the dark red battle-plate a darker shade still. The Battle-Brother must engage foes in close combat if possible, either making melee attacks against them or shooting point black with pistols so that their blood spills at his feet. When he downs a foe, he must resist the urge to hack or blast the foe's corpse apart. If the Battle-Brother is attacked by a new foe while he is in this state while hacking at another foe, he will turn his attention to his new attacker instead.

* **Stage 3 - Animal Within:** Near the end, a Flesh Ripper is little more than an animal filled with fury and madness striking out at all those around him. While he may still have lucid moments where he remembers the warrior he once was, these are fleeting and quickly gone to be replaced with only the thought of killing and the thirst for blood, and he will attack the nearest target (friend or foe) if there is more than one to choose from. At this point, the Battle-Brother is completely within the grip of the Blood Rage and must be transferred to the Crimson Butchers.

## Chapter Combat Doctrine

Since their re-emergence the Flesh Rippers have become infamous across the Imperium as little more than frothing, psychotic berserkers and are now feared for there berserk fury and uncompromising savagery. "Merciless" is perhaps the best description for the Flesh Rippers in combat, but even that does not describe the depths of blood-soaked slaughter to which they descend. Those few who have witnessed their bloodthirstiness report that the Chapter displays savagery and cruelty on an unparalleled scale. A Flesh Rippers force in combat seeks nothing more than to come to grips with an enemy in close combat so they can rend them apart in a hail of blood with chain-axes and Power Fists and, if need be, their bare hands and teeth.

Imperial commanders are especially loathe to accept their assistance, due to the Flesh Rippers reputation for carnage and the inherent dangers of fighting alongside these crazed Astartes. There have been many documented occasions when allied forces have found themselves the victims of the Flesh Rippers unrestrained savagery in combat. As with all aspects of the Flesh Rippers Chapter, the Blood Rage strongly influences its strategic approach towards military engagements. As Flesh Rippers prepare for combat and see the enemy, they often choose to directly engage their foes in melee combat. This proclivity extends throughout the Chapter from the leadership elements to the newest recruits. As such, when preparing for an engagement, the Flesh Rippers' commanders generally plan their tactics in a way that takes advantage of this tendency, instead of attempting to fight against it.

Consequently, the Chapter often fields an inordinate number of its Battle-Brothers equipped as Assault Marines. In contrast, they do not field squads of Devastator Marines and even among their tactical units, heavy weapons are often left behind, as many Flesh Rippers Sergeants are reluctant to hold their units at range long enough for the weapons to be used effectively. In many ways, this restricts the Chapter's tactical flexibility. However, considering the overall efficiency of their Assault Marines, it is difficult to rationalise such a criticism considering the results of a Flesh Rippers unit in close combat. Though the Flesh Rippers seem both competent and familiar with armoured vehicles, the core of their tactics rely on large detachments of mobile Space Marine heavy infantry. In this way, the Flesh Rippers make use of the bloody prowess of their combat brethren to carry the day in battle.

The Flesh Rippers often endeavour to be the initiator of combat actions and prefer not to fight on the defensive. Tactical operations often begin with a Battle Company using its reconnaissance units such as Land Speeder and Bike Squads to probe enemy positions and identify weak points and any target with strategic value. Once identified, the main Flesh Ripper forces hit these points with overwhelming force. They may use Drop Pods, Thunderhawks, or massed Drop Assaults to make these attacks, and the assaulting forces are often a mix of Tactical and Assault Marines. Uncontrolled, unbound, unrestrained, the Flesh Rippers crash against the enemy in rabid packs, butchering their way forward and showing why Imperial forces have feared to fight alongside them for solar decades.

Once the assaults succeeds, the Flesh Rippers press the attack to the hilt. Once they commit fully, they dig deep into the enemy's vitals, endeavouring to do as much damage as possible as quickly as possible. At this point, the full fury of the Flesh Rippers is all too apparent, and little survives this stage of the assault as strongpoint after strongpoint is overrun in a storm of roaring axes and blasting pistols. The Flesh Rippers prefer fighting at close range, either attacking with point-blank weapons fire, or in melee when they have broken through the enemy line.

