Heralds of Judgement (WIP)

Allart01 · May 21, 2016

THE HERALDS OF JUDGEMENT

CHAPTER NAME: .......................... HERALDS OF JUDGEMENT

FOUNDING: .....................................M37 [23^rd Founding]
HOMEWORLD: ...............................ANTHEOCH
FORTRESS MONASTERY: .............HISNAL KARAK

PROGENITOR CHAPTER: ….........UNKNOWN
KNOWN DESCENDANTS: ............NONE

SPECIALTY: ....................................PUNITIVE INCURSION; DUEL

BATTLE CRY: ................................."We are judgement!" "Imperator vult!"

"For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,

death and mourning and famine,

and she will be burned up with fire;

for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her"

- Fragment from the Liber Apocalypsis

http://s33.postimg.org/s4bst9dq7/spacemarine.jpg

The 23rd Founding of Space Marine Chapters, also known as the "Sentinel Founding," occurred during the latter part of the 37thMillennium.

Imperial scholars believe that it was one of a series of linked Foundings that took place during this tumultuous period in Imperial history and that they were intended to repair the power and reach of the Adeptus Astartes that had suffered considerable losses in the preceding millennia.

According to the Requiem Malesent of Saint Kybra, no fewer than 57 Space Marine Chapters had been destroyed, turned or declared lost in the Warp during this troubled period.

The era had been marked by such calamities as the Age of Apostasy, the disastrous 21st Founding, the attacks of the Forces of Chaos and a rampage of Orks almost unchecked along the Imperium of Man's frontiers.

Many of the chapters founded in this period, therefore, were conceived as forces that pursue perpetual crusades against the enemies of the Emperor.

The Heralds of Judgment were no exception, being born as fleet based Chapter meant to fill some of the too many gaps remained along the borders of the imperial space, moving from one war zone to the next in a neverending odyssey of battle.

Like many of the Chapters originated in this Foundation, informations about the exact circumstances of creation and the geneseed imployed have been lost.

What is known is that the first recruits were selected according to their degree of religious zeal, other than strenght, and received further psycho-conditioning and indoctrination to become the perfect, inexhaustible crusaders the Imperium desperately needed at the time.

The Chapter was born at the peak of the Age of Redemption, a period of violent religious fervor through all of the Imperium.

The power of the Imperial Cult was growing like never before, and a huge number of suspected heretics was systematically exterminated.

Crusade after crusade was launched to recapture the squandered wealth of the Imperium lost in the Age of Apostasy, and it is in this kind of wars that the newborn Heralds of Judgment were involved.

For about two hundred years these Astartes walked the boundaries of the realm of men as a force of nature, slaughtering xenos and rebels alike, and ending more schisms and heresies than the records can remember.

The religious fervor of this historical period and the very nature of the first wars in which the Chapter was involved left and indelible mark upon its identity and culture.

The Heralds of Judgement soon became self-proclaimed champions of the faith in the God Emperor and, to the dismay and suspicion of many still mindful of the Age Apostasy, loyal allies of the Ecclesiarchy.

This era of perpetual religious war on a galactic scale, however, could not last forever.

As the fervour peaked, the military resources of the Imperium began to wear out faster and faster.

The result would be a period known as The Waning.

In the opening decades of M38, the military forces of the Imperium, exhausted by their long Crusades, found themselves unable to defend against the encroachment of Orks, Chaos, insurgencies, and internal strife.

It became common practice to entrust certain star systems to the Adeptus Astartes, who would have to act as watchmen and enforcers of the imperial rule in the most unstable regions of the Galaxy.

It was on this occasion that the Heralds of Judgement were finally given a Homeworld: Antheoch, a feudal planet at the limits of the Eastern Fringe.

It was home to proud, fertile and violent knightly houses of ancient martial traditions; an ideal recruitment pool for a Chapter of Astartes.

However, the new masters of the planet soon remodeled it in their own image: over the course of a single night they swept away the unruly and unreliable feudal lords at the top of society and forced their vassals into submission.

In order to reform the population to the true and only Imperial Cult, they also promoted the immigration of the most rigid and orthodox priests and missionaries of the Ecclesiarchy, placing them after the Astartes at the top of Antheoch's feudal pyramid with the intent to rule, purify and control the population according to the most righteous of doctrines.

Within a few years, the planet's surface was covered by a dense cloak of Gothic cathedrals dedicated to the worship of the Emperor.

The Chapter's relationship with the Ecclesiarchy is frowned upon if not despised by most of the other Astartes, usually proudly independent in the organisation of their own cult.

The Heralds of Judgment, however, accept only the purest orthodoxy and are happy to work with the Adeptus Ministorum, participating to the Wars of Faith declared by the Supreme Ecclesiarch, or fighting to recover sacred places and items of the Imperial Cult, and are particularly zealous against its enemies.

This unusual alliance ensures the Chapter good contacts and precious relics, which in Imperial terms, often mean rare or unusually powerful equipment.

