Ferrus Manus, Man of Iron
by Marstall Patrick <MarstallP@bah.com>


>On the good guys' side, there's a paucity of Imperial Fists
>(ugly paint scheme, though), White Scars (go Scars!), Raven
>Guard (does anyone know where the name "Corax" comes
>from?),

I believe it is that part of the pituitary gland which regulates the growth 
of fingernails... but I've been wrong before.

>Salamanders and Iron Hands (I'd like to see someone
>write a serious background for a chapter whose primarch's
>name is "Ferrus Manus").

I loved this.  I immediately flashed back to Python's _Life_of_Brian_: "I 
have a good friend named 'Biggus Dickus'...."

OK, how's this?

"Mighty Ferrus Manus, Primarch of the Iron Hands, was tragically not able to 
help the Emperor during the Siege of Earth due to an unexpected rainstorm on 
Garandus IV.

"The Captains of the Iron Hands - Austenite,  Martinsite, and Bainite - 
tried valiantly to oil the primarch back into action, but he was too badly 
oxidized.  He stands there still, a great unmoving statue on the high plains 
of Garandus, where the Iron Hands have built a shrine around him to honor 
his memory and prevent further damage from the elements.  The great Shrine 
of Ferrus is maintained by hundreds of dedicated techmarines who keep the 
humidity down to less than a tenth of a percent.

"It is said that one day the Emperor will return for the Last Battle 
against chaos, and with the help of the other Primarchs, he will melt Ferrus 
Manus down and re-forge him with a greater weight percent of carbon, so that 
he may take part in the battle against Chaos with no fear of rust."

Oh, wait... you said "serious"?

 -Pat Marstall