Editing The Bloodbound

{{Infobox Spess Mahreen Chapter
|Name = The Bloodbound
|Heraldry = [[File:Bloodbound.png|200px|centre]]
|Battle Cry = 
|Number = XXI
|Founding = First Founding
|Successors of =
|Successor Chapters = 
|Chapter Master = 
|Primarch = [[Urehikau Kauaeroa]]
|Homeworld = Tekikinga
|Specialty = Shock Assault
|Strength = 130,000
|Allegiance = Heru, Lord of the Tides - Chaos
|Colours = Lightish Red, White Helm, Black Tattoos
}}
{{edit}}

=Summary of Legion XXI=
'''Primogenator:''' [[Urehikau Kauaeroa]] (also known as "Haere")

'''Cognomen:''' The Bloodbound

'''Observed Strategic Tendencies:''' Combined Arms, Rapid Dominance

'''Noteworthy Domains:''' Tekikinga, Vincido Majoris

'''Alliegence:''' Heru, Lord of the Tides (Traitor)


=History of the Twenty-First Legion=
==Legion Characteristics==
The Bloodbound thrive on the element of surprise, above all else.  Like the vicious tribal warriors of their Primarch’s homeworld, they make almost exclusive use of numeric advantage coupled with practiced speed and ferocity.  With that ferocity comes a penchant for excessive force, resulting in the almost commonplace acquisition of trophies from slain enemies and an obsession with the utter obliteration of an opposing force, regardless of whether the enemy attempts to surrender or retreat.  Rumors of disturbing battlefield antics have reached the ears of other Legions; stories circulated of battlefield sacrifice to darker powers, and the Tupua Company certainly drew suspicions that were confirmed when the Legion pledged its love for conquest to the powers of the Warp.

With little propensity for defensive maneuvers, the Legion is employed most often as an invasion force, either eliminating the target force or facilitating the deployment of manpower from other Legions.

==Culture==
In keeping with their primarch’s traditions, the marines make ample use of tattoos with an emphasis on facial decoration.  These tattoos, reminiscent of creatures of their home, explain that particular marine’s specialty or accomplishments.  The Bloodbound place heavy importance on individual history, and use their body art as an expression and at-a-glance summary of their past.  It is not unusual for marines to paint their armor to match their bodies, leading to ornamented and richly detailed helmets in particular.  

Even before the Heresy, the marines often adorned their armor with trophies of war; skulls, bones, and bits of enemy armor were common sights, though the tattoos were far more prominent.

In the early days of deployment, it became clear that the Bloodbound were ill-suited for peace-keeping missions, and even mild pacification campaigns would stray dangerously close to violent engagements with little provocation.  Initially, it was assumed that these instances were coincidental, but the Legion's penchant for violence became clear enough as the body-count mounted.  They were assigned to increasingly hostile worlds, resulting in bloodshed beyond measure in a growing number of cases.  Despite this, the Legion was not punished for their methods; the hopelessness of the planets they deployed on, considered alongside their discipline in avoiding collateral damage kept the Administratum off their backs.  

However, the repeated engagements with their human targets left the Bloodbound scarred, their impression of humanity forever tainted.  Where many Legions got to see the progress made in the Great Crusade, the new empire forged from untold trillions of loyal subjects, the Bloodbound were only exposed to the ugly face of the old world: cruel, vicious, and incapable of trusting their heaven-sent benefactors.

With this image of humanity firmly planted in their minds, the Bloodbound developed a deep sense of detachment.  They began to see themselves as something of a different species, their ingrained loyalty to one another setting them apart from their primal roots.  With this detachment came other distances, though, even between the Bloodbound and other Legions.  Particularly disdainful of the human-worshiping Entombed and subjected to criticism from various more noble Legions, the Bloodbound only ever felt real camaraderie with the Lions Rampant, though Hektor made every attempt to bring Urehikau into the fold.

'''Mana and Vengeance'''
True to the tendencies of their primarch’s homeworld, the Legion places great value on the acquisition of honor via duels and successfully avenging wrongs.  The concept of mana comes from a pre-crusade term for the favor of the gods, a resource only existing in the abstract and recorded in the tattoos of its bearers.  Mana was often a determinant of who would lead the tribe, though in these days the practice is more of a formality for the sake of maintaining culture in the face of the Warp.

Vengeance is, more than anything else, a driving and uniting factor within the Legion.  Combined with a deeply ingrained sense of brotherhood, the marines' cultural demand for vengeance implies that a slight against even an individual is a slight against the entire Legion, and debts must be paid in full.  This could only lead to conflict, especially towards the end of the Great Crusade.  After what had seemed to be an endless age of warring against the worst humanity had to offer, shedding the blood of the tribe for hollow victories on now-dead worlds had left Urehikau and his men disillusioned with the fledgling Imperium and furious at the fact that his brothers were wielded as little more than a bludgeon.  Once the Traitor Legions began to tear away, there was little left in the Empire to hold the Bloodbound's loyalty.

==Legion Organisation==
With rapid mobilization a deciding factor in the Legion’s combat doctrine, the Bloodbound  had to be organized in a manner unhindered by rigid organization.  With that in mind, the Legion was organized into Taua - “war parties” with variable membership based on need, and individual squads that act as dedicated specialists.

'''The Taua'''
The Taua is the Legion’s equivalent of a Company, though it roughly translates to “war party.”  Taua lack permanent membership, the only constant member being the group’s Rangatira.  The Tohunga and squads are chosen depending on the needs of the mission, meaning that Taua vary greatly in size from campaign to campaign.

After the heresy, a few Taua split off into warbands, though Urehikau has remained active enough in the affairs of his Legion to hold a substantial number of marines together.

===Ranks===

'''Rangatira''' - Captain equivalent.  Veteran Tātai that have shown exceptional leadership ability and understanding of general tactics.  In the formation of Taua, the Rangatira is responsible for selecting squads and a Tohunga.  Following the heresy, Rangatira took up the role of warband leaders.

'''Tohunga''' - Chaplain/Librarian equivalent.  Psykers and spiritual leaders, Tohunga are veteran Toa Tupua selected on the basis of tactical expertise.  Tohunga dedicate themselves to understanding the facets of specific tactics.  Following the heresy, the Tohunga began to scour the warp for patronage, taking up the role of sorcerer-champions to various minor gods.

'''Toa Tātai''' - Sergeant equivalent.  Veterans selected for leadership ability.  Toa Tātai are tied to their squads indefinitely, training from establishment in tight cohesion, working to amplify their effectiveness in combat.

'''Toa''' - Tactical Marine/Scout equivalent.  Only see use in support of armored columns, in the final stages of an invasion.

'''Toa Tere''' - Assault Marine equivalent.  The most numerous designation in the Legion, the Toa Tere are the first in (in the absence of Toa Whawhati), making use of explosives to eliminate any anti-armor positions and soften infantry resistance.

'''Toa Whawhati''' - First Company/Elite equivalent.  Usually deployed in tandem with bombardment via drop pods.  Equipped with short range teleportation devices in leu of jump packs, Whawhati tear through the Warp among enemy infantry, rending enemy armor and flesh with power pouwhenuas and axes.  In the wake of the Heresy, the Whawhati swore allegiance to the minor god Heru, inviting mutations that facilitate teleportation without the need for homers.

'''Toa Mīhini''' - Mechanized division.  Includes heavy armor (artillery, transports) and anti-armor infantry (devastator equivalent).

'''Toa Tupua''' - Psykers focused on melee combat.  Often pledge themselves to servanthood of whatever entity their Tohunga serves, in hopes of being elevated to champion-sorcerers themselves.

===Legion Combat Doctrine===
'''Summary''' - A staple belief among the Bloodbound is that no opposing force can be prepared for everything.  With this in mind, Legion campaigns revolve around intensive surveillance of a target, followed by use of decisive and overwhelming force.  This tactic has proven most effective against enemies who emphasize in countering siege or attrition warfare - the Bloodbound’s preference for drop pods, short range teleportation, and jump packs means that traditional defenses are generally subverted or in some cases entirely avoided.  With assault marines disassembling any artillery establishments from the inside out, the Legion would follow up with the mass deployment of tactical marines and heavy armor to close the gap.

'''Tactics''' - 

=Homeworld=
{{Infobox 40k Planet
|name=Tekikinga
|bgcolor=black
|fgcolor=white
|image=[[File:Tekikinga.jpg|200px|centre]]
|class=Death World
|orbdist=
|gravity=
|temp= Tropical
|pop=
|governor=
|system= Vindico System
|sector=
|subsector=
|segmentum= Segmentum Obscurus
}}

=Art Gallery=

<center>
<gallery>
File:Ure.jpg|Urehikau Kauaeroa

{{Template:/tg/-Heresy-Legions}}