Billy Butcher Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Brothers, I have been plagued by visions of a successor to the true Sons of Dorn, the mighty Templars. Below is an account of my visions, may the Emperors light guide us all in these dark times... The Order of the Dragon In the time of the Great Scouring, those forces that remained loyal to the Emperor and the Imperium during the Great Betrayal drove the remnant traitor forces into the Eye of Terror or, where possible, destroyed them as they found them. The once vast legions of the Astartes had been broken up into Chapters, the Sons of Dorn known as the Black Templars had, despite being formed from this breakup, remained true to the nature of the Great Crusade and rejected much of the lore contained within Guillmans Codex Astartes. Their numbers were not restricted by, and far exceed, the 1000 Battle Brothers determined by the Codex, without this limit their numbers continued to grow, to prevent suspicion and possible conflict between themselves and other sections of the Imperium the Templars subdivided themselves into individual Crusades, with only the High Marshall of the Templars, Sigismund himself knowing the disposition and constitution of all of them. In 77 M.31 one such Crusade under a lieutenant of and trusted friend to Sigismund, Marshall Kronsbec, was leading his crusade through the Warp in the North East quadrant of the galaxy when his flagship, Vengeance, began to suffer with fluctuations in its Geller Field generators. Unable to correct the issue in the Warp and unwilling to risk his men unnecessarily Kronsbec ordered the fleet to drop out of warp to enable his ship to make repairs. In real space his fleet undertook standard operational procedures and formed a defensive cordon around the Vengeance, despite being in the deep space between star systems picket ships immediately began long range scans of the surrounding area. A few hours into their patrols one of the picket ships began to report contact with a significant object several days travel (in real space) away from their present location. Curious to know its nature and assess it as a potential threat Kronsbec ordered one of his strike cruisers, Purity of Hate, to take an escort and investigate the anomaly. 3 days later the Purity of Hate broke comms silence to report back to the fleet. They had found what appeared to be a duplicate of the Phalanx, the home of their Primogenitors the Imperial Fists, adrift in deep space, seemingly abandoned and largely powered down but most importantly intact and relatively undamaged. Kronsbec refused to believe that such a discovery coupled with his having to drop out of the Warp was a coincidence and ordered Purity of Hate to maintain a safe distance (based upon the known capabilities of the Phalanx) and observe the discovery whilst the rest of the fleet made its way to their location. Vengeance arrived 4 days later and confirmed much of what Purity of Hate had communicated, after a week of monitoring Kronsbec ordered his Templars to board the gargantuan construction and investigate it from the inside out. It took several weeks of boarding and searching to obtain anything meaningful regarding how the craft came to be here. The tech marines and members of the Mechanicum assigned to Kronsbec managed to conclude that they had indeed found a sister, or something very near to a sister of the fabled Phalanx, and that it was known as the Dragon. It had dropped out of warp long ago after an incident in Warp Space had destroyed its Geller Field Generators, the final act of the occupants being to make an emergency transition back into real space before the denizens of the warp could come for them. It seemed they were too late, although they had set the Dragon to transit back to real space the Geller fields failed too soon, and the awesome energy of the warp scoured all living creatures from the Dragon itself. Aas it entered real space, and sensing no life signs aboard, the Dragon placed itself in a powered down mode to conserve energy supplies until it was rediscovered by a rescue party. No such party every arrived, until now. Kronsbec also refused to believe it a coincidence that the exact same circumstances that had crippled the Dragon had also brought him to real space in this location. He, having always been one who saw much in such signs and prophecies (even in the face of in private jibes from his friend Sigismund) saw this as the will of the Emperor. He immediately contacted Sigismund for orders. Kronsbec was ordered to continue exploratory operations inside the Dragon and to wait while Sigismund sent support units. It took 11 months for the Eternal Crusader with a small escort of warships to arrive at the Dragons location. Unknown to Kronsbec and at the request of Sigismund Rogal Dorn himself was also aboard, such was the importance attached to the discovery. In assessing the Dragon it became clear that one area that had not escaped damage during the Gellar Field failure was the command deck, this had been destroyed as though it had been torn open by some monstrous animal, also across the facility functional interfaces to the dragons machine spirit were curiously lacking and so Dorn, using his astounding memory and knowledge of the Phalanx led a party to a previously unknown location that appeared to be a secondary command location. Much to the chagrin of the attendant members of the Mechanicum Dorn accessed the databanks of the Dragon with mesmerising speed eventually building up a picture of what had happened and the Dragons current status and disposition. Much of the original theories had proved accurate with Dorn praising the Templars for the accuracy of their original theories and the efficacy of their investigations. Dorn also pronounced that the Geller Field generators had been damaged beyond any means that the Mechanicum possessed to repair although the real space propulsion systems were in good order, as were the void shields and plasma reactors. It was at this point that Sigismund asked his Primarch what he would have the Templars do with the Dragon, Dorn replied “My Sons, you have made me proud with this discovery but the way forward is not yet clear to me, I will need to consider it further. I shall remain here while you return to your ships and await my instructions”. Sigismund like all the Templars in attendance knew better that to argue against Dorns counsel so obeyed without question. The Mechanicum were more reticent and argued strenuously for the right to study should an important work of the Omnissiah. However a Primarch, the Chosen Champion of the Emperor, a Marshall and a dozen Sword Brethren can prove, in most circumstances, to be quite persuasive. The Mechanicum left, ‘escorted’ by the Templars. Nobody now knows what Dorn did for 6 days but on the 7th day he called for Sigismund and Kronsbec, and they alone, to attend him in the secondary command facility. It was here that he outlined what was to be done with the Dragon. Dorn ruled out destroying the facility as it was too valuable an asset to be discarded, equally it couldn’t be abandoned for the same reasons as well as the fact that ultimately it would be found again, and perhaps not by those loyal to the Emperor. He also ruled out allowing the