[Iron gauntlet 2017] IA: Viper Legion

[Legionare]

I've long wanted to continue my Viper Legion project and now with the Iron Gauntlet i have a reason to justify spending hours writing lore for my army.

Space Marine Chapter
Viper Legion

Founding
9th Founding

Successor of
Raven Guard

Chapter Master
Tychon Draco

Homeworld
Aurelius (Feudal world)

Fortress monastery
http://i.imgur.com/4lTSt2R.jpg
(original picture from deviant art with the name "silvernai snow fortress")

Allies
Raven Guard, Space wolves, Astra Militarum regiments from the Aura sector

Size (marines)
1000

Specialty
Fighting alongside Astra Militarum, Cunning tactics, Pincer manouvers

Battle cry
"No doubt, no fear, nor a moment of hesitation"

Motto
“Amat Victoria curam” – Victory likes careful preparation

Colours
Blue, white and Silver (shoulder pad colour depends on the great cohort)
http://i.imgur.com/ss04xxZ.jpg
(Wip picture showing the general colour)

Successor chapter(s)
None known

HOMEWORLD

Homeworld of the chapter, Aurelius, is a cold and harsh planet in which feudal society is in place. The planet is mostly covered in icy seas and thick forests. Most of the food is produced by farming during the summers, while the long autumn and spring are largely used for warfare. During each of these seasons, marines from the Viper Legion watch over the wars waged and battles fought, searching for the greatest and most cunning warriors. Culture of the planet largely revolves around the Viper Legion, who are known by the population as the “sons of the golden god”. Even though the Viper legion doesn't directly interact with the population, stories about the sons watching over them in search for the greatest and most cunning fighters are widely spread.

ORGANISATION

While the chapter follows codex astartes, it has differiated from it in some places. The chapters ten companies, are known as great cohorts. These are then split to twenty cohorts 45 men each. Each cohort has it’s own commander but great cohorts are led by captains, like companies in codex astartes chapters. However the chapter usually uses full companies, but can respond to threats and changing situations by splitting the companies into cohorts. Each Captain is accompanied by squad of ten veteran marines, that act as his honor guard and closest advisers. Each Cohort is given equipment from the armoury depending on its mission, ranging from heavy weapons to force weaponry. The chapter prides itself in the fact that each marine is trained to master every weapon available to the chapter. It is also very common for the chapter to split its forces so that some cohorts and/or great cohorts are often sent outside the Aura sector to fight alongside other imperial forces, giving them support where ever its most needed. 

 

COMBAT DOCTRINE

Viper Legions Combat Doctrine is known for its flexibility and extreme adaptability. As every member knows how to use each weapon, the chapter can answer to the ever changing battlefield by equipping its members with different weapons without the need of specialized squads. In combat the cohorts usually use cover and swift movement to their advantage, by ambushing the enemy in every turn. It is not unusual for the chapter to force the enemy to retreat towards Astra Militarums firing line, thus resulting in the enemies complete destruction. The chapter usually deploys with the strength of at least one great cohort, but when they are needed in many places at the same time, they split into cohorts. This allows them to strike the enemy from multiple fronts and support their allies more easily when needed.

CHAPTER BELIEFS

The chapter values adaptivity and the ability to outsmart their enemies. While following the Codex Astartes, they don’t view it as a unalterable truth. As for the chapters views on the emperor, they believe that he is the greatest and most powerful man ever born, so great in fact that they view the imperial cult as the average human’s way of honoring him, since they have no other way of explaining his light and deeds other than rising him to godhood. Viper Legion fights for the humanity and the Emperor’s dream of it, but not necessarily for the imperium (though they don’t show this to outside). Their true goal is to defeat the primogenial annihilator (chaos) but still secure the survival of human race, two conflicting goals whose order of precedence is in grave need of solving as the 13th black crusade threatens to engulf all of Imperium.

 

CHAPTER TRADITIONS

 

Viper Legion's most known tradition is their way of changing their names so that most commonly the first name of a marine stays the same for his whole life, but his surname always changes when he is assigned to a new fireteam. These new names are chosen by the members of the fire team and they will remain as long as the fireteam stays in action. When it suffers casualties and is combined with another fire team to form one full strength fire team, the process of choosing a new name repeats itself. This represents how the 5 fireteam members are brothers to each other and the difference between success and failure depends on the teams strengths, and not from skills of a single marine.

 

Viper Legion also doesn't send its techmarines to Mars at the beginning of their service as a techmarine. They are sent to Mars only when they are ascending to the rank of Forgelord (Veteran techmarine). This tradition dates back to the so called "long night" that was a nearly 900 year rift between the Viper Legion and the adeptus mechanicus. During that time Viper Legion was forced to train its techmarines without the help of Mars, so the Veteran techmarines passed down their knowledge by training the new ones. This tradition stayed even after the relations were normalized, but when a techmarine becomes skilled and wise enough to become a Forgelord he is sent to Mars to prove his skills and knowledge about the machine spirits.

 

PERSONS OF INTEREST

Captain Isaac Vulpes
Isaac Vulpes (Isaac Valectus back then) was born as a heir to a relatively small bit ambitious kingdom in Aurelia. He took the throne that his father had solidified for at the age of 13 and finished the conquest of a neighbouring kingdom, that his father had started. He ruled the kingdom for four years, during which he conquered neighbour after neighbour, beating their armies thanks to his amazing Coup d'œil. When he was taken to join the Viper Legion, he promised to return to see if his successors had liven up to their promises. He has, like most of the Legions members, changed his surname everytime his fireteam has been merged with another team that has suffered casualties, to make one full fireteam again. This is a common practise within the chapter. Isaac was promoted first to sergeant and then to Strategos relatively quickly, after just 55 years of service. Then he served the chapter victoriously for almost 2 centuries before he was promoted to the rank of Captain and was given command of the third great cohort. Under his command the third has crusaded around the Aura Sector and its neighbours, supporting imperial forces where ever needed and claiming relics for the chapter in the process.

