IA: Wolves of Orun

[Brother Argent]

The Wolves of Orun

Fortis, Ita qui vir enim oblivio

**Veteran of the Wolves of Orun. Note that the Marines Left shoulderpad would, instead of having markings designating squad type would feature squad heraldry as would the tabard. note the older marks of armour which has always been a common theme with the Wolves of Orun.**

Origin

Although many of their records and history was lost some information regarding the Wolves of Orun has been pieced together from Administratum records and fragments of other histories. The Wolves or Orun were founded from the Ultramarine gene-seed during the 12th Founding. They were given to the command of a young Ultramarine commander by the name of Astrianus Arvnt. Astrianus had recently been victorious against Chaos forces on an isolated frozen world inhabited by hardy and honourable warrior people. During his time on the planet, known simply as Orunwold, Astrianus learned much of the people’s ways and the seeds of their belief became ingrained in his character. When granted control of the new Chapter the young Captain first led his newly formed group to the same planet where he had fought those years ago and established his Chapter Fortress near the northern polar region of the planet. From there the new chapter would combat the forces of the Ruinous Powers and any other’s who threatened the Imperium.

What transpired in the next few thousand years in unknown. Many histories make mention of the Wolves of Orun helping in many campaigns. They became known for both their fierceness in battle as well as their strict codes of honour. The Chapter earned many honours and soon established themselves as a trust worthy ally. All of this changed, however, in the closing years of the M40 during an event that would become known as the Orunwold Incident.

What exactly occurred during that dark time for the Chapter is unknown. All that is recorded in Imperial Histories is that some unknown force assaulted the Wolves of Orun’s Home world of Orunwold. An Inquisitor whom was investigating the Chapter at the time, at the insistence of the Ultramarines after the two Chapter’s had fallen out, last recorded transmission was : I see know reason to question the integrity of the WG nor their devotion to the Imperium. Their acts of courage and ferocity in face of such a foe assaulting their home world has convinced me beyond doubt of their purity. However to truly combat this foe I feel that we will need all the help we can get." Upon receiving this transmission the High Lords of Terra mobilised an Imperial Navy fleet to the planet and the Space Wolves Chapter of Space Marines, with whom the Wolves of Orun had built a rapport, sent a large force to investigate. When they reached the system they found the ship of the Inquisitor empty, floating in orbit around the planet. As for the Chapter itself, little was left. The fortress monastery in the northern pole was blasted to ruin, as if torn apart by some horrible force. The planet itself was warped and twisted. Of the Wolves of Orun or their mysterious attackers, no trace was found. The Chapter was declared lost and it’s name was struck from the register of Chapters. The Bell of Lost Souls on Terra struck once to mark the loss of such an honourable Chapter.

Rumours abounded in the years that followed of small groups of Space Marines, bearing the colours of the Wolves of Orun, helping beleaguered Imperial Garrisons or appearing from nowhere to strike down a Traitor Commander. Such rumours were dismissed as mere wishful thinking, much like the Legion of the Damned. Recently, however, a battlebarge, named the Vigilant Fury, has been seen in the Space around Orunwold bearing the markings of the Wolves of Orun and sighting have become more common. There is talk that the Wolves of Orun have returned from where they disappeared to. Greater still are the rumours that the Wolves of Orun, knowing their destruction was close, had hidden and stored away a stock of their geneseed as well as many artefacts from the Chapters day and much of its history.

Homeworld

When Astrianus first arrived on the planet Orunwold he was disgusted at the frozen planet and its feudal people. Over the course of his campaign, however, he came to love the planet and its noble but savage people. Indeed much of the people’s teaching rubbed off of the Ultramarine and it was no surprise that he returned to the planet to form a base for his Chapter. The planet was once an idyllic planet that, although mostly snow covered, housed a great number of small tribes divided into the Six Great Clans that would later define the Chapter’s organisation. The strike that destroyed the Chapter, however, also greatly affected the planet. Where once soft snowy hills lay huge jagged obsidian boulders now thrust from the snow. Blizzards tear at the planet and any man not suited to the conditions would freeze to death very quickly on the planet’s surface. Orunwold has only a single moon, known as Lorkram, that in known to contain large mineral deposits. It is from these minerals that the Chapter create much of their equipment. Like the world it orbits there are now records of activity on the moons surface. Mining has begun again, though at a much smaller scale then before.

