Blades Marred

[Tutteman]

Actual fluff is spread out around this topic. Look for the red headers and you won't go wrong.

 

Thanks for reading, please do comment on what I have so far. Help is always appreciated.

 

Checklist

History - Check

Gene Seed - Check

Paint Scheme - Check

Beliefs - Check

Homeworld - Check

Recruitment - Check

Combat Doctrine - Check

Organisation - Drafted

Small random bits of fiction to fit in side bars - Coming...maybe.

[Tutteman]

Okay I've settled on a working title of Blades Marred. Not brilliant but it'll do for now.

 

Blades Marred

 

[img; background-image:url(http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/hq2.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 8px 2px; padding: 12px 8px 12px 8px; border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-left: 0 auto; text-align: left; color: #fff; text-indent:50px; font-size:130%; width:50%;">http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@i8TzJ_hyvFn.hLL9J.hz3Py..@@_i6hFq@hrkfL@@iaj2Fiaj2F.._@@@@____@_@____._@@@@@hrkfLhrkfL__@__@@@_@i19Wh@@hrkfLiakk7&[/img]

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/hq2.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 8px 2px; padding: 12px 8px 12px 8px; border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-left: 0 auto; text-align: left; color: #fff; text-indent:50px; font-size:130%; width:50%;">Gene Seed

 

As with many of the Cursed Founding the origin of the gene seed of the Blades is unknown. It is pure and complete, however it has one affliction that appears to be confined to the Sus-An coding. The acceptance rate for all implants is drastically lower than other chapters. In about two thirds of candidates who reach phase 12 the implantation of the Sus-An Membrane triggers a comatose state. Whilst in this state the Sus-An Membrane begins tumor-like growth instead of merging correctly with the brain. The candidate's immune system then targets the tumor, however this invariably leads to the fatal destruction of brain tissue leading to death. The already implanted organs cannot be recovered, and as such the death of each candidate is the death of another precious gene seed.

 

In general this afflicts only aspirants, however some in mature astartes the condition can surface. Due to the Sus-An Membrane being fully integrated into the brain and mature, tumor-like growth does not occur. This means in the case of mature astartes the coma, while indefinite, is not fatal. These marines are taken back Farron's World, to the Caven of the Sleeping, where they remain. They are cared for by serfs and revered by the chapter as the Eternal Sleepers.

 

Due to the increased requirement for gene seed to maintain the Blade's strength gene seed is farmed from mind wiped subjects. The process is much the same as the one used by the Adeptus Mechanicum in the initial creation of a chapter, where the equipment was procured is a mystery to all but the most senior of the Blades. Untainted gene seed is a treasure to all chapters, the Blades even more so as they desperately need every single seed. The chapter would only leave a gene seed unharvested in the most dire of circumstances.

[Forgefather Vulkan]

Hmmmmm, well this could turn into something really interesting...

 

My only question is what's so bad about them nabbing a few lads from some worlds for their army, most imperials see marines as heroes and would gladly have their kids accepted into the adeptus astartes, especially since marines protect them...

 

I think you herd to expand on the 'dark secret' a bit more, give it more of an edge...

 

Hope this helps

 

Forgefather

[Tutteman]

Hmmmmm, well this could turn into something really interesting...

 

My only question is what's so bad about them nabbing a few lads from some worlds for their army, most imperials see marines as heroes and would gladly have their kids accepted into the adeptus astartes, especially since marines protect them...

 

I think you herd to expand on the 'dark secret' a bit more, give it more of an edge...

 

Hope this helps

 

Forgefather

 

Fair point, I realised half way through it's virtually standard in the Grim Dark Universe. I mean in a universe where people are happy to fire artillery into a refugee camp and wipe out planets "Just in case" taking a few criminals and using them for farming organs before "disposing" of them seems almost tame...Heck some people probably would argue for it to be part of the justice system.

 

Perhaps I should alter the procedure, instead of "just" being mind wiped and placed in tanks as hosts the subjects are dissected to remove hormone producing organs? Perhaps children are required instead of grown men (an offering of the first born male maybe?) Maybe I should really up the scale of this, as in tens of thousands are taken and farmed every year

 

It helps don't worry and thanks again ForgeFather Vulcan

[Forgefather Vulkan]

The justice system thing could work, I like the idea of a planetary government giving their scum to marines for them to be taken care of...

