Graven Souls

[TechCaptain]

 

Chapter Datafile: Graven Souls

Graven Soul

Date:...............57.M42
Ref:................LBC//TEC7710101
By:.................TechCaptain
Re:.................Adeptus Astartes - Graven Soul
Thought:............"."


CHAPTER NAME: .............. Graven Soul
FOUNDING: ..................13^TH
CHAPTER WORLD: .............Odokuro
FORTRESS MONASTERY: ........Iron Palace
GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR): ...Unknown (White Scars Suspected)
KNOWN DESCENDANTS: ........."NONE"

 

Primary Data

Allegiance: Imperium of Man (Fedelitas Constantus)
Chapter Master: Lord Gravemind
Size Estimate: Estimated at 1,000
Specialty: Shock Assault, High-Mobility Warfare, Extensive Use of Bikes, Guerrilla Warfare, Hit-and Run, Terror Tactics
Battle Cry: "Gespenst Jäger"
Colours:Dark Spectral Green


The Graven Soul are bellicose Space Marine Chapter whose terror tactics has earned these notorious [Astartes a fell reputation across the width and breadth of the Imperium. They were created during the mysterious 13th Founding, the so-called 'Dark Founding', due to the scarcity of any information on this particular Founding or how many Chapters were created at that time. To add to this Chapter's mystery, it is unknown from which genetic lineage they are descended from though they claim to be from the White Scars. Of all the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, none exemplifies the virtues of strict self-control more than the Graven Soul. The Graven Soul Chapter culture is one that is very wary of the idea of martial glory or honour, and prefers instead to emphasise pragmatism, adaptability and completion of the mission over all other concerns.

They understand that war is suffering and death. It is a brutal business that they specialize in, but they have no desire to wallow in its misery beyond what is required to carry out the Emperor's will. Its success is dependent upon its ability to think and execute in a distributed and independent fashion. The Graven Soul willingly employ whatever tactics they believe most appropriate no matter how it looks to others, relying upon success to establish their Chapter's glory rather than misguided notions of honour and dogmatic thought.

Chapter History

The history of the Graven Soul is a tainted and dark one. Created some time during the 35th or 36th Millennium, the Graven Soul has acted as a shadow force to many an Imperial vengeance campaign. The Imperium moves to act with decisive force as the foul taint of the xenos is found to be at the root cause of corrupted planets either by addiction to the aliens' foul psychotropics and depraved practices, or sometimes when the corruption is found in other means or cause. The Graven Soul follows Imperial strike forces and Crusades to wage wars of retribution and terror until the corrupted planets are brought back into line.

Often, these campaigns required a show of force to subjugate planetary rulers and dynasties that had been used to governing their worlds for Terran centuries and even millennia. Even more often, Imperial Compliance had to be obtained by force of arms. In these great wars, tyrants were cast down and witches burned, planets purged of the foul taint of mutants, xenos and Warp-beasts such that eventually these campaigns of planetary conquest became known as Imperial Compliance campaigns or, more simply, rendering a world "Compliant."

Chapter Homeworld

Odokuro is completely urbanized and stacked with hundreds of layers of arcologies, covering the entirety of the planet, effectively becoming an ecumenopolis. Nearly everything within Odokuro is recycled and reused, and few things are ever wasted. The air a hive worlder breathes, the water he drinks, and the food he eats likely all has once passed through the bodies of countless others, endlessly restored to be consumed once again. When a hive worlder dies his duty to the hive and house are not done, and most hives reconstitute their dead for the resources they can provide.

Corrupt and murderous gangs, whether or not they were named as such, ruled every part of Odokuro. From the heights of nobility to the lowest alley, every inch of Odokuro was someone's domain, someone's territory or hunting ground. In the slum habitation stacks, the gangs ruled by raw fear, killing and torturing as they pleased, fighting wars with the feral packs of outcasts who were closer to animals than men. It was said that many of these gangs ate the dead, treating their territories as a predator might a hunting ground.

In the mines and factories which still turned the planet's wheels of industry, the gangs went by names that echoes with a false authority. Slab muscled and furnace-scarred, they walked the streets clanking with weaponry and reeking of murder, enforcing order that was little more than slavery. In the wealthier areas, the sons and daughters of the corrupt nobility gathered in packs, clad in costumes like strutting peacocks, as quick to kill with blade or gun as they were to cast an insult.

No matter what their station, almost all gangs owed fealty to one of the numberless barons, counts and lords, who in turn served still more powerful men and women, many of whom styled themselves with courtly titles that echoes a long forgotten nobility. There was no law in these lightless lands, and survival existed only by a blade's edge. Only the strongest and the most ruthless survived in the subterranean warrens, and those who did grew in cruelty and cunning.

The dark owned Odokuro, body and soul, and its existence was a horror to equal any xenos enslavement or nightmare of the Dark Age of Technology. If there ever had been true laws, they had vanished long ago, eaten by the greed of a few and the desperation of many. Murder was the currency of life, and strength came from violence. Every sin great and small had its home in Odokuro's endless terror filled streets.

Fortress-Monastery

Known as the Iron Palace, one can only get to it through the Demon's Cavern which is guarded by four "Ogres". Every entrance is sealed with heavy adamantium gates, barred by ancient and complex locks, keyed to the unique genetic code of the Graven Soul's battle-brothers. The monastery also incorporates shimmering void shields, domes of power enveloping the entire structure to ward off orbital bombardments or assaults from Titans. Covering every entrance and approach, macro-cannon turrets, heavy bolter bunkers and missile batteries scan the horizon for foes, ready to unleash their deadly ordnance at a second's notice.

Notable Campaigns

Wars of Apostasy (Unknown.M36) - The Graven Soul added their bother chapters by committing to a sequence of battles and wars to draw the insane High Lord Goge Vandire's forces focus to more targets thinning the amount of resources he had available.

Plague of Unbelief (Unknown.M36) - Graven Soul sent out several families tracking down and eliminating the many false prophets that appeared throughout the anarchic Age of Apostasy, some little more than madmen leading rebel armies, others spiritual demagogues who commanded worlds and armies.

Lost Crusade (Unknown.M37) - Graven Soul parties sent out to numerous worlds to track down and eliminate hostile elements of the menial uprisings. Many parties deploy and mostly come back with reports that uprisings were widespread.

9th Black Crusade Splinter (574.M38) - Graven Soul engage in a decades long war against various elements of far reaching fleets from the Eye of Terror.

Terror of Heretical Thoughts (Unknown.M42) - The detachment of Agents who’d just survived their civil war barely had time to rest and process what had just happened, when they were called to battle yet again. In order to atone for their role in the Avalon Sector’s rebellion, the Agents were once again tasked by the Inquisition with bringing a secessionist world to heel. At this point, this force of Agents had snapped. To them, their secessionist comrades were right the entire time. Upon landing onto the planet of Amersh, the Agents who were deployed went rogue, supporting the rebellious governor in the process. The Inquisitorial forces who deployed with the Agents were quickly slaughtered. The Agents on the ground tried and failed to contact the Emperor’s Liberators chapter, for they were busy elsewhere. The only other force in the galaxy supposedly sympathetic to the values of freedom and independence were the Blood Gorgons, a renegade chapter. They were happy to reinforce Amersh, but for an agenda they never informed the Agents of. Luckily for the Agents, the Blood Gorgons arrived just in time, as Inquisitorial forces arrived alongside the brutal Graven Souls chapter. The Graven Souls led cunning assassinations against the rebel leadership, and ambushed any Blood Gorgons they encountered. The rogue Agents fought hard to protect the rebel strongholds, but they were overmatched. Most evacuation attempts were shut down by the Imperial blockade. Only a few dozen Blood Gorgons and a thousand rogue Agents of Liberty escaped. The rest were wiped out.