The vast majority of the Flesh Rippers' vehicles are transports, specifically Rhinos and Razorbacks. Just as the Chapter seldom fields a significant number of squads equipped with heavy weapons, it also limits the number of armoured vehicles that it deploys. The Flesh Rippers prefer to charge forward into direct melee whenever possible as heavy infantry, eschewing the limitations imposed by a battle tank. The primary exception to their movement away from vehicles regards the numbers of Dreadnoughts that the Chapter maintains.

Many of the Flesh Rippers' most respected heroes fall prey to the Blood Rage before they can suffer a noble death in combat. Whenever possible, these respected warriors are assigned to a life-support sarcophagus where their abilities and knowledge can be preserved and used in future engagements. Many of these Old Ones enter combat with their fellows in the Crimson Butchers, charging directly forward to eliminate any foes that stand before them. Tragically, this results in an unacceptably high incidence of death among the pilots of these machines, but this does have the benefit of freeing new sarcophagi for the use of other Battle-Brothers that fall prey to the Blood Rage

The Flesh Rippers also have an unique battle cry that they let loose as they attack their foes. While the cry is created by the Space Marines vocal cords, it is enhanced and amplified by their Power Armours Vox-systems. First hand reports confirm that opponents are often stunned into immediate submission when they hear the terrible sound as defenders come face to face with the savagery of these Battle-Brothers.

When undergoing boarding operations during ship-to-ship void battles, the Flesh Rippers are known to employ an ancient and crude, but unique weapon known as "Ursus Claws" - large barbed lances that are the size of smaller Escort ships in their own right. Fashioned like massive harpoons, these massive lances puncture through an enemy vessel's hull, and once impaled, the immense spears become active, locking to their prey's ravaged insides with magnetic strength. With malicious slowness, the Flesh Rippers vessels can then recall their spears, as the lances ratchet back towards the vessel that fired them, dragging them home on massive chains. Once the doomed vessel is within reach of the Flesh Rippers, they then disgorge their Astartes into the bowels of the impaled enemy ship, and the blooding begins in earnest. This technique was first pioneered during the Great Crusade by the barbarous and bloody-handed World Eaters Legion. The fact that the Flesh Rippers use the same tactics as the traitor World Eaters has caused the Inquisition to regard them with even greater suspicion

Command within the Chapter is gained through a mixture of martial prowess on the battlefield and displays of leadership on the front line. No rank or role within the Chapter is exempt from the expectation that they will fight as hard as the rest be the Space Marine in question an Apothecary or Librarian rather than a frontline Space Marine. Compared to many of the other Astartes Chapters, order and discipline does not come as naturally to the Flesh Rippers as it it does to other Chapters. Tempers often seethe, slights perceived or real are met with insane anger and violence often results should a Flesh Rippers sense of honour be questioned. Any officer of the Chapter knows they are expected to back up their authority by force if needed, and the punishment of infractors by an officer's own hand is the Chapters way. To disobey an officer's order in battle is a death sentence to be carried out without delay. Trial by combat is the Chapters preferred route for settling disagreements within its ranks, and bloodletting by warriors in open discord is an honourable thing in the Chapter's eyes.

### Deathwatch Service

Though it has happened only rarely, lone Space Marines in dark grey livery and speaking ancient variants of High Gothic have, on occasions, arrived at the fortresses of the Deathwatch in the Jericho Reach (and perhaps elsewhere) in order to "fulfill the obligations of their sworn oath." When pressed, some of these Space Marines have said they hailed from a Chapter known as the Flesh Rippers. However, beyond these rare encounters recorded in the dusty data-vaults of Watch Fortress Erioch, the only information forthcoming on the Flesh Rippers are the stories of their fell deeds throughout the Imperium.

