Hi guys,
Here is the background and fluff behind my custom chapter. Also included is what i call the Hall of secrets. Great feats of battle are recorded here. These are actual things that have happened in games, just slightly dramatised
(not made up though).
So here goes:
Emperors Fists History
From Imperial records it is believed the Emperors Fists were founded during the 17th founding in the year 271.M38. Little is known of the exact circumstances surrounding their inception but it is believed the Imperial Fists were growing at an alarming rate and the High Council of Terra ordered the foundation of another successor chapter so that the Fists did not exceed the size set by Guilliman after the Heresy.
This chapter was to be led by Captain Vipus of the Imperial Fists’ 3rd company. This battle hardened veteran had seen much front line action including the siege of the Imperial palace where, it is rumoured, he led a fierce counter-assault against the Sons of Horus, who had breached the cities walls. Although ultimately doomed to failure the attack had surprised the heretics and bought valuable time for Dorn to re-mobilise his forces. Very few of his company survived and Vipus suffered near fatal wounds but survived thanks to the skill of the legions apothecaries.
And so it was that Vipus was to lead the Chapter initially known as ‘The Emperors Fist’. Recruits and initiates were drafted in from Terra and from the surplus numbers waiting to join Imperial Fists. Some recruits were fully adept Astartes drafted in from Vipus own company (3rd company Imperial fists) but the vast majority were initiates who had yet to see any sense of battle. For a century Vipus gathered together his initiates and organised his Chapter.
With no available home world to call their own Vipus led his faithful marines and initiates on a campaign against the Ork hordes of the Octavius system. This campaign was ultimately fruitless but provided the chapter’s marines with invaluable battle experience. Many of the chapters’ marines were slaughtered and Vipus led them back towards Terra. However, on route to Terra their Battle Cruiser, ‘The Silence in the Dark’, was caught in a fierce warp storm and ran off course, ending up near the orbit of Catachan. Vipus halted at the planet and used the Catachans’ facilities in order to assess the damage done to the vehicle. They remained there for almost 2 years while extensive repairs were carried out and Vipus viewed the training and fighting styles of the Catachan Jungle Fighters with intrigue. To be able to survive in such a harsh environment had made them stronger and more resilient than many Imperial guard troops. The marines began to train deep in the Jungles of Catachan, sometimes allowing the Jungle Fighters to accompany them. Over time they began to adopt similar traits to the Catachan, Vipus could see the benefit of using stealth to his advantage and began to incorporate it into the Fists’ training regime.
Once the repairs to their cruiser had been finished Vipus asked the Emperor for permission to recruit new initiates from the planet of Catachan. After much deliberating and objection from the Imperial Commanders the Marines were granted permission to recruit from the death world. With no home to call their own they set out into the stars again on their mighty battle cruiser. Training exercise on Catachan had yet to be tried and tested in the theatre of war. And so ‘The Emperors Fist’s, led by Vipus, returned to the stars to hunt the enemies of the Emperor. At this point the Chapter was at half strength, with 3 full companies and a large number of initiates. The time spent on Catachan had instilled a ‘hunt’ mentality in many of the battle brothers. Being stranded for so long on the death world many of the marines spent time deep in the Jungle, hunting some of the great beasts which preyed on the inhabitants. This mentality followed them into the stars and many of the Astartes yearned for the chance to hunt and kill enemies of the Emperor.
Vipus led his chapter back to the Octavius system which had become infested with the Tyranid Vanguard. Genestealers had fully infiltrated the system and a fierce war was raging with the Orks. Covert teams were sent down to the surface to hunt and kill these foul xenos, the battle brothers of the Emperors’ Fists relishing the challenge and the prospect of finding a worthy adversary. For several years they hunted and killed from within. Some squads of marines could be missing for as long as 6 months before returning to safety on their battle barge. They developed and practised deadly guerrilla tactics, swift lightning raids which, often, the enemy were unaware of until it was too late.
