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THE VANQUISHERS Chapter: Vanquishers Founding: 4th Homeworld: Caeron Geneseed: Imperial Fists (Crimson Fists) Organisation: Codex Chapter Master: Coras Brenen Chapter Symbol: Silver Clenched Fist Brother Veneo of the Fourth ‘Resilient’ Company, Fifth Tactical Squad ‘Against All, We Endure’ The Vanquishers are a chapter that live and fight under the sacred tenets of endurance and vigilance, taking the trait of stubbornness and purity from their Primarch’s legacy. Renowned across the southern regions of the Segmentum Solar as masters of urban warfare, fighting in the treacherous conditions of densely built battlezones are their true forte in combat. Zones Mortalis, such as Hive Cities, industrial facilities and to a smaller degree, in the cramped conditions of void warfare are the Vanquishers’ true home of combat, forged through intensive training upon their homeworld of Caeron, itself a planet filled with crumbling Hive Cities destroyed during the Horus Heresy. Renowned for rarely retreating until the last glimmer of hope for victory is lost, the Vanquishers always seek to find an enemy’s weakness to exploit and turn the tide of a battle. Endurance is the trait above all else the Vanquishers strive for; ensuring that they outlast their foes through superior firepower and combat skills, no matter how long or protracted the campaign. This has sometimes led to the chapter receiving shocking losses in ill-fated campaigns, including their near annihilation in 398.M35 to WAAAGH! Gullzag on the Hiveworld of Azura Secundus, with only two hundred and twenty Vanquishers emerging from the apocalyptic clash, ending the Orks’ systemwide rampage. But the amount of victories snatched from the jaws of defeat by this tenacity has also provided the Chapter's greatest victories, such as the sundering of the Red Surge in 501.M38 in the Bryhod System. The battle brothers of the Vanquishers maintain a supremely high level of discipline both on and off the battlefield, it is remarked by some that their level of discipline is only matched and surpassed by their primogenitors, the Imperial Fists. Legacy and History Founding and Homeworld ‘This is the one true crucible where our vow and credo as a Vanquisher is tested and proven. As we break through the walls and buildings of this labyrinth; we must weather whatever craven trap and ambush awaits us, then execute our target. Against all, we endure!’ - Chapter Master Adilo Deinas at the Siege of Rimewall Hive, 370.M35 The Vanquishers were forged from the Crimson Fists in the latter years of 32nd Millennium, replacing the heavily depleted forces from the galactic wide rampage of the Orks after the War of the Beast. The chapter were dispatched to the Southern fringes of the Segmentum Solar to defend and eradicate the lingering Ork presence still left from the brutal warfare centuries prior. Captain Vasperon of the 5th Company was blessed with the honour and responsibility of building the new chapter, ready to scour away the Greenskin threat that was making its presence more felt through the Fidel Sector. Vasperon was a warrior who prided himself and his Company on pure will and unyielding vigilance for incoming threats when on and off the battlefield. This would be a major part in the creation of the Vanquishers personality and combat doctrine, as they grew in number and capability over the early years of the 33rd Millennium. Having successfully ended the threat of the Ork presence and building Waaagh! within the systems of the Fidel sector, the Vanquishers sought to find a planet on which to settle and build their forces to become a fully grown Astartes chapter. Located in the heart of the sector, the chapter settled upon the planet of Caeron, which was once a vibrant Hiveworld that served as a mustering point for the Expeditionary Fleets during the Great Crusade. When the Horus Heresy and subsequent events of the Scouring took place, the planet fell to the hands of the traitor Legions, until the Imperial Fists retook the planet in a cataclysmic campaign that rendered the planet a husk of its former habitability. A single Hive named Blackring, built after the Scouring now circles completely around Caeron’s equator, which remains the only viable area for humanity to survive with relative ease upon its surface; as to the north and south of Blackring, vast irradiated tundra wasteland spreads to Caeron’s poles, with long abandoned and crumbling hive cities, shattered orbital platforms and other infrastructure scattered across the hemispheres, which are almost impossible to reach by conventional means due to the violent storms and lethal environment created from the apocalyptic fighting during and after the Heresy. It is from these crumbling metropolises that the Vanquishers train their recruits to become the masters of combat in claustrophobic urban environments. Astartes of the Vanquishers often exceed the standard level of marksmanship with their firearms as a result of the rigorous, unrelenting drills performed within the ruins and environment beyond Blackring as reconnaissance and breaching teams. The Vanquishers’ vast Fortress Monastery, named ‘The Perpetual Sentinel' is based upon Caeron’s singular moon at its northern pole, Derev. The moon also serves as Caeron’s shipyard for trade alongside military repairs and deployment across its equator and southern hemisphere. The Fidel Sector and surrounding space has been an active region for the Vanquishers to constantly protect from xenos incursions, notably from Ork empires attempting to rebuild in a perpetual echo from the War of the Beast. The constantly elusive threat of the Agony’s Lash kabal of Drukhari have also persisted across the edges of the sector, where the twisted Xenos have conducted repeated raids over the millennia on the Imperial worlds and vessels within the region, despite the ferocious counter-attacks led by the Vanquishers when they receive their distress calls. The Fidel Sector is populated by a number of key worlds and systems on the southern edge of the Segemtum Solar, including a handful of Forgeworlds that the Vanquishers hold pacts of honour to protect when called for. As a result, the chapter holds a cordial relationship with the regional Martian forces, including the Titans of Demi-Legio Fluctus. The Fidel Sector also contains vital shipping lanes, including the relatively calm crossing of the Cinder Gap, located in between the colossal asteroid fields of two shattered planetary systems, created millions of years prior from an unknown force. The Gap provides a stable thoroughfare for resources to be transported towards Terra and the inner planets of the Imperium and it has been the Vanquishers’ duty to protect it ever since their founding. The Price of Endurance and Victory The numerous Campaigns, Crusades and battles the Vanquishers have fought in their eight-thousand year history is one that could fill entire Libraria across a single system. But as ever, their single-minded trait and credo of obstinate discipline to outlast the enemy and exploit their weak point in any theatre of war has been the root source of the fate of these thousands of engagements across the Fidel Sector and Imperium at large. Due to the after-effects of the War of the Beast, the Vanquishers have often focused their efforts on preserving order and thwarting any Ork Empires from growing into a sector-wide threat that could bleed out into the heart of the Segmentum Solar. The Ork strongholds of the Nallor System and the labyrinthine Keeve asteroid belt have remained a permanent stain of concern within the Fidel Sector. This waxing and waning xenos threat has been contained relatively effectively in the millennia following the War of the Beast. But this constant monitoring and resulting action has often been a source of whittling down the Vanquishers’ numbers from countering the greenskin threat, alongside the myriad other enemies of the Fidel Sector such as the Drukhari pirates plaguing the shipping lanes towards Terra. As a result, when a greater threat would strike the Fidel Sector, such as the Brass Skulls’ ‘Rampage of Gore’ through the region’s southern fringes during 081.M35, the Vanquishers’ would face serious losses to their reserves to end the threat. But as befitting their stubborn nature towards retreat and acting as walking icons of endurance, the Vanquishers have always rebuilt their number in an expeditious manner, recruiting from the various Hive Gangs and sundry upon Caeron and the various other worlds tithed to the Chapter within the Fidel Sector. A New Legacy When the 14th Founding of Astartes was declared, following the shrouded in secret events of the ‘Dark Founding’, the Vanquishers were honoured with the creation of a new Chapter from their geneseed and a retinue of Vanquishers would build this Chapter. Captain Talan Heru of the Second ‘Perpetual’ Company was chosen by the Emperor's Tarot to be its founding Chapter Master. Given the name ‘The Heralds of Dorn’ and clad in armour of gold and green, the Heralds of Dorn inherited the tenets of discipline and endurance from their parent Chapter, but after the redacted histories of the mysterious 13th Founding’s Chapters, the Heralds developed a zealous focus on purity above all else. This dogma extended not only to their doctrines of aspirant selection, but also to a stringent, unwavering adherence to the Codex Astartes. Being stationed in the eastern region of Segmentum Obscurus, it was a rare event that saw parent and successor fighting together on the same battlefield. But the Chapters’ annals do contain a number of key events where they fought as one. Notable examples include the Traxian Purges, as the brother Chapters broke the back of the ‘Goretoof’ Ork Empire, saving a dozen Sectors from what the Ordos Xenos predicted would be an unstoppable Imperial massacre within decades if the xenos were left unchecked. Their most recent event where Vanquisher and Herald fought alongside each other was the agonising Evacuation of Verdaur IV in 911.M41, Where the former homeworld of the Heralds of Dorn was subjected to Exterminatus, after the dormant Necron Tombs deep beneath the crust awakened and systematically purged all life present until the planet was reduced to a lifeless husk. After the dust settled and the Heralds of Dorn were reduced to half their number, they became a fleet-based Chapter, consumed in righteous vengeance against the awakening Necrons across the Segmentum Obscurus. To support their descendants as they sought to rebuild, the Vanquishers vowed to deploy one of their Battle Companies to aid the Heralds of Dorn in their duties until they had rebuilt to a viable number. The Third ‘Tenacious’ Company were the first to undertake this vow, their knowledge at dealing with the awakening Necron menace becoming invaluable upon their return in 942.M41. Similar followed with the deployments of the Fourth ‘Resilient’ Company to replace the Third, then afterward elements of the Fifth ‘Dauntless’ and Seventh ‘Resolute’ Companies in 993.M41. The fate of these sons of Caeron marooned beyond the Cicatrix Maledictum in Imperium Nihilus, after the 13th Black Crusade’s grave effects has remained an unknown mystery to the dismayed Vanquishers. They await their brothers’ return with hope, with the beacons of the Fifth and Seventh ‘Lanterna Vigilum’ towers of their Fortress Monastery remaining eternally lit, until their blades are returned to the Armorium. Brothers in Blood and Fist In the 39th Millennium, a new chapter of Astartes dedicated to void warfare was founded to reinforce the Vanquishers in protecting the Cinder Gap from raiding pirates of Drukhari and other threats. This stemmed directly from the ill-preparations of the Fidel Sector as a whole, caused by the colossal bureaucracy of the Imperium, leading to ‘WAAAGH! Snazklaw’ rampaging across various systems. In the subsequent decades, territory reclamation and Ork cleansing became a primary focus for the Vanquishers’ forces alongside rebuilding their numbers, which allowed ample opportunity for pirates to reap terror and claim their treasure with relative ease. Forged from Sanguinius’ sons, the fleet-based ‘Emerald Tears’ became a closely bonded Brother-Chapter to the Vanquishers over the following millennia. This grew in-part from an excellent interlocking of the Tears’ fierce and aggressive oriented void-warfare with the methodical, brutal practices of the sons of Caeron when fighting together in numerous campaigns. Declaring a bonded pact, known as the ‘Seraph-Gauntlet Alliance’, the two Chapters would work near perfectly in paired concert on campaigns in retaking or breaking the siege of worlds and systems, with the Emerald Tears’ mastery of ship-to-ship void warfare annihilating enemy vessels to allow the Vanquishers to deploy their forces within the fortresses or cities that required breaching planetside. One notable acclaimed event was the destruction of the Drukhari Pirate, K’hryth Vexaris and her distinctive Ebon-Glass fleet, where the Emerald Tears baited the corsairs to attacking a spurious fleet of merchant vessels, which in reality were empty, bar the ships’ Servitors. Once the trap had been sprung, the Tears’ harried Vexaris’ ships into the Anthracus Web asteroid field. Within the vast detritus of shattered worlds, the fleet of the Vanquishers lay in wait until they struck a mortal blow, annihilating the Drukhari vessels in a pincer of unrelenting firepower and the shattering of nearby asteroids rigged with charges. None of the Drukhari Pirates, or their vessels escaped the righteous justice of fury from both Chapters. The Galactic Schism As the final years of the 41st Millennium waned and the Astronomican grew weaker, the Vanquishers found themselves severely hard pressed as Ork empires grew in power within and beyond the Fidel Sector, notably WAAAGH! BlakkHamma, requiring a major splitting of their forces to multiple war zones, including the deployment of their Tactical Reserve Companies to stem the growing green tide. The Cicatrix Maledictum's tear across the galaxy added a nuclear payload into the fires of conflict across the sector, as uprisings, dangerous psychic awakenings and Chaotic incursions sowed the seeds of outright warfare and anarchy across the many systems the Vanquishers protected. As the attrition of these campaigns began to wear the Fidel Sector’s Imperial forces numbers down, rebellions and more uprisings began to appear, grown from the desperation of the citizens’ being forgotten and Xenos incursions became increasingly prevalent. Requests for reinforcement fell upon deaf ears on Terra as the madness of the Warp’s new tear split the Imperium in half. When the Blood Angels had called for aid at Baal, the Emerald Tears sought to answer; but as the tides of the Greenskin overwhelmed the Vanquishers forces, leading to dire casualty numbers, the Tears chose to send only two squads to Baal. Seeing the value of keeping the Fidel Sector safeguarded due to its proximity to Terra and the supplies travelling through, the rest of the Emerald Tears remained to reinforce and aid the Vanquishers. Fall of the Emerald Tears In spite of their heroic and selfless decision to remain and protect the Fidel Sector alongside their beleaguered brother Chapter, the fate of the Emerald Tears ended in tragedy. A cataclysmic scenario formed, where a dangerously weaponised Ork Space Hulk, dubbed ‘Da Krump Krooza’ was heading for the vast population centre of the Hurst Cluster. The Tears fought to the last aboard the hulk, preventing its true power from bringing catastrophic ruin to the region. Their efforts in breaking the back of the Ork forces aboard Da Krump Krooza allowed for the Vanquishers to purge any greenskin remnants present and recover what wargear and geneseed