Iron Gauntlet Penultimate Challenge Dawn Blades

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

​

The Dawn Blades 2nd Company veteran Shonar was the first of the Dawn Blades to receive the Primaris upgrade by unanimous consent of his brothers.

 

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"Company veteran Shonar, your presence is requested in the Company mess within fifteen minutes. Do not be late."

 

Shonar glanced up from his desk at the announcement, shrugged, and replaced his quill in the inkwell. Gesturing for his serfs to follow, he left the room, leaving the poem entitled "Death and Rebirth" unfinished on the desktop.

 

 

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Shonar arrived in the 2nd Company mess to the sound of 108 clashing pairs of ceramite boots, and 108 fists slamming against their breastplates in salute.

 

Chaplain Katz stepped forward and began to speak. Arrayed around him were Shonar's brothers in the command squad, Daimyo Lenoch, and all 10 squads of the 2nd Company. Behind him stood the three dreadnoughts of the company, strangely silent but unquestionably watching.

 

"Company veteran Shonar," he intoned. "You have been selected by unanimous vote of your brothers to be the first of the 2nd Company to have your wargear and biological functions upgraded to the Primaris baseline. In concordance with this honor, you are being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, an ancient rank resurrected by the Primarch Rouboute Guilliman. Step forward and receive your honor."

 

Shonar looked warily about, seeking jest in his brothers' eyes. Finding none, he walked to the head of the hall and stood in front of his brothers.

 

"Shonar," Lenoch said, "you have no idea what this means to all of us."

 

"No, captain. You don't know what this means to me," he replied, fighting tears. There was little a marine could hope for, other than the respect of his brothers, and this proved he had the respect of all of them. And that was something powerful.

 

Smiling, Lenoch snapped his fingers. Four serfs approached the center, bearing a suit of power armor.

 

"Lieutenant Shonar, it is my great honor to present you with this suit of MkX Tacticus armor. May it serve you well." He raised his voice. "Warriors of the 2nd Dawn! Come and armor your brother!"

 

Each marine from each squad swarmed the slab, dismantling the armor, taking one piece each. Then they each placed their piece on Shonar, and then went to their squad's table. Within ten minutes he was armored.

 

"Our ceremony is complete, now let us feast in our brother's honor!" Lenoch called.

 

A great "HUZZAH!" went up from the 2nd company, and the serfs began to bring in food for the feast.

 

Lenoch smacked Shonar on the shoulder, seeing the apprehension behind the helmet. "Don't you worry, brother. You're the most righteous and pious of this company, even above me. You won't let us down, I know it."

 

Shonar nodded as he stumbled. This armor would take getting used to. "My thanks, Daimyo. I'll try and be worthy of the honor."

 

"So I trust.

 

 

​

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Lieutenant Shonar exited the Apothecarion after three months of surgery, bio-reaccomodation, and physical therapy. He was a half foot taller than what he had been when he had walked into the Apothecary's domain, and 12 percent heavier. His bones felt tougher, his muscles stronger, and he swore his hearts beat slower but more powerfully then they ever had. And...he had this strange sense of immortality, back when he was a teenager and began to become a marine, but this felt...more real. Like he really was invincible. This would require meditation.

 

His serfs began to armor him when he returned to his quarters, and soon he was wearing the new Tacticus suit.

 

It felt just like his old armor did not three months ago, a second skin that would never fail him.

 

Shonar proceeded to the company forge, where he was greeted by two brothers on guard duty. They saluted, and as he strode through the door he saluted back.

 

He located an empty anvil and drew his combat knife. Pressing it to the anvil, he muttered a prayer to the weapon's warrior spirit, set it aside, and began to construct a power field generator.

 

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Six days later, the power field was built and it was time to attach it to the knife.

 

He took a drill and began to carve a small space in the hilt, just below the crossguard. Here he inserted the field generator, with two smaller holes to run the emitter prongs through the guard and up the blade.

 

He attached the emitter prongs, and sealed them in, then attached the switch for the field.

 

Shonar refilled the remaining dead space in the knife and then muttered a prayer. Taking the new knife in one hand and the ritual knife from the anvil base, he pricked his neck, just where the progenoid was, and began to speak the Litany of Modification.

 

"Oh great machine spirits, I beseech thee, come to my weapon and enter it. Accept this offering of the blood of Ferrus, a pure sacrifice to anoint a holy weapon of the Solis-Imperator." The blood from his neck dripped down to cover the blade, and Shonar flicked the switch.

 

The blood boiled off, leaving an iron-red residue as the power field activated.

 

"May this blade bring vengeance to the slain and death to mankind's enemies. Let it taste the blood of a to rest at the feet of the Solis-Imperator."

 

He felt the blade vibrate and watched it glow as the field generator accepted a machine spirit, and he grinned. He mag-locked the knife to his leg and walked out of the forge, and took from a forge-serf a brand new and shining bright stalker bolt rifle, with his Marksman's Honor badges already attached.

 

Shonar stretched once and then walked to the firing range to test his new weapons. It was a good day, and he would do his best to be an example for his brethren.

