Imperial Fists
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| Imperial Fists | |
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| Primarch | Rogal Dorn |
| Battlecry | 'Primarch, Progenitor - To your glory, and the glory of Him on Earth.' |
| Colours | Yellow with Red trim |
In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Imperial Fists are one of the first founding Legions of Space Marines. They are the Chapter most respected by the many institutions of the Imperium, and are considered the most stalwart Chapter in their faith.
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[edit] History
[edit] Rogal Dorn
Little is known about the home and early life of Rogal Dorn. However, it is believed that he was one of the first Primarchs to rejoin the Emperor. Rogal Dorn was the one to discover the Emperor of Mankind. Dorn presented the mobile space fortress Phalanx to the Emperor, to assist in the Great Crusade. Welcoming Dorn, and quickly recognising the man as one of his twenty genetically engineered sons, the Emperor repaid Dorn by granting him command of the Seventh Space Marine Legion and returning the Phalanx to serve as their base.
"Give me a hundred Space Marines. Or failing that, give me a thousand other troops" - Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists
[edit] The Great Crusade
The Seventh Legion, which came to bear the name Imperial Fists, was extremely successful in the early days of the Great Crusade, acting as a strategic reserve to the Emperor's forces. Able to deploy quickly and reliably, the Legion struck the decisive blow in many campaigns. The Legion excelled in siege warfare, both in attack and defence and before the Heresy the newly-dubbed Warmaster Horus joked that a war between his legion and the Imperial Fists would last for all eternity, "the best in attack matched by the best in defense". It was this reputation that impressed the Emperor in the later days of the Crusade, and the Legion acted as his Praetorian Guard alongside the Adeptus Custodes.
Rogal Dorn, and by extension the Imperial Fists Marines, were regarded as exemplars of the qualities of truth, honour, courage and humility. However, Perturabo of the Iron Warriors saw Dorn and the Fists as arrogant and overly proud. This reached a head during an incident between Dorn and Perturabo, arguing over the honour awarded to the former of supervising the construction of the Emperor's Palace on Terra. This led to a bitter rivalry between the two Legions that would escalate to outright hatred.
[edit] The Horus Heresy
When news of the Horus Heresy reached the Emperor, Dorn was nominated Supreme Commander of the Imperium of Man's forces. The Imperial Fists were one of the three loyal Space Marine Legions involved in the Siege of the Emperor's Palace, putting up a heroic defence that passed into legend.
Dorn was the one to discover the bodies of the Emperor and Horus after their titanic duel, and was the one who bore the body of the Emperor back to Terra, so it could be interred within the Golden Throne. Seeing that he had failed the Emperor, Dorn led his Legion on a crusade against the Traitor forces, until the Legion was recalled to Terra.
[edit] The New Imperium
Dorn was initially resistant to the idea for dividing the Space Marine Legions put forward by Roboute Guilliman of the Ultramarines. Three things happened that changed his mind. First was the realisation that although the Imperial Fists could no longer serve the Emperor as they had, they must remain true to the ideals the Emperor had promoted. Second was the Iron Cage incident, in which several hundred Imperial Fists Marines died. Third was the incident in which the Strike-cruiser "Terrible Angel" was fired upon by the Imperial Navy.
Emerging from the Iron Cage incident, the Imperial Fists were split into three Chapters, the Imperial Fists, the Black Templars, and the Crimson Fists (a fourth Chapter, the Soul Drinkers, was supposedly created from the Legion's Assault Companies, see Soul Drinkers Contradiction below). Because the Imperial Fists' fortress-monastery, Phalanx, was spaceborne, the Imperial Fists Chapter was able to rapidly respond to incidents and calls for help across the Imperium. By building such a store of goodwill amongst many of the organisations of the Imperium, the Chapter was able to influence certain events more effectively than the other Space Marine Chapters.
As to Rogal Dorn's fate, it is known that he outlived the remaining Loyalist Primarchs. He fell in battle while attempting to head off a Chaos fleet heading towards Cadia, an attempt that proved successful. His actual fate is unclear: the most recently published information states that the only remains of Rogal Dorn to be found was his hand and that it is the most prized relic of the chapter.[1] However, this contradicts older material which states that his body was recovered and that Dorn's entire skeleton is now on Phalanx.[2]
It is the privilege of each Chapter Master of the Imperial Fists to inscribe his heraldry, as minutely as possible, on the bones of Rogal Dorn's hand.
[edit] Organisation
Originally, the Imperial Fists Legion were an inflexible formation, each Company was identical in organisation, while the Company Commanders were unimaginative. Since the Second Founding, this criticism has applied less to the Chapter, and the Imperial Fists are noted as second only to the Ultramarines when it comes to following the Codex Astartes.
