IA: Blue Dragons WIP

[samueldmjr]

Survival is no birthright, but a prize wrested from an uncaring galaxy by forgotten heroes.

 

For those who value survival, sentimentality is not an option

 

Only in death does duty end. And it must not end.

 

Name: Blue Dragons

 

Warcry: None, as the Chapter doesn’t utilize frontal assaults, preferring to strike from the shadows.

 

Founding: 14^th founding (36^th millennium).

 

Successors of: Raptors.

 

Successor chapters: None.

 

Chapter Master: Cassius Berhtram

 

Homeworld: Fleet Based Chapter.

 

Colors: Camouflage suitable for the mission. Blue and Gold are the official colors. (Note: Their colors, blue and gold, were the original Raptors colors. And still the colors for the Ultramarines second company, giving them e-bay ability).

 

Chapter History: Based on their nameless homeworld on the brink of the Eye of Terror, the Raptors Chapter expanded their influence on to the neighboring systems. One of these systems was the Realmspace System. The system’s third planet, Toril, was a feudal world with plenty of life. Human kingdoms battled for survival against mutants and all kind of monstrous creatures that existed in the world due to the nefarious influence of The Eye. These human populations, being of hardy stock, were deemed fit to be inducted into the Chapter.

 

During the 36^th millennium the Raptors Chapter was on the height of its power. It was then decided that the Chapter would contribute to the 14^th founding. The recruitment from Toril was increased, and thus the Blue Dragons were born, in homage of the most powerful creatures of the planet, the Great Wyrms.

 

Ancient and powerfull creatures, nevertheless the blue Wyrms of Toril were cautious predators. They were patient and methodical combatants, preferring to attack from range keeping them out of harm’s way. They were flying creatures, but they hunted from ambushes. These were the traits the Raptors deemed important to pass on to the new Chapter.

 

For all their power and might, in the end of the millennium the Raptors were destroyed during the 5^th Black Crusade. The fight was long and bitter, but they could not prevail against the endless tides of Chaos. (Note: Ok, the Raptors survived, but back in millennium 36 they were considered destroyed. They only reappeared in the 39^th millennium. Later I’ll add something about the Blue Dragons rediscovery of the Raptors).

 

This is the most important occurrence in the Blue Dragons Chapter history, for this would change their views on the meaning of war and duty. Being of Raven Guard gene-seed the Chapter took a greater time than usual to increase in numbers, and to see their parent Chapter destroyed with no chance of reconstruction was a grave blow.

 

It was then decided that the greatest duty of the chapter was to endure, to survive. They were too valuable and too hard to replace to be wasted in “glorious” last stands. There would be no wars of attrition, and no charges against heavily defended positions.

 

As the Emperor endures and forfeit the embrace of death, so the Astartes must always endure. For the Emperor. For the Imperium. Only in death does duty end. And it must not end.

 

Being Raptors successors they never regarded the Codex Astartes as sacred dogma, so they have been increasingly deviating from Codex determinations.

 

The Chapter’s became more and more focused on hit and run ambushes, ranged warfare, and use of overwhelming might when open battle is inevitable. As the centuries passed the Chapter started to take direct control of Astra Militarum forces present on a given field, using them as decoys.

 

Keeping the causalities rates lower than other chapters, the Chapter slowly became one of the greatest in the Ultima Segmentum, amassing great numbers of Brothers, war materiel and relics.

 

During 4 thousand years slowly building their strength, the Blue Dragons already reached the point where they could divide their numbers and start a new Chapter. Instead, they choose to exceed the number of companies determined in the Codex. No matter what may befall the Chapter, they would not be wiped out. They have the numbers, the tactics, and the power to ensure that. (Note: Space Wolves, Black Templars, and in a way even Dark Angels have more than a thousand battle-brothers. It’s rare and frowned upon, but not unheard of).

 

Chapter Organization: the Blue Dragons adhere to the broad organizational patterns laid down in the Codex Astartes, but as a chapter they see the Codex as a highly effective and proven set of strategic guidelines rather than inviolable dogma to be obeyed without question. To the Blue Dragons survivability is paramount, and they favor ambushes and hit and run tactics and avoid wars of attrition.

 

A fleet based chapter, they operate in 4 fleets. Each fleet is made of 5 companies of a hundred battle brothers. In each fleet the 1^st is the Veteran Company, the 2^nd and 3^rd are the Battle Companies, the 4^th is the Reserve Company and the 5^th is the Scout Company.

 

The fleets rarely come together, but also rarely stray too far away from each other. That way reinforcements are always an option and in the case of a fleet facing a foe so dangerous that they can’t defeat even with reinforcements or retreat from then the Chapter would lose only part of its strength.

 

Chapter Combat Doctrine: Blue Dragons operate with efficiency. Heroism and a thirsty for glory are frowned upon. As elite forces they are trained in all forms of warfare, but based on efficiency, they forego the thrill of the close combat and prefer the clean kill from afar with ranged weapons. Like their predecessors, the Raven Guard and the Raptors, the Blue Dragons make extensive use of their scouts.

 

A very analytical Chapter, the Blue Dragons target weak points in enemy defenses and launch lightning strikes deep into enemy territory, using sniper fire to eliminate the leadership and them moving in for the kill, with an assault spearheaded by deep-striking terminators and dreadnoughts, followed by Tactical Marines revealing themselves and closing the grip on the disorganized targets.

