Index Astartes Storm Falcons v. 1.5

[krieger haggoroth]

Index Astartes: Storm Falcons

 

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h12/virtusest/Falcon3.png

 

Founding: 18th

Geneseed: White Scars

Homeworld: Ablaa Kulus

Symbol:

Traits: None

Drawback: Faithful unto Death

Chapter Master: Amir al-Mu’minin Haytham Abdul-Azim (Haytham the Young, Commander of the Faithful)

Organization: Codex

 

 

On the Western Fringe, on the run between Hydraphur and Cadia, near the Halo Stars, a lone planet silently orbits its two suns. Tans and greens mix with blues on the surface of the world, and it appears untouched by human hands. This is Ablaa Kulus, and from here the Storm Falcons muster.

 

Origins

Discovered late in the Great Crusade, Ablaa Kulus was founded as a mining colony and agricultural center for forces pushing westward into the galaxy. Rich in lumber and precious metals, its primary military export was adamantine, found in large quantities in the Damach Mountains, while the herds of Drell beasts were used to feed advancing armies. When the heresy broke out the planet refused to pledge allegiance to anyone, hoping to profit from both sides. The Caliphs came to regret this decision when the world was assaulted by an army loyal to Chaos, commanded by elements of the Emperor’s Children. Because of its declared neutrality and remoteness, Imperial reinforcements refused to respond to calls for aid, forcing the native inhabitants to fend for themselves. After several months of fighting most of the world’s fortresses lay in shambles, the mines were in traitorous hands, and the Kulusians had resorted to fighting a guerilla campaign in the mountains.

As the Emperor’s Children withdrew into the eye, the army of cultists was left to its own ends. Distracted by massive orgies of deprivation, the army was soon whittled away by the Kulusians, who managed to take back their world fully with the help of the vengeful Imperial Army. Many among the survivors, who had witnessed horrors unimaginable, quickly began turning to fervent worship of the new God-Emperor, who they saw as their ultimate savior and protector. With an eye being kept on the world by a distrustful Inquisition, the zeal spread here more quickly than on many other Imperial worlds. Ablaa Kulus soon became just as famous for its vast cathedrals as for its wealth.

When the High Lords declared the eighteenth Astartes founding, Ablaa Kulus was chosen as a recruiting ground and possible homeworld for one of the newly raised chapters. Khan Astrak Dzungir of the White Scars was chosen as founding Master for the planet, and soon he and several Sergeants of his Brotherhood were on the surface recruiting. After seeing a Falcon flying quickly ahead of one of the planet’s frequent sandstorms, Dzungir made the comment that was to lead to the chapter’s adopted name:

 

Behold children, how it flies bravely even in the face of death. It cannot defeat such a thing with its strength alone, so it uses speed and cunning to survive, and thus outlasts its foe. That falcon is a beauty to emulate. When you are faced with an impossible situation, remember well the lesson of the falcon and the storm.

 

 

Homeworld

Ablaa Kulus (known interchangeably throughout the Imperium as Kulusia or Ablas) is a desert-type civilized world located some 200 Light Years galactically west of Hydraphur. Because of its remoteness, it has developed an insular, unique culture of religious warriors. The world is dotted with great cities, built form the planet’s bedrock in millennia past. These cities have been bleached white by the sun and the frequent sandstorms, causing them to resemble great fangs rising from the brown desert. From these cities the minutiae of the planet is organized and run; intra and extraterrestrial trade is conducted, formal worship is done, and manufacturing takes place. However, the vast majority of the population lives in one of the great tribes roaming the deserts and mountains, herding the massive Drell beasts to be used as mounts of war and for food on worlds for hundreds of light years, or working the mines that are constantly buried and uncovered by the shifting sands.

 

In distant years past, the planet was brought into compliance by the God Emperor of mankind. When the heresy broke out, the Kulusians declared neutrality, hoping to profit from both sides and believing that their remoteness would protect them. However, this was not to be the case as the world came under siege by fleeing traitors of the Emperor’s Children Legion. The populace was forced to resort to Guerilla warfare to compete with the barbarity of the Slaaneshi space marines; the cities were taken and occupied, to be used as sites of hedonistic rituals. For three years the Kulusians held out, praying for salvation. It came in the form of a White Scars expeditionary force, who drove off the Cultist army. The greatest Hetman of the largest tribe was appointed planetary governor, and the Scars moved on, noting the new-found piety of the populace and their fast acceptance of the Imperial Cult envoys sent there.