they could of their fallen cousins. Following this noble task, the Imperial Navy and Vanquisher ships reduced the Space Hulk into a colossal debris cloud at the edge of the Tybarn System. It became a bitter irony that the Indomitus Crusade would arrive scant years later, too late to reinforce the honoured fallen sons of Sanguinius, but the Vanquishers honoured their passing in carrying marks of the emerald teardrop upon their armour for those who had fought beside them, carrying their name in memory and in the wargear recovered in the wreckage of Da Krump Krooza. When elements of the Indomitus Crusade finally arrived to relieve the beleaguered forces of the Vanquishers, the introduction of the Primaris marines as reinforcements, alongside their new wargear was initially seen as an affront to the proud chapter that emphasised and held strong on the tenets of endurance. The Primaris were perceived by many Vanquishers as their replacements, and First-Born Astartes were now to be forgotten and considered no longer worthy to carry out their duties. But over time and through counsel with the Primaris that were tasked with reinforcing the Vanquishers, it became abundantly clear that this was an enhancement to the chapter and the displays of fortitude and sheer will of their new brethren proved they were true sons of Dorn and the Vanquishers. Over time the numerous threats began to reduce in the Fidel Sector and a fresh chapter of Primaris marines, the Viridian Angels took up the burden of the fallen Emerald Tears. To help forge the new bonds of brotherhood and duty between the two Chapters, the most sacred of relics recovered from the fallen Emerald Tears, including the ‘Lance of the Seraph’, once wielded by their Chapter Champion were gifted to the Viridian Angels alongside inheriting the former homeworld of the Tears, Lacrivia III. In the current era, the Fidel Sector has much left to cleanse and purify from the Great Rift’s formation and Noctis Aeternam, but the Vanquishers continue to look ahead to face the challenges and endure all that the enemies of the Imperium can muster. Combat Doctrine and Organisation "Urban warfare is the ultimate test of a warrior's skills. To fight in the claustrophobia of ruined buildings, where danger waits around every passage, every corner, from above your head and beneath your feet. An Astartes must be as vigilant as his spirit can muster. His weapons must be gripped tighter, always ready to strike. His reaction times must reach a point rivalling the preternatural. We have been raised to fight in this environment. In the ruins of Ashenhive, Skyreach and Tridenthaven, every son of Caeron has honed their skills against each other and the cruel monsters within the shadows of the once almighty buildings. The battles of legends may be imagined upon open fields, but we fight the reality of the ultimate test of combat." - Veteran Sergeant Alato Karvan of the Resilient Company to a White Talons veteran, during the defence of the Felwinter Hive Complex. Command Retinue Chapter Master Coras Brenen - Lord Protector of Caeron Captain Marek Tarren - 1st ‘Praetorian’ Company Master of the Crusade Captain Sontor Arral - 2nd ‘Perpetual’ Company Master of the Fortress Captain Fernann Cohr - 3rd ‘Tenacious’ Company Master of Arms Captain Elias Draeg - 4th ‘Resilient’ Company Master of the Fleet Captain Valdor Antana - 5th ‘Dauntless’ Company Master of the Marches Captain Synas Castor - 6th ‘Steadfast’ Company Master of the Rites Captain Deinar Orhon - 7th ‘Resolute’ Company Master of the Trials Captain Kaspar Gehr - 8th ‘Relentless’ Company Master of the Breach Captain Argus Salazar - 9th ‘Perennial’ Company Master of Bombardment Captain Martel Kydio - 10th ‘Hidden’ Company Master of Recruits A staunchly Codex chapter, the Vanquishers loyally follow its tenets and rarely divert wildly from its teachings, with exceptions to the name of certain ranks and Captains’ titles in some of the Companies to fit their style of warfare. Chapter Master Vasperon decreed that each Battle Company should also carry a title that describes endurance and defiance to remind the Vanquishers of the tenets and traits laid down since their founding millennia ago. The only exceptions to this naming were the First ‘Praetorian’ and Tenth ‘Hidden’ Companies, befitting their own role within the Chapter. The Vanquishers’ prime talents in prosecuting urban warfare or combat in similar confined Zones Mortalis will often see them deploying to wars and crusades that desperately require their expertise. In more protracted campaigns, the chapter will often seek to ensure that the enemy is forced or directed into combat within such environments to increase the Vanquishers advantage over them. But when called for, the chapter are more than capable of fighting in the open battlefields beyond their favoured urban confines, some of their finest victories in combat have been executed in these moments, such as the Second Sunrise Assault during the Lauss Rift Campaign of 982.M41. With the advent of the Ultima founding, the Vanquishers adapted to their newer armour and armaments quickly. The Chapter now ensures that within their Company structure, the Lieutenants are one Primaris and one First-Born Astartes to keep stability and balance and share the capabilities of both styles. 'Wallbreaker' Formation The Vanquishers utilise a number of unique formations to breach well-fortified enemies in urban campaigns. One that has become synonymous with the chapter is the Wallbreaker Formation to breach bunkers and buildings. Company Veterans carry vast storm shields, first used in ship to ship boarding assaults during the Great Crusade and wield storm bolters or special weapons to clear out the enemy, after having been breached an entrance from a heavy weapons squad or vehicle. In recent decades, Hellblasters and Eradicators have been a very popular option for breaching, with their veteran brothers leading them in to clear the enemy out, with their Hellbasters or Eradicators ensuring that no heavier resistance stems the oncoming wall of ceramite. In the tight confines of these urban environments, none can escape the Vanquishers’ wrath. Having moulded their combat style to capitalise on fighting in the cramped and unpredictable nature of urban and industrial environments, alongside dealing with the Ork menace that constantly threatens the Fidel sector as it rebuilds; the Vanquishers often deploy wargear designed for this purpose, including the heavy use of flamers and meltas for breaching buildings and their combi variants there-in. The chapter boasts a higher number of heavy vehicles than considered the norm for a Codex chapter as well, designed to aid them in their campaigns in combat on industrial and hive worlds, this includes a plethora of Vindicators and Land Raider Redeemers. The newer Phobos pattern of power armour has been greatly accepted and utilised strongly by the Vanquishers’ to befit the tight confines of urban warfare they typically prosecute. The use of Infiltrators and Incursors has become commonplace for the newer Primaris sons of Caeron alongside the chapter’s Scout squads to gather intelligence and commit more covert operations before attacking in full force with their armoured might. Whilst the chapter does possess an ample amount plasma weaponry, it is not fielded as often by regular units of Astartes, due to the nature of the Vanquishers’ more prevalent combat campaigns in the tight confines of urban conflict, where plasma weaponry can pose a danger to the wielder and his brethren should it overheat. But Astartes that do carry the responsibility or choice to wield plasma weaponry into combat, notably in the Vanquishers’ famed ‘Wallbreaker Formation’ squads, are viewed with a wary respect by their kindred. With the addition of the Hellblasters, the view on Plasma weaponry remains relatively unchanged, but the level of respect for their newer brethren to wage war with such powerful and dangerous weaponry continues to be very high. To utilise such destructive power at your own risk, to ensure that the enemies of the Vanquishers are eradicated is a sacrifice worthy of Dorn’s legacy. Astartes of the Vanquishers typically eschew adorning their armour with overly ornate decorations, viewing them as hindrances in the tight confines of urban warfare. Some exceptions are however included, such as the Iron Halo and cloaks of Office for Command. Typically, a battle-brothers honours are laser-etched and painted into their armour as an honour shield, which can be placed wherever they deem fit. Veterans who wield Storm and Combat Shields place the honours onto their weapons instead, displaying their honours without hindering their armours movement. Having been founded in the earlier millennia of the Imperium after the Horus Heresy and Scouring, the Vanquishers still hold a large amount of older marks of arms, armour and vehicles that were gifted to them by their primogenitors and the Mechanicum. Some very rare, near singular examples of the ancient super-heavy battle tanks from the Heresy and Scouring, such as the Sicaran and Fellblade also reside within the armoury deep beneath the soil of Derev. These sacred armaments and relics are suitably revered by the Techmarines and chapter at large and the choice to deploy them into campaigns is only sanctioned by the Chapter Master or Master of the Forge. The Vanquishers possess a fair amount of the newer firstborn Mark VIII ‘Errant’ power armour from the Adeptus Mechanicus Forges, with their other armour, including the Mark X variants worn by their Primaris brethren often including up-armoured additions in vulnerable areas to aid them in combat. It is a common practice to also add additional sensors and scanners to their armour’s systems where possible, to ensure that a Vanquisher holds the upper-hand in urban combat. The Mechanicus sometimes rankle at the adjustments made to the sacred suits, but the Vanquishers’ history in saving Forgeworlds from destruction and the reverence they hold for their older relics from their founding era have stayed the Mechanicus’ abhorrence to such changes. Recruitment The Vanquishers have a number of sources for replenishing their ranks, which has been more prevalent than ever following the events at the end of the 41st Millennium. Their homeworld is their greatest reservoir of recruitment, but they also claim tithes to a number of other worlds in the Fidel Sector, enacting Recruitment Orders as they see fit. Upon Caeron itself, the chapter primarily source their novitiates to undergo the deadly process of becoming an Astartes from the numerous Hive Gangs that reside in the depths of the equatorial Blackring Hive upon their Homeworld of Caeron. Although the world is very much under control and loyal to the Imperium, its sheer size and the inhospitable conditions beyond the edges of the equator means that there is plenty of criminal and violent activity where new, young recruits can be sourced. Oftentimes these new recruits are press-ganged directly from arrests made the the planetary Arbites and Planetary Defence Forces, given the choice to serve and find redemption and purpose as a Vanquisher, or be executed. This source of recruits is an ideal start for the Vanquishers to build upon their speciality of Urban ‘Zone Mortalis’ Warfare as they ascend through the ‘Trials of the Gauntlet’. A smaller number of recruits are also sourced from the extremely deadly wastelands surrounding the ruined Hives and eroding settlements, where nomadic caravans eke out a living beyond the harsh strictures and control of Blackring Hive. Many of these recruits are volunteers who wish to escape the harsh, short lives of the wastelands. These neophytes prove to be a hardy stock, able to withstand the gruelling training and augmentations required to ascend to an Astartes. Once the various tests of purity in a novitiate’s biology, psychology and psychic capability, the Vanquishers follow a similar style of advancement through the stages of becoming fully fledged Astartes as other sons of Dorn who follow the Codex Astartes. Training these novitiates, alongside regular live-fire exercises the Chapter performs occurs primarily in three of the ruined, eroding Hive Cities that exist upon the shattered surface of Caeron. These are the now dangerous ruins of Tridenthaven, Skyreach and Ashenhive, which were all subjected to punishing bombardments during the events of the Scouring. Within these ruined Habs, Manufactora and Barracks, the Vanquishers train their recruits ruthlessly in the arts of close-quarters combat and tightly-disciplined firearm drills. But this is only done once these young recruits prove their worth through trials of endurance, be it long runs through the lethal walkways and passages of the ruined Hive Cities, or in prolonged duels against other recruits and combat servitors. The tenets and credo of endurance in all things is indoctrinated into the neophytes from the very beginning of their training. This increases as the recruits advance further along their training and as augmentations are inserted into their bodies. By the time they graduate from the 10th ‘Hidden’ Company, each and every one, alongside being blessed with the Black Carapace, maintain a fervent outlook and embodiment of the Vanquishers’ motto, ‘Against all, we endure.’ Once the Black Carapace has been fully integrated with the newly ascended Vanquisher, they participate in a sacred ceremony within the halls of their Fortress Monastery’s Reclusiam. In the Cathedral of the Honoured Souls, these new Vanquishers have their names engraved upon the hundreds of pillars upholding the gargantuan halls. To mark their eternal service and vow of being true to the creed of the Vanquishers, Rogal Dorn and the Emperor, these new Astartes cut their hands and fill the recesses of their engraved names with their own blood, sealing their honour-bound vow. +++++++ Well it has been a while but I've been quietly refining some old IAs in these new-fangled Google Documents (transferring them from the old style of the board to this iteration's a good challenge) and I've been lightly refining my second army which has seen a few iterations here, the Vanquishers chapter. I've added some new editions on them having a successor chapter (finally fulfilling a vow to Heru Talon in using the Heralds of Dorn) and adding Recruitment. It's definitely getting close to full completion, but I'd welcome any and all input on how it looks and also as to what else do you feel needs to be included. Thanks for having a look see! Cambrius

