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{{RedCorsairsPortal}}
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The '''Red Corsairs''' are a [[Chaos Space Marine]] warband formed primarily from members of the [[Astral Claws]] [[chapter]].
 
The '''Red Corsairs''' are a [[Chaos Space Marine]] warband formed primarily from members of the [[Astral Claws]] [[chapter]].
 
{{Chaos Space Marine Warbands
 
{{Chaos Space Marine Warbands
 
|Name=Red Corsairs
 
|Name=Red Corsairs
|Marine=Redcorsair.jpg
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|Marine=RedCorsair9th.jpg
 
|Marine Px=180
 
|Marine Px=180
 
|Symbol=Redcorsairslogo.jpg
 
|Symbol=Redcorsairslogo.jpg
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|Leader=[[Huron Blackheart]]
 
|Leader=[[Huron Blackheart]]
 
|Homeworld=Formerly [[Badab Primaris]], now [[New Badab]] in the [[Maelstrom]]
 
|Homeworld=Formerly [[Badab Primaris]], now [[New Badab]] in the [[Maelstrom]]
|Splinter factions=Possibly [[Claws of Lorek]] {{Fn|6a}}
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|Warbands=[[Red Wolves (Warband)|Red Wolves]], Possibly [[Claws of Lorek]] {{Fn|6a}}
 
|Chaos dedication=[[Chaos Undivided]] {{Fn|5}}
 
|Chaos dedication=[[Chaos Undivided]] {{Fn|5}}
 
|Colours=Crimson & black with gold trim
 
|Colours=Crimson & black with gold trim
|Specialty=Piracy, infiltration, boarding actions
+
|Specialty=Piracy, Infiltration, Boarding Actions
 
|Battle Cry=transmit a tirade of expletives and threats across all vox-caster frequencies as they ambush enemy ships and settlements
 
|Battle Cry=transmit a tirade of expletives and threats across all vox-caster frequencies as they ambush enemy ships and settlements
 
|Strength=<200 Astral Claws<br>an unknown number of other traitor marines. Roughly the size of a pre-[[Horus Heresy|Heresy]] [[Space Marine Legion]]{{Fn|13}}
 
|Strength=<200 Astral Claws<br>an unknown number of other traitor marines. Roughly the size of a pre-[[Horus Heresy|Heresy]] [[Space Marine Legion]]{{Fn|13}}
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==Background==
 
==Background==
Following the events of the [[Badab War]], the surviving [[Astral Claws]] broke through the Imperial blockade and fled to the [[Maelstrom]], taking the broken body of their [[Chapter Master]] [[Lufgt Huron]] with them. Huron turned to the ruinous powers in order to survive and still leads the remnants against the Imperium, though they now call themselves the '''Red Corsairs'''.
+
*{{Main|Badab War}}
 +
The Red Corsairs are a Renegade Chapter and [[warband]] of [[Chaos Space Marines]] who lead a vast fleet of pirates composed of mortals and other Traitor Marines that threaten [[Imperial]] shipping and Imperial worlds near the [[Maelstrom]] [[Warp rift]]in the [[Ultima Segmentum]], a region known as the Maelstrom Zone to Imperial astrocartographers. The Red Corsairs were once a Loyalist [[Space Marine]] [[Chapter]] called the '''Astral Claws''' who were based on the world of [[Badab Primaris]] in the [[Badab Sector]] of the Ultima Segmentum. The Astral Claws were, ironically, raised during the [[10th Founding]] in the [[35th Millennium]] to guard against the numerous daemonic and alien threats emerging from the Maelstrom. Under the leadership of their [[Chapter Master]], [[Lufgt Huron]], the "Tyrant of Badab," in the late [[41st Millennium]], the Astral Claws sought to have the Badab Sector secede from the Imperium of Man in protest against the Imperium's continued attempts to use the resources of the Badab Sector outside the region rather than dedicating them fully to the defeat of the [[Chaotic]] and [[xenos]] threats that emerged constantly from the Maelstrom Zone. The Astral Claws and the Tyrant of Badab were able to convince several other Astartes Chapters also dedicated to the protection of the Maelstrom Zone, including the [[Executioners]], [[Lamenters]], and the [[Mantis Warriors]] to stand with them against the Imperium in what they believed to be a just cause and an attempt to maintain the traditional autonomy of the Adeptus Astartes in the face of unwarranted interference from the Imperial nobility, economic interests and the often hated Inquisition.{{cite this}}
  
