"If you are strong feign weakness. If weak pretend strength. Whatever your position conceal it from the enemy, and he will waste his armies fightig his own phantoms."
Tactica Imperium

Essays & articles
" Some say that the Blood Angels are tainted; that they harbour a dark secret. I know this to be true. I have seen the infamous Death Company: wild-eyed and foam.mouthd berserkers who tear their enemies limb from limb, crush skulls with a single blow, snap spines and rip out inner organs. I have seen the Sanguinary Priests; the passing of blood-filled chalices from lip to lip, heard their wracking lamentations of Sanguinius´death. I have watched their rituals; mighty warriors daubing their armour in the blood of their foes, heard them crying for vengeance against the enemies of the Emperor.
And I, perhaps the only normal man to have done so, have walked along the cells of the tower of Adon. I saw those half-beasts gnawing at their bars, clutching at the air; heard them howling with endless grief, torment and blood-fever. Perhaps I alone have witnessed the Twilight Feast, when the Chapter assembles to perform its ancient blood rites, bathed in the ruddy glow of Baal´s setting sun. I am one of those rare few who has stood in the Sepulchre of Heroes; entered the portal of the Tower of Amareo; observed the Blood Angels waking from their sarcophagi, invigorated by their unnatural rest.
All these things I have seen. and I shudder at the recollection. Who can tell what exists in the darkest corners; what rites and practices remain hidden even to me? The Blood Angels are indeed ancient and terrible, and only the foolish have no fear of them."

Inquisitor N´Syun (WD 228)

Since the dawn of the Imperium, the Blood Angels have been at the forefront of the battle. Wars unnumbered have they fought; countless are the enemies of the Imperium who lie dead by their hand. Many worlds have they saved, many menaces have they eradicated. And yet, amongst this proud history of battle, there is one conflict which is ranked above all others, heralded to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, a battle the thought of which causes the Emperor´s foes to tremble in dread, fearing the wrath of the Blood Angels. Who among us has not heard of the Battle for Armageddon?
Long had the forces of Governor von Strab fought against the green-skinned hordes of Ghazghkull Thraka, thrice-cursed spawn of hell. Magnificient were the deeds of Commissar Yarrick and those who fought beside him. Yet it was the Blood Angels who were the ultimate scourge of the Orks on that desolate, ruined planet.
Like the Angls of Death that they are. the Blood Angels struck at Thraka´s host with fury unbounded. Was it not a handful of their number that held back a living tide at the battle of the bridge? Did not Commander Dante himself lead his ferocious warriors into the heart of the Ork army? Before the Blood Angels´ onslaught the Orks were scattered like dead leaves in a gale. Mountains of the dead lay in the Blood Angels´ wake, but their thirst for battle was not sated. Five score Orks waited for every warrior, but did the Blood Angels pay heed to any peril? Of course not! Driven by their loyalty to the Emperor they sought battle after battle, bearing their losses with determination, killing all that stood in their path. Not while one Ork took breath did they rest and their acts of valour served to inspire those around them to ever greater efforts in their attempts to wipe out the Ork menace.
Whatever fate awaits the Blood Angels in the future, they will be remembered forever as the Saviours of Armageddon.
Historica Imperium (WD 228)

Even amongst the Space Marines, who often live for several centuries, the Blood Angels are noted for their excessive longevity. Some amonst the Inquisition have pointed out that this longevity seems to be increasing gradually with each passing generation, but no-one can offer an explanation as to why this should be so. Their slow aging process has been attributed by some to the peculiar nature of the Chapter´s gene-seed, while others fear that the Blood Angels´ lives are sustained through more grisly means. Whatever the reason, it is not uncommon for a Space Marine with Sanguinius´ gene-seed to live for up to ten centuries. In fact, the current Lord of the Chapter, Lord Dante, has served the Imperium for over 1,100 years and shows little sign of succumbing to old age. And it is said that Veteran Sergeant Cleutin was the Sergeant of Commander Dante´s Scout Squad at the time Dante joined the Blood Angels.

"It was upon the field of battle at Clamorga that the mighty Captain Moriar fell, defending the ridge against the despicable Eldar. Many were the wounds and the Sanguinary Priests were at a loss to heal him. And so it was that Moriar was interred in the sarcophagus of the Furioso Dreadnought built by Brother Morleo, as were Belaphon, Dario and Ameretto before him. Upon gaining this new strength, Moriar was struck by visions of Sanguinius, his own near-death state triggering the Black Rage. Immortal now in his adamantium shell, Moriar survived the Black Rage, hungering for battle and death. The Rd Thirst grips him, and the revered Brothers of the Armourium have modified his armoured suit so that he may partake of the vital liquid and be restrained when not in battle."

