Soul Drinkers
From Lexicanum
| This page contains spoilers for: | Soul Drinker Series |
Contents |
Chapter Summary
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History
The Soul Drinkers do not fit the standard template of Excommunicate Traitoris. Unlike most Renegade chapters which have devoted themselves to the Chaos gods, the Soul Drinkers despise the Ruinous Powers as much if not more than they hate the Imperium that cast them out. Instead, they have developed an ideology that states that the Imperium has betrayed everything the Emperor has stood for; so they still fight the powers of chaos even though they disagree with what the Imperium now stands for. Some within the Chapter think that the Imperium should be destroyed for the good of mankind.
Dealing with Tellos
After the defeat of the heretic Teturact, the Soul Drinkers were forced to flee Stratix Luminae, leaving several assault squads, who were under Tellos' command, behind. Tellos, who had bordered on Khornate rage before this betrayal, quickly fell under the Blood God's influence, subverting his assault squads to the service of Khorne.
Chapter Master Sarpedon quickly caught wind of this heresy by his battle-brother and tracked Tellos to Entymion IV, an Imperial world now held by a mysterious alliance of Dark Eldar and Slaaneshi Cultists. The Imperial Guard, with the assistance of the Crimson Fists, were at that moment trying to liberate the world.
The Crimson Fists force was initially small, serving as a spearhead for the array of Imperial Guard regiments attempting to retake the capital city of Gravenhold. However, they quickly fell afoul of Tellos' Soul Drinkers, clashing indecisively as the Fists took up overwatch positions in a cathedral. In the aftermath, recognizing the chalice emblem and believing the entire Soul Drinkers Chapter present, Crimson Fists Commander Reinez sent word of the Soul Drinkers presence to Rynn's World, who responded with the Fists 2nd Company under Chaplain Inhuaca, placing himself and the Company under Reinez's command with orders to destroy the Soul Drinkers and bring back Chief Librarian Sarpedon's head.
Upon their arrival on Entymion IV, Sarpedon's Soul Drinkers immediately began investigating the situation. Their method of infiltrating the world, hijacking a pair of landers from the Imperial Navy, quickly alerted the Crimson Fists as to their location. After securing the assistance of the Armoured Fist units of the Fornux Lix Fire Drakes Regiment, the Crimson Fists dove deep into the city and fought the Soul Drinkers in a brutal brawl within the city's Mercantile Chamber. The Soul Drinkers pulled back after capturing the Fists Company Standard and killing the company Librarian.
Throughout this fight, the Dark Eldar present on the world observed the Soul Drinkers fighting against the loyalist forces. The intervention of the brainwashed slave army of the Dark Eldar deterred Fists pursuit as the Soul Drinkers retreated beneath the city. They were quickly approached by the Dark Eldar- who, clearly bearing betrayal in mind - offered Sarpedon an Alliance, which Sarpedon - also planning betrayal - accepted.
1st Chapter War
Sarpedon, the Chapter's highest ranking Librarian, challenged the old Chapter Master, Gorgoleon, to an honour duel. An honour duel is unique to all chapters founded from the Imperial Fists Legion. It involves the accused, and the challenger, and they duel either to the death, or the drawing of first blood. It is said that the Emperor and Rogal Dorn will lend their strength to the victor. Sarpedon slew Gorgoleon using his newly mutated talons, and became the new Chapter Master of the Soul Drinkers. Sarpedon then rooted out all the followers of Gorgoleon, killing all the Soul Drinkers that would not join the new Chapter.
2nd Chapter War
Back at full strength, the Soul Drinkers found another Chapter War brewing between Sarpedon, and the new Sergent Eumenes, taken from a planet that hated the Imperium, to restock the Chapter. Eumenes felt that the fight should be taken directly to the Emperor. He wanted to take out the Astronomican, and blot out the light that guides the Emperor's ships through the warp to start the Imperium over. Sarpedon, however, given advice from the chapters chaplain that a planet called Vanqualis was under attack from a horde of Orks and needed protection, and to take supplies for their new home, The Brokenback. Sarpedon led the 200 remaining loyal Soul Drinkers through the jungles of Vanqualis to the fortress held by Eumenes forces. Once there, Librarian Gresk warned Sarpedon to leave. Sarpedon did, before Eumenes bombarded the land surrounding the fortress from the Brokenback.
Aftermath
Sarpedon could not get off Vanqualis, and conceded to Eumenes' wishes. Eumenes became the new Chapter Master. Sarepdon led the loyal Soul Drinkers to Techmarine Lygris, loyal to Sarpedon, but was stuck on the Brokenback until Eumenes let him shuttle Sarpedon and his forces back to their ship. Sarpedon then attacked psyker-latent Scout Scamandar in the Brokenback's brig, incapacitating him. Sarpedon makes his way to the bridge. Where he duels Eumenes using the Soulspear, and Lord Mercaeno's force axe, taken by Eumenes after he killed the Howling Griffons Librarian. Sarpedon impales Eumenes with his mutated talons, and wins back the Chapter he won from his victory against Gorgoleon.
