Blue Shields

contains information regarding one of the Lost Primarchs,
their chapter, or their descendants. It may conflict with
other pages in this category.

The Escudos Azules (“Blue Shields”) are a chapter of space marines descended from the Primarch Frida Evangelina. Unlike the other Sanctified they were created by the Emperor in the early years of the Great Crusade. They were told they were descended from Jaghatai Khan and the White Scars but later learned the truth of their origins when Frida returned to Imperial space.

## Founding

While the marines that would form the Escudos Azules were produced sometime during the Great Crusade they were formally “founded” into a chapter sometime during the 2nd or 3rd founding. They were obsessively a White Scars successor chapter but there were rumors even then that they were not actually of Jaghatai Khan’s gene-seed. They simply looked and acted differently. Only the High Lords of Terra knew of the truth.

## Early Years- Revolutionizing Gesar

The Escudos Azules were given the harsh pastoral world of Gesar as their homeworld. They established a Fortress-Monastery and built great works for the feudalistic people who lived there. The chapter adopted many of the equestrian ways of the nomadic people who lived there and recruited many of its most skilled warriors to their ranks.

If the Blue Shields (as they were then called) were a standard successor of Jaghatai Khan, they’d have likely joined in with the almost tribal culture, engaged in poetry, and indulged the ancient traditions of the Gesar people. Instead the Blue Shields embarked on a scientific crusade to modernize the backwards barbarians of their homeworld and revolutionize their place in Imperial society.

No one quite knew where this scientific drive or insatiable curiosity came from but none could deny their impact on the planet. Still, they were not immune to the charms of their world and one of their greatest accomplishments was the creation of the “Equus Belli”- a war horse suitable for a space marine. These massive beasts were the product of selective breeding of the planet’s already impressive horses, genetic modification, and cybernetic implants.

During their early years they fought countless enemies of the Imperium and were noted for their skill at fast raids (often using their Equus Belli).

## Seeking an Identity- The Talus Crusades

One of the most celebrated Grand Protectors (similar to a Chapter Master) of the Blue Shields was Talus Mann, a spiritual holyman from Gesar who was as wise as he was skilled in the art of war. Talus had received a vision during a spiritual retreat of a great and powerful mother goddess who embraced him. She told them that she was a daughter of the Emperor and his true mother. Talus was conflicted but sensed the truth of it. Still, he kept this vision between himself and his Privy Council.

After much debate and reading of the bones, the Privy Council decided to launch a “Crusade of Prophecy”. If the Emperor smiled upon them, granting them victory, the vision would be deemed true. If they failed, they were tainted by the powers of Chaos.

And so they embarked on this crusade. For the next hundred years they flung themself at the forces of Chaos with a fervor seldom seen even among the Adeptus Astartes. They never lost a single battle, never faltered even against the strongest foe, and lost impressively few of their brethren. Their crusade’s success was heralded as “miraculous” and the inner-circle felt they knew the truth now- this Mother of the Chapter was real.

## The Saint’s Return

After that day the Chapter reformed itself. Their chapter cult introduced “The Mother Saint” to its worship and pious members of the chapter would sometimes receive visions of her and her teachings. After centuries of waiting however, the Blue Shields would finally meet her- when Primarch Frida Evangelina returned to Imperial space they instantly knew the truth of her tale. She was the Mother Saint from their visions.

The Blue Shields, now renamed as the Escudos Azules, took up the iconography and equipment of their fellow Sanctified. They would join in their primarch's penitent crusade to seek an audience with The Emperor and many would take a pilgrimage to Campos de Oro via The Grailwind.

Still, the Escudos Azules are a chapter of two worlds. They were founded in Imperial space, raised in the traditions of the White Scars, and fought as a member of the Imperium of Man. They are also the gene-children of Frida Evangelina. Their genetics allow them to adopt women into their chapter and their deep-seated fascination with science has led to them deviating significantly from Jaghatai’s mindset.

## Chapter Organization

The chapter is largely organized similarly to a White Scars chapter. They have 10 Houses, led by a House Lord (or simply “Lord”). The chapter itself is led by a Council of the Lords (the “Privy Council”), though the most senior among them is elevated to the position of “Grand Protector” (equivalent to a Chapter Master). The most senior Apothecary also has a seat at the Privy Council, as does the “Master of Dreams”. This position combines the role of both Chief Librarian and head Chaplain and is responsible for casting bones to read prophecy. The Chapter has marines of all genders due to their primarch, though this was only a relatively recent realization so the numbers are a little skewed still.

### The House of Gold (1st Company)

This is not a clan in the truest sense, they are a group of the most honored and veteran soldiers of the chapter. Being invited to join the House of Gold means a marine leaves their old house behind and swears loyalty only to the House of Gold itself. Some find themselves unable to do this due to matters of loyalty and oaths spoken. Because of this the veterans of the chapter are not always found in the 1st company. Upon joining the House of Gold a marine must take a holy pilgrimage to Campos de Oro and receive their Oro Pattern Power Armor.

