Sword Brethren DIY chapter.

[GrandMagnus]

Greetings brothers, here is my work on my DIY chapter so far. I still feel like Im far away from being finished and all ideas and critics are welcome. First of all, here is the fluff I have written so far about the chapter and their current situation. I also need ideas for a chapter badge:

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SWORD BROTHERS

KNIGHT-ORDER OF THE EMPERORS SWORD.

“FAITH, HONOUR, DUTY”

OVERWIEV:

The Sword Brethren where founded during the 35^th millenium, in an unknown founding, with the purpose of being a crusading chapter. The purpose of their crusade was to redeem renegades, traitors and rebels and to execute them for their treachery against the Imperium and the Emperor of Mankind himself. It is known their gene-seed belongs to the Ultramarines and that their first chapter master originated fromt this chapter.

The last 5 years of the 41^st millenium the entire chapter has been engaged in an ongoing war. A mighty warfleet of renegade marines and traitor forces appeared in the edges of the Sigulda system, engagin it in open warfare. The chapter has been fighting this long and bloody war alongside the PDF forces and Imperial Guard regiments, but hope is not entirely gone. More than once has distress signals been sent out into the Imperium hoping for allied support forces to arrived in aid. Until such forces can arrive the Sword Brethren and their mortal allies are all that stand in the way to save the system from total annihilation, but their loyalist numbers are dwindling and the enemy seems unyielding. Cultist, renegade guardsmen, traitor marines and far worse a flooding the system in a tide of massacre. War has yet to reach Sigulda itself and the population is being used for a constant flow of new battle-brothers and guardsmen to reinforce the lines.

The furthest planet of the system, Giralda I, is currently serving as the headquarters of the invading forces, being the first planet to fall in the system it is now nothing but a corrupt planet, covered with profane icons and towering offerings feeding the warp gate in its atmosphere. If there is to be any hope of saving the system Giralda I most be retaken and purified, but without the support from the rest of the Imperium hope seems far fetched.

The chapter is the only beacon of hope for the Imperial forces, fighting with grim determination and the word of the Emperor on their lips, decided to not give a step to the enemy until their last drop of blood and their last gasp of air.

CULTURE AND CHAPTER ORGANIZATION.

Coming from a feudal planet, the chapter recruits both from the high and the low born people of Sigulda. One of the first lessons a young Sword-brother is taught is that previous titles matter not in the chapter for all brothers are equal. Another noteworthy detail is the relationship between the astartes and the regular human population of their homeworld. The battle brothers are reminded that were it not for the ordinary humans they themselves would not exist and as such live to protect mankind. The chapters Lord Commander also bears the title of Guardian of Sigulda, as a sign that they do not directly interfere with the gobernment of the local population instead serving as stewards for the system, leaving the administration of the people to the ruling classes, issuing broad directives but otherwise maintaning their distance. Like most sons of Guilliman the battle-brothers follow the teachings of the Codex Astartes, but are also reknown for being stubborn and never giving ground to the enemy.

Coming from a feudal world, the chapter has a very monastic character and their fortress-monastery Salvation follows the design of a imperial gothic cathedral, build out of dark masonry and covered in tall spires decorated with angelic figures and imperial gargoils. Within the fortress-monastery there is a huge library containing thousands of work of metaphysics and philosphy and a scriptirium where the battle-brothers often spend their time writting and re-writting these books with great finesse. A Sword Brothers mind must be as sharp as his sword. This library also houses the chapters relics, such as banners and weapons, and all of this falls under the vigilant eyes of the chaplaincy and the Master of Sanctity and the Master of Relics, who often has a close kinship to the chaplaincy.

The chapter follows the basic teachings of the Codex Astartes, mainly in their organisation or most battle tactics, thought they favour close range firefights and close combat assaults. A known deviation is that the chapter uses heraldic badges to designate their companies rather than the standard codex colours. The chapter veterans are bear the title of Castellans and their commander carries the honorary title of High-Castellan. Their main objective is to guard the Salvation although being the veterans of the chapter individual squads they are often sent alongside the battle-companies.

Withing the chapter exists a specialized group of officers who serve as advisers for the Lord Commander called “The Elder Council”. The members of this council recieve the rank of Masters and are usually chosen among the oldest living battle-brothers who are no longer fit for active duty on the battlefield or interred within the shell of a dreadnought. There are 12 members of the council: Master of Sanctity, Master of the Forge, Master of the Apothecarion, Master of the Librarious, High-Castellan (Commander of the 1^st Company), Master of the Watch, Master of the Arsenal, Master of the Fleet, Master of the Marches, Lord Executioner, Master of Recruits, Master of Relics.

A side note on the council, compared to other chapters the rank of Master of Rites fall on the Master of Sanctitys shoulders for it is he who performs the chapters sacred rituals.

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Now, Ive also been working on a special character. He is basically a Chapter master with +1 WS and +1 S, I dont know if it would be overpowered, I dont think so considering characters like Marneus Calgar or Lord Commander Dante, but any ideas would be great:

CHARACTERS OF LEGEND:

GALAN ISORUS

Lord Commander of the Sword Brethren, Guardian of Sigulda.

Galan Isorus is among the chapters greatest living heroes and according to some of the chapters elders the greatest Lord Commander that have ever existed. His glories are many and the tales of his heroism has spread far and wide in the Imperium in his four centuries of service.

Born in a peasant family from one of Siguldas many Citadels, Gonoah, his ascension from poverty to the rank of Lord Commander is a tale reknownd and told all across their homeworld. He is an icon for the feudal people, a warrior king who fought his way to the top through hard work and determination and gives hope to any of Siguldas men, women and children. As a knight-brother, he rose to the rank of sergeant at 28 and withing his first fifty years of service he had already become the Commander of the 5^th order. At the venerable age of 83 he was elected as Lord Commander of the chapter by the Elder Council.

Among his most famous campaings are the Agrippa Crusade, where he lead his company along side the Black Templars and won a swift and brutal victory over the rebelious overlords of the Agrippa system. The Purgin of Zarah, where as Grand Commander they crushed Ur'Ghur Big-toffs Waaagh. And the defense of the Coniah system when a warp portal opened in the early 900 century of the 41^st millenium and the forces of chaos stormed out, flooding the system in war.

A man of determination and loyalty, Lazarus often preaches that greatness can be found in any man no matter his rank in society and he is indeed a living example of this. To him loyalty, determination and devotion to the Emperor are the most important characteristics of any man and that all Astartes must live accordingly. However, he does suffer from powerfull mood swings. He is usually known for being quiet and contemplative, as well as isolated, but when his nerves are touched and adrenaline flows through his blood he becomes a savage, though noble warrior, with no tolerance for disobedience.

Though he can choose freely from a great weapons and armour arsenal his preffered equipment is an ancient suit of MK IV power armour and a beautiful master-crafted relic blade, rumoured to date back to the Great Crusade. The weapon is known as “Dawnblade” due to the way the metals reflect the rays of the sun turning them a bright mixture of orange, red and yellow, shining forth as if he was wielding the power of Terras sun in his own hands.

LORD COMMANDER GALAN ISORIUS 175 PTS.

WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Unit Type: Unit Composition:

Galain Isorius 7 5 5 4 4 5 4 10 +2 Infantry (character) 1 (Unique)

Wargear: Artificier armour, relic blade, bolt pistol, iron halo, frag and krak grenades.

Special rules: Champion of Humanity (warlord trait), independent character, and they shall know no fear, orbital bombardment.

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So, LOOOONG post, but Im curious to hear your ideas, especially regarding the fluff.

[Lord Tarkin]

Nice detailed story and a very nice chapter background. Considering the name of the chapter and their profession I would paint some sort of a knightly helm. The elder council and such would make it quite fitting

[GrandMagnus]

I was thinking either a sword or some sort of cross. A helmet is not a bad idea, I will look around and see if I find something easy and cool.

[Olis]

Here's a picture of some heraldic crosses to consider (just ignore that last one...):

 

http://www.americanheraldry.org/pages/uploads/Primer/3b.gif

 

 

I think doing it either in yellow or white might be a good idea.

[GrandMagnus]

Thanks Olisderan, I really like the Cross Patté and Potent. They give off a very strong feeling. I saw this and thought it might look good:

 

http://t2.ftcdn.net/jpg/00/32/97/11/400_F_32971160_mvoSAGbQiJDdha0OVbR1t6ImxFnEybOb.jpg

[GrandMagnus]

Okay, stage 1 of the first test scheme, the halved scheme:

 

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/P7050023_zps124fc921.jpg

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/P7050025_zpsadfcd2a8.jpg

 

Personally, I really like it so far, what do you think?

[Olis]

It looks crackin'. :tu:

[GrandMagnus]

Okay, stage 2 of the test marine. Im definetly going for this colour scheme, its unique, fun to paint and looks great. The marine is still laking the base and details such as company marking (something heraldic), chapter badge (Im not sure what to use and what colours yet) and squad markings:

 

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/P7060022_zps9bd06bd0.jpg

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/P7060024_zpsef5733e8.jpg

 

So far Im thinking the cross of Saint James might look good since it resembles a sword:

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Cross_Santiago.svg/441px-Cross_Santiago.svg.png

[Apokalypsi]

Beautiful color scheme. I think you found the perfect emblem with that St. James cross for sure. It matches the feel and look of your Chapter perfectly.

[Lysimachus]

Wow, beautiful job, did you use a dark or light undercoat? Cross looks good too, maybe not in red as they'll look very Imperial Fist-ish? (Unless that's what you're going for?)

 

I'd maybe do the weapon casings in another colour too, as is it slightly unbalances the black and yellow. What about white, red or maybe even a nice dark royal blue to tie in with the eyes?