 

The remoteness of the world led to a distinct cult of the Emperor on the planet. It had no time for the saints of the ministorum, and claimed the God-Emperor’s absolute infallibility . In their version of Emperor-Worship, the Emperor has a plan for humanity, in which man must be constantly tested physically and spiritually to achieve his full potential.

The Storm Falcons recruit from the local militaries on-world. Because it is an Astartes Home World, it is not expected to fulfill the usual tithes put upon a planet, but this has not kept the Kulusians from raising Imperial Guard regiments in limited numbers. The world’s sultan raises a single 5,000 man regiment every 5 years in the planetary capital. As combat is seen as the ultimate test on the way the Emperor’s plan for fruition, nearly every able-bodied young herdsmen and merchant’s son on the planet makes their way towards the capital. Hopeful recruits must be between the ages of 10 and 15, and must make their way through the perilous Damach mountains and onto the coast to reach the capital, ensuring only the most hardy and determined make it. During selection and training, Storm Falcon agents move about, noting the greatest of the recruits. The chapter selects the finest fifty, ensuring a steady stream of potential manpower for the chapter. The rest are inducted into the imperial guard, and receive training comparable to the Storm Troopers of other groups. These form the backbone of the Kulusian Cavalry Regiments, units noted for their use of tanks, rough riders, vehicle-mounted infantry, and hyper elite discipline.

 

 

 

Organization

The Storm Falcons, much like their White Scar forefathers, diverge wildly from the edicts of the Codex Astartes. Their Chapter is not divided amongst ten companies, but into 7 Orta Brotherhoods, each led by a Khan Captain. Each of these Brotherhoods is completely independent, and number between 100 and 175 marines. The chapter is nominally commanded by its chief chaplain, the Commander of the Faithful. While each Orta is independent, the chaplains are not attached to any one, and go where they are needed. Each Orta Brotherhood maintains a keep or fortress somewhere on Ablaa kulus, as well as it's own orbital facilites. The Chapter Fleet is commanded by an 8th Brotherhood, made up of skilled marines drawn from the other seven.

 

Each Orta is completely self-sufficient, apart from its fleet needs. The exact composition and tactics used by each differs from commander to commander, but all share traits. They each contain a mix of transport-mounted tactical and devastator squads, assault and bike units, and motorpools made up mostly of speeders and fast-moving predators. Each Orta is permitted ten suits of tactical dreadnought armor, but not all contain them: while one Orta might contain ten terminators, another might contain one or even none. Each Orta maintains its own pool of specialists, and all can call upon the aid of at least one Apothecary, Techmarine, and Sahharii.

 

Rank is established by merit and piety, and any promotion within a squad must be voted upon by all members of that unit. The chapter’s ranking system is codex in style; however, names are sometimes changed and local titles and honorifics used. For instance, the chapter master is referred to as Amir al-Mu’minin, or “Commander of the Faithful”, in place of the usual title of Commander or Master. The Emperor is the chapter’s master, and thus the commander of the chapter cannot be referred to as such. Librarians are referred to as Sahhari, while Chaplains are known by a number of titles, ranging from Cleric to Keepers of the Faith and the ultimate Commander of the Faithful.

 

Combat Doctrine

The combat doctrine of the Storm Falcons is strongly influenced by local military traditions and their predilection for open ground desert warfare. In the open field a solid base of mounted infantry will be used to draw an enemy into pitched battle. Once in position, bikes, assault squads, and speeders will rapidly redeploy as needed, usually assaulting enemy armies from the flanks or rear. Against intelligent foes such as Eldar or Tau, single combat is greatly emphasized, while the Storm Falcons will fight a horde in tight formation. Their siege and ship tactics differ little from other Astartes. Scouts (referred to as ‘Ayn) are used to map out battlefields, to carry messages, and to assassinate enemy commanders. Guerilla tactics, while not favored by the chapter, are also not looked down upon, particularly when greatly outnumbered. However, such ambush tactics are rarely called for, as the might of the Astartes is usually more than enough to carry a battle.

