IA - Knights of the Red Grail

[Atlantic]

I started this in the Blood Angels Forum, but have expanded my collection!  The 5th company is nearly all assembled.  I'll be posting pictures of the minis and characters as I get some more time this week.

 

The Knights of the Red Grail

"Until the Chalice is pure our quest continues! Forward the Blood Crusade!"


Founding Legion: Blood Angels

Founding: 6th

History & Background: 

Chapter records date as far back as the 33rd millennium and indicate the chapter was created to reinforce the inner reaches of the Segmentum Pacificus.   

The first Chapter Master, a Blood Angels captain remembered as Rolan de Gilead swore the chapter to a penitent Blood Crusade to purge the galaxy of the unclean. The chapter has pursued this crusade for the last 8,000 years to seek the forgiveness of the Great Angel. The Chapter Cult upholds that the flaws of the thirst and rage will be cured once enough blood has been spilled.

The nature of the crusade has become a source of contention to the other inheritors of Sanguinius as Imperial Forces are hesitant to call on the Grail Knights despite their effectiveness in battle. Indeed, several Lord Commanders have made inquiries to the Inquisition in the wake of particularly murderous campaigns.

Supporters of the chapter often note the small size of the Knights' Death Company as a sign of Emperor's favor. However, detractors argue the bloody nature of the crusade only masks what might be the greatest outbreak of madness the sons of Sanguinius have yet to experience. Others fear the fanatical zeal with which the Grail Knights pursue their crusade leaves the chapter open to the predations of chaos. 

Despite these concerns, the Imperium needs warriors like never before and the Blood Crusade goes onward.


Homeworld: Hyrcania - a primitive world in the Segmentum Pacificus.

Feudal clans war amongst each other while eeking out a living among the arid steppes and deep forests. A few small cities control especially fertile regions or waterways, but the majority of the clans remain relatively nomadic in nature. Areas of the planet are scarred by what appears to be the remains of an ancient war. These regions are highly irradiated and home to tribes of mutant degenerates.


Organization: 

The Chapter was founded according to the Codex Astartes, but has deviated from its strictures.  

The traditional 10 companies are maintained, but each of the 5 Battle Companies are structured according to the will of their captains. The Battle Companies are nominally composed of 100 marines, but squad structures reflect the tactics of each captain. Most captains favor aggressive assault based actions meaning it is not uncommon for additional assault squads to take the place of tactical squads. Other deviations may also occur.

 

It is customary for specialists such as Sanguinary Priests, Librarians, Chaplains, and Techmarines to be permanently attached to a company.  These specialists form an advisory council for the company commander and stand ready to take up the burden of command should he fall.  Dreadnoughts are also typically piloted by brothers who served in the company as well.  This level of integrated experience at the command level provides a Grail Knights Company with an extremely stable leadership core.

 

The Grail Knights are also unusual in that it is common for officers and specialists to take on apprentices.  This allows for a certain redundancy of command and for gifted junior brothers to gain greater influence and rank by dint of being apprenticed to their more experienced elders.  

 

A small detachment of Sanguinary Guard are maintained as both a bodyguard force and advisory body to the Chapter Master.

A Death Company is also present, but notably smaller than those present in other successor chapters. While the chapter celebrates this, other sons of Sanguinius are more critical as these brothers are surely among the most insane and blood drunk madmen in the galaxy. It is common practice for members of the Death Company to remain sedated and only awakened for the most dire of assaults. The Grail Knights Death Company is a weapon of last resort.

Recruitment:

Any Hyrcanian youth of pure human stock may petition the chapter. Aspirants are then asked to prove their worth by the completion of a quest. Each quest is unique to the aspirant in question and is as much a spiritual trial as a test of martial prowess. Only the bravest and most determined aspirants succeed and begin their induction to the 10th company.

Heraldy:

The heraldry of the chapter is an amalgam of the tribal culture of Hyrcania, practices laid out in the Codex Astartes, and the traditions of the Blood Angels.

Bronze with Red are the traditional colours of the chapter. White is seen as a symbol of purity and often used as a trim. Sivler is used to highlight decorations and markings on Armour.

Symbol: 

The chapter has not adopted a particular symbol, allowing each warrior to develop their own heraldry as their honour rolls grow. Tribal Markings, Images of the Red Grail, Skulls, and other traditional Blood Angel markings are common. Many brothers choose not to adorn their armour with heraldry as a sign of humility and monastic devotion to the chapter.

