Developing An Idea

[Cartoon Head]

Hey guys, I have an inkling of a chapter that I'm considering developing into a full IA so I thought I'd throw the bare bones of it out into the open to get some suggestions on where to take it. 

 

Celtic chapter ideas

 

Geneseed- White scars

 

Name-?

 

Themes:

Great craftsmen, glory seekers, headhunters, used as imperial executioners

 

Strategy: Lightning fast strikes on high profile targets  

 

Believe that glory and honour is earned in open combat and in great achievements. This has resulted in the practice of leadership positions being earned by defeating the current Captain/Sergeant in combat.

 

Honour battles between marines in chapter are a frequent method of solving disputes at both low ranks and in the leadership elements. Often results in fatalities.

 

Companies have evolved into individual war-bands rather than sections of a larger chapter. Companies act as autonomous organisations. Companies are fleet based.

 

Civil war in chapter resulted in chaplaincy taking effective command of the chapter. The position of chapter master was deprived of most of its powers, with these being transferred to the Head Chaplain (e.g Right to sign protection agreements, right to appoint Chapter master, right to call all of the chapter to one place). Chapter master now more “first among equals” than direct commander. First company stripped of its special position and most of its specialist equipment.

 

Enlarged chaplaincy to ensure order and loyalty among an unruly chapter. Have squads of marines under their command. Control the majority of the Chapter’s Terminator armour.

 

Chaplaincy responsible for recruiting new members from home planet. Only Chaplaincy is allowed to station troops on the home planet.

 

Hold the emperor to be a god and see themselves as partly divine as a result of their relationship to him?

 

Homeworld is deep in imperial space. Chapter often deployed against rebellious groups in imperium?

 

 

Any and all comments are appreciated.

 

[GrandMagnus]

I like this idea, but there is something I would like to comment on this particular part:

 

"Honour battles between marines in chapter are a frequent method of solving disputes at both low ranks and in the leadership elements. Often results in fatalities."

 

While honour battle is an okay idea and most if not all chapters do this, it is rarely to the death. Even in the World Eaters legion pit fights to the death were a rarity, the most usual way is to "first blood". Remeber that the Adeptus Astartes are a costly resorce and not something to simply waste, especially in the high ranking officers such as captains.

 

Just my opinion. Otherwise, I like your idea. I suppose the chaplaincy has power in the same sense the celtic druids had political power in the celtic tribes?

[Cartoon Head]

Yeah that's a fair point there Anaziel. I think I may be over stating it by using the term "often", the idea I'm going for here really is that individual marines pursuit of their own personal glory has a significant, even if negative, impact on the functioning of the chapter as a whole. Maybe having them kill each other is pushing it to far, I'll give it a think. 

 

You know I hadn't even thought of drawing parallels between celtic druids and the chaplaincy. It was an idea I had separate to this chapter but decided to put in to this one in order to make it a little more complex and as a consequence of their glory hunting. Cheers for that idea.  

[Teetengee]

I like it so far, but I want to see some of the celtic ideas more developed.

[Cartoon Head]

I've written up a very rough draft of the main forces that have influenced the way the Chapter has developed into its current organizational structure. At this point it is really very rough and I am expecting to change quite a lot of the details. 

 

 

 

Founded early in the Age of Redemption the “Sons of ?” were sanctioned by the High Lords to act as their executioners, to hunt out and purge all those who had been deemed traitors, heretics and heathens in the eyes of the newly resurgent High Lords. The “Sons of ?” proved particularly adept to this task, with their way of warfare emphasizing daring strikes on high profile targets, rebellions and heresies life spans were cut drastically short by the sudden elimination of their leaders and vital supplies. As the number of internal targets gradually diminished and the High Lords re-solidified their grasp on the Imperium the “Sons of ?” were you used more and more on the external threats to the Imperium. Of particular note was the defeat of Waaagh Skargut, in which the Waaagh was stopped dead in its tracks just before it fell on the “?” sub-sector by Chief (Captain) Dumnorix and his 7th Clann’s (Company) suicidal strike on their Kapital Cruiser. By killing Warboss Skargut the 7th Clann plunged Waaagh Skargut into anarchy as they fought among each other to decide a new leader, there by saving the sub-sector. Of the 82 Marines who engaged in the action only 7 survived, with one needing to be interned in a dreadnought to ensure his survival. To this day the 82 marines are worshiped as heroes by the inhabitants of the sub- sector.

