Crimson Teeth

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.

Crimson Teeth
Battle Cry	"THE PACK IS UPON YOU."
Number	XIX
Founding	First Founding
Primarch	Camaxtli
Homeworld	Chalchihuitl, Charadon Sector, Ultima Segmentum
Strength	180,000
Specialty	Ambush, Rapid Assault, terror tactics
Allegiance	Pre-Scouring:Chaos Undivided, Post-Scouring Heru, Lord of the Tides
Colours	Colors (pre-Camaxtli's death): Dependent on terrain/variety of Primary colors differentiated based on rank. Colors (post-Camaxtli's death): Dependent on terrain/quartered red and black with a light-white/blue helm. Prominent members covered in red and white carvings across armor.

The Crimson Teeth is a tightly organized close assault legion which relies on pre-battle intel, ambush, terror tactics, and numerical advantages to seize victory. They are an undeniably effective, if incredibly bloody, fighting force who excel against static defenses and small, elite armies. Their maneuverability, cohesion and superior numbers giving them the tactical advantage over better equipped and stronger foes. This doctrine further encouraged by a legion culture which revolves around trophy hunting, Oaths, sacrifice, and vengeance.

In the wake of the heresy, the legion would become infamous for its merciless assaults and terror tactics, particularly their fascination with ritual sacrifice and cannibalism. Where once the legion was known as Imperial Defenders and executors of the Emperor's Judgement against non-compliant peoples, they are now steeped in the grotesque mysteries of chaos periodically surging forth from the Eye to lay Imperial holdings to ruin. In the 41st millennium they are a by-word for the terror and bloodiness that typifies the Lost and the Damned.

History

Like their fellow legions, the Crimson Teeth were created within Himalayan Gene-forges in the early days of the Unification Wars, deployed primarily for search and destroy missions and harrowing their foes, herding them into the heavy elements of other legions. Their close-quarters proficiency and relative amiability saw them accompanying many different legions as support and of all those bodies of astartes, the Crimson Teeth were the most dispersed during the Unification Wars.

Thus the legion participated in most of the War's major conflicts by simple expedience. This does not mean they did not account for themselves, as linesmen tasked with re-direction and enveloping their foes the Teeth became accustomed to high-risk deployments and objectives; their strategies and tactics evolving to accommodate. Baiting the enemy into a larger mass of troops, surrounding and eliminating them piece-meal, or overwhelming through a concert of blades. However, not all opposition was susceptible to this style particularly heavily entrenched opposition, such as the Yershabim.

Siege of Mount Yerushabim

The high success at the earliest stages of the invasion on Mount Yerushabim are non-indicative of the later conflict within the Yerushabic tunnels as the narrow paths limited them largely to frontal assaults. Even with the Stone Men's support, the Crimson Teeth were totally unsuited to tunnel combat. They were pulled back alongside their cousins following Hektor's order to seal the Yerushabim tunnels. In later years the Yerushabim would become a byword for terrible undertaking or dangerous foe amongst the legion culture, eventually abbreviated to Yerush. (Pronounced Ir-roosh.)

Further development and conquests of the XIX legion

As the Unification Wars progressed the legion continued to develop, and became incredibly proficient as small, tightly knit groups of close quarters specialists reliant on synchronized communication and cooperation which allowed them to engage and eliminate more developed or numerous foes. Over time each detachment of Crimson Teeth became more developed in their particular field of combat, their expertise usually related to whichever legion they were accompanying at the time.

Noting this, the Emperor ordered that the legion would muster into a single force once again. Noting this, the Emperor ordered that the XIX to muster into a single force once again. They were immediately tasked with the extermination of the Caltaxian Bionotech Guild. Holed within a polar super fortress reinforced with armies of lobotomised cyb-soldiers and ancient technology, the Guild would prove an intractable foe.

Siege of Caltaxa

The Siege of the Caltaxian Super-fortress remains a notable event in the legion's early history for being the first time in over a decade that the legion acted as one. Combating a foe largely immune to their primary strategies of misdirection and ambush, the legion was initially forced to engage the Caltaxian cyborgs directly and wage bloody battle on the automatons.

