Masters of Salt

Masters of Salt Chapter iconography.

A typical example of a Masters of Salt Battle-Brother. Note, distinct lack of specialty markings or any identifying marks on battle-plate.

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fedelitas Constantus*)

### **Founding**

Unstated (*Believed to be the 11th Founding, late 35th Millenium*)

### **Successor of**

Iron Hands
(Ferrus Manus linage.)

### **Number of Marines**

Unknown
Believed to exceed the maximum allowed 1,000 Battle-Brothers
Under Investigation

### **Specialty**

Heavy Weapon Specialization, Armoured Warfare, Sub-Orbital and Orbital Attack, Offensive Warfare, Siege Warfare

### **Battle cry**

- Commander says: "*No weakness!*"- The Brothers answer: "*Death to the weak*!"

### **Colours**

Black

"*Remember, my brothers, that we are the Sons of Salt! We are the stone, the iron and the mountain! We shake the very ground we stand on!*"
—Umdar, Tank Commander of the 3rd Armoured Spearhead "*Reapers of Vengeance*", during the Battle of Hardfall.
The **Masters of Salt** is a loyalist semi *Codex*-compliant Successor Chapter created from the lineage of the stoic and brutal Iron Hands. The first known record of the Chapter state that it was created sometime during the 11th Founding in the late 35st Millenium during the Nova Terra Interregnum.

The Chapter was founded as an pure offensive force by order of the High Lords of Terra with the purpose of restoring the order in the Segmentum Pacificus during this dark period in the history of the Imperium.

## Chapter History

The Chapter was born right into the burning fires when the Imperium of Man had been split into twin interstellar empires during the Nova Terra Interregnum.

This was a troubled period when the Imperium was torn apart by a civil war in the Segmentum Pacificus that lasted for over 900 standard years during the early 35th through the early 36th Millennium.

The Ur-Council of the world of Nova Terra rebelled against the High Lords of Terra and claimed rule over the Imperial worlds in the Segmentum Pacificus.

At the same time, the Adeptus Mechanicus was also was affected by internal religious dissension as the Moirae Schism erupted on numerous Forge Worlds.

Since it´s founding the Masters of Salt has been invovled in numerous assaults upon the enemies of the Imperium.

## Notable Campaigns

The Chapter has a long and honorable record in the Imperial archive. They have been involved in countless of battles and campaigns.

* **Battle of Hardfall (033.M36)** - This battle is known to posterity as one of the most brutal battles of the Chapter and marked the Masters of Salt as the ruthless force for which they are today known. During the Nova Terra Interregnum, the Chapter invaded several systems and planets that had rebelled against the Imperium and left them desolate and dead. On the Hive World *Nameera* the Chapter faced very great resistance by the rebels at the mountain area known as *Hardfall*. After a bloody victory, the Chapter continued with its mission and purged the whole planet.

* **Battle of Stonewall (524.M38)** - A battle against forces of Nurgle and cultist that tried to storm a Imperial outpost on the planet *Zeel 5G* in the western parts in the Segmentum Obscurus, The Chapter were called in to defend the planet. After a brutal offensive against the forces of Chaos, the Masters of Salt went victorious out of the battle, though with huge losses.

## Chapter Homeworld

The Homeworld of the Chapter is the Mining World *Salt* which is on the very border to Segmentum Pacificus in the Segmentum Obscurus. The planet circulates around the double suns, *Antra* and *Luxa*.

*Salt* has huge deposits of various minerals and is seen as an incredibly important source of resources for both the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus.

The Warden (Chapter Master) of the Masters of Salt is not only the ruler of this world, he are also its jailer. Thousands of prisoners, heretics and convicts arrive on the planet every day to live and die in the enormous mines beneath the planet's surface.

## Chapter Fortress-Monastery

*Salmea* is the Fortress-Monastery of the Chapter. The Adeptus Mechanicus began build this stronghold several decades before the founding of the Chapter and was completed only a few years before the brothers of the Masters of Salt moved in.

This mighty fortress is carved right out of a mountain and under this huge construction there is a complex network of vast tunnels and corridors together with large halls and dark chambers.

