Origin Expunged: Resplendent Scorpions

[Consul of Scorpions]

A little feedback on any balance issues I've overlooked would be nice.

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Resplendent Scorpions Space Marine Chapter

Parent Chapter ++ [Expunged ++ Order Origination: Unknown]

Founding ++ 348.M41

Symbol ++ Purple scorpion sting on field of green

Colors ++ Purple and Green with Gold Accents

Organization ++ newly founded, the Resplendent Scorpions are equipped for rapid strikes and guerilla warfare, though, when necessary they take to the field dressed uniformly in full Mk8 ‘Errant’ Pattern powered plate, but are most often deployed in the stealthier powered carapace normally equipped solely to the neophyte space marine scouts. While the Errant Pattern armor is rare, the chapter has sufficient numbers of the suits to equip fully five companies, marking their regular use of scout carapace as a deviation from codex standards. The Resplendent Scorpions number just over five hundred battle brothers and neophyte initiates. The measure of fully initiated brother-marines has been steadily climbing from the original century they were formed as, numbers having tripled since the chapter’s founding. However, high attrition rates among initiates forced into front-line duties or lacking proper support from a fully equipped and manned chapter have kept the neophyte company around two hundred hopefuls. The Resplendent Scorpions are led by two Consuls, both equivalent in rank to a chapter master. The Chapter Fleet is based around the battle barge ‘Dolorous Ascendancy’, which has been retrofitted to serve as a mobile station and operations nerve center more than a planetary bombardment platform. Added to this the chapter operates only two strike cruisers, the ‘Aurum Fervor’ and ‘Verdant Sting’, that act as the main stations of deployment for the Chapter’s campaigns, supported by a large number of rapid strike vessels and other escorts.

Special Rules + Scout Specialists ++ Any Command, Tactical, Sternguard Veteran, Vanguard Veteran, Assault, Bike, or Devastator Squad may exchange their power armor for scout armor at no cost. Independent Characters may also purchase scout armor for no additional cost. Any model or squad that dons scout armor gains an armor save of 4+ and the Infiltrate, Move Through Cover, and Scouts special rules; Bikes do not gain the Move Through Cover special rule. All squads capable of selecting scout armor as an option must take the armor for all members of the squad if at least one model in the squad takes scout armor, but may also select equipment options from those available to Scout Squads. Bike Squads wearing scout armor may select from the options given to Scout Bike Squads instead. Assault Squads or Veteran Vanguard Squads that are fielded with jump packs may not select heavy weapons. Attack Bikes may not be deployed in scout armor, nor may any Bike Squads they are deployed as part of. Assault Squads may still use their jump packs while wearing scout armor as normal (as may Vanguard Veteran Squads). Additionally, any squad that has the option of a dedicated transport may purchase a Land Speeder Storm instead of the normal options. However, every 1~3 Land Speeder Storms purchased in this way take up one Fast Attack choice on the force organization chart. Any squad with a dedicated transport may not infiltrate. Models with jump packs must deploy twice the normal distance from enemy models when infiltrating, but, if they also have the Scouts rule, may enter play from reserves from any board edge with a modified die result of [1~2: left flank, 3~4: right flank, 5: enemy rear, 6: controlling player’s choice] if the option is given. The player may always choose to simply deploy his reserves from the normal table edge.

Special Rules + Origin Expunged ++ The origin of the Resplendent Scorpions Chapter is surrounded in mystery. The officially supported rumors point towards the Raven Guard as the source of the Scorpion’s Geneseed, though the records of the genetic origins and the founding marines have either been completely expunged or sealed under levels of security so high further gossip claims that even the High Lords of Terra have no access to the files. However, a darker scandal has recently circulated, suggesting that the Resplendent Scorpions hail not from the stocks descended from the Raven Guard, but from a successor chapter related to the Dark Angels spliced with elements of stasis-sealed material secured during the Horus Heresy, Geneseed that hails from one of the traitor legions, material that is supposedly pure of Chaos taint. Any unit taken from the Witch Hunters (including Allies or Inducted units), the Dark Angels, or units with the Mark of Slaanesh from the Chaos Space Marines and Chaos Daemons codices gain the Preferred Enemy ++ Resplendent Scorpions universal special rule for no extra cost.

Special Rules + Fledgling Chapter ++ Land Raiders (any variant), Dreadnoughts (any variant), Terminator Squads, Terminator Assault Squads, Sternguard Veteran Squads, and Vanguard Veteran Squads are all 0-1 selections (i.e. only one Dreadnought and one Land Raider may be fielded per force organization chart, Land Raiders taken as dedicated transports do not count against this limit). Venerable Dreadnoughts take up two Elites choices in the force organization chart. At least one Scout Squad must be taken for every 900 points or part thereof of other army selections (i.e. Scout Squads do not count their cost towards this requirement). Additionally, the number of suits of terminator armor in the army is limited to one for every 200pts or part thereof in the army list, including the cost of the terminator armor. Example: an army of 925 points with 150 points of space marine scouts (1075 points total) would be able to field six models in terminator armor and would require that at least 2 Scout Squads (900 + 25) be purchased, a minimum expenditure of 150 points.

