Red Scorpions
From Lexicanum
Contents |
Chapter Summary
| Marine | Basic Data |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|
Background
The origins of the Red Scorpions Chapter are unknown. No records remain of the chapter's founding or from which Space Marine Legion their geneseed was first taken. It is known, however, that the chapter has existed for at least 5,000 years1.
The Red Scorpions are characterized by their extreme traditionalism, unyielding devotion to the Codex, and their hatred of abhumans and other mutants and anything deviating from the pure human form. They have a fanatical belief in their own purity and this has led to the chapter's isolationism. They do not venerate any Primarch above any other, preferring only to venerate the Emperor. As a chapter, they are extremely xenophobic; they will not serve alongside abhumans, and due to the Imperial Guard's willingness to allow abhumans in their ranks, they view them as inferior and untrustworthy.
The Chapter is noted for the purity of geneseed tithes which is heavily tied to its fanatical belief in purity, in deed and thought as well as physically.
Recruits are drawn from Zaebus Minoris, a small, arid world inhabited by primitive tribes of humans. The tribes' traditions tie into the recruitment process of the Chapter. Male infants are presented to the tribes' temple at the first full moon of its life. A few are taken by the "gods" - selected, after genetic testing, by Chapter Apothecaries as potential future Marines. Because these recruits will have had no experience with their parent culture, the Chapter is all the recruit will know1.
Organization
The Red Scorpions consider the Codex Astartes as religious scripture, and their chapter organization closely follows codex standards. The chapter is vehemently opposed to the use of camouflage designs not described within the codex.6
Engagements
- 857.M38 - The chapter is called to assist in the prolonged siege of the traitor stronghold on Helios. The chapter's Master of the Forge creates the Land Raider Helios by mounting extra Whirlwind launchers onto existing Land Raiders. He took this step because the Red Scorpions mistrusted the Imperial Guard units they were sent to work with.1
- Late M39 - The Red Scorpions undertake the Ordon Crusade, which sees the entire chapter deployed in the wilderness space of the Ordon Rift in Segmentum Tempestus for 300 years. It is unknown what happened during these three centuries.1
- M41 Galen V Suppression (Galen V Expeditionary Force) - involved Land Raiders in Codex Approved Cobalt/Ammonium desert camouflage for the cobalt chromate deserts of Galen V.
- 826.M41 Strike force composed of elements of the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 8th companies arrive on Vraks on the Strike Cruiser Arx Fidelis. Led by Commander Ainea, the strike force aided in the final breaching of the curtain wall surrounding the Fortress of Vraks. Veteran Sergeant Carab Culln leads the Vanguard squad that carried the teleport homer used by Commander Ainea and his squad of Terminators to arrive, and subsequently hold, the breach in the curtain wall where the besieging army would pour through.10
- 830.M41 The Red Scorpions return to Vraks, this time with a strike force personally led by Lord High Commander Verant Ortys in response to Inquisitor Lord Hector Rex's request for aid. The Battle Barge Sword of Ordon arrives in orbit, carrying 400 of the chapter's battle-brothers, including Veteran Sergeant Carab Culln. The Red Scorpions proceed to participate in the retaking of the Fortress of Vraks, particularly the battle of Saint Leonis' Gate.11
- 850.M41 Marines from the chapter's first and sixth companies, led by Commander Carab Culln assist Ordo Xenos Inquisitor Solomon Lok during an investigation and subsequent battle against Tyranids on Beta Anphelion IV. The Chapter comes under surveillance by the Ordo Hereticus for their actions, along with Inquistor Lord Varius of the Ordo Xenos.1
- 906.M41 Badab War - The chapter is brought in, along with the Minotaurs, to protect shipping and space lanes and to reinforce the Fire Hawks and Marines Errant during the Badab War. Due to the Red Scorpions' unyielding devotion to Codex scripture and their unwillingness to fraternize with less traditional Chapters, their operations in the War were mainly confined to space-lane duties.5 They were involved in several bloody ship-to-ship boarding actions against the renegade Executioners chapter 1, while the Minotaurs carry out similar boarding actions against the renegade Lamenters, which causes the Lamenters to surrender. See "Badab War" article for more information.5
- 906.M41 Angstrom Incident - Involving Red Scorpion pursuit squads in Codex red/black disruptive camouflage.5
- 907.M41 - The Red Scorpions return to the galactic east to undertake their normal duties, due to Ork incursions in the Ultima Segmentum (most likely by Urgok the Unstoppable).
- More recently, they have been involved in operations against Hive Fleet Kraken and the growing Ork empire of Urgok the Unstoppable.1
- 999.M41 Third War for Armageddon - single company arrives at the end of the first year of conflict during the Season of Fire and awaits the Season of Shadow to commence hostilities in Warzone Armageddon.
Notable members
- Lord High Commander Verant Ortys, Supreme Leader of the Red Scorpions circa 830.M41. Accepts Lord Inquisitor Hector Rex's request for aid, and personally leads a strike force of 400 battle-brothers in the retaking of the Fortress of Vraks, capturing Saint Leonis' Gate from waves of heretics, mutants, and finally daemons.11
- Commander Ainea, Commander of the Red Scorpions 3rd Company circa 826.M41. Led a task force that answered Marshall Kagori's request for aid, and captured the breach in the curtain wall of the Fortress of Vraks that finally allowed the 88th Siege Army to enter the Citadel's proper.10
- Commander Carab Culln, Culln is a Commander of the Red Scorpions. He was inducted from the primitive world of Zaebus Minoris and has risen through the ranks of the Red Scorpions to take his current position after the death of Commander Usaml. According to quotes attributed to him he considers abhumans such as Beastmen and Ogryns to be subhuman and is highly reluctant to allow his troops to serve anywhere near them. He considers the use of camouflage to be cowardice - although there is nothing to suggest the Chapter as a whole shares this belief; on the contrary, the chapter is noted to strictly follow Codex camouflage designs, to such an extent that they refuse to fight alongside chapters using "unofficial" designs.6
- Veteran Sergeant Haas, Haas is a Veteran Sergeant among the Red Scorpions, he has a bionic left arm and wields a power weapon. His MK4 armour incorporates an Iron Halo and he has served in over 60 missions.
Fleet vessels
The Red Scorpions are assumed to have a large fleet at their disposal, given their history and salvage rights following the Badab War, but so far only three ships have been mentioned in official GW material and Forge World publications to date - the Battle Barges Auel's Bane and Sword of Ordon11, and the Strike Cruiser Arx Fidelis10.
Sources
- 1 Imperial Armour Volume Four - The Anphelion Project, Index Astartes, the Red Scorpions section
- 2 Games Workshop Games Day 2005 Forge World lecture.
- 3 GW UK's Campaign Weekends Badab War Rules. Direct link removed but file still available (accessed 2007.06.18)
- 4 Forgeworld - Red Scorpions (accessed 2007.02.19)
- 5 White Dwarf 101(uk) Index Astartes: The Badab Uprising, by Rick Priestley
- 6 White Dwarf 105(uk) Land Raider!, by Rick Priestley
- 7 White Dwarf 303(uk) & 302(us) Index Astartes: Rogue Sons, by Andy Hoare.
- 8 Epic Armageddon
- 9 Games Workshop Online "Founding 21: The Cursed Founding Chapters"
- 10 Imperial Armour Volume Six - The Siege of Vraks - Part Two
- 11 Imperial Armour Volume Seven- The Siege of Vraks - Part Three
