Guardian Consuls: Ultramarine Successor Chapter

[Sugarlessllama]

Hello all. I am still pretty new to the 40K side of the house, but I thought it would be fun to start fleshing out my own custom Space Marine Chapter. I love the lore presented in the base rules, and novels; and considering my bad dice luck I felt it would be appropriate to state that my custom chapter was one from the cursed 21st founding. :)

Anyway, after reading all the awesome IA threads, and the Liber Cluster stuff, I thought it would be a good idea to run my idea past you guys to see what you thought. C&C is welcome, and appreciated. 

Thank you for your time and attention. And now, may I present the Guardian Consuls: The First Draft! 
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The Guardian Consuls

 

 

Chapter Tactics: Ultramarines

 

Founding

The Guardian Consuls were founded in M. 36 as part of the 21^st Founding. Otherwise known as the “Cursed Founding”, until recently they had managed to evade the poor fortune visited upon other Chapters of the Founding.

 

 

Upon their founding the Guardian Consuls were commanded to assist in the pacification of the Ghoul Stars. Upon their entry into the Sector they annexed the Corvallis system into the Imperium, including the lost forge world of Corvallis VI.

 

The Chapter maintains the production capacity of a forge world at its home planet of Corvallis VI. Its fleets patrol a cluster of planets, and its presence is made known to the planetary populations under their protection. The Chapter is very active within the Ghoul Stars, and has been engaged in a long crusade against the Orks, Eldar, and other strange abominations found within their sector. 

 

Combat Doctrine

 

Like many Ultramarines Successor Chapters, the Guardian Consuls maintain a highly balanced armory as dictated by the Codex Astartes.

 

However, in practice due to the limitations imposed by their gene-seed the chapter prefers to fight as mechanized infantry. But recent losses have caused the chapter to rely on the aid of their Imperial Knight allies from House Lyris.

 

The chapter is notable for their use of Centurions in their campaigns against the Orks of WAAAAGH! Bork.

 

Recruitment

 

Recruits for the chapter are provided by the Schola Progenium; specifically the Ordo Tempestus. Progenia who have shown promise in their training, but have not undergone the Trials of Compliance are instead tested by the Master of Recruits. Those who are deemed suitable are then taken in by the Chapter to undergo the implantation of gene-seed. Those who are not chosen are sent back to the Ordo Tempestus to be mindwiped and undergo the Trials of Compliance.

 

The Curse

 

Like many of the chapters created during the 21^st Founding, the Gene-Seed of the Guardian Consuls is flawed. While the flaw can be considered grievous, it is thanks to their lineage as sons of Guilliman that the gene seed has stabilized.

As a result of this flaw, all of the Astartes of the chapter are blind. Although the auto-senses of their power armor are still able to provide visual feedback through direct cranial interface, natural optical input is not possible. Additionally, the Astartes of the Guardian Consuls will begin to develop a supernatural sense of their surroundings; a kind of "Warp Sight".
 

Recent History

 

The chapter was nearly annihilated after a warp rift swallowed several chapter Battle Barges, and the collective Machine Spirits throughout the chapter refused to activate during the ensuing battle.

[Aqui]

Welcome to the Bolter and Chainsword and the Liber Astartes!

An unusual concept - blind Marines. Are the Marines blind from the time they receive the geneseed? Or do their eyes atrophy and become useless the older they get?

It would make more sense (to me at least), if it was the later.

Also, I've never heard of aspirants being selected from the Schola Progenum. Typically, they are chosen from a planet (or in the case of some a few planets). Is there a particular reason for this?

[Sugarlessllama]

Welcome to the Bolter and Chainsword and the Liber Astartes!

An unusual concept - blind Marines. Are the Marines blind from the time they receive the geneseed? Or do their eyes atrophy and become useless the older they get?

It would make more sense (to me at least), if it was the later.

Also, I've never heard of aspirants being selected from the Schola Progenum. Typically, they are chosen from a planet (or in the case of some a few planets). Is there a particular reason for this?

Thank you for the welcome!

