Crimson Fists: A Comprehensive History
Origins
The Crimson Fists' origins lay in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy. When Roboute Guilliman presented the Codex Astartes Dorn was vehemently against it. Rogal Dorn saw the break up of the Legions as an insult to his honor, after all it was Dorn and the Imperial Fists, not Guilliman and his Ultramarines, who stood beside the Emperor at the defense of Terra. The matter came to a head when the Terrible Angel, an Imperial Fist Strike Cruiser, was fired on by the Imperial Navy. Famous for his temper and stubbornness Dorn proved a noble leader when he relented rather than plunge the Imperium into another civil war. The die hard followers of Dorn kept the uniform and title of the Imperial Fists, while the more zealous battle brothers took on the name the Black Templars. The newly initiated and youngest brethren of the Imperial Fists however were formed into a new chapter named the Crimson Fists.
Each of the new Chapters was given a single Battle Barge, a number of Strike Cruisers and Rapid Strike Vessels and departed to make their mark on the Galaxy. While the Black Templars became a force of zealots and crusaders, sailing across the stars on unending quests of conquest and vengeance the Crimson Fists exemplified the teachings of Dorn, carving their way into the annals of the Imperium.
The Chapter took its name from the Imperial Fists ritual of initiation for new Chapter Masters. Rogal Dorn and the new Chapter Master would slit their left palms and clasp hands in a warriors embrace, in this way the blood of the Primarch would mingle with that of the Space Marine, strengthening the Chapter Master's gene-seed and forming a symbolic bond between Dorn and his favored sons.
The Crimson Fists' first Chapter Master Alexis Polux did almost as much to mould the character of the newly formed Chapter as the legacy of Rogal Dorn did. In the Assimularum of the Crimson Fists' space-faring Fortress Monastery Alexis Polux is represented by a masterwork hololithic sculpture. Author
Vash113 is a Lexicanum here on the B&C and is well known for his trademark Comprehensive Histories of the Chapters of Legend. He delves into the Crimson Fists rich past in this article. Who knows what chapter he may choose next...The carving depicts Polux in the Crimson Fists' first action after their formation, the Scourging of Uralek Prime. The Chapter fought to defend a newly formed Colony from a large force of Exodite Eldar. While Polux was a giant of a man, his size belied a calculating intellect that led the Crimson Fists to victory. The defense of Uralek Prime remains a common study for all new Initiates to the Chapter.
Alexis Polux remained the Chapter Master for eight centuries until he fell in battle in an unnamed system codified HR8518. The system was occupied by the previously unencountered xenos now known as the Scythians. The vile aliens made use of repulsive venom based weaponry, and a dart from one such poisoned weapon pierced the temple of Alexis Polux and brought him low. Polux fought the toxin for many days before he finally went to stand at the side of the Emperor, but before he passed he instructed his warriors well. After Polux's death the Crimson Fists enacted his plan and the Scythians were driven from the system in a short but very brutal xenocidal campaign. The Scythians suffered such a defeat that they now rarely engage Imperial forces openly and rely on assassinations and covert strikes instead. Sergeant Huron Grimm at the Siege of New Rynn City
"Nothing ever assured me more that the Emperor truly watches over us than when I saw our Chapter Master return to us from death."
Homeworld
The Crimson Fists were a fleet based chapter for fully nine millenia. Only in the last thousand years did the Chapter claim a homeworld. Before then the Crimson Fists sailed across the Imperium, based from the massive space born Fortress Monastery the Rutilus Tyrannus. Operating as a crusading chapter like their brethren the Imperial Fists and the Black Templars, the Crimson Fists did keep close ties with the Loki Sector in the Segmentum Tempestus, particularly a number of feral worlds that supplied new recruits to the Crimson Fists. The Segmentum Tempestus is plagued by numerous Ork empires and before long the Crimson Fists became experts in fighting the foul greenskins.
At the conclusion of the Vortigern Crusade in 745.M40 the Crimson Fists were awarded fiefdom of Rynn's World in the Loki Sector. The sector had been threatened by a number of rising Ork empires, though the Crimson Fists assaulted each before a Warboss could arise and launch a Waaagh. The campaign was so successful that the Ork empires collapsed from internecine conflict and it was a thousand years before an Ork Warboss rose to threaten the Imperium, but when one did the result was the disasterous Waaagh Snagrod.
Rynn's World was first discovered by the legendary Reclamator Soldano Malverro Rynn and his 42 acolytes. The world bearing Reclamator Rynn's name is located within the Peryton Cluster of the Loki Sector and orbits the twin suns of Eloix and Rynnstar. Orbited by a number of moons including Dantienne and Syphos, and is one of a number of planets in the system though the only one of major significance.
Before Waaagh Snagrod invaded, Rynn's World was a rather pleasant agri-world that supplied exotic foodstuffs to the rich and influential all across the sector and beyond. However the Crimson Fists built their Fortress Monastery in the Hellblade Mountains, leaving the administration of the planet to the local nobility in the tradition of Rogal Dorn and the Imperial Fists. The practice leaves the Chapter free of administrative affairs, allowing those more interested and capable perform such tasks. What made Rynn's World ideal for the Crimson Fists is its proximity to the feral world of Blackwater, the Chapter's primary source of recruits. This proximity allows the Chaplains and Apothecaries of the Chapter to attend Blackwater's annual "Festival of the Bloodied Fist" where the world's best young men compete in a number of tests of strength and skill culminating in a hunt known as the "Rite of the Dragon" in which the young aspirants must track and kill a swamp dwelling Barb Dragon. Few aspirants make it as far as the hunt and each year only one or two actually manage to kill a Barb Dragon with their bare hands. This rigorous trial ensures that only the best aspirants make it into the Chapter.
Following the invasion of Waaagh Snagrod Rynn City and much of the surrounding land has been turned into a war-blasted wasteland, not to mention the destruction of the Crimson Fists Fortress Monastery. With the Orks repelled the Crimson Fists have much rebuilding to do, including constructing a new Fortress Monastery and orbital docks.
The Arx Tyrannus
The former Fortress Monastery of the Crimson Fists was situated in the Hellblade Mountains of the Sorocco province on Rynn's World. Formed from the bones of the former flagship of the Chapter fleet the Rutilus Tyrannus the Fortress was known as the Arx Tyrannus. Comprising a central citidel surrounded by buildings dedicated to the Chapter Reclusium, Apothecarion, Technicarum and so on and protected by a curtain wall featuring four mighty bastions known as the Sercia, Protheo, Marez and Laculum Bastions. It was an anti-ship torpedo fired from the Laculm bastion that ultimately destroyed the Arx Tyrannus. Roughly 600 Astartes were within the Arx Tyrannus Fortress Monastery when it was destroyed and the loss of all but 16 of them was the greatest loss of life the Chapter has suffered since the Siege of Barenthal.
At its height the Arx Tyrannus was staffed by specialised serfs including a senior Astropath known as the Monitor who presided over the Fortress' Communicatus, and the Major-Domo who served as the overseer of the Chapters serfs and personal attendant to the Lord Hellblade himself. The last serving Monitor was Durlon Cholo, while the last Major-Domo was a failed aspirant named Ramir Savales. Savales had been a promising recruit to the Chapter but was unable to become a marine when his body rejected the implants. Savales' direct predecessor was a man named Argol Kondris, like with many serf positions Savales became Major-Domo after being selected as an apprentice to Kondris. All but four hundred odd Chapter Serfs were killed when the Arx Tyrannus was lost, none survived the explosion.
In addition to the Arx Tyrannus the Chapter possessed a Keep known as the Cassar within New Rynn City, an orbital dock known as Raxa Station that serviced the fleet and had lunar tracking stations on the moons of Dantienne and Syphos. Of these assets only the Cassar appears to have survived the invasion of the Arch-Arsonist.
The site of the Arx Tyrannus was badly ruptured with the destruction of the Fortress Monastery and it seems unlikely that it will prove a suitable site for a new Fortress Monastery to take shape. Without significant effort in reconstructing the mountainside the Crimson Fists will likely have to find another location on which to build a new Fortress.