Special Rules + Terminus Honor Guard ++ if a Chapter Master purchases terminator armor, his Honor Guard, if purchased, must do the same, replacing their power armor, frag and krak grenades, and boltgun with terminator armor and a storm bolter for +35 points per model. The storm bolter may be exchanged for other options allowed to the Honor Guard as if it were a boltgun. In addition, the Honor Guard may purchase a Drop Pod or Land Raider as a dedicated transport provided the entire Honor Guard only numbers five models or less, the Chapter Master may deploy inside the Honour Guard’s transport.

Special Rules + Nikaean Sanction ++ the Resplendent Scorpions suffer a limitation to their Librarium that precludes active training of initiates and enforces additional duties upon the fully trained brethren; this limitation is also the reason for their great skill at psychic nullification and defensive manifestations. Librarians are a 0-1 choice, but roll an extra d6 on the Psychic Test or Nullification Test when using their psychic hood (take highest result) or defensive psychic powers (Force Dome and Null Zone are considered defensive psychic powers and take the lowest results even if they cause Perils of the Warp). However, any offensive psychic powers, including using force weapons must roll an extra d6 and take the highest result(s) on the Psychic Test (the Quickening and The Gate of Infinity psychic powers are not considered offensive powers).

[Warsmith Aznable]

Splicing loyalist and traitor geneseed? For the other armies to get preferred enemy against them, wouldn't they have to know that the geneseed was spliced? And if the Inquisition knows the geneseed is spliced, wouldn't the entire chapter be declared heretical fast enough to make their heads spin? I don't see the Imperium letting this slide.

 

I try to stick to this B&C suggestion post.

[Consul of Scorpions]

Nn, no there's a difference between the vaults in Terra and the genetic material that's been mutating with the legion all this time, the stuff on Terra is pure, but you know, if the originals fell to Chaos (not to mention that little deal with Caliban and Luther) then how fast are half-breeds going to turn to the... er... "dark side" as it were?

 

Obviously someone important commisioned them and the Chapter's done good work so far, I see most conflicts arising from youthful puritans without the force of arms to raise a crusade against the chapter and the parent chapters, one of whom would take as much interest in the Scorpion's origins as they would on addressing any insults as having their legacy sullied by the blood traitors. The Emperor's Children, on the other hand, probably just see something new and interesting to ruin and cast aside once the newness fades, scavenging fresh genetic material is ussually a high priority among the Renegade chapters as well.

 

But you have a point, perhaps I will simply reduce the involvement of the mixing and traitor taint to notorious and rumors that are avidly pursued by the aforementioned forces... yeah, that'll work, thanks for the advice, but i'm more concerned about the house rules than any finnicky bits of history.

[Consul of Scorpions]

Reason for Bump: Updated fluff (highlighted in soft green).

 

And yes, I do plan on writing more detailed background, but only after I get the core concepts hammered down.

 

On the subject of splicing being a no-no, I acknowledge how cheesy it is, but like any good nerd I'll ignore the peer pressure unless it displays sound logic. It's either that or work up a whole new negative trait to take it's place and I really like the idea as it is, so I'll fiddle with the details for now but remain open for a complete rewrite as a last resort.

 

While I appreciate help with the fluff and hope it continues to suffer the forum's scrutiny, I would like a 'yay' or 'nay' on the mechanics and an opinion of why in either case.

 

 

EDIT: Regarding the exception to the rule of 'don't mix geneseed lines' in the case of the Relictors, perhaps limiting Librarians in number and/or cost while requiring that a Chaplain or Chapter Consul be present in all situations, especially the battlefield, would help explain their fleet-borne style and tendancy to deploy as a whole chapter instead of disparate units. And this is just in consideration of what the fall of the Relictors would imply in the creation of any mixed-line chapters, let alone being related to a traitor legion. The necessity for direct oversight and constant supervision becomes even further highlighted when you consider their feint tactics, which would more than likely require a great degree of mobility and strategic coordination that support my initial vision of the chapter. Not to mention their low numbers, and corresponding lack of veteran leadership.

[Warsmith Aznable]

I like the idea of "Origin Expunged", but I think I would do it differently, and with less direct reference to the splicing.

