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Hello guys, after a while away I'm slowly getting back into the hobby (Kill- team at least). Going back the my roots with the blood angels, I've been working a little on my own successors. Listening to Devastation of Baal has inspired this little project also reading the Bloodquest 40k comics and replaying the Soul Reaver games. Angels Venaria (Hunting Angels) Founding M.34 Geneseed: Sanguinius Homeworld: Nosgarath Fortress: The Pillar of Silence Chapter Master: Raziel the Soul Eater A dark chapter of the sanguinary brotherhood, the Angels Venaria are secretive yet renowned Xenos hunters. An insular and often isolationist chapter, they have many dark secrets and have been thought lost many times throughout their history. Despite their blood thirsty endeavours, they have a compassion for humanity that is little shown by other astartes, perhaps to alleviate the guilt of their transgressions. A crusading chapter, their Venator fleets range into the depths of Imperial space and the void beyond, hunting their chosen prey in the Eldar and all their kin. In order to slake their lust for battle and blood, enacting the necessary crimson harvest their brothers demand. They are forever searching for the relics and archotech they believe will save their chapter from the genetic afflictions that could eventually see them all dammed. Angels Venaria Kill-Team - The Exiles - My Character line up - V.Sgt Malakaius - The First Fang Aged veteran commander, psychically afflicted with the chapters darkest secret. Kandinor The Rageful Fallen Sanguinary Guard, verging on the edge of his sanity. Brother Rapha the Swordsman Assault marine, famed master Swordsman. Gunner Lucion Flamesinger Veteran gunner, artist with a Flamer. Brother Viko the Patient Stealth hunter and exceptional marksman. Brother Dhuma the Dour Tactical genius, advisor, stalwart astartes. Brother Zahriel Bone Taker Macabre brother, fixated upon death both his and the foes. totem of death. Brother Phosan - Keeper of the Sceaming Skulls. Veteran marine, Vox comm and recon specialist. Brother Kryphon the Whirlwind Grim devastator, walking missile battery. Brother Crestoff the Vengeful Honoured Veteran, on a personal quest of vengeance. Brother Darakan the Insatiable Veteran warrior, with an unquenchable thirst. V.Sgt Malakaius Brother Rapha the Swordsman Heavy gunner - gunner - warrior 3 warriors "To feast upon the vitae of the Xenos is a necessary shame, To devour the rotten husk of the corrupt is abomination, To feed upon the life essence of those we swore to protect is eternal damnnation. We are the saviours of mankind, humanity is not our prey, they are the herd we were bred to protect." I'm in the process of converting and building these marines, the chapter does not even have a set color scheme as of yet but I have a few ideas. I'll be updating this as I go.

Greetings my fellow Unforgiven. It seems like the return of our Primarch is all but certain, especially with The Knight tarot card literally mirroring his Heresy model. However this has me caught up in a bit of an issue. Would it be thematically appropriate to have the Lion leading a Successor Chapter (in my case a 3rd Generation Successor) without any Dark Angels in the force? I feel like, despite the Lion being the Primarch, without some Dark Angels in the force it wouldn't be right to have him leading it. Instead, a force lead by the Lion should be primarily Dark Angels and include representatives of their Successors. TL;DR would it be thematically okay to have the Lion leading a Successor force without any Dark Angels, or should Successors be a token force in a Dark Angels army under the Primarch?

FERRYMEN ADEPTUS ASTARTES: REVILERS CHAPTER CONCEPT: NARRATIVE SUMMARY (Max 100 Words): Sergeant Ravyx Atton leads a Phobos Strike Team from the secretive Revilers Space Marine Chapter. When the navigators of a Torchbearer fleet are incapacitated by a psychic trap, becalming them in Magellan’s Crucible – a fluctuating passage through the Cicatrix Maledictum – Atton and his men deploy to the embattled world of Aluxan to sequester their psychic novices, in order to save the fleet and prosecute the will of Roboute Guilliman. Strike Team: Charon must infiltrate and evade the legions of rebels to effect a rescue, and thwart a deadly plot by the Alpha Legion, before time runs out EXTRACT (Max 500 Words): Racing to the door, Atton tore smoke grenades from his body webbing, hurling them down either corridor, before stepping out, sweeping the carbine left and right. Telemetry depicted where the rest of his team were, and they moved as fast as he, efficiently from room-to-room. His foot smashed doors in, then a shock grenade, followed by a sweep of the space with the carbine. He set the weapon stablight to strobe, for maximum disruption, erupting into the