Celestial Lions

[Lone Scout]

Hi all, I have re-written my fluff about the CL's and their escape from Armageddon.I look forward to your feedback. (chapter pics soon)

 

 

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Celestial_Lions

 

New Beginnings

 

Captain Saul had assumed command of the Chapter and gathered the remaining 96 Celestial Lions to his side.

“You may belong to different prides but tonight we are but one pride, one family. We will stalk out into the night, gather our fallen brothers and burn their mortal bodies so that their spirits can hunt in the darkness once more”. The orks will not defile them or the carrion birds feast on them….when the Lions hunt”.

As one the Chapter responded, “their prey knows fear”

 

The Lions moved out under the cover of Armageddon’s night sky, the journey to Mannheim Gap took just over 2 hours. Captain Saul and his men stalked up the caynon towards their fallen brothers. Even now the air was hot, rank with the smells typical of a battle zone. Dust and smoke hung in the air and the shrill call of insects was a constant symphony of sound. As the lions approched the site of their fallen the scouts up ahead signaled stop and go to ground.

 

Captain Saul moved forward to the scouts position and met with sergent Ireland. Ireland was a huge man, his bulk seemed at odds with his reputation as the chapters best scout. He was described as being slipperier than a greased grot, though those that voiced this belief only did so with sideward glances first, for above all Ireland was know for his furious temper and harsh tongue.

 

“What have you got for us sergent”.

“There is movement among the bodies Captain, one figure standing, five more crouched near the large bolder 700 meters to our left”.

“What are they”, asked Saul

“It appears they are marines Captain, Spacewolves”.

Saul was looking through his binoculars and it appeared the Wolf Priest was looking straight at him.

“Shall we engage them Brother”, asked Ireland with to much familarity.

Before Saul had time to answer a reply came from the party’s right, “fire not lions the Spacewolves have your back”.

 

Saul and the scouts, half startled by the closeness of the reply instantly jumped back leveling their weapons at the Wolf scouts, who were now on their feet as well. Lions stood weapons at the ready as more wolves appeared from the shadows. The tense stand off was broken by Saul as he ordered his men to lower their weapons. “I demand an explanation” spoke Saul.

“And you shall have one Chapter Master” replied the scout leader. The formal address of the scout struck Saul like a fist. This was the last of his chapter, a chapter he was now responsible for and the foolishness of his actions cut him deeply. If the Spacewolves had been orks the chapter would have been wiped out there and then.

 

Saul took 5 other lions with him and ordered the rest of the chapter to lie low in case of an ork attack. The scouts lead him to the Wolf Priest. The priest was tall and lean with a face full of lines and fangs the size of daggers. He spoke” your chapter has suffered grievous losses which will take many many long years to recover from.” The priest handed Saul a sealed metal container, it was cool to the touch. “ I have collected the gene seed of your fallen, those that were viable at least, 163 in total. We also took a data slate from a imperial assassin. It did not die easy and many brothers lives were lost to aquire it for you. The tale that has unraveled is long and complexed and is best not discussed on a field of battle. We have thunder hawks inbound to evac your chapter and my men to the heavy cruiser “The Lions Claw”.

Saul’s look of shock was plain for the old priest to read.

“Aye Laddie, some of your fleet remains intact, your cruiser totally untouched, there are more lions alive than the Inquisition believes”.

“You have proof the Inquisition was involved”, asked Saul?

“No Captain Saul you do”, the priest handed him a data sheet marked with a capital I . The howl of thunderhawk turbines made the continuation of the conversation impossible. Thunderhawks marked with the Celestial Lions insignia touched down in the narrow gorge. Saul spoke into his comlink, “All aboard the thunderhawks, the lions are leaving Armagedon”.

 

Since this fateful meeting Saul and the Lions have done all they can to save their chapter. Their home world abandoned for another, even a heist of their stored gene seed from Saturn has not been an impossible task for a chapter whose survival depends on stealth and daring. Now more than ever before the Celestial Lions are a deadly force to all who oppose them. Loyal to the Emperor and bitterly opposed to the corruption of the Inquisition and the High Lords of Terra, it is without a doubt that humanity will hear the Lions roar again.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff59/NicholasIronfist/DSCF0810.jpg

[Jarl Bloodwolf]

I like it. I think it is well written and it makes me more interested in the chapter. I like seargent Ireland but than again I'm Irish :D . There are only a few things I would change, 1 you keep refering to him as captain saul. Now I'm not sure if this is to emphasize that he isn't used to being the chapter master yet but to me he needs to be refered by his rank, and secondly I think the dialouge of "the angels have your back" is off. I cant see Blood Angels saying that its to.....human. I can see Space Wolves saying that but not BA. Thats just me though, all in all good job.

