Index Astartes: Black Ronin

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Index Astartes: Black Ronin
"I’ll give you the answer to the question “What is most important to the heart of the Emperor?” The answer is, “To desire with one’s very soul every second of every day to accomplish His aim.”"

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Origins of the Black Ronin

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reated during the sixth founding of the Adeptus Astartes, the Black Ronin have earned a reputation as courageous and just guardians of the Imperium in the millennia since their inception. The Adeptus Mechanicus birthed the nascent Chapter from the gene-legacy of the Iron Snakes, and it is said that extra care was taken when selecting the progenoid glands. No risk was taken for there assignment would be of the upmost importance. Some within the Adepts Mechanicus have made unverifiable claims that many usable progenoid glands were dispossed of in the effort to create the purest chapter possible.

Founded to defend the Ouroborus stars from those that seek to harness its energy to the detriment of the Imperium. The Ouroborus stars consist of three Rubidium based white dwarfs stuck in a equilibrium state with one another, constantly tearing material from one another. The intrinsic forces between them breaks the universes rule of motion, creating negative mass. While the Mechanicus has so far failed to harness such energy, it was determined that the enemies of the Imperium could not be allowed to try. For if they did, the fate of the universe would lie in the balance.

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Chapter Badge'

The Chapter's first Master was an Iron Snake by the name of Pheus. He was known to his men as 'the Blademaster', and was possessed with extraordinary skill and talent with the sword, an expert in using his blade to defend the Imperium from those that seek to tear it down. When given command of the nascent Chapter, he bestowed the name 'Black Ronin' upon it, inspired by the events that unfolded upon Otera during the Horus Heresy. Hoping the name would inspire the same sacrifice and honour in his warriors.

During one of the darkest parts of the Horus Heresy, Praetor Setesh of the XVth Legion, one of Magnus’ highest military officials was ordered to occupy the planet Otera, where they were tasked with locating the Kawari Kabuto Helm, a mighty artefact capable to turning the tide of the great events that were unfolding around them, an artefact Ahriman himself had narrowed down to the planet. Setesh’s secondary objective was to unravel the Ouroborus stars, and to determine the likelihood that they could be harnessed.

Forty Seven Blackshields'

Planetary governor Asano Naganori, the Daimyo of the Planet was assigned in name only to assist the Praetor in any way possible. The meagre gifts Asano Naganori had presented did very little to soften Setesh presence in his lands. Asano Naganori had become deeply insulted by this but what was he to do, for he could not stand up to the might of these imposing giants clad in impenetrable armour, and capable of turning rock into dust with just their hands. No matter Asano Naganori’s approach, Setesh remained un-cooperative and scornful of Asano Naganori's manners.

On the day Setesh learned that Asano Naganori was the only inhabitant to know of the whereabouts of the ancient helm they seeked, Asano Naganori only response to being asked where they were to find it was "You should have found out long ago, I am too busy to help you now."

With his pride and his patience goaded beyond endurance, Setesh drew his sword in anger, lashing out and scaring Asano Naganori across his face before he restrained himself. For the crime of withholding information Asano Naganori was condemned to torture before being executing. However before Asano Naganori was able to be tortured, he enacted seppuku, or ritual suicide. That very day he forfeited his life, in belief it would be saving billions.

Whispers and gossip quickly carried the news of Asano Naganori’s death and the great sacrifice he had made for the Emperor. The situation was serious. Not only was their governor dead, but his lands and holdings were overrun and controlled by the fifteenth legion. The local inhabitants had lost all hope of this nightmare ending, with the little of what remained being in the prayers that the emperor would deliver them from evil. There prayers were not long answered.
 

An Imperial vessel carrying Legionnaires still loyal to the Emperor crash landed on the planet. Setesh redeployed some of his troops under his command from searching for the artefact to intercept the threat these new arrivals posed.

Giants clad in adamantium, scorched in fire, these soldiers loyal to the Emperor were outgunned, outnumber, and out positioned. There arrival at first seemed nothing more than arriving for their death. While many perished a small group managed to survive thanks to the bravery a handful of natives acting upon the honour and death of Asano Naganori.