The Cassar
A Chapter Keep of the Crimson Fists situated in the Zona Regis also known as the Silver Citadel of New Rynn City. The Citadel is situated on a small island at the center of New Rynn City, with the rapid flowing River Rynn on either side and potent void shields to protect it the Silver Citadel and the Cassar within form the most protected location on the planet next to the Arx Tyrannus itself. With the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus the Crimson Fists Fortress Monastery it seems logical that the Chapter will base itself from The Cassar until such a point as the Chapter can salvage the ruins of the Arx Tyrannus and build a new Fortress Monastery. Fortunately four hundred of the Chapters serfs and nearly thirty servitors were dispatched to the Cassar to prepare it for Snagrod's invasion, ensuring that the Chapter still possesses some of its servants.
Recruitment
The Crimson Fists primary source of recruits for many centuries has been the feral world of "Blackwater" situated relatively close to Rynn's World. However the Crimson Fists also recruit from Rynn's World itself and a number of other planets and systems within the near vicinity. Having been a fleet based Chapter for several millenia the Chapter had grown accustomed to recruiting from many worlds but always came back to "Blackwater" and several nearby systems for a steady source of reliable recruits, making the move to a homeworld based Chapter relatively simple. Upon recruitment a neophyte will serve in the Chapter's 10th Company as with any other Codex Chapter and upon completing the ritual of The Steeping takes his place in one of the Chapters reserve Companies. Failed aspirants, primarily those whose bodies proved unable to accept the Chapter's gene-seed and implants, become Chapter Serfs.
Combat Doctrine
While many of the Imperial Fists railed against the changes, the battle brothers that formed the Crimson Fists embraced them. Because of this the Crimson Fists have maintained the teachings of Guilliman down through the ages, training in every aspect of warfare as dictated by the Codex Astartes. Despite this the Crimson Fists have been noted for their expertise in fighting the many alien threats to the Imperium, particularly the vile Ork menace. The Chapter has certainly proved an asset to the Ordo Xenos and seconded many marines to the Death Watch.
However after the Battle for Rynn's World Chapter Master Pedro Kantor found that he could not deploy the Chapter in the manner described by the Codex Astartes. Severely depleted, Kantor had to deploy his squads as infiltrators and guerrilla fighters and the Chapter's aim following the conflict has been almost solely rebuilding. Even now the Crimson Fists boast barely half the strength of a normal Space Marine Chapter and it may be a long time before the Crimson Fists are back to full strength.
Organization
Ever since the founding of the Crimson Fists the Chapter has maintained the tenets and doctrines of the Codex Astartes rigidly and following the Battle for Rynn's World has thrown all available resources into rebuilding and returning to the organization laid down by the Codex.
Having been a crusading chapter for so long the Crimson Fists still maintain a sizable fleet. While much of the Crimson Fists fleet was damaged or destroyed during the invasion of Waaagh Snagrod as Ork Kroozers ravaged the system, those ships that survived proved invaluable in stalling the Orks until the Imperial Navy could muster a response to aid the besieged Chapter. The Crimson Fists fleet linked up with the Navy reinforcements when they arrived, and proved invaluable in transporting Kantor's forces around from warzone to warzone allowing the depleted numbers of the Chapter to still have a considerable impact in the war.
Nevertheless at the conclusion of the Campaign the Crimson Fists found themselves in the quite unusual situation of having more specialists than battle brothers. These specialists are vital to the rebuilding of the Chapter and each ship in the Crimson Fists fleet is currently commanded by a Techmarine acting under the command of the Master of the Fleet, and Apothecaries are also stationed on each vessel. While a number of initiates have already been inducted into the newly formed 10th Company the Chapter will not rush the process, for to lower the standards of recruitment at such a critical moment could prove disastrous to the chapter in the future.
The Chapter's Serfs are made up of failed aspirants collectively called "The Chosen," who serve the Chapter in support roles and it is from these Serfs that messengers, skilled labor and even the Chapter Master's Major-Domo are all drawn.
Company and Squad Markings
It is unclear whether it is a practice that predates the Battle for Rynn's World or if it is a response to the shockingly few survivors of the invasion but unlike most Chapters the Crimson Fists do not use any markings to denote their Company affiliation on their armor. Squad number is shown on the right shoulder pad inside the squad symbol.
The Crusade Company
Ever since the Crusade of Righteous Liberation, the Crimson Fists 1st Company has been known as the "Crusade" Company and numbers 128 Veterans at full strength, the number of marines who survived the Righteous Liberation Crusade. Furthermore the Company is not led by a Captain as in most Chapters, but is commanded by the Chapter Master himself.
Ranks and Titles
Lord Hellblade
-Title used by the people of Rynn's World to refer to the Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists.
High Chaplain
-Informal title for the Master of Sanctity of the Chapter.
Master of the Shield
-Title held by the 2nd Company Captain.
Master of the Line
-Title held by the 3rd Company Captain.
Master of the Charge
-Title held by the 4th Company Captain.
Master of the Watch
-Title held by the 6th Company Captain.
Master of the Gates
-Title held by the 7th Company Captain.
Master of Blades
-Title of the 8th Company Captain.
Master of the Siege
-Title of the 9th Company Captain.
Master of the Shadows
-Title of the 10th Company Captain.
Master of the Fleet
-Rank held by a senior headquarters marine, not a Company Captain.
BeliefsGauntlets
Once a Crimson Fist becomes a full Battle Brother, his left gauntlet is painted crimson. Upon becoming a member of the Crusade Company he is allowed to paint his right glove also. The most honoured Crimson Fist warriors are gifted with one of the Chapter's ancient power gloves as a symbol of their might at arms.
The Crimson Fists venerate the Emperor and Rogal Dorn, the Emperor as the gene-father of the Adeptus Astartes, and Rogal Dorn as their primogenitor and Primarch. The Chapter also maintains a strict schedule of holy days, the most important being the Foundation Day upon which every marine of the Chapter gathers. During the Foundation Day, gathering the battle brothers listen to readings of the works of Alexis Polux, as well as those of Dorn himself. The Chapter also remembers and commemorates its greatest achievements and its worst losses. In this way the Marines of the Chapter learn from the mistakes of their ancestors and keep the memory of the Chapter's pains and achievements alive. This practice is strongly encouraged by the Codex Astartes but few Space Marine Chapters actually practice it. Pride makes many Chapters refuse to admit that their ancestors were ever mistaken, or that they have anything to learn from the mistakes of their past.
On another note the Crimson Fists, true to their ancestry, have been observed to on occasion field an Emperor's Champion. While the Crimson Fists traditionally fielded an Emperor's Champion far less frequently than other Imperial Fists successors such as the Black Templars, there have been occasions recorded when a battle brother on the eve of battle became overcome with visions of the Emperor. Those battle brothers would take up the Black Sword and the Armor of Faith and lead their brethren into battle. However no instance has been recorded of the Crimson Fists fielding an Emperor's Champion since the destruction of the Chapter's Fortress Monastery on Rynn's World. It is entirely possible that the sacred vestments of office were lost in the Monastery's destruction. It is also possible that no brother has taken up the vestments since the Battle For Rynn's World, but given the great loss suffered by the Chapter it is likely that many relics were lost forever, some that may never be replaced or restored.
Miracle of the Blood
The Miracle of the Blood is performed every year on the Chapter's Foundation Day. A group of 20 odd Chaplains known as the Sacratium perform the ritual in which a small portion of Dorn's blood, preserved for 10,000 years in an ornate scepter, reverts from a dried lump to liquid blood once more before the eyes of the onlookers. The Miracle of the Blood is a constant reminder to the Chapter that Rogal Dorn is still with them.
The Steeping
When a Scout is ready to be elevated to the status of a full Battle-Brother they participate in a ritual known as "The Steeping" in which the Scout submerges his left fist into the blood of one of his kills. The ritual reflects the right of the new marine to wear the crimson gauntlet that is the namesake of the Chapter on his left fist.