[Lone Scout]

Jarl thanks for your feedback. Orignally I had written that the Spacewolves were the rescueing chapter, but my major enemy decieded to play spacewolves....didn't seem right to fight my saviors. I also had aye laddie squezed in there too, but it didn't work for angles.

According to GW's fluff Saul was a captain, and most of the story is "live" so to speak. Saul will indeed become chapter master (at least in my fluff) but I'm asuming he'd want to earn the title rather than inheirit it???

[Nacho Wolf]

This is the first I have heard of the Celestial Lions, and I have to say I like it alot

[Lone Scout]

Nacho Wolf....they are a cool chapter to be sure ;)

Their colour scheme is a challenge and I have alternated between metal gold and yellow gold and how hard is it to paint a lion on a sholderpad ! Still I think they are too sweet a chapter to just leave abandoned on armageddon.

[Nacho Wolf]

Is there any place to find more info on them, coz they seem to have been forgoten by everyone

[Lone Scout]

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Celestial_Lions

 

 

That is all the offical GW fluff that exists.

I'm at the moment looking at running them with the Spacewolf codex. A. because I think that the pack / pride thing will work well and B how cool with thunder lion cavalry look <_<

Let me know if you pick them up, perhaps we can calaborate on some elements???

[Vodunius]

Iron Champions would be the best rescuer as they reinforced Hive Volcanus, the scenario ideas on the armageddon3 website included: "Celestial Lions Space Marines desperately try to hold out against a massive Ork assault at hive Volcanus. This could be a Meatgrinder mission played over a heavily entrenched position using Necromunda terrain. The Celestial Lions would be outnumbered by awaiting Iron Champion Space Marine reinforcements who deploy using the deep strike rules."

[SithBoy*]

Excellent story, I really enjoyed it. I'm a great fan of the Celestial Lions, and the Blood Angels. I like that you had the Blood Angels recover the Celestial Lions gene-seed covertly from the battlefield, and returned it to them. Long live the Pride.

 

I recently started painting some Celestial Lions myself as a side project to my Blood Angels. (And to try to perfect my gold paint before I try to my Sanguinary Guard.) Your story has inspired me to take my Lions force a little more seriously and make it a force worth reckoning with.

 

i'd like to read anything else you write about the Celestial Lions, particularly about the heist to recover their gene-seed from Saturn.

 

On a side note, what codex would you use for them now. I assume that they adhere to the Codex Astartes, but now with an influx of scout level warriors that will probably rival the amount of hardened battle brothers they may have to arrange themselves differently. They could easily use the Black Templar codex, with the scouts taking to the field with the tactical squads, or even the Space Wolves codex with the scouts being fully seasoned warriors, and the newly appointed brothers forming the bulk of the assault troops/blood claws.

 

I think i'll go with the Space Wolves codex myself, but will play down the feral aspects of the wolves.

[Freman Bloodglaive]

The Chapter is called the Celestial Lions, that doesn't mean they ride around on lions.

 

Codex Spaces Marines is the best basis. Scouts can be fielded in bulk, perhaps replacing tactical squads, with Marines making up assault and devastator squads.

[SithBoy*]

The Chapter is called the Celestial Lions, that doesn't mean they ride around on lions.

 

Codex Spaces Marines is the best basis. Scouts can be fielded in bulk, perhaps replacing tactical squads, with Marines making up assault and devastator squads.

I understand that they don't adhere to the Space Wolves rule set, but the beauty of a chapter with such vague fluff is I can do whatever I want, so your opinion is noted and duly ignored. ;)

 

But seriously, with the Chapter being so utterly decimated and the significant lack of apothecary's to collect the chapters gene-seed, scouts will be few and far between. I think also, the battle-brothers remaining would have their choice of wargear, so they would be able to field more specialized troops: Vanguard, Sternguard, and Terminators. (Theres another reason for Space wolves, for the terminators!)

 

Plus with all the furs that come in the Space Wolf boxes, plus the other lionesque bitz from the other GW ranges, it's hard not to use that furry codex. To be honest, I'll probably use Deathwing rules as well, just so I can paint numerous marines in tactical dreadnought armor... Hell i'd even be willing to do a Blood Angel list to make Death Company pack of lions. (Black lions, Death lions, Dark Pride, whatever...) Even using the vanilla codex will be fun, more options are always fun.

