Index Astartes: The Praetors of Ion

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]

HI Everyone, 

 

I have finally founded a chapter that I think I will call my own:

 

Its culture and heritage are based on the ancient greek city states.

Its combat doctrine is one of supreme tactical flexibility and a combination of active disruption of potential enemies and active defense of their territories.

 

While the idea is still rough and needs some fleshing out, I hope that you all can appreciate the direction that I am going in. :)

 

As always comments and questions are always welcome :)

 

-Daniel

 

I give you, the Praetors of Ion:

 

Index Astartes: The Praetors of Ion

 

Introduction:

 

The Praetor’s of Ion are a chapter of space marines loyal to the Emperor and the Imperium of Man. A warrior brotherhood of consummate skill and unmatched might, the Praetors of Ion are counted among humanity’s greatest defenders.

 

Ion

 

The home world of the Praetors of Ion is Ion Prime, the capital world of the Helenus sub-sector in Segmentum Obscurus. Ion Prime was brought into the fold of the Imperium during the great crusade, with its proud, long-standing culture intact. The inhabitants of Ion Prime were divided into an intricate system of clans, guilds, and city-states that squabbled and warred amongst themselves. While the Imperium’s arrival brought an end to any open hostilities, and in many ways united the people of Ion Prime, the people have, to this day, held onto a distinctly independent system of governance. The populace is still divided by clan or tribal allegiance as well as any guild affiliations they might have. Furthermore, governance of Ion Prime is carried out by a council of representatives from each of the many city-states, each with their own familial and economic ties. This independent, city-state governance and tribal culture has greatly affected the Praetors of Ion.

Originally a feudal world, the coming of the Imperium allowed the people of Ion Prime to have access to greater technology.  Over the millennia, Ion Prime became a bustling center of trade and flourished under t1he protection of the Praetors of Ion. In many ways, Ion Prime is a paradise planet. Its people are industrious and their needs are well met. The planet is rich and powerful, but sparred from corruption and excess by the careful hand of the Praetors of Ion.

 

Chapter History:

 

The Praetors of Ion were founded during the third founding from the 13th Legion’s gene stock upon the planet of Ion Prime, a strategically important planet in Segmentum Obscurus. Created as a codex adherent chapter, the Praetors showed immense prowess in battle and a tactical flexibility that allowed them to operate optimally in any situation. These were not crazed berserkers or religious zealots but professional soldiers and defenders of humanity.

The Praetors quickly established a reputation for tactical brilliance and deft maneuvering. They truly embodied their primarch’s vision of what a space marine chapter was to be. This commitment to flexibility has earned them the ire of some of the more hard lined chapters, who view some of their minor deviations from the codex as blasphemous.   

 

Notable Engagements:

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10.

 

Chapter Beliefs:

 

               The Praetors of Ion believe that they are the servants of mankind and the Emperor. Their Goal is to protect the people and the Imperium as a whole. As a result, the chapter tends to operate on a defensive footing, ensuring their territory is protected and functioning properly. At the same time, however, the Praetors of Ion are loathe to bring to apocalyptic battle what could have been prevented by the good placement of a single kill team.

               They are a proud and honorable chapter that, above all, is committed to rational decision making and tactical flexibility. Their battle groups are famous for their ability to adapt to any situation.

Organization:

               The Ionian culture of strongly knit clans and independent city states have directly affected the Praetors of Ion and their chapter organization. They have ten, clan like, battle companies that independently recruit, train, and equip their own scouts, battle brothers, and veterans, all under the auspices of the chapter’s High Command. The battle companies rotate guard and sentinel duties between themselves and have an air of friendly competitiveness between them.

 

Companies:

 

Company of the Shrouded Sun

Company of the Winged Shadow

Company of the Iron Fist

Company of the eternal Pyre

Company of the shattered Star

Company of the pale dawn

Company of the veiled night

Company of the severed skull

Company of the crimson blades

Company of the silent storm

 

Combat Doctrine:

 

The Praetors of Ion believe in tactical flexibility and protecting their people.

 

Heroes of the Chapter:

 

 

Relics of the Chapter:

 

 

[Tiberius Cato]

I like the direction this is going, although I do have a few questions

Does each company (clan) each maintain it's own pool of veterans, scouts, standard marines, armory, etc.?

Are the companies names derived from the clans of Ion?

