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Post by zholud on Feb 16, 2004 16:08:03 GMT -5
I'll reply to this in the appropriate thread, to keep things on-topic and as a blatant stunt to increase my post count ;D Why care about post count if you are eternal Inquis? But it does help me Taking more serious approach could anyone post brief copy of Frostbringers fluff we have ATM? IIRC Sikkukkit made IA on them, at least the draft...
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Post by Sikkukkut on Feb 18, 2004 8:19:31 GMT -5
In brief: - they're a successor Chapter using Ultramarine gene-seed and were founded after a partitining of the Silver Skulls;
- their homeworld is a rogue planet, about the size of Earth but drifting deep in interstellar space between the Anargo and Cruciatine sectors;
- they have long-standing treaties and traditions with many Anargo sector worlds, usually centring around the Chapter stopping by every so often for recruits and materiel;
- they excel at space combat and ship-to-ship actions and actively prefer to engage enemies this way whenever possible; and
- they have an odd, introverted Chapter culture based on a religious experience their first Chapter Master had just before they were formally established.
More to come.
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Post by Tynesh on Mar 24, 2004 15:13:15 GMT -5
Any idea on the founding date of the chapter??
If not and you can't decide....I have researched the following, which may be of some help...most of the dates are guestimates but otherwise fairly accurate!
2nd Founding: Codex Astartes 021.M31 3rd Founding: Early/Mid M31? 4th Founding: Mid M31? 5th Founding: Mid/Late M31? 6th Founding: Late M31? 7th Founding: Early M32? 8th Founding: Mid M32? 9th Founding: Late M32? 10th Founding: early M33? 11th Founding: mid M33? 12th Founding: late M33? 13th Founding: The Dark Founding, Early M34. 14th Founding: Early M34? 15th Founding: Early/Mid M34? 16th Founding: Mid M34? 17th Founding: Late M34? 18th Founding: Early M35? 19th Founding: 598.M35 (conjectural date) 20th Founding: Late M35? 21st Founding: The Cursed Founding M35/Early M36. 22nd Founding: The Adeptus Praseus, post 350.M36. 23rd Founding: M37? 24th Founding: circa 300.M39? 25th Founding: M40 Post Meeting on Gathalamor? 26th Founding: 738.M41 (40,738)
New chapters will have been created in larger numbers in the years following the Heresy and the Age of Apostacy. Also more chapters will have been founded after the entire 13th Founding was lost. Following the conclusion of the Macharian Crusade, the Imperium enters a new age of accession, new foundings will have been planned.
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Post by Sikkukkut on Mar 25, 2004 7:30:05 GMT -5
At this point I have them being founded just after halfway through M37.
Although sanctioned by Terra, I didn't picture the Chapter as being part of any mass Founding since it was being founded in response to a particular set of circumstances.
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Post by Tynesh on Mar 25, 2004 7:56:03 GMT -5
So that would put it in the 23rd Founding.
As far as I know all chapters are part of a founding, some foundings are due to a particular problem.
22nd Founding Adeptus Praseus - Guard Eye of Terror after Age of Apostacy 19th Founding - Tiger Claws founded to strengthen guard around Maelstrom
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Post by Destecado on Apr 5, 2004 11:45:56 GMT -5
I agree that the idea of nordic based space marine chapter's has pretty much been done to death. since the chapter you are creating is based off of the Ultramarines Geneseed, you might want to give the chapter a "romanized" concept. The roamns conquored many cultures and incorporated them into their empire one of these were the tribes and kingdoms of Germania. A germanic based army based on the old tribal kingdoms ideal might provide the type of character and names that you are looking for. For more information on Germania Magna, click on the folowing link: www.unrv.com/tacitus/tacitusgermania.phpI would also like to offer an alternative concept for a chapter that could be operating withing the Anargo Sector. The following Index Astartes style article provides information on the Sons of Orion Chapter. this chapter is based loosely on one of the Cursed Founding Chapters. With the soon to be release Ordo Xenos and the recently released Codex: Daemonhunter the fluff does need to be revised, but let me know what you think. this could perhaps be incorporated into the current chapter project or could serve as an alternate force that could be taken with radical daemon hunters.
