Index Astartes: Liberatores Gladio

[Walter Payton]

To the Ends of the Stars – Index Astartes: The Liberatores Gladio

“Our species may not have exceeded the Eldar in longevity, the Orks in brutality or the Necrontyr in age. But in one key regard, the key regard, humanity alone stands above all others: Conviction. The unshakeable belief that we alone are born to rule the stars took humanity to the edge of the known galaxy and has kept it there for ten thousand years. This is our strength.” – Caius Lutatius Vatia Obscurus, Tetrarch of the Liberatores Gladio

A 3rd-Founding successor of the White Consuls, the Liberatores Gladio have made it their mission to defend every frontier of the beset Imperium against all enemies. They have made it their mission to maintain the Imperium as the dominant political entity in the galaxy and to restore it to the glory it held when the Imperator stood amongst his faithful as a living god.

Origins and Founding

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.” – Lucius Horatius Isauricus, Captain, White Consuls

The Liberatores Gladio were founded in 001.M32 as part of the 3rd Founding, from the geneseed of the White Consuls, which chapter had split from the Ultramarines under the reforms of Roboute Guilliman. The Imperium of the time was entering one of its strongest ages, and gave any observer an impression of stability and endurance. Humanity had weathered the Horus Heresy, the greatest calamity the species had ever known, and the subsequent wars of reclamation were in full swing. It could be said that no sooner had humanity’s crown been shattered than it forged a newer and stabler one out of the fragments of the old, and this early Imperial obsession with re-conquest was a pivotal influence on the young chapter.

The chapter was founded by a cadre of veterans from the White Consuls chapte, under Captain Isauricus and granted a small chapter fleet by the Adeptus Mechanicus. The chapter had its baptism quickly, participating in several notable battles of the Age of High Imperium, as well as the usual suppressions of thought criminals and xenos piracy. Captain Isauricus was a passionate believer in the Consuls’ practice of splitting the command of the chapter as a surety against command incompetence, heresy or insanity. Isauricus was idealistic, and committed to the idea that humanity should conquer the entire galaxy. He felt that humans must be free of the fear of the alien and heretic, and declared that his chapter would be “liberators by the sword,” or, in High Gothic, “Liberatores Gladio.”

His fighting style emphasized the supreme virtue of teamwork, squad coordination and drill. He emphasized manoeuvrability and adaptability in formations; his Astartes, he believed, should be able to adapt to any situation with a simple change in squad layout. He emphasized that marines should not only be able to fight as shock-troops, but able to remain in theatre for long periods of time in encampments or simple bivouacs. He declared that his warriors should be precise, professional, hard by Astartes-standards and utterly dedicated to getting the job done. He rejected concepts such as honour, deriding them as “empty-headed notions that have no place in proper, honest soldiering.” Discipline, he believed, should be absolute; He rewarded success with decorations and titles, and punished any failures harshly; when a squad failed to achieve its objective and became pinned down by Dark Eldar at the Battle of Geta, he stripped it of its decorations and punished its sergeant by flogging him in full view of the Imperial (and non-Astartes) forces present. His warriors, chastened by examples such as these as much as they were uplifted by the medals and crowns he bestowed upon his best men, made every effort to become the cadre of warriors he craved.

As a man, he was known for his down-to-earth nature and simplicity of life. He refused the usual helots or armourers, saying that a soldier who could not maintain his own weapons and armour did not deserve them, and trained not only with men of the Liberatores but also those from other chapters and even allied Imperial Guardsmen. Despite this, he did not shy away from grand construction projects in the chapte’rs name, ordering several battle-barges and forge ships; grandeur, he believed, should serve a purpose beyond vanity, but rather serve a practical purpose. In contrast to his idealism in terms of Imperial policy, he was a famously commanding and severe man in person, and a joke did the rounds amongst Astartes chapters that his allies were usually more afraid of him than the enemy.

The Crisis of the 41st Millenium

“He that lives by the sword shall die by the sword.” – Pre-Imperial Proverb, Origin Unknown

Thus was the young chapter shaped, and, for nearly eight thousand years, thus it would remain. The chapter weathered all the calamities of the intervening years and all the triumphs too. From the Black Crusades to the Age of Apostasy, the Liberatores left a proud mark on Imperial history. It acquired a homeworld in the Segmentum Obscurus, Trevorum, which lies northwest of the Eye of Terror, on the edge of the galaxy’s Scutum-Centaurus Arm. Trevorum was an advanced militarist world, and the Liberatores selected their recruits from the various military academies of the planet. It was a stable arrangement, built to last, and last it did, until the Imperium entered this most critical phase of its existence, the Time of Ending, or the Crisis of the 41st Millenium.

