Shadow Guard

[snorkle]

Hey Brothers

 

After having neglected the hobby for around two years, I'm back. And I need your help:

 

I've been kicking around an idea for a new chapter and seeing as I really like dark, hidden organization fluff, I'm trying to put together a chapter along those lines. The name of the chapter is from the chapter name creator, so I'm not sure if I really like it. I might make the first company be called Shadow Guard though...Anyways the background I have so far is that they were created in the dark founding ( so that no one knows of their origins) and they have always remained mostly behind-the-scenes. They fight wars this way too utilising alpha legionesque undercover ops and such.

 

I'm not sure if they are be fleet based, have a homeworld (maybe hidden?) or have lost their homeworld somehow.

 

As for the color scheme I'm thinking dark colors (obviously, it wouldnt do for a secretive chapter to be bright pink ^_^ )

 

I'm working on the first draft of their IA, but real life is hectic right now so it might be a while.

 

Any Ideas are appreciated and I'm looking forward to your c&c

[Ezekial Gravestone]

it sounds cool, and fleetbased really would be the best in my veiw, perhaps some kind of inquisitors private force, lot of snipers not to many termanators, except for maybe a few strikeforces but i love to read what ya come up with sounds really cool

[Ferrata]

You have to remember that they are still Astartes - so that would rule out being a private force of an Inquisitor. How do other Astartes respond to their shadow lifestyle? Are they simply a stealth based chapter, or is their entire behaviour dark, secretative and underhand? I would suggest reading the following IAs as they are based on similar chapters:

 

Shadow Warriors by freej

Black Guard by Ferrata

[Hemal]

ANd more to the point are there any existing DIYs with this name? I don't think that there are (although there is a Mod by this name lol)

[Ferrata]

Like I've been talking about a fair amount recently, if he likes the name there is no reason he should change it just because someone else on the internet posted it first.

[snorkle]

Thanks for the replies :P

 

@Ferrata: Thanks those IAs were really helpful. And I really like the fleshing out of the Black Guard you did. I almost chose those guys for a project a while ago. :)

 

@Ezekial: Yeah I'm leaning towards fleet-based as well. But I'm not sure about lots of snipers for reasons I'll mention below.

 

So I've thought a bit more and I think that fleet-based is probably the way to go, as it means they'll harder to track down by other organizations. I envision scouts being used as undercover assassin squads. That way the Guard could keep themselves hidden better and finish strikes much faster or if not at least much quieter. But I prefer the assassin squads being more stealthy hand to hand specialists instead of long range snipers, it just seems to me stuff would get done faster that way. But I could see each cc squad being supported by a ranged sniper unit.

 

They will be Raven Guard successors as I see their tactics most fitting to either Raven Guard or Dark Angels and I don't really like Dark Angels that much.

 

The reason for their stealthy behaviour is probably going to be some great shame that occurred in their chapter. I have a few ideas half formed, but they aren't ready to be presented yet (they're still pretty rough). This leads to them shunning other chapters which means other space marines usually view them with suspicion.

 

The Shadow Guard aren't a codex chapter as such, though they most likely aren't over a thousand marines. But because they are fleet-based they are almost never all together in companies and are more spread out in (stealthy) crusades like the Black Templars.

 

What do you guys think?

[Legio Artificium]

Hey, I have been working on a chapter with similar ideas but without melee...ironically due to some comments on the background story I started thinking of working on a different origin and I was starting to get more drawn to a raven guard origin just as you did...

May be you could take a look

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...howtopic=210872

We could help each other out eith this since I am relatively new to wh universe

[snorkle]

@Legio: Yeah sure. I actually looked at your chapter name when I was trying to come up with mine and i gotta say pretty awesome name! :(

i'll read through your stuff now that I finished my first draft IA ^^

 

and here is my IA...be gentle :D

My idea is that they started out more like a normal Raven Guard successor, but after a while something happened and they left their homeworld and became fleetbased and secretive as it was the only was to do something or so...

