DIY chapter Domini Sanctus

[Dulisil]

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/smsbeta...amp;spr2=533B1C

 

Chapter Name: Domini Sanctus

 

Chapter colors: Varies

 

Motto: None

 

The Domini Sanctus chapter of Space Marines is a relatively new addition to the Adeptus. Their origins are unknown, and the Imperium itself is mentioned little in their home planet, Terrisa’s, culture. They mysteriously appeared quite recently in a sector previously rife with Warp Storms. Despite a long period of isolation, they are, obviously, Space Marines, but their deviations are considerable.

 

They are the ruling caste of Terrisa, using their superhuman abilities and advanced technology to maintain control of the populace, advertising themselves as celestial lords sent to rule the Mortals.

 

Strangely, they use Aquila armor and relatively recent weapon patterns, and their ship designs and other equipment are fairly modern. However, their recorded history goes back before many of these devices were in common use. these is no reasonable explanation for thos.

 

They also have several large deviations from the Codex, while Codex Chapters have 10 companies, each lead by a captain, the Domini Sanctus have 20 “Great Houses” each lead by a Great Lord. Each House has between 40 and 70 Marines, divided into “Minor Houses.”

 

It is obvious that a Minor House in equivalent to a Squad, and despite this deviancy, there is obvious Imperial Influence. For instance, Houses have “Creeds,” of which there are Sword, Battle, and Siege. These correspond to Assault, tactical, and Devastator squads.

 

Vehicles all fall under the authority of the Royal Armory, and are given out as boons or rewards to Major houses who then give lordship of that vehicle to one of the minor houses under their command. Each Lord (Sergeant) is the ruler of a feif, which could be either many miles of countryside or a city, the population of which they are directly in control over. Their House (Squad) serve as their household knights and retainers. this isolation leads to a great deal of individuality among the marines.

 

The names of various unit types are purely superficial. The true deviations come in with the colors. The Domini Sanctus have no uniform chapter colors or symbol, instead each Great House has it’s own colors, and furthermore each Marine’s armor is often painted differently as a form of personalization. When asked about this by the Imperial official who met with the High King of the Chapter, The King famously said:

 

“Bah. We are not so weak that we need a common heraldry to tell our brothers apart from the Alien scum, nor are we so wrought with strife that we need the binding of common colors. Every Knight of the Domini is Loyal without question, and each has more than earned the right to display his own colors upon the field of battle.”

 

Their Gene-seed is of unknown donor, and appears nowhere in Imperial records. However, the Domini’s Loyalty is unquestioned.

 

The Domini long ago forsook the standard of most Space Marines, living like monks in a highly religious and chaste way, instead living in a fashion comparable to feudal lords.

 

Additionally, the Domini are not chaste. While space marines are not generally sterile, psycho-indoctrination usually does away with such carnal impulses. Such methods were long ago abandoned by the Domini, and as such direct sons of Marines are not uncommon. while there is a whole list of biological and philosophical problems that arise from this, it is true that only about one in ten natural Marine sons survive due to the abnormalities of the genetics due to the gene seed. Those that do survive, however, make exmplary templates for Marines, having a 96% success rate for the implants and training.

 

This has numerous drawbacks. Firstly, the mother almost never survives birth. This is usually referred to as “Bridal sacrifice” and to die in this way is considered a great honor. However, Brides who so survive the birth are said to be blessed, and become a Reverend Mother, a blessed priestess in the Terrisan church.

 

This also means that the Domini rarely recruit from the population itself. only the very strongest Mortals are ever recruited to mix up the genetics.

 

Because the Domini are created much faster than most marines, they do not commonly use scouts. If such tactics are neccecary, a Minor House may be deployed with Scout armor and weapons. otherwise, the Marines are trained in power armor use very early.

 

Everything about the Domini Sanctus screams “Individuality.” No two marines are the same, their armors often wildly different colors and patterns, and they are in no way reserved or respectful. This has earned them some distrust amongst imperial authorities after notable incidents of insubordination. They enjoy the company of the Space Wolves, as both chapters enjoy good food and drink and good tales of battle.

