The RED SCORPIONS Chapter: Origins & Lore | Warhammer 40k Index Astartes

[@uignireddngfiurdsgfiurdse]

* Obsession with genetic purity * Arrogant * Liking the Emperor a bit too much * Suddenly appearing in the same event that birthed a Slaanesh-worshipping chapter What l3gion could th3y possibly b3?

[@TheShadowChesireCat]

The big Red Scorpions chapter secret: "Right, lads, Fulgrim's gone traitor. So shave your heads bald, and slap black paint on to cover the purple and hope to Big Daddy Emps that no one looks at the colour too hard."

[@codycurtin2295]

They're Wordbearers

[@enovos3138]

​@@codycurtin2295 I hope so

[@matthewbagley4287]

Eugenicists in space, how could this go wrong?

[@imadequate3376]

To be entirely honest. Eugenics is a proven science. It's pretty f**ked up but evidence was gathered to support it when it was first being experimented with as a theory. It was in many cases proven factual. So much so early college textbooks for medical students actually included Eugenics OR you bought a textbook that was solely on Eugenics. I've seen the book myself and held it in my hands. It was from the 1910s-1920s era.

[@elliotspirrett7752]

I choose to read this as "Eugenicists in Spaaaaaace!" like The Muppets

[@mojojojo9458]

@@elliotspirrett7752 this is how it sounded in my head too

[@MKmaki6094]

All that's left is for them to be birthed from tubes and speak in zero contractions

[@DarrinSK]

Eugenics gets a bad rep

[@Gh0stClown]

The Red Scorpions were also supposed to be included in the infamously never-released 14th Imperial Armour book: Fires of Cyraxus. It was probably going to be how they introduced Culln's dreadnought form. Incidentally, in some of the preview material from back then they said that the Scorpions would be led by Casan Sabius, since Culln 'was turned into soup by the Tyranids'

[@dekai7992]

@@Gh0stClown I would've loved to see that. RIP Alan Bligh.

[@totalCoolerUsername]

'For so much has been forgotten...' 😢

[@Red2Productions]

With any chapter who refuses to identify their primarch, the first thought has to be “okay which traitor legion are you from?”. My guess would be Word Bearers / Imperial Heralds. But maybe these mysteries weren’t designed to have answers.

[@heycidskyja4668]

Either Word Bearers or Emperor's Children, I'd say!

[@EvMund]

their obsession with genetic purity, arrogance towards other arms of the Imperium, and the fact their first appearance in lore is against a slaaneshi host, to me, points to an offshoot of the EC

[@BradCarletti]

Well put, Mystery boxes are seldom as fun after opening.

[@pmc1727]

I wonder if they are Fallen who don’t want Daddy Lion’s boys to find out.

[@scottywan82]

Had that exact thought. Colchis is also a desert world, so a scorpion would be an apt sigil.

[@Orangejuiceandjam]

One of the core themes I don't see discussed often about the red scorpions is their hypocrisy. They are religiously codex compliant and look down upon others, yet they are quick to deviate from the codex when it suits them.

[@VinnyPTAstartes]

how so?

[@Yurt_enthusiast7]

Tbf that's a fairly common theme in 40k. Most factions are xenophobic and regressive, unless it suits them to not be; Deathwatch with their xenoteck, the Guard sanctioning certain abhumand, tech priest inventions, the Primaris project etc. It's a bleak hope that even in such a hateful empire individuals find ways to work together/ bending the rules to survive in a dying galaxy

[@bmetalfish3928]

@@Yurt_enthusiast7 It helps that the rules have built in exceptions. Emperor allowed some abhumans and told rouge traders they could use and trade in xeno tech. The question is more on where the exceptions are applied and the answer on most able to enforce the rules is "Where I deem fit"

[@idontwanttopickone]

Fulgrim is 100% their daddy. GW have put all the clues in there for you, even down to the scorpion claws and tail being classic Slaanesh mutations.

[@SampoPaalanen]

Well it's like with the Blood Ravens, GW has done pretty much everything but outright say that the Blood Ravens are a Thousand Sons successor but because they haven't said it for sure it's technically "unknown".

[@noahmehringer29]

They actually might be Loyalist Word Bearers (Obsession with purity, venerating the Emperor as a god, and the grey color scheme) or astartes derived from their geneseed. The shame of where they come from might influence their actions for the few who may know the truth. If we're talking about potential E-children successors look at the Sons of the Phoenix chapter. Imperial Fist successors? I think not.