 

Such as: this chapter was brought into the Imperial fold after a long penance crusade. the original chapter master and command structure was either purged or lost during the penance crusade, so much history has been lost or expunged from the record, including their progenitors. While the exact details of their former heresy has been expunged from the record, rumors have risen through the rank concerning an "alarming issue" with their geneseed stocks, and several mutations uncomfortably similar to certain traitoris extremis have been covered up by the chapter. some of these rumors have extended to the inquisition, and the chapter has been resisting the inquisition's scrutiny and working twice as hard to prove their loyalty (all the while continuing to cover up their unfortunate issues)

 

to keep the allusion to the emperor's children, you could work some color scheme similarities in there, and also have biographical information on the heroes that references proclivities toward heightened senses or a tendency to indulge the self

 

that would explain certain enmities and give wiggle room for special rules concerning mutations or whatever, but not have more conservative folks "cry cheese"

[Consul of Scorpions]

Well, you're spot on about the color scheme, it's liche purple (close as I could figure to the Preheresy EC colors) with a band of dark angels green across the chest, pauldrons and facemask, and gold trim, I try to do as much gold trim as possible on the sm painter (pg81 of the post your colors thread has several variations).

 

And yeah, I decide that there are a few mutations in initiates every so often (like catastrophic Chaos Spawn level of mutation) that necessitates an internal purge of that strain of geneseed to prevent the effects from spreading. I'm in the middle of writing all of the above rules into a codex format with a lot more detail and confusication put into everything. I'm almost done and will be submitting it for further review within a day or so.

 

Right now I'm playing with the idea that someone high up, probably a lord of terra himself, sanctioned the chapter secretly and then expunged as many references as possible, but that's like having an inquisitor show up to resolve a timely issue (which is a no-no as far as I've read in the help guides). My main goal is providing enough links to potential perpetrators to keep readers guessing on the WHO but knowledgable from an OOC standpoint about the WHY as well as provide a strong support for the chapter with a bunch of little support groups all over the place that they can run to or be vouched for by in case they get into trouble (i.e. prevent an attack on the fleet and significant losses in materiel and personnel from becoming an outright excommunication and route to the Eye of Terror).

 

I also have them moving around the galaxy all the time so that there's no reason for them to get pinned down or accrue enough history in one sector or segmentum to get a rap sheet long enough to justify their dissolution by purge. However, they don't have it easy and pretty much every high authority knows enough about not knowing neough about them to snub any requests, so my beloved chapter has to go through slightly less legit channels and ask kindly for donations to keep their fleet operational. This also gives me a reason to make them kinder than the average bear, well, that and their mysterious origins (ooooh, armored plot, what a twist).

[Consul of Scorpions]

Here's a finished draft of the Index Astartes article for the chapter, hopefully it will clear up any confusion that the mechanics fluff has not belabored. Posting works fine, however, I'm running into some sort of format corruption when I try and edit, so far I've just repasted what I saved before I made the previous post, but I'm curious why this is happening.

Fatum Abdocumentum 'Adacto Carta Fundatio'

The best clues as to the details bound in secrecy about the origins, purpose, and founding of the Resplendent Scorpions lie within the Founding Charter, dated 0240348.M41, which holds, with the authority of the Emperor, their objectives, rites, and strictures as a Chapter. As only the High Lords of Terra can commission such a document legally (though none dare think of who might attempt to forge such documents), the Adacto Carta Fundatio remains a great point of contention as none of the High Lords admits to contracting the document; indeed the subject is often avoided. The most direct questioning of the Charter has been through the Emperor’s Tarot, which reveals, in no certain terms, that the Resplendent Scorpions will play a vital role in the Providence of Man, but only at the cost of doom and ruin for the Chapter and any that stand against the Emperor. The Founding Charter has been questioned and although it is the most revered artefact of the Chapter, outsiders have been permitted to read it under dire circumstances and the strictest of precautions and purification rites (primarily ritual fasting and contemplation of the later works by the Chapter’s philosopher-generals) to confirm the Chapter’s licensed eccentricities. The grants provided by the Charter are faithful in their interpretation of the Codex Astartes; however, the stipulations and restrictions provided in the document require a few radical diversions in tactics and most notably, the Chapter’s organization, which officially marks them as a Non-Codex Chapter. The Charter itself reads much like the sanction of a penitent crusade and there are no limits to the rumors regarding this and the Chapter’s designation, DCCCLXXXIX (889), and its relation to the former Star Scorpions Chapter, who held the designation 888 (now held by the Mentor Legion). There is evidence to substantiate this rumor as it has been revealed, by both the Chapter’s relic-keepers and guests that have studied the document, that the Chapter’s designating number was written in later on than the remainder of the document.

Feathers of the Aquila

The artisans of the Resplendent Scorpions forge the battle honor know as the Iron Halo into a large ornate feather according to a favorite line of the Adacto Carta Fundatio, “…those remarkable amongst yourselves shall carry a feather of My Aquila as a sign of his outstanding service to the multitude…” As such, a great deal of relics and honors bear the iconography of eagle’s wings and seem to be an overt theme among much of the Chapter’s design ethos.

