Index Astartes: Storm Angels

[Dark Disciple]

Founding

Founded in the early 32nd Millennium, the Storm Angels Chapter of the Astartes were listed as destroyed M36. Officially the Chapter is listed as having fallen during the Age of Aposty, one of many casualties suffered under George Vandir. Truth and history however, seldom agree.

 

Located to the galactic north of the Eye of Terror, the Chaper was assigned the world of Rehodas III as their homeworld. The young Chapter were well placed and quickly formed strong bonds with the nearby Forge World of Achranox Quintus. Rehodas III fittingly was a world of rolling plains and forests wracked by great storms. Each evening great thunder storms would roll inland from the great oceans before dissipating as soon as they had come. In those early days the Chapter was tutored by Galebh, a hero of the Imperial Fists and former student of the legendary Rhetoricus.

It was under his stern vigil that the Chapter began undertakings in aid of the Mechanicus. Recovering artefacts and protecting their endeavours.

 

Until at last the Chapter was at full strength and able to undertake its first full crusade. It was in the closing days of this first Crusade that the Chapter lost the warrior who had been their anchor and light. With great sorrow the Captains of the Chapter bore their adoptive father to the Phalanx. So passed the first Chapter Master of the Storm Angels.

His sword was gifted to the young Chapter, the Master of the Imperial Fists himself, using it to name Galebh’s successor.

Rallying around the “Sword of Storms” the Chapter returned home and continued in service to their charges and the Mechanicus. Over the next millennia the Storm Angels won many victories, many in the service of the Mechanicum of Mars. Their loyal service however, brought them little real glory.

 

It would be under their 5th Master, the stern and resolute Sollan Theist that the Storm Angels would win their greatest and ultimately most hollow of victories. Imperial history does not remember New Gnisis, indeed it no longer exists in the 41st Millenium. Once however, it was an agri-world supplying several systems many of which are now silent. In the face of a Hrud migration Chapter Master Theist mobilised every Battle Brother at his disposal, leaving only a skeleton staff to guard the Chapter Monastery. To do this however, he ignored the summons of the Forge Lord of Achranox Quintus. The force with which the Hrud migration was met with far exceeded that required. However, as calculated by the Theist, the notice his Chapter received for such a swift and crushing response would see the Storm Angels petitioned to take part in the Crusades, rather than languish in obscurity. What he did not calculate however, was the repercussion of his dismissal of the Mechanicus petition.

The loss of a sacred SCT.

 

Isolation

Furious, yet unable to destroy the Chapter, the Mechanicus instead cut them adrift, refusing to offer resupply. In need of resupply, the Chapter opened negotiations with the various merchants and rogue traders who passed through the system. Though this slowed the Chapter’s decline for a time, the Storm Angels were forced to seek out ever more unscrupulous means of supply. In time however, the Chapter grew desperate. Chapter Master Theist travelled to the forge world in person to negotiate with the Tech Lord, nearly three hundred years after their last exchange. He failed.

Desperate for resupply to save his Chapter, Theist used his contacts in the criminal cartels and private corporations throughout the sector to locate supplies. Believing the Emperor to be with him, the normally resolute Astartes was visibly shocked when he was informed of a large equipment shipment. Conflicted, the Chapter Master’s mind was made for him upon learning the recipient of this shipment would be the Tech Lord who had single handily consigned his brotherhood to a slow and inglorious death by a thousand cuts.

Mobilising every available battle brother, the Storm Angels assaulted the heavily guarded transport cruiser. On board which were enough to create supplies and armaments to create and supply a new Chapter. The prize amongst which were almost a thousand antique suits of power armour.

 

This troubled Theist deeply. That the Mechanicus would transfer such a large amount of revered technology was almost unheard of. It would be almost 3 months before he would discover why. In an unprecedented event the Chapter Master was contacted by the Rogue Trader Istan Dramhan, a man of infinite greed who had dealt with the Chapter numerous times over the past decade. Instead of the rogue trader however, he was greeted by a robed Astartes clad in armour of purest black. This being offered permanent supply to the Chapter in return for several items of Archeotech recovered from the Mechanicus vessel.

The retribution of the Mechanicus was swift. Mobilising the Skitarii Legions, the Tech Lord of Achranox Quintus led the attack on the Chapter’s Fortress Monastery. A mere three centuries before such an attack was unthinkable however, without the fresh equipment supplied by the Forge Lord’s factories his logic engines predicted a 93% chance of success.

At the battle’s conclusion nearly two thirds of the Chapters number had perished. The Mechanicus had their victory, having recovered almost everything the Chapter had taken. Unnerved by his dealings with the giant in black, Chapter Master Theist had ordered the cache secured in the vaults of the Fortress Monastery; awaiting guidance from the Emperor which would never come. Theist, along with so many of his brothers lay amongst the honoured dead.

