Iron Man: Challenge 5 Entries

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Due to the low number of entries (five challenges was one too many) please only vote for your favourite article. PM Ferrata with your article vote.

 

Iron Man 5 Voting (or if you are lazy IM5)

 

Entry 1: Battle Griffons

Entry 2: Space Golems

Entry 3: Crimson Enforcers

Entry 4: War Sons

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Index Astartes: The Battle Griffons

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Baikal V is a civilized, cold world, but through the labors of its people is self-sufficient and manages to produce enough of the hardy vegetables that grow on the planet to export it for profit. Life is hard, the difficulty of farming there compounded by the planet’s high gravity makes the populace hardy and incredibly strong, adequate recruits for the Astartes.

The coming of the Chapter was seen as a glorious day, when the Battle Griffons of the planet descended from their mountain tombs to serve the glowing Emperor in battle. Its anniversary is a holy day for the whole population of the planet, and the Chapter as well.

Their success at farming despite the odds has melded somewhat with their faith in the Emperor. They believe that He is analogous to, or in some orthodox sects, literally their sun. Though He is far from them, He is mighty, and gives them the aid they need to survive; it is thought that He sends just enough of His blessings to allow them to survive, but withholds all His strength in the interest of keeping Baikans strong and worthy through toil.

The Battle Griffons foster this belief in their patronage to the world, and spending time amongst the people of Baikal V gives the young ones something to aspire to. Strength of body and heart is valued above all, and to be chosen to serve the Chapter is a great honor.

The Chapter has a single Space Marine, usually an older warrior, stationed in each of the twenty largest major hubs on the planet. This Space Marine, aided by a dozen or so Serfs, will keep a wary eye out for youths who might make good candidates for the Chapter. Over the course of the year, this may amount to around a hundred youths, and each will be celebrated in their community and honored by their family. A Chapter Serf will be sent to the family to replace the lost labor, however, for manpower is needed to maintain production in the harsh climes.

The Battle Griffons maintain a single Fortress-Monastery, the Enduring Spirit, on an island mount far from the eastern coast of the planet’s most populated continent. Each year, all the aspirants will be transported across the ocean to the fortress, and from there tested to become Neophytes. The people of the planet will never know which of their young actually survive and become Space Marines; from that day forth the young one is a Battle Griffon to them, a nameless warrior of the Sun God.

Combat Doctrine

In the early days of the Chapter, the Battle Griffons had little in the way of armored or swift support; this has shown itself in the ways of the Chapter’s wars. They fight mostly as an infantry force, fighting on their own terms wherever possible. Their battle plans always take into account the available cover through which they can advance, and which approach will provide their forces the most efficient route.

Similar to their parent Chapter, they hold the purifying fire of flamer and melta weapons above all others, relishing the act of reducing their enemies to ashes by the Emperor’s holy light.

This style of fighting is effective against their most regular foes, the Orks. Enemy fire, inaccurate and ineffectual, will ring off their armor as they approach. Even an Ork will be intimidated by their steady advance, and often a warband has been broken into a disorganized array of those staying their ground, charging in desperation to spill blood, or fleeing the battle. From there the Chapter’s warriors can simply take them piecemeal.

When speed is needed, the Chapter’s forces depend on their Thunderhawks and drop pods to rapidly deploy their forces where they need to be; where solidity is needed the Chapter’s warriors will hold their ground with implacable resolve.

The Chapter sees the Terminators and Dreadnoughts of their forces to be the ultimate embodiment of their beliefs in combat. They are implacable, unstoppable, and devastating, able to overpower any foe and take massive punishment. Each Battle Griffon warrior aspires to wear the blessed Terminator armor, and to become a Dreadnought is an honor unimaginable, to the extent that the Chapter has specifically requisitioned an additional four of the venerable walking mausoleums for their use.

In addition, the Battle Griffons have managed to acquire a number of bikes and a few Rhinos; the latter are reserved for dedicated assault troops and the former for recon and sabotage missions, when the Chapter’s normal tactics cannot be used.

Organization

The Chapter maintains the seven Companies of Vulkan’s warriors. The First Company is composed of the Chapter Master, the Chapter’s Terminators, and all their most veteran warriors. The Seventh is their Scout Company. All the other Companies are made up of regular Battle Brothers, though these Companies are larger than a normal Codex equivalent. Each Company has a single Dreadnought.

Special officers, such as Chaplains, Librarians, Apothecaries, and Techmarines, form their own separate divisions within the Chapter and are seconded as needed to different Companies in different engagements.

