The Vengeful Despoilers

Core Chaos Space Marines: Total Number: Unknown number Chaos Space Marines Legions Represented: Alpha Legion Word Bearers Emperor's Children Traitor Guard Auxiliaries: Total Number: Approximately 500,000 traitor guardsmen Composition: Former Imperial Guard soldiers who have turned to Chaos, often organized into large formations for shock assaults, artillery support, and defensive operations.   Daemonically Possessed and Cultists: Total Number: Approximately 1.5-4 Million Composition: Cultists: Human followers of Chaos, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, often untrained but zealous in their devotion, serving as infantry, cannon fodder, and participants in dark rituals. Daemonically Possessed: Includes Chaos Space Marines and cultists who have been possessed by daemons, enhancing their combat effectiveness but often leading to unpredictable behavior. Daemon Allies: Total Number: Varies, potentially thousands at any given time, depending on the strength of the Warp and the success of summoning rituals. Support and Logistics: Total Number: Approximately 1,000-2,000 Composition: Chaos Tech-Priests and Warpsmiths Logistics Personnel: Slaves, mutated servitors, and corrupted Mechanicus members who manage the warband’s supplies and equipment. Summary of Total Manpower Chaos Space Marines: Unknown Traitor Guard Auxiliaries: 500,000 Daemonically Possessed and Cultists: 1.5-4 Million Daemon Allies: Variable, potentially thousands Support and Logistics: 1,000-2,000 Estimated Total Manpower: 4.5 Million, with additional daemonic forces fluctuating based on the strength of the Warp and the success of summoning rituals.   This composition reflects the Vengeful Despoilers' strategy of overwhelming their enemies with sheer numbers, using their cultists and traitor guardsmen as the mainstay of their forces, supported by the elite Chaos Space Marines and powerful daemonic allies.

Infantry Weapons
Autocannons Total Number: 50-70
Lascannons Total Number: 40-60
Heavy Bolters Total Number: 60-80
Plasma Guns Total Number: 80-100
Meltaguns Total Number: 60-80
Grenade Launchers Total Number: 100-120
Missile Launchers Total Number: 50-70
Flamers Total Number: 80-100
Shotguns Total Number: 200-300 (used by cultists and traitor guardsmen)
Autoguns Total Number: 5000-7000 (used by cultists and traitor guardsmen)
Lasgun Variants Total Number: 3,000-5,200 (used by traitor guardsmen)
Bolt Pistols Total Number: 400-500 (primarily for Chaos Space Marines and leaders)
Power Swords Total Number: 100-150 (primarily for Chaos Space Marine champions and leaders)
Chainswords Total Number: 300-400
Sniper Rifles Total Number: 30-40 (used by cultist snipers and some traitor guardsmen)
Frag Grenades Total Number: 4,000-6,000
Krak Grenades Total Number: 2,000-3,000
Demolisher Cannons Total Number: 10-12 (mounted on vehicles)
Battle Cannons Total Number: 15-20 (mounted on vehicles)
Volcano Cannons Total Number: 3-4 (mounted on vehicles like Shadowswords)
Plasma Cannons Total Number: 20-25 (mounted on vehicles or used by heavy weapons teams)
Heavy Stubbers Total Number: 50-70
Twin-linked Heavy Bolters Total Number: 25-35 (mounted on vehicles)
Twin-linked Lascannons Total Number: 20-30 (mounted on vehicles)
Heavy Flamers Total Number: 20-30
Hades Autocannons Total Number: 10-15 (used by daemon engines)
Ectoplasma Cannons Total Number: 10-15 (used by daemon engines)
Reaper Autocannons Total Number: 15-20 (used by Chaos Space Marine Terminators)
Inferno Cannons Total Number: 5-8 (used by vehicles like Hellhounds)
Reaper Chainfists Total Number: 10-12 (used by Chaos Space Marine Terminators)
Havoc Launchers Total Number: 15-20 (mounted on vehicles)
Warpflame Throwers Total Number: 5-8 (used by Tzeentchian forces)
Sonic Blasters Total Number: 20-30 (used by Emperor’s Children)
Blastmasters Total Number: 10-15 (used by Emperor’s Children)
Ravagers Total Number: 5-7 (rare, used by elite units)
Hellcannons Total Number: 4-6 (used by Chaos Space Marine heavy support)
Doom Sirens Total Number: 5-8 (used by Emperor’s Children)
Power Fists Total Number: 50-70 (used by Chaos Space Marine champions and leaders)
Lightning Claws Total Number: 20-30 (used by Chaos Space Marine Terminators and elite units)
Combi-Weapons (e.g., Combi-Plasma, Combi-Melta) Total Number: 30-40
Corruption Blades Total Number: 15-20 (used by Chaos Champions)
Possession Blades Total Number: 10-15 (used by daemonically possessed units)
Vehicles and Daemon Engines
Leman Russ Battle Tanks Total Number: 20-30
Chimeras Total Number: 30-40
Basilisks Total Number: 10-12
Sentinels Total Number: 15-20
Hellhounds Total Number: 5-8
Hydra Flak Tanks Total Number: 8-10
Medusa Siege Tanks Total Number: 4-6
Rhinos Total Number: 15-20
Predators Total Number: 10-12
Defilers Total Number: 6-8
Chaos Land Raiders Total Number: 3-5
Forgefiends Total Number: 4-6
Maulerfiends Total Number: 4-6
Chaos Warhound Titans Total Number: 1-2 (rare, only used in major engagements)    Daemonically Possessed Vehicles
Total Number: Variable (depends on the success of possession rituals) Summary of Total Equipment   Infantry Weapons: Numerous, covering a wide range of Chaos-tainted and corrupted Imperial designs, with an emphasis on shotguns, autoguns, and lasgun variants for human followers. Vehicles: Approximately 100-150, including various armored units, artillery, and specialized daemon engines. Daemon Engines and Possessed Vehicles: These add to the overall strength and unpredictability of the Vengeful Despoilers' forces.

