Warrior's Pilgrimage

The Warrior's Pilgrimage is an ancient tradition amongst the loyalist Space Marine Chapters. When a Space Marine cannot cope with a failure, he can request from his Chapter Master to be released on a Warrior's Pilgrimage, and if granted, he will leave his Chapter and battle-brothers behind, headed for the nearest warzone, throwing himself in the thickest of the fighting againts one of the Imperium's many ennemies, and will keep doing so until he finally dies. Amongst the superhuman defenders of the Imperium, this amounts to honorable suicide, for the Marine will go into battle seeking death instead of victory, but will not accept death willingly.

Usage
The ancient tradition of the Warrior's Pilgrimage is an heritage from the time of the Great Crusade, where both individual Space Marines and entire Legions would take solemn oaths of accomplishing some glorious goal or die trying. Often, a dishonored Space Marine would swear an oath to accomplish a truly impossible thing even for a superhuman Astartes, and find redemption by dying trying to fulfill it. If by miracle he managed to accomplish it, he would then be vindicated, and welcomed back as a hero.

Today, the Warrior's Pilgrimage is seldom requested: Space Marines are psycho-endoctrined from the moment they are accepted as aspirants to deal emotionally with the bloodbath they will commit and the inevitable casualities that accompany them. Also, whenever a Marine feels an emotional burden, he will confess to his company's Chaplain. These ancient warriors are masterful orators and keen psychologues, and the almost always find the right words to unburden their brethren, and re-kindle the flame of their righteousness.

But it is not always so: terrible losses in battle, or the loss of a sacred artifact of their Chapter can unhinge the mental stability of a Space Marine beyond the ability of a Chaplain to set it right again. Such Astartes will often request to go on the Warrior's Pilgrimage, as a self-imposed punishment and way to rid themselves of their guilt.

If his petition is accepted, the Space Marine will report to the Apothecarion to have his gene-seed removed, and will then don his Power Armour, take his faithful Bolter and leave for the nearest warzone, seeking his redemption in dying facing the most powerful opponent he can find. For most of them, their first battle will also be their last; and their bodies and gear will be solemnly returned to their Chapter if it was reclaimed. Some such Astartes will manage to survive despite the odds; those are choice recruits for Inquisitors seeking to add a fearsome warrior to their retinue. Sadly, some of those survivors lose it completely and ultimately turn renegade.

Notable Pilgrims

 * Brother-Captain Taelos of the Imperial Fists - Faced the almost total annihilation of his 2nd Company against the Tau. Requested to go on the Warrior Pilgrimage, but was turned down the first time, and put in charge of the 10th Company instead. After replenishing the ranks of the Imperial Fists, he made another request, which was granted this time.
 * Brother-Captain Reinez of the Crimson Fists - Lost his 3rd Company Standard to the Soul Drinkers on Ettymion IV. Resigned his rank and petitioned Chaper Master Kantor to seek his redemption in death. He resurfaced for the trial of the Soul Drinkers where he was appointed prosecutor. Too consumed by his hatred, he ultimately joined the forces of Chaos in an assault on the Phalanx and died trying futilely to get his revenge on his hated ennemies.
 * Lone Wolves of the Space Wolves - The Space Wolves' version of the Warrior's Pilgrimage: a Space Wolf who remains as sole survivor from his pack will swear an oath to face the most terrible of foes in personal combat, to bring his fallen pack's saga to a close, and either join them in death, or start another saga as a member of the Wolf Guard. Unlike other Chapters, Lone Wolves still fight as a part of their Company, albeit a distant and solitary one.