Geenseed
The Crimson Fists recruit primarily from the World of Blackwater, but the Chapter also draws recruits from a number of other Feral Worlds in the Loki Sector. However the natives of the feral worlds are far from primitive barbarians and are actually a noble people who struggle daily against great adversity. It is that stoic nature that makes the tribesmen such excellent recruits for the Crimson Fists.
The Crimson Fists gene-seed comes from the Primarch Rogal Dorn, and as such the Chapter inherits many of the traits of the Imperial Fists Primarch. The Chapter's gene-seed is highly stable, though lacks the Betcher's Gland and Sus-An Membrane like all other Imperial Fists Successor Chapters. The Imperial Fists have a near obsession with mastering pain, and stubborn resistance in the face of overwhelming odds.Rogal Dorn
Nothing is known of the fate of Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists. Some myths claim that he yet lives, secretly commanding the Companions of the Adeptus Custodes - the exceptionally deadly warriors who guard the Golden Throne itself.The Crimson Fists appear to not suffer from headstrong impulses to anywhere near the extent of the Imperial Fists, perhaps due to the initial membership of the Chapter being drawn from the newer and more level headed members of Dorn's Legion. While just as noble and dedicated as the Imperial Fists the Crimson Fists appear to have mastered the impulse towards self inflicted punishment and penance.
The Crimson Fists however only narrowly escaped extinction when their Fortress Monastery was destroyed. According to the Adeptus Mechanicus a Space Marine Chapter reduced to less than a Company of marines has only a 20-25% chance of survival. The strength of the Crimson Fists gene-seed was what saved the Chapter as despite having been reduced to less than a Company of Marines the Crimson Fists have proved more than capable of rebuilding though it is a long, drawn-out process.
The Crusade of Righteous Liberation
The most famous campaign of the Crimson Fists was the three hundred year long Crusade of Righteous Liberation. The Crusade took place during the Age of Apostasy in the 36th Millennium when the insane Goge Vandire threatened to tear the Imperium apart in a series of internecine wars almost as destructive as the infamous Horus Heresy. When Goge Vandire was finally slain and Sebastian Thor restored order to the Ecclesiarchy and the Administratum the Crimson Fists took it upon themselves to return order to the worlds of the Imperium that had fallen from the Emperor's light during the tumultuous period. Setting sail aboard their starships the whole Chapter went to war.
During the chaotic period of civil war many planets had fallen to rebellion, invasion, or any number of other catastrophes. The first such world the Crimson Fists reached was the planet Welte, which was currently enslaved by the brutal Ork Warlord Ghar Nazzghar, known also as the Plunderer of Polemis. The Crimson Fists despatched a force of marines drawn from no less than four companies to liberate the planet, while the rest of the Chapter would continue on in search of other worlds in need of their aid. The strike force was placed under the command of Captain Sandriaz, who led the Crimson Fists across the world like a storm, destroying supply trains, factories and ore mines. Before long the Orks found themselves scattered far and wide trying to protect the few installations still standing. Before the Orks could recover however Sandriaz launched an attack on the ruined urban skeleton that had once been Welte Prime and was now Nazzghar's stronghold. With most of his forces dispersed through the planet's dust bowls chasing ghosts Nazzghar could not even hope to stop the relentless advance of the Adeptus Astartes. The Warlord himself launched a final desperate counter attack but the greenskin never even made it through the relentless gauntlet of bolter fire from the Crimson Fists. With Ghar Nazzghar dead the Crimson Fists departed, leaving the remaining disorganized Orks for the previously enslaved citizens to deal with.
Welte was only the first of a remarkable eighty four worlds the Crimson Fists liberated during the Crusade of Righteous Liberation. During the Crusade the Crimson Fists could not recruit new marines to replace battle losses and the numbers of the Chapter dwindled dangerously. Finally when the Chapter broke the four century long rebel siege of Barenthal on Excelsiva II, Chapter Master Kordova declared the Crusade officially completed. At the end of the Crusade the Crimson Fists numbered a mere one hundred and twenty eight marines. Since then the 1st Company has traditionally remained at 128 marines and its Captain is also always the Chapter Master. The Company is now known as the Crusade Company and the Chapter believes it to be a bad omen to go to war without a full strength 1st Company.
The Battle for Rynn's World
The invasion of Waaagh Snagrod began on the world of Badlanding, just a few weeks warp travel from the Rynn-star system and on the fringes of Ork controlled space. Badlanding was invaded by Warboss Snagrod the Arch-Arsonist of Charadon. Charadon has remained a blight on the Imperium for more than sixteen centuries, and after a twelve year long campaign of bloodshed Snagrod managed to weld together all those Ork tribes who dared oppose him.
The single habitable world orbiting the K-type star Freiya, known as Badlanding, was defended by three recruitment regiments of the Imperial Guard, the Mordian 18th, the Lammas 24th, and the Boros 49th, under the command of Commissar-General Alhaus Baldur. The world was also defended by a system of missile silos and planetary defense lasers though these systems had not been used or blessed by the Techpriests of Mars for more than three centuries. The Orks unsurprisingly managed to land relatively easily despite losses to "badlandings" in the equatorial dust seas and losses to the antiquated defenses.
The Imperial defenses centered around the single sizable habitation on the planet, the town of Krugerport. The Guard regiments fought alongside the Badlandingers and managed to put up a decent resistance but the Orks were too numerous. Fast moving Ork warbands captured or slaughtered all those in the surrounding settlements who didn't manage to flee to the caves in the nearby Scratch mountains. Krugerport itself was quickly outmatched and fell within days, even as a counter attack force was being mustered at the Crimson Fists Fortress Monastery on Rynn's World.
Snagrod began regular broadcasts boasting the invincibility of his warbands and making claims to conquer Rynn's world, the most secure Imperial Stronghold bordering Charadon. While a great deal of the Chapter's resources were tied up in campaigns against the Eldar in the Wheel of Fire, or securing the N'goth-Katar trade routes, Chapter Master Kantor planned a series of attacks to gather information, strike at the Ork morale, and encourage the surviving humans of Badlanding to resist the Ork invaders.
Warp storms delayed the Strike Cruiser The Crusader under the Command of Captain Drakken, leading the 3rd Company. Upon arriving The Crusader did manage to enter the system undetected but scans indicated there were at least sixteen Ork warships in orbit around Badlanding alone. The wisdom of continuing the mission was questioned but Drakken was determined to land his forces. Three Thunderhawks landed Drakken and the 84 members of the 3rd Company thirty miles from Krugerport. Captain Drakken planned to march to Krugerport, destroy the town's communications tower and disrupt the many Ork transmissions, and disable the water plant. Drakken then planned to withdraw for extraction before the Orks could bring significant resistance to bear from the nearby harvesting rigs. Rynn's Might
Rynn's Might was a Land Raider of the Crimson Fists. When the Chapter's Fortress Monastery was destroyed the tank was remarkably thrown clear and survived the explosion and the impact. Operated by its Machine Spirit alone the battle tank blasted its way through every Ork patrol it could find until it encountered a full Ork warband. The Land Raider fought until its lascannons fused solid and its heavy bolters were out of ammunition and even then the tank continued to crush Orks underneath its tracks. When at last the Orks crippled the tank's tracks and brought it grinding to a halt Rynn's Might still fought on. Opening its hatches to allow the Ork Warlord and his bodyguard to enter Rynn's Might slammed its doors shut and overloaded its engines, frying the Ork Warboss and his bodyguard. Chapter Master Kantor ordered the remains of the tank carefully recorded and stationed a guard over the ruined warmachine so that in time its machine spirit could be recovered and put back to service in a new body to fight the Emperor's foes with such zeal once more.
