+++ BROTHERHOOD OF ANGELS 2015 +++

[Bryan Blaire]

The Stoneburners are not Second Founding, so don't have an original Chapter number. Edited June 16, 2015 by Bryan Blaire

[Grand Master Belial]

After the conclusion of this competition I plan to grab all of the completed articles and make a list of all of the chapters from the past three competitions.

[Olis]

Here's a little something I hope I can get some help with - I need some suggestions for rituals (or the basis thereof). I've been thinking about them for a while but I'm not getting much traction. If it makes any difference, medieval stuff would be right in the butter zone. Can I get a couple of ideas thrown at me, please? 

[Guest]

Rituals of the Chapters?

[Olis]

Yep. Well, for the Brotherhood of the Lion, actually. 

Edited May 31, 2015 by Olis

[Dosjetka]

I, Dosjetka, member and Scrivener-Primus of the Lions of Karthaga, make this oath of moment to submit an excerpt of my Chapter's history by 15th July 2015. May our Primarch honour me if I succeed and consign me to oblivion should I fail.

[Conn Eremon]

My own medieval styled Chapter has ritualized the progress an individual makes in this Chapter, from initial genetic modification to ascension as Chapter Master, as a series of oaths binding the individual to a life of honor and service, and delineated responsibilities. The Marine holds onto these oaths for the extent of his expanded life, additions being penned by himself, superiors and Chaplains. Upon his death, the oaths will be burned upon his chest, a ritualized release of the bonds that may yet tie the warrior to the mortal realm.

 

Similar concepts are probably common with these style of Chapters, the hierarchy being a fiefdom of sorts and Battle-Brothers oathed in fealty to their commanding officers. My Chapter portrays this interconnectivity and progress into the Inner Circle as an expansion of the oaths of moment. Another might make it more pure, such as a Marine swearing allegience to his Sergeant as his liege-commander, and his Sergeant swearing his fiefdom to a Captain-King, the Chapter Master being the living representative, the very avatar of the Emperor Himself.

 

 

 

But on a more generic note, I actually think the sons of the Lion make it easiest for us to contemplate rituals, providing a host of options where ritualized behavior is likely the norm. How does the Inner Circle provide information to the unwitting, giving the lessons without the details? How are Marines inducted into the Ravenwing or the Deathwing? How are they brought into the fold as a member of the Inner Circle? Where do they stand within the loose bonds that tie the Unforgiven together? How do they absolve themselves of the sins of the Fallen? How do they absolve the Fallen themselves?

 

That last one just gave me the idea of "They don't. All Fallen the Knights Sovereign capture are provided to the Dark Angels themselves. The Knights are just the swordarm, not the wielders of the knife and rod."

Edited May 31, 2015 by Conn Eremon

[Olis]

Aha. Although my 'Golden Ones' don't have an Inner Circle (or either of the Wings), you have given me a couple of ideas. Cheers. ^_^

[Conn Eremon]

Octavulg once said something along the lines that these concepts are integral to all First Legion successors, and that can include their noticeable absence. I think that can also apply here, on the matter of rituals, as well.

 

Also, holy hell. I need to get back to my Knights Sovereign.

[Grand Master Belial]

Here's a little something I hope I can get some help with - I need some suggestions for rituals (or the basis thereof). I've been thinking about them for a while but I'm not getting much traction. If it makes any difference, medieval stuff would be right in the butter zone. Can I get a couple of ideas thrown at me, please? 

What about quests? In the HH books, the Order sent those seeking to become knights out to kill a Chaos Beast. Once they had killed a beast, they would bring it back to the fortress and be recognized from that point onward as a Knight. Perhaps have your aspirants go on something of a quest as well. 

 

As an idea, the younglings have to cross over treacherous terrain and facing the dangerous animals, enemies and themselves before reaching a waiting thunderhawk that will take them away to start their life and indoctrination as Scouts of the Chapter.

[Olis]

 

Quests. Hmm. I like the way that sounds. I'll keep your suggestions in mind, GMB. :)

[Grand Master Belial]

Time to show off what the Liber has been cooking up for their challenge.

BLADES OF THE LION (95% Complete)

http://i.imgur.com/rwszq0A.jpg

+ + + ORANGE AREAS TO BE REVIEWED AND FINALIZED + + +

SUMMARY:
▪ GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR) – Dark Angels
▪ FOUNDING - 21st "Cursed" Founding
▪ CHAPTER MASTER - Jurn Reven-Wold
▪ CHAPTER WORLD – NONE (Fleet Based)
▪ FORTRESS MONASTERY - Strike Cruiser "Wings of Caliban"
▪ MAIN COLOURS – Gray and Bone
▪ SPECIALITY - Quick Strike Force
▪ BATTLE CRY – “Unsheath the Blades!” Response – “And Let the Lions Roar!”
▪ CURRENT STRENGTH - 786
▪ KNOWN DESCENDANTS - None

ORIGINS:
The Blades of the Lion are a crusading, fleet based Chapter currently located in the Liber Cluster. The Blades are Dark Angels successors from an ancient founding who prefer to fight alone which has almost doomed them several times since they were created, they are prideful and will never ask for assistance even if they know they are doomed. Without a homeworld the Blades roam the Cluster in their Strike Cruisers attacking pirate and xenos strongholds wherever they find them, either dropping from the skies in drop pods or tearing through enemy ships in brutal boarding actions. Their leaders are master tacticians and take pride in surrounding the enemy and seeing utterly annihilated. The Chapter has a history of battling Orks in the Liber Cluster, matching the prowess of their bike mounted warriors against the Ork mechanized hordes but it is against Traitor Space Marines that the Blades fight the fiercest. The Blades are able to fully test their mettle when fighting foes comparable to themselves and relish believing themselves to be utterly superior to anything that isn’t a Space Marine.

To outsiders, the Blades of the Lion appear to strike at random then disappear into the void afterwards but in reality they are being guided by their Librarians who believe they are receiving visions from their Primarch in pursuit of the “Great Hunt”. Their Chaplains work alongside the Librarians in deciphering the visions and interrogating prisoners to find their next target. It is unfortunate if any of these visions strike during a battle as the Blades may suddenly redeploy before their quarry escapes – this makes the Blades a sometimes-unreliable asset in a large campaign but if they have the numbers they will endeavor to leave some marines behind so their allies are not overwhelmed.

The Blades will recruit from wherever they can, the Cluster is large enough for them to have plenty of recruiting worlds to choose from but they do not lay claim to any specifically. Once an initiate is taken in they are mind wiped and they will only know the Chapter. The “Great Hunt” is known by all of the Blades but only the high ranking marines know exactly what the Hunt is actually trying to achieve, the commanders know that the targets they hunt are the forever cursed Fallen. The rest of the Blades believe they are hunting traitors to the Emperor and are not aware that their targets were once or are still Dark Angel Legionnaires.

The Blades of the Lion are not trusted by most of the Liberite Chapters due to their isolationist attitude and tendencies to withdraw from combat without a word. The Blades rarely attend a Liberite Conclave but when they do their words are seldom ignored when planning assaults yet they will never offer themselves to be the lynchpin of a campaign, the risk of duty to the Imperium and the secret shame of the Great Hunt could spell disaster.

CHAPTER HOME WORLD:
The Blades of the Lion are a crusading, fleet based Chapter currently located in the Liber Cluster.

PRESENT ACTIVITIES:
The Blades of the Lion are Currently active in the Liber Cluster in pursuit of the “Great Hunt.” The Blades rarely attend a Liberite Conclave but when they do their words are seldom ignored when planning assaults yet they will never offer themselves to be the lynchpin of a campaign, the risk of duty to the Imperium and the secret shame of the Great Hunt could spell disaster.

BATTLE HONORS:
The Blades of the Lion have taken part is innumerable conflicts in the furthest reaches of the Liber Cluster. While tales of the Great Hunt are confined strictly to the innermost vaults of this secretive Chapter, there are no shortage of glorious battles the Blades of the Lion have partaken in.

During the early years of the Liber Cluster, the Blades of the Lion were notable participants in the Eighteen Worlds Crusade, a bitter, gruelling war waged against a gang of renegade Astartes known as the Sereiki Lions.

