IL X - The Fire Keepers

[simison]

Unit Organization and Structure within the Legion

 

Although Niklaas would substantially modify the Legion's upper command, he did little to change how the Legion arranged itself elsewhere. Instead, a higher emphasis was placed on self-sufficiency. The Tribes, which had replaced the standard Chapters, were expected to be able to wage war with minimal outside support, be it Mechanicum, Imperial Army or fellow Legions. As such, each Tribe was a miniature Legion unto itself, able to field every kind of unit as the situation demanded. While Tribes would display their own idiosyncrasies as the Great Crusade progressed, these differences were muted by their all-encompassing pragmatism. Even their battalion-analogues, the renamed Divisions, could reasonably be expected to operate independently upward to several years. 

 

What enhanced the Fire Keepers' ability to remain on deployment was their technical expertise. Although the Tenth Legion had always displayed a subtle inclination toward the mechanical, Niklaas would bring this latent gift to the fore. Where the the Iron Bears combined art and technology in new, unique ways and the Steel Legion were the undisputed matters of cybernetics outside the Mechanicum, the Fire Keepers were undoubtedly the pragmatic utilitarians of their artisan cousins. Every weapon and tool created was to serve a purpose without being burdened by ostentation, except in rare circumstances. While most Legionaries are expected to master basic maintenance of their own arms and armour, the Fire Keepers went a step further with most members being able to make intermediate repairs normally left to the techmarines of other Legions. This was further capitalised by what the Imperial Army nicknamed the 'Keeper pack'. Invented by Niklaas, it was a kit that enabled a Fire Keeper to perform either more advanced repairs or granted an edge when constructing fortifications. It was not unheard of for each squad within a Tribe to possess at least one Keeper pack. 

 

Ironically, it was due to this straightforward style that cemented their close alliance to the Mechanicum, who had nothing but admiration for the enlightened logic of the Fire Keepers' crafting. This close relationship proved fruitful in two ways. First, the Fire Keepers could rightfully boast (if they possessed the inclination) of fielding the most techmarines of any Legion. This enabled to keep more equipment and combat vehicles operational in the field longer than many of their fellow Legions. Second, the Mechanicum proved much more willing to resupply Fire Keeper fleets, giving the entire Tenth Legion a wider network of ports and systems to support their campaigns. 

[simison]

Read where I last left off. I find it double ironic that I was just about to explore the FK's relationship with the Mechanicum and the Imperial Army back then. Think I'll move some of the Mechanicum stuff to that chapter and keep the additional logistical support here. See if it makes sense that way.

[Beren]

Exemplary Battle third draft.

It's a bit long. The pre-existing exemp is a little short so it balances out a bit buy I might cut out a bit of the pre-battle stuff. Not sure about numbers or timespan.

 

 

The Salvation of Vendris

 

 

The Vendrisan Confederation was a minor human civilization that had begun to sprout in the latter days of the Age of Strife. Its cities stood tall and hosted a refined culture even as wary sentries stood guard upon its boundaries. Like many such civilizations it would come into the fold of the Great Crusade willingly. Unlike most it would be its ships that came across Imperial worlds first and in desperate search of aid.

 

The Burners of Halderoth were named after the first world the Vendrisans recorded them as having destroyed. Since then they had cut a swathe across the Confederation's territory. Their terrible war machines and genetically twisted warriors tore through all resistance and razed every city and settlement before them. For all their societal sophistication the Vendrisans were near helpless. As it became clear that the war as it stood could only end one way, courier ships were flung forth from the border furthest from the xenos incursion to seek any form of help that they could find. It was an act of desperation, but a successful one.

 

Detailed analysis of the limited information brought by the courier vessels identified both the Vendrisan holdings as an asset to the Crusade and the Burners of Halderoth a viable threat should they continue their rampage unopposed. The forces required to eradicate the Xenos empire entirely were not immediately available, according to the best estimations based on the data provided, but if the Vendrisans could be reinforced their remaining worlds could serve both as a buffer between the Xenos and the Imperium and as staging ground for later xenocides. To this end a significant taskforce of the Imperialis Armada and the Imperial Army were drawn from surrounding garrisons and nearby fleets. From further afield came the Fire Keepers tribe of Intarabus; more than eighteen thousand Astartes from a Legion specialized in siege craft. Leading them was Chief Captain Hadzor at the appointment of Niklaas himself.

