IA: Nova Dragons

[Omega Striker]

Brothers, I have returned!

About two years ago, I posted an IA, and we worked on it together for a bit, and then I let it sit for a little bit while I thought about it. That turned into two years of thinking, and now, I am ready for another go.

Without further ado:

EDIT: Suggestions and a name change have been implemented! Updated to 12/20/13.

 

IA: Nova Dragons

Origins and History

The Unfinished Purge

In the closing years of the 34th millennium, the Nova Dragons chapter was formed, using Salamanders derived gene-seed. Originally tasked with the securing of Sector Agarial, a place far on the edge of the northeast corner of the galaxy, the Nova Dragons chapter moved their chapter fleet into the sector and began cleansing the Imperial worlds from the xenos taint which had begun to spiral out of control. For the first two centuries, the crusade went as well as expected. Numerous Ork empires were destroyed, along with several minor xenos species and chaos cults. It was toward the end of the second century that a disturbing mutation arose. Many of the chapter elders were beginning to have rapid, unpredictable failure in parts of their bodies. Organs that were fine the day before began to fail, limbs became useless in a matter of days, and the deterioration would spread to the rest of the body as well, with only one organ seemingly immune: the brain. The marine would be fully alert and aware as the rest of his body suddenly died. For those close to a chapter apothecary, the brain could be saved, placed in vats to await placement in a dreadnought, but most of the assignments were for missions far from the chapter fleet. The veterans and sergeants began to die, suddenly and without warning. Only one or two among hundreds of the marines were spared this blight, for reasons unknown. The Nova Dragons were alarmed by this development, and were forced to rely more and more on chapter serfs and the local Imperial Guard forces to complete their mission, and while this helped somewhat, it was not enough. The Chapter Master called for an assembly of the Chapter.
 

The Years of Loss and the Reformation

When the remaining Chapter elders convened after the cleansing, they knew their chapter would not last long, with hundreds of marines still too young to lead and too few elders to lead them all. The council meetings were dire, filled with accusations of heresy and plans to end the chapter in a blaze of glory on their crusade. The marines senior enough to attend argued for days, and when it seemed no agreement could be received, the council called for a recess from the debate, to allow the remaining elders to continue with the training of the young recruits. The young Master of Sanctity proposed that the chapter elders pray to the Emperor to deliver them from what seemed certain doom, and when they had done so, they dispersed to train as best they could with so few. This method produced terrible results, with many recruits dying in unnecessary, under-supervised or self-inflicted ways, and even the elders died trying to save what they could. When only 27 elders remained, the chapter master called for another meeting of the Chapter. This time, the arguing was much more desperate, and many fights broke out among the ranking members of the chapter. The Master of the Chapter dismissed the elders after only 12 hours of discussion, disgusted with what his chapter had dwindled to.

It was then that the Chief Librarian received an astropathic plea for assistance from a group of Mechanicus Explorators trying to return to the Imperium. The depleted Chapter, seeing no better option, gathered as a Chapter and leaped into the void to assist these Explorators. The pirates and raiders who were attacking the Explorators were not prepared for Astartes intervention, and the Space Marines were able to capture several of the Pirate vessels, as well as save or salvage most of the Explorator fleet. This tactical miracle, combined with the low casualties among the Chapter, was astounding to the elders of the chapter. Consulting the Emperor's Tarot, it was interpreted that the Chapter should continue this pattern, coming to the aid of others and smiting the enemies of the Imperium alongside their allies. Imperial Guard and Navy, Sisters of Battle, Inquisitors, even a hapless Rogue trader or two, all have seen victory seized from the claws, tentacles, and talons of defeat by the timely intervention of the Nova Dragons. The Head Apothecary also had good news. Serving alongside others seemed to slow the rate at which the mutation destroyed their bodies. The Chapter was also able to find more recruits compatible with their gene-seed among their allies as well.

