IA: Guardian Eagles

[SpecialIssue]

Second crack at a DIY, basically done. The Guardian Eagles are a very authoritarian chapter, bombastically Monodominant (no psykers) in beliefs, with strong ties in that sect of the Inquisition. Equally known for their oppressive, remorseless and cold demeanor (such as the Iron Hands) as they are for their heroics, with no compunctions against intense planet-wide culls of populations, indiscriminant firepower, and shows of violence to achieve an objective.

Main doctrine is of shock and awe, with massive firepower brought to bear and the heaviest units deployed whenever possible. Known for their persecution and punitive measures that they inflict on those that fail to meet their high standards of purity. So here it is, please provide feedback!

“We are not angels.

Angels bring salvation, whereas the Eagle – well, the Eagle not only brings the wings of deliverance, but also the talons of vengeance. The angel drives vermin away, to hide and cower from its magnificent light – yet even in the darkness the Eagle spies such pests with keen suspicion, and swoops to crush them with iron beak and claw. So it shall be with us, not saviors; but guardians, arbiters, judges, Astartes – Eagles all.” - Belia Stanislav, Master of Prosecution

A

s part of the stoic lineage of Rogal Dorn and the Imperial Fists, in many ways the Guardian Eagles Chapter follow their primogenitors’ legendary footsteps, possessing a well-known stubborn demeanor in their defense of Mankind – yet this is not what they have become known for. For 7000 years, a great many days of honor and glory have been bought for the Imperium by the ‘Arbiters of the Eagle’ – but again, this is not what sets apart the Guardian Eagles. No, to the teeming many, the common Imperial citizenry, the Guardian Eagles are not just their protectors – not just their salvation and wards from alien horrors and galactic nightmares. The Guardian Eagles are also their subjugators, their arbitrators, wrathful judges without remorse, sympathy or peer who viciously persecute and purge all deemed unworthy in the name of the Emperor.

Origins

"Subservience or death. That is all we ask."

In late M.33, the 4^th Black Crusade of the Despoiler crashed into the bulwarks of the Imperium, spreading incredible carnage and bloodshed around the Eye of Terror. Imperial attention was turned to stem the dark tide braying to escape through the Cadian Gate, and hasty redeployments of forces across the galaxy to hold back the traitors were enacted. While the Imperium would manage to gloriously cast the damned Legions back into hell, there would still be far-reaching consequences across Man’s domain. Even as the tinder of worlds razed by Abaddon still smoked, across the galaxy overstretched defenses fought the fires of uprising and treachery, pirating and alien raiding. Spying weakness, circling opportunists gathered to fill the power vacuum of departed Imperial forces, preying on rearguard worlds stripped to bolster Cadia. Thus, as part of the glorious Astartes 14^th Founding, the Guardian Eagles Chapter was formed as a fleet-based brotherhood which would rove the stars quelling these troubled planets and sectors, and help bring back Imperial order to the massive territory of the galactic east.

Ever since then, the Guardian Eagles have stood vigilant, patrolling and policing the galactic east. Unlike many other chapters, whose beliefs and ideals have been influenced by a watershed moment in their history, the Guardian Eagles have experienced no such dramatics or shames to recall in their annals. Their first master, Supreme Justice Orllew set their mood as firmly conservative, and that is the way the chapter has developed.

Homeworld and Fleet

"Judgement requires neither innocence or guilt - only sentencing."

The Guardian Eagles are designated a fleet-based chapter, and therefore have no official world which they rule or govern, instead plying the stars for an eternity of campaigns and battles. However, this is not the entire truth – throughout the chapter’s history, one planet has been considered by the chapter as special, a place that conforms to their values and produces a large number of their recruits – Domineul. A sprawling prison-world and hub of Imperial martial activity in the Gamut Sector, fully a third of Domineul’s population and landmass is dedicated to hive-prisons and factories, choked under ash-laden skies. Here, brutal unchecked gang warfare rages perpetually on the dilapidated streets, legions of Arbites and PDF deployed daily into the inmate hives to restore order and force the population to the work shift. Once the day’s shift is done, these enforcers then leave, letting the cities tear themselves apart again, for Domineul is far from just a mere prison – it is a prime training ground for all forces of the Imperium. Here on the streets of the sprawling cell-hives, Imperial storm troopers, newly-minted Guard regiments, Arbite houses and the odd Astartes are blooded, tested and even recruited.

Those areas not given over to holding cells on Domineul are under the heel of one of the most brutal and oppressive police states in the Imperium. Menacing propaganda blasts continuously – vast tele-screens cast brooding messages of suspicion and watchfulness, daily ‘Hate-casts’ whipping the entire population into a frenzy of patriotic rage at imagined traitors, while rousing unbridled love for ‘All Father’. Billions of concealed vox/pict-thieves in alleys, factories, hallways, vehicles and houses are monitored around the clock by massive banks of servitor-cognitors, the smallest misdemeanor or thought-crime condemning the guilty to be thrown into the savage hive-prisons, or brutally tortured and brainwashed into a ‘model Imperial citizen’. Fully a quarter of Domineul’s ‘free’ population are informers to the martial central government – or the Inquisition, which has a significant presence on the planet. The towering skyline is dominated by the monolithic Schola Progenium and Inquisitorial basilica, both of which keep vast purpose-built training grounds to augment the urban battlefields on the prison-streets. Virtually every single person on the planet is involved in martial and policing activity in some way – from a Youth Vigil to arbite judge, PDF prison guard, guardsman under training or Inquisitorial servant. Suffice to say, with this constant martial atmosphere, tight security, pacified populace and unique training conditions, Domineul serves as an important marshalling point for Imperial forces, and is hailed as a haven and exemplar world by conservatives the galaxy over.

It is testament to the Guardian Eagles’ close relations with several Imperial organizations and Inquisitors that the chapter is allowed to come, go and interact extensively with this busy planet, even maintaining a small shipyard behind Domineul’s moon. Recruits from Domineul are usually drawn from the extensive local law enforcement and defense garrisons, these boys being exposed daily to the vicious armed combat across the world. The population of Domineul, as expected, is highly regimented, judgmental and grim, unquestionably loyal to the Imperium, and most defining of all, possesses a natural air of suspicion towards all around them, ingrained from a lifetime of oppression, monitoring and indoctrination. To a Domineulion, the Guardian Eagles are the embodiment of the Emperor’s laws and judgments, to be feared and admired in equal measure. The Guardian Eagles likewise respect the highly disciplined and subservient world, considering it the perfect representation of Imperial society and values.

Fleet

The fleet-based assets of the Guardian Eagles include a significant number of rapid strike escorts and light cruisers of the Hunter, Gladius and Nova classes, more than other comparable chapters. This is in line with the Guardian Eagle’s preference for small deployments, to quickly reach and prosecute a perceived taint on Imperial worlds monitored – cleansing a few cults and executing the lax governor does not require an entire battle barge or strike cruiser. Conversely, the chapter is short on some of the larger ships-of-the-line that Astartes boast – possessing only 6 Strike Cruisers and the single battle barge Death of Innocence that functions as their headquarters and fortress monastery. However, these larger ships are impressive, fearsome, even by Astartes standards – every single one crafted as a symbol of Imperial power, prows and flanks shaped in the likeness of monstrous, predatory eagles to inspire shock and awe. The Guardian Eagles utilize these ships in this manner whenever possible, coming into low orbit and plain sight of enemies or allies on the ground before blasting entire continents with propaganda of Imperial vengeance. It is not surprising or unknown for worlds to capitulate merely on this show of power alone, and further adds to the infamy of the Arbiters of the Eagle.

Beliefs and Dogma

"The sympathetic are exactly that - simply pathetic."

The Guardian Eagles at their core firmly believe in the treatise of Monodominance, first penned by an Inquisitor Goldo in early M.33. Monodominance dogma maintains that it is humanity’s sole right to rule the galaxy in the Emperor’s name, and the only way that His servants are to survive is if everything else is destroyed. It is this simple, brutal goal that drives the Guardian Eagles. There is to be no tolerance for any kind of wayward behavior; no excuses for committing heresy, contemplation of heresy, or indecisiveness in dealing with heresy, and only one punishment for heresy – death. In the eyes of an Eagle, heresy encompasses everything from ‘sanctioned’ psykers, mutants, aliens and religious deviation through to laxity, incompetence, insubordination and cowardice, and there are no reasons why such fatal measures should not be taken when humanity is beset on all sides.

In addition, the Guardian Eagles have taken up aspects of their patron planet’s staunch beliefs. Domineul has a strong culture revolving around the adherence to written law and justice. The Eagles likewise follow – the chapter has hundreds of texts recruits are required to memorize regarding the importance of servitude, procedures to be followed, deadly sins, and the treatment of guilt and failure. The mantra “War is Peace, Freedom is Servitude, Ignorance is Strength” also originates from Domineual, and is held as a universal guiding truth of the chapter – war makes keeping peace and allegiance easier, freedom is found in only servitude to the Emperor, and to be ignorant of the galaxy’s temptations is to muster the strength to resist them.

What outsiders often find the hardest to grasp is the chapter’s complex beliefs on thoughts, and their obsession with gaining total control over them. It is the Guardian Eagles’ belief that actions and thoughts are one and the same, equally as damning and as punishable. While the Imperium might seek to only physically repress its citizens in servitude, the Eagles have the conviction that this power must be extended in full to the mind. Only when the claw of the Aquila is embedded in every single human’s mind, directing them to fully, truthfully love the Emperor not only in deed but also in heart will the filthy warp be tamed and the Imperium made strong again. To this end, the chapter is intensively interested in psychological control techniques free from the taint of the warp; ranging from chemicals, nervous conditioning, hypnotics, augments and thought manipulation.

Imperial Thought

An important part of maintaining the chapter’s thought-purity is the so-called method of “Imperial Thought”, implanted in every initiate's mind. It is illustrated clearly by one of the chapter’s most hallowed texts, codified by Chaplain Ghestheim circa M.34 –

Catechism of Righteousness by the Aquila, Chapter CXI, Verse XXV, Lines LXIV, LXXXVI-LXXXVII

“...thenceforth, the ability to hold two opposing beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and truly venerate both … to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality while laying claim to it, to believe that peace in the Imperium is impossible and that we are the guardians of peace, all as long as that we instinctively return to the final truth – our goal is to perpetuate the Imperium forever, and to forever love our father, the most beneficent Emperor of Mankind.”

