The Liber Cluster

[Ace Debonair]

Fine then, I'll do the thing for the Blades of the Lion.

I just hope I'm not too late...

EDIT EDIT:

Nope, we've got ages.

I panicked and thought it was last week we had to finish it.

 

Oh well, I wrote everything up anyway.

 

 

Blades of the Lion - Combat Doctrine:

 

There is little, in theory, to set the Blades of the Lion apart from other sons of the Lion once they are deployed on the field of battle. Enemies are met with an advancing, unstoppable force of Space Marines who adapt to any combat situation effortlessly, shrugging off enemy attacks and retaliating with punishing force. However, there are a few subtle quirks that make the Blades noteworthy.

 

The Blades set high value by facing down an enemy in honourable combat, but such honour is usually reserved for only the most veteran squads within a company. Squads of 'lesser standing' in a company are more usually tasked with the more mundane aspects of combat, such as flanking movements or intercepting enemy ambushes, leaving the way clear for the veterans to engage the enemy's strongest forces. Although it is unheard of for a squad of the Blades to directly disobey orders from their Captains, it is quite commonplace for squads of lesser standing to undertake acts of quite singular bravery and heroism on their own initiative to prove their worth and valour to the rest of the Company.

 

Another notable factor is that any Blades involved with the Great Hunt shed this seemingly ingrained competitive nature entirely. When the Hunt is on, the Blades shun personal honour completely, caring only for the larger victory, which will bring honour and pride to their Primarch and all their kindred.

 

 

The Fleet:

 

The Blades of the Lion can lay claim to a fairly considerable fleet of ships. Though they have only a limited number of Strike Cruisers and Battle Barges, Chapter Serfs are billeted in a flotilla of smaller, purely non-combat ships that accompany the Blades' vessels like squires attending to a noble knight. Also of note is the Strike Cruiser "Wings of Caliban", which acts as a recruitment vessel for the Blades, constantly scouring the worlds of the Liber Cluster for worthy recruits.

 

The Blades have been known to recruit from all manner of worlds - factory worlds, feudal worlds, even death worlds. If there is a set pattern to their choice of recruitment worlds, it is known only to the upper echelons of the Chapter. However, one interesting trend is that efforts to find viable recruits always seems to increase in intensity prior to the Blades embarking on the Great Hunt, leading to outsider speculation that perhaps the Chapter's Librarians have some say in where the Wings of Caliban travels.

 

 

Champions of the Chapter:

 

Brother Javin Gildred, Sworn Champion of the 2nd Company:

 

When the Great Hunt locates one of the Fallen in the Liber Cluster, the Second Company is the Chapter's first choice to intercept the traitor. Within that company, the task of facing down an armed, dangerous Fallen is almost always given over to their Company Champion, Javin Gildred.

 

Gildred is a hardened, merciless fighter, skilled in all forms of combat. While most of the Chapter believe Gildred always slays the Hunted, the truth of the matter is that he always leaves them barely alive, that the Chaplains and Chapter Master may set the captured Fallen on the path of repentance.

 

Gildred seems to harbour an especially strong hate of the Fallen, even for one of Jonson's sons. He treats the existence of the Fallen as a stain on his personal honour as well as on the entirety of Jonson's line.

 

 

EDIT:

We need another Champion of the Chapter, if anyone would like to write one.

 

Oh, and some battle honours.

Should I just summarise the EWC, (and maybe tie them into the covert war against Penumbra, if anyone remembers them) for this section?

[Teetengee]

Battle honours there would seem appropriate. Also, I imagine they should have some against the fallen Angels of Exultation too, since there was some hints of a fallen helping organize that.

[Olis]

EDIT:

We need another Champion of the Chapter, if anyone would like to write one.

 

Champions of the Chapter:

 

Interrogator Urvin Thaen, Chaplain of the 5th Company:

A renowned breaker of men, Chaplain Thaen has brought five Fallen to the point of confession over his long life. Now in his fourth century, soon to be his fifth, the white haired astartes has seen captains and chapter masters come and go. But, for Thaen, it is not officers he is duty bound to. It is the Great Hunt. Eschewing the rank of Grand Master no less than four times, Thaen has poured his soul into his work. Many find him curt to the point of being rude and often find that he will wait for no man. This impatience has always been a trait of Thaen, which could also explain his methodology during interrogations. 

 

Not a particularly inspiring orator, Thaen will usually lead by example rather than attempt to inspire his brothers to greater acts in battle. Due his age and experience, Thaen is often treated as a tactical advisor. As any battle brother, he can handle himself on the battlefield - this does not make him special. What does, however, is his foresight. Thaen knows when particular enemies would choose to attack, when they would choose to defend and how they do so. Xenos hold no surprises for him and traitors find themselves cut down in an untimely fashion facing the interrogator. 

 

Thaen, as he proudly boasts to all who listen, takes special relish killing astartes of any stripe. Draw a blade or bolter against him and, as he always assures the listener, you won't be standing for long. Contemptuous, cantankerous and blunt, Urvin Thaen thrives on hatred.

 

Should I just summarise the EWC, (and maybe tie them into the covert war against Penumbra, if anyone remembers them) for this section?

 

Go for it. Try to keep the EWC section a reasonable length. ;)

[Ace Debonair]

No problem.
379 words seem like a reasonable length?
 
I might even try and summarize the battle of Baluarte in 500 words once we're done fleshing out the Blades!
 
Battle Honours:
 
The Blades of the Lion have taken part is innumerable conflicts in the furthest reaches of the Liber Cluster. While tales of the Great Hunt are confined strictly to the innermost vaults of this secretive Chapter, there are no shortage of glorious battles the Blades of the Lion have partaken in.
 
During the early years of the Liber Cluster, the Blades of the Lion were notable participants in the Eighteen Worlds Crusade, a bitter, gruelling war waged against a gang of renegade Astartes known as the Sereiki Lions.
 