 

Their survival drastically improved when news came through that the XVth legion was to withdraw and redeploy. While a blessing in disguise, from that news it was clear that Setesh had found the Helm and was preparing to deliver it right into the hands of Magnus himself.

 

This is where the remaining survivors of the crash, all forty seven of them prepared to lay down their lives to continue to give what remained of the Imperium a fighting chance to survive and repel the traitors they once called brothers. As snow sifted down on the evening before Setesh’s departure, the forty-seven Legionairres clad in armour as black as smoke met outside Tengu, then Oteras capital, and prepared for their attack. With information gathered from the native servants and artisans that had spied on Setesh.

 

Setesh garrisoned inside the Ninna-ji temple, the largest in the city. The black marines made their way through the city under the cover of darkness. Encountering very little resistance, the made their way up the temple until they finally made it to Setesh’s chamber. The marines clad in black made light work of Seteshs personal guard waiting outside his room. Inside Setesh unprepared to face any challenger in combat was still no easy challenge. One blackshield stepped forward and bought his sword down upon him for him to only parry it away with his strength and speed. The dual raged on between these two wrecking the room and destroying what would be now priceless relics. It was only when the two were held even with their blades was the Black Legionnaire able to grab Asano Naganori’s seppuku blade with their free hand and slice Seteshs throat. The Tyrant of Otera was slain.

 

By the time of Setesh’s timely demise, Legionnaires under his command had organised and begun to repel the assault. Knowing there was no way of survival forty six Legionairres prepared to lay down their lives so one of their own could make it out of the city with the Helm, and hide it somewhere no one could possibly find it. It is said that one Legionnaire walked for thousands of miles to defend the Imperium. The XVth legion never found the surviving blackshield, nor the helm but it was not long without an established command, they received orders to leave. No Legionnaire loyal to Horus ever stepped foot on Otera ever again.

Asano Naganori's Seppuku'

 

 

 

 

Homeworld

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tera, homeworld of the Black Ronin is classified as a μ or feudal world in the Ouroborus system of the Ultima Segmentum. A small and impoverished world the primitive human population live on and cultivate small hilly areas. Upon the founding of the Black Ronin, the Oterans had only just begun to utilise black powder weaponry.

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Otera'

Otera’s settlements are surrounded by a sea of forests that are home to terrifying Wyrms. These beasts frequently descend upon and raze these villages to the ground. As a result Otera's feudal nobility is heavily militarised. The warrior nobility that rules the planet have remained firmly traditionalist and prefer to engage in combat with their finely crafted curved, single-edged blades with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. In fact many of the elders’ tales spoke of great soldiers slaying the Wyrms with those very blades. What they knew though is that these Wyrms were nothing in comparison to the Wyrms that roam the Scorch.

Otera was located in Orbit around the Ouroborus stars. The Ouroborus stars are three Rubidium based white dwarfs stuck in a equilibrium state with one another, constantly tearing material from one another. The extreme gravitational energy being constantly released between them as long since prevented Otera from spinning on its Axis. Unlike its dark side, which is covered in vibrant forests, and snow-capped mountains, the side of the planet constantly exposed to the Ouroborus stars would be classified as a Death World, rightly referred to as the Scorch. An Arid landscape with sun baked earth, and no living organism apart from the Mighty Fire Wyrms.

The Ronins Fortress Monastery Tengu is built on top of and into the largest mountain on the planet; a stratovolcano that on a clear day can be seen from across the entire planet. For the natives Tengu’s mountain is the third and final holy mountain. Upon being selected to join the Ronin, an initiate’s very first test before they may enter the hallowed halls of the Ronin, one must climb the mountain.

 

Records suggest that Otera has only ever raised one regiment for the Astra Militarium. The 1st Oteran Light Infantry Regiment, known as the Ashigaru for there light of foot. The data banks on Terra reference only one campaign the regiment was involved in, the Coral Heights campaign. The Light Infantry managed to climb the mountainous passes on Ghof to secure a foothold for the siege regiments to use as a platform before the final assault. It is assumed that after the succesful reclaiming of Coral Heights for the Imperium, the 1st Oteran's were folded into another regiment.

