IA: Aurora Dragons

[Sigvard]

Aurora Dragons

 

 

 

 

Primarch: Jaghatai Khan

Founding Chapter: White Scars

Chapter Master: Conn Gunnach

Homeworld: Desolation

Fortress Monastery: The Heartforge

Colours: Grey, Blue and Gold

Speciality: Close Quarters Combat, Heavy Assault

Battle Cry: Desolation is upon you!

Homeworld

The Aurora Dragons hail from the barren and cold world of Desolation. The planet is a Death World in a star system in the Segmentum Solar. The lack of light and warmth radiating from its dying star have lead all life on the surface of Desolation to die, however the flora and fauna of the planet have continued to thrive in a vast cave and tunnel network known to its human inhabitants as the Core. The tunnels and caves of the Core are a mineral and resource rich environment which has allowed the tribal humans once present on the surface to prosper and grow into vast communities known as Wards. It is these hardy folk the chapter recruit from and in turn protect them from the beasts that lurk the Core.

 

The Fortress Monastery of the Aurora Dragons is located at the very heart of the planet hence its name and use channels leading from an extinct volcano as a channel for void faring vehicles to interact with the Fortress and the underground communities that the Core houses. Whilst the Monastery is never empty, many of the Astartes stationed on Desolation are found in their home Wards stationed in the garrisons built there.

 

 

Origins

 Founded in the early 38^th Millennium as part of the Sentinel Founding, the Aurora Dragons were sent to the borders of the Segmentum Solar and the Segmentum Obscurus where they were given a planet in a system with a dying star. The planet they took as their home world was Desolation, a frozen death world rife with life in the subterranean tunnels that run through the core, this vast array of tunnels is home to all animal and plant life on Desolation and also the planet’s human population who call it The Core. The planet is a high gravity mining world with its inhabitants having evolved from a tribal culture. Based in vast settlements called Wards the human populace are closely knit with each member of the Ward considered as family. The people are strong and hardy due to the high gravity of the planet and the physical work of being a miner the human occupants of Desolation produce strong candidates for the Astartes program.

 

During the inception of the chapter a flaw was discovered with the Aurora Dragons gene-stock which has led to the melancromatic organ to be overactive. This affects the Aurora Dragons in a very specific way, due to the dying star the level of radiation produced by it is very low, this coupled with the chapter fortress being close to the centre of the planet has led to the battle brothers of the chapter to have skin of pure white and eyes that are solid blue the colour of cobalt and with a glow as if there was a fire behind it.

 

Culture

As with many Astartes chapters the Aurora Dragons follow the tenets of the Codex Astartes as a way of life, however like their forebears, the White Scars they have been sculpted by the cultures and beliefs found on their home world. The inhabitants of Desolation function very similarly to tribal culture with each settlement of the planet being very closely knit. The Ward is considered to be a family above all else and this bond keeps the people close and allows them to be efficient and skilled in their duties. Each member of the Ward is assigned a duty to perform in the day to day running of the Ward with the highest ranking members of the community taking up Forge Craft, for the artificer is held in regard above all others.  

 

The Aurora Dragons mirror this way of life very closely, each battle company aside from the 1^st, 2^nd and 10^th is aligned to the Ward from where its Astartes were recruited from. The company’s battle-brothers are encouraged to walk amongst the people of the Ward as members of the community, as equals in the family they came from. This has created a strong bond between the Astartes and their people and such being chosen to become an Astartes is seen as a great honour. Also like their parent Wards each battle-brother has a function outside of his battlefield duties, many will continue with Forge Craft assisting the chapter’s venerated Tech Marines in maintenance of the chapter’s weapons and war machines, others will take on roles in the community as advisors and some even join the hunting parties sent out to hunt the great beasts of the Core.