Necrons
While fleeing from a Adeptus Mechanicus taskforce, the Soul Drinkers Space Hulk is severely damaged and low on fuel. Forced to run, the Soul Drinkers go deep into the veiled regions in search of fuel. They run into the Necrons on many worlds, all with signs of previous human settlement, but now infested with the undying xenos. Eventually they discover the last of the human worlds that the Necrons are still in the process of cleansing, and the Soul Drinkers make a deal. They allow the human's time to retreat to their space-craft while they hold them off, in exchange for the Soul Drinkers receiving fuel.
The Souldrinkers hold out aganist the Necrons, and the human population reach their spaceport but a necron fleet arrives in-system, preventing them from leaveing. The Adeptus Mechanicus fleet arrives shortly after, and the two fleets begin fighting against each other. It is immediately obvious that the imperial forces would be destroyed, so they began a complex pattern of manoeuvers to delay the inevitable.
When the Soul Drinkers realized they could not beat the approaching Necron force on the ground, and the Mechanicus would lose in space, Sarpedon offered an alliance with the Mechanicus. Chaplain Iktinos and his "flock" remained behind to help defend the spaceport and the surviving humans. It is revealed that his "flock" is loyal to his secret master as well, and no longer consider themselves Soul Drinkers.
Accepting the alliance the Mechanicus and Soul Drinkers set off for the main Necron hub, planning to destroy its leader and leave the rest of the Necron forces leaderless.
Arriving at the Necron Tomb World, the Mechanicus crash their ship into the planet and deployed alongside the Soul Drinkers. A long bloody battle begins as they race to kill the Necron lord, before the Necrons superior numbers begin to change the odds. Finally they arrive at the Necron Lord's location and Sarpedon duels with it, and wins. However in typical Necron fashion it gets back up, and begins crushing him to death. Only by the sacrifice of Techmarine Lygis was the lord defeated.
Gathering his forces Sarpedon lead his remaining troops towards the crashed Adeptus Mechanicus ship, where their promised transports were to be awaiting them. Instead three Imperial Fists thunderhawk gunships deployed upon the surface, while twenty terminator armoured elites teleport onto the surface, lead by First Captain Lysander. He ordered the Soul Drinkers to surrender or be destroyed. Sarpedon replies with the challenge of a personal duel. Despite Sarpedon's warp enhanced strength, he was tired from the earlier fighting and was swiftly beaten. The book ends with Sarpedon hoping that Luko follows his last order to surrender if he was beaten.
Significant Soul Drinkers
- Daenyathos - Philosopher-soldier. Wrote Catechisms Martial, the standard all Soul Drinkers live by.
- Sarpedon - Current Chapter Master. First to break ties with the Imperium. A powerful psyker able to transmit but not receive thoughts.
- Tellos - Raving psychopath, assault marine turned servant of Khorne, disowned by chapter.
- Chaplain Iktinos - Master of Sanctity for the entire Chapter. Clearly has hidden motives and designs upon the Soul Drinkers.
- Captain Karraidin - Captain of the old Soul Drinkers who supported Sarpedon's break with the Imperium. Killed at the outset of the Second Chapter War. Possessed one of the only suits of Terminator armour.
- Sargent Eumenes - New Soul Drinker, created after the Soul Drinker's splitting with the Imperium. Revolted against the new Chapter. Killed by Sarpedon
- Veteran Sergeant Graevus - Assault squad sergeant. Mutated right arm allows him to wield a power axe with one hand.
- Luko - Sergeant. Utilizes a pair of Lightning Claws. Was promoted to Captain following Entymion IV and remains one of Sarpedon's most loyal supporters.
- Tyrendian - Soul Drinkers Librarian. Able to project powerful lightning attacks.
- Gresk - Soul Drinkers Librarian. Able to speed to the reactions of his battle brothers. Killed by Eumenes' forces after warning Sarpedon of an imminent orbital bombardment.
Chapter strength note
The Chapter was rebuilt, with an unknown number of replacements. It can only be figured that the Chapter was rebuilt to 1000 marines because it is the only reference given. After the 2nd Chapter War, the Soul Drinkers numbers dwindled to around 300.
After the events of Hellforged Soul Drinkers numbered around 100 marines.
Sources
- Soul Drinker by Ben Counter
- The Bleeding Chalice by Ben Counter
- Crimson Tears by Ben Counter
- Chapter War by Ben Counter
- Hellforged (Novel)-Ben Counter
See also
Related publications
- Black Library Publishing
- Soul Drinker (Novel)-Ben Counter
- The Bleeding Chalice (Novel)-Ben Counter
- Crimson Tears (Novel)-Ben Counter
- Chapter War (Novel)-Ben Counter
- Hellforged (Novel)-Ben Counter
