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Author's Note: This entry provides the in-universe understanding of the Inferno Wardens Chapter and how to play them on the tabletop. A subsequent entry will provide a real (omniscient) understanding of the chapter. My initial topic on this chapter can be found here. I must begin with a big "thank you" to Greyall for providing me the initial motivation to create this new chapter. To: ++ Inquisition Clearance Insufficient ++ From: ++ Inquisition Clearance Insufficient ++ Date: 029.M36 Subject: Adeptus Astartes, Inferno Wardens Chapter Thought for the day: Pray for the future to vindicate your actions. Honoured Lord, I have concluded my researches into the Inferno Wardens chapter of the Adeptus Astartes as you ordered. As you know, the records of the chapter are scant and appear to be heavily guarded. It has taken me over four years to gain access to the limited information available on the chapter within the archives of the ++ Inquisition Clearance Insufficient ++. As you know, the Inferno Wardens disappeared from Imperial records in the eighth century of M35. Subsequent investigation found that Bastion Secundus had been utterly destroyed. The fate of the chapter remains a mystery. Some say that the chapter never returned from a crusade into the Inferno Reach, others that it suffered from the malign influence of the Warp and was wiped out by a combined force of the Inquisition and the Doom Eagles Chapter (though the Doom Eagles have denied ever taking part in such an action). The last known member of the chapter was Brother Bărbat who was serving within the Ordo Xenos Deathwatch. Brother Bărbat was requested by name for a secret mission by an unidentified Inquisitor who was not of the Ordo Xenos. The mission was never described to the watch commander and Brother Bărbat never returned to the Deathwatch upon completion of the mission. The following information was provided in an M35 version of the Index Astartes. I remain your humble servant XXXXXXXXXXX Investigator Since the founding of their chapter, the Space Marines of the Inferno Wardens have stood a lonely vigil upon the borders of the Inferno Reach, defending the region from the predations of those within the warp anomaly. Though they have achieved numerous victories in battle against pirates and renegades, as well as several alien races, their singular focus has left this honorable and aloof chapter relatively unsung and underappreciated compared to the better known chapters. Not concerned with recognition and honors, though, the Inferno Wardens pursue their mission with masterful dedication, living up to the highest ideals of the Emperor’s Angels of Death. The Inferno Wardens chapter is thought to have been created during the 8th Founding in M34. It was immediately granted the homeworld of Bastion Secundus and was assigned the mission of guarding the region around the Inferno Reach. The chapter is known to have launched at least three crusades into the Inferno Reach, the second of which, the Viteazul CrusadeI in early M35, resulted in the extermination of a major renegade pirate band, but at the cost of one strike cruiser and over two hundred battle-brothers killed with an unknown number wounded. The livery of the Inferno Wardens is a light blue body; dark metallic shoulders, arms, and legs; and silver helmet and decorations. The chapter badge incorporates a stylized blue cross of a distinctive pre-Great Crusade design upon a silver shield. Standard company and squad affiliation is indicated on the kneepads, with only the captains and senior officers within a company bearing the company insignia (typically a single vertical bar in the company color prescribed in the Codex Astartes). The battle-brothers of the chapter typically decorate their armor with finely scripted writing. Some members of the chapter appear to personalize the chapter badge with a pair of horizontal bars above and below the main intersection of the cross, though this does not appear to be universal and the significance of these bars is unknown. Upon their creation, the Inferno Wardens were granted the pre-industrial world of Bastion as a base of operations. Bastion is located on the periphery of the Inferno Reach and provides an ideal staging point for the chapter’s mission. The human population of Bastion is descended from settlers that originally found the planet during the Dark Age of Technology, but the people had devolved into a pre-industrial state as a result of the Age of Strife. Organized into warring nomadic tribes, the population provides a strong recruiting base for the Inferno Wardens. The chapter follows the teachings of the Codex Astartes, retaining flexibility in tactical doctrine. The chapter appears to favor rapidly closing with the enemy and engaging in close assault