The Decrees: Assistive and Dominant

The seeming miracle, finding deliverance in service, helped the Chapter recover from the drastic losses of the Cleansing and the Years of Loss. After a millennium and a half of rebuilding, when the Chapter was strong again, the Chapter master ordered the continuation of the Unfinished Purge. The Second and Third Companies were selected to begin the purge of Morago, a garden world on the edge of the sector. This task force met with disaster after disaster, from being ambushed in orbit to losing the war of attrition on the ground. In three years of fighting, the battle brothers paid a terrible toll. Only three battle brothers survived long enough to make it off world and return with the dire news: the Eldar had claimed the world, and would protect it from any defilement.

The Chapter Master, not wishing to waste more battle brothers, called upon the chapter's allies in the sector for aid. With the Imperial Guard and Navy backing the chapter, with a small detachment of Soriatas, the cleansing of Morago went much better. The rapid skirmishes of the Eldar did little to blunt the advance of the Guard, and where resistance to Guard progression rose, the Space Marines could clear the area of Eldar. The Navy and Chapter Fleet identified ways that the Eldar could slip in and out of the system, and Eldar reinforcements dwindled. The campaign went extremely well, and the combined force did in one year what two companies of Space Marines could not do in three. Morago was cleansed of Eldar taint and bolstered the Chapter's standing with the Imperial forces in the Sector.

After the campaign, the Chapter elders met to analyse what they could of the failures and successes of the campaign. It was the Master of Sanctity that first proposed the idea: that the Chapter was being punished by the Emperor with defeat for some sin, and that only when the Chapter humbled itself, and worked alongside other worthy Imperial servants, would the Emperor grant them victory. Some were opposed to the notion, calling it cowardice and slavery. One Captain in particular, Marik Slaros of the 16th, was outraged, and said he would never submit to such a command. When he was ordered to perform penance, he departed the meetings, only to take his company and ship and flee rim-ward into Xeno territory. The Chapter was in turmoil, and many wanted to bring the renegades to heel. The Chapter Master ordered everyone to stay, and to abide by his Decree Assistive.

"I have consulted with the Chapter leadership, the records and history of our noble chapter, and
the Emperor's Tarot. If any of you doubt my command in issuing this decree, step forward and
challenge my resolve. I have no doubt that this is the course our Chapter should take. I will show
all of you my certainty."
- Chapter Master Tarkuno Bilyand,
issuing what chapter tradition now calls the Decree Dominant in defense of the Decree Assistive

 

Geneseed and Bio-mechanical Augmentation:

The original Nova Dragons gene-seed stocks were drawn from Salamanders Gene-seed, and the geneseed brings with it the regular Salamander skin mutations, but in the controlled environment of the Chapter fleet, there are no contaminants to drive the change that is prominent of their parent chapter. The skin of their initiates does become paler, but this is caused by their lack of exposure to true sunlight, instead being exposed to lights of their ships. All but a few veterans notice an abrupt, rapid mutation, called by the apothecaries 'deterioration of the flesh', between 2 and 3 centuries of service, and the cause of this is a mystery. A rare few seem to instead avoid the deterioration and stop aging altogether, for which the cause is also unknown. These brothers are said to be blessed by the Emperor, and given special respect, honors, and training. These brothers are rare, with less than ten currently living in the chapter, but they provide a bright point of hope to a chapter cursed with a special weakness of flesh. The eldest among these is the current Master of the Chapter, Raziel Starclaw, who has served the Chapter for over 900 years, but still has the look of a marine in his second century.

In their chapter's endless crusade on the edge of the galaxy, space marines are precious and recruits are few and far between. This means all the more effort is spent on preserving the life of a battle brother, and returning him to active duty as soon as possible. This, along with the rapid degeneration present in most chapter elders, has pushed the apothecaries to become skilled in the art of augmenting their brothers. Over the millennia, the art of augmentation has slowly integrated itself as into part of the chapter cult as well, and many of those who have lost parts to the deterioration are given a choice: choose a life of continued service to the chapter in a dreadnought, or take the option of near-total augmentation. The dreadnoughts are placed in the scout companies or attached as advisers to captains throughout the chapter. The brothers that choose augmentation are placed in special vanguard squads, seeking a glorious, meaningful death in combat.

