New Index Astartes

[Donkey Kong]

Space Rams

Company on the knee on the left and squad on the knee on the right

Origins

R

ecords of the Space Rams founding have been lost in the chapter's extensive history. A complete documented history expands onward from the time of the nineteenth founding. However, small strands of information, primarily acts of heroism, still exist in the archives. The earliest piece of information dates back to the fifteenth founding, yet even at this time the Space Rams were independent; the earliest recorded Chapter Master was Petr Fedotov, known as the Rhinox for his stubborn nature and fairly short, explosive temper.

http://www.awaketoolong.com/wp-content/images/illustrations/ram%20skull.jpg
The Space Rams' Chapter Icongraphy

The gene-seed stock used in the creation of the Space Rams is unknown.

Homeworld

M

ons, a mountainous ice world in the middle of Segmentum Ultima was discovered by the chapter and became the location of their fortress monastery and source of recruits.

The terrain of Mons is that of enormous rolling mountains and valleys with rivers running between them. Decrepit remains of Imperial vessels can still be found under the snow. During the time of Old Night the inhabitants of Mons were separated from the rest of the galaxy by violent warp storms. They lived in great hive cities, thriving with the STC machines and by both growing crops with ancient farming techniques and keeping livestock. For unknown reasons, the people left their hive cities and forged their path into Mons' harsh climate. The summits of the old hives can still be seen in the snowbanks where the rest of the city has become submerged. Upon leaving, the people faced many hardships, food was scarce and disease abundant.

When discovered and still today the people of Mons thrive as technobarbarians in their separate clans. They arm themselves with scrap metal clubs and simple firearms, lasguns and autoguns presumably created by a now wrecked STC machine. Clans vary in size from small, nomadic family groups of twenty men, women and children to large static groups with livestock, sheep and goats with magnificent, twisting horns, and semi functioning STC machines and numbers expanding into the hundreds. Larger, static clans often live around the summits of the old hives. Warlords rule every clan, the warlord may be the head of the small family to the firstborn son of the previous warlord of a large clan. Clans often make raids on one another, stealing food, clothing and women to better survive and ensure the existence of future generations. People often adorn themselves with salvaged fur hats, skull caps, they drape themselves with scarves, sweaters and animal furs, jackets and vests and insulating shirts and pants. Many articles of clothing worn are generations old.

The fauna of the world includes many majestic creatures. Possibly the largest animal on the world is the gargantophaunt, a multi-tusked, fur covered mammoth, standing a full thirty meters high as a mature adult. Another beast, the snow worm, roughly forty meters across, a snow worm has never been fully measured, nor fully seen. Occasionally, hunting parties will see dead snow worms lying on the snow banks, never is the worm completely exposed and never is the sight taken back to the camp, for the snow worm's shell is near impenetrable, the shell heavy and having been recorded by a hunting party who had brought a scavenged demolition charge to the carcass to crack the shell, the meat is distasteful. However, despite the lack of reward for the effort in cracking the shell, the inside is warm, due to the decaying cells' exothermic reactions which can last for centuries, and clans both large and small can, and often will settle in it. Wild flocks of sheep roam the snow plains, they dig for vegetation under the snow banks and on the mountain sides, however scarce, it is present and supports both the sheep and the rhinox population.

The most important animal to the culture of the people of Mons is the rhinox and its subspecies the spined rhinox. Newborn calves are black in color. As rhinoxes age, their fur becomes lighter, naturally the eldest rhinox are still a light shade of gray. The lifespan of a rhinox ranges up to three centuries, often longer. Hunting parties have claimed moving through grazing herds of Rhinox unharmed. While the primarily docile rhinox grazes and travels in groups, its cousin the spined rhinox cannot be taken the same. The spined rhinox travels by itself or in pairs and while both species are omnivorous, the spined rhinox prefers a carnivore's diet. It is usually a target for hunting parties, more so for its magnificent horns than its meat, however both are always taken. Because it travels alone it is less dangerous to parties than hunting large herds, it is still extremely lethal and can consume a grown man whole. The beast of legend among the people of Mons is the white rhinox, an albino spined beast that travels alone and has an unrecorded age. When hunting parties go out, on a rare occasion one of the hunters will claim to see the white rhinox. The feat is never proven and assumed difficult due to the regular snowstorms and harsh winds. Those who see the white rhinox are regarded as lucky, if it is sighted midhunt, the prize for the hunt is always great whether it be a gargantophaunt or an adult spined rhinox with great, large curving horns. Upon returning, if the person is of age, they are sent to the Fortress Monastery where they begin Astartes training. Those brought into the chapter via this method have always advanced to become veterans and captains and their names are recorded.

Occasionally, clan members will go against the clan and in doing so the individuals are shamed and exiled. The exile is then observed by Space Ram cossets, scouts, for a total of twenty days where the individual demonstrates all their abilities. In those twenty days, most men will die, should the exile be of acceptable age and survive those twenty days however, they are taken by the cossets to the Fortress Monastery where they undergo Astartes training. The Exile's clan is informed of the child's ability to survive and become a candidate. Families weep for their child, the shame brought upon them erased and replaced with satisfaction and pride. Such is not the same in the structure of the Astartes. It is made well known that the initiate brought shame to his clan and family. Within the Space Rams, in the recorded history of the Chapter no initiate brought into the chapter by shame has ever completely failed requirements to become a Cosset. After this time, the group splits into two, those who die early trying to prove their worth, often as Cossets, and those who achieve veteran status, still shunned and a blemish to the Chapter, but a valuable one often blessed by Chaplains to forgive the Astarte's soul. Those brought into the Chapter in shame are limited to how high they may climb the ranks, they are permitted to join the First Company, however hope of ever earning the right to wear Tactical Dreadnought Armor is not. Achieving the title of Chaplain or Captain is impossible, however becoming a honor guard, a devastator or assaulter are permitted.

