Angels of Conviction

[Conviction]

 

 

This is pretty cool on the whole. I liked the originality of quite a few things, like the use of a cemetary world for instance. No glaring problems, I'll nonetheless try and make a few comments if I may :

 

 

 

Hey all, I've edited this DIY chapter quite a few times. I've scrapped and edited a ton of ideas so hopefully it flows well. Please rip it apart and let me know what you'd like me to expand on. I think it is a good start but any and all advice is more than welcome.

 

 

Index Astartes

 

 

Angels of Conviction

 

 

Origins

 

The High Lords of Terra recognized that the military resources of the Imperium were overstretched in the Segmentum Obscurus, and ordered a new chapter of Space Marines in the 22nd Founding to face these enemies. From the outset, they were to be created from the most stable gene-seed stocks available to the Adeptus Mechanicus. The Ultramarines were chosen as the primogenitors of the Chapter due to the absolute purity of their gene-seed. For 55 years, the Adeptus Mechanicus produced a set of 1,000 new Astartes organs for the creation of the Chapter. During this time, Forge Worlds were turned over to the manufacturing of the mighty arsenal of weaponry, ammunition, Power Armor, vehicles, and starships that the Chapter would require. 

 

Notable Campaigns

 

Barrón Uprising (434.M38) - Barrón was a Civilized World and the former capital world of the Dread Rim. The Planetary Governer, Daramor Thraxis, led a secessionist revolt that grew like wildfire in the system. When the secessionists became known to the Imperium, the Angels of Conviction were tasked with suppressing the revolt. Three battle companies fought the rebellion, stretched across numerous planets and sub-sectors. The Chapter unleashed their wrath against any population that supported the corrupt Planetary Governer. After nearly 20 years of continuous warring, Daramor and his supporters were eradicated. Peace was brought to the system for the first time in its history and the Angels of Conviction were rewarded for their triumph with a fiefdom in the Dread Rim.

 

Olamon Heresy (867.M40) - Cardinal Olamon was a power-hungry man who desired to build an empire in his own glory. He controlled a small diocese of the Ecclesiarchy on a Cardinal World called Marrimont. To achieve his aims, he enslaved the population of Marrimont and began to indoctrinate a radical view of the Imperial Cult where he was the reincarnation of the Emperor. With a large group of fanatical devotees and mercenaries he conquered the neighboring planets. Eventually, 23 planets were under his reign and it wasn’t long before the Imperium took notice. The Angels of Conviction, forces of the Ordo Hereticus, and regiments of the Imperial Guard were deployed to exterminate the heretic forces. After 7 years of brutal fighting, the Mad Cardinal’s reign was put to an end. His heretical forces were condemned to death and the penalty of Decimation on the populous of these worlds was enforced. Every tenth person was slain as righteous punishment for the perversion of the God-Emperor’s faith.

 

Fall of the Prevailers (701.M41) - The Prevailers were a Chapter of Astartes during the same founding as the Angels of Conviction. These successors of the Imperial Fists had undertaken many campaigns with the Angels. After fighting together in numerous battles, the two Chapters had become close allies. The High Lords of Terra tasked the Prevailers with cleansing an alien empire that had been turned to the Ruinous Powers. The Astartes fought the warped alien forces of Chaos, yet could not overcome their enemy after a decade of fighting. The Chapter had lost nearly half of its forces, most being veterans. Over time, the Prevailers fell to the whisperings of the Dark Powers that they had been fighting and began butchering the citizens of Imperial planets. When their fall had become known, they were declared Excommunicate Traitoris. Having been such close allies of the Prevailers, the Angels of Conviction were ordered to prove their loyalty to the Emperor by destroying the Astartes traitors and purging the Chaotic taint of the alien empire. Working with a large contingent of Imperial Guard and Inquisition forces, the Chapter launched their assault. Heavy casualties were taken by all. The Angels of Conviction themselves were decimated with the 5th company being lost entirely, and the 1st, 2nd, and 6th companies taking horrendous casualties. The Imperial forces remained strong and were victorious after more than fifty years of brutal engagements. The entire traitor chapter was destroyed and the alien empire purged.

