The Immortal Sons (Non-Thousand Son Tzeentch Army) FLUFF!!!!

[Astral Claw 126]

The Immortal Sons
(Formerly 4th Company, Death Specters Chapter)

Origins:

The Immortal Sons are a renegade company dedicated to the Lord Of Change, Tzeentch. Formerly the 4th Battle Company, Death Specters Chapter, the company succumbed to the lure of forbidden knowledge and blasphemous magics whilst cleansing a hive of heretical cultist activity. Sadly, their fall from grace started with but one man, the company's Epistolary Librarian, Nicolai.

The Fall Of Nicolai
By Librarian standards, Epistolary Nicolai was young to be in such a high position. Though a dedicated Space Marine, Nicolai was sometimes regarded as crass and possibly overly curious by the more taciturn Librarians. Indeed, Nicolai regarded knowledge of enemy rituals and beliefs as a weapon that could be used against them. This philosophy, above all else, was to be his undoing.
It is not known on what world this heresy was carried out, however what is known is that the Ordo Hereticus petitioned the Captain of the 4th Company, Samuel, for aid in purging a heretical cult believed to be operating in the system. Samuel granted the request, and along with Nicolai, deployed the 4th Company with attachments in support of the Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor.
The campaign to cleanse the system was brief, for despite the Cultist's diabolical patronage, they were no match for the Space Marines. During a clearance of a cultist cell, Nicolai stumbled upon an ancient grimoire hidden in the Magus's worship fane. From the moment he touched it, Nicolai could feel the forbidden knowledge and power contained within it. His curiosity getting the better of him, Nicolai hid the book away, bringing it back to his sanctum for study.
The book was a compilation of ancient Terran heretical works, foremost amongst them authors known as LaVey and Crowley, outlining a philosophy of free will and knowledge and an opposition to oppressive authority, hypocritical religion, and moral constraints. As Nicolai read, he began to question his own beliefs and faith. For why were the Astartes, the Emperor's chosen warriors, be not granted lordship over dominions of mankind as he had? Were they not superior to mere mortals? Why did the Emperor horde such power for himself and a select few, those few not even Astartes, be granted the power to dictate to the Space Marines? As time went on, Nicolai began to reject the tenets of the Imperial Creed, believing that being Astartes, they had the right to indulge in knowledge as they wished, and posess power or indulge themselves as they saw fit. As doubt gave way to anger, anger gave way to subversion. Praying to Tzeentch, whom Nicolai felt represented the “alternative god” and philosophy outlined by the text, Nicolai began to plot the heresy that would soon engulf the company. And he would start right at the top, with Captain Samuel.
The Corruption of 4th Company
In private, Nicolai met with Samuel to discuss the contents of the heretical text. Unbeknownst to Samuel, Nicolai had a Daemonic essence bound to the text, which began to work it's wiles on Captain Samuel. Like Nicolai, Samuel was young and eager. His motivation to prove himself worthy of his captainship gave way to pride, and with pride was a short step to greed. As the daemon whispered in his mind, Samuel began to see that he could have power and knowledge, far beyond that of even the Chapter Master himself, and also a patron who would actively reward his performance and obedience. Eagerly, Samuel agreed with Nicolai that they must show their battle brethren this “true” philosophy of the universe, and remove all non-believers. Knowing that they had texts and information in their possession to turn over to the Ordo Hereticus, Samuel and Nicolai began their plan for Heresy.
On their way to the Adepta Sororitas priory on Kronus V, Nicolai and Samuel began their plan. Quietly keeping the unholy text nearby, the Librarian began to indoctrinate the sergeants in their philosophy. Sadly, this proved surprisingly easy for Nicolai, as Tzeentch had blessed him with sorcerous magics to sway the opinions of those around him. Meanwhile, Captain Samuel eliminated the company Chaplain, Claudius, disguising his treacherous murder as an “accident” in the company Armory. When 4th Company's Strike Cruisers entered orbit around Kronus V, the corruption of the company was complete. All that was left to do now was seal their pact with Tzeentch, and they would do so in bloody fashion.

The Kronus V Priory Massacre
The Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor had delegated to a priory of the Order Of The Bloody Rose of Adepta Sororitas to receive the Death Specters and take possession of the heretical texts and information of the cults. As they were receiving a Space Marine delegation, the Battle
Sisters had lowered their orbital defenses around their priory. This was to be a fatal mistake, as the “delegation” from the 4th Company turned out to be a full combat drop of the company. To their horror, the Sororitas saw Thunderhawk gunships not on a peaceful approach, but on attack vectors. Too late, the gunships bombed and strafed the priory, obliterating their defenses in minutes. As the sisters scrambled to mount a defense against this treachery, drop pods rained down from the sky. On impact, the traitor astartes poured out of the pods, Nicolai leading them while chanting his praise to Tzeentch. The marines spewed bolter fire in all directions, mercilessly cutting down dozens of Sororitas and their retainers. Once inside the main preceptory, the marines cruelly began shooting not to kill, but to wound. It was over in one hour.
Once control of the priory was gained, Nicolai dictated the survivors, including the priory's canoness, to be rounded up and brought into the ecclesiarchal chapel. Battle Sisters, Ordo Hospitallers, servants, priests, were brought before Nicolai in the chapel. One by one, Nicolai executed them all, taking their souls into his force staff which by now had been desecrated and daubed in sigils dedicated to Tzeentch. Once the last survivor had been slaughtered, the priory's canoness, Nicolai had personally executed 999 people, with the company as a whole massacring well over 3,000. Taking the blood pooled on the floor of the chapel, the traitors daubed the mark of Tzeentch all over the walls, ritually desecrating the building, and piling the bodies high within. Tzeentch was pleased. And the pact was sealed.