Tithe'

 

 

Recruitment

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ew Black Ronin initiates are recruited from the warrior nobility of the native humans on Otera. Apothecaries wander from Tengu from time to time to immerse themselves amongst the inhabitants of their feudal world. Challenging the nobles children sword duels. Invariably, of course, the gene-enhanced Ronin will emerge victorious. Those that display the virtues of the Black Ronin will be taken as their prize, back to the halls of Tengu; a great honour for the nobles of Otera. As a sign of respect between the Oterans and the Ronin, the young noble shall present their sword as gift out of respect between the bond they already share. From there they will undertake the many grueling trials to become an Astartes.

The Apothecaries keep an ever vigilant and watchful eye over Otera, for if a native was to ever slay a Wyrm, the Ronin shall descend to collect the warrior, and deliver him from death by giving him the chance to serve the chapter.

Once an initiate has passed all of the preliminary trials, and prior to starting hypnotherapy as part of their transformation into a weapon of the Emperor, they are required to undertake the Test of Honour. If they return to Tengu successful, they are accepted into the ranks of the Black Ronin with open arms, and the remaining procedures are undergone to turn the recruit into a fully-fledged warrior of the Emperor.

The Test of Honour is is a unique undertaking by Black Ronin initiates. With their family sword returned to them having been reinforced by the Chapters artificers, they a thrown into the wilderness of Otera tasked with saving a village from a deadly Wyrm. To defeat the Wyrm the Black Ronin believe at their stage of transformation they must display the five qualities; loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion, and honour. How an Initiate slays the Wyrm is entirely individual, some inspire a cohort of Ashigaru to assist them, whilst some are inspired by feats of great martial prowess. Whatever happens the Apothecaries are always watching. Those that slay the Wyrm without exhibiting the qualities, are assigned to the tenth clan to become the chapters scouts.

Test of Honour'

 

Battlefield Doctrine

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lack Ronin have continued in the style of their first SeiiTaisho, preferring close combat over ranged warfare. This is further emphasised by the fanaticism of the Aonisaibushi, whose righteous fervor makes them impulsive and headstrong^.

When making war, the Ronin will focus on one of two forms of combat. The first is orbital assault; where the Clan will use its drop pods and Thunderhawk gunships to perform a mass-landing in the wake of a heavy orbital bombardment. If resistance is still strong after this, the Ronin will land their heavy armour and launch an armoured spearhead against the weakest link in the enemy's defensive line, using a multitude of Land Raider patterns.

As part of their dedication to the Emperor and their mission, the Black Ronin swear fell oaths of faith and protection. Before a battle, it is considered customary to renew one of these oaths, the particular vow serving as a focus on the particular aspect of their duties considered to be necessary to ensure success^.

The Chapter's armoury was noted to consist mostly of older-style suits of Power Armor and weaponry, a majority of which has proven particularly difficult to identify. What can be said is that each piece is incredibly ornate, the Ronin claimed they rivaled the works of art produced by the Salamanders chapter. Some reports even spoke of some nobles on Otera possessing a suit of armour worn by one of the original forty seven blackshields in the hope that one day one of their family will be selected to join the ranks of the Astartes and don their ancient heirloom.

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Kawari Kabuto Helm '

Chapter Organisation

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he Black Ronin have a unique structure that is notably different from a standard Codex Chapter. Rather than 10 companies of 100 marines, the Ronin consist of 10 Clans of varying strengths. Each Clan is based in Tengu, the Ronin’s Fortress-monastery and is led by a Daimyo, who answers only to the Seii Taisho.

Each Clan is a fully self-contained army, with all the troops, vehicles and equipment necessary to make war, as well as the spacecraft necessary to transport itself. They each have their own forges and customs. The size of each Clan is unknown but the Black Ronin is said to be one of the smaller Astartes chapters. As each Clan serves as an independent army, they maintain a much greater number of troops as opposed to codex companies.
Each Clan is made of a number of Space Marine squads just as it is laid out in the codex. However, their tactical usage varies greatly. Each squad is unique in that it rarely, if ever, will receive reinforcements, making the higher-level squads smaller in number compared to the lowest Aonisaibushi pack. Many Aonisaibushi squads could start with as many as fifteen marines. However, losses take their toll, and by the time a Aonisaibushi squad reaches the level of Chukanbushi, normally only 9 or 10 are left. This promotion is arguably the most important the Ronin will ever receive because it also welcomes him into the folds of the Brotherhood. As they age, further losses limit the squad sizes of Seieibushi down to just five or less.
Special cases may be made in certain or even dire circumstances to this process. In some situations reinforcements may be sent to current campaigns as reinforcements. Likewise, if a Daimyo deems an individual worthy and the rest of his squad is not he may elevate a an Astartes from Aonisaibushi to Chukanbushi. Normally he will not act in such manner without consulting both his first sergeant and the current members of the unit he wishes to transfer his prospect to.