Ideas so far are:

-Chaos Taint in Homeworld ->Shame caused them to leave

-Lost important relic (maybe something of corax's, though if then something small and unimportant) -> mission to retrieve item caused them to leave

-New Info -> trying to prevent something or need more info...?

 

If anyone has any ideas they are greatly appreciated.

 

Shadow Guard (before the event that made them all secretive ^^)

 

Origins:

One Chapter created in the 5th Founding (M33) was the Shadow Guard. They were created from the Gene-Seed of the legendary Raven Guard, to bolster the ranks of the Space Marine chapters.

Once the Guard had been brought to sufficient strength by their Chapter Master, they fought in numerous conflicts, earning many victories. Their tactics involved the usual Raven Guardesque behind enemy lines operations coupled with full on frontal assaults once weak points had been discerned and they quickly earned a name in their region of space (not sure where yet) for their sometimes foolhardy, but definitely effective strategies.

Then an unknown event caused them to suddenly leave their homeworld and become fleet based. Since then the Shadow Guard have rarely been seen by allied forces and when their presence is recorded it is always unexpected and then they quickly withdraw once their objectives have been completed.

Many chapters and other Imperial organizations question their newfound secretive behavior, but as they still fulfill their functions (to an extent), the inquisition has been able to find no fault.

 

Homeworld:

The Chapter settled the death world of Umbra Specialis within twenty years of their founding. It is a medium-sized world covered half by land and half by sea. The Land is bunched together in one continent with hives built on islands off of the continent. They are connected to the mainland by narrow strips of land and in some places by ancient, crumbling bridges. Some of the hives are built along the coast as well, but these hives have generally been destroyed by the mainland inhabitants. The land is covered by thick vegetation with trees that reach heights of up to 100 meters and the canopy is extremely thick. Many carnivorous animals roam the forest and the plant life is often poisonous or covered by large thorns that can cut through carapace armor. The solar year is relatively normal with one rotation around the sun being 394 Terran days and a day is usually around 30 hours.

When the Shadow Guard came upon the world of Umbra Specialis they realized the inhabitants were perfect to be recruited into their chapter and they started erecting a fortress monastery high in the mountains that are located in the middle of the continent, to keep it from the prying eyes of the tribes and the cities.

 

There are two main groups on the planet, the city dwellers and the tribes.

The cities are large bio-enclosed structures ranging from small domes to gigantic cities. Life there is rough, as it is bound to be in a hive city, and the citizens of these enclosed towns are a hardy lot, not above attacking other cities when supplies become a rarity. After thousands of years of living in the cities, technology began to break down, and knowledge was lost. The cities now only retain their protective domes to keep out the environment and they lack all but the most rudimentary technology, such as ancient guns left behind from some long forgotten time. This lack of important supplies leads to the inhabitants of each city fighting with each other inside their protective hives for what is left of their ancient tech. Nevertheless life inside the cities is somewhat more forgiving than on the outside and most cities still possess water and food recycling facilities. This means travel outside of the city is a rarity at best.

The Tribes live in the forests of Umbra and life is a battle. To survive they are forced to hunt dangerous animals or attempt to steal from the city dwellers. This lead to the tribes being very stealthy, though in open warfare they are vicious and when the tribes fought between themselves, the battles tended to be short and bloody as both sides attempted to utterly destroy the other in a fearsome example of the ancient concept of total war. They have wiped out nearly every hive that was located on the main continent, mainly with the purpose of looting any weapons and stealing the food recyclers for themselves. The island hives have never been attacked, as the tribes realize, that the narrow land bridges do not afford any cover to the attackers.

The tribes respect and fear the mountains as it is said that the gods inhabit the high places. When a male member of the tribe comes of age he must attempt to climb the mountains and talk to the gods. Most fail and return, though there is no shame in this, as only the strongest and toughest can hope to reach the tops of the sheer faces. Those that do complete the journey are never seen again, and the tribes view their disappearance as a sign that they have become part of the god’s heavenly army.