This great time of crisis is not over, and there is a real possibility it will end with the destruction of the Imperium. It has forced reform on a scale not seen since the Scouring, with whole systems turned over to martial law under Space Marine coordination. Humanity must adapt or die, and the Liberatores very firmly intend to adapt. To this end they undertook a program of reorganization and expansion, in order to defend a wider segment of humanity. The beginning of this came during the beginning of M41, when the Time of Ending was yet in its infancy.

In 114.M41 Abaddon the Despoiler launched his 12th Black Crusade into the Gothic Sector. The intricacies of that war are not for this account, suffice it to say that billions of lives were lost and several important strategic pieces destroyed or captured before the forces of Chaos driven back. After the pivotal battle of the war at Gethsemane, the Crusade split into several fragments. Some of these remained in the Gothic Sector to continue the fight against the Imperium, others cut their losses and fled back to the Eye. One, comprising close to a hundred warships and four thousand World Eaters, fled towards Trevorum. Unprepared for the chaff of a war being fought billions of miles away, the Liberatores Gladio were caught napping, and for the first time in their history, they were forced to fight heathen forces within their home system itself.

Master of the Fleet Vulso

“They have numbers, but we have valour.”

Although unable to prevent the Chaos fleet entering the Trevorum system, the Liberatores did have enough time to prepare a defence, choosing a narrow channel between Warp Storm Adrastian and the Lutheran Reach Asteroid Field. The ensuing battle was one of the most ferocious of a troubled millennium, the warships of the Blood God coming on piecemeal into the iron line of the Liberatores’ navy. By the end, the gulf was choked with the wreckage of hundreds of warships, and the battered remnants of the Liberatores’ fleet still stood defiant. The Master of the Fleet, Marcus Valerius Vulso, was awarded the title “Adrastianus,” for his admiralty during the battle.

The chapter was saved, but at a terrible cost, with scarce three hundred marine left alive, and having lost four of their five battle barges. The question of where the chapter should go next paralyzed the chapter’s plural high command, with some commanders advocating a complete, non-Codex reorganization, and others advocating a more conservative approach to rebuilding. This debate dragged on for nearly seven hundred years, with the Consulship alternating between those who favoured reorganisation and those who favoured the Codex. Frequently, one member of each faction held a consulship, with the dual leadership bringing seven centuries of stagnation. It would take a man of singular vision and political skill to re-inject life into the paralyzed Liberatores.

The Reforms of Catulus

“It is not now time to talk of aught but chains or glory, of liberty or death.” Lucius Aelius Catulus, Consul of the Liberatores Gladio

Lucius Aelius Catulus was born in 601.M41, in the city of Emporicon, which lies at the mouth of the River Alvian, a slothful ribbon of water that runs to the coast of the largest continent on Trevorum. His early life was unremarkable, until he enrolled into a military academy and passed the trials to become an Astartes. He was inducted into the Scout Company of the chapter, which was still rebuilding its losses from the Battle of Warp Storm Adrastian. It quickly became clear that he was an extraordinary recruit. He set new records in several categories, and was so determined that he was marked to become a Chaplain, which post he refused, for he wished to lead men into battle. Ambitious and determined, he made the transition to the Battle Companies, followed by rapid promotion to the Captaincy of the 3rd Company.

In 735.M41 the young captain (he was at this time only 134) was elected to the consulship alongside Captain Cotta of the 1st Company. The chapter was still paralyzed by debate, with some regarding the deteriorating state of the Imperium as evidence of the need for wholesale changes, and others advocating the Codex. Catulus was of the former and Cotta of the latter. The arguments between the two men were the stuff of legend. Catulus realized that the “rule of two,” would never produce a satisfactory result, and so he began to intrigue against Cotta and the conservatives, lobbying the key parts of the chapter to his cause. He was a great orator, and his words fell on receptive ears. When, ten years into their thirty year term, Cotta argued against sending a contingent to reinforce the Ultramarines against Hive Fleet Behemoth (the Battle of Macragge was in full swing at this point), Catulus saw his chance to take full control. He accused Cotta of cowardice, for which calumny he was challenged to an honour duel. He killed his fellow consul, and declared himself “Father of the Chapter.” By this time, his following was so significant in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th,8th, and, crucially, 10th Companies as well as the Reclusiam, Armoury and some of the Librarium, that the rest of the chapter was forced to accept this new autocracy.

