Sons of Fire

"Fire does not simply kill, it consumes. It takes away everything, the weak and the strong. It gives us not only warmth but also destruction. It is a pure instrument which must only be wielded by those willing to use it without fear. Are you worthy of such power?"

The Burned King, speaking to his Legion for the first time.

Sons of Fire
Battle Cry	"Blood and Fire!" "Blood for the Blood God! Fires of His Wrath!"
Number	IV
Founding	First Founding
Successors of	N/A
Chapter Master	Kariman, King of Blades
Primarch	Inferox, the Burned King
Homeworld	Crematoria
Strength	150,000 Pre-Heresy
Specialty	Purgation, Area Denial, Planet Kill Operations
Allegiance	Chaos (Khorne)
Colours	Burned Red and Black

This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the /tg/ Heresy Timeline and Galaxy pages for more information on the Alternate Universe.

The Sons of Fire were a Traitor Space Marine Legion. Inferox is their primogenitor; who forsook the duplicitous Emperor for the ever constant and ever angry God of murder, Khorne. None were more feared in the time of both the Great Crusade and the Hektor Heresy than the Sons of Fire. Specializing in cleansing and purification procedures, the Sons of Fire were often tasked with taking worlds which could not be salvaged or retaken. All were put to the torch, none could withstand the flames of Legion IV. If it were not for the brave actions of the War Scribes, the whole of the Atalantos Worlds would be lost.

Summary of Legion IV

Numeration: The IVth Legion

Primogenator: Inferox (also known as "The Burned King")

Cognomen (Prior): The Hammers of Terra

Observed Strategic Tendencies: Area Denial Tactics, Purgation, Exterminatus, and Planet-Killing Actions.

Noteworthy Domains: The Crematoria System (Primary), Tithe Rights to Achaemenid Cities on Terra.

Alliegence: Traitoris Perdita

"We have been called monsters, beasts, and butchers in the past. But this is untrue. We leave no viscera but ash behind in our wake."

Legionary Equerry Dilshad, M.30

History of the Sons of Fire

The Sons of Fire recognized glory and duty not based upon an individual level, but on a group scale. The actions of a squad member reflect upon that entire unit. Honors are supplied to whole formations rather than just to one individual, which during the Great Crusade fostered a sense of unity and cohesion during their fluid combat procedures. Inferox believed only in honoring a group's achievements, encouraging them to work together rather than seek out selfish goals of obtaining fame. This behavior goes for their whole history. All actions were recognized, past and present, and remembered.

Sadly this tradition completely died out by the end of the Scouring, with the Sons of Fire no longer caring for the names of famous units or the glorious charges of Conflagrations long past.

Hammers of Wrath

"We struck too slow and too ponderous to be worthy of the name."

The King of Blades, Kariman

The Hammers of Terra were specialists in urban combat, using a combination of explosives and flame weaponry to clear out hallways and hab-blocks with ease. The used short, controlled bursts to flush out opposition before the Astartes would rush in with bolter and knife. If the area was too difficult to assault by conventional means, it usually forced the Hammers to burn the whole building at once. This was particularly a favorite inside of Hives, where whole sections could collapse from the lose of one supporting structure. After the Pacification of the Merica Hives, the Fourth Squad of the Sacred Band attempted to expand upon this by segmenting the Legion into a strict organizational structure. Redundancies were introduced into their ranking, with a subdivision within every subdivision of the Legion. Even more repeated redundancies were introduced into the makeup of squads, adding sixteen different types of Sergeant being along with over fifty different variations of a simple Line Marine.

The intent in the labyrinthine organizational structure was give companies easy reference to how to break down themselves or join up with larger formations. With all the different versions of Line Marine, you could tell from a person's rank you would know what exact skills they had. Even what equipment they bore, just about everything. It backfired horribly. Ever since the revolution in the Hammers structure they moved significantly slower compared to their earlier doctrine. The obstructions of the doctrinal changes were no more apparent than during the Invasion of Mainiiu II.

Mainiiu was a Hive World at the western edge of the Segmentum Solar that had held onto several pieces of Dark Age tech, building their own primitive patterns of power armor from it. The people refused to comply to the Expedition Fleet sent to their system, forcing the Hammers into action. During the battle in the Hive Majoris of Mainiiu, several complications arose over which officer led this or that section, leading squads to become fragmented and scattered. Before the conquest, it wasn't that terrible as they fought inferior foes, but on Mainiiu they faced their first real opposing force. The battle left the Hammers with their Legion decimated, never fully recovering until their Primarch was located to help them build their numbers back to their original size, and then beyond that to match the other Legions in might.