-

Through this conscious ability to unconsciously alter their thoughts and viewpoints on a second by second basis, the Eagles ensure they will never doubt or question the purity of their goal and methods, even as they commit in the eyes of others gross atrocities or are sent into the most suicidal situations. This self-imposed control of subjective reality is gaining increasing popularity among Imperial circles the Guardian Eagles are in contact with, and it is indeed the chapter’s goal to spread it so “Imperial Thought” becomes truly universal.

Even their own brothers are not exempt – every Marine aspirant is thoroughly broken down psychologically and emotionally by ruthless Prosecutor-Chaplains, eradicating any trace of former personality, to be then rebuilt as a heartless Guardian Eagle. This intense regimen involving physical, mental and spiritual interrogation continues right up till a Marines’ death. Every failure in duty, tactical error or defeat, however minor, inevitably leads to intensive personal sessions with a Prosecutor in the Interrogatium, the deeds and thoughts of the marine picked apart to unmask any potential weakness or heresy that lies at the source. In extreme cases, the chapter is also not afraid to mind-wipe its own members, lobotomise or otherwise alter their minds to ensure purity, carried out in the notorious Cell 101 upon the Death of Innocence.

The Guardian Eagles can be characterized as authoritarian, cold and uncompromising, holding little respect for individual or innocent lives, for both concepts are heresy – every human belongs to the Emperor, and innocence is a lie. Open suspicion in everyone but the Emperor is actively encouraged, and the chapter maintains that no man is above their scrutiny or judgment, as literally thousands of Imperial officials of all stripes have found out.

The chapter views it their prerogative to keep an eye out for deviance in all Imperial institutions they come into contact with; and when such semblance of weakness or heresy is perceived or found, the chapter is famous for the brutal punishments it metes out, ruthlessly intimidating survivors into a new period of public fear, submission and stability with the threat: “We will return.” It is the Guardian Eagles’ strong belief that peace comes through power and persecution alone, humanity naturally needing a strict hierarchy to ensure stability, especially in the Dark Millennium. To be true guardians of the Imperium, and by extension Mankind, means protecting and perpetuating the brutal and callous nature it was founded and survives on.

This method of maintaining Imperial dominance through intimidation continues with the inestimable value that the Eagles’ place on symbols of Mankind’s power and control. Whatever the strategic importance of an iconic location, whether a church, palace or statue, the Guardian Eagles will defend it at all costs to prevent its desecration, even at the vast expense of themselves or those they are protecting. This is not due to any undue veneration or superstition, but a practical observation and method of subjugation. The Eagles seek to maintain the image of the supreme power and infallibility of the Emperor’s domain – what better way of demonstrating this than showing His structures as infallible?

Imperial Relations

"If you do not die for the Emperor, you are not a man. If you do not serve him, you are not human."

The Monodominant sect is a widespread one, found in all levels of Imperial society – including the notorious Inquisition, where it is one of the most influential and established powerbases. The hard line, ultra-orthodox attitudes of Guardian Eagle and puritan Inquisitor mesh well, and it is not surprising that the chapter has close ties with several notable Monodominant Inquisitors throughout the local sectors and beyond. The Guardian Eagles accept assignments from such inquisitors more frequently than other chapters, and this has led to accusations within Imperial and Astartes power circles that the chapter is virtually a private army for the monodominants. The Guardian Eagles accept such groundless suspicion for what it is, as it encourages this much-needed attitude among the more indolent Imperial organizations. Besides, it is not as though those they cooperate with are above suspicion – the chapter’s history is littered with such fools whose power granted them no such amnesty from the Talons of judgment.

Few other chapters or organizations live up to the Eagles’ strict standards on purity, penitence and ruthlessness – other more nobly-minded Astartes are known to take open displeasure at the Eagles’ practices and beliefs, and blows have been traded on several occasions throughout the chapter’s history on this fact. The few chapters that the Eagles do keep a healthy relationship with are their likeminded brethren, the likes of the zealous Black Templars and fanatically pure Red Scorpions. The Castigators Chapter also have a special relationship with the Guardian Eagles – with both sharing strikingly similar beliefs, and being sired in the same Astartes Founding, the two chapters are akin to close brothers.

Given the importance the chapter assigns to symbols of Imperial power, the Guardian Eagles have been involved in the salvation of many Ecclesiarch buildings through the long centuries, which has gained the Eagles somewhat of a reputation amongst the priesthood. Yet despite all their advances, the Guardian Eagles maintains a cordial detachment from the organization. Not for them the false bliss of religion, a tool to control the needy, clamoring masses; but the cold determination of humanity’s destiny.

Combat Doctrine

"Imagine the face of mankind, and imagine the boot of the Emperor stamping down on it, crushing it, over and over, for all eternity. That is the future we are creating."

As expected by the Guardian Eagles’ beliefs, their combat doctrine is equally as uncompromising. The chapter favors violent intimidation, heavy firepower, and indiscriminate destruction of the enemy and everything he may have touched. When deployed to battle, the Guardians do not sneak in the shadows, or strike with merely adequate, surgical force. Instead, they seek to meet the enemy decisively, openly, striking with overwhelming, heavy handed strength that outmatches their foes in raw power and glory. Heavy armor, heavy firepower are thus what the Guardian Eagles prefer, the shock and awe of an unstoppable, massed strike of hulking tanks, Terminators and dreadnoughts showcasing the Emperor’s wrath through total destruction. The Guardian Eagles are also not shy about collateral damage inflicted on civilian or friendly forces – saturation orbital bombardments, indiscriminant ordnance employment and even ‘massed battlefield disciplinary actions’ for cowardice are all relatively common on a deployment. This unbridled display of pure power is calculated as much to inspire loyalty and fear in allies who may witness it as to the raw destruction it unleashes on enemies.

The Guardian Eagles maintain the genetic legacy of Dorn and his Imperial Fists in their stubborn, unyielding nature; augmented by the cold hatred they have for everything but their inflexible ideal of Man. In attack, defense and persecution, they appear as unsympathetic and cold, calmly executing enemies and orders alike, no matter how brutal they may be. It is an unwritten value that the Guardian Eagles prefer clean destruction at range to close combat, believing that getting too close to foes increases the chances of heretical ‘infection’ by them. That does not mean however, that an Eagle will shirk from the deed if duty demands it – just an increased level of purity checks after action.

Selected Battle Honors

The Goldhein Heresy, circa 101.M35

The only major insurrection against Imperial rule on Domineul occurred in the infancy of the Guardian Eagles. A member of the planet’s governing conclave, Immaniu Goldhein comes into possession of a mysterious book, and soon its insidious theories take eight others of the conclave with him down the path of Chaos. Only one remains to oppose the heresy – the mysterious figurehead of Domineul, only known as ‘Great Brother’ and seen daily in the world’s propaganda material, leading the planet in fiery devotion to the Emperor. For some reason the heretics are unable to shut off the ancient systems that keep these messages running, and Domineul erupts in civil war. The Guardian Eagles are first on the scene, and with Imperial aid purge the heretics over 2 years and prevent Chaos from claiming the world. Goldhein himself, however, remained unaccounted for. To this day he is vilified by the mysterious ‘Great Brother’ and accused of plotting anew from within dark places, while that horrific book that corrupted the sanctity of one of the Imperium’s greatest worlds is whispered in dark corners and hunted with fervor by the heretic, Inquisition, and Eagles alike.

The First Cleansing of Yaldritch, 348.M35

After a space-hulk raid, Captain Waseya and 20 brothers make landfall on the prosperous civilized world of Yaldritch. The benevolent Governor in his own words guarantees that everything is in order – indeed, there has been no sign of rebellion, uprising or heresy for the past 200 years! Still, the Eagles are rightly suspicious and begin a thorough investigation of the planet, utilizing their serfs to scout for any evidence counter to this claim. Just as suspected, a foul cult is soon discovered in the heart of the capital, meeting weekly to denounce and blaspheme the Emperor’s Realm. Waseya and his men stop the evil before it can fully manifest, strafing the urban area with their Thunderhawk before debussing among the ruins to personally execute the 20 unarmed members of the cult in full Terminator armor with the aid of a Land Raider. The next stop is the Governor himself, which while at first furious, is soon begging for his life as he is accused and executed for incompetence, laxity and treachery. His lies about the sanctity and purity of Yaldritch are not to be tolerated by those standing for justice.

- last words of Governor Marto

But I didn't say there wouldn't be any dissent! They were only political activists!

The Second Cleansing of Yaldritch, 401.M35

The brutal Domineulian-esque government installed after the first ‘cleansing’ of the planet ignites an uprising against the Imperial government. War rages for two years, before the Guardian Eagles arrive at the planet in force, blasting it with propaganda from their ships in low orbit. The once-peaceful population, fear of the Space Marines etched into their culture, swiftly surrenders. One in ten on the planet are subsequently killed or imprisoned by the Eagles – this would not stop the planet’s continued dissent, which continues to this day.

Honor Won, Honor Saved, 756.M35

The full fleet of the Guardian Eagles’ 1^st, 2^nd and 4^rd Companies fights an apocalyptic battle in the void with a significant element of the Word Bearers around the Maelstrom. Despite suffering punishing losses, including destruction of the strike cruiser Golden Death and worse, the capture of the battle barge Infinite Vengeance, the Eagles reap their own tally of vessels from the Chaos fleet, and it is the Word Bearers who withdraw first. During the battle the chapter’s second battle barge, Eagle Incarnate smashes into a Chaos flagship and a vicious boarding action rages. With his retinue slain, Supreme Justice Zaikur alone holds a breach leading directly to the bridge for 27 hours, saving his ship from the horrific fate of damnation, and piling the bodies of his foes in the hall. Having vanquished squads of chaos space marines, legions of cultists and a damned Word Bearers sorcerer, when relief arrives, Zaikur confesses his conviction that he is tainted by his close contact with Chaos and must be put down. Prosecutor Xavis promptly draws his bolt pistol and gives his hallowed leader the Emperor’s Peace before it is too late.

Captain Rexul, Hondor Liberation

To secede from the realm of the Emperor means to secede from the realm of the living.

The Hondor Secession, 379.M36-439.M36

The Guardian Eagles play an integral part in the 60-year long conflict in the Hondor system, during which most of the capital planet, Hondor IX, is razed and its population reduced by 70%. ‘The Verdict’ make a dramatic company-strength aerial insertion into the heart of the capital city, securing the ancient and hotly-contested Governor’s fortress – and maintain this position for 5 years, till war’s end. Despite the pleading from Imperial commanders for assistance on other fronts, the Eagles hold their position, committing only paltry forces to offensive raids. In the dense urban streets the rebels throw millions of lives to no avail, the Eagles never giving way. When the last rebel army is crushed and a daring aerial raid by Captian Rexul’s lone squad claims the rebel commanders’ heads, the only intact building on the planet is the colossal Governor’s palace. The Eagles then bombard the surroundings flat, so that the building is the only thing visibly standing for hundreds of kilometers, leaving a centre for governance and reconstruction, as well as a potent symbol of Imperial supremacy to cow those few who remain.