However, the blind fanaticism that drives the Chapter periodically results in it having an extremely reduced number of warriors.

At the dawn of the 41st millennium, the Chapter is formed by warriors hailing from the knightly class of Antheoch, whose martial culture of honor is mixed with the millenarianism instilled in them by the preachers at the top of society: every inhabitant of the planet, from the Chapter Master to the lowest worker, must know that soon will come the Judgment of the Emperor, so everyone must be flawless and pure in his faith.

The Heralds are obsessed with martyrdom, relics and violent self-atonement for all guilt or failure.

On Antheoch, they collaborate with the Ecclesiarchy as the armed fist of the "Government of the Saints", where every vanity and deviance is eliminated in flames and the faith of the population is cultivated by more strict inquisitorial regime.

From there, these Astartes launch many crusades to purify the outer worlds: when a planet is not designated for destruction, the Herald's arrival is always followed by the accension of collective stakes and mass punitive processions where the refractory population is forced to self-flagellation in recognition of the one and true faith.

Organisation and culture

The war disposition and tactics of the Heralds of Judgment follow the precepts of the Codex Astartes, considered a sacred text by the Chapter.

In practice, however, the widespread fatalism which often results in disregard for the most basic principles of self-preservation; the extreme levels of fanaticism and intransigence that preclude any truce; the refusal to accept even the most obvious of defeats shown by his warriors mean that they are often under optimal fighting numbers.

The result is a Chapter with a smaller number of effectives than its peers, but impeccably equipped thanks to the close association with the Ecclesiarchy and determined to accomplish its goals, whatever they are, ignorant of mercy or hesitation, with fury into the fray and zeal in sacrifice.

The centrality of martyrdom emerges with strong evidence in the Chapter's fortress, the Hisnal Karak: deep in the heart of the Gothic fortress lies an immense ossuary, where only the Astartes can enter.

It is a place of prayer and meditation for all of the Chapter, both individually and Company wide, as well as the final resting place for all the Heralds of Judgement who fell in battle.

In the deeper section of these catacombs lies the Sancta Sanctorum, a crypt-armory which houses the equipment and the bodies of the most important martyrs of the Chapter.

Bringing one of these relics in battle is an extreme honor, often reserved for the senior officers can or particularly worthy warriors.

However, this attention is present on every level of the hierarchy: every part of equipment that is not lost or destroyed in battle is handed down from one brother to the next, with the assignment to maintain and update a small archive documenting the actions of each holder.

Every Herald of Judgment knows exhactly the names and deeds of those who wielded the weapon that he is now holding in his fist.

These predecessors are often seen as inspirations and personal patron Saints, alongside the cult of those common to the whole brotherhood.

From this follows an almost fanatical obsession from each member of the Chapter for his own equipment, which is polished, decorated and embellished to the point of making even the most common model of boltgun a masterpiece of devotion and a relic worthy of veneration.

The Chapter internal organisation follows a strongly feudal pattern, reflecting the political model of the world on which it resides.

Every Astartes, on the day of his first battle, makes an oath of fealty and obedience to his sergeant, who in turn lent it to the Captain of one of the ten companies.

Each of them pays tribute to the Chapter Master, who also bears the title of First Patriarch, which puts him at the top of the political pyramid Antheoch: it is to him, as a religious leader, that the network of preachers and cardinals ruling the planet refers and answers.

Geneseed

As in the case of several other chapters born in the 23^rd Founding, reliable information about the Geneseed employed in the creation of the Heralds of Judgement are nowhere to be found in imperial records.

The Astartes of Antheoch place a heavy emphasis on purity, both spiritual and genetic.

Not only they refuse to tolerate the slightest religious deviance, and look at the xeno with hatred and disgust, but they also despise any mutant and abhuman.

More than once they refused to fight alongside certain regiments of Astra Militarium for this reason, even to the point of proposing to purge them instead.

This intransigence is clearly reflected in the care they take towards their own gene-seed, that the Chapter's Apothecaries guard, cultivate and scrutiny with obsessive meticulousness.

Considering the emphasis placed on stability at the time of the 23^rd Founding, and the will to employ the most reliable geneseeds for the creation of Chapters of immediate military necessity, the logical conclusion would be to attribute the Heralds of Judgement to the bloodlines of the Dark Angels or the Ultramarines.

However, it is worth mentioning that the psychological profile of the chapter is more clearly comparable to that of the Imperial Fists.

The obsession for self-discipline and pain control exercised through constant mortification, in order to remove any instinct of self-preservation and achieve the most perfect predisposition to martyrdom; the morbid tendency to sacrifice and stubbornness in refusing defeat; the resolute and uncompromising nature; an almost pathological sense of duty; the tendency to store and take care of the bones of their brothers; as well as an ardent and zealous crusader spirit, are all traits endemic within the Chapter that can be related to Dorn's line.

However, no special bond, proved or claimed, seems to be maintained between the Heralds of Judgement and one of these three possible genetic ancestors.

