Njesta Crusade Fluff
Now its time to develop some fluff for these zealous warriors of the Emperor. While I'm not as good a story teller as Tiger Raja, I will attempt to give my Black Templar the credit they deserve while giving them an interesting background story. While in the early stages, its likely that most of this will be background information (i.e. tactical tendencies, crusade makeup, mannerisms, and other fun details). The goal is to make these superhuman warriors as compelling as I'm able, so I can be proud to place each and every model on the table top!
1) We all know about the 2nd Founding and the subsequent Foundings thereafter. It is known that the Imperium is constantly creating several new chapters out of their gene-seed stockpiles. It was in the recent past where they did so again, to create the Crimson Tears. Their gene-seed could be traced back to the Imperial Fists, however, whether by fate or the Emperor's intervention, the new chapter deigned to become one that crusades for the glory of Emperor. There could be no better chapter to learn from, so a significant sized fleet of Black Templars lead by Marshal Laeroth (~500 warriors) was dispatched to take on the responsibility to help train the fledgling successor chapter in the ways of war.
2) Soon after this training was completed, Stasius Kaius (Chapter Master of the Crimson Tears) swore a mighty vow to come to the Black Templar's aid whenever they should call on them. With that, the detachment of Black Templars left the Njesta system to continue the Emperor's work.
3) After crushing a rebellion at a nearby system, Marshal Laeroth received a petition to come to the aid of the Crimson Tear's home world of Njesta. It was said that they were being attacked by a Traitor Marines force, but no other details were available.
4) Once the Black Templars arrived with their warriors, Marshal Laeroth found to his horror that their Crimson Tear brethren were the ones perpetrating the attacks. Even more shocking, the Crimson Tears seemed to be worshipping the Chaos Gods! Fortunately, all was not lost, as roughly a quarter of the Crimson Tears chapter had remained loyal to the Emperor and fought the traitors, led by Stasius Kaius. Once the Black Templars had arrived, the loyalists managed to link up and coordinate their attacks. With the approval of High Marshal Helbrecht, the Black Templars called a crusade to crush this traitor chapter and after severe casualties to their own number, the Crimson Tears Chapter was eventually destroyed. None of the loyal Crimson Tears, save the Chapter Master, survived the battle for Njesta. But all was not well for Kaius. During the final battle, he was mortally wounded by a fell daemon prince of Chaos. Even so, his formidable willpower did not waiver until he had banished the daemon back to the warp. Due to his unrelenting courage, exceptional battle prowess, and loyalty to the Emperor, Kaius was honored with interment into one of the Black Templars' ancient dreadnoughts. From this armored behemoth of destruction, Kaius could exact his vengeance upon the Emperor's enemies side-by-side with the Black Templars.
5) Many of the surviving BT marines dyed their tabards and robes a crimson red to give honor to the loyalist brethren (both Crimson Tear and Black Templars) who fell to the traitor Chapter.
6) Once the system's stability was ensured and a Black Templars Chapter Keep was erected, the BT left. Because of their affiliations with the Crimson Tears Chapter, the Inquisition had taken a precarious interest in Marshal Laeroth's Black Templars. The fact that they had trained the new chapter had not gone unnoticed. Surely there was a reason for the Crimson Tear's rapid turn to Chaos? The fact that there was even suspicion of taint in their crusade drove the remaining marines into a fury. How dare someone claim that they were not loyal to the Emperor? It was at this time that Marshal Laeroth received another call for assistance. It seemed that a Dark Eldar kabal was wrecking havoc and Laeroth would not allow the vile xenos to live any longer. A new crusade was called and Laeroth's forces would prove their loyalty to the Emperor once more.
OTHER FACTS:
* This detachment of BT (currently known as the Njesta Crusade) has a permanent Emperor's Champion and his name is Lysanthir.
* The vehicle names in this army use Latin, just because it looks and sounds cool.
* This crusade is known around the Chapter for its use of vehicles.
* Gold crusader seals (purity seals) were given to each of those with confirmed Crimson Tear kills as to help protect them from their taint.