when possible, taking advantage of intelligence gained through reconnaissance in order to target the most vulnerable and valuable of enemy targets in crippling attacks. The Inferno Wardens employ considerable reconnaissance assets in their mission to control the Inferno Reach. These assets range from a large fleet of small vessels down to employing many squads and individuals in scouting roles. This focus has led to the unusual usage of full battle-brothers and even veterans in the scouting role normally reserved to neophytes. The Inferno Wardens chapter is organized in accordance with the dictates of the Codex Astartes, with companies 2 through 10 following the standard pattern. It is only within the 1st Company that some variation is seen. While composed of the normal complement of veterans that might be found in other chapters, the Inferno Wardens 1st Company also includes several special formations. Two of these appear to be specially trained versions of normal squads – scouts and devastators. The third is a formation that appears to be unique to the Inferno Wardens. Where most chapters restrict the more lightly armed and armored scouting role to neophytes under the supervision of an experienced battle-brother, the Inferno Wardens also employ complete squads of full battle-brothers in this role, employing the more experienced scouts and their mastery of a broader range of weapons in direct action against enemy forces as special Blade Guard1 squads. Similarly, heavy weapons specialists form small elite squads where manpower is at a premium. Formed from the most experienced members of Devastator squads, these Bane Guard2 squads take advantage of their experience in maximizing their heavy firepower and are able to engage multiple targets at once. The Vigil squads3 are a formation unique to the Inferno Wardens. In many ways, these squads resemble the tactical squads of other chapters, but they are equipped for and favor close assault and tend to lack heavy weapons. These squads are distinguished by their dark helmets and are always accompanied by a Seeker and his hunting tiger4. The aforementioned Seekers5 are a specialist order within the chapter. Each of these warriors is a highly experienced veteran. More importantly, each shares a symbiotic bond with a degga hunting tiger. The source of the symbiotic bond appears to be a combination of the chapter’s mutation in the mucranoid organ and an omicron level psychic power that is found in less than 2% of battle-brothers within the chapter. A Seeker will bond with only one of the hunting tigers during his life, understanding and being understood by his bonded tiger at a telepathic level. Should the battle-brother be killed, the bonded tiger will be euthanized as a mercy. If a Seeker’s hunting tiger is killed, the Seeker will have to undergo extensive psycho-conditioning in order to return him to full battle effectiveness. Seekers have been known to operate in a variety of ways. They are most often seen leading the Vigil squads, but have also been known to operate independently. The most experienced of Seekers have been observed as advisors and lieutenants to the company captains, apparently serving as bodyguards to these leaders. The Inferno Wardens have developed into a chapter with a monastic nature. Believing that a deep understanding is necessary in order to effectively defeat their adversaries, the battle-brothers of the chapter emphasize reconnaissance and scholarly study. The Codex Astartes is looked upon as holy writ, but it is considered a work whose true teachings are deeper than a simple surface interpretation. The battle-brothers spend much time in contemplation of the Codex Astartes, studying the examples contained within its pages as well as battles over the millennia and how the concepts espoused within the Codex Astartes were applied (or not) by the participants in those battles. The Codex Astartes is not looked upon as a rigid and prescriptive doctrine, but as a work that compels innovation and tempo. Battle-brothers will be questioned on specific tactics covered within the Codex Astartes, required to recite the teachings of the Codex and then to describe applications of those teachings. Advancement within the chapter includes an emphasis on a battle-brother's demonstrated understanding of these tactics and employment of capabilities as well as the ability to both describe actual applications as well as to apply them in training rites. Battle-brothers often swear oaths before battles and affix these oaths to their armor via wax seals. Senior members of the Inferno Wardens often augment their armor with chained books and scrolls. Those among the most senior ranks of the chapter appear to bear wards upon their armor, presumably written by the battle-psykers within the chapter’s extensive