Traitor Guard Vehicles

Leman Russ Battle Tanks Total Number: 20-30
Description: These are standard Imperial Guard tanks that have been captured and corrupted by the forces of Chaos. They are used for direct combat, providing armored support to infantry units.
Chimeras Total Number: 30-40
Description: These armored personnel carriers are used to transport traitor guardsmen across the battlefield, offering protection and fire support.
Basilisks Total Number: 10-12
Description: Artillery pieces used by Major Thrax's artillery units, capable of delivering long-range bombardments to soften enemy positions.
Sentinels Total Number: 15-20
Description: Light walkers used for reconnaissance and scouting missions. These vehicles are equipped with a variety of weapons, including autocannons and lascannons.
Hellhounds Total Number: 5-8
Description: These flame-spewing tanks are used for clearing out infantry and entrenched positions, particularly in urban warfare.
Hydra Flak Tanks Total Number: 8-10
Description: Anti-aircraft tanks used to defend against Imperial aircraft and provide cover for advancing ground forces.
Medusa Siege Tanks Total Number: 4-6
Description: Siege artillery used to break through heavily fortified positions, often deployed by Major Thrax’s forces.

Chaos Space Marine Vehicles

Rhinos Total Number: 15-20
Description: Armored personnel carriers used by the Chaos Space Marines for rapid deployment. These are often adorned with chaotic symbols and modifications.
Predators Total Number: 10-12
Description: These are heavily armored tanks used by the Chaos Space Marines, equipped with various weapon systems like autocannons, lascannons, and heavy bolters.
Defilers Total Number: 6-8
Description: Daemonically possessed walkers that serve as both artillery and close-combat units, equipped with battle cannons and claws.
Chaos Land Raiders Total Number: 3-5
Description: Heavily armored assault vehicles used to transport Chaos Terminators or other elite units into the thick of battle.

Daemon Engines and Other Vehicles

Forgefiends Total Number: 4-6
Description: Daemon engines specializing in ranged combat, armed with Hades autocannons or Ectoplasma cannons, used to support Chaos Space Marine advances.
Maulerfiends Total Number: 4-6
Description: Daemon engines designed for close combat, equipped with magma cutters and tendrils for tearing through enemy armor and fortifications.
Chaos Warhound Titans Total Number: 1-2
Description: Occasionally, the Vengeful Despoilers may field corrupted Warhound Titans, massive war machines capable of destroying entire formations with their weapons. These are rare and typically deployed only in major engagements.   Total Number: Variable Description: Vehicles and machinery that have been possessed by daemons, granting them enhanced abilities and durability at the cost of predictability. This category includes corrupted Imperial vehicles and unique Chaos creations. Summary The Vengeful Despoilers' vehicle complement includes a mix of corrupted Imperial vehicles, dedicated Chaos Space Marine vehicles, and terrifying Daemon Engines. These vehicles provide the warband with the necessary mobility, firepower, and durability to support their infantry and daemonic forces in both offensive and defensive operations. The combination of traitor guard vehicles for massed firepower and Chaos Space Marine vehicles for elite strikes makes them a versatile and deadly force on the battlefield.

