Black Templars Resource

[Marshal Rohr]

Ok guys. I have been working on this resource for some time, and now the first article I have is to the point where I am ready for outside input and criticism. The rest of the articles through my signature are in a WIP state, but still contain information if interested. The first article up is:

 

Chapter Serfs

 

Chapter serfs are the normal human bondsmen and servants of a Space Marine Chapter. The Space Marines themselves are too few in number to manage all the tasks required to maintain all the aspects of the Chapter, including its fleet, fortress, etc. It is the serfs who perform most of these vital functions.

A Chapter's fortress-monastery is home to a large population of these hereditary servants. Although they occupy a humble position, they are loyal members of the Chapter. They are generally descended from individuals selected as potential recruits to the Chapter, but in the end, judged unfit to become actual Space Marines.

The serfs are still inducted into the Chapter cult, and do not begrudge the status they could have obtained. They are generally well treated within the Chapter, are educated and trained to a much higher standard than most other servants of the Imperium, and have access to a better range of equipment.

When Space Marines go to war, the serfs maintain the fortress and defend it from attack. It is unlikely that the Chapter Serfs would ever be deployed in battle alongside their Space Marine masters, as their human limitations would be incapable of keeping pace. They would still be trained to levels at least equivalent to that of the Imperial Guard, expected to assist in the defense of chapter assets such as fortresses and vessels. Indeed when facing down a Space Marine Battle Barge it would be a chapter serf manning the gun turrets, as a full Space Marine would be too valuable for the task.

 

Due to the inability to mass produce knights and their combat focused role, the majority of the crew of the Crusade Fleet are not, in fact knights, but instead normal humans pledged to the Chapter. Which begs the question: how did they come to be in the service of the Chapter? The Black Templars have no homeworld, and thus not population to draw Serfs from. They could induct members of the population of the planets with Chapter Keeps on them, and surely this is done, but another option often unexplored is Impressment.

 

Impressment is he act of taking people willingly or unwillingly into military servitude, and it is a practice commonly used by the Imperial Navy. The Black Templars would need a constant pool of Serfs from which to crew their vessels, work in their Forgeships, and defend the ships during battle, and the logical solution would be to stop pilgrim, merchant, trade, and other vessels and offer their crews the chance to join willingly and take more men when more are needed. The chapter serf populations on a fleet need self-sustaining, so it would follow that families of those pressed into service would also be brought onboard the ships of the Chapter, explaining the extensive refits and expansions built onto the vessels of the Black Templars.

 

An alternative would be the taking from populations on the worlds with established Chapter Keeps. The Templars build small fortresses roughly a third of the size of a Codex Chapter's fortress monastery on every world they conquer. These keeps will require a garrison of Serfs and servitors to maintain them while the Chapter is away, and the local populations the Templars recruit from will also be able to supply the Chapter with more families for the Fleet. The chapter serfs will be from all walks of life, due to the insensitivity at which the serfs are likely to be selected, and the friction caused by having serfs from multiple social classes or even different worlds will be negated by the indoctrination and fear of punishment that the serfs will be put through upon their initial ‘joining’ the Chapter. Eventually, after several generations the serfs will lose any sense of identity outside of the Chapter.

 

On the larger vessels of the Fleet, serfs will neither be seen nor heard when doing their duties on the parts of the ships inhabited by the knights. To be seen is likely to invite unwanted attention on oneself, and might have deadly consequences. The smaller escort vessels will be crewed almost entirely by Serfs, and contact with the knights will be more frequent than their compatriots onboard the massive Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers. Serfs will be used in a multitude of roles onboard the vessels of the Fleet. All Chapter's train units of chapter serfs to act as capable fighters in the event of the enemies boarding the vessel. Vessels of the Crusade Fleet would need a constant garrison to keep order amongst the serf population and provide security while traveling through the Warp. Due to the creed and mindset of the Black Templars, the serfs would be held to the same standard as all members of the Chapter; weakness is not tolerated, and you must die facing your enemy. Cowardice and retreat are unacceptable. The Teutonic Knights called those in service of the Order Half-Brothers, and they were treated far better than the peasants the Order ruled over. The Half-Brothers knew their place and if they served well they were given the respect of a job well done and knowing ones place. Though everyday in the service of the Black Templars is a harsh existence, there is no reason to believe that the chapter serfs who know their place and do their job to the standard expected of them wouldn't be treated with respect.