 

 

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Lt. Shonar, 6 power, 100 points (with wargear)

 

Lt. Shonar uses the Primaris Lieutenant rules and statline, with the following modifications. LD9, W6, and A5. Replace 'Company Heros' with the following rule: "Most Righteous and Pious of the 2nd": all models with the <Adeptus Astartes> and <Dawn Blades> Keywords that can draw line of sight to Shonar, or are within 6 inches of him, add 1 to their LD stat.

 

He is armed with a power knife, master-crafted stalker bolt rife, bolt pistol, and frag and krak grenades.

 

Power Knife: Type: Melee|Range: Melee|S:U|AP:-3

 

Master-crafted Stalker Bolt Rifle, Bolt Pistol, and Frag and Krak Grenades: see Primaris Lieutenant datasheet

 

 

Edited November 1, 2019 by Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

Saisho-Shinsengumi Dataslate:



The position of Saisho-Shinsengumi (or, when translated from Frensan, First Arrow of the Shogun) dates back to the second Chapter Master and the first Shogun established the name Shinsengumi to recognize that whenever he unleashed them they flew as straight as an arrow. The chapter champion was given the honorific Saisho, to recognize he was the first of the Arrows.

The current Saisho-Shinsengumi is a former member of the 3rd company who was promoted after the 3rd company Shinsengumi, Vibius Taylor, was wounded severely enough to require dreadnought internment-but he was struck down deep in enemy lines after slaying the enemy commander, and voxed that he was content to die where he lay, blade thrust through the Eldar Autarch's body and soulstone, and his armor crushing the body.

However, Fergon, a Veteran Sergeant leading the seventh assault squad, was unwilling to let that happen. He had a strong sense of brotherhood with all of his company-mates, and the willingness to go alone into the Eldar's main force to recover his brother.

He asked for no volunteers, and his squad members understood this was something he needed to do alone. He received no authorization from the Captain, no guidance from the Chaplain, and no psychic assistance from the Librarian. Fergon left at nightfall, equipped with his power sword, silenced combi-melta bolt pistol, combat knife, three grenades, and a grapple hook, nothing else.

The eldar had recovered their Autarch's soulstone and body when he arrived, along with the rest of their dead, and had left the marine dead there alone. There was still an Eldar patrol there, but with stealth and speed he eliminated them over the course of three hours. After he recovered Taylor, he applied a medical stimulant from his own reserves to keep the Shinsengumi's hearts beating after seven hours of being near-comatose.

Then Fergon fought for another five hours back to his own lines as the Eldar realized what he was doing and moved to stop him. Vibius was only half-coherent and unable to do anything but fire the occasional shot from his plasma pistol and mutter about "...mph, y'shouldv'e left me there, 'on't deserve this...fine wit' dyin fer the Solis-Empererererghhh," to which Fergon would reply, "Too bad. I'm saving your ass and you don't get to complain."

After the apothecaries declared Vibius's mortal frame a loss, before he was interred into a relic dreadnought chassis, he thanked Fergon for saving him, to which Fergon replied, "You are my brother. I would do no less for the least of the company." After that, Taylor named Fergon the warden of his Edge of Dawn until a replacement was chosen for his position.

After three months of astropathic debate and deciding, Fergon was promoted to the rank of Shinsengumi for 'exemplary dedication to his brothers in arms, disregard for his own safety to recover his brother, and displaying martial prowess sufficient to single-handedly defeat two Eldar patrols and a Wave Serpent full of Eldar Guardians.' Given his previous service in the Samurai, no one questioned it.

Eventually Fergon became Saisho-Shinsengumi as one died and another was chosen by a contest of skill of blades.

Now well a half century into his service as Saisho-Shinsengumi, Fergon has slain countless enemy leaders and standard-bearers. His most notable kill to date has undoubtedly been the duel against the 3rd Legion scion Galahas the Infused, killed execution-style by a single blow to the neck. When Galahas died, the warband broke, which routed the entire Chaos system-wide campaign and thus allowed for an easy cleanup for the Chapter. At present he currently muttering in solidarity with Stormmoon about the Primaris. He will not discriminate but they are not his brothers...they have not earned the right, they are rather gene-cousins instead of blood-brothers. He mutters perhaps in fear that they will have to appoint their own Shinsengumi, and then what will he do?...

Rules:

8 Power, 200 points (with wargear)

This unit is composed of one Saisho-Shinsengumi Fergon. He is armed with an Edge of Hope (sword), the Light of Dawn, a tracer missile, and frag and krak grenades. He is equipped with a jump pack. You may not include more than one Saisho-Shinsengumi Fergon in your army.

M:12" WS: 2+ BS:3+ S:4 T:4 W:5 A:5 LD: 10

Weapons: Range, Type, S, AP, Type, Special

Edge of Dawn (sword): Melee, Melee, +1, -3, 2, when attacking with this weapon, the bearer may make an additional attack with this weapon.

Light of Hope (bolt pistol): 15", Pistol 1, S4, -1, none
Light of Hope (inferno pistol): 9", Pistol 1, S7, -4, D3, roll 2D3 for damage within 5"

Tracer Missile: 72", Assault 1, S8, -2, D6, One-use only. The turn this weapon is fired, all models with the Dawn Blades keyword may add one to movement, and to their advance and charge rolls, and may charge after advancing.

