Soul Drinkers: Difference between revisions
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===Rebellion=== | ===Rebellion=== | ||
Fast forward some 5,000 years. It's the close of the 41st millennium, and the Soul Drinkers receive word that one of their sacred artifacts, the Soulspear, has been discovered by a near-do well family owning a star fort. The [[Administratum]], already eager to take control of the fort and its revenue, assembles a task force to occupy the station while a kill team under Captain Caeson and Librarian Sarpedon go in for the Soulspear. Caeson is killed (poisoned rather ignominiously) but Sarpedon manages to locate the Soulspear. Just as the Soul Drinkers claim it, the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] element of the Imperial task force teleport in and steal the Soulspear, immediately sending it to a Forge World the Administratum would lose jurisdiction. The Soul Drinkers demand the Soulspear returned and hold the star fort for a siege. During this time, they meet a mutant preacher named Ysir who worships the Emperor in his aspect as [[Tzeentch|the Architect of Fate]], and begin listening to his tales about the Imperium's corruption. The AdMech makes things actually worse by ''attacking'' the fort, believing the Soul Drinkers would stand down. Instead, the Soul Drinkers fight off the Skitarii and destroy the fort before fleeing on their fleet. After five months of evading the Imperium, the [[Inquisition]] finally shows up. The Inquisitor orders the Soul Drinkers to stand down, and when they refuse, declares the Chapter ''Excommunicate Traitoris''. Eventually, the rest of the Soul Drinkers fleet arrives, and Chapter Master Gorgoleon challenges Sarpedon to combat. Sarpedon is about to lose when he spontaneously develops spider legs and kills Gorgoleon. | Fast forward some 5,000 years. It's the close of the 41st millennium, and the Soul Drinkers receive word that one of their sacred artifacts, the Soulspear, has been discovered by a near-do well family owning a star fort. The [[Administratum]], already eager to take control of the fort and its revenue, assembles a task force to occupy the station while a kill team under Captain Caeson and Librarian Sarpedon go in for the Soulspear. Caeson is killed (poisoned rather ignominiously) but Sarpedon manages to locate the Soulspear. Just as the Soul Drinkers claim it, the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] element of the Imperial task force teleport in and steal the Soulspear, immediately sending it to a Forge World the Administratum would lose jurisdiction. The Soul Drinkers demand the Soulspear returned and hold the star fort for a siege. During this time, they meet a mutant preacher named Ysir who worships the Emperor in his aspect as [[Tzeentch|the Architect of Fate]], and begin listening to his tales about the Imperium's corruption. The AdMech makes things actually worse by ''attacking'' the fort, believing the Soul Drinkers would stand down. Instead, the Soul Drinkers fight off the Skitarii and destroy the fort before fleeing on their fleet. After five months of evading the Imperium, the [[Inquisition]] finally shows up. The Inquisitor orders the Soul Drinkers to stand down, and when they refuse, declares the Chapter ''Excommunicate Traitoris''. Eventually, the rest of the Soul Drinkers fleet arrives, and Chapter Master Gorgoleon challenges Sarpedon to combat. Sarpedon is about to lose when he spontaneously develops spider legs and kills Gorgoleon. Believing his mutations to be a gift from the Emperor, the Chapter veterans acclaim Sarpedon as Chapter Master, but the younger marines and novitiates reject Sarpedon as a mutant. This leads to the First Chapter War, resulting in many of the younger members being killed off, while many of the veterans also gain mutations, though less extreme than Sarpedon. As of this, the Soul Drinkers officially break with the Imperium. | ||
Around this time, Sarpedon realizes that a fleet would be too much of a waste of resources for the Chapter to effectively move around. Finding a massive [[Space Hulk]] dubbed the ''Brokenback'', the Soul Drinkers scuttle their fleet and use the ''Brokenback'' as their fortress-monastery, with [[Techmarine]] Lygris, de facto Master of the Forge, able to bring the vessel under their technological control. After cleansing the hulk of the usual hangers on ([[Genestealer]]s, [[Daemon]]s, the usual) the Soul Drinkers react to visions Ysir was having. They find a Daemon World ruled by Ve'Meth, a [[Daemon Prince]] of [[Nurgle]]. Though taking horrible losses, the Soul Drinkers ultimately defeat Ve'Meth. Mere moments after they're back on the ''Brokenback'', however, they're confronted by Abraxes, a Daemon Prince of Tzeentch, who was the real cause of Ysir's visions and their mutations. Having acquired the Soulspear (and indirectly killing the ArchMagos responsible for its theft), Abraxes offers Sarpedon the chance to serve Tzeentch. Sarpedon replies that the Soul Drinkers belong to no one and stabs Abraxes through the heart with the Soulspear. Now knowing that they can serve neither the Imperium or Chaos, Sarpedon instead advocates a policy of doing "the Emperor's work": instead of fighting threats as designated by the [[Adeptus Terra]], the chapter would work to protect the people of the Imperium so frequently forgotten by the Adepta. | |||
