IA: White Paladins

[Mazer Rackham]

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd494/MazerRackham259/Serpentis.jpg

Serpentis

The Constantine Abyssal, originally described as Constantine’s Folly by detractors, is named for the Lord Confessor Constantine, who set sail across the stars with an Ecclesiarchal mission. Operating from the world of Solstice, in 094.M32 he sent many forays into the dark void. None returned. Finally Constantine himself ventured there and was never seen again. Declaring the area Perdita it was cordoned off for many decades until a proper military undertaking could venture through, rediscovering Camlann in 156.M32. The Abyssal itself turned out to be virtually that – the stars are sparse in that part of the rim and the light of the Astronomican is frighteningly intermittent.

Camlann is one of a handful of temperate worlds in the Serpentis System of the Constantine Abyssal, made attractive to the Imperium for its vast stores of unexploited mineral wealth. Being four fifths the size of Terra and a slightly higher gravity of 1.19G due to a faster spinning axis, Camlann is the seventh planet in the system and largest in the cluster. It sits a comfortable distance away from Serpentis, the binary white star at the very heart of the Abyssal, that gives the immediate system it's name.

The world meets the Administratum criteria for being Feral. Most of the inhabitants are formed into eight major Tribes, following herds of food animals, which are also preyed on by huge beasts called Shothaa, which are particularly dangerous.

The Chapter maintains close ties with the settlements and the nomadic people, through the use of “Hallowed Ground”, meeting places where tribesmen may trade with the Sky Warriors in return for healing of the sick and to bring disputes between warring clans. It is also at the Hallowed Ground that any aspirant may present himself for trial.

Organisation:

The Proclamation Defiant:

“Stand with me! To share our honour and our blood – never in surrender, never in defeat! Let none survive our fury! Stand with me, Warriors of Camlann – and in the sight of the Emperor, be magnificent!”

Vehicles other than necessary transports are not regularly fielded, however the White Paladins have several Rhinos as dedicated Medicae vehicles and a larger than normally prescribed Apothecarion, several members of which spend long rotations with other Chapters, donating their expertise and learning much in the process.

The White Paladins fleet has also been refitted many times to improve speed and troop capacity. Even amongst the Angels of Death, the Chapter has a reputation for being able to put more warriors on the ground in a faster time than many other Astartes and they train heavily in that method of deployment.

3rd Company Battle Brother

Where the White paladins cannot deploy in such a manner, they will use small armoured spearheads, led by Land Raider Redeemers. A combination of close quarters weaponry and the room inside to deploy precious Terminators or, more often Sternguard squads, offers the White paladins a great boon, although they have few of these venerable vehicles, their early Crusading style not leaving the Chapter predisposed to the production of such heavy materiel.

The White Paladins believe in a great brotherhood of warriors and young men of different tribes will have to overcome their differences if they want to pass into the Chapter’s hallowed halls. The White Paladins therefore have a preference of recruiting in squads. In practice, this means the whole team must survive the trial or they will all fail. This approach is a break from previous doctrine and has been heavily influenced by events that have shaped the Chapter. It has proven useful when squads have had to be self-sufficient for long periods of time and matches the native feral hunting pack mentality. This survivalist attitude is continued further upon induction, with each White Paladin required to spend time seconded to the Apothecarion, where he will learn important skills to keep his brothers alive.

The trial itself is a huge journey from the shores of the Black Water to the gates of Shieldwall. It is a long and perilous route, across inhospitable terrain, filled with dangerous animals and renegade tribesmen. Sometimes it is not essential to complete the trial to pass it. With careful and due consideration, progress and attitude of the participants will go a long way in the deliberation of success.

Should an aspirant and his colleagues fail, having not satisfied the Chapter, but the attempt is deemed honourable; they have the option of signing on with the Militia.
If a team of aspirants fail completely or worse, great shame is brought down upon his tribe and they will be shunned. However, anyone who presents himself for trial may have the opportunity to win back the reputation of his people.

