Index Astartes: Silver Skulls

[Codex Grey]

Silver Skulls

Prophets of the Emperor

T

he ancient Silver Skulls Chapter is one of the most renowned and honored in existence, and have gained a reputation for victory, no matter the odds. Aloof and mysterious, they are often thought off as superstitious, but the Silver Skulls believe that their every move is by order of the Emperor Himself.

Origin

The history of the Silver Skulls stretches back many millennia, all the way to the dark aftermath of the Horus Heresy. The Skulls are one of the many Second Founding Primogenitors of the Ultramarines Legion, their name and heraldry inspired by a world of feral headhunters the Legion once recruited from. These headhunters' rituals of plating their enemies' heads in silver, and displaying them as trophies and warnings for all who stands against them to see, have been adopted by the Chapter. Outsiders do not understand their motives and question their reclusive nature, but the Skulls stand adamantly by the sovereignty of the Adeptus Astartes and fight according to a personal code of honor.

In their never ending battle for Humanity, the Silver Skulls rely on their Librarians and their ability to divine the Emperor's Tarot to determine their next course of action. They believe that the holy word of the Emperor Himself is sent through the Immaterium and channeled through their Librarians. Time flows differently in the Warp and with their skills of prognostication, the Skulls can potentially predict the birth of a great threats. On several occasions have the Skulls arrived at the scene of a battle well before others can respond, and when the Skulls commit to a battle, they do so fully, gathering all available elements of the Chapter to ensure victory. So have they done throughout the Age of the Imperium, and as the Time of Ending draws near, the Silver Skulls have doubled their efforts, racing from one edge of the galaxy to another, fighting in some of the most hard fought conflicts Humanity has ever faced.

Homeworld

The Silver Skulls' homeworld is the small planet Varsavia, in the northern reaches of Segmentum Ultima, close to the border of Segmentum Obscurus. Once a temperate, civilized world with a stable atmosphere, capable of sustaining life, Varsavia is now a dead, cold and unfriendly place. It bears the ancient scars of a battle long lost to Imperial history; city wide craters and the ruins of an extinct civilization. The system is of little strategic importance and provides no recruits for the Chapter, but the Skulls still took it as their home, honoring an oath they made millenia ago.

In early M.32, the Ecclesiarchy became the official religion of the Imperium, and all other cults were either absorbed or destroyed by the growing Imperial Church. At this time, Varsavia was a peaceful safe-haven for Imperial citizens, and many of its inhabitants were engineers, scientists and philosophers. It had been one of the greatest examples of the Great Crusade's accomplishments, but when the missionaries of the Ecclesiarchy arrived, preaching about the divinity of the Emperor, they were coldly dismissed, as the Varsavians stubbornly adhered to their own belief system, the Orthodoxy of Varsavia. Outraged, the fanatical zealots of the Imperial Church, along with a handful local regiments of the Imperial Guard and a small fleet of the Navy, arrogantly launched a hasted attack to subdue the planet. They were surprised when the population turned out to be more than capable of fending off the assault, with both impressive firepower and technology.

The Adeptus Astartes rarely involve themselves with the Imperial Church, as they follow their own sets of beliefs. But when the Imperial forces in the Varsavian system declared the population as heretics, and the planet a threat to Humanity, the Silver Skulls felt compelled to answer the call for help. The Skulls quickly deployed where the fighting was thickest, securing landing zones for the Imperials to evacuate from. With everyone retreated, the zealots of the Ecclesiarchy demanded that the world should be bombed, for Varsavia itself was a disgrace to the Imperium. The Skulls obeyed, and turned their mighty Battle Barge towards the planet, and bombed it to oblivion.

