Changes

The [[Executioners]] are a Chapter that trace their origins to the tumultuous years following the [[Horus Heresy]]. They are descendants of the [[Imperial Fists]], and were said to have been first led by Fafnir Rann, said to have been one of the most vicious of [[Rogal Dorn]]'s [[captain]]s. According to the Chapter's own chronicles, they were founded for the express purpose of seeking out and slaughtering the foes of Mankind. They had ceaselessly pursued this duty for many millennia, that is, until the events of the [[Badab War]]^e.

The Executioners sided with the forces of [[Lugft Huron]], the Tyrant of Badab, as a matter of honor^a. In the closing years of the 39th Millennium, the twin homeworlds of the Chapter were laid under siege by a dangerous xenoform it never encountered before. Soon even the hallowed vaults of their fortress-monastery had been penetrated, and while the marines of the Executioners fought back grimly against the invaders soon there were few left to mount a proper defense of the fortress' inner sanctum. Extinction seemed inevitable, until the forces of the [[Astral Claws]], supported by the ships of Battlefleet Tempestus, arrived to break the siege. The xenos were driven off, but at the cost of the lives of countless Astral Claws. The surviving Executioners, grateful for the aid given them, swore to assist the Astral Claws in the same manner if the Chapter was threatened in the same way.^a

While nominally allied with the forces of the Tyrant, it became immediately apparent that the Executioners fought on their own terms, and apparently looked at their allies with contempt. The Chapter refused to garrison troops, claim territory, or attack non-military targets. Despite this its forces soon formed a fearsome reputation, especially among the [[Howling Griffons]], whom they dealt catastrophic damage to at Khymara, and the supply convoys of the Loyalist forces, whom they mercilessly hounded with their warship, ''the Night Hag''. ^f

The alliance would last until 911.M41, when forces under Astral Claws Arch-Centurion Commodus attacked the [[Salamanders]] battle-barge ''Pyre of Glory'', intent on pillaging its [[gene-seed]] stores and armory despite the fact that it had peacefully surrendered to the Executioners. Incensed at this breach of honor, the Executioners turned on the Astral Claws, not stopping until all the oath-breakers were dead. From that point on, the Chapter would become a rogue element in the war, attacking both Loyalist force and Secessionist alike, although supply convoys were left surprisingly alone.^g

The Executioner's role in the Badab War came to an end late into 912.M41. Through the intercession of Captain Pellas Mir'san of the Salamanders, who felt that he owed the Executioners a debt of gratitude for their intervention during the attack on the ''Pyre of Glory'', the Chapter was allowed to peacefully exit the hostilities, despite some misgivings from the Loyalists. The entirety of the Executioners force, led by Chaplain Thulsa Kane, was escorted back to the Salamanders homeworld of [[Nocturne]], where they would remain until the end of the war.^h

Another change is that each Company is assigned three [[Chaplains]] instead of one. These individuals, called the "Death Speakers" serve the dual role of recounting the tallies of the honored dead, as well as keeping order in the Chapter.^e