lothbrok Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 is it possible for a chapter of space marines to worship gods traditional to their homeworld ore is this just one of those if you do it the inquistion bombs your planet back into its componet atoms sort of thing. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightrawenII Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 is it possible for a chapter of space marines to worship gods traditional to their homeworld ore is this just one of those if you do it the inquistion bombs your planet back into its componet atoms sort of thing. Yes and No. The Tanith had a local deity, the Feth. And AFAIK none was questioning their unorthodox faith. On the other side the Chapter of Steel Cobras was excommunicated for their worship of Emperor as the animal-totem. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2592351 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecritter Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 I agree with the yes and no. Several Chapters have cults and odd beliefs. But if you take it too far, you will be facing Inquisitors, Grey Knights and other Chapters wanting you dead. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2592360 Share on other sites More sharing options...
soddinnutter Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Depends on how you mean 'Pagan'. Most of the chapters are towards the pagan end of the Purity ---> Heresy scale according to the Ecclesiarchy. The Mortificators are Death Cultists and no one but the Ultramarines seem to take offence at this. The Salamanders are Promethian Cultists and thats just fine. The Space Wolves have a pantheon of small gods with Russ and the Emperor at the top of the heap. The Iron Hands venerate the name Ommnissiah more than the Emperor. So long as the Emperor is somewhere in their belief structure in a position of venerability then most of the big institutions will turn a blind eye. The cases of the Steel Cobras and the Sons of Malice was when puritan elements of the Ecclesiarchy were given more authority than they should rightfully have. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2592812 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lothbrok Posted December 18, 2010 Author Share Posted December 18, 2010 well my general idea was for my chaper to worship the traditional gods of their homeworld and see the emperor more as am exemplar of how mankind should be than a deity. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593010 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecritter Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Well as pointed out, that should be fine. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593121 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine_Breaker Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 well my general idea was for my chaper to worship the traditional gods of their homeworld and see the emperor more as am exemplar of how mankind should be than a deity. So if I have it straight, they view the Emperor as a great man and give him beaucoup respect but also have traditional gods that they worship? As in they place these gods above the Emperor? ... Sounds like the dangerous side of heresy to me. The kind you might get the Adepta Sororitas or another chapter called on you for. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593147 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Mage Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Yet many chapters dont see the emperor as a god- rather they believe him to be the first amongst men, their grandfather, etc. As long as it wasnt a cover for chaos cults, it might be imperial 'saint worship' much like many of the 'pagan' gods of terra were converted into catholic saints as the church spread out. So yes, you can do it. But you should take time and think out the impact it has on the chapter, how they keep their purity *or if theyve kept it....* and wether this is a more hidden aspect or a more open aspect. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593150 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lothbrok Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 well the impact is going to be quite substantial with lots of attempts to please the gods by doing heroic and or stupid things. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593161 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argon Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 is it possible for a chapter of space marines to worship gods traditional to their homeworld ore is this just one of those if you do it the inquistion bombs your planet back into its componet atoms sort of thing. Yes and No. The Tanith had a local deity, the Feth. And AFAIK none was questioning their unorthodox faith. On the other side the Chapter of Steel Cobras was excommunicated for their worship of Emperor as the animal-totem. In the case of the Cobras, it was more because they happened to offend the wrong person. Incidentally, Mr. lothbrok, you should take that into account. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593176 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lothbrok Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 so pretty much just dont go around yelling "we're the best the emperor is'nt god" in front of inquisitors and i'm good to go. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593447 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine_Breaker Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 I'm still not convinced. Thing with other chapters is that, even though they don't see the Emperor as a god, they don't have any other gods either. They are basically atheists, and already the Ecclesiarchy calls the Astartes heretics but not radical enough to purge the whole lot of them. When you begin to put tribal gods over the Emperor, I think you're skating on thin ice with terminator armor on. After all what other gods exist but the Emperor to the wider Imperium? Yeah that's right, the dark kind... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593517 Share on other sites More sharing options...
