Baltus Sector Crusade Forces and Organization

[Black Cohort]

I believe this thread should be kept to holding brief biographies of the forces within the Crusade. This way people have a place to refer to for regiments and such that could be included within battles and so on. It might be a good idea to write down for your force whether or no t you wish for them to be making the big push forward or acting as reserves to counter resurging threats or foes that are not considered a priority

This plus discussion of how the crusade should be organized. Like how sisters of battle should fit in the organizational plan.

[Black Cohort]

Edit: oh, one more idea, since the person leading the rebel forces here is obviously going against the teachings of the Ecclesiarchy, there might actually be justification for a larger force of Sisters, perhaps even something Preceptory sized (200-1000 Sisters) aimed right at wherever this hhhhhhhhheretic is leading from (could be all one order, or it could be a combination of Missions/Commanderys lumped together). This would be a good option if you have interest from multiple people wanting to write about Sisters during the crusade, and it would give me the chance to write about fun stuff like Exorcists

I kinda like all these ideas. It's your choice. If you are ok with the idea of the combined strike force, would you mind if I made a thread in the Sisters forum and looked for more people to fill it out? We could even do multiple options. Maybe the relic/lost Convent Mission is detached from the main Preceptory when they find out about it.

this is what I wanted input on. I think it's a neat idea, but I don't want to do anything like this without your go-ahead, Black Cohort.

I figured there would be a few hundred sisters involved, but my opinion is that when the crusade starts the Imperium isn't terribly aware what is going on in the sector, so they kind of prepare for the worst and go from there. That being said I think at this point it makes more sense for there to be a group of sisters with the Crusade strategic reserve ans well as the post reclamation force.

And I don't own creative control of this project, I am more of a co-ordinator than anything. If the group wants something different than my preferred idea on something such is life.

On a different note can people start giving me rough ideas of when they will have parts of their military forces written up. I can't really ask people where their stuff is without some kind of timelines. I will have a short biography of General Hestus, commander of the Baltus Reclamation Crusade, Grand Duke of Torfan up by the end of the weekend.

[Servant of Dante]

Well, I suppose I'll jump on the Sisters forum and see if anyone else cares :P If only a couple are interested, I like the lost Convent idea a lot.

 

Thanks!

 

Edit: but I think said post in said forum will have to wait for morning.

Edited November 30, 2016 by Servant of Dante

[Doctor Perils]

With the enemy being rebels, I could very well see the ecclesiarchy take an interest in the whole thing.

 

Anyone got a preference for any of the ig regiment names I posted?

[Black Cohort]

With the enemy being rebels, I could very well see the ecclesiarchy take an interest in the whole thing.

 

Anyone got a preference for any of the ig regiment names I posted?

In my mind that interest would come after the crusade has already started, since the exact fate of the sector isn't known until they clear orks from the end of the stable warp route.

[Doctor Perils]

Ok :) In any case, nothing is stopping a reinforcement wave that comes in later. What's more, if it is a war of faith launched by the ecclesiarchy, they could have a separate command from the crusade, potentially throwing a spanner in the works :P

[Black Cohort]

Ok :) In any case, nothing is stopping a reinforcement wave that comes in later. What's more, if it is a war of faith launched by the ecclesiarchy, they could have a separate command from the crusade, potentially throwing a spanner in the works :P

Like sudden supply problems because the war of faith has millions of mouths to feed that are little more than cannon fodder.

[Sugarlessllama]

I would like to contribute a Gladius Strike Force of the Imperial Consuls to the crusade. I might also be able to contribute a small Household Detachment of Imperial Knights.

[Black Cohort]

I would like to contribute a Gladius Strike Force of the Imperial Consuls to the crusade. I might also be able to contribute a small Household Detachment of Imperial Knights.

Cool, do you have a timeframe for the write-up or an idea about what part of the crusade they would be attached to?

[Sugarlessllama]

I would guess the 37th Imperial Guard army group. Since that has both Astartes and Knights listed as participating. But for the write up, I would like some clarification since I have never participated in anything other than a painting vow on the boards. What would you like to see?

[Black Cohort]

I would guess the 37th Imperial Guard army group. Since that has both Astartes and Knights listed as participating. But for the write up, I would like some clarification since I have never participated in anything other than a painting vow on the boards. What would you like to see?

Sounds good.

