Sable Stars

[Hubernator]

;) that's a good one <_< I will have to remember that one ;)

[Tyrannicide]

Anyways Wall-E aside, I've thought a bit more about these guys.

 

I'm in contemplation on possible names for the Chapter, but for whatever reason the 'Dark Stars' and the 'Sable Stars' keep sticking with me. As of now, the Chapter will most likely be named one of the two. I've also thought about some of the structures on the planet, it's physical appearance. I envision there obviously being miles upon miles of garbage stacks and the like across most of the world's surface, but there is also the element of destroyed hives. They no longer are powered but possibly still serve as a home to some of the scavengers. I also think there would be settlements dotting the surface, they are somewhat ramshackle in semblance, but do serve the purpose of shelter for the people. There are gangs present on the world, many of these young adolescent male members are candidates for the Chapter that keeps watch over the planet. Now I've come to a dead-end on the Fortress Monastery. I'm not quite sure if I'd like it to be secluded and on the world's surface, or settled into the planet's moon. Are there any advantages over one another?

[Commissar Molotov]

Anyways Wall-E aside, I've thought a bit more about these guys.

 

I'm in contemplation on possible names for the Chapter, but for whatever reason the 'Dark Stars' and the 'Sable Stars' keep sticking with me. As of now, the Chapter will most likely be named one of the two. I've also thought about some of the structures on the planet, it's physical appearance. I envision there obviously being miles upon miles of garbage stacks and the like across most of the world's surface, but there is also the element of destroyed hives. They no longer are powered but possibly still serve as a home to some of the scavengers. I also think there would be settlements dotting the surface, they are somewhat ramshackle in semblance, but do serve the purpose of shelter for the people. There are gangs present on the world, many of these young adolescent male members are candidates for the Chapter that keeps watch over the planet. Now I've come to a dead-end on the Fortress Monastery. I'm not quite sure if I'd like it to be secluded and on the world's surface, or settled into the planet's moon. Are there any advantages over one another?

 

I think the decaying/corroding hives are a really interesting visual aesthetic. I think you need to make these people a group that are worthwhile recruits for a Space Marine Chapter. There needs to be cunning, an ability to survive - regular combat. I also imagine these guys as being somewhat more pragmatic than most Imperials - they strip whatever components or pieces of metal they need in order to survive. How would that relate with the Techmarines?

 

I do think that perhaps the Imperium imported criminals from penal colonies to this planet to help process the scrap or somesuch, but that they've been ignored and allowed to set up petty little kingdoms. It rather reminds me of the film The Warriors. There are other films and aesthetics you could look at - you've already hit upon Star Wars, there.

 

Perhaps what you need to do is identify "What makes this planet a good homeworld?" and go from there. I think rather than 'settlements' you should have 'territories', with self-proclaimed warlords and the like. Their trusted henchmen would patrol, looking for the choicest items and fighting over the resources to survive. There might even be raids to steal women and the like. It's a grim world, and they do whatever they need to do in order to survive.

[Tyrannicide]

You're certainly right when referring to self-proclaimed warlords and their territories. I had literally thought about the same thing and I should've included it in my last post. However I don't see many of these political savvy rulers. Perhaps only a dozen or so, yet they have many dedicated servants. I could certainly see some working together, others acting as the lone wolf. Either way, it would make for some interesting stories and would offer that 'feel' of a planet worthy of being selected by a Space Marine Chapter as a homeworld. I'll need to think about how the Techmarines relate to the scavengers of their home planet. I would think they are extremely resourceful to begin with, although that's a little obvious.

[Commissar Molotov]

Well, you are talking about an entire world - worlds are big places. Plus, it's not a question of political savvy, but more a question of dominating others. People will naturally band into groups in order to survive.

