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Index Astartes: Supernovas http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/Wargamer/SupernovanChapterSymbol.png http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/Wargamer/Supernovas%202017/SupernovanCorvus_zpstb5d4kqu.png Typical soldier of the Supernovas Chapter, adorned in full Corvus plate. The Supernovas are a Chapter with an ill recorded history. Situated on the very extremes of the Imperium, official records of them are often inconsistent or altogether missing, resulting in a great deal of misunderstanding and misinformation. The Chapter has been declared lost at least twice in its history, but lack of administrative accuracy is of no concern to the warriors of Tasal. They keep their own records, and care little for the opinion of the wider Imperium. Origins Within the Supernovas Chapter there is some dispute as to their origins. The Chapter's Librarians are divided into two camps, both built around a central myth. The first tale revolves around the Wolf Lord Lartha, who found the world of Tasal under attack by Orks and came to their aid. Though hopelessly outnumbered, the Space Wolves noted that the primitive peoples of Tasal were fearless in battle, using muskets, swords and crude artillery to face down Orks and their comparably more advanced war machines. The war was long, and by the time Tasal was liberated the Second Founding was underway. Lartha, not wishing to see such a remote world left defenseless, demanded the right to establish a Chapter on Tasal. They took the name Supernovas, for in the eyes of Tasal's people they were death born from the stars themselves. The competing narrative revolves around an Ultramarine Chapter Master named Laertes, who liberated Tasal from an Ork invasion at the dawn of the Imperium. Following the Horus Heresy and the dividing of the Legions, Laertes returned to Tasal to create the Supernovas; a Chapter with which he hoped to emulate the glory of the Legions his Primarch had abolished. Curiously, despite the latter story appearing more likely due to the Chapter's gene-seed appearing to be based on the Ultramarines, the legend of Lartha is favoured within the Chapter. The oldest Dreadnoughts support the Laertes account, but their recollections are imperfect and cannot be verified. Homeworld Tasal teeters on the border of being a feudal planet and a full-blown Death World. Once highly advanced, during the Long Night it regressed considerably to its present state. Tasal's primary civilisations come in two forms; the people of the bastion cities, and the war trains that link them. The bastions are fortresses lined with ancient artillery and manned by soldiers armed with auto-lock muskets. The war trains are venerable war machines older than the Imperium, and the only vehicles than can hope to ward off the super-predators that stalk the lands. Yet Tasal is a varied world, and many more peoples can be found there. In the interior of the Pangaean super-continent is the Wyldstawk, an ancient jungle that cannot be tamed and consumes all who try. Barbarian tribes survive here against all odds, and none are more fierce or more feared than the Berserkers of Qwaythe. Far to the south, Icelanders brave the polar seas to raid southern towns, while in the north-east the Armourers of Yyth produce the weapons and ammunition their planet needs in its unending war against itself. Legend has it that Yyth still possesses the secrets of lasgun technology; small wonder that so many of the Chapter's techmarines are drawn from this fortress nation. Tasal breeds hardy people, for it is a place where life is short and brutal. Those not gunned down by rival tribes or consumed by the world's many predators will likely die from some virulent pathogen, or cancers caused by the sun's radiation. Scarce few live to see their fortieth year, and those that do win those years with steel and shot. The Supernovas do not maintain one single fortress monastery on Tasal. Instead, each Company has its own fortress with subterranean transit links between them. In many ways, this mirrors the cities from which so many are recruited, and fosters an independent mindset within each Company; something the Chapter does nothing to discourage. Organisation The Supernovas adhere loosely to the Codex Astartes, but deviate in some notable ways. The First Company is a veteran company as normal, albeit with some internal differences. The remaining eight companies are all Battle Companies of up to twelve squads. Each company is in charge of its own recruitment, and instead of the aspirants forming Scout squads as in other Chapters, they take the role of "Novitae" and are added to regular battle squads under the direct