Index Astartes: Denizens of the Deep

[Bjorn Firewalker]

A good writer can convincingly portray a character as simultaneously determined, defiant, and resigned to his or her fate. For example:

 

Word Bearer (to Sussurro Abyssi prisoner): "You will die."

 

Sussurro Abyssi (struggling to break free): "I fear not Death, for I am already dead. I will fight on, regardless if I draw breath or not."

 

Word Bearer: "Die without honor, your very memory damned by those who sent you, for what you did to get here."

 

Sussurro Abyssi (thinking of the Rogue Trader whose ship he commandeered): "To serve is its own honor. The opinion of others' is unimportant, save for the Emperor's, for a chance at victory is all we need to justify our actions. My memory is ultimately of little consequence."

 

Word Bearer: "You lost this battle. Your efforts were in vain."

 

Sussurro Abyssi: "Our efforts were not in vain, for they cost you men, munitions, and time. This delay will give the Imperium time to counterattack and crush your forces."

 

Word Bearer: "Your gene-seed will be fed to the rats in the walls; your soul will be cast into the Warp, to suffer unto eternity as a plaything for Daemons."

 

Sussurro Abyssi: "Cheap, compared to the value of this opportunity. I would pay that price again, if I could."

 

(Of course, there must be limits to what a character will tolerate.)

 

Word Bearer: "We will go to Terra and put that world to the torch. I will desecrate the Emperor's corpse, while the Daemons of the Warp feast upon His..."

 

Word Bearer (as a broken chain link tears out his eye): "Argh!"

 

Sussurro Abyssi (wrapping his chains around the Word Bearer's neck): "I will send you to hell for this blasphemy!"

[Minigiant]

Battlefield Doctrine

 

Following the same reading and understanding of Roboute Guilliman's Codex Astartes as their Predecessors, the Silver Skulls that stay close to the main tenants, has protected the Abyssal Whisperers from further suspicion and scrutiny from the Inquisition. The inevitable enveloping darkness never leaves their thoughts but, War is their purpose, it is what the Whisperers were created for, and it is their last source of pride and satisfaction. 

 

The tactical orthodoxy is dictated to a degree as Fleet Based Adeptus Astartes Space Marines. Their instrumentality ensures the Chapter is not used as a blunt instrument but instead a lethal strike unlike the faceless masses of the Astra Militarum. The millennia of repeated combat indoctrination has shaped them into the force they are today; efficiency in war is their only antidote for bemoaning the cost of taking something that achieves nothing, and being unable to stop the inevitable darkness.

 

Establishing themselves as a predominantly defensive force, they orchestrate fire bases that with their skilled gunfire and overlapping fields of fire, supress oncoming attackers. They wait for the opportune moment to disrupt their attackers further with well executed raids from their Assault forces. That cause considerable damage and sews confusion among the ranks. They bemoan the cost of war so, so must those that try to defy them, it is said the only death they fear is the fear of death through madness; it is why they give no quarter so readily. As with their predecessors it is not unknown to hear of the Whisperers unwilling to go to anothers aid, no one is willing to come to theirs, and sometimes the divinations show the cost to be too severe. It is perhaps this single fact why they have survived for so long.

 

When they begrudgingly have to take ground, they seek to overwhelm their foes so they may maintain momentum, preferring to engage directly after a carefully orchestrated orbital bombardment from their vast fleet assets; to then drop-pod infantry and equipment alongside thunderhawk-deployed vehicles.

 

Chapter Scouts will most often be required to gather vital intelligence under any circumstance which is used to confirm or expand on the information gained from the Prognosticators divinations. They are used further to disrupt enemy supply lines with sabotage and demolition missions, as well as eliminate key assassination targets.  

 

Their actions are often mistaken for bravery and courage. They stand before the enemies of the Imperium unflinchingly for they consider themselves worthless. It is only from the Chaplains that walk among them in the heat of battle, reminding them of their purpose, their sole responsibility that they continue to fight. For many they want to die, want to despair, and want to return to nothing.

 

Organisation

 

An outside observer would find it difficult to spot any differences between the Sussurro Abyssi and a chapter rigidly adhering to the tenants of the Codex, such as the Ultramarines. Sussurro Abyssi have been considered a near Codex Astartes-adherent chapter for much of their history, although the nature of a fleet-based chapter does require some flexibility in this regard, with isolated fleet elements being forced to adapt their tactics to the resources available to them. Additionally, the Denizens of the Deep fight predominantly without direct Imperial support due to their ill-omened reputation, instilling in them a sense of self-reliance uncommon in many Codex-style chapters who are more comfortably meshed in the greater Imperial war machine.

