The Brotherhood of Nod
Holy Ordo Report #10644238910
Compiled by Witch Finder Rykehuss
Clearance level: Vermilion
Subject: Heretical Cult
Subject Name: Brotherhood of Nod (Alternate, shorthand names include "Noddist", "Noddites" and "Cainites")
Preface:
Amidst the constant battle against the enemies of man I have willfully brought, none are so damningly efficient as this Brotherhood of Nod.
Type:
Dominantly a combination of a Charismatic and Cellular Cult. Some worlds lost to their perverse ideals willingly aided and abetted the cult and after allowing it to fester. Willingly seceded from the Emperor's Imperium. Noddites otherwise subvert Imperial rule through fostering armed uprising, typical of their ilk.
Appearance:
Red on Black Environmental Suits, heavily militarized to survive the rigors of combat. Based off of the Suits awarded to Penal Miners on Tiber who were given leading positions. A stinger design similar to that of the Terran Scorpion's is the most common emblem.
Beliefs:
The Brotherhood of Nod apparently subscribe specifically to Ciaphas Cain's heretical ideals, subjecting themselves to the three of the four ruinous powers. Yet rejecting the putrid vileness of Nurgle.
Origins:
The Brotherhood of Nod's origins are traced to a previously loyalist star system "New Eden" where the Mining Planet Eden II, nicknamed "Tiber" by it's planeside Penal residents due to it's green, polluted, planet spanning river that was named as such. For clarification; Eden I, referred to as "Eden Prime" is a Pleasure World, said Eden II is a sister planet that orbits Eden Prime.
Amidst the usual excavations the miners found a strange green glowing crystal within the upper mantle. After extensive Mechanicus research it was found that said stones were solidified warp matter. Named "Tiberium" by the Mechanicus (and later nicknamed "Warpstone" by the Noddites) The discovery of said crystal threw the system in chaos.
Numerous monocults of the ruinous powers rose up in sedition within months of the discovery, no doubt knowing about the unique crystal's existence. It is recently hypothesized these uprisings were a ploy orchestrated by the Warmaster Cain. Just prior to the uprisings an impromptu Sterilization camp was set up to house the penal mining teams of Tiber. The intention of which was to contain the (the no doubt present) warp corruption, but with Eden Prime thrown into chaos; The previously garrisoned Arbites were gutted to aid in quelling the sedition. A force of 12,000 was dropped to Approximately 802 Arbites, which were tasked to hold a camp housing well over 22,000 individuals.
As resolute in their duty as they no doubt were. They could not foresee the mass breakout that occurred. A Magos involved in the research of warpstone was unfortunately corrupted by it's properties. Just prior to the Magos' execution, a scrapcode virus that was inserted long before their incarceration (Which they unfortunately predicted) attacked the machine spirits of the camp's security, releasing the corrupted fools including the Magos, which easily overran the Arbites.
After the breakout, Ex-Planetary Foreman Kannec Naudd (who ascended to his position purely due to good behavior) found himself leading his previous subordinates into the mine network of Tiber for safety from righteous purge. After the uprisings were quelled the 1,021 remaining Arbites, as well as a Sororitas Strike force descended upon Tiber.
Led by Inquisitorial Acolyte [DAMNATIO MEMORIAE] who was...more headstrong than strategic. Rather than simply condemning the Mining World -or wait for Astartes reinforcements- had the Arbites and Sororitas descend into the Tunnels.
This proved to be fatal for the Imperial forces, for unfortunately for them Kannec was a prior member of the Vervun Primary, the Planetary Defense Force of Verghast. An Officer of acceptable capabilities. He was disgraced after it was found that he had been aiding the quartermaster in falsifying inventory reports to fence Imperial supplies. Due to his record he was, to the Imperium's future detriment, incarcerated rather that judged on the spot.
The phantom warfare the Imperial forces faced that day were demoralizing, the Convicts worked every day in the under earth of Tiber, they knew it's layout better than perhaps their Arbite masters. Hit and fade tactics committed with weapons pilfered from the Camps armory. Smaller groups lost to ambushes by convicts armed with Rock Cutters and Drills, which carapace armor provided no defense against. Larger groups were lost to demolition charges collapsing the tunnels upon them, or being lured into dead ends and having their only exit blown shut behind them.