 

Despite their feudal culture, the Domini hold ranged warfare as the superior type. this attitude arose, presumably, from the fact that advanced firearms became the symbol of Domini power on Feudal Terrisa, since the Marines were the only ones to have them, in much the same way as Katana was the symbol of the samurai in feudal Japan. The Domini have taken marksmanship to the level of art, and it is not uncommon for Domini Marines to craft their own ammunition, modify their weapons, and other such things. A Squire of the Domini are not considered ready for knighthood until they are capable of hitting a coin at 100 yards every shot they take.

 

The Domini believe that a fight is judged by how swiftly you gain victory, a tendency honed by their marksmanship. In battle they aim for as many kills in as few shots as possible, often avoiding clumsy weapons like flamers. In melee they are taught a school of fighting that aims to end the fight as quickly as possible using one well- placed knife stab to finish the job. Witnesses have given accounts of Assault Marines of this chapter jumping out of a Thunderhawk, and all their enemies have been killed from their midair Bolt Pistol fire before they even hit the ground.

 

Nonetheless, they have not forsaken melee combat. Each marine carries a soul-blade, which they forge upon promotion to full Marine. It takes them several years to complete, and as it is made of normal steel edged with Adamantine, It is largely ceremonial and not used in combat against advanced foes. Strangely, If a Marine’s Sword breaks it is not considered a bad omen, but a good one, because if a Warrior can survive longer than his weapon does in battle he is clearly a fighter that has transcended weapons in the art of violence.

 

In melee combat where a sword would be worse than nothing (That is, against enemies with power weapons or something that would easily shear through steel, like a chainsword) They fight with their bare hands, a style which can be surprisingly effective. Many enemies have been momentarily stymied by the sight of their enemies putting away all their weapons in preparation for melee, which usually does one of two things. It either goads them to be more careless as they underestimate their unarmed foes, or it gives them pause for thought as to why they go into battle unarmed. Both situations can be exploited by the Domini, who have been known to kill Chaos Marines and Tau battlesuits with their bare hands. They use their speed to dodge enemy strikes instead of blocking, and the speed at which they can do this is staggering.

 

Veterans in this chapter are known as Knight-Guards, and serve as personal retainer to the Great Lord of the house, forming his own personal guard. There are many veteran creeds as well: Thunder (Sternguard) Lighting (Vanguard) and Golem (Terminator)

 

Knight-Guard are not landed retainers, on the basis that they should be at the beck and call of their lord at all times and this ensures no conflicting loyalties. The greatest Knight-Guard are part of a lords Retinue (Command Squad) which are composed as follows:

 

Apothecary: Just that, no changes from codex fuction.

 

Herald: Banner-carrier, announces visitors to the Great Hall and other functions.

 

Champion: A Lord’s best fighter, often competes on his Lords behalf in Tourneys.

 

Master-At Arms: A Lord’s lieutenant, often carries out personal missions and gives advice.

 

Bodyguard: Sworn to protect his lord’s person at all times.

 

The Domini Sanctus have poor relations with hardcore codex Chapters like The Ultramarines, High King Vulkenhien Augustine actually came to blows with a captain of the Eagle Warriors chapter after the captain suggested that their lifestyle was “A Waste of their gifts as Astartes.” Vulekenhien famously stood wordlessly and knocked the captain out cold with one strike, and then swiftly incapacited both of his bodyguards when they came to stop him. The whole affair was said to have taken less than three seconds. Since then, they have gained favor with more unpredictable Chapters like the Space Wolves, who respect their warrior code and their enjoyment of the finer things in life.

 

Dreadnoughts are known as “Death-Wardens”, and guard the House tomb in times of peace. In Times of War, they are used in the same fasion as normal dreadnoughts.

