Fafnir Rann

Fafnir Rann was a ruthless and bellicose Captain of the Imperial Fists Legion during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy. He would take part in many notable campaigns during the Age of Darkness, including the Battle of Phall, the Battle of Pluto as well as the epic Siege of Terra. Following the end of the Horus Heresy and the defeat of the Arch-Traitor Horus, he would take part in the war reciprocity against the hated Traitor Legions during the Great Scouring. He would continue to serve as a part of the Imperial Fists until the dawning of a new millennium, he was chosen to lead his own Adeptus Astartes Chapter during the Third Founding in 001.M32.

Taking the title of High Executioner, Fafnir Rann named his Chapter the Executioners, believing themselves to be the Emperor's Headsmen. He would go on to lead his newly created Chapter on a neverending quest to seek out and slaughter Mankind's enemies. This earned the Executioners a fell reputation as a bellicose and almost barbarous Chapter in nature. Like their Chapter Master, the Astartes of this Chapter came to disdain martial trappings and the ordered obedience of other more stalwart Codex-compliant Chapters such as the Ultramarines and their own genetic forebears, sharing little in common with their progenitor's culture and traditions. Fafnir Rann's ultimate fate is unknown.

History
By the opening days of the Heresy, Rann had risen to the esteemed rank of Seneschal. He was reputedly one of Primarch Rogal Dorn's most ruthless Captains, preferring to wield a twin pair of power axes and large storm shield in battle. When Dorn mustered the Retribution Fleet to be sent to assist the beleaguered Loyalists on Istvaan III, which initiated the Battle of Phall, Seneschal Rann's Chapter participated in the Blade of Perdition's hit and run action against the Iron Warriors' Heavy Cruiser Sire of Sabaktes, teleporting into the warship's central armoury and planting a Melta charge that, when it detonated, set off a chain reaction and destroyed the entire vessel and its crew. By the time the survivors returned to the Blade of Perdition, Fleet Master Alexis Polux had issued the order to withdraw and it was characteristic of Seneschal Rann and his warriors that the Blade was one of the very last to obey. Seneschal Rann would go on to serve alongside Sigismund in the First Sphere defences of the Sol System, standing as the first of wall of defence against the approaching Traitor Legion forces of the Warmaster Horus. He later took part in the Battle of Pluto. When the Solar War reached its final phase, Rann was charged with commanding the Persephone, one of the 'Three Sisters of Spite', a triumvirate of notable Imperial Fists' Frigates. He fought against the Arch-Traitor's forces around Pluto. He later took part in the epic final battle of the Horus Heresy during the Siege of Terra, defending the walls of the Imperial Palace itself.

Following the tragic events of the Horus Heresy, the Space Marine Legions were broken down into smaller Chapters, each with their own unique name, heraldry and traditions, with the originating Primogentor retaining the original name and heraldry. Rann would continue to serve in the Imperial Fists Chapter until the Third Founding which occurred in 001.M32. Rann was selected to become the patriarch and first High Executioner (Chapter Master) of the newly founded Executioners Chapter.