tutelage of a designated Marine. The direct method of mentoring mirrors the familial practices common on Tasal, where skills and wargear are passed from parent to child. This link is further mirrored as it is common for a Marine to mentor the Novitae created from their extracted progenoid. This creates a strong bond between student and mentor, and a sense of family absent from many Chapters. Indeed, some Marines take great pride in their "bloodline", and seek to emulate the great deeds of their forefathers. The primary fighting unit of the Supernovas Chapter is the Battle Squad, which somewhat resembles a Codex pattern Tactical Squad. Most contain ten Marines, of which some may be Novitae, and most Marines will be armed with bolters, with a single special and heavy weapon being common. However, this is not a fixed organisation; Battle Squads will change their internal structures based on the needs of the campaign, the orders of the sergeant or simply the personal whims of its members. Because of the traditions of tutelage and bloodline, Battle Squads often see themselves not only as a fighting unit, but a family. These bonds can result in Marines refusing to leave their unit when promoted or adopted into specialist roles. This can lead to Battle Squads that contain specialists, such as Apothecaries or Techmarines, or even have Company Captains continue to act as a squad sergeant for their old unit. Officially, the Supernovas have neither Assault nor Devastator squads. The latter is due to a general disdain for long-range warfare within the Chapter, although squads can be persuaded to fill this role if the need arises. Assault squads are typically formed of volunteers due to their high casualty rates, and as such Marines who repeatedly take this duty are typically fast-tracked for promotion, assuming they survive. The structure of the companies, combined with the attitude of self-reliance and independence the Chapter fosters within its members, results in each company essentially being autonomous. Each Captain is free to undertake their own missions and deployments, and likewise most extend similar autonomy to their sergeants. This autonomy ensures that individual Supernovas are more than capable of taking whatever role is needed, and any given squad can operate without supervision as needed. However, it also leads to tension in the ranks when squads or companies must be ordered about, rather than left to their own initiative. Befitting a Chapter of its age, the Supernovas have access to a wide array of vehicles and specialist equipment. However, their preferred style of fighting - up close and personal - leads them to favour bikes and land speeders as their primary support vehicles, assuming a Drop Pod assault is not an option. Whirlwinds and Vindicators are unpopular, as they represent the horrors of siege warfare; campaigns where it can take months to gain a few hundred metres of ground! Supernovas seek to win swiftly. Weapons of War The armoury of the Supernovas is an armoury of relics. The Chapter's war plate consists mainly of older model suits, particularly the Mk VI "Corvus" plate. Their weapons are likewise greatly prized, with many of their bolters originating from the lost Forge World of Tigrus. While the Supernovas do use more modern weapons and armour, they do so begrudgingly; any design not used during the Great Crusade is deemed to be inherently inferior. New model weapons, in the eyes of the Supernovas, are always lacking in efficiency, precision design or simple elegance compared to earlier editions. Rituals of the Chapter http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/Wargamer/Supernovas%202017/Supernovan4th_zpstoiioyvy.jpghttp://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/Wargamer/Supernovas%202017/Supernovan5th_zpsnvynj0ge.jpghttp://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/Wargamer/Supernovas%202017/SupernovanCydaSquad_zpsljes1k2o.jpg Left: The 4th Company near universally wear a black and red shoulder in honour of their Captain. Centre: Members of the 5th use green honour markings in no set pattern, typically shoulder trims, elbows or knees. Right: Black and gold honour marking adopted by various squads following the Tyrannic Invasion of Tasal. With a history stretching back almost ten millennia, it is to be expected the Supernovas have developed their own rituals and quirks. The most obvious of these are their use of honour markings; modifications to their heraldry worn by squads, or sometimes entire companies. These markings are adopted for various reasons, either to commemorate a great victory, or pay respects to a fallen hero. One of the most common examples of honour markings is the adoption of part of another Chapter's