The demands placed upon the chapter grew greater as the Imperium pursued larger and longer crusades the “Sons of” were forced to adapt. In order to meet their obligations the chapter had to break down its command structure and the individual companies grew into something more akin to individual war-bands rather than sections of a larger chapter with each pursuing their own autonomous objectives. This suited the glory hunting aspect of the chapters character perfectly and the stories of the chapters glorious victories grew ever more frequent. There would however be disastrous consequences for the chapter as a whole. Left to their own devices the companies became more and more competitive with each other and now responsible for their own recruitment, conflicts from their home planets tribal society began to bleed into chapter as they began to select from narrower tribal groups. This culminated in an event known internally to the chapter as The Sundering. A ferociously ambitious High Chief (Chapter Master) began hunting down the other Clanns and killing their Chiefs, taking the Clanns under his own control using his authority as High Chief to cower the marines into following him and killing those who didn't . He was able to take direct control of just over half of the chapter before the rest found out, motivated by the belief that only his fellow marines could provide him a worthy challenge and bring him the glory he deserved he set his eyes on Dachaigh (the Chapter’s Home World) where the Head Druid (Chaplain) had rallied the remaining Clanns of the Chapter. In the most devastating conflict of the Chapters history the forces loyal to the Head Druid were only just victorious due to last minute intervention by Inquisitorial and Ecclesiarchical forces. The Inquisition and Ecclesiarchy presented the Head Druid with a harsh decision, either commit the chapter to a penitent crusade of indefinite terms or adopt the Imperial creed, restructure the Chapter according to their demands and give the newly empowered position of High Chaplain to the candidate of their choice. Believing that the weakened Chapter would be unable survive the crusade, he decided that subversion would be a better fate than death and so gave into their demands. The Imperial creed quickly established itself on Dachaigh but the old faith dies hard and is still followed by many of the tribes and marines in the Chapter. The consequences of the decision are still felt in the Chapter to this day and threaten to tear it apart once again, as those in the Chapter who still secretly hold to the old ways seem to be rallying around a new figure. 

 

 

As always any and all comments are appreciated.

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

The Celts are strongly connected with the Faerie Mythology of Western Europe, so a strong Chapter Librarium is a must.

 

Librarian+Chaplain=Druid? Might want to look to the Space Wolves for how to approach this.

 

Possible alternative origin: Only surviving Successor Chapter of the Space Wolves. Joint Inqusitorial-Mechanicus investigation reveals highly-deviant Chapter Cult incorporating indigenous animist beliefs with Emperor Worship. Mysterious Chapter Rites appear to prevent the mutations found in Space Wolf Successors, but only work on native-born Aspirants and Marines, limiting the recruitment pool. Inquisitorial investigation finds no sign of Heresy amongst the Chapter, but notes an odd, fey-like quality in the mannerisms of the Marines, and recommends a close watch.

 

Finally, each Company should have it's own unique tartan, which is worn by it's Marines as an identifier instead of a number.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

Celtic? Tuatha Dé Danann references might make an interesting inclusion, particularly if you want to include something about a Morrigan-esque figure. 

[Resarys]

I think a fatality in an honour duel would be a SERIOUS deal to these guys. What is the glory of an Astartes without his brothers? And if you want Celtic influences, then companies=clans as brother Cepinari would be brilliant, but further make death, at least between two members of the same company, something dishonourable. Killing a marine from another company...maybe could be another matter. Of course, it could be simply that, the Chapter understands death is a possibility in these duels (however rare), and has a system in place to deal with it. Quest on the homeworld the "winning" brother must undertake alone, something along those lines.

 

You could also look to the Storm Seers if you want to stay with White Scars. Their traditions could easily give rise to druidic practices, with a little nudge from the culture of the Chapter's recruiting world. In that case, Druids-as-Librarians could butt heads with the Chaplaincy, each section representing the old and the new. Or if you're not tied to the idea of a ruling Chaplaincy, combine the two office to make your Druids. In that case you could have the High Lords order the reinstatement of a proper Chaplaincy after the civil war.

 

The Chapter could have their own "Book of Invasions". Perhaps the homeworld was invaded several times over the years prior to their arrival, or maybe the Book is a list of their deeds and victories.

 

Even if the Imperial Creed has a place on their homeworld, it doesn't mean the Chapter has to recruit from believers, and could carefully weed out anyone who didn't keep the old ways.