Silver Foxes

[Grey Mage]

I decided to post up what Ive got sitting around for my small DIY chapter, the Silver Foxes because of a thread going on in amicus about why you play the chapters you do- DIY or Canon.

 

I feel it needs a bit more developement, particularly in the area of their oddly flawed gene-seed, and how to incorporate that without plainly stating it. Im also considering further changes to their structure- such as a specific demi-company specializing in Thunder Hawks. All thoughts are welcome!

 

Anyways, here it goes:

 

Index Astartes: Silver Foxes.

History:

Created during the venerable days of the 5th founding during the mid 33rd millenium to patrol through the western half of the edge of Segmentum Tempestus, the Silver Foxes have served the Imperium with unfailing loyalty in their duties as custodians of this distant region of space. Descendants of the 5th Legion, they were gifted by the White Scars with a substantial issue of bikes upon their founding, which has continued to color their tactics to this day.

 

A Fleet based chapter they prowl the edge of the Astronomicon, setting up communication relays and protecting the vital astropath choirs the hold this region together. Forgeworlds are likewise few and far between, making the protection of the Silver Foxes forgeship key to the survival of the chapter. They are seen as somewhat grim by the people they protect, and more than one imperial commander has remarked that they seem reluctant to provide more than a small force to aid most worlds, as if afraid to risk their hides. This may not be far from the truth, as most deployments seem to be less than 40 astartes, yet any threat to the astropathic quires seems to result in the deployment of no less than three companies, and a particularly swift end to any insurrection.

 

Organization:

The Silver Foxes have a Chapter Master, known as the Warder, who overseas deployments and recruiting from the helm of their battle barge, the Rhymewind. While the chaptermaster may be, and on occasion has been, a librarian in such cases he is no longer considered to be inside the Librariums chain of command, and instead is regularly checked for corruption by the fleets head navigator.

 

The Silver Foxes have slightly more Librarians than usual, often numbering as many as three dozen trained individuals. Wether this is some flaw in the gene-seed, or merely a result of recruiting from the outer edge of imperial space, is unknown. As such it is not unusual to see several Librarians deployed on any sortie, and their unusual armor markings are well known throughout the southern worlds.

 

They keep a unusual organization to their companies, consisting of 7 Battle Companies a large Scout Company, and a small Veteran Company. The Battle Companies average around 125 marines each, including command staff and tank crews, and are self contained in their motorpool. The Veteran Company is entirely made of those who have the skill, tenacity, and patience to master the art of warfare in a suit of Tactical Dreadnaught armor, and numbers rarely more than 75 members. The Veteran Company is personally led by the Warder. The Scout Company varies greatly in size depending on recruitment, but has been registered at nearly a 170 initiates. Why then the chapters seeming reluctance towards casualties is unknown.

 

Technology:

 

The Silver Foxes have few suits of Tactical Dreadnaught Armor, only enough for perhaps a demisquad in each company. As such these are almost never deployed in ground based missions, instead being reserved for the boarding of space hulks. The Chapter has only 14 Dreadnaught chassis currently in service, though many more sarcophogai are rumored to be in their possession.

 

Due to the mobile nature of the chapters warfare a large number of Thunderhawks, bikes, and Landspeeders are maintained by the chapter. In this divergance from the Codex Astartes they seem able to field up to five companies via Bike and and Landspeeder, including the Scout Company. How they manage to maintain so many anti-grav plates is of interest to the local adeptus mechanicus, but as of yet they have been unable to press the Foxes for details.

 

Plasma based weaponry seems to be in high esteem among the chapters warriors, who often find themselves fighting over frigid worlds and in the voids of space where the testy heat sinks of such weaponry are less of an issue. Conversely, promethium based weaponry is considered somewhat short ranged and unreliable in most combats, and are rarely seen.

 

The Growing Threat:

 

The Eldar of Biel-Tann are a constant threat, and one of the more common reasons for a large scale deployment of the chapters resources. They claim possession of a number of key worlds throughout the southern rim, and seek to destroy the emperors communications and navigation stations. The Silver Foxes were one of the largest supporters for the Craftworlds destruction until the most recent Black Crusade shut down any such thoughts for Imperial force.