Given the isolated position of the Chapter, based in the extreme regions of the Eastern Fringe, and its strongly monastic and insular nature, it is difficult to study the effects of its geneseed on the initiates, or to check the functioning of their Betcher's gland and Sus-an membrane.

The truth is only known perhaps by the Adeptus Mechanicus, which receives regular tithes from the Heralds of Judgement as established by the Codex Astartes.

However, even a parallel analysis between its geneseed and that of other chapters may prove to be more costly in terms of resources than it may be resolutive, providing at most comparative answers about a curiosity which, in the last instance, is not necessary to satisfy.

Bjorn Firewalker · May 21, 2016

Not bad. I advise you to put more spacing between each paragraph, so the IA won't look like a solid and difficult-to-read "wall of text." (When copying and pasting onto a webpage, the tabs used to differentiate a paragraph in a *.txt file will be automatically eliminated.)

Allart01 · May 22, 2016

Thanks for the feedback, Bjorn - I have reorganised some of the paragraphs :)

Bjorn Firewalker · May 22, 2016

I apologize for the nitpicking, but this is what your paragraphs look like on a computer screen:

It was an unruly feudal world, but rich in resources, which for centuries had not accepted the imperial cult: numerous governors and commanders of the Astra Militarium came on the planet one after another, without achieving a lasting success in the colonization of the planet.

It was Berenard of Clevas, a famous preacher and influential adviser of the high Ecclesiarch, who cultivated the design to use Antheoch, frontier world on the Eastern Fringe, as an operational base for the extension of the imperial cult in those unexplored areas.
In M37, thanks to these contacts, he obtained the foundation of an Adeptus Astartes chapter destined to conquer and definitely secure the planet and its system, before expanding the Imperium towards that border of the galaxy.

This is what it should look like:

It was an unruly feudal world, but rich in resources, which for centuries had not accepted the imperial cult: numerous governors and commanders of the Astra Militarium came on the planet one after another, without achieving a lasting success in the colonization of the planet.

It was Berenard of Clevas, a famous preacher and influential adviser of the high Ecclesiarch, who cultivated the design to use Antheoch, frontier world on the Eastern Fringe, as an operational base for the extension of the imperial cult in those unexplored areas.

In M37, thanks to these contacts, he obtained the foundation of an Adeptus Astartes chapter destined to conquer and definitely secure the planet and its system, before expanding the Imperium towards that border of the galaxy.

Note the blank line separating each paragraph, making them distinguishable.

Allart01 · May 23, 2016

Fixed!

Allart01 · May 27, 2016

Thinking about making them Fists successors. The zeal, the spirit of sacrifice and self punishment, the knightly fanatic attitude, the fetish for bones, the kraks... It would make sense. What do you people think?

NightrawenII · May 28, 2016

Hello, I'm quite sure my reputation precedes me... In the case it has not: Surprise! Surprise!

It was Berenard of Clevas, a famous preacher and influential adviser of the high Ecclesiarch, who cultivated the design to use Antheoch, frontier world on the Eastern Fringe, as an operational base for the extension of the imperial cult in those unexplored areas.

In M37, thanks to these contacts, he obtained the foundation of an Adeptus Astartes chapter destined to conquer and definitely secure the planet and its system, before expanding the Imperium towards that border of the galaxy.

Why not Order of Adepta Sororitas?

- The Battle Sisters are indoctrinated in the Faith of God-Emperor, the Space Marines are not.

- The Battle Sisters are more or less under direct control of Ministorum, the Space Marines are not.

- The Homeworlds of Space Marines are off-limits for ecclesiastical preachers.

The centrality of martyrdom emerges with strong evidence in the Chapter's fortress, the Hisnal Karak: deep in the heart of the Gothic fortress lies an immense ossuary, where only the Astartes can enter.

It is a place of prayer and meditation for all of the Chapter, both individually and Company wide, as well as the final resting place for all the Heralds of Judgement who fell in battle.

In the deeper section of these catacombs lies the Sancta Sanctorum, a crypt-armory which houses the equipment and the bodies of the most important martyrs of the Chapter.

Bringing one of these relics in battle is an extreme honor, often reserved for the senior officers can or particularly worthy warriors.

However, this attention is present on every level of the hierarchy: every part of equipment that is not lost or destroyed in battle is handed down from one brother to the next, with the assignment to maintain and update a small archive documenting the actions of each holder.

Every Herald of Judgment knows exhactly the names and deeds of those who wielded the weapon that he is now holding in his fist.

These predecessors are often seen as inspirations and personal patron Saints, alongside the cult of those common to the whole brotherhood.

Ok. What about those who failed?

Martyr, by definion, is someone who suffers or dies for his/her convictions. That's good for men/women of faith, but the Adeptus Astartes are soldiers, whose duty is to fight the wars of Imperium and emerge victorious.

Thought of the Day: There is nothing to fear, but failure.

The Chapter's recruits come mainly from the knightly class of Antheoch, whose martial culture of honor is mixed with the millenarianism instilled in them by the preachers at the top of society: every inhabitant of the planet, from the Chapter Master to the lowest worker, must know that soon will come the Judgment of the Emperor, so everyone must be flawless and pure in his faith.