The Fate of Hive Telireem, circa 540.M37

War rages on the hive-world of Jusuere Secundus, caught in the path of an Ork Waaagh! A six-month siege and battle for the Hive city Telireem is lifted by the Guardian Eagles 4^th Company just as the Orks start to swarm over the walls and up the hive. Executing the ruling Magister for incompetence and sloth, assault squad ‘Invocation’ then detonates a fission device under the topmost spires of the hive, where the ruling elite and aristocracy still reclined in luxury. A two cubic mile mass of jagged steel is sent tumbling and sliding down the north slopes of the beleaguered hive, obliterating everything in its path and utterly destroying the Ork army. 120 million die, and the hive is saved.

The Eagle Assassinations, 900.M37-905.M37

Over a 5 year period, a number of worlds in the Uriel and neighboring Gamut sectors experience a series of mysterious disruptions in communications and reported unrest and rebellion. Imperial armed investigation teams sent to each of these worlds discovers each world still in Imperial hands, but with a restructuring of the government, bloody replacement of the Governor and a brutally oppressed population all in a very similar vein to each other and one other planet – Domineul. The Guardian Eagles soon send a communiqué to the sector’s command that details their involvement in the disruptions. Apparently working in concert with a powerful Inquisitorial conclave, the chapter had been part of the bloody pogroms that had cleansed each planet of weakness, and replaced it with something stronger.

The Betrayal of Inquisitor Frelisch, 736.M38

The influential conservative Inquisitor Frelisch gave the Guardian Eagles several assignments which involved cleansing Chaos-influenced Inquisitors he had identified, and which the Eagles go about with relish. When it is found that he was merely getting rid of worthy rivals for a petty power grab, the Eagles are rightly furious and storm his massive personal palace (which he boasts is impenetrable) in 3 hours. Burning the traitor’s kingdom to the ground, they then make something useful out of him – a servitor, which accompanies any of their appearances to the Inquisition to this day. The Eagles accept a decade-long penitent crusade as a punishment, which they voluntarily extend by six years to finalize the genocide of the ape-like Tyuuntis species.

The Tersius Annihilation, 993.M41

A splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Kraken meets its end in a decisive fleet action around the planet Tersius IV. In a plan suggested by Supreme Justice Kommodus, the chapter and Imperial Navy hold the xenos in the planet’s lower atmosphere while the Mars and Apocalypse class battlecruisers St. Sybalt, Guided Hand and Governor Hummus use their nova cannons, cyclonic torpedoes and planet killer batteries to blast the moon L-12-C1X towards the planet and into the Tyranid fleet, tearing it to pieces amid a storm of meteors and dragging the beasts-ships down to the death of both planetoids.

Current Strength

Chapter Command:

Hadrian Kommodus, Supreme Justice and Lord of the Guardian Eagles

25 Honor Guard, “The Tribunal”

Interrogatium:

Belia Stanislav, Master of Prosecution

11 Prosecutor-Chaplains

Armory:

Tybalt Proctor, Master of the Arsenal

Mortuary:

Nemius Thorel, Justice of the Peace

13 Apothecaries

Fleet Command:

6 Strike Cruisers (High Justice, Iron Talon, Guilty Verdict, Void Eagle, Discipline, True Wrath)

Battle Barge Death of Innocence

21 Rapid Strike Vessels

32 Thunderhawk Gunships

1^st Company, “The Judges”

Captain Ilisha Oberon, Justice of Execution

2^nd Company, “The Jury”

Captain Judar Helghard, Justice of Punishment

3^rd Company, “The Accusers”

Captain Ophel Syscilla, Justice of Persecution

4^th Company, “The Verdict”

Captain Urseus Agrippa, Justice of Repression

5^th Company, “The Sentence"

Captain Zoryn Kazimier, Justice of Discipline

6^th Company,

Captain Hienreil Nassani

7th Company

Captain Joscheau Siniscarr

8th Company

Captain Kaidus Gripen

9^th Company

Captain Goddard Torfus

10^th Company

Captain Daias Zaqeed, Justice of Rights

Battle Cry

"There is no honor in freedom."

The Guardian Eagles are notable for their cold demeanor in battle, calmly reciting spiteful verses of damnation and judgment straight into a foe’s face whether they execute them from long range or hack them apart in vicious close combat. However, when the frenzy of battle or the vileness of the enemy grows too much to bear even for a Judge of Mankind, the Eagles utilize two notable cries of the moment: the well known “Cleanse, purge, kill!!”, and the simple, brutal damnation of “Guilty! Guilty! GUILTY!”

[Firepower]

Hmm...I can honestly say I have nothing to critique: everything seems reasonable and thoroughly thought out. The only slight bit of worry I have is the tendency to draw recruits from the incarcerated gangs of the hives, even if they are the more "honorable" lot. It's this sort of recruiting that gradually turned the Night Lords into a legion of sociopaths. Then again, these fellows seem like the sort to beat, pummel, quash and subjugate any semblance of individuality in their recruits, so that might straiten things out.

 

Overall, I like this idea ^_^ . It's nasty, harsh, and unquestioning...as a Templar and fellow son of Dorn, I commend you :lol:

[SpecialIssue]

Ok... if no one has anything more to add, then I can happily conclude that I'm on the right track! (?)

So, here are the two colour schemes I'm thinking of for the eagles...

or

I like the top one as the colours contrast very nicely and gives an 'eagley-skully-death' sort of vibe, whereas the red and black just smacks of =I= and oppression, a major theme in the chapter. Which one do you guys prefer?

[SpecialIssue]

Hey there. I've just written up two more sections for the GE, below, and made some slight changes to the above section. Critique please - is it too long and wordy?

Beliefs and Imperial Relations

 

The Guardian Eagles believe at their core firmly in the treatise of Monodominance, first penned by an Inquisitor Goldo in early M.33. Monodominance dogma maintains that it is humanity’s sole right to rule the galaxy in the Emperor’s name, and the only way that His servants are to survive is if everything else is destroyed. It is this simple, brutal goal that drives the Guardian Eagles. There is to be no tolerance for any kind of wayward behavior; no excuses for committing heresy, contemplation of heresy, or indecisiveness in dealing with heresy, and only one punishment for heresy – death. In the eyes of an Eagle, heresy encompasses everything from ‘sanctioned’ psykers, mutants, aliens and religious deviation through to laxity, incompetence, insubordination and cowardice, and there are no reasons why such fatal measures should not be taken when humanity is beset on all sides.

 

The Monodominant sect is a widespread one, found throughout all levels of Imperial society and power – including the notorious Inquisition, where it is one of the most influential and established powerbases. The hard line, ultra-orthodox attitudes of Guardian Eagle and puritan Inquisitor mesh well, and it is not surprising that the chapter has close ties and even agreements with several notable Monodominant Inquisitors throughout the local sectors and beyond. The Guardian Eagles are called upon and accept assignments from monodominant inquisitors much more frequently than other chapters, and this has led to accusations within Imperial and Astartes power circles that the chapter is virtually a private army for the monodominants. The Guardian Eagles welcome such suspicion, as it keeps their own actions pure, and also encourages this much-needed attitude among the more indolent Imperial organizations. Besides, it is not as though those they may work for are above an Eagles’ keen suspicion – the chapter’s history is littered with such fools whose power granted them no such amnesty from the Talons of judgment.

 

The Guardian Eagles can be characterized as authoritarian, cold and uncompromising, holding little respect for individual or innocent lives, for such concepts are heresy – every human belongs to the Emperor, and innocence is a lie. Open suspicion in everyone but the Emperor is actively encouraged, and the chapter maintains that no man is above their scrutiny or judgment, as literally thousands of Imperial officials of all stripes throughout the ages have found out. The chapter views it their prerogative to actively police Imperial planets they visit; rooting out any semblance of weakness or deviance they may perceive or find, punishing both heresy and laxity with death, and ruthlessly intimidating the planet into a new period of public fear, submission and stability with the threat: “We will return.”

 

This method of maintaining Imperial dominance through intimidation continues with the inestimable value that the Eagles’ place on symbols of Mankind’s power and control. Whatever the strategic importance of an iconic location, whether a church, palace, statue, basilica or fortress, the Guardian Eagles will defend it at all costs to prevent its desecration, even at the vast expense of themselves or those they are protecting. This is not due to any undue veneration or superstition, but a practical observation and method of subjugation. The Eagles seek to maintain the image of the supreme power and infallibility of the Emperor’s domain – what better way of demonstrating this than showing His structures as infallible? Subsequently, the many Ecclesiarch buildings the chapter has saved through the long centuries has gained the Eagles somewhat of a reputation amongst the priesthood – yet despite all their advances, the Guardian Eagles maintains merely a cordial detachment from the organization. Not for them the false bliss of religion, a tool to control the needy, clamoring masses; but the cold determination of humanity’s destiny.

 

Combat Doctrine

 

As expected by the Guardian Eagles’ beliefs, their combat doctrine is equally as uncompromising. The chapter favors violent intimidation, heavy firepower, and indiscriminate destruction of the enemy and everything he may have touched. When deployed to battle, the Guardians do not sneak in the shadows, or strike with merely adequate, surgical force. Instead, they seek to meet the enemy decisively, openly, striking with overwhelming, heavy handed strength that outmatches the enemy in raw power and glory. Heavy armor, heavy firepower are thus what the Guardian Eagles prefer, the shock and awe of an unstoppable, massed strike of hulking tanks, Terminators and dreadnoughts showcasing the Emperor’s wrath through total destruction. To eradicate an enemy on the battlefield, the Guardian Eagles are also not shy about collateral damage their actions may inflict on civilian or friendly forces – saturation orbital bombardments, indiscriminant ordnance employment and even ‘massed battlefield disciplinary actions’ for cowardice are all relatively common on a deployment. This unbridled display of pure power is calculated as much to inspire loyalty and fear in allies who may witness it as to the raw destruction it unleashes on enemies.

 

The Guardian Eagles maintain the genetic legacy of Dorn and his Imperial Fists in their stubborn, unyielding nature; augmented by the cold hatred they have for everything but their inflexible ideal of Man. In attack, defense and persecution, they appear as unsympathetic and cold, calmly executing enemies and orders alike, no matter how brutal they may be. It is an unwritten value that the Guardian Eagles prefer clean destruction at range to close combat, believing that getting too close to foes increases the chances of heretical ‘infection’ by them. That does not mean however, that an Eagle will shirk from the deed if duty demands it – just an increased level of purity checks after action.

