Retributis Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 [center; background-image:url(http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/hq2.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 8px 2px; padding: 12px 8px 12px 8px; border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-left: 0 auto; text-align: left; color: #fff; text-indent:50px; font-size:130%; width:50%;">Keepers of the Unspoken Word"Of what we see, we speak no words, but use it for His glory."[/center] Little is known about the early days of the The Keepers of the Unspoken Word, as their insular nature does not lend itself well to the sharing of history and the cataclysm of their world led to a loss of a great deal of records. Originally christened The Keepers of Terra, their first recorded appearance is listed around the formation of the 23rd founding, and it is speculated that their geneseed is from Dorn, though there are whispers of a relation to the Angels Sanguine and Sanguinius, given their equally secretive nature.Home World The founding world from which the majority of aspirants were originally taken is long since dead, destroyed by a Chaos incursion. Whilst the world is cracked and scarred by the great battle fought here, it is not believed that either the chaos forces or the forces of the Imperium scoured the world so totally, but some other event that swept the planet clean, leaving a barren world. The Keepers have since reclaimed their world, renaming it Quiescence, building a massive fortress monastery, known as the Tower of Morinth, on the northern pole, with extensive training grounds extending in the nuclear wintered terrain. Recruitment is now conducted by the companies as they operate, however this results in a very slow rate of initiation.Combat Doctrine The Keepers of the Unspoken Word are largely codex adherent regarding company disposition. However in the upper echelons there exists an organisation known as the Keepers of Fates, Marines picked from throughout the chapter to collect and sort the visions experienced by all marines upon implantation and scour these for elements of truth or to discern any patterns. Whilst scholarly, they are also immensely skilled warriors, excelling in the arts of war even above their brother marines, adept with bolter and blade and given the very best equipment the chapter has at it's disposal. They are led by a figure known as The Aphonic, a marine who is said to be the only member of the chapter to never have experienced a vision of his own, and thus can view the visions of others with unfettered clarity. There are whispers that he is a pariah, a blank void in the warp, but these are merely rumours. Deciphered Cant <If they can't even have the smallest amount of respect for our work and for the Omnissiah then astartes or no astartes they shall have to make do with what they have! There are many more forces of the Imperium fighting in the wilds that are deserving of the equipment we craft here!>- Senior Magos Iffan, Ippakris III Forge World Whilst codex adherent, the chapter has dwindling armoured assets due to their strained relationship with the Adeptus Mechanicus. This has led to a increasing reliance on infantry based tactics and dreadnoughts to provide armoured support.Their innately silent nature also means The unspoken are adept at stealth tactics, with a great prevalence of 'stalker' pattern bolters amongst the regular marines.The visions also lend each marine with a personal trauma that leads to an innate aggression and urge to prevent or bring about whatever future they saw, leading to a great many marines preferring to close with the enemy as quickly as possible, which in turn leads to commanders often turning to the use of jump pack assaults where possible.Beliefs It is widely known amongst the forces of the Imperium that The Unspoken are insular and silent, but the cause is less widely broadcast. Shortly after initiation all Brother-Marines of the chapter begin to suffer intense visions of potential futures from throughout the galaxy. Individual marines may see worlds crumbling, sectors destroyed or even the Imperium resplendent in it's conquest of the galaxy. The cause of these visions is unknown but it is believed to be linked to a massive psychic event that scoured their homeworldDue to this, the chapter has developed a tradition known as the Ritual of Sealing, where the brothers head and torso is wrapped in inscribed bands, completely hiding the marines true appearance. Their helms are then sealed on by the Chapter's techmarines and the helm or gorget is adorned with a purity seal by the Chapter's chaplains, and litanies of sacred text are inscribed into their armour. This Ritual of Sealing even extends to verbal communication as the chapter believes in enclosing all of their personal essence inside their armour. Veterans of first company are also known for their extensive use of the pain glove in combat, heightening the experience of these memories.The marines of the chapter do this as they do not want to reveal what they saw, in the fear that they may alter or bring about whatever dark future they may have exerienced.Necessity has thus created a variety of alternative communication methods, mainly utilising hand signals, but for communication network purposes the The Unspoken use a unique form of artificially created code signals, indecipherable to any who hears it bar the marines themselves. This has led to many allies finding it initially frustrating to work alongside the The Unspoken, as they come across initially as arrogant and unwilling to cooperate, especially to members of the Imperial Guard, who find the complete silence of the marines extremely unnerving. However the other chapters from the line of Dorn are allowed greater access into the inner workings of the The Unspoken and as such have a greater tolerance for their behaviour.The Unspoken do not deify the Emperor, retaining the belief of the Astartes of the Emperor as the ultimate warrior and pinnacle of humanity. They also believe that The Emperor continues to guide humanity through the warp, and that he gifted them with these visions so that they may do the same.Gene Seed The geneseed legacy of The Unspoken is unclear. Whilst there are obvious links to the Imperial Fists and Rogal Dorn, their appearance so close to the 21st founding has led to rumours of a cursed fusion between the geneseed of Dorn and the geneseed of Sanginius.Battlecry NoneMostly overhauled and added a bit more. There may be a few sections that don't quite make sense as I tried to edit over what I had before, so please pick me up on any rubbish you find :D A lot of what I added was stream of consciousness so it's not as eloquent as it could be, but I wanted to get some feedback on the basic ideas first. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 Anything? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2208026 Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Normish Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Quite good. However, I think that you should explain why the relationship with the Adeptus Mechanics and the Administratum are so strained. Also, I'm not sure whether it is a good idea to intermix Sanguinius and Dorn geneseed, I'm not sure they would do this at all, actually. Â Looking forward to reading it again. Â TN Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2208033 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 I'm not saying they did or they didn't, it's just rumours ¬_¬ hehe Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2208036 Share on other sites More sharing options...
soddinnutter Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 I like this one. Â The Black Rage as a Curse of Dorn works quite well. Â very little i can think to say. Â Its good with no gaping holes in it. justs needs more fleshing out. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2208046 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 Added some little boxouts for flavour, working on some chapter stories. Anything else people would suggest? :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2208198 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Debonair Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Hmm, I detect a possible idea hidden within that 'fusion' idea. Â Perhaps they could be Blood Angels successors, rather than Imperial Fists, but not have them know about it. The Blood Angels don't exactly talk about the curses they suffer, so whilst they might recognize the symptoms, they'd probably not interfere. Â When the Black Rage comes upon the Unspoken, they could assume that to be a curse placed on them for whichever failure they percieve themselves to have... er, failed in. Â Another reason for sealing themselves and keeping their distance from others - perhaps a belief that the curse could be contagious ? This could, in part, also explain strained relationships with the other Imperial factions. Â If this is what you intended all along, very good. :lol: If, conversely, everything I've just said is total and utter dribble, feel free to ignore it. I assure you it's very late at night right now, and I can't do any better. ;) Â Also, the colour scheme I like - very cool. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2209271 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 9, 2009 Author Share Posted December 9, 2009 It's a good idea but it's not for me I don't think. I've always liked Dorn as a character and I'd rather play upon his ideas of self flagellation and penitence than go the BA route and have them succumbing to the black rage etc. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2210346 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Debonair Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Hey, it's all good. :D Â I'll look forward to seeing how this chapter develops, regardless of which path you take. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2210361 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 Right, I've had two further ideas for chapter organisation: Â 1) Librarians (renamed as something special) are held in especially high regard and act as part Librarian, part chaplain to the brothers, helping the initiates to overcome the onset of the visions after implantation. This is due to the fact that with their psyker powers, they are able to communicate with their minds and need never utter a single word throughout their lifetimes. It's also believed by the chapter that, as the Emperor was a psyker, the librarians are able to commune with him to gain their powers and may offer some way of attaining their salvation. Â 2) The chapter master of the time had a vision that led him to discovering a young boy who had somehow survived the scouring of their homeworld. It was then discovered that he posessed the pariah gene. He was inducted into the chapter and has been seen by the chapter as the embodiment of their ritual of sealing, even his mind untouchable by psykers and the warp, his penance served completely internally. Â Obviously I wouldn't think of running the two together but one or the other strikes me as an interesting idea, and would add a bit more flavour. They're just rough ideas that need shaping but I'd like any feedback that people want to offer :P Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2211034 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 bump, comments are welcome and needed :rolleyes: Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2213607 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 Wasn't happy with the colour scheme, as someone said in another thread there's too many black chapters and I didn't want them to be too similar to the black templars, so went with bone and scarlet B) Tactical Marine (power fist and bolt pistol shown just for fun) Sternguard Vet Thoughts? Also fiddling with the origins at the moment. I felt that in order to flesh them out more I should go into more detail about their previous existence as the Bulwarks of Terra and how the change came about, but I don't know how much of this I should keep hidden from the rest of the imperium? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2217414 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 Starting to feel a bit frustrated by the lack of response now... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2217720 Share on other sites More sharing options...