### Chapter Numbers

As with many Astartes Chapters the number of Battle-Brothers fluctuate significantly. The Flesh Rippers' numbers are believed by Imperial observers to be at less than Full Strength. The available evidence indicates that the Chapter may have as few as 100 Battle-Brothers. The companies are so reduced, that they may have as few as one or two squads, per Company. However, since the return of Roboute Guilliman and the introduction of the Primaris Astartes, the Flesh Rippers have returned to 1,000 Battle-Brothers.

Their flagship, the Cruor Caedes, has been extensively modified to be able to transport the entirety of the first five battle companies, and has had more extensive weapons retro-fitted and upgraded defence systems added which makes it one of the most powerful warships in the Imperium. Their second Battle-Barge was formerly known as the *Guilliman's Light*, which was taken a prize from the Knights of Guilliman Chapter, it's name now, is the *Gorehead* and it has been heavily modified to suit the Flesh Ripper brutal style of warfare. The remaining battle companies each have a dedicated Strike Cruisers and the Chapter Fleet is complimented by nine Gladius Frigates and two Nova Frigates.

Due to the Chapter's small number's and the individual Battle-Brothers reluctance to crew a warship, their vessels have no Space Marine crew, rather they have trained serfs who commands a crew of servitors and fellow serfs. The ships resident company captain will sometimes take command, usually to command the vessel draw close enough to board the enemy ship where they will lead boarding attacks. Most notably, this occurred during the Hades Crusade where the Cruor Caedes drew alongside the Swords of Jaghatai's Battle Barge '*Tchin-Zar'*, and Captain Delvarus of the 5th company led the fight for the mighty vessel, a pair of chainsword gripped in his hands. Their ship's also do not have dedicated Techmarines on board, instead relying on trained Chapter Serfs.

## Notable Flesh Rippers

* **Blood Reaver Amit** - Listed in ancient records as the Chapter's Blood Reaver, it is unknown when he obtained the position and when and where he was slain.
* **Blood Reaver Erhlen** - Chapter Master at the time of the Cerberus Crusade. He was later challenged to the right to command by Dreagher Lhorke, although Erhlen was a formidable and highly skilled fighter who had bested numerous others, he was unable to withstand Lhorkes power and aggression and was overwhelmed in seconds and brutally killed.

