The Eagles Auxil

[Axlbush]

Early concept for a new Chapter.

 

Chapter is based on a world near the borders of Ultramar. With a view to expanding the realm, the Fifth Chapter of the Ultramarines were sent to the feudal world of Ankh Shur with the task of bringing it under the Chapter's wing.

 

The fierce warrior tribes of Ankh Shur, however, did not see the Fifth Company as benevolent bringers of protection, but rather as an invasion force and rejected all requests for parlay. Although tremendously intrigued by these advanced super warriors, the Chieftains of the plains tribes, usually at war amongst themselves, agreed that there only option was to band together and destroy these strangers. And so with spear and bow the tribesman of Ankh Shur in their ignorance rose up against the Emperor's finest.

 

Many died in the fighting that followed and not all of them were tribesmen. The native warriors fought with a vicious determination to defend their world and the Chieftains were prepared to sacrifice many of their men to take down a single marine.

 

It was only a matter of time though, before the Chieftains had to accept that the Ultramarines would slowly grind down everything they could throw at them. What's more, they had come to greatly respect and admire the honourable art of war displayed by the enemy. The Chieftains of the six largest

tribes finally met with the Captain of the Fifth Company and announced their unconditional surrender.

 

My idea is the surrender of the tribesmen coincides with a new founding.

 

Impressed by the spirit and prowess of the tribes, the Ultramarines recommend that the one of these should be raised from the people of Ankh Shur who in turn have sworn fealty to Ultramar which now given, cannot be taken back.

 

The new Chapter is now made up of the tribemen of the plains. However, because they have sworn service to the Ultramarines, they view themselves as an auxiliary wing of Guilliman' Chapter. No native of Ankh Shur can rise to become one of the highest ranking officers of the Chapter. Instead, these positions are taken by promising Ultramarine officers. The other staff of the Chapter; Apothecaries, Techmarines, etc tend to be natives of the homeworld. Almost all Chaplains are also, and their fervour and loyalty to Marneus Calgar nears fanaticism.

 

The Chapter have distinguished themselves over their many centuries of service, often fighting alongside their parent chapter. Of late they have fought a number of times to hold back tendrils of Tyranid Hive Fleets and many of the current First Company bear the scars to prove it.

 

Ok, so the Chapter is in its infancy at the moment but opinions would be gratefully received. Also what do people think of the name? I'm open to suggestions on that as well as a colour scheme. At the moment I'm toying with the idea of power armour the colour of dwarf brass but am by no means fixed on that so let me know. I'm kinda stuck between a north African or Persian style theme for my homeworld, Ankh Shur

[Espada Azul]

First off, welcome to Liber.

 

Secondly, always ALWAYS refer to this lovely guide: The Liber Astartes DIY Guide. It's a recommended reading, as it sometimes saves people the embarrassment of being hammered from the get-go. A Liberite can always be expected to be hammered afterward, but at least that's after the basic things are mostly brought in line with what we know how Chapters work.

[Axlbush]

Thanks for the tip. I'm not completely new to the forum and have tried with one DIY chapter already. Have read the DIY stuff a few tiems and its a massive help. What i was trying to do up front is see what people thought of the initial premise - Ultramarine Captains or sergeants being drafted in to take the senior positions. I suspect it really deals a rending blow to the Canon rules but i quite like the idea and before i go to far with fleshing out the chapter i wanted to get peoples take on it. So, any thoughts?

[Kabuse]

It could work, its certainly a new idea, not sure what the locals would think of it tho, and arent Marines considered 'reborn' when they join their chapter? forgetting their past. I could be totaly wrong, I think its a cool idea tho could lead to some interesting looking units with Smurf sergeants etc

[Ace Debonair]

Thanks for the tip. I'm not completely new to the forum and have tried with one DIY chapter already. Have read the DIY stuff a few tiems and its a massive help. What i was trying to do up front is see what people thought of the initial premise - Ultramarine Captains or sergeants being drafted in to take the senior positions. I suspect it really deals a rending blow to the Canon rules but i quite like the idea and before i go to far with fleshing out the chapter i wanted to get peoples take on it. So, any thoughts?

