THE HOST INCARNADINE
![]() | CHAPTER NAME: .............. THE HOST INCARNADINE FOUNDING: .................. DISPUTED (CLAIMED 2ND [M.31]) CHAPTER WORLD: ............. SANGREAL FORTRESS MONASTERY: ........ THE BLOOD GATE GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR): ... BLOOD ANGELS (SOME RECORDS INDICATE DESCENT FROM THE ANGELS SANGUINE, DEFYING THE CHAPTER'S CLAIM OF BEING PART OF THE 2ND FOUNDING) KNOWN DESCENDANTS: ......... NONE - Captain Demeter of the 5th Host, |
Whatever the date of their Founding, it is true that the Host Incarnadine possesses more than a few relics within their armory. The majority of their battle-brothers eschew more modern equipment, taking to the field clad in Maximus-pattern power armor, leaving what MkVII suits they have to the more honored positions of veteran or Death Company. While many who bear Sanguinius's gene-seed become inclined towards artistry, the Angels of the Host Incarnadine lean towards becoming historians as their method of self-expression.
As the curse of Sanguinius has worsened over time, no Chapter that carries his name has escaped the effects. In addition to the Red Thirst and the Black Rage, the curse has manifested among the Host Incarnadine as a terrible stigmata. During times of intense battle or emotional distress, psychic wounds open up on the palms and backs of the Astartes, blood dripping from their hands and from non-existent wings. Otherworldly in nature, the blood has been known to drip through the power armor covering the wounds as if it was simply not there, however sound the armor's protection remains. With the handles of bolters and chainswords coated by the Host's red grips, it is quickly apparent whether or not a weapon has yet seen battle. Though undeniably a mutation, the Host refuses to acknowledge this corruption as any sort of shame. Instead, they stubbornly rejoice in it, viewing it as proof of their closeness to the heart of their primarch and incorporating it into their rites of battle. Working themselves into a frenzy, Chaplains accompany their inspired rhetoric with red anointings, pressing their palms against the heads of sergeants before deployment.

As their forebears, the Host Incarnadine adheres to the doctrines laid out in the Codex Astartes, with minor differences owing to the influence of their world's island culture. While they have lost none of the mobility of their brothers, favoring the same quick aerial assaults, skimming over the battle-field like rafts upon an ocean, they have come to appreciate the advantage of medium-range fire as well as close quarters combat. While even members of the Tactical Reserve Companies sometimes take to the skies, equipping themselves with Astartes jump packs, bolters and other rapid fire weaponry are reached for as often as melee weapons.
In one area does the Host Incarnadine adhere more closely to the Codex than their parent chapter, maintaining the same titles and offices for their Captains in place of the variant titles the Blood Angels and their successors use.
The Host uses the same heraldric colors as the Blood Angels, with Tactical squads designated red, Assault squads yellow, and Devastator squads blue. However, rather than bearing the colors on their helmets, the squad color is displayed on the sergeant's right pauldron. The islands of Sangreal are rich in a precious metal similar to gold, but with a rippling, blood-red sheen, and this red gold is used to trim the armor of Brother-Captains and the Sanguinary Guard. While the Captains and Veterans of the Incarnadine maintain the same colors as their fellows, their armor becoming ever more ornate, the Chapter Masters instead serve as bleak reminders to their councils. In a tradition going back to the first, the brother who inherits the title the Lord of Hosts has his armor painted black, clad in the funerary armor of the Death Company. For the rest of his command, the Lord shows to his council that there is but one end any son of Sanguinius can expect. In keeping with this morbid outlook, the deathmasks normally reserved for Chaplains are also worn by the Sanguinary Priests, trading crozius for narthecium as the badge of office differentiating the two.
In recent years, however, the Host now differs considerably in the composition of their Tenth Company. In the opening centuries of M41, Chapter Master Kanawai, current Lord of Hosts, claimed to have had a vision mid-battle of Sanguinius weeping over the Host's fallen. Leaning over them, the primarch touched each of his fallen sons on the head, inspiring them to fight on despite their wounds. When Kanawai looked again, blinking the vision away, he saw the Death Company fighting before him, clad in armor mirroring his own. After the battle, Kanawai placed a new edict on the Chapter that has been binding since:
Oh sons of the Emperor,
Honor thy primarch;
respect alike brothers both great and humble;
May everyone, from the scout to the veteran
Be free to go forth and walk in the Company of Death
Without fear of harm.
Break this law, and be excommunicate.
Each other now Company maintains their own Scout squads, training them as instructed by the Master of Recruits. The Tenth, meanwhile, has become a standing force of Death Company. Viewing the madness that comes on all children of Sanguinius as holy, the Host refuses to place those who fall to the Black Rage in stasis as their brother chapters do. Rather, when not being thrown into the fires of battle, the Death Company Incarnadine are placed on the moon Olawe. There, they run wild, slaking their blood-thirst against the megafauna that dwell on Sangreal's crypt moon. Not for the Host the executioner's axe or the secluded sleep in a Tower of the Lost. Anything other than death in battle is unacceptable, be it battle against the Chapter's enemies or against the horrors that dwell in their territories. Though nominally placed at 100 Astartes, no census has been taken of the Tenth Company since the reorganization, nor has news of the Chapter's restructuring yet reached Baal.

The Breaking of Thorns (533.M37)
When the Dark Eldar of the Kabbal of Reaching Thorns dared to attack Sangreal itself, the Host fell upon the xenos without mercy for their insult. With their exit routes cut off, the Kabbalites were forced to fall back to Olawe, where the Death Company left no survivors. Pressing their advantage, the Host was able to hunt the Dark Eldar throughout the sector, rendering the Reaching Thorns completely extinct.
The Golem Wakes (845.M41)
After a force of 5th Company Scouts fails to return from their training rites, their senior brothers investigate their disappearance. They discover a nest of Genestealers belonging to a minor Hive Fleet, designated Golem. Rumored to be a surviving tendril of Hive Fleet Behemoth, the Host avenges the deaths of their scouts and is able to repel the Tyranids out of their space.
The Great Enemy (999.M41)
As a force of Word Bearers pours from the Maelstrom, the Host act as sentries against the warp storm, evenly matched until the traitors call upon the daemonic forces of Nurgle. Now outnumbered, the Host's prospects look bleak until the arrival of the 191st Phiac Nagas. Reinforced by the Scions, the Host recaptures the edge, driving the Chaos force back into the Maelstrom.


Host Incarnadine chapter colors, standard and sergeant iconography

Host Incarnadine characters have an appreciation for history both ancient and recent, and honor the deeds of the other members of their kill-team. They have +5 Agility and +5 Fellowship. Like Blood Angels, they may use Pilot (Personal) as a Basic Skill, and have the Red Thirst Chapter Demeanour. Host Incarnadine Librarians use the Flesh Tearers Psychic Powers found in Honour the Chapter, pp. 56-57.
Solo Mode Ability:
Marks of the Primarch
Action: Free Action
Required Rank: 1
Revealing the special affliction of the Host, the character receives 2 Wounds unmodified by armor or Toughness and gains the Fear (2) Trait for a number of rounds equal to the Battle Brother's Rank, divided by 2 (rounding up). These wounds may not be healed by the Medicae skill, but may be healed by other means.
Improvement: At Rank 3 and above, this effect may be prolonged by taking 1 extra Wound per Round. At Rank 5 and above, while under this effect, the Battle-Brother may re-roll one Weapon Skill or Ballistic Skill test per round.
Edited by Plague Angel, 03 May 2014 - 11:15 AM.