Gene-Seed - Notable Gene-Seed Flaws: Just like normal Human germ cells, exposure to high concentrations of ionising radiation can effectively render a Space Marine "sterile" by destroying the germ cells within his Progenoids.Over the long millennia since the Space Marine Legions were first founded, a Space Marine Chapter's gene-seed can mutate during the replication process, producing new and hitherto-unknown physiological effects in that Chapter's Space Marines or simply becoming non-functional.Repeated exposures to the corrupting psychic energies of Chaos can also cause mutation within the gene-seed. This is why every Chapter's gene-seed is required to be monitored for mutations and genetic purity by the Tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus and why every Chapter is required to tithe 5% of its gene-seed stocks at regular intervals to the Mechanicus on Mars.This is done both to check for genetic purity and to be used to create new Space Marine Chapters if the High Lords of Terra call for a Space Marine Founding.FoundingPrimarchLegion/ChapterGenetic FlawsFirst FoundingLion El'JonsonDark AngelsAs the I Legion of the Space Marine Legions, the Dark Angels' gene-seed is one of the purest and least degraded of all. There are no known aberrations in the Dark Angels' gene-seed, which makes the reluctance of the High Lords of Terra to utilise it in the founding of new Chapters perplexing. The Dark Angels and their Successor Chapters, collectively known as the Unforgiven, have an unusually close bond, often working hand-in-hand with one another. But often, these Chapters have a tendency to be highly suspicious of outsiders and can appear unreasonably aloof and intransigent. Indeed, there have been a number of occasions where the Dark Angels or one of the Unforgiven have withdrawn suddenly and with no explanation from a warzone when confronted by an Inquisitor or missionary. Rumours continue to persist of nepotism and legion-building. Over time these factors have led to the Unforgiven being regarded with distrust by the wider Imperium. Despite their impeccably pure gene-seed, the Dark Angels have been passed over for many of the Foundings that have created fresh Chapters to fight the Imperium's wars. Yet from time to time, the Adeptus Terra have been forced to permit the Dark Angels another Founding, the records of which have mysteriously vanished shortly afterward. In this way, an uncertain number of Unforgiven Chapters have been created, each giving every outward appearance of fighting their own wars for the Imperium, while secretly aiding in the Dark Angels' hidden hunt.FulgrimEmperor's ChildrenThe III Legion's gene-seed and its conditioning produced warriors with finely sculpted physiques, a noble bearing, and finely-controlled thought processes, with psychological tendencies driven towards personal achievement and competition to prove individual superiority. The only physical abnormality registered was the occasional incidence of albinism, and a shift in iris colour to violet in some recruits.PerturaboIron WarriorsThe Iron Warriors' gene-seed produced a marked tendency towards suspicion and paranoia within the Astartes of the IV Legion but also was known to create Space Marines who were extremely intelligent and possessed naturally well-developed problem-solving abilities.Jaghatai KhanWhite ScarsThe gene-seed of the White Scars appeared to be stable and initially displayed no aberration or mutation. However, with the introduction of genetic material from the steppes tribesmen of Mundus Planus, the genome seemed to have inherited their wild savagery and thirst for war.Leman RussSpace WolvesEnlarged canine teeth, extreme hirsuteness and possibility of mutational degeneration into a Wulfen due to genetic incompatibility with the Canis Helix.Rogal DornImperial FistsOver time the Imperial Fists have lost the use of two of the Astartes organs: the Betcher's Gland, which allows a Space Marine to produce poisonous/acidic spittle, and the Sus-an Membrane, which allows an Astartes to enter a state of suspended animation. Battle-brothers of this Chapter also display a pathological, obsessive need to scrimshaw the bones of their dead when off-duty. The Imperial Fists and their Successor Chapters tend to display the worrying psychological traits of self-castigation for perceived failures, both real and imagined, and often make use of a device called the "Pain Glove," which encases the whole body and stimulates its pain neurons or through some other means such as flagellation. Some scions of Dorn Chapters display a unique genetic deficiency known as "Dorn's Darkness," a trance-like state that is akin to a living nightmare -- where the afflicted battle-brother experiences a sleeping wakefulness in which they relive the bottomless woe and profound misery of their primarch's most trying time -- when he found the Emperor mortally wounded during the final hours of the Siege of Terra.Konrad CurzeNight LordsThe gene-seed of the Night Lords seems surprisingly pure, bearing the least evidence of mutation. The only notable physical abnormalities were their jet black eyes and pale skin, which became even more prevalent with the introduction