Sanctioned and forged as part of the 12th Founding, the Dark Swords Chapter was formed in response to increasing xenos activity in Ultima Segmentum of the Emperor’s holy domain. In particular, a major area of concern for the High Lords of Terra was the the Gorgon Cluster, a dense collection of star systems located beyond the galactic core in the Cygnus Arm. The Gorgon Cluster has long been considered a valuable asset to the Imperium, boasting a high concentration of Imperial-held worlds, an abundance of vital resources and a strong industrial capacity in the form of a Forge World supported by several industrial and mining planets.
Beyond the Stheno Industrial Belt and Medusa core worlds, however, lay vast tracts of uncharted wilderness space, collectively dubbed the Euryale Reach, where no man had yet tread. It is thought by many Imperial scholars that the Gorgon Cluster was in the midst of being conquered and colonized by the Emperor’s armies during the Great Crusade, but plans to explore and colonize the Euryale Reach were abandoned at the outset of the Horus Heresy. The Gorgon Cluster was largely forgotten in the chaotic aftermath of the Heresy; in the years since it had been largely left alone by the High Lords of Terra, who frequently had to devote their attentions to matters of far greater import. No sizable hostile force, alien or otherwise, had yet been detected emerging from the unknown wilderness space, and the outer rim defenses were judged sufficient to fend off any major assault. So long as the sector met its tithe quotas, the High Lords were content to leave the Cluster to its own devices.
All of this changed in the years leading up to the 12th Founding. At first, astropaths stationed on the Medusa core worlds merely reported a marked increase in xeno raids on the outlying worlds of the Cluster, but as time went on, these reports became more frequent and alarming in content. Increasing numbers of xenos were making their way into the Cluster from the uncharted territories beyond; Orks and Eldar pirates constituted the majority of the alien invaders, but there were also disturbing reports of new xenos species, not previously encountered by the Imperium, making their way into the Cluster. Though seemingly unrelated and uncoordinated, the sheer number of xenos attacks threatened to stretch the defenses of the outer worlds to the breaking point, as each alien race sought to carve out their own petty empire from Imperial territory. It was feared that without timely intervention, the vital core worlds and industrial worlds of the Gorgon Cluster would soon be vulnerable to attack as well; and so it was decided on the eve of the 12th Founding that a newly created Chapter would be sent to support the embattled defenses and aid in the reclamation of any worlds lost to the aliens. There was an additional objective as well; the new Chapter would be entrusted with the task started long ago by the Emperor’s armies to spearhead expeditions into the Euryale Reach and further expand the territories of the Imperium.
Gene-seed for the nascent Chapter was selected from the tithes of the esteemed Knights Adamant. Chosen to lead and train the new Chapter was one Raziel Scryer, Captain of the Knights Adamant’s 3rd Company. Accounts of Lord Raziel are contradictory, to say the least; his detractors described him as a maverick whose methods and ideals were entirely at odds with those of more traditional Chapters, while his own supporters praised him as a superlative soldier and leader, a model for all Astartes to aspire to. Whatever the case, it is clear that Raziel was well loved by his own men, and that he left an indelible influence on his Chapter that continues to be felt even in the present day. As soon as he judged them ready, Raziel took his new Chapter, which he named the Dark Swords, and immediately set a course for the Gorgon Cluster, eager to test his warriors against the enemies of the Emperor.
Over one hundred and fifty years after the initial order for their creation, the Dark Swords Chapter arrived at the outskirts of the Gorgon Cluster. Although they had been kept appraised of the worsening conditions inside the Cluster through astropathic communication, they still found themselves aghast upon seeing the truly deplorable state of the Imperium's holdings. Several of the outlying worlds had already fallen to the aliens, and even now the invading hordes were making their way toward the core worlds. The normally calm and composed Raziel was said to have flown into a terrible fury upon learning of the enslavement of loyal Imperial citizens and the unspeakable cruelties they endured at the hands of their alien overlords. Staring out from the command bridge of Silence of Contemplation, he swore a grim and terrible oath that neither he nor the Chapter he lead would ever rest in the prosecution of their duties until the entire Cluster had been cleansed of the alien taint and all of that realm belonged solely to the Emperor. It is a vow that every successive Chapter Master has sworn and upheld ever since. Although their duties have taken them the length and breadth of the Emperor’s Imperium, it is the Gorgon Cluster that has ever remained the Dark Swords’ first and most important responsibility, and it is to the Gorgon Cluster that the Dark Swords always return.
No comments:
Post a Comment