Differences of the Successors - Update Project - AoA

[Grand Master Belial]

I originally wrote this at the end of 2007 after the previous codex came out and the Frater of that time wanted more information about their beloved successors. As one who liked to write science fiction for fun, I took to the boards with my own interpretation of each of the Successors and allowed the community to shape them into what became the original article that has since been added to the Librarium. Now it is 2013, little more than five years has passed and a new Codex has come out. With it, the canon for the Successors have intentionally been kept to a minimum to let us the gamers add the missing details with our creative imaginations. Now all of us here have our area of the hobby we enjoy more than the others, be it gaming, painting, converting or writing narratives. For those that enjoy other aspects of the hobby besides creative writing and would like to know more about the Successors, I present this UNOFFICIAL background to you for your use. Take from it what you like, discard what you don't. Use this as a framework to add more depth to your Successor and enjoy!

 

THE ANGELS OF ABSOLUTION

 

The brothers of the Angels of Absolution appear to be a very close-knit chapter. As such, they are not as secretive as the Dark Angels within the ranks. However, they become as tight-lipped as the rest of the Unforgiven when linked with other forces.

The marines of the Angels of Absolution follow an unusual battle hierarchy as they take to the field of battle not in companies but as a collection of individual squads. This organization while unorthodox is highly effective as the marines maintain a chain of command between the squads.

The Scouts of this chapter tend to be more apt at close combat and have a distinctly larger physique than scouts of other chapters. All it is said when questioned is that the Scouts use their increased strength to aid in their intelligence gathering. Considering the number of disappearing acts of the Angels of Absolution documented in numerous Imperial Campaigns, this is probably a testament of their Scout's skill in the gathering of that intelligence.

HOME WORLD

The Angels of Absolution are a fleet-based Chapter based on over a hundred ships. Of prominent note are the three travelling docks that were built by the chapter. Designated as a chapter ship, each is home to a number of squads from each Company or Order as they are called. These are also the primary place where the Scouts of the Chapter are trained.

Under their normal operation, each chapter ship is accompanied by a pair of battle barges and a number of hunter-class destroyers and escort ships. Each fleet patrols various areas of the Segmentum Obscurus for new recruits and battling the forces arrayed against the Imperium. Smaller groups of ships usually carrying no more than 150 marines split off from the fleet to undertake smaller missions for the chapter. Only as the threat grows does the Chapter commit the battle barges to the fight. It is extremely rare for the chapter ships to commit to battle for they hold the chapter’s life blood. The loss of a single chapter ship is a devastating blow for the Angels of Absolution. The last time they were committed to battle was during the Third War of Armageddon where every ship was needed to try and stop the Ork Warlord Ghazghkull Thraka from making planetfall. With no facilities save the Fortress Monastery of the Dark Angels to make repairs, the chapter ships Cleansing Chalice and Atonement still travel with significant battle damage taken from the engagement. It will be many decades before both are fully repaired.

Due to the space faring nature of the Chapter, every brother of the chapter takes on shipboard duties when not committed to a campaign. While the majority of the tasks fall to the Scout Company and those still undergoing the surgeries and training to become marines, it is not uncommon for the marines to work in the various areas of the ships. Often this secondary duty has helped the Angels of Absolution in a number of boarding actions where a brother’s proficiency with a ship system turned the battle in the favor of the Angels.

COMBAT DOCTRINE

The Angels of Absolution have a unique style of fighting in combat based upon their organization. Instead of a number of squads from a single company fighting in any particular battle, squads from numerous companies, or Orders as they call them, assemble to fight in any given campaign. Only their battlefield demeanor seems to denote a difference between the Orders as they appear to perfect a series of Metaphysical skills along with the common ballistic and weapon skills.

It is believed that due to the number of small ships used by the chapter, squads of Angels of Absolution are scattered across the segmentum. When a call to battle is made, the squads in the vicinity converge to form a cohesive force. In this way, the Angels of Absolution can respond quickly to any call they receive.

