IA: Shadow Falcons

[Ekim_Trub]

Greeting Brothers, I have been working on the below IA on and off for a couple of year now, and felt it was time to revisit it here on the Forum, but as my original thread was last posted in around 15 months ago- I felt it would be better to just start afresh.

My aim for this IA is to merely create what could be classed as a completed IA. Hopefully, I am at least on the right path towards my goal. As always, all critique or thoughts are appreciated.

THE SHADOW FALCONS

CHAPTER NAME: ..............SHADOW FALCONS. FOUNDING: .................. FIFTH. CHAPTER WORLD: ............. NONE, FLEET BASED. CHAPTER OPERATES WITHIN SEGMENTUM PACIFICUS. FORTRESS MONASTERY: ........ THE UMBRA ADDITUM. GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR): ... RAVEN GUARD.(THE REVILERS.) KNOWN DESCENDANTS: .........NONE. *Quote to be added*

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aised as part of the Fifth Founding, the Shadow Falcons were created as a reaction force and tasked with strengthening the defences of Segmentum Pacificus from the ever-growing Xenos menace and the increasing number uprisings and rebellions in the region.

Originally led by Commander Coraaz, formerly Captain of the Revilers Third Company, chosen for his extensive knowledge of strategy and tactics, pragmatic attitude and natural leadership abilities. It was Coraaz who moulded the Shadow Falcons into the Chapter they are. Coraaz was known to employ rapid deployment via Gunship, but when he took command of this new Chapter, he saw the opportunity to evolve this into a Chapter wide doctrine, and schooled the Shadow Falcons in the use of Air Assault Tactics.

Coupling this doctrine with a seemingly innate marksmanship ability this young Chapter quickly earned themselves renown as a surgical strike force, and would find themselves in great demand amongst the outlying worlds of Segmentum Pacificus whose isolated position often found them the attention of many foul Xenos threats. As well as aiding these beleaguered Worlds, the Chapter was often found to be called upon to act as escorts to the numerous Explorator Fleets of the Adeptus Mechanicus operating within the Segmentum.

Although, the Shadow Falcons do not appear often within Imperial records, they have a long and glorious history defending the Worlds along the outer edge of Segmentum Pacificus, even venturing into the darkness of the Halo Stars in order to protect the Imperium.

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ike most Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, the Shadow Falcons do not regard the Emperor as a God, but do offer him reverence as the pinnacle of humanity and as both the founder and master of the Imperium. Instead, it is their Primarch, Corvus Corax, whom they place their hearts and souls in, offering him reverence for the great warrior, tactician, General and hero he was. There is also a growing belief within the Chapter that he shall someday return to gather together his sons and once again lead them in battle against the forces of Chaos after several of the Chapters Librarians had visions foretelling it.

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s successors of the Revilers Chapter, the Shadow Falcons bear the geneseed of the Raven Guard, and they too suffer from the problems associated with it, such as a missing Mucranoid and Betcher's Gland. However, in the Shadow Falcons, the mutation to the melanchromic Organ has become more advanced.

This means that instead of it taking years for a Marines skin to fade to snow white, and his hair and eyes to darken to coal black, it only takes a matter of a few weeks. However, this is not seen as a curse by the Chapter, but instead as a blessing- for it lends them all the appearance of their beloved Primarch.

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he true size, strength and capabilities of the Shadow Falcons fleet is not recorded, but they are known to possess at least 3 Strike Cruisers as well as their vast and ancient Flagship, the Umbra Additum, a ship capable of housing the entire Chapter if required to.

Believed to date back to the hallowed days of the Great Crusade, the Umbra Additum houses numerous hangars and flight decks as well as a vast array of bombardment and defensive weapons. This allows the Chapter to quickly deploy its myriad of Gunships in order to swiftly secure victory.

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ike all sons of Corax, the Shadow Falcons are patient and analytical, striking only when they have determined an enemy's weakness with speed and precision. They regard themselves as the masters in the use of air assault tactics, believing no other Chapter is capable of matching their expertise and skill in fighting from Gunships.

Typically, a Shadow Falcon assault will be carried out in four waves. The first wave will see the deployment of Storm Talons and Storm Ravens to establish air superiority, closely followed by vanguard Infantry Squads being deployed by Storm Ravens to secure a landing Zone for the next wave. The third wave is deployed via Storm Eagles and Thunderhawks, and consists of further Infantry Squads used to support their brethren already deployed, then if required a fourth wave of Thunderhawk Transports will deliver armoured units to the battlefield. All the while, the Gunships will provide close air support and remain in close proximity in order to re-deploy or extract the Squads as the need arises.