 

By the time the taskforce had mustered, set out and arrived in Vendrisan space the situation had only worsened. The beleaguered confederation had lost two thirds of its territory and only a belated rearguard action stood between the xenos horde and the capital planet of Vendris itself. This was where the Tenth determined that they would make their stand. Seeing their only hope of salvation, let alone victory, the Vendrisans were eager to oblige the ceramite clad giants at the head of the reinforcing fleet.

 

Often it is in the heat of battle that the Astartes are most lauded, where their full war-sculpted nature comes to the fore. It would however be negligent to focus solely upon the battle itself when it was as much the preparations the Fire Keepers made beforehand that carried the day. Once the main body of the relief force had been deposited upon the planetary surface the bulk of the fleet was dispatched to the faltering rearguard actions in the Aventi system. They were under orders to slow the enemy advance and cover the extraction of veteran units fighting running battles across the wastelands, preferably whilst avoiding heavy casualties themselves. Meanwhile, Hadzor was overseeing mass fortification upon Vendris itself. Outlying and ill defended outposts were abandoned and their locations marked for later bombardments. Cities and vital facilities became fortresses girded by the flattened zones of killing grounds. Where feasible such enclaves were made as self sufficient as possible. Where not their supply lines became bastions in their own right. Vendris would become a fortress.

 

Under the Chief Captain’s authority resources were stripped from the well trained but unblooded troops of the planetary army and were re-allocated to newly formed units conglomerated from the survivors of colonies now in ashes. These veterans knew the foe best. Survivors who had fought in the earliest days of the wars now found themselves holding important tactical and advisory positions for the Fire Keepers. Those civilians not engaged in construction or other vital tasks were trained and armed to a lesser standard, often more in the hope of raising their morale and limiting the numbers necessary to defend them rather than through any genuine expectation that they would prove useful. Hundreds from each bastion became shell loaders for artillery or the like.

 

Despite this it was the accompanying Imperial Army regiments that the Tenth would rely upon the most, for they had greater discipline and experience than the local forces and greater numbers than their offworld kin. The vast majority were ensconced firmly in fortifications that they had helped to build, readying themselves for a brutal war of attrition over an indeterminate time period. A smaller number - shock troops, mechanised and armoured detachments all - became what were in essence strategic flying squads to reinforce where needed and seize opportunities to sally forth against the enemy. All of this at Tribe Intarabus’ behest.

 

The Legionaries themselves were dispersed across the planetary defense network. To the natives the iconography upon their hulking forms represented the flames of hope and their eventual triumph. Workers redoubled their toils in their presence while militia found themselves emboldened. Veterans were more cynical and thought instead of the flames that had consumed their homes as xenos monstrosities tore through them. Nevertheless, the presence of the Astartes was an undeniable boon that stoked the mortal’s desire for vengeance. Out of all the mortal warriors the soldiers of the Imperial Army knew the Fire Keepers best and simply obeyed orders in the knowledge that the sons of Obsailes would hold the breach. All this preparation took place within three weeks. Upon the fourth the same blaze that claimed Halderoth fell upon Vendris.

 

The six months that followed held many battles, glorious victories and bitter retreats alike. At first the Xenos marauders utilised the same tactics that had brought them victory countless times before, shock assaults inflicting carnage that sent Vendrisans scampering and against which even the confederation's veterans could do little more than hinder as they fell back. This time was different. Where the Imperial Army regiments stood the line held. Where the Fire Keepers stood the natives rallied and the line first broke their aggressors then hurled them back. The records of both the Fire Keepers and the Vendrisans cover the numerous engagements of the siege extensively. For the sake of maintaining the focus of this work I will depict one of the few significant engagements that the Fire Keepers participated in a concentrated manner.

 

It would later be known as the sally upon the Valsen Plain. With Vendris proving a far more difficult target than anticipated the Burners of Halderoth began to set down their own structures upon the planets surface in anticipation of a drawn out siege. Early on these were entirely logistical in nature and minimal in defense, something that the Chief Captain would make them pay for. The largest of these was the Valsen Plain compound. It held significant quantaties of ammunition and formed barracks for the surrounding xenos war packs but lacked defenses anywhere near the scale of those constructed by the Fire Keepers. As soon as the Xenos' incaution was apparent a strike force was assembled from Samadaur Shock Trooper and Naskine Ferrophract regiments. The spearpoint of the operation would be the bulk of the Intarabus' heavy tanks supported by select infantry formations. With the Xenos still complacent in their superiority the attack was entirely unanticipated. While Astartes warmachines burst through the compound’s comparatively flimsy structure and Maveshalak heavy weapons specialists poured fire into clustered Xenos struggling to respond, mortal regiments swept around the facility's flanks and fullisaded any enemy that revealed itself to them. It took but a brief time for nearby detachments of the incensed Xenos to bring their own engines of destruction to bear as they launched a fierce counterattack. The Legionaries took heavy casualties holding the rubble of the cast down stucture as their supporting units withdrew. Only when the Auxilia were well adanced in their withdrawal did Hadzor signal the retreat. Even then they formed a stalwart fighting retreat. Though Astartes and mortals alike had eventually been forced to withdraw, the strike disrupted the Xenos assault in that sector for weeks. Months later and the pyres built from the corpses of the creatures slaughtered there smouldered for days as part of the victory celebrations.