Chapter Organisation

The Graven Soul are semi-Codex compliant Chapter that utilises their own unique form of organisation, ranks and formations. The Chapter often refer to their companies as "families", each of which is slightly smaller than what the [[:w:c:warhammer40k:Codex Astartes|''Codex Astartes'']] dictates. Each family maintains a large stock of vehicles, in particular transports and bikes, and every Battle-Brother is cross-trained in the operation of them all.

The Chapter Master is the overall leader of the Graven Soul, and directly beneath him are his Chief Adviser and Headquarters Chief. The chain of command is followed by the Captains of the Families, who governs their Family with the help of a Lieutenant who is himself responsible for the equivalent of a demi-company. The Squads themselves are governed by their Sergeant. Each member's connection is ranked by the hierarchy of Sake sharing. Captains are at the top, and control various Senior Advisers. The Senior Advisers control their own campaigns. They have their own underlings, including other brothers, advisers, and support personnel.

Like their fellow Astartes Chapters, the Graven Soul also maintain a Librarius of potent psykers who are highly talented and trained to master the power of the Warp at the highest levels, though they refer to these warriors as "Doomseers". Doomseers act as advisers to the Chapter's leaders as well as being powerful psykers. Doomseers are able to command the very elements; their foes are battered to ruin by mighty winds or beset by forked lightning from the storm-wracked skies.

Graven Soul Captains are fiercely independent, and it is incredibly rare for the Chapter to fight as a whole. Individual families are completely autonomous and are quick to lend their aid to Imperial commanders across the galaxy, with or without the sanction of their Chapter Master. Such behaviour has led some in the other Space Marine Chapters to question the Graven Soul's soundness as a military force, but most recognize that such fluidity of command only proves the presence of the Chapter's formidable discipline, not its absence.

===Officer Ranks===
Chapter Master
Lord - Captain equivalent.
Lieutenant

===Specialist Ranks===
Chief Adviser - Chief Librarian equivalent.
Doomseers - Librarians, These psyker-warriors have deeply-ingrained mystical traditions identical to those of the gangs shamans and holy men. The Graven Flame Seers are believed to see the darkest path of all possible futures leading their brothers down dark paths and to find ways around the dark ends.
Headquarters Chief

===Line Ranks===
Veteran Sergeant
Sergeant
Battle-Brother
Scout Marine
Neophytes

===Squad Formations===
Fu (風) - "Move as swift as the Wind" (Close Support Squads)
Rin (林) - "Stay as silent as a Forest" (Scout Squads)
Ka (火) - "Attack as fierce as Fire" (Battleline Squads)
Zan (山) - "Be immovable like a mountain" (Fire Support Squads)
Kaze (風) - "Wind" (Pilots)

Chapter Recruitment

The Graven Soul draw their recruits from best warriors amongst the Notorious Clan-gangs of Odokuro, many of whom are engaged in fierce internecine blood feuds that date back countless generations. While psycho-conditioning during the gene-seed implantation process could be used to wipe such feuds from the Neophyte's mind, to do so would risk diluting much of what makes him a desirable candidate in the first place. In order to overcome the feuding, the Graven Soul ensure that Battle-Brothers from the same gang serve in different squads, making each unit a product of many different gangs. Intermingled in such a manner, old feuds become largely irrelevant, and without squad mates from the same gangs to reinforce an ancient grudge, such matters are quickly forgotten.

Chapter Beliefs

Callous and brutal though they are, the Graven Soul are not without pride, and the trappings and titles of aristocracy and dominion formed a key part of their identity, and rivalry, often violent. The gang traditions of Odokuro were carried over to every aspect of their Chapter. There were few amongst their ranks who did not bear some form of title, and the craftsmanship with which they embellished their weapons and armour was remarkable.

Every Member of the Graven Soul traditionally take a blood oath of allegiance, and a member who breaks the code must show penance—historically through a ritual in which they cut off his own little finger with a sword and presents it to his leader. The cutting off of one's finger, is a form of penance or apology. Upon a first offense, the transgressor must cut off the tip of his left little finger and give the severed portion to his sergeant. Sometimes an sergeant may do this in penance to the leader if he wants to spare a member of his own squad from further retaliation.

So strong is their discipline and loyalty to their leader that his word of judgement is invariably final. The nature of that judgement depends on circumstances, and may result in one or both brethren being punished in some way or, in the most extreme of cases, ordered to fight one another in ritual combat to settle the matter once and for all. Despite the teachings of the leaders and Doomseers regarding the unity of all Graven Soul, it is not unheard of for existing gang feuds to flare up between fellow squad members.

The Astartes of the Graven Soul get tattoos are "hand-poked", that is, the ink is inserted beneath the skin using non-electrical, hand-made and handheld tools with needles of sharpened bamboo or steel to show their allegiance with their various squads and companies. Through these tattoos one can trace the lineage of a particular marine and how they were train and more importantly who their loyalties are too. Permanent resin-based dyes have been added to prominent figures, producing hybrid scars and tattoo forms. Vivid results have been noted, yet their chemical composition is not yet fully understood by Imperial savants.

The leader-subordinate relationship is formalized by ceremonial sharing of sake from a single cup. This ritual is not exclusive to the Graven Flame but is a part of sworn brotherhood relationships the Graven Soul Astartes form.

The Chapter believes that as long as the spiritual powers of ancestors and spirits of the elements heed the call of the Doomseers, the Graven Soul will never falter on the field of battle. All Graven Soul bear the long, ritual scar that is called an Honour Scar and is the mark they receive when they are fully accepted into the Chapter as Neophytes. Graven Soul members are also very superstitious, every Astartes has the ability to see omens and portents but only the Doomseers are able to correctly guide their brothers down the paths the omens foretell.

According to Graven Soul Doomseers, spirit-like entities reside in all things. Such spirits possessed emotions and personalities. If the spirit were peaceful it will bring good fortune—such as bountiful harvests. Violent spirits bring ill fortune—including illness and natural disasters. One's ancestors and particularly-respected departed elders accrue status as protective gods and receiving worship. Animals, objects and natural features or phenomena were also venerated as peaceful or violent spirits depending on the area. The Doomseers either convert the spirits into peaceful spirits for their brothers or command the violent ones against their enemies.

The ritual for converting violent spirit into a peaceful spirit is called the Calming. Calming rituals are performed to quell maleficent spirits, prevent misfortune and alleviate fear from events and circumstances that could not otherwise be explained. Peaceful Spirits that failed to achieve deification due to lack of sufficient veneration, or who lost their divinity following attrition of worshipers, became Demons in the service of Chaos.

Combat Doctrine

The Graven Soul are masters of stealth, able to infiltrate a position quickly and silently. These arts appear to be innate to the Chapter, and are used most often during the games the Graven Soul use to drive their prey into paroxysms of terror. Once they have prepared themselves and found places to launch an assault that meets their standards, the Graven Soul are capable of sudden, shockingly brutal ambushes or unconventional attacks intended to thin the enemy's ranks or simply sow chaos among the foe. Despite their Astartes-enhanced physiology and their cumbersome armour, they are taught to move with silence and invisibility. Each Graven Soul warrior moves silently in his own way, and it is each warrior's understanding of the empty spaces between sounds that allows them to occupy them.

One such tactic designed to enhance fear that has been observed to be used by the Graven Soul is when they unleash a fifteen second-long vox-augmented scream that ruptures any unprotected eardrums in the vicinity. Once their victims are hunched over in agony, stunned and deaf, the Graven Soul unleash their wrath. Speed and strategic maneuverability are the cardinal virtues of their campaigns, and flexibility and the ability to adapt to circumstances swiftly are the hallmarks of their finest strategists. They meet brute force with emptiness, flowing around the foe to strike at his weakest points before falling back to strike again.

