Arendious Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 With a snarl, Gazbagg finally kicked the hatch of his dread open. Hopping down with further cursing, he adjusted himself then kicked the hatch shut. He kicked it a few more times, for good measure. Damn thing hadn’t opened properly ever since that idiot mek had replaced the last hatch Gazbagg had kicked completely off the dread. Stupid mek, what good’s an escape hatch you can’t escape out? Gazbagg liked his dread, “Bluddrinka”, but he liked not dying more. Something was off this evening. Normally there’d be a small horde of grots out here, doing the meks’ bidding, tinkering on their own stupid projects, and getting beaten. Gazbagg felt that last part was the more important use of a grot. In fact, he could use one now. But the few he saw about were unimpressive specimens, who had rapidly scattered upon his appearance. Kicking ‘Drinka’ a few more times, Gazbagg glanced up at the stars. Looking up at their faint light, something moved within him. A massive burst of flatulence rattled out. Probably shouldn’t have eaten that last squig… Drinking in his earthy self-aroma, Gazbagg headed off towards The Shack. Gazbagg couldn’t remember what the humans had used the building for, but he and his mates kept their snacks and their hooch there. Hooch, that might explain where everyone went. If Carsmaka had finally finished that “nob brewin” he kept claiming to be working on, that would certainly bring everyone in from the dread park. Also, not waiting for him gave Gazbagg the perfect excuse to start a nice big brawl. The thought of that made him feel better already. CHUFF-CHUFF-CHUFF That’s a weird sound… That’s what had been bugging him, Gazbagg realized. He’d been hearing that odd sound since he’d dismounted. He still couldn’t see what was causing it. Stupid grot tinkering probably. He stopped to relieve himself on the leg of a nearby Killa’ Kan while he thought about who to hit first. Probably Molagg, little git with his stupid little Kan… Gazbagg sensed the hand miliseconds before it slammed his head forward into the Kan’s knee joint, cutting off his offended shout. Shocked, Gazbagg spun around. For a moment, he registered the viciously-buzzing point of the vibro-blade coming to meet him. Sergeant Agapetos slide the knife back into its cleaning-sheathe on his bracer. He mouthed the prayer of restorative sleep over the blade as it clicked home. The mottled-tones of his armor’s war-cladding shifted subtly as he stepped back into the shadows between the haphazardly parked ork dreadnoughts and demi-dreads. He turned back to the stormtroopers who had been waiting expectantly. The Astartes tilted his head in acknowledgment. “Apologies, little bothers. Since that seems to be the last straggler of the evening, let us get back to business.” With a nod, two troopers slipped out to drag the late Gazbagg to the blockhouse where the other dreadnought drivers were piled. Other troopers began setting up the landing guidance beacons. The assault landers were thirty minutes out… INDEX ASTARTES The Umbral Owls Chapter CHAPTER MASTER: Commander Artandos Hayalet CHAPTER WORLDS: Agea (Homeworld), Marduk (Keep) FORTRESS MONASTERY: Camp Drake (Exterior appearance as a minor PDF training base) SPECIALTY: Light Infantry operations, Covert/Clandestine Direct Actions, Unconventional Warfare CURRENT STRENGTH: Estimated to be full Codex strength plus/minus 2% KNOWN DESCENDANTS: None Origins As recorded by the Administratum, the Umbral Owls chapter of the Adeptus Astartes was founded during the 22nd Founding. Constituted as a fleet-based chapter using Iron Hands gene-stock, the Owls were sent to reconquer sectors surrounding the galactic core that had been lost during the turmoil of the Age of Apostasy. As with much of the Imperium’s history, this appears to be a lie. Many sections of the Chapter’s record are copied whole cloth from other chapters, or even from non-Astartes formations. Three, mutually-exclusive, lists of Chapter Masters exist, including one which consists primarily of holo-opera singers popular during M37. Despite numerous requests the chapter’s historians to correct these glaring errors, the discrepancies persist. Most notably, a delegation from the chapter travelled to Terra in 801.M41 to formally petition for an audit and correction of the chapters records. This resulted in more errors rather than improvement. Entire campaigns were erased from the chapters’ battle honors, other unrelated campaigns were added. Most inexplicably, the dreadnought, Ancient Trigathon, was retroactively listed as being lost in action two centuries prior, despite his personal testimony being a prominent segment of the chapter’s formal petition. Internal chapter histories tell a far different story. The first claimed battle honor of the chapter lies at the heart of the Owls Reliquary atop a featureless iridium altar. A combat knife of a simple pattern issued to many of the early Terran Legionnaires, tied about the hilt with the shipping tag for a crate of fragmentation grenades. In neat hand-written script, said to be the Emperor’s own hand, is the word “SEATTLE”. No other corroborating record exists to explain the relic. In their own records, the Umbral Owls detail their