Custom Chapter: Death Lords

[Brother Atraedese]

Death Lords

NOTE: This is a very early rough draft (ei WIP), so many things like the chapter heraldry and much of the lore will be added onto and changed. In fact, the primary reason I'm posting this is to get constructive criticism and ideas on how I can make this chapter more solid since I'm still learning a lot about the backstory and lore behind Warhammer 40k.

• Motto: "We are the fear that haunts your mind." (Alternatively: "I am the fear that haunts your mind," when being stated by a lone Death Lord.)
• Battle Cry: Commander- "We are fear, we are despair!" Battle Brothers- "We are agony, we are death!"
• Founding: 2nd
• Successors of: Raven Guard
• Successor Chapter(s): Unknown
• Number: Unkown
• Primarch: Corvus Corax
• Chapter Master: Lord Commander Augustus Valarius
• Chaplain: Nishesh
• Chapter Librarian: Maxentius Quintillus
• Homeworld: Adiran
• Fortress Monestary: Stygian Fortress
• Allegiance: Imperium of Man (Renegade)
• Colors: Black, White, Gold Trim
• Rival(s): Emperor's Children

 

​SUMMARY

The Death Lords is a renegade chapter that specializes in terror tactics. Despite being declared Excommunicate Traitoris by the Inquisition due to their use of noise marine weapons and hostile actions towards agents of the Inquisition (the Death Lords hate the Inquisition to the point of threatening any agents that get in the way of their goals), the Death Lords still consider themselves, and claim to be loyal to the Emperor of Mankind. However, due to being branded as renegades, it is rare that another chapter will fight alongside the Death Lords.

 

 

BELIEFS

• HEAVY METAL: The Death Lords have a passion for heavy metal and war ballads/battle anthems. This Chapter is known for its additional three companies, known as Metal Warriors, who charge into battle jamming out on guitar bolters and sonic weapons looted from defeated Noise Marines. Additionally, members compose war ballads/battle anthems to remember their great victories, as well as their loses and tend to rock out in much of their spare time (especially the Metal Warriors). The Death Lords even have different battle anthems for different occasions, like suicide missions, invasions, etc, to get pumped before and during a fight.
• FLAWED EMPEROR: The Death Lords believe that the Emperor is the one truly to blame for the Horus Heresy. Believing that his punishment of the Word Bearers was completely overkill and served as the catalyst for the civil war that would very nearly shatter the Imperium. Despite this, the Death Lords still believe that the Emperor is mankind's best hope and worship him as a god, albeit a flawed god.
• HATES HUMANITY: Due to humanity just being stupid in general (ei. not using a blinker when changing lanes, getting stuck behind someone who walks really slowly), the astartes of the Death Lords tend to be very annoyed, condescending and sarcastic when dealing with normal humans. This actually basically goes for anyone and any race with the exception of Sisters of Battle and most other Astartes.

 

HISTORY

The history of the Death Lords is steeped in mystery, much of it lost to time or closely guarded against outsiders. This fairly secretive chapter claims to be a 2nd Founding successor chapter of the Raven Guard, it is only the Chapter Master, Chapter Librarian, and several others that know that the Death Lords truly originate from the Night Lords.

 

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

• 024.M31 Second Founding: The Death Lords, a loyalist successor chapter from the Night Lords traitor legion, claim to be a successor of the Raven Guard to avoid suspicion.
• 109.M31 Homeworld Established: The Death Lords establish Adiran as their homeworld and build their fortress monastery, the Stygian Fortress.
• 109.M31 The Dagon Confilict: The Death Lords engage in a conflict on Adiran's moon, Elegia, against a group of Dark Mechanicus lead by Kasimir Dagon. This results in the near destruction of the entire chapter to the point where it was believed to be destroyed.
• M32 /REDACTED/: Restricted or lost data.
• M33 /REDACTED/: Restricted or lost data.
• 041.M34 Reemergance of the Death Lords: The Death Lords reestablish communications with the Imperium.
• 053.M34 Investigation and Excommunication of the Death Lords: Due to their reemergence, the Death Lords were investigated by the Inquisition to make sure that they were still loyal to the Emperor. The inquisitor in charge of the investigation found that the Death Lords were using sonic weapons looted from defeated Noise Marines. When the inquisitor demanded that the chapter hand over the corrupted weapons, the Death Lords ran him off of their homeworld, resulting in them being excommunicated and branded as renegades.
• M35 /REDACTED/: Restricted or lost data.
• M36
• M37
• M38
• M39 /REDACTED/: Restricted or lost data.
• M40
• M41
• M42

 

HOMEWORLD

Adiran, the Death Lords' homeworld, located in the Calixis sector, is a dark and cold planet, with its moon perpetually eclipsing its sun. Adiran itself is a temperate marine planet, with vast oceans and sprawling forests (much like Washington state). The Death Lords' massive fortress monastery, the Stygian Fortress, sits atop the Casicus Mountain, coated in black and gilded in gold trim. Adiran is where the Death Lords recruit new forces, its people already hardened by the many dangers that lie in wait in the shadows of its dark forests.