[Ferrus Manus]

Wow Darth, i've been away two weeks and you've managed to get some ideas together, what is the world coming to? :) On a serious note, its a good idea, one that i don't think i've seen before. However it reminded me of the Futurama episode where Fry meets his ex from the 21st century they get frozen to what they think is 1000 ahead. They run into groups of kids who have guns etc... and they roam around rubbish dumps stealing anything of use. Thats how I see the people of your planet. Banding under Warlords, as mentioned above, and fighting each other over items they need to survive with perhaps the most powerful gangs taking shelter within the ruined husks of the hives while everyone else lives in shanty towns built within the rubbish tips.

 

The Techmarine angle could be very intresting. I could see them being slightly lax in their worship of the Machine God, so for example they are less bothered about customizing and using whatevers at hand to repair equipment and armour. Compared to the 'vanilla' Techmarine.

[Prtyjedi]

Good points have been made about the Techmarines so I won't play a broken record. Run with it.

 

The warlord angle is certainly very interesting. It's basically a huge scrap world so I imagine there would be several so-called warlords of varying levels of power. That also means that their ways of rule would vary greatly. You'd have the Brutish Dictator, who knows enough about inflicting pain that it ensures loyalty through fear, even if it's not the lasting kind. Then there would be the Cunning Schemer, who would make "alliances" to set up the pieces on the board in the right formation for a single, killing blow. And then there'd be the Good, Albeit Naïve, Samaritan Leader who would try hold his band of merry ex-cons and people down on their luck together without hurting others. This breed usually gets killed out fast...

 

But I'm rambling. The point is there's no limit to what kind of warlords there could be. As Mol said, planets are big places. Really big. Trust me on that one.

[Tyrannicide]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Prtyjedi you're certainly right when it comes to the 'pool' of Warlords and all the possible personality combinations.

 

I've decided against the name Dark Stars, for one particular reason. After starting the novel Angels of Darkness (I'm well on my way to finishing it) I've decided to make the Chapter a successor of the Dark Angels. I think the 'Hunt for the Fallen' and being a member of the Unforgiven would be interesting if applied and give an entirely new aspect to the Chapter. I had one idea, especially. What if one of the self-proclaimed Warlords on the planet was really a Fallen in hiding? His territory is vast and his servants many, perhaps there is even more members of the Fallen associated with him. Somehow word of this renegade Space Marine catches the ears of the Chapter and the Astartes respond rapidly. It would also lend itself to the justification of this scrap world being the home planet of the Chapter. Once capturing this renegade the Chapter may find the world's populace to be excellent candidates, for the future. Now to my original point, the name change. I would like the name to express the fact that they're a Dark Angels successor, something that sounds monastic or maybe angelic like the others of the Unforgiven. I especially like the Consecrators or even something similar to the much less obscure Venerators. Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

Please offer any opinions you have, I would enjoy addressing them. Again, thanks for viewing. :)

[Eighty]

Just a thought, but why not have say, a marine or two 'endorsing' a warlord here or there, helping to keep the power balance if not even then at least ferocious- less dominance by any one party= more conflict :)

 

Consecrators would fit, but how about the 'Reclamators'? Sounds a bit much I know, but goes with the whole scavenging theme.

 

80

[Telveryon]

Ok, this just popped into my head so feel free to kick me in the shins if you don't like it but to me "Angels Redemtor" scores high on the coolness meter. Moreover redemtor means redeemer (or at least redeem) in Latin which goes hand in hand both with the Dark Angel theme and the "salvaging human rejects" theme.

[Hasoroth]

Angels Salvation?

[Boonside]

You could name them after actual angels (well "actual" angels is a fairly loose term), I couldn't find redemtion.

 

Munkir & Nakir: Angels of Justice- black eyed angels who are known for deciding where the deceased will go after death

Johab: Angel of Salvation- Master of The Watch

Israfil: Angel of Judgment Day- Assigned to blow the horn on judgment day

Nathaniel: Angel of Fire- "gift of god" watches for spiritual fires of aspiration

Rashnu: Angel of Judgment- believed to stand at the bridge to heaven and passes judgement on those who pass

[Tyrannicide]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

 

I'd use one of the Angels _____ names, but to me they seem to be associated with the Blood Angels successors not the Dark Angels. I may have to do a further search on angels Boonside, I quite like the idea of an angel who judges persons and states if they are deemed worthy for whatever purpose.