Heroes of Legend - a study of the Dreadnoughts of the Adeptus Astartes Blood Angels (WD 240)

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The creation of a new Blood Angel
Baal
The Blood Angels homeworld is Baal wtih its moons Baal Prine and Baal Secundus. It is a radiated, poisonous desert. The people there live as nomads, hoping to survive. When Sanguinius came to this planet as a child, he was found and raised by a tribe called the Blood. Sanguinius himself grew quickly and was strong and beautiful. He grew mighty wings which bore him into the the sky. He could walk in the dessert without radiation suit. Because of his superhuman power he soon became leader of the Blood. Then the Emperor came to Baal.
Sanguinius immediately recognized the Emperor. The Emperor made Sanguinius the Primarch and the mightiest of his tribe to the first Blood Angels. Since that time the Blood Angels recruit from among the greatest tribes of the Blood.

Recruitment
New recruits have to fight their way across the desert to Angels Fall (the place where Sanguinius landed). Then all contestants fight for the 50 or so places available. The winners are taken to the Blood Angels fortress monastery on Baal itself. There they drink the blood of Sanguinius which makes them sleep. Then the Apothecarions implant the geneseed of the Blood Angels in their incubent bodies.
For one year the aspirants lie in big golden Sarcophagi while the geneseed slowly alters their metabolism, organs and look. A lot of them die at this point, their bodies not being able to cope with the changes. The geneseed carries the imprint of their Primarchs memories. Therefor many have strange dreams of his battle against Horus and his Death. Ever afterwards they will heve these dreams during sleep.
When they at last come out of their sarcophagus, they will have totally changed. They will have superhuman powers and be tall and beautiful. They will have keener senses and stronger muscles. They will be ready to begin their training as Space Marines. They become part of the Blood Angels Scout Company.

The Black Rage & the Red Thirst
The two secret feats of the Blood Angels chapter are dark things of which is not spoken even among the Marines. The Marines are followed by memories of their Primarch´s death in his sleep. These memories come back to their mind, when they march to war. Just before the battle their thoughts wander to the moment when Horus slew Sanguinius. They are attacked by a dark and powerful rage. As well as having the memories of their Primarch, they also get part of his powers. Their strength still grows and they are able to fight on with wounds which would kill even other Marines. But they kill uncontrolled and unordered without regret. Therefor before the battle the Marines strain to keep these feelings in check. The Company Chaplains look after their fellow Marines. Those who are unable to suppress the Black Rage fall unconcious and are taken away. They form the Death Company. They don Black Armor, painted with red crosses and blood drops. They fight in a seperate unit led by a chaplain. He guides their rage towards the enemy. They charge into battle and slaughter without regard to their own life.
Together with this rage comes an uncontrollable thirst for blood. This may grow stronger as time passes. There are tales of people being drained of all blood lying dead in the streets. Wether these tales are true or not is not known. Also it is not clear that they have been killed by Marines. But the truth is ony known to the Blood Angels themselves.

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The Physique of a Space Marine
Of the diverse changes the geneseed triggers, new organs are the most drastic. A list with a short description is what follows.
Secondary heart all Marines have a second heart situated on the right side of the chest.

Ossmodula this implant makes the bones stronger and fuses the rib cage in one protective shell.

Neuroglottis by the help of this organ the Marine can find toxic substances or the nutritive values simply by chewing.

Haemastamen the blood maker makes the Marines blood more efficient.

Larramans Organ this organ produces special cells, which cover an eventual wound with a protective layer of scar tissue within seconds.

Catalepsian node The Marine can stay awake for days at a time because this implant enables him to rest one half of his brain while the other half stays awake.

Peomnor This pre-stomach enables the Marine to either neutralize toxic substances or isolate them from the digestive tract.

Omophagea By absorbing genetic material from the meals, the Marine can gain part of a person or creature´s memory simly through eating its flesh.

Multi-lung Space Marines have three lungs and can close off their normal lungs in favour of the bio-engineered multi-lung. This lung can breathe poison or even water.

Lymans ear This ear replacement makes the hearing sharper and allows the Marine to filter out sounds.

Sus-an membrane This brain implant allows a Space Marine to enter a state of supended animation in which he can survive for centuries if necessary.

Melanchrome The Marines skin colour is photo-chromatic and immediately reacts to the strength of sunlight.

Oolitic kidney The Marines emergency detoxification system: the marine enters a trance, his bloos is filtered fast by the kidney. It is used when the poisonous substance is too strong for his other organs.

Biscopea The muscle builder

Mucranoid The skin-sealer. The Marine is able to sweat out a protective layer which even protects him from vacuum.

Betchers gland This implant enables the Marine to synthesize poison which is stored in this modified salivary gland. The poison is not only poisonous but also highly corrosive. Progenids One of the most important implants. It stores the information about how the new organs are created. This implant can later be removed so that it be implanted in another new Marine. This is the only way in which new organs can be created.

Occulobe The implant enables the Marine to see far better than an ordinary human and even the in the dark.

Interface this implant builds up the connection between the Marine and his Power amrmor.

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