Help with Character Fluff

[Unforgiven2544]

Good Afternoon All,

If things go to plan, I will be including little bits of fluff for my Marine Force(s). I'll probably devote a post to a character or unit at a time. (Some might even have home-brew or co-opted special rules).

 

For today, I have included Both Sandalphon and Metatron. They were brothers on one of the Dark Angel recruiting worlds, andtheir strength and devotion to one another saw them both inducted into the astartes. Even though Metatron has advanced further than his brother, they have earned their accolades in other ways. Sandalphon is a sergeant, but in one of thelower squads. He's happy with his place, as he prefers to be on the front lines, not contemplating subtle and nuanced tactics.

 

1st Sergeant Metatron of the Deathwing

"Life is measured not in years, but by the deeds of men."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/SolarinStudio/Warhammer%2040k/Space%20Marines/Dark%20Angels/CompanyMasterMetatron.jpg

 

Though he is not the master of the first company, he has been known to lead deathwing strike forces when Grand Master Belial is otherwise engaged.

He is the Birth-Brother as well as Battle-Brother of Sandalphon.

 

 

• His first engagement as a full Battle Brother was during the Fourth Quadrant Rebellion. One of four marines in his squad to survive a brutal assault on the Fortress of Kaligar. 775-780.M41
  
• He was injured saving his squad sergeant during a battle with the Kabal of the Phantom Moon. 807.M41
  
• Led a Kill-Team on a mission aboard the Space Hulk Dark Star. 824.M41
  
• Battled the ork warboss GutzDakka on the hive world of Nominex-IV. 846.M41
  
• Served in a Deathwatch unit on the Eastern Fringe. 902-915.M41
  
• As a Brother-Sergeant, fought against a renegade chapter dedicated to the worship of Khorne alongside units of three other Chapters [blood Ravens, Space Wolves, and Black Templars]. 929.M41
  
• Seconded again into the Deathwatch against the predations of the Eldar Ulthwé Craftworld. 926-939.M41
  
• Earned an Iron Halo for the assault of Cavernhive, a subterranean hive city, with an 11% casualty rate. 948.M41
  
• Inducted into the Deathwing following the Scouring of Tarsis. 984.M41
  
• Fought alongside an Angels of Absolution strike force on the blighted fortress world of Kasr Partox. 999.M41
  

 

Metatron can function as Belial in a Dark Angel army, or as a Terminator Captain in a Space Marine army. Typically, he is a sergeant of a deathwing assault squad. (I am tempted to use him as 'Commander Culln' with the Forge World rules. [i believe IA3])

 

 

Sergeant Sandalphon of the Deathwing

“Fear is naught for my faith is strong.”

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/SolarinStudio/Warhammer%2040k/Space%20Marines/Dark%20Angels/CompanyMasterSandalphon.jpg

 

Sandalphon rose to become a member of the Deathwing through his stubborn refusal to give quarter and his unwavering faith in the Emperor.

Sandalphon is the Birth-Brother as well as Battle-Brother of Metatron.

When recruited, he fought back-to-back with his brother, and the chaplain presiding viewed it as a weakness. When ordered to slay his brother, Sandalphon struck the chaplain unconscious instead. It was only the intervention of the master of the 5th company that stayed the Chaplain’s hand when he awoke.

He is aware that there are many in the chapter who are more proficient at tactics, but few who match his devotion to the chapter.

Sandalphon spent a long time in the scout company due to his temper and instances of ‘willfulness’, but had a meteoric rise from full brother to member of the Deathwing. Some among the Chapter even whisper that his rise was too quick.

Notable Engagements

 

Member of Kill Team aboard Space Hulk Dark Star. 904M41

Did battle against an Ulthwé strike force on the moon of Vadaien, a protectorate of the Dark Angels. 929M40

 

 

Sandalphon can serve as a Terminator captain, but is often the sergeant of a deathwing assault squad. Typically protecting the apothecary (in a deathwing army) or The captain (Metatron or Belial

 

What do you think? Is Metatron too 'over the top" for a special character?

 

I look forward to your input! Stay tuned for future threads detailing more Dramatis Personae from the First Legion.

 

Very Respectfully,

--Unforgiven

[WatchCaptainAzrael]

My two cents on Sandalphon.. I'd do away with the knocking out the chaplain bit, for a large number of reasons. The least of which is a comparatively small and weak child managing to get a drop on an armored superhuman veteran of many wars and knocking him unconscious. In Angels of Darkness, while overseeing trials, the Chaplain noticed that two boys had teamed up to fight the enemy and saw it as a sign of intelligence. Obviously, not all "Chaps" would see the action as an indicative of the same, but seeing as they are meant to embody the spirit of the chapter, grouping up to deal with other aspirants is not discouraged in DA trials.

 

That said, a measure of over the top is almost mandatory in Space Marines, and moreso in individuals in the Deathwing, who have to live up to the legacy of the 30 terminators who cleansed a world of genestealers. Just remember that insubordination is simply not tolerated in the majority of Chapters.

[Unforgiven2544]

Ok, so the whole 'punching out the Chaplain' might be a bit much...

 

Maybe have him swing on the chaplain and then getting clubbed out instead? But not viewed so much as insubordination, as 'spirit' and 'loyalty'?

 

What about Metatron? Is he good?

 

More will follow, I hope.

 

If reality doesn't conspire against me.

 

Respectfully,

--Unforgiven

[Captain Semper]

For Metatron:

 

I like your story. It's fairly detailed and makes sense that he had to have a rich combat background before he was considered DW material. Twice in the Deathwatch no less! This impressive as well as sensitive - although not a DW member at the time... I wouldn't change anything. In my mind all DW members must have a CV similar to Metatron's.