[Firepower]

The first color scheme seems better to me than the second. Black and red always looks good, but since everyone knows this that's become a pretty redundant theme. The black, white, and yellow reminds me of the Mortifactors a bit, which is a good thing. It's a nice scheme and the black and white comes off as appropriate for this sort of chapter (whom only see things in terms of black and white :tu: ). The only issue is in the painting: everyone knows white can look awesome, but actually getting a nice white with GW paints is an act which most often involves selling one's soul to Slaanesh.

 

As for the additional fluff, I have two small issues which might be worth thinking over. For one, the name "Guardian" doesn't really feel so appropriate given the Chapter's behavior. Just as you described how "Angel" doesn't fit their temperament, the term "Guardian" seems a bit ironic given how puritan and persecuting the Eagles are. Just a thought.

 

The other concern is for the Eagles' view of the Inquisition. Namely, their openness and willingness to be judged and evaluated by them. While I can see these wonderfully authoritarian fellows encouraging and even assisting the Inquisition, the idea that Space Marines, no matter how pious, would in turn take solace in being evaluated themselves seems a bit off. These guys smack of superiority and arrogance to me, and so I would imagine they'd see the Inquisition's attempts to evaluate their behavior in the same light as a child holding the power to reprimand his father. In short, I think they'd see themselves, and only themselves, as worthy of judging their actions and piety.

[SpecialIssue]

The first color scheme seems better to me than the second. Black and red always looks good, but since everyone knows this that's become a pretty redundant theme. The black, white, and yellow reminds me of the Mortifactors a bit, which is a good thing. It's a nice scheme and the black and white comes off as appropriate for this sort of chapter (whom only see things in terms of black and white ;) ). The only issue is in the painting: everyone knows white can look awesome, but actually getting a nice white with GW paints is an act which most often involves selling one's soul to Slaanesh.

Taken in. To be honest I was already leaning towards the black/white/yellow for the reason you stated - looks a bit too much like Flesh Tearers the more I look at it... Got any ideas for any other additional colours/schemes I could do...?

 

As for the additional fluff, I have two small issues which might be worth thinking over. For one, the name "Guardian" doesn't really feel so appropriate given the Chapter's behavior. Just as you described how "Angel" doesn't fit their temperament, the term "Guardian" seems a bit ironic given how puritan and persecuting the Eagles are. Just a thought.

Yeah, I considered this point several times while deciding on the name (Purgation Eagles, Arbiters of the Eagle is now a nickname, Sentinal Skulls/Skull Sentinals, etc). A more grim sounding name sounds more fitting, but I decided I liked the faux ring to 'guardian angels' that GE brings, which gives an allusion to that ideal yet illustrating just how different an angel is to an eagle in their eyes - plus the fact that they believe that to be guardians, all measures must be used.

 

The other concern is for the Eagles' view of the Inquisition. Namely, their openness and willingness to be judged and evaluated by them. While I can see these wonderfully authoritarian fellows encouraging and even assisting the Inquisition, the idea that Space Marines, no matter how pious, would in turn take solace in being evaluated themselves seems a bit off. These guys smack of superiority and arrogance to me, and so I would imagine they'd see the Inquisition's attempts to evaluate their behavior in the same light as a child holding the power to reprimand his father. In short, I think they'd see themselves, and only themselves, as worthy of judging their actions and piety.

Well, yes, the Eagles believe that the only ones who may judge them are themselves - but they welcome the suspicion as healthy Imperial behaviour, to be encouraged against not just them, but everyone else, and they know/think that the suspicion has no grounding. No other organisation has really made a direct move against them, it is just healthy, 'background' accusations, that in their mind everyone should be levering at everyone else at all times in their perfect Imperium. The mud is randomly slung, but if it sticks... is the attitude there, and the Eagles firmly believe that in addition to the fact that noone would dare seriously judge them, they also have nothing to hide. Its kind of hard to put into words...

 

Besides, all the judgemental, fratricidal types are on the puritan side, their own side. What accusations could a heretical Radical possibly say that wouldn't be true of themselves? :tu:

 

BTW, thanks for replying!

[Leonaides]

Though the first colour shceme does look rather like the White Panthers (IIRC).

[SpecialIssue]

Phew - finally finished it in full -please, please look and comment! Too long? Too wordy? Emperor forbid - not fluffy?

[NightrawenII]

Also 'polices' planets whever possible - making regular checks throughout planets within their patrol sector to inspect and judge on purity, and cull any 'undesireable' elements.

~

The Guardian Eagles are also their subjugators, their arbitrators, wrathful judges without remorse, sympathy or peer who viciously persecute and purge all deemed unworthy in the name of the Emperor.

- A problem. That's the job of Adeptus Arbites. Poking your nose in the other Adepta's business is outside of your mandate and therefore dangerous and risky thing.

 

Imperial attention was turned to stem the dark tide braying to escape through the Cadian Gate, and hasty redeployments of forces across the galaxy to hold back the traitors were enacted.

- Braying?!?! Seriously? :P

 

Homeworld and Fleet

... legions of Arbites and PDF deployed daily into the inmate hives to restore order and force the population to the work shift. Once the day’s shift is done, these enforcers then leave, letting the cities tear themselves apart again, ...

- Work in Hives is never-ending and continuous, there is no daily shift or anything.

 

... are monitored around the clock by massive banks of servitor-cognitors,...

- cogitators.

 

Recruits from Domineul are usually drawn from the extensive local law enforcement and defense garrisons, these men being exposed daily to the vicious armed combat across the world.

- You need a pre-puberty boys for gene-seed to work. Adult recruits are useless for the Chapter.

 

This is in line with the Guardian Eagle’s preference for small deployments, to quickly reach and prosecute a perceived taint on Imperial worlds monitored – cleansing a few cults and executing the lax governor does not require an entire battle barge or strike cruiser.

- Once again, job of Arbites. Doing this is waste of Emperor's Finest.

 

The Guardian Eagles utilize these ships in this manner whenever possible, coming into low orbit and plain sight of enemies or allies on the ground before blasting entire continents with propaganda of Imperial vengeance.

- Lol, no. If the ship is distinguishable with plain sight then it's likely going to crash on the planet surface. "Low orbit" is altitude of 160 - 2,000 km.

 

Beliefs and Dogma

The Eagles likewise follow – the chapter has hundreds of texts recruits are required to memorize regarding the importance of servitude, procedures to be followed, deadly sins, and the treatment of guilt and failure.

- *sigh* Man, once again and for the last time. Marines are His finest warriors, not His judges, police or lawyers. You are making your Chapter into something, which is thematicaly wrong. Cease and Repent.

 

The chapter views it their prerogative to actively police Imperial planets they visit; rooting out any semblance of weakness or deviance they may perceive or find, punishing both heresy and laxity with death, and ruthlessly intimidating the planet into a new period of public fear, submission and stability with the threat: “We will return.” It is the Guardian Eagles’ strong belief that peace comes through power and persecution alone, humanity naturally needing a strict hierarchy to ensure stability, especially in the Dark Millennium. To be true guardians of the Imperium, and by extension Mankind, means protecting and perpetuating the brutal and callous nature it was founded and survives on.

- Once again. This is outside of your mandate.

 

Imperial Relations

The Guardian Eagles accept assignments from such inquisitors much more frequently than other chapters, and this has led to accusations within Imperial and Astartes power circles that the chapter is virtually a private army for the monodominants.

- Too far-fetched, with this you are tipping the balance of power and there will be some consequences.

 

The Guardian Eagles accept such groundless suspicion for what it is, as it encourages this much-needed attitude among the more indolent Imperial organizations.

- Yeah, groundless: The Guardian Eagles at their core firmly believe in the treatise of Monodominance, first penned by an Inquisitor Goldo in early M.33. :P

 

Selected Battle Honors

With his retinue slain, Supreme Justice Zaikur alone holds a breach leading directly to the bridge for 27 hours, saving his ship from the horrific fate of damnation, and piling the bodies of his foes in the hall. Having vanquished squads of chaos space marines, legions of cultists and a damned Word Bearers sorcerer

- Yeah, yeah. Not gonna happen. ;)

[SpecialIssue]

Also 'polices' planets whever possible - making regular checks throughout planets within their patrol sector to inspect and judge on purity, and cull any 'undesireable' elements.

~

The Guardian Eagles are also their subjugators, their arbitrators, wrathful judges without remorse, sympathy or peer who viciously persecute and purge all deemed unworthy in the name of the Emperor.

- A problem. That's the job of Adeptus Arbites. Poking your nose in the other Adepta's business is outside of your mandate and therefore dangerous and risky thing.

I'm not so sure about this. Why is it outside the astartes jurisdiction to enforce compliance and loyalty of civilians (or military units for that matter) they come into contact with during a war, or just after one, or on a planet they happen to visit, for example? Isn't that what all Imperial forces should be doing? Besides, mandates in many cases overlap - fighting daemons isn't solely done by the Grey Knights, the Sisters of Battle have very similar goals/actions to some SM chapters (pogroms, crusades=Black Templars)...

I think it would be quite easy for SMs with a slant to dishing out justice and compliance (like the GEs) to take up this role in places where arbites are not (warzones, newly conquered planets) or even convince them in circumstances to work alongside them to overthrow 'corrupt' governors and replace them with a stronger government. We get stories all the time of SMs executing governors - and if that isn't poking your nose into Imperial affairs, I don't know what is.

 

Imperial attention was turned to stem the dark tide braying to escape through the Cadian Gate, and hasty redeployments of forces across the galaxy to hold back the traitors were enacted.

- Braying?!?! Seriously? :P

Why? wrong choice of words...? :cuss

 

Homeworld and Fleet

... legions of Arbites and PDF deployed daily into the inmate hives to restore order and force the population to the work shift. Once the day’s shift is done, these enforcers then leave, letting the cities tear themselves apart again, ...

- Work in Hives is never-ending and continuous, there is no daily shift or anything.

Who says all Imperial hives are run the same way? Besides, Domineul is not just a hive remember, but a training ground - these conditions are desired.

Recruits from Domineul are usually drawn from the extensive local law enforcement and defense garrisons, these men being exposed daily to the vicious armed combat across the world.

- You need a pre-puberty boys for gene-seed to work. Adult recruits are useless for the Chapter.

Sorry, my bad, wrong choice in words - replace the word men with boys.

 

preference for small deployments, to quickly reach and prosecute a perceived taint on Imperial worlds monitored – cleansing a few cults and executing the lax governor does not require an entire battle barge or strike cruiser.

- Once again, job of Arbites. Doing this is waste of Emperor's Finest.

