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Space Marines Portal Blood Angels

The Flesh Tearers is a Second Founding chapter, created when the Blood Angels legion split up after the Horus Heresy in accordance with the Codex Astartes. They suffer from a mutation in their gene-seed, making them far more prone to suffer the Black Rage than other chapters with Blood Angel gene-seed. If no cure is found the chapter is likely to be extinct within the next two millennia. The Flesh Tearers are also ill-famed for their savageness and thirst for blood in battle.

Marine	Basic Data	Chapter Symbol
	- Flesh Tearers - Founding Chapter: Blood Angels Founding: Second Founding Known Descendants: None Chapter Master: Gabriel Seth5 Homeworld: Cretacia Fortress-Monastery: Unknown Colours: Red, Black Specialty: Assault Strength: ~400 marines
		Miniature

History

Flesh Tearers, original color scheme (W40K Rogue Trader).⁷

The Flesh Tearers Chapter was created in M31 when Roboute Guilliman decreed in his Codex Astartes that no longer should a single individual control the might of an entire Space Marine Legion. Thus the Blood Angels were divided into several successor chapters; one of these being the Flesh Tearers. Their reputation for blood-letting quickly spread in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy, indicating that the extensive flaw in their gene-seed was already present at their creation. Instead of checking the rumours of entire populations wiped out, the High Lords of Terra simply looked at the long list of worlds pacified and ignored the inconsequential lists of casualties.^Cite

After thousands of years as a crusading chapter the Flesh Tearers eventually settled on an extremely hostile Death World known as Cretacia. A lost colony of primordial humans proved perfect recruits for the chapter, being pure of taint and extremely strong. The world lies deep in the galactic west³.

The chapter has since become more and more dependent on the easy access to recruits, as their gene-seed mutation gradually worsens. More and more marines succumbs to the Black Rage, with few marines older than two centuries.³ As of late M41, the Flesh Tearers only have 4 full Companies of marines, less than half of the normal number. If the degradation of their gene-seed continue at the same rate they will count no more than 200 marines within a millennium.^Cite

Over the years several Imperial bodies have questioned the combat doctrines and sanity of the Flesh Tearers. Many have refused to fight alongside the chapter: disgusted by their savagery in combat or fearing they would get caught up in the bloodshed along with the enemy. The chapter has been under Inquisitorial investigation since the Kallern Massacres of M36.^Cite

In 799.M41, the Flesh Tearers, along with nine regiments of Imperial Guard and elements of the Astral Knights, assisted the Grey Knights in defeating the daemonic incursion of M'kar the Reborn on the world of Acralem. M'kar would eventually fall to a young Kaldor Draigo¹¹

In the year of 837.M41, Flesh Tearers under command of Seth once again massacred innocents, much to the chagrin of the Space Wolves, leading to the battle known as Honour's End, where brother fought brother over the Flesh Tearers uncontrolled bloodlust.¹⁰

In 991.M41, the Flesh Tearers would take part in the Stromark Civil War and terrify the worlds of the Stromark System into submission.^6c

Another example of their bloodlust happened during the Third War for Armageddon, in which 5 Companies² were deployed in the Fire Wastes alongside the Sisters of Battle of the Order of the Argent Shroud. Their combined force was fighting against Warlord Rukglum's artillery unit, deployed within the settlement of Gaius Point. Civilians in the area had formed a rabble militia to help the Imperial forces and to protect their homes. The Flesh Tearers deployed behind the Orks and pushed them onto the waiting guns of the militia and Sisters. After wiping out the main body of the Orks, the Flesh Tearers proceeded to mount the barricades and slaughter the militia in their insatiable bloodlust. The Sisters withdrew rather than having to fight their former ally. The leader of the Order of the Argent Shroud has since reported this incident to the Inquisition, demanding the destruction of this Chapter.^Cite

Fought in the Acata Uprising⁴

Initially declined the tithe of initiates proposed by the Blood Angels on Baal during the recent conclave meeting of the Sanguinius bloodline, called by Chapter Master Dante to discuss the fate of the Founding Chapter. However, after assisting in the defeat of Fabius Bile's Bloodfiends the Flesh Tearers agreed to lend their support to the Blood Angels.⁸

Organisation

The Flesh Tearers was originally a standard Codex Chapter, but has over the millennia evolved into a pure assault force. Being obsessed with bloodshed often mean that they will close in on the enemy with utmost speed and engage in close combat. Flesh Tearers operations therefore have large numbers of assault marines and squads mounted in transports.

The low number of marines has also led to an unexpected diversity in skills among the Flesh Tearers, with each marine being proficient in both tactical, devastator, vehicular and assault roles. The chapter has few vehicles apart from Rhinos and Razorbacks (a few Whirlwinds and one Baal Predator are also present).

Flesh Tearers Company markings mirror those of the Blood Angels:⁶

• 1st Company - White Skull⁶
• 2nd Company - Yellow/Gold Blood Drop⁶
• 3rd Company - White/Silver Blood Drop⁶
• 4th Company - Green Blood Drop⁶

If the Chapter regains strength, the Company markings will progress the same.⁶

Squad Number designation is Low Gothic numerals on the right knee pad.⁶

The Chapter fleet is also relatively small, with only one battle barge, the Victus. They also have a number of modified Strike Cruisers with an extended transport capability. The Victus is an ancient vessel, having been in service since possibly during the Great Crusade³.

Notable Flesh Tearers

• Chapter Master Gabriel Seth, Guardian of the Rage - Current Chapter Master.⁵
• High Chaplain Carnarvon, leader of the Death Company and Watcher of the Lost ⁸
• Chapter Master Amit, declared Right of Conquest on Cretacia^Cite
• Captain Gorn, deployed on Kallern with the so-called Kallern Massacres⁸
• Sergeant Noxx, assisted the Blood Angels in recovering the stolen blood of Sanguinius from Fabius Bile^{8 9}

Related Articles

• Loyal Space Marine Chapters (List)
• Space Marine Forces (List)
• Blood Angels

Sources

• ¹: Armageddon Website - Details of the Third War for Armageddon Worldwide Campaign. (accessed 2007.02.17)
• ²: Codex: Armageddon
• ³: Index Astartes I Flesh Tearers
• ⁴: Imperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines and Forces of the Inquisition - Pg. 47
• ⁵: Games Workshop Website (accessed 2010.03.16)
• ⁶: Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition)
  • ^a: Pg 71
  • ^b: Pg 80
  • ^c: pg. 16
• ⁷: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (1987) p.168
• ⁸: Red Fury (Novel) by James Swallow
• ⁹: Black Tide (Novel) by James Swallow
• ¹⁰: Codex: Space Wolves (5th Edition) Page 19
• ¹¹: Codex: Grey Knights (5th Edition) Page 38