Fate of the Relictors, news?

[dogfender]

So I had sent an email to the White Dwarf team 'Ask Grombrindal' regarding the Relictors.

Here's my Email:

"Oh wise Grombrindal,

 

My question for you is in regards to the dubious Space Marine chapter The Relictors.

 

A long while ago they had several installments in the old White Dwarf Magazine, with special rules and war gear. That is long gone and not usable in todays games. Their story has been kind of retconned, where an Inquisitor had a Grey Knight force seek to wipe them out for using Chaos Artifacts (presumably because he wanted it). So the depleted forces scattered.

 

Within the pages of the new Marine Codex, they are no longer shown in the successor chapters (where it shows chapters and color schemes).

 

So my question is, Where are they and what have they done with my Marine chapter? Will we see them get a data slate? (would be an easy money grab to just copy & paste old wargear, rules and fluff).

 

Also on a side note.. if the Grey Knights and inquisition are so adverse to the use of demon weapons, why does GK Castellan Crowe use one and that inquisitors can take them as war gear?

It would seem it is a matter of using chaos to combat itself, which is what the Relictors did, first.

 

I eagerly await the news, I certainly hope they didn't fall to chaos, or just get left out...

 

Kind Regards"

 

The Reply:

"Just to let you know, we answered part of your question – the bit about Daemon weapons – in an upcoming issue of White Dwarf. Keep your eyes peeled for issue 80. :)

 

As for the Relictors, well, they aren't in Codex: Space Marines because they've been declared Excommunicae Traitoris. They're officially bad guys now. ;) They certainly don't believe that and many forces within the Imperium probably don't know either, which is why they're still seen fighting alongside other Imperial forces, like in the Third War for Armageddon. In terms of rules you're free to use whatever you like, really – either Codex: Space Marines or Codex: Chaos Space Marines, which might give you better access to weird and wonderful wargear. Essentially it's your opportunity to create a great-looking, fun force. :)

 

And on that note, keep your eyes peeled during September, there may well be a novel coming out that features your favourite Chapter. ;)

 

Dan"

 

So I got some half expected disappointing response as you can see. While he might say they are considered traitors, they also didn't appear in the last rendition of the chaos book either. Their logic wasn't sound either, as mentioning the event at Armageddon seems to be out of context because that was prior to them being considered traitor.. So they don't know what they are talking about.

Until chaos stops being inferior, I will still be running my Relictors codex sm and with a 'radical' inquisitor ally.

[Draakur]

Interesting news, though I can't say it's welcome. As you said, not entirely surprising, but still disappointing. But such is the grimdarkness through which we wade, yes? 

[dogfender]

Yeah they were deemed heretics awhile ago. But that doesn't mean they have actually fallen to chaos.

I laughed out loud when I read the suggestion to use a chaos force 'because I'd have access to 'weird and wonderful wargear'. Like putting a fancy weapon on a guy and keeping everything as normal marine as possible would make it all the fun. That book is laughable, so until they put em in the next chaos book as a new renegade chapter I'm keeping it as is. If they were smart they would just shell out all sorts of data $late$ for all sub and notable successor chapters. It's just easy money, esp for this chapter since they already have had several WD articles and wargear made for them lol

[Lord Ragnarok]

Grain of salt. The responder, as you say, "does not know what they are talking about" unless they are going to retcon, they weren't declared traitors until the 13th Black Crusade and that's in its beginning phases if you read the timeline in the recent codices. I prefer they leave it before the Cyarro smack down. 200 marines does not resonate for me. I guess I'm OK if they are declared traitor as long as they don't start worshiping chaos. What makes them interesting is that they wield daemonic weapons but have not turned. If they turn, they are just another renegade chapter and not compelling at all. 

 

Keep in mind in a recent novel "Atlas Infernal" they are represented as working in small bands or as mercenaries. In this book Relictor Techmarine Torqhuil assists Inquisitor Czevak.