 

It is in the organisation of the higher levels that deviations from the Codex Astartes can be seen. All Chapters include a number of officers and specialists who stand aside from the company organisation. In the Sussurro Abyssi the Chapter Master is referred to as Lord Commander, as was the way of their predecessors, the Silver Skulls. The Librarians, known as Prognosticators, are partial spiritual advisor alongside their Chaplains; these warriors are the seers of the Chapter, scrying for divination of the future. They grant the squads and companies they are attached to an edge for the coming battles.

 

The Chapter relies on a large support staff, and highly ranked members include the [TITLE], the Captains; [TITLE], [TITLE], and the [TITLE]. Although each Captain is a Space Marine, there are actually relatively few Brethren in the Chapters support staff, and most non-combatant roles are performed by the Chapters Human serfs. The Chapter includes a large number of support staff, many are non-combatants of advanced age tasked with the day-to-day administration of the Chapter. The largest group of Sussurro Abyssi Space Marines in the support staff are the Chapters armourers and Techmarines, who are aided in their tasks by hundreds of mono-task Servitors.

 

The chapter is comprised of Ten Companies each led by a Sussurro Abyssi Captain, who has progressed through the ranks. He is attended by a Command Squad, consisting of the Companys Standard Bearer, Apothecary, and Company Champion, as well as other brethren assigned to aid the Captain in his duties. Each company includes both a Prognosticator, and a Chaplain, who preside over the brothers spiritual well-being and reminds them of their duty. 

 

Each of the ten companies comprising of the Sussurro Abyssi, follow the structure within the Codex. The first company is made of the Veterans among their ranks. Their wisdom is invaluable to the chapter, and so they are attached to the Battle Companies to share their knowledge, essentially armed in a similar manner to a Tactical squad. Only the most experienced of those will be permitted to wear the few suits of Terminator armour available to the Chapter. These suits can be seen watching over you as you enter the forge on Cetus. Denizen Techmarines have gone to extensive lengths to return fallen suits of Terminator armour so that it may once more see battle.

 

 

The 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th Companies are organised along Codex lines. Battle Companies, each consisting of six battleline squads, two close support squads, and two fire support squads. These four company and their fleets form the main battle lines and generally bear the brunt of the fighting. Each have a degree of autonomy and with such a variety of squads, the Companies are highly flexible and tactically adaptable.

 

 

Companies 6 and 7 are battleline companies, each consisting of ten battleline squads. These act as reserves which may be used to bolster the front line, launch diversionary attacks or stem enemy flanking manoeuvres. With such low recruitment rates these are rarely ever at full strength. The 7^th company is barely seen at all, some say it is now only there in name only.

 

The 8^th Company consists of ten close support squads. This highly mobile company is often equipped with jump packs, and is fielded in the assault role wherever a strong hand-to-hand fight force is needed to storm an enemy strongpoint.

 

The 9^th Company consists of ten Fire Support Squads. It is the most powerfully equipped in the Chapter and is used to bolster defence and provide long-range support.

 

The 10^th Company consists of a number of Scout squads; youths who have been recruited and partially transformed into Space Marines. There is no formal size for the company as the rate of recruitment is not fixed. They are the only company to not maintain its own fleet, and instead operate directly off of Cetus. Never fighting as one coherent force; instead they are assigned to the other fleet where they can gain experience alongside their elders.

 

All of the companies, with the exception of the Scout Company maintain transports and Drop pods for each of their squads and officers. The armoury hold onto more centrally, including Land Raiders, each being allocated to individual squads dictated by the needs of their mission or requested by a Captain on the spot.

Many of the Battle companies and Reserve companies include a number of Dreadnoughts to remain a part of the company in which the warrior served before being interred within the metal sarcophagus in which he fights, and his presence bolsters in the companys fighting strength considerably. 

[Minigiant]

So I have been ill the last few days but, have started thinking of Primaris marines and Guilliman

 

Ostracised from the Ultramarines. The G's return was unprophesied.

 

Would G welcome them back? Are their Visions what he is crusading against?

 

I think the Denizens would readily welcome the Primaris marines. Low chapter numbers, and they fight with efficiency why wouldn't they incorporate them

[Draakur]

So I'd like to comment on your Chapter - is it the original post (the one labeled 2.0) that I should be looking to?

 

+edit+

Holy hell, I am a veritable fountain of typos at the moment. Edited from "So I don't like to..." to "So I'd like to..." :lol:

Edited October 24, 2017 by Draakur

[Minigiant]

So I'd like to comment on your Chapter - is it the original post (the one labeled 2.0) that I should be looking to?

 

+edit+

Holy hell, I am a veritable fountain of typos at the moment. Edited from "So I don't like to..." to "So I'd like to..."

 

Yeah the one on page 1 2.0 is the one. (The one in spoiler tags in the 2nd post is Version 1.0)

Edited October 24, 2017 by Minigiant

[Minigiant]

So I have seemingly been locked away for a while but this is still slowly coming along.

 

I am looking for suggestions though on how best to portray

 

Apothecaries

Prognosticators and Chaplains (As their roles are interlinked)

Dreadnoughts

 

Any helpful suggestions will be greatly appreciated

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Apothecaries may be obsessed with finding a way to "heal the Emperor," testing exotic (and possibly Chaos-tainted) "reagents" on various people- allies and enemies alike- as Herbert West did.

 

 

I have a disturbing feeling the relationship between the Chaplains and the Prognosticators will be comparable to that between Commissars and psykers in an Astra Militarum force, with the former executing the latter "for [the psykers'] own good," if the Prognosticators show signs of Chaos-taint as a direct consequence of "delving too deeply into forbidden lore."

 

I like your our prior idea of referring to Dreadnoughts as "Great Old Ones" who "wait dreaming" (sleep) until "the stars are right."

[Minigiant]

Here we go. Needs fleshing out and a few more redrafts but at last I have something down on paper

 

Prognosticators

 

Prognosticators, are hybrid officers fulfilling the role of Librarian, alongside tasks of the Chaplaincy, they administer to the psionic and mental well-being of the Chapter's warriors.

 

These dour warriors are the seers of the Chapter, reading their brothers dreams or scrying for divination of the future, granting the squads and companies they are attached to an edge for the coming battle. The Chapter takes the readings seriously, as such that on some occasions, the Prognosticators have counselled against the Chapter becoming embroiled in a particular war, however this can prove problematic as to heap greater suspicion on an already mistrusted chapter. At times this has led to taking take part in conflicts they know will end in defeat.

 

Upon a Prognosticator’s armour, pendants and badges of office can be found Elder marks and runes engraved into the surface. These are not purely decorative, as they serve to channel and concentrate the Prognosticator’s psychic powers.

 

Given their role as wards of the psionic and spiritual health of the Sussuro Abyssi, it is a rare thing indeed for a Prognosticator to take the Apocryphon Oath, and serve a Vigil of the Long Watch with the Deathwatch, the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Xenos. In accepting a Prognosticator into his Watch Fortress, a Watch Commander gains the services of an individual of unique skill and ability. His knowledge of both the Librarian’s arts and the duties of the Chaplain are of course valuable. Yet the greatest of the Prognosticators are able to extend their ministrations to all of the Battle-Brothers they serve alongside, inspiring each and every one to epic deeds of courage, and diverting the flow of history so that these warriors can return to their chapters as heroes.  It is said that by the actions of these few Prognosticators that the Denizens of the Deep have gained any trustworthy Astartes Chapter allies at all.

 

Apothecaries

 

The most solemn of individuals tasked with the most solemn of tasks. It is their role to mind the physical wellbeing of their battle-brothers. Not all injuries however are visible to be seen. An Apothecary of another chapter would easily be oblivious to the emotional damage that eats away at them. An Apothecary of the Sussuro Abyssi however knows too well the torment that his brothers endure, for they too are emotionally scarred from their nightmares.

 

 

Techmarines

 

Those amongst the Abyssi with an affinity for technology are dispatched to Mars, honouring ancient pacts formed with the Adeptus Mechanicus millennia ago upon their founding, where they are initiated into the Martian tech-cults to become Techmarines. This process divides the brothers duality complex into a triality nightmare but, it is acknowledged as a necessary process.  Without Techmarines the Abyssi would be left unable to tend to the machine spirits, to observe the rites that ensure continued operation of their wargear, repair damage taken on the field of battle, or to attend to the needs of the Fleet.