Perhaps viewing the renegades' choice of name as a personal affront to all scions of the First Legion, the Blades of the Lion took several opportunities to strike at these foes alongside their brother Chapters, notably taking an active part in the purging of Heroda IV alongside the Black Judges and working alongside the Iron Ravagers in the Pacification of Tonagish.

Under the guidance of the Lion's Eye, however, The Blades of the Lion also turned to more covert actions, seeking to ascertain the true nature of the leaders of this warband. Thus, the Chapter's Reserve Companies found themselves being carefully deployed away from the primary battlefronts, fighting several low-key engagements at remote outposts to starve the traitors of valuable intelligence reports, isolate key figures in the enemy's leadership chain, or deprive the foe of useful resources such as recruitment grounds. Though the exact details of these missions have not yet come to light, the few outsiders that know of them simply see it as the Blades working hard to serve the Imperium.
 
Equally, the Blades of the Lion found themselves much involved in the Inquisition's 'shadow war' against the secretive, anti-Imperial organisation known as Penumbra. Shadows, secrets and lies are in many ways the realm of the Unforgiven, and the Blades of the Lion were skilled at seeing through the ruses, schemes and snares Penumbra used to veil their presence.
 
Again, though much of the details of the Blades' participation in this conflict is either lost to time or deliberately erased, their willingness to lend aid earned the Blades of the Lion not only much goodwill from local Inquisitors, but saw a great many Penumbra operatives detained aboard the Chapter's Fleet, at the leisure of the Inner Circle.

[Grand Master Belial]

Here is the WIP with the most recent additions. Should this be split into its own topic to finalize it?

Hidden Content

BLADES OF THE LION (Work In Progress)

http://i.imgur.com/rwszq0A.jpg

SUMMARY:
▪ GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR) – Dark Angels
▪ FOUNDING -
▪ CHAPTER MASTER -
▪ CHAPTER WORLD – NONE (Fleet Based)
▪ FORTRESS MONASTERY -
▪ MAIN COLOURS – Gray and Bone
▪ SPECIALITY -
▪ BATTLE CRY – “Unsheath the Blades!” Response – “And Let the Lions Roar!”
▪ CURRENT STRENGTH -
▪ KNOWN DESCENDANTS -

ORIGINS:
The Blades of the Lion are a crusading, fleet based Chapter currently located in the Liber Cluster. The Blades are Dark Angels successors from an ancient founding who prefer to fight alone which has almost doomed them several times since they were created, they are prideful and will never ask for assistance even if they know they are doomed. Without a homeworld the Blades roam the Cluster in their Strike Cruisers attacking pirate and xenos strongholds wherever they find them, either dropping from the skies in drop pods or tearing through enemy ships in brutal boarding actions. Their leaders are master tacticians and take pride in surrounding the enemy and seeing utterly annihilated. The Chapter has a history of battling Orks in the Liber Cluster, matching the prowess of their bike mounted warriors against the Ork mechanized hordes but it is against Traitor Space Marines that the Blades fight the fiercest. The Blades are able to fully test their mettle when fighting foes comparable to themselves and relish believing themselves to be utterly superior to anything that isn’t a Space Marine.

To outsiders, the Blades of the Lion appear to strike at random then disappear into the void afterwards but in reality they are being guided by their Librarians who believe they are receiving visions from their Primarch in pursuit of the “Great Hunt”. Their Chaplains work alongside the Librarians in deciphering the visions and interrogating prisoners to find their next target. It is unfortunate if any of these visions strike during a battle as the Blades may suddenly redeploy before their quarry escapes – this makes the Blades a sometimes-unreliable asset in a large campaign but if they have the numbers they will endeavor to leave some marines behind so their allies are not overwhelmed.

The Blades will recruit from wherever they can, the Cluster is large enough for them to have plenty of recruiting worlds to choose from but they do not lay claim to any specifically. Once an initiate is taken in they are mind wiped and they will only know the Chapter. The “Great Hunt” is known by all of the Blades but only the high ranking marines know exactly what the Hunt is actually trying to achieve, the commanders know that the targets they hunt are the forever cursed Fallen. The rest of the Blades believe they are hunting traitors to the Emperor and are not aware that their targets were once or are still Dark Angel Legionnaires.

The Blades of the Lion are not trusted by most of the Liberite Chapters due to their isolationist attitude and tendencies to withdraw from combat without a word. The Blades rarely attend a Liberite Conclave but when they do their words are seldom ignored when planning assaults yet they will never offer themselves to be the lynchpin of a campaign, the risk of duty to the Imperium and the secret shame of the Great Hunt could spell disaster.

CHAPTER HOME WORLD:
The Blades of the Lion are a crusading, fleet based Chapter currently located in the Liber Cluster.

PRESENT ACTIVITIES:
The Blades of the Lion are Currently active in the Liber Cluster in pursuit of the “Great Hunt.” The Blades rarely attend a Liberite Conclave but when they do their words are seldom ignored when planning assaults yet they will never offer themselves to be the lynchpin of a campaign, the risk of duty to the Imperium and the secret shame of the Great Hunt could spell disaster.

BATTLE HONORS:

The Blades of the Lion have taken part is innumerable conflicts in the furthest reaches of the Liber Cluster. While tales of the Great Hunt are confined strictly to the innermost vaults of this secretive Chapter, there are no shortage of glorious battles the Blades of the Lion have partaken in.

During the early years of the Liber Cluster, the Blades of the Lion were notable participants in the Eighteen Worlds Crusade, a bitter, gruelling war waged against a gang of renegade Astartes known as the Sereiki Lions.

Perhaps viewing the renegades' choice of name as a personal affront to all scions of the First Legion, the Blades of the Lion took several opportunities to strike at these foes alongside their brother Chapters, notably taking an active part in the purging of Heroda IV alongside the Black Judges and working alongside the Iron Ravagers in the Pacification of Tonagish.

