Amber Dragons 1.3...

[Aqui]

This post is for the IA updates as I work through it

Amber Dragons: Defenders of Cuyahoga

Origins

The Amber Dragons were originally a crusading Chapter, their task was to route out the threats to shipping lanes in [insert Segmentum] by the Xenos race known as the Dark Eldar. After four hundred years of encounters, they still hadn't located the gateways they used to escape. Deciding to thoroughly search each and every planet in the system. It was upon one planet known as Cuyahoga, that they found the best lead yet. The planet was populated by a fairly stable, but technologically primative people. Split into many tribes, the natives were terrorised by the alien menace, the Dark Eldar treating the humans as little more than cattle, taking slaves as and when they required them. With little effective weaponry to defend themselves, the tribes had taken to hiding in the cavernous regions, leaving the weak, infirm and old behind in a futile effort to placate their aggressors. Such desperate tactics were useless, as the Xenos always found their hiding places. This seemingly uncanny ability to always find them, in addition to their unearthly appearance made the Cuyahogans call them the Tsulkalu or the Devils. Each raid by them, typically an annual occurance, is known as the Coup time and is something that every native, regardless of tribe affiliation fears most of all.

The arrival of the Amber Dragons

As a Crusading force, the Amber Dragons were forced to use recruiting drives upon the planets they liberated from the myriad of threats the Imperium pose. As a successor to the Sons of Vulkan, it affronted them to have to take such potential recruits by force, preferring that they were willing to serve. The discovery of a planet that had many access routes used by alein forces allowed them to have a far more stable recruitment drive and to be able to reconcile Chapter beliefs. The first encounter with the Cuyahogans was a time of great celebration, the peoples welcoming their liberators with open arms, until said saviours removed their helms. The darker skin and burning eyes that marked them, made the locals fearful, and refused to come near them. It was one small child that remained curious of these titans in armour. Offering his sword, one of brittle wood, he shamed the elders of the tribes into overcoming their fear. It took some time, but eventually, pacts were made between each tribe and the Chapter, that each would willingly offer up a portion of their youths to proudly serve the Imperium.

The Coup time

Whenever the planet is attacked by the Dark Eldar, the populations fight with everything they have to defend themselves. Before the Chapter arrived, the attacks were frequent, the slaughter running into days, or even weeks. Since the Amber Dragons swore and oath to defend them, the raids are undertaken when the need for slaves is too great. The Chapter will not allow any human to be taken, but act in such a way that it is the Cuyahogans themselves that defend their tribes. The Chapter views the Coup time as a way to eventually find every gateway the Dark Eldar use and destroy them, and to look upon their charges and evaluate any and all potential recruits that they come across. After destroying so many of the Xenos artifacts, the raids have become far more brazen, desperation entering into every attack. It is thought by the Chapter Cadre that eventually there will be no more Xenos to use as a challenge for the potential recruits they need, and are looking for other ways of testing them when that day arrives...

Doctrine

As sons of Vulkan, they follow the Promethean Cult very closely.

Organisation

Chapter disposition is similar to that of the Salamanders, although they have fewer Dreadnoughts.

Geneseed

They have the Geneseed of Vulkan. As true sons of Vulkan, they have shared traits with that of their Older brethren, the Salamanders. Whilst their eyes do not glow as fiery a red and their skin as not as dark, they are still atypical of the native Cuyahogans.

Battlecry

"For Vulkan!"

"Ad incudem bellum!" - Unto the anvil of war!

[Dosjetka]

Couldn't you have waited before posting just that one line, Aqui? I mean, I know you're impatient, but come on! :lol:

[Aqui]

Couldn't you have waited before posting just that one line, Aqui? I mean, I know you're impatient, but come on!

If one could have waited five or so minutes, one would have seen what I had in store... *tut*

You can wait ten minutes now!

[Dosjetka]

But...but that's so mean, Aqui

How was I supposed to know that you were posting something and that you were just too slow?

[Aqui]

But...but that's so mean, Aqui

How was I supposed to know that you were posting something and that you are just too awesome?

Fixed that for you

Right, time to revisit what I actually had in mind for them

"Native American" theme, specifically Cherokee.