The Hammers showed incredible promise during the Unification Wars, leading the Emperor to give them Tithe Rights to the Cities of the former Achaemenid Empire. This region of ancient Terra had the most stable genestock of all the techno-barbarian states, giving the Hammers the ability to increase their numbers beyond what was thought possible for a Legion without its Primarch. After the defeat at Mainiiu however, they were mostly kept in reserve, sent only to worlds which needed support from xenos raids or to bolster an assault with their numbers. This was done in part to help them grow after such a humiliating defeat, but also to give them time to learn their lessons on Mainiiu. The few Sacred Band members who lived chose to increase the complexity of their doctrine, attempting to account for every scenario and eventuality. Hektor intended to intervene, with help from Roman Albrecht, both Primarchs always taking an interest in the welfare of other Legions. But before they decided to act, the Hammers gene-sire was discovered.

Inferox's Enlightenment

"When you think of words to describe the Burned King, you do not figure charisma would be one of them. But how strong his words were to us. They had the power to shape us into a true Legion."

The Master of Inferno, Dilshad

The discovery of a Legion's Primarch is a vital event for all of the Astartes, but the reunification of the Hammers of Terra with their Primarch would not be the happy event that many had hoped for. Instead it would be a pall that fell across the Legion, and under its shadow the Hammers of Terra would be broken down and remade by Inferox's hand. Upon taking up his birth mantle of Primarch, the Hammers' primogenitor learned of their past, of their promising beginnings and fast decline due to the overbearing leadership placed to command it in his stead. He immediately instituted his own organizational structure, that of the Conflagrations, which would allow for true fluid movement and deployment of the Legion. A full twenty thousand additional Astartes joined the Hammers ranks, all of them recruited from Crematoria's own zealous warriors. The transition period was not without strife, as many of the new brothers inducted had problems accepting the Imperial Faith after so many years under the despotic-theocracy placed by Inferox himself.

The Hammers were renamed to the Sons of Fire, which Inferox explained to his Legion was the ultimate tool mankind held. Making fire was the first invention by the Crematorians after the long dark, giving them life and light. But Fire was also a tool of war and destruction which had always been his own favorite. His own Psyker-Guards from his Crematoria regime embraced the roles of both Librarian and Chaplain, responsible for discerning the weak from the strong in Neophytes, teaching the Legionnaires the Imperial Truth and the Emperor's philosophy, and lastly making sure a sense of identity in the Legion arose from the warriors pulled from both Terra and Crematoria. This unity was vital to the survival of the Legion, as all needed to serve together in order for success to be had.

The Sons were still suffering these birthing pains when news came from the sector closest to Crematoria. Orks had been raising hell on newly complied Imperial Worlds and a terrible WAAAAGH had now arisen, the Orks wanting to goad the Imperium into a proper fight. Inferox immediately mustered his Legion for action, hoping that a large engagement would hammer the Legion back into shape and show them the true might of their new power. Inferox would not simply defend these worlds, but purge the entire sector utterly of any taint of Ork.

In the Skythykos cluster where the WAAAAAGH originated, the Sons of Fire descended on the Ork spawning-planets with their festering pits of fungus and spores. Inferox led his Legion from the forefront, molding them by example with the new methods of warfare his legion would specialize in. No longer would they take cover or outflank, but instead they would come head on as an unstoppable tide of cleansing fire. Flamers would protect their flanks, chainsword and chainaxe would clear a path in front. If the enemy was too far away, then they would resort to their bolters. The entire cluster in a month was reduced completely to ash, the battle so great the Sons of Fire pulled many of their garrisons away from the beleaguered worlds they had originally been told to defend. The act cemented Inferox's hold on the Legion, birthing the Sons of Fire from the ashes of the Hammers.

