Emerald Scars

[Mac the knife]

The Emerald Scars

A drop pod streaks through the sky blazing a fiery trail as it plummets through the atmosphere. Then, suddenly, retroburners fire and the loading ramps blast open. With a blood curdling cry the space marines storm out of the drop pod emerald armor gleaming, the retort of bolter fire and the whir of chainswords almost drowned out by the crash of bodies as the forces of the Emerald Scars and the bloody, feral minions of Khorne converge across the blood soaked alluvial plains of Sahir. The battle for Sahir had begun...
~As recounted by Skjad Ulrik of the Space Wolves

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Sgt Errol Devereux

“We stand as the champions of the Imperium, its first and best defense against the taint of chaos.”

According to Emerald Scars records the High Lords of Terra granted the chapter the right to establish their homeworld on the planet Sahir in the Segmentum Pacificus. The planet is scattered with millions of smaller islands surrounding a large pangea like formation in the northern hemisphere.

The native population of the planet survives off fishing and herding of livestock. The populace are grouped into small clan groupings and these clans often come into conflict with one another over good grazing and fishing areas. The millennia of conflict over land has caused the natives of Sahir to value loyalty, tenacity and strength in their warriors.

Every year shortly before the first hard frost of the year the young men of Sahir undertake a journey from their clan estates to the nearest Emerald Scars monastery and present themselves to the Chaplains and veterans of the chapter for selection.

The selection process is unique among chapters in that all young men must undertake this journey and the selection process in itself is not always fatal to those who fail to become chosen to join the ranks of the Emerald Scars. The selection process begins when the young men set out from their clan estates wearing only the clothing they have on their back and as Sahirian custom dictates a small knife. When the aspirants arrive at the local monastery they are not permitted entry until after the first frost. At this point aspirants may leave if they choose to do so. Those that have survived the test of endurance they are allowed to enter the monastery where they undergo the test of silence. Where each of them are separated and sequestered in a small cell with sufficient food and water for a period of 60 days in which they will have no contact with anyone other than an apothecary assigned to monitor their health however the apothecary refuses to speak with the young aspirant. Those that are capable of making it through these two tests have according to their clans passed the rites of manhood and are permitted to leave if they so choose and return to their clansmen as adult members of the clan. Those that stay however begin their genetic testing, combat training, mental conditioning and physical augmentation to become space marines.

The Emerald Scars were formed by the highlords of Terra to patrol the sectors of the Segmentum Pacificus around the Eye of Terror and provide a bulwark against further Black Crusades. Currently, the Emerals Scars traverse the sectors surrounding the Eye of Terror seeking out engagements against the traitor legions. For a Chapter that has specialized in facing off against the forces of chaos they are famously known for showing up to major engagements too late to have any true impact.

Gene Seed

The Emerald Scars are descendants of the White Scars Gene Seed and their Gene Seed is considered stable by the Adeptus Mechanicus. Further records indicate that the Emerald Scars are fully compliant with their Gene Seed tithe.

Combat Doctrine

Due to losses during the Battle of Sahir, the Emerald Scars have diverged from their parent Chapter’s tactics and developed a more flexible use of the codex. The Emerald Scars are considered Codex Adherent.

The lost companies are now crusade companies who have left on crusade in an attempt to atone for their failure to defend Sahir from a planetary invasion. These companies now are totally driven to atone for what the chapter itself views as a total failure and each company vowed not to return to Sahir until the followers of Khorne are completely driven from the sector. they will pursue the traitor legions especially those of the world eaters across the imperium driving them back into the eye of terror when found. Driven by vengeance and a vow taken millenia ago these Companies have diverged from Codex teachings in that they are organized how each Warlord believes is appropriate.

Service in the Lost Companies, due to the enemy they hunt and exposure to chaos, brings out an appetite for destruction that is truly frightening to behold. It is not uncommon for these companies to eradicate the population of entire rebellious planets in an effort to expunge all traces of chaos found there. Extended service in these companies has led to many an Emerald Scar to begin to see the touch of chaos upon everything they look at even, in extreme cases, their own battle brothers. Because of this, there is a higher instance of Chaplains amonst these companies to help the battle brothers overcome this deep sense of paranoia.

Lost Company Color Scheme

History

High Warlord Markus Chuluun Treatise on Leadership

“A leader who hesitates before he sends his forces into battle is not fit to be a leader.”

Most data on the Emerald Scars has been lost by the Adeptus Terra however, the Emerald Scars claim to have been founded during the XIII or “Lost” founding and that the first Chapter Master or “High Warlord” was Markus Chuluun though no records of him exist as a brother of the White Scars. It is speculated that the Emerald Scars are not direct descendants of the White Scars but descended from one of the the White Scar successor Chapters.

Having been established in the Segmentum Pacificus very little has been reported about the Emerald Scars relegating them to footnotes in the imperial histories. The Emerald Scars have served honorably since their founding participating in defensive actions across the segmentum. The Chapter does maintain a small battle fleet close enough to the Eye of Terror to be able to respond to incursions by the traitor legions.