~

The Chapter internal organisation follows a strongly feudal pattern, reflecting the political model of the world on which it resides.

That's funny.

Re-read what you have written so far about the Antheoch. What you have here suppose massive social and cultural changes in the population, which was reforged into planet-wide monastic order. The knightly class probably died with the last of feudal lords.

The Chapter usually erects mighty Kraks on every planet that it conquers in the unexplored corners of the Eastern Fringe, expanding the area that is informally called the "Antheochian Dominate".

These worlds are entrusted as "feuds" to one of the captains, typically the one who led the military operations, who imports his own network of ecclesiastical vassals to purge, convert or simply control the population, most often made up of settlers imported directly from the Dominate.

The Lord-Captain remains on the territory until the complete rooting of the imperial government, then entrusting the Krak to apothecaries tasked to follow the development of potential recruits drawn from the local population and preserve stocks of the Chapter's geneseed.

The Adeptus Astartes are technically forbidden to build their own empires.

~ NightrawenII

Allart01 · May 28, 2016

Hello, I'm quite sure my reputation precedes me... In the case it has not: Surprise! Surprise!

Glad you're here - just what I needed!

It was Berenard of Clevas, a famous preacher and influential adviser of the high Ecclesiarch, who cultivated the design to use Antheoch, frontier world on the Eastern Fringe, as an operational base for the extension of the imperial cult in those unexplored areas.

In M37, thanks to these contacts, he obtained the foundation of an Adeptus Astartes chapter destined to conquer and definitely secure the planet and its system, before expanding the Imperium towards that border of the galaxy.

Why not Order of Adepta Sororitas?

- The Battle Sisters are indoctrinated in the Faith of God-Emperor, the Space Marines are not.

- The Battle Sisters are more or less under direct control of Ministorum, the Space Marines are not.

- The Homeworlds of Space Marines are off-limits for ecclesiastical preachers.

This makes sense... but I'm pretty sure that marines get indoctrinated too. At least some, depending on the Chapter.

The point is, Antheoch is a far, isolated region on the Eastern fringe.

Any kind of random monstruosity may emerge at any given time... like the Tyranids, or the Bargesi.

As the Bargesi themselves need a whole canon Chapter dedicated only to their containment (the Iron Lords), I believe that wanting a Chapter to garrison a similar region of mostly unexplored space would make sense.

Also, because of its far and isolated position, the Ecclesiarchy, the most present and dedicated Imperial power in that area, may have cheated a little bit.

In my mind, the Ecclesiarchy took the whole process in its hands pretty quickly, and perhaps not entirely legally. Along the lines of what happened to the Exorcists, or the Minotaurs with the Lords of Terra, I guess.

Something along the lines of "We need to bring the Emperor's light in this messed up, isolated region of space. No, we need* Astartes. Oh, and all-new Astartes, please. We'll need them for a long time, given the situation here, you know. Yes, we will think ONLY about the conversion of these worlds... NO INFLUENCE ON THE NEWBORN CHAPTER, WE SWEAR!"

*want

Makes sense? Maybe. Maybe not. But I'm confident that a logical solution can be found for the Chapter's reliance on the Ministorum and religious theme.

On the other hand, they're sentinel founding. A lot of chapters were created to replace the losses of the Adeptus Astartes (57 Chapters lost, IIRC)... perhaps I should go for a semplification, and just say that they are one of the many Crusading chapters created for that purpose, and were given the already compliant Antheoch as their homeworld. Do you think this sounds better?

The centrality of martyrdom emerges with strong evidence in the Chapter's fortress, the Hisnal Karak: deep in the heart of the Gothic fortress lies an immense ossuary, where only the Astartes can enter.

It is a place of prayer and meditation for all of the Chapter, both individually and Company wide, as well as the final resting place for all the Heralds of Judgement who fell in battle.

In the deeper section of these catacombs lies the Sancta Sanctorum, a crypt-armory which houses the equipment and the bodies of the most important martyrs of the Chapter.

Bringing one of these relics in battle is an extreme honor, often reserved for the senior officers can or particularly worthy warriors.

However, this attention is present on every level of the hierarchy: every part of equipment that is not lost or destroyed in battle is handed down from one brother to the next, with the assignment to maintain and update a small archive documenting the actions of each holder.

Every Herald of Judgment knows exhactly the names and deeds of those who wielded the weapon that he is now holding in his fist.

These predecessors are often seen as inspirations and personal patron Saints, alongside the cult of those common to the whole brotherhood.

Ok. What about those who failed?

Martyr, by definion, is someone who suffers or dies for his/her convictions. That's good for men/women of faith, but the Adeptus Astartes are soldiers, whose duty is to fight the wars of Imperium and emerge victorious.

Thought of the Day: There is nothing to fear, but failure.

Well, those who failed and died are martyrs, are they not? They tried all their cards and, when nothing else worked, they gave up their life.