Perhaps viewing the renegades' choice of name as a personal affront to all scions of the First Legion, the Blades of the Lion took several opportunities to strike at these foes alongside their brother Chapters, notably taking an active part in the purging of Heroda IV alongside the Black Judges and working alongside the Iron Ravagers in the Pacification of Tonagish.

Under the guidance of the Lion's Eye, however, The Blades of the Lion also turned to more covert actions, seeking to ascertain the true nature of the leaders of this warband. Thus, the Chapter's Reserve Companies found themselves being carefully deployed away from the primary battlefronts, fighting several low-key engagements at remote outposts to starve the traitors of valuable intelligence reports, isolate key figures in the enemy's leadership chain, or deprive the foe of useful resources such as recruitment grounds. Though the exact details of these missions have not yet come to light, the few outsiders that know of them simply see it as the Blades working hard to serve the Imperium.

Equally, the Blades of the Lion found themselves much involved in the Inquisition's 'shadow war' against the secretive, anti-Imperial organisation known as Penumbra. Shadows, secrets and lies are in many ways the realm of the Unforgiven, and the Blades of the Lion were skilled at seeing through the ruses, schemes and snares Penumbra used to veil their presence.

Again, though much of the details of the Blades' participation in this conflict is either lost to time or deliberately erased, their willingness to lend aid earned the Blades of the Lion not only much goodwill from local Inquisitors, but saw a great many Penumbra operatives detained aboard the Chapter's Fleet, at the leisure of the Inner Circle.

CHAPTER ORGANIZATION:
The Blades of the Lion are, in many ways, built on honour and tradition. In few places is this more evident than within the Chapter's organisational structure. Like most Dark Angel successors, the Blades are broadly compliant with the layout advised by the Codex Astartes - ten companies, each a hundred Space Marines strong. It is only on a closer examination that the differences within that organisation become apparent.

Scouts, for example, are not permitted to bear the Chapter's full heraldry; they are instead given plain grey armour with bone pauldrons - enough colour to serve as an identifier of allegiance to the Chapter, but still visually distinct from true Battle-brothers of the Chapter.

Librarians are held in high regard within the Chapter. Their master of the Librarium is sometimes referred to as the Lion's Eye, for it is his counsel that guides the Blades in the Great Hunt. The Lion's Eye is given a very high level of respect, and in terms of authority is considered to rank only just below a Company Captain.

Amongst the rest of the Chapter, the First Company is informally known as the "Kingslayers", for their first campaign in the Liber Cluster saw them destroy a traitor marine known as 'Parsiel, King of Exiles' and his armies. As with the Dark Angels and many of their kin, the First Company is the exclusive home of the Chapter's Tactical Dreadnought Armour. Unlike other scions of Jonson, however, the sheer remoteness of the Liber Cluster from the rest of the Imperium means the Blades of the Lion only have enough functional suits to field three full squads of Terminators. The rest of the "Kingslayer" Company are made up of veteran marines, much like any other Codex Chapter.

The Second Company is almost entirely given over to the use of bikes and landspeeders, and is treated with very much the same respect and deference that the First Company is given. The Second Company is the Chapter's most formidable weapon in the Great Hunt - most frequently deployed as demi-companies alongside other Blades forces, they excel in pursuing and ensnaring fleeing enemies, forcing them to face destruction or capture.

The Blades of the Lion also field three conventional Battle Companies and four codex-approved Reserve Companies, each steeped in proud traditions. In true Dark Angel fashion, only the upper echelons of each Company are aware of the true nature of the Great Hunt, with the truth concealed by layer upon layer of secrecy and careful misdirection.

FLEET ASSETS:
The Blades of the Lion can lay claim to a fairly considerable fleet of ships. Though they have only a limited number of Strike Cruisers and Battle Barges, Chapter Serfs are billeted in a flotilla of smaller, purely non-combat ships that accompany the Blades' vessels like squires attending to a noble knight. Also of note is the Strike Cruiser "Wings of Caliban", which acts as a recruitment vessel for the Blades, constantly scouring the worlds of the Liber Cluster for worthy recruits.

RECRUITMENT:
The Blades have been known to recruit from all manner of worlds - factory worlds, feudal worlds, even death worlds. If there is a set pattern to their choice of recruitment worlds, it is known only to the upper echelons of the Chapter. However, one interesting trend is that efforts to find viable recruits always seems to increase in intensity prior to the Blades embarking on the Great Hunt, leading to outsider speculation that perhaps the Chapter's Librarians have some say in where the Wings of Caliban travels.

CHAPTER COLORS:
The Chapter has kept its standard bone and gray color scheme since its founding through all of its companies. There are two areas of difference in the scheme. First is that the Kingslayers have bone in place of the gray on their Terminator armor similar to the Deathwing of the Dark Angels Chapter. The second is that the Scouts have their armor mostly painted gray save for the cauldrons which are the only areas painted bone. To an outsider, there is nothing significant to this scheme. But within the Chapter, the bone signifies their devotion to the Great Hunt even if the object of their Hunt varies. As the Kingslayers have more of the full knowledge behind the Great Hunt, they show more bone in their armor whereas the scouts know hardly anything.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sct.php?b62c=@hCmX3_iaj2F.iakk7hozqSi81Yf@__@@@@@@@@@_..@@@@@@@@@@_@@@@@@@@@@@&grid=TRUE

The only other area of deviation is in the specialists of the chapter. Each Specialist has taken up the traditional look of coloring their entire armor to match their specialization. In this way, they symbolize to their brothers that they have left the Great Hunt to follow the path of their specialization.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hIAEG_hCmX3.iakk7@@@@@@@iaj0o@.@@..@@@@@@@@@@@_iaj2F_iaj2F@@@@@@@@@@__@@@@@@@@@@@@@__&grid=TRUEhttp://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hr3uf_hCmX3.iakk7@@@@@@@hJ9Lc@.@@..@@@@@@@@@@@_iaj2F_iaj2F@@@@@@@@@@__@@@@@@@@@@@@@__&grid=TRUE

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@haLvy_hCmX3.iakk7@@@@@@@hJ9Lc@.@@..@@@@@@@@@@@_iaj2F_iaj2F@@@@@@@@@@__@@@@@@@@@@@@@__&grid=TRUEhttp://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@iakk7_hCmX3.iaj2F@@@@@@@hJ9Lc@@@@__@@@@@@@@@@@_._.@@@@@@@@@@__@@@@@@@@@@@@@__&grid=TRUE

BATTLE STANDARDS OR CHAPTER BANNERS (OPTIONAL):

(Their icon will either be two crossed swords or a lion and a sword - need to figure that out and get it into their colour scheme).

BATTLE HONORS/RELICS/DECORATIONS/AWARDS:
The Heavenfall Blades:
Each of the chapters descended from the Dark Angels are said to have a small portion of the obsidian meteor, which was used to forge the Heavenfall Blades so that they too might share through steel the legacy of their founders. Many legends surround Harbinger, a sword wielded by high-ranking members of the Blades of the Lion, but at the very least, we know that it is one of these such weapons.

Harbinger is a finely wrought power sword with a large red gem in the center of its cross guard. In addition, built into its hilt is a locator beacon. It is said that the sword often begins to hum and the red gem glows when danger is present, but whether this is just the result of the prudent wielder activating its internal beacon or some gift from the Emperor himself the Blades have never commented on.

COMBAT DOCTRINE:
There is little, in theory, to set the Blades of the Lion apart from other sons of the Lion once they are deployed on the field of battle. Enemies are met with an advancing, unstoppable force of Space Marines who adapt to any combat situation effortlessly, shrugging off enemy attacks and retaliating with punishing force. However, there are a few subtle quirks that make the Blades noteworthy.

The Blades set high value by facing down an enemy in honourable combat, but such honour is usually reserved for only the most veteran squads within a company. Squads of 'lesser standing' in a company are more usually tasked with the more mundane aspects of combat, such as flanking movements or intercepting enemy ambushes, leaving the way clear for the veterans to engage the enemy's strongest forces. Although it is unheard of for a squad of the Blades to directly disobey orders from their Captains, it is quite commonplace for squads of lesser standing to undertake acts of quite singular bravery and heroism on their own initiative to prove their worth and valour to the rest of the Company.

Another notable factor is that any Blades involved with the Great Hunt shed this seemingly ingrained competitive nature entirely. When the Hunt is on, the Blades shun personal honour completely, caring only for the larger victory, which will bring honour and pride to their Primarch and all their kindred.

BATTLE CRY:
“Unsheath the Blades!” Response – “And Let the Lions Roar!”

LOCAL RITUALS:
Tests of the Lion
A tournament held within the chapter, the Tests of the Lion is a series of challenges held throughout the chapter, testing each marines skill with his guns, blades and strategic values. First the marine must face his brothers in his squad before progressing to facing the companies victors before finally facing the rest of the chapters victors. It is a usual sight for the challenges involving other companies to be held during the times where the chapter meets up.

The most recent victor of the Tests, [insert name here] of the # company, is has most recently been labeled as MIA after encounters with the Dark Eldar. If he is still alive, it is most likely he has been thrown into the arenas, to fight to his death.

BELIEFS:
The Blades are arrogant bastards who in their minds cannot be beaten (think Jaime early on in Game of Thrones.)

GENE-SEED:
Dark Angels

CHAMPIONS OF THE CHAPTER:
Brother Javin Gildred, Sworn Champion of the 2nd Company:
When the Great Hunt locates one of the Fallen in the Liber Cluster, the Second Company is the Chapter's first choice to intercept the traitor. Within that company, the task of facing down an armed, dangerous Fallen is almost always given over to their Company Champion, Javin Gildred.

Gildred is a hardened, merciless fighter, skilled in all forms of combat. While most of the Chapter believe Gildred always slays the Hunted, the truth of the matter is that he always leaves them barely alive, that the Chaplains and Chapter Master may set the captured Fallen on the path of repentance.

Gildred seems to harbour an especially strong hate of the Fallen, even for one of Jonson's sons. He treats the existence of the Fallen as a stain on his personal honour as well as on the entirety of Jonson's line.


Interrogator Urvin Thaen, Chaplain of the 5th Company:
A renowned breaker of men, Chaplain Thaen has brought five Fallen to the point of confession over his long life. Now in his fourth century, soon to be his fifth, the white haired astartes has seen captains and chapter masters come and go. But, for Thaen, it is not officers he is duty bound to. It is the Great Hunt. Eschewing the rank of Grand Master no less than four times, Thaen has poured his soul into his work. Many find him curt to the point of being rude and often find that he will wait for no man. This impatience has always been a trait of Thaen, which could also explain his methodology during interrogations.

Not a particularly inspiring orator, Thaen will usually lead by example rather than attempt to inspire his brothers to greater acts in battle. Due his age and experience, Thaen is often treated as a tactical advisor. As any battle brother, he can handle himself on the battlefield - this does not make him special. What does, however, is his foresight. Thaen knows when particular enemies would choose to attack, when they would choose to defend and how they do so. Xenos hold no surprises for him and traitors find themselves cut down in an untimely fashion facing the interrogator.

Thaen, as he proudly boasts to all who listen, takes special relish killing astartes of any stripe. Draw a blade or bolter against him and, as he always assures the listener, you won't be standing for long. Contemptuous, cantankerous and blunt, Urvin Thaen thrives on hatred.

[Wrath of Bruinen]

I, TheWeepingAngel, chapter master of the Guardians of the Covenant, in the name of the Lion, make this oath of moment to submit a complete history of my chapter and it's honored brothers.

[Wrath of Bruinen]

Guardians of the Covenant

Gene-Seed: Dark Angels

Founding: Unknown (Approx M.37)

Chapter Master: Jacques, The Weeping Angel

Chapter World: Mortikah VII

Fortress Monastery: Akili

Main Colours: Silver, Red, Black

Specialty: Studying the enemy and careful assessment of their weaknesses

Battle Cry: Knowledge arms me, and duty shields me!

Current Strength: Full (1000)

Known Descendants: None

Chapter Name: Guardians of the Covenant

Origins:
The origins of the Guardians of the Covenant are shrouded in mystery. Most Imperial scholars agree that the key to the Chapter’s beginnings lies in their name, though it is not known what exactly the Covenant is they are said to Guard. For their part, the Guardians do little to discourage this debate.
Some say that the Chapter was established to guard the great library on Mortikah VII, with its extensive literary works dating back to the dawn of Mankind. Others cite the speed with which the Chapter was created and dispatched from the Dark Angels Rock to the Segmentum Pacificus to argue that the Guardians’ purpose is protecting the galaxy from threats beyond the known universe.
The Inner Circle of the Chapter tells their own neophytes and Battle Company brothers that their name derives from the sacred oath of fealty given by their founding Chapter Master, Uziel, to the then Grand Master of the Dark Angels, Gabriel, and from the Lion’s own covenant with the Emperor of Mankind. However, the Inner Circle themselves believe the Chapter name refers to the pact between the original members of the First Legion to keep the existence of the Fallen a secret, and to hunt down the traitors til the end of their days.
As is so often the case with the Unforgiven, however, the truth is far darker. Only the current Chapter Master, Jacques, knows the true purpose behind the creation of his Chapter. In the early 37^th Millienium, the then Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels, Gabriel, entered the bowels of the Rock in an attempt to interrogate the Dark Oracle, Luther the Traitor. In a rare moment of sanity, the Arch-Betrayer offered Gabriel a bargain: he would reveal the Lion’s last words to Luther, in return for the promise that Luther would be protected from all judgement save that of the Lion himself. Believing Luther’s bargain to be the ravings of a madman, Gabriel accepted, with no intention of honouring any deal struck with a traitor. Gabriel thus bade Luther tell him about the Lion’s final moments. What Luther said remains a mystery, but when he had finished, Gabriel brought forth a chalice, filled it with his own blood, and sealed his pact with Luther.
Gabriel then immediately sought out Uziel, Master of the 5^th Company of the Dark Angels, and announced that he was to become the Grand Master of a new Chapter, stationed in the Segmentum Pacificus. There were rumours that Cypher had been at work in that sector, and thus the sudden creation of a new Chapter raised less suspicion amongst the ranks of the Inner Circle that it might have otherwise.
Uziel thus embarked on the voyage to Mortikah VII, at the very edge of the galaxy. Those around him were filled with hope of forging glorious history for their new Chapter, but Uziel could not share their excitement. For him there was only dread, for he knew that there would come a time when Luther was revealed to the universe, and it would be the Chapter’s solemn duty to guard the Traitor from the combined wrath of the entire Unforgiven Legion that would surely descend upon the Rock.

Home World:
Mortikah VII lies in the Segmentum Pacificus, on the very edge of the galaxy. It is a mountainous planet populated by several feudal societies in the northern hemisphere.
The Chapter’s Fortress Monastery, Akili, houses one of the greatest libraries in the entire Imperium. There, the brothers of the Guardians study great tomes, not only on battle strategy, but on philosophy and morality.

Present Activities:
Much of the Chapter’s strength is currently engaged in the Sabbat Worlds Crusade, attempting to bring that sector back into the Imperial fold.
While the Inner Circle of the Guardians of the Covenant harbour the same deep-seated hatred for the Fallen as their Unforgiven brothers do, they do not seek out the Fallen with the same zeal as some other Chapters. Instead, their 2^nd Company (the Rookwing) is often used to observe foes from afar in order to assess their weaknesses, or to gather books and artefacts for the Great Library.
Battle Honours:
The Guardians of the Covenant are most acclaimed for their victories during the Lelith Incursion in the Halo Stars.
Chapter Organisation:
The Guardians follow the same organisations as the Dark Angels.
1^st Company (Bloodwing) – Full terminator Company
2^nd Company (Rookwing) – Bike Company.
3^rd – 5^th Companies – Battle Companies
6^th – 9^th Companies – Reserve Companies
10^th Company – Scout Company

Fleet Assets:
1x Battle Barge: Indomitable Wisdom
2x Strike Cruisers: Blade of Gordium (current engagement in Sabbat Worlds), Duty’s Curse
Recruitment:
Neophytes are recruited from the feudal princedoms of Mortikah VII. Potential applicants must not only emerge victorious in trials by combat held by the Chapter, but they must also complete a lengthy written philosophical dissertation. This ensures that the Chapter’s emphasis on knowledge survives through the generations.
Chapter Colours:
The Chapter’s main colours are silver and black, though veterans often choose to wear red robes.



Many of the Chapter’s first company choose to wear red terminator armour to symbolise the blood that must be spilled in order to purge the Chapter of its guilt. Others prefer to remain in the silver and black of the Battle Companies, to remind themselves of their humble beginnings.



Scouts:



Captain:



The Guardian’s symbol is two crossed swords, on old Terran symbol for justice. They represent the trials of combat neophytes must complete in order to join the Chapter, and the many battles the Chapter will face in years to come.
As a symbol of covenants and agreements, the chalice often features strongly in the Guardian’s imagery. Similarly, many brothers, particularly of the 1^st Company, choose to adorn their armour with water drop gems. Those outside the Chapter believe it they symbolise the water of Holy Terra, but to the Inner Circle they represent tears shed for their Fallen brothers, and for the atrocities that have been committed to gain the Legion’s penance. Grand Master Jacques, his two hearts perhaps heavier than any others in the galaxy, sees these drops as tears for the atrocities to come, when his Chapter must turn against their brothers and fulfil their destiny.

Combat Doctrine:
The Guardians of the Covenant are as dedicated to the scholarly arts as to the ways of war. Masters of both, the Battle-Brothers of the Chapter use their keen intellects as a weapon as sharp as their chainswords. They study the teachings of the Emperor and the Lion in minute detail, attaining a unique perspective on the object of their diligent studies. Every shred of ancient wisdom from the Great Library is absorbed, debated and analysed, so that no ruse or stratagem is beyond the Guardians of the Covenant, and none may better them on the battlefield.

Battle Cry:
Knowledge arms me, and duty shields me!
Local Rituals:
When Uziel first came to Mortikah VII, he was quick to shape many local rituals to his Chapter’s advantage. Apart from imposing a strict Warrior’s Code of honour and respect towards one’s enemies, the rituals of Mortikah’s feudal societies emphasise the importance of keeping one’s word and upholding promises.
Thus, when the horrible time of betrayal comes, the sons of Mortikah will already know in their hearts that a covenant made is a covenant that must be upheld, whatever the cost.

Beliefs:
The Chapter places a strong emphasis on knowledge, and use it to inform every facet of their lives. Battle brothers are stepped in the wisdom of Terra’s greatest scholars, and have a strong appreciation for the nebulousness of morality and ethics.

Gene-seed:
Dark Angels

Champions of the Chapter:
Jacques, The Weeping Angel. The current Supreme Grand Master of the Guardians, Jacques is a figure of extreme solemnity. The Inner Circle assume the mantle he wears is a personification of the Unforgiven’s quest to hunt the Fallen, but in truth the sadness in Jacques’ soul grows with every Fallen that is captured, for he knows that this takes his Chapter one step closer to its moment of reckoning.
Nevertheless, in times of battle, Jacques casts aside his sorrow and instead becomes the embodiment of cold fury, sweeping aside all foes with his power sword.

Raphael, The Oathlord. Raphael is the Grand Master of the Guardians' First Company, the Bloodwing. When a brother is inducted into the Inner Circle, he swears an oath to Raphael to obey the Grand Master and the Lion above all else, and to protect its secrets.
Raphael is a hero of war, leading the Bloodwing on many successful Hunts and bringing death to all enemies of the Imperium. Raphael's baptism of fire as Grand Master came aboard the Space Hulk 'Void Stalker', where he lead half the Bloodwing against a colossal genestealer infestation. It is credit to his leadership and skill in battle that not a single brother was lost, despite the deadly force arrayed against the First Company.

Interrogator Chaplain Kimmuriel, The Deliverer. Even by the standards of the Chaplains of the Unforgiven, Kimmuriel is a stern and uncompromising figure. Armed with a relic stormbolter and crozius, Kimmurial delivers the Emperor's Justice to all those who would stand against him. And when a Fallen is captured, Kimmuriel is swift to pass judgement and absolution. Edited June 21, 2015 by TheWeepingAngel

[Grand Master Belial]

WeepingAngel, your SM Painter images are not loading for me.

[Volt]

First draft of origins posted, would appreciate any and all feedback. I feel that the ending is severely lacking in quality and could use refinement.

[Wrath of Bruinen]

Apologies, SM Painter images should be fixed now :)

[Epher]

TheWeepingAngel:  Great take on the Guardians of the Covenant!  Even though I play as them I have not given much thought to their origins and story.  You have written a compelling narrative!  Am looking forward to reading more.

 

I must also say that I am a fan of the founding chapter master too!

[Olis]

Continued WIP on the Brotherhood, aka the 'Golden Ones'. A little more polished and more of the gaps have been filled now. Some of the BBCode has been rejigged so that the image issues have (hopefully) been solved from the last WIP. C&C always welcome (and indeed encouraged):

[basicheader'BROTHERHOOD OF THE LION']

BROTHERHOOD OF THE LION[/basicheader]

GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR): Dark Angels
FOUNDING: 22nd
CHAPTER MASTER: Lorvandas Praal, Keeper of the Blade of Miraz
CHAPTER WORLD: Nanira Septimus
FORTRESS MONASTERY: Kirkehold
MAIN COLOURS: Gold and white
SPECIALITY: Direct Assaults, Precision Strikes
BATTLE CRY: For the Lion! For Glory!
CURRENT STRENGTH: 867 Battle Brothers
KNOWN DESCENDANTS: None






[basicheader'ORIGINS']ORIGINS[/basicheader]
In the wake of the Abyssal Crusade, the loss of certain Chapters left particular areas of the Imperium more vulnerable than the High Lords liked. Of the Chapters raised to fill the gap, the Brotherhood of the Lion was chosen to safeguard a turbulent region to the south of the Segmentum Solar. Here, the ravages of religious war and various purges left entire sectors at a loss to fully controlling the space around them.

These sectors suffered from pirates of all stripes, xenos incursions and even lackeys of the archenemy. The Brotherhood of the Lion was tasked to bring at least some of these regions under a semblance of stability and to eliminate the piracy rampant so close to the Core Worlds. This the new chapter did dutifully and quickly. Led by a veteran cadre taken from the Dark Angels, the Brotherhood smashed asunder syndicates and organisations ship by ship, outpost by outpost. No mercy was spared for those that preyed on the weak, and special scorn was kept for those that had turned to the Dark Gods.

After the campaign, the Chapter recuperated on Nanira Septimus. It would be their new home and recruitment centre, far enough away from the trade routes to be left alone if so desired. From here the Chapter stabilised their own sector and waged war upon the enemies of the Imperium with impunity. It took time and the results were not perfect but the surrounding sectors eventually became stable, too. No longer were they drawing in manpower from the rest of the Imperium to stamp out the xenos and the heretic. Here was a part of the Imperium that now contributed to keeping the empire of mankind strong.


[basicheader'HOMEWORLD']HOMEWORLD[/basicheader]
Nanira Septimus was once a civilised world, prior to the Age of Apostasy. That all changed when the armies of Goge Vandire razed the cities and burned the crops, as an example to the rest of the worlds in the subsector. The population, without homes or food, struggled to survive in the first few years afterwards.

By the time the Brotherhood settled on Septimus, the civilisation that had once bred proud Guard regiments and always met its tithe had been reduced to a feudal world with scant regard for life. Septimus still met its tithe of men and crops on a regular basis but it did so with great effort and left little for the remaining people to live on.

With the coming of the Brotherhood, the tithes stopped. As an astartes world, they were exempt. To the citizens of Septimus, this was a miracle. In exchange for their best and brightest, the Nanirans escaped starvation. No longer did the men at arms and the local militias leave planet-side, never to be seen again. Husbands, uncles, sons and brothers had no need of fearing their families left alone, of leaving them with the task of working the land one pair of strong hands short.

In the eyes of the population, the Brotherhood became ‘the Golden Ones’, sent by the Emperor himself.

The Fortress-Monastery, grim and foreboding as it was, became a source of worship by certain members of the population. Carvings, offerings, candles and various small shrines litter the roadside leading to the vast castle. Even at the Gate of Angels there were votive scripts and candles left by particularly brave natives.

