Fleshing out the Sons of Gideon

[Valkyrion]

Okay, so the talk on the BA forum about a viable Death Company army got me thinking about a proper chapter full of lunatics without being good guys.

 

This is the important info about the Sons of Gideon:

 

The first of these was the Sons of Gideon, who were deemed Excommunicate after a routine Inquisitorial inspection had found the Chapter's geneseed had been corrupted to such a degree that chemical imbalances in the Space Marines' brains had driven them insane. The Crimson Fists destroyed their homeworld of Gideon IV and the proceeded to hunt down the remnants of the Third Company which had escaped the attack and was butchering it's way through the four billion inhabitants of the Colar star system

 

I'm going to use the BA codex for this and try and draw as many parallels to the real Gideon and his associated stuff as possible.

 

Obviously their homeworld is named as Gideon IV, which is where the name comes from.

Degredation in geneseed points to a Cursed Founding chapter.

 

My ideas thus far:

Chapter Master is a Chaplain (Astorath) called Melech - the real Abimelech was a son of Gideon who killed his 70 brothers so he would be king.

 

Chief Librarian (Mephiston) called Mardikh - Tell Mardikh is the site of the Eblaite Tablets referencing the city of Shechem and the god Resheph who is the god of Plague and War and his symbol is a lightning bolt.

 

Resheph is also identified with Nergal. Nergal influenced Nurgle.

 

Symbol - white scars (Resheph)

 

Abimelech killed his 70 brothers so that he would be king, only one survived - Jotham. I'm thinking he could be a snitchy rat, grassing his crazed chapter up to the Inquisition who in turn perform the 'routine' inspection.

 

Another brother, Yotam, proclaimed his brothers future tyranny - I'm thinking this could be the catalyst for the chapter actually ending up really insane, as Melech and the chapter go on a rampage.

 

I'm wanting to include a daemonic influence.

Gideon converted his people to God where before they worshipped Baal-Berith, or Baal-zebub (beelzebub), the Lord of the Flies, whose symbol was a fly...you see the nurgley things coming out?

After Gideon died the people reverted to worshipping Baal-Berith and Abimelech destroyed the temples - this is how the madness begins, Melech unintentionally releasing a daemon and maybe not becoming possessed, but manipulated.

 

I don't want the chapter overtly falling to chaos worship at all - more like an undercurrent of a primitive faith endures on Gideon IV that eventually penetrates the chapter. I want them to be that paranoid about it they think everyone else is chaotic and that their madness is just.

 

TL;DR?

Any thoughts?

 

Cheers.

[StGene]

I love the idea! Are you drawing from the Old Testament, or from some other historical source?

[Valkyrion]

Yeah the Old Testament, specifically the Book of Judges.

 

I'll throw together something more cohesive a bit later on but I think the idea is sound.

[Valkyrion]

A bit of something;

 

 

Origins:

 

The Sons of Gideon began life as the Blood Hawks. A 21st Founding chapter of the Blood Angels, like the Lamenters it was believed that the curse of the Blood Angels had been eradicated and though the chapter shared much commonality with their parent chapter they adhered far more rigidly to the Codex Astartes in organisation and combat doctrine.

 

The 21st Founding marked the end of largest founding of space marine chapters since the 2nd Founding as the Imperium aggressively expanded its borders.

 

For three millennia the Blood Hawks were a fleet based chapter and played supporting roles in the 6th and 7th Black Crusades. Following the slaughter of the Blood Angels at Mackan late in M37, the Blood Hawks departed the Eye of Terror and broke all ties with their parent chapter. The reasons for this are unknown, but to this day the Blood Angels and their successors refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Blood Hawks, whilst the Blood Hawks regard their brethren with equal disdain.

 

Following their self imposed exile, the chapter grew increasingly insular and withdrawn yet their loyalty was never in doubt nor their methods questioned. They embodied the Codex Astartes in the same was as other more honoured chapters, such as the Ultramarines and Imperial Fists and there was no doubt that the curse of Sanguinius had been eradicated. They responded to calls for aid and prosecuted their own campaigns without preamble but were reluctant to take to the field alongside other space marine chapters. Indeed, since the 7th Black Crusade the Blood Hawks had only waged war alongside another chapter on one occasion; a company of Crimson Fists died to a man defending the Hive World of Hellas from a rampaging Ork horde alongside the Blood Hawks. Though there was little to suggest the Crimson Fists deaths were attributable to anything other than the greenskins, the Blood Hawks made no attempt to contact the Crimson Fists or honour their sacrifice, a fact which rankled with so honourable a chapter.

 

It wasn’t until the dissipation of the warp storms engulfing the Bethsamnel Sector at the end of the 40th Millennium did the chapter claim a homeworld, Gideon IV, and their descent into madness began.