Those who fail and live... well, painful self-expiation like there's no tomorrow and perhaps crusading vows.

It's pretty hard for a marine to fail because he didn't want to die, though... that's not their style, is it?

Off course a random "headshotted on day one" marine will not be venerated like one who slew a Daemon Prince.

Still, he gave up his life for the Emperor and earned his place in the catacombs, and his wargear will (if retrieved) be passed up to a new marine, who will know his name and respect him as a predecessor.

The Chapter's recruits come mainly from the knightly class of Antheoch, whose martial culture of honor is mixed with the millenarianism instilled in them by the preachers at the top of society: every inhabitant of the planet, from the Chapter Master to the lowest worker, must know that soon will come the Judgment of the Emperor, so everyone must be flawless and pure in his faith.

~

The Chapter internal organisation follows a strongly feudal pattern, reflecting the political model of the world on which it resides.

That's funny.

Re-read what you have written so far about the Antheoch. What you have here suppose massive social and cultural changes in the population, which was reforged into planet-wide monastic order. The knightly class probably died with the last of feudal lords.

Probably I wasn't clear enough in the blurb, so it's my fault... the feudal lords were purged. But a lord has many, many knights. Take the lord away, force his vassals left after the war to swear loyalty to your priest, and get recruits. I guess they would surrender pretty soon in a war against the Astartes, anyway.

The Chapter usually erects mighty Kraks on every planet that it conquers in the unexplored corners of the Eastern Fringe, expanding the area that is informally called the "Antheochian Dominate".

These worlds are entrusted as "feuds" to one of the captains, typically the one who led the military operations, who imports his own network of ecclesiastical vassals to purge, convert or simply control the population, most often made up of settlers imported directly from the Dominate.

The Lord-Captain remains on the territory until the complete rooting of the imperial government, then entrusting the Krak to apothecaries tasked to follow the development of potential recruits drawn from the local population and preserve stocks of the Chapter's geneseed.

The Adeptus Astartes are technically forbidden to build their own empires.

Right. I will remove that part.

~ NightrawenII

Thanks for the constructive criticism.

I appreciate it a lot, and now I have a thing or two to re-think about...

EDIT: In fact, I've been thinking about the issues you pointed out for almost the whole day.

I'm going through some rewriting - I'll post it here once I'm done.

NightrawenII · May 29, 2016

This makes sense... but I'm pretty sure that marines get indoctrinated too. At least some, depending on the Chapter.

The point is, Antheoch is a far, isolated region on the Eastern fringe.

Any kind of random monstruosity may emerge at any given time... like the Tyranids, or the Bargesi.

As the Bargesi themselves need a whole canon Chapter dedicated only to their containment (the Iron Lords), I believe that wanting a Chapter to garrison a similar region of mostly unexplored space would make sense.

Also, because of its far and isolated position, the Ecclesiarchy, the most present and dedicated Imperial power in that area, may have cheated a little bit.

In my mind, the Ecclesiarchy took the whole process in its hands pretty quickly, and perhaps not entirely legally. Along the lines of what happened to the Exorcists, or the Minotaurs with the Lords of Terra, I guess.

Something along the lines of "We need to bring the Emperor's light in this messed up, isolated region of space. No, we need* Astartes. Oh, and all-new Astartes, please. We'll need them for a long time, given the situation here, you know. Yes, we will think ONLY about the conversion of these worlds... NO INFLUENCE ON THE NEWBORN CHAPTER, WE SWEAR!"

*want

Makes sense? Maybe. Maybe not. But I'm confident that a logical solution can be found for the Chapter's reliance on the Ministorum and religious theme.

On the other hand, they're sentinel founding. A lot of chapters were created to replace the losses of the Adeptus Astartes (57 Chapters lost, IIRC)... perhaps I should go for a semplification, and just say that they are one of the many Crusading chapters created for that purpose, and were given the already compliant Antheoch as their homeworld. Do you think this sounds better?

It's M.37, Tyranids are unknown.

The practice how the Chapter is assigned to area is pretty much open to discussion, but usually it's either important region of Imperial space or there is significant threat, like xenos enclave, warp rift or something.

The Adeptus Astartes and Ecclesiarchy have troubled relationship, thanks to space marines refusal to accept the Emperor as a God - there were even open wars. The current consesus is "live and let live" and it's the reason why the Ministorum's agents are not allowed in Astartes homeworlds.

So in order for this to work the Ecclesiarchy would have to sneak its way into Chapter's heart.

Well, those who failed and died are martyrs, are they not? They tried all their cards and, when nothing else worked, they gave up their life.

In theory? Yes.

But if everything you achieve is martyrdom, while the world around you crumble, then you have failed.

The way you describe your marines you make them zealots who will fight regardless of circumstances. Soldiers needs to be a little expedient.

Probably I wasn't clear enough in the blurb, so it's my fault... the feudal lords were purged. But a lord has many, many knights. Take the lord away, force his vassals left after the war to swear loyalty to your priest, and get recruits. I guess they would surrender pretty soon in a war against the Astartes, anyway.