Why do they value defense over offense; surely taking the fight to the enemy's doorstep is just as valid a means of protecting mankind, what founds their belief that being more defensive-minded is the better way to go?

How do they carry out a defensive-minded style of warfare? Do they do it like the Fists and sit atop impenetrable fortresses or do they let the enemy charge them while they sit back with artillery and mow down wave after wave of the opposition or what?

 

I hope I don't offend with my questions, that's not my intent. But all in all I look forward to the development of this. And if I may, here is some suggestions:

In combat doctrine you could fancy up the entry by saying something along the lines of "The Praetors of Ion follow the guidance of the primogenitor in their belief that tactical flexibility is key to victory. However, the chapter seeks more defensive options due to *insert reason here*."

 

Perhaps your chapter makes use of hoplite-like units? Maybe they kick :cuss in naval operations, primarily destroying enemy vessels through ramming and setting them ablaze.

 

Feel free to use whatever you want from my post, and again, I'm really like the more Greek focused Greco-Roman theme you got going on.

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]

I like the direction this is going, although I do have a few questions

Does each company (clan) each maintain it's own pool of veterans, scouts, standard marines, armory, etc.?

Are the companies names derived from the clans of Ion?

Why do they value defense over offense; surely taking the fight to the enemy's doorstep is just as valid a means of protecting mankind, what founds their belief that being more defensive-minded is the better way to go?

How do they carry out a defensive-minded style of warfare? Do they do it like the Fists and sit atop impenetrable fortresses or do they let the enemy charge them while they sit back with artillery and mow down wave after wave of the opposition or what?

I hope I don't offend with my questions, that's not my intent. But all in all I look forward to the development of this. And if I may, here is some suggestions:

In combat doctrine you could fancy up the entry by saying something along the lines of "The Praetors of Ion follow the guidance of the primogenitor in their belief that tactical flexibility is key to victory. However, the chapter seeks more defensive options due to *insert reason here*."

Perhaps your chapter makes use of hoplite-like units? Maybe they kick in naval operations, primarily destroying enemy vessels through ramming and setting them ablaze.

Feel free to use whatever you want from my post, and again, I'm really like the more Greek focused Greco-Roman theme you got going on.

Hey there,

Thanks for the comment and questions. I'll do my best to answer them one at a time.

1. yes, each company maintains its own scouts, troops, veterans, and in practice vehicles, but the vehicles are, if in name only, loaned from the chapter armory.

2. The names of the companies are from Ionian legends and constellations

3. They don't necessarily favor defense over offense. It's more like that they are more concerned with THEIR territory and THEIR people and the maintenance of THEIR Planet. They don't just go around slaughtering people for no reason. They fight to protect their own, whether offensively or defensively.

4. They fight in whatever way they need to, in order to maximize their effectiveness.

Also, I've decided to change their founding to the 26th. They are a young, idealistic chapter. that is working to prove themselves. This way, i can avoid having an intensive chapter history and create my own history from the results of my games.

As always, comments and criticism are welcome.

Thanks,

Daniel

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]

I was thinking of a new idea in their chapter history where an ork Waaaaagh struck their homeworld after being displaced in a warp jump (ork technology don't you know?) and the Praetors of Ion defeating them similarly to the battle for thermoplae pass, by funnling their massive numbers into narrow mountain passes and fighting them where their numbers are meaningless. 

 

What do you all think of this?

[Tiberius Cato]

It could be a nice addition with proper execution. Are you looking to have the same circumstances as the last stand at thermoplae? That is, ocean on one side, mountains on the other. If not, how were you thinking of it playing out?

 

While the Orks are being funneled, I can see use of the trusty Thunderfire Cannon (or three...) to decimate the Ork ranks. But that's just my thoughts, Looking forward to see how you write it up!

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]

The way I envision it is that the planet's topography is very mountainous, with city states occupying low lying valleys. The orks make planetfall in a disorganized horde, separated from each other by the planet's terrain. 

 

While the orbital defenses are engaging a space hulk that brought them there, Two companies are left to deal with the ork hordes until reinforcements can arrive. 

 

They engage ork units with hit and run attacks, drawing them into the narrow mountain passes, where their numbers are meaningless. All the while, Heavy artillary pounds them from the monutain side.Their goal is to lead the orks away from the population centers, with civilians sheltered in the acropolis, by harassing them and drawing them out. 

