| The Red Sons | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 7 2012, 12:29 AM (160 Views) | |
| MikDaTv | Jul 7 2012, 12:29 AM Post #1 |
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Red Sons Overview: The Red Sons are a renegade legion of Chaos Space Marines led by the ruthless Daemon Prince, Valek. Unlike the other Traitor Legions that have largely retained their original fighting force from the Horus Heresy, the Red Sons have been forged over numerous centuries by members that come from every corner of the galaxy. Since the Red Sons draw from a vast menagerie of individuals with differing beliefs and philosophies, their combat doctrine is as varied and ever changing as their followers. Because of the sheer diversity of the individuals who comprise the main body of their armed forces, the Red Sons are extremely versatile combatants who are not beholden to a specific combat doctrine or belief like some other cults that serve the Ruinous Powers. Due to this flexibility and extreme variation in their armed forces, one is just as likely to encounter a Khornate Berserker as they are a sorcerer devoted to Tzeentch. However, a common factor that is ever present in the Red Sons is their predilection towards preservation rather than destruction – an uncommon attribute to any Chaos cult, to be sure. When the Red Sons wage war, they rarely seek to annihilate their adversary whole sale and instead work to preserve significant tactical targets so that they might be able to take advantage of them after, or even during, the battle. Examples of such targets would include military production facilities like factories and manufactorums, heavy weapons such as tanks, artillery, aircraft, warships, and even whole armies if possible. All of these assets are vital components to any military force, and the Red Sons see far more value in turning the guns of the enemy in upon themselves rather than depriving one's own forces of a potential weapon. This is not to say that the Red Sons are pacifistic, however. Far from it. If an enemy should provide them with the opportunity, they will not hesitate to destroy them and fight every battle with the same fury and tenacity as their enemies. When faced with open conflict, the Red Sons are not afraid to match force with force in order to prove their dominance on the battlefield. Even so, the Red Sons' practice of conservation is present in more than just their military strategy as it plays a central role in their overall beliefs as well. While the myriad beliefs represented among the Red Sons' followers are typically considered widely disparate and unrelated, they remain united by their common belief in the tenants of Chaos Undivided. Serving as the core philosophy of the Red Sons, followers of Chaos Undivided revere the Dark Gods as equals and serve them all loyally and faithfully, despite the inherent rivalries and dissonance among the Ruinous Powers themselves. Similar in ideology to the infamous Black Legion's own practice of Chaos Undivided, the Red Sons devotion to the Dark Gods is absolute and they believe that every sentient creature should give themselves in service to Chaos. Unlike the Black Legion though, who take their beliefs to the extreme by eradicating any being that resists the will of the Dark Gods, the Red Sons are far more pragmatic and see a use for every creature – great or small, loyal or disobedient. Rather than outright killing any individual(s) who do not seek to willingly serve Chaos, the Red Sons will instead enslave them (provided they have not been slain in battle) and offer them up as sacrifices to the Gods in order to placate the Ruinous Powers to their advantage. However, of particular interest to the Red Sons are any individuals with powerful psychic abilities. Such individuals are usually hunted down with extreme prejudice and either forced into joining the Red Sons where they serve as corrupted psykers, or are offered as hosts to Daemonic entities that possess their bodies in order to survive in the mortal realm beyond the Immaterium. Leadership: Valek  Daemon Prince of Khorne, ruler of the Daemon World of *Argus VII and founder of the Red Sons renegade legion, Valek is a creature of incomprehensible power who exists beyond the reckoning of mortal beings. While he was once counted among the venerable ranks of the Imperium's mighty Space Marines, Valek betrayed the Emperor with his fellow Battle-Brothers of the Black Legion during the infamous Horus Heresy. After the failure of their crusade and the death of Warmaster Horus, Valek broke away from the legion and devoted his entire life to obtaining ultimate power through his worship of Chaos and the Dark Gods. Ten thousand years of constant war have shaped Valek into an intelligent, cruel and sadistic warrior who is universally feared by men of all ilks. Since his ascension to Daemonhood, Valek's very humanity has been stripped from him, his body twisted into a hulking Daemonic form by the blessings of the Dark Gods. At heart, Valek is a blood thirsty