 

In recent years their has been a growing number of tyranid scout ships, and the chapter has begun the ardous process of requisitioning imperial forces to counteract what appears to be a substantial hive fleet.

 

The Flaw:

 

The Silver Foxes gene-seed tests out as pure for a White Scars descendant, with none of the usual random agressiveness that seems to come out in other chapters. They do however have a flaw that has so far completely baffled the chapters apothecairy- the development of new progenoid glands is very slow. While the first will develop after only ten years of implantation the second may take as long as 50 years to come to full maturity. As such scouts are subject to longer training periods, allowed onto the field of battle only after the first progenoid has developed. They are not allowed the ability to be inducted into a tactical squad until the second has likewise come to fruit, though they may join bike squads after 20 years of combat service. This has led to a strange tradition- all the Scout Sergeants for the Silver Foxes have failed to develop a second progenoid gland. This is a matter left unspoken in public, but considered a failure to the chapter which can only be redeemed by ensuring the proper development of the chapters next generation.

[Cpt_Reaper]

besides the odd grammatical error or spelling issue (Dreadnought :devil: ) this is looking good, especially for a first draft. I look foward to seething this Chapter evolve.

 

+edit: My own spelling mistake. Nobody is perfect :huh:

[hummus]

saw this and had to add this

Silverfox

A silverfox is the definition of an older guy with grey hair and a mustache. Usually in their 40's to 50's +

That guy looked like a silverfox. Or man I would love to sleep with that silverfox!

 

you maybe want to change the name

or on the other hand maybe they are older charming suave marines

[Quozzo]

double post

[Quozzo]

Created during the venerable days of the 5th founding during the mid 33rd millenium to patrol through the western half of the edge of Segmentum Tempestous

Space Marines are not the police, they are created to wage war, not keep the peace.

 

as custodians of this distant region of space

the custodians are protectors of the golden throne, again SM are not guards

 

Descendants of the 5th legion, they were gifted by the white scars with a substantial issue of bikes

If they were founded by the High Lords of Terra, the AM would give them some vehicles, but unless they were part of the 5th Legion, no-one would hand over bikes, not even their cousins. they're too precious.

 

A Fleet based chapter they prowl the edge of the Astronomicon, setting up communication relays and protecting the vital astropath quires the hold this region together.

The Imperial Navy has better ships equipped for ship to ship combat, they would better suited to protecting the Astromican, as SM are not bodyguards.

 

from the helm of their battle barge

I'm not 100% sure but i think all the battle barges within the Adeptus Astartes are over 10,000 years old, being owned by the Legions and their second founding chapters.

 

The Silver Foxes have few suits of Tactical Dreadnaught Armor

again im not 100% certain but i think the STC for terminator armour is lost, making terminator armour revered in almost all chapter, perhaps you could explain how the Silver Foxes happened to acquire such rare technology.

 

Scout Sergeants for the Silver Foxes have failed to develop a second progenoid gland

Why just the Scout Sergeants? seems a bit odd to me. Sergeants, in the scout company or not, have fully matured and is able to use power armour, as long as the Black Carapace has been applied.

 

 

Hope i didn't come across as insulting, if you come up with a reason why the WS gave them bike, how they obtained termie armour, and how and why they posses a battle barge (good luck with this one ;)) then that will be one step toward why they have all the equipment that even first founding chapters would love to get their hands on.

 

Also Chapter are created for a specific reason, the imminent threat of Necrons for example, not just because they can

 

A Guide to Creating a DIY Chapter as loads of info and tips.

[Octavulg]

Quozzo:

 

Space Marines are not the police, they are created to wage war, not keep the peace.

 

Au contraire.

 

That's French for on the contrary.

 

Space Marines do not spend all their time engaging in conquest. They spend a lot of time defending Imperial worlds as well. And one of the best ways to find threats and deal with them is to patrol.

