Imperial Hammers A.K.A. Hammers of the Imperium
Homeworld: Vulkanus - Golden Rim Stars (Deathworld - High Mountains and Volcanic Ranges - Little to no surface water, large expanses of volcanic deserts, little sunlight.)
Symbol: A Winged, Short Handled, Square Headed Hammer on a Field of Black.
Chapter Colors: Burnished Gold with Gold Trim and Black Pauldrons.
Chapter Master: Bjorn Hammerfell
Battle Cries: ”Strike True Hammers!” & “We are the Hammer in the hand of the Emperor!”
Chapter Information:
The Imperial Hammers are one of the 'Cursed Founding' chapters, but all recorded ties to the founding have been expunged by the Ordo Malleus due to the sensitive nature of their creation. The Imperial Hammers are a little know chapter due to their close ties to the Ordo Malleus, and many of their combat actions have taken place in secret. It is rumored that the only reason they have not suffered the same fate as the other chapters in their founding is that the gene-seed used in their creation is an experimental offshoot of the same gene-seed used to create Grey Knights, which is rumored to contain the gene-code of the Emperor himself. The Imperial Hammers excel in fighting the forces of Chaos and have taken part many successful actions in the Eye of Terror during the 13th black crusade. Through a blood debt owed by the chapter to the Ordo Malleus, it is often called upon when the surgical skill of a space marine is required in the place of the world crushing tank treads of the imperial guard or the silent guile of a Inquisitor or assassin.
The Imperial Hammers use the following Rank System with their codex equivalent referenced to the right.
Master: Chapter Master
Commander: Captain
Truth Sayer: Librarian
Father: Chaplain
Brother-Sergeant: Sergeant
Brother: Space Marine
Initiate*: Scout
* Although on the chapter rolls the term “Initiate” is used to denote “Scout" Space Marines (less than 20 years of service) the vast majority of the Imperial Hammers use the term “Little Brother” is used as a term endearment for Scout/Initiates.
Chapter Strength:
Recently the Hammers suffered great losses in their last major war in the Golden Rim stars on a planet named “Arkus Prime,” a Temple World, and home to some of the largest temple complexes outside of blessed Terra. The planet of Arkus Prime was the jewel in the Golden Rim Stars but the seeds of chaos had taken root and the World Eater chapter of Chaos Marines had descended upon Arkus Prime and defile a shining beacon of the Imperium of Man.
The Imperial Hammers dispatched the full 2nd company to push chaos off world and cleanse Arkus Prime of its taint. When the Hammers made planet-fall, although the world appeared deserted save for a few resistance fighters of the P.D.F. it was not. A treacherous Ambush of the traitor guard and World Eaters cost many lives of the Second company.... the 3rd and 4th companies along with a host of Grey Knights arrived to reinforce the embattled 2nd co. But were victim to the hijacked orbital defense grid as they made planetfall... killing many and almost shattering the Imperial Hammers. Upon searching the cities, they discovered that the chapels and temples devoted to 'Him on Earth,' had been filled with the mangled bodies of the planets population in a gruesome ritual to Khorne. The forces of chaos had succeeded in ripping open a portal to the warp, and summoning a host of daemons that, together with four full companies of Chaos space Marines overwhelmed the two companies of Imperial Hammers. The brave warriors of the Emperor tirelessly fought a losing battle.
For six full months one of the bloodiest battles the universe had seen, raged on Azkus Prime. When the smoke cleared; three Chaos Space Marine Companies laid defeated and the host of Daemons sent screaming back into the warp, but the cost was great. The three companies of Imperial Hammer space marines and their Grey Knight allies were decimated.
When the remaining elements of the Imperial Hammers fleet arrived at Arkus prime, the war was over, but 258 space marines lay dead. The entire 2nd company was destroyed and the 3rd and 4th companies had lost all senior leadership. The captains, chaplains and librarians of all companies were slain, and only a few squads from each remained.
