IA: Death Heads

[Donkey Kong]

B

orn from the ashes of the Horus Heresy, the Death Heads would be among the first to breathe new life into the Imperium after centuries of self destruction and decay. Sergeant Caphon Derii would be the first to teach his fledgling brothers to soar. A child of Calth, Derii bore witness to the Word Bearer's attack on his home as a neophyte of the Ultramarine Legion. His vengeance would be taken in the years following the siege of Terra, during the Great Scouring, as one of the first White Consuls. By the turn of the Millennium, the High Lords of Terra sought leaders to raise the next generation of Astartes, and none were more fit to answer.

With a Chapter at his command, Derii would revive the Great Scouring, and the fear it inspired in heretical hearts. Traitors would be made to answer for their crimes, from Calth to Terra, and the very Eye of Terror itself. With the Astartes at their side, humanity would reach out across galaxy once again, united under the Imperium of Man. Those who turned from the Emperor's light would be removed, cast away into the void.

R

ecruits are drawn from a number of worlds through the construction and maintenance of Chapter Keeps. Contrary to tradition, the Death Heads base themselves within their migrant fleets. The Chapter's flagship, the Nausicaa, is a venerable vessel that has served the Imperium since the early days of the Great Crusade. More than three times the size of a traditional Battle Barge, the Nausicaa serves as the Chapter's spiritual home. Within it's decks lie all the Chapter's treasures, including its vast Librarium.

Uft'ni

It is the first world to construct a Chapter Keep, and the only one constructed under Derii's command. Uft'ni is a living monument to the Imperium, and the treachery it has suffered. A world of city spires built during the time of Old Night, it was peacefully assimilated in the Emperor's Great Crusade. However, it's cities would be drowned in the chaos that followed.

In the Heretic's push towards Terra, Uft'ni was prepared as a bulwark against the traitors' advance. The hive cities bore witness to the fiercest fighting of the Heresy excluding the traitor legions. Relentless combat ruined the hive cities, and left Imperial forces in shambles. With the ever looming threat of defeat, the decision came to bombard the ice caps from orbit, and flood the world. Only the tallest peaks escaped the rising waters. Untold trillions, Uft'ni and heretic alike, were lost beneath its surface.

The world's new seas changed more than geography. Countless nobles who had gone into underground bunkers with the families, and died in the torrent, left the Uft'ni aristocracy frighteningly thin. A world now populated by warlords and their soldiers, both members of house armies and planetary defense forces, as well as civilians and gangers armed to fight the foe. All still loyal to the Emperor, they would lead an age of debate and infighting, eventually leading to the creation of the council of warlords, rotating the title of planetary governor as the powers shifted.

Passing centuries brought more changes as terrifying monsters rose from the depths of new oceans. Whether creations of heretical powers or natural creations, none would ever know. The very existence of these horrors, the most fearsome amongst them to be the kraken, brought change to the new lives of the Uft'ni.

Derii came to this world in hopes of refitting his forces for their eternal crusade. Greeted by the stories of the Horus Heresy, this world fascinated him. The greatest mark upon it's people in recent times would become the Chapter's new heraldry, the kraken that lurked in impenetrable, azure depths. Like him, Uft'ni wore its wounds as trophies. Like Derii, Uft'ni would father Astartes.

Death Heads regularly bolster their fleet with smaller craft. Raiding enemy fleets, the Chapter will trade their spoils, ancient and stolen battleships, with Forge Worlds in exchange for repairs for their own vessels and the refitting of captured cruisers and escorts. These small reserve fleets are often left in the hands of venerable battle brothers with serf crews to defend the Chapter's Keep Worlds and serve as replacements for any ships lost or damaged in the Chapter's migrant fleets.

A

child of Calth, and veteran of the White Consuls, Caphon Derii would craft his Chapter as his gene-father, Roboute Gulliman, would have wanted. In accordance with the Codex Astartes, Derii's Chapter would have ten companies, and a thousand fighting Astartes between them.

The Death Heads First Company is composed of veterans drawn from its four battle companies. Each is a hero amongst heroes, a legend of the Chapter. Brothers of the First Company would come to be known as Black Spots for the Uft'ni omen of doom. The Black Spots wear their namesake with their heraldry, a single dot between the mandibles of the Kraken. These venerable warriors are trained to use the Chapter's treasured suits of Tactical Dreadnought Armor, and are spread throughout its four battle companies to aid Captains and foster learning amongst their brothers.

The Chapter's Second through Fifth Companies are the Chapter's battle companies, comprised of venerable warriors in traditional squad arrangements. The Sixth through Ninth Companies are comprised of new warriors, held in reserve to reinforce the first four and support them with additional numbers. The Tenth Company is made of neophytes, recruits from all Keep worlds, to be tempered and tested before advancing through the reserve companies. Those that fail die in battle or continue to serve their would-be brothers as serfs. Each company is led by a Captain, a veteran of the First.

T

he Death Heads are learned in the countless methods of waging war found in the Codex Astartes. However, generations of hate have given the brotherhood a preference for ferocious shock and awe campaigns through orbital drops. This tactic has left the Death Heads with an affinity for close quarters combat, spilling blood with bayonets and blades more often than bolters. In keeping with this, commanders regularly forgo armor in favor of lighter, faster vehicles.

It is a tradition for all Death Heads to fight together against all foes. Apothecaries, chaplains, librarians, veterans and neophytes alike, are expected to abide by this unspoken law. To avoid combat is to dishonor both self and Chapter. Brotherhood is forged in blood, and the Death Heads seal theirs in the fires of war.

C

aphon Derii and the Keep Worlds have both taken their part in shaping the core beliefs of the Death Heads, a combined cult of Imperial loyalty and tribal tradition. The Uft'ni Warlords traditionally wore kraken helmets, and Caphon Derii would begin the same tradition amongst his Chapter. Each Captain would don a helmet, crafted by the Chapter's forge to meet the standards of the Astartes, and the aesthetic majesty of the Warlords. This seal would bond the Chapter and their first Keep World.

The Changing of Faces is has been a practice since the Chapter's founding. The skull mark, originally adopted from Derii's own remembrance of Calth, was the first to be used as both the Chapter's heraldry, and a mark worn by all of it's brothers. Every initiate, upon entering the Chapter, an initiate earns his Edited January 21, 2011 by KingHongKong

[Captain Juan Juarez]

I'm.. er.. going to punch you in the face - figuratively - straight away.

 

The Eternal Crusader is regarded in fluff as the largest Battlebarge in use by the Astartes, but I'm not sure even it is "three times the size of a traditional Battlebarge".

 

The largest ship does not always have to be the flagship; maybe consider something like a mass conveyer as the Chapters mobile home, with the Nausicaa the flagship?

 

EDIT: Go me for successfully naming a Chapter, even if it's someone elses.

Edited January 18, 2011 by Captain Juan Juarez

[Heru]

The Eternal Crusader is regarded in fluff as the largest Battlebarge in use by the Astartes, but I'm not sure even it is "three times the size of a traditional Battlebarge".

I don't believe that the Nausicaa is an actual Battle Barge.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

The Eternal Crusader is regarded in fluff as the largest Battlebarge in use by the Astartes, but I'm not sure even it is "three times the size of a traditional Battlebarge".

I don't believe that the Nausicaa is an actual Battle Barge.

 

I don't believe any woman could ever love me and such a notion has yet to be disproven too :)

 

EDIT: Also, why does it seem to be my posts you always pop up to contradict? I didn't steal the Flail, honest!

Edited January 18, 2011 by Captain Juan Juarez

[Donkey Kong]

The Eternal Crusader is regarded in fluff as the largest Battlebarge in use by the Astartes, but I'm not sure even it is "three times the size of a traditional Battlebarge".

 

The Eternal Crusader is supposed to be able to carry twice the number of Space Marines a normal Battle Barge does. I've never heard of it being the largest, though.

 

EDIT: Go me for successfully naming a Chapter, even if it's someone elses.

 

Heru popped up because you stole credit for his name suggestion. I think your title just got a little longer :lol: .

[Heru]

EDIT: Go me for successfully naming a Chapter, even if it's someone elses.

 

Heru popped up because you stole credit for his name suggestion. I think your title just got a little longer :) .

CJJ suggested it first, I just added the options of Star and Void.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

EDIT: Go me for successfully naming a Chapter, even if it's someone elses.

 

Heru popped up because you stole credit for his name suggestion. I think your title just got a little longer :P .

CJJ suggested it first, I just added the options of Star and Void.