Initially the raid went well, Scout squads under the command of Scout Sergeant Ezra Mishina eliminated the forward observation posts of the Orks and the 3rd Company managed to breach the city before the alarm was raised. Early resistance was fairly light as small, scattered groups of Orks tried to fight back. This opposition was quickly swept aside and the Crimson Fists pushed on towards their objectives. However soon Ork resistance became much heavier as in defiance of his orders Scout Sniper Janus Kennon tried to take a shot at the Ork Warlord in command of the occupying forces known as Urzog Mag Kull. The shot failed to penetrate the Ork Warlord's force field but it did reveal the Crimson Fists's presence to the Orks and soon Ork warmachines circled the town, trapping the Crimson Fists in and the Orks began to assault the Space Marines en-masse from all directions. The Crimson Fists found their two prongs of attack separated and their forces having to turn often to defend themselves from the rear even as they tried to press forward towards their objectives.
Sergeant Werner commanding the Crimson Fists force attacking the filtration plant managed to accomplish his objective just after midnight. However all communication had been lost with Drakken and the thirty marines with him. As Sergeant Werner struggled against the Ork tides he recieved word from Scout Sergeant Mishina that Captain Drakken had just been slain by Urzog Mag Kull, despite Werner's desire to recover the Captain's body he realised they would all be lost if they didn't escape soon and so summoned the Thunderhawks for extraction. Two of the Thunderhawks suffered significant damage in the approach and landing and another suffered a direct hit to an engine and was forced to crash land in the Scratch Mountains. The Crusader escaped Badlanding hotly pursued by Ork warships, but of the eighty four marines who embarked on the mission, fifty six had been lost. Tactical analysis' of the Badlanding Combat Data was analysed upon the return to Rynn's World. It was concluded that the Orks stationed on Badlanding were under the command of the Warboss Uzrog Mag-Kull, one of Snagrod's most dangerous lieutenants; which was probably why Snagrod has stationed Urzog on Badlanding, so that the Ork wouldn't threaten Snagrod's command. Most of the Orks had been of the Deathskull clan, easily identified by their many grizzly trophies.
Worse still for the Crimson Fists, a warband of the Goff clan had also been at Krugerport, perhaps sent by Snagrod personally to make sure Urzog didn't attempt to undermine his command. Chapter Master Kantor suspended all raids indefinitely, he saw that an Ork Waaagh was building and realized that attacking the Orks at that juncture would only stir them up further. Imperial forces would take years to reach the sector and Kantor knew that a long hard fight was ahead. The Crimson Fists Fortress Monastery the Arx Tyrannus was put on full alert and all Companies were recalled. Planetary defense forces and militias were roused and armed. While an attack on Rynn's World seemed insane, Kantor was taking no chances. Before long though sirens sounded throughout the Fortress Monastery as auger satellites detected a xenos warfleet exiting the warp in the System. Snagrod appeared insane enough to try a full scale invasion of Rynn's World.
Rynn's World was not Badlanding though and while the system defense ships were weak and ill-maintained they clustered in the space above Rynn's World thickly, supported by old but functional defense orbitals and air defense batteries, which were armed and readied. In addition to these defenses were the ships of the Crimson Fists sizeable fleet, commanded by the Master of the Fleet Ceval Ranparre aboard his flagship The Sabre of Scaurus. The first Ork ships to come into range were blown apart by beams of incandescent fury, but many more Ork ships followed. Soon the night sky of Rynn's World was turned to day by the raging inferno of combat that filled the space above the planet. Yet the Ork fleet crashed through the maelstrom with reckless bravery, ramming, boarding and blasting defense orbitals and ships. Before long the first assault boats entered orbit and crashed to the surface around missile silos and defense batteries, spilling forth greenskinned monsters to slaughter the gunnery crews. Soon reports of combat became a torrent as the fighting became widespread. Knowing that the defenses would not be enough Kantor ordered the fastest of the Chapter's Strike Cruisers The Crusader to break out and gather reinforcements.
Tragically the battle soon turned for the worst. At the height of the fighting a single missile salvo from Battery Laculum on the western flank of the Crimson Fists Fortress Monastery failed to escape the atmosphere and fell back to the planet. Somehow luck was against the Crimson Fists and despite all odds the missile managed to dig deep into the walls of the Monastery and detonate the heavily shielded Fortress Arsenal. The Fortress Monastery was blasted apart in the raging conflagration as its munitions stores were cooked off. Fortunately Chapter Master Kantor had been inspecting the outermost defenses when the Monastery was destroyed and he along with a handful of marines escaped the destruction of their Chapter fortress. Steeling themselves to the loss the Crimson Fists retreated to New Rynn City. With the Fortress gone the lynchpin of the defenses was eradicated and the sky soon filled with innumerable Ork warships and assault boats.
When the smoke cleared only 16 of the 600 Marines that had stood ready to defend the Arx Tyrannus still lived and two of them were Captain Alessio Cortez and Chapter Master Pedro Kantor himself. For ten days the Crimson Fists made their way to New Rynn City, skirmishing with the Orks when they could and travelling by night to avoid the attentions of the patrolling Ork Fighta Bombas that prowled the skies during the day. The Orks ran utterly unchecked, killing or enslaving everyone they could find and demolishing anything that stood in their way. On the tenth night the Crimson Fists reached New Rynn City to find it in ruins. Only the central portion of the city, built onto an island in the center of the mighty River Pakomac stood, a bastion against the Ork invaders. Many Ork forts had been erected around the island and each Warboss was enacting his own plans to sack the last city on the planet. Some were trying to build bridges, others submersible siege towers, others pontoon boats, and still others were simply shelling the city endlessly. Since all existing bridges to the Island had been destroyed Kantor and his men made their way to a major underzoom that led under the river and into the city. Kantor and his men had to make a major detour around a large mustering of Orks gathering in the pre-dawn light for a major offensive. As The Crimson Fists reached the entrance to the underzoom they were greatly heartened to see that it was held by brethren of their Chapter who had been dispatched to New Rynn City before the Fortress Monastery had been destroyed. The leader of the marines was Veteran Sergeant Huron Grimm. The marines were shocked to see their Chapter Master, believed dead with their fortress, emerging from the pre-dawn mist. Before they could celebrate however the three squads under Kantor had to rush to join the barricades as the Orks began the first of many assaults led by Warboss Ulruk. After having already sustained three days of heavy assaults the Crimson Fists had to fall back and demolish the tunnel to prevent the Orks from following them. The last resistance on Rynn's World was now cut off and alone.
While Pedro Kantor and the survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus made their way to New Rynn City the garrison under the command of Captain Drigo Alvez of the 2nd Company were giving their all to keep the Orks at bay. With the 3rd Company survivors of Badlanding, his own 2nd Company, Scouts of the 10th and a sizeable number of Veterans from the 1st Company Alvez was managing to make the Orks pay for every metre of ground taken. Despite having issued the Ceres Protocol, an order that demanded no Crimson Fist sacrifice themselves for non-Astartes in an effort to minimise cassualties, Captain Alvez sacrificed himself to give Sergeant Werner time to close an inner city gate and keep the Orks from slaughtering the fleeing refugees sheltering behind it. The Ceres Protocol had not been issued since it was first created following the war with the Scythian race who were utterly destroyed by the Crimson Fists but in doing so the Chapter was reduced to a handful of squads.
The surviving Crimson Fists were based out of a Chapter Keep known as the Cassar situated within the innermost sector of New Rynn City known as the Silver Citadel. Protected by Void Shields and with swift flowing rivers cutting it off from the rest of the city the Silver Citadel was a natural fortification and would prove the most difficult for the Ork Invaders to take. While the Rynnsguard Regiments and the Crimson Fists fought the Orks throughout the city with faith and fire they were ever forced to abandon one curtain wall to fall back to the next. Even as Chapter Master Pedro Kantor returned to the city the last fortifications were being pressed hard giving the remaining defenders little choice but to retreat within the Silver Citadel itself.