tyrant who knows nothing of pity, remorse, pain or fear. He has existed for millennium in a state of immortal limbo, unable to be killed by the weapons of mortal men as the very will of the Ruinous Powers themselves sustain him through the tainted powers of the Warp. When Valek eventually discovered a pathway into worlds beyond even the fabric of the Immaterium, he laid his plans for conquest and began plotting his invasion of Crossroads. However, since much of his own power is derived from the Warp (a force that does not exist in Crossroads), Valek's influence in Crossroads is limited and he relies heavily on his trusted generals and champions to carry out his bidding. He can, however, make brief incursions into the mortal realm with the help of his trusted Sorcerer, Andris Cullen. Since Valek now exists as a creature of the Warp, he is capable of temporarily inhabiting the bodies of other beings (preferably those with potent psychic abilities). It is through these vessels that Valek is able to interact with the physical realm of Crossroads – albeit for a limited time before his immense power destroys the host. Andris Cullen  A powerful psyker who commands nothing short of the utmost loyalty and respect from his servants, Cullen is Valek's most trusted senior general and overseer for the Red Sons operations on Crossroads. Like Valek, Cullen served the Imperium loyally until their inevitable betrayal during the Horus Heresy. Like so many Space Marines of the Black Legion at the time, Cullen turned against his former allies and joined Valek and the Astartes of the other Traitor Legions in their betrayal of the Emperor of Mankind and fought along side them right up to their defeat at the Battle of Terra. After their defeat, Cullen would remain loyal to Valek, joining him in splintering away from the legion in search of their own paths to Chaos. In the centuries thereafter, Cullen was instrumental in helping Valek to gather other renegade Space Marines and traitorous Imperial citizens willing to surrender their souls to the Ruinous Powers. Eventually, these forces grew large enough and Valek declared them to be the Red Sons, pledging himself and every other mortal soul under his command to the service of Chaos Undivided. Cullen, loyal as ever, never hesitated to follow Valek's example and readily fell in line behind the Daemon Prince. As a show of appreciation for his years of dedicated and continued service, Valek appointed Cullen to be his second in command and placed within him his utmost trust. When Valek discovered a pathway to worlds beyond the Warp, Cullen was at the forefront of helping him to shape his plans for conquest. It was Cullen who first arrived on Crossroads and conscripted slave laborers from the Red Sons to construct the imposing Black Temple in reverence to the Dark Gods. Though Valek is too prideful to ever admit as much, were it not for Cullen's centuries of undying loyalty to him and the Dark Gods, the Red Sons may have never existed and Valek may have well been forgotten eons ago as a failed pretender who sought powers beyond his grasp. Silus Rath  One of Valek's most seasoned and experienced military commanders, Silus was once the leader of a rogue legion of Space Marines that pledged their support to the Red Sons shortly after the Argus VII campaign. Unlike many of the Chaos Marines who serve the Red Sons though, Silus did not fight on the side of the Traitor Legions during the Horus Heresy, instead finding his own corruption years later after becoming disillusioned with the Imperium and its false Emperor. In the wake of Horus' failed crusade against the Imperium, Silus began to question the validity of the Emperor's rule after he was interred within the confines of the Golden Throne in order to keep him alive despite the grievous mortal wounds he had sustained during the final battle at Terra. For centuries thereafter, Silus and the rest of the Adeptus Astartes, and indeed the rest of Mankind itself, were forced to swear their fealty to a living corpse that was incapable of acting for itself, instead relying on the clergymen of the Ecclesiarchy to speak on its behalf. To Silus, this was beyond insulting and flew in the face of everything he had been trained to know. When he voiced his opposition to the Emperor's rule though, he was criticized and nearly branded a heretic. Silus was stripped of his rank as Captain and ostracized from his position within the chapter. However, more than a few of his Battle-Brothers were sympathetic to Silus' view and secretly remained loyal to their disavowed Captain. Shortly after his demotion though, Silus had become entirely disgusted by the Imperium, its corpse Emperor and the other Astartes who still blindly served him. In secret, he gathered what few Battle-Brothers were still loyal to him and defected from the chapter. When their desertion was discovered though, their former allies turned on them and hunted them down. Several of Silus' most loyal comrades were slain or imprisoned by members of the