During the 21st Cursed Founding a loyalist Agri World by name of Castopha was under siege and constant raids by Dark Eldar and Orks. The planet was important due to its undeniable quality of military clothing and rassions sent to the Imperial regiments in the nearby systems. The planet was also unique because of the hunter tribes that were made up of the planet’s feral population, the High Lords thought this an interesting opportunity and had organized an Adeptus Astartes Chapter to be founded here.
However, the Chapter did not fully adhere to the Codex Astartes, usually this would be met with extermination but this Chapter was simply too skilled in Greenskin and Aeldari slaughter to do so. And of course an Exterminatus on this particular planet would be extremely detrimental to the Imperium. The Chapter had split itself into 3 tribes each of them settling in the major climate regions of the world. Whilst Castopha is classified as a jungle world there were still other climates, mainly deserts and the planet’s frozen poles.
The tribes each created a minor Fortress in the hearts of these three climates resulting in the tribes specializing in different forms of warfare or as they call it, The Hunt.
Interestingly enough however their armor color wasn’t varying in the Chapter’s tribes, of course there are some who prefer actual camouflage.
Due to the savagery of the planet’s feral population the Chapter’s own savagery in combat is even greater. This also leads to the Chapter’s members claiming trophies for themselves, mainly Orks and Dark Eldar of course however they are not the only prey on the planet.
Many deadly predators stalked the jungles, many of them able to slaughter even Space Marines, when this happens the tribe from which the Astartes was from launch a sort of “Great Hunt” where in they launch entire companies into the area and once they find their prey the close in and slowly crush it. On Castopha the Predator and Prey often find themselves switching roles.
During the 42nd millennium and Guilliman’s Indomitus Crusade the Basilisks quickly found themselves being commissioned to more dangerous positions within the galaxy, being used more as bait by Primaris counterparts. Or this is how they viewed it.
In reality the commanders simply wanted to use the Chapter’s furiosity against the biggest Orks they came across. After realizing this however the Basilisks soon came to accept what few Primaris reinforcements were offered especially after their involvement in the Devastation of Baal.
Nearly 500 Marines were sent, mainly as orbital troops and void fighters, however their involvement on Baal Secundus came with heavy casualties. An estimated 250 Astartes returned, with only 50 being in perfect fighting condition.
Now however, thanks to their overstocked Scout company, the Basilisks returned to full strength in less than two decades. And with their numbers bolstered by Primaris they happily accepted whatever challenge was thrown their way.
They would hunt until every xenos and traitor filth was expunged from the galaxy.
After all, they are the Emperor’s Angels of Death. And they knew no fear. For they were fear incarnate, and they will make the galaxy fear their very name.