Some see them as unreliable, for they are wont to avoid battle save on ground of their own choosing, but time and time again they have been disregarded and ignored only for their foes and allies alike to find them suddenly present at the heart of the battle, ready to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, always laughing as they kill.

The Families strive for the honour of being declared "First" in the attack, competing in every manner to lead the assault. The families keep tally of each battle in which they have been declared "First," for the Battle-Brothers know that their deeds will be recounted for all time and their names never forgotten. To be "First" is such an honour that all gang feuds are forgotten, the bonds of Astartes brotherhood far stronger than those of mortal gangs. Because each of the Chapter's families tended to operate independently, most of the Graven Soul's vehicles are held at the company level, squadrons operating in direct support of the family's squads.

The Graven Soul are veterans of countless campaigns of terror and conquest. Each member of the Chapter is highly trained and proficient in the use of terror tactics, psychological warfare, and lightning raids and ambushes intended to leave their opponents completely demoralized and easy targets for the Chapter. The combat doctrines of the Graven Soul Chapter have been honed throughout the millennia of battle and bloodshed, but they still reflect those of the original warrior-gangs of their planet. Though wild and savage, the warrior-gangers of the Odokuro hives are highly intelligent tacticians and masters of field craft.

Each Battle-Brother draws on the savagery of the underhives not as a mindless berserker, but as a finely-crafted hunting spear delivered with the focused precision of a master predator. They specialize in hitting their enemy with a peerless impact and frightening speed, but they are never reckless. Time spent on preparations is vital to their strategy, as they reconnoiter each target in depth and formulate detailed plans and contingencies, coordinating their strike to ensure that maximum damage is done.

Their modus operandi consists of lightning-fast hit-and-run attacks conducted by highly mobile forces, destroying the enemy piece by piece and never allowing the enemy to force a decisive or static engagement. Striking when possible from the darkness of dusk or dawn, the Graven Soul assault the enemy where they were weakest, rampaging through rear zones in order to sever lines of communication, and resupply and isolate individual concentrations of enemy troops.

Often times jump assault troops are kept in reserve and then sent into action against the weakest points of the enemy line. This concept of preying on the vulnerable has led the Graven Soul assault troops to become vicious hunters who can strike anywhere, at any time. The Graven Soul Assault Troops have a tendency to modify their armour to give themselves a more terrifying appearance, mimicking the appearance of a vicious bird of prey or a swooping daemon.

Graven Soul decorate their Power Armour with images designed to inspire fear in the enemy, a tactic that proves incredibly effective. Rumours of the impending presence of the Graven Soul would cause a rebel star system to pay all outstanding Imperial tithes, cease all illegal activities and put to death any mutants and suspected Traitors. One and all wear decorated masks of horrid monsters like the Ogre, the wraith, and more.

The Graven Soul also uses a high number of Doomseers who actually lead when and where they strike for the greatest psychological effect. They are now known for ruthless execution of high speed targeted attacks for greatest psychological effect.

Chapter Gene-Seed

It is unknown which Primarch's gene-seed was utilised in the creation of the Graven Soul. Their gene-seed seems relatively untainted, if subject to some long-term degradation. The Graven's gene-seed has obviously suffered some mutations from the original source that was given to them millennia earlier. Though the source of the Graven Soul's own gene-seed remains suppressed, nobody knows exactly which Primarch's gene-seed was utilised in the creation of the Graven Soul, as their gene-seed doesn't contain any specific genetic markers.

However, the real legacy of their gene seed might be psychological, as there was a tendency for paranoia and self-destructive behavior displayed by many within the Graven Soul. They thrive in the use of psychological warfare and fear tactics. The Graven Soul Seers are believed to see the darkest path of all possible futures, a terrible curse.

Graven Soul Astartes are as intensely loyal as any of the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes and do not take their duty lightly nor the oaths they take to the Emperor. Regardless, however, they retain a fatalism which can cling to them even in their most triumphant moments. Unlike the stubborn adherence to duty that other Chapters might possess, which would see a Battle-Brother fight on until claimed by death, the Graven Soul have instead a grim determination to do their duty. This is not so much a desire to die as it is an acceptance that death is the only end to the path a Space Marine treads, and everything he does is another step along that path and one closer to his eventual demise.

The Graven Soul all can see in absolute darkness, with a clarity that is above and beyond even the ability of normal Space Marine ocular implants and have haunting black-within-black eyes. They also possess an innate "preysight"; the ability to see in the infrared spectrum to detect heat signatures. Finally, a Graven Soul Astartes can all have a gravelly voice that is barely a whisper on the shadows to be heard. Their voice sends chills onto those that hear it that are not of their blood, raising primal fears.

It is unknown where the controlled savagery of the Graven Soul came originally from but whatever the cause, there is a ferocity within their hearts and their blood that grants them great power, but which also threatens to consume all that they are and damn them. All Graven Soul are watchful for this necessary yet insidious savagery, and it is only with great discipline, humble introspection and often the watchfulness of their Battle-Brothers that they can hope to master themselves.

Primarch's Curse: Nightmare Determination

When the Chapter's genetic curse manifests itself in an affected Battle-Brother, it comes on in three stages:

Stage 1 - The Shadow of Death: The Battle-Brother starts to see death in everything. He becomes distant and makes little effort to forge alliances with new squad members, knowing they will soon be in the grave. He becomes more dismissive of death and the praising of the dead, seeing little glory in their sacrifice, only the inevitable end to their duty and another corpse to feed the gods of war. This attitude can grate on those around the Battle-Brother and he suffers with his fellowship when dealing with other soldiers or members of the Adeptus Astartes. Sullen and withdrawn, the urge to inflict terror of death upon their victims grows with each passing hour.

Stage 2 - The Bad Beneath the Good: The Battle-Brother cannot help but reflect on the worst side of a new development and will endeavour to find the worst aspect of even the most favourable of circumstances. Quite apart from causing friction within his squad, the drawing of focus onto potential problems and unforeseen dangers (regardless of the actual likelihood they will impact on the squad's mission) can cause compromises in command and less than direct tactical judgments. They are cruel, ruthless, and opportunistic, frequently striking at vulnerable targets and toying with their unfortunate victims.

Stage 3 - Game Over: Death is inevitable and the Battle-Brother is already a walking corpse just waiting for the moment when an enemy's blade or bullet ends him. Filled with visions of his own demise, the Battle-Brother begins to act recklessly, accepting that it is his time and there is nothing he can do to prevent it coming. This will not only place him in danger but can endanger his entire squad. The Battle-Brother does not contribute to the squad's cohesion as he fails to adequately aid them in battle. In addition, he tends not to gain the benefit of hiding behind cover, as even when behind barricades and walls he exposes himself to fire with little mind to remaining concealed. These Astartes live only for the thrill of inflicting terror upon their unfortunate victims, the overwhelming desire for the infliction of pain and suffering, trying to share their vision of the end.

Chapter Fleet

The Chapter fleet of the Graven Souls is not particularly large or notable except that it features in general Improved Stealth Systems and Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) that either mask your presence in auspices or alter your coordinates. Further they make extensive use of Boarding pods and Electronic disabling weaponry.

Chapter Relics

Alt Schmied Jäger: A long Double-bladed Cavalry Power Sword, comprised of two large waved blades joined by a common hilt with an extending holder. Parrying with such a sword may transmit unpleasant vibrations into the attacker's blade. These vibrations caused the blades to slow contact with each other because each wave provided additional friction. The unusual cross section of the blade would inflict wider wounds with a thrust while still keeping the blade light.

Nōryoku Ken: Despite attempts at nondestructive analysis of the sword’s composition, including variations of X-ray fluorescence, Magos of the Cult Mechanicus has yet to make any significant progress toward identifying the material in question. As its stands, it is known only that the sword is forged of a non-terrestrial metallic element held in tight suspension by Psionic energy that it itself contained by forces unknown. All accounts, this weapon is a prize for both the warrior and the scholar alike.

