What happens to failed recruits at what stages.

[Guest]

I know some become thralls and some are "lost" in the wild, but what about other stages. Like what happens to those they save in combat but are not SW compatible, or those that fail after initial organs but before black carapace?

 

Just trying to get a feel for creating a IG army from failed astartes or recruits and still be fluffy.

[Leif Bearclaw]

Kinda depends on which 'other stages' you mean, and what sources you'll consider as still 'correct'.

 

For example, if we take the first Ragnar book as the best, most detailed, example of the training process, then you don't get aspirants where the gene-seed doesn't 'take', as those aspirants are either killed at the Gate of Morkai, or devolve into Wulfen and become local colour for the next generation to whether on their trek. But that might not longer be accuate. So while it may now be possible for failed aspirants to survive and enter Chapter service, that seems more likely for more 'civilised' Chapters, like the Ultras and Fists imo.

 

As an aside, for what you want, while the IG codex may be the best fit crunch wise, it doesn't really work fluff wise. You'd be better off just doing Kaerls (which could include some failed aspirants, but personally I tend towards the SW/Fenrisian character leaning more towards 'better to die in the attempt, than live with the ignominy of failure'). Additionally, Fenris, as an Astartes fief, doesn't raise Regiments to the Departmento Munitorum. About the only Marine territory that does (as far as I'm aware) is Ultramar, because of course it is.

[Dantay VI]

There is an interesting short story of a failed aspirant that I read recently.

 

After he had failed he had been put to work in the forges making and decorating armour for the rout.

[Guest]

Kinda depends on which 'other stages' you mean, and what sources you'll consider as still 'correct'.

 

For example, if we take the first Ragnar book as the best, most detailed, example of the training process, then you don't get aspirants where the gene-seed doesn't 'take', as those aspirants are either killed at the Gate of Morkai, or devolve into Wulfen and become local colour for the next generation to whether on their trek. But that might not longer be accuate. So while it may now be possible for failed aspirants to survive and enter Chapter service, that seems more likely for more 'civilised' Chapters, like the Ultras and Fists imo.

 

As an aside, for what you want, while the IG codex may be the best fit crunch wise, it doesn't really work fluff wise. You'd be better off just doing Kaerls (which could include some failed aspirants, but personally I tend towards the SW/Fenrisian character leaning more towards 'better to die in the attempt, than live with the ignominy of failure'). Additionally, Fenris, as an Astartes fief, doesn't raise Regiments to the Departmento Munitorum. About the only Marine territory that does (as far as I'm aware) is Ultramar, because of course it is.

Well there is many steps before partaking of the cup of Wulfen and being lost at the gates of morkai or cursed Wulfen. Many organs to be planted, training to complete etc etc. Gaining the Geneseed is last step. Our thralls that work the forges are often failed recruits. The one I Stormcaller was injured during his training and now is a thralls. As much as people think ourselves savages we often look upon our fallen brethren with greater kindness that our more civilized cousins. BA will outright kill their failed recruits or at best make them guards of the training camp where they failed.

 

Edit: our kaerls are also very well trained near that of a IG and almost as well equipped. I run a lost company so I am trying to fit them in somehow.

Edited January 15, 2018 by Jarl Caldersson

[Guest Triszin]

I wouldnt be too surprised if some of our failed recruits become Kearls.

 

We rarely lobotomize our failed recruits and turn them into servitors.

[Leif Bearclaw]

 

Well there is many steps before partaking of the cup of Wulfen and being lost at the gates of morkai or cursed Wulfen. Many organs to be planted, training to complete etc etc. Gaining the Geneseed is last step. Our thralls that work the forges are often failed recruits. The one I Stormcaller was injured during his training and now is a thralls. As much as people think ourselves savages we often look upon our fallen brethren with greater kindness that our more civilized cousins. BA will outright kill their failed recruits or at best make them guards of the training camp where they failed.

 

That's pretty much the point I was getting at. Stormcaller may indeed have failed aspirants (don't know, haven;t read the book I'm afraid), whereas all the Kaerls in Battle for the Fang seem to be from Kaerl families, and the Ragnar books show SW aspirant training as far more callous, and blasé about aspirant death than Stormcaller may (as there. they seem to have a more 'everyone proves themselves worthy or dies in the attempt' vibe).

 

 

Edit: our kaerls are also very well trained near that of a IG and almost as well equipped. I run a lost company so I am trying to fit them in somehow.

Why not just do that then? Why make things overly complicated with specifics of failed aspirants etc.? What's wrong with the ship's complement being required to fight on the ground for whatever reason during your Company's hunt/exile/disappearance (whatever you've chosen as the fluff reason for your dudes being lost)? Instead of being failed aspirants, that actually provides more potential as a pool as aspirants, with the Choosers checking over the Kaerl companies for acts of heroism, rather than the Fenrisian tribes.

[Kasper_Hawser]

There is an interesting short story of a failed aspirant that I read recently.

 

After he had failed he had been put to work in the forges making and decorating armour for the rout.

 

Cool short story that one, a testament to the stoicism of the Fenrisian population, even if they fail, they still serve.

 

to answer the original question, I don't think the Wolves take kindly to failed aspirants but neither do they slaughter them outright. In the story above, though the details are lacking, i get the impression that it was early in the gene seed implantation, which unfortunately was rejected by his body but didn't kill him. the aspirant wanted to die, as did some of the Wolves overseeing him but in the end an Iron Priest took him as a thrall to work. And the aspirant was actually thankful for that small honor to make up for wasting the time of the wolves.

 

As for after the geneseed implantation, well, the common mutation is outright wulfen or thunderwolf if you believe that, so no turning back from that. On the other hand, if they DO fail in anything else other than physical trials, I'm not so sure. At the worst, they might execute for being a failure, but I think its more likely he'll be a Blood Claw forever just like Lukas.

 

Another possiblity is turning them into servitors if they prove unworthy of the geneseed. I remember the Crimson Fists doing that in the Rynn's World novel when one idiot scout tried to snipe the Warboss despite being told not to.