Flesh Tearers

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Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Space Marine Chapter. For other uses of Flesh Tearers, see Flesh Tearers (disambiguation).
Flesh Tearers
 Flesh Tearers Livery.jpg
SevraelPrimarisFT.jpg Flesh Tearers Mini.jpg
Founding Chapter: Blood Angels[2][5c]
Founding: Second Founding[2][5c]
Descendants: None[2]
Chapter Master: Gabriel Seth[5d]
Homeworld: Cretacia[2]
Colours: Red, with black helmet, backpack and pauldrons.[17]
Specialty: Assault[2]
Strength: ~400 marines (post-Devastation of Baal)[43a]

The Flesh Tearers are a Second Founding chapter, created when the Blood Angels legion split up after the Horus Heresy in accordance with the Codex Astartes. They suffer from a mutation in their gene-seed, making them far more prone to suffer the Black Rage than other chapters with Blood Angels gene-seed. If no cure is found the chapter is likely to be extinct within the next two millennia. The Flesh Tearers are also ill-famed for their savageness and thirst for blood in battle.[2][45]

History

A Space Marine of the Flesh Tearers.[19]
Flesh Tearers, original colour scheme (W40K Rogue Trader).[6]

The Flesh Tearers Chapter was created in M31 when Roboute Guilliman decreed in his Codex Astartes that no longer should a single individual control the might of an entire Space Marine Legion. Thus, the Blood Angels were divided into several Successor Chapters; one of these being the Flesh Tearers under Chapter Master Nassir Amit. Amit and his followers were still reeling from the death of Sanguinius during the Siege of Terra, and they eventually gave into their resentment and anger.[31]

The Chapter was given a single battle barge, the Victus, and were immediately sent into deep space with orders to destroy any world still loyal to Horus.[58] At the immediate start of these first crusade in one of the earlier battles, due the tragic misunderstanding the Flesh Tearers fought against another Space Marines force.[51] The Victus carried them on crusade for three millenia. During this time their reputation for blood-letting was brough to the attention of the High Lords of Terra, indicating that the extensive flaw in their gene-seed was already present at their creation. Instead of checking the rumours of entire populations wiped out, the High Lords simply looked at the long list of worlds pacified and dismissed the accompanying casualty lists as inconsequential.[58]

After three millenia as a crusading chapter[58], Nassir Amit[22] eventually settled the Flesh Tearers on an extremely hostile Death World known as Cretacia.[58] A lost colony of primordial humans proved perfect recruits for the chapter, being pure of taint and extremely strong. Amit became obsessed with Cretacia, believing it to be the manifestation of the Flesh Tearers' own nature, hoping that if he could tame its peaks he could temper the edges of his own fury.[31]

The chapter has since become increasingly dependent on the easy access to recruits, as their gene-seed mutation gradually worsens. More and more marines succumb to the Black Rage, with few marines older than two centuries. As of late M41, the Flesh Tearers only have 4 full Companies of marines, less than half of the normal number. If the degradation of their gene-seed continues at the same rate they will count no more than 200 marines within a millennium.[2][45] The Chapter has not used the process of Insanguination for millennia, and few know whether this has caused the wide presence of the Black Rage and Red Thirst among its members.[43a]

Caught up in the madness of slaughter, the Flesh Tearers have been known to slaughter their allies in battle. This is a strongly kept secret, and the Flesh Tearers usually fight alone as a result. In some cases, however, Imperial forces have seen the Flesh Tearers' true savage nature, and the Flesh Tearers have employed Cyclonic Torpedoes on their allies to keep this secret.[31] Despite the secrecy, over the years several Imperial bodies have questioned the combat doctrines and sanity of the Flesh Tearers. Many have refused to fight alongside the chapter, disgusted by their savagery in combat or fearing they would get caught up in the bloodshed along with the enemy. The chapter has been under Inquisitorial investigation since the Kallern Massacres of M36.[2][45]

By the Age of the Dark Imperium the Flesh Tearers were greatly reduced, particularly after taking part in the Devastation of Baal.[43a] However despite the skepticism of Chapter Master Gabriel Seth, the Chapter has received an influx of new Primaris Space Marine recruits.[31a]

Recent Events

Dates Unknown

Culture

For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my Battle-Brother eternal.

--Last line of the Invocation Initiate of the Flesh Tearers[59]


Faced with their genetic flaw, the Flesh Tearers culture is one of grim fatalism and acceptance that they are eventually doomed to succumb to the Black Rage. Some among the leadership have begun to embrace the notion that if they cannot continue, then their best approach is to make certain that they leave a bold legacy in keeping with the Chapter’s proud traditions. They seek to gain notable victories and secure the Galaxy in the name of the Emperor and Sanguinius. The Chapter has come to embrace the savagery of which they have gained infamy.[29] This has led them to have strained relations with the Blood Angels and their other successor Chapters. Many Blood Angels successors fear the Flesh Tearers are what they are all doomed to become. Their savage behavior has also brought them into constant conflict with the Inquisition.[31]

However, a few Flesh Tearers hold hope for the future, believing that their Chapter Master Gabriel Seth might bring them to salvation.[31]

In an attempt to control their bloodlust, Flesh Tearers will regularly consume blood between battle. On their homeworld of Cretacia, large farm-like facilities are maintained where baseline Humans are drained of their blood in order to give the Chapter a fresh supply.[44c]

Chapter Master Gabriel Seth has been a noted critic of the new Primaris Space Marines due to their implication that may spell the end of the Firstborn and the Chapter's identity. However, many Flesh Tearers are nonetheless impressed with those Primaris that have fought under their livery.[30a] The Primaris are also welcome forces to bolster the Flesh Tearers' ranks, which are severely depleted as a result of the Black Rage.[31]