Most hunting parties consist of several young boys learning from their brothers, fathers and uncles. These parties are observed by Space Rams' Marines and Chaplains to select initiates to undergo astartes training. They carefully watch how the boys' skills develop, how well they use their hunting lasrifle or auntogun. Often by the fourth hunt, the Chaplains make their choice, in most cases it is approved, for in that time a hunter's true ability is shown.

Because of the populace's ability to survive in the harsh climate of Mons, they were perfect candidates to produce children fit to become astartes. To the people of Mons the astartes are legends, all are an example of perfection and the Emperor's goal for humanity. To have one's child selected to become an astartes is the greatest honor. Fathers and mothers of exiles often weep when they hear that their child has gone to become one of the astartes because they may redeem themselves in the eyes of the Emperor.

Battlefield Doctrine

T

he Chapter closely adheres to the Codex Astartes whether in battle plans or rituals. Prayers are led by chaplains before drops and individuals are blessed.

Favored battle methods among the chapter include drop pod assaults and extensive usage of jumppacks. The direct methods of assault are preferred due to the Space Rams' genetic aggressiveness. Newly initiated astartes will often enter close combat to prove their worth to their battle brothers. While they heed the words of their superiors and elders, the Marines are often headstrong. Assaulting units are supported by devastator squads and minimal armor in the form of land raiders, predators and vindicators.

Chapter Organization

T

he Space Rams have ten companies, the first company being the veteran company and the tenth being the scout company. The first company undergo extensive training, most importantly, that in the operation of Tactical Dreadnought Armor. The chapter possesses thirty one suits total. Should a terminator fall in battle, the rest of the present Space Rams will risk life and limb to retrieve it. If the suit is damaged, it is painstakingly repaired by the chapter's techmarines. The first and tenth companies are distributed throughout the active companies so that the marines receive the insight of veterans and so that scouts gain experience.

The sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth companies are tactical reserve companies. The reserve companies lie in wait on the Fortress Monastery. When marines are killed and scouts are not yet ready to become full Astartes the company captains select warriors from the reserve companies to replace them. The tenth company of the Space Rams is quite large, often it numbers between one hundred and fifty to two hundred scouts.

The Space Rams take initiates from clans planetwide, some initiates will have rivalries and friendships and others will be so far apart they will not know one another. Regardless, the chapter places them in squads amongst one another.

The chapter divides its units into separated into units called droves. Scout units are known as cossets which the chapter possesses in the hundreds. The tenth company of the chapter contains anywhere from one hundred to five hundred cossets at any given time, this is due to the hardiness of the people of Mons and the rate at which scouts fall into battle due to their fanatical tendencies to prove their worth to the chapter and the Emperor. Marine initiates progress through the ranks as units, those marines that fight together in squads have most likely fought alongside one another as initiates. Should one individual be more skilled than his peers and ready to become a full fledged astartes and a squad has a vacant spot, the scout is moved into the squad.

Standard tactical squads are designated as Pollars. Similar to standard squads, Pollars number up to ten marines and are equipped with bolters. The chapter's armor includes all forms of heavy weapons used at the marine's discretion. Pollars form the backbone of the Space Rams force.

Assault squads are famous in the chapter. The natural aggression that the Marines possess is best expressed through these squads, known in the chapter as Ewes. Assault squads, like Bone Crests, are veteran marines, first company members returned to the chapter. They adorn their helmets with multiple sets of horns, the standard being two pairs with some more venerable marines having three pairs. Assault squads are constantly in service, their words hold great weight when the captains consult their battle brothers.

Supporting their brother marines are the Bone Crests, in the Space Rams they take the role of devastators in codex chapters. Along with Big Horn veterans, Bone Crests heavily decorate their armor. They have the same amount of, if not more, respect as Big Horns in the eyes of Captains, for they have served previously in the First Company before being returned to their original company where the deliver heavy support.

Veterans of the first company, Captains and Honor Guards are known as Big Horns. The armor of chapter veterans are embellished with various designs painted by the veteran. They wear pendants strung along with teeth and ivory carvings and wear furs from various animals including gargantophaunts, rhinoxes and wild sheep and cover their armor in various designs. Big Horns even of the drove, never look alike. Should a Big Horn fall in battle their armor is retrieved and placed in the Chapter's temple on Mons. The temple is a terrifying site with hundreds of suits gathered over centuries of service each still baring the wounds which killed or crippled the marine, yet magnificent.

Big Horns, Bone Crests and veteran Pollar Drove leaders adorn their helmets with curved horns taken from the wild rams of Mons.

The temple in the Fortress Monastery contains, along with the armor of the veterans, chapter and campaign banners along with every marine to ever serve from cosset to captain and an enormous steel wall covered in hundreds of thousands of small, pin sized studs representing every marine to fall in service to the Emperor.

Chaplains are the spiritual leaders of the Space Marines, in the Space Rams, their role is even more so. They lead prayer and bless Marines and Captains before entering battle. Unlike the classical skull helmet worn by the Chaplains of other chapters, the Space Rams' Chaplains wear a Ram skull helmet with beautiful curving horns carved with various runes. To become a chaplain is the highest honor in the Space Rams next to becoming a Company Captain and being gifted with a suit of Tactical Dreadnought Armor. Of the thirty one suits owned by the chapter, six are dedicated to the Chaplains. Should a Chaplain fall in battle, the Marines will risk all to retrieve the corpse. Every Chaplain is a hero among heroes.

