Index Astartes: Ultramarines-Soldiers of Rot
"Buboes, phlegm, blood and guts! Boils, bogeys, rot, and pus! Blisters, fevers, weeping sores! From your wounds the fester pours. These are the words of Father Nurgle praise be unto him. But first my sons I tell you. The end of the war draws near on this day we leave for Terra and we must be ready to fight for our Emperor and for our god! Nurgle loves all and Horus has brought us freedom. So, let us stand with and end this Imperium let us bring about a new Imperium. One where all life can flourish and the works of both us and Father Nurgle can be loved by all. Thus, for the last time we must set aside your brushes and pens and arm your bolters and sharpen your chainsword's for today we march to Terra." Roboute Guilliman on the eve of the Terran Campaign.
Origins
"Hail Roboute IV High King of Ultramar!" Proclamation of the ascension of Roboute Guilliman.
"Father?" Roboute Guilliman finding the corpse of Konor Guilliman.
The pod containing Roboute Guilliman would land on the civilized world of Macragge slamming into a valley in the northern hemisphere killing several herders and farmers due to the impact. As the young Primarch left his pod a group of soldiers from the nearby state. They would bring the young child before one of the two leaders of the state Consul Konor Guilliman. The Consul would immediately see the power residing within the boy and adopted him naming him Roboute. Thus, Roboute Guilliman was raised in the heart of the halls of power of the greatest nation on Macragge. He would grow and learn quickly as did all of his brothers mastering the art of war and logistics within weeks.
As the Primarch grew and expanded his knowledge of the world and power within his father's realm the many rivals of his father saw a chance to strike at both him and Roboute. The realm of Macragge Civitas was bordered to the north by a group of aggressive tribesmen united under the general banner of the Illyrian tribes. Macragge Civitas had long tried to pacify the region but had never managed to defeat the tribes until Roboute Guilliman marched north. The Illyrian tribes at first thought that he was nothing more then yet another attempted conqueror he soon proved them severely wrong. Guilliman broke every Illyrian force that attempted to fight him and swept through slaughtering the leaders of the major tribes until all of the tribes bowed to Guilliman. Yet when he returned to Macragge Civitas he found it in the midst of a civil war.
Konor Guilliman's co-Consul Gallan had attempted to launch a coup against Konor and secure the entirety of the power for himself he failed in the initial phase as Konor's guards caught wind of the plot and launched a counter strike before the coup could launch. The attempted coup devolved into a brutal civil war with every city corner turning into desperate battle. The hope of the conspirators had been to defeat the opposition before Roboute returned yet the conspirators were unable to defeat the loyalists before Guilliman's forces from the north arrived. Guilliman broke the conspirators across the city Gallan was executed in the ruins of the central square and his corpse was left to rot. Yet despite the brutal crushing of the conspirators he had been unable to save Konor. Guilliman would find the broken corpse of his father in the ruins of his family home. The despair that set in at the death of his adoptive father never left Guilliman and his brooding nature alongside his mastery of logistics would make him exceedingly unpopular during the Great Crusade.
As Guilliman seized control over Macragge Civitas he realized how destructive and cruel war was and immediately decided to launch a campaign of unification across Macragge in order to permanently end the bloodshed of war. A majority of the states of Macragge agreed to join Guilliman's rising empire and the few regions that refused to be annexed were crushed without mercy as the cold callousness of Guilliman made itself known. The last state that fell was the isolated city of Reme and the Blood of Reme is still the highest military decoration in the Imperium Secundus. As Reme burnt Guilliman gathered the greatest and most important lords of Macragge and they jointly proclaimed him as Roboute IV High King of Ultramar and King of Macragge and the war of Ultramar was launched.
The reunification of Ultramar was mostly met with joy across the ruins of the former empire the memories of interstellar unity and strength drew millions into recruit stations of factories. At that time, it seemed that nothing could go wrong for Guilliman he had rebuilt one of the greatest Empires of man technology and culture were advancing across the board and it seemed that he would continue into the future freely. Then the Imperium of Man arrived at his western border led by the Emperor alongside him was Leman Russ and the Vlka Fenryka. When Guilliman arrived to meet with these foreigners and appraise the threat they posed he immediately realized that he could not win against them and so bent the knee to his father ending the Second Empire of Ultramar.
The Great Crusade
"[[REDACTED ON THE ORDER OF THE THOUSAND SONS AND ALPHA LEGION]]"
"[[REDACTED ON THE ORDER OF THE, VALKA FENRYKA, THOUSAND SONS AND ALPHA LEGION]]"
During the Great Crusade, the Ultramarines would conquer the most worlds for the Imperium hundreds of Xenos and human empire fell before them and they were praised by the people of the Imperium. The compliances that were lauded the most across the Imperium have been lost to history as the touch of chaos seemed to arise within them. Those few that survived have little to no detail on the events. Those lauded within Ultramar can hardly be taken to be truthful. The Thousand Sons have barred their library to the people of the Imperium on the Ultramarines during the Great Crusade as the creeping rot seems to never die.
