Thunder Kings

"Welcome, my sons! Your voyage has been long and tiresome; come, sit at your father's table. Eat, drink, and make your hearts glad. Share with me your tales, and avail yourselves of the bounty of your new home!"

An excerpt from The History of the High King

Thunder Kings
Battle Cry	"For the High King and the Emperor!"
Number	XI
Founding	First Founding
Successors of	N/A
Successor Chapters	Hammers of Brennus, Red Branch Knights, Gold Wardens, Blazing Spears, Angels of Fire, Golden Tigers, Vulpex Lords, Savage Hearts
Chapter Master	Corradh the Daring
Primarch	Brennus
Homeworld	Alessia (destroyed), Soctis Cluster
Strength	120,000 total before the Heresy; 7 Grand Companies loyal, 5 Traitor
Specialty	Generalists, furious melee
Allegiance	Imperium of Man
Colours	Gold, blue, some green

This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the /tg/ Heresy Timeline and Galaxy pages for more information on the Alternate Universe.

Summary of Legion XI

The XI Legion, the Thunder Kings, are the stalwart scions of Brennus, the 14th Primarch to be discovered by the Emperor. It is rumored that the Thunder Kings claim descent from similar genetic stock as the Thunder Warriors of old, and are thus often simultaneously the subject of both interest and revile as a consequence. They are larger than the majority of other Astartes, yet exhibit no other outward signs that would betray such lineage. They are seen as a stubborn, albeit noble Legion and Chapter, and are generalists suited to performing competently at nearly any role assigned to them. Notably, they have many successor chapters, with whom the Thunder Kings still maintain contact and friendly relations. After the voluntary burning of Alessia, the Chapter now recruits from a series of worlds located in a group of star systems known as the Soctis Cluster, where they de facto operate a kingdom in miniature within the Imperium.

A Thunder Kings Assault Marine

Legion Tactics

Though the Thunder Kings will employ any necessary tactics in the field, their overall strategies are influenced by Brennus' time on Alessia. Brennus learned patience while hunting the planet's great beasts across the hills, forests, and mountains. These fey and powerful creatures could easily overpower a hunter not prepared to face them, and so Brennus developed a great skill for organization and logistics. This allowed him to ensure that, when the time came to fight a beast, he knew everything about killing it, and was prepared to do so efficiently and quickly. However, he also learned the virtue of boldness and quickness of action in the inter-tribal battles of Alessia. Tribal armies were composed of great masses of foot soldiers, led by champions and local “heroes”, warriors supposedly chosen by the gods and blessed with great strength. These men would charge in first in all battles while the common men stayed back, rarely joining in the fight unless pressing for absolute destruction of a foe. Brennus saw how the champions could motivate the men, and inspire them to fight harder, so he began sending them in shortly after the champions began fighting. This would often cause a clan to simply surrender, feeling it better to accept the easy terms offered by the Skyborn then be wiped out. Brennus took these lessons with him to the stars: he treated planets and star systems as great beasts, sending his men out to learn everything they could about them and relay it back to him. Once he knew enough about the foe, they would be overwhelmed by troops chosen to overcome specific weaknesses, while minimizing civilian casualties. Astartes would fight as Alessian champions, charging into the enemy ahead of their masses of human followers, inspiring the mortals with acts of daring heroism and combat feats. Though the Thunder Kings favor melee combat as a whole, they are not fools, and recognize the value of long range fighting. Even the most dedicated Assault marine will carry a bolter rather than a bolt pistol, and many are even seen sporting plasma or volkite guns. Similarly, the greatest of Devastator marines will carry a chainblade, or even a power weapon, alongside his combat knife. Those men considered the greatest veterans of the Thunder Kings carry weapons of all varieties, shouldering a weight in arms that could stagger a warrior of less brawn. The Thunder Kings favor Rhinos and assault chariots above other vehicles. Rhinos are valued for their speed and brawn; many a band of Thunder Kings has rammed holes into a barricade to allow for human troops to flood through. Assault chariots are usually crewed by Veterans, with a Devastator Marine riding a bike customized with the heavy weapons he favors, or those best for the fight; the carriage is manned by an Assault Marine, slinging grenades and cutting foes in twain as the chariot speeds by, only to break off before any reprisal is possible.

Legion Equipment

The Thunder Kings take great pride in their personal equipment; Alessian culture considers blacksmithing a high art. Sergeants and Clan leaders often wear finely woven cloaks, ornate belts, and well crafted, if slightly gaudy broaches and bangles. Every marine among the Thunder Kings adorns his armor and weapons with various fetishes and charms, usually crafted with the intricate knotwork and animal patterns unique to Alessia; these charms are believed to provide strength, protection, and other benefits. The Thunder Kings often eschew weapons like Thunder Hammers and Lightning Claws in favor of Power Swords and Spears. The Thunder Kings use a unique variant of attack bike, the Soctis pattern Assault Chariot, which has a sidecar placed behind the bike rather than alongside it. Jetbikes exist in this pattern, but are mostly operated by senior legion commanders. The Thunder Kings also commonly employ leather slings, mostly for hurling grenades. However, some do carry plasteel or ceramite bullets. In the hands of a transhuman, even such simple munitions can deal devastating wounds at a shocking distance.