 

That's how they take out isolated pockets of ork infantry. However, several ork landing parties managed to remain with their supporting units (tanks, fighter jets, etc) and commanders and presented a real threat to the nearest polis, they had the strength to lay seige to it. 

 

In response, the chapter mobilizes the planetary defense auxilliary to defend the polis. While the ork hordes were being bombarded and repelled from the city walls, the chapter's disparate forces converged towards these few remaining pockets of resistance, bringing artillary and heavy infantry behind the enemy and catching them in between two forces. The enemy was broken completely with the arrival of three additional companies.

 

Something like that, I don't know. What are your thoughts? 

[Tiberius Cato]

I like it, I can imagine the Orks being baited away from the cities by mimicking their favorite thing, a downright brutal and cunnin' brawl. Hit them hard with assault marines and word will spread amongst the Orks of a damn good fight, they'll be sure to flock to wherever you need them.

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]

New write up:

 

Index Astartes: The Praetors of Ion

 

Origins:

 

The Praetor’s of Ion are a chapter of space marines loyal to the Emperor and the Imperium of Man. A warrior brotherhood of consummate skill and unmatched might, the Praetors of Ion are counted among humanity’s greatest and most stalwart defenders.

Created during the 26th founding, The Praetors of Ion are a relatively young and inexperienced chapter. Despite this, they have quickly established a reputation for tactical brilliance and flexibility. On dozens of worlds and in hundreds of battles, they have triumphed over the enemies of man reduced them to ruin.

Descended from the geneseed of the 13th legion, the Praetors of Ion have inherited their primogenitor’s aptitude for logistics and strategy as well as the ability to fight any kind of war. While not as traditional in their reverence for the Codex Astartes as some of their more hardline brethren, the revere its call for tactical flexibility above all else and have devoted themselves to this principle.

 

Ion Segundus:

              

The home world of the Praetors of Ion is Ion Segundus, the capital world of the Helenus sub-sector in Segmentum Obscurus. Ion Segundus was brought into the fold of the Imperium during the great crusade, by the honored 13th legion, with its proud, long-standing culture intact. Because of the mountainous terrain of Ion Segundus, the inhabitants of that feudal world were divided into an intricate system of clans and city-states that squabbled and warred amongst themselves. While the Imperium’s arrival brought an end to any open hostilities, and in many ways united the people of Ion Segundus, the people have, to this day, held onto a distinctly independent system of governance.

              

The world of Ion Segundus is divided into a little more than fifty “polies,” each a center of culture and civilization in the low lying valleys that dot the planet, ruled over by one or two dominant clans. These city-states are united by similar cultural, ethnic, and geographical factors into roughly 10 “ethnos,” each with its own capital polis. The eleventh ethnos, Ionia, is entirely to the chapter and is the location of its fortress monastery.

              

Instead of being dominated by polluting manufactorums, squalid hive cities, or a bombed out wasteland, the polies of Ion Segundus were united and transformed by the hand of the 13th legion. Instead of being conquered, the people of Ion Segundus gladly joined the imperium. Indeed, when it was brought into the Imperium, its governance and military protection was designed in the style of Ultramar. Because of this, Ion Segundus is a thriving and prosperous world, whose people are industrious and honorable. The capital world of an entire sub sector, it is both rich and powerful and has only become more so after the founding of the Praetors of Ion.

 

Recruitment:

 

The Praetor’s of Ion have been influenced, to a large extent, by the culture of Ion Segundus. Its decentralized culture and clan based rituals and beliefs thread the larger culture of Ion Segundus together into a rich tapestry, strangely uniting its people through shared independence. As a result, each ethnos retains a barracks that acts as a localized fortress for the Praetors of Ion and a recruitment and training center for the chapter’s recruits and the planetary defense auxiliary forces. Through these barracks, each of the chapter’s ten companies has an informal home in one of the planet’s ethnos, and thus a unique tie to the clans and culture that make up that ethnos.

 

All of Ion Segundus’ eligible youth undergo training at their ethnos’ barracks and undergo the trials. Those who pass the trials are trained as chapter recruits and taken in by the company that operates that barracks. Those who do not pass the trials are able to either serve the chapter as functionaries or to join the planetary defense auxiliary forces and are trained appropriately.