 

For content a good place to start would be figuring out the size of the force, names of important members and special/ rare stuff they have. Description of combat style, unit traditions, rivalries with other units, hated foes from enemy forces, colour scheme if it is a unit of your own creation would also be good. If you more into the fiction side of things some stories of various battles they participate in.

[Servant of Dante]

Ok In any case, nothing is stopping a reinforcement wave that comes in later. What's more, if it is a war of faith launched by the ecclesiarchy, they could have a separate command from the crusade, potentially throwing a spanner in the works

Like sudden supply problems because the war of faith has millions of mouths to feed that are little more than cannon fodder.

Yeah. I like that the Frateris Militia basically happens when a local preacher tells his congregetion to grab their torches and pitchforks and follow him :P

Also, here's a comparison of Wars of Faith and Crusades.

The major difference between a War of Faith and a Crusade are in its origins and who takes part. A Crusade is ordered by the authority of all the High Lords of Terra, and generally involves all the different organizations of the Imperium, including Space Marines, Imperial Guard, the Imperial Navy, the Adeptus Ministorum and the administrative forces of the Adeptus Terra. A War of Faith is by command of the Ecclesiarch alone and primarily concerns only the members of the Adeptus Ministorum and the followers of the Imperial Creed. Aside from this general distinction, the two overlap considerably.

The object of a Crusade, whether it is the extermination of an alien race or the subjugation of rebellious Imperial worlds, is generally considered to be an affront against the Emperor and therefore is declared a War of Faith by the Ecclesiarch. When a War of Faith is announced, the Eccleaiarch will announce the objectives of the war and declaim the heretical, godless targets of the Emperor's vengeance. However, this is more a matter of stirring popular support than anything else. Almost all Crusades are additionally dubbed Wars of Faith. Space Marine Crusades are another matter entirely, and are never Wars of Faith.

Not all Wars of Faith are Crusades - sometimes the Ecclesiarchy is allowed to pursue its own ends without outside interference. These are true Wars of Faith, when the Ecclesiarchy prepares to battle and enemy for the sake of its benefits rather than to quell a rebellion or to occupy an alien-held planet.

When not part of a Crusade, Wars of Faith are funded and organized solely by the Ecclesiarchy and contain only warriors from the Adepta Sororitas and the Frateris Militia, led by members of the Frateris clergy. The Ecclesiarch does not have supreme authority to order Wars of Faith, the adventure must be approved by the other High Lords of Terra.

Wars of Faith are sometimes assisted by the forces of the other High Lords and even the armies of the Imperial Guard. Wars of Faith can be conducted against factions within the Ecclesiarchy who have been deemed heretics, or may take the form of punitive attacks against alien races. Wars of Faith may even be conducted against unexplored regions of the galaxy and comprise a multitude of Missionaries and the forces to protect them as they bring the light of the Emperor to the faithless.

-Wars of Faith & Crusades, Codex: Sisters of Battle (Second Edition) pg 6

So the Ecclesiarch (currently Decius XXIII) could see a Crusade heading for a lost sector, and decide to send in Missionaries, or when the situation in the sector becomes clear (as it would quickly) he would most likely declare the Crusade a War of Faith. Additionally, if he knew the Sororitas were looking for a Convent in the Baltus sector, that (combined with the cause of bringing the sector back into His light - even if they don't know about the heretical leader, any systems that long out of the Ministorum's sight needs attention) might be enough for him to declare a War of Faith regardless.

[Doctor Perils]

Feth, I really want an ecclesiarchy codex...

[Black Cohort]

So I have the basics of the Crusade Commander.

 

General Hestus, commander of the Baltus Reclamation Crusade, Grand Duke of Torfan is a little over 100 years old.  He grew up on the colony Tancred's World, on the eastern fringe, where his father had been given land and a commission in the PDF at the end of his guard career.  His family was killed by craftworld eldar, cleansing Tancred's World which was one of their maiden worlds when he was 8.  Raised by the Schola he become a Scion Officer, later transferring to the Guard when they were in desperate need of officers after the Xenocide purges of 897 and made a regiment commander.  He was made Grand Duke of Torfan defending Torfan from the Cults of Blood, a chaos incursion into that system.

[Thurservor]

Since we have a Crusade Commander i suggest we flesh out other members of the commanding HQ, council of sort, that will consist of the several most senior commanders that take part in the campaign. This will allow for further fleshing our of background politics and tensions that will spice up the fluff we develop. 