 

TACTICS

The Death Lords specialize in terror tactics, taking time to learn the fears of their enemies and exploiting those fears. This is only the first stage of their attack, and is more so just preparation. After their enemies are paranoid and on edge, the Death Lords attack quickly with strike craft, under the veil of night. This is the second stage. Once the enemy is dazed and confused from the ensuing chaos, the Death Lords crush their enemies with a final heavy assault, blaring heavy metal (often from sonic weapons looted from Noise Marines) to further disorient their enemy, while at the same time motivating their own forces.

 

METAL WARRIORS

The best way to describe the Metal Warriors is to describe a bunch of punk rockers and heavy metal fanatics wearing power armor and wielding sonic weapons and various musical instruments (usually guitars and drums) that have been modified with various weapons (like bolters and flamers). While the entire chapter has a passion for heavy metal, the Metal Warriors, who actually consist of an additional three companies (the 11th, 12th, and 13th Companies) are generally the only ones who actually charge into battle while blaring heavy metal. In fact, the Metal Warriors are one of the reasons the Death Lords were excommunicated, because of their use of Noise Marine sonic weapons. In addition to having built a tolerance to sonic weapons, the Metal Warriors also have a special implant to make sure they don't explode from the power of the corrupted weapons they like to use. These same implants also help fight the taint of chaos, although there are still several incidents where a Metal Warrior has been corrupted. (NOTE: This obviously is not meant to be taken as seriously, and is simply a nod to the goofiness of the first two editions of Warhammer 40k, as well as being a reflection of my own personal preference for rock and metal.)

 

FLEET

• 1x Oberon-class Battleship: Maw of Terror
• 1x Ironclad (outfitted with a ship-killer cannon): Obsidian Blade
• 1x Dictator-class Attack Craft Carrier: Might of the Imperium
• 3x Lunar-class Cruiser: Black Night, Night Terror, Fulgrim's Bane
• 1x Squadron (6) Firestorm-class Frigate
• 4x Squadron (2) Gladius-class Frigate
• 3x Squadron (5) Cobra-class Destroyer

The Repulsive-class Grand Cruiser Metal Storm was last seen transporting the 12th company of Metal Warriors while chasing Noise Marines into the Warp and are believed to be lost.

 

The Endeavor-class Light Cruisers Eclipse and Hound were destroyed during the acquisition of an Oberon-class Battleship space hulk, which is now the chapter flagship known as the Maw of Terror.

Edited August 8, 2019 by Brother Atraedese

[Tarvek Val]

An interesting addition to the 40k universe, and a good read. I shall give you my thoughts:

 

- It seems unlikely that a Chapter that claims loyalty to the Imperium would actually state that they are the successor of a Traitor Legion, especially that of the Night Lords. Perhaps you could state that they officially claim to be descended from the Raven Guard, and only the Chapter's leaders know the full truth; that the Chapter was descended from the Night Lords? I just cannot see the Imperium accepting such a suspicious Chapter into their ranks, especially in the 2nd Founding of all places. The memories of the Heresy would be fresh in the minds of all Imperials, and I think they would never have accepted the Death Lords after the treachery of their predecessors. 

 

- I almost feel like the Death Lords could be descended from the Emperor's Children, as only they and other Slaanesh-oriented war bands are known to primarily utilize Noise Marines. Based on the lore, the Night Lords Legion would seem unlikely to use such tactics, except, as you mentioned, to cause terror. They specialize in lightning assaults, fear tactics, and "dishonorable combat" after all, and its hard to be stealthy whilst blasting the enemy with a wall of noise.

 

- I get an almost Soul Drinker-esque vibe from the Chapter. They do the work of the Imperium, whilst outlawed and scorned by their former allies in the Imperium. I like this aspect of their nature. Possibly you could expand on their relationship with other Chapters / branches of the Imperium in the future? I would like to see that. 

 

   "We are the fear that haunts your mind." Just a minor typo to fix.

 

 

Overall, I think its a very solid start. I look forward to seeing future progress.

Edited March 7, 2018 by Tarvek Val

[Brother Atraedese]

@Tarvek Val

That's a good point you make about them being untrusted by other chapters if, during the 2nd Founding, they claimed to be a successor chapter of a traitor legion. But were'nt there several loyalist chapters from the 2nd Founding that originated form traitor legions? Although, I could just be thinking of the Black Shields who went on to be the Deathwatch later on. Either way, I think I prefer your idea of them claiming to be a successor chapter of the Raven Guard, even though they aren't.