Under the guidance of the Lion's Eye, however, The Blades of the Lion also turned to more covert actions, seeking to ascertain the true nature of the leaders of this warband. Thus, the Chapter's Reserve Companies found themselves being carefully deployed away from the primary battlefronts, fighting several low-key engagements at remote outposts to starve the traitors of valuable intelligence reports, isolate key figures in the enemy's leadership chain, or deprive the foe of useful resources such as recruitment grounds. Though the exact details of these missions have not yet come to light, the few outsiders that know of them simply see it as the Blades working hard to serve the Imperium.

Equally, the Blades of the Lion found themselves much involved in the Inquisition's 'shadow war' against the secretive, anti-Imperial organisation known as Penumbra. Shadows, secrets and lies are in many ways the realm of the Unforgiven, and the Blades of the Lion were skilled at seeing through the ruses, schemes and snares Penumbra used to veil their presence.

Again, though much of the details of the Blades' participation in this conflict is either lost to time or deliberately erased, their willingness to lend aid earned the Blades of the Lion not only much goodwill from local Inquisitors, but saw a great many Penumbra operatives detained aboard the Chapter's Fleet, at the leisure of the Inner Circle.

CHAPTER ORGANIZATION:
▪ Less TDA than expected in a Dark Angels Chapter, the Blades do not have enough suits to outfit the entire first company, maximum would be about 3 squads worth.
▪ The Blades maintain a large number of bikes and their 2nd Company follows a similar organization to the Dark Angels Ravenwing. Blades love bikes.
▪ Librarians are very respected - they provide the visions for the Great Hunt (Blades name for hunting Fallen).
▪ Chapter Master wields the Harbinger Heavenfall blade (nice one Teetengee).

The Blades of the Lion are, in many ways, built on honour and tradition. In few places is this more evident than within the Chapter's organisational structure. Like most Dark Angel successors, the Blades are broadly compliant with the layout advised by the Codex Astartes - ten companies, each a hundred Space Marines strong. It is only on a closer examination that the differences within that organisation become apparent.

Scouts, for example, are not permitted to bear the Chapter's full heraldry; they are instead given plain grey armour with bone pauldrons - enough colour to serve as an identifier of allegiance to the Chapter, but still visually distinct from true Battle-brothers of the Chapter.

Librarians are held in high regard within the Chapter. Their master of the Librarium is sometimes referred to as the Lion's Eye, for it is his counsel that guides the Blades in the Great Hunt. The Lion's Eye is given a very high level of respect, and in terms of authority is considered to rank only just below a Company Captain.

Amongst the rest of the Chapter, the First Company is informally known as the "Kingslayers", for their first campaign in the Liber Cluster saw them destroy a traitor marine known as 'Parsiel, King of Exiles' and his armies. As with the Dark Angels and many of their kin, the First Company is the exclusive home of the Chapter's Tactical Dreadnought Armour. Unlike other scions of Jonson, however, the sheer remoteness of the Liber Cluster from the rest of the Imperium means the Blades of the Lion only have enough functional suits to field three full squads of Terminators. The rest of the "Kingslayer" Company are made up of veteran marines, much like any other Codex Chapter.

The Second Company is almost entirely given over to the use of bikes and landspeeders, and is treated with very much the same respect and deference that the First Company is given. The Second Company is the Chapter's most formidable weapon in the Great Hunt - most frequently deployed as demi-companies alongside other Blades forces, they excel in pursuing and ensnaring fleeing enemies, forcing them to face destruction or capture.

The Blades of the Lion also field three conventional Battle Companies and four codex-approved Reserve Companies, each steeped in proud traditions. In true Dark Angel fashion, only the upper echelons of each Company are aware of the true nature of the Great Hunt, with the truth concealed by layer upon layer of secrecy and careful misdirection.

FLEET ASSETS:
The Blades of the Lion can lay claim to a fairly considerable fleet of ships. Though they have only a limited number of Strike Cruisers and Battle Barges, Chapter Serfs are billeted in a flotilla of smaller, purely non-combat ships that accompany the Blades' vessels like squires attending to a noble knight. Also of note is the Strike Cruiser "Wings of Caliban", which acts as a recruitment vessel for the Blades, constantly scouring the worlds of the Liber Cluster for worthy recruits.

The Blades have been known to recruit from all manner of worlds - factory worlds, feudal worlds, even death worlds. If there is a set pattern to their choice of recruitment worlds, it is known only to the upper echelons of the Chapter. However, one interesting trend is that efforts to find viable recruits always seems to increase in intensity prior to the Blades embarking on the Great Hunt, leading to outsider speculation that perhaps the Chapter's Librarians have some say in where the Wings of Caliban travels.

RECRUITMENT:
The Blades will recruit from wherever they can, the Cluster is large enough for them to have plenty of recruiting worlds to choose from but they do not lay claim to any specifically. Once an initiate is taken in they are mind wiped and they will only know the Chapter.

CHAPTER COLORS:

BATTLE STANDARDS OR CHAPTER BANNERS (OPTIONAL):

http://thumb101.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/60734/165106433/stock-photo-lion-s-head-blazon-artistic-sculpture-of-a-lion-head-on-the-shield-with-the-crossed-swords-165106433.jpg
(Their icon will either be two crossed swords or a lion and a sword - need to figure that out and get it into their colour scheme).

BATTLE HONORS/RELICS/DECORATIONS/AWARDS:
The Heavenfall Blades:
Each of the chapters descended from the Dark Angels are said to have a small portion of the obsidian meteor, which was used to forge the Heavenfall Blades so that they too might share through steel the legacy of their founders. Many legends surround Harbinger, a sword wielded by high-ranking members of the Blades of the Lion, but at the very least, we know that it is one of these such weapons.

Harbinger is a finely wrought power sword with a large red gem in the center of its cross guard. In addition, built into its hilt is a locator beacon. It is said that the sword often begins to hum and the red gem glows when danger is present, but whether this is just the result of the prudent wielder activating its internal beacon or some gift from the Emperor himself the Blades have never commented on.