After the dust had settled and the forces of the Imperium were gone, the Silver Skulls investigated the ruins, as several Brother Marines had commented on the advanced technology they witnessed during the battle. The Skulls were overcome with shame when they discovered the true nature of the Varsavian people. They had not turned from the Emperor, far from it, they adhered to the very ideals that He had fought for. They lived in a society free of corruption and superstition, and when faced with the Imperial Creed, they staunchly refused to turn away from what they believed to be the will of the Emperor. The incident struck a cord with the Silver Skulls, as they had willingly killed innocent humans, who had even shared the same beliefs as the Astartes themselves. They had been deceived by the Ecclesiarchy, trusting them even after witnessing the Imperium's slow fall from grace ever since the Horus Heresy. It was decided on that day that the Silver Skulls would never again trust anyone but themselves, and they would only fight for the Emperor directly. This declaration was turned into a manifest called the Varsavian Script, which all members of the Chapter must swear an oath to, if they are to be allowed to join.

Now the Fortress-Monastery, Pheonix Argentum, stands in stark contrast to the dark ruins that surrounds it. Here the Silver Skulls made their home, in remembrance of the people who lived there, and Varsvavia has served the Chapter a base of operations ever since. Recruits are found elsewhere, and although they take them from wherever they can whenever they need to, the Chapter chiefly recruits from nearby Feral Worlds. Of these, Garanda II has become the most popular source during the last millenia. The population of Garanda II are tribal in nature and provide a hardy stock of potential Marines. But statistics also point to a high percentage of Garandian recruits developing psychic powers, a trait which is more than welcomed by the Silver Skulls.

Combat Doctrine

''Victory does not always rest with the big guns: But, if we rest in front of them, we shall be lost.'' - Commander Argentius

As dictated by the Varsavian Script, the Silver Skulls go to war only when portents demands it. Most of the time the Chapter is spread widely throughout the Galaxy, fighting as small strike teams. These teams can be anything from a few squads to a Company in strength, but are always administrated by the respective Captain and his officers. Every move individual strike teams make is by the council of an attached Librarian, who through augury, visions and the interpretation of the Emperor's Tarot, guide his brothers and seek out threats to Humanity. Understanding the cryptic signs and messages they receive is not an easy task, and the Skulls are often led to many different places in search of more signs and the hope of better understanding their purpose. A vision might lead a strike team to a place of great importance, or maybe they discover new clues that points to another area that needs to be examined; sometimes they are even led to dead ends. Either way, the Librarians have to physically travel to these locations to determine what should be done, and this need to investigate clues and signs at many different places at the same time is why they operate in numerous smaller teams.

If a Librarian, after consulting with his superiors in the Librarium, predicts a brewing threat to Humanity, the Skulls will gather all available elements of the Chapter and focus all their efforts on this one threat, as these decisions are viewed as holy orders from the Emperor Himself. This means that the Silver Skulls fight at Chapter strength more often than what is usual for most Chapters, and many have been surprised by the unexpected arrival of the Chapter's entire fleet. The Silver Skulls' doctrine has affected their relationship with their allies, as requests and pleads for their aid have on multiple occasions gone unanswered. Unless a considerable amount of innocent lives are at stake, the Skulls will always follow their own agenda. This mercurial behavior does not sit well with some, but victory is seen as an ample compensation by most allies.

On the battlefield, the Silver Skulls fight with cold logic and tactical genius, worthy of their Primarch. Librarians are more than just advisers, as their psychic talent is used to its fullest in combat. Particularly powerful psykers can even use their powers to predict the movements of their enemies, an advantage that undoubtedly has contributed to their long record of glorious victories. The Skulls value the Codex Astartes message of flexibility above all else, and they embrace methods that other Chapters might look down on, like the use of stealth. They argue that the greatest honor is victory itself, not how the victory was achieved. However, they do not practice victory at all costs, viewing the deaths of innocent humans as highly disrespectful of Humanity and what the Emperor fought for. They are not afraid of falling back if it is tactically justified.

Organization

Recent Chapter Fleet Actions

857.M41: The Chapter Fleet of the Silver Skulls blockades the dead worlds of the Lazar system for three years. Nothing gets into or out of the system while the blockade remains in place, and no explanation is ever provided by the Silver Skulls themselves.