Initiates were sent to the surface as a right of passage, to prove to their masters that they deserved a place within the chapter. Often they would be sent in small groups with nothing but a Boltgun and Hunting Knife. Many would return with trophies to prove they had killed a mighty beast. As time progressed these trophies would become more impressive and Astartes would compete to bring back the most impressive trophy; so much so that a great hall within the battle barge was devoted to displaying some of the Chapters greatest trophies: heads of fearsome ork nobs and talons from the largest Tyranid monstrosities.
One legend from this time tells of battle brother Thor, a young initiate sent planet side to prove his worth and participate in his ‘Great hunt’. Thor and four fellow initiates landed deep in a jungle region known to be near a large Ork settlement where many Orks had been gathering under an upcoming Warboss. For 6 days they stalked the Orks when, without warning, the Tyranid vanguard ambushed the Ork horde. Suddenly cast into the thick of the action Thor and his fellow initiates fought tooth and nail in the maelstrom of battle, many enemies fell but so too did the initiates. As Thor tried to slink back into the Jungle he was cornered by a towering Lictor, the beast struck him and cracked the boltgun in two. With just his combat blade to defend himself he fought through injury and pain until he was close to death. As the Lictor jumped in for the killing blow Thor drove the blade deep through the cracks of its chitinous armour and into its heart. Battered and bloody Thor removed the head and, for 3 days, dragged it back to the ships rendezvous point where he was afforded a Hero’s welcome. Thor is currently a sergeant in the 3rd company and has earned many honours in his time in the chapter.
The training process of every initiate includes exercises deep in hostile territory and hunting on the Planet of Catachan. The Emperors Fists maintain a small monastery on the planet which they use for recruitment and training. Some initiates do not make it past the training stage; the planet of Catachan is an incredibly hostile environment in which the vast majority of the human race could not survive. It is classed as a death world by the Imperium and deemed too inhospitable for widespread human occupation.
The majority of the Chapter is always aboard their battle barge ‘The Silence in the Dark’ prowling the universe hunting the enemies of the Imperium. Occasionally it will return to Catachan to collect initiates and resupply before venturing off again. This can mean that new initiates sometimes have to wait tens of years before they get their chance to prove themselves; however they spend this time on Catachan honing their skill and hunting the wild beats of the planet.
The final stage in the training process before an initiate is inducted into the scout corp. is called ‘The Great Hunt’. Initiates will travel on board ‘The Silence in the Dark’ and participate in hunts on feral and hostile planets. There they hunt enemies of the Imperium and collect trophies from their conquests. The warriors with the finest trophies earn the highest respect. Only the toughest initiates will survive and be fully inducted into the 10th company.
Shadow Warriors
The 10 most battle-hardened veteran marines of the company are elevated to the 1st company’s elite Terminator squad, ‘The Shadow Warriors’. This squad comprises of 10 Assault Terminators donned in jet-black Terminator armour and armed with Lightning Claws or Thunder Hammers. The ‘Shadow Warriors’ were originally made up of the only surviving veterans from Vipus’ company who survived the siege of the Imperial Palace on Terra and the initial crusade into Octavius. They swear a secret oath to each other and only when a member dies can another marine take his place. The ‘Shadow Warriors’ are veterans of many campaigns and far out-class any other marine in the company with their martial prowess, apart from the 1st Company Captain and Master of the Chapter.
Several high-ranking officers have fought in the ‘Shadow Warriors’ and it is, bar one, the greatest honour the Chapter can bestow on one of its members.
Tactica
The teachings of the Jungle Fists vary from the Codex Astartes laid out by Roboute Guilliman of the Ultramarines. Where stealth and guerrilla tactics are looked down upon by some of the other chapters, Vipus embraces them and has used these tactics for centuries to great effect.
The marines are excellent at moving through cover undetected and sneaking up on enemy positions. A whole squad can move into a good defensive, or attacking, position without ever raising the alarm and then open up with Bolter fire when the enemy moves close enough.
Due to the terrain in which the Emperors Fists have become accustomed to fighting in they have little use for large vehicles. They rarely deploy large numbers of vehicles preferring to utilise scouts and fast moving infantry. They make common use of dreadnoughts, Landspeeders and Bikes as they are much more manoeuvrable through dense terrain. This is not to say that they don’t possess these vehicles, they keep almost as many tracked vehicles as any other chapter, and when the terrain requires it they can submit a fully mechanised force.