 

Chapter Homeworld

 

The Dread Rim is a heavily contested sector that serves as a bastion of the Imperium's defense against the constant and persistent threat to Imperial space in the Segmentum Obscurus. These worlds are extremely well-defended, usually with large numbers of Imperial Guard regiments and Imperial Navy forces.

 

The Chapter was given its Homeworld by the High Lords of Terra on the Cemetary Moon of Conviction for their part in the Barrón Uprising. Conviction circles the Hive World of Athica. The moon was chosen as a chapter fief, so that the Chapter can watch Athica carefully. This vigilance ensures no uprising will occur again on a capital world of the Dread Rim. Conviction is covered in fields of endless burial plots that contain the remains of the honored Imperial dead. These memorials commemorate the massive battles participated in by the Athican Dread Guard for the Imperium of Man. Conviction’s only city and administrative capital, Astudan, is staffed by Ecclesiarchy priests, serfs, indentured servants, and other personnel needed to maintain the funerary monuments and bury the newly-arrived dead within the vast necroplex which extends across the moon. The Fortress-Monastery of the Angels of Conviction towers above all these buildings and gravesites in Astudan.

 

Athica became the capital world of all the sub-sectors in the Dread Rim after the Uprising of Barrón, having been one of the few planets that had remained loyal to the Imperium during the insurrection. The planet is a Hive World that is home to over 18,000,000,000 Imperial citizens. It is a vital center for the region, producing many regiments of the Astra Militarum and Planetary Defense Forces across the segmentum. Those citizens who do not join the Guard are left to terribly arduous lives in Hive Cities where everyone is only equal in their hardship.

 

Although the Chapter has no dominion in Athica, the Angels of Conviction find potential aspirants who have been able to survive the worst of circumstances in the Hive Cities of the planet. They are brought to Astudan to undertake Challenge Trials. The first day is spent with a Chaplain, where the aspirant´s faith and spirituality are tested. Should he be found faithless or spiritually weak, he is immediately purged. On the second day, the aspirant is dropped completely naked 100 miles away from the fortress-monastery among the endless graves. He is poisoned and told that he must venture back to the fortress-monastery for an antidote within 24 hours or die. Upon his successful return, the aspirant is given a psychoactive concoction that produces the most horrific terrors the aspirant can imagine. The terrors last for the duration the concoction remains in the aspirant´s bloodstream. The aspirants body is healed and tended to while he remains under the concoction to prepare him for the next day should his psyche remain intact. Two aspirants who have survived the previous challenges must face each other in combat. Whoever wins the duel to the death becomes a neophyte of the Angels of Conviction. 

 

Chapter Organization

 

The Angels of Conviction are hard-line adherents to the organization of the Codex Astartes, having descended from the Ultramarines. The Chapter is rarely gathered en masse except at the commencement of a major Campaign called by the Chapter Master. Most often the forces of the Angels of Conviction are dispersed to multiple task forces deployed to various expeditions and war zones spread over the vast distances of the Dread Rim. It is not unheard of for individual task forces to be out of communication with the rest of the Chapter for years or decades at a time.

 

Chapter Combat Doctrine

 

The Angels of Conviction are a fairly pragmatic Chapter of Astartes, for they seek to cause maximum attrition amongst the foe whilst minimizing their own casualties by any means necessary. Fluidity, timing, and technique are all subservient to their desire to be the last man standing in a field of enemy corpses. Displays of prowess with Bolter or sword are worth little to the dead. For the Chapter has seen endless fields of graves and understand that the ultimate sacrifice is not an unnecessary one.

 

All ranks are able to make tactical decisions and are encouraged to act on their own initiative. The Angels of Conviction combine arms in flexible, balanced battle groups. Each of these battle groups can present an opponent with a diversity of threats in order to press their attack swiftly so that the foe is overwhelmed before he can react. They are best known for their persistence in finishing an operation no matter how long it takes, no matter where the enemy has ran, and no matter how many times they have to regroup and attack again.