Soon though the Sons grew far too eager to cleanse and purify their foes. One historic incident occurred on the world of Aŋra VI, where the Imperial Army had been fighting for months to secure the valuable research facilities of the unwavering Techno-Aristocrats who held the planet in an iron grip. The Sons of Fire were supposed to break the siege, working as the urban specialists of their original incarnation. Unfortunately the enthusiasm the Legion had for destroying the enemy utterly caused the flames of their weaponry to rage well beyond their control. The Imperial Army regiments still within the bowels of the Hive were cooked alive, with only a few escaping due to the actions of the Primarch. He charged into the raging flames to break open a path for them, not fearing the fire which he had allowed to grow beyond control.

After that action Inferox went to the War Council and requested that they divert his legion to Xenos-eradication missions, as he would never again be responsible for Imperial dead. The War Council agreed, as they knew the worth of his Legion, and there were plenty of Xenos foes that deserved only flame. For decades this was their task, the Sons of Fire cracking the bones of Ork realms and Xenos Empires by the hundred. Only once did Inferox nearly renege on his promise when he clashed with The Mouth himself, the Primarch Nathanog. During a joint operation with the Gorgers Legion, many of the Legionnaires demanded to be able to consume the alien dead as was their custom, but the Sons of Fire left behind nothing in their wake for the hunters to consume. This was seen as both a personal insult to them, and to their customs which the Sons of Fire were specifically disallowing to be completed. The Gorgers feared they would stagnate when working closely with the Legion, as they not grow stronger or learn more of their enemy from consuming their flesh.

Nathanog decided it was time to speak with Inferox of this. However, Inferox had no idea this was even happening as only a splinter of his Legion were fighting alongside the Gorgers. The Mouth can best be described as blunt at best, and aggressive at worst. His first act was to throw about accusations and enraged questions. Inferox thought he was being slandered, and immediately set himself on the verbal defensive. Eventually it came to the two striking each other with fists, as was their way when anger took them. Even though later Inferox learned of the misunderstanding, he would still resent Nathanog.

Ever since then the Gorgers and the Sons of Fire have been rivals, both specializing in close quarters engagements but deeply opposed in their respective approaches.

Hektor's Heresy

"Damn you all! Damn you all to hell!"

Adarhormazd, moments before being burned alive

The years of purging and burning had devolved the Sons of Fire into a rampaging force which only knew to rip, tear, and burn. The flames of their conquest left worlds colored grey by ash, blackened corpses of odd and forgotten Xenos in the wake. Inferox's suppressed pyromaniac nature was released fully when he grew tired of the Imperium's hypocritical nature and backstabbing. The censure of Aubrey, the judgement at Nikaea, the Imperial Council, all of it enraged him and so too the Sons. There was little attempt made by the Primarch to restrain his forces, leaving them to becoming an aimless flame. After discussing for many hours with Hektor Cincinnatus of the Heralds of Hektor and Aubrey The Grey of the Eternal Zealots, he emerged with a single tome.

The next few months Inferox spent talking to a few select officers of his Legion, never seeing more than one person at a time. Eventually through these seeds he tested the Imperial Faith inside his Legionnaires, seeing which ones had tenuous loyalties to the Emperor and absolute loyalty to him. The worship of Khorne rapidly spread in secret among the select circles chosen by their Primarch. The God of war and Murder was instantly close to their hearts. Ritual sacrifices of the Serfs were held, the blood burned up in offering and cracked skulls piled up together, cleansed of flesh, prepared and ready for the Skull Throne.

While many were repulsed at the cowardly act of betrayal that was The Dropsite Massacre, many believed it to be ordained by their Primarch and their new patron. Fifty thousand Sons of Fire perished on Istvaan III, gutting a huge amount of strength from the Sons of Fire. Their Psykers, named the Sandaramet, were numerous and well liked in the Legion. Destroying them in the name of Khorne swore them into his favor. Before the event, only a tenth of the Sons were truly worshiping him. Afterwards, more than half were openly swearing fealty to the Lord of Murder. By the end of the Heresy, all those remaining in the Sons of Fire had declared themselves for the Blood God.

The Sons of Fire were used by Hektor was a tool to cut out and burn chunks of the Imperium. While not terribly swift, they were horribly thorough. Nothing they touched would ever rise again to support the Imperium. It took well over a thousand years for the worlds they attacked to full recover, if they ever did. The majority of the Sons of Fire though acted in an assault supported by the Eternal Zealots, pushing into the realm of the War Scribes. It was here in this campaign that saw countless of their number die miserably to the underhanded tactics of the Scribes. The actions here sowed the seeds of resentment for the other Traitors. Why weren't they at Terra, helping Hektor? Why did Hektor not give them more aid if they were facing the War Scribes who they had barely the Naval forces to compete with?