 

the custodians are protectors of the golden throne, again SM are not guards

 

The term custodian is a generic term for someone who has been given responsibility over something. The Adeptus Custodes are the guards of the Emperor.

 

Furthermore, while Space Marines might not be guards, this is only in the sense that they are not garrison troops. Space Marines do act defensively and do try to deal with forces attacking Imperial planets. They just aren't tied down to a particular world.

 

If they were founded by the High Lords of Terra, the AM would give them some vehicles, but unless they were part of the 5th Legion, no-one would hand over bikes, not even their cousins. they're too precious.

 

...

 

Where the hell are you getting that from? Bikes are one of the few Space Marine items that I've never seen a suggestion of rarity for.

 

Also, if the White Scars served as the Chapter's training cadre, it seems not out of the question that they might provide some equipment/relics/etc.

 

The Imperial Navy has better ships equipped for ship to ship combat, they would better suited to protecting the Astromican, as SM are not bodyguards.

 

Space Marine ships aren't exactly bad at ship-to-ship combat. Furthermore, the edges of the Imperium seem unlikely to be priority areas for the Imperial Navy, considering that there are plenty of areas that are more populous, prosperous, and geographically convenient which still have plenty of problems.

 

 

I'm not 100% sure but i think all the battle barges within the Adeptus Astartes are over 10,000 years old, being owned by the Legions and their second founding chapters.

 

You're incorrect. From Armada (page 22) - "Most Space Marine Chapters control two or three Battle Barges". This list includes several (notably the Carmine Talon, Endless Redemption, Litany of Fury, Omnius Arcanum, Raptorus Rex, Punisher, and Redeemer). Note especially the Punisher and Redeemer - these belong to the Exorcists, who are many things, but are definitely not a Second Founding Chapter.

 

again im not 100% certain but i think the STC for terminator armour is lost, making terminator armour revered in almost all chapter, perhaps you could explain how the Silver Foxes happened to acquire such rare technology.

 

First, Terminator armor never had an STC in the first place.

 

Second, Terminator armor is still produced by the Adeptus Mechanicus (albeit quite slowly). Thus, newer Chapters tend to have correspondingly smaller amounts of it. However, they still get some.

 

Also Chapter are created for a specific reason, the imminent threat of Necrons for example, not just because they can

 

There is less than one Space Marine for every world in the Imperium. There is always a reason for more Space Marines.

 

Furthermore, as I recall, the Necrons did not appear in force until after the most recent founding, meaning that no Space Marine chapters could have been founded in response to them.

[Octavulg]

History:

Created during the venerable days of the 5th founding during the mid 33rd millenium to patrol through the western half of the edge of Segmentum Tempestous, the Silver Foxes have served the Imperium with unfailing loyalty in their duties as custodians of this distant region of space. Descendants of the 5th legion, they were gifted by the white scars with a substantial issue of bikes upon their founding, wich has continued to color their tactics to this day.

 

Play fast and loose with times. Fifth Founding is old - that's all that matters. Don't worry so much about the millenium. Legion should be capitalized, White Scars should be as well, which, not wich, and Tempestus, not Tempestous.

 

That's the last I'm going to mention of it, but seriously - watch the spelling and grammar.

 

A Fleet based chapter they prowl the edge of the Astronomicon, setting up communication relays and protecting the vital astropath quires the hold this region together. Forgeworlds are likewise few and far between, making the protection of the Silver Foxes forgeship key to the survival of the chapter. They are seen as somewhat grim by the people they protect, and more than one imperial commander has remarked that they seem reluctant to provide more than a small force to aid most worlds, as if afraid to risk their hides. This may not be far from the truth, as most deployments seem to be less than 40 astartes, yet any threat to the astropathic quires seems to result in the deployment of no less than three companies, and a particularly swift end to any insurrection.

 

OK, I lied. Choirs, not quires. A quire is a collection of paper.

 

There's some interesting potential here - a Chapter whose first focus is on protecting the lines of communication could be interesting. However, there's really not much exploration of that here.