heraldry, typically worn on the left shoulder. Perhaps the most important ritual to the Chapter is the tradition of Taekar. The word is used as a battle cry by the Chapter, but it specifically refers to the act of shedding blood with a sword. Once a Supernova has drawn his sword it must taste blood, and if a Supernova's sword is still clean at battle's end they will ritually cut themselves or an ally to satisfy the blade. It is not clear what would happen to a Marine who sheathed a sword without it spilling blood, but it is implied the punishment may go as far as death. Finally, the Chapter has throughout its history made us of various 'war cults'. These are typically soldiers bound together by common experience, and typically emerge as specialisations in certain forms of war. The currently active war cults within the Chapter are listed below: The Dead Company: The bonds between squadmates of the Supernovas are akin to family ties, and it is inevitable that the most senior warriors have buried many friends and brothers. For some, this burden of loss is so great that they retreat into themselves, becoming melancholic souls who long for death. However, their training, beliefs and fundamental nature do not allow them to take their own lives, nor to surrender and allow the enemy to kill them unchallenged. These lost souls, often having risen to the First Company, become death seekers who pursue the deadliest of battles. The Dead Company wear the Chapter's suits of Terminator Armour, which they adorn with tabbards and prayer seals bearing the names of the fallen they seek to join. The Dead Company never retreat, for to die standing would finally release them from the burdens they carry. These warriors are mourned by their Brothers, yet equally respected for the glory they earned in the past, and the heroism they perform while Dead. They represent the dark side of the Assault Squad; where Assault Marines seek danger for glory, the Dead Company seek it for release. Although some do eventually choose to return to the Chapter, most perish in its service. Others still outlive the Dead Company and embark upon the Waye of the Dead - a lonely pilgrimage to Terra where they seek to stand before the Emperor and gain His blessing. From there, they will journey into the Eye of Terror itself; the one place in the universe they can be sure to fall in battle. The Chapter prays that these lonely warriors may take countless souls with them when they finally fall. Ironforged: The Ironforged are uncharacteristically grim and dour compared to their peers, but respected for their ability to bring down fortress walls or hold the line against overwhelming odds. The original Ironforged were Novitae who learned the art of war on the Ork world of Haraz, during the siege of the Green Peaks. Months of brutal trench fighting, bunker busting and attrition war produced soldiers unlike any other, bearing a mindset and view of war totally at odds with their brothers. Today, only a single "true" Ironforged remains; Brok the First Forged, a Dreadnought of the 8th Company. However, Marines who show talent for siege war may be bestowed the honorific by Brok, and thus the Chapter maintains a few squads of these elite warriors to this day. Outside of the 8th, Ironforged typically serve other Companies as vehicle crews for the few Whirlwinds and Vindicators they use, or joining squads as a heavy weapons trooper. The Stalkers: Most Supernovans believe that death should be loud, swift and direct, delivered by bolt round or blade. Yet an experienced commander knows that sometimes a warrior must go unseen, and with no Scouts to act as infiltrators and assassins, the Supernovas must rely on Stalkers - veteran warriors who can set aside ideals of honour for the good of the Chapter. Stalkers are usually drawn from the First Company, as age and experience tempers their headstrong urges. They have access to equipment not usually found in a typical Astartes squad, such as Stalker bolters, cameoline and sniper rifles. Stalkers, being rare, are usually reserved for larger actions where multiple Companies are deployed. They will prowl ahead of the Chapter, sabotaging enemy facilities, eliminating key targets and gathering intel for their Brothers. When it is time for battle to be joined, Stalkers will stand beside their brothers as surely as any other warrior, reminding the doubters that their choice of fighting style is born of tactical necessity, not lack of personal prowess. The Naked Berserkers: On Tasal, the most feared men in all the world are the Naked Berserkers of Qwaythe; wild jungle-men who fight skyclad to show their lack of fear, and high on narcotics to make them immune to all pain. Small wonder that the Chapter tries