 

Let me get this right, do your dudes collect x amount of average people from their families to act as hosts for the gene-seed then they're taken out and implanted on the actual recruits or is this just the 'scum'... I like the idea of the scum being used as hosts to ready the gene-seed for implatation then been put in the bodies of the aspirants (this is where the first born comes into). You'll have to be carefull about numbers as marines won't recruit thousands as not all would cut the grade, perhaps there's some initiation test?? And the tests are deadly...

 

Oh and finally they would have to be kids as the gene-seed can't be implanted into lads on there late teens

 

Hope this helps

 

Forgefather

[Tutteman]

The justice system thing could work, I like the idea of a planetary government giving their scum to marines for them to be taken care of...

 

Let me get this right, do your dudes collect x amount of average people from their families to act as hosts for the gene-seed then they're taken out and implanted on the actual recruits or is this just the 'scum'... I like the idea of the scum being used as hosts to ready the gene-seed for implatation then been put in the bodies of the aspirants (this is where the first born comes into). You'll have to be carefull about numbers as marines won't recruit thousands as not all would cut the grade, perhaps there's some initiation test?? And the tests are deadly...

 

Oh and finally they would have to be kids as the gene-seed can't be implanted into lads on there late teens

 

Hope this helps

 

Forgefather

 

Do you mean the scum for gene farming have to be children? Cos this was one issue I wasn't sure about, I know actual aspirants have to be young boys for implant acceptance but do the hosts for farming have to be children also...I'll go with yes unless proven otherwise.

 

I'm liking the idea of using the population's scum as the hosts, I mean it's not as if any world wouldn't have tens of thousands they'd LOVE to get rid of, and realistically we only need a few hundred or maybe a thousand (assuming a failure rate for the farming also)...

 

Suddenly one homeworld looks more realistic. An alternative to the "scum" idea would be going back to the firstborn idea, all first born males are taken into the service of the chapter at X years old, perhaps it's a feral world. This could be as serfs or aspirants (if suitable) or hosts or servitors. This idea could go on to the name, involving firstborn somehow.

 

On the note of thousands recruited, perhaps going the route of the Exocists Chapter would be best and saying they have one or two extra scout companies. I may have gone slightly overboard on that one :D

 

So to summarise. I think the Blades will have a feral or feudal homeworld. Roughly 10 million tops for population. The firstborn male of each family is offered up to the Angels at the age of 10. They go on to serve the Chapter in some way, determined by trials and biological screening. The chapter has two extra scout companies bring their total number of companies to 12.

 

(Note, from here on Candidates/Aspirants means people actually becoming marines, hosts means a mind wiped farmed human in a tank)

[Forgefather Vulkan]

Well I don't think that the hosts for the gene-seeds would have to be children.. Just any old 'planetary scum' would do to ready the gene-seed for implantation.

 

Well I think you could incoporate the two, the scum are taken as hosts then 'disposed of' when the gene seed is ready, and the first born of every family (perhaps the planet could have nobles - lots of them if its a feral world...and the sons are taken from these...) every X years and inducted to the marines for trials, the parents know this so they could of pre-prepared the kid...

 

The exorcists idea could work if you go down the route of the first born in every family... Not just nobles, the rest could be used as servitors or hosts if they survived and failed tell initiation task...

 

Forgefather

[Tutteman]

Having checked the 40K wiki for info on the Progenoids. They are ideally implanted at about 16 to 18, so it would appear that...

 

1) I'm due one soon :lol:

 

2) The scum can be used as hosts.

 

I presume you are basically suggesting a caste system, whereby the noble's firstborn can become marines, where as the rest of the firstborn can only be servitors, serfs and hosts unless they are truely astonishing and shine in youth?

