The Carnivorans

[Furious Retreat]

Index Astartes: The Carnivorans

1. Basic Information

Founding Chapter: The 5'Th Legion - The White Scars

Primarch: Great Khan Jaghatai

Founding: 3'rd Founding, 001 M32

Founding Master (Khan): Toghrul Khan

Current Master (Khan): Jamukha Khan

Home System: Esageard Planetary System, Segmentum Obscurus

Home Worlds: The 9 planets of the Esageard Planetary System

Fortress-Monastery: Ger

Recruitment Worlds: The Esageard Planetary system, as well as Scola Progenium all over Segmenta Obscurus

Descendants: unknown

Specialty: lightning attack, guerrilla and skirmish warfare

Battle Cry: None

Chapter Creed: Strike First, Strike Fast, Strike Hard

Strength: Unknown, current estimates puts them at more than 1,000

2. Overview

Official records confirm that the Carnivorans, or the Ascomanni, as they refer to themselves, was created in 001 M32 at the 3'rd Founding and that they are a successor chapter of the White Scars. The chapter was founded as a reaction to the first Black Crusade. The Carnivorans founding charter outlines the following duties; to act as a rapid response force, to harass the flanks of any future crusades and to hunt down and eliminate any stragglers and splinter elements.

By all the chapters accounts, it was extremely successful at the tenants of their founding charter, so successful in fact that the chapter drew the eye of the Inquisition. The chapter was co opted and used extensively by the Inquisition to hunt renegades and worse. Much of the chapters early history has been placed under a Inquisitorial seal, which lends credence to the chapters claims. This would explain why such sparse records exist for the first couple of thousand years of the chapters existence. The Inquisition is well known for keeping secrets, even retroactively.

The chapter still follows the tenants of their originating charter, responding to each new Black Crusade with unwavering fervour. In between the crusades, the chapter goes out of its way to follow up on any rumours of traitor activity and can normally be found in the flanks and often behind enemy lines in any action against renegade Imperial Forces or the Traitor Legions.

The chapters development was influenced by its association with the Inquisition for the first couple of thousand years of its existence and its subsequent association with the Space Wolf Great Company of Kolskegg Henderson. The Carnivorans will rarely make a move without adequate intelligence about their objective. To facilitate this they make extensive use of their scouts to gather all the information they deem necessary to gain their objective. The Carnivorans scouts are all adapt at infiltration and intelligence gathering operations.

During the initial intelligence gathering period the chapter starts a phase of skirmish and guerrilla warfare. The aim of this is to disrupt and weaken the enemy and to gather additional intelligence about the enemies capabilities, reactions and resources.

The next phase is the lightning fast surgical strikes that Carnivorans are infamous for. The information gathered in the previous phase is used to prioritise and pinpoint the targets of their surgical strikes. The surgical strikes leave their enemies leaderless, their command structure in total disarray and if possible without any communications or the possibility of re-supply. The Carnivorans are then able to finish of the weakened and disorientated enemy force.

Once battle is joined a favourite tactic of the chapter is the traditional "Death by a thousand cuts" and its variations, made infamous by the White Scars; lightning attack, followed by immediate withdrawal and the simultaneous attack by other elements of the Carnivorans force at another point. Over and over again until the enemy is reeling and easy to be finished off.

Another favourite tactic is the feigned retreat or "Leading a bull by its nose" as the Carnivorans call it, enticing the enemy into chasing retreating elements. Once the enemy is strung out and vulnerable, the Carnivorans strike, destroying the chasing force piecemeal, before doubling back and attacking their objective from another direction.

Traditionally the White Scars and their successors do not make use of Devastator squads and only limited use of Tactical squads. The Carnivorans have changed in this regard and make extensive use of squads similar to Devastator and Tactical squad. To grant them more mobility, the squads are transported in Razorbacks and Rhinos, to positions where their firepower can be used to pin the enemy in place. Once the enemy is pinned in place the more traditional mobile elements, attack the flanks and rear - one of the Carnivorans variations on the "Death by a thousand cuts"

Unlike the White Scars the Carnivorans field Dreadnoughts on a regular basis. The Carnivorans revere the experience and battle lore gained over centuries of fighting and lament its loss. Even more so with the death of a Great-Captain of a Brotherhood or the Khan of the Chapter. Those that can be saved are interred in a Dreadnought, so the chapter has the benefit of their battle lore and combat experience. Possibly the gene seed mutation the chapter exhibits, or their centuries long crusade, living in the confines of their ships has dulled the natural aversion that the White Scar and most of their successors have about entombment in a dreadnought. The Carnivorans revere their Dreadnoughts and consider it a great honour to enter battle alongside or under the command of a Dreadnought.

Their initial association with the Inquisition and their current gene seed problems has made them much more secretive than what could be considered normal for a White Scars successor chapter. Outside of their home system, almost nothing is know about them and even in the area of Segmentum Obscurus that the Carnivorans regularly patrol and protect, knowledge about them is sparse to non existent. The chapter made a strategic decision to take active measures to keep knowledge about them, their tactics and strategies as obscure as possible.

Currently all seven of the Carnivorans mayor Brotherhoods are active on the flanks and of the 13'th Black Crusade, following the tenants of their founding charter, with bulk of the minor brotherhoods providing support and the remainder policing the sector of space around their home system.

3. Chapter History - M31 to current

According to official as well as the chapter records, the Carnivorans Chapter was created at the 3'rd Founding 001 M32. Specifically as a rapid response force, to harass the flanks of any future Black Crusades and to hunt down any stragglers and splinter elements attempting to use the main thrust of the crusade as a cover to break away into the wider Imperium. The Chapter was built around the core of the Brotherhood of Toghrul Khan. Toghrul Khan and his brotherhood was chosen for this duty, due to its experience in hunting down stragglers and survivors in the aftermath of the first Black Crusade.

3.1. 001 M31 to mid M33 - Working for the Inquisition

The chapter was extremely successful at their given charter, so successful that they drew the eye of the Inquisition. Various ordos of the Inquisition started to regularly "request" the assistance of the chapter. Despite the best efforts of Toghrul Khan, the chapter was drawn deeper and deeper into the influence of the Inquisition and further away from the Charter the chapter was created for.

Mid M33 the chapter had a mayor break with the Inquisition. The sanitation of Ursus 4, by Inquisitorial order, more than 50 billion souls given the Emperor mercy, was too large a pill to swallow. The chapter was extremely vocal about the heavy handedness shown by Inquisitor Stander, who was in charge of the operation. Rughrul Khan felt that the cancer of heresy could have been cut out with surgical strikes and the Exterminatus of 3 planets was excessive. He lodged a formal complaint against Inquisitor Stander, with the Inquisitorial offices in the sector.

The Inquisition protects its own. Although Inquisitor Stander was censored in private, in public his decision was approved and the complaint dismissed. This was only the start of the chapters problems. The chapter had made a powerful enemy, in Inquisitor Stander. Inquisitorial investigation after investigation into the Chapter followed, becoming such a regular occurrence, that the chapter set apart permanent apartments for the Inquisition on its Battle barge and in its Fortress Monastery on Tendra. The constant investigations straining the previously good relations the chapter had with the Inquisition.

Nothing untoward was ever found, but the continuous investigations created a cloud of distrust over the chapter and other Imperial organizations in the Segmentum started to shun the chapter. Supplies arriving late or not at all. Imperial Guard regiments stationed at the Chapters flanks or rear, withdrawing, sometimes before a expected enemy attack. Eventually, citing reasons like "unsuitability to their given role", the charter that the chapter was created for, was taken away and given to the Steel Lions Chapter, the chapters original home world, Tendra, given to the Steel Lions as a reward for services rendered. This was the proverbial straw that broke the Carnivores back.

The Chapter closed ranks, no external communication, all brotherhoods currently engaged in combat were given order to withdraw directly and take up berths in the chapter fleet. The Inquisitors housed on the chapter barge was expelled. The Inquisition responded by embargoing the Carnivorans fleet, with three different Imperial Fleet elements. All out war between the chapter and the Inquisition seemed imminent.

The war was only averted by a personal meeting between Rughrul Khan and Lord Inquisitors Heracles. To this day nothing is known about the specifics of the meeting. On his return the Khan declared that the Carnivorans would be crusading the Cygnus arm of the Galactic Spiral, only returning at the onset of a new Black Crusade, to take up their original charter.

Minutes before the Carnivorans were due to depart, Rughrul Khan received a box from the Lord Inquisitor. The box was about the size of a space marine helmet and had the seal of the Lord Inquisitor engraved on it. On their ascension to the office of Khan, each newly appointed Khan of the chapter is allowed to view the contents of the box. For some reason all of them start laughing when they view the cryogenic preserved content.

3.2. Mid M33 to late M35 - Crusading in the Emperors name

The crusade was a blessing in disguise for the chapter, it removed the Chapter from the influence of the Inquisition. For the next four thousand years the chapter crusaded, crushing and annihilating countless Xenos, mutants, heretics and traitors. Bringing hundreds (or thousands if you believe the Carnivorans boasting) of worlds into the Imperial fold. The Carnivorans only breaking of from their crusade at the onset of a new Black Crusade to return to the Eye, to follow the tenants of their original charter.

Some of the non Black Crusade highlights of this period include;

The re-discovery, subjugation and assimilation of the Poinificus system and its Forge and Agri worlds into the Imperium.

Ending a Khornite uprising on the Forge World, Median Prime. Earning the good will of the Adaptus Mechanicus and ensuring that the chapter had access to the production capacities of a Forge World on its crusade.

The Exterminatus of Bei Ching Prime, after its secession from the Imperium at the height of the Cen Ra uprising, stopping the uprising in its tracks. The remaining worlds in the sector immediately capitulating back to Imperial rule.

Stopping Waarg Ardskull before it reached Imperial space, by the long range elimination of Warboss Ardskull and his crew. The Scout snipers who made the shots forever immortalized in the chapter battle lore and histories.

The ambush and annihilation of the Dark Eldar, who had raided Nemesis 7 for over 500 years.

The defeat of the Demon Prince Bezhaal and his retinue of Nigh Lords at the battle of Queensgate and the subsequent ambush of the Night Lord relief force by the chapter fleet, which destroyed a Night Lord Battle barge and 2 strike cruiser for the loss of only 1 strike cruisers and a score of frigates.

The discovery of the Space Hulk Banners Folly and the subsequent recovery off partial blueprints of the STC template for marks of carapace and flak armour, lasguns and heavy weapons, not seen since the Great Crusade.

The destruction of the Dark Eldar raiding party as they were leaving Tarsis 4 with their plunder. The loss of the captives considered a acceptable loss by the chapter for the destruction of a Dark Eldar Raiding Fleet.

The tracking and destruction of the Word Bearer Capital Ship, the Doom of the Corpse God, by the Brotherhood of the Pictus, (The Painted Wolves) by a single Battle barge and its cohort of support ships.

3.3. Late M35 - Meeting the Wolves

These successes did come at a price. By the time the chapter arrived in the Demesiar system, late in M35, the chapters strength was down and the chapters gene seed stock was low. The arrival of the Carnivorans in the Demesiar system. The Demesiar system as it was under attack by a chaos force, comprised of not only renegade elements of the Imperial Navy and Guard, but three different Black Legion war bands.

Vastly outnumbered the Carnivorans used their normal tactics of attacking the enemy flanks and supply lines, picking off stragglers and outpost and the assassination of key enemy personal. Keeping the enemy occupied and disorientated, until the arrival of the Imperial relief fleet.

The relief fleet was bolstered by the Space Wolf Great Company of Kolskegg Henderson. This was the first time in their existence that the Carnivorans had interaction with the Space Wolves and the Carnivorans and the Space Wolves took to each other like long lost battle brothers, elements from each force supporting and bolstering the other.

The two space marine forces complimented each other superbly. The Space Wolf and Carnivoran scouts would pinpoint the enemy positions and weaknesses. The Long Fangs and Grey Hunters would anchor the enemy in place, which allowed the Carnivorans, using their usual tactics, to carve great chunks of the now immobilized enemy. Once the enemy was weakened enough the Carnivorans would create an opening in their position, allowing the Space Wolf Thunderwolf cavalry and the Carnivoran attack bikes in. The Carnivoran Bikers and Landspeeder squadrons finishing off any stragglers or fleeing survivors.

So impressed was the brotherhood Great-Captains and Khuchar Khan with the effectiveness of this combination, that it was incorporated into battle lore of the Carnivorans. Where the Carnivorans had never used Devastator squads before and Tactical squads only rarely, they now formed a two new units, Devastator Fangs and Tactical Hunters, in honour of their Space Wolf battle brothers.

It was Kolskeggs Thunderwolf cavalry that impressed the Carnivorans the most. The Thunderwolf cavalry called to the Carnivorans genetic heritage, but despite their best efforts, the Space Wolves refused to part with any of their mounts. Khuchar Khan was not discouraged and charged the Chapter Apothocaries to start research into gene breeding mounts of their own to be utilized in the same way.

3.3.1. Trapped

Unknown to the Carnivorans the greatest action during the war, was also the start of their darkest secret. Towards the end of the campaign, with the enemy in its dying throes the remains of the three Black Legion war bands combined and in a last ditch attempt managed to trap Kolskegg Great Company, as well as the Brotherhood of the Hyaenidae (The Spotted Hyenas), in the ruins of Old Haven.

The trapped Wolves and Carnivorans were bombarded from space by the a Black Legion battle barge, whilst the remains of the Chaos fleet protected the Black Legion Battle Barge and aimed the captured remains of a Imperial frigate at the trapped Space Marines position.

Landing the remaining brotherhoods, the Carnivorans rescued the trapped Space Wolves and their brothers. With Space Wolves hanging onto the Carnivorans landspeeders, bikes and attack bikes, the target area was evacuated minutes before the remains of frigate crashed into their position. The resulting explosion utterly destroyed the area in which they had been trapped, blowing dust and debris for miles. The Space Wolves and the Carnivorans used the dust and confusion created by the massive explosion to counter attack, catching the combined Black Legion war bands unaware and wiping them out almost to the last traitorous marine.

With the Black Legion war bands all but destroyed, the back of the enemy was broken and only minor actions was required to finish of the enemy forces. The Imperial Guard and Navy continued with the bulk of the action, with the Space Marines withdrawing to their ships, launching surgical strikes at the remaining centres of resistance.

3.3.2. Blood Brothers

With the space marines involvement in the campaign mostly completed a victory feast was held on the Kolskegg Strike Cruiser, "The Valhalla".

No one knows who started it, Khuchar Khan or Kolskegg. The two had been kindred spirits right from the beginning and now under the influence of Fenrisian ale and Airag, called themselves brothers in all but name and declared their intent to become blood brothers. The Carnivorans have a specific Blood Brother ceremony, this is normally done as the final step in the Carnivoran transformation process, but wanting to cement their friendship the two decided that it could be used to make them blood brothers as well.

Under the supervision of a Stormseer and a Rune priest the two, using Khuchars Khans' Life blade, cut their wrists and clasped their forearms together. The two cuts allowing the mingled blood of Khuchar and Kolskegg to drip into a goblet of mares milk. The cup of mixed milk and blood shared between the two, completing the ritual, making them blood brothers.

The rest of the Carnivorans and Space Wolves, possible caught up in the emotion of the moment, but more likely due to the buckets of Fenrisian ale and Airag already consumed, proceeded to enact the ceremony on a large scale. Under supervision of the Stormseers and the Rune Priests a cauldron of mares milk was brought into the hall, each Carnivoran and Space Wolf in attendance cutting there wrist with the Carnivorans Life Blades and allowing some of their blood to fall into the cauldron. The resulting mixture was blessed by the Stormseer and the Rune priest before it was drunk by the attendees.

