IA: Heralds of Retribution WIP

[Lucernius]

HERALDS OF RETRIBUTION

(Praecones Retributoris)

(RETRIBUTORS)

At the founding the Chapter was known as Retributors

Succession Chapter of the White Scars

CHAPTER DATA

Warcry: Faciat Etiam Per Exemplum = Deeds Through Example, Nam Imperator Libera nos Retribution = For the Emperor We Deliver Retribution.
Founding: 10th in the Mid-35th Millennium.
Successor Chapters: Unknown.
Number: Unknown, presumably full strenght.
Primarch: Jagathai Khan.
Founding Chapter Master: Chapter Master Jorgon Nul.
Current Chapter Master: Arkonyus Mord High-Chaplain, Grand-Retributor, Arch-Herald of the Litany, Master of the Fist.
Homeworld: Balefire, in the Segmentum Obscuris border region of the Halo Stars, Carpaccia Sector.
Allegiance: Imperium of Man.

The Retributors as they where called during their first millenia, where created during the mid-35th Millennium's 10th Founding from the gene-seed of the White Scars. The Retributors were founded to protect the Segmentum Obscuris in the northern regions of the Imperium of Man, to guard against the threat from the Eye of Terror and the Halo Stars. They were given the feudal world of Appollion as the Chapter homeworld too safekeep and recruit from.

When they were created the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Lords of Terra took all the Chapter neophytes from Appollion, they were taken from the warring state-nations of the world from champions and leaders of their vast armadas. Tasked to lead them were Jorgon Nul of the White Scars, he tried to mold them to become true heirs of the White Scars, but soon Jorgon noticed that the chapter neophytes took many of the Appollians traditions and integrated and melded it with White Scar traditions.

The biggest change the neophytes brought with them from Appollion the culture was their unshakable faith as they where firm believers of the God Emperor's and his divinity. It made them pious and reverent, as most citizens went to the numerous shrines and temples present in the villages and cities to pray to the Emperor to give them his blessings.

The records of the first millennias that can be found in the Retributors Chapter library and in Imperial records tell of a struggling Chapter under the tutorship of the former White Scars captain Jorgon Nul, with his leadership they went from struggling to clarity to clarity and after his appointed task ended, he petitioned his Khan, for permission to stay and commit to being Chapter Master of the Retributors, his wishes where granted.

And after that Jorgon couldn't feel anything less than proud and honored of his marines, in each engagement they fought his warriors showed true spirit and mettle. He thought of them as his students, his warriors even as they didnt share his beliefs or his previous chapters beliefs. They shared his taste for war, felt the same joy he felt in fighting the Emperor's enemies, they had as hed a longing for battle and for each of their victories their Chapter's honour roll grew.

CHAPTER APPERANCE

CHAPTER COLOR SCHEME
They wear bronzed brown power armour with light biege shoulder plates and lower leg plates.
Shoulder plates trimmed in golden yellow with a white winged aquila.
http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2015/048/f/3/herald_2nd_company_marine_by_sunstudy-d8ifrdj.jpg

CHAPTER BADGE
The Chapter badge is a Lightning Strike in hounor of their founding Chapter, Its surrounded with a black and golden victory laurel.
It symbolizes and represents the rush of war, glory of battles and the swift victories over the Chapters enemies, but also the battles and glories yet to come.

The other shoulder plate shows the Unit type and the company designation of the marine.

CHAPTER HISTORY

The Great Plague of Appollion

The first day of the sickening is now a day of morning for the Chapter. All marines exept the chaplains fast and takes a vow of silence for ten days, as long as it took for the world of Appollion to die.

The Planet Appollion was the Chapters first homeworld given to the them too ward and use as recruitment from the time of their Founding. It was a lush green planet with seven great oceans that split the landmass in twelve great islands, each one ruled by a nation-state which claimed sovereignty on their islands. Technology level of Appollion were that of gunpowder. Most of the states where ruled as republics. The planet was very pious, revered the Emperor and belived in his Divinity and thought him the saviour of mankind. Great cities of white chalk and spacious design dotted each nations coasts with great temples, amphiteathers and large guild buildings dominated the cityscapes.

The nation-states where more often than not in war with one another sometimes they entered a fragile alliance with another nation, only to fall apart as the wars ended in one way or another. So Appollion werent just a place of war it was also a place for silvertongues and diplomats that always tried too further their own goals and agendas, making pacts with one state or the another.

And so history had it great fleets of carracks, galleys and galleons sailed the oceans to make war on one of the other states. And the wars were brutal and many soliders never came back home, they either died by arms of war, infections or the sea took them during the war or on the journey home. A great planet whos broiling wars were a good place to take recruits, champions, warheroes and leaders were recruited and tried, those that survived the initiation trials became neophytes of the Chapter.

In 346.M36 in a time writen down in the Chapters records as the 'Calamity of Grief'. A great disaster struck and the planets denizens all got sick and died in a great plague, in just a handful of days children, adults and old. Not even one soul was spared all died in the sickness. The Retributors reported this event to the Inquisitorial authorities and recalled every ship and company away on duties back home. But those that were planetside when the plague struck could only watch as the planets population withered away and their homeworld died.

And Appollion is still a inquistitorial quarantined planet so resettling it with new colonists arent an option, as its classification is that of a dead planet. In one fell moment the people the Chapter had sworn to protect, ward and guide where all gone the Chapter unrooted themselves and became a crusading Chapter. In their shame of having lost their wards to a still unknown affliction, the chapter crusaded for years amongs the stars trying to clear the stain from their honour. They demanded that the inquisition or the Adeptus Mechanicus would ever come to find out what had happened and who was responsible they would be any means necessary notify the current Chapter Master at any cost.

