Index Astartes: The Elysian Falcons

[Lephisto]

Hi guys this is anew IA or rather a re-draft of my own chapter. They were named Celestial Zealots, it was a good name for them but didn't capture the essence of them. Hence the rename. I also decided on the rename as I have a better direction on where I want their story and background goes. 
 
Here are the main themes:
 
-Ultramarines & Thousand Sons inspired
 - Tactical prowess
 - Assault oriented forces, Jump-pack specialists
 - Accumulates knowledge and stores it in a big library (name for the location will be determined)
 - Abnormal number of librarians (They are often used as sergeants in Tactical squads)
 - Interested in collecting artifacts even Xenos', believe any artifact has knowledge to be obtained
 - Ultramarines successor of course
 - Codex Adherent
 
- Veterans in war against Tyranids (First hand experience with the horror)
- Homeworld located in the Ultima Segmentum
 - Prosper inspired (Large spacious buildings with nice blue sky)
 - Before arrival, it was in medieval age. There were psykers who prophesied the coming of the Elysian Falcons and believed them to        be their saviors.
 
If you have any suggestions or improvements, please say so!

The Elysian Falcons

 

The Elysian Falcons

Founding: 25th Founding
Primarch: Roboute Guilliman
Successors of: Ultramarines
Descendants: None
Homeworld: Ligarius IV
Fortress Monastery: Fortress of Agoston
Specialty: Assault Specialization & Intelligence.
Colours: Dark Blue, Bone and Gold
Battlecry: “Ad Infinitum!” – “To Infinity Without End!”
 

Origins

In 738.M40 the Imperium founded the twenty sixth founding of several new space marine chapters. Among the many newly founded chapters, The Elysian Falcons chapter were forged. 
 
A great warrior of courage named Titus Eracio of the Ultramarines who had served valiantly, was chosen to serve and lead the newly born Elysian Falcons. It was up to him now to make sure that his brothers were trained rigorously to serve the emperor with all their zeal.

 

Originally, The Elysian Falcons were primarily a fleet based chapter but have since obtained a home world which was granted to them when they defended the world from a Tyranid threat. They have based their fortress monastery on the middle of the continent where it is seen by most of the natives. Since coming to this new homeworld, The Elysian Falcons have increased the number of psykers used in their ranks. This is due to the natural psychic ability of the natives. The native of this homeworld have very primitive technology but had extensive knowledge of the arcane arts.

 

This natural fascination by the natives of the arcane arts has been adopted by the Elysian Falcons. This has led to a vigilant duty to acquire and expand knowledge on whatever subject is known to mankind. An obsession which has often led to acquired even Xenos tainted artifacts.

 

They are known to have close ties with the Ultramarines, and on numerous occasions the two Chapters have launched joint operations together.
 
The Defence of Ligarius IV
The Elysian Falcons were primarily a fleet based chapter soaring through space in endless time. During this time the Imperium had come under attack by the new alien threat known as the Tyranids. The Elysian Falcons had sent many scout ships to monitor the Segmentum Solar system. Luckily one of the scout ships saw the approaching Hive to a certain world. The Elysian Falcons were now in a race against time to defend the planet from the rancid fiends.
 
Fortunately The Elysian Falcons arrived on time and warned every inhabitant to prepare and defend their planet. Many of the inhabitants were amazed and surprised by their arrival as they had never anything like the Space marines before. However the inhabitants were more than compliant to the orders of Eracio and welcomed their new allies. The Chapter waited for the arrival of the Tyranids and prepared cautiously as this was the first time they had ever faced a foe such as this.
 
Heavy Artillery and many of the Chapters companies were deployed under Eracio’s directions. The inhabitants were used to make fortifications and to gather supplies for the Chapter. Eracio had made to be sure that this world would stay claimed for the Imperium untainted by Xenos.
 
Finally the Tyranids arrived but only to their disappointment as they saw that The Elysian Falcons had already prepared to face them. Both sides engaged furiously in the blood fight. Death tolls on both sides were high. The Ligarius IV had been under attack by the Tyranids for just a few hours and the casualty toll of the inhabitants were already accumulating. Most of the marines on the front line were getting killed faster than they could hold off.
 
The first company of The Elysian Falcons were in charge of the front-lines, however majority of them were killed and pinned down in the trenches of the front lines. However the Tyranids were also running out of numbers to overwhelm the defence. Eracio knew that this was going to happen. The wise master prepared a huge fortification where all the inhabitants were gathered and the majority of the chapter were armed with heavy artillery to deliver the final blow to eradicate these fiends once and for all off their planet. The wise master and the last squad of the company rushed back to the fortification.
 
Explosions and bullets were tearing through the skies. The battle brothers at the fort started to open fire but this time with more firepower. Eracio commanded that sets of explosions was to be delivered near their fort. The effect of it was devastating. The whole of the surviving Hive were nearly destroyed. Izgon and his battle brothers arose out of the fort and fought the remaining fiends with all their might. On the corner of Izgon’s eye, he saw the hive tyrant, he immediately leaped forward to slay the beast. Bullets ripping through the rib cage of the tyrant weren’t enough. The master ran out of his bullets and had to rely on his pure strength.
 
After six long hours of struggling, all the remaining of the Tyranids were now all eradicated. The remainder of the Chapter and inhabitants gathered around the Eracio and the hive tyrant. Tears started to roll down the cheeks of the inhabitants as they saw Eracio as their personal saviour dying in front of them. The rest of the marines knelt and bowed down in honour around the master. As he was lying on the ground he turned his head to the right and saw a young man. He noticed that this young man fought like no other and had great potential. He beckoned him to come over to his dying body and commanded that Ligarius should be recruited to be a Celestial Zealot. The Chapter Master bid his final farewell and left the rest to the Captain of the first company - Lephisto Izgon.
 
