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

The Red Scorpions are one of the most recognised chapters in 40k, despite being featured in no mainstream 40k publication, and lauded as a chapter of heroes, despite being REALLY HORRIBLE. Let's find out why!
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#warhammer40k #lore #badab #warhammerlore #spacemarines #astartes #warhammer #history #horusheresy #imperium #boardgames #tactica #letsplay #tabletopgaming #warhammer40k #warhammerworld #gamesworkshop #warhammer30k

[@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.

[@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.

[@LJWILL-xz4wf]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@IAmTheDawn]

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

[@danfocke]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@justinz2451]

Loyalist Emperors Children??

[@dekai7992]

@@justinz2451 In a way. Interesting thought indeed.

[@WhiterThanAginger]

I always believed they used Fulgrims gene seed.

[@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.

[@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

[@jyejyebinks]

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

[@stewartparkhurst2969]

Always fun to see the Deathwatch rulebooks pop up

[@CrimsonTemplar2]

Excellent video. I’m really enjoying this series.

[@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?

[@stewroo]

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

[@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

[@PhobosAnomaly1]

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

[@spencerthewhip9204]

Red hunters next!

[@musicalDrebin]

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

[@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 :)

[@cyrusswhite2980]

A video on the Crimson Slaughter would be cool.

[@volz4103]

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

[@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.

[@jamesgunnell7798]

Best chapter colour scheme

[@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)

[@allanburt5250]

Excellent, Ian keep them coming please

[@eriqone9245]

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

[@gkiyo]

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

[@aceofhearts9928]

Fuck yeah! Ive been waiting for the OGs

[@boop2908]

Just when I was starting a Red Scorpions project. lets fucking goooooo!

[@honestkyn718]

The purest the purest of space marines, clearly they are not related in any way to the traitor Legion especially not the ones that have the most pure Gene seed

[@trimeerious4349]

YES my favourite chapter ! Finally !!!

[@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.

[@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.

[@Ledshot]

Hopefully the next chapter is the Lamenters.

[@benstehn]

Thank you Ian, these are great.

[@Davidmoire96]

To me the Red Scorpions were based on Soviet cruelty there was an old 80's movie starring Dolph lundren called Red Scorpion,, Nazi or Communist , both are very evil and messed up so i can understand where you are coming from comparing them to the Third Reich's soldiers, That is amazing that they are even more Xenophobic than the Silver Skulls and see the Emperor as a god like the Black Templars, I used to think the Red Scorpions were just some fan fiction boy scouts, but i was very wrong, they have some good lore, thank you for this video.

[@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 :)

[@Jason-35D]

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

[@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299]

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

[@davidmiddleton7958]

Dark Angels founding! Secrets and hidden history!

[@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)

[@jackfurze5380]

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

[@WhiterThanAginger]

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

[@velvetine74]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@charlesquigley4383]

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

[@nhoegler]

do astral claws

[@NecromediaNetwork]

I'm hooting at Brother Gez 😆

[@ArkadiBolschek]

The Red Scorpions aren't beating the allegations

[@LeBigMac-hf8db]

MORE BADAB, count me in!

[@MartaWright-l4b4b]

Your videos are the epitome of quality and style. I look forward to each new release!😜🥪😘

[@martynjones3978]

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

[@ChaneTzun]

Tome Keepers next?

[@Munchie2011]

You should see the miniatures apothecary army of these they recently painted and donated to mental health charities.

[@WilhelmScreamer]

Where can I see em?

[@Munchie2011]

@@WilhelmScreamer he's on twitch and insta/fb as miniaturesapothecary

[@arcuscotangens]

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

[@todders559]

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

[@kohldooley8621]

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

[@alannatherson7721]

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

[@Pepsi_Addicted]

I'm doing my part to please Algo

[@willie4093]

HELL DIVER MARINE

[@TKUltra971]

The CHAD Red Scorpions Chapter. Love those guys.

[@etiennegarant7545]

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

[@euansmith3699]

"... a bit more Nazi than most..." 😄

[@ragsnbones7351]

Anyone know where I can find more examples of codex approved camouflage schemes?

[@dahSweep]

Love the Red Scorpions. Great lore, great colour scheme and great models from back in the day, but... why the HELL are they called the "Red Scorpions"? Their whole thing is purity and codex obsession (although not cohering to the correct markings I guess), so what does that have to with scorpions, and red ones at that? Doesn't fit at all.

[@timothylyons5686]

Loyalist lron Warriors.

[@MrTumnus1987]

Nah, that’s The Minotaurs!

[@dashiellgillingham4579]

@MrTumnus1987 The Minotaurs most likely came out of the Lunar gene vaults under the personal direction and control of the High Lords of Terra, with absolutely no links to any other astartes. To say they have any connection to any Legion is to miss something fundamental to their nature.

[@michaelinnes2754]

@@dashiellgillingham4579 Ead Brown, the main Minotaurs guy at Forge World at the time the Badab books were written, outright said that the Minotaurs were written with the Iron Warriors in mind at his request.

[@philipzahn491]

"What's your super power? - Racism."

[@superblobfish2567]

Venerate the Emperor due to their lack of a primarch eh? Sounds like... fatherless behaviour

[@redjacc7581]

Imperial Fists ar da b3st.

[@Hateful_Psycho]

There’s a stark difference between nazism and fascism and the imperium is neither of those.

[@Kwisatz-Chaderach]

Winners of the Xenophobia Competition! 💪

[@bragoen]

joke's on us, there are no nice ones 😅😅

[@OliviaScott-v2n]

Your content is like a good movie that you want to watch again and again.🐻 5 🎀'

[@Sir_Tomoyuki]

I'm calling it, the next Chapter will be the Lamenters. Or should I say, I'm *lamenting* it?

[@pmc1727]

Day 3127 of waiting for a Minotaurs video.

[@Aberinkula9]

Ah yes, the loyalist chapter that makes the Black Templars look like a group of reasonable and enjoyable people. 😊

[@KuK137]

Nah, two imbecile chapters too stupid to remember they have guns with the only tactic being running screaming with chainsword forward (BT and SW) are pretty much the very bottom...

[@Kwisatz-Chaderach]

​@@KuK137Black Templars are kino af.

[@MariaAllens-y4x]

I watch your videos with great pleasure. Your videos are like a breath of fresh air.🤝🐹🏋️

[@voidgivenfocus]

Forge world ultramarines

[@Alex-fl2yh]

so they are basically germans

[@Malky24]

Imperial Fists are the OG space Germans. Maybe "Space Prussians" would be more appropriate.

[@hannahgeraghty4201]

I always thought the red scorpions were so cool when i was young, i didn't know about the painfully blatant nazi analogies 😅

[@jaegerbomb269]

I enjoy your videos, but calling everything "fascists" is cringe.

[@Aberinkula9]

The Adeptus Astartes are quite authoritarian in general. Cry me a river..

[@ChloeCarter-g4h]

You create content with soul. Your videos transport you to a special world full of creativity and inspiration.🐻 _ 🐱*

[@waynehaygood3122]

Iron Warriors!!!$$$+++

[@superblobfish2567]

Venerate the Emperor due to their lack of a primarch eh? Sounds like... fatherless behaviour