Warlords - WIP

[Crusader of Dorn]

I have for a while been considering creating a chapter based on the ancient pictish and celtic cultures, i've seen quite a few variations on these themes and while not original i feel its important enough to me to have a go.

So far this is just a concept, likely to be worked and reworked as i go. I'll be looking for help crafting this and hopefully get some good ideas.

 

The following is quite messy and was written up in a chaotic way, i'm working on putting some info into each section and then add, detract, rework as is needed.

Input welcome

 

Warlords Adeptus Astartes Chapter.

A mystic and highly supersitious chapter, almost incomprehensible to outsiders. The Warlords are deeply spritual,

their customs and traits drived heavily from the world they hail from and its people.

Storming across the comsos in search of worthy and dispicable foes alike,

to crush beneath their armoured heels, all who stand in their way will fall. Ave Imperator.

 

Chapter Name:- Warlords

Founding:- unknown

Homeworld:- Inothia

Primarch:- Unknown (genetic markers indicate Rogal Dorn)

Chapter Master:- Galan Erilich

Speciality:- Raiding and close assault

Base of Operations:- Emperors eye (The Warforge, fortress)

 

ORIGINS

 

Little is trully known about the Warlords creation, no records survive detailing the chapters founding, there is nothing

to indicate how or why they came to hold dominion over their homeworld.

The earliest record of their exsistance is found in ancient documents upon Mars, in reference to a sub standard geneseed

tithe in terms of quantity submitted by an unnamed astartes chapter. One fragmentory documents is written in the highly

distinctive native touge of Inothia accompanied with poor Imperial translation. It is through this that the Adeptus Terra

has concluded that these records indeed refer to the Warlords chapter as the only Astartes force known to hold dominion

over the planet.

The date shown is 509 M.32 meaning the chapter exsisted before this time although no founding date can be positively

ascertained. The chapters own records are likely incomplete and guarded ferociously from outsiders by the grand magus.

 

 

HOMEWORLD

 

Inothia, a small temperate to cold world orbited by two moons, the largest of which is named the Emperors eye and contains

the chapters fortress monastery. The main land masses upon the planet are situated in the northern and southern hemispheres,

seperated by a vast and turbulant ocean spanning the equator virtually unbroken.

Only the cold northern continent is inhabited, populated by countless tribal kingdoms and nomadic clans. The enviroment is

that of endlessly rolling hill lands covered in vast forested regions, disrupted only by maze like waterways and soaring

mountian ranges. This seemingly idealic landscape harbours many dangers from indigenous creatures and plant life to

frequent and savage storms. During its yearly cycle Inothia is subjected to natural disasters, something its people can

only accept and indure.

The tribes and clans of this world have spread across the north over time and even ranged into the unknown of the great

seas to find new lands in the south. Its people are in a constant state of warfare over territory and dominamce, many

famed houses have risen and fallen beneath an uncaring cosmos that they look to foe salvation.

Throughout the tribal regions culture can be found to be quite different from one and other, though remain recognisable

to all. To outsiders Inothians appear quite primative, savage and brutal. These obsevartions would be correct however to

look past this behaviour one will find a noble and proud people, with great artisans and thinkers. A deep resovior of

emotion and sprituality, a high level of intellegence that many would be surprised to discover amidst such hardy and

warlike people.

Imperial missionaries are thought to have travelled to the planet at the very birth of the Imperium, implanting the seeds

of faith within the Inothian Psyche. no written accounts of this survive except for anicent stone monuments, intricately

carved with tales seeming more like myth and legend.

 

ORGANISATION

 

The chapter has many significant differences in comparison to more codex adherent chapters. These differences are directly

routed from within the warlords homeworld and its people. This culture is far more prominent to the chapters own culture

than any Imperial traditions or protocals.

Made up of 10 Battle companies, each is a self sufficent entity lead by a Battlelord, according to Imperial translations.

A company will maintain its own armoury, sub fleet, livery, relics and specialists answerable only to the current overlord.