In that first millennia numerous skirmishes and smaller engagements are recorded and represented in the battlerecords writen down in the Chapter Monastery on Appollion and later transfered and writen down in the Chapters Grand Poemica, the great cathedral inside 'The Grand Retributor'. But as the planet was Abandoned and quarantined alot of the Chapters early history are lost to time. But a few of the greatest victories are still deeply integrated in the Chapters spirit and heart, as they are still told in the Prosa Oratio tradition the Chapter have had since its creation, which is a storytelling moot were anyone can take his place in the Amphitheatron in the Chapters ships or in an suitable place on any planet. Were he then goes on telling his Prosa Oratio of glories and victories either of olden times or newly gained for the Chapter.

One event is venerated and cherished by the Chapter more than the rest in their first few millennias. Its one of the greatest victories won by the Chapters, in a neighbouring system to Appollion there had been some pirate activity and the Planetary Governor of Kaltros sent for help aganst this menace. It was in 121.M36 the Retributors answered the summon and fought well over three companies of excommunicate traitoris space marines and defeated them to the man. The grand prize of their Chapter Barque that became the spoils of war and through it, the Chapters most treasured possession 'The Grand Retributor''.

New contact is made with the Retributors in 844.M36, as their fleet arrived in system to restock and reorganize their fleets resources but by pure chance or by the Emperors Will, while translocating out of the warp the fleet noticed several traitor ship signatures around a planet designated Balefire. The Retributors set course towards the planet and the ships blockading it, in orbit several flaming hulks of spaceship were burning and a lone badly battered Battle Barge of the Void Reapers Chapter were being boarded. As the the Retributors crusading fleet arrives in system they launch an vengeful attack on the renegade marines, enganges the ships in orbit and launches several thunderhawks, with the first through fourth companies to the surface and the Chapters terminators to help relive the Strike Cruiser. On the planet an area with heavy fighting of Void Reapers were reinforced and a beachhead were created, to help relieve the hardly pressed Void Reapers in what could have been their last stand to the man on the surface.

As the battle rages both in the void and on the surface, the Emperors Judement was cast on all Retributors as the renegade corsairs launched more groundforces themselves to reinforce their possitions as the battle in space continues. Disaster stuck as two corsair cruiser got to badly damaged the captains almost simultaneously rammed the Retributors Chapter Barque damaging it so badly several systems shuts down and Lucion captain of 6^thcompany and the Master of Fleet died and including Akletos, and ancient Theocritus both company captains 8^thand 9^thcompany and not engaged in an assault. All this happened when the bridge took the brunt of one of the ramming ships hitting 'The Grand Retributor' and destroying the entire bridge in one strike.

Down on the surface the news of the barques faith and the Captains deaths reach the four companies and the battlelust completely overtakes the Chapter Master and he leads the 1^stCompany in a furious assault towards the enemies center, trying to drive a wedge towards the leadership to end it before it all went to badly out of hand. But the enemy was a vicious foe and the assault almost became a rout when the Chapter Master Petrocles was slain in single combat with the renegade Chapter Master Baku'Rhal of the Roaring Cadre renegade marines. Fortunate Baku'Rhal were seriously wounded and still very close to Petrocles honorguard and the chaplain Sophokles managed with the honorguard to slay the renegade leader, but as they where almost cut of from their forces they started falling back towards their own lines.

As the fighting continued over the battlefield veterans, brother marines, loyalists and traitors alike suffer a heavy toll and the losses were unreplaceable, in all this chaos two of four captains lay dead and the other two so badly wounded they were both out of the fight. In all this when all seemed lost Chaplain Sophokles took direct leadership and directed the ragged remains. Another Chaplain Tiamios inspired by the tragic events or by the Emperors direction started to hymn the first stylables of Retribution over the voxnet, a low chant almost like a heartbeat a low undercurrent to the commanding tone of Chaplain Sophokles orders and slowly the pace grew and steadily the chant became faster and faster.

The chant did something deep inside the Retributors it loosened the savage that lived inside all of the White Scars progenoid, the chant brought it forth and unleashed a zeal, focus and frenzy never before seen or heard of in the Chapter. The furiosity unleashed was what turned the tide of war each death was revenged threefold blow for blow, salvo for salvo the Retributors started gaining the upper hand in a war of attrition. Final they stood as victors, with the Void Reapers as glorius in this great battlefield as they were, many honors were won, even more wargear was saved and gene-seed spared for later use. Faith could have had it diffrent but the Emperor's Judgement had come and none this day exept the renegades were found wanting.

That chant was what was to be known as the Litany of Retribution. But never since has its effect been heard of again, but that spirit, that will to survive changed the Chapter profoundly. It was a baptism of survival, surivial of all the Retributors, a judement the survivors passed.

The day was also a day of deep sorrow as the Chapter was battered and almost broken many brothers had died in glory and a lot of ships damaged and in need of extended repairs, greatest loss was the Chapter Barque that was deemed to far gone to be repaired. The surviving command decided that the whole Chapter would stay to reinforce their possition on Balefire and rebuild the Chapter, if Emperor's Faith would have it the barque were brought down on Balefire but the landing damaged the ship even more but it was now lodged firmly between two mountain ranges its prow raised into the skies in defiance. And the Chapters life would begin anew, culling the population of Balefire for new neophytes slowly rebuilding and repairing what was lost.

Before the Void Reapers took leave they scoured the planet for something, and the Retributors gave them room to do what they felt needed to be done, and before they left the planet and the system both Chapters swore oaths of friendship and parted wiser by the experience but worse for wear. The Void Reapers called them brothers and minted the expression 'Here comes the Heralds of Retribution, Angels of Death!' and so the Retributors became the Heralds of Retribution to honour the bound they had made that day and the Chapter felt it was fitting for their new beginning as they slowly rebuildt and consolidated their Chapter.