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Post by Destecado on Apr 5, 2004 11:57:11 GMT -5
Sons of Orion Origins:Forged during the 21st or Cursed Founding, the story of the Sons of Orion Chapter is one of ill luck and misfortune. Information of the Chapters exploits, like their origins are shrouded in mystery. Records of the Chapter’s exploits that survived the tumult of the Age of Apostasy have since been sequestered or erased by the Inquisition. The only official account of their exploits that survives appears in the Chronicles of the Concordant Wars of the Rett Sector (658.M41 – 704.M41). During actions on the planet of Gadir the Sons of Orion’s reputation as implacable hunters was confirmed. Substantial numbers of rebels that had been part of a much large force holding the important port city of Cumran took to the surrounding hills and jungle after being forced out by elements of the planetary militia. They began a guerilla war, burning settlements and raiding outlying districts of the city. Two squads of the Sons of Orion Chapter were sent in to deal with these rebels. The marines were facing a force that was more than twenty times their number. In the days following the Sons of Orion entry into the jungle, the guerilla assaults virtually ceased. During the long nights gun fire and screams could be heard off in the distance. Three weeks after they had entered the jungle the marines emerged. They walked to the port and silently boarded their transports. Of the more than five hundred hostiles that had escaped into the jungle, not a trace was found. All that remained of them were the gruesome trophies carried off by the Sons of Orion. With the renewed threat from the Tyranid Scourge, the Sons of Orion are rumored to have turned their exceptional hunting skills towards rooting out Gene Stealer Cults throughout the Ultima Segmentum. This task requires the chapter to work closely with the Inquisition; a fact in which neither the Chapter nor the Inquisition find much pleasure. Home World:The Sons of Orion have no single home world. Their mission as well as migratory nature carries them to the far corners of the Segmentum Ultima. The Chapter lives instead upon their ships or in one of numerous lodges that have been established throughout the quadrant. Most of these Lodges have been established on death worlds. Others are maintained on worlds previously cleansed of the Genestealer blight. The Lodges are a combination of training facility, staging ground, depot and chapter monastery. There is no set size for a Chapter Lodge. Some may be large enough to house several clans (Companies); others are nothing more than an outpost or base camp. The Inquisition has placed great constraints on the number of recruits the Sons of Orion may gather. The Chapter is allowed enough new recruits to replace those lost to battle, but is not allowed to grow beyond this. They are allowed a small tithe from the worlds which they have cleansed. The recruitment screening process provides the Inquisition with an opportunity to verify that the Genestealer contagion has indeed been expunged from the populace. Similar tests are run on the brothers of the Chapter, under the guise of preventing Genestealer “infection”, but the Inquisition also uses the tests as a way to keep tabs on the stability of the Sons of Orion geneseed. Many in the Chapter have begun to chafe under the constraints placed on them by the inquisition. This policy has given the Inquisition a virtual stranglehold over the Sons of Orion’s continued existence. When not stationed at one of the Chapter’s Lodges, the Sons of Orion prefer to live between the stars. This is where the bulk of the chapter resides. Here they have a measure of freedom from the watchful gaze of the Inquisition. Each Clan maintains its own fleet of battle barges and strike craft. The Lord of the Hunt’s (Chapter Master) personal ship, The Peerless Hunter, is an extremely ancient Emperor Class – Battleship which has been modified into a Nemesis Class – Fleet Carrier. The Peerless Hunter’s cavernous launch bays house swarms of Thunderhawks and assault craft. The Chapter stalks the space lanes, tracking down those that would prey on ships of the Imperium. Combat Doctrine:“You are either the hunter or the prey.” Sons of Orion creed. The Sons of Orion view themselves not as soldiers, but as highly skilled predators. It is not by mistake that many of the Chapter’s training facilities are located on Death Worlds. Before a recruit becomes fully initiated into the Chapter, he must take part in a ritualized hunt, to track and kill of one of that world's most dangerous predators. This hunt is undertaken without gun or blade. It is a grueling test from which many do not return. Those