Crimson Blades

Crimson Blades armorial with Chapter iconography.

Crimson Blades Intercessor, Brother Crestos of the 1st squad in the 5th Company

### **Specialty**

Inheritors of the Primarch, Infantry Formations, Combat Squad Deployment, Plasma Weaponry, Urban and Enclosed Quarters Combat, Stealth and Tactical assaults.

### **Battle cry**

"Animos et Fidei!" ("Courage and Faith!")
Shortened from "Virtus mea defensione! Fidei autem robore mea!" ("Courage is my defence! Faith is my strength!")

### Successor Chapter(s)

N/A

The **Crimson Blades** are Loyalist Successor Chapter of the mysterious Raven Guard, created during most recent Ultima Founding. Originally known as the Blades of Corax, the newly incepted Chapter was deployed as a part of the Imperial Indomitus Crusade in the wake of the tragic events of the 13th Black Crusade and the destruction of the fortress world of Cadia. With this last obstacle to fall, the bounds of reality were torn asunder, and a massive tear in reality ripped the fabric of the galaxy across its entire width, forming a massisve scar that allowed the Forces of Chaos to spill from the Immaterium. This massive warp rift came to be called the Cicatrix Maledictum.

Following their inception, the newly created Chapter nearly faced ultimate tragedy, when they discovered their newly assigned home world had become enthralled to the corrupting influence of the Ruinous Powers. Despite being massively outnumbered, the Astartes of the Blades of Corax stoically faced the heretic masses in a deadly siege. In the aftermath of this massive battle, few warriors remained of the once-proud Chapter. Despite their extensive losses, the Blades of Corax refused to be dettered. When the few survivors emerged from the ashes of their home world, their battle-plate and weapons were so covered in the blood of the fallen, they henceforth referred to themselves as the Crimson Blades.

## Chapter History

### Summary

The Blades or Corax were created during the Ultima Founding in the wake of the events of Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade and the Fall of Cadia in 999.M41. Many of the Chapters created in the Ultima Founding were assigned homeworlds on the edge of the Great Rift, the Imperium's new frontline in the war against Chaos, though some have inherited the empty fortress-monasteries of Chapters that had been lost to the attrition of constant war.

Many of these worlds face a continuous battle against the daemons of the Warp, as well as an unpredictable mix of xenos raiders, pirates and invaders. The planet assigned to be the Blades of Corax's new homeworld was a small industrial moon called Agathea, which orbited the dead world Triox. Based in the Laanth system in the Segmentus Pacificus. The Blades of Corax were ideally placed to deal with any threats emanating from the Great Rift.

However, tragedy befell the Chapter on arrival to their new homeworld! Unbeknownst to the Imperium, the majority of the citizens and guard of Agathea had secretly be turned by the agents of Chaos, but as of yet had not made themselves known. As the fleet approached and made final preparations to send the Chapter down to Agathea, the moon’s orbital defences opened fire!

Deploying the full might of the Chapter and sending the remaining fleet out of orbit and out of harms way, The Blades of Corax laid siege to their own homeworld. Once the fighting had finished barely 100 marines had survived and with no chance of resupply, the final assault from the forces of Chaos had meant battle was done at close quarters by chainsword and combat blade. The surviving Astartes blades and gauntlets were so covered with the blood of the enemy, that they renamed themselves the Crimson blades from that day forth.

In the aftermath of the final Chaos assault, just over 100 marines and 3 regiments of the planetary guard were left standing. Most of the Chapters command structure and support structure had perished along with the 90% of the civilian population of Agathea. Many thousands of the enemy had fled into the ruins of the once proud cities, and would need exterminating, but it was a victory, a costly one, but a victory all the same.

Newly promoted Chapter Master Aegeus set about rebuilding the Chapter. He recalled the remains of the fleet back to Agathea, recruited the youngest warriors from the guard as Aspirants and rearranged the remaining Astartes into 3 companies. It would be many years before the Crimson Blades would be ready for any serious campaign action, but they vowed they would make the enemy pay for their near destruction.

### The Reclamation of Agathea

The Crimson Blades history starts 112 years after the birth of the Great Rift and after the conclusion of the Indomitus Crusade, when they were still known as the Blades of Corax. After serving with distinction in the Indomitus Crusade they were assigned a small industrial moon called Agathea, which would serve as their home world and base of operations to deal with any threats emanating from the Great Rift.