to recruit from Qwaythe whenever possible, and those that make it typically bring the Berserker cult into the Chapter. Despite their name, Naked Berserkers do not fight naked - Astartes are far too valuable to be wasted on such rash actions! Instead, they go to battle bare-headed to show their disdain for enemy fire. In individual squads, Naked Berserkers typically act as close combat troops or special weapon soldiers armed with flamers or meltaguns. However, on occasion entire squads of Naked Berserkers will form, and these make some of the most terrifying combat troops in the Chapter. Naked Berserkers are more likely than any other group to form assault squads, for in their eyes there is no such thing as a suicide mission; merely a chance to earn ever greater glory. Adepta Astartes One of the more perplexing claims of the Chapter are the Adepta Astartes, or Female Space Marines. The Chapter has a policy of taking any aspirant who passes their trials, and while relatively few girls come forward, it is inevitable that some female aspirants complete the challenges and are accepted. In particular, the warriors of the Icelands offer large numbers of female recruits, in part due to the astonishingly high mortality rate of their (mostly male) seafarers. Imperial scholars largely assume these female recruits go on to serve as Chapter Serfs or auxilia, but according to claims made by the Chapter itself approximately 10% of its current Astartes fighting strength are, or possibly were, female. When the impossibility of such things is pointed out to them, the Supernovas typically respond with derision. What the Chapter seeks to gain from this apparently malicious act of misinforming Imperial scribes is unclear, but they clearly take pride and pleasure from doing so. Heroes of Legend Master Ximo: Master Ximo was one of the longest serving Chapter Masters in the history of the Supernovas and was viewed by many as one of the best. Born a tribal, Ximo showed himself to have a sharp, inquiring mind and quickly absorbed the teachings of war. He soon rose to sergeant, where he showed both tactical and strategic insight that marked him out for promotion. In due course, Ximo became a Captain and while he was never the fiercest of most skilled fighter, he was unmatched in his ability to see and control the flow of battle. In his long career, Ximo suffered multiple injuries to the point where he became more machine than man. Yet while his body failed, his mind did not. He rose to Chapter Master where his talents for grand strategy saw their full potential. Ximo was praised not only for his planning, but for his ability to react and counter the plans of the enemy. It seemed Ximo could tell exactly which forces would hold and which would break; where the enemy sought to break through and where their attacks were mere distraction. To his subordinates he was ever approachable, seeking to council rather than command whenever possible. His council often came at a high price, however, as during his formative years he fought beside the Blazing Kitsunes Chapter and learned from them a tea ceremony. It was said that veterans of many centuries would happily throw themselves into the Eye of Terror rather than endure the slow, ritual tedium of drinking tea with the Chapter Master. Ximo perished in battle against one of his own; a Battle Brother who had fallen to the Ruinous Powers centuries ago, whom had served as both friend and rival to Ximo prior to his promotion to Chapter Master. Cylaros, the Champion of Tasal: Ask any man of the Chapter to describe Cylaros, and they would invariably call him pious. Intensely driven by his faith, Cylaros would have likely become a Chaplain where it not for the fact he was also a peerless swordsman, quickly rising to be the finest in the Chapter. In only a few decades of becoming a full-blood Marine, Cylaros was named Champion of the Fifth Company; a role he served with distinction for half a century. Always the first to battle, and rightly confident of his abilities, Cylaros was rewarded with promotion to Champion of Tasal, where he carried not only the honour of the Chapter, but the duty of personal bodyguard to Master Ximo. Upon Ximo's death, Cylaros was chosen to lead, having been seen by many as Ximo's protegee. However, Cylaros' failure in protecting his Master, combined with his death at the hands of a fallen Supernovan created a seed of fear in Cylaros' mind. He became convinced the Chapter was wayward and pushed to restore them in the eyes of the Imperium, championing a return to Codex orthodoxy that divided, rather than united the Chapter. Having successfully alienated a third of his Captains, Cylaros took those who would obey upon a Crusade of Faith. In his