Random Chapter Inspiration Thread

[Kabronex]

Got my own lads, The Bloody Palms.

 

Buddhist and Hindu themed BA successors based on a shrine world that was (supposedly) visited by Sanguinius.

 

Not much lore on them but their chapter has been harassed and targeted by a Keeper of Secrets named Ma'Raa whom the Librarius has had to banish twice now in the chapter's existence.

 

The chapter has two Chief Librarians, one who's interred in a dreadnought (Arthavaa) and his closest pupil, a primaris librarian named Ajna.

 

Be it a mutation in geneseed or curse, it seems that primaris brothers are disproportionately more likely to fall to the flaws than firstborns.

 

Their color scheme is Gal Vorbak red and orange, with orange sleeves and the right side of their torso.

[Brother Cambrius]

With the Death Cult stuff, we also have a similar vein of ideas with the Mortifactors' grim outlook and appearance. Could easily be a successor to them if that route needed some solid bedrock to have as a foundation.

 

It's been great going through the ideas here, peeps! Keep em in mind for later this year... ;)

 

Cambrius

[Gamiel]

With the Death Cult stuff, we also have a similar vein of ideas with the Mortifactors' grim outlook and appearance. Could easily be a successor to them if that route needed some solid bedrock to have as a foundation.

 

It's been great going through the ideas here, peeps! Keep em in mind for later this year...

 

Cambrius

At the same time the Mortifactors are a good example to point at of canon cahpters that are very different from their founding Chapter or Legion.

 

Rember the second Tenet of Aaron Dembski-Bowden - “It doesn’t matter who your daddy is” - if you want your DA or RW to be cream coloured with lots of gold bling and a tendency for upfront dueling is ther nothing in their gene-seeds origin that stops you from doing that. Every Chapter can theoretically have a descendant that is their opposite in culture or warfare.

[Gamiel]

 

 

I don't know if this count but here are some colour concepts for peoples inspiration (many of them designed from illustrations of knights):

Now with less knight (but still some) inspiration:

And some more:

And more: 

 

Steel arms, the rest copper

 

Red head, backpack and pauldrons, faceplate and the rest steel

 

Steel head, pauldrons and arms, the rest white

 

White pauldrons, purple pauldron trim, the rest steel, purple as overall “secondary” colour. Possible symbol: on white a purple padlock with the keyhole in white

 

Green with yellow pauldrons and arms

 

Purple with yellow pauldrons and arms

 

Blue arms and head, white pauldrons and backpack, the rest brown or grey.

 

Quartered black and red, with white pauldron trim and kneepad on the black sides – possible symbol: a yellow fist on red.

 

Purple with white pauldrons and feet.

 

Dark purple with white gauntlets, and silver head.

 

Pale blue with green pauldrons and backpack

 

Yellow feet, knees, and head, the rest green – possible symbol: a yellow bovina head from the side

 

Purple feet, knees, and head, the rest yellow

 

Black feet, knees, and pauldron trim, head yellow, the rest red

 

White arms, head and backpack, the rest (including pauldrons) blue

 

Steel helmet, arms and backpack (maybe pauldrons), the rest red. Yellow/gold as “secondary” colour

 

Black helmet and top of backpack, the rest yellow. White as “secondary” colour

 

White right arm, the rest red – suggested symbol: in yellow skull-n-crossbones and/or a whinged hourglass

 

Red with blue as secondary colour

 

Quartered yellow and blue

 

White arms and legs, the rest (including pauldrons) braze

 

Blue arms and legs, the rest (including pauldrons) green

 

Orange head and gauntlets, the rest purple – suggested symbol: a orange tiger head on purple

 

Cuirass steel, the rest orange. White as “secondary” colour.

 

Blue boots, belt and pauldron trim, the rest white. Feather/scale pattern painted on with blue on the white areas.

 

Black gauntlets, boots and pauldrons, the rest red

 

Yellow arms, the rest green. Blue as “secondary” colour

 

Green arms, the rest black. Yellow and/or green as “secondary” colour

[Minigiant]

Dark Souls Bonfire inspired homeworld

[Minigiant]

And this could help explain why the heroes of the Imperium do atrocious things:

 

https://iai.tv/video/the-hypocrisy-of-the-good&utm_source=reddit&_auid=2020

[Gamiel]

The Void Reapers is a chapter that is mentioned in Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two when the Carcharodons first appear it's said that they were hard to identify, partly because  of how seldom they had been in contact with the Imperium at large and that there are other lesser-known Chapters operating with similar nomenclatures and symbology that they might have been misidentified  as at the times they do and give the Void Reapers and Blood Sharks as example. I got this idea for the Void Reapers based on me just thinking about that the name "Void Reapers" don't suggest anything similar to what we know of the Carcharodons, how to make them similar-ish while also keeping them different, and the talk in The Warhammer Community Podcast: Episode 12* where they took up that a chapter don't need to have the same culture throughout their history (or name or colours) but those things can change.

* Video version: The Warhammer Community Podcast: Episode 12 – Space Marine Successor Chapters - YouTube

 

I will lilkey not develop them more then this, so if anybody want to take them up you are free, or just mine them for inspiration.

 

 

Void Reapers

Symbole: An upside-down scythe in bend argent on white

Colours: Black armour with Polynesian patterns carved/painted on, the more patterns the more important are you/the armour you wear.