It might be easy to mistake Catulus for a self-aggrandizing tyrant and the chapter might have fallen into civil war were it not for what he did next. Catulus had realized that the chapter’s mission of “liberating,” Imperial citizens from exterior threat was doomed unless the chapter established a notable presence across the Imperium. With the “modernizers,” (as they called themselves) in full control of the chapter, he started a program of reform that would tear up the Codex Astartes and bring the chapter to loggerheads with the most powerful institutions in the Imperium. He sent three fleets to the Ultima, Tempestus and Pacificus Segmenta, with instructions to find new worlds and establish a chapter presence on them. When he had done so, he requisitioned a greatly expanded chapter fleet and new stocks of equipment from the Adeptus Mechanicus. From these newly fortified chapter worlds, he began to a recruitment drive, eventually taking the number of fighting Astartes up to two thousand.

These extra brothers he divided amongst the four Segmenta, (some of the chapter having remained in the Segmentum Obscurus) with a force of 500 Astartes based at each of the four base planets. He had realized, or so he believed, what others did not. The Imperium, which was by this point assailed by Tyranids and Necrons in addition to the usual foes, needed a wider, pragmatic dispersal of Astartes; rather than being tied to a homeworld, the Astartes should be able to rush to each crisis point quickly, and resolve the situation. To this end, he divided his power into a Tetrarchy, a rule of Four, with one trusted commander despatched to each Segmentum with 500 marines. In order to maintain a hierarchy, he declared the Tetrarchs with responsibility for the Ultima and Obscurus Segmenta to be senior to the others. The newly-established Segmentum outposts were to be their bases. He declared himself Tetrarch of the Ultima Segmentum, from a new fortress-monastery on the world of Nicomedia.

The Pact of the Justinian

“If you must break the rules, do it to seize power, otherwise obey them.” – Lucius Aelius Catulus Ultima, Tetrarch of the Liberatores Gladio

Such a prodigious build-up of arms and men could not fail to draw the attention of the Imperial authorities, and before long a quorum of officials, headed by Inquisitor Varus, was sent to bring the chapter to account. Catulus had anticipated this. He issued a polite and respectful reply to the Inquisition’s warning, and invited Varus to his battle barge, the Justinian, for consultations and feasting. As a precautionary measure, the Adeptus Mechanicus were requested to cease supplying the chapter with materiel, though by this time it was largely too late and the chapter’s spoils of war so extensive that this had little effect. The Liberatores’ long and exemplary service impressed the Inquisition, as did their willingness to cooperate, and the Inquisition were gently inclined towards tolerating the chapter’s excesses, within limits.

This was part of the wily Tetrarch’s plan. He decided that the best way to secure the legal status of his chapter was to simply present the Imperium with a fait accompli and dare them to risk a civil war to put them down. He supplemented this by drawing up a pact of such sweet reasonableness that he hoped would mollify any Inquisitor. This pact was presented to Inquisitor Varus over dinner in the stateroom of the Justinian. At the same time, the Inquisitor was shown the new chapter conducting military manoeuvres and training, as well as viewing the sheer size of the new chapter fleet.

Attr Tetrarch Catulus

“If you want to do something unpopular in this Empire, you might as well do it wholeheartedly; there are no laurels to be won for timidity.”

The Pact of the Justinian, as it became known, was entirely the invention of Catulus, and was drawn up specifically with its acceptance to Imperial authorities in mind. The chapter agreed to limit its standing force to two thousand men within the fighting companies and agreed that no more than one thousand of these men could be massed together at any one time. Furthermore, the pact stipulated that the chapter must never enter the Segmentum Solar unless ordered to by the High Lords and would accept never being chosen found a successor. Finally, the chapter’s numbers and the terms of the pact were kept strictly secret to dissuade imitators. These terms, which Catulus argued limited the chapter’s political power in favour of duty, when coupled with the huge forces amassed nearby and the chapter’s long service, convinced Varus to agree to the pact. Had an Inquisitor with more backbone been assigned to the case, perhaps the Catulus’s project would have been over there and then. As it was, his typical recklessness paid off. The Liberatores Gladio were permitted to retain their tetrarchy, which structure they have kept to this day.

