Alternate Legion - The Scions Hospitalier

[simison]

Excellent! In which case, that concludes my rule review of the Scions Hospitalier. 

 

All that stands between the Scions and being completely done are the banners and fluff for the RoWs. Looking over the banners, only Odyssalas has his done, or at least an early version done. The legion banner next to the legion tactics is among those needing done and is typically a quote. The quote is usually from the Primarch or is a saying from a book or writing that sums up an aspect of the legion.

 

Whether or not you want to do this yourself or ask for outside help, I leave up to you.

[simison]

So, would you mind if others gave it a shot to write the banners?

[Slips]

No, not at all.

[simison]

For the legion banner, I was thinking of a book quote, with the book being a medical treatise written by Pionus. Something that emphasizes their medical expertise and micro-evolution experimentation. Something like...

 

"While the human form is the pinnacle of Evolution's work, it does not mean it should exist in stasis for all time. Indeed, as the pursuit of science will always be an on-going affair, the human body's ability to adapt should continually be explored and refined as we make this galaxy truly our own."

 

Foreword of the Principles of Microevolution by Pionus Santor

[simison]

First Captain Antonidas
Antonidas has served as First Captain of the Scions Hospitalier ever since the reunion with the Primarch, during which time his reputation as a fearsome warrior has only grown. Grim and taciturn to all but his closest brothers, he has adapted the finesse of the Stygian Phantoms to fit the surgical ways of the new XIX^th Legion, and performs both stealth missions and fast attacks with lethal precision.

While he bears the typical armaments of a Phantom, Antonidas also wields a forearm-mounted paragon blade. Known as Hoarfrost, it is unique among the weapons discovered during the Great Crusade. A relic recovered on Natnuat Prime, the materials used in its construction have defied classification by even the most knowledgeable Adepts. It resembles a shard of the void itself, and emanates a lethal chill rather than the heat of a power weapon.

The Phantoms
While Pionus and Antonidas dispensed with what they saw as the wasteful flamboyance of the Stygian Phantoms, they also perceived a way in which the “old” XIX^th’s vaunted prowess could be married to the culture of surgical precision and efficiency fostered by the primarch. Thus, those Terran legionaries who struggled to find a place within the Scions were formed into a new body of assault marines. Clad in black pearl plate, they are armed with hooknets and lancea based on those wielded by the Ionans on their expeditions into the depths. [They also use volkite serpentas, mounted on their forearms so that a Phantom can use his gun simultaneously with his melee weapons.] 

The new Phantoms first saw action against the abhuman Malacos and swiftly earned a reputation both for clandestine operations and lightning assaults. As such[,] they can be found both in the vanguard, and far behind enemy lines.

Unlike almost all their counterparts, the Phantoms also apply their assault skills to the underwater theatres where the Scions excel, with obscura-pattern jump packs designed to operate beneath the waves and in the void. These have served the Scions well on many campaigns against waterborne foes, especially the vile Qarith.

The Depthstriders
Finding that breacher squads were of limited use in undersea actions, Pionus compensated by developing specialised heavy units. Initially clad in modified Mk II armour, it was with the advent of Terminator plate that the Depthstriders truly came in to being. Pionus soon developed the Ceta variant of Cataphracti plate, streamlining the bulky suits and augmenting their systems to better function underwater. He made further refinements in later years as the Tartaros pattern came into being, producing the Avyssos variant.

Equipped with power weapons and volkite [chargers], the Depthstriders rely on the strength of their armour to protect them whilst breaking open enemy positions or grappling with such monstrous enemies as Rak'gol Abominations and Malacos arthro-brutes. Their leaders, known as Divemasters, all [typically] wield waveblades, and all answer to Fifth Captain Mytakis. While the Phantoms are simply promoted out of the Legion's assault squads, warriors who wish the join the Depthstriders must hunt and slay one of the monstrous serpents which infest the depths of Iona as a formal rite of admission.