To this day Nanira Septimus still is governed by a feudal system, however the lords and ladies that rule the lands have benefited the most from the lack of tithes. Growing fat off of the people and indulging in petty disputes, they easily grow bored of life under the Golden Ones. But they aren’t stupid. They know of the times when the Golden Ones have sallied from their castle and dispensed violence against particularly belligerent nobles and their men. Intrigue and petty wars is one thing. Rising against demi-gods is quite another.


[basicheader'CHAPTER ORGANISATION']CHAPTER ORGANISATION[/basicheader]
With little deviation, the Brotherhood of the Lion adheres to the strictures of the Codex. They do not have a Ravenwing or a Deathwing like those of other Dark Angel successors and instead follow the standard organisation as laid out. As member of the Unforgiven, however, the Brotherhood still operate Interrogator Chaplains and actively hunt for the Fallen.

One deviation from the codex the Chapter does indulge is the use of numerical signifiers solely as company and squad designations. Typically worn on the right shoulder, the company number dominates the pauldron while the squad number occupies the foremost corner, facing front.

Due to the Chapter being a relatively young member of the Unforgiven, the extent of their own version of the Inner Circle is limited to the highest offices and some of the greater secrets held by Lion El’Jonson’s progeny have yet to be divulged. Perhaps this is due to the distrust the Brotherhood have earned from their fellow Unforgiven, or more to the point, the multiple early failures to apprehend and terminate members of the Fallen. Entirely at odds with how the Golden Ones perceive themselves, these mistakes caused turmoil within the Chapter and almost resulted in a costly civil war.


[basicheader'RECRUITMENT']RECRUITMENT[/basicheader]
The Brotherhood of the Lion only accepts recruits when the Gate of Angels is opened and potential recruits are allowed into Kirkehold. Exactly when is subject to speculation for the native population but each opening is dictated by the Chapter Master and left that way for one month. Entry itself may very well be easy but a demanding series of tasks weed out the unworthy. These invariably take the form of ‘Quests’ set by the residing reclusiarch and often involve finding and hunting large, dangerous animals in the wilds of Nanira. Those that remain are then subjected to tournament selection, ensuring that the fittest, the brightest and the most capable individuals are given a chance to become a Golden One.

Those that fall short, should they survive the process, are inducted as menials and men at arms. These men serve the Chapter for the rest of their lives and defend its walls if necessary. For many, this honour is enough to assuage their failure to become a Golden One. For some it is not. From these unhappy souls, the Chapter maintains its compliment of servitors.


[basicheader'CHAPTER COLOURS']CHAPTER COLOURS[/basicheader]
The Brotherhood predominantly march to war in gold and white, with decoration typically fashioned from jet, ebony or obsidian. Weaponry is usually also black, sometimes with kill markings or campaign stripes.

Brother Gilen, Fourth Company, 937.M38

Brother-Captain Gilen, Fourth Company, 003.M39

Scout Andermas, Tenth Company, 844.M38

Brother Vaxinade, First Company, 821.M38

[basicheader'PRESENT ACTIVITIES']PRESENT ACTIVITIES[/basicheader]
The Brotherhood are currently engaged in three theatres within the Segmentum Solar and a further two major deployments in the Ultima Segmentum. Of note are the Fallen that the Brotherhood are tracking in the Magog Cluster, with attending elements from two other Unforgiven Chapters. These Chapters - the Consecrators and the Disciples of Caliban - are conducting parallel engagements while keeping all unnecessary communication with the Golden ones to an absolute minimum.

Also of note are the six marines seconded to the Deathwatch and the further squad of ten sequestered in direct service to an Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor. Requests for further information are denied on the authority of Lord Praal and the Inquisition.

[basicheader'BATTLE HONOURS']BATTLE HONOURS[/basicheader]

M39 – The Rebellion of Erdun V

Brief and bloody, the Rebellion of Erdun V revolved around the Governor seceding the armoury world, long since disaffected by how the Imperial Tithe kept taking his subjects and, as he called it, his possessions. Although clearly mad, the PDF command followed their lord implicitly, failing to conceive of just what the insane septuagenarian had led them into. Having claimed everything under his own aegis, the Governor attempted to claim everything else he could see, beginning with the sovereign land the Adeptus Mechanicus owned on the poles.

The distress calls drew three forces to their aid, firstly the Brotherhood themselves who made planetfall and eliminated the Governor immediately. Following a popular uprising at the ‘assassination’ of their leader and a hold-out action at the palace, an Inquisitrix made a profoundly announced landing and, along with her elite lifeguards, proceeded to quell the population. With only the PDF left to crush, the Brotherhood began systematically dismantling the hierarchy left in place, leaving the sizeable armoured elements to the third force to come to Erdun – a demi-Legio from the Legio Astraman. With great wroth did they annihilate the forces of the PDF still assaulting the Adeptus Mechanicus holdings. The battle at the poles lasted less than a day, many of the companies wishing to surrender were given no quarter.

Hailed as the ‘Headsmen of Erdun’, the brothers involved in the action were gifted ten gilded Rhinos by the Mechanicus, the filigree depicting highlights of the battles on Erdun. Their captain, remembered as Yolder Trismenius, was personally given a power axe by the archmagos of Erdun, crafted as a gift. Of the Inquisitrix, little is remembered except her name – Aeve Lisbet. No further information has survived to this day.

Late M39 – The Radzael Incident (Incident 14a)

With the successful capture and detainment of one of the Fallen, the Brotherhood of the Lion made best way from the site of the battle at Yarzin to their home world, intending to rearm and refuel before heading to the Rock itself. Here, at Nanira’s system edge, they would come across a blockade commanded by one Master Radzael.

A Dark Angel with a history of challenging successor Chapters to relinquish any captured Fallen they have, he had a reputation for getting what he wanted by any means. Unfortunately, the residing chapter master of the Golden Ones, Lord Marik Tervin, refused unconditionally. Radzael, incensed that he was being denied what he believed was rightfully his, attempted to board the Lion’s Mane, the flagship of the Brotherhood.

Two attempts were made, the second led by Radzael himself. The first attempt failed as the Brotherhood repelled or slew the Dark Angels that tried to secure the enginarium or the bridge. The second attempt saw Radzael board the Mane personally. Although the Master himself gained access to the bridge, he was accompanied by precious few of his cohort. Lord Tervin, angered by Radzael’s actions, had the Fallen executed to spite the Dark Angel.

Seeing the flagrant disregard for Radzael’s goal, the Master challenged Lord Tervin to a duel to the death. Only blood would satisfy his honour and he assured the chapter master that his Chapter would be black-listed for the disrespect shown that day. Tervin, long known to be a shrewd tactician and negotiator, nominated the Chapter’s champion to stand against Radzael.

So assured of his own prowess, Radzael agreed on the condition Tervin accompanied him back to the Rock, as his prisoner, should he win. Tervin consented. The duel, lasting for the better part of an hour, saw Radzael impaled on a power spear and the champion dead at his feet. The bloody grin on the Dark Angel's face fell as he looked to Tervin. Flanked by his honour guard, Lord Tervin gave the order that gunned down Radzael and his remaining men where they stood.

When word reached the rest of the Golden Ones, the disbelief was abject as much as it was total. Following a brief attempted mutiny, they accepted the events as spoken to them by Lord Tervin, but many took oaths of penitence to try to absolve themselves of the associated sin. Tervin himself, often vilified by later accounts, earned himself the epithet ‘Kinslayer’ for as long as the Brotherhood existed.

The Dark Angels themselves censured the Golden Ones heavily, breaking formal ties forever more. None of the Unforgiven speak to the Golden Ones out of choice. Only in times of dire circumstance have the Brotherhood fought alongside their Unforgiven brothers, and even then an icy cool has played over their meetings.

[basicheader'FLEET ASSETS']FLEET ASSETS[/basicheader]
The Chapter fleet is average in most respects, from the number of capital ships on the roster to the amount of fleet tenders and escorts that gather around such large vessels. Of note is the flagship of the Brotherhood of the Lion, the Lion’s Mane, which is equipped with an archeotech sensor suite and an uprated communications station. With these upgrades elevating the Lion’s Mane over the usual Battle Barge many Chapters use, it has become somewhat jealously guarded over the years, out of little more than distrust.