COMBAT DOCTRINE:
There is little, in theory, to set the Blades of the Lion apart from other sons of the Lion once they are deployed on the field of battle. Enemies are met with an advancing, unstoppable force of Space Marines who adapt to any combat situation effortlessly, shrugging off enemy attacks and retaliating with punishing force. However, there are a few subtle quirks that make the Blades noteworthy.

The Blades set high value by facing down an enemy in honourable combat, but such honour is usually reserved for only the most veteran squads within a company. Squads of 'lesser standing' in a company are more usually tasked with the more mundane aspects of combat, such as flanking movements or intercepting enemy ambushes, leaving the way clear for the veterans to engage the enemy's strongest forces. Although it is unheard of for a squad of the Blades to directly disobey orders from their Captains, it is quite commonplace for squads of lesser standing to undertake acts of quite singular bravery and heroism on their own initiative to prove their worth and valour to the rest of the Company.

Another notable factor is that any Blades involved with the Great Hunt shed this seemingly ingrained competitive nature entirely. When the Hunt is on, the Blades shun personal honour completely, caring only for the larger victory, which will bring honour and pride to their Primarch and all their kindred.

BATTLE CRY:
“Unsheath the Blades!” Response – “And Let the Lions Roar!”

LOCAL RITUALS:
Tests of the Lion
A tournament held within the chapter, the Tests of the Lion is a series of challenges held throughout the chapter, testing each marines skill with his guns, blades and strategic values. First the marine must face his brothers in his squad before progressing to facing the companies victors before finally facing the rest of the chapters victors. It is a usual sight for the challenges involving other companies to be held during the times where the chapter meets up.

The most recent victor of the Tests, [insert name here] of the # company, is has most recently been labeled as MIA after encounters with the Dark Eldar. If he is still alive, it is most likely he has been thrown into the arenas, to fight to his death.

BELIEFS:
The Blades are arrogant bastards who in their minds cannot be beaten (think Jaime early on in Game of Thrones.)

GENE-SEED:
Dark Angels

CHAMPIONS OF THE CHAPTER:

Brother Javin Gildred, Sworn Champion of the 2nd Company:

When the Great Hunt locates one of the Fallen in the Liber Cluster, the Second Company is the Chapter's first choice to intercept the traitor. Within that company, the task of facing down an armed, dangerous Fallen is almost always given over to their Company Champion, Javin Gildred.

Gildred is a hardened, merciless fighter, skilled in all forms of combat. While most of the Chapter believe Gildred always slays the Hunted, the truth of the matter is that he always leaves them barely alive, that the Chaplains and Chapter Master may set the captured Fallen on the path of repentance.

Gildred seems to harbour an especially strong hate of the Fallen, even for one of Jonson's sons. He treats the existence of the Fallen as a stain on his personal honour as well as on the entirety of Jonson's line.

Interrogator Urvin Thaen, Chaplain of the 5th Company:

A renowned breaker of men, Chaplain Thaen has brought five Fallen to the point of confession over his long life. Now in his fourth century, soon to be his fifth, the white haired astartes has seen captains and chapter masters come and go. But, for Thaen, it is not officers he is duty bound to. It is the Great Hunt. Eschewing the rank of Grand Master no less than four times, Thaen has poured his soul into his work. Many find him curt to the point of being rude and often find that he will wait for no man. This impatience has always been a trait of Thaen, which could also explain his methodology during interrogations.

Not a particularly inspiring orator, Thaen will usually lead by example rather than attempt to inspire his brothers to greater acts in battle. Due his age and experience, Thaen is often treated as a tactical advisor. As any battle brother, he can handle himself on the battlefield - this does not make him special. What does, however, is his foresight. Thaen knows when particular enemies would choose to attack, when they would choose to defend and how they do so. Xenos hold no surprises for him and traitors find themselves cut down in an untimely fashion facing the interrogator.

Thaen, as he proudly boasts to all who listen, takes special relish killing astartes of any stripe. Draw a blade or bolter against him and, as he always assures the listener, you won't be standing for long. Contemptuous, cantankerous and blunt, Urvin Thaen thrives on hatred.

[Ace Debonair]

Hmm.

The Beliefs section could use a bit more fleshing out, but then It's 11:30pm here and I've probably written enough for one day.

 

And before I forget, I'm totally digging Chaplain Thaen - he's the sort of gritty, no-nonsense character I was aiming for with Gildred.

[Olis]

Hmm.

The Beliefs section could use a bit more fleshing out, but then It's 11:30pm here and I've probably written enough for one day.

 

Aye. It also looks like the Homeworld section needs fleshing out in some way.

 

 

And before I forget, I'm totally digging Chaplain Thaen - he's the sort of gritty, no-nonsense character I was aiming for with Gildred.

 

Thanks for the praise - for some reason he ended up being a crotchety badass grandpa, instead of a straight up badass. :P

[Grand Master Belial]

Chapter Organization could use a bit of a polish. I'd like to get rid of the bullet points. 

 

Chapter Colors - I have been using the area to illustrate the Specialists and if the First and Second Companies differ from the norm (I don't see that with this chapter though). If there is a story behind the choice of colors, then this would be the area for it. It is optional.

 

An idea for the Specialists is just to switch out the Gray for the Specialist Color: Apothecary = White, Chaplain = Black, Librarian = Blue, Techmarine = Red

 

Chapter Insignia - Probably choose one or the other or create the hybrid of images. Not required for submission. 

 

The Summary needs a few little bits like Founding, Current Strength, any known successors, etc..

 

And the Belief and Homeworld and a SM Painter of a Terminator and Scout (and Specialists). 

 

This looks to be about 85% complete. I better bone up on the history of the Liber Cluster 'cuz I may be obligated to write a story as part of the challenge.

[Ace Debonair]

Chapter Organization could use a bit of a polish. I'd like to get rid of the bullet points.

On closer inspection, everything in the bullet points is also mentioned in the larger Organisation blurb underneath, save for the Heavenfall Blades, and they're in their own section a little further down.

 

Unless you mean the larger blurb needs more polish, in which case I'll give it a darn good go later when I get chance.

