Astartes: Recruitment

[Ferrus Manus]

Right well with a few others coming up with articles to help finish the DIYing Guide I thought I'd post this, I've had it hanging around for ages.

 

Recruitment: the Lifeblood of the Adeptus Astartes

 

By Ferrus Manus

 

"They take them when their young, just at the age when you think you’re invincible and nothing can touch you. Then they keep them like that, and give them a gun" – Anon, on the creation of Space Marines.

 

We all know that the Astartes are the demi-gods of war; the Emperor’s chosen and his Angels of Death. Each of these noble warriors started off as nothing more than a humble aspirant, a stock human born on one of the Imperium’s many worlds; however, only a few of these children are judged worthy to join the ranks of the Adeptus Astartes. Each chapter recruits their future battle-brothers in many different ways, but each designed to test the potentials to their limits; ensuring that only the best are brought into the chapter.

 

The key to recruitment is that it needs to in some way weed out the weak, those that are unworthy to be Astartes. Often the recruitment process will involve challenges that are designed to test an aspirant biologically. For example, in Sons of Dorn, the recruits are interred within the Pain Glove – albeit on a weak setting – and are forced to undergo a period of time within it. It is mentioned to them before that only those strong enough to endure it will be able to move on; basically you fail if your pain receptors burn out. This is really pot luck, if your pain receptors aren’t up to the task there is nothing you can do about it. So some challenges are going to be biological, meaning that if you fail it’s mostly the fault of your parents whose genes gifted you with poor, in this case, pain receptors. In truth, there are as many methods of recruitment as there are Chapters, each has their own different ideas on the process. But anyway, to give you some ideas I’ve written up a few examples.

 

Conditions of Recruitment

 

The basic requirement to be a potential recruit for a Space Marine Chapter is that you are a male - this is not the article to debate the Female Space Marine topic - which is under the age of fourteen. In the fluff this is the generally excepted maximum age for recruitment candidates – except if you’ve read the Dawn of War Omnibus by C.S Goto, but let’s not go there. The reasoning being that Astartes implants are keyed to the male hormones and must be implanted when the body is still able to accept the said implants. Any older and body will reject the implants and the aspirant will die.

 

 

Methods from the Fluff

 

The most common method of recruitment is the ‘trial by combat’ approach; examples include the Blood Angels, the Blood Ravens and their ‘Blood Trails’. This is one of those ‘does what it says on the tin’ deals. The Astartes gather a group of young warriors and make them fight to the death; some use more gladiatorial methods whilst some, like the Blood Ravens, use a free-for-all; and then the chosen aspirants are the surviving handful.

 

The advantage here is that they receive good quality warriors, who are willing to kill on an order. But on the downside if the warriors are of a bad quality none will be selected, the amount of aspirants will vary from year to year, depending on the needs of the chapter and the abilities of the potentials. This could be quite a slow method of selection.

 

Some chapters, such as the Ultramarines are quite civilised in their methods. They take the most impressive candidates and place them in barracks, similar to the way the Imperial Guard recruit Storm Troopers and Commissars. They then train them in the tenets of war and train them rigorously to be the best that they can. The best are drawn into the chapter whilst the rest are placed in a PDF or Imperial Guard regiment. Of course, this isn’t the only civilised method, just the easiest one to cite as an example. It’s up to you to make your chapter’s recruitment process as original as possible, or you may decide that you like the Ultramarines’ methods and want to craft them into your chapter.

 

The advantages here at two-fold. One that chapter gains high quality recruits, ensuring that the chapter can live on. The second being that the chapter can create PDF regiments that would be extremely well trained to use for homeworld defence and even take them to fight beside on the many battlefields of the Imperium. The regiments of Ultramar were instrumental in the defence of the system during the Tyrannic Wars, just as an example of the worth of such regiments.

 

Some Chapters like to focus on the bond of brotherhood, or rather forming such bonds. This would be a good idea for a Chapter who recruit from worlds where the populace is often at war with each other, some prominent examples being the Space Wolves and the Imperial Fists. This is generally designed to make the new intake into true Battle-Brothers in true Astartes fashion.

 

Whereas, Some Chapters put their aspirants through a multitude of tests, for example the Grey Knights put their neophytes through Six hundred and Sixty Six, and only those that pass them all may enter their ranks. The tests of the Grey Knights are designed to test the abilities and corruptibility of their recruits, ensuring only the most pure and able enters their ranks. Maybe this is one of the reasons that a Grey Knight has never fallen to Chaos?

 

Another example of an endurance regime is the Doom Eagles Chapter. The Doom Eagles put their aspirants through a test of endurance. This test is designed to show them there is nothing to lose, and only those that pass the test and realise that after death they will go on are allowed to take a step further on their way to joining the Chapter.