librarius. The Inferno Wardens are thought to be descended from the gene-seed of the Ultramarines Legion, though the exact parent chapter is unknown. The Inferno Wardens’ proximity to, and frequent operations into, the warp storm known as the Inferno Reach exposes the battle-brothers of the chapter to the unnatural energies of the Warp. The apothecaries and librarians of the chapter are especially vigilant about screening battle-brothers for signs of corrupting influence. The chapter's gene-seed appears to be relatively stable with all organs functioning fully, though a minor mutation in the mucranoid organ has been found. This mutation results in the the production of a unique pheromone in the eccrine glands. This mutation has been determined to be harmless, having no negative effect on the battle-brothers of the chapter; and the mutation is thought to be one of the main contributors to the ability of the Seekers to bond with their hunting tigers. It is common practice for the members of the chapter to march into combat chanting the litanies of their warrior cult, the chaplains leading the chants with the battle-brothers responding. +++ ADDENDUM +++ I The Viteazul Crusade was named for its leader, Inferno Wardens Captain Simion Viteazul. My researches lead me to conclude that he was the most well-respected and well known of the chapter's members throughout the chapter's history. He was said to have been immensely strong, even for the Adeptus Astartes; and he was known to have wielded a massive sword of unknown provenance into combat. Observations of Captain Viteazul from Imperial Guard regiments that fought alongside the Inferno Wardens during the Maeris Expedition remarked on his war-scarred visage and physically imposing presence. Major Thakin of the Brunekuun Vth Regiment remarked on the great battle tiger that often accompanied one of Captain Viteazul’s lieutenants to councils of war, a practice that appeared to cause no small bit of consternation among those not of the Adeptus Astartes within the councils, but which none dared voice to the Inferno Wardens. He is reported to have died in the final great battle of the crusade that bore his name. RULES NOTES: The standard elements of the Inferno Wardens chapter are represented on the tabletop as an army/detachment from Codex: Space Marines using the Ultramarines chapter tactics. The unique elements of the chapter may be taken as an allied detachment from Codex: Space Wolves. 1 The Blade Guard squads are represented on the tabletop by Space Wolf Scout squads. 2 The Bane Guard squads are represented on the tabletop by Space Wolf Long Fang squads. 3 The Vigil squads are represented on the tabletop by Space Wolf Grey Hunter squads. 4 The degga hunting tigers are represented on the tabletop by Space Wolf Fenrisian Wolves. They are only taken as upgrades to Wolf Guard (Seekers) and never as Thunderwolf Cavalry. The hunting tigers of the chapter resemble smilodons, but have darker (brown and black) fur patterns more closely resembling racoons (they are nocturnal hunters from a temperate forest environment). Their large canines are not nearly as large as the saber-toothed cat, not extending below the bottom of the jaw line. 5 The Seekers are represented on the tabletop by Space Wolf Wolf Guard. They are always taken as individuals and are either joined to a Space Wolf Grey Hunters squad (Vigil squads) or as Wolf Guard Battle Leaders (lieutenants/bodyguards). A Captain may also be a Seeker, in which case he will be represented on the tabletop by a Wolf Lord. All Seeker models must have the Mark of the Wulfen.

First, if it's before February 7, check out Greyall's DIY contest. There are a lot of really neat DIYs being posted there and I'm sure that other Liberites who don't often wander into the PCA forums might be interested in participating. Segue to the Inferno Wardens chapter. For now I'm going to discuss the process I've been going through in developing them, including my goals. I'm holding off on writing the actual full article until after Greyall's contest is over and the winner is announced. For those that are familiar with my previous efforts, my process of DIY chapter creation generally starts with some real world challenge. This usually involves taking one of the "sacred cows" of the Liber community - something which Liberites typically recommend against - and making it work. I'm not saying that I actually succeed in making it work by getting everyone to acknowledge that I've overcome the problems of the sacred cow (especially since some members absolutely refuse to budge on some issues ). My goal with the Avenging Lions was to create a successor of the Black Templars while the Accusers were one of the (un-named) Primogenitors mentioned in the Apocrypha of Skaros. Both of those chapters generated some interesting