maverike_prime Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Curiosity question. Well series of questions really. I had this idea about a Space Marine chapter, well 4/5s of a chapter really, that turned to Chaos. When their heresy was discovered they were wiped out. But That other 1/5 of the chapter was lost (lost in the warp, cut off from the rest of the galexy, trapped in a chrono-field, whatever. They were inaccessible is the point.) But they re-emerged after their chapter was wiped out. What would happen to them? Would they be destroyed because the rest of their chapter turned to Chaos? Could they rebuild their chapter? Would they be allowed to? Would they simply be dispersed to other chapters? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecritter Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 I think alot would depend on when the Heresy occured, the more modern view is kill them. Even then some may call for their heads, others may just insist on a penitence crusade. Trust is always going to be the issue. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2675353 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Direach Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Generally speaking, when a Chapter falls below 300 brethren it is on the verge of extinction, and will likely die out, especially if all of their holdings, gene-seed, support, etc. have been destroyed or seized. There is literally nothing to rebuild from, and the Imperium is almost certainly not going to give them a hand. Survivors of a heresy like you described would probably spend a long time being vetted by the Inquisition for signs of corruption, after which they'd be free to chart their own course (assuming they passed the tests). It's possible they might find refuge with their progenitor Chapter, assuming said Chapter was willing to overlook the heresy that consumed the survivors' previous chapter (highly unlikely; it's better not to take the risk). More likely they would either stay together as a contingent fighting on behalf of the Imperium until they were all dead, or (if there were too few) they might splinter and pursue their own courses, seeking a redemptive end. Some might petition to join the Deathwatch as black shields; others might join a Rogue Trader's retinue. Others might join a mercenary company, or go off alone into the far reaches of the Imperium seeking atonement in death. The stigma of one's Chapter turning to Chaos is almost too great to overcome in the Imperium. There are vanishingly few second chances for anyone, including space marines. It is unlikely a Chapter that faced the scenario you posited would see a happy ending. The best they could hope for is to earn enough glory in death to partially mitigate the failure of their Chapter. And even then, in all likelihood, their Chapter would be expunged from the records and discarded into history. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2675361 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrata Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 There is very little evidence either way to be certain what would happen. The traitor chapters in the Badab War were all sent on Penitence Crusades and had their home worlds taken from them. This could have been due to the nature of the campaign, more about the independence of Astartes over turning to Chaos, but it shows that the Imperium does have the ability to forgive. Turning to Chaos might force the Chapter to be abandoned by the Imperium - they will not attempt to rebuild them. The shame/sanctions would be akin to the close family members of a Spy/Traitor during the Cold War :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2675366 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chapter Master Ignis Domus Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Considering the treatment and near execution of Garro and his merry men, and that was only avoided by a Primarch and the Emperor vouching for him, I'd say they would be brutally murdered/executed/killed, as the Imperium is even less tolerant now. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2675646 Share on other sites More sharing options...
soddinnutter Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 200 marines are a formidable force. A very dangerous thing to have running around the Galaxy if their purity is questionable. Most likely the smaller units would be isolated from one another and shipped off towards the far ends of the galaxy. Some would become part of the retinue of Inquisitors, some with an aptitude for killing specific targets would end up becoming permanent members of the Death Watch, some would go to training and bolstering PDF or Guard Regiments and some would not be able to survive with the shame and would commit suicide. In any case the survivors would be spread from Hub to Edge and would never see or hear of each other ever again. Assuming they are not just exterminated on sight, their bodies burnt and names stricken from the record. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2676358 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Augustine Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I had a similar thought in the past and thought I would voice it here and now since we are on the topic. What if they won? What if half the Chapter went traitor and the other half fought against them and managed to win. Would they be forgiven and given a second chance or would they still be screwed? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2676843 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagermonster Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 They'd most likely be killed, however it is possible, however slight that they may be allowed to live. OTher chapters have survive more serious losses in the past and been allowed to rebuild. The crimson fists were totally owned when their home world was attacked. As for if the chapter had infighting then it bcomes a chapter internal matter and th likelyhood is that the inquisition would never know as the chapter on both sides would keep quiet about it to stop just such people hearing about it. in that case the victor takes all Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2677017 Share on other sites More sharing options...
soddinnutter Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Claim it was a live-fire training exercise combined with a faulty comm. net that went catastrophically wrong. the Inquisition will never suspect a thing. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2677326 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Generating Random Name... Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Claim it was a live-fire training exercise combined with a faulty comm. net that went catastrophically wrong. the Inquisition will never suspect a thing. Live fire training exercise with half the chapter? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2677394 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonaides Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Actually happens remarkably often. Half of every day that a marine company is not active in a battlefield, they spend conducting squad/company and or larger elements combat practice. And I doubt the concept of not using live ammo has occurred to them - especially as a lunchtime the injured marines from the mornings exercises are allowed to go to the Apothecarion for treatment! The luxuries of 'training' indeed! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2677473 Share on other sites More sharing options...
gil galed Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 All based on the circumstances, although 4/5ths and the other 5th not being heretical because they weren't there isn't going to look great for them... ~Gil ^_^ Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2677484 Share on other sites More sharing options...
elohimalpha Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 All based on the circumstances, although 4/5ths and the other 5th not being heretical because they weren't there isn't going to look great for them... ~Gil :( Yeah, I second this. It'd be one thing if they were reduced to 200 men because they fought against the traitors and lost. Quite another to be "loyal" in absentia. The Inquisition would just shoot first and not ask questions later. I like the idea of "the band breaking up" - shamed marines looking for a suitably heroic death in the far corners of the galaxy . . . how tragically noble Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/223742-survivors-of-a-chapter-wide-heresy/#findComment-2677600 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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