The Shadow Guard generally recruit from the tribes as those that do reach their fortress are ideal candidates, as they must be strong and persevere to reach them. They also have bred dangerous animals to protect the higher passes from the unworthy, so those that reach the top are always fierce warriors.

The Guard rarely interfere with the inhabitants of Umbra and the only times they can be seen on the continent are when they search the hives for suitable recruits, as the hives produce hardy warriors as well and the champions of the tribes alone would not fill their recruit company. Though there are generally more men from the tribes than from the hives. This doesn’t lead to conflict as one might fear, as both factions recognize the warrior within each other and once they have gone through training together they are fast friends and battle brothers.

The Shadow Guard hasn’t been affected by their planet as much as some chapters, though they do refer to their fortress as the “Summit of the Gods” and their scouts will sometimes use the weapons they brought with from their tribes.

 

Combat Doctrine:

The Shadow Guard have always favored the tactics of their parent chapter the Raven Guard. They make large use of scout squads, who go behind enemy lines for extended periods of time and when the time is right they call in support from assault squads to rip out the enemy’s throat.

They usually pair 3 scout squads together, a close combat geared squad is used to enter structures and assassinate enemy leaders. They are in turn supported by a squad armed with silenced bolters. This squad stays close and acts as a recon unit and silences any stragglers. Both squads are supported by a long range sniper unit that keeps in contact with them through primitive signals, so that their communications can’t be disrupted by their foe. This tactic has proved exceptionally effective during undercover ops and sometimes the scouts have no need to call in reinforcements once they’ve crushed the enemy’s command structure. Land speeder storms are used to withdraw when their mission is complete. (Organization of the squads will be related to later)

They also use lots of assault squads as they excel at fast assaults performed under cover of dark.

Tactical squads are usually equipped with rhinos and and they strike fast and hard at weak points in opposing forces.

Terminators are used only with teleporters and they are usually called in by scouts once they have found a key point in the enemy’s high command.

 

Organization:

They are a codex chapter with one difference, namely that they employ an extended 10th company as they are vital to their plans. The number of scouts is generally kept around 150 and they are divided into assassin squads (cc), recon squads (silenced bolters) and sniper units (snipers :P)

Every scout starts in a recon squad, the sergeant then decides when a brother is ready to advance. The scout may choose to become a sniper or an assassin. This decision weighs heavily in his future, as a sniper will generally go on to become a devastator and an assassin will become an assault marine. Many scouts opt to stay in the recon units and these will then become the tactical marines. This process is not set in stone, and once the scout advances out of the scout company he is given the choice of unit he will join. But generally the progression goes as described. (It is noted that tribesmen usually make better recon and assassin brothers, but hive dwellers are generally by far the better marksmen)

 

Beliefs:

The Chapter believes in the Emperor being the greatest warrior ever and they view him as an example. He was also the greatest infiltrator ever, as he kept himself hidden for thousands of years before he rose up at the right moment to lead Mankind. Their Chaplains spread this message within the chapter and when they go to war they can be heard crying litanies to the “Shadow”. (?)

Corax is their other Idol as they know they are descended from his Geneseed and they hold a great respect and love in their hearts for their Primarch. They also view the Raven Guard as their parents and when the Raven Guard call them to war they will send as many men as they can muster without neglecting their duties.

They hate chaos above all as chaos was responsible for taking the emperor from Mankind and this is the vilest crime ever committed to their eyes.

Their second most hated enemy are the Dark Eldar as their third chapter master was captured by a raider fleet. They lost contact to fleet only for it to return their chapter master strapped to an escape pod and without skin. From that moment on whenever they see dark elder they forget themselves and strike at the Xenos as hard as they can.

 

Geneseed:

Their Geneseed being from the Raven Guard is dangerously low, and to keep up their higher number of scouts they use a large number of apothecaries. Sergeants are also trained to remove geneseed and sometimes an apothecary will lead a squad into battle.