The victory on Arkus Prime was secured by a veteran sergeant named Pax Ares, who lead the two remaining squads of Marines of the 2nd and 3rd company, and a mix of Tactical, Terminator and Sternguard squads of the decimated 4th company against the last bastion of Chaos on Arkus Prime. The final assault on Arkus Prime resulted in a Bloodthirster of Khorne thrown howling back into the warp-hell that spawned it, and the remaining battered company of Chaos Marines slain. Despite this amazing victory, and in large part due to Sergeant Ares’ inspired battle-plan, only five Imperial Hammer marines lost their lives. Pax Ares was promoted to Captain of the newly established 2nd Company after the rites of remembrance were completed. Arkus prime was then virus bombed to ensure that no taint of Chaos would survive on the now desecrated world. It remains to this day subject to Inquisitorial Quarantine.
Currently the Imperial Hammers have seven companies operating at full capacity, two partial and very young companies: the 4th and the 3rd are referred to as “Unblooded” due to the minimal action seen by the new recruits of these companies.
The Second company and its make-up is detailed below.
COMPANY OF NOTE: 2nd Company Imperial Hammers.
In honor of slain Captain Brutus Varites and the brave warriors of the lost 2nd company, the newly formed 2nd company is made up almost entirely of those warriors who survived the war on Arkus Prime. The 2nd company is currently assigned to assist the Ordo Malleus (if needs be) at the squad level, and to receive training alongside the Grey Knights while they are brought to full strength. The make up of the 2nd company is as follows.
Commander: Captain Pax Ares
Father: Artemis Kell
Truth Sayer: Darius Laxim
41 Survivors - 1 Brother entombed in Dreadnought Armor.
The 2nd Company (due to its unique make up, and understrength status) is divided into 2 “Brotherhoods” The Brotherhood of the Forge and The Brotherhood of the Anvil. each Brotherhood has a Tactical Squad, Sternguard Veteran squad & Assault Squad. Brotherhood of the Anvil has Honored Brother Fenris the Dreadnought. Brotherhood of the Forge has 2nd Company’s sole Terminator Squad
THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE FORGE
Sternguard Squad - Omega
Brother-Sergeant Tiberius Rex
Brother Quintus
Brother Danis
Brother Juzan
Brother Bacchus
Brother Lorius
Brother Lear
Tactical Squad - Epsilon
Brother-Sergeant Dimitri Hanu
Brother Orphius
Brother Janus
Initiate Dax
Initiate Manes
Initiate Bedias
Initiate Serus
Initiate Pendarus
Initiate Xavian
Initiate Timgan
Assault Squad - Delta
Brother-Sergeant Rand Belantru
Brother Kef
Brother Hurn
Brother Inox
Brother Annur
Brother Garn
Brother Villhelm
Dreadnought: Honored Brother Fenris (survivor)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE ANVIL
Sternguard Squad - Theta
Brother-Sergeant Christian Vex
Brother Pathos
Brother Cartur
Brother Ferrus
Brother Markus
Brother Sarata
Brother Pintius
Brother Jorman
Tactical Squad - Gamma
Brother-Sergeant Viktor Devis
Brother Daxos
Brother Nautilus
Initiate Sander
Initiate Jobe
Initiate
Dak
Initiate Diphan
Initiate Yannis
Assault Squad - Beta
Brother-Sergeant Malcolm Turk
Brother Turnn
Brother Payne
Brother Dagnar
Brother Aarvan
Brother Namus
Brother Eran
Brother Scarr
Terminator Squad - Alpha
Brother-Sergeant Victor Soless
Brother Vinn
Brother Apollo
Brother Ryvann
Brother Osirus
The 2nd Company is currently not based on Vulkanus, but are instead based on an ancient Battle cruiser “The Redemption.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Traits:
Imperial Hammers are slightly larger than most space marines, tending to mirror the size of the Grey Knights. Their appearance is humanlike save for the genetic tendency to have either white hair or salt and pepper hair, and grow facial hair at an acellerated ratre if unchecked. Their skin is golden tanned and their features are not blunted as most space marine chapters, but seem to maintain the shape of facial features they possessed before their transformation into space marines. The belcher’s gland is vestigial and even non-existent in most Hammers. However all other implanted organs function properly in an Imperial Hammer Space Marine.**
** Note: The Ordo Malleus has taken note that a surprising number of Imperial Hammers are “blanks” and have no presence in the warp. While not “soulless” as Culex assassins, they are able to sever the ties to the warp of Daemons and daemon-hosts simply with their presence, and also can nullify the abilities of Psykers. This incredibly rare phenomenon has also seemed to increase in frequency over time. At last count seven space marines of the Imperial Hammers are “Blanks.” They have been assigned rear echelon duties while the chapter librarians try and determine if the process to become an Imperial Hammer Space Marines is causing the rare and valuable gift. The Ordo Malleus has a keen interest in creating a fighting force of “blanks” seeing that they would be a powerful force against Chaos. These “blanks” do not see much combat duty due to their value to the Imperium, as well as interference to sanctioned psykers, librarians and the Grey Knight psychic abilities.