Skin colour dark with reddened eyes, but not to the scale of their parent Chapter.

History includes various encounters with my DIY Sisters Order, the Bahltimyr Reavers and Steel Wings (specifics to be added once I've figured it out...

Natives to Cuyahoga (pronounced Kuya hoga if I recall correctly) have frequent encounters with Dark Eldar raiders (who are using hidden Eldar portals)

Natives used wooden and very primitive metal weapons before the Amber Dragons arrived planet side. The Chapter slowly introduce the concept of the Promethean Cult to them, along with knowledge of working with metals.

One of the rights of passage to adulthood is to find a portal previously used by the Dark Eldar pirates (now permaently deactivated), and bring back an artefact as proof. The Dark Eldar use this opportunity to snatch young natives to use as slaves.

The Amber Dragons walk amongst the natives more than Marines from other Chapters, acting as counsel for each of the tribes, who whilst not in outright war are wary of each other.

More to add as I think of it

[Aqui]

At the risk of double posting, I've added a first draft. Comments etc most welcome

[Madwolf Shadowmane]

Sounds good so far.  I wonder how well your Amber Dragons would get along with my Hounds of the Hunt? I found one typo.  It should be atypical instead of untypical in the geneseed section.  I will be watching as you flesh out more of this Chapter. 

[Aqui]

Thanks for the heads up on the typo I must admit it's been a while since I really had a good look at the other IA's in the Liber. I think I'll have a better look at the Hounds to start with

[Conn Eremon]

"After four hundred years of encounters, they still not located the gateways they used to escape"

 

Have not?

 

And you got a hanging quote tag on the bottom of your post.

 

Otherwise, looks cool. I look forward to reading more of them before I get started on my Storm Bearers. :p

[Aqui]

Blasted Typos!

[Ace Debonair]

" many access routes used by alein forces"

"Since the Amber Dragons swore and oath to defend them"

Them typos just keep cropping up, huh?

[NightrawenII]

Hmmm, there isn't much to comment on, but Broken Arrows anyone?

 

Anyway:

There should be date (or time indicator) in the origins section.

The dark skin/ red eyes mutation is supposedly tied to Nocturne, I'm not sure whether it would be still in effect.

 

~ NightrawenII

[Conn Eremon]

The Salamander appearance is due to a genetic defect that causes a permanent overreaction to radiation, and Nocturne is pretty radioactive. It is the polar opposite of the Raven Guard defect.

 

Unless Aquilanus wants his Amber Dragons to have corrected that mutation, they should still have a wildly abnormal appearance made permanent by whatever radiation they are commonly affected by. If the radiation is more minimal, then the change might take longer and be less extreme, but nonetheless present.

 

Edit: I just realized that I think I make this explanation in every single Salamander thread I participate in.

[Aqui]

" many access routes used by alein forces"

"Since the Amber Dragons swore and oath to defend them"

Them typos just keep cropping up, huh?

Hmmm, there isn't much to comment on, but Broken Arrows anyone?

Anyway:

There should be date (or time indicator) in the origins section.

The dark skin/ red eyes mutation is supposedly tied to Nocturne, I'm not sure whether it would be still in effect.

~ NightrawenII

Well, the last version predates Firepower's Chapter antagonism with the DE along with their Native American aspect by a month or so. I'm open to perhaps change the basic structure (i.e. take the Dark Eldar out) if I can find something less similar (the Cherokee aspect of the Chapter is staying regardless...) The time factor has been left out for now, as I need to sort out the time lines of every DIY I have as they all interact with each other in some form or other. I just want it to be accurate and consistent. I appreciate you mentioning it though, as I had forgotten (again )

The Salamander appearance is due to a genetic defect that causes a permanent overreaction to radiation, and Nocturne is pretty radioactive. It is the polar opposite of the Raven Guard defect.

Unless Aquilanus wants his Amber Dragons to have corrected that mutation, they should still have a wildly abnormal appearance made permanent by whatever radiation they are commonly affected by. If the radiation is more minimal, then the change might take longer and be less extreme, but nonetheless present.

Edit: I just realized that I think I make this explanation in every single Salamander thread I participate in.