confined quarters at the same moment as the pummelling concussion thundered. Heretics were blasted off their feet by the detonation, before the scene became a series of flash-picter images. Atton executed them with tight shots from the suppressed carbine, not a round wasted. He was grateful for the forward grip; the mobility of the weapon was exceptional. Moving to another room, he repeated the sequence, and it sounded like a storm was battling to escape the temple. Great bolts of noise were quelled by the baffles in his auto-senses. Heretics reeled from his attack, hands pressed to cover popped eardrums, before Atton put them out of their misery with a wicked volley. One of them, mutated into a hulking brute, crashed through the wall before he could ready his next bomb. It roared at him, grappling him from behind, in a slew of plaster and stonework. The mutant’s clutching claws snapped the strap on his bolt carbine, sending it spinning away, as the creature barrelled forward, trying to make him a permanent fixture within the opposite wall. The power of his foe was tremendous, muscle-corded arms wrapping his body, trapping his limbs, rivalling his Rubicon-wrought strength. Anger spurred defiance. Atton pushed off with his feet, hurling both combatants back through the jagged gap the mutant had opened, and they tumbled together crunching furniture and ripping down hanging silks. The heretic-beast shifted grip, clamping its paw over his face, fingers fused into two long talons, hooking onto his skull mask and trying to wrench his helmet off. The change gave him a chance, and he got his left arm free, seizing a broken table leg and thrusting it up behind him where his Lyman’s Ear discerned the enemy’s voice box. Clotted, guttural bellowing announced his success, and he twisted the stake, breaking it off, the pressure on his ribs vanishing as the brute grasped to remove the painful splinter. As they writhed, rolling across the floor, the mutant trapped Atton’s neck more by luck than skill, but even as the pressure warning indicator flared dangerous amber sigils, Atton’s hand closed on his heavy bolt pistol. Four shots pumped into the brutal knot of twisted muscle behind him. He didn’t care where he was hitting, Atton trusting that the Emperor’s ordained tools would do the work. The mutant howled even as its organs were pulverised, a strangled human note to the plaintive cry, before Atton punched the barrel under its blubbery chin, and blew its mismatched, horned head off in a shower of red-grey gruel. ++++++++++

http://fortressofunforgiven.homestead.com/BHoA_2014_Announcement_Banner.jpg Sons of the Lion! It is time to remember the forgotten sons of the Lion's pride. The data banks of the Tower of Angels have lost some of their much valued information and all effort is being directed to retrieving them We must record the history of our lost brothers and honour their name! So arm yourselves with your quills and your cogitators! Activate your savants and servitors! Gather your thoughts and let loose the Brotherhood of Angels! INTRODUCTION: The Brotherhood of Angels (BHoA) is a Dark Angels Forum Event aimed at participants creating unique DIY Unforgiven chapter histories. In other words you enter the event by submitting a written description of an unforgiven chapter that you have created. HOW TO ENTER: There are two ways to enter, both requiring you to submit a completed Index Astartes article about your chosen chapter. 1. Write a completely new Index Astartes Article, based on the structure below, on the Chapter you have created and submit it for the event. 2. Take a chapter you may have created in the past for previous contests including the BHoA 2012 and update it and upgrade it to the BHoA 2014 level and then re-submit it. We encourage all those who had previously submitted such an article to review it and upgrade it and then resubmit it. 3. Make an oath in this thread in the following manner ENTRY CRITERIA: 1. The article should have minimum 2000 words 2. It should include the livery of your chapter using the Space Marine Painter with at least one image each of Power Armour, Terminator Armour, Scout Armour and Captain. All B&C painters 3. The chapter should be of your own creation. STRUCTURE OF THE ARTICLE: The article should include the following sections, most of which are self explanatory. Summary: GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR):- FOUNDING:- 3RD [M.32] CHAPTER MASTER:- CHAPTER WORLD:- T FORTRESS MONASTERY:- MAIN COLOURS:- SPECIALITY:- BATTLE CRY:- CURRENT STRENGTH:- KNOWN DESCENDANTS:- Chapter Name: Origins: Include Founding if it is known; What made that Chapter come into being; Are they a Successor of a Successor? Chapter Home World: Description of the home world along with an image if possible. Present Activities: Narrative about the Chapter at the dawn of the 41st