Background of the Crimson Slaughter
The Crimson Slaughter
The Crimson Slaughter were once members of the infamous and bloodthirsty Traitor Legion, the World Eaters. However, right at the end of the Siege of Terra they were excommunicated from the Legion. This was prior to the total break-up into smaller war-bands. It is important to note another war-band by the same name, who fought against elements of the Dark Angels for control of the Hellfire Stone in M41, while not being servants of the Blood God, do where red armour, and it is important to make the distinction. The Crimson Slaughter is, like its brethren, solely dedicated to the Blood God, however, they consider themselves his most loyal servants, and maintain sanity and order, opting to embrace Khorne’s other aspects of martial discipline and honour. For this reason the follow a simple set of codes of conduct.
Never refuse a challenge.
Never cheat, lie or deceive.
Never surrender.
Never retreat.
Take the fight to the enemy.
Do not hide behind allies.
It is by this law that the Crimson Slaughter lives by these codes and it shapes their very way of war. They finish things themselves, without mercy, but with honour and fairplay. They never run from a fight, and never pass up an opportunity to slaughter the best of the best of their enemy in single combat. They operate from a Deathworld in the Galactic north known as Homicidium, a bleak and dreary planet, home to only one other species- a continent spanning tide of feral Orks. The surrounding planets are also under their influence and provide rich recruiting grounds. The Warband has access to a handful of medical staff, human slaves, charged with recovering and preserving, and then implanting gene-seed into new hosts, making the Crimson Slaughter capable of creating new, purebred warriors. Such procedures are of course, risky, for loyalists with trained Apothecaries, but in the Slaughter it becomes a trial of fire, the operations ten times more agonizing than one carried out in the Imperium and statistically speaking only 1 in 132 applicants should survive. However, they get by and those too old to become Astartes Tratoris become Cultists, fighting for the Slaughter with passion and fervour, and a good amount of fear.
The Warband has many leaders, and chief among them are Bazrak, known as the Juggernaut for his unstoppable charges, and Roghrax Bloodhand.
Bazrak is the overall commander of the Warband, and a perfect mirror of his Primarch. One of the orginal Legionnaires, he was always known as a peerless warrior, easily matching the Primarch is height, if not strength and stature. He is stronger than any of his brethren, and far quicker and more skilled than any of his underlings. He goes to war in baroque armour made of the finest materials, wielding two large axes, again the perfect mirror of the Primarch’s Gorefather and Gorechild, he names Carve and Butcher, though in reality they are little different to any other chain ax, save their massive size.. He took this image to honor the being he once respected. In fact, it was this very reason his warriors and he were excommunicated. Angron was furious, and personally defeated Bazrak in single combat, breaking his spine, neck, most of his ribs and Black Carapace, and both legs before throwing him through an airlock, only sparing him due to his outstanding combat abilities, utmost loyalties and his close personal friendship with Angron. Obviously this is before Angron completely lost his sanity, for if this had happened a few years latter he would've been torn apiece. Those warriors who still served and respected Bazrak took to their ships and saved him.
Bazrak’s most renowned accomplishment is where he personally butchered a Keeper of Secrets, a Greater daemon of Slaanesh, and he is rumoured to be the mortal equal of any Daemon Prince, and the galaxy shudders to think what would happen if he were to be granted actual Daemonhood.
Bazrak has many followers, both human and Astartes, but his inner circle of warriors are perhaps strangest of all, known as the Gladiators. 50 strong in all, they are the elite of the elite. The strange thing is that they show absolutely 0 sign of mutation. Their armour, ancient Mk II, III, IV and V plate, as well as mighty Cataphractii Terminator Plates, they look as normal as their loyal brethren and each one is an ancient veteran from the Great Crusade.
The Gladiators
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Laran’s Blades are bloodthirsty murders who excel at personal combat, their Mk V plate normally covered from head to toe in gore from their Chainaxes (Khorne Berserkers in Mk V FW armour with FW Chainaxes).
Vermon’s Hammers are the frontline of the Gladiators, charging straight for the enemy with pause or fear, their Crusade pattern armour terrifying to behold. (Unit of Chaos Marines with Champion and Veterans of the Long War in FW Mk II armour with FW Chainaxes).
Karor’s Scythe are veterans all around and have access to the very best gear, namely, Mk III Iron armour, one of the best suits made (chosen with Mk III armour and Veterans of the Long War, with Umbra Pattern Bolters)
Justrey’s Talons are hard-hitting, fast and deadly mobile, wearing the mighty Mk IV Maximus suit, one of the best ever built, and wielding deadly weapons, they embody everything the original Legion did- strike hard, fast and with fury (Raptors super-decked out including Mk IV Assault Squad from FW and Chainaxes).