Inquisition's Ordo Hereticus before they were able to flee Imperial space. However, the Imperium did not cease their pursuit of the traitorous Astartes and dispatched a fleet under the command of Inquisitor Elizabeth Cross to hunt down and eradicate the remaining survivors of Silus' renegade warband. Much to Silus' dismay, yet more of his brothers would fall in battle against the Inquisitor's forces before they were able to retreat to relative safety within the Eye of Terror. Unwilling to follow Silus into the maelstrom, Cross called her forces off and let the traitors escape. In the years after the tragic loss of his Battle-Brothers, Silus swore his undying allegiance to the Ruinous Powers, hoping that they would provide him with the means to seek his retribution against the Imperium. For years, Silus and his surviving Chaos Marines wandered aimlessly, pillaging Imperial supply depots and launching surprise raids against lightly defended Imperial outposts. It wasn't until many years later that Silus managed to exact his revenge at Argus VII where he and his fellow Chaos Marines managed to cross paths once more with Inquisitor Cross. After successfully killing Cross, along with numerous of other Imperial Guardsmen and loyalist Space Marines, Silus and his warband were extended the offer to join Valek and his Red Sons. Seeing the Red Sons as the perfect tool for his insatiable quest for revenge, Silus accepted the offer and has served in the Daemon Prince's army ever since. Lanius Kane  Former commanding officer of the 87th Cadian “Black Dragons” regiment, Lanius Kane was once the ideal picture of a model officer. Honorable, dutiful and loyal, he was highly respected by his soldiers and was known to be a constant source of inspiration for them due to his preference for leading his men from the front lines. It was these traits that led to his eventual deployment to Argus VII where he was expected to quell an ongoing separatist rebellion and restore order to the planet in the name of the Emperor. While his campaign to suppress the uprising was successful, a later invasion of Chaos forces led by the Daemon Prince Valek ultimately proved to be Kane's downfall. During the battle against Valek and his heretic forces, Kane betrayed his oath to the Emperor and pledged himself and his regiment in service to the Ruinous Powers. The “Black Dragons” would later be renamed the “Sanguine Blades” for their role in helping to defeat the Imperial loyalists at Argus VII, and would come to form the backbone of the Red Sons' military forces along side other traitor regiments from the Imperial Guard. Occam Thule  Formerly a Tech-priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus, Thule is an enigmatic individual, his true motivations and goals always steeped in a shroud of mystery. Having lived for several thousand years thanks to extensive cybernetic modifications (many of which he did himself), Thule has served numerous masters and causes, all with widely varying agendas and philosophies. During his time with the Imperium, Thule put his impressive technical skills to use designing, building and maintaining weapons for the Imperial Guard and the various Space Marine chapters. After his defection from the Imperium though, Thule became a wanted man and vanished into obscurity for several decades to evade Imperial agents. While his reason for deserting the Imperium has never been clear, nor has he ever explicitly sworn his loyalty to the Dark Gods like some other followers of Chaos, he nonetheless moved from faithfully serving the Imperium to offering assistance to the various legions of renegade Chaos Marine warbands spread throughout the galaxy. Not long after his desertion, Thule found himself on Argus VII and was offered a position in the Red Sons shortly after their conquest of the world. Now serving among Valek's vast legion of loyal followers, Thule has turned his knowledge and skills towards providing the Red Sons with new weapons and armor, while also helping to maintain what they already have at their disposal. Because he is so secretive, he is often met with suspicion by other members of the Red Sons. Regardless, Thule continues to serve faithfully in his role. Military Strength: Army Chaos Space Marines: Forming the elite of the Red Sons' military forces, Chaos Space Marines are arguably some of fiercest and most loyal servants of Chaos. Corrupted by their exposure to the Warp and its unholy Daemon spawn, Chaos Space Marines exist as twisted mockeries of their former Space Marine Battle-Brothers who still faithfully serve the Imperium and its Emperor. They are masters of battle with centuries of experience to their credit and can annihilate almost any foe with little trouble using a wide range of weapons, conventional or otherwise. While the Chaos Marines of the Red Sons are loyal to Valek and his generals, each one brings with them their own specific style or preference for waging war that is reflected either by their personal beliefs, or by the tenants and doctrines of