 

The Red Scorpions Chapter take their aspirants from birth. On their homeworld, newborns are taken to a temple and left over night, during which time an Apothecary of the Chapter visits the temple and performs a test of genetic purity upon the infant. There are several different outcomes of this test: either the child passes and is worthy to be an Astartes; the child passes and isn’t worthy, meaning he is left at the temple; or finally, the child fails the test and is put to death, ensuring the purity of the planet’s populace.

 

Some homeworlds, who know of the presence of the Astartes, offer up their greatest warriors as potentials annually. An example would be the Dark Angels. They arrive on the planet Piscina V and are greeted by the populace who offer up their greatest warriors, who are at optimum implantation age, to the Dark Angels. Obviously this isn’t the end; the aspirants are then put through a series of tests but this time upon their homeworld. The Space Marines then only take the best of the offered warriors with them.

 

Others prefer to remain in the shadows and watch the actions of potential recruits from a distance. The most well known example would be the Raven Guard; they soar above the spires of Deliverance scanning for potentials. Any they see are snatched up and taken to the Ravenspire to begin their training. Another chapter: The Space Wolves. In which they send out their Wolf Priests to scour the lands for potential recruits, who are then watched in combat from afar. If judged to be a potential recruit then they are taken away to a training camp; from here, if deemed worthy, they will next be taken to Fang and are forced to take the test of the Gate of Morkai.

 

At the end of the day, it’s your Chapter. If you want your Chapter to invent a certain trials you can. Heck, the Iron Snakes make their aspirants run a block of cheese across a forest, granted they are being hunted by Astartes. Really, your imagination is the limit on what your Chapter does. But, I do hope this little guide helped.

 

 

References

 

5th Ed Codex: Space Marines

Angels of Darkness Novel by Gav Thorpe

Deus Encarmine Novel by James Swallow

Space Wolf Novel by Bill King

Nightbringer Novel by Graeme McNeill

Dawn of War: Ascension Novel by C.S Goto

Codex: Daemonhunters

Sons of Dorn Novel by Chris Robertson

Brothers of the Snake Novel by Dan Abnett

Imperial Armour Vol. 4

 

+++++++++++++++

 

Opinions please, and if anyone has anything to add/change please say so.

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Looks good so far. I would suggest adding a section on the aspirants optimal age limit and why it is best for that age group.

 

I think the references should look different aesthetically. Italicize the book title and tell who the author was.

 

Angels of Darkness by Gav Thorpe

Brothers of the Snake by Dan Abnett

Etc.

[NightrawenII]

The Red Scorpions recruit in very special way.

On their homeworld, the newborn childern are taken to the temple and left there over night. In the night the Chapter Apothecary's came and test their (genetic) purity, which may have several results.

- First, the child is pure and worthy to became a SM, then the Apothecary's take it with them and the potencional novice is raised in the Chapter monastery.

- Second, the child is pure, but lack something, so the Apothecary's leave it there.

- Third, the child is un-pure and is killed, ensuring the purity of planets population.(The nazi's dream put into practice.)

 

Some other Chapters recruit the mighty hunters. For example, the Crimson Fists aspirans have to kill a black dragon, living in swamplands, barehanded!

[Ferrus Manus]

Looks good so far. I would suggest adding a section on the aspirants optimal age limit and why it is best for that age group.

 

I think the references should look different aesthetically. Italicize the book title and tell who the author was.

 

Angels of Darkness by Gav Thorpe

Brothers of the Snake by Dan Abnett

Etc.

Will do, I've just thought of another section that should be in there anyways.

 

The Red Scorpions recruit in very special way.

On their homeworld, the newborn childern are taken to the temple and left there over night. In the night the Chapter Apothecary's came and test their (genetic) purity, which may have several results.

- First, the child is pure and worthy to became a SM, then the Apothecary's take it with them and the potencional novice is raised in the Chapter monastery.

- Second, the child is pure, but lack something, so the Apothecary's leave it there.

- Third, the child is un-pure and is killed, ensuring the purity of planets population.(The nazi's dream put into practice.)

 

Some other Chapters recruit the mighty hunters. For example, the Crimson Fists aspirans have to kill a black dragon, living in swamplands, barehanded!

 

Thanks, will add that in, what's the source for it?

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Imperial Armor Four I believe.

[Ferrus Manus]

Thanks, article updated.

[Angelfire]

"They take them when their young, just at the age when you think you’re invincible and nothing can touch you. Then they keep them like that, and give them a gun" – Anon, on the creation of Space Marines.

 

Is that an Ender's Game quote? Just curious; seems familiar.

 

The basic requirement to be a potential recruit for a Space Marine Chapter is that you are a male - this is not the article to debate the Female Space Marine topic - which is under the age of fourteen. In the fluff this is the generally excepted maximum age for recruitment candidates – except if you’ve read the Dawn of War Omnibus by C.S Goto, but let’s not go there. The reasoning being that Astartes implants are keyed to the male hormones and must be implanted when the body is still able to accept the said implants. Any older and body will reject the implants and the aspirant will die.