Force Organization

“I hereby, by the power vested in me by the immortal Emperor, the best and greatest, pronounce you Tetrarch. Remember, you are but a mortal, and this will all pass.” –Excerpt from the Coronation of a Tetrarch

The Liberatores Gladio are split into four groups of five hundred men, called dioceses, with one in each of the Segmenta Pacificus, Tempestus, Obscurus and Ultima. These groups comprise four hundred and fifty Astartes and fifty scouts. There is a further corps, the Auxillia, which comprises the chapter support staff. These are not assigned to one particular diocese, but allocated to each one as and when the need arises. Each diocese is led by a Tetrarch, who will be one of the most senior captains. In general, once a marine is assigned to a particular diocese, he will never leave, except if he is lucky enough to be promoted to Tetrarch of another diocese or assigned to be Master of the Chapter Fleet.

Although the Tetrarchs have a broad freedom to act as they see fit, it would be wrong to say that each one has complete carte blanche to do whatever they please. The chapter still maintains a form of hierarchy. The Tetrarchs of the Ultima and Obscurus Segmenta are considered to be senior to those of the more stable Pacificus and Tempestus Segmenta. These Tetrarchs rule the chapter, and are the only Tetrarchs permitted to command the forces of two dioceses when such an army is gathered together.

The chapter’s veterans are known as the Signifers, and these men form the elite of each diocese. They are so known because of their ceremonial duties at chapter gatherings, holding the banners of their captains and the various battle honours of the company’s squads. There are around fifty Signifers per diocese, and these are spread between the battle companies. These men commonly fight in the Sternguard veteran formation, as the chapter’s reserves of Terminator have become severely stretched due to the vast distances and limited numbers of Techmarines. For reasons as yet undisclosed, the Mechanicum of Mars has been reluctant to issue the chapter new sets.

The chapter possesses a formidable chapter fleet, including four battle barges (Diocletian, Volscian, Aurelian, and Justinian), and various other strike cruisers, rapid strike vessels, frigates, gunboats and an assortment of other warships taken as prises de guerre. The chapter fleet is spread across the four dioceses, with the Justinian being the flagship of the Ultima Segmentum, the Aurelian that of Obscurus, Volscian that of Tempestus and Diocletian that of Pacificus.

Beliefs

“Blessed Liege, watch over me in the hour of battle. Steel my heart against the creatures of the howling dark and the grasp of fear. Guide my hand so that each strike is true. Shield my spirit from the touch of the warp. Stoke the fires of my hate, and ever help the ascendance of man. Hear the roar of my bolter and the whine of my armour, and know, dread Lord, that this I do in memory of you.” – War-Catechism of the Liberatores

The Liberatores do not worship the Emperor as a God, but rather revere him as a spiritual father and founder of the Imperium. Their devotion takes the form of reverential and regular service in one of the chapter’s shrines. Ritual feasting is common, as is symbolically drinking to their oaths of loyalty. The chapter frequently holds services of commemoration and reflection, even when in the field.

Combat Doctrine

“Humanity owes its conquest of the galaxy to rigid adherence to authority, conscientious receipt of orders and iron discipline.” – Marcus Tullius Crassus Pacificus, Tetrarch of the Liberatores Gladio

Despite their non-Codex structure, the Liberatores still revere the combat doctrines penned by their spiritual liege many centuries before. They follow the tenets laid down therein and revere Codex battle doctrine. This is coupled to an unshakeable belief in iron discipline and extended combat operations.

In attack, the chapter generally favours a two-stage process. The first stage consists of “light,” units, generally tactical and devastator squads on foot. If the light thrust fails to break the enemy, heavier units are sent in, usually mechanized squads, Tactical Dreadnoughts and the command section. Once a breakthrough is established, the chapter armour charges through the gap and wreaks havoc in the enemy’s rear echelons.

In defense, the Liberatores use a “defense in deep,” strategy. Rather than waste time attempting to hold bare or useless ground, the Liberatores prefer to fall back, setting ambushes and booby traps as they go. A typical retreat pattern is a staggered falling back, using Castellan missiles to deny the newly vacated positions to the enemy.

One area in which the Liberatores are notable for their specialization is in extended operations. Whilst Space Marines are intended first and foremost as a rapid strike forces, even the best laid plans can collapse into extended campaigns of attrition. The Liberatores have developed elaborate plans for field fortification, and are able to occupy areas for years at a time; their natural hardiness as Astartes complemented by their immense ability as foragers and field improvisers.