 

Chapter Beliefs

 

The entire moon of Conviction is a tribute to the fallen soldiers of Mankind. This solemn notion has given the Angels of Conviction a much higher respect for the mundane man than other Astartes. They understand that there are great evils that fill the Galaxy and it takes more than the one chapter of Space Marines to defend what the Emperor has built. It is not uncommon for the Chapter to fight alongside the forces of the Astra Militarum because of this.

 

The Chapter’s Astartes are faithful followers of Athican Adventism, a variation of the standard creed of the Imperial Cult. This is due to the recruitment of Aspirants from Athica, where the entirety of the population are practitioners of that doctrine. It is a unique belief among the followers of Athican Adventism that the Emperor allowed Horus´rebellion to demonstrate to all the worlds of mankind that his Law is righteous and necessary. Breaking his Law leads to moral catastrophe as evidenced by Horus and all others who have fallen to Chaos. The brethren of the Chapter see themselves as the Emperor’s Chosen to purge the forces of evil throughout the Imperium and that He will rise again off the Golden Throne and bring salvation to Mankind. They care little for the individual glory of the warrior, but are instead consumed by the task of bringing death to those that defy the Emperor's will or seek to thwart His holy purpose. This demonstration of their faith in the Imperial Creed has won them political support from the Ecclesiarchy. 

 

The fall of the Prevailers had an immense impact on the Chapter. Having been such close allies with the Chapter, it was like losing brothers of their own Chapter. It reinforced their distrust of any who do not venerate the God-Emperor. Chapters of Astartes in particular that believe the Emperor was merely a man, are not to be trusted. The belief that the Emperor is anything but a God is folly and can only lead to enslavement by the Ruinous Powers. Should any Astartes fall to Chaos, it is the duty of the Angels of Conviction to purge their souls on behalf of the Emperor. This has led the Chapter to become fanatical about gene-seed purity. Any Chapter who does not have pure gene-seed is viewed as tainted and untrustworthy. All of these beliefs have strained their relationships with a majority of Astartes chapters who do not approve of their views.

 

Notable Angels of Conviction

 

Chapter Master Atherol - Atherol was inducted into the Angels of Conviction during his adolescence on Athica. His record of service to his Chapter proved to be exemplary. From a raw Neophyte he rose steadily through numerous campaigns by displaying steadfast dedication to his Chapter's creed. He had become an icon to his Chapter over his years of service, being a veteran of some of the most terrible wars and battles in the Chapter's recent history. He was meritoriously promoted to Chapter Master after rallying the Angels of Conviction when the preceding Chapter Master was slain during the Fall of the Prevailers after eventually leading them to victory over the forces of Chaos.

 

Captain Eldon - Eldon is the Captain of the Angels of Conviction’s 6th Company. He is a long-time servant of his Chapter, having battled in wars and crusades for the past 700 years. His entire company was committed to the invasion by his Chapter Master during the Fall of the Prevailers. He was one of the few surviving members of his company and fought valiantly against the traitorous enemy.

 

Veteran Brother Halvor - A respected and legendary warrior within the Angels of Conviction, Brother Halvor wields one of the Chapter's Vehement Blades and holds a seat on Atherol’s Battle Council. He earned use of the blade as the sole surviving member of his squad tasked with hunting down the last remnants of the Prevailers and striking them down himself.  

 

Chapter Fleet

 

The Angels of Conviction control three battle-barges, the Advent of the Emperor, Silent Vigil, and Dauntless. All are used with the purpose of assaulting other planets. These Battle Barges are primarily configured for the close support of planetary assaults and surface landings and carries numerous bombardment turrets and torpedo tubes. A large amount of the starship's hull space is dedicated to launch bays for intra-system spacecraft like Thunderhawks and Drop Pods and up to three of the Chapter’s companies are capable of deploying simultaneously from each one. One company is almost always left in reserve on Conviction.