Heraldry

The Chapter symbol of the Flesh Tearers is a 12-toothed, anti-clockwise-facing white circular sawblade emblazoned with a red blood drop, usually on a black field. This represents the original Flesh Tearer, Nassir Amit's customised chainfists.[31a]

Homeworld

Main article: Cretacia

Gene-Seed

Main article: Red Thirst
Main article: Black Rage

The Flesh Tearers suffer an abnormal mutation in their Gene-Seed, which makes them more susceptible to the Red Thirst and Black Rage that plagues all the sons of Sanguinius. There were numerous incidents in their past where they lost control on the field of battle and turned on their own allies. It happened so often that under Gabriel Seth they now only work alone as they don't trust themselves around others. Furthermore, the Chapter struggled to maintain its numbers due to losses to the flaws and was expected to go extinct.[2]

The introduction of Primaris Marines to the Flesh Tearers greatly stabilized their gene-seed. The Red Thirst and Black Rage are still present, though they are far less problematic — so much so that Gabriel Seth questioned whether their new Primaris recruits deserved to be call Flesh Tearers. The Red Thirst and Black Rage define their identity and culture and now that the flaws have been brought under control, their Chapter will never be the same.[32b]

Relics

Relics
Relic Name Relic Type Notes Source
Blood Mantle Cloak. Worn by the Chapter Master. [48]
Blood Reaver Chain Weapon Wielded by Gabriel Seth. [5d]
Bones of Baelsor Dreadnought armour Last worn by Skoraen. [23b]
Crimson Plate Terminator Armour Said to have been worn by Amit. [49]
Halo of Thorns Iron Halo. Worn by the Chapter Master. [48]
Severer of Threads Chainsword [30d]
Shield of Cretacia Power Armour [23b]
Slayer's Wrath Boltgun [23b]
Sorrow's Genesis Narthecium [30d]

Organisation

A Flesh Tearers Terminator[15]

The Flesh Tearers were originally a standard Codex Chapter, but have over the millennia evolved into a pure assault force. Being obsessed with bloodshed often mean that they will close in on the enemy with utmost speed and engage in close combat.[2] Flesh Tearers operations therefore have large numbers of assault marines and transport-mounted squads.[1] The Flesh Tearers deviate from most other Blood Angels successor Chapters in that their Death Company is a standing force.[43a]

The low number of marines has also led to an unexpected diversity in skills among the Flesh Tearers, with each marine being proficient in tactical, devastator, vehicular, and assault roles. The chapter has few vehicles apart from Rhinos and Razorbacks (a few Whirlwinds and one Baal Predator are also present). The exception to this are Death Company Dreadnoughts, which due to the Chapter's doctrine and genetic defects are fielded in large numbers. Above all else, however, Assault Squads are the dominant force of the Flesh Tearers and are fielded in above-average numbers.[29]

Flesh Tearers Company markings mirror those of the Blood Angels:[5f]

Squad Number designation is Low Gothic numerals on the right knee pad.[5f]

Because of the genetic flaw that has ravaged the Chapter, the Flesh Tearers maintain an unusually large number of Space Marines with Apothecary training.[29]

Fleet

The Flesh Tearers' fleet is small, with only one Battle Barge, the Victus currently in service. The Victus is an ancient vessel, having been in service possibly since the Great Crusade. However, they also have seven modified Strike Cruisers with an extended transport capability.[2]

Notable Elements

Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers Command
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers Sanguinary Priesthood
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers Armoury
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers Reclusiam
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers Librarius
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers Fleet
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers 1st Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers 2nd Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers 3rd Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers 4th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers 5th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers 6th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers 7th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers 8th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers 9th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers 10th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Flesh Tearers Death Company

Notable Members

Main article: Known Members of the Flesh Tearers
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NOTE: Only notable members should be added in this section. Any other known members should be added here.

Flesh Tearers Firstborn[17]

Chapter Command

Chaplaincy

Librarius

Sanguinary Priesthood

Dreadnoughts

Captains

Sergeants

Other

Notable Vehicles

Notable Vessels

Gallery

Miniatures

Screenshots

Notes

  • The Chapter's name has also been rendered as Fleshtearers.[36]

Conflicting sources

  • Earlier editions of the Flesh Tearers' history states that they spent thousands of years as a Crusading Chapter after their formation and that it was a Chapter Master named Amit who finally settled the chapter on the world of Cretacia.[2]
However, Amit appears as a Captain of the Blood Angels Legion in the Horus Heresy series. Amit has a vicious and savage reputation, even by the standards of the World Eaters and his oath brother, Khârn. Indeed it was during his frequent fights in the World Eaters gladiatorial pits that Amit earned his nickname the "Flesh Tearer".[12]
During the Blood Angels' assault in the Signus Cluster, Captain Amit of the Blood Angels served as captain of his personal battle barge, the Victus.[13] This battle barge would later find service in the Flesh Tearers as their only known battle barge, and is rumoured to have been in their possession since the Heresy and their founding.[2] It is unknown if this is a coincidence or if there is a connection.[12]
  • While it has been stated that the Flesh Tearers' Sanguinary Guard and Death Company follow the same colour schemes as the Blood Angels',[5f] have their Sangunary Guard been show in the same colours as the rest of the chapter,[34a] and their Death Company have been shown coloured pale grey with red helmets, backpacks and pauldrons.[2]

See also

Sources

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