* **Blood Reaver Dreagher Lhorke** -  Known as the Lord of Wrath, the Gladiator King and sometimes called the Red Angel, Dreagher Lhorke is the current Blood Reaver (Chapter Master) of the Flesh Rippers. A truly gigantic Space Marine, it is said that he even approaches some of the great Primarchs in size. He wears a pelt taken from a giant predator that he hunted in his youth, hanging with the skulls of slain World Eaters. He has been Chapter Master for less than a year, obtaining his current position sometime in the early 111.M42 just before the Hel Campaign by challenging the former Blood Reaver Erhlen to single-combat, for the Right to Command barely hours after he joined the Chapter. This was unheard of, as no one had ever challenged the Blood Reaver. But the Flesh Rippers' Chapter Master could not refuse the challenge once the gauntlet had been thrown down, and so, he entered the Blood Pits. The bout lasted all of 5 seconds, before Dreagher Lhorke butchered his opponent with assault after brutal assault. The Blood Reaver just couldn't cope with Dreagher Lhorke's unrelenting fury. With their former Chapter Master laying in a bloody heap in the sand, Dreagher Lhorke left the pit to the howls of his Battle-Brothers. Dreagher was then gifted with the C*ruentum Laminam*, which was found to fit him perfectly, as if it had been made for him, and wielding the twin relic Chainaxes, *Gorehunger* and *Gorefeeder* he led his brothers to war. Dreagher is believed to have been born on Terra itself. Like most of his Battle-Brothers, he is a frothing psychopathic berzerker who feels nothing outside of slaughter -- no smiles, no tears, nothing. Outside of battle Dreagher possesses a dead-eyed glare, murmuring to himself in a low monotone between battles, until he is once again turned loose upon an enemy and his eyes light up with the thrill of battle as he rampages across the battlefield in his overwhelming urge to destroy his foes. Despite this he has an unbreakable code of honour and a noble visage, any who fight well will be spared his fury. Unknown to any outside of his inner circle Dreagher possesses an inherent psychic ability, rarely used during battle it nevertheless is a potent asset. A Rogue Trader detained by the Inquisition claimed to have met Dreagher sometime after the Hel campaign. The Rogue Trader described him as a mutilated, bloody, reeking, wrathful figure that stalked amongst his brothers - a giant in massive armour with a pale and tattooed face, long dreadlocked-like connectors attached to implants in the back of his skull which connects him to his armour with a pair of massive chainaxes strapped to his back the Rogue Trader never finished his description, the Inquisition deemed him a Heretic and executed him on the spot. Therefore the only reports of the infamous Chapter Master come from the traumatised survivors of his Chapters assaults.
* **High Chaplain Ulric** - The High Chaplain of the Flesh Rippers, Ulric is believed to have been High Chaplain for over 200 Years. He acts as the spiritual head of the Chapter.
* **Blood Captain Endryd** - Captain of the 7th Company of the Flesh Rippers.
* **Bjorn the Butcher** - The Current Leader of the Crimson Butchers is a frothing psychopathic berzerker, who, like his charges, has to be restrained outside of battle. He wears the Badge of the Blood Reaver Dreagher Lhorke, in order to show that he is the Chosen Warrior of the Chapter's current Chapter Master. It is said that aside from the Dreagher Lhorke, he is the most formidable warrior in the Chapter.
* **High Priest Ramiel** - The currant High Priest (Chief Apothecary) of the Flesh Rippers. Ramiel wears a suit of Indomitus armour, modified to enable him to perform his Apothecary duties.
* **Blood Chaplain Neres** - Neres is a senior Chaplain, second only to the High Chaplain himself. He acts as the head of the Reclusium and is a senior advisor to the Chapter Master, often being the voice of reason to the Blood Reaver's insane fury. He wears a suit of Indomitus Terminator Armour and Carries an Ornate Crozius Arcanum that was a gift from the High Chaplain himself.
* **Blood Captain Lhorke** - Captain of the 1st company and the longest serving Brother within the Chapter, excluding those entombed within Dreadnoughts, fighting with gleeful savagery Lhorke is the epitome of what the Flesh Rippers stand for.
* **Blood Captain Merir** - Captain of the 4th assault company
* **Blood Captain Delvarus -** Captain of the 5th Assault Company, Delvarus is one of the most vicious warriors within the Chapter, he and his Company are often deployed in boarding actions while also leading ground assaults with the Chapter more than accepting of the carnage he causes.
* **Blood Captain Kargos** - Captain of the 8th Assault Company, Kargos is psychopathic killer, incapable of doing anything other than charging into battle at the first opportunity, he remains a Captain only due to the carnage he causes.
* **Apothecary Maruuk** - Apothecary of the 8th Assault Company and a blood-soaked berzerker, he remains his Company's Apothecary only thanks to his still present skill of healing although his Narthecium is used far more as a weapon than for it's intended purpose.
* **Blood Captain Moloch** - Captain of the 10th Assault Company.
* **Brother Dreadnought Borek** - Borek the Slayer is a Battle-Brother formerly of the 2nd Company, who is now encased in a pre-heresy relic Comtemptor Pattern Dreadnought. He is the oldest Flesh Ripper, having been entombed over four thousand years before the present.
* **Blood Captain Hellskret Skraal 'The Gorehand' -**Captain of the 12th Assault Company and a hulking Primaris Astartes, one of the first, clad in a suit of baroque master crafted Mk X Tacitus armour and wielding Gorehead, a mighty Eviscerator said to date back to before the Heresy, he is a superlative warrior and tactician and has earned the respect of the Blood Reaver a dozen times over, but when in the grip of the Blood Rage he, like all his Brothers he will descend to the same Blood-Soaked depths as his Brothers becoming little more than a frothing psychopathic berzerker living only for thrill of battle, rampaging across the battlefield in his overwhelming urge to destroy his foes.
* **High Librarian Vorias -** The first and greatest of the Chapters Psykers and a hulking Primaris Astartes, Vorias leads the Librarius upon the Cruor Caedes, initially looked upon with suspicion and distrust by his Blood-Brothers he has proven himself as true to the Chapter as any Brother of the Blood but like all Flesh Rippers the Blood Rage can overcome him where he will descend to the same Blood-Soaked depths as his Brothers.
* **Centurion Sevorax -** Centurion of the feared 12th Company and hulking Primaris Astartes, Sevorax hails from the same blighted world as his Blood Captain and like Skraal is a merciless warrior of prodigious skill. Clad in a suit of MkX Gravis armour he wields a massive eviscerator and boltstorm gauntlet.
* **Brother of the Blood Varren** - Created from the gene-seed of the former Blood Reaver Erhlen and a hulking Primaris Astartes, clad in mighty MkX Phobos armour, Erhlen is one of the newest Initiates within the Chapter, highly skilled and determined he has already been placed within the Gorehands command squad but like all Flesh Rippers, when the blood rage takes over he is nearly unstoppable in battle, his chainsword screaming in his hand.
* **Brother of the Blood Ralakas -** A veteran of the Hades Crusade and a member of the 4th Assault Company, Ralakas would meet his end upon the blasted wastes of the planet Hel.