lineage as descendants of the Raven Guard Legion. Specifically, the chapter history begins not with the boilerplate of a Astartes Founding, but with two simple sentences. “The Primarch asked, ‘Who will be my owls, to hunt in the night?” “We stepped forward.” What follows are the collected logs, diaries, and combat footage of Task Force Antai - a Raven Guard Nomad Predation Fleet launched shortly after Corax took up leadership of the Legion at the Emperor's behest. The information contained within details the fleet's operations from shortly after leaving the vicinity of Deliverance till Task Force Antai returned to Imperial space to resupply and rearm. Included are records of Antai's tasking to the far galactic north, relying on information gleaned from Dark Age records held on Kiavahr. Returning shortly before Corax's disappearance, the Owls claim one of the Primarch's final acts was to direct the dissolution of Task Force Antai and their recreation as an independent Astartes chapter. Accordingly, the legionnaires cased their Raven Guard standards and took up the mantle of the Umbral Owls. Homeworld Organization While acknowledging the collected wisdom and experience represented by the Codex Astartes, the Umbral Owls reject the tome as the ‘bible’ of Astartes operations. As such, the chapter is organized along lines closer to the original Legionary table of organization, though the intervening years have formed several adaptations to changing circumstances and needs. Currently the Chapter consists of three Battalions: Gold, Silver, and Bronze, and a separate 10th Company – the Iron Talon. Each is battalion is constituted of three companies. Gold and Silver Battalions are considered ‘line’ formations, with minimal organizational deviation. Companies in both battalions typical operate independently from organically assigned strike cruisers, though both smaller and larger scale operations are not unheard of. Gold Battalion has historically deployed in full strength more often than Silver, though the margin of difference is quite slim. Companies in Gold and Silver Battalions each consist of a squad-sized Headquarters element, a Reconnaissance squad, and three Line platoons. Each Line platoon contains two ‘Codex’ Tactical Squads as maneuver elements, and a ‘Devastator’ Weapons Squad as a base of fire. Bronze ‘Battalion’ is more an organizational entity than an actual combat unit. First Company – Bronze, often referred to as “The Schoolhouse” or “The Barn”, serves the purpose of the 10th Company in a Codex Adherent chapter – the training and accession of new battle-brothers. Each training team of prospective Astartes is assigned two Veteran brothers as cadre. These veterans are themselves in training for assignment to Second Company – Bronze. Second Company, informally (and sometimes pejoratively) called “The Parliament”, specializes in the unconventional warfare that so typifies the sons of Corax. Particularly, ad hoc teams or even single Astartes from 2nd Bronze raise guerilla and resistance forces on enemy-occupied worlds and human worlds not yet brought into the Emperor’s light. Additionally Astartes from the Second often advise and train Tempestus and Stormtrooper formations, typically leading them on missions of particular importance or exceptional levels of risk. Finally, Third Company – Bronze consists of specialists in exotic forms and venues of warfare, tasks that challenge even the preternatural skills of Astartes. Heavy-grav worlds, chemically-exotic deathworlds, void warfare, and deep-ocean operations are all known specialties of squads assigned to 3rd Bronze. Additionally, rumor outside of Bronze Battalion maintains that rather than leaving behind their Destroyer squads on Deliverance, the Chapter merely struck those Astartes from the official rolls and 3rd Bronze maintains those esoteric and horrific weapons to this day. Separate from the battalion structure is the Iron Talon – the primary armored formation maintained by the Umbral Owls. Where other companies have few organic armored vehicles, being structured mainly as “light” infantry (if Astartes can really be considered ‘light’), the Talon consists of both five full armored platoons of Predator tanks and two mechanized infantry platoons. Each armor platoon operates four Predator tanks, loadouts being determined by mission or crew preference. The first mechanized platoon deploys three ‘Assault’ squads from Land Raiders – often these squads go into battle wearing Tactical Dreadnought Armor. The second mechanized platoon operates five six-Astartes squads each with a supporting Razorback. Finally, as a reminder of the glories of the Great Crusade, the Headquarters of the Iron Talon is a relic Legion Glaive. Christened ‘Pale Hunter’, the fighting vehicle and its ancient Volkite weaponry have been lovingly maintained by generations of the Chapters’ Techmarines. It is speculated that this unusual organization of the Tenth Company stems from the original composition of Task Force Antai, with the Iron Talon having begun as an element of a separate Legion formation. Combat Doctrine Combat History 995 M.41 - Operation CAUSTIC HARVEST Tempestus pathfinder teams, trained and advised by Veteran Sergeant Agapetos and his team (Mu Team - 2nd Bronze), marked and secured landing sites ahead of the raid on the Ork-held Forgeworld of Dolbadarn-Tertius. Imperial Forces successfully recovered several irreplaceable STC plans held in the Forge's data vaults, as well as deploying aggressive noospheric virii that reduced the Forge's usefulness to the Orks. Sergeant Agapetos personally slew the 'Big Mek' directing the construction of Gargants for WAAGH! Baalzaak. 