It was in this darkest hour that the defenders recieved word that reinforcements from Battlefleet Tempestus and no less than six Chapters of Astartes were inbound. The fleet of 2,216 ships was commanded by Admiral Prioce Galtaire the Fourth and included four Retribution and four Emperor class Battleships. Nevertheless the fleet was not strong enough to erradicate the Ork fleet and would have to wait for further reinforcements to do so. Unfortunately the defenders were running out of time, after eighteen months of furious defense they were finally pushed back to the Silver Citadel itself, and though its defenses were formiddable the Orks had at last completed their many Gargant constructs. Soon the defenders would be overwhelmed in a tide of unstoppable war machines if something could not be done.
To pave the way for ground reinforcements it was imperative that the defenders recapture New Rynn Spaceport that had fallen early in the siege. Under the command of Pedro Kantor twenty strike teams, each led by a Terminator made their way through the subteranean mazes of sewers and service passages that the Terminators had defended for months all the way to the Spaceport underneath the very feet of the Ork invaders. While the strike teams moved to quickly erradicate the few remaining Orks garissoning the Spaceport Kantor led three half strength squads into the control towers of the Spaceport, along with Alessio Cortez and Techmarines Ruzco and Anais. Despite sizeable cassualties the strikeforce succeeded in capturing both the Air-Control and Air-Defense towers and Cortez even managed to kill the Ork Warlord Urzog Mag Kull, avenging Captain Drakken's death, though he lost an arm doing it. Kantor faced off against the Arch-Arsonist himself but was unable to stop Snagrod from escaping when the Warlord realised he was outmatched.
With the Spaceport secure the Titans of the Legio Titanicus and reinforcements from half a dozen Astartes Chapters including the Dark Angels, White Scars, Black Templars and Imperial Fists landed to assist in lifting the siege of New Rynn City.
In the end the Siege of New Rynn City lasted eighteen months, but it was to be years before the worlds of the Loki Sector and Rynn's World were liberated by Imperial forces when further reinforcements finally arrived, just as Kantor had predicted. Badlanding however still remains in filthy Ork hands.
Service to the High Lords of Terra
While many Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes are firm in their beliefs and zealous in defending the Emperor's Realm the Crimson Fists righteous zeal is if anything greater than usual. This trait of the Chapter has lead to the Crimson Fists being called upon by the High Lords to exterminate fellow Space Marine Chapters who have been declared Excommunicate Traitoris, at least three such instances have been recorded. The first such Chapter was the Sons of Gideon, after a routine examination of the Chapter's gene-seed revealed that it had mutated to such an extent that the marines were driven insane by a chemical imbalance. The Crimson Fists mercilessly destroyed the Chapter's homeworld of Gideon IV and then chased down the Sons of Gideon 3rd Company which had escaped the initial assault and had been butchering its way through the four billion citizens of the Colar System. The second chapter the Crimson Fists took action against was the Marines Vigilant, who had come under the influence of a strange and rare warp entity that had wiped all martial senses from the Chapter. Tragically the Marines Vigilant put up no resistance at all as the Crimson Fists bombarded their verdant homeworld into a wasteland.
The third Chapter the Crimson Fists have been observed to have fought against were the Soul Drinkers. Dark rumours persist that there were 3 second founding Chapters of the Imperial Fists, the final one being the Soul Drinkers. For an unknown reason, in the last century the Soul Drinkers were declared Excomunicate Traitoris and all records of the Chapter were destroyed. Somehow though the rebel Space Marines escaped destruction. On Entymion IV an entire Battle Company of the Crimson Fists sought to eradicate the remaining traitors of the Soul Drinkers. Remarkably the Soul Drinkers not only out-foxed the Crimson Fists but managed to escape the planet as well. While the Crimson Fists foiled the plot of a Dark Eldar Kabal the Chapter is furious at the escape of the Soul Drinkers.
The Crimson Fists' willingness to sanction their fellow Space Marines has earned them a reputation as the High Lord's lapdogs by the more unorthodox Chapters such as the Space Wolves, White Scars and Exorcists.
Relics of the Chapter
The Book of Dorn
-The principle holy text of the Chapter read aloud by the High Chaplain during important sermons and holy days. It is unknown if the book survived the destruction of the Fortress Monastery.
The Book of Honor
-A holy tome of the Chapter that records the deeds of every fallen member of the Chapter that they may be remembered and aspired too by those who follow in their footsteps. It is unknown if the book survived the destruction of the Fortress Monastery.
The Scepter of the Sacred Blood
-An ornate Scepter containing a small amount of Rogal Dorn's sacred Blood. During the celebration of Foundation Day a group of twenty Chaplains known collectively as the Sacratium perform a ritual called the Miracle of the Blood in which the dried blood of Rogal Dorn reverts back to liquid within the head of the Scepter. It is unknown whether the scepter has been recovered after the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus.
Monument Hall
-The names of every fallen Battle-Brother of the Chapter are inscribed in this hall of the Fortress Monastery.
Relic Blade Riad
-A Relic Blade carried by Captain Drigo Alvez during the defense of New Rynn City.
Dorn's Arrow
-Relic Storm Bolter wielded by Chapter Master Pedro Kantor.
Traitor's Bane
-Originally wielded by Ancient Chaplain Amentus, one of the Chapters Chaplains from the time of its founding, the venerable weapon survived the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus and is still in service to the Chapter in the hands of the young Chaplain Argo, a hero from the defense of New Rynn City.
Notable Characters and Vehicles
Chapter Master Alexis Polux
-Alexis Polux was the first Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists and served for over eight centuries. Polux did a great deal to forge the Crimson Fists into the Chapter they are today and his teachings are integral to the beliefs and doctrine of the Chapter to this day.
Chapter Master Pedro Kantor
-The 29th and current Chapter Master and Lord Hellblade of the Crimson Fists, Pedro Kantor brought the Chapter back from the brink of annihilation during the invasion of Waaagh Snagrod. Kantor served the chapter for 250 years before becoming Chapter Master and has now served in that position for nearly 100 years. He first achieved prominence at the battle of Melchitt Sound. As a sergeant Kantor led his squad in a boarding action of an Ork Kroozer called the Growler. Kantor managed to disable the Kroozer allowing the Crimson Fists Strike Cruiser the Crusader to break the Ork battle line and send the Ork fleet scattering. Kantor also proved to be both courageous and compassionate when he led his squad against all tactical sense to hold open the pass during the Battle for Braxa Gorge, saving thousands of refugees. Later he became the Captain of the 3rd Company before his eventual rise to Chapter Master. Kantor has defeated two Gargants personally, both in boarding actions though 100 years seperated the two feats. Faced with the near destruction of the Chapter on Rynn's World Kantor proved a wise leader by making the hard choice to fight on with guerilla tactics instead of fighting to the last in a vainglorious last stand, a noble choice for the Imperium as it can ill afford the loss of such a Chapter as the Crimson Fists.
Chapter Master Kordova
-Chapter Master Kordova was the leader of the Crimson Fists during the Crusade of Righteous Liberation, leading the Chapter through the three hundred year Crusade until at its conclusion the Chapter was reduced to less than a hundred and thirty battle-brothers. Since then the Chapter Master has traditionally been the Captain of the 1st Company that became known as the Crusade Company and has since been kept at 128 marines.
Chapter Master Traegus
-The controversial 16th Chapter Master of the Crimson Fists. Traegus tried to implement a breeding program using the non-sterile failed Aspirants of the Chapter, however the results were unpredictable at best and the program was quickly scrapped after his death.
"Only in the absolute stillness of the body and the complete silencing of the voice can we hear the truth of our inner thoughts, and so hearing, know ourselves that much the better."
-Chapter Master Traegus
Chapter Master Klede Sargo
-17th Chapter Master of the Chapter who was quick to scrap the breeding program of Chapter Master Traegus.
Chapter Master Visidar
-The 28th Chapter Master and direct predecessor to Pedro Kantor.