They were created directly from the Raven Guard.

 

Battle Cry:

They use no battle cry as they generally operate very quietly, though when they are in an open battle they will cry their belief in the Shadow.

 

“For the Shadow and His Son, the Raven”

 

c&c yes please (it kinda rhymes...sorta :P )

[Grey Hunter Ydalir]

They are a codex chapter with one difference, namely that they employ an extended 10th company as they are vital to their plans. The number of scouts is generally kept around 150 and they are divided into assassin squads (cc), recon squads (silenced bolters) and sniper units

 

The problem here is that Astartes scouts largely perform these roles anyway. It's simply the nature of the Astartes in general, given their abilities, equipment and training to adhere more to a combination of 'shock and awe' and 'lightning strikes' with 'overwhelming force' thrown into the mix at every possible stage.

 

Doing the work of proper assassination would be more the purview of the Officio Assassinorum would it not? What makes your chapter any kind of preferred choice over those extremely skilled and dedicated Imperial Agents?

 

Also, would you really entrust an important assassination mission to what equate to your rawest recruits? Wouldn't you choose veterans for this?

 

As a side note, 'assassination' squads being tasked as CC is a little... off. Assassination is just the elimination of a target, not the means with which it is accomplished.

 

What you have to justify is how your men would be in any way usable when you have eminently superior tools at your disposal (Imperial Assassins, Inquisitors).

 

If this is just a wider method of warfare for the chapter, why do they choose to fight this way? It is an eminently slower method than the typical 'kick the door in' approach that most other chapters use.

 

I say why not so you can quickly formulate a tactical reason, but why have they evolved to fight this way in the context of 40k? What battle pushed them to use these tactics or what homeworld's culture did they integrate that so changed their fighting style?

[snorkle]

@Grey Hunter:

Good points

 

The difference of my chapter is that they emphasize these tactics more, as opposed to BA, SW, DA or any other number of chapters that, while they probably use these tactics, put little to no emphasis on scouts (having trouble explaining ^^). Most chapters seem to put more weight on glorious charges and such (well I guess mostly GW chapters). While I prefer to focus on infiltration,etc.

 

As for cc squads being the assassins, it is a little off I agree, it's just I like the image of a scout dropping down from the ceiling to cut some traitor general's head off or something :) Sniper's doing assassinations and the like doesn't appeal as much, although it is probably much more likely. Though the rawness of scouts is a problem, that I need to solve, i wanted to write that scouts are veteran marines like in the SW, but what excuse do I have for their lower stats?

 

i dislike the Assassinorum, because I have this image of them as untrustworthy and also the dark, secretive nature of my chapter fits in my mind to assassinations and also the Assassinorum is for really high ranking b*****ds isn't it? I mean the fluff on assassins makes them pretty hardcore, they couldn't send one to every space marin strike, could they?

 

In any case, good criticism. i'm trying to think up reasons, but my mind is slowly going (too filled with fluff :( )

 

ps: reason they fight this way -> They're Raven Guard successors, they take after their parent (at least til I can think of a better reason :) )

[Legio Artificium]

Comparing this fighting method to the assassinorum is a bit inadequate, imo. The assassinorum won't lend its assassins to achapter to do their dirty work but only when the high lords of terra commission an assassination (which means only against terrible threats) therefore a chapter wanting to destabilize the enemy command structure or cut their supply lines or do some sabotage won't issue a request for the officio to lend them a hand and if they did I think the high lords of terra would have them wiped out, so I think this chapter would have to rely on themselves for that matter.

 

Now regarding scouts, here is some fluff I thought of that might help, feel free to use (or discard it) since most likely I won't be creating that chapter I though of...Cyrus of the blood ravens was a veteran marine who deliberately chose to remain in the ranks of scouts to get the job done in a stealthy way, now for an entire chapter that is built on such a combat doctrine I wouldn't find it very unlikely that members may choose to remain as scouts to carry on the fight in the combat doctrine they deem superior.