Brothers Bound

The Resplendent Scorpions have no homeworld; they are selected from youths all across the galaxy, checked against a stringent standard set in the Chapter’s Founding Charter, and grow to full brotherhood aboard one of the many vessels in the Unbroken Fleet. As the fleet itself rarely divides its forces across more than one campaign, the Chapter initiate learns to depend on his battle brothers, but also rely on his independent strengths because of their small number. So, while the entire force might tackle a foe together, individual squads frequently split into combat teams to accomplish multiple objectives on the battlefield and deploy in supporting positions or, rarely, alone on a secondary objective from the main deployment of force.

Halls of Wonder

The Chapter’s single Battlebarge, the 'Dolorous Ascendancy' is another piece of the puzzle of their origins as it has been retrofitted, or perhaps commissioned in its entirety, with rare examples of older technologies mostly lost to the forge world manufactoria of the forty-first millennium. The 'Dolorous Ascendancy' is far more defensive than most imperial designs and lacks a great deal of raw firepower but more than makes up for the loss of overt strength with tactical flexibility and a great deal of strategic power as its enhanced sensor arrays can pick out targets, strengthen allied communications signals, or cast a field of blinding static.

Eternal Expedition

What little is known of the Founding Charter, a document that is barred from those outside the Chapter, the Resplendent Scorpions have been charged with, quote: “…restoration of the Emperor’s Worlds; to bring splendor, faith, and hope where there is naught but darkness, debauchery, and despair…”. To this end, it is assumed, with the aid of various collated reports, that the Resplendent Scorpions have made a complex circuit that crosses the Imperial fold three dozen times or more, taking them to worlds forgotten by the stroke of a pen or lost to the eddies of time and space. Their involvement of greater conflicts within the Imperial History is a consequence of this constant traveling and the Chapter has fought every enemy man knows on at least one occasion and most often several. A number of minor rebellions can be laid at the feet of the Resplendent Scorpions, however, these charges have been defended as carrying out their Charter and instigating conflicts that would have happened given enough time, the Chapter’s involvement guiding the conflict into a resolution in which the Imperium benefited, which arguably, many times it has, if only slightly. Only once has the meddling of the Resplendent Scorpions caused a tithe to be late, in which the Chapter itself took pains upon themselves to redress the error with interest, though it still earned the ire of the Forge World the tithe was destined to, no punitive action was taken. Arguably, the Resplendent Scorpions have taken liberty in the affairs of other organizations and this in itself has been ground for numerous skirmishes and calls of excommunication against them, but there always seems to be a deed or more rarely an influential organization that vouches for their actions, which has also caused further suspicions against the Chapter.

The Rout on Denethos Minor + 743.M41

The single greatest defeat of the Resplendent Scorpions is recorded at the feet of the Imperator Adorare in a slab of annealed and blackened diamond, the laser-chiseled script standing out from the midnight black surface in a brilliance that draws the eye from a distance, ensuring that the Chapter’s shame is never forgotten or hidden. The incident is known in other records as the Third Siege of Denethos in which a recalcitrant clade of humanity was encountered and efforts were made to induct the people of Denethos into the Imperium. Unlike most societies recovered from the Age of Strife, the orbitals and spires of Denethos had grown, aided by their advanced technologies. Protected by several stellar phenomenon that made nearby worlds inhospitable or the space around them exceedingly dangerous to traverse, including the warp storm known as the Arms of Kali around which the Denethos System circled, nestled between the storm’s erratically swaying arms, the people of Denethos flourished over the millennia. Denethos Prime is one of several artefact worlds in the system, exhibiting artificial features similar to the great pylons on Cadia.

+++

The rout in question was initially of little consequence to the greater offensive being waged across the stellar system and is generally disregarded, though it is often regarded as the defining moment of the campaign by studious historians. The conflict saw the ancient edifices of the Denethosian people obliterated by order of Exterminatus and resulted in the destruction of two full Guard regiments that had been left planetside as the two colonized worlds of Denethos Prime and Denethos Minor were set aflame by inferno bombs. Vortex charges ripped the nigh-impregnable orbitals apart and scattered the crippled remains into the gravity wells of their respective planets. On Denethos Minor the Resplendent Scorpions endured a major schism within their ranks. The bloody fighting on that world had required multiple deployments of troops and supplies as well as the best of the Chapter’s tactical flexibility. The unaugmented troops of Denethos, while smaller in number than the massive regiments raised against them, were better equipped and trained by several magnitudes and proved a difficult foe for even the crack troops of the Imperium. Denethosian bunkers resisted initial strikes from orbit and on occasion struck back with great ferocity, necessitating a costly ground assault to take or destroy the installations without the promise of naval support. Several Chapters of Space Marines, the Resplendent Scorpions among them, were called in to solve the problem of the Denethosian meat grinder.