Captain Alessio Cortez
-Master of the Charge and Captain of the 4th Company, Cortez rose through the ranks alongside Kantor and the two were close friends. Cortez fought in legendary actions such as the Battle of Steel Cross, the Defense of the Fortress Maladon and the Kardian Campaign. Cortez earned a reputation for being invulnerable after he was the sole survivor of his squad in the battles for Kalaphax and Gamma VI Monserrat. Cortez was mourned greatly when he disappeared fighting Dark Eldar pirates and raiders in the Wheel of Fire, though many in the Chapter including Kantor believe that the legendarily invulnerable Captain fights on still. One of Cortez's most notable achievements was during the Battle of Steel Cross where he single handedly slew the Ork Warlord and his bodyguard, having managed to disarm the Ork Warlord with a twist of his hips after the Ork's sword became stuck in Cortez's ribs.
Captain Ishmael Icario
-Master of the Shadows and Captain of the 10th Company.
Captain Raphael Acastus
-Master of the Siege and Captain of the 9th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Captain Matteo Morrelis
-Master of Blades and Captain of the 8th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Captain Caldimus Ortiz
-Master of the Gates and Captain of the 7th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Captain Olbyn Kadena
-Master of the Watch and Captain of the 6th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Captain Selig Torres
-Captain of the 5th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Captain Drigo Alvez
-Master of the Shield and Captain of the 2nd Company, prefers to take to the field in an ancient suit of Terminator Armor. Captain Alvez fell in the defense of New Rynn City.
Captain Ashor Drakken
-Master of the Line and Captain of the 3rd Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World. Drakken led the 84 Marines of his Company in an attack on Badlanding to stall the Ork invaders but fell to a cowardly sneak attack by the Ork Warlord Urzog Mag Kull while attempting to drag a brother Space Marine to safety. His death ended a decorated service to the Chapter spanning over two centuries. Only 28 Marines of the 3rd Company survived to return to Rynn's World.
Captain Sandriaz
-A legendary hero of the Crimson Fists, Captain Sandriaz won the first victory of the Crusade of Righteous Liberation on the planet of Welte.
Captain Obiareus
-Captain of the Crimson Fists 3rd Company during the 3rd War for Armageddon.
Captain Isseus Coredo
-Captain of the Chapter who died 200 years before Pedro Kantor was even born, his statue was tossed onto the mountainside in the explosive destruction of the Arx Tyrannus.
Captain Cazaquez
-Current Captain of the Crimson Fists 2nd Company. Ceded command of the Company to Chaplain Inhuaca and Commander Reinez during the Entymion IV Campaign.
Captain Steffan
-Captain of the 2nd Company.
Captain Makkariel
-Participated in the Bunker 472 Incident.
Assault-Captain Arca
-Bearer of the Crimson Fists 2nd Company banner during the Entymion IV Campaign, Arca was killed by one of the treacherous Soul Drinkers Champions early in the Campaign.
Master Ceval Ranparre
-Master of the Fleet and Hero of Hesperidon, fell in the orbital battle to defend Rynn's World against the Arch Arsonist's invasion.
Commander Rienez
-Commander of the 2nd Company, Rienez fought the Soul Drinkers on Entymion IV. While the Soul Drinkers escaped, the Dark Eldar trying to take over the world were thwarted in part thanks to the actions of Commander Rienez and the marines of the 2nd Company.
Master of the Forge Javier Adon
-Master of the Forge of the Crimson Fists prior to the Battle for Rynn's World. Javier controlled the defenses as the first Ork ships began their attack of the Chapter Homeworld but was unable to prevent the faulty anti-ship torpedo from malfunctioning and destroying the Fortress Monastery.
Techmarine Anais
-Senior Techmarine present during the defense of New Rynn City. One of two Techmarines who joined the assault force of Pedro Kantor to retake New Rynn Spaceport. Techmarine Anais took control of the Air-Defense Tower just prior to the arrival of the Titans of the Legio Titanicus.
Techmarine Ruzco
-Techmarine present during the defense of New Rynn City. One of two Techmarines who joined the assault force of Pedro Kantor to retake New Rynn Spaceport. Re-activated the Air-Traffic Control Tower and then remained there to liase with the Imperial Fleet with brothers Padilla and Lucevo to guard him.
Chief Librarian Eustace Mendoza
-Chief Librarian of the Crimson Fists prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Epistolary Delevan Deguerro
-Librarian of the Chapter prior to the Battle for Rynn's World and pivotal in the defense of New Rynn City.
Codicier Ruthio Terraro
-Librarian of the Chapter and present at the defense of New Rynn City.
Codicier Corda
-Librarian of the Chapter and present at the defense of New Rynn City.
Codicier Thracio
-Librarian of the Chapter and present at the defense of New Rynn City.
Librarian Haxualpha
-Librarian attached to the 2nd Company during the Entymion IV Campaign, killed early in the fighting in a duel with a renegade Soul Drinkers Sorcerer. Noted for wielding a Force Weapon in the form of a Rapier.
High Chaplain Marqol Tomasi
-The Crimson Fists Master of Sanctity prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Ancient Chaplain Amentus
-One of the first Chaplains of the Crimson Fists Chapter, a warrior who helped form the Chapter during the time of the 2nd Founding when the Legions were split ten millenia ago. Chaplain Amentus wielded the Crozius Arcanum Traitor's Bane, a weapon that survived the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus and is now wielded by the young Chaplain Argo.
Chaplain Inhuaca
-Inhuaca joined Commander Rienez's detachment on Entymion IV under the direct orders of Pedro Kantor, bringing with him the rest of the 2nd Company. Inhuaca and the Crimson Fists wished to destroy the traitorous Soul Drinkers once and for all, though they failed the Chapter thwarted the plans of a Dark Eldar Kabal that could have threatened the security of the Imperium throughout the entire Sector. The victory was undermined nonetheless by the loss of Entymion IV and the failure to destroy the Soul Drinkers.
Chaplain Rhava
-Chaplain fighting alongside Captain Cortez at Arx Tyrannus during the Battle for Rynn's World. Killed in the destruction of the Fortress Monastery.
Chaplain Argo
-Young Chaplain present at the defense of New Rynn City. Suggested spreading the diminishing number of Crimson Fists around the walls of New Rynn City to inspire the defenders. Later led a single squad of Battle-Brothers to the contested world of Syral to recover a squad of scouts thought lost, trapped beneath the rubble of a demolished building. Promoted from the Scout Squad Nochlitan along with Apothecary Vayne seven years previous to the battle for Syral. Chaplain Argo wields the Crozius Arcanum Traitor's Bane that once belonged to Ancient Chaplain Amentus, one of the first Crimson Fist Chaplains.
-Chaplain Hauis Argento
-Chaplain of the 2nd Company.
"If your life is given in service to the Emperor, your death shall not be in vain."
-Chaplain Argento.
Chief Apothecary Curien Droga
-Chief Apothecary of the Chapter prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Apothecary Arvano Ruillus
-Apothecary attached to the 3rd Company during the assault on Badlanding.
Apothecary Lyrus Vayne
-Apothecary attached to the 3rd Company during the assault on Badlanding. Vayne was a squadmate of Chaplain Argo in Scout Squad Nochlitan. Badly burned by Daemon fire during the cleansing of the infested world of Chiaro two months before the battle for Syral.
Venerable Dreadnaught Rhodomanus
-Rhodomanus led a suicide attack to sink an Ork Stompa into the glaciers of the Dead Lands on Armageddon during the 2nd War. Despite the nature of the assault Rhodomanus survived, lost in the ice for 50 years, until he was recovered by the Black Templars of strikeforce "Ansgar's Avengers" during the 3rd War for Armageddon. With the assistance of the Templars Rhodomanus finished his task of 50 years previous and destroyed the Ork Stompa that was being uncovered by the Blood Scar tribe and was returned to the Crimson Fists of the 3rd Company by Marshal Brandt.
Dreadnaught Ulis
-Revered Old One of the Crimson Fists Chapter.
Dreadnaught Jerian
-Dreadnaught serving in the defense of New Rynn City, Brother Jerian was entombed after he fell to the Tyranids in the Battle for Emerald Sands.
Sergeant Phaedron
-Participated in the Bunker 472 Incident.
Sergeant Marnoc
-Participated in the Bunker 472 Incident.