[Commissar Molotov]

I'm not sold on a Fallen Dark Angel masquerading as a warlord on a junkworld, but stranger things have happened. The key there is not to make it super-important issue. All the Dark Angels successors search for the Fallen, and trawl the galaxy doing so. So coming to this world is nothing special. But what made them stay? what did they say in this benighted world?

 

Furthermore, if you're going to do a Dark Angels successor, I think it's important to have something to say. This needs to be a successor that builds upon the extant thems evident within the Dark Angels and the Unforgiven and then takes it elsewhere. Something that casts it in a particular light, twists it or shifts it. Look at the official successors in the DA Codex and the subtle but important differences in feel between each of them. So, perhaps the question is this - what do you have to say about the Dark Angels and the Unforgiven? What theme do you want to give your Chapter?

[Telveryon]

Now that I've taken a glance at the successor Chapters of the Dark Angels and there is one called Angels of Redemption so my proposal isn't usable :( But at least you can definitely do the Angels__ name.

[Tyrannicide]

If I'm to go along the hunting for Fallen route, I'll make sure not to make it the primary focus or point of the article.

 

Now themes you say? I think the two biggest would certainly have to be the Unforgiven's outlook on the universe, and the hunt for the Fallen. The Unforgiven seem to look down upon themselves, and literally see themselves 'unforgiven' in the Emperor's eyes. The hunt for the Fallen is one of the strongpoints of the Dark Angels and the majority of their successors fluff. I'd like there to be a first company within the Chapter dedicated to capturing the Fallen, the second to tracking them, much like the Dark Angels' Deathwing and Ravenwing.

[Commissar Molotov]

You seem to misunderstand me a little, though. I meant that the hunt for the fallen shouldn't consume your homeworld section. As for the second section of the post, you seem to have told me a lot about the Dark Angels, but not much about your own Chapter. :(

[Tyrannicide]

It was definitely not my best response, I'll admit. I understood you, my homeworld section will be focussing more on the planet itself and it's populace. (Obviously) I think the Chapter would stay seeing these people are hardened individuals, shaped by the distressing world they live on. Their not literally stranded as we've talked about before but merely 'forgotten', which in turn would help create a incorrigible personality. While I didn't talk much about my Chapter per se, I did talk about the Dark Angels concepts that I would like to transfer over into this Chapter.

[Commissar Molotov]

While I didn't talk much about my Chapter per se, I did talk about the Dark Angels concepts that I would like to transfer over into this Chapter.

 

Alright:

 

I think the two biggest would certainly have to be the Unforgiven's outlook on the universe, and the hunt for the Fallen. The Unforgiven seem to look down upon themselves, and literally see themselves 'unforgiven' in the Emperor's eyes. The hunt for the Fallen is one of the strongpoints of the Dark Angels and the majority of their successors fluff. I'd like there to be a first company within the Chapter dedicated to capturing the Fallen, the second to tracking them, much like the Dark Angels' Deathwing and Ravenwing.

 

So the two key things you want to transfer from the Dark Angels are an inferiority complex and the Deathwing? Well, Codex: Dark Angels mentions that 'all' Dark Angels successors maintain the Ravenwing and Deathwing. Whether that's true we don't know, and it does hamper DIY DA successors. Still, you definitely can have your elite Veterans searching for the Fallen with single-minded purpose.

 

But the sense of inferiority - how do you work that in? I mean, the Dark Angels do see themselves as 'Unforgiven', but they equally have a lot of pride in themselves, in their victories, and their place as the first Legion. I mean, the idea with your homeworld was that you're bettering these people by taking them from their simple lives and propelling them into service among the Emperor's finest. That's a great blessing - and it seems somewhat counter-productive to then say "We've taken you to become a Space Marine, but you're unforgiven in the Emperor's eyes."