The intent of the Red Corsairs' raids are to build Huron's army with captives who turn traitor. Lord Huron is feared and despised by the Imperium as well as honoured by the other traitor legions. Huron Blackheart's empire within the [[Maelstrom]] has become a great threat and a power that rivals the legions within the [[Eye of Terror]]. One of the planets under their control is New Badab, where the tournament called the [[Skull Harvest]] is held {{Fn|4}}.
+
Unfortunately, Lufgt Huron had slowly been corrupted by his desire for power into the service of Chaos, and eventually the Imperium was forced to respond to the Secessionists in the Maelstrom Zone by unleashing the full might of the Imperium in the terrible civil conflict that became known in the Imperial record, before the Inquisition laid down an Order of Obliteration that sought to remove all records of the Astral Claws' existence from Imperial history, as the Badab War. This conflict was fought between 901.M41 and 912.M41 and ended in the complete destruction of the Astral Claws defences and the devastation of their Chapter homeworld of Badab Primaris. Only 200 Astral Claws survived the final Imperial assault, and these Astartes, all corrupted by Chaos, fled with the maimed body of their leader into the Maelstrom, where they founded a new Chaotic empire. The other Astartes Chapters who had served the Secessionist cause were eventually forgiven by the Imperium since they had only been misguided and not corrupted, in return for launching themselves upon a series of penitent Crusades. But Lufgt Huron swore his soul and the souls of his remaining Astral Claws to the eternal service of the Ruinous Powers in return for the restoration of his health and the power needed to make war upon the Imperium that he believed had betrayed him and his fellow Astral Claws. Replacing the ravaged portions of his body with bionic augmetics, Lufgt Huron, now calling himself Huron Blackheart, ironically led his corrupt Astartes, now calling themselves the Red Corsairs, back into the Maelstrom Zone to become the piratical raiders that he had so long fought against. In time, the Red Corsairs became the leaders of a vast Chaotic pirate force of Renegades and Traitors that represents a major continuing threat to the Imperium in the Ultima Segmentum{{Fn|4}}. During the [[Thirteenth Black Crusade]], the [[Maelstrom]] merged with the [[Great Rift]] and the Red Corsairs have now been sighted further from their home than ever before.{{Fn|18b}}
  
 +
[[Image:GuillimanBattles.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Red Corsairs and their [[Tzeentch|Tzeentchian]] allies battle the forces of the reborn [[Roboute Guilliman]] during the [[Terran Crusade]] ]]
 
===Notable Engagements===
 
===Notable Engagements===
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Fall of Vilamus]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' The [[Fall of Vilamus]]
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The [[Scouring of Makenna VII]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' The [[Scouring of Makenna VII]]
*'''799.[[M41]]''' - The [[San Leor Massacre]]
+
*'''799.[[M41]]''' The [[San Leor Massacre]]
*'''799.[[M41]]''' - The [[San Leor|Assault on San Leor]]
+
*'''937.[[M41]]''' The [[Third Purging of Lastrati]]
*'''937.[[M41]]''' - The [[Third Purging of Lastrati]]
+
*'''980.[[M41]]''' The [[Raid on Bakka (Red Corsairs)|Raid on Bakka]]
*'''980.[[M41]]''' - The [[Raid on Bakka (Red Corsairs)|Raid on Bakka]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' The Battle of [[Oldarian]]
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The Battle of [[Oldarian]]
+
*'''959-961.[[M41]]''' The [[Pandorax Campaign]]
*'''959-961.[[M41]]''' - The [[Pandorax Campaign]]
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' The Destruction of [[Mortain]]{{Fn|11}}
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - The Destruction of [[Mortain]]{{Fn|11}}
+
*'''???.[[M41]]''' [[The Gildar Rift]]{{Fn|12}}
*'''???.[[M41]]''' - [[The Gildar Rift]]{{Fn|12}}
+
*'''999.[[M41]]''' Besieging the [[Kaelas System|Kaelas]] and [[Sessec System|Sessec]] Systems.{{Fn|13}}
*'''999.[[M41]]''' - Besieging the [[Chogoris]], [[Kaelas System|Kaelas]], and [[Sessec System|Sessec]] Systems.{{Fn|13}}
+
*'''999.[[M41]]''' - The [[War for Chogoris]]. The Red Corsairs besiege the [[White Scars]] homeworld of [[Chogoris]] and greater [[Yasan Sector]]. Though they are defeated on Chogoris, the Red Corsairs hold much of the Yasan Sector and even for a time had captured the Scars [[Chapter Master]], [[Jubal Khan]].{{Fn|19b}}
 +
*'''~999.[[M41]]''' — The [[Terran Crusade]]. [[Magnus the Red]] and [[Kairos Fateweaver]] are able to recruit a large force of Red Corsairs to combat [[Roboute Guilliman]]. The Red Corsairs ambush Guilliman's fleet and take both it and the [[Primarch]] captive aboard their new [[Blackstone Fortress]]. [[Skarbrand]] and [[Khornate]] [[Daemon]]s attack the Fortress seeking Guilliman's head, fighting the Red Corsairs as well. Eventually Guilliman and his warriors are freed by [[Cypher]] and [[Harlequins]].{{Fn|17}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[War of Beasts]] on [[Vigilus]].
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]''' - The [[Arks of Omen Campaign]]. Battling in opposition to the [[Black Legion]].{{Fn|26}}
 +
**[[Battle of Malak]] - Part of the great Chaos host under [[Angron]]{{Fn|27}}.
  