 

Now I wish I'd kept it... But alas, the Star Hippos beckon for a colour scheme :D

[Heru]

From CJJ's Imperial Reaver thread:

>

Actually in regards to the Astral Reavers, I think if someone were to come up with a better name for his Chapter, KHK would likely change from using "Astral Reavers". Honestly I don't think he's hugely 100% in love with it for his Chapter (more like he can't think of anythink better).

 

This. So take it. My Space Pirates are still better, no matter what their name is :lol: .

<

Ok well if Astral Reavers isn't a great fit, and Marine names don't work then we are going about this the wrong way. You've been saying you like names that say what something is, yet names like that don't seem to fit with this Chapter. So we have to go back to what made the original "Death Heads" name work, symbology.

Edited January 21, 2011 by Heru Talon

[Captain Juan Juarez]

...symbology.

 

That isn't a word, is it? I thought it as "symbolism"?

Edited January 21, 2011 by Captain Juan Juarez

[Grey Hunter Ydalir]

That isn't a word, is it? I thought it as "symbolism"?

 

Now now, no derailing for you today laddie.

 

Well symbolism with death can take any number of different forms, language especially so and English even more so.

 

Personally I think you couldn't do any worse than doing the age old word - idea comparison.

 

You think of the adjectives and superlatives you use to describe <This Chapter> and then grab a thesaurus.

 

..... Then hit CJJ with it, in a preemptive strike against more derailing.

[Heru]

...symbology.

 

That isn't a word, is it? I thought it as "symbolism"?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/symbology

[Grey Hunter Ydalir]

Damnit Heru, don't let CJJ get his derailing claws into this! ;) Edited January 21, 2011 by Grey Hunter Ydalir

[Heru]

I was going to respond to your post as well, but thinking about how many hours I've wasted trying to use the thesaurus to come up with something useful made me give up. ;)

[Captain Juan Juarez]

Damnit Heru, don't let CJJ get his derailing claws into this! ;)

 

No, seriously.. I didn't think it as a word...

[Donkey Kong]

Ok well if Astral Reavers isn't a great fit, and Marine names don't work then we are going about this the wrong way. You've been saying you like names that say what something is, yet names like that don't seem to fit with this Chapter. So we have to go back to what made the original "Death Heads" name work, symbology.

 

What really brought Death Heads as a name was the correlation with the Changing of Faces. Before that they were the Kraken Brothers, or some other nonsense that is better left forgotten.

 

Put simply, I'd like a regular Space Marine Chapter name of Adjective Nouns with the ability to use the noun as a shorthand for referring to the Chapter. So, I'll see what I can think up over the weekend, and whatever suggestions rub me the right way :D .

[Donkey Kong]

B

y the turn of the millennum, the High Lords of Terra sought leaders to raise the next generation of Astartes in the Third Founding. Born from the fires of the Great Scouring, the Executors would be amongst the first to breathe new life into the reconstructed Imperium of Man.

Sergeant Caphon Derii would teach his fledgling brothers to soar. A child of Calth, Derii bore witness to the Word Bearer's attack on his home as a neophyte of the Ultramarine Legion. The scars left on Caphon's mind would be forever manifest through a black skull across his helm. His vengeance would be taken in the years following the siege of Terra, during the Great Scouring, as one of the first White Consuls, and would continue the purge with his own Chapter.

Derii and his brothers would revive the Great Scouring, and the fear it inspired in heretical hearts. Traitors would be made to answer for their crimes, from Calth to Terra, and the very Eye of Terror itself. With the Astartes at their side, humanity would reach out across galaxy once more, united under the Imperium of Man, and those who turned from the Emperor's light would be cast away into the void. This was Derii's pledge.

R

ecruits are drawn from a number of worlds through the construction and maintenance of Chapter Keeps. Contrary to tradition, the Executors base themselves within their mighty fleets. The Chapter's flagship, the Nausicaa, is a venerable vessel that has served the Imperium since the early days of the Great Crusade. Given to the Chapter during its founding, it is more than three times the size of a traditional Battle Barge, she serves as the Chapter's spiritual home. Within its hull lies all the Chapter's treasures, including its vast Librarium.