 

When a full Imperial Expeditionary fleet finally arrived at Vendris they found the planets vital facilities preserved and their foe’s strength sapped by a war that had drawn on for longer than they were prepared for. The Imperial forces had not escaped unscathed:The Tenth’s dispersed deployment had resulted in numerous casualties and some regiments such as the 12th Odoacerian Foederati were reduced to below half strength. In places it was only the rising capabilities of the native forces as they were exposed to war that prevented yet more severe losses. Regardless, Vendris was intact. Despite sustainining injuries himself, Chief Captain Hadzor was satisfied with the outcome. The Fire Keepers of Tribe Intarabus were celebrated as heroes not merely for their strength as warriors but for their skill at siegecraft. Long after the Fire Keepers had departed to finish what they had begun on the Valsen Plain, the walls of Vendris remained manned and maintained. Such lessons proved to be the Fire Keepers' second salvation of Vendris when, decades later, these bastions stood against forces of the Insurrection.

Edited October 23, 2018 by Beren

[bluntblade]

  In a consummate defence, properly fought from a well-prepared fortress, one may perceive one of the salutary lessons of war. In no scenario do we see more clearly the advantage in pulling a battle onto one’s own terms. One must not see the limitations of walls, instead find the killing grounds into which the foe may be drawn. Let the foe feel the disdain of one's volleys, the contemptuous ease with which their forlorn hopes are smashed. Behind the facade of an immense and redoubtable army, find a throng of bored soldiers ready to be ground down by their own inaction. Thus a scenario most often equated with desperation may be exploited by the astute warlord to inflict a consummate defeat.

Excerpt from Niklaas' treatise On Stone As Weapon

Edited October 20, 2018 by bluntblade

[simison]

The early controversies soon fell by the wayside. While a few elements would always view the Fire Keepers with suspicion, Niklaas’ infamy was eclipsed by the likes of Morro’s and Raktra’s own fell reputations. So long as the Fire Keepers maintained the Great Crusade’s steady advance, their eccentricities were tolerated.

 

Tolerated was perhaps the best word to describe their place in the Legiones Astartes. Although few could complain about their history of victories, they earned little in the way of affection. Their pessimistic view of reality often proved a stumbling block to those who would be their friends, and the Tenth rarely attempted to build bonds. There were exceptions, of course. The closest Legion to the Fire Keepers were none other than the boisterous Iron Bears. Daer'dd was the rare individual who could break through his brother's dark spirits, through the use of their shared love of creation. Although favouring different styles, the two Primarchs were by far the most talented crafters of their brotherhood, a skill shared by their respective sons. In war, the Fire Keepers' natural inclination toward defence formed a perfect symbiosis with the Iron Bears' aggressive tactics. This was especially demonstrated on the fields of Panugatea in the campaign against the hated Nephilim. The Fire Keepers would establish the main line and absorb the initial assaults while supported by Iron Bear heavy support. At the climax of these battles, the Iron Bears would launch massive flank attacks that routed their foes. 

 

Ironically enough, the Fire Keepers were also much admired by the Imperial Army and the Mechanicum. Although the Fire Keepers did not treat the Army soldiers of the Imperium with any special consideration, their professionalism was much kinder treatment than more brutal Legions. The Fire Keepers' fortification, in particular, protected mortal and transhuman warriors with equal regard. Especially in contested territories, the well-crafted fortresses of the Tenth could dramatically improve the survival chances of the Imperial regiments.

 

This was demonstrated amply by the [???] raid.

 

As such, the news of an incoming Fire Keeper expeditionary fleet or an assignment to a Fire Keepers' base was often met with great cheer.

 

No such overt emotional reaction ever revealed itself among the Mechanicum.

 

[simison]

BL Fluff Segment (12k words)

Anthology: 30% - Incomplete - (I've written it 15 times now!)