Well I was going for the blindness being the result of a mutation of the gene-seed. Everything I have been able to look up regarding the 21st Founding seems to indicate some kind of physical mutation among the marines. And after reading The Talon of Horus, I thought that marines with a kind of psychic vision, or super senses (like Daredevil) would be neat. My initial spitball idea was that the older the marine was, the stronger their super-senses/psychic vision would get. Which would be why Sternguard, and Captains are better at shooting than tactical marines.

As for the Schola Progenum, I thought it might neat to have a chapter that recruits only orphans. On the plus side, it would seem that the Imperium has no shortage of them either. So instead of tying their recruitment to a single world, which could then be wiped out by any number of things; the chapter would only run out of recruits when the Imperium runs out of orphans.

[Aqui]

Thank you for the welcome!

Well I was going for the blindness being the result of a mutation of the gene-seed. Everything I have been able to look up regarding the 21st Founding seems to indicate some kind of physical mutation among the marines. And after reading The Talon of Horus, I thought that marines with a kind of psychic vision, or super senses (like Daredevil) would be neat. My initial spitball idea was that the older the marine was, the stronger their super-senses/psychic vision would get. Which would be why Sternguard, and Captains are better at shooting than tactical marines.

By all means, carry on with that idea I just thought it might add a little something.

As for the Schola Progenum, I thought it might neat to have a chapter that recruits only orphans. On the plus side, it would seem that the Imperium has no shortage of them either. So instead of tying their recruitment to a single world, which could then be wiped out by any number of things; the chapter would only run out of recruits when the Imperium runs out of orphans.

There are more than enough Orphans, true enough, but the Schola Progenium is tasked mainly with supplying recruits for the Commisarat, the Ecclesiarchy, even Inquisitors. Whilst it wouldn't be impossible, I think said organisations might have an issue with their recruitment pool being used by a Marine Chapter. Perhaps they take orphans from various different world near the Ghoul Stars? The trip from the Progenium would be a large one. If the Chapter needed recruits quickly, it would take them too long to get there.

Still, the above are ideas. By all means continue with the ideas you have

[Sugarlessllama]

There are more than enough Orphans, true enough, but the Schola Progenium is tasked mainly with supplying recruits for the Commisarat, the Ecclesiarchy, even Inquisitors. Whilst it wouldn't be impossible, I think said organisations might have an issue with their recruitment pool being used by a Marine Chapter. Perhaps they take orphans from various different world near the Ghoul Stars? The trip from the Progenium would be a large one. If the Chapter needed recruits quickly, it would take them too long to get there.

Still, the above are ideas. By all means continue with the ideas you have

You know, that is a good point. I would imagine that a Space Marine chapter that has mutations in their gene-seed would want to stay as far away from the Inquisition as possible. So pulling some of their recruits might put them on their radar. So pulling from non-schola aligned orphanages would be better. More clandestine, but still effective.

Yeah, I actually like that better. Thanks for the idea.

[Olis]

I think it would better if the Chapter didn't take a Forge World as their homeworld, as it's a clash of authority. All Forge Worlds belong the the Adeptus Mechanicus and are therefore ineligible for this sort of thing. If the Chapter pledged protection instead in exchange for, say, war materiel then that might be worth pursuing. But they can't claim AdMech domain.

[Conn Eremon]

If you are looking for a way to explain the blindness, take a look at the Occulobe. Its a brain-implant, part of the gene-seed implantation process, that modifies and enhances eyesight.

 

Only thing is, if the implant is so bad that it actually degrades eyesight, then why would the Chapter continuing implanting it?

[Ulfir]

If you are looking for a way to explain the blindness, take a look at the Occulobe. Its a brain-implant, part of the gene-seed implantation process, that modifies and enhances eyesight.

 

Only thing is, if the implant is so bad that it actually degrades eyesight, then why would the Chapter continuing implanting it?

I'd imagine it's down to ritual and tradition as with most things in the imperium.

[Sugarlessllama]

I think it would better if the Chapter didn't take a Forge World as their homeworld, as it's a clash of authority. All Forge Worlds belong the the Adeptus Mechanicus and are therefore ineligible for this sort of thing. If the Chapter pledged protection instead in exchange for, say, war materiel then that might be worth pursuing. But they can't claim AdMech domain.