The Imperial Fists have outposts on several worlds, but do not set themselves up as rulers or demand tithes from these worlds. The Imperial Fists were always present as esteemed guests, not masters, and Rogal Dorn himself is said to have claimed on the matter "I want recruits, not vassals!"
[edit] Homeworld
The homeworld of Rogal Dorn is unknown, although many place his origin at the Ice Hives of the planet Inwit. In older documentation, the homeworld of the Legion and later chapter was given as Terra itself. (The board game Horus Heresy has one of their Chapter Keeps attached to the western end of the Emperor's massive palace.) Current documentation depicts the Imperial Fists as a mobile chapter who recruit from a series of chapter keeps on worlds along Phalanx's patrol route, including Terra, Inwit, and Necromunda.
[edit] Recruitment
As a spacefaring Chapter, the Imperial Fists do not rely on one world as a source of recruits, instead operating outposts on several worlds. Inwit, Terra and Necromunda are but a few of the worlds the Imperial Fists draw potential Neophytes from.
[edit] Gene-seed
Most of the genetic modifications common to Space Marines are found in the Imperial Fists, but there are some implants which have, over the millennia, either ceased to function or been lost entirely (sources are unclear on which). Imperial Fists no longer possess a functioning Betcher's Gland (an organ allowing Space Marines to spit venom). In addition, the Sus-An membrane (an organ which allows a Space Marine to suspend his vital processes for a time) is either non-functional or non-existent.
Chaplains of the Imperial Fists preach that a Fist should not allow these losses to trouble him. "Do we bemoan such losses? No! We are the Fists! We do not need to spit venom or suspend our animation. We crush our enemies."
The Gene-seed of Imperial Fists is also subject to a more subtle flaw - an Imperial Fist may become obsessed with conquering pain by force of will. As a consequence of this, Fists may well fight on despite injuries which would debilitate lesser marines, but some Fists are known to act in a way that invites injury.
Pain is therefore an important part of many rituals within the Imperial Fists' Fortress-Monastery. During their leisure time, Marines may test themselves with pain meters, to determine the extent of their ability to resist pain. A traditional initiation ceremony of six-month recruits is for them to be forced to negotiate the "Tunnel of Terror" - a large tunnel in which agonising pain, as well as incandescent heat, freezing cold and hard vacuum are simulated by nerve-induction. Using a similar technology, marines convicted of breaches of regulations may be punished by being placed into a "nerve glove" (sometimes also referred to as the "Pain Glove"), an elastoweave body-glove which induces pain in the entire body.
[edit] Combat Doctrine
Throughout the Great Crusade, the Imperial Fists were used as a strategic reserve, waiting while other forces pinned down the enemy and identified weaknesses. The keystone of the enemy's defence would be shattered by the Imperial Fists, who would then serve as an anvil for the hammers that were the other Space Marine Legions.
Immediately after the Horus Heresy, the Imperial Fists began to fight with a noticeably fiercer approach, often failing to gather intelligence through reconnaissance prior to engaging, and would fight on even when a tactical withdrawal would be prudent. This behaviour became tempered as the Legion adopted the doctrines of the Codex Astartes, the more fanatical of the battle-brothers volunteering to move into the Black Templars Second Founding Chapter.
Throughout their ten thousand year existence, the Imperial Fists have retained their skill as siege warfare masters, but are more than capable of engaging the enemy in any form of combat.
[edit] Battlecry
"Primarch, Progenitor - To your glory, and the glory of Him on Earth."
[edit] Appearance
The armour of the Imperial Fists has been constant since their foundation; yellow with black and red decoration. The Chapter's symbol is a black, clenched gauntlet, positioned over a white or yellow field.
A large number of purity seals and devotional marking are worn by members of the Imperial Fists on their power armour, displaying their utter devotion to the Emperor of Mankind.
One notable departure in their appearance is that Imperial Fist veterans wear a red stripe on their helmets, as opposed to the standard white used by the Ultramarines and other Codex Chapters.
[edit] Notable Members
- Vladimir Pugh: Current Chapter-Master of the Imperial Fists. Whilst not a particularly inspirational leader, Vladimir Pugh is as meticulous a planner as any Chapter Master in the Imperial Fists' history. In addition he excels in knowing who to promote and who to trust with critical missions - an appraising glance from Master Pugh can be bettered only by extensive probing from a Librarian. As a result when battle begins, Pugh can concentrate on commanding his Veteran reserve with absolute faith that his subordinates will not fail the Chapter. Believed to have had his taste-buds excised as self-punishment following an unspecified military disaster.
