The Illuminators

[Gulag]

This little project came about after reading another attempt at a Full Metal Alchemist tribute chapter, but I tried to keep it inside of the wider acknowledged fluff.

 

Bonus points if you can pick out the shout-outs to FMA.

 

Here are my notes, C&C welcome.

 

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

 

 

The Illuminators

 

21st Founding

Dark Angels Gene Seed (not acknowledged or widely known)

Colors are Red with Gold trim, decoration, and markings, flat-steel backpack and individualized limbs

 

The result of an experimental attempt to alter the gene-seed and organs of the Astartes to allow for new Space Marines to be created faster. It was at best a moderate success prone to major issues and errors. The primary alteration is to the omophagea, which normally takes memories and knowledge from the flesh and blood consumed - now the omophagea is linked to the gene seed and attempts to transfer memories and training of past battle brothers and God-Emperor willing, the primarch into initiates. The process is extremely uneven and differs between initiates, as some gain memories or personality aspects of previous battle brothers, others are subsumed by past personalities and others are driven insane. The dangers of madness have limited the increased speed of creation.

 

Dark Angels gene-seed was chosen because it deemed the intensely stable, but by M41 the documentation of its use has been lost or destroyed, and none outside of the Chapter and AdMech are aware of it. As a result of their cultural and doctrinal elements, there is considerable debate among other Chapters as to their origins - whether is it actually Iron Hands, Ultramarines, White Scars, or Dark Angels. The Dark Angels and their successors deny any actual connection or relation.

 

Trained by an Ultramarines cadre, the Chapter has since diverged widely culturally and doctrinally. The Illuminators have two Chapter Masters rather than one, of equal power and authority. The power of the chapter actually mostly rests with the Lighted Assembly, which is made up of the Chapter's Reclusiarch, Master Librarian, Master of the Forge, Master of Recruits, and Most Ancient Dreadnought. The Lighted Assembly must approve the proposals and actions of the Chapter Masters as Righteous for the Chapter and for the good of the Imperium.

 

After the Twin Chapter Masters and Lighted Assembly, the companies of the Chapter are called Centuries and the Captains are Centurions, Sergeants however remain unchanged. However there are only 9 Centuries and 8 Centurions within the Chapter. However, functionally it is 10 companies and 10 captains. This is because the First Century is actually 200 strong, and is divided in two, with each 'Half-Full' Century being under the direct command of a Chapter Master as his personal guard. Each 'Half-Full' has a de-facto Centurion whose official title is Senior Sergeant, but their authority is equal to that of any other Centurion. Each Chapter Master has total authority of their 'Half-Full' Century and is not required to get permission in its deployments as they would with any other century or fleet element - though there is technically a mechanism for the Lighted Assembly to override a Chapter Master's decision with his Century, it has not been recorded as used in the Chapter's history. Sergeants of each squad wears a suit of Tactical Dreadnought Armor, one of the Chapter's very few, to inspire their squads in combat. All other Veterans of the Illuminators are outfitted as Sternguards.

 

The Chapter has a history of largely impressive accomplishments, but because of their deviant structure and genetics, has constantly come under suspicion and ill-treatment. As such the Chapter has few suits of terminator armor, a double handful of dreadnoughts, no razorbacks, and only a pair of Ares-pattern land raiders. As such the Chapter doctrine and equipment emphasizes the use of ranged firepower and rhino-variants. The only truly impressive relic of the chapter is the recovered Fellblade, Iron Shepherd, that the chapter recovered at great cost from the grips of a Heretek Coven in Segmentum Obscurus.

 

The doctrine of the Illuminators is not too different from the much younger Fire Angels Chapter - mobile mechanized deployments with many rhinos and predators a, though bikes and trikes are featured more prominently. Jump Packs are very few within the chapter as well, possibly by choice, possibly by lack of supply, so the few Assault Squads in the Chapter are deployed by Drop Pod or Rhino. Equally rare are vindicators, in favor of Thunderfire platforms and the Chapters greater-than-average number of Librarians.