 

 

This closely knit culture has led to the Aurora Dragons to be very insular in nature, relying greatly on their own strength as a unit rather than seeking from help from others. This has caused conflict with other imperial organisations who have found the chapter commanders to be stubborn, reticent and not always open to the suggestion of tactics outside their own battle doctrine. There have been instances of high friction between the Aurora Dragons and those of the Astra Militarum and Inquisition who have assumed command of military actions involving the chapter, where an Aurora Dragon Commander has completely disregarded his orders and taken the course of action he has deemed most fit for his Astartes. There are very exceptions to this insular behaviour, one of which is their pro-genitor The White Scars who they share a strong bond with, viewing them almost as a young sibling would an older brother, the second is a successor chapter of the Blood Angels known as the Lions of Spartawith whom they have done battle with on a number of occasions, centuries ago the Chapter Masters came together on the field of battle to fight a mighty Ork Warboss and when the dust settled the two warriors swore an oath of brotherhood. To this stay that bond holds true and the chapters enjoy a strong alliance.

[Sigvard]

Recent Engagements

320. M41 ­– The Aurora Dragons and The Lions of Sparta are deployed the Paragon star system in force, the Ork Waagh Starkilla has invaded the Forge World Paragon I and had begun laying siege to a Mechanicus Forge tasked with producing Titan Walkers for Collegio Titanica. Chapter Master Artair Ros of the Aurora Dragons and Chapter Master Scythio Leonidas at the head of their Honour Guard using drop pods hit the very centre of the Ork Waagh and whilst their honour guard defended them from harm the two Chapter Masters engaged the huge Ork known as Starkilla and destroyed him.

444. M41 – Whilst not involved in the battle of Armageddon itself the Aurora Dragons 2^nd Company whilst travelling from Desolation, encounters outlying chaos forces in the Segmentum Solar, a furious Void Battle ensues with casualties on both sides, but the chaos forces retreating as victory is assured on Armageddon.

500. M41 – Chief Librarian Isaac throws himself into the heart of Desolation after seeing visions of the Emperor Weeping fearing it to be a sign of corruption.

906. M41 - The Silent King awakens a Necron Tomb world in the neighbouring star system, Imperial settlements in the system begins to be snuffed out across a number of planets. Aurora Dragons are sent to investigate the strange goings on. They find a full scale Necron invasion of multiple planets in the system. The Necron menace appears to be searching for lost artefacts from a bygone age. This is the first battle in a bitter war with the Necrons which continues on in the present day. The Necrons are driven out of the star system but this is just the beginning.

916. M41 – Waaagh Krakken is stopped with a full 3 companies of Aurora Dragons on the Agri-World of Argentum III, Warboss Iron Krakken was slain by a shot from the Vindicare Assassin Requiem who sent to intervene with the Waaagh. The PDF assisted the Space Marines in wiping out much of the Ork forces remaining after their Warboss was killed. This would not be the last time the Aurora Dragons interact with the Vindicare Temple nor the Assassin Requiem.

922. M41 – A full half of the Aurora Dragons 5^th Company are lead into a trap set by a nameless Necron Destroyer Lord, only 2 squads escape the exchange, all the lost marines are not found again and their gene-seed is lost.

928. M41 - Conn Gunnach at the head of 400 Aurora Dragons strike a Necron Tomb World in the same region of space as the trap of the Necron Destroyer Lord, the seemingly endless stream of Necron Warriors are laid low in the wake of the chapter’s fury, the final battle is met at the heart of the complex with the Destroyer Lord and his Liche Guard meeting Conn Gunnach at the head of the Iron Drakes in close combat, though taking terrible wounds that destroy his secondary heart and one of his organic lungs Conn Gunnach is victorious, striking a mighty blow with the Blade of Desolation cleaving the Destroyer Lord and his Orb of Resurrection in two

952. M41 – A Space Hulk appears in the shipping lanes from Desolation, Adeptus Mechanus supply ships are attacked and destroyed. A great many materials from the ships are taken and the Space Hulks fades back into the warp before the Aurora Dragons can respond.

974. M41 – Battle for Sucudo - Further conflict with the Necrons, leading heavy casualties for the 6^th Company of the Aurora Dragons.