Apart from this, a Ronin may find himself under direction of a Kodenbushi or a member of the Seii Taisho’s household. Some find themselves inducted into the Chapter Priesthood, Scouts, Calvaries, or should terrible wounds take their toll they may find themselves encased within mighty Dreadnought armour.

One of the ten Clans is that of the Seii Taisho, the Black Ronin’s Chapter Master. When the former Seii Taisho dies the new Master of the Chapter is selected from the other nine remaining Daimyo. Upon selection the new Seii Taisho, immediately embarks on retaking the Test of Honour, this time though, in the Scorch. Upon a successful return the new Seii Taisho’s Clan is expanded to include the household of the Chapter's, Librarians, Apothecaries, Scouts, Techmarines, Dreadnoughts, and Chapter Relics.

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Troop Types

Unlike a typical Codex Chapter, a Neophyte of the Ronin does not begin their service as a Scout.

• Aonisaibushi are Neophyte Ronin who have just finished their most basic training and initiation rites, including passing the Test of Honour. They receive armament similar to Assault Squads in other chapters – a close combat weapon and bolt pistol, but they do not normally use jump packs. Instead of being assigned to a single Clan, Aonisaibushi are instead assigned to any one of the Clans. Their role is to charge headlong into battle, expending their youthful enthusiasm for battle on the enemy and hopefully learning the lessons of war that will enable them to survive.

• Chukanbushi are comparable to Tactical Squad marines in other chapters and comprise the majority of any Clan. These are Aonisaibushi who have survived the trials on the field of battle, combat experience having made them less impulsive and thus less suited as a force of pure assault. In addition to their combat duties, the Chukanbushi’s role is to watch over the Aonisaibushi, reining in the worst of their reckless behaviour, and marking out those likely for advancement.

• Seieibushi are the personal retinue and bodyguard of the Daimyo commanding the Clan, roughly equivalent to the Veterans or Command Squad units used by other chapters. Seieibushi are often the most senior and experienced Ronin in the chapter, though a younger Ronin may win elevation to the Seieibushi by performing an act of exceptional valor. Seieibushi are often granted Terminator Honours, though they make less use of them than the Veterans of other chapters.

• The Ronin’s Scouts are Ronin that are recruited as neophyte’s who successfully pass the Test of Honour but yet to display the five qualities; loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion, and honour, needed to be a Black Ronin. As natural loners, they are ideally suited to work alone behind enemy lines for long periods of time. Ronin’s Scouts are not assigned to any of the Clans. They instead answer directly to the Seii Taisho and are under their sole command unless assigned to a Daimyo and his company on an as-needed basis.

Like everything having to do with the black Ronin, this hierarchy is not rigid; the Ronin value loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion, and honour, over seniority, and believe in advancing each warrior according to their merits.

Command Rank

• Seii Taisho: The Chapter Master of the Black Ronin, the Seii Taisho is chosen from among the Daimyo, and leads his own Clan. It is customary for the Seii Taisho to wield the bushikatagi, one of the finest blades in the Imperium, that has a shard of Saint Asano Naganori's Seppuko blade inlaid into the hilt. The final Seii Taisho is Sanada Yukimura who had held the position for only ten years.

• Daimyo: each Clan has a commander (equivalent to a Captain in other chapters), chosen from that clan’s Seieibushi. It is their duty to organise their Clan, which adopts that Daimyo's name and sigil, and often changes its battle tactics to reflect their personality and temperament.