 

 

To start working on other ideas here, I'm thinking about the comatose candidates. My feeling is to alter the current to say that they all fail at Phase 12 (this being the implantation of the Su-an Membrane) and that the coma is induced by this organ. From here it's a slow death for most, the others remain in this state indefinitely. I'm not sure where I'm going with the eternal sleepers, I would have them all connected to some Dark Age machine but it smells of Shiny Toy Syndrome. Other option could be they have a focal role in the Belief system. Thought to be in communion with the Emperor and revered? Or expected to rise one day at the end times?

[Forgefather Vulkan]

Looks like I'm almost past the due day... Better get those implants

 

Yeah a castle/bretonnian feel too them with the odd commoner raising through the ranks to be come a marine, I think that gives them a cool feel especially linked with the with the host idea... Putting organs into scum till they're ready then ripping them out... So cool!!!

 

Err I don't really get the last paragraph, you may have to expand as um not too great with the organs if a marine... It's been a while since I've read up on it, so please expand!! ;)

 

Oh and any ideas on a scheme??

 

Forgefather

[Tutteman]

This will make all clear. Creation of a Space Marine

 

But in brief, the Sus-An Membrane is the organ that allows a marine to go into a coma-like state of suspended animation when suffering extreme trauma or to make surgery easier (it's used as such in a short story about Iron Hands in a WD.) The basic idea is that the tampering/modifications affected this organ in particular, with nasty results...

 

What I was thinking is that some of those who fall into a coma don't die. They just sleep on. This of course leaves the question of what to do with the eternal sleepers...

 

First option is to have these sleepers connected to a machine...that does...umm...well we'll work on that later.

 

Second option is that they remain in their comas deep in the fortress-monastry, they are a focal point of the belief system. They are thought to be in deep communion with the Emperor and are revered. The crazed mumbling of the comatose are recorded by scribes (another job for the serfs) and sifted for any meaning.

 

And by the way. Thanks ForgeFather Vulcan for all the input here. Really appreciated.

[Forgefather Vulkan]

ok makes sense... And are you going for the fudal idea of the nobles and some commoners becoming aspirants an the scum used as hosts...

 

As for the guys in re coma I think the second option is more viable as the first is a bit 'look at our shiny machine that you don't have from ages ago' so it really could work as a belief system I.e. What you suggested and a possible rumour that in the chapters greatest hour of need the eternal sleepers will awaken... So these guys will have to be full marines, just takin a long nap for that idea to work...

 

Any ideas on who's gene-seed they've got? Colour scheme?

 

And that's ok, happy to help a fellow battle-brother!!

 

Forgefather

[Tutteman]

Bold is me. Just makes it clear what I'm replying to. I will work on a scheme tomorrow.

 

ok makes sense... And are you going for the fudal idea of the nobles and some commoners becoming aspirants an the scum used as hosts...

 

Yes, I am. Bretonnian style nobility rising to be the knights/astartes while the commoners mostly perform menial tasks with the occasional one raising to knighthood through great deeds.

 

As for the guys in re coma I think the second option is more viable as the first is a bit 'look at our shiny machine that you don't have from ages ago' so it really could work as a belief system I.e. What you suggested and a possible rumour that in the chapters greatest hour of need the eternal sleepers will awaken... So these guys will have to be full marines, just takin a long nap for that idea to work...

 

How about aspirants all die, but occasionally a fully fledged marine will sucumb. In these cases their body being stronger/better trained survive in eternal sleep. These sleepers are taken back to the fortress and placed in a special chamber with all the others. Almost a tomb except these are comatose, revered and their every mumbling recorded. It is said that one day they will rise, when their master calls them in his dire need. Four thousand years of their existence has left hundreds of warriors in this state.

[Forgefather Vulkan]

Ok sounds good, instead of great deeds I think the nobles would suggest a particular family that would have potential as a 12yr old wouldn't have much time to do great deeds.

 

So these aspirants, some die during the surgery, done get full implants but go into slumber and are stored and the others become fully 'active', do the slumbering marines get equipped??? Or at least in their power armour, I like the idea that they utter things, perhaps warnings of when they're needed??

 

I think more detail needs to be put into why the sleepy gland thing has malfuctioned and why the aspirants die if this goes wrong, also what happens to the organs of the deceased aspirants? Are they put back into new hosts? Also if so many die how many planets are they recruiting from, perhaps 2 or 3 possible more, who all have this fudal system but are advanced enough to keep in touch with the other planets...

