The Glacier Serpents
In mid-M33, the Thunder Dragons were formed, successors of the Ultramarines. They made the rocky Death World of Karyvan their home, building their Fortress-Monastery in one of the massive needle-like mountains scattered across its surface. While the forests beneath the clouds are verdant and resources plentiful, the world was nevertheless classed as a Death World due to the horribly dangerous creatures that roam the land. Winged, draconian, and none smaller than a Rhino in size, their presence proved to be a constant threat to any inhabitants that dare stray outside of the very safest of hideouts such as the Monastery itself. Their presence, however, was the reason for the people of Karyvan being extraordinarily hardy, thus perfect recruits for the Adeptus Astartes. The creatures became so symbolic of the planet and its Chapter that it adopted the name of the rarest, oldest and greatest of them, the Thunder Dragons.
The Thunder Dragons served with honour, fighting many of the Imperium's foes, especially the hated Orks. But a terrible catastrophy befell them in late M38. A Daemon Prince of Tzeentch named Shek'khabor set the otherwise unblemished chapter in his sights. For many years he waited, watching from the Warp, until an opportunity arose. During a fight with an Ork psyker, Chief Librarian Garidus' Psychic Hood was damaged. This was repaired soon after the battle, but by then it was too late. Shek'khabor had possessed the unfortunate Space Marine, and he was now but a puppet to the Daemon's will.
Slowly, with as much patience as he had found the opening, he planted the seeds of treason. A word there, a gesture there. Years passed, and the Chaplains began growing suspicious. Master of Sanctity Ramik Jothero finally expressed his concerns to the Chapter leadership, being worried even about one of his own Chaplains, Morgath. The Chapter Command cursed themselves for their blindness and silently led an investigation, but Shek'khabor soon found out. During a joyful parade celebrating 5400 years since the Chapter had made Karyvan their home, he struck. In the middle of the parade ground, on a massive mountain plateau, Garidus was twisted and mutated, the Daemon Prince revealing his true form at last. With a thundering screech he leapt at the massed Space Marines, utterly surprised at the appearance of the Daemon. As he charged, chaos erupted in the parade ground as masses of Space Marines turned on their brothers. Over one company's worth of Astartes ran from the parade ground, killing and destroying everything in their path. The loyalists were unable to distinguish friend from foe and so almost all of the corrupted Thunder Dragons escaped from the plateau. In the very center of the carnage, Shek'khabor attacked the very target he had in mind all along. Chapter Master Marius Therian and the Chapter Command.
To the great grief of the Chapter, the Chapter Master was not prepared to combat such a mighty foe. He carried but a ceremonial artifact sword, and while he fought with courage, the Daemon struck him down. Ramik Jothero had not instructed the others to attend in full wargear as he did not expect whatever was assailing them to attack during the celebration when over half the chapter was gathered, but alas, he did. For a Chaplain, however, his weapons are tools of worship and battle both, so with Crozius in hand, he challenged the Daemon. In a truly heroic effort, he struck down the Daemon at its most vulnerable, managing to destroy its soul by sacrifcing his relic weapon, forever ending its threat. Though this cost him his own life, destroying such a might Daemon was nevertheless seen as one of the most impressive displays of warrior prowess the Thunder Dragons have ever shown.
The death of the Daemon mattered little to the traitors. Led by Veteran Sergeant Kraxis, they stole a Battle Barge and set off for the Eye of Terror.
When the Glacier Serpents returned to the Karyvan system three thousand years later, much had changed...
Glacier Serpents Organisation
Twenty-two of the original Thunder Dragons traitors have survived the millennia. They are known as the Inner Ring, and their names are Kraxis, Sharikh, Karnus, Saecelius, Kharaxx, Thakar, Kadeus, Septarus Vrakk, Morgath, Lodarak, Skarlos, Haegon, Zared, Halthrakk, Joraz, Rikhan, Ashkaar, Enzok, Tabris, Elenthas, Kashgor and Shanaros. Each one is a leader in his own right, their experience and dire hatred something to behold. The Inner Ring members all rank above any non-Inner Ring member. All of them wear distinct white-painted Ceramite plate, with the rims made out of the unique material 'Redmetal'. This substance is only found in the Eye of Terror, and, perhaps, the Warp. It is believed that this material chanels the sorcerous energies of the Chaos Gods. Whether this is true or not is not known for certain.
