IA: Storm Gauntlets (2020 Redux)

[Zebulon]

Index Astartes


The Storm Gauntlets Space Marines Chapter

AKA The Sons of Aeolus

The Storm Gauntlets’ Deep Red and Bronze colours enable a degree of camouflage in the stormy, arid sandstone deserts which surround the mountains where their fortress-monastery is located. These deserts have historically been the training grounds where neophytes hone their skills on bikes and land speeders, training day and night for war.

Origins

When was the Chapter Founded?

7 081 738 M.41 (circa 26th Founding)


Why was the Chapter Founded?

The Storm Gauntlets are aware of the reasons for and controversy regarding their founding, and work tirelessly to prove their worth. The First Chapter Master, Polemarch Turi Khan was commissioned by the High Lords of Terra, who had agreed to an experiment which was sponsored by certain radical elements within the Inquisition. The purpose of the exercise was to recruit a new Chapter on the Planet Pheraimon as a standing force for two main reasons: ostensibly to combat Chaos Daemons on the nearby planets in and around the Vulturnus Gulf (Segmentum Tempestus) but also to provide an exemplar of the philosophy set out in Inquisitor Ravenor’s great work, “Towards an Imperial Utopia”. Since their founding, various Recongregationist Inquisitors have sought to support this mission, noting that the Chapter is active in teaching and guiding the human population of Planet Pheraimon, and in rooting out any seeds of decadence or corruption. Though the Chapter is new compared to more ancient brethren, their reputation grows for their unorthodox ways, which win them both admirers and detractors in equal measure.

Due to their mission to provide an exemplar of the benefits of political reform, the Stormseers of the Storm Gauntlets have carried out extensive research into arcane political and philosophical thought.

The Chapter’s history has not all been smooth sailing through calm seas. There has been considerable opposition to the work of the Chapter from elements within the Inquisition, to the extent that misinformation and slander has been used as a weapon against the chapter’s work.

In one notable incident, the population of Adrianopolis, one of the hive cities of Pheraimon was stirred in revolt against the Storm Gauntlets due to the actions of interfering Amalathian Inquisitors. Regrettably many innocent people were slain and the city was sacked by the Storm Gauntlets. Subsequently, the city was rebuilt in a new location with loyal citizens given the opportunity to settle this new conurbation. These methods may strike some as unorthodox, or even antithetical to the Chapter’s goals, but they have proven effective.

Undoubtedly the Chapter’s gravest misfortune concerned the loss of almost the entire 4th Brotherhood in an ambush by Necrons on a Tombworld previously thought inert. Fighting raged for 7 days and 7 nights, the 4th giving as good as they got and refusing to save their lives by withdrawing. When finally the dust settled and blood swam in the gulleys, only a single Devastator squad was recovered from the planet, exhausted but grateful that not only had they and their fallen brethren eradicated the Necron threat on that planet, but that also they had served with the utmost honour. That Devastator squad is now attached to the 2nd Brotherhood of the Storm Gauntlets, and in memory of their fallen brothers, they call themselves The Dark Legacy Devastator Squad. There is grimness in their eyes beyond that of any other member of the chapter, which alone betrays the horrors they witnessed before they emerged victorious. It is said that for the first and only time in his life, when Polemarch Turi Khan heard of the loss of the 4th Brotherhood, he broke down and wept.

Home World/Homeworld

The Storm Gauntlets’ homeworld is the planet Pheraimon, but the original cohort of marines originally came from Aeolus, a mining world in the Port Maw Subsector of the Gothic Sector of the Segmentum Obscurus. These tough, sinewy miners had long struggled in industrial disputes with the Tech Priests who proved cruel and uncaring overseers. The constant disputes were eventually resolved by a decree from the High Lords of Terra, that those miners who chose to could leave the Mining World, provided that they enlisted in Imperial service as warriors. The very best amongst these men were chosen to undergo training and gene-manipulation to become Space Marines. Records are unclear as to how many miners left Aeolus at that time, and of these, how many survived to become Space Marines, but it is believed that at least 300 former miners, self-styled Sons of Aeolus eventually became part of the initial founding of the Storm Gauntlets.

