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{{SMPort}}
The '''Storm Lords''' are a [[Space Marine]] Successor [[Chapter]] of the [[White Scars]].<sup>1</sup>
|Founding Chapter=[[White Scars]]<sup>1</sup>
|Founding=[[Second Founding]]
|Chapter Master=UnknownKhalus Khan
|Descendants=Unknown
|Homeworld=UnknownSandcaster
|Fortress-Monastery=Unknown
|Colours=Red and white halved; helmet in company colour<sup>3</sup>; black aquila and backpack. Symbol is a white skull with three red lightning bolts shooting from it at 120-degree angles.
|Strength=Unknown
}}
===History===
Created directly after the Horus Heresy, the Storm Lords initially took on black amour with the icon of a lightning bolt on their left shoulder pad. Using similar fast attack techniques as the White Scars, they were immediately sent to harass the Chaos forces retreating to the Eye of Terror. More than once they came up against mighty Chaos strongholds, especially those of the Iron Warriors. Under these conditions, the lightning strikes their forefathers were famed for were of little use, and the Storm Lords broke against enemy citadels like waves against cliff faces.
Out of necessity, the Storm Lord changed their tactics. The larger attack bikes and different variations of land speeder overshadowed the regular bikes. Melta weapons became widespread due to the damage they could do even the strongest barricades, their shortened range negated by mounting on the nimble vehicles the Storm Lords use. With the greater firepower that the melta guns provided, matched to the stronger attack bikes and speeders, the Storm Lords soon found enemy units and fortifications crumbling against their assaults.
Their successes with melta weapons became contagious, and it is rumored that the Storm Lords have a defect in their gene seed that that makes these a preferred weapon, much as the Wulfen defect exists in the Space Wolves. As such, melta weapons are found in almost every unit, and in every possible configuration for vehicles.
===Current===
The Storm Lords have become masters of shock assaults on enemy positions, and in addition are very capable at anti-armor operations. All of their units are fully mobilized, allowing them to quickly reach areas that are unexpected, and penetrate quickly into an enemy’s rear. Common missions for the storm lords include pacification of rebel Imperial Governors and the destruction of traitor Marine citadels.
Owing to their fast striking fighting style that precludes the use of standard issue heavy support weapons, the Storm Lords are not well equipped to handle large masses of foes. This was clearly demonstrated at the Battle of Kharg, where Ork Waaaagh Morsnik destroyed the entire 4th Brotherhood (the Chapter Master at the time ordered his own execution without honors). This similar handicap shows itself in defensive missions, a position that is not well suited to the Storm Lords rapid assault style. During the recent war on Armageddon, the 3rd and 7th Brotherhoods were wisely held as a reserve force, crushing and stopping the ork invaders in a series of violent strategic counter attacks.
===Selection of new marines===
Potential Storm Lord Space marines are identified by the chaplains though a variety of means including personal observation, and almost all of them come from Sandcaster itself (there have been a few extraordinary cases, such as the individual known as Cheritus, who was chosen from the planetary defenders of Armageddon). New entrants must serve time as a scout first before being accepted as a full marine and being granted the gene seed implant. To become a Scout, the Neophyte must survive 2 weeks on Murnuth II without any supplies or weapons. Given the bloodthirsty and deranged inhabitants of the prison world, this can be rather difficult. If they survive this, they are accepted into the Scouts, and the first series of training and implants are carried out.
Scouts serve for a period of 5 years, after which if they have proved their worth, they may make the attempt to become a fully-fledged Marine. The test for this stage is simple, they must make their way unaided from the central Hive Epsilon to the entrance to their subterranean stronghold, a distance of 3,000 imperial miles, with nothing more than a bolt pistol and close combat knife. Upon their safe arrival, they are welcomed as marines, and the gene seed implantation process commences. The survival rate for is much higher for potentials on the desert prison world of Murnuth II than in the jungles of Sandcaster.
===Organisation===
The Storm Lords have abandoned some of the traits of their White Scar predecessors. While they still revere Jaghatai Khan, they no longer ritually scar themselves for initiation as the White Scars do. The Storm Lords have also forsaken most forms of heavy support as they find them too slow, while the White Scars’s inventory still shows armor and artillery support. Currently the Storm Lords are divided into 10 Brotherhoods, each Brotherhood being of a similar size as a Ultramarine Company.
===Notable Battles===
*[[Third War for Armageddon]]. The '''Storm Lords''' committed 2 Brotherhoods of [[Space Marines]] to the defense of [[Armageddon]].<sup>2</sup> They fought along with their White Scars and [[Salamanders]] brethren.
*<sup>3</sup>[[Codex: Ultramarines]]
*[[Codex: Dark Angels (4th Edition)]], page 73
*[Codex Storm Lords Edition 3.2]
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