Librarians are feared by the chapter, however they are a necessary evil in that they record the chapter's history. They are often segregated and watched closely by the Chaplains for the slightest hints of corruption or treachery.

Techmarines are those marines that demonstrate an understanding of the works of the machines. They are sent to Mars where they undergo training in the Machine Cult. They are more than often feared by the marines of the chapter for their extensive augmentation. Some regard them as traitors for worshiping the Machine God in place of the Emperor.

Gene-seed

R

ecords of the gene-seed used to form the chapter have been lost. All twenty of the implanted organs function. Rumors surrounding the chapter's genetic origin are few and far between, but all are different and take into regard the characteristics of the Space Rams' Marines' physical appearance and personality. Marines of the chapter are highly aggressive; they are often compared by the guardsmen they fight alongside to the Orks they war against in the Centaurus Arm. In addition, the Space Rams do not have any drastic problems with their skin pigmentation and eye coloration.

Because of their lack of knowledge regarding their geneseed, the marines often search other planets on the slightest rumor of an ancient artifact of the chapter. Weapons of old heroes are taken by chapter masters and employed against the enemies of the Emperor.

[Severus6]

Star Rams,...just a thought.

 

Severus6

[Brother Emund]

Why Sheep/Goats/Rams/Rhinoxes? A very strange choice for a title for a Space Marine Chapter….

[Donkey Kong]

Why Sheep/Goats/Rams/Rhinoxes? A very strange choice for a title for a Space Marine Chapter….

 

Possibly, I'm hoping for some help picking one out.

 

Space Sheep

Space Goats

Space Rams

Space Rhinoxes

[Roachboy]

sheep = flock, follow the general opinion, not individual and very non scary

Goats = just doesn't sound right to me. again not very scary

rams = best of the bunch as it sounds most agressive.

rhinoxes = although rhinos are very cool, it doesnt sound quite right again.

 

of those id say rams, but it sounds as though you favour rhinox after reading further into your fluff. you could still use rams and rhinoxes in the chapters iconography without actually putting it in the name though.

 

ultimately, it is your chapter though so it is your decision.

 

p.s, welcome to the b&c ^_^

 

edit: if they are codex adherent, why is their favoured tactic assault? similarly a lot of the information on force organization is redundant if they follow the codex. Maybe it would be better to write in where they differ from the codex, as you said they "closely follow" it.

[Donkey Kong]

sheep = flock, follow the general opinion, not individual and very non scary

Goats = just doesn't sound right to me. again not very scary

rams = best of the bunch as it sounds most agressive.

rhinoxes = although rhinos are very cool, it doesnt sound quite right again.

 

of those id say rams, but it sounds as though you favour rhinox after reading further into your fluff. you could still use rams and rhinoxes in the chapters iconography without actually putting it in the name though.

 

ultimately, it is your chapter though so it is your decision.

 

p.s, welcome to the b&c :)

 

edit: if they are codex adherent, why is their favoured tactic assault? similarly a lot of the information on force organization is redundant if they follow the codex. Maybe it would be better to write in where they differ from the codex, as you said they "closely follow" it.

 

Thanks for the advice and welcome.

Space Rams it is then. Also, anyone who can change the title, it would be very welcome, for I seem to have mixed up liberal and index astartes.

 

EDIT: A question for those who have more experience with the Liber Astartes, does it seem alright for both the founding and the gene-seed to be shrouded in mystery?

[XKhalilX]

If you like ram, i think Star Rams, or Celestial rams sounds better personally.

 

you could do something akin to Space wolves in calling your tactical, assault and devastator squads names. like you could call your devs or your veteran marines "Long Horns"

[Roachboy]

If you like ram, i think Star Rams, or Celestial rams sounds better personally.

 

you could do something akin to Space wolves in calling your tactical, assault and devastator squads names. like you could call your devs or your veteran marines "Long Horns"

 

i agree.

 

as for your geneseed question, its fine to have it unknown, but what you should include is how the chapter feels about this. do they care that their heritage is a mystery or are they happy to be known for their own reputation, rather than their parent chapters.

[Donkey Kong]

If you like ram, i think Star Rams, or Celestial rams sounds better personally.

 

you could do something akin to Space wolves in calling your tactical, assault and devastator squads names. like you could call your devs or your veteran marines "Long Horns"

 

That's brilliant. I'm definitely going to be calling my veterans "Long Horns". Now the question comes as to what to call everyone else. Cossets for scouts? Too docile perhaps? Never been good with names :) .

 

i agree.

 

as for your geneseed question, its fine to have it unknown, but what you should include is how the chapter feels about this. do they care that their heritage is a mystery or are they happy to be known for their own reputation, rather than their parent chapters.

 

Concerning the name of the chapter, I personally feel "Space" has a better ring to it than "Star" or "Celestial". I'll be elaborating on the heritage, right now I think I'm going to have them dedicated to searching for their ancestry. They'll be damn proud of their own reputation, of course.

 

EDIT: I keep forgetting to ask, does anyone know how to get the side rows and frame pictures similar to other Liber Astartes?

[Roachboy]

complete list of IA style codes:

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...;showarticle=42

 

enjoy :)

[Donkey Kong]

Space Rams

Origins

R

ecords of the Space Rams founding have been lost in the chapter's extensive history. A complete documented history expands onward from the time of the nineteenth founding. However, small strands of information, primarily acts of heroism, still exist in the archives. The earliest piece of information dates back to the fifteenth founding, yet even at this time the Space Rams were independent; the earliest recorded Chapter Master was Petr Fedotov, known as the Rhinox for his stubborn nature and fairly short, explosive temper.

http://www.awaketoolong.com/wp-content/images/illustrations/ram%20skull.jpg
The Space Rams' Chapter Icongraphy

The gene-seed stock used in the creation of the Space Rams is unknown.

