Silver Phoenix's Path of Penance

[Brother Argent]

I walk the Path of Penance...

Greeting fellow Liberites.

I come you, my brothers, on this eve not as an equal. Not as a honoured member of the Legio. A marine no longer fit to walk the hallowed and often utterly crazy halls of the Liber. For you see, my brothers, I have failed. Not once, not twice, but countless times. I have taken up the torch of the Emperor's Light so many times, only to falter and fall. I have let down not only myself, but you, my fellow Liberites and that is a crime unforgivable. And for this, my shame over countless oaths broken, I must atone. To walk the Path of Penance. To blled for my brothers once more. To stand beside you, throughout the birth of a new Chapter and another glorious golden age of the mighty Liber!

And so I, Silver Phoenix, swear to wear no Chapter colours. To hold no banner high. To yell no battle cry and to know no peace until this, my Penitent Crusade, is done...

I shall walk the Path of Penance until I atone. And this time, failure it no longer an option!

The Path Before Me.

So, this is it. After my repeated failures on various on board challenges, events I tried to organise and many other times I have let you, my fellow Liberites, down I have decided to take a stand. For each of my failures I shall perform an act of atonement. Each shall be linked from here in time. I ask and encourage you all to help me on what will turn out to be, I imagine, quite a difficult task for me. So, the stepping stones on my Path of Penance are:

The Iron Gauntlet: For my failure, not just to complete my own challenges, but to run the Iron Gauntlet to fruitition I swear to create a new Chapter from scratch, using an outline created with the Deathwatch: Rites of Battle table.

The Librarium Painting Challenge 2011, 2012: For my failure in two successive LPCs I swear to provide the Librarium with two articles of a suitable nature.

The E Tenebrae Lux 2012, 2013: For my abysmal efforts in the ETL both times I swear to paint 3650 points worth of Marines in the colours of the above created Chapter. 10 points for every day of the path.

Silver Phoenix's Deathwatch Challenge: Although not completely dead the Deathwatch Challenge is on its last legs. For this I vow to write 6 short stories with at least two involving the marines submitted for the Challenge, with a further larger piece of fiction to be completed following the Path of Penance.

The Liber Campaign V1, V2: Not only did I fail my brothers in this glorious under taking the first time but I recently lost track of deadlines and failed again. For this I shall complete, with the aid of several other brothers hopefully, a mini Campaign article using the Path's Chapter. For this one I have certain brothers in mind but if they cant help me I might just throw the door open for some volunteers...

All these Challenges I shall complete within one year from today (So 11:59PM - 15/08/2014). I shall bear a signature of shame until my Path is complete. A signature that will likely change as I make progress.

So, I think that is about it. If anyone else can think of any other Challenges I have failed, I am happy to hear about it...

[Brother Argent]

The Path so Far:

 

So, my playing on the Rites of Battle Tables got me this:

 

Why: Crusade

 

When: 36^th Millennium

 

 

Progenitor: Imperial Fists

 

 

Geneseed Purity – Altered

 

 

Geneseed Flaw: Mutated Catalaspean Node

 

 

Characteristics: Duty till Death - +5 Willpower, +5Toughness

 

 

Character of Legend: Seconded Battle Brother 2^nd Squad 5^th Company – Ork Bane

 

Homeworld: Medieval World Jungle World /Forest World

 

Relationship with Homeworld: Direct Rule

 

Organisation: Codex Chapter

 

Combat Doctrines: Thunderhawk Assault

 

 

Unit Restrictions: Restrictions on Apothecary

 

Special Wargear: Bestial Companions 

 

Beleifs: Esoteric Beliefs

 

Current Strength: Under Strength

 

Allies: Adeptus Soriotis

 

Enemies: Chaos Space Marines

 

 

So whilst I have some rough ideas on where to take this I wanted to get some thoughts from the Liberites.  A rough run down of my thoughts are: An Imperial Fist Successors created for a Crusade... well, thats pretty easy.  Maybe make up a system and an awesome saint to lead an voila, Origins sorted.  For the altered Geneseed I am thinking that maybe the Chapters Apothecaries tried to "fix" the deficiencies in the Fist Geneseed, but only made it worse.  Perhaps because of this the Chapter distrusts Apothecaries to a degree and thus the restrictions on them I rolled up later.  Perhaps even why they are under strength.  With less Apothecaries they are starting to struggle to meet the Chapters demands.  Or maybe the geneseed flaw is worsening and the Chapter is finding it harder and harder to find viable geneseed.

 

Not sure what to do with the whole Hero of Legend thing.. A seconded Battle Brother doesn't really leave me with any great options...

