Index Astartes: The Red Table

[ElectricPaladin]

Last night I had a dream where Spikey Bits apparently had a service where you would ship them an army, pay them a small monthly fee, and they would keep it for you. In this dream, I got an email from Spikey Bits saying that I had an entire Space Marine army that I'd forgotten about, which they were now sending back to me. When the package arrived, I found an army with a sort of a Blood-Angels feel, but more medieval and creepy and death-obsessed and less renaissance-y and beautiful (but plus skulls). Lots of skull helmets, long knives, corpse imagery, etc.

 

I've decided that I'm at least going to write an Index Astartes for these guys, and who knows? Maybe I'll build up a detachment or a Zone Mortalis force for them.

 

I don't have a chapter name yet. The thread's title comes from the one piece of writing that I recall from the dream (yes, the dream included the army's codex, which was in the box that Spikey Bits sent me) - an upgrade option for command squads, I think, called "The Banner of the Red Table" which gave the unit's melee weapons Rending.

 

Feel free to post with ideas and images inspired by what I've written so far.

[Teetengee]

dream inspiration, sounds good!

[Quixus]

Interesting. Go for it. The fluff sounds a bit like Mortifactors.

[Nomus Sardauk]

Sounds like a vision from the Emperor to me... I think your path is clear brother, bring forth these morbid angels, I hunger for more information...

[Warsmith Uveron]

Sounds like a vision from the Emperor to me... I think your path is clear brother, bring forth these morbid angels, I hunger for more information...

 

I don't know.. these could be a Fallen Successor of the Blood Angels! 

[ElectricPaladin]

Re: a name. I've got some ideas. Here's my short list so far (in alphabetical order):

 

• Crypt Wardens
• Necropolis Guard
• Ossuary Guard
• Quietus Guard
• Terminus Guard

 

I like "Guard" or "Wardens" as the second half of the name, because it seems to invoke duty, guardianship, patience, and service. I like the idea of these grim astartes taking the "we are mortals removed from the normal ebb and flow of life" idea to an extreme - somewhat like the Novamarines, they view themselves as "the dead," whereas living normal mortals are "the living." As far as the first half of the name, I'm torn. "Crypt" is short, punchy, and to the point, but Quietus, Terminus, and Ossuary evoke the baroque "grim fantasia" of this Chapter, with their enormous reliquary battle standards, skull helmets, and elaborate death imagery. Necropolis is probably my favorite (with Ossuary as a close second), but both words have the weakness of being more specific. While Terminus and Quietus both refer to death in general and Crypt evokes pretty much any final resting place of the dead, "necropolis" specifically means a city of the dead and "ossuary" means, specifically, a room under a church where bones are stored after they have to be exhumed to make room for new bodies in the cemetery.

 

Thoughts?

[Conn Eremon]

A Chapter that came to you in a dream? I approve. For names, of the ones you list I would say that Crypt Guard flows best.

 

If words like Ossuary and Necropolis are favorites that don't quite fit, you can apply them to where they would fit. Considering the exaggerated gothic/religious take on humanity, it wouldn't be far-fetched to see a planet named Ossuary. Could even have a past as a cemetery world for nearby systems. The Chapter takes it as a home world because it is in a strategically valuable location, or simply because it's an auspicious choice. But mostly, because you get the most excellent demonym of the Ossuarians. Now, if there is a planet called Ossuary, which deals solely in the dead but has a population of the living, then wouldn't Necropolis be a likely candidate for where they are settled? Or if not, the Chapter fortress-monastery?

[Quixus]

IMHO Crypt Wardens/Guard sound like a Necron unit. Unfortunately I have nothing better to offer.

[ElectricPaladin]

That's awesome. Ossuary is definitely the name of their homeworld... and here's its history (NOTE - the post wandered off into more about the chapter; sorry not sorry):

Ossuary is a night-world, one side tidally locked to the system's sun, the other shrouded in eternal darkness. The Ossuarians were forced underground by this arrangement, but they managed to thrive, building huge underground galleries and vaults in which to live their lives. The planet Ossuary never rediscovered Warp travel, in part because of the near-constant Eldar corsair raids that troubled them, stunting their space travel (they only managed to colonize two of their system's planets, and these "colonies" were much more armed outposts).