* Crusade badge is in the form of a crimson tear and is located on various parts of the power armor.
* Several of the BT felt personally responsible for the Crimson Tear's turn to Chaos so they wear various icons of penance, skull motifs, etc.
1) We all know about the 2nd Founding and the subsequent Foundings thereafter. It is known that the Imperium is constantly creating several new chapters out of their gene-seed stockpiles. It was in the recent past where they did so again, to create the Crimson Tears. Their gene-seed could be traced back to the Imperial Fists, however, whether by fate or the Emperor's intervention, the new chapter deigned to become one that crusades for the glory of Emperor. There could be no better chapter to learn from, so a significant sized fleet of Black Templars lead by Marshal Laeroth (~500 warriors) was dispatched to take on the responsibility to help train the fledgling successor chapter in the ways of war.
2) Soon after this training was completed, Stasius Kaius (Chapter Master of the Crimson Tears) swore a mighty vow to come to the Black Templar's aid whenever they should call on them. With that, the detachment of Black Templars left the Njesta system to continue the Emperor's work.
3) After crushing a rebellion at a nearby system, Marshal Laeroth received a petition to come to the aid of the Crimson Tear's home world of Njesta. It was said that they were being attacked by a Traitor Marines force, but no other details were available.
4) Once the Black Templars arrived with their warriors, Marshal Laeroth found to his horror that their Crimson Tear brethren were the ones perpetrating the attacks. Even more shocking, the Crimson Tears seemed to be worshipping the Chaos Gods! Fortunately, all was not lost, as roughly a quarter of the Crimson Tears chapter had remained loyal to the Emperor and fought the traitors, led by Stasius Kaius. Once the Black Templars had arrived, the loyalists managed to link up and coordinate their attacks. With the approval of High Marshal Helbrecht, the Black Templars called a crusade to crush this traitor chapter and after severe casualties to their own number, the Crimson Tears Chapter was eventually destroyed. None of the loyal Crimson Tears, save the Chapter Master, survived the battle for Njesta. But all was not well for Kaius. During the final battle, he was mortally wounded by a fell daemon prince of Chaos. Even so, his formidable willpower did not waiver until he had banished the daemon back to the warp. Due to his unrelenting courage, exceptional battle prowess, and loyalty to the Emperor, Kaius was honored with interment into one of the Black Templars' ancient dreadnoughts. From this armored behemoth of destruction, Kaius could exact his vengeance upon the Emperor's enemies side-by-side with the Black Templars.
5) Many of the surviving BT marines dyed their tabards and robes a crimson red to give honor to the loyalist brethren (both Crimson Tear and Black Templars) who fell to the traitor Chapter.
6) Once the system's stability was ensured and a Black Templars Chapter Keep was erected, the BT left. Because of their affiliations with the Crimson Tears Chapter, the Inquisition had taken a precarious interest in Marshal Laeroth's Black Templars. The fact that they had trained the new chapter had not gone unnoticed. Surely there was a reason for the Crimson Tear's rapid turn to Chaos? The fact that there was even suspicion of taint in their crusade drove the remaining marines into a fury. How dare someone claim that they were not loyal to the Emperor? It was at this time that Marshal Laeroth received another call for assistance. It seemed that a Dark Eldar kabal was wrecking havoc and Laeroth would not allow the vile xenos to live any longer. A new crusade was called and Laeroth's forces would prove their loyalty to the Emperor once more.
OTHER FACTS:
* This detachment of BT (currently known as the Njesta Crusade) has a permanent Emperor's Champion and his name is Lysanthir.
* The vehicle names in this army use Latin, just because it looks and sounds cool.
* This crusade is known around the Chapter for its use of vehicles.
* Gold crusader seals (purity seals) were given to each of those with confirmed Crimson Tear kills as to help protect them from their taint.
* Crusade badge is in the form of a crimson tear and is located on various parts of the power armor.
* Several of the BT felt personally responsible for the Crimson Tear's turn to Chaos so they wear various icons of penance, skull motifs, etc.