It was Captain Olakhol (link) determined the weakness in the Caltaxian military lay in their officers and directed the 19th's focus towards their capture and elimination. Four months into the conflict legion infiltrators planted the remains of these captured officers around the entrances of the fortress overnight, making sure to make their uniforms and insignias as visible as possible. Then proceeded to execute officers within sight of the walls on a twice daily basis, slitting their throats and burning the bodies for the defenders to see.

The arctic peoples replied with a major assault towards the Imperial lines, snow-capable vehicles, cyb-soldiers, and massive bionically enhanced ursines making the majority of the attackers ranks. Ready for their assault and eager to end the conflict, Olakhol led the counter charge against the Caltaxian army. By his actions the battle was a clear victory, allowing the Imperials to end the conflict within the next several weeks. The fortress was preserved, and later repurposed into an Imperial holding.

The Fall of Orioc

The city of Orioc was the last non-compliant state to face the XIX in the arctic. The ancient city-state was a mountain bound fortress located in the icebound south. Virtually impregnable within their frozen abode, the people of Orioc had weathered the nightmare of Old Night and been engendered with a powerful fanaticism making them immune to polite Imperial diplomacy. Thus the Emperor decreed that the XIX would force their compliance, or death.

Captain Olakohl ignored all pretext of diplomacy and initiated an orbital barrage in the surrounding mountain range, within moments a massive avalanche of stone and ice crashed into the perimeter's of the city. Though their walls and energy shields were sufficient in protecting against the worst of the debris the city became enveloped in a massive cloud of snow. Soon Imperial aircraft cut through the smoke, dropping squads of assault marines on the city below.

In the maelstrom the XIX sowed confusion, destroying Cannons along the walls, disabling their shields, and breaking down the gates. Then, just as quickly, they left. Seemingly disappearing into the mountain side. For a brief moment the Orioc populace waited, terrified and hidden.

Then the fire came.

Using a combination of whirlwinds and Fire Raptors by the advisement of the (Sons of Fire Numeral designation) the XIX immolated the city. Starting from it's center point and slowly expanding towards the walls, the XIX forced the populace to flee their homes in order to escape the firestorm. As they ran through the broken gates they passed the piled corpses of their defenders. Piked, disemboweled, and decapitated, along the entrances and trailing out beyond the walls. As they fled into the world beyond they were beset by the XIX, blood soaked behemoths whose voxes keened as they flew. The population was slowly hunted down, toyed with, and systematically slaughtered. Their bodies lining the outskirts of the city in long rings of severed limbs and flesh to freeze in the polar climate.

By Imperial Decree, the city would remain untouched as a warning for others who opposed the Emperor's will.

The Sud Merica Liberation Campaign

Opening stages of the Sud Merica Liberation Campaign

In the closing days of the Unification Wars the legion had become renowned for their uncompromising violence against traitors and opposition. Through their actions the Emperor's final judgement was prosecuted upon the mutant and the traitor, thus they were deployed in the decayed mega hives of Sud Merica.

The XIX were well familiar with Sud Merica, the majority of their combat operations occurred within the continent's rusted underhives. Perhaps by design, or mere happenstance, the legion's future proficiency in terror tactics, feint attack and retreat, and general jungle combat originated here. Rightly so, for the native peoples used all manner of scheme and device to waylay, cripple, and destroy the Imperial invaders. While initially the legion found success by engaging in ruthless frontal assaults against the periphery cities, they quickly discovered the military nightmare of embedded guerillas within dense terrain.

Hundreds of marines would die as they encountered a host of hidden devices: Sink holes lined with explosives, trip-wire traps, proximity mines, short burst chemical weapons, and more. All the while harassed and abused by super predators, forgotten biological experiments, and virulent strains that could incapacitate an astartes for weeks. The guerrillas took full advantage of the Imperial's confusion and disorganization with snipers, concealed machine-weapons, rocket fire, and more. They typically attacked the armies at dawn, or during periodic tectonic shifts, then retreated before the Emperor's warmachine could respond effectively.

Facing dishonor and a slow death from faceless foes, the legion adapted to their environment. Soon their analysis of the Sud Merican's strategies and tactics proved beneficial, the Astartes beginning to reach an equal footing with their attackers. Training, technology, and enhanced physiology making up for their unfamiliarity with the local terrain. Thus the legion made slow but grinding progress into the Hives.