Unfortunately, just because they rejected Chaos didn't mean that Tzeentch stopped offering up mutations. With their [[gene-seed]] rapidly becoming unstable, the Soul Drinkers review a previous mission where they intervened in an [[Eldar]] attack on an Adeptus Mechanicus facility that was attempting to develop measures to halt or reverse mutations. Unfortunately, the Eldar attack ended up releasing the very thing it tried to prevent: one of the test subjects, a mutant psyker by with delusions of godhood by the name of Teturact, resulting in the mutant becoming a Champion of Nurgle without realizing it. Finally locating where the facility was, on Stratix Luminae, the Soul Drinkers sent in the entire chapter to retrieve the genetic data. Unfortunately, they got caught in a three way battle with Teturact's forces and the Inquisitorial force sent to eliminate the Soul Drinkers under a new Inquisitor, Thaddeus. Sarpedon and Thaddeus reluctantly worked together to kill Teturact, and the Soul Drinkers were able to escape with the genetic data. | |||
===New recruits=== | |||
Chief Apothecary Pallas was able to stabilize the mutations, and the Soul Drinkers began recruiting aspirants into their ranks again with stabilized gene-seed, to be trained under the leadership of Captain Karraidan, one of the Soul Drinkers last [[Terminator]]s. Unfortunately, one group of marines under Assault Sergeant Tellos was left behind when the Soul Drinkers retreated from Stratix Luminae. Already suffering over aggression after mutations to his body caused him to have bullets pass through his skin, fell to [[Khorne]] and began tearing through the unsuspecting Imperium. Sarpedon made tracking him one of their top priorities, despite objects from Sergeant Luko and Librarian Tyrendian. Eventually finding one of his men, the Soul Drinkers learned that Tellos and his marines were on Entymion IV, a planet fighting off a [[Slaanesh]]i incursion. What the Soul Drinkers discovered was that the Slaaneshi cultists were fighting for a [[Dark Eldar]] [[Kabal]] that had [[fail|willingly embraced Slaanesh]]. Even worse, they weren't the only Astartes on the planet: the Crimson Fists under Force Commander Reinez were also their. With both Chapter descended from the Imperial Fists during the Second Founding, Reinez broke off from the main Imperial force and made eliminating the Soul Drinkers their priority. Squad Eumenes, one of Karraidan's new Scout Squads, managed to steal the Fists Company Banner, dishonoring Reinez and making an enemy of him. Using it as an offering, the Soul Drinkers were able to meet with the Archon, Kadheros. Sarpedon and Kadheros agreed to an alliance, both planning to betray the other. Unfortunately, Kadheros betrayed the Soul Drinkers first, revealing his plan to turn Entymion IV into a Daemon World with himself as a Daemon Prince of Slaanesh. Using the deteriorating situation to their advantage, the Soul Drinkers sent the Crimson Fists against the Dark Eldar, while Sarpedon managed to defeat Tellos. However, Tellos survived the battle, only to be killed when the Inquisition subjected Entymion IV to Exterminatus. | |||
{{Marines-Official}} | {{Marines-Official}} | ||
Revision as of 18:33, 11 August 2012
| Soul Drinkers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battle Cry | "Cold and fast." | |
| Founding | Second Founding | |
| Successors of | Imperial Fists (officially) | |
| Successor Chapters | None | |
| Chapter Master | Sarpedon | |
| Primarch | Rogal Dorn (officially) | |
| Homeworld | Fleet based | |
| Strength | Four lost in the Warp, presumed daemon lunch | |
| Specialty | Assault, boarding actions | |
| Allegiance | The Emperor and Imperial citizens, not the Imperial government | |
| Colours | Purple and gold | |
The Soul Drinkers are a chapter of Space Marines descended from the Imperial Fists (officially). They are the subject of Ben Counter's Soul Drinkers novel series. They are unique among the Space Marines because unlike Imperial or Chaos Space Marines, the Soul Drinkers serve neither the Imperium of Man or Chaos, but rather fight for the Emperor's ideals. If it sounds weird, the reality is much more complex. Perhaps some explanation is in order.