[Valkyrion]

Whilst I've got the bug....

 

 

The Bethsamnel Sector:

 

In 879.M40 the Bethsamnel Sector was reborn. Shrouded by warp storms for over two millennia the sector had long since been forgotten by the Imperium and it was little more than chance that the Blood Hawks responded to a two thousand year old distress call.

The seven worlds of the Bethsamnel Sector were typical Imperial worlds until mid M38 when the warp storms swallowed the sector. The sector had been self sustaining, its worlds producing industry and agriculture for the billions of citizens that called it home. Two thousand years later and the worlds had regressed to almost primitive levels. Ruined imperial cities dotted the planets, long since claimed by the decay of neglect and the previous imperial civilisation reduced to little more than feudalism.

Yet the distress beacon activated two thousand years earlier still functioned alerting any passing imperial vessels on old but valid imperial codes.

 

The beacon drew the Blood Hawks to Gideon IV, one of seven moons orbiting the world of Gideon, and the population gathered at the landing site clearly expecting the arrival of the space marines.

As Chapter Master Gerizim disembarked the Thunderhawk, the crowd immediately fell to bended knee in fealty to their new masters.

 

The Chapter immediately began an investigation into Gideon IV and the surrounding worlds, discovering a compliant yet feudal people each eager to be reintegrated into the Imperium. The only concern was the moon of Gideon IV itself where its people had taken to the worship of a being known as Resheph. Intense studies into this being by the chapter Chaplains and Librarians revealed that Resheph was simply the local name given to the Emperor and that the world was morally sound.

Nevertheless, certain rituals and praise of Resheph disturbed Gerizim especially the death customs of the people. They claimed that each death, be it natural or otherwise, was a sacrifice to Resheph and that to inter a body would be to deny Resheph his due. Instead they simply let the body rot and decay, that the flies that would infest the body would carry the person’s soul to the Emperor.

On many imperial worlds several local customs are allowed to remain, but Gerizim demanded total indoctrination into the Imperial Creed, the name of Resheph and worship of him in any guise other than the Emperor was to be outlawed and the death customs of the world eradicated.

Although there were minor protestations about the removal of their customs, most inhabitants of the Bethsamnel Sector knew of their Imperial history and were quick to embrace the new ways.

 

Within weeks of its rebirth, Gideon IV came under attack from the devious Eldar.

It wasn’t just Gideon IV either, but every single world of the Bethsamnel Sector was assailed by the aliens who mercilessly butchered defenceless populations before the Blood Hawks could respond.

The attacks came without warning or reason but the Eldar soon realised that Gideon IV was the keystone in the sector and attacked in force.

The Blood Hawks drove off the Eldar, only for another force to attack within days, and again days after that. For several months the Eldar laid siege to Gideon IV only to withdraw as quickly as they had arrived.

 

Months later the Eldar attacked again, only this time it was a different Craftworld. Following the same hit and run techniques of their allies, the Eldar again withdrew without warning or reason and so the pattern continued for several years, the Eldar attacking for months at a time before withdrawing.

 

Unable to leave the world undefended whilst the wheels of Imperial bureaucracy slowly turned and the Imperium realised that Gideon IV was once more alive and appoint Imperial Commanders, Master Gerizim made Gideon IV the chapters home world as once more the world came under attack.

[InquisitorHayn]

I'd like to start by saying that I like the whole Judges theme. Very interested to see how it turns out. As it stands though, I see several major issues with the concept that you've established so far. Caveat: The things I am about to say are not intended to be insulting, just a good ol' Liber helping hand.

The first of these was the Sons of Gideon, who were deemed Excommunicate after a routine Inquisitorial inspection

There is nothing routine about an Inquisitorial investigation, especially on Astartes-held worlds. Inquisitors are not fire marshals going door to door making sure buildings are up to code. If the ol' =][= comes knocking, there's a really, really good reason.

Following their self imposed exile, the chapter grew increasingly insular and withdrawn yet their loyalty was never in doubt nor their methods questioned.

So basically, they turned off their cell phones and none of their friends wondered why?

The seven worlds of the Bethsamnel Sector

A sector of space is huge, composed of many separate star systems light-years apart with anywhere from tens to thousands of their own worlds and moons. While it's entirely possible for only seven to be habitable, the likelihood of them all being in the same general area is slim to none. I think, for your purposes, a single system would serve you better.

Instead they simply let the body rot and decay, that the flies that would infest the body would carry the person’s soul to the Emperor.

On many imperial worlds several local customs are allowed to remain, but Gerizim demanded total indoctrination into the Imperial Creed, the name of Resheph and worship of him in any guise other than the Emperor was to be outlawed and the death customs of the world eradicated.