Fanatical devotees to the Imperial Cult, the Storm Falcons will rarely withdraw until battle is utterly lost. They will attack enemies that are most abhorrent to the Emperor, especially demons and demagogues of chaos. This has proven disastrous , and many times during the chapter’s history entire Orta Brotherhoods have been lost due to an utter refusal to give ground. Ortas rarely go to battle without at least a single chaplain in tow, while Sahhari (Librarians) are carefully monitored and brutally trained to resist possession. There have been several purges of the Chapter Psykers over the centuries, and they are allowed to survive only because of their usefulness to the chapter and his most divine Majesty.

 

Beliefs

The Beliefs of the Storm Falcons have been strongly influenced by the Kulusians from which they recruit. They share the Kulusian beliefs of absolute monotheism and monodominantism, and the overwhelming belief that the Emperor has a grand plan for humanity which will cumulate in the achievement of their ultimate potential. Much like the Kulusians, the Storm Falcons constantly test themselves in mind, body, and spirit to help further their own potential, and the greatest way to do is this through combat (in combat a warrior's body is worked to the limit, his mind is challenged by ever changing tactical situations, and his spirit is tested both by his own doubt and the foulness of his enemies). Man's final potential is believed to be attained when all of their enemies have been wiped out, and the galaxy can once again become the domain of man.

 

The Storm Falcons have brought their parent chapter's penchant for ritual scarring with them, turning it into a highly ritualized religious practice. The more scars a brother carries, the more faithful he is considered, and many brothers are covered head to toe in the intricate swirling and calligraphic symbols. These frequently spread beyond the brother himself, and many suits of Power Armor within the chapter are are stylized with these same intricate patterns.

 

Each century a Orta Brotherhood is required to (although all would do so willingly) make a warrior pilgrimage. They will depart Ablaa Kulus on one of the chapter's battle barges (vessels reserved solely for these pilgrimages). From here, they must make their way to a holy site, weather this be a shrine world, an ancient battlefield, or even holy Terra itself. While on this pilgrimage the Falcons are sworn to fight any enemy of the Emperor they come upon, and tales abound in the Obscurus sector of a company of white-armored Astartes appearing on battlefield to fight alongside Imperial forces, or for massive giants to intercede in riots and rebellions, their presence alone being enough to quash them.

 

Every Storm Falcon prays four times a day. These prayers are adhered to strictly, and there are only two circumstances when they may be put off; if prayer would bring victory into question (namely, it is allowed to be stayed until after battle is done) or when it would endager the life of a Storm Falcon (While piloting a ship, administering surgery, etc.) However, the prayers must be immediately held once circumstances allow for them, and many brothers make a point to make some form of penance for missing a prayer (commonly this includes performing a duty usually reserved for a servitor for some small period of time).

 

Scars are made during these prayers, and some in the chapter make a point to scar themself during every single prayer, turning their bodies into mazes of intricate swirls, cuts, and symbols. It is generally assumed that any any missed prayer must be further atoned for with another scar.

 

 

 

Design Notes:

 

As you can probably tell, the chapter is based around Arabic-Islamic armies. Inspiration and sources include Islamic armies of the Arabic Caliphates (namely the Abbasid and Umayyad dynasties, but also the Ayyoubid Dynasty of Saladin), pre-Islamic Afghanistan, the early Persian Empire, and especially the Ottoman military. If any of you know Arabic or Farsi better than I (not a hard feat, as I barely know any of either) let me know so that I can more accurately portray names and titles.

 

You’ll notice that the chapter has no traits but has a drawback; this was done intentionally. The chapter is too codex to really take any traits that would make sense, but their doggedness seemed to fit Faithful unto Death quite well.

 

If you have any comments, positive or otherwise, I am, as always, excited to hear them.

 

Thanks all!

K.H.

[Tyrannicide]

Nice clean read, so far krieger haggoroth.

 

Some points I would like to cover:

 

Color Scheme

Not sure if your set on the scheme, but to me they seem to give off, too much of an ancient Egyptian feel. I've seen a lot of other chapters based around that with these same colors.

 

Homeworld

Like, the idea of Nomads, as recruits...gives these guys a hardened mood.