 

Domini tanks are crewed by Mortals, on the basis that a Marine’s strength and speed only counts on the field of battle, and a Tank is as good as a coffin. The Only Marines who ride in Tanks are Tank- Lords, who command them. Otherwise, all Domini fight as Infantry, landspeeder pilots or bikers.

 

Additionally, the Domini have no “Librarium.” Chapter records are maintained by the Historiam, composed of Mortals, and the spot left by Librarians is filled by “Mages,” essentially the same thing except they don’t maintain chapter records. In the famous words of former High King Krawoud Arthis:

 

“Locking our Psykers in a library to ponder tomes is a waste of both their Astartes gifts and their Psyker abilities. Mortals are more than capable of maintaining our books and stories, our Psykers belong on the field of battle.”

[Lady_Mournival]

Wrong section brother, this should be in the Liber Astartes

[Dosjetka]

Yep, this will be moved to the Liber Astartes, where it belongs :P

 

Ludovic

[Dulisil]

whoops sorry.

[voi shet magir]

Ridiculous! welcome to my signature.

 

 

So, lots of people are going to be obnoxious. They should understand that I am speaking to them when I say they have no taste or discrimination.

 

However, Those that do survive, since a Marine’s implants are literally woven into their genes, are born with all the relevant implants including the progenoids.

This has numerous drawbacks. firstly, the mother almost never survives birth.

 

Really, ignore all the other posters' boring objections and answer my questions. I've always understood from Realms of Chaos that geneseed actually represents a primarch's soul being grafted on top of the marine's. Is that what kills mom? Does the enormous potential and metabolism of a primarch overwhelm and consume her?

 

I like the last part, about guns.

[Demus Ragnok]

However, Those that do survive, since a Marine’s implants are literally woven into their genes, are born with all the relevant implants including the progenoids.

This has numerous drawbacks. firstly, the mother almost never survives birth.

 

 

I don't know about the gene seed altering base DNA. The implants are just that, implants, like any other organ transplant. Yes they alter the body as a whole, but I don't see them altering the hosts DNA. Besides if that were the case, chapters could just vat grow ready made astartes rather than screen recruits and implant gene seed that is grown seperatly one organ at a time.

[Dulisil]

Well, I inferred from the name, Gene Seed, that the Progenoids are in some way connected to the genetics. Otherwise, why would it be called a Gene-seed? It Edits their genetic code to make it so that the otehr organs are recived properly by the body.

WIth their genetic code such edited, it would presumably make it into their children, as their genetics are in their seed.

The reason the moms don't survive is that normal human women are not designed to bear a child that could easily be three times the size of a normal baby upon birth, and the babies themselves don't survive for the same reason not all humans survive the implantation process under nornmal circumstances; some of them simply aren't strong enough.

 

It's pretty soft science, but it's warhammer, this is by far not the most impossible thing in the universe.

 

Also, it's a draft. I admit it's a bit of a stretch, I may not include it in the final version. It was just an Idea that sprung to mind and I put it in. I'm trying to make a Space Marine chapter that's remicincent of the lords from Game Of Thrones and was trying tp put in a kind of family-house interaction.

My alternative is that each lord is in charge of recruitment from his fief, and his recruits are "Sons."

[ShadowSong7007]

I think the marines are sterile due to the entire process of becoming Marines. Looking it up I can honestly find nothing that says they are in fact sterile I guess its assumed. I know in the Iron Snakes (Brothers of the Snake) book the main character injected a human with a vial of his blood so the human could withstand a poison or something. It was described as very disorienting for the human so I one can assume the making of new marines in the way you describe would be ......memorable lol.

As far as the child being born with the organs I know that's a no-no fluff wise. The organs a marine has are implanted, the gene seed is what help the marine accept them. The marines need constant chemical treatment to keep things stable.

Even once the organs are implanted they are generally inactive or useless without associated training and hypnotherapy and chemical treatment. Most recruits join the ranks as a brother between the age of 16-18 years.

