Charnel Guard

[Lord Draco]

Hello all! This is a Chapter for a character I made for the Deathwatch role playing game. Lot of the elements were taken from there and I just need some fleshing out now. So take a look and tell me what you think.

 

 

The Charnel Guard

 

Origins

 

In the last part of 37th Millennium, the Maracus Crusade was launched to retake this region of space after it was lost to separatists, who declared their independence from the Imperium during the Reign of Blood. The Charnel Guard where founded to spearhead the assault, reinforced by thousands of Imperial Guard. After several years of conflict the region lay in ruins, with many planets’ populations slaughtered to a man.

Since then, the Charnel Guard have become infamously associated with their slaughter of entire populations in the name of the Emperor. Billions have died beneath sword and bolter. They are the perfect weapon of the High Lords should a planet prove unable to except Imperial rule.

 

Gene-Seed

 

The Charnel Guard’s gene seed comes from Dark Angel lineage. However, an attempt to ‘breed out’ flaws in the original samples caused radical change in some aspects of the marines biology. The Betcher’s Gland no longer produces acid; instead a subtle network of small cavities changes the vocal tone of the Marine to a low pitch growl. However, when air is passed through the Betcher’s Gland, a high pitched shriek is produced. In battle, this shriek is used to unnerve the enemy and has come to be known as the ‘Charnel Call’.

Through genetic modification in their early history, the Charnel Guards aggression centre of the brain is super active. This makes the marines quick to anger and nigh unstoppable when enraged.

 

Beliefs

 

The Charnel Guard are highly religious. They believe that all mankind must repent for the sins of each other, and that failure of one’s faith weakens mankind as a whole. Therefore, the teachings of the Chapters Imperial Cult focus on the many crimes that have been committed against humanity by heretics and separatists. They are also intolerant of the more unusual expressions of the Imperial Cult, sometimes even going so far as to denounce such expressions as heretical. They see taint in the traditions of other Chapters which had brought them into conflict with other Space Marines on more than one occasion. For their part, the Chapters status as Manus Irae, one of five Chapters to take part in the Great Malagantine Purge, and their merciless pogroms against numerous civilian populations means that they are often shunned by fellow Chapters.

The Dark Angels denounce the Chapter, seeing them as flawed, a rare example of Dark Angel gene-seed abnormalities. The Charnel Guard in turn believe that the Dark Angels are not worthy of the Lion’s legacy, after they failed him by letting Calibian be destroyed by traitors. But like all the Dark Angel successors, they have a limited knowledge of the Fallen. However, on capture, the Fallen are not shipped to the Rock, instead they are ritual sacrificed in the Emperors name.

 

Organization

 

Because of their skills in close combat, the companies of the Charnel Guard are made up of mostly Assault Marine squads, with Tactical Squads in a theoretical support role. There are little Devastator or long range units, as this type of range combat is seen as dishonourable.

A scout company is not fielded. Instead, novities are induce with a Black Carapace at the earliest possibility. They then are formed in squads of ‘Young Bloods’ and are put under the tutorage of a veteran.

On induction to the First Company, the Marine learns a fraction of the truth of the Fallen. He is then given a choice; to carry on in service of the Chapter or abandon all rank and be inducted into the Silent Mourners. The Silent Mourners are a special sect of Marines and take a vow of silence to prove their dedication to their cause; to hunt down every member of the Fallen and destroy them in the Emperor’s name. They may only break this vow if they are deemed worthy to join the Chapters Chaplin’s or, more frequently, when they give their last words. All the Mourner’s last words are recorded in the Tome of Silence, a holy relic of the Chapter, and read out in services of remembrances.

 

Tactics

 

The Charnel Guard are a fleet based Chapter, a necessity in deploying on genocide campaigns against traitorous worlds. They are often deployed in this role, as their violent nature and disregard for the lives they take make them perfect weapons against up rises. Because they specialise in long extermination campaigns, the Chapter often deploys as a whole, meaning that their fighting strength is always maintained at full capacity.

The spearhead is the favourite tactic of the Charnel Guard, Assault Squads deploying from Thunderhawks into the heart of the enemy to begin an unstoppable tide of blood that only ends after the enemy is completely exterminated.