No, I was not.

I'm talking about knights as a class. The immigration of priests, the removal of old order, installation of new government and new religion, all of this will cause social and cultural changes which would, IMHO, see the knight class extinct.

~ NightrawenII

Allart01 · May 29, 2016

This makes sense... but I'm pretty sure that marines get indoctrinated too. At least some, depending on the Chapter.

The point is, Antheoch is a far, isolated region on the Eastern fringe.

Any kind of random monstruosity may emerge at any given time... like the Tyranids, or the Bargesi.

As the Bargesi themselves need a whole canon Chapter dedicated only to their containment (the Iron Lords), I believe that wanting a Chapter to garrison a similar region of mostly unexplored space would make sense.

Also, because of its far and isolated position, the Ecclesiarchy, the most present and dedicated Imperial power in that area, may have cheated a little bit.

In my mind, the Ecclesiarchy took the whole process in its hands pretty quickly, and perhaps not entirely legally. Along the lines of what happened to the Exorcists, or the Minotaurs with the Lords of Terra, I guess.

Something along the lines of "We need to bring the Emperor's light in this messed up, isolated region of space. No, we need* Astartes. Oh, and all-new Astartes, please. We'll need them for a long time, given the situation here, you know. Yes, we will think ONLY about the conversion of these worlds... NO INFLUENCE ON THE NEWBORN CHAPTER, WE SWEAR!"

*want

Makes sense? Maybe. Maybe not. But I'm confident that a logical solution can be found for the Chapter's reliance on the Ministorum and religious theme.

On the other hand, they're sentinel founding. A lot of chapters were created to replace the losses of the Adeptus Astartes (57 Chapters lost, IIRC)... perhaps I should go for a semplification, and just say that they are one of the many Crusading chapters created for that purpose, and were given the already compliant Antheoch as their homeworld. Do you think this sounds better?

It's M.37, Tyranids are unknown.

The practice how the Chapter is assigned to area is pretty much open to discussion, but usually it's either important region of Imperial space or there is significant threat, like xenos enclave, warp rift or something.

The Adeptus Astartes and Ecclesiarchy have troubled relationship, thanks to space marines refusal to accept the Emperor as a God - there were even open wars. The current consesus is "live and let live" and it's the reason why the Ministorum's agents are not allowed in Astartes homeworlds.

So in order for this to work the Ecclesiarchy would have to sneak its way into Chapter's heart.

Working on this.

The plan is to have the Chapter created as a crusading one, as most of the 23rd founding one were, to fight through the various warzones of the Imperium left unmanned by the loss of so many Astartes.

For this, perhaps, they chose particularly zelous recruits (also strong, obviously) who also received extra indoctrination and psico-conditioning to be the perfect crusaders they needed to be.

Time passes, they are so fanatic they almost get extinct already.

They DO believe the Emperor is a God (like the Black Templars, the Fire Hawks, the Fire Angels... there are some chapters); maybe the Chapter master had a useful vision which led them to an almost impossibile victory.

They are rewarded with an Homeworld, however, which is Antheoch... but first they need to conquer it.

It's quite easy, anyway, and they become the lords of the planet.

They have these knights, now, from whom they can take pretty good recruits.

But they aren't faithful enough.

So, they call the most fanatic priests and preachers of the Imperium to correct, guide, and rule these knights.

Off course, most of the other chapters will see their collaboration with the Ministorum as a weakness, proud as they are of their independence.

But well, this Chapter is alone anyway, and they also get some pretty relics out of it, which in Imperial terms, means powerful/rare wargear too.

As years passes, the Astartes are the Lords of Antheoch, but well, they get indoctrinated by the Imperial Priests first.

/Alternative:

After two hundred years of self-annihilating crusading all the time, everywhere, the chapter needs help... and they make a deal with the Ministorum.

They give them a world.

A world that guaranteeds a continuous flow of strong recruits, and where they will be able to establish a base that doesn't risk to get annihilated in every space battle.

They also get those relics.

But they have to keep the Ministorum on the world.

And the rest is history.

What do you think?

Well, those who failed and died are martyrs, are they not? They tried all their cards and, when nothing else worked, they gave up their life.

In theory? Yes.

But if everything you achieve is martyrdom, while the world around you crumble, then you have failed.

The way you describe your marines you make them zealots who will fight regardless of circumstances. Soldiers needs to be a little expedient.

I agree it's not professional.

But a lot of Chapters behave that way, no?

Most notably, the Star Phantoms.

And, well, if a canon Chapter does it for no particular unique reason, it is legitimisation enough for me.

"The Star Phantoms display a peculiarly idiosyncratic Chapter Cult. The Chapter’s rites and traditions focus on death and martyrdom, the fallen being revered over and above the living symbols of death and mourning are used as Chapter iconography, the Chapter symbol itself featuring a sand-timer surmounted by two death’s heads. This trait extends to a generalised disregard for the living that has often manifested in excessive collateral damage amongst populations the Chapter has been tasked with purging of insurrectionist elements, and even amongst allied units."