By the end of the Heresy though, Inferox was banished to the warp. The Legion fled with many others towards the Eye, fighting what battles they could when they were able, fleeing otherwise from the combined wrath of the Steel Marshals, the Silver Cataphracts, and the Void Angels.

The Betrayal of Sudden Flame

"Burn them all. Burn it all. No thing, no one, not a single last piece of reality will be free from the flames!"

Legionary Equerry, Dilshad

Kariman and Dilshad combined their Conflagrations into a cohesive whole near Cadia, where the Traitors were gathering up to face the vanguard of the Imperial forces sent to cull them. It would be there they would fight as one once more. But the Gorgers, what was left of them anyways, had fled directly into the Eye. The Iron Rangers never appeared, and the Black Augers sent quite profane insults across the warp over the absurdity. The Legions began to weaken and fracture, but the Sons were still one whole. While a Company here or a Chapter there of this or that Legion would depart away from Cadia rather than stand and fight, the Sons were able to keep their calm.

Dilshad went into a fury of rage at the departing units which would one day become warbands. He hated the weakness, the frailty which had caused Hektor to fail. The Astartes were not up to the task demanded of them, and the Sons of Fire needed to correct this. If they could not be proper warriors, they would become sacrifices. A message was sent to all the distant and scattered parts of the Sons of Fire. It was time to burn the cowards, it was time to exact vengeance for Inferox and for Hektor. All across the Segmentum Tempestus the Sons descended upon their fellow Traitors, burning and ripping as they pleased. The surprise attack left the forces marshaling at Cadia a fraction of their size, forcing those few remaining to flee into the Eye of Terror before the Imperium truly fell upon them.

Through this one act, the Sons of Fire had initiated the Legion Wars. Or as they know it, the 'Wars of Ashes'.

Legion Doctrine

Area Denial was the main forte of the Sons of Fire, which made them lethal in urban warfare and in Zone Mortalis operations. As time went on this specialization was joined by a growing hunger for fire, a need to inflict pain by fire, to burn, not merely disintegrate. This led to the use of special types of flamer fuel, that which instead of disintegrating the target outright would scorch and burn them, leaving them broken and bleeding and waiting for the kiss of the Sons of Fire’s flaming axes. These bloody practises went unnoticed initially, but as the crusade dragged on more and more noticed the pyromaniac tendencies and hunger for both blood and fire that would doom the Legion.

The Sons of Fire were not noted for their use of armoured vehicles, which were secondary to the employment of ground infantry, the up close and personal nature of their purgation operations. The only exception to this was the widespread employment of flame-weapons tanks such as the Malcador and Predator Infernus, and the Land Raider Redeemer, invented by the Sons of Fire as an assault transport that would later be adopted by other Legions.

The Burned King was always a twisted soul. Twisted like a flame. The Sons of Fire are no different, obsessed with burning. Everything. They set entire systems ablaze for the Emperor, but they found a new master in Khorne. Before the Heresy, they tried to mask their all consuming desires for fire with a cold, calm and ruthless exterior, which broke down when Khorne claimed their souls. They were present on Terra and the Burned King is now a daemon prince. On Istvaan they collected all of the dead loyalists, and burned their bodies and armour to slag and ash, before piling their scorched skulls in a pyramid inside of a captured ship, and firing it into the Warp.

In the aftermath of the betrayal, the Sons of Fire became ever more insular and uncontrollable on the battlefield as their desire for Fire and Blood took them over, turning them into double-edged sword even to their allies as they burned whole swathes of the battlefield, uncaring who was incinerated. All-out infantry assaults supported by fast moving armour, with the aim of immediately closing into bloody short range and melee and always with the intent to burn the foe from the battlefield became their only goal; inferno for its own sake beyond any strategic objective to the contrary. To the IV Legion, fire has evolved beyond a simple symbol of strength and righteousness to a thing of savage, bloody beauty that is nothing short of a gift from the Blood God, Khorne.