802 M.41 - Space Hulk 'Imminent Damnation' 3rd Company - Gold, assisted by boarding and void specialists from 3rd Bronze, penetrated the Hulk shortly after it broke warp near the densely populated Arboertea system's inner Ag worlds. Utilizing semi-functional systems on several of the hulk's constituent craft, 3rd Gold directed the Imminent Damnation onto a collapsing orbit to the Arboertean primary. Xeno-forms of a to-date unclassified species attempted to prevent the redirection, and Captain Ablinus Pernet, his headquarters squad, and two boarding specialists from 3rd Bronze perished maintaining the new course all the way to the hulk's destruction. Beliefs Gene-seed An additional factor adding credence to the Umbral Owls claims to an early split from their parent Legion is the idiosyncratic status of their Geneseed. While the Owls geneseed shows the same unique Primarch-derived mutation in the Melanchromic Organ, the chapter retains the Mucranoid. Like many Raven Guard successors, the Umbral Owls lack the Betcher’s Gland. Chapter Motto Nullum Maius Periculum In Tenebris (No Greater Danger in the Dark) Visual Reference "Official" or "Parade" Umbral Owl Chapter Colors (Note: Chapter Symbol and Right Knee company marking are missing in this image) "Overt" Field Colors (Note: Chapter Symbol missing and non-standard Gothic Numeral Company marking) Near Orbit Imagery of 'Camp Drake' Slowly, oh so slowly, light comes to the shadows... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysimachus Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Good beginning and nicely written too. The cloaking tech and working with stormtroopers have got my curiosity as to where you're going with this, looking forward to more. If your goal is an IA type article I probably wouldn't include too much extra in terms of 'story', a little bit like you have is perfect as an introduction or sidebar to the article and can add a lot of character, but if you're planning to continue the story itself then perhaps another thread in the Fanfic forum might be a better place to put it? Anyway, excellent start! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-3957312 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arendious Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 Thanks! And an excellent point regarding the fluff, aside from this intro piece the intent is to stick to the IA format. (Despite what I wrote above...the curse of posting while under the weather...) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-3962956 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arendious Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share Posted March 4, 2015 Actual IA formatting and initial information added to original post. Nowhere near complete, but an actual start. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-3968304 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenebris Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 I cannot but approve of this topic Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-3968356 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucernius Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 I really love the background story and the idea you got going! The name is superb! cant wait to see/read more from you mate. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-3968376 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arendious Posted March 11, 2015 Author Share Posted March 11, 2015 Thank you for the kind words, brothers! Also, small update to the chapter history. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-3974144 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrvat Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Looks interesting I will be following your progress. hoot-hoot Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-3975129 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arendious Posted April 6, 2015 Author Share Posted April 6, 2015 UPDATE: CHAPTER ORGANIZATION While acknowledging the collected wisdom and experience represented by the Codex Astartes, the Umbral Owls reject the tome as the ‘bible’ of Astartes operations. As such, the chapter is organized along lines closer to the original Legionary table of organization, though the intervening years have formed several adaptations to changing circumstances and needs. Currently the Chapter consists of three Battalions: Gold, Silver, and Bronze, and a separate 10th Company – the Iron Talon. Each is battalion is constituted of three companies. Gold and Silver Battalions are considered ‘line’ formations, with minimal organizational deviation. Companies in both battalions typical operate independently from organically assigned strike cruisers, though both smaller and larger scale operations are not unheard of. Gold Battalion has historically