Catachan:
Catachan is a Death World located in the Segmentum Solar, a planet almost completely covered in dense jungle where it seems the entire ecosystem is hostile to human life. Catachan's only export is its people, who through natural selection are bred tough and strong from living in such a dangerous world. There are some incredibly bizarre and dangerous creatures living on Catachan. Listed below are some of the more exotic varieties:
The Brainleaf, a vegetative carnivore, can attach its tendrils to the spine and brain of a person, taking over control of their body. This creature may be an offshoot of the Tyranid Cortex Leech, a creature with similar abilities.
One of the more famous deadly animals is the Catachan Devil, a voracious predator, looking somewhat like a scorpion. They can be as long as a land train but are very bulky and slow moving meaning that escape is possible.
The most dangerous creature living on Catachan, though, is probably the Catachan Barking Toad. When threatened it explodes into a cloud of toxins that kills all life in the immediate area. In the case of the Great Barking Toad, the toxins released in the explosion can cover an area that can stretch for a kilometre.
Geneseed
The Jungle Fists’ geneseed was directly inherited from the Imperial Fists’ geneseed and hence shares the same traits. The geneseed has been somewhat corrupted over the millennia, so two traits have emerged. This is the loss of two of the special organs produced by Space Marines: the Betcher's Gland, which allows the Marine to produce poisonous/acidic spittle, and the Sus-an Membrane, which allows a Marine to enter a state of suspended animation.
The Jungle Fists geneseed remains largely unchanged from that of the Imperial Fists apart from a slight variation to their occulobe. The Jungle Fists have a more advanced occulobe, which allows them to see more clearly in the dark.
The Hall of Secrets:
The Hall of Secrets is a sacred testament to the deeds of the Jungle Fists of Catachan. Located deep within their fortress-monastery on the planet of Catachan, this large hall was commissioned for build by Vipus after a particular raid by initiates of the 32nd voyage into the Octavius system. The raid was disastrous and almost all of the initiates were killed when the landing party were attacked by a large brood of genestealers. Some of the initiates’ feats against the swarm were of immense stature and Sejanum reported the acts of heroism to Vipus. Barely 4 or 5 of the initiates survived and Vipus did not want the memory of their actions to die with them so he commissioned the building of the Hall of Secrets deep within the inner sanctum of their fortress-monastery. All notable acts by any Jungle Fist marines are immortalised in the hall.
Here are some exerts from the Hall:
Lokastor
Shadow Warriors
M40.114
After our Stalwart defence against the Heresy of the Dark Angels Lokastor led our mighty Shadow Warriors in an assault against the high commander Azriel accompanied by Ezekiel and Asmodai. Though most of our warriors were slain Lokastor rose above the debris and slayed Asmodai with the mighty Silence Breaker, smashing his body to pieces.
Cleitus
Scout Squad Omega
M39.874
Having lost many marines to the Dark Angels and with his scout squad obliterated Cleitus was forced to hold firm with but a few surviving marines behind a large rocky face, 3 marines and 2 scout snipers held firm against an oncoming squad of 13 Deathwing terminators. Cleitus directed Heavy Bolter fire and his sniper fire on the Terminators and by the time they had reached their defensive point only two remained standing. Cleitus raised the barrel of his sniper rifle and took one of the dreaded terminators heads clean off its shoulders as it charged at him. The final Terminator rounded the rocks and killed another loyal marine but Sergeant Zokhan of Tactical Squad Alpha did smite the abomination with a crushing blow from his Power Fist.
