WIP: Crimson Hammers

[WeaponAdept]

I'm going to tackle this one section at a time starting with this History. It's a first draft to get the feel of it.

 

Crimson Hammers: Striking the unprotected thumbs of the enemies of Mankind.

 

“In the midst of destruction the warriors of Mankind thrive and excel”

Chapter Master Karos Crohl c.200.M39

 

History:

 

The Crimson Hammers are an Adeptus Astartes Chapter founded in M38, reputedly part of the same founding as the Celestial Lions. The goal of their founding was to aid in closing off the North-East Ultima Segmentum to the Ork menace. Led by Chapter Master Karos Crohl formerly a Captain of the Crimson Fists they were a second generation Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists created from the Gene Seed of the Crimson Fists Chapter. Karos was a proud and ambitious man and instilled his personality in the Chapters mentality. He encouraged his new Brothers to seek progression in the ranks of the Astartes, hoping to spurn them to greater feats of heroism against their enemies.

As soon as the Hammers had been outfitted with the Ships and equipment befitting a new Chapter the Hammers fleet moved immediately to their designated recruiting world, Jolnar.

 

At Jolnar they took control, replacing the Planetary Govenor and weeding out any corruption within the leadership structure. In the first thousand years of their existence they conducted many successful campaigns against Orks in the local sectors, distinguishing themselves and earning good reputation. A handful of engagements with the Tau, Eldar pirates and unholy cults steeled them against the enemies of the Imperium. Even the fall of Chapter Master Karos Crohl during a defensive action against an Ork Waaarg in 320.M39 only served to cement the Chapters existence. Without Karos, they were truly a fully bled, autonomous Chapter.

 

Around the ninth century of M39, the Chapter barely a Millenia old the Chapter suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of their nemesis the Ork hoard. A Waaarg led by Warlord Blak Axbrawler took control of an enormous Space Hulk and through a great effort, aimed it at the inhabited system of Lexanis. The Crimson Hammers, led by Captain Lukas of the first company set about conducting a massive boarding action. The whole of the Chapters fleet engaged with the Ork flotilla, several companies attacked the Kroozers and other smaller ships surrounding the Hulk while four companies boarded the massive hulk itself. Their mission was to divide and assault the main drive areas and control decks. Within the confusing mass of the hulk the mission quickly broke down. While still hours from completing their objectives the Space Marine fleet had no choice but to withdraw and watch in horror as the hulk impacted upon the fourth planet of the Lexanis system. Many of the garden worlds 4,000,000 inhabitants perished in the initial impact, the remainder died with their world as the atmosphere became choked with debris of the cataclysmic event. Few Astartes escaped.

 

The Chapter was disgraced, their precious pride, shredded. Barely 300 marines survived the doomed action. Many of the survivors were veterans of the first and second companies, many more were novices of the 10th. Soon after the events caught the attention of the Inquisition. For the Chapters incompetence they were stripped of their homeworld and their recuiting rights upon it. They were refused outfitting of further equipment from the Mechanicum and sent out into the cold dark to roam the Galaxy until such time as they might be worthy enough to call Jolnar home once again.

 

The Chapter numbers have dwindled to approximately 200 with an exceptionally slow but successful recovery and recruitment rate.

[WeaponAdept]

26 Views - 0 Replies ? Come on, someone must have some feedback for me? :jaw:

[Brother-Sergeant Bohemond]

first of, a good concept, but, not sure they would be stripped and sent into a penitence crusade that easily by the Inq, unless you had a really mean Conservative Inquisitor.

 

Maybe make them lose the homeworld? and then become a crusading fleet with 300 brothers and now they travel across the Imperium crusading in true Dornian style.

 

Just a suggestion, it seems, kinda weird that an Astartes would lose their homeworld over failing to stop a Waaagh. The Mantis Warriors only lost theirs cause they rebelled. The only other way to lose it is to be a) conquered by a foe, or :jaw: destroyed utterly so there are no Astartes.

 

Apart from that, I like the rest.

 

Though there are some grammar/spelling mistakes

 

the Chapter barely a Millenia old the Chapter suffered

should read the

the Chapter barely a Millenia old suffered

 

Led by Chapter Master Karos Crohl formerly a Captain of the Crimson Fists they were a second generation Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists created from the Gene Seed of the Crimson Fists Chapter.

This is too wordy, maybe should read more like this:

The Crimson Fist geneseed was selected to be used in the new chapter and Captain Karos Crohl, formerly of the Crimson Fists Third Company, was selected to train and lead the fledgling Chapter

 

Thats all for now, hoped it help you.

[WeaponAdept]

Good feedback thanks.

 

But they didn't just fail to stop a Waaargh. The allowed an entire planet to die. Thats pretty bad in the Inquisitions eyes right?

[WeaponAdept]

Next up:

 

CHAPTER ORGANISATION:

 

While once they were strict followers of the Codex. The Crimson Hammers are now classified as a Non-Codex Astartes-compliant Chapter. Their low numbers make it nearly impossible to follow the Holy tome. Many Codex compliant chapters maintain that Guillimans master piece could be adhered to with 50 Brothers, let alone 200.

 

With so few Brothers in the chapter, the Hammers cannot afford to field formations as large as companies. Instead, the Hammers administrate their squads in smaller groups according to their combat role. Each group is led by a Captain or above. In battle, however, the arrangement is irrelevant and each squad acts as it would as part of a regular codex force with a nominated force commander taking the lead.

 

After Lexanis, the Crimson Hammers found themselves short of just about everything. The Chapter's Apothecaries, Techmarines and Chaplains reduced to a handful in number. With such restricted access to the resources of the Imperium the Hammers quickly had their remaining Apothecaries and Techmarines begin training Novices lest their precious knowledge be lost. Currently the Chapter maintains a steady number of apporximately five of each specialist, each with an apprenticed Novice. The Chaplains of the Hammers are not affiliated with any specific formation within the Chapter. In peace and in battle they form the fearsome squad informally called the ‘Penitents’

 

The chapter recruits from wherever they find suitable applicants. If they wished it they would have a more than adequate pool of potential Astartes. As it is the Hammers are elitist and haughty, their famous pride still aching with the legacy of Lexanis. They are meticulous and cut-throat with their selection even when they cannot afford to be. Reputedly, on a nameless dusty moon towards the galactic north a group of nearly a hundred potential recruits successfully completed the trials held by the Hammers masters. They selected only four.

 

COMBAT DOCTRINE:

 

Obsessed with being the greatest Space Marine they could ever be, each Brother after proving himself in combat against Orks is eventually granted permission to specialise in either ranged or close combat. After this he may strive to earn his place in the Sternguard or Vanguard. Due to the Chapter being top-heavy with regards to rank this leaves few tactical squads to field. This directly affects the Chapters combat tactics.

An inflexible three tier formation is inevitable for any confrontation involving 50 or more brothers.

• Devastators take firm cover or high ground on the rear flanks to harass and engage at long range.

• Tactical squads engage at mid-range while closing with the enemy to cover the Assault. Once the Assault has fought through an enemy position, the Tactical squad will clear and occupy that position. Tactical squads may attach Novices.

• Assault squads move under cover of friendly fire or utilise jump packs to engage the enemy behind their lines and within their defended structures. Assault squads not equipped with jump packs may attach Novices.

 

When utilising vehicles the positioning on the battlefield is much the same. Assault squads have priority use of Razorbacks over Rhinos.

Venerable Brother Mallick tends to roam the battlefield as he pleases

[NightrawenII]

Hello, I'm here to give you my thoughts on your Chapter, I'm a little harsh and unforgiving in my C&C, thus nothing what I say should be taken too seriously or personnal. :lol:

 

History

A handful of engagements with the Tau, Eldar pirates and unholy cults steeled them against the enemies of the Imperium. Even the fall of Chapter Master Karos Crohl during a defensive action against an Ork Waaarg in 320.M39 only served to cement the Chapters existence.

- The advanced Tau weren't around here until M.41.

 

Around the ninth century of M39, the Chapter barely a Millenia old the Chapter suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of their nemesis the Ork horde. *snip* The Chapter was disgraced, their precious pride, shredded. Barely 300 marines survived the doomed action. Many of the survivors were veterans of the first and second companies, many more were novices of the 10th.

- The story itself is a good and original one. However, the Crimson Hammers are successors of Crimson Fists, which makes this story a little bit cheesy.

 

CHAPTER ORGANISATION

- Eh, the present time in this paragraph is a little tricky one. The present time is technically M.42, thus I would change it to "in the following millenia" or something akin to it.

- Another thing, I would avoid all exact numbers. It's safer.

 

The chapter recruits from wherever they find suitable applicants. If they wished it they would have a more than adequate pool of potential Astartes. As it is the Hammers are elitist and haughty, their famous pride still aching with the legacy of Lexanis. They are meticulous and cut-throat with their selection even when they cannot afford to be. Reputedly, on a nameless dusty moon towards the galactic north a group of nearly a hundred potential recruits successfully completed the trials held by the Hammers masters. They selected only four.

- Then the Chapter is dying out. 300 marines is below level of survival, therefore a "decent" effort is needed to continue in existence.

 

 

Cheers, NightrawenII.

[PorridgeMeister]

I like the concepts that you're using, Lost Britain, but I think you're milking the "Crimson-Fist-Legacy-of-Stubborn-Survival" cow a bit too much.

- If they have 100 suitable applicants and choose only 4 of said poor souls, that is just asking for another great cataclysm to happen where they are wiped out.

- The whole Ork thing, as NightrawenII pointed out, is a bit silly.

- The name is a bit too close for comfort as well.

- The Inquisition don't send Chapters on Penitent Crusades for not defeating a whole Ork Waaagh single-handedly. That's like the Emperor blaming the Horus Heresy on Corax.

[WeaponAdept]

Good points. Stuff I would pick out myself. It's always nice having an extra few sets of eyes to see things you can't.

Cheers guys.