The victories and honours the Crimson Blades would win for the Emperor would however not come to fruition for years to come! On arrival to their new homeworld, unbeknown to the Astartes, the forces of Chaos had taken root and spread their foul corruption throughout much of the populace. This was only realised when the Orbital defences powered up and open fired on the Battle Barge *Dauntless*, the flagship of the fleet. Caught completely off guard, the ship was critically hit, and internal explosions stated going off through out the ship. With the Battle Barge disabled and breaking up, the orbital defences turned their attention to the smaller Strike Cruisers and Frigates.

Chapter Master Phalex, whilst still on board the *Dauntless*, gave the order to deploy what remained of the chapter to retake Agathea and for the remaining fleet to withdraw once the Astartes had been deployed.

Retaking the main fortress, where the orbital defences were controlled, was deemed the priority as it would allow the fleet back into to orbit to resupply the Astartes planet side whilst also serving as a base of operations. With this in mind, Phalex led what remained the 1st, 5th and 6th Companies to retake the fortress, whilst ordering the remaining companies who had made it to the surface, to make to main forces to retake Agathea Primus and Secondus, the 2 cities on the small moon. 3rd and 8th Companies assaulted Agathea Primus whilst 4th and 10th Companies attacked Secondus.

The assault at Fortress Haemon was brutal but swift. The fortress was well defended with gun emplacements and thousands of what was once the planetary militia, but strafing runs from the thunder hawks which had brought the blades planet side, opened up a hole in the defences of the fortress which allowed the blades to breach. It was in this assault that Chapter Master Phalex fell whilst fighting a daemon prince. Phalex had managed to mortally wound the daemon prince however and 1st Company Captain Aegeus sent it back to the warp with a killing blow. With the daemon prince banished back to the warp the remaining defender capitulated and the surviving blades forces slaughtered the Chaos Guard.

The Assault on Agathea Secondus was also successful, here the forces of Chaos, including cultists and daemons were caught in a pincer. It seems the spread of corruption had started in Agathea Primus and the 1st target was the fortress-monastery, Haemon. Once both of these had been successfully claimed, only then did the forces of chaos turn their attention to Secondus. The Secondus Planetary Guard had put up a fierce defence of their city and the assaulting chaos army was caught by surprise by the 4th and 10th companies and were utterly destroyed between the two forces.

Unfortunately, the combined forces of the 3rd and 8th companies did not fare as well as their brothers. The whole of the population of Primus had taken up arms against the invading Astartes. This coupled with the fact that the Chaos Warlord responsible for the turn of Agathea, had made Primus his base, meant the Astartes of the 3rd and 8th Companies were completely overwhelmed. Barley a handful of Astartes made it out of Primus and brought word to 1st Captain Aegeus, apprising him of the situation.

With the fortress-monastery and therefore the orbital defences back in Imperium hands, 1st Captain Aegeus, decided to consolidate his forces in to one larger force, rather than spreading his forces thin. He called back the remains of the 4th and 10th Companies, now under command of Captain Xerxes, and the remaining loyalist planetary guard, along with recalling the Chapter fleet, to resupply the ground forces. With all his forces inside Haemon, Aegeus was able to see the true cost of the war. Only three Captains and barely 300 battle brothers remained of what was once a proud, full chapter. Of the Planetary Guard approximately 11,000 remained.

With the fleet inbound and the Fortress monastery reinforced, Aegeus started to put together a plan to retake Agathea Primus. Captains Aegeus, Nestor and Xerxes along with the remaining Chapter Command, collectively called the Conclave, adjourned to form a plan of attack. It was during this meeting that the Alert Sirens sounded. The Forces of Chaos would not wait to be assaulted, they would bring the war to the defenders of the Imperium.

Approximately a million cultists, supported by various daemons assaulted Fortress Haemon. Outnumbered nearly the 100 to 1 the defenders prepared to sell themselves dearly. Hundreds of thousands of cultists fell to the guns of the defenders before ammo supplies ran dry and with no options left the Astartes of The Blades of Corax charged into the enemy with knife and sword.

The fighting was largely contained to the main gate and the breached wall, but some elements of the enemy forces had made it inside the fortress and started flank the defenders at the breach. It was while the fighting was at is fiercest that streaks were spotted falling from the sky. The fleet had made it to orbit! With orbital bombardments raining down of the enemy forces a squadron of thunder hawks dropped down with vital supplies of munition for the defenders. With their resupply drop complete, the thunder hawks started strafing runs on the Forces of Chaos.