 

Upon their training on Mars they return even more mysterious and capricious, aloof and distant. Their inscrutable ways are not easily understood by most of the battle-brethren. For many they do not understand themselves, lost in the belief that if their Machines could not be eternal then it cannot be real. Abyssi techmarines struggle to unravel their three competing ideologies; Liber Mechanicus and the Omnissiah, Chapter’s duty, and its creed, their entire lives. Eternity becomes their supreme desire, nothing is real that is not eternal.

 

The prognosticators that discern their dreams tell of only vague impressions of a sleep addled mind but, they all tell the same story. It is no ordinary nightmare. There is a prison deep below the surface, and something that stands a mile high but moves like flesh and blood. A rustle of wings, and a set of claws; how small they stand beside them claws. They feel him beneath the sand, they see his dreams, and so another fear to be believed. There visions sometimes reveal relics and STC files to be found, for it is all incidental and they are not bad. If it is not eternal it cannot be real. 

 

Dreadnoughts                                                                                    

 

The mightiest fallen Denizens, those within whom deny the dying of the light, with a life that still burns bright, are preserved from their final rest. The restless memories of the ancient heroes who pilot them can extend back to the early years of their Chapter and its earliest history. They are revered by other Space Marines, not just as potent warriors, but also as enduring millennia of hauntings from all that they have seen, and dreamt.  

 

To honour these courageous warriors, the fallen heroes are allowed to sleep away the centuries within the ancient crypts alongside their deceased brothers in arms, waiting, dreaming until the stars are right and war calls them once more into service of the Imperium.

Edited February 11, 2018 by Minigiant

[Minigiant]

I actually think I can heave background wise "Death Company" Dreadnoughts. When one mariens succumbs to madness they are taken away. What would they do if one of their great dreamers succumbs to madness. Death is the only option, so maybe they are just released into the enemy for the machine to be recovered later, and restored for the next great fallen heroes

 

I still need to decide on how to incorporate Primaries marines into the background, any new fluff releases recently that can explain this (I have been in the dark)?

Edited February 11, 2018 by Minigiant

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Prognosticators, hybrid officers fulfilling the roles of Chaplain, and Librarian found in codex Astartes-compliant chapters...

The Silver Skulls' Lexicanum article suggests Prognosticators complement the Chaplains, instead of replacing the latter. Hell, if Librarians actually replaced Chaplains in a Chapter, the Inquisition will likely think, "These Marines are utterly reliant on psykers- those who draw upon the Warp's powers, and thus, are at risk of being tainted by the Warp's denizens- to watch their brothers for signs of taint. 'Who watches the watchers?' It seems no one does in this Chapter, just as no one did in the pre-Heresy Thousand Sons! Best purge them, just in case."

 

Your Chapter still needs a Chaplaincy, though the Chaplains may combine their duties with that of Apothecaries, as is the case in the Space Wolfs (see "Wolf Priests").

I actually think I can heave background wise "Death Company" Dreadnoughts. When one mariens succumbs to madness they are taken away. What would they do if one of their great dreamers succumbs to madness. Death is the only option, so maybe they are just released into the enemy for the machine to be recovered later, and restored for the next great fallen heroes

This may work, though the Death Company equivalent will need a new name, to distance your Chapter from the Blood Angels. Maybe "The Marooned"?

I still need to decide on how to incorporate Primaries marines into the background, any new fluff releases recently that can explain this (I have been in the dark)?

From what I understand, Guilliman and Cawl just sent ships loaded with Primaris Marines and their logistical support (the ability to create new Primaris Marines) to the Loyalist Chapters' fortress-monasteries. As your Chapter is identified as a Silver Skulls successor, it's probably listed among the loyalist Chapters, and scheduled to receive its share of Primaris Marines.

 

More interesting would be the AdMech will view your Marines. Are there certain Magos who felt Abdul Hazred was on the verge of a breakthrough before his unfortunate demise (or mysterious disappearance, if you choose to rewrite his fate as such), and thus, wish to accompany the Chapter's Primaris reinforcements to Nahmu, in hopes of recovering and then continuing Hazred's work? Are there Herbert West or Doctor Muñoz analogues seeking to study your Marines' physiology, thinking it holds the key to some secret? Has Fabius Bile sent infiltrators among those Magos, thinking your Marines' nightmares are due to a genetic sequence he can use to induce psychic development?

[Minigiant]

 

Prognosticators, hybrid officers fulfilling the roles of Chaplain, and Librarian found in codex Astartes-compliant chapters...

