Executioners successor Chapter

[Tulkas]

So, it has been decided. My Chapter will be a successor of the Executioners. Everything I had in mind for them is in sync with the established lore of the Executioners. But since I already have a color scheme I love, they cannot be Executioners. Therefore, Chapter Master Arkash Hakkon, High Executioner of the Executioners Space Marine Chapter, has appointed his First Company Captain Brictius to take one hundred chosen men and found a new Chapter.

 

Amongst his chosen are his Black Shields, his personal bodyguard. These five warriors, together with the Chaplain and Librarian appointed by Hakkon will form Brictius' War council. (I have no idea if there are set guidelines to how a Chapter can be founded, I'm just winging it). The Cuspis, a battle barge of unknown class has been granted to Brictius as his mobile base of operations. It will be his duty and responsibility to garner more warships through a tradition known as the paying the Iron Price. (I know, I know).

 

First and foremost, I want to list a number of traits and doctrines they have adopted from the Executioners (well, they ARE Executioners, just not in name any longer) and new ones Brictius has decided for them.

 

1. Their penchant for taking the fight up close to the enemy. A squad of Sternguard replacing a squad of Devastators, just like the old chapter.
2. It is upon Brictius to earn his way in the Emperor's eyes. An old tradition from his homeworld, one of the few memories he still has of that bleak place is "paying the Iron price". If you want something, you'll have to take it. If you can, it is yours by right. If you can't, you'll be dead and the worthy keep their trophies. It's how the Executioners aquired the Night Hag and it's how Brictius will have to outfit his own.
3. The Executioners believe that their Chapter was created for the sole task of seeking out and slaughtering Mankind's foes rather than undertaking any more defensive or strategic purpose. So it is for Brictius and his Hundred.
4. Not trying to sound "cooler than thou", but I have this view of the Executioners, and in particular The Hundred (as I'll call them for now) being hard, HARD bastards. Only death is final. Pain is temporary, no matter how grievous. If you can breathe, you can fight. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, crawl. But never give up.
5. Their tendancy for getting up close means units like Sternguard, Terminators (even tho there will only be a few suits) and Tactical Squads equipped with Specialist Weapons more than Heavy weapons (which means I might have to swap a few things around on my models, but I want to play fluffy first and foremost).

 

The Hundred:

 

First and foremost, Brictius, the Piebald.  A nickname given to him by his Blackshield ever since a Tyranic bio acid attack left a particularly peculiar scar pattern on his scalp.

 

One Chaplain, one Librarian and the Blackshields (5) that make up his body guard and, like Horus' Mournival, his war council. With the exception of the battle field, they are the only ones with the freedom to contradict and nay-say the Chapter Master's command. On the battlefield they shut up and follow, for there is no time to argue when there are heretics to burn. The Blackshields, with the exception of the Apothecary, have all been promised a position of Captaincy in the soon to be founded Battle Companies. The Chaplain and Librarian do not count towards The Hundred, as they were "a gift" from Hakkon.

 

Onslaught, a Venerable Dreadnought whos inhabitant has fought with Brictius ever since they were initiates. They were both inducted into the First company together, as Vanguard veterans until the marine who's name is no longer named was horribly injured fighting the very same Tyranids that earned Brictius his nickname. When word reached him of Brictius' promotion he requested to be one of The Hundred.

 

A Sternguard Veteran squad (10). Not named yet, but I love fielding these buggers, so yeah, they're in.

A Terminator Squad (10). Fluff wise it'll be hard to explain how Arkash Hakkon has this many suits to simply give away, but since I already field ten of these, that's another no brainer.

Three Tactical Squads (30). Equipped with specialist weapons more than with Heavy weapons to take the fight up to the enemy rather than blast them from afar.

One Assault Squad(5). I have five unpainted. Entering them "officially" on the roster might help put paint to them.