+ + + In Progress + + +

SEGMENTUM OBSCURUS, CARPACCIA SECTOR, BALEFIRE - HOMEWORLD OF THE HERALDS

Map of Carpaccia Sector:

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2015/047/a/b/wh40k_carpaccian_sector_by_sunstudy-d8i9aud.jpg

CHAPTER HOMEWORLD

Balefire is the current homeworld of the Heralds, it lays in the Carpaccia Sector in the northen most parts of Segmentum Obscurus. Its a feral world with an djungle that encompass almost the whole planet and most of its fauna is classifed mega-fauna. Its scarred with many broad rivers whose flows run towards lakes and oceans littering the planet. The water of the rivers sources are the enormous mountains that rise up to the skies and that cleaves the jungles all around them.

The people that live in the djungels are remnants of Imperial settlement early in its history, whose past has long since been forgotten. The people are hunters gathered in large tribal communities, each living in balance with the lands. In some places there is evidence of ancient Imperial settlements, most seeming to date back to the Age of Strife and most of those are swallowed up by the jungle.

The area around the twin mountain chain surrounding chapter Monastery 'The Herald's Fist' once the 'The Grand Retributor' Chapter barque, is littered with waterfalls thats falling into a great crystal clear lake, at the far end of the lake is a waterfall larger almost than the Chapter Monastery in width. An abandoned village located at that part of the lake the only evidence of people once living close to the Monastery. The Chapter has built the training grounds for neopythes in and around that village, preserving much of its old buildings but adding arenas, armories and fortifications to the village propper.

CHAPTER GENE-SEED

The Heralds gene-seed is belived to be relatively stable. Some have observed the occasional tendency to exceed the wild ferocity of White Scars heritage and to cross the line into outright bloodlust, and loose selfcontrol. The teachings of the founding Chapter state that each Astartes must face this great trial at some point, and learn to master the savage inside. Once mastered the warrior can keep doing the Emperors duty and honor his heritage.

This heritage was most obvious for the Chapter in its whole on Balefire, but never since has it been brought forth to that degree again, but some brothers are blessed and in moments of clarity they lose themselves to the savage in the field, some never become the same as they were and are placed in the assault troops with the Chaplains and those who settle with their inner self continues where they served before.

CHAPTER BELIEFS

The Grand Poemica & Prosa Oratio Tradition

Every deed, glory and honor Chapter has been through is written and represented on the walls of of the Grand Poemica, the great cathedral halls inside 'The Herald's Fist' Chapter Monastery. Where the history or as they see it 'The Great Poem' of the Chapter is continuously writen down, line after line the story is still being told and will do so until the endtimes.

The other tradition the Chapter holds is that of the Prosa Oratio: The mastering of storytelling, orating or talespinning of the Chapters achivements, deeds and victories.

Its a moment of great bonding between the Chapter brothers, when one man takes the Amphitheatron to spin a tale, as accurate and with such a feeling that you can almost believe you yourself are there present with the Chapter legends, brothers long dead or still living. Honoring them with their Prosa's to use their story to elevate their achievements to inspire the future generations to greater glories.

They were created from a pious and reverant stock, with a culture much enamoured in the martial proves as the nation states waged endless wars. Their beliefs is of a strongly focused martial Chapter honouring the proud, imperious and glorious tradition of their progrenators the White Scars. They are warriors of the same gene-seed but has added many new traditions to their own Chapter through their homeworlds.

Aside from the warfare the White Scars wage, the Heralds has kept the the Tulwar and Guan Do weapons as legacies used by the Chapter an inheritence from the White Scars but they are only used in ritual combat, and on sacred days for the Chapter. But it happens veterans carry them in battle sometimes, prefering it to the newer wargear given to them as they make the rank of brothers.

Some of the beliefs from the indigenous people of Appollion is still with the Chapter and they venerated the heroes of the past and pressent with great stories told as Prosa Oratio's. The stories are told to inspire, to raise new neophytes and marines alike to even greater glories. They keep Amphitheatrons, places for these stories to be told in all their ship and inside the Chapter Monastery the greatest one was built early in their creating millennia the 'Oratio Magnifica'. The grand oriatory where all thousand brothers astartes of the Chapter can sit and listen to a lone speaker or several, the place is built to give perfect pitch, even a whipser can be heard from the central dais.

Another tradition the Chapter still keep from Appollion is that of Coviria or Curia, where Chapter issues are discussed and decisions made. Such as major engagements and commitment of forces, when the Chapter is not active in any major engagement the Heralds puts it to a vote. This tradition was kept in honour of their first homeworld Appollion. When a Coviria is assembled the whole Chapter may put in their vote to see what the Chapters commitment will be, if they will send Heralds and how large a force they are going to send. Most of the time as they still are sons of Jagathai and war is demanded and several companies will be brought for the operation. At other times if the task is deemed unimportant or less glorious, smaller units will be sent if honour demands it, but it also comes down to the votes. But even with this voting system the Chapter Master may veto the voting and decide himself, if he deems the Chapters honour in risk or some other factor that might hurt or risk the Chapters in some way.

After the Balefire Retribution, as the Chapter Master of the Chapter died and most of the Chapter Captains with him, and the blessed words of the Chaplains that helped hold together the wills of the surviving Astartes with chanting that induced fervor and zeal in their souls. As it where that, that turned the tides of war against the renegade marines. After that the Chaplain became the leading cadre of the Chapter were litanies, prayers, zeal and devotion to the Imperial Creed became the greatest forefront of the Chapters beliefs. As things changed for the Chaplains the Chapter gradualy also changed, devotion in daily tasks became more widespread, purity seals where attached to the wargear, prayer papers was writen in person and attached to the seals. Brothers who write prayers or devotional text of extraordiary accurate and almost to the point predictions, is venerated above all else and held in great esteem.

CHAPTER COMBAT DOCTRINE

CHAPTER TERMINATORS

TERMINATOR COLOR SCHEME
A Terminator from the 1st Company. Without any of the Badges, Personal Heraldry or Battle Honours that most have earned in their service for the Chapter.

When the Heralds of Retribution were still a Crusading Chapter, they maintained a strong fleet and they still are, even without the loss of the Chapter Barque they got a fleet to reckon with. In void battles they prefer boarding actions through boarding torpedos to insert their assault marines and teleporting in their terminators to clense the enemies ships from within, taking the battle to their enemies.

With planetary battles they favor rapid strike missions, and as such fielded strong contingents of assault marines, assault bikes, landspeeders and Dreadnoughts in its armouries.Rapid surgical interventions against major targets are the cornerstones of the Heralds combat tactics. Finding a target important to the enemies force, whether a person or a fysical target. Insert their Landraiders, Predators, Rhino in a fearsome blitz attack with bikes and landspeeder supporting, rapid response troops ready to reinforce weak points or help spearpoint the objective at just the right moment with drop-pods raining down on a moments notice. Assault squads are all lead by either the Master-Chaplain or Chaplain who personaly leads the companys assault marines in a devastating assault supported with the Chapters Dreadnaughts and if present the Chapters Terminators.

Chapter armaments for vehicles are mostly assault cannons, heavy bolters and las cannons, they utilize very few to no melta weapons, flamers and plasma heavy weapons. They got an much larger than average vehicles pool of Land Speeder Tornados, thats used in most of their engagement as scouts, flanking and support roles for their heavier armor. Squads specialists favor plasma guns above other weapons, sergeants in all squads are most often armed with power swords, lightning claws or power fists and plasma pistols. The Heralds got very few devastator squads, counting since the rebuilding of the chapter six squads, two in each of the reserve companies, relying heavily on their marine squads, assault troops and specialists. Dreadnaughts and Terminators are en par with standard distributions.

To the Heralds there are no foe they would not challenge, no enemy beyond retribution and they are proud to fight and proud to die if needs be for the Emperor and his and for humanity.

NOTABLE CAMPAIGNS

• 'Hrud Rising' (980.M35) - The Chapter sends a small contingent of Retributors to take part in the task force cleansing the Hrud infestations that erupt across the Imperium at this time.

• 'The Void War of Kaltros' (121.M36) - In a neighbouring system to Appollion there had been some pirate activity and the Planetary Governor of Kaltros sent for help aganst this menace, and the Heralds answered the summon. And it was here the Retributors would come to win a great fleetbattle over an raiding fleet of traitor, the traitors were of the Ghost Revenant Chapter not long ago fallen and branded Excommunicate Traitoris their fleet lead by the Chapter Barque 'Revenant of Pain'. The 'Revenant of Pain' saw the most of the action as the Heralds boarded and battled the traitor marines, which had a contingent well over three companies of traitor marines. The fighting were of the bloodies of kind as close combat erupted all over the barque and when things had settled and Retributors stood as victors and the grand prize of the Chapter Barque where in their hands and they claimed it as spoils of war. They rename the barque 'The Grand Retributor'.

• 'The Balefire Retribution' (844.M36) - The Retributors were involved in the incident called the Balefire Retribution as the fleet arrived insystem to resupply, they responded to a distress call from the planet designated Balefire. Orbiting the planet where several renegade ships and numerous wrecks from an fairly fresh engagement, one ship was still defying the renegades. A Void Reapers Battle Barge, the Retributors responded in kind and the fleet after assembling in battleorder still with a few ships traveling the empyrean engaged. Battle raged on in the void and on the surface and in the end the Retributors won out but at a great loss to the Chapter, several ships lay crippled in orbit, the Chapter Barque once proud and majestic lay in ruin never to travel again. Over fifty-nine percent of the Chapter were dead, several survivors greviously wounded. But the glories and honours won, the wargear and gene-seed saved, and the relief of the Void Reapers force was a great achivement. But in the end it left the Chapter in disarray resulting in the Chapter Barque being lowered to the surface on Balefire, where the work would start to reinforce and salavage as much as possible into a Chapter Monastery. The descission was made by the command structure still alive to reinforce their possitions and rebuild.

• 'The 7th Black Crusade' (811.M37) - The 7th Black Crusade, also known as the Ghost War, is unleashed upon the Imperium. At this time, the Forces of Chaos spewed forth from the Eye of Terror past Cadia and then disappeared. The Chapter helped Imperial Forces in several smaller battles, both in void skirmishes and on planetary engagements.

• Angevin Crusade (353-558.M39) - With the first and second great phases of its vast operation complete, shepherded the arrival of the first wave of Imperial colonisation to the areas controlled. Several attached forces, elements provided by the various Astartes Chapters are rotated out of the Crusade's service. And other Astartes Chapter like The Heralds of Retribution is rotated in to serve. The Heralds serves as escorts to the multitude of Imperial colonists arriving during this time and also protecting the newly established warp-lanes around the Imperial controlled Calyx Expanse.