 

Flexibility and willingness to survive represents the core of the Blue Dragons combat doctrine. When needed, these Battle-Brothers may choose to take measures that others might consider dishonorable. For members of the Blue Dragons Chapter, the only important standard is success, for victory is survival. Honor and glory are noble notions, but a clear victory is worth far more than any amount of either. Most of the distinctive combat tactics that the Blue Dragons employ are tied into this notion.

 

In keeping with their willingness to make use of every available resource, the Blue Dragons Chapter often takes direct charge of any Imperial Guard units available in a given theatre, just like the Raptors Chapter. Rather than deferring to the organization intrinsic leadership, these Space Marines deploy their members among the merely human forces and then take a direct hand in their disposition and tactics, therefore maximizing the impact each Space Marine can have in the conflict.

 

A line they cannot cross is to surrender, for to do so would ensure the survival of the individual, but can jeopardize the survival of the Squad, the Company, the Fleet, or the very Chapter.

 

During the course of an engagement, there are two favored elements to any plan of the chapter. The first is a supreme reliance upon their marksmanship. The second core strategy is the use of the hit-and-run tactic. Whenever possible, these Space Marines favors the use of guerrilla tactics and ambushes to deplete enemy forces prior to a more traditional engagement.

 

For direct confrontations, they make heavy use of Terminators deployed via teleportation and Dreadnoughts deployed via Drop-Pods, thus minimizing the foe’s capacity to resist. To that end the chapter has a great number of Dreadnoughts, the willingness to survive inside its metal casing common among the Chapter.

 

Chapter Beliefs: The Blue Dragons do venerate the Emperor with great fervor and zeal, viewing him as the greatest tactician ever, and the rightful master of the galaxy. The Emperor’s sacrifice and endurance are focal points of their faith.

 

Chapter Gene-Seed: Like the other sons of Corax, Battle-Brothers of the Blue Dragons Chapter gradually attain an ever paler skin tone as they age. After just a few standard centuries of service, some have skin that is very nearly translucent. At the same time, their hair colour darkens, so that the Chapter's Veterans are easily identified by their black hair and pale complexions. Again, like their progenitors, they also lack a functional Mucranoid implant. However, they do have a fully functional Betcher's Gland.

So folks, what's more needed for a great chapter? Suggestions?

[Brother-Sergeant Valorum]

Good read so far, I'll be interested to see what else you bring out. I do however, have some feedback: where does it say that the Raptors were wiped out? I think it could also be somewhat better worded, although that's just a personal note. In addition, you never really say why they are above Chapter strength, and you might want to go into a bit more detail about specific evens that have caused the Dragons to become the Chapter that they are. It looks good other than that, though! Kepp it up

[Olis]

Although in theory a Chapter called the Raptors may very well have existed and died prior to the current 'version' of the Raptors (as could be construed by the original colour scheme versus the FW colour scheme), it would probably not be a good idea to say that the Chapter that your own came from has been destroyed, if it's an official one. That ventures into the realms of making conflicting fluff with the canon version of events (the Raptors still exist until at least the Badab War in the closing century of M41). This, of course, directly affects a major element of the Chapter's background, so you need to think carefully about how to either 1) replace the Raptors as the primogenitor should you still wish to destroy the parent Chapter, or 2) a partial rewrite of what you already have. It's not easy to do this, especially considering creating the content in the first place can take a lot of effort, but it is something that you must at least consider if not actually act upon.

 

Moving on, as mentioned by Valorum, the Chapter being over strength needs to be explained. Although a chapter being over strength shouldn't normally occur, provided there is decent explanation and an exploration of the cause and/or consequences throughout the article, it could work.

 

You may also need to think about the statement that the Chapter takes direct control over the Astra Militarum forces in-theatre. This is expressly forbidden by the Codex Astartes and a break such as this from stricture would be a grave offence even to less conservative Imperial officials. The Horus Heresy had far reaching effects and going against the tide on this would bring suspicion on the Chapter, if not outright denouncement.

 

Keep plugging away at this, brother. There is great potential here.

[samueldmjr]

Well, during the 36th millenium the Raptors Chapter was assumed to be destroyed. They completelly vanished from Imperial Archives. They reappeared during the 39th mullienium. That is canon.

 

So, as far as the Dragons knew, there was no more Raptors. Now the Raptors are based on Segmentum Solar, so it is possible that they never meet each other again. But I should probably add something about the Chapters coming together in the 40th millenium.

 

As for the Codex deviation, that's the idea. The chapter might be on the brink of heresy. They have around 2.5k brothers, they bully their sector, that kind of thing. All in the name of amassing power. To ensure survival. You know how heresies start...

 

Tomorrow I'll add the chapter organization.

[Brother Laevex]

I'm not best qualified to rule on the issue of whether the Raptors being wiped out is canon, but I love the general ideas here, particularly the general sense that survival of the chapter is given such importance.

 

One minor thing: why is the change from Dragons to Blue Dragons significant? I understand they wanted a break from the past, but out of all the names they could have chosen, why was just including a colour important?

 

Are they particularly cautious in battle to preserve their numbers? Presumably this influences how they fight.

Also, how are they organised? With so many brothers do they have more then 10 companies? That's some serious Codex deviation.