Millennium Battle Honours: Short descriptions of famous battles and outcomes in chapter history Chapter Organization: The way the chapter is made up, where they differ from Codex Astartes; Deathwing, Ravenwing, battlecompany? Inner Circle? Fleet Assets: Description of the chapters fleet strength, vessel names and any significant fleet action based conflicts. Recruitment: How neophytes are recruited. Chapter Colours: Livery/colour schemes (Include Space Marine Painter images) Battle Standards or Chapter Banners (Optional): Battle Honours/relics/decorations/awards: Description of specific awards, honorariums and honours. Combat Doctrine: How they fight. Deathwing & Ravenwing in use?; Armor Heavy?; Specializations?; Intolerances? Battle Cry: "Poke 'em in the eye!" or "Repent! For tomorrow you die!" Home World or Home Fleet (if Fleet based) Local rituals: Any rituals in their home world/base. Beliefs: Unique beliefs and practices. Gene-Seed: Description of origin and current status. Dark Angels, Obviously! Champions of the Chapter: Special characters ( As many as you wish) REWARDS: Once you make your oath you may wear the following banner in your signature http://fortressofunforgiven.homestead.com/BHoA_2014_Banner.jpg Once you complete your submission you will be given a chapter badge that you may wear next to your BHoA participation banner as follows: http://fortressofunforgiven.homestead.com/BHoA_2014_Badge_01_Angels_Penitent.jpg The two may be combined to create a single 300 x 100 banner: http://fortressofunforgiven.homestead.com/BHoA_2014_Banner.jpg http://fortressofunforgiven.homestead.com/BHoA_2014_Badge_01_Angels_Penitent.jpg or http://fortressofunforgiven.homestead.com/BHoA_2014_Banner.jpghttp://fortressofunforgiven.homestead.com/BHoA_2014_Badge_01_Angels_Penitent.jpg If as part of your submission you also created a unique DIY chapter banner you may use this banner instead: http://fortressofunforgiven.homestead.com/BHoA_2014_Banner_Artificer.jpg THE BIGGEST REWARD Once your submission has been accepted not only will you be given unique chapter badge to wear proudly but your submission will be converted in to a fully fledged PDF booklet and be placed on the Fortress of the Unforgiven website for posterity. You may download, print and if you so wish bind it in to a real booklet. Below is an example using the most comprehensive chapter history submitted during the BHoA 2012, the Angels Penitant http://fortressofunforgiven.homestead.com/BHoA_012_0X.jpg + + + PRAISE BE THE LION + + +

Good day to you all, sons of Sanguinius. As part of the Liberalia Martiale, I come bringing a thought experiment, mainly to jig some of those old creativity cells in your noggin. Now, as we all know, Blood Angels successor chapters exhibit certain traits, as codified by the various codices dedicated to the Blood Angels. However, in the wide, wide galaxy that is the Imperium, anything can happen. What if these traits exhibited themselves differently? What if you had to represent the Death Company in a totally different way? Perhaps through the lens of a different codex. But which one? Dark Angels? Space Wolves? Vanilla? That choice is up to you. The point to the exercise, as suggested in the title, is to think outside of the box. For example: The Red Sentinels A later founding of Blood Angel stock, the Red Sentinels operate on the border between the Segmentum Solar and the Segmentum Tempestus. The Chapter, known and respected for their monastic ways, have often not only revered Sanguinius as their gene-father, but also as the son of a deity - the God-Emperor. Sanguinala marks the holiest day for the Red Sentinels, held in higher esteem than even the Feast of the Emperor's Ascension. For the Red Sentinels, the Death Company are fielded on bikes and land speeders, to bring swift death to the foes of the Imperium. Sent on long ranging sorties and penetrating strikes alike, it is surprising that those afflicted have enough control to ride the vehicles long enough to make contact - even if many dismount upon contact with the enemy. As you can see, we have a Blood Angels chapter treated like a Dark Angels chapter on the tabletop, and yet they are still nominally Sanguinius' progeny. Now, this is nothing too serious, it doesn't have to be a work of art or a nominee for the Booker prize, just a little mental jiggery pokery that lasts about two paragraphs. Let's see what you got. Have fun.

so, Berzul's thread Calling the banners of the Knights of the Order! reminded me of a project I wanted to do. Essentially, much like Chapter Master Valrak and his Last Wall Protocol force of Primaris marines, I'm going to make the First Legion reborn with Primaris, as my Firstborn are all in the 30k scheme (as they're intended for the Horus Heresy) An army made of the Dark Angels and their successors, both canon and homebrew. So, I am calling all descendants of the Lion: If you have a successor, who are they, what Founding, what are their colours and heraldry, and what Primaris marine unit would fit them the most? These can include normal units, solo characters and vehicles. If you can, please post an image of your successor here, along with a breakdown of their colour scheme so I'll know how to paint them accurately (paints used in scheme will be a help). I'll start with the following examples: The Northern Lions: A Second Founding successor. In general, a combined-arms force, their specialization is that they're non-specialized, with a preference for ranged. Chapter symbol is a golden lion head on a blue field. Majority blue armour, with bone/cream thigh and arms, use gold trim. Their elite formation, the Livgardet, instead has entirely blue armour with silver trim. Visual reference for scheme: Normal brother of the Northern Lions: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm/bpe=08085A&bpj=08085A&bp=08085A&bpc=08085A&hdt=08085A&hdm=08085A&hdl=08085A&ey=C21920&er=08085A&pi=393939&nk=08085A&ch=08085A&eg=E7BD42&sk=E7BD42&abs=08085A&bt=08085A&cod=08085A&ull=EFD9A8&lk=08085A&lll=08085A&lft=08085A&url=EFD9A8&rk=08085A&lrl=08085A&rft=08085A&slt=E7BD42&sli=08085A&srt=E7BD42&sri=08085A&ula=EFD9A8&lel=EFD9A8&lla=EFD9A8&lw=EFD9A8&lh=EFD9A8&ura=EFD9A8&rel=EFD9A8&rla=EFD9A8&rw=EFD9A8&rh=EFD9A8&bg=FFFFFF&rb=393939&gr=393939&wg=true&aq=true&mk7=333333&blt=CC0000&/spacemarine.jpg Livgardet: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm/bpe=08085A&bpj=08085A&bp=08085A&bpc=08085A&hdt=08085A&hdm=08085A&hdl=08085A&ey=EB2E28&er=08085A&pi=393939&nk=08085A&ch=08085A&eg=B5B5BD&sk=B5B5BD&abs=08085A&bt=08085A&cod=08085A&ull=08085A&lk=08085A&lll=08085A&lft=08085A&url=08085A&rk=08085A&lrl=08085A&rft=08085A&slt=B5B5BD&sli=08085A&srt=B5B5BD&sri=08085A&ula=08085A&lel=08085A&lla=08085A&lw=08085A&lh=08085A&ura=08085A&rel=08085A&rla=08085A&rw=08085A&rh=08085A&bg=FFFFFF&rb=393939&gr=393939&wg=true&hsk=true&laurel=true&aq=true&cloak=AA0000&mk8=true&tabard=fce3b8&mk6kn=true&pp=AA0000&pws=true&/spacemarine.jpg Colour scheme reference: The Northern Lions will be represented via a squad of 10 Intercessors (Standard Bolt rifles) and a squad of 6 Livgardet (Bladeguard Veterans) Lion's Hussars (name is an early draft): A Second Founding successor derived solely from a Ravenwing formation, and as such kept to the original manner of the Ravenwing, not just "all bikes, all the time". So they're mounted cavalry (bikes, speeders and aircraft) but also reconnaissance and orbital drop assaults*. Symbol is a red winged horse on a white field. Visual reference for scheme: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm/bpe=991115&bpj=991115&bp=991115&bpc=991115&hdt=B5B5BD&hdm=B5B5BD&hdl=B5B5BD&ey=63B521&er=B5B5BD&pi=393939&nk=B5B5BD&ch=B5B5BD&eg=E7BD42&sk=E7BD42&abs=B5B5BD&bt=B5B5BD&cod=991115&ull=991115&lk=991115&lll=991115&lft=991115&url=991115&rk=991115&lrl=991115&rft=991115&slt=E7BD42&sli=FFFFFF&srt=E7BD42&sri=FFFFFF&ula=991115&lel=991115&lla=991115&lw=991115&lh=991115&ura=991115&rel=991115&rla=991115&rw=991115&rh=991115&bg=FFFFFF&rb=393939&gr=393939&wg=true&mk6=true&aq=true&mk6kn=true&bpr=E7BD42&cs=E7BD42&/spacemarine.jpg Colour scheme reference: * TL;DR: Ravenwing with Raven Guard The Hussars will be represented via a squad of 10 Infiltrator and a squad of 3 Outriders HOMEBREW SUCCESSORS OF THE FIRST LEGION REBORN Northern Lions - Intercessors x10, Bladeguard x6 - [Myself] Lion's Hussars - Infiltrators x10, Outriders x3 [Myself] Consecrated Blades - Flamestorm Aggressors x6 - [Wolf Guard Einar] Wings of Dawn - 10 Hellblasters [Berzul]

Hello all, With the upcoming release of White Dwarf 468, we will be getting a more in depth look at the Wolfspear chapter, as well as iconography, a chapter symbol and their organization. I wanted to take the time to add a more in-depth discussion about them as our first successor (barring the Wolf Brothers), as well as make available any resources about them. Right now, we have the introduction page of the white dwarf index: As well as the transfer sheet: From this, we can already see and conclude that the Wolfspear are organized into what looks like eight Jarldoms, which must be their breakdown as compared to Great Companies or Companies in a normal chapter. There are some shared iconography with the Space Wolves chapter, but some other differences, where it looks like battleline, close support and fire support units have a squad marking of some kind instead of the painted geometric symbols of the Space Wolves. We should be getting more information as the magazine gets closer to release, although it will be late here in the US. In the shown White Dwarf pages on the bottom right box of the second page, we can also see a subtle mention of another Successor chapter, the Icefangs, but that is a saga for another time I think.

Just getting back into the hobby after being gone for about 9 years. Making my own chapter that was founded after the first Terran Crusade by the Black Templars and Imperial Fists. Think World War stormtrooper types. Use BT rules. C&C welcome. Plan on adding some fluff as I go also

Shenandoah Knights Chapter http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@haiWu_hly1H.iakk7____@@@.@_@@..@@@@@@@@@@@hXD48@hXD48@@@@@@@@@@@_hksDA@@@@@@@@@____hksDA.&grid=TRUE Origins It is believed that the Shenandoah Knights chapter were formed as part of the 25th Founding. As it is around this time that the first mentions of the chapter appear in Imperial records. Home World The Shenandoah Knights claim the Shenandoah system in the Segmentum Pacificus as their home and maintain chapter keeps, which bear the title of Knight's Keep, on the inhabited planets in the system. They are Kyboro, Atlantica, Urangara and Lydale. Prior to the Shenandoah Knights claiming the system, it had a proud military history and provided many regiments, which were collectively referred to as the Shenandoah Guard for the Imperial Guard and while the numbers may have dropped, it is tradition that is still continued. Gene-Seed The gene-seed of the Shenandoah Knights is that of the Imperial Fists Legion and they share many of the same traits of that chapter. The chapter shares many personality with the Black Templars and claim their first generation's gene-seed came from the tithes of Black Templars to Terra Organisation The Shenandoah Knights maintain many of the traditions of their parent chapter, one of which is that the chapter is fleet based, even though they claim a system as their own, if not a single world. However their organisation strongly resembles that of the Black Templars, but rather than an ad hoc organisation like that of the Black Templars, the chapter is organised into 4 Priories, three of which are about equivalent in size to that of 3 companies from other chapters and each include their own Armoury, Reclusium and Apothecarium. The fourth Priory is called The Grand Priory, which is the Priory of the Grand Master and includes the chapter’s senior ranks. The chapter has a small number of Terminator suits that are used by the veterans of the Grand Priory. Recruitment The ways that the Knights recruit on each planet varies. However while each Priory recruits from all the planets in the system, each one tends to recruit from a specific planet more than the others and this in turn has had an affect on the character of each Priory. Combat Doctrine Due to being a fleet based chapter that seldom comes together in one place, each Priory has developed their own idiosyncrasies. The third Priory which favours assault over ranged fighting, has a higher number of assault troops. Whereas the second Priory which favours long range tactics, has a higher number of fire support troops. Beliefs The people of the Shenandoah system are strong believers of the Imperial Creed and as such they venerate the Emperor as the God of Man and this has influenced the chapter's own beliefs. This has meant that the chapter have a strong and close relationship with the Ecclesiarchy and the Adepta Sororitas an it's not uncommon for the Knights to be seen fighting alongside Adepta Soroitas forces. But as you can imagine this belief has caused them to have a somewhat strained relationship with other Astartes chapters who do not share their beliefs. Battle Cry To date there has been no recorded battle cry. It almost seems as if the chapter fights in silence and communicate via vox when needed. The only time during battle that anything is uttered is when they have to communicate with another force Notable Member of the Shenandoah Knights Grand Master Waddell - Waddell is the chapter's current Grand Master, He is the second to hold the office in the chapter's history. Grand Master Bulloch - Bulloch was the Shenandoah Knight's first Grand Master and was killed in a warp accident upon the Battle Barge Sea King. The chapter's flagship.

INDEX ASTARTES: THE AURIC BLADES Progenitors: Raven Guard (12th Founding; Approx. late M35) Homeworld: Athule (Feral World; Segmentum Ultima) Fortress-Monastery: The Pinnacle (Lunar Fortress) Combat Doctrine: Primaris Chapter / Mechanised Firefights Successors: None Known or Acknowledged “Breathe deep the vapours, my Brothers, and know the blessings of Valour. Feel the chemical gifts of Corax’ sons in your lungs and know the burden of Chivalry. See past these mundane and tainted stars and see your Quest, and know your Inspiration. Breathe deep the vapours, and be suffused.” -Thirteenth Beseechment of the Codex Valourous The Golden Knights of Athule. The Dreaming Questors. The Emblazoned. The Mad. To their allies and to history the Auric Blades have been known by many great names and lofty titles, but always they have been counted amongst the foremost of Humanity’s champions. The coming of the Auric Blades is heralded by the roar of engines and the whine of grav-plates as the great armoured vehicles of the Chapter roll inevitably forwards. The roar and impact of the guns come next; heavy guns mounted on vehicles or wielded by long-range support squads, and lighter guns fired by Blades on the wing. As the Auric Blades close on their prey, their own voices join the cacophony as squads march up behind the battle tanks and dismount the transports and give voice to the glorious hymns of Athule. The stench of their alchemical vapours waft on the breeze from vials and censers as the Blades themselves finally open fire. Few enemies survive much longer, and none save the most worthy or most terrible ever see the silver shine of their blades. To almost all, the Auric Blades are a sudden and lethal riot of golden armour, explosive munitions and blessed smoke. Bound by their own strange ideals of chivalry and valour, the Auric Blades were a zealous and driven fraternity long before they were brought unto the cusp of extinction by the darkness and conflict of the Great Rift. With the gift of the Ultima Founding, the Auric Blades have been reborn as phoenixes, and now their hallowed hatred rages in a greater inferno than they have ever known before. Guided now by both their own mysterious Inspiration and by a desire to see their honour and legacy restored, the knights of the Auric Blades march once again to war against the enemies of the Imperium. THE CULT OF VALOUR Like all the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, the Auric Blades are defined and shaped by their unique Chapter Cult - the rituals and practises that shape the daily life and psyche of their fraternity. Whilst many Chapters can trace a number of their Cult traditions back to the practises of their progenitors, the Auric Blades seem far more shaped by the unusual chivalry of the Athulians than by the beliefs of Corax’ Raven Guard. There are a few elements which appear to be developments of the original cult - for example the Blades’ habit of coming-of-age hunts and totems may be a development of the Corvia of the Raven Guard - and yet for the most part the Auric Blades stand alone. INSPIRATION More than anything else, it is the Inspiration that defines the Brothers of the Auric Blades and sets them apart from their distant kin in other Chapters. Believed by many to be a flaw or quirk of the Chapter’s geneseed, the Inspiration manifests as strange, ritualised dreams that will guide the actions of the afflicted for the rest of his life. The Inspiration is considered by many of the Chapter’s Apothecary to be in part a chemical shift throughout the entirety of a Marine’s body - a subtle reworking of a large number of processes, though why and to what end remains a mystery to even the most learned. However the Inspiration is most readily seen not through the chemical shifts, but through the great dreams it imparts to the Battle Brothers that are inspired. The Inspiration creates great dreams in those gripped by it. The details of the dream will vary, but it will always take the form of a great hunt. Sometimes the hunt will be conducted alone, and other times they will hunt in great processions. The terrain might vary, as might the exact nature of their monstrous quarry, but it will always be a challenge - the age-old matching of might between Hunter and Beast. The dreams, when they start to come, are vivid - as real to the Inspired as any battle or sermon or training exercise from their waking days. The dreams are analysed in great detail by the Chaplains, for the Auric Blades believe that these dreams reveal the fate and calling of the dreamers. There are a great many archetypes that recur in multiple individuals - the Dream of the Rising Leviathan, the Dream of the Hydra, the Dream of a Hungering Drake, to name a few - but these serve only to provide a starting point for the meaning of the dreams. Chaplains must study for a great many years before they are trusted to interpret a Brother’s Inspiration alone. This fate - this new certainty of purpose - is known as the Quest. It is a call to embody some facet of the Chapter’s duty and version of blazing knighthood. The Quest is the most sombre duty that an Auric Blade can be given, and the dreams are ever a reminder of all that a Brother must be in service to the Emperor and the Primarch Corax. Whilst not all of the Battle Brothers of the Auric Blades will be blessed by the Inspiration, once a Marine begins to dream the dreams will never stop coming to them - each time they close their eyes they will find themselves back on that surreal quest. The dreams will rarely change within an individual, and when they do it is a matter of interest not only for their own journey, but for the Chaplains that guide the Chapter Cult. Whilst in theory there is no formal rank attached to the Inspiration, or any requirement for officers to have been Inspired before they are awarded commands, in practise the Inspiration is everything. In the entire history of the Chapter there have barely been a few dozen Captains, Sergeants and other officers who have not borne the heraldry of the dreamers, and Companies that have few or no Inspired beneath their Captain are considered ill-omened in the extreme. In the most extreme of cases, Captains have petitioned their fellow commanders to second them some of their Inspired Brothers until Inspiration blossoms within their own ranks. Though rare, there are cases of neophytes and recently-inducted Battle Brothers becoming Inspired even there in their comparative youth. These blessed few are considered to be chosen by the Emperor, and generally enjoy a meteoric ascent through the Chapter’s ranks. It is unclear why, but these blessed warriors appear to bring out the Inspiration in those around them in usually unheard of numbers. They become something of a lucky charm for many squads, with veterans who have never been Inspired fighting all the harder to stay beside them in battle, hoping for the Dreams to come. The Inspiration is the responsibility of the Auric Blades’ Chaplains in every sense. It is the Chalains who administer the enlightening drug-fumes before battle or meditation that allow their Battle Brothers the best chance of attaining or mastering the Inspiration; it is the Chaplains that sit and interpret the dreams of the Inspired to find their fate, and; it is the Chaplains that stand as watchers over their Brothers, ever making sure that their strange dreams never stop being Inspiration and start to become the mad whisperings of Chaos. THE GREAT DREAMS Whilst each Inspiration is utterly unique, there are a handful of archetypes and common images that appear with some frequency, allowing the Chaplains to create broad collectives that define the outline of the Inspired’s fate. These are known as the Great Dreams. Some are defined by their prey-adversary, such as the Hungering Drake, in which the great wyrm represents the external crusaders of the Archenemy, or the Mists of the Selkun, where the Inspired must prove victorious through cunning rather than through simple strength of arms. Others, such as the Rising Leviathan, denote the arena in which the Inspired will earn their renown, whilst Inspirations such as the First Quest are more esoteric still, denoting a lonely fate or painful death. To have one of the Great Dreams, however altered, is to know one’s place in the Chapter - to know exactly what one must become to be a hero and to honour the Immortal Emperor. The stranger, rarer dreams offer no such comfort - the bearers of the more unique Inspirations must trust to the skills of their Chaplains and the whims of fate as they attempt to live their Inspiration across the fickle battlegrounds of the Imperium. ORACLES In a rare few cases (barely more than one every century or two) a Brother receives more than his usual share of Inspiration. Rather than a single, unchanging dream, these Blades instead have versions of the Great Dreams that switch and change seemingly every night. Known as “Oracles” these Astartes are believed to be even more in tune with the Inspiration than others, and their dreams are analysed almost constantly in the hope of unearthing some call to action from the Emperor to the Chapter as a whole. There have not been any Oracles for centuries, and some believe that something about the Great Rift or the nature of the Primaris Astartes has ended the very possibility of the Oracles. However, others believe that it is simply that there is no need for Oracles at present, and that they will reemerge amongst the Auric Blades when the Emperor and Lord Corax deem them necessary. HERALDRY Like a number of Chapters, the Auric Blades make a tradition and an art of heraldry, and in theory every single member of the Chapter is eligible to earn the right to wear a personal coat of arms, often opposite the Chapter’s own icon, or else on a tilt shield fitted to their armour. However the Auric Blades are perhaps unique in how they deem a Battle Brother worthy of bearing heraldry. Heraldry is awarded to any who are struck by their Inspiration and find their Quest - upon explaining their first true Dream to a Chaplain they are taken to a Chapter shrine, giving them time to meditate whilst the Chaplains and a dedicated body of Chapter serfs - the Tireless Kamon - work out exactly what combinations of motifs, emblems and colours to gift the Inspired. The process can be an arduous one. Not only must the heraldry not resemble too closely any design currently active within the Chapter or its recent history, but it must also reflect what the Auric Blades consider to be the underlying and eternal significance of the various aspects of the Battle Brother’s dream, and must (at least nominally) must match to the wider ‘age’ of Inspiration through which the Chaplains have decided the Chapter to currently be moving through. As a result the heraldry of the Auric Blades is often massively varied. Whilst many bear the same heraldic motifs that appear on a number of worlds throughout the Imperium - skulls, hourglasses, candles, dragons, swords, slain monsters and daemons, and the like - they also incorporate a whole range of wider and stranger symbols. It is not unheard of to see an Auric Blade whose heraldry incorporates mundane beasts, bolter icons, Terran bolts of unity, falling stars and on occasion even rarer charges. As it is linked so closely to Inspiration, heraldry is a key part of the mentality and soul of the Auric Blades Chapter. All of the Chapter’s officers bear the heraldry of their Inspiration, and those marked by heraldry often unofficially outrank their Brothers, marked by the favour of their Primarch and the Emperor. WIDER CHAPTER CULT Whilst the Inspiration serves as the focal point for the beliefs of the Auric Blades, it is far from their only point of veneration. Even when not heightened to the status of fated calling by the Inspiration, knighthood forms the beating heart of daily life within the Chapter. Like the knights of Athule from which they are drawn, the Auric Blades hold the twin arts of swordsmanship and marksmanship above all others. Even the lowest of the Chapter practise ceaselessly to master all manner of blades and lethal edges with which they might deal death to their enemies. However for a knight of the calibre of a Space Marine, it would be unbecoming to frequently sully his blade in the blood of an enemy unless pressed. As such the Auric Blades work to heighten their skill with Bolter and Plasma Gun and all manner of firearms. Only the worthy shall lose their blood testing the skill of an Auric Blade in melee - chosen either for a duel, or by their skill in surviving the firestorm of their gunlines. To the Auric Blades the latter is as chivalric as any honour duel, for their knighthood shall shine forever brighter by having being tested by the greatest of Humanity’s enemies. Their wider code of chivalry is full of small touches that betray their origins on Athule, and almost all bear some mark of being transformed into ritual by the all-encompassing Inspiration. This covers everything from their archaic treating-phrases for dealing with other Imperial forces, through to their attitudes to the study of warfare and combat etiquette. Beyond the dreams of the Inspiration, however, there is perhaps no clearer sign of its influence than in the Chapter’s attitudes towards its historic heroes. Even more so than most Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, the Auric Blades venerate their historic heroes, even going as far as to adopt titles based upon their famous victories and to pray to them as exemplars of knighthood on the eve of battle, calling upon them in the same manner as the Primarch and the Emperor. The battle cant of the Chapter is full of allusions to these heroes, and a few Brothers even take the name of one of these lost legends, believing that through emulation they might achieve some fragment of that hero’s greatness and glory.

During this lockdown period, I've been immersing myself somewhat into the lore of the 1st Legion. It started off with a simple question - who are the current Company Masters? - but has now evolved into something a bit deeper: what happened immediately after the Destruction of Caliban, how was the Legion split in line with the Codex, and who were the key indidviduals involved? During my "research", I've also potentially uncovered a possible identity for Cypher...more on that later! But first, what happened immediately after the Destruction of Caliban. The codexes essentially tell the following: Based on the events of Dreadwing and Ruinstorm, at this point I would speculate that the "Legion Masters" would be the 6 Hexagrammaton Voted-Liuetenants, as they appear to serve more as the Lion's council than any of the Chapter Masters. Dreadwing identifies these Masters and their voted successors (pre-Destruction of Caliban) as follows: Deathwing - Holguin, Carorlingus Ravenwing - Aloceri Ironwing - Venerable Titus Dreadwing - Redloss, Danaeus, Gawain Stormwing - Calloson Firewing - Vastael Also likely to be included is a representation from the Librarius - mirroring the 40k Inner Circle structure. Again, based on the events of Dreadwing we know there is a deep level of mistrust between the Voted-Lieutenants - notably the Dreadwing and Deathwing. It would thus make sense that they would mutually agree to an "overlapping system" of Legion command. At this point, the Legion is making every effort to keep secret all of the events that took place on Caliban. This would lend itself to a certain amount of focus, allowing tensions to be set aside. The next event to happen is the discovery of the existence of the Fallen. Quoting from the codex: The suggestion here is that the Inner Circle remains united. I would speculate that this actually re-opens the old tensions: the Inner Circle are now faced with the possibility of their secret being discovered, and there is disagreement between the Inner Circle on how to proceed. This is based on the distinct differences that we see in the attitudes of Holguin (Deathwing) and Redloss (Dreadwing) during Dreadwing. It is also based on what we currently know about the Second Founding chapters. At this point we have 4 1st Legion successor chapters...but 6 "Wings". There are some interesting points to note here: All of the chapters appear to have adopted the Deathwing/Ravenwing organisation; At the point of Dreadwing, Aloceri - the Ravenwing Voted-Lieutenant - was a direct choice of Holguin. Why is this important? In my mind, it indicates that Holguin's camp prevailed over Redloss's camp, with Holguin's influence prevailing over the adoption of the Codex Astartes and the splitting of the Legion into chapters. Here comes the controversion bit: at this point, Redloss's camp split from the Legion, unbeknownst to the Imperium. (For clarity, at this point it may be that Holguin/Redless et al have since died, but their allegiences are maintained by their successors). What is the evidence for this? The previously identified dominance of Deathwing/Ravenwing structure in the successor chapters; The lack of identifiable Dreadwing operating protocols in any of the successors; The Star Phantoms; The potential identity of Cypher. Point (1) we have covered above. Point (2) could be due to adoption of the Codex Astartes and use of such weapons being outlawed. Point (3) is an interesting one. Supposedly, the Star Phantoms are a 23rd Founding chapter...who happen to share the same heraldry of the Dreadwing, exhibit behaviours similar to that of the Dark Angels, and have a penchant for non-traditional weapons such as plasma and melta. Oh and when you ask them (and the Dark Angels too), they "vehemently deny" any association to the Dark Angels. Oh no, absolutely not! Which is the sort of thing that you might say if you've had a really big falling out, resulting in an ideological split. The speculation here then, is that at the Second Founding the Dreadwing completely split from the imperium, either staying low for some 8,000 years or perhaps being stuck in the Warp during that time...at which point they re-emerge and manage to convince the Imperium that they're a 23rd founding chapter. What have they been doing during this time? Perhaps they are on their own redemption path, split from the Imperium to wage war against the Fallen without any restriction. At this point, it's worth noting the difference between Holguin and Redless. From Dreadwing: Redloss: "We are th Angels of Death...For the Lion and Caliban, we destroy everything." Holguin: "Loyalty and honour, my brothers! For the Throne!" I appreciate it's only a single batte cry, but I believe this gives rise to the possibility of the Deathwing camp wanting to remain within the Imperium (and thus abide by all of the different restrictions) in their pursuit of the The Fallen, while the Dreadwing camp want to instead split from the Imperiu and hunt The Fallen unbound, as they are used to doing. Now on to point (4). Within Dreadwing is this very brief mention: Admittedly they're both bolt pistols, but this is an interesting reference. More so given that Danaeus is one of Redloss's voted successors. The things we know about Cypher is that he is on some unknown quest, heading towards Terra. Whether it's to kill the Emperor, or to seek redemption is unknown. However, we do know that he is essentially his own man; he will align with other Fallen / Chaos agents when the need arises, but he will also provide support to Imperium factions - including the Dark Angels themselves. We also know from the early lore that nobody knows the true identify of Cypher. Given the existence of two voted successors - Gawain being the other - it is not inconceivable that Danaeus is appointed the role of Lord Cypher immediately after the Destruction of Caliban. If we follow the assumption of the Dreadwing completely splitting from both the Dark Angels and the Imperium, then we can see why Cypher would become the "neutral" agent that he is. Exactly what his mission is is an answer I still do not have. But I am hoping that whenever Black Library tackles the Destruction of Caliban and the 2nd Founding, then we may get answers to some of these questions. Anyway, that's all I have. I hope you enjoyed reading, and would welcome your thoughts / challenges / additional references.