Blood Angels
Each Space Marine Chapter owes much to the characteristics and powers of the Primarch from which it sprang. The Space Wolves reflect the power, ferocity and impetuousness of Leman Russ. The Ultramarines posses the talent for the art of war, and military organization that was so well displayed by Roboute Guilliman. Thus do the Blood Angels share in the blighted, tragic destiny of their Primarch, Sanguinius.
The
Blood Angels suffer from a dreadful flaw, their Chapter is dying. Some
of the members of the Chapter have been driven to a terrible death-seaking
madness, brought on by the visions of the death of Sanguinius. While still
other are affected by the terrible Red Thirst, a craving for blood, which
has caused them to be under constant scrutiny by the Inquisition.
The
Blood Angels are unique in that deeply engraved within the gene-seed is
the encoded experiences of their Primarch, and deeper yet is the memory
of his final battle with Horus, which resulted in his death. Some times
on the eve of battle a Blood Angel warriors will be wrenched into the distant
past. His mind will be filled with the images of Sanguinius' final hours
during the Battle for Earth. This condition, often referred to as the Black
Rage, is often fatal, but if not the warriors mind will be lost forever.
An afflicted warrior often believes that they are Sanguinius reliving the
battle before his death, the condition causes them to take on superhuman
strength and vitality. Any Blood Angel warrior that becomes afflicted by
the Black Rage, is dressed in black power armour and adorned with symbols
of purification and sacrifice. These warriors will be led into battle by
one of the Chaplains of the Chapters, and allowed to live out what they
believe to be real.
The
Blood Angels Chapter hold a dark secret known as the Red Thirst, both their
greatest salvation and their greatest curse. The fate of those that are
overtaken by the Red Thirst is known only to the Chapter. There are tales
of a secret chamber atop the Tower of Amareo on Ball, and of howling cries
that demand the blood of the living. There have been incident where members
of the local populace, where Blood Angel units have been stationed, disappearing
only to turn up later drained of all blood. As of yet it has not been proven
that it is members of the Blood Angel Chapter committing these acts, but
the Inquisition has been keeping a close eye on them.
The Blood Angels strive for perfection. Their works of
art are things of beauty and symmetry. Their company banners and are the
most inspiring and impressive works of art in all of the Imperium. Physically
the Blood Angels are among the longest lived of all Space Marines Chapters.
One peculiar results of the Flaw is that it has been known to vastly increase
the life span of those that survive, it is not uncommon for Blood Angels
to live thousands of years. Dante, the current commander of the Blood Angels,
is 1,100 years old.
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