 
==Combat doctrines==
 
==Combat doctrines==
The Red Corsairs fight primarily as an expression of their twisted faith. In order to save what was left of his chapter and his hideously wounded body, [[Lufgt Huron]] made a terrible pact with the [[Ruinous Powers]], pledging eternal service in return for the blessings and patronage of Chaos. With limited numbers at their disposal, the Red Corsairs spent much of their time as space pirates, but also launch brutal raids on Imperial shipping and outposts. These raids are not for plundering, but for the sheer pleasure of raiding the areas that they once swore to protect.
+
The Red Corsairs fight primarily as an expression of their twisted faith. In order to save what was left of his chapter and his hideously wounded body, [[Lufgt Huron]] made a terrible pact with the [[Ruinous Powers]], pledging eternal service in return for the blessings and patronage of Chaos. With limited numbers at their disposal, the Red Corsairs spent much of their time as space pirates, but also launch brutal raids on Imperial shipping and outposts. These raids are not for plundering, but for the sheer pleasure of raiding the areas that they once swore to protect.{{Cite this}}
 +
[[Image:HollowWorldsArt.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Red Corsairs forces led by Huron Blackheart{{Fn|20}}]]
  
 
==Organization==
 
==Organization==
The Red Corsairs are organised into a large fleet, able to deploy small, elite forces of renegade space marines supported by larger groups of human reavers. The Space Marines among the force are supremely proficient at the boarding actions favoured by the chapter whose ship-to-ship fighting prowess is infamous. Huron Blackheart maintains a substantial fleet consisting of vessels captured over numerous engagements, ranging from a single [[Adeptus Astartes]] [[battle barge]], a number of strike cruisers, many and varied escorts and a huge number of classes of interceptors and bombers. Rumours suggest that Huron's command ship, salvaged when it was drifting on the edge of the [[Maelstrom]], was originally a [[Word Bearers]] Traitor Legion ship.
+
The Red Corsairs are organised into a large fleet, able to deploy small, elite forces of renegade space marines supported by larger groups of human reavers. The Space Marines among the force are supremely proficient at the boarding actions favoured by the chapter whose ship-to-ship fighting prowess is infamous. Huron Blackheart maintains a substantial fleet consisting of vessels captured over numerous engagements, ranging from a single [[Adeptus Astartes]] [[battle barge]], a number of strike cruisers, many and varied escorts and a huge number of classes of interceptors and bombers.{{Cite this}}
  
Over the years through absorbing other bands of [[Renegade Space Marine]]s and outlaws, the Red Corsairs have grown close to the size of a pre-[[Horus Heresy|Heresy]] [[Space Marine Legion]].{{Fn|13}}
+
Over the years through absorbing other bands of [[Renegade Space Marine]]s and outlaws, the Red Corsairs have grown close to the size of a pre-[[Horus Heresy|Heresy]] [[Space Marine Legion]].{{Fn|13}} While its Space Marines form the core of the Legion's fighting force, the Red Corsairs also includes vast amounts of [[Traitor Guard]], [[Pirate]]s, [[Mutant]]s, [[Xenos]], and any other willing to pledge themselves to Huron Blackheart.{{Fn|23a}} Known Xenos warbands in service with the Red Corsairs are the [[Loxatl]]{{Fn|24}} and [[Tarellian]]s.{{Fn|23b}}
 +
 
 +
The [[Terminator]] elite of the warband are known as the [[Huscarl (Red Corsairs)|Huscarls]], serving as Huron Blackheart's personal praetorians.{{Fn|23a}}
 +
 