998.M41: The Silver Skulls Chapter Fleet destroys a Red Corsair strike force in the Gildar Rift, comprising several Executor-class grand cruisers. The surviving renegades make planetfall on several worlds in the Gildar system, but in a matter of weeks, the system is declared free of the Red Corsair''s influence.

In the tradition of Codex Asartes, the Silver Skulls are organized as a standard 'Codex Chapter'. Although their forces are split into strike teams all over the Galaxy, they still utilize the usual Company based Command hierarchy. The Companies are always on the move, probing areas of interest. The Reserve Companies are often given assignments closer to Varsavia and their worlds of recruiting, while the Battle Companies travel further away. Whenever the Chapter gathers, it is under the leadership of the Chapter Master. The holder of this position is always known only by the title of Commander Argentius. This is because the honors of Marines who ascend to this rank are frozen in time, for they are now responsible for the honor of all Silver Skulls under their command.

The Silver Skulls maintain a strong fleet, consisting of three Battlebarges, nine Strike Cruisers and a large number of rapid strike vessels (including several of the controversial Nova Class Frigate), a result of both their status as a Second Founding Chapter and their Combat Doctrine. The Imperial Navy have in the past expressed its concerns, not only because of the unusual large number of ships of a non-fleet based Chapter, but also because of the unconventional use of the fleet. Many times have the Skulls engaged in full space combat, often with their entire fleet, operations which the vessels of the Adeptus Astartes are not designed to perform. The Skulls spend little time arguing any claims of stepping beyond their mandate, and point only to their long record of victory and loyalty to the Emperor to justify their actions.

The Silver Skulls Librarium is larger then the norm, and is arguably the most important part of the Chapter, as every decision made by Commander Argentius is by the council of the Chief Librarian. This is possible because of the Skulls reverence of their Librarians, treating them with a great deal of trust, an uncommon trait amongst other Chapters. While the Librarium is still an independent part of the Chapter, the Skulls have a special position within each Company Command Squad. Called a Prognosticar, this Marine is a permanently attached Librarian, responsible for advising the Captain about any Company level operations and consulting his superiors in the Librarium if their attention is needed.

Beliefs

Loyalty to the Emperor is the foundation of the Silver Skulls' cult. They regard Him as the greatest man to ever live, the savior of Mankind, and believe that His vision of the Imperium is the only true vision, free of superstition and corruption. Without the guidance of the Emperor, humans lack the strength to find the right path, and the Imperium will slowly rot from within and be crushed from without. Humanity cannot be trusted, but must be protected, and so they fight for the Emperor, and only for Him, until the day He returns and His vision can be restored. These beliefs are what fuels their reclusive nature; rarely do they cooperate with other Imperial forces and never do they explain their own actions. This behavior is somewhat diminished when fighting alongside other Space Marine Chapters, particularly those of their own gene-line, who they can trust are fighting for the right reasons.

After the fall of Varsavia and the creation of the Script, the Silver Skulls turned to their psychic brethren to determine their purpose. Over time, Librarians gained much respect and reverence, which eventually turned into trust. Now, the Skulls rarely act without the consent of the Librarium, and the Librarians are viewed as the pinnacle of what Astartes can become; living examples of Humanity's psychic potential, prophets of the Emperor's word. They are blessed not only by their genes, but also by their connection to Him through the Immaterium. These views might be looked down upon by many other Chapters, but the Skulls are still very much aware of the burden the psykers carry, and the risk involved. The Astartes go out of their way to ensure that only the purest and most strong minded recruits are given the chance to develop their psychic powers. The Librarium also work in close tandem with the Reclusiam, the Chaplains ensuring the spiritual purity of the Librarians.

The Silver Skulls, for all their lack of superstition, still have limited understanding of the dark secrets of technology, and they are very much dependent of their Techmarines to create and maintain the more complex equipment and machinery. This dependency does not sit well with most Skulls, as the split loyalty of the Techmarines are viewed as dangerous at best. Any Marines returning from their training on Mars are required to re-swear their oath to the Varsavian Script, and acknowledge their loyalty to the Emperor. The Skulls know that they must uphold the pacts between the Adeptus Astartes and the Mechanicus, and that survival depends on this relationship, but there is still a number of Marines who outright hate their techpriests. It's a delicate balance kept in check only by the focus on their mission before anything else.