It was after the Siege of Caltaxa that the legion began to implement terror tactics and psychological manipulation in order to force their enemies into the field. They accomplished this by pinning the mutilated bodies of captured civilians throughout the concrete jungle. Not intended to elicit fear alone, the crucifixions were aimed at enraging and antagonizing the guerilla fighters. The tactics were effective, in several cases causing large swathes of enemy soldiers to commit against seemingly isolated Imperial forces. Their desire for revenge blinding them to their vulnerability, which the legion readily exploited.

It was determined, through watching and questioning the natives, that a variety of activities were considered taboo by the majority of the Guerilla forces. Thus, within sight of the city of Gosumo the legion tested their findings. The event began as routine, a long range vox was set up at the edge of the city's territory and the standard call for surrender and Imperial hospitality took place. Some small arms fire was directed at the vox and it withdrew, at which point Captain Olakohl announced himself to the defenders.

"Sud Mericans, I am Captain Olakohl, I have crossed this continent destroying and conquering the cities of your neighbors for these past two years. This is my gift for your hospitality."

With that a group of people were pushed into the clearing, naked save for the crusted layers of feces and blood lathered onto their bodies. Encouraged at the end of a series of bolters, the crowd stumbled towards the city until they were cut apart by bolt rounds from the XIX, the remains then obliterated by a volley of missile fire. The XIX then withdrew, leaving behind a token force of Imperial regulars to bait the hook, and awaited the city's response. For the first two days it was silent, no war horns, no cries of rage or the roar of tanks, nothing. Then on the third day the Imperial Regulars were attacked along their flanks by lines of automatic weapons and artillery fire from the city while fast moving walkers sped towards the floundering regiment.

It was then that the XIX struck, rising from the detritus and crashing through the wires and walls, the warriors grey armor was quickly stained with blood as they closed upon the attackers. The guerillas, were annihilated as the astartes encircled and destroyed their forces piecemeal. That night the city of Gosumo burned.

Organization

Taua - To facilitate the legion's rapid mobilization and assault tactics, its military structure is loosely organized into Taua or 'War Parties'. Unit consistency is typically structured by immediate need and familiarity.

Rangatira - Captain Equivalent. Rangatira are selected based upon their battlefield and leadership proficiency. The word is a catch all term: specific Rangatira designations are dependent on specialisation, for example: Rangatira Urehikau Kauaeroa is known as Hunts Master due to his proficiency as a tracker, capturer, and killer of priority targets.

Tohunga - Blood Priest/Curandero - Determined by function, Tohunga consist of a combination of psykers and chaplain equivalents, known as Curandero and Blood Priest respectively. Each Tohunga is tasked with mastering a specific aspect of war and expected to participate in engagements that require their skills, for example: Curandero Ohiro is both Lore Keeper and Seer. Thus, he is often found utilizing his precognition to determine potential threats and unforeseen complications prior to battle.

Toa Tatai - Sergeant equivalent. Toa Tatai are permanently bonded to squads of marines numbering between ten and twenty individuals. The Toa Tatai are responsible for the individual discipline and training of the astartes they command, and will be called upon by the Rangatira when their particular unit's abilities are needed.

Toa - Tactical marine/scout marine equivalent. Typically utilized for recon, target identification and (rarely) assassination. Toa are usually made up of new recruits and only appear in mass when supporting armored columns.

Toa Tere - Assault Marine equivalent. Toa Tere, or "Pack Men", are the most numerous unit type in the Emperor's Teeth legion. They are typically the first astartes to enter combat if more elite squads are unavailable, and are tasked with the elimination and/or capture of enemy artillery assets, officers, and post-battle hostile survivors.

Toa Mihini - Shorn Ones/Blood Bound - Emperor's Teeth First Company, these assault infantry are deployed via drop pod or aerial assault craft and utilize a combination of short-range teleportation devices and/or accompanying Curandero psychic powers. Often equipped with a combination of Artificed Macuahuitls explosive Atlatls (post primarch's discovery), power Pouwhenuas, Taiahas, and Tewhatewhas, Toa Mihini would suddenly appear amongst the foe, annihilate them with brutal strikes from their weapons, then teleport to another location to avoid retaliation.

Tao Mihini 'Crocodile teeth' - Are the mechanized divisions and heavy support of the Emperor's Teeth. After the initial assault, Toa Mihini are used to destroy any remaining targets, particularly hostile heavy support, and clear the area. The Tao Mihini are what ensure conquered territory remains secure.