Frag and Krak Grenades: see Tactical Squad Dataslate

Abilities

Crushing Charge: when this model comes into base contact with an enemy unit on a charge, roll a D6. On a 4+ the unit takes a mortal wound.
Martial Zeal: all models with the <Dawn Blades> keyword may reroll all failed melee hits within 6" of Saisho-Shinsengumi Fergon.
Jump Pack Assault: see Captain Dataslate

Keywords: <Dawn Blades> <Adeptus Astartes> <Imperium> <Saisho-Sinsengumi> <Shinsengumi> Edited March 13, 2018 by Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

Dawn Blades Master of the Forge Ceticus Stormmoon

 

Ceticus Stormmoon is the Dawn Blades Master of the Forge, and one of the most accomplished artificers of the chapter. He towers over the rest of his fellow tech-adepts at 7.75 feet tall, and has not worn Astartes armor for more than three centuries, as nothing fit anymore after he turned 127 AI (After Induction). He has spent that time either in the forge, repairing vehicles and armor, crafting new weapons, or generally bullying his subordinates into focusing on their work rather than performing a dozen rituals just to turn one forge-station on at the start of the day. He has spent 325 years (thereabouts) doing this, though occasionally he has gotten into a Land Raider cupola to hear battle again with little chance of getting hurt. When he does take to the field, and after combats, it is a common sight to see him smacking a recalcitrant machine with a borrowed power wrench, which tends to repair vehicles enough to get them through the war and back to a forge.

 

When the Primaris arrived, Stormmoon was extremely hostile, and hated them with a passion (though he admittedly loved their wargear). After four days, the Primaris that had completed their own blade were allowed to deploy with him on a training exercise versus two other chapters, the Brothers Noctis and the Silver Sons. With the Shogun's approval, the rest that failed to redeem themselves after failing to forge their own blade were jettisoned from the chapter and turned over to the Deathwatch as Blackshields (something the Forge Shinsengumi noted was an unprecedented number of close to a dozen in one place). One of the remaining Intercessor sergeants unlocked the encryption on the tech file in his armor, which contained schema for all manner of new wargear. From this, Stormmoon was able to fabricate a veritable cornucopia of paraphernalia of war, which included armor that would finally fit him after more than three centuries.

 

His own collection of esoteric wargear includes a rather odd master-crafted power axe (a gift from a Deathwatch Techmarine he was quite familiar with), a conversion blaster (a more compact and mobile version of the conversion beamer), i-rad grenades he found a STC for on an old Space Hulk, and his favored forge-hammer (which tends to be particularly effective at breaking enemy armor). These have now been augmeneted with the Gravis Armor Stormmoon commissioned from Sgt. Tiberius.

 

Master of the Forge Ceticus Stormmoon | Power: 7 | Points: 140 (without wargear)

 

M6" WS: 3+ BS: 2+ S4 T4 W5 A4 LD10 Sv 5+

 

Stormmoon wears light armor, and is armed with a forge-hammer, storm shield, a conversion blaster, and i-rad grenades.

 

Stormmoon may take MkX Gravis Armor, increasing his power rating by 1, reducing his move by 1", and adding the <Gravis> Keyword. If you do so, replace his forge-hammer and conversion blaster with a boltstorm gauntlet and his storm shield with a master-crafted power axe and iron halo. Finally, increase his armor save to 2+. Increase his points cost by 30, if playing a point-value game.

 

I-rad grenades: The turn this model charges or is charged, all enemy units in combat with him have their toughness reduced by one.

 

Options: Stormmoon may exchange his master-crafted power axe for a master-crafted power sword if he is in Gravis Armor.

 

Special Rules:

'A smack and a curse and it's fixed for now:' At the end of the movement phase, Stormmoon may, instead of shooting, elect to repair a vehicle within 2 inches of him. Restore D6 wounds to a model with the <Vehicle> Keyword.

 

Keywords: Dawn Blades, Adeptus Astartes, Imperium, Master of the Forge

 

Weapons:

 

Master-Crafted power axe: Melee | Melee | S +1 | AP -2 | D: 2

Master-crafted Power Sword: Melee | Melee | S:U | AP: -3 | D: 2

Boltstorm Gauntlet (Ranged) 12" | Pistol 3 | S: 4 | AP: 0 | D: 1

Boltstorm Gauntlet (Melee) Melee | Melee | S: x2 | AP: -3 | D: 1D3

Conversion blaster: | 36" | Rapid Fire 2 | S:8/10 | AP: -2/-4 | D: D3/D6 | Special: when in half range, use the numbers to the left of the slash-marks. If outside half range, use the numbers to the right of the slash marks.

Forge-hammer: Melee | Melee | S: +2 | AP: -3 | D: 3. This weapon inflicts an additional mortal wound on a to Wound roll of six. Subtract one from all To Hit rolls.

 

 

Points Values:

Conversion Blaster: 10 points

forge-hammer: 15 points

Everything else: See Codex: Adeptus Astartes

Edited September 19, 2017 by Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch