IA: Black Falcons

[Heru]

Index Astartes: The Black Falcons

Victory should not be measured by the actions undertook to claim it. - Black Falcon Motto

 

Origins

 

The 22nd Founding was a chance to make up from the weakness created in the Imperium's defenses following the failure of the 21st Founding, and the disasterous Age of Apostay. Within the 22nd Founding, as with the 14th Founding, specific care was taken to ensure the purity of the Geneseed used although unlike with the 14th Founding no specific restrictions were placed on what Geneseed was used as long the mutation rates were in the normal levels for the Geneseed sample in question. It was in this Founding that the White Falcons were born from the Ultramarine Geneseed their job was to strengthen the weakened defenses of Imperial space bordering a region in the Segmentum Tempestus known as Veiled Region, an expansive area of space in which Warp travel was extremely unreliable and Astropathic communication was extremely difficult - a perfect breeding ground for Xenos Empires, Renegades and forgotten Human colonies.

The White Falcon's intial command cadre was donated to them by the Bronze Raptors Fleet based Chapter which operated in the same region as the White Falcons were to further secure. The first Chapter Master was therefore former 3rd Company Captain of the Bronze Raptors Asar Talon...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes

 

Origins

 

1. 22nd Foundling (following disasters such as the 21st, the Age of Apostay, and resulting xenos, and renegade incursions - 22nd meant to fill the gap).

 

2. Of Ultramarine Geneseed, successor of the Bronze Raptors Chapter.

 

3. First Chapter Master Asar Talon originally 3rd Company Captain of the Bronze Raptors - Asar born on Xeskis VII - Bronze Raptors Fleet Based Chapter who used Xeskis VII as one of their recruiting worlds - Bronze Raptors give the recruiting world to the newly formed White Falcons.

 

4. Positioned in the Segementum Tempestus.

 

5. Created to protect Imperial Systems on the edge of an area labeled "The Veiled region".

 

6. Those Companies who can returning home en mass every 22 years for homeworld celebrations, and family reunions.

 

7. The Extinction Agenda invasion of the White Falcon homeworld (thousands of Xeskis'ians turn on the White Falcons) - Chaos Ritual (Ritual specifically designed beforehand to turn the White Falcons to Chaos).

 

8. The taint and the massacre (White Falcons in a "Chaos Rage", slaughter those who remained loyal to them) - Weakness of Compassion - Black Falcon in the ruins with a toy (Chapter Master meets legendary bird who is holding a toy from his past in the ruins of house he was born in - this pulls him out of his "Chaos Rage").

 

9. White Falcons become Black Falcons (Chapter Master purges his Chapter of those too far gone) - Destruction of Chapter Fortress - Exodus into the mountains - Effort to save the Chapter.

 

10. Change in personality - White Knights to Black Knights.

 

 

 

Homeworld

 

1. Xeskis VII - Twilight World - Dark Sun - Energised atmosphere.

 

2. Imperial Tech level - medieval theme.

 

3. Strong people - committed to family - traditionalists.

 

4. White and Black Falcon birds.

 

5. Fortress Monastery located in the centre of Xeskis VII's capital city.

 

6. Ancient ruins.

 

7. Xeskis VII and it's people after the invasion - suspicion of technology, dark ages, civilian loss of contact with the rest of the Imperium, superstition.

 

 

 

Combat Doctrine

 

1. Compare the differences between White Falcon and Black Falcon Combat Doctrines.

 

2. Struggle to figure out what their Combat Doctrines are like...

 

 

 

Organization

 

1. Codex.

 

2. Struggle to even make this section worth the text...

 

 

 

Beliefs

 

1. Emperor but a man.

 

2. White Falcon beliefs - All human life precious - Save as many people, and planets as possible - Compassion.

 

3. Black Falcon beliefs - Anything for victory (the ends justify the means) - Veiled disgust for the weak - Compassion is a weakness that leads to taint.

 

 

 

Geneseed

 

1. Ultramarine.

 

2. Note hesitation to submit Geneseed after the Chapter becomes the Black Falcons - though stress that they do submit Geneseed still.

 

 

 

Battlecry

 

1....

 

 

 

Colourschemes

 

White Falcons

 

Tactical Marine, 3rd Co -------- Sergeant, 5th Co -------- Veteran Sergeant, 4th Co -------- Veteran, 1st Co -------- Veteran Sergeant, 1st Co

 

(That is Boltgun metal silver not Grey).

 

 

Black Falcons

 

Tactical Marine, 2nd Co -------- Sergeant, 3rd Co -------- Veteran Sergeant, 5th Co -------- Veteran, 1st Co -------- Veteran Sergeant, 1st Co

 

 

Company Captain, 8th Co ---------- Terminator, 1st Co

 

 

Sidebars

 

1. Basis of the White Falcon name - Asar Talon.

 

2. The Nexus League.

 

3. The Falcon's Armour.

 

4. Fatherhood - Falcon Brothers.

 

5. Invasion.

 

6. Extinction Agenda.

 

7. Heru Talon.

[Heru]

Hmm.

[Codex Grey]

Hmm.

 

No response? I'll give it a try.

 

The first six origin points looks good, although I'm not sure what you mean when you say family reunions. The last origin points are very vague. I'm not a big fan of the name change thing, but I need to see it explained before I can comment on it.

 

Homeworld looks ok. Maybe you could tie the medieval theme into the combat doctrine, like marching forward with swords and shields to meet the enemy in close combat. Maybe the White Falcons had a noble knight approach, meeting the enemy head-on, while the Black falcons use ambushes and tirty tactics.

 

You could talk about their relationship with their techmarines in the organization section, since they have this suspicion of technology. Maybe they view the T-marines as nothing but necessary tools.

 

I think the Beliefs are interesting, but you really need a good reason for the change if you ask me. Pull that off and it can be great.

 

Right now it's just notes, so maybe thats why there has been no response. But it's quite old too, so i'm wondering, have you made any progress?

 

Just some thoughts.

 

EDIT: And you were right about the guy with the hammer. Brother Tyler confirmed that he is master of the fleet. But you already knew that :devil:

[Heru]

The first six origin points looks good, although I'm not sure what you mean when you say family reunions.

The Marines maintain their close connections to their pre-marinehood families.

 

 

The last origin points are very vague. I'm not a big fan of the name change thing, but I need to see it explained before I can comment on it.

No-one has ever really been a fan of the concept, but I've always felt it was necessary to properly symbolise the dramatic change in the Chapter's character.

 

I'll expand on the last origin points.

 

7. The Exodus/Reaver invasion of the White Falcon homeworld

Two Renegade Space Marine Chapters:

1. Exodus is a Chapter full of Sorcerers dedicated to Chaos who are particularly proficient at psychic mind control - and cause a large portion (80%) of Xeskis VII's population to turn against the Chapter (this "betrayal" was a real blow to the Chapter's moral, being forced to fight many they knew and cared for - all the while unaware that the Exodus Chapter had in fact used mind control on the people), and the worlds PDF troops. Their base of operations is hidden in the Nebula that the Xeskis system lies just outside of.

2. Imperial Reavers (full name) is a Chapter of the 21st (Cursed) Founding. Attempts at increasing the speed of Geneseed maturation, and Scout - Marine progression resulted in a hyper-aggression side effect that turned the Chapter into psychopaths. The Exodus Sorcerers are proficient at controlling Reavers.

 

 

Chaos Ritual.

The Exodus Chapter's goal was to turn the White Falcons Chapter to Chaos through a special ritual that involved a major mass sacrifice. The energy released by the ritual destroyed the late returning 2nd Company fleet (along with the Chapter Master's brother), and weakened real-space enough to allow the Exodus Chapter to summon Daemonic reinforcements.

 

 

8. The taint and the massacre

The Chaos taint created by the ritual was slow in effect, and it was not until the Exodus, Reaver, and Puppet Civilian forces were destroyed that it truly gained a hold of the White Falcons. The taint turned the White Falcons on those PDF, and Civilians who had stayed loyal to them throughout. In a murderous rage brought on by paranoia, and mutations the White Falcons decimated all within the Capital city, raising buildings to the ground, and even turning on one another.

 

 

Weakness of Compassion

Brought on by the paranoia, the White Falcons saw the non-marines as the weak link, the reason that they were susceptible to the taint in the first place, it did not matter later when they found out that the Exodus Chapter was in fact experts in mind control.

 

 

Black Falcon in the ruins with a toy.

The Black Falcons are a highly intelligent, aggressive, and very large species of bird related to the much smaller White Falcon (which while also intelligent is actually protective of humans - they are known to flock together to drive away predators that are attacking lone travellers, and children - Black Falcons on the other had are solitary, living away from human settlements, and likely to kill lone travellers).

It was Heru Talon the Chapter Master that came upon the bird in the ruins of his family home in the Capital during the Massacre event, clutched in it's talon was a toy that had once belonged to him. It brought to him the sudden reality of what the Chapter was doing, erasing the blood rage from his mind, and leading him on the road to expunging his Chapter of the Chaos taint.

 

 

9. White Falcons become Black Falcons - Destruction of Chapter Fortress - "Exodus" into the mountains - Effort to save the Chapter.

The White Falcons had felt they were no longer worthy of their Chapter name, they had dishonoured the memory of all who had gone before them, and all they sought to protect. They had also allowed what they now perceived as a weakness (their closeness to the common humanity), to leave them vulnerable to the influence of Chaos. What now remained of the Chapter, now having cooled their blood rage (with the aid of the Chapter's surviving Librarians, and Chaplains), sunk into a deep depression during this time period, and even though they had survived the taint, it now seemed as though this depression would lead to the end of the Chapter.

Heru was forced to make a number of radical decisions if he were to bring them back from the brink.

 

1. His first act was to raise their old Chapter Fortress in the heart of the now ruined Capital city to the ground. Within those Marines who could not be saved from the taint were imprisoned to die with the Fortress.

 

2. His next act was to move the Chapter headquarters into the remote Black Falcon mountains (named as such because a great many Black Falcons resided there), many hundreds of miles from what remained of the ordinary human survivors (who were on the road to regressing into a medieval, and technologically suspicious state).

 

3. It was here in the mountains that he decided to remodel the Chapter, changing their White and Silver (the colours of the White Falcon birds) to the Black and Purple of the Black Falcon birds. It is at this point that he also renamed the Chapter making them the Black Falcons.

 

 

10. Change in personality - White Knights to Black Knights.

The Chaos taint had not left the Chapter unscathed, it had damaged their beliefs, and their ability to connect with normal human emotions (even more so than a regular Marine). Just like the colour of their armour their beliefs had to be rebuilt anew, but their emotional awareness was forever damaged.

The Black Falcons became dark, and brooding, seeing the common man as no longer worthy of their protection or compassion unless it advanced the greater good as they saw it (no not the Tau kind).

 

 

Homeworld looks ok. Maybe you could tie the medieval theme into the combat doctrine, like marching forward with swords and shields to meet the enemy in close combat. Maybe the White Falcons had a noble knight approach, meeting the enemy head-on, while the Black falcons use ambushes and tirty tactics.

Medieval theme was more in reference to the architecture rather than anything else (old buildings of stone, wood, and slate). The world is of significant Imperial tech level (though doesn't subscribe to building Hives).

 

 

You could talk about their relationship with their techmarines in the organization section, since they have this suspicion of technology. Maybe they view the T-marines as nothing but necessary tools.

That line is actually directed at the civilians rather than the Chapter, to explain the worlds regression into "the Dark Ages" after the Invasion.

 

 

Right now it's just notes, so maybe thats why there has been no response. But it's quite old too, so i'm wondering, have you made any progress?

I have trouble getting inspired, and sitting down to write stuff without the obvious entusiasim of others for what I'm trying to do (odd I know).

 

 

EDIT: And you were right about the guy with the hammer. Brother Tyler confirmed that he is master of the fleet. But you already knew that :P

:lol:

[insanedeano]

7. The Exodus/Reaver invasion of the White Falcon homeworld - Chaos Ritual.

I like your idea for a ritual against your chapter. I would suggest building up some kind of fued between the two chapters before they perform this ritual, just as though they are rubbing salt into a wound. Give the White Falcons a chance to increase their hatred, maybe let it build up until one thing pushes them that little bit too far (ie the ritual).

 

10. Change in personality - White Knights to Black Knights.

I echo the sentiment of a chapter changing, but then if something horrific enough happens to them and the Emperor instructs them, then I could maybe understand it.

 

I remember reading (I believe it was in relation to Deathwatch) that completely repainting armour can anger the machine-spirit of the armour. Maybe they keep some white somewhere, to honour where their heritage lies. Even though the chapter "completely changes", maybe they can still hold onto some things from their previous thinking.

 

Xeskis VII and it's people after the invasion - suspicion of technology, dark ages, civilian loss of contact with the rest of the Imperium, superstition.

Personally, I wouldn't make them necessarily suspicious of technology. From the sound of the "ritual", I have to say I would be more worried about sorcery and the warp. Paranoia could be rife among the chapter, maybe they even hate Librarians for fear of taint?

 

3. Black Falcon beliefs - Anything for victory (the ends justify the means) - Veiled disgust for the weak - Compassion is a weakness that leads to taint.

Wouldn't this statement negate quite a lot of the homeworld stuff? Do you think the chapter would hold the same compassion for the people after this? Maybe I'm missing something.

 

I really like some of your ideas, I suggest you keep on going. If you don't I'll be sad.

[Codex Grey]

Thanks for explaining a few of the points, it makes things clearer. It looks like a potentially great story, and I like the reasoning for the whole change of character. I like it.

 

I see what you mean about the medieval stuff, it was just a suggestion anyway. Insanedeano's idea of Lib'hatin sounds good to me.

 

As I said, I like your ideas. But is it necessary to have the Exodus and the Reavers? I personally think it's unecessary. From what I understand, the Reavers only play the part of henchmen to the Exodus, a role which I think could be better played by traitor guardsmen. Maybe the Exodus Chapter are a sorcerer heavy chapter, and have used their powers to turn entire regiments of guardsmen to their cause. Now they want to try the same thing on a Space Marine Chapter, the White Falcons. Just an Idea. I just think it's a bit too much to make three Chapters just for one IA article. Just my opinion.

[Heru]

7. The Exodus/Reaver invasion of the White Falcon homeworld - Chaos Ritual.

I like your idea for a ritual against your chapter. I would suggest building up some kind of fued between the two chapters before they perform this ritual, just as though they are rubbing salt into a wound. Give the White Falcons a chance to increase their hatred, maybe let it build up until one thing pushes them that little bit too far (ie the ritual).

The ritual was the plan in the first place (the sacrifice of so many of the White Falcon's blood relatives).

 

 

10. Change in personality - White Knights to Black Knights.

I echo the sentiment of a chapter changing, but then if something horrific enough happens to them and the Emperor instructs them, then I could maybe understand it.

 

I remember reading (I believe it was in relation to Deathwatch) that completely repainting armour can anger the machine-spirit of the armour. Maybe they keep some white somewhere, to honour where their heritage lies. Even though the chapter "completely changes", maybe they can still hold onto some things from their previous thinking.

The armour had already been angered by what it had been forced to do, changing it was the equivilent of giving the armour a clean slate, so that it's "honour" could be regained.

 

 

Xeskis VII and it's people after the invasion - suspicion of technology, dark ages, civilian loss of contact with the rest of the Imperium, superstition.

Personally, I wouldn't make them necessarily suspicious of technology. From the sound of the "ritual", I have to say I would be more worried about sorcery and the warp. Paranoia could be rife among the chapter, maybe they even hate Librarians for fear of taint?