 

Moving amongst the ruins of their home, taking the Chapter’s due where they could the Chapter was once again approached by the mysterious black clad Astartes. This time however, it was not the calm and measured Theist who spoke with the mysterious benefactor, but a Sergeant, by the name of Darkhan. This time the stranger offered a means to take revenge on the Tech Lord, once again in return for certain artefacts. Accepting this offer the Chapter took their remaining ships to Achranox Quintus.

True to his word, the formidable planetary defences did not open fire. Cutting through the silent ships and defences, the remaining Storm Angels were able to make planet fall without incident. Swiftly securing the recovered artefacts and arms the battle brothers of the Chapter proceeded to take the fight to the Mechanicus across the forge world. For days the Mechanicus were sluggish to react to the intrusion, and struggled to assemble a coherent response. Gradually sector by sector, day by day, the Mechanicus defences activated. Inevitably the Space Marines were pushed back to their landing zone, fighting in a ferocious rearguard action. Buying the time needed to load their stolen goods. It was then that their mysterious supporter again made himself known. Teleporting into the midst of the Storm Angels, the giant in black armour came to claim his due. Moving to block the giant, Darkhan demanded that the stranger make good on his promise to give them vengeance. The mysterious Astartes replied that he had only offered to open the path to their vengeance. In return for the services of the Chapter’s two remaining Techmarines, Arkan and Xaphen, the stranger offered Darkhan the tools to unmake the planet.

There was no hesitation in his voice when he accepted. The Techmarines likewise took a step forward at the exact same moment. The need to avenge themselves had consumed them. Darkhan, Arkan, Xaphen and the stranger boarded one of the Chapter’s remaining thunderhawks and travelled to a location indicated by the creature. Before them was a device unlike anything they had seen before. Great arcs of green electricity played over the surface of numerous arrays. Landing atop the structure, the four Astartes made for the controls while the Thunderhawk and its pilots undertook evasive manoeuvres.

It was then as the four Astartes fought the Mechanicus forces determined to destroy the heretical device that the stranger cast off his disguise. The Storm Angels swallowed their revulsion as the creatures armour and pale flesh flowed into the form of heavy calibre weapons and began spewing bolts of plasma into the enemy.

In a moment of revelation, Darkhan damned the Emperor for forcing him into this situation.

The device fired even as the Thunderhawk raced to reach the awaiting ships in orbit. On the planet below, the strange device of the obliterators opened a warp gate in the very heart of the planet. Achranox Quintus was torn to pieces as cataclysmic energies were unleashed at its heart.

 

Excommunication

Marshalling their remaining forces, the Storm Angels returned to the ruins of their Fortress Monastery. There, the entire Chapter held a grand communion to determine their destiny. Each remaining Brother was given the chance to speak, some spoke of righteousness, other spoke of penance. The congregation was split. Then the Techmarines Arkan and Xaphen stepped forth. Each seemed larger than before, their mannerisms and aspects somehow more sinister. They then spoke at length of the opportunity before them, of the power on offer. Power that they could wield against those who had forsaken them and to liberate the people they had sworn to protect.

 

It was then that the final speaker stepped forth. Since leading his brothers on the strike against the traitorous Mechanicus, whispers had named Darkhan as the likely choice to become the next Chapter Master. Having withdrawn from the company of his brothers since the destruction of Achranox Quintus, Darkhan now stood before them. He spoke of the choice he made, he spoke of the consequences and he spoke of his fears for the Chapter. A single brother was chosen from each of the remaining squads to count the ballots. The Chapter had made their choice. In the ruins of the Chapter’s Fortress Monastery Traven, took up the broken “sword of Storms”, the badge of office carried by the Chapter Master of the Storm Angels and gave voice to the Chapters choice.

 

Alea Iacta Est, Bellus Bellum Gratia – The die is cast, war for war’s sake.

 

Now in a self imposed Crusade, the Storm Angels travelled to neighbouring systems. Nearly three decades after departing on the Crusade, Arkan and Xaphen returned to their Chapter and became the new Chapter Master’s closest advisors. Overtime tensions within the remaining Strom Angels grew as Darkhan’s methods became more callous and brutal. Until at last the Chapter found itself split into two factions. Those who backed their Chapter Master and those disillusioned by his methods and horrified at the growing corruption within both him and their brothers.