At the end of the feast Kollskegg announced that the Space Wolves would join the Carnivorans in their crusade. For the next three hundred years Kolskegg Great Company joined the Carnivorans in their crusade. The Great Company and the Carnivorans coming to each others aid numerous times, cementing the ties between the Carnivorans and Kolskeggs Great Company. The chapter and the Wolves crusading together, until the death of the current Great Wolf, upon which Kolskegg had to return to Fenris and the Fang.

3.3.3. Mutation

Unknown to the Carnivorans and the Space Wolves, the Blood Brother ceremony had bonded together the blood of the Carnivorans and the Space Wolves. The reason for this is unclear, it might be due to the Stormseers blessing in combination with the Rune Priests blessing or even the use of the Carnivorans Life Blades. While the altered blood had been broken down in the stomachs of the Space Wolves, this was not the case for the Carnivorans. The altered blood in their systems had been absorbed and was now pumping through their bodies, attaching to the existing blood, remaking it. Pumping through their gene seed and progenoids, making it more than what it was before.

The chapter apothocaries was extremely pleased with themselves with their next batch of initiates. The success rate and survival rate of the initiates implanted with the unknowingly altered gene seed, was higher than for the original Carnivoran gene seed. Slowly and unknown to the chapter, the altered gene seed became the norm for the bulk of the Carnivorans.

For almost three hundred years the altered blood and gene seed remained inert. Then minor mutations started appearing, with the mutations becoming more and more widespread. The Apothocaries were unable to find the cause of the mutation and blamed the mutations on genetic drift. Initially the mutations were minor and considered beneficial, by the Apothocaries.

The Carnivorans Occulobe and Neuroglottis greatly increased in effectiveness, giving the Carnivorans enhanced vision and a increased sense of taste and smell. These mutations stabilized within a generation or two, with the only outward sign the yellow, almost amber pupils of the Carnivorans affected.

In addition to this their Melanochrome and Mucranoid gene seeds interacted and the Carnivorans sweat glands started secreting a substance that increased the toughness of their skin, not only increasing their protection against radiation, but making the skin as tough as leather, able to withstand scrapes and even cuts with ease. The secretions even hardened the Carnivorans fingernails. The nails becoming as hard as steel, so hard that it could be filed sharp if the Carnivorans were so inclined.

More worrying the Omophagea mutated and the Carnivorans lost their ability to learn about their enemy by eating them, whilst their nutritional requirements changed even more. The Carnivorans, who had always required higher than normal levels of meat or protein in their diet, now started requiring even larger quantities of protein to function at peak efficiency. Meat becoming the mainstay of the Carnivorans diet.

3.3.4. Early M36 -The mutation worsens

For a time no further mutations occurred and heightened senses, amber eyes, leather tough skin, steel hard nails and the necessity to eat meat became the norm for all of the Carnivorans.

Early M36, after a three year long warp journey, the gene seed started causing more dynamic mutations in the Carnivorans, especially amongst the new initiates but occasionally even amongst the older Carnivorans. Often the secretions of the Mucranoid increased body and facial hair alarmingly, in some cases causing the Carnivorans canines to increase in size. The mutated Omophagea increasing the testosterone levels of the Carnivorans with an exponential increase in their natural aggression levels. The Carnivorans became so naturally aggressive that the Apothocaries no longer had to give them the cocktail of chemicals all space marines receive to keep their aggression levels up.

In some extreme cases, the Carnivorans transformed totally, becoming a blend of marine and animal. The transformed initiate was normally berserk with rage, with claws and teeth hard and sharp enough to scratch ceramite and dent plasteel. Almost none of the initiates with this extreme form of the mutation survived. The ones that did eventually managed to regain their senses and a measure of control over their rage. An even smaller percentage had the ability to shift at will either fully or partially between their animal form and their marine form. They still had to constantly struggle to remain in control of their rage or as they called it, their inner beast, although this did become easier with time.

3.4. Late M37 to present

3.4.1 - Arriving in the Esageard system

Luckily for the chapter, this extreme mutation did not occur often enough to put the future of the chapter in jeopardy. Due to its previous interaction with the Inquisition, the chapter feared prosecution and even disbandment and the decision was made to keep the gene seed mutations a secret. The chapter continued with their crusade and as luck would have it, picked up the trail of the Space Hulk Banners Folly again. Hot on its trail, the Carnivorans exited into the lost Esageard system, late in M37.

The Esageard System had been discovered just prior to the Horus Heresy. Unfortunately the record of the discovery had been lost with the destruction caused by the Heresy. Although lost, with no Astropaths and no warp capable craft, the system had kept faith with the Imperium and the White Scars who had discovered the system and incorporated them into the Imperium.

Except for the loss of all warp capable craft and Astropaths the system was technologically on par with the Imperium. Ruled by a military democracy, with a system wide defence force, individual planetary defence forces and a martial heritage kept alive by constant attacks by Orks, Dark Eldar and on several notable occasion a demon incursion and chaos uprising. At the time of the arrival of the Carnivorans the system was under attack by Waaargh Bonecrusha and the although only a minor Ork Waaargh by Imperial standards, this one was stretching the capabilities of the Esageard system defence force (ESDF) and the individual Planetary defence forces.

Initially the chapter remained hidden and gathered intelligence, only attacking the vulnerable and isolated Ork targets, not giving away the element of surprise. Once it had the necessary information it launched a system wide attack, striking at the various Ork bosses and key points, sowing confusion, disrupting supply lines, breaking down the Ork command structure. The high point of the strikes a ambush of Bonecrusha himself by Chimba Khan and his chosen Keshik. Chimba Khan personally slaying Bonecrusha. The Orks were in disarray, but not defeated and only after intense fighting lasting another 3 years, in which the chapter first managed to link up and relieve the ESDF and individual planetary defence forces, then to rally them for a counterattack and finally to drive the Orks from the EPS. The chapter and the ESDF working together, as if they had been allies for many campaigns, to defeat the Orks.

Shortly after Chimba Khans defeat of Bonecrusha, he met with the military ruler of the EPS, High Kommandant De Wet and his council, the High Seer Van Rensburg. To the surprise of all, upon entering the Battle Barge's strategium, High Kommandant De Wet and High Seer Van Rensburg, dropped to one knee and swore allegiance to the Carnivorans. Announcing that their arrival had been fore told thousands of years before. The prophesy making it clear that the only way the Esageardians would survive, was to swear fealty to the Carnivorans. As the supreme ruler of Esageard, High Kommandant De Wet offered the system to the Carnivorans to rule as they see fit.

Chimba Khan initially declined, but after holding council with the Great-Captains of the brotherhoods, the Chapter Stormseers, Apothocaries and Tech Marines he accepted the offer.

3.4.2 - A new beginning

Since then the chapter has been associated with the Esageard system, from where the chapter patrols the Regalia sector, launching periodic crusades, hunts and in the case of a new Black Crusade following the tenants of its original charter. Other than the Esageard planets, no other planets are associated with the chapter, although the chapter has earned the ire of various officials and departments for its practice of dropping in at Scola Progeniums all over Segmenta Obscurus, interviewing the best and the brightest and recruiting them to the chapter.

Anecdotal references states that Carnivorans fought in every Black Crusade since the 2'nd Black Crusade, however this is not reflected in any official documentation. The reason for this is unclear. It is possible that the chapter might have been confused with some other chapter with similar livery or possibly the Inquisition might have something to do with it.

It is even rumoured that the chapters scouts was crucial in the completion of various campaigns in the Badab war, but no other sources have verified this information.

With the outbreak of the 13'th Black Crusade all seven of the Carnivorans mayor Brotherhoods were deployed on the flanks and of the 13'th Black Crusade, supported by some of the minor brotherhoods, with the remaining minor brotherhoods ensuring the safety of the Carnivorans home and neighbouring systems.

4. The Chapter Cult

Since settling in the Esageard system, the chapter cult has gradually incorporated more and more of the Esageard beliefs with their own more shamanistic cult. Currently there is almost no distinction between the two belief systems, with the chapter cult retaining only a few tenants of the original belief system.