 

You know, that is a great point. Do you think an artificial world that happens to be part of a system that includes a lost forge world would be better?

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for a way to explain the blindness, take a look at the Occulobe. Its a brain-implant, part of the gene-seed implantation process, that modifies and enhances eyesight.

 

Only thing is, if the implant is so bad that it actually degrades eyesight, then why would the Chapter continuing implanting it?

I'd imagine it's down to ritual and tradition as with most things in the imperium.

 

Exactly!

[Aqui]

 

I think it would better if the Chapter didn't take a Forge World as their homeworld, as it's a clash of authority. All Forge Worlds belong the the Adeptus Mechanicus and are therefore ineligible for this sort of thing. If the Chapter pledged protection instead in exchange for, say, war materiel then that might be worth pursuing. But they can't claim AdMech domain.

 

You know, that is a great point. Do you think an artificial world that happens to be part of a system that includes a lost forge world would be better?

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for a way to explain the blindness, take a look at the Occulobe. Its a brain-implant, part of the gene-seed implantation process, that modifies and enhances eyesight.

 

Only thing is, if the implant is so bad that it actually degrades eyesight, then why would the Chapter continuing implanting it?

I'd imagine it's down to ritual and tradition as with most things in the imperium.

 

Exactly!

 

Not just that, but shame. Imagine being an Ultramarine successor and having to admit that their geneseed is corrupted or missing.

[Olis]

 

I think it would better if the Chapter didn't take a Forge World as their homeworld, as it's a clash of authority. All Forge Worlds belong the the Adeptus Mechanicus and are therefore ineligible for this sort of thing. If the Chapter pledged protection instead in exchange for, say, war materiel then that might be worth pursuing. But they can't claim AdMech domain.

 

You know, that is a great point. Do you think an artificial world that happens to be part of a system that includes a lost forge world would be better?

 

An artificial world or a world altered by artificial means could be interesting, however, I wouldn't put a Forge World next door unless the planet is truly worthless to the Adeptus Mechanicus. Anything less and they will want it back and that still means a clash of authority that the chapter is likely to lose.

[Grand Master Belial]

I really like what you have done and it is very a very interesting chapter. Good Job!

 

One thing I noticed is that even though the Chapter has lost their sight. They oddly do not benefit from bionics even with a Forge in their domain. If the warp-sight was comparable to Astartes or bionic sight, then I could see that but then we are pushing latent psyker abilities and then the Black Ships and the Inquisition would be far more interested in the chapter.

 

The bionics may be the bridge that allows the chapter to have the Forge World but the AdMech have a string attached. The Forge doesn't produce bionics (it produces war material) and in order for the chapter to receive a shipment they must continue to protect the Forge without interference.

 

Something to explain the loss of eyesight would be an aberration in the recruits that is a result of the world they come from. An example is the world has a localized pathogen or virus that the locals have built up an immunity to but it clashes with the Astartes eyes and the infection results in blindness. Even the Astartes blood transfusion doesn't recognize the pathogen because it is not harmful to the host. As the blindness is the result of the recruits and not the organs, the Ultramarine honor is maintained and their geneses remains pure and untainted.

 

OR 

 

Allow the geneseed of the Chapter become corrupted with eyesight being the result of some past calamity. The eyesight is still required for new recruits but when a later organ is implanted, say the black carapace, the flaw is then triggered and the eyes cloud over but there is a residual effect that triggers the warp sight. The calamity that causes the flaw could be Chaos driven from a strange cooperation of Nurgle and Tzeentch. But, that is not or me to decide.

[Knurd]

Have you considered not having the entire Chapter have this mutation? It may be easier to explain to the Inquisition and other Imperial authorities as simply as psykers instead of a mutation. You would also need less bionics if they didn't all have this affliction. 

[Olis]

Blind Librarians. Not a bad idea Knurd. :tu:

[Sugarlessllama]

I really like what you have done and it is very a very interesting chapter. Good Job!

