Background and Origin: After the Dark Angels' fortress world of Caliban was decimated by the conflict between Primarch Lion El'Jonson and the Fallen Angel Luther, the Chapter was never the same. When the Dark Angels reformed within the Rock their numbers had dwindled, drastically reduced by the assault on Caliban. Their only solace was in the fact that they had remained standing, but they were not the only ones The Fortress Monastery on Caliban that survived the conflict, known as "The Rock" despite being the largest and most protected fragment of Caliban was not the only part to remain intact. Countless Fallen and Loyalist Dark Angels were scattered throughout time and space as the warp-storm destroyed their planet. While Luther's twisted oration had converted Caliban's majority, there were a zealous few who remained in the service of the Emperor. In the fortified cathedral of Salem on the opposite side of the planet, a ceremony was taking place at the time of Calibans' destruction. Loyalist Chaplains were honouring those untainted brethren who had sacrificed their lives to remain pure during Luther's betrayal in a funerary ritual of post-mortem last riteslittle did they know that their hymns would resonate with the very planet they prayed upon. With a force more potent than the Dark Angels orbital barrage, the earth heaved beneath their feet, screaming as if the entire planet was being torn asunder. A blinding light pierced their eyes and all their senses were negated as the explosion propelled them through Calibans' turbulent atmosphere and into the depths of Segmentum Obscurus nearing the Eye of Terror itself. Luther's psychic scream obliterated the planet into nothing but remnant asteroids and space dust. |
LEGIO INFITIALES VENIA |
ANGELS of MERCY By Michael White (Sandalphon) |
This article has been published with the kind permission of Michael White. Planetary image created by Shadow Guard |
Light years passed and when their consciousness returned, the Chaplains of Salem scoured the remnant asteroid they were now at the mercy of. After many failed attempts at communication through the Cathedrals' in-built systems, the Chaplains had no choice but to gather what men they had left and search for a way out. They were a sorry lot. Only two and a half companies worth of men had survived. Drifting so close to the Oculus Terribilus had taken it's tollaging and rejuvenating them countless times as the warp storms sucked them in and out of time itself. Though their bodies were physically strained and their hair had turned ghostly white, this was the least of their concerns. The very marines they had buried back on Caliban were starting to stirnot only those who were recently deceased, but the slumbering brethren in the cathedrals cemetery grounds were also moving. Although disturbed by this outcome, the chaplains remained calm. These were brother marines after-all and it was surely the Emperors favour in their time of need that had returned them from eternal peace. Sure enough the warp had not twisted these men's souls but the time shift had sent them back to before they were killed and buried in their ceremite tombs. The remaining marines began to systematically unlock the coffins of their brothers and free them from their tombs. While many men were too far gone and were nothing but dusty armour, some had returned beating on their tomb to be set free. Their brother marines awoke to the Chaplains' news that not only had their chapter been ripped in two by Luthers' betrayal but their home world had been destroyed in the process and they were now abandoned in an asteroid belt, floating on a decrepit Cathedral that had somehow survived. The mystery was shortly revealed. As Chaplain Ghaleon explained, the six main Cathedrals of Caliban had been equipped with such shields for protection against orbital bombardment. These cathedrals had also been designed as independent units to cater for such disaster should it occur. It was the tenacity and tactical genius of the Lion himself that had ensured their survival after the Fall, they could only pray that their brothers had the same fortune. With the secrets of Salem revealed and a new determination to right the wrongs of their chapters' destruction, the Angels of Mercy were born. Swearing to avenge their Legion by 'mercifully' euthanasing their fallen brothers, they fired up Salems' ancient generator and set off to remove this stain from their honour. It was not long before first contact was made, but it was not what the surviving marines had expected. A homing beacon within the asteroid belt had signalled a distress call that was received un-interrupted by Salem's systems, a small ship with Imperial codes was granted access to the stabilised asteroid and a crew of black armoured marines dispersed from its hull. They were Dark Angels! By the Emperor, They had been saved! Their leader, a sergeant by the name of Corvus addressed Salem's men and regaled them with news of Caliban, the reformation of the Chapter and the appointment of Azrael with their brothers trust gained Corvus and his men were welcomed to Salem and the bloodbath began Proclaiming Luther to be the true son of the Emperor and Lion El'Jonson Traitor Corvus rallied his men, appealing to Salem's marines to accept the 'truth' or face the consequences. Not backing down, Chaplain Ghaleon raised his crozius and smashed through Corvus's chest with a swift and decisive blow, sending shards of his power armour skidding across the cold floor where he fell. Bolter fire rang out and chaos was unleashed as brother fought brother until Salems' warriors stood triumphant. But although mortally wounded Corvus had not breathed his final breath, with a last ounce of strength he drew his combat knife and lunged at Ghaleons back. The feeble attempt was thwarted as the chaplain caught Coruvus' wrist, crushing it with brute force and turned the knife against him: "Repent Traitor, your Emperor commands it!" but Corvus only smiled: "Your Emperor is a fool" and with those words he spat on Ghaleons's death mask as a final insult. The room was silent; dozens of bolters surrounded the melee and aimed at Corvus' head. "Enoughbrothers it is my duty to withdraw confession from our fallen comrade so that his soul and our honour may be saved" Again Corvus mockingly snarled: "I have no soul!" Ghaleon responded: "Then you have no honour, and your bodily vessel is worthless may the Emperor have Mercy" And with those words, he raised the treacherous blade that had sought to end his life and thrust it through Corvus' skull silencing him forever. Years passed, and after clearing the asteroid field and reaching open space communications were now clear and contact was made with a nearby spaceport on Arx. After hearing word of their brothers' survival and their reformation of the Dark Angels Chapter, Salem's survivors returned to the ruins of Caliban to re-unite with the Unforgiven. However, so alienated were they from their brothers - after the years of separation - that the Angels of Mercy applied for chapterhood themselves rather than formally rejoin their brother marines. Their gene-seed is now considered too corrupted by the warp to be stable, but their loyalty to the Emperor is unquestionable, therefore the Angels of Mercy are treated as an independent fighting force without re-enforcement from the Imperium. |
Chapter Structure The Angels of Mercy are different from any other Space marine chapter in that only the wisdom and leadership of their brother Chaplains guide them, no other HQ unit is acknowledged by these zealous warriors of the Emperor. The Inner Circle is a council of Chaplains from the ranks of Grand Master, Master, Interrogator as well as the remaining apothecary and techmarine staff that were resurrected from Salems' core. A Master Chaplain and his associated staff lead each company into battle. Ghaleon being the highest-ranking Chaplain at the original ceremony on Caliban was nominated Supreme Grand Master of the Angels of Mercy. *Note: The Angels of Mercy have no access to Scouts, Landspeeders or Bikes and have limited vehicular access: (only transport vehicles: Rhinos, Razorbacks and Landraiders that had escorted the Ceremonial attendees to the Chapel.) |
Supreme Grand Master: Ghaleon 1st: (terminator) Brothers Vigilant (living and resurrected veterans) 2nd: (tactical) Brothers Penitent ("living" marines) |
3rd: (assault, jump packs) Brothers Penitent 4th: (tactical) Brothers Revenant (resurrected brothers) 5th: (devastator) Brothers Revenant 6th: (assault, no jump packs) Brothers Revenant |
7th: N/A 8th: N/A 9th: N/A 10th: N/A |