Chapter specialists are based within their own cults outside of the company command structures, the chapter

forge, librarium and death priest cults are still subject to the chapter Overlord. Specialists are "seconded"

to a Battle company on a long term basis (usually the marines lifespan).

The title of Battlelord could be compared to that of captain in other chapters, however company structures are often quite

fluid and an unworthy battlelord may find his position usurped if he is not strong of will and character. The same is to be

said of the rank Overlord, if weakness is shown confidence in the leader will rapidly disolve and may well lead to honour

duels being fought to secure the position. Such is the way of the chapter though the chaplaincy are known to work behind the

scenes to ensure that such events are orderly and do not degenerate into open conflict.

Communication with the chapter has always been difficult, as they refuse almost entirely to speak in Imperial dialects,

although being undoubtedly able to do so. The exception to this are the Librarians often refered by the title Magus

who often represent Imperial authourity in the chapter and act as diplomats towards other organisations. This tends to make the Warlords look insular, however it is more probable they simply seek to preserve their native culture.

 

COMBT DOCTRINE

 

When involved in protracted warzones, which is where much of the chapters battle records will likely be found, The Warlords

utilise raiding, hit and run tactics in an effort to wear down their foes all the while gathering intellegence of the enemy.

Allowing these tactics to become expected and toan extent predictable, as an enemy adapts to this style of warfare the

chapter will rapidly switch between raiding and overwhelming assault on selected objectives. Eventually they will effect

large scale sustained assaults and decimate enemy positions and command centres. it has been observed that civilian

casualties and destruction of infastructure while operating on Imperial worlds is avoided with the exception of belived

traitorous populations, through collabaration or inaction in the face of invaders.

There is a streak of compassion throughout the chapter, not commonly found amongst astartes or indeed obvious within the

Warlords own character.

The chapter primarily operate as an infantry based force, only using transports such as thunderhawks and limited use of

Razorbacks. Landspeeders are employed quite often in conjuntion with raid forces, Tactical, assault and sternguard squads

are the most common sight amidst a Warlords army. They tend to shun the use of heavy weapons and armour infavour of speed

and manouverability. It is seen as being more glorius to seek personal combat in the press of hand to hand fighting and

the Warlords are known to be head hunters once their fury has been unleashed on the battlefield.

Each battle company has an armoury full of embellished and ornate items, the basic power armour worn by even the newest

initiates is a work of art. Curiously the chapter has no known examples of Tactical dreadnaught armour and they have very

few dreadnaughts making them highly revered.

Like the Clansmen of Inothia, the warlords are excellent naval warriors and relish actions that involve ship to ship boarding

actions, often veterans equipped with Mk3 power armour suits will lead assaults, rampaging through an enemy vessel and

smashing its crew into submission.

 

BELIEFS

 

...

 

RECRUTMENT

 

...

[plasman]

Just a 2 cents modelling suggestion for bareheaded Marines: they might wear some tribal tattoos over their faces. ;)

[Crusader of Dorn]

There will be alot of bareheaded marines, i intend to use these guys as a Base for my marines

 

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n562/willmac81/celtic_vetarans_squad_01.jpg

 

They will be truescale, but seem to fit with my ideas.

[plasman]

No kilts ? No kidding you might paint tabards so they look like tartan material.

[Crusader of Dorn]

No kilts, am looking at ancient culture rather than more modern eras.

 

I may add the odd piece of tartan cloth here and there but its not going to be a central theme.

 

I predict a fair bit of warpaint and tatts, the werent called the picts for nothing :D

[Castiel]

Tartan Marines and power kilts? :lol:

 

I really like the idea, and the background you've set up is nice! You might want to run it throught the spell check on a word processor though, there's a few typos in there.

 

My suggestions would be to expand more on the Death Priests, and maybe use the homeworld's language as a battle-cant or to communicate with each other, rather than having them refusing to speak gothic, as I'm not sure how that would work with the Imperium.

 

Just my 10p, hope it's helpful! :D

[Crusader of Dorn]

no kilts or tartan here, its not required.

 

Theres alot to be expanded on and refined, as i get round to it.

 

cheers