• Introduction
• Army List
• Painting The Blood Angels 3rd Company
  • Assembly and Undercoating
  • Basic Colour Scheme
  • Washes and Highlights
  • Bases
  • Transfers
  • Banners
  • Tactical Squads
  • Devastator Squad
  • Terminator Squad
  • Captain Tycho
  • Techmarine and Thudd Gun
  • Rhino

• Blood Angels
  • Land Speeder
  • Librarian
  • Medic
  • Chaplain

Blood Angels Death Company

• Chapter History
• The Black Rage
• Bood Angels Death Company: Stats
• Special Rules
• Blood Angels Death Company Army List

THE BLACK RAGE

After the Horus Heresy had been crushed, and the forces of Chaos had retreated towards the Eye of Terror, the established Space Marine Legions were reorganised into the smaller Space Marine Chapters. The Blood Angels had lost many warriors in the war. Worst of all, the genetic banks which provided their implants had been partially destroyed. The only way to make good the damage was to reculture gene-seed from the body of Sanguinius, the Primarch whose genetic structure had been used to create the Blood Angels. Live germ cells were isolated within Sanguinius' body, and eventually new implants were cultured. In this way the Chapter was rebuilt using the gene-seed of Sanguinius taken from his dead body.

At the time all seemed well, and it was only over the following millennia that the gene-seed showed traces of mutation. Such matters are not unusual. Every Chapter's gene-seed is subject to a process of evolution or decay, and so must be vigorously examined and periodically purged of fault. As a result most Chapters have idiosyncrasies, but in the case of the Blood Angels these were to prove very strange indeed.

The Blood Angels are unique in that their genetic implants were cultured from the dead body of their Primarch. Deeply engraved within the gene-seed is the encoded experience of the winged Primarch. and most deeply imprinted of all is the memory of his final battle with Horus. Over many centuries this genetically encoded vision of darkness has haunted the Chapter. On a subliminal level it affects everything the Blood Angels do and everything they are. It disturbs their sleep with nightmarish recollections, and it colours their imagination with gory images of sacrifice. For the most part these things dwell deep in the unconscious mind, and form an unspoken bond amongst the brotherhood of the Blood Angels.

Sometimes an event or circumstance will trigger the ancient encoding. This happens only rarely, often upon the eve of battle, but it is likely to be a fatal experience for the Blood Angels warrior whose mind is suddenly wrenched into the distant past. The Black Rage overcomes him, the memories and consciousness of Sanguinius intrude upon his mind, and dire events from ten thousand years ago flood into the present. To others, the Space Marine appears half mad with fury, he is unable to distinguish past from present, and does not recognise his comrades. He may believe that he is Sanguinius upon the eve of his destruction, and that the bloody battles of the Horus Heresy rage around him. As well as Sanguinius' memories, the genetic imprint releases other attributes of the Primarch, and the Space Marine is suffused with incalculable power.

Before every conflict the Blood Angels bend their thoughts to prayer and to the sacrifice of their Primarch so many centuries ago. As the Chaplains move from man to man, blessing each in turn, they note those amongst the brotherhood whose eyes may seem a little glazed, or whose speech is slurred or excited. These are signs that within this warrior the past is stirring. The prayers go on. Some, almost all, overcome the ancient intrusion into their minds. All their warrior's training is directed at controlling it, beating it down into the depths of their being. But for some the imprint of Sanguinius is too strong, the memories too loud and demanding. As the Chaplains chant the Moripatris, the Mass of Doom, the chosen ones fall into the arms of their priests, and are taken away. They are the Death Company.

THE FINAL BATTLE

The Death Company is arrayed in black armour upon which are painted red saltires - crosses of blood red which symbolise the wounds and sacrifice of Sanguinius. The Blood Angel's Chaplains often remain with the warriors as they pass through the initial period of fever. They rave aloud and their bodies are wracked with convulsions as they relive in their minds the final battle between Horus and Sanguinius. Eventually the crippling fever passes but from that time onwards the warrior's sense of identity is changed forever. In his mind he is both Sanguinius and himself. He is suffused with the death agonies of the winged Primarch, and his consciousness is divided between the past and present. He knows that death is upon him. Death in battle, fighting at the Emperor's side, against the foes of the Blood Angels.

The Death Company is led into battle and directed towards the foe by the Chapter's Chaplains. The warriors fight with the certainty of death, few wounds will harm them, yet ultimately they will succumb to their fate. Should they survive the battle they will probably die of their wounds afterwards, once the frenzied slaughter is past. It is best that they die, for if they do not their torment will be all the greater. Their genetic implants, driven to tortuous levels of activity, release a flood of dangerous hormones into their bodies. Madness eventually overtakes them and destroys their noble minds, turning them into twisted beasts that crave for flesh and blood. The true fate of these poor unfortunates is only known for certain by those within the Chapter itself. There are tales of the dark labyrinth beneath the Tower of Amareo, and of the howling cries that demand the blood of the living, but none can say for certain what secrets lie beneath that haunted place.

• Blood Angels Death Company
  • Special Rules
• Blood Angels Death Company Army List

Lords of Baal: Blood Angels Characters

• Apothecary Corbulo, Sanguinary Priest of the Blood Angels
• 'Eavy Metal
  • Apothecary Corbulo, Sanguinary Priest
  • Chief Librarian Mephiston, Lord of Death
• Chief Librarian Mephiston, Lord of Death

Angels of Death: A look at the Blood Angels and Dark Angels Mail Order archive

• Blood Angels Name Generator
• Into the Breach: A new scenario based on the death of Captain Tycho

Redemption! - Dark Angels Tactics

Angels of Death: A look at the Blood Angels and Dark Angels Mail Order archive

• Dark Angels Name Generator