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Blood Angels

The Blood Angels were one of the original Space Marine Legions. Their Primarch is Sanguinius. They are particularly well known for their bloodthirsty nature in battle. They are also one of the most long-lived Chapters, and have a refined aesthetic sense.

Contents

Basic Information

Marine Basic Data
Chapter Symbol
Miniature
Name: Blood Angels
Legion Number: IX
Primarch: Sanguinius
Chapter Master: Dante
Homeworld: Baal
Fortress-Monastery: Name Unknown
Known Descendants: Angels Encarmine, Angels Sanguine, Angels Vermillion,
Flesh Tearers, Blood Drinkers, Flesh Eaters, Lamenters, Blood Legion, Blood Swords, Red Wings
Main colours: Blood-Red
Specialty: Assault
Battle Cry: By the Blood Of Sanguinius! or For The Emperor and Sanguinius!


History

Pre-Heresy Blood Angels Space Marine.

The Blood Angels were created from the genetic material of their Primarch Sanguinius. As with all of the Primarchs, Sanguinius was genetically engineered to be a supreme super-soldier but was cast into the warp during his infancy along with his brothers, and found on the nuclear-blasted moon of Baal Secundus. Sanguinius was affected by the warp, and when he was found by one of the few unmutated human tribes on Baal, he had a pair of angelic wings growing from his back. As he matured quickly, he was able to use his superhuman powers and abilities to unite the humans of Baal against the mutants and become their leader.

When the Emperor found Baal in his search for the twenty Primarchs, Sanguinius immediately recognized him for who he was and bent down on his knee, pledging his service. In this, Sanguinius was one of the few Primarchs who did not challenge the Emperor upon their reunion. The Emperor then took Sanguinius and a number of his best warriors and placed him in command of the Blood Angels Space Marine Legion.1

During the Great Crusade, the Blood Angels became known as being excellent shock assault troops, and formed a rivalry with the similarly assault-oriented World Eaters Legion.[Needs Citation] Sanguinius was reputed to have had some form of psychic powers, principally the gift of foresight.1

The Horus Heresy

During the Horus Heresy, the Blood Angels were one of the few Legions who fought alongside the Emperor during the Battle of Terra. When Horus lowered the shields of his battlebarge, and the Emperor teleported aboard the ship, Sanguinius was with him.

The noble Primarch became separated from the Emperor, and came across Horus alone. The Warmaster tried to sway Sanguinius, to turn him to Chaos, but the Angel-winged warrior refused, and attacked Horus. The Daemonically strengthened Horus slew Sanguinius, as the Primarch knew he would. He had foreseen his death, and yet still engaged the Arch-Heretic, knowing he would die. This has endowed many of the Blood Angel's beliefs with a deeply mystical streak. Sanguinius' violent death left a strong psychic imprint on his Legion, since they partially share his DNA. However, this was a willing sacrifice that was made in order to buy the Emperor time and to give Him a weakness in Horus's armour, which was key in bringing about the traitor's defeat.

After the Heresy, as with all other loyal Legions, the Blood Angels were forced to split into many smaller Chapters.1

Geneseed

Black Rage

All of the Chapters derived from the Blood Angels still suffer from the psychic imprint left by Sanguinius's death. This can cause them to go insane prior or during a battle, and they believe that they are Sanguinius himself during the Battle of Terra. The condition is irrecoverable (except for one case, where the victim was largely able to control it), and victims are locked away in the "Tower of the Lost" on the Blood Angels' homeworld until they finally die. This insanity is known as the Black Rage.

When a Space Marine is overcome by the Black Rage he is reborn in a world of anger, hatred, fury and nothing else. As well as Sanguinius’s memories, the Blood Angel is touched with a small portion of his unearthly power, boosting his strength and vitality to superhuman levels.

Rather than face a slow, insane death, Blood Angels will form those who have newly succumbed to the Black Rage into a special unit known as the Death Company. They paint their armour black, daubed with red crosses, signifying the wounds of Sanguinius, and are usually led by the few Chapter officers, notably Chaplains, who are able to communicate orders to these lost warriors. They are then sent out to perform the most dangerous assaults, hoping for a quick and honourable death in combat.1

Red Thirst

From the day of their Sanguination to their death on the battlefield the Blood Angels fight not only with countless foes but with a burning urge inside them. It is the Red Thirst, the legacy of their Primarch Sanguinius, that plagues many Blood Angels with visions of death. In battle Blood Angels can harness these visions to evoke a ferocity that gave the Blood Angels Chapter its reputation for unparalleled brutal assaults. Sometimes however the Red Thirst is so overwhelming that the Blood Angels forget their noble heritage and completely lose control over themselves. It is not unheard of that Blood Angels squads abandon advantageous positions to engange the enemy in hand to hand combat. More often than not these assaults turn out to be so devastating that unprepared enemy forces are simply swept away.