4.1. The Emperor the Uniter, the Guide and the Returned

Their shared belief system is based upon the book "The prophecies of the Emperor the Uniter, the Guide and the Returned", unknown author, unknown publishing date. Esageardians maintain that the origins of the book predates the Age of Strife and was brought to the system by the original colonist.

In brief the book prophesizes the coming of a great and visionary leader, the Emperor of Mankind, who would unite humanity, leading it into a Golden Age. The Emperor almost at the completion of this task, would be betrayed by a favourite son, who although ultimately defeated would wound his father deeply, leading to the imprisonment of the Emperor. After his imprisonment the Emperors Empire would be beset by enemies from within and without. The Emperor would remain imprisoned, freed only after a long imprisonment. The freeing of the Emperor would signal the build up to the final battle to decide the fate of humanity for all time.

TThe book describes a tri part Emperor; The Emperor the Uniter, The Emperor the Guide and The Emperor the Returned.

The Emperor is not worshipped as a deity, but as a powerful man with extra ordinary abilities.

The book has various "signs" that would signal the start of the return of the Emperor, some of which have already occurred. Signalling that the time of the Return is getting near.

Although the faithful can call upon the Emperor for help, the greater belief is that Emperor helps only those that help themselves.

4.2. The Life Blade

Despite the amalgamation of the belief system at least two of the Carnivorans shamanistic beliefs that have remained unchanged. The first the belief in the validity of Runes and totems of protections and the second the belief in the protection engendered by the carrying of a Life Blade.

All Carnivorans carry a Life Blade. The Life Blade is given to the recruit at the Blood Brother ceremony, as the final step to becoming a Carnivoran and is reclaimed by the chapter, with his gene seed, upon death. Some Stormseers even claim that the Life Blade and the gene seed is linked. The Life Blade is made of a silver steel alloy that is almost indestructible and has a monomolecular edge, which is religiously maintained by the Carnivoran. Runes saying: "The Emperor protects" is etched into each Life Blade.

The Carnivorans believe that their Life Blades protect their souls and armours them against the temptations of the warp and its denizens. The Life Blade may be used as a general tool and even to fight honour duels, but it is most often used in the rites of the chapter cult and in battle.

The Carnivorans believe that the more enemies of the Emperor is dispatched by the Life Blade, the stronger the Life Blade becomes. Carnivorans can often be seen walking through the aftermath of a battle, looking for enemy wounded and survivors to give the Emperors Mercy to and thus increase the potency of their Life Blades protection. This has earned them the gruesome nickname "Throat slitters" from Imperial Guard regiments that have served alongside them.

From receiving the Life blade till death a Carnivoran is never to be further than a arms length from his blade, ensuring that the Life Blade is always kept clean and the monomolecular edge unblemished. To misplace, or lose your Life Blade is a great dishonour. To surrender your Life Blade voluntarily is one of the greatest dishonours that can befall a Carnivoran. It is considered tantamount to surrendering to the Warp. Better to die with your Life Blade in your hand facing your enemy, than to surrender it.

Sometimes Carnivorans lose their Life Blade due to circumstances beyond their control, for e.g.; an explosion in the heat of a battle, or a Thunderhawk crash, etc. These Carnivorans are set a penance by the Stormseers. The Stormseers keep an eye on the culprit whilst he serves his penance, not only for the completion of the penance but how he completes it. If not to their satisfaction additional penances are set. The Carnivoran who completes his penance receives a brand new Life Blade, never one that has been issued to a Carnivoran previously. A clean slate for the Carnivoran, signalling that the dishonour of losing his original Life Blade has been washed away.

4.3. The Great Hunt

The Carnivorans still follow the tradition of the Great Hunt, although the focus of the hunt has changed considerably from that of the White Scars. The Carnivorans believe that the disappearance and loss of their Primarch Jagatai Khan, into the webway whilst chasing the Dark Eldar, is the greatest shame that the descendants of his gene seed has to endure. The failure of his sons to find and rescue him or at the very least his remains, only increases the shame. Consequently every twenty years the Master of the Hunt, signals the start of a new hunt for the Great Khan. The objective of the hunt is threefold; firstly to find new information, secondly to follow up on older information about their Primarch, thirdly to exact vengeance upon the Dark Eldar for the loss of the Primarch. The length of this hunt is normally capped at three years, but as the signs of the Emperors return increase the Carnivorans have been increasing the lengths of their hunts, with the last one lasting almost nine years.

In effect this means a mini crusade every twenty years against the Dark Eldar. The master of the hunts own Brotherhood follow up any rumours regarding Dark Eldar movement, exterminating them without mercy, capturing higher ranking Dark Eldar to interrogate for information regarding the Primarch. Hoping above hope to glean a morsel of knowledge about the fate of their Primarch.

Great-Captain Kutula, of Clan Alpinus, The Wild Dogs, is the current Master of the Hunt for the chapter. He is the forty sixth and most successful hunts master to hold this title. Since Great-Captain Kutula has become master of the hunt, he has led five hunts in search of their Primarch. Although no nearer to finding the Primarch, Great-Captain Kutula was able to discredit information gathered during previous hunts and to confirm that the Dark Eldar have in their possession remnants of the power armour that was worn by the Primarch on the fateful day of his disappearance. In addition to this Great-Captain Kutula was able to annihilated several Dark Eldar raiding forces, making Segmentum Obscurus that much safer against Dark Eldar predation.

5. Organisation

The Chapters initial association with the Inquisition, their close ties to the Great Company of Kolskegg Henderson for almost 300 years, in addition to their gene seed mutation and the Chapters integration of the local Esageardians culture, has caused them to adapt the White Scar model.

The head of the Chapter is called the Khan. The Khan is the chapters highest authority but does not rule the chapter or the Carnivorans home system in isolation. The chapter has various organizational structures in place to deal with the day to day running of the chapter and system. This frees the Khan up to focus on the important matters. The most important organizational structures are:

5.1. The Council of Masters

The Council of Masters serve as advisers to the Khan and help him to manage the chapter and the home system. Each master has his own area of responsibility. They report direct to the Khan and are outside of the chain of command of the chapter with their own staff and retainers. The number of Masters on the council vary, but it is normally made up of; the Master of the Fleet, the Master of the Guard, the Master of Recruits, the Master at Arms, the Master of Seers, the Master of Apothocaries, the Master of the Forge and the Master of Elders.

5.3. The Keshik

Formed from the elite of all the diverse brotherhoods of the Carnivorans, the Keshik are given additional training and indoctrination in the chapters battle lore, as well as almost full access to the chapters armoury and equipment. The Keshik serve not only as the elite shock troops of the chapter, but as personal bodyguards and retainers to the Khan, the Great-Captains of the Brotherhoods and the chapters Stormseers. When serving within a Brotherhood they may be assigned by the Great-Captain on an adhoc basis to lead squads of Bikers, Assault Claws, Tactical Hunters, Devastator Fangs etc.

Reporting back to the Great-Captains, the Master of the Guard, the Master of the Seers and the Khan, the Keshik are tasked with not only the safe keeping of the chapters leaders and to act as shock troops, but with rooting out any hints of chaos corruption within the ranks of the Carnivorans. It is their duty is not only to protect the chapters leadership from physical danger, but to protect the chapter from the dangers of corruption.

5.3. Council of Elders

The Council of Elders is made up of the 9 oldest non officer ranked Carnivorans and the any of the Chapter Dreadnoughts that are awake at the time of the councils meeting. Their duty is to look after the moral and ethical well being of the chapter, working closely with the chapter Stormseers and the Keshik. The head of the Council of elders always serves on the Chapters Council of Masters.

5.4. The Brotherhoods

Like the White Scars the Carnivorans do not have companies, but Brotherhoods. The Carnivorans have expanded on the brotherhood concept and currently each Brotherhoods is associated with certain "totem" animals. In most cases the Brotherhoods mutations bear, at the least, a passing similarity to its totem animals, but not all. The Brotherhoods are divided into mayor and minor Brotherhoods.