 

War cry

 

‘My Armour is Contempt,

My Shield is Disgust,

My Sword is Hatred,

In the Emperor’s Name

Let none survive.’

Battle Mayra of the Charnel Guard

 

‘Rend is His name!’

Battle Cry of the Charnel Guard

 

‘Forward unto Death!’

Battle Cry of the Charnel Guard

 

 

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9853/spacemarine1.jpg

 

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[fivepointedstar]

I like your chapter name. And you history is well written also. good job. Any pic of armor colors/ painted figs etc.

[Lord Draco]

Here we are

[Lord Draco]

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9853/spacemarine1.jpg

 

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Heres one with the Chapter Symbol

 

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/4048/symboljv.png

 

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And the symbol itself

[NightrawenII]

So take a look and tell me what you think.

You have asked for it.

 

The Charnel Guard where founded to spearhead the assault, reinforced by thousands of Imperial Guard.

It takes a half century to just gather enough gene-seed samples, not to mentioning all the recruiting and training. Why not pick up already existing Chapter instead of waiting?

 

The Charnel Guard’s gene seed comes from Dark Angel lineage. However, an attempt to ‘breed out’ flaws in the original samples caused radical change in some aspects of the marines biology.

Except the Dark Angels gene-seed is one of the purest available.

+

Messing with gene-seed = bad. Proven in the 21th "Cursed" Founding.

 

They are also intolerant of the more unusual expressions of the Imperial Cult, sometimes even going so far as to denounce such expressions as heretical. They see taint in the traditions of other Chapters which had brought them into conflict with other Space Marines on more than one occasion.

Chapter, which keeps on picking up fights with both their fellow Space Marines and Ministorum is dead Chapter. Fair and simple.

 

The spearhead is the favourite tactic of the Charnel Guard, Assault Squads deploying from Thunderhawks into the heart of the enemy to begin an unstoppable tide of blood that only ends after the enemy is completely exterminated.

Lol.

 

 

Cheers, NightrawenII.

[Lord Draco]

It takes a half century to just gather enough gene-seed samples, not to mentioning all the recruiting and training. Why not pick up already existing Chapter instead of waiting?

 

With all that was going on to rebuild after the reign of blood, there was a increase in chapter creation to re-enforce the Imperium.

 

Except the Dark Angels gene-seed is one of the purest available.

 

Yeh, but the 'Flaws', real or imagined, will always be present to humanity. We just like to medal with things. It's our way :)

 

Messing with gene-seed = bad. Proven in the 21th "Cursed" Founding.

 

Again, I think humanity would try again regardless, even if it was only limited to one chapter.

 

Chapter, which keeps on picking up fights with both their fellow Space Marines and Ministorum is dead Chapter. Fair and simple.

 

It kinda goes with the outcast view of them. Maybe they will be exterminated by the Imperium at a later date. only time will tell.

 

 

Thanks for the in put

[Gulag]

Hold on, isn't the Charnel Guard an actual GW Chapter that was peripherally involved in the whole Badab War throwdown?

[NightrawenII]

[Yeh, but the 'Flaws', real or imagined, will always be present to humanity. We just like to medal with things. It's our way :lol:

~

Again, I think humanity would try again regardless, even if it was only limited to one chapter.

Do you know what is the purpose of Inquisition? - Ensure that curiosity is not going to kill a cat.

[Lord Draco]

Hold on, isn't the Charnel Guard an actual GW Chapter that was peripherally involved in the whole Badab War throwdown?

 

Yes, but they have no history.

 

Do you know what is the purpose of Inquisition? - Ensure that curiosity is not going to kill a cat.

 

Surely if the order came from the high lords the Inquisition couldn't touch them?

[NightrawenII]

Do you know what is the purpose of Inquisition? - Ensure that curiosity is not going to kill a cat.

 

Surely if the order came from the high lords the Inquisition couldn't touch them?

Inquisitorial representative is member of High Lords of Terra.

 

And the chances of permission are low to null in the first place.

[Lord Draco]

edited

[Gulag]

Do you know what is the purpose of Inquisition? - Ensure that curiosity is not going to kill a cat.