I was also thinking of a battle cry that is not said loudly but muttered in stealth operations "Corax Vindico Nos" or Corax Deliver us.

For raven's sake, you might also think of making them use lightening claws exclusively as melee weapons and that every member carries a ceremonial one even if he is not an assault marine...Beaked helmets are preferred for their bird like appearance, also the jet packs are stylized to look like wings similar to the jet pack Corax used (mentioned in HH Fulgrim).

Finally I was thinking their Fortress Monestary be named Ravens' Nest (but then I had planned to call them Black ravens so may be with shadow guard the name wouldn't fit). Instead of companies, may be they would be arranged into wings and use thunder hawks excessively (with drop pods ofc).

 

The part where they look up to the raven guard and add them whenever possible I really like and even thought of it myself but not just the RG but any of the bearers of their gene seed...hell I was thinking of a mandatory pilgrimage to Raven Spire on periodic basis.

 

I created a thread asking about the ravens and corax, may be that would help:

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...howtopic=211549

 

I also like the whole scout detaching from the ceiling/tree branch and landing on top of an enemy to tear him to shreds with his claws :P

[snorkle]

@Legio: thanks for the support on the scout issue and the many good ideas ^^

 

I like your idea about the veteran scouts staying in the scout company. Now I'm wondering if I could take it further and perhaps have every single marine retain a suit of scout armor for the chance that the chapter will need them in such a capacity. From a logistical standpoint I don't see a problem. Carapace armor is nothing really special...But I'd like to hear what you guys think.

 

On the issue of their battlecry I must say that I didnt really like my version and I almost wrote that they didnt have a battlecry but it felt like giving up so I wrote down whatever I could think of. I like the idea of a whispered cry more and latin makes anything sound good to me

 

I'm not to keen on the wings though, the Shadow Guard aren't overly avian as far as I'm concerned, though beak helmets will definitely be used (MK6 is the awesomest MK )

 

 

I made two lightning claws after I read your post. But to get them more stealthy I used combat knives cut down and fitted to the back of a scout's hand and a marine's hand. The scout's hand was too small and I could only fit two knives, but it still looks okay. But the marine version (three slightly bigger knives) looks pretty awesome imo. I tried to take pics but my cam is broken, I even tried putting the arms into my copier and scanning them, but for some reason this didn't work out. :lol:

 

c&c greatly appreciated

 

ps: important question ---> would my scout armor for everyone policy work? (fluffily,logistically, any other things)

[Ezekial Gravestone]

i do belive there is a option for camoline cloaks, and you can make the recon squads of your 3 squad workup full marines with silnced bolters and camoline cloaks, that way if stuff goes ploine you got 5 full powerarmored marines along with a long range spacilist squad (( also could be full armor, using the rules of the black templars mixed squads to have a pair of snipers and still have heavy weapon backup saport with the sargent in charge of the 3 squads amongest them )) and the scout units for deep infeltration with explosives blades and pistol and swords for stright up fighting

 

atleast thats how i would handle it from a tactical sense, remember just because they are big and blukly dosent mean they are noisy and in your face, these are the imperiums spacial forces, not shock troops thats a stormtrooper regement (( witch is not made to be all around spacilists, but just boots on the ground able to handle anything they are thrown aganst )) and its tatical saperiority of armor (( carapace armor and armour as in tanks )) and hellguns galore, while space marines are ment to be able to handle anything they come aganst, be it demoans, xenos, or heretics, or all 3 (( darn dark elder and there human allies )) so while yes your chapter (( or chapters if legio is reading this )) you will still have marines who cant handle the sneaking around and prefer to be atop the mound of bodys with the heavy bolter going, and you will be able to fight wars in this way like every other chapter, but more offten then not, you will have men inside there lines going at it with lightening claws and flamers, your scouts behind them and above them and your heavy weapons at your line, and when fought like this, not even tau fireteams will be able to withstand the punishment put out

[snorkle]

i do belive there is a option for camoline cloaks, and you can make the recon squads of your 3 squad workup full marines with silnced bolters and camoline cloaks, that way if stuff goes ploine you got 5 full powerarmored marines along with a long range spacilist squad

 

I think this probably is the way to go. I must agree that it does make more sense (and I just found 10 marines I modeled with silencers and loads of equipment, they should do nicely :) ).