MMayor Brotherhoods can have anything from 70 to 300 members and minor Brotherhood can have as little as 10 members. Normally if a Brotherhood is reduced to less than 10 members it is absorbed into a larger Brotherhood and that minor Brotherhood ceases to exist.

Mayor Brotherhoods operate like independent chapters, with the Brotherhood Great-Captains having as much authority about the disposition, combat doctrine and composition of their own Brotherhood, as the Khan. This is encouraged by the Khan and the Chapter Cult, as they strive to live one of the creeds of the Chapter, strength in diversity.

Normally minor Brotherhoods act under the control of the Khan and in a support role to the mayor Brotherhoods. Some Brotherhoods even choose to remain small and to specialize in certain types of warfare. Some minor Brotherhoods refuse to be incorporated and will continue until the last brothers death, the lone brother walking the battlefield alone, hoping that his bravery and dedication will catch the eye of the Chapter Stormseers, Apothocaries or the Khan.

Competition between the Brotherhoods are fierce and is deemed good for the continued survival of the chapter. Everything from a wrestling match, to most enemy kills in a within a given combat zone may be turned into a impromptu contest between Brotherhoods. "Disagreements" do occur between Brotherhoods and blood is spilled as a matter of course, but the death of a fellow Carnivoran in one of these "disagreements" is a matter of great shame to the individuals involved and their Brotherhood as a whole. If the dishonour is great a whole Brotherhood, might take on a penance for the death of a single member of a rival brotherhood. Brotherhoods have been known to disband if they consider the penance given by the Stormseer and the Council of Elders not harsh enough.

Most of the minor Brotherhoods aspire to recognition by the Khan and the Chapter Priests so they may be granted more initiates and become a mayor Brotherhood.

Just as a minor Brotherhood may become a mayor Brotherhood, so too may the mighty fall. Too may battlefield losses or lost battles, may see a mayor Brotherhood side lined, the number of new initiates reduced, its strike cruiser assigned to a ascending brotherhood, its place in the Firehall taken, whilst it is strives to recapture its former position.

Due to the Brotherhood system, the exact numbers of Carnivorans is hard to pin down. What is clear is that the chapter strength is higher than the normal codex number of 1000.

5.4.1. The current mayor Brotherhoods:

Brotherhood of the Lupus, The Grey Wolves (Jamukha Khans Brotherhood)

Brotherhood of the Alpinus, The Wild Dogs (Great-Captain Kutulas' Brotherhood)

Brotherhood of the Brachyurus, The Black Maned Wolves

Brotherhood of the Hyaenidae, The Spotted Hyenas

Brotherhood of the Dirus, The Dire Wolves

Brotherhood of the Mustelidae, The Badgers

Brotherhood of the Pictus, The Painted Wolves

5.4.2. The current minor Brotherhoods

Brotherhood of the Vulpus, The Golden Foxes

Brotherhood of the Latrans, The Prairie Wolves

Brotherhood of the Spelaeus, The Cave Bears

Brotherhood of the Abyssinian, The Night Wolves

Brotherhood of the Mesomelas, The Black Jackals

Brotherhood of the Chrysocyon, The Artic Wolves

Brotherhood of the Maritimus, The Polar Bears

Brotherhood of the Ferox, The Wild Wolves

Brotherhood of the Otariidae, The Sea Lions

Brotherhood of the Amphicyonidae, The Bear Dogs

Brotherhood of the Lycan, The Wild Ones

5.3.3. The composition of the Brotherhoods

Whilst the Chapter Master of the Carnivorans is called the Khan, the head of each Brotherhood is called a Great-Captain. A Great-Captain has full authority over his brotherhood, its make up, disposition and deployment. Each mayor Brotherhood is a self sufficient and self sustaining strike force, assigned its own Battle Barge or Strike Cruiser, equipment and an Death Eagle attachment.

Each Brotherhood is a self sufficient and self sustaining strike force, assigned its own Battle Barge or Strike Cruiser, equipment and an Esageard System Defence Force, Death Eagle attachment.

Although the exact compositions of the Brotherhoods vary, the majority of the Brotherhoods field, Biker Squads, Assault Squads and Landspeeders as a matter of course, with varying quantities of Tactical Hunters and Devastators Fangs in either Rhinos or Razorbacks in support.

A relatively new addition, is the feral cavalry that the Carnivorans are starting to field. Ever since the Carnivorans saw the Thunderwolves of the Space Wolves in action, the Carnivorans Apothocaries have been tasked to recreate the Thunderwolves or something similar for use by the Carnivorans.

Shortly before the start of the 13'th Black Crusade the chapter Apothocaries finally succeeded in breeding a mount for the Carnivorans that met the required standards of ferociousness, toughness and strength. Combining not only the DNA of Wolves, Hyena and various carnivorous Xenos species, these "Rockwolves" as the Carnivorans have come to call them, has caused great excitement and have already claimed the loyalty and respect of many Carnivorans. The start of the 13'th Black Crusade has caused the the Apothocaries to focus on their other duties and they have not had time to use their skills to increase the numbers of the Rockwolves. Due to their ferocious nature the Rockwolves breed extremely slow in the wild and the Carnivorans have not been able to field them in large numbers. Yet! Once the Apothocaries breeding program takes off, new legends and sagas are sure to be written about the exploits of the Carnivorans.

6. Combat doctrine

The strength of all Carnivorans is the ambush or the lightning attack of a vulnerable objective or flank. Fading away after the attack like predators in the night.

Followed by a second, third or fourth lightning attack launched from other directions, some of them feints, sowing confusing and weakening the enemy, hamstringing him by his inability to tell from where the next attack will come from and what to react to.

The Carnivorans will keep this up, until their enemy is reeling, only then going for the jugular for a decisive victory. It is rare, although not unheard of for the Carnivorans not to utilize this strategy as it works extremely well for them. Open assault is seen as a last resort and only to be utilized as the end result of a campaign of weakening the enemy.

TTo make this type of warfare work on a large scale, the Carnivorans need excellent intelligence about the enemy, their capabilities, goals, make-up of the enemy forces, disposition, strengths, weaknesses etc. and objectives. Which is why the Carnivorans place such high value on adequate intelligence gathering and why the chapter scouts are made up only of elite Carnivorans. Brotherhoods of the Vulpus and Mesomelas, are made up entirely of scouts and are also the intelligence network for the chapter. Except for the normal military intelligence gathering and scouting missions, these two Brotherhoods act as handlers for operatives within Imperial organisations in any war zone the Carnivorans are active in. In addition to this they run operatives in the adjoining systems and sub sectors to the chapter home system.

Carnivorans believe in overkill. A single Brotherhood will rarely deploy on its own. Normal operational deployment would be a mayor Brotherhood, with at the least one or two minor brotherhoods in support. In addition to this each of the Brotherhood have their Death Eagle auxiliaries which are deployed in a support role. This in conjunction with the normal tactics used by the chapter minimizes casualties within the Brotherhoods and maximizes enemy casualties.

On the rare occasion when open assault is the given strategy the chapter tends to use Drop pods for the main objective, while Thunderhawks and Stormravens deploy bikers and Landspeeder squadrons at the enemy flanks and rear. A combination that has proved extremely effective for the Carnivorans.

7. The Chapters future

7.1. Gene seed

The Carnivorans still have the full compliment of gene seed, the majority of which work as originally designed. Their Occulobe and Neuroglottis has some minor mutations, which is considered beneficial by the Chapter Apothocaries. These mutation have greatly improved the Carnivorans senses of sight and smell. Carnivorans have much better vision, especially at night than most other Space Marines. Their sense of taste and smell have increased exponentially and some say it rivals those of the Space Wolves. The only outward sign of the mutations is the amber coloured eyes of all Carnivorans.

The mutation of their Melanochrome and Mucranoid gene seed, has increased their protection against radiation, making the skin as tough as leather and their nails as hard as steel.