UltimateJake Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Personally I don't agree with it. Your basically saying they worship Gods, but not the Emperor. Sounds quite heretic to me. As said before the Astartes are basically atheists who are feverently dedicated to the Emperor. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593530 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viray Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 To the OP, no, it is not pluasible. It is, however, plausible. :) Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Anyway, to actually address the question at hand, I think it can happen. The Imperium is a big place, and, though the Imperial Faith is undeniably the dominant belief system, it is stretching it to say that it is the only belief system. There are countless cultures spread across the Imperium and it is more than likely that different belief systems have sprung up amongst the local populace. Why haven't we heard about these religions before? It is because they are so minor an occurrence when compared to the vastness of the universe. Gamesworkshop would have to be stupid to try and catalog every nuance of their fictional vision; that would restrict creative freedom and, of course, be a nightmare to execute. In short, I believe it is very likely that one of the many, many cultures spread throughout the Imperium has developed a unique belief system and that it would not be too hard to believe that an Astartes Chapter based on such a planet would come to adopt such beliefs without reprisal (at least for a time). Remember, this is the empire that manages to lose entire planets in its bureaucracy, I think an Astartes Chapter, a part of a group already known and accepted, however grudgingly, for their divergent belief system, with pagan practices could slip through the cracks unmolested. Reason for edit: Clarity. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593612 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine_Breaker Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 ...I think an Astartes Chapter, a part of a group already known and accepted, however grudgingly, for their divergent belief system, with pagan practices could slip through the cracks unmolested. One chapter out of only 1000 or so others of the Imperiums most potent killing machines is not going to fall through any cracks. To lose track of a single chapter would be much like the United States losing track of a truck full of nuclear warheads. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593693 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viray Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 ...I think an Astartes Chapter, a part of a group already known and accepted, however grudgingly, for their divergent belief system, with pagan practices could slip through the cracks unmolested. One chapter out of only 1000 or so others of the Imperiums most potent killing machines is not going to fall through any cracks. To lose track of a single chapter would be much like the United States losing track of a truck full of nuclear warheads. Heh, wonderful analogy. However, I do not mean "lose" as in "forget they exist," rather that they are mostly left to their own devices To clarify, what I meant was that the Imperium is so vast and its forces so spread out that I find it doubtful that any would warrant it worthwhile to scrutinize every little detail about an Astartes Chapter's belief system, especially when one considers the fierce independence of any Space Marine Chapter. Now, I understand how this seems rather foolish of the Imperium, but then one can consider the fact that Astartes Chapters still turn renegade due to a corruption of their views. If the Imperium had the power to keep tabs on every Chapter, then this would never occur. It is much easier for the Imperium to nod their head and tell themselves that a Chapter's belief system is merely an acceptable divergence of the Imperial Cult then to carefully investigate and analyze their views, a process that would have to be near constant, and thus time and resource intensive, not to mention invasive and thus very unwelcome to the Space Marines. Of course they would still step in if the Chapter's view presents a threat to the Imperium, but I doubt it would be worth the effort to cleanse a Chapter, a very important resource as you have mentioned, if they practiced a few local, superstitions. Edit: (Sigh) Clarity again. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593707 Share on other sites More sharing options...
soddinnutter Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Also let us not forget that unlike a modern country that the Imperium has no instant communications and traveling from one side of it to the other take a few decades rather than a few days. And fleet based Marine Chapters move around more than a truck full of nuclear warheads. And don't have to sign things at borders. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2593717 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Hunter Ydalir Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 I'm with Nine on this, I don't see it as terribly plausible. They may well get away with it for a time, but every chapter has it's time in the sun, and it's time under the Inquisitions boot heel as well. This chapter would likely not fare well at all given what you've described. I don't think they'd last as a loyalist chapter. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2594009 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperialis_Dominatus Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Consider that in the third edition rulebook, in the background section, under Space Marines, part of a fluff story had a prayer go like this: "By our gods and the Emperor So be it this day!" Random thing I remembered. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2594109 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Apostle Thirst Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Hmmmm... I think it's entirely possible. I think they would have to be old though. 3rd of 4th founding. That's a lot of history you need to write. Basicly where it would be... Inquisitor - This chapter worships gods other than the Emperor! Ecclesiarchy Priest - Weve been complaining about that for years... Unfortunately for us, this chapter has proven it's loyalty for the past 9000 years so we really can't do much about it. Inquisitor - I can! I'm an inquisitor, I can do anything... Imperium - Not without the rest of us you can't. As I recently found out, you really can't touch Space Marine Chapters even if you are an Inquisitor without support. Proving yourself for a very long time will eliminate any support an overzealous Inquisitor might have. EDIT - typing fail Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2595891 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncain Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 I think it is possible you just have to be careful about how they go about it. And also the U.S. Airforce lost a Nuke for a couple of months a few years back, got some generals fired. So yeah, I think it is possible. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2598292 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine_Breaker Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 And also the U.S. Airforce lost a Nuke for a couple of months a few years back, got some generals fired. So yeah, I think it is possible. You had me at USAF. :D Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/217383-pagan-space-marines/#findComment-2598907 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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