 

The last notable feature and deviation of the Illuminators are their Librarians - a development as a combination of their recruiting pool and an unintended side effect of their original gene-tampering. The psykers of the Illumnators are at best weak telepaths, with an utter lack of telepathic ability being overwhelmingly common. Instead the librarians of the Chapter have great skill with offensive psychic power and seem to have a strong affinity for the composition of matter - an awareness that has little use in construction, but is intensely useful in what the Librarians refer to as "deconstruction". Deconstruction requires physical contact between the Librarian and their target, and when successful results in the violent explosion of their target. The necessary qualifier of 'when' is necessary as the deconstruction attack can fail severely and result in the crippling or loss of the librarian's limb. Of equal note is the Librarium's use of an unknown means of rapid healing, potentially drawing on the power of the Warp, to rapidly accelerate healing in themselves or another they can lay hands upon. Of course, this process is not without drawbacks or risks, as tissues healed like this repeatedly develop mutations, cancers or withering and must be severed and replaced with bionics.

 

The bionics of the chapter are acknowledged in each marine as their armor is painted silver or flat metallic on each limb that is replaced. This is done to show and honor the sacrifice each brother has made in the service of the Imperium and the Emperor.

[Gulag]

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/269/9/c/illuminators_by_gulag285-d4b1s8o.jpg

 

Paint scheme for the Illuminators, shows off the limb coloration.

[NightrawenII]

Hello here. I'm familiar with FMA, but regardless of my knowledge of said anime, I will be viciously pointing out any inconsistency in your article. You have been warned.

 

*Dark Angels gene-seed was chosen because it deemed the intensely stable, but by M41 the documentation of its use has been lost or destroyed, and none outside of the Chapter and AdMech are aware of it.*

- Ahem. Since your Chapter was trained by Ultramarines and doesn't show any trademarks of the Unforgiven, I would exchange the DA gene-seed for UM one. Just to avoid any unnecessary nitpicking.

 

*Illuminators have two Chapter Masters rather than one, of equal power and authority. The power of the chapter actually mostly rests with the Lighted Assembly, which is made up of the Chapter's Reclusiarch, Master Librarian, Master of the Forge, Master of Recruits, and Most Ancient Dreadnought. The Lighted Assembly must approve the proposals and actions of the Chapter Masters as Righteous for the Chapter and for the good of the Imperium.

 

After the Twin Chapter Masters and Lighted Assembly, the companies of the Chapter are called Centuries and the Captains are Centurions, Sergeants however remain unchanged. However there are only 9 Centuries and 8 Centurions within the Chapter. However, functionally it is 10 companies and 10 captains. This is because the First Century is actually 200 strong, and is divided in two, with each 'Half-Full' Century being under the direct command of a Chapter Master as his personal guard. Each 'Half-Full' has a de-facto Centurion whose official title is Senior Sergeant, but their authority is equal to that of any other Centurion. Each Chapter Master has total authority of their 'Half-Full' Century and is not required to get permission in its deployments as they would with any other century or fleet element - though there is technically a mechanism for the Lighted Assembly to override a Chapter Master's decision with his Century, it has not been recorded as used in the Chapter's history.*

 

"In war, only simplicity can achieve a success. I visited the headquarters of cavalry. What I saw here, was not simple."

~ Paul von Hindenburg, the former Generalfeldmarschall of German army during WWI.

 

Listen to this guy, he has a point.

 

*The last notable feature and deviation of the Illuminators are their Librarians...*

- Eeeeh, really? That's everything? Where do you have the sin of forbidden art, the chimeras, the homunculus, the pursuit of the redemption and the concept of equivalent exchange???

Right now, this is rather "meh" than "wow". Shame on you!

 

 

Cheers, NightrawenII.

[Gulag]

Hello here. I'm familiar with FMA, but regardless of my knowledge of said anime, I will be viciously pointing out any inconsistency in your article. You have been warned.

 

When I saw that you had posted, I expected nothing less - to be critiqued by NightrawenII is nothing less than an honor and a privilege.

 

*Dark Angels gene-seed was chosen because it deemed the intensely stable, but by M41 the documentation of its use has been lost or destroyed, and none outside of the Chapter and AdMech are aware of it.*

- Ahem. Since your Chapter was trained by Ultramarines and doesn't show any trademarks of the Unforgiven, I would exchange the DA gene-seed for UM one. Just to avoid any unnecessary nitpicking.

