IA: Crimson Dragons

[dragonknight4275]

“Brothers! We are young but we are strong. Let us show our peers that we are indeed powerful! Knights of the Crimson Dragon, in the name of the Imperium and its holy Emperor, charge!
~ Chapter Founder Dustin

Origins

T

he Crimson Dragons were formed in 738.M41, when Captain D\\\'stan, a hero of the Salamanders Chapter was given permission by the High Lords of Terra to form new Chapter after showing his valor and bravery during the great attack of the Hydra Stars.

Chapter Founder D\\\'stan

Formerly a Captain of the Salamanders Chapter, the Space Marine known as D\\\'stan was allowed to take the smallest fraction of the Salamanders recruits to start his new Chapter. He and four other Salamander veterans formed the veteran cadre that would train the recruits and teach them the ways of their new Chapter. A warrior of no peer, D\\\'stan was the perfect teacher. He also taught the recruits mental strength and purity. Although he died shortly after his Chapter became strong, D\\\'stan is to be forever remembered amongst the Crimson Dragons.

They were formed from the gene-seed of the Primarch of the Salamanders, Vulkan, and were tasked with the defense of the system. Their home is the volcanic death world of Ferrolius, which is the hearth of the Hydra Stars. Ferrolius is inhabited by fierce warrior tribes who have adapted to the brutal landscape and environment of their world. Only the strongest, both physically and mentally, are selected for the honour of becoming Crimson Dragons Space Marines. The Crimson Dragons are fiercely protective of their home and, if necessary, will sacrifice everything they cherish to protect it.

The massive attack on the Hydra Stars is the legend of the Crimson Dragons. Under the command of a powerful Chaos Sorcerer, traitor Space Marines of the Black Legion gathered with renegade humans and vile daemons of the Warp to plunder the system of its massive amounts of moonstone. Imbued with deadly energies, moonstone is used to forge many power weapons for the Imperium. Now, the forces of Chaos looked to steal it. The armies of the Ruinous Powers found that conquering the system was no great feat, as even the mightiest armies of the Imperium would be stretched too thin to defend it. The system’s meager defenses were swept away like dust, and one by one, the planets began to fall under the control of the traitors.

Soon, the massed armies of Chaos had conquered the whole of the Hydra Stars except for the planet Ferrolius, the largest world in the system and hence the one with the most moonstone. The defenders watched as the daemons roared and the traitors cheered, losing hope with every passing minute. Suddenly, the sky darkened overhead in the shadow of a massive Space Marine battle barge, belonging to no other Chapter than the famed Salamanders. Dozens of inbound Drop Pods smashed through the planet’s atmosphere and hurtled towards the surface at full speed, while agile Thunderhawk gunships soared through the air, dropping squads of Salamanders into the midst of the traitors. The air filled with the barks of bolter fire and the roar of chainswords as the Salamanders under the command of Brother-Captain D\\\'stan fought with extreme courage against near-impossible odds. After three full weeks of brutal combat, the legions of daemons and traitor Space Marines were defeated, the Sorcerer killed in single combat by D\\\'stan himself and his bonding powers broken. As the daemons fled back to the Immaterium, the traitors gave up all hope of victory or escape, and gave their lives to the unstoppable elites of the Imperium. Not one was spared, and Captain D\\\'stan was given permission to form a new Space Marine Chapter to ensure that the Hydra Stars would never again be a problem to defend and to keep the moonstone deposits in good hands.

Homeworld

The mighty homeworld of the Crimson Dragons, Ferrolius is the largest planet of the Hydra Stars and also known as the hearth of the system. Although it is rocky, and volcanic, the Crimson Dragons love and cherish their home as much as Terra itself.

Ferrolius is famous for two things, the more commonly known one being the massive amounts of moonstone that is buried deep beneath the planet’s surface. This moonstone is the cause of the Crimson Dragons\\\' existence, and it is just one reason for the Crimson Dragons to love their home.

