“Death is only the beginning of this galaxy's suffering, loyalist - beyond our graves there awaits a realm of horrors that you can only scarcely begin to imagine!”
-Szadek Kraj, Blade-Master of the Vor Zekhon
For 10,000 years, the traitors and renegades of the Crimson Skulls have served their Dark Gods. Once loyal servants of the Emperor, these warriors were corrupted by pride, ambition, and the fell secrets of blasphemous warrior-lodges. Retreating to the Maelstrom after the death of Horus, these once-proud Space Marines became reavers and murderers, the petty tyrants of lawless kindgoms hidden beyond the light or law of the Imperium of Man.
Now, from their fortress-temple on the death-world of Melanchthon, the Crimson Skulls raid the worlds of the Imperium and fight bitter wars over resources against aliens, pirates, and other traitors - their fleets sowing terror amongst Imperial systems before falling upon the weak and helpless.
Sworn to bitter oaths, the Crimson Skulls seek the death of the Imperium and their ascendance as the rightful masters of mankind!
“That which is dead matters less than that which shall die - DEATH TO THE FALSE EMPEROR!”
-Varyk Dhakal, Harrowmaster of the Crimson Skulls
Welcome to the Crimson Skulls, my homebrew Chaos Space Marines force! They are a hobby project based primarily on the 2nd Edition era Chaos Space Marine miniatures range, and intended for use in games of 2nd Edition 40k.
The Crimson Skulls are intended as a warband of traitors and renegades, operating as reavers deep within the Maelstrom. Battling Imperial, Xenos, and their fellow traitors, the Crimson Skulls are veterans of the long war, with many of them having once served the Emperor during the days of the Great Crusade itself.
Please use the following links to learn more about these treacherous forces:
Long-term, this army will probably be my main Chaos Marine army amongst several others, including smaller armies of Plague Marines and Khorne Berserkers.
From beyond the fringes of Imperial space, the Crimson Skulls raid the worlds of the Maelstrom as they wage their bitter war of revenge upon the Imperium.
The Crimson Skulls represent a Heresy-era Blackshields force that has survived down into the dark millennium of Warhammer 40k. They are intended to represent the remnants of what had once been a garrison force of multiple legions, including the Iron Warriors, Word Bearers, World Eaters, and Night Lords.
Despite their background being a mix of different legions, on the tabletop I've settled for using a more unified scheme that's obviously a mix of the Word Bearers and Iron Warriors. They're a force of Chaos Undivided, albeit likely to have individual characters or squads devoted to one of the gods.
Additionally, I like the idea, 30k-wise, that these forces were originally largely composed of Destroyer squads, so I may ultimately try to theme some of my squads around the weaponry those squads have in the Horus Heresy game.
Below is a select gallery of my Crimson Skulls miniatures. For the full gallery, click here.
Below are some of my current/favorite 2nd Edition armylists using Codex Chaos.