Edited July 4, 2015 by Lord Ragnarok

[dogfender]

Lol not sure who czevak is. But yeah my response was:

Lol sorry to keep responding Dan. I don't know what you mean about their involvement in the Armageddon war and that people didn't know they were traitors at the time.

Because they were called there to help fight, but when they learned there could be relics there instead they (including their chapter master) ignored orders from Dante. They were also not declared traitors until the 13th black crusade...after it was retconned from happening that is... And last I recall that whole giant even technically didn't happen because the world wide event that took place had chaos destroy the Chadian gates. GW couldn't let that happen (similarly how they retconned the storm of chaos for whfb).

 

Also unless I'm missing some notation the 13th black crusade hasn't technically happened in the last time line.

 

They might be considered bad, but in a fluff perspective the imperium is hypocritical ( check out inquisitors, heck even primarches like Roboute with his chaos power fists, etc).and they have never fallen to chaos, they kept moving forward with their agenda because their methods work.

 

Here is a link to Relictors info with the WD #s included, btw the whole inquisitor story never happened anywhere but UK edition, because it's not in the U.S. One I have lol.

 

http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Artekus_Bardane

 

So unless this book that's been out over a year has again changed/ wrecked the time line, as things often do... (No one seems to go back and read old fluff or time lines?)

Thought it was also funny he mentions a book coming out, that's been out since 2014 lol. So unless that book paints them as full blow traitors, then I guess I'll eat my hat

[Lord Ragnarok]

Czevak, is the Inquisitor who has access to the Black Library and who is pursued by Ahriman. Before this book I think I only saw him mentioned in various Codices.  

 

From your post I read it that a brand new novel was coming and not "Angron's Monolith" which obviously was recently released. 

[dogfender]

He emailed me again shortly after:

"In fact, I just found out it's already available as an eBook. :)

 

http://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/angrons-monolith-ebook.html

 

Enjoy!

 

Dan"

 

Lol

[Lay]

There's a snippet of fluff in Imperial Armour 13 (p.117) about the Relictors' status in the eyes of the inquisition.

 

It's an in-universe text written by an Inquisitor listing different types of Daemon Engines. The text ends with the line: "My studies on this matter remain inclusive and incomplete, and my agents have made contact with our allies, the Relictors, so that the matter may be addressed more thoroughly."

 

Below that is a hand-written note by another Inquisitor: "This madness has clearly gone too far. By Inquisitor Wroth's own hand it is revealed that our brethren are in league with the outcast Astartes formerly known as the  Relictors. I have mobilised the Red Hunters expurgation force currently attached to my Household to demand an accounting of Inquisitor Wroth and her peers. If they refuse to comply, there will be blood."

 

There is no date attached to this piece of fluff, but since it's from a recent publication, I'd say the Relictors can be considered renegades in the "current" timeline. It's also worth noting that IA 13 is one of the few books that still reference events from the Eye of Terror campaign, so that's probably why they appear as renegades in it.

Edited July 4, 2015 by Lay

[Lord Ragnarok]

Remember, one inquisitors renegade is another's righteousness warrior. If inquisitors declare each heretics/saints all the time they will certainly do the same for those outside of their org.

 

 

Lay, thanks for that bit of fluff.

 

Dogfender, I think I mentioned "Angron's Monolith" as a must read. In fact, I am going to re read in prep of building my codex force. ;)

Edited July 4, 2015 by Lord Ragnarok

[dogfender]

Well I look forward to seeing your army in progress should you make a Topic for it in the WIP thread. Im sluggishly still building a radical inquisitor for my eventual Relictors force. Gotta have those Daemon hosts! (wish they werent so aweful lol).

[Kaedes Nex]

IMO until they start fully embracing Chaos or having things like Spawn and Obliterator-type mutations, renegade marines that still consider themselves loyal or even neutral are better suited to using C:SM than the CSM codex.

 

They're still using their old loyalist units like Devastators and non-Daemonic Rhinos, after all, not Warp Talons and Havocs. CSM offers some cool stuff to represent the Relictors specifically due to their affinity for Chaos artifacts, but this could also be easily represented with chapter relics from the loyalist codex.