### Notable Non-Astartes Personnel

* **Lotara Spika** - Shipmistress of the Cruor Caedes and the Ordinator of the House, the de-facto leader of the Chapters serfs.

## Chapter Fleet

The Chapter Fleet is small but extremely powerful. They possess two Capital Ships, the truly ancient Cruor Caedes and the Gorehead, a prize taken in battle and formerly known as *Guilliman's Light*. The following are the known vessels of the Flesh Rippers as of 111.M42:

* **Cruor Caedes (Relic Battleship - Unknown Class)** - Flagship of the Flesh Rippers Chapter
* **Gorehead (Battle-Barge)** - A Battle-Barge that was formerly known as *Guilliman's Light*.
* ***Bringer of Ruin* (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Blood Shrike* (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Gladiator*  (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Blood's Wake* (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Hand of Wrath* (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Merciless* (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Wrath Unbound (Strike Cruiser)***
* **Stormwrought (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Jaws of the White Hound* (Strike Cruiser)**
* **Cardoc (Forge Ship)**

## Chapter Relics

* ***Cruentum Laminam*** - The C*ruentum Laminam* is the oldest relic in the Flesh Rippers' Armoury and may even date to before the Heresy. This mighty relic is a master-crafted suit of Artificer Armour that has been modified extensively into an exquisite suit that contains ancient technologies that were rare even before the Heresy. Its plates are almost impervious to damage, its like can no longer be made in this stagnated Imperium
* ***Gorehunger and Gorefeeder*** - An ancient pair of master crafted archaic Chainaxes, relics of an ancient world now lost to the Imperium and once carried by an ancient hero of the Great Crusade and though the dark days of the Heresy and forged with teeth were torn from the head of a mica dragon. Armed with these ruinous axes, Dreaghar can carve even the most heavily armoured opponents into welters of gore. *Gorehunger and Gorefeeder* are every bit as unsubtle and savage as the Chapter Master and made all the more deadly by Dreaghers consummate skill as a fighter. The twin axes serve as both armament and banner, their guttural roar a rally cry to the enduring nature of the Flesh Rippers and the violence they will inflict on those before them
* **The Furnace -** A Master-Crafted Plasma Pistol wielded with inhuman skill by the Blood Reaver
* **The Cutter** - A vicious power sword, it is a weapon lacking the refined nature of other power weapons, a brutal, functional weapon, nothing more, in appearance it resembles a butchers cleaver, a fitting weapon for the lord of the Crimson Butchers.
* **Gorehead -** An ancient and master crafted Eviscerator, a relic of an ancient world now lost to the Imperium and once carried by an ancient hero of the Great Crusade and though the dark days of the Heresy, the Gorehead serves as both armament and banner, its guttural roar a rally cry to the enduring nature of the Flesh Rippers and the violence they will inflict on those before them. Armed with this ruinous blade, Hellskret can carve even the most heavily armoured opponents into welters of gore.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Flesh Rippers wear red and black coloured power armour. The shoulder pauldrons arms and greaves are red in colour. The backpack main exhaust ports, faceplate, breastplate, groin and upper leg are black in colour, some battle-brothers paint the top portion of the helmet and the top of the backpack red. The white coloured squad specialty symbol on the right shoulder guard designate operational specialty - Battleline or Close Support although in keeping with their complete divergence from the Codex these symbols do do not indicate speciality but rather whether they are equipped with Jump-Packs or not and as such even assault Marines not equipped with Jump-Packs will have the Battleline symbol on their pauldron. A squad number is not displayed. Those battle-brothers that are designated as sergeants, are indicated by a blood drop superimposed over the right pauldron insignia. A white coloured gothic numeral stencilled on the left poleyn (knee guard) designates a battle-brother's assigned company.

