Amethyst Knights

The Amethyst Knights are a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter created during the 15th Founding. Created to assist in the Dark Marches Crusade of the 36th Millenium, the Ameythst Knights helped bring over 30 worlds into imperial comliance until the death of their Grand Marshal forced them to pull back. Despite a large majority having been lost in the millinia following the Crusade, the Amethyst Knights have continued to battle the constant threats facing the Dark Marches.

In recent years, the Chapter has suffered a heavy blow in the deaths of over half their Astartes, due to an affliction caused by their former Chief Apothecary Silvias in an attempt to cure the flaws in their Gene-Seed. While not threatened with extinction, the Chapter has been forced to operate at below optimal numbers. Regardless, the Knights still remain steadfast in their duties to the Imperium, and as a nightmare to any enemies that may believe them vulnerable.

History
The Amethyst Knights were created in order to assist with the capture of worlds during the Dark Marches CrusadE. Led by Grand Marshal Solomon, the first Chapter Master of the Knights, the Space Marines swept through sectors like a violet tidal wave, quickly earning a name for themselves as masters of Shock Assault tactics. Over a century of battles led to over 30 worlds falling to Imperial compliance due to the efforts of the Chapter.

Unfortunately, the Chapter would take heavy losses in the final battle of the Crusade they participated in, the Battle of Hardola III. Assaulting Ork forces that occupied the planet, victory seemed all but assured until the arrival of the Space Hulk Defs Head, bringing with it a horde of Greenskins nearly five times the size of those on the planet. The foul xenos smashed into the planet, attacking the Chpater from all sides.

Despite the odds, the Atartes managed to defeat the Ork host, though not without a great cost. In addition to the loss of 3 companies, Grand Marshal Solomon would also meet his end after being mortally wounded, though not before personally slaying the Warboss of the Defs Head. This struck a huge blow to both the Chapters fighting strength and moral, and for the remainder of the Crusade they focused on rebuilding their forces and defending their home system.

Organization
Due to the highly mobile nature of the Chapter in its early years, the Amethyst Knights initially recruited fro a variaty of worlds, from the savage tribes of feral worlds to the sons of the noble houses of hive worlds. As such, ones standing in the Chapter would rely more on an individuals skill than by right of birth. Even as the Chapter has lowered the number of worlds it recruits from, this attitude is still prelevant among the Knights.

While the Amythst Knights keep their numbers withing the standards of the Codex Astartes, such as the use of 10 man squads, the Chapter uses its own terminology and formation of its forces. Namely, instead of a Chapter Master and Captains, the leadership of the Amethyst Knights is reffered to as the Grand Marshal and Marshal by its Marines. In addition, instead of 10 Companies of 100 Astartes each, the Knights are arranged into 7 Battalions of 130 Marines. Unlike most Chapters, the Amethyst Knights have their Assault Bikers in their own Squad instead of as a special formation of the standard Assault Squad. The Elite Bikers act as a Veteran variant of the standard Bike Squad.
 * The 1st Battalion, the Veterans Battalion, consists of Terminator and Veterans Squads, as well as the specialist Elite Assault Bike Squads.
 * The 2nd-5th Battalions act as the Battle companies of the Chapter. Makes use of Assault, Devestator, and Tactical Squads, in addition to Assault Bike Squads.
 * The 6th Battalion acts as the reserve forces of the Chapter.
 * The 7th Battalion, acting as the scouting force of the Knights. Unlike the other Battalions, the 7th only consists of 50 Astartes formed into Scout Squads.

Heraldry
The symbol of the Amythst Knights is a white gem on a purple background. Battle Brothers who distinguish themselves on the battlefield are decorated with the Purpura Gloria, a special badge created for the crystals native to the Chapters home planet.

The Amythest Knights standard colors are purple and bone white. The armours trim usually designates which Battalion they belong to, such as gold for the 1st Battalion.