 

In addition to those serfs who act in a combat role, those with skills at smithing would likely be given to the Forgeships, where they could learn the nuances of maintenance and craftsmanship. Here they could help repair the arms and armor of the Crusade, acting alongside the Techmarines and armorers to keep the Chapter capable of fighting constantly. The logistical nightmare of equipping, arming, and supplying an entire Crusade will fall to the serfs, overseen by the Forgemaster of the Crusade. The constant campaigning by the Crusade Fleets will force the serfs to become masters of logistics that rival, and in some cases surpass, the adepts of the Munitorum. Ever ship of the fleet will need crew to work the weapons, communications, engineering, and other multitudes of tasks needed to keep a space faring vessel in working conditions. These will ultimately fall to the serfs, overseen by senior serfs, who will report to, and be held responsible, by the knights.

 

Navigators and Astropaths:

The creed of the Black Templars forbids them from consorting with those touched by the warp, yet to keep the Chapter on its Eternal Crusade astropaths and navigators must be used. Likely it will fall to chapter serfs to liaise between the knights and the penitent witches who serve the Chapter. A thorough cleansing and blessing is likely required after every session.

[Tyrannicide]

Some quality work, M2C. I look forward to seeing the next installments.

 

On a side note, life would be absolute hell serving the Templars as a Astropath or Navigator. Whew, glad its not me. :sweat:

[jma037]

Good stuff! Keep up the good work.

 

Some comments:

Does the Templar really need impressment? I can see the Navy doing it. But it will be such a great honor for imperials to serve the Astartes, especially the Black Templars, I think there will be lines around the block for recruits. Imagine if you are a Christian and Arch-angel Micheal decends from heaven and ask you if you would like to join the Army of God and fight alongside with Angels to battle Satan.

[Firepower]

Imagine if you are a Christian and Arch-angel Micheal decends from heaven and ask you if you would like to join the Army of God and fight alongside with Angels to battle Satan.

 

I'd probably pass, sounds like a whole lot of work. Now, if God sent George Carlin (after borrowing him from hell) to recruit me, I'd think about it.

 

As for the impressment though, I am inclined to agree that, more often than not, the Templars would be able to draw on volunteers, given the incredibly hierarchical nature of imperial society to begin with. They might regret their decision to sign on later after drudging through some backwater alien hellhole under constant fire to make sure they're always on hand to polish some killing machines freshly blooded sword (like the freaky little flashlight-faced robed guys in Helbrecht's artwork), but I imagine the Templars' severance package for early retirement is...unpleasant.

[Marshal Rohr]

Some quality work, M2C. I look forward to seeing the next installments.

 

On a side note, life would be absolute hell serving the Templars as a Astropath or Navigator. Whew, glad its not me. ;)

 

Thanks Darth!

 

Good stuff! Keep up the good work.

 

Thanks, its a labor of love.

 

Some comments:

Does the Templar really need impressment? I can see the Navy doing it. But it will be such a great honor for imperials to serve the Astartes, especially the Black Templars, I think there will be lines around the block for recruits. Imagine if you are a Christian and Arch-angel Micheal decends from heaven and ask you if you would like to join the Army of God and fight alongside with Angels to battle Satan.

 

I'd think they would. The details of the Crusade Fleets are not really gone into, so we don't know how expansive they are. Fantasy Flight Games has put out numbers for the smallest vessels that surpass the previous estimates for the largest, so by their reckoning a Battle Barge would hold millions. BFG is more conservative, yet no less massive, the majority of the crews must be made up by serfs, and they cant all be male. The population, especially onboard such massive fleets, would need to be self-sustaining, but to get that population some coercion might be required. Especially after a particularly nasty war.