Gene-seed

Many Chapters handle their Gene-seed in a religious manner; the implementation procedures steeped in rituals and only partly understood from a medical or scientific view. The Silver Skulls' Apothecaries on the other hand are ever vigilant keepers of the ancient knowledge of this most important aspect of a Chapter's survival. They know what to look for in a recruit, physically and mentally, and what might go wrong during his many surgeries. It is by this diligence that the genetic material of the Skulls remain exceptionally pure and stable, supporting their claim of being descendants of the Ultramarine Legion.

The Chapter continuously create detailed reports concerning the processes of recruitment and induction, storing them in the vast archives of the Apothecarion, and these reports are often sent alongside their tithes to the Adeptus Mechanicus. Of all the sections of the Pheonix Argentum, the Apothecarion is one of the most heavily guarded. Indeed, several Inquisitors have noted the extraordinary security when touring the Fortress Monastery, especially near the Gene-seed vault. The Silver Skulls might seem strangely open to such inspections and overly helpful with providing such information to outsiders, but for them it is nothing more than upholding ancient pacts of honor to anyone who is not the Emperor, and to keep the eyes of suspicion off their backs, as they continue to fight on their own accord only.

Battle Cry

''Never forget, never forgive''

***

I've long toyed with the idea of fleshing out a GW created Chapter with little fluff. And although I tried to do that with the Sons of Antaeus, I wasn't happy with the result. Now I'set my eyes on the Silver Skulls, one of the most intriguing Chapters of Legend in my opinion.

First off this isn't my Chapter, it's GW's, and therefore it kinda belongs to everyone. So even though this is mainly my interpretation of them, I would greatly appreciate any thoughts on how you guys view the skulls.

From what little we know about the Silver Skulls, the most important thing is that they believe the emperor guides their purpose and that they only take to the battlefield when portents demand it, and this will be the focus on the article. Another thing that I want to capture is the sense of mystery surrounding the Chapter and room for speculation (wild speculation even). Everything else is my personal interpretation of the small amounts of info on them. This thread is one of my main sources of information: Silver Skulls Index Astartes Thread Here are my initial thoughts on the Chapter.

[Solomon de Gravier]

I'm not sure whether this is the right place to post a topic like this. I'm not sure that you are allowed to flesh out GW made chapters...?

 

Oh weelll! ;)

 

This a good summary of the Silver Skulls. How much of this is GW's and how much is your's?

[Ferrus Manus]

I'm not sure whether this is the right place to post a topic like this. I'm not sure that you are allowed to flesh out GW made chapters...?

Of course you can, otherwise the likes of Ferrata and OMG have some explaining to do.

[Solomon de Gravier]

I'm not sure whether this is the right place to post a topic like this. I'm not sure that you are allowed to flesh out GW made chapters...?

Of course you can, otherwise the likes of Ferrata and OMG have some explaining to do.

 

My mistakio.

[Ace Debonair]

- The population of Garanda II are tribal in nature, known as fierce headhunters. Chieftains guide their tribes through visions from the 'the gods'.

- A high percentage of Garanda II recruits develop psychic powers.

 

'The Gods', eh?

More psychics, eh?

 

 

I think I can guess the nature of the speculation you're aiming for. :devil:

 

I look forward to seeing this fleshed out or in IA format, or whichever direction you're taking.

[Octavulg]

From a quick read of the thread you cite, I question your decision to have Varsavia be a dead world. I think you need to flesh out what it is, or at least what it was.

 

- Believe that their purpose is guided by the Emperor Himself.

 

Their's, or everyone's?

 

- Usually Silver Skull engagements consists of small strike teams of a few squads accompanied by a Librarian. These teams are widely spread throughout the Imperium, probing the galaxy for any sign that might demand the Skulls' attention.