Warband Command

Supreme Commander: Lord Vaxxos the Deceiver
Chief Sorcerer: Sorcerer Lord Malek Thorne
Honor guard: Terminator Lord Kharzax
Master of Daemon Engines: Warp-Smith Kragnar the Blighted  

Chaos Space Marine Command

Alpha Legion Champion: Champion Korvash the Unyielding
Word Bearers Champion: Champion Velkar the twice Damned
Emperor's Children Champion: Champion Drusus the Perverse  

Traitor Guard Command

Supreme Commander: General Darran Voss
Commanding Officer : Colonel Myra Karsk
Officer Commanding: Major Garius Thrax  

Cultist and Daemonically Possessed Command

Commander: Dark Apostle Varik Thorne   Key Figures: Arch-Cultist Zarin Blackclaw
Daemonhost Reznar

Tactics Employed by the Vengeful Despoilers The Vengeful Despoilers, led by the cunning and ruthless Vaxxos the Deceiver, employ a wide range of tactics that reflect the chaotic and unpredictable nature of their warband. Their strategies often combine psychological warfare, overwhelming force, and dark sorcery, making them a terrifying opponent on the battlefield. Here are the primary tactics they use:   1. Shock and Awe

Description: The Vengeful Despoilers often begin engagements with overwhelming displays of force designed to terrify and disorient their enemies. This might include sudden and brutal artillery barrages from Major Thrax’s forces, followed by a rapid armored assault led by Chaos Space Marine vehicles such as Rhinos, Predators, and Land Raiders.

Objective: To break enemy morale early in the engagement, causing disarray and making it easier to exploit weaknesses in their defenses.

2. Massed Infantry Assaults

Description: The warband relies heavily on its vast numbers of traitor guardsmen and cultists. These forces are used in massed infantry assaults, often charging enemy positions in waves. The first wave, usually composed of poorly equipped cultists, is intended to absorb the brunt of enemy fire, while the more experienced traitor guardsmen follow up to exploit any breaches.

Objective:To overwhelm enemy defenses through sheer numbers, exhausting their ammunition and resources, and eventually overrunning their positions.

3. Infiltration and Sabotage

Description: The Alpha Legion detachment within the Vengeful Despoilers specializes in infiltration and sabotage. Before a major assault, these Chaos Space Marines infiltrate enemy lines, gathering intelligence, assassinating key leaders, and sabotaging vital infrastructure such as supply depots, communication networks, and power generators.

Objective: To weaken the enemy before the main assault begins, creating confusion and disruption that can be exploited by the main force.

4. Dark Sorcery and Daemonic Summoning

Description: Sorcerer Lord Malek Thorne and his cadre of Chaos Sorcerers frequently employ dark sorcery on the battlefield. This includes summoning daemons to bolster their forces, casting powerful warp-based spells to disrupt enemy formations, and creating warp storms to hinder enemy movement and communication.

Objective: To tip the balance of power in favor of the Vengeful Despoilers by directly manipulating the battlefield through the Warp, creating chaos and fear among the enemy ranks.

5. Mobile Warfare and Flanking Maneuvers

Description:The Vengeful Despoilers use their faster and more mobile units, such as Chaos Bikers, Raptors, and Maulerfiends, to perform flanking maneuvers and hit-and-run attacks. These units strike at enemy weak points, particularly exposed flanks and rear positions, before quickly retreating to avoid a prolonged engagement.

Objective: To harass and disrupt enemy forces, forcing them to divert resources to counter these threats and exposing them to the main assault.

6. Siege Warfare

Description: When facing fortified positions, the Vengeful Despoilers employ siege tactics, relying on Major Thrax’s artillery units, such as Basilisks and Medusa Siege Tanks, to bombard enemy fortifications. This is often followed by an assault led by Plagueburst Crawlers and Chaos Space Marines equipped for close-quarters combat.

Objective: To break down enemy defenses through sustained bombardment and close-range assaults, eventually breaching their fortifications and overrunning their positions.

7. Psychological Warfare

Description: Vaxxos the Deceiver is a master of psychological warfare. The warband uses terror tactics, such as public executions, displays of daemonic power, and the mutilation of captured enemies, to demoralize enemy forces. Additionally, they spread disinformation and rumors to sow discord among enemy ranks.

Objective: To break the will of the enemy, causing them to lose cohesion and morale, making them easier to defeat in battle.