*Salmea* is also where all new prisoners pass and carry out a sorting. This sorting is to decide where the prisoners should be placed and if it is someone who can be seen as a candidate to go through the process of becoming a recruit of the Chapter.

## Chapter Recruitment

The Chapter only recruit new Battle Brothers from the endless masses of prisoners and convicts that are transported to the Chapter home world. Everyone of them undergoes a sorting to find anyone that could be used as a new recruit.

Those few that are deemed suitable undergo extensive testing and trials. Of these recruits, only a handful get the chance to become a new neophyte of the Chapter.

## Chapter Organisation

The Masters of Salt does not organize themselvs in ordinary companies according to the Codex, instead it is divided into *Hosts*. These Hosts are led by a Lord (Captain), the most veteran and senior officers of the Chapter.

### Officer Ranks

* **Warden** - Chapter Master equivalent
* **Watchman** - Deputy Chapter Master
* **Lord** - Captain equivalent
* **Iron Master** - Commander of the Dreadnought Detachment

### Specialist Ranks

* **Reader** - Librarian equivalent.
* **Sage** - Chaplain equivalent.
* **Carver** - Apothecary equivalent.
* **Machinist** - Techmarine equivalent.

## Order of Battle

### Headquarters

**Regdal Thoram -**
*Warden of the Masters of Salt*
**Grel Bandg -**
*Watchman*
**Darmond Hjulnur-**
*Chapter Champion*
**Gramol Medram-**
*Master of the Signal*
**Command Squad -**
*(Chapter Standard Bearer, Reader, Carver, Honour Guards)*
**Chapter Serfs**
*Grand Archival*
**Readers**
**Initiates**
**Chapter Serfs** | **Ranryl -**
*Temple Master*
**Sages**
**Initiates**
**Chapter Serfs** | **Dalozal -**
*Chief Butcher*
**Carvers**
**Initiates**
**Chapter Serfs** | **Thorfen -**
*Master Smith*
**Machinists**
**Initiates**
**Servitors** | **Dralmar -**
*Lord of the Fleet*
**Battle Barges**
**Strike Cruisers**

### Hosts

Each Host is structured with a mixture of Battleline, Close Support and Fire Support alongside Scout units and Initiates except the 1st Host, that consisting only of veteran brothers. The 1st Host is also led in war by the Warden (Chapter Master) himself alongside his Chapter command squad, with the exception of the Watchman (Deputy Chapter Master) who leads the 2nd Host.

The Chapter also use detachments of Tanks, Gunships and Dreadnoughts that fights as separate Battle Groups, but if necessary this resources are distributed within the Hosts.

1 Command Squad
5 Battleline Squads
1 Close Support Squad
3 Fire Support Squads
1 Scout Squad
Initiates
*(Warden and Master of the Keep)* | **Grel Bandg -**
*(Watchman and Master of the Watch)* | **Lord Drathol-**
*(Master of the Arsenal)* | **Lord Dralmar -**
*(Master of the Fleet)* | **Lord Dugin-**

*(Master of the Rites)* | **Lord Fidor-**
*(Lord Executioner)* | **Lord Pheloc -**
*(Chief Victualler)* | **Lord Umfred -**
*(Master of Relics)* | **Lord Hunfrod-**

### Detachments

The Masters of Salt has a powerful and strong vehicle fleet that they use with devastating effect against the enemies of the Emperor. Each detachment are specialized in various forms of warfare and can handle most situations they face by themselves. Together, however, these Battle Groups are a storm that few can resist.

2 Land Raiders
1 Damocles Command Rhino
5 Predators
2 Vindicator
3 Whirlwinds
1 Hunter
Various Land Speeders, Razorbacks and Rhinos
*(Tank Commander)* | **Grendel**
*(Tank Commander)* | **Daar**
*(Tank Commander)* | **Umfred**
*(Tank Commander)* | **Regro**
*(Tank Commander)* | **Galar**
*(Tank Commander)* | **Aperal**