of the genetic material of the dour people of Nostramo. However, the real legacy of their mad primarch may have been psychological, as there was a tendency for paranoia and self-destructive behaviour displayed by many within the Night Lords. They thrive in the use of psychological warfare and fear tactics, merely for the sheer, sick joy of it.SanguiniusBlood AngelsSome Blood Angels, it is said, are driven by a terrible deathseeking madness called the Black Rage, brought on by visions of the death of their primarch. Others are afflicted by the terrible Red Thirst, a craving for blood which some claim may be the first signs of corruption by Chaos.Ferrus ManusIron HandsThe Iron Hands possess extreme hatred for the weaknesses of the flesh which is believed to gloss over an underlying psychological fear of their physical form. As an Iron Hands Space Marine matures, that hatred and fear grows ever stronger, resulting in more extreme mechanisations of the Astartes' body. It is unclear from where this fear may originate, though many in the Adeptus Mechanicus believe that the source is a flaw in the gene-seed of the Chapter that originated some time after the death of their primarch on Istvaan V. This flaw seems to be controlled or at the very least made moot by the increasing mechanical augmentations Iron Hands Astartes undergo.AngronWorld EatersMany suspect that Angron's gene-seed was corrupt from the start and the World Eaters were damned the moment they were created. Others point to the known history of Angron and insist that his Legion could have been saved had the signs been noticed earlier. Whichever is correct, the Space Marines of the World Eaters have a physical need to shed blood and kill, a driving imperative that sends them into a berserk fury of unrestrained bloodthirsty psychosis. So strong is the desire to kill that the World Eaters will turn on one another to satisfy their bloodlust should no other foe present itself.Roboute GuillimanUltramarinesThe Ultramarines' gene-seed is by far the purest stock and there are no known aberrations in its genetic structure. Every one of the esoteric organs utilised in the arduous creation of a Space Marine by the Ultramarines are fully functional, and it can truly be said of this Chapter that they are as perfect today as they were in the days of Guilliman. As the largest Space Marine Legion, the Ultramarines contributed to the genetic repository to store gene-seed and monitor its purity. As a result, their gene-seed became the stock type for many of the Second Founding Chapters, and continued to be the most favoured stock utilised in the creation of subsequent Foundings.MortarionDeath GuardThe Legionaries of the Death Guard always reflected the gaunt, shadow-eyed quality of their primarch that gave the lie to the hardness with which they were made. The original Terran-stock displayed a stoic temperament and gene-crafted aptitude, reminiscent of their genetic inheritance from the Ironside warriors of Old Albia. With the introduction of the feral stock of pale, gaunt people of Barbarus, the Death Guard Legion's gene-seed seemed to amplify the uncommon resistance to contagion and toxins in its Barbarus recruits to unheard-of levels.MagnusThousand SonsThis Traitor Legion's gene-seed, drawn from the Primarch Magnus the Red, was always genetically unstable and prone to rapid mutation, leading to the development of psychic powers in the majority of Thousand Sons Legionaries, but also resulting in them succumbing to a terrible mutational degeneration into what would later be recognised as a Chaos Spawn, known historically as the "Flesh-Change." Though unconfirmed, the Blood Ravens Chapter might be the Loyalist descendants of the Thousand Sons which would explain not only their unusual psychic abilities, but also their tendency to be easily corrupted by Chaos.Horus LupercalSons of HorusThe Sons of Horus' gene-seed, prior to the incident on Davin, was reliably pure. However, following their corruption by Chaos, Space Marines started to exhibit random mutations, and it is likely that this taint goes right down to the gene-seed level. The regular practice of seeking Daemonic possession may also have accelerated this effect. However, such mutations are seen as a mark of favour from the Chaos Gods and are generally displayed with pride.Lorgar AurelianWord BearersThe gene-seed of the Word Bearers was originally thought to be pure, but events subsequent to the Horus Heresy revealed the weaknesses inherent in their genetic make-up. The Space Marines of the Word Bearers displayed a marked tendency towards dogged, unquestioning belief and stubbornness that verged on insanity during the Great Crusade. Since the end of the Horus Heresy, their gene-seed has become corrupted and mutated beyond any hope of redemption by constant exposure to the energies of the Warp and the Word Bearers' original negative personality traits have been magnified to hideous proportions.VulkanSalamandersThe strength of constitution displayed by fully developed Salamanders Astartes has measurable superiority to the already superhuman Space Marine norms in relation to extreme temperature tolerance, radiological resistance and cellular