8. Attrition and Exhaustion

Description: In prolonged campaigns, the Vengeful Despoilers employ attrition tactics, using their seemingly endless waves of cultists and traitor guardsmen to wear down the enemy over time. They attack supply lines, harass reinforcements, and maintain constant pressure, forcing the enemy into a war of attrition they are ill-prepared to win.

Objective:To outlast the enemy by depleting their resources, manpower, and morale, eventually leading to their collapse.

Summary The Vengeful Despoilers use a combination of brute force, cunning, and dark sorcery to dominate the battlefield. Their tactics are designed to create chaos, disrupt enemy operations, and exploit weaknesses through relentless assaults and psychological warfare. By leveraging their diverse forces—ranging from massed infantry to elite Chaos Space Marines and daemonic entities—they adapt to different battlefield conditions and enemies, ensuring that they remain a deadly and unpredictable force in any conflict.

Origins and Formation (Late M39 - Early M40)

The Vengeful Despoilers trace their origins to the latter years of M39, during a period of increasing turmoil and conflict across the galaxy. The warband's founder, Vaxxos the Deceiver, was once a proud and loyal Space Marine of the Imperial Fists Chapter, known for his unwavering commitment to the Imperium and his fearsome prowess in battle. Vaxxos earned his name in countless campaigns, defending humanity against the forces of Chaos and xenos threats. However, his fate would take a dark turn when his home world was attacked and ultimately destroyed by a combined force of Chaos and alien invaders.   The devastation left Vaxxos a broken man, filled with rage, despair, and a deep sense of betrayal by the Imperium he had so faithfully served. He became disillusioned, questioning the Emperor’s will and the sacrifices demanded of him and his brothers. In his darkest moments, he was approached by a group of Chaos cultists who offered him a chance to take revenge on those who had wronged him. The cultists promised power, knowledge, and the means to reshape the galaxy according to his will. Unable to resist the temptation, Vaxxos eventually succumbed to the lure of Chaos, turning his back on the Emperor and embracing the dark gods.   Vaxxos gathered like-minded renegades, disillusioned Imperial soldiers, and traitorous Astartes, forming the nucleus of what would become the Vengeful Despoilers. Over time, the warband grew in size and strength, attracting followers from various Chaos Space Marine Legions, including the Alpha Legion, Word Bearers, and Emperor's Children. The warband quickly gained a reputation for its ruthless tactics and unrelenting pursuit of vengeance against the Imperium.  

The First Campaigns (M40)

The Vengeful Despoilers began their reign of terror in the early years of M40, launching devastating raids on Imperial worlds and supply lines. Their first significant campaign was the Sacking of Helios Prime, an industrial world vital to the production of weapons and armor for the Imperial Guard. Vaxxos led a brutal assault on the planet, overwhelming its defenses with a combination of dark sorcery, massed infantry assaults, and daemonically-possessed war machines. The warband's victory was swift and merciless, and the planet was left in ruins, its factories and forges reduced to smoldering ash.   The destruction of Helios Prime served as a message to the Imperium: the Vengeful Despoilers were a force to be reckoned with, and they would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. This campaign also marked the first appearance of General Darran Voss, a former Imperial Guard officer who had defected to Chaos and now commanded the warband's traitor guard auxiliaries. Voss's expertise in siege warfare and logistics proved invaluable to the warband's success.   Following their victory on Helios Prime, the Vengeful Despoilers embarked on a series of campaigns across the Segmentum Obscurus, targeting key Imperial worlds and outposts. They became known for their ability to strike swiftly and disappear just as quickly, leaving behind only death and destruction. Their use of psychological warfare, including public executions, mutilations, and dark rituals, further demoralized their enemies and sowed fear throughout the region.  

The Fall of Agathon (M40.550 - M40.552)

One of the most significant campaigns in the warband's early history was the Fall of Agathon, a heavily fortified hive world that had long been a bastion of Imperial power. The planet's defenses were formidable, but Vaxxos and his warband were undeterred. Using his mastery of deception and misdirection, Vaxxos orchestrated a series of feints and diversions, drawing the planet's defenders into a trap.   While the Imperial forces were engaged elsewhere, the Vengeful Despoilers launched a surprise attack on Agathon's capital hive, Necropolis, using infiltration teams from the Alpha Legion to sabotage key infrastructure and disable the planet's defense grid. The warband's forces poured into the hive, overwhelming the defenders with a relentless assault. General Voss's artillery and heavy weapons units played a crucial role in breaching the hive's outer walls, while Vaxxos personally led the charge into the heart of the city.   The battle for Necropolis was brutal and bloody, with the Vengeful Despoilers leaving no survivors in their wake. The fall of Agathon sent shockwaves throughout the sector, as the Imperium realized that even its most fortified worlds were not safe from the wrath of Vaxxos and his warband.  