Homeworld

M

ons, a mountainous ice world in the middle of Segmentum Ultima was discovered by the chapter and became the location of their fortress monastery and source of recruits.

The terrain of Mons is that of enormous rolling mountains and valleys with rivers running between them. Decrepit remains of Imperial vessels can still be found under the snow. During the time of Old Night the inhabitants of Mons were separated from the rest of the galaxy by violent warp storms. They lived in great hive cities, thriving with the STC machines and by both growing crops with ancient farming techniques and keeping livestock. For unknown reasons, the people left their hive cities and forged their path into Mons' harsh climate. The summits of the old hives can still be seen in the snowbanks where the rest of the city has become submerged. Upon leaving, the people faced many hardships, food was scarce and disease abundant.

When discovered and still today the people of Mons thrive as technobarbarians in their separate clans. They arm themselves with scrap metal clubs and simple firearms, lasguns and autoguns presumably created by a now wrecked STC machine. Clans vary in size from small, nomadic family groups of twenty men, women and children to large static groups with livestock, sheep and goats with magnificent, twisting horns, and semi functioning STC machines and numbers expanding into the hundreds. Larger, static clans often live around the summits of the old hives. Warlords rule every clan, the warlord may be the head of the small family to the firstborn son of the previous warlord of a large clan. Clans often make raids on one another, stealing food, clothing and women to better survive and ensure the existence of future generations. People often adorn themselves with salvaged fur hats, skull caps, they drape themselves with scarves, sweaters and animal furs, jackets and vests and insulating <DELETED BY THE INQUISITION>s and pants. Many articles of clothing worn are generations old.

The fauna of the world includes many majestic creatures. Possibly the largest animal on the world is the gargantophaunt, a multi-tusked, fur covered mammoth, standing a full thirty meters high as a mature adult. Another beast, the snow worm, roughly forty meters across, a snow worm has never been fully measured, nor fully seen. Occasionally, hunting parties will see dead snow worms lying on the snow banks, never is the worm completely exposed and never is the sight taken back to the camp, for the snow worm's shell is near impenetrable, the shell heavy and having been recorded by a hunting party who had brought a scavenged demolition charge to the carcass to crack the shell, the meat is distasteful. However, despite the lack of reward for the effort in cracking the shell, the inside is warm, due to the decaying cells' exothermic reactions which can last for centuries, and clans both large and small can, and often will settle in it. Wild flocks of sheep roam the snow plains, they dig for vegetation under the snow banks and on the mountain sides, however scarce, it is present and supports both the sheep and the rhinox population.

The most important animal to the culture of the people of Mons is the rhinox and its subspecies the spined rhinox. Newborn calves are black in color. As rhinoxes age, their fur becomes lighter, naturally the eldest rhinox are still a light shade of gray. The lifespan of a rhinox ranges up to three centuries, often longer. Hunting parties have claimed moving through grazing herds of Rhinox unharmed. While the primarily docile rhinox grazes and travels in groups, its cousin the spined rhinox cannot be taken the same. The spined rhinox travels by itself or in pairs and while both species are omnivorous, the spined rhinox prefers a carnivore's diet. It is usually a target for hunting parties, more so for its magnificent horns than its meat, however both are always taken. Because it travels alone it is less dangerous to parties than hunting large herds, it is still extremely lethal and can consume a grown man whole. The beast of legend among the people of Mons is the white rhinox, an albino spined beast that travels alone and has an unrecorded age. When hunting parties go out, on a rare occasion one of the hunters will claim to see the white rhinox. The feat is never proven and assumed difficult due to the regular snowstorms and harsh winds. Those who see the white rhinox are regarded as lucky, if it is sighted midhunt, the prize for the hunt is always great whether it be a gargantophaunt or an adult spined rhinox with great, large curving horns. Upon returning, if the person is of age, they are sent to the Fortress Monastery where they begin Astartes training. Those brought into the chapter via this method have always advanced to become veterans and captains and their names are recorded.

However, should someone attempt to harm the white rhinox whether for it's horns, fur and meat or for simple sport they are damned for the rest of their miserable existence and exiled from their clan. The exile is followed and observed for a course of twenty days. Though rarely of age, and those who are of age die more often than not, should the initiate survive the twenty days they are taken by the scouts to the Fortress Monastery to begin training as an astartes. No matter how far they advance up the ranks, the astartes are all informed of the shame that brought the initiate into the chapter and he is shunned by his brothers. Astartes who have been brought into the chapter this way, though few, have either died early or have advanced high in the ranks of veterans all to prove their worth to the Chapter and the Emperor.

Most hunting parties consist of several young boys learning from their fathers and uncles. These parties are observed by Space Rams' Marines and Chaplains to select initiates to undergo astartes training.

Because of the populace's ability to survive in the harsh climate of Mons, they were perfect candidates to produce children fit to become astartes. To the people of Mons the astartes are legends, all are an example of perfection and the Emperor's goal for humanity. To have one's child selected to become an astartes is the greatest honor. Fathers and mothers of exiles often weep when they hear that their child has gone to become one of the astartes because they may redeem themselves in the eyes of the Emperor.

Battlefield Doctrine

T

he Chapter closely adheres to the Codex Astartes whether in battle plans or rituals. Prayers are led by chaplains before drops and individuals are blessed.