ORGANIZATION

The Angels of Absolution is organized in a fashion similar to the Dark Angels with one significant difference. Though they name their companies as Orders instead; they fight as a single unit regardless of the size instead of maintaining a division between the Orders. In this way, it is conceivable for a single Master to lead an element of Angels of Absolution marines numbering larger than 100 marines and containing not only marines, but scouts and terminators as well. Only the Armory section with the Chapter’s Techmarines seems to remain separate from the rest of the Chapter.

In deference to the Dark Angels Organization, the entire 1st Order is considered to be a part of the Angels of Absolution's Inner Circle. Unlike the Dark Angels, the Angels of Absolution are told different levels of the Legion’s shame as they progress through the Orders. This slow release of knowledge reduces the shock to the marine’s advanced psyche and reduces the risk of the marine succumbing to the mental anguish and falling into madness. While this has been reduced greatly by the exploits of the Librarians in the other Unforgiven Chapters, the Angels of Absolution have not had any incidents of this madness in its long history.

Progression through the Order is done through Rites of Passage and Atonement. As each brother gains experience and knowledge they must also show through their actions both on and off the battlefield that they have purged themselves of that which allowed their Fallen brethren to be seduced.

As marines progress form the Scout Order to one of the four Reserve Orders, they learn that there was a sundering in the Dark Angels before the formation of the Legions. It is not until they reach the 5th Order that they learn that the Sundered Marines actually embraced Chaos instead of just falling sway. As they join the 3rd Order they learn of Luther but they do not learn of his close kinship with the Lion until they join the 2nd Order. In this way, the oldest, most knowledgeable and most experienced marines are in the 1st through 3rd Orders.

BELIEFS

The Angels of Absolution believe that knowledge is power. But with that power becomes great responsibility. As such, they go to great lengths to harden themselves from the temptations that come with power. While those of the lower orders focus on tangible knowledge with only the merest taste of the knowledge held by the higher orders, it is in the higher orders that the marines would devote equal time to the studying of history, grand strategies, meditating to purge themselves of frivolous thoughts and emotions as they perfect their mental awareness to achieve total clarity on the battlefield. As a consequence, marines of the higher orders shun ornamentation.

BATTLECRY

"Atone your sins!"

[Grand Master Belial]

Time to update this venerable old document to take into account some changes from the new Codex. But I will let the Frater to suggest any modifications or additions. I left the photos out for the moment so I could see some painted models.

[Russ Brother 92]

I can say as a frater who's starting an AoA force this is very helpfull :)

[Grand Master Belial]

Thank you! I am thinking of naming the orders after the stages of acceptance. The first being denial, then anger, etc...

[Phoebus]

Something to consider: various forms of indoctrination, hypnotic, computer-based, and even psychic training, are used not only to train/impart knowledge to neophytes and Space Marines alike... but to fundamentally alter their psyche as well (And They Shall Know No Fear, and all that). With that in mind, is a slow release of informationfor the purpose of "easing a transition" really relevant?

[Grand Master Belial]

Modified to a later post

[Grand Master Belial]

Okay, I am posting this now before I forget. I will work on the others as I get time. C&C is requested.

[Octavulg]

Most obviously: maybe mark that most of it is unofficial?

[rx781a]

Is there any special way that the AoA paint their 1st and 2nd Company?

[Grand Master Belial]

Not that I have noticed. All the Powered armored AoA have black on the top portion of their backpacks (if not an entire black pack). 

 

I am thinking Brown for their robes but that would deny them any color.

[Octavulg]

The AoA miniatures I've seen have green robes.

 

Also, established fluff says their practices are identical to those of the DA except for the whole "redeemed" bit.

 

Seriously. Mark the bits of this that you've created as such. As-is, people will be confused.

[Grand Master Belial]

Yeah, in the original, when these were combined, I did mention that this is just Fluff I made up to give the successors a different flavor and in the Librarium it was placed in the non-canon section.

[Grand Master Belial]

Article was updated, see below.