+++

A detachment from an Imperial Fist Successor Chapter, the Castellans, known for its skill in breaking through the strongest blockades, took to breaking the defences of the Buried Spires of Denethos Prime. The Castellans suffered heavy losses and failed to break the defences of more than a single spire by the time Exterminatus was sanctioned. The Resplendent Scorpions were the second to arrive, and seeing the Castellans Cahpter stalled on Denethos Prime, moved to break the defenses of Denethos Minor with their deceptive strategy of feints and misdirection. Monitoring the progress in the Imperial battle lines and seeing their brothers flounder against the walls of a single spire, the Legio Tactica committed to several siege-breaking actions similar to those employed by the Castellans Chapter. Knowing that the two worlds had maintained an unbroken line of heavily encrypted communications relayed by the many well-defended orbitals about the system, the Resplendent Scorpions cut off one fortress’s ability to receive messages. By positioning their Battlebarge, the 'Dolorous Ascendancy', above the installation and making use of its sophisticated 'Aegis' electronic warfare array to block incoming transmissions and garble any outgoing signals, the underground fortress was isolated. Working with elements of the One Hundred Thirty-Second Tallarn Regiment, the Chapter set up a ground and air cordon around the bunker’s entrances, having observed several distantly placed entrances used by message runners after the communications blackout was enacted.

+++

The plan was simple in theory; fully armored elements of the Chapter would attempt a predictable siege-breaking operation with assistance from the 132nd’s artillery company which would be left open along its flank. The idea was to draw out a raiding force from the installation as an element in the cordon provided a lapse in security to make the strike against the vulnerable siege party, but supporting elements with the Resplendent Scorpions failed to reinforce their brothers, causing the ploy to fail, wasting the effort of several months of planning and maneuvers. Worse still, the Legio Armatus instigated conflict with supporting elements from Legio Salire, causing a large disruption that the Denethosian troops took advantage of, sallying forth in greater numbers, slaughtering the 132nd Tallarn Regiment, and inflicting heavy casualties and loss of equipment upon the Resplendent Scorpions. With the Imperial chokehold of Denthos Minor slipping with a hole in their lines, the entire campaign against the Denethosians was threatening to collapse and, ultimately turn into a grueling victory for the Denthosians; Exterminatus was sanctioned to end the issue.

+++

As inferno bombs consumed the atmosphere of both worlds, trapping the Denethosians in their bunkers to slowly starve and suffocate while the agricultural facilities that had been mainly stationed in the system’s orbitals were torn asunder by vortex bombs, the Resplendent Scorpions held trial aboard the 'Dolorous Ascendancy'. Eventually, responsibility for the insurrection was placed upon the shoulders of both Captains of the Fourth Legion, several sergeants that had spread their propaganda, and the Seventh Consul, Aurelius Mercaddon, who fomented the rebellious sentiments in the hearts of the Legio Armatus Captains. All charged with guilt in leading the disastrous rout were stripped of title, rank, armament, and honor according to the tradition of 'gulag' that had been instituted only a few times before in the Chapter’s history and never to so many marines at one time.

+++

In the past, gulag had only been sentenced in the case of lone marines completely defying the edicts of the Chapter and they had always been left stranded near the location of their crime. As Denethos was neither inhabitable anymore and the system was relatively isolated, the group of former marines were given a small yacht captured from the Denethosian shipyards and sent away before Imperial authorities could muster the initiative to come after them; the Chapter managed to stall inquiries into the matter until an Inquisitor became involved almost thirty years later. The issue of allowing known traitors to live almost resulted in the Chapter’s Excommunication, but the charges against them were dropped as soon as the tradition was referenced from the Founding Charter itself in the three hundred and seventeenth line of the document. “…And if traitors shall rise in your midst, strip them of honor and cast them out with naught but their life and a garment of sackcloth so that they may know their failure and despair until the Emperor grants them respite by His own hand…”

Chapter Organization

Newly founded, the Resplendent Scorpions are equipped for rapid strikes, feints, and guerilla warfare, though, when necessary they take to the field dressed uniformly in Mk8 'Errant' Pattern powered plate, but are most often deployed in the stealthier powered carapace normally equipped solely to the neophyte space marine scouts. While the Errant Pattern armor is rare, though some suits incorporate older marks of armor to replace pieces damaged in battle, the chapter has sufficient numbers to equip fully five companies, marking their regular use of scout carapace as a deviation from codex standards. The Resplendent Scorpions number just over five hundred battle brothers and neophyte initiates. The measure of fully initiated brother-marines has been steadily climbing from the original century they were formed as, numbers having tripled since the chapter’s founding. However, high attrition rates among initiates forced into front-line duties or lacking proper support from a fully equipped and manned chapter have kept the neophyte company around two hundred hopefuls. The Resplendent Scorpions are led by two Consuls, both equivalent in rank to a Chapter Master, who share the duties of command of the entire Chapter. The Chapter Fleet is based around the battle barge 'Dolorous Ascendancy', which has been fitted to serve as a mobile station and operations nerve center more than a planetary bombardment and assault platform. Added to this the chapter operates only two strike cruisers, the 'Aurum Fervor' and 'Verdant Sting', that act as the main stations of deployment for the Chapter’s campaigns. This core of the Fleet Command is supported by a large number of rapid strike vessels and other escorts, many of which spread the burden of hosting manufactoria and genevaults within their armored hulls, further increasing the doctrine of cautious planning and economical victories.