 

~~~

 

So, I was about to try to write blurbs for the Phantoms when I discovered this post by Blunt. I've highlighted some areas that need addressing, mostly weapons that aren't on the unit anymore. The biggest question is Hoarfrost now that we've removed 'Chill of the Void'. No rule against naming the weapon in fluff but in mechanics, is it any different than a standard paragron blade? Despite that, I think they're still serviceable. What do you say, Slips? 

[simison]

The Phaeton-Pattern Storm Eagle was constructed specifically to be operable in aquatic environments and, by extension, the void. However, due to its necessity to be resistant to the crushing pressures usually found at the deepest depths of ocean worlds, it has a bulkier and more reinforced structure compared to other Storm Eagle Patterns. While this requires pilots to be specially trained to pilot the Phaeton-Pattern, the vehicle itself enjoys a greater resistance to anti-air and anti-vehicle weaponry. 

 

Since it must be able to operate in two very different environments, the Phaeton-Pattern boasts volkite weaponry which operates as lethally under the waves or among the stars. Additionally, given its reinforced cargo bays, it is not unheard of for Scions to equip the vehicle with a single depth charge, which, with proper application, can be used successfully in any environment. However, because it requires the ability to operate in two contrasting environments, production is an ornery process that requires a great deal of resources and time. This leads to the Phaeton-Pattern being used almost exclusively in service to the Scions Hospitalier with the Drowned being a distant second.

 

 

[should I keep or remove the Drowned bit?]

[Slips]

For Hoarfrost the fluff blurb could stay: the chill it emanates might be what causes it to ID on 6's.

 

Fair on the weaponry mention fixes.

 

I'd ask Hesh. If he wants to make use of it for his own stuff: cool! It makes sense for his guys to have some I reckon.

[simison]

I left the Drowned part, to be on the safe side since it's only a fluff mention.

 

That leaves both RoWs, Inna, Metis, and Pionus. Blunt, did you want to work on one or a couple of them? 

[bluntblade]

Err, what needs doing for Odyssalas? I think I have something for Inna, nothing for Pionus so far.

[simison]

Wanted to know if Odyssalas needs his banner to be revamped.

[bluntblade]

It's what I originally submitted - is there anything you want altered?

[simison]

It's what I originally submitted - is there anything you want altered?

 

I was just asking if you wanted to modify anything since I've no idea when that summary was made. Otherwise, the only thing I can think of is that it's a bit short. 

[simison]

Fluff description for the Conclave of the Unliving:

 

The Day of Revelation would permanently scar the Scions Hospitalier. With so many Scions lost on that day, including a large contingent of Depthstriders, the legion's dreadnought ranks were vastly strengthened by the onslaught of new members. These new dreadnoughts were typically deployed alongside the diminished Depthstriders, in an effort to reduce the risk towards the valuable, veteran warriors. Furthermore, the Scions turned to cybernetic automata to shrink attrition rates as the Scions continued to wage war against the Traitor legions. When Pionus Santor returned to the front lines in his highly controversial wraith-construct, he supported the new formations and quickly relied on it as his primary battle force.

 

[Didn't see a name, so here's one. How is it?]

[Slips]

It reads as perfectly Scions to me so yeah, all gooooood.

[bluntblade]

 

 

It's what I originally submitted - is there anything you want altered?

I was just asking if you wanted to modify anything since I've no idea when that summary was made. Otherwise, the only thing I can think of is that it's a bit short.

I did wonder about the length, as I didn't have anything to compare it against. Is there anything you'd suggest adding?

[simison]

Maybe a short explanation on Ladon, a blurb on why he has the warlord trait he does, how an apothecary becomes a CQC expert. Or something about his origins.

[simison]

Extraction Force Primus:

 

While the Scions Hospitalier were renowned for their individual speed, their mobility tactics were second to none. Originally designed for rapid extraction operations, the Scions perfected precision mobilization techniques that allowed them to sweep into contested territory and established beachheads to secure endangered Imperial personnel. Come the Icarion Insurrection, these same strategies were quickly utilized to reduce Loyalist casualties in the face of Traitor advances. As the war continued, Scion commanders discovered that these tactics could double as rapid assault maneuvers that would open weaknesses in enemy lines.

[bluntblade]

Gotcha Sim. I reckon I can cook that up quickly

[bluntblade]

How should Coordinated Assault play out in the fluff? I picture it as the officer in question being able to direct troops effectively

[Slips]

That or the Officer in Question drilling with his troops so much that they instinctively follow his lead.

[bluntblade]

We do have a scene with him conducting a training exercise with a few companies at a time.

[bluntblade]

Rough draft for the rest of Odyssalas' banner.

 

+++++

 

Antonidas took an interest in Odyssalas during the compliance of Requa 4-Beta, when he saw the young Apothecary challenge an Eldar champion who had severely wounded his captain. Odyssalas was sorely overmatched and his defiance would have been in vain had Antonidas not intervened, but the First Captain recognised his potential and set about mentoring him. This was furthered by a collaborative campaign alongside the Warriors of Peace, well known for their blademasters. Odyssalas became fond of the guan dao polearms used by the XVII as he honed his skills, and while relations between the two Legions soured shortly afterwards, he adopted the glaive as his weapon of choice.

 

Serving under Antonidas, he joined the ranks of the Phantoms, rising to the rank of sergeant before being promoted to a captaincy of his own. The influence of his time among the assault elite was clearly apparent in his methods as a commander; fast, coordinated strikes to keep enemy forces disoriented and deprive them of any initiative. The best example of this is the audacious raid he led during the Laeran campaign alongside Achille Nibaasiniiwi of the Iron Bears, which cemented a bond between the two warriors with far-reaching consequences.

[simison]

I like it. That leaves Inna and Pionus

[bluntblade]

I'll try and do Inna's this afternoon. I'll also check the existing Primarch banners for guidance on Pionus

[simison]

I'm healthy enough to get back to regular posting. I went over the Primarch banners, and, with the exception of Betrayal's Primarchs, all of them feature some kind of quote. It could from the Primarch himself, a quote from a literary source (Book of Censure for Alpharius), or from an important lieutenant (Erebus quote for Lorgar). 

 

Do you have a preference, Slips?