Having been transplanted across the galaxy to their new planet, the Storm Gauntlets named their new homeworld “Pheraimon” in honour of their Aeolian roots, as Pheraimon was one of the six sons of Aeolus in their old legends. If the planet once possessed another name, this name is now lost.

Pheraimon is a Death World, primarily due to the red sand deserts and rocky outcrops which cover over 85% of its surface. Nonetheless, human habitation of the remaining territory endures, where strong and hardy recruits from the towns vie for the chance to join the ranks of the Chapter’s neophytes.

Frequently the people of Pheraimon retain a strong loyalty to their hometowns, and this is seen in the names of individual Brotherhoods and even Squads within the Chapter’s ranks (for example, 2nd Brotherhood Devastator Squad The Bistonians – all of whom came from Bistonia, an isolated settlement in the northernmost quadrant of Pheraimon).

Due to the radical nature of the chapter, Chapter Command take a benign view towards these displays of local pride – provided they do not compromise morale and martial skill when they are called into battle.

Combat Doctrine

The Chapter’s fighting style takes after their noble White Scars forebears, striking hard and fast and withdrawing before their next charge. Dying foes have often compared the Storm Gauntlets’ assaults to the effects of a whirlwind, furiously battering the enemy lines, twisting away and then back again to fling their foes’ corpses high in the air. Mounted assaults are key to the Storm Gauntlets’ way of war, and every Marine taking to the battlefield has their means of transport, whether that be a tank, a bike, a landspeeder or a jump pack. In most cases, they seek to break enemy lines using a fleet of bikes and land speeders, before then filling the breach with the shock and awe of tactical, assault and devastator squads.

Storm Gauntlets Bike-Brothers refer to themselves as Koursōres. These were famed cavalrymen of yore, raiders famed for both their speed and their zeal. These descriptions can easily be recognised by any life-form which has seen the Bike-Brothers of the Storm Gauntlets ride into battle, and has lived to tell the tale!

Organization/Organisation

The Storm Gauntlets do not simply follow the Codex Astartes company organisation, and are instead made up of semi-autonomous Brotherhoods. These are highly mobile forces containing a large proportion of bike squads and speeder squadrons that on average number slightly less than a traditional Codex company. This manner of organisation closely follows their White Scars progenitors, and elements of other admired Chapters such as the Dark Angels’ Ravenwing and the Space Wolves’ Swiftclaws.

Following the destruction of the 4th Brotherhood by Necrons, the decision was taken to retire the tattered banner of the 4th, and not to recruit new brothers into a new 4th Brotherhood. This means that when at full strength, the Chapter contains a total of 837 Marines.

In common with their White Scar forebears, the Storm Gauntlets do not employ Dreadnoughts, and nor do they have Terminator Squads. Although the Storm Gauntlets seek knowledge and understanding in all things, they cannot bring themselves to entomb their warrior brothers in such equipment. It is thought that this psychological aversion must simply be an effect of the White Scar gene-seed that runs in their veins, for they are entirely unable to explain this irrational distaste.



Stormseers: Taking the precedent of their White Scars forebears, Storm Gauntlets Librarians function as Stormseers, who uphold and teach the core beliefs of the Chapter, and the more talented among them develop and employ Psychic powers. They also carry out research into techniques of warfare, seeking to develop and improve upon the Chapter’s combat doctrines. Lastly, they seek enlightenment through political and philosophical treatises, as part of their mission to spread Recongregationist reform of the Imperium. As such they perform a key role in both the military and civil roles of the Chapter. There is one Stormseer attached to each Brotherhood of the Chapter, mounted like so many of their brothers on a bike.

