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IA: Archangels Chapter (Iron Gauntlet 2011)


Maleagant

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Origins

An ancient and venerable Chapter, the Archangels have a long and bloody history that dates back to the Third Founding. One of several progeny Chapters that come from the Dark Angels geneseed, the Archangels are every bit as loyal and faithful to the Imperial cause as their brother Dark Angels, though as one of ‘The Unforgiven’ they too bear the burden of hunting down and destroying The Fallen. It is known amongst members of the Inner Circle of the Arch Angels, that the purpose of the Archangels’ creation was to pursue and eliminate a cadre of Fallen operating out of the Veiled Region in the Segmentum Tempestus and to pacify any systems which have fallen from the Emperor’s Light. Members of the Inner Circle are the only ones who know of Luther’s betrayal and of the Unforgiven's hunt for The Fallen.

It was during one such pursuit that the Archangels suffered their most tragic yet most influential incident. Responding to reports that several members of The Fallen were operating deep within the Reductus Sector, the Archangels’ battle fleet arrived in the Gaul System to investigate. As the Archangel’s Battle Barge Indefatigable moved within assault range of Gaul Secundus, the traitorous Fallen activated an ancient xeno-tech weapon which shot up from the surface of the planet and reacted with the Indefatigable’s warp-drive engine array. The resultant warp-space disruption tore the Indefatigable apart slaying the Chapter Master and the entirety of the highly mobile 2nd company. The ship’s wreckage burned and plummeted to the surface of the planet below.

The Archangels’ Strike Cruisers Angelic and Legatus bombarded the coordinates of the energy source below with their massive gun batteries while simultaneously launching an enormous drop-pod assault on both the Capital and the now-smoking wreckage of the xeno-complex. After several hours of fighting, the capital was subdued with the aid of loyal Gaul Secundus PDF while those few surviving traitors from the xeno-complex were quickly interrogated and dispatched. The only clue as to who was behind the ambush and the activation of the ancient weapon was a name – Agraxtes, one of The Fallen.

Though the xeno-weapon was obliterated, Adeptus Mechanicus investigators examined every inch of the newly discovered complex. Techmarines and repair crews combed over the wreckage of the Indefatigable, the bulk of the ship resting in the Plains of Ashkaur. Reeling from the tragic loss of the Archangels’ flagship and leadership, the surviving members of the Archangel’s Inner Circle vowed to take Gaul Secundus as their Chapter Homeworld and pledged to turn the remains of the Indefatigable into their Fortress-Monastery. The neighboring systems would become the recruiting grounds to replenish their depleted brethren and materials. The struggle of overcoming their massive losses and of having to forge and defend their new home deep in the Reductus Sector from marauding Orks, Dark Eldar, Chaos incursions and worse for millennia, has had a profound impact on the Archangel’s brethren and created a near puritanical zeal within the psyches of Archangels marines, but whether this is due to a zygote deficiency or something else is uncertain. Swearing Blood-oaths, the Archangels also vowed to hunt down the accursed Agraxtes and his cadre of Fallen – a hunt which continues to this very day.

Homeworld

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Gaul Secundus is the home world of the Archangels. Typical of class M planets, Gaul Secundus is slightly larger than Blessed Terra with several continents and huge oceans teeming with life which support the ever-growing population of the planet. Gaul Secundus is home to many species of large reptilian carnivores which roam the plains and prey upon those unlucky enough to be caught out in the wilds, but the cities of Gaul Secundus are large, sprawling and protective bastions which, though spartan in appearance, function effectively well. The majority of the planet is quite hot and tropical with high humidity. The polar caps are comparatively small but tropical rainstorms which pummel the planet during its 6 Terran month-long winter help to stabilize the climate of Gaul Secundus at the expense of massive flooding in many regions of the planet.

The Archangel’s Fortress-Monastery, “Fortis-Angelius,” was once the remains of the Indefatigable which crashed down in the Plains of Ashkaur yet remained amazingly intact. The mountains (Angelius Mons) surrounding the plains are nearly unscaleable granite monsters which extend nearly all the way through Gaul’s atmosphere. The citadel walls surrounding Fortis-Angelius are equally impressive with its 10 meter thick adamantium walls and bristling defense weapons and void shield generators.

Gaul and its sister systems are located deep within the Reductus Sector in a tract of space now known as Sub-Sector Angelius. Though there are 3 populated systems within the sub-sector, they are relatively far apart from each other. This collection of systems is controlled by powerful navigator and trade households and are united and protected by the Archangels through millennia’s old oaths.