Even at the behest of an Inquisitor? And how is this worse then the small squads of Marines routinely sent as 'investigation' teams to little, inconsequential events on far-flung planets expecting to find nothing, or if they find something, to get butchered by a well-prepared ambush when they should have sent a more substantial force to 'investigate'? (Ultramarines:The Movie, I'm looking at you...)

 

I also recall in the current CSM codex the story of the "Constantin Iconoclasm" (pg 18-19), wherein a single squad of SMs are "left on Novaterra to combat any resurgent Tyranid organisms that had survived the war, and to monitor the populace fo signs of Genestealer or other tyranid infiltration or infection. For three years..." Sure sounds similar to the policing actions the GE do, and it is definitely a small deployment...

 

The Guardian Eagles utilize these ships in this manner whenever possible, coming into low orbit and plain sight of enemies or allies on the ground before blasting entire continents with propaganda of Imperial vengeance.

- Lol, no. If the ship is distinguishable with plain sight then it's likely going to crash on the planet surface. "Low orbit" is altitude of 160 - 2,000 km.

sigh... well, can't stop a guy from trying :D That was a totally badass idea (I thought)...

 

Beliefs and Dogma

The Eagles likewise follow – the chapter has hundreds of texts recruits are required to memorize regarding the importance of servitude, procedures to be followed, deadly sins, and the treatment of guilt and failure.

- *sigh* Man, once again and for the last time. Marines are His finest warriors, not His judges, police or lawyers. You are making your Chapter into something, which is thematicaly wrong. Cease and Repent.

 

The chapter views it their prerogative to actively police Imperial planets they visit; rooting out any semblance of weakness or deviance they may perceive or find, punishing both heresy and laxity with death, and ruthlessly intimidating the planet into a new period of public fear, submission and stability with the threat: “We will return.” It is the Guardian Eagles’ strong belief that peace comes through power and persecution alone, humanity naturally needing a strict hierarchy to ensure stability, especially in the Dark Millennium. To be true guardians of the Imperium, and by extension Mankind, means protecting and perpetuating the brutal and callous nature it was founded and survives on.

- Once again. This is outside of your mandate.

see above, and what is wrong about making Space Marines His judges?

 

Imperial Relations

The Guardian Eagles accept assignments from such inquisitors much more frequently than other chapters, and this has led to accusations within Imperial and Astartes power circles that the chapter is virtually a private army for the monodominants.

- Too far-fetched, with this you are tipping the balance of power and there will be some consequences.

I'm not sure what is wrong with this... If you have a certain ideological bent, you are more likely to serve certain parties/individuals than others. Other parties with dissimilar views are inevitabley going to throw insults. This is common in the internecine politics of the Imperium.

 

The Guardian Eagles accept such groundless suspicion for what it is, as it encourages this much-needed attitude among the more indolent Imperial organizations.

- Yeah, groundless: The Guardian Eagles at their core firmly believe in the treatise of Monodominance, first penned by an Inquisitor Goldo in early M.33. ;)

??? Please explain... :wacko:

 

Selected Battle Honors

With his retinue slain, Supreme Justice Zaikur alone holds a breach leading directly to the bridge for 27 hours, saving his ship from the horrific fate of damnation, and piling the bodies of his foes in the hall. Having vanquished squads of chaos space marines, legions of cultists and a damned Word Bearers sorcerer

- Yeah, yeah. Not gonna happen. <_<

Its a bit of an exaggeration, I know... but can we just put it down to propaganda... :sweat:

 

Besides... he does die in the end... :P

 

BTW, did you pick up the 1984 theme in them? I sprinkled some references here and there (Immaniu Goldhein, Great Brother, Cell 101, Domineul in general) and some of the chapter's beliefs and dogma are based on Double Think in particular ('Imperial Thought'). Whaddya think? Too subtle? Too overblown?

[SpecialIssue]

Thanks so much for the feedback!

Also 'polices' planets whever possible - making regular checks throughout planets within their patrol sector to inspect and judge on purity, and cull any 'undesireable' elements.

~

The Guardian Eagles are also their subjugators, their arbitrators, wrathful judges without remorse, sympathy or peer who viciously persecute and purge all deemed unworthy in the name of the Emperor.

- A problem. That's the job of Adeptus Arbites. Poking your nose in the other Adepta's business is outside of your mandate and therefore dangerous and risky thing.

I'm not so sure about this. Why is it outside the astartes jurisdiction to enforce compliance and loyalty of civilians (or military units for that matter) they come into contact with, for example during a war, or just after one? Besides, mandates in many cases overlap - fighting daemons isn't solely done by the Grey Knights, the Sisters of Battle have very similar goals/actions to some SM chapters (pogroms, crusades=Black Templars)...

I think it would be quite easy for SMs with a slant to dishing out justice and compliance (like the GEs) to take up this role in places where arbites are not (warzones, newly conquered planets) or even convince them in circumstances to work alongside to overthrow 'corrupt' governors and replace them with a stronger government. We get stories all the time of SMs executing governors - and if that isn't poking your nose into Imperial affairs, I don't know what is.

 

Imperial attention was turned to stem the dark tide braying to escape through the Cadian Gate, and hasty redeployments of forces across the galaxy to hold back the traitors were enacted.

- Braying?!?! Seriously? :P

Why? wrong choice of words...? :cuss

 

Homeworld and Fleet

... legions of Arbites and PDF deployed daily into the inmate hives to restore order and force the population to the work shift. Once the day’s shift is done, these enforcers then leave, letting the cities tear themselves apart again, ...

- Work in Hives is never-ending and continuous, there is no daily shift or anything.

Who says all Imperial hives are run the same way? Besides, Domineul is not just a hive remember, but a training ground - these conditions are desired.

Recruits from Domineul are usually drawn from the extensive local law enforcement and defense garrisons, these men being exposed daily to the vicious armed combat across the world.

- You need a pre-puberty boys for gene-seed to work. Adult recruits are useless for the Chapter.

Sorry, my bad, wrong choice in words - replace the word men with boys.

 

preference for small deployments, to quickly reach and prosecute a perceived taint on Imperial worlds monitored – cleansing a few cults and executing the lax governor does not require an entire battle barge or strike cruiser.

- Once again, job of Arbites. Doing this is waste of Emperor's Finest.

Even at the behest of an Inquisitor? And how is this worse than the small squads of Marines routinely sent as 'investigation' teams to little, inconsequential events on far-flung planets expecting to find nothing, or if they find something, to get butchered by a well-prepared ambush when they should have sent a more substantial force to 'investigate'? (Ultramarines:The Movie, I'm looking at you...)

 

I also recall in the current CSM codex the story of the "Constantin Iconoclasm" (pg 18-19), wherein a single squad of SMs are "left on Novaterra to combat any resurgent Tyranid organisms that had survived the war, and to monitor the populace fo signs of Genestealer or other tyranid infiltration or infection. For three years..." Sure sounds similar to the policing actions the GE do, and it is definitely a small deployment...

 

The Guardian Eagles utilize these ships in this manner whenever possible, coming into low orbit and plain sight of enemies or allies on the ground before blasting entire continents with propaganda of Imperial vengeance.

- Lol, no. If the ship is distinguishable with plain sight then it's likely going to crash on the planet surface. "Low orbit" is altitude of 160 - 2,000 km.

sigh... well, can't stop a guy from trying :D That was a totally badass idea (I thought)...

 

Beliefs and Dogma

The Eagles likewise follow – the chapter has hundreds of texts recruits are required to memorize regarding the importance of servitude, procedures to be followed, deadly sins, and the treatment of guilt and failure.

- *sigh* Man, once again and for the last time. Marines are His finest warriors, not His judges, police or lawyers. You are making your Chapter into something, which is thematicaly wrong. Cease and Repent.

 

The chapter views it their prerogative to actively police Imperial planets they visit; rooting out any semblance of weakness or deviance they may perceive or find, punishing both heresy and laxity with death, and ruthlessly intimidating the planet into a new period of public fear, submission and stability with the threat: “We will return.” It is the Guardian Eagles’ strong belief that peace comes through power and persecution alone, humanity naturally needing a strict hierarchy to ensure stability, especially in the Dark Millennium. To be true guardians of the Imperium, and by extension Mankind, means protecting and perpetuating the brutal and callous nature it was founded and survives on.

- Once again. This is outside of your mandate.

see above, and what is wrong about making Space Marines His judges?

 

Imperial Relations

The Guardian Eagles accept assignments from such inquisitors much more frequently than other chapters, and this has led to accusations within Imperial and Astartes power circles that the chapter is virtually a private army for the monodominants.

- Too far-fetched, with this you are tipping the balance of power and there will be some consequences.

I'm not sure what is wrong with this... If you have a certain ideological bent, you are more likely to serve certain parties/individuals than others. Other parties with dissimilar views are inevitabley going to throw insults. This is common in the internecine politics of the Imperium.

 

The Guardian Eagles accept such groundless suspicion for what it is, as it encourages this much-needed attitude among the more indolent Imperial organizations.

- Yeah, groundless: The Guardian Eagles at their core firmly believe in the treatise of Monodominance, first penned by an Inquisitor Goldo in early M.33. ;)

??? Please explain... :wacko:

 

Selected Battle Honors

With his retinue slain, Supreme Justice Zaikur alone holds a breach leading directly to the bridge for 27 hours, saving his ship from the horrific fate of damnation, and piling the bodies of his foes in the hall. Having vanquished squads of chaos space marines, legions of cultists and a damned Word Bearers sorcerer

- Yeah, yeah. Not gonna happen. <_<

Its a bit of an exaggeration, I know... but can we just put it down to propaganda... :sweat:

 

Besides... he does die in the end... :P

 

BTW, did you pick up the 1984 theme in them? I sprinkled some references here and there (Immaniu Goldhein, Great Brother, Cell 101, Domineul in general) and some of the chapter's beliefs and dogma are based on Double Think in particular ('Imperial Thought'). Whaddya think? Too subtle? Too overblown?

 

EDIT: Dangit, blimmin double post...

[NightrawenII]

I'm not so sure about this. Why is it outside the astartes jurisdiction to enforce compliance and loyalty of civilians (or military units for that matter) they come into contact with during a war, or just after one, or on a planet they happen to visit, for example? Isn't that what all Imperial forces should be doing?

Because you are Adeptus Astartes, it is simple like that. Astartes has no right to police others in the same vein like others has no right to police Astartes(outside of Inquisition). It is matter of roles and duties. The duty of Astartes is beat a crap out of enemy without. The enemy within is problem of Arbiters and Inquisition.