 

I can see your point, even if I am sad to have yet another UM successor.

 

*Illuminators have two Chapter Masters rather than one, of equal power and authority. The power of the chapter actually mostly rests with the Lighted Assembly, which is made up of the Chapter's Reclusiarch, Master Librarian, Master of the Forge, Master of Recruits, and Most Ancient Dreadnought. The Lighted Assembly must approve the proposals and actions of the Chapter Masters as Righteous for the Chapter and for the good of the Imperium.

 

After the Twin Chapter Masters and Lighted Assembly, the companies of the Chapter are called Centuries and the Captains are Centurions, Sergeants however remain unchanged. However there are only 9 Centuries and 8 Centurions within the Chapter. However, functionally it is 10 companies and 10 captains. This is because the First Century is actually 200 strong, and is divided in two, with each 'Half-Full' Century being under the direct command of a Chapter Master as his personal guard. Each 'Half-Full' has a de-facto Centurion whose official title is Senior Sergeant, but their authority is equal to that of any other Centurion. Each Chapter Master has total authority of their 'Half-Full' Century and is not required to get permission in its deployments as they would with any other century or fleet element - though there is technically a mechanism for the Lighted Assembly to override a Chapter Master's decision with his Century, it has not been recorded as used in the Chapter's history.*

 

"In war, only simplicity can achieve a success. I visited the headquarters of cavalry. What I saw here, was not simple."

~ Paul von Hindenburg, the former Generalfeldmarschall of German army during WWI.

 

Listen to this guy, he has a point.

 

Well, what does he know about success? He lost. :lol:

 

But again I see your point about simplicity of command and success

 

*The last notable feature and deviation of the Illuminators are their Librarians...*

- Eeeeh, really? That's everything? Where do you have the sin of forbidden art, the chimeras, the homunculus, the pursuit of the redemption and the concept of equivalent exchange???

Right now, this is rather "meh" than "wow". Shame on you!

 

 

Cheers, NightrawenII.

 

Wellllll, to be honest I was afraid of going too hard towards FMA and not staying grounded enough in canon. I actually thought on this and left it out.

 

Off the top of my head:

 

Forbidden art: soul binding of fallen brothers into their suits or into artificial bodies. Gotta keep that one under wraps or pretty soon Draigo and his friends will show up for a quick game of stab-and-burn.

 

The homunculus angle? In FMA canon soul-binding to artificial materials leads to decay of the connection and eventual death. The Homunculus could be an attempt to create suitable bodies for the fallen dead or finally perfect their not entirely functional memory inheritance mechanism. It has to be hard to grow Astartes quality bodies in the vats, at least easily.

 

Getting the unnatural powers of the individual homunculus from canon going in an astartes isn't very easy save for King Bradley's all-seeing eye, or Sloth's ludicrous strength, and Gluttony's unnatural hunger. Lust's spiky fingers, Greed's ultimate shield, Pride's spiky blade shadows with teeth, and envy's shapeshifting on the other hand...

 

Pursuit of redemption: the chapter is aware of their less than ideal nature and Founding, which I'm sure prompts all sorts of angst or hand wringing. That and the soul binding work isn't exactly on the Approved List, so they feel the need to atone and seek to redeem themselves and the Chapter by extracting an equivalent amount of destruction on the foes of mankind.

 

I'm open to more suggestions of course. C&C as usual.

[Shinzaren]

This little project came about after reading another attempt at a Full Metal Alchemist tribute chapter, but I tried to keep it inside of the wider acknowledged fluff.

 

Bonus points if you can pick out the shout-outs to FMA.

Having read the entire Manga, seen both the original FMA anime, and the newer, more accurate FMA: Brotherhood, I am expecting good things. However, as a fan of both 40k and FMA, I will be twice as hard on the C&C :)

 

Here are my notes, C&C welcome.

I hope you mean that :devil:

 

21st Founding

Dark Angels Gene Seed (not acknowledged or widely known)

Colors are Red with Gold trim, decoration, and markings, flat-steel backpack and individualized limbs

If it is not widely known or acknowledged, why bother? Also, why individualize the limbs? Its just gonna make your chapter look... funky on the battlefield.