Support Formations

Aric Beartooth, a member of the Goffanoi

• Gofannoi: Psykers among the Thunder Kings are known as "Goffanoi," a title referring to an ancient god of smiths. A common nickname for the members of the order is “Silverhands”, after their practice of painting their right gauntlet silver to resemble that deity. Although all of the marines of Brennus' legion are adept at the art of smithing to some degree (a test of smithcraft being part of the legion's aspirant trials), the Gofannoi are particulary proficient in crafting arms and armor of fell power. Rather than manifesting their powers openly as do the psykers of other legions, the Goffanoi channel their ability into their craft, imbuing the intricate knotwork and animal motifs of their blade, armor, and vehicle adornments with psychic energy. The loops and twists of these interlaced patterns contain words in Alessian script, usually the item's name; the length and formation of the name provides a clue to its power and strength. These implements may be wielded by non-psykers, and will still function, if to a lesser degree, but in the hands of a psyker they pulse with true power. Brennus himself is a member of the Goffanoi, as he is able to craft and wield these items to their full potential. Individual members of the Silverhands tend to specialize in a particular area of crafting, such as weaponsmithing; they tend to work closely with Techmarines, and often the more skilled among them are capable of crafting power weapons and other advanced items. The Gofannoi rarely if ever use their psychic powers in an overt manner; they prefer to fight among their battle brothers, allowing their ability to flow into their items of power, and those of their allies.

• Filid: The Filid are the apothecaries of the Thunder Kings, entrusted with both the mental and physical health of their brothers. Their name is taken from the wandering bards and poets of Alessia, who would compose both heroic songs and poems to exalt a king or tribal leader, and satirical verse to denigrate and demean the enemies of their patron. When Brennus took control of the legion, he reasoned that if the apothecaries were to heal his men, they should know their deeds and sentiments, and so he instructed each apothecary in the Alessian poetic tradition. After the issuance of the Chaplain Edict, the Filid took on this role as well; they were already trusted by their fellows, and so were the best choice to watch over them for signs of sorcery.

• Techmarines: Within the Thunder Kings, forgecraft and metalworking were highly respected traditions. This meant that the honor of serving as a Techmarine was nigh incomprable. Though the legion had no particular ties to Mars and it's orthodoxies, Techmarines among the Thunder Kings were highly skilled; the immense pride every legionary took in his smithing ability led to fierce competition between legion Techmarines. They were not nearly as guarded with the secrets of technology as other acolytes of Mars. Techniques and methods of forging even relatively advanced equipment and in depth armor repair were common among even the rank and file of the legion. Most techmarines reasoned that fellow heroes were deserving the trust involved with knowing these secrets-and besides, it would leave for time for them to craft equipment of a truly fell nature. Given Brennus' proclivity for remaining distant from Terra, this attitude did not often come into conflict with Mars.

• Castra: Warfare on Alessia revolved around small skirmish tactics and battles between champions. Clans were based around large villages surrounding ring-walled fortress complexes. When the men of Alessia were uplifted to become Imperial super soldiers, they transferred much of their love of fortresses to their star ships, seeing a mobile armed battle barge as the ultimate fort. The legion did not leave land based fortresses behind them, recognizing the value of a solid bulwark against which an enemy could break. However, the warriors of the Thunder Kings came to prefer not only their ships, but massive star fortresses. A fort in space could not only break an enemy fleet, but serve as the ultimate insurmountable high ground. In charge of the legions fortification building was Conan Maoll, one time member of the Eleventh squad of the Sacred Band. Maoll was rude, unpleasant, and (by Space Marine standards) rather lazy. Brennus recognized that this combination of traits made him the perfect fortress builder; who better to design and maintain structures meant to keep out enemies as efficiently as possible? Maoll did indeed prove to excel at this task, designing a number of mighty star forts that would defend the Imperium well into the 40th millenium; greatest of these was Gatake's Iris, built so efficiently Maoll was able to nap through an entire xenos invasion while losing barely more than a squad's worth of men.

WIP

• Victualary

-the chain of star forts built by the Castra help aid in re-supply

    -supply operations handled mostly by long term members of the Banndaor, supervised by those marines in each clan or tribe with the best talent for logistics

-intelligence is a combined marine/human effort

    -minor skirmishes fought in each system, feeding intelligence back to the legion commanders and used to create a plan to overwhelm the foe
    -long term intelligence not their specialty; intelligence gathering is done on the ground when it is needed, as opposed to before hand.

Specialist Troops

• Déith Cernun: The "Horned Gods". They are the greatest veterans of the 1st Grand Company, which was formed mostly from members of Brennus' personal tribe. All were equipped with Terminator armor and served as both the Primarch's bodyguard and the most elite shock troops of the legion. When a foe resisted the Thunder King's strategies for too long, the Horned Gods were teleported in to end resistance as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. In keeping with the Legion's generalist strategy, these veterans each had a mighty personal arsenal, containing weapons fit for any situation; they usually carried as much of this arsenal as possible, to allow for shifting needs in battle. The Horned Gods were named both for the rite they had to undertake to prove they were worthy to join, and because of their appearance; anyone wishing to join had to hunt and kill an Alessian mega-stag, with only a spear, a sling, and a pouch of stones, and they wore the stag's antlers on their helmets as a sign of their rank. Unusually, the Gods always had a dedicated apothecary, one of the Legion's Filid, and a dedicated Librarian of the Silverhands.

• Awenyddion : "Inspired Ones". The most decorated, veteran Legionaries under each Dunn Rig's command. The armaments of the Awenyddion varied depending on which clan and tribe they served with. Regardless of their tribe, each was a truly superlative warrior.

• Drakk Fal: "Dragonblooded." The Drakk Fal are a high-speed rapid reaction force said to be first formed during the Crannórga campaign. Their name comes from the Alessian Sea Dragon, a cruel and merciless creature that strikes with no warning or hesitation. They are commonly found using two-handed axes or swords , although they will sometimes carry a melta or plasma gun as backup. They are often found riding jetbikes, though the majority are armed simply with assault packs. They will always have a dedicated Thunderhawk or Stormbird, as well as a Rhino they have customized to their liking.