I get the Nurgley thing you're trying to do with this, but you need to work a little harder on this part. Relating a society's reluctance to dispose of their dead unnaturally to Nurgle worship is like saying that all Space Marines are Khornate Berzerkers because they kill people. Not to mention the fact that almost every Space Marine Chapter thinks the Imperial Cult is a total crock.

The attacks came without warning or reason but the Eldar soon realised that Gideon IV was the keystone in the sector and attacked in force.

The Eldar are a dying race with ever-dwindling numbers. They never attack without reason and are extremely unlikely to launch protracted engagements on multiple worlds simultaneously, much less have a lightbulb moment in the middle of it. The casualties would be too great...

Months later the Eldar attacked again, only this time it was a different Craftworld.

...and two Craftworlds in the same place? Not gonna happen. May as well paint a target on themselves.

 

Ultimately, this is yours and you can do with it what you will, but I believe that, with some improvement, this could be an exciting idea and the basis for a riveting IA. Good luck in your endeavours and, as always, beware of falling rodents.

[Valkyrion]

Smashing, thanks.

 

The emboldened text in my first post is actually from GW, word for word, so the 'routine' investigation is what happened.

 

I was trying to imply that the Blood Hawks had a hand in the BA's slaughter. Not a direct involvement, just an implication that they might not have been the codex following curse free successor chapter.

I need them to be Blood Angels as it is largely going to be a Death Company style army.

 

Its not so much they turned their cell phones off, more like they would respond to calls for aid but that is as far as any contact would go. They wouldn't try and formulate plans with other forces; just show up, do their thing and leave.

 

You're right about the sector, I got myself mixed up with the system/sector thing, but the Bethsamnel sector is a real sector mentioned in the apocalypse rule book. If anything a sector is better as it gives the chapter more to do.

 

Fair enough about the nurgle thing. That needs more work, I'll get back to my demonology books.

 

The Eldar weren't attacking without reason, the chapter didn't know what the reason was. And I think if any race are going to have a lightbulb moment it will be the Eldar? Everything they do is fairly abstract to Imperial forces.

I was wanting to lead up the Eldar knowing what is on the planet and know what the Sons of Gideon are going to become and are trying stop it. They can't attack in force so perform hit and run style attacks. I didn't mean that two craftworlds were attacking at the same time, I meant one after the other, although I see thats unlikely too so will change that to a single craftworld.

 

Cheers.

[Octavulg]

First, I think the Old Testament references are a little too direct. That is both unsubtle and risks upsetting people (though I'd bet heavily most people haven't read Judges).

 

Second: if they're Cursed Founding, what's their curse? The brain stuff?

 

Third: This seems like an interesting concept. I think the obvious thing to do is to figure out how the local faith works and (especially) how it wormed its way into the chapter. Right now things sound a little too Chaosy.

[Valkyrion]

Drawing a few ideas from the Dornian Heresy Blood Angels, with all due recognition to Aurelius Rex;

 

Bullet points:

 

The blood hawks were curse free until they arrived at Gideon IV

 

Gideon IV's inhabitants worshipped Nurgle in the guise of the Emperor

 

Gideon IV was under attack from other daemonic forces when the blood hawks arrived and the inhabitants joined forces with the blood hawks to defeat them.

 

The blood hawks began to recruit solely from gideon iv and when the chapter reached roughly 75% gideonites (?) the curse manifested itself in the gideonites but not the original.

 

The beliefs of the inhabitants were integrated into that of the chapter.

 

The newly named Sons of Gideon culled the rest of their own chapter in return for salvation from the curse. (how?)

 

The black rage was replaced by a blood plague, driving the sons of gideon insane unless blood was spilled (?)

 

 

 

hmmmm.....*shakes head in frustration*

 

Actually, is it cheating if I put the chapter on Gideon IV before the warp storm hits, meaning they are stuck there for 2000 years thereby going some way to explaining what happens? They have to recruit from a corrupted population in order to survive?

[chadnezzar]

You're never gonna please everyone. I wouldn't sweat upsetting people w/ the "Gideon" reference. I haven't read Judges yet but, I'm not offended and can see how a chapter would think it was in the right when actually they need to rent a room in the galactic looney-bin. Absolute power corrupts absolutly--even if it doesn't start that way. Nice job so far.

[philsminions]

I am in agreement with chadnezzar. You can't please everyone, so keep up your excellent work. You have really gone to great detail explaining the "fluff" history of your own chapter. I love it! It reads well and is entertaining/interesting.

In reference to whether or not the blood hawks could have been trapped on Gideon IV before the warp storm, I think it is entirely possible. You would have to change a few of the battles and years in which they fought, but I believe that they could very well have answered a distress call; be it a genuine call from the people of Gideon IV needing assistance with a daemonic threat, or a "false" alarm created by daemonic forces in order to lure them in, knowing that the pending warp storm would aid in the chapters destruction/corruption. Being cut off and trapped inside the warp/imaterium, they would have no choice but to fill their ranks with the potentially corrupted blood of Gideon IV. Like other Excommunicate Traitoris chapters, they believe they are in the right and that they are serving the will of the emperor. Their zealousness blinds them to the fact they are being manipulated by daemons of chaos.

