Index Astartes: Errant Falcons

[Arkangilos]

... except the gene-seed tithe to Admech, who will be very curious, whether the EF are or not BA's successor. :D

Why should the Adeptus Mechanicus care one way or the other? And that's assuming that the Admech actually can do that kind of thing; you'd think that if the Admech could easily find out where gene-seed originate from there wouldn't be so many unknown gene-seed chapters out there.

Eh. Look at the contex of my counter-point.

The Admech has the means to conduct a serious research, if they wanted. And I'm sure there will be some nosy Techpriest, willing to do such thing, especially since the EF claims something without having clear proof.

Even if the Admech wanted to find out and could, would they necessarily share their findings with others? Or be completely believed if they did?

 

When it comes to the BA gene-seed, there is no mystery.

 

They either have it, or they don't. They know they have it when their brothers start screaming out, "WHERE ARE YOU HORUS?!" and start thinking they are Sanguinius.

Thing about the Cruse, those who fall to the Black Rage actually believe they are Sanguinius, fighting during the final days. It is VERY clear cut who has their gene-seed.

The Red Thirst, however, can be debatable. It could just be an organ gone bad.

[Chengar Qordath]

I've addressed the whole Black Rage issue a few times now.

 

In-universe, those who think the Falcons aren't BA-descendents bring up the fact that there are no clear-cut decisively proven cases of Black Rage. Those who say they are BA-descendents point out not-completely-proven cases of Black Rage, and point out that the Falcons' chapter culture ensures that brothers die before succumbing fully to the Black Rage.

[NightrawenII]

To be honest, you are confusing Red Thirst with Black Rage and vice versa.

 

The Red Thirst is bloodlust and urge to rip'n'tear enemy that all scions of Sanquinius have to battle against. The Blood Drinkers have (questionably) better control over it, the Flesh Teares don't control it at all and Blood Angels are somewhere in the middle.

 

The Black Rage is, for all intents and purposes, madness. It comes without warning and there is very limited defence against it. Any BA can fall to Black Rage in any moment of battle. In this state, the marine thinks that he is Sanquinius aboard the Horus' ship. The perception of his surroundings is twisted and deformed and he doesn't recognise his fellow brothers, the only thing that matters to him is *his* search of Archtraitor.

 

 

In any case, your marines will know, whether they are Sanguinius' gene-seed or not. The Black Rage is simply very good cokie-cutter.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Hmm, remembered one thing from A Thousand Sons, might be good in the fluff here.

 

During the Great Crusade the Thousand Sons/Space Wolves/Word Bearers captured a world called Shrike (Imperial name) or Heliosa (native name). It had a solid avian theme, the mountaintop cities were called Aeries, they were lead by a Phoenix Court etc. Inhabitants are called Avenians - they're taller/slenderer than the average human, thin but strong bones. Their deviation is within human norms (not abhuman).

 

Their pre-Imperial military employed bird-riders (in this case, the birds were called snow-shrikes, but there's probably enough variation on the planet to have Rocs), and the bird-mounts were capable of carrying two armored humans, so could also probably manage an Astartes. I don't think this world's been mentioned since, so is free to fluff with. Might be a good way of introducing the Rocs to the Errant Falcons' ranks.

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Also, a thought on the whole "does the black rage give their heritage away" thing - the black rage is often described as being as much a psychic imprint as it is a genetic one. Perhaps the psychic dampening of the Falcons weakens the actual memories of the rage, and their version of the rage is just directionless anger?