The heretical Magos lent their damned expertise as well. Jury-rigging Tiberium and Mining Lasers together, later named "Warp Lightning Casters". Giving the heretics a user-dangerous and cumbersome yet effective energy weapon nearly on par with plasma cannons.
When the fighting stopped and the under earth went silent, Kannec and his men exited the mines. And slowly turned his previous prison into a fortress. Unfortunately intelligencia agents couldn't be inserted into Tiber, Due to Naudd knowing his men by heart, not to mention the Magos aiding them by subverting the database of the camp. Giving the Heretic a catalog of all the previously incarcerated.
It is hypothesized that at some point Kannec received a signal from a small fleet probing the system (which had by then been declared Perdita), not flying the memorabilia of the Imperium.
Naudd, after New Eden was absorbed by the Heretic forces of the Traitor Commissar, renamed the planet of Tiber. Naming it "Nod". Although at first thought to be a crude attempt Naudd took to please his narcissism. In actuality is an archaic name supposedly from a pre age of strife religion. Being a land an individual was outcast to.
He later renamed himself Kane of Nod. In respect to Cain, and as a way to remember his Penal life in Tiber, and is speculated to live in Slawkenberg to this day in a "pseudo-retirement".
Tactics:
Noddists corrupt Imperial worlds via subtle subversion, especially those suffering from incompetent and or...Giorba-esque leadership. No doubt stemming from their idol's rebellion of Slawkenberg (See Holy Ordo Report [REDACTED] for further details). They are unfortunately rather...adept at such subversions. Whole systems will go dark and within a standard Terran week. They also have a level of fatalistic zealotry otherwise not found amongst the Heretic forces under Cain's banner. There were occasions in the cults infancy where easily defendable chokepoints break upon being charged by unarmed groups of Noddists charging said lines, wearing Tiberium Bomb vests synced to their heart rates. More on that further into the record.
Tiberium:
A confusing existence of unreal matter existing within reality. Warp energy so heavily condensed it achieved a solid matter form, if Tiberium is at all found on the surface, there are no doubt metric tonnes hidden beneath the soil. It slowly propagates itself, possibly due to warp energy being so condensed it becomes a siphon for warp energies rather than dissipating, thankfully it is slow enough to be curtailed.
Tiberium is easily weaponized. Turning relatively dangerous equipment into devastating arms. Mining Lasers become anti-armor lightning guns, "Warpfire Throwers", flamers that use a mixture of powdered Tiberium and napalm, burns hot enough to melt through ceramite. It may even be used as an outright alternative for gunpowder if refined properly. The immense power is with cost, as not only are users actively standing near a solid window to the warp itself. But Tiberium is exceedingly volatile when weaponized.
Tiberium weaponry has an apparent minor tendency to be of extreme danger to their users. Warp Lightning Casters can surge back into themselves, frying the operator, Warpfire mixtures are known to become pyrophoric without cause, Tiberium explosives seem to arm themselves. Interestingly enough, there have been no recorded incidents of such happening to the heretics who use such armaments. Only those captured by loyalist elements. In addition, the occasional Noddist Witch has been known to use Tiberium as an alternative of Spook. Supercharging their sorceries, but no doubt risking the changing of their flesh and mind.
It is very likely Noddists receive help from Cain's BORG, as well as Logicians and perhaps even the Dark Mechanicum. Cybernetics and general transhumanism is an extremely common occurrence within Noddist cells. With the help of Tiberium, said cybernetics are easily above what most chaos bands could create in large quantities. Allowing the taint of the warp to flow through them without offering their bodies directly, and is generally a safer form of warptech compared to the abominations that are Daemon Engines. According to reports; Tiberium powered electronics (nicknamed "Hextech" [Because of course only the heretic would willingly use technology they admit is "cursed"]) is rapidly being used by all facets of Cain's all consuming shadow.
Structure:
Noddist Cults are very fundamentalist, no doubt drilled into them by former Officer Naudd. The top of the Cell is usually run by an Abbot or Abbess. To ensure unity through unwavering faith.