 

I'll try and post a pic of my scout sergeant with his wip homemade lightning claw when I get home in a couple of hours.

[snorkle]

I've had a few ideas as to why the Shadow Guard leave their homeworld and become a fleet based chapter:

1. Ork-Invasion and follow up crusade to destroy all things green (too Crimson Fisty?)

2. Homeworld attacked by alpha legion sleeper cells, because they unwittingly foiled an Alpha Legion plot when they quelled a Chaotic uprising in a nearby sector. They then leave ashamed because they allowed their homeworld to be compromised.

3. They are on a mysterious quest that no one save them knows about. My idea here is that their Chief Epistolary recieved a vision of Corax and they drop everything to achieve whatever goal the vision is linked to.

4. They have learned of a great plot to destroy the imperium (or perhaps something smaller within the imperium) and they are fighting from the shadows to destroy this evil and avoid being found out by the overwhelmingly powerful organization behind the plot. (sounds a little to farreaching to me, but I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on the matter)

That's what I got so far. Please let me know which is your favorite and if you have any ideas or see any issues with any of my ideas I'd love to hear it.

Thanks

edit: Made pics :)

Here they are. Keep in mind they aren't totally finished. I plan to add a housing to the back of the hand so that they could possibly be retracted or at least so the ends of the knives aren't showing.

Scout Sergeant

Pa arm

c&c appreciated

[snorkle]

Hey all

 

I've been pretty busy, but the other night on my way home in the train I started the story of how the Shadow Guard lost their Home world. I also finished the captain with the lightning claws pictured in the above post. I'll post pics soon. Here's the story. I hope you enjoy it. :blush:

 

The Fall of Umbra Specialis

In the 39th Millennium a great tragedy befell the Shadow Guard Space Marine Chapter. The majority of the Chapter was elsewhere in the galaxy defending Humanity. It was then that an old, insidious enemy of the Chapter struck, The Alpha Legion. They were retaliating for a cell of agents that the Shadow had unknowingly destroyed centuries earlier.

The agents of chaos lay in wait in the dense jungles of the continent and waited for the opportune moment to strike. When they finally attacked it was meant to completely crush any loyalist marines on the planet. They had lain in wait for nearly a hundred years apparently, planting sleepers in the ranks of the Shadow Guard even and subverting the native tribes to their cause by convincing them that their “gods” had killed every champion they had sent them for sport.

With all this might they activated the sleepers in the Shadow Guard and attacked their Fortress Monastery. Around 400 marines were in the Keep when the sleepers activated. By the time these traitors could be subdued the Alpha Legion and their army of tribal cultists were nearly at the gates. The marines refused to try escape as they couldn’t bear to leave their homeworld. They defended the Keep against the encroaching forces for months under the leadership of their Chapter Master, Mertavax, who had returned only weeks before the assault. Despite their determined defence the attackers were slowly overwhelming their Keep and there was little hope that reinforcements would arrive.

It was only after the defenders had been pushed to the innermost chambers of the Keep that relief showed up. Second Company Captain, Veloxis, exited the warp with the three companies he had led on a crusade to crush a cultist uprising. Something was wrong there were strange Astartes space ships in orbit and as he tried to hail the fortress he was answered by their Chapter Master himself, his armor slashed in places and in disrepair. Bolter explosions could be heard in the background and he saw dead brothers lying on the floor. A bright light flashed and the communication cut out.

