Iron Man: Challenge 3 Enteries

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Vote for your favourite three articles (in any order). Please PM Ferrata with the title as follows:

 

Iron Man 3 Voting (or if you are lazy IM3)

 

Entry 1: The Penitent Brotherhood

Entry 2: The Fated

Entry 3: Blud Ghulz

Entry 4: Black Star

Entry 5: Bronze Prophets

Entry 6: Scions Of The Emperor

Entry 7: Death Hounds

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Recipient: Inquisitor Lord Vanadiral

Sender: Aspirant Milo Jacobus

Subject: The Penitent Brotherhood

Thought For the Day: Failure need not be the end.

 

 

My lord, I have completed my three year research project on the Space Marine chapter you assigned me to. Although the time spent with these madmen was trying, to say the least, I believe that it has taught me many valuable lessons. I look forward to our next meeting so I can move on with my journey to becoming a full fledged inquisitor.

 

 

The long and colourful history of the Penitent Brotherhood began in the fifth founding of space marine chapters. Like many of their brother marines, the Penitent Brotherhood were started from the geneseed of Roboute Guilliman. At the time of their founding, they were known as the Crimson Guardians. These marines were stationed on the hive world of Uridan in Segmentum Tempestus to help deal with the growing Ork threats nearby. At first, the citizens of Uridan were wary of the eight foot superhumans that set up a fortress monastery in their capital city, but slowly they grew to trust them. The bond was finally cemented when the Crimson Guardians successfully drove off Waagh Gorkbaz with the help of the local PDF.

 

Over the millennia they spent on Uridan, the Crimson Guardians grew quite close to the people. Marines would walk the streets and converse with anyone who approached. The citizens even began having planetary days of celebration whenever the Crimson Guardians won a major campaign, and days of mourning whenever a brother fell.

 

In 995 M.41, a pivotal moment in the chapter history occurred. The Crimson Guardians had sent five whole companies (the first, second, third, fourth, and eighth) to assist in the fight against Hive Fleet Kraken. During the middle of one of the many epic battles that took place, they received a desperate message from the people of Uridan. The planet was under attack from a foul Tzeentch sorcerer coven. The half of the chapter that remained on Uridan was mounting a desperate defence, but they would not be able to hold out much longer. It was immediately decided that the fleet would turn around and rescue their home world.

 

When the Crimson Guardians arrived, they saw that they had arrived just in time. Their fleet had come in behind the chaos warships that were bombarding the planet. Chief librarian Tydaris was summoned to the bridge of the battle barge Bloody Defiance, and asked to identify which ship the sorcerer coven was aboard. He told Chapter Master Khali that the largest battleship on their sensors had a strange presence in the warp. Khali boldly ordered every ship in the fleet to fire their all of their torpedoes at that ship in an attempt to knock out the enemy command and end the battle quickly.

 

This proved to be a fatal mistake. Every single torpedo passed right through the enemy ship. It was nothing but an illusion. Before the Crimson Guardians could react, the remaining chaos ships fled into the warp. Chapter Master Khali then ordered the fleet to land on Uridan and investigate the extent of the damage. To their horror, the marines arrived upon a scene of unparalleled devastation. Several of the torpedoes they launched had landed right in the middle of the capital city. The fortress monastery was in ruins and no survivors could be found. It appeared that Tzeentch himself had guided the torpedoes.

 

The remaining five companies set up a temporary camp in the ruins of their fortress monastery to discuss their future. After seven days of contemplation, it was determined that they would now be known as the Penitent Brotherhood. Every marine painted their trigger finger black as a mark of shame. It was decided that the chapter would leave Uridan and not return until the sorcerer coven was completely destroyed. The Chief Librarian went missing during this time, although there is no official reason why listed in the chapter’s database.

 

While the Penitent Brotherhood’s newfound conviction led them to even greater acts of heroism, it also ended up darkening the chapter’s reputation. They now are a much more harsh and unforgiving opponent, implacable in their hunt for the Tzeentch warband. They have even gone as far as to attack one of our own ships that they thought was holding back information. It is at this point in the chapter’s history that I began observing them. The chapter no longer recruits new initiates, and has dwindled to the size of three companies. They do not want to be responsible for any more Uridanian deaths. Also, they do not believe that any other planets would produce marines of adequate quality to join their chapter. The surviving marines are becoming increasingly dependant on jump packs, as they provide the fastest way to close in on the enemy. I believe that the cause of this is possibly rooted in psychology. They want to make sure that their enemy will not be able to escape next time.

 

As they are a dying chapter, the Penitent Brotherhood display many differences in organization from regular astartes chapters. Notably, the number of assault marines is actually approaching the number of tactical marines. Any time a marine with a jump pack dies, it is given to the sergeant whose squad preformed the best in that battle. Also, looting of enemy jump packs and even those of fallen allies has become disturbingly common. Also, the chapter’s need for redemption has pushed some marines over the edge. These Penitent Ones, as they are called, take vows of silence and refuse to remove their armour. In battle, they fight as a unit with a fury approaching madness. Only the two surviving chaplains can have any semblance of control over these monsters. Outside of battle, the whole chapter has become obsessed with the ideas of repentance and redemption. Self flagellation is encouraged, so much so that battle brothers have put themselves temporarily out of commission.