 

Chapter Relics

 

Vehement Blades - These ancient relic blades are of immense spiritual value to the Chapter. The blades have been blessed by the Chapter’s Chaplains and it is said among the battle-brothers that the closer to death a battle brother becomes, the brighter they shine. A beacon to the brothers of the Chapter and the enemies of mankind, showing the Conviction of the Emperor. They are only ever gifted to the greatest of Battle-Brothers, often reserved for its Company Captains and Chapter Master. If a hero of the Chapter proves himself worthy, he may be allowed to wield one of the blades in battle. But this is a rare and great honor bestowed to few.

 

Heart of Conviction - The Heart of Conviction is the ancient Battle Standard of the Chapter and it is considered to be their most revered Chapter relic. It has been preserved since their founding, each generation passing it on to the next as a burning torch of their endless zeal for the immortal Emperor who made them. It has persevered through countless battles and campaigns fought by the Chapter.

 

Warcry

 

“Unknown”

 

Chapter Colors

 

The Angels of Conviction Power Armor colors are primarily cream with exception of the Left Shoulder Pad, which has the inset colored black. The aquila on the chest is black in color and the eye lenses on the helmets are a ruby red. Symbols for squad-type are primarily black and are located on the right shoulder pad. Cream colored squad numbers are designated within the shoulder symbols. Sergeant status is marked with a golden skull on the helmet. Veteran Sergeant is marked with a black helmet stripe and golden skull. Full Veteran status is marked with a black helmet. 

 

Chapter Badge

 

The Angels of Conviction honor their heritage by using the inverted Omega symbol of the Ultramarines, turned ninety degrees on its side resembling a ‘C’. The ‘C’ is beset by angel wings on each side.

 

 

 

The first thing that really struck me was when I read Ultramarines successor. It might seem trivial, but I had read "Angels of conviction" and seen a cream and black armour colour scheme and immediatly thought "wow, that's a cool Dark Angel successor name and colour scheme." It quite amused me then to see I was wrong about the chapter's gene-seed.

If I were you, I'd mention something about this similarity to Dark Angel colours and name, even if it's as simple as saying that people sometimes make this mistake. You could also go full hog and say that they replaced a dark angel successor that had the same number and colour scheme (like the mentors replaced the star scorpions). 

 

I like the arc about the Prevailers. I'd probably try and integrate them into one of the previous campaigns so that the reader can start to feel the same kinship towards both chapters, though I must admit you've done a surprisingly good job of showing how close the chapters felt. You might still want to show how the angels felt devastated by what they did. For instance, the battle-brother who killed the chaos chapter master of the prevailers was subsequently interred in a Dreadnought, but has been plagued with madness ever since.

 

All three of your sample campaigns are quite long by space marine standards. You might want to include a sentence about the chapter's predilection for protracted wars.

 

On Athican Adventism : I like the fact your chapter follows, not the beliefs of the first founding chapters, not the beliefs of mainline ministorum, but a variant of this last one. However, you'll have to go a bit further in explaining this one, because Imperial Citizens are not supposed to know about the Horus Heresy : those that discover this are now either agents of the Inquisition, mind wiped, or dead. The Imperium believes that the simple knowledge of the existence of the Heresy leads to more heresy, so I'd recommend you change it slightly (for instance talk about it as some sort of legendary battle between a devil-god and the Emperor, or some-such), or else find a rock hard reason for them to know about it and not be PURGED.

 

I like your use of a relic that isn't a weapon: people often forget (me included) that not all space marine relics are weapons, and that a battle standard may well be sacred in the eyes of an Astartes.

 

And finally, I like the idea of a big "C" as their chapter symbol, but I'm not sure about wings sprouting out of it on each side. I'd say only on the curved side, or else try and inkscape/photoshop a representation of your idea.

 

 

 

 

Most of these comments are pretty much my opinion, except for the one on Athican Adventism. But really, all of these are just minor concerns, it's really pretty good. 

 

 

I haven't returned back to this in months but they are some fantastic ideas. I will absolutely be incorporating a lot of the suggestions. Greatly appreciate your insight. This board has truly helped me create a Chapter background that gives me so much more joy when playing.