that succeed embody the credo of the chapter and have proved themselves worthy of becoming Sons of Orion. Dependence on ones self rather than equipment is emphasized above all else. Marines of the Chapter are trained to be able to function and fight in almost any environment, with what ever tools may be at hand. The Chapter does not forsake the use of high tech weaponry, but recognizes that during the heat of battle machines may fail; ammo may run out. The Sons of Orion are trained to prepare for such eventualities. Self reliance is also important, for the chapter is currently spread thin. It is a rare site indeed to see an entire Clan mobilized for war. Many actions are carried out with just a handful of prides (squads). The Sons of Orion are experts at guerrilla warfare, relying on misdirection and surprise rather than overwhelming fire superiority. The Chapter rarely utilizes heavily armored vehicles. Instead, emphasis is placed on coordinated strikes by multiple infantry units. “War is not an exercise in killing it is an exercise in control” Lord Kraven
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Post by Destecado on Apr 5, 2004 12:25:09 GMT -5
Organization:
Although created under the strictures of the Codex Astartes, the organization of the Sons of Orion began to change almost from the outset. Many of the young recruits had been drawn from feral or feudalistic worlds where the rule of tribes or clans dominated. After the ignominious end of the Flame Falcons, then Chapter Master Kurgan Cigau enacted these changes throughout the Chapter. The companies were restructured into clans with the ranking commander being named as Warlord of the Clan. Each was a separate and distinct entity from the other clans of the Chapter.
The Clans took their names from their warlord or from famous predators or hunters. Each was still made up of 10 squads designated as prides, but their makeup and sized varied greatly. The pride took on a greater significance than just that of a military unit. Pride mates lived, hunted and fought beside each other for years. Although loyalty in the Chapter was supposed to be to the Emperor first, the Chapter as a whole second and then to the clan and pride, it was usually found to be the reverse. This coupled with the Chapter’s insistence on self reliance and individuality, led to a dire problem.
Prides were loathed to accept replacements for those lost to combat. Many would choose to fight below strength, rather than take in an untried replacement. In hopes of counteracting this trend, prides that had suffered grievous losses were transferred to one of the Chapter’s Lodges. There the pride would be made responsible for training new inductees. It was hoped that by grouping the novices with members of a pride, a bond could be forged, where by the pride would accept the novice if he became a marine. This policy also allowed the Chapter to pass on the hard learned lessons of the prides to the next generation of marines.
The newly instituted divisions were created to prevent the Sons of Orion from suffering a similar fate to what had befallen the Flame Falcons. The gene seed for each Clan was kept separate and only used to create new marines for that clan. If any instability were to occur, it was hoped only that clan would be forfeit rather than the chapter as a whole. This theory was put to the test during the third battle of Virindin IV.
Nearly half the members of Clan Hellequin (The Furious Host) taking part in the engagement began to spontaneously mutate. Knowing that their fate was sealed, they requested and were granted permission to be the vanguard in the assault to take the planetary capital of Aranath. In a story which still stands as a symbol of loyalty and honor in the Chapter, those that had not mutated joined their doomed clan brothers and pride mates in the assault.
It is uncertain if the Inquisitor present was moved by the Clans loyalty and bravery or if Kurgan Cigau’s planned had worked, but the Chapter survived. All accounts of the Sons of Orion’s participation in the conquest of Virindin IV were expunged from the Imperial records. Only those records maintained by the Chapter’s Rites Masters survive to recount the sacrifice of Clan Hellequin.
Losses and misfortune have taken their toll on the Chapter. Of the original ten clans only six remain. Under the strictures enforced by the Inquisition, no clan is allowed to grow beyond its original enrollment of ten prides. The Inquisition has shown some lenience in allowing other clans to absorb prides from destroyed Clans. Lord Kraven, the current Chapter Master suspect duplicity in the Inquisitions intentions. Once the members of a Clan have been absorbed by another clan, their gene seeds become mingled.