The Shadow War of Karthis (M41.112 - M41.115)

As the 41st Millennium dawned, the Vengeful Despoilers continued to expand their influence, engaging in a shadow war on the feudal world of Karthis. The planet was home to a powerful Imperial Knight House, House Karith, which had long been a thorn in the side of Chaos forces in the region. Vaxxos saw the destruction of this house as both a personal challenge and a way to further weaken the Imperium's grip on the sector.   The campaign on Karthis was marked by a series of covert operations, assassinations, and sabotage carried out by the warband's Alpha Legion contingent. These operations were designed to destabilize the planet's ruling elite and sow discord among the Imperial forces. Meanwhile, Vaxxos and his Chaos Space Marines led a series of lightning strikes on key locations, gradually wearing down the planet's defenses.   The final blow came when Vaxxos succeeded in corrupting several members of House Karith, turning them against their own kin. In a climactic battle, the traitor Knights joined forces with the Vengeful Despoilers, turning the tide of the conflict in their favor. The remaining loyalists were slaughtered, and Karthis fell to Chaos, its once-proud Knights reduced to little more than twisted abominations in service to the dark gods.  

The Great Rift and the 13th Black Crusade (M41.998 - M42.001)

The opening of the Great Rift and the onset of the 13th Black Crusade marked a new chapter in the history of the Vengeful Despoilers. As the galaxy was torn apart by the emergence of the Cicatrix Maledictum, Vaxxos saw an opportunity to further his own ambitions and strike at the heart of the Imperium. He pledged his warband's allegiance to Abaddon the Despoiler, joining the Chaos forces in their assault on the Cadian Gate.   The Vengeful Despoilers played a key role in the initial stages of the Black Crusade, launching raids on Imperial supply lines and striking at vulnerable outposts. Their infiltration and sabotage tactics were instrumental in weakening the defenses of the Cadian Gate, paving the way for the larger Chaos forces to launch their full-scale assault. Vaxxos himself led several daring attacks on key Imperial installations, including the destruction of the Spear of Light, a massive defense platform that had long guarded the approach to Cadia.   However, as the Black Crusade reached its climax, Vaxxos began to grow wary of Abaddon's true intentions. Fearing that the Despoiler's ambition would ultimately lead to the destruction of all life in the galaxy, Vaxxos chose to break away from the main Chaos force, taking his warband into the depths of the Eye of Terror. There, they regrouped and began to plan their next move, seeking to carve out their own empire in the newly fractured galaxy.  

The Duros IV Campaign (M42.120 - Present)

In the years following the 13th Black Crusade, the Vengeful Despoilers continued to strike at Imperial worlds, sowing chaos and destruction wherever they went. One of their most significant campaigns in this period was the invasion of Duros IV, a war-torn and desolate planet located in the Segmentum Obscurus. The planet's strategic importance and rich resources made it a prime target for Vaxxos, who sought to claim it for Chaos and establish a new base of operations.   The Duros IV campaign has proven to be one of the most challenging and brutal conflicts the Vengeful Despoilers have ever faced. The planet's harsh environment and the presence of entrenched Imperial forces have made it difficult for the warband to achieve a decisive victory. Despite this, Vaxxos remains determined to conquer the planet, believing that it holds the key to unlocking even greater power.   The Vengeful Despoilers have employed a wide range of tactics in their assault on Duros IV, from massed infantry assaults to dark rituals designed to summon daemonic reinforcements. General Voss's traitor guard units have been at the forefront of the fighting, using their superior numbers and artillery to grind down the Imperial defenders. Meanwhile, Vaxxos and his Chaos Space Marines have focused on key strategic targets, seeking to destabilize the Imperial command structure and break the will of the defenders.   As the campaign drags on, both sides have suffered heavy casualties, and the outcome remains uncertain. However, Vaxxos is confident that his warband will ultimately emerge victorious, claiming Duros IV as the first step in his quest to reshape the galaxy in the image of Chaos.  

Legacy and Influence

The Vengeful Despoilers have earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous and unpredictable warbands in the galaxy. Their combination of ruthless tactics, dark sorcery, and psychological warfare has made them a formidable opponent, capable of toppling even the most well-defended worlds. Vaxxos the Deceiver, once a loyal servant of the Emperor, has become a symbol of what happens when faith in the