Index Astartes: Cult of the Arbiter

[Dark Disciple]

I posted this in the Warband background topic but I thought I'd put it here for some comments and critisism.

If this is in the wrong place or if the mods feel it would be better in another section please feel free to move it.

So tell me what do you guys think? Hopefully that will let me iron out the kinks! :P

So without farther adue here is the WIP IA for the Word Bearers Cult of the Arbiter.

 

 

Disciple

 

Origins

The Arbiter Cult of the Word Bearers Legion can be traced back to the dark days following the Horus Heresy. In order to quash questions of the loyalty of the sons of Dorn Sigismund, first High Marshal of the Black Templars swore that his chapter would continue to crusade in the name of the Emperor. The events of the Siege of Terra however, had a profound effect in the newly created Templars. Having seen and faced the horrors of Chaos Sigismund and his Templars became increasingly devoted to the Emperor with many revering him as something more than a man. Something that can be seen today in the Astartes of the Black Templars Chapter.

It was in this period when the belief in bringing the light of the Emperor to the worlds of man became the Chapters mission that they faced the Host of the Dark Apostle Kor Janus. Following visions blessed to him by the warp Kor Janus has descended upon the world of Mar-Laythe, sacrificing the populace of the world to consecrate a great Cathedral built in honour of the Dark Gods. It was his vain hope that such an act would see his favour rise.

So it was that the Templars descended upon the great temple laying waste to the eddifce. Though they has the advangate of numbers the Word Bears were taken by surprise both at the sudden assault and the zeal with which the Templars attacked. Unable to rallly his warriors the Dark Apostle quit the field of battle. His resolve shattered and faith shaken.

 

Kor Janus returned to Sicarius in disgrace. His Host was shattered, stripped of his armour and bound in chains he knelt before the Dark Council, the Daemon Primarch Lorgar at its head. Before the Prophet himself he swore what is now known as the Arbiters oath. That he would crusade in the name of the True Gods. Bringing the true word to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. That he would tare down the edifices of the Imperium and that in the flames of cleansing fire that he would purify the non-believers. It is said that the Prophet looked into Kor Janus soul and before the council named him “Arbiter” of the Word Bearers. Thus reborn he gathering to him the remaining twenty members of his Host he set out on his crusade. Over time the cult of the Arbiter crew and the twenty founded the sects. Each one becoming a distinct entity with its own rituals. Though the Arbiter has long since past his bones have been placed in a reliquary in the great Basilica where the Prophet now resides. The Arbiter cult has continued its crusade and now draws members from the most brutal and zealous of the Legions Warrior Brothers. It considered an honour to be inducted into the cult however; those who receive the call are mourned by their brothers as lost.

 

Orgainisation

The Arbiter cult fights in an eternal crusade; divided into twenty sects each ruled over by an Arbiter. Crusades may be drawn from a single sect or many. In some cases squads, warbands or even entire crusades have been given to the command of a Dark Apostle. Though the Cult is still a part of the Legion and as such must still follow the word of the Dark Council. The crusades themselves gather under the command of a Warrior Brother with the title of Marshal. It is this Warrior Brother who commands the Crusade. On a squad level the Arbiters deviate little from the structure observed in the Hosts of the Legion proper.

 

Combat Doctrine

As with the Word Bearers Legion the forces of the Arbiters have been recorded to operate in forces ranging from small teams such as in the Esdrosa Incident (see attached file 768234hvd578) where pict recordings and data reports indicate a team of eight Arbiters overthrew the Imperial Government inciting riots and cult activities which wiped out two thirds of the worlds population. To crusades large enough to put entire systems to the flame. In battle the Arbiter display the ferocity and cunning of their Legion although they have been note to favour terror tactics and brutal surgical strikes. Finally it has also been observed that in battle the Arbiters make extensive use of flame, plasma and melta weaponry. Whether this is due to the creed of the cult or merely a preference for mid to short range combat is unknown.

 

Geneseed

Although the Word Bearers as a whole worship chaos in all its myriad of forms and see mutations as blessings from the Gods. Central to their beliefs is that their flesh and the Geneseed of Lorgar are sacred. As such each Warrior brother has their Progenoid glands removed in a ceremony lasting several days. In this way the Geneseed of the Word Bearers has remained far purer than those of the other Legions. This is evidenced by many of the Legion taking on features of the traitor Primarch. It is even speculated by some members of the Inquisition privy to such information that the Word Bearers may even have the ability to replenish their losses though this is merely speculation.

The seventeenth sect of the Arbiter cult has been noted to ritually infuse members with daemonic energies. Quite how this is achieved is unknown however, it has resulted in a higher than average rate of mutation in members of the sect.

 

Beliefs

The Seventeenth Sect of the Arbiter cult like the Legion as a whole follow the Dark Faith as set forth by the Prophet Lorgar. It is not uncommon for squads to march under Icons of the Gods, calling forth the favour of a patron by dedicating the souls of those they kill unto them. In this way a particular squad may march under an Icon of Khorne when storming a breach or an Icon Nurgle when taking part in a fierce fire fight. Unlike the Hosts however, the crusades of the Arbiters rather than being lead by a Dark Apostle are supported by Chaplains. These warriors like all other members have taken the Arbiters oath and sworn to bring the true word to the farthest corners of the galaxy.

Upon taking the Arbiters oath a Warrior Brother will ritually paint his gauntlets black to represent his vows. Before entering battle it is not uncommon for weapons or items to be chained to an Arbiters armour, reminding his of his oaths and duties. It is also not uncommon for member to ritually scar themselves in acts of penance and devotion. In many ways the belief of the Arbiter cult bears a chilling resemblance to some of the practices observes in the stalwart Black Templars Chapter.

 

Warcry

Various passages from the works of the Dark Faith.

[Dark Disciple]

Ok a shameless self bump.

Only because I need to know is it really that bad?

Does it need to be entierly re-worked?

 

Disciple

[iwasfrozen]

No, it looks fine but how many Marines are in your collection of crusades ?

also use the CSM paint tool to give us an idea of your paint scheme.

[Dark Disciple]

Cheers, the scheme I'm thinking of is this.

 

WIPs will be showing up in a few days time in the Chaos Ascendant Thread which has kind of turned into an unoffical Call of Chaos which is cool.

 

You do ask a good question though, em I havent really thought about that yet. My rough idea, and this is rough would be that the crusades in total would number between a chapter and two chapters strength. I'm afraid I'm using the Templars for refrence again.

 

Disciple

[Chapter Master Dave]

i like the colour scheme and the fluff is very nice