Combat Doctrine:

The Chapter makes full use of all aspects of the Codex Astartes, but have a great predilection for drop-pods as their manner of deployment and much of their forge production goes into building them. All drop-pods are fitted with locator beacons as a matter of course and this facilitates good displacement of arriving forces.

The Chapter has suffered the loss of several sets of Terminator armour and can muster only 23 suits. These are reserved for especially dangerous operations and are strictly limited to the 1st Company. It is believed that the implementation of Drop pod, rapid insertion and battlefield medicae techniques is not only a representation of Chapter credo, but is also a practical way to counteract this shortage, utilising massive firepower and offensive tactics, coupled with surgical support to increase fortitude.

Also worthy of note is that the Marines exhibit favouritism for close combat weapons of a more brutal nature to reflect their heritage, being axes, hammers and spears. Both Combat and Storm shields are also frequently used. Flamers too are preferred, since one of the best weapons in the feral wilds of Camlann is a burning torch.

The warriors are practiced in all manner of skills and techniques, with training and the daily skirmishes with the Orks of the sector honing them into experts at close-quarters battle. Camouflage and stealth of any sort is strongly discouraged, being an exception, rather than rule.

Beliefs:

The Siege of Shieldwall

In 447.M36 The Eldar of the Biel Tan Craftworld attacked many outlying worlds in the veiled region and the White Paladins were determined to respond in force.

Argo Taelos, the 4th Chapter Master, took most of the Marines with him, leaving the 3rd, 9th and elements of the 10th Companies. The White Paladins stood watch from the fortresses on each world the Chapter had a presence. Only a few months after the bulk of the White Paladins had set out; several Ork hulks dropped out of the warp and bore down on them.

Suffering heavy bombardment from Shieldwall, the Fortress Monastery, Urblitz Irontusk swept on, hell-bent on revenge. Weapons blew holes in his armada, but he was undaunted and soon Orks were spilling onto the surface.

After months of siege and bloody guerrilla battles, with Irontusk and Brother-Captain Severus Julo almost staring at each other daily through the fog and smoke of war, the Orks undermined and destroyed huge segments of the curtain wall, storming in.

Eight months into siege, the survivors had been forced into the main basilica. The Orks were even now preparing their final assault. Knowing the numbers arrayed against them, Captain Julo, standing shoulder to shoulder with Chaplain Gavorn walked amongst the defenders, the solitary surviving Company Chaplain administering to human serfs and Astartes alike.

Julo gave a brief speech and with the words “Be Magnificent” ringing in their ears, the 3rd Captain and his remaining Astartes gave glorious battle. Finally, Irontusk smashed his way into the melee to come face to face with his adversary.

The two combatants charged one another. Dodging, Julo laid blow after blow onto the Warboss, going for the weak points on the Ork’s armoured torso. Irontusk was less subtle, smashing down masonry as the duel careened from one wall to another. Finally, in a single desperate gambit, the Captain gripped the power sword in both hands and drove towards Irontusk. Off balance, Irontusk was speared on the blazing sword. The remaining Orks panicked and began to run. Within an hour, the aliens were reeling in retreat, but the White Paladins had suffered heavy casualties. Upon returning, Master Taelos quickly dispatched the Chapter to scourge the Orks from the system. In the aftermath of the battles to retake their homeworld, he presented Julo with an Iron Halo.

The White Paladins have a strong belief in flesh over steel and the capabilities of their warriors. This is coupled with an almost burning necessity to stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow Astartes or loyalist forces in adversity.

To begin with, this belief was shaped in the crucible of every battle they fought in their formative years, where the White Paladins swore oaths of brotherhood with many other honourable Astartes Chapters and learned from them, feeling keenly the loss of good brothers. The desire to protect their peers grew out of mutual respect and responsibility and since they tended to crusade amongst other Imperial forces they had little need of significant vehicle use, primarily using only transports and deploying as an infantry formation, where the firepower or heavy armour of other elements were already equal to the task.