Strategos Roul Valectus

Roul Valectus is an singgularity within the Viper Legion. Even though he has served for one and a half centuries, he still carries his original surname, as a mark that no one from that squad has fallen, although one member of his original squad serves the chaptet in the form of a mighty dreadnought. As a strategos Roul often uses a tactic that centers in allowing the enemy to get few hits, to give him and his cohort an opening from which attack to. This is a tactic he has been recorded using even before he joined the Viper Legion, back when he was member of a mercebary warband in Aurelia.

Strategos Arcadius Thedos

Arcadius Thedos is a model example how even those who aren't part of any fireteam or squad are also irreplacable parts of the Viper Legion. Originally serving as a chaplain in the 5th cohort he took its command during a moment of great dispair as the cohort was being overran by numerous chaos heretics and traitor marines. After the Strategos of the cohort was killed, along with many other members of the cohort (including the most obvious successors for the strategos) Arcadius made a split second decission, stepped out and took command of the remaining forces of the cohort. Arcadius was able to rally his forces and hold on until they were rescued by reinforcements, that came in form of chapters fighting serfs and tempestus scions. After the incident he was appointed as the full time strategos of the 5th cohort. Now he leads the 5th cohort against the enemies of the imperium, wielding a mighty thunder hammer that he has named "Battle Crozius"

ORIGINS
Chapter was founded during the 9th founding, right after the events known as Pale Wasting. During the process of founding the chapter a lone survivor from a chapter thought completely destroyed during the pale wasting, was chosen to be the first chapter master for the Viper Legion. What wasn’t known by anyone was that this lone veteran marine was actually a Alpha Legionary, who had played instrumental part in destruction of the chapter he now claimed to part of. This Marine went on to start a process in which slowly but surely the chapter was turned in to Alpha Legionaries from the inside.

HISTORY

The battle of Pyros and the “Sons of the Scarab” (Early M36)

The “sons of the scarab” warband of the thousand sons traitor legion attacked the chapter during the first half of the 36^th millennium. These traitors believe that some kind of an secret library resides in the sector and thus have invaded multiple times to search for it. During one of these invasion, the head sorcerer of the warband, Anukh the deceiver, fought Viper legions chapter master in single combat and won. However he didn’t have the time to finish his work and Viper Legion was able to retrieve their master and save his life by putting him in a dreadnought. It is notable however, that the reason for the chapter master to challenge the sorcerer in single combat was to take Anukhs attention away from the battle raging around them, on the surface of Pyros. Viper Legion was then able to one by one cut down enemy sorcerers who weren’t anymore protected by their far more powerful master. Despite the Viper legion Chapter master being dearly wounded, the day was theirs and Anukh was once again forced to retreat form the system. After this battle the Viper Legion formed a special Cohort, the 21^st, that acted as a garrison for the planet of Pyros. The reasoning behind this was that whatever the Sons of the Scarab where looking for would reside on Pyros, or at least some clue of where to find it would be there.

The red waaagh and tragedy of Pyros

The waaagh known as the Red Waaagh formed during the ending years of the M35. This waaagh was led by Orruk da Red, whose name came from his distinctive red skin. While this Waaagh wasn’t a large one, it had the potential to become one. Thus both Imperial guard and Imperial navy were dispatched alongside with large Viper Legion forces to deal with the Waaagh. Viper Legion made it possible to drive the greenskins from the three worlds they had attacked so far.

Now only the home of the waaagh remained. Simultaneously with this, a new commander was appointed to the 21^st cohort. Brisus was on of the chapters most promising librarians and a competent commander in battle. When the old strategos of the cohort was promoted to the rank of Commander (leads a great cohort), Brisus was promoted to the rank of Strategos. Brisus however wasn't satisfied with the defences in place. He believed that they should first locate the keep their enemies were searching for and then prepare defences there, ready to ambush them. Brisus then started large search for the keep, without notifying his superiors, however since he was the strategos of the 21^st cohort, he served directly under the chapter master, who at the time wasn’t avaivable for consultation.

After a year of intense searchs throughout Pyros the 21^st cohort found the keep they were looking for, and entered it with the lead of Brisus. However when they advanced deeper to the keep, that seemed to be ancient one, but still man made (it was concluded that the keep originated from the great crusade), Brisus fell to his knees in pain. His head was filled with gibberish he couldn’t understand. While he spent the next days paralyzed in the care of the apothecaries, the remaining forces chose oldest of the sergeants, Epiro Amorgos, to act as the Strategos until Brisus would be able to return to duty. This lasted for about a week, during which the largest battles of the Red Waaagh campaign were fought. In these battles especially the 1^st, 2^nd and 13^th Cohorts excelled. The battles were hard fought, but with 7 great cohorts of the Viper Legion avaivable, the Imperial forces managed to push the Orks back.

However, back at Pyros the keep collapsed, keeping the cohort form contacting the rest of the legion. They were forced to stay underground for two months, since the rest of the legion did not the location of the keep. Two cohorts were dispatched to the planet (due to the fear that Sons of Scarab had somehow destroyed the 21^st) and after long and difficult search a signal form the 21^st was received, and the keep found. When the keep was opened the marines there, 2^nd and 3^rd cohort were suddenly ambushed by Sons of Scarab rising form the keep. This ambush was devastating, both cohorts being already depleted because of the red waaagh. The two cohorts were overwhelmed and forced to retreat. The 2^nd and 3^rd retreated, reformed and then counter attacked and even managed to push back the ambushers. After the enemy was pushed back, they disappeared to thin air. When searching the Sons of Scarab bodies left behind a horrifying realization was made. The Sons of Scarab were supported by a band of bone colored marines, that clearly were from the 21^st cohort. The reason for their betrayal was left to the darkness of the keep, as it was never found out.

