FOUNDING

Adeptus Astartes Chapter 874, The Scythes of the Emperor, were founded approx. M41.500 - 600, Their Genestock is speculated to have been that of the Ultramarines of the Ultramar Empire. The first and only Chapter Master was Thorcyra, a strategically minded leader. He would lead the Scythes for several centuries till his death upon the deathworld of Miral, forcing an escape with his Chapter from the jaws of Hivefleet Kraken.

As the Chapter grew in strength, their policing actions about the Eastern Fringe world of Sotha expanded. After eradicating pirates of both xenos and human, from the nearby mining colonies, the Scythes moved on to counter several Ork Migrations in the lower segmentum regions. They were one of many young Chapters in the region but it would be a far greater event to come that would mark them in history of the Imperium.

The Damocles Crusade
It was in the years following The Damocles Crusade against the Tau in M41.742 the Scythes of the Emperor would come to the forefront of Eastern Fringe warfare.

The Scythes led the first landing onto Tau territory, the world of Sy'L'Kell. After establishing the landing zone. The Brimlock Dragoons moved on to expand the Imperial foothold. The Dragoons were nearly destroyed by a Tau ambush which the Scythes, leading Imperial Storm Troopers, broke through averting a near disaster.
After claiming Sy'L'Kell, the Crusade moved to cross the Damocles Gulf. After a brutal first fleet engagement with the Tau, the Imperials landed on the a major Tau world of Dal'Yth Prime. Joining members of the venerated Ultramarines and Iron Hands Chapters, the Scythes were part of several spearhead assaults and kept up constant night patrols against Tau infiltrators during the months long fighting.
With news of a Hivefleet Behemoth bearing down upon the Eastern fringe and the stalemate between the two sides. The Crusade withdrew, though a mutual respect between both sides had been forged.

The Badab Wars

After the Badab wars (Rebellion led by the Tiger Claws Chapter - M41.901) the Chapter were charged to watch the forgiven Lamenters Chapter ( Performing a near century long penance crusade M41.907 - M41.997) for any further signs of revolt. Through this long watch both Chapters became firm allies.

Hivefleet Behemoth (M41.740)

The Scythes played little part in this first war, mainly recovering from actions againstt the Tau in the Damocles Crusade. Fortifying their homewolrd against possible Tyrannic attack also being undertaken.

The Arrival of Hive Fleet Kraken (M41.992 + )

Over 300 years since Hivefleet Behemoth, the Imperial Tarot began to tell of disaster 10 years before the arrival of Hive Fleet Kraken. Images of war haunted the Thorcyra and the astopaths. An uprising on the Factory World of Graia led to the deployment of the 3rd, 9th, and elements of the 10th companies to restore the Imperium's hold on the system. But during the Scythes invasion it became apparent that the uprising was caused by a Genestealer cult. After several months of combat and heavy casualities, the cult was finally crushed.

While returning home the Scythes forces from Graia encountered increasing disturbances in the warp. The Navigators suggested the Miral System to rest and wait out the warp storms. Here they encountered the remnants of their own Chapter, and learned of the overrunning of Sotha & the destruction of the Lamenters Chapter (The Lamenters made their last stand against the Tyranids at the Devlan System Sentinel Stations) by what the Imperium had now named 'Hive Fleet Kraken'.

Stories of desperate boarding actions against the Hiveships and their awakening occupants, close quarter combats and waves of attackers left dread in the hearts of the Scythes. With the Lamenters and their homeworld of Sotha gone, the Scythes found themselves cornered on the Deathworld of Miral. After planet fall the Scythes organised the Miral PDF to defend against what seemed to be an imminent assault.

Within a week the Tyranid were upon them. After countless, desperate, boarding actions and pitched land battles the Imperial forces chose a large rock mesa fortification known as the 'Giant's Coffin' from which to make a protracted last stand. After several weeks of fighting the Imperial forces attempted a breakout to leave the planet utilising a recently discovered Imperator Titan found inside the many labrynthine chambers of the mesa fortress.

In the counter-attack that led the withdrawal, barely a hundred Imperials escaped Miral. This was only achieved when the Titan inducted a core breach to eradicate a majority of their planet based pursuers. The survivors then fled back to Graia, losing several ships enroute to harrying vanguards of the Hivefleet. Once they made Graia, they set about organising the Graian defenders for the invasion that was surely to come.

It is the from the survivors of this great battle on Graia, that I draw out the heroes of the Scythes today..