1 Fire Raptor
1 Storm Eagle
3 Thunderhawks
5 Stormravens
8 Stormtalons
4 Stormhawk Interceptors

*Iron Master*
*(Venerable Dreadnought)*
*(Venerable Dreadnought)*
**Belo**
*(Castraferrum Dreadnought)*
**Frull**
*(Castraferrum Dreadnought)*
**Jogar**
*(Siege Dreadnoughtr)*
**Rellu**
*(Siege Dreadnoughtr)*
**Olgmar**
*(Siege Dreadnought)*
**Gelmar**
*(Hellfire Dreadnought)*
**Blorm**
*(Hellfire Dreadnought)*
**Mlarn**
*(Castraferrum Dreadnought)* | **Drenor**
*(Castraferrum Dreadnought)*
**Alam**
*(Ironclad Dreadnought)*
**Seger**
*(Castraferrum Dreadnought)*
**Qulbar**
*(Assault Dreadnought)*
**Ytor**
*(Assault Dreadnought)*
**Treyl**
*(Siege Dreadnought)*
**Julnor**
*(Ironclad Dreadnought)*
**Creml**
*(Castraferrum Dreadnought)*
**Zeloc**
*(Assault Dreadnought)* | **Rotmar**
*(Castraferrum Dreadnought)*
**Pruqor**
*(Hellfire Dreadnought)*
**Zwegr**
*(Castraferrum Dreadnought)*
**Umino**
*(Castraferrum Dreadnought)*
**Bumor**
*(Hellfire Dreadnoughtr)*
**Grusar**
*(Mortis Dreadnought)*
**Vindor**
*(Castraferrum Dreadnought)*
**Reloc**
*(Hellfire Dreadnoughtr)*
**Rasgor**

## Chapter Combat Doctrine

The Chapter's combat doctorine are imbued with offensive strategies and tactics. All situations, challenges and obstacles are met with the same offensive mindset among the Battle-Brothers. In battle they use all their resources to uninhibitedly grind down all resistance. For the brothers, honor and glory mean nothing, only the result counts.

It is also not uncommon for the chapter to deploy an overwhelming force to face a much smaller threat. What is also significant is that the Chapter never takes any prisoners of war or deliberately allows any opponent to survive.

As a result, the Chapter has a reputation for ruthlessness and brutality. This, in turn, has also led to enemies often retreating before the fighting begins at the mere presence of forces from the Chapter on the battlefield.

## Chapter Fleet

"*Let them believe that they are safe and stronger than us. We have them exactly where we want them. The rest of the fleet is on its way as we speak.*"
—Velag, Captain of the Strike Crusier *"Pride of the Servants*", during the Battle of Hardfall.
The Masters of Salt has in its fleet four Battleships together with various cruisers, escorts, and support vessels. Usually the fleet fights together as a unit, but in unusual cases ships can be assigned individual missions. These missions can be about reconnaissance or fire attacks as part of a larger attack.

*Flagship of the Masters of Salt*
*(Battle Barge)*
*(Strike Crusier)*
**Black Ghost**
*(Strike Cruiser)*
**Burning Howl**
*(Strike Cruiser)*
**Damned Dagger**
*(Vanguard Crusier)*
**Last Marauder**
*(Vanguard Crusier)*
**Rapid Strike Vessels**
**Support Ships** | **Vulture**
*(Strike Cruiser)*
**Night Corruption**
*(Strike Crusier)*
**Sadness of the Insanity**
*(Vanguard Cruiser)*
**Cruel Sun**
*(Hunter-class Destroyer)*
**Disgraceful King**
*(Hunter-class Destroyer)*
**Rapid Strike Vessels**
**Support Ships**  | **Pride of the Servants**
*(Strike Crusier)*
**Ranger**
*(Strike Crusier)*
**Last Rift**
*(Vanguard Cruiser)*
**Corsair**
*(Vanguard Cruiser)*
**Fall of Delight**
*(Vanguard Cruiser)*
**Rapid Strike Vessels**

## Chapter Beliefs

For the Chapter, to be a loyal servant to the Imperium is not the same as believing that the Emperor would be the true and only God in the galaxy. Loyalty is shown by destroying the enemies of the Imperium, not believing that the Emperor is the only salvation that would save the humanity.