[@Alixander0]

Listening to Ian's question opening, "...are they heroic saviors coming to the rescue of Imperial worlds, holding off hordes of enemies alone without any need for backup, or suspicious, secretive isolationists who refuse to fight alongside anyone else?" I had the reflexive answer of "Why not both?" XD

[@LJWILL-xz4wf]

A new Arbitor Ian drop just when you need it. Thank you sir.

[@magnusjagerstrom4388]

I really like this series, and your other series end videos to. It is so consistent and at the same time imaginative and gives at last me such joy to watch and listen to. Inspiration for my own SM chapter is Iron Hands with a twist. Keep up the really good work you do!

[@TheTurbanatore]

I absolutely love your Badab War series. Unlike other KZbinrs, you actually cite the material you quote from, rather than just read the wiki. Great job, looking forward to more videos.

[@anotherzingbo]

I remember that there were a few bits of fluff in the Rogue Trader era that established the Red Scorpions' obsession with genetic purity and their status as being pretty nasty even by the standards of space marines in general. It's cool that Forge World was able to remember and build upon those characteristics rather than start anew with them when they picked up the chapter.

[@Mr_Waffle.]

Another banger, I love that you actually provide sources and background context for the lore. It’s essential for truly understanding 40k but so many people unfortunately just slurp up memes instead.

[@NightfallTH]

Good evening fellow Badab War enthusiasts! Happy to meet you men of cultures here again.

[@dekai7992]

I've been waiting for this particular segment! ❤🦂

[@008TheDen]

Some women of culture in these comments also.

[@dekai7992]

@@008TheDen Awesome!

[@justanotherthrowaway6136]

What

[@NightfallTH]

@@justanotherthrowaway6136 Wat

[@talscorner3696]

This is why I love the Scorpions so much. They are unapologetically horrible, but in a way that is at the same time consistent with the setting and makes you go "Yeah, that makes sense...". Plus, keep in mind that Culln shared a room with the Red Wake and Moloch during the Badab War, if I'm not mistaken... as their alleged commanding officer. You gotta respect the spine xD

[@TSInfiMa-r6z]

No Cullin didn't. Moloch only bothered to send a chaplain as his representative and Tyberos didn't even do that. Cullin did make friends with the Salamanders and Raptors so that was something.

[@raideurng2508]

Black with yellow highlights? Remarkably stable geneseed? Combined arms and even developing new gear? Cool with grievous casualties? That sounds like a very Iron Warrior way of thinking.....

[@MaxOVADrive]

Could be. But yellow could be Imperial Fists, they have particularly zealous successors like Black Templars and Soul Drinkers. Strict adherence to the Codex suggests Ultramarines. Throne knows you can't throw a rock without hitting one of their successors. Secrecy, isolation, and a general inability to play well with others suggests Dark Angels. And of course there's always the lost primarchs. They could could be anything, which is probably the point.

[@___Snake___]

The whole thing with the Scorpians is the purity of the gene seed, more pure than the ultramarines, this drives their obsession with purity in everything and their pride and arrorgance......only know chapter with gene seed that pure is pre blight Emperors Children

[@eriqone9245]

It's always been Emperor's children, low key. Old forgeworld chapters rumors Red scorpions alleged to be Emperor's children Minotaurs alleged to be iron warriors Sharks are Terran raven guard

[@jaggedtoothgrin]

@@eriqone9245 I still hold that the sharks are Loyalist Night Lords Pretending To Be Raven Guard

[@eriqone9245]

@@jaggedtoothgrin I disagree based on several things. However it's nice that it's relatively open for everyone to apply their own perspective to the mysteries of 40k

[@cyrusswhite2980]

A video on the Crimson Slaughter would be cool.

[@danfocke]

The Salamanders were part of the Badab war. And they're (comparatively) nice.

[@bilson7523]

Salamanders are about as nice as anything can be in a setting revolving around war. They follow the Geneva Convention better than Russia, and they openly care about human life.

[@justinz2451]

Loyalist Emperors Children??

[@dekai7992]

@@justinz2451 In a way. Interesting thought indeed.

[@WhiterThanAginger]

I always believed they used Fulgrims gene seed.

[@medvedec]

Still, hands down my favourite 40k lore channel Keep up the good work

[@IAmTheDawn]

These videos are some of the best on KZbin, bar none.

