IA: Iron Masks, v2.0

[Von Doom]

Index Astartes: Iron Masks

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rShFeHLcJfg/TMceGJdlcQI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Eh5BMGu4qS0/s1600/imasks-2.JPG

Origins

In the year 39965, the Adeptus Mechanicus on Mars discovered the ruins of an ancient fortress. Within was found a deteriorating cache of pre-STC technology. The fortress' databanks were almost entirely corrupted with fragments of comprehensive information. A 22nd century Terran Warlord, known only as "Von Doom", ruled fom this base. It is presumed this warlord met his demise during the "Rise of the Men of Iron".

Although fragmented, the records from the fortress did reveal a genetic template for a "pure-strain" human lifeform. The Adeptus Biologis studied this example of humanity and made several attempts at reproducing it for tissue experimentation. During the Imperium's Age of Colonization, many synthesized clones and augments were created using these biological templates. The new humans were used to settle and terraform many Imperial worlds. Eventually, the records of the templates' origins and Mars' discoveries lay dormant and almost forgotten for nearly eight hundred years.

In 40738, the High Lords of Terra had requested a successor chapter be created from the gene-seed of Ferrus Manus and the Iron Hands chapter. The inhabitants from one of these terraformed worlds were selected as viable candidates for the new chapter's founding.

And so, the Iron Masks were born. . .

Home World

The Chapter of the Iron Masks make their home on Borasi, a heavily forested and mountainous world. These areas account for nearly 4/5ths of the planet's surface. The forests and woodlands are unforgiving due to the exessive amount of violent, aggressive animal species. The mountain regions are also severe, ranging from its equatorial volcanic ranges to its northwestern and southeastern poles of frozen tundra. The Iron Masks have a large central fortress, the Great Chapterhouse, although they operate as ten independent House Companies. During periodic cycles, each House takes its place in the main fortress and oversees the leadership of the entire Chapter as a whole. The other Houses are stationed at smaller fortresses across the planet. Although rumours exist of periodic skirmishes between clans, each House values its brethren Houses as parts of a greater whole. All have their part to play in the service to the Iron Masks.

Combat Doctrine

The Iron Masks are a formidable force in combat, their iron will and their fierce hatred of weakness driving them on in the face of odds and circumstances that might cause lesser forces to retreat. As a successor of the Iron Hands, the Chapter is also blessed with excellent relations with the Adeptus Mechanicus making it one of the best equipped Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. Although serving under the leadership of the ruling Iron Masks House, other House Companies determine their own hierarchy and are sometimes led by Iron Dukes, an odd combination of Tech Marine and Chaplain. They may also be led by House-Commanders (or Iron-Barons) and even occasionally by Dreadnoughts. Detachments are often led by two respected warriors in like manner to the Great Chapterhouse Council. This ensures that the formidable capabilities of the Space Marines are never in the hands of just one individual.

Organisation

The Iron Masks understand the importance to the Emperor, the greatest Man-Machine of the Imperium, of following the hallowed dictates of the Codex Astartes. Owing their training and heritage to the Iron Hands, they have combined the philosophies of their parent chapter with the Codex Astartes. The Iron Masks field House Companies, each a self-sufficient unit and each independent of the others, answering only to the Great Chapterhouse Council. The Chapterhouse Council serves the Iron Masks in place of the more common position of Chapter Master; each House Company contributes it's best and wisest warrior to the Council who make joint decisions for the Iron Masks.

Beliefs

The 10th Legion, the Iron Hands were born of the geneseed of Ferrus Manus, the metal-handed Primarch and Lord of Medusa. A grim, unyielding warrior who despised weakness in all its forms, Ferrus disappeared during the Istvaan Massacre, where many of the Iron Hands' finest warriors were lost with their Primarch. Conflicting reports list Ferrus as missing in action or dead at the hands of Fulgrim, Primarch of the Emperor's Children. The casualties suffered by their parent Legion and the loss of their Primarch have given the Iron Masks an enduring hatred of the Traitor Legions.

Geneseed

Though stable and pure, the Iron Masks geneseed seems to carry with it some unusual properties. It appears the genestock of the technologically minded Ferrus contains much of his personality and Iron Hands Marines often exhibit the hatred of weakness and love of machines that characterised their Primarch. Indeed, many Iron Masks venerate the Machine God as much as the Emperor and they seek a greater understanding of the Omnissaiah through the use of bionics and other technology. The Iron Dukes are the epitome of this ethos, being more machine than man and Dreadnoughts are often held up as the ideal melding of man and machine within the Chapter.

Battle Cry

"Flesh of Man, Will of Iron!"


(Some of the above is taken from the Iron Hands own Index Astartes)
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Comments & Criticisms welcome
(readying for the first volley)

[Hrvat]

Hi and wellcome to the DIY community.

 

This is an interesting idea with only a small problem? Most inhabitants of Forge Worlds are "improved" with bionics and tech stuff of all sorts so they wouldn't really make good SM chapter candidates.

 

Cheers

[Ace Debonair]

In the year 39964, the Adeptus Mechanicus on Mars discovered the ruins of an ancient fortress. Within was found a deteriorating cache of pre-STC technology. The fortress' databanks were also corrupted with fragments of comprehensive information. A 22nd century Terran Warlord, known only as "Von Doom", ruled fom this base. It's official designation was "Castle Latveria". It is presumed this warlord met his demise during the "Rise of the Men of Iron".

Oh my.

I wonder if that Castle Latveria is also a superhero reference?

 

Might I reccomend a little more subtlety, in any case? :lol:

[Von Doom]

Hi and wellcome to the DIY community.

 

This is an interesting idea with only a small problem? Most inhabitants of Forge Worlds are "improved" with bionics and tech stuff of all sorts so they wouldn't really make good SM chapter candidates.

 

Cheers

 

Nutz & Boltz! I hadn't thought of that.

Of course they'd be augmented, they're under the Adeptus Mechanicus. D'oh!

 

It would be better if I make them a terraforming colony, non-Forge World. Check.

 

Oh my.

I wonder if that Castle Latveria is also a superhero reference?

 

Might I reccomend a little more subtlety, in any case? :lol:

Guilty as charged. Hmm, would L4tV3R1A be a better designation?

I know I was pushing it with Latveria; it's not really that important anyway. A lost,nameless fortress works best afterall, right?

[Ace Debonair]

Might I reccomend a little more subtlety, in any case? ^_^

Guilty as charged. Hmm, would L4tV3R1A be a better designation?

I know I was pushing it with Latveria; it's not really that important anyway. A lost,nameless fortress works best afterall, right?

 

Just keep the words 'of solitude' out of the description of that fortress, and you're good to go. :lol:

[Ecritter]

Interesting past to the recruits of this Chapter ... how will that affect the Space Marines?

 

I do really like the color scheme.

[Von Doom]

Interesting past to the recruits of this Chapter ... how will that affect the Space Marines?

 

I do really like the color scheme.

Thanks. I didn't want it to scream "Doc Doom" too loudly. Although, if I use some Dark Angels robed models it might.

 

I was originally linking them to a Forge World because I thought it would make a strong basis for their appreciating augmentation. However, as pointed out above, this over-tech may limit them as candidates for a space marine chapter. In keeping with the "Doc Doom" inspiration, I wanted to play on the villain's talent for robotic and tech creation.

 

Perhaps, the world terraformed by these human candidates was particularly inhospitable. A reliance on technological innovation became a necessary fact of life. Not that they were creating their own tech, but they simply canabalized things to the point of "usefulness". As Iron Hands successors, maybe some of their servitors are more on the robotic-looking side than most. If there can be such a thing as "too much" in Warhamer 40K.

[soddinnutter]

Why would the AdMech Terraform a new Forgeworld?

 

They don't generaly care about such things.

 

They are more likely to just replace their lungs with something that can breath the local atmosphere, Blessings of the Machine God and all that.

 

Other than that it all looks good.

 

A little cheesy but good.

 

Can't wait till it gets fleshed out.

[Von Doom]

Ace Debonair Posted Today, 12:02 PM

Just keep the words 'of solitude' out of the description of that fortress, and you're good to go. :)

That's for another chapter, the Lasts Sons of Krypton!

 

soddinnutter Posted Today, 01:18 PM

Why would the AdMech Terraform a new Forgeworld?

 

They don't generaly care about such things.

 

They are more likely to just replace their lungs with something that can breath the local atmosphere, Blessings of the Machine God and all that.

 

Other than that it all looks good.

 

A little cheesy but good.

 

Can't wait till it gets fleshed out.

I definitely scratched out the Forge World connection. I was too impulsive.

 

I will try and lighten the fromage-factor as I "flesh out' the Iron Masks. (Thanks for the pun, I like it)

 

How much augmentation is acceptable in your opinions?

 

Would a half-marine/half-bike be going too far?

Would a draednought with treads be okay?

I was also considering modeling heavy weapon marines with harness-mounted guns and augmented supports on their legs/bodies for recoil-absorbtion.

[soddinnutter]

With Iron Hands for parents you can go really nuts with the technophillia and just blame it on their upbringing. Up to and including the gradual replacement of everything except some parts of the brain.

 

Feet beat treads hands down. They can do everything that treads can do and more; like go fast, kick ass and go up stairs.

 

Recoil suppression is not much of an issue with marines. their heavy bolters have enough recoil to shatter every bone in a mortal mans arm, assuming he could even lift the weapon in the first place. that's why when you see the guard with such a weapon they have it mounted on a tripod and operated by two men with ear protection. Yet Marines can carry one each and not be bothered by things like deafness or broken wrists.

 

Recoil is not an issue unless they are firing a Baneblade and if they can carry one of those around as a Heavy Weapon then you have just recruited Chuck Norris.

[Von Doom]

I was mostly going for modeling opportunities, other than the bionic arms & legs. Something abit more meshed or bordering borg-like. I would only use wheeled marines as bikers, with the rider & bike to look as one entity. Maybe too much, I know, but I have to experiment at least on one. I wouldn't try wheeled marines as tacticals. They'd be likedaleks running up against stairs (before the daleks could hover).

 

The marine/weapon was going to be a variation on human servitors, only with a marine with a cannon arm, etc. Sort of a marine/dreadnought, only smaller.

 

Your baneblade comment has me thinking about conversions with rhinos and tanks. This may be where the plugged-in marine may be best used. Okay, Brother Rachetus may have had his legs blown off but now he serves united with the machine spirit in piloting one of our best rhinos! In addition, having some of the tanks & rhinos stripped open from damage and hastily battle-repaired may be a way to add some technogrit to vehicles.

 

Thanks for the input, please keep the C&C coming!