992-999. M41 – Desolation is besieged by a massive Necron fleet. The Core defences are activated and sealed, less than 100 marines are currently stationed on Desolation and a galaxy wide distress call is sent out amongst the stars. The Aurora Dragons go on immediate recall warping back at great speed to save their home planet, a number of other forces in the nearby vicinity commit forces to assist the chapter under siege, the entire 2^nd company of the Lions of Sparta and forces from the Adeptus Mechanicus, Black Templars and Astra Militarum.

 

Organisation

Whilst a Codex adherent chapter working with 10 fully operational companies including a Veteran 1^st Company and a company of initiates in the 10^th Company, they also deviate from the core tenets of the Codex in a few ways. The first deviation and possibly the most noticeable is the use of the fauna of Desolation in battle, members of the elite 1^st Company “The Iron Drakes” can be found astride giant bi-pedal ice drakes. The drakes are taken from nests as eggs and are reared by the Chapter serfs until they hatch, upon which time its selected rider will be present and will form a bond with the creature until it is old enough to be used in battle as a beast of war.

 

The second deviation from the codex is the 2^nd Company who are fleet based; they operate under the leadership of a Captain who is custodian of the chapter’s flag ship Void Hammer. The company is built as a small but complete battle force with all but War Drakes in its make-up. The initiates in the company are taken from Desolation once every decade (unless high attrition has caused their numbers to fall to unmanageable levels) and are trained in the void by the Chaplain of the 2^nd Company alongside the company veterans. The 2^nd Company travel all across the galaxy answering distress calls and requests for aid from those who cannot defend themselves against the Imperium’s many foes; it is the Chapter’s purest commitment to protection of the Imperium and its inhabitants.

 

The final deviation is the function and form of the chapter's initiates and scout squads. The first of these to mention is the scout squads, unlike other Astartes chapter’s the Aurora Dragon’s employ scout squads in a different fashion. It is required that a battle-brother will be required to prove himself over decades of service to be allowed to undertake missions in the fashion that the scout squads are given.  The second is the form of the initiates of the chapter, with the role of the Scout taken by the veterans the initiates are moulded into a mighty hammer, given Power Armour at the beginning of their training and armed with a Bolt Pistol and Chainsword the recruits are baptised in the crucible of close quarters combat, this will be under the watchful eye of a Veteran Sergeant who will have seen countless batters against the foes of the Imperium.

 

As a final note to the Aurora Dragons organisation, like their progenitors the chapter does not employ Dreadnoughts under any circumstance, this is because of the belief that warriors spirit when dies goes to join the Emperor and his sons in the great halls of the afterlife. To cage a warrior’s spirit in a sarcophagus is one the greatest insults you could do to someone you called brother. As such the Aurora Dragons have no tomb or grave yard for their fallen brothers, instead after their gene-seed has been saved they are given to the Heart of Desolation, this a peaceful ceremony with as many of their battle brothers from their Ward present as can be spared and is likely the only moment of peace the Astartes will have since his time of initiation. It is then given to the Master of the Heartforge to create a sculpture from volcanic rock in the likeness of the Astartes.

[Sigvard]

So this is what I have come up with after a little bit of work, I also have the complete chapter disposition but I couldn't get tables to convert, C&C's most certainly welcome, I am still quite new in terms of 40k Lore and I have tried to make the time frames and conflicts they have been involved in as feasible as possible. My choice of Necrons as their "arch-enemy" are based entirely on my real life gaming time, my best bud uses Necrons as his primary and this is why they have been chosen as such.

Thanks in advance

Sigvard

[Conn Eremon]

I like your Chapter Master's name. It's a good, strong name. :D

 

 

Reading through, I'm a little concerned that your Chapter seems mostly like a melding of the Salamanders and the Space Wolves. I'm not really seeing anything that sets the Aurora Dragons apart, as an independent Chapter. Now, maybe this is what you want. And if so, hey, go for it.

 

But assuming that you'd like your Aurora Dragons to have an identity more their own, I'd suggest taking what you have now as indicative of what you most like about those two Chapters, and what has inspired you to create your own Chapter around those indications. Or at least, I assume that's why you've selected these elements to be fused together.