Home Fleet

The Home Fleet of the Nova Dragons is truly that: their home. Over the millennia, the Chapter Fleet has grown with the addition of ships gifted from the Mechanicus for their services, and the pride of the chapter fleet is a great ship, the Ark of Purpose, recovered from a space hulk. It is these ancient vessels that are the backbone of the Dragons' fleet. Many of these ships have secrets, places hidden from all but their original masters, and systems that have no known purpose. The Nova Dragons treasure these gifts from the Mechanicus, and they patiently maintain the ancient hulks that serve as their home, their armory, and the tomb for every brother they can recover from a field of battle. While not as large as some of the most established chapters, the fleet of the Nova Dragons has proven to be the surprising end of many a heretic, xeno, or traitor.

[=== Work in Progress ===]
The Nova Dragons, in the beginning of their chapters' history, began to keep careful stock of their chapter serfs, those that crewed their fleets, to keep an eye on their genetics. Over time, the chapter's serfs have

Bah! I want to include something about trying to breed astartes from their chapter serfs. Breeding program, picking up choice humans along their journeys, eventually astartes compatible birth rate climbs. How do I make it not suck?

Also, maybe carrying some allies around at all times. Small garrison of Guard or Soriatas? How friendly is too friendly with the non-astartes?
[=== End Work in Progress ===]
 

Combat Doctrine:

The Nova Dragons approach to warfare has been molded by the near-disaster that occurred at the beginning of their crusade. The close brush with oblivion has burnt a desire to fight effectively at range against mankind's enemies into the chapter's heart. When the Nova Dragons leave their fleet behind and descend to fight the enemies of man on foot or on tread, they do so with the same practiced calm that defines their chapter. Their tactics center around overpowering ranged warfare, and this comes at a cost to their close combat skills, which would be almost non-existent if not for their fully augmented brothers in the vanguard company. The Vanguard Veterans and Terminators of the veteran first company have a great deal of experience boarding space hulks and the like, but their numbers are few, and they are held as the bravest (or perhaps most foolish, in the eyes of some more conservative battle-brothers) of the chapter.

The chapter apothecaries have struggled to understand their ancient and bitter curse, with little success. What few breakthroughs there have been have been carefully integrated into their armory. Digital weapons are easily incorporated into most of the chapter elder's bodies, and other hidden weapons, like combat blades, are made retractable and kept hidden until an enemy foolish enough to attack them directly gets close. Their bodies, streamlined by the augmentation process, have room for additional ammunition, grenades, and other surprises one would not expect from those who still have most of their organs.

Organization:

The original Nova Dragons saw much of benefit in the directives laid down by Guilliman in the Codex Astartes, but the first hard years saw them make many changes to their chapter tactics. Company organization was shrunk to 50 combat men apiece. The first company is, by tradition, given to the battle brothers who have been given new purpose in completely augmented bodies. Those veterans without other formal positions are referred to with the title of Ancient. These few brothers are barely a company by the definitions of the Nova Dragons. They are the chapter's honor guard, tasked with protecting captains and force commanders among their brothers. Only once in the chapter's history have they fought as a company, almost a millennium after the founding of the chapter, and they successfully cleansed the hulk that became their fortress monastery.

The true veteran combatants are placed into the second company, assigned the role the Codex calls Sternguard. Currently the number of combat veterans exceeds 50, so the veteran brothers rotate attaching themselves to a battle company or training company, teaching and advising as the situation warrants. Then come the main battle companies, each led by a brother proven in battle and utilizing a great deal of freedom to choose tactics for their company. Some captains specialize in stealth, others in vehicle assaults, and others use specialized weaponry, such as Captain Dakidos' 12th Company, which has specialized in las weapons. Often, Companies are often assigned to work together on missions, the Captains' various specializations working in tandem to create a force greater than the sum of it's parts.

Beliefs and the Chapter Cult:

 

The Decrees

 

By far the largest belief of the chapter is the superstition that the Chapter has somehow lost the Emperor's favor, and only by seeking penance in service can this favor be restored.  While this pervades the chapter to a greater or lesser degree, a few among the chapter have taken this to an extreme, refusing to fight unless there are others standing with the Nova Dragons on any given mission.  While many of the non-astartes allies have been moved by the Dragon's dedication to their survival, this attitude has drawn ridicule from other chapters.

