Havok Smith Trelok Olethros, Warlord of the Rust Corps Iron Warrior Warband

The Rust Corps: Iron Warriors of Decay and Siege

The Origins of the Rust Corps

The Rust Corps is a splinter warband of the Iron Warriors Legion, a faction renowned for their mastery of siege warfare and relentless determination. Emerging from the fractured remains of the Legion after the Horus Heresy, the Rust Corps developed a unique identity that embraces the symbolism of decay and corrosion. Their rusted armor, vehicles, and fortifications serve as both a practical display of their state and a grim homage to the corrupting influence of Chaos. Though their allegiance is not explicitly stated, their aesthetic and tactics suggest a strong connection to Nurgle, the Chaos God of decay and entropy.

Masters of Siege and Decay

True to their Iron Warriors origins, the Rust Corps specializes in prolonged sieges and the relentless wearing down of their enemies. Their expertise lies not only in destroying fortifications but in creating them, constructing twisted strongholds that radiate despair and corruption. They employ psychological warfare as much as physical might, breaking their enemies’ will through constant bombardments and the creeping decay that follows in their wake. Allied with the Dark Mechanicum, the Rust Corps use corrupted machinery and warped technologies to devastating effect, turning battlefields into rusted wastelands.

The Leadership of Brutality

At the heart of the Rust Corps is their ruthless leader, a Warsmith whose cunning and cruelty embody the warband’s philosophy. This Warsmith directs their campaigns with cold precision, leveraging both the strength of their corrupted forces and the fear they instill in their enemies. The alliance with the Dark Mechanicum ensures a steady supply of grotesque war machines and siege engines, each one as much a weapon of war as a tool of torment. Under the Warsmith’s command, the Rust Corps thrives as an unyielding and destructive force within the galaxy.

Notable Campaigns of Corruption

The Rust Corps have left their mark on the galaxy through infamous campaigns like the Siege of Plaguehold and the Iron Rot Crusade. These battles are remembered not only for the devastation they wrought but for the lingering corruption left behind. In the Siege of Plaguehold, they laid waste to an Imperial fortress world, spreading decay that rendered the planet uninhabitable. During the Iron Rot Crusade, their relentless assaults crippled an entire subsector, leaving a trail of rusted ruins and broken defenders. These campaigns reflect the warband’s ultimate goal: to spread Chaos and entropy wherever they march.

Symbols of Relentless Decay

The Rust Corps embodies the ethos of the Iron Warriors while adding their own sinister twist, embracing corrosion and ruin as tools of war. Their presence on the battlefield is a harbinger of despair, as the machinery of war breaks down under their influence and even the strongest defenses crumble. The warband’s alignment with Chaos, their alliance with the Dark Mechanicum, and their mastery of siege warfare make them a terrifying force in the galaxy. Whether assaulting fortresses or constructing their own nightmarish citadels, the Rust Corps remains a symbol of relentless decay and unstoppable destruction.