 

One thing I noticed is that even though the Chapter has lost their sight. They oddly do not benefit from bionics even with a Forge in their domain. If the warp-sight was comparable to Astartes or bionic sight, then I could see that but then we are pushing latent psyker abilities and then the Black Ships and the Inquisition would be far more interested in the chapter.

 

The bionics may be the bridge that allows the chapter to have the Forge World but the AdMech have a string attached. The Forge doesn't produce bionics (it produces war material) and in order for the chapter to receive a shipment they must continue to protect the Forge without interference.

 

Something to explain the loss of eyesight would be an aberration in the recruits that is a result of the world they come from. An example is the world has a localized pathogen or virus that the locals have built up an immunity to but it clashes with the Astartes eyes and the infection results in blindness. Even the Astartes blood transfusion doesn't recognize the pathogen because it is not harmful to the host. As the blindness is the result of the recruits and not the organs, the Ultramarine honor is maintained and their geneses remains pure and untainted.

 

OR 

 

Allow the geneseed of the Chapter become corrupted with eyesight being the result of some past calamity. The eyesight is still required for new recruits but when a later organ is implanted, say the black carapace, the flaw is then triggered and the eyes cloud over but there is a residual effect that triggers the warp sight. The calamity that causes the flaw could be Chaos driven from a strange cooperation of Nurgle and Tzeentch. But, that is not or me to decide.

I like where you're going in both of these posts. I'm not too sure about the native pathogen idea. I'll sit down with a pad of paper tonight and toy around with it a bit. After I did come here for suggestions, and so I am going to keep everything on the table and see what meshes best. :)

 

But I really, really like the second pitch. It feels very... Grim Dark meets Space Opera. And I'm digging it. Like the idea that the massive mutations of the Cursed Founding were actually a plot by Chaos.... a reoccurring villain within the Chapter's narrative could be fun.

 

 

[Sugarlessllama]

Have you considered not having the entire Chapter have this mutation? It may be easier to explain to the Inquisition and other Imperial authorities as simply as psykers instead of a mutation. You would also need less bionics if they didn't all have this affliction. 

 I really like this idea. I definitely want to ponder where I would go with this, and mesh it into the narrative as a whole. 

 

But one thing I want to mention again, is that the Chapter is part of the "Cursed" 21st Founding. And from what I can tell on Lexicanum, all of the chapters of that founding has massive chapter-wide mutations. The Black Dragons have wolverine bone claws. The Flame Falcons spontaneously combust. The Lamenters have the worst luck ever. The Son of Antaeus have solid, semi-metallic skeletons. 

 

The High Lords of Terra left some gene-seed out on the counter for too long, and now it is a bit off. 

 

I went the blindness as their chapter-wide mutation because I thought it would be neat; and everyone here has really been very helpful in helping me flesh out how they could be blind and still effective as astartes. Your suggestions have been very exciting to explore.

 

Surprisingly though.... I really like the latent psyker comment. What if.... each Marine or Unit weren't strong enough to be a psyker (I don't want to step into Grey Knight territory), but they do have a psychic resonance. And this combined resonance allows for warp sight, while within the focusing aura of a Librarian. Now without a librarian to "focus" the resonance, the Astartes have to rely on their other senses, and the auto-senses built into their power armor. Maybe... they are able to have images pumped right into their visual cortex while bypassing the eyes themselves (Kind of like Jordi LaForge in Next Gen.).

 

Now the chapter understands their predicament... they maybe be Astartes but they don't want to be on the wrong side of the inquisition. So they embark for the Ghoul Stars because well... nobody really cares what is going on out there. Both as to serve the Imperium, but also to keep as much space (literally) between them, and the various ordos.

 

When the arrive in the ghoul stars sector, they find an artificial world... a ring planet (Going for more of a Planescape/Sigil feel. Less Halo). They settle this planet and establish a chapter monastery. I would say.... instead of the forge world being in the same system as their chapter planet, it would be in the system next door. The Forge World could be a "lost" forge, that has been in the care of an Imperial Knight House. And so now the chapter has new allies in the system, and a way to re-supply. More based on their relationship with the nobles of the Knight House rather than the admech(?).

