Phoenix Sons

[Spartans]

Firstly thanks for taking the time to look at this please feel free to make and C&C. I have left out details such as colour and battles as I think this is the backbone and want to get this right before I push on ;)

 

Origins

In 983.M41 the Bell of Lost Souls told 1000 times, a black candle lit in the Chapel of Fallen Heroes and a new chapter born.

 

The Fire Hawks had finally been declared lost following their disappearance on route to the Piraeus system following their successful campaign in the Crows World subsector. Although irregular and not officially a founding, the High Lords of Terra decreed the founding of a new chapter, charged with the duty of securing the Imperium’s defense once more and filling the void left by the Fire Hawks.

 

As each Chapter is obliged to send 5% of its genetic material to the Adeptus Mechanicus to be monitored and stored the Mechanicum decide to use the last of the samples sent to them by the Fire Hawks prior to their destruction, by way of honouring the lost brethren. This however proved to be unwise as overtime the geneseed had degenerated causing the Mucranoid to become hyperactive, no longer requiring chemical stimuli to function it would permanently secrete a waxy substance coating the marine’s skin protecting him from extreme temperatures. Though when a marine died his Mucranoid would stop flowing to the skin causing the existing coating to dry up and cease to provide protection, instead it would direct its last energy in encasing the Progenoids in the same substance in an attempt to protect its own genetic coding. However this substance has a thicker consistency than the one that coats the skin, due to the Mucranoid using its own cells in the final production. This then hardens to forming a shell around the gland not only providing it with a shield against fire and cold but also supplying nourishment to the gland enabling it to survive longer than it could normally. This egg as it were is then taken to the Apothcaries who crack it open with a small hammer freeing the gland to be stored for later use

 

Unfortunately as the Fire Hawks were all destroyed there were no marines to be given responsibility of training the initiates. As the Fire Hawks geneseed was from Roboute Guilliman a request was sent to Macragge asking Marneus Calgar to send a small cadre of experienced marines but with his chapter already stretched he looked to his Primarchs descendants. Calgar sent an emissary to Ithaka home of the Iron Snakes. Chapter Master Seydon accepted the honor bestowed upon his Chapter and sent Argus Squad together with Librarian Meleager, Chaplain Butes and Tech Marine Nestor to Terra.

 

Homeworld

During the long struggle of the Age of Apostasy many of the outlying planets in the Zhoros system including Cousteau XI was destroyed by thermal and virus bombs forcing the Fire Hawks to become a mobile fleet-based chapter. Unable to locate a suitable alternative home world in the Zhoros system to recruit from the Iron Snakes opted to remain faithful to their brethren and become a fleet based chapter maximising the chapter’s operational effectiveness and broadening the net for recruits in order to speed up the process in bringing the chapter to full strength.

 

The Ignis Cunae, the Phoenix Sons’ Fortress-Monastery has with it a fleet disposition of 4 Battle Barges Emperor’s Flame, Hammer of Justice, Risen Fury and Rex Incarnate, 10 Strike Cruisers and 6 Rapid Strike Vessels.

 

Organisation

While the nominal fighting strength of the chapter is kept at the Codex-approved 1,000 marines, the Phoenix Sons do not appear to use the codex Company structure. Instead they base their organisation 6 Companies with each company consisting of one squad type. With in each company the marines are organised in simple 10-marine squads. Once in their squads marines will only ever leave that squad through, promotion or death. This has maintained high emphasis on squad self-reliance, squad-sacrifice and loyalty, with the marines of a squad forming a bond and understanding. This bond also makes each member of the squad fight harder for their brethren not wanting to fail them and drives new members of the squad to push themselves beyond their limits to impress their peers, not wanting to fail them, eventually forming such bonds of their own.

 

Originally the Phoenix Sons were organised solely based around that of the simple 10-marine squad due to the influence of the Iron Snakes, however as the Chapter grew in numbers this led to squads becoming reclusive, making the chapter very disjointed. This divide cost the chapter dearly during an encounter with a traitor Legion when the squads involved did not communicate and coordinate their attacks, as such there were annihilated severely weakening the Chapter for many years. In an attempt to prevent this ever happening again companies were introduced with each company being formed of all squads from a single variant. This single change saved the Chapter and has allowed it to grow back to its full strength; however healthy competition and rivalry has now replaced the previous reclusive nature with each claiming their role more vital than the others and each company trying to outdo each other.

