Druid of the Oak

[Hrathnar Flintfang]

Fox Claws proto IA

 

Druid of the Oak

 

Points:100 points

 

Just as the Druids of Holly and Thistle are responsible for the chapters mental and physical wellbeing, Druids of the Oak are charged with the task of keeping the Fox Claws spiritually pure and focused upon the task at hand. Candidates for the Circle of Oak are drawn from those aspirents who have shown themslves the most stalwart and determined and sent out into the forests of Erus to seek out a Druid to train under. There, away from the prying eyes of both Battle brothers and roaving clansmen alone the Druid passes along his knowledge, wisdom and combat skill over the course of many decades. Even before this period of apprenticeship is over, aspirants to the circle of Oak are expected to continue participating on combat, often along side a warband or scout unit as the case may be. It is only with their training complete and the mantle of brother fully upon them that the young Druids may serve in their true role as advisors to the Ri and leaders of their brother Marines.

 

In battle it is the responsibility of these druids to drive their brothers forwards no matter the cost, motivating them to move with swift precision and driving them to fire with deadly accuracy and unrelenting speed. They are often placed in charge of close combat teams whose need to close with their foes can be spured on further by the inspirational words of the Druids, or with heavy weapons teams who must make their resolve count as they cannot sneak into position as many other units within the Fox Claws can. Most brothers are all too eager to follow their robed brothers into combat since the Druids of the Oak are known to be among the fiercest fighters the chapter has to offer and they are usually the first ones to hit the enemy lines, Staff and Bolt Pistol clutched firmly in hand.

 

Outside of combat it is these druids who must confer with each other on matters of the Chapters spiritual wellbeing, often looking at how an action may affect their honor or contemplating the dangers of contact with Daemonic forces in the midst of combat. It is also for this reason that the order is often seen as the antithisis to the Druids of the Thistle, as the perspective on what might affect a brother marine in the midst of battle can only be gained by wading into the worst parts of war and witnessing the events first-hand.

 

Finally Druids of the Oak often take it upon themselves to help prepare for future generations of Fox claws by acting as near-mythical figures to the populace at large. They are the ones who will most often spread roumors of conflict between clans and stir up skirmishes or spread stories and tales of Corax among the people, even punishing those Clans who are too far astray by making them targets of others. In this way it is ensured taht aspirants will be of the best physical and spiritual stock possible for decades to come.

 

Druid of the Oak WS: 5 BS: 4 S: 4 T: 4 W: 2 I: 4 A: 2 LD: 10 Sv: +3

 

Unit Composition: 1, Druid of the Oak

 

Unit Type: Infantry

 

Wargear

 

A Druid of the Oak may take up to 100 points of additional wargear

 

Bolt Pistol

Ironthorn Staff (counts as Power weapon)

Power Armor

Frag and Krak Grenades

Tears of Talris (act as Rosarius)

 

A Druid of the Oak may replace his Bolt pistol with: (use costs for Chaplin in Codex: Space Marines)

 

Bolter: Free

Storm Bolter

Combi Weapon

Sniper Rifle: 5 points

Plasma Pistol

Storm shield

 

In addition A Druid of the Oak may take:

 

Jump Pack

Space Marine Bike

Melta Bombs

Cammo Cloak: 3 points

 

Special Rules:

 

And they shall know no fear

Infiltrate

Scout

Acute senses

Independent Character

Call of the Hunter

Ritual Sacrifice

 

Cry of the Hunter:

 

A Druid of the Oak is charged with carrying his brothers into unrelenting, unending battle with whatever foes his brothers face, regardless of the circumstances. The Druid and all members of a unit attached to him gain the Relentless special rule.

 

 

Ritual Sacrifice:

 

The Fox Claws believe that Corax looks favorably upon those who can demonstrate their skill in dominating their foes. As such it is the responsibility for Druids of the Oak to lead their brothers into the fray blades drawn and ready for combat. Whenever a unit attached to a Druid of the Oak successfully makes a sweeping advance they gain an additional attack in their next Assault phase.

[Grey Mage]

Im not sure "Ritual Sacrifice" really fits that ability. Perhaps "Strength of the Victor" or "Battle Rage".

 

And you do realise that by giving him relentless your making him a prime HQ for throwing in Heavy Weapon teams, and large units with sniper rifles? *wich seems a foxclaw hallmark*. While I cant say by himself, with the rest of the army list this unit may become a "must have".

 

Are you sure that "Cry of the Hunter" shouldnt be an assault related ability? Like giving his squad fleet?

[Hrathnar Flintfang]

I kinda figured it would end up making my heavy weapons teams a bit powerful, but the idea actually was to make him really appealing, though I did figure that the draw of the other druids (Having an apothicary, a 'terrain mage' as it were or infiltrating commanders/character HQ would draw the focus away, not to mention the Master Gunsmiths still to come)

 

Honestly I was considering making it so that the ability to assault was gone and just making the movement with heavy weapons/snipers the basic thing, but again not sure if that would be any better.

 

I do agree Ritual Sacrifice could have a better name. I actually started with the concept of a ritual sacrifice and then came up with the 'Saga of the Warrior born super lite' ability afterwards, but the name doens't fit the chapter very well or the ability for that matter. Still I'm not sure if I should tweak it so that he loses the ability to make his troops move, substitute fleet of foot or what. I didn't think it would be as big of a deal, but as I write the other stats (actually half way done writing up the Sappers) I'm starting to wonder if it may be too much.