[Cryptix]

Would you mind if I made my chapter master the commander of the marines? I have yet to see anyone step up for it, and the Eternal Sentinels know this sector the best.

[Thurservor]

I have nothing against that, as long as Captain Helledron has an influence on the prosecution of void warfare, since he is centuries old veteran of fleet based operations and boarding actions.

Edited January 10, 2017 by Thurservor

[Black Cohort]

It is entirely possible that the Eternal Sentinels Chapter master is the overall commander of astartes and Captain Horon is in charge of astartes fleet assets and support.

 

I also think the idea to flesh out the Crusade command is a good idea.

[Doctor Perils]

I could definitely seem some kind of high-ranked guard commander who feels snubbed that he wasn't chosen for overall command and who tries to run his sub-section of the crusade a bit too hard to prove his worth and force the Lord Commander militant of the Segmentum (whatever the real rank is called) to name him as Crusade Commander instead...

Of course, that means he runs his guardsmen into death-traps rather often, getting his men killed while not actually advancing his ambition much.

[Black Cohort]

Probably one of the Army Group Commanders, we could have a counter attack be launched by the Separatist forces when his army group pulls to far ahead of the other one. Probably striking at the weak point between the two main army groups, it could be an opportunity to have the Crusade reserve deploy in large numbers to plug the gap.

[Servant of Dante]

Commandery of the Order of the Valorous Heart

Objective: Investigate the Cylingal Convent, and recover any records found there. Recover relics known to have been housed on Cylingal [see attached list].

Date of Creation:941.M41

Commander: Canoness Commander Luxia Telnayan

Size: 150 Sisters, 3 Exorcist tanks, transports

By the Word of: Prioress Helena of the Convent Sanctorum

(hopefully I'll expand on this later, but it is one of the 6 Orders Majoris, so any history I added would be compiled from other sources)

[Cryptix]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IjYKnl5YLl4/VYA_qNsIO8I/AAAAAAAA0xY/LQvMSj_q7sk/s400/terminator_space_marines_monochrome_concept_art_adrian_smith_desktop_694x1000_hd-wallpaper-1154824.jpg

Lord Esan Aurelius, Chapter Master of the Eternal Sentinels

Aurelius has been a member of the Eternal Sentinels for 500 years, and Chapter Master for 70. He began as any marine would, a scout in the 10th company of 8th squad, and continued on his path as normal until his time as a Vanguard Veteran of the 1st Company. At that point, the Ork invasion of the Baltus Sector began, and his squad was caught in the fighting. Even when all other members of the detachment he was fighting in had long since died, he with his relic Thunder Hammer never fell. He was rescued a full year after the invasion began, on his own and still attempting to accomplish his mission. He refused to let go of his thunder hammer, and indeed after examination by the chapter's librarius it became apparent why - it had become imprinted with the dying wishes and blessings of his comrades that in the warp you could barely see the outline of the hammer over the spiritual energy. He shot up in the ranks, becoming the champion of the 1st company, taking over the position of 1st captain at the apex of the ork invasion, and becoming chapter master when the Ultio system was eventually separated from the Imperium by constant fighting. When Idajoleti was eventually brought back into the fold, the Eternal Sentinels and Aurelius himself were united, forged in war and ready to fight for the Imperium in any matter.

 

Chapter Assets (Beginning of Baltus Crusade)

1st Company "The Golden Elite" - 49 Sternguard Veterans, 21 Vanguard Veterans, 19 Terminator Veterans, 14 Rhinos, 2 Land Raiders, 1 Spartan

2nd Company "The Steel Wardens" - 71 Tactical Marine, 9 Heavy Weapons Specialists, 14 Rhinos, 5 Whirlwinds, 4 Hunters, 8 Contemptor Dreadnoughts

3rd Company "The Shatter Rain" - 64 Tactical Marines, 24 Heavy Weapons Specialists, 9 Rhinos, 8 Whirlwinds, 9 Hunters

4th Company "The Face of the Chapter" - 99 Tactical Marines, 4 Heavy Weapons Specialists, 4 Rhinos, 4 Whirlwinds, 1 Hunters

5th Company "The Black Barrage" - 79 Tactical Marines, 21 Heavy Weapons Specialists, 35 Drop Pods of Varying Configurations