 

 

Chapter Colors - I have been using the area to illustrate the Specialists and if the First and Second Companies differ from the norm (I don't see that with this chapter though). If there is a story behind the choice of colors, then this would be the area for it. It is optional.

 

An idea for the Specialists is just to switch out the Gray for the Specialist Color: Apothecary = White, Chaplain = Black, Librarian = Blue, Techmarine = Red

Sounds like a plan to me!

*Reaches for Heraldy Dept. Hat*

Something like this?:

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@iaj2F_hIAEG.hCmX3____@@@hJ9Lc@iakk7__iakk7iakk7___@@@@@@@@_@_@@@@@@@@@@@..___@@@__@____..&grid=TRUEhttp://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@iaj2F_hr3uf.hCmX3____@@@hJ9Lc@iakk7__iakk7iakk7___@@@@@@@@_@_@@@@@@@@@@@..___@@@__@____..&grid=TRUE

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@iaj2F_iakk7.hCmX3____@@@hJ9Lc@___..___@@@@@@@@_@_@@@@@@@@@@@..___@@@__@____..&grid=TRUEhttp://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@iaj2F_haLvy.hCmX3____@@@hJ9Lc@iakk7__iakk7iakk7___@@@@@@@@_@_@@@@@@@@@@@..___@@@__@____..&grid=TRUE

 

Techmarine, Librarian, Apothecary and Chaplain.

 

 

The Summary needs a few little bits like Founding, Current Strength, any known successors, etc..

 

And the Belief and Homeworld and a SM Painter of a Terminator and Scout (and Specialists).

 

This looks to be about 85% complete. I better bone up on the history of the Liber Cluster 'cuz I may be obligated to write a story as part of the challenge.

Terminator and Scout I can help with:

 

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sct.php?b62c=@hCmX3_iaj2F.iakk7hozqSi81Yf@__@@@@@@@@@_..@@@@@@@@@@_@@@@@@@@@@@&grid=TRUE

 

 

 

Phew. I'm putting more work into these guys than I am my own projects.

 

Anyone got any ideas what the current strength of the Blades of the Lion is, or when they were founded?

[Olis]

I think all the current crop of Liber chapters are dark founding ones, if I'm not mistaken. 

 

Edit - with the exception of the Blackjaw Kindred.

[Grand Master Belial]

I typically randomly mash some numbers together for current strength but I do use this as a Guide

 

Severely Depleted - Combat Ineffective

1st ~ 25, 2nd ~ 25, 3rd-5th ~ 150, 6th-9th = 0, 10th ~ 50 TOTAL ~ 250

 

Depleted - Minimum Combat Effective Strength

1st ~ 50, 2nd ~ 50, 3rd-5th ~ 300, 6th-9th = 0, 10th ~ 75 TOTAL ~ 475

 

Active - Combat Effective

1st ~ 75, 2nd ~ 75, 3rd-5th ~ 300, 6th-9th ~ 200, 10th ~ 100 TOTAL ~ 750

 

Full Strength = 1000

[Conn Eremon]

I think all the current crop of Liber chapters are dark founding ones, if I'm not mistaken.

 

Edit - with the exception of the Blackjaw Kindred.

21st Cursed Founding.

[Grand Master Belial]

BLADES OF THE LION (95% Complete)

http://i.imgur.com/rwszq0A.jpg

+ + + ORANGE AREAS TO BE REVIEWED AND FINALIZED + + +

Hidden Content

SUMMARY:
▪ GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR) – Dark Angels
▪ FOUNDING - 21st "Cursed" Founding
▪ CHAPTER MASTER - Jurn Reven-Wold
▪ CHAPTER WORLD – NONE (Fleet Based)
▪ FORTRESS MONASTERY - Strike Cruiser "Wings of Caliban"
▪ MAIN COLOURS – Gray and Bone
▪ SPECIALITY - Quick Strike Force
▪ BATTLE CRY – “Unsheath the Blades!” Response – “And Let the Lions Roar!”
▪ CURRENT STRENGTH - 678
▪ KNOWN DESCENDANTS - None

ORIGINS:
The Blades of the Lion are a crusading, fleet based Chapter currently located in the Liber Cluster. The Blades are Dark Angels successors from an ancient founding who prefer to fight alone which has almost doomed them several times since they were created, they are prideful and will never ask for assistance even if they know they are doomed. Without a homeworld the Blades roam the Cluster in their Strike Cruisers attacking pirate and xenos strongholds wherever they find them, either dropping from the skies in drop pods or tearing through enemy ships in brutal boarding actions. Their leaders are master tacticians and take pride in surrounding the enemy and seeing utterly annihilated. The Chapter has a history of battling Orks in the Liber Cluster, matching the prowess of their bike mounted warriors against the Ork mechanized hordes but it is against Traitor Space Marines that the Blades fight the fiercest. The Blades are able to fully test their mettle when fighting foes comparable to themselves and relish believing themselves to be utterly superior to anything that isn’t a Space Marine.

To outsiders, the Blades of the Lion appear to strike at random then disappear into the void afterwards but in reality they are being guided by their Librarians who believe they are receiving visions from their Primarch in pursuit of the “Great Hunt”. Their Chaplains work alongside the Librarians in deciphering the visions and interrogating prisoners to find their next target. It is unfortunate if any of these visions strike during a battle as the Blades may suddenly redeploy before their quarry escapes – this makes the Blades a sometimes-unreliable asset in a large campaign but if they have the numbers they will endeavor to leave some marines behind so their allies are not overwhelmed.

The Blades will recruit from wherever they can, the Cluster is large enough for them to have plenty of recruiting worlds to choose from but they do not lay claim to any specifically. Once an initiate is taken in they are mind wiped and they will only know the Chapter. The “Great Hunt” is known by all of the Blades but only the high ranking marines know exactly what the Hunt is actually trying to achieve, the commanders know that the targets they hunt are the forever cursed Fallen. The rest of the Blades believe they are hunting traitors to the Emperor and are not aware that their targets were once or are still Dark Angel Legionnaires.

