Crimson Fists
From Lexicanum
The Crimson Fists are a Space Marine chapter. They are one of the successor chapters created during the Second Founding, their progenitors being the Imperial Fists and their Primarch Rogal Dorn.
| Marine | Basic Data | Chapter Symbol | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| 
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Miniature | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Contents |
Background
History
After the Horus Heresy it was decided (in the Codex Astartes written by the Ultramarines Primarch Roboute Guilliman) that no single man should ever wield the power of a whole legion of Space Marines alone, and that each legion was to be split up into thousand men strong chapters. Rogal Dorn of the Imperial Fists legion long opposed this, but decided to yield rather than risk the fragile peace of the post-heresy Imperium. The Imperial Fists legion were divided into four chapters: The marines most devoted to their Primarch was to remain Imperial Fists, the most zealous started the never-ending crusade of the Black Templars and the younger and more levelheaded marines formed the Crimson Fists.1 It is also rumoured that the planetary assault company were formed into another Chapter but all records have been wiped from Imperial history (See Soul Drinkers).
The chapters name derives from the ceremony conducted at the initiation of new chapter masters in the Imperial Fist legion. The Chapter Master and the Primarch would both cut their palm and share blood in a warrior handshake; strengthening the marine with the blood of the Primarch and forming a symbolic bond between them.
The Crimson Fists spent their first nine millennia as a space-faring Crusade Chapter, much like the Black Templars. Their first victory was against a large host of Exodite Eldar on Urolak Prime, followed by the cleansing of HR8518; the home system of an alien race known as the Scythians.1 Their most legendary campaign was the Crusade of Righteous Liberation - the retaking of planets lost after the Age of Apostasy. The largest Crimson Fist operation in more recent times was the Voltigern Crusade in late M40, where several Ork empires in the Loki sector were attacked and destabilized, later to collapse in civil war. For this the Crimson Fists were granted fiefdom over Rynn's World, a prosperous agri-world.1
Their homeworld was invaded by Orks in mid-M41. The Crimsons Fists, led by Captain Drakken of the 3rd company had earlier tried to sabotage an Orkish Waaagh building on the nearby world Badlading, but failed. The Orks rallied under Warlord Snagrod - the Arch-Arsonist of Charadon - and invaded in response, despite the almost suicidal nature of invading a Space Marine homeworld. The odds shifted in the Orks favour when the Crimson Fists Fortress-Monastery was destroyed by a stray missile from its own defence system, with a majority of the chapter killed in the blast. The survivors consolidated their defences at the planet's capitol, New Rynn City, and managed to repel the invasion after a furious battle. With no more than a hundred surviving marines the Chapter came close to being disbanded due to irrecoverable battle losses, but have since managed to recover.1 The chapter is back to half its original strength as of late M41.5
Since the Ork invasion, the Fists has sworn vengeance on all Ork-kind. This conflict is reflected in the current fourth edition rules, with the Crimson Fists having advantages in close combat with Orks but having access to fewer specialist troops.
During the Imperial attempts to reclaim the planet of Endymion IV, the Crimson Fists answered a request for reinforcements. During the first assault, the Crimson Fist's commander discovered the presence of the Soul Drinkers on the planet after suffering an attack by Tellos. Additional companies arrive, but their campaign ended in failure as Endymion IV was lost and the Soul Drinkers successfully accomplish their goals and escape off world.5
Organisation
The Crimson Fists embraced the Codex Astartes readily, and are probably the most traditional among the sons of Rogal Dorn, and receive training of all aspects of combat as written by Roboute Guilleman. There are a few minor deviances; such as the first company being known as the Crusade Company, a tradition started after the Crusade of Righteous Liberation left the Crimson Fists with no more than 128 survivors. The 1st company has been kept at 128 marines since, with the master of the Crusade Company always being the Chapter Master as well. It is considered a bad omen to march to battle with less than a full veteran company.
The Crimson Fists has always had close ties with the Imperium and the Inquisition. They have contributed many warriors to the kill-teams of the Ordo Xenos, being renown Ork fighters. They have also, at the order of Terra and the Inquistion, destroyed two chapters of brother Space Marines; the insane Sons of Gideon and the mind-wiped Marines Vigilant. This has earned them a reputation as lap dogs of the Inquisition among certain chapters.
The chapters main colour is deep blue with white or silver details. When an initiate joins the ranks of the Chapter his left glove is painted red; when he becomes a member of the Crusade company his right glove is also painted red. Scouts are often portrayed with red gloves but blue hand guards. Their Chapter symbol is almost an exact copy of that of the Imperial Fists but uses different colours, namely dark blue and crimson red.
Notables battles and campaigns
Notable Crimson Fists
- Rogal Dorn - Crimson Fists Primarch (via the Imperial Fists)1
- Chapter Master Alexis Polux - The Crimson Fists first Chapter Master (dec.)
- Chapter Master Pedro Kantor - The current Crimson Fists Chapter Master (M41)1
- Captain Cortez - Nigh-invulnerable Captain of the 4th Company (pres dec.)
- Rynn's Might - A Land Raider with a fierce machine spirit
- Captain Drakken - Captain of the 3rd Company
- Veteran Sergeant Huron Grimm - commander of the Crimson Fists force stationed at New Rynn city during the Orkish invasion of Rynn2,3
Sources
- 1 White Dwarf 287(us) Index Astartes: Bloodied Fist. The Crimson Fists Space Marine Chapter. by Andy Hoare
- 2 White Dwarf, German, 43
- 3 White Dwarf 94, Skirmish on Rynn's World: The Battle of Jadeberry Hill
- 4:Warhammer 40,000 4th Edition Rulebook, p. 102
- 5:Crimson Tears by Ben Counter