Sergeant Barrien Gallacus
-Veteran Sergeant and commander of the 1st Vanguard Terminator Veteran Squad.
Sergeant Zarran
-Veteran Sergeant and commander of a Terminator Veteran Squad, placed in command of the defences at New Rynn Spaceport.
Sergeant Valdeus
-Veteran Sergeant and commander of a Terminator Veteran Squad tasked with defending New Rynn Spaceport.
Sergeant Phrenatas
-Veteran Sergeant and commander of a Sternguard Terminator Veteran Squad tasked with defending New Rynn Spaceport.
Segeant Grylinus
-Veteran Sergeant and commander of a Sternguard Terminator Veteran Squad tasked with defending New Rynn Spaceport.
Sergeant Rogo Victurix
-Veteran Sergeant and commander of the Terminator Veteran Squad that met Pedro Kantor as he entered New Rynn City. Squad Victurix later spearheaded Pedro Kantor's assault on New Rynn Spaceport along with 19 other strike teams and fought to hold the base of the Space Ports Control Towers while Kantor and the others fought their way to the vital control systems.
Sergeant Erdys Phrenatas
-Sergeant of the 4th Sternguard Veteran Squad during the defense of New Rynn City.
Sergeant Hurien Thanatar
-Sergeant of Vanguard Squad Thanatar during the defense of New Rynn City.
Sergeant Zavier
-Commander of Tactical Squad Zavier of the 2nd Company during the Entymion IV Campaign.
Sergeant Padros
-Commander of Tactical Squad Padros of the 2nd Company during the Entymion IV Campaign.
Sergeant Kroya
-Member of Caltax Squad during the Entymion IV Campaign, took over command of the squad upon the death of Sergeant Caltax.
Sergeant Caltax
-Member of Commander Reinaz's detachment commanding a Devastator Squad during the initial battle for Entymion IV. Killed in action against the renegade Soul Drinkers.
Sergeant Althaz
-Member of Commander Reinaz's detachment during the initial battle for Entymion IV.
Sergeant Ladric Lician
-Sergeant of Devastator Squad Lician during the defense of New Rynn City. Joined Pedro Kantor in the assault on New Rynn Spaceport.
Sergeant Tirius
-Sergeant of the 3rd Company Devastator Squad Tirius sent to hold the Jadeberry Underpass open long enough for Pedro Kantor to make it into New Rynn City.
Sergeant Viejo
-First marine located by Cortez and Kantor after the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus Fortress Monastery. Found defending the corpse of Chaplain Rhava.
Sergeant Cabrero
-Member of the 4th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Sergeant Maurillo Rectris
-Sergeant commanding Squad Rectris in the defense of New Rynn City.
Sergeant Gualan
-Sergeant commanding Squad Gualan in the defense of New Rynn City.
Sergeant Salvador Ulias
-Sergeant commanding squad Ulias in the defense of New Rynn City.
Sergeant Anto
-Sergeant commanding Squad Anto in the defense of New Rynn City.
Sergeant Haleos
-Sergeant commanding Squad Haleos in the defense of New Rynn City.
Sergeant Leoxus Werner
-Deathwatch Veteran who served with the Ordo Xenos for seven years and member of the 3rd Company during the attack on Badlanding.
Sergeant Solari
-Commanded the Land Speeder Squadron of the 3rd Company during the attack on Badlanding. Tasked with searching the caves north of Krugerport for any survivors of the Ork assault. His search unfortunately found nothing but bodies.
Sergeant Delos
-Veteran Sergeant tasked with commanding the defense of the Northern Umbris Gate of New Rynn City.
Sergeant Romnus
-Member of the 2nd Company and prior officer of Captain Alvez's Command Squad, killed 3 years before the Battle for Rynn's World.
Sergeant Huron Grimm
-Veteran Sergeant in command of the 1st Tactical Squad and second in command to Captain Alvez of the 2nd Company. Grimm has served the Chapter faithfully for 103 years.
Sergeant Dremir Soto
-Veteran Sergeant of the 3rd Company placed in command of the Gorian Wall in the absence of Captain Alvez.
Sergeant Faradis Anto
-Member of the 2nd Company with over a century of service to Captain Alvez.
Sergeant Ferraganos Daecor
-Deathwatch Veteran and Sergeant commanding Squad Daecor during the defense of New Rynn City. Joined Pedro Kantor in the assault on New Rynn Spaceport.
Sergeant Segala
-Second Sergeant located by Kantor and Cortez and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Joined Pedro Kantor in the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Killed during a close quarters fight with the Orks during the attack.
Sergeant Demetrian
-Sergeant of the 5th Company, Demetrian returned to Syral with the Battle-Brothers of his Squad and Chaplain Argo to recover the lost Scouts of Squad Nochlitan. Demetrian is a Veteran of the Declates Crusade in which the Crimson Fists and Black Templars fought side by side in mixed squads against the enemies of the Emperor and still wears the Templar Cross on one knee-pad in honor of that Campaign.
Deathwatch Veteran Sergeant Grevius
-Veteran in service to the Deathwatch during the Herodian IV Campaign.
Deathwatch Veteran Numenter
Veteran Brother Talazar
-Member of Terminator Squad Victurix.
Veteran Brother Toma
-Deathwatch Veteran and member of Squad Demetrian of the 5th Company during the battle for Syral. Returned with Chaplain Argo and his brothers of Squad Demetrian to recover the Scouts of Squad Nochlitan. Toma is quiet and reserved but a proficient and economical warrior, and wields a highly advanced Bolter gifted to him by the Ordo-Xenos during his service in the Deathwatch.
Veteran Brother Imrich
-Veteran marine of the Chapter and member of Squad Demetrian of the 5th Company, Imrich is a promising and deadly warrior who personally killed Warboss Golgorrad during the Battle for the Cantorial Palace when the Crimson Fists first came to Syral in force. Later returned with Chaplain Argo and a handful of comrades to recover the lost brothers of Scout Squad Nochlitan. Imrich adorns his armor with scrolls of his deeds, bones from slain enemies and the skulls of seven of the biggest Orks Imrich has slain.
Brother Kyama Shae
-Renegade Battle-Brother who fought in the warband of the Raven Guard Renegade Ardaric Vaanes and was killed fighting the Iron Warriors in the Eye of Terror on the fortress world Medrendgard.
Brother Ishmael
-Participated in the Bunker 472 Incident.
Brother Adalbert
-Member of Assault Squad Rodolf, 2nd Company.
Brother Jurgen
-Member of Assault Squad Rodolf, 2nd Company.
Brother Walther
-Member of Assault Squad Rodolf, 2nd Company.
Brother Wenzel
-Member of Assault Squad Rodolf, 2nd Company.
Brother Olcama
-Member of the 2nd Company, Tactical Marine armed with a Meltagun. Participated in the assault on the Dark Eldar held Palace during the Entymion IV Campaign alongside Commander Reinez.
Brother Arroyox
-Member of the 2nd Company and the gunner of Commander Reinez's personal Razorback APC during the Entymion IV Campaign.
Brother Tehuaca
-Member of the 2nd Company, Tactical Marine armed with a Flamer, killed by a Soul Drinkers scout in a ploy to pit the Crimson Fists against the Dark Eldar Cabal operating on Entymion IV.
Brother Paclo
-Member of the 2nd Company and part of Commander Reinez's squad during the Entymion IV Campaign.
Brother Bacar
-Member of Squad Segala during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Fell to the Ork Warlord Urzog Mag Kull's Power Klaw.
Brother Verna
-Member of Squad Segala during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport.
Brother Lucevo
-Member of Squad Segala during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Left as a guard to the Air-Traffic Control tower.
Brother Oro
-Member of Squad Daecor during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Remained behind on the Coronado landing plate as a rearguard for the assault force.
Brother Padilla
-Member of Squad Daecor during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Left as a guard to the Air-Traffic Control tower.
Brother Cassaves
-Member of Squad Daecor during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport.
Brother Gaban
-Flamer bearing member of Squad Lician during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Killed in the saem melee as Sergeant Segala.