FW Fluff Segment (10k? words)

History: 15% - Incomplete - (Has been started)

Organization: 15%- Incomplete - (Has also been started)

Exemplary Battles: 15% - Incomplete? - (It's there, just concerned about length)

Crunch

Legiones Astartes & Unique Wargear: 5% - Incomplete - (NYR)

Rites of War: 5% - N/A - (I didn't see any)

Unique Units: 5% - Incomplete - (Got a foundation)

Unique Characters: 5% - Incomplete - (Needs polish)

Primarch: 5% - Incomplete - (Polish)

 

Total - 0%

 

Might actually be past the halfway point despite the zero.

[Darkcommander]

So as I have discussed with Sim I'm posting my disgustingly rough concept for the Stone Dragons successor order to the Fire Keepers, an Order with a heavy focus on air assets and air superiority. While I've gotten a lot of minutae out of the way I've hit a writers block a couple of times while trying to flesh them out fully. This is partially to show and recieve feedback on what I've done so far, and to ask for any other relevant help or advice on how to flesh them out fully. 

 

 

Order History

loss of previous 'chapter master' to warriors of peace dred (Pre-existing lore for the original leader of the Fire Keepers tribe, must remain)

the schism of mars (part of the close ties to Mars further down the line)

Helps out at various points during The insurrection

 

Second Founding (around 050.M31)

 

Order Organisation & Structure

Order being 10,000 marines strong, it is organised into 4 sections known as 'Claws' that work independently of one another. Each is a fully equipped warfleet capable of working on their own, including support elements. These Claws are differentiated by colours like dragons; the First Claw is coloured Black, the Second is Bronze, Third White and Fourth Emerald. Each Claw is commanded by an 'Elder' (A.K.A a Chapter Master) who commands 10 companies of 250 marines per company, with a captain or lieutenant of some kind commanding each company. The entire order is ruled by 'The Ancient' who commands the 4 Claws from the chapter fortress, but occasionally ventures forth with his bodyguard to join on of them in their battles (Images of a dragon sitting on his hoard who is either challenged regularly or ventures out in search of more gold/loot)

 

Each Claw's jobs are split between two distinct roles, the defence element and the assault element, all governed by the command element:

Command Element:

-Elder (Chapter Master, Obsailan Falchion)

-Elder's Bodyguard (Corinth Pattern Terminator armour (up-armoured indomitus pattern) )

-Apothecarion

-Chaplaincy

-Librarius

-Techmarines

 

Defence Element

-Elite Troops

-Stone-kin - Terminators (very few, used mainly in defensive actions, rarely in assaults)

-specialist tarantula/defence controllers (techmarines)

-Radar specialists (likely mortals)

 

-General Units

-Engineering Corp (Captains in charge direction Mechanicus/Mortal workers)

-Tactical Marines

-Devastators

-Dreadnoughts

 

Assault Element

-Elite Troops

-The Flame-Guilded - Assault Marines (great jump-packs, Gibborim pattern power axes (from the fire keepers), also used in void combat)

-Brimstone Maws - Veteran Tactical Marines (grav chutes & Heavy anti-infantry/destroyer weaponry (less ammo due to no devestator backpacks), extra gear, also used in boarding combat, spiritual successors to the Fire Keepers Maveshalak formation)

-Ironweights - Assault Marine tank-hunter troops (equipped w/ krak grenades/melta bombs, minelayers. massive focus on ambush and hit and run tactics their nickname is the 'Can-Openers' amongst the Order)

-Harvesters – Veteran Scout headhunters with autocannon snipers (infravisor gear (from fire keepers) weaponry is mounted on aircraft, a joking nickname is the 'Sky Farmers' amongst the Order)

 

-Assault Troops

-Assault Marines

-Tactical Marines

-Scout Marines

-Pilot Cadre (Splits down into separate types of craft used)

-Fighter/Interceptor Pilots

-Bomber Pilots

-Gunship Pilots

-Air Crew (A few techmarines and mortals who look after the aircraft)

 

Order Tactics/Combat Doctrine

-Defensive siege tactics (Build an airfield fortress and hold it)

-Air Superiority (Kill everything in the sky that isn't you)

-Airborne Assault [Ride of the Valkyries plays in the distance]

-SEAD/DEAD Operations (Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defence) (Kill anything that poses a threat to aircraft, and therefore your air superiority)

 

Order Campaign History/Exemplary battles

Escape from Warriors of Peace

Martian Schism

Couple of Insurrection fights

Couple of Solar War fights

Fit an Apocalypse Now reference in w/ Lieutenant Cmdr Kilgore. (fighting rebels/chaos)

Help decapitate Ork Waaaggh leadership

Took on the drowned in a naval engagement

(All of these are super rough and absolutely WIP)

 

Order Wargear & Equipment

Aircraft

-Stormhawk Interceptor (Newer. Good armour. Great firepower.)

