Raven Guard Gene-Seed

[Frater Cornelius]

Now, we all know that the RG are missing two organs and have a malfunctioning third that makes their skin go white and hair go black, which also represents my problem.

Anyway, the skin. Is there some convenient plot device to 'cure' it for a successor (make it look normal, that is)?

IIRC Raptors have better gene-seed since theirs got created by Corax before the Alpha Legion infiltrators messed everything up and the mutations kicked in. Seeing as Chapter need to donate a portion of their seed, wouldn't the AdMech have some 'stable' RG seed from the Raptors lying around somewhere? Now the Raptors do still have the pale skin problem, but to a lesser extend. Would it be possible for some Apothecaries or what-not to make a small fix (seeing as it isn't that messed up and doesn't require the Big E to remake it)?

Or, for convenience, say that some unique genetic quirk of the new home world counteracts it. I wouldn't be able to explain why though, I have no idea about genetics^^

Anyway, which sounds more likely and what are your thoughts on this?

Edited April 22, 2013 by Immersturm

[Iron Father Ferrum]

The easy answer is the "quirk of the homeworld changes it."  We know this can happen, because the Salamanders have black skin and red eyes due to the interaction of their homeworld's ambient radiation with their gene-seed; none of their (suspected) successors, like the Black Dragons, have similar issues.

[Conn Eremon]

Using the homeworld makes no sense. It works for the Salamanders because their quirk is caused by radiation, which isn't the case for the Raven Guard.

 

Why do you want this? If it's for a DIY and you don't want to have the genetic flaws of the Raven Guard, use a different progenitor. You don't need them to be a Raven Guard successor for them to be Raven Guard like.

[Aegnor]

Yeah, environmental interference can work one way (producing malfunction/mutation) but not the other (correcting existing malfunction/mutation). I suppose in an infinite universe everything is theoretically possible, but if you consider the complexity of Astartes geneseed/DNA, the odds of finding an environment that specifically *corrects* something that's gone awry with it are massive, by chance, that the chapter happens to settle upon are just too astronomical to be likely in an Imperium of just one million worlds.

 

Agree with Cormac Airt regarding maybe using different geneseed if the flaws are not something you want.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

It's not correcting anything, it's mutating it even further.  Environmental factors interacting with the gene-seed for his chapter cause a further mutation in the melochromatic gland so that instead of malfunctioning -- ie, paling the skin -- it stops working altogether, and causes no changes in skin tone period.

 

Boom, too easy.  I don't see why you two are so set against this...?

[Frater Cornelius]

Well, it is for DIY and I full well know that ultimately it does not matter who the Primarch is (which is why I have Dorn lined up just in case). It is simply a matter to make me feel better. Corax is my favourite Primarch of all the 18 and I simply would like my very own Chapter to embody the things I like.

And I will most likely go with the home world thing but I am still looking for info to prevent enraged fan-boys tearing me apart. Most simply won't share the 'endless universe' arguement.

As for further mutation. Why not go the whole way abd say that this organ got messed up during creation and offers only limited change, if any at all. Given the completeness of the RG seed donated by Raptors it would be the only (or was there another thing missing?) one malfunctioning, which is still good enough for a green light from the AdMechs. It is only rad protection after all. I mean, why having these expensive suits anyway if u must rely on your skin.

But in the end, if all else fails, I am okay with Rogals seed seeing as he also has qualities I dig (and he is my 2nd favourite Loyalist), even though he has yet to reach the respect und liking I have for Corax.

Edited April 23, 2013 by Immersturm

[Conn Eremon]

It's just that using the homeworld for that purpose doesn't make sense. Nothing a homeworld can do would have the impact you want.

 

If you want a Raven Guard successor with fixed gene-seed, I'd go for the Cursed Founding, known for experimenting on their genetics. Thing is, you'd need to give them a curse.

 

Though the point you made of the Raptors is a good one, I'm curious if you ought to just accept the flaws inherent in the Raven Guard or go with the gene-seed of another.

 

Edit: Oh, and you might want to ask the mods if this thread can be moved to the Liber forum.

Edited April 24, 2013 by Cormac Airt

[Frater Cornelius]

Technically the slow paling of the skin Raptor style does not really bother me, but it is sure as hell not interestong to paint, when I'll be doing the vets. Especially since they are not the brooding type of Marines. So while I am still converting I can think about what is best.