curant Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Looks good to me, very cool idea.. i would comment that you might want to 'officially' move away from the mixture of gene seeds especially the mixture of Sanguinus' gene seed which from what i can tell is the most unstable and contains the most robust mutations, for example there are various chapters that have succeeded in removing minor flaws in their gene seed, or have simply stopped implanting one or two minor implants which has also halted any further mutation... the Blood Angels and their successors however have found it entirely impossible to even diminish the effects of their mutation. it's definitely a nice bit of controversy there though something you could really play with... Â cool concept, are their stealth tactics already established or are they still developing due to the strained relationship? how are they compensating? Â feel free to ignore me if i'm asking the wrong questions or pointing out the wrong things, i'm new at this Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2217907 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 I understand the issues around the BA geneseed, and tbh the only reason I mention it was because I was unsure about the presedance for emerging genetic memories., but thinking about it I don't think it's strictly necessary. I have been toying around with the idea of writing a bit more about their past as the previous chapter and then describing the event that brought about the change, possibly some sort of psychic event based around the scouring of their homeworld maybe? Â As I said I wasn't sure how much information to put into an IA about this, whether to have it as a Dark Angels-esque big secret or to have it openly known about and they are shunned because of this, only accepted by their Dornian brothers? Â Their stealth tactics came about after the change in part due to them wanting to utilise their already silent nature, but also due to their lack of armour meaning they have to be more tactical in how they approach targets. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2218150 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Debonair Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Wasn't happy with the colour scheme, as someone said in another thread there's too many black chapters and I didn't want them to be too similar to the black templars, so went with bone and scarlet :P Tactical Marine (power fist and bolt pistol shown just for fun) Sternguard Vet Thoughts? Awesome. ;) That looks really cool. Regarding the change from one chapter to another, I'd have it as open knowledge. I'm not sure that they'd fall out with every astartes chapter other than Dorn-descendants, but it's certainly a novel route to take - perhaps the Unspoken could dleiberately steer clear of other chapters on the basis that fellow IF successors would be most inclined to understand their vows of silence. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2218627 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlmb_123 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Growing up to 7 feet in height and armed with claws and a translucent nature  Just a grammatical correction, perhaps it should read "and translucent in nature"?  As for the visions, I quite like them, but] I'm not so sure about the visions of Dorn. Firstly, their (suspected) founding date is a long way after the Heresy ended - why have the Chapter's who actually existed when Dorn was alive not begun to suffer this fate? Secondly, the whole 'visions of the Primarch' thing is a pretty integral part of the Blood Angels character - I can't help but think you've requisitioned their unique fate.  I do like the idea of a Chapter in the throes of some kind of madness which forces them to actively shut themselves up. Why not attribute psychosis to a geneseed mutation, with the Chapter's command figures being those who have not suffered/suffered less from the onset of insanity, desperately trying to find a cure whilst also trying to hide their Chapter's shame from prying eyes?  Also, how do they eat if their faces are wrapped up and their helmets sealed on?  When you come around to painting your Marines (excellent colour scheme, by the way), drop the yellow on the kneepad - it won't show up against the bone. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2218641 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 Growing up to 7 feet in height and armed with claws and a translucent nature  Just a grammatical correction, perhaps it should read "and translucent in nature"?  Ha, cheers for picking up on that ;)  As for the visions, I quite like them, but] I'm not so sure about the visions of Dorn. Firstly, their (suspected) founding date is a long way after the Heresy ended - why have the Chapter's who actually existed when Dorn was alive not begun to suffer this fate? Secondly, the whole 'visions of the Primarch' thing is a pretty integral part of the Blood Angels character - I can't help but think you've requisitioned their unique fate.  Well I was going to try and tie the onset of the visions in to them losing their homeworld, possibly with some big psychic outburst (eg chief libby dying in a last stand) coupled with their entire world dying bringing about the visions. I was inspired by the BA's visions but I didn't want them to be so overpowering as the BA ones, there's no death company for example, and they don't believe they are Dorn, but they are hit with the same feelings of failure that Dorn felt and combined with the more recent shame and this leads to their current state.  I do like the idea of a Chapter in the throes of some kind of madness which forces them to actively shut themselves up. Why not attribute psychosis to a geneseed mutation, with the Chapter's command figures being those who have not suffered/suffered less from the onset of insanity, desperately trying to find a cure whilst also trying to hide their Chapter's shame from prying eyes?  I did consider this but I felt that a chapter wide shame echoing through the ages was more Dornian and also more different to the BAs. What you've suggested comes closer to the BAs and even the SWs in nature and I wanted something more self inflicted rather than a "curse". And I liked the image of a chapter on an eternal penitent crusade.  