Legion Organization

A Destroyer of the Sons of Fire Legion

At its creation, the IV Legion followed the basic pattern of Legion organization with Chapters, Battalions and Companies, but even in this earliest period the Legion's procurement and outfitting was geared towards direct assault and operations in "Zone Mortalis” type environments, with a specialty focus on using area denial weapons such as flamers. These 'claws', a nickname for the tactics and tools favored by the early Hammers, were attempted to be removed with only using a single flame per squad as directed by a Sub-Class GT-3 Supervising Sergeant.

Once Inferox took command this trend was revived immediately, and the Legion's organizational structures were kept altered to allow better streamlining, with its main division being tailored towards specialized line infantry formations known as Conflagrations. A Conflagration was a Battalion-level hybrid of tactical/close assault troops for the main contingent, supported by dedicated heavy assault units such as Terminators or Dreadnaughts. Fast attack forces which could scout or flank swiftly were also a common sight, such as jetbikes and Land Speeder squadrons, commonly equipped with flamer weaponry.

A Conflagration’s strength could vary from a Chapter Level force comprising dozens of companies to a mere handful depending on the situation, availability of troops and the tactical demands. In one engagement on Drakayav, the Ninety-Sixth Conflagration had only a single Line company of troops under its command. The leaders of the Conflagrations were given titles by the Primarch after being entrusted with the position, from ‘The Blooded’ (Commander of the Seventeenth Conflagration) to ‘the Torch of Scabrathix’ (Twenty-Fifth Conflagration). These leaders would uplift certain Sergeants to be their trusted advisers, leading assaults in their name across a planet. Usually though this coordination was unnecessary, as the several thousands of Sons only required to defeat the enemy utterly. Producing erratic patterns of assault and attack, with a slight inability to properly marshal a defense in a short amount of time. The Sons of Fire were always at their best when they were attacking, using their decentralized nature to overwhelm a foe, keep them in a never ending state of guessing as to their next move.

In battle, squads would be free to pursue their assigned tasks in whatever manner they saw fit, provided they followed orders from above. Each Conflagration Commander before battle commenced would lay out a long set of objectives for each company to complete, with the company in turn directing their component squads, usually incentivising certain targets over others. Other than this loose set of requirements, the formations could conduct themselves in whatever manner they saw fit on the battlefield. Squads would usually seek out either one or two things during a skirmish; either the complete destruction of the enemy force, or completing the objective they had been given before the campaign had even begun. The lack of a rigid chain of command allowed the Sons to move swiftly across the battlefield and lent itself well to a highly aggressive strategic posture and belligerent tactics, but were usually wild and uncoordinated during long drawn out engagements.

At the time of Hektor's Betrayal, no good estimate of the Fighting Strength of the Sons of Fire could be made. The Sons often fought as a small number of large scale deployments, with the bulk under the Burned King formed into the 47th Expeditionary fleet who loved to step in to aid other campaigns when Xenos were present. The best guess made is putting their full strength at 150,000 Legionnaires, though the number may well have been higher then that. Out of all those who fought in the Dropsite Massacre, no Legion suffered more losses than the Sons then perhaps the Gorgers. Both Legions had fervently loyal contingents, with many within the Sons refusing to turn on the Sandaramet, their Psyker division of Librarian-Chaplain hybrids.

Specialist Ranks

Immolation Patrol Biker

The majority of the Legion is dedicated towards being a never ending wall of flame. It never ceases, always advancing, consuming all in its path. The Immolation Patrol Squads are the exception to this philosophy. Armed with twin hand flamers and given attack bikes with handle-mounted melta weaponry, they charge forward into the ranks of the enemy with no regard of themselves seeking out large formations or valuable vehicle assets. During the Great Crusade, the use of the Immolation Patrol was held as a last resort possibly to avoid greater causalities or being compelled to retreat. Few if any members survive after being deployed.

After the Hektor Heresy and Legionary Wars however, the Immolation Patrol has grown beyond just the Sons of Fire. They are their own dedicated cult to Khorne, giving out their services as mercenaries either in full squads or on their own. Several Dark Mechanicus modifications to their own bodies and bikes give them unprecedented survivability not thought possible during the Great Crusade. This is due in part to their augmented nature, as a fallen Tech-Priest can completely rebuild a Immolation Patrol Biker with just the head alone.

Sandaramet

The Brotherhood of the Sandaramet was the Sons of Fire term for their Librarius.