Moirae Schism comes to Aura Sector (Early M37)

Moirae Schism and the wars caused by it hadn’t been anything uncommon in the imperium, since it had started. However the Forgeworld Tairo and the “Tairo planets” that were controlled by the mechanicus, had been loyal to the imperium. However now those planets started to rebel, right as the imperial forces were just about to crush the Red Waaagh on the other side of the sector. The Tairo forces quickly advanced through the surrounding planets, conquering them for their twisted version of the mechanicus. This proved for the Viper Legion, that the rebellion was long in the planning and that the hereteks were just waiting for the right moment to strike. Viper Legion was forced to stop searching for the reasons of the 21^st cohorts betrayal, and to dispatch all avaivable forces to deal with the Tairo forces. These forces consisted of 9 great cohorts. Viper Legion decided to try ending the war with one swift strike, by attacking Forgeworld Taoro itself. The attack on Tairo was conducted by 8 great cohorts of the Viper Legion and large Imperial guard and Imperial Navy forces.

Despite the fact that Imperial Navy and Viper Legions vessels proved to be far more capable than their Tairo counterparts, it become clear that the whole sector could fall before the Forgeworld could be conquered. Despite this, Captain Kadmos of the 1^st great cohort (consisting of the 1^st and 2^nd cohorts) led a successful assault against the worlds defenders. Forces from 5 different cohorts took parts in this attack, and thanks to the superior fighting skills and tactics deployed by Viper Legion allowed them to majorly harass the planets defenders. This small victory was short lived, as the battle over the planet started to turn to Forgewolrds favor, as their more numerous forces started to pour in. The evacuation of the ground forces wasn’t an easy operation, but thanks to Captain Kadmoses firm grip on the ground situation, it was successful. Kadmos was able to simultaneously keep his retreating forces in order and organize successful defense against the onslaught of heretek Skitarii forces.

After the loss at Tairo, Viper Legion was then forced to split it forces to defend the sector. Thus it’s strength was too divided to properly conduct large scale operation. This resulted in the Viper Legion evolving its tactics to include more Imperial Guard forces.

The Schism continues

The quick mobilization of almost all Viper Legion forces had stopped the search for the traitors from the 21^st cohort, but now it continued again. The chapter activated most of its operatives to find these traitors before they could strike again. Eventually the traitors were tracked to the planet of Lamia, where they seemed to be waiting for the fighting to start, so that they could then scavenge gear from both sides. With the help of the local Adeptus Arbites, the traitors were tracked down to an old and abandoned imperial facility. The facility, and the traitors, resided in the largest forest of the planet. The operation was planned so that the marines would do a drop pod strike on top of the enemy camp, while the scouts would take the enemy sorcerers out together with the arbites. The arbites and the scouts would use everything from sniper rifles to lascannons to take out the sorcerers supporting the main force. The plan worked and just as the drop pods came down, the sorcerers were slaughtered by the fire they didn’t expect. Despite the sorcerers being neutralized at the beginning of the fight, it wasn’t an easy one. The traitors fought to the bitter end, even without their thousand son allies. The strategos of the 2^nd cohort, Aegeus Acara, injured the enemy leader Lord Epiro, an event that drove the remaining traitors back. However, the 2^nd was not able to get answers they wanted, as Epiro only said “The second will rise” before his death. It was deducted that with this he meant that they no longer thought of themselves as the 21^st cohort, and now believed they were something all new. Still after the two engagements with them, 29 bodies from the old 21^st were found, and it was believed that the threat posed by these traitors was almost gone.

The leap upon Aurelius

Despite the victory over the traitor marines, the war situation still favoured the Tairo rebels. Now rebels mounted a major attack towards Viper Legion homeworld of Aurelius. This attack managed to overwhelm the imperial lines, piercing through multiple planets, before finally stopping at Aurelius. Every avaivable marine was recalled to defend the planet, except for one cohort that defended other areas of the sector. These forces arrived on the planet just in time before the planetfall of Tairo forces. Despite the best efforts of the chapter and the hastily armed chapter sherfs, Tairo forces successfully landed only ten kilometres away from the forstress monastery. After the landing, Tairo skitarii were constantly harassed by retreating Viper Legion forces, but they were still able to make their way to the valley in which monastery was. During these first months of the battle, members of the 2^nd cohort were sent to summon every kingdom, empire and tribe of Aurelius to its defense. Despite them having only medieval and early reneisansse weapons, the people agreed to came to the defense of their home, and their gods.

While that recruitment was going on, the Skitarii and heretek forces started sieging the monastery. Despite its formidable weapons systems, that were able to keep the enemies out, Viper Legion was soon pinned in their own forstress monastery, without a way out. Every step forwards was payed with countless of bodies by the Tairo forces. This continued for multiple Terran months until the beginning of the 6^th month of the siege. During the 3^rd day of that month suddenly an army of tens upon tens of thousands of human soldiers appeared on top of the hills surrounding the valley. The leading Tairo Forgemaster, known as Varion, the lord of Tairo, ordered his men not to fire upon these warriors. Despite the fact that he saw veterans of the Viper Legion leading them, he decided to send a embassador towards these people, demanding their surrender. Reasoning behind this was unknown at the time, but after the war, it was found out that Varion wanted to create his own marines, that would help him expand and defend his realm.

When that embassador arrived at the multiple kings, khans and dictators leading the army he presented his proposal quickly, but just after he finished, his chest was pierced by the lances of the rulers. Then they ordered their men to attack, the unbreakable heavy infantry of Machre, Feared lancers of Kazor, deadly horse archers of Varion and even the heave cavalry of Jutaino. All of these charged side by side, despite the fact that merely 7 Terran months ago, they were fighting against eachother in bloody wars. While the charge was going on, the skitarii and heretek battle line soon fell in chaos as multiple imperial knight turned on them, revealing their true loyalty to the Imperium. These knights quickly dispatched their heretek counterparts and then started to lay waste to the skitarii forces sieging the fortress monastery. Thanks to the chaos that ensued, the charge wasn’t cut down before the skitarii lines, and a mass close combat followed. Despite all this, the charging forces soon started to be cut down by their more advanced enemies, and many turned back and started retreating to the hills surrounding the valley.

At that moment the main gate of the fortress monastery opened and out stepped a highly decorated dreadnought. It was the first chapter master of the legion, who was put in a dreadnought after suffering terrible wounds on the surface of pyros (during the first battle of Pyros). Now he led his Vipers out from their fortress. Thanks to that sight, the retreating people of Aurelius gained their morale back, as they literally saw their gods in front of them, and returned to the fight, forcing enemies to focus their fire on them, rather than at the Viper Legion. The marines of the Viper Legion pushed forward, constantly flanking their enemies, who weren’t a match to their tacticts. The skitarii and heretek soon started to retreat unorganized, and during the chaotic retreat the chapter master who had followed the original one (after the first master was put in a dreadnought, his position was given away), Antreas Spinos, killed Varion the Lord of Tairo, by cutting him in half with his power sword, after a short duel.
After the battle the remaining 9 loyalist knights were questioned, to ensure that they truly were on the Imperiums side. It was explained that right before the Schism start at the Aurelius sector, the knight world of Caria was purged by the mechanicum. In this purge all knights and their underlings who openly were against the rebellion were slaughtered. The knights then explained that they didn’t wan’t do in such a meaningless way, and decided to join the rebellion only to betray them later. Now they had shown their true loyalty and gave their lives to the hands of Chapter master Antreas Spinos.

Fate of the knights

Antreas believed that there was no reason to incriminate them, but ordered that the 6 knights whose vehicles were still able to properly fight would follow the Viper Legion for the rest of the war, whereas the 3 who were either too wounded or whose knight were too broken to fight would establish a new knight world to the large moon Aurelius.
The moon of Aurelius, Thera, had once hold countless mines that had since emptied from recourses. The technologically advanced population of the moon has since devolved into a society much like medieval Terra, although with more advanced weapons. This society would prove excellent ground to establish new knight houses and to train new knights. Of course the process would take decades, if not entire centuries. From the new houses, house Justinianus and house Cyros became the most important ones.

The knight that remained on active duty chose most steadfast among them to lead them. This knight, named Nicholai, would create a lasting bond between the knight and the Viper Legion. After the rebellion was put down, he would officially become the first grandmaster (leader) of all the knight houses of Thera. He would also start house Justinianus, and thus remain a legend among the knights for eternity. Ever since the knights of Thera have been allied with the Imperium, especially with the Viper Legion, rather than with the mechanicum like their ancestors (This is called the Pact of Thera). Still wicked rumours lie around these knights, rumours about them following the Viper Legion blindly, even if they decided to turn against the imperium. Of course these rumours are certainly just heretics trying to make imperium fight against itself.

The II legion rises

After the battle of Aurelius, the Tairo forces were on retreat, they were leaderless and imperial reinforcements started finally to pour to the sector. For a moment the commanders of the imperium were able to breath again, as their enemies were being pushed back. This relief was short lived however, as suddenly the hive world of Taksos Prime became under siege by forces of the self proclaimed II legion. It became soon clear that this II Legion was led by Brisus and his remaining followers. Most of their power came from the guard and PDF regiments they had been able to sway to their cause. At this point it was clear that Brisus, who now called himself a primarch, had become increasingly delusional. While his forces were conquering Taksos Prime, multiple fresh and just trained regiments from the nearby fortress world of Attica I were send to stop them. Attica I was the single largest fortress world of the sector and it trained countless regiments each year.

These fresh regiment gained support from several Viper Legion cohorts, and during the climax of the campaigning, even from the space wolves that came to the system. Together the imperial guard, Viper Legion and the Space Wolves were able to kill every single traitor and heretic on Taksos prime, with the exception of Brisus, who was the sole survivor of the traitor forces.

Ending of the schism and beginning of the long night (Late M37)

After the threat that the II legion posed to the sector was destroyed, Viper Legion was able to turn all their recourses against the Tairo forces. With the help of the imperial nave, guard and the space wolves they one by one conquered back the planets Tairo forces had previously conquered. This process wad further helped by the rumours spread by Viper Legion operatives, rumous that told the population of those planets what their fate would be under Tairo rule.

The reconquest was surprisingly swift, it was helped by the fact that imperial nave successfully harassed the less experienced navy, practically forcing them to defend only their core worlds. The conquest of these planets and destroying the last pockets of resistance took little over four years. During the pacification of the forgeworld of Tairo Viper Legion forced ventured deep into the worlds core, in search of useful STCs. However as a result to this the mechanicum denounced the Chapter after it refused to leave these ventures to the mechanicum. This denunciation would lead to the era known as "Long night" in which Viper Legion was cut off of almost all mechanicum support, forcing them to send cohorts around the Imperium in order to gain resources and favors.

During the pacification of Tairo a single heretek ship trying to escape was, according to crew of a nearby ship, boarded by several vessels bearing Alpha Legion markings. However this ship then appeared amongst ships captured by the Viper Legion, with its goods (technology and intel to create geno soldiers) in imperial hands. The original report was then redacted and those officers who continued to support their original claims were dismissed from their positions due to being "unfitting". It should also be noted that Viper Legion did indeed find something from Tairo. They found an old, uncorrupted, STC of a flying transport ship, with striking similarities to space wolves' stormwolfs.

Long night and the Era of triumvirate (Late M37-Early M38)

[[Records taken from inquisitiorial archives and Viper Legions librarium]]
Its widely believed that heretical traitor marines of the Word bearers arrived at the sector sometime after the end of the Moirae Schism, however the next part is highly speculations, being formed of scarce imperial records as well as monologues of Traitor lord Brisus, given in battles against him.

Sometime after the Schisms ending at Aura sector, word bearers arrived to the sector and made contact with the Sons Of Scarab. After making somekind of deal, they started working together to find Brisus. They soon managed to do it, and made a pact with him. Brisus and his now destroyed legion would become part of the so called triumvirate that was formed by him, Sons of Scarab and The Word Bearers.
Apparently they tried to find some ancient artefact, about which Brisus had received irreplaceable knowledge at Pyrhos. With the Viper Legions fighting capabilities hindered by the long night, this triumvirate would be able to settle into the sector.

This Triumvirate started to become active during the Late M37 and early M38. However especially after the normalization of the relations between Viper Legion and Mechanicum, Viper Legion started to drive their foes away from the sector. This was fully archived on 38 191 when during three seperate operations Viper Legions cohorts managed to take the traitors by surprise, killing the leadership of the word bearers and the head sorcerer of the Sons of Scarab. During the escape of these traitors, they were mercilessly harassed and almost wiped out.