Though his fellow captains were dazed and confused and called for an immediate assault on the Fortress Monastery Veloxis knew in his heart that their Chapter Master was already dead and that their attack would come too late. He summoned every terminator he could muster and ordered all assault squads to form up without jump packs in the drop pod launch bays. An assault was launched on the strange ships. Onboard they discovered the ships belonged to chaos. Their vengeance was terrible and once they placed melta charges on the ship’s reactor they withdrew. The captain thirsted for revenge, but he knew that for now information was more important as the enemy cruisers had already begun to depart the system as soon as they had entered the system. While the assault marines planted the charges he led the terminators to the bridge, where he captured the captain of the ship, a vile chaos space marine wearing bluish-green armor, as well as a number of lesser crew members.

Returned to their ships they launched a second assault on their own Fortress Monastery a sad undertaking indeed. Having cleaned the Keep of chaos they found the room where their chapter master had made his last stand. They found only one survivor, the Epistolary Aldoros, who had erected a shield around himself to keep his attackers at bay once he was surrounded.

Once they learned from him that the attack had been initiated by their own brethren they were overcome by grief. Confused and grieving the chapter gathered all the equipment they could find and left their Fortress Monastery for the last time.

The information they heard convinced them that their planet was beyond saving and they initiated Exterminatus to cleanse their planet of the taint of Chaos. After interrogating their prisoners they learned that the Alpha Legion was responsible. They learned many things from the crew members they had taken, but the captain refused to respond to the increasingly violent interrogation methods used. Finally it was decided he should be put into stasis to forever keep his rotten soul from release.

The remaining six Chapter Captains unanimously decided that Veloxis should become Chapter Master. Normally a new Chapter Master would have been cause for celebrations, but Veloxis insisted they had more important work to do. His first vow as Master was that the Alpha Legion would pay for their attack. The Chapter would rebuild and find the Alpha Legion wherever they could. Aldoros was a great help as his exposure to the Legion had increased his ability to sense their presence in the warp. He furthermore decreed they would remove any signs of the Emperor from their armor as they were unfit to wear them, having lost their planet. He furthermore adopted the title the Raven Guard use for their Chapter Masters and changed it to a distinct Shadow Guard title, the Shadow Master.

Since that time, the Shadow Guard have kept to themselves striking from the shadows. Often times a battle will be turned by them, though the Imperials didn’t even know they were there until they struck the deathblow to the enemies of the Emperor. They don’t wear any distinguishing marks on their armor that could lead to them being recognized by their enemies. The Inquisition is currently skeptical about them, but as they have always been a beneficial ally to any world they decide to help they haven’t been considered for excommunication. They were even aided by the Grey Knights once to stop the Word Bearers raising a massive daemon army.

Nevertheless they mostly keep to themselves. Their fleet is split into four parts. Each is basically an equal, autonomous force. The fleets rarely meet and the only authority they refer to is the Shadow Master who leads his a fifth, larger fleet. Since they regained their strength the fleets are composed such:

 

Shadow Master’s Fleet:

10 Honor Guard

20 Terminators – These Troops usually act as Sternguard or Vanguard Veterans as Terminators do not suit the tactics of the Shadow Guard

10 Sternguard Veterans – These are in addition to the terminators

10 Vanguard Veterans - These are in addition to the terminators

100 Tactical Marines

50 Assault Marines

20 Devastator Marines – Not as prevalent as in other chapters. Heavy Weapons are to slow for the Shadow Guard

50 Scouts – Split into 25 Snipers, 25 Close combat “Assassins”

 

Normal Fleet:

10 Command Squad

5 or 10 Termies

10 Sternguard

10 Vanguard

80 Tactical Marines

30 Assault Marines

20 Devastator Marines

50 Scouts - split same as above

 

They end up with a chapter strength of 1150, but I think this is ok, because 250 of those Marines are scouts...Thoughts?

I think the 1st Company may have grown a little too big as they end up with nearly 150 Marines there. Otherwise I'm pretty happy with the speed this is coming along. I've decided on dark grey for their color scheme or else a brownish/khaki color if the test mini doesn't come out well.

 

 

Comments and criticism appreciated