Once on the ground, the Shadow Falcons will always seek to gain a swift victory, advancing on their enemy all the time whilst utilising their trusted Bolters and precise marksmanship to eliminate any who oppose them. Often their Squads can find themselves without armoured support if for some reason their Gunships are unavailable to provide air support, so to combat this, they almost always deploy Dreadnought along with their Infantry, where their experience and might can aid their Battle-Brothers.

Although the Shadow Falcons heavily favour this style of warfare, the are still Adeptus Astartes and will utilise any tactic required in order to secure victory in the Emperor's name. Even going as far as to openly regard the Codex Astartes as nothing more than a comprehensive guide to warfare rather than the Holy Tome other Chapters see it as, believing it open to both interpretation and expansion.

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he Shadow Falcons are to all intents and purposes a Codex Chapter, structured into ten Companies as it dictates. However, they have expanded the structure of each Company to better suit their own requirements.

Every Company now permanently maintains their own Squad of Company Veterans to augment their strength and aid in training their Brothers. Whilst each of the four Line Companies also maintain a Recon Squad at all times, thus enabling them to operate as independent battle forces without the need of Chapter support for extended periods of time.

It is also of note that the Chapter's Forges are still capable of producing mk.IV 'Maximus' Power Armour, and that they only seem to possess Tartaros-pattern Terminator Dreadnought Armour- presumably favouring it because of its enhanced mobility over other patterns. Both of which are no doubt gifts of their long-standing relationship with the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Also of note, is that the Shadow Falcons are known to favour the deployment of Recon Squads in full Power Armour, preferring to offer their Battle-Brothers the protection it offers over Carapace Armour. Although if the mission requires the use of it, they will not hesitate to use it.

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two-part call and response between the Commander and Troops is used by the Shadow Falcons as their battle-cry, clearly stating their loyalty and lineage; "For the Emperor!","For Corax!"

[blackoption]

Just an initial look through, but it looks like a solid start.

 

However, a couple of comments.

Glorious history vs unknown....  It is difficult for chapter to claim both.  If they are a chapter that enjoys being unknown uses their anomynity as part of the elment of surprise, then I would keep them as a relatively unknown chapter despite being around since the fifth founding.

 

How did the shadow falcons come across the Umbra Additum?  If it is as formitable as you make it seem, there should probably be a story how it came to be under their flag.  How does the Imperial Navy react to them having such a powerful vessel?

 

Another thing you may want to expand upon is their relationship with the mechanicum. Tartaros Armor is very rare and Mk 4 is held in high regard amongst the Astartes.  What is stopping other (less scruplous) chapters or even traitor war bands from trying to pillage the shadow falcons stocks?

[Ekim_Trub]

I should really have put a glorious history known to none save themselves and a few others, but attitude wise this is no big deal as they are happy to remain the unsung heroes.

As for coming to possess the Umbra Additum, I had thought a little on this, and was thinking along the lines of "right of conquest". The Chapter aided their Ad Mech Explorator allies in reclaiming a lost Shipyard/re-supply base, losing a Strike Cruiser in the process, so they claimed the ship as replacement- and the the Ad Mech obliged as they reclaimed the rest.

I had also thought of their being a cache of Armour locked in a vault within the Facility (say 50 suits?) which they were gifted in way of thanks. As for mk.IV Armour, well I had reasoned that it is still possibly to craft, the Red Scorpions do, and with the Ad Mech as allies, I see it as a possibility the Chapters Forge could be shown how to create it or at least aided in continuing its creation?

[blackoption]

There are many ways you could address these questions.  My own IA states my chapter does not actively seek glory or recongnition for their deeds and have actually passed on acculades to other forces in the Imperium.  I leave a little mystery element by adding some speculation for the reader as to why they do this.

 

As I said initially, you have a solid, if somewhat brief, start to your IA. From what little i have read, I do like your chapter.

[Ekim_Trub]

I must admit, I am struggling to figure out in my head how I'm going to expand on what I have so far. I shall work on it over the weekend, think the hardest thing will be trying not to add stuff just to be "cool".

[Aegnor]

The Tartaros armour leapt out at me as well. Going to be a more and more common issue as people understandably wabt to use it in their 40k armies when the fluff says only a few suits remain.

 

I think the right of conquest/finders keepers approach seems the most doable as well. Maybe they found them *on* the Umbra Additum? Which maybe they salvaged/ retrieved and claimed as their own. I could imagine both issues actually becoming points of tension with the Ad Mech, who want the artefacts to study and honour.

 

Fluff wise, isn't Tartaros armour meant to be heavier and more cumbersome compared to normal Terminator armour? If so, does that mesh with your chapters doctrine of rapid, flexible deployment by gunship? Could easily do so (ie they teleport in on locations scouted by gunship mounted units, a la Deathwing and Ravenwing), but might be a point of interest to describe how they integrate their terminators into that doctrine.

[Ekim_Trub]

It was my belief Tartaros is the lightest, Cataphractii the heaviest with Indomnitus in between.

 

I knew they were classed as rare- but not exceptionally rare. :(

The Ad Mech would obviously be granted 10 suits from the find for study (maybe even exchanging what Indomnitus we have?), as we only need them as a "just in case" measure.

 

I am looking to work more on this all over the weekend, so I should have some ideas up shortly.

[Aegnor]

I'm happy to be corrected as I'm going off somewhat vague recollections rather than sources that I have to hand. Even so, do they ride in dropships as well? (I guess they'd fit in Thunderhawks well enough, but not Storm Ravens/Eagles.)

[Ekim_Trub]

They fit in Thunderhawks and Storm Eagles iirc, so that would be the favoured method.

[blackoption]

Storm Eagles can 20 power armor or 10 terminators.... and technically Tartaros armor has been around since the Horus Heresy...

 

I do like Aegnor's suggestion of finding the suits aboard the Umbra Additum. I also think that some tension between the Shadow Falcons and the Mechanicum might not be a bad thing (look to the Baal Predators for example).

 

Maybe the Umbra was an early prize seized by the chapter against traitor marines or a rival marine faction?  Maybe the Umbra was the hard fought prize from cleansing a Space Hulk?

 

I'd also imagine that the Shadow Falcons probably have a strong relationship (or a strong rivalry) with the Hawk Lords since they are famed for their gunship assaults.

[Ekim_Trub]

I'm skiving at work just now, so currently brokering a deal with the Ad Mech. ;)

[Octavulg]

I read it. They seem pretty standard (in a good way).

 

Anything in particular you're trying to work in or develop but having difficulty with?

 

Oh, personally I find dropcaps annoying to read until things are more than a few lines long.

[Ekim_Trub]

Truth be told, I am almost looking for them to be plain/boring. I don't want an overly flashy themed Chapter, but a straight to business Chapter who simply: deploy, win, move on to next warzone.

But I feel that it would make for a rather disappointing IA, so am looking to kind of make their "all-business" attitude a theme but to no avail.
Writing isn't my strong point to be honest, but I would like to somehow get across my concept of "a Chapter specialising in air assault tactics with a natural talent for marksmanship, who like their Primarch (Corax) was all about tactics and just getting the job done before moving on to the next battle."

I must agree, the dropcaps are pretty crappy looking, and I did mean to edit them out but got distracted.

[Octavulg]

You've kind of got that, really. I'd go to the standard Forge World formatting, since only having two sections will make things look less short (oddly). Little touches of character in sidebars would probably be good - home world stuff is a usual option. The notable engagements section from FWIAs would be very handy for you, too.

 

So I'd recommend switching to a more Forge World-y format.

 

Passing mention of some rituals or something in sidebars might also be neat. The usual sorts of little touches that add character.

[KroSha]

Odd that we've both come back to this at the same time!

[Ekim_Trub]

Definitely, but seeing as your Shadow Falcons existed well before mine...I'll look for a different name. (Don't like duplicate names, lol.)

[blackoption]

We have had two Iron Hands chapters for millennia (before the second became known as the Sons of Medusa), and with as vast and as byzantine the Imperium is, it is possible for two chapters to have the same name and not know about it.

 

Perhaps it can be used to your advantage Trub. You mentioned that your shadow falcons do not like to attract attention to itself, perhaps it allows another chapter by the same name to act as a element that shields them from public scrutiny.

 

In addition, it could offer a chance for you two to collabrate if you so wished (particularly if you decide to go as members of the same chapter OR if the chapter does have a schism).

 

Just a thought

[Octavulg]

Steal KroSha's previous name: the Night Falcons.

[KroSha]

I'd be willing to have them as a splinter group that.... Got lost on their way somewhere and ended up out beyond the halo stars and had to slowly make their way back? On the way they evolved their own ID and changed the paint scheme? Sort of an independent strike force that has grown a lot?

 

I'll take on the gene seed mutation, it's along the lines of what I wanted anyway and there are a lot of similarities in our take on the Chapter.

 

Or use the Night Falcons. I don't mind.

[blackoption]

Here is an idea that popped in my head... after a reunion between the two shadow falcons, the chapters hold a duel between champions to see who keeps the name?  If honor is properly served, the brotherhood of the two chapters becomes stronger. If not, then the two falcons could be come rivals.

[CantonWC]

Hello

 

I seem to remember replying to an earlier topic of yours, I'll do what I can to help.

 

 

Truth be told, I am almost looking for them to be plain/boring. I don't want an overly flashy themed Chapter, but a straight to business Chapter who simply: deploy, win, move on to next warzone.

 

Well, okay, but the problem is, well, they're boring. People want to be interested in a Chapter, to cheer for them, to mourn their losses, to learn more about them, but if you don't got that, well...

 

I'll try and bring up something that I don't think has been brought up before. That is, who are the Shadow Falcons? What do they believe in, what motivates them? Why do they fight, what do they fight for and how did it get to be that way? Presumably this "strictly business" attitude had to come from somewhere, it didn't just develop in a vacuum. Especially since a lot of Chapters tend to place a lot of emphasis on a conception of honor and acquiring glory in battle.

 

What about the Chapter Master? Is he an important character that contributed significantly to the character of the Chapter? Is his personality and accomplishments worth expanding on?

 

How about other factions like other Chapters? Who are the Shadow Falcons' friends? Who do they like and who do they dislike? Who are their enemies?

 

If you can answer some of those questions, you can go a ways toward correcting the problem of being boring.

[Octavulg]

I wouldn't go splinter group, just because explaining it is (far) more work than switching the name slightly.

[Ekim_Trub]

Firstly, thanks to all of you for the replies.

 

Octavulg: I shall look to edit the IA into a more FW-esque format shortly and I have a couple of sidebar ideas which may help 'jazz' things up a bit.

 

blackoption: I know it is possible, but personally, I am not a fan of the whole "2 Chapters, 1 name" thing. So would prefer to find a new name tbh.

 

KroSha: I greatly appreciate your offer to share your hard work and even possibly adopt some of mine, however I would very much like to avoid the splinter group idea as I just don't envision it being something my Chapter would do.

[Ekim_Trub]

Greetings CantonWC, yes indeed you have commented on my ramblings before, and have been a great help everytime. I shall try to answer your questions in order and hopefully in a way that make sense.

 

 

I understand that people do not want boring, but my aim with this IA is not to please the masses, but to merely produce a passable and complete IA. (Becoming enjoyable would be a nice bonus though.)

 

The Chapter believes they are fighting for mankind and the IoM, but to do so properly they need to do so in the manner which they were created to do- by being the aggressors, attacking the enemy before they attack you and not by hiding behind well-built defences.

Motivation comes from their sense if duty. They were specially chosen to be raised above Humanity for a reason, so it is only right to repay that honour with service.

 

They fight on the front foot, they are a spearhead- as all Astartes should be, it is what they were created for. They fight for the IoM, looking to preserve the Emperor's realm until the day comes where all its enemies are gone.

This approach stemmed from the first Chapter Master, who firmly believed that their Primarch would want his sons to be actively hunting down the enemies of the Imperium, and that seeking fame and glory was not befitting of his memory.

 

As for the current Chapter Master, I hadn't paid him much thought tbh as I was looking to develop the fluff for the 5th Company, so may have to think on that one.

 

Due to their isolated location, the Chapter hasn't built many relationships, but they do have a healthy working relationship with the AdMech. This stems fron the Chapter frequently providing escort duties tio the numerous Explorator Fleets operating nearby.

As for enemies, I had envisioned them having a long standing feud with the Dark Eldar do them preying upon Imperial citizens.

[Ekim_Trub]

Been pondering a new name.......what about the Shadow Talons??

The Talons were what Corax named the Tactical Company of the post-Istvaan RG, so its fluffy(ish). It also allows me to keep my colour scheme, but I will have to change their emblem from the Raptors head. :(