 

Their relationship with other forces of the Imperium is strained at best. I have seen the Penitent Brotherhood sacrifice entire regiments of imperial guard without a second thought. They are reluctant to ally with other space marines, as they believe that their mission of redemption is their burden alone. They also appear to have a complete disregard for our organization, the Inquisition. It was a miracle that I was even allowed to stay with them for the two years that I did.

 

Were it not for the chapter’s self destructive tendencies, I would recommend severe and immediate military action against the Penitent Brotherhood. Luckily, it seems that the chapter should be destroyed in the next hundred years or so. The fools would even throw themselves into the Eye of Terror if they thought the sorcerer coven was there. I still recommend that a careful watch is kept on them though, as they definitely still pose a major threat to anyone that gets in the way of their search for the sorcerer coven.

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Index Astartes: The Fated

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A Battle Brother of the Fated.

http://warseer.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=47744&d=1225701009
A Battle Brother of the Fading (Codex deviation organization).

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Cebera IV is a death world whose inhabitants live short, brutal lives; its surface is varied in both environment and the ways in which that environment kills the unwary. From the steaming jungles of the equatorial land masses to the death-deserts of the polar caps, the planet teems with inhuman life- from death-rattlers to ice scorpions, there are few creatures that can live in peace with one another, much less the humans living upon the planet, who the flora and fauna of the planet seem to fight to expel as a body would an unsuitable organ. But the people of Cebera IV are hardy and though their tribes occasionally war amongst themselves, their faith in the Conquerer-God and his sons is strong.

It seemed from the start a fine world to recruit Neophytes from. The population was healthy, strong, faithful, and despite the conditions, virile and populous. The Chapter soon bolstered its ranks with the finest youths of these primitive people, the aspirants’ trial of initiation being to reach the very mountain, the great Mons Ruthal, upon which the Oathrock, the Chapter’s Fortress-Monastery, rests.

Though they are isolated by distance and harsh terrain from the people of Cebera IV, the Chapter sends its warriors amongst them, to aid their survival and enforce the will of the Astartes and the Emperor. An uncommon bond formed between the Astartes and the tribes, for which more aloof Chapters criticized them for their sentimentality. Fate would prove on the side of their detractors when the Malignancy struck.

The Malignancy is a product of one of the Astartes’ great strengths: unnatural long life. Cebera IV is bombarded by radiation from its cruel star, but it is so slow-acting that the short-lived inhabitants almost never feel its effects before death. Thus it was only as the first generation of Battle Brothers reached centuries of age that wasting, slow-acting cancers began to overtake some of the venerable warriors, foul seeds planted since the moment the aspirant saw the light of day.

The Chapter was faced with a choice: to abandon its world, its ties and its genuine compassion for the people from which they recruited, or to stay with them and doom themselves to wasting diseases. Unanimously, the idea of choosing a different homeworld was shot down as the Chapter finally chose a name and demonstrated its loyalty to its people. They would ever after be the Fated, doomed to live short lives for Space Marines.

Combat Doctrine

In any and all things, the Fated take the advice of the Codex Astartes, and all the ten millennia of wisdom that has been passed on since its inception. Save for two anomalies brought on by the Malignancy and a partiality to jump pack warfare, the Fated exercise tactics and strategies that would make Guilliman himself proud from his seat on Macragge. They are, however, more likely to stand in the face of unbeatable odds due to the ever-present potential for wasting diseases to consume their flesh; they know the face of death well enough to embrace him as a Brother of their own.

Each warrior hopes in his soul to die a warrior’s death, and the Chapter thus seeks to meet the enemy face to face and eye to eye in battle. The Mechanicus has been a great patron to their wishes, for they have received a high number of jump packs in comparison to other Chapters of comparable reputation.

Organization

The Chapter is Codex adherent, with a small deviation. A Brother will, barring other, more violent deaths, be diagnosed eventually with the wasting cancers of the Malignancy. These Battle Brothers tend to band together into small bands of warriors to find death in battle, for a Space Marine is rightfully dreadful of a death in a sickbed, wasting away with his superhuman potential unable to fight and slay the enemies of the Emperor.

These warriors are closely monitored by the Chaplains and Apothecaries of the Fated, and over time the necessity for both to oversee the activities of these warriors, known as the Fading, has led to the merging of the two specialist ranks into what is known as a Sentinel Lord. He bears both a crozius and skull-mask and a reductor, and sees to the health of body and soul of the dying Astartes.

