Soul Drinkers
From Warhammer 40k
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The Soul Drinkers are a Space Marines Chapter. They are one of the Chapters created during the Second Founding, drawn from the Imperial Fists Legion.
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[edit] History
They were formed from the Imperial Fists' shock assault contingent during the Second Founding. They participated along with the Imperial Fists, Fire Hawk and Black Templars chapters in the assault on Terra at the end of the Reign of Blood and had many noble victories on other worlds against Xenos races like the Eldar.
[edit] The Lakonia star fort Incident
They were declared Excommunicate Traitoris by the Inquisition after their obsessive need to retrieve a relic called the Soul Spear, (a vortex weapon gifted to them by Imperial Fists' Primarch, Rogal Dorn), brought them into conflict with the Adeptus Mechanicus, who were, ostensibly, assisting the Adeptus Ministorum but were, in reality, there only to obtain the Soulspear for themselves. The standoff between the Soul Drinkers and the Imperial forces ended with the destruction of the Lakonia star fort and major damage to several fleet ships of the Adeptus Ministorum and Adeptus Mechanicus.
The remaining Soul Drinkers retreated in their strike cruisers to an asteroid field where they were beset by the combined fleets of the Inquisition and Adeptus Ministorum until the Soul Drinkers' fleet, lead by Chapter Master Gorgoleon arrived by Warp Route 931-c that had been closed for 600 years prior to this incident.
[edit] 1st Chapter War
After the fleet linked up with the survivors of the star fort, Chapter Master Gorgoleon told Sarpedon of the offer the Inquisition had made, which required the heads of the marines involved in the Lakonia incident in exchange for a reprieve. Gorgoleon explained that he had refused this offer on the basis that the only person fit to judge a Soul Drinker was another Soul Drinker. This judgement would require Sarpedon to face Gorgoleon himself in a duel to the death. During the height of the duel, Sarpedon seemed to be affected by some outside power and spontaneously grew eight arachnoid legs, giving him a crucial advantage over Gorgoleon and enabling him to tear his erstwhile master to pieces and so claim the mantle of Chapter Master for himself.
Although he did not know it at the time, his mutation was caused by the corrupting powers of the Chaos god, Tzeentch. After a brief, but bloody struggle with those who could not accept his mutation, Sarpedon became leader of the Soul Drinkers Chapter from that point on. Despite their rejection by and of the Imperium itself, they remained loyal to the Emperor, even having been exposed to the raw power of Chaos which presently began to manifest mutations in the chapter's marines.
[edit] Stratix Luminae
After a time, Apothecary Pallas managed to stop the spread of new mutations and also to halt the progession of mutation in those marines already thus afflicted after the retrieval of information held on Stratix Luminae. This information came at the price of of the Soul Drinkers being forced to abandon Sergeant Tellos and his cadre of Assault Marines as they made their escape from the planetoid.
[edit] Dealing with Tellos
In the 3rd novel, Crimson Tear, they come in to conflict with the Crimson Fists Commander Reinez and Slaanesh worshipping Dark Eldar in an attempt to bring the now Chaos aligned Tellos to justice. After a long battle between Chaos forces, and the Imperium, the Sarpedon fights Tellos in a duel. After defeating, and beleiving he had killed, Tellos, Sarpedon withdrew the Soul Drinkers. Tellos survived, only to be killed when the Inquisition bombed the planet.
[edit] 2nd Chapter War
The fourth novel sees the Soul Drinkers face enemies from within and without as Brother Eumenes usurps the Chapter leadership from Sarpedon. Meanwhile, the Howling Griffons Chapter has vowed to destroy the Black Chalice whom they believe the Soul Drinkers to be. In the end, Sarpedon kills Eumenes, declaring him as unworthy of being Chapter Master. He then addresses the remaining battle brothers asking if any of them wish to take up the burden of the title. When none of them respond, Sarpdedon declares he will remain the Chapter Master again. Not satisfied with this, at least one squad of the newer recruits leave the Chapter.
[edit] Aftermath
After the 2nd Chapter War, the Soul Drinkers' numbers dwindled to around two hundred marines.
[edit] Organisation
The Soul Drinkers loosely follow the Codex Astartes but have more in common with the Blood Angels due to the shock-assault nature of their respective chapters, (the Blood Angel Codex works well as Death Company marines can represent the Soul Drinkers that suffered the worst mutation).
[edit] Combat Doctrine
The Soul Drinkers prefer to shock the enemy with hard hitting raids and often make use of boarding actions and drop pod assaults
[edit] Chapter Traits
The Chapter's name derives from a mutation in their Omophagea. Normally this organ allows a Marine to absorb some of the memories of a creature by consuming its flesh. Soul Drinkers ritualise this in the "Ceremony of the Chalice". In addition to this, the Soul Drinkers also experience the creature's emotions and memories. Philosophically speaking they "see into the creature's soul".
- See also Soul Drinkers contradiction for inconsistencies within published material about the founding of the Soul Drinkers.