The Fall of The Ultramarines
"Brother you seem strange." Leman Russ at Ullanor
"FATHER YOU WILL NOT DIE AGAIN!" Roboute Guilliman at [[Redacted]]
As Guilliman swept across the galaxy the worlds he conquered slowly became little more then numbers to him, the glory and struggle of war was lost to him as every battle was a decisive battle. Then he came to the world of [[Redacted]]. The world would kill thousands of Ultramarines by utilizing brutal plague warfare with Guilliman himself being infected by the disease. As he wasted away aboard the Macragge's Honour his sons threw themselves to their deaths in fruitless charge after fruitless charge. As he heard news of defeat after defeat Guilliman suddenly entered a coma and entered the realm of Nurgle. It is unknown how much time he spent in the depths of the warp yet when he left the plague ravaging his body ended and the rot at the heart of the Ultramarines was born.
The Horusian Heresy
"To Terra men. Death to the False Emperor!" Lucretius Corvo leading the charge at the Fall of Pluto
"MORTARIAN!" Roboute Guilliman at Isstvan V
During the Horusian Heresy the Ultramarines were utilized by Horus as cannon fodder due to the sheer numbers of Astartes that bore the gene-seed of Guilliman. They fought from the fields of Isstvan V where the Death Guard's Manreapers cut them down like the wheat they were designed to harvest. To the walls of the Imperial Palace where Leman Russ stained his armour red with their blood. While they may have been utilized by Horus purely for their numbers the Ultramarines secured many battle honours from the Vengeful Spirit. The battles that defined their independence were the battles of Pluto, and the Second fall of Europa.
Pluto was the furthest edge of the Sol system the planet had been fortified by both Rogal Dorn and Perturabo and was manned by both of their sons alongside a small detachment from the Blood Angels and Vlka Fenryka. The battle was one of the few that Guilliman himself commanded as the rest of the time hew was dealing the logistics for the traitor forces. The battle began with the Macragge's Honour breaking through the orbital defence platforms allowing the transports and smaller ships to enter the orbit of the planet. From there the Ultramarines commenced the landing storming the planet with fire and fury. The defenders knew that they would fall as the Imperial fleets were fighting against the fleets of the Night Hunters, Word Bearers and White Scars so the Ultramarines had secured orbital control of Pluto. As the defences designed by two of the greatest architects in the galaxy opened fire the Ultramarines charged. For three days the Ultramarines wore down the walls of the main defences and then on the dawn of the fourth the gates finally broke and the Ultramarines charged in led by Lucretius Corvo. The fortress was not any easier to take inside then outside but the Ultramarines had time and men on their side and slowly carved their way through the fortress. Until there was only three Astartes left Wolf Lord Gunnar Gunnhilt, Warsmith Forrix and a simple Imperial Fists sergeant. Those three Astartes held the Ultramarines off long enough to detonate the self-destruct destroying the fortress and killing everyone in it.
The region of Europa had been one of the weaker states conquered by the Emperor during the Unification Wars the region had produced some of the earlier Ultramarines and it had been decided to use the Ultramarines to take the region for Horus. The battle was one of the few that did not become urban warfare during the Terran Campaign due to the Ultramarines use of transport trapping the largest formation of Imperial troops and wiping them out. As the Ultramarines swept across the region of the near forgotten Mediterranean, they brought the rot and corruption of Nurgle with them the final descent of the Ultramarines had begun.
The Scouring
"Horus was weak. Horus was a fool. I am not. I am the true heir of Horus. Yet why should I claim the throne of a failed state? I am Emperor Roboute I of the Imperium Secundus chosen by the will of Nurgle and the proclamations of my sons." Guilliman declaring himself Emperor.
"Fulgrim hath fallen." Guilliman following the Second Battle of Calth.
During the Scouring the Ultramarines mostly withdrew to Ultramar and focused on defending their new borders the main battles they fought were the first four Battles of Calth as they defended their fathers new Empire. For as Guilliman retreated from Terra he dusted off an old contingency plan and activated it the region of Ultramar officially became the Imperium Secundus the true heir of the failed Imperium of man under Roboute I. Guilliman would be crowned on Macragge and as the crown of Adamantium was placed upon his head Nurgle granted him the powers and status of a Daemon Primarch. From there he would head to the world of Calth to fight his brother and his legion for Fulgrim belived that he was the one who could break the walls of Calth once and for all.
The Second battle of Calth would be the last battle wherein Fulgrim would play a role at all. Roboute Guilliman would command the force from the first of the Macragge class battleships 'The Will of Emperor Guilliman' Fulgrim would command the boarding force. He would manage to fight his way through the ship to the bridge where Guilliman was waiting. The blade that Guilliman was wielding a heavily corrupted Nurglite blade. Fulgrim would manage to stab Guilliman in the chest leaving his back open to a strike Guilliman would make use of this to stab Fulgrim in the back with the Nurglite blade. Fulgrim would be horrifically corrupted and forced to teleport out where he would be placed into a statis chamber the statis chamber however would have a minor flaw in that Fulgrim's mind was still active. As he was rushed back to Chemos he stared in grimace of pain while his mind stayed active and thinking. The wound would prove to have no cure and thus he was left in the chamber with his last act to name his regent as Lucius the one who had taken command of the rear guard leaving Calth.