Their Omophagea has mutated to a much larger degree and the Carnivorans have lost the ability to learn about their enemy by consuming their flesh and now need to consume meat as the staple of their diet. The only advantage of this mutations is that the meat only needs to be ingested once every week and a half to two weeks. In addition to this, the mutation has affected the level of testosterone and adrenaline in the Carnivorans body, which has increased their ferociousness so much that they do not have to have to take the normal cocktail of drugs that most Space Marines have to take to keep their aggression levels high.

The Carnivorans gene seed has an even darker side. Extreme feral mutations occur, about one in three hundred. Although wolf like feral mutations are the norm, almost all Terran carnivores are present. The Apothocaries speculate that when the original White Scars gene seed was created, traits from different Terran carnivores were incorporated and that the current mutations or possibly the genetic make up of the recruits somehow activate these traits.

At the beginning stages the Feral mutations go hand in hand with animalistic rage. The survival rate of the Carnivores with these extreme mutations are low. Despite the physical and mental training given to the initiates, some of them are unable to gain control. What the chapter does with the ones that are unable to regain control, is know only to the chapter Priests and Apothocaries. Rumours abound that some of their genetic material was used in the creation of the Chapters Rockwolves.

Despite this problem with the gene seed the Chapter delivers its tithe of gene seed on time. It is not known whether the Adaptus Mechanicus have used the Carnivorans gene seed to found any new chapters or are even aware of the Carnivorans gene seed problems. So far the Adaptus Mechanicus have voiced no concerns regarding the viability of the gene seed. This might be due to the fact that the success rate of the Carnivorans gene seed implantation is high, even higher than the original White Scar gene seed that the chapter was created from.

7.2. Recruitment

During the period that the Carnivorans was a crusading chapter, they used the same recruitment patterns as other crusading chapters. This all changed once they settled down in the Esageard system. The chapters Master of Recruits had specific strategies and theories which he wanted to implement, which required a stable home system.

7.2.1. Schola Progenium recruitment

The Chapter Stormseers and Apothocaries make an active practice off dropping in at Schola Progenium all over the Segmentum Obscurus, interview possible candidates and then recruit them to the Carnivorans.

7.2.2. Youth regiment recruitment

The Carnivorans also recruit direct from the Esageard regiments, youth companies. The harsh martial discipline and training, more than adequately preparing them for the rigours that new recruits face. With 9 well populated worlds populations, to scrutinise for viable recruits, this method alone would have been enough to ensure a constant supply of viable recruits.

7.2.3. Chapter Breeding Program

Once the chapter was settled in the Esageard System, the Apothocaries, instituted a breeding program to ensure that the chapter always has a supply of viable recruits. As the process of creating Space Marines makes them sterile, before the process is started samples of the initiates sperm are drawn and kept in a sperm bank.

Any Carnivore that achieves the status of Keshik or has served for more than 150 years, sperm may be utilized for artificially insemination of carefully selected compatible females. Initially the females were recruited from the Esageard military Clans. Over time the breeding program has produced more than enough females and this is no longer necessary. The Chapter still recruit from the Clans and Scola Progenium all over Segmentum Obscurus, to keep the blood lines fresh and prevent in breeding.

The Apothocaries keep meticulous records of the genealogies to ensure the viability and the future of the chapter. Taking care to note which genealogies cause an increase in the level of compatibility to the Carnivorans gene seed and which genealogies are unviable. Currently almost 40% of the males from this breeding program have the genetic compatibility for implantation of the Carnivorans gene seed. Genetic compatibility with Space Marine gene seed this high, is unheard of and the Chapter Priests and Apothocaries consider the breeding program a huge success.

With such a huge surplus of viable recruits the Master of Recruits and the Master of Arms, only need ensure that the training regime is sufficiently harsh enough to weed out the weak of mind. Even the remaining 60 % of males that are not compatible with the Carnivorans gene seed are exceptional and are used by the chapter in support roles within the chapter

7.3. Recruit training

The Carnivorans keep the pool of recruits close and busy. Up to the age of seven, they are kept in creches under the supervision of Den Mothers and the Stormseers. Up to this age they have a care free and safe environment, with the Den mothers and the Stormseers maintaining a benign watch. From age seven the recruits are trained up to a Imperial Storm trooper standard. The recruits are organised into regiments of 1,000 (Minghan).

The recruits training is extremely hard and the recruits are constantly under stress and pressure from Carnivoran instructors, giving them little or zero rest. All activities are timed and scored: marching several tens of kilometres with equipment and weapons, obstacle courses, combat strokes, navigation at night on the ground. This training is punctuated by firearms training and close quarter battle training, combat techniques and tactics lectures, rappelling and climbing, boating, explosives and hand-to-hand combat training. The Carnivorans monitor and punish any misconduct with additional extra-hard physical activity and the whipping post is used regularly. During certain phases of training sleep is restricted to two hours a day, with the sound of grenades waking students each night.

The older age group Minghan are called Death Eagles and are assigned to the Brotherhoods, as part of their on-going training. The Death Eagles are utilised on the battlefield to take secondary and tertiary objectives and move in and hold newly cleared primary objectives, freeing up the Carnivorans to proceed to the next objective. In addition to this they are used extensively to ensure that the Carnivorans flanks and rear are secure.

The Chapter cult has tenants regarding wastage and even the 60% that are not compatible with the Carnivoran gene seed, are trained up to elite Imperial Guard standard and organised into units of 10,000 (Tumen). The Tumen in turn act in support of the Minghan and are used extensively for less glamorous duties like the manning of ships, guarding key installations, manning of listening posts and outposts, acting as liaisons and buffers to the Imperial Guard etc

The older Death Eagles are also routinely used in a more pro active manner on their own missions. This is mostly in the case where the chapter does not want to tip its hand or involvement in a conflict or the chapter resources are spread too thin. The chapter considering this as just another facet of their training. These older Death Eagle regiments are led by Carnivoran advisors and throughout are scrutinised by the Stormseers and the Apothocaries, to identify the best assets for the chapter.

The chapter utilizes the potentials in this manner, so they do not die needlessly in some test to no immediate advantage to the Imperium. Utilised in this way the death serve not only the Emperor and the Imperium but also the chapter and their brothers. "Duty even unto Death" The regimental motto of the Death Eagles.

8. Finding a new home

The loss of their original home world, Tendra, did not crush the chapters spirit and whilst crusading along the Cygnus Spiral of the galactic spiral, the chapter kept an eye out for a new planet or system. By M37 the chapter was no longer actively searching and was resigned to the fact that they were a space borne chapter.

The chapters re-discovery of the Esageard system, late in M37, with its historical links to the White Scars and the Imperium, was initially not seen as significant. Just another re-discovered human colony that had to be cleansed of Xenos predation and influence. However the chapter Stormseers, from the moment the chapters ships exited the warp, claimed that the discovery would be off great import to the future off the chapter.

The Stormseers foretelling proved correct, the Carnivorans seamlessly working together with High Command and the military of the Esageardian system, almost as if guided by the hands of the Emperor. Shortly afterwards the chapter declared right of conquest and since then the chapter has been based in the Esageard system.

8.1. The Planets

The Esageard Planetary System (EPS) is made up of nine planets; Esageard, Anaheim, Alfheim, Mittilagart, Jotunmeimr, Nidavellir, Muspel, Nifihel and Hellforge.

As a Space Marine system the EPS is a closed system, with unrestricted out of system contact only allowed on two planets, Mittilagart and Hellforge.

Esageard: Chapter Planet. The only Death world in the system, 70% of the planet is covered in water, with 3 main land masses and approximately 3 million islands of various sizes. Two of the land masses are situated near the planets equator and jungle fauna and flora is abundant. The last continent, the largest of the three, is situated closer to the north pole and consists mostly of steps, tundra and deserts. Esageard was unpopulated in M37 when the Carnivorans arrived. Its current population is around forty six million, spread over the islands and the three continents. The forty six million are predominantly descendants of the chapters breeding program and descendants of recruits from Schola Progeniums. Esageardians are all steeped in the chapter cult and are fanatically loyal to the chapter and the Imperium.