Deathwatch Service

To be chosen by Graven Soul Doomseers to serve in the Deathwatch is a great honour for any Brother, as only the most elite and experienced members of a Graven Soul are ever chosen for this extremely hazardous tour of duty, the specifics of which must be kept secret by Inquisitorial order.

Chapter Appearance

The 'family' crests are adopted from the Clan-gangs of their homeworld. Every brother of the Graven Souls knows it is important to trace back one's heritage, and does so by honoring them by displaying their crest on their armor. When a Brother Marine becomes a Sergeant, he is allowed to display his "family's" crest on his back banner when in charge of a squad. If a Brother Sergeant becomes a Brother Captain, his crest becomes the company crest and is displayed on the company standard. Edited May 4, 2022 by TechCaptain

[Gamiel]

GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR): ...Unknown (White Scars Suspected)

 they claim to be from the White Scars.

Suggest changing "GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR): ...Unknown (White Scars Suspected)" Into "GENE-SEED (PREDECESSOR): ...Unknown (claim to be White Scars)

 

FOUNDING: ..................6^TH

They were created during the mysterious 13th Founding, 

Is this differnce in Founding numbers deliberate? If not, maybe make some changes

 

The Graven Soul Chapter culture is one that is very wary of the idea of martial glory or honour, and prefers instead to emphasise pragmatism, adaptability and completion of the mission over all other concerns. 

So they are a bit like the Mentors Legion? Do they have the same problem understanding how others draw strength or focus through glory and/or honour?

 

The Graven Soul willingly employ whatever tactics they believe most appropriate no matter how it looks to others, relying upon success to establish their Chapter's glory rather than misguided notions of honour and dogmatic thought.

I smell a possible tendency for heresy...

 

Terror of Heretical Thoughts (Unknown.M42) - The detachment of Agents who’d just survived their civil war barely had time to rest and process what had just happened, when they were called to battle yet again. In order to atone for their role in the Avalon Sector’s rebellion, the Agents were once again tasked by the Inquisition with bringing a secessionist world to heel. At this point, this force of Agents had snapped. To them, their secessionist comrades were right the entire time. Upon landing onto the planet of Amersh, the Agents who were deployed went rogue, supporting the rebellious governor in the process. The Inquisitorial forces who deployed with the Agents were quickly slaughtered. The Agents on the ground tried and failed to contact the Emperor’s Liberators chapter, for they were busy elsewhere. The only other force in the galaxy supposedly sympathetic to the values of freedom and independence were the Blood Gorgons, a renegade chapter. They were happy to reinforce Amersh, but for an agenda they never informed the Agents of. Luckily for the Agents, the Blood Gorgons arrived just in time, as Inquisitorial forces arrived alongside the brutal Graven Souls chapter. The Graven Souls led cunning assassinations against the rebel leadership, and ambushed any Blood Gorgons they encountered. The rogue Agents fought hard to protect the rebel strongholds, but they were overmatched. Most evacuation attempts were shut down by the Imperial blockade. Only a few dozen Blood Gorgons and a thousand rogue Agents of Liberty escaped. The rest were wiped out.

Who are the Agents you are talking about here?

 

 If the spirit were peaceful it will bring good fortune—such as bountiful harvests. 

Maybe use another example, "bountiful harvests" sounds (to me) not like something people from a ecumenopolis would use as an example.

 

According to Graven Soul Doomseers, spirit-like entities reside in all things. Such spirits possessed emotions and personalities. If the spirit were peaceful it will bring good fortune—such as bountiful harvests. Violent spirits bring ill fortune—including illness and natural disasters. One's ancestors and particularly-respected departed elders accrue status as protective gods and receiving worship. Animals, objects and natural features or phenomena were also venerated as peaceful or violent spirits depending on the area. The Doomseers either convert the spirits into peaceful spirits for their brothers or command the violent ones against their enemies. 

 

The ritual for converting violent spirit into a peaceful spirit is called the Calming. Calming rituals are performed to quell maleficent spirits, prevent misfortune and alleviate fear from events and circumstances that could not otherwise be explained. Peaceful Spirits that failed to achieve deification due to lack of sufficient veneration, or who lost their divinity following attrition of worshipers, became Demons in the service of Chaos.

This could mean they show their machine-spirits great respect. Can also see their techmarines being trained in techno-exorcism, and/or they have allied tech-priests who are.

 

 

The Families strive for the honour of being declared "First" in the attack, competing in every manner to lead the assault. The families keep tally of each battle in which they have been declared "First," for the Battle-Brothers know that their deeds will be recounted for all time and their names never forgotten. To be "First" is such an honour that all gang feuds are forgotten, the bonds of Astartes brotherhood far stronger than those of mortal gangs. Because each of the Chapter's families tended to operate independently, most of the Graven Soul's vehicles are held at the company level, squadrons operating in direct support of the family's squads.

How do this go together with the earlier mention of "The Graven Soul Chapter culture is one that is very wary of the idea of martial glory or honour,"?

Edited March 27, 2021 by Gamiel

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Nitpick:

The first line in this IA, is "Chapter Datafile: Heralds of Ash", but its titled "Graven Souls". You should fix that, so people won't think you're plagiarizing yourself.

[TechCaptain]

Okay only made a couple of minor changes so far to erase the accidental Heralds of Ash left overs As I was using that for format stuff not content. But to answer some of Gamiel’s questions, Agents of Liberty was another person’s homebrew formation that was semi- humor article because they were freedom fighters from the Tau border but ended up fighting against the Imperium too. The techno exorcism Techmarines is a great idea. They do have similar problems to Mentors, the idea is they are Audi ninja or Yakuza based chapter. I am still working on some of that other stuff in forming a good response. :)

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Did you take inspiration from the yakuza when writing this? Naming formations after characters on Takeda Shingen's battle standard is quite notable. Will you use more Japanese terms, e.g., "Sessho" (lit. "Regent") for the Chapter Master (as he rules in place of the Primarch), and "Kanpaku" for the Chief Advisor? Maybe "Onmyoji" for Librarians?

They were created during the mysterious 13th Founding, the so-called 'Dark Founding', due to the scarcity of any information on this particular Founding or how many Chapters were created at that time.

As the Imperium destroyed its own records for the 13th Founding, you should state the Chapter is SUSPECTED of being of that Founding, as its Marines first appeared in that timeframe.

Each member's connection is ranked by the hierarchy of Sake sharing.

By "sake", do you mean Japanese rice wine? Or the English word "sake", i.e., the Marines solemnly state, "We share a purpose and an end," in ceremonies?

===Squad Formations===

Fu (風) - "Move as swift as the Wind" (Close Support Squads)...

 

Kaze (風) - "Wind" (Pilots)

To minimize confusion, how about using Arashi (嵐, "Storm") or Rai (雷, "Thunder") for pilots? Edited September 4, 2021 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Gamiel]

As the Imperium destroyed its own records for the 13th Founding, you should state the Chapter is SUSPECTED of being of that Founding, as its Marines first appeared in that timeframe.

The Imperium know (or belive itself to know) of at least two Chapters that was created during the 13th Founding : the Exorcists, and the Death Spectres.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

 

As the Imperium destroyed its own records for the 13th Founding, you should state the Chapter is SUSPECTED of being of that Founding, as its Marines first appeared in that timeframe.

The Imperium know (or belive itself to know) of at least two Chapters that was created during the 13th Founding : the Exorcists, and the Death Spectres.

They are the exception to the rule; to say an IA Chapter is of the 13th Founding, will be like saying it's the descendant of the II or XI Legion, and draw just as much scrutiny in-universe (from the Inquisition, the Space Wolves who purged those Legions on the Emperor's orders, Lord Regent Guilliman) and out (from fellow Warhammer 40,000 fans).