Ferrolius is also known for its fierce warrior tribes. Long before the Imperium had anything to do with the whole of the Hydra Stars, these warrior tribes had lived and adapted to their world. Although they were, and still are, very primitive in comparison to the vast knowledge of the Imperium, it is these tribes that ensure the survival of the Crimson Dragons Chapter. Also, it is from the planet’s warrior tribes that the High Commanders and the Chapter Master himself, the Supreme Dragon, select their Chapter’s recruits, and even the mighty Space Marines have incorporated one of the tribes’ rituals into the trials of every single initiate who wishes to become a Crimson Dragon.

Recruitment

The Crimson Dragons choose their initiates carefully. Every year, they select a handful of warriors from the different Ferrolian tribes. To be selected as an aspirant takes many things, like a general physical health as well as complete purity of the heart and mind. Before each initiate is chosen, the Chapter’s Chaplains scrutinize the aspirant for any trace of taint, be it from the vile powers of Chaos or the aspirant’s own heart. Upon being inducted into the Chapter as an initiate, the aspirant must live through a series of harsh regimens, conducted by the Chapter’s veteran Sergeants. The final test of every initiate is to slay a mighty Ironscale dragon, one of the most dangerous species of Ferrolian dragons, and bring back its thick, armour-like hide. Sometimes, the most zealous of initiates will saw off the head of the dragon they kill, and wear it like a helmet during the journey back to the Vortex, the great fortress-monastery of the Chapter. If the hide or head of an Ironscale is brought back to the gate of the fortress, the initiate will rise to the honoured position of battle brother, and will join one of the mighty battle Companies. If the initiate passed this final test, he would truly become a Crimson Dragon.

Chapter Organization/Combat Doctrine

The Crimson Dragons were raised from the gene-seed of Vulkan, the mighty Primarch of the Salamanders, so at first they followed their Primogenitors’ example and adhered to the strict rules of the Codex Astartes. However, in one of the many campaigns of the Crimson Dragons, they fought as allies to another famous Chapter, the Black Templars. Upon fighting alongside the righteous Crusaders of the Emperor, they observed their ploys and brutal close combat tactics. The new Chapter saw true greatness in their style of warfare, and began to fight more and more like their crusading brethren. They began to incorporate a much more frequent use of weapons better suited to the fury of close combat, and although holy bolters are used throughout the Chapter, the total number equals far less than the totals of other Chapters. However, the Crimson Dragons did not completely shift their tactics to match the Black Templars’, and they kept to the Chapter organizations laid down in the Codex Astartes. The Crimson Dragons also did not view the use of the Templars’ recruits as very useful, so they kept their Scout Company as well.

The organization of the Crimson Dragons Chapter is very similar to that of a Codex Astartes Space Marine Chapter. Commanded by the Supreme Dragon and his conclave of High Commanders, the Chapter is broken down into 10 Companies, the 1st being the elite veterans of the Chapter, the 2nd-6th Companies being the main battle companies, and the 7th-9th Companies being reserve Companies in case of extreme emergency. Like the Codex Astartes states, the 10th Company of the Crimson Dragons is also a Scout Company, and is made up of the brothers who have not yet grown into a full Space Marine, but is formidable nevertheless. One of the biggest divergences from the rules of the Codex Astartes is the use of Devastator Squads. Although the were used before the Chapter developed a preference for close-quarters combat, they were discharged from use after they fought alongside the Black Templars and the heavy weapon specialists were sent to various other squads.

The 2nd-9th Companies are each led by a Commander and his Command Squad. A standard Company is made up of 6 Knight Squads, which are the equivalents of Codex Astartes Tactical Squads, 4 Assault Squads, but many Commanders choose to switch an Assault Squad with a Bike Squad and of course, draw in support from the elite 1st Company and 10th Scout Company as well as armoured support from the Chapter’s Armoury. This makes each Company unique in its own way and provides the Crimson Dragons with a variety of responses for any threat that comes their way, even more so than with other Chapters. This also makes the Crimson Dragons true epitomes of the Space Marines, who were designed to be the most versatile of all the great armies of the Imperium.