[Grand Master Belial]

Added Legal

 

I originally wrote this at the end of 2007 after the previous codex came out and the Frater of that time wanted more information about their beloved successors. As one who liked to write science fiction for fun, I took to the boards with my own interpretation of each of the Successors and allowed the community to shape them into what became the original article that has since been added to the Librarium. Now it is 2013, little more than five years has passed and a new Codex has come out. With it, the canon for the Successors have intentionally been kept to a minimum to let us the gamers add the missing details with our creative imaginations. Now all of us here have our area of the hobby we enjoy more than the others, be it gaming, painting, converting or writing narratives. For those that enjoy other aspects of the hobby besides creative writing and would like to know more about the Successors, I present this UNOFFICIAL background to you for your use. Take from it what you like, discard what you don't. Use this as a framework to add more depth to your Successor and enjoy!

[Grand Master Belial]

I originally wrote this at the end of 2007 after the previous codex came out and the Frater of that time wanted more information about their beloved successors. As one who liked to write science fiction for fun, I took to the boards with my own interpretation of each of the Successors and allowed the community to shape them into what became the original article that has since been added to the Librarium. Now it is 2013, little more than five years has passed and a new Codex has come out. With it, the canon for the Successors have intentionally been kept to a minimum to let us the gamers add the missing details with our creative imaginations. Now all of us here have our area of the hobby we enjoy more than the others, be it gaming, painting, converting or writing narratives. For those that enjoy other aspects of the hobby besides creative writing and would like to know more about the Successors, I present this UNOFFICIAL background to you for your use. Take from it what you like, discard what you don't. Use this as a framework to add more depth to your Successor and enjoy!

 

Angels of Absolution

 

The brothers of the Angels of Absolution appear to be a very close-knit chapter. As such, they are not as secretive as the Dark Angels within the ranks. However, they become just as tight lipped as the rest of the Unforgiven when linked with other forces.

 

The Angels of Absolution maintain very close ties to the Dark Angels and fight side by side with them on a number of occasions. As a result, the two chapters maintain similar combat formations in the field of battle. It is what happens inside the chapter, away from the front lines, that the differences begin to appear. The Inner Circle believe themselves to be free of the sins that claimed their fallen brethren. This does not stop them from making sure that none of their own go renegade. Instead the Angels of Absolution use the examples of the renegades as reasons to reinforce their teachings and for the brothers to strengthen the minds and will. This has led them to be one of the chapters with the fewest brothers to go renegade.

 

The Scouts of this chapter tend to be more apt at close combat and have a distinctly larger physique than scouts of other chapters. All it is said when questioned is that the Scouts use their increased strength to aid in their intelligence gathering. Considering the number of disappearing acts of the Angels of Absolution documented in numerous Imperial Campaigns, this is probably a testament of their Scout's skill in the gathering of that intelligence.

 

Origins of the Chapter

 

As the Dark Angels left Terra on the fateful trip back to Caliban, the Lion had begun to institute the changes set forth by his brother Roboute Guilliman in his recently completed work the Codex Astartes. The Lion postponed the splitting of his legion until the Legion was reunited on Caliban.

 

In the wake of the destruction of Caliban, the remaining members of the Lion's Inner Circle came together to decide the course for the Legion and the matter of dividing the Dark Angels Legion into Chapters. Barely four thousand brothers remained of a legion that had numbered above ten thousand less than a Terran year before.

 

The brothers that would become known as the Angels of Absolution gathered under the notion that through all that they have been through, they had remained true the Emperor and to their Primarch instead of falling to the lures of the Dark Powers. The gathered brothers made a common vow that they would continue to absolve themselves of the sins of the Fallen Dark Angels by proving themselves in battle for the Imperium and the remaining honor of the Dark Angels Legion. Their armor a dirty white, they have taken to the stars to prove their faith and their loyalty on the Imperium's fields of battle.

 

Homeworld

 

The Angels of Absolution are a fleet-based Chapter based on over a hundred ships. Of prominent note are the three traveling docks that were built by the chapter. Classified as a Chapter-class starship, each is home to a number of squads from each Company or Order as they are called. These are also the primary places where the Scouts of the Chapter are trained.