 

Besides, mandates in many cases overlap - fighting daemons isn't solely done by the Grey Knights, the Sisters of Battle have very similar goals/actions to some SM chapters (pogroms, crusades=Black Templars)...

- If we ignore the Exorcists, then yes it's is solely *duty* of Grey Knights. If you end up in the fight with daemons, then something is terribly wrong.

- Sisters of Battle wage Wars of Faith. That's quite different from the normal SM's actions.

 

I think it would be quite easy for SMs with a slant to dishing out justice and compliance (like the GEs) to take up this role in places where arbites are not (warzones, newly conquered planets) or even convince them in circumstances to work alongside them to overthrow 'corrupt' governors and replace them with a stronger government.

- No, this is job of Admistratum, Arbiters and in some case Imperial Guard. You aren't needed nor required here.

- That's the politics, a very dangerous and strange playground for Space Marine. Extremists like your Chapter will be manipulated and used by others.

 

We get stories all the time of SMs executing governors - and if that isn't poking your nose into Imperial affairs, I don't know what is.

On the behalf of others. They are not running around, shooting people on their own.

 

Why? wrong choice of words...? :cuss

You guess it.

 

Who says all Imperial hives are run the same way? Besides, Domineul is not just a hive remember, but a training ground - these conditions are desired.

It looks more like Istvaanism than Modonominant, though.

 

Even at the behest of an Inquisitor?

Even at the behest of a Inquistion. You are overrating marines. They are not needed nor required in such actions. What you are describing here are *normal* duties of Arbites and Inquisition.

The Angels of Death get involved only when the situation is out of control and the scalpel is not enough.

 

I also recall in the current CSM codex the story of the "Constantin Iconoclasm" (pg 18-19), wherein a single squad of SMs are "left on Novaterra to combat any resurgent Tyranid organisms that had survived the war, and to monitor the populace fo signs of Genestealer or other tyranid infiltration or infection. For three years..." Sure sounds similar to the policing actions the GE do, and it is definitely a small deployment...

Except the story is in contradiction with normal functioning of Imperium, especially considering the existence of the Ordo Xenos. And it's nice example of why is this a bad idea.

 

see above, and what is wrong about making Space Marines His judges?

Adeptus Arbiters are His judges. There is no room for other people to squeeze here.

 

I'm not sure what is wrong with this... If you have a certain ideological bent, you are more likely to serve certain parties/individuals than others. Other parties with dissimilar views are inevitabley going to throw insults. This is common in the internecine politics of the Imperium.

Astartes as a organisation are semi-independent part of Imperium. If is your Chapter too friendly with other branch of Imperium, others will see it as dangerous and it will not stop with just insults.

 

??? Please explain... ;)

They are monodominants in belief and cooperate with monodominats too often, it's far from groundless rumour.

[SpecialIssue]

Thanks for the continued interest in my chapter!

I'm not so sure about this. Why is it outside the astartes jurisdiction to enforce compliance and loyalty of civilians (or military units for that matter) they come into contact with during a war, or just after one, or on a planet they happen to visit, for example? Isn't that what all Imperial forces should be doing?

Because you are Adeptus Astartes, it is simple like that. Astartes has no right to police others in the same vein like others has no right to police Astartes(outside of Inquisition). It is matter of roles and duties. The duty of Astartes is beat a crap out of enemy without. The enemy within is problem of Arbiters and Inquisition.

So if an Astartes sees an Imperial Guard unit it is fighting beside has the eight pointed star ritually tattooed on their heads and painted on their tanks, yelling "blood for the blood god and skulls for the skull throne", then they are supposed to turn a blind eye, because the enemy within is the sole resposibility of the Arbites and Inquisition? Or a more realistic example perhaps is that if an astartes sees an Imperial Guard using alien technology, murders or betrays a comrade in cold blood, conducting strange religious rituals or holding unorthodox beliefs, having obvious unsanctioned psyker powers, are they just going to stand back? I doubt any marine will just let the issue hang, but different chapters will take different actions - a more paragon chapter might tell the unit's native command structure about the problem and let them handle it, but a more ruthless chapter (such as the GEs) will take matters into their own violent hands.

 

Maybe I'm not making it clear - the GEs do not 'follow' guard regiments around to make sure they stay loyal, keep files on suspects, substitute their chapter master for an Inquisitor or keep a 'police fleet' whose sole purpose is to rove around, checking on planets to enforce loyalty. Rather they operate as any other Marine chapter would, destroying adversaries in open warfare. But, when they do come across corruption or suspect behaviour out in the field, worlds they stopover at or in Imperial institutions they interact with, they are not a chapter to hesitate to take matters into their own hands, and are very brutal and puritanical about it. They are reknown for extreme acts of punishment when they come across things they disagree with - not investigative police work, which rightly is in the hands of others.

 

Besides, mandates in many cases overlap - fighting daemons isn't solely done by the Grey Knights, the Sisters of Battle have very similar goals/actions to some SM chapters (pogroms, crusades=Black Templars)...

- If we ignore the Exorcists, then yes it's is solely *duty* of Grey Knights. If you end up in the fight with daemons, then something is terribly wrong.

- Sisters of Battle wage Wars of Faith. That's quite different from the normal SM's actions.

In the 41st millenium, something is always terribly wrong. If a world is invaded by daemons, the Imperium is going to throw everything at it - Guard, PDF, Marines. If a Governor cries for help, Marines or the Imperium aren't just going to sit back and wait a month for the nearest Grey Knights to get to the scene. Likewise for heresy, civil uprisings, alien taint - the forces closest to the scene, including space marines, always respond to the threat first.

 

I understand that when there is a daemon problem, Grey Knights are the first choice to be called - but when they aren't around, you've got to make do, or when even they need help, it is useful to supplement them.

 

I think it would be quite easy for SMs with a slant to dishing out justice and compliance (like the GEs) to take up this role in places where arbites are not (warzones, newly conquered planets) or even convince them in circumstances to work alongside them to overthrow 'corrupt' governors and replace them with a stronger government.

- No, this is job of Admistratum, Arbiters and in some case Imperial Guard. You aren't needed nor required here.

Again, I'm not saying that the Eagles take over ruling the planet in lieu of the Administratum or conquering IG, or saying that they spend months or years on end lingering at a conquered planet, 'policing' it. They are merely known for the brutal actions they take during the conflict and just after it to eradicate or punish any heretical or disloyal actions they disapprove of. A good example I imagine is the Iron Hands' Purging of Contiqual (Codex SM, pg 45) - not a policing action per se, but a punitive punishment and persecution.

 

- That's the politics, a very dangerous and strange playground for Space Marine. Extremists like your Chapter will be manipulated and used by others.

Who says that the Guardian Eagles know they are being manipulated, or if they care, or that I care they are being manipulated? :P

 

We get stories all the time of SMs executing governors - and if that isn't poking your nose into Imperial affairs, I don't know what is.

On the behalf of others. They are not running around, shooting people on their own.

Neither are my Marines for the most part. They do it for Inquisitors; and besides, many executions of Imperial officials seem to be done unilaterally by the Marines in the heat of conflict or in presence of obvious betrayal - with almost no oversight.

 

Why? wrong choice of words...? :)

You guess it.

I don't know, seems like the perfect choice of words for those Chaos animals to me... ;)

 

Who says all Imperial hives are run the same way? Besides, Domineul is not just a hive remember, but a training ground - these conditions are desired.

It looks more like Istvaanism than Modonominant, though.

Call it a blend then - Monodominance with the aid of Istvaanism.

Anyway, Istvaanism would call for the sacrifice of the entire Imperial order on Domineul - what is being done is not a sacrifice to strengthen, but a cleaning of scum from the Imperium, with the pleasant bonus of helping to perpetuate the current order.

 

Even at the behest of an Inquisitor?

Even at the behest of a Inquistion. You are overrating marines. They are not needed nor required in such actions. What you are describing here are *normal* duties of Arbites and Inquisition.

The Angels of Death get involved only when the situation is out of control and the scalpel is not enough.

But the Angels of Death are often themselves described as the scalpel to the IG sledgehammer! ;) Some scalpel. ;)

When the situation is teetering on the edge of control or has the potential to get out of control, will Marines stand by and let it do so? (especially a bombastic, fanatical puritan chapter like the GEs?)

 

I also recall in the current CSM codex the story of the "Constantin Iconoclasm" (pg 18-19), wherein a single squad of SMs are "left on Novaterra to combat any resurgent Tyranid organisms that had survived the war, and to monitor the populace fo signs of Genestealer or other tyranid infiltration or infection. For three years..." Sure sounds similar to the policing actions the GE do, and it is definitely a small deployment...

Except the story is in contradiction with normal functioning of Imperium, especially considering the existence of the Ordo Xenos. And it's nice example of why is this a bad idea.

What 'is 'normal' functioning in the Imperium, a million different worlds and cultures, loosely and sporadically connected, lurching from crisis to crisis? Again, does the Ordo Xenos have a presence on every single world (especially newly conquered ones) significant enough for this kind of job, and wouldn't it be wise to delegate this job temporarily to a capable force already on the scene? And who's to say that the Guardian Eagles are even willing to listen to this lesson in their arrogance and pride, or think themselves above this in purity, or have even heard of this event?

 

The fluff has in many cases SMs deploying in very small squad-sized units, for missions with similarily sized goals, with a good example being the Ultramarines movie.

 

see above, and what is wrong about making Space Marines His judges?

Adeptus Arbiters are His judges. There is no room for other people to squeeze here.

What is, is irrelevant. The Guardian Eagles, their victims and Imperial officials often characterise and view them as His judges, and that is what this IA seeks to point out.

It is more thematical than literal.

 

I'm not sure what is wrong with this... If you have a certain ideological bent, you are more likely to serve certain parties/individuals than others. Other parties with dissimilar views are inevitabley going to throw insults. This is common in the internecine politics of the Imperium.

Astartes as a organisation are semi-independent part of Imperium. If is your Chapter too friendly with other branch of Imperium, others will see it as dangerous and it will not stop with just insults.

It will stop at insults if cooperation is seen as an annoyance and insult to prestige only, but not an issue worth declaring hostilities for. Again, its not as if the chapter have replaced their Chapter master with a puritan inquisitor, or only go to fight when an inquisitor tells them to - they still cooperate with other factions. The criticism is merely lip service to the ideal that everyone should agree entirely with all other factions in the Imperium, combined with the GEs well-known puritan bent. You are saying that any minor criticism of any Space Marine chapter's behavior or relations will inevetibly lead to conflict.

 

]??? Please explain... :)

They are monodominants in belief and cooperate with monodominats too often, it's far from groundless rumour.