Beliefs

The Salamanders’ Promethean Cult has melded well with the sun-cult of Baikal V’s culture to form the dogma of the Battle Griffons. They see the Emperor as the supreme example of Mankind, who through His servants is the metaphorical fire by which the galaxy shall be cleansed and the shining star that will light their way.

In any combat they are on, the Battle Griffons will enact their battle-prayer facing the nearest star to them, praying for cleansing fire and courage in the face of heresy.

Their Chaplains, rather than being dour and sinister figures of other Chapters, are bright and bombastic figures. Contrasting sharply with the dark garb of other keepers of the faith among the Astartes, the Chaplains of the Battle Griffons wear armor of bright yellow, with fiery heraldry adorning their armor plates. They wear likenesses of the sun-gods of Baikal V at all times, and shout through enhanced vox-units inspiring oratory for their brothers and demonizing condemnation for their enemies.

The Battle Griffons believe themselves to be the shield of the Imperium, and most specifically the Velum Stars, against a harsh galaxy salivating at the possibility of their demise. This tenet is shown at all levels of Chapter doctrine, from the black shield with gold trim that forms their heraldry to their unwavering service across the sector.

As they embody the creatures of legend Baikans revere, the Battle Griffons have modified their armor extensively, each Battle Brother adding to it or, in the case of extreme modification and inspiration, acquiring the aid of a Techmarine. These modifications often take the form of beaked helmets, stylized wings on the shoulderpads or packpack vents, and clawed feet like lion’s paws.

Geneseed

The geneseed of the Salamanders has but one flaw, and it is the dysfunction of the Melanchrome. This defect darkens the Astartes’ skin to a seared black, their eyes a smoldering red, and their hair a shock of white. For this reason, they wear their helmets at all times on Baikal V, as this sinister appearance might unsettle the populace, who see their Chapter as bright Battle Griffons of myth. Aspirants do not see the true faces of their mentors until they reach the Enduring Spirit, and at that moment some must be mind-scrubbed and made into Chapter Serfs.

Battle Cry

“Truer than steel, yield to none!”

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“Through rock and metal and time, we serve.”
-Chaplain Bezalel[/center]

T

he Maelstrom is a desolate place, similar to the eye of terror and sanctuary of the disgusting servants of chaos. In their long centuries of service, the Space Golems have broken chaos worlds around the Maelstrom. Siege tactics and brutal assaults have made the Space Golems a force to be reckoned with.
Their names are sung throughout siege regiments of the Imperial Guard that they have served alongside and are renown by Imperial Generals. In their centuries of service, the Space Golems have mastered their art of expertise and have made shining examples of themselves.

Homeworld

T

he Space Golems hail from the world Asvarte located in Eastern Fringe, bordering the Maelstrom. Asvarte’s surface is that of endless plains and occasional mountains. Farmers and ranchers raise their crops and cattle out on the plains where they are shipped to neighboring worlds.
Under Asvarte’s surface, miners, men, women and their children, excavate valuable ores, minerals and stones with heavy machinery and simple shovels and pickaxes. In the mines, horrendous creatures and insects make havoc with mining operations. Because of this teams are taught how the fight with their tools and are armed with lasguns, autoguns and flamers. The world primarily exports grain, cattle, minerals, ores and gemstones.
The Space Golems recruit from the world every few decades, while the sons of farmers and miners are given equal opportunity to become astartes, it is far more common for the miner’s sons to be accepted due to their greater physical ability.

Battlefield Doctrine

T

he Space Golems follow the Codex Astartes in all battlefield tactics. Being equal in that respect, the Space Golems excel at siege warfare, breaking in days and weeks what might have taken months or years without their support.

Chapter Organization

S

imilar to other codex chapters, the Space Golems organize themselves into ten companies with the first company being the veteran company and the tenth company being the scout company. The first and tenth company’s forces are divided among the four active companies where they may best educate and learn from their battle brothers. Each company is led by a captain.

Chapter Beliefs

T

he chapter beliefs are simple. They view themselves as the protectors of humanity, to free the galaxy of the oppression of xenos and the threat of chaos is their greatest goal. Astartes who go against the Emperor and humanity are heretics. It is not uncommon for Space Golems to hunt down larger bands of renegades.
Similarly to other chapters, the Emperor is viewed as a perfect human, rather than a deity.

Gene Seed

T

he Space Golem’s gene seed is without flaw, taken from the Ultramarine’s gene stock. Similar to other chapters, the Space Golems regularly send samples of their gene seed to Mars.