[Bjorn Firewalker]

By the way, is the Chapter planet named after the "starving skeleton" in Japanese mythology? Why seize such a heavily populated planet, instead of a death world whose inhabitants may be tested against monsters comparable to what a Space Marine is expected to fight? Did the planetary governor attempt to secede from the Imperium, and his rebellion was so ferociously fought, the AdMech or the Administratum had the beg a favor of the Chapter, agreeing to let the Chapter have first pick of its resources once the treacherous governor was put down (the reason criminal gangs now rule the planet, being no one trusts the world under a single human leader, and the Chapter can easily play the multiple gang leaders against one another to maintain its own rule)?

[TechCaptain]

By the way, is the Chapter planet named after the "starving skeleton" in Japanese mythology? Why seize such a heavily populated planet, instead of a death world whose inhabitants may be tested against monsters comparable to what a Space Marine is expected to fight? Did the planetary governor attempt to secede from the Imperium, and his rebellion was so ferociously fought, the AdMech or the Administratum had the beg a favor of the Chapter, agreeing to let the Chapter have first pick of its resources once the treacherous governor was put down (the reason criminal gangs now rule the planet, being no one trusts the world under a single human leader, and the Chapter can easily play the multiple gang leaders against one another to maintain its own rule)?

I didn’t have a real idea but I am going with this lol. As for the Yakuza terms I am going with that as well, I never saw the thing you linked my original pulling of terms was from research mainly on Wikipedia for Yakuza and Japanese spirit myths.

[Gamiel]

From your description in the OP, and the after talk, gives me the impression that the Graven Souls are this kind of people that think they are hardcore and don't care about honour and glory, only getting the job done - unlike those other Chapters who are idiots. But actually care just as much about honour and glory as other Chapters, just in other ways.

 

I would suggest looking up the pre-Heresy Sons of Horus and Night Lords, and how their culture and organisation developed during the Heresy, for ideas.

 

Possebilites:

+ Their "by any means necessary" philosophy can lead them to modify their wargear to push it a bit extra, maybe in ways that sometimes make it go boom during its use - but this would likely not fit together with their whole idea about showing respect to spirits since that would be disrespectful of the machine-spirits.

+ Can see them using xeno-tech, possibly after their Chaplains and/or techno-exorcist trained  Techmarines have turned the xeno-tech’s spirit to their side, possibly they just use it, since it gets the job done and having a Chaplain/Techmarine go over it is just a waste of time+ 

+ Maybe they even use Chaos items, and/or lesser Chaos sorcery, in similar manner/ways.

+ The tattoo motives on their bodies could all be representing something they have done or show their skills. Beside the yakuzas tattoos do I suggest looking up the tattoo tradition of organised crime in Russia. Maybe they also have American gangsta style tattoos (ex. SM4Life, Born2Kill).

+ regarding the removing of fingers, I have some gangbanger/OC concepts* and one of them is "Remove the fingers of a battle-brother as punishment, without replacing them with cybernetics. One finger for each mistake, beginning with the pinkie. A Marine is probably given replacements when he has regained his honour and/or the mistake have been fixed." Another possibility could be that the finger gets replaced quickly but the armour over the replacement gets coloured silver to show all that he has failed and paid for the mistake.

+ Suggest looking at other organised crime traditions beside the yakuza, and maybe also gang cultures - maybe a better idea to look up how they are represented in pop-culture than how they are in real life.

 

* if you want to me to post more from my list, just say.

Edited March 28, 2021 by Gamiel

[TechCaptain]

Go ahead and post as much as you like and funnily to that first bullet, sons of Horus and Night Lords were some of the inspiration until I found Night Lord tactics shared a lot with White Scars except for the whole terror tactics hehe.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

From your description in the OP, and the after talk, gives me the impression that the Graven Souls are this kind of people that think they are hardcore and don't care about honour and glory, only getting the job done - unlike those other Chapters who are idiots. But actually care just as much about honour and glory as other Chapters, just in other ways...

Good idea.

+ Can see them using xeno-tech, possibly after their Chaplains and/or techno-exorcist trained Techmarines have turned the xeno-tech’s spirit to their side, possibly they just use it, since it gets the job done and having a Chaplain/Techmarine go over it is just a waste of time+

I won't say using xeno weapons will cross the line- I had a Techmarine and Deathwatch veteran reverse-engineer the Necron staff of light and warscythe, for his personal use, in my own IA- but it's definitely standing on it. Best have the Chaplain and Techmarine scrutinize any and all xeno artifacts before allowing their battle-brothers to use them.

+ Maybe they even use Chaos items, and/or lesser Chaos sorcery, in similar manner/ways.

Using Chaos against Chaos will DEFINITELY cross a line, draw attention from the Inquisition, possibly get the Chapter declared "renegades" (if not outright "Excommunicate Traitoris") and the Chapter planet subjected to Exterminatus.

+ The tattoo motives on their bodies could all be representing something they have done or show their skills. Beside the yakuzas tattoos do I suggest looking up the tattoo tradition of organised crime in Russia. Maybe they also have American gangsta style tattoos (ex. SM4Life, Born2Kill)...

 

+ Suggest looking at other organised crime traditions beside the yakuza, and maybe also gang cultures - maybe a better idea to look up how they are represented in pop-culture than how they are in real life.

The yakuza describe themselves as "We're not just killers- though we're VERY skilled at killing- we're de facto samurai, we have a code of conduct we follow as rigorously as the samurai follow theirs, and we'll die before we break that code!" in sharp contrast to American street gangs who describe themselves as "We be killers! We be decked out in bling, we be banging hoes!" Any interaction between them, will be comparable to the stereotypical "Jocks versus nerds!" interaction, both sides viewing the other as occasionally useful but otherwise contemptible. TechCaptain can go ahead and use gang cultures if he wishes, but he should be aware of this potential conflict that will undoubtedly brew between them and the yakuza-inspired cultures.

[Gamiel]

Go ahead and post as much as you like and funnily to that first bullet, sons of Horus and Night Lords were some of the inspiration until I found Night Lord tactics shared a lot with White Scars except for the whole terror tactics hehe.

Here, some of the stuff are things that would not fit with your concept or have already been mentioned but posting that also as inspiration, and that it's easier for me, As for now it's mostly gangbanger refernces and yakuza, with some other stuff, I need to ad stuff from Italian maffia, Russion vory, Chinese tong, Irish mobb and such for a better list:

 

1. The battle brother self-inscribed kill-markings into their armour.

2. American gangsta style tattoos (ex. SM4Life, Born2Kill).

3. Yakuza style tattoos.

4. The battle-brothers skin are covered in the fading remains of gang-tattoos and/or scarifications from their pre-recruitment times.

5. Remove the fingers of a battle-brother as punishment, one finger for each mistake, beginning with the pinkie. The removed finger is replaced with cybernetics and the armour over the replacement gets coloured silver to show all that he has failed and paid for the mistake.

6. Remove the fingers of a battle-brother as punishment, without replacing them with cybernetics. One finger for each mistake, beginning with the pinkie. A Marine is probably given replacements when he has regained his honour and/or the mistake have been fixed.

7. The battle-brothers' skin are covered in the fading remains of gang-tattoos and/or scarifications.

8. The Chapter recruits its Aspirants from criminal youths who have been sentenced to death.

9. Recruit from Penal World/s.

10. The Chapter doesn't care about honour at all and turns to any possible tactic to win, no matter how dirty or against the rules it'd be. This probably lead them to having few friends, and possibly many antagonists among the Imperium.

11. The Chapter abhor fair fights and use all manners of dirty tricks they can so they don't have to attack/defend openly unless absolutely forced to. But they are so accustomed to not fighting fair that they have relatively poor performance in fair fights or when in unfavourable positons.