-Xiphon Interceptor (Older. Rarer. Complex upkeep. Short range. High speed. Great firepower.)

-Wrath Starfighter (Older. Complex upkeep. High performance.)

-'Maahres' Pattern Stormbird (Older. Super rare. Great armour. Great firepower.)

-Stormbird (Older. Good armour. Great firepower. )

-Thunderhawk (Newer. Good Speed. Good firepower.)

-Fire Raptor ()

-Corsair Bomber (Very Few (4 per Claw) Older. Complex. Variable Loadout)

-6 are 'Strato-Keep' pattern Fire Keeper Corsairs bombers.

-10 are standard Corsair bombers

 

Aircraft Weaponry

anti-radar missiles

Aircraft cluster and napalm/promethium bombs

Decoy munitions to mimic aircraft on radar

 

Defensive Fortifications

Super aggressive machine spirit controlled Air defence turret (includes ECM package)

 

Specialist Marine Equipment

Tactical Marine grav-harness'

Scout Heavy Sniper Rifle (basically an autocannon. Has to be mounted on a vehicle or gun-mount on an aircraft, should also have built in suspensors to make handling easier.)

Mag-clamp Metla Bombs

Minelayers (mounted on the armour a bunch of small mines can be dropped as the marine travels through the air over a target location. This is cause for concern as it means a higher rate of casualties for any marine with this equipped.)

 

Order Gene-Seed

Nothing as of yet (Ask Niklaas)

 

Order Beliefs

Some kind of derivative of Fire Keeper beliefs, (Women and men do certain jobs, you can't be a dick (duh) Will rarely intervene in mortal matters but will keep an eye on them. Killing of kin is -mui bad- If it vaguely looks or smells like a psyker, burn it the :cuss down.)

 

Notable Stone Dragon Members

-'The Ancient' Thirgen – Founder and chapter master (Technically a Praetor?)

-'Wyvern' Guard are the bodyguards to The Ancient, and travel with him anywhere he goes.

-chapter champion

-notable chapter serf

 

Black Claw:

-Elder Bellicar – Master of the Black Claw (Flesh out w/ kit and a few deeds)

 

-Master of the Forge (heavy ties to mechanicus, helped create/requisition a bunch of gear, also helped create the aggressive as :cuss AA-turret)

 

-Terminator Lieutenant Leothral (Single-handedly led the defence of the 'Black Spar' Fort after Dune Serpent's garbed in Stone Dragon colours took out most of the fort with biological weapons and surgical strikes on the survivors. As the final survivor Leothral managed to avoid the initial strikes as he was deep in meditation within the bowls of the fortress itself. Upon hearing the commotion he moved through the base (perhaps having several incidents where he is almost killed due to hesitation at firing at other Stone Dragons) but eventually clears the entire base out.

 

WIP Chars:

- Ferrax Belluthran, Captain of the 4^th Company

-fleet captain

-techmarine

-apothecary

-devestator marine

-devestator marine

 

Bronze Claw:

-Elder Rekkar – Master of the Bronze Claw (Flesh out w/ kit and a few deeds)

 

-Galius Veteran Scout sergeant (him and his initiates spent several days making lightning strikes against Ork leadership when facing a Waaaagh, where they would launch in a strike craft, circle an area from a great height sniping nobz and bosses like a super-accurate ac130)

 

WIP Chars:

-Captain

-veteran pilot

-veteran Assault sergeant

-Tactical sergeant

-Scout marine

-Scout marine

 

White Claw:

-Elder Kilgore – Master of the White Claw (somehow fit a reference to him enjoying 'surfing' of some kind in. Technically could be a Centurion in rank. Assaults a base of some kind like in Apocalypse Now, decimating them with air power.)

 

-Techmarine Galifrad (responsible for the ECM countermeasures and :cussin great at repairing and maintaining aircraft.

 

WIP Chars:

-fleet captain

-apothecary

-chaplain

-pilot

-veteran tactical sergeant

-tactical marine

-tactical marine

 

Emerald Claw:

-Elder Pekrova – Master of the Emerald Claw (Flesh out w/ kit and a few deeds)

 

-Twin Fighter Pilots (One crashed behind enemy lines and gets recovered later but needs to be interred in a dred, his brother goes from an ace to a kamikaze pilot)

 

-Assault Sergeant Sekilon 'Jade Fang' Harkaat – Became renowned for his exploits during a raid of an Eldar exodite world, using his jump-pack skills and the melta bombs from his team-mates to avenge their deaths at the hand of an eldar titan.