History
Origins
Officially, according to the Imperium's Index Astartes, the Soul Drinkers are a successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists Legion. When Rogal Dorn was forced to break up the VII Legion under the dictates of the Codex Astartes, he was left with five Chapters worth of marines: the veterans would remain with him as the Imperial Fists, the most zealous would serve under Sigismund as the Black Templars, the most tactically flexible would serve under Alexis Pollux as the Crimson Fists, the most masochistic would serve under Demetrius Katalfaque as the Excoriators, and the boarding specialists would serve under Daenyathos as the Soul Drinkers. There has been some evidence that both disputes and proves that this is accurate, but we'll get to that later.
Anyway, Daenyathos served for several thousand years, but he came to the conclusion that the Imperium was corrupt and inefficient. However, Daenyathos believed that the Imperium could be made better through extreme bloodshed and suffering. Daenyathos decided that the Soul Drinkers would be that agent of suffering, laying the seeds for them to turn against the Imperium. Daenyathos laid down secret teachings within the Soul Drinkers Chaplaincy to serve as his agents, while Daenyathos published the Catechisms Martial, a document that would serve as the Soul Drinkers guide to combat and philosophy. Daenyathos was eventually struck down after the Age of Apostasy, but was secretly interred within a Dreadnought.
Rebellion
Fast forward some 5,000 years. It's the close of the 41st millennium, and the Soul Drinkers receive word that one of their sacred artifacts, the Soulspear, has been discovered by a near-do well family owning a star fort. The Administratum, already eager to take control of the fort and its revenue, assembles a task force to occupy the station while a kill team under Captain Caeson and Librarian Sarpedon go in for the Soulspear. Caeson is killed (poisoned rather ignominiously) but Sarpedon manages to locate the Soulspear. Just as the Soul Drinkers claim it, the Adeptus Mechanicus element of the Imperial task force teleport in and steal the Soulspear, immediately sending it to a Forge World the Administratum would lose jurisdiction. The Soul Drinkers demand the Soulspear returned and hold the star fort for a siege. During this time, they meet a mutant preacher named Ysir who worships the Emperor in his aspect as the Architect of Fate, and begin listening to his tales about the Imperium's corruption. The AdMech makes things actually worse by attacking the fort, believing the Soul Drinkers would stand down. Instead, the Soul Drinkers fight off the Skitarii and destroy the fort before fleeing on their fleet. After five months of evading the Imperium, the Inquisition finally shows up. The Inquisitor orders the Soul Drinkers to stand down, and when they refuse, declares the Chapter Excommunicate Traitoris. Eventually, the rest of the Soul Drinkers fleet arrives, and Chapter Master Gorgoleon challenges Sarpedon to combat. Sarpedon is about to lose when he spontaneously develops spider legs and kills Gorgoleon. Believing his mutations to be a gift from the Emperor, the Chapter veterans acclaim Sarpedon as Chapter Master, but the younger marines and novitiates reject Sarpedon as a mutant. This leads to the First Chapter War, resulting in many of the younger members being killed off, while many of the veterans also gain mutations, though less extreme than Sarpedon. As of this, the Soul Drinkers officially break with the Imperium.