 

My problem with Dorn is just how he ended. It's just... meeeeh. I mean hacked to death by some random CSM? I know they retconned that whole death thing, so now they only found his hand and he himself pissed off. Lame. Most alive Primarchs had a very good reason to leave. Dorn is just, gone. Also the pain glove thingy is a bit too emo (if you want to tell me that Corax is emo I would have to ask you to step outside), and then the arguably intentional sacrifice of his sons at the Iron Cage incident. Those flaws do not make his character deeper, like with Curze or Corax, bit actually go as far as subtracting from it. Still, decent guy.

 

Hm, I gotta have this moved, you are right. I was convinced that I posted this in the Liber ^^

[Conn Eremon]

Well, they're your models. Paint them as you like. Fluff validation might be more difficult.

 

And as far as I know, Dorn's still dead. His left hand is separated only because it is THE Imperial Fist.

 

And hey, better being killed by a never-ending stream of traitor marines than disappearing after 'Nevermore.'

[Frater Cornelius]

AFAIK his death has been made more ambiguous, but what do I know. Besides, I still find it disgraceful. I mean, c'mon make it at least a Demon Price of Greater Demon. I do like the Nevermore but I am bias because I like the piece it originated from. But you have a point (I presume) noones perfect.

[Aegnor]

It's not correcting anything, it's mutating it even further. Environmental factors interacting with the gene-seed for his chapter cause a further mutation in the melochromatic gland so that instead of malfunctioning -- ie, paling the skin -- it stops working altogether, and causes no changes in skin tone period.

 

Boom, too easy. I don't see why you two are so set against this...?

Making it stop functioning altogether would certainly be a more plausible idea - kudos. Plus, then you could do ginger marines who got sunburnt easily!

[Frater Cornelius]

 

Making it stop functioning altogether would certainly be a more plausible idea - kudos. Plus, then you could do ginger marines who got sunburnt easily!

A dream come true. Anyway, thanks for the input. I think I got this from here ;)

[The Yak]

 

It's not correcting anything, it's mutating it even further. Environmental factors interacting with the gene-seed for his chapter cause a further mutation in the melochromatic gland so that instead of malfunctioning -- ie, paling the skin -- it stops working altogether, and causes no changes in skin tone period.

 

Boom, too easy. I don't see why you two are so set against this...?

Making it stop functioning altogether would certainly be a more plausible idea - kudos. Plus, then you could do ginger marines who got sunburnt easily!

 

Didn't the second legion have that problem with their geneseed? I was under the impression that's why the emperor had them eradicated.

 

Only kidding some of my best friends are ginger.....

 

God I feel really bad now I need to go and take a long look at myself in the mirror.

[Conn Eremon]

That was cold, Yak. You sound soulless enough to be a ginger yourself.

 

Eh? Eh? Ahhh, I'm a terrible person . . . 

 

Taking the organ out of the picture entirely is okay, though it does put your Marines in a tough spot. They're meant to fight in some pretty hostile regions, and that organ is meant to protect them when they're in wildly radioactive areas. The Salamanders have the organ just fine, it just functions slightly different and interacts with Nocturne's radiation in a unique way. The Raven Guard gene-seed . . . well, I don't know if it actually leaves them weaker than others when in those circumstances, but it does force the organ to react pretty single-mindedly in one direction. Not as versatile, it just keeps making them paler of skin and darker of hair/eye. Taking it away means that your force will have whatever skin tone your recruits have originally, but it means that they will have lost their biggest biological defense against radiation. That might not seem like a biggie, since they have suits and all, but it'll have an effect. Battlefronts will be abandoned by your Chapter where others would hold on no problem. Targets will be overlooked where others will take on. In the galaxy of 40k, highly radioactive areas are a common sight, I'm sure. And each one will be far more dangerous to your Chapter than it would be to others.

[Daemon2027]

Does the pale skin dark hair/eyes not predate the whole Corax/Alpha Legion gene messing with fiasco, so has nothing to do with the current instability of the geneseed? I may have to create a cursed founding where the Raven Guard gene seed was mixed with the Night Lords creating a chapter of psychotic, avian obsessed albinos.

 

Also speaking as a very pale person with dark hair (being half English, half French) I find the best way to deal with the countries other then Britian is carefull application of high sun cream, lowing the factor in order to bring forth a less pale colour. Maybe the RG do something simular when they go fight on world with a Mediterranean climates. Before every battle each sergeant is responsible for making sure his squad is wearing the correct factor sunscreen.