Also, how do they eat if their faces are wrapped up and their helmets sealed on?  Implanted nutrient tubes from their backpack. No Space Wolf style feasting for them :P  When you come around to painting your Marines (excellent colour scheme, by the way), drop the yellow on the kneepad - it won't show up against the bone. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2218666 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlmb_123 Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Well I was going to try and tie the onset of the visions in to them losing their homeworld, possibly with some big psychic outburst (eg chief libby dying in a last stand) coupled with their entire world dying bringing about the visions. I was inspired by the BA's visions but I didn't want them to be so overpowering as the BA ones, there's no death company for example, and they don't believe they are Dorn, but they are hit with the same feelings of failure that Dorn felt and combined with the more recent shame and this leads to their current state. Â What I was trying to get at was that it doesn't make a lost of sense that they should be suffering visions of Dorn (nearly spelled that Dawn! Too early for me!) Â Imperial Fist: "Hey, how do you feel about Dorn's part in the battle aboard Horus' battlebarge?"Â Unspoken Captain: "It drives me into an insane paralysis, driven by visions of him aboard the Warmaster's ship, finding the bodies of his Brother and Father. Barely a moment goes by when the Chapter is not gripped by this madness. You?" Â Imperial Fist: "Yeah, I get pretty bummed." Â It's just odd that this madness doesn't infect those who were actually with Dorn, and who, if anyone, would have actually been there to fail with him. It's doubly strange that losing your homeworld would make you think of an event X-tens-of-thousand years in the past. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2219251 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 18, 2009 Author Share Posted December 18, 2009 It's not madness though, you're thinking too extreme. It's just a combination of events that lead to the chapter feeling that they need to earn their pride back and go to extremes to punish themselves. They feel like they have the Emperors blood on their hands for not protecting him, even though they never could have. The visions are there because Iv personally felt that the geneseed could theoretically retain genetic memories and these are "unlocked" as a result of these events, and it's just a one off btw when it's implanted, it's not recurring (and they don't go into battle thinking they are Dorn <_<). Â The reason it doesn't affect the other Dornian chapters is because this was a unique event. Yes it may be a bit mary sue but I was trying to think of something extreme enough to drive marines to this course of action <_< and something unique to hook the chapter on. Â I'm still open to alternative ideas of course! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2219444 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlmb_123 Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 I see! It's still a bit far-fetched that the gene-seed retains memory, though. It's reproduced from existing stock by the Adeptus Mechanicus. The Blood Angels geneseed is the exception, it has a psychic force of its own. However, I suppose that you could argue that the Night Lords (and, I think, Raven Guard's) fatalism was linked to the disposition of their Primarch, transferred through their genetic material, although I'd likewise say that Konrad Curze was a moody so-and-so who dumped his emotions on everyone else. Â The thing with geneseed, though, is that it creates Space Marines, it isn't the core genetic material of the individual. That's their own DNA. That's why, for example, Horus' Mournival (if I'm right) all had different characteristics - if Abaddon was meant to be so closely genetically linked to Horus, clone or not, why was he so grumpy yet Horus was outwardly a friendly person? Â Although I doget the general vibe you're going for now. Why not say that each Marine experiences a vision (specify whether it's individual, roughly collective or shared, if you want) of some horror to befall them, their Chapter or another person, whether they know them or not. Whether these visions are proven true to any significant extent is unknown, but they choose to act in silence for fear of revealing their secret. In fact, what would be a really creepy motive was if they were granted visions of pretty minor events, which only affected individuals or small groups, rather than the sweeping, Hive Fleet-sized stuff. Someone might suggest that these visions could be used to the Chapter's advantage, but I'll preempt that by suggesting that their 1) worried about the consequences should outsiders learn of their powers and 2) don't want to fall into any tricks of fate. Avoiding one event could trigger off another more disastrous one. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2219494 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 18, 2009 Author Share Posted December 18, 2009 I like that idea actually, although I lose the IF best friends :P hehe, but it's less MISS :P I shall fiddle with the IA and see how it comes out, cheers! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2219511 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Michaels Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 your battlecry could be  whisper taunts and curses at the enemy Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2219582 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlmb_123 Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Or because of the bandages, "Fmm-mmur-murr-MERR-me-mar!" Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2219588 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retributis Posted December 18, 2009 Author Share Posted December 18, 2009 Mispost, see next page for details :( Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/186607-index-astartes-keepers-of-the-unspoken-word-updated/#findComment-2219606 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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