 +
==Culture==
 +
The Red Corsairs seem to hold religion in contempt, with this even extending to the [[Chaos Gods]]. Only a few members of the Red Corsairs wear the symbols of Chaos upon their armor or engage in worship of the Dark Gods.{{Fn|21}} The Red Corsairs make regular sacrifices to the Gods of Chaos, but only insofar as to further their own power as opposed to genuine worship. Many of the Red Corsairs maintain cracked emblems of their previous Chapters upon their armour, scrawled over with their new dedication be it the Gods of Chaos or Huron himself.{{Fn|23d}}
 +
 
 +
Unlike many other Chaos warbands, Huron himself strives only for results and to that end will allow mortals in high-ranking positions and even converse with them somewhat casually and without pomp. That being said, he still demands that all refer to him as ''Lord''.{{Fn|23a}}{{Fn|23d}}
 +
 
 +
The Red Corsairs are a cutthroat warband, with displays of strength being the only thing that determines one's position. Huron himself is suspicious of most of his own lieutenants, and is constantly seeking to maintain his power over them.{{Fn|23b}}
 +
 
 +
==Gene-Seed==
 +
The Red Corsairs have no standardized [[Gene-Seed]], instead raiding the Imperium for fresh gene-seed stocks in order to produce their own Space Marines. However, the original, once-stable gene-seed of the [[Astral Claws]] is quickly degrading and prone to mutation, with [[Chief Apothecary]] [[Garreon]] speculating this may be connected to whatever pact Huron Blackheart made after his wounding in the Badab War.{{Fn|23b}}
  
 
==Assets==
 
==Assets==
 +
===Known Relics===
 +
*[[Armour of Badab]]{{Fn|25}}
 +
*[[Traitor's Laurels]]{{Fn|25}}
 +
*[[Splinters of the Ghost Razors]] - [[Power Weapon]]s{{Fn|25}}
 +
===Known Vessels===
 +
*[[Blackstone Fortress]] — gifted to Huron Blackheart by [[Abaddon]].{{Fn|17}} Currently under attack by the [[Masque of the Shattered Mirage]] and [[Yme-Loc]]
 +
*[[Hell's Iris]] — [[Ramilies|Ramilies Class Starfort]] previously known as '''''Canaan's Eye'''''{{Fn|8a}}
 +
*''[[Aquiline]]'' — [[Overlord Class Battle Cruiser]]{{Fn|8a}}
 +
*''[[Hope's Sunset]]'' — [[Executor Class Grand Cruiser]]{{Fn|12}}
 +
*''[[Midnight Solitude]]'' — Executor Class Grand Cruiser{{Fn|12}}
 +
*''[[Might of Huron]]'' — [[Slaughter Class Cruiser]].{{Fn|15}}
 +
*''[[Nightmare's Dawn]]'' — Executor Class Grand Cruiser{{Fn|12}}
 +
*''[[Reign of Spite]]''
 +
*''[[Scourge of the Faithless]]'' - [[Gothic Class Cruiser]] (Destroyed by the [[Crimson Fists]]){{Fn|22}}
 +
*''[[Spectre of Ruin]]'' — [[Battle Barge]]. Huron Blackheart's flagship{{Fn|12}}
 +
*''[[Venomous Birthright]]'' — previously belonging to the [[Night Lords]] where it was known as the '''''Echo of Damnation'''''{{Fn|8a}}
 +
*''[[Wolf of Fenris]]'' — [[Strike Cruiser]] previously belonging to the [[Space Wolves]], captured at the Battle of Parenxes{{Fn|6b}}
 +
*''[[Bloodstrike (Stormbird)|Bloodstrike]]'' - [[Stormbird]] and personal transport of Huron Blackheart{{Fn|23b}}
 +
[[Image:Redcorsair.jpg|thumb|right|190px|A Red Corsair{{Fn|3}}]]
 