 

Bringing up female space marines in the DIY Guide? You may as well say: (Edits in bold)

The basic requirement to be a potential recruit for a Space Marine Chapter is that he be a male under the age of fourteen. Without exception, no female marines have a possibility of existing. In the fluff fourteen is the generally excepted maximum age for recruitment candidates – except if you’ve read the Dawn of War Omnibus by C.S Goto, but let’s not go there. The reasoning being that Astartes implants are keyed to the male hormones and must be implanted when the body is still able to accept the said implants. Any older and body will reject the implants and the aspirant will die. Again, exceptions exist to this rule, most notably from the Crusade-Era, but otherwise the fluff is pretty clear.

 

Spelling edits:

The advantages here are two-fold.

 

Also, in the entire thing is stylistically inconsistent with Ferrata's Guide to DIY. You write in the second person often, and jump points-of-narrative. Stick to third person. If you must use the second person, use "one" instead of "you." In the guide, "you" refers solely to the IA writer. "I" am not becoming a space marine any time soon, but I'm certainly here to write.

 

Besides details mentioned in my comments, I think this is GREAT!

 

-Angelfire

[Walter Payton]

I am not sure if it is a given that the aspirant will die if they recieve the implants too late. I think it is more that they will probably die, and so it is not encouraged. After all, Leman Russ just went: ' :) you, Dad, I'm doin' it ma way!' And he managed to create older marines, although a lot of them did die in the process.

[Octavulg]

Ferrus, you should not be confusing "their" and "they're" in the opening line of your article. A quick skim suggests the whole thing needs a check over for spelling, grammar and punctuation.

 

The content looks pretty good, though.

[Marshal Rohr]

Ferrus, also on the recruiting age limit:

 

Is this Studio information only? The Black Templars comic has a older (late teens/early 20's) person being recruited. I think that the reason they take subjects so young is because of the increased chance of viablity, not because older subjects cannot do it. Maybe include a caveat saying older subjects likely perish etc. And really, this doesn't help a DIY Chapter, more along the lines of personal character creation. So feel free to ignore me if you wish.

 

 

Also, it may be a Templars only thing, since we do have unusual recruitment anyway.

[Ferrata]

I would sweep the Black Templars comic into a similar bag as BL books - they don't listen to the fluff if it makes a cooler story. So, in the BT case, it was better to make a story about an older person becoming a recruit than a child being selected. As for the age limit, it clearly states in the IA about the organs that the age limit for some organs are 10-14 (depending on puberty onset time). Also, the latest Marine codex has the following line: "Aspirants must always be chosen when they are young, before they become too mature to accept the gene-seed that will turn them into Space Marines." Whilst this doesn't give an exact age, and some people think that 22 is still young, I would say that the two pieces go together to show that recruits need to be pre-pubescent.

[Marshal Rohr]

True. Maybe he was just a hairy 14 year old. It never went into detail on his age.

[Octavulg]

Keep in mind, back in the Great Crusade they appear to have been recruiting 'em fairly old - I'd say anything up to very early twenties is theoretically doable, but would vary massively based on chapter abilities and individual in question.

[voi shet magir]

You might add to the space wolves that they like mortally wounded candidates, on condition that they were wounded in front, and not while running away. It don't remember where that is from, not the IA, but if it's fanon, it felt very official. The idea is that illiterate twelve year olds are not necessarily going to win all the time, but it's nice if they go berserk.

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

"They take them when their young, just at the age when you think you’re invincible and nothing can touch you. Then they keep them like that, and give them a gun" – Anon, on the creation of Space Marines.

 

Is that an Ender's Game quote? Just curious; seems familiar.

 

 

Actually, thats from the Soul Drinkers series, Crimson Tears. An old Imperial general was PO'ed that SM came to help him, because of that as well as a few other reasons.

 

At least, a qoute very similair. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

 

BTW, glad to see another fan of Enders Game. Very good book, for those of you unaware. By Orson Scott Card.

 

Just don't read the sequels, although Enders Shadow is equally good.

[Brother_Kaelgrim]

Perhaps attribute the ability for Black Templars to recruit older as them having good resources and a very stable geneseed. A well maintained Second Founding geneseed would possibly have better success than say a 18th Founding right?

[Ferrata]

During the Great Crusade they made anyone and everyone a Space Marine - hence the massive numbers of them. This was down to the increased ability of the Legions to make Marines (and since they had The Emperor to guide them). But it has become more and more ritualised and less science. Like Marshall said, there is enough evidence to show that a very high majority of recruits need to be below 14. Enough of them that all chapters recruit below 14 but you could wangle the odd character that was recruited afterwards.

[Koremu]

In the first quote in the OP, it should be "they're" or "they are", not "their".