[edit] Appearance
The Chapter's main color is purple with ornate bone and gold colored pauldron trims and a gold Imperial Aquila on their breastplates. Their chapter badge is a golden chalice with three spikes rising out of the top.
[edit] Battlecry
Cold And Fast, Soul Drinkers
[edit] Significant Soul Drinkers
The current Chapter Master is a powerful Librarian by the name of Sarpedon.He can telepathically send but not receive thoughts as well as being able to generate a mass illusion called The Hell, which feeds off the fears of his enemies. His mutation provides him with eight arachnid limbs (allowing him to scuttle along ceilings and walls), incredible physical strength and enormous psychic power. Defeated notable foes such as Interrogator K'Shuk, Chapter Master Gorgoleon, multiple daemons and daemon princes, Sergeant Tellos, Chapter Master Eumenes and the Necron Overlord of Selaaca. Was most recently defeated in single combat with Captain Lysander of the Imperial Fists 1st Company, and taken into Imperial Custody.
Daenyathos is a famous Soul Drinker. He lived sometime in or around M36 and in his time wrote the Catechisms Martial, which is still used by the Soul Drinkers Chapter and is seen as an almost holy tome to them.
Assault Sergeant Tellos. Promising Soul Drinker, turned servant of Khorne, almost ridiculously talented in close combat. His mutation enabled his body to repair any damage it suffered almost instantly. This made him exceptionally difficult to kill, with an orbital strike eventually having the desired effect where everything else had failed.
Brother Augustus. A newly accepted Souldrinker that has a open mind to the chapter's beliefs. But when he finds out about the conflict with the Howling Griffons he is reluctant to fight other warriors of the imperium. After Sarpedon's council with him the chapter master decides that the emperor is looking apon Augustus. After all, a name like augustus is someone destined for great things.
Apothecary Pallas. He developed a way to halt the mutation of the Soul Drinkers. Joined Eumenes in the Second Chapter War, citing that he couldn't bear to watch his chapter dwindle and die out in Sarpedon's wars. Chose to remain with the Chapter in the Aftermath of the Chapter War to atone for his sins.
Scout/Chapter Master Eumenes. Scout Sergeant in charge of Nisryus, Scamander, Raek and other's of their Scout Squad during the hunt for Tellos. He was the one who found Tellos. Challenged Sarpedon to a duel over the Mastery of the Chapter. Shortly after he masterminded the rebellion that began the Second Chapter War in which he gained the title of Chapter Master. He saved Sarpedon's life by killing Lord Librarian Murcaeno of the Howling Griffons. Sarpedon later killed Eumenes in another duel.
Techmarine Lyrgis - Captain of the Brokenback and one of Sarpedon's most prized counsellors. Was the only loyal chapter member that remained on the Brokenback during Eumenes' rebellion, sabotaging the thunderhawks and hiding in the network of maintainence tunnels in the Brokenback. Gave his life to defeat the Necron Overlord on Selaaca after loosing his sanity after joining with a Necron Harvester on Raevenia.
Chaplain Iktinos. Master of Sanctity for the entire Chapter. Appears to be manipulating the course of the chapter, though to what ends is unkown.
Gresk - Soul Drinkers Librarian. Able to speed to the reactions of his battle brothers. Killed by Eumenes' forces after warning Sarpedon of an imminent orbital bombardment during the Chapter War.
Tyrendian - Soul Drinkers Librarian. Able to project powerful lightning attacks.
Captain Luko. Utilises a pair of Lightning Claws. Was promoted to Captain following Entymion IV and remains one of Sarpedon's most loyal supporters. Pretends to love warfare to inspire his followers, telling only Eumenes and Sarpedon the truth, that he actually can't stand fighting and craves nothing more than peace.
Veteran Sergeant Graevus. Assault squad sergeant. Mutated right arm allows him to deftly wield a power axe with one hand.
Lord Inquisitor Tsouras. Head of the Lakonia Persecution
Interrogator K'Shuk. Student of Tsouras, he delivered the sentence of excommunication to the Soul Drinkers before being killed by Sarpedon in a duel.
Inquisitor Thaddeus. Forges an alliance of convenience with Sarpedon in order to kill Teturact. Uses incredibly expensive executioner rounds in his auto pistol. One round has been known to cost the same as an Imperial Cruiser space ship. Reappeared tracking the Soul Drinkers in Chapter War aboard the Howling Griffons Battle Barge. He attempts to explain to them that there is no such thing as the Black Chalice, but is forced to leave the ship, killing a Howling Griffon in the process. He then goes and meets with Sarpedon. After a breif reunion, the Howling Griffons assault the Soul Drinkers, during which Murcaeno kills Thaddeus.
[edit] References
- Priestly, Rick (1988). Book of Astronomican. Baltimore, Maryland: Games Workshop, 65. ISBN 1-869893-33-6.
- Counter, Ben (2005). Crimson Tears. Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84416-160-9.
- Counter, Ben (2005). The Soul Drinkers Omnibus. Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84416-416-0.