Favored battle methods among the chapter include drop pod assaults and extensive usage of jumppacks. The direct methods of assault are preferred due to the Space Rams' genetic aggressiveness. Newly initiated astartes will often enter close combat to prove their worth to their battle brothers. While they heed the words of their superiors and elders, the Marines are often headstrong. Assaulting units are supported by devastator squads and minimal armor in the form of land raiders, predators and vindicators.

Chapter Organization

T

he Space Rams have ten companies, the first company being the veteran company and the tenth being the scout company. The first company undergo extensive training, most importantly, that in the operation of Tactical Dreadnought Armor. The chapter possesses thirty one suits total. Should a terminator fall in battle, the rest of the present Space Rams will risk life and limb to retrieve it. If the suit is damaged, it is painstakingly repaired by the chapter's techmarines. The first and tenth companies are distributed throughout the active companies so that the marines receive the insight of veterans and so that scouts gain experience.

The sixth and seventh companies are tactical reserve companies; the eighth and ninth are assault and devastator reserve companies, respectively. The reserve companies lie in wait on the Fortress Monastery. When marines are killed and scouts are not yet ready to become full Astartes the company captains select warriors from the reserve companies to replace them. The tenth company of the Space Rams is quite large, often it numbers between one hundred and fifty to two hundred scouts.

Marines in the chapter advance through the ranks as squads. More often than not, the same group that operated together as scouts, operate together as marine squads. When casualties are taken, reinforcements are accepted from either the scouts or the reserve companies. These replacements often find themselves segregated from the others until an estimated three decades of service alongside them. When becoming accepted into the first company, marine squads are sent back to Mons where they each travel in different directions ,this is possibly the first time where the squad does not operate as a unit, with the goal of hunting a spined rhinox with a bolt pistol and spear. After tracking down and killing a spined rhinox, the marine drags the body back to the Fortress Monastery. If on the walk to the hunt or back the marines see a herd of gargantophaunts, rhinoxes or the white rhinox they are blessed by the company chaplain upon return. The spined rhinox is then skinned and its horns are shaved off and its teeth are strung, the veteran then keeps and wears his trophies at his own discretion. Veterans also have no limits in how they may adorn their armor, hence no two veterans will ever look exactly the same, while tactical, assault and devastator squads are limited to their sergeants preferences.

Chaplains have the second highest honor in the chapter. They are revered by all their brothers. Those brothers brought into the chapter by shame can never achieve the title of chaplain. The chaplains of the chapter cover their black armor in laurels and ram skulls. Their helmet, unlike the traditional skull, is that of a rams skull with beautiful horns. Rhinox tooth necklaces and various charms hang from the chaplain's armor. The chaplain carries the Crozius Arcanum.

Librarians are feared by the chapter, however they are a necessary evil in that they record the chapter's history. They are often segregated and watched closely by the Chaplains.

Techmarines are those marines that demonstrate an understanding of the works of the machines. They are sent to Mars where they undergo training in becoming techmarines. They are more than often feared by the marines of the chapter for their extensive augmentation.

Gene-seed

R

ecords of the gene-seed used to form the chapter have been lost. All twenty of the implanted organs function. Rumors surrounding the chapter's genetic origin are few and far between, but all are different and take into regard the characteristics of the Space Rams' Marines' physical appearance and personality. Marines of the chapter are highly aggressive; they are often compared by the guardsmen they fight alongside to the Orks they war against in the Centaurus Arm. In addition, the Space Rams do not have any drastic problems with their skin pigmentation and eye coloration.

Because of their lack of knowledge regarding their geneseed, the marines often search other planets on the slightest rumor of an ancient artifact of the chapter. Weapons of old heroes are taken by chapter masters and employed against the enemies of the Emperor.

[Donkey Kong]

The Space Rams take initiates from clans planetwide, some initiates will have rivalries and friendships and others will be so far apart they will not know one another. Regardless, the chapter places them in squads amongst one another.

 

The chapter divides its units into separated into units called droves. Scout units are known as cossets which the chapter possesses in the hundreds. The tenth company of the chapter contains anywhere from one hundred to five hundred cossets at any given time, this is due to the hardiness of the people of Mons and the rate at which scouts fall into battle due to their fanatical tendencies to prove their worth to the chapter and the Emperor. Marine initiates progress through the ranks as units, those marines that fight together in squads have most likely fought alongside one another as initiates. Should one individual be more skilled than his peers and ready to become a full fledged astartes and a squad has a vacant spot, the scout is moved into the squad.

 

Standard tactical squads are designated as Pollars. Similar to standard squads, Pollars number up to ten marines and are equipped with bolters. The chapter's armor includes all forms of heavy weapons used at the marine's discretion. Pollars form the backbone of the Space Rams force.

 

Supporting their brother marines are the Bone Crests, in the Space Rams they take the role of devastators in codex chapters. Bone Crests are often those Pollars who have become more experienced with their bolters, earning the right to use heavy weapons. Along with Big Horn veterans, Bone Crests decorate their armor. They have the same amount of, if not more, respect as Big Horns in the eyes of Captains. Bone Crests will have served previously in the First Company.

 

Veterans of the first company, Captains and Honor Guards are known as Big Horns. The armor of chapter veterans are embellished with various designs painted by the veteran. They wear pendants strung along with teeth and ivory carvings and wear furs from various animals including gargantophaunts, rhinoxes and wild sheep and cover their armor in various designs. Big Horns even of the drove, never look alike. Should a Big Horn fall in battle their armor is retrieved and placed in the Chapter's temple on Mons. The temple is a terrifying site with hundreds of suits gathered over centuries of service each still baring the wounds which killed or crippled the marine, yet magnificent.