• The Awakening of Hyrreus (907.M41) - Against Necron Forces + + + In Progress + + +

CHAPTER ORGANIZATION

While they were still a crusading Chapter, the Heralds maintained an organisational structure very close to that of the Codex Astartes with its standard division of ten companies, Chapter command, Apothecarion and forge armouries. But after Balefire Retribution the Heralds started a significant re-organisation and a great change happened in the years that followed. The Chaplains was seen as saviours of the Chapters and the command of Chaplains was raised above all else and they took command control of the Chapter. For they had proved on Balefire they where the heart and soul of the Chapter. As the new generations of Chaplains where thought they not only got the creed and the spiritual training of Chaplains but also the know how and tactical training needed for command control.

The only captaincy that still exists in the Chapter is that great honorary possition of Captain of the 10th Scout Company, responsible for the training and overseeing of all the new recruits to the Chapter, this captaincy exist still becouse Captain Nikodemes was the only Captain left alive after the Retribution. As the Chaplains took command it was only fitting for him to keep doing what he had done for almost two millennias and as the Chapter was dangerously close to extinction and in great need of neophytes, he set to work on the indigenous people of Balefire.

COMMAND STRUCTURE
Chapter Master, Arkonyus Mord, High-Chaplain

Master Librarian, Lucernius, Keeper of the Path

Master of the Forge Soliyus

Master Apotecharion Aggaron

Battlebrothers: Master-Chaplain, Sergeant, Assault Marine, Marine

1st COMPANY 'Righteous Retribution' (Veteran Company)
Master-Chaplain Tiberius Kale, First Chaplain, The Skull Lord, High Executioner

2^nd COMPANY 'Sacred Pyre' (Battle Company)
Master-Chaplain Orfeus, Master of Sanctity & of the Marches

3^rd COMPANY 'Blessed Fury' (Battle Company)
Master-Chaplain Thermonius, Master of the Litany & Relics

4^th COMPANY 'Vengeful Clarity' (Battle Company)
Master-Chaplain Laomedas, Master of the Rites

5^th COMPANY 'Final Judgement' (Battle Company)
Master-Chaplain Medinatus, Master of Faith

6^th COMPANY 'Dedicated Will' (Battle Company)
Master-Chaplain Taursius, Master of the Fleet

7^th COMPANY (Reserve Company)
Master-Chaplain Domocleus

8^th COMPANY (Reserve Company)
Master-Chaplain Balfeus

9^th COMPANY (Reserve Company)
Master-Chaplain Clemidias

10^th COMPANY (Scout Company)
Captain Sarafeon, Master of Recruits

CHAPTER FLEET

The fleet of the Heralds are considerable, first and foremost of all ships was the Chapters Barque now turned Chapter Monastery on Balefires surface. Of the old crusading fleet still on active duty is the Chapters three powerful Battle Barges, five Strike Cruisers and over thirty Escort Vessels of various classes. The known, named vessels within the Heralds of Retribution Chapter fleet include the:

Chapter Barque: 'The Herald's Fist' - This once mighty vessel, a mobile Imperial Star Fortress known as a Chapter Barque, it served as the Heralds Chapter's mobile Fortress-Monastery and gene-seed/relic repository. It is now the Chapter Monastery towering up from the surface of Balefire like a clenched fist raised into the skies in defiance.

Battle Barge: 'Litany of Retribution' - This Battle Barge is the most venerated of those in the Heralds fleet, it dates back to the Great Crusades and was a great gift from their Progenitors the White Scars when the Heralds Founding began. Its a bit larger than the others and more well armed, a true retributor of the Emperors enemies.
Battle Barge: 'Herald of the Emperor'
Battle Barge: 'Judgement Come'

Striker Cruiser: 'Deeds of Sacrifice'
Striker Cruiser: 'Clensing Flame'
Striker Cruiser: 'Sanctified Retribution'
Striker Cruiser: 'Flame of Consecration'
Striker Cruiser: 'Legacy of Jorgon'

[Olis]

Welcome to the Liber, brother, and to B&C in general. :D

 

It's good to see a White Scars successor as we don't get very many of those. Also, it's a shame no-one has commented yet. I think you deserve at least some feedback for what you have atm.

 

Looking at the position of your chapter on that map, you really are avoiding the hot spots, aren't you? That's a good thing, really. It gives your chapter space to do their own thing and, given where they are, there's also the possibility for them to come into conflict with the traitor legion warbands.  

 

Now, onto this Balefire Incident. Now, when does this occur (is it before or after the chapter claims the world?) and why does this lead to the chapter to replace the officer positions with chaplains? Does it involve a chapter civil war where one side is not seen as pure or Imperial by the other side?

[Lysimachus]

Not a bad start, plenty of room to expand stuff though.

 

Initial issues from a quick glance:

 

1. It seems odd that if they're that focused on Chaplains, why would they give the key role of finding/training/inspiring new brethren to a 'regular' officer? To my mind, the position of commanding the 10th Co. is one of the greatest responsibilities and privileges a Marine can be given. You are basically responsible for the whole Chapter's future.

 

2. All the pics probably aren't needed. They seem to largely follow Codex colours for the Companies so if you had one pic with a caption beneath that said 'Tactical Marine of the 4th squad, 2nd Co.' then a reader could extrapolate what the scheme would be for a 4th or 5th Co. Marine?

 

Maybe a pic for a Chaplain scheme as well, as they're obviously key to your Chapter, but more than that is kinda distracting from the actual article.

[Olis]

Maybe the majority of the pictures could be put in spoiler tags? 