The largest conflict where the Emerald scars have seen significant action was during the 11th Black Crusade when in response to the incursion by the traitor legions 6 full battle companies were dispatched to assist in driving back the forces of Chaos. During the fight to drive off the traitor legions the Emerald Scars were called back to Sahir as the forces of Khorne had descended upon the planet. The Emerald Scars battle fleet returned in time to assist in driving off the World Eaters strike force with the assistance of a Space Wolves battle barge in concert with Imperial Naval and Guard forces.

High Warlord Chuluun, the vast majority of 7th , 8th and 9th company in addition to all of the aspirants on Sahr were killed when Sahir was invaded. Due to the shame of almost losing their home world and the decimation of the force left on Sahir the Emerald Lions changed their name to the Emerald Scars and all veterans ritually scar their faces so that they will always remember the atrocities committed on their home world.

After the Battle of Sahir the Emerald Scars set about rebuilding their Fortress Monastary, their world and their chapter. The chapter was reorganized as a result of the Battle of Sahr with 7th, 8th and 9th companies now serving as full battle companies who are not permitted to step foot on Sahir and none of these three companies may be engaged on the same planet at the same time to ensure that such losses can never happen again. These 3 companies function almost totally autonomously from the rest of the chapter and most Emerald Scars now begin their service in these “Lost” companies. In addition, when a new Chapter Master is selected he takes the honorific of “The Lost One” and his actual name is added the list of the Chapter dead, in honor of the High Warlord Chuluun who gave his life defending the last remaining Gene Seed during the Battle of Sahir.

Imperial Interactions

Warlord (Captain) Rex Mahaud, Commander of the Fleets

“When pacifying a rebellious planet, the surest way is to burn it to the ground and leave it as an example to the emperor’s subjects what awaits those who turn from the Imperium’s protective embrace.”

The Emerald Scars have amicable relations with almost every other Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. The Emerald Scars view the Space Wolves as an ally due to their assistance during the Battle of Sahir. However, their strict adherence to the Imperial Truth brings their loyalty into question by the Adeptus Ministorum and the more devout chapters of the Adeptus Astartes specifically the Black Templars. It is not uncommon for Black Templar crusades to refuse to come to the aid of Emerald Scars battle forces and vice versa.

Religious Beliefs

Chaplain Gregor Thain

“From fanaticism to heretic is only one step.”

The Emerald Scars were known for their courage on the battle field and strict adherence to the Imperial Truth as it was preached when their planet was settled by 5th Legion expeditionary fleets during the early stages of the Great Crusade. This thinking continues with the Emeral Scars to this day. This adherence to the Imperial Truth stems from the fact that once Sahr was founded the fleet moved on and being relatively isolated in the Segmentum Pacificus was largely ignored during the Age of Apostasy.

The Emerald Scars however understand their beliefs are no longer the popular belief within the Imperium and thus, attempt to keep their practices private. An a few occasions this has led to a conflict with the more devout factions of the Imperium but the service record of the Emerald Scars, while short, is impeccable.

[Mac the knife]

Should i infer from the lack of response that there aren't any glaring mistakes?

 

anything that needs a bit more fleshing out?

[NightrawenII]

Should i infer from the lack of response that there aren't any glaring mistakes?

 

anything that needs a bit more fleshing out?

You know, Liber is like sledgehammer, slow and cumbersome, but when it hits, then it counts.

 

Well, your Chapter is plagued by the same problems like the many attempts of late.

First, lack of personality - Who are Emerald Scars? What defines them as the Chapter?

Second, lack of originality - What differs your Chapter from the crowd? Why should we care about them?

Third, lack of motivation - Why do your Chapter fight? For the Emperor, Primarch, Imperium or some unfathomable idea?

 

Also, I don't quite understand the purpose of "Lost" Companies.

 

Another thing is the Imperial Truth, the Adeptus Astartes are subjects of their own Cults. They don't worship Emperor as God, but revere him as the very important figure and source of inspiration.

[Mac the knife]

I attempted to actually remove some of the stuff to try and make it concise and to the point.

 

I appreciate the advice. As i said its a first draft and first post in the Liber and i guess made some rookie mistakes. I was trying to make the post seem more sanitized and clinical. I'll start adding more background

 

The Emerald Scars are an extremely paranoid and, while not religious, superstitious chapter. The only major engagement they participate in they almost lose their homeworld 3 companies and their chapter master. So, they change their chapter name from Emerald Lions, thinking their lack of luck is due to not paying enough homage to their parent chapter to the Emerald Scars. Then the companies that were almost eliminated are sent away from Sahir to atone for their failures. This paranoia is exemplified by the lost companies who have battle brothers that begin to see the taint of chaos in everything.

 

I'm not sure how to pump this up more to make it more dark.