Astral Saviors

[Astral Saviors]

Ive been playing Tau for about a year and decided for a bit of a change. I always go for anything allowing you to use your imagination so a DIY chapter sounded about right. Background will go up later but to start of here are some pics.

Commander

Starknight (Veteran)

Assault Marine

Tactical Marine

[Dremen]

Not bad colors. Good start overall. (Oh and a shameless bump for the new guy)

[Astral Saviors]

Ive changed the colour of the commanders cloak to suit the chapter colours more but ill keep the red for the veterans to make them stand out. Just need to get some background up now.

[Astral Saviors]

Ok ive spent most of today doing this :P .

Here is the first draft of the background for the Astral Saviours. Any of you who have read my Chaplains topic will know ive missed out the incident that causes them not to field chaplains but i wanted to really go deep on the background for that so you'll have to keep checking back to see it.

I really appreciate any feedback you can give that i can use to update further drafts. Thanks in advance.

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Origins

During the 26th founding the Astral Saviours were originally created as a crusading force to extend the emperors region of influence to the south-west of the empire. With their home world Medusa being on the south western fringes of the empire the Iron Hands were originally expected to be chosen as the gene-seed providers. Instead the Raven Guard were chosen as the high lords of terra decided a stealthier foe would be suited to the task. Veterans from the raven guard 1st company were sent to train the new chapter battle brothers. When the training was complete and the raven guard veterans returned to their company the Astral Saviours left (deleted) where they had been trained they established their base of operations aboard the battle barge “Astrum” as the chapter prepared to leave the emperors domain to expand they received an urgent message from the nearby planet of Jurn who were under attack from the Eldar of the Saim-Hann craftworld. The Astral Saviours 1st, 2nd and 3rd companies were immediately despatched to deal with the threat and proceeded to crush the small-scale invasion. Meanwhile the 6th and 7th companies were in orbit around Jurn in strike cruisers when they were ambushed by Eldar ships. The 6th and 7th companies both received 100% casualties as both strike cruisers were destroyed. The Eldar ships were destroyed in turn by the battle barge transport of the first 1st, 2nd and 3rd companies but the chapter then returned to space to rebuild their reserve companies.

 

Homeworld

The Astral Saviours chose the death world of Vastran to recruit from and rebuild their chapter. The Chapter Master Sinon Falco sent word to the high lords of terra as to whether the Astral Saviours could create their Fortress-Monastery on Vastran. When they received confirmation the chapter took “Astrum down from orbit and based the building of the Fortress-Monastery around it. Based near Medusa, Vastran is an ice based death world and the local citizens were found perfectly acceptable to recruit from. Sinon Falco appointed a non-astartes ruler on Vastran as he found himself away from Vastran for long periods of time so the chapter don’t hold many close ties with the world’s population. New recruits are chosen from the population by a series of challenges originating from the tribal chieftain competitions held on Vastran before the Astral Saviours arrived.

 

Combat Doctrine

The Astral Saviours prefer to engage the enemy from above favouring assault marines over their tactical counterparts. As such the chapter uses a high number of thunderhawk gunships to deploy troops. The tactical squads that are used fall from the skies in drop pods but again prefer deployment by thunderhawks if possible. This style of combat means that armoured vehicles and tanks only find themselves used during long campaigns and counter attacks. The primary focus is to get infantry on the ground before the heavy armour follows. Dreadnoughts are an exception because of their ability to be transported by drop pod and land speeders are also a common site when this chapter goes to war. Tactical prowess is highly honoured in the chapter. Ambushes and hit and run warfare employed by scouts are a common site when the Astral Saviors go to war. A great example of their fighting style is the Saim-Hann annihilation that took place on Jurn. Initial landing were carried out at lightning speed. With troops either being teleported or falling (with jump packs and drop pods) onto the battlefield. After the initial beachhead was created the heavy armour was transported down. A serious of ambushes and mass jump-infantry attacks broke the Eldar defenders and the world was reclaimed albeit with severe losses from the 3rd company on account of a haywire grenade trap set by the Eldar.

 

Organisation

The Astral Saviours are organised in much the same way as a codex chapter apart from the fact that all tactical squads have the option of using jump-packs on the battlefield.