===Notable Members===
 
===Notable Members===
*[[Huron Blackheart]] - Master of the Red Corsairs
+
====Astartes====
*[[Armanneus Valthex]] - [[Master of the Forge]] of the Red Corsairs. Known as "The Alchemancer".{{Fn|12b}}
+
*[[Huron Blackheart]] Master of the Red Corsairs
*[[Corpulax]] - Former [[Consecrators]], now a [[Plague Marine]].{{Fn|14}}
+
*[[Armanneus Valthex]] [[Master of the Forge]] of the Red Corsairs. Known as "The Alchemancer". High-ranking officer.{{Fn|12b}}{{Fn|23b}}
*[[Garlon Souleater]] - [[Sorcerer Lord]]{{Fn|9}}
+
*[[Garreon]] — [[Master of the Apothecarion|Lord Apothecary]] of the Red Corsairs. Known as '''"The Corpsemaster"'''.{{Fn|12a}}
*[[Garreon]] - [[Master of the Apothecarion|Lord Apothecary]] of the Red Corsairs. Known as 'The Corpsemaster'.{{Fn|12a}}
+
*[[Garlon Souleater]] — [[Sorcerer Lord]]. High-ranking officer.{{Fn|9}}
 +
*[[Verngar|Verngar the Apostate]] - Former [[Angels Encarmine]], now a high ranking officer.{{Fn|23b}}
 +
*[[Katar Garrix]] - Headsman. High-ranking officer.{{Fn|23b}}
 +
*[[Turazan]] - [[Warpsmith]]. High-ranking officer.{{Fn|23b}}
 +
*[[Graeyl Herek]] - Pirate Lord{{Fn|28}}
 +
*[[Oneius Prayd]] — Former [[Red Scorpion]], now a warlord. High-ranking officer.{{Fn|10}}
 +
*[[Corpulax]] — Former [[Consecrators]], now a [[Plague Marine]].{{Fn|14}}
 
*[[Kaldemar Kursh]]{{Fn|16}}, known only by [[Quotes Chaos#K|his saying]]
 
*[[Kaldemar Kursh]]{{Fn|16}}, known only by [[Quotes Chaos#K|his saying]]
*[[Oneius Prayd]] - Former [[Red Scorpion]], now a warlord{{Fn|10}}
+
*[[Adnus the Severed]], once a member of the Mantis Warriors (cf. perditas){{Fn|18a}}
*[[Sartak]] - renegade [[Codicier]]{{Fn|9}}
+
*[[Sartak]] renegade [[Codicier]]{{Fn|9}}
*[[Variel]] - [[Apothecary]] Secundus known as 'The Flayer', betrayed the Red Corsairs and joined [[Talos]] and his [[Night Lords]].{{Fn|8b}}
+
*[[Variel]] [[Apothecary]] Secundus known as 'The Flayer', betrayed the Red Corsairs and joined [[Talos]] and his [[Night Lords]].{{Fn|8b}}
 +
*[[Vassago Kurgos]] - [[Chirurgeon]]{{Fn|28}}
 +
*[[Ardaric Vaanes]] — Originally of the [[Raven Guard]]. Joined [[Honsou]]'s warband.
 +
*[[Skarvjelsson]] - Formerly a [[Space Wolf]] of the [[Blackmanes]].{{Fn|19c}}
 +
*[[Haxan the Defiler]] - Former [[Crimson Fists]]{{Fn|22}}
 +
*[[Tagron]] - [[Huscarl (Red Corsairs)|Huscarl]]{{Fn|23a}}
 +
*[[Rathek]] - "The Culler"{{Fn|28}}
 +
*Crassus - Former [[Ultramarine]], [[Champion of Khorne]]{{Fn|9}}
  
===Known Vessels===
+
====Mortals====
*[[Spectre of Ruin]] - a Battle Barge, often used as Huron Blackheart's flagship{{Fn|12}}
+
*[[Sargotta]] - Former [[Imperial Navy]] Fleet Captain{{Fn|23c}}
*[[Venonomous Birthright]] - a [[Battle Barge]] previously belonging to the [[Night Lords]] where it was known as the ''Echo of Damnation''{{Fn|8a}}
+
*[[Griza Dallax]] - [[Cybernetica Datasmith]]{{Fn|23a}}
*[[Hell's Iris]] - a [[Ramilies|Ramilies Class Starfort]] previously known as ''Canaan's Eye''{{Fn|8a}}
 
*''[[Wolf of Fenris]]'' - a [[Strike Cruiser]] previously belonging to the [[Space Wolves]], captured at the Battle of Parenxes{{Fn|6b}}
 
*[[Aquiline]] - an [[Overlord Class Battle Cruiser]]{{Fn|8a}}
 
*[[Might of Huron]] - a [[Slaughter Class Cruiser]]{{Fn|15}}
 
*[[Hope's Sunset]] - an [[Executor Class Grand Cruiser]]{{Fn|12}}
 
*[[Midnight Solitude]] - an Executor Class Grand Cruiser{{Fn|12}}
 
*[[Nightmare's dawn]] - an Executor Class Grand Cruiser{{Fn|12}}
 
  
 