 

I haven't thought to much about devastators yet, I really like the looks of the heavy bolters and multi-meltas, but thats just a personal preference. But this does raise a question in my mind, would they be ranged or assault orientated? There name suggests close combat, but whats in a name...

 

Now all I have to do is paint them, I haven't picked up a brush in ages, and I paint slowly. I think mostly it's a motivation thing.

 

Ave Imperator, Ave Leo!

[Vulcan He'Stan]

Just a dampner.

 

Who teaches the marines to use TDA?

 

I was under the impression that all the terminators were dead.

[Lone Scout]

Post removed due to sucking badly :D

Attempt 302 soon.

[Leonaides]

too much wolfiness really... They didn't have grey hunters before arma, why should they stop everything they knew in favour of sw organisation? And no way no how would a wolf-lord give away a couple of thunderwolves.

[Tulkas]

There are more ways to skin that cat mate (pun intended). If you want your Tactical Marines to be Grey Hunters, give them knives and pistols on their belts. Bolter in hand and they already have a large deal of the same gear the GH have.

 

For the Bloodclaws, I plan to use Vanilla Scouts. This also ties in nicely to the whole 'we need to start recruiting' philosophy. To use Wolf Scouts, I've converted those already from the plastic scouts (pics somewhere around the SW forum). I think if the difference is obvious, my opponent won't be that easily confused.

 

Oh. Using Lions (to replace Fenrisian Wolves) is a no go in my army. The idea is simply too obvious for me to be viable. I'd rather convert up some mean ass looking bikes to use if I want to use the Wolfriders. I'll leave the animal mounting to the true Space Wolves.

 

My army will be like this: SW Codex, a few Space Wolf squads/ units (which also LOOK Space Wolf) and the rest will be SW Codex but using regular Marine minis to represent them. As mentioned above, the Scouts for Bloodclaws and the Tactical Marines will have added gear (if I can scrounge up the bits).

 

 

I hope this helps in any way.

[Lone Scout]

too much wolfiness really... They didn't have grey hunters before arma, why should they stop everything they knew in favour of sw organisation? And no way no how would a wolf-lord give away a couple of thunderwolves.

I agree. I re read it again in the morning and thought this sucks....beleive it or not it is not easy to get an idea and turn it into fluff. Turning it into poo is much easier :nuke:

 

"Oh. Using Lions (to replace Fenrisian Wolves) is a no go in my army. The idea is simply too obvious for me to be viable. I'd rather convert up some mean ass looking bikes to use if I want to use the Wolfriders. I'll leave the animal mounting to the true Space Wolves."

Again in the light of morning I totally agree, it just won't work. I went back to the idea of Skyrars Dark Wolves...made 3 on thunderwolves and they looked sweet but I hit the same problem it is one army trying to be something they are not. So for now I'm going to forget about the lions and chaos and make a pretty SW army instead.

[Tulkas]

I know pal, I've been trying to get it right for the past 10 years now :)

[Lone Scout]

Relocation

 

Deep inside the Hydra Cordatus system lay the deathworld of Vandemonian upon which stood a abandoned Adeptus Mechanicus base. Eldar had fought and died here, some of their architecture was lost to the jungles but at one stage the eldar menace had been present. Why Mars had abandoned Vandemonian was unknown but the base stood defiant amid the forests, it's roots sunken deep into the bedrock like the towering trees surrounding it. This was a world, full of predators and death, no one would dare look to Vandemonian for sanctuary.

 

Unknown to the new conquerors, humans had indeed settled on Vandemonian. Some arrived many thousands of years ago others were more recent arrivals. Penal Legions were placed on the deathworld, left to die by uncaring and unforgiving Imperial commanders. Commissar to Inquisitor dumped unruly grunts,defiant commandos and ageing navigators alike. If you were a problem in the imperial guard you would sooner or later be exiled to Vandemonian. This practice had ceased suddenly and the entire sector left in darkness. The exiled and native populations mixed and the resulting population of Vandemonian are well adapted, hardy yet forgotten people.