 

Why not just deploy the companies as normal Space Marines do, but only respond in the right circumstances? Works for other chapters.

 

The Bronze Prophets also lean heavily on prophecy, and I think you should consider just what a reliance on prophecy would mean for the Silver Skulls and how extensive their reliance and belief in it is.

[Codex Grey]

From a quick read of the thread you cite, I question your decision to have Varsavia be a dead world

I question your question :P

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume you're asking because of the mention of the Orthodoxy of Varsavia. Honestly, that piece of information is something I have never heard of before, and I'm not sure how I would handle it. It may hint at being a variant of the Imperial Cult, but the origins of it is unknown. It may come from the population of Varsavia, or maybe not, maybe it is something entierly different. Nothing can be said for sure, and there isn't anything concrete about just what kind of world Varsavia is or if it even has a population. So I think there is room for inerpretation, which this thread is all about.

If anyone has any thoughts on these bits of info, I'de be glad to hear them.

 

As for exactly why a dead world, I took inspiaration from the city Warsaw. Varsavia is basically Warsaw in Latin. Warsaw is known as the 'phoenix city', as it rised from the ashes after WW2. So the brilliant Fortress Monastery built in the middle of an ancient warzone alludes to this, as do the name of the Fortress. But why a dead world? Well as mentioned, they want to spread their reasources instead of keeping everything at the same spot. It also play well with the reclusive nature that I'm trying to portray.

 

Is there another reason for why this planet was chosen? Does the world hold terrible and ancient secrets? Does the Silver Skulls know? Maybe.

Do I know? No, but if I did I wouldn't tell you anyways. ;)

 

Why not just deploy the companies as normal Space Marines do, but only respond in the right circumstances? Works for other chapters.

Not for the Skulls. Their special.

Seriously, the idea was that instead of just hanging out back home until one gets a vision, the Librarians continuously try to read the tarot, which may point them to a certain place in the galaxy, where they may find signs, which may lead to other signs elsewhere. To understand exactly what these signs mean they physically travel to these locations in the hope of maybe getting some valuable information, maybe the location triggers a vision or maybe the librarians sense through the warp something... something. It's not too well thought out, I admit, but this would lead to them wanting to investigate clues and warp anomalies in as many places as they can at one time, hence the smaller groups. Plus it balance out the fact that they work as a whole Chapter more often than others, and it's a small non-Codex-breaking quirk that will help fill out the section.

 

The Bronze Prophets also lean heavily on prophecy, and I think you should consider just what a reliance on prophecy would mean for the Silver Skulls and how extensive their reliance and belief in it is.

Although I've followed the Ice Lords' development and have taken a look at the Stone Hearts, I've never gotten past the Prophets' color scheme

But I did take a look at it now that you've mentioned it, and I see the similarities. Actually they're very similar to many of my ideas. I think there is room for differentiation though, and I'll try to make that happen.

 

Well, the newest fluff states that they alway take to battle with the council of their Librarians, who through reading the Tarot or other means determine their cause of action. The direction I would like to take is them only serving the will of the Emperor, chanelled through the Librarians, noone else. They will not respond to pleads for aid if the portents demands their attention elsewhere. This is not viewed favorably by many Imperial institutions, but the Skulls have in return on several occasions stopped major incidents before they could even happen.

[Octavulg]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume you're asking because of the mention of the Orthodoxy of Varsavia.

 

And the Varsavian script.

 

I'm not saying it can't be a dead world, just that it would be wise to explain those bits. Clearly, the Imperium knows about those aspects of Varsavia - they would logically mention them in order to try and establish what Varsavia was/what happened/what it means to the Skulls.

 

Seriously, the idea was that instead of just hanging out back home until one gets a vision, the Librarians continuously try to read the tarot, which may point them to a certain place in the galaxy, where they may find signs, which may lead to other signs elsewhere. To understand exactly what these signs mean they physically travel to these locations in the hope of maybe getting some valuable information, maybe the location triggers a vision or maybe the librarians sense through the warp something... something. It's not too well thought out, I admit, but this would lead to them wanting to investigate clues and warp anomalies in as many places as they can at one time, hence the smaller groups. Plus it balance out the fact that they work as a whole Chapter more often than others, and it's a small non-Codex-breaking quirk that will help fill out the section.