The Inquisition has sited that no gene seed from the destroyed clans exist hence they can not be reconstituted. Slowly but surely, the Chapter is dwindling. At the moment the forces of the Sons of Orion stand as thus:
Clan Kurgan: 12 prides Clan Kisret: 9 prides Clan Grendel: 13 prides Clan Skahr: 10 prides Clan N’wari: 8 prides Clan Shingar: 6 prides
Disturbing reports have recently reached the Inquisition that may indicate the Sons of Orion are recruiting from outside their allotted tithes. Prides have been observed taking the field with their Novices (Youngbloods). Lord Kraven has made assurances that this is only a change in training procedures, to afford the novices true field experience; yet the rumors persist.
The Hellequin
Although no Clan since the Hellequin has suffered such a radical or wide spread mutation, there are still marines of the chapter that exhibit aberrant patterns in their gene seed. The Rite Masters take these unfortunates apart from the rest of the Chapter and gather them into a special unit. This is done for the safety of the entire Chapter. Such mutations would bring the unwanted attention of the Inquisition. Also, the stricken battle brother’s pride mates would demand to fight by his side to a glorious death like the original members of Clan Hellequin. Upon entering its ranks, all insignia and chapter markings are removed from their armor. The names of the stricken brothers are added to the ranks of the honored dead. Death after all is a certainty in the Hellequin. It is the manner in which they meet their death that is important. Members of the Hellequin are allowed to die as hunters, as men; not simply but down like a rabid dog by the Inquisition.
Hellequin represent the Abominations units selction as detailed in the Chapter Approved Cursed Founding Trial Rules.
Beliefs:
“There is no pain, there is no fear; there is only the hunter and the hunted.” Kurgan Cigau
Although the Emperor is recognized and honored as the Master of Humanity, the Sons of Orion do not worship him as a god. Such veneration is reserved for Kurgan Cigau, their former Chapter Master. It is through his foresight that the Chapter continues to exist. The Sons of Orion Space Marines still follow his teachings as set down in the Venator Tractare. This work, which spans numerous volumes, is a treatise on the nature and relationship between hunter and prey.
Martial skill and personal initiative are stressed by the Sons of Orion. Strategy and tactics are valued over massed assaults to take objectives. Such displays are ultimately wasteful and costly in men and material. With their numbers dwindling, the Chapter can not waste any of its resources. The Sons of Orion also find such attacks distasteful, because they hold no sport. As Kurgan wrote, “War is not an exercise in killing rather it is an exercise in control.”
Geneseed:
The stability of the Sons of Orion’s geneseed varies from clan to clan, but all display minor aberrations. One of the most apparent and striking is a mutation in the Melanchromatic Organ. An overproduction of melanin causes the Sons of Orion to be much darker in pigmentation than space marines of other chapters. Among Clan N’wari there have also been rare cases where a damaged Melanchromatic Organ has caused the implanted marine to lose pigmentation altogether. Such albinos are much revered within that clan. N’wari himself had been afflicted in this manner and he was second only to Kurgan Cigau in his martial prowess.
Of all the vagaries that have developed in the Sons of Orion’s geneseed, the most useful if not unusual is an overdeveloped Omophagea Organ. The Omophagea is designed to absorb genetic material generated in animal tissue as a function of memory experience or innate ability. This allows the Sons of Orion to assimilate many of the reflex and instinctual abilities of the predators they hunt during training.
In some marines this mutation also instills a psychological need to kill and feed. There are cases of these “Ferals” as they are termed, stalking human prey for sport and even resorting to cannibalism. The Chapter deals harshly with such individuals. It can ill afford not to.
The inherent instability of their geenseed as well as certain traits common to the Chapter have caused many to speculate that the Sons of Orion may be a successor chapter of the Space Wolves or Raven Guard. Detractors are quick to point out that the geneseed may have originated from a more clandestine source. The Sons of Orion bear more than a passing resemblance to the equally mysterious Sons of Antaeus Chapter. Both stand almost a full head taller than standard marines and are gifted with exceptional toughness and endurance. These facts have led more than one adept to speculate that the Chapters may share a common origin.
