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Flesh Tearers

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Flesh Tearers
Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Space Marine Chapter. For other uses of Flesh Tearers, see Flesh Tearers (disambiguation).

The Flesh Tearers are 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 Angels 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.

Flesh Tearers
 Flesh Tearers Livery.jpg
FleshTearersPrimaris.jpg Flesh Tearers Mini.jpg
Founding Chapter: Blood Angels
Founding: Second Founding
Descendants: None
Chapter Master: Gabriel Seth[4]
Homeworld: Cretacia
Fortress-Monastery: Unknown
Colours: Red, Black[17]
Specialty: Assault
Strength: ~400 marines

History

A Space Marine of the Flesh Tearers.[19]
Flesh Tearers, original color scheme (W40K Rogue Trader).[6]

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 dismissed the accompanying casualty lists as inconsequential.[Needs Citation]

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 west[2].

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 succumb to the Black Rage, with few marines older than two centuries.[2] 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 continues at the same rate they will count no more than 200 marines within a millennium.[Needs Citation]

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.[2]

Recent History

Dates Unknown

Organisation

A Flesh Tearers Terminator[15]

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 transport-mounted squads.

The low number of marines has also led to an unexpected diversity in skills among the Flesh Tearers, with each marine being proficient in 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). The exception to this are Death Company Dreadnoughts, which due to the Chapter's doctrine and genetic defects are fielded in large numbers. Above all else however, Assault Squads are the dominant force of the Flesh Tearers and are fielded in above average numbers.[29]

Flesh Tearers Company markings mirror those of the Blood Angels.[5c]

  • 1st Company - White Skull[5c]
  • 2nd Company - Yellow/Gold Blood Drop[5c]
  • 3rd Company - White/Silver Blood Drop[5c]
  • 4th Company - Green Blood Drop[5c]

If the Chapter regains strength, the Company markings will progress the same. Squad Number designation is Low Gothic numerals on the right knee pad.[5c]

Because of the genetic flaw that has ravaged the Chapter, the Flesh Tearers maintain an unusually large number of Space Marines with Apothecary training.[29]

Gene-Seed

The Flesh Tearers suffer an abnormal mutation in their Gene-Seed, which makes them more susceptible to the Red Thirst and Black Rage that plagues all the sons of Sanguinius. The Chapter's dark reputation stems from this disorder, and the Death Company's of the Flesh Tearers are never wanting for new recruits. Many worlds have lived to regret the coming of the Chapter, for the reckless destruction and rivers of blood and death they have spilled in the throes of their battle madness has sometimes been worse than the predations of the foes they bested.[23a]

Numerous efforts have been taken to attempt to mitigate the sudden and severe onset of Black Rage among the Chapter’s Battle-Brothers. The adoption of nightly bloodletting and purification rituals have not been shown to assist Battle-Brothers in their efforts to resist the Black Rage, nor has it been shown to mitigate the syndrome’s effects once a Space Marine has entered the latter stages. The only treatment for those who fully succumb is reassignment to the Death Company and isolation within the Chapter’s Tower of the Lost. A fortunate few find solace in death, when they continue to serve their Chapter on the battlefield as members of the Death Company. Less fortunate Battle-Brothers are subject to permanent incarceration once the Chaplain of the Death Company has lost control of them. The combination of a rapid decline due to the Black Rage and their proclivity for brutal assaults has increased the Chapter’s rate of decline. In many instances, Flesh Tearers have died before their Progenoid Glands could be properly harvested. This combination has cut into the Chapter’s available supply of geneseed as well as limiting the number of veteran Space Marines capable of training new inductees. For this reason, the number of members assigned to apothecary training has recently increased, as has the prioritization of recovering these glands from fallen members.[29]

At the time of their formation, the Flesh Tearers Chapter discontinued the Blood Angels’ practice of blood transfusions during a Neophyte’s initiation. Some might speculate that this practice could have contributed to their horrific mutation.[29]

Chapter Culture

Faced with their genetic flaw, the Flesh Tearers culture is one of grim fatalism and acceptance that they are eventually doomed to succumb to the Black Rage. Some among the leadership, have begun to embrace the notion that if they cannot continue then their best approach is to make certain that they leave a bold legacy in keeping with the Chapter’s proud traditions. They seek to gain notable victory's and secure the Galaxy in the name of the Emperor and Sanguinius. The Chapter has come to embrace the savagery of which they have gained infamy.[29]

Chapter Fleet

The Flesh Tearers' fleet is small, with only one Battle Barge, the Victus currently in service. The Victus is an ancient vessel, having been in service possibly since the Great Crusade[2]. However, they also have seven[2] modified Strike Cruisers with an extended transport capability.

Known Vessels

Flesh Tearers Firstborn[17]

Known Aircraft

Notable Flesh Tearers

Main article: Known Members of the Flesh Tearers

Character Notes

  • Carnarvon and Carnaevon are possibly the same character with different name spellings. The same for Belthiel and Balthiel.

Armoury

Relics
Relic Name Relic Type Notes Source
Blood Reaver Chain Weapon Wielded by Gabriel Seth [5d]
Bones of Baelsor Dreadnought armour Last worn by Skoraen [23b]
Shield of Cretacia Power Armour [23b]
Slayer's Wrath Boltgun [23b]

Canon Conflicts

Earlier editions of the Flesh Tearers' history states that they spent thousands of years as a Crusading Chapter after their formation and that it was a Chapter Master named Amit who finally settled the chapter on the world of Cretacia.[2]

However, Amit appears as a Captain of the Blood Angels Legion in the Horus Heresy series. Amit has a vicious and savage reputation, even by the standards of the World Eaters and his oath brother, Kharn. Indeed it was during his frequent fights in the World Eaters gladiatorial pits that Amit earned his nickname the "Flesh Tearer".[12]

During the Blood Angels' assault in the Signus Cluster, Captain Amit of the Blood Angels served as captain of his personal battle barge, the Victus.[13] This battle barge would later find service in the Flesh Tearers as their only known battle barge, and is rumored to have been in their possession since the Heresy and their founding.[2] It is unknown if this is a coincidence or if there is a connection.[12]

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