Brother Morai
-Heavy Bolter wielding member of Squad Lician during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Killed in the same melee as Sergeant Segala.
Brother Romos
-Plasma Cannon bearing member of Squad Lician during the assault on New Rynn Spaceport. Killed in the same melee as Sergeant Segala.
Brother Santanos
-Second to Veteran Sergeant Grimm and member of the 2nd Company.
Brother Rapala
-Member of the 7th Company and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Temporarily commanded by Cortez.
Brother Benizar
-Member of the 7th Company and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Temporarily commanded by Cortez. Died breaking through the Orks into New Rynn City.
Brother Fenestra
-Member of the 5th Company and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Temporarily commanded by Cortez.
Brother Delgahn
-Member of the 8th Company and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Temporarily commanded by Cortez.
Brother Alcador
-One of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus.
Brother Galica
-Member of the 5th Company and one of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus.
Brother Olvero
-One of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Died breaking through the Orks into New Rynn City.
Brother Teves
-One of the 16 survivors of the destruction of the Arx Tyrannus. Died breaking through the Orks into New Rynn City
Brother Agorro
-Member of the 2nd Company and the driver of Captain Alvez's Land Raider the Aegis Eternis.
Brother Iamad
-Member of the 4th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Brother Benedictus
-Member of the 4th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Brother Silesi
-Known as "old one-eyed Silesi" by his friends and comrades, member of the 4th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Brother Vesdor
-Member of the 4th Company prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Brother Cero
-Heavy Bolter wielding member of the 3rd Company during the assault on Badlanding. Injured while retreating from Krugerport, Captain Drakken attempted to drag Cero to safety but was slain by a shot from a Kustom Mega Blasta to the back by Warlord Urzog Mag Kull leaving Cero to try and kill as many of the Orks in retaliation as he could before death claimed him.
Scout Sergeant Ezra Mishina
-While not yet a full Battle-Brother of the Chapter, Sergeant Mishina is nevertheless a highly accomplished and respected individual and a potent asset on the battlefield. Elevated to the 3rd Company as a full Battle-Brother after Badlanding.
Scout Sergeant Bariax
-Commander of Scout Squad Bariax tasked with providing intelligence for Captain Alvez in the defense of New Rynn City.
Scout Sergeant Nochlitan
-Veteran of the Crusade Company, Nochlitan chose to serve as an instructor for the Chapters next generations of warriors. Chaplain Argo and Apothecary Vayne both served in Sergeant Nochlitan's squad before their ascension to full Battle-Brothers. Trapped with his squad beneath the rubble of the Cantorial Palace on Syral, Sergeant Nochlitan managed to survive the four month wait for rescue and was the only survivor still able to speak after the experience, notedly complaining about the loss of his Bolter.
Scout Frael
-Member of Scout Squad Nochlitan, lost under the rubble of the Cantorial Palace on Syral. Trapped beneath the ruins for four months Scout Frael finally died just three or four days before Squad Demetrian's digging teams located the body, the first of the Scout Squad recovered.
Scout Amadon
-Member of Scout Squad Nochlitan, killed when the Cantorial Palace on Syral collapsed.
Scout Zefaray
-Member of Scout Squad Nochlitan and the Squad's Epistolary Candidate. Trapped on Syral under the ruins of the Cantorial Palace with the rest of his squad, Zefaray screamed his voice through the warp, his still largely untrained mind desperately seeking to catch the attention of one of the Crimson Fists Librarians, his psyche jumping through a hundred minds to reach one that the Chapter might trust. He succeeded though the effort nearly cost him his life, his calls bringing Squad Demetrian back to Syral to rescue the three survivors of the Scout Squad and the bodies of the fallen.
Scout Janus Kennon
-A young and impetuous Scout but an absurdly good shot with his Sniper Rifle with the best accuracy of any recruit for over a hundred years. However his lack of discipline resulted in the loss of many Battle-Brothers including Captain Drakken when he disobeyed orders to take a shot at the Ork Warlord Urzog Mag Kull. The shot never penetrated the Warlord's force-field and as a result of his disastrous actions Scout Kennon was sentenced to become a Servitor.
Scout Vermian
-Tasked with clearing a route through the Ork sentries to the water plant on Badlanding for Sergeant Werner's assault group.
Scout Rogar
-Tasked with clearing a route through the Ork sentries to the water plant on Badlanding for Sergeant Werner's assault group.
Sources
Codex: Space Marines 3rd Edition
Codex: Space Marines 4th Edition
Codex: Space Marines 5th Edition
Index Astartes: Crimson Fists
Codicium Imperialis: The Battle for Rynn's City
Soul Drinker's Series: Crimson Tears
Space Marine Battles: Rynn's World
Warrior Brood
Heroes of the Space Marines: One Hate
Legends of the Space Marines: The Relic
Insignium Astartes
Games Day UK Program 1999
Planetstrike Supplement
How to Paint Space Marines
Imperial Armor Volume 2
White Dwarf 235
White Dwarf 248
White Dwarf 253
White Dwarf 271
White Dwarf 276
White Dwarf 287
White Dwarf 338
Special thanks to Martellus.
Brother Julio
-Battle-Brother of the 3rd Company during the 3rd War for Armageddon.
The Aegis Eternis
-The personal Land Raider transport of Captain Alvez.
Rynn's Might
-Land Raider thrown from the Fortress Monastery during its fiery destruction. Unpiloted and alone the Land Raider's machine spirit was overcome with rage at the xenos invaders, over several days Rynn's Might exausted its weapons killing countless Orks before finally overloading its engines to kill an Ork Warboss attempting to claim the disabled tank. The machine spirit of the venerable war machine was recovered for internment in a new mechanical body at a later date.
Known Ships of the Chapter Fleet
Rutilus Tyrannus
-The Space-born Fortress Monastery and flagship of the Crimson Fists prior to taking Rynn's World as the Chapter's home world. After taking up permanent residence on Rynn's World the Rutilus Tyrannus was landed in the Hellblade Mountains of Sorocco Province and was taken apart and reconstructed into the Chapter's new Fortress Monastery known as the Arx Tyrannus.
The Pride of Polux
-Battle Barge under the command of Captain Obiareus of the 3rd Company during the 3rd War for Armageddon.
The Sabre of Scaurus
-Battle Barge and the personal flagship of Master of the Fleet Ceval Ranparre, lost in the orbital battle for Rynn's World.
The Tigurius
-Battle Barge that participated in the orbital battle for Rynn's World.
The Crusader
-Strike Cruiser that carried the 3rd Company to Badlanding prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
The Verde
-Strike Cruiser that participated in the orbital battle for Rynn's World.
The Aurora
-Strike Cruiser that participated in the orbital battle for Rynn's World.
The Hewson
-Strike Cruiser that participated in the orbital battle for Rynn's World.
The Maqueda
-Strike Cruiser that participated in the orbital battle for Rynn's World, lost in the battle as Captain Darrus Gramedo desperately rammed an Ork battleship.
The Herald of Dorn
-Strike Cruiser assigned to the 2nd Company during the Entymion IV Campaign.
The Prosperine
-Tasked with patrolling the N'goth-Katar trade route prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
The Hadrius
-Tasked with patrolling the N'goth-Katar trade route prior to the Battle for Rynn's World.
Support Cruiser Vigil
-Tasked with transporting Squad Demetrian of the 5th Company to Syral to recover the lost Battle-Brothers of Scout Squad Nochlitan.
Raxa Station
Raxa Station is the principle orbital dock and refueling station for the Crimson Fists fleet. The station orbits Rynn's World between the planet and its nearest moon Dantienne. Little is known of the size or capabilities of the station or whether it even survived the Battle for Rynn's World but given the Ork air-superiority over the course of the war it seems doubtable that the station survived, leaving the Chapter's fleet without nearby a place to refuel, rearm and repair.
Battle-Cry
Chaplain - "There is only the Emperor."
Brethren - "He is our shield and our protector."
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