To the side of the structure is the Black Hand, which act as both saboteurs and secret security to ensure the safety of the Head of the cell. Confessors are usually inducted into a Cells Black Hand after they've proven themselves reliable in their duties.
Directly below the Abbot/Abbess are Officers, usually veterans of multiple uprisings, Officers use "Hextech" drones to ensure they can react accordingly to the ever shifting battlefield from a bird's eye view.
Below the officers are the Confessors. Similar in purpose to both the much more efficient and imposing Commissar and more passionate Ministorum Priest. The Confessor acts as a spiritual advisor and a leader of a group. Ensuring discipline and high morale, as well as an assurance that none break their faith. Confessors are usually armored in Carapace or other high grade body armors, and all recorded appearances of them showcase a seemingly universal preference for Flamers [Pyromania as a possible requirement for achieving this rank is speculated].
Below Confessors you have Militants and Fanatics, disillusioned dregs and heretical scum lured from the Emperor's light through honeyed words and false promises, usually particularly well armed for the lowest rungs of a cult, being allowed to ask for a specific armament to ensure the member is competent and comfortable with their equipment, Militants are also known to use a "Keep what you kill." concept within the cell culture. This, while breeding uncertainty at first, allows the individual to rise through the ranks with equipment that they've become accustomed to and earned through the spilling of blood. Many a noble scion has gotten ahead of themselves and been pilfered of their family's custom bolt pistol by a Militant.
Fanatics are complete lunatics. Used as grenadiers, they are separated from the rest of the cell due to their noted recklessness and are "Juiced up" on a liquid cocktail of Slaught, Frenzon, and Tiberium to heighten such behavior, they are pointed at an enemy by a Confessor like a pack of rabid cyber Mastiffs. Equipped with exclusively front facing carapace for armor as well as Close Combat weaponry ( Such as automatic Shotguns as well as Autopistols modified with excessive fire rates) and given grenades that are filled with a volatile Tiberium mixture, they rabidly run headfirst towards a firing line of guardsmen as shock troops. Originally they were seen priming explosives to themselves, but this seems to have been curtailed by the Chaos Commissar himself, and were converted into this dismal attempt at replicating the Grenadiers of Imperial Forces.
Apparently Fanatics on occasion develop mutations from the Tiberium added to the cocktail they introduce into themselves. These "Forsaken" ( A remarkably self-aware name for servants of the Warp) remain within Fanatic groups. They almost universally receive claw like mutations. Said claws are sharp enough (And the arms said claws attached to having such absurd muscle mass) to rend Carapace. A perverse, pathetic yet effective addition to the already deadly anti-infantry niche these Fanatics find themselves excelling in.
Battlecries:
Noddists typically advertise who they are, with such phrases as: "Brotherhood! Unity! Peace!", "In the name of Cain!", "Peace in Death!" "Cain Lives!", "For the Brotherhood!".
Fanatics specifically have been noted saying fatalistic cries such as: "Our lives for Cain!", "Honor in Death!". "Death is only the beginning!".
When confronting Nurglesque forces they are quick with condemnations: "Stagnation is cowardice!", "Hope, not despair!", "Apathy is for the weak!", "Change is life!"
AN: This one feels disappointing to post for me, but I wrote way too much to trash it, so here it is? Anyway, yes the structure of this was based of the format Zahariel used in the Index Astartes chapters of his Roboutian Heresy.
Edit: Was tired when I posted this, currently cleaning up any errors.
Addendum: bolded the rest of the headers, added more battlecries, including ones in relation to fighting Nurglesque (According to lexicanum that's the adjective for nurgle related things) forces.
Addendum II: After being brought to my attention by Roaming_Guardian, the fanatics were changed from their suicide bomber origins into grenadiers to be more in line to what Cain would allow people under his (even indirect) command to do. As he definitely wouldn't want people to blow themselves up. Especially for him. Also added Forsaken from Warhammer Fantasy, which I thought about when first drafting this.
Addendum III: Fixed some more stuff up. Thank you for the likes.