the legions from which they came. Examples of the kinds of Chaos Marines who serve the Red Sons are as follows: Sorcerers – Formerly Space Marine Librarians who have defected to pledge their allegiance to Chaos, Sorcerers are immensely powerful psykers that possess an innate connection to the Warp and its Daemonic inhabitants. Able to summon Daemons and warp the very fabric of time and space itself, Sorcerers typically command other units of Chaos Space Marines in battle and use their exceptional psychic gifts to obliterate their enemies with little effort. Most Sorcerers are devotees of Tzeentch, the Chaos God of change and sorcery. Berserkers – Berserkers are those Chaos Marines who fuel themselves on bloodshed and battle. These debased individuals are savage combatants that revel in violence and have a natural preference for close-quarters melee combat. In battle, they will attack their foes mercilessly with fearsome hand-to-hand weaponry such as chainaxes, chainswords, power fists, lightning claws or anything else that may happen to be close at hand, including rocks and even their bare hands. Most Chaos Berserkers are followers of the Blood God Khorne and possess a nearly insatiable blood lust that compels them to constantly seek battle. Noise Marines – Perhaps some of the most masochistic and perverted followers of Chaos, Noise Marines are those Astartes who have given themselves in service to Slaanesh, the Chaos God of pleasure. Due to the mutational “gifts” bestowed upon them by their patron God, Noise Marines possess extremely sensitive hearing that is many times more acute than any other living creature. Because of this, they derive an overwhelming sense of euphoria from loud, high pitched noises and prefer to surround themselves with anything that can sate their cravings for stimulation. Everything from the sounds of battle, to the tortured screams of their victims, to their preferred use of sonic weaponry and even the garish purple color patterns of their power armor provide Noise Marines with the means to attain the pleasure they seek. Plague Marines – Bloated with decay and infected with every contagion, bacterium and virus known to mankind, Plague Marines are the unholy servants of Nurgle, the Chaos God of disease and decay. Encased within their fetid and rusted power armor, these individuals exist as living corpses, kept alive by the corrupting influence of Nurgle's Rot – a “gift” bestowed upon them by Nurgle that prevents them from experiencing the pain and ravages of the numerous diseases infesting their bodies. Because of this, Plague Marines are exceptionally resilient and will continue to fight regardless of any injuries they may receive, dying only when their bodies disintegrate from the sheer amount of physical trauma that they can absorb. Raptors – Fast attack shock troopers equipped with jump packs that allow them to easily navigate any combat zone in search of their prey. Equivalent to loyalist Space Marine Assault Squads, Chaos Raptors are fairly rare among Chaos forces and are known to have an exaggerated sense of self-importance due to this fact. When deployed in battle, Raptors use their exceptional mobility and speed to attack weak points in an enemy's defenses or outflank strong points. Because of this, they have developed a preference for preying on weaker foes and many Raptors modify their power armor to incorporate vox casters, which emit high-pitched screaming sounds to terrorize and disorient their intended targets. Chaos Marine Bikers – Well armed and highly mobile, Chaos Marine Bikers make for excellent reconnaissance troopers and are often used to launch deadly raids deep behind enemy lines. The bikes which the Chaos Marines ride are rugged vehicles equipped with large engines powerful enough to carry their heavily armored riders over the battlefield. The bikes also have on-board weapon systems that can be fired by the driver without them needing to relinquish control of their vehicle. Additionally, most Chaos Marine bikers also choose to outfit their bikes with spikes and blades that can be used to scythe down enemy infantry when they charge through their ranks. These soldiers also have a reputation for being relentless and cruel, often times chasing down retreating enemy forces for miles just to capture or kill them. Havocs – An offshoot of the standard Chaos Space Marines, Havocs are heavy weapons specialists who excel at providing close range support for their fellow Chaos Marines during battle. Equipped with a wide array of weapons ranging from lascannons, heavy bolters and autocannons, to missile launchers, Havocs can easily deliver a devastating barrage of fire on an enemy that is capable of destroying even heavily armored targets. Havocs have also been known to use Rhino transport vehicles in order to move themselves around the battlefield so they can acquire ideal firing positions faster than if they were forced to cover the same distance on foot. Terminators – Elite warriors who are veterans of numerous wars and countless