The Blades of the Lion are not trusted by most of the Liberite Chapters due to their isolationist attitude and tendencies to withdraw from combat without a word. The Blades rarely attend a Liberite Conclave but when they do their words are seldom ignored when planning assaults yet they will never offer themselves to be the lynchpin of a campaign, the risk of duty to the Imperium and the secret shame of the Great Hunt could spell disaster.

CHAPTER HOME WORLD:
The Blades of the Lion are a crusading, fleet based Chapter currently located in the Liber Cluster.

PRESENT ACTIVITIES:
The Blades of the Lion are Currently active in the Liber Cluster in pursuit of the “Great Hunt.” The Blades rarely attend a Liberite Conclave but when they do their words are seldom ignored when planning assaults yet they will never offer themselves to be the lynchpin of a campaign, the risk of duty to the Imperium and the secret shame of the Great Hunt could spell disaster.

BATTLE HONORS:
The Blades of the Lion have taken part is innumerable conflicts in the furthest reaches of the Liber Cluster. While tales of the Great Hunt are confined strictly to the innermost vaults of this secretive Chapter, there are no shortage of glorious battles the Blades of the Lion have partaken in.

During the early years of the Liber Cluster, the Blades of the Lion were notable participants in the Eighteen Worlds Crusade, a bitter, gruelling war waged against a gang of renegade Astartes known as the Sereiki Lions.

Perhaps viewing the renegades' choice of name as a personal affront to all scions of the First Legion, the Blades of the Lion took several opportunities to strike at these foes alongside their brother Chapters, notably taking an active part in the purging of Heroda IV alongside the Black Judges and working alongside the Iron Ravagers in the Pacification of Tonagish.

Under the guidance of the Lion's Eye, however, The Blades of the Lion also turned to more covert actions, seeking to ascertain the true nature of the leaders of this warband. Thus, the Chapter's Reserve Companies found themselves being carefully deployed away from the primary battlefronts, fighting several low-key engagements at remote outposts to starve the traitors of valuable intelligence reports, isolate key figures in the enemy's leadership chain, or deprive the foe of useful resources such as recruitment grounds. Though the exact details of these missions have not yet come to light, the few outsiders that know of them simply see it as the Blades working hard to serve the Imperium.

Equally, the Blades of the Lion found themselves much involved in the Inquisition's 'shadow war' against the secretive, anti-Imperial organisation known as Penumbra. Shadows, secrets and lies are in many ways the realm of the Unforgiven, and the Blades of the Lion were skilled at seeing through the ruses, schemes and snares Penumbra used to veil their presence.

Again, though much of the details of the Blades' participation in this conflict is either lost to time or deliberately erased, their willingness to lend aid earned the Blades of the Lion not only much goodwill from local Inquisitors, but saw a great many Penumbra operatives detained aboard the Chapter's Fleet, at the leisure of the Inner Circle.

CHAPTER ORGANIZATION:
The Blades of the Lion are, in many ways, built on honour and tradition. In few places is this more evident than within the Chapter's organisational structure. Like most Dark Angel successors, the Blades are broadly compliant with the layout advised by the Codex Astartes - ten companies, each a hundred Space Marines strong. It is only on a closer examination that the differences within that organisation become apparent.

Scouts, for example, are not permitted to bear the Chapter's full heraldry; they are instead given plain grey armour with bone pauldrons - enough colour to serve as an identifier of allegiance to the Chapter, but still visually distinct from true Battle-brothers of the Chapter.

Librarians are held in high regard within the Chapter. Their master of the Librarium is sometimes referred to as the Lion's Eye, for it is his counsel that guides the Blades in the Great Hunt. The Lion's Eye is given a very high level of respect, and in terms of authority is considered to rank only just below a Company Captain.

Amongst the rest of the Chapter, the First Company is informally known as the "Kingslayers", for their first campaign in the Liber Cluster saw them destroy a traitor marine known as 'Parsiel, King of Exiles' and his armies. As with the Dark Angels and many of their kin, the First Company is the exclusive home of the Chapter's Tactical Dreadnought Armour. Unlike other scions of Jonson, however, the sheer remoteness of the Liber Cluster from the rest of the Imperium means the Blades of the Lion only have enough functional suits to field three full squads of Terminators. The rest of the "Kingslayer" Company are made up of veteran marines, much like any other Codex Chapter.

The Second Company is almost entirely given over to the use of bikes and landspeeders, and is treated with very much the same respect and deference that the First Company is given. The Second Company is the Chapter's most formidable weapon in the Great Hunt - most frequently deployed as demi-companies alongside other Blades forces, they excel in pursuing and ensnaring fleeing enemies, forcing them to face destruction or capture.

The Blades of the Lion also field three conventional Battle Companies and four codex-approved Reserve Companies, each steeped in proud traditions. In true Dark Angel fashion, only the upper echelons of each Company are aware of the true nature of the Great Hunt, with the truth concealed by layer upon layer of secrecy and careful misdirection.

FLEET ASSETS:
The Blades of the Lion can lay claim to a fairly considerable fleet of ships. Though they have only a limited number of Strike Cruisers and Battle Barges, Chapter Serfs are billeted in a flotilla of smaller, purely non-combat ships that accompany the Blades' vessels like squires attending to a noble knight. Also of note is the Strike Cruiser "Wings of Caliban", which acts as a recruitment vessel for the Blades, constantly scouring the worlds of the Liber Cluster for worthy recruits.

RECRUITMENT:
The Blades have been known to recruit from all manner of worlds - factory worlds, feudal worlds, even death worlds. If there is a set pattern to their choice of recruitment worlds, it is known only to the upper echelons of the Chapter. However, one interesting trend is that efforts to find viable recruits always seems to increase in intensity prior to the Blades embarking on the Great Hunt, leading to outsider speculation that perhaps the Chapter's Librarians have some say in where the Wings of Caliban travels.

