The Hollow Kings +¦+ C&C welcome! [complete]

[Barbatos]

The Hollow Kings

▪ GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR): Dark Angels

▪ FOUNDING: 20th

▪ CHAPTER MASTER:

Master Coriolanus

Master Helicanus

Master Antiochus

▪ CHAPTER WORLD: Antioch

▪ FORTRESS MONASTERY:

Pentapolis

House of Godfrey
Baldrey Keep

▪ MAIN COLOURS: Blueish-gray and black with silver trim.

▪ SPECIALITY: Close-combat, rapid assault, pschological warfare.

▪ BATTLE CRY: DEATH! Roared before springing an ambush or engagement.

▪ CURRENT STRENGTH: 850 Brothers ready for duty.

▪ KNOWN DESCENDANTS: N/a

ORIGIN OF THE CHAPTER:

The Hollow Kings were founded during the 16th founding and were selected to be successors of the Dark Angels chapter. Command was given to then Veteran Captain Barbatos who took with him his squad of Veteran warriors including his close Battle-Brothers Helicanus, Coriolanus, Lear, Antiochus and Claudius. The retinue were given the Feudal World Antioch to call their home located in the Northern outskirts of the Segmentum Ultima. The Chapter at the time were solely led by Barbatos who ran the Chapter day to day by the book according to their progenitor Legion the Dark Angels, recruits were drawn from the neighbouring cities and forts. Most were sons of barons and noble lords other were simply peasantry who wished for a better future for their children, ignorant to the dangers beyond Antioch. For a time Antioch faced relative peace and the Chapter was able to grow in strength, but things were not as calm internally within the Chapter.

Barbatos was a believer of all men are born equally under the Imperium and offered the chance of recruitment to all inhabitants of Antioch, including neighbouring planets of the system, Ephesus and Acre. The then Master of recruits Helicanus saw an influx of peasantry being sent his way which did not sit well with him. The feeling was mutual amongst his own 3rd Company, they believed only those of noble standing and blood should be honoured to join their ranks as they were trained in the ways of Knighthood from birth. Antioch had a history of raiding from the enemies of the Imperium, most notably were Cultists and Renegades who often kidnapped entire cities at a time for their own sick reasons. Helicanus argued with Barbatos that recruiting peasants who were also favourites of raiding parties would increase the risk of corruption within the Chapter. Not only did he believe that the peasantry were unworthy but the majority of those that failed the recruitment process were of lower birth and few ever reached the rank of scout. Barbatos refused to change the ways of recruitment and over powered his close friends request, leading to a resentment within Helicanus for his Chapter Master.

After centuries of relative peace civil war broke out amongst the lords of Antioch. The Antiochs were always in dispute over succession to the throne of their civilised continents and wars raged across the land claiming the lives of millions. Barbatos had a habit of helping whichever side he deemed the most worthy and helped to elevate them in the war. The one to oppose this action was Antiochus who was the Captain of the 2nd Company at the time. His opposition came about after for the first time in the history of the chapter a brother was killed by a mere human. The fallen one was Lear Captain of the 4th who died in the largest civil war the planet had seen. The Antiochs were barely past hand-held gunpowder weaponry but they were masters in it's more unorthodox uses. A huge explosion caused by primitive land-mines racked the battlefield killing thousands of humans and the entirety of Captain Lear's Command Squad as they touched down in their thunderhawk. His death was mourned by the chapter and avenged by Antiochus and the young Sergeant Coriolanus, the pair massacred the population of the largest city on Antioch. Barbatos was furious and called for the heads of these renegade brothers.

The Chapter was split in two by these events. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th companies opposed Barbatos and seized the fortress Monastery in a bloody coup, slaying their brothers with swords, axes and daggers to avoid raising alarm during recreational hours. The victims of the coup were Barbatos' 1st company and Claudius' 5th who fled the Monastery as they did not wish to perish on that day. Barbatos swore to one day sieze his chapter again and end those who would end his rule, he prepared his loyal men and went into hiding. Meanwhile Helicanus and Antiochus scoured the planet for Barbatos and Lear determined to end the disgraceful Astartes and prevent further harm to the chapter. After a century of searching Helicanus had grew impatient and he was known for his fits of rage at near mention of the traitors to the chapter.

But then it was revealed to Helicanus and Antiochus that Barbatos had been hiding amongst the peasantry and had been preparing them for an assault on Pentapolis. The news was given to them by a claimant to the Throne of Antioch one Lord Iago. Helicanus stood up from his chair and entered the Great Hall to give command to his feasting brothers.

"Brothers! Set down your chalice and shank, let not one more morsel of food touch your lips. Take in your hands now, blade, axe, spear and the chains of our hounds. Spare your Bolters and leave them to rest, for unworthy quarrel should not be spared a swift death. I give you leave of this hall and of your duties to take upon you our base venture. From now until the next full moon, go now and fall upon those of shameful birth. For theirs is a path of treachery and disobedience to us, their masters. The false Brother Barbatos and his servant Claudius have been revealed to us and the serfdom have been found sympathising with those that would bring ruin to our Chapter. Go now and bring death to them all. Silence the life of man, woman and babe. Save what trophies you want for your vanity and choke the streets with the dead. We are The Hollow Kings and we shall establish our legend today."

The Hollow Kings emptied Pentapolis and descended upon local towns and cities not as organised squads or formation, but more as a rabble of eager butchers. They slew all those of lower birth. There was no pattern of killing, individuals would torture families and others swiftly separate heads from necks. Some brothers banded together and spent days gathering as many peasants as they could before throwing them all into a pit in remote fields and setting them alight with pitch and fire. Those few who survived tell stories of Astartes laughing and showing evidence of enjoyment at the slaughter, others recall vengeful skull-faced figures clad in black entering villages to warn the populace of the coming slaughter before taking part in the killing themselves. After a week of killing Helicanus, Antiochus and all those loyal to them gathered at the Fields of Mercy in full battle formation with their close-combat weapons dripping with blood. Barbatos and Claudius had sent coordinates of their location to The Hollow Kings along with a message to cease the slaughter. The two forces met at the Fields and began their final battle. The battle lasted two hours and Barbatos' small force was obliterated, some taken prisoner and tortured for their sins against the chapter. Helicanus himself slew Claudius by driving his sword through the traitors mouth, Barbatos was hacked into pieces by Corolianus after defeating him in single combat. The traitors heads were mounted on spears and stand to his day at the gates of Pentapolis as a warning to those that would dare to rise up against the Hollow Kings.

After the rebellion Helicanus proclaimed that the Chapter should not be led by one Brother alone and instead three Brothers shall stand equal as leaders to ensure survival. Helicanus, Antiochus and Coriloanus stood as Masters of the Chapter and continued their rule over Antioch with an iron fist.

CHAPTER HOME WORLD:

Antioch is a large Feudal World located in the North of the Segmentum Ultima. Most of the planet is covered in forests of different sizes and density mostly save the huge tundra surrounding the Northern Pole of the planet and rolling plains below the equator. There are a series of mountain ranges scattered around the planet all of varying sizes with a handful of dormant volcano ranges in the ocean covering 55% of the gargantuan planet. The populace are spread across the planet with varying cultures and ethnicities, with a population number somewhere between 800-840 million. Though different in their ways they all share the same architectural aesthetic with slight variations. The majority of the planets populace are ruled by the current Queen Gormlaith who in turn is served by numerous nobles ruling their own city-states and townships, each with their own political agenda, something which often leads to localised civil wars between rival barons. Most open land-mass is inhabited by the planets peasantry residing in villages and great herding caravans, they provide the planets basic labour and agriculture. Overall the planet seems to mirror the Ancient Terran Medieval period of time, with gunpowder applied mostly to ordnance and artillery warfare in favour of handheld firearms.

The planet has a steady ecosystem of flora and fauna, most of which are found in the forests of the planet. Animals range from basic livestock of ovine and bovine and huge monstrosities that lurk in the forest and lakes.

The Hollow Kings occupy three Fortress Monasteries across the planet:-

Pentapolis - The main HQ of the Chapter located atop a mountain overlooking Brunthalth the largest city on Antioch. It houses the Main force of the chapter with the 1st-7th Companies occupying the great Citadel along with Chapter serfs and prisoners. It appears as a twisting castle the same stone grey as the mountain it's carved into. Various glass-stained windows dot the structure as well as gothic sculptures and gargoyles depicting great heroes of the Imperium. Notable locations include The Great Hall where the Astartes take meals and meeting and the Bellfrey of Britta which houses the 1st Company Standard. Recruits visit Pentapolis to take their final oath before becoming a Battle-Brother of the Hollow Kings.

House of Godfrey - The House of Godfrey is located at the Pale Fields, a stretch of tundra surrounding Antioch's southern pole. The fortress is built of white stone the colour of snow and sits next to a strip mine. It is here where the Chapters arms and armour are made by a faction of the Adeptus Mechanicus allied with the Hollow Kings, it is here that young recruits are brought to learn how to use their weaponry and where the chapters techmarine resides. Occupied by the 8th company

Baldrey Keep - Located at the heart of the Central Forests, Baldrey Keep is an ancient castle once occupied by the native Antiochs but was lost to their knowledge after an ancient war. The Hollow Kings use the Keep for the training of recruits, using the surrounding forest as mock battle-grounds and hunting grounds. It is also here that the surgical rituals to create space marines take place. Occupied by the 9th Company

PRESENT ACTIVITIES:

The Acre Crusade- Master Coriolanus along with his part of the 1st, 6th and 8th Companies have undertaken a Crusade to recapture the neighbouring planet Acre from chaos cultists. The campaign so far has continued without complication as the Hollow Kings reclaim the planet city by city. The planet has been found to have a culture almost identical to Antioch with the exception of an unusually large population of abhumans and a more diverse climate.

Ephesus Conquest- The 2nd Company has made contact with the mysterious desert planet Ephesus and it's nomadic people. They have shown compliance and an outpost has been established.

Forming of the PDF and Astra Militarum- Master Helicanus has been tasked with the founding of the Antioch PDF. The Astra Militarum have also crafted a presence on Antioch with the formation of ten regiments of Guardsmen.

COMBAT DOCTRINE:

The Hollow Kings stick to the Codex Astartes for general combat etiquette but Battle-Brothers are more proficient in close combat and will often end up charging the enemy line after sufficient long-range suppression. Masters Coroilanus, Helicanus and Antioch teach their chapter to manipulate the enemies fear and remain silent in combat save for the orders of the sergeants and captains. The Hollow Kings favour forested terrain and will often employ long-range firing in order to taunt the enemy into seeking out combat rather than suffer casualties by an unseen foe, to ensure this each Brother hones their marksmanship in hunting the great beasts of the Central Forests. They share the use of attack bikes and land speeders like their parent Chapter the Dark Angels, also maintaining the deployment of Nephilim fighters.

CHAPTER ORGANIZATION:

The Hollow Kings choose to have three Chapter Masters acting as a small council to lead the Chapter, each his own diplomat and great warrior in his own right.

The Hollow Kings currently command 8 battle companies with roughly nine 10 man squads and a single squad of assault marines in each company. The 8th Company is the chapters armoured fighting force and are responsible for the fielding and maintenance of tanks and land speeders. The first company are the veterans and terminators and the 9th hold the scouts.

(decided to keep it shortish for now as a still feel I can add things later)

[Conn Eremon]

Not much to go off of as now, but it looks like you switch between Chapter names (Hollow Kings vs Flowing Blades), Foundings (20th vs 16th) and gene-seed (Dark Angel vs Ultramarine). Are these two separate Chapters?

[Olis]

I think you may want to switch out "Scaremongering" for "Psychological Warfare". :)

[Barbatos]

@Conn lol, I copied and pasted the template from another guy on here because I couldn't find a suitable one, need to change it.
@Olis, I always forget to specify that one, thanks!