Rathkil’s Axes are Bazrak’s elite body guard, wearing impossibly strong Cataphractii armour and wielding any weapon they choose to have, from powerfists, lightning claws and heavy flamers, stormbolters, Combi weapons and plasma blasters, to power mauls, swords, thunder hammers, grenade launchers and even enormous chain axes, the Axes are always ready for the task at hand (Can be run as Terminators, Obliterators or Mutilators, with FW Cataphractii Armour and magnetised weapons),
Bazrak rarely takes to the field himself, but when he does he is accompanied by no less than all 50 of his Gladiators. What is different about this entirely unique brotherhood is that, in addition to being totally unmutated, they also bear their original Legion colours of blue and white just as Bazrak bears his original Gold colours, and in complete contrast to the Slaughter who bear no marks bar the Eye of Horus on pendants to show alliance to the Black Legion, the Gladiators wear their orignal icons and hereldry, and in fact the same plate. This is only natural as all of the Gladiators, once over 150 strong, are all original Legionairres, and take orders from none-one, bar Bazrak, Abbaddon, and if he were to ask it, Angron. Not even Roghrax Bloodhand can order these warriors, though the same is true in reverse.
Bazrak’s right hand man is known as Roghrax Bloodhand, who has beaten no less than 3 other Chaos Lords in single combat to get his current standing. He is a ferocious warrior and supreme tactician and normally leads any attack the Juggernaut orders. He and his bodyguard, an elite squad of veterans known as Bloodhand’s Reavers, wear armour and wield weapons warped so badly they are beyond recognition. Bloodhand himself also wears a cloak of Thunderwolf pelt, harvested from the mount of a former commander of the Space Wolves. He wields firstly, a mutated plasma pistol, the glowing coils reflecting sinisterly from the four, Daemonic eyes sprouting from the weapons, and his other hand, a great sword, containing within the essence of several of Khorne’s Daemons, and is forever imprinted with the souls of the damned it has taken. Bloodhand has been embroiled in a one-man war against Hive Fleet kraken on the Eastern Fringe, racking up incountable tallies of Xenos skulls, but has returned on Bazrak’s [i]personal[/i] orders to take part in the 13th Black Crusade.
The leader of the Reavers is known as Afwak, a beastly fighter in himself. Normally he acts as Bloodhand’s second, leading the Reaver’s into battle and taking on challenges from puny creatures who seek to buy time by distracting the Lord from his battle. Those who do usually find themselves pasted to the ground beneath his Maul. Whilst he normally acts as a Champion, Bloodhand occasionally sends Afwak as an Missionary to the neighbouring worlds to lead the frenzied humans into wars against other, Imperial forces, or as a “training officer” for recruits seeking to test themselves against the Feral Orks. His passion and oratory are enough to put fire in the belly of many, and his third eye occasionally lends him a look of one cursed with the Psyker-gene, through in reality he hates them as much as he does the Imperium. However, his utmost devotion does occasionally manifest in the form of fiery shields or blasts, which are seen as gestures of Khorne’s appreciation.
The Crimson Slaughter are very militaristic and actually use a few Imperial battle plans and organise themselves in loose groups of roughly 100 individuals, each led by a lieutenant, normally a lower Chaos Lord, Dark Apostle or Warpsmith, but sometimes they are powerful individuals indeed. Each squad of the entire Warband as a champion who acts as a Sergeant of sorts, being in command of the squad This is not regimented Battle Companies like the Codex Astartes describes, but it helps when trying to command the Warband, which Bazrak, or more often, Bloodhand, commanding the wider battle and seeking glory and the greatest of enemies to defeat, and can entrust command of individual groups to lieutenants, and invidual squads to the Aspiring Champions. In this way, even thing is simplified down to allow a maximum amount of carnage to ensue. Most of the time the Champions and Lieutenants are left to their own command and their superiors really only give out vital commands.
Rising through the ranks in the Crimson Slaughter is easy. To rise the rank of Champion, simply wait for a vacancy, defeat the opposition in single combat, or defeat the current champion in the Arena. Similarly, a Champion can challenge a Lieutenant, and a Lieutenant can challenge Afwak, who can in turn challenge Bloodhand, who can challenge Bazrak. However, it is impossible to challenge above the next rank, so a regular line trooper could challenge a Champion but not a Lieutenant, and a Lieutenant could challenge Afwak but not Bloodhand. In this way it makes it impossible for meteoric rises to happen and ensures that only someone who has fought through honour and martial prowess can ever dream of leading the warband. However, such dreams end at Lieutenant, for Afwak is a formidable fighter,only defeated in combat by Bloodhand himself, and since his rise to power he is undefeated. Bloodhand even has to find warriors to fight due to the fact no one has challenged him in decades.
The many human cultists who fight for the Slauhter are organised similarly, Each led by a Champion who leads them, though being separate from the Warband they cannot rise above their position, except to take over their mob. In these gangs, hygiene and maintenance are unheard of and many warriors, particularly those who fight in close quarters, remain covered in gore for months at a time, and even those who prefer to stand at range find themselves and their weapons covered in enemy remains.