“Never forget, we not only defend humanity, we must protect it. Forever must the mighty shield the weak, lest the terror consume us all. Every loyal soul is a warrior in our struggle, no matter the strength in his arm.”

- Argo Taelos, 4th Chapter Master.

These beliefs coalesced into something much stronger when the Chapter was caught up in the politics of the Age of Apostasy. In the Liber Ebourneum, the great book of the Chapter’s histories, there is recorded the warning and the shame of the Prylos Incident.

In 243.M36, the White Paladins Strike Cruiser, Scion of Gehenna was on patrol deep in the veiled region. On receipt of a distress call they hurried to the aid of Prylos IV, which reported an attack by Renegades. On arrival, Captain Ferrion of the 5th Company learned that the distress call was a ruse to try and prevent Cardinal Majoris Golian from carrying out High Lord Goge Vandire’s orders to destroy a dissenting world.

Captain Ferrion attempted to maintain neutrality, trying to strike a balance between the potential ramifications for the Chapter if subjected to excommunication and allowing the deaths of billions of innocents. In the immediate lull, Golian gave the orders to his ship captains to perform Exterminatus on the planet.

A Brush With Disgrace:

The White Paladins could only watch as the world below them burned. With a sneer, Cardinal Golian thanked them for their help and promptly moved out of the system. When the firestorm had burned out, the Marines made planet-fall, but there were apparently no survivors. They set out for home in shame, daubing their armour with ashes according to tribal custom. It was by chance that whilst withdrawing, they came upon a faint life-sign emanating from a disintegrated hab-block in a weapons Manufactorum. Immediately ordering a full-scale rescue operation, Ferrion recovered a young boy, barely alive, from a heavily shielded arsenal store. Tended to by the warriors, he was placed into stasis for security and taken with the Marines, watched over constantly by the company Chaplain. This young boy would grow up to be one of the greatest Chapter heroes of all time, Brother-Captain Severus Julo of the 3rd Company. He would give the Proclamation defiant that seared the Chapter's behaviour into it's bones and soul. It is also from Julo and Prylos IV that the Chapter inherits it's immense distrust of the Ecclesiarchy, although this has never escalated into open conflict.

Upon return to Camlann, Master Taelos pronounced that never again would the White Paladins falter. They would speed to every call, make fast to the most desperate situation and fight for the lives of any under their protection. It is an oath repeated annually on the feast day of The Primarch, with great solemnity. The White Paladins know only too well their sins and are determined to remember, expunge and never repeat them. It is a white hot brand in their soul that spurs them on to fresh victories, albeit often whilst blind to the risks involved – with each brother attempting to live up to that glorious ideal of being magnificent. To these ends, the Chapter deliberately employs methods of attack that will draw attention to themselves through increased threat level, so a badly mauled ally may escape. Drop pod assault is a perfect vehicle for this style of warfare. Scholars state that all this goes beyond duty and has become more akin to sacrificial obsession, although the Chapter officially discourages vainglorious last stands.

Coming from a lineage that traces its successes and failures through its tribal history, the Marines also put great faith in their ancestors, believing them to be well placed alongside the Primarch as paragons of what he would want his inheritors to be. These figures are prayed to with great fervour (the most popular figure being that of Captain Severus Julo), in the conviction that they will intercede on the penitent’s behalf, although the Primarch is venerated with all due reverence as is only fitting for his example of heroism and sacrifice.

For a Chapter so concerned with the physical wellbeing of their brethren it is not surprising that only minor augmetics and bionics are to be found within the White Paladin ranks. The Marines prefer the reality of flesh and distrust non-organic implants as they mar the purity of the humanoid form. Marines that do have them only wear them in battle, concealed by or fused to, their power armour, not as a mark of a glorious wound taken in service, but merely a tool to assist them in their efforts. White Paladin Techmarines are a breed totally apart, but valued for their expertise and machine-wisdom. The fire burns bright in them too, although their desire to undertake a “Salvation Drop” is usually tied to the recovery of equipment.