 

The Jurn Daemon Incident

The chapter continued much in the same way for many years but at the Jurn Daemon Incident their whole belief and quest was changed. A tear in the warp allowed a daemon legion of untold proportions layed waste to Jurn, a planet with close links to the Astral Saviours after they had saved it from the clutches of the Eldar. Sinon Falco sent a message to the Grey Nights for aid but the message was lost in the warp, intercepted by the Daemon Prince Q’areudadueomm. To stop the daemon influence from spreading the Astral Saviours made planetfall in the same way they had for years. It was disastrous. The 2nd and 3rd company took casualties exceeding 50%. The chapter withdrew to orbit. Sinon Falco decided to trust in the principles decided by their founding chapter. The 10th company was stealthily landed on Jurn and proceeded to engage in hit and run warfare over a year. While the daemons were intent on the destruction of the scouts the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th landed secretly in the large jungle of Jurn. The 1st company advanced towards the rear of the daemon force drawing their attention. The 1st company then fled in the face of such insurmountable odds and the daemons followed.......straight into an ambush involving all of the chapter’s battle companies. The daemon force was being overwhelmed when an inhuman cry was heard above the sounds of the battle. The daemon prince Q’areudadueomm called out a challenge for the whole planet to hear. Calistro Odin, captain of the first company, readied his master-crafted power sword but was held back by Sinon Falco. A titanic battle took place in the middle of the forces and the Chapter Master held his own for hours but the Daemon Prince was too powerful for the Chapter Master to hold off and he was eventually slain. As the daemon roared in triumph Calistro Odin stepped in and thrust his sword through the abdomen of the beast. With this final victory the Astral Saviours proceeded to rout the daemons and order was once more restored to Jurn. The Astral Saviors harbour a special hatred of the daemons and though the daemon hunting duties are left to the Grey Knight allies the chapter will never refuse a call of help from a planet besieged by daemons. For each Daemon Prince Slain their grief for their chapter master decreases but to this day the chapter master holds the title “Son of Sinon”.

 

The Turning

In the years after the Battle for Jurn the Astral Saviours went into mourning for their Chapter Master Sinon Falco. Vicconius Admantis the chaplain of the Astral Claws during this time searched into the depths of chaos out of an overpowering curiosity. During his searching was visited by a vision of Horus the Warmaster. What it was that appeared in the vision was never recorded but it obviously had a profound effect on Vicconius because he started scheming for the downfall of the Astral Claws. Over the next year Vicconius recruited as many fellow brothers as he could to his cause. Many of the chapter’s chaplains followed Vicconius due to his high position in the chapter and the chaos influence they were exposed to during the Battle of Jurn. Exactly a year after the vision, with his force assembled and ready, Vicconius turned to the captain of the 7th company Yonnad Shivon. If Vicconius could get the support of a captain then he would have influence over an entire company of space marines and the tanks and ships at their disposal. If a whole company of marines turned to chaos then the inquisitors would surely have something to say about the contuance of the chapter. Vicconius approached Yonnad during a mourning session and put forward his thoughts and proposals. Yonnad to his great delight took little convincing. The fact that a captain of a Space Marine company took so little convincing still surprised Vicconius but he decided the daemons on Jurn must have had a profound effect on his fellow marines. Vicconius planned to use the 7th companies’ strike cruiser to escape along with the 7th company who Vicconius assumed Yonnad was converting to his needs. Sure enough the following night the strike cruiser landed on the planet of Grehthis and Vicconius travelled to meet what he thought was Yonnad and the 7th company. What he actually found was the new chapter master Calistro Odin and the Astral Claws Starknights (honour guard). Yonnad had told the Chapter Master of Vicconius’ treachery and Calistro had taken it into his own hands to cut the traitor down. Vicconius immediately fled the planet along with his fellow chaplains and their whereabouts was unknown until recently when a message was received from the PDF regiment stationed on Jurn that the chaplain had been found dead on their world having suddenly appeared through a gap in reality. The ultimate purpose of the appearance of Horus to Vicconius is unknown.

 

 

 

Battle Cry

“Your death is our release"

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Edit- Ive edited this taking into account other peoples suggestions

[Astral Saviors]

Ive just finished some more background for the Astral Claws concerning a major incident in their history.

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The Turning In the years after the Battle for Jurn the Astral Saviours went into mourning for their Chapter Master Sinon Falco. Vicconius Admantis the chaplain of the Astral Claws during this time searched into the depths of chaos out of an overpowering curiosity. During his searching was visited by a vision of Horus the Warmaster. What it was that appeared in the vision was never recorded but it obviously had a profound effect on Vicconius because he started scheming for the downfall of the Astral Claws. Over the next year Vicconius recruited as many fellow brothers as he could to his cause. Many of the chapter’s chaplains followed Vicconius due to the chaos influence they were exposed to during the Battle of Jurn. Exactly a year after the vision, with his force assembled and ready, Vicconius turned to the captain of the 7th company Yonnad Shivon. If Vicconius could get the support of a captain then he would have influence over an entire company of space marines and the tanks and ships at their disposal. If a whole company of marines turned to chaos then the inquisitors would surely have something to say about the contuance of the chapter. Vicconius approached Yonnad during a mourning session and put forward his thoughts and proposals. Yonnad to his great delight took little convincing. The fact that a captain of a Space Marine company took so little convincing surprised Vicconius but what he didn’t know was that many other marines had also been influenced by the legions of daemons. Vicconius planned to use the 7th companies’ strike cruiser to escape along with the 7th company who Vicconius assumed Yonnad was converting to his needs. Sure enough the following night the strike cruiser landed on the planet of Grehthis and Vicconius travelled to meet what he thought was Yonnad and the 7th company. What he actually found was the new chapter master Calistro Odin and the Astral Claws Starknights (honour guard). Yonnad had told the Chapter Master of Vicconius’ treachery and Calistro had taken it into his own hands to cut the traitor down. Vicconius immediately fled the planet along with his fellow chaplains and their whereabouts was unknown until recently when a message was received from the PDF regiment stationed on Jurn that the chaplain had been found dead on their world having suddenly appeared through a gap in reality. The ultimate purpose of the appearance of Horus to Vicconius is unknown.