### The House of the Shield (2nd Company

This House is known for its bravery and assault forces. They are exalted even among their prestigious peers in hand to hand combat.

### The House of the Claw (3rd Company)

This House prides itself on having never retreated. They make extensive use of drop troops and many of their marines are also skilled pilots. They use cyber-hawks as part of their forces.

### The House of the Hoof (4th Company)

The marines of this chapter paint their faces blue and are known for their fearsome battlecry. There are many among their number who can perform impressive feats of marksmanship from the back of an Equus Belli.

### The House of the Rat (5th Company)

Despite the inauspicious title of this House the Rats are fearsome warriors. They are masters of using heavy firepower from the backs of Equus Belli.

### The House of the Saddle & Spur (6th Company)

The stables of the chapter are managed by the House of the Saddle & Spur. The genetic and cybernetic modification of the Equus Belli are also managed by serfs of this House.

### The Rain House (7th Company)

Many of the vehicles are overseen and maintained by the Rain House. The House is garrisoned in a large industrial facility and all of the chapter’s Techmarines are technically members of the Rain House. They are lent out to the other Houses.

### The House of the Feather (8th Company)

Many Equus Belli are employed by this house and they have many units dedicated to fast assault and raiding. They are often called upon to reinforce other Houses.

### The House of the Lost (9th Company)

Like the House of Gold the House of the Lost is not a house one is accepted into. It is once that one is demoted to. Those who have failed, those who have sinned, and those who have become disgraced are sent to this House (voluntarily or otherwise). Members of this company wear no power-armor and wield only melee weapons. Those who serve can find forgiveness however and may rejoin their House.

There are those who remain in the House indefinitely however. These are not disgraced members of the chapter but instead venerated elders who offer guidance and wisdom to those among their number who have fallen from grace. These “Grievers” are some of the most respected members of the chapter and the “Lord of the Lost” (captain of the chapter) is the 2nd most venerated member of the Privy Council (after the Grand Protector/Chapter Master).

### The Southern House (Scout Company)

Named after the Southern landmass where they initially trained and are housed, the Southern House is the Scout Company of the chapter. They are trained by a rotating cast of instructors, leaders, and experts from other Houses. At the end of their growth & development they can be inducted into a house by a member of that house. The one who inducts them is their “Knight” and, for a time, the new battle-brother (or sister) is their “Squire”.

## Equus Belli

An “Equus Belli” or “Warhorse” is a selectively bred, genetically modified, cybernetically enhanced horse. While the complexity of their modification is on on par with a space marine, the concept behind it is akin. At full size they can be between 10-12 feet at the shoulders, have subdermal armor equivalent to a vehicle, can run at speeds that put a motorcycle to shame, are immune to most diseases and military biological threats, smarter than most guardsmen (not a high bar), are able to punch a hole in armor with their hoofs, and are carnivorous (often eating their foes).

All marines in the chapter have an Equus Belli assigned to them upon being accepted into the chapter. They, not their serfs, are expected to care for it and train it. There is a spiritual connection between a marine and their horse and to solidify this bond the marine will often feed it their blood. A marine whose Equus Belli dies is disgraced and will often undertake a period of penitence in the House of the Lost. Veteran marines will have multiple horses (often having bred & raised them themselves) and may give one to a friend or squire who has lost their own.

## Equipment

* **Doom Lances:**  These are meltacanons mounted on a lance that the chapter uses to destroy vehicles and skewer foes. As a member of the Sanctified the genetics of their primarch compelled them to design and develop new weapons and scientific principles. The Doom Lance was one of their greatest inventions, next to the Equus Belli.
* **Oro Pattern Power Armor:**  This variant of Astarte power armor developed independent of traditional space marine armor. Only veterans of the Escudos Azules wear it. It was based on Mark II Crusade Power Armour, though notes for Mark III Iron Power Armour were in their database as well and has conveniently evolved many of the features common in modern power armor. The void seals and oxygen systems of Oro pattern armor are notably better and the boots have special features that allow them to adhere to the hulls of voidcraft much better. Since returning to the Imperium they have swapped data with their brethren and both Imperial power armor and Oro Pattern Power Armor have improved as a result. Still, the sanctified prefer to keep their own "unique" armor as they are more at home in it.
* **Desintegrador Pattern Plasma Pistol:** The *desintegrador* is a high-tech style of plasma pistol (akin to a master crafted plasma pistol) that originated with an xenos species known as the X'crax in the Campos de Oro system. It emits a wild lash of discriminating energy at a short range the snags a target, immobilizing it as it disintegrates them.
* **Ogresa Pattern Bolter:** The standard bolters produced in the Campos de Oro system are large, heavy, blocky, ugly looking weapons that suffers from a lower rate of fire but has been engineered to never jam. The heavy bolter version of these "ogres", as they're called in Low Gothic, have become popular outside Campos de Oro for their reliability under fire and are used as squad support weapons.