absence, Tasal would come under attack from a Tyranid Hive Fleet - an act for which Cylaros once more blamed himself. In the wake of the reclamation of Tasal Cylaros surrendered the title of Chapter Master, expecting death or exile for his failings. To the surprise of many, not least himself, Cylaros was restored to the role of Champion of Tasal by his successor, Dyus Ironforged. Whether this decision was wisdom or folly, only time will tell. Dyus Ironforged: Current Chapter Master, Dyus was born and raised in Yyth, the most technologically proficient region of Tasal. From the beginning he showed the traits of patience, methodical thinking and a cool temper; traits that marked him as an outsider amongst his peers. Soon after becoming a full-blood Marine, Dyus was approached by the Ironforged Cult and asked to join the 8th Company so he could be tested. After many years of service with the 8th, Dyus was brought before Brok the First-Forged; the last of the original Ironforged, now interred within a Dreadnought. Brok judged the deeds of Dyus and, after many hours contemplation, found him worthy. As an Ironforged, Dyus proved himself time and again on the field of battle, excelling in particular in defensive actions. Where his brothers were relentless in attack, Dyus was immovable. In time he rose to Captain, and was declared Seneshcal of Tasal, entrusted with the world's protection above all else. In this role, Dyus would face one of his greatest trials. As most of the Chapter embarked on a crusade, Tasal itself fell under Tyranid assault. With only one Company under his command, Dyus was forced to wage a months-long campaign against a seemingly endless alien horde. Yet he took this challenge as he did all others; with grim resolve. Every available force, from his own Ironforged to the planet's population was mustered and commanded as best they could be. Battle lines were drawn, and Dyus was forced to face the grim reality that much of the planet would be lost, whatever choices he made. If this troubled him at all, he never showed it to another living soul. For months, Dyus led the fighting, often personally taking the field. He could not advance upon the Tyranids, but wherever he fought the line at least would hold firm, no matter how strong or numerous the foe. While millions died and cities fell, Dyus ensured at least that the Chapter's fortresses held strong, providing shelter for what few people could flee to their walls. When salvation finally came, Dyus did not step back as might have been expected. He used his position as Seneschal to claim command of his returning Chapter, and every allied force accompanying them. At last able to go on the offensive, Dyus' cold resolve proved instrumental in bringing Tasal back from the brink. Where the Tyranids dug in, hiding in caves or lost fortifications, Dyus and his Ironforged led the assaults, using their siege craft to break the enemy and minimise losses. Following the destruction of the Hive Fleet, Dyus was unanimously chosen to become the next Chapter Master. He set about replenishing his depleted forces and restoring Tasal as best he could. Though he hoped for respite, fate had other plans; it would not be long before the Imperium would be split asunder, and Dyus would find himself and his Chapter cut off from Terra, one of millions of worlds lost in the Dark Imperium. The 42nd Millennium Either by good fortune or some residual effect of the Tyranid's Shadow, Tasal and the nearby systems rode out the Noctis Aeterna unscathed. This respite gave the Supernovas time to rebuild their forces and prepare for the coming wars against the armies of Chaos and the xenos who sought to exploit mankind's weakness. In the wake of the Indomitus Crusade, the Chapter was reinforced with two squads of Primaris and granted the means to produce their own Primaris Marines. However, the Chapter remained highly skeptical of these new breed of warriors, and so they were not actively embraced. Indeed, it took some time before the Chapter would even accept the return of the Primarch Guilliman, let alone adopt his new vision for the Astartes. However, as time progressed, Master Dyus became more amiable to the proposed changes in the Codex, if only as an excuse to enhance the fighting power of the Chapter. Seeing the need for Astartes was greater than ever, Dyus gave the Companies his consent to expand, increasing their operational size from twelve squads to twenty. What few Primaris the Chapter possessed were encouraged to adapt to Battle Squad doctrine rather than Guilliman's edict, in essence functioning as a direct upgrade to the standard tactical model. The newly reinstated Lieutenant rank was also embraced, albeit inconsistently across the Companies.