### Chapter Banner

The Flesh Rippers Chapter Banner is an ornate and superbly crafted banner replete with the symbols of the Flesh Rippers and of the image of a Flesh Rippers Astartes under the gaze of the Emperor of Mankind himself. Like all Chapters Banners it is a unique icon of the Chapter and on the rare time it is carried into Battle the Flesh Rippers will fight even harder to make sure no harm comes to it.

### Chapter Badge

The Flesh Rippers Chapter Badge is is a stylised, white, monstrous jaw centred on a field of bright red, the same badge as the infamous Flesh Eaters Chapter, the berzerker Butcher squads use a golden Chapter badge in place of white in order to signify their unique position within the Chapter.

## Allies and Enemies

### Allies

None known, however during the Hades Crusade, the Flesh Rippers operated alongside the similarly barbarous Revenants Chapter, however this seemed to be more a matter of a similar combat doctrine, rather than any official alliance

### Conflicting Chapters

* **Knights of Guilliman** - During the Cerberus Crusade, the Knights of Guilliman made the mistake of siding with Secessionist forces, having been deceived by the architect of this rebellion, Magos Ovid Terrozant. Realizing they had been played for fools, the Knights' Chapter Master recalled his Chapter back to their homeworld of Jorvick and began to prepare to surrender and submit themselves to the Emperor's Judgement for their role in the rebellion. However, before they could do so, they were set upon by a Chapter know identified as the wrathful Flesh Rippers Chapter. Without preamble, the Chapter proceeded to launch an all-out planetary assault upon the Knights of Guilliman and their allies, slaughtering the Knights of Guilliman to the brink of extinction. The Flesh Rippers' brutal actions were seen by some as yet another example of their savagery and zealous prosecution of their duties. The Flesh Rippers would later counter that they had done nothing wrong, having acted in accordance to the Emperor's dictate - suffer not a traitor to live. The Knights of Guilliman were granted the Emperors forgiveness but have never forgotten what the Flesh Rippers did to them and have vowed a reckoning.
* **Ultramarines, Salamanders, Space Wolves**- Several notable First Founding Chapters, known for their humane nature, have openly declared themselves as known enemies of the Flesh Rippers. This is primarily due to the fact that the Flesh Rippers have slaughtered Imperial civilians on a number of occasions. These Chapters are disgusted by the utter disregard for innocent life that is shown by the Flesh Rippers, and have vowed to have a reckoning with their brutal cousins should the opportunity ever present itself.

### Enemies

* **World Eaters** - In addition to a hatred of all things Chaos, the Flesh Rippers seem to have an almost unheard of hatred of the World Eaters and have even been known to abandon an operation at the merest rumour of their presence. Whenever the Flesh Rippers encounter forces of this infamous and bloody-handed Traitor Legion, they have fought one another to near-mutual annihilation. The current Chapter Master even wears chains hanging with the skulls of slain traitor Khorne Berzerkers .