When the traitors lifted off, the 4th Company had ceased to exist. The Immortal Sons had been born.

Color scheme and insignia:

The Immortal Sons power armor is jet black with silver trim, colors not typical of a Tzeentchian force. Oddly, their helmets are bleach white, with black patches around the eyes. Imperial space marines disdainfully refer to these as “raccoon eyes”. Though the reasons for this color scheme is unclear, it is very distinct. Also, uniquely for the warband, their Armor is a mix of newer MKVII Armor and older, more corrupted armor. Indeed, some marines are clad in complete suits of imperial power armor, with only their coloration and lack of imperial insignia (and preponderance of heretical sigils) to give away their blasphemous allegiance!

The insignia of the Immortal Sons is a pentagram, an ancient Terran symbol that was felt to denote evil magic and blasphemous philosophies. It is displayed on the left shoulder in white, with Aspiring Champions wearing theirs on the right.

Tactics :

Being only one Battle Company in strength, the Immortal Sons have limited access to resources. However, having the patronage of Tzeentch, their infantry has proven more than adequate for most occasions. They, having an uncanny knack for avoiding traps and seemingly able to mold luck to their side, know just when, how, and where to hit the enemy at their weakest point. Though lacking (generally) in armored assets, the company retained all of it's Rhino transports, which gives them a rapid attack capability. Also, though lacking in Predator tanks, the Immortal Sons boast a squadron of Vindicator siege tanks. These are generally used for close support of the infantry, allowing the scarce Predator tanks to be freed up for tank hunting duty. That being said, the combination of siege tanks and elite infantry make the Immortal Sons deadly urban fighters.

The company has one 5 man detachment of Terminators that were formerly of the Death Specters 1st Company and whom chose to stay with the company in their turn to Chaos. The detachment also has a dedicated Land Raider transport, the sole such tank in the entire warband. The warband boasts no Dreadnoughts, as in their turn to Chaos, they sacrificed the revered warriors while they slumbered as part of their diabolical pact with Tzeentch.

Unlike the Thousand Sons, whom are foremost amongst Tzeentch's followers, the Immortal Sons have no fear of mutation or possession. Indeed, they view such as favor from the sorcerous god himself. Therefore, the warband gathers possessed marines into “shock” squads. These “elite” troops are tasked with closing with the enemy in an assault, and also for eliminating enemy command groups. Also, this generally means that units of Immortal Sons will fight alongside Daemons and even Chaos Spawn.

Beliefs:
The Immortal Sons believe that each man (and especially Astartes) have the capability to rule, and that one should exercise their will to power by any and all means. No form of knowledge is taboo, and “do as thou will shall be the rule of the land” is a core tenet to them. Though this may seem to be a Slaaneshi philosophy, the Immortal Sons are not mindless hedonists, nor do they indulge out of pleasure. Rather, they are committed to knowing that which was denied to them as loyal Space Marines, and also exercising that knowledge in the pursuit of power. They also believe that the Emperor tried to “cover up” the fact there are other philosophies and beliefs in the universe in a bid to make himself a God. This belief is very close to that of the original traitors of the Horus Heresy. That being said, the Immortal Sons have an intense hatred of the Ecclesiarchy, and slaughter ecclesiarchy members (including Adepta Sororitas) without mercy wherever they find them.


Notable Personalities:

Nergal, Sorcerer-Warlock of The Immortal Sons
Nergal, as Epistolary Nicolai is now known, is the power and driving force behind the Immortal Sons. Though War-Leader Shagrath runs the day to day operations of the warband, it is Nergal who has the final say in all matters and who decides where and when the warband will strike next. Since his turn to Chaos, Nergal has become a mighty sorcerer, the match for all but the most powerful of Space Marine Librarians. As befitting of his status, Nergal wears a suit of ancient Terminator Armor, the only person outside of the company's terminator detachment to do so. During battle, Nergal is known to teleport near enemy command HQ's, in order to sacrifice the enemy commander to Tzeentch, and many a commander, be they xenos or human has met such a horrendous fate at his hands.

Shagrath, WarLeader of The Immortal Sons
Formerly Captain Samuel, Shagrath is second only to Nergal in the warband's hierarchy. As a leader, Shagrath brokers no dissension within his ranks and ruthlessly executes those he finds disrespectful or lacking, whether the transgression is real or not. To solidify their unholy partnership, Shagrath was gifted with a Deathscreamer, a daemonic blade that Nergal claimed from a rival champion of Tzeentch. Bloodthirsty and utterly merciless in battle, Shagrath and his bodyguard of Chosen, known as “The Five of Faust” have a reputation for battle prowess that would give a Berzerker pause.


BATTLE CRY: “For Tzeentch And Immortality!!!!!”