 

Big Horns, Bone Crests and veteran Pollar Drove leaders adorn their helmets with curved horns taken from the wild rams of Mons.

 

The temple in the Fortress Monastery contains, along with the armor of the veterans, chapter and campaign banners along with every marine to ever serve from cosset to captain and an enormous steel wall covered in hundreds of thousands of small, pin sized studs representing every marine to fall in service to the Emperor.

 

Chaplains are the spiritual leaders of the Space Marines, in the Space Rams, their role is even more so. They lead prayer and bless Marines and Captains before entering battle. Unlike the classical skull helmet worn by the Chaplains of other chapters, the Space Rams' Chaplains wear a Ram skull helmet with beautiful curving horns carved with various runes. To become a chaplain is the highest honor in the Space Rams next to becoming a Company Captain and being gifted with a suit of Tactical Dreadnought Armor. Of the thirty one suits owned by the chapter, five are dedicated to the Chaplains, they are only sanctioned to be worn by the Chaplains of the First to Fifth Companies. Should a Chaplain fall in battle, the Marines will enter a rage unlike any other. Descending into borderline madness, the Space Rams assault their foes with a hatred beyond that of the very filth of Chaos itself and traitors to the divine Emperor.

 

Comments are welcome and greatly appreciated.

 

A question of opinion here regarding the Devastators- should they be named Bone Crests (as they currently are) or Horn Heads (original idea)? In addition, how does everyone feel about the current names of the droves?

Scouts - Cossets

Tactical Marines - Pollars

Devastators - Bone Crests or Horn Heads

Assault Marines - ???

Veterans - Big Horns

 

Anyone want to give a suggestion on the battle cry?

 

Also, so far I've only truly received comments on the name, is the IA that fine or that boring?

Once again, anything posted would be great.

 

Thanks,

Bryan

 

EDIT: To better show the color scheme:

 

Company on the knee on the left and squad on the knee on the right

 

However, with light blue stripes similar to the Executioners shown here:

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1036502_37.jpg

[Wolfbiter]

I read through your revised IA, and overall liked it pretty well. You've especially put a lot of effort into the imagery of Mons, the Chapter homeworld...I like your sections about the White Rhinox and how it is considered lucky by both the Marines and natives.

 

That said, I would suggest trimming down your bestiary list of native fauna...there's really a lot there! You could just focus your information on the animals important to the Marines, like the Rhinox and maybe the gigantophaunt (did I get that right)?

 

More about combat tactics and some history of the Marines battles would be welcome. I get an impression that the Marines are very protective and loyal to their homeworld from your writing, is that the case? If so, it would be cool to read about some battles where they defended Mons from invaders, perhaps.

 

 

And if you're not sick of alternate name suggestions yet, what about Sons of Aries, Children of Aries or Brothers of Aries? "Aries" is both the constellation of the Ram in the Zodiac and Latin for "ram." I also thought it would be cool if Mons in located somewhere in the Aries constellation (though I have no idea what Segmentum the constellation would lie in.) Just a thought.

[Donkey Kong]

I read through your revised IA, and overall liked it pretty well. You've especially put a lot of effort into the imagery of Mons, the Chapter homeworld...I like your sections about the White Rhinox and how it is considered lucky by both the Marines and natives.

 

That said, I would suggest trimming down your bestiary list of native fauna...there's really a lot there! You could just focus your information on the animals important to the Marines, like the Rhinox and maybe the gigantophaunt (did I get that right)?

 

More about combat tactics and some history of the Marines battles would be welcome. I get an impression that the Marines are very protective and loyal to their homeworld from your writing, is that the case? If so, it would be cool to read about some battles where they defended Mons from invaders, perhaps.

 

 

And if you're not sick of alternate name suggestions yet, what about Sons of Aries, Children of Aries or Brothers of Aries? "Aries" is both the constellation of the Ram in the Zodiac and Latin for "ram." I also thought it would be cool if Mons in located somewhere in the Aries constellation (though I have no idea what Segmentum the constellation would lie in.) Just a thought.

 

Thank you :) . Really, I think the narrowing it down to the four animals seems fair. I'd agree it's a little much, but I really don't know where to subtract. It's actually gargantophaunt (Gargant and the end of Elephant, pretty much the entire idea is a Lord of the Rings Oliphaunt + Woolly Mammoth, I actually expected to get a few laughs or flak from it, but I liked the idea). The snow worm is pretty much taken from Dune and the boss in I believe the third level of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (terrible game mind you). I also found the idea of a group of people wearing clothes a century or two older than them, living in a carcass of possibly the most annoying boss in the game very humorous and very 40k.

 

Concerning the White Rhinox, is it believable that the Marines would take in a person who survived without any help for twenty days after attempting to harm possibly the most holy creature on the planet? Combat tactics, really, I don't know what to write, I've really been inspired to do this IA from Commissar Molotov's Castigators. Yes, I'd say they are protective of their homeworld, who would invade an ice ball though? Orks perhaps? Maybe Tau? I should be getting more battle history in, thanks for the suggestion though, I'll take that in when writing it.

 

Actually, looking at it, I'd rather have another reason for the person to be exiled, my own fluff states that the White Rhinox isn't even proven to exist, that it's a beast of legend and sightings are impossible to confirm. If it can't even truly be seen, how in the Emperor's holy name can someone even attempt to harm it? I'll be revising my IA there, any suggestions concerning why an individual would be exiled though would be very nice to hear.

