Excoriators - Notable Excoriators: Chapter Master Demetrius Katafalque - A former Captain of the Imperial Fists Legion, Demetrius had once fought at the Primarch Rogal Dorn's side during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy that followed. During the extensive fortification of the Imperial Palace, in preparation for the Traitor Legions' inevitable attack, Katafalque was ordered by Rogal Dorn to command a sub-orbital platform ferrying workers and construction supplies to the building site. This unfortunately brought him into conflict with the Legio Custodes, who had not been informed of the arrival and considered the platform's presence a threat to the Emperor's safety. Neither side would back down, and the Custodians conducted a hostile boarding action of the platform, but Katafalque gave his men strict orders not to open fire on the Custodes. Eventually, an intervention by the Sisters of Silence allowed the incident to be dismissed as a simple misunderstanding, but both the Imperial Fists and the Custodes saw it as an ominous sign of the kind of confusion that could give the Traitors an opening in a crucial moment. At the Siege of Terra, it was Katafalque who bled with his men before the walls of the Imperial Palace, under the horrific onslaught of the Warmaster Horus' siege, putting his body between the enemy and his Emperor. He made them pay in blood for every treasonous step. Demetrius also took part in the post-Heresy Imperial Crusades of penitence against the Traitor Legions during the Great Scouring. Following the end of the wars of the Scouring, the Imperium's military forces underwent a drastic reorganisation, which included the Space Marine Legions. With the adoption of the Codex Astartes, the Legions were to be broken down into thousand-warrior Chapters. Though Rogal Dorn at first opposed breaking up his Legion, he later acquiesced when it became clear that his refusal might lead to a second Imperial civil war so soon after the first. During the Second Founding, Rogal Dorn designated Demetrius to become the first Excoriator; the first Chapter Master of a Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists, as a reward for his valour. Katafalque later scribed the sacred tome The Architecture of Agony, a treatise dedicated to devotional suffering. Demetrius favoured their Primarch's practice of the self-infliction of pain for his brother Excoriators. Such rituals had been favoured by Dorn personally as a form of martial communion and as purification for the soul.Chapter Master Zachariah Kersh - Zachariah Kersh is the current Chapter Master of the Excoriators Space Marine Chapter. He formerly served as the Chapter Scourge (Chapter Champion). For a time Kersh was disgraced, because he failed to protect the former Chapter Master Quesiah Ichabod and subsequently suffered often from Dorn's Darkness. He was redeemed after winning the 816th Feast of Blades and successfully defending the Cemetery World of Certus-Minor, where he served as Captain of the 5th Company.Chapter Master Quesiah Ichabod - Quesiah Ichabod was the former Chapter Master of the Excoriators Space Marine Chapter, until he was brought low, through treachery, with an assassin's poisoned blade by the cursed Alpha Legion upon the world of Ignis Prime. Though he valiantly fought against the virulent poison that ravaged his body, ultimately it resulted in a slow and agonising death.Chapter Master Issachar - Issachar was the Chapter Master of the Excoriators Chapter during the mid-32nd Millennium, and took part in the desperate battles against a massive Ork WAAAGH! that threatened the Throneworld of Terra itself during the War of the Beast. The Chapter Master of the Excoriators was well known for his bionic arm, which was a plated mass of bare metal and cables; more precisely, known for the manner by which he had come to need it following an overly competitive honour duel with High Marshal Bohemond of the Black Templars Chapter during a previous disagreement. He represented his Chapter during the fateful meeting between the Imperial Fists Successor Chapters in the Phall System, when the last surviving Imperial Fist, Captain Koorland, invoked the "Last Wall Protocol". Chapter Master Issachar would later take part in the attack by his fellow Scions of Dorn Successor Chapters against the greenskins' massive Attack Moon in orbit over Terra. Afterwards, he would be a vocal advocate of the official reformation of the Imperial Fists Legion. He also led his Chapter during the invasion of The Beast's capital world, upon the capital city of Gorkogrod, fighting alongside the returned Salamanders Primarch Vulkan.Corpus-Captain Shiloh Gideon - Following the failed assassination attempt of Chapter Master Ichabod by the Alpha Legion and the loss of their sacred standard, the Stigmartyr, the Chapter's morale was at an all-time low. Corpus-Captain Shiloh Gideon was ordered to take the Chapter's chosen champions and still compete in the centennial competition that was the 816th Feast of Blades, and was ordered by the Chapter Master to win the contest at any cost in order to salvage the Chapter's morale. Gideon ultimately made the painful decision to release Zachariah Kersh from his prison within a stasis sarcophagus to fight as the Chapter's sole remaining champion in the competition. Against all odds, Kersh managed to win the final