Viper Legion in the M41

Currently Viper Legion is working closely with the other Astartes Praeses chapters, trying to contain Abaddons 13th black crusade. The Battles in the Aura sector have been fierce and rumors about Alpha Legion having infiltrated the sectors civilian leaders have led to many of them being assassinated. These rumors still continue to plague the sector and Viper Legion has started to take power to itself to stop the sector from falling into traitor hands. After the fall of Cadia the situation for the imperial commanders has started to become increasingly gloomy, with only source of light in the darkness being the Adeptus Astartes of the Viper Legion and their mysterious human allies. Were from these mysterious allies came from is a mystery, but the fact that their fighting capabilities seem to be greater than those of a normal human, has made them so essential to the imperial defenders that this question has been pushed to the sidelines.

[joschlumpf]

The story is great so far.

 

You stated, that the great cohorts are led by captains, but during the red waaagh you say they are called commander. You might want to clear that out. :)

[Dizzyeye01]

First off, welcome to the Liber, glad to see someone new around these parts. With introductions out of the way, lets have a look at he IA here:

 

1. What does the alpha legion add to the chapters' personality? You mention briefly at the start that there is this space marine who leads the chapter ending up being an infiltrator but what does this add?

 

2. In what way do you mean they incorporate local guardsmen forces into their tactics? Is it just as simple as including any forces in the battle into their plans or is it actually commanding them? The latter is harder to explain as a chapter is meant to have no connections in deciding what a guardsman force should do due to the Codex Astartes being in place.

 

3. Why did the chapter create these cohorts? What do they gain over your average battle company in the normal Codex Astartes? Also, you say in one of the battles that the 21st Cohort is formed in the M36 and yet you go back and in the M35 you talk about the 21st still existing. Is the dates wrong or something else?

 

4. What do all of these battles add to the chapters' characteristics? BY this I mean how do they affect how the chapter see's the world around it. Yes you have a fair amount of battles there but I'm failing to see how they actually affect the chapter as a whole. Perhaps you should change it so that these battles in small chunks and be brief on the details, giving enough to show what happened and how they have effected the chapter.

 

5. Why mention the Space Wolves and Raven Guard specifically? You'd be better using either lessen known chapters than the grandfather of all chapters as most DIYs choose to do, it means that you're not digging up more questions than answers.

 

 

This isn't meant to make you think twice about creating your own chapter, if anything it's to help you ponder whether your ideas have any merit and see if they all fit well together. Good luck with this :)

[Legionare]

Josclumpf that is a mistake and it'll be fixed shortly. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

Dizzeye

 

1. I personally love the Alpha Legions lore and wanted to include that someway to the my chapter. While the infiltration is currently mentioned only once, i'm currently working on expanding it in the history section (When the Moirae Schism is beaten and the Chapter starts to rebuild its strength, the Alpha Legionaries infiltrated in the chapter see their chance to strengthen their grip of the chapter).

 

2. They just incorporate the guardsmen to their strategies and inform them about the tactics the Viper Legion uses. Sometimes Vipers also give "Strong recommendations" of the actions they wished the Guard to take, without stepping over the Codex.

 

3. The Cohort system has two reasons behind it. The first one and the in universe one is that the first chapter master believed that the chapter should be split to twenty, rather than ten parts to properly have a presence in the whole sector. He also believed that with only 1000 marines at his disposal, those should be split to smaller parts that would be supported by other imperial forces. The second reason is that by making the larger entities within the chapter (usually companies) only 45 men strong, i have a more easily achievable goal when painting them (since i only need to paint 45 miniatures rather than 100 to have a proper section of the chapter done).

 

4. Hmm i suppose that this is so far the biggest problem of my IA. Now that i look at them you are right, the battles don't affect the chapter very much. Changing them to smaller chunks might work very well, i'll be looking in to that. One thing that the chapter will soon face due to the moirae schism is a severe dispute with the mechanicum that leads to mechanicum refusing to rearm the chapter for nearly thousand years, an event that shapes many traditions of the chapter (Techmarines for example aren't always sent to Mars)

 

5. Well i see the problem there, i probably should add some Astartes Praeses chapters to the list and take Raven Guard away. Raven Guard was there because Viper Legion is their successor, and Wolves because they patrol around the Eye of Terror, like the Astartes Praeses (Viper Legion is part of them) so i thought that it would be natural for younger chapter to seek the help of the mighty wolves. 

 

These questions weren't in no way harmful for my IA, quite opposite, so please if you have more of them, just ask :)

[Dizzyeye01]

I personally love the Alpha Legions lore and wanted to include that someway to the my chapter. While the infiltration is currently mentioned only once, i'm currently working on expanding it in the history section (When the Moirae Schism is beaten and the Chapter starts to rebuild its strength, the Alpha Legionaries infiltrated in the chapter see their chance to strengthen their grip of the chapter).

Fair enough, I take it you would follow roughly the same procedures that were used when the Raven Guard got infiltrated by the Alpha Legion with face swaps and so on and then have them be treated like PTSD or the sorts? That's the way that makes sense to getting infiltrators' into your chapter. Another way would be finding the recruiting world and brainwashing recruits before they're found by the chapter and then you've got sleeper agents within like what happened with the Emperors' Swords.

They just incorporate the guardsmen to their strategies and inform them about the tactics the Viper Legion uses. Sometimes Vipers also give "Strong recommendations" of the actions they wished the Guard to take, without stepping over the Codex.

No problems here, just be sure to clarify this is the case so that any readers don't get confused about it.

The Cohort system has two reasons behind it. The first one and the in universe one is that the first chapter master believed that the chapter should be split to twenty, rather than ten parts to properly have a presence in the whole sector. He also believed that with only 1000 marines at his disposal, those should be split to smaller parts that would be supported by other imperial forces. The second reason is that by making the larger entities within the chapter (usually companies) only 45 men strong, i have a more easily achievable goal when painting them (since i only need to paint 45 miniatures rather than 100 to have a proper section of the chapter done).