It was partly because of the Librarians that the Chapter was able to defeat the Blood Rage in the first place. In essence they owe their Librarians.

 

 

3. Black Falcon beliefs - Anything for victory (the ends justify the means) - Veiled disgust for the weak - Compassion is a weakness that leads to taint.

Wouldn't this statement negate quite a lot of the homeworld stuff? Do you think the chapter would hold the same compassion for the people after this? Maybe I'm missing something.

It's exactly the point. The Chapter did a complete 180*. They hold the 10% of the population that survived in contempt. Now useful for little more than recruits.

 

 

As I said, I like your ideas. But is it necessary to have the Exodus and the Reavers?

The Exodus Chapter wouldn't trust Lost and the Damned forces to get the job done. They are attacking a well defended Space Marine Homeworld (part of the plan perform the ritual when the whole Chapter has returned), that just happens to be part of an organization known as the Nexus League (an alliance of Space Marine Chapters, and Imperial Organizations in the Segmentum Tempestus), with the System being within a few days reach of other Imperial Systems... the Latd forces are the meat of the invasion, Reavers are the Steel, and Exodus is the brains.

[Heru]

Colourscheme section completed.

 

You'll note whilst the Exodus Marines look like typical Chaos Marines, Imperial Reavers whilst renegades do not. This is because Reavers aren't Chaos Space Marines, and most of their armour is taken from Loyalists.

[Heru]

Colourscheme section rank colours completed.

[Heru]

There's going to be a general change to who they are facing in the homeworld invasion, rather than an over complex pairing of one Renegade Cursed Founding Chapter, and one Traitor Chapter of psychic prowess, there will be only one Traitor force instead to replace them (they'll have a sidebar giving a really general summary about them).

 

So instead of a Imperial Reaver + Exodus Chapter invasion the invasion of the homeworld and tainting of the White Falcons will instead be conducted by the Chaos group of the name Extinction Agenda (colourscheme below).

 

(Most of their armour is Boltgun metal, the shoulder pad inserts are Tin Blitz, the Armour + shoulder trim + belt is Graveyard Earth, and the eyes are Bubonic Brown).

[Heru]

--Moved to post 1 --

[Heru]

Made some basic additions to the Origins section, the grammar is probably terrible but then I have never been much of a writer.

[Hubernator]

Had a look through and I think it's good. However, hate to be a killjoy, but someone else is already doing the white falcons. Unless you're working with him or using his DIY for your DIY you have to scrap the "falcon" part of the name.

 

Stepping away from the nag, I like the colour schemes you've done, good job there :devil: Hope to see a full version of the origin part along with the other parts. And don't worry about spelling, you can check that afterwards :lol:

[Octavulg]

Er...Heru Talon was using White Falcons a year ago, if you read the date on his first post. That said, I think he should ditch it and go back to using one name like everyone else. :) :)

 

2. Of Ultramarine Geneseed, successor of the Bronze Raptors Chapter.

 

I assume by this you mean that the Bronze Raptors provided the training cadre.

 

3. First Chapter Master Asar Talon originally 3rd Company Captain of the Bronze Raptors - Asar born on Xeskis VII - Bronze Raptors Fleet Based Chapter who used Xeskis VII as one of their recruiting worlds - Bronze Raptors give the recruiting world to the newly formed White Falcons.

 

I have always been under the impression that Space Marine recruiting worlds (if they had more than one) were generally not their personal domains.

 

5. Created to protect Imperial Systems on the edge of an area labeled "The Veiled region".

 

Despite its versatility, using the [Word for dark][word for area] means of constructing scary names for places is not working well here.

 

Seriously - the Veiled Region? It sounds like you're trying to indulge in parody, or are desperately short of imagination (in this aspect).

 

8. The taint and the massacre (White Falcons in a "Chaos Rage", slaughter those who remained loyal to them) - Weakness of Compassion - Black Falcon in the ruins with a toy (Chapter Master meets legendary bird who is holding a toy from his past in the ruins of house he was born in - this pulls him out of his "Chaos Rage").