The Chapter is generally deployed entirely with each campaign they take on, and while they have participated in fewer actions than most Chapters because of their youth and singular focus, they tend to have a higher rate of success in comparison to all but the oldest of chapters. As such, Companies are only formed on an as-needed basis, the formal documents laying out the organization of the chapter should it eventually reach its full strength dictate four divisions of skill, each labeled as a 'Legio' or Legion. The few veterans make up the First Legion, which also incorporates the High Command, including the Chapter’s Consuls, Reclusiam, Librarium, Armory, Fleet Command, and Apothecarion, for this reason the First Legion is also known as the Legio Mandatum, or Command Legion. A single Captain leads the First Legion, he is appointed for his martial skill, initiative, and wisdom on the field. The Second Legion is analogous to Codex Battle Companies and is referred to as the Legio Tactica, five Captains are posted in the Second Legion and are responsible for arranging a majority of battle plans according to the strategic mandates of the High Command. The Second Legion has authority to requisition elements from the other Legions in order to carry out its plans, however, the other Captains, including those within the Second Legion may call one another to task for mismanagement of Chapter resources. Mismanagement is a charge that often results in a demotion of one party or both and can take a great deal of time to resolve, so it is invoked only in the most grievous of circumstances. Only one instance exists on record where the Seventh Consul, Aurelius Mercaddon was found guilty along with the Captains of the Fourth Legion of perpetrating mismanagement under conspiracy of internal rebellion. The sentence of 'gulag', or being stripped bare and cast out from the Chapter, was considered harsher than the execution that Imperial authorities decried the Chapter for not employing, but the guilty parties had already been gone over three decades by the time the issue came to light outside the halls of the Chapter. The Third Legion, Legio Salire, hosts its assault troops and rapid strike vehicles such as Bikes and Land Speeders, the Resplendent Scorpions are noteworthy in their greater use of the new Land Speeder Storm variant and have even converted old and damaged speeders into the Storm variant to supply their appetites for the transport skimmer. The Third Legion also trains their brethren in the use of the jump pack and specializes in light armor mobility, famed among their brother for being able to assail enemy forces from their rear, even cutting between the main force and the rearguard to strike vulnerable elements that would normally have been protected by the enemy reserves. The Fourth Legion is highly mechanised and is closely tied with the Chapter’s Armorers and bears the title of Legio Armatus. The Fourth Legion deploys a majority of the Chapter’s heavy weapons in the form of Devastator Squads and Predator Tanks, the legion also trains drivers for the APCs of the Second and First Legions as well as taking charge of the very few Land Raiders the Chapter was gifted with during their founding. Both the Third and Fourth Legions have two Captains. The few venerable members of the Chapter that have been graced with interment in the cybernetic sarcophagi that allow them to drive a Dreadnought chassis are placed in the caring hands of both the Chapter Armourers and the Reclusiam. Thunderhawk wings are seconded to Fleet Command which functions as transport, home, and watchful observer to the entire Chapter.

Troubles Abroad, Allies Near and Far

Due to the rumors surrounding the Resplendent Scorpions, the Imperial Authorities are generally suspicious and can be outright malicious towards them, however, the Chapter’s actions speak for themselves and those across the galaxy that know the name often look favorably upon them. While not directly or individually responsible for any major gains, the Resplendent Scorpions Chapter has acted in support of their more trusted brethren and allied Imperial forces in major events such as the First War of Armageddon, the invasions of the later two Tyranid Hive Fleets, as well as Abbadon’s Thirteenth Black Crusade. Even if the higher authorities within the Imperium do not favor the Scorpions, elements within the Imperial Navy, Imperial Guard, Inquisition, and their brother Chapters (most notably the Raven Guard and its successor chapters) lend their support and backing when able and have saved the Chapter from more than one Inquisitorial Purge, Mechanicus Siege, or Ecclesiastic Crusade.

Council of the Raven

Though they have been raised to fighting strength by elements of the Raven Guard and brothers of their successor chapters, the Raven Guard and its successors only serve as honored mentors to the Resplendent Scorpions, evidenced by the marked separation of Non-Chapter or 'Acapitulum' marines from the hierarchy of the Chapter. Marines descended from the lineage of Corax, originally one Chaplain and twelve veteran sergeants, the number is now nine, serve as an advisory council to the Chapter. The Council of the Raven frequently rotates its members and recently has inducted councilors from other chapters with a trend of giving one of the nine veteran seats to each of the other eight lines of loyalist geneseed in turn, retaining the Chaplaincy and the remaining eight veteran seats solely for the descendants of Corax. There have yet to be two non-Raven Councilors serving on the Council at the same time.