Eventually, after receiving basic training in their ethnos barracks, recruited youths are transferred to the chapter’s fortress monastery for additional training. There, they are instructed in the ways of the chapter, its rituals, beliefs, and tactics as their bodies are modified. From there, each recruit undergoes a second set of trials and becomes an initiate, surrendering any clan name or identity and becoming a full-fledged member of the chapter. Initiates with psychic potential are transferred to the Librarius. Those with an interest for the ways of the machine are given to the Armory. Those with a talent for the secrets of the flesh are given to the Apothecarion. The rest of the Initiates are assigned to the battle companies, usually the company that originally recruited them.

From there, each initiate undergoes additional training and becomes inducted into the rites and rituals of their company or order. The initiates sent to the companies are assigned to scout squads and begin their combat duties. Rising from the ranks of the scouts, an initiate becomes a full battle brother and earns his suit of power armor when he passes the third trial, distinct for each company. Then, after spending years assigned to a tactical squad, a marine of the Praetors of Ion will be assigned to whatever role suits them the most if one is available: assault marine, devastator marine, sergeant. If a brother shows truly outstanding resolve and faith in the Emperor, he may be recruited to the Rechlusiam, or having become a veteran through countless wars and battles be assigned to a veteran squad and given the opportunity to serve as a terminator or as a member of a command squad.

 

If a veteran marine shows truly preternatural skill with blade and bolter, he may be given the opportunity to join the ranks of the chapter ancients, its most esteemed and potent fighting force, charged with protecting the chapter’s command and honor at all costs. If a veteran shows great tactical skill and the ability to lead men into battle, he may be promoted to company master and from there to supreme grand master, in time.

 

Organization:

 

The Praetor’s of Ion are divided into ten battle companies, each with their own scouts and veterans. At any given time, 5 companies are tasked with guarding the Ion system and its surrounding principalities as well as garrisoning the fortress monastery and overseeing recruitment. However, all companies have at least several marines on Ion Segundus to oversee their recruits’ training and induction.

 

At any given time, the other five companies are tasked with seeking out threats to the Imperium and annihilating them. If there are extraordinary circumstances, then the garrison companies may be called upon to support the battle companies.

Furthermore, the companies rotate which among them has garrison duty and which have battle duty, but all of them are ready to defend Ion Segundus and defeat any foe that rears its ugly head.

 

Beliefs:

 

The Praetor’s of Ion are a young chapter and have come from a world largely untouched by want or treachery. As a result, they are, by and large, and idealistic chapter. They fight to protect mankind and to secure its future. They believe, perhaps foolishly, that this is a war that can be won and that humanity can survive unbent, uncorrupted, and unbroken. 

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/smsbeta.php?bpe=4D4B4B&bpj=4D4B4B&bp=4D4B4B&bpc=4D4B4B&hdt=4D4B4B&hdm=4D4B4B&hdl=4D4B4B&ey=30F8FF&er=4D4B4B&pi=4D4B4B&nk=4D4B4B&ch=4D4B4B&eg=B0A9A9&sk=B3ABAB&abs=4D4B4B&bt=4D4B4B&cod=4D4B4B&ull=4D4B4B&lk=4D4B4B&lll=4D4B4B&lft=4D4B4B&url=4D4B4B&rk=4D4B4B&lrl=4D4B4B&rft=4D4B4B&slt=4D4B4B&sli=4D4B4B&srt=4D4B4B&sri=4D4B4B&ula=4D4B4B&lel=4D4B4B&lla=4D4B4B&lw=4D4B4B&lh=4D4B4B&ura=4D4B4B&rel=4D4B4B&rla=4D4B4B&rw=4D4B4B&rh=4D4B4B&bg=FFFFFF&rb=7A7878&gr=736E6E&wg=true&hsk=true&aq=true&loin=AA0000&chps=CC0000&slips=CC0000&ti=FFFFFF&blt=000000

[Tiberius Cato]

Very nice write up, brother. For the armour colours perhaps the greaves, torso, and helmet would be a brass colour to build upon your Greek theme. Do you plan on using this chapter as a tabletop force?

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]

This will be a tabletop force. I'll think about the color palette

Thanks

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]

What about this?:

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]

Either way i'm thinking about the chapter badge being an imperial aquila, with a red shield in front and the company symbol on the shield

[Tiberius Cato]

That's a nice scheme, just for clarity's sake though, is that white or a light grey you're looking at doing?

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]

The color that I envision is a pearl white, between light grey and white 

[Tiberius Cato]

Ah, quite nice. Your lads will look great fighting the enemies of the Imperium.

[SupremeGrandMaster_Daniel]