[Lucernius]

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Presentation + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

• Hello there everyone, im Magnus from Sweden. Started playing WH40k about 1996. Back then i played them Orcs But as my passion for WH40k grew i changed my preferences to Space Marines. But it werent before about 2005 that i started to develope my own chapter before that i played either White Scars or Crimson Fists.
• I always prefered the Chaplains over Force Commanders back then, he commanded one of my assault squads. The other HQ option i went for a librarian who lead my terminator squads, my vehicles most often were one Predator, one Landraider and 2-4 Rhinos with a 6-10 man squad with a Plasma Gun, all squads sergeants was armed with a Powerfist and Plasma Pistol. Supporting all this i had 1-2 Dreadnaughts and 2-3 Landspeeders and a few bikes.
• I Registered my account here 2009 in the hopes of posting back then but much has happened since then but now im back into the hobby, both through the Tabletop and through the RPGs from FFG.
• So why do i post, well i got a dream to finalize what i started and hopefully one day get my Chapter Offcialized in some way. dont we all? . So finaly the Chapter is out there for Criticism and Constructive Critique. Hope you all find it worthwhile reading about them, and all help given is greatly appreciated!
• The Old color scheme from 2009 was like this, but over the last few week (2015) the main color has changed from a really Bright Green to the Bronzed Brown Color. The Golden shoulder trim are the same and the shoulder/legg color has changed from White to a Bone White color.

So with no further adu heres the:

Now, onto this Balefire Incident. Now, when does this occur (is it before or after the chapter claims the world?) and why does this lead to the chapter to replace the officer positions with chaplains? Does it involve a chapter civil war where one side is not seen as pure or Imperial by the other side?

Thanks Brother Cousin!

The reason that Balefire is out there, is just as you stated more room to tell Heralds stories. And mostly becouse most of my WH40k hobby now adays is trough the RPG and not the TT. So alot of areas to do my own thing in. I have actually done a fan map for the Fantasy Flight Games RPG series for WH40k where my chapter and the surrounding sub-sectors exist.

To the Balefire Incident, the two are actually linked. Havent yet gotten to write down my thoughts yet but my primary tale is this, the chapter is a fleet based chapter atm (becouse of earlier events) and have traveled far and wide trough Obscuris and just as they have drop out from the Warp they get the ship ident codes from various excommunicate traitoris ships, and a distress signal from a lone battlebarge that has substained heavy damage, and being boarded atm. As they respond and engange themselves, they by the emperors luck help save the Salamanders IV Company (tip: is that ok? to use official chapters here?). And both chapters swears to bonds of friendship there and now. During the fight the chapter barque is so badly injured it crashes down towards Balefires surface, trough that instance and through the fighting against the renegade marines the chapter lose over 50% losses and therefor after the battle is won, chose to stay on this new planet rebuild and fortify the chapter barque as their new chapter monastary. and make the planets population their new recruiting grounds.

1. It seems odd that if they're that focused on Chaplains, why would they give the key role of finding/training/inspiring new brethren to a 'regular' officer? To my mind, the position of commanding the 10th Co. is one of the greatest responsibilities and privileges a Marine can be given. You are basically responsible for the whole Chapter's future.

2. All the pics probably aren't needed. They seem to largely follow Codex colours for the Companies so if you had one pic with a caption beneath that said 'Tactical Marine of the 4th squad, 2nd Co.' then a reader could extrapolate what the scheme would be for a 4th or 5th Co. Marine?

Maybe a pic for a Chaplain scheme as well, as they're obviously key to your Chapter, but more than that is kinda distracting from the actual article.

1. My thoughts here was is also linked to the Balefire incident were the heavy toll on the marines and the Renegade attackers almost won out, with several captain slain during the fighting, including the chaptermaster the loss of all those brothers and the leadership, forced the only force capable to reinsert some order troughout the chapter, the Chaplain to the task. Their death dirge for the fallen and their Imperial Creed was what made the chapter not get wiped from the history of man.

And to let the recruitment role and the 10th Company still be of a captaincy is becouse is to keep some of the old ways kept alive and as the chapter is White Scars Successor the battlelust is not only a thing for them. So the role of teaching their new is trough a selfcontrolled leader that can teach and lead by heart, wisdom and by example. (Well these are my toughts on it atleast). Instead of learning trough zeal and devotion only, that comes later when they are inducted as full astartes anyways.

2. Yeah i kinda agree, to many pictures! Kinda deviated from my original color scheme also with so many diffrent colors for each company. Will sort that out with the company numbers on the shoulderplate that shows unit type instead! thanks.

Ooh and PS. The chaplains where in all pictures, they where the first marine presented with the Jump Packs

[Olis]

To the Balefire Incident, the two are actually linked. Havent yet gotten to write down my thoughts yet but my primary tale is this, the chapter is a fleet based chapter atm (becouse of earlier events) and have traveled far and wide trough Obscuris and just as they have drop out from the Warp they get the ship ident codes from various excommunicate traitoris ships, and a distress signal from a lone battlebarge that has substained heavy damage, and being boarded atm. As they respond and engange themselves, they by the emperors luck help save the Salamanders IV Company (tip: is that ok? to use official chapters here?). And both chapters swears to bonds of friendship there and now. During the fight the chapter barque is so badly injured it crashes down towards Balefires surface, trough that instance and through the fighting  against the renegade marines the chapter lose over 50% losses and therefor after the battle is won, chose to stay on this new planet rebuild and fortify the chapter barque as their new chapter monastary. and make the planets population their new recruiting grounds.

 

It's better that you don't name-drop official chapters - it isn't necessary in DIY articles and it lends a false credibility to the write-up. As far as I can tell by your story, there isn't any extenuating circumstances here to make the change from regular chapter officers to only chaplains. You need to think about a crisis that puts the chapter's moral integrity in danger, otherwise the switch won't feel right.

[Lucernius]

Welcome to the Liber, brother, and to B&C in general.

Why does this lead to the chapter to replace the officer positions with chaplains? Does it involve a chapter civil war where one side is not seen as pure or Imperial by the other side?