 

The result of an experimental attempt to alter the gene-seed and organs of the Astartes to allow for new Space Marines to be created faster. It was at best a moderate success prone to major issues and errors. The primary alteration is to the omophagea, which normally takes memories and knowledge from the flesh and blood consumed - now the omophagea is linked to the gene seed and attempts to transfer memories and training of past battle brothers and God-Emperor willing, the primarch into initiates. The process is extremely uneven and differs between initiates, as some gain memories or personality aspects of previous battle brothers, others are subsumed by past personalities and others are driven insane. The dangers of madness have limited the increased speed of creation.

I'm guessing this is like the Soul-Binding? Perhaps the experiment shouldn't have been to create marines faster, but to impart marines with wisdom/abilities of the dead? Letting the Primarch live again, so to speak? After all, a marine with the memories/experiences/skills of the greatest heroes/Primarchs would be a fearsome warrior. Side effects should include Marines being lost. Basically the memories consume them and they lose themselves, becoming empty husks that can't remember who they are or why they exist?

 

Dark Angels gene-seed was chosen because it deemed the intensely stable, but by M41 the documentation of its use has been lost or destroyed, and none outside of the Chapter and AdMech are aware of it. As a result of their cultural and doctrinal elements, there is considerable debate among other Chapters as to their origins - whether is it actually Iron Hands, Ultramarines, White Scars, or Dark Angels. The Dark Angels and their successors deny any actual connection or relation.

Someone has records. Trust me, between the Adeptus Mechanicus, Chapter Records, and the Imperial Bureaucracy, records would exist. Although, is this perhaps a shout-out to Alphonse questioning whether he was ever real, or if he is actually related to Ed at all?

 

Trained by an Ultramarines cadre, the Chapter has since diverged widely culturally and doctrinally. The Illuminators have two Chapter Masters rather than one, of equal power and authority. The power of the chapter actually mostly rests with the Lighted Assembly, which is made up of the Chapter's Reclusiarch, Master Librarian, Master of the Forge, Master of Recruits, and Most Ancient Dreadnought. The Lighted Assembly must approve the proposals and actions of the Chapter Masters as Righteous for the Chapter and for the good of the Imperium.

Much like Nightrawen, I offer a different explanation for why you should keep it simple. It works. What could have possibly prompted this idea of 2 masters and a council? Amestris is ruled solely by Fuhrer-King Bradley, and he answers solely to Father. Nothing in FMA that I can think of points to a council of rulers?

 

After the Twin Chapter Masters and Lighted Assembly, the companies of the Chapter are called Centuries and the Captains are Centurions, Sergeants however remain unchanged. However there are only 9 Centuries and 8 Centurions within the Chapter. However, functionally it is 10 companies and 10 captains. This is because the First Century is actually 200 strong, and is divided in two, with each 'Half-Full' Century being under the direct command of a Chapter Master as his personal guard. Each 'Half-Full' has a de-facto Centurion whose official title is Senior Sergeant, but their authority is equal to that of any other Centurion. Each Chapter Master has total authority of their 'Half-Full' Century and is not required to get permission in its deployments as they would with any other century or fleet element - though there is technically a mechanism for the Lighted Assembly to override a Chapter Master's decision with his Century, it has not been recorded as used in the Chapter's history. Sergeants of each squad wears a suit of Tactical Dreadnought Armor, one of the Chapter's very few, to inspire their squads in combat. All other Veterans of the Illuminators are outfitted as Sternguards.

Holy Hellfire, this is complicated. What possible reason is there for all of this? If this is trying to like FMA, then I lost it. This definitely bears explaining further...

 

The Chapter has a history of largely impressive accomplishments, but because of their deviant structure and genetics, has constantly come under suspicion and ill-treatment. As such the Chapter has few suits of terminator armor, a double handful of dreadnoughts, no razorbacks, and only a pair of Ares-pattern land raiders. As such the Chapter doctrine and equipment emphasizes the use of ranged firepower and rhino-variants. The only truly impressive relic of the chapter is the recovered Fellblade, Iron Shepherd, that the chapter recovered at great cost from the grips of a Heretek Coven in Segmentum Obscurus.