Uft'ni was the first world to construct a Chapter Keep, and the only one constructed under Derii's command. Uft'ni is a living monument to the Imperium, and the treachery it has suffered. A world of city spires built during the time of Old Night, it was peacefully assimilated in the Emperor's Great Crusade. However, it's cities would be drowned in the chaos that followed.

In the Heretic's push towards Terra, Uft'ni was prepared as a bulwark against the traitors' advance. The hive cities bore witness to the fiercest fighting of the Heresy excluding the traitor legions. Relentless combat ruined the world, and left Imperial forces in shambles. With the ever looming threat of defeat, the decision came to bombard the ice caps from orbit, and flood the world. Only the tallest spire peaks escaped the rising waters, while untold trillions, Uft'ni and heretic alike, were lost beneath its surface.

The world's new seas changed more than geography. Countless nobles who had gone into underground bunkers with the families, and died in the torrent, left the Uft'ni aristocracy frighteningly thin. A world now populated by warlords and their soldiers, both members of house armies and planetary defense forces, as well as civilians and gangers armed to fight the foe. All still loyal to the Emperor, they would lead an age of debate and infighting, eventually leading to the creation of the council of warlords, rotating the title of planetary governor as the powers shifted.

Passing centuries brought more changes as terrifying monsters rose from the depths of new oceans. Whether creations of heretical powers or natural creations, none would ever know. The very existence of these horrors, the most fearsome amongst them to be the kraken, brought change to the new lives of the Uft'ni. Derii came to this world in hopes of refitting his forces before continuing their eternal purge. Welcomed with the stories of the Horus Heresy, this world fascinated him. The greatest mark upon it's people in recent times would become the Chapter's new heraldry, the kraken that lurked in impenetrable, azure depths.

Like him, Uft'ni wore its wounds as trophies. Like Derii, Uft'ni would father Astartes.

Executors regularly bolster their flotilla with smaller craft. Raiding enemy fleets, the Chapter trades its spoils of war, ancient and conquered battleships, with forge worlds in exchange for repairs for their own vessels and refits for captured cruisers and escorts. These repaired ships join small reserve fleets, often left in the hands of venerable battle brothers with serf crews, to defend the Chapter's Keep Worlds and serve as replacements for any ships lost or damaged in the migrant fleets.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hMC1N_hgPR1.hBgCA@_@@@@@ia3h6@.@@iaig8iaig8@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@._@@@@@@@@@@_@@.iakk7&grid=TRUE

As for the names, I'd rather avoid "Skull" something or something "Skull". Any suggestions are welcome.

As for succession, I think I've decided that Thussaud will live through Perditia and become First Captain.

Kindly tear away :) !

Edited January 30, 2011 by KingHongKong

[NightrawenII]

Colour Scheme

I'm not sure, if the red boots are best thing, the red is too flashy in comparison to the rest of scheme and draws my attention to the boots.

 

Origins

Born from the ashes of the Horus Heresy, the Death Heads would be amongst the first to breathe new life into the reconstructed Imperium of Man.

- Born from the flames and darkness of the Scouring... just a suggestion.

 

His vengeance would be taken in the years following the siege of Terra, during the Great Scouring, as one of the first White Consuls, and would continue the purge with his own Chapter.

- I don't like the wording of the highlighted part. Maybe; ... and he would continue the purge of the traitors with his own Chapter.

 

With the Astartes at their side, humanity would reach out across galaxy once again, united under the Imperium of Man, and those who turned from the Emperor's light would be cast away into the void.

- 'void' is weak word, damnation or perdition.

 

Flotilla

Recruits are drawn from a number of worlds through the construction and maintenance of Chapter Keeps. Contrary to tradition, the Death Heads base themselves within their mighty migrant fleets.

- I would say this is normal for Fleet-based Chapters. :)

- ...within their mighty fleets, wandering across the Imperium of Man in the search for their hated foes.

 

The Chapter's flagship, the Nausicaa, is a venerable vessel that has served the Imperium since the early days of the Great Crusade.

- Question: Where they got this ship? If she served the Imperium in the Great Crusade, I can't see how could be the previous owner happy with its loss.

 

Raiding enemy fleets, the Chapter trades its spoils of victory, ancient and stolen battleships, with forge worlds in exchange for repairs for their own vessels and refits for captured cruisers and escorts.

- 'spoils of war' is the right term. :)

- ancient and conquered(?? stolen is a little odd) battleships.