Beliefs

The idea of the Emperor as a conquering war-god has translated well into the Astartes’ faith in his supremacy. Though they do not see him as a god, they see him as the consummate leader of men and the ultimate example of Man’s need for conquest of the galaxy and loyalty to his brethren. They tolerate abhumans to some extent, willing to fight alongside them in His service; similarly, they respect psykers who can discipline their powers for the glory of Him on Earth.

They hold the Mechanicus and their faith to be a sect and a facet of the Emperor’s worship, though the Fated’s warriors have before expressed worry that the servants of the Machine God might border on heresy in some instances. However, thus far the relationship between Mars and the Chapter has been robust, despite the aloof nature of their Techmarines and consternation of their faith.

Geneseed

As punished as their natural bodies may be by eventual terminal illness, the Fated’s geneseed is pure and unadulterated, a shining example of Guilliman’s legacy. The Fated guard their geneseed jealously in a chamber deep in the caverns below the Oathrock,, as they have every right to, for it is feared that if such safeguards were not taken, Cebera IV’s radiation would tamper with the seed’s effectiveness.

Battle Cry

“Fear not death, but unworthy life!”

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Da rip snortin' tale of da Blud Ghulz!
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The group of Orks huddled closer round the fire. Four of them were brash young stormboyz, barely enough scartissue on them to weigh a Grox down. The other figure was much smaller, a wizened lump that's head was deep in his big mug. The scene was fairly peaceful for a gathering of five Orks, which meant it had about the level of sound of an Inquisitional torture chamber that under use.

"Oi, Kartak, give us a story," yelled the biggest brute. Soon the rest of the orks agreed to the demand. No one wanted their face in the fire tonight, obviously. The chant of "Story, story, story..." went up. The smaller figure raised its head from the beer and regarded the group closely.

"Youse wanna story, do ya?" it said. A collective roar assented, with one or two cries of "Get on with it, ya squig herda" or words to that effect.

"Okay den. Dis is da tale of da Blud Ghulz," the old squig herder whispered menacingly.

'Round 'bout da time Korlak da 'Ead Krusha fell to da spiky boyz, these beakiez turned up.
Dey were noice and shinny but dey fought hard. Sum of dem were madder den Magdruk,
Kept on fighting even when a bligging Squiggoth stoomped and gor'd dem
Weirdboy Jark said dey musta been from da Red Marinez, 'cause of da looniez
But he had already been at da fungi beer and Mork had been talking to him funny-like
Deir funny pole-clothes said dey were de "Nights Sagwiniun"
So we called da Night Sang Wine
But dose boyz could fight and da spiky boyz didn't like dem much
Dose talky-talky, chanty-chanty spiky boyz got driven back into da warpy placez
And den da Night Sangers took da beat-up old place Bartal
Wich wernt even worth da bother for a good biff
And built da big gunz and shipz, wid dis stuff, dey gave us a biff
Too guda biff and we had to go foind anutha biff for a moment

Da otha 'oomies almost worshipped dem
Sang deir praises as if dey were Gork or sumting
Said dey were noble and angels and everyting else
But dey was damn gud foighters
Mostly dey fell from da sky in dose min- Roks dey use
Dey seemed to like those a lot
Den deir dakka-dakka and whirry-swords dey used
Didn't mind facin' us face to face
Even den, deir crazy boys were tuff
But you didnt see one of dem everytime you fought dem
Dey seemed to be foightin' wid da beakies wid twos on dem all da time
Dose ones wid da twos were always in blak
But da rest of da beakies were all shiny in deir gold
And da ones in da blak never turned up wen deir were other 'oomies 'round
Funny dat but dey were baaaaad

On da world of Skorga, der Night Sang Wine got us gud
Deir head, head boss fought Marok DestroyaLord
Marok stood as high as a Squiggoth's knee
Yet da only blow he landed was across da beakies pretty face
Cut from ear to above da other, a good 'un
But da git went and stabbed Marok through da 'ead
Den da rest of da boyz were needed elsewhere
Only Karg, a Death Skulls' Loota was left on da field
He told us dat da rest of da head, head boss' closest boyz gathered round 'im
Da git got up, wid da big slash across 'is face
Der rest of dem seemed quite angry loike, 'specially da one wid da 2 swords
Dat one talked for a bit, saying dat coz da head boss weren't pretty no more
And coz he didn't look like a Sang Wine, none of dem would either
So dey all draw deir choppy knives and sliced across deir faces
From den on, all of da beakies we saw wid deir beaks off had dem scars
'Cept for da younga ones who are squishier and softa den normal


The small herders voice dropped and the others gathered nearer to hear his voice. Unfortunately, this placed the arm of one of the Orks in the fire. After several minutes spent trying to put the fire out on the yelling ork by his Stormboy companions and an unspoken apology of an offering of more fungus beer to the annoyed herder, the story resumed, with one of the orks sulkily sitting the farthest from the tale and with no beer.


Den da spiky boyz came from dat huge warpy hole
Ignawed us, even dough we hit dat prayery place dey loiked so much
Strait for Bartal where da Night Sang Wine wer
So da biggest biff dat hasn't involved us dat I hav seen, started
We got dis info from one of them 'oomies dat folla da spiky boyz round
Da spiky boyz had sarrounded da planit and wer gunna blow da big city from space
But den all of da hardest beakies used tellyportas to get to dem Chaos ships
So a gud scrap started, wid only da hardest of da hardest survivin'
One of da weirdboyz fought his way to da bridge
Den da 'ead boss of da spiky lads was dere too
So a foight broke out, of epoich proportions
Da spiky boss was beaten but his lads shot down da weirdboy as he lay da killin' blow
Den all der rest of da beakies went crazy, or mosta them
Maybe dey all loved 'im lots 'n were upset
Our own weirdboy muttered sumting about psykik deth scream
But we all know dat dem boyz dont have deir 'eads on strait
Anyhow, dey cut down da spiky boys, doubletime!
Dey still got some shots down at Bartal but da big boooom was stopped
Da spiky boyz started runnin' but not many got away

Da 'oomie said dat da Nights Sang Wine had all gone insane but for 'bout a hundred
And dat dey had become daemons that could tear a Warboss in two
Mudruk thought dis wold be a gud biff
So 'e gathered da boyz together and orf dey went
Only one of da ships limped back from da 50ish dat set orf
Fulla grots it were and no livin' ork
Da small gits went on 'bout ghosts 'n ghouls dat had pounced from blackness
Da few Orks on board wer mostly ripped inta parts
A limb dere and a head dere
A gud challenge or so Larkrak thought
So orf he went wid 80ish ships
Larkrak comes bak fairly sharply, wid but two ships
Said he decided sat da spiky boyz would be more of a challenge
Da grots whispered of beakiez ripping through Rok loads of Orks
Blood in deir eye and a mad howl on deir lips
So da rest of da boyz thoguht Larkrak might be roight fur once
Spiky gits would be more fun
We coulda beaten dem of course but we too busylike
Dunno where dey are anyways

Dey said to wander da stars now, huntin' for anyting
Only da blud of da livin' is sent to make dem happy
Bloodstained spirits dat stalk where dey please
Pass any guards, kill any armies
All deir prey has fallen before dem
Dey is said to be partial to ork blud
Particularly of young 'uns
Many a young stormboyz las sight was of dat gore stained, screamin' face wid a scar
Dyin' in a pool of his own blud wid no arms or legs to call 'is own
Watch da shadows behind yer mate and hope to Gork he does it fur you
Coz dey are out der in da darkness of the 'ooniverse, dose beakies
Just watchin', waitin' for blud...

The squig herder's voice trailed of on the last syllable, enjoying his audience's reaction to his ending. "Dat's enuff stories fur da while," proclaimed the old ork. 'Ave a gud sleep now, boyz," he said as he stumbled unsteadily back to the squig pens, the last of the fungus beer in his grasp. Behind him gathered the stormboys. Even the one who had been burnt huddled near the fire. No Ork looked at the darkness. Careful banter struck up among the group with no mention being made of anything in the last hour or so. In human terms, they were basically talking about the weather. Dawn could obviously not come quick enough.

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Warlords of the Black Star

 

The warlords of the black star are an ancient order who has, through terrible things so old, during a old crusade the chapter lost many of its marines, they had fought hard and won but with 75% casualty count, the lose of the primary battle barge, they know they where created sometime around the 5th founding, they do not know who they get there linage from.

The battle they fought was one of obscurity, to rebuild there forces, in the end they where seen once more in a large fight, at the dawn of the 42nd millennium they are a large chapter fighting in many pirate wars across the galaxy, they have formed into tight rank clan like chapter, the troops stand in 3 Different force make ups.

The first company was a heavy response unit, made of up assault troops, Bike squads and land speeders, the second company is the tank units and the chapters Terminator squads and Dreadnoughts, the rest of the chapter is organized in pack like squads and clan style companies, the commanders are formed into a tribal council to discuses the workings of the chapter, the chapter master travels in the chapters fortress monastery with the first and second companies formed with the chapters best warriors, the rest are separated into a series of battle barges or battleships claimed in victory, each clan to a ship

 

Doctrine

The warlords believe in a swift heavy assault beginning with orbital bombardment witch doesn’t end until the first of the thunder hawks and drop pods have entered the atmosphere of the planet. The assault is normally started after scouts have marked key targets and taken out city shield and anti air defenses.

 

Home World

As a Result of being a fleet based chapter, each clan recruits from many sources, it is believed before they lost there records they had a common home world but no more, no one knows what happened except the older Dreadnoughts of the Second company but they do not speak of it and refuse to answer when questioned about it.