LIBER ASTARTES SWAP CHALLENGE 2021 Monday 1st February - Sunday 2nd May [+++] Greetings, fellow Liberites! It is with great pleasure that I bring this announcement to you: after a first edition back in 2010, organised by @captain_shrike and @Ferrus Manus, and a second one over a year ago in 2019, organised by @Brother Cambrius, I am happy to organise the third iteration of this fun, creative event in the hopes that it'll get people writing, modeling and painting! Similar to the previous event, this event will champion the writing of fresh Chapters of Adeptus Astartes or Warbands of the Heretic Astartes. However, if you already have a Chapter/Warband posted here in the Liber and don't feel like creating something from scratch, you may also revisit and update your existing article instead. Now, to make things easier to organise and run, the event shall be divided into two distinct phases. PHASE 1 (2 months, 1st February - 29th March) Participants who enter the challenge must submit an article that describes the history and customs of their DIY Chapter/Warband by Monday 29th March 23:59 in their timezone. Much like Cambrius before me, I am loathe to put a minimum word count requirement on this challenge. The bare minimum should cover the core tenets of your Chapter/Warband, along with a selected history, a colour scheme (using the B&C's very own digital painting tools or GW's Primaris heraldry card), a Chapter/Warband symbol (description or image), and whatever other details you deem necessary for someone to be able to build and paint a model representing a Space Marine from your Chapter/Warband. For examples of what's expected, I'd recommend checking out Cambrius' Avenging Fists and Demolishers, Olis' Seventh Sons, Lysimachus' Paladins of Dercia, my very own Praetors of Denzarr. You can also refer to the following brief list of stuff to include, pilfered from the last event: What's your Chapter's name? What do they look like? What is their personality? What is their identity in the world of 40K? (eg are they heroic knights of honour, shadowy assassins, cold and logical soldiers) If you're still not sure if your Chapter/Warband fits within the above requirements, drop a message here on in my inbox, and I'll get your sorted as soon as I can. As mentioned earlier, you may choose to instead update an existing Chapter/Warband of yours and submit it by the same deadline and following the same basic requirements. If you're a madman like @Brother Argent, you may even submit multiple entries if you so wish. [!] Important note [!] -> when you submit your vow, please also state what type of Space Marine (Firstborn, Primaris, and/or Heretic) you can assemble and paint during Phase 2. This is very important because not everyone has all of the aforementioned options and it would be a shame if someone got lumped with an Ultima-Founding Chapter but doesn't have any spare Primaris to paint, or a Warband but only has loyalist Space Marine bits. Now, if you'd like to post your vow for this event, feel free to use the STC provided below and embellish it as you wish. And here are some snazzy signature banners to show that you're a cool kid competing in this challenge (many thanks to Cambrius for these). 300x100 pixel version: 33x100 pixel version:

INCOMING EVENT LIBER ASTARTES SWAP CHALLENGE 2021 Monday 1st February - Sunday 2nd May [+++] Greetings, fellow Liberites! It is with great pleasure that I bring this announcement to you: after a first edition back in 2010, organised by @captain_shrike and @Ferrus Manus, and a second one over a year ago in 2019, organised by @Brother Cambrius, I am happy to organise the third iteration of this fun, creative event in the hopes that it'll get people writing, modeling and painting! Similar to the previous event, this event will champion the writing of fresh Chapters of Adeptus Astartes or Warbands of the Heretic Astartes. However, if you already have a Chapter/Warband posted here in the Liber and don't feel like creating something from scratch, you may also revisit and update your existing article instead. Now, to make things easier to organise and run, the event shall be divided into two distinct phases. PHASE 1 (2 months, 1st February - 29th March) Participants who enter the challenge must submit an article that describes the history and customs of their DIY Chapter/Warband by Monday 29th March 23:59 in their timezone. Much like Cambrius before me, I am loathe to put a minimum word count requirement on this challenge. The bare minimum should cover the core tenets of your Chapter/Warband, along with a selected history, a colour scheme (using the B&C's very own digital painting tools or GW's Primaris heraldry card), a Chapter/Warband symbol (description or image), and whatever other details you deem necessary for someone to be able to build and paint a model representing a Space Marine from your Chapter/Warband. For examples of what's expected, I'd recommend checking out Cambrius' Avenging Fists and Demolishers, Olis' Seventh Sons, Lysimachus' Paladins of Dercia, my very own Praetors of Denzarr. If you're still not sure if your Chapter/Warband fits within the above requirements, drop a message here on in my inbox, and I'll get your sorted as soon as I can. As mentioned earlier, you may choose to instead update an existing Chapter/Warband of yours and submit it by the same deadline and following the same basic requirements. [!] Important note [!] -> when you submit your vow, please also state what type of Space Marine (Firstborn, Primaris, and/or Heretic) you can assemble and paint during Phase 2. This is very important because not everyone has all of the aforementioned options and it would be a shame if someone got lumped with an Ultima-Founding Chapter but doesn't have any spare Primaris to paint, or a Warband but only has loyalist Space Marine bits. PHASE 2 (1 month, 29th March - 2nd May) Participants who complete Phase 1 must then submit at least one picture of a single assembled model painted in the colours of the Chapter/Warband that was randomly assigned to them by yours truly by Sunday 2nd May 23:59 in their timezone. Further details about this shall be posted closer to the start of Phase 2 but rest assured, it's all quite simple. [+++] Now it is time to start thinking and planning your entries so that once Monday 1st February comes around, you can hit the ground running, all guns blazing. In the meantime, if you have any questions, post them here. Take care and see you in a few days' time!

This is an entry for the 2021 edition of the Liber Astartes Swap Challenge. Find more info here: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/368832-liber-astartes-swap-challenge-2021-phase-1/ THE DREAD LORDS The Dread Lords were the sole surviving loyalist Space Marine Chapter claiming the Sarment Sector as their home at the dawn of the 42nd Millenium. Their battle honours are great, yet they maintain their hereditary disgrace is a stain greater than may be effaced by the long list of heroic deeds. Summary Founding Chapter = ...Ultramarines (trained by Novamarines) Genesire = ................Roboute Guilliman Founding = ................Unknown Chapter Master = .......Livio Aita Homeworld = .............The Starfort Port-Cullis Main Colours = ..........Burgundy, silver and black Chapter Specialities = Void Warfare and Drop Pod Assault Strength = ................(currently) 763 marines of the line, 92 officers and specialists (287 Primaris) Organisation = ..........Slight Codex Variance History Origins The Dread Lords were once known as the Void Sentinels, Defenders of the Sarment Sector, Guardians of the scholar planet Ephus, and Castellans of the Starfort Port-Cullis. Burning of Ephus The surface of Ephus Prime received too little stellar radiation from the brown dwarf it orbited for life to develop independently there, leading to its primary designation as a dead world: in actuality it was far from being truly dead at the time of the Void Sentinels' implantation, as its peculiar environment made it an ideal location for fragile objects, such as books and scrolls. Given the rare secondary classification of scholar world, Ephus became a bustling centre of academic business - professors, students and sellers of bibelots of doubtful provenance congregating together to learn and record obscure and arcane knowledge. This however all came to an end during a worldwide violent student's uprising. A company of the Void Sentinels descended upon the rioters to reestablish the Emperor's peace; but in the midst of combat, a stray shot from an unknown fighter caused an explosion deep in the underbelly of a series of labyrinthine vaults. Within, were more artefacts which had been hidden away from the weak stellar radiation: caches of ancient munitions dating back to the dark days of the Horus Heresy, preserved for millenia thanks to the particular conditions upon Ephus Prime in full working condition. Among them, thousands of cannisters of one of the most dreaded substances known to Man: Phosphex. The combattants killed outright by the detonation were the lucky ones. The crawling horror ravaged the hab-complexes, incinerating every single being upon the planet; devouring still-screaming corpses as their last breaths were sucked from their melting lungs. To this day, the last dessicated husks piloting the eldest of the Chapter's dreadnoughts are kept far away from bare flames, for the sight brings back terrible memories best forgotten, even by Space Marines. These dire events shook the Chapter to its core, as they took upon themselves the guilt for this atrocity. In penance, the Astartes vowed to undertake a new crusade to wash away their dishonour, staining their armour with the silver flames of Phosphex that burnt Ephus and its population. Then, they took off on their quest through the stars under a new name: Dread Lords. Battles of Shame Following the Burning of Ephus, the Dread Lords pursued a crusade to salvage what remained of their honour. After granting Battlefleet Sarment their ancient fortress-monastery Port-Cullis - a Ramilies-Class starfort immobilised in orbit around Ephus - Chapter Master Bogomir launched their entire armada into the stars for the first time in centuries, in search of their fate and doom. Requesting orders from the Adeptus Administratum in order to take on the most dangerous missions, their penitent crusade lasted for several centuries around the turn of M36. The Dread Lords participated in many a campaign by the side of the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Navy, the Frateris Templars, and even a few other Space Marine chapters, putting down a widespread series of heretical rebellions against the authority of Terra. Only when envoys from their progenitors, the Novamarines, met them did the truth of these wars transpire: they had in fact been fighting for the despot Goge Vandire as he usurped the true will of the Emperor and Humanity to consolidate his Reign of Blood. The horror they felt at the realisation they had in fact been slaughtering faithful subjects of the Imperium over a period of decades was further enhanced when the Novamarines taught them of the fate of their home sector during the Age of Apostasy: a large chaos incursion had emerged from the Psyphon to overturn all Imperial power there, reducing its population to slavery and slaying any Imperial Guard and PDF regiment that dared stand up to them. Making all haste to return to Sarment, the Dread Lords coordinated a unified strategy for the crusade of reconquest over the forces of the archenemy. Leading a force of seven Imperial Guard regiments, a detachment of the Adeptus Mechanicus, three Imperial Knights and a newly formed chapter which would soon gain its name of War Wolves, their opening play would be at Ephus Prime. Siege of Port-Cullis Master Bogomir's plan was to capture and fortify their ancient seat, calculating this would cut off the Heretics' potential reinforcements from the Warp Storm known as the Psyphon and provide a morale boosting easy victory. They had not anticipated that their oponent at Port-Cullis was in fact the heir to the fleet officer to whom they had handed control of the Starfort all those centuries ago, High-Captain Welton Blackwood. At the invasion of Chaos forces, the high-captain had led a general mutiny of Battlefleet Sarment and established a personal dominion, a piratical tributary loyal to the new Heretic overlords of the Sector even after his daughter Mara succeeded him. Now nicknamed the "Butcher", Blackwood was a canny officer who had grown up on the starfort and knew the battlefield like the back of her augmetic hand, perhaps moreso even than the Dread Lords themselves. And yet, this was a battle the Dread Lords could not - must not - lose. They engaged. While a gargantuan void battle was joined between two Space Marine Chapter fleets and the defenders of Port-Cullis, the Dread Lords launched boarding torpedoes against their own ancestral home. Many were shot out of the void, their wreckage tumbling out and down to crash upon the ruins of Ephus; yet, enough managed to get through the barrage, unleashing their deadly cargo of enraged Astartes upon the crew of the Starfort. As they tore their way through the traitors, more Dread Lords teleported on board - their Chapter Master at their head - bearing hulking suits of Tactical Dreadnought Armour, thereby condemning the paultry defences. And yet, Master Bogomir's instincts told him something was wrong... As the Terminators melted down the Bulkhead doors to the bridge, they discovered the reason that they had felt little resistance: their foe, Blackwood, had not been in command, the pirates' retaliation barely more than an eratic flailing. Seemingly at the same moment, a flotilla burst out of the warp in close proximity to the planet, and greeted a shoal of lighters rising to meet them. Too late, Master Bogomir realised what these represented, and ordered his own fleet to intercept the new arrivals. Unfortunately, the rest of the Heretics' fleet held their line, holding back the Imperial forces just long enough for the flotilla to escape back into the warp. Filled with rage at the escape of their quary, the Dread Lords and their allies reduced the remaining pirates to ash and wreckage, but the cost of the battle would be devastating to the sons of Guilliman. As Master Bogomir inspected the state of his remaining forces, he was forced to contend with the sad evidence: though the Dread Lords were by now an old and established Chapter, the casualties suffered during the Siege of Port-Cullis on top of the accumulated losses during their Penitent Crusade meant that they would need to scale back their participation in the Sarment Crusade, taking a back seat to the Guard and the junior Chapter's involvement. While they would hold Ephus for the remainder of the campaign, and even helped in a few minor void battles, the bulk of the Dread Lords' involvement was done. The Phryx War Following the end of the reconquest of Sarment, a period of relative stability allowed the Imperium to build up their grasp over the worlds there, constructing defences and other infrastructure, fostering re-population programs, and most importantly, conducting a vast campaign to purify any planet The Heretic had set foot upon. In the background, though, the next crisis for the Sector was brewing. Upon the world of Ephus Prime, there remained swathes of documents scattered upon the surface. In a sick twist of fate, the majority of the documents upon the world were left unscathed by the deflagration, as they were stored outside the air-sealed hab-complexes. They were to become a grave town for the memories and teachings In the half-millennium of the Dread Lords' absence from the Sarment Sector, diverse groups of explorers and archaeotechnologists had congregated in the ruins of Ephus, mostly in search of fame and fortune. Some believed the scattered scraps of documents might hold the keys to unknown treasures, others calculated that some of the hidden arsenals may still be intact, concealing deadly weapons to further their own goals. Generally, they would be disappointed, though some perished from the unyielding environment or from clashes with rivals. Mara Blackwood, upon taking control of Port-Cullis, started to systematise the research amongst the rubble. Where few had gleaned any useful information, the Butcher retrieved swathes of knowledge of the Sarment Sector, records that had been mostly overlooked by the treasure hunters. She understood the value of this knowledge, and used it as her primary tribute to her Iron Warrior overlords. When she heard of the fall of the Apostate Vandire though, she knew the days of her dominion were numbered - she descended to Ephus to conduct a last-ditch effort to retrieve any and all documents that could fit in all the lighters she could muster, ready to make her getaway at the moment Imperial Forces appeared in system. As she escaped by the skin of her teeth, she made her way to the small area of space controlled by a fledgling race of Xenos, the