The Nameless

[ChaosKen60]

Hello All I was thinking of doing a little fluff. So I was thinking of a new chapter of Marines. So I was looking at 1,000 Chapters and I found something that interested me so searched the net, got what I could find (below), found no fluff, some pictures.

The Nameless

Appear on the star map in the 5th edition Space Marine Codex (pages 32 & 33). Their homeworld of Repentance (noted as an artificial world) is way out on the Eastern Fringe. Their Chapter badge is a lightning bolt in a circle.

 

Repentance is the Adeptus Astartes Homeworld of the loyalist Space Marine Chapter: “The Nameless”. It is an artificial world located beyond the Eastern Fringe of the galaxy.

The Ultima Segmentum is one of the divisions of the Galaxy known as Segmentums of the Imperium and is by far the largest.

It is located to the east of Holy Terra, and its Segmentum Fortress is located at Kar Duniash. Notably it contains the Ultramarines Empire of Ultramar, the Tau Empire, and along its border is the Eastern Fringe.

 

So I a couple of ideas and wanted some input and wanted ask a few questions.

 

Question – Has anyone already done the fluff?

I found a player’s army using the name but no fluff.

 

If I do the fluff: I am thinking Fist or DA geneseed, now far as my mental image of them, they are on Repentance to protect this artificial world and they work/protect with (and watch?) the Mars-Priest teams that were originally there studying this tech wonder.

 

Overtime and isolation; they have become more, and more Monk/Knight’s Templar like. They keep to themselves but they and the Mars-Priests have grown to mistrust each other’s intentions on/for Repentance.

 

Repentance – as far as this plot device, smaller than Terra’s Moon, but should it be lost Tech from the Dark Age of Tech (i.e. Human made), or something more devious – Alien Tech (Necron??), deemed to valuable to destroy.

 

 

Okay fire away.

[Olis]

Question – Has anyone already done the fluff?

I found a player’s army using the name but no fluff.

 

The fact that someone else has an army is neither here nor there (even if they had fluff). If you want to explore this chapter, then by all means feel free. No-one can legitimately lay claim to a chapter with little to it's name (literally). :)

 

If I do the fluff: I am thinking Fist or DA geneseed, now far as my mental image of them, they are on Repentance to protect this artificial world and they work/protect with (and watch?) the Mars-Priest teams that were originally there studying this tech wonder.

 

Not a bad premise. I assume they will have a local populace, right? Or will the chapter utilise other worlds in the galaxy proper for recruits?

 

Overtime and isolation; they have become more, and more Monk/Knight’s Templar like. They keep to themselves but they and the Mars-Priests have grown to mistrust each other’s intentions on/for Repentance.

 

Repentance – as far as this plot device, smaller than Terra’s Moon, but should it be lost Tech from the Dark Age of Tech (i.e. Human made), or something more devious – Alien Tech (Necron??), deemed to valuable to destroy.

 

I like the idea of it being archeotech for the dark age of technology. If you chose the route to make it a Necron construct, that would essentially make it a World Engine (which is a very bad thing). I doubt a marine chapter would want to stay based on a xenos construct when they could (and should) destroy it. I advise the archeotech route.

[ChaosKen60]

Other ideas – due to their isolation; they do not have the same amount of equipment of a normal chapters; fewer Terminators and heavy vehicles.

Termi. Suits only for High Ranking Officers. Land Raiders are very rare, say only have a few left, and only one or two types.

 

Because of this they rely on the every day Tactical Squad/Battle Companies, as their main force.

 

They recruit from various feral worlds, which they have found overtime.

[ChaosKen60]

Olis thanks for your imput

 

"I like the idea of it being archeotech for the dark age of technology. If you chose the route to make it a Necron construct, that would essentially make it a World Engine (which is a very bad thing). I doubt a marine chapter would want to stay based on a xenos construct when they could (and should) destroy it. I advise the archeotech route."

 

I was thinking the same, but so much has change over the years with 40K. So I wanted to check.

[ChaosKen60]

More Ideas ----- The title “The Nameless” – the reasoning for this name early in their founding is the 1^st Chapter Master was killed before naming the chapter, it fell to the next master to name them.

He made this speech – “I am honored for the trust and the duty that as been place on me, but I feel I cannot take the honor from our fallen Master, so we shall be Nameless to honor our dead.”

 

So instead of squad names; they assign numbers. A tactical squad would be named something like this: T01-05, in other words – Tactical/1^st Company/5^th Squad.

 

Do think they would go as far as not using any names even for the individual marines?