 

Organization:

 

Always, always why. Why does this matter? It doesn't. Chapters are not distinguished by their organizational quirks, but by their character.

 

Technology:

 

The same goes here.

 

The Flaw:

The Silver Foxes gene-seed tests out as pure for a White Scars descendant, with none of the usual random agressiveness that seems to come out in other chapters. They do however have a flaw that has so far completely baffled the chapters apothecairy- the development of new progenoid glands is very slow. While the first will develope after only ten years of implantation the second may take as long as 50 years to come to full maturity. As such scouts are subject to longer training periods, allowed onto the field of battle only after the first progenoid has developed. They are not allowed the ability to be inducted into a tactical squad until the second has likewise come to fruit, though they may join bike squads after 20 years of combat service. This has led to a strange tradition- all the Scout Seargents for the Silver Foxes have failed to develope a second progenoid gland. This is a matter left unspoken in public, but considered a failure to the chapter wich can only be redeemed by ensuring the proper developement of the chapters next generation.

 

What does this add?

 

I mean, you could tie this into their cautious attitude and aloofness, but right now you haven't done so. Furthermore, this is a very serious problem - the Foxes would need to either be much more careful about recruitment, receive regular shipments from the Ad. Mech, maintain armies of test-slaves just to grow extra progenoids, or...something. The arrangement suggested is very, very risky.

[Ace Debonair]

The Silver Foxes have few suits of Tactical Dreadnaught Armor, only enough for perhaps a demisquad in each company. As such these are almost never deployed in ground based missions, instead being reserved for the boarding of space hulks. The Chapter has only 14 Dreadnaught chassis currently in service, though many more sarcophogai are rumored to be in their possession.

 

Well, if they're Khan's lads, they won't be too fond of the ol' Dreadnoughts. I'd be surprised to see more than five Dreads without some explicitly mentioned divergence in character from the Scars. ;)

 

Perhaps this could be expanded on - a strong sense of duty that overcomes their fear dislike of the mechanical prison-tomb, or something to that effect. :lol:

 

Digging the geneseed flaw, very quirky. ;)

[Quozzo]

Space Marines do not spend all their time engaging in conquest

I never said or implied they did, i just said they are not created to defend planets

 

 

loyalty in their duties as custodians of this distant region of space

The term custodian is a generic term

my bad, i thought Grey Mage was talking specifically about the Adeptus Custodes

 

 

If they were founded by the High Lords of Terra, the AM would give them some vehicles, but unless they were part of the 5th Legion, no-one would hand over bikes, not even their cousins. they're too precious.

Where the hell are you getting that from? Bikes are one of the few Space Marine items that I've never seen a suggestion of rarity for.

Also, if the White Scars served as the Chapter's training cadre, it seems not out of the question that they might provide some equipment/relics/etc.

The Grey Mage's AI doesn't mention that the White Scars trained them, only that they are successors to them, so why would the WS just give them bikes? Seriously, give it a story Grey Mage.

 

 

the edges of the Imperium seem unlikely to be priority areas for the Imperial Navy, considering that there are plenty of areas that are more populous, prosperous, and geographically convenient which still have plenty of problems.

Im not suggesting that the Imperial Navy are going to drop everything and rush to the edge of the galaxy, but they are not going to be instantly ruled out either, especially as the threat isn't great and SM usually have better things on the agenda, like things to kill and stuff to blow up. If theres no impending doom then the situation isnt dire enough to call upon the emperors finest warriors. War is never convenient but im sure that wont stop them though.

 

 

I'm not 100% sure but i think all the battle barges within the Adeptus Astartes are over 10,000 years old, being owned by the Legions and their second founding chapters.

You're incorrect...This list includes several...

The referenced chapters your referring to as having battle barges are: found in a novel, an unknown founding and a game which the chapter is ironically from an unknown founding and is hinted of being from a traitor legion. Not sure about the Mantis Warriors as there is no source for the info. I did mention at the bottom that Grey Mage should come up with a reason why they would posses a battlebarge, as they arn't being built anymore.