Does the cohort have the same units in it that a demi company would have (3 tactical squads, one assault and one devastator?) and if so what is the big difference between the two? Also, if you're going to split things like that then you'll need to have more apothecaries and more chaplains and so on to cover the basis that there is more strike forces going around independent of each other. Why not simply just stick to the Codex Astartes and have the 10 companies? Strike forces could be detached from these companies to help with Imperial forces and then join up at a later date once their mission is complete. I can see where you're coming from with the painting side of things however you should put your models to the side first if you want to make sure your IA doesn't have any holes in it. If anything you can always say that you're painting up a strike force from a certain company and use a captains stats to represent the Commander in charge of the force. Up to you in the end.

4. Hmm i suppose that this is so far the biggest problem of my IA. Now that i look at them you are right, the battles don't affect the chapter very much. Changing them to smaller chunks might work very well, i'll be looking in to that. One thing that the chapter will soon face due to the moirae schism is a severe dispute with the mechanicum that leads to mechanicum refusing to rearm the chapter for nearly thousand years, an event that shapes many traditions of the chapter (Techmarines for example aren't always sent to Mars)

As much as we all like bolter action, what makes some IA stand out from the others isn't the battles they have but the chapters' soul. This dispute is a good step in the right direction for things that effect the chapter. Just be sure to show the effects of it all :)

Well i see the problem there, i probably should add some Astartes Praeses chapters to the list and take Raven Guard away. Raven Guard was there because Viper Legion is their successor, and Wolves because they patrol around the Eye of Terror, like the Astartes Praeses (Viper Legion is part of them) so i thought that it would be natural for younger chapter to seek the help of the mighty wolves.

It's fine to talk about bigger chapters' such as the Raven Guard if they're linked through geneseed as you can go on to describe what their relation is to the rest of their brother chapters is like. As for the Space Wolves, yeah they might be in the same area but again, what does it add for the chapter? It doesn't really add much to the chapter if it's just a brief "We know them." kinda thing. You could go on to say if it's a more positive or negative relationship between the two but you would need to explain etc.

These questions weren't in no way harmful for my IA, quite opposite, so please if you have more of them, just ask

Oh don't worry, you've not seen the last of me

[Legionare]

Fair enough, I take it you would follow roughly the same procedures that were used when the Raven Guard got infiltrated by the Alpha Legion with face swaps and so on and then have them be treated like PTSD or the sorts? That's the way that makes sense to getting infiltrators' into your chapter. Another way would be finding the recruiting world and brainwashing recruits before they're found by the chapter and then you've got sleeper agents within like what happened with the Emperors' Swords.

Yes the same procedures would be followed (face swapping and so on). Also i'd imagine it being something like that, brainwashing the recruits in to sleeper agents, without them realizing it.

Does the cohort have the same units in it that a demi company would have (3 tactical squads, one assault and one devastator?) and if so what is the big difference between the two? Also, if you're going to split things like that then you'll need to have more apothecaries and more chaplains and so on to cover the basis that there is more strike forces going around independent of each other. Why not simply just stick to the Codex Astartes and have the 10 companies? Strike forces could be detached from these companies to help with Imperial forces and then join up at a later date once their mission is complete. I can see where you're coming from with the painting side of things however you should put your models to the side first if you want to make sure your IA doesn't have any holes in it. If anything you can always say that you're painting up a strike force from a certain company and use a captains stats to represent the Commander in charge of the force. Up to you in the end.

The way i imagined it was that the squads would be armed depending on the mission, so while some squads usually use for example heavy weapons, there aren't specialized squads. But you make a solid point there. Maybe the chapter consists of 10 companies, that can split into smaller strike forces (cohorts i you may) and then join back when the cohort returns?

As much as we all like bolter action, what makes some IA stand out from the others isn't the battles they have but the chapters' soul. This dispute is a good step in the right direction for things that effect the chapter. Just be sure to show the effects of it all

I'll keep this in mind in the future and i'm working on other effects like the dispute :)

It's fine to talk about bigger chapters' such as the Raven Guard if they're linked through geneseed as you can go on to describe what their relation is to the rest of their brother chapters is like. As for the Space Wolves, yeah they might be in the same area but again, what does it add for the chapter? It doesn't really add much to the chapter if it's just a brief "We know them." kinda thing. You could go on to say if it's a more positive or negative relationship between the two but you would need to explain etc.

The relationship with the wolves would be relatively negative at first, due to the combat doctrine differences, but eventually the Viper Legion would be able to prove them selves even in more "wolfy" combat. So the relationship wouldn't be just a brief "We know them".

Oh don't worry, you've not seen the last of me

Oh good, i think i'll go and visit your IA as well

[Legionare]

Update 7.4.17 

 

Updated the Combat doctrine and organization parts, added Chapter beliefs section.

[Badass_Spaz]

Curse this limited eithernet time constraint; I haven't started reading the complete history but I've left a tab open to read it later on. I've been meaning to visit your Chapter for some time yet... I honestly got no good excuses.

BESIDES THAT! Kudo's and hats off to ya for breaking down companies into Cohorts. There's all this talk about being flexible, yadda yadda yadda, but besides the basics, it's a tad difficult expanding on the flexible nature. The Cohort idea is rather brilliant. A part of me wants to suggest you turn them into a Crusading Chapter, of sorts. Not a full blown Crusade, think more dispatching Cohorts to existing Crusades or battlefields on mass. You'd garner quite the reputation and possibly battle field relics. Not only that, reading your Combat Doctrine implies you do something similar to what I previously stated. I'm not exactly sure if you do or not but just in case, I felt compelled to at least toss the idea out there.

Your Chapter beliefs intrigue me; on one hand your Astarte's believe the Emperor is the greatest man while leaving the masses to ascend him to divinity. Astarte's are supposedly humans, only biologically altered in the extreme. So this almost feels like your Chapter is especially distant from the humans they preserve. Humans themselves couldn't begin to fathom the magnificence of the Emperor, thus, praise him as a diety. Your Chapter are above such limited perceptions, hence, why they grasp his significance without outright worshiping... Hmm, in away, your Chapter appears almost alien- I guess that's why I rambled on about nothing except my own head-canon regarding your Chapter.