 

Say Brother 549? Or stick with the normal marine naming?

[Teetengee]

I like the idea of numbered marines. You may also want to consider iron hands progenitor for the dehumanizing themes.

[Olis]

More Ideas ----- The title “The Nameless” – the reasoning for this name early in their founding is the 1^st Chapter Master was killed before naming the chapter, it fell to the next master to name them.

He made this speech – “I am honored for the trust and the duty that as been place on me, but I feel I cannot take the honor from our fallen Master, so we shall be Nameless to honor our dead.”

 

Not a fan of this idea - I've always been of the impression that the name is known/assigned really quite early on. Like naming ship keels.

 

So instead of squad names; they assign numbers. A tactical squad would be named something like this: T01-05, in other words – Tactical/1^st Company/5^th Squad.

 

This idea, however, I like. Very perfunctory. Very precise.

 

Do think they would go as far as not using any names even for the individual marines?

 

Say Brother 549? Or stick with the normal marine naming?

 

I honestly don't think they would substitute a name for a number (the Death Korps of Krieg do that, because it fits their theme of trench fighting, siege laying masses of infantry). I would suggest simply removing a name altogether and simply assigning rank and position. Such as 'Brother' (it'd be pointless saying third brother, or whatever), 'Fourth Sergeant', 'Second Captain', etc, etc.

[ChaosKen60]

 

More Ideas ----- The title “The Nameless” – the reasoning for this name early in their founding is the 1^st Chapter Master was killed before naming the chapter, it fell to the next master to name them.

He made this speech – “I am honored for the trust and the duty that as been place on me, but I feel I cannot take the honor from our fallen Master, so we shall be Nameless to honor our dead.”

 

Not a fan of this idea - I've always been of the impression that the name is known/assigned really quite early on. Like naming ship keels.

 

 

Okay I thought a new chapter was assigned a Number 1st. Then the 1st Chapter Master chose a name. I will have to read a little more on this.

[Olis]

To be honest, when a chapter get's its name is kinda vague in the fluff. This is more the territory of fan-theory than anything else.

[ChaosKen60]

I like the idea of numbered marines. You may also want to consider iron hands progenitor for the dehumanizing themes.

Iron Hands, I did not think about it/them, but now especially with the whole "artificial world" part you may have something. Maybe instead of being tech lacking because of the isolation, they are more technical because of the world.

Hmm that is something think about, thanks Teetengee

LoL almost got thinking (Forgive me, Emperor) Borg Like.

[Conn Eremon]

Olis is right about it being more a fan-theory, and it is a sensible one. Really, there are only two sources that I am aware of that discusses origins of a Chapter's name. One is from Forge World, but only really talks about how the Legion names came about, which eventually turned into Chapter names. I bring this one up, because it might be relevant to point out that before they were given names, they were numbered. While all Legions were eventually named, and we have seen no examples of a Chapter going through a similar nameless period, I believe I have seen references to the Mechanicus numbering the Space Marine Chapters in their archives. The names were included, but they were like superficial nicknames, as I read it. I'm trying to remember the source, and I think maybe AD-B's Night Lords trilogy. But it makes me think that the Mechanicus, who is the faction most involved with Chapter creation, numbers them just like the Legions of old were. For instance, there is the Crimson Fists Chapter, but to the Mechanicus, it's the Adeptus Astartes Chapter VII-2c 'Crimson Fists,' and kudos to the person who figures out how I got that designation. And yes, I think it was that trilogy, because I seem to remember its fallen Techpriest sometimes struggling to remember that Talos isn't fond of being called by his Legionary numeral designation. He liked being called "Talos."

 

So with Forge World and Black Library providing those sources, one could allow for a Chapter to first have a numeral designation before getting a name.

 

The second source I was referring to above is Fantasy Flight Games, who were licensed by Games Workshop to produce table-top RPGs. One of their books, Rites of Battle, includes information on how a player can create a Chapter of his or her own, independent of the pre-made Chapters from canon. In the section about naming a Chapter, it had this to say: 

 

"There are many ways in which a new Chapter might be granted its title. Sometimes the High Lords of Terra bestow the name at the Chapter’s Founding, linking it to some sacred duty the Chapter must perform, as is the case with the Praetors (meaning “guardians”) of Orpheus. In other cases the Chapter may earn its name in the years following its founding, fighting battle after battle until an appropriate title presents itself."     -  Rites of Battle, pg 38

 

This source seems to allow for a range of possibilities, from the fan-theory mentioned by Olis to one that would fit with the OP.

