Twenty First Founding
The Twenty First Founding was the largest Founding of Space Marine Chapters since the Second Founding. It took place shortly before the Age of Apostasy, in M36. The focus of the Twenty First Founding seems to have been on perfecting and removing deficiencies in flawed gene-seed. The Twenty First Founding is also known as the Cursed Founding, because of the appalling bad luck that seems to dog the Chapters created. Several have disappeared mysteriously while in action or in warp space. Every surviving Chapter of the founding is affected by spontaneous genetic mutation of its gene-seed. As a result the Chapters have gradually dwindled in size as their inability to raise and induct recruits means that battle casualties cannot be replaced. Worse still, some Chapters have developed genetic idiosyncrasies, mutations that strain the tolerance of the Inquisition and threaten the Chapter's survival.
Chapters of the 21st Founding
| Chapter Name | Parent Chapter | Homeworld | Known Mutations | Notes |
| Black Dragons | Probably Salamanders | Ossmodula zygote, bone crests on head and blades on forearms and elbows | ||
| Fire Hawks | Ultramarines | None | Became lost in the warp and contracted a warp contagion. Became the Legion of the Damned | |
| Lamenters | Blood Angels | None | Revolted in Badab War, defeated, and sent on crusade of penitence. Almost annihilated and absorbed by Hive Fleet Kraken3, 4. Possessed a seemingly cursed fortune. | |
| Flame Falcons | Covered in flames that do no burn the wearer | Almost wiped out by Inquisition on the eve of their victory | ||
| Minotaurs | None | Heavily assault-orientated | ||
| Sons of Antaeus | Strong, almost metallic bone structure |
Sources
- Cursed Founding GW Article (accessed 2007.03.21)
- Codex: Ultramarines (2nd Edition)
- 3:Codex Imperialis, p. 91
- 4:Space Marine novel, by Ian Watson