- Chaplain Lo Chang: The moon-faced Chaplain is marked by crater-like wounds incurred when his helmet failed him. The craters feature the duelling scars common to the Imperial FIsts. When Lo Chang preaches, he is swept up in devout ecstasy wherein his passion can inspire any Imperial Fists Space Marine to strive to be a true child of Dorn.
- Librarian Franz Grenstein: Dusky-skinned, Grenstein's cheeks are criss-crossed with duelling scars. He is intense and preoccupied, taking his responsibilities to keep the Imperial Fists safe from psychic or daemonic enemies very seriously. On the rare occasions an Imperial Fists Space Marine is in contact with enemies bearing the taint of Chaos, it is Grenstein who will be assigned to help them regain their mental stability and ensure they have not brought the taint with them.
- Captain Lysander: Originally mentioned as a veteran sergeant in the 3rd edition Codex: Space Marines, noted for expertly drilling his squad in sustained bolter fire, and holding a bridge against heretics for several days. The 4th edition Codex states that he was promoted to Captain of the 1st Company after capturing the 'Blood of Khaine'. Several reports have said that he is now deceased although this is not proven.
- Captain Lexandro D'Arquebus: Former high-hab resident of the Trazior hive on Necromunda, Lexandro D'Arquebus rose rapidly through the ranks of the Space Marines. He is the only surviving one of the Three Brothers of Trazior; the finger bones of his left hand are inscribed with the names of the two deceased brothers as a permanent memorial to them.
- Captain Eshara: Lead the third company during the later years of the 41st millennium. Aid to the Imperial Guard and Adeptus Mechanicus during the battle for one of the two universal geneseed production sides. Slain by the Iron Warrior daemon prince know only as "The Warsmith".
- Captain Bannon: Featured in the novel 'Warriors of Ultramar' as the leader of an Ordo Xenos Deathwatch Kill Team under Inquisitor Kryptman. Made the ultimate sacrifice to allow Uriel Ventris and his team to escape from a besieged Imperial facility.
- Captain Tialo: 2nd Company Captain during Abaddons 13th Black Crusade. Solely held the breach in Kasr Vasan against several hundred mutants before succumbing to his wounds. But he still lives, his body preserved in stasis. It is hoped he would be interred into a Dreadnought.
- Captain Octavius: Imperial Fists Captain seconded to the Deathwatch. Featured in the novels "Warrior Brood" and "Warrior Coven." Proud of his Chapter of origin, and has a deep admiration for the aforementioned Captain Bannon, who he sees as the icon of duty and honour.
[edit] Soul Drinkers contradiction
According to the Black Library novel Soul Drinker (Counter, 2002), there was a fourth Chapter created from the Imperial Fists during the Second Founding. The novel states that the Soul Drinkers Chapter was created from orbital assault divisions of the Imperial Fists Legion during the Second Founding.
However, the existence of this Chapter in any context relating to the Second Founding is not mentioned in any of the Codexes associated with the Space Marines (Chambers, 1998; Chambers, 2004; McNeill, Thorpe and Haines, 2005), in particular those published after the novel. At this time, the canonicity of the Soul Drinkers as a Second Founding Chapter is uncertain.
However one could see the defection and then rejection of Chaos by the Soul Drinkers as ample reason for erasure from Imperial knowledge, which is what in essence forms the backbone of Imperial codexes. In fact, in the novels from the Black Library all record of the Soul Drinkers is expunged from the Library of Terra.
There is a mention of the Soul Drinkers in the 2nd edition Sisters of Battle codex, so they have existed in name only for the 2nd edition of Warhammer 40 000. There was also a passing mention of the Soul Drinkers in the Black Templars codex, however they were not explicitly stated to be a Space Marine Chapter, nor a Second Founding Chapter based on the Imperial Fists.
[edit] References
- ^ (August 2001) "Index Astartes - The Imperial Fists". White Dwarf: Australian Edition (260). ISSN 0265-8712.
- ^ Watson, Ian (1993). Space Marine. London: Boxtree. ISBN 1-85283-840-X.
- Chambers, Andy (1998). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Space Marines. Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-869893-28-X.
- Chambers, Andy (2004). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Space Marines, 4th Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-526-0.
- Counter, Ben (2002). Soul Drinker. Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84154-260-1.
- McNeill, Graham (2003). Storm of Iron. Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84416-103-X.
- McNeill, Graham; Thorpe, Gav, and Haines, Pete (2005). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Black Templars, 1st Edition, Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-685-2.