Anaheim: semi industrial world, approximately a 50% split between agriculture and industry

Alfheim: garden / paradise planet, some old Xenos (possibly Eldar) ruins. Most of the Chapters Stormseers come for Alfheim.

Mittilagart; 30% of the planet covered in Hives. It has some industry and agriculture, but may be classified as primarily a trade and commerce world. It is the one of the 2 planets in the system that is open to visitors from out system.

Jotunmeimr: agri world, slightly higher gravity than Terran normal, populated by gene bred Ogryn. The Ogryn from Jotunmeimr, on average seem to be slightly more intelligent and marginally less aggressive than the norm. Possibly this is due to them not evolving naturally, as they were gene bred by the original colonist as heavy labour and agricultural workers. Paradoxically this makes them much more dangerous in a fight than normal Ogryn.

Nidavellir; high gravity world, inhabitants short, stout argumentative and load, in a lot of ways similar to squats, industrial and mining world, with under sea agriculture

Muspel; volcanic desert world - almost classified as a death world, limited mining and agriculture in certain areas, military world, the population live in permanent military bases, the bulk of the planet used as training ground for the system defence force and as testing ground for weapons.

Nifihel; Industrial world, Ice world, close ties to Hellforge, limited agriculture

Hellforge; Adaptus Mechanicus Forge World, as a Adaptus Mechanicus planet Hellforge is the only other planet in the system open to unrestricted out system visits.

8.2. The Fortress Monastery: Ger

Ger is situated in a hidden underground bunker complex, constructed on Esageard over the course of almost 400 hundred years. As a construct it is one of the marvels of the Post Horus Heresy age. More so as it was done in almost total secrecy.

The Ger was constructed on an island, close to the planets equator. The Island is called Valhöll by the Carnivorans and it is indistinguishable from its neighbours.

It is located in a crater, ringed on the one side by a mountain ranges and on the other side by a lake, making it nearly impossible to reach it overland, even before taking into account the natural predators in the area. The original crater was dug down and expanded and then domed over at the high of the original ground level.

Constructed of Ferro Crete, armoured with adamantine and vibranium and then camouflaged, by electronic as well as more mundane measures. An swamp was created over a portion of it and after that the jungle and animals were allowed to return. Today after more than 6000 years it is utterly indistinguishable from any other part of the planet, even from close up.

The Ger is huge, each Brotherhood has its own separate area in the Ger, with its own living quarters, training areas etc. The Ger as a whole is powered by heat exchangers from planets core and has a system wide air and water purification systems, automatic defences and void shields. It is also where the chapters forges are situated. Each separate Brotherhoods zone has also got its own Plasma Generators, water and air purifications systems, automatic defences and void shields. Making each area a self contained fortress and a potential intruder or besiegers nightmare. Linked together the overlapping void shield systems make the Ger virtually indestructible, theoretically even able to withstand the planets destruction.

Although the Ger has exits and entrances directly above it, they have never been used. From the Ger there are miles of tunnels, the bulk of which are undersea, that are utilised as exits for Thunderhawks, Land Speeders, Stormravens and Valkyries. These exits are far from the Ger in random caves, valleys, islands and volcanoes. The main exit is at the decoy Fortress Monastery the Carnivorans maintain.

The bulk of the tunnels end at semi active volcanoes, the tunnels serving dual purpose as exhaust vents and to hide the Ger's heat signature as well as the tell-tale signatures of the Thunderhawks, Stormravens etc. exiting and entering.

9. Appearance

Originally the Carnivorans colour scheme was ivory, with silver edges to their shoulder pads. After settling in the Esageard System, the chapter changed its colours to emerald green and brown. The fact that jungle worlds are very predominant in the Trantos sector, might have played a part in this change. An alternative theory is that they changed their livery to reflect the cover of the "The prophecies of the Emperor the Uniter, the Guide and the Returned". As the book is a brown leather bound tome with emerald insets and silver runes, this might be a distinct possibility.

All Carnivorans left shoulder guard bear a buckler with the chapter badge on. The badge on the buckler is the skull of an wolf like carnivore. The buckler can be detached for emergency use as a small combat shield.

Depending on their planet of origin, some of the brothers will have more runes and totems on them than others. It is not uncommon to see brothers bedecked with animal pelts, totems and runes in the same squad as one wearing armour with only purity seals and a aquilla. The one constant is the Carnivorans Life Blade, attached either on the left of right calf of the Carnivorans power armour.

No set guidelines exist, but right shoulder guard is generally not decorated. Some specialized units and veterans units have either a unit badge or a personal badge on the right shoulder guards and the Carnivoran Assault claws have single lightening bolt across their right shoulder guard.

The inner portion of the right shoulder guard denotes the type of Carnivorans: Dark green for the Tactical Hunters, blue for the Devastator Fangs, red for the Assault Claws, black for the Keshik and Great-Captains, metal for Tech Marines, ivory for Apothocaries and yellow for Stormseers

Carnivore Scouts adapt the colour of their armour to the type of terrain they will be fighting in. Due to the prevalence of jungle worlds in the Trantos sector they prefer dark green armour, with various shades of browns thrown in.

10. Chapter Fleet - very WIP

The Carnivorans fleet is extensive, numbering almost seventy seven ships, excluding support and logistical ships. The Carnivorans was founded with an extensive fleet, to which they have added over time, capturing pirate and chaos ships and rededicating them to the service of the Carnivorans. As a rapid response group, with the task of harassing the flanks of the Black crusades and the hunting down and elimination of stragglers and splinter elements, the chapter required a large fleet, able to not only perform the task normally associated with Space Marine Fleets, but also able to perform actions that would normally fall under the role of the Imperial Navy.

The flagship of the fleet is the Venerable Battle barge "The Emperors Fury". The "Fury" has been in service with the chapter since its founding in 001 M31 and served as the chapters fortress -monastery during its crusading years. In addition to this the chapter has three more Battle barges, one of which is always in orbit around Esageard. The Battle barges are; The Emperor's Rage, The Emperor's Wrath and the Emperor's Scrutiny. The "Scrutiny" is newly commissioned from Hellforge, the first Capital Ship to be produced there. It was commissioned for exclusive use by the Brotherhood of the Mesomelas (The Black Jackals). The "Scrutiny" was outfitted with extensive scanning and monitoring systems as well as a cloaking shield.

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[Messor]

To start, I like the name, its quite striking. You could really use some additional formatting though, breaking things up into more paragraphs/sections. I also think your history section would serve better at the beginning, and the 'intro' bit be renamed overview. I got through the Intro and was left with no clue why the Carnivorans felt the need to be so super secretive, since they seemed like pretty straight forward Scars successors, and then the Basic Info section just carried on like it was no big deal, leaving me to assume my question would go unanswered. Not until halfway through the history section do I find some good cause for secrecy, with the first mentions of mutation.

 

Now at the beginning of the article, I thought they sounded like White Scars, with the exception of dreadnoughts (which I found strange at the time, as little reason was given for the change in ideal). By the end of the article, they sounded like Space Wolves. Is this change motivated by gameplay? Are they C:SM or Space Wolves on the table? If that's the case, I would use some of their association with the SW to prompt the change in their attitude towards dreadnoughts, and I would also recommend trying to find a smoother/more subtle way to blend the two Chapters. All in all, the Carnivorans sound great, just in need of some fine tuning.

[Furious Retreat]

Thanks! I appreciate the input.

I'll update sometime during the week. Busy week at work, time is limited.

 

Got the dreadnought idea when doing research on the Mongols. The Mongols revered their successful generals, one of their most famous ones was so fat that he got carried to a hill close to a battle on a stretcher, from where he oversaw the battle. My researched into WS showed that they have no dreadnoughts, but taken from the Mongol perspective the use of dreadnoughts to represent great battle leaders who was interred for their battle lore is sort of "correct".