 

The only problem I can forsee is that surely a chapter who acts as a testing ground for Ultramarine commanders would have been mentioned officially at some point, wouldn't it?

 

It's a novel idea for the chapter's early days, though I'm not sure it would work as a continued tradition.

[Hemal]

Agreed - the chapter would have to be "let lose" at some point - mayhaps that the original command squads from the 26th founding were selected as Calgar loyalists, so able to embrace teh Codex as a living document rather than the immutable tome that many regard it. Perhaps these officers were given teh choice of returning back to the UM post Kraken (with teh loss of so many veteran marines) or else continue to serve as officers in the newly foudned chapter. The chapter is so new of course, that it would always seek the guidance of its parental chapter, and like teh other Primogenitors, mayhap the chapter is strongly linked to the UM through regular pilgrimages to the Temple of Hera etc etc, and morseo because their homeworld is near to or subservient to (wouldn't say part of...) Ultramar.. Maybe they get large quantities of arms/armour/assistance from the UMs as well. The UMs help so many others anyway, that assistance to a child chapter wouldn;t be necessarily hostile.

[RagingGriffon]

Interesting concept. I have to agree with above posts. They need to cut the cord eventually. I would imagine if you are going to take the "auxillary" route then there could be some *slight* animosity towards the Ultras. I could see them being the rebellious black sheep of the Ultra bloodline. Complete disregard for the Codex, weird formations, piercings, heavy metal music, etc.

 

I am just tossing out some ideas of course.

 

Oh yeah, I think the name is weak. They are not always going to be auxillery.

[Axlbush]

Woe is me! Thanks for all the useful comments, people – its pretty much what I was afraid of. Judging by your comments and reading back thru my initial post, it appears that I didn’t clearly explain my intention. My proposal was that the Ultramarine officers would forego their careers with their own chapter to make a permanent switch to the Eagles, thus allowing young officers or those that have been previously overlooked for advancement a chance to progress (I can hear the howls of outrage already). Whether this translates into Kabuse’s image of officers still replete in their shiny blue armour. I hadn’t actually considered, tho I quite like the idea now. In regards to Ace’s concern as to why we wouldn’t have been told about them before, I am humble enough to conceive of the chapter paling into insignificance against the might of their parent chapter and would very much be easily overlooked when viewing the Ultras as a whole.

 

I appreciate that you all see this set up as very much a temporary one, but I am looking from the angle that the people of Ankh Shur, through their strict beliefs and ideologies, have very literally sworn to serve the Ultras. This means they will always demand Ultramarine officers to lead them.

 

Now, since we all know already this is probably gonna push the canon more than many liberites are willing to accept, I’ve been trying to think of a way to get round it. I have a couple of quick initial options, tho they both depend on the officers not technically being Ultras

 

1) the world the initial Chapter Master came from in Ultramar carries on the tradition, and deliberately raises a small percentage of its sons to aspire to become Eagles. They would initially grow up in the traditions of Ultramar and perhaps even train as aspirants alongside the parent chapter

 

2) the initial officers set up a small colony on Ankh Shur from which the future officers are raised. This one seems breed the options of separation and civil unrest tho, which I’m not sure right now I want to go into

 

So, admittedly a couple of quickly thought up options. In a perfect world we’d all say my original idea was perfectly acceptable tho I doubt that’s the case! Anyway please do give me your opinions as I valued your first volley, and please feel free to offer up your own ideas to help me with this problem. I’m gonna give it some more thought myself too and will hopefully be able to flesh these guys out soon

 

ps Hemal - am loving the pilgrimmages to the Temple of Hera idea. I can just picture the worshipping, stunned eyes of the devout marines now

[Axlbush]

Any thoughts?

[RagingGriffon]

Just a thought: If you get the guys that a passed over for command in the Ultras, then would you really want them in charge of your guys? I am all about having the Ultras help start your Chapter, but after that you should be your own entity.

 

Be your own Chapter. Why would you want second tier peeps from another Chapter? I am in the military. We send guys we don't like to other units. We keep our best.

[Hemal]

ps Hemal - am loving the pilgrimmages to the Temple of Hera idea. I can just picture the worshipping, stunned eyes of the devout marines now

 

No worries, any more assistance you have but to ask ;-)