Seeing the defender’s forces suddenly resupplied and strengthened, Aegeus took the remaining Veteran squads and boarded an 'Overlord' with 1 thing in mind. Find the Leader of the enemy forces and cut the head off the serpent. The 'Overlord' smashed into the defenders and disgorged its deadly contents, straight into the Chaos command. With the veterans holding off the enemy forces, Aegeus engaged the Chaos Lord leading the forces, a foul Chaos Marine of the Black Legion. Encased in Ancient terminator armour and boosted by the ruinous Gods the Chaos Lord was a match for Aegeus. As the dual raged on the Veterans who had accompanied Aegeus began to fall under the overwhelming numbers of cultist against them, however this attack had distracted the enemy and the Astartes in Fortress Haemon were able
to secure the fortress and launch an assault of their own in to the enemy.

With battle-brothers falling around him, Aegeus launched a flurry of attacks against the Chaos Lord and manged to find an opening in which he sank his power sword. Mortally wounded the Chaos lord fell and Aegeus did not hesitate in finishing the job by beheading him. This was the turning point in the battle, with out their leader to keep them together, the forces of chaos routed and were pursued and ruthlessly cut down but the Astartes. A good few thousand of the enemy managed to escape the wrath of the marines, but these were later hunted down and eradicated but the Crimson Blades.

In the aftermath of the final Chaos assault, just over 100 marines and 3 regiments of the planetary guard were left standing. Most of the Chapters command structure and support structure had perished along with the 90% of the civilian population of Agathea. Many hundreds of the enemy had fled into the ruins of the once proud cities, and would need exterminating, but it was a victory, a costly one, but a victory all the same.

The Conclave then assembled to vote in the new chapter master and to consolidate what remained of the Chapter and set out the structure. It was in this meeting the Chapter was renamed the Crimson Blades and 1st Captain Aegeus was voted in as Chapter Master.

The Crimson blades have slowly been rebuilding their forces the last 5 years and are now ready to launch campaigns in the name of the emperor and bring glories to their name.

## Chapter Timeline

#### 999.M41 (Imperial Calendar)

The Blades of Corax are created as part of the "Ultima Founding” using the gene-seed of the Primarch Corvus Corax.

#### 999.M41-111.M42

The Blades of Corax fought fiercely alongside other chapters in the Indomitus Crusade earning a reputation for devastating surgical strikes and were also recognised for their stealth and infiltration skills. At the conclusion of the Indomitus Crusade, the Blades of Corax were designated the industrial moon Agathea in the Segmentus Pacificus as their homeworld and base of operations where they would launch attacks against the forces of Chaos that would threaten the imperium in the sector.

#### 112.262 Post LCM.M41 (Era Indomitus)

87 days after the conclusion of the Indomitus Crusade, The Blades of Corax’s fleet transits out of the warp in the Laanth system and makes its way to the moon of Triox, Agathea.

#### 112.271 Post LCM.M41

The fleet of the Blades of Corax enter orbit over the moon of Agathea and make ready for planetfall. As the first Thunderhawks depart for the surface, the orbital defence arrays activate, opening fire on the unsuspecting fleet. Chapter Master Phalex orders the deployment of the whole Chapter, and the fleet to withdraw to a safe distance.

#### 112.274 Post LCM.M41

The Blades of Corax begin the campaign to reclaim the moon world of Agathea in the Emperor's name.

#### 112.1948 Post LCM.M41

Chapter Master Phalex falls whilst reclaiming the Orbital Defence System. 1st Company Captain Telios Aegeus assumes command of the Blades of Corax.

#### 113.029 Post LCM.M41

The forces of Chaos are routed after the death of their Warlord at the defence of Fortress Haemon. 1st Captain Aegeus is promoted to Chapter Master and the Blades of Corax assume the name The Crimson Blades.

#### 118.569 Post LCM.M41

Chapter Master Aegeus decrees that The Crimson Blades are operationally ready to start campaigning in the name of the Imperium after 5 years of rebuilding the Chapter and repairing Agathea Primus. Chapter Strength: 180.

## Chapter Homeworld

The planet assigned to be the Crimson Blades new
homeworld was a small industrial moon called Agathea, which orbited the dead
world Triox. Based in the Laanth system in the Segmentus Pacificus, The Crimson Blades were ideally placed to deal with any threats emanating from the Great
Rift.

