Drake Bloods

A newly created Codex Compliant, the Drake Bloods are the youngest chapter that aid in the defense of the Widow Prime Sector. It is said the High Lords of Terra created the chapter to aid the embattled worlds after the destruction of no less than three space marine chapters following the Disastrous Abruptia Crusade.

The Drake Bloods were notably created from the geneseed of the Salamanders Chapter. They were founded with the help of some Salamander Astartes and with the some of their successor chapters. The Chapter is known for their deeply rooted sense of honor and absence of their progenitors chapter's mutations.

History
Drake Bloods are a chapter that has only have begun their journey as a new chapter. They were founded well before M41. The chapter has been known to engage Dark Eldar and Ork warbands with ferocity unheard of among Salamander's Successors.

The chapter is lead by Taekal the Wreathed, who wields a relic of the Salamanders flamethrower Powerfist called the Drake’s Song, and another relic a Power Halberd called Xanadar’s Spear. He serves as both First Captain and Chapter Master and leads the first company which often calls itself the Forged. They are known to wear red and black cloaks made of scales from the creatures that live upon their recruiting worlds of Ier and Nav. These creatures are said to be ancients are seldom called Drakes by the local populations that live upon these planets. These beasts have scaly hides, they are apex predators among these worlds. Some within the chapter elite take it as a challenge to slay one and skin it brings its hide back to the chapter. Many veterans's of the chapter see it as a rite of passage into the chapters Veteran Company.

Taekal is the current Chapter Master of The Drake Bloods, the chapter is relatively small, but a united brotherhood of Astartes, their homeworld after they arrived in the Sector of Widow Prime, they were given a Star Fortress, an ancient relic recovered by the Wanderer’s Chapter and Storm Crusaders from the fallen Astartes Chapter once known as the Emperor’s Spears.

Timeline
988.M41 - The War of Souls: With the near defeat of the Storm Crusaders, the Drake Bloods are charged with the protection of the Northern Quadrant of the Widow Prime Sector. Within weeks of their posting the chapter is attacked by Renegade Warband called The Bloody Hand. Ongoing the war has lasted twelve years and is believed to continue till the Bloody Hand is rooted from the Widow Prime Sector.

999.M41 - Destruction of the Lousi: The Civilized World of Lousi became besieged by the remnants of the Tridial Protectorate. The Drake Bloods are quick to respond and deploy their Third Company to deal with the Tridial Protectorate lead by Blood Captian Beric Vanhagen.

Organization
As a codex compliant Chapter, they follow the organization of the codex with a few exceptions. Their first company is 135 strong and are called the Forged. The Chapter Master also serves as the First Captain. Due to their small size as a chapter, as a newly created, they have an overabundance of scouts and neophytes. Something rare for a chapter, as such they have no scout company, as according to a tradition adopted from working with the Wanderers and Storm Crusader’s chapters is to place scout squads within companies for active service.

Taekal the Wreathed - Chapter Master of the Drake Bloods
Famed throughout his chapter for his meticulous planning and straightforwardness, Taekal is the Chapter Master of The Drake Bloods. Originally hailing from the 2nd Salamanders Company as a Veteran Sergeant, he left to help found a new chapter which he has held the rank of Chapter Master for over one hundred years since their initial founding. Though originally the chapter was created to protect the Imperium from the Ignis Polatnus, a warp anomaly. The Chapter was reassigned after the pleading of the Sector Governor of the Widow Prime Sector. Taekal and his chapter asked for a homeworld or a recruiting world. The Wanderers chapters seceded to them three recruiting worlds which had been reconquered by the Mysterious Chapter. Taekal came to the sector as a diplomat and an Astartes who had served on both the Armaggedon war fronts and under a previous banner. He saw within the chapters of the Widow Prime Sector a hidden strength, one if United would strike the enemies of the Imperium into frail fear.

With his induction into the Sector, his chapter found the Forgeworld of Idanus under siege by a rogue Chaos Warband: The Black Harvest. Their chemical weapons and raids having destroyed near half of the PDF forces by the time The Drake Bloods Astartes arrived. Taekal lead from the front as he always had only to be critically wounded by the Chaos Warleader of the band, Taekal not one to be deterred ignored the advice of his Apothecaries and led into battle his Company. For three weeks the two sides battled a grueling war, a standstill was reached where the Chaos Warleader angry his forces had done nothing to break the Drakebloods voxxed the chapter master into dueling him in single combat. The Chapter Master knew well that he would perish if he took such a challenge, and instead sent his Champion, Beren Terenolde to fight. He came to his long time friend Beren and asked him.