 

I would list all these features and elements out, and make a separate column that explains why you like it. For instance, I could say I like the role the Salamanders have in their home worlders' lives because it reminds me of a big brother growing up and turning around to provide his little brother with the father figure he was missing. It triggers a basic feeling that hooks me in.

 

Now maybe your column doesn't have something so personal or emotional, but you should be able to narrow it down to something basic. 

 

Now, take those basics, and match them up like with like. Treat those that are matched as if they are one thing, a singular element. Now, take this narrowed down list of elements, and create a Chapter around them. Come up with new ways for these elements to be expressed, ways that particularly resonate with you. Using the Salamanders example again, maybe the missing father figure is the God-Emperor Himself, who the 'little brothers' worship but are ultimately bereft of His presence. So this successor decides to fulfill the role of the angels, whatever their own beliefs on the matter, so that the people never feel deprived of Him. They put on a brave face, don the ritual garb, and dance on the figurative stage so that the masses never realize how alone and abandoned they are. I'm not necessarily saying use this example instead (though it's yours if you want it), just trying to provide an example of what I'm trying to say.

 

To be clear, I'm not exactly saying what you have is wrong, but I am pointing out that reading above felt a lot like reading bits and pieces of lore on the Salamanders and Space Wolves with changed up names.

[Sigvard]

Thanks Conn that's really great feedback.

 

The things you have spoken about are the points I am trying to convey, fortunately this is a working draft :-).

 

Obviously the two points of inspiration are the Salamanders and Space Wolves so I will take what you said and run with it. I might even have them work on a Codex basis and trim down on the lay out and just have them have titles for specific roles. I think one of the things I found hardest was distancing myself from my sources of inspiration as from reading the Liber Astartes there are quite a few "rules" to remember in relation to a homebrew chapter. 

 

I will get back to work on them and post again

[Sigvard]

I new update based on the feedback from Conn. I have re-written alot of the material and dropped alot of the references to Space Wolves. Just because I use the codex doesn't mean the Chapter have any influence from them. Any more comments would be most welcome.

 

Edit -  I have come to realise that it is all very well and good being all "we love to save the humans" but it is also it's a bit bland. I need a thing that makes them stand out out beyond being all around nice guys, if anyone has anything that could be thrown into the mix to add flavour beyond the "we make friends with the little people" bit that would be brilliant.

Thanks again

[Conn Eremon]

I'll take the time to give a full review of the edited article when I'm on a computer, but as to your question: Forget it, and start from the beginning. Think of the conditions your Chapter first exists within. Think of its influences. Build up their character, then think about how that would apply to other situations or modes of thought. If it makes sense for your Chapter's character to still retain the good ol' Salamander benevolence (relative to the setting. They're still a pack of brain-washed child soldier/mass murderers), then go for it. If not, don't. See if something else fits.

 

My own Salamander DIY, the as yet unposted Storm Bearers, did not feel like they would be accommodating to the whole Creed. So I had the Chapter take it, then slowly corrupt it to be in more in line with their way of thinking. Their 'Cyclopean' Creed has a greater emphasis on their role as the protector, while the inherent humility is slowly eroded away. To their ways of thinking, they are not helping the little people because they are big and that's just enough, like with their progenitor-father. It's because they are too weak to do it themselves. The little people are feeble, and need protection at all times. And because of this, the emphasis on who is important in this relationship shifts from the little people to the big people. It's not much, and really only brings them more in line with the average Chapter, but its all about that small shift away from humility and benevolence.

[Sigvard]

Okay so this is my first draft of the re-write with a few more bits of detail I would like to add along the way.

 

They are now a White Scar successor with some different components that make them who they are, I like it myself a lot more and they have some flaws which I would like to explore a little more.

[dusara217]

This looks fantastic, though the war cry is a bit of a mouthful. You might want to shorten it down to just a few words, something like "Fire and ice!" or something that doesn't take up too much time. Remember, the warcry is being shouted as your men are sprinting into battle, so they don't exactly have the breath to waste when the enemy is about to be engaged with pistol and blade.

[Sigvard]

Thanks dusara! I have changed it a little, there is one that has been staring me in the face, Desolation is upon is much better for a battle cry :-)