Ghosts of Dorn
| Ghosts of Dorn | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Battle Cry | None. They don't talk much. | |
| Number | Endangered | |
| Founding | 22nd | |
| Successors of | Imperial Fists | |
| Chapter Master | Geirod Verus | |
| Primarch | Rogal Dorn | |
| Homeworld | Dysa | |
| Strength | Endangered | |
| Specialty | Fortification and Armored Air Assault | |
| Allegiance | Imperium | |
| Colours | Light gray with light blue pauldrons, helmet, and hands, and dark gray trim | |
The Ghosts of Dorn are a /tg created successor chapter of the Imperial Fists. Due to a mutation in their gene-seed, their skin is entirely transparent. All of their muscles and bones can be seen to the naked eye. This does not endear them to their allies, which is why even their captains tend to leave their helmets on.
Ghosts of Dorn are taciturn warriors. They march grimly into battle without a sound. This also does not endear them to their allies.
Their favorite tactic is to fly their forces in with Thunderhawks to establish a beachhead before fortifying the absolute shit out of it. Playing "Flight of the Valkyries" when you do so is not required, although it is encouraged.
Home Planet
The home planet of the Ghosts of Dorn is Dysa, an iceworld so bitterly inhospitable that not even Space Marines can survive, at least on the surface. Under the permafrost, humans eke out a living in the immense system of underground tunnels that have been carved out over thousands of years.
It is not a fantastic life. The food is shit, the lighting is finicky, it's always cold, the Nightsiders three caves over keep stealing the wifi... oh, and every so often giant worms and rats come up from the undertunnels to eat everybody.
But the subject of greatest fear and awe are the ice giants that descend from the sky every decade or so, demanding a sacrifice of the bravest and the strongest among them, to be delivered lest their wrath destroy the world.
You know, standard recruiting policy.
History
The Ghosts of Dorn were founded in the 37th millenium as part of the 22nd founding. They were among the first chapters established after the utter destruction of the Imperial Fists chapter in The War of the Beast, once its various successors had finally gathered enough gene-seed to create a new chapter.
There was considerable concern upon their creation due to their mutation, which smacked of the Cursed Founding. Indeed, in its infancy it was to come under intense suspicion by the Ecclesiarchy during the Abyssal Crusade. Although no warp storms had descended on Dysa, their unsettling mutation led many to believe they had been corrupted. In the end, the Ghosts of Dorn just barely managed to avoid joining the Judged.
Of particular note in their history is their ill-fated assault upon (an as-of-yet unnamed Eldar Craftworld). In his righteous furor and infinite wisdom, Chapter Master Belaphion Ortef led the entire chapter in a head-on assault. Though his zeal was to be recommended, his grasp of tactics was not.
The chapter's fleet was torn apart under the fire of the Craftworld's defenses. Ortef was among the first to be killed, and his death led to chaos and confusion in the chapter, as some pursued the attack while others struggled to disengage. Hundreds upon hundreds were slaughtered under the Eldar guns. However, the Brother-Captain of Sixth Company, one Geirod Verus, led a desperate spearhead that broke through the Eldar defenses and breached the Craftworld. He and his men fought to destroy as many of the Craftworld's defenses as they could, allowing the tattered remnants of the Ghosts of Dorn to escape.
Upon their return to safety, the Ghosts of Dorn unanimously declared him their new Chapter Master. Now, he leads the Ghosts with a good deal more wisdom than his predecessor.
(to be fair, the Ghosts of Dorn had fought the Craftworld on several occasions beforehand, where their use of Ranger snipers and Striking Scorpion ambushes frustrated and demoralized the space marines. Ortef likely felt that a head-on assault would be effective against such trickery. It's just a shame it didn't translate on a space scale)
An Adeptus Sororitas Order was once under assault by a massive force of (to be identified later). They called for aid and the Ghosts of Dorn answered, but the sisters were dismayed when the Chapter Master arrived with little more than a hundred space marines, less than any other force had provided. When the Canonness asked why he had brought so few, Geirod replied that he had brought his entire chapter.
Touched by the Ghosts' willingness to sacrifice their entire chapter for her Order, the Canonness declared that the (as of yet unnamed Order) would forever stand with the Ghosts of Dorn as allies. Their combined forces proved able to push the enemy force off the planet.