===Cultist Warbands===
 
===Cultist Warbands===
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===Notable Worlds===
 
===Notable Worlds===
*[[New Badab]]{{Fn|4}}
+
*[[New Badab]] - Capital World{{Fn|4}}
*[[Hell's Iris]] space port{{Fn|8}}
+
*[[Shovith]] - Located in the [[Chogoris System]]{{Fn|19a}}
 +
*[[Gartuli]] - [[Fortress World]] located in the [[Gartuli System]]{{Fn|19a}}
 +
*[[Thaxis]] - [[Agri-World]] located in the [[Thaxis System]]{{Fn|19a}}
 +
*[[Hell's Iris]] space port{{Fn|8a}}
 +
*[[Tyrant's Gate]] - Base
 +
 
 +
===Formations===
 +
*[[Huscarls (Red Corsairs)|Huscarls]] - [[Chaos Terminator]]s{{Fn|23a}}
 +
*[[Hounds of Huron]]- [[Chaos Biker]]s{{Fn|25}}
  
 
==Related Articles==
 
==Related Articles==
Line 86: Line 137:
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
 +
{{Cite}}
 
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Compendium]]{{cite this}}
 
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Compendium]]{{cite this}}
*{{Endn|2}}: [[White Dwarf 101 (UK)]] "Index Astartes: The Badab Uprising" by [[Rick Priestley]]
+
*{{Endn|2}}: [[White Dwarf 101 (UK)]] - ''Index Astartes: The Badab Uprising''
*{{Endn|3}}: [[White Dwarf 303 (UK)]] "Index Astartes: Rogue Sons" by [[Andy Hoare]]
+
*{{Endn|3}}: [[White Dwarf 303 (UK)]] - ''Index Astartes: Rogue Sons''
*{{Endn|4}}: ''[[The Skull Harvest (Short Story)]]'' by [[Graham McNeill]]
+
*{{Endn|4}}: [[The Skull Harvest (Short Story)]]
 
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]], pg. 7
 
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]], pg. 7
 
*6: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)]]
 
*6: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)]]
 
**{{Endn|6a}}: pg. 18
 
**{{Endn|6a}}: pg. 18
**{{Endn|6b}}: pgs. 58-59
+
**{{Endn|6b}}: pgs. 58–59
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One]], pgs. 54-56
+
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One]], pgs. 54–56
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Blood Reaver (Novel)]] by [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]]{{cite this}}
+
*8: [[Blood Reaver (Novel)]]
 
**{{Endn|8a}}: Chapter 11
 
**{{Endn|8a}}: Chapter 11
 
**{{Endn|8b}}: Chapter 16
 
**{{Endn|8b}}: Chapter 16
*{{Endn|9}}: ''[[Into the Maelstrom (Short Story)]]'' by [[Chris Pramas]]
+
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Into the Maelstrom (Short Story)]]
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Apocalypse]] pg. 171
+
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Apocalypse]], pg. 171
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Codex: Grey Knights (5th Edition)]] p. 40
+
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Codex: Grey Knights (5th Edition)]], pg. 40
*{{Endn|12}}: [[The Gildar Rift (Novel)]] by [[Sarah Cawkwell]]{{cite this}}
+
*{{Endn|12}}: [[The Gildar Rift (Novel)]]{{cite this}}
 
**{{Endn|12a}}: Chapter 5
 
**{{Endn|12a}}: Chapter 5
 
**{{Endn|12b}}: Chapter 18
 
**{{Endn|12b}}: Chapter 18
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook]] pg. 176
+
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook]], pg. 176
 
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Pandorax (Novel)]]{{cite this}}
 
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Pandorax (Novel)]]{{cite this}}
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 7th Edition Rulebook]] - ''The Pandorax Incursion''
+
*{{Endn|15}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 7th Edition Rulebook]] ''The Pandorax Incursion''
 
*{{Endn|16}}: [http://web.archive.org/web/20110211195331/http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m70037a_Strategy_cards_1 Strategy Cards] for [[Planetary Empires]] expansion game, card ''"Planetstrike – Major Stratagem"'', ''(saved archive page, dated February 2011, last accessed 7 October 2015)''
 
