Twenty First Founding

The Twenty First Founding was the largest founding of Space Marine Chapters since the Second Founding. It took place sometime immediately before the Age of Apostasy, a time of Civil war that divided and almost destroyed the Imperium. 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 whilst 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.