 

I think an update of the original post is in order :)

 

Forgefather

[Tutteman]

Ok sounds good, instead of great deeds I think the nobles would suggest a particular family that would have potential as a 12yr old wouldn't have much time to do great deeds.

 

I can see your point. Perhaps the firstborn males of Nobles are taken to the trials at 10, and Commoner Firstborn males are also gathered at 10 and given the choice. Stay here and serve the chapter as a serf, or take the long and dangerous route to the trials in the hope of passing and becoming a Marine. Needless to say, most do not make it.

 

So these aspirants, some die during the surgery, done get full implants but go into slumber and are stored and the others become fully 'active', do the slumbering marines get equipped??? Or at least in their power armour, I like the idea that they utter things, perhaps warnings of when they're needed??

 

I think more detail needs to be put into why the sleepy gland thing has malfuctioned and why the aspirants die if this goes wrong, also what happens to the organs of the deceased aspirants? Are they put back into new hosts? Also if so many die how many planets are they recruiting from, perhaps 2 or 3 possible more, who all have this fudal system but are advanced enough to keep in touch with the other planets...

 

At the end of the day the feudal planets don't need to be in contact, the chapter will be the ones going around picking people up.

 

 

I think an update of the original post is in order <_<

 

Forgefather

 

Mini Lecture Alert

 

ANYWAY, more detail on the flaw. The Cursed Founding (21st Founding) was deeply flawed, some suggest that this was an attempt to gene modify the gene seeds of the chapters to improve them. For example the Lamenters are BA stock but do not suffer from the Blood Rage. HOWEVER in almost all cases there were side effects. Keeping with the Lamenters, they have bad luck. MASSIVELY bad luck. They sided with the Astral Claws in their rebellion got trashed by the Minotaurs (another 21st chapter) and in the resulting penitent crusade they went straight into the arms of Hive Fleet Kraken. Another example would be the the Black Dragons, their seed causes major skeleton growth resulting in bone blades protruding from forehead and forearms.

 

At the end of the day no one really understands complex organs like the Gene Seed. This means attempted modifcation can lead to unexpected effects, like fatal gene seed flaws. That's the where did this flaw come from bit. Now the organ mostly affected is the one that can trigger voluntary comas (Sus-An Membrane). Now the issue is that in some this organ malfunctions and procudes an irreversable coma (the coma is supposed to be reversable.) The organ merges into the subjects brain so I will say that death results from massively tumor-like growth by the Membrane forcing an immune reaction from the Marine's body that destroys the brain resulting in death. Now I'm going to assume that the organs fuse with the body of the Aspirant and therefore cannot be removed/reused.

 

Now in more mature marines the Sus-An Membrane has finished the process of merging with the brain and so no massive growth. Also because of Hypnotherapy, Indoctrination and other training the Mature Marines are mostly safe from this state in the first place.

 

An update is required yes. :) I will do that tonight, hopefully with a draft beliefs section. Also I will post this then go work on a scheme, these guys are growing on me so a small display team may be made, I'm thinking quartered...

 

EDIT: Draft scheme in the coded window. Post 2. No entirely happy with it but I am on a limited Palette.

[Forgefather Vulkan]

I'll do a longer reply in a bit but I need to get showered... Like the scheme!! And what I meant with the fudal systems being in contact was to ensure that there systems were the same I.e. The system started on one planet then spread to the rest...

 

Anyway I'll put more in a bit...

 

Forgefather

[Forgefather Vulkan]

Ok that seems pretty viable to me and clears up the issue of why it happens, as you said when you have done your update later on I'll have a read through and see if you've missed anything out in the sections you do ;)

 

Had an idea... Thought it would be cool to have the names of the eternal sleepers on the chapter banner somewhere, though just an idea

 

Forgefather

[Tutteman]

History and Gene Seed have been updated.