*{{Endn|16}}: [http://web.archive.org/web/20110211195331/http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m70037a_Strategy_cards_1 Strategy Cards] for [[Planetary Empires]] expansion game, card ''"Planetstrike – Major Stratagem"'', ''(saved archive page, dated February 2011, last accessed 7 October 2015)''
 +
*{{Endn|17}}: [[Gathering Storm: Rise of the Primarch]], Part 3
 +
*18: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (8th Edition)]]
 +
**{{Endn|18a}}: pg. 51
 +
**{{Endn|18b}}: pg. 87 — ''Huron Blackheart''
 +
*19: [[Codex Supplement: White Scars (8th Edition)]]
 +
**{{Endn|19a}}: pgs. 8-9
 +
**{{Endn|19b}}: pgs. 32-33
 +
**{{Endn|19c}}: pg. 52
 +
*{{Endn|20}}: [[Tyrant of the Hollow Worlds (Novel)]] - Cover
 +
*{{Endn|21}}: [[His Will (Short Story)]]
 +
*{{Endn|22}}: [[None More Loyal (Short Story)]]
 +
*{{Endn|23}}: [[Huron Blackheart: Master of the Maelstrom (Novel)]]
 +
**{{Endn|23a}}: Chapter 3
 +
**{{Endn|23b}}: Chapters 4-6
 +
**{{Endn|23c}}: Chapter 17
 +
**{{Endn|23d}}: Chapter 1
 +
*{{Endn|24}}: [[The Chapter's Due (Novel)]] - Part 1, Chapter 5
 +
*{{Endn|25}}: [[Codex: Chaos Space Marines (9th Edition)]], pg. 102
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*{{Endn|26}}: [[Arks of Omen: Abaddon]], pgs. 30-37
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*{{Endn|27}}: [[Arks of Omen: Angron]], pg. 20
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*{{Endn|28}}: [[The Iron Kingdom (Novel)]] - Dramatis Personae
  
 
[[Category:Later Foundings]]
 
[[Category:Later Foundings]]

Latest revision as of 12:32, 15 February 2024

The Red Corsairs are a Chaos Space Marine warband formed primarily from members of the Astral Claws chapter.

Red Corsairs
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Leader: Huron Blackheart
Homeworld: Formerly Badab Primaris, now New Badab in the Maelstrom
Colours: Crimson & black with gold trim
Specialty: Piracy, Infiltration, Boarding Actions
Chaos Dedication: Chaos Undivided [5]
Battle Cry: transmit a tirade of expletives and threats across all vox-caster frequencies as they ambush enemy ships and settlements
Strength: <200 Astral Claws
an unknown number of other traitor marines. Roughly the size of a pre-Heresy Space Marine Legion[13]
Warbands: Red Wolves, Possibly Claws of Lorek [6a]

Background

The Red Corsairs are a Renegade Chapter and warband of Chaos Space Marines who lead a vast fleet of pirates composed of mortals and other Traitor Marines that threaten Imperial shipping and Imperial worlds near the Maelstrom Warp riftin the Ultima Segmentum, a region known as the Maelstrom Zone to Imperial astrocartographers. The Red Corsairs were once a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter called the Astral Claws who were based on the world of Badab Primaris in the Badab Sector of the Ultima Segmentum. The Astral Claws were, ironically, raised during the 10th Founding in the 35th Millennium to guard against the numerous daemonic and alien threats emerging from the Maelstrom. Under the leadership of their Chapter Master, Lufgt Huron, the "Tyrant of Badab," in the late 41st Millennium, the Astral Claws sought to have the Badab Sector secede from the Imperium of Man in protest against the Imperium's continued attempts to use the resources of the Badab Sector outside the region rather than dedicating them fully to the defeat of the Chaotic and xenos threats that emerged constantly from the Maelstrom Zone. The Astral Claws and the Tyrant of Badab were able to convince several other Astartes Chapters also dedicated to the protection of the Maelstrom Zone, including the Executioners, Lamenters, and the Mantis Warriors to stand with them against the Imperium in what they believed to be a just cause and an attempt to maintain the traditional autonomy of the Adeptus Astartes in the face of unwarranted interference from the Imperial nobility, economic interests and the often hated Inquisition.[Needs Citation]