The Silver Skulls' Lexicanum article suggests Prognosticators complement the Chaplains, instead of replacing the latter. Hell, if Librarians actually replaced Chaplains in a Chapter, the Inquisition will likely think, "These Marines are utterly reliant on psykers- those who draw upon the Warp's powers, and thus, are at risk of being tainted by the Warp's denizens- to watch their brothers for signs of taint. 'Who watches the watchers?' It seems no one does in this Chapter, just as no one did in the pre-Heresy Thousand Sons! Best purge them, just in case."

 

Your Chapter still needs a Chaplaincy, though the Chaplains may combine their duties with that of Apothecaries, as is the case in the Space Wolfs (see "Wolf Priests").

 

 

I didnt mean to imply I did not have a chaplaincy. I have edited the first line to better clarify my intentions. Prognosticators combine the role of Librarian with tasks of the Chaplaincy.

 

I actually think I do not need to expand on a Chaplains role, I dont think it changes much with everything going on

 

 

 

I actually think I can have background wise "Death Company" Dreadnoughts. When one mariens succumbs to madness they are taken away. What would they do if one of their great dreamers succumbs to madness. Death is the only option, so maybe they are just released into the enemy for the machine to be recovered later, and restored for the next great fallen heroes

This may work, though the Death Company equivalent will need a new name, to distance your Chapter from the Blood Angels. Maybe "The Marooned"?

 

I am not sure. I am not sure how much it adds to everything but, it is something that can be added rather late on if I can expand on it in a more informative way

[Bjorn Firewalker]

"Tomecide" or "Biblioclasm"- technical terms for book burning- may be something your Chapter can consider. Few sane people would want the Necronomicon's secrets to be publicly known, after all. (I was going to suggest your Chapter adopt a Dark Angels-like obsession with keeping certain secrets, well, secret, but that may be counterproductive to your efforts to make the Denizens of the Deep unique.) Edited February 11, 2018 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Minigiant]

"Tomecide" or "Biblioclasm"- technical terms for book burning- may be something your Chapter can consider. Few sane people would want the Necronomicon's secrets to be publicly known, after all. (I was going to suggest your Chapter adopt a Dark Angels-like obsession with keeping certain secrets, well, secret, but that may be counterproductive to your efforts to make the Denizens of the Deep unique.)

 

Interesting, I do not think I need to specifically state it. If anything they would store the information because they may need evidence to show their fellow Astartes Chapters

 

Interesting you mention the Angels, if anything the chapter bears similar resemblance to the blood type with a curse and everything.

Do the blood angel Primaris marines suffer from the curse?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

 

"Tomecide" or "Biblioclasm"- technical terms for book burning- may be something your Chapter can consider. Few sane people would want the Necronomicon's secrets to be publicly known, after all. (I was going to suggest your Chapter adopt a Dark Angels-like obsession with keeping certain secrets, well, secret, but that may be counterproductive to your efforts to make the Denizens of the Deep unique.)

Interesting, I do not think I need to specifically state it. If anything they would store the information because they may need evidence to show their fellow Astartes Chapters

Only to Chapters whose leaders won their trust, e.g., the Ultramarines. Not to those whose loyalty is suspect, e.g., the Relictors, who may end up allowing the info to corrupt them and bind them to Cthulhu's service.

Interesting you mention the Angels, if anything the chapter bears similar resemblance to the blood type with a curse and everything.

 

Do the blood angel Primaris marines suffer from the curse?

According to the OP in the Confirmed: Primaris have the Red Thirst, Primaris Marines DO suffer from the curse, but to a far less degree than regular Space Marines.

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2017/12/01/new-units-in-codex-blood-angels-dec-1gw-homepage-post-3/

 

Just posted a bit ago.

 

 

Lots of people have asked us on Facebook about the Primaris Space Marines and “The Flaw”, the endless hunger for blood known as the Red Thirst, and the Black Rage, a state where a Blood Angel is overcome with visions of Sanguinius dying and falls into a berserker fury. The Primaris Marines are – at least, so far – immune to the Black Rage, but not the Red Thirst. However, they seem able to channel their fury more effectively, leading to fewer unfortunate “accidents”…

Edited February 13, 2018 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Minigiant]

So for the Algonquin Table community writing project, I will be continueing work on this chapter, specifically I will be attempting to write an IA pdf. Which means while I wont be posting up regular content I will be learning photoshop (HELP ME!)

 

Does anyone have any good tutorials they would vouch for?

Edited March 4, 2018 by Minigiant