Battle Doctirine
The prefered tactic of the Amethyst Knights is that of Shock Assault. The Astartes of crash into enemies like a purple tidal wave, cleaving through enemy forces and then dissapearing almost as soon as they appeared. Assuming they survive the first wave of attack, the enemies of the Chapter can expect to be hit woth these lighning like attacks until they have been wiped out.

The Chapters preference for fast, hit and run tactics has led to them adopting the use of faster, more mobile vehicles, such as Land Speeders and StormTalon Gunships. The use of Attack Bikes have become a specialty of the chapter, having specialty Assault Bike Squads. Generally use of heavier, slower vehicles and squads are used by the 1st Battalion, who has access to the Chapters Terminators and Dreadnoughts.

Astartes of the Chapter are known to make use of standard Bolter Rifles and Pistols for ranged combat. While fully capable of holding their own in a fire fight, the Knights generally prefer close combat. The Chapter is also known for their skill with the Power Lance. While most Astartes consider the weapon to unyieldy for conventional close quarters combat, the Amethyst Knights have trained themselves to use the weapon to it's fullest effect.

While incredibly effect in their preffered methods, some have questioned the battle doctirine of the Amethyst Knights. Their preffered vehicles, while fast and mobile, are generally lightly armored. In addition, their skills don't often translate as well to seige warfare as it does with the usual shock assault. Regardless of these apperant weaknesses, the Amethyst Knights are always a force to be reckoned with.

Gene-Seed
The identity of the Amethyst Knights parent Chapter is unknown to even its own Astartes. This does little to bother them though, as most of the Space Marines of the Amethyst Knights see it as an opportunity to make a name for themselves without standding in the shadow of an older Chapter.

What is known is an unfortunate flaw in the Gene-Seed of the Chapter that takes the form of an affliction known as ''The Banquete. ''This affliction has two stages to it, and has been prelevant in the Chapter since its inception. For most members of the Chapter it is rare for the disease to advance past the first stage, but it remains as a constant danger to all the Marines of the Amethyst Knights.
 * Stage 1: The first stage of Banquete causes the immune system of the Space Marine to attack the skins pigment cells. This causes the Astartes skin to become covered with pale white blotches, spreading until their skin has turned completely white. Similar to the real life disease []. For most the disease halts at this stage, and proves to be little more than a superficial condition.
 * Stage 2: For some unfortunate Amethyst Knights, the affliction will advance to its second stage. When this happens, the bodies immune system not only attacks the pigment cells, but starts to cut the connection of the Space Marines nervous system to the Black Carapace implant in their bodies. This makes them unable to effectively use Power Armor, and will eventually result in th afflicteds death.

Former Cheif Apothecary Silvias attempted to fix this flaw within the Chapters Gene-Seed, but while his solution initially seemed succesful, it ended up advancing over half of the Astartes of the Chapter into the second stage of the affliction, leading to their deaths.

Notable Members
Grand Marshal Solomon: The first Chapter Master of the Amethyst Knights, Solomon led the Chapter for nearly a standard century before his death on the planet Hardola III. His personal weapon, the Eviscerator Giants Bane is enshrined within the Chapters Fortress Monestary on Novera.

Cheif Apothecary Silvias: Former Cheif Apothecary of the Amethyst Knights, Silvias served with the Chapter for nearly 3 centuries. He attempted to fix the flaws in the Chapters Gene-Seed, but as a result ended up causing the deaths of over half of its Battle Brothers. Despite his noble intentions, Grand Marshal Swain was left with little choice but to execute the Apothecary, and destroy his research.

Grand Marshal Swain: Current Grand Marshal of the Amethyst Knights, Swain has led the Chapter for over 4 centuries. Making a name for himself by putting down rebbelions within the Creptan Sub-Sector, Swain was formally the Marshal of the 2nd Battalion before becoming the Grand Marshal. Is also known to prefer the use of Lightning Claws in battle, a rarity among his Chapter.