 

Me, I think them being Black Falcons from the start would work better. That way the Black Falcon would have more resonance. Alternately, White Falcons from the start and he meets a White Falcon. Changing name and color scheme is seldom done in official fluff, and this is a good thing. If anything, I think it may be done too often even then.

 

Plus, it means you'll eat up fewer names and color schemes, something I always consider a polite thing to do.

 

4. White and Black Falcon birds.

 

Why the duality?

 

2. White Falcon beliefs - All human life precious - Save as many people, and planets as possible - Compassion.

 

3. Black Falcon beliefs - Anything for victory (the ends justify the means) - Veiled disgust for the weak - Compassion is a weakness that leads to taint.

 

I'm not sure I see how the Black Falcon beliefs would rise out of what happened to the White Falcons. I could see compassion as weakness, but if anything, compassion is the only thing that SAVES them - the Chapter Master is pulled away from his rage by nostalgia and compassion.

[Hubernator]

Er...Heru Talon was using White Falcons a year ago, if you read the date on his first post.

 

 

Oops :) my bad. Ignore my nag, I'll just have to take it to the other thread... :) Or I'll leave it alone altogether

[Octavulg]

Oh, a point I forgot in the first post:

 

Purple FEET! Are you INSANE?

 

Please, don't. Just don't. I beg of you.

[Hubernator]

Oh, a point I forgot in the first post:

 

Purple FEET! Are you INSANE?

 

Please, don't. Just don't. I beg of you.

 

Personally I don't see what's wrong with purple feet on this scheme. Purple and black always work well (unless its real drak purple) so I don't see the problem. I like it. Keep it Heru Talon :)

 

May I ask Octavulg, why is it you don't like alternately coloured feet?

[Octavulg]

Light feet and dark legs ALWAYS looks like the marines are wearing little booties. Always. 100% of the time.

 

Marines do not wear little booties.

[Hubernator]

Light feet and dark legs ALWAYS looks like the marines are wearing little booties. Always. 100% of the time.

 

;) Well if they do, may I ask as to why no-one else has complained?

 

Marines do not wear little booties.

 

Well that's obvious and I agree on that front.

[Hubernator]

So sorry about this Heru for creating a mini battle in your thread ;) I'll stop now ;)

[Sigismund Himself]

Despite its versatility, using the [Word for dark][word for area] means of constructing scary names for places is not working well here.

 

Seriously - the Veiled Region? It sounds like you're trying to indulge in parody, or are desperately short of imagination (in this aspect).

Funny, cause it's from GW fluff ;)

[Heru]

Had a look through and I think it's good. However, hate to be a killjoy, but someone else is already doing the white falcons. Unless you're working with him or using his DIY for your DIY you have to scrap the "falcon" part of the name.

Er...Heru Talon was using White Falcons a year ago, if you read the date on his first post. That said, I think he should ditch it and go back to using one name like everyone else. ;) :sweat:

Yep it's been an issue for allot of people, but I'm not ditching it.

It's the core of the Chapter's current state of being from White Knights who protected humanity with every fibre of their being, to Black Knights who don't give a stuff about the common man but do their duty nonetheless.

Allot of people use the name change taboo as a way of making their Chapter more important or special, but for me that's not what I'm trying to do with it. I'm really trying to push the image of a Chapter that really feels it has dishonoured it's heritage to such a degree that it feels it's no longer worthy to carry the legacy of those who went before. And it's this that alienates them from those around them, in effect turning the people's Samurai into self serving Ronin.

 

 

2. Of Ultramarine Geneseed, successor of the Bronze Raptors Chapter.

 

I assume by this you mean that the Bronze Raptors provided the training cadre.

Read my March 11th post, that's where the actual IA is being written, I pretty much say exactly what your asking.

 

 

3. First Chapter Master Asar Talon originally 3rd Company Captain of the Bronze Raptors - Asar born on Xeskis VII - Bronze Raptors Fleet Based Chapter who used Xeskis VII as one of their recruiting worlds - Bronze Raptors give the recruiting world to the newly formed White Falcons.