On Crematoria before the Emperor had arrived but after Inferox had conquered it, the Priests of Xerleth were completely reformed from their very foundation. Every member was now inducted in during childhood, usually by Inferox himself. Many of these were orphans directly caused by the Primarch's bloody war of unification. One day, a 'warlock' assassin attempted to kill Inferox during a conference with his priesthood. The attack left only a tenth of them alive, but Inferox largely unharmed. After killing the assassin with his bare fists, it was revealed to Inferox that the remaining priests themselves were 'warlocks and witches'. Thus began the Sandaramet.

Due to his fierce loyalty and newly found faith in the Imperial Truth, the Emperor granted to Inferox's Legion the recruiting tithe of the former Achaemenid Empire. Rich in genetically pure humanity, the ranks of the Sons of Fire swelled thanks to the tithe. An unsuspected side effect however brought the rate of psykers up in recruits as well, giving cause for Inferox to found his Legionary Sandaramet. Expert pyromancers, while lacking in power and versatility the Librarians of Crematoria destroyed armor and flesh alike with molten beams and immolating waves.

When time came to betray the Emperor, Inferox disclosed openly with his Librarians the decision. Remarkably, every last one tried to argue with him against it. Even though the Council of Nikaea had outlawed their rightful abilities each member of the Sandaramet still laid their loyalties down at the feet of the Golden Conqueror. Appalled, Inferox thought to an old saying on his home of Crematoria. 'Never trust the Warlock/Witch'. Soon finding himself swearing fealty to the Blood God and giving into his destructive nature, all of the Sandaramet were sacrificed as burnt offerings to Khorne.

A great battle ensued shortly afterwards between the Sons of Fire Loyalists and Traitors over the sacrifice, with the Loyalists being crushed by the fury of their Primarch's bloodlust when he made battle with them.

Wildfire Reconnaissance Marines

The Fourth Legion uses fire on the battlefield, both as a weapon and as a tactical element. The role of the Wildfire Reconnaissance Marines, who are drawn from the standard Recon Squads operated by the Sons of Fire, is to evade the enemy and set fire to valuable locations, such as factories or cities. In woodland battles, the Wildfire Marines are capable of setting a semicircular fire behind enemy lines, trapping the enemy so that the Fourth Legion can drive them back into the flames.

After the Heresy, the Wildfire Reconnaissance Marines have fallen to Khorne along with the rest of their Legion. Those who have not been consumed by blood-lust and forgotten their role are rare, but they tend to operate alone, starting fires indiscriminately and slaughtering anyone who tries to escape the blaze.

Legion Equipment

Before each campaign, a Son of Fire will meticulously paint his armour with several coats, sometimes making elaborate gilding in bronze or gold depending upon preference, and etching on the deeds of his squad or company. After this is done, they take the field with the intent of racing headfirst into the flames of wrath. The paint will chip, the embroidered text or symbols melt away, and over time nothing remains of the colors they so proudly displayed at the beginning. This is to show their willingness to sacrifice all to flame, showing each time their ability to give up all that they care for. Their achievements, their comrades, their Legion. All of it is null when compared to the purity of fire. Some squads make it a game to see who can both spend the longest time preparing and who can lose their colors the fastest.

In combat, hand flamers and chainweaponry are preferred above all. Sergeants usually go into battle wielding combi-bolters, with an underslung flamer with knife constantly at the ready. Captains universally favor the 'Cremotoria' Pattern chainaxe, which sets off jets of liquid which are easily set alight with the simplest of sparks. This creates an incendiary melee that perfectly combines the attitude and tactical tendencies of the Legion. Fire and blood.

Though the Great Crusade was launched to conquer worlds and not destroy them, unless there was no alternative. In such warzones where there was no hope for human life or where the only option was complete purgation, the usual caveats and protocols restricting the use of contaminate weapons by the Emperor's command did not often apply and these warzones were often entrusted to the Sons of Fire who took great joy in burning them to the crust. The wanton use of Phosphex became a common staple of their Extermination Campaigns, setting the very matter of a world in a constant state of inferno.

Notable Members

First Captain Kariman, the King of Blades

Blood Burned in His Name! Skulls for His Throne!

Vox recording of Kariman in battle, M.41

Kariman, also known as the King of Blades, is a Chaos Space Marine of the Sons of Fire Legion. Once the leader of the First Conflagration and Primarch’s Equerry of his Legion, Kariman is now the greatest of all the mortal Champions of Khorne. Embodying that god's indiscriminate rage and bloodlust as he was primarily responsible for the Betrayal of Sudden Flame.