Currently, there are no strict rules within the Crimson Dragons Chapter that regard combat tactics, but before the changing campaign fought with the Black Templars, the Chapter used Codex Astartes tactics such as the armoured spearhead or orbital assault. A great many of these “formations” are still used in battles, but unlike the stalwart Ultramarines or Imperial Fists, they are not bound by the Codex Astartes in terms of their style of warfare. There is one factor that could be described as a combat tactic, this being the fact that the Crimson Dragons prefer fighting at close range rather than from a distance, but other than that, the Chapter fights however the situation demands, without strict drills or formations. As such, the Crimson Dragons can be described as warriors that fights from their hearts, not from tactics, and it is a trait that the High Commanders, including the Supreme Dragon himself, are stubbornly proud of.

Beliefs

Similar to their combat style, the Crimson Dragons believe that being true to one’s mind and heart is the way to achieve true victory. Even in defeat, a Commander who followed his thoughts in a tight situation is celebrated and congratulated by his peers and sometimes even his superiors. Unless his decision cost the Chapter the lives of many brethren when another path would have been obviously better, the Commander will receive no dishonour or shame. In this way, the Crimson Dragons have often been regarded as foolish and stubborn, and even leaders of other Imperial armies find themselves hesitant to have their troops under the command of a Crimson Dragon.

The strong belief of truth to one’s heart has even led the Adeptus Mechanicus to a general reluctance to hand over new equipment to the new Chapter. They believe that the Crimson Dragons are reckless, fighting on even when retreat would be tactically sound. As a fact, this tends to lead to slaughter, and not just with the Crimson Dragons either. It is for this reason that the Adeptus Mechanicus is reluctant to hand over the equipment, because they know it is unsensible to hand over a piece of delicate work just for it to be destroyed. Because of this, the Crimson Dragons find themselves with extremely limited amounts of wargear, so they have learned to value each piece of armour or weaponry amongst them as if it was a fellow brother’s life, especially with their suits of Terminator armour. To the Crimson Dragons, the most valued of all the holy artifacts a brother will ever receive is his armour. Be it Terminator armour, power armour, or even Scout armour, a brother will lovingly maintain his armour until he is provided with a new suit, of which he will look over and cherish as well. For this reason, the Crimson Dragons require less from their Techmarines, as each aspirant is taught how to maintain his armour, and the brutal consequences if he does not. This does not mean that the Chapter’s Techmarines are not revered, in fact it means that they have more time to hone other skills and make them amongst the best at the other duties they have.

Battle-Cry

“Fight from your heart!”
Sometimes, a Commander or Chaplain will rouse his brothers by adding more, like “ -- it is the best you can do as a warrior,” or “ -- it is all the Emperor demands.”

That\\\'s what I\\\'ve done so far, I\\\'m almost done, it\\\'s just that I need to fluff it up a little with extra details. I hope you like it!

[NightrawenII]

Origins

Under the command of a powerful Chaos Sorcerer, traitor Space Marines of the Black Legion gathered with renegade humans and vile daemons of the Warp to plunder the system of its massive amounts of moonstone. Imbued with deadly energies, moonstone is used to forge many power weapons for the Imperium. Now, the forces of Chaos looked to steal it.

- Lol, McGuffin too much? ;)

 

The armies of the Ruinous Powers found that conquering the system was no great feat, ....

*snip*

...Not one was spared, and Captain Dustin was given permission to form a new Space Marine Chapter to ensure that the Hydra Stars would never again be a problem to defend and to keep the moonstone deposits in good hands.

*Strokes Nerd Beard Thoughtfully*

Hmm, so in short, the huge Chaos-Armada conquered the several systems, obliberating everything in its way, only to be defeated by Salamanders after 3 days of bitter fighting.... hmm... hmm... :)

 

Nothing against Dustin in general, just IMHO the name is out of place in 40k. Change it to D'stan, D'sten or Da'stin.

 

Homeworld

The mighty homeworld of the Crimson Dragons, Ferrolius is the largest planet of the Hydra Stars and also known as the hearth of the system. Although it is rocky, volcanic, and quite difficult to build civilization on, the Dragon Knights love and cherish their home as much as Terra itself.

- Dragon Knights or Crimson Dragons?

btw, What is the "mighty" supposed to mean?

 

Although it is something that the Crimson Dragons are not physically related to in great amounts, the dragons of Ferrolius are indeed involved in one of the most important rituals in Crimson Dragon history as well as the very name of the Chapter.

- I don't understand the meaning of this sentence.