Anyway, I shall return with a more in-depth and thorough reply once I've skimmed through your history and drink copious amounts of caffeine.

Have a fine day and stay classy.

[NovemberIX]

I like a lot of the concepts being put forth, but to make for good c&c I have a few minor questions.

 

What sort of time period is all this taking place over, and at what point in the chapters history are we getting this information? I'm under the impression all this is taking place in M35. With the IA/Report happening at the same time.

 

The other question is regarding the Knight Titans that end up in the Viper Legions disposal. How could they earn any trust after presenting themselves as traitorous cowards? Essentially it seems as if they were unwilling to stand by principle and instead were just waiting to betray their allies, how could they, in any length of time, earn the trust of those they had only recently been fighting by claiming to be on their side? Also how did all the rebellious-rebel knight pilots get assigned to the same operation?

 

And I do have one critique, the enemy force landing 10km from the fortress monastery and taking 6 months to get to a decisive battle makes it seem like the Tairos battle commander was utterly inept, especially with the support of at least 9 or more knight units. That knife-fight range for any number of heavy imperial weapons systems that a heretek force would have. I'd suggest putting some distance in there, maybe by a factor of 10 so that enemy force isn't so far away, but they're not ineptly close either. I would imagine a Fortress monastery would all manner of defenses, especially if it's the ultimate fall back position, so landing that close would actually be a hindrance as VL forces could simply sit back at eliminate forces as they disembark.

[Legionare]

Thank you for your kind words Badass Spaz. And yes it is indeed my intention to make Viper Legion a crusader chapter of sorts, as you pictured and even because of the exactly same reasons. Maybe i should somehow make the combat doctrine clearer, since you weren't sure about how you understood it. As for the chapter beliefs, it was and is my intention to show the Legion as a bit distant from the humans they protect and try to preserve. Hopefully you'll be able to post that more in-depth reply soon. If you want me to for example explain more about why the chapters beliefs are like they are, just ask as i don't right now have time to explain it fully.

 

November IX the chapters history currently only tells about the chapters early history, the M35, although "the II legion rises" part happens at the exact beginning of the M36. 

 

The knights weren't trusted at the beginning, but when their fates were sealed, the chapter master believed that the help they could provide in the future would be worth the risk. Also the fact that the Knights started fighting alongside them on the moment the Tairo forces were at the height of their power. They had no information about the imperial reinforcements coming, as those only started pouring to the sector shortly after the battle and the sealing of the knights' fate. 

 

And now that you point that out, yes landing only 10km from the monastery and then taking 6 months to reach it is a bit weird. Maybe if i say that they originally tried landing so close, but were annihilated and thus forced to land much further away from the monastery. After this it would make more sense for them taking 6 months to reach the monastery due to the distance and the Viper Legions defensive actions. Maybe that way it make more sense. What you think?

[NovemberIX]

Well, let's consider a few things. Does the Monestary house any sort of planetary defense systems? If they do what sort of range could we expect (I would hazard at least a few hundred Km if not nearer to a thousand+) what sort of interveaning topography exist between the LZ and the chapter Monestary? And how heavy are defenses?

 

But the question really is what's more important, the distance they landed, or the length of the fight? Or is it just a throwaway non-detail where you can get away with being a bit vague?

 

Speaking of, so the way the knight situation gets resolved is maybe a bit vague. This is the basis of a long term commitment by the Knights to the VL, so I'd say there really needs to be a strong definitive reason such a strong force have subverted themselves to what is essentially a peer. Also, if this is a battlefield defection, what happens to the Knights support crew?

 

Sorry to throw so many questions at you, but this is sorta how I work out stuff in my fluff :)

[Legionare]

I imagine the monastery having many orbital defenses, although its defenses main focus is in defeating an invading ground force. If that's the case with the range of the weapons then its another story. Guess my mind set was too much in the modern worlds weapon ranges. Also this is somewhat how the monastery and its surroundings look.

http://i.imgur.com/4lTSt2R.jpg

So its in the northern hemisphere of Aurelius and is surrounded by mountain ranges, easily defensible position.

In my opinion the length of the fight is more important and for the knight crews, they were largely killed and only later reformed when loyal knight ground crews were recruited from knight houses that arrived to the sector to help crush the Tairo rebellion. The reason why they turned against the other knights was that they couldn't bare betraying their vows of loyalty to the Imperium. Then at the Battle of Aurelius they saw their chance of showing their true loyalty to the Imperium in a meaningful way.

Its no problem that you throw these questions at me, they truly help me polish my IA and fix its flaws. You've already brought up many important questions that i didn't even realize by myself.

[LancsHotpot90]

Everything sounds good so far, love the nod to Eric the red with the Ork warboss :)

 

Looking forward to seeing some minis

[Legionare]

Sorry that it took me this long to answer, i've been busy IRL this week.

 

LancsHotpot90 i'm very glad that someone noticed that little nod :). Also about the minis, i currently have only three whose armor is painted and even they still need lots of work, so they're coming, albeit slowly because of my skills.

[Legionare]

I have written some lore about the commanders of the Viper Legions 3rd great cohort, the one i hope to wield and play with one day.

 

Captain Isaac Vulpes

 

Isaac Vulpes (Isaac Valectus back then) was born as a heir to a relatively small bit ambitious kingdom in Aurelia. He took the throne that his father had solidified for at the age of 13 and finished the conquest of a neighbouring kingdom, that his father had started. He ruled the kingdom for four years, during which he conquered neighbour after neighbour, beating their armies thanks to his amazing Coup d'œil. When he was taken to join the Viper Legion, he promised to return to see if his successors had liven up to their promises. He has, like most of the Legions members, changed his surname everytime his fireteam has been merged with another team that has suffered casualties, to make one full fireteam again. This is a common practise within the chapter. Isaac was promoted first to sergeant and then to Strategos relatively quickly, after just 55 years of service. Then he served the chapter victoriously for almost 2 centuries before he was promoted to the rank of Captain and was given command of the third great cohort. Under his command the third has crusaded around the Aura Sector and its neighbours, supporting imperial forces where ever needed and claiming relics for the chapter in the process.