I like the inclusion of various pieces from our own history (ie: the judges references - and I am a devout Christian...not offended in the least bit!) I am quite intrigued at where this is going and I look forward to reading more. Keep up the good work!

[Captain Juan Juarez]

A writers first aim is to please himself.

 

That said, try to avoid obvious references to things that people may be expected to know about - being subtle is all in this kind of thing.

 

As someone who has no idea what you're referencing though, go for it!

[Valkyrion]

Right, so I've changed...erm...everything, sort of, but not really. Yeah. Clear as mud.

 

Whilst this isn't the origins per se, this is the start of the defining moment of the chapter. Its ended up being longer than I thought.

 

The Bethsamnel Campaign:

 

The Bethsamnel Sector lies deep within Ultima Segmentum at the edge of Centaurus Arm. Of the sectors seven stars there is but a single habitable solar system, that of Alpha Muscae. The seven planets of Alpha Muscae are inhospitable death worlds, their climates little more than a roiling mass of toxic gases yet life thrives on the moons of these worlds.

The first the wider Imperium heard of the rebellion in the Bethsamnel Sector was over a year into the conflict as Blood Hawk vessels battling the Orks of Dunen II picked up a faint transmission from the fourth moon of Gideon. With no Imperial forces for light years around, the Blood Hawks disengaged and made for Alpha Muscae.

 

The Blood Hawks descended upon Gideon IV and immediately reinforced the PDF garrisoned at Shechem, the capital city. The rebellion was manic, millions upon millions of imperial citizens demanded passage off the world. The six other moons had all been attacked simultaneously and innumerable refugees blocked the streets of Shechem, railing against the PDF not for protection or hatred simply evacuation, yet the Blood Hawks could garner no discernable information as to the nature of their foe. The six other moons were deserted.

And then Gideon came to life.

 

As with all of the worlds in the Alpha Muscae system, Gideon had been smothered with toxic and corrosive gases which had suddenly dissipated. The Librarians and Astropaths felt the psychic shockwave keenly as though a million souls had perished at once. Reports flooded in of tremendous seismic activity upon the surface of Gideon and that the world teemed with life. Primitive settlements were unearthed as the oceans crashed mercilessly against huge mountain ranges and the skies thundered with rain. Within hours similar reports had come in from Joash, Mannassa, Amalek and the rest of the worlds of Alpha Muscae; the parent worlds once dead now filled with activity. Chapter Master Goesia took the Blood Hawks to Gideon.

 

With no accurate planetary survey ever performed by the Imperium, the Blood Hawks landed blind at the foot of what would later be known as Mount Gerizim.

The world was being twisted and tormented by seismic activity and was constantly reshaping. Goesia thought he saw the outline of a glorious golden palace shimmering on the horizon yet when he looked again it was a volcano spilling blood like lava as the first enemies revealed themselves.

Bloodletters swarmed towards the Blood Hawks and space marine met daemon in fierce combat until the Bloodletters were bathed in an alien pink fire. The blasted land shifted again replaced by a landscape that seemed to defy all laws of physics. The Bloodletters had vanished, replaced by Horrors and Flamers of Tzeentch.

For less than an hour the Blood Hawks battled the gibbering daemons before once again the landscape shifted. The golden palace Goesia though he saw sprung from the ground as the daemons were torn apart from the inside out, Daemonettes stepping through the chests of the Horrors.

 

A swarm of flies so large as to blot out the sun fell upon the battlefield as once again the scene changed, this time back to the blasted landscape and blood spewing volcano.

Then suddenly it was gone. The Blood Hawks found themselves once again at the foot of Mount Gerizim but they were not alone. Massive blast doors in the side of the mountain opened to reveal hundreds of people. One of them, a priest of some kind, beckoned Gosia. ‘Do not be caught outside when the storm hits, Lord Goesia.’ He said, pointing to the sky.

Gosia looked up to see Gideon IV disappear into a swirling nebula. What looked like a giant fist reached out to swallow Gideon and Goesia ordered his men inside.

 

-------

 

This is the prelude to their turning. Gideon was always a nurgle daemon world whose grip on it has slipped and now the other gods vie for it. Same with the other worlds. 7 is fairly recurring - 7 stars, 7 planets, gideon has 7 moons.

 

Alpha Muscae is a real star in the Musca constellation. Musca means fly.

Goesia is from Ars Goetia a book detailing the 72 demons King Solomon evoked and trapped in bronze jars.

 

Those references must be subtle enough?