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T

he Crimson Enforcers, designed to maintain an offensive for the Imperium within the Eye of Terror, were created during the ninth founding. The Despoiler's initial black crusade was in fact what prompted the action: The Highlords of Terra sanctioned the creation of the chapter in response to the chaos threat, and assigned them the sole purpose of guarding the Cadian Gate. Because of this charge, the Crimson Enforcers are constantly stationed within or around the Eye of Terror, and as such are the object of constant scrutiny from the Ordo Hereticus. On numerous occasions their fanatic hate of the chaos Space Marines has saved them from this attention, but they are nevertheless considered an untrustworthy chapter. Their bloodthirsty nature has earned them the scorn of many chapters who have fought with them over the course of the black crusades, and they a matter of great uncertainty among many inquisitorial forces.

The Crimson Enforcers are direct successors of the Blood Angels chapter, a fact in which they take a fierce pride. The Highlords of terra deemed it necessary to use the original chapter's progenoid glands on account of the the black rage that was beginning to appear in other sons of Sanguinus. The measure was soon proved insufficient, however, as the black rage manifested itself almost immediately after they commenced operations.

Their chapter master, a blood angel under the name of Vitio, initiated a righteous crusade almost immediately after the chapters creation that led to their most storied victory. The chapter captured multiple heretic planets among the shallows of warp storm Hippocrene, and eradicated every inhabitant refusing to surrender to the Imperium. Vitio declared their name to be the Crimson Enforcers as a testament to their actions.

Homeworld:

T

he death world Abyssius was stumbled upon by the Enforcers amidst the disarray of Abaddon the Despoiler's fourth Black Crusade. Just beyond the Scarum Sector, en route to the Eye of Terror, the Enforcers' base of operations at the time, the battle barge Jaws of Hell, was dealt excessive damage by marauding chaos forces, over the course of which the Enforcers' Astropath was killed. Unable to sustain their damaged systems, they were forced to crash land, leaving them temporarily stranded upon the planet.

The few habitants of the hostile world had banded together at some point in the small planet's history, and formed a tribe. The barren seas, and harshly radiated deserts fought to make their life a harsh struggle, and only the most hardened prevailed. The food could only be grown through extensive use of irrigation upon the barely arable land. The role of leadership soon defaulted to the strongest, and brutal cadre of warriors was developed with the sole purpose of fending off the monstrous fauna. Gradually the tribe happened upon other such groups of people, and absorbed them into theirs. Slavery became introduced shortly after, and quickly became adopted as a necessary facet of life. The people of the tribe became increasingly savage and war-driven until they set out in conquest with the intent of capturing and enslaving other wandering tribes, and taming the bestial wild. This brutal conquest continues to this day.

Gladiatorial sports became introduced as a public display of devotion to the God-Emperor, but quickly became the culture's predominant form of entertainment. Gladiator-slaves eventually became nothing more than the new dogs in the growing tribe's popular dog fights. The fatal combat provided by the gladiator sports was a relief from their dire lives for the tribes-people. The hardy gladiator-slaves soon became accustomed to the slaughter of their brothers, and learned to shut out emotion, and train ceaselessly for combat with the hopes of surviving for another match.

As soon as the gladiators' savage struggle for supremacy and survival was witnessed by the Enforcers, Vitio was convinced of Abyssius's potential as a recruit source. The Enforcers revealed their presence to the tribes-people, and were almost immediately accepted as gods, due to their physical prowess. Vitio ordered a series of tests, and the tribes-people's genetic stability was soon confirmed. However the Enforcers elected to remain fleet based in order to respond rapidly to chaos threats, and decided to forgo the construction of a fortress monastery. They instead created a small bastion deep beneath the planetary surface. This small base serves for recruitment purposes as well as a secure place for the chapters gene-seed.

The tribes-people of Abyssius revere the Enforcers as gods of war. The Enforcers are fully aware of this and have encouraged gladiatorial combat, and continued conquest with the myth that it appeases the gods. Recruits are derived entirely from successful gladiator-slaves and tribe warriors. If one is found suitable for recruitment, an Enforcers Chaplain notifies the tribes-people and the said recruit is put out as a sacrifice. The Chaplain will then collect the recruit and return him to the bastion for training.

Battlefield Doctrine:

T

he Enforcers adhere to the Codex Astartes in many aspects, and respect it as a tactical masterpiece; however, amidst the savagery of battle even the most staunch and disciplined of Enforcer seeks only to charge into the ranks of enemy and unleash his brutal rage, tearing apart his foes with barbaric strength. Those who have witnessed the scale of this carnage often describe it as close to the black rage itself, and indeed, the Crimson Enforcers fight with a savagery almost equal to that of the the chapter's death company. The Enforcers sickening display of violence and physical prowess upon the battlefield has in some cases been enough to cause the enemy's retreat. The Crimson Enforcers lose an unusually large number of Battle-Brothers to the Black Rage each battle, however, and it is rumored that this may be linked to their psychotic aggression upon the battlefield. Because of this the Enforcers are often under strength, and employ a very large amount of Death Company Marines.

The Enforcers have been seen to strike with unnecessarily large amounts of force at times, and although most often this obliterates the enemy completely, during the fourth black crusade it became their downfall. The chapter boarded a chaos ship with two full companies, only to find the enemy numbers surprisingly larger than expected. The Enforcers were caught in a trap, and would have been destroyed completely if not for the intervention of most of the chapter's death company. All of the Death Company who intervened were lost, and the incident left the Enforcers under-strength for a period of time.

The Crimson Enforcer's Death Company is especially fearsome, and blood pact mercenaries have been known to quake before their rage. Embodying a lesson to chapter initiates, their screaming rage, and bloodthirsty savagery is the pride of the chapter.

Organisation:

A

lthough the Crimson Enforcers were originally created within the margins of the Codex Astartes, they have made notable deviations in accord to their bloodthirsty dogmas. The Enforcers use not a single landspeeder, bike, or predator for instance: these units are seen to be far too light. It is not common for them field any other vehicles besides Dreadnoughts. The Enforcers also include minor structural differences, much like their father chapter; nevertheless, their organisation is mostly Codex adherent. In conformity to the Codex the Enforcers sustain ten companies of Space Marines.

The First Company is composed of veteran warriors, the champions of hundreds of battles and the most skilled fighters in the chapter. These Marines have had extra training in the usage of terminator armour, however the opportunity to equip terminator armour is offered only to the most heroic and savage warriors of all. As in accordance to their father chapter, the Company also incorporates veteran assault squads. This has been an extremely effective measure given the tactical doctrines of the Enforcers. The Dreadnoughts of the First Company are all Furioso patterns.

The Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Companies of the Crimson Enforcers are Battle Companies, and the equivalent of their Codex organisations except for a single difference. There are no Devastators in the Battle Companies as the Enforcers opt to instead include scout squads under the leadership of First Company vets. This serves as training experience for the neophytes.

The Sixth and Seventh Companies are composed of reserve tactical squads; The Eighth Company is composed entirely of reserve assault squads. The Tenth Company is the Crimson Enforcers' scout company, and a fairly large one due to the Enforcers' speeded recruitment process. These Companies are kept as reinforcements, ready to deploy at all times.

Due to the lack of Devastators within the Enforcers' organisation, the Ninth Company is instead devoted entirely to Death Company Marines. Within the Crimson Enforcers these Marines are nothing more than Beasts. These Marines are so depraved that they do not even possess the will to die, and instead attack with a berserker rage.

Beliefs:

T

he Enforcers scornfully view humanity as a blight upon the Imperium, and firmly uphold the belief that those who surrender, or refuse to fight for their lives deserve death. They worship bravery, honour, and combat prowess as virtues, and apply this to their doctrines and teachings. Hate for heretics and mutants is a policy much encouraged within the chapter, and they actively seek those who have betrayed the empire.

They worship the nine loyalist Primarchs of the Adeptus Astartes as a pantheon of war gods, and each one reflects a tactical style of warfare to them. They especially revere Sanguinus, the war-god of fury. The Emperor is worshipped as a god by the Enforcers, as they do not believe a mere human could have been such a superior being. For this the Ordo Hereticus agrees with them, and on religious grounds, suspicions aside, the Enforcers are respected by many inquisitorial organisations.

Gene-Seed:

T

he Crimson Enforcers take great pride in their link to the emperor. They are direct successors of the Blood Angels, and as a result maintain many of the customs and rituals of their father chapter. The use of recycled blood has sped the implantation process considerably, yet this barely serves to keep the chapter up the strength, due to their constant losses to the black rage. The Black rage is a constant blight on the Enforcers, and one that has only grown more dire, to the horror of chapter, since it first manifested itself. While their apothecaries strive to free the gene-seed of this taint, on numerous occasions it has been necessary to make use of the gene seed of those that have succumbed, due to dwindling numbers.

As a direct result of this curse, the apothecaries of the chapter seek to ensure only those of strong will are inducted into the ranks. Mental filtering is necessary to insure that gladiator-slaves are not broken of mind, and will-training comes hand in hand with all Enforcers combat training.

Battlecry :

T

he Crimson Enforcers have been heard screaming many different battlecries, but never have they had an official cry. Most often these are wordless cries of rage, and savage bays of bloodlust; nonetheless, they have been heard to say things akin to, “Die heretic!” and “Be gone freak!”