I'm not sure if I made this part overt enough in the IA. The Amber Dragons have much darker skin than the natives of Cuyahoga and their eyes are red in hue, but nowhere near as terrifying as their parent Chapter (mainly because the background radiation on Cuyahoga is "Earth normal" and there by has no discernible effect)

Thanks for the replies as always I'll have a good think about what I want (the more I think about the DE element, the less I feel anything for it. Firepower made it work for him I doubt I can make it work for me without it either being very cheesy or being far too close to his)

[Madwolf Shadowmane]

Maybe you could have the Amber Dragons have skin that darkens as they age.  The more radiation they are exposed to in their battles throughout the Imperium the more ebon their skin becomes.  Similar to the Space Wolves in how their skin becomes more leather-like over time.  Off hand I don't remember if the Terran Salamanders (from before the Heresy) had obsidian skin or not.  It would be worth researching as earth norm would be similar to these Terran Salamanders. 

[Aqui]

Maybe you could have the Amber Dragons have skin that darkens as they age. The more radiation they are exposed to in their battles throughout the Imperium the more ebon their skin becomes. Similar to the Space Wolves in how their skin becomes more leather-like over time. Off hand I don't remember if the Terran Salamanders (from before the Heresy) had obsidian skin or not. It would be worth researching as earth norm would be similar to these Terran Salamanders.

That's a good idea. I'll look into it

Thanks!

[Madwolf Shadowmane]

I just reviewed Massacre on page 117 the "Devils in the Dark" sidebar the terran Salamanders developed the obsidian-like skin over time when exposed to high levels of radiation.  Says they had the red eyes from the beginning though.  Hope that helps.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

 

"Native American" theme, specifically Cherokee.

 

What's the difference between specific and general? No, not the bloody words, but for someone who doesn't know anything substantial about the Native Americans.

Skin colour dark with reddened eyes, but not to the scale of their parent Chapter.

 

I love the idea someone had about skin darkening asthey age with the service but think about what would happen once the geneseed had matured and were ready for removal.

 

For the eyes, you could do something different and that rather than going for red eyes or eyes of a certain colour have it that their eyes took on different colours as they campaign more widely and were exposed to different types of radiation. Whether you go full colour or hints is up for choice too.

History includes various encounters with my DIY Sisters Order, the Bahltimyr Reavers and Steel Wings (specifics to be added once I've figured it out...)

 

BLUE 52!

Natives to Cuyahoga (pronounced Kuya hoga if I recall correctly) have frequent encounters with Dark Eldar raiders (who are using hidden Eldar portals)

 

Portals on planet?

Natives used wooden and very primitive metal weapons before the Amber Dragons arrived planet side. The Chapter slowly introduce the concept of the Promethean Cult to them, along with knowledge of working with metals.

 

Why? Or just because the Sallies had more human interactions?

One of the rights of passage to adulthood is to find a portal previously used by the Dark Eldar pirates (now permaently deactivated), and bring back an artefact as proof. The Dark Eldar use this opportunity to snatch young natives to use as slaves.

 

If portals are deactivated, how do the Dark Eldar still snatch people? Also, what exactly are they bringing back?

The Amber Dragons walk amongst the natives more than Marines from other Chapters, acting as counsel for each of the tribes, who whilst not in outright war are wary of each other.

Why? They are "warriors born", so why would the Chapter advocate peace - which seems to be the inference?
 

[Teetengee]

I imagine the answers to most of the second half of Captain's post are because Salamanders are heroes of the people. I got the impression that only some of the portals were deactivated. As for the Native Americans specific vs general thing, there is no such thing as a general Native American culture, not only are there huge differences between the individual groups (for instance many of the Plains Indians were drastically different from the Inuit, who were drastically different from some of the Northeastern area tribes who were vastly different from the southwestern.....) but there were also huge differences in the same groups between before the arrival of the Europeans and after. Not the least of such changes was the horse.

 

Also there is a typo in the second paragraph third sentence: Aleins should probably be aliens.

[Aqui]

I'll have to get around to looking at this Chapter again, but there's a lot of other things that need doing first. I'll re-read everything that everyone has posted (thanks ) and take it all into consideration