12. Disagreements between battle-brothers, even small ones, are usually settled by trial-by-combat, with all parties concerned seeing both the undertaking and the result as honourable.

13. Among the Chapter flamboyant displays of skill and bravery in the face of the enemy are viewed with the utmost respect and integral to a warrior’s standing within his Company. Officers regularly use such displays to cement their place as leader and inspire their forces to victory.

14. The Chapter regards martial ability and daring as the signs of a worthy warrior and inspirational leader. As a result, a battle-brother often attempt to outperform those around him in so called shows of bravery and skill. These attempts are likely often extremely reckless, and Marines are probably eager for new opportunities to prove themselves.

15. Is not divided into fixed companies or squads. Instead of a formal structure, companies and individual units are grouped together as required for the execution of a particular campaign.

16. Personal prestige is important among the Chapter’s battle-brothers.

17. Has a highly ritualised tradition of single combat between battle-brothers, with various rules and challenges. Possibly needed to release their aggression when not at war.

18. Usually only communicate using gang-speak influenced Low Gothic.

19. The Chapter’s strategy often revolves around carving a path to enemy leaders, so that their most powerful warriors can engage the foe in a duel to the death.

20. The Chapter abhor fair fights and don't attack openly unless absolutely forced to. Maybe because of tactical preferences, low numbers, or maybe because of their innate cruelty, or maybe something else.

21. The Chapter’s Marines are rumoured to kill and maim over the slightest provocation.

22. They are quick to anger, and are taught to avenge slights to their honour with blood, even amongst their own.

23. Secretly control all organised crime on their homeworld.

24. Are secretly part of the black market trade in the subsector their homeworld lay.

25. Use black market contact to supply themself with technology, equipment and such they don’t get their hands on the normal ways.

26. Easily insulted and quick to attack those they see as having insulted them, be their alliey, enemy or even follow Chapter member. 

27. Many of them wear rings, bracelets, necklaces and similar, made by precious and/or shiny metals.

28. Style themself as honourable, but theirs is honourability tarnished by an inability to let go of even the smallest of perceived insults.

29. Do favours for others, in exchange for the Chapter having the right to call upon the other part, one day, to do a service for them. 

30. Use threats and blackmail to get their ways. 

31. When they think they can get away with it, they practice piracy.

32. Have gangers preference for knives and pistols.

33. In the Chapter campaign honours don’t come in the form of marks on their armour but in the form of knifes, each from a unique set given to those that participated in the campaign the knife represent.

34. Believes they have the right to take whatever they need from planets they have brought back into compliance.

[TechCaptain]

Response to the list

1. The battle brother self-inscribed kill-markings into their armour. - This yes.
3. Yakuza style tattoos.
4. The battle-brothers skin are covered in the fading remains of gang-tattoos and/or scarifications from their pre-recruitment times.
5. Remove the fingers of a battle-brother as punishment, one finger for each mistake, beginning with the pinkie. The removed finger is replaced with cybernetics and the armour over the replacement gets coloured silver to show all that he has failed and paid for the mistake. - I like this especially the symbolism. 
6. Remove the fingers of a battle-brother as punishment, without replacing them with cybernetics. One finger for each mistake, beginning with the pinkie. A Marine is probably given replacements when he has regained his honour and/or the mistake have been fixed. - this makes them too ineffective but maybe sometimes. 
7. The battle-brothers' skin are covered in the fading remains of gang-tattoos and/or scarifications. - I thought I described this
8. The Chapter recruits its Aspirants from criminal youths who have been sentenced to death. - I think Gang Brawls is good enough
9. Recruit from Penal World/s. - I don't think so
10. The Chapter doesn't care about honour at all and turns to any possible tactic to win, no matter how dirty or against the rules it'd be. This probably lead them to having few friends, and possibly many antagonists among the Imperium. - Yes, yes, This is how I kind of want it
11. The Chapter abhor fair fights and use all manners of dirty tricks they can so they don't have to attack/defend openly unless absolutely forced to. But they are so accustomed to not fighting fair that they have relatively poor performance in fair fights or when in unfavorable positions. - Maybe in some cases
12. Disagreements between battle-brothers, even small ones, are usually settled by trial-by-combat, with all parties concerned seeing both the undertaking and the result as honourable. - Again yes I need to make this more clear I think
13. Among the Chapter flamboyant displays of skill and bravery in the face of the enemy are viewed with the utmost respect and integral to a warrior’s standing within his Company. Officers regularly use such displays to cement their place as leader and inspire their forces to victory. - I really like this idea reminds me of some Legion BL books for Sons of Horus or Emperor's Children.
14. The Chapter regards martial ability and daring as the signs of a worthy warrior and inspirational leader. As a result, a battle-brother often attempt to outperform those around him in so called shows of bravery and skill. These attempts are likely often extremely reckless, and Marines are probably eager for new opportunities to prove themselves. - Maybe sometimes, I like them using Stealth and psychological warfare being more primary
15. Is not divided into fixed companies or squads. Instead of a formal structure, companies and individual units are grouped together as required for the execution of a particular campaign. - I do like this though it smacks of my Bloodmoon Hunters, but it works well here. 
16. Personal prestige is important among the Chapter’s battle-brothers. - Yes Personal Prestige is important, it is the method that doesn't matter. 
17. Has a highly ritualised tradition of single combat between battle-brothers, with various rules and challenges. Possibly needed to release their aggression when not at war. - Again I like this one. 
18. Usually only communicate using gang-speak influenced Low Gothic. - That is a neat tidbit that I should include. 
19. The Chapter’s strategy often revolves around carving a path to enemy leaders, so that their most powerful warriors can engage the foe in a duel to the death. - I think less duel and more strategy to draw out and eliminate, causing confusion among the enemy. 
20. The Chapter abhor fair fights and don't attack openly unless absolutely forced to. Maybe because of tactical preferences, low numbers, or maybe because of their innate cruelty, or maybe something else. - This, Very much this. And I was thinking partially Cruelty and preferences 
21. The Chapter’s Marines are rumoured to kill and maim over the slightest provocation. - This would make sense as I want them kind of a boogie man.
22. They are quick to anger, and are taught to avenge slights to their honour with blood, even amongst their own. - I think they are necessarily taught that but it comes from their very culture their born from. 
23. Secretly control all organised crime on their homeworld. - I can see this. 
24. Are secretly part of the black market trade in the subsector their homeworld lay. - Maybe but I see little need
25. Use black market contact to supply themself with technology, equipment and such they don’t get their hands on the normal ways.
26. Easily insulted and quick to attack those they see as having insulted them, be their alliey, enemy or even follow Chapter member.  - a good possible bad side to them,
27. Many of them wear rings, bracelets, necklaces and similar, made by precious and/or shiny metals. - Yes, when not in combat they see themselves as Lord and what not. 
28. Style themself as honourable, but theirs is honourability tarnished by an inability to let go of even the smallest of perceived insults. - I can see this. 
29. Do favours for others, in exchange for the Chapter having the right to call upon the other part, one day, to do a service for them.  - possible
30. Use threats and blackmail to get their ways.  - Possibly.
31. When they think they can get away with it, they practice piracy. - No that is a little far for them
32. Have gangers preference for knives and pistols. - You mean the normal gangers? Sure
33. In the Chapter campaign honours don’t come in the form of marks on their armour but in the form of knifes, each from a unique set given to those that participated in the campaign the knife represent. - I like this. 
34. Believes they have the right to take whatever they need from planets they have brought back into compliance. - That would get them in so much trouble naw.
 

[Bjorn Firewalker]

10. The Chapter doesn't care about honour at all and turns to any possible tactic to win, no matter how dirty or against the rules it'd be. This probably lead them to having few friends, and possibly many antagonists among the Imperium...