* **Inquisition** - The Inquisition believe the Flesh Rippers no better than the Traitor Marines of Chaos and have attempted to have them declared Heretics several times, but have yet to provide irrefutable evidence and in this Dark Imperium it likely they never will. However, many of the more Radical Inquisitors refuse to acquiesce and continue their pursuit in obtaining damning evidence against this bellicose Chapter in order to finally see them cast out from the Emperor's light. Only time will tell whether or not they will be successful in their obsessive search for the truth to the rumours. Tensions between the Chapter and the Holy Ordos of the Inquisition will soon reach a boiling point and could one day spill over into open conflict.

#### By the Flesh Rippers

"*Who are you to judge us? Those of our Blood stood alongside the Emperor on Terra while yours' hid until it was over!*"
—Unknown Flesh Rippers Astartes to Chapter Master Marneus Calgar of the Ultramarines.
"*We Know what we are and what you think of us..you think us monsters. Creatures not fit for the Emperor's galaxy, and perhaps you are right. Yes we are monsters, but we are the Emperor's monsters. Never forget that.*"
— Unknown Flesh Ripper Astartes
#### About the Flesh Rippers

*Feel free to add your own*

"*Reports of Flesh Rippers squads sighted on one of the nearby worlds sir."
"Avoid contact, I don't want any unneeded collateral damage."
"Sir, the locals have lost several settlements."
"New order. Shoot on sight."*"
— Chapter Master of the Blood Wights, Agathus Colchian
"*The Flesh Rippers are no enemy we want to face, but are a truly relatable chapter no matter how much you wish it untrue. A templar is bound by oath, not by morals.*"
—A Brigadier of the Crimson Templars
*"No honor, nor integrity. Killing innocent civilians who follow the Emperors will is the work of a traitor, not an Astartes. One more step out of line and I will destroy you, is that understood? You are here to assist the Emperor, not the enemy! See to it that you do or I will serve the Emperor by removing you and your squads heads!"*

-Orion Pearce, Sons of Zeus 6th Company Captain, furious at a Flesh Rippers squad after they failed to heed a direct order for evacuation. Later, he executed the squad for flat out ignoring his warning.

"*Raving psychopaths more akin to wild animals than Astartes. Keep your eyes open and your senses sharp, Emperor only knows when they will turn on those they once called allies.*"
— Lophess Ovair, Obsidian Blades First Captain
"*Of brethren lost and brethren found, vipers dead beneath the ground. Our brothers clad in blooded feathers, tied and bound by bladed tethers. Forsaken from the honoured sons, descended from the savage ones. Pure of mind and pure of soul, to absolve their sins their eternal goal.*"
— Unknown Astartes of the Mortarchs Serpentia
## Trivia

All artwork was created by Algrim Whitefang and Achilles Prime.

[Source]

## Gallery

A squad of Brothers of the Blood in relic MkIII 'Iron' pattern battle-plate of the 12th ("The Bloody Twelfth") Assault Company.Official pict-file of Blood Captain Hellskret Skraal ('The Gorehand'), commander of the Chapter's 12th Assault Company. He wields the relic Eviscerator chainsword *Gorehead* and the Volkite Pistol *Gerralus*.A fallen Flesh Rippers Battle-Brother that has succumbed to the Blood Rage, assigned to a Crimson Butchers Squad of "The Bloody Handed" Company.An unknown Battle-Brother assigned to the Crimson Butchers ('*The Caedere*'), arrayed in relic Mark IIIb 'Cratus' Sub-Pattern Power Armour and wielding a relic Meteor Hammer.
## Videos

Warhammer 40k Lore - The Flesh Rippers, Homebrew ChaptersWarhammer 40k Lore - The Flesh Rippers Return, Homebrew Chapters