 

Combat Doctrine

The Storm Falcons fast moving (almost blitzkrieg like) style of warfare, doesn't seem to flow with their stubborn mentality of battle. Just seems like you've set them up as a lightning fast chapter.

 

Sahhari

Are they Librarians?

 

Looking forward to more progress on them,

Darth

[krieger haggoroth]

A few Edits to improve flow, fix grammar, change a few things, elaborate, etc.

 

 

Darth Potato:

 

As far as the color scheme goes, I always have a bit of trouble with the blues because of my monitor's resolution. I've chosen Shining Gold and Enchanted blue/ Hawk Turquoise as the colors as Gold and a nice, medium blue are both colors featured prominently in Islamic architecture and art. I'm still tweaking the scheme a bit, and when i get access to a better computer I'll post a more accurate scheme.

 

As Far As the Combat Doctrine goes, I'm hoping the edits fixed this a bit more. The chapter in its first iteration was a lightening fast desert strike chapter, but i decided to move away from this for a number of reasons. It seems like all Desert themed armies are super fast, and because my inspiration changed from Arabic to Ottoman armies (The Ottoman's had a greater dependency on infantry than most other armies of the area).

 

Yes, Sahari are librarians (Sahari being roughly equivalent to "sorcerer" in arabic)

 

 

Thank you for the kind words!

[DutchKillsRambo]

I really like what's written here. I'm also glad to see you chose a things that aren't so evidently Muslim, like your chapter symbol being the crescent and star or something along those lines. Now on to questions:

 

Are you going to develop more about their religious beliefs? I wouldn't mind seeing maybe a parallel of Muhammad's Ascension in the Big E or something. Or maybe and early civil war in the Chapter after the 1st Chapter Master dies sort of like the dispute that happened after Muhammad's death.

 

Also, you say they are a somewhat speed-oriented army, yet you also say they like massed infantry on open ground? Maybe I'm just reading it wrong.

 

Lastly, the color scheme inst my forte, maybe and Emerald Green and White mix? Just a suggestion as I'm not a huge fan of all gold armor. Makes me think BA too much.

 

Either way, keep up the good work. I really like this so far.

[krieger haggoroth]

Thank you!

 

 

I'm trying to keep the parallells pretty subtle and vague. I'm also trying to be as respectful as possible towards Islam. I definitely plan on fleshing each section (namely the religious beliefs) out, so be expecting more on that soon.

 

 

As far as the tactics go, i'll probably do a rewrite. Essentially, their preferred tactic is to draw the enemy into an open battle. Once this happens, they then use their hard core of infantry to keep the enemy pinned down. Faster units (transport mounted squads, bikes, assault squads, etc.) then encircle the enemy, completing their destruction.

[Tyrannicide]

These guys are starting to paint a picture in my head. Very much like the Islamic army in Kingdom of Heaven. Like the edits, flows better in my opinion. Maybe go for more of a tan/bone for the gold parts.

[krieger haggoroth]

Sala-ah hadin's army from Kingdom of Heaven was the original inspiration behind the army, so good work DP!

 

 

Oh, and... Consider this my Birthday Bump <_<

[Tyrannicide]

That's his name, thanks.

 

And a belated happy birthday to you.

[Paradox 01]

Hey Krieger! I like what you've got so far. My kneejerk reaction was quite the opposite, of course, but I like to think I'm open-minded enough to look past all that. ^_^ A note on the subject header, though. It's spelled "'salam-alaikum", although that's more of a modern usage. Kinda of like saying, "Hey" instead of "Hello". "Assalamu-alaikum" is the more formal greeting.

 

Here's a couple other Arabic terms you could use.

 

Imam - Scholar or cleric, prayer leader - It's mostly used to describe a holy man, so Chaplain would fit best. However, ask a Sunni and he'll tell you it means "teacher" or "scholar". However, you already have a word for Librarian, so I'd use it for your Chaplains.

 

Abu - Father of. Damn me if I can't find the arabic word for "falcon", but you could use it for the title of your Chapter Master, i.e. "Father of the Falcon".

 

 

I'll post more as I remember them.

 

 

Oh yeah, and Happy Birthday!