Phryx. The Phryx had been largely ignored by the Imperium up until then, as the worlds they controlled were judged too worthless in comparison to the cost of their extermination. The acquisition of the Butcher's treasure trove of extensive records and maps describing the sector in minute detail would change the course of their history and development. In a matter of decades, they were propelled to prominence on the stage of the Sarment Sector, absorbing strategically significant worlds and countering the greatest minds of the imperial defences. In desperation, the governors of the Sector called for help from the Adeptus Astartes, and the Space Marines responded. The Dread Lords had pressed into service hundreds of aspirants from throughout the Sector - with a distinct preference for planets and stations used as recruitment grounds for Battlefleet Sarment - and used this Xenos war as a baptism of fire, unleashing a withering series of attacks against the Phryx homeworlds. There is no doubt in the minds of imperial historians that the Dread Lords' actions were pivotal in turning the tide of the First Phryx War, probably in part thanks to the evolution of their tactics during the Battles of Shame, thus entirely misleading Phryx strategists who believed they had correctly analysed the Void Sentinels' battleplans; what the historians fail to mention is how many of their aspirants the Dread Lords lost during this campaign, as the reckless abandon of their assaults brought down their numbers to barely above 200, further delaying the chapter's restoration to full strength by dozens of years. [?] Borromeanite Conflict Millenia after the First Phryx War, in the waning years of M41, the Dread Lords found themselves in alliance with the Borromeanite Conclave of the Inquisition when these were declared Excommunicate Traitoris. Fighting a defensive battle, the Borromeanite forces were eventually captured or annihilated, with only the Dread Lords allowed to go once more on a Penitent Crusade. Having learnt from past mistakes, Chapter Master Livio Aita requests aid from the Adeptus Mechanicus in refurbishing Port-Cullis, allowing the chapter to take their Fortress Monastery to war for the first time since the Horus Heresy. Homeworld and Fortress Monastery Ephus Prime Ephus Prime is a blasted and desolate world. Once, it was a great centre of learning for the whole Sarment Sector despite its inhospitable surface conditions, its hab-complexes teeming with teachers and students. Since its Burning conducted by the Dread Lords, it has been a dead world in fact as well as in name. Still, it lies at a strategic position for the Imperium, lying at the junction between the Sector and the Warp Storm known as the Psyphon. And who knows: other secrets may still lie burried beneath its surface. Port-Cullis Port-Cullis is the massive Ramilies-pattern starfort the Dread Lords use as a fortress-monastery and the homeport of their fleet. Immobilised and tethered in orbit over Ephus, it has in recent decades been refurbished and taken to war by the Dread Lords in their Penitent Crusade following the Borromeanite Conflict. Combat Doctrine It would seem that since their inception, the Dread Lords have relied heavily on their extensive Chapter Fleet in all aspects of their warfare, whether it be for their propensity for void battles or for Drop Pod Assaults. Their habit of fighting in starships and Space Hulks has also given them a good knowledge of fighting in close confines, making them experts of the skirmish fields classified as Zones-Mortalis. The weapon of choice of most Dread Lords is the holy bolter, which is versatile enough to take on most threats before they can become dangerous in close combat. They distrust plasma weaponry, for this can become deadly for the wielder and his squad mates in tunnels and corridors, though they do not shun it. They utilise flame and graviton weaponry more often because of its extreme efficiency in these scenarios, yet it seems it is more by obligation than choice. Finally, the best marksmen of the Dread Lords are entrusted with meltaguns: range is not an issue generally while fighting in a starship, yet decompression is a danger that Dread Lords feel far more concerned about than the explosions of enemy fire. Though the Dread Lords employ a limited arsenal of battle tanks, they do make greater use of their fallen brothers in Dreadnought form than most chapters: such walkers are often necessary to bring heavy weapons to bear where conventional vehicles would struggle. Appearance Chapter colours The Dread Lords bear armour the colour of the burnt earth of Ephus, variously described as burgundy or murrey, with certain tactical markings in black. This is enhanced with silver-white flames, yet these are unusual among Astartes markings as they are marks of shame as opposed to marks of honour. Upon a neophyte's elevation to the rank of Battle Brother, their armour will bear no flames, and only when they do not perform up to the exacting - even unattainable - standards of the Chapter's Chaplains must they paint these symbols of disgrace. Chapter Badge and markings The Chapter's emblem is a broken twelve-pointed star, encircling a skull. This symbol is repeated on both pauldrons, where possible. Tactical markings are inscribed upon an Astartes' kneepads, company device on the left knee, codex squad marking and number on the right. Chapter Fleet of the Dread Lords The Dread Lords have always had a considerable fleet for a Space Marine Chapter, even compared to some Second Founding chapters. As the Void Sentinels, they were initially meant to be a rapid response force, able to send out flotillas in a matter of weeks to besieged worlds or to intercept enemy movements and reinforcements. Since becoming the Dread Lords though, they have increasingly resorted to seizing enemy ships and converting them to suit an Adeptus Astartes Chapter's needs, the only way for them to maintain a Fleet worthy of respect as their tactics have become ever more aggressive after their many shamings. While Imperial Navy Admirals have voiced its discontent at these confiscations - claiming that the rights to these ships should revert to them - they are secretly content with this so-called Dread Tithe as it means continued aid from the Astartes in question, whether from their fleet directly, or as an honour guard of Dread Lords stationed upon their flagships in the fiercest of engagements. Shattered Star - Chapter Master's personal Battle-Barge Tarist's Vengeance - Garoth Tarist's famous Strike Cruiser. It was renamed in his honour after his sacrifice in the battle of Diamell

Greetings, brothers! I got back into 40k a few years ago and had the idea to start my own Space Marine chapter. The liber article can be found here: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/341719-index-astartes-twilight-wardens/. (Long story short, they bear the geneseed of Rogal Dorn (specifics not totally clear atm), their arch-enemies are green-skins and they are based on african cultures, particulary herdsmen like Zulu or Massai.) Some may wonder: "Didn´t you start that thing 4 years ago?!" Well, yes. I might be a horrible hobbyist. Or not. I don´t know. Anyways some things kept me from wholeheartedly continuing the project. It´s not that I didn´t do anything. I passionatly assembled minis for a time. Painting is another matter entirely for me. Though I am a creative person and quite decent at drawing I somehow fear putting a brush in my hand and paint a mini. So only a few got started and eventually even finished. Being your own worst critic doesn´t make things easier, right? As the title says I wanted to finally start this plog to motivate my self to be a less-horrible hobbyist. Of the Twilight Wardens fluff, I am actually quite proud. It isn´t totally set in stone, but that too can be worked on of course. So I make a start in presenting you my build (and some painted minis). Enjoy and I´ll be grateful for any feedback! Cheers, Kyknos

[Reserved for New Model Pics, as and when I get more Stonebound painted] "Let this vow be heard on Terra! We will retake our home from the Orks, or die in the attempt! Onward to War! Onward to Kharabor!" - Last transmission of Captain Narin Firedelve, Stonebound 1st Company, 801.M40 Early History: "Fortify every world in the Rifts if you have to, Captain. We shall be as a suit of armour enclosing the Subsector." - Chapter Master Datost Thundershield of the Stonebound, 994.M33 In the turbulent times of the late 34th Millennium, the Sixth Founding of Space Marines was ordained by the High Lords of Terra. Amongst the Chapters created in this monumental event, one was sent to the turbulent region of space known as the Glastheim Rifts, to retake worlds lost to xenos raiders and insidious cults of Chaos. Scions of the great Primarch Rogal Dorn, the new Chapter took to their duty with the steadfast resolve typical of successors of the VII Legion, retaking a half-dozen worlds under sheer impetus of their crusade within years of arriving on the north-west edge of the Glastheim Rifts. The Chapter took the Hive World of Kharabor ('Keystone' in High Gothic) as a homeworld. Identifying an Orkoid empire as the largest threat to Imperial domination of the Rifts, the Chapter threw themselves into war with the greenskins with a ruthless fury, advancing inexorably through the territories held by the warlike xenos, taking back world after world in the name of humanity and The Emperor. Some amongst the local Imperial forces fighting besides the Chapter nicknamed them "Stonebound" for their unyielding resolve and rock-solid determination, and the Chapter eventually formally adopted the name. As a counter-measure against future threats, the Stonebound built numerous outposts, watchtowers and keeps on these reclaimed worlds, replete with forges, training posts, and of course formidable defences. Most of these forts were manned by Chapter serfs, but a handful of key worlds were reinforced with a squad of Space Marines, to better stand vigil against potential threats. The Stonebound were touted as a force of righteous retribution, even far beyond the Glastheim Rifts. It is said at one time their name was spoken in the same breath as many other Chapters of legend, but the golden age of the Stonebound would not last forever. The first indication of the problems to come came when chaos cults started to emerge on some of the worlds the Stonebound had reclaimed. The Chapter scrambled to meet the threat these cults represented, wiping them out to the last man and hunting heretics wherever they sought to hide. In doing so, however, the Stonebound were forced to divert attention from the orks, to ensure all possible traces of corruption were eradicated. http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hDpou_iaj2F.hozqS@@@@@@@hFeKV@.@@__@@@@_@@@_@@@_@_@@@@@@@@@@..@@@@@@@@@@@@@.hBMHl&grid=TRUE A typical Battle Brother of the Stonebound This proved to lead to the Chapter's downfall when the Orks came in search of vengeance. Riled up by the Stonebound's success, the numerous Ork tribes that lurked and fought on the worlds around the Chapter's domain gathered together for the sole purpose of crushing the Stonebound and taking back their old stomping grounds. The Stonebound underestimated both the numbers and ferocity of their foe - whilst the Chapter was spread thinly across their worlds and hunting Chaos cultists, the Orks mustered and launched a surprise attack on Kharabor itself, fighting with even more reckless and wild aggression than even the previous greenskin hordes had mustered. The fall of Kharabor was a blow like no other to the normally stoic Chapter; the Stonebound raced home with wild, primal fury, launching their own immediate counter-siege in an attempt to retake their home. The siege of Kharabor was thusly a short, brutal affair that saw over five hundred Space Marines killed in battle, and the remnants of the Chapter broken and scattered in the aftermath. For two centuries, the Stonebound made repeated sorties against the Orks, attempting to leverage a path back to Kharabor, but without a homeworld to replenish their ranks from, the Chapter's strength continued to dwindle with each hard-fought engagement. The greenskins ran roughshod over the systems the Stonebound once protected, ransacking and demolishing the Chapter's outposts and minor fortresses. With the Chapter diminished to just under three hundred marines, the Stonebound bitterly consigned themselves to finding a new recruitment world. After a long search, the remnants of the Stonebound gathered on the icy, mountainous death world of Kagara, though with precious little resources with which to rebuild. Here the Chapter swore a sacred oath - this was either the world where the Stonebound would re-forge their legacy, or dig their everlasting graves. Incensed by the loss of their "true" homeworld, the death of over half their number and the innumerable other atrocities committed by the greenskins, the Stonebound marked the greatest of these offences onto formidable stone tablets, recording the wrongs that must be avenged in order to restore the Chapter's former glory. These Grudge-Stones serve as a permanent reminder of shames endured and losses taken, and only when the grudge engraved upon the stone is considered avenged is the stone ritually shattered. For every slight against the Chapter and the Imperium, the orks would be paid back in full. This was the ultimate oath of the Stonebound - vengeance for all that was lost. The Stonebound have been shaped by their history, and defined by their endless war to retake their lost realm. Every marine has a ferocious, burning hatred for the orks instilled within him, and are trained since initiation to fight and kill the greenskin without hesitation or mercy. A Stonebound marine is typically dour in temperament, intensely loyal to their Chapter and their brothers, stoic, somewhat insular and absolutely bound by honour to always uphold their word, no matter the cost to themselves. The Stonebound as a Chapter never forget a debt, whether it is owed by the Chapter or to the Chapter. Those few amongst the Imperial forces around the Rift that can count the Stonebound amongst their friends, however, will never find themselves with a more stalwart or reliable ally, willing to face down even certain death in order to honour their friendships or repay their debts to others. Of note is the Stonebound's comparative mastery of the forge, the Chapter being responsible for the creation of some truly magnificent weapons and armour over the centuries. In their early years, the Chapter would keep the best examples of their work in secret chambers buried in the depths of their various keeps, or in one of many specially designed chambers in the Fortress-Monastery at Kharabor. Since losing their first home and migrating to Kagara, the Stonebound's armoury is typically more centralised, and kept within the Chapter's reach at all times. Several examples of the Chapter's finest work, along with trophies, banners, or commemorative pieces of great value to the Chapter, were locked away in sealed vaults on worlds that have since been over-run by Orks. Whether those treasures of the Chapter remain secure, or have fallen into greenskin hands, none can say with certainty. In spite of the Chapter's ambitions of glory, and stubborn refusal to die at the hands of the orks, taking back the Glastheim Rifts has proven to be a mighty challenge. The Orks and the Stonebound have been waging merciless war against each other for millennia, both sides fighting with a fierce, unyielding hatred of the other. Every victory is fleeting, as the defeated side eventually rallies again to avenge their defeat. Other Imperial factions dragged into the war are either ground down by repeated conflicts