The brothers of blood and battle

[chapter master 454]

My two venerable dreadnoughts, Ventris and Kayvaan, have for now over 2 years served me and been dutifully effective in what ever they have been tasked with. They began as normal dreads, gradually I decided that they earned their right to being venerables and now recently have been given an upgrade to the new venerable dreadnought model (currently WIP at time of typing!). The two are somewhat of a mystery to their exact sources as orinigally there was a third (my actual second) who was mangled when my brother decided to step on him however the model wasn't painted and wasn't exactly my favourite piece HOWEVER my brother and I only got one megaforce each (this is the old one with land raider in it) so where the third (Ventris) had come from, I have no clue. Regardless they have now earned their venerable status and even their models so I feel it only right to give them back story to events prior, during and after their interment to the holy sarcophogus (correct me if I am wrong in spelling). So pressing on, the first part will deal with prior events to the events that lead to their dreadnought-fication!

 

 

The planet Hammerwrath was a very hostile but spilt world: some parts were massive hives while other areas were vast forests that harboured deadly plants and animals. It was even regularly bombarded with metor showers that if not for the void shielding around the hives would cause he planet to unhospitable. The Planet was wealthy in two things however: Adamantium ore and due to the lack of hive space, many were living in the jungle of death creating perfect candidates for space marines. Out of a few recruits gathered every year from the planet (roughly ten or so when not needing rebuilding of the company), only two survived that year and their names were Ventris and Kayvaan Gard. The two were brothers and no more than a year seperated them but no barrier could phyisically seperate for they were their own team. While only young, they proved more than a match for the lesser carnivores of the planet and the term lesser can't exactly say too much about them.

Ventris was strong of body and a stubborn boy but cared for his brother. He had skills with the blade that even the otehr boys of his age couldn't match, his body also allowing hi to recieve wounds that even the men winced in pain when they saw them. Kayvaan however was considered the runt of the group however he was still able to survive and his big brother always defended him from any trouble that came his way. However Kayvaan was more patient than his brother and while not strong, could hold a hunting rifle steady and hit a target where he wanted without question. The pair were unmatched in their planning as well, Ventris would always lay near Kayvaan while he sniped and if any beast got too close after Kayvaans pin-point shooting, which was only in the case of their toughest prey, then Ventris would finish it in a very systematic way by slashing tendons. The brothers were considered to be very promising recruits for the chapter.

It was to be a difficult time for the brothers, as when the angel of death decended to take recruits back to the ship he was met by a very stubborn boy who refused to leave if his brother wasn't brought along as well. The expressionalless mask looked blankly at the boy before dismissing it and again trying to drag him off however met a rather hostile response and if not for Kayvaans own intervention, possibly Ventris would not live to this day. Drawing his knife the boy slashed the tendons of the angels weak rear knee join armour however the superhuman did not fall. The marine just about struck the boy down before noticing a young boy holding a rifle, aiming straight for him. Laughing at the boys determination was the worst choice; Kayvaan fired three shots, one forced the maries combat blade from his hand, one punched through the weak neck armour and barely missed vital arteries and nerve tissue while the third was meerly a taunt that bounced the marines head back by hitting dead centre of the helmet. "Careful of what your next actions are wingless one" the words that kayvaan now uses to taunt all his chaos foes however this was a reference to how the marine was supposed to have wings yet had none to show. The marine tryed to draw his bolt pistol but found it too equally useless as soon as he drew it as two shots hit it, one destroying the front barrel making it impossible to aim accruately and the second ripping the currently slotted magazine from the weapon. The marine at this point surrendered to the young Ventris' wish, for his younger brother had proven worthy.

The duo successfully past through astartes training and earned their power armour in the same year they had become able for it. The pair were nearly seperated by Kayvaan being put with Devastors and Ventris with Assault marines however they refused the position being set in stone an resulted in both of them becoming quite able in each others talents however Ventris still maintained better martial skill than Kayvaan who could out shoot Ventris any day of the week. Upon entering their tactical squad, they were a strange pair as when their squad leader was killed, Ventris took the offical role as squad leader but yet Kayvaan remained the far greater tactician. The squad was lead for their duration of service in a joint fashion with Ventris being the inspiring figure but Kayvaan, on a secure channel, telling Ventris what was were and what would be the wisest course of action. Kayvaan and Ventris eventually gained veteran status along with their squad, the very same squad they had joined years ago and thanks to Kayvaan had suffered no further losses after Ventris took charge, something he never takes full credit for but never speaks of who truely earned it. Their days however were coming to an end as mortal men clad in the armour of the emperors finest, they would both soon become the great heroes kept alive by machine. They would be dreadnoughts.

Very few records remain or ever existed of the battle for hive Llabpain, for alot of the chapter wasn't present until late in the war. What was documented was an ork warboss called GubSkul had taken fancy to Hammerwrath as a training grounds for his boyz and unwittingly landed on a recruitment world for the 454 guard. The warboss escaped however his mark was left, Llabpain was in ruin bar the emperors shrine in the centre. The small garrison of marines along side with PDF had included no more than one squad of veterans, Ventris' (and Kayvaans) squad. The Waaagh had never really started, GubSkul had currently suffered from bad luck in that more than 50% of his Waaagh was lost on the transit through the warp and thus was the only saving grace of Hammerwrath. The orks decended in their usual manner of clap-trap landing pods and craft and set their sights on Llabpain, where 75% of the PDF had gathered after the orks were spotted orbitting above the hive and all ten veterans gathered. The fight, and afterwards clear up war, was brutal with both sides giving no ground for GubSkul needed a new base of operations to refresh his WAAAGH! and if Llabpain fell then the 454 guard would lose one of their most prized resourses. Gradually, the orks gained ground and even got into the city. Every citizen had been evacuated bar those who wished to fight and fight they did. Several hive towers were the sight of families brutally defending their home against the xenos. Gradually damage took it's toll and several hive towers collapsed under the orks mis-used and unpredictable explosive weapons they brought.

All but the emperors shrine was left after a Big mek suffered a catastrophic failure of his weapon that use the warp. The weapon created a temperory hole in the material universe that shredded nearly 30% of the hive to pieces and what bulk of GubSkuls Waaagh! that remained. Standing defiant and true, Kayvaan and Ventris were the ones who prevented the orks entering the shrine. They never knew it but the orks had no more explosives, they meerly thought all their shots with rokkits had missed or such but no. Only fifty ork boyz left, GubSkul retreating to his escape craft to rebuild his WAAAGH elsewhere, the ork boyz charged. Kayvaan accounted for twenty ork boyz with his heavy bolter before taking a barrage of shoota and slugga shots that left him all but dead. Ventris took down the remaining thirty in a blitz of rage, his wounds were serious that day but none during his thirst for vengance for his brother were able to slow him nor weaken. Records say that what orks remaining of GubSkuls were routed when the 1st company returned, five days later. During that time it was said Kayvaan lay at the verge of death and that Ventris never moved fro his brother's side. They were to be days he would remember in his now long slumber. It also be Kayvaans last memory before waking in his new form, his brother for the first time with tears down his face, fearing his brother may die.

 

Well there's part one, C&C it, Flame it, love it, help me correct it, you get a medal for even getting this far...it :D . You know the drill anyway, just tell me what you think and I'll do my best to adhere to whats possible and whats not.