Founding

Dorns Legion can trace there origins back to the Imperial Fists Chapter. At the start of the Horus Heresy several Chapters of the Imperial Fist Legion were on missions far from Terra, providing reserves to other Legions. When news of the heresy reached Rogal Dorn, he sent a recall order to all of these chapters, so that the full might of the Imperial Fists could form a defence on Terra. Due to a Warp storm the order did not reach the 28th Chapter.

The chapter was in fact cut off in an out lying region of the Obscura segmentum. Trapped in the Porlak system by warp activity, the Chapter Commander, Brutus Alexander set about creating a base from which to maintain his command. Using the chapters own STC records, and using all available man power a Fortress Monastery was created on Belgradak, the 3rd world of the system. The only other inhabited world of the system was the 5th world, known as Romanicus. This planet was rather low in its tech level, the inhabitants only in the rudimentary stages of steel production, but fairly advanced in social and architectural sciences. The planet consisted of 3 continents each ruled by its own Emperor.

After 30 years of warp storms, Brutus Alexander knew he would have to sustain his chapters strength by recruiting new scouts into the chapter. Deciding that the brutal world of Romanicus was an ideal place to recruit from, he decreed that no tech advances should be given to the people of this planet. In fact every effort to restrict their technological level should be used.
It was from this world that new marines were recruited. The chapter had been reduced to half strength through the course of its crusade and so the long process of rebuilding began.

Once the warp storm abated communication with the outside world was resumed. This was almost 450 years after the recall had been ordered. The chapter was contacted by a crusade of the recently created Black Templars. The Templar Marshall advised that the now venerable Brutus Alexander should send representation to Terra so that its could be made a new chapter as part of the second founding. However by the time the Chapter Master had reached the Adepts Astartes the 3rd Founding was under way, so this is the official founding of Dorns Legion.
The name was awarded to the chapter, to honour the Imperial Fists Primarch.

Meanwhile, the Black Templars left a small force in the Porlak system, to advise on the new Codex Astartes. Dorns Legion accepted this assistance and a close link has been kept with the Black Templars from this time. Much of the tactical doctrines used by both Chapters are linked (it was not until this time that Black Templars used Storm Shields with assault Marines), and both chapters are crusading chapters.

Upon his return, Brutus Alexander continued as Chapter Master, until his death during the cleansing of Racktor IX. Brother Captain Bartholomew Balder took over as the chapter master and was the last to take this title, as he instigated the changes with the naming and organisation that are still used by the Chapter at the present time.

Romanicus (5th Planet)

Romanicus is a low tech planet, split into 3 large continents. The land area of these, covers 40% of the planets surface. All 3 continents are connected by slender land bridges ranging from 50 to 100 miles in width. These bridges are very mountainous and are a source of great wealth, as many precious metals and gemstone deposits are found within them. Mining these has taken place since before the arrival of Dorns Legion, and control of these mines is resolved by force of arms.

Each continent is ruled by an Imperial leader. Rivalry between the Empires for control of the land bridges will often spill over into war.
The continental armies are made up of several types of troops.
The mainstay of these troops are the Legions. Made up of Phalanxes of 1044 men, the warriors in these formations are heavily armoured in banded steel armour, with large oblong shields made of leather and wood. The normal weapons are throwing spears and short swords. Each phalanx is split into centuries of 104 men. These units move around the battlefield as blocks, and discipline and training allows for good manoeuvrability. This will usually mean the army with the most phalanxes can win the battle by being able to outflank an opponent.
Due to the high levels of attrition inflicted used by each side, young boys are often trained and used as screening troops for the larger formations of heavily armoured warriors.
These screening troops are there to slow down assaulting formations with missile fire, and to take on enemy screening troops in hand to hand combat. These confrontations can be extremely violent as the young fighters try to earn the right to attend the military academies. Academe training can mean entry into one of the elite phalanxes, which gives higher status to their families.

However the highest honour is for one of the young boys to be selected during the battle by the gods. Tales are told of the most valiant of men being slain, or near death, when a god will appear among on the battlefield, resplendent in their armour, and take the young warrior in his arms and disappear just as quickly. These gods are in fact apothecaries of Dorns Legion, taking new recruits. Several recruits may be taken in a single battle, or none at all.

Any technical advances made by the people on Romanicus are examined by the chapter, and if it will lead to a change in the status que of the world, it is quickly stamped out. There are many tales of a God visiting the planet and exacting vengeance upon somebody who has displeased them. The cause of the displeasure is displayed, and causes less examination of the sciences. However, not all invention is subdued, and the architecture of each empire is rich with Coliseums, aqueducts and temples.