### Fortress-Monastery

The Crimson Blades base of operations on their home planet of Agathea, is the Fortress Monastery, Haemon. It suffered substantial damage during the reclamation of Agathea, but has been repaired and its defences have been improved extensively.

## Chapter Organisation

Headquarters

 Chapter Master Telios Aegeus
 Honour Guard (2) -Alexio & Timaios
 1x Command Impulsor
  Armoury:
 Ajax Ciaaphas
*Master of the Forge*
 1 Techmarine
 13 Tech Servitors
 1 Astraeus
 3 Executioners
 4 Repulsors
 7 Impulsors
 Iason Dorus
*Master of the Apothecarion*
 1 Apothecary
 1 Helix Adept
 Therapon Zephyr
*First Lord of the Admiralty*
 2 Strike Cruisers
 3 Gladius Frigates
 9 Overlords
 Hestian Charon
*Chief Librarian*
 1 Codicier
 1 Acolytum
 Leandros Bakchos
 Master of Sanctity
 1 Chaplain
 1 Judicar

  1st
 Company Chapter Veterans:
*The Blades Edge*
 Captain
 – Hypatios
 Ancient
 – Kalypso
 Lieutenant
 - Olieus
 Redemptor
 – Cpt Demios
 1st
 Squad – Intercessors (5)
 2nd
 & 3rd Squad – Blade Guard (3)
 4th
 & 5th Squads – Inceptors (4)
 6th
 & 7th Squads - Aggressors (5)
 8th
 & 9th Squads – Eradicators (3)
 Company Battleline:
*The Liberators*
 Captain
 - Nestor
 Lieutenants
 (2) – Panos & Tychon
 Ancient
 – Smeme
 Redemptor
 (2) – Zacharias & Natasa
 1st
 Squad – Intercessors (10)
 2nd – 6th Squads – Intercessors
 (5)
 7th
 & 8th Squads – Assault Inter (5)
 9th
 – 10th Squads – Hellblasters (5)
 Company Vanguard:
*The Shadow’s Point*
 Captain
 - Xerxes
 Lieutenants
 (2) – Macedon & Klotho
 Warsuits
 (2)
 1st
 Squad – Infiltrators (10)
 2nd
 Squad – Infiltrators (5)
 3rd
 & 4th Squad – Reivers (5)
 5th
 Squad – Incursors (5)
 6th
 & 7th Squads – Suppressors (3)
 8th
 –10th Squads – Eliminators (3)
 Neophytes
 (15)

## Chapter Recruitment

The Crimson Blades Chapter presently solely recruit from their new home planet Agathea. Due to the near eradication of the local populace, this has led to a dismal amount of volunteers to be tested as Aspirants on a yearly basis.

### Rites of Selection

After arriving at the Fortress-Monastery of Haemon, the recruits are first briefed by Master of Sanctity, Chaplain Bekchos, before being tested for compatibility to receive the implants and hypno-suggestion to turn them into Marines. If the testing proves successful the recruit becomes an aspirant, whist if they fail, they are given the option to sign up/return to the Planetary Guard or to serve as Chapter Serfs. After selection, the organ implantation process begins, and the Aspirants becomes a neophyte. During this process, the Aspirants and Neophytes are placed under command of Captain Xerxes of the 10th company, who assigns them to training groups and squads. When the final implant is in place and the requisite training and hypnotherapy is complete, he becomes a full brother

### Training and Testing

After their compatibility tests, and initial implantations the Aspirants start continuous training and testing for 2 years. They will initially set out on a patrol outside the Fortress-Monastery where they patrol the ruins of Agathea for any civilian survivors or hunting down any Heretic cells still in operation.

Assuming a Neophyte survives the training, they are expected to do 4 tours of service, each lasting 3 months, only returning to Haemon to undergo further surgeries and implantations, before being sent out on their next tour.

### Ascension to Marinehood

The surviving Neophytes of the 10th Company would then be welcomed back to the Fortress-Monastery to prepare for their final test before being made a full brother of the Crimson Blades. The final test is to operate as a cohesive unit on the field of battle in their very first combat mission against the enemies of Mankind. If they survive this, they are then fully inducted as a battle brother and assigned a place in either the 5th or 10th Company. After the final test being completed from the 1st draft, no trace of chaos could be found on Agathea, meaning future Neophytes would need to complete their training in off world missions.