 

Under their normal operation, each of the Chapter-class ships is accompanied by a pair of battle barges and a number of Hunter-class destroyers and escort ships. Each fleet patrols various areas of the galaxy for new recruits and battling the forces arrayed against the Imperium. Smaller groups of ships usually carrying no more than 150 marines split off from the fleet to undertake smaller missions for the chapter. Only as the threat grows does the Chapter commit the battle barges to the fight. It is extremely rare for the chapter ships to commit to battle for they hold the chapter’s life blood. The loss of a single chapter ship is a devastating blow for the Angels of Absolution. The last time they were committed to battle was during the Third War of Armageddon where every ship was needed to stop the Ork Warlord Ghazghkull Thraka from making planetfall. With no facilities save the Fortress Monastery of the Dark Angels to make repairs, the chapter ships Cleansing Chalice and Atonement still travel with significant battle damage taken from the engagement. It will be many decades before both are fully repaired. When the Rock comes into their area of operation, the Angels of Absolution will always provide an escort for the remaining remnant of Caliban. It is during these times that it is common to see the Dark Angels and the Angels of Absolution fighting side by side, but even the smaller fleets will take the field beside their Progenitor Chapter or any chapter of the Unforgiven.

 

Due to the space faring nature of the Chapter, every brother of the chapter takes on shipboard duties when not committed to a campaign. While the majority of the tasks fall to the Scout Company and those still undergoing the surgeries and training to become marines, it is not uncommon for the marines to work in the various areas of the ships. Often this secondary duty has helped the Angels of Absolution in a number of boarding actions where a brother’s proficiency with a ship system turned the battle in the favor of the Angels.

 

Combat Doctrine

 

The Angels of Absolution have a unique style of fighting in combat based upon their organization. Instead of a number of squads from a single company fighting in any particular battle, squads from numerous companies, or Orders as they call them, assemble to fight in any given campaign. Only their battlefield demeanor seems to denote a difference between the Orders as they appear to perfect a series of Metaphysical skills along with the common ballistic and weapon skills.

 

The Orders of the Angels of Absolution follow the dictates of the Codex Angelis set forth by Roboute Gulliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines. With the Tenth and lowest order being the Order of the Scout before moving to the Order of Devastation. Within each Order is its own set of initiations and rituals so that the most experienced brothers will always be those from the higher Orders.

 

It is believed that due to the number of small ships used by the chapter, squads of Angels of Absolution are scattered across the segmentum. When a call to battle is made, the nearby squads would converge to form a cohesive force. In this way, the Angels of Absolution can respond quickly to any call they receive. In this way a force made up of several Orders will combine to form a single force under the leadership of the Highest ranking Order member present. It is not unheard of for the Absolved Knights to lead the force due to the lack of a Master of the Order.

 

In their quest to find the Fallen Dark Angels, the Angels of Absolution have undertaken the task of bringing any renegade Space Marine to the Emperor's justice.

 

Organization

 

The Angels of Absolution are organized in a fashion similar to the Dark Angels with one significant difference. Though they name their companies as Orders instead; they fight as a single unit regardless of the size instead of maintaining a division between the Orders. In this way, it is conceivable for a single Master to lead an element of Angels of Absolution marines numbering larger than 100 marines and containing not only marines, but scouts and terminators as well. Only the Armory section with the Chapter’s Techmarines seems to remain separate from the rest of the Chapter.

 

Below is the listing of the Orders:

 

1st - The Order of Absolution, The Inner Order

2nd - The Order of Foresight

3rd - The Order of Resolve

4th - The Order of Fortitude

5th - The Order of Serenity

6th - The Order of Balance

7th - The Order of Precision

8th - The Order of Retribution

9th - The Order of Devastation

10th - The Order of the Scout

 

In deference to the Dark Angels Organization, the entire 1st Order is considered to be a part of the Angels of Absolution's Inner Circle. Unlike the Dark Angels, the Angels of Absolution are told different levels of the Legion’s shame as they progress through the Orders. This has allowed the Angels of Absolution to reclaim Fallen Dark Angels with members of the lower Orders under the notion that it was a renegade Dark Angel instead of a brother that fought against the Lion himself.