CHAPTER COLORS:
The Chapter has kept its standard bone and gray color scheme since its founding through all of its companies. There are two areas of difference in the scheme. First is that the Kingslayers have bone in place of the gray on their Terminator armor similar to the Deathwing of the Dark Angels Chapter. The second is that the Scouts have their armor mostly painted gray save for the cauldrons which are the only areas painted bone. To an outsider, there is nothing significant to this scheme. But within the Chapter, the bone signifies their devotion to the Great Hunt even if the object of their Hunt varies. As the Kingslayers have more of the full knowledge behind the Great Hunt, they show more bone in their armor whereas the scouts know hardly anything.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sct.php?b62c=@hCmX3_iaj2F.iakk7hozqSi81Yf@__@@@@@@@@@_..@@@@@@@@@@_@@@@@@@@@@@&grid=TRUE

The only other area of deviation is in the specialists of the chapter. Each Specialist has the typical gray sections of their armor repainted in the colors of their specialty and retain the bone areas. Again the bone signifies their devotion to the Hunt but the object may change because of their specialization. Techmarines hunt for arcane technologies and mechanical knowledge whereas an Apothecary hunts for ways to save their brothers from death. The Librarians scry the Warp as a part of the Great Hunt while the Chaplains hunt for ways to inspire their brothers to further heights as well as hunt the knowledge of those captured in the Great Hunt.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@iaj2F_hIAEG.hCmX3____@@@hJ9Lc@iakk7__iakk7iakk7___@@@@@@@@_@_@@@@@@@@@@@..___@@@__@____..&grid=TRUEhttp://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@iaj2F_hr3uf.hCmX3____@@@hJ9Lc@iakk7__iakk7iakk7___@@@@@@@@_@_@@@@@@@@@@@..___@@@__@____..&grid=TRUE

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@iaj2F_iakk7.hCmX3____@@@hJ9Lc@___..___@@@@@@@@_@_@@@@@@@@@@@..___@@@__@____..&grid=TRUEhttp://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@iaj2F_haLvy.hCmX3____@@@hJ9Lc@iakk7__iakk7iakk7___@@@@@@@@_@_@@@@@@@@@@@..___@@@__@____..&grid=TRUE

BATTLE STANDARDS OR CHAPTER BANNERS (OPTIONAL):
http://thumb101.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/60734/165106433/stock-photo-lion-s-head-blazon-artistic-sculpture-of-a-lion-head-on-the-shield-with-the-crossed-swords-165106433.jpg
(Their icon will either be two crossed swords or a lion and a sword - need to figure that out and get it into their colour scheme).

BATTLE HONORS/RELICS/DECORATIONS/AWARDS:
The Heavenfall Blades:
Each of the chapters descended from the Dark Angels are said to have a small portion of the obsidian meteor, which was used to forge the Heavenfall Blades so that they too might share through steel the legacy of their founders. Many legends surround Harbinger, a sword wielded by high-ranking members of the Blades of the Lion, but at the very least, we know that it is one of these such weapons.

Harbinger is a finely wrought power sword with a large red gem in the center of its cross guard. In addition, built into its hilt is a locator beacon. It is said that the sword often begins to hum and the red gem glows when danger is present, but whether this is just the result of the prudent wielder activating its internal beacon or some gift from the Emperor himself the Blades have never commented on.

COMBAT DOCTRINE:
There is little, in theory, to set the Blades of the Lion apart from other sons of the Lion once they are deployed on the field of battle. Enemies are met with an advancing, unstoppable force of Space Marines who adapt to any combat situation effortlessly, shrugging off enemy attacks and retaliating with punishing force. However, there are a few subtle quirks that make the Blades noteworthy.

The Blades set high value by facing down an enemy in honourable combat, but such honour is usually reserved for only the most veteran squads within a company. Squads of 'lesser standing' in a company are more usually tasked with the more mundane aspects of combat, such as flanking movements or intercepting enemy ambushes, leaving the way clear for the veterans to engage the enemy's strongest forces. Although it is unheard of for a squad of the Blades to directly disobey orders from their Captains, it is quite commonplace for squads of lesser standing to undertake acts of quite singular bravery and heroism on their own initiative to prove their worth and valour to the rest of the Company.

Another notable factor is that any Blades involved with the Great Hunt shed this seemingly ingrained competitive nature entirely. When the Hunt is on, the Blades shun personal honour completely, caring only for the larger victory, which will bring honour and pride to their Primarch and all their kindred.

BATTLE CRY:
“Unsheath the Blades!” Response – “And Let the Lions Roar!”

LOCAL RITUALS:
Tests of the Lion
A tournament held within the chapter, the Tests of the Lion is a series of challenges held throughout the chapter, testing each marines skill with his guns, blades and strategic values. First the marine must face his brothers in his squad before progressing to facing the companies victors before finally facing the rest of the chapters victors. It is a usual sight for the challenges involving other companies to be held during the times where the chapter meets up.

The most recent victor of the Tests, [insert name here] of the # company, is has most recently been labeled as MIA after encounters with the Dark Eldar. If he is still alive, it is most likely he has been thrown into the arenas, to fight to his death.

BELIEFS:
The Blades are arrogant bastards who in their minds cannot be beaten (think Jaime early on in Game of Thrones.)

GENE-SEED:
Dark Angels

CHAMPIONS OF THE CHAPTER:
Brother Javin Gildred, Sworn Champion of the 2nd Company:

When the Great Hunt locates one of the Fallen in the Liber Cluster, the Second Company is the Chapter's first choice to intercept the traitor. Within that company, the task of facing down an armed, dangerous Fallen is almost always given over to their Company Champion, Javin Gildred.

Gildred is a hardened, merciless fighter, skilled in all forms of combat. While most of the Chapter believe Gildred always slays the Hunted, the truth of the matter is that he always leaves them barely alive, that the Chaplains and Chapter Master may set the captured Fallen on the path of repentance.

Gildred seems to harbour an especially strong hate of the Fallen, even for one of Jonson's sons. He treats the existence of the Fallen as a stain on his personal honour as well as on the entirety of Jonson's line.