 

 

Terminator armor is still produced by the Adeptus Mechanicus

could you please quote your source as I'm genuinely quite interested.

 

 

There is always a reason for more Space Marines

no doubt, but not because the Astromican needs defending.

 

 

Also Chapter are created for a specific reason, the imminent threat of Necrons for example

yes! a bad example, i should read what i write.

[Octavulg]

I never said or implied they did, i just said they are not created to defend planets

 

Actually, you did.

 

You see, Grey Mage said nothing about the Silver Foxes defending specific planets. Hence, your objection logically was to Space Marines patrolling a region in order to defend it from threats. If Space Marines aren't allowed to do that, pretty much all that remains to them is conquest.

 

Space Marines defend things all the time. What they don't do is serve as garrisons. They move around and find where they're needed. Doing that within a particular region is both sensible and necessary.

 

The Grey Mage's AI doesn't mention that the White Scars trained them, only that they are successors to them, so why would the WS just give them bikes? Seriously, give it a story Grey Mage.

 

He says they're "descended" from them. The relationship is implied. It should be better explained, but the idea is not inherently ridiculous or implausible.

 

Im not suggesting that the Imperial Navy are going to drop everything and rush to the edge of the galaxy, but they are not going to be instantly ruled out either, especially as the threat isn't great and SM usually have better things on the agenda, like things to kill and stuff to blow up. If theres no impending doom then the situation isnt dire enough to call upon the emperors finest warriors. War is never convenient but im sure that wont stop them though.

 

If you're suggesting that the fringe of the galaxy (from whence came the Tyranids, I remind you), at the very edge of the Imperium where communication is difficult, far from any naval base or major Guard fortress, is somehow going to be lacking in sufficient threats to keep a Space Marine Chapter entertained, I think you're sadly mistaken.

 

The referenced chapters your referring to as having battle barges are: found in a novel, an unknown founding and a game which the chapter is ironically from an unknown founding and is hinted of being from a traitor legion. Not sure about the Mantis Warriors as there is no source for the info. I did mention at the bottom that Grey Mage should come up with a reason why they would posses a battlebarge, as they arn't being built anymore.

 

And none of that matters because of the aforementioned explicit quote, taken from Armada (page 22): ""Most Space Marine Chapters control two or three Battle Barges..." That, by itself, means that Grey Mage does not need to explain why his Chapter has Battle Barge(s).

 

Furthermore, how about justifying your claim that they're not being built any more, then?

 

could you please quote your source as I'm genuinely quite interested.

 

"Although new suits are produced by the Adeptus Mechanicus, the production rate is so slow, and the demand for them so great, that each chapter takes the utmost care of its precious remaining suits." - IA: Tactical Dreadnought Armor

 

Also from IA: Tactical Dreadnought Armor: "All Space Marine chapters maintain a number of suits of the revered and rightly feared Terminator armour..."

 

So, again, he does not need to explain this.

 

no doubt, but not because the Astromican needs defending.

 

The Chapter was founded to patrol that region - read the first paragraph of the IA. That is how the Chapter chooses to discharge their duty - protecting the (important) lines of communication on the edge of the Imperium which keep that area in the Imperium.

[Grey Mage]

Ok, sorry about the lack of spellcheck- I got a new computer recently, and apparently they changed windows office.... IE, I now have to purchase it from them despite it being installed on my computer. Thus Im without spellcheck... I apologize to the trauma Ive inflicted on anyones brain, Ill try to get that straightened out.

 

A few of the notes:

 

1) They have a battlebarge.

Quozzo, most chapters have a battle barge, many have up to three. Older first founding chapters tend to have several AND more that are mothballed against future need. About the only thing out of the ordinary is that this one has expanded fabrication facilities, hence its designation as a 'forgeship'. This is something I felt they needed, as a distantly located fleet based chapter.

 

2) Theyre patrolling.

