Author Information

Written by Ricedaddy

Title Of this Story

The Mysterious History of The Sanguine Fists

The Earliest Memories

Not much is really known about the Sanguine Fist chapter. Their heritage is shrouded in mystery, and their origin in completely unknown. Their earliest known history begins in the Warp. Fleet records indicated that the entire chapter had mustered for the beginning of a major campaign alongside the Imperial Guard. The combined forces of the chapter that would become known as the Sanguine Fist and the Imperial Guard entered the warp. The space marines were supposed to drop out of the warp after three days to begin the campaign. Three years later, they realized that they would likely never leave its clutches. Chapter master Icaro Lisade, after taking counsel with the company captains and the Chief Librarian, ordered his marines to use their Sus-an membrane, and the chapter slipped into hibernation. Lisade never gave up hope that his chapter would return from the Warp, and selected his most trusted brothers to form watch groups, able to rouse the chapter should that day come. The Warp, however, had other ideas.

The Warp Years

After the Horus Heresy, the corrupting power of the Warp became painfully known to the Adeptus Astartes. While the Sanguine Fists remained pure and loyal to the Imperium, they would not remain unscathed. While the marines slept, their memories were corrupted, the fleet’s databanks were wiped clean, and their written history and codes became unreadable as each brother lost the memory of how to decode them. When marines awoke to take their watch, they had no memories of their days before the warp. They retained their knowledge of battle and training. The techpriests never failed in the upkeep of the chapter’s valuable armored force. But of who they were, none had knowledge.

Awakening to Battle

With no knowledge of how long they languished in the Warp, the call went out among the fleet: Awake, brothers, the Warp no longer holds us. Chief Librarian Allo Nan quickly realized that something was wrong, that the chapter had been affected by their ordeals. Debate and discussion was long, but no progress was made in remembering their past. Master Lisade realized there was only one course of action open to them. He ordered that the chapter remake itself. He chose the new name based on the image of a bloody fist that dominated the command bridge. Thus was born the Sanguine Fists. Lisade took no time mustering his forces. He knew the dangers of the Warp, and was determined that his chapter test itself to prove it remained pure. The normally prudent strategist ordered a sensor sweep of nearby space, and ordered his fleet to move immediately to a nearby planet that showed signs of life. The problem was that his marines were sluggish coming out of their hibernation. While their knowledge of warfare was as sharp as ever, their abilities were lacking. The fleet drew near to the planet, and it was here that Lisade realized his mistake. The fleet’s sensors had been damaged, and failed to pick up on the readings of the Eldar ships surrounding the planet. Outnumbered and outgunned, Lisade knew that the Sanguine Fists faced their doom. After sending out a distress call, he ordered his fleet into battle. The battle looked to be short and bloody. The Eldar were laying waste to their opponents. Lisade was out of options when deliverance arrived. The 5th company of the Ultramarines appeared behind the Eldar fleet. Recognizing their battle-brothers were in dire straits, the ultramarines opened fire. The Eldar were destroyed before they knew what happened.

To Begin Anew

It was after the battle that Lisade told the Ultramarines of the troubles that had befallen the Sanguine Fists. Unfortunately, the Ultramarines could provide no information as to the origin of Lisade’s company. However, they were able to help repair and refit the Fist’s battle damaged ships and equipment. Willing members of the warriors of Macragge undertook to retrain the warriors of the Sanguine Fist. The Ultramarines, it turned out, were on a continued deployment in the Drasanac Nebula, tasked with the defeat of a large band of Eldar pirates. Lisade offered the Ultramarines the aid of his chapter in return. The Ultramarines knew that the Sanguine Fists needed a home to begin rebuilding, and told them of a few planets near the nebula that were loyal to the Imperium, but as yet unclaimed by any chapters. Lisade quickly led his marines to the most populated of those planets, Elysia. One hundred years have passed. The Sanguine Fists now call the planet Elysia home, and recruit from nearby worlds as well. The chapter is regaining its strength, and has recently promoted its first batch of neophytes to the ranks of the 10th Company. With many companies still weak, the 2nd Company stood strong under the command of Captain Germanicus. They had boarded and destroyed and elder warship before the arrival of the Ultramarines and taken few losses. Germanicus was ordered against the Eldar. The time had come for the Sanguine Fists to live up to their name.