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I want to expand this incedent so any feedback/queries would be welcomed and also any feedback on the rest of the chapters history.

[Astral Saviors]

I was having a quick look around the forge world site and i came across this-

I think i might base my chapter master on him albeit with some conversion work. Any thoughts?

EDIT: If anyones wondering it will be Calistro Odin not the old chapter master Sinon Falco

[Ecritter]

With conversion, he works really well as Chapter Master.

 

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac161/bob_boboberson/IH%20termi%201/P2150017.jpg

 

The Astral Saviours returned to the world of Vastran to recruit. The Chapter Master Sinon Falco sent word to the high lords of terra as to whether the Astral Saviours could create their Fortress-Monastery on Vastran. When they received confirmation the chapter took “Astrum down from orbit and based the building of the Fortress-Monastery around it. Based near Medusa, Vastran is an ice based hive world and the local citizens were found perfectly acceptable to recruit from. Sinon Falco appointed a head of Vastran outside the chapter as the chapter rarely find themselves near the planet and prefer to rule from afar. New recruits are chosen from the population by a series of challenges originating from the tribal chieftain competitions held on Vastran before the Astral Saviours arrived.

 

Did I miss something? I don't see anything about them being on Vastran before, how could they return?

 

I have no idea what you're trying to say on the second highlighted bit.

 

The Astral Saviours prefer to engage the enemy from above favouring assault marines over their tactical counterparts. As such the chapter uses a high number of thunderhawk gunships to deploy troops. The tactical squads that are used fall from the skies in drop pods. This style of combat means that armoured vehicles and tanks only find themselves used during long campaigns and counter attacks. The primary focus is to get infantry on the ground before the heavy armour follows. Dreadnoughts are an exception because of their ability to be transported by drop pod and land speeders are also a common site when this chapter goes to war. A great example of their fighting style is the Saim-Hann annihilation that took place on Jurn. Initial landing were carried out at lightning speed. With troops either being teleported or falling (with jump packs and drop pods) onto the battlefield. After the initial beachhead was created the heavy armour was transported down. A serious of ambushes and mass jump-infantry attacks broke the Eldar defenders and the world was reclaimed albeit with severe losses from the 3rd company on account of a haywire grenade trap set by the Eldar.

 

Overall sounds like normal SM tactics.

 

I think highlighted should be 'series'.

 

On the last sentence, you seem to be jumping from general combat doctrine into an event of a specific battle, kinda confusing.

 

The chapter continued much in the same way for many years but at the Battle for Jurn their whole belief and quest was changed.

 

From the IA opening, it seems that Jurn was their first engagement ... ?

 

Sinon Falco decided to trust in the principles decided by their founding chapter.

 

I thought he'd returned to the parent chapter with all the Veterans?

 

Beliefs

 

Overall this section tells us very little about the beliefs of the chapter.

 

Battle Cry

 

Seems odd, how is someone else's death their release?

[Astral Saviors]

Right ok here we go

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QUOTE

The Astral Saviours returned to the world of Vastran to recruit. The Chapter Master Sinon Falco sent word to the high lords of terra as to whether the Astral Saviours could create their Fortress-Monastery on Vastran. When they received confirmation the chapter took “Astrum down from orbit and based the building of the Fortress-Monastery around it. Based near Medusa, Vastran is an ice based hive world and the local citizens were found perfectly acceptable to recruit from. Sinon Falco appointed a head of Vastran outside the chapter as the chapter rarely find themselves near the planet and prefer to rule from afar. New recruits are chosen from the population by a series of challenges originating from the tribal chieftain competitions held on Vastran before the Astral Saviours arrived.

 

Did I miss something? I don't see anything about them being on Vastran before, how could they return?

 

I have no idea what you're trying to say on the second highlighted bit.

 

They didnt retern to Vastran they just chose that as the planet they would recruit from (should have made that clearer ^_^ )

And basically im just saying that the chapter master did not rule the planet himself but instead apointed a non-marine to rule as the chapter were regularly away from the planet.