One Devastator Squad (5). Hey, it's not like they're against long range fire power entirely. This squad has one Razorback. I suppose the crew of this vehicle will count towards the Hundred. Anyone know how many Marines it takes to pilot one of these?

One Scout Squad under the command of Veteran Sergeant Gorm. No Chapter is complete without recruits after all.

 

So that's what's been called Dibs on so far. I'll add to this list as I buy more models as well. I've got my eye on a Hunter or two and I doubt it'll take long before I buy a Land Speeder either.

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

So this is what I've gathered on them so far. I would love to have some help fleshing out the rest of the Chapter. I know very little of the fluff of a new Chapter and what goes into building a new one and I would really like to have some solid fluff worked out that sound legit. I imagine there's a ton of experience on these boards and therefor I appreciate any and all help beefing these guys up. If there's some kind of template to go by, I would love to follow that. 

 

I do intend to give them a proper Chapter name at some point, but that will have to evolve naturally. I'm going to enter them in a narrative campaign that's being run in my local GW soon, I hope they can forge their destiny on the fields of battle properly.

[Dizzyeye01]

Alright, just gonna point a few things out before I head off to bed. First of all a company wouldn't be sent off to found a new chapter. If anything, the high Lords of Terra will call on the Executioner's to form a training cadre who'll then train the new recruits etc.

 

Along with this the chapter would of most likely been made during the 26 Foundings (excluding the 1st since that was legions). It would also mean that any Foundings before the Executioner's were founded are also out for obvious time paradox reasons that I'll leave with the Doctor ;)

 

Finally, the Tyranids (as a whole) came after the 26th Fou nding meaning the chances of an original member of the training cadre getting mortally wounded by one is extremely unlikely. My suggestion here is either you move the character to being the present (meaning he isn't involved in training the chapter) or change the race from being a Tyranid to one that is similar like the aliens on Murder in the first Horus Heresy book.

 

Everything else seems alright in my drousy state so I'll have a proper look in the morning :)

[Kastor Krieg]

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/275046-space-marine-chapters-and-their-workings/

 

On how to found a Chapter, among other stuff.

[Grey Hunter Ydalir]

I'd advise to read the Octaguide (linked in my sig), and the other resources linked and stickied in the Liber for chapter creation, then take another run at it, as you've stepped in a couple of pot holes. (We all do it, don't worry).

 

Chapters don't dictate foundings, the High Lords of Terra do.

 

There are some of the 26 foundings that are actually canonically locked down in terms of who and what was founded then.

 

A battle barge of unknown class? Unknown to whom exactly? The Executioners who own it? The reader? Why wouldn't they be aware of what class a ship they possess falls in to? Most Battle Barges are of a very similar size and construction, the difference being when the ship was constructed and where more than anything else.

 

Some of the older chapters do possess ships of varying caliber but this is more due to them having owned them since their creation, like relics being handed down in the oldest chapters. Like holdovers from when they were Legions.

 

 

What I'd like to know is what makes them different? What at all defines them as a separate entity to their parent chapter? Astartes chapters are more designed around the theme and character of the chapter itself. If they're identical to another chapter we as writers here in the Liber will wonder aloud as to why you're not simply using the original chapter.

[Tulkas]

Alright, just gonna point a few things out before I head off to bed. First of all a company wouldn't be sent off to found a new chapter. If anything, the high Lords of Terra will call on the Executioner's to form a training cadre who'll then train the new recruits etc.

Along with this the chapter would of most likely been made during the 26 Foundings (excluding the 1st since that was legions). It would also mean that any Foundings before the Executioner's were founded are also out for obvious time paradox reasons that I'll leave with the Doctor

Finally, the Tyranids (as a whole) came after the 26th Fou nding meaning the chances of an original member of the training cadre getting mortally wounded by one is extremely unlikely. My suggestion here is either you move the character to being the present (meaning he isn't involved in training the chapter) or change the race from being a Tyranid to one that is similar like the aliens on Murder in the first Horus Heresy book.

Everything else seems alright in my drousy state so I'll have a proper look in the morning

First point: agreed, I'm just crowbarring my way into having Executioners with a different color scheme. Also I simply love "taking it from here". That's all. As for their founding date, what's today's date? Again, a crowbar, but I was thinking that it had just happened very recently. The Hundred don't HAVE any history yet. I'll be penning things down as I go in this upcoming campaign I mentioned. That also makes it possible for them to have encountered the Tyranids in the way I said, but any kind of acid is good, I really don't care much about it being Tyranids specifically.

Thanks for you input pal, appreciate it.

I'd advise to read the Octaguide (linked in my sig), and the other resources linked and stickied in the Liber for chapter creation, then take another run at it, as you've stepped in a couple of pot holes. (We all do it, don't worry).

Chapters don't dictate foundings, the High Lords of Terra do.

There are some of the 26 foundings that are actually canonically locked down in terms of who and what was founded then.

A battle barge of unknown class? Unknown to whom exactly? The Executioners who own it? The reader? Why wouldn't they be aware of what class a ship they possess falls in to? Most Battle Barges are of a very similar size and construction, the difference being when the ship was constructed and where more than anything else.

Some of the older chapters do possess ships of varying caliber but this is more due to them having owned them since their creation, like relics being handed down in the oldest chapters. Like holdovers from when they were Legions.

What I'd like to know is what makes them different? What at all defines them as a separate entity to their parent chapter? Astartes chapters are more designed around the theme and character of the chapter itself. If they're identical to another chapter we as writers here in the Liber will wonder aloud as to why you're not simply using the original chapter.

On the founding: yeah like I told Dizzyeye, it's a crowbar way to get my own stuff really. If there's a more canonical way to achieve this, great. If not, so be it. Who's going to stop me (okay that sounded wrong.) I'll have a look at the various Chapter creation guides, they're just SO BIG I usually end up doing something else entirely before I'm halfway through.

The battle-barge thing is simple: I don't know the first thing about space ships. Other than they are often completely capable of sustaining a Chapter. So any technical information on that (if one has some) is appreciated. Like I said, large enough to house about 4-5 companies if possible. Don't need full blueprints, just a small summary of possibly type and important details is good enough for me.

What makes them different? Honestly? Their paint-scheme. That's it. I play my guys on the tabletop as Imperial Fists. I wanted them to be "get to the point" and "in your face" Space Marines and I wasn't looking for too long a Chapter name, preferably one simple, all defining word. Then the word "Executioners" formed in my mind yet I realised they already excisted. I looked up their Wiki, read it and immediately found that THIS was exactly what I had been imagining (it was like a SIGN) Only I love my paintjob more than the metallic blue. So problem. This thread is intended to be a solution Truth be told I'm just looking to make this work with the minimal amount of effort at this point.

The last timeline bullet point for the Executioners from the Wiki reads:

• Death Quest (998.M41) - Over eight decades into their century-long Penitent Crusade and having battled relentlessly across the vast swathes of the Imperium and beyond, the Executioners Chapter came upon the ruins of the Orpheus Sector. Discovering a realm decimated by war, the bones of countless heroes being picked over by the verminous Necron xenos, the Executioners vowed that their death quest will be completed upon the battlefields of Orpheus. Unheralded, the Imperial task force assigned to track the Executioners on their Crusade arrived in the region several days later, and a series of high level astropathic transmissions were directed at Terra and the Inquisitorial Representative on the Senatorum Imperialis.

Quite simply, the narrative for the campaign I'm joining is a planet/ system that's recently rediscovered and is being fought over by all types of armies and alliances. It's on the edge of space somewhere, IIRC, so this could fit the Orpheus sector nicely. (I always think, when two names for a planet or whatever don't match, then one name is probably the "native" name for it and the other is the Official Imperial Name).

Here's a picture of my own colors, and why I'm doing all of this.

Thanks for the help so far fellas, I really appreciate your thoughts on the matter. I'm off to reading various Chapter creation manuals now. Hope I finish one before it finishes me.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

I wonder if the "Emperor's Guillotines" is an appropriate name for this Chapter? That they view themselves as mere instruments with which the Emperor may exact justice?

 

Anyways, the Chapter Master's war council MUST include the Master of the Forge, who can advise him on the Chapter's logistical needs- it's hard to fight a battle when your army is running low on ammunition, after all.

[Doctor Perils]

As the others here have said, you seem to have fallen into some of the most common traps. No problem, we all do, especially when starting out writing new fluff. It is also the best/easiest way of learning how to do better :) That does however mean some amount of work (looking at the guides, and mix'n'matching the bits you like) and tough skin, as people will criticise your work (constructively for the most part), and can sometimes be a bit more caustic then they should (I unfortunately do that sometimes )

Anyway, you have some good starting elements: knowing precisely which chapter you come from can be of help; however, it can also hold you back if you stick to that chapter's culture too closely.

I also get the impression you want a rather young chapter, which is a very interesting time in a chapter's life, as it is during that time that they will establish their identity as a distinct entity from their parent chapter. It is also a learning curve, as those marines in the chapter have very little experience, so they can be vulnerable in some extent, meaning that their first battles can bring about even more change to their culture and battle doctrine.

The main problem that appears from the outset is the misconception that the chapter master has decided to create a new chapter himself: this has never happened in established fluff (even the Dark Angels had to petition the High Lords of Terra to create the Disciples of Caliban, and the Sons of Medusa were only officially created during a chapter founding by the HLoT). On the contrary, this would be seen as a grab for independence, and they would be attacked by the Imperium (The Badab War, also including the Executionners, is an example of a similar kind of circumstance).

My advice would be for the moment to pick a founding (one of the later ones, like 25th or 26th), to pick ten to twelve heroes from the Executionners to become the training cadre of your new chapter (they can become captains, and you will also have high ranking specialists), and no more then that. Brictius can still be a chapter master, and I suppose you could also retrieve a dreadnought, but the essential thing is to not dilute the strength of the Executionners. Also, read up on the fluff for the Executionners, as the date of the Badab War might mean that it isn't possible to make them come from the 26th founding.

Don't forget that your chapter will receive (normally) a full complement of 1000 marines at their creation, so this means they will be operational immediately (barring specific circumstances)

The next important step is to choose a name and a theme to go with your chaps, and you'll be well on your way to create a memorable chapter :)

[Conn Eremon]

On the founding: yeah like I told Dizzyeye, it's a crowbar way to get my own stuff really. If there's a more canonical way to achieve this, great. If not, so be it. Who's going to stop me tongue.png (okay that sounded wrong.)

Honestly, you can keep it as is, just add to it. They are right that the ultimate decision to make a Chapter is the High Lords' alone, but their involvement pretty much begins and ends with that decision, and there is a whole hell of a lot more to Foundings than that. The rest of the Founding pulls in quite a bit of resources and manpower from across the Imperium and Imperial agencies, and can take decades to see to completion.

 

At some point, Chapter Masters do become involved. Successors are born, and their progenitors assist with it. Notably in the form of training cadres, which may or may not remain behind and become full members of the new Chapter.

 

The details of all this are complete unknowns, which means it would really only take rather minor tweaks to make your idea fit.

 

A Founding has been declared. During the course of the Founding, the Executioners are selected to be honored with siring another Chapter. The Chapter Master of the Executioners is informed. And the Chapter Master chooses how his Chapter and his men will be involved.

[Nineswords]

Call the Chapter The Black Shields and use the Executioners symbol with the axes taken off and paint the red shield, you know, black.

[Doctor Perils]

Call the Chapter The Black Shields and use the Executioners symbol with the axes taken off and paint the red shield, you know, black.

Thing is, there's already a lot of black shields in the fluff, so it'd be complicated for a new chapter to not be confused with the better known blackshields