 

The sidebar doesn't work for me, it's too long and cross three sections of IA.

 

Chapter Organisation

The Black Spots wear their namesake within their heraldry, a single dot between the mandibles of the Kraken.

- Observation: Out of nowhere. I know, you explained the Kraken-emblem in the sidebar, but I usually read the article first and then the sidebars.

 

Combat Doctrine

Following in the footsteps of their Primogenitor, the White Consuls, Derii's Death Heads are learned in the countless methods of waging war found in Gulliman's Codex.

- is more suitable.

 

Chapter Cult

Their feat is judged in the company of their brothers, and if declared worthy, the skull of foe they have becomes their new face.

- There is something missing. ;)

 

The Chapter's fixation on purity stems from a common thread that first connected Caphon to Uft'ni, the hatred of the traitor.

- Something to consider, the Calth and Uft'ni incidents happened 10,000 years in the past. The grudge and hatred fades over the threads of time. For "current" marines these are just a stories from the history-books. You need something to continually fuel this hatred to be still fresh.

Edited January 28, 2011 by NightrawenII

[Donkey Kong]

I'm not sure, if the red boots are best thing, the red is too flashy in comparison to the rest of scheme and draws my attention to the boots.

 

Fixed for now, but they're supposed to be like the boots on White Scars with zig zag tops.

 

Origins

 

Fixed, although I like the callous conviction of "cast away into the void".

 

Flotilla

 

Fixed, sort of answered, and should the sidebar be inserted into the main IA? The point on Chapter Organization goes hand in hand with that last one.

 

Combat Doctrine

 

Fixed.

 

Cult

 

Fixed. I'd like to compare to the Black Templars and their eternal crusade being a continuation of the Great Crusade. The modern Chapter may not have lived through the Great Scouring, but Derii did, and Derii never left it. That is how he taught his Chapter, and that is how his Chapter functions, Chaplain speeches, hatred of traitors, stuff like that.

[NightrawenII]

Fixed, sort of answered, and should the sidebar be inserted into the main IA? The point on Chapter Organization goes hand in hand with that last one.

I think so. I'm not sure what others think, but if the sidebar is longer than view-screen, then it's no-go.

Edited January 28, 2011 by NightrawenII

[Heru]

Fixed, sort of answered, and should the sidebar be inserted into the main IA? The point on Chapter Organization goes hand in hand with that last one.

I think so. I'm not sure what others think, but if the sidebar is longer than view-screen, then it's no-go.

Depends if it's the only side bar in my opinion.

[Donkey Kong]

Does the IA look better now?

 

The light green marine always makes me smile when I realize how inappropriate a color it is. It's kind of like baby blue space puppies, but that makes me giggle too. If only I had the talent to make those red marks in MS paint :( .

 

So, back to the name game.

Obviously, Bone Heads is out of the question.

Executors could work if there was another word attached to it (and yes, I do mean Executor and not Executioner).

Scourge could also work, albeit it sounds a little bit Chaos.

[Grey Hunter Ydalir]

Obviously, Bone Heads is out of the question.

 

No please do! :(

 

I still like Death Heads, but I'll let it go.

 

It does look better.

 

 

 

However, generations of hate have left the Chapter with a preference for ferocious shock and awe campaigns through orbital assaults and drop pod strikes.

 

How have generations of hate actually affected their combat doctrine? Many other chapters hate their enemies but the generations that pass through still adhere to the chapters chosen style of warfare. What makes this special enough to push the <chapter name here> to being somewhat different?

 

I say somewhat because the shock and awe here is very much traditional Astartes warfare.

[Donkey Kong]

Alright, well that's fixed. All I can really see now is that the IA needs to be longer. Unfortunately, I think the only thing stopping me from typing more is that I don't have inspiration from a name.

 

Help!

 

Also, anyone who thinks about Executor, and jumps to these guys, I swear to you, there will be blood, and it will be yours.

[Grey Hunter Ydalir]

KHK, you've made my day. :)

 

 

Though I lament the many unsaid golden lines I could whip up.....

Edited January 30, 2011 by Grey Hunter Ydalir

[Heru]

Help!

No. Only you can come up with a name that will stick for your Chapter.

EDIT:

I can make the chest eagle more gold too if you'd like.

Edited January 30, 2011 by Heru Talon