 

Of course it could be quite GRIMDARK - you've got the Chapter struggling to redeem itself, knowing that they may never do so. It's tragic, in a sense. But don't emphasise the 'self-pity' angle. Instead you should focus on the grim determination angle - they've bettered themselves, they now try to prove themselves, to excel in all they do. After escaping their world, what in the galaxy can hold them back?

[Tyrannicide]

Okay after getting sucked into playing COD4 with a friend last night, I've comprehended your reply Mol.

 

I would most definitely like to transfer the 'inner circle' and 'Deathwing' formation, into my Chapter. I think the key with the Deathwing is creating a Company who can act instantaneously should the threat of a Fallen Marine(s) arise. Now this sounds quite obvious since that is my First Company's secondary trade, but they will be slightly hampered by the low number of Terminator suits they possess. I'm not entirely set on an exact number but I'm thinking no more than four squad's worth. Although the lack of Terminator armor is a slight setback, the First Company's pertinacious views propel them ever onwards.

 

You're right when talking of the 'unforgiven in the eyes of the Emperor' concern. I think that instead of taking the 'self-pity' angle, I'll simply not include it at all. They are unforgiven, and hide a terrible secret from even the select brethren in the Chapter, but they still do take pride in their victories, their Primarch, and the Emperor. I wasn't intentionally trying to push the masochistic theme or self-pity, commonly associated with the Imperial Fists. I think I'd be better off not making it a key point of the IA. I would like to think of the Chapter choosing recruits from the planet and seeing it in the perspective of 'we've taken this trash and turned it into something noble and glorious'. In other words something worthy of the name Space Marine.

[Commissar Molotov]

It'll be good to see a Dark Angels successor that doesn't have a glut of Terminators for once. It forces your chapter to be a bit more thoughtful about how it deploys its Veterans, which fits in to that carefully studied pragmatism we've discussed before.

 

One of the best things in the DA Codex is on Pg.16:

 

These [stories] are told to the Brethren as they progress through the Chapter's ranks. Some tell of heroes returned from war to find their brothers corrupted or enslaved, whilst others are tales of self-sacrifice and the absolute refusal to accept surrender, even in the face of overwhelming odds. All are tales of bitter woe ending in the defeat of the foe at terrible cost to the heroes, and of an eternal stain on the honour of those who come after them...

 

You can see more of that on Pg.11:

 

The Dark Angels came to take great pains to tell their story one passage at a time. Much of teh Dark Angels' teaching to their Brethren were thus couched in allegory and myth, the same essential truths told and retold, in one form after another... Rising through the intricate and convoluted ranks of the Inner Circle, he would learn more and more, the secrets one by one unveiled as his masters' trust in him increased.

 

I like the idea of stories being buried in myth and allegory. I think you could do a lot with that. As your Chapter takes this planet, there would be a new suit of myths and allegories for a new world. It seems interesting.

[Tyrannicide]

I too agree that the Chapter's vast tomes of tales and allegory could be an interesting aspect. There would no doubt be several versions of the same myth, as there are today. When thinking of these stories and such the Chapter's Librarium came to mind. Something I hadn't even thought about yet, was a Librarians transcripts of the tale of the Fallen and other secrets, hidden from the members outside of the Inner Circle. Would it be at all possible for there to be a separate Librarium containing these private pieces, that only members of the Inner Circle have access to?

[Commissar Molotov]

Possible? I think it would exist, without a doubt. The Dark Angels/Unforgiven are built upon that sort of segregation. Psykana Librarius mentions that many Chapters have secret Chambers to house the darkest relics that they capture.

[Tyrannicide]

I guess it would have to be a necessity in a Chapter that was created upon the foundation of secrecy, eh? :lol:

[Commissar Molotov]

Well, it's a very potent ideal in 40k that 'knowledge is power' - the Dark Angels guard it well. If the knowledge of their dishonour was to be made public, all would be lost. You could look at the relationship between your Chapter and the Dark Angels - it is intimated that Azrael effectively commands an entire Legion...