Liberalia Martiale 2016 - To rid the world of penitence

[Olis]

Hail, Dark Angels! Welcome to the Liberalia Martiale, a celebration of creativity, character and lore. It is also a time to thank those influential in making and maintaining the Liber - such as Kurgan and the many Liberites past and present.

So... this one is going to be a weird one. But, I hope, fun. What I'd like to do as a creative exercise is to take one line, from the famous poem by Lionel Johnson The Dark Angel, and use it as inspiration for a Chapter. A quick paragraph or two of detail about a DIY that you think of.

I will offer you the same condition as i have the BA subforum - twenty-five unique entries from unique individuals will qualify the entire group for a random selection (as done by the relevant Mods). The winner will have a full blown IA crafted by me for them, consultation included.

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The Dark Angel

Dark Angel, with thine aching lust
To rid the world of penitence:
Malicious Angel, who still dost
My soul such subtile violence!

Because of thee, no thought, no thing,
Abides for me undesecrate:
Dark Angel, ever on the wing,
Who never reachest me too late!

When music sounds, then changest thou
Its silvery to a sultry fire:
Nor will thine envious heart allow
Delight untortured by desire.

Through thee, the gracious Muses turn,
To Furies, O mine Enemy!
And all the things of beauty burn
With flames of evil ecstasy.

Because of thee, the land of dreams
Becomes a gathering place of fears:
Until tormented slumber seems
One vehemence of useless tears.

When sunlight glows upon the flowers,
Or ripples down the dancing sea:
Thou, with thy troop of passionate powers,
Beleaguerest, bewilderest, me.

Within the breath of autumn woods,
Within the winter silences:
Thy venomous spirit stirs and broods,
O Master of impieties!

The ardour of red flame is thine,
And thine the steely soul of ice:
Thou poisonest the fair design
Of nature, with unfair device.

Apples of ashes, golden bright;
Waters of bitterness, how sweet!
O banquet of a foul delight,
Prepared by thee, dark Paraclete!

Thou art the whisper in the gloom,
The hinting tone, the haunting laugh:
Thou art the adorner of my tomb,
The minstrel of mine epitaph.

I fight thee, in the Holy Name!
Yet, what thou dost, is what God saith:
Tempter! should I escape thy flame,
Thou wilt have helped my soul from Death:

The second Death, that never dies,
That cannot die, when time is dead:
Live Death, wherein the lost soul cries,
Eternally uncomforted.

Dark Angel, with thine aching lust!
Of two defeats, of two despairs:
Less dread, a change to drifting dust,
Than thine eternity of cares.

Do what thou wilt, thou shalt not so,
Dark Angel! triumph over me:
Lonely, unto the Lone I go;
Divine, to the Divinity.

Lionel Johnson

Example (line chosen at random): That cannot die, when time is dead:

Angels Nihilus
The Angels Nihilus are a morbid lot, with the chapter culture predominantly focused on death and what it is to die. They do not care for the bodies of their dead, which they soon strip of usable equipment, nor do they treat their ancients as heroes - they see them as those who merely wait longer to die.

Often taken to resting in stasis capsules, the Angels Nihilus know of little more than war and death. Their armour is charcoal black, with dark grey trim. Many brothers often partake in bone charms and painting skulls on their faces. The current Nihilanth (Chapter Master) is the Chief Librarian Edrick Mortuus, an individual adept in terrifying enemies and prognostication.

[Grand Master Belial]

Or ripples down the dancing sea

 

The Harbourmasters

 

A chapter by edict to watch over several of the common warp translation points between Terra and the Cadian Gate. The effects of the steady stream of warp translations has created an effect of ripples in space. Every so often, the translation would remain open longer than usual and the denizens of the warp would spring forth. But they will encounter the Harbourmasters, replendid in their purple and blue plate and armed with weapons blessed and sanctified to further expedite the return of the deamons to the Immaterium.

 

The chapter is broken up amongst the various translation points and has never fought as a single chapter. The chapter maintains a series of smaller chapter houses large enough for a single battle company and elements from the reserve, scout and the formidable First Company. The chapter actively seeks out candidates to join the chapter's Librarium and it is not unknown for the Inquisition to provide assistance and fight alongside the Harbourmasters.

[Spaced Hulk]

"And all the things of beauty burn"

 

The Angels Infernus

Shadows and flame amongst the stars

 

A nomadic, fleet based Astartes Chapter, the Angels Infernus are said to roam throughout the entirety of Imperial space, their appearances sporadic and seemingly random. One thing alone is certain, for where-ever they travel, only complete devastation is left in their wake.

 

Founded from stable First Legion gene-stock in the lineage of the Angels of Vengeance, these reclusive warriors have deliberately severed almost all ties and communication with the wider Imperium, including the other so-called Unforgiven Chapters. Nevertheless, their loyalty to the Throne appears unquestionable, as whenever their ancient, battle scarred warships emerge from the turmoil of the Warp, it is without exception to purge human worlds which have rebelled or seceded from the Emperor's Light. Often arriving long before Retribution Fleets have even been assembled, it is speculated that the Librarium of the Angels Infernus is somehow able to predict such large scale acts of treachery, allowing the Chapter to quickly deploy to counter these unforgivable crimes as they occur.

 

Regrettably, the one complaint which can be justifiably levelled against the Chapter is that they are perhaps over zealous in their prosecution of their duties. Rebellious worlds which attract the attention of the Angels Infernus are literally reduced to ash, the civilian populations destroyed as surely and effectively as their heretical leaders and rogue military forces. No mercy or quarter is given, as these grim Space Marines ruthlessly and efficiently exterminate every living soul.  Once they have achieved this objective, the entire civilization is put to the torch, cremating the remains of the dead along with everything they once possessed. It is believed that some of the greatest works of art ever created by a human hand have been destroyed by the infamous Firestarter squads of the Angels Infernus.

 

Deviating from the Codex Astartes in several key ways, the Chapter specialises in shock assault and has a marked tendency towards flame and melta weaponry. Although they have retained the jet black armour of their predecessors, each Angel Infernus paints his gauntlets and forearms a fiery crimson, a symbol perhaps of their predilection for flame, or as their detractors say, of the endless blood that stains both their hands and their souls. 

 

[Olis]

A pair of interesting entries, brothers. Anyone else care to try their hand?