Now they have there fleet, each clan keeps its own mini fleet of support vehicles and the chapter master flies a old Battleship that has been modified and overhauled so many times it is its own class of ship, it is called the Dark Sun, with large hanger bays, torpedo tubes, drop pod launches, lance and broad side cannons, it is a monster of a ship, and since it still ca hold tanks and bikes, has a Librium and nearly 3 companies of troops with support personal and a forge, it is a call back to the great crusade when fleets where all powerful

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Bronze Prophets

They can see what you see not...vision milky then eyes rot...when you turn, they will be gone...whispering their hidden song... - Excerpt from the heretical ramblings of Melchior Keb, believed by heretics and unbelievers to be a prophet.

Long and strange is the saga of the Bronze Prophets chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. Though once the finest of marines, the calamities which have afflicted them have caused many to question both their faith and their purity. There can be little doubt that their origins lie in that most benighted of times - the Cursed Founding.

Origins

Bronze Prophet

As is usual for many Cursed Founding chapters, little or nothing is confirmed about the creation and early years of the Bronze Prophets. Despite this, many horrific legends surround them. Whether these legends are created by the Prophets themselves to spread fear and horror to their enemies, or are whispers of truth that have slowly spread across the Imperium is impossible to say.

Legend tells us that the Bronze Prophets, in the early years of their founding, were mighty and strong. Their marines were keen of eye, strong of limb, and sharp of intellect, even by the standards of Space Marines. The enemies of mankind fell before them, and the rejoicing was great in the Halls of the Prophets, their monastery on their home world of Pawrath. Their prowess was not limited to the battlefield. Their Librarians were some of the most puissant the Imperium had ever seen, and their gifts at foreseeing the future almost unparalleled. Their psykers took the myriad strands of the future and wove them to form a tapestry which pleased the Prophets, letting the Emperor guide them in the use of their gifts to produce success on the battlefield. In dark corners of the Imperium, it was whispered that the power and might of the Prophets
heralded the dawning of a new era for the Imperium, and that their capability, honor, and foresight might be a sign of the Emperor's return. Such mutterings, of course, drifted to the Bronze Prophets ears, and they were pleased. It is said that it was this pleasure that was their downfall.

The Chief Librarian of the Bronze Prophets was Montress the Golden, a man whose powers surpassed even those of the abnormally powerful Bronze Prophets. He was most gifted at foreseeing the future, as well, and often used this gift to push his sight beyond the limits which bound his compatriots. With his gift, he saw from the dawn of the Imperium to the end of time itself. Some said that what he saw there had driven him
mad, but if so, he showed no sign of it. Always he was a marine of the Emperor. But there remained dark spots, which his vision could not see. These dark spots surrounded the Emperor, and Montress hungered for a vision of his lord. With such a vision, he knew he could see the true path for the chapter and the Imperium, and change the galaxy as his master would want. One night, when the four moons of Pawrath aligned in the sky, he called together the three other most powerful Librarians of the chapter, that together they might do what he alone could not. They would look on the face of the Emperor.

Together, they reached out across the fullness and breadth of time, twisting the very fabric of space itself. They looked forward into the future, and back into the past at the same time, and at the same time as that they looked nowhere at all. And as they raised their heads to tell each other of their triumph, their very eyes poured from their heads, now dust and emptiness, and their sanity drifted away with their eyes. Ever since, says the legend, the Librarians of the Bronze Prophets have succumbed to the same curse as they reach the apex of their power - their eyes rot away, and their minds rot with their eyes.

Some say that the vision of the Emperor was too much for their flawed natures to bear, and that the Bronze Prophets slew them for their arrogance. Some say that they were destroyed by the strain of attempting to see too much, and that their fate is a lesson from the Emperor for all who would overreach their station. Others claim that it is a mere representation of the inner corruption being a psyker forces on all so cursed. Still others say that though their minds are gone, their gifts of prophecy remain, and that they and those who fall after them are kept chained in limitless ranks below the Chapter's monastery, forever speaking in riddles and parables that the Prophets interpret to steer the course of the Chapter and the Imperium. And some simply say that such a horrible fate was only another sign of the Emperor's displeasure at the Cursed Founding, forced into manifestation by Montress' meddling with space and time.

Whatever the truth, no man may know it. Blessed be the Emperor. May he guard us from evil. All glory to his name.

Home World
The home world of the Bronze Prophets is Pawrath, a small planet in the far north-west of the galaxy. A mostly temperate world, the planet is marked by a band of desolate wasteland which stretches around the equator. It is in this wasteland, frequently lashed by storms and patrolled by horrific beasts, that the Prophets make their home. Their Fortress Monastery, now known as the Halls of the Blind, is a mighty promontory, rising sharply out of the dust and rock that surrounds it, often framed by crackling lightning and the shrieksand roars of the terrible creatures which roam the ashen realm that girds the planet. Beneath the monastery lie seemingly endless catacombs, tombs and vaults, where the rumoured blind seers of the chapter may lie.