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Post by Destecado on Apr 5, 2004 12:47:58 GMT -5
The following information was a first try at designing the chapter's colors and differentiating one clans from one another.
Chapter Livery and Badges:
The original chapter livery before its restructuring by Kurgan Cigau was light grey armor with black trim around the shoulder pads and on the face plate of the helm. The chapter symbol, a black Manticore facing forward was displayed on the left shoulder pad. Company designations were displayed on the right shoulder pad and helm. Ranks were denoted by black stripes along the top of the helm and around the left forearm. Since the restructuring, the right shoulder pad is used to display Clan or pride designations. Clan Kurgan has maintained this color scheme with minor variations. Many of the other Clans have made significant changes.
Clan Kisret has kept the standard grey armor, but the shoulder pads are painted completely black with the Chapter symbol rendered in deep purple. Ranks are displayed in the standard fashion, but in the same deep purple color as the Chapter Symbol. This color scheme is in honor of the predator from which the Clan takes its name. The Kisret is a large arboreal cat from the Death World Thetas. Its purple coloration allows it to blend in with the local flora, making it virtually invisible, till it strikes. Its ferocity and cunning are traits revered by the Kisret Clan.
Clan Grendel’s armor is completely black. The chapter symbol appears in grey on the left shoulder pad. Rank markings are also displayed in grey in the standard fashion. Other than its color, the most striking feature of the Grendel Clan armor is its face plates. The skilled artificers of the clan craft the helms into gruesome visages of fell beasts and monsters. Important members of the clan also may have elaborate scroll work etched along the edges of their shoulder pads. Most if not all of the Clans power armor lack the Imperial Eagle motif on the chest plate.
Clan Skhar, holds true to the original chapter livery with one exception. The chapter symbol is red instead of black. Much of the clan practice ritual scarification and wear their hair in long manes like their clan founder Abbas Skhar. Such long hair makes wearing a helmet difficult. Many marines of Clan Skhar forego a helm in favor of an osmotic breather.
Clan Nwari’s armor is standard grey, but the edges of the shoulder pads and face plate are white instead of black. Ranks are also displayed in white, as is the Chapter’s symbol. Clan Shingar’s armor is completely grey. The chapter’s symbol and rank markings are rendered in a grey just a few shades lighter than the armor itself. The dull grey pattern allows marines of the chapter to blend in with the mists and rock formations of the planet Kabiri. The remaining prides of the clan have been stationed there in an attempt to rebuild the clan’s numbers.
Clan Skahr: Ritual Scarification
The Manticore that is the chapter symbol is an actual predator that the Sons of Orion ritually hunts. Clan Skahr uses the venom in the Manticore’s tail for its rituals. The scars serve as both decoration as well as a test of fortitude. A teaspoon dose of venom from the Manticore is enough to kill a full grown man. The venom causes a severe allergic reaction. Affected tissue begins to swell. This swelling may cause blockage of the victims air way or even lead to ruptures in blood vessels. Once it reaches the blood stream, a victim’s arteries will constrict cutting off the flow of blood. With the brain starved of oxygen, the victim quickly lapses into unconsciousness.
Clan Skahr uses minute doses on the tips of needles to create patterns and designs on the face and body of its pride members. The first "tattoo" is applied before the novices have fully completed their change into full space marines. The design denotes the novices pride affiliation. Application of the venom is considered an art form within the clan. The Rites Masters perform the initiation ceremony.
The application usually causes a high fever. As the toxin recedes, it leaves angry red scars (damage to the blood vessels and surrounding tissue) in the areas where the venom was injected with the needles. The skin is raised almost as if in a permanent welt. Those that survive continue the process of becoming full space marines. The Manticore’s venom is thought to some how stimulate the maturation process of the clans Betcher's Gland.