 

Next Installment:

 

Black Templars Ranks

 

Aspirant: An aspirant is a young boy who has passed the trials and been selected for further training by the Chaplain charged with recruiting new brothers. After the initial trials of the Chapter the aspirant resides at the Chapter Keep on the world where he was recruited. Here he is subjected to rigorous tests of purity to see if he is worthy of the progenoids. The aspirant is studied for signs of pride or character flaws that would lay the foundation for temptation or corruption. Only if he proves stern in character and humble in nature will he be allowed to progress. Once these test are passed the aspirant joins a Crusade Fleets. It is here that the warrior will take his first steps on the road to knighthood as he learns to adapt to the changes the implantation process causes. His responses are faster, his muscles are stronger, he can run farther and faster than ever before. In the practice cages and dueling rings he is capable of feats he never thought possible. Pain becomes little more than a nuisance, and injuries that would have debilitated him are quickly healed. Though he has become more powerful than he ever thought possible, his tests have not truly begun.

 

Neophyte: Once he and his new brothers are dispatched to the Crusade Fleet the real trials will begin. As aspirants they are forced to duel before they are sworn to the service of a knight, and those aspirants who prove unimpressive will be rendered into servitors so they may serve the Chapter in other, more mundane ways. Once a knight has selected him, he becomes a Neophyte, and is worthy of wearing the traditional neophyte robes of the chapter and the displaying Cross of Sigismund on his armor. His life onboard the fleet is one of constant work. He is responsible for caring for his master’s arms and armor, as well as waiting on him for all major Chapter functions. In addition to his duties as a retainer he must regularly train to keep his body and mind focused on his true goal, becoming a black knight.

 

Unlike his compatriots in Codex adherent chapters, the Neophyte does not spend his days on a rifle range, studying great tactical victories, or performing martial arts whilst preparing for missions in the scout squads. Instead he fights at the side of his master, in the thickest combat. The combat doctrine of the Black Templars is oriented around defeating you enemies in personal combat, so he can watch the light leave his opponents eyes. He will go into hell that neophytes of other chapters would never be risked in so that he may learn or die. Every day in the Black Templars is a test to prove himself, and none are exempt, from the lowliest serf to the mightiest Sword Brethren. The Neophytes who do not fall in their first battle quickly learn what it takes to survive, but even that is no guarantee. Nothing is guaranteed in the Black Templars, everyday must be earned.

 

To become an Initiate the neophyte must first be deemed worthy by his master. There is an understanding that no master would wish to promote a neophyte who is unworthy of such an honor, and there is no neophyte who would want to be elevated and dishonor his mentor. Once a neophyte has been judged and found worthy he will be given the final implantation of the Black Carapace. After donning powered battle plate for the first time he has finally become an Initiate.

 

 

Initiate: The Initiates are the backbone of the Chapter, each and every one is an accomplished warrior, subjected to trials that would be considered too dangerous for the marines of lesser chapters. Once he has been given a suit of power armor the knight will join a Fighting Company. He has become a truly dangerous warrior, mastering all types of warfare. In battle he fights with his brothers based on familiarity. His Crusader Squad is formed with a specific goal in mind, be it securing a piece of key terrain or eliminating an enemy headquarters element, the knights are capable of any mission. The most accomplished close quarters fighters are formed into the assault squads, and given jump packs. The increased mobility allows for the to range ahead of the Fighting Company and act as an intercepting or vanguard element. If the mission requires it, the assault marines may crew Land Speeders or the Bikes given to the Fighting Company.

 

His armor is heavily ornamented. Acid-etched scriptures and Templar Crosses cover its surface. Gold and silver gilding reinforces the joints and plates. His pauldrons bear chains with the heraldic shields of successful crusades proudly so that his brothers may recognize his deeds. Many knights choose to wear tabards, some bearing the black cross so his enemies may see who has come to slay them. The Black Templars can boast many older marks of plate that date back to the very founding of the Imperium, when the Primarch still commanded the Sons of Sigismund, and those blessed with such plate wear it proudly. Strung from his belt or fixed to his shoulders are relics of the chapter. Gilded skulls chapter heroes or heraldic Templar crosses, adorned with crimson candles or ever-burning lanterns. On his wrists are magnetically locked manacles with adamantium chain binding him to his sword and bolter, so that he may never lay down his arms while he draws breath. All of these ornaments are not worn for personal attention but instead so those who see him know that a knight of the Emperor is among them, and only the unrighteous need to fear.