with the greenskin menace, or pulled away to deal with other threats in the Glastheim Rifts - heretics, cultists, pirates and other xeno invaders lurk in the darker corners, always waiting to strike. It is, functionally, a stalemate, kept alive for over a thousand years by the fires of mutual hatred and the Stonebound's drive for absolute vengeance against the orks. Recent History: "There is no purer motive than hatred, and no greater purpose than revenge." - Sergeant Ral Stonespike, Stonebound 7th Company, 680.M35 - Excerpt from "The Legacy Saga" The word was young, the stars were clean No stains upon the sky were seen Our Lord sat not on Golden Throne But boldly strode the Earth alone His lightning sword did strike his foes His power and his banner rose He brought together tribe and clan To help reforge the worlds of Man With potent seed and twisted gene He then brought forth the Space Marine And twenty Sons, great warriors all In the golden times, before the fall... ...But shadow flickered past the glow As forces Man should never know Did twist and plot and cast their schemes And whisper to the Sons in dreams That they would be used and cast aside Used to build the Emperor's pride To make a realm for him alone To dictate to from golden throne While those who that realm had wrought Would wither, die and be forgot. They took these whispers deep to heart And with help of Chaos tore apart The works that took so long to make Took little enough to break Foul Horus, once his son most dear Betrayed him out of treachery's fear And Son fought Son on Terra's soil Those who once had been most loyal Had destroyed all that they had kept And on his throne, the Emperor wept But grief could not stay his might Nor darkness hide the Emperor's light His mighty sword did sweep away The treacher of his Sons, and they Did flee in terror through the sky And hide in places low and high To escape the wrath of Space Marine Who sought and cleansed out the unclean But hiding did avail them nought And so they reaped what they had wrought Interr'd within the Golden Throne, Sealed in halls of steel and stone, In Terra's halls of he guides us still, A ruler, strong of mind and will, The Emperor, who by thought alone Will rise again from Golden Throne! And lead us to a future bright And bring to Man eternal light! And we, descended of his line, His legacy, for all of time, The sons of Dorn, the sons of war, We, the Stonebound - Evermore! We will answer to your call, Hail the Emperor! Lord of all! Only three events in the Glastheim Rifts have served to effect any change the endless stalemate between the Orks and the Stonebound. The first of these events was the formation of the Silver Circle, near the end of M37. Along with the Stonebound, four other Chapters of Space Marines were drafted into a formal alliance by a force of Inquisitors, and duly charged with finally taking back the Glastheim Rifts for the Imperium. With the other Chapters occupying the focus of the heretic cults and traitors dwelling in the Rifts themselves, the Stonebound found themselves able to more readily commit their entire force to their unending war with the Orks. Over the centuries, the Stonebound have proved to be the most isolationist and obdurate of the Silver Circle, at first outright refusing any offer of help or kinship from the other Chapters. As more and more threats began to arise, both within and without the Rifts, the Stonebound eventually found themselves warming up to their Circle-Brothers, seeing in many of them some reflection of their own traits. The second event was the awakening of An'Zagurd, the Steel Serpent, in late M41. Buried deep on the world of Kadrimor, a mighty Necron construct was awakened during a fierce underground battle between the Stonebound and a particularly cunning Ork warband. Ripping the very ground apart as the creature arose from its' aeons-long slumber, the Steel Serpent savagely attacked both sides, seemingly in a frenzy. It was later found to have left Kadrimor, and has been seen in the company of the [NAME] Dynasty of Necrons, who strike out at Orks and Imperials alike from their fortified tomb world of [PLANET NAME]. Since the awakening of An'Zagurd, the Necron have been a persistent threat, lurking in the dark and awaiting the time to strike at the Stonebound. Both An'Zagurd and the [NAME] Dynasty have their names engraved on many Grudge Stones, and the Stonebound look forward to taking their vengeance against both foes. The final event to mark a significant change in the eternal war between the Stonebound and the Orks was the Indomitus Crusade, bringing with it a great change in the form of Primaris marines. The Stonebound were, at first, extremely sceptical of Primaris marines, and of the Chapters of the Silver Circle were easily the slowest to accept the addition to their Chapter. However, with the endless war taking a heavy toll on the Chapter's numbers, coupled with the impressive tally of victories the Primaris marines of their Circle-Brothers had achieved, the Stonebound grudgingly accepted the use of their own Primaris kindred. In recent years, the campaign against the Orks has seen real progress for the Stonebound, taking and holding successfully a dozen worlds long thought lost to the greenskin menace. Many within the Chapter are, in fact, talking about the reclaimation of Kharabor itself, not simply as a long-term goal, or a grudge to be settled, but as a real possibility for the near future. Such an endeavour will surely be fraught with peril and bloodshed, with the threats of Orks, Necron and Chaos rising on all sides to keep the Stonebound from rebuilding their lost glories. But the Stonebound will never yield their ambitions, nor change their ways. War and death await all who dare oppose the Stonebound's return to prominence - it is inevitable. Homeworld: "Kagara is either the cradle of our Chapter's future, or the mountains that will become our tomb." - Techmarine Zoren Silvercraft, Stonebound 2nd Company, 914.M34 The Stonebound would never call a world other than Kharabor their home, but for all intents and purposes Kagara ('Mountainhome' in High Gothic) is the primary world of the Stonebound. A world of bitter cold, ice and blizzards, the surface of Kagara is borderline inhospitable. However, a series of ancient undreground roads, caverns and cities weave under the world's surface, with much of the population subsisting in these subterraenean warrens. These cities, the life support machines within them, and much of the tunnel network linking them almost certainly predate the Horus Heresy, and may possibly even date back to before the Dark Age of Technology. The people of Kagara are fairly primitive, worshipping the machines that make their sub-surface homes more habitable. Recruits are generated for the Chapter primarily amongst the culture's miner-castes, who often have to defend themselves against various underground creatures in their endless quest for fuels or rare metals. War between Kagara's Great Clans is also not unheard of, and these wars usually offer a surplus of recruits for the Stonebound, who pay close attention to the child soldiers often employed by the Clans in such times to bolster their warrior's numbers. Kharabor, in the time the Stonebound held it, was a very different world from Kagara. Dominated by two sprawling hive cities, with a dozen other major population centres across the world, Kharabor was a crucible of industry and a local trade hub, dealing mostly in mechanical goods. Recruits on Kharabor were taken in via an annual trial of strength and endurance held in the world's major population centres. Some of the more dour amongst the Chapter take the view that the relative lack of conflict on Kharabor made the Stonebound take its' security for granted - a mistake the Chapter will never repeat again. Beliefs: "Axes high, brothers! Today is a day for Vengeance!" - Brother Urist Blackbanner, Stonebound 8th Company, at the battle of Ottankoth 012.M42 In their early years, the Stonebound's foremost guiding vision was that of a united humanity, under The Emperor's banner. Since the coming of the orks, the Chapter's focus has been increasingly consumed by an absolute need for vengeance. The pursuit of revenge is considered to be the purest act a Space Marine can undertake, for the extermination of the Stonebound's enemies brings the Imperium one step closer to The Emperor's great vision of a galaxy ruled by Humanity. When the Chapter avenges a grudge, the Grudge-Stone upon which it is engraved is ritually shattered in a somewhat sombre ceremony, which in turn is followed by a great feast for those who accomplished the deed. On the rare occasions that outsiders have been permitted to attend these feasts, they say the Stonebound in attendance are almost completely different in personality - quick to jest, happy to sing songs and drink toasts to the dead and the brave whose deeds brought about the Chapter's victory. Another quirk of the Stonebound is their view of The Emperor. Indeed, being able to trace their lineage back to Rogal Dorn, most stalwart Son of the Ultimate Ancestor, is a huge point of pride for the Chapter. They always strive to live up to their gene-sire's indefatigable and unflinching resolve in the face of the alien menace. Most Stonebound are able to fully recite the lineage of their own geneseed, tracing back through dozens of generations of Space Marines until the foundation of the Chapter. Combat Doctrine: "A vile force of Greenskins approaches! Come, brothers - let us show them some Stonebound hospitality!" - Sergeant Astur Anvilborn, Stonebound 9th Company, 388.M40 When the Stonebound march to war, they do not do so in haste. Mass deployments of armour, accompanied by the methodical march of infantry is the staple approach of the Stonebound. Heavy tanks such as Land Raiders, Predators or Vindicators, supported by well-placed Devastator Squads typically form the strongest point of the advance, grinding through enemy assailants without remorse. Supported by massed bolter fire and bombardments from Whirlwinds or Thunderfire Cannons, the Stonebound can effortlessly adapt between steadfastly holding ground and pressing the attack. Fast attack elements of a Company, such as bikes or land speeders, are employed as support for the main line's flanks, or kept behind the bulk of the advancing Stonebound, only racing forward in the event an enemy force routs completely in the face of the Chapter's inexorable advance. The Stonebound favour sheer firepower in battle over the cut-and-thrust of melee, but this is not to say the Chapter eschew melee combat entirely - Assault units tend to be used for counter-attacks, intercepting enemy charges or engaging stubborn enemy defences as the Stonebound's advancing line reaches them. Axes are a favoured weapon amongst the Chapter, derived from the Battle-Picks of the Kagaran mining-castes, which feature a pick on one side and a more traditional axe-blade on the other. In the case of siege warfare, the Stonebound perform as capably as one would expect of an Imperial Fists successor; artillery, heavy armour and crushing assault forces employed as required to breach whatever defences a luckless enemy may choose to cower behind. Centurion war-suits equipped with formidable Siege Hammers are a favoured spearhead unit for siege assaults, breaking apart fortifications as easily as they break apart the enemies within. The Stonebound are known to excavate and fortify entry tunnels into particularly resilient hideaways, with squads of excavators and crews of siege-servitors tunnelling away to the exacting specifications of their Astartes overlords. The gradual addition of Primaris forces has seen many Stonebound Battle Companies frequently employing Heavy Intercessor squads and battle tanks such as the Repulsor alongside their more traditionally favoured units. In large-scale offensives, the sight of Hammerfall Bunkers or Firestrike turrets being deployed from orbit to create or reinforce killing zones is not uncommon, establishing rock-solid defences even as the Stonebound continue their relentless attack. Organisation: "If Dorn sees wisdom in the words of his Brother, who are we to question them?" - Chaplain Fikod Ironpath, Stonebound 10th Company, 629.M34 http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hDpou_iaj2F.hozqS@@@@@@@hFeKV@.@@__@@@@_@@@_@@_hJ9Lc_hJ9Lc@@@@@@@@@@..@@@@@@@@@@@@@.hBMHl&grid=TRUE A Battle Brother of the "Redshields" First Company The Stonebound are almost entirely Codex-adherent, although with some minor deviations. The Chapter's First Company bear different heraldry, their shoulders coloured red with bone trim. They have the nickname of "The Redshields", derived from the practice of the First Company's marines crafting and using crimson shields engraved with that marine's notable deeds, battle honours, grudges avenged and personal heraldry. The Stonebound's current Fortress Monastery, under the great mountains of Kagara, is lined with the shields of dead battle-brothers, giving the already imposing bastion the fearsome appearance of a blood-red citadel. The Librarians of the Stonebound are more often referred to as 'Sages' amongst the brothers of the Chapter, and amongst their duties is the care and maintenance of the Chapter's Grudge-Stones. It is the Sages who engrave the Grudges, and the Sages who ritually shatter the stones when the Grudges are avenged. Weapons used to slay notable enemies or settle one of the Chapter's Grudges are repaired, embellished, given a unique name by the Sages, and added to the Stonebound's listed Reliquary, to be considered a rightful treasure of the Chapter for evermore. The Chapter's Dreadnoughts are known as the Ironbound, and are treated with the significant respect and reverance a mighty, venerable warrior and a formidable living weapon of vengeance deserves. Only the most talented and skillful of the Chapter's maintenance serfs are even permitted to look upon the chassis of the Ironbound at rest, and even then only under the strict guidance of Sages, Chaplains or Techmarines. The Stonebound have continued the practice of building additional defensive keeps on key worlds or moons in the systems surrounding Kagara. Largely crewed by families of serfs, with abundant automated defences, these worlds are equipped with complex sensor arrays meticulously constructed according to strict Mechanicus guidelines by the Chapter's Techmarines, and act as a limited early-warning system in the event of greenskin incursion. Geneseed: "The blood of Dorn runs in your veins. To admit defeat is to betray it, and shame your Chapter. Fight on, and fight well." - Last transmission of Sergeant Anabur Stoutshield, Stonebound 1st Company, 511.M39 The Stonebound are proud and honourable scions of Rogal Dorn and the Imperial Fists. Their geneseed exhibits no notable deviation from that of their progenitors, lacking the Sus-an Membrane and the Betcher's Gland. Aside from the feasts that accompany the breaking of Grudge Stones, the Stonebound hold a celebration once every century to show glory and honour their Primarch and The Emperor. Battlecry: "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken!" - recited as a litany as the line advances ---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---=---= Updated: 08/11/2020 Another day, another update! Now with 100% additional Primaris in the combat doctrine, and a couple of centuries where the Stonebound stubbornly refused to settle on another world and got roughed up for their trouble, harkening back to the exiles of the lonely mountain and other such dwarfly occasions. As always, all thoughts, opinions, C&C and musings are welcome. Feel free to pick up an ale, rest your axe and let me know if I've struck gold or if I'm just mired in mud up to my neck!

The Liber Unity Project With the Bolter and Chainsword diversifying to include the many armies and fans of the 40k universe, we have an opportunity to explore grand ideas. Many of you will have seen the fourth Collaborative Chapter Creation Project, which is currently underway in the Liber Astartes sub-forum and which is exploring bringing an official (but unloved) GW Chapter to life. My plan is this - we take that concept and expand it further. I will be creating threads in each of the sub-forums for us to create a DIY Chaos Warband, a DIY Xenos Race, a DIY Sisters Order and a DIY Imperial Guard recruiting world. Between now and December, we will create these forces, before detailing a campaign in which these forces feature. Rather than a situation where we have multiple DIY Chapters in one place, we will instead show the breadth of the Liber, and how all parts of the 40k universe can be explored and detailed. This first post will serve as an opportunity to collate our progress and (in the latter stages of the project) to coordinate our progress as we detail the campaign. Collaborative Chapter Creation Project IV Collaborative Astra Militarum Creation Project Collaborative Adepta Sororitas Creation Project Collaborative Xenos Creation Project Collaborative Warband Creation Project In the short term, if you are reading this and want to participate - then by all means, get involved! Spread the word and help showcase the best of the Liber's creative spirit!

This is the master thread for the works in progresss for the LIBER ASTARTES SWAP CHALLENGE 2019 (LASC 2019), where participants in The Liber have written an article about their Astartes Chapter/Chaos Warband and have been swapped with another participants' own creation to create a single miniature before the end of January 1st at 23:59 GMT The participants and swapped chapters/warbands assigned are as follows: Participant Swaps: Brother Cambrius: Grey Ravens (P) (COMPLETED) Link Messor: The Strigoi (COMPLETED) LINK Messor: Imperial Shields (COMPLETED) LINK Ace Debonair: Angels of Decay © (COMPLETED) LINK Ace Debonair: Apseros Astra (P) (COMPLETED) LINK Chaplain Dosjetka: The Soul Takers Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch: The Argent Fists (P) Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch: The Star Leopards Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch: Knights of the Forge (P) Brother Argent: The Scything Claw © Brother Argent: Wings of Dawn Brother Argent: Shadow Lords (P) Brother Argent: Dawn Blades MARK0SIAN: White Hawks Kelborn: Knights Oracular Aothaine: The Sunder Aothaine: Legion of the Iron Lion WarriorFish: Champions Eternal (COMPLETED) LINK Inquisitor Van Horn: The Praetorian Sword golfdeltafoxtrot: Ashen Blades (P) (COMPLETED) LINK Berzul: Vanquishers (COMPLETED) LINK Zepheniah Adriyen: Thunder Coyotes (P) Trokair: Celestial Knights (COMPLETED) LINK jbaeza94: Knights of Damascus Bruce Malcom: Praetors of Denzarr Brother Lunkhead: White Talons © Smirnov: Omega Cohort AHorriblePerson : Oblivion Hunters © Watcher: Iron Heralds (COMPLETED) LINK Frostbit3: Voidborn So stay tuned, peeps, we will have plenty of activity here soon. Please do feel free to provide feedback and encouragement to these superb Fraters who have taken part. Cambrius

"To Pierce the Veil - see beyond any deception! This is your duty, above all others!" - Chaplain Garrel, Knights Oracular 10th Company, during a speech to recruits, M39.687 Early History: Imperial Records "We have foreseen a great war coming to this world - but fear not! The Knights Oracular will defend you!" - Epistolary Aradin, Knights Oracular 3rd Company, to the Governor of Paralbos, M38.041 http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hvOE9_i8TzJ.hPbn6@@@@@@@hBWPW@hCmX3__..@@@@@@@@@@@_._.@@@@@@@@@@hCmX3hk8Yt__@@@@@@@@@@@hk8Ytiakk7&grid=TRUE A Battle Brother of the Knights Oracular Imperial records first detail the existence of the Knights Oracular in the later years of M37, arriving in the region of space called the Amgyne Sphere, in the Ultima Segmentum. However, the exact date of the Chapter's creation is a matter of some debate amongst scholars. Some insist the Chapter must have been birthed in the 22nd Founding, whilst others insist the Chapter was the sole true success story of the 21st Founding. What is certain, however, is that the Knights Oracular have, from their very first appearance, been locked in an unending war with the vicious, reptillian alien species known as the Khuurladh. Taller and more muscular than typical humans, with long, snapping jaws, cruel fangs, and thick natural scale armour, the Khuurladh are heinous agressors, endlessly raiding Imperial worlds for slaves or supplies. They typically favour large infantry squads, augmented with cybernetics. These raiders take to the field in vast hosts, wielding horrific hook-bladed swords, a sleek, xeno burst-laser weapon called the "Optrica" by Imperial Militia, or two-man teams who have surgically grafted themselves to larger, more deadly weapon platforms. Resilient and ferocious, the Khuurladh are exactly the sort of malevolent alien entity that Space Marines are well-suited to do battle with. Chapter Symbol Appropriately for their name, the Knights Oracular have, over the centuries, become quite adept at predicting the movements and tactics of their hated enemy, allowing them to intercept the Khuurladh raiders and stave off the worst of their predations. On world after world, the Knights Oracular would fight off the voracious xenos, earning a heroic reputation that gradually spread all across the Amgyne Sphere. The turning point in the campaign was undoubtedly the defence of the Forge World, Vaanatar, wherein the Knights Oracular appeared in the planet's orbit in time to prevent even a single Khuurladh from making planetfall, through daring and audacious exploits of voidborne combat. Their initial campaign culminated in a devastating assault on Ineffar, the homeworld of the Khuurladh. After a brutal siege battle that lasted almost a full week, the Knights emerged victorious - not a single living Khuurladh remained on Ineffar. In a move that was one part defiant statement and one part memorial to all those whom the Khuurladh had slain, the Knights Oracular chose to establish a Fortress Monastery on Kryptis, the moon of Ineffar. Such was the esteem that the Chapter was held in by the worlds who had seen them stave off the Khuurladh's attacks, that great migrations of people came to Kryptis, building their cities inside great eco-domes that soon dotted the empty moon's jade-green surface. It was a matter of mere decades before the Knights began to recruit from the Krypthian population, and their numbers began to grow. Finally stable in their new home, the Knights Oracular vowed to protect the Amgyne Sphere, come what may. ==+++ Signal Received +++== =-=- Krypthian Datalock .833. Detected -=-= ==&&=-Parsing Information-=&&== ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= ==+++ Clearance Requested +++== >> ENTER: Oraculus Dominatus ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= ==+++ Clearance Granted +++== .-.--==Returning to Imperial Records==--.-. ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= Recent History: Imperial Records "The Knights Oracular were created to give people something to believe in! That is our mission!" - Atributed to Chapter Master Barantin, M41.070, during the battle of Bramigar However, problems for the Knights Oracular were just beginning. The Khuurladh proved to have survived the destruction of their homeworld, becoming a nomadic warhost bent solely on vengeance and annihilation. They launched a fierce attack against Krypthis, then at other worlds all around the Amgyne Sphere. On top of the resurgence of their most hated foe, the arrival of duplicitous Dark Eldar pirates and relentless Ork Waaaaghs in the Amgyne Sphere served to test the mettle of the Knights Oracular even further. Furthermore, the Inquisition - perhaps unduly - began to question how the Knights Oracular had been so effective at countering the activities of the Khuurladh, and began to pry into the Chapter's affairs. However, the Knights proved to be up to the challenge, meeting all alien threats in fearless combat. Wherever the vile xenos struck, there too would be the Knights Oracular, fighting ferociously in the defence of the Imperium, an unwavering shield against the darkness. Not even the most paranoid of Inquisitors could fault the dedication of the Knights Oracular. However, on the Hive World of Bramigar, at the dawn of the 41st Millennium, the Knights Oracular found themselves at the centre of a horrible revelation. Fighting alongside Inquisitor Jonessan against what seemed to be a typical Khuurladh horde, the Knights found themselves betrayed - several amongst their number were seen to command the aliens, setting them on their own forces and resisting all but the most spirited and ferocious attacks. But the Knights - led by no less a figure than their beloved Chapter Master Barantin, rallied together and won the day regardless, their cunning and skill-at-arms driving the traitors into retreat. However, Chapter Master Barantin had fallen in combat with the treacherous Captain Karek, whose blade lay stuck through the back of the heroic Chapter Master. It was quickly discovered the traitors had been part of a fiendish ruse by Alpha Legion spies, who had sought to overthrow and discredit the Chapter by supplanting them after harassing them with innumerable attacks by their Khuurladh servants. In the aftermath, a conclave of Inquisitors levied a Penitence Crusade on the Chapter, sending fully half of the remaining Knights Oracular in pursuit of their betrayers, heading towards the Eye of Terror. The Chapter accepted these terms unflinchingly, knowing in their hearts that atonement was required for their lack of vigilance. Those Knights that remained in the Amgyne Sphere pledged to hunt down and eradicate every single traitor marine that dared to show themselves in the Sphere. Even in the Dark Millennium, this promise holds true. The Knights Oracular display a level of ferocious hatred for their betrayers that can be frightening to behold, and will never show mercy when faced with one of their former 'brothers'. ==&&=-Parsing Information-=&&== ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= ==+++ Clearance Granted +++== .-.--==Returning to Imperial Records==--.-. ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= Beliefs: Imperial Records "We die, so that the Imperium lives on." - Last words of Brother Feriex, at the battle of Ephera, M39.893 The Knights Oracular place the defence of the people of the Imperium above all other concerns, even their own survival. No matter how ferocious the foe, or how great their numbers, the Knights Oracular fight with every ounce of strength they can muster to protect humanity. They believe it is the Will of The Emperor to do so, and to die fulfilling His Will is the greatest death that one can achieve. The Chapter displays an absolute hatred of their long-time enemies, the Khuurladh, and of the Alpha Legion forces that once infiltrated their ranks. Seeking out and destroying these two vile forces is what drives the Chapter's vigilant watch over the Amgyne Sphere. The Knights Oracular take pride in their heroic reputation, and their armour is often replete with hard-earned decorations. Purity seals, campaign markings, banners and capes are commonplace amongst sergeants and veterans. ==&&=-Parsing Information-=&&== ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= ==+++ Clearance Granted +++== .-.--==Returning to Imperial Records==--.-. ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= Combat Doctrine: Imperial Records "Wars are won with knowledge, conviction and decisive action." - Sergeant Makaran, Knights Oracular 8th Company, M41.550 The Knights Oracular largely conduct warfare according to the doctrines of the Codex Astartes - flexibility and adaptation to battlefield circumstances are the hallmarks of their methods. The Chapter's Librarians specialise in the divination of enemy movements, both on a tactical and strategic scale, all-but ensuring the Knights have an edge that can be levied even against the most dangerous of foes. Even in battle, the Chapter's librarians are known for their powerful displays, especially against the Khuurladh, where their power can disable or destroy entire squads with a single, powerful strike. The Knights Oracular have been so constantly at war with the Khuurladh that the Chapter at times seems to run the risk of becoming overspecialised, sometimes appearing to struggle in adapting their typical approaches to combat with Orks, traitor Space Marines, or Dark Eldar. ==&&=-Parsing Information-=&&== ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= ==+++ Clearance Granted +++== .-.--==Returning to Imperial Records==--.-. ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= Organisation: Imperial Records "The Codex Astartes doesn't support this action... but we do have contingencies in place for such occasions." - Captain Ebreck, Knights Oracular 9th Company, M39.076 The Knights Oracular maintain a broadly Codex-Adherent structure, keeping ten Companies of a hundred Space Marines. Howerver, if the parameters of a mission or campaign call for an adjustment to the Codex-approved approach, the Knights Oracular do not hesitate to embrace the challenge. The Chapter is badly under strength after the betrayal at Bramigar, and the subsequent Penitence Crusade issued unto them. The Knights Oracular are currently roughly five hundred in number, excluding the first generations of Primaris Space Marines that the Chapter has recently adopted. Though the Chapter was given the means to create Primaris Marines, they were not directly given Primaris reinforcements. The Knights Oracular have accepted this gift humbly, knowing they can use to protect the Amgyne Sphere more capably than ever through its use. ==&&=-Parsing Information-=&&== ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= ==+++ Clearance Granted +++== .-.--==Returning to Imperial Records==--.-. ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= Geneseed: Imperial Records "We see through all deceptions. We are the Knights Oracular, and our justice is swift!" - Brother Jaranse, Knights Oracular Fifth Company, M41.790 Though no official records confirm the primogentor of the Knights Oracular, their geneseed tithes submitted to Forge World Vaanatar most closely resemble that of the Ultramarines, with little to no genetic degradation. Obvious ties to their gene-father are present in other aspects of the Chapter, however: chiefly the Knights' flexible, pragmatic approach to warfare, and their noble dedication to the protection of the Imperium and its people. ==&&=-Parsing Information-=&&== ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= ==+++ Clearance Granted +++== .-.--==Returning to Imperial Records==--.-. +++ Pierce The Veil, Brother +++ ..=..=..=..=..=..=..= +++>> Oraculus Dominatus <<+++ .-.--==Message Concludes==--.-.

