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..