 

For Sandalphon:

 

Here I have a number of objections (I should rather say comments :)). First off I agree with Watch Master Azrael regarding the Chaplain. The fact that the two brothers worked together should give signals of loyalty and intelligence rather than weakness. The Chaplain would not demand the death of the weaker - why would he? Sandalphon was not a DA at the point, and the loyalty to the Chapter was still not a given. Also there is no way, really no way, a mere human could knock a SM unconscious let alone a Chaplain in (what I can assume it was) full armour. An attempt to attack the Chaplain could be viewed a sign of bravery as it would be obviously doomed or it could seem an act of recklessness and plain stupidity. That would depend on the context and the Chaplain in charge.

 

Moving on.

 

You make him look like a maverick. Too long as scout due to temper issues but then meteorically going to the DW? It does not add up. Sorry but maverick is not what you'd look for in a potential DW member. Loyalty? yes. Obedience? sure. Fanaticism? Damn right! Individualism and temper? No-no. I like the mystery around that (some say the rise was too quick -that's a cool line) but you have to give us something more. Give us a bit of Out-of-Universe info if you like. Like what really happened. Also the track record is kind of weak... Only two notable engagements? He should be polishing his brother's boots and be proud of it! :lol:

 

That's my take anyway...

[Unforgiven2544]

Ok,

I'm glad you like Metatron. He is definitely the more fleshed out of the two.

 

I'll tweak Sandalphon's service record a bit more. It should be impressive, but not as much leadership roles. Killed a hundred orks, crushed a wraithlord, wrestled a daemon prince until the librarian pulped its mind, wrecked a Dark Eldar raider with his bare hands. Stuff like that would be interesting, but also show he's not necessarily a leader of men. He tends to be where the fighting is thickest (because he wants to be or because the officers in charge send him there is a matter of speculation).

 

More to come.

 

Thanks Captain Semper and WatchCaptainAzrael

 

Very Respectfully,

--Unforgiven

[Tengo]

Brother Sgt. Metatron is pure Gold.

Commendations on such a detailed service record

 

Perhaps, the Chaplain did not like Metatron's rise to influence and power, maybe he felt unease at the young marine's talents and perhaps said to sandalphon that he might have to slay his brother one day, (Perhaps hinting at disloyalty, cowardice or even chaos taint) and infuriated by even the suggestion, Sandalphon charged and tackled the chaplain to the floor, attempting to engage him in hand to hand combat, perhaps a chapter master stepped in, and having never seen anything like it before, commended Sandalphon for his courage and dedication/loyalty to his brother, and told him that he now has a legion of brothers, and that he should feel the same bond for all of them, and the chaplain (Who was in shock that a mere recruit would ever be so insane or sheer bloody-minded enough to dive into such danger, such certain death) was impressed too

 

After that those who already knew of him watched keenly for Sandalphon on the battlefield, impressed that he would indeed launch himself into the enemy, with such an eagerness to kill and maim, that he would rip body parts off the enemy with his bare hands. While it was obvious he had no understanding of strategy, let alone tactics, he could always be trusted to throw himself in the middle of the most fearsome enemy unit of the battleground, the units that the commanders were wary of engaging, and attacked with such ferocity that the enemy unit was so focused on him, they were totally unprepared for the assaults led by his brother, metatron, who never failed to seize the opportunity of attacking an unit, spending all their concentration on his brother.

 

I think it's ok to let Sandalphon to have a short-temper, but it's not just that he has anger issues or anything, but his loyalty and devotion to his brother and his chapter is so magnificent that he would lay down his life, and a hundred of the enemies, in their name, without a second thought.

 

Maybe Sandalphon actually rose to the DW before his brother, who enjoyed various positions of power and leadership before being inducted into the same ranks, and also perhaps, nobody knows how to best utillise Sandalphon quite as well as his brother, who is the only commander to exercise real control over him in battle, with absolutely devastating consequences for the enemy.

[Unforgiven2544]

I like it Tengo. Thanks for the input.

 

Once I have a chance to sit down... (man am I busy lately) I will put down some more sentences about these guys, and maybe some narrative fluff.

[NightrawenII]

What others said+

 

As a Brother-Sergeant, [Metatron] fought against a renegade chapter dedicated to the worship of Khorne alongside units of three other Chapters [blood Ravens, Space Wolves, and Black Templars]. 929.M41

- Dark Angels don't like Space Wolves and Black Templars hate psykers, so this configuration of Chapters looks odd.

 

 

Cheers, NightrawenII.

[Unforgiven2544]

As a Brother-Sergeant, [Metatron] fought against a renegade chapter dedicated to the worship of Khorne alongside units of three other Chapters [blood Ravens, Space Wolves, and Black Templars]. 929.M41

- Dark Angels don't like Space Wolves and Black Templars hate psykers, so this configuration of Chapters looks odd.

Cheers, NightrawenII.

 

Thank you for your input, NightrawenII,

 

I know that fluffwise, the chapters indicated would only very reluctantly fight together. But, the fluff of the particular adventure was born out of the local gaming group's armies available. It's a nod to the friends I ahve spent the last 18 months gaming with.

 

Most of the fluff comes from games I have played against friends in the past. And just tweaked a bit to form more of a narrative.

 

And, while the Blood Ravens do have a particularly high concentration of psykers, my friend's 4th[5th?] Company has taken a penitent crusade, and has no psykers in his list (The Blood Ravens and Black Templars belong to the same player)

 

It does seem like a mish-mash, but the astartes collection at our local gaming group just sort of broke out that way. And even though there may be animosity, they are all still loyal to the Emperor.

 

Very Respectfully,

--Unforgiven