Chaplain-Apothecaries: Given the Stormseer’s reach beyond the traditional Librarian status of Codex Chapters, the Chaplains of the Storm Radicals have also modified their roles to better serve their Chapter. Taking a lead from the Priestly medical classes of their ancestors, all Chaplains of the Storm Gauntlets function both as Cult Leaders and as Apothecaries, using the Wisdom of the Ancients to heal their fallen Brethren, or to grant unto them The Emperor’s Peace when they cannot fight on. Chaplain-Apothecaries are always mounted on bikes, and can ride as part of the Command Squad of their Brotherhood, or as an Independent Command figure, depending on mission parameters. Given the unusual nature of the combined role as Chaplain and Apothecary, and the great emphasis placed on Stormseers throughout the Chapter, the Chaplain-Apothecaries are not distributed “one per Brotherhood”, but are organised at HQ level in relatively small numbers, and attached to battlegroups as necessary.


Notable Individuals:

Polemarch Turi Khan – Founder and first Polemarch (Chapter Master) of the Storm Gauntlets, with tolerance and wisdom he led the first cohort of Marines from their Mining World of Aeolus to the mountains and deserts of Pheraimon, took the lead in setting up the Chapter’s structures, fighting style and core beliefs. Little is known of his earlier life, other than that he served with honour among the White Scars for several hundred Terran years, attaining veteran sergeant status, before he and his two bike-brothers were summoned to Holy Terra to prepare for the project which became the Storm Gauntlets Chapter. Though on the inside he remained a White Scar until death, he also took great pride in the noble work of establishing the new Chapter, and often declared that in death he would surely sit beside the Immortal Emperor for all eternity.

Polemarch Julius Pantokrator, the second Chapter Master of the Storm Gauntlets, has held the command of the Chapter ever since great Turi Khan’s demise. His commitment to equality of martial skill and equality of sacrifice means that he is frequently to be found fighting in the midst of his men, leaving a Stormseer or a Chaplain-Apothecary to hold the backline positions. This trust in his comrade brothers’ tactical nous and this humility in battle has further increased the Polemarch’s reputation among his men, who revere him almost as much as the honoured Emperor.

Beliefs

The Storm Gauntlets, due to their unusual level of interest in the quest for knowledge and social progress, have well defined views regarding politics, philosophy and statecraft. Beyond the parameters of their mission within the Vulturnus Gulf, they avoid sharing these views as they are aware that less “enlightened” chapters and elements of the Inquisition could see them as a threat to the established order. Nonetheless the Storm Gauntlets revere the Emperor as much as any Space Marine, seeing him ultimately as a divine symbol of benevolence towards humanity, as well as the wrathful and righteous destroyer of those who would seek to poison and destroy human civilisation.

The Storm Gauntlets value human life, and believe that the best among humanity can forge a better galaxy for all; that there may yet come a time when all enemies are vanquished and that great day will arrive when the Emperor’s word stands unchallenged throughout the Universe. The Chapter’s views, beliefs and traditions are inculcated through rigorous study and learning alongside their military training, and the Brothers are known for their almost messianic zeal towards the goals of enlightenment and progress in the name of the Emperor. It is this fanaticism which gives hope to the Recongregationists within the Inquisition, so that through the example of the Storm Gauntlets, the benefits of progress can be made manifest and will spread throughout the Imperium.

Gene-seed/Geneseed

The Storm Gauntlets are descended directly from the White Scars and the Great Khan Jaghatai. This is known primarily due to the first Polemarch of the Storm Gauntlets being himself a Brother of the White Scars, who was later in his career honoured with the opportunity to lead this new chapter in its early days. Thus far, their gene-seed has proved to be stable.

Battle-cry/Battlecry/Chapter Motto

“For the Emperor, the Polemarch and His People!” Edited December 14, 2020 by Zebulon

[Zebulon]

NB: This is a modified version of the IA originally written by me in 2011. If you have any C&C it is welcome. If not, I will be submitting this to Phil S for the 1000 Chapters project.