 

Sword Brethren: The goal of every Initiate is to be worthy of joining the Sword Brethren, the personal warriors of a Black Templars Marshal. The knight may fight for decades before he has proven himself, but once he has been deemed valiant enough he will swear the Oaths of Fealty, powerful vows binding him to the service of the Marshal, and be presented with the crimson and crème cloak that marks a knight as a Sword Brethren and his armor will be reconsecrated and inscribed with a multitude or purity markings, symbols, and scriptures. Sword Brethren are given access to the finest weapons and equipment. Indeed it is often that upon his induction into the Household the Marshal will present the Sword Brethren with a newly forged sword or a relic weapon born by one of the Crusade’s more valiant brothers.

 

The greatest warriors of the Household will be given instruction in the use of the mighty Tactical Dreadnaught Armor, where they will be trained to become the spearhead of the Crusade, always first into the fray alongside their liege. The Terminator armor of the Black Templars is reverently decorated, the names of the previous wearers forever etched into the armor itself. Each suit is a mobile shrine; covered in scriptures, kill markings, and inscriptions. To fight in Terminator armor requires new skills, the suits restricted agility will fundamentally alter the combat style of the wearer. High guards and two-handed combat will be replaced by focused swings and hard strikes. Once his retraining is complete the warrior has reached the epitome of knighthood, and only the paths of the Champion, Priest, or Commander will see him further elevated.

 

Once he has become a Sword Brethren, the knight is no longer responsible for the training of neophytes or performing the duties of an Initiate, instead his focus is placed on tactics, strategy, and protection of the Marshal. The Household will act as a war council, lending wise voices and offering many varied points of view on how to prosecute the Crusade. The knight has gathered tactical and strategic knowledge over his many long years of service to the chapter, and as a Sword Brethren he has a chance to be selected as a Castellan.

 

Castellan: If the knight has the rare ability to command other men in battle the Marshal may appoint him as Castellan of a Fighting Company. He is the equivalent of the Captains of Codex Chapter, commanding anywhere from a handful to over a hundred knights. The designation of Fighting Company is semi-permanent and depends on the mission at hand. Over the course of a Crusade the number of companies will change as more objectives are added and others are completed and the forces re-dispersed. The knight remains a Sword Brethren, with the title ‘Castellan’ designating him as the warrior in overall tactical command of the force. As a Sword Brethren the knight will not have a Household of his own, so any Sword Brethren attached to his force are present on the orders of the Marshal, and will return to his side once the mission is complete.

 

Marshal: Upon the death of the Crusade’s Marshal those who feel worthy to lead the Crusade will begin a series of ritualized competitions to decide the victor. The knights compete in a grand tournament of arms, pitting their martial skills against one another with a variety of weapons. The knight will face his greatest test facing his brothers in combat, as each Sword Brethren is a master of personal combat. The competitors also run tactical and strategic simulations against one another, proving their generalship. A Marshal must be warrior and a peerless general. Once he has bested all his opponents the High Marshal will be petitioned for approval, and once granted approval the Sword Brethren will swear new Oaths of Fealty and the Crusade begins anew.

[jma037]

Random Thought:

If the Neophyte is to be with the Initiate everywhere he goes, what happenes when the Initiate must fight in places where ONLY power armour can go? Ie. Hard vacuum, extreme temperatures..etc Does it mean that the Neophyte will stay behind? What happenes when a crusade must fight in these condition for an extended period. Does that mean no trainings for neophytes? And who does the Neophyte's duty for the Initiate when the initiate don't have a neophyte? Are Neophytes like hot property?

[Marshal Wilhelm]

What do you think about a step in between Neophyte and Initiate?

 

Pretty much a Blood claw, but not so silly as to not be able to shoot before assault :D

 

I guess I am basing it on the Bretonnian knight rankings;

 

Squire/ men-at arms /Yeoman = Neophytes

Knights errant = Blood claw

Knights of the realm = Initiate

Questing knight = Lone Wolf*

Grail knight = Sword Brethren*

 

The idea being that they have completed their apprenticeship, but are now free to taste battle. Having earnt their armour, they get a little carried away. But they are not in a position to mentor anyone. After a time, they mature and are able to join the Initiates and take on Neophytes. Then after that, they are free to be elevated up to SB status as per current fluff.