[@Jason-35D]

The grey armor coupled with the black, white and red markings... it’s pretty on the nose.

[@Tsotha]

Plus the obsession with developing new high tech tanks!

[@personwhotalks2049]

The best you could do with one of the nice ones in the badab war would be salamanders or lamentors i think

[@johnecoapollo7]

I recently encountered the Lamenters while reading the Devastation of Baal, I was surprised that they were still surviving although they were in too bad a shape to help and still within their hundred years penitent Crusade.

[@euansmith3699]

@@johnecoapollo7 The Lamenters appear to be too unlucky to live, and too cursed to die.

[@Xick]

You can't put off the Space Sharks and Minotaurs forever.

[@Adept24]

Gw uses Dark Angels, Space Wolves, Blood Angels and Ultramarines as it's main chapters, but these recent videos about other chapters highlight why Forge World were so good in creating chapters which have a deep and often more interesting background.

[@kaierrett3697]

I love the red scorps. Saw heard of them first of during the seige of vraks. Still hoping you do a sisters of silence vid lol

[@jyejyebinks]

Ian when we get to the Tiger Claws can we see your army, like youe Marines Errant army showcase?

[@Silvofox]

Great series, not really into space marines but am now, although between the chapters mentioned so far they've all been great but I'm gonna go with the "Sons of the Howling Scorpions" !!!!! Thanks

[@caledfwltch]

if you’re looking for a “””nice” “”group of space marines, maybe do a focus on some salamanders! while their few successors like the dark krakens and black dragons don’t have too much fluff, covering the covenant of fire with the insanity they got up to during the heresy post-istvaan with xiaphas jurr and cassian dracos could be really fun, especially with some of the fun mentions they’ve had in the new heresy supplements (like dracos literally being able to power word: kill on an alpha legion contemptor)

[@rogue5ive]

Superb, I really hope this series continues past the Badab War.

[@mistformsquirrel]

When Bob Gillman looks at you and says "... you need to loosen up."

[@LegionMiniatureGames]

Such a well timed video, while I sold off my Red Scorpions when forgeworld originally sold the parts back in the day. I bought extra shoulder pads for marines which I recently found along with the book with the army list for them and the Elysian Drop troops. I’m planning to make a force again :)

[@WhiterThanAginger]

I firmly believe the Red Scorpions use Emperors Children/Fulgrim gene seed

[@CrimsonTemplar2]

Excellent video. I’m really enjoying this series.

[@Yacovo]

My guess is that they are Dark Angels who had all the ones who knew they were Dark Angels die before passing on the secret. Thanks for the video.

[@erih2934]

While the old DA codices had the line about them refusing to accept even ogrins as allies, just pure humans, I can't see these guys being DA. No 1st legion from Terra nor Caliban would suddenly start believing in the Emperor as a god. We are better than that. We were there, we were the first. We stood by his side (at least those from Terra would claim it and the other ones didn't care about the Emperor and thus rebelled) ;)

[@jackevanson9509]

Great video Ian! Loving the Badeb series so far it’s one of my favourite parts of the lore! I’m not being the well actually guy as I’m only mentioning it as I think it’s actually interesting but the RS aren’t running out of Terminator armour for their inability to maintain it but from heavy losses they’ve suffered through all of the IA series especially losing many suits in the Aphelion project mission and the siege of Vraks :)

[@RayGuillanGames]

Carcharadons when? 🦈 (Great video by the way! I have a lot of love for the Red Scorpions)

[@HungryPlatypus013]

I’ve been trying to research all of the currently available successor chapters in Space Marine II and Ian is still the only KZbinr I trust to not be weirdly courted by in-universe propaganda into thinking any of these people are “good,” and give it to me straight. 😂

[@martynjones3978]

Loving these Badab war Chapter stuff!! Great work keep it coming please 😊❤

[@graefx]

I love the Badab war. I wish GW would do a MTO run of those old FW books, and the Tamurkhan, like they did with Rogue Trader. That era and 5th edition is always gonna be my minds eye of 40k and all the grimdark.

[@PhobosAnomaly1]

Thanks for making this video man, they’re the best chapter!