Like your idea very much, might use it. But want to try telling my idea first. In my head i know the "rough" happenings, im fleshing it out atm. At last its weekend and free from work for 3 days so will post more and more as i write it all down. I might keep salamanders in my first "draft" i wanted to kill of 30% of my chapter and help save the salamanders to get the backstory of how they got their gene-seed "chimeric" ie. help saved the 4th and they petition terra to help save the heralds from extinction of their service towards the salamanders, but not using that story now (read the DIY about mixing gene-seed). But still want to try and use them as they are a official chapter that might have things to do all the way out there (their task to find the chapters relics, set by Vulcan)

[Lucernius]

Updated post with following:

• Updated Chapter History.
• Removed some pictures and tidied up the layout.
• Added the notable campaing about the Balefire incident.
• Updating info about the homeworld.
• Updated Beliefs with one of the chapters own deviations.
• Updated Gene-Seed.

[Conn Eremon]

Like your idea very much, might use it. But want to try telling my idea first. In my head i know the "rough" happenings, im fleshing it out atm. At last its weekend and free from work for 3 days so will post more and more as i write it all down.

 

In that case, I'm going to hold off on providing some C&C until you have provided all that you want to provide. It is certainly shaping up to be interesting, so I look forward to seeing what it finally ends up as. The like was because it's always nice to see someone utilizing the full layout coding and some nice image manipulation.

[Lucernius]

Updated post with following:

• Chapter History: Moved Balefire Retribution story here.
• Notable Campaigns: Changed the text size on Balefire Retribution to much smaller block. Added a few campaings to the list also.
• Combat Doctrine: changed a few lines.
• Chapter Organisation: Added description to the start.
• Chapter Fleet: Changed text and pacing.
• Chapter Beliefs: Wrote my ideas.
• Updated Gene-Seed: Added more text, specialy focused on herald deviations.

[Lucernius]

Updated post with following:

• Notable Campaigns: Angevin Crusade added.
• Chapter Beliefs: Added a chapter beliefs, that of the Coviria or Curia.
• Homeworld: Balefire Added.

[Lucernius]

Updated post with following:

• Combat Doctrine: Added preferences, terminator information sidebar.
• Chapter Organisation: added company names and types.

Getting really close to done for my part, as we all know things are ever changing and when inspiration strikes more info will come, things will get redacted and added and so on.

Just need a few lines of the Necron war they are in atm in history and notable compaings.

[Lucernius]

Updated post with following:

• Chapter Homeworld: Added complete sector map. Under a spoiler button.

[Brother-Sergeant Valorum]

Some really nice stuff here! Especially the Plague of Appollion. Very grimdark. I'm interested to here about the Necron battle.

[Commissar Molotov]

Hey,

 

You have certainly made a splash in the Liber since you arrived here. 

 

Your Chapter has clearly had a great deal of thought put into it, and the presentational touches you've added help to really sell them in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. 

 

Some thoughts on your Chapter as it stands:

 

DIY Chapters seem to exist in the cracks of the established Warhammer 40,000 universe. As a result, it's up to each individual DIY creator as to how heavy an impression their Chapter makes on the greater universe. You mention Jorgon Nul choosing to remain to his Chapter - it's never been explicitly stated one way or the other whether the initial post of Chapter Master is temporary. I wouldn't have thought it would have been, though. This is a case where it may not be necessary to explicitly state it one way or the other. 

 

I would be interested as to why a brother of the White Scars named his Chapter the "Heralds of Retribution" - which seems a very Imperial/Gothic name when compared to other successor Chapters such as the Marauders, Rampagers and Destroyers. You talk about other elements such as "cathedrals" and "litanies" and the like which don't seem particularly White Scars-esque - perhaps it is worth expanding upon this. You even describe them as "imperious" - which isn't a particularly feral word. I do like the idea that you said that the Chapter was "struggling" in its initial stages - that could be something worth expanding upon. Perhaps you might wish to consider having the Heralds draw their lineage to the White Scars through another Chapter, giving them a little bit of cultural distance between them. I have always liked the idea of "thin-blooded" later successors, having to prove their worth.

 

You say that they were created in the 10th Founding, but then their climactic battle - which alters their organisation  takes place in M41. This means that it may only have had a limited impact. I feel like you perhaps put too much detail on the Balefire Retribution in your IA - I feel like you introduce too many characters and Chapters, which confuses and distracts the reader. Reading it, I do like the idea that their upright façade has broken to show the primal fury of the White Scars. It works in a similar way to the Blood Angels and their Black Rage. I do think you need to consider your reader and - whilst I realise English isn't your first language - think about the order in which you present information to them. 

 

The death of Appollion is something that I think needs to be detailed perhaps a little more - trying to show the great grief and how it affected the Chapter. At the moment it seems as though they left quite happily without it being a hugely heart-wrenching situation. Equally, what processes did they undergo when searching for a new world? You talk about them being a crusading chapter, but not until the Organisation section. Perhaps it would be worth detailing a little more between the transition from one world to the other. 

 

I'm not sure I completely see the Chaplains taking utter control of the Chapter after one battle. That's perhaps because I don't think you utterly convey how damaging and destructive the Balefire Retribution was - but why have they moved away from the Codex? Chaplains and Captains have specific and distinct roles. Even with the death of a few Captains and a few very inspirational Chaplains, I'm stuck. Consider the Blood Ravens or the Silver Skulls - both Chapters that revere Librarians, have specific and distinct combat styles because of their peculiarities, but both of which still have Captains. 

 

 

Perhaps I would consider is this - what is the core of this Chapter? What is the core theme upon which everything rests? Is this meant to be a Chapter based around the Chaplaincy? Is it meant to be a unique White Scars Chapter? I feel as though the Chapter, in its current iteration, would lose or gain absoutely nothing from being an Imperial Fists successor (for example) - so perhaps those elements need to be ingrained a little more. 