To supplement the few recruits taken during battle, the chaplains of the chapter will visit the planet every 25 years. This is to witness the great games that are held between the continents. These games last for several weeks, in which time no wars are fought as it is a sacred time. The best young warriors from each continents are pitted against each other, the winner being he who is left standing after the fight. Once a boy has defeated several opponents he may be selected by the Gods to ride with him to the heavens in their Great steel chariot. It is the greatest honour to be selected by the gods.

Belgradak (3rd Planet)
A largely inhospitable world, the planet surface is 70% desert. Small areas in each polar region contain small seas. Around these areas the land is fertile and can be used to grow crops and livestock. The southern polar region contains the chapter training area and has been left wild for this reason. The northern polar region is farmed by members of the legions house and supplies the chapter with all nessacery foodstuffs.

The fortress monastery is located in the central region of the planet. Its exact position is within the equatorial mountain range that separates the hemispheres. Outside of the mountain range, but accessible via an underground rail link is the chapters Naval base.

Training
Once recruits are selected they are sent to Belgradak where they undergo there initial training as an accensus (commonly called a Neophyte in the Black Templar chapter). If an accensus proves to be unsuitable as a Legionarius (Chapter name for a space marine) for some reason he will become a member of the Legion's House. These are the support workers used by the chapter to maintain the Fortress Monastery and its Naval attachment.

Once the training and the surgery that goes with it are completed an accensus is taken by a legionarius as his pupil. He will guide him until he is ready to perform his duties as a fully fledged member of the chapter.

Chapter Structure
The chapter has modified itself and its naming conventions to suite the military structure of the armies found on Romanicus. It was found that during the early stages of training the young recruits would become highly disoriented due to the difference in technology levels. To help enforce identity with the chapter, the name changes were implemented. Also the structure of the armour helped to identify the 'gods' when they visited the surface of Romanicus.

The Chapter is led by the Legio Praefectus (High Marshall) and his personal retinue of Preatoria (Command squad).
The chapter comprises of Centuria (Company). Each Centuria is led by a Centurio (Marshall). The Centuria is divided into 5 to 10 man units. These units are called manipulus. A manipulus can be configured for tactical work were its name will remain the same. It could be configured for hand to hand combat when it will be called an Alaris (tactical squad with assault weapons), or for fast assault, when its name will be Ala Alaris (assault squad).

The Centuria also includes specialist marines, known as immunes, such as the custos armourum (techmarines), fetialis (chaplains) and medicus (apothercaries).

Accensus are distributed between the Centuria when they return to Belgradak for replenishment. But the quantity of accensus will never make up more than a third of the Centuria size.

The only Centuria that differs from the rest is the Centuria primus. This made up of the most experienced legionarius, who are trained in the use of terminator armour. Once this has been performed they become part of either a Palatinum (Terminator squad) or an Alaris Palatinum (assault terminator squad).

Combat Doctrine
Each legionarius uses a gladius (short sword) and an aspis (shield) in addition to the normal space marine arsenal. palatinum and accensus do not carry either of these and will carry weaponry normally associated with Neophytes and Terminators.

The power armour worn by Legionarius has been modified, and now appears more like the armour found on Romanicus. This has no effect on its effectiveness, but it does not allow the Imperial Eagle to be displayed.

Each manipulus has a signifa. This Legionarius is selected to carry the manipulus banner, and will be the most experienced legionarius. Although not the sergeant of the unit his orders within the manipulus will not be disputed.

Terminator Armour is unmodified by the Chapter. The construction of these suits is considered to be too difficult in itself to allow for any and structural modifications.

Depending upon the combat mission the Manipulus will deploy in Razorbacks as the transport option of choice. If accompanied by accensus, rhinos will be used. Both types of Palatinum prefer to deploy with Landraider in support. The crusader variant is commonly used for this choice. The 1st Centuria always use terminator armour, if possible, although on some occasions normal power armour is used.

Crusades.

Each Centuria will conduct its own crusades as directed by the Legio Praefectus. A Centurio will be assigned the mission and the troops he will have under his command. The most experienced signifa on the force is then selected to be the Semiaphoros (Emperors Champion). A crusade will normally last for 2 or 3 years, depending on mission before a return to Belgradak for resupply. The only Centuria that does not Crusade as a whole is the Centurio Primus, which attaches palatinum's to centurio's as directed by the Legio Praefectus.
Major crusades will be lead by the Legio Praefectus himself. The latest major crusade for the chapter was during the Armageddon conflict, when 4 Centuria where redirected from there current campaigns. Although the battle still rages on this world, there are now only a single centuria from the chapter on the planet at this time.
Crusades are numbered. This numbering method is derived from the time when The Legio Praefectus issued the crusade order. When a new Legio is installed, the number reverts back to 1, so it is perfectly possible to have two crusades with the same number, but this would be very rare.