Rethinking An Old Idea

[Julgolax]

I remember how inspired I was back some year or two ago with an idea for a semi-orthodox DIY chapter I called the "Ashbringers".

The core idea still is a Salamanders successor chapter, one of the rare few. The chapter's homeworld is logically a very volcanic place, similar to Nocturne. The people are a religious culture of miners, blacksmiths, and feudal lords from which the chapter draws it's recruits. The chapter's religion is entirely compliant with the Imperium but they also have cultural rituals that deal with sacred ashes, precious stones and metals. As you can imagine, they specialize in flame and melta weaponry in addition to the standard range of astartes tactics. They value craftsmanship and the sacred arts of metalworking.

I've thought about the structure of the chapter's companies and I thought it would be interesting to embrace the different style of companies of their primogenitor chapter. The Ashbringers use the same 7 oversized companies but because they're a young chapter, they've only been able to procure 20 suits of Terminator Armor, one of which belongs to my chapter master. The chapter's color scheme is a mix of a fiery orange and a volcanic rock gray-black. The insignia I've had in my mind was an erupting volcano design, a blocked out orange triangle connected with a simple flame design at the top. Using the SMP, I have a couple basic designs below.

From here, I could use some advice and questioning to help me figure out anything I've missed. If you'd like to hear more about their culture I can certainly go into that as well. The reason I've chosen "Ashbringers" rather than "Flamebringers" or a name more emphasizing flames is because ashes are an integral part of their culture. To them, nothing is more sacred then the ashes and I was inspired by the ritual of the taking of the water from the Iron Snakes. Before each battle the ashes of a fallen brother, an officer, or on rare/dire occasions the ashes of a former chapter master are touched to the forehead of each battle brother deployed. This is usually performed by the sergeant, chaplain, or captain.

What do you think? As I said, I could use some advice and questions!

First Option: My original design

Second Option: Inspired by the Salamanders

[Reyner]

I remember these guys, go for it. I do like the new scheme but there is a lot of black - maybe add some more orange in somewhere, maybe have the backpack orange as well?

[Dragonkin Arenis]

My first diy chapter were drawn from the Slamanders as well. This was ages ago, but I think I can ask some questions that can help you with the Ashbringers.

 

I like this idea of a pseudo-Christian ash ritual - it has its roots in the real world, but is still inspired by other means. I take it the ashes of these fallen brothers are stored in some kind of urn-ossuary, or something, and that the "rank" of ashes used reflects how dire the situation is?

 

Any unique formations/units in the Chapter? Famous members? Do they have their own version of Vulkan He'stan, or do they welcome the Forgefather with open arms when he comes around?

 

What about the planet? Is it similar to Nocturne in that each Company draws recruits from a single settlement, or does the Chapter draw recruits from all over the planet? What rituals must neophytes undertake before they are considered to be Battle Brothers?

Their gene-seed is drawn from that of the Salamanders, so do the Ashbringers have similar genetic defects/quirks to their gene-sires, such as the skin pigmentation/eye colour changing or slower reflexes than the majority of other Chapters? Are these changes due to their planet's radiation levels or high gravity, respectively?

 

As far as the colour schemes go, I like your design, but as Reyner has pointed out, there's a lot of black in there. Perhaps the eagle should be a different colour, such as bone or silver/gold?

How are you going to pick out your Veterans and Sergeants? What about differentiating between Companies?

[Julgolax]

My first diy chapter were drawn from the Slamanders as well. This was ages ago, but I think I can ask some questions that can help you with the Ashbringers.

 

I like this idea of a pseudo-Christian ash ritual - it has its roots in the real world, but is still inspired by other means. I take it the ashes of these fallen brothers are stored in some kind of urn-ossuary, or something, and that the "rank" of ashes used reflects how dire the situation is?

 

Any unique formations/units in the Chapter? Famous members? Do they have their own version of Vulkan He'stan, or do they welcome the Forgefather with open arms when he comes around?

 

What about the planet? Is it similar to Nocturne in that each Company draws recruits from a single settlement, or does the Chapter draw recruits from all over the planet? What rituals must neophytes undertake before they are considered to be Battle Brothers?

Their gene-seed is drawn from that of the Salamanders, so do the Ashbringers have similar genetic defects/quirks to their gene-sires, such as the skin pigmentation/eye colour changing or slower reflexes than the majority of other Chapters? Are these changes due to their planet's radiation levels or high gravity, respectively?

 

As far as the colour schemes go, I like your design, but as Reyner has pointed out, there's a lot of black in there. Perhaps the eagle should be a different colour, such as bone or silver/gold?

How are you going to pick out your Veterans and Sergeants? What about differentiating between Companies?

 

Basically it's a blessing from the ashes of a fallen warrior to protect them in battle, since there is a shared belief that all astartes who die in service to the emperor will do battle in the end times, so the spirit of that warrior lives within the ashes, as do all. Also, the idea that the greatness of the warrior in life carries on in death so the ashes of a captain are indeed saved for greater battles rather than a fallen brother, which is the typical ash spread among the squad before a typical engagement or battle. As for a Dreadnought, a special ceremony is held if and when they're called to battle which involves the techmarine blessing the wakening dreadnought with both a precious stone hewn from the earth as well as the ashes spread by the commanding officer. The same ceremony is also done for the drivers and operators of vehicles, and the vehicles themselves.