The population of the planet has little contact with the Prophets, looking at them as somewhere between protectors, demons and gods. Many former Chapter Masters and Captains are preserved in the memory of the population as mystical heroes and villains. A deeply religious people, the Pawrathans are devout in their worship of the Emperor, with many choosing a life of quiet contemplation in monastery or convent. Otherwise, they tend to be farmers and herders. Of course, fending off the depredations of the horrific beasts of the wastelands is enough to make even such a simple people hardy and dangerous enough for Space Marines.

Combat Doctrine
The Librarians of the Bronze Prophets are found throughout the chapter in combat roles, providing a valuable role in assisting their brethren in combat. Their oracular gifts are used to do what the chapter knows their enemies will not expect. They also use their Librarians' psychic gifts to bolster the abilities of their warriors in combat. Some become as swift as the Eldar, while others are shifted away from bullets and explosions which might harm them. Still others find their weapons and armor made more potent, so they are both nigh-indestructable and fire shots of nearly-unstoppable power. Some of the most foolish allow their Librarians to unleash the darkest forces which lie within their souls, becoming ravening maniacs for the duration of a battle. The amazing power displayed by their Librarians is coupled with an unusually short service life - few Librarians seem to see more than a century of combat before they disappear. This, of course, only adds to the dark rumours surrounding the eventual fate of Bronze Prophet Librarians. Nonetheless, they are a powerful weapon in the Chapter's arsenal, and go some way toward compensating for the usual supply and equipment shortages common to Cursed Founding chapters.

The Bronze Prophets enjoy using their gifts to taunt and toy with the enemy, and seem to take an almost perverse delight in allowing their enemies the opportunity to escape - though their prophetic gifts make it nearly-impossible for the enemy to do so. Sometimes, however, this has been known to cost the Prophets what would have been an easy victory, a fact that does not seem to diminish their cruel tendencies in this
regard.

Beliefs
Versatility and practicality are the watchwords of the Bronze Prophets. Where possible, they use as little material as possible, preferring to use their psychic gifts and simple psychological warfare instead of direct force. A few days of being constantly predicted and outmaneuvered is usually enough to break the morale of any force, and the Prophets see this as a key component of ensuring their victories.

The Bronze Prophets also believe deeply in their own ability to predict and understand the future of the Imperium, through various means. Prophetic visions are met with close and careful scrutiny, but only so that the maximum of meaning may be derived from them. The consequences of any major action are always carefully considered, and as many means of prediction as can be used are, until the chapter can be certain the action they are about to take is what is best for the Imperium. Though the rigors of combat do not always allow such deliberation, commanders still attempt to do so where possible. Once their planning is complete, however, they are ready and eager for battle.

Gene-seed
The gene-seed of the Bronze Prophets, like that of all Cursed Founding chapters, appears unusual. Though the Tech-Priests are certain that it has been modified from its original form, they are uncertain as to how. It has been noted that the marked prophetic abilities of the Bronze Prophets do not appear to have any relation to the populations they draw their recruits from. Their unusually high incidence of Librarians, and those same Librarians unusual levels of power would appear to be tied to their geneseed - and it is theorized that this same ability is why the Bronze Prophets may have been modified in the first place.

Battlecry
We will have your lives and your souls!

[Ferrata]

Scions Of The Emperor

Origins

The origins of the Scions of the Emperor are lost to the Imperium. It is believed they were created late in the M38 to counter the emerging threats of the Eastern Fringe and Ghoul Stars, as they are one of the most North Easterly Chapters from the Galactic Core, however there are reports of a similarly liveried chapter as early as M36. They are an isolated and insular chapter, and this is believed to have led to their more divergent beliefs. Foremost amongst this is an almost fanatical adherence to the Imperial Creed and hatred of all those who fail to reach their particularly stringent devotion to the Emperor. This has led to incidents with other Imperial Forces, most notably a second chapter of the Astartes - The Iron Lords, when they failed to show what the Scions viewed as proper humility to the Emperor. Although blows were exchanged no significant losses were incurred, though both Chapters are now deeply distrustful of the other.

The second, and far more significant divergence is to be found in the Chapters organisation. As Astartes, they are privileged to some forbidden knowledge - most notably that of the events of the Heresy. They believe that it was the failure of brotherhood that drove the Primarchs to each others throats. To this end they have the \"Oaths of Binding.\" Each new squad of recruits is inducted together and blood oaths are sworn to both there squad mates and their Company Commander - known as a Lord Apostle. Once made, these oaths cannot be broken, save by induction into the Librarium, Reclusium, Disciple Guard or another wing of the chapter. The Astartes serve in brotherhood unto death, with casualties never being replaced in a squad. As a result squads diminish as the age of the Astartes grows.

The Veterans of a Company are known as the Disciple Guard. Hand picked warriors; once selected they are reported as slain and never publicly reveal their faces again, appearing only in their battle armour. To be picked requires absolute devotion to the Emperor as well as proving themselves worthy of the honour bestowed on them. They serve as bodyguards to the Lord Apostles and other senior chapter members, as well as fulfilling the role of sergeants in a normal chapter. It is from the ranks of these warriors that the Lord Apostles themselves are chosen upon the death of the incumbent.

