Imperial Fists

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Imperial Fists
Primarch	Rogal Dorn
Chapter Master	Vladimir Pugh
Battlecry	'Primarch, Progenitor - To your glory, and the glory of Him on Earth.'
Colours	Yellow with Red trim
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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.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Rogal Dorn 1.2 The Great Crusade 1.3 The Horus Heresy 1.4 The New Imperium 2 Organisation 2.1 Homeworld 2.2 Recruitment 2.3 Gene-seed 3 Combat Doctrine 3.1 Battlecry 4 Appearance 5 Notable Members 6 Soul Drinkers contradiction 7 Notes 8 References

[edit] History

[edit] Rogal Dorn

Little is known about the home and early life of Rogal Dorn. However, it is known that he was the 7th Primarch to rejoin the Emperor. 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. Rogal Dorn was the one to discover the Emperor of Mankind after he was mortally wounded by Horus.

"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 defence". 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, was regarded as exemplar 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

The frigate Eisenstein, commanded by Death Guard loyalist Nathaniel Garro, was discovered adrift in deep space by the Phalanx. Garro and the survivors - who had seen the events of Horus' treachery at Istvaan III for themselves - were brought aboard the Phalanx, which then destroyed the Eisenstein in order to prevent the plague onboard from spreading. When Garro told Dorn what had transpired, the Primarch was furious; he saw Garro's words as a vile slander against Horus, and very nearly killed the Death Guard loyalist after Garro accused him of being blinded by his love for his brother. Only the recorded holo-vid from one of the remembrancers that had escaped with Garro - showing Horus declaring his intention to overthrow the Emperor, the bombing of Istvaan, the flight of the Eisenstein - convinced Dorn that the Warmaster had betrayed the Emperor.

After returning to Terra and reporting what he had been shown to the Emperor, Dorn was declared 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, an effort to dislodge Perturabo and the Iron Warriors from the stronghold they had fled to, a tragic campaign in which four 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 bloodbath of the Iron Cage, the Imperial Fists 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 Space-borne Assault Companies, see the Soul Drinkers Contradiction below. In the same novel, the wording seems to suggest that several more Second Founding chapters were created as well.) 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 many of the remaining Loyalist Primarchs. He fell in battle while attempting to head off a Chaos fleet heading towards Cadia, an attempt that proved successful.^[1] His hands are the most prized relic of the chapter.

According to the book Space Marine, Rogal Dorn's lifeless body was returned and his skeleton encased in amber upon the Phalanx but his fists have been traditionally freed of his body and remain some of the most valuable relics the Imperial Fists have in their possession. Although new fluff has been produced to say that only Dorn's hand was recovered as it was sent back to the legion/chapter as an insult and that Dorn remains to this day inside one of Abaddon's battle barges^{[citation needed]}.

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 hands. It is said that even though the signatures are so small an Astartes can hardly read them, there is hardly any room left that is unmarked by a Chapter Master's sign.

[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, though the Imperial Fists were fortifying the Imperial Palace at the time.) 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 hibernate or spit venom, 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. But even after a hundred centuries, the Men of Stone are still the best the Imperium can muster to take an enemy's bastion.

[edit] Battlecry

Primarch, Progenitor, for your glory, and the glory of Him on Terra.

[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. Appearing in the out-of-print novel Space Marine (by Ian Watson) Grenstein was killed when a force of Fists invaded a Tyranid Hive Ship on a search-and-destroy mission.
• 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 3rd Company, and subsequently the 1st Company, after capturing the 'Blood of Khaine'
• 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. He is one of the main characters of Ian Watson's 1993 novel Space Marine, and also appears in his Inquisition War trilogy.
• Captain Eshara: Led 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 sites. Slain by the Iron Warrior chaos lord known 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 Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade. Solely held the breach in Kasr Vasan against several hundred mutants before succumbing to his wounds. He still lives, his body preserved in stasis. It is hoped he will 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. It should also be noted that there is an Ultramarine Captain of the same name, featured in the Battle for Macragge Starter set. Octavius is killed by a Dark Eldar Talos in "Warrior Coven".

[edit] Soul Drinkers contradiction

According to the Black Library novel Soul Drinker, 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^[2].

However, the existence of this Chapter relating to the Second Founding is not mentioned in any of the Codexes associated with the Space Marines^[3][4][5], in particular those published after the novel. At this time, the canonicity of the Soul Drinkers as a Second Founding Chapter is uncertain.

There is a mention of the Soul Drinkers in the Sisters of Battle codex for 2nd Edition^[6]. There was also a passing mention of the Soul Drinkers in the Black Templars codex^[5], however they were not explicitly stated to be a Space Marine Chapter, nor a Second Founding Chapter based on the Imperial Fists.

To add more to the mystique of the Soul Drinkers, 1st edition Warhammer 40K's Book of the Astronomican (now called the First Book of the Astronomican), describe that the White Scars utilize specialized assault squads known as Souldrinkers. This book was also the first to introduce the White Scars in detail to the game system. Interestingly much of the heraldry of the current Soul Drinkers (armour colour and chapter badge) is similar to the "Souldrinkers" of the Book of the Astronomican.

In the Soul Drinkers Omnibus, a collection of three Soul Drinkers novels published by the Black Library, it is claimed that the Imperial Fists formed more than 4 chapters after the Second Founding. The chapter didn't incur losses as heavy from the Horus Heresy, and 7 - 16 chapters were formed post-heresy. The current state of the additional chapters is unknown, and, in the thousands of years that have passed, many events could have spawned subsequent foundings or the attrition of constant warfare in the service of the Imperium.

However, 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, as well as the scrolls of honour. Given the efficiency of the Inquisition it is not surprising that there are few mentions of the Soul Drinkers in other background materials, since almost all are from the perspective of Imperial citizens and thus would be effected by Inquisitorial censor. It also may explain the other mentions of the Soul Drinkers as the result of the Ordo Hereticus meaning that any stories or ideas related to the Soul Drinkers would be ascribed to another group.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• McNeill, Graham (2003). Storm of Iron. Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84416-103-X. 

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