feedback and debate. The Inferno Wardens are the result of my challenge to produce a DIY that uses Codex: Space Wolves. This has been one of my back-burner concepts for quite some time, and it was given some momentum when I saw Greyall's challenge to create DIY chapters this weekend. I really hadn't given it much thought before, but the short timespan of Greyall's challenge prompted some quick work over the span of about a day and a half. So the root idea was to create a chapter that would use Codex: Space Wolves, but which wouldn't be the Space Wolves painted another color. I briefly toyed with the idea of making the chapter a successor of the White Scars, but later dropped that idea (for reasons which I'll explain in a moment). One of the first things I did was crack open the codex to examine all of the rules, units, and items that are unique to the Space Wolves. I wanted the DIY to be able to use as much as possible so I had to figure out what all of the Space Wolfy items might represent in a chapter that was more closely aligned with the Codex Astartes. Most of the neat stuff has an analogy in Codex: Space Marines, so no problem. There are a few special things that indicate distinctiveness, however. The sagas, Blood Claws, Scouts, and Thunderwolves stood out. In the end, the sagas will represent special oaths/vows that senior officers might swear; while the dual challenge of the Blood Claws and Scouts will be incorporated as an area in which the chapter diverges from the norm. The Thunderwolves will be represented by big hunting cats on the tabletop, though I'm going to sub-optimize and not use Thunderwolf Cavalry. Most other area require only minor tweaks in order to make them work for a mostly "Codex" chapter. Two things in particular stood out, however. These items combined to inspire incorporation of an entirely new concept that I hadn't previously considered. These were the Wolf Tail Talisman and Runic Armour. What these have turned into is anti-Chaos/anti-psyker elements. What they have become is something along the lines of the Exorcists, but a much weaker version. The concept I'm working with is that the chapter studies secret things concerned with combating Chaos, but it doesn't practice the possession rituals that the Exorcists utilize. Significantly, I decided that this chapter would be a prelude to the Exorcists - that the chapter's daemon-hunting knowledge/skills were good, but not quite good enough. The radical elements of the Inquisition that later created the Exorcists somehow saw the potential that the Inferno Wardens represented, but also saw some weakness in the Inferno Wardens that couldn't be allowed to continue and/or become known to others (especially those goody-two-shoes puritans). So that put a specific time period on the chapter. Finally, I had to find a strong rationale for the chapter and its practices. I decided on a role similar to the Astartes Praeses that guard the Eye of Terror, but shifted to another minor warp storm, the Inferno Reach. This also led to the chapter's name. While I looked through the various names of chapters that GW has provided, I finally decided upon a completely new name since that felt more "DIYish" than simply using an existing chapter/warband. The chapter's homeworld of Bastion was picked as a name simply because I like that name. The fortress-monastery name "The Tower" was picked because of the Orison of the Broken Tower within the Exorcists. In my little private WH40K game dimension (the one in which the Inferno Wardens exist), the name of the Exorcists Orison refers to the Inferno Wardens in a way. Greyall's challenge includes some required elements that shaped what I submitted there, though the full article will actually focus on some slightly different things or provide a lot more information (the brevity required by Greyall provided an interesting challenge that I hope I achieved successfully). Since Greyall's challenge ends on the 7th, I'll hold off on posting the full (initial) article until after the winner is announced. While I'm skeptical of my chances of "winning," I don't want external efforts (i.e., this topic) to either negatively or positively influence the outcome. My goal with this discussion is to refine the articles, though the core elements of Space Wolf codex and "junior Exorcists" are firm and fixed. I'm more than happy to improve upon the explanations, but those elements will not change. It always helps to get the viewpoints of others in improving my articles, however. For those that might be interested, you can see my submission to Greyall's challenge here. That is just an initial work, however, and will be subject to refinement once I start working on the full article. If you haven't already submitted a DIY chapter/warband for Greyall to consider, I suggest you get hopping!