 

It is from the planet’s warrior tribes that the High Commanders and Supreme Dragons select their Chapter’s recruits,

- Supreme Dragons?

 

Gene-seed section is a miss. Talk about gene-seed, not about tactic or organisation.

 

Combat Doctrine & Organisation

The 2nd-9th Companies are each led by a Commander and his Command Squad, and generally made up of 5 Knight Squads, which are the equivalents of Codex Astartes Tactical Squads, 3 Assault Squads, and 1 Scout Squad.

- If I'm counting right, you are missing one squad.

2nd, Why is there scout squad, if you have a Scout Co.?

 

This makes each Company unique in its own way and provides the Crimson Dragons with a variety of responses for any threat that comes their way, even more so than with other Chapters. This also makes the Crimson Dragons true epitomes of the Space Marines, who were designed to be the most versatile of all the great armies of the Imperium.

- Yet, they lack the firepower the Devastators bring on the battlefield. ;)

 

A great many of these “formations” are still used in battles, but unlike the stalwart Ultramarines or Imperial Fists, they are not bound by the Codex Astartes in terms of their style of warfare.

- Miss. This is like saying; "You are bound to make one dish, when you use a cook-book."

 

... but other than that, the Chapter fights however the situation demands, without strict drills or formations.

- explain the highlighted part, please.

 

.... and even leaders of other Imperial armies find themselves hesitant to have their troops under the command of a Crimson Dragon.

- SM are separated force from other Imperial armies.... or at least that was Guilleman's intention.

 

The strong belief of truth to one’s heart has even led the Adeptus Mechanicus to a general reluctance to hand over equipment to the new Chapter.

- ;)

 

+++++

Overall good read, keep it going!

 

Cheers.

[dragonknight4275]

To NightrawenII:

Quite frankly, I'm too lazy to do all that quote stuff, so I'll just do it like this:

 

Origins

Sorry, but what does McGuffin mean? I know a lot of expressions, but not that one, sorry.

 

I changed it to 3 weeks, but do you think I should make it even longer, like 2 months or something? :(

 

Also, I changed Dustin's name to D'stan, I thought that was pretty cool, so thanks for that!

 

Homeworld

Sorry about that, this is a redo of my Chapter's IA, and my Chapter's name used to be the Dragon Knights. I changed it, obviously. :lol:

And I guess "mighty" just represents that Ferrolius is immensely fortified, seeing as it is a Space Marine homeworld. Do you possibly have a suggestion?

 

The sentence means that the dragons don't have THAT much to do with the Chapter, except for its name and one ritual that every Crimson Dragon initiate must complete.

 

Supreme Dragon is the Crimson Dragons' title for Chapter Master. Should I just make it Chapter Master, for simplicity?

 

Regarding the Gene-seed matter, should I just replace the entire Organization/Combat Doctrine section with Gene-seed stuff? I could make up a simple little flaw just for extra fluffiness.

 

CD/Organization

Oh, I guess you're right. I'll fix that. About the Scout Squad, I meant it to imply that the Companies would draw in support from the Scout Squad, like they do with the armoury. Oh wait, there's a sentence about that....I'll add it to the list!

 

Yeah, well I want them to be similar to the Black Templars in more than one way. I mean, I do use the BT codex in terms of actual tabletop games...

 

In that case, "drill" doesn't mean something like a training drill, it means like a firing sequence or something, which the Ultramarines and Cadians have (fluffwise)

 

Really? What about Armageddon? Didn't High Marshal Helbrecht take command of the Imperial Forces?

 

About the Adeptus Mechanicus, uhm.......What should I do about it? Screw the whole idea?

 

 

Thanks for all the advice! I'll bet the IA will be twice as good after I make all the correction. Thanks again and give me a hoot if you notice something else!

[NightrawenII]

Sorry, but what does McGuffin mean? I know a lot of expressions, but not that one, sorry.

"McGuffin" is plot-device, the central piece of the "struggle" in the story. It's largely un-impotant for story-telling, but is important enought for the individuals involved to "fight" over it. One ring in the LotR serie is "McGuffin" and in your story it's the "moonstone".