 

Beliefs

 

The Blades Marred shared many of their Brother Chapters disdain for the Ecclesiarchy. They consider them to be weak fools, while they may truely have faith they are fools to believe they can divine the Emperor's will in their short life times. They believe that the Emperor, once mortal, has raised himself to Divinity and that he is the true master of mankind. The Blades think that the Emperor has purpose for his people, but for this they must be strong. The trials of this life are given by the Emperor, it is up to each person to face these trials and rise to their purpose.

 

Central to the beliefs of the Blades are the Eternal Sleepers. These marines accepted the implantations and survived the process, however at a later date they have fallen into a similar coma. Matured as they are the coma is not fatal, but it is indefinite. Taken in honour to Farron's World to the Cavern of Sleepers where they are placed with others in the same state. They are revered, thought to be in the deepest possible communion with the Emperor. Their every mumbling is recorded by scribes and sifted for meaning by the Chaplains and Librarians of the Chapter. These Holy words guide the Blades, show them the Emperor's will. The Sleepers are a living conduit to the Emperor himself.

 

One recurring theme of the fore-speakings is what the Chapter refer to as The Rising. They speak of a time, an End Time, when all the Galaxy shall burn in the fires of a war unlike any seen even in the depths of the Great Heresy. A time when friend and foe of Mankind gather for the Final Battle, when hordes of Deamons, Traitors, Heretics and Xenos march upon Mankind, when the God-Emperor shall ascend, Primarchs will return, Saints rise, God-Engines walk and Eternal Sleepers wake.

 

These will be the End Times of a Galaxy, and if the Imperium does not hold, of Mankind itself.

[Forgefather Vulkan]

This sounds good, except for the end paragraph... Ok belief for DiY chapters meddling with such big stuff is a no no so things to do with primarch's, end of the galaxy and the emperor rising is best left alone.

 

I would advise steering towards a cataclysmic event to do with the chapter itself, which is a big thing for them but wouldn't affect everyone else...

 

Anyway I don't think the emperor could ever rise again as he's basically a rotting corpse in a fancy chair, as loyalist as I am he may be mentally strong but his body ain't doing so well...

 

So who's gene-seed do they have? (can't be Imperial Fists as their Sus-an thing doesn't work)

 

Forgefather

[Tutteman]

This sounds good, except for the end paragraph... Ok belief for DiY chapters meddling with such big stuff is a no no so things to do with primarch's, end of the galaxy and the emperor rising is best left alone.

 

It's fairly standard apocalyptic end times stuff in 40k, and it isn't actually happening right now or anything. What I have basically done is taken Cannon Chapter's beliefs (like the SW's Wolftime), and bolted on the bit about the Eternal Sleepers. The Salamanders believe Vulkan will one day return and lead them on a great crusade against chaos once all seven artifacts are found, some believe Guilliman is slowly healing and of course the Space Wolves believe Leman Russ will return for the last battle, Wolftime.

 

Sure my chapter is merely a DIY, but this is a whole galaxy thing. Not just them. One thing I will alter is to make the bit about "primachs returning, eternals sleepers rising" into a longer list with more bits. Make it feel less like I'm singling out the Primarchs.

 

I would advise steering towards a cataclysmic event to do with the chapter itself, which is a big thing for them but wouldn't affect everyone else...

 

Anyway I don't think the emperor could ever rise again as he's basically a rotting corpse in a fancy chair, as loyalist as I am he may be mentally strong but his body ain't doing so well...

 

Probably true...but you forget, this is a belief. It doesn't matter in the end if it could really happen, they BELIEVE it will. If they think he is a God, then why not? Or perhaps this is a form of the Star Child belief? Star Child Theory

 

Always remember, the beliefs section is not a load of facts about the chapter, it's facts about the chapter's opinions.

 

So who's gene-seed do they have? (can't be Imperial Fists as their Sus-an thing doesn't work)

 

Forgefather

 

Well I'm thinking of leaving the gene seed heritage blank, it COULD be the Imperial Fists. After all maybe that was the aim of the tampering, to reactivate the bletchers gland and sus-an membrane (whoops, missed a bit on the Sus-An, ah well). But I think leaving it blank would just be better. Part of me feels very little records would be kept of such tampering.

[Forgefather Vulkan]

All I was saying was to be careful about mixing your chapter with big events within the 40k universe that's all.