(From Warhammer Wikia)

But I must go on to say that I was a little let down to discover it.

Hoped to be more original.

Well, at least I got those cool catacombs and the gear fetish.

Probably I wasn't clear enough in the blurb, so it's my fault... the feudal lords were purged. But a lord has many, many knights. Take the lord away, force his vassals left after the war to swear loyalty to your priest, and get recruits. I guess they would surrender pretty soon in a war against the Astartes, anyway.

No, I was not.

I'm talking about knights as a class. The immigration of priests, the removal of old order, installation of new government and new religion, all of this will cause social and cultural changes which would, IMHO, see the knight class extinct.

I politely disagree.

A change at the top of the ruling class hardly changes the whole society (look at the Normans in Sicily, or even Christian kingdoms in the Holy Land).

At least, not immediately.

It is a process that would take time, generations... and by that time, the Heralds will have recognised that knights are their ideal recruiting pool.

They just need to obey their priests and have faith in the God Emperor.

~ NightrawenII

NightrawenII · May 29, 2016

They are rewarded with an Homeworld, however, which is Antheoch... but first they need to conquer it.

It's quite easy, anyway, and they become the lords of the planet.

They have these knights, now, from whom they can take pretty good recruits.

But they aren't faithful enough.

So, they call the most fanatic priests and preachers of the Imperium to correct, guide, and rule these knights.

~

I politely disagree.

A change at the top of the ruling class hardly changes the whole society (look at the Normans in Sicily, or even Christian kingdoms in the Holy Land).

At least, not immediately.

It is a process that would take time, generations... and by that time, the Heralds will have recognised that knights are their ideal recruiting pool.

They just need to obey their priests and have faith in the God Emperor.

Do you realize you are chasing yourself in the corner?

Well, the change of the ruler doesn't prompt any social changes all right. But we are talking about change of ruling class and ideology here. Moreover, the Chapter sees the old knights as unsuitable and is making steps to change that.

After two hundred years of self-annihilating crusading all the time, everywhere, the chapter needs help... and they make a deal with the Ministorum.

They give them a world.

The planets the Ministorum owns are Shrine Worlds, handing one over to Space Marine Chapter would be... troublesome. Of course, no knights on these.

I agree it's not professional.

But a lot of Chapters behave that way, no?

Most notably, the Star Phantoms.

The Star Phantoms beliefs could be summed in:

- Adeptus Astartes are divinely-ordained killers

- Death to those that defy Emperor's will

- Only in death does duty end

... and they are certainly not the fanatics who chase martyrdom as your guys do.

~ NightrawenII

Allart01 · May 29, 2016

They are rewarded with an Homeworld, however, which is Antheoch... but first they need to conquer it.

It's quite easy, anyway, and they become the lords of the planet.

They have these knights, now, from whom they can take pretty good recruits.

But they aren't faithful enough.

So, they call the most fanatic priests and preachers of the Imperium to correct, guide, and rule these knights.

~

I politely disagree.

A change at the top of the ruling class hardly changes the whole society (look at the Normans in Sicily, or even Christian kingdoms in the Holy Land).

At least, not immediately.

It is a process that would take time, generations... and by that time, the Heralds will have recognised that knights are their ideal recruiting pool.

They just need to obey their priests and have faith in the God Emperor.

Do you realize you are chasing yourself in the corner?

Well, the change of the ruler doesn't prompt any social changes all right. But we are talking about change of ruling class and ideology here. Moreover, the Chapter sees the old knights as unsuitable and is making steps to change that.

What I mean is, the knightly class would hardly get extinct because of a change in its super top part.

But their masters change, as does their "education".

...And after that, they'll be religious knights.

I sincerely fail to see the problem here.

After two hundred years of self-annihilating crusading all the time, everywhere, the chapter needs help... and they make a deal with the Ministorum.

They give them a world.

The planets the Ministorum owns are Shrine Worlds, handing one over to Space Marine Chapter would be... troublesome. Of course, no knights on these.

Noted.

I'll stick with option one.

I agree it's not professional.

But a lot of Chapters behave that way, no?

Most notably, the Star Phantoms.

The Star Phantoms beliefs could be summed in:

- Adeptus Astartes are divinely-ordained killers

- Death to those that defy Emperor's will

- Only in death does duty end

... and they are certainly not the fanatics who chase martyrdom as your guys do.

" The Chapter’s rites and traditions focus on death and martyrdom, the fallen being revered [...]"

Seems pretty similar to me.

But then, I don't want them to be Star Phantoms, off course.

It was just to say that there are other, canon Chapters with similar behavior.

My Chapter may accentuate that trait, and surely will be damaged for it.

But no doubt it is a "possible" Astartes trait; that's what I'm saying.