Hey y'all, this is my content page for my custom chapter <Knights of Damascus> for the 2019 LASC! I'm still working through a lot of my fluff and origin story so bear with me! I will be continually editing this over the next few weeks (I hope not) and will hopefully have this finished soon. All comments and ideas are appreciated! +++++ KNIGHTS OF DAMASCUS I've included the armor paint schemes for both standard Astartes and primaris marines (this is an earlier founding chapter with Primaris reinforcements). The squad markings are Codex Compliant with the standard assault, elite, troop, and heavy support symbols. And the standard marine armor: "Where there is uncertainty, I shall bring light. Where there is doubt, I shall sow faith Where there is shame, I shall point atonement Where there is rage, I shall show its course My word in the soul shall be as my bolter in the field" - Litany of Devotion Chapter: Knights of Damascus Founding Chapter: Salamanders Founding: Twenty Third Founding Chapter Master: Alistair Kingsblade Homeworld: Relicta Fortress Monastery: The Black Citadel Colors: Dark Brown, white, and gold Specialty: Siege Warfare, Guerilla Warfare, Close Combat Battlecry: "Bellum vocat, exaudi nos! For the Emperor!" 1. History The history of the Knights of Damascus begins among the many unlisted chapters created in the Twenty Third Founding. The Knights were gifted the feral desert world Relicta as of their Founding and were given rights to recruit from the surrounding worlds. Relicta is located on the edge of the Veiled Region amidst a cluster of Death World's. The planet itself is about the size of Neptune. Relicta's own surface is a desert wasteland covered in crags, caverns and gigantic rock formations. The planet was once home to a species of burrowing sand wurms spanning almost a kilometer in size, now near extinct due to a Pre-heresy purge of the aggressive species long before the Knights set foot on Relicta. These sand wurms are responsible for the vast subterranean tunnels that span a majority of the planets surface and in rare and almost always fatal encounters, can be found nesting deep within said tunnels. However, also deep within these subterranean tunnels are vast wells of water, a treasured and valuable resource to the scarce tribes of humans that roam the bitter wastes of Relicta, known as "Reliceans" (Re-lee-shins). They took to the style of their Founding Chapter, the Salamanders, for organization and recruitment methods. The chapter was founded with many ancient Terran values instilled alongside those of their parent chapter, the Salamanders. These values focused on the honor and brutality of war and are exemplified in the Knights' use of single combat and guerrilla warfare when outmatched. They hold nothing back, but will seek out worthy opponents to strike down. These values are also seen in the forging process during recruitment of Aspirants. The chapter's name derives from the Ancient Terran conducts of Old orders of warriors that once fought on the face of Terra. The Knights of Damascus' sigil is that of a sword embossed on a shield, sharing the focus of ancient warrior conduct tradition of wielding sword and shield against thy foe. Among the traditions of the Chapter is dueling, sparring, and the earning of a "sword-name". A Battle-Brother usually earns his sword-name after exemplary combat action or heroic circumstances. It is considered a great honor to have earned ones sword-name and the process of receiving one, the Rite of the Accolade, is treated with the utmost reverence and regard. One to have received the Accolade is considered to have sacrificed beyond their mortal limits for the Chapter and their brothers. Those deemed worthy undergo the Rite. They are presented before the Chapter Master, the High Chaplain, and the Master Librarian to be dubbed with their sword-name. Their Fortress Monastery, the "Black Citadel", is made out of a strange dark ore found on Relicta, "night-stone" as it is known to the native Relicean tribes. Close in strength to adamantium and nigh unyielding once folded and forged in fire with Terran Steel. The Fortress is and was crafted and shaped into and by this metal, creating large subterranean tunnels and catacombs underneath the Citadel ranging miles deep. This metal is mined and used in the recruitment process of the Chapter. The Knights faced much adversity first settling on Relicta as its feral tribes (a source of recruitment for the Knights) was the focus of many Dark Eldar raids before the persistent defense of the Knights of Damascus drove them out. They waged war in the early centuries of their founding against such forces and were found victorious, although their recruitment process suffered greatly and their growth was largely diminished in comparison to other Chapters.The Chapter, despite this, has had a healthy development with several successful campaigns with minimal losses. However, due to their seemingly ruthless nature and high combat tendency, the Knights are a prize the Blood God seeks for his own. NOTABLE ENCOUNTERS In the late M38, two companies of the Knights of Damascus laid siege to an Eldar Maiden World (unknown to them) after losing contact with a scouting force sent to investigate the planets surface. The Knights landed to discover a planet seemly void of life. After finding the long dead and desecrated corpses of their scouting force and combing the jungles of the Maiden world, the Knights discovered deep catacombs filled with the corpses of thousands of Exodite Eldar destroyed by an army of daemons. The daemons had come through an old webway portal slaughtering the Eldar and proceeded to beset the caught off guard Knights of Damascus. They held against the tide slowly but surely retreating until a massive roars erupted from deep within the catacombs. A Khorne Bloodthirster, Khax'dra had caught the scent of his new quarry, and launched a new wave of assault against the dwindling Knights'. After two days of a grinding retreat, The Knights of Damascus force numbering no more than 30 marines escaped due to the sacrifice of the Captain Sovrain of the 2nd Company, who challenged the Bloodthirster in single combat, his sacrifice buying the precious moments needed to escape. The Knights of Damascus returned in full force, laying siege to the daemonic world. They launched a full on offensive, seeking to cut the head from the snake, Chapter Master Uther challenging Khax'dra as Captain Sovrain had before. Chapter Master Uther held fast under its blows, parrying strikes and slicing his blade into the Bloodthirsters thick legs. Eventually the Bloodthirster was brought to its knees where Uther and the Wardens of the Inner Table proceeded to cut it to pieces, ending its blasted existence for a time. In a matter of days, the Knights had pushed back the forces of Khorne and closed the webway gate, preventing any more forces from coming through. With the geneseed of their fallen brothers returned, Chapter Master Uther declared the planet 'Exterminatus'. In M39, while pursuing an unknown faction of Chaos Space Marines laying waste to many worlds in a nearby sector, the flagship of the Knights of Damascus, Caliburnus, is ambushed by a band of World Eaters Legionnaires. The Legionnaires, led by Warlord Dravix the Crucifier, launch an all out boarding assault and manage to carve a bloody path to the bridge where Chapter Master and his retinue of three Company champions and elements of the 1st Company awaited them. Chapter Master Uther Drakehand is cut down in his fight against Dravix. The Champions, seeing the plight of their Lord, circle Warlord Dravix like wolves and engage in a flurry of battle, parrying, lunging, and striking the Chaos Warlord. Howling in anger, Dravix lashes out at his combatants, skewering one champion with his sword and smiting the other down with his armored fist. In a desperate move, the 3rd company champion, Alistair, attacks the warlord breaking his sword from his grip only to be thrown down by the Chaos Warlord. As the Warlord gloated over him, Alistair found the grip of Dravix's fallen sword and plunged it into the Chaos Warlords primary heart, before carving his way through Dravix's second heart. With their Warlord defeated and the 1st Company holding fast, the warband retreats, leaving the Caliburnus and the Knights wounded, but very much alive. Alistair is given the sword-name "Kingsblade" and is unanimously promoted to the position of Chapter Master. +++++ "War remembers only the victorious. Remember the dead, brothers. Without their sacrifice, we would have no victory." - Chaplain Aurelius Stonefist 2. Organization and Tactics The Knights of Damascus embrace the Codex Astartes readily, their traditions benefiting greatly from the discipline of the Codex. They adhere to standard Codex organization. Although there are minor deviance's such as the inclusion of the Inner Table, a tribune of the best and wisest warriors the chapter has to offer, one from each Company to act as representatives of their company and Captain - and in dire circumstances, serve as the Chapter Master's Honor Guard. The Champions are also eligible for the seat of Captain or if the Chapter sees fit, for the position of Chapter Master. The Chapter's main color is a dark brown with white and gold details. Upon recruitment, the Chapter's Chaplain encourage brotherhood and comradery between initiates. This creates iron bonds of brotherhood as they proceed through the trials of becoming a Battle Brother. When an aspirant makes it to the final trial of joining the Chapter, he is charged with forging his own Terran style long sword out of the dark metal that makes the Dark Citadel, should all else fail in battle, the sword will serve him. Upon completion, the aspirant is to duel another initiate in single combat - a battle between brothers, with the victor proceeding fully into the ranks of the Chapter. Due to the resilient nature of the metal and unrefined techniques of the aspirants in making their swords, the blades have a high tendency to break mid-duel. This gives either victor a possible advantage and a victory possibly more hard fought. Most aspirants are left with no choice but to crush their brother asunder wave upon wave of bare-fisted blows. This harsh and selective recruitment method instills two lessons to be learned: First, war can only have one victor; and secondly, there is no victory without sacrifice. Fallen aspirants are treated with honor and are buried outside the Black CItadel with the utmost respect. This burial ground is known as the "Last March". The Chapter's Techmarines are then responsible for forging the remnants of the two swords (whether whole or broken) into a new blade worthy of an Adeptus Astartes. The fallen aspirants name is inscribed upon the new blade as a constant reminder of what was sacrificed. Afterwards, the Aspirant receives Gene-seed and is inducted as an Initiate of the Chapter where they are assigned to the 10th Company. The Chapter places much emphasis on skill with a blade of all kinds, preferring power swords and relic blades above other combat weapons. However, it is not unheard of to see members of the chapter wielding thunder hammers and the like. Due to their close comradery and consistent practice with close combat weapon drills, Battle Brothers are competent close combat fighters and are skilled in the execution of combat squad tactics. The Chapter keeps a well maintained balance of utilizing small squads for guerrilla warfare and full-company deployment when in defense or laying siege. Notable Elements of the Knights of Damascus: Notable Members: - Captain Sovrain, 2nd Company Captain (KIA) - Chapter Master Alistair Kingsblade (2nd Chapter Master), successor to Uther Drakehand - Chapter Master Uther Drakehand (1st Chapter Master) (KIA) - Sergeant Urien - Deathwatch, Kill Team "Warden" - Chaplain Aurelius Stonefist Chapter Fleet: - Caliburnus, Battle Barge - Avallonis, Battle Barge - Cavalon, Strike Cruiser - Sangreal, Strike Cruiser