Since the flagship has been the target of two failed boarding attempts by the Dark Angels to secure one of the Fallen (see Incident 14a), there has been precious few visitors on the Mane, for fear of leaking deck plans to those that the Brotherhood felt did not deserve them. Indeed, the Brotherhood rarely allow outsiders to board any of their ships at all in the closing days of the 41^st millennium.

[basicheader'COMBAT DOCTRINE']COMBAT DOCTRINE[/basicheader]
The Brotherhood typically use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, applying overwhelming firepower and force to resolve a battle. Although Chapter disposition remains within average boundaries, the brotherhood endeavour to apply crushing first strikes – be they through overwhelming firepower or surgical assaults to enemy commanders. As such, rather than relying any one particular weapon type or unit, it is the application of certain tactics that dictates the overall doctrine of war that the Brotherhood follows.

Due to the Brotherhood placing great importance on first strikes, it is not unknown for them to achieve their goals and then depart, leaving a theatre still in the hands of an enemy regardless of them being leaderless, without direction or wholly incapable of contesting ground should actual Imperial units be present.

[basicheader'BATTLE CRY']BATTLE CRY[/basicheader]
"For the Lion! For glory!"

[basicheader'LOCAL RITUALS']LOCAL RITUALS[/basicheader]

The Parade

With the Chapter's poor relations with the rest of the Unforgiven, ways and means on dealing with captured Fallen has resulted in the Golden Ones adopting similar practices of interrogation and execution. The bodies, however have since been treated in a ritualistic manner, unlike anything the Unforgiven do. Once executed, a Fallen will have his head mounted on a pike, and his body flayed and laid out in a glass casket. Accompanied by the Chaplain who interrogated him, the body is brought and displayed to each major settlement on Nanira. An example of the fate of all traitors. Once the gruesome 'parade' is finished, the body is then burned in a pit.

The Trifold Tasks

For the recruits of the Chapter, each faces three 'quests' put upon them by the residing Captain of the Tenth, known as the 'Master-at-Arms'. Almost invariably, the initial task will be one with a limited set of time, often an arduous trek bearing a heavy weight or over a great distance. Those that fail do not go any further and are considered too unhealthy to become a marine. The second 'quest' will usually involve a hunt, with the recruits instructed to come back with a certain trophy from a dangerous animal or not at all. This weeds out the those with limited skill or intelligence, with few returning alive empty handed. The third and final 'quest' is a measure of determination and aggression, as the recruits are instructed to reach the top of the fortress monastery before the others and are handed a blade each. No holds are barred and frequently the servitors of the castle will be required to clean the halls of blood. It is not unknown for brothers with free time to line the route and heckle the initiates as they thunder down the corridors and up the stairs. Those that finish and survive are considered worthy of a place amongst the Tenth and of the path toward becoming an Adeptus Astartes.

[basicheader'BELIEFS']BELIEFS[/basicheader]
For the Brotherhood, the attitude towards them by the local population has slowly affected how they view themselves over the millennia. At first the ‘Golden Ones’ moniker meant nothing, except to show that the natives understood little of what the Brotherhood was. But, little by little, they came to view themselves as deserving of the title and a representation of what they wanted to be. As the generations of recruits have progressed, the aloof nature of the young Chapter has given way to stern vigilance, thinking that being a ‘Golden One’ requires a purity of purpose and a keen watch on all the Emperor’s citizens. It has become an ideal to aspire to, one that means that the Chapter is less tolerant of the population misbehaving than ever.

The Emperor, to the Chapter, is simply a paragon of humanity. The peak of what mankind could aspire to be, for the Brotherhood, means emulating the Emperor and his primarchs.

The Golden Ones, perhaps through influence of their home world, venerate their predecessors, placing a great emphasis on lineage and genetic legacy. To them, the memories and actions of those that came before cannot be forgotten, lest they invite trouble. For the Brotherhood, gene-seed provenance is highly important and to bear the genetic legacy of a hero is to shoulder an honour and a burden. Many brothers take it upon themselves – so much so that it is all but an official ritual – to recite their fore bearers.

[basicheader'GENE-SEED']GENE-SEED[/basicheader]
Directly hailing from Dark Angels gene-seed stock, the Golden Ones have always known their ancestry. With diligent care and attention the Chapter apothecaries have maintained the purity of their gene-stock, weeding out sub-par progenoids and discarding those of the disgraced. To be descended from a hero of the Chapter is a matter of pride, as is a lineage tracing back to the birth of the Chapter.

Since the Brotherhood places such great importance on lineage it is common for the Chapter to remove both progenoids upon maturation, rather than leave one until the brother falls in battle. Using this timing and method of extraction, loss of gene-seed on the field of battle is cut to virtually nil, reducing the need to for gene-seed extraction missions in hostile territory.


[basicheader'CHAMPIONS OF THE CHAPTER']CHAMPIONS OF THE CHAPTER[/basicheader]

Captain Illyn Parscandio, Master of the Second Company, Gatekeeper to the Fortress Monastery

Known and celebrated by the Brotherhood of the Lion and the natives of Nanira at large, Illyn Parscandio has represented the face of the Golden Ones for the last fifty years. Although his duties at the Gate of Angels remains undisclosed to the people of Nanira, he is the one who conveys the Chapter's wishes to the population and enacts the order to open the Gate when called for.

Clad in a highly stylised and artificed suit of Maximus battle plate resembling a well toned body, Parscandio goes to battle bearing a pair of hooked power blades and wrist mounted bolters. His ability in battle, second to none amongst the Golden Ones, has seen him rewarded with rare Chapter heirlooms such as his weaponry and power armour. Preferring to led from the front, Parscandio rarely enters battle without his command squad, bringing decades of experience and expertise to the fore when confronting the enemies of mankind.

This penchant for headlong charges has cost the Captain men in the past - the failed charge against an Iron Warrior fortress on Freehold butchered thirty men and earning him censure from Lord Praal. Although the Captain has sworn a blood oath that he will not fail the Chapter again in such a way, his continued use of breakthrough tactics in theatres that required other methods has raised eyebrows. Parscandio is a bright star amongst the Golden Ones although wiser heads know he should not rise any further.

Veteran Sergeant Lokas Coraalian, the Barbarian

It is well known amongst the Golden Ones that Sergeant Coraalian was a criminal before he was recruited into the Chapter. However with the hypno-indoctrination methods in use since before Chapter even existed, this tendency to break laws has been removed from his psychology and replaced with an overwhelming sense of duty. This has extended even to his interpretation of Codex stricture, becoming one of the most ardent adherents of the teachings, despite the Chapter's own less strict views on the tome.

A consistent and exemplary user of the humble boltgun, Coraalian holds multiple marksmenship plaudits. His own Stalker-pattern boltgun has been inscribed with every theatre Coraalian has fought in. The veteran sergeant often leads Tactical Squad Coraalian on major Chapter deployments,with both him and his squad counted on to maintain battle formation and to pursue secondary objectives. Coraalian is a trusted man amongst the Brotherhood hierarchy, even if his past is suspect.

Edited June 26, 2015 by Olis

[Conn Eremon]

Well, here is the completed article for the Knights Sovereign. I know I didn't hold completely to the format provided. It's not that I didn't like it or didn't want to hold to it, it's just that my writing goes where inspiration strikes. Nearly three months later, there's some areas inspiration simply didn't strike on. So I re-organized it a bit differently to accomodate the missing parts.

 

Thanks go to Grand Master Belial for hosting this event, and giving me the excuse to skip my planned schedule of articles to the Knights Sovereign, easily one of my favorite DIY ideas.

 

The article is copied below, but I also included a bit on the mortal denizens of the Chapter's primary world in this post of their article thread.

 

As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated!