[@eriqone9245]

Hope you include the heresy era hints like the exemplary battle and the blackbook pale nomads lore for the charcharadons

[@bilson7523]

My head canon is they stem from a traitor legion, hence the secrecy. Much in the same way I'm convinced the Blood Ravens are a Loyalist Thousand Sons chapter, I believe the Red Scorpions are a loyalist Emporer's Children chapter. The markers are there: Obsession with purity, extreme internal pressure to train and high standards for recruits, and an incredibly rigid command structure that is heavily hierarchical.

[@noahmehringer29]

Or Word Bearers, they shared a similar obsession with purity and hated genetic mutations. Also there color schemes matched the old Word Bearer grey. Either they are remains of loyalist WBs or their gene seed was used.

[@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299]

Great video as usual Ian. Any chance you will ever cover The Mentors? ;p

[@Bikeadelic]

These chapter and legion videos are great for ideas for your own chapter!

[@jackfurze5380]

Aww yes, was waiting for this. My first army. Want to make a badab era army using Mk6 marines.

[@charlesquigley4383]

This is the Warhammer I fell in love with, the gritty, grueling imperial armory stuff. The side campaigns.

[@tinyfishhobby3138]

Really appreciate how often you hammer home the point that all space marines are effectively space fascists and are inherently Not the Good Guys. It's unfortunate that so much of the original satire of 40k as a setting has been scrubbed a little bit over the past couple decades.

[@DiehardMechWarrior]

To be honest, 40k stopped being satire in 5th edition.

[@Nukefandango]

GW wants to say "it's satire and they're space fascists," but then refuses to actually show that because they don't want them to *actually* be the bad guys.

[@thatlonewolfguy2878]

@@Nukefandango To be fair the Imperium is far closer to a medieval-esque feudal theocracy than a fascist state

[@SIGNOR-G]

Not the good guy? Satire? This is the most based of the hobbies. Simple as.

[@Nukefandango]

​@@thatlonewolfguy2878very true, but still, you catch my drift lol

[@davidmiddleton7958]

Dark Angels founding! Secrets and hidden history!

[@stewartparkhurst2969]

Always fun to see the Deathwatch rulebooks pop up

[@jackrogers5712]

Some of the best 40K books ever written

[@RipperRiz]

I really really do look forward to anything that you put out. The level of hard work you put in to all of our escapism is awe inspiring. A fan forever and a day sir. The Emperor Protects.

[@zenosAnalytic]

"maybe it'll be one of the nice ones! Those exist, right?" XD XD XD

[@Retard634]

"wah the imperium doesnt like aliens" TOTAL ALIEN DEATH

[@stewroo]

Exorcists next please 🥺. They're nice.... I promise.

[@gkiyo]

Really enjoying this badab war series a lot. I really enjoy how big this older lore makes the universe feel.

[@musicalDrebin]

was hoping these guys would be next! planning on painting these guys up soon

[@matthewmcneany]

I reckon if any chapter can be reckoned to be the in extremis Chapter synthesised from forbidden redacted primarch gene seed, it's the Red Scorpions. They have some extreme foibles that you could see being the cause of pre Heresy censure and 3000 years later some bumbling genesmith was like I know this bottle I found says do not use but... and like they probably don't know it but could be the genesis of all their secrecy and ultracompliance and the religious stuff.

[@velvetine74]

Glad they put this chapter in SM2, might don their scheme for a bit.

[@Racald]

Lovely video about horrible dudes! How about giving some love for the best axe wielding super boys, no not the SW, the Executioners?

[@arcuscotangens]

Huh, I thought the correction of the flesh was just a thing the misses and I do.

[@oxmor]

Love this lore series. If you all you cover the space marine 2 chapters and make a playlist we’d love you all for it :)

[@brianshea2515]

In Rogue Trader and 2e, my Marines were the Red Scorpions. I had do idea what they would become lore wise.

[@ErikWarhammer]

Okay, let's see what hellish Real World parallels these guys are meant to be...

[@jamesgunnell7798]

Best chapter colour scheme

[@DMDemon1987]

Could their GeneSeeds come form one the two lost Primarchs. Since if I understand a theory they they came form the Ultramarines chapter and it was believed the lost Priamrch's legions were merged in the Ultramarines Legion.

[@craigwoodhouse3813]

I've been interested in 40k since rogue trader (yes I'm that old) and of all the space marine chapters I believe there are 3 who could be considered good guys these are the salamanders, blood angels, and the soul drinkers (before they were ruined by becoming primaris and only after the soul spear is taken, read the novelsthey are amazing)

[@derekmcmanus8615]

I'm that old too...