 

Breaking off from their brothers, nearly half of the remaining Storm Angels returned to Rheodas III. Since the destruction of their Fortress Monastery, the Storm Angels had only returned to Rheodas III a handful of times. Each time to decide the course their Chapter would follow. Taking with them the shattered “Sword of Storms”, intending to elect a new leader and save their Chapter from the brink.

 

Wounded in the bitter exchange between brothers, Darkhan led his followers in pursuit. Teleporting into the midst of the coronation ceremony, in the very ruins where he himself accepted the Mantle of Chapter Master Darkhan alone, stood before those who defied him. Seizing the moment he grasped the lone Brother standing before the ruined statue of Dorn and the Emperor and throttled the very life from the one who would replace him. Snatching up the shattered sword, in a flash of light he was gone as suddenly as he had appeared. Stunned at the turn of events the Pro Imperial brothers perished along with their homeworld.

 

Present Day

Since the self-destruction of their homeworld, the Storm Angels have waged a bitter war against the Imperium of Man and have dedicated themselves to the service of the Ruinous Powers. Through the Techmarines Arkan and Xaphen, Darkhan was able to make contact with the Traitor Legions.

Under the leadership of “the Worldbreaker”, now a mighty Daemon Prince, the remaining Storm Angels have become a part of the Black Legion. Though retaining a great deal of their autonomy and a pride in their heritage, the Storm Angels Chapter is no more. On their shoulders they bear the sigil of that Legion, a mark of the oaths they swore.

 

Organisation

Founded as a Codex Chapter, the Storm Angels maintained ten full strength companies until the loss of their supply lines and casualties negated a more flexible approach.

In the service of the Black Legion, the Storm Angels have rallied around the Worldbreaker, becoming his warband. At the core of the warband are the “Immortals”, the remains of Darkhan’s Tactical Squad and Honour Guard.

Their bodies have been given over the possession, overseen by the Worldbreaker himself. Elements of the warband have since fallen into the thrall of the Ruinous Powers, their loyalty to the warband held only through ancient oaths and the immense will of the Daemon Prince itself.

 

Beliefs

The Chapter cult of the Storm Angels was formed around the ideal that the Emperor Ascendant. The Chapter Creed is built around a core of tenants and rites with the Emperor at its centre as an omnipotent force. This however, is not accredited to a divine nature but rather due to his interment into the Golden Throne.

Since the great betrayal at Achranox Quintus, the remaining Strom Angels been corrupted and become pawns of the Ruinous Powers. The Chapter cult has become a warped creed of hate and vengeance,

As a whole the Chapter revered the sword as the perfect weapon and swordplay as the ultimate art. Even after it’s descent into Chaos, the remains of the Storm Angels revere swords above all other weapons. Ritual duels are still fought between champions for the right to deploy in combat, for equipment and position. Though rare, it is not unheard of for a Storm Angel to be killed in such a duel.

 

 

Geneseed

As with all renegades who fall into the thrall of Chaos, there has been a marked rise in mutations amongst the remaining Storm Angels. Upon their founding the Storm Angels Geneseed was pure with only a slight abnormality that lead to a slight obsessiveness and restlessness amongst battle brothers. This was countered through the Chapter’s doctrine’s and training regime which focused this compulsive behaviour to training with a blade. Several centuries before their betrayal the Storm Angels geneseed quality was reported as declining in quality and is suspected to have been a factor in their assault on Achranox Quintus.

[Firepower]

Whew, man that was a lot to read :) .

 

Okay, so, C&C...well, on the critique side, my only real grievance comes down to grammatical errors and the like. A few sentences are poorly punctuated or broken up into fragments, but a few careful reads back through a bit at a time should make them easy for you to spot. It is just a first draft after all ;) .

 

Im also a bit unsure of the traitor's identity as an Obliterator, mainly because I've never seen one in artwork that wasn't a hulking beast brimming with mutations. I've never heard of one practicing subtlety or disguise.

 

The problem of relations with the Ad Mech in the first place is a bit iffy to me, too. Im not entirely positive mind you, but as I understand it the Ad mech is fairly scattered and fractious in nature, meaning if one Lord was po'd at the Chapter, it shouldn't have been too hard to find another. Also, I'm a bit confused about the explanation for the unprecedented amount of precious Power Armor suits in the cargo ship they raided. It goes strait from "well that's weird.." to the mysterious stranger's appearance. Are you implying the rogue trader or the disguised Obliterator somehow "commissioned" the Ad Mech for all those suits? :)

 

Overall though, I like it. The descent into Chaos in particular was properly subtle and gradual, instead of a clumsy wholesale "Screw the Emperor!" moment. With a bit of editing and formatting (it would be particularly nice to break up the story a bit with some headers, something to give the reader's eyes a break) this should be a real gem. Bravo :tu: