Difference between revisions of "Black Dragons"
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|Founding Chapter=[[Salamanders]]{{Fn|15}} | |Founding Chapter=[[Salamanders]]{{Fn|15}} | ||
|Founding=[[21st Founding]]{{Fn|1}} | |Founding=[[21st Founding]]{{Fn|1}} | ||
| − | |Chapter Master= | + | |Chapter Master= |
|Homeworld=[[Fleet-based]] [[Chapter]]{{Fn|3b}} | |Homeworld=[[Fleet-based]] [[Chapter]]{{Fn|3b}} | ||
| − | |Fortress-Monastery= | + | |Fortress-Monastery= |
|Colours=Black with white aquila and markings{{Fn|10}} | |Colours=Black with white aquila and markings{{Fn|10}} | ||
|Specialty=Dragon Claws{{Fn|1}} | |Specialty=Dragon Claws{{Fn|1}} | ||
|Battle Cry="Fire and bone" or "Bless the curse".{{Fn|3a}}{{Fn|16}} | |Battle Cry="Fire and bone" or "Bless the curse".{{Fn|3a}}{{Fn|16}} | ||
| − | |Strength= | + | |Strength= |
|Symbol=Black_Dragons_Symbol.jpg | |Symbol=Black_Dragons_Symbol.jpg | ||
|Symbol Px=125 | |Symbol Px=125 | ||
Revision as of 09:40, 18 December 2023
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The Black Dragons were long rumored to be a Salamanders Successor Chapter,[5a] which has only recently been confirmed to be true.[15] It was founded in the cursed 21st Founding, just prior to the Age of Apostasy.[1]
Contents
History
The Black Dragons are chiefly known for their status as a Cursed Founding chapter, and for their uniquely peculiar gene-seed mutation; their Ossmodula zygote has mutated, producing bony crests on their heads and blades from the forearm and elbow. Similar to the Death Company of the Blood Angels, those with these abnormalities join a separate unit, known as the Dragon Claws. In this unit, they sharpen their protrusions to a killing edge and coat them with adamantium to turn them into horrible Close Combat Weapons.[1][5] These forearm blades can be retracted into the Claw's arm, then extended at will. The most extreme mutations also cause rampant growth in the rest of the Marine's skeleton; some Dragon Claws stand more than three metres tall and must wear custom power armour to fit their gargantuan frames.[3a]
There are many in the Inquisition who doubt their loyalty and several other chapters refuse to fight alongside them, including the Dark Angels and Marines Malevolent. [1]
It is rumored that the Black Dragon Apothecaries deliberately encourage these growths, wishing to create more of the valued Dragon Claws. This is a very dangerous practice and such gene-manipulation away from the genic template of a Space Marine is forbidden in the Imperium. When the usual 5% tithe of gene-seed is requested, the Black Dragons often resist giving it over, and sometimes have needed to be threatened with military action in order to comply with the tithe request. When they do send it in, the veracity of the gene-seed is unknown, as each passes the most stringent tests; some, therefore, believe that it is not even the gene-seed of the Black Dragons. How this is procured is a mystery, although the Adeptus Mechanicus and some ordos of the Inquisition are eager to investigate the medical practices of the Cursed Founding chapter.[1][3a]
Only the turmoil formed by the Great Rift's formation has halted the latest Inquisition investigation into the Black Dragons.[12]
During the Indomitus Crusade, a Torchbearer Fleet commanded by Custodian Alezandrios Menza delivered the technology necessary to create Primaris Space Marines and a squad of Black Dragons Greyshields, injected with the chapter's Geneseed, to the fifth company, which were accepted by chaplain Darrig.[16]
Notable battles and campaigns
- 232.M40 - The Bone Cruse: The Haemonculi of The Hex learn of the Black Dragons mutations and with the help of Duke Sliscus, attack the Chapter in the Donorian System. After a vicious battle, several of the most mutated Black Dragons are captured and brought back to Commorragh. After multiple experimentation's, an osseovirus is developed that can birth bone 'dragons' from its hosts flesh.[9]