 

I have always been under the impression that Space Marine recruiting worlds (if they had more than one) were generally not their personal domains.

If it is a world they recruit from regularly relinquishing such a asset to another Chapter's exclusivity is still a big deal whether or not the Chapter "owns" the world in question.

 

 

5. Created to protect Imperial Systems on the edge of an area labeled "The Veiled region".

 

Despite its versatility, using the [Word for dark][word for area] means of constructing scary names for places is not working well here.

 

Seriously - the Veiled Region? It sounds like you're trying to indulge in parody, or are desperately short of imagination (in this aspect).

As Siggy said it's a region in official fluff, I just added flavour to why it's labeled such.

 

 

8. The taint and the massacre (White Falcons in a "Chaos Rage", slaughter those who remained loyal to them) - Weakness of Compassion - Black Falcon in the ruins with a toy (Chapter Master meets legendary bird who is holding a toy from his past in the ruins of house he was born in - this pulls him out of his "Chaos Rage").

 

Me, I think them being Black Falcons from the start would work better. That way the Black Falcon would have more resonance. Alternately, White Falcons from the start and he meets a White Falcon. Changing name and color scheme is seldom done in official fluff, and this is a good thing. If anything, I think it may be done too often even then.

 

Plus, it means you'll eat up fewer names and color schemes, something I always consider a polite thing to do.

I'm not polite.

And unlike with the official, and most DIY name changes which all just seem for the sake of it (Luna Wolves - Sons of Horus - Black Legion), I actually trying to go somewhere meaningful with it.

 

 

4. White and Black Falcon birds.

 

Why the duality?

Why not?

Have we not seen enough Chapters who are exactly what you see (Imperial Fists, Space Wolves, Castigators, Ultramarines) lacking a duality that expresses exactly how "Human" they really are, despite the modifications done to their bodies and the crap rammed in their heads.

 

 

2. White Falcon beliefs - All human life precious - Save as many people, and planets as possible - Compassion.

 

3. Black Falcon beliefs - Anything for victory (the ends justify the means) - Veiled disgust for the weak - Compassion is a weakness that leads to taint.

 

I'm not sure I see how the Black Falcon beliefs would rise out of what happened to the White Falcons. I could see compassion as weakness, but if anything, compassion is the only thing that SAVES them - the Chapter Master is pulled away from his rage by nostalgia and compassion.

Without compassion in the first place they never would of needed to be saved by it, and this is what makes the Falcons angry (while not Chaos Rage, Marine Rage is still something of a monster in itself). It's a double edged sword that as Space Marines the "Falcons" have trouble understanding anymore. So they shun it.

 

 

Oh, a point I forgot in the first post:

 

Purple FEET! Are you INSANE?

 

Please, don't. Just don't. I beg of you.

It looks better on the models.

[Octavulg]

Yep it's been an issue for allot of people, but I'm not ditching it.

It's the core of the Chapter's current state of being from White Knights who protected humanity with every fibre of their being, to Black Knights who don't give a stuff about the common man but do their duty nonetheless.

 

If the core of your chapter is their name, they many need some work.

 

Allot of people use the name change taboo as a way of making their Chapter more important or special, but for me that's not what I'm trying to do with it. I'm really trying to push the image of a Chapter that really feels it has dishonoured it's heritage to such a degree that it feels it's no longer worthy to carry the legacy of those who went before. And it's this that alienates them from those around them, in effect turning the people's Samurai into self serving Ronin.

 

If they dishonored the legacy, is it not their duty to redeem it?

 

Read my March 11th post, that's where the actual IA is being written, I pretty much say ex1actly what your asking.

 

I'm not sure that's the best place to put it, honestly. Perhaps the first post in the thread?

 

As Siggy said it's a region in official fluff, I just added flavour to why it's labeled such.

 

Every so often, GW makes me want to weep. This is one of those times.

 

I'm not polite.