 

Fair enough. Makes a lot of sense when you put it that way.

 

Although I've followed the Ice Lords' development and have taken a look at the Stone Hearts, I've never gotten past the Prophets' color scheme tongue.gif

But I did take a look at it now that you've mentioned it, and I see the similarities. Actually they're very similar to many of my ideas. I think there is room for differentiation though, and I'll try to make that happen.

 

I assumed you would - I more wanted you to look at them to see a quick example of where reliance on prophecy can lead. They take it a lot further than I would expect the Silver Skulls to, for a variety of reasons, but it's an example of the sort of things prophecy and relying on it can do to a chapter.

 

There's also presumably a tension between the power and influence this would provide the Librarians of the Chapter and the Silver Skulls nature as a Codex Ultramarines successor. Are the Librarians perceived differently in the Silver Skulls? More favorably? Are they even perceived less favorably, as valuable and necessary tools who are nonetheless dangerous and inherently untrustworthy? Presumably they came to this prophecy thing some time after their founding - how did it arise?

[Codex Grey]

Clearly, the Imperium knows about those aspects of Varsavia - they would logically mention them in order to try and establish what Varsavia was/what happened/what it means to the Skulls.

Clearly. But exactly how much do they know? Do they only know these aspects by name or by their full meaning? I don't expect you to answer these questions, unless you have read that particular piece of fluff where this is mentioned. Even though I would like to talk as little as possible about these things, I still feel that i should explain as much as I can, or else I'll go a bit overboard with all the mystery. And under no circumstances will I use the term 'shrouded in mystery' in the article, that I promise.

 

Before I fell asleep last night, I was trying to came up with something interesting about the Orthodoxy and all, and I thought about the meaning of orthodox. Orthodox is Adhering to the accepted or traditional and established faith, especially in religion. Now if I were to go it being a variation of the standard Imperial Church, which is the most orthodox of all, I think it would be a strange name for an offshoot. Unless this offshoot actually thought they were being more orthodox than the mainstream IC, which would probably end badly for the Orthodoxy of Varsavia. But why would an IC offshoot be so important for the Silver Skulls, when most Chapters ignore the IC? I could go for the Silver Skulls being a religious Chapter, but that is something I would like to avoid.

 

But what if the 'Orthodoxy' refers to something other than the IC, something older? The idea I've come up with now is that the Orthodoxy of Varsavia was actually a variant of the Imperial Truth, a cult almost, dedicated to a Variant teaching of the Imperial Truth focusing on the interpretation of the Emperor himself. Emerging after the death of the Emperor, they preached against worship and about the psychic potential of humanity. This cult gained a sizable following that was apposing the IC. Exactly what happens next is something I'm not sure about, but it is also something I don't think I will ever reveal in the article. Of course it has something to do the destruction of Varsavia and the cult, and somehow the Silver Skulls got involved, or were involved from the start. This fits with the mystery surrounding their founding during the 31st millenium, when the IC was growing fastest. And these interpretations of the Imperial truth would be more valuable to a Space Marines Chapter than just a variant of the IC.

 

I'm not sure how i would go about presenting all this in the article. I want to keep that sense of ambiguity surround both their founding and what exactly happened with Varsavia. And I don't want the Imperium to know the full extent of what the Orthodoxy is. What i have in mind is that the Silver Skulls have taken these teachings to heart, the Script then being some sort of testament of the Orthodoxy. I will only mention the script and the orthodoxy as things the Imperium does not understand, but are somehow linked to their homeworld, so the ideas surrounding the orthodoxy will only be told through the belief system of the Silver Skulls. Maybe I could then also include quotes from the script itself, that directly link their beliefs with the script's content.