• Breaca Seidhe : "Fae Marked". Specialized armoured shock assault and line-breaker fast attack formations. They are originated from inter-legion fraternity of blacksmith-engineers and consequently proficient at utilizing plasma, graviton and other exotic, esoteric arsenals. Their signature equipment is a unique open-top Rhino variant, the Géardhroi (Razorback). While sacrificing some transport capacity and protection, it enables them to deploy equipped with normally unusable, or unfitting, weaponry. Typically the Fae Marked were Techmarines, though a select few of the Legion's Silverhands were allowed to join.

• Obaidh Seath : "Spirit Folk". Specialized urban warfare and siege assault formations focused on minimize casualties, both Imperials and civilians. They were the only Thunder Kings to regularly use Thunder Hammers. The particular pattern of hammer they used was intended to stun foes as opposed to slaying them, allowing for a mostly unharmed prisoner. The Spirit Folk always maintain a squad of Filid, to ensure their prisoners are kept in acceptable condition.

• Lann an Arsa: "Blades of the Ancients." Risen with advent of Legion Fleet. Elite boarding parties and specialized breacher formations. They were highly respected among the Legion and were commonly given high quality and exotic equipment. A signature piece was a slimmed down jump pack. This variant was not meant for rapid assaults, but rather to allow the marine to maneuver in the void. They also carried shaped melta charges suitable for blasting a hole into a starship hull, if used in great enough numbers.

• Oingheaw Andagha : "Daughters of Starfire". Legion's elite fleet formations. The title encompassed both fighter pilots and crew members of larger ships. Due to significance of Legion fleet elements, they exert substantial influence. Experts of void warfare and closely associated with Lann an Arsa, which performs boarding actions.

Legion Culture

Walled village on Alessia

The Thunder Kings, upon being reunited with their primarch, largely replaced their myriad customs with those of Alessian tribes. They were a legion prone to celebration and bold gestures; the ancient sagas speak of massive feasts thrown by the great leaders of the Legion, including Brennus himself. They were quick to give gifts to cement friendships or seal a bargain; often, a gift like this would be an item of the giver's own design. All Thunder Kings wore a fair number or amulets, torcs, and other forms of jewelry. The number and quality of these items had a loose indication of an individual's status, though specific items could always mark a leader. Though they accepted the Imperial Truth, the Thunder Kings did not much change the old beliefs and superstitions of their world. All the beings they once called "gods" were now thought of as the spirits of ancient human heroes. The Thunder Kings in fact thought of themselves and their cousins as the heroes of their age, and expected to pass honorably into the Otherworld when their time was done.

In battle, the Thunder Kings tended towards acts of daring on the front lines of combat. Each man sought to perform deeds of valor that would bring honor to him, and through him the wider Imperium. Squads were encouraged to accept surrender. They would often be seen toting around a small retinue of servants taken from enemies who surrendered, known as Banndaor, or "Bond-slaves". Despite their name, these prisoners were treated quite well. Usually they did little more than polish and maintain the weapons of their captors until returned as part of peace or conquest. Those Banndaor with valuable or unusual skills are often offered great rewards to stay on after they had been officially released; the Thunder Kings vastly preferred real human servants to servitors. The relationship between the Thunder Kings and the Mechanicum was never warm, but neither was it acrimonious. The emphasis on smithcraft inherent in Alessian culture produced a legion that could forge and maintain their own equipment to a vast degree, and the nature of Brennus' campaigns meant that his Mechanicum contingents were rarely recalled to the Red Planet.

Legion Organization

The Thunder Kings are organized along largely traditional lines. When reunited with their primarch, he rearranged the legion to consist of 12 Grand Companies, each correlating to one of the tribes of Alessia. When Brennus first organized these companies, they numbered about 5,000 marines each, but by the beginning of the Heresy would grow to about 10,000. These Grand Companies are each commanded by a Dunn Rig, or “Fortress King”, most of whom were uplifted from the chiefs of the Alessian tribes, or a close blood relative. Each Grand Company is further divided into smaller 1000-2000 marine units called “Clans”, which usually consist of marines of similar temperament and combat specialty; each of these clans is led by a champion, or Chabad Rig (Chariot King). Usually a unit of 500 will have its own sub-chief, known as a Rouster; often this position will be filled by one of the Filid. Squads are known as Kerns, and they are led by warriors known as Curadh ("Champions"). Individual Clans are largely independent; while they are ultimately subject to the decisions of the Dunn Rig (As the Grand Companies are ultimately subject to Brennus, the Ard Rig or High King), in practice they are usually left alone to complete their objectives. The Tribes are responsible for the training and equipping of Astartes in affiliated clans more than anything else.

In the modern era, the Thunder Kings and their successors act largely as Codex Chapters. As the clans were used operating as fairly small, independent units, the process of splitting apart came naturally. Given their sanction by the Imperium, they also knew it was that or die out as a force entirely. All of the original Second Founding Chapters are crusading chapters; in the millennia since the beginning of their original Penitent Crusade, several successor chapters have been granted the right to a homeworld. The Thunder Kings chapter itself, however, is still on crusade.

5th Grand Company

Scean Realta, "Star Eaters"
Chapter Master	Dubh Thought-Stealer
Specialty	Close Combat Shock Assault
Allegiance	Traitor/Khorne
Colours	Pre-heresy: Blood Red and Black; Post-Heresy: Blood Red and Forest Green

The Star Eaters made their home in the darkest, oldest forests of Alessia's easternmost subcontinent. The people there had long been under the thrall of dark priests and fell-handed warriors worshiping the ancient Crow Queen, the most bloodthirsty aspect of Alessia's war goddess. When Brennus conquered them, he did not outlaw the Queen's worship outright, but he did command that the ritual beheading of enemies be ceased. Heads taken in honest battle could be given to the Queen, but innocents were forbidden. Dubh Thought-Stealer viewed his command as a way to distance himself from the Primarch, who he viewed as having upset the natural order of Alessia. Though the ships of the Star Eaters were often meticulously clean, all held one or more hidden charnel shrines to the Crow Queen. Most were unaware that she was an aspect of Khorne, but few would have cared in the slightest. They were easily led to betray Brennus with the promise of being able to openly enact their old rituals, and also the knowledge that their patron would bestow upon them new and fantastic power. The Scean Realta were known for their height, even among a legion of giants, and they favored violent melee combat above all else. The commonly used two-handed weapons of all sorts, forgoing the shields so common in other tribes.