 

Whilst I rolled Medieval Jungle World I am thinking more forest then jungle, think primeval black forest.  Like a world wide Fangorn from Middle Earth or something.  I could tie in the Bestial Companions here too.  Hunting hawks or dogs etc all bioniced up.  Once thing I am unsure on is why an Imperial Fist Successor would take Direct Rule of a planet.  I like the idea of their homeworld being given to them for their part in their founding crusade.

 

Esoteric Beliefs... That is a toughy... Its probably going to be one of the main defining points of these astartes.  Particularly when they are friends with the Sisters... Cant really figure that one out...

 

Enemies with Chaos Marines... Uh, Duh.... Maybe I throw in a hinted suspicion of sabotage with their little geneseed issue.  Its a possibility, but I dont want the Geneseed issue being their only hook.

 

So, can anyone else help me out with any ideas here?

[blackoption]

For the chapter's hero, remember that he may have been seconded from a your chapter's "parent" chapter, but that doesn't mean he didn't become a leader in his own right for your chapter's early history.  Perhaps he became a legendary tactical or assault sergeant who lead a culling of an Ork world after his Captain fell to the Ork Warboss.  Perhaps he was a captain in the chapter who slew many warbosses on his own.  That is how I would look at that particular challenge

[Ecritter]

I'm just glad to see you back to work on the Deathwatch Challenge. :)

[Brother Argent]

I was considering that path.  Maybe he was just a normal guy when he was seconded.  The Crusade maybe stalled and the Chapter went through a few leaders. By then end Mr Tactical ends up Mr Captain and maybe helps win the day.  I must admit I am warming to a very Jeanne d' Arc (or Joan of Arc) feel for the early Crusade.  This guy could end up as some kind of Jean de Metz figure.  Only thing is I don't want a hugely french inspired Chapter.  Still, a little subtle themeing never goes astray...

 

@ECritter-Whilst I may have plans to work on it the Full version, so to speak, wont be until after I finish the rest of my Path, that way I can devote my full attention to it.  I will, however, have at least a couple of short stories involving some of the guys... kinda like a prelude to the main story... So I can create something really awesome when I do finally get there.

[Donkey Kong]

Great to see you again Silver! I'll second Ecritter, it's good to see the Deathwatch Challenge up again. Take your time with everything, you've got yourself plenty of time to do it.

As for the chapter you rolled up, I think the biggest problem is the alliance with the Soriotis. Don't the Sisters already have a distrust for marines, and wouldn't mutated marines just make that relationship more strained?

[War Angel]

Couldn't you just.... Finish up your vow in te next few hours and call it good?

[Conn Eremon]

About the Sororitas, I have a notion.

 

What if your new Chapter is itself on a penance crusade, and this Order, while an ally on the battlefield, is present as a watchdog?

 

It could explain the ally, the low numbers, and perhaps even your lowly Marine hero, who can rises through the ranks to lead the remnants back to the Imperium.

[Ace Debonair]

If you want any help inventing colours for these guys, give me a shout.

...Also I totally nominate this Chapter's badge should be an iron gauntlet.

[Brother Argent]

@KHK - Good to see the Astral Reavers about still too.  I imagine the Imperium as a whole would distrust them.  And the Fists would certainly shun them.  Being a mutation of a non visible nature, however, I imagine they might be able to keep it somewhat of a secret.  Perhaps a secret that haunts them like the whole Fallen shin dig with the DA

 

@War Angel - As I mentioned in my post in the ETL thread, which has since been eaten by the board crash, I lost several models, paints, brushes et al during my recent move.  Whilst these objects have since turned back up I would have been required to paint 40 marines in a few hours.  Hours that I needed to spend sleeping between shifts.  That and I wouldn't have been happy with whatever paint job I provided.  And finally, this way its more fun...

 

@Cormac - I like the idea of a penitent crusade and I can see it working as having the Sisters at watch dogs so to speak.  Only issue is the fact that generally most Chapters loose their homeworld when they commit an act grievous enough to be sent on a Penitent Crusade.  That coupled with the fact that Mr Tactical (As I have decided he shall be called for now) has to be a Seconded Marine (as that is the mostly nonsensicle result I rolled) and the Chapter would probably just be stamped out if they committed that kinda crime that early on.  Still, I see a Penitent Crusade possibly in their history.

 

@Ace - Well I was kinda hoping you would make that offer... I am wanting something... Fisty?  Something simple yet easily recognized, as I feel that goes well with the Imperial Fist ethos.  And as for Chapter symbol.  I was thinking a variation of the Imperial Fist uh... Fist.  However an iron one now does hold a certain appeal...