 

12. Disagreements between battle-brothers, even small ones, are usually settled by trial-by-combat, with all parties concerned seeing both the undertaking and the result as honourable.

This is contradictory. Honor and pride are inevitably interconnected, such that prideful people will challenge to a duel those who questioned (i.e., insulted) their "honor".

 

A better explanation is the Chapter defines "honor" as victory, such that any tactic or "dirty trick" is justifiable, so long as it brings the "honor" of victory. This may upset some (e.g., allies in Astra Militarum regiments from Mordia), but be accepted by those who share this view (e.g., allies in regiments from Catachan).

15. Is not divided into fixed companies or squads. Instead of a formal structure, companies and individual units are grouped together as required for the execution of a particular campaign. - I do like this though it smacks of my Bloodmoon Hunters, but it works well here.

This flexibility can also provide operational security. Let's have the Chapter describe all its deployed forces as "Force [insert commander's name, but not his rank]". The result?

 

Scenario One: Enemy A assumes the Graven Souls Force is at Chapter strength, and fortifies Planet B against it. The Graven Souls Force is only at Company strength, too weak to crack Planet B's defenses- but Enemy A had to withdraw forces from Planets C, D, and E, to accomplish this. The Graven Souls adjust their strategy, hit the poorly defended Planets C, D, and E; Planet B is subjected to "shows of force" that seem pointless, but make its panicking defenders waste ammo on phantom targets. Cutoff from Planets C, D, and E's resources, Planet B's defenses "wither on the vine," allowing the Graven Souls to conquer it with relative ease a year later.

 

Scenario Two: Enemy F assumes the Graven Souls Force is a single squad, like the Chapter's last two deployments, and doesn't bother "wasting resources" strengthening Planet G's defenses. The Graven Souls Force is actually at Company strength; 100 Marines easily break down defenses meant to counter a mere 10 Marines, and execute Enemy F for his sins.

Edited March 30, 2021 by Bjorn Firewalker

[TechCaptain]

Definitely it fits their style very well while Bloodmoon Hunters do it more out of necessity due to low numbers. As far as the first part of your last post, I agree. I see it as they have a honor code of their own for what honor means to them but it isn't the same as everyone else thinks when they think honor. You have a much better description of it. 

[Gamiel]

Response to the list

 

7. The battle-brothers' skin are covered in the fading remains of gang-tattoos and/or scarifications. - I thought I described this

 

10. The Chapter doesn't care about honour at all and turns to any possible tactic to win, no matter how dirty or against the rules it'd be. This probably lead them to having few friends, and possibly many antagonists among the Imperium...

 

12. Disagreements between battle-brothers, even small ones, are usually settled by trial-by-combat, with all parties concerned seeing both the undertaking and the result as honourable.

This is contradictory. Honor and pride are inevitably interconnected, such that prideful people will challenge to a duel those who questioned (i.e., insulted) their "honor".

 

A better explanation is the Chapter defines "honor" as victory, such that any tactic or "dirty trick" is justifiable, so long as it brings the "honor" of victory. This may upset some (e.g., allies in Astra Militarum regiments from Mordia), but be accepted by those who share this view (e.g., allies in regiments from Catachan).

 

Just want to mention that if I was not clear so was what I posted an already existing list with concepts, and they are not ment to all go togheter and some of "the stuff are things that would not fit with [TechCaptain's] concept or have already been mentioned" but were posted because I'm too lazy to take out those parts, and maybe they could be of some alternative inspiration.

 

Also here is an expansion of the list:

35. Show their company colours by different coloured headbands, both on their helmets and on their brows.

36. Recruit from the children of smugglers and black market people. 

37. Have a protective racket, which they use to secretly back a tradehouse which they use to secretly supply themself with more equipment, and/or stuff they are not allowed to have.

38. Actually a Renegade Chapter. 

39. Allied with a trade house, and help them not just with their legal dealing but also with their illegal ones. 

40. The Chapter’s homeworld lacks a functioning justice system, instead people can go to the Chapter (or more likely it’s representatives) and appeal for righteous vengeance against those that have wronged them. If the Chapter deem it right they will be vengeance bringers, and all they demand is a favour sometime in the future.

41. When not in armour they dress in pinstripe suits.

42. Use lots of small and/or hidden weapons, like digi-weapons.

43. When possible hire mercenaries (maybe even of xeno-kind) to help them fight their current enemies.

44. They favour the use of long rifles, silenced weapons and stiletto blades.

45. Psycho-activated tattoos cover the battle-brothers’ bodies, which can be made to appear or disappear with a thought.

46. Personal decorations of flamboyant nature are common among the battle-brothers.

47. After fighting non-Chaos enemies the Chapter take all that they can take from the fallen enemies. What they don’t have use for themself do they secretly sell on the black market.

48. The Chapter’s fortress-monastery is hidden beyond a front that functions as a free-trader base for smugglers, pirates, and possibly even xenos. From those the Chapter get information others would not know and exotic technology.

49. Recruit from the gang juves and lone thieves that survive in the Underhive.

50. Secretly controls the illegal “kidsmen schools”, that teaches minors to steal, on their recruitment world/s and take in the best and toughest of the boys as potential aspirants.

51. Are secretly allied to one (or maybe more) rogue Navigator house/s, that works for the Chapter in exchange for its protection. 

52. Use numeric codes to distinguish ranks and positions within the Chapter. [Referring to Triad Structure and composition]

53. The Chapter have initiation ceremonies for all ranks of the Chapters, from aspirant to chapter-master. A ceremony possibly takes place at an altar dedicated to the Emperor, with incense and an animal sacrifice. It’s likely that the higher the rank, the more advanced the ceremony.

54. One, or more, kind of traditional gang weapon (ex. axes, machentes, okapi-knives) from the Chapter’s recruitment world is carried and used by all the battle-brothers.

55. Keep minimal records, and the ones they write are in code.

Edited March 30, 2021 by Gamiel

[Gamiel]

 

+ Can see them using xeno-tech, possibly after their Chaplains and/or techno-exorcist trained Techmarines have turned the xeno-tech’s spirit to their side, possibly they just use it, since it gets the job done and having a Chaplain/Techmarine go over it is just a waste of time+

I won't say using xeno weapons will cross the line- I had a Techmarine and Deathwatch veteran reverse-engineer the Necron staff of light and warscythe, for his personal use, in my own IA- but it's definitely standing on it. Best have the Chaplain and Techmarine scrutinize any and all xeno artifacts before allowing their battle-brothers to use them.

Seems to depend upon the xeno-tech and the person crying "heresy". Small amounts of xeno-tech use seems to be ok for all Chapters, as long as it's not the kind of xeno-tech that taint its user, or is Warp tuched. But then again, it's likely that extreme puritan Inquisitors would condemn even the use of xeno based throphies.

 

And they have to be caught doing it first for the anybody to cry "heresy!"

 

 

+ Maybe they even use Chaos items, and/or lesser Chaos sorcery, in similar manner/ways.

Using Chaos against Chaos will DEFINITELY cross a line, draw attention from the Inquisition, possibly get the Chapter declared "renegades" (if not outright "Excommunicate Traitoris") and the Chapter planet subjected to Exterminatus.

But they have to be caught doing it first

There is also the possibility that the Inquisitor that do catch them red handed doing it is such a radical bent that she think she can use them.

Edited April 1, 2021 by Gamiel

[TechCaptain]

I think no on the Chaos using piece but the small amounts of Xenos whatever maybe. Either way I was more leaning on their heresy leans being more on their choice of tactics and lack of ties to most organizations. 

 

Edit: Gamiel have you checked out my Bloodmoon Hunters? They do a bit more on the Xenos use stuff. 

Edited April 1, 2021 by TechCaptain

[Gamiel]

I think no on the Chaos using piece but the small amounts of Xenos whatever maybe. Either way I was more leaning on their heresy leans being more on their choice of tactics and lack of ties to most organizations.  