repair. These Astartes also display "ember-like" bioluminescence to their eyes and a tendency for skin pigmentation to permanently darken in response to prolonged exposure to high levels of potentially harmful radiation as part of their biological defence mechanism, often adopting an unnatural granite-like or obsidian quality with sufficient exposure.Corvus CoraxRaven GuardSince the time of the Horus Heresy, the gene-seed of the Raven Guard has suffered degeneration which has caused several of the implants to fail. Both the Betcher's Gland and Mucranoid organs are no longer functional and other defects within the gene-seed cause the skin of Raven Guard Astartes to become paler over time until it is as white as their primarch's. The eyes and hair of all Raven Guard Astartes will eventually become a deep black.AlphariusAlpha LegionThe Alpha Legion's gene-seed was surprisingly pure. The first batch of Alpha Legionaries was notably tall and strong even for members of the Astartes, physical attributes which suited Alpharius' focus on misdirection. The Space Marines of the Alpha Legion tended to pattern their visage on that of their Primarch Alpharius, an extension of the Legion's philosophy that they were a body of one that could strike in many places at once. The Alpha Legion also displayed a tendency for personal initiative and secrecy.Second FoundingLeman RussWolf BrothersThe dangerous Canis Helix within the Space Wolves' gene-seed proved to be disastrous for this Successor Chapter, as it quickly fell to the curse of the Wulfen, and the Chapter devolved into savage, malformed lupine mutants. The Wolf Brothers were disbanded and scattered to the six points of the compass.Rogal DornExcoriatorsThe Excoriators are afflicted by a genetic curse known as Dorn's Darkness. When Dorn's Darkness takes one of their number it might appear to the untrained eye as merely a wretched palsy: a slackness of the jaw, a tremor of the limb, a blankness of the eye. But those who survive it report the experience as a living nightmare, a sleeping wakefulness in which they relive the bottomless woe of Dorn's most trying time -- the grievous loss of the Emperor during the Siege of Terra, at least as the ancient Astartes once knew Him.SanguiniusAngels EncarmineThe Angels Encarmine share many traits with their progenitor Chapter, the Blood Angels, included the tragic flaw that afflicts so many of the line of Sanguinius. This curse manifests itself in many different ways, but in the case of the Angels Encarmine it has led to a fiery, zealous temperament that drives the Chapter to ever greater heights of valour. Where other Chapters might retire after a hard fought campaign to rebuild and reconstitute their numbers, the Angels Encarmine plunge headlong into the next battle. Rarely is any time given over to recuperation, meaning that the Chapter is seldom operating at anything like full strength. It has been surmised that the Angels Encarmine fight in this manner as a means of staving off the worst effects of the flaw, but some well-placed observers have posited an alternative possibility. Perhaps, they whisper, the Angels Encarmine fight the way they do to purge their ranks of those in the grip of the Black Rage.SanguiniusBlood DrinkersThe Blood Drinkers' gene-seed, drawn from the angelic Primarch Sanguinius just like that of the Blood Angels, has further mutated, leading to a worsening of the Red Thirst Flaw in which the Blood Drinkers suffer an overriding thirst to ingest the blood of their enemies in order to stop the cravings. Unlike the Blood Angels and their other Successor Chapters, these cravings afflict the entire Chapter and not just those who fall to the Red Thirst. This has led to the development of Chapter-wide blood drinking rituals which both provided the Chapter with its name and keeps the blood-lust in check.SanguiniusFlesh TearersUnlike the Blood Angels and their other Successors, the Flesh Tearers are far further along in the descent into madness and their gene-seed carries a heightened version of the Black Rage Flaw which may well spell their complete annihilation within the space of a few short decades. The Flesh Tearers also suffer from the Red Thirst, an overwhelming desire to physically taste their enemies' blood. Unfortunately, when this trait is combined with the Black Rage it can devolve into outright cannibalistic assaults by the enraged Space Marines.Corvus CoraxRaptorsIn spite of suffering catastrophic losses multiple times throughout their history, the Raptors have managed to recover each time. This suggest that their gene-seed is healthy and stable. As with the Raven Guard, battle-brothers of the Raptors Chapter gradually attain an ever paler skin tone as they age. After just a few standard centuries of service, some have skin that is very nearly translucent. At the same time, their hair colour darkens, so that the Chapter’s Veterans are easily identified by their black hair and pale complexions. Again, like their progenitors, the Raptors also lack a functional Mucranoid implant. However, they do have a fully functional Betcher's Gland. It is unclear if this organ was somehow recovered by the Raptors or if their Founding occurred prior to the Raven Guard Chapter losing that organ from their standard array of Astartes organ implants.Third FoundingSanguiniusFlesh EatersBorn as they were from the Blood Angels' gene-seed, the Flesh Eaters also carry their flaw, although some Blood Angels' Successor Chapters feel its taint more than others. Most harshly affected are those Successor Chapters founded from the Blood Angels gene-seed in later centuries, at times when the Blood Angels Chapter Council had thought the flaw eradicated from the gene-stocks. In reality, it had merely degenerated into new and worrying forms and, as a result, the battle-brothers of those Chapters founded in such times did not suffer slight lapses of control, but teetered on the border of full-blown insanity.13th ("Dark") FoundingCorvus Corax (Suspected)Death SpectresLike the Raven Guard, the battle-brothers of this Chapter possess a minor mutation that causes the Melanochromic Organ (which controls the amount of melanin in an Astartes' skin tone) to not function properly, leading to the development of albinism in Death Spectres Astartes.21st ("Cursed") FoundingVulkan (Suspected)Black DragonsThe Black Dragons were censured by the Inquisition due to the mutation of the Chapter's gene-seed, especially the Ossmodula, which causes certain Astartes of the Chapter to develop blade-like outgrowths of bone on the head and forearms and to grow long, poisonous fangs. The Black Dragons' obvious physical mutations make long-term cooperation with other (less tolerant) Imperial Adepta impossible. The Black Dragons are a Chapter who push the Inquisition to the limits of its tolerance.UnknownBlood GorgonsThe Blood Gorgons, who value their freedom and independence above all else, were declared Renegade and Excommunicate Traitoris a mere six decades after their Founding. Even within the Eye of Terror, this Renegade Chapter refuses to swear allegiance to any patron Chaos God, preferring to serve Chaos in general in the form of Chaos Undivided.Roboute GuillimanFire HawksThe Astartes of the Chapter displayed a propensity for overzealousness. Several other Space Marine Chapters considered the Fire Hawks darkly tainted, overly prideful and wanting in brotherhood. Some went so far as to suggest that the Fire Hawks had been corrupted by some flaw in the Chapter's collective psyche or gene-seed, though none would gainsay their effectiveness in battle.UnknownFlame FalconsDeclared Excommunicate Traitoris within a century of their inception. Almost entirely wiped out by the Inquisition's Grey Knights after they assaulted the Flame Falcons' homeworld of Lethe, following a great victory when their bodies spontaneously burst into flames that did not burn their own flesh.SanguiniusLamentersThe Lamenters' gene-seed may have been tampered with during their creation process by the Adeptus Mechanicus in an effort to rid them of the genetic flaws found within the Blood Angels' gene-seed. The Lamenters seem to suffer from a constant string of ill fortune.UnknownMinotaursEntirely consumed by a xenophobic hatred that far surpasses the righteous fury of a normal Space Marine. The Minotaurs are also prone to berserk fury and ferocious assaults. The Minotaurs have been known to show pleasure in testing their skills against worthy foes. Some speculate that perhaps the Minotaurs consider their fellow Astartes as particularly worthy, since they have a predilection for following the commands of the High Lords of Terra to castigate or annihilate a Renegade Chapter without fail or protest.UnknownSons of AntaeusDuring the inception of the Sons of Antaeus Chapter, its creators extensively modified the gene-seed in order to create Space Marines of exceptional durability, hardiness, size and strength. Whether their skeletal structure was enhanced with an artificial substance, or other more esoteric procedures were used to enhance their gene-seed is unknown. Less sympathetic observers point out that the Chapter appears every bit as resilient as the Death Guard Traitor Legion.23rd ("Sentinel") Founding (Unconfirmed)Corvus Corax (Unconfirmed)CarcharodonsThe gene-seed is of unknown origin and is untainted, but has suffered some long-term degradation. More interestingly, this Chapter's gene-seed bears several genetic markers reminiscent of the Raven Guard bloodline. These markers are uncommon, and a link to the Raven Guard would explain several other details about the Carcharodons as well. The Astartes of this Chapter all possess greyish, pale skin with an almost deathlike pallor. Some of the most venerable and ancient Carcharodons have liquid black eyes, without iris or sclera. Beyond this, however, there are no common gene-types amongst encountered Carcharodons. This suggests that the Carcharodons do recruit from a wide variety of sources, and that their skin colour and eye mutation is a result of their gene-seed.Unknown FoundingUnknownBlood RavensThe Blood Ravens can no longer experience true REM sleep and so they cannot dream, and after they are implanted with their gene-seed organs, they possess perfect recall of every event for the rest of their lives. Blood Ravens Astartes also seem to develop psychic abilities at an unusually accelerated rate.