 

Chapter Master Saul made landfall with 50 marines, all veterans of Armageddon while the fleet maintained orbit. The massive doors of the base refused to yield to the techmarines divinations and it took two plasma charges to gain entry to the stronghold. Lights and power were restored within hours and 5 man teams scoured the depths for signs of life or threats. Many hours later a excited call summoned Saul to the 13th and deepest sector of the base. Saul entered the chamber reinforced with ceremite armor plate and at the centre lay a sleeping warp portal of Eldar origin.

“Seal the doors I want 5 guards outside this door day and night”.

 

Weeks had past and the base was now fully functional. The storage facility had been a goldmine of stock from bolt guns to speeders to tanks The entire 3rd sector was a fully operational manufacturing plant. Although the fighting companies had been decimated on Armageddon the entire serfdom of the Celestial Lions remained untouched For every marine there were 5 serfs ranging from tech priests to cooks, some human some machine most a mixure of both. Among these was a human, slight of build, enhanced with implants and technically gifted with machine sprits. Gray, a reference to his hair colour was his nickname, his true identity long forgotten. It was Gray that discovered the salvation of the Celestial Lions.

 

Saul had seldom slept since the claiming of the Adeptus Mechanicas base. He was tired and grumpy and Gray's insistence that they meet had stretched his temper to breaking point.

“What Gray, what is so bloody important”?

“Milord I have found a book that you may find useful”.

“I don't have time to read Gray” Saul turned on his heal and made to leave.

“Milord it's a STC”.

Saul spun a full circle “A patten....for what”?

“I believe it's for a Titan part Milord but I'm not certain. It's value to Mars would be beyond measure”.

Saul's fatigue melted away “Gray fall in beside me, at no time are you to leave my side”.

“Yes Milord”, Saul and Gray marched to the hanger and 10 minutes they were aboard “The Lion's Claw” bound for Mars.

[Lone Scout]

The Deal

 

The trip to Mars had been long but it had allowed Saul time to sleep and Gray time to read what he could of the STC in his charge. Gray had determined that the STC was indeed for a Titan, a shielding system. Saul's original confidence had given way to concern. He had formulated a plan but there was as much chance that they would be obliterated in sight of their goal. As they approached their final check point orbital defence lasers eyed the Lion's Claw with suspicion. Mars was a glorious sight, no longer the red planet of legend it was covered in metal bristling with defence measures and very intimidating. A metalic voice echoed through the cruisers speaker system

“Lion's Claw you are clear to dock at dock station 11825”.

 

Saul and Gray stepped onto the metal dock. 200 armed guards with bolters pointed their weapons at the two as they marched towards the waiting Priest of Mars. The robed figure was more machine than man. Cables and plugs hung in bundles and a servo harness was strapped or inserted into the man’s back. One human eye and one bionic eye studied the two before rolling away on a tracked under carriage.

“Follow” came a lifeless mechanical voice.

 

Saul and Gray were in a lift that fell into the bowls of the planet. More guards stood outside a metal sliding door. It hissed open and the two were ushered into the dark by their emissary. The door hissed shut and several bolts slid into place to seal the door. There was no way out now thought Saul not hat there had been since they warped into Terran space. The lights flicked on and burned bright. As Saul's eyes adjusted he came face to face with five figures across a large table, there were no seats and the council were 10 feet higher than Saul and Gray. Saul recognised the Fabricator-General of Mars. Saul went for his bolt pistol instinctively but remembered he was unarmed. A burst of static erupted before a metalic voice translated the binary speech of the council.

Chapter Master Saul of the Celestial Lions why did you fell the need for a weapon just now.

Saul blushed “Is the Fabricator General not part of the High Lords of Terra”

More static before the reply “He is”.

“Was it not the Lords of Terra that sought to purge our chapter”? Saul’s rising anger was evident for all to see.

White noise echoed around the chamber” It was not”.

“Grot:cuss” screamed Saul and he approached the council with the captured data slate taken from the dead imperial assassin. A hiss to his left signalled another door opening and 10 armed guards entered the chamber, melta guns at the ready. Saul continued his advance and a single melta shot blistered the metal floor inches from his feet. Saul took a single step more before halting, glaring momentarily at his would be attackers. He handed his evidence to the emissary to give to the council. The Fabricator General dismissed the slate with a wave of his metal hand. He addressed Saul directly.

“I have seen it and I myself played no part in the sanctioning of your chapters exterminus.”.

Saul had his doubts but let the Lord of Mars continue.

 

“Let us discuss more current business a lost STC”? Saul glared at his foe. He could be on him in a heart beat but open hostility here would doom his chapter to oblivion. Saul turned to Gray who approached the council and handed the holy tome to the emissary. A blast of static erupted in the chamber. Saul’s head was pounding with the binary static language of the Mars priesthood..

“Your find is indeed a lost STC of a titan shield generator, what do you seek as a reward.

Saul listed his demands” Firstly we have taken the planet Vandemonian as our new homeworld since our last one was cleansed, we wish to keep this planet as our own. Secondly within the planet was a storage facility that we now claim as a base of operation we wish to keep any and all it's contents, STC's not withstanding and any contents found as a result of our occupation of the station. We also require geneseed from Saturn, all of it. Lastly Milords I offer you my life for the Emperors forgiveness of the Celestial Lion Chapter. I alone survive from the time of Inquisitor Apollyon, it was my vocal condemnation of him that lead to my chapters fall from favour. Take my life but grant my chapter clemency”. Saul backed away from the table and stood by Gray's side.

 

The Fabricator-General spoke

“I hereby grant you rule of the entire Vandemonian system to rule and recruit from as you wish. All that is within that system is yours including the Storage Facility 198c and it's contents. Saturn has 3000 units of Celestial Lion geneseed, you may have 2000 units.

Your life in not required and as a High Lord of Terra I grant you and your chapter the Emperors forgiveness. But head this warning Chapter Master Saul, a second fall from grace will see your chapter destroyed in earnest. Return to your ship.”

With that the lights went out, the door locks clicked and the door slid open with a hiss.

 

By the time Saul and Gray had made it to the Lion's Claw the emissary was waiting.

A Magos Biologis accompanied by several Genetors and 2 Ironpriests loaded the new gene seed on board. They would accompany the Lions back to Vandemonian and oversee the training of new apothecaries, other tech priests would train the Lions to use Terminator Armour. Gray remained on Mars to be fully trained as a tech priest and when he was returned to Vandemonian the amount of enhancements told of his success on the holy soil of Mars.

[Lone Scout]

It has been awhile. I'd like some feed back please. Love it or hate it let me know what you think.

 

 

Captain Ireland lead the scouts into the Vandemonian jungle. The sun had risen 2 hours ago but it was already hot and the humidity was high. Ireland was in tactical armour and didn't notice the heat but the scouts he was training were not as fortunate and they shifted uncomfortably in the undergrowth. Ireland glared at the new scouts and he signed them to be silent, foes ahead. They had been scouting for the natives of Vandemonian to see if they were suitable to recruit from. The last recruits had come from warring industrial clans and stealth wasn't they're forte. It was hoped the natives would make for more silent troops. Phillip a pale blond haired scout felt a insect bite his face and without a second thought slapped it hard. The insect died a second before Phillip did, a arrow through his throat.

 

Ireland fired his bolter as arrows bounced from his armour. Another scout yelled in pain as an arrow passed through his leg. The scouts tried to withdraw but more natives moved to cut off the Lion's escape. The jungle hampered the scouts sight but Ireland had been a scout for centuries and his scenes were keen. He charged through the thickets ,bolter spitting death with every round and when his ammo was gone he drew his knife and slew left and right. The last of his charges fell as he reached a clearing and the shear cliff face beyond it. Ireland turned to face his attackers and there were hundreds of them. One raced in with a spear and Ireland punched him hard enough that his head resembled a squashed mellon. Naturally this stopped his attackers from advancing on him but many didn't need to. Ireland now had his heels at the very edge of the abyss it was now or never and he charged forward into the waitting mob.

 

An arrow struck him in the head and Ireland stopped his forward rush. His vision was gone, reduced to a pulsing red light. There was a whistling sound and a cool breeze and a sensation of weightlessness. Ireland's scenes had failed him and this was the Emperors blessing for he was falling to his doom. Irelands armour was screaming warnings at him but his world went as black as night the warnings falling on deaf ears.

[Crusader of Dorn]

Seems good to me, I like the CL they share many of my own proclivities regarding the treacherous Inquisition.

 

that gold you painted is well done, how did you achieve it?

[Lone Scout]

Hi CoD, thanks for the feedback. The gold is out of a spray can...humbol I think. I'm not so keen on the metalic gold and I'm looking to experiment with yellows or a colour closer to lions fur??? Maybe bone with a sepia wash.

[Crusader of Dorn]

it looked like burnished gold washed in black to me, experimenting just now yellow ink on burnished gold washed with badab black has potential.