 

 

Battle Cries

 

Although battle cries are common among space marine chapters, The Nova Dragons have had some humbling experiences, and this has caused them to turn to veneration of the Emperor above and excluding all else.  They don't have the connection to their Primarch like the original legions, and no Nova Dragon would dare consider venerating another space marine. Each Nova Dragon is taught their duty, and with the emphasis on piety that came after the fall of the 16th, no Dragon would shout their name, or proclaim some feat as great or worthy.  They accomplish their mission, quietly and effectively.  "For the Emperor!" is the shortest and therefor most common battle cry.  

 

End of IA: Nova Dragons

 

 

Work in Progress Update!

 

Almost finished with the chapter history, laid out a few important events.  How do I wrap up the thing?  It feels like it just ends.  

 

Still having a hard time incorporating the Chapter serfs, so I've left that alone for now.  How do other chapters use their serfs?

 

Organization Section has been improved, and captain differences have been illustrated more.  How'd I do?

 

Lastly, the name.  I have adopted the name Nova Dragons for the time being, and it seems to work.  Any other ideas?

 

 

 

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

Uh, the name "Void Dragon" is already in use in 40k, it's the name of the C'Tan the Emprah sealed beneath the surface of Mars, and who may or may not be the Omnissiah the Mechanicus worships.

[Omega Striker]

That's true, but I've already pointed out the name is insufficient.  What can I do to make it better?

[Uberlord Gendo]

Not sure on the name, but I am curious about the organization of the chapter, ie, how you've got a 16th company.  Is this due to the sudden deterioration, so there are more inexprienced brothers?  (As 20 chapters of 50 is still the regular 1000 marines)

The close incorporation of the serfs may raise eyebrows for violating the whole separation of powers thing, but I think it seems like a good compensational mechanism.

 

So far as breeding good serfs, it could be that, being Salamandery, they encourage competitions in smithing and athletics., as I can't imagine they'd take much more direct measures.

[Omega Striker]

Chapter organization:

 

The chapter is broken into companies 50 men strong (nominally).  There can be up to 20 at once, and the Dragons went above this number for a little while after the near-failure at the beginning of their history.  Most of the companies are just battle companies.  Let me see if I can break it down.  

 

1st Company - Vanguard/Ancients

2nd Company - Sternguard Veterans

3rd Company - Armored Company 

4th, 8th, and 12th Companies - Devastator Companies

5th and 13th Companies - Recon/Demolitions Companies

18th, 19th, and 20th Companies - Scout Companies (usually assigned and distributed with other companies above)

 

Any Company not mentioned above is a regular battle company, marines with the occasional specialist weapon depending on mission.

 

 I'll think about making that a little more clear and give it a shot.  

[Messor]

Working from the top down:

The Dragons almost died...and then? I feel like this is meant to be a set up for the section on augmentation, but even there, the impact of this event on the Chapter doesn't seem very tangible. For example, you mention recruits being few and far between, yet the Chapter is at full 20 company strength only a millenia after this gene-seed failing? That may sound like a long time, but only if the Chapter did pretty much nothing with the, what was it, 150-160 remaining members over that entire period in order to replace it's losses. Their only stroke of luck (and this might be worth including if it fits your style) is that so many of the survivors were initiates who still had progenoids. Remember, each marine is only implanted with two, and those are the seeds of the Chapter. You mentioned 1)Not having enough apothecaries to save most of their brains (or progenoids) and 2) the difficulty in finding recruits. These two facts combined suggest a Chapter that, if they've continued their service to the Emperor this whole time, should be hurting for numbers.

 

Another big question: What was the significance of saving the brains? I don't think that ever came up again. It might be easier to just say they died, unless you have a plan for that already.

 

Dark: I don't think you went over the top with the dark references (I mean, it's gotta have some grimdark), but I think there's some room for alternatives. You talk about "the Dark Year", their fall by degradation, and then refer to the fall of the 16th as their darkest year. I'd suggest rolling with just one "darkest time". The beliefs in general could use more beliefs. Most of what you have in the Battle Cry section could go in beliefs. That section could probably just be cut. I'd also reconsider the use of the word "love". Nothing doesn't say space marine like the word love.