Who said they actually cooperate with monodominants too often? It is a rumor because other factions are jealous of the closer (not close, there is a difference) relationship between the two factions, which is logical and seen with other chapters (Novamarines - Deathwatch, "unusually close ties with this organisation." IA9; Iron Hands - Mechanicum; Blood Angels - successor chapters), a rumor which is further boosted by the GEs reputation as hard ass judges and by-the-book rule lawyers.

 

Can you say when 'close' is too close?

[NightrawenII]

So if an Astartes sees an Imperial Guard unit it is fighting beside has the eight pointed star ritually tattooed on their heads and painted on their tanks, yelling "blood for the blood god and skulls for the skull throne", then they are supposed to turn a blind eye, because the enemy within is the sole resposibility of the Arbites and Inquisition? Or a more realistic example perhaps is that if an astartes sees an Imperial Guard using alien technology, murders or betrays a comrade in cold blood, conducting strange religious rituals or holding unorthodox beliefs, having obvious unsanctioned psyker powers, are they just going to stand back?

There is difference between seeing obvious heresy and investigating and policing other because you smell something fishy about them.

 

Maybe I'm not making it clear - the GEs do not 'follow' guard regiments around to make sure they stay loyal, keep files on suspects, substitute their chapter master for an Inquisitor or keep a 'police fleet' whose sole purpose is to rove around, checking on planets to enforce loyalty. Rather they operate as any other Marine chapter would, destroying adversaries in open warfare. But, when they do come across corruption or suspect behaviour out in the field, worlds they stopover at or in Imperial institutions they interact with, they are not a chapter to hesitate to take matters into their own hands, and are very brutal and puritanical about it. They are reknown for extreme acts of punishment when they come across things they disagree with - not investigative police work, which rightly is in the hands of others.

Yes, you are not clear:

The chapter views it their prerogative to actively police Imperial planets they visit; rooting out any semblance of weakness or deviance they may perceive or find, punishing both heresy and laxity with death, and ruthlessly intimidating the planet into a new period of public fear, submission and stability with the threat: “We will return.”

~

The First Cleansing of Yaldritch, 348.M35

After a space-hulk raid, Captain Waseya and 20 brothers make landfall on the prosperous civilized world of Yaldritch. The benevolent Governor in his own words guarantees that everything is in order – indeed, there has been no sign of rebellion, uprising or heresy for the past 200 years! Still, the Eagles are rightly suspicious and begin a thorough investigation of the planet, utilizing their serfs to scout for any evidence counter to this claim. Just as suspected, a foul cult is soon discovered in the heart of the capital, meeting weekly to denounce and blaspheme the Emperor’s Realm. Waseya and his men stop the evil before it can fully manifest, strafing the urban area with their Thunderhawk before debussing among the ruins to personally execute the 20 unarmed members of the cult in full Terminator armor with the aid of a Land Raider. The next stop is the Governor himself, which while at first furious, is soon begging for his life as he is accused and executed for incompetence, laxity and treachery. His lies about the sanctity and purity of Yaldritch are not to be tolerated by those standing for justice.

And that's the exact problem, what are you doing here is policing and investigating others. And that's outside of you mandate as Space Marine Chapter.

 

In the 41st millenium, something is always terribly wrong. If a world is invaded by daemons, the Imperium is going to throw everything at it - Guard, PDF, Marines. If a Governor cries for help, Marines or the Imperium aren't just going to sit back and wait a month for the nearest Grey Knights to get to the scene.

 

I understand that when there is a daemon problem, Grey Knights are the first choice to be called - but when they aren't around, you've got to make do, or when even they need help, it is useful to supplement them.

And then you get shoot death, obital-bombed to death or cleansed in any other manner, because you are obviously tainted by Chaos from exposure to daemons.

You are missing the difference between the "doing something because it's necessarily right now" and "doing something on regular basis because you want".

 

Again, I'm not saying that the Eagles take over ruling the planet in lieu of the Administratum or conquering IG, or saying that they spend months or years on end lingering at a conquered planet, 'policing' it. They are merely known for the brutal actions they take during the conflict and just after it to eradicate or punish any heretical or disloyal actions they disapprove of. A good example I imagine is the Iron Hands' Purging of Contiqual (Codex SM, pg 45) - not a policing action per se, but a punitive punishment and persecution.

Yeah, see the The First Cleansing of Yaldritch.

 

Who says that the Guardian Eagles know they are being manipulated, or if they care, or that I care they are being manipulated? :lol:

The problem here is that others care and they will show their displeasure with your chapter in very *spectacular* manner.

 

Call it a blend then - Monodominance with the aid of Istvaanism.

Anyway, Istvaanism would call for the sacrifice of the entire Imperial order on Domineul - what is being done is not a sacrifice to strengthen, but a cleaning of scum from the Imperium, with the pleasant bonus of helping to perpetuate the current order.

Hmmm... :ph34r:

Here, brutal unchecked gang warfare rages perpetually on the dilapidated streets, legions of Arbites and PDF deployed daily into the inmate hives to restore order and force the population to the work shift. Once the day’s shift is done, these enforcers then leave, letting the cities tear themselves apart again, for Domineul is far from just a mere prison – it is a prime training ground for all forces of the Imperium. Here on the streets of the sprawling cell-hives, Imperial storm troopers, newly-minted Guard regiments, Arbite houses and the odd Astartes are blooded, tested and even recruited.

 

But the Angels of Death are often themselves described as the scalpel to the IG sledgehammer! :lol: Some scalpel. ;)

When the situation is teetering on the edge of control or has the potential to get out of control, will Marines stand by and let it do so? (especially a bombastic, fanatical puritan chapter like the GEs?)

- The Astartes are rapier or sabre of Imperium. The scalpel is the Officio Assassinorum.

- If they are nearby, otherwise none would bother (or dare to bother, pick what you want) to call them.

 

What 'is 'normal' functioning in the Imperium, a million different worlds and cultures, loosely and sporadically connected, lurching from crisis to crisis? Again, does the Ordo Xenos have a presence on every single world (especially newly conquered ones) significant enough for this kind of job, and wouldn't it be wise to delegate this job temporarily to a capable force already on the scene? And who's to say that the Guardian Eagles are even willing to listen to this lesson in their arrogance and pride, or think themselves above this in purity, or have even heard of this event?

 

The fluff has in many cases SMs deploying in very small squad-sized units, for missions with similarily sized goals, with a good example being the Ultramarines movie.

- Inquistion has presence in every sector of Imperium, so yes. They will be already alerted.

- Because the others might be of different opinion.

- Read the reviews of Ultramarines: Movie. :P

 

What is, is irrelevant. The Guardian Eagles, their victims and Imperial officials often characterise and view them as His judges, and that is what this IA seeks to point out.

It is more thematical than literal.

No, they are His Finest Warriors, anything else is improper and unjustified.

 

It will stop at insults if cooperation is seen as an annoyance and insult to prestige only, but not an issue worth declaring hostilities for. Again, its not as if the chapter have replaced their Chapter master with a puritan inquisitor, or only go to fight when an inquisitor tells them to - they still cooperate with other factions. The criticism is merely lip service to the ideal that everyone should agree entirely with all other factions in the Imperium, combined with the GEs well-known puritan bent. You are saying that any minor criticism of any Space Marine chapter's behavior or relations will inevetibly lead to conflict.

The minor criticism when left unchecked, yes.

The Inquisition is well-known for its not-always-political fighting. Your Chapter is clearly too close to one of its factions, which will lead later or sooner to some problems. As I said previously, you are getting involved in the politics, which is not always good idea.

 

Can you say when 'close' is too close?

The hard line, ultra-orthodox attitudes of Guardian Eagle and puritan Inquisitor mesh well, and it is not surprising that the chapter has close ties and even agreements with several notable Monodominant Inquisitors throughout the local sectors and beyond.

 

The above is too close.

The problem here is not having close ties with one organisation, but having close ties with one sect of said organisation.

[SpecialIssue]

There is difference between seeing obvious heresy and investigating and policing other because you smell something fishy about them.

If a marine smells something fishy, wouldn't you expect him to act in some way?

 

The chapter views it their prerogative to actively police Imperial planets they visit; rooting out any semblance of weakness or deviance they may perceive or find, punishing both heresy and laxity with death, and ruthlessly intimidating the planet into a new period of public fear, submission and stability with the threat: “We will return.”

~

The First Cleansing of Yaldritch, 348.M35

After a space-hulk raid, Captain Waseya and 20 brothers make landfall on the prosperous civilized world of Yaldritch. The benevolent Governor in his own words guarantees that everything is in order – indeed, there has been no sign of rebellion, uprising or heresy for the past 200 years! Still, the Eagles are rightly suspicious and begin a thorough investigation of the planet, utilizing their serfs to scout for any evidence counter to this claim. Just as suspected, a foul cult is soon discovered in the heart of the capital, meeting weekly to denounce and blaspheme the Emperor’s Realm. Waseya and his men stop the evil before it can fully manifest, strafing the urban area with their Thunderhawk before debussing among the ruins to personally execute the 20 unarmed members of the cult in full Terminator armor with the aid of a Land Raider. The next stop is the Governor himself, which while at first furious, is soon begging for his life as he is accused and executed for incompetence, laxity and treachery. His lies about the sanctity and purity of Yaldritch are not to be tolerated by those standing for justice.

And that's the exact problem, what are you doing here is policing and investigating others. And that's outside of you mandate as Space Marine Chapter.

 

Again, I'm not saying that the Eagles take over ruling the planet in lieu of the Administratum or conquering IG, or saying that they spend months or years on end lingering at a conquered planet, 'policing' it. They are merely known for the brutal actions they take during the conflict and just after it to eradicate or punish any heretical or disloyal actions they disapprove of. A good example I imagine is the Iron Hands' Purging of Contiqual (Codex SM, pg 45) - not a policing action per se, but a punitive punishment and persecution.

Yeah, see the The First Cleansing of Yaldritch.

 

"actively police Imperial planets they visit" - okay, maybe not the best choice of words there, but I actually still stand by it. Again, I agree that marines should not be dedicating their time solely to roving Imperial worlds, landing on them solely to police and investigate the population. The GEs do not do that - rather, like all space marines, they believe it is their job to ensure purity of the Imperium from the alien, witch and heretic wherever open warfare may take them.

'Visiting' a world does not mean they showed up there simply to check for purity, which as you said, is outside their mandate. The marines in Yaldritch or other similar events may have been landing to make repairs, resupply, reestablish communications, etc... In normal interactions with the native populace, something is fishy, or wrong, or not adding up, so the chapter investigates further than they usually would... and this is only where the 'investigative' and 'policing' work begins, on the spur of the moment. I see that as perfectly reasonable, fluffy and what a marine is expected to do. A marine will not leave any issue he objects to simply hanging, and are indeed expected to take initiative to act. The Guardian Eagles are known for the brutal punishments they mete out when transgressions are seen, not their dogged investigative and purity analysis procedures.