 

If the core of your Chapter is their burning faith, then Chaplains might be an idea. But that still seems (to me) to be a little too far from the White Scars. That sort of "Imperial" faith and styling seems different from the feral and ferocious (shamanistic/totemistic) elements of the White Scars. Perhaps you need to detail a little more of how your Chapter has grown and developed from its original roots to its current iteration. 

 

This is not to say that there is anything flawed or wrong with your Chapter. But it is important to define your Chapter in order to flesh them out and better embed them within the groundwork of the 40k universe.

 

I hope to see more from you,

 

Mol.

[Lucernius]

Thanks mate nice points all!

As for name its hard to be unique sure its not a one word description other WS successors have but it suits the swift action quite well. Bringers of swift retribution ie heralds of retribution.

Regarding founding chapter yeah you got a point. Reason for WS is becouse when i played 4-5ed the fast attack was what i liked but wanted an own chapter as i had terminators and dreadnaughts witth dosent suit WS background that much. And heralds prefer assault troops, landspeeders and bikes but in the TT i wanted the big hitters also.

Got some more to add but once i get home and a few changes to prepare thanks for really nice feedback

[Lucernius]

Other than my languege barrier im quite impulsive also it builds on my charater :) hehe but it reflects on my writing to i guess

[Conn Eremon]

If you are looking for a more White Scar name (though they might not necessarily be all one word names), you could call them the Retributors.

[Commissar Molotov]

To be clear, I am not saying your Chapter needs a one-word name. The Dark Hunters are canon WS successors.

 

It does seem as though your Chapter is a little stiffer and more upright than the White Scars, though, and (assuming that's not down to the language barrier) I think you need to work on justifying it. Perhaps consider your Chapter's long millennia of service rather than a short period of time in recent years.

 

I do think that Chapters can have more than one name. FW have explored that with the Carcharadons/Space Sharks, and you have considered it with giving your Chapter a High Gothic name. Perhaps over time your Chapter has come to be known as the Heralds by a grateful populace, and the name has stuck.

[Olis]

If you are looking for a more White Scar name (though they might not necessarily be all one word names), you could call them the Retributors.

That's... not bad, actually.

[Lucernius]

If you are looking for a more White Scar name (though they might not necessarily be all one word names), you could call them the Retributors.

To be clear, I am not saying your Chapter needs a one-word name. The Dark Hunters are canon WS successors.

It does seem as though your Chapter is a little stiffer and more upright than the White Scars, though, and (assuming that's not down to the language barrier) I think you need to work on justifying it. Perhaps consider your Chapter's long millennia of service rather than a short period of time in recent years.

I do think that Chapters can have more than one name. FW have explored that with the Carcharadons/Space Sharks, and you have considered it with giving your Chapter a High Gothic name. Perhaps over time your Chapter has come to be known as the Heralds by a grateful populace, and the name has stuck.

Yeah your onto something there, well could be im kinda in love with Heralds of Retribution. Its my own chapter since i was 20ish+ im 34 now And its kinda unique only two official chapter with herald in its name. And one unofficial here on B&C use the Herald name Imperial Heralds. Heralds of Ultramar, Heralds of Vengeance

If you are looking for a more White Scar name (though they might not necessarily be all one word names), you could call them the Retributors.

That's... not bad, actually.

It actually is! but not sure if i gona go for the idea or not yet. Need to sit down and try reincorperate it or rewrite a bit! But that part of evolving once Chapter i guess

Editied: Spelling mistake! Ops change to right text now. With Molotovs idea it could work, ie. Created as Retributors, changed to Heralds becouse liberated worlds started calling them that and it kinda stuck with them.

[Lucernius]

When you guys read the text does the home world and tradition reflect to little on why the heralds are as they are? I was hoping to convey that becouse of the "roman" senate like nations that that democracy was reflected back on how the Heralds behaved, also the 16-17 pirate/sea warfare life still came over as the "yarr" in WS successor chapters well i didnt write it at such maybe? and i got to change a few things i guess

Also yeah i think now as you put it all out there Mol! The Balefire Retribution need to happen earlier (Also is it here i namedrop to much? all the captain i imagine?). Maybe as early as 36-37 to be a game changer for chapter command. But yeah i want the chaplains to be "Da Boss" becouse hell force commanders suck big time in 4-5th edition! (back when i played) My command choise always went for Chaplain with a Librarian backup, hench why i want them to lead as they lead my TT 2500p army

Edit: also becouse its rare and it makes the heralds stick out.

[Conn Eremon]

Well, if the word Retributors is liked, but you want to keep the Heralds, you can use Retributors for something within the Chapter. Maybe those Veteran 1st are called the Retributors, for instance.

[Lucernius]

Well, if the word Retributors is liked, but you want to keep the Heralds, you can use Retributors for something within the Chapter. Maybe those Veteran 1st are called the Retributors, for instance.

 

Sorry mate it was a spelling mistake! I did like the idea but wrote in the negative (changed it with edit) :D

[Olis]

I may be biased*, mind you, but I like the Retributors as far as the chapter name goes. It follows the tradition of White Scar successors names and it incorporates your old chapter name well. It may seem like a big step to give them a new title but in the long run, if the fluff isn't affected, it's mostly a cosmetic change. ;) 

 

 

 

* I changed the long-running name of my old DIY chapter (the Emperor's Blood) to a new, more sensible and more sparkly name (the Inheritors). What with them being sons of Dorn, I thought it was a good move (shout out to Demus Ragnok on the name suggestion).