A Pantheon of Heroes

Because their origins are expunged, the Resplendent Scorpions have always venerated the nine Loyalist Primarchs in equal measure with the Emperor being reserved a seat of greater honor in the Main Promenade, sometimes called the 'Atrium of Idols', aboard the Chapter’s Battlebarge, the 'Dolorous Ascendancy'. A gigantic statue of each Primarch adorns one of twenty massive prayer-alcoves along the Main Promenade of the Battlebarge, leaving eleven empty and draped in black in eternal reminder of the Fall of Horus and those eight others that fell from grace under him. At one end of the Promenade, a large idol to the Emperor of Mankind is wrapped in hammered bronze and gold, called the Imperator Adorare, and serves as the foyer to the Chapter’s Reclusiam as well as the Librarium and Reliquary Chamber. As the gatehouse to the ship’s bridge, the Imperator Adorare is protected by a fortress complex and is effectively walled off from the rest of the Promenade behind adamantine gates and walls bristling with guns.

The Rites of Contemplation

The Resplendent Scorpions have very few practices and traditions; the most notable among them is the penned works of the Chapter’s Consuls and other influential officers, a collection of philosophical and strategic essays dealing with various battlefield maneuvers, dissertations on enemy forces, and the ethics of conduct on the battlefield. Most numerous and respected of these writings are those composed by the Epistolary Desiderius Erasmus, killed in psychic battle during the Third Tyrannic War, which expound upon the honorable restraint and sacrifice shown by the best of the Astartes. Often regarded as allegorical tales written to highlight the benefits to the Chapter and the Imperium of such altruism, the Erasmian sagas exemplify the bravery and devotion of space marines from numerous chapters across a great span of time. The sagas are frequently criticized by external authorities, especially those that are set within the time of the Horus Heresy, for speaking against the teachings of the Imperial Creed, a sentiment that the Chaplains seem to disagree with and have frequently argued on the side of their Chapter’s heritage.

The Nikaean Sanction, Keepers of Lore and Brotherhood

Due to the infamy of the Relictors and their penchant for chaos-bound artefacts, the Resplendent Scorpions, being rumored to also be of dual genetic lines, have suffered a sanction from the highest authority limiting the Librarium to barely a handful of fully trained and equipped psykers. They are charged with not only preserving the history of the Chapter and training combat psykers from the gifted among their brothers, but also purging any taint that arises within the Chapter, being solely responsible should their fate be that of the Excommunicated. As such, the Librarium is headed by a single Epistolary and two Codiciers, whom train half a dozen Acolytum to take their place. The Acolytum are intentionally restricted from training in the finer aspects of psychic manifestation until one or more of their elders join their forbearers in the Crematorium or the Hall of the Interred, being taught enough to protect themselves from the predations of Chaos and to negate psychic attack. Because of this, the Librarians of the Resplendent Scorpions are known for their skill at erecting psychic bulwarks, if at the cost of being relatively novice at manifesting more aggressive psychic phenomenon. The Keepers of the Librarium are revered for their wisdom (or at least access to wisdom of previous Keepers) in many matters, but most especially relating to rumors of their maintaining a closely guarded patchwork historical lore of the Horus Heresy and the traitor legions involved in it. Many items of chapter history and knowledge are kept in the Librarium, especially the full and original works of many contributors to the Rites of Contemplation which itself is kept within the Reclusiam.

Origin Expunged

The Resplendent Scorpions’ progenitors have been struck from all available records and much rumor surrounds their purpose and origin. Many point to the selection of Raven Guard and their successors as evidence that the Resplendent Scorpions are descendants of Corax’s legacy, further weight is given to this theory due to the Chapter’s non-codex implementation of full battle brothers in scout carapace. However, their combat doctrine of pinning the enemy down with a decoy before delivering a decisive strike operation goes against some of the tenants of the Raven Guard and their reliance on support from various elements of the Chapter and its Fleet point towards their lineage deriving from either the Ultramarines or the Imperial Fists. Further evidence against the Chapter being of Corax’s flesh is that they display none of the typical mutations common among the Raven Guard or its successors, or even any mutations at all. Conversely, there have been rumors of rare exceptions to this vaunted purity where a neophyte succumbs to a cascade of often-fatal mutations, necessitating a thorough investigation of any geneseed related to the initiates and sanction against possible taint. The Chapter has been compliant with requests for outside testing, and examples of submitted genetic material have posed further quandaries as to their origins, though samples of purged material have never been forthcoming and such requests have sparked numerous assaults on the Chapter’s fleet by various forces within the Imperium. In addition, the Resplendent Scorpions show tight combat discipline and oft times refuse to abandon a position when other forces would leave it to the enemy, pointing to descending from the Dark Angels Chapter. This stubbornness is most notable when their retreat would leave a civilian population vulnerable and many marines on the Chapter’s Roll of Honor have received posthumous decoration for selling their lives dearly so that populations could be evacuated in the wake of an enemy advance. Some talk of mixed origins like the infamous Relictors Chapter and a rare few persons risk talking of the darkest gossip, that the High Lords of Terra never sanctioned the Resplendent Scorpions and even the blasphemous employment of the genetic material saved from a traitor legion to construct the Chapter.