7th Grand Company

Slaigo, "Shell Hoarders"
Chapter Master	Berit Goldteeth
Specialty	Medium-range Assault
Allegiance	Traitor/Slaanesh
Colours	Pre-Heresy: Gold and Purple/Post-Heresy: Forest Green and Pink

The Slaigo, whose name meant "Shell Hoarders", were the richest tribe of Alessia. Their territory contained both plentiful sites for mining gold and vast deposits of the shallow-water plant most of Alessia used for tattoo ink and body paint. When Brennus conquered them, he set on them higher tribute than other tribes, reasoning that they could stand to contribute more to the good of their world. This set them against him from the very beginning, as there was nothing a Slaigo took more pride in than his collection of gold trinkets and adornments. The Slaigo took these attitudes with them to the stars, deliberately picking an expedition fleet that took them far from Brennus. Once past the High King's immediate notice, they demanded higher than normal tax payments of their subject worlds, and skimmed off the top for themselves. The Slaigo were easily lured to Slaanesh with the promises of being able to loot the Imperial Palace (so large that there would surely be plunder however late they got there), and were actually corrupted well before Ostium. The average member of the tribe would not admit to worshiping any god, but the lust for gold makes them slaves to the Fae Eater. The Slaigo fight using weapons effective at mid distance; they do not wish to risk their fine cloaks and ornaments, but nor are they cowards who would shy from battle. Many marines among the Slaigo have taken to grafting bionics onto themselves, feeling that a new hand or arm could hold a flashy gun. A truly superlative warrior may replace his face with a bionic plate, and with it a hidden laser concealed into a jeweled eye.

9th Grand Company

Áitribh Phortaigh, "Bog Dwellers"
Chapter Master	Rugadh Tairneach, "The Eater of Souls"
Specialty	Sorcery
Allegiance	Traitor/Nurgle
Colours	Pre-heresy: Snot Green/ Post heresy: Forest Green and Snot Green

The Bog Dwellers were the smallest of Alessia's tribes, no larger than a few thousand individuals when Brennus brought them into his alliance. They were largely a tribe of sorcerers and shamans, victims

of the great purges of Alessia's past under Arl mac Teogh. They lived in the least inhabitable swamps and bogs of Alessia's southern hemisphere, and their environment led them to a worship of the natural forces of rot and decay, and their place in the cycle of rebirth. They practiced an unusual form of sorcery: willing sacrifices were tattooed with prayers and questions for the spirits of the otherworld, and cast alive into bogs to drown. They would then be raised up to read messages in the patterns of decay on the body. The most worthy would instead be raised up as undying guardian mummies. The Bog Dwellers fell to chaos after suffering the ravages of plague magic on Ostium. Infected with a virus that neither medicine nor magic would assuage, those few who lived gave their lives to the Lord of Decay to survive. Those who died were reborn as hulking, rotted mummies; a parody of the tribal guardians in Astartes plate.

The surviving members of the Bog Dwellers still sing a traditional Alessian song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd8cBOVleHw

11th Grand Company

Siúlóirí Taibhreamh,"Dream Walkers"
Chapter Master	Arl Oceanseer, "the Last"
Specialty	Anti-psyker combat
Allegiance	Traitor/Tzeench
Colours	Dark Blue and Forest Green

The Dream Walkers were one of the eldest Tribes of Alessia, having once been the leaders of their world. The ancient High King Arl mac Teogh, known as “Gleaminghand”, had led a purge of sorcerers and warlocks during his rule. Only the Goffanoi, at that time a fairly small sect, were deemed "pure" enough to survive; the fact that they sealed magical energies into cold, reliable steel set them apart from other magical traditions. These wizard-smiths rose to prominence under Arl, while practitioners of other arts were hounded nearly to extinction. The Dream Walkers did not retain their position of power over the other tribes across the centuries, but their smiths and priests were still quite respected. The Tribe as a whole were zealous worshipers of Dag Ceith, a being described as having attained mastery over its form, and immunity to the ravages of magic. When the Dream Walkers were uplifted as Space Marines, they were confronted by a galaxy of sorcerers and magic users, and used their influence to re-enact Arl's Cleansing. As they fought more twisted psykers and sorcerers, they began to hear soft whispers in their dreams, whispers of the power of the old times. Of how Dag Ceith had blessed Arl Gleaminghand with symbols of great power, and that these symbols could be found within the very texts and tomes of the sorcerers he had slain. The Siúlóirí believed the whispers, which they ascribed to Ceith itself, and they began plundering the lairs of sorcerers after slaying them. The Goffanoi began etching dark symbols onto the hidden parts of the Tribe's weapons and armor, and tribal champions had them engraved into their very bone. The Tribe found its soldiers able to resist or repel harmful warp energy, and in some cases gained limited control over their very bodies. They increasingly slackened their crusade against the sorcerers, more often enslaving them to use in their plans. By the time of Ostium, they had been swayed against the Emperor, led by Dag Ceith (revealed as a mask of Tzeentch) to view him as the paramount offense, the head of a sorcerous tradition in dire need of purging.

12th Grand Company

Manaan Drak, "Sea Dragons"
Chapter Master	Bron Axefist
Specialty	Void Combat, Boarding, Scouting
Allegiance	Loyal
Colours	Ice blue

The 12th tribe was commonly knows as the "Sea Dragons" by outsiders, although their name in full truly meant "Dragons of the Sea God." They had always been less organized than the other tribes, and mostly consisted of bands of disorganized raiders operating from small farming villages. The fortresses common to most of Alessia were almost absent in their cold northern lands, but they outstripped the other tribes in naval matters by far. Brennus managed to conquer them with relatively little bloodshed, as many clans were happy to ally with him simply for mercenary work. Those who resisted him fled to the trackless waters of Alessia's north pole, and were the last to be brought to heel. When uplifted, the Sea Dragons transferred their affinity for ships of wood to those of metal and ceramite. The Manaan Drak produced all but one of the Masters of the Fleet to serve during the Grand Crusade, and comprised the majority of the Lann an Arsa as well. The Dragons remained loyal mostly out of respect for Brennus' strength and ability, and a distrust of any entities which could originate in the Warp. In battle, they favored pistols and heavy boarding shields, and always carried a bandoleer of melta charges.

Fleet

Until the discovery of their Primarch, the Thunder Kings had a scanty fleet at best. As they were rarely deployed in any great numbers, they mostly had ships suitable for ferrying small companies of men about. When the legion was united at Alessia, the only request Brennus made of his father was an armada befitting his new status as Legion commander. The Emperor granted this request, and presented Brennus with an ancient Gloriana battleship to serve as his flagship, and command of several expedition fleets to serve his warriors.

The Thunder Kings felt an immediate sense of reverence towards these ships; their ancestors had sailed from the great blue island of Urth in ships like these. The captains of each tribe claimed the greatest vessels for themselves, and the Legion began a tradition of naming ships as great Alessian fortresses. These fortifications were commonly known as "halls"; on Alessia they were the truest expression of a war-leader's power, and these armed and armored skyships were the ultimate fusion of legend and battlefield prestige. Unlike in many Imperial fleets, Navigators were given the highest of honors and consulted often for their advice. The warriors serving in boarding parties were known as Lann an Arsa, or "Blades of the Ancients"; fierce rivalries often grew over what clan would take the honor of serving in these units.

Under the leadership of Fleet Master Kral mac Aran, the "Dragontamer", the Thunder Kings Fleet eventually grew to a respectable size. At the beginning of the Heresy, they numbered some 79 battleships, 43 grand cruisers, 150 heavy cruisers, 217 light cruisers, 281 frigates and 327 destroyers. The legion's inherent feelings of respect and awe towards these ships meant that they focused a good deal of their energy on improving and customizing these vessels, and poured many of their resources into the creation of new ships. During it's time in the Great Crusade, the Thunder Kings navy quickly developed a reputation for superior armaments and craftsmanship. Many of these ships were lost during the Hektor Heresy, especially in the battles of Ostium and Alessia.

Notable Ships

Dúnn an Lamh Fad, "Hall of the Long Arm": Ancient Gloriana Class battleship and rediscovered relic of the Dark Age of Technology, bestowed by The Emperor himself. Brennus' flagship. Even more colossal than its kin and equipped with the "Lance of the Stag Prince", an oversized lance cannon capable of splitting a moon with one shot. Disappeared with Brennus at the end of the First Black Crusade.

Dúnn an Folamh Gaire , "Hall of Empty Laughter": Flagship of the 6th tribe, the Painted Men. Destroyed in the Heresy.

Dúnn an Bean Glanadh, "Hall of the Washer Woman": Flagship of the Scean Realta. Presumed destroyed during the Breaking of Alessia, but supposed sightings persist into the 41st millenium.

Notable Figures

The Eleventh Squad of the Sacred Band

1. Roc Galveoc, the "Thunderbird": Squad Sergeant; First Chapter Master of the Thunder Kings, slain in the 2nd Black Crusade

2. Finn the First, Apothecary: Slain during the Scouring

3. Zebulon Uriy: Lost in the warp during the Great Crusade

4. Conan Maoll, the "Hairless": Slain by daemons at Ostium

5. Aengus Bloodmane: Slain by eldar reavers before the Hektor Heresy

6. Oscara, "Deadeye": Slain by plague magic on Ostium

7. Dek VanDyne: Slain during the taking of The Great Scar on Terra

8. Luthor Storen, the "Razortusk": Slain during the Scouring

9. Sebastian Moran: Lost in the warp during the Great Crusade

10.

Ferdiad, Hand of the King

Ferdiad mac Aran was a direct descendant of the ancient High King Conar the Thousand-Slayer, who had briefly united the 12 Tribes before his death. He was the son of the chief of the Hundred Swords of Conar, a clan then considered subordinate to Brennus' Lords of Thunder. Ferdiad had been born shortly after the Primarch's discovery, and in a long running tradition, his father fostered the child with the Lords of Thunder. As Brennus' adopted father had no sons of his own line, the two boys became fast friends, and remained so even as Brennus grew into a superhuman. Unlike many of the rest of Alessia's inhabitants, Ferdiad never looked at his king with worshipful awe, but rather as a brother; likewise Brennus felt a strong affection for Ferdiad, more than any other human. The Primarch liked to say that while Ferdiad kept his feet anchored to the earth, Brennus helped his friend touch the skies.

By the time Brennus began his campaign to unite the 12 Tribes, the King's Hand had returned to rule the Hundred Swords. He pledged their strength to the campaign immediately, and quickly made a name for himself in the battles that followed. Where the High King was patient and considered, looking at a problem from all angles before choosing a solution, Ferdiad was bold and impulsive. He favored a quick strike with overwhelming power. The young Primarch knew exactly how to use a warrior of this nature: he sent Ferdiad and his troops to overcome those among the Tribes who would not bend to diplomacy. Though the High King participated in many of these battles himself, he often gave Ferdiad operational command. Some said that were it not for Brennus, Ferdiad would have united the lands himself. But he scoffed at this notion. He was the High King's right hand, and needed no higher honor.

When The Emperor came to claim his lost son, Ferdiad was against the entire idea. In his mind, this Imperium that had come to claim them went against the natural way of things. He suggested that the Alessian people resist. After all, this Imperium might have many soldiers, but Alessia was a world of heroes. In a rare moment, Brennus disagreed with his foster brother. He had felt the glow of his father's spirit, and knew that the Emperor was the rightful king of Alessia. Indeed, he was the rightful king of the entire human race. The Primarch assured Ferdiad that all would be well, that he had judged these strangers and found them deserving. He made sure that Ferdiad was uplifted along with him; though Ferdiad was too old to become an Astartes, he was a vigorous man in the prime of life. He took easily to the cybernetic and chemical enhancements provided to him, but never truly lost his doubts. He felt that a rift had formed between himself and Brennus, and he grew disillusioned with what he saw as an increasingly tyrannical and brutal realm.

Ferdiad was a tall man, with raven dark hair and a haunted look even in the feast hall. With the enhancements and power armor granted to him by the Imperium, he was nearly the height of a true Space Marine. The Thunder Kings had no disdain for what some might label a “false Astartes”, as they remembered their own shaming as similar to the Thunder Warriors. Ferdiad bore a great chain spear that he named “The Gnawer”, alongside a small round storm shield and a volkite rifle. He was also among the first of the Thunder Kings to be granted Terminator Armor. Towards the end of the Great Crusade, and during the Heresy, he bore a four-tined silver daemon spear. The malevolent spirit within helped to push him towards Chaos and rebellion against the Imperium.

Aeron, the Storm's Eye

Aeron mac Morna was the Captain of the Thunder Kings 1st Company during the Great Crusade, and was also the pre-eminent member of the Horned Gods. Aeron was one of the few Thunder Kings who regularly used a pair of weapons in melee, forgoing a shield; usually these would be matched power swords, though he did posess a formidable array of melee weapons, including a rarely-seen lightning claw. Aeron was not the greatest tactician among the Thunder Kings, but this was not what Brennus required of him. The Storm's Eye was the primarch's personal champion and executioner, easily the most proficient among his brother marines with a blade. He was often mentioned in the same breath with Kariman of the Sons of Fire and the other notable captains of the Legions. Aeron was no blood-mad berserker, and was notable for the expression of perfect calm he displayed from the center of his whirling blades. After the Heresy, Aeron led his clan, The Blazing Spears of Dagra, to form a new codex-compliant chapter, the Blazing Spears.

Roc Galveoc, the Thunderbird; Duke of Nova Yoruk

Roc's first pure memory is of The Emperor himself, reaching out a hand to free a boy from the hellish slums of Earth. At only 9 years old, Roc had survived as a member of a Nova Yoruk street gang, and an accomplished killer at that. The Master of Mankind's soldiers freed several other gangers from the rubble, but Roc's insistence that he was the "eY Numbah WUN" led to his inclusion in the Astartes project.

Roc wielded the Midnight Special, a high powered volkite pistol, and The Stinger, a monstrous excruciator chainsword.

Zebulon Uriy, the Topaz Prince Zebulon's origins are lost to time. He first appears in the 11th Sacred Band's records during the Cleansing of the Great Scar, where he appropriates a needle gun and several vials of mutagenic chemicals to fight a band of renegade Thunder Warriors. Zebulon is recorded as being tall, as befitting a member of the 11th legion, but unusually slim. He and his ship, the Coire Cruach, have been seen helping and hindering many forces in the galaxy

Garrick Hammerhand, Foeseeker and Chabad Rig of the Slaigo tribe

After the unification of the twelve tribes of Alessia each chieftain was given voice as lord of his people. This tradition forged a unity previously unknown to the world, one which Brennus carried with him to the stars when he rejoined the Emperor. Each grand company of the Thunder Kings would draw from one of the great tribes for recruits, and as before, the chieftains, now captains over armies of Astartes, served as the council for their primarch. They too were served by internal councils of their own, consisting of the greatest of the clan captains under their authority.

Garrick was one such captain, drawn from the Slaigo tribe of the coast lands. His rise to authority had not been a meteoric one, but rather a steady rise through the attrition of war. His leadership and combat skills were well respected, but promotion by circumstance other than the death of his predecessors never came due to his clash with the patient ideal of the legions ways of war. Garrick was a bold man, favoring decisive action and swift, powerful deployment of the forces at his command. His peers view his command as a reckless one that risks too much for little gain. His retort has always been that fortune favors the bold, and only those who dare will know the glories of victory. To his credit, Garrick's style of leading the charge has galvanized a loyal following of troops within his tribe, forming a solid spearhead that faces the foes of mankind with unflinching resolve and fury. Upon his elevation to a place in the Slaigo council, the reputation of his troops was one of great renown and open mindedness, with a willingness to drive home unorthodox and aggressive tactics to gain victory.

Ultimately, the loyal following Garrick possessed would be his only saving grace. When the treason of the warmaster was discovered, so too were the roots of cancer that gnawed at his company. The majority of the Slaigo clans had been long since corrupted, their greed having led them into the arms of Chaos. Garrick was one of the few who revered The Emperor above gold, and so his voice on the council quickly lost support. Garrick and his clan were chosen for the "honorable" position of serving as the tribe's representatives on Ostium. They managed to survive that terrible conflict - only to be betrayed from within when the tribe mustered at Alessia.

In the end the captain of the Slaigo found his position usurped and his ship torn by a sudden, violent mutiny. His personal guard and loyal men from his days as a lesser officer quelled the fighting, but only after five hours of ceaseless slaughter as brothers in arms fell upon one another. Such bitterness only grew worse when his ship, the Astral Huntsman, was fired upon by the remaining vessels of the company's fleet. Word of the failed uprising had reached the other vessels where similar mutiny had ended swiftly in the traitors favor. Shocked and enraged, Garrick had to be restrained by his men, lest he command his ship on a suicidal final stand. Better, they reasoned, to flee and give word of their losses than to leave Brennus short a captain and the vital news. Fleeing from the treasonous Slaigo fleet, they rejoined with elements of the still loyal Thunder Kings. Swearing vengeance upon the grave breach of faith his men had committed, Garrick joined the marines bound for the Jovian campaign and became the Hammer of Brennus, instrument of the primarch's wrath.

The Hammers of Brennus

Hammers of Brennus
Battle Cry	"Vengeance is Nigh!"
Number	79th
Founding	2nd Founding
Successors of	Thunder Kings
Successor Chapters	Gold Wardens
Chapter Master	Drust the Tumultuous
Primarch	Brennus
Homeworld	Fleet Chapter
Strength	2000
Specialty	Fast Assault
Allegiance	Imperium of Man
Colours	Gold and Black

The Hammers of Brennus were formed in the early days after the Heresy from survivors of the loyalists that fled annihilation from the traitor tribes. They were added to the roster of one of the tribes decimated in the fighting late in the Heresy to bolster their numbers, the chapter now forms a vengeful, vindictive offshoot of the more temperate parent legion. The Hammers of Brennus hold an eagerness to exact a toll of blood and violence on those who turned from the Emperor's light, and hold incredibly strong ties of brotherhood within their own ranks as survivors and warriors, which extends to the rest of the Thunder Kings and their child chapters. Among the Thunder Kings, it is the Hammers that are first to fight. They respond swiftly to calls for aid (especially from forces facing the Archenemy) and deploy using an extensive number of drop pods form a sudden, explosive presence on the battlefield. From the bitter close combat of planetfall a landing zone is swiftly secured for the rest of the chapter's forces to deploy, allowing a multitude of heavier supplies to be ferried into the hot combat zone under extensive gunship protection. This vanguard force swiftly shifts from a defensive posture to an offensive one once the beachhead is secured. As reinforcements arrive, the chapter turns to a highly aggressive force focused on harrying the enemy and ensuring superiority of mobility by assaulting air and rapid attack assets. This in turn frees gunships from convoy detail, allowing for even greater reach. Ultimately, the Hammers turn the crucible of deep strikes and rapid assault into an art, one which marks the bane of slower, more cumbersome foes. Given their close ties to their imperial allies, it is safe to assume that when Brennus' hammers make landfall, relief is soon assured.

Legion History

Terra and the Sacred Band

The Eleventh squad of the Sacred Band had little opportunity for glory during the conquest of the Merican hives. Mostly recruited from the children of common soldiers, the 11th were looked on with suspicion and disdain due to their close relation to the Thunder Warriors. They were usually overshadowed in the field by the Ninth Squad in the role of Tactical Marines, and though their size and strength would have made them a natural choice to serve as Assault Marines, that role went instead to the 4th squad. These proto-Thunder Kings were often looked on with suspicion and distrust, due to their resemblance to the Thunder Warriors who had begun the Unification Wars. Despite this, some names began to drift through the ranks of the regular human troops they served alongside. The stories of the feuds between Roc Galveoc and Zebulon Uriy were particularly notable. The two had been enemies since childhood, and the process of geneseed had done little to dull their antipathy. Though Roc had been made Sergeant, Uriy strove at every opportunity to usurp his rival. Unfortunately, this rivalry merely strengthened the opinions of higher command, and Squad XI was rarely called upon for front line work. Their only real action of note on Terra was the pacification of a small colony of renegade Thunder Warriors who had defied the Emperor's demand for their surrender.

The rebel Thunder Warriors based themselves in The Great Scar, a deep canyon gouged into the western half of the Merican continent. Once a normal canyon caused by the slow march of a river, it was now a hotbed for warped and hideous genetic experiments. These Thunder Warriors had allied with a band of twisted surgeons, who were known as the Men of the Snake, in an attempt to extend their own lives. The Men of the Snake intended not only this, but also to grow an army of horrid mutants from their new test subjects. The gorge was a prime defensible site, as even the slightest misstep could send a warrior plummeting into the depths, never to return. The Eleventh managed to abseil into the Scar and hit different levels all at once, working their way downwards. Zebulon Uriy, a minor scientist in his own right, appropriated a needle gun and chemicals from several of the labs he came across. He would use these purloined tools to wreak havoc on the genetic horrors they faced. Roc Galveoc himself fought the rebel leader in the bottom levels, by the shores of the Blood River After losing his weapons to the mutated Thunder Warrior's prodigious strength, Roc managed to appropriate his enemy's enormous chainsword and take his head. However they received no real accolades for this victory. Most suspected that the squad had simply used their close resemblance to Thunder Warriors to trick their enemies into a victory. Some even accused the Eleventh of collaborating with the renegade Thunder Warriors, only turning against them when they knew they could not survive a rebellion. Though the Emperor did not give credence to these claims, the shadow was cast, and the Eleventh spent the rest of the Unification Wars under the command of more trusted legions.

The Great Crusade

If the Eleventh expected the beginnings of the Great Crusade to be their chance for glory, they were to be sorely disappointed. Roc Galveoc was given the title of Legion master more because someone was needed than out of any real consideration for his talents. In fact, the warriors of the Eleventh never fought as a full legion before the arrival of their Primarch. Individual chapters were dealt out piecemeal to any force that requested Astartes and were frequently relegated to garrison duties. Even Roc's official status as Legion Master earned him no respect or influence, and many of the Imperial Army commanders who fought alongside him either did not know of his position or simply did not care. This prevented the Legion from forming any real sense of identity; most thought of themselves more as members of their chapters, and some felt almost no connection to the wider Imperium at all. Few records speak conclusively about members of the Eleventh until they were reunited with their Primarch. What is well known is that many of the members of the Eleventh squad felt extreme animosity towards each other, particularly Zebulon Uriy and Roc. The only real exception to this rule was Finn, whose general likability and knack for storytelling made him the one member with whom the entire legion could agree.