And unlike with the official, and most DIY name changes which all just seem for the sake of it (Luna Wolves - Sons of Horus - Black Legion), I actually trying to go somewhere meaningful with it.

 

The simplicity of the name change is also a little jarring - white to black. It lacks subtlety.

 

Why not?

Have we not seen enough Chapters who are exactly what you see (Imperial Fists, Space Wolves, Castigators, Ultramarines) lacking a duality that expresses exactly how "Human" they really are, despite the modifications done to their bodies and the crap rammed in their heads.

 

No - why the duality of the birds.

 

 

Without compassion in the first place they never would of needed to be saved by it, and this is what makes the Falcons angry (while not Chaos Rage, Marine Rage is still something of a monster in itself). It's a double edged sword that as Space Marines the "Falcons" have trouble understanding anymore. So they shun it.

 

But why would they not recognize that compassion had saved them as well?

 

It looks better on the models.

 

Better than awful could still leave a LOT of range...

[Heru]

Yep it's been an issue for allot of people, but I'm not ditching it.

It's the core of the Chapter's current state of being from White Knights who protected humanity with every fibre of their being, to Black Knights who don't give a stuff about the common man but do their duty nonetheless.

 

If the core of your chapter is their name, they many need some work.

It's what the name change represents, not what the name change is to a DIYer nooblet.

 

Allot of people use the name change taboo as a way of making their Chapter more important or special, but for me that's not what I'm trying to do with it. I'm really trying to push the image of a Chapter that really feels it has dishonoured it's heritage to such a degree that it feels it's no longer worthy to carry the legacy of those who went before. And it's this that alienates them from those around them, in effect turning the people's Samurai into self serving Ronin.

 

If they dishonored the legacy, is it not their duty to redeem it?

They see it as irredeemable. Could you redeem your honour if you murdered your loved ones that have stuck by you through the worst of times whilst you were drunk?

 

I'm not polite.

And unlike with the official, and most DIY name changes which all just seem for the sake of it (Luna Wolves - Sons of Horus - Black Legion), I actually trying to go somewhere meaningful with it.

 

The simplicity of the name change is also a little jarring - white to black. It lacks subtlety.

It's not meant to be subtle it's meant to be a statement with symbolic meaning.

 

 

Why not?

Have we not seen enough Chapters who are exactly what you see (Imperial Fists, Space Wolves, Castigators, Ultramarines) lacking a duality that expresses exactly how "Human" they really are, despite the modifications done to their bodies and the crap rammed in their heads.

 

No - why the duality of the birds.

:shrug: I see allot of myself in falcons, so in a way I model the ones of Xeskis on the duality I see within myself.

 

 

Without compassion in the first place they never would of needed to be saved by it, and this is what makes the Falcons angry (while not Chaos Rage, Marine Rage is still something of a monster in itself). It's a double edged sword that as Space Marines the "Falcons" have trouble understanding anymore. So they shun it.

 

But why would they not recognize that compassion had saved them as well?

Compassion for what? Everyone is dead, all that's left is a cold uncaring Universe filled horrors unimaginable and those so weak that they weaken those who try to protect them.

 

[

It looks better on the models.

 

Better than awful could still leave a LOT of range...

x10,000 times better. :(

[Octavulg]

They see it as irredeemable. Could you redeem your honour if you murdered your loved ones that have stuck by you through the worst of times whilst you were drunk?

 

I would have a better chance of redeeming my honor as me than by changing my name and having plastic surgery. I also might endure less scorn by actually facing my shame instead of hiding from it.

 

Compassion for what? Everyone is dead, all that's left is a cold uncaring Universe filled horrors unimaginable and those so weak that they weaken those who try to protect them.

 

So protect them anyway. You're a bunch of dishonored Space Marines - where do you get off being picky?

 

Besides, getting wiped out defending a group of people who are weakening you by defending them sounds like just the thing to redeem your honor.

 

And, as a general rule, I prefer my symbols a little subtler than "Black! White! Oh, the DUALITY!" :P This is, of course, individual taste.