 

Your concerns:

I don't think you need to go into history. In fact a summary similar to what you already have, with a few names salted in, would work fine. "Due to their reduced strength, they...and gained a reputation for reliable aid among..."

 

I can't help you with old codices, so unfortunately I can't give you much to go on as far as counts-as units.

 

Your current blurb on how Captain's work should be just fine. If you want to write an anecdote, that's cool, too.

 

The belief section is a good place to put something about how they interact with Imperial Citizens, and I think you're good without bling.

 

As for names, is there any specific imagery you want to include/avoid? Mythology is full of terrifying beasties of varying sizes and power.

[Omega Striker]

Working from the top down:

The Dragons almost died...and then? I feel like this is meant to be a set up for the section on augmentation, but even there, the impact of this event on the Chapter doesn't seem very tangible. For example, you mention recruits being few and far between, yet the Chapter is at full 20 company strength only a millenia after this gene-seed failing? That may sound like a long time, but only if the Chapter did pretty much nothing with the, what was it, 150-160 remaining members over that entire period in order to replace it's losses. Their only stroke of luck (and this might be worth including if it fits your style) is that so many of the survivors were initiates who still had progenoids. Remember, each marine is only implanted with two, and those are the seeds of the Chapter. You mentioned 1)Not having enough apothecaries to save most of their brains (or progenoids) and 2) the difficulty in finding recruits. These two facts combined suggest a Chapter that, if they've continued their service to the Emperor this whole time, should be hurting for numbers.

 

Good points.  I want to parley into something like: dying marines -> taking geneseed from dying marines and giving it to recruits -> old marines given augments, placed in Vanguard Company -> wait for more dying marines.   The near-death of the chapter makes the chapter worried about numbers, and this continues all throughout the chapter's history.  With serfs at the beginning to boost the number of boots on the ground, to later having larger scout companies, and maybe even going well over the 1000 man limit.

 

Another big question: What was the significance of saving the brains? I don't think that ever came up again. It might be easier to just say they died, unless you have a plan for that already.

 

It was originally preserving leaders long enough for training purposes, but eventually its chapter tradition.

 

 

Dark: I don't think you went over the top with the dark references (I mean, it's gotta have some grimdark), but I think there's some room for alternatives. You talk about "the Dark Year", their fall by degradation, and then refer to the fall of the 16th as their darkest year. I'd suggest rolling with just one "darkest time". The beliefs in general could use more beliefs. Most of what you have in the Battle Cry section could go in beliefs. That section could probably just be cut. I'd also reconsider the use of the word "love". Nothing doesn't say space marine like the word love.

 

Yeah, definitely need to work on that.  Will get to editing.  

 

 

Your concerns:

I don't think you need to go into history. In fact a summary similar to what you already have, with a few names salted in, would work fine. "Due to their reduced strength, they...and gained a reputation for reliable aid among..."

 

I can't help you with old codices, so unfortunately I can't give you much to go on as far as counts-as units.

 

Your current blurb on how Captain's work should be just fine. If you want to write an anecdote, that's cool, too.

 

The belief section is a good place to put something about how they interact with Imperial Citizens, and I think you're good without bling.

 

As for names, is there any specific imagery you want to include/avoid? Mythology is full of terrifying beasties of varying sizes and power.

 

I want the kind of imagery 'horrible death in space'.  Right now I am doing it with a bit of 'eaten by a large predator' mixed in. The Chapter icon is a dragon's head eating a star (although that is probably going to change).  Anything large and eaty, whether dragons, kraken, something large and mythological.  Nothing real like lions or tigers.  And then put that animal/creature/thing in space.  Void, Star, Meteor, Nova, something like that.  Hey, Nova Dragons seems good.  Nova Krakens.  Huh.  Void Scythes.  Maybe weapons would work.  Void Swords.  Nova Hammers.  Nova Swords.  Void Hammers.  Huh.  Kinda like Nova Swords.  Gonna think on it for a bit.

[Omega Striker]

Okay, thought it over some for Christmas and the new year, and made some tweaks and grammar edits.  

 

I'm still struggling with the Home Fleet and the Beliefs and Chapter Cult sections, kinda drawing blanks on what should go here.  

 

Comments and criticism please!