deployed in full strength more often than Silver, though the margin of difference is quite slim. Companies in Gold and Silver Battalions each consist of a squad-sized Headquarters element, a Reconnaissance squad, and three Line platoons. Each Line platoon contains two ‘Codex’ Tactical Squads as maneuver elements, and a ‘Devastator’ Weapons Squad as a base of fire. Bronze ‘Battalion’ is more an organizational entity than an actual combat unit. First Company – Bronze, often referred to as “The Schoolhouse” or “The Barn”, serves the purpose of the 10th Company in a Codex Adherent chapter – the training and accession of new battle-brothers. Each training team of prospective Astartes is assigned two Veteran brothers as cadre. These veterans are themselves in training for assignment to Second Company – Bronze. Second Company, informally (and sometimes pejoratively) called “The Parliament”, specializes in the unconventional warfare that so typifies the sons of Corax. Particularly, ad hoc teams or even single Astartes from 2nd Bronze raise guerilla and resistance forces on enemy-occupied worlds and human worlds not yet brought into the Emperor’s light. Additionally Astartes from the Second often advise and train Tempestus and Stormtrooper formations, typically leading them on missions of particular importance or levels of risk. Finally, Third Company – Bronze consists of specialists in exotic forms and venues of warfare, tasks that challenge even the preternatural skills of Astartes. Heavy-grav worlds, chemically-exotic deathworlds, void warfare, and deep-ocean operations are all known specialties of squads assigned to 3rd Bronze. Additionally, rumor outside of Bronze Battalion maintains that rather than leaving behind their Destroyer squads on Deliverance, the Chapter merely struck those Astartes from the official rolls and 3rd Bronze maintains those esoteric and horrific weapons to this day. Separate from the battalion structure is the Iron Talon – the primary armored formation maintained by the Umbral Owls. Where other companies have few organic armored vehicles, being structured mainly as “light” infantry (if Astartes can really be considered ‘light’), the Talon consists of both five full armored platoons of Predator tanks and two mechanized infantry platoons. Each armor platoon operates four Predator tanks, loadouts being determined by mission or crew preference. The first mechanized platoon deploys three ‘Assault’ squads from Land Raiders – often these squads go into battle wearing Tactical Dreadnought Armor. The second mechanized platoon operates five six-Astartes squads each with a supporting Razorback. Finally, as a reminder of the glories of the Great Crusade, the Headquarters of the Iron Talon is a relic Legion Glaive. Christened ‘Pale Hunter’, the fighting vehicle and its ancient Volkite weaponry have been lovingly maintained by generations of the Chapters’ Techmarines. It is speculated that this unusual organization of the Tenth Company stems from the original composition of Task Force Antai, with the Iron Talon having begun as an element of a separate Legion formation. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-3999770 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arendious Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 Couple stealth updates (henh) and some images added. Thoughts on the Chapter colors? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-4004088 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arendious Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Update: Two combat History events added Combat History 995 M.41 - Operation CAUSTIC HARVEST Tempestus pathfinder teams, trained and advised by Veteran Sergeant Agapetos and his team (Mu Team - 2nd Bronze), marked and secured landing sites ahead of the raid on the Ork-held Forgeworld of Dolbadarn-Tertius. Imperial Forces successfully recovered several irreplaceable STC plans held in the Forge's data vaults, as well as deploying aggressive noospheric virii that reduced the Forge's usefulness to the Orks. Sergeant Agapetos personally slew the 'Big Mek' directing the construction of Gargants for WAAGH! Baalzaak. 802 M.41 - Space Hulk 'Imminent Damnation' 3rd Company - Gold, assisted by boarding and void specialists from 3rd Bronze, penetrated the Hulk shortly after it broke warp near the densely populated Arboertea system's inner Ag worlds. Utilizing semi-functional systems on several of the hulk's constituent craft, 3rd Gold directed the Imminent Damnation onto a collapsing orbit to the Arboertean primary. Xeno-forms of a to-date unclassified species attempted to prevent the redirection, and Captain Ablinus Pernet, his headquarters squad, and two boarding specialists from 3rd Bronze perished maintaining the new course all the way to the hulk's destruction. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-4007134 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arendious Posted April 15, 2015 Author Share Posted April 15, 2015 Just a little something to add Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/303740-index-astartes-umbral-owls-periculum-in-tenebris/#findComment-4009208 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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