 

The Iron Hand suppression of the natives of Contqaal during and straight after the campaign comes to mind again.

 

Maybe I will change some wording around to make this clearer.

 

In the 41st millenium, something is always terribly wrong. If a world is invaded by daemons, the Imperium is going to throw everything at it - Guard, PDF, Marines. If a Governor cries for help, Marines or the Imperium aren't just going to sit back and wait a month for the nearest Grey Knights to get to the scene.

 

I understand that when there is a daemon problem, Grey Knights are the first choice to be called - but when they aren't around, you've got to make do, or when even they need help, it is useful to supplement them.

And then you get shoot death, obital-bombed to death or cleansed in any other manner, because you are obviously tainted by Chaos from exposure to daemons.

You are missing the difference between the "doing something because it's necessarily right now" and "doing something on regular basis because you want".

Yes, I was making that exact distinction and that was what I was saying. If you are actively looking for daemons to fight, all the time then yes, that means you die for the taint, as it is not your job. But all Imperials are expected to fight anything when neccessity demands it, and that is what the GEs do, except to a very zealous extent. They do not actively visit peaceful Imperial planets simply to look for heresy. But when they do land on Imperial planets, they often find something they find 'fishy' due to their high standards, and the actions they then take are what they are known for. It is 'neccesary right now' to bombard an entire city block to cleanse a small cult, to be sure to eradicate any chaos taint immediately.

 

Who says that the Guardian Eagles know they are being manipulated, or if they care, or that I care they are being manipulated? :(

The problem here is that others care and they will show their displeasure with your chapter in very *spectacular* manner.

There are many 'who says'. First, 'who says they are being manipulated?' The GEs have already had that done to them ,and Imperials who have used them in the past have been made examples of as deterrrence, and the Eagles also accepting punishment. They (may) have learnt their lesson, and know when they are being manipulated, and avoid it. Space Marines are known to be supersoldiers, but their intellects are also enhanced, and doesn't mean that they can't be diplomats and political animals as well - indeed, these skills are almost required in the Imperium, in order to deal with other factions, to prevent being - manipulated. Maybe the GEs are very adept in this skill, considering their close dealings.

Secondly, if they are being manipulated, 'Who says other factions know they are being manipulated?', and even know to levy accusations that stick. Thirdly, again, who says that I care? ;) :devil: Maybe on the cusp of the end of the millenium, the Eagles are locked in a storm of criticism and wrath from other factions, and are at the threat of being censured or worse? Might make a good addition to this IA...

 

Hmmm... :RTBBB:

Here, brutal unchecked gang warfare rages perpetually on the dilapidated streets, legions of Arbites and PDF deployed daily into the inmate hives to restore order and force the population to the work shift. Once the day’s shift is done, these enforcers then leave, letting the cities tear themselves apart again, for Domineul is far from just a mere prison – it is a prime training ground for all forces of the Imperium. Here on the streets of the sprawling cell-hives, Imperial storm troopers, newly-minted Guard regiments, Arbite houses and the odd Astartes are blooded, tested and even recruited.

...while the other two thirds of the population and landmass go about their controlled, oppressed, stable Imperial hive city lives daily, firmly in the reins of an old, strong government. Istvaanism would require the destruction of both portions of Domineul.

 

- If they are nearby, otherwise none would bother (or dare to bother, pick what you want) to call them.

Which is exactly what the GEs do, yet are characterised, known and notorious for.

 

- Inquistion has presence in every sector of Imperium, so yes. They will be already alerted.

- Because the others might be of different opinion.

- Read the reviews of Ultramarines: Movie. -_-

Alerted, but with the forces or capacity or time to respond? If they are even alerted that is. I doubt that even the Inquisition has the reach to cover every single Imperial world and be able to monitor and enforce them all effectively. If that was the case, the danger from within would have been eradicated. Which is where the 'temps step in, till the =I= can respond.

 

??? on the second answer - not sure what reference is to...

 

I know, 3/10 stars for me, atrocious, yet part of GW canon. The precedent is set by it and other bits of official fluff like it, no matter the quality.

 

No, they are His Finest Warriors, anything else is improper and unjustified.

sigh, even as a non-literal theme? Because that is what this chapter's theme is - their rhetoric and belief almost literally that they are judges bringing the law to the Imperium, alien and heretic, even though this may not actually be the actual case and role they fulfill in practise. In the same vein as the black templars are modellled on crusaders, space wolves on vikings/nordic feral wolves, blood angels on renaissance vampires, etc, my chapter is modelled on the icon of callous judges, and the tyrannical Orwellian police state.

 

The hard line, ultra-orthodox attitudes of Guardian Eagle and puritan Inquisitor mesh well, and it is not surprising that the chapter has close ties and even agreements with several notable Monodominant Inquisitors throughout the local sectors and beyond.

Ok, I can easily correct that, by getting rid of the words 'and even agreements.' Close ties with a faction I believe does not warrant an inquisitorial purge.

 

The minor criticism when left unchecked, yes.

The Inquisition is well-known for its not-always-political fighting. Your Chapter is clearly too close to one of its factions, which will lead later or sooner to some problems. As I said previously, you are getting involved in the politics, which is not always good idea.

So most chapters who have ever interacted with a inquisitor with a clear ideological alignment are to be purged? Because as soon as the =I= is involved in any capacity, there are always minor complaints that 'inquisitor X of faction X got to cooperate with chapter Y, which is unfair dangerous to everyone else because [insert petty reason].'

Please read this:

Who said they actually cooperate with monodominants too often? It is a rumor because other factions are jealous of the closer (not close, there is a difference) relationship between the two factions, which is logical and seen with other chapters (Novamarines - Deathwatch, "unusually close ties with this organisation." IA9; Iron Hands - Mechanicum; Blood Angels - successor chapters), a rumor which is further boosted by the GEs reputation as hard ass judges and by-the-book rule lawyers.

Finally, who says I care that the GEs are in a dangerous position by getting in the politics of the Imperium? :devil: :devil: :devil:

 

It might be nice to get a few more opinions on the validity of my chapter as it is! Is my theme of 'judges and oppressors' for the chapter feasible, and are the Nineteen Eighty Four and Orwellian themes/references noticeable?

[Brissebrajan]

The only issue is in the painting: everyone knows white can look awesome, but actually getting a nice white with GW paints is an act which most often involves selling one's soul to Slaanesh.

 

undercoat of Codex Grey, and then a few layers of watered down skull white...

[SpecialIssue]

So, I'm thinking that maybe I should rewrite the IA as the themes of the chapters perhaps aren't getting through. Here are the bare-bones outlines for the Guardian Eagles that I wish them to be. Please voice any objections so I can iron out inconsistencies before I start writing again... :pinch:

 

1. Theme as judges, judiciary, with much of their internal jargon/naming conventions reflecting their belief as the Emperor's holy judges of the xenos, heretic and mutant. References and themes taken from the classic Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell and dystopic tyranny in general (utilize doublethink, strong emphasis on thought purity/control, brainwashing, police/disciplinary actions etc.)

 

2. Very conservative, with no compunctions against extreme (some would say unnecessary) punitive measures against those that fall short of their high expectations as a matter of recourse. Good relations with the monodominant sect in the Inquisition, and has a reputation wherein they are preferred in the sector to put down rebellions/levy punitive measures on wayward planets. Reputation on planets they visit is brutal, callous enforcers of Imperial authority and law.

 

3. Fleet based, but with 'special relationship' with Domineul, prison world also used as a training/marshalling point for Imperial forces. Have a shipyard around its moon, and Domineul is one of the main worlds for recruitment, from the extensive hive-security force that wars daily with vicious prisoners. Take many of their beliefs from the Orwellian society (Big Brother, etc).

 

4. No major watershed moments in their history - conservative since their founding from IF geneseed in the 14th Founding. Codex organisation, but with different titles.

 

5. Prefer raw displays of pure power and destruction, no matter collateral damage. Favor massive firepower, heavy armor.

 

6. (maybe) In the closing years of the 41st millennium, Eagles under increased scrutiny and at risk of censure ( not that they haven't been censured before) or worse for their close relations with the monodominant sect, overzealous disciplinary actions on campaign and unacceptable meddling with Imperial planetary affairs (execution of Governors that fail to live to their stringent standards, etc) as their political ties to the Monodominant =I= catches up to the chapter.

 

If all this is fine, then please read my current article and the (extensive) discussion with NightrawenII on the acceptable extent of the mandate of SMs, and comment on what is wrong with the IA as it is. I want to get this finally finished! :yes:

[NightrawenII]

Well, I admit I didn't read the Nineteen Eighty Four, but from my reading the Shira Calpurnia books. It seems like this theme was already taken by the Adeptus Arbites and Imperium as a whole (Read the Rulebooks of previous editions). Thus I think you should tone down the theme of Imperial Police and focus more on the "Pass Judgement upon the Xeno, Heretic and Mutant" theme. But that's just me.

[Firepower]

Well, I read through the first couple of back-and-forths over Astartes jurisdiction versus Arbites, but not all. What I'd like to point out is the similarities between the way these fellows are acting and the pre-Heresy Night Lords. If I recall the IA article correctly, the simple appearance of NL ships in a sector would lead governors to start catching up on any unpaid tithes, purging mutants from the population, etc., which was the full intent of the Legion. It worked largely on the same principle too: fear inspires obedience. The theory wasn't "Fear inspires obedience over those planets' populations which we are supposed to be bothering with according to our station."

 

The strict arrangement of jurisdiction between Astartes, Arbites, IG, etc. has changed since the Heresy, but that doesn't mean you don't find some throwbacks to the old ways. The BT Eternal Crusade is very much out of line with the common way of things, but they get along just fine. DA will tread on any toes they please at the drop of a hat when a Fallen is potentially involved. The Marines Malevolent are outright :P to everyone. In short, lots of Chapters bend the rules to their liking, sometimes with explosive consequences or a fall into heresy, but there are plenty of cases where they manage to pretty much avoid consequences, too.

 

Oh and on that low orbit propaganda barrage, again the Night Lords play by similar rules by jamming all communications of targeted worlds and flooding them with..."unpleasant" transmissions. They may not be able to use literal loudspeakers, but I could see them flooding every vox, vid screen, and Dick Tracy Two Way Communicator Watch with growls of "Repent and die quickly, resist and suffer endlessly!"