- 998.M41 - The Third War for Armageddon: The Black Dragons committed 9 out of their 10 companies.[2] Notably, they broke assaulting ork forces on Phoenix Island.[13]
- Combating the Plague of Undeath on Antagonis[3]
- M42 - The Indomitus Crusade. The 4th Company under Jorn Tanna takes part in Battlegroup Hephaestus.[11]
- M42 - Battle of Rendolia. The 5th Company under Chaplain Darrigg fights alongside the Cadian 124th regiment and elements of the 3rd, 600th and 89th regiments against the forces of the World Eaters.[16]
Culture
While they are frowned upon and often investigated for traces of heresy, the Marines of the Black Dragons proudly bear their mutations and use them efficiently in battle. Most of their culture turns around bones and honour. Their Chaplain sits next to The High Dragon on thrones made from bones and sculpted to the likeness of their Chapter Symbol. Being implanted with the gene-seed of the Black Dragons isn’t enough to be one of them, the Rites of Bone, Rites of Fire and Rites of Claw seem to be essential to be called a battle-brother amongst the mutated Marines. Even those who do not have the mutations from the curse of their gene-seed fashion their armour in a way that resembles the bone growths their brothers have.[16]
Notable Elements of the Black Dragons
Vessels
- Argent Blade - Strike Cruiser[11]
- Fist of Kraedor[8b] - Hunter Destroyer, (M41).[8a]
- Sablewyrm - Strike Cruiser[16]
Known Members of the Black Dragons
- Vai'tan Ushorak - Former Chaplain turned Renegade, (M41) - Deceased.[6a]
- Zartath, Astartes, (M41)[6a] - Trapped in the Volgorrah Reef region of the Webway, linked up with trapped elements of the Salamanders,[6a] subsequently rescued and detained by the Salamanders Firedrakes.[6d]
- Kor'be - Astartes, (M41) - Deceased, killed by Dark Eldar in the Volgorrah Reef.[6c]
- Volos - Captain of the Second Company (M41)[3a]
- Jorn Tanna - Captain of the Fourth Company[11]
- Toharan - Former Sergeant turned Renegade, Second Company (M41), (Deceased)[3b]
- Nithigg - Dreadnought, Second Company (M41)[3b][7]
- Keryon - Thunderhawk Pilot, Second Company (M41)[3a]
- Urgaresh - Sergeant, (M41) - Leader of the 'Wrath' or 'Zorn' squad.[8a]
- Thorast - Apothecary, (M41).[8a]
- Haakem - Astartes, (M41).[8b]
- Skarh - Astartes, (M41).[8b]
- Ghaan - Vexillary, (M41) - Deceased.[8b]
- Jerrak - Astartes, (M41) - Deceased.[8b]
- Skellig - Astartes, (M41) - Deceased.[8b]
- Neroth - Astartes, (M41) - Deceased.[8b]
- Bhar'thak - Astartes, (M41) - Deceased.[8b]
- Ekorash - Primaris Space Marine Sergeant (M42).[16]
- Darrigg - Chaplain, Fifth Company (M42).[16]
- Gherryn - Former Captain of the Fifth Company (M42) - Deceased.[16]
- Talorc - Apothecary, Fifth Company (M42).[16]
- Eanfrigg - Lexicanium, Fifth Company (M42).[16]
- Drostyn - Sergeant, Fifth Company (M42).[16]
Images
See also
Sources
- 1: White Dwarf 279 (UK), pg. 50
- 2: Codex: Armageddon (3rd Edition), pg. 32
- 3: The Death of Antagonis (Novel)
- 3a: Chapter Two
- 3b: [Needs Citation]
- 4: Black Library's September 18, 2012 Blog Entry (last accessed September 18, 2012)
- 5: Index Astartes I, pgs. 7-8 - Rites of Initiation: The creation of a Space Marine
- 5a: Promethean Warriors
- 6: Firedrake (Novel)
- 7: The Tribute of Flesh (Short Story)
- 8: Rebirth (Novel)
- 9: Haemonculus Covens - A Codex: Dark Eldar Supplement - The Chronicle of Endless Woe
- 10: How to Paint Space Marines, pg. 86
- 11: White Dwarf July 2019 - Indomitus Crusade Fleets
- 12: Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition), pg. 72
- 13: Third War for Armageddon website: Phoenix Island Warzone News (archived page, last accessed via Wayback Machine 24th December 2020)
- 14: Third War For Armageddon - Imperial Forces: Black Dragons (archived page, last accessed via Wayback Machine 24th December 2020)
- 15: Warhammer Community: When is a Dragon Not a Dragon? More Often Than You’d Think… (Posted on 24/11/2021) (Last accessed on 24 November 2021)
- 16: Bless the Curse (Short Story)