battles, Terminators are among some of the most feared individuals among Chaos and Imperial forces alike. Clad in ancient suits of Tactical Dreadnought Armor that date back to the days of the Horus Heresy, Terminators are slow moving heavy assault units whose very presence on the battlefield is enough to inspire allied troops and strike fear into the hearts of the opposition. Because they are so slow when compared to other infantry units, Terminators often require some method of transportation to get around the battlefield in a timely manner – usually by way of Rhinos or other armored personnel carriers. Their suits of specialized armor, aside from being exceptionally heavy and cumbersome, provide superior protection when compared to most other kinds of power armor, allowing Terminators to face almost any threat head on without fear of injury or death. In addition, their suits are also equipped with numerous hard points which allow for multiple weapon systems to be attached to the armor's exterior. Everything from melee weapons like lightning claws, to autocannons, heavy flamethrowers and even missile launchers can be equipped by Terminators to increase their firepower to the point where they become akin to walking tanks capable of destroying almost anything in their way. Unlike their loyalist Space Marine counterparts though, Chaos Terminators are blessed by the power of the Warp and often have their already impressive powers and skills augmented by numerous mutational gifts that are bestowed upon them by the Dark Gods. Because of the extreme rarity of Terminators among Chaos units, they are often seen serving as personal body guards for Chaos Lords. They are also known for being egotistical brutes who use their favored status and physical prowess to intimidate other members of their warband. However, this rarity also makes Terminators the target of other Chaos Marines who seek to kill them in order to claim their prized suits of armor for themselves. Chaos Cultists: The most numerous of the Red Sons' forces. Cultists are, quite simply, those beings who have decided to surrender themselves to Chaos and the Dark Gods. Also known as the Lost and the Damned, these individuals come from every corner of the galaxy and from every walk of life in order to venerate the Ruinous Powers. Most do it for personal gain, hoping to appease the Gods and receive their “gifts” in exchange for their undying loyalty. However, almost all of them fail in their quest for greater power and end up as mindless puppets to be used and discarded by the Dark Gods at their whim. Paupers, nobles, war heroes, cowards, the greedy, the deranged, it matters not to the Dark Gods who chooses to worship them, so long as they have an unending throng of souls at their disposal who are willing to live and die for the powers of Chaos. In battle, Cultists are lightly armed and armored, most of them wearing little more than cloth robes or patch-work armor that has been thrown together using whatever they have on hand. The only exceptions are Imperial Guardsmen who have chosen to defect to join Chaos. They are among some of the most well armed and highly disciplined Cultists, bringing with them not only their weapons and armor, but their military training and expertise as well. Unlike their civilian counterparts, Traitor Guardsmen are commonly used as the backbone of Chaos armies everywhere and serve in front line engagements all across the galaxy. Usually though, regardless of background or origin, Cultists are typically considered inept by other Chaos forces, especially by Chaos Space Marines who view mortal beings as little more than annoying hindrances on their own paths to glory. However, what Cultists lack for prowess, they more than make up for in overwhelming numbers and fanaticism. Numbering in the millions in any given case, Cultists are unwaveringly loyal to the Dark Gods and their Champions and will follow them to their own deaths if it is commanded of them. Beyond combat roles, Cultists are also employed as physical labor where they are used to construct temples and shrines in reverence to the Dark Gods. The Cultists of the Red Sons were responsible for building one such structure on Crossroads – the Black Temple, from which all Red Sons operations are conducted. Mechanized Forces: Like the armored forces of any Chaos army, the Red Sons' mechanized forces are largely inherited from traitorous factions of Space Marines and Imperial Guardsmen who have deserted the Imperium to join the forces of Chaos. However, because not every dissenting faction of Chaos followers brings heavy weapons with them when they defect, the Red Sons have taken to the practice of scavenging additional vehicles and weapons from their defeated enemies. From light and mobile armored personnel carriers, to heavily armored main battle tanks and daemonic war machines fueled by the powers of the Warp, the Red Sons employ a diverse number of armored fighting vehicles that lend invaluable support to their army. Examples of the kinds