The Eagle Knights Space Marines

This is my second SM chapter, the fluff for this chapter is less developed than for the other chapter, as is the army list. There are two main reasons for this; firstly, I don't know exactly what models I will have avaliable to me after I have finished the Emperors disciples. I will have some remaining, including a number of rhino hulls and several CC units, mostly chaos berserkers. Secondly, the list is based off the Blood Angles Codex, which is due very shortly. As such, units may change, war gear will certainly change and points will definitely change. This will mean that the list will have to be rewritten and there is little point rewriting something when I will not get around to using or playing the list before then.

Anyway, here is the fluff.

The Eagle Knights were founded during the 21st founding, and although no official records of there parent chapter exists, it is suspected that they are a descendants of the Blood Angles. This is due to many marines exhibiting symptoms of the red thirst, and to a lesser degree the black rage. While the red thirst is common amongst the chapter, the black rage is not and as such the chapter has not death company. At anyone time there is usually no more than a squads worth of marines that have succumbed the to black rage within the whole chapter.

The lack marines developing the black rage has been put down to the efforts of the Adeptus Mechanicus in Perfecting the gene-seed. While this is seen as an advantage by many, it has lead to a number of issues, one is the tendency for marines to have highly aggressive nature. This has lead to a high number assault marines within the chapter, and an overall focus towards close combat within the chapter. However, the main flaw that has presented itself is the mutations of the marines bone structure, much like that of the Black Dragons. In a similar way to the Black Dragons, the Eagle Knights are viewed with suspicion by the inquisition, with many inquisitors believing the chapter is tainted by Chaos. Although in contrast to the Black Dragons, the Eagle Knights comply willingly and completely with any requests from the inquisition or any other imperial forces, viewing their mutations as a curse not a gift. The main mutations are in the form of bone growths but can form  mutations of the soft tissue.

The Eagle Knights are specialists in close quarters fighting, where their aggressive nature is most useful. Those that are not so aggressive in nature are formed in to tactical squad to support the efforts of the assault squads. As such each company has a larger number of assault marines and fewer devastator squads, usually 5 assault squads and only 2 devastator squads, supported by 3 tactical squads. I addition the chapter also utilises a number vehicles, notably rhinos and razorbacks, tuned up to the limits of possibility, and can often be seen racing across the battle field, hot in pursuit of the jump pack equipped assault marines. It is rare to see an Eagle Knight walking to battle when other, faster methods of transport are available.

Within the Hjaltland campaign, the Eagle Knights have taken on their usual role of shock forces. Wherever there is a strong point or area of strong resistance from enemy forces, the Knights will launch lightning raids getting up close and personal, digging out even the most stubborn of enemy.

Although, they are always happy to serve alongside other Imperial forces, there relationship with the Disciples is strained at best. This is due to the deformities' that each chapter suffers, with the Knights seeing the Disciples with contempt for inviting upon themselves the very thing which the Knights wish to rid themselves of.

A generic assault marine from the Eagle Knights Chapter. This assault marine will be from a "second wave" Rhino based squad, as shown by the lack of jump pack. These marines are used to follow the main assault wave and re-enforce and mop up after the initial assault.