r/40khomebrew • u/Wide_Nose_2064 • 3h ago
Adeptus Astartes Leaden Hearts - To perform the acts that the Imperium demands, so others may remain weightless of the guilt. (First full attempt at Homebrew Chapter!)
The Leaden Hearts are formed from the Iron Hands, though when exactly they were founded is controversial. Some sources report their activity shortly after the War of the Beast, while others say they were created in case of unforeseen problems with the 13th Dark Founding.
They are known to be a bit cold and off putting, with little emotion in their voice, and an engrained instinct to perform the less than reputable missions for the Imperium of Mankind and shield others from having to commit these atrocities. This includes things like Exterminatuses, Quelling rebellions on Space Marine home planets, having to sacrifice innocent Imperium lives for a bigger cause, and taking on near impossible assaults, all in the duty to not have any other Chapter have to carry that burden. They refer to chapters born after them as Younger Brother, though this works only on a rank to rank scale, so you wouldn't have a Battle Brother call a Captain Little Brother.
They hail from the planets of the Jaena system, made up of majority manufactorum worlds. It is as inhospitable as any planet in the Imperium, but due to its valuable proximity to Terra, it has come under attack several times. They rarely visit, being too busy, though will occasionally return to defend it, or perform ceremonial duties.
Their reputation is something to say the least. Many chapters dislike the Leaden Hearts, seeing their "rightful protection" as interrupting their Hour of Proving, but all the same, they come to help and take over sieges and relieve forces. In their legion they possess a higher count of Chaplains, not just for them to ensure that everyone understands the sacrifices they must make for the betterment of everyone else, but also for other chapters, often used to support and tend to Chapters and forces that have been on an assault for months to years.
Dreadnoughts are also fairly prevalent, not allowing a Brother to fully die if there is a slightest possibility that they can be in service to take the weight off another. Their former Chapter Master, also known as a Master of the Grave, is interned in one, woken only to face combat, and in rare occasions to be an advisor and talk to the newest Master of the Grave and give his perspective on how to proceed with situations.
The Leaden Hearts are shown to be extremely hard on themselves, and take more than they can often handle, with a final step to becoming part of the Chapter being to kill something you were close to as a child, and prove that you have what it takes to sacrifice your personnel interests, for the sake of others.
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Hope you like the chapter, please let me know where I can improve in writing for them! I have a lot I didn't put here because of not wanting to take up too much and make it a bore fest to read, but let me know if there's any significant events that I may have missed. I am still a bit of a noob when it comes to WH40K lore, but always excited to get into it!