The Chapter has a handful of dreadnoughts and does not recreate them should they be destroyed – the Venerable Ones are veterans of the old days when the White Paladins had no home and sailed the stars tirelessly. The thought of a living death inside a Dreadnought Sarcophagus is repellent in the extreme to the sons of Camlann, whose feral forebears talked of spirit warriors abroad amongst the hills and whose greatest wish is to return to the catacombs and join the Ancestors and the beloved Primarch, Rogal Dorn.

Geneseed:

The White Paladins are from Imperial Fist stock and have the normal deficiency in the Sus-An membrane and Betcher’s Gland zygotes. Apart from this, no mutation is apparent and the gene-seed is considered pure. A notable Gene-trait however is that due to the level of medicae training and natural willingness to stand and fight the White Paladins are as intractable in a good defensive position as their primogenitor, leading to the natural conclusion that each Salvation Drop is akin to the pain glove, a device to punish errant Astartes - in this case, for the ancient shame of Prylos IV.

Battlecry:

Before the Siege of Shieldwall in 447.M36 the battle cry would be partial tribute to the Primogenitor Legion, the Imperial Fists:
“For the Primarch and the Liege of Terra!”

After this date it has been supplanted by the final words of the Proclamation Defiant:
Chaplains: “In the sight of The Emperor!”
Brethren: “Be Magnificent!”

[CKO]

Im confused are you going to add more or what exatcly is the meaning of the thread?

[Mazer Rackham]

Ideas outline - I'd really like to tie in these events. Mostly a skeleton right now though:

 

White Paladins Time line (important dates only).

 

 094.M32 Lord Confessor Constantine of the Conclave of The Temple of the Saviour Emperor decrees a crusade of faith into the Veiled Regions of the Galactic Southwest. He sends several ships into the region from his capitol of Solstice, but none return. His detractors initially label his venture Constantine’s Folly. In a rage, he goes personally and is never seen again. The area is declared Perdita for decades until an exploratory fleet reaches the region and discovers the survivors, bringing them back into the Imperium and formally claiming the region.

 

 In 700.M32 White Paladins Founded as a Crusading Chapter, designated Chapter 259. Political manoeuvring results in Imperial Fist Geneseed being used. The Chapter fights alongside other Space Marines, establishing bonds with them. In this time, the White Paladins earn several battle honours against Orks, Eldar and Chaos Warbands.

 

 873.M32. The Chapter is sent into the Constantine Abyssal in order to stabilise the region as it is behind with tithes and no communication has been had for 300 years. This was overlooked due to an Administratum clerical error. From the outset they face the Ork menace daily until the region is stabilised.

 

 027.M33. The Strike Cruiser Dorn's Mace is crippled and boarded by Eldar pirate raiders. The White Paladins counter-board the Eldar vessel. In a murderous 15 hour operation, no eldar is left alive. The White Paladins reinforcements arrive and rescue the Astartes survivors.

 

Circa 975.M35. Ork Empire discovered in the Veiled Regions. The White Paladins respond by destroying all Xenos taint within the Colossus Minora System. This is the first encounter with Warboss Urblitz Edstompa Krog Irontusk. He is badly wounded but escapes before the Astartes can finish him off.

 

 243.M36. During the Age of Apostasy. The Chapter is called into action when the world of Prylos IV reports attack by Renegades. This turns out to be a ruse to try and prevent Cardinal Golian from carrying out High Lord Goge Vandire’s orders to destroy a dissenter. The Chapter is caught between the potential for excommunication and allowing the deaths of billions of innocents. In the hesitation, Golian acts and performs Exterminatus on the planet. Severus Julo is rescued as an infant.

 

 287.M36. The White Paladins send an envoy to meet with Sebastian Thor and other Astartes Chapters. On the way they learn the whereabouts of Cardinal Golian. In a mysterious attack by unknown forces, Golian and his entire fleet is wiped out. There are no survivors, but rumours abound. The Chapter and the Eccesiarchy do not enjoy good relations from this point.

 

447.M36 The nearby Biel Tan craftworld strikes at many colony worlds. The White Paladins hurry to intercept.

 

 Late 447.M36 Orks under the banner of Warlord Irontusk return to the Constantine Abyssal and lay waste to the worlds therein, finally reaching the White Paladins’ home planet of Camlann and laying siege to it for many months. Captain Julo of the 3rd Company leads the defence, winning much honour and slaying Irontusk in single combat.

 

 Early 448.M36 The Eldar abruptly cease their attacks and withdraw completely. This allows the bulk of the Chapter to return to Camlann and scour the system clean. The Librarians need no psychic divination to know the perfidious ways of the Eldar and do not believe this to be happenstance.

 

 501.M36. Captain Julo is killed in action when he responds to a distress call from the Caspian 71st Rifles, under attack by the Dark Eldar Kabal of The Sundered Hand. Even mortally wounded he is victorious, dragging the Archon to a fiery death. Only his Relic Blade is recovered. The Chapter assembles on Camlann to mourn him.

 

 997.M41. Ork activity in the sector drops drastically. The reason is discovered to be Tyranids, in the shape of a splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Leviathan. In a series of void battles, the White Paladins destroy most of the organisms, but lose several suits of Tactical Dreadnought Armour in the process.

 

 998.M41. The White Paladins respond to the call to support their brothers at Armageddon during the Third War. Although they don’t make it by the time Ghazghull is driven off, their expertise at Ork fighting proves invaluable in the equatorial jungles.

 

 999.M41. Current date. The Chapter has made significant recovery and will be considered to be at nominal battle readiness in the next decade or so.

[Lysimachus]

Ok, I've not read any of this yet (apologies, I haven't got much time tonight) but if I could make a suggestion?

 

You'll probably get more comments if you strip it right back, give us an outline of each section (origins, homeworld, organization, etc) just covering the main points of the Chapter's history, personality, etc, etc; rather than the wall'o'text. You'll probably get a few people willing to sit and slog through it (no offence intended to the quality of writing, as I said I don't know, I've not read it beyond the first few lines) but you'd get lots more if you just stick to the basics.

 

Write a brief outline, get some feedback and build from there.

 

Hope this helps ;)

 

Lysimachus

[Shinzaren]

Also, some basic formatting will go a long way towards making it more readable. Right now it is a very big block of text.

[Mazer Rackham]

Ok, I've not read any of this yet (apologies, I haven't got much time tonight) but if I could make a suggestion?

 

You'll probably get more comments if you strip it right back, give us an outline of each section (origins, homeworld, organization, etc) just covering the main points of the Chapter's history, personality, etc, etc; rather than the wall'o'text. You'll probably get a few people willing to sit and slog through it (no offence intended to the quality of writing, as I said I don't know, I've not read it beyond the first few lines) but you'd get lots more if you just stick to the basics.

 

Write a brief outline, get some feedback and build from there.

 

Hope this helps :)

 

Lysimachus

 

Sounds good - I shall have a crack at it - thanks for your input - it can only help!

 

Also, some basic formatting will go a long way towards making it more readable. Right now it is a very big block of text.

 

Got it, will have a play around with it and do my best, thank you.

 

I apologise for the tardy reply, I'm actually glad I did pop the wall'o'text up as right after I wrote this I suffered a catastrophic hard-disk problem - I'm glad I don't have to start it from scratch! I'm only just back online!

 

I'll see what I can do to this and update the first post. Thanks to all so far.

 

MR.

[Mazer Rackham]

New and improved!

 

First post and third post updated with timeline.

 

MR.

[Lysimachus]

Ok, firstly this is a huge improvement on the block of text, good job!

 

What I would suggets is to have a think about what 'character' you're trying to create in this Chapter? At the moment, if I'm honest, nothing really stands out. If you had to sum them up in a single word, what word would that be? Then go back through the article and think 'does this add to the theme I've chosen, if not do I need it?' An example might tbe the bits between the Origins and Homeworld, although a nice bit of story, how does it add to the theme?

 

One area that might help you would be to take another look at your beliefs section. To my mind, this is often one of the longest bits of an IA because it's so helpful to define the Chapter's character, views, goals, etc, etc. You have some interesting ideas in the first two sentences that could form a central core of the Chapter's theme, maybe it's an area to expand?

 

Hope this helps

 

Lysimachus

 

 

Edit: Side point, but a colour scheme pic is always nice, have you seen/used the B+C Space Marine Painter (at the top right of the page)?

[TrashMan]

:lol:

[Mazer Rackham]

Ok, firstly this is a huge improvement on the block of text, good job!

 

Thank you. I tried my best to take on board what you said.

 

What I would suggets is to have a think about what 'character' you're trying to create in this Chapter? At the moment, if I'm honest, nothing really stands out.

 

I agree - it is a bit bland, maybe I'm trying too hard to steer away from pitfalls ie "My chapter is teh awesome and pulled abaddon's nipples off and made Farsight eat them..!!11" I shall try pushing the envelope a bit - I take your point.

 

If you had to sum them up in a single word, what word would that be? Then go back through the article and think 'does this add to the theme I've chosen, if not do I need it?' An example might tbe the bits between the Origins and Homeworld, although a nice bit of story, how does it add to the theme?

 

One area that might help you would be to take another look at your beliefs section. To my mind, this is often one of the longest bits of an IA because it's so helpful to define the Chapter's character, views, goals, etc, etc. You have some interesting ideas in the first two sentences that could form a central core of the Chapter's theme, maybe it's an area to expand?

 

Hope this helps

 

Lysimachus

 

 

Edit: Side point, but a colour scheme pic is always nice, have you seen/used the B+C Space Marine Painter (at the top right of the page)?

 

Hmm, plenty to think about there, all of it good. I'm still getting my head around the BB code, but the Marine is on it's way. :( Thanks very much for the all the help, I intend to put it to good use.

 

<_<

 

Thanks TrashMan! Every encouragement helps!

 

Now chaps, thinking cap on - to the batmobile! (Well ok....Drop-pod).

 

MR.

[Mazer Rackham]

Apologies for the bump.

 

Version 1.3 is up and ready for perusal. C&C welcome as always.

 

MR.

[Brother Grius]

"My chapter is teh awesome and pulled abaddon's nipples off and made Farsight eat them..!!11"

Consider this stolen. I like the White Paladins, are they going to be a C:SM army? I look forward to seeing models to accompany the great fluff so far.

[Reaver Ackler]

While I was reading this all I could really think was, " How the hell did I miss a codex?" then I looked at the other posts. Must say though, it was really good.

[Mazer Rackham]

"My chapter is teh awesome and pulled abaddon's nipples off and made Farsight eat them..!!11"

Consider this stolen. I like the White Paladins, are they going to be a C:SM army? I look forward to seeing models to accompany the great fluff so far.

B) Please feel free! Glad it raised a smile - there should always be some fun somewhere..! They are going to be a Codex Army, two command squads at least to try and get the Apothecary thing going on - in 4th Ed it would have been easier - but still....! Glad you enjoyed the read.

 

While I was reading this all I could really think was, " How the hell did I miss a codex?" then I looked at the other posts. Must say though, it was really good.

 

High praise! Thank you very much Reaver!

 

Thanks for your comments gents, I really appreciate the time you took to read this. I hope to get some models painted, but the white is killing me. I think I'll dress up a Sternguard Squad and kind of leave it there..! :P

 

MR.