Combat Doctrines

Records show the Wolves of Orun as a determined and fierce force, striking deep into enemy territory via drop pod an taking a terrible toll on the enemy forces, or rushing forwards in Rhinos and charging into the enemy lines. The Chapter was renowned for its desire to get into close combat and fight one of one with the enemy. This idealism of honour through combat likely came about because of the influence of the natives of Orunwold whose proud warrior traditions and sense of honour have permeated the very being of the Wolves of Orun. This foolhardy tactic of simply charging in seems to have changed with those few reports of Wolves of Orun received after the Orunwold Incident stating the Chapter, although still fierce and brave, has taken to launching surgical strikes, perhaps on account of their small number and scattered nature. Whilst still fond of close combat it seems the surviving Wolves of Orun have realised the tactical sense of withdrawing when needed and seem to never sit in any one sector for long. However much of this could be conjecture or theory as few sightings of Wolves of Orun are ever proven as real rather then just wishful thinking.

Organisation

The practices of the Wolves of Orun have changed since their founding and arrival on Orunwold. Taking up the natives system by dividing the Chapter into six Companies, or Great Clans. Each of the Great Clans consisted of the following make up:

1 Wolf Lord (Captain)

1 Clan Priest(Chaplain)

1 Command Squad

1 Terminator Squad

2 Veteran Squads

2-3 Dreadnoughts

6 Tactical Squads

2 Assault Squads

2 Devastator Squads

3 Scout Squads

1 Bike Squad

1 Landspeeder Squad.

This notable divergence with the Codex Astartes has caused much conflict with the Chapter’s founding legion, the Ultramarines, who requested an Inquisitorial investigation just prior to the Orunwold Incident. Unlike other Chapters, where a neophyte serves in the scout squad till he is ready to join a company, upon his acceptance into the Wolves of Orun a neophyte is brought before the Master of Recruits, whom is not attached to any particular clan. The Master of Recruits communes with the Wolf God, Orun, whom tells him to which clan the neophyte is to belong to. From that day the neophyte is associated with that clan and joins its scout squads. After the Orunwold Incident, however, the Chapter is recorded as mainly consisting of full battle brothers with little or no new neophytes. This could be because of their fractured nature of the Chapter now or that no-one matching the details of the Chapter’s Master of Recruits has been sighted since the Orunwold Incident and the sundering of the Chapter.

Beliefs

The Wolves of Orun believe that the Emperor was just a man, a very gifted man whom was chosen by the Gods, but still just a man. They believe that there are many gods, each take on an animal form, but the only god they truly worship is the Wolf God Orun. This belief, along with many others of the Chapter, came from the native inhabitants of Orunwold. They call Orun their father and believe that all their actions and everything that comes to pass is his will. That is perhaps why some regarded the Chapter as disloyal when they would refuse to answer a call for aid simply because they believe that Orun didn’t wish them to respond. It was this attitude and their divergence from the Codex that caused the Ultramarines to petition the Inquisition to investigate the Chapter for Heresy just before the Ornwold Incident. Although the Inquisitor found the Chapter free of taint and, indeed, more loyal to the Imperium then many other Chapters, his findings have been brought into doubt following his disappearance along with the Chapter.

Geneseed

Although thought lost the records containing the details of the Wolves of Orun’s genetic legacy were recently unearthed. They state that he Chapter was of the Ultramarines geneseed and that Astrianus and his command squad were indeed originally of the Ultramarines. The two Chapters had fallen apart, however, due to the disregard of the Codex Astartes and the beliefs of the Wolves of Orun. It is recorded that one Ultramarines commander stated of the Wolves of Orun that “ They are no better then the Space Wolves”. Although the exact details are lost regarding the Wolves of Orun it is believed that, unlike their predecessor, two of their zygotes had failed. These were the Omophagea, meaning the marines cannot ingest the flesh of creatures and gain their memory, and the Betcher’s Gland, meaning the marines cant spit acid. These failures were used by the Ultramarines as proof of the Wolves of Orun’s divergence as they stated that only through abandoning the Emperor could such a failure occur. The Wolves of Orun, however, took it all in their stride, stating that it must be Orun’s will.