 

Progression through the Order is done through Rites of Passage and Atonement. As each brother gains experience and knowledge they must also show through their actions both on and off the battlefield that they have purged themselves of that which allowed their Fallen brethren to be seduced.

As marines progress out from the Scout Order, they learn that there was a sundering in the Dark Angels before the formation of the Chapters. It is not until they reach the 5th Order that they learn that the Sundered Marines actually embraced Chaos instead of just falling sway. As they join the 3rd Order they learn of Luther but they do not learn of his close kinship with the Lion until they join the 2nd Order. In this way, the oldest, most knowledgeable and most experienced marines are in the 1st through 3rd Orders.

 

Beliefs

 

The Angels of Absolution believe that knowledge is power. But with that power becomes great responsibility. As such, they go to great lengths to harden themselves from the temptations that come with power. While those of the lower orders focus on tangible knowledge with only the merest taste of the knowledge held by the higher orders, it is in the higher orders that the marines would devote equal time to the studying of history, grand strategies, meditating to purge themselves of frivolous thoughts and emotions as they perfect their mental awareness to achieve total clarity on the battlefield. As a consequence, marines of the higher orders shun ornamentation.

 

Battle Cry

 

"Atone your sins!"

 

Notable Battles

 

Crusade against the Ork Empire of Charadon

Battle at Archangel IV

Suppression of the Rasputin Uprisings

 

Current Status

 

The Angels of Absolution have committed their entire strength to staunching the Thirteenth Black Crusade before they can gain a permanent foothold outside the Eye of Terror. Focusing on areas where renegade space marines and traitor legionnaires are known to be operating and within their ranks are a number of Fallen Dark Angels.

 

Army List Suggested Name Changes

 

Azrael -

Ezekiel -

Asmodai -

Belial -

Sammael on Corvex -

Sammael on Saberclaw -

Company Master - Master of the Order

Interrogator-Chaplain - Chaplain of Absolution

Deathwing - The Absolved

Ravenwing - The 'Scryers'

Deathwing Knights - Absolved Knights

Black Knights - The 'Pryers'

Darkshroud - Unchanged

 

Colors of the Chapter

 

The armor for all brothers of the chapter is bone white with black on the upper portion of the external backpack of the power armor clad brothers and the black panel on the back of the Terminators. On the Terminators, this is only to separate the brothers of the Angels of Absolution from the Deathwing of the Dark Angels when viewed from the rear as the members of the First Company of each chapter lead the way into battle.

 

Originally, as the Angels of Absolution separated as part of the Second Founding to become a separate distinct chapter; the collected brothers knew that they were not at fault for the Fallen Dark Angels and that they had remained pure. To show their purity, they began painting their armor pure white, but the Chaplains of the new chapter approached the brothers and smeared dirt on their armor, “You are pure but you are not incorruptible.” In light of the recent tragedy, the brothers understood and the dirtied white became the new armor color for the chapter. It has even become a ritual in the chapter for each brother upon entering the chapter and again when elevated into the Ninth Order to have the Chaplain smear the cleaned elevated brother with dirt to remind him of those words. The top of their backpacks remain black to honor the original Dark Angels Legion and as a somber reminder that the Dark Powers are ever over their shoulder waiting for an opportunity to corrupt another Son of the Lion.

 

The Angels of Absolution have taken to wearing green robes in honor of the Dark Angels to signify their status as members of the Inner Circle. A practice that the Dark Angels later emulated after the Deathwing changed their own armor color after the Incident on the Plains World.

 

When the Angels of Absolution were formed, none of the brothers of that time were a part of the Ravenwing. In time, the members of the Second Order were trained to the same level as the Ravenwing of the Dark Angels but they had never changed the colors of their armor to the black of the Ravenwing, instead they continued to use their dirty white armor.