The overall commander of the Glacier Serpents is Lord Kraxis. He was a Veteran Sergeant at the time of the Great Betrayal, and he has remained in command since. He is almost never seen without his suit of massive, ornate Terminator Armour, and with the Blackfire Blade in hand. He is a brute, a massive warrior, and he has the final say in all matters. Should he die, it is likely that the Serpents will fall apart; the other Inner Ring members are of equal rank and each one sees himself as superior. Directly below him are the other twenty-one Inner Ring members. Sharikh is the Master of Sorcerers and leads the ‘commissioned’ Rubric Marine squads that the Glacier Serpents utilise, as well as handling the Tzeentch ‘division’ of the Warband. Karnus is the Plaguewalker of the warband and Sharikh’s Nurgle equivalent. He is the leader of the Plague Marine squads. Kharaxx is the Master of Berzerkers, leader of the Khorne units, as well as one of the two champions of the Glacier Serpents. The other champion is the extravagant Saecelius, whose lack of brute berserker force is made up for with his quicksilver grace. He leads the Noise Marines and other Slaaneshi units in the warband. Kharaxx and Saecelius constantly try to outdo one another, challenging each other to ever more extreme contests of butchery and weapon mastery, but neither has gained the advantage even after millennia of war.
Morgath is the Lord of Dark Sanctity, a dark mockery of a loyalist Master of Sanctity, and he masterfully stirs up the Cultist hordes at the Warband’s disposal as well. Septarus Vrakk was a Techmarine when the Great Betrayal occurred, but now he is a horrific Warpsmith, the Master of the Daemonforge and keeper of the Glacier Serpents armoury. Kadeus, the Havoc Lord, was a Devastator before his corruption, and he has kept his heavy bolter with him under the millennia. After so many years, though, neither the weapon nor its wielder is recognisable for what they once were. Thakar was an Assault Marine in the past, but is now the Havoc Lord, leading the aerial assaults of the Glacier Serpents. Skarlos tried to usurp Kraxis as leader of the warband, but he was discovered and consigned to a Helbrute for the deed. Having been suitably punished, he is now Fleetmaster. Kashgor is the Huntmaster and leads the Bike-mounted squads. Finally, Lodarak, the Dread General, is the commander of the undivided ground forces. He leads the Renegades, the Chosen, the Bike Squads and the Chaos Terminators.
The remaining ten Inner Circle Astartes form a single terrifying squad known as the Frost Wyrms. Serving as bodyguard to Lord Kraxis, each one is the match of an enemy champion in combat and when united in one unit there are few things they cannot grind to dust beneath their heels. There is no permanent Champion in the Frost Wyrms, instead the Dark Apostles look for omens before each battle, trying to divine which one the Gods have chosen. Whoever they decide to be the selected one becomes squad leader for the battle, being the first to challenge an enemy champion if Kraxis is preoccupied or deems the foe to be beneath him.
Below the Inner Ring are the ‘true’ Glacier Serpents. Taking the role of Chosen, they wear the white-and-Redmetal armour just like the Inner Ring. The Chosen are formed from Renegades who have been deemed worthy of truly becoming one of the Glacier Serpents, but it is not an easy task, and the weak are quickly weeded out and sent to ‘unworthy’ squads. The Chosen also pilot most of the vehicles of the Warband, as well as making up the Biker, Raptor, Havoc, and Terminator squads. There is a special squad in the ‘true’ Glacier Serpents section, the venerable Fatewalkers. This elite squad is just one step below the Inner Circle, only their origins preventing them from joining their ranks. Such mighty individuals are few indeed, and so only a single squad of Fatewalkers exist. Their names are Nadir, Mitrik, Zelroth, Draegan, Semias, Morden, Ragnor, Gabranth, Orfeo, and their leader, the Fatewalker Champion Chaugharth.
Finally, the Renegades rank above only the Cultists. During their campaigns and time in the Eye of Terror the Glacier Serpents pick up on lone renegades, sometimes even squads or more, of Astartes who have left their brethren. Whether they are ex-loyalists or hailing from another warband, they are quickly given the choice of joining the Glacier Serpents as a renegade or being sacrificed to the Dark Gods, their gene-seed being given to the most promising of recruits. Almost all accept the offer. The Renegades form the bulk of the Glacier Serpents, their numbers exceeding that of every other Marine division added together. While they are more valued than the cannon fodder that is the Cultists, they are still hardly cared for, and their loss is never grieved. Fighting at the front, the Renegades strive to prove themselves in the eyes of the Inner Ring so that they can become one of the Glacier Serpents.