The battle reports were sent to the High Lords of Terra and granted The Elysian Falcons Ligarius IV as their home world. Their courageous act of duty was noted. How the Elysian Falcons defeated the Hive Fleet Medusa and Eracio killed the Hive tyrant will always be remembered in the hearts of those that fought in the war. Their valiant service in the name of the Emperor was never to be forgotten.
 
The people of Ligarius IV saw the chapter’s arrival as an answer to their prayers. They also saw it as a prophecy fulfilled which was prophesied by their leading chief many years ago. The Elysian Falcons were able to defeat the menace. Although their victory was great, it had also come with a great cost. The first company nearly wiped out and their Chapter Master dead. The death toll of the inhabitants would have soared if it weren’t for the timely arrival of The Elysian Falcons.
 
Lephisto Izgon the Captain made vigorous plans to rebuild the planet and replenish the First Company. The Fortress Monastery was built upon the ground where the Chapter Master died. Lephisto Izgon also sensed the great potential of Ligarius and took it as part of his duty to train and recruit him. Since the war Ligarius Sidonis is now the Captain of the Second Company and also the Chief Librarian. The Elysian Falcons are now roaming through space to fight for the Emperor and the Imperium.
 
Notable Campaigns:
The Defence of Ligarius IV
The Decimation of Loranel
The Shadows of Nemedon
The Hunt
The Great Pilgrimage
 

Combat Doctrine

The Elysian Falcons specialize in assault adaptability.  At the centre of their combat doctrine is to exploit the weakness of their enemies. Specializing in intelligence they are able to predict what their foes manoeuvres will be before they even go to war. They mostly mobilize their tactical squads in vehicles to reach the enemy as soon as possible to deliver a hard hitting approach. This is the preferred method the Elysian Falcons use to whittle down the forces of their enemies, and then the elitist such as their assault terminators can then drop in the enemies’ back-line to end the conflict quickly as it started.
 

Chapter Beliefs

The homeworld where they have adopted the culture has heavily influenced this young chapter. The Elysian Falcons believe that knowledge was power. They also believe every book was sacred, every writing worthy of study, every document a resource to be drained. The young chapter will do everything in their power to expand their knowledge for the good of man-kind.

 

A unique and perhaps not unheard, The Elysian Falcons revere their Primarch Roboute Guilliman and often make occasional pilgrimages to Macragge to visit him. They believe that the spirit of their Primarch will more powerfully abide with them in their battles if they are only in the presence of the Primarch's body for a short time. They are among the few that believe that their Primarch is slowly healing in the stasis field. Perhaps it is mere wishful thinking, but they also believe that when the time is right their Primarch will rise and steer the Imperium in the course the Emperor would have wanted it.

 

Chapter Organisation

The Elysian Falcons are organized based on the leadership of the native leadership of the tribes on Ligarius IV which they have adopted. When a Chapter Master is to be appointed, he chooses two counselors who are of Captain Rank. These counselors are no longer captains of their respective companies. Instead they serve right along beside the Chapter Master himself and enter into battle by his side. These three men form what is known as The Consul. The primary leadership responsibilities fall upon these battle brothers.
 
Their dictates and missions are to be overseen and supervised by twelve men known as the Apostolorum. The formation of the Apostolorum is made up of the ten company captains and two of the highest ranking librarians. The next and last governing body is called the Elders. These battle brothers called the Elders are made of seventy men that have proven their worth in battle. Any battle brother or specialist can be inducted into the Elders when one of them either dies or is promoted.
 
The induction involves the Apostolorum nominating a number of different nominees. The only unwritten law that is determined who is nominated is that they must be a senior veteran of the chapter and have fought countless battles. The Elders are then counseled to meditate and reflect on who they elect to join their ranks. After periods of reflection, the Elders will gather and cast their votes. Those that receive the most votes will be inducted.

 

When campaigns or dire decisions are to be made concerning the chapter, it is the Elders who decide the fate of the chapter concerning the will of the Emperor for them.
 
Apart from these slight deviations from the Codex Astartes, The Elysian Falcons adhere strictly. Unlike most chapters, Librarians are welcomed and honored above most of their battle brothers. They are considered to carry the mind and will of the Emperor in their minds. For this reason the chapter has a high amount of Librarains than most chapters. The Elysian Falcons also prefer to appoint lower ranking Librarains as sergeants in tactical squads.The Chief Librarian can be relieved of his duty and can serve as a Chapter Master if appointed according to the dictates of the Apostolorum.

 

As the Elysian used to be primarily a fleet based chapter that have settled recently on a homeworld, they now only maintain a Chapter Barque. They follow the dictates of the Codex Astartes strictly with minor deviations as described.
 

Chapter Appearance

The Elysian Falcons Colour Scheme

The Elysian Falcons are painted in Dark Blue with gold or a silver aquila. Their shoulder pads are painted bone trimmed with the company colors. The rank and squad markings are made on the right shoulder pad. The tactical markings are painted gold with the designated squad number painted in white on the tactical marking. The Chapter badge is painted Black. The Elysian Falcons chose to paint their right arm gold to represent that of the colour of the Emperors’ armor . This representation also symbolises the importance of carrying out the will of the Emperor.
 
In the past the Elysian Falcons chapter badge was a shield with lambda. This was later changed to a bird. This was the personal heraldry of their first deceased Chapter Master Eracio. In honor of him, they adopted this to be their new chapter symbol. The Elysian Falcons use the bird as their chapter symbol but use the shielded lambda on most of their vehicles to honor their early heritage.