### The 1st Drafting

The 1st drafting of recruits came immediately after the reclamation of the planet, with Chapter Master Aegeus commanding that all soldiers from the Planetary Guard and scratch militia companies, up to the age of 16, were to submit for testing. In the 1st draft there were approximately 500 recruits of which 370 were deemed compatible and progressed to Aspirants. After the implantation process and the rigorous training and testing, 22 Neophytes survived to make it as full battle brothers.

### The 2nd- 5th Drafting

The following four years after the 1st draft, the number of volunteers who came to Haemon significantly dropped, whilst the population of the planet recovered. Despite not wanting to become oppressors to the population, Aegeus was forced to invoke compulsory military service for any males once they reached the age of 15 years. As part of this process all 15-year-old boys each year would submit to testing for compatibility prior to being sent to
the Agathea Planetary Guard.

The following 4 years brought in 412 recruits of which 16 have made it to Neophytes awaiting their final and first great test.

## Notable Members - Deceased

* Chapter Master Phalex (1st Chapter Master of the Blades of Corax) - 112.1948 Post LCM.M41 – Fell during the reclamation of Agathea to the forces of Chaos.

## Notable Members - Drednoughts

* **Redemptor Demios** – Former 3rd Company Captain, was entombed during the Idomitus Crusade and was 1 of 2 Redemptor Dreadnoughts to survive the reclamation of Agathea.

* **Redemptor Zacharias** – Former 5th Company Veteran Sergeant who was entombed during the Idomitus Crusade and was 1 of 2 Redemptor Dreadnoughts to survive the reclamation of Agathea.

* **Redemptor Natasa** – Brother Natasa was gravely injured during the reclamation of Agathea and entombed in Redemptor Sarcophagus so he may continue serving the Crimson Blades.

## Chapter Fleet

* 3 Strike Cruisers – *The Fury*, *The* Vengeance & The Raven Claw

* 6 Gladius Frigates – *The Deliverance, The* Last Hope, The Divine Intervention, The Stormshield, The Liberator & Nightshade

* 7 Overlords

## Chapter Relics

A lot of the Chapter’s relics were lost during the retaking of Agathea, either lost in the fields of battle or lost with the ships they were carried on from the Chapter’s Fleet. All surviving relics were placed in the Haemon Armoury, to be distributed once the Crimson Blades set forth once again to annihilate the enemies of the Imperium.

The remaining relics include:

* ***Searing Sword*** – Master Crafted Power sword, carried by the Chapter Champion until his death on Agathea.

* ***Ravenger*** – Master Crafter Stalker Bolt-Rifle, carried by the previous 4th Company Captain until his death on Agathea

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Crimson Blades primarily wear slate-grey coloured power armour, with both gauntlets and face of the helmet being coloured crimson. The top part of the helmet is coloured in accordance of a battle-brother's rank. A silver coloured Aquila or Imperialis is prominently displayed on their plastron (chest guard).

The left poleyn (knee guard) is coloured in accordance to the dictates of the *Codex Astartes*-proscribed colours, depending on which company a battle-brother is assigned to. Also, the left poleyn displays the campaign badge in which a Crimson Blade warrior first became a full-fledged battle-brother of the Chapter. The majority of the surviving battle-brothers display the the Reclamation of Agathea campaign badge as a mark of honour for their fallen brethren.

The Chapter's insignia is proudly displayed on their left pauldron, while the right pauldron displays a red coloured squad specialty symbol, indicating a battle-brother's assigned specialty (Fire Support, Close Support, Battleline, Veteran or Command). A small black gothic numeral stenciled on the inset of the right pauldron inset and left side of the helmet indicates squad assignment.

### Helmet Markings

To distinguish a battle-brother's rank, the top of their helmet is coloured in accordance to the Chapter's hierarchy:

* **Crimson/Grey with red sword** - Chapter Master/Captain
* **Crimson/Grey with Red Stripe** - Lieutenant
* **Crimson/White with Red Stripe** - Veteran Sergeant
* **Crimson/White** - Veteran
* **Crimson** - Sergeant
* **Crimson/Grey** - Battle-Brother

### Chapter Badge

The Crimson Blades Chapter badge takes the form of an inverted crimson coloured blade centered upon a field of grey.

[Source]

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

[Source]