Death Company

The Death Company is the special unit of the Blood Angels Chapter of Space Marines whose members are consumed by the permanent, debilitating psychosis known as the Black Rage which is an inherent risk to any who bear the Blood Angels' gene-seed. Prior to every battle, the Space Marines of the Blood Angels Chapter ritually cut themselves to release blood which is collected into sacred vessels like the Red Grail. This blood is then ritually drunk and the Astartes reflect upon their duty to their Emperor and the lessons of their Primarch in deep meditation and prayer. Some, perhaps as many as one in every ten of the Blood Angels succumbs to visions of the pain and suffering of their PrimarchSanguinius in his final moments, a terrible and permanent condition called the Black Rage. These afflicted Blood Angels are inducted into the Death Company in order to give them an honourable death before they are totally consumed by blood lust and insanity. This is the blessing and the curse of the Blood Angels. When a Blood Angel falls victim to this Black Rage, their Power Armour is ritually painted black and they are placed into the Death Company. Led by a mighty Chaplain of the Blood Angels, the Death Company has a fearsome reputation for fighting with the savage, berserker fury of a World Eater Chaos Space Marine, attacking enemy and ally alike.