 

The planet itself, which I would affectionately call Ignion, is indeed an active volcanic world made up of a single massive continent dotted with lush woodlands and ocean-like lakes sitting upon black volcanic earth/soil. The feudal society of lordships rule regions that stretch across the continent, each one with it's own farmlands, barracks, castles and politics which sometimes war with one another over assumed power, land, and resources. The religion they follow is what the chapter draws from, the reverence of ancestors and their ashes. There is a belief in a singular god who protects them and judges them in life.

 

The chapter fortress is an enormous castle-like structure that rests on and within Black Rock, an enormous black mesa-like formation, the only truly stable geological location on the planet. The fortress itself is called Ashirago, which is just the above ground section. Below it is the entire compliment of a fortress-monastery, Apothecarion, Librarium, Reclusiam, Armory, Great Hall, and the Chapter Master's quarters.

 

Still working on the other questions.

[Messor]

I think Ashbringers is a more evocative and all-around better name than Flamebringers. I may be slightly biased, with an "Ash" named chapter myself. I also really like the dominantly black color scheme. One thing I'd want to get clarification on; do these 7 oversized companies total a regular strength chapter, or exceed it?

[Aqui]

I quite like what I've read so far and like Messor, I do like the name Ashbringers. Quite a novel idea. Regarding the colour scheme, I'm inclined to the first one

For the record, my own Sallies successor DIY have darker skin than other Chapters, but nowhere near as dark as the Salamanders proper

[Julgolax]

Any unique formations/units in the Chapter? Famous members? Do they have their own version of Vulkan He'stan, or do they welcome the Forgefather with open arms when he comes around?

 

What rituals must neophytes undertake before they are considered to be Battle Brothers?

Their gene-seed is drawn from that of the Salamanders, so do the Ashbringers have similar genetic defects/quirks to their gene-sires, such as the skin pigmentation/eye colour changing or slower reflexes than the majority of other Chapters? Are these changes due to their planet's radiation levels or high gravity, respectively?

 

As far as the colour schemes go, I like your design, but as Reyner has pointed out, there's a lot of black in there. Perhaps the eagle should be a different colour, such as bone or silver/gold?

How are you going to pick out your Veterans and Sergeants? What about differentiating between Companies?

 

I am not sure what kind of unique formations I can get away with. There are tons of ideas for special stuff but how much of it can I get away with, who knows? Since the chapter only has 21 Tactical Dreadnought Armor suits to it's name, they're only called out when absolutely needed so I think I'd give them all Thunderhammers and Stormshields for a formation similar to the Titanhammer formation from the Imperial Fists, accompanied by 3 Thunderfire Cannons.

 

Since the chapter IS a successor to the Salamanders, they do welcome Vulkan He'stan of course, if he were ever to grace them with his heroic presence, but they do not have a unit like him in the chapter. The founding, as I've chosen it to be, is the 26th founding so they're still a younger chapter than most. Their homeworld lies in Segmentum Ultima, near the Forgeworld "Corinthe".

 

As for the skin color thing, I remember reading that the reason the Salamanders skin is super black and their eyes are red is solely due to the radiation emitted by Nocturne and has nothing to do with the geneseed. The radiation basically affects the pigments in their bodies causing them to turn pitch black. Since my guys are on a more earth-like volcanic planet (basically think a giant Hawaii), there isn't the same radiation present so no jet skin.

 

I was thinking I'll do as the Salamanders do, picking out the opposite color on the helmet for laurels and the company/squad markings will be indicated on the RIGHT shoulder pad and knee plate as per the codex, but keeping in tune with the Salamanders.

 

I'm personally leaning more towards my original design now because I like a brighter colored force for Space Marines. Until it's okay for me to color space marines in digital camo instead of heraldic colors, I'll be happy with orange and black. It may look a little "Halloween-ey" but a whole force of orange and black space marines with flamers, meltas, and bright green eye lenses would look quite intimidating, unless you're a Chaos Space Marine... Then I'd be forced to role Plas/Powerfist... which sucks.

 

One thing I'd want to get clarification on; do these 7 oversized companies total a regular strength chapter, or exceed it?

 

Similar to the Salamanders as in, it's 7 companies with 120 battle brothers each, so same total size of the chapter, smaller Scout Company.

[Conn Eremon]

It is actually both Nocturne's radiation and gene-seed defect that causes the skin color of the Salamanders. Their Melanochrome (probably misspelled) organ is overactive in the Salamander gene-line. All Marines are affected by radiation, inducing temporary skin color shifts. The Salamanders undergo more extreme, long-lasting shifts. The peculiar levels and types of radiation emanating from their own home world gives them their permanent appearance.

 

Unless this is a Cursed Founding or you want a further mutated gene-seed source that attempts to fix that, then your successor must also be affected by radiation in an extreme degree. How that comes about is up to you.

 

As an example, my own Salamander successor will hail from a world rife with electromagnetic radiation, causing the less darkened appearance but turning eyes and hair a stark white.