 

I originally also thought the Emperor's Children would be better suited to the Death Lords for the same reason, but then I started looking at the Night Lords and figured they were also pretty well suited. That's why in the history I stated that there were rumors that the Death Lords were actually successors of the Emperor's Children, because I was torn. But I might make them the actual original chapter, because it would also explain why the Death Lords have such a fierce rivalry with them.

 

 

I get an almost Soul Drinker-esque vibe from the chapter.

I would also like to expand on this aspect, maybe occasionally teaming up with another renegade loyalist chapter to kick some xeno butt. It's definitely worth some thought.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback, its very helpful.

Edited March 7, 2018 by Brother Atraedese

[Bjorn Firewalker]

But were'nt there several loyalist chapters from the 2nd Founding that originated form traitor legions?

According to the Codices, NO. Novels and short story anthologies may HINT former members of the traitor legions were those who founded loyalist Chapters after the Heresy, e.g., linking the Silver Skulls to Iron Warriors Warsmith Barabas Dantioch; but 'Codex: Space Marines', Imperial authorities, and the Silver Skulls themselves will always insist the Chapter is an Ultramarines descendant.

[Brother Atraedese]

 

But were'nt there several loyalist chapters from the 2nd Founding that originated form traitor legions?

According to the Codices, NO. Novels and short story anthologies may HINT former members of the traitor legions were those who founded loyalist Chapters after the Heresy, e.g., linking the Silver Skulls to Iron Warriors Warsmith Barabas Dantioch; but 'Codex: Space Marines', Imperial authorities, and the Silver Skulls themselves will always insist the Chapter is an Ultramarines descendant.

 

Ok. Thanks for the clarification, Bjorn.

[Tarvek Val]

Yes, as Bjorn says, official codices state that the Chapters are all descended from loyalist Legions / Chapters. It would be suicidal (politically and literally) for a Chapter to claim descent from a Traitor Legion; they would likely be declared Traitoris Extremis even if they profess loyalty. 

[Brother Atraedese]

Yes, as Bjorn says, official codices state that the Chapters are all descended from loyalist Legions / Chapters. It would be suicidal (politically and literally) for a Chapter to claim descent from a Traitor Legion; they would likely be declared Traitoris Extremis even if they profess loyalty. 

That makes sense.

[Tarvek Val]

Also, I just noticed this, but you state that the chapter flagship is an "Oberon-class battleship space hulk"; is it literally a full-on space hulk, like a conglomerate of ships? If so, you may want to clarify that detail by remarking something such as "the Chapter's greatest ship is, in fact, a conglomerate of ships crunched together into a space hulk around the hull of a once-proud Oberon-class battleship. After claiming the hulk for their own, the Chapter added additional armaments, crew quarters, and training chambers for the members of the Death Lords and made the ship the head of their fleet under the new title Maw of Terror."

 

Just to make clear that it's a hulk, and not just a run-down Oberon-class, you know? 

[Brother Atraedese]

Also, I just noticed this, but you state that the chapter flagship is an "Oberon-class battleship space hulk"; is it literally a full-on space hulk, like a conglomerate of ships? If so, you may want to clarify that detail by remarking something such as "the Chapter's greatest ship is, in fact, a conglomerate of ships crunched together into a space hulk around the hull of a once-proud Oberon-class battleship. After claiming the hulk for their own, the Chapter added additional armaments, crew quarters, and training chambers for the members of the Death Lords and made the ship the head of their fleet under the new title Maw of Terror."

 

Just to make clear that it's a hulk, and not just a run-down Oberon-class, you know? 

I see what you mean.

 

When I say "space hulk," I just mean a single derelict ship. I don't have a complete backstory for it yet, but the idea is that the Death Lords were on their way to a mission when they came across an old derelict Oberon-class Battleship. Since the Oberon-class is so rare (and they didn't have any ships as powerful at the time) they figured it was worth putting their initial mission on hold and taking on any risks that came with commandeering the vessel, in order to clear out the derelict (space hulk) battleship of any xenos or pirates and bring it back to their homeworld so they could refurbish it and make it their new flagship. Christening it, the Maw of Terror. Or at least something along those lines.

Edited March 8, 2018 by Brother Atraedese

[Tarvek Val]

Ah I see. That clarifies it much better. An Oberon-class is quite a nice asset indeed, especially in regards to long-range void warfare. Much more maneuverable than a hulk too! 

[Brother Atraedese]

Exactly!