Again, where is the FMA here? Perhaps have the chapter be instead dedicated to recovering a great relic, which they believe can cure their ailing gene-seed and restore broken genetics? They officially tow the line and act as Space Marines should, but behind the scenes of every deployment and engagement they are seeking signs of this ancient relic?

 

The doctrine of the Illuminators is not too different from the much younger Fire Angels Chapter - mobile mechanized deployments with many rhinos and predators a, though bikes and trikes are featured more prominently. Jump Packs are very few within the chapter as well, possibly by choice, possibly by lack of supply, so the few Assault Squads in the Chapter are deployed by Drop Pod or Rhino. Equally rare are vindicators, in favor of Thunderfire platforms and the Chapters greater-than-average number of Librarians.

Why are they in such low supply of all the important pieces of equipment? Again, tie in to FMA that I am just not seeing? Edward is actually one of the wealthier members of the FMA universe, as his state stipend ensures he has the best of everything he needs...

 

The last notable feature and deviation of the Illuminators are their Librarians - a development as a combination of their recruiting pool and an unintended side effect of their original gene-tampering. The psykers of the Illumnators are at best weak telepaths, with an utter lack of telepathic ability being overwhelmingly common.

Weak Psykers are the greatest danger of the Imperium, and giving a weak psyker an Astartes blessed constitution and body is madness. Bad idea... Demons will come a calling very soon.

 

Instead the librarians of the Chapter have great skill with offensive psychic power and seem to have a strong affinity for the composition of matter - an awareness that has little use in construction, but is intensely useful in what the Librarians refer to as "deconstruction". Deconstruction requires physical contact between the Librarian and their target, and when successful results in the violent explosion of their target.

So you have a Librarium of Scars? Kinda useful, but I would have liked to see your Librarians each possessing different and unique talents. Manipulating the Warp to produce different effects? Each Librarian would be powerful, but different. Some could summon warp fire, others could turn things inside out, manipulate gravity to crush opponents, etc etc. Much more FMA like to have them all be different but all draw from the same power source and produce dangerous effects.

 

The necessary qualifier of 'when' is necessary as the deconstruction attack can fail severely and result in the crippling or loss of the librarian's limb. Of equal note is the Librarium's use of an unknown means of rapid healing, potentially drawing on the power of the Warp, to rapidly accelerate healing in themselves or another they can lay hands upon. Of course, this process is not without drawbacks or risks, as tissues healed like this repeatedly develop mutations, cancers or withering and must be severed and replaced with bionics.

I take it back, a whole Librarium of Edwards. They draw on their own bodies to power their most dangerous psychic feats, and the risk is losing them?

 

The bionics of the chapter are acknowledged in each marine as their armor is painted silver or flat metallic on each limb that is replaced. This is done to show and honor the sacrifice each brother has made in the service of the Imperium and the Emperor.

I dunno, this I get, as linking the Chapter to FMA, but I feel like the Inquisition is going to come around knocking when they see that your Librarians are being mutilated by the Warp. After all, only a step from that is full on possession...

 

All in all, it seems unnecessarily complicated, and doesn't really match FMA that much. Sure, you have a few references, but I was expecting a great quest to restore your broken geneseed, bring back a lost Primarch, or face down a madman bent on claiming Godhood. Where are the State Alchemists, the Philosopher's Stones, the Homunculi? You could easily have Chimeras being the result of failed experiments by the Apothecarium to repair your gene-seed. You can include the Homunculi as the result of a Apothecary/Librarian believing he could create artificial marines, and implant them with his memories, or the memories of the Primarch. Or, if it was a Librarian, he could go rogue and bind demons to his Marine followers, creating marines with strange and assorted powers? If this is an FMA chapter it needs more FMA. If it is a regular chapter, it just needs more of everything, and less confusion.

[Gulag]

Having read the entire Manga, seen both the original FMA anime, and the newer, more accurate FMA: Brotherhood, I am expecting good things. However, as a fan of both 40k and FMA, I will be twice as hard on the C&C :P

 

Good to find another fan.

 

I hope you mean that B)

 

I do. I want to make this better since in retrospect it wasn't a very good effort on my part.

 

If it is not widely known or acknowledged, why bother? Also, why individualize the limbs? Its just gonna make your chapter look... funky on the battlefield.