The Red Thirst is one of the two genetic flaws in the geneseed of the Blood Angels and their successor Chapters. This causes warriors to suffer an unusual bloodlust, instilling them with a thirst for the blood of their enemies. Those who succumb to the Red Thirst or Black Rage are either formed into the Death Company or locked away in the Tower of the Lost on Baal, until they change completely, going insane. These traits have also been passed on to their successor chapters, such as the Flesh Tearers, Blood Drinkers, and Angels Sanguine. One successor chapter, the Lamenters, managed by unknown means to eliminate the flaws from Sanguinius' gene-seed, but has been stricken by extraordinary bad luck in battle and as such has been nearly annihilated.[Needs Citation]

Exsanguinator

The Sanguinary Priest can use the Exsanguinator for medical treatment of wounded Space Marines. But more important the Exsanguinator is a tool for retrieving the gene-seed from the body of a fallen Marine and is vital for the survival of the Chapter. In the veins of every Sanguinary Priest flow a portion of Sanguinius's own blood. That adds to the spiritual significance of the Exsanguinator for the Blood Angels. Usually a Sanguinary Priest uses his influence to calm the Red Thirst of his battle brothers. These priests are the epitome of the noble character of Sanguinius's heirs. But there are some priests that aspire to use the gift of their Primarch. These Faustians amplify the Red Thirst so that the enraged Blood Angels become the ultimate bringers of death.

Organisation

Chapter Organization

The Blood Angels divide their battle brothers among the chapter into Companies. There are 10 companies in the Blood Angels and each one is led by a captain who is guarded by elite veterans known as the Honour Guard.3

  • The first company of the Blood Angels is undoubtedly the strongest comprising only of experienced veteran space marines who have mastered every art of battle. Only the first company veterans are given terminator honours and so they are the only company able to wear the tactical dreadnought armour, commonly known as terminator armour. When not fighting in terminator armour the Blood Angels first company only fight in assault squads as they prefer to quench the red thirst as all Sons of Sanguine do. Not all veterans are in the first company however, some are merely commanding a squad, waiting approval to join the revered first company.3
  • The second through to the fifth companies are known as battle companies. The battle companies are usually the first to be deployed and on the front lines where they can do most of the damage. The battle companies consist of 6 tactical squads, 2 assault squads and 2 devastator squads but can also have reinforcements of veterans and scouts if the mission requires it.3
  • The sixth through to the ninth companies are known as reserve companies. These reserve companies consist of 10 squads but all of the same designation in each company. The reserve companies are used to bolster the attacks of the battle companies to push forward the attack, they can be used as a diversionary tactic so the battle companies can get the upper hand or they can be, as the name suggests, reinforcements for the battle companies if they take any casualties or fatalities.3
  • The sixth and seventh companies are tactical reserve companies which comprises 10 tactical squads each.3
  • The eighth company consists of 10 assault squads that are capable to enter combat equipped with or without a jump pack. The eighth company is also trained to use land speeders and bikes to assist the battle companies.3
  • The ninth company is the Devastator reserve company, complete with 10 devastator squads.3
  • The tenth company is the scout company. There is no fixed amount of squads for the company as the number of successful aspirants vary.1
  • The Death Company is not a company as such, but the collection of battle brothers who have succumbed to the black rage.3

Each company of the Blood Angels are given a company badge worn on the right shoulder pad3:

  • 1st company: White Skull
  • 2nd company: Single yellow blood drop
  • 3rd company: Single white blood drop
  • 4th company: Single green blood drop
  • 5th company: Single black blood drop
  • 6th company: Double yellow blood drop
  • 7th company: Double white blood drop
  • 8th company: Double green blood drop
  • 9th company: Double black blood drop
  • 10th company: Scouts do not have a company badge

Company Squads

Each company is divided into 10 squads. Squads are led into battle by a Sergeant or a Veteran Sergeant and consist of four to nine battle brothers. Each squad can be broken down into two 5 man squads called combat squads.1