 

So ultimately, we don't really know how that process is done. What we do have are a lot of possibilities, and some are more commonly accepted than others. But one of those possibilities is very much in line with how the Nameless are presented here.

 

Which way you go with is up to you, just wanted to provide some extra info to help you make your decision. I do have to say, I was completely unaware that there was a canon Chapter of this name and lore, albeit one virtually untouched.

[Aqui]

If you do go along the route of having them as Iron Hands successors, you might consider using binary for the Marines' designation

Otherwise, I agree with what's been said already

[Draakur]

For instance, there is the Crimson Fists Chapter, but to the Mechanicus, it's the Adeptus Astartes Chapter VII-2c 'Crimson Fists,' and kudos to the person who figures out how I got that designation.

Chapter VII - 7th Legion

2 - Second Founding Chapter

c - third creation of that founding

 

 

I like this idea by the way, and REALLY like the Iron Hands leaning. Lots of potential :)

[Tiberius Cato]

I think numerical designation for marines is a great idea! Perhaps the number changes as the marine progresses through the ranks. For instance, you could have brother 237; seventh member or the third tactical squad of second company. If he received promotion to sergeant he becomes Brother237-3, the 3 representing him being sergeant of third tactical squad. If he gets inducted into the veteran first but retains his position as squad sergeant of tied tactical, he could be 237-31. And the number would change accordingly. It's a bit complex of an idea, but it would be quite unique.

[ChaosKen60]

Never mind read below :)

[ChaosKen60]

Okay how is this for the opening?

 

The Nameless (A Iron Hands Successor Chapter)

During ending stages of M37; a lost Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator Ship pick up a faint request for aid from an unknown ship called Repentance. What sparked their curiosity; it was very, very old code and it was doubtlessly coming from an automatic responder.

 

As they passed though the star system they scanned other planets in the system, but they could find no ship until the came to the 5^th planet in the system, once there they realized the signal appeared to be coming from a moon in orbit around the Gas Giant.

 

At first it was thought that the ship, must be behind the ”moon”, but soon Explorator Ship’s scanners where going off their scales. But they soon realized the moon was no moon at all; it appeared to be Triton size artificial world. The existent of this “world” was unknown on any of Adeptus Mechanicus records but from all outward scans showed it appeared to be human archeotech, of immense age perhaps even from Dark Age of Technology.

 

Eager to do exploratory scans of the insides of the “world”, Explorator Teams where placed on the surface of the “world”. At the same time several attempts where made to contact the Imperium and Mars,

[Olis]

I take it you have an auto-correct function on the device you're using? There seems to be several words that don't quite fit the sentence they're in. 

[ChaosKen60]

I take it you have an auto-correct function on the device you're using? There seems to be several words that don't quite fit the sentence they're in. 

Yea I do but I am also fighting a bad cold, sorry about that.

[Olis]

No problem for me, brother, no need to apologise. Just thought I'd try to find a polite way of saying some of the words you're using are wrong. :P

[ChaosKen60]

No problem for me, brother, no need to apologize. Just thought I'd try to find a polite way of saying some of the words you're using are wrong.

LoL NP I apologize a lot.

Just part of my nature. LoL

[Teetengee]

That's no moon!

[ChaosKen60]

That's no moon!

LoL I know, I know LoL

George Lucas will be after me :) But I could not see how to use a Dyson Sphere, if something like that was discovered I could not see the High Lords/Eldar/Orks/Etc. letting any one group have that type of technology.

 

I just wish my typing was better, I know what I want to say - but Old Papa Nurgle has other plans - darn cold :)

[ChaosKen60]

1st attempt at Chapter Colors. And now my pills are kicking ----- so later all :)

[Teetengee]

Two things, first of all, the that's no moon comment was not meant as a negative, I just had to say it.
Second, black, gold, and red are reaaaaaaallllllllyyyy common. I mean, partly that is because they look good, but if you want to stand out you may consider a different color. Perhaps a grey or white for the blank slate namelessness suggests.

[ChaosKen60]

Two things, first of all, the that's no moon comment was not meant as a negative, I just had to say it.

Second, black, gold, and red are reaaaaaaallllllllyyyy common. I mean, partly that is because they look good, but if you want to stand out you may consider a different color. Perhaps a grey or white for the blank slate namelessness suggests.

I did not take that way --- LoL =

So different colors?

Grey? Maybe just letters/numbers also instead of the normal squad markings? Say like T2S2 or use binary like Aquilanus pointed out?