 

I guess that could be done through tampering though I dunno what caused that to happen within the imperial fists gene seed, which leads me on to it next querie, where they trying to achieve anything through the tampering?? If so what is that?

 

Forgefather

[Tutteman]

They aren't really linked to any big events, they just believe that this will happen one day. But looking back over I will edit slightly to make it clear these are beliefs about the future rather than the present. I will be honest, I love writing Belief sections, simply because you can really go to town here and be fantastical. Anyways.

 

I have no idea what caused the defect in the IF gene seed either, probably just natural decay, but it doesn't really matter. The Blades will not know their gene heritage to any real degree, and we will not know what the Adeptus Mechanicum/Terra were trying to achieve with this specific gene tampering. Firstly some mystery is good, secondly it is't nearly as interesting as what they ACTUALLY achieved, and finally I'd rather use the word count for something else then explaining something that isn't all that interesting.

 

Tonight I intend to draft out the homeworld section. Once we've drafted out all the sections and we're happy with them I'll make a new topic with all the sections together. Thanks again Forgefather. Been a MASSIVE help. :D

[Forgefather Vulkan]

Ok, yeah that should clear it up to stop confusion... And yeah belief bit is always interesting.

 

 

Yeah probably was natural decay, an idea though.. Perhaps they are of Imperial Fists gene-seed and they tampered with the gene-seed to solve the problem they thought it worked but made it worse resulting in what you've said. Oh does the sus-an membrane still work on your guys?

 

Cool that should be good, on will they recruit on their home planet?? Or take hosts from there too? Or just the neighbouring planets.

 

And that's ok I'm enjoying helping out it's great. :)

 

Forgefather

[Captain Juan Juarez]

First point, before I've read anything, is that the name doesn't really flow in the way I would expect of a Chapter of the Astartes.

[Tutteman]

First point, before I've read anything, is that the name doesn't really flow in the way I would expect of a Chapter of the Astartes.

 

Don't worry I agree totally on that point. But I find it difficult to work on something without a name as I hate putting "the chapter" all the time, feels...wrong. I know the name will change, probably to include a point on the Firstborn aspect of the Recruitment but it will be one of the last things I do, as by the end I will have a better feel of the chapter. Don't want to put effort in naming a chapter and then find by the end that they have changed so much the name isn't relevant.

 

Be great to hear anything else you pick up Captain Juan Juarez. :)

 

Ok, yeah that should clear it up to stop confusion... And yeah belief bit is always interesting.

 

 

Yeah probably was natural decay, an idea though.. Perhaps they are of Imperial Fists gene-seed and they tampered with the gene-seed to solve the problem they thought it worked but made it worse resulting in what you've said. Oh does the sus-an membrane still work on your guys?

 

Cool that should be good, on will they recruit on their home planet?? Or take hosts from there too? Or just the neighbouring planets.

 

And that's ok I'm enjoying helping out it's great. ;)

 

Forgefather

 

The Sus-An Membrane still works...mostly. Out of interest, does anyone know if normal IF gene seeders still implant the Bletchers and Sus-An despite them not working? Or can they even be grown from their gene seed cultures?

 

I think they will mostly recruit on their homeworld. I'm sure if they spotted some extraordinary kid while out on campaign on a death world kill a Catchan Devil single handed OR if one of the Eternal Sleepers was thought to give a sign to hunt boy X they would take them. But mostly they will stick to their homeworld. I will say it's upper end of feudal.

[Forgefather Vulkan]

I think that they do still put in the bits that no longer work on them but don't quote me on that!

 

Ok makes sense recruiting from the homeworld, I like the idea that the Eternal sleepers utter the names if possible recruits, also perhaps the eternal sleepers also play a role in the fudal system?

 

I also thought the ES could have a different colour armour to the regular marines to make them stand out, kinds like the death wing or death company... Just a thought

 

Forgefather

 

Ps had any ideas what codex you'll use? I did think that instead of the ES waking up at the chapters one time of need they possibly could in occasional times of need in battle for the blades... Thought this would let you use them in an actual game (could be represented by legion of the damned/death company depending on the codex)