Yeah. Exactly. Its a risky area of space, close enough they could get called in for black crusades, far enough out that theyre not involved with alot of the internal politics of the empire. SMs do this all the time- like the ones whose specific job is to keep the nidz out of the ghoul stars, or the the chapters entrusted with guarding the eye of terror.

 

3) I put a guesstimate on the 5th founding based on what time lines I found. If anyone has any better data? Or perhaps a better way to word it without mentioning the millenia? I just dont want it to throw people off due to a missing frame of reference.

 

4) Dreads- I should probly have brought this one up too, Im just not sure how. The idea being they dont feel they can leave the service of the chapter while they might still be needed, due to the flaw they find in their gene-seed. Theyre not very close spiritually to their WS ancestors Ill admit, but yes the idea had been to have either the WS or the Storm Lords be their gene-source and trainers.

 

The use of Dreadnaughts is something that the chapter sees as a great personal sacrifice. They hold positions to allow strategic withdrawals, take the largest of opponents such as Hive Tyrants and Wraithlords, and other scenarios where the might of a single ancient is more effective than the will and fire of 20 of their living kin. They are seen as walking avatars of the ancestors, come forth to protect their younger kin. Greatly revered, and somewhat pitied as bound ghosts.

 

5) TDA- I didnt feel that 40-45 suits of TDA was asking a whole lot, when that included ones undergoing repairs and all theyd accumulated over 7 thousand years. I mean, I know there in the middle of nowhere, but come on.

 

6) I figured, out on the periphery that those choirs would be the life blood the imperium. Without it the fleets would be lost, trade would halt, and the worlds would be unable to summon aid. Individuals come and go, worlds can be retaken, but these mini astronomicons are the lynchpin of the entire area. Theyre obviously not defending terra.... even my atrocious spelling cant give someone that idea.

 

7) The flaw itself- development times are longer across the board as mentioned. The rate of an astartes only giving forth one progenoid is perhaps 1 in 100, but yes... its something Id like to expand on.

 

The chapter knows its a problem, but isnt sure whats causing it... isnt sure if anything that can be done about it. The apothecarion is divided, some thinking they should call in the admech for help, others believing that they surely must have found the flaw already and decided not to help further. They cant leave their area of space, their duty is clear. On the other hand none of the admech worlds in that region have the knowledge of genetics to be able to truly aid them in recovery- so what do they do? They do their job, and they make the best of what they can out of it. The feral influence of their geneseed is subdued by the knowledge of how precious they can be and tempered by the somewhat dour nature of the distantly linked people of the southwest fringe. The older members tend to be more aggressive, knowing theyve passed on their duty to the future of the chapter, and it is not unknown for older members to take inordinate risks to save younger astartes who have yet to do so.

[Grey Mage]

So should I start working on a second draft, or would people be kind enough to give any more feedback, especially to go along with my elaborations? I havent done one of these before, so Im not entirely sure about the protocols.

[soddinnutter]

About the Terminator Armour. ~40-45 seems a good number. you have 30 on the field and 10 in various states of repair and 5 either having their utterly beyond the Chapters abilities to repair remains reverently posted back to the nearest Mechanicus Enclave or being sent from a Forge-Temple all sparkly and new.

 

I like your understanding of the importance of the Astropath Network. Could the possession of more Brother-Psykers be to have them act as an emergency stop-gap should the network get a hole punched in it?

 

One way around the problem of slow maturation of new gene-seed is to have each ship-serf carry around and mature 1 of the organs within their bodies. It would result in a closer relationship between Marine and Serf.

 

How do they recruit?

 

Do they send their prospective Tech-marines all the way to distant Mars for training or do they have an alliance with one of the closer Forgeworlds?

A good way around this is to have one or more of the local Forgeworlds send a Magus and a group of the more promising Apprentices to the ForgeBarge on a Training-Pilgrimage.

 

So long as they are not of the bio-priests of the Adeptus Biologicus there is no chance they could accidentally discover the Flaw in the chapter or even have much understanding or the Astartes transformation process.

 

Just thoughts.