of vehicles and armored units that are typically deployed in battle by the Red Sons are as follows: Land Raiders – One of the heaviest ground assault vehicles available to the Space Marines, these lumbering vehicles act more like mobile fortresses than main battle tanks and can plow through enemy armies with near impunity, easily crushing most obstacles beneath their armored treads. Bristling with all manner of weapons ranging from autocannons and flamethrowers, to grenade launchers, lascannons and machine guns, Land Raiders are prized by Chaos forces for their rarity. The cavernous hull of the Land Raider is large enough to accommodate a full squad of Chaos Terminators, while also offering its crew and cargo excellent protection from all but the deadliest of anti-tank weaponry. Because these vehicles are so rare and powerful, they are also sometimes used by Chaos Lords or Champions as mobile command centers or personal transports, allowing them to travel the battlefield virtually unharmed to display their dominance over other Chaos forces. Land Raiders found in the hands of Chaos forces are typically adorned with war banners, the bodies of slain foes, jagged spikes or blades, and various symbols of the Dark Gods. Defilers – An unholy amalgamation of Daemonic energies and machinery, Defilers are meant to serve as the counterpart to Space Marine Dreadnoughts, going forth onto the battlefield to kill anything and everything standing in their way. Equipped with a pair of gigantic claws, six barbed mechanical legs, autocannons, missile launchers and almost anything else in between, these Daemon Engines (as they are called) can easily tear through an enemy formation with little effort, leaving behind it a path of pure carnage and destruction. Unlike other types of war machines used by Chaos forces though, Defilers are not piloted by a sentient being, but rather by the very essence of a Daemon. When Defilers are first constructed by Tech-preists of the Dark Mechanicus, the chassis is engraved with numerous binding spells and incantations that are used to ensnare the energy of a Daemon and bind it with the machine itself. Once trapped within the machine, the Daemon becomes enraged and seeks to release itself from the infernal contraption by any means necessary. This makes Defilers exceptionally violent combatants as the Daemon trapped inside will charge head long into any threat, hoping to be destroyed so its energy can be released into the Warp once again. However, because the Warp does not exist on Crossroads, any Daemon that is released from its shell will simply cease to exist – making it one of the few ways in which a Daemon can be truly killed. Dreadnoughts – Cybernetic walkers driven by the living mind of a corrupted Space Marine, the Chaos variants of Dreadnoughts are not considered reliable by any standard. Unlike their Imperial counterparts which are revered for their experience and wisdom, Chaos Dreadnoughts possess almost no sanity of their own, driven insane from centuries of incarceration within their cold cybernetic bodies as the powers of Chaos gradually warp and twist their minds. Existing as bloodthirsty shadows of their former selves, Chaos Dreadnoughts can only comprehend the emotions of rage, anger and pain and are used as insane behemoths to be sent forth onto the battlefield to trample anything in their path. Because they are so unstable, these Dreadnoughts are regarded with extreme caution by Chaos forces due to the fact that they have been known to turn their crazed wrath against their own allies if there are no enemy combatants close by. For this reason, Chaos Dreadnoughts are usually shackled securely when they are not in combat and are generally designated as fire support or frontal assault units rather than elite shocktroopers like their loyalist Space Marine contemporaries. Given their numerous flaws and irrational behavior, Chaos Dreadnoughts are a rare sight among Chaos forces. Instead, their role has been supplanted and replaced in more recent years by the creation of the Defilers. Rhinos – An armored personnel carrier that has served for centuries as the vehicle of choice for Space Marine and Chaos legions alike. While it lacks the armor and weaponry to face off against other heavy vehicles or weapons, the Rhino excels as a fast attack vehicle, transporting entire squads of Chaos Marines around the battlefield in relative safety. Usually armed with a heavy bolter, autocannon or grenade launcher as its primary offensive weaponry, the Rhino can also provide direct fire support for its compliment of soldiers as they disembark for battle. In a defensive role, the Rhino can also be used as makeshift cover or to deploy smoke screens to cover a retreat, or mask the intended path of attack. Because of the vehicle's versatile and simplistic design, they are very common sights among Chaos forces and Chaos Marines typically loot enemy Space Marine legions or Imperial supply ships in order to secure additional supplies of this venerable and trusted vehicle. Once newly acquired Rhinos are in their hands though, Chaos Marines will deface any Imperial markings and replace them with war banners proclaiming their allegiance to the Dark Gods. Additionally, as with nearly all things Chaos, Rhinos that serve in the forces of Chaos are decorated with spikes, blades, Chaotic sigils and grisly war trophies to further indicate their new found allegiance to the Ruinous Powers. Predators – A mainstay in the legions of both loyalist Space Marines and Chaos forces for millennia, Predators are powerful main battle tanks that excel at providing heavy mobile fire support for fast moving infantry units. Based on the same basic design and chassis as the Rhino, Predators trade troop carrying capabilities for punishing firepower and heavy armor. Because they draw on the same basic template as the Rhino, Predators are easy to maintain and crews that are familiar with the operations of the Rhino will feel equally at home within the hull of a Predator, making them versatile vehicles that require little effort to operate. Likewise, the Predator's weapon systems can be retrofitted to meet a variety of roles and can include weapons such as a powerful autocannon or lascannon in the main turret, as well as side mounted sponsons that can accommodate additional weaponry like heavy bolters or heavy flamethrowers. Capable of laying down a terrifying amount of firepower, Predators can easily defeat most armored enemy units, lay waste to fixed or hardened positions, pave the way for an eventual infantry assault, or unleash a volley of devastating fire on attacking enemy forces. Frequently, Predators that are used by Chaos Marines of the Traitor Legions have seen service for hundreds or even thousands of standard years. Often embellished with horrific war trophies, Chaos banners, Daemonic symbols, beast headed weapon muzzles and numerous markings of the Dark Gods, Predators serve just as much as a utilitarian statement of the Chaos Marines' hatred for the Imperium and its Emperor as they do war machines – making them a favored weapon among Chaos forces everywhere. Daemons: Daemons are collectively the greatest servants of the Chaos Gods and of Chaos itself as a universal force. Existing as intelligent, corporeal entities comprised of pure Warp energy, Daemons are created by the very whims of the Dark Gods themselves and serve as living extensions of their will. Because the Chaos Gods each have differing philosophies or ritual practices that are specific to them, Daemons come in various shapes and sizes and are created to reflect the personalities and characteristics of their patron God. Outside of serving as foot soldiers in the vast armies of the Dark Gods, Daemons have also been known to fight along side various Chaos cults, supporting them in battle with their own supernatural powers that add a significant tactical advantage to any offensive. However, it should be noted that Daemons care as little for the various mortal servants of Chaos as the Dark Gods do and show nothing in the way of pity or remorse for any allies that might be caught in the crossfire. As well, since Daemons exist solely to serve the will of the God which created them, they have also been known to fight one another based on the long standing rivalries between the Ruinous Powers. The most prominent of these rivalries exists between the Blood God Khorne and his contemporaries, Tzeentch and Slaanesh. Khorne despises both of these Gods for their selfish and cowardly ways – Tzeentch for his use of sorcery and other magical trickery, and Slaanesh for his debased and self satisfying nature. Because Khorne so loathes these two, his own Daemonic armies often march in opposition to them and will usually go out of their way to slay any followers loyal to them. Because of this infighting, Chaos sorcerers take extreme caution when summoning Daemonic entities so as not to summon two Daemons from opposing sides that would be more interested in fighting each other than aiding them. Even so, Daemons are a common sight in almost any Chaos army, and the Red Sons are no different. Using his years of experience and knowledge of the Warp, Cullen is able to open temporary rifts in time and space that allow Daemons to enter into the physical realm. However, because the Warp is absent from Crossroads, he is often forced to improvise by offering up hosts for Daemons to inhabit so that they can survive in the material world. When a Daemon does possess another being's body, they will usually warp it with their own power to be more aesthetically similar to their traditional form. The process is understandably painful and usually results in the death of the subject as their consciousness is replaced with the Daemon's own. For those unlucky enough to survive though, they become passengers in their own bodies, helplessly watching from inside as their mutated and disfigured body wreaks havoc in the name of Chaos. Some of the Daemons which Cullen can summon to aid the Red Sons in battle are as follows: Bloodletters – Lesser Daemons of Khorne that are among some of the most fearsome Daemonic entities in existence, these creatures usually appear as large, muscular humanoid beasts with leathery red skin, cloven feet, razor sharp claws and teeth, horned heads and serpent like tongues. They dominate in melee combat, eagerly tearing their opponents apart with either their bare hands or Daemonic blades forged in the fires at the foot of Khorne's throne of skulls. These swords are also said to possess the essence of other Daemons, allowing them to rend through even the most unyielding armor with ease. Bloodletters are the very embodiment of rage and bloodlust, fearing nothing as they charge into battle with little regard for the safety of themselves or others. Daemonettes – Servants of Slaanesh, Daemonettes are fast moving melee specialists that can make short work of most infantry and keep pace with other fast attack units such as Raptors. Unlike Bloodletters which appear as hulking brutes that can smash anything in their path, Daemonettes are far more feminine in appearance, with slim, lithe bodies built for speed rather than brute force. Among some of their most notable features are their light pink-white skin tones, clawed feet, horned heads, flowing black hair and large, pincer shaped hands which are used for slashing their enemies to pieces. Daemonettes are also rumored to have seductive powers over men, often times captivating them with their beauty and preventing them from attacking until it is too late. Plaguebearers – The typical Daemonic servants of Nurgle, Plaguebearers are often described as ugly, rotting clycloptic mutants. Their ability to spread the plague known as Nurgle's Rot allows them to shrug off most forms of damage during battle and return it ten-fold to their enemies. This trait makes them some of the most resilient Daemons in the armies of the Dark Gods and they tend to have a debilitating effect on the morale of enemy soldiers because of it. Like the Daemonic forces of the other Chaos Gods, Plaguebearers also employ mainly close range weaponry in battle and can prove to be devastating to most types of infantry and lightly armored vehicles in melee combat. Navy Unlike traditional armed fighting forces in the galaxy, Chaos does not possess a single, unified naval force. Nor is there any sense of consistency or commonality when examining the ships that make up these nomadic warfleets – which typically consist of many types of vessels of variable size, shape and class that have been acquired from various sources over hundreds of years. Instead, Chaos naval forces are comprised of numerous fleets of varying size and strength that are dedicated to the service of one of the Dark Gods and commanded by an individual Chaos Lord or, as is the case in most instances, a Daemon Prince. While these fleets have come together in the past to present a combined front against the Imperium's own naval forces, very rarely do these warfleets remain united, dispersing just as quickly when their common threat has been dealt with or when they have been defeated and forced to retreat. In this regard, the Red Sons are no different, possessing a small navy of their own that is primarily made up of scavenged vessels that have been acquired over the years from their defeated enemies. Currently though, there have been no confirmed sightings of Chaos vessels near Crossroads. Index: For your convenience, this section will provide links to pertinent information regarding certain aspects of the above write up that may have been mentioned but were not elaborated on, or are in some way relevant. All links located here will refer you to the corresponding article on the official Warhammer 40,000 wiki – a source from which nearly all of the information in the above write up has been based upon. *A special note about the planet Argus VII. It is an entirely original planet that I made up that (to the best of my knowledge) does not exist in the official Warhammer canon. If it does, I have simply overlooked it. Section I – Arms and Armaments Melee/Close Combat: Chainsword/Chainaxe Lightning Claw Power Fist Ranged Weapons: Bolter Bolt Pistol Flamer Lasgun Laspistol Melta Gun Plasma Gun Plasma Pistol Heavy Weapons: Autocannon Heavy Bolter Heavy Flamer Lascannon Missile Launcher Armor and Equipment: Adamantium Armor Ceramite Armor Frag Grenade Jump Pack Krak Grenade Plasteel Armor Power Armor Tactical Dreadnought Armor Section II – People and Organizations Adeptus Mechanicus Black Legion Chaos Champion Daemon Prince Dark Mechanicus Ecclesiarchy Imperial Guard Imperium of Man Inquisitors Ordo Hereticus Psykers Space Marines Space Marine Librarians Tech-priests Traitor Legions Warmaster Section III – Historical Events Battle of Terra Horus Heresy Section IV – Historical Figures Emperor of Mankind Horus Khorne Nurgle Slaanesh Tzeentch Section V – Additional References Chaos Daemon World Eye of Terror Golden Throne Immaterium Warp |
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5:05 AM May 20