 

Surely if the order came from the high lords the Inquisition couldn't touch them?

Inquisitorial representative is member of High Lords of Terra.

 

And the chances of permission are low to null in the first place.

 

IIRC The only Chapter the HLOT have ever blocked for are their pet chapter, the Minotaurs. Everyone else is on their own.

[Lord Draco]

Hmmm ok il just have to play the cursed founding card like the rest of the universe then :/

[G3rman]

You don't mess with the geneseed recipe or add a new one in any way.

 

Perhaps they later received implants, like the PH World Eaters with aggression, but otherwise definitely not.

 

The color scheme is unique, not bad.

 

If you are going to still choose to do the DA, you had best incorporate their relations with the rest of the Unforgiven. There has yet to be a chapter produced by the DA that don't hunt the Fallen.

 

And if you say that the inquisition higher-ups gave them leeway from investigation, you are effectively giving them plot armor that no other chapter has. Breaks the realism.

[Lord Draco]

So how can I add in the whole Betcher gland deformity without messing with the gene seed?

[Valkyrion]

So how can I add in the whole Betcher gland deformity without messing with the gene seed?

 

Imperial Fists geneseed.

[Gulag]

So how can I add in the whole Betcher gland deformity without messing with the gene seed?

 

Imperial Fists geneseed.

 

Raven Guard too.

[Shinzaren]

So how can I add in the whole Betcher gland deformity without messing with the gene seed?

Of the known Gene-Seeds in use today, a variety of them have different and unique mutations and losses.

 

Imperial Fists- Lacking the Sus'An Membrane and the Betcher's Gland. Perhaps your chapter was created with the intent of fixing the Betcher's Gland and Sus'An Membrane. Instead of spitting Acid, they howl really loudly. Instead of Hibernating in extreme conditions, the Sus'An backfires and produces extreme hyperactivity. The brain goes into overdrive in stressful scenarios, resulting in a Berserker Rage.

 

White Scars- Breeds aggression. Your chapter could deviate towards the feral spectrum as a result of any number of things, leading to your increased aggression. In regards to the howling, the White Scars are practically feral tribesmen, so howling is probably a big deal to them. Their successor could have simply decided to tamper with their gene-seed to accentuate the howling into a terror causing scream.

 

Salamanders- Not a good choice for you. Results in slower reflexes off-set by an increase in average strength. Not known to increase aggression or have any issues with the Betcher's Gland.

 

Ultramarines- Pure. No known flaws. Blank slate, for you to play with as you wish. During the Cursed and Dark Foundings all manner of goofiness was done to the geneseed, so you could conceivably do whatever you choose as long as you explain how it happened and why.

 

Raven Guard- Messed up as hell. The RG themselves need to constantly ship in fresh gene-seed just to stay afloat. Any chapter formed from their gene-seed is more than likely going to have a myriad of genetic defects, which could easily play to your chapter's issues. You would need to explain why the HLoT decided to use Raven Guard geneseed in the first place though, since everyone knows how jacked up it is.

 

Space Wolves- No known successors. Their one attempt at a successors got itself purged and its records sealed. HLoT aren't gonna mess with the Canis Helix anytime soon.

 

Dark Angels- Another terrible choice, as it is known to be exceptionally pure. Plus, you would have to explain how they see the Fallen, and whether or not they view the Dark Angels as their liege-lords. Not a great choice or fit here.

 

Blood Angels- The Flaw. Matches perfectly with your desire for berserking blood knights. As far as the howling goes, perhaps they feel the Sanguinus's primal scream when Horus struck him down, and they focus that pain and psychic energy into a terrifying howl? Doesn't tie into the Betcher's Gland, but you can't win them all.

 

Iron Hands- Pure as far as I know, though I am not sure. Hate weakness and demand strength. Strong ties to the AM mean that they could petition some Magos for help 'adjusting' their geneseed to be stronger and better. The end result is not what they expected and leads to your chapter's symptoms. Not really a great choice though, given their extreme views. Not to mention that they have never shown any of the symptoms or conditions your marines possess; not in themselves or their successors.