 

WIP Chars:

-fleet captain

-pilot

-Veteran techmarine

-Scout sergeant

-assault marine

-assault marine

 

Order Fleet*

Capital Ship - Wrath of Aldimach (Infernus-Class Battleship) Flagship of Black Claw (Inheretet from Fire Keepers)

[insert Name here] – Battlebarge Flagship of Bronze Claw

[insert Name here] – Battlebarge Flagship of White Claw

[insert Name here] – Battleship Flagship of Emerald Claw

*Fleet should have a pronounced focus on fighters and strike craft when considering their loadouts compared to the standard ship loadouts.

 

Order Relics

Weapons

Hearth's End - Previous leaders twin-linked Melta 'shotgun' (that was killed by the Warriors of Peace Dred)

Thread-Cutter - Power Greataxe from Fire Keepers Praetor (Anti-Psyker ability)

Drake's Growl - Twin-linked Terminator Autocannon (the sound of a burst of rounds leaving the barrel is like a dragon's roar, lowers enemy moral even further, has extra holes in the muzzle break to let more explosion out too so it looks like it breathes fire when it's shooting.)

 

Aircraft

Bloodhound – Wrath Pattern Starfighter used by the early elements of the Order (Pick a fighter pilot from the list or make one up)

4 Maahres Pattern Stormbirds (1 per Claw)

6 Strato-Keep Pattern Corsair Bombers (3 BlkC, 1BnzC, 1WhtC, 1 EmrldC)

10 Standard Pattern Corsair Bombers (1 BlkC, 3BnzC, 3WhtC, 3EmrldC)

 

Order Colours

Symbol should be a dragons head/claw (singular)(coloured differently this can denote on of the 4 claws and represents the more aggressive approach through air cavalry tactics) on a shield of fire (represents the fire keepers and the fortification aspect)

 

Notable Quotes

N/A

[simison]

Comments -

 

• "Disgustingly rough concept" = I don't think this is accurate.
• Going to let you know that the number of a successor is still in flux. We simply don't know how mauled the Legions will be at the end of the Insurrection at this time. But that's a simple fix. 
• Given the Martian Civil War, shouldn't be too hard for Alexandros to arrange for a couple of 'Maahres' patterns to be shifted over to the Tenth.
• I think it's a really interesting idea to explicitly combine defense with air power in the way you've done here.

 

Overall, a really solid foundation. What work that does need to be done is to work on their transition as a part of the Tenth Legion to their eventual status as a successor. To that end, the Fire Keepers are divided into Tribes. Niklaas has named all 12, but I'm not sure if they are distinguished in tactics as they are in heraldry. Ask Demus. 

 

Is this Thirgen the same one in Blunt's story? Also, Praetor is not a specific rank, but more of an honorary title for the most accomplished/experienced officers in the Legion. As such, it wouldn't be hard for Thirgen to be a Praetor, even if that's not his official rank.

 

Battle-wise, you have a pretty solid idea of what the Fire Keepers are up to. WoP slam them on the DoR, and they fight in the Martian Schism. After that, the Fire Keepers actually take a breather and focus on fortifying the Sol System before then doing the same for the Segmentum border on a few of the routes between Madrigal and Terra.

 

The First Solar War is actually one of their most critical assignment as the Fire Keepers are the ones who defend the central route, going up against primarily the Harbingers, Grave Stalkers, and the Berserkers, if I remember right. A black book focused on the Fire Keepers holding their ground could be a good opportunity to introduce Thirgen and his unique air/bulwark tactics. 

[Darkcommander]

• Im a self-deprecating buggar, let me have that ​

I understand, hopefully there will still be a place for them post-Insurrection. Their origin is the Barinthus brotherhood from the Fire Keepers, that's where the backstory of the old commander being killed by the WoP Dred and Thirgen taking over come from. If they will be solidifying the defences of the Sol System and the Sector for most of the Insurrection (After the Martian Schism) then presumably the best sort of stories around this would be them dealing with infiltrators, mortal rebellions and the occasional strike by one of the traitor legions, is there any examples of these kinds of attacks? If not then I will make something up to 'raise the tension' so to speak until the First Solar War occurs.