Mechanicum to repair the Dragon as was both beyond their means, and they would literally spend centuries examining the bolts on the bulkheads without making any progress on repairs. Handing it over to the custody of other sections of the Imperium was an option but one that Dorn discounted as he was still unsure of the stability of the new Imperium save those of his former legion. If they couldn’t destroy it, abandon it, repair it or give it away then they had only one option, protect it and use it as best they were able. A complication was that the dragon needed to remain a secret known only to the Templars present and Dorn himself; he felt that such a powerful device needed to be kept away from those that could misuse it. Should it ever be discovered then it’s identity needed to be divorced sufficiently from both Dorn and the Templars, the former to prevent political conflict within the Imperium and the latter to prevent investigations highlighting the true fighting strength of the Chapter (something of which Dorn knew about). He therefore requested that Sigismund accede to his request that Kronsbec and his Crusade be formed into another division of the Sons of Dorn, charged with the protection and preservation of the Dragon (whilst still defending the Imperium against its enemies, in the finest traditions of his legionaries, until such time as the needs of the Imperium demanded its existence no longer be hidden, the timing of which would be left to the Kronsbec or his successors). Although unhappy about being distanced further from his brethren Kronsbec could see the infallible logic that had brought his Primarch to this decision, Sigismund too knew that this was the only true course of action that could be taken, as a result Sigismund ordered that Kronsbec and his Templars become the Order of the Dragon, charged with the protection of the Dragon, until such time as the keeper of the Dragon (Kronsbec) decided that the time was right to reveal its existence. Sigismund also ordered that all those not bound to the Sons of Dorn be silenced to prevent their leaking the existence of the Dragon before the time was right. Kronsbec complied, in order to ‘divorce’ the order from the Templars he ordered they strip the paint from their armour, but would take no other colours until such time as the existence of the Dragon no longer be kept a secret, when they would again take the colours of their Templar brethren. Instead they fight in the bare metal of their armour, the black Templar cross replaced with a red one to represent the blood bond that they have with the Templars. In terms of combat doctrine they remain true to their heritage, fighting as true Templars. On rare occasions the Order has been known to revert to more orthodox Codex tactics in order to divert attention from unwelcome, inquisitorial, eyes. Strategically their base of operations is, naturally, the Dragon which sails the interstellar voids under conventional propulsion so progress is, in stellar terms, very slow. Their mission necessitates the Dragon avoiding star systems where possible although as crusading Sons of Dorn they still visit systems to recruit and replenish, to bring the light of the Emperor to those who have turned away and to purge the alien, the mutant and the heretic. 10 millennia on and the only non Order members who knows of their existence is the High Marshall of the Templars and the Chapter Master of the Imperial Fists, so securely has their secret and their oaths been kept. To date the circumstances have not demanded the presence of the Dragon be made known, but the Time of Ending is upon us and the enemies of the Imperium draw ever closer ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Butcher Posted July 16, 2012 Author Share Posted July 16, 2012 Meanwhile back in the real world... The fluff is because I love templars, but I hate painting black. I do, however, like painting silver and I'm quick and good at it. So 2 + 2 = heresy :eek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Sellsword Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 That's a pretty tall tale there brother! In my own fluff creation I try to avoid involving big names like Sigismund, let alone a full blown Primarch! But you've at least made some effort to keep it plausible with your sworn to secrecy bit. The universe is a big place and lets face it, it's your army so do what you want! It sickens me how petty some people can get about fluff sometimes. Even GW has updated and changed there own stories on several occasions! May your silver clad Templar crusade for eternity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Sellsword Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Warp fluctuation, double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Richard Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Yours would not be the only Templar fleet that avoids use of the warp.. I have read of a few who will not tolerate the existance of a warp tainted navigator or choir. The black ships of the crusade all but invisible to the warp of chaos. Mark well and remember that the Emperors light may touch us all without use of witchcraft... how else would our noble Champions received their visions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Butcher Posted July 16, 2012 Author Share Posted July 16, 2012 That's a pretty tall tale there brother! In my own fluff creation I try to avoid involving big names like Sigismund, let alone a full blown Primarch! But you've at least made some effort to keep it plausible with your sworn to secrecy bit. The universe is a big place and lets face it, it's your army so do what you want! It sickens me how petty some people can get about fluff sometimes. Even GW has updated and changed there own stories on several occasions! May your silver clad Templar crusade for eternity! This is true brother, in looking into historical knightly orders I came across the Order of the Dragon, founded by Sigismund in 1408, so in the best traditions of gw fluff I lifted the idea ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Sellsword Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 My own Crusade is a break off branch of Templar, The Knights of the Crimson Shroud. I have borrowed a great deal from the legends of Roland. They suffered a great betrayal at the hands of a rogue inquisitor, losing a great hero and and close friend in the process. My EC and his brethren have vowed to right this wrong and recover a stolen artifact. My fluff allows me to play as BT or Codex SM and I have thoughts of possibly playing them as Chaos marines in the future... Sky's the limit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Severarse Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Really liked this idea, and the story behind it. Well written, concise and interesting. Also, nice job on the research. Very Templary indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Butcher Posted July 18, 2012 Author Share Posted July 18, 2012 Really liked this idea, and the story behind it. Well written, concise and interesting. Also, nice job on the research. Very Templary indeed. Thank you for the kind words brother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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