Fabius (Marine plasma gunner)
2nd Tactical - 3rd Company
M39.632
During the search for the ruin of Hades members of 2nd company, led by Lucius, encountered an Ork horde on the fringes of a dense woodland. All members of Fabius’ squad were cut down by fire from a looted Leman Russ Battle Tank of the foul orks. Fabius exacted revenge for his fallen comrades and charged headlong into the woods. He first encountered a battery of Gretchin Zzap guns, Fabius slayed the first Grot and cut the rest down as they tried to flee. After finishing off the Gretchin Fabius turned his attention to the Ork mob approaching through the woodland, he raised his plasma gun and incinerated the closest ork to him. Without warning a 2nd mob of orks, having escaped the sniper fire, charged Fabius from the rear. He struck one of the oncoming orks down with the butt of his gun as he held them off for what seemed like an age before finally an ork choppa cleaved through his armour and he was almost mortally wounded. He had bought precious time for Lucius’ strike into the first ork mob and held them off for long enough for Lucius to be successful. After Lucius had finished butchering what remained of the horde the company’s apothecary managed to revive Fabius and he was given the mark of Honour.
Thor
Tactical Squad-Reign of Fire
M41.203
After recently being granted terminator honours Thor was involved in a conflict against the Heretic Dark Angels, in a battle that will be known forever in Jungle Fist history as ‘Slaughter at Kalim’s Ruin’. Thor’s tactical squad ‘Reign of Fire’ were accompanied into battle by Captain Lucius and Epistolary Fangorn and set about preparing a trap for the oncoming Deathwing Terminators. Hidden behind one of the ruined buildings the blessed brothers waited until just the right moment. Firstly brother Kyradon stepped through the building and fired his melta at the damned Landraider, destroying it where it stood and killing one of its terminator occupants. The remaining Deathwing terminators were entangled in the wreckage and Thor led the charge against them. The terminators stood to fight but Lucius cut down one and his champion (Ardesius) slayed another, two more stood but Thor swung his mighty Thunder Hammer and smashed their bodies to pieces in one stroke. With so many of their brothers dead the remaining Dark Angels turned and fled knowing they had suffered a huge loss on that day.
Fangorn
Reclusiarch Fangorn and The Shadow Warriors
M41.204
A large contingent of Catachan Fists were pushing forward from Kalim’s Ruin after pushing back the Dark Angels. A squad of Ravenwing bikers led the counter charge and used their teleport homers to drop 2 squads of Deathwing terminators at the flank of the force. Tactical squad ‘Reign of Fire’ held firm and met the on-rushing Terminator command squad but were easily overrun. Upon seeing this the Chaplain Fangorn joined with the Shadow Warriors and charged headlong into the Deathwing Command squad. The battle was brutal and bloody; Belial killed 2 shadow warriors but was killed with a decapitating blow from another’s Lightning Claws. Fangorn and the enemy chaplain were locked in battle for an eternity but he struck the killing blow with his Crozius which split his enemies’ chest plate in two and spilled his entrails on the floor. Only Lokastor and Fangorn survived, they swept through 2 Ravenwing bikers but Lokastor was mortally injured in the process. Seeing their Chaplains efforts, the remainder of the army regrouped and formed a defensive line which scythed down Terminators all around Fangorn with Assault Cannon and bolter fire. Fangorn charged alone into a squad of 4 more abominable Deathwing terminators and finally slaughtered the last remaining Deathwing Terminator with a crushing blow from his Crozius.
Thor
Tactical Squad-Reign of Fire
M41.204
During a skirmish with the Heretic Dark Angels on the way to Tarsilia Lucifer became embroiled in a vicious melee with the Lord Sammael on his Jetbike. Sammael was too quick for Lucifer and dealt him a paralysing blow from his power weapon. Seeing this, Thor charged headlong with his squad of loyal marines into the fray. As Sammael’s bike rounded the corner Thor leapt from the rubble and struck it square on the side with his mighty Thunder hammer.. The blow all but shattered the Jetbike into a million fragments and sent Sammael spinning to the ground in a mess of blood and bones.
Hope you enjoyed....if you actually read all the way through!
Youll notcie thatThor plays a big part. He is just a basic squad sergeant but i made quite alot of effort converting him and he has repaid me by probably being the most epic character in my army!! The guy doesnt die and has slayed far more than he should have, sammael being his latest scalp!!
There are pics of my army on here if you search Jungle Fists i think or fists of catachan...
Im still undecided on the name since ive changed them slightly with the new codex (new to me).
Thanks,
Chris
