Despised Traitorous Cultist
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The Fists of Iron are a space marine chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, of an unknown founding, who are charged with policing the western fringe of the imperium. The date of the chapters founding is shrouded in Mystery, but it is known that their geneseed came from a mix of Imperial fist and Iron Hands Chapters, their purpose was to crush rebellions within the imperium and to combat those space marines who have turned from the Emperors light, as such their training involves large amounts of anti-astartes training, in order to better combat marines, making them the weapon of choice of the imperium when it is required to bring those traitors to justice. They are experts at siege warfare and terror tactics and are absolutely merciless when conducting campaigns against renegades and heretics. When in battle they have been to known, to persue their goals relentlessly heedless of the casualties they sustain, they press on until all their enemies are dead, they have also been known to request some of the deadliest war zones of the galaxy, and have crushed at least two hundred rebellions, and have been instrumental in the destruction of hundreds more, often supplying squads of troops to brother chapters in similar campaigns, in order to strengthen bonds of friendship, and to keep all the warriors in a battle ready state so that their skills remain at an all time high, and that they wont be found wanting in their duties. Due to the chapter’s large attrition rate, they have an additional scout company, so as to keep up a steady influx of recruits.
It is therefore ironic, that a chapter designed to guard against renegades and heretics would end up becoming that which they had fought for so long, carving out a small empire on the fringe of the imperium, and dominating the worlds they used to protect. The reasons for their fall to chaos are many, but one view that was held was that the Imperium was seen by the Fists of Iron as a failing government, plagued by corruption and mindless bureaucracy that stifled the independence of the Astartes, as they believed that they should not have to answer to mortals, that they as Astartes were above the orders and rulership of such a body, as they were perceived to be ruling in their own interests.
During a campaign to rid a world of chaotic influence, Chapter Master Drastius duelled with a chaos lord of the Word Bearers, and after slaying him he took the lords daemon weapon, a mighty hammer forged by his enemies most blasphemous arts. The warp creature within the weapon had whispered to him, and convinced him that he could use its power to separate himself from the corrupt edifice of the imperium, and told Drastius that he would become far more powerful than he could possibly imagine. Drastius had the weapon for two standard years during which the warp creature constantly spoke to him, playing on his growing anger at the inadequacies of the imperium, before his final fall to chaos. Disgruntled by the constant demands of the high lords that spread his chapter thin through out the imperium, and realising the inevitable doom that was upon the imperium, he had enough, in a secret meeting with his captains, he proclaimed that he would no longer follow such a corrupt and weak body as the High Lords, and was going to set out and make his own empire separate from the rule of such undeserving mortals. His captains, just as disgruntled as he, agreed, and so they drew their plans for the formation of their own empire.
Their chance came, when the high lords, hearing of a rebellion on the imperial world of Manaria, requested that the Fists of Iron be dispatched to bring the sector back under imperial control. His chance had come. Drastius immediately ordered the entirety of his chapter to assemble in the Manarian sector. To do so, he withdrew marines from other sectors in the imperium, much to the annoyance of his allies. With his full chapter assembled, he launched an all out assault on Manaria, and within two weeks had completely crushed the rebel faction on the world. Immediately after their victory, Drastius requested an audience with the planetary governor, who was to scared to refuse an audience with a chapter master of the adeptus astartes. Expecting an appropriate introduction the Planetary governor was taken by surprise when the doors to his throne room burst open and three mighty astartes burst in, and without pause they walked up to the governor where Drastius proclaimed that the Governor was too weak to control this world, that he had allowed rebellion to reign unchecked, and that he, like the rest of the imperium was corrupt, ineffectual and lax in his duties to mankind. Before the Governor could respond, Drastius took his head off with one swing of his hammer. He claimed rulership of the whole sector, to maintain order he claimed, and ordered his marines to bring the whole sector under control, a task that was achieved inside of a month. He imposed his iron will on the sector, placing his own subordinates in positions of power on the other worlds of the sector and making Manaria his capital he began a massive armament campaign to increase the sectors combat capability. He then issued a letter to the high lords of terror, a document stating that he would no longer submit to their rule, his chapters tithes, and the tithes of the Manarian sector now belonged to him and his chapter, he declared the sector his by right of conquest, and declared that he no longer recognised the imperium and its government, and that the sectors resources would be kept by those who’s blood was shed to claim it. Renaming his sector the Confederacy of Manaria, Lord Drastius ruled over it with an iron fist, any thoughts of rebellion against him were brutally crushed, and imperial shipping through his sector was seized, and the cargo and vessels claimed for the Confederacy.
Due to the overwhelming number of threats now faced by the Imperium, they have been unable to muster an army large enough to reclaim the planets of the Confederacy, projected estimates of a campaign would use up far too much valuable resources that are needed elsewhere to combat the tyranids and Abbadon the despoilers 13th black crusade. Lord Drastius has pledged the Confederacies support to Abbadon, and has promised to assist his efforts by launching attacks into lightly defended sectors of the imperium. With his armies growing, and renegade Astartes joining his forces, Drastius hopes to soon have an army large enough to invade the very heart of the imperium, and claim many more worlds for his empire, so that he can please his patrons, and to punish the imperium for its inadequacies and weakness.
just recently after declaring independence the high lords dispatch the half strength crimson fists to there chapter recruiting world, where they decimate all loyal to the iron fists.
“In orbit now sir” the captain of the strike cruiser reported. “Very good captain” said Drastius rising from his command throne. “Prepare the chapter for immediate combat deployment to the surface, and prep my thunder hawk, I will go to the surface with the 1st company.” “By your will my lord” the captain hurried off to complete the orders issued him by his chapter master. The planet was Manaria, I planet of contrasts, vast hive cities, forestry, large mining facilities and Manufacoturms the planet was vitally important to the sector, and to the imperium as a whole, producing vehicles and weapons for the emperors armies. Word had reached the master of the fists of iron’s ears that the planet of Manaria was currently in the grips of a violent civil war, between the hard-pressed forces of the imperial governor, and the radical traitors seeking to overthrow imperial rule. The high lords of terra had requested that Drastius bring it back under full imperial control as the loss of such a vital planet could hurt the imperium materiel distribution in that sector of space, meaning all the imperial armies in the sector could be starved of vital weapons and vehicles. Drastius however, had vowed that he would no longer follow the edicts of the corrupt imperium and was about to set out on a campaign of his own to form his own empire free of the imperium and corruption. Manaria would be his chance, by marshalling his forces here, and fighting the rebels he could, at least for a time, throw the High Lords off his trail, while he secretly built up his power base. Manaria would become his capital from, which he would launch a crusade against the whole sector to bring it under his personal command. With manaria’s vast mineral wealth and vast manufactorum facilities at his disposal, he would be able to construct a vast arsenal for his armies. The whole chapter of the Fists of iron, 1000 space marines, were assembled on their ships above Manaria, awaiting the order from their chapter master that would send them to war on the planet below. Death was coming to Manaria on an unimaginable scale. Drastius’ crusade had begun.
This is the image of the Fists of Iron after turning to chaos.
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