three-way duel against Chapter Champions from the Imperial Fists and Black Templars Chapters, respectively. It was the first time the Excoriators won the Feast of Blades in the Chapter's history. This greatly raised the morale of the battle-brothers within the Chapter.Corpus-Captain Thaddeus - Thaddeus was the former Corpus-Captain of the 5th Company before Zachariah Kersh was assigned to replace him. Thaddeus and half his company were ambushed and killed by a devious trap set by the Alpha Legion on the world of Veiglehaven.Corpus-Captain Tobiaz - Tobiaz was the former company commander of Zachariah Kersh when he was still a junior battle-brother.Corpus-Commander Bartimeus - Bartimeus was the senior commander of the 5th Company's Strike Cruiser Angelica Mortis. With the approach of the large Khornate warhost known as the Cholercaust Blood Crusade towards the Cemetery World of Certus-Minor, Corpus-Captain Zachariah Kersh ordered Apothecary Ezarchi and Bartimeus to ensure the future of their Chapter by taking the 5th Company's precious gene-seed safely away from the doomed planet to a nearby Adeptus Mechanicus Forge World. This effectively trapped the 5th Company on the world without orbital support or the capability to withdraw.Honoured First Tiberias - Tiberias was the only surviving member of the Excoriators' elite 1st Company that was slaughtered by the Alpha Legion on the world of Ignis Prime.Santiarch Balshazar - Balshazar was the Excoriators' senior Chaplain who managed those Excoriators battle-brothers afflicted with Dorn's Darkness. He offered the victims of the Darkness a spiritual treatment that either cured them or ultimately resulted in their deaths. He had the afflicted interred within a decorative stasis casket that was transported from the Chapter's Reclusiam on distant Eschara. The casket was beaten from dull Adamantium and the box had the dimensions of a sarcophagus and the extravagant garniture to match. Its frontispiece featured a raised depiction of the Emperor; despite the casket standing upright, it represented Him as prone, maimed and broken, as He was immediately following His confrontation with Horus at the end of the Battle of Terra. Balshazar's solution to the affliction of the Darkness was to create a darkness of his own within the stasis sarcophagus. It was the most solitary of confinements, where no self-respecting Excoriator need look upon his own weakness and invalidity and where he might summon the strength of will to banish the Darkness of the Primarch and recover his sanity.Chaplain Dardarius - Dardarius was a Chaplain of the Excoriators.Chaplain Shadrath - Shadrath was the senior Chaplain attached to the devastated 5th Company.Epistolary Melmoch - Melmoch was the senior Librarian attached to the devastated 5th Company.Lord Apothecary Absalom - Absalom was a former Apothecary of the 2nd Company who was promoted to the rank of Lord Apothecary within the Chapter and tasked with coordinating the search and formulation of an antidote for the Excoriators' envenomed Chapter Master Ichabod, who was mortally wounded and poisoned during a failed assassination attempt by the Alpha Legion.Apothecary Ezrachi - Ezrachi was a Veteran battle-brother and Apothecary of the Chapter. The Apothecary's right leg was a full bionic replacement and almost as old as Ezrachi himself. While robust and powerful, his bionic leg sighed with hydraulic insistence and lagged a millisecond behind its flesh-and-bone equivalent, giving him the impression of walking with a slight limp. He was responsible for the experimental procedure that shocked Zachariah Kersh out of the fugue state known as Dorn's Darkness. He was later assigned to the 5th Company as the new Apothecary of that decimated company which was tasked with defending the Cemetery Word of Certus-Minor.Apothecary Philemon - Philemon was an Apothecary assigned to the 5th Company who lost his life to the Alpha Legion's second ambush along with Corpus-Captain Thaddeus.Techmarine Dancred - Frater Astrotechnicus - Dancred was the Techmarine assigned to the 5th Company. Dancred died on Certus-Minor when the 5th Company was attacked by the Khornate warhost known as the Cholercaust. His position was overrun in the initial attack. His body was laid out displaying his battle wounds as Chapter custom dictated with the other casualties in the aftermath of the combat.Techmarine Hadrach - Hadrach was a Techmarine of the Excoriators.Company Champion Contego Micah - Brother Micah was the 5th Company's freshly promoted champion. His predecessor had lost his life defending Corpus-Captain Thaddeus on the Kruger Ridge on the world of Veiglehaven from an ambush by the Alpha Legion. Micah was young for his position but a cool, impassive Excoriator. He was a gifted marksman and took the responsibilities of Company Champion seriously. Micah was just as unhappy about Kersh's promotion to Corpus-Captain over Veteran Whip Skase, as all the other Astartes in the 5th, but had studied his new commander's orders and their mission brief and had volunteered practical propositions regarding the company's security on Certus-Minor. Like many of his brothers, he was determined that the Excoriators would not fall to the predations of the Alpha Legion again -- even if that meant keeping Zachariah Kersh alive. Micah was killed defending the Imperial Cemetary World from the large Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Chief Whip Uriah Skase - Skase was the senior Veteran Sergeant of the 5th Company. The torn and mangled flesh of his face testified to his Veteran status. A visible wound sat upon his face like an ugly, snarling mask, seemingly only held together by the staples, stitches and decorative rings that ran across it. Skase was a legend within the company. An Assault Squad Whip, he had more combat experience than the rest of his squad added together. He had walked away from the most grievous injuries and heaviest fighting of the 5th Company's many victories and had been at the forefront of the Excoriators' efforts to reclaim the Stigmartyr from the Alpha Legion at Veiglehaven. He was loved by his men, who viewed him as an indestructible force. Skase was so unrelenting on the battlefield that on the midnight plains of Menga-Dardra, a Black Legion Land Raider slammed into him with its dozer blade, ran him down and crushed him beneath its tracks, only for the mauled and buckled Skase to get back to his feet and rush back into the heart of the fighting. He had been Corpus-Captain Thaddeus' right hand and, with Chaplain Shadrath, had held the decimated 5th Company together in the wake of the atrocities at Veiglehaven that had decimated it and reduced it to a fraction of its former strength. The surviving battle-brothers of the 5th had been reorganised by Skase into three full squads. He took command of the first squad, Squad Cicatrix. Squad Cicatrix had the honour of driving back the Traitor Legionaries and recovering the bodies. In doing this Chief Whip Skase and his men saved the harvested gene-seed of their fallen brothers, and the company was rightfully in their debt. Every Excoriator in the 5th had fully expected Uriah Skase's promotion to serve as the company's new Corpus-Captain until Chapter Master Ichabod's intervention and the promotion of the disgraced Chapter Scourge Zachariah Kersh to the position instead. Skase was slain defending the Imperial Cemetary World of Certus-Minor from the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Veteran Squad Whip Silas Keturah - Keturah was Veteran Squad Whip of the 10th Company Scout Marine Squads assigned to bolster the decimated 5th Company. Out of all the company's Whips, he was the only battle-brother not under Skase's influence. Silas Keturah did not allow anyone else to gain influence amongst his neophytes save for himself. He clearly did not relish using his young charges to bolster the depleted numbers of the 5th Company under the command of the disgraced Corpus-Captain Zachariah Kersh. He was killed defending the Imperial Cemetary World of Certus-Minor from the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Squad Whip Ishmael - Ishmael was one of the remaining squad leaders of the decimated 5th Company. The second squad, Squad Castigir, was led by Skase's own right hand, Squad Whip Ishmael, an Excoriator crafted of much the same unforgiving brutality as the Chief Whip. He was afflicted by the same rage madness that many of the native Certusians had contracted and had to be put down by his battle-brothers.Squad Whip Joachim - Joachin was one of the remaining squad leaders of the decimated 5th Company. Brother Joachim had been recently promoted to Whip of the 3rd squad, Squad Censura, in the wake of the disaster on Veiglehaven. Joachim was younger and fresher of face than most Excoriators, but his devotion to Chief Whip Skase and his ideals was painfully clear, assuming the form of a kind of hero-worship. He was killed defending the Imperial Cemetary World of Certus-Minor from the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Squad Whip Thanial - Thanial served as Zachariah Kersh's former Squad Leader when he was still a neophyte.Squad Whip Usachar - Usachar was a squad leader and Veteran battle-brother who served as one of the Chapter's combatants at the the 816th Feast of Blades. He lost his match.Second Whip Azareth - Azareth was an assistant squad leader assigned to the 5th Company. He was killed defending the Imperial Cemetery World of Certus-Minor from the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Second Whip Etham - An assistant squad leader assigned to the 5th Company. He was killed defending the Imperial Cemetery World of Certus-Minor from the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Second Whip Scarioch - An assistant squad leader assigned to the 5th Company. He was afflicted by the same rage madness that many of the native Certusians had contracted and had to be put down by his battle-brothers.Ashkelon - Ashkelon served in the 5th Company, dying in the defense of Certus-Minor against the Khornate Blood Crusade called the Cholercaust.Basrael - Basrael served in the 5th Company, dying in the defense of Certus-Minor against the Khornate Blood Crusade called the Cholercaust.Benzoheth - Benzoheth served in the 5th Company, dying in the defense of Certus-Minor against the Khornate warhost called the Cholercaust.Boaz - Boaz served in the 5th Company, dying in the defense of Certus-Minor against the Khornate Blood Crusade called the Cholercaust.Damaras - Damaras served in the 5th Company, dying in the defense of Certus-Minor against the ravaging Khornate Blood Crusade called the Cholercaust.Dathan - Dathan was a young battle-brother who had a way with a blade. He was severely