6th Company "The White Dawn" - 41 Tactical Marines, 24 Heavy Weapons Specialists, 20 Assault Specialists - 9 Rhinos

7th Company "The Bright Dusk" - 10 Tactical Marines, 28 Heavy Weapons Specialists, 14 Assault Special Lists, 3 Rhinos

8th Company "The Crashing Star" - 84 Assault Marines, 18 Drop Pods, 2 Contemtor Dreadnoughts

9th Company "The Bolt Storm" - 70 Devestator Marines, 4 Castaferrum Dreadnoughts, 1 Leviathan Siege Dreadnought

10th Company "The New Hope" - 89 Neophyte Scouts, 12 Chapter Veterans, 3 Deredeo Dreadnoughts

Assorted Personnel - 12 Chaplains, 14 Techmarines, 45 Apocatheries, 291 Chapter Serfs

Command Staff - Regent Oba, Master of the Watch Esan, Master of the Arsenal Ida,  Master of the Fleet Ibudo, Master of the Marches Itolese, Master of the Rites Ase, Quartermaster Oluwanje, Lord Executioner Akeke (deceased and awaiting replacement), Master of Relics Isura, and Master of the Recruits Oluko.

Edited January 10, 2017 by Cryptix

[Black Cohort]

What is his preferred wargear?

 

Battle Style? Is he going to sit back and co-ordinate then enter battle at a critical stage or lead from the front the entire battle?

 

Why Vanguard rather than sternguard or terminator? What led to him joining the first company?

 

Many chapter masters and first company captains are captain of another company beforehand, did he skip this step?

 

Chapter champion seems like a position that normally doesn't lead to further command, a position for a great warrior who isn't so good with managing larger battles. Are there those within the chapter who question or questioned his path to chapter command?

 

I like what you already have, but I often find asking questions is a good way to further develop something.

[Thurservor]

What is his preferred wargear?

 

Battle Style? Is he going to sit back and co-ordinate then enter battle at a critical stage or lead from the front the entire battle?

 

Why Vanguard rather than sternguard or terminator? What led to him joining the first company?

 

Many chapter masters and first company captains are captain of another company beforehand, did he skip this step?

 

Chapter champion seems like a position that normally doesn't lead to further command, a position for a great warrior who isn't so good with managing larger battles. Are there those within the chapter who question or questioned his path to chapter command?

 

I like what you already have, but I often find asking questions is a good way to further develop something.

 

I like this level of detail focus! It will be also crucial to get all those things summarized somewhere for easier future reference. 

 

Also just for the record I have edited the name of my strike force commander to Helledron, since Captain Decias Horon would be according to my homebrew lore about 3.500 years old at the time of Baltus Crusade :D hence his successor will take the mantle of 3rd Company Captain and Vorpal Swords Master of the fleet. I'll post his details tomorrow. 

[Cryptix]

Quick note, I've updated the post.

 

What is his preferred wargear?
A suit of Terminator Armor, a Combi-Flamer, and Mortician, the Soul-Imbued Thunder Hammer. At other times he duel-wields a Thunder Hammer and Mortician with a Jump Pack.
Battle Style? Is he going to sit back and co-ordinate then enter battle at a critical stage or lead from the front the entire battle?
As a former Vanguard Veteran, he feels its his duty to lead the charge wherever it may be, but one and a half centuries of command have taught him to hold back at times.
Why Vanguard rather than sternguard or terminator? What led to him joining the first company?
I chose a Vanguard because rather than be static and defensive, the chapter needs to take the fight to the enemy. Esan represents a new faction within the chapter that believes they need to pop their bubble of protection and work together with the Imperium more.
Many chapter masters and first company captains are captain of another company beforehand, did he skip this step?
His acts as Company Champion under his predecessor in the first company impressed the regent, so he nominated him as his replacement pre-mortem.
Chapter champion seems like a position that normally doesn't lead to further command, a position for a great warrior who isn't so good with managing larger battles. Are there those within the chapter who question or questioned his path to chapter command?
The thing is, the chapter needs to change. Many of the older command wanted to stay out of the crusade and continue to develop planetside, which is why everyone was surprised when Aurelius elected himself to be Marshall-Astartes of the Crusade, and even more surprised when the other chapters supported him.
I like what you already have, but I often find asking questions is a good way to further develop something.

 

 Is that satisfactory?