Relictors
Contents
Chapter Summary
Background
The Relictors are a Space Marine Chapter, although when they were first founded they were known as the Fire Claws. They are believed to have been created from Ultramarines and Dark Angels gene-seed and were one of the Astartes Praeses chapters, created to guard the Eye of Terror.
History:
The epiphany and Renaming
They generally fought in the area around the Eye of Terror with the Cadian Shock Troopers. The Emperor's Tarot showed a badly damaged Space Hulk emerging from the warp near the Forge World of Stygies in Segmentum Obscurus, the Fire Claws were mobilized to investigate. The hulk was codified as the Captor of Sin and contained a Chaos Warband led by a Tzeentchian Champion known as the Excoriator. The Fire Claws used their Strike Cruisers to cripple the hulk and then sent Terminator Assault Squads to investigate it, led by Librarian Decario and the shadowy Inquisitor De Marche. The renegades realized they were doomed and made their final stand in the vast engine room, where Decario and De Marche both fought the Excoriator.
The champion carried a Daemon Sword, forged in the heart of the Eye of Terror that had the essence of a Greater Daemon bound within it. De Marche quickly found himself out of his league as his Power Axe had no effect. His armour was cut open and had been grievously wounded. Decario's Force Sword was shattered and his Terminator Armour was cut open in one foul swoop. Fortunately, Decario used his Power Fist to rip the Excoriator's sword arm from its socket. Even though it was wounded, the Champion fought on, smashing down the Librarian and killing four more Terminators before Decario grabbed the nearest weapon and, with a prayer to the Emperor, took off the head of the Excoriator.
Decario then noticed that the weapon he had was the Daemon Sword. Instantly he felt that this weapon could be used to defeat Chaos. De Marche warned the Librarian that only he was trained to handle such weapons. Decario handed over the weapon and they returned to their ships. Once back on their ships, De Marche explained that this weapon could be used against Chaos and should not be destroyed. With the aid of Decario, they convinced the Chapter Master of the Fire Claws and, under the eyes of the Inquisitor, they explored the worlds around the Eye of Terror for more artifacts. Over the decades that followed they slowly collected more relics and became known as the Relictors.
Judgement and Crusade
Unfortunately it didn't take long for the rest of the Imperium to discover their use of Chaos weaponry in warfare. A cell of Inquisitors, four Chapter Masters and an Emperor Class Battleship descended on the Relictors Fortress Monastery and they were forced to hand over all relics and De Marche and take on a century long penance crusade. De Marche was executed as a heretic and as part of their crusade, the entire chapter (all 10 companies) were deployed to Armageddon in the Equatorial Jungles, especially around Angron's monolith.
Vision and Quest
The Chapter later left Amageddon after the Chapters Librarians had a vision of a lidless eye weeping blood, following this the entire chapter left the planet in their space borne Ramilies Class Star-fort for the Eye of Terror. Conflict with the other forces in the area increased as the Relictors descended deeper into the Eye of Terror in their search for tools of Chaos to turn against their owners. This conflict eventually culminated with a Relictor raid on the remote Diamedes Archive where the Space Marines destroyed an Inquisition force guarding a Chaos Artifact of great power and claimed it for their own.
Excommunication
Continued conflict with the Inquisition during the 13th Black Crusade resulted in them being declared Excommunicate Traitoris and were all but destroyed by the Grey Knights under the command of Inquisitor Cyarro. Only a few hundred now remain,it is suspected that these survivors have fled to the relative safety of the Eye of Terror.
It is currently unknown whether these survivors have thrown in their lot with the forces of Chaos or continue their struggle of trying to turn the dark powers against them for the good of the Imperium, much like another of the renegade chapter, the Soul Drinkers.
However, the above has been thrown into question with a possible retcon in the 5th Edition Space Marine codex.
Notable Battles
- Captor of Sin. See above.
- Third War for Armageddon. The Relictors contributed all 10 companies to this war.
- Thirteenth Black Crusade. The Relictors contribued all 10 companies to fight against the forces of chaos in this war.
Rules Location
Rules for the Relictors can be found in White Dwarf 295(uk).
Sources
- 1Armageddon Website - Details of the Third War for Armageddon Worldwide Campaign. (accessed 2007.02.18)
- 2White Dwarf 295(uk)
- 3How to Paint Space Marines
- 4Index Astartes