 

I changed it to 3 weeks, but do you think I should make it even longer, like 2 months or something? :P

The time-frame is irrelevant to some degree, the "forces" involved in the fighting are a little daft, IMHO.

 

And I guess "mighty" just represents that Ferrolius is immensely fortified, seeing as it is a Space Marine homeworld. Do you possibly have a suggestion?

I can't see how could be a world, which "is rocky, volcanic, and quite difficult to build civilization on" heavily fortified.

 

The sentence means that the dragons don't have THAT much to do with the Chapter, except for its name and one ritual that every Crimson Dragon initiate must complete.

Then is such mention pointless.

 

Supreme Dragon is the Crimson Dragons' title for Chapter Master. Should I just make it Chapter Master, for simplicity?

No, but the explanation, who is Supreme Dragon is in the place.

 

Regarding the Gene-seed matter, should I just replace the entire Organization/Combat Doctrine section with Gene-seed stuff? I could make up a simple little flaw just for extra fluffiness.

Do what you want. :P Having section titled "Gene-seed" and not talking about gene-seed is a little misguided.

 

Really? What about Armageddon? Didn't High Marshal Helbrecht take command of the Imperial Forces?

If I do remember the whole mess correctly, Helbrecht was in the charge of SM's forces, not in the overall command.

 

About the Adeptus Mechanicus, uhm.......What should I do about it? Screw the whole idea?

I just don't understand why should such belief hamper the relationship with Admech.

[dragonknight4275]

Origins

Oh, I see. Hmm....I would change it, but two factors block my path: the first being the fact that I don't have anything good to replace it, and if I just deleted it, that would be a whole chunk torn off of the IA. Second, don't most organizations have a purpose? Purpose meaning why the organization was set up, not what they do. I'm not trying to be a smart-alec, sorry if I'm seeming like it, and I wanted my Chapter to be the reason for something. Not because I want them to be the best, but if they didn't have a purpose besides serving the Emperor, that would cook up a rather boring Chapter, wouldn't it?

 

As in the Chaos/epic failures of defenders/Salamanders? I mean, I guess it is a little unrealistic, but didn't it happen in Codex DA? When the 3rd Company just rocketed down and pulverized the massed Chaos force that was destroying a world? And please don't say that I copied directly from it, because that wouldn't be true.

 

Homeworld

How about I remove the "hard to build civilization part"? I don't really see how rocks could prevent fortification. Volcanoes, maybe, but wouldn't the sensible thing to do be just to build the "civilization" in a different place? I'll definitely remove the "hard to build civilization", but I really don't see why the other two don' work.

 

Ok, I'll omit the dragon part.

 

Geneseed/Combat Doctrine/Organization

Oh! I just noticed what you were talking about. Sorry, that's a mistake, a whole chunk of that's not supposed to be there. I'll fix that. Sorry I didn't notice it before, I guess I wasn't thinking straight when I made the IA itself.

 

Admech Matter

Ok, I'll put it in a different way. The Adeptus Mechanicus is reluctant to hand over equipment because they believe that a Commander who is "following his heart" in combat will recklessly keep fighting when the more tactically sound solution might be to retreat. That would probably lead to a slaughter, wouldn't it? They are reluctant because they think that as soon as they hand over the equipment, it will be destroyed, and there's no point giving someone something they'll lose, is there?

 

Armageddon

Oh, really? It says in the Codex: BT that he took command of the Imperial space assets. I thought that would mean all Imperial space forces fighting in Armageddon. So I'm assuming that Commissar Yarrick had control of the non-Astartes ships?

[NightrawenII]

Oh, I see. Hmm....I would change it, but two factors block my path: the first being the fact that I don't have anything good to replace it, and if I just deleted it, that would be a whole chunk torn off of the IA. Second, don't most organizations have a purpose? Purpose meaning why the organization was set up, not what they do. I'm not trying to be a smart-alec, sorry if I'm seeming like it, and I wanted my Chapter to be the reason for something. Not because I want them to be the best, but if they didn't have a purpose besides serving the Emperor, that would cook up a rather boring Chapter, wouldn't it?

I don't mind having a MacGuffin in the story.

 

As in the Chaos/epic failures of defenders/Salamanders? I mean, I guess it is a little unrealistic, but didn't it happen in Codex DA? When the 3rd Company just rocketed down and pulverized the massed Chaos force that was destroying a world? And please don't say that I copied directly from it, because that wouldn't be true.

The Kurin's Acropolis? Yes and No.

Single planet is easier to conquer than several and no Chaos marine is mentioned, so is it's more believable.

 

Admech Matter

Ok, I'll put it in a different way. The Adeptus Mechanicus is reluctant to hand over equipment because they believe that a Commander who is "following his heart" in combat will recklessly keep fighting when the more tactically sound solution might be to retreat. That would probably lead to a slaughter, wouldn't it? They are reluctant because they think that as soon as they hand over the equipment, it will be destroyed, and there's no point giving someone something they'll lose, is there?

Well, when you explain it like that then it makes sence. ^_^

 

Armageddon

Oh, really? It says in the Codex: BT that he took command of the Imperial space assets. I thought that would mean all Imperial space forces fighting in Armageddon. So I'm assuming that Commissar Yarrick had control of the non-Astartes ships?

According to BFG Armada, Helbrecht was in the charge of SM fleet, while the Admiral Parol was in the charge of the Imperial Navy fleet.

 

Fearing that the encroaching Ork fleet would come upon Armageddon before a coordinated defence could be mounted, many of those Space Marine Chapters now massing on the planet took to their battlebarges and strike cruisers and returned to space. As the Ork fleet approached the assembled fleet, under the command of Black Templars High Marshall Helbrecht,...

~

Unusually, the majority of the Imperial fleet was made up of Space Marine vessels, and their role in this mixed campaign was initially unclear.

~

After several horrifying defeats in the early part of the war, the Space Marines quickly came to realise, however, that the almost unstoppable numbers in which the Orks were arriving on Armageddon itself was only being exacerbated by their failure to deal with the threat effectively in space. Angry at his counterpart’s arrogant dismissal of the Imperial Navy*, High Marshall Helbrecht of the Black Templars restructured firstly his own men, then gradually all Imperial forces, to better fight the war system wide. Helbrecht, like many descendants of Dorn, had always prided himself on his willingness to cooperate with other elements of the monolithic Imperial institutions, and his skill at negotiation and delegation proved pivotal. Helbrecht himself assumed joint command of the fleet, taking responsibility for organised movement and transport affairs whilst Parol was freed to dedicate his time solely to the actual matter of fighting one of the Imperium’s largest ever space conflicts.

 

*The Imperial Navy, is IMO a mistake. There should be space-assets or something to that effect.

[dragonknight4275]

Origins

Oh, you don't? Ok, that solves a whole bunch of problems! Thanks! ^_^

 

All right, now I see your point. However, I'm kinda dead on ideas because I exhausted my idea box just to come up with this ( :D ), so can you help me smoothen it out?

 

Admech Matter

Ok, I'll change the IA to say that.

 

Armageddon

Wait, I don't really understand your point about Armageddon. Say again?

[NightrawenII]

All right, now I see your point. However, I'm kinda dead on ideas because I exhausted my idea box just to come up with this ( :lol: ), so can you help me smoothen it out?

Well, you could do a several things.

- Change the chaos marines to the Vile Servants of Chaos.

- The invasion army could be just rebels/heretics lead by a powerfull sorcerer of either Word Bearers or Alpha Legion.

- increase the resistance of Imperial forces from the "it was no great feat" to the "... after a weeks of bitter fighting, it seemed that the Chaos victory is inevitable and defenders lost all their hope."

 

Armageddon

Wait, I don't really understand your point about Armageddon. Say again?

I'm just correcting errorness of your ways. ;)

[dragonknight4275]

Well, you could do a several things.

- Change the chaos marines to the Vile Servants of Chaos.

- The invasion army could be just rebels/heretics lead by a powerfull sorcerer of either Word Bearers or Alpha Legion.

- increase the resistance of Imperial forces from the "it was no great feat" to the "... after a weeks of bitter fighting, it seemed that the Chaos victory is inevitable and defenders lost all their hope."

Ooh.....I like that third one. I might also change the army to be a mix of rebels/heretics as well as a small number of Traitor Astartes. What do you think?