Company markings are indicated by painting portions of a warrior's armour in the company colour. Gauntlets and knee pads are often used for this purpose.

Company captains are marked with the company colour as part of their heraldry.

Chaplains wear the traditional black.

Librarians wear the traditional blue.

Sanguinary Priests wear white armour marked in red and bronze.

Techmarines wear the tradtional red.

Sanguinary Guard wear the traditional gold.

Honour Guard are marked in the heraldry of the officers they serve.

The Death Company wear black as is traditional.

Veteran status is marked with a white stripe on the helmet.

Sergeants are marked by a red stripe on the helmet.

Assault squads are marked by a yellow stripe on the helmet.

Devastator squads are marked by a blue stripe on the helmet. 

 

 

I have plenty of pics to upload soon!

[Atlantic]

Chapter Level Officers Chapter Master Orlando

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/073.jpg

 

Orlando is both the High Chaplain and Master of the chapter. His path to mastery was unusual in that the most Senior Captain typically inherits the position upon the death of the previous master. In this case both the previous Chapter Master and Captain of the 1st Company had perished. The remaining Captains, Sanguinary High Priest, and Chief Librarian recognized the strong leadership of the High Chaplain and he was elected to high command.

 

Orlando is armed in Terminator Armour with a Power Maul and Combi-Melta.

 

Chief Librarian Illarus

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/089.jpg

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/090.jpg

 

Illarus is the only Librarian in the chapter not marked in the traditional blue. His right shoulder guard is marked blue with a book to denote the prestige and importance of his position as the chief psyker and record keeper of the chapter. Illarus is a wizened man of great age and experience.

 

Tarkle - Epistolary of the 1st Company

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/075.jpg

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/076.jpg

 

Despite his relative youth (only 2 centuries of service), Tarkle is a hideously powerful psyker and serves as both apprentice and chief battlefield agent for the Chief Librarian. As a result he is permanently attached to the Veteran 1st Company and wields considerable influence.

 

Vidarus - Sanguinary High Priest

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/080.jpg

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/081.jpg

 

By dint of his status as the Sanguinary High Priest for the Chapter, Vidarus is permanently attached to the 1st Company.

 

The Silent One - Lord of the Sanguinary Guard and Keeper of Heritage (outfitted in Heresy Era Equipment - my counts as Dante)

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/068.jpg

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/069.jpg

 

The Silent One is a traditional title taken by the leader of the Chapter's Sanguinary Guard. Upon ascension to the role, the chosen brother takes a vow of silence to only speak in the presence of the Master and when leading the rites and rituals of the Chapter. Upon the death of the Silent One, the role then passes to the most senior Sanguinary Guard.

 

Sanguinary Guard

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/070.jpg

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/071.jpg

 

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n118/k1d2/Knights%20of%20the%20Red%20Grail/072.jpg

[Atlantic]

The 5th Company

 

Commanded by Captain Trajan, the 5th company is not assembled as per the instructions of the Codex Astartes.  Trajan favors tactics that utilize heavily armoured assaults supported by mass firepower and deepstriking units.

 

As a result the company has deviated heavily in its composition.

 

(I will post pictures of each of these squads as I finish them)

[Ace Debonair]

So far these guys seem pretty good!

My only issue at this point is the Chapter's origin. Chapters are formed as part of one of the 26 foundings and approved of by the High Lords of Terra, rather than created whole-cloth by a legion and it's successors working in tandem.

As luck would have it though, the 6th Founding probably takes place (don't think we have exact dates) about the same time that your Chapter's earliest records date back to.

The Knights of the Red Grail could still easily have strong ties with their primogenitor legion and brother successor chapters, but it sidesteps any problems that trying to covertly create a chapter outside of the foundings might heap upon you down the road.

EDIT:

Wait, your guys don't have strong ties to their brother Sanguinians. I think I've confused your lads with another chapter - this is what reading several DIYs in quick succession does to me!

[Captain Badger]

I concur. The founding of the chapter should be known unless you have some kickass plot mechanic, I'm a sucker for plot depth. The 6th seems to fit just fine.

 

I especially like the death company aspect. Its unique without flying in the face of fluff which is awesome.

[Atlantic]

I changed the founding status of the chapter and uploaded pictures of my Chapter Level Officers!  I also added a few details to the organization section.  

 

Let me know what you think.