 

THE KNIGHTS SOVEREIGN CHAPTER

 

GENE-SEED: Dark Angels

FOUNDING: 23^rd “Sentinel” Founding [M.38]

CHAPTER MASTER: Marshal Edmunt Raik, Castellan of the Crimson Rooks

CHAPTER WORLDS: Eistvin, Ostlund & Vollstadt

FORTRESS-MONASTERY: Durumtal, Eistvin

SPECIALTY: Operational control, precision engagements and information dominance

BATTLE-CRY: 'Imperator Vult!' is a common warcry, however 'Victus aut nihil' is the Chapter motto

CURRENT STRENGTH: Endangered

KNOWN DESCENDANTS: Bronze Knights, Savage Brotherhood [disputed]

 

Origins

Part of an ongoing struggle for the High Lords of Terra to utilize the pure gene-seed of the former First Legion without the participation and influence of the Dark Angels or their prominent successors, when the Knights Sovereign were created they were tutored instead by a detachment of the Imperial Fists, a worthy selection to guide a Chapter of the Sentinel Founding. The influence of the sons of Dorn can be readily seen in the Chapter for centuries to come, however their brother sons of the Lion were not to be denied. Shortly after the Knights had gained the trust of the Imperial Fists and earned their independence, overseeing a turbulent Sector that had long suffered for its severely lower average technological capabilities, a contingent of the Dark Angels and other successors arrived to acquaint themselves with this new Chapter. How these other sons of the Lion knew of the Knights Sovereign true heritage is not entirely known, expected given their typically reticent nature. Multiple concerted investigations over the past millennia have revealed numerous agents suspected of feeding information to the Dark Angels and their closest successors, and it is assumed they came to this information by similar means. These Chapters showed great honor to the Knights Sovereign, with many of their retinues consisting of their highest ranking officers, including Chapter Master Grasciel of Dark Angels. The inner circles of these Chapters communed together deep within Durumtal, while specialist officers of the First and Second Companies intermingled, enlightening the Knights Sovereign to their own particular brand of war-making.

 

While this communion was short-lived, the bonds of brotherhood forged on this day had a lasting effect, with many of these Chapters regularly appearing within the Knights' territory and vice versa. It had also made an impression on the young Chapter's organization, especially the First and Second Companies. The Knights Sovereign still retained much of their identity as forged under the watchful eyes of the Imperial Fists, but they had grown more insular, more in keeping with the typical Dark Angels character. Indeed, their later character can be readily connected to the manner of the ancient knightly orders of the Dark Angels' long-dead home world. This marriage of traits and ideals, in many ways opposing but also complementary, has guided the Knights Sovereign for the thousands of years since.

 

Chapter Worlds

Early in their formation, the Knights Sovereign were given a choice of three feudal home worlds within the Lowermains Sector. Though ultimately settling upon Eistvin, located near the largest nexus of Sector traffic, the discarded worlds of Ostlund and Vollstadt did dominate strategically resourceful zones. Chapter keeps were planted on these worlds, a practice perhaps learned from the Imperial Fists Chapter. Officially, Eistvin alone is classified as an Adeptus Astartes world, however after centuries of keeping close ties and recruitment practices on Ostlund and Vollstadt, the local officials tithe the worlds as if they were.

 

Nestled deep in the Eistvin mountains is the Durumtal, fortress-monastery to the Knights Sovereign. Building began as soon as Eistvin was selected as their home world, and had finished scant months before the Knights showed up themselves. This immense, rugged structure blends seamlessly with its surroundings. If an unaugmented human was to stand upon an outer peak, looking into the range, they would be unable to distinguish the crenelated towers from natural mountaintops. However, the Knights Sovereign took to giving it a different name than the Magos-Tektons provided: the Crimson Rook. With the Chapter keeps on Ostlund and Vollstadt being heavily inspired by, and in imitation of, the Durumtal, they are collectively known as the Crimson Rooks.

 

Current Disposition

The Knights Sovereign have been at war with the Orks of WAAAGH! Urlkin for decades, a massive incursion the Sector had never before seen, led by an Ork of such impressive size that Archmagos-Biologis from several Sectors around have insisted could not exist. This Ork, crafty for his kind, has grown large on the excesses of his armies, leading regular hunts into nearby regions with such regularity that the end of most hunts is merely the beginning of another. The Knights Sovereign have tried, unsuccessfully, to convince local Administratum officials to sanction a crusade into Ork territory and end the threat once and for all. However, with the Knights' own worlds declared the targets of a hunt that has virtually emptied the Ork territories for Sectors around, more recently they have become more concerned with defense. The ongoing conflicts have stretched the Knights Sovereign thin. By the close of the 41^st millennium, their numbers are reported as being four companies' worth, including officers and auxiliaries. The Chapter has undergone necessary, but drastic changes to their organization, in light of the eradication of two of their battle-companies, as well as their specialized rapid-reaction forces in the 2^nd Company, not to mention the depleted numbers of their surviving companies.

 

Chapter Organization

The Knights Sovereign would not consider themselves as deviant, however to them it is deviancy from their forebears rather than the Codex Astartes that is relevant. Though the Codex Astartes is, as it should be, held in high regard as the epitome of all things war, the Space Marine way, the Knights Sovereign do deviate in organization. This is not seen as a contradiction or hypocrisy, but merely derived from the simple fact that the Codex could not accommodate all possible circumstances. And indeed, the inheritors of the Lion are of a unique circumstance, and so fashion themselves accordingly.

 

The First Company is organized into the Justiciary, and are of the ordained task of bringing the light of justice and nobility to the darkest places of the galaxy. It is said that all who gain a place among the Justiciars must first confront truth and sin in equal measure, and it is their ash-white armor that shows their absolvement. The Knights also field the 2^nd Company as a rapid response force, the Errantry. The Knights-Errant exist outside the normal Chapter organization, and as such they paint their armor a deep black. Unlike the elevated Knights-Justiciar, it is only the master of the Errantry, the Earl-Errant, who sits above his brothers as a member of the Inner Circle.

 

The auxiliary organizations within the Knights Sovereign are primarily Codex-adherent, with the only exception being within the Reclusiam. This deviation is in fact rather common among the Unforgiven, where an additional level in the hierarchy is added. Typically known as Interrogator-Chaplains, in the Knights Sovereign they are the Prelates, a classification of Chaplains second only to the Pontifex, Chapter reclusiarch. The other prominent branches, the ironsmiths and hospitallers, are of no noticeable difference from Codex standard, though their highest ranking officers are believed to be a part of the Chapter's Inner Circle.

 

Fleet Assets

The Crimson Galleon – So named for its mimicry of the Crimson Rooks, intended as a bastion equal to these immense fortresses that would ply the stars, delivering the wrath of the angels. This battle-barge is often assigned to the Justiciary. Its current deployment in geosynchronous orbit over the the Crimson Rook of Vollstadt has for several months prevented the Orks from dropping ordinance and savages on the Chapter keep directly. However, the Orks have made planetfall in multiple other regions across Vollstadt, and not the mortal warriors or the Galleon's guns have been able to keep the hordes from laying siege.

 

Recruitment & Advancement

The Crimson Rooks are not difficult to access by the mortal populations, unlike the fortress-monasteries of many other Chapters. Thousands of people regularly seek shelter or asylum within its walls, each and every one swearing binding oaths of lifelong servitude to their new transhuman masters. These people form the Chapter serfdom, ranging from mortal knights to spread the law of the Chapter across the world to learned, trained fleet armsmen. Swearing one's life to the God-Emperor's living representatives is no hardship when compared to a life of similar service to some fickle lord or king, and so the Chapter rarely finds itself without a surplus of mortal servants. The majority of these legions of serfs will never leave their world of birth, serving the Chapter well enough there. Rather than seeking recruits from among the general populace, the Knights look to the young of their serfs. Having such large populations spread across three worlds, the Knights have their choice of candidates. The offspring of the Chapter's serfs are a more viable recruitment stock than the general populace, as all their male children go through a more intensive and extensive training in preparation for potential recruitment. However, it is not unknown for the Chapter to look to the outer kingdoms and city-states of their worlds for occasional recruitment programs in an effort to encourage diversity in thought and character, or to recover from devastating casualty rates

 

Upon recruitment and successful term in the Chapter's tenth company, the young scout must petition for advancement into the Reserve Companies, following a path through the Reserve Companies as delineated in the Codex Astartes. In the Reserve Companies, they hold the rank of Knight-Companion, an as yet not fully recognized Knight until advancement into the Battle Companies. A Knight-Companion must be wary of how or when he petitions to join a Battle Company, as their Masters will often refuse a Knight-Companion they deem unworthy to join their company. It is not unknown for Knights-Companion to aim too high in their petitioning, some seeking to skip advancement through the Reserves or will petition for a spot in a master's personal retinue, though it is considered disdainful and will injure the Marines' future if rejected often. No Knight or Knight-Companion can petition to join the Justiciary or Errantry. Those who join these orders are chosen by their lords, an honor none in the Chapter can refuse.

 

To rise in rank to Sergeant within one's company is possible regardless of one's place in the hierarchy. Typically, a Sergeant will select from among his retinue a successor to take his place should he ever fall or advance beyond this station. Sergeants of the 10^th Company are provided the customary title of Castellan, sharing in the responsibility of the Crimson Rooks, which collectively fall under the purview of the Master of the 10^th Company. These Masters, known by the title of Earl, are one and all arisen from the ranks of the Justiciary, at the behest of the Chapter Master, the Marshal of the Knights Sovereign Chapter. It is the Justiciary, the Earls and Marshal who form the Chapter's Inner Circle. Also prominent in the Inner Circle are the Pontifex, and his Prelates, who are responsible for selecting one from among the Inner Circle the Marshal's successor should he ever fall.

 

Combat Doctrine

The strength of their sword arm and the accuracy of their aim are what the Knights most admire. While their battle formations have a strong reliance on infantry tactics, the Space Marine, the Knights are experts in cavalry warfare, utilizing fast vehicles to retain combat superiority and battlefield control. The Knights' approach warfare is thoroughly informed by their copy of the Codex Astartes, a five volume military discourse on: Space Marine recruitment and training; the composition and structure of the Chapter into Companies; practiced field tactics; the conduct of sieges, either offensively or defensively; and the role of the Chapter fleet.

 

In battle, the Knights are the fiercest of foes, full of sound and fury. Early in the Chapter's history, a previously unknown xenoform appeared within Sovereign space. Classified as the Airbreeders for the explosive population increases the xenos experienced when in contact with oxygen, the alien race proved exceptionally difficult to purge in its entirety. The Knights sought to implement purgation protocols proven successful against the Ork, however disaster struck at nearly every turn. Quickly it was discovered that the xenos race had free access to the Knights' vox communications, seemingly unaffected by encryption. Forced to adapt, the Knights began disseminating orders on the battlefield through the use of audible, vocal blasts and visual signals utilizing specialized banners. With this, the Knights were able to reclaim the initiative, and eventually every last of one of the inexplicably duplicating, hulking beasts were burned from the lands of nearly half a dozen crater-ridden Imperial domains. However, this xenos threat would persist for centuries before final eradication, and the antiquated communications became a more permanent feature.

 

Local Rituals & Beliefs

Integral to the Chapter cult is the Oath of Office. Like many Chapters, the Knights Sovereign swear oaths before each battle, swearing themselves to the action and sometimes a specific task they set before themselves. The oaths are affixed to their armor, and they are expected to carry through with the oath throughout the action. Oaths of Office, however, are permanent. They are drawn up at their induction ceremony where the recruited mortals have arisen as one of the Knights-Companion, and will remain with them. Addendums are added throughout the Marine's life, marking their progress through the Chapter hierarchy. Each new rank or advancement requires a new Oath of Office, adding onto the old. So it is that the longest serving Marines, the highest ranking of the Chapter, have lengthy and complex Oaths of Office finely delineating their given tasks and expectations for themselves. Like Oaths of Moment, they are highly individualized reminders of their loyalties and responsibilities, as well as personal promises of feats or endeavors, or oaths bonding the Knight in fealty to a lord or in alliance with those outside the Chapter, for the entirety of that Knight's service to the Chapter and the Emperor. Within each Knight's chambers, they keep a locked rosewood box to contain their Oath of Office, centering their devotions upon its yellowed parchment and ink of blood.

 

Normally, a Knight will write his own Oaths of Office, keeping its writings to himself. Advancement, especially to the Justiciary or Errantry, will be the traditional break from this custom. Where a Knight is unaware of the duties or responsibilities that await him, it is his immediate superior who will write these additions. It is not unknown for another Knight to assist in the inscribing, such as a mentor who tasks a promising pupil with surpassing his own achievements. Upon the death of a marine, if recovery is possible, his remains will be interred in a great stone crypt on the grounds of the keep or fortress he last served. The Oath will be placed upon his chest and set alight, his oaths thus fulfilled. Those interred into the mighty Dreadnoughts receive a similar ceremony. Though they serve still the Chapter and the Emperor, they have fulfilled the oaths of the living nonetheless, and exist now free from such burdens.

 

Gene-seed

The genetic legacy of the Lion runs strong in the Knights, as pure now as it was in the days of the First Legion, a legacy confirmed by extensive testing by brother sons of the Lion all those centuries ago. Though the foundation of the Knights Sovereign was an experimentation of sorts, it appears that the gene-forges of ancient Mars had learned the lessons of the 21^st Founding well. There were no signs of genetic manipulation of the Knights Sovereign gene-seed outside of acceptable parameters. The purity of the Lion's gene-seed has aided the Knights greatly in the past, enabling quick recoveries from crippling losses and a less lethal implantation process.

 

Champions of the Chapter

Marshal Edmunt Raik – Chapter Master of the Knights Sovereign, going on the third year of his disappearance. Last seen aboard the Lion's Dagger, the Marshal was to take personal command of the battle for Vollstadt and turn the tide. However, the vessel did not return to realspace at its scheduled time. Investigation along its projected path provided no revelations on its disappearance. Warp-travel is far from precise, and such disappearances are not unknown, but it could not have come at a more difficult time. While the Earl-Justiciar Hadrian Normson has taken nominal command of the Chapter since then, the Inner Circle has yet to meet on choosing an official successor.

 

Pontifex Theocritus VII – Born Prentis Brenmoor, the current Pontifex of the Knights Sovereign is a hard, embittered and unforgiving man, scarred not only from actions on the battlefield but from the resistance of captives stolen from hotly contested secessionist worlds. Like his namesakes, this is not a Pontifex who would prefer to remain closed away within the interrogation cells deep within the Crimson Rooks, but will often be seen at the forefront of battle among his brothers.

 

Earl-Errant Sydorn Lyndswor – Captain of the 2^nd Company, and the oldest living Knight outside the Dreadnought ancients. He has led the Knights-Errant longer than any other Earl before him, and none of the Marines under his command have known any other Earl-Errant. His list of achievements and victories are as long as his years, though much is hidden from those not initiated into the higher knowledge. In more recent years, he has been forced to give up the Ironsteed, his advanced years and the inevitable degradation of his transhuman form preventing him from fully connecting and integrating to its biomechanics. Instead, he has taken to commanding the Errantry from the gunner's seat of a Land Speeder.

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/oei7krh.jpg

Knight-Companion

 

http://i.imgur.com/8p56I71.png

Knight-Errant

 

http://i.imgur.com/Nprn65r.png

Knight-Justiciar

Note that unlike other sons of the Lion, the Knights Sovereign have few suits of Terminator armor

 

http://i.imgur.com/x09x5y8.png

Pict-capture: Defense of Vollstadt, Knights Sovereign Sergeant in profile

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/mL3TUUH.jpg

Marshal's Banner - The Crimson Rook

[Grand Master Belial]

NINE Completions of the Twenty-Six vowed. Not a bad effort and we have less than a month left for the rest to complete their submissions Six more have posted a WIP to bring our possible completions to fifteen. A better than 50% completion rate. Let's hopefully see some more WIP and final submissions in the near future. 

 

I know the Liber challenge is nearly complete and it is looking phenomenal.

[Conn Eremon]

We have until July? Aw man. Face palm. I set aside the Liber Challenge III to get my Knights done thinking it was due this week. :lol:

[Grand Master Belial]

As a typical DA thing to do, when the ETL started up, I bumped back the submission date to allow the Frater to paint up a squad or character for the ETL based on their submission. 

[Master Sindiferous]

Updated my post with pictures.  I think I finally figured it out.

[Volt]

BTW, how do you guys get that purty formatting with text boxes? My HTML-fu is fairly lacking in this regard.