• ‘Blaze with Splendor, Brothers, that the Enemies of Mankind be Blinded to Their Ultimate Defeat!’ – Battlecry of the Resplendent Scorpions
  
• ‘Vel Exuviae Triumphant!’ + Even in defeat triumphant
  
• ‘Aucto Splendore Resurgo!’ + I rise again with greater splendor
  
• ‘Mente et Manu!’ + With mind and hand
  
• ‘By the Tarot, our doom will be yours!’ – a humorous slogan often spoken in dire situations, origins in 743.M41 during the Rout on Denethos Minor
  

• ‘Pin the Enemy by his Throat, then Deliver the Telling Blow, that is the way of the Scorpion’ – Chaplain Margrave reciting the Rites of Contemplation
  
• ‘Amat Victoria Curam’ + Victory likes careful preparation – Second Legion motto
  
• ‘Estis Servatus Etsi Estis Obscenus’ + Be saved even though you are filthy – motto of the Reclusiam
  
• ‘Veteri Frondescit Honore’ + Ever green with ancient honor – given to those who earn the veteran’s laurels
  
• ‘So, it is you who will fulfill the Tarot’ – the closest thing to humor when confronted by an Imperial authority that seems to wish ill of the Chapter
  

[Consul of Scorpions]

Seriously, guys and gals, what do I have to do to get commentary on the house rules and not the fluff? I know I'm going to be getting about 100 views for each reply the community makes, but I'd like to think I didn't make an IA to clear up and revise the issues just to have it silently observed. Gah, I just hate waiting, don't feel compeled to pity critique or anything, that's not what I'm after, just... something... I'm gonna have some pie now.

 

btw, thanks, -Max-, for sharing your concerns about the fluff (but that wasn't what I asked for), hopefully the IA has taken your criticisms into account (I think it has anyways) and cleared up any questions I didn't pay attention to or disagreed with and provides yourself and others with a full view of what I intend for the Chapter to aid your critiques.

 

Also, directions on where exactly I should post the IA for a proper review would be very helpful because I wandered all over the site trying to find the WIP/Review section of the Librarium.

[BearersOfSalvation]

The scout rules are a huge change for a casual special rule, it's not a minor change and I wouldn't be surprised if people simply turn down the whole thing because you're making a huge rules change, not just some minor changes. There are some pieces that don't make sense, like why is there a rule specifying "if" jump-pack, scout armor equipped squads have the scout special rule when taking scout armor always confers the scout rule? I don't like the super-scouts rule for jump packers, what fluff-wise justifies a new chapter being better at this than any other chapters, and what rules-wise balances it? The expanded equipment is just nuts, infiltrating devastator squads with an extra heavy weapon, camo cloaks, and sniper rifles on everyone without a heavy is the biggest one I can see offhand, but tacking a full set of extra options onto every squad type offers plenty of excesses.

 

On the librarian rules, typically people don't take 2 librarians so 0-1 limit is pretty meaningless. They've got a huge boost to the psychic hood and a boost to to the most popular offensive psychic power (null zone), no change on the movement power or one other offensive power, and a penalty on the direct offensive powers and force weapons. This doesn't look remotely balanced to me, this sounds like a straight power grab, where you set a limit you'd follow 95% of the time anyway (0-1) and give a penalty to powers you don't use while boosting the ones you like. (GOI and Null zone are the two most recommended powers from what I've seen).

 

In general army list limits are fine for fluff, but they don't serve any real balance function - limiting your army to the style you prefer isn't really balancing out any advantages. Things like limiting yourself to 4 land raiders in a force org chart (honor guard, term squad, assault term squad, heavy support) when a normal marine army gets 5 isn't exactly huge, especially if you wouldn't max land raiders anyway. Limiting yourself to 10 terminators in a 2000 point list means you can't make an odd list, but most lists don't try to bring more than one squad at 2k points.

[Consul of Scorpions]

mm, good point, I haven't played at all so most of these rules are just theory based on an idea I thought was cool enough to put rules to. I'll look over everything and tweak/remove according to your advice, thanks.

 

I was concerned about the heavy weapon abuse myself, that will be altered, maybe limiting a squad to taking either cout heavy weapons or the normal HW options would be sound?

 

the scout packs rules will be removed I just thought it was cool to have the chance to flank into the enemy's rear (maybe it could work if it caused a reserve unit on the enemy side to enter the table locked in combat with the scouts)... I'll alter it for now and see how the revised idea works.

 

Librarians: so the 0-1 is just cosmetic then, umm... perhaps all psychic powers should be reduced to justify the bonus to psychic hood use?

 

Land raiders: I was iffy on not making the limit universal, that will also be changed.