For the Battle-Brothers is given the only salvation by crushing their enemies on the battlefield. It is in the act that salvation exists, not in faith.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

As successors to the Iron Hands, the brothers of the Chapter have an enormous hatred for their own flesh and they despise the weakness of their own bodies. The older a brother is, the stronger the hatred, resulting in more extreme mechanisations of the Astartes' body. Despite heavily augmented, they are still human beings.

However, they have another mutation in their Gene-Seed that does not exist among other Iron Hands successor Chapters. Namely, that the Battle-Brothers of the Chapter have all very pale skin and the iris in their eyes turns bright yellow.

This mutation seems to have something to do with the conditions that exist on their Chapter Homeworld. The Adeptus Mechanicus theory is that this fault in the Gene-Seed has been formed due to a type of radiation that originates from the double stars found in this solar system.

According to Imperial records the Inquisition does not seem to care much about this fault and does not see this mutation as a threat to the Imperium.

### Primaris Marines

A number of the Firstborn Astartes of the Chapter have risen to become Primaris Space Marines to be a even greater weapon of the Imperium and to erase the weaknesses they have. So far, however, the vast majority is still Firstborn. But more and more of the brothers are crossing the Rubicon Primaris and are ascending to become a Primaris Marines.

## Notable Masters of Salt

* **Greom Melas** - The first Warden of the Masters of Salt and he was the one who shaped the Chapter into what it is today. He is seen with admiration by the Battle-Brothers and many of his tactics is still in use in present days.
* **Regdal Thoram** - Regdal Thoram is the 21st, and current, Warden of the Chapter. He has led his brothers for nearly 200 years. During this time, he has become known as a ruthless and callous ruler with countless victories behind him.
* **Goram** - Iron Master Goram was placed in a Dreadnought armour over four centuries ago due to his serious injuries after going alone victorious out a desperate attack during the Battle of Stonewall against Nurgle cultist and traitors. After being forced with his brothers to retreat to the Imperiums last line of defence in the area, he instead went on the offensive and led an attack on the numerically superior enemy. This unforeseen attack was so violent that the enemy broke its lines and fled, but not without the deaths of all of his brothers.
* **Umdar** - Umdar, also known as the Hero of Hardfall, was the Tank Commander of the 3rd Armoured Sperarhed "*Reapers of Vengance*". Umdar and his tanks caused enormous losses to the enemy during the Battle of Hardfall. After the dust settled over the battlefield, it was clear that it was much thanks to his efforts and leadership that the battle was won.

## Chapter Armament

The Astartes of the Chapter use the same armament as other Space Marine Chapters. What differs, however, is that they dont use any helmets due to their heavy augmented heads and bodies. Their upgrades makes them tougher and stronger than many of their peer brothers from other Chapters. This results in the brothers seeing helmets as a weakness.

### Lapis-Pattern Power Flail

The Lapis-Pattern Power Flail is a unique one-handed weapon of the Chapter and is a favorite weapon used by many experienced brothers. These weapons causes enormous devastation on the battlefield in the right hands. There are even examples of armored vehicles that have been knocked out by this weapon. The Power Flail is also often used to set an example and instill fear among rebellious populations.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Power Armour of the Masters of Salt is painted black. Due to the Chapter's offensive combat doctrine their armour are often worn and have combat damage and are only repaired to be functional.

No brothers of the Chapter use helmets and their pale heads (with yellow eyes, see *Chapter Gene-Seed*) and bodies are upgraded with mechanical augmentations. Over their armor all the brothers wear a long dark brown or black overcoat.

The Chapter badge is worn on the chest instead of on the shoulder and the Chapter does not use any marking over which company or group each brother belongs to.

### Chapter Badge

The Chapter Badge of the Masters of Salt is a white and black leaning armored hand holding a white one-handed flail with a large head on a black circular background with a grey border.

## Relations

### Allies

* **Adeptus Mechanicus**
* **Iron Hands**
* **Iron Hands Successors Chapters**

### Enemies

* All enemies and rebels to the Imperium of Mankind.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Masters of Salt

"*Death to the weak! Charge!*"
— Regal Thoram, Warden of the Masters of Salt

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]