Interrogator Urvin Thaen, Chaplain of the 5th Company:
A renowned breaker of men, Chaplain Thaen has brought five Fallen to the point of confession over his long life. Now in his fourth century, soon to be his fifth, the white haired astartes has seen captains and chapter masters come and go. But, for Thaen, it is not officers he is duty bound to. It is the Great Hunt. Eschewing the rank of Grand Master no less than four times, Thaen has poured his soul into his work. Many find him curt to the point of being rude and often find that he will wait for no man. This impatience has always been a trait of Thaen, which could also explain his methodology during interrogations.

Not a particularly inspiring orator, Thaen will usually lead by example rather than attempt to inspire his brothers to greater acts in battle. Due his age and experience, Thaen is often treated as a tactical advisor. As any battle brother, he can handle himself on the battlefield - this does not make him special. What does, however, is his foresight. Thaen knows when particular enemies would choose to attack, when they would choose to defend and how they do so. Xenos hold no surprises for him and traitors find themselves cut down in an untimely fashion facing the interrogator.

Thaen, as he proudly boasts to all who listen, takes special relish killing astartes of any stripe. Draw a blade or bolter against him and, as he always assures the listener, you won't be standing for long. Contemptuous, cantankerous and blunt, Urvin Thaen thrives on hatred.

[Olis]

 

I think all the current crop of Liber chapters are dark founding ones, if I'm not mistaken.

 

Edit - with the exception of the Blackjaw Kindred.

21st Cursed Founding.

 

I stand corrected. Serves me right for not checking. :rolleyes:

 

Belial, you'll have to change "Dark" to "Cursed" on that IA. :)

[Grand Master Belial]

 

Belial, you'll have to change "Dark" to "Cursed" on that IA.

 

Done

[Olis]

As for the stuff that needs approval; personally, I'm fine with the size of the Chapter as you have written it. And the Chapter Master  - How about calling him Jurn Reven-Wold? There's a giant internet cookie for the history reference if anybody gets it.

[Azekellon]

The armors look a little bland to me, they really don't meld with the fancypants heraldry. Is the chapter going for the more monk half of the warrior-monk ethos?

 

 If that's the case, then why not go for a heraldry more reminiscent of the 1500's monkhoods of germany?

[Machine God]

I think all the current crop of Liber chapters are dark founding ones, if I'm not mistaken.

 

Edit - with the exception of the Blackjaw Kindred.

@Olis - What happened to the Iron Hands successors?

[Conn Eremon]

There is an Iron Ravagers Chapter descended from the iron blood of Medusa.

[Olis]

The armors look a little bland to me, they really don't meld with the fancypants heraldry. Is the chapter going for the more monk half of the warrior-monk ethos?

 

 If that's the case, then why not go for a heraldry more reminiscent of the 1500's monkhoods of germany?

 

To be honest, the Blades of the Lion don't really give a monkish impression to me from their IA. The vibe I'm getting is errs more towards a hunting aspect. Did you have any particular heraldry in mind? :) 

 

 

I think all the current crop of Liber chapters are dark founding ones, if I'm not mistaken.

 

Edit - with the exception of the Blackjaw Kindred.

@Olis - What happened to the Iron Hands successors?

 

The Iron Ravagers? They're still around afaik.

[Machine God]

@Olis - That's good to know, I was just asking after what you said about all Liber Cluster Space Marines except (Duck Dynasty) sorry Blackjaw Kindred being dress wearers;-)

[Olis]

@Olis - That's good to know, I was just asking after what you said about all Liber Cluster Space Marines except (Duck Dynasty) sorry Blackjaw Kindred being dress wearers;-)

 

Nah, I said they were all dark founding. I meant cursed founding, but it still doesn't imply DA lineage. I assume you thought I said dark angel founding?

[Nomus Sardauk]

I think all the current crop of Liber chapters are dark founding ones, if I'm not mistaken.

 

Edit - with the exception of the Blackjaw Kindred.

Wait, didn't the Doomsayers's profile say they weren't originally a Liberite chapter but chased a warband of renegades here and just sort of stayed? Also, I think the Heralds of Letum's profile said they were actually assigned to the Liber Cluster via clerical error?

If both these origins are true then does that mean the Heralds & Doomsayers can't be 21st Founding given that the Liberite Chapters were said to be special because despite being Cursed Founding they were exempt from the 21st's genetic experimention (except the Angels Exultant, for unknown reasons) as they were slated for the Cluster reclamation. So why would the High Lords take two of these chapters, keep them away from the experimentation, and then not bother sending them to the Cluster they were made to secure? :/

[Olis]

 

I think all the current crop of Liber chapters are dark founding ones, if I'm not mistaken.

 

Edit - with the exception of the Blackjaw Kindred.

Wait, didn't the Doomsayers's profile say they weren't originally a Liberite chapter but chased a warband of renegades here and just sort of stayed? Also, I think the Heralds of Letum's profile said they were actually assigned to the Liber Cluster via clerical error?

If both these origins are true then does that mean the Heralds & Doomsayers can't be 21st Founding given that the Liberite Chapters were said to be special because despite being Cursed Founding they were exempt from the 21st's genetic experimention (except the Angels Exultant, for unknown reasons) as they were slated for the Cluster reclamation. So why would the High Lords take two of these chapters, keep them away from the experimentation, and then not bother sending them to the Cluster they were made to secure? :/

 

The Heralds are definitely 21st founding. I suppose the Doomsayers are a fair point, though, given the current information in their introductory post. Though it's not 100% ruling them out from the 21st founding, it'd be stretching plausibility not to make them from an earlier founding.

[Reyner]

Good work on the Blades so far guys :) Only thing is I am not a massive fan of the colour changes for specialists - I would keep it traditional myself but if you guys think it fits then keep it :D

 

I think strength wise the Blades would be around the 3/4 mark - the crusade is quite a bloody one so far and these guys may still get involved in parts we haven't covered yet.