 

Having read up on the Mena-Goth II incident during the DoR I feel like I've got a solid foundation from which to take the story though, with the Legion being pulled back to Terra the Barinthus Tribe would be sent as a diplomatic force as well as masters of siegecraft to help shore up the defences of the various Mechanicus holdings on Mars. They would obviously meet resistance from the technologically minded Magos of various sects. I suppose my next barrage of questions would be about the Martian Schism. 

 

• Would it be reasonable to assume that the Martians would be being monitored for signs of trechary? (Therefore letting the tribe focus on shoring up loyalist factions instead)
• Would the time between when the FK get back into the Sol system to shore up it's defences, and the time when the Martian Schism broke out be enough to allow for a FK fortress to be built on Mars?
• Is there a thread for the Martian Schism I could read through for a chain of events?

​Edit: I've found the Martian Schism thread, I'll crack that out ASAP ;)

Edited May 26, 2019 by Darkcommander

[Demus Ragnok]

Mars is already a war zone when the FK arrive and they join the fighting ASAP.

[bluntblade]

How many exemplary battles do the FK have so far?

[Beren]

I've done one, the wiki also has the Breaking of the Bodgespire, I think you had plans for another? Edited May 31, 2019 by Beren

[bluntblade]

Did I?

 

(Looks at Beren's battle) you know, in this case I'd be happy to go the RG/BA route and just have the two exemplary battles.

Edited May 31, 2019 by bluntblade

[Darkcommander]

Stone Dragons

 

Below is a brief overview of the Stone Dragons Chapter and it's rise after the Second Founding

 

Founder: Thirgen

Personality: acts like an old tired warrior when not in combat, the toll of the icarion insurrection and solar war taking a heavy toll on him, but seeing his duty as absolutely necessary. As a commander he will hold off the majority of his forces, making small probing attacks into an enemy before launching the full air assault, usually with him at the helm. Over the Martian Schism and resulting solar war in the Sahaqiel Reach he learned the measure of being a commander, relying heavily on aerial units for air superiority and transport capacity for his troops, letting an enemy waste energy coming to him while he probes them for weaknesses before striking in full.

 

Stone Dragons Personality:

As one of the first new orders they have learned that while the old legionary ways work that a mixture of offence and defence is needed to overcome a variety of situations. Splitting their forces into the defence and offence cadre's they allow the adaptation of their forces to suit a situation. This is reflected at the strategic level, as the Order only ever has 2 claws patrolling the galaxy at any one time. The other two are held in reserve in the Sahaqiel Reach, monitoring the local situation, working to keep relations good with all within their systems. While in reserve marine numbers are replenished and recreational activities are encouraged, be they the arts, physical challenges The main focus is for the recovering Claw to integrate knowledge of their exploits into the 'Horde' the grand repository of knowledge, trophies and revered fallen from campaigns into the galaxy.

 

Stone Dragons First Campaign: The Iron Flame Campaign

Moving through the tempestus segmentum the 4 claws of the Stone Dragons bring many imperial worlds back into the fold. Some willingly, some choose to fight. Despite the resistace they wipe the surrounding subsector clear, setting up several stations and fortresses of their own before moving onto the Graia system as the forge-world has missed several check-in communiqués since the solar war finished.

Upon arriving in the neighbouring system the Stone Dragons are met with a massive ork WAAAGH that was previously finishing looting the system and translating directly into Graia. Fighting their withdrawal they move to another system linking to Graia, and finding it untouched, move onto the forge world itself.

As they translate in-system they find graia's defences holding (just) and end up destroying a small picket ship that fire on them (graia is still twitchy about astartes and slow to trust them after the insurrection and the new paint job) Their archmagos deemed the orks a 'minor threat' and refused to call for imperial aide.

With the arrival of the Stone Dragons there's political tension, and the newly allied forces seeks to act as the sword and shield. The forces of Graia hold the orks at bay throughout the outer planets while the Stone dragons launch lightning raids on their command vessels, either taking over or destroying a bunch of them.

This eventually pisses the (to be named) ork boss off after losing so many boys that he challenges Thirgen, turns out to be an ambush, Thirgen loses an arm, warboss dies, orks get mopped up, graia is protected.

Cue a decade or so of hunting the remaining orks out of the surrounding systems

Edited June 16, 2019 by Darkcommander

[bluntblade]

X^thLegion Praetor

Mered Shaltak 

Chief of Tribe Vindonnus

The Schism of Mars

 

  Better known in his early years of command for his work on theoretical doctrine than its practical application, Shaltak was forced to prove himself when the Vremalkyr Incursions threatened much of the southern Imperium. Given command over dozens of planets along the warfront, his leadership and planning staved off disaster in several systems and helped to save billions of lives from the xenos advance. Tribe Vindonnus’ subsequent campaign against the subterranean Ork holdfasts of Lumilla III confirmed Shaltak’s position as one of the Legion’s finest commanders. In particular, he became known for the deftness with which he integrated outside forces into his tactics.