Battle-cry

The Battle cries of the Wolves of Orun were varied and many, although several cries were common as the marines charged into combat. These were as folllows:

“For the Wolf-Father!”

“For the Clan!”

or simply “Orun!”

One cry that has now been heard amongst the scattered marines is a reference to the Orunwold Incident and is as follows:

“Remember the Sundering!”

The Chapter’s motto was simply: “ Fortis, Ita qui vir enim oblivio” Which translates roughly to “ Steadfast, so that they may forget.” Exactly what this refers to is unknown but it is perhaps a reference to some hidden knowledge of the Chapter of some secret goal.

[Brother Argent]

So there is is, my first rough attempt at my IA. It's probably not that good but I have these ideas running around in my head and I have tried to get them all down in this thing. I apologise for any spelling or grammar errors in their and I thnk anyone who takes the time to read and comment on it.

 

Oh, and FYI the colourscheme is silver for where the image shows grey and gold where it shows orange. I would post a Chapter symbol here if I knew how and had made one as well as some sample squad heraldry: think Grey Knights style heraldry. My whole idea for this Chapter was to create a Chapter of Wolf Knights, based off one such order in a novel I'm writing.

 

So thanks again if you have read it and please, ravage away.

[Brother Argent]

:RTBBB:

 

50+ views and no reply...Is it really that bad...?

[Dreyco]

Well I like your background, but the name doesn't sit well with me. It sounds too much like a Space Wolves sucessor which there aren't any even though you say they are UM. Maybe try some other names out? Wolverines, Jackals, etc... Other than that looks like a nice start.

[voi shet magir]

They were given to the command of a young Ultramarine commander by the name of Astrianus Arvnt. Astrianus had recently been victorious against Chaos forces on an isolated frozen world inhabited by hardy and honourable warrior people. During his time on the planet, known simply as Orunwold, Astrianus learned much of the people’s ways and the seeds of their belief became ingrained in his character.

 

That is the first problem None of this needs explaining, it is boring and exactly what happens to every chapter. You want them to be ultramarines who became lupineyish. There are two ways that can happen. It can either be a central part of their story, where they had to go feral to survive on ice-waste planet with no supplies, had to eat their dead etc; or you can completely gloss over it and literally say "they are ultramarines, but with wolves." That is very believable and convincing. Stick a note in their geneseed section that while they have x traits, those might be attributed to their recruiting from tribes instead of the ultramarines' barracks system.

 

Many of the other details do not seem connected to anything. When you go the other way and prevaricate about their disaster it just seems like lazy writing, it is not intriguing.

 

Why would knights want to personify wolfiness? Are they pack hunters with complicated hierarchy? It is possible that you can name them wolves or have them act like wolves, but not both. After all, when they are named, they may be a few companies of stock codex marines. Once something happens to develop their personality, they are already stuck with a name and it is very obvious when writers make an excuse to change the name. You have a problem with depth. Chapters need two linked themes. The first is their original intention, which is where they get their name. The second is what happens when that intention is subverted by reality.

 

You are getting the cart before the other cart. There are space marines who on a whim at their inception decide to stop acting like ultramarines, and then a disaster which does not go anywhere.

[Brother Argent]

Thanks for the input guys. Good to get some comments, no matter how savage. :) In my defence much of their history and story is actually based of a faction in a novel I am attempting to write, thus the whole Chapter disaster thing. I suppose much of the reason I included this whole Sundering thing was the fact that the Chapter is now nearly non-existant and are struggling to rebuild. I have probaly gone to too much detail on the before the Sundering thus drawing away from the fact that my focus is on the whole after Sundering of the Chapter.

 

I might have to hack out a few bits in the earlier section, about the whole Chapter Founding, kinda skim over it, and go into a little more post Sundering detail. I'll have a think about it.

 

Oh and for the name I was origianally thinking something like The Order or Orun or the Paladins of Orun or possibly even the Children of Orun. Maybe even drop the Orun names.

 

Oh, and their not as wolfy as they may sound. They are pretty much knights who worship a wolf god. Their also not as knightly as, say French Knights. More like a ranger cross paladin of D&D. i don't know, starting to wonder about these guys, might just leave them in the story where they belong...