When Brennus was given command of his legion, he knew he had a truly difficult task at hand. His father had given him a horde of disillusioned men with no common thread to bind them, and expected his son to form an army. The Primarch felt that this was simply his first challenge, a way for a father to ensure his son was ready for command. Brennus decided that, if no common link existed among his sons, his own presence would forge one. He greeted his Astartes as a High King would greet soldiers returning from battle: with open arms, celebrations, and feasting. He had spoken to the veterans and senior captains among the legion before seeing the rank and file, and so he knew much about the deeds and proclivities of each chapter. Armed with this knowledge, the Primarch mingled with his legion, hearing their stories, their grievances, and their dreams. He encouraged them to connect to the people of his world; he would accompany many Astartes on hunting expeditions eschewing the technology of his father's realm for the sword and spear of his home. The warriors and young men of Alessia were also encouraged to mingle with the warriors from the stars; Brennus thought that it would be wise for both cultures to know as much as possible about their new brothers. The council of tribes was largely in favor of this; the only exception was Brennus' best friend and the current Council Champion, the warrior Ferdiad mac Conn. Ferdiad had advised Brennus for years, and his position now was that the Imperium could do nothing but harm to their peaceful world. Brennus was not in the habit of disagreeing with his friend, but felt that the Champion was simply nervous about leaving his world to go to the stars. Brennus also suspected that his friend was worried that the two would grow apart, and so appointed Ferdiad to the position of Legion Equerry, a post second only in power to the Primarch's own. Though the new Equerry would give up this point of contention, it would fester in his heart throughout the Great Crusade.

Brennus dedicated the better part of a year to interacting with his legion. In addition to hunting expeditions, the High King set elaborate tests and challenges for his sons, to ensure they were adaptable and able to think on their feet. He also set them to live among the people, to remind them of the human beings they laid down their lives to serve. At the same time, he prepared the world he ruled to contribute to the Imperium. Though Brennus favored a traditional existence for his planet, he allowed modern innovations to arrive on Alessia as a measured pace; soon small hive cities had sprung up on the larger continents. The Primarch encouraged his people to spend a good deal of time with the Astartes, and began contests between young men to decide who would have the honor of sailing the stars. While he was doing this, however, he was also coordinating the Imperial conquest of Alessia's nearest neighboring star system. In Alessian folklore, the star was called Golden Tree!Brennus believed it was an auspicious sign, and so he directed the forces under Lord General Cruzand to conduct skirmishes against the system, and learn everything possible about their capabilities. They would relay the information to him, and he crafted a plan that would give each of his newfound sons a piece of glory. (The Heresy) The Assault on Main|The Assault on Osmium

After escaping from the disastrous foray on Ostium, Brennus recalled all of his remaining sons to Alessia, where he planned to organize a grand, sweeping attack on many of Hektor's forces, bolstering all the brothers he could and harrying the Warmaster to delay his advance. Unfortunately, the High King's plan would never come to fuition. At the great assembly Brennus called to dispatch his sons to the stars, his equerry Ferdiad stepped forward to declare that he sought to challenge Brennus for the position of High King of Alessia, as he and several of the other tribes felt that the Emperor (and by extension, Brennus), was no longer fit to rule mankind, and that the gods of Chaos represented the true power of the universe. Ferdiad had taken five tribes with him into rebellion, each embracing a different aspect of Chaos, and these rebellious Astartes instigated a planet-wide civil war for leadership of the Legion. Though the traitors were outmatched, they had the advantages of betrayal and the dark powers of Chaos. The fighting continued at a near stand-still for just over a year, before Ferdiad finally challenged Brennus to a combat of champions, to decide the entire war in the ancient manner.

Scouring and Post-Heresy

The Thunder Kings were very active during the period of The Scouring, along with their cousins the Void Angels. Brennus had aggressively recruited for his legion during the Heresy, and he continued to recruit from the worlds his legion cleansed. Many suspected that this was an effort to erase the shame he felt at losing so many of his sons to the lure of Chaos. Brennus was never one to rush, and so he did not attempt to force the Space Marine creation process to be more rapid; nonetheless, these new recruits were aggressively schooled in tactics and combat, and then sent to the front as soon as possible, to show their traitorous elder siblings the cost of betraying their father.

In the modern era, the tribal structure has been disbanded, and the Chapter no longer recruits from a single world. The loyalist clans were instead broken off into their own individual Chapters, and are known to maintain close ties to the original Thunder Kings--who are all of Brennus original tribe. The legion was used to operating in smaller groups spread throughout a warzone, so the transition to smaller chapters operating independently was not difficult. The Chapter is now mostly Codex Astartes adherent, at least with regards to organization, though it still maintains more Marines than is considered standard--owing to its extended garrison duties in many locations. Most notable is still their fondness for unified tactics, and it is unsurprising to see the Thunder Kings working alongside their brother chapters or with regular Imperial forces in the conduct of a combined front against a greater enemy.

Following the voluntary burning of Alessia, the Thunder Kings and many of their successors instead now recruit from a multitude of planets spread out over a gauntlet of stars known as the Soctis Cluster. With several black holes orbiting the periphery of the cluster, the habitable planets scattered throughout the Cluster are habitually bombarded by erratic seasons, exotic radiation, and altogether experience harsh conditions. It is from these worlds that the Thunder King recruits are drawn, with a permanent garrison maintained on each one.