 

Unfortunately, I am rather sick of suggested names despite the good intentions behind them. As for Aries, I'd rather consider him as a character (perhaps a Terminator Sergeant) to write about rather than the name of the Chapter. I've already settled on having them in Segmentum Ultima, pretty much, it allows my chapter to fight Orks, Tau, Chaos, Human Pirates and Eldar. I have no loss from not fighting gribblies ('Nids) and if I ever do feel like including them, whose to say where a splinter fleet travels.

 

Thanks,

Bryan

[Commissar Molotov]

It would be beneficial to people trying to read through your thread to provide you with advice if you edited the most pertinent information into a single post (often the first post in the thread, but it need not be if you can make it clear) - at the moment you seem to have three versions of the fluff and I don't know which is the one I should be responding to. :D If you can just collate your ideas, I'll happily provide you with some feedback.

 

 

EDIT: - Awesome, I'll try to respond to you soon.

[Donkey Kong]

Edik's Hunt

 

With some spare time and awaiting Mol's constructive criticism, I am intent on writing some stories about Mons. I would like to get across the personalities of the people living there as well as the Marines. Note, there will be more, I'd just like to get a reaction to my writing.

 

Thirteen years of age and a veteran of three successful hunts, Edik slouched, concealed in the harsh winds and snowfall on the steep hillside. Small piles of snow rolled slowly down as he steadied himself. Lev, Edik's cousin some sixteen years old, crouched behind him. Messenger bags hung over their shoulders and well clothed bodies. Breathing heavily, Edik pulled down the black skull cap that shielded his head and contained his precious body heat. Long hunting rifles were gripped in their hands, Lev released his, it fell at his waist, the leather strap keeping it there, and reached for the binoculars that hung from his neck. It was salvage, but it functioned and it was valuable.

 

"You said you saw a rhinox going this way, horns as big as a snow worm and pretty as gargantophaunt ivory with a coat as light a shade of gray as they come, you know what I see?" Lev inquired. Edik shook his head, still looking over the hill into the valley below. "Well, to let you know, I see snow, more snow, a possible rock and more snow." Dropping the binoculars, Lev reached back for the rifle at his hip. He ran his hand along it, though why, he really didn't know. It was a long rifle, similar to all lasguns of the clans in the area and as far as Lev knew, the world. The butt of the rifle was large and fit comfortable in his armpit, the scope, though ancient, worked wonderfully and the rifle itself easy to fire. But, in the end, it was standard and nothing special. He reached out and grabbed Edik's shoulder, "Let's get going, pop's gonna be pissed that we went for a stroll." Edik nodded. Pop was their grandfather, though he was still young, around his late forties in standard years, his sons, their fathers, were in their twenties standard years, and their mothers, the women who mothered most of the other children in the clan loved them all like their own flesh and blood.

 

Edik rose from his slouch and the pair strolled in the snow. They walked for an hour, the sun was still concealed by vigorous winds. They continued through it, even Edik had been through worse weather. Coming across an enormous elongated corpse, it grew as they walked closer. The snow worm that was their home was some sixty meters in diameter. A good forty meters of its armored body lay on its side above the snow banks. As they came closer a figure stood in front of the covered, blow out hole that was their door. An autogun was in his hands and he wore clothes similar to the boys. A tight fitting, black skull cap, albeit covered in snow, topped his head and a mountain of sweaters and a vest insulated his body. His mouth was concealed by a scarf, but his eyes mocked a scowl with little pleasure in seeing them.

 

Respectfully Edik and Lev nodded at Pop. In turn, Pops angry eyes turned into a sigh and he walked behind them into the beast. Inside the families had covered the floor of the body with furs in a make shift carpet, Edik remembered helping when he was younger, the men and boys, Edik's age and younger, in hunting parties with Pop would travel out and come back with smiles on their faces dragging behind them a creature too large to be real, whether it be a rhinox or another of the planet's fauna. It was comfortable and twenty or so little bodies of children no older than six standard years sat playing with what little they had. Some were sleeping on the soft rhinox fur and others talked and laughed and played with the docile sheep the clan kept as pets and emergency rations in dire situations.

 

Edik and Lev laid their rifles against the wall next to the door. Inside, Pop pulled down his scarf and exhaled a large cloud of visible carbon dioxide which lingered in their faces.

 

"Now," He scolded, "where the hell did ya run off to? What'd ya see?" He asked, smiling. "Ya know, when I was yer age, I liked to go huntin with my cousin too." Edik smiled and said,

 

"I though I saw a rhinox, pop, coat white as fresh snow and horns as big as a sand worm and pretty as a carved gargantophaunt ivory." Pop nodded, "Well, did ya see yer beastie?" The pair shook their heads. "Shame, don't fret boys, we've got enough food to last until we gather up for the next hunt, you'll learn the satisfaction of catchin one of them big ones soon enough." Edik smiled. "Now," Pop continued, "for deciding to go along and play hunter, you can play guard." Lev moaned and Edik sighed, they turned dropping their bags and pulling down on their caps, they grabbed their rifled and walked out of the door pushing aside the heavy fur that took the place of a door. They leaned against the side of the body and did their duty.

 

Recruitment

 

Two cossets lay on the mountainside. One lay behind his sniper rifle, focusing his scope on the scrapheap that appeared to the be half buried remains of an Imperial Cruiser. Torn and covered in burns the marines observed as a party of humans marched under cover towards the wreckage. They were soldiers, possibly one of the only clans on the planet to have truly trained soldiers, the Sabertusks resembled more of a hive gang than a clan in terms of fighting operations, though perhaps rightfully so in that they had their static home in the summit of Red Hive. They wore white body suits over layers of clothing and, in some cases, flak armor armed with autoguns. On their heads were dark green helmets and each had a leather webbing and a small white bag. They would seem threatening with their training and numbers, roughly thirty men, had the cossets not been accepted by the Space Rams to become the Emperor's holy servants.