~ NightrawenII

Phoebus · May 30, 2016

Some thoughts, while I take a break from my trainwreck of a WIP:

1. Remember that the Founding of even a single Chapter is a huge deal. It involves the highest authorities sanctioning the release of the genetic material of a being worshipped as a demigod, entire worlds devoting their resources to build ships capable of razing planets, and mythical heroes being summoned to raise the next generation of Mankind's saviours. Consider that the Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels - a First Founding Chapter - had to "call in favors" to get the High Lords of Terra to sanction the Founding of the Disciples of Caliban.

With that in mind, a backwater preacher can want a Chapter all he wants. He can be incredibly powerful on a level that affects even multiple sectors. Do the math, though, and there is one Chapter for roughly ten sectors of the Imperium. Where the Ecclesiarchy is concerned, remember that they have the Adeptus Sororitas for a reason: the archaic laws they are bound by make it impossible for them to claim a Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, or for it to be even suspected that they have such a force taking orders from them.

But does it have to be that way? The Ecclesiarchy cannot command Space Marines, but a Chapter is hardly restricted from forming beneficial alliances with them. Most Space marines don't worship the Emperor as a god, but some do.

So, with that in mind, what if the Heralds had no connection to the Ecclesiarchy upon their Founding? What if they didn't get involved with them until later in their history? What if they did so after centuries, or even millennia, and what if their religious beliefs and respect for the Ecclesiarchy developed "organically?" If that bit of timing changes, meaning if the Heralds arrive in this region as a Chapter that has become devout because of their own experiences, then the alliance with the local preacher/saint becomes goes down much more easily.

2. Don't worry about your Space Marines being fanatics with a martyr complex. Yeah, it's not the best way to operate. Yeah, it will probably lead them to their extinction.

So what?

Warhammer 40k is grimdark. Humanity is heading to a horrific ending precisely because its leaders and greatest heroes are at best illogical and/or anachronistic... and at worst outright insane. So many Chapters could be doing things in much better ways than what they call their way of life. In a perfect world, they'd all be Ultramarines or White Consuls and rule over a comparative utopia whose industrious people churn out warships, food, Imperial Guard regiments, etc. Guess what? They're not.

3. Don't worry about balancing knighthoods with a theocracy. There is a long and rich history of religious orders of knighthood. I agree with you; replacing a feudal aristocracy with a theocracy does not necessarily mean knights would go extinct. Had one of the Popes somehow asserted temporal as well as religious rule over Italy, is there any doubt that knights would have disappeared? Of course not.

4. DO worry about your Chapter Master being the religious leader of his adopted homeworld. Remember, there is a long and rich tradition of Space Marines who recruit from worlds without actually playing any role in their administration. The Imperial Fists and Necromunda come to mind immediately. Have the Ecclesiarchy's agents rule this planet and, as thanks to the Space Marines who protect them, maintain religious orders of knighthood from which the Chapter can draw recruits.

Just remember to keep it grimdark. Look at the illustrations John Blanche and Karl Kopinski did for the Ecclesiarchy. Pay attention to the crazy gleam in their characters' eyes. Harness that when you think about the fanaticism and martyrdom of your Space Marines. They die too fast, too recklessly, screaming battle-catechisms, prating even as their life-blood gurgles forth along with their final words. But you know what? There are a million young fanatics training as squires in a hundred-thousand monasteries, just waiting to replace them.

Allart01 · May 30, 2016

Some thoughts, while I take a break from my trainwreck of a WIP:

1. Remember that the Founding of even a single Chapter is a huge deal. It involves the highest authorities sanctioning the release of the genetic material of a being worshipped as a demigod, entire worlds devoting their resources to build ships capable of razing planets, and mythical heroes being summoned to raise the next generation of Mankind's saviours. Consider that the Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels - a First Founding Chapter - had to "call in favors" to get the High Lords of Terra to sanction the Founding of the Disciples of Caliban.

With that in mind, a backwater preacher can want a Chapter all he wants. He can be incredibly powerful on a level that affects even multiple sectors. Do the math, though, and there is one Chapter for roughly ten sectors of the Imperium. Where the Ecclesiarchy is concerned, remember that they have the Adeptus Sororitas for a reason: the archaic laws they are bound by make it impossible for them to claim a Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, or for it to be even suspected that they have such a force taking orders from them.

But does it have to be that way? The Ecclesiarchy cannot command Space Marines, but a Chapter is hardly restricted from forming beneficial alliances with them. Most Space marines don't worship the Emperor as a god, but some do.

So, with that in mind, what if the Heralds had no connection to the Ecclesiarchy upon their Founding? What if they didn't get involved with them until later in their history? What if they did so after centuries, or even millennia, and what if their religious beliefs and respect for the Ecclesiarchy developed "organically?" If that bit of timing changes, meaning if the Heralds arrive in this region as a Chapter that has become devout because of their own experiences, then the alliance with the local preacher/saint becomes goes down much more easily.

I agree this would be the best way to go if I want to keep my theme and stay in line with official fluff.

I had some rewriting trying to follow your insights, and this is what I have at the moment:

"The 23rd Founding of Space Marine Chapters, also known as the "Sentinel Founding," occurred during the latter part of the 37thMillennium.