 

What do people think?

 

*These two are on par, but the Questing knight has forsaken his brotherly-ties in battle.

 

+++

 

I had just read a few chapters of Helreach at Borders and thought it was very good, perhaps on par with Horus Rising. :woot:

 

What you are writing has the same flavour as A D-Bizzay gives the BT, which although strong, also has plenty of flavour.

 

I like what you have written M2C :yes:

[Firepower]

Random Thought:

If the Neophyte is to be with the Initiate everywhere he goes, what happenes when the Initiate must fight in places where ONLY power armour can go? Ie. Hard vacuum, extreme temperatures..etc Does it mean that the Neophyte will stay behind? What happenes when a crusade must fight in these condition for an extended period. Does that mean no trainings for neophytes? And who does the Neophyte's duty for the Initiate when the initiate don't have a neophyte? Are Neophytes like hot property?

 

There's nothing saying that there arent armored suits or materials that a person could wear enabling survival in zero atmosphere/toxic conditions without a fully developed black carapace. Power armor isnt the only go-anywhere attire available to the Imperium, it's just one of the best. Even the IG has rebreathers and other toys for bad conditions.

[Marshal Rohr]

I'd expect the Neophyte to suit up. Scout armor as made by GW is a joke, and nothing like what they would wear. I think that Kasrkin armor is close, but still far from it. I'd expect something more akin to full suit of armor, that is not powered or super dense, but fully capable of operating in vacuum. Maybe like Clone Armor, but 40K style, or the suits Inquisitors wear. I dont think the Templars would make a special case for Neophytes. HOWEVER, no Neo's were sent to Helsreach, probobaly because Helbrecht knew it would end in all the Neo's dying, and that would be too wasteful, even if it would be a good object lesson.

 

I also dont see the Templars as forcing Neo's to go through 'epic adventures' like the Space Wolves or Codex Scouts as a test. I think everyday you must prove yourself, and eventually there will be nothing else to test you on, without power armor that is.

[jma037]

Would you do one for the Chaplains? I love these guys. Commissars of the Templars. Doing the job Chaplains were TASKED for by the Emperor. ie preventing psykers per the decree in the council of Nikea.

[BigDunc]

I really liked this M2C. Great work. There was only one part that didn't jive for me:

 

In battle he fights with his brothers based on familiarity. His Crusader Squad is formed with a specific goal in mind, be it securing a piece of key terrain or eliminating an enemy headquarters element, the knights are capable of any mission. The most accomplished close quarters fighters are formed into the assault squads, and given jump packs. The increased mobility allows for the to range ahead of the Fighting Company and act as an intercepting or vanguard element. If the mission requires it, the assault marines may crew Land Speeders or the Bikes given to the Fighting Company.

 

I feel like LS and bike crews and assault squads would also fight alongside lines of familiarity and brotherhood just as Crusader Squads would. I think every Templar is trained and proficient in every piece of wargear (besides the honorable stuff like TDA) and if a Crusader Squad's mission required jump packs... they'd use them. Astartes aren't so numerous that if a mission didn't require attack bikes that they'd stay on the Barge... they'd still fight, just without their favorite gear.

 

Just a thought.

[Marshal Rohr]

In Helsreach it describes the bikes being stowed in the Thunderhawk and anyone could jump on, even Grimaldus does to get across the Hive. The codex says assault squads are a position of honor, and while I think the mission would certainly come over shoulder pad color (my least favorite retcon), if the fighting company required the use of bikes, then it would be the assault initiates who crew them.

 

 

I do agree with you, I was just trying to stay within the codex.

 

 

 

Im thinking the next piece should be on how Crusade Fleets work, and can be represented in Battlefleet Gothic.

[jma037]

Im thinking the next piece should be on how Crusade Fleets work, and can be represented in Battlefleet Gothic.

 

Awesome! Maybe different sized cursades and their fleet composition?

[Marshal Odon]

A good (fluff-wise) Crusade composition I've seen is listed in the Black Templars section of the "How to Paint Space Marines" book, in which it lists the make-up of the "Dornian Crusade".