The Forty-First Millennium
"Once more into the endless fray my friends. Once more." Cato Sicarius Tetrarch of Macragge.
'As my Emperor commands." Uriel Ventris before leading the initial assault on the Tau Empire in Operation
As the galaxy awakens once more into eternal war the endless forges of Ultramar have awoken once more with the skies of planets across the turned black from the awaking of massive factories. The endless ranks of the Ultramarines prepare for war once more as they abandon their ancient resting places. As the Tetrarchs gather before the throne of Guilliman and begin to plan the upcoming offensives against the Imperium and illegitimate usurpers of their father's rightful place. The Tau that are arising on their eastern fringe will be crushed with the full force of the Imperium Secundus, the Orks that run rampage across the galaxy will be purged and Terra will fall to the rightful Emperor and the blessings of Nurgle.
Organization
"Scythes of Ultramar focus fire on their Sergeants." Death Korps Grenadier #1446574 at the battle of Thessaly.
"What Chapter are you from brother?" Standard greeting among Astartes in Imperium Secundus.
The Ultramarines have based their entire organization of the basis of Roboute Guilliman's book the Codex Astartes. The legion has been divided into hundreds of 'chapters' the thousand-man strong chapters are each trained in single form of warfare. Yet in reality they are just used as cannon fodder by the true Ultramarines that lurk on Macragge. Their tactics have not changed since the Heresy the Ultramarines focus on firepower and manpower. As they march forward the sky is lit ablaze and as their enemies attempt to fire on them, they continue to march forward the blessings of Nurgle strengthening their already impressive resilience.
Primarch
"My brother always was one of the kindest members of our brotherhood yet his heart hardened towards the life of his own sons as Nurgle slowly grasped him his love and care grew yet it was twisted if not for his fall to Nurgle he may well have remained the bureaucrat of the Imperium." The opening line of the Chapter on Roboute Guilliman in the Historical work The Primarchs: Heirs of the Emperor by Magnus the Red.
"Guilliman is no longer human we must put him down." Some of the last words of Fulgrim.
Following the fall of Guilliman to Nurgle his form slowly morphed from the 'Avenging Son of Ultramar' to a rotting mess of flesh and his armour. The pictures early from his corruption show him growing gaunter his blond hair becoming coated in strange oils. As the corruption grew stronger his wounds healed slower and slower and the little sleep that he needed ceased to grant him the energy he required and the aging look that he became so well known for was secured during this time. Then came Terra, the death of Horus and the rout to Ultramar as he brooded upon his throne in the Fortress of Hera Nurgle granted him the gift of Daemon-hood.
The form that he has taken on resembles a brooding spider lurking upon a throne his seven legs all end in festering claws spreading the love of Nurgle across the Galaxy. Once you head above his waist you find a shattered chest covered in unhealed rotting wounds with shards of armour and weapons embedded into his gaping injuries. His head has become little more then flesh and bone his cheeks have rotted away revealing his seven tongues that dart out at his opponents in battle when the need arises. His once gleaming hair has become coated in grease and pus as the boils that lurk across his head burst and spread.
Homeworld
"Ultramar is not one world nor ten. Ultramar is five-hundred worlds and across all of them we all bear allegiance to our one true god and protectors." Ultramarine recruiter on the ruins of Iax.
"Macragge's Honour burnt in the skies above Terra it has not returned yet." Bjorn the Fell-Handed on Macragge.
The Ultramarines fortress-monastery may reside on the world of Macragge, yet they are not restricted to recruiting solely from Macragge and their ranks hold men from across Imperium Secundus. The only worlds that are officially off bounds are those used by other chapters as homeworlds and even then, the recruiters to the Ultramarines treat that very much like a guideline rather then a solid rule. The world of Macragge has transformed from civil world in the days of the Great Crusade and Heresy into a fortress world. The Fortress of Hera has expanded across the entire northern hemisphere while the south has been reduced into a vast wilderness prowling with beasts, Nurglite Deamons and the people of Macragge. While those that the Ultramarines recruit from Macragge are strong they often are the most corrupted.
Gene-Seed
"This is annoyingly pure for those bloody Ultramarines." Azheck Ahriman on the Ultramarines Gene-seed
"Who's a good boy? Are you a good boy? Yes, you are." Uriel Ventris to his Nurgling.
The Gene-Seed of the Ultramarines was always one of the purest among the founding legions following their fall to Nurgle it has been twisted into a rotting mockery of their ancient purity. Every Ultramarine has changed in some way those few who stayed loyal to the Emperor where hacked down during the Heresy and their Gene-Seed was lost. The most common mutation is their wounds refuse to heal and instead rot and fester with some of the more powerful members of the legion having Nurglings growing within their wounds striking out in battle against the enemies of their hosts for the glory of Emperor Guilliman and Nurgle.