Homeworlds

“Great in arms, government, law and order.” – Marcus Flavius Geminus, Battle-Brother, on Trevorum

The chapter’s original and spiritual homeworld is Trevorum, an agri-world initially distinguished only by its relative proximity to the Eye of Terror. Settled by exploratory fleets during the Great Crusade, the pre-firearms culture was quickly enlightened, and Imperial rule flourished. By virtue of its insignificance, the world avoided any great calamity during the turmoil of the Horus Heresy. Post heresy, the world became no more important than any other. This all changed with the 1st Black Crusade.

Abaddon’s first, terrible invasion tore through the then-undefended Cadian Gate, the forces of Chaos slaughtering trillions. The cornfields of Trevorum were burnt, and the entire population exterminated. After the Imperium defeated the invasion, the world of Trevorum, like many others, was changed utterly. The new colony population still tilled the land, but now military academies and Imperial bases vied with pasture and herd. Every male had to go through a crack training program and serve twenty-five years in the Imperial military. On his retirement, he will return to the farms, and provide food for a subsector. It is a hard life, and it breeds hard

When the Liberatores came to Trevorum, in need of a homeworld, they were impressed by the quality of the soldiers and the productivity of this diligent world. They took it for their own. Now, the men of Trevorum are selected from the military academies to be Space Marines. Those who do not make the grade are transferred into the Imperial Storm Troopers or some other such organization (the Liberatores are not permitted, as some of their illustrious predecessors, to levy Imperial Guard regiments from their homeworld).

When Catulus established the Tetrarchic structure of the chapter, he realized that it would be nigh-on impossible to coordinate such a vast network of supply and command from a single base. Thus, the chapter has established a presence upon several other worlds besides their homeworld of Trevorum. The forces of a particular diocese might recruit from these worlds, for example, the majority of the recruits in the Ultima Segmentum come from the gang wars of the hive world of Nikomedya. The Tempestus diocese is based at Gesoriacum, and the Pacificus at Mitrovkaya Binary. These are not “extra,” homeworlds de jure, but rather worlds with which the chapter has a good relationship, having answered a call for aid or suppressed dissent. For similar reasons, the chapter has no reserve, assault or devastator companies. The chapter is comprised entirely of Scout and Tactical companies, with Veterans spread across the companies.

Recruitment and Indoctrination

”Few men are born brave. They become so through training and iron discipline. I take killers, and I give them form as heroes.” – Publius Pollius Felix, Scout Sergeant

No matter what world a Liberatore is recruited from, his induction will be the same. The applicant will face a gruelling preparatory physical regime. He will be instructed in the arts of war, as well as oratory and politics. Following from their illustrious primogenitor chapters, the Liberatores hold that each warrior must have his say in where and how the chapter fights, and thus warriors are taught to express their opinions from an early stage.

After completing his training, he may either join the diocese of his recruitment, or be assigned to another diocese if it is wanting for troops. Here, he will join a scout company, and be taught the fundamentals of war first hand by the chapter’s more than competent scout sergeants. Once his training is complete, he will be implanted with the black carapace and assigned to a fighting company, a Liberatore.

Battle Cry

“Nobiscum Imperator.”

The Emperor is with us.

[PorridgeMeister]

I take it you've gone with a Roman theme?

 

Might have a look tonight, but I can't at the moment.

[NightrawenII]

I have read this article, with all the attention reserved for such lenghty and impressive wall o'text, and... well, what to say... hmm...

 

Are you familar with situation, when you are watching a movie and then suddenly, out of nowhere, the credits begin to run across the screen and you are like, "Hmm, what I was watching again?". - This is something similar.

[Midgard]

I am getting a very strong Roman Dominate theme here, especially with Diocletian's reforms of the Late Empire. Maybe it is just a personal preference, but I like the more detailed IAs, so this one is good by me.

[Ace Debonair]

Well, that's an interesting one.

Definitely well written, and clearly a lot of thought has gone into this IA, but reading through it, something was bugging me all the way down.

 

It's taken about ten minutes for me to nail this vague problem, but I think I've got it.

Having read the whole thing, I can't really describe the personality of any of the marines. Catulus is ambitious, but I don't know if this trait extends to the other Astartes. ;)

 

You could use something to pad out the beliefs section, too. Why do they agree with Catulus about breaking away from the codex-approved numbers? Do they simply see it as a way to more effectively fulfil their duties? Or do they see it as finally fulfilling some sort of higher purpose?