 

I wanted to avoid having them as another UM successor but if the Dark Angels and rest of the Unforgiven found out, I think they'd kill the lot of the Illuminators on principle. the coloring on the limbs was an attempt to make them stand out and as a shout out to Ed.

 

I'm guessing this is like the Soul-Binding? Perhaps the experiment shouldn't have been to create marines faster, but to impart marines with wisdom/abilities of the dead? Letting the Primarch live again, so to speak? After all, a marine with the memories/experiences/skills of the greatest heroes/Primarchs would be a fearsome warrior. Side effects should include Marines being lost. Basically the memories consume them and they lose themselves, becoming empty husks that can't remember who they are or why they exist?

 

The soul binding and the transformation of King Bradley into a homunculus. I rather like this idea, trying to resurrect the Primarch.

 

Someone has records. Trust me, between the Adeptus Mechanicus, Chapter Records, and the Imperial Bureaucracy, records would exist. Although, is this perhaps a shout-out to Alphonse questioning whether he was ever real, or if he is actually related to Ed at all?

 

That is what I was trying for.

 

Much like Nightrawen, I offer a different explanation for why you should keep it simple. It works. What could have possibly prompted this idea of 2 masters and a council? Amestris is ruled solely by Fuhrer-King Bradley, and he answers solely to Father. Nothing in FMA that I can think of points to a council of rulers?

 

Well, the number was a reference to the Seven Homunculi, two chapter masters and five members of the assembly. Still, I see your point once again.

 

Holy Hellfire, this is complicated. What possible reason is there for all of this? If this is trying to like FMA, then I lost it. This definitely bears explaining further...

 

That one was not a shout out to FMA, it was just an experiment on my part. That i've gotten the complicated comment twice means its not a good idea and should be scrapped.

 

Again, where is the FMA here? Perhaps have the chapter be instead dedicated to recovering a great relic, which they believe can cure their ailing gene-seed and restore broken genetics? They officially tow the line and act as Space Marines should, but behind the scenes of every deployment and engagement they are seeking signs of this ancient relic?

 

The Amestrian military is all infantry except for artillery and the Briggs tanks. The heavy firepower in the State Military are their State Alchemists.

 

Ooooooooooh. That is a fine suggestion. Very fine.

 

Why are they in such low supply of all the important pieces of equipment? Again, tie in to FMA that I am just not seeing? Edward is actually one of the wealthier members of the FMA universe, as his state stipend ensures he has the best of everything he needs...

 

See above. I was also trying to avoid accusations of Lemon Squad'ing the Illluminators with Attack Psykers and loads of great equipment to go with it.

 

Weak Psykers are the greatest danger of the Imperium, and giving a weak psyker an Astartes blessed constitution and body is madness. Bad idea... Demons will come a calling very soon.

 

Not weak psykers - weak telepaths. Pyskers encompass other powers like telekinesis, pyrokinesis, etc.

 

So you have a Librarium of Scars? Kinda useful, but I would have liked to see your Librarians each possessing different and unique talents. Manipulating the Warp to produce different effects? Each Librarian would be powerful, but different. Some could summon warp fire, others could turn things inside out, manipulate gravity to crush opponents, etc etc. Much more FMA like to have them all be different but all draw from the same power source and produce dangerous effects.

 

I wasn't going to limit purely to Scarpower - I was going to leave the particular specializations to Named Characters. Lightning, fire, telekinesis, the like.

 

I take it back, a whole Librarium of Edwards. They draw on their own bodies to power their most dangerous psychic feats, and the risk is losing them?

 

Correct, that was what i was going for.

 

I dunno, this I get, as linking the Chapter to FMA, but I feel like the Inquisition is going to come around knocking when they see that your Librarians are being mutilated by the Warp. After all, only a step from that is full on possession...

 

Well, that is something I had not considered. Better to keep that detail to yourself.

 

All in all, it seems unnecessarily complicated, and doesn't really match FMA that much. Sure, you have a few references, but I was expecting a great quest to restore your broken geneseed, bring back a lost Primarch, or face down a madman bent on claiming Godhood. Where are the State Alchemists, the Philosopher's Stones, the Homunculi? You could easily have Chimeras being the result of failed experiments by the Apothecarium to repair your gene-seed. You can include the Homunculi as the result of a Apothecary/Librarian believing he could create artificial marines, and implant them with his memories, or the memories of the Primarch. Or, if it was a Librarian, he could go rogue and bind demons to his Marine followers, creating marines with strange and assorted powers? If this is an FMA chapter it needs more FMA. If it is a regular chapter, it just needs more of everything, and less confusion.