wounded, losing his match during the 816th Feast of Blades.Ebenezar - Ebenezar served in the 5th Company, dying in the defense of Certus-Minor against the ravaging Khornate warhost, the Cholercaust.Eliam - Eliam served in the 5th Company, dying in the defense of Certus-Minor against the Khornate Blood Crusade called the Cholercaust.Erastus - Erastus was a senior Astartes who helped mentor Zachariah Kersh when he was a newly inducted Astartes.Jabez - Jabez was seriously wounded fighting an honour duel during the 816th Feast of Blades.Judah - Judah served in the 5th Company, dying in the defense of Certus-Minor against the ravaging Khornate Blood Crusade called the Cholercaust.Kale - Kale was a member of 5th Company, second squad -- Squad Castigir. He died fighting against the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust on the Cemetary World of Certus-Minor.Levi - Levi served in the 5th Company, second squad -- Squad Castigir. He died fighting against the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust on the Cemetary World of Certus-Minor.Lemuel - Lemuel served in the 5th Company, second squad -- Squad Castigir. He died fighting against the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust on the Cemetary World of Certus-Minor.Moliath - Moliath served in the 5th Company, dying in the defence of Certus-Minor against the Khornate Blood Crusade called the Cholercaust.Occam - During the 816th Feast of Blades he fought well, but his effort was not enough and he was killed.Nebuzar - A member of the 5th Company, second squad -- Squad Castigir. He died fighting against the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust on the Cemetary World of Certus-Minor.Novah - A member of the 5th Company, Novah was Brother Toralech's hasty replacement as Company Standard Bearer when he was killed at the outset of hostilities on the Cemetery World of Certus-Minor, by a Bloodletter of Khorne. Like the 5th Company Champion, Brother Micah, he was young but quiet and uncertain. Micah assured Corpus-Captain Kersh that he was a first-class warrior, as both had originally fought in the same squad, and that he was one of the few brothers that Kersh could trust. He died fighting against the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Salamis - Salamis was a battle-brother assigned to the 5th Company. He died in the defense of Certus-Minor against the ravaging Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Simeon - Simeon was a battle-brother assigned to the 5th Company. He died in the defense of Certus-Minor against the ravaging Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Torolech - Torolech was a battle-brother and Standard Bearer of the decimated 5th Company. He was killed at the outset of hostilities on the Cemetery World of Certus-Minor, by a Bloodletter of Khorne.Tycharias - Tycharias served in the 5th Company, dying in the defence of Certus-Minor against the Khornate Blood Crusade called the Cholercaust.Zurion - Tycharias served in the 5th Company, dying in the defence of Certus-Minor against the Khornate Blood Crusade called the Cholercaust.Scout Marine Iscarion - A Scout Marine of the 10th Company attached to the decimated 5th Company to help augment their number. He was killed defending the Cemetery World of Certus-Minor from the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Scout Marine Kush - A Scout Marine of the 10th Company attached to the decimated 5th Company to help augment their number. He had been briefly seconded to Squad Cicatrix during training rites on board the Angelica Mortis. There he had been exposed to the full hatred the Excoriators' 1st Squad felt for their new commanding officer. Kush, in turn, had brought these opinions to his fellow neophytes, who had swiftly begun to revel in similar derision of the unfavoured Zachariah Kersh, his loss of the Chapter's Stigmartyr and his affliction with Dorn's Darkness. He was killed defending the Cemetery World of Certus-Minor from the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust.Scout Marine Omar - Omar was a Scout Marine of the 10th Company attached to the decimated 5th Company to help augment their number. Brother Omar was thought to have been killed by blood-frenzied Certusians on the Cemetery World of Certus-Minor. They were affected by the malign influence of the strange blood-red harbinger of the Blood God, known as the Keeler Comet, which heralded the world's inevitable doom with the coming of the Khornate Blood Crusade known as the Cholercaust. He was discovered alive later, crawling through the Forces of Chaos during their first attack on Certus-Minor, slashed accross the stomach area by a fellow battle-brother, Ishmael, who fell to the blood-rage of the comet. Zacariah Kersh carried the Scout Marine from the battlefield and managed to save his life, though Omar lost his legs in the process. Omar ended up assisiting in the final battle against the Cholercaust by marking targets from a high tower for his fellow Scout Marine sniper. He was killed when he took his own life with a grenade, killing multiple flying Daemons in the resulting explosion.Scout Marine Taanach - A Scout Marine of the 10th Company attached to the decimated 5th Company to help augment their number. He was killed defending the Cemetery World of Certus-Minor from the Khornate Blood Crusadeknown as the Cholercaust.