 

 

Another thing I like about this Idea is that it can help explain why they only take orders 'directly from the Emperor', seeing the rest of the Imperium as corrupted by the teachings of the IC.

 

So regarding the Librarians, they would then be perceived more favorably. They are effectively prophets, tellers of the Emperor's will, as well as living examples of the psychic potential of Humanity.

 

As I've struggled get my thought down on paper, I hope this makes any sense.

As always, your thoughts are appreciated...

[Octavulg]

C:SM 3e p45 is the source of the Orthodoxy of Varsavia. Whole thing involves the Silver Skulls - recommended reading.

[Codex Grey]

I just read that source. Very nice info that I will do a study on later. But first a question. The transmission is directed to a 'Magios Bilogis Benedixta'. This refers to the AdMech, yes? I'm unsure if all the testimonies were part of that report to the AdMech, because some of the stuff that they talk about (especially the Chaplain) seems strange to include in a report to the AdMech.

[Gree]

People over at the old BL forums did an extensive Silver Skulls writeup. Just if you want ideas.

 

http://z6.invisionfree.com/bljunkies/index...;st=0last

[Codex Grey]

Hey, thanks for the link.

They seem to have put in a lot of work, but they have chosen to focus on aspects that I will not. Still a nice source though.

 

I'm gonna take this opportunity to re-request people's thoughts on my ideas in post #9. I want to get some opinions before I commit to anything.

 

Thanks.

[Octavulg]

I just read that source. Very nice info that I will do a study on later. But first a question. The transmission is directed to a 'Magios Bilogis Benedixta'. This refers to the AdMech, yes? I'm unsure if all the testimonies were part of that report to the AdMech, because some of the stuff that they talk about (especially the Chaplain) seems strange to include in a report to the AdMech.

 

I would assume they asked the marines for details on the process by which a Space Marine initiate is created. The Space Marines view spiritual purity as an equally important component, therefore the Chaplain's testimony is included.

 

I suspect many cogboys might agree with that perspective, honestly.

[Codex Grey]

I suspect many cogboys might agree with that perspective, honestly.

Sure, but details about their belief system is something I wouldn't think the AdMech would be interested in. I mean the AM has it's own belief system, which is very different from both most Chapters and the rest of the Imperium. So knowing that the recruits have strong spirits and have embraced their duty to Humanity (which includes the AdMech) would surely be good to hear, but small details about the Chapter's cult?

Still they didn't go into detail about exactly what the Orthodoxy entails, so maybe the Skulls felt that it was necessary to produce as much information as possible, without revealing too much, to validate the report or something.

And I saw you mention in the thread about the Inquisition about how the Silver Skulls seem to be unusually helpful with providing information. Maybe they do it to stay under the radar most of the time, so they are left alone?

[Octavulg]

I wonder if those reports are produced regularly within the Chapter, and they just forwarded one to the AdMech when asked.

[Wildfire]

I quite like your ideas on the Orthodoxy. Very original, and very in keeping with what a chapter going back to the 2nd founding might encourage on their home planet.

[Codex Grey]

I quite like your ideas on the Orthodoxy. Very original, and very in keeping with what a chapter going back to the 2nd founding might encourage on their home planet.

Thanks for the comment. Good to know that at least one person likes the idea. :(

 

I wonder if those reports are produced regularly within the Chapter, and they just forwarded one to the AdMech when asked.

That sounds reasonable, maybe even logical.

 

Speaking of logical, after reading the Recruitment report of the Silver Skulls, I get the impression that they know what they are doing. They show little signs of the ritualized methods of many other Chapter, instead talking about the specifics of organ implantation, the different phases and they have a good sense of what to look for in a recruit aside from the hardy tough guy. Personally I feel it fits quite well with the idea of them trying to conserve the knowledge of old.

This may be some of the reason for why they are so willing to provide info, because they actually know what the Mechanicus might want to know.

[Codex Grey]

I have a habit of getting ideas and working on other stuff, when I really should be working on more important things.