 

Gameplay = SW plus C:SM allies(White Scar, KK & 1 / 2 biker squads) - new build I'm working the kinks out of - very slowly as I currently play a game once every three months or so.

Bit of "history": I originally attempted a SW successor chapter, but could not find a really believable way to bring it together, especially one that all the SW fans would approve(loads of time wasted there). In the end I decided to go the White Scar route and somehow everything just fell in place and I ended up with a space wolf like white scar successor chapter.

 

I'm also thinking of bringing the below into my chapter. thoughts?

7.2 Weapons

Life Blade

In addition to their normal war gear all Carnivorans carry a Life blade (knife). Given to the recruit at the Blood Brother ceremony, the final step to becoming a Carnivoran and reclaimed by the chapter upon death, to be given to the next cycle of Carnivorans. The blade is made of a silver steel alloy that is almost unbreakable and it retains a edge like a razor no matter what use the blade is put to. The making of the blade is a chapter secret and was recovered from the Space Hulk, Banners Folly by the Chapter Steel Priests. Prior to this the Life blade was made from Adamantium. The Phrase "The Emperor protects" is etched into each Life blade.

The Carnivorans belief that the Life blades protect their souls and armors them against the temptations of the warp and the Warp gods. The Life blade is used as a general tool, as a emergency weapon, to fight honor duels (never to the death) and even in the Carnivorans ceremonies. The Carnivorans believe that the more you use your Life blade for normal every day tasks the stronger its protection against the warp is.

From receiving the Life blade till death a Carnivoran is never to be further than a arms length from his blade. To misplace(even temporarily) or lose your Life Blade is a great dishonor and Carnivorans can be expect to be shunned for various lengths of time by their brothers for this transgression. To surrender your Life blade voluntarily is the greatest dishonors that can befall a Carnivoran. Most brotherhoods even consider it the same as surrendering to the Warp, better to die with your Life blade in your hand than to surrender it.

Carnivorans that have lost their blade, is set a penance by the Steel Priest with tasks that he has to complete. The Steel Priest and the Storm seers keep an eye on the culprit whilst he serves his penance, not only for the completion of the penance but how he completes it. If not to their satisfaction additional penances are set. The Carnivoran who completes his penance always receives a brand new Life blade. The older often recycled Life blades protection are considered more potent than new blades and this is the final punishment for losing his original Life Blade.

[Messor]

Yes, I'm sure grief would ensue trying to create a SW successor. I have fun with cross over Chapters, but I try to keep within the bounds of fluff and reason, and I probably wouldn't personally get behind a SW successor myself.

 

The dreadnought bit is interesting, since (from what little WS fluff I know) the Khan people have some kind of fear of interment. So its an interesting way of reversing the fear(or the situation caused by it). I would still, considering the fluffy nature of the phobia, write up some kind of work around to arrive at the dreadnoughts.

 

I really like the idea of the Life Blade, its nothing over the top, and adds character. I'm not 100% sure about the 'use in everyday life increases protection' for the Angels of Death. Its not a bad idea, it just seems tame for them, I'd have expected something more like 'every kill in close combat made by the Life Blade increases its strength'. Either way is suitable, though.

[Furious Retreat]

did an update; formatted it some more to make it easier on the eye and added new sections.

 

The chapter cult is still very much WIP. I do like the general concept, although it is not as grim dark as normal, but religions are not all fatalistic, some give us hope / reason to continue fighting, which is sort of what I'm going for here. I'm not sure if it various too much and might be considered heritical?

 

combat doctrine - still needs a lot of polishing, some sections are used verbatim from other sources, so I need to smooth those out and find my own way of stating the same

 

Organization - I 'm relatively happy with this portion, its a blend of WS & SW, with some Alpha Legion thrown in and some of my own ideas. The question is, is it too much / obvious?

 

Messor

I did a bit of work on the dreadnought portion - more "believable" now?

Life Blade - In retrospect I agree with you, with your permission i'll bring in your idea about the amount of kills?

 

As a side note, I've added Life blades to two of my Tactical Hunter squads already, casting and painting them was a pain, as they are so small, but just the addition has done a lot to make them not look so average SM tac squad like.

[Messor]

By all means, sir, use it as you see fit. I think the rationale for dreadnoughts is quite cleverly done. The formatting helped a lot with readability, so looking forward to more (formatting and content ;) ), as well seeing these Marines in mini form! Only additional advice: Its good you've started off with a thick stock of info/ideas to work with, but as you go, seek to trim and refine as much as possible, not over-embellishing or filling space with any irrelevant info. If there's something you feel we need to know, by all means share it. If we could get by without it, though, reconsider including it.

[Furious Retreat]

Updated

 

I've edited the Chapter Cult section, the Combat doctrine section and added a section about the chapters future (gene seed), I've played around with the formatting and attempted to delete unnecessary / not relevant information. That last one was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I'm going to have to be brutal, and edit the fluff that is not as important / relevant out. (I can always keep it with my personal notes)

 

I should have a tactical marine about 90% finished by the weekend or at the least good enough so the color scheme can be seen. (I am the worlds slowest painter) I'm still working on making the post easier on the eye and not as daunting to read, maybe a side bar or two etc. Which btw how do i do?

[Furious Retreat]

No C&C is that good or bad?

[Messor]

Me, personally, I'm waiting to see the mini! XD

[Messor]

edit:double post

[Furious Retreat]

Worlds slowest painter award to myself. I'm also in the running for the worlds almost totally in focus picture.

Did a quick update and attempted to upload a picture of my Tactical Hunter. It did not work. Help with this would be greatly appreciated.

[Messor]

Did the upload flop, or just posting the image?

[Furious Retreat]

the upload

[Messor]

Alright. I don't know how tech savvy you are, so don't be offended if I take it simple like:

 

Make sure the file's on your computer, and not on a flash drive/memory card. Top of the B&C screen, click My Albums, then new album, and create the album. Once that's done click the new image button, find it on your comp and hit upload. Did you do anything differently?

[Furious Retreat]

thanks, image was on a flash drive

uploading

[Furious Retreat]

Uploaded a slightly out of focus picture of a basic Tactical Hunter, just to give indication of my color scheme. Its about 80% complete. I need to finish the base, some edge highlighting and I should be done.

When its done I'll take a picture against a more suitable background, hopefully getting the focus right.

[Messor]

Looking great so far!

[Furious Retreat]

updated 17/11/12

finally managed to take a in focus picture, then wished I did not as it showed me how much my painting needs to be improved.

Polished the text some more and added new sections to the fluff.

busy with The Fleet portion of my fluff at the moment. Any ex or current Royal Navy Marines or USMC have knowledge of the make up of a rapid response fleet?

[Messor]

You kidding? Those marines look awesome! Keep em coming. Unfortunately, I know nothing about legit military formations, so I can't help you there, but I'm 99% sure that War Angel can help you. His DIY is largely themed around the USMC.

[Furious Retreat]

Cleaned up the text some more, as well as the grammar, some minor additions to the Fleet awa one or two other parts. On the spelling side my spell check is set to English (South African) so there might be a few differences with the B&C spell check - is there a standard for this?

Added some new pics, got the makings of Tactical Hunter (grey hunter) squads finished, as well as a Stormseer (Rune Priest). There is definitively a art to taking pictures of your miniatures, but I've got way too many unfinished hobby projects before I can even start thinking of starting another.

Some WIP shots below. Don't really like the Games Workshop bikes, bar the fact that they are extremely expensive they are simply not capable of working in an off road environment, low clearance etc., so I am converting my own. Project has stalled till I get my insta mold, hopefully before Christmas.

Another semi finished project are my "Rockwolves", started these before GW released the Thunderwolf cavalry. I've grown quite fond of them and have decided that as soon as my Devastator Fangs (Long Fang) are finished they are going to get some love.

the normal reaction i get to these are that they are way too friendly looking - but only untill they are biting your face off - hehe.