 

Because of their cursed gene-seed, they still have bad luck in battle. And so, they recruit from orphanages so that their recruitment world can't be wiped out right out from under them. (I still like the idea.... but I am having a tricky time coming up with a good way to word it.) 

 

Also, in addition to the constant battle against both the Orks, and the Eldar there has been a new threat. A Chaos taint that seems to turn entire hive cities into zombie hives (I just love the idea of an SM company fighting their way though a zombie hive city). But more disturbingly, whenever they battle this new enemy, their misfortune seems to get worse, and their warp sight seems to fail them. Maybe this new force has some minor control over the curse? Maybe the curse has been a chaos plot?

 

So.... what do you guys think? Better?

[Sergeant Lowe]

In regards to having the forge world as a home you could have it that the chapter inhabits a moon of the forge world and in exchange for protection they supply them with equipment

[Arendious]

You might consider having your ringworld surround the forgeworld proper. Perhaps the atmosphere on the planet itself is toxic to edible plants, so the ring was built to feed the forge workers, but then "left fallow" when the system was cut off from the Imperium.

[Sugarlessllama]

I really want to thank everyone for the input. It has been very helpful, and I have done my best to try and incorporate as much as I could into a modified write-up. I hope people weren't too off-put by the quick revision notes I posted earlier. But I wanted to take some time updating the base entry. 

Anyway, here is the revised entry for the Guardian Consuls. As always C&C is invited, and very welcome. :D

 

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The Guardian Consuls

Chapter Tactics: The Ultramarines

 

Founding: The Guardian Consuls were founded as a fleet chapter during the Cursed 21st Founding in M.36.

 

 

History: Founding and the Damocles Gulf

 

Upon their Founding they were assigned to take part in the Pacification of the Damocles Gulf. Upon reaching the Damocles Gulf the chapter sought to integrate themselves with the Imperial Guard regiments assigned to the campaign. The goal of this integration was to emulate the success of their Primarch Robute Guilliman during the Great Crusade. However, being a newly established chapter, ultimate strategic control would pass between either the White Scars or Ravenguard. 

 

Despite the setback to their strategic mission, the Guardian Consuls performed admirably in their assigned tasks. Often breaking down into small mechanized units in order to provide a flanking shock element to massive assault spearheaded by the Imperial Guard. 

 

However, as many other chapter of their founding, the Guardian Consuls started to develop flaws in their gene-seed which began to manifest in serious mutations among the Astartes. The most notable being, the weakening and eventual loss of eyesight. Early attempts to solve the issue with bionics proved fruitless as a long-term solution.

 

Before suspicions were raised among their fellow Astartes, or attached elements of the Inquisition, the Guardian Consul had a rare stroke of luck: The Black Templars were leaving the Ghoul Stars. The Orks had attacked Armageddon. 

 

Journey to the Ghoul Stars

 

With the Black Templars putting their crusade in the Ghoul Stars system on hiatus, Chapter Master Cortez decided to seize upon the opportunity. The Chapter Master, sighting concerns that without proper Astartes support, the momentum of the Ghoul Stars crusade would abate. In order to prevent this, the Cortez offered to take up the banner in that forgotten region of the galaxy. His offer was accepted. 

Breaking off from the Damocles Gulf campaign, the Guard Consuls made their way to the Ghoul Stars and proceeded to enact their vision of a crusade. When the chapter took a planet, they would only leave once a stable government had been put in place, and communication with the rest of the Imperium had been confirmed. 

 

The additional benefit to this method of campaigning, allowed for the chapter to hide their manifesting flaw from the rest of the Imperium.

 

Discovery of Vigil

 

The Discovery of the artificial planet "Vigil" would be a defining moment for the Guardian Consuls, and cement their presence in the Ghoul Stars sector. The planet Vigil is a ring shaped world orbiting an F-Class star in the Gabriel system. This planet appears to be a relic of the Dark Age of Technology: a kind of mass cargo transit hub. The interior of the ring offers a climate much like an agri-world, and a single heavy rail line throughout the interior of the ring. The line connects several dock and shipyards the join to the exterior of the ring where a ships can dock for maintenance and to off and on load cargo. Seeing this world as a perfect mustering point for their continued military efforts, the chapter named the planet "Vigil" and declared it to be their chapter home world. 