Interestingly, the Scions do not have Apothecaries. Instead, the role of an Apothecary is undertaken by the Chaplains. This is because the Scions believe the gene seed is the sacred flesh of the Emperor and the rites by which it is administered may only be performed by the most sanctified of the battle brothers – the Chaplains.

The final divergence is the method by which the Scions wage war. They conduct war as holy rite, believing that there can be no greater prayer than slaying a foe face-to-face and blade to blade. Whipped into a religious frenzy by the company Chaplains they fall upon the enemy with a savagery displayed more commonly by the Blood Angels and their kin.

Homeworld

Ullis Majoris is a barren world in the Galactic North. The human population ekes out a miserable existence, praying to the Emperor and conducting ritualised war with neighbouring tribes. They know that the Angels of the Emperor will give only the strongest their greatest wish - an eternity of war in the name of the God Emperor.

The eastern landmass, known as the Chalice Plains for its usual plateaus and sink holes is dominated by the Fortress Chapels of the Scions Companies. Each Company takes a Chapel and is responsible for its own upkeep and recruitment. These Chapels are smaller versions of Fortress Monasteries, and so are nigh on impregnable to attack.

Combat Doctrine

The Scions of The Emperor, as noted above, believe that only through meeting the enemy face to face can they best deliver the most righteous wrath that He commands of them. New recruits do not serve as scouts, as it is viewed that scout armour is woefully ill designed for the rigours of close quarter combat. As a result, the new initiates are banded together in a squad and will often hurl themselves at the enemy having been whipped into a frenzy of devotional battle lust by the Chaplains and Disciple Guardians, eager to serve the Emperor. Unsurprisingly, these novices suffer considerable attrition. As an initiate matures, he learns the Emperors work must be done both at range and at close quarters. Although they are gifted with a boltgun, they retain the close combat armaments and still practice close combat drills. Unusually amongst the Astartes, these veteran warriors are as adept at using the boltgun up close as they are at firing on the foe. Those squads who are skilled and level headed enough to understand that there is honour and glory where ever the foe is slain from are entrusted with heavier weapons such as the Lascannon or Heavy Bolter in order to provide support for their brothers.

At the front lines of the fight can be found the Chaplains and the Lord Apostles. Often accompanied by members of the Companies Disciple Guard, they fight harder than any other man in order to praise the Emperor.

Beliefs

The Scions have a fanatical adherence to the Imperial Creed, more so than most of their Brother Chapters. Indeed, such fanaticism is the equal of the Redemptor cults of the Imperium, leading some to speculate whether the Chapter has something to atone for in its history. Other observers, particularly the more venerable of the first founding Legions have drawn unfavourable comparisons with the Word Bearers Traitor Legion. Whilst it is unlikely they would desert the Emperor, purging loyalist allies for perceived heresy is not unknown.

Organisation

At present following the Tyrannic Wars and purge of the Gloch subsystem, only 7 Companies of the Scions are operating. Under normal circumstances a full 10 companies can be fielded. Each Company is responsible for its own recruitment and as such has its own Chaplains, Librarians and Disciple Guard. There is no fixed size to a Company, though equipment supplies usually dictate how many Marines the Company can field. Each Company also has its own warships and armour, and is responsible for the maintenance of these relics.

Although the Companies are independent bodies, they still elect a Chapter Master,or High Apostle. The High Apostles Company has the privilege of maintaining the Chapters few Dreadnoughts. These warriors are no less fanatical than their living brethren, and on rare occasions a Strike Force is commanded by one of these Venerable warriors. Many of the interred are in fact former Chaplains, who continue to chant the litanies even from their eternal tomb.

The Scions of the Emperor have little time for the Priesthood of Mars, and so use few armoured vehicles. What few they have are shrines not to the Omassiah, but to the Emperor. The Chapters Techmarines are viewed with suspicion and distrust.

Gene Seed

The Scions gene seed is extremely stable. All 18 implants are present and function well within acceptable parameters. This in itself suggests they are of Ultramarines gene stock, though no evidence exists to support this.

Battle Cry

The Scions have no codified battle cry – instead Chaplains will recite litanies of hate for the battle brothers, and members of the Disciple Guard will lead their men in their prayers. Each battle brother continues to pray or chant throughout the battle, leading to a roiling wave of devotion over the external vox systems. This is as heartening to allies as it is terrifying to enemies.

[Ferrata]

Death Hounds

'Tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye. Keep on fightin' till all the bastards are blind!

 

To call the Death Hounds a chapter of the Adeptus Astartes is to do a vast injustice to the many proud and noble chapters whom defend the Imperium. The Hounds have more akin to a pack of animals than humanities greatest achievements. Descendents of the holy Ultramarine gene-line, their feral nature is a mystery to the scholars of the Imperium. Many suggest that the DNA of the primal population of Khaasar, the chapter’s primary recruitment world, has infiltrated the pure Guilliman gene-seed. Others have hypothesised that it was always tainted and it was the chapter’s destiny to become the barbarians they are. Either of the two reasons, and the many more which surround the chapter, show how few other chapters can match the primitiveness of the Hounds. Though, for all their sins, they have fought well and hard for the Emperor.