All of the habitable worlds maintained by the Archangels are quite civilized. Some have sprawling hive-cities and manufactoriums while others are agri-worlds which export necessary foodstuffs. One thing that all of the populace has in common with one another is an ancient tribal rivalry which has existed for millennia. Dominated by 3 major tribes (Aquitanni, Galli and Belgae and numerous smaller ones), the worlds within Sub-Sector Angelius have come close to all out war with each other on several occasions. Though none of the 3 tribes have any more dominance than the others, there is constant rivalry and competition to control other, lesser tribes and thus control the import or export licenses within a system.

All of the tribes share a common and ancient Terran heritage of Gallo-Celtic ancestry. Though competitive by nature, all of the worlds regard the Archangel’s presence with utmost esteem. Their liberation many millennia ago from the cruel regimes led by Agraxtes the Fallen, have been celebrated throughout the domain that the Archangels recruit from. Many prominent families sponsor annual tournaments, the victors of which are taken by the Archangels as recruits. Though winning such a challenge is by no means assurance that the aspirant can complete the testing and training necessary to become an Astartes, the rigorous training by the competitors weed out many who wouldn’t succeed the Archangel’s initiation rituals to begin with.

Organization & Combat Doctrine
The Bane of Ulthwé
Chaplain Maleagant and assault squad Dagda smashed down onto the Eldar foe as they fled from the field. Eldarian, the Farseer and leader of the Eldar forces, turned and challenged his attackers but it was too little, too late. As Assault squad Dagda finished off the warlock bodyguards, Maleagant's crozius arcanum crackled with incandescent energy as it tore through the Farseer's Ghosthelm. After 10 days of grueling combat, the last of the Eldar on Lujan-9 had been vanquished.

Because of the large realm of space the Archangels must patrol, the Archangels rarely unite as a complete Chapter but have their forces spread throughout the Segmentum. The Archangels follow the tenets of the Codex Astartes in so far as their obligations allow. This is apparent in the Chapter’s organization which, like most chapters has their veteran 1st company and their 10th company reserved for scouts, but it is in the rest of the companies where the deviation lies. All of the Archangels remaining companies are organized as battle companies. The Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers are on a constant crusade throughout the Reductus sector and beyond so having 8 battle companies makes for more self-sufficient fighting units.

Furthermore, unlike their Primogenitor Dark Angels, the Archangels no longer maintain a dedicated bike company like the fabled Raven’s Wing. The destruction of the Archangel's 2nd company has left the Archangels critically short of bikes and land-speeders. To other Marine Chapters, the Archangels tactics seem almost reckless, but without the quick scouting capability of a dedicated bike company, the Archangels have grown accustomed to dropping in amongst their enemies or leading large armored charges to get to grips with their foes.

The Archangels are masters of planetary assaults and make extensive use of drop pods and teleport attacks launched from one of their many space vessels to quickly destroy the heart of the enemy. Due to the limited numbers of such, the Archangels rarely employ static artillery such as Thunderfire cannons or fast moving attacks bikes, preferring instead to crush and demoralize their enemies by literally landing amongst them; a tactic which on several occasions, has ended rebellions in mere minutes and severed the head of many a xenos incursion.

Finally, in commemoration of the Chapter’s lost 2nd company millennia ago, all of the Archangels helmets are painted white, with only the knee pad coloring and number denoting to which company a battle brother belongs. Sergeants are denoted by a black stripe down the center of their helmet while Veterans are denoted by a green laurel wreath adorning their helms. The Archangels have a long and proud tradition of volunteering marines to serve as members of the Deathwatch. Those battle brothers so honored with serving with the Deathwatch retain their silver Ordo Xenos shoulder pauldron and vambrace in recognition of their service.

Beliefs

Like most other Astartes Chapters, the Archangels believe that the Emperor is a supremely powerful human being and honor his sacrifice to uphold the psychic beacon. The Archangels also venerate their primogenitor Lion El’Jonson as most Dark Angel successors do. Though no one within the Chapter knows exactly why, but the Archangels look down on chapters of later foundings - viewing them as inexperienced as compared to one with such a long-lineage as themselves. Conversely, the Archangels look in awe and reverence of battle-brothers from the 1st or 2nd foundings. As one could imagine, this has led to some odd situations where Archangel commanders have refused to be led into battle by leaders from "younger" Chapters.

The Archangels harbor an almost fanatical zeal against mutants, xenos and ab-humans and will resolutely refuse to fight alongside or ally themselves with such. On more than one occasion, this fanaticism turned violent when Archangels exterminated loyal Imperial ogryns or ratlings serving in war zones where the Archangels were called in. It is however, this same zeal which forces Archangels to persevere in battlefields where all seems lost. The tenacious Archangels have never fled a warzone, once committed, to pursue hunting The Fallen – though the hunt for The Fallen is of utmost importance, it does not override the Archangels zealous dedication to preserving faithful Imperial citizens.