 

Combat Doctrine

 

The Guardian Consuls have broken themselves down into four campaign companies. Each campaign company consisting of a traditional battle company, supported by elements of the 1st company veterans, and reserve companies operating specialized equipment such as Centurion suits, Bike squads, or Predator Chassis tanks. Vigil is manned by a garrison command that oversees chapter serfs, supply logistics, training, and three reserve companies tasked with the sole responsibility to respond with reinforcements should they be needed. 

 

Once engaged, the chapter prefers to fight as armored infantry. Delivering Tactical Squads into battle in Rhino APCs, and supported by Predator Tanks, and Centurion battle frames. Surgical strikes are completed with Terminator Squads delivered by Land Raiders, supported by Bike Squads.  

 

The Flaw

 

In the decades since coming to the Ghoul Stars, the flaw in the gene-seed has become more pronounced. Indeed, by the time an Astartes completes their service as a Scout they are usually blind. The use of an additional bionic implant in the cerebral cortex allows for the Astartes to plug the auto-senses of their power armor directly into the visual centers of the brain. This technology, along with their augmented sense of hearing, and smell have allowed the chapter to maintain their combat effectiveness. Indeed, it seems that like other humans who have lost their sight, their other senses seem to become heightened further.

 

Additionally, the Librarians of the chapter have begun to manifest a kind of "warp sight". Their psychic connection to the warp granting them a near perfect sense of awareness without the use of their bionic implants. 

Allies

 

The chapter maintains close ties with the Imperial Knights of House Lyris of of Corvallis III. The Corvallis system was one of the early successes of the chapter's efforts in the sector. The lost Knight world was integrated into the greater Imperium without bloodshed, and in fact returned the long lost Forge World of Corvallis VI to the Mechanicum. 

 

House Lyris keep a rotating detachment of three Imperial Knights with each Campaign Company.

 

Recruitment

 

The Guardian Consuls recruit from both the feudal worlds of the Multnomah system, and the youth companies of the Corvallis system.

[Knurd]

So the Guardian Consuls can see through their helms?

[Sugarlessllama]

Well, the Librarians can with their warp sight. But the rest of the Marines use the Auto-Senses built into their helmets to see. 

[Knurd]

What about the photolenses? (I think that's what they're called). It would be a good idea to allow them to use the different spectrums builtin to the helmets to let them see, in a Predator kind of a way. 

[Grand Master Belial]

I think the photo-lenses are a part of the auto-senses so a marine can see as long as his helmet is on and operational.

[Brother-Sergeant Valorum]

Back to the topic of zombies-what would cause the failure of the warp sight? The presence of the zombies themselves, the daemons or cultists commanding them, or something else? I really like that as an extra bit of grimdark, it fits very well!

[Sugarlessllama]

Back to the topic of zombies-what would cause the failure of the warp sight? The presence of the zombies themselves, the daemons or cultists commanding them, or something else? I really like that as an extra bit of grimdark, it fits very well!

 

I really like this idea as well, and I have been turning over in my head a bit. I was thinking of leaving a little vague in order to add an element of mystery to their situation. I always thought that the survival-horror genre was a little bit more scary when not everything was explained.

 

But maybe, in order for the warp sight to work there has to be an echo in the warp. And since zombies are dead, they wouldn't have active thoughts or emotions to create those echoes? 

 

I also thought that it might be fun to add a conspiracy element to it. Maybe the reason why the 21st Founding was cursed was not to a normal genetic mutation. Maybe it is actually a Chaos plot. Nurgle created a genetic disorder that manifested itself in the 21st Founding, in an attempt to turn more Astartes to Chaos, and thus bolstering the ranks of chaos space marines? And there is a chaos warband currently hiding out in the Ghoul Stars that is especially in tune with Nurgle and this plot?

 

But I think you're right. Their vision failing around the zombies is very grimdark. I really like it. 

 

Do you have any thoughts? I would love to hear them.