[krieger haggoroth]

Thanks Paradox! I Figured you might have something to add to this, what with your first hand experience and all ^_^

 

I've had a talk with a few people about the chapter, so be expecting updates... soon.

[Paradox 01]

No prob. Though somehow, I missed this part:

 

For instance, the chapter master is referred to as Amir al-Mu’minin, or “Commander of the Faithful”, in place of the usual title of Commander or Master. The Emperor is the chapter’s master, and thus the commander of the chapter cannot be referred to as such.

 

So "abu" wouldn't fit forthe CM, but you could still use it as an honorific for company Captains (lie "Abu X", with X being his company) or even Chaplains.

[krieger haggoroth]

Post Removed

[Commissar Molotov]

I'm not sure.

 

I'm not sure I get any strong sense of character from them. At the moment, the various concepts and ideas seem a little haphazard and not integrated too well.

 

- You mention the religious traditions of Ablaa Kulus, but when I looked above there's actually nothing of relevance in your homeworld section (which I figure means that it's part of your planned updates, so I'm not judging you on that). It does mean that it's difficult to get any sense of which religious characteristics, tenets and the like have been absorbed by the Storm Falcons.

 

- You mention that their Chapter Cult is 'very different from the Adeptus Ministorum'. But isn't that the case for all Chapters of the Astartes? I mean, you even go so far as to say "they don't believe in saints' - but then 99.999999% of Chapters don't! The Ecclesiarchy vs. Space Marines divide is age-old, even being explicitly referenced in the second edition Codex: Sisters of Battle. The only thing distinct in their belief system is that the Emperor is divine. That works very well with the islamic focus on monotheism. As this is a beliefs section, you could do with a section detailing the Chapter's hatred of Chaos. Not only is the idea of believing in different Gods abhorent, but the concept of a pantheon is unthinkable to these guys - there is only one God, and the Space Marines are his messengers.

 

I'm given also to understand that many Islamic tenets place a focus on the concept of predestination, and that'd be an interesting angle for your Chapter to look at - they could consider 'fate' to be a key element, and that places a new spin on Librarians, if they're actually to 'see the fate'.

 

The praying thing seems to go beyond 'inconvenient' and into the realm of the impossible. Even modern muslims are allowed to run prayers together, so they effectively pray three times. What if your Space Marines were in the midst of assaulting, or fighting, or flying a Thunderhawk, or, or, or, or, or. It seems ridiculous. It seems to be a practice that would never have been allowed to gain a purchase in a Space Marine Chapter. Recruits from Ablaa Kulus wanting to pray twelve times a day would've been smacked upside the head by the nearest Space Marine Sergeant/Chaplain/Captain. Especially when those prayers affect the battlefield effectiveness of the Chapter beyond what would be considered an acceptable amount.

 

Perhaps tone it down? What made you go from five to twelve, anyway? Why not consider the prayer-scarring I suggested on AIM? Perhaps those that scar themselves are absolved of the need to pray, or are allowed to pray fewer times because their entire body is a prayer?

 

- Your last point about the Chapter going out of its way to protect Imperial clergymen and sacred sites - why would they bother? And the 'ire of the Ecclesiarchy' is pretty much nothing more than a nuisance to the Space Marines anyway, as they're given their rights and responsibilities to the Emperor in pacts that date back to before the Imperium.

 

 

 

I think the beliefs needs to be the section where this Chapter is bound up with the cohesive themes. A rigid, fanatical devotion to the Emperor certainly works, and the concepts of predestination and the Emperor "working in mysterious ways" can also add to it.The mentions of the Ecclesiarchy could almost be written out, I think, as they don't really add anything to the Chapter. As it is, the Storm Falcons are just as deviant as any other Chapter, it's just they've fixed on the idea of the Emperor as a supreme deity. If you want to re-write the sections, you could consider to have it as the Falcons being critical or contemptuous of the Ecclesiarchal doctrine... I'm not sure. It really depends how politically active you want the Chapter to be.

[krieger haggoroth]

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[krieger haggoroth]

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[Brother Barkus]

So does what do the Storm Falcons view as man reaching his full potential?

[krieger haggoroth]

A good question.

 

 

The Storm Falcons themselves don't know. It is the Emperors plan, and the Emperor's will is ultimately divine and thus unknowable.