Unfortunately, Lufgt Huron had slowly been corrupted by his desire for power into the service of Chaos, and eventually the Imperium was forced to respond to the Secessionists in the Maelstrom Zone by unleashing the full might of the Imperium in the terrible civil conflict that became known in the Imperial record, before the Inquisition laid down an Order of Obliteration that sought to remove all records of the Astral Claws' existence from Imperial history, as the Badab War. This conflict was fought between 901.M41 and 912.M41 and ended in the complete destruction of the Astral Claws defences and the devastation of their Chapter homeworld of Badab Primaris. Only 200 Astral Claws survived the final Imperial assault, and these Astartes, all corrupted by Chaos, fled with the maimed body of their leader into the Maelstrom, where they founded a new Chaotic empire. The other Astartes Chapters who had served the Secessionist cause were eventually forgiven by the Imperium since they had only been misguided and not corrupted, in return for launching themselves upon a series of penitent Crusades. But Lufgt Huron swore his soul and the souls of his remaining Astral Claws to the eternal service of the Ruinous Powers in return for the restoration of his health and the power needed to make war upon the Imperium that he believed had betrayed him and his fellow Astral Claws. Replacing the ravaged portions of his body with bionic augmetics, Lufgt Huron, now calling himself Huron Blackheart, ironically led his corrupt Astartes, now calling themselves the Red Corsairs, back into the Maelstrom Zone to become the piratical raiders that he had so long fought against. In time, the Red Corsairs became the leaders of a vast Chaotic pirate force of Renegades and Traitors that represents a major continuing threat to the Imperium in the Ultima Segmentum[4]. During the Thirteenth Black Crusade, the Maelstrom merged with the Great Rift and the Red Corsairs have now been sighted further from their home than ever before.[18b]

The Red Corsairs and their Tzeentchian allies battle the forces of the reborn Roboute Guilliman during the Terran Crusade

Notable Engagements

Combat doctrines

The Red Corsairs fight primarily as an expression of their twisted faith. In order to save what was left of his chapter and his hideously wounded body, Lufgt Huron made a terrible pact with the Ruinous Powers, pledging eternal service in return for the blessings and patronage of Chaos. With limited numbers at their disposal, the Red Corsairs spent much of their time as space pirates, but also launch brutal raids on Imperial shipping and outposts. These raids are not for plundering, but for the sheer pleasure of raiding the areas that they once swore to protect.[Needs Citation]
Red Corsairs forces led by Huron Blackheart[20]

Organization

The Red Corsairs are organised into a large fleet, able to deploy small, elite forces of renegade space marines supported by larger groups of human reavers. The Space Marines among the force are supremely proficient at the boarding actions favoured by the chapter whose ship-to-ship fighting prowess is infamous. Huron Blackheart maintains a substantial fleet consisting of vessels captured over numerous engagements, ranging from a single Adeptus Astartes battle barge, a number of strike cruisers, many and varied escorts and a huge number of classes of interceptors and bombers.[Needs Citation]

Over the years through absorbing other bands of Renegade Space Marines and outlaws, the Red Corsairs have grown close to the size of a pre-Heresy Space Marine Legion.[13] While its Space Marines form the core of the Legion's fighting force, the Red Corsairs also includes vast amounts of Traitor Guard, Pirates, Mutants, Xenos, and any other willing to pledge themselves to Huron Blackheart.[23a] Known Xenos warbands in service with the Red Corsairs are the Loxatl[24] and Tarellians.[23b]

The Terminator elite of the warband are known as the Huscarls, serving as Huron Blackheart's personal praetorians.[23a]

Culture

The Red Corsairs seem to hold religion in contempt, with this even extending to the Chaos Gods. Only a few members of the Red Corsairs wear the symbols of Chaos upon their armor or engage in worship of the Dark Gods.[21] The Red Corsairs make regular sacrifices to the Gods of Chaos, but only insofar as to further their own power as opposed to genuine worship. Many of the Red Corsairs maintain cracked emblems of their previous Chapters upon their armour, scrawled over with their new dedication be it the Gods of Chaos or Huron himself.[23d]

Unlike many other Chaos warbands, Huron himself strives only for results and to that end will allow mortals in high-ranking positions and even converse with them somewhat casually and without pomp. That being said, he still demands that all refer to him as Lord.[23a][23d]

The Red Corsairs are a cutthroat warband, with displays of strength being the only thing that determines one's position. Huron himself is suspicious of most of his own lieutenants, and is constantly seeking to maintain his power over them.[23b]

Gene-Seed

The Red Corsairs have no standardized Gene-Seed, instead raiding the Imperium for fresh gene-seed stocks in order to produce their own Space Marines. However, the original, once-stable gene-seed of the Astral Claws is quickly degrading and prone to mutation, with Chief Apothecary Garreon speculating this may be connected to whatever pact Huron Blackheart made after his wounding in the Badab War.[23b]

Assets

Known Relics

Known Vessels

A Red Corsair[3]

Notable Members

Astartes

Mortals

Cultist Warbands

Notable Worlds

Formations

Related Articles

Sources