 

Of their brutal traditions, those weaved with initiation and organisation is treated with most shock by outsiders unfortunate to be forced to deal with the chapter. The daily routine of a recruit is increasingly difficult throughout out, for what turns out for many short, lives. After being selected from the tribes of Khaasar, they are almost abandoned within a specially created forest around the fortress-monastery of the chapter. Here, many dangerous animals have been bred and the supplies available to the recruits are always dangerous to claim. Once they have proven their worth, the young warriors are taken under the wing of specialised training officers who drive them harder and harder, making sure the weak break. A few from each generation will earn their Black Carapace, but even then life does not become easier.

 

Packs of recruits, barely into their power armour, are used as front line troops. A force of shocking ferocity as they desperately attempt to show their martial skills to the on looking veterans. These ancient warriors are sergeants of the many squads which make up the Death Hounds, scouting out the new breed of initiatives to find those who will work well under their command. If one makes himself noticeable, he will be asked to pledge to the sergeant. This ritual in itself often makes non-members almost wretch their stomachs as the young recruit tears one of his own canine teeth out from his mouth. The sergeant will then read out the oath which will bind the youngster to his command for life, placing the bloody tooth on the necklace around his neck to join the teeth of those already pledged to the veteran.

 

The tradition of taking vows to serve a single leader carries throughout the chapter. Instead of being organised into structured companies, the Death Hounds are associated with merely squads. The number of men in each unit is only limited by the personal charisma, or more frequently the fear installed, of the sergeant in charge. If a man is powerful enough to demand the loyalty of more the twenty brothers, he may assume the rank of captain which limits him to his ten most trusted warriors to form his retinue. The others under his command are granted to which ever member of their number comes out on top, but the new sergeant will remain pledged to his captain. If a captain grows even more dominant within the chapter, he is further promoted to Lord. Lords will often have five or more sergeants pledged to them, making them able to command of force of at least seventy warriors.

 

Although there is no true leader within the Hounds, a further two ranks are attainable by a brother of the chapter which will effectively grant him sole command of the chapter. If a single man has a necklace containing a tooth from a majority of the chapter, he will be praised with the title Grand Lord. The highest title achievable is Rex Dentus, Rex Caninus, literally meaning King of the Teeth, King of the Hounds, although it is often shortened to simply Rex, is granted only when the entire chapter is pledged to one person. Throughout the history of the chapter, there have only been five men to be called Rex.

 

It is possible for a brother to become unpledged from his superior officer if they become disgruntled with the choices of those he has pledged to, he may wish to leave and follow his own path. In these circumstances, the he is handed back his tooth and of those who wish to become loyal to him. It is possible for an unpopular marine to lose all of the men under his command and become quickly demoted to a lower rank. It is a rare occasion when a recruit will demand such respect from the other initiatives that they will pledge themselves to him, directly promoting him to the rank of sergeant. Such men are precious to the chapter and they often continue to become Grand Lords later in their career.

 

The establishments, if such a word can be used in conjunction with the Hounds, of the Librarium and Chaplaincy are merged into one, the Kabbalah. Members of the Kabbalah are both the spiritual guardians of the chapters and those who have the ability to use psychic abilities in battle. Although they have great power and are highly revered by the chapter, like in many chapters, most brothers keep them at arm’s length, fearing the unknown. A few recruits will be selected from initiation to become members of the Kabbalah, whilst others will be selected when their powers manifest. As there is no leader amongst the Kabbalah, each is dedicated to the Emperor alone; an almighty statue of Him in the heat of battle is adorned with a necklace of teeth.

 

When the Hounds find war, all men who are unpledged to another man will make council, although many more will be present in the roles of advisors. Tactics are hotly debated, including the number of men to be detached and when the chapter will take to battle, for it is rare for the Hounds to refuse to fight. Once everyone has said their thoughts, a grand vote will take place in a tradition known as ‘casting your teeth’. Each mans’ vote is weighted by the number of teeth around his neck, obviously those with the more warriors pledged to them will have a greater say in the activities of the chapter.

 

After the basic tactics has been decided, the council turns its attention to which warriors will be honoured with the task of taking to battle in the name of the Hounds. Sergeants will boast about the abilities of the men under their command, as will Captains and even Lords. These meetings are more rowdy arguments furthered by the vast quantities of alcohol drunk during council. Once throats have become sore and voices hoarse, the Librarians of the chapter, known as shamans internally, will retreat from the commanders and meditate for guidance from the Emperor. Whilst the sergeants sleep of their drunken state, the Shamans inhale precious fumes which further their interaction with the Emperor. Exiting after many long hours, they will read the names of the squads to go to war.