Imperial Interactions: There are four inhabitable worlds that lie within the the Golden Rim Stars, they are referred to as “Rim-worlds.” The agri-world of T’haiven, the Forge-World of T’haephestus and the terra-like world of T’rixon. Each of these three planets holds their own individual tournaments in which the young of the world can vie to become a Space Marine of the Imperial Hammers. The few recruits chosen from these “civilized" worlds more often than not are chosen to become librarians and chaplains, but the grueling tolls exacted by these trials and the loss of many sons from the industrialized and modern worlds have recently (within the last century) become frowned upon. Fewer and fewer participants partake in the rituals and the stock from which the Imperial Hammers might choose has lessened of late. Thankfully the death-world of Vulkanus is home to the warrior tribes that the Imperial Hammers draw the majority of their recruits. The civilization is kept in a constant state of war, due to the limited resources on Vulkanus. The tribes possess bronze-age technology that keeps the young warrior strong and honed to a razors edge. The Imperial Hammers are viewed as messengers from the “Allfather” another facet of the God-Emperor. Each year the “Messengers of the Allfather” descend for the “Rites of Honor,” High from their citadel fortress “Stonekeep," on top of Mount Vulkanus. (Mount Vulkanus is actually not a Natural formation. It is a massive granite and ceramite citadel, and the volcano like opening at the top is actually the utility outlets and furnace ports for the massive forge complexes below.) Throughout the year the warrior tribes of Vulkanus battle to control a Temple situated in a small valley. This is called the “Temple of Ascension." When the Messengers descend, the fighting ceases and the tribe that controls the Temple may participate in the Rites. The tribe then must turn it’s young warriors on one another in a bloody free-for-all where only those of appropriate age participate. Only five candidates are taken from the surviving young warriors. There are four “Temples of Ascension.” throughout the island continents of Vulkanus. this can result in up to twenty recruits a year. But the training regime of the Imperial Hammers is deadly, and some years there are no recruits that survive or complete the process to become Space Marines. Those that survive the process but fail to become Space Marines are inducted as chapter-serfs, and those that die during the training or the process of becoming a space marine never become servitors. They are honored in death, and are returned to their tribes by the “Messengers of the Allfather,” as those requested immediately to serve at the right hand of the Allfather in his never-ending war against Chaos. It is an incredibly great honor to die for the chance to become an Imperial Hammer.
Chapter Master:
Bjorn Hammerfell has been the Chapter Master since its founding. Nothing is known of him before this time, but it is said that he is a secret Inquisitor Lord of the Ordo Malleus. Although he denies this, his frequent meetings with other Inquisitor Lords do little to help assuage these rumors. Despite this possibility, he has never allowed himself to be compromised in his leadership of the Imperial Hammers. Bjorn his a bear of a man, with a broad white beard and thick mane of hair. He is fatherly to his chapter, calling almost all Imperial Hammers “son" but he is stern, and his temper knows no limits when angered. He wears an ancient suit of Grey Knight Tactical Dreadnought Armor - a Gift from the Ordo Malleus - painted in the golden colors of the Imperial Hammers. He also possesses a Grimoire of True Names (how he came to possess this tome is known only to him.) His weapons are a power hammer named “The Smith,” similar in make up to a nemesis force weapon, and his gauntlet mounted Stormbolter “The Emperor’s Messenger” which fires “blessed bolts,” these bolts are microscopically covered in the most blessed litanies known, and when fired at the forces of chaos, act as psycannon bolts.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