That's why in the last couple of days, I've felt the urge to continue my work on the Silver Skulls.

 

Ambiguity went out the window. I just found it too difficult keep that sense of mystery without it coming out weak in the end. So I bit the bullet and revealed everything to the reader. Hopefully, the ideas can stand for themselves.

 

Origins and Gene-seed sections are still undone, but you get the idea. I felt i had to get the important parts done and out of my system first. Now I can finally continue my work.

 

I'll appreciate any and all C&Cs, before I eventually finish the thing...

[Codex Grey]

... maybe it's the suddenly large amount of text that keeps people from commenting...

 

Added some temporary coding to break up the text.

[Ace Debonair]

... maybe it's the suddenly large amount of text that keeps people from commenting...

 

Added some temporary coding to break up the text.

 

Ooh, coding. Let's have a read... :lol:

 

Wow, that's a good IA. A compelling read!

I am wondering why the gene-seed and origins are bullet points, though - are those the bits yet to come?

 

When the Chapter gathers, it is always under the leadership of the Chapter Master, and the holder of this position is known only by the title, Commander Argentius. His past honors are frozen in time, for he is now responsible for the honor of all Silver Skulls under his command.

 

That's a slightly odd wording - I'm not sure what you mean by this. I've posted cleared-up versions of what I think you're driving at, if that's alright.

 

"When the Chapter gathers, it is always under the leadership of the Chapter Master. The holder of this position is always known only by the title of Commander Argentius. The honours of marines who ascend to this rank are frozen in time, for they are now responsible for the honor of all Silver Skulls under their command."

 

Or, possibly:

"When the Chapter gathers, it is always under the leadership of the Chapter Master, and the present holder of this position is known only by the title, Commander Argentius. His past honors are frozen in time, for he is now responsible for the honor of all Silver Skulls under his command."

 

Apart from that slight confusion I could see no errors. Good stuff, Grey! ;)

[Codex Grey]

Thanks, Acerman!

 

As I said in my second to last post, I just wanted to get some stuff out of my system. A few days of inspiration/motivation (and time) generated those sections, but origins and gene-seed weren't so lucky.

 

That's a slightly odd wording - I'm not sure what you mean by this. I've posted cleared-up versions of what I think you're driving at, if that's alright.

I see what you mean. Will definitively use one of your suggestions.

Glad you liked it.

[RagingGriffon]

I really like what you are doing here, CG.

 

I think maybe a tinge of guilt should follow Silver Skulls. A guilt for going along with the Ecclesiarchy (which they felt torn to in the first place), then being a part of the killings of the people. I mean, they do live in perpetual reminder of this on their planet which is lifeless. I am not sure how this guilt should play out, but maybe mention of it in beliefs would work. They follow the tarot more so than normal, so maybe they will go to great lengths when a certain card is pulled because it is an echoing reminder of the people of Varsavia. I dunno, just shootin' out ideas here.

[Ace Debonair]

Thanks, Acerman!

My first name in full is Acemund, but I like the sound of Acerman, too. ;)

That's a slightly odd wording - I'm not sure what you mean by this. I've posted cleared-up versions of what I think you're driving at, if that's alright.

I see what you mean. Will definitively use one of your suggestions.

Glad you liked it.

Happy to be of help.

I most definitely look forward to seeing the other sections put together!

[Codex Grey]

Thanks, dudes!

 

I think maybe a tinge of guilt should follow Silver Skulls. A guilt for going along with the Ecclesiarchy (which they felt torn to in the first place), then being a part of the killings of the people. I mean, they do live in perpetual reminder of this on their planet which is lifeless. I am not sure how this guilt should play out, but maybe mention of it in beliefs would work. They follow the tarot more so than normal, so maybe they will go to great lengths when a certain card is pulled because it is an echoing reminder of the people of Varsavia. I dunno, just shootin' out ideas here.

Shoot away. This is definitely part of their psyche, and one of the key motivations for their oath. But I guess I haven't really played the guilt card in the article. I'll keep this mind for when I start working on them again.