Some thoughts regarding that, likely not all of them fit with the Graven Souls but could still be of inspiration:

+ The Rogue Trader RPG have some interesting xeno-tech that you could have the Chapter use, and not just on personal basis but for ships also - it's easier to hide that you use xeno-tech if it's hidden beneath your ships hulls.

+ There is also that the Chapter could be using xeno-tech from minior races that the Souls helped to xenocide, so you could make up your own stuff. 

+ They could be extorting a minior xeno-group for protection; the xenose give them tech and standard resources, while the Souls don't xenocide them or report them to others.

+ Organised crime working together with corrupt authority is classic, so maybe they actually have the backing of a xenophilic Inquisitor.

+ Maybe they secretly have the fingers in the black market trade of xeno artefacts (maybe even controls parts of it), as a way to get the xenotech they need; to keep tab on what xenos that are in the area or have been found (the appearance of an authentic xeno-item that's of unknown origin do indicate that something new is in the area or old and forgotten have been found); as a way to get more funds by selling useless (for them) xeno-trinkets and trophies from their battles; 

+ The Chapter could be using scavenger-serfs whose mission is to take everything they can from the battlefield (unless they are fighting Chaos).

+ Maybe they officially have watch stations over xenocided worlds. Officially to keep an eye so that nothing that should not be alive begin to stir, and no xeno-traders or such can take xeno based items to trade. In reality so they are the only one that can trade with those xeno items. 

 

 

 

Edit: Gamiel have you checked out my Bloodmoon Hunters? They do a bit more on the Xenos use stuff.  

Have been meaning to.

[Brother Lunkhead]

Nice work here Brother Tech I like the White Scars/Night Lords, gang feel to it all. I have a few observations.

 

Honor is being talked about a lot here, and I don't think you need to get too hung up on this. I think that the Chapter is dismissive of common notions of honor is fine and it works well as a view. I don't think this needs to be examined in great detail (or any detail). Everyone wants recognition in one way or another, that's human nature, and I think how the Chapter defines glory (even if they choose not to recognize it as such is self evident and needs no explanation. Examination here is just a distraction and dilutes the point.

 

There's a lot of detail going into culture here that I like, but I'm not seeing a lot concerning battle doctrine, and that is what ultimately gets the job done. So, the Graven Souls use terror tactics. That's fine, but we need some details on how terror is used. You should be careful here, because this is a commonly used tactic, but also commonly not very effective because of how it is implemented. Here are a few guidelines that might be helpful. Terror does not work effectively when applied to leadership. Whether they are civilian or military, these folks have too much to lose if they fail. So failure is not an option for them under any circumstances. Assassination could work, but generally, even for this to be effective, you need to off a whole lot off the leadership, like almost all of them...... at once, or at least in quick succession. There are exceptions of course, but this is generally the case. To undermine the leadership and the effectiveness of the fighting force you need to strike at the soft underbelly. This usually means the actual fighting force and/or the civilian population. These folks need to be scared enough so that they become ineffective and disruptive to the objectives of the leadership. Terror must also be used in a big way to be effective, otherwise it becomes easily defused. So, go big or go home as they say. But (lots of buts here), there is a fine line here too. You don't want to go so big with terror that it gets the opposite effect. That can happen too. Fear can give way to hate, and once hate takes hold then you've lost control and it might lead to Exterminatus in one form or another. 

 

Something else to consider is it might be beneficial to the Chapter in their terror campaigns is that is can never be directly attributed to them. They can use specialized units (Scouts, Terror Company (like the Primaris Reivers), etc.) to achieve these objectives. Once finished, they fade away as the main force sweeps in to save the day. The Graven Souls don't have to look the hero. They can still be as brutal as they like. They just don't have the blood of atrocities on their hands. In this way, any Inquisitorial investigation has no proof, but the Graven Souls still have the reputation. 

 

All just food for thought. Looking forward to seeing more

[Bjorn Firewalker]

+ The Rogue Trader RPG have some interesting xeno-tech that you could have the Chapter use, and not just on personal basis but for ships also - it's easier to hide that you use xeno-tech if it's hidden beneath your ships hulls.

+ There is also that the Chapter could be using xeno-tech from minior races that the Souls helped to xenocide, so you could make up your own stuff...

 

+ Organised crime working together with corrupt authority is classic, so maybe they actually have the backing of a xenophilic Inquisitor...

 

+ The Chapter could be using scavenger-serfs whose mission is to take everything they can from the battlefield (unless they are fighting Chaos).

Good ideas!

+ They could be extorting a minior xeno-group for protection; the xenose give them tech and standard resources, while the Souls don't xenocide them or report them to others.

These xenos will have to be constantly monitored, so they don't betray the Chapter. I find this idea EXTREMELY unlikely.

+ Maybe they secretly have the fingers in the black market trade of xeno artefacts (maybe even controls parts of it), as a way to get the xenotech they need; to keep tab on what xenos that are in the area or have been found (the appearance of an authentic xeno-item that's of unknown origin do indicate that something new is in the area or old and forgotten have been found); as a way to get more funds by selling useless (for them) xeno-trinkets and trophies from their battles...

 

+ Maybe they officially have watch stations over xenocided worlds. Officially to keep an eye so that nothing that should not be alive begin to stir, and no xeno-traders or such can take xeno based items to trade. In reality so they are the only one that can trade with those xeno items.

I doubt the Chapter will be able to control the black market, as that will require much investment in time, resources, and effort, which will then prevent the Marines from giving other tasks the necessary time, resources, and effort- tasks that undoubtedly include fighting wars, combat training so the Marines are ready to fight wars, maintaining control over the Chapter planet so the Marines have the resources they need to fight wars...

 

It DOES make sense the Chapter has influence over the black market, though. I wrote the following proposal for Kelborn's Imperial Sons IA:

When campaigns were fought beyond their anticipated end, the Imperial Sons would resort to hiring Rogue Traders for the additional logistical support the embattled Marines need; the Chapter paid for these services by granting the Rogue Traders the right to seize any spoils the Imperial Sons themselves didn't seize after the battle. Though many Rogue Traders anticipated finding little of value on what were recently battlefields, they saw close relations with Astartes to be far more useful than the relatively paltry sums earned from selling spoils of war.

 

Hans Corell was one such Rogue Trader, leveraging the Imperial Sons' perception of him as a "useful tool" to have Marines seconded under his command, serving as scouts on his exploratory expeditions, de facto honor guards during diplomatic meetings with planetary governors, and allegedly as an "or else" in business negotiations. In turn, the Imperial Sons exploited the "connections" the Rogue Trader provided, establishing Chapter keeps on planets whose governors dealt with Corell, so the Chapter may recruit from their populace and train for combat on a myriad of environments.

The Graven Souls can have similar arrangements with other Rogue Traders- including those selling xeno artifacts on the black market- serving as "muscle" to help seize artifacts, protect the Traders from rivals, and shield the Traders from the Inquisition's scrutiny, in exchange for a cut of the Traders' profits, logistical support on extended campaigns, and various resources. Edited April 2, 2021 by Bjorn Firewalker

[TechCaptain]

The relationship to Rogue Traders I like as well as the scavenger Serfs, and the rest of the ones about hidden usages here and there are not bad. And I loved reading that proposal you had.

[TechCaptain]

Development stall. (Hiatus)

[Algrim Whitefang]

Here's some artwork I did for the Graven Souls. Enjoy guys!

A Graven Souls Battle-Brother of the 2^nd Company, 6^th Ka (Battleline Squad).

Graven Souls Lord (Captain) of the 4^th Company. Note: Sashimono (Back Banner), which displays (from top-to-bottom) the name of the Chapter, the company number, and the Asahina family clan mon.