Rewards of Treason fluff

[Ion]

So I was contemplating messing around with an Alpha Legion list and maybe try my hand at a model or two for fun, and I was just wondering how other people saw units taken as part of the 'Rewards of Treason' special rule.

 

By that I mean, are they essentially deep operatives that were embedded in the 'parent' legion and trained in that particularly style of combat, or do you think they're just the Alpha legion interpretation of that training and combat style?

 

This would effect the models used visually in both model style and paint scheme I think, so I thought I'd see what others interpreted it as.

[1ncarnadine]

By that I mean, are they essentially deep operatives that were embedded in the 'parent' legion and trained in that particularly style of combat, or do you think they're just the Alpha legion interpretation of that training and combat style?

 

Yes.

[Supe robot gangster #1]

 

 

By that I mean, are they essentially deep operatives that were embedded in the 'parent' legion and trained in that particularly style of combat, or do you think they're just the Alpha legion interpretation of that training and combat style?

Yes.

Yeah that's how I always imagined it to be as well!

[Corswain]

They could have been quietly studying and picking off units from other Legions for a while. I'm thinking of The Serpent Beneath (my favourite Alpha Legion story) where they take out the unit of Scars. I kinda felt like they might have been doing this for a while.

 

Isstvan also provides a really good fluff reason for units from any of the Traitor Legions or Shattered Legions - Who knows what the Alpha Legion got up to before leaving for Paramar!?!? :)

[Ion]

I understand that with the Alpha's nothing is certain, I was hoping to get others' perspectives on it to see which idea I liked more, maybe encourage a bit of discussion between people.

 

How do people deal with the fluff and modelling of units that are 'borrowed' from the other legions? 

[Aramis K]

I think they could be planted before recruitment into the legion, or experienced marines turned to alpha cause, or alphas in disguise, or alpha copies to master alternative methods.

Treason could mean the treason of turncoats, or the treason of the alphas against another legion.

I think any of those reasons would work, and schemes from original to a full alpha take would be cool.

 

It's tricky though as these are full units of the most elite marines, which for me means they're unlikely to be plants. And I don't think the alphas can just easily master any other legions elite metbods.

 

I'd favour them being turncoats, veterans misled, indoctrinated, and turned by the alphas. That leads to the most fun conversion options too, original unit look with some alpha symbols on top to mark their conversion. The hybrid look.

[Withershadow]

Turncoats seems the least likely, honestly.

 

This is a legion that can transfer memories. They can literally take a unit of guys and overwrite their mind with Alpha Legionaires.

 

That's less turncoat and more pod people.

 

I interpret it as Alpharius having spies everywhere and not being shy about stealing good ideas.

[shandwen]

That is how I always saw it, but then I wonder how the fluff can explain taking a unit of red butchers or other *modified* marines.

[Memento Of Prospero]

The nails are actually failed AL implants.

 

 

... or are they?

[Marshal Loss]

Red Butchers are one of the easier ones to justify, as they can't tell friend from foe - a Techmarine could have been an AL operative, who upon leaving his assignment simply takes some of his charges with him. Or AL capture a WE ship and find some Butchers locked up in the hold. The AL are then free to set them loose where needed.

 

Some don't make a whole lot of sense - if I recall correctly, the AL couldn't infiltrate the Wolves, so getting their hands on Varagyr or Deathsworn doesn't seem likely - and for those cases, just assume it's an equivalent unit trained to fight in the same way using stolen/looted equipment in the wake of a particular engagement. The galaxy is a huge place with plenty of room for mysteries

[lokkorex]

I always envisioned it as AL operatives trained in other legions tactics and weaponry in the hopes of planting them in that legion, with the hope that, looking and acting like an already elite warrior of that particular legion, will give them a higher chance of being exposed to the planted legions inner workings and plans.