"I asked of you this once Beren, Live, so that others may."

Beren, as he had always done, smiled, and replied, "Brother, is that doubt I hear?"

"Beren, you know well-

"Chapter Master, when I return, I shall not only be alive but I shall carry his head and lay it upon your feet and remember that good friend."

Beren was said to have left alone, while Taekal watched from his command post as his apothecaries tended to his wounds.

Twenty-two hours past no sign of him. Thirty-three hours Beren Terenolde had still not been seen, nor had the traitors. At least three days later, Beren Terenolde returned before Taekal and bowed and threw the head of the Warleader at Taekal's feet. Beren smiled his broken armor and blade were damaged beyond repair and Beren collapsed. Beren died several moments later. Taekal's long time battle brother and friend died having slaughtered the entire chaos warbands was broken and it's leader slain in the honor duel. Beren had not only killed the Warleader but had also destroyed their siege equipment and cut a pass straight to the heart of the traitors.

The Black Harvest was destroyed within hours of Beren's death as Taekal lead his company in righteous fury. Not a single Chaos cultist or Traitor escaped the planet. For the bravery of a single Astartes, the chapter was awarded a Star Fortress by the Representatives of the Forgeworld and given oversight to the entire sub-sector.

Ever since his victory over the Black Harvest, Taekal has learned the valuable lesson of loss. Something he wished he had never learned.

Beren Terenolde - The Hero of Idanus
<p data-parsoid="{"dsr":[8083,8806,0,0]}">The former chapter champion of the Drake Bloods, Beren was a veteran of the Drakens and a deeply respected brother of the chapter. Some named him the Wise, the Cunning, but many referred to him as the Honored Brother. He fought in the battles of Helsreach, the War of the Storm, and was a warrior of countless and untold campagins. Beren was among the new neophytes of the Drake Bloods chapter, he was inducted into the chapter after his squad proved itself worthy in the Battle of Helsreach. After his ascension to Battle-Brother, he soared rank to rank until finally he became the chapter champion after he saved the life of his chapter master. After that moment, Taekal accounted Beren as his closest friend and advisor.

<p data-parsoid="{"dsr":[8808,9374,0,0]}">Yet the story of how he slew the Chaos Warleader of the Black Harvest is shrouded in mystery, some suggest that his helm which was missing from his body might hold the key to what truly happened, but many within the chapter whisper he had fallen into a trap and had been captured. His blades of The Silver Sisters were chipped and brutalized yet they were stained with both his blood and that of many others. All that is known is that Beren died, and was marked a hero, for what he accomplished very few could have done and for that he became a hero of the chapter.

<p data-parsoid="{"dsr":[9376,9572,0,0]}">After his death, Beren Terenolde was immortalized within the chapter, such was his deeds and his glory that the Star Fortress of their new Chapter fortress was named after his honor: Beren's Hold.

Culture
<p data-parsoid="{"dsr":[9588,9908,0,0]}">Like most chapters, the Drake Bloods often partake in ritualistic manners in the preparation of war. The Drake Bloods are said to adorn their helms with symbols so that they can be easily identified by their battle brothers. Though they are known in most circumstances to wear different colors based on their campaigns.

<p data-parsoid="{"dsr":[9910,10199,0,0]}">The Drake Bloods venerate their Primarch Vulkan like their Progenitors, because of this veneration every decade the Drake Bloods, send envoys to Salamander's Homeworld. They harbor a deep trust for their former brothers as a few Drake Bloods once served amongst the Salamanders own number.

<p data-parsoid="{"dsr":[10201,10424,0,0]}">The chapter holds a deep connection with both their Chaplains, Techmarines, and Librarians such is their trust of these offices, it is not uncommon to see them leading task forces or even serve as councilors to the Chapter.

<p data-parsoid="{"dsr":[10426,10645,0,0]}">The notable exception to the Codex Astartes is that all the Chaplains of the chapter wear gold laurels and cloaks to venerate their progenitor chapter. Their Libariarians also don their chapter's colors instead of blue.