 

For the rest of us though, a few guesses could be made. In the Storm Falcons view of it (a view molded by their warrior mythos) Man's ultimate potential is fulfilled when he has eliminated all of his enemies, allowing him to live in the galaxy uncontested. To accomplish this, he would have to be the perfect warrior; strong, fast, tough, and above all, pure. These, however, are all guesses put forth by Storm Falcon theologians so we might never know!

[Red-Dragon]

Hey

 

Dude,you write awesome fluff! Its so carefully thought out and very detailed,i wish my fluff was this good.I especially like the Ideas of their belif of the Emperor as a Diving Being,very original and also allows for much expansion of their belifs.They way youve written it they could easy be a chapter created by GW,its very thourough and very informative.I like it.

 

Keep up the good work,i look forward to seeing more written from you,your fluff is a very interesting read :lol:

 

From

 

The Red Dragon

[krieger haggoroth]

After a lot of discussion with some people (not to mention seeming hours testing palattes with Commissar Molotov, thanks for that!) I've come up with a scheme that looks quite a bit better:

 

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h12/virtusest/Falcon3.png

 

I'm still fiddleing with the IA. I'm not at all happy with it, so i may be doing several revamps over the next few days. Keep your eyes open, and your hands typing!

[DutchKillsRambo]

YAY! You took my color scheme idea. Actually you probably thought of it on your own, but its up there on this page somewhere. To me it looks a lot better.

 

About your fluff, I like it, but I still think you could expand on the beliefs more. I may be wrong, but it seems that this is going to be a central theme to the Chapter, and I think it you could flesh it out more. Your write well, and I'd like to see what you can do.

 

Keep up the good work.

[krieger haggoroth]

Agreed on the beliefs bit (Right now, this would be draft 4 just for that section!) and I'm still not happy with it. While i don't usually ask specific questions in regards to C&C, is there anything that you all would LIKE to see in the beliefs section? While i can't guarantee I'll use them, they always could at least spark a good idea. Right now, to me anyway, the whole section is feeling a bit... tame? bland? Boring? I'm juust really not sure about it at all...

[DutchKillsRambo]

Hmm. Its not that I don't like your beliefs section, it's just that it seems, well, not fully filled. If that makes sense. Islam has its central 5 pillars, and you definitely have 3 of them covered, Hajj, prayer, and One God. The other two, wouldnt really fit, almsgiving and Ramadan. I know your going for a Middle Eastern feel to this, but I don't know if its lending itself well enough to the beliefs.

 

The only suggestions I have are maybe throwing in some other influences from other areas. Maybe Sikhism, or the Gupta Empire, or some Budddhist thought (Which if I remeber correctly you have a lot of knowledge about). Maybe they believe in reincarnation, maybe they see sacrificing oneself as a way to gain the Emperor's favor, maybe there were 11 founding memebers, and they venerate them in a special way like the 11 Sikh gurus. Maybe theres two differing philosiphies in the Chapter (Sunni v Shiite) or maybe they believe that anyone can find salvation, even traitors.

 

Im not quite sure why this section doesnt seem entirely filled out, but either way its still good. Im anxious to see what you come up with.

[krieger haggoroth]

Hm. DKR, i feel the opposite of you, actually. I feel that the section is complete, but is of a very poor quality (whereas, if i am understanding you right, you're saying that it's good but incomplete). I don't want to add in other real-world influences, as, well, this is still a Space Marine chapter; while they're based around a real-world theme, I don't want them to become too closely related to history.

 

I, however, am a near and total fool. I've been concentrating on the Ottoman/Mamluk aspects of the army, while leaving out another group of very important muslims: the mongols. The chapter is of White Scar genestock, and i've sorely neglected that fact in the latest IA. Be expecting a serious overhauling of some sections sometime in the very near future.

[DutchKillsRambo]

Hmm I see what your saying about complete but not that good. Its just to me it seems a little formulaic, with what you have ie. 3 of the 5 Pillars. If your going to be mixing in more ideas and themes I think thats a good idea.

 

And what do you mean by poor quality? I was saying that it was at least written well, not so much of a comment on the section as a whole. Im interested to see what your going to come up with.

[krieger haggoroth]

Major edits made to the IA. Thoughts? Ideas?