[isaac Vulpes will be based on the model of Asterion Moloc by FW]

 

Strategos Roul Valectus

 

Roul Valectus is an singgularity within the Viper Legion. Even though he has served for one and a half centuries, he still carries his original surname, as a mark that no one from that squad has fallen, although one member of his original squad serves the chaptet in the form of a mighty dreadnought. As a strategos Roul often uses a tactic that centers in allowing the enemy to get few hits, to give him and his cohort an opening from which attack to. This is a tactic he has been recorded using even before he joined the Viper Legion, back when he was member of a mercebary warband in Aurelia.

 

Strategos Arcadius Thedos

 

Arcadius Thedos is a model example how even those who aren't part of any fireteam or squad are also irreplacable parts of the Viper Legion. Originally serving as a chaplain in the 5th cohort he took its command during a moment of great dispair as the cohort was being overran by numerous chaos heretics and traitor marines. After the Strategos of the cohort was killed, along with many other members of the cohort (including the most obvious successors for the strategos) Arcadius made a split second decission, stepped out and took command of the remaining forces of the cohort. Arcadius was able to rally his forces and hold on until they were rescued by reinforcements, that came in form of chapters fighting serfs and tempestus scions. After the incident he was appointed as the full time strategos of the 5th cohort. Now he leads the 5th cohort against the enemies of the imperium, wielding a mighty thunder hammer that he has named "Battle Crozius"

 

[i will use the model of Ivanus Enkomi (FW) as the base for Arcadius Thedos]

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

Two things concerning your characters listed in the above post:

 

1. The Viper Legion seems to have a high success rate for old recruits when it comes to implantation. Is this perhaps a genetic mutation (defect seems to be a poor word to use here) unique to the chapter? The first clearly was taken at around 17 years old, while the second is implied to be old enough to be reasonably high up in a mercenary group (though Aurelia may be host to young mercenary groups. This is not necessarily a bad thing, simply something to think about.

 

2. Chaplains usually don't take command of a company/cohort/etc as a commission. Battlefield command is one thing, but an extended commission when returned to the chapter is strange. You may need some kind of justification (for instance, he was in the command track before the reclusiam cherry-picked him and so had prior experience) for this. Is there a history of this in the Viper Legion? Does Tychon Draco simply not care, or is he simply not aware of this? Little details like that may make or break these characters.

 

Sorry if I come across as rude. Usually when I criticize I am not soft (though I do tend to apologize). No offense intended at all.

[Lephisto]

Very nice start. Only a few suggestions: What is the Pale Wasting? Perhaps explain this a bit more so we can understand this more. Also, just a minor thing : Colour Scheme and Chapter badge? Im just interested in seeing them visually.

[Legionare]

Captain Lenoch

1. That is a problem i realized while writing those characters, but i really couldn't figure a solution. Maybe that geneseed mutation, that allows the Viper Legion to succesfully recruit little older people, is the most working one. Then again that may sound little too "convienant" but thats a risk i'm willing to take.

 

2. I'm aware that chaplains serving on command positions is unheard of (or atleast rare) but in my opinion that isn't a problem. And no there is no history of this within the chapter. Tychon Draco is aware of this, but he doesn't see it as a problem, since promotions are earned with displays of great leadership and skill in commanding troops, and Arcadius Thedos has shown both. Then again to further solidify that statement, making him serve in the command track, prior being picked by the reclusiam, might be a good move.

 

You didn't come across as rude, you merely presented your critique clearly. So no offense was taken :)

 

Lephisto this is the source i had for Pale Wasting, the problem with it is that not much is known of it, only speculations and rumours. But maybe i still should write some small explanation about it. What you think?

 

http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Pale_Wasting

 

I'll post a picture of the overall color scheme once i get home (soon). As for the chapter badge, i don't have one yet. It'll probably be some snake symbol, but i haven found/created one that i'm satisfied with.

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

You didn't come across as rude, you merely presented your critique clearly. So no offense was taken

Good to hear none was taken :) .

Perhaps for the chapter symbol nab one of the Alpha Legion snakes, copy and mirror it, and get a pair of snakes. I'm no photoshop wizard so I can't give an example of it but it's an idea.

[Legionare]

That idea is definitely worth testing out Captain Lenoch

 

EDIT:

Here's what i managed to make.

http://i.imgur.com/99pjhZq.jpg           http://i.imgur.com/HrRVo0K.jpg

 

[Legionare]

UPDATE 19.4.17

Finished the history section, added clarifications about which millennium events happen in, Added Persons of interest to the first post. Also added a warcry and expanded the organization section.

[Legionare]

Added traditions section and also few pictures

 

http://i.imgur.com/NiOvfyM.jpg

Here are my first three test marines for the color scheme. 

[Kelborn]

Great work thus far.

 

I fear that I can't find anything to criticize upon.

 

Only thing I'd recommend is to revise the structure of your article by using some headers, etc. For example:

 

[ basicheader=008800 ] heading [ /basicheader ]

 

will give you this one

 

heading

 

But my good old friend, Lord Thorn is a master of structuring an Liber article. He can help you for sure. ;)

 

Just a question from my side.

I love that artwork for your fortress monastery. What have you been looking for in order to find this? Certain keywords maybe?

[Legionare]

Thanks for that header Kelborn, i will be using those to revise my article. I'll also contact Lord Thorn for more help.

 

Well i had a picture in my mind of what kind of area should the monastery be located in (cold/snowy and mountainy) and i wanted it to have a certain look. So i went through google and deviant art with keywords like "fantasy fortress", "fantasy castle", "mountain fortress", "snowy fortress", "dwarven fortress" and so on. Of course these keywords also provided lots of stuff i didn't have use for, but after searching for long enough i found that one.

I also want to clarify that i don't own that picture in any way.

[LancsHotpot90]

Love how the colour scheme is coming along, and the symbol you're working on is looking great! :)