 

Maybe have the offspring have an exceptional acceptance into the chapter since they share the same genetics of already accepted space marines. The chapter doesn't have to work as hard to find recruits who are genetically capable of accepting the organs like most chapters. Just some ideas thrown out there. Personally I like the Bretonnians in space thing you have going and hope to see it expanded.

[Demus Ragnok]

The progenoid is the last implant I believe. It produces genetic "seed" to vat grow new implant organs. It interacts with the genes of the implants in the marines body but not the base human dna.

 

I can see astartes having children being possible. The offspring being born astartes just doesn't jive with the fluff related to the gene seed as a whole.

[Dulisil]

Ok... so the Marine Offspring are just naturally more attuned to the Organs. I'll have a revised draft up at some point.

[Dulisil]

And now the new version is up. feedback?

[voi shet magir]

The reflections about ranged combat and bridal sacrifice and swords are great; you should do more. Address when woman involves herself with a knight, and if minor houses have complicated relations with the great houses.

 

The parenthetical references to vanguard or command squads are horrible, and so are similar things like the comparison to samurai. You could make a generic allusion by mentioning expensive weapons or horses and armor, but outright jargon (both in case of standard bearers andkatanas) is very distracting.

 

The final quote about the librarium is also sort of pointless. It was just a captain restating the previous paragraph.

 

The mage idea is another thing you should write a lot of rumination on though. Normally, librarians are the only people who understand the warp at all, so officers consult them on how to fight it. Then they had might as well consult on everything else, since they are already there and sometimes fighting non-warp powered enemies. Intelligence and communications jobs also get a lot easier with telepathy. Making marine psykers exlusive battle mages is distinct and you should go with it.

 

You should invent someone else to advise lords though, besides lesser lords who have the same experience and training as a lord, just less of them. There's probably a religious class somewhere outside of the landed feudal lords. This is where the Reverend Mothers go, right.

[voi shet magir]

The reflections about ranged combat and bridal sacrifice and swords are great; you should do more. Address when woman involves herself with a knight, and if minor houses have complicated relations with the great houses.

 

The parenthetical references to vanguard or command squads are horrible, and so are similar things like the comparison to samurai. You could make a generic allusion by mentioning expensive weapons or horses and armor, but outright jargon (both in case of standard bearers andkatanas) is very distracting.

 

The final quote about the librarium is also sort of pointless. It was just a captain restating the previous paragraph.

 

The mage idea is another thing you should write a lot of rumination on though. Normally, librarians are the only people who understand the warp at all, so officers consult them on how to fight it. Then they had might as well consult on everything else, since they are already there and sometimes fighting non-warp powered enemies. Intelligence and communications jobs also get a lot easier with telepathy. Making marine psykers exlusive battle mages is distinct and you should go with it.

 

You should invent someone else to advise lords though, besides lesser lords who have the same experience and training as a lord, just less of them. There's probably a religious class somewhere outside of the landed feudal lords. This is where the Reverend Mothers go, right.

[voi shet magir]

The reflections about ranged combat and bridal sacrifice and swords are great; you should do more. Address when woman involves herself with a knight, and if minor houses have complicated relations with the great houses.

 

The parenthetical references to vanguard or command squads are horrible, and so are similar things like the comparison to samurai. You could make a generic allusion by mentioning expensive weapons or horses and armor, but outright jargon (both in case of standard bearers andkatanas) is very distracting.

 

The final quote about the librarium is also sort of pointless. It was just a captain restating the previous paragraph.

 

The mage idea is another thing you should write a lot of rumination on though. Normally, librarians are the only people who understand the warp at all, so officers consult them on how to fight it. Then they had might as well consult on everything else, since they are already there and sometimes fighting non-warp powered enemies. Intelligence and communications jobs also get a lot easier with telepathy. Making marine psykers exlusive battle mages is distinct and you should go with it.

 

You should invent someone else to advise lords though, besides lesser lords who have the same experience and training as a lord, just less of them. There's probably a religious class somewhere outside of the landed feudal lords. This is where the Reverend Mothers go, right.