[@Yurt_enthusiast7]

I wouldn't say the blood drinking lunatics to be good

[@Itsbentopp]

New to 40k here and hear the indomitus crusade referenced a lot. Can you make a video on what that is?

[@TheAnchorite]

It's so bittersweet seeing these beautiful Imperial Armour illuminations. What a fantastic series of books. And the Red Scorpions being essentially the protagonists for most of them... I hate this new timeline bros, and lament the seeming loss of such works with the destruction of Forge World. How cruel that I couldn't afford them when they were available - but now that I can, they are nowhere to be found :( God, those illustrations of Carab Culln and Lugft Huron are so phenomenal, does anyone know which artist was responsible?

[@dmeep]

have you tried forgery world china? they supposedly have a lot of oop stuff

[@Technoanima]

So that’s where the meme image of By The Emperor meme comes from!🎉

[@trimeerious4349]

YES my favourite chapter ! Finally !!!

[@michaelutt4035]

I hope they give the Red Scorpions a plastic upgrade sprue someday. I paid a decent bit of money for some old Forge World shoulder guards on eBay

[@jean-christopherothacker6959]

Remember reading up on them in the "Anphelion Campaign"-Forge World Book. Interesting Chapter. Not the "coolest" of chaps. "A little more Natzee than the Rest of the Space Marines" pretty much sums these guys really up. Shout out to Ian, great video as usual.

[@derekmcmanus8615]

Ah those naughty National Socialists from 30s/40s Germany sneak in everywhere nowadays

[@ArkadiBolschek]

The Red Scorpions aren't beating the allegations

[@allanburt5250]

Excellent, Ian keep them coming please

[@spencerthewhip9204]

Red hunters next!

[@zenosAnalytic]

given their expertise in drop assault and stable genes, I'm thinking loyalist Luna Wolves

[@brittanislarp3850]

Luna Wolves loyalist descendants. 100% my hewdcanon. Trying to be perfect and hide their shame by being the best.

[@etiennegarant7545]

These guys are at least a 7 on the Bastard Scale (tm)

[@benstehn]

Thank you Ian, these are great.

[@Ledshot]

Hopefully the next chapter is the Lamenters.

[@lokewallmo6867]

Yes! More Badab please!

[@todders559]

Sounds like they’re overcompensating to me. A traitor primarch’s genes perhaps?

[@nhoegler]

do astral claws

[@mostcomplicatedman8115]

too bad for the mk4 armor . everyone is primaris now

[@volz4103]

The scorpion emblem doesn't have enough legs to be a scorpion

[@JayJapanB]

I collect them and I never noticed that ahahah

[@ArbitorIan]

You mean their scorpion emblem is A MUTANT?

[@volz4103]

Cleanse them

[@Yurt_enthusiast7]

After 10 000 years of imperial unschooling I'm pretty sure no one in the Imperium knows what a scorpion actually is😁

[@chubbubdreamer6904]

More like the Red SScorpions, am I right?

[@derekmcmanus8615]

I see what you did there...

[@NecromediaNetwork]

I'm hooting at Brother Gez 😆

[@aceofhearts9928]

Fuck yeah! Ive been waiting for the OGs

[@WhispersinTheWarp]

"mutants are bad" "so purge the astropaths & navigator?" "well yes, but also...no"

[@jaki1584]

If Emperor’s children and Ultramarines had a baby

[@petros9711]

PLEASE - Keep the focus on Badab! ❤❤❤

[@willie4093]

HELL DIVER MARINE

[@ToTheNines87368]

Wonder how they feel about primaris?

[@khaiwong728]

Next please do the Lamenters Chapter Ian.

[@SpannSr1970]

I personally am getting hints of Logar.

[@LeBigMac-hf8db]

MORE BADAB, count me in!

[@alexandermee989]

Any chance you can do the Relictors at some point. They were always my favouite renegade chapter.

[@ZeroONeal]

We in SM2, we eating🍷🗿

[@ranger36100]

A pleasure to listen to 👍🏻

[@mysteidolon8850]

Thank you.

[@alannatherson7721]

Nice Chapters of Space Marines? Well he already did Salamanders so we know it's going to be the Lamenters.

[@kohldooley8621]

I'd sell my kidney for a Carab Cullen Dread model

[@jacobwoods2918]

Grey uniforms and a white and red symbol on there left arm. Obsessed with genetic purity. 🤔