Around this time, Sarpedon realizes that a fleet would be too much of a waste of resources for the Chapter to effectively move around. Finding a massive Space Hulk dubbed the Brokenback, the Soul Drinkers scuttle their fleet and use the Brokenback as their fortress-monastery, with Techmarine Lygris, de facto Master of the Forge, able to bring the vessel under their technological control. After cleansing the hulk of the usual hangers on (Genestealers, Daemons, the usual) the Soul Drinkers react to visions Ysir was having. They find a Daemon World ruled by Ve'Meth, a Daemon Prince of Nurgle. Though taking horrible losses, the Soul Drinkers ultimately defeat Ve'Meth. Mere moments after they're back on the Brokenback, however, they're confronted by Abraxes, a Daemon Prince of Tzeentch, who was the real cause of Ysir's visions and their mutations. Having acquired the Soulspear (and indirectly killing the ArchMagos responsible for its theft), Abraxes offers Sarpedon the chance to serve Tzeentch. Sarpedon replies that the Soul Drinkers belong to no one and stabs Abraxes through the heart with the Soulspear. Now knowing that they can serve neither the Imperium or Chaos, Sarpedon instead advocates a policy of doing "the Emperor's work": instead of fighting threats as designated by the Adeptus Terra, the chapter would work to protect the people of the Imperium so frequently forgotten by the Adepta.
Unfortunately, just because they rejected Chaos didn't mean that Tzeentch stopped offering up mutations. With their gene-seed rapidly becoming unstable, the Soul Drinkers review a previous mission where they intervened in an Eldar attack on an Adeptus Mechanicus facility that was attempting to develop measures to halt or reverse mutations. Unfortunately, the Eldar attack ended up releasing the very thing it tried to prevent: one of the test subjects, a mutant psyker by with delusions of godhood by the name of Teturact, resulting in the mutant becoming a Champion of Nurgle without realizing it. Finally locating where the facility was, on Stratix Luminae, the Soul Drinkers sent in the entire chapter to retrieve the genetic data. Unfortunately, they got caught in a three way battle with Teturact's forces and the Inquisitorial force sent to eliminate the Soul Drinkers under a new Inquisitor, Thaddeus. Sarpedon and Thaddeus reluctantly worked together to kill Teturact, and the Soul Drinkers were able to escape with the genetic data.
New recruits
Chief Apothecary Pallas was able to stabilize the mutations, and the Soul Drinkers began recruiting aspirants into their ranks again with stabilized gene-seed, to be trained under the leadership of Captain Karraidan, one of the Soul Drinkers last Terminators. Unfortunately, one group of marines under Assault Sergeant Tellos was left behind when the Soul Drinkers retreated from Stratix Luminae. Already suffering over aggression after mutations to his body caused him to have bullets pass through his skin, fell to Khorne and began tearing through the unsuspecting Imperium. Sarpedon made tracking him one of their top priorities, despite objects from Sergeant Luko and Librarian Tyrendian. Eventually finding one of his men, the Soul Drinkers learned that Tellos and his marines were on Entymion IV, a planet fighting off a Slaaneshi incursion. What the Soul Drinkers discovered was that the Slaaneshi cultists were fighting for a Dark Eldar Kabal that had willingly embraced Slaanesh. Even worse, they weren't the only Astartes on the planet: the Crimson Fists under Force Commander Reinez were also their. With both Chapter descended from the Imperial Fists during the Second Founding, Reinez broke off from the main Imperial force and made eliminating the Soul Drinkers their priority. Squad Eumenes, one of Karraidan's new Scout Squads, managed to steal the Fists Company Banner, dishonoring Reinez and making an enemy of him. Using it as an offering, the Soul Drinkers were able to meet with the Archon, Kadheros. Sarpedon and Kadheros agreed to an alliance, both planning to betray the other. Unfortunately, Kadheros betrayed the Soul Drinkers first, revealing his plan to turn Entymion IV into a Daemon World with himself as a Daemon Prince of Slaanesh. Using the deteriorating situation to their advantage, the Soul Drinkers sent the Crimson Fists against the Dark Eldar, while Sarpedon managed to defeat Tellos. However, Tellos survived the battle, only to be killed when the Inquisition subjected Entymion IV to Exterminatus.