 

Restore broken geneseed makes sense all things considered. As would the madman bent on godhood. Is daemon prince the same as godhood?

 

The Chimeras as failed experiment to repair gene-seed is a good suggestion and one i had not considered in all honesty.

 

The Apothecary/Librarian angle is plausible. The artificial marines could be his first efforts at bringing back the primarch. It is less than entirely successful and the Chapter looks poorly upon this move and he goes rogue and needing the muscle to survive, drops demons into a few of them.

 

How does that work?

 

Thanks gentlemen for your C&C. Much appreciated and very helpful.

[NightrawenII]

Sorry for dealy I was busy in RL. :blink:

 

Wellllll, to be honest I was afraid of going too hard towards FMA and not staying grounded enough in canon. I actually thought on this and left it out.

 

Off the top of my head:

 

Forbidden art: soul binding of fallen brothers into their suits or into artificial bodies. Gotta keep that one under wraps or pretty soon Draigo and his friends will show up for a quick game of stab-and-burn.

You could choose a forbidden act in the 40k verse. Shinzaren has good points.

 

The homunculus angle? In FMA canon soul-binding to artificial materials leads to decay of the connection and eventual death. The Homunculus could be an attempt to create suitable bodies for the fallen dead or finally perfect their not entirely functional memory inheritance mechanism. It has to be hard to grow Astartes quality bodies in the vats, at least easily.

 

Getting the unnatural powers of the individual homunculus from canon going in an astartes isn't very easy save for King Bradley's all-seeing eye, or Sloth's ludicrous strength, and Gluttony's unnatural hunger. Lust's spiky fingers, Greed's ultimate shield, Pride's spiky blade shadows with teeth, and envy's shapeshifting on the other hand...

Again, Shinzaren for the rescue. I was thinking of homunculus as the result of the Chapter's past actions. After all, the homunculus are the shadows of the dead.

 

Pursuit of redemption: the chapter is aware of their less than ideal nature and Founding, which I'm sure prompts all sorts of angst or hand wringing. That and the soul binding work isn't exactly on the Approved List, so they feel the need to atone and seek to redeem themselves and the Chapter by extracting an equivalent amount of destruction on the foes of mankind.

I was thinking more of the angle a lá Blood Angels, but good.

 

All in all, it seems unnecessarily complicated, and doesn't really match FMA that much. Sure, you have a few references, but I was expecting a great quest to restore your broken geneseed, bring back a lost Primarch, or face down a madman bent on claiming Godhood. Where are the State Alchemists, the Philosopher's Stones, the Homunculi? You could easily have Chimeras being the result of failed experiments by the Apothecarium to repair your gene-seed. You can include the Homunculi as the result of a Apothecary/Librarian believing he could create artificial marines, and implant them with his memories, or the memories of the Primarch. Or, if it was a Librarian, he could go rogue and bind demons to his Marine followers, creating marines with strange and assorted powers? If this is an FMA chapter it needs more FMA. If it is a regular chapter, it just needs more of everything, and less confusion.

 

Restore broken geneseed makes sense all things considered. As would the madman bent on godhood. Is daemon prince the same as godhood?

 

The Chimeras as failed experiment to repair gene-seed is a good suggestion and one i had not considered in all honesty.

 

The Apothecary/Librarian angle is plausible. The artificial marines could be his first efforts at bringing back the primarch. It is less than entirely successful and the Chapter looks poorly upon this move and he goes rogue and needing the muscle to survive, drops demons into a few of them.

 

How does that work?

 

Thanks gentlemen for your C&C. Much appreciated and very helpful.

Well, if you don't want a UM Chapter, try Iron Hands gene-seed. The Iron Hands main theme is the "hatred of weakness" and thus it's open to all sorts of genetical experiments or sorcerous rituals, either with their aspirants, gene-seed or themselves.

 

 

Cheers, NightrawenII.