 

The sniper turned his attention to the wreckage. Figures moved about maybe twenty total, each moved sluggishly with what seemed to be looting sacks. As the soldiers advanced on the crash, a single lasbolt shot from one of the hidden holes. The man did not scream, around him a commander made hand motions from behind a small snow mound. Chopping and making fists and holding up fingers the men skillfully maneuvered, crouching and running letting off a burst of shots from time to time. Another lasbolt shot out downing a man. He roared with pain for a moment, and then no more as a second bolt caught him in the head. Observing closely, the sniper found and identified the sniper. He was a boy, no older than twelve with the eye and trigger finger of an astartes. The two looked at one another and nodded. The sniper would make an excellent candidate. Standing in his blue armor and camo cloak, the spotter shouldered his bolter and made down the hill. Alongside him the soldiers advanced, every so often one was cut down by a lasbolt.

 

Stealthily the cosset entered the ship. some ten men armed with autoguns stood their ground, cocking their rifles. In the distance a party of twenty boys and men with bloated bags hefted over their shoulders marched. A crack of another las bolt, another death, the cosset crept around the clansmen and up several levels. There the boy keeled. His arms held the longlas like a veteran guardsman and he stared down the scope with utmost concentration. Another crack and the cosset approached the boy. He pulled the boy away from his las and held his hand over the boys mouth. He whispered in his ear,

 

"I am brother Titov of the Space Rams, you show great promise and we intend to refine it." The boy nodded and Titov pulled his hand from the boys mouth. "You will come with me." He nodded again, his eyes beginning to tear with pride and sadness in leaving his clan mates.

 

"Yes m'lord." The boy answered as Titov led him up another level, punching a whole in the ceiling with a single bolt. They climbed onto the top of the ruin and retreated down the opposite side of the hull and up into the mountains. Inside the screaming of men and ringing of bullets was abundant, outside it sent shivers down the boy's spine. Atop the mountain the pair met with the sniper who let out a round into the Sabertusks' leader's skull. Standing with the rifle in hand he nodded at them, they traveled back to the Monastery with autogun fire roaring behind.

 

 

Chapter History

 

Well, after giving background on a few characters who I will inevitably return to, Edik and Titov, I've decided I want to get more in depth with some campaign history, and I've decided it's going to involve killing dirty blue xeno scum on my very own ice ball, Mons.

 

To begin, it is known that chapters originate with a veteran from another chapter taking the role of Chapter Master with several fellow veterans from the same chapter teaching initiates. The source of the original recruits is unknown, rumors expand from Terra, Armageddon and other hives, however confirmation is impossible. Names still exist from this early time, though they are not of any particular planetary background.For an unknown number of years the chapter was fleet based, recruiting from planets whose names no longer exist in chapter records.

 

The T'au sept had discovered the world of Mons, secluded, isolated, and with a small human population, no hesitations were made in sending an assault cadre under the control of venerable Aun'Ko and Shas'O Mi. The T'au occupied the central eastern snow plains of Mons, known to the inhabitants as Snow Worm territory, for an estimated three months before drawing Imperial attention. With its location, the only outside force of true size was the Space Ram chapter.

 

Previous to their intervention, clans were banding together to raid and kill T'au exploration units. The Sabertusks, the largest clan on Mons numbering in the thousands with a working STC machine, took control over directing clan units.

 

The Space Rams made landfall in the Sabertusk's fortress which surrounded the summit of Ivory Hive. Chapter Master Fedotov took direct control over the Sabertusks and in doing so, all of the clans. Bighorns were dispersed to Clans on the eastern snowbanks while Cosset runners spread the word to clans in the west. Orbital bombardments from the Battle Barge Gargantom decimated Snow Worm territory and large sections of T'au units along with all interplanetary T'au communications.

 

Another passed moth and thus began a time which frightened all the inhabitants of Mons and was unknown to the T'au invaders.

 

Fedotov looked at Warlord Vladimir Charkov who returned his glance with a smirk. Ivory Hive was a save thirty miles from the fringes of Snow Worm Territory.

"Ze blue vuns, they will have surprise, big surprise," Fedotov asked curiously,

"Why?" "Because it is mating season, and Snow Worms are big and hungry," Charkov answered.

 

Destroyed, abandoned by the Empire, under the rule of Aun'Ko and Shas'O Mi, the fire warriors, kroot and pathfinders forged their way across the Eastern Plain, forming small bands to keep alive. The groups numbered some hundred fire warriors and crisis suits and an estimated fifty kroot. Armor was scarce, a vast number of hammerheads and sky rays had been destroyed in the initial bombardment.

 

Shas'Ui Remor felt the tremors under him. He was exhausted and frightened, he had seen the world from orbit, he had seen how large it was, he had remembered so divided the people were and how simple the mission to forge a part of the empire outside of the Easter Fringe was going to be. But now, all that was a distant memory, reinforcements and evacuation were an impossible dream, even with Aun'Ko in their company. Another tremor passed. Where he stood the ground collapsed, he and thirty other fire warriors and kroot fell into the snow worm's gaping maw. Wrapped around it was a second snow worm and the pair plunged back into the ground. Shaken, the warriors fired on the bodies that continued to wind from one hole and descend into another.

 

TO BE EXPANDED. . .