A Terran from the Nihion Islands, Kariman was part of the early intakes for the Legion during the first decades of the Great Crusade, eventually rising to become Captain of the First Conflagration by the time of the Heresy. Kariman would have reached a leadership role sooner, but it was his violent behavior led to the firestorms that nearly killed all the Imperial Army units working alongside the Sons of Aŋra VI. This act had put a black mark on the Sons of Fire, and made him too temperamental and unstable to hold a title in Inferox's eyes. As the years went by, he fought on the frontline constantly. No mission was too dangerous, no selfless act unrewarding. Over the years he became known as an infamous character of the Fourth Legion. His peerless skill was only matched by his endless well spring of hatred for all of the Sons enemies.

It was easy to recruit him into the fold when the Istvaan Massacre was being planned. He replaced Adarhormazd as commander of the First Conflagration, leading the spearpoint of the Sons assaults upon their enemies. His influence upon the Legion was not equal to that of Dilshad, but his mark on the Legion's history and that of the Traitor Legions is unsurpassed. It was him that first took up the charge against the Sandaramet, who were making their last stand admist a clash of fire and bloodshed. It was him who had to be clawed away from the frontline during the firestorm at the Atalantos Worlds. It was him who struck the first blow that set off the Legion Wars.

In battle Kariman is always where the fighting is at its thickest while wielding his twin blades, the Fang-blade of Ignarak and the Red Sword. These fell weapons continually rise and fall as they sever heads and claim skulls in the name of his eternal patron. Since the end of the Heresy, Kariman has become the unstoppable and bloody avatar of Khorne. He hunts through the Eye of Terror and across the galaxy, slaughtering any worthy enough to be killed in Khorne's name. He holds no allegiance but that of his own, joining any cause so long as it shows promise to bring great murder on the battlefield. Be wary of his presence though, after all foes are defeated, he will most likely turn on his 'allies'.

Culture

The culture of the Sons of Fire changed drastically twice over the course of their history - once when they were discovered by their Primarch, Inferox, and again when they became the chosen of the Blood God Khorne.

When they were still known as the Hammers of Terra, the IV Legion was known for its resolution, honor, and thoroughness, often to the point where it was physically and tactically slowed by its own ideas. Its organizational structure was hopelessly complex and specialized, and this reflected something about the Legion's mindset. The Hammers valued structure, and they placed a lot of emphasis on each person's role within a structure. The problem was that for all their logical ideas and dedication, they lacked an energy and driving force that would unify that give them the clearly set roles they desired.

When Inferox came to command his Legion, it was he who shaped his Legion into who they were destined to become, for better or for worse. Inferox taught his Legion many things, not least how to use fire as a weapon of war, but he also taught his sons how to know their place and role without confining themselves in a cumbersome structure that would chain them as much as it would define them.

Under Inferox's command, emphasis was placed on groups over individuals in his Legion. Squads would be honored as a whole; as would larger formations.

The uses of fire by Inferox's Legion were many, and not just confined to battle. New Legionaries would be branded with fire, dead Legionaries would be cremated in fire (once their gene-seed had been extracted), duels would be fought inside a ring of fire, and fire was ever present in hundreds of various standard Legion ceremonies. There was no aspect of a Fire Son's life that was not spent very far from flickering flames. Members of the IV Legion would spend so much of their time around fire that they would even dream of blazes. Small wonder that they would consumed by pyromania in the end.

Inferox, "The Burned King", Primarch of the Sons of Fire

What separated my fate from that of Inferox? A human being that knows the enemy intends to destroy his or her family, friends, and everything dear will resist with the whole of their being. Therefore, to use terror, one must hold out the prospect of mercy. Inferox did not use terror. Terror used him.

(Gaspard Lumey, private correspondence.)

Inferox is the driven gene-father of the Sons of Fire. He desired to bring order to the madness of his homeworld on behalf of his patron deity. Later, he choose to herald the cause of reason being crusaded by his creator, the Emperor. His pyromania eventually led to his downfall as his love of destruction consumed his judgement and soul. During the Burning Crusade at the Atalantos Worlds he ascended to Daemon Princedom.