Though unintelligible to those outside the Clan, the tattoos convey volumes of information about a space marine to other members of Clan Skahr. Throughout their life, other "tattoos" are applied to mark participation in battles or number of kills. They mark a given marine’s honors and those he has fought with. The most skilled warriors of the clan have hundreds of these tattoos covering their bodies. They are the living walking history of Clan Skahr.
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Post by CELS on Apr 5, 2004 12:58:03 GMT -5
Hey Destecado, welcome to the Anargo Sector Project. Why don't you head over to the General Chat forum and make your presence known in the New Member Check-In Point thread? Though your interest in our Space Marine chapter is most welcome, it seems you don't quite appreciate the situation at the moment. Sikkukkut is responsible for creating the Frost Wraiths, and he is busy writing an Index Astartes article on them. When he posts this IA, everyone is welcome to give their opinion on the article, and we'll hopefully end up with a product we're all happy with. Untill he posts the IA, we're basically going to leave the Frost Wraiths alone, or so I'm told. Personally, I'd like for him to post whatever he's done so far, so we can agree on the basic premise of the Chapter before he goes too far into detail, but alas no one seems to agree with me... So thanks for your contribution, the Sons of Orion. For the record, I found them interesting, especially the part about Prides, but I was rather pertubed by how you described their relationship with the Inquisition and their mysterious history, but this isn't the place to go into such things, I'm afraid
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Post by Destecado on Apr 5, 2004 13:14:48 GMT -5
Thank you CELS, as I said, it needs to go through a bit of a rewrite. I'm not sure why it shouldn't be discussed here. Isn't the idea to reach a concensus on projects? If you wish perhaps the chapter could be discussed in another thread.
I'm not trying to supplant the Frost Wraiths chapter. The mission of the Sons of Orion would probably carry them into the Anargo Sector, so I'm just offering them as another alternative. If you don't feel like posting comments or feedback here, feel free to IM them to me?
I'm hoping to pick up the Daemonhunters codex in the next couple of weeks. That and more information on the Ordo Xenos will help to flesh out the chapter more. For the most part I view them as alien hunters.
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Post by CELS on Apr 5, 2004 14:15:04 GMT -5
The reason this isn't the place to discuss the Sons of Orion is that this thread was started to discusss the Frost Wraiths. Hence the name of the thread If you want to suggest the presence of a second Space Marine chapter, you should start a seperate thread, perhaps giving us an idea of what sort of presence you imagine them having, and why they're needed in the home sector of another Space Marine chapter. Statistically, there's only one Space Marine chapter for every ten sectors, after all... I'll make my comments on the IA in said thread!
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Post by Destecado on Apr 5, 2004 14:33:59 GMT -5
The reason I posted it in this thread, is because I am also offering the chapter up to be amalgamated into the Frost Wraiths. from what I have read in the long postings, there has been alot of controversy over the name as well as over having them be based off of nordic mythology.
The manner in which the chapter is currently being designed strikes me as somehow wrong. Rather than having one individual design the chapter, it should first be opened up to gain concensus from the members and then have one or two individual write the fluff for the chapter.
This way you incorporate as many of the ideas from the collective group as possible making it greater than the sum of its parts. If Sikkukkut wants to incorporate some ideas from the Sons of Orion into the fluff for his chapter that is fine. If he doesn't then I am fine with that as well, but to say one person is desiging the chapter and no one else has any say on the matter is somethig I find very wrong.
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Post by CELS on Apr 5, 2004 15:43:05 GMT -5
Like I said; we do have a say in the matter. But not untill he posts the IA. If you were saying that it's "wrong" that we have to wait for him to post the IA, then I would agree, but we shall just have to wait for him to post (something that is or is not the finished IA)... As for the northern mythology, I see your point, and I was also very worried about yet another norse-themed 40k creation. For now though, I'll just see where this goes, and if we end up with a chapter where everyone has axes and hammers, and they're all called Runar, Olav, Eirik and Thor, I'll start whining. Patience....
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Post by Destecado on Apr 5, 2004 16:00:46 GMT -5
Fair enough, but looking at the dates on the postings, you guys have been waiting quite a while already.
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