 

Thanks for the feed back guys.  I am really starting to come up with an idea of where I want to take these guys.  

[Ace Debonair]

*Puts on Heraldry Dept. Hat*

EDIT:

Keeping the bandwidth down or something, I forget what removing the pics actually does. All I remember is that it's good for the site!

 

KAPOW!

[Dosjetka]

Lovely schemes you've got there, Ace :wub:

 

#2 gets my vote.

[Ace Debonair]

I save the 'KAPOW' for the good stuff.

[Conn Eremon]

The blue has a mottled look to it on my phone. Kinda makes it look cool.

 

Looks a little Space Wolfy, but the 2nd has enough divergence to look unique. Very bright and colorful, like Eldarines.

[Brother Argent]

I personally am leaning towards 2. What blue or grey is that? I usually only work with the old space marine painter as I find the new one makes the colours too washed out.

[Lysimachus]

I like the second one better, although it is a little reminiscent of the Raptors scheme (pre-camo green).

 

Not to suggest that's a terrible thing though.

[Ecritter]

Ace, I think replacing the yellow with grey would look better myself.

[Ace Debonair]

The blue has a mottled look to it on my phone. Kinda makes it look cool.

Looks a little Space Wolfy, but the 2nd has enough divergence to look unique. Very bright and colorful, like Eldarines.

Hoi! Get them foul xenos away from my colourschemes!

Pointy-eared scoundrels wish they could look this good.

I personally am leaning towards 2. What blue or grey is that? I usually only work with the old space marine painter as I find the new one makes the colours too washed out.

'Tis a custom blue, to be honest. I started with Enchanted Blue (or fenris grey, I forget which) and decided it was too washed out, so...

EDIT: The Hex colour code thingy is: #4c9fba

Ace, I think replacing the yellow with grey would look better myself.

I actually tried that first, and while it does look really good, I thought the nod to the Imperial Fists was more befitting of SP's idea.

It also looks pretty good with rich browns, to my surprise.

[Aqui]

I prefer the first one (just to go against most others ) It'll be good to see you accomplish this SP

[Brother Cambrius]

Silver Phoenix, though you walk the path of penance, we the Liberites are here to help you walk the path and guide you through its perils. You do not walk alone. Proof enough of that is here in this thread.

As I'm a little late with the Heraldry Department, I thought I'd weight in anyway *puts the hat on*. I think that the blue should be a nice grey as it will compliment the yellow fantastically.

<EDIT:> I decided to go retro and play with the V5 Painter to add the Wargear. I tweaked the blue a tad to look a bit greyer:

The idea for the iron gauntlet I also approve of immensely. Opens up the chance for names too to suit that. Maybe it should have the fist clenching a lightning bolt, akin to the Excoriators?

The Penitent Crusade is a strong idea in my head, and it'd make sense for the sisters to be keeping an eye on the chapter as they work on earning back the trust and forgiveness of the Imperium. Perhaps though on that train of thought, the Penitent Crusade happened a thousand years or so in the chapter's past, but the Sisters decided they want an element of their Order to continue keeping a weather eye on the Chapter, in case they slip in their judgements/actions once again.

In regards to the geneseed sabotage, perhaps a rogue Iron Warriors element colluded with some Alpha Legionnaires to have the geneseed "altered" so that the chapter fall to Excommunication or destruction? Would help add to the whole Penitent Crusade thing potentially, maybe the Chapter themselves decided to go on the Penitent Crusade due to their lack of awareness that they were being sabotaged by the corruption of Chaos forces.

Looking forwards to seeing this develop brother!

Cambrius

[Ecritter]

I like it, but I like everything better in v5.

[Aqui]

The shade of blue and yellow Brother Cambrius shows looks very good

And yeah, V5 FTW!

[Ecritter]

His does look more SW'y though.

[Ace Debonair]

See, I avoided grey, because then it's a Space Wolf with yellow legs.

It looks good, though, so I dunno. Whatever works.

Also the new painter is miles better than the old one. Just sayin'.

[elohimalpha]

Digging it. The fist, if that's still on the table, should definitely be holding something. Lightning bolt is cool, a heart could be evocative, and you can never go wrong with skulls. Probably not tons of room on a shoulder for any kind of weapon.

 

I know next to nothing about the Sororitas and how they act - would it be possible that they're following a prophecy that leads them to think this Chapter will lead them to (or contains) a Saint (or someone that may become one)? Probably a bit of a stretch, but it would keep them hanging around, watching for "signs and wonders" while still keeping the Marines at arms-length.

 

Your Apothecary fluff sounds perfect.