 

QUOTE

The Astral Saviours prefer to engage the enemy from above favouring assault marines over their tactical counterparts. As such the chapter uses a high number of thunderhawk gunships to deploy troops. The tactical squads that are used fall from the skies in drop pods. This style of combat means that armoured vehicles and tanks only find themselves used during long campaigns and counter attacks. The primary focus is to get infantry on the ground before the heavy armour follows. Dreadnoughts are an exception because of their ability to be transported by drop pod and land speeders are also a common site when this chapter goes to war. A great example of their fighting style is the Saim-Hann annihilation that took place on Jurn. Initial landing were carried out at lightning speed. With troops either being teleported or falling (with jump packs and drop pods) onto the battlefield. After the initial beachhead was created the heavy armour was transported down. A serious of ambushes and mass jump-infantry attacks broke the Eldar defenders and the world was reclaimed albeit with severe losses from the 3rd company on account of a haywire grenade trap set by the Eldar.

Overall sounds like normal SM tactics.

 

I think highlighted should be 'series'.

 

On the last sentence, you seem to be jumping from general combat doctrine into an event of a specific battle, kinda confusing.

 

Yes theres not much differance apart from the favoratism of Assault marines and i just included the battle to give an example of the style.

 

QUOTE

The chapter continued much in the same way for many years but at the Battle for Jurn their whole belief and quest was changed.

 

From the IA opening, it seems that Jurn was their first engagement ... ?

 

Yes sorry i forgot to rename it to specify but basically it was the second battle on Jurn

 

QUOTE

Sinon Falco decided to trust in the principles decided by their founding chapter.

 

I thought he'd returned to the parent chapter with all the Veterans?

 

No he wasnt a Raven Guard veteran he's just the first chapter master

 

QUOTE

Beliefs

 

Overall this section tells us very little about the beliefs of the chapter.

 

Ye i had trouble with that section im working on it at the moment.

 

QUOTE

Battle Cry

 

Seems odd, how is someone else's death their release?

 

Its basically saying they wont rest until all the enemies are dead

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Wow you tore gaping holes in that but i appreciate it as its pointed out some major flaws. Ill redo a couple of sections and then post the background again. And yes the model does seem to work very well

Thanks and i hope this clears up your queries ;)

[Ecritter]

It has potential, just needs some work.

[Astral Saviors]

thanks. Ill do some work on it tonight.

[Arkangilos]

It sounds like a good idea ;)

[Astral Saviors]

@Telanicus: Both our current DIY chapters have a striking resemblance (astral meaning to do with star ;) ) and the fact that both chapters dont use chaplains. Great minds think alike :P

[Arkangilos]

Haha, yeah, I was thinking that after I typed mine up and saw yours. Then I was thinking, "Wouldn't that be cool if that chapter and my chapter were mortal enemies?"

 

I think your color scheme looks very appealing, which, so far, is the opposite of mine :/

Good job :yes:

[Dremen]

<places a pair of bolt pistols on the table> Have fun kids. Just make sure you dont get blood on my Space-wolf throw-rug. Takes forever to skin those guys.

 

Joking aside you both have really solid fluff for your chapters. Be interesting to see how they evolve over time.

[Astral Saviors]

<picks up and inspects the bolt pistol> hmmm

 

Haha :) @Telanicus Would you mind if i included a meeting between our two chapters? Could be quite interesting. PM me if you have any ideas ^_^

[Brother Michaels]

posted same on Star Saviors

 

seeing as how you two are forging chapters to fiction

 

would it be fitting for me to join in?

 

if so should i add another space marine chapter

 

or start a renegade one aka Astral Stars?(mixing both names)

[Astral Saviors]

You'll have to check it with Telanicus but sounds good to me. By adding a chapter do you mean adding a chapter that these two chapters have had connections with?

[Brother Michaels]

ya like heretics from both chapters created a renegade one

 

or something different :)

[Astral Saviors]

Again you'll have to check with Telanicus but it sounds good to me. Which would you prefer to do? Loyalist or renagade chapter?

[Brother Michaels]

for me loyalist

 

but then again

 

doing heretic is interesting

 

its up to you two ive asked him and await a reply btw

[Astral Saviors]

Well we'll see what he says and apart from that i really dont mind which you do.

[Astral Saviors]

For anyone whos read my background, nany ideas for a chapter badge to go on the shoulderpads. Ill definately use the one a like best at least partly in the badge. Ive got some ideas but im interested to see what others come up with.

[Marshal Rohr]

Why do your veterans have capes?

[Ecritter]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/ecritter/astral.png

[Astral Saviors]

Regarding capes- I just like the image the capes give them

 

And @Ecritter- Fantastic, i really, really like it. With the claw representing the daemon that slew(?) Sinon Falco. Ill get the GS out and get working on it with some ohter ideas filtered in. Really good.

Ive just started work on the first company banner so ill get some pics up soon.