 

Unlike most chapters Veteran status is not granted to the Chapter’s most experienced marines. The exact way a marine becomes a Veteran is known only to the Veterans, but many have noted that it is often given to those few who have survived the fires of a desperate battlefield narrowly turning disaster into victory.

 

Combat Doctrine

Flamers, melta weapons and thunder hammers are widely used throughout the chapter. This preference has led to a strong affinity for close-range shooting and combat meaning the Phoenix Sons eschew Thunderhawk gunships in favour of drop pods allowing them to get into the midst of their foe swiftly.

 

Due to their promotion of self-reliance the Phoenix Sons are fully capable of maintaining and performing moderate repair work on their weapons and armour leaving the Chapter's Artificers with the more time to create great works of technology and metallurgy. As a result, the Chapter has an unusually high number of master-crafted weapons and Artificer Power Armour. The source of the knowledge gained by the Artificers continues to mystify others and has even led to a watchful eye from the Inquisition looking in their direction.

 

Beliefs

Marines of the Phoenix Sons burn their fallen brothers upon a pyre. When burnt, all that remains is the ash and Progneoids safe in their protective shell. The fallen marine’s squad stand as an honour guard by the pyre with an apothecary until the body is ash. This ash is then collected and scattered among the starts. Only those inside the chapter know the exact reasons and history behind this ritual but whispers of the belief that they will be reunited with long lost brethren have been heard some have even said that a marine will not truly ever leave a squad even in death and will return should they ever be needed.

[voi shet magir]

I like these ideas. I am confused by the format though. Have you ever read an official IA in White Dwarf or Chapter Approved? There is no reason to copy them exactly, but they would not include many of the details that you have, and many of your details are pointless.

 

As each Chapter is obliged to send 5% of its genetic material to the Adeptus Mechanicus to be monitored and stored the Mechanicum decide to use the last of the samples sent to them by the Fire Hawks prior to their destruction, by way of honouring the lost brethren. This however proved to be unwise as overtime the geneseed had degenerated causing the Mucranoid to become hyperactive, no longer requiring chemical stimuli to function it would permanently secrete a waxy substance coating the marine’s skin protecting him from extreme temperatures. Though when a marine died his Mucranoid would stop flowing to the skin causing the existing coating to dry up and cease to provide protection, instead it would direct its last energy in encasing the Progenoids in the same substance in an attempt to protect its own genetic coding. However this substance has a thicker consistency than the one that coats the skin, due to the Mucranoid using its own cells in the final production. This then hardens to forming a shell around the gland not only providing it with a shield against fire and cold but also supplying nourishment to the gland enabling it to survive longer than it could normally. This egg as it were is then taken to the Apothcaries who crack it open with a small hammer freeing the gland to be stored for later use.

 

 

Beliefs

Marines of the Phoenix Legion burn their fallen brothers upon a pyre. When burnt, all that remains is the ash and Progneoids safe in their protective shell. The fallen marine’s squad stand as an honour guard by the pyre with an apothecary until the body is ash which is then collected together and ejected into space. Only those inside the chapter know the exact reasons and history behind this ritual but whispers of the belief that they will be reunited with long lost brethren have been heard some have even said that they return when needed.

 

 

These above are the good parts. Your organizational details read better if you replace them with a paragraph or two saying simply as possible that when scouts are promoted, they enter a specialty and never leave the squad or other organization that they join. The interesting part is why they do that, and what it means to them. It is strange to include details like how many codiciers or thunderfires are in the chapter, when you are describing a chapter that has existed for centuries and will not be exactly the throughout that time.

 

There are a bunch of technical problems, but you will probably iron them out accidentally, just by thinking about the chapter and writing more about the parts you like.

[Spartans]

Thanks voi shet magir for your comments I have taken your them on board and changed my first post with a 2nd version of the draft.

 

I know it might seem a little thin at the moment but I want to get the foundations sorted before building up more history such as engagements they have been in.