THE LIBER ASTARTES SWAP CHALLENGE 2019 - PHASE 1 First off, my apologies for the delay in posting these, peeps. Unfortunately I was called into work on my day off today so I have had to construct this after getting home. Greetings Brothers and Sisters of the LIBER! Here we stand, the time has come for the first event of the newly refurbished and fine tuned Liber Astartes Swap Challenge (or LASC for short, because yay acronyms!)! Welcome to Phase 1. This event is designed to display some comradely fun and a little bit different from the Swap events of old, if you are venerable enough to remember them. The LASC event will champion new writing of fresh Chapters of Space Marines, or alternatively, updating and refining/completing Chapter articles you have made here on the B&C. Jonny: So, Brother Cambrius, how does Phase 1 work? Well, Jonny, here's the answer: PHASE 1 (September 3rd - October 31st) In Phase 1, starting today, participants must submit a 'complete' DIY Chapter article by November 1st. Jonny: So what counts as Complete? By complete, I want to see an article that covers the basics on your Chapter to define who they are, what they do and what are they like to really help the person who will be creating a miniature from your Chapter in Phase 2. If any articles are not up to the bare minimum standard, their participation may be removed from the event to be fair for whoever would have been given their Chapter in the Miniature Swap. If you want to get a scope on what is needed at the bare minimum, you could look up some examples from Forge World entries on Chapters, which aren't a full codex or article entry, but really define the Chapter succinctly. Another good example are the mini IAs I have constructed over the years like the Avenging Fists and Demolishers. In a nutshell, what I want to see in your submission at a bare minimum is the following: Who are your Chapter What do they look like What is their personality What is their identity in the world of 40K? (eg are they heroic knights of honour, shadowy assassins, cold and logical soldiers) With the inclusion of Chapter Tactics in the new Codex, I would love to see what your submitted Chapter(s) would utilise as per their character and well. More detailed articles are most certainly encouraged as Phase 1 is all about creating and improving your Chapter with input from everyone else. If your Chapter's history is listed in a Painting Log in the Hall of Honour or Works in Progress, you are more than welcome to participate as well, but it would be recommended you collate your written bits into a thread/article/IA in Liber Astartes so whoever has your Chapter in Phase 2 can find the details they need. Jonny: Can Renegades and Chaos Marine Warbands participate? Yes, you can submit a Chaos/Renegade IA article in Index Traitoris if you wish to, but be aware that there will need to be a least 1 corresponding participant who is able to build and paint Chaos Marines to do so. If you do intend to submit a Warband, it'll be worth drumming up participation amongst your fellow Chaos Marine collectors to ensure you'll have a variety of CSMs to possibly get in Phase 2. Jonny: Can someone submit more than one Chapter into this event? Absolutely! The absolute maximum for this event will be 3, to ensure you do not burn out in trying to write more than 3 Chapter entries over the next two months and in painting your miniatures. If you fail to complete an extra entry or entries by November 1st, then you will only be required to create 1 miniature in Phase 2. If you submit more than one Chapter entry and it is completed by November 1st, you will be expected to honour as many miniatures as well (eg you submitted 3 Chapter entries, you will need to build and paint a miniature form 3 Chapters swapped to you in Phase 2). Jonny: Can older articles be submitted into this event? Yes they can! For crustier Liberites like myself who have written multiple articles and entries over the years, with the release of the new Codex and the whole Primaris addition and progression of the 40k Universe, this opens up a fantastic opportunity for older hands to revive articles and update them to the current timeline. Are they destroyed, reborn with a large amount of Primaris, still the same but with newer responsibilities or moments of triumph/despair that have defined the Chapter's psyche and doctrines? All of this is fresh meat and fluff to chew and play around with. Jonny: Can we submit Xenos and non Space Marine entries (eg Astra Militarum etc)? Xenos and Non-Powered Armoured Factions will not be included in this event. This event is solely focusing on the Space Marines of whichever flavour you desire. Sorry my gribbly and vanilla-human friends, but this event as mentioned in the title is the Liber Astartes Swap Challenge, otherwise it'll get a little too complicated trying to get correct swaps for factions and races etc. Articles must include an image of the chapter's heraldry and symbol (this can be done by including an image or images using a miniature you have painted, or the Space Marine Painters here on the B&C, or the GW Primaris variant). The pledge to participate in this event is as follows: "I <INSERT NAME HERE>, VOW UPON THE HONOUR OF MY CHAPTER, THE <INSERT CHAPTER NAME HERE>, TO WRITE ABOUT A DIY CHAPTER IN THE LIBER ASTARTES BY NOVEMBER 1ST TO A COMPLETE STANDARD. I VOW TO ALSO COMPLETE 1 MINIATURE OF A CHAPTER RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO ME BEFORE JANUARY 1ST 2020. SHOULD I FAIL, I SHALL WEAR THE SIGNATURE OF SHAME UNTIL I HAVE REDEEMED MYSELF IN THE EYES OF THE LIBER." Participants must also include which Space Marine models they are able to build and paint for Phase 2, to ensure those who may not have Primaris marines don't get an Ultima Founding Chapter in the Swap. For your article entries in the Liber Astartes/Traitoris, please include "LASC 19" in the title of your Thread so participants know that the entry you are writing is involved in this challenge. Here's an example of a vow: If you are participating, you can put one of these Banners into your signature (it's worth checking that the addition won't break the Forum's rules on Signature sizes in case you need to re-jig your Signature in full): If you complete this event with an article and miniature of the chapter swapped to you, you can proudly wear this signature: And if you should fail to complete a miniature or article in time of the deadline for Phase 1 or Phase 2, you will be required to carry this banner of shame: There will also be other banners made for particular participants of note in this challenge, whether it is through very active feedback and help for their fellow Liberites in constructing their Chapter entries, or were insane enough to submit up to 3 entries. I will also be constructing a Redemption banner for those who may have fallen to the wayside in this event, but manage to complete a miniature within the month of January 2020. More on that as we get closer to Phase 2. +++++ This event is all about participation and aiding your fellow Liberites in the creation of their Chapters and encouraging camaraderie. Be polite and constructive with each other when adding opinions/suggestions/questions to entries submitted to help improve or refine them. And well, that is it. Good luck everyone and here's to a great event! Cambrius

UPCOMING EVENT: SEPT - DEC 2019 "THE LIBER ASTARTES SWAP CHALLENGE" Greetings Brothers and Sisters of the LIBER! So for those of the Adeptus Astartes persuasion, it has been a very busy month with the release of a new Codex and Supplements, including the return of Chapter Tactics to really allow us Liberites to really go and have fun creating our unique Chapters of Space Marines. As a result and to help drum up further activity here and display some comradely fun, I am resurrecting an old event first championed in my old days by "Captain_Shrike" before "Ferrus Manus" took up the responsibility of the DIY Chapter Swap. Now this event will be a little bit different from that event of old if you are venerable enough to remember. This event will champion new writing of fresh Chapters of Space Marines, or alternatively, updating Chapter articles you have made here on the B&C (for older hands like myself I will likely follow this route. Jimmy: So, Brother Cambrius, how will this work? I am so glad that you asked me, Jimmy! So here is the planned breakdown of what will happen in 2 phases: PHASE 1 (September 3rd - October 31st) Participants must submit a complete DIY Chapter article by November 1st. By complete, I want to see an article that covers the basics on your Chapter to define who they are, what they do and what are they like to really help the person who will be creating a miniature from your Chapter in Phase 2. If you want to get a scope on what is needed at the bare minimum, you could look up some examples from Forge World entries on Chapters, which aren't a full codex or article entry, but really define the Chapter succinctly. Another good example are the mini IAs I have constructed over the years like the Avenging Fists and Demolishers. More detailed articles are most certainly encouraged as Phase 1 is all about creating and improving your Chapter with input from everyone else. Jimmy: But, Brother Cambrius, what about those Liberites who have submitted articles or have made an army of one of their numerous Chapters over the years and may not want to start afresh with a new Chapter? Jimmy you really are asking so many pertinent questions, aren't you? Well fret not Liberites! With the release of the new Codex and the whole Primaris addition and progression of the 40k Universe a while back, this opens up a fantastic opportunity for older hands to revive older articles if they desire and update them to the current timeline. Are they destroyed, reborn with a large amount of Primaris, still the same but with newer responsibilities or moments of triumph/despair that have defined the Chapter's psyche and doctrines? All of this is fresh meat and fluff to chew and play around with. I'll be doing this myself with some of my older Chapter(s), depending on participation. Jimmy: What about those who make Index Traitoris articles on Chaos Marines and Renegades? Can they take part? Well Jimmy, yes they can! But numbers will be vital in ensuring they will have a partner who we can swap their Warband/Chapter with and can produce an appropriate model. If numbers are insufficient, the Moderati team will look into a work around. Now then Jimmy, it is clear you have been influenced by the foul notions of the Warp to even ask such a question, so off to Servitor indoctrination for you... Jimmy: Wait, what?! Moderati, no! Nooooo! -Ahem- Now, where were we? Articles must include an image of the chapter's heraldry and symbol (this can be done by including an image or images using a miniature you have painted, or the Space Marine Painters here on the B&C, or the GW Primaris variant). Participants must also include which Space Marine models they are willing and able to build and construct in the Vow they will submit when the event begins on September 3rd, as not everyone has Primaris marines yet, which would be a little awkward if they got an Ultima Founding Chapter. PHASE 2 (November 1st) It is at this point Chapter IA/Articles/IT submissions for this events are cut off and each participant is randomly assigned a chapter through a PM to build and paint a model of.You will have up to January 1st 2020 to complete their model(s). Participants will need to submit an image of their WIPs and Completed miniatures in the respective threads created at the start of Phase 2 in WIPs and the Hall of Honour, with direct links in the LIBER to these in the opening post of the Chapter Swap event thread. Further details on this phase will emerge as we get closer to the date when I construct the Phase 2 Master Post for participants. +++++ And that is it as an introduction! Plenty of details there for you to chew over and start planning possibly. But if you are making a fresh IA for this event, remember this does not start until September 3rd when the post to make your vows is uploaded to the Liber. For now, review your creations and armies and plastic, and see what you can possibly submit for this fine event. Oh, and there will be Banners for this event as well, and possibly some unique titles for specifically active participants as well. That's all for now! See you soon. Cambrius

The Liber Thought Experiments return for the 8th Edition! Many of us are wondering about the lore this edition introduces, and how it will affect our DIYs. The purpose of these experiments will be to think of these additions in a positive light, to find that element in the new lore that you can enjoy and incorporate. Now, for those of you who are unfamiliar with these Thought Experiments, the intent here is not for you to force a change upon your DIY. These experiments exist in their own little bubble, for you to play around with your DIY and perhaps come to an understanding you might not have originally had. How much of these experiments you take outside of the bubble and apply to your “official” DIY is entirely up to you. How you tackle these experiments is also entirely up to you. You can post rewritten sections of your DIY article, a short story with a related narrative, or even just a stream of consciousness as you ponder the experiment and your DIY. For ideas and examples, check out the previous Thought Experiments thread. Each experiment will last two weeks, and will be divided into three broad sections that will tackle the new lore and other changes to the B&C. List of Experiments ​Primaris 1: Look to the East Primaris 2: Is Blood Enough? Primaris 3: Coexistence Ultima 1: The 27th Founding Ultima 2: The Unnumbered Sons Xenos 1: Aeldari of Ynnead Xenos 2: Necron Tombworlds & Dynasties Xenos 3: Asuyrani of the Craftworlds Xenos 4: Greenskins