 

  Shaltak arrived in the Sol System with Niklaas, and served as one of his primary lieutenants throughout the Martian Schism's later stages. He orchestrated the fall of two Forge Cities as well as a House Morbidia stronghold-prison complex, deftly commanding the Mechanicum forces which Alexandros put at his disposal along with his Tribe and Ebedsakar soldiers. Tribe Vindonnus further distinguished themselves on the Mariner Plain, fending off a heavy tank assault over two hellish hours in order to allow a force of Solar Auxilia time to withdraw and regroup. Once Olympus Mons was taken, Shaltak allowed his warriors little respite, moving swiftly to the front in the developing Wars of Expansion.

 

  Shaltak’s wargear is typical of a Fire Keepers Chief, and thus an expression of X^th Legion forgework at its grandest. He is encased in the distinctive Corinthian pattern of Terminator armour designed by Niklaas, and bears a diamond-headed Obsailan power sword. Among the Legion and tribal heraldry are symbols of the Kohathite Guild, where Shaltak is known to have attained much of his knowledge in the arts of siege warfare. 

 

[bluntblade]

X^th Legion Tactical Support Marine

Oren Aphus

Tribe Esus, Fourth Company

Flamer-armed Tactical Support Squads were the most common of their type among the Fire Keepers, typically deployed against lightly armoured and numerous enemies. Brother Aphus and his squad were fielded in this manner throughout the campaign on Mars. This culminated in a gruelling fight in the storming of Olympus Mons, when the Fourth Company were forced to turn their weapons on the electoo-controlled horde of forge-thralls which the Insurrectionists hurled at the invaders.

[Gederas]

Okay, so I must say. I've seen the Brotherhood of the Lost topics pop up from time to time, never paid much attention. However, these guys?

 

These guys caught my interest.

 

If one were to paint them, is there a recommendation for their paint scheme?

[MikhalLeNoir]

Welcome Gederas to the vaults of the lost^^

 

I would paint them with flesheater red and add some flames. Maybe with light effects ( if I would be able to pull that off)

[Gederas]

Welcome Gederas to the vaults of the lost^^

 

I would paint them with flesheater red and add some flames. Maybe with light effects ( if I would be able to pull that off)

Thanks. And the contrast paint? O.o

 

Huh, that's way different from what I was thinking (which was Mephiston Red > Fuegan Orange > Evil Sunz Scarlet).

[MikhalLeNoir]

I meant fleshtearers red.. starting with a dark red. But Demus knows best

[Demus Ragnok]

Gederas I believe your formula will yield good results. I did some models some time ago and I forget what colors I settled on. I do remember using a white primer. I intended for them to be a shade brighter than blood angels.

[Gederas]

Gederas I believe your formula will yield good results. I did some models some time ago and I forget what colors I settled on. I do remember using a white primer. I intended for them to be a shade brighter than blood angels.

Ah, okay. That helps quite a bit.

[Nomus Sardauk]

Welcome to the Brotherhood Gederas, we hope you enjoy your stay.

[simison]

Saved from Discord

 

"The idea with Sovereigns is that they are independent operators. Singular figures with the primarch’s blessing to dispense His will. They are part of the Chaplain hierarchy but operate independently of yet parallel to it."

[simison]

Niklaas, although rarely could be declared as 'happy', was at his most content when making war from the ramparts of his beloved walls. The Fire Keepers excelled in rapid fortifications and excelled at using this supposed defensive tactic as a bludgeon against their enemies. Once an enemy target was idenitified, the Fire Keepers would seize nearby terrain in a flurry of fire and assault. Once established, Niklaas would oversee the deployment of fortifications that often outclassed the enemy's well-established positions. Once completed, ordnance units moved into position and would lay down continual bombardments.

 

 

If the enemy attempted to wait out their enemies, they would be slowly smashed into pieces. If the enemy countered, they would run headlong into prepared killing zones and firing lanes manned by the famed Maveshalak, the elite heavy support units of the Fire Keepers. Those enemy units who survive the blizzard of heavy fire would be embraced by flamers and other short-ranged instruments of death before being crushed beneath the hammers of Niklaas and his Keepers.