 

Are there any left who resent the changes? Are any guilty over what could be seen as a betrayal of Guilliman's intention?

Do the Liberatores Gladio prioitize the killing of enemies over the saving of Imperial lives, or are these the sort of marines who would blow up a city of innocents to kill a traitor?

 

EDIT:

As a side note, what happened to the Russian, French and English-based chapters you were planning?

[Walter Payton]

Well, that's an interesting one.

Definitely well written, and clearly a lot of thought has gone into this IA, but reading through it, something was bugging me all the way down.

 

It's taken about ten minutes for me to nail this vague problem, but I think I've got it.

Having read the whole thing, I can't really describe the personality of any of the marines. Catulus is ambitious, but I don't know if this trait extends to the other Astartes. :ermm:

 

You could use something to pad out the beliefs section, too. Why do they agree with Catulus about breaking away from the codex-approved numbers? Do they simply see it as a way to more effectively fulfil their duties? Or do they see it as finally fulfilling some sort of higher purpose?

 

Are there any left who resent the changes? Are any guilty over what could be seen as a betrayal of Guilliman's intention?

Do the Liberatores Gladio prioitize the killing of enemies over the saving of Imperial lives, or are these the sort of marines who would blow up a city of innocents to kill a traitor?

 

EDIT:

As a side note, what happened to the Russian, French and English-based chapters you were planning?

 

Thanks for the response!

 

The Russian, French and English chapters still exist, but I want to tie them together more to fit the WWI theme. The Russians are being rewritten ever since I read an article on these guys.

 

Nightrawen

 

have read this article, with all the attention reserved for such lenghty and impressive wall o'text, and... well, what to say... hmm...

 

Are you familar with situation, when you are watching a movie and then suddenly, out of nowhere, the credits begin to run across the screen and you are like, "Hmm, what I was watching again?". - This is something similar.

 

I know the feeling. I don't really understand what you mean though: are you saying it is disjointed? Lack of character? Over done? Boring?

 

And sorry about the wall of text - I plan to get the particulars of the chapter done and then write in sidebars.

[Walter Payton]

Well, that's an interesting one.

Definitely well written, and clearly a lot of thought has gone into this IA, but reading through it, something was bugging me all the way down.

 

It's taken about ten minutes for me to nail this vague problem, but I think I've got it.

Having read the whole thing, I can't really describe the personality of any of the marines. Catulus is ambitious, but I don't know if this trait extends to the other Astartes. :ermm:

 

You could use something to pad out the beliefs section, too. Why do they agree with Catulus about breaking away from the codex-approved numbers? Do they simply see it as a way to more effectively fulfil their duties? Or do they see it as finally fulfilling some sort of higher purpose?

 

Are there any left who resent the changes? Are any guilty over what could be seen as a betrayal of Guilliman's intention?

Do the Liberatores Gladio prioitize the killing of enemies over the saving of Imperial lives, or are these the sort of marines who would blow up a city of innocents to kill a traitor?

 

EDIT:

As a side note, what happened to the Russian, French and English-based chapters you were planning?

 

Thanks for the response!

 

The Russian, French and English chapters still exist, but I want to tie them together more to fit the WWI theme. The Russians are being rewritten ever since I read an article on these guys.

 

Nightrawen

 

have read this article, with all the attention reserved for such lenghty and impressive wall o'text, and... well, what to say... hmm...

 

Are you familar with situation, when you are watching a movie and then suddenly, out of nowhere, the credits begin to run across the screen and you are like, "Hmm, what I was watching again?". - This is something similar.

 

I know the feeling. I don't really understand what you mean though: are you saying it is disjointed? Lack of character? Over done? Boring?

 

And sorry about the wall of text - I plan to get the particulars of the chapter done and then write in sidebars.

 

---------------------

 

So, in essence, draft II needs to set out a clear idea for the chapter and a clear psyche.

[NightrawenII]

Nightrawen

 

have read this article, with all the attention reserved for such lenghty and impressive wall o'text, and... well, what to say... hmm...

 

Are you familar with situation, when you are watching a movie and then suddenly, out of nowhere, the credits begin to run across the screen and you are like, "Hmm, what I was watching again?". - This is something similar.

 

I know the feeling. I don't really understand what you mean though: are you saying it is disjointed? Lack of character? Over done? Boring?

 

And sorry about the wall of text - I plan to get the particulars of the chapter done and then write in sidebars.

It leaves no impression on the reader, at least in my case.