  • Tactical Squads make up the bulk of a Blood Angels army. The first six squads of the battle companies and the sixth and seventh companies are deployed as tactical squads.1
  • Assault Squads. The whole first company, if not deployed in terminator armour, will be used as assault squads as well as the seventh and eighth squad of the battle companies, also the eighth company squads are deployed as Assault squads.1
  • Devastator Squads Are deployed in each battle company as the ninth and tenth squad and the ninth reserve company is dedicated to devastator squads.1
  • Scout Squads are the newly recruited neophytes who are under the ever watchful eye of the Scout Sergeant who is one of the most experienced Space Marines in the chapter.1

Unlike the other chapters of the Astartes, Blood Angels squad markings are not numerals on the shoulder pads but rather symbols worn on the right knee pad of the power armour1:

  • 1st squad: White Skull on a black background
  • 2nd squad: White Skull on a blue background
  • 3rd squad: Red blood drop on a yellow background
  • 4th squad: Red blood drop on a black background
  • 5th squad: White X on a black background
  • 6th squad: White X on a blue background
  • 7th squad: Yellow lightning bolt on a back background
  • 8th squad: Black lightning bolt on a yellow background
  • 9th squad: Yellow angelic wing on a black background
  • 10th squad: Black angelic wing on a yellow background

Honour Guard

Among the Chapter, it is customary of the mighty Blood Angels leaders to be accompanied by an Honour Guard of dedicated warriors. It's members are often distinguished individuals or the most accomplished veteran marines of the Chapter; warriors with full access to the armoury of the Blood Angels. As a result, the Honour Guard are normally very-well equipped and ably transported. Sanguinary Priests and Techmarines may be found within an Honour Guard, as can standard-bearers. When operating as Honour Guard for a Company Commanded, one member of the Guard may be nominated as Company Champion.3

The Death Company

A Chaplain directing his Death Company.

Blood Angels are unique in that deeply engrained in their gene-seed is the encoded experience of Sanguinius, and most deeply imprinted of all is the memory of his final battle with Horus. Sometimes an event or circumstance will trigger this 'race memory'. This happens only rarely, often on the eve of battle, but it is likely to be a fatal experience for the warrior whose mind is suddenly wrenched into the distant past. What has become known as the Black Rage overcomes him, the memories and consciousness of Sanguinius intrudes upon his mind, and dire events ten thousand years old flood into the present.

To others a Marine overcome with the Black Rage appears half mad with fury: he is unable to distinguish past from present and does not recognise his comrades. He may believe he is Sanguinius upon the eve of his destruction, and the bloody battles of the Horus Heresy are raging all around him. As well as the memories of the Primarch, the Marine is also imbued with a small portion of Sanguinius' unearthly power, boosting the warrior's already prodigious strength and vitality to superhuman levels.

In order to keep the Black Rage in check, on the eve of battle the Blood Angels bend their thoughts to prayer and to the sacrifice of their Primarch so many centuries ago. Chaplains move from man to man, blessing each in turn and noting those amongst the brotherhood whose eyes may appear a little glazed, or whose speech is slurred or over excited. Some, almost all, overcome this ancient intrusion into their minds. All of a warrior's training is directed at controlling it, beating it down into the depths of their being. But for some the imprint of Sanguinius is too strong, the memories too loud and demanding. As the Chaplains chant the moripatris, the mass of doom, the chosen ones fall into the arms of their priests, and are taken away. The afflicted are formed into a special unit called the Death Company.

Suffused with the dying memories of Sanguinus, the warriors of the Death Company seek only one thing: death in battle fighting against the enemies of the Emperor. The Death Company is arrayed in black armour upon which are painted red saltires, crosses of blood red which symbolise the sacrifice of Sanguinius. The company is led into battle and directed towards the foe by the Chapters Chaplains. The warriors fight with the certainty of death and are completely fearless, ignoring wounds that would fell a normal man. Should they survive the battle they will probably die of their wounds afterwards, once the frenzied slaughter is past. It is better this way, for those who do survive almost always fall victim to the Red Thirst, turning into creatures no better than wild beasts craving flesh and blood. Better by far to die cleanly and quickly in battle than to suffer such a fate.1

Recruitment

The Blood Angels recruit their Neophytes from the chapters home planet of Baal and it's moons.1

Fleet Disposition

There are at least four known vessels in the Blood Angels Armada: the battle barge Europae under the command of chief librarian Mephiston, the battle barge Bellus, the strike cruiser Amareo, and the frigate Tycho.4

Notable Blood Angels

External links

Sources

See also

Retrieved from "http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Blood_Angels"
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