The Archangels are more than willing to fight alongside all other loyal Astartes brethren, however, some have noted that Archangels brethren have an air of contempt for chapters with noticeable mutations or deviancies – Salamanders, Flesh Tearers and Black Dragons to name but a few. To the Archangels, fighting to preserve the Imperium of Man includes keeping humanity uncorrupted and pure.

Gene-seed

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The Archangel's geneseed is that of the Dark Angels and is remarkably free from deviations as with most chapters descended from the Dark Angels except for one noticeable exception – brethren of the Archangels Chapter seemed to have developed a heightened superiority complex. Whether this superiority complex comes from a zygote deficiency or something else entirely has yet to be fully investigated.

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Battle Cries

“We are the angels who conquer the stars,

We are the Astartes who wage the Emperor’s wars,

We smite, with righteous anger, the Emperor’s foes!”

"Dulce et decorum est pro Imperium mori!"

It is fitting and proper to die for the Imperium!

Origins

Members of the Inner Circle are the only ones who know of Luther’s betrayal and of the Unforgiven's hunt for The Fallen.

- What about the members of 1st Co.?

 

As the Archangel’s Battle Barge Indefatigable moved within assault range of Gaul Secundus, the traitorous Fallen activated an ancient xeno-tech weapon which shot up from the surface of the planet and reacted with the Indefatigable’s warp-drive engine array. The resultant warp-space disruption tore the Indefatigable apart slaying the Chapter Master and the entirety of the highly mobile 2nd company. The ship’s wreckage burned and plummeted to the surface of the planet below.

- If all-else fails, just roll a D6 on the following "How to justify anything in 40K" chart:

 

1- Horrific Mutation

2- Inquisitorial Conspiracy

3- Psychic Ability

4- Xenos Technology

5- Sorcery

6- Standard Template Construct

:P

 

The struggle of overcoming their massive losses and of having to forge and defend their new home deep in the Reductus Sector from marauding Orks, Dark Eldar, Chaos incursions and worse for millennia, has had a profound impact on the Archangel’s brethren and created a near puritanical zeal within the psyches of Archangels marines, but whether this is due to a zygote deficiency or something else is uncertain.

- Ok, I do understand where you coming from, but it doesn't work for me. You lost just the 2nd Company and majority of Chapters defend their homeworld from all sorts of space nasties for millenia.

 

Homeworld

All good until this:

Gaul and its sister systems are located deep within the Reductus Sector in a tract of space now known as Sub-Sector Angelius. Though there are 3 populated systems within the sub-sector, they are relatively far apart from each other. This collection of systems is controlled by powerful navigator and trade households and are united and protected by the Archangels through millennia’s old oaths.

 

All of the habitable worlds maintained by the Archangels are quite civilized. Some have sprawling hive-cities and manufactoriums while others are agri-worlds which export necessary foodstuffs. One thing that all of the populace has in common with one another is an ancient tribal rivalry which has existed for millennia. Dominated by 3 major tribes (Aquitanni, Galli and Belgae and numerous smaller ones), the worlds within Sub-Sector Angelius have come close to all out war with each other on several occasions. Though none of the 3 tribes have any more dominance than the others, there is constant rivalry and competition to control other, lesser tribes and thus control the import or export licenses within a system.

- First off, you have only 3 systems in the sub-sector. If you are lucky, you have like 9 worlds populated by humans. The Hives are very rare sight in the Imperium, so if you want to use Goblin math, use "few".

- The sub-sector is controlled by navigator and trade households, yet some random "tribes" pop up later.

- The "tribe" is term with rather unfathomable and uncertain definition. The existence of such "tribes" for millenia is questionable at best.

 

All of the tribes share a common and ancient Terran heritage of Gallo-Celtic ancestry.

- Welcome in the year 41,000 in the future... [pause to let us understand the magnificence of such number] ... They are Celts/Gauls no more. Not after living for several thousands years on entirely different planet(s).

 

++++

The Homeworld section is confusing like hell. I had hard time to understand if you talk about planet, system, sub-sector or the sector.

 

Combat Doctrine

This is apparent in the Chapter’s organization which, like most chapters has their veteran 1st company and their 10th company reserved for scouts, but it is in the rest of the companies where the deviation lies. All of the Archangels remaining companies are organized as battle companies.

- Don't forget the duty of Ravenwing is not only scouting and inteligence-gathering, but also, quite literally, the hunt of the fallen.

 

To other Marine Chapters, the Archangels tactics seem almost reckless, but without the quick scouting capability of a dedicated bike company,

- You still have scouts and the bikes aren't that hard to manufacture. Presumably, the Forge Ship was not destroyed.

 

Belief

Though no one within the Chapter knows exactly why, but the Archangels look down on chapters of later foundings - viewing them as inexperienced as compared to one with such a long-lineage as themselves.

- Explanation is foundation of Index Astartes. ;)

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