However, Ossuary remained free. In part, this is because they adopted the technology of Entombment, an early form of what would later develop into the neural links that would one day allow the Legiones Astartes to field dreadnoughts. Entombment worked on ordinary mortals, but the process was much less reliable, with a greater percentage of the entombed soldiers meeting final death during the process or going mad shortly thereafter. Entombment did provide Ossuary with an elite force of "undead" soldiery who were ruthlessly dedicated to protecting the living loved ones they had left behind. Although not the equal of an Astartes, these warriors were extremely durable in close combat and capable of rapidly redeploying with powerful long-range weaponry and firing these weapons accurately on the move, both of which gave them a fighting chance against the xenos raiders, especially when backed up by the considerable might of Ossuary's living soldiers.

Luckily for the mortals of Ossuary, the task force sent to bring the planet into Compliance was composed primarily of elements drawn from the Salamanders, Death Guard, and Ultramarines Legions, and led by Mortarion himself. Early vox-intercepts indicated that Ossuary was a good candidate for peaceful induction into the growing Empire. After a brief show of force, the task force was able to encourage Ossuary to agree to a treaty that favored the Empire, including full transfer of technological advancements and STCs. Ossuary was more than happy to cease the foul practice of Entombment - which they had come to see as a burden rather than an honor - especially when Mortarion agreed to leave behind a small detachment of Astartes to deal with the xenos raiders.

The problem of the Eldar corsairs was not fully resolved when the Horus Heresy began seven decades later, however, and in the chaos of those dark years, Ossuary returned to Entombment, reawakening their old defenders and creating more as needed. Once again, their dark technology served them well, and Ossuary became a beacon of hope and stability as the galaxy burned, absorbing refugee populations from several nearby systems. This "hybrid vigor" increased their cultural and physiological durability, helping the planet to survive the centuries to come before they were eventually rediscovered by the Imperium. It also brought with it elements of the Imperial Cult, which helped Ossuary to once more integrate peacefully with Mankind's larger society.

This time, however, the situation was much more fraught. The Imperium of Man had become even more intolerant in the years since the Heresy, and Entombment amounted to vile necromancy and tech-heresy. At the same time, Ossuary was tactically important, being located near several Webway gates (the source of their ongoing trouble with xenos raiders) and their undead legions presented enough of a military threat that the most optimistic projections were of a protracted war that ended in Exterminatus and a lengthy and expensive rebuilding process.

The solution was to once more give Ossuary the protection of the Astartes. This time, however, the Imperium sponsored the founding of an entire chapter. Drawn from Imperial Fists geneseed, the Necropolis Guard¹ was tasked with defending Ossuary and the rest of the systems, keeping watch over the Webway gates, and - of course - lending assistance to nearby Imperial forces when practical.

The culture of Ossuary had a strong impact on that of the growing chapter. Although they still lived, technically, the Ossuraians recruited to the Necropolis Guard saw a strong kinship with the Entombed that preceded them. Both were once mortal, but had been removed from the normal cycle of birth, procreation, and death in order to protect their living fellows. The natural temperament of the Imperial Fists combined with these memes to create a chapter with a strong sense of their role as servants and protectors to mortals, rather than their superiors. The Necropolis Guard took on the heraldry of the Entombed, adorning themselves with skulls and corpse-imagery to make their status as the honored dead clearer. They also favored their own version of the practice of Entombment, frequently creating dreadnoughts and allowing those dreadnoughts to continue to serve in a variety of roles, including the chaplaincy and, several times over the years, as chapter masters. As a result of their temperament, the expertise of Ossuary's tech-savants, or some quirk of the Imperial Fists geneseed, Necropolis Guard dreadnoughts are unusually stable. Many can remain awake for years at a time without significant degradation.

1) Still not sure about the name...

Further thoughts:

• Since this is a " and giggles" project, I might go ahead and invent a Psychic Necromancy discipline for their librarians.
• A character dreadnought based on the Forgeworld chaplain dreadnought kit?
• My dream included banners, so I've got to make command squads central...
• An upgrade that makes devastator squads Slow and Purposeful (mimicking the advantage of the Entombed soldiers)? Or... I was originally viewing the various banner upgrades (see above) work as "give everyone in the area a bonus and the command squad itself a bigger bonus), but what if instead the banners (or some of the banners) provided army-wide buffs, but at the cost of altering the FOC in some irritating way?

[ElectricPaladin]

And... color scheme, draft 1:

[Teetengee]

looking good so far, although I am not a huge fan of Necropolis Guard for a name

[Quixus]

That's awesome. Ossuary is definitely the name of their homeworld... and here's its history (NOTE - the post wandered off into more about the chapter; sorry not sorry):

Ossuary is a night-world, one side tidally locked to the system's sun, the other shrouded in eternal darkness. The Ossuarians were forced underground by this arrangement, but they managed to thrive, building huge underground galleries and vaults in which to live their lives. The planet Ossuary never rediscovered Warp travel, in part because of the near-constant Eldar corsair raids that troubled them, stunting their space travel (they only managed to colonize two of their system's planets, and these "colonies" were much more armed outposts).

However, Ossuary remained free. In part, this is because they adopted the technology of Entombment, an early form of what would later develop into the neural links that would one day allow the Legiones Astartes to field dreadnoughts. Entombment worked on ordinary mortals, but the process was much less reliable, with a greater percentage of the entombed soldiers meeting final death during the process or going mad shortly thereafter. Entombment did provide Ossuary with an elite force of "undead" soldiery who were ruthlessly dedicated to protecting the living loved ones they had left behind. Although not the equal of an Astartes, these warriors were extremely durable in close combat and capable of rapidly redeploying with powerful long-range weaponry and firing these weapons accurately on the move, both of which gave them a fighting chance against the xenos raiders, especially when backed up by the considerable might of Ossuary's living soldiers.

Luckily for the mortals of Ossuary, the task force sent to bring the planet into Compliance was composed primarily of elements drawn from the Salamanders, Death Guard, and Ultramarines Legions, and led by Mortarion himself. Early vox-intercepts indicated that Ossuary was a good candidate for peaceful induction into the growing Empire. After a brief show of force, the task force was able to encourage Ossuary to agree to a treaty that favored the Empire, including full transfer of technological advancements and STCs. Ossuary was more than happy to cease the foul practice of Entombment - which they had come to see as a burden rather than an honor - especially when Mortarion agreed to leave behind a small detachment of Astartes to deal with the xenos raiders.

The problem of the Eldar corsairs was not fully resolved when the Horus Heresy began seven decades later, however, and in the chaos of those dark years, Ossuary returned to Entombment, reawakening their old defenders and creating more as needed. Once again, their dark technology served them well, and Ossuary became a beacon of hope and stability as the galaxy burned, absorbing refugee populations from several nearby systems. This "hybrid vigor" increased their cultural and physiological durability, helping the planet to survive the centuries to come before they were eventually rediscovered by the Imperium. It also brought with it elements of the Imperial Cult, which helped Ossuary to once more integrate peacefully with Mankind's larger society.

This time, however, the situation was much more fraught. The Imperium of Man had become even more intolerant in the years since the Heresy, and Entombment amounted to vile necromancy and tech-heresy. At the same time, Ossuary was tactically important, being located near several Webway gates (the source of their ongoing trouble with xenos raiders) and their undead legions presented enough of a military threat that the most optimistic projections were of a protracted war that ended in Exterminatus and a lengthy and expensive rebuilding process.

The solution was to once more give Ossuary the protection of the Astartes. This time, however, the Imperium sponsored the founding of an entire chapter. Drawn from Imperial Fists geneseed, the Necropolis Guard¹ was tasked with defending Ossuary and the rest of the systems, keeping watch over the Webway gates, and - of course - lending assistance to nearby Imperial forces when practical.

The culture of Ossuary had a strong impact on that of the growing chapter. Although they still lived, technically, the Ossuraians recruited to the Necropolis Guard saw a strong kinship with the Entombed that preceded them. Both were once mortal, but had been removed from the normal cycle of birth, procreation, and death in order to protect their living fellows. The natural temperament of the Imperial Fists combined with these memes to create a chapter with a strong sense of their role as servants and protectors to mortals, rather than their superiors. The Necropolis Guard took on the heraldry of the Entombed, adorning themselves with skulls and corpse-imagery to make their status as the honored dead clearer. They also favored their own version of the practice of Entombment, frequently creating dreadnoughts and allowing those dreadnoughts to continue to serve in a variety of roles, including the chaplaincy and, several times over the years, as chapter masters. As a result of their temperament, the expertise of Ossuary's tech-savants, or some quirk of the Imperial Fists geneseed, Necropolis Guard dreadnoughts are unusually stable. Many can remain awake for years at a time without significant degradation.

1) Still not sure about the name...

Nice!

Since this is a " and giggles" project, I might go ahead and invent a Psychic Necromancy discipline for their librarians.

Or you could refluff whatever the demonology discipline brings forth.

A character dreadnought based on the Forgeworld chaplain dreadnought kit?

That's a good idea. Alternately or in addition to that you could use the MK IV/Venerable/Contemptor Dreadnought and give it a skull helmet.

If dreadnoughts play a central role in the chapter's fuff, maybe give them the "Talon rules" from 30K.

An upgrade that makes devastator squads Slow and Purposeful (mimicking the advantage of the Entombed soldiers)? Or... I was originally viewing the various banner upgrades (see above) work as "give everyone in the area a bonus and the command squad itself a bigger bonus), but what if instead the banners (or some of the banners) provided army-wide buffs, but at the cost of altering the FOC in some irritating way?

Maybe give the devastators SnP and the tacticals the monbility of TDA (i.e. relentless, no sweeping advances), but prohibit all non-transport tanks (whirlwinds, predators etc.).

[ElectricPaladin]

 

A character dreadnought based on the Forgeworld chaplain dreadnought kit?

 

That's a good idea. Alternately or in addition to that you could use the MK IV/Venerable/Contemptor Dreadnought and give it a skull helmet.

 

If dreadnoughts play a central role in the chapter's fuff, maybe give them the "Talon rules" from 30K.

 

An upgrade that makes devastator squads Slow and Purposeful (mimicking the advantage of the Entombed soldiers)? Or... I was originally viewing the various banner upgrades (see above) work as "give everyone in the area a bonus and the command squad itself a bigger bonus), but what if instead the banners (or some of the banners) provided army-wide buffs, but at the cost of altering the FOC in some irritating way?

 

Maybe give the devastators SnP and the tacticals the monbility of TDA (i.e. relentless, no sweeping advances), but prohibit all non-transport tanks (whirlwinds, predators etc.).

 

 Oh... I like that. That also fits with them having a poor relationship with the Mechanicum because the tech-priests still give them the side-eye as borderline hereteks. And yeah, the Talon rule would certainly make it easier for them to bring a ton of dreadnoughts...

[Quixus]

Well SM dreads come in squadrons but I think Space Marine veterans whose service extends beyond death should be allowed as they please, so the talon rule fits better IMHO.

 

Are you planning on using CAA-BA or CAA-SM for the army? From the fluff you already wrote, I think Iron Hands chapter tactics would fit better mechanically than Furious Charge and potentially Red Thirst. That of course does not mean they should have X Legion geneseed.

[ElectricPaladin]

As the fluff has evolved, I'm thinking that they are an Imperial Fists successor, but a rather distant one in terms of culture (ie. don't really care about Dorn, don't go to the Feast of Blades). On the table, I'm going to make up my own Chapter Tactics for friendly games (I have an extremely tolerant FLGS that mostly plays narrative games anyway), but I'd use Iron Hands Chapter Tactics when playing with a stranger.

[Conn Eremon]

I'd suggest checking out the Excoriators as a possible path to Imperial Fist gene-seed.

[ElectricPaladin]

Actually, I'm thinking that there are three tiers of how "weird" my army is going to be:

• Tier One - Normal: Chapter Tactics (Iron Hands) and some idiosyncratic list-building choices, power scythes as counts-as power fists.
• Tier Two - Let's Try Something Different: Chapter Tactics (Iron Hands) plus some made-up relics, banners, and maybe power scythes and the Necromancy discipline.
• Tier Three - Um...: The whole nine yards, including Chapter Tactics (Necropolis Guard), made up special characters, etc.

 

And the thing I'm very grateful for is that I've got an FLGS where I'll be able to play Tier 3 from time to time.

 

By the way - does anyone know of a third party sculptor who can sell me power scythe bits?

[Teetengee]

Kromlech is working on some if I recall correctly.

[ElectricPaladin]

I'd suggest checking out the Excoriators as a possible path to Imperial Fist gene-seed.

Does it work that way? I thought that "gene-seed is gene-seed is gene-seed," to quote something I read at some point (possibly myself ). They'd still just be Imperial Fists... and would the Mechanicus use a chapter with a known serious flaw? That said, they could be drawn from Imperial Fists geneseed but had a training cadre drawn from the Excoriators...

Kromlech is working on some if I recall correctly.

I actually just found some on Shapeways, but we'll see. I'm not moving very quickly with this project.

[Conn Eremon]

There's a lot we (thankfully) don't know about how Foundings work, and it's not unknown in canon or DIYs to state a parent Chapter as being derived not simply by a source designated with a Legion numeral, but from a specific Chapter's gene-seed. Think of the Astral Claws, who were so willing to help out the struggling Tiger Claws because the Astral Claws was their parent Chapter.

 

But really, when I say look to the Excoriators, I don't just mean as the parent Chapter, but I mean look to how this canon example of a Chapter similar in part to your own idea acts, operates and behaves, as a Chapter and as sons of Dorn. Also, to check out their Space Marine Battles novel Legion of the Damned, which besides the fact that they introduced the Excoriators to me (and I thought were even more interesting than the title Marines), involved the cemetery world I had in mind when I made the Ossuary recommendation and included many scenes involving your typical Space Marine commander butting theological heads with a high-ranking Imperial Priest, who would of course be heavily involved in such a world.

 

In other words, just check them out. I really think exploring them will help you come to grips with your own idea.

[Olis]

Had an idea for a name - the Ossifactors. Slight drawback, though, in that the homeworld is called "Ossuary" (imagine that the little lightbulb above my head was turned off when I saw that :P ). I think we'd be over-egging the pudding if we went with my suggestion. Oh well. ^_^

[ElectricPaladin]

Well, FWIW I'm not entirely decided on the name. Necropolis Guard is approaching the top of the list, butI'm not married to it yet.

[Wulf Vengis]

Sounds like a vision from the Emperor to me... I think your path is clear brother, bring forth these morbid angels, I hunger for more information...

The Morbid Angels

 

Seems firing to me.

[ElectricPaladin]

I love Morbid Angels, but it sounds too much like the name of a metal band.

 

My wife - who has excellent taste - likes Crypt Wardens and Terminus Guard. Since I agree that Crypt Wardens sounds a little too much like a Necron unit, that's skewing me towards Terminus Guard...

[ElectricPaladin]

I'm actually getting more and more fond of "Terminus Guard" as the name. I've been doing some research, and I like the ambiguity. Terminus can refer to death, which is a somewhat ill-omened name, especially when combined with "Guard"... but Terminus was the Roman god of boundaries, the one who separated neighbors' property and - by extension - civilization from barbarism, which is the very antithesis of Chaos.