In addition, due to the militaritic ideoloy of the Crimson Slaughter, all cultitst must wear Black robes, trenchcoats or generally black clothes as their uniform, but other than that individuals are allowed to wear whatever they please, from pilfered Imperial Guard armour, leather gloves, bandanas, gas masks, masks, hoods, or even dogtags.
In the close of the 41st Millenium, Bazrak has ordered the Warband to fight in the Warmaster’s Black Crusade. Bazrak, being an original member of the World Eaters, knew the 1st Captain of the Luna Wolves before the Heresy, and while they dispised each other, Bazrak now takes orders directly from Abaddon, and the Warband fights alongside many elements from the Black Legion, so it is common to see the Black Legion commanders leading Crimson Slaughter groups, or vice versa, or even have a mix of the two under one of the commanders.
The Curse
With a force so bloody and violent, one would expect their warriors to be covered from head to toe in the gore and life-blood of foes. That is not the case. The Crimson Slaughter's armour and weapons are not like other weapons. In terms of combat and protection, they are no more superior to another of the same make.
The wargear is cursed, to stay bonded with the warrior untill death of one or both of the warrior and his gear. Their weapons only leaving their hands to return to sheaths, and only then when a battle is finished.
However, that is not the only ability. This curse prevents the warriors from appearing to have any enemy's blood staining their armour and gear. Cursed long ago by a spiteful Daemon of Tzeentch, and amusing to Khorne, their wargear contains the essence of thousands of tiny Daemons, each more bloodthirsty than the last. As long as even 1 remains, no Disciple of Bazrak shall have a drop of blood. The gore is immediately sucked in the metal. Some of the more superstitious warriors believe that it travels to fill Khorne's realm, and that it will never be filled. Regardless, no warrior shall have blood upon him, and this curse drives the Warband like nothing else. To be a servant of Khorbne and not wear his symbol? Tis a shame unbearable. Untill these Daemon's thirsts are quenched, the blood will be sucked dry.
Full Army Photo
Pending
Unit Photos
Lieutenant-Lord Khuroth of the Black Legion- Chaos Lord
Roghax Bloodhand- Chaos Lord
Bloodhand's Reavers- Chosen
Malus Hellfist
Squad Wrakhurt
Pending purchase, assembly, completion and upload
Sect Anarkus
Sect Tetchvar
Heavy Stubber
Autogunner with Bayonet
Traitor Commissar Champion Tetchvar
Squad Falcose
pending Paint, Completion and Upload
The Fear-Strikers
Terrorgheist
Pending Paijnting, completion and upload
Army List
HQ
(Chaos Lord)Lieutenant-Lord Khuroth of the Black Legion 210/175
Axe of Blind Fury/Power Axe
Terminator Armour
Ichor Blood
Gift of Mutation
Sigil of Corruption
Combat Familiar
Mark of Khorne
Veteran of the Long war
(Chaos Lord) Roghrax Bloodhand 180
Murder Sword
Plasma Pistol
Sigil of Corruption
Mark of Khorne
Gift of Mutation
Veteran of the Long War
Elites
(Chosen Squad) Bloodhand's Reavers 227
6 Chosen
Pair of Lightning Claws
Power Axe
Powerfist
Champion with Power Maul
Veteran of the Long War
Mark of Khorne
(Helbrute) Malus Hellfist 100
Multimelta and Power fist
Troops
(Chaos Space marine Squad) Squad Wrakhurt 245
10 Chaos Space Marines
Mark of Khorne
Close Combat Weapons
Veterans of the Long War
2 Meltaguns
Aspiring Champion with Power Axe, Combimelta and Gift of Mutation
(Chaos Cultists) Sect Tetchvar 150pts
20 Cultists
8 Autoguns
Heavy Stubber
Flamer
Shotgun on Champion
Mark of Khorne
Fast Attack
(Raptor Squad) Squad Falcose 185
2 Plasma Pistols
Raptor Champion with Power Sword, Plasma Pistol and Gift of Mutation
Mark of Khorne
Veterans of the Long war
(Warp Talons) The Fear-Strikers 215
Warp Talon Champion with 2 Gifts of Mutation
Marks of Khorne
veterans of the Long War
(Heldrake) Terrorgheist 170
Baleflamer
Why I Started This Army
I started this army for 1 reason- simplicity. My other 3 armies had diversified into Draigowing, mixed Nids and just collecting Blood Raven coloured space Marines. So I took up this army as a singularly aggressive, assault, no psyker, close quarter attack-dog style army. I also made it to be opposite of my others. Currently I have two Imperial Armies and this balances the Imperial:Non-Imperial ratio, and as mentioned it doesn't include psykers, in contrary to Blood Ravens (lots of psykers), Nids (lots of Psykers) and Grey Knights (all psykers). And also just a bit of fun.