Chapter Cult and Belief System

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he Black Ronin do not seem to venerate any Primarch above the others, giving their devotion solely to the Emperor; Providing no further evidence to the gene-seed heritage of the Iron Snakes, their founding chapter. The preservation of their core values; loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion, and honour, is the Chapters core belief. The Ronin’s devotion to these values over millenia has made them isolationists, scorning those who they believe are less pure or deviate from the Codex. When a brother of the chapter falls in battle, they will exhaust great lengths to retrieve the body, so that the lifetime of loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion, and honour, the brother has bestowed upon themselves and the chapter can be venerated and recorded by the chapters Chaplains. They are also staunch traditionalists and protectors of authority, and are quick to aid Imperial governors or cardinals faced with rebellion.

The Ronin are also strongly influenced by their unique history as guardians of the Ouroborus starsa and protectors of its human population. Pheus founded a culture based on striving for the common good, and the Ronin are proud to uphold these beliefs. Where other Space Marines are aloof, and sometimes contemptuous of the Imperium's "lesser" mortals, most Black Ronin are used to working closely with "ordinary" people on Otera and regard any human life, no matter how seemingly insignificant, as sacred and worthy of protection.They are also harshly intolerant when they encounter less altruistic behavior - greed, selfishness, corruption - on other planets in the Imperium.

[captionright=Seieibushi Hattori, Bearer of the Ancient Sashimono Yamaarashi']

Chukanbushi Takeda'

Gene-seed

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he Chapter is noted for the purity of geneseed tithes which is stems from their belief in the purity of the physical and of the spiritual. Partial records of an examination by the Inquisition and the Adeptus Mechanicus Biologis claimed a purity rate of over ninety percent. The only flagged raised was of a slightly underactive Cataelpsean Node. It could be for this reason why the eventual Seii Taisho Sanada Yukimura so easily succumbed to the manifestation of an Emperors aspect on their second Test of Honour after five days without rest.

 

Notable Engagements and History

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ver their long and illustrious existence the Black Ronin have bestowed great honour and respect upon themselves, the Adeptus Astartes, and the God Emperor himself.

Hive Fleet Rusalka

At the end of M38 the Black Ronin were called to protect the Scylla system, from Tyranid Hive Fleet Rusalka. The Scylla system consisting of numerous oceanic worlds vital to the supply of fish and fresh water for vast areas of the Imperium, their loss could prove fatal to billions of lives. Seii Taisho Hajime Masamune's Clan of the White Tiger along with Yasuke Hideyoshi's Clan of the Jade Dragon were dispatched to intercept and eradicate this Xenos threat. Hajime fatefully fell to the Tyranid threat, however Yasuke Hideyoshi would earn much honour to be annointed the Seii Taisho successor. Yasuke's killing blow fell on the sea bed of Sirens Prime, with orbital bombardment pushing the creatures to the sea bed, their brothers engaged the beasts in combat, before retreating and triggering the underwater volcano, incinerating the last of the Xenos threat.

Gothic War

With the twelfth black crusade being fought so close to their system, the Black Ronin could not help but become engulfed in the years of war Abaddon and plunged the Imperium into. They were tested to the limit when Abaddon ordered some of his commanders to attempt to harness the Ouroborus stars with that of a Blackstone Fortress. Fortunately for the Ronin the Blackstone Fortress never made it to them, for if they had, it would have found the full might of the Ronins fleet lying in wait among the wreckage of Abaddons fleets. The Ronin had deployed half of their chapter to boarding the foul ships, the battle was only won when Seii Taisho Yasuke decapitated Abaddons lieutenant with Bushikatagi in single combat. As the Black Ronin disembarked from the ships, they programmed the ships to fly directly into the centre of the Ouroborus stars, where any hope of salvage was lost as their gravitational forces, to this day continue to tear them apart.

 

Ouroborus Perdition

 

Mid M41 the Black Ronin were beseiged by the Night Vipers under the assumption of consorting with the demonic powers...................................................................................

[Bjorn Firewalker]

It needs more proofreading, e.g., you wrote, "Apothecaries WONDER from Tengu..." (emphasis mine) when the complete sentence suggests you intended to use the word "wander".

 

Nonetheless, it's informative, and holds great potential.