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Hammers of the Emperor

The War Sons

Space Marine Chapter

The War Sons are a pragmatic chapter, brutal in their mind set as

in battle. Over the millennia they have taken the false conclusion

that Space Marines are emotionless weapons at the Imperium

disposal to an extreme. A brother must sacrifice his humanity in

order to serve it, created to become a tool of combat, born to

fight the enemies of mankind. Truly, they are the sons of war.

Origins

The chapter first took to battle early in the thirty-fifth millennium, under the guidance of a cadre of Black Consuls veterans. The Consuls strict adherence to the Codex Astartes was strongly forced upon the fledging chapter, to this day the War Sons dedication to Guilliman’s holy works can only be compared to that of their father chapter. Eager to prove the worth of their new recruits, the Black Consuls pledged the War Sons to the Ompfi Campaign, dedicating all one thousand battle brothers to the cause until its completion.

These first forays into war left a scar across the chapter’s psychology that grew into a bitter cancer. On the surface the chapter was relatively inactive during the millennium, records of their exploits scarce. Detailed research into the matter though reveals a different story and helps explains the attitude of the present day chapter. The War Sons were indeed involved in many battles but these were almost entirely mundane combat actions, barely requiring the assistance of the Adeptus Astartes. It is believed the only reason the chapter remained with the Ompfi fleet was due to the oath originally taken and to leave would cast a dark shadow over their honour. The enemy had been over-estimated in skill and technology and under the pressure of the Imperium quickly folded as a fighting force. The commander of the campaign, unwilling to waste the lives of his own men pacifying what was left of the enemy and securing numerous worlds, used the War Sons almost exclusively. These brief battles left only nine battle brothers dead such was the inability of the enemy.

The morale of the chapter plummeted as these cheap victories did nothing to test their combat readiness. Lacking a real foe to fight, in-fighting and bickering began to increase within the brother-hood. Over the years the atmosphere amongst the small Astartes fleet fell silent, the chapter broken be easy wins. Without a true war to fight the had become a dull blade only used to cut through paper defences. It was around this time that a young sergeant, Julius, rose as a cult leader within the chapter, his speeches touching the hearts of his brothers. He was first accredited with the quote ‘We are nothing but tools to the Emperor. Hammers to pound His enemies. Weapons to be cast aside.’ As more brothers gathered around Julius, his status in the chapter grew until most listened to his words.

When the Ompfi Campaign finally came to an end, the War Sons had lost nearly two squads of brothers in total but the damage to the morale of the chapter was the true cost of war. Quickly moving away from the Ompfi system, they threw themselves into battle to find a true foe. As battle casualties mounted, Julius rose through the ranks quickly becoming the second master of the War Sons. In this position of power he interlaced his views on a marine’s purpose with all factors of the chapter. His reign as commander of the War Sons was harsh upon those took to battle as allies as he expected the same of lesser men than he expected of his own. Emerging as the prolific fighting force which won them a strong reputation as reliable if not desirable force to call upon for aid across the neighbouring systems.

Even with Julius’ demise at the hands of Ork warboss, his teachings on philosophy continue strongly in the current chapter. The War Sons take to battle not to prove their worthiness to a distant Emperor, nor to save the Imperium from the perils that assault from all sides and from within but they fight because it is what they have been created for, their purpose in these times of ending.

Combat Doctrine and Organisation

Like their father chapter, the Black Counsels, the War Sons adhere strictly to the Codex Astartes believing a fluid force of combined arms is always the best approach to warfare. With no stubborn attachment to any style of battle, the chapter can adapt quickly and professionally to any foe. The codex companies maximise their abilities to act as the perfect counter punch, either striking quickly with the sword of Assault Squads or lashing out violently with the hammer of Devastator Squads. Tactical Squads form the basis of most operations, being able to deal with most situations themselves and only requiring the specialist nature of support squads in the most extreme of cases.

The chapter’s armoury is a balanced mixture of all heavy and assault weaponry, favouring none above the other. To have such prejudice against any weapon would hinder in the function of the War Sons, to kill. Additional support can be provided by a sizable tank formation the chapter can deploy, or even with the personal hand of veterans clad in Tactical Dreadnought Armour.

Home World and Beliefs

Never taking a world as their own, the War Sons belief system has been built up around that of the first cadre of Black Counsels and the thoughts of their own brothers, most notably Julius. Although their fleet based headquarters and recruitment pattern brings them in contact with countless cultures and interpretations of the Imperial Cult, none have been absorbed by the Sons. The Emperor is a distant figure to them, neither a father nor a god. Their creation turns them into tools for the Imperium to use in their futile wars against the countless horde of darkness.

Battle Cry

‘Our Duty!’