Was ones a Chapter with a Grim Reaper, Angels of Death, “We are death incarnate” theme/culture, with lots of skulls, time keepers (like hourglasses), scythes and sickle weapons, bones sculptured into the armour, skull shaped helmets among the officers, and such. Over time their recruitment world/s cultures have reshaped them in to their current form.

Colourful flower neckless hang from their necks (handcrafted by their serfs)

Tokens of coral, seashells, sea-creature fangs, and similar hang from their weapons, wrists and belts. Maybe feather tokens, in which case they are either fully white or colourful. Capes, clocks and sashes are usually colourful with flower or wave patterns (think Hawaii t-shirt and such), even if some of them wear cloth as black as their armour. Keep their hair long.

Remains of their old culture can be found in the form of pteruges made out of femurs, skulls hanging from their belts or backpack. Their artificer armour and many older armour parts are shaped to give the appearance of skeletons, etc. Many captains and chaplains, and some lesser officers, are armed with power scythes.

[image: a Vodi Reaper with black hooded robes, open, showing a ribcage armour underneath; a power scythe in hand, very Grim Reaper; has a flower neckless, shell and coral tokens hanging from his belt, wrists and wepoans, ]

Names: mostly Polynesian names (pic from all cultures), with a sprinkle of names associated with death or psychopomps (Apollyon, Azrael, Malak, Mot, Samael, Yama, Shinigami, Kharon, Hades, Hermes, Ankou, Dullahan, Thanatos, Mors, Letum, Haros, Grim, Garm, etc.).

Edited May 7, 2022 by Gamiel

[Gamiel]

Some reasons to why a chapter could be given a Cemetery World as a homeworld, many of them could be used to explain why a chapter is given any kind of homeworld. Originally posted here: Heralds of Ash - Page 2

* The Chapter was one of those that lacked a homeworld (fleet based, lost their old one, newly created and had not been given one, etc.) and was gifted the rights to the planet after retaking it from Chaos/xeos/rebels/such.

* There is something buried deep beneath the planet’s surface (xeno artefacts; strange ruins; bones from xenos that seems to still be psychic active; a strange door that should not be opened; an army of Thunder Warriors in stasis;  etc.) that the Inquisition/similar knows about but can’t destroy or move, and can’t tell since that would create panic and such. So they decide to place a Chapter on the world to keep anyone from finding the buried stuff and being a first defense if it is awaken/activated.

* The Emperor’s Tarot declared that the Chapter should be stationed there.

* A clerical error gave them the Cemetery World as a homeplanet, they were actually supposed to be given another planet.  

* The Chapter was already there when the world was declared a Cemetery World.

* Somebody considered the Cemetery World symbolically/religiously/similar important enough for it deserving a Chapter protecting it and had high enough contacts to make it so.

* The Chapter had sworn allegiance to one of the buried VIP:s when s/he was alive and s/he impressed them so much that they requested to continue to watch over hen when s/he was buried.

* Sometime after the Cemetery World was created (long enough for there to be a large hassle to change it) was a crashed SM ship found buried beneath the surface. The ship was large enough to house an entire Chapter and relatively whole with some areas still functioning, rather than to try to dig it up and fully repair it was it decided that it should be left there and repaired enough so it could be used as a Chapter-Fortress.

* The records only go back so far (because of damage/being locked away/lost/such) and the reasons for why the Chapter is there and why the planet is a Cemetery World are both lost to time.

 

[Minigiant]

 

* Somebody considered the Cemetery World symbolically/religiously/similar important enough for it deserving a Chapter protecting it and had high enough contacts to make it so.

 

 

 

There is even precedent for it

 

[Gamiel]

Got my own lads, The Bloody Palms.

 

Buddhist and Hindu themed BA successors based on a shrine world that was (supposedly) visited by Sanguinius.

 

Not much lore on them but their chapter has been harassed and targeted by a Keeper of Secrets named Ma'Raa whom the Librarius has had to banish twice now in the chapter's existence.

 

The chapter has two Chief Librarians, one who's interred in a dreadnought (Arthavaa) and his closest pupil, a primaris librarian named Ajna.

 

Be it a mutation in geneseed or curse, it seems that primaris brothers are disproportionately more likely to fall to the flaws than firstborns.

 

Their color scheme is Gal Vorbak red and orange, with orange sleeves and the right side of their torso.

Any ideas how to entwine Buddhist and Hindu themes into the capter's culture?

 

Dark Souls Bonfire inspired homeworld

I have no idea what means, can you explain?

[Gamiel]

The old Deathwatch RPG book Honour the Chapter had a chapter creation system, where one of the entries was about the chapter cult: "Every Chapter has its own “Chapter cult,” the body of beliefs and practices unique to itself. The specifics of the cult develop over the millennia, so that two Chapters sired by the same Progenitor during the same Founding may, after several centuries, exhibit radically divergent religious practices. Some Chapters inherit a great deal of the rites and traditions of the culture from which they recruit, while many more are so steeped in their own history and tradition that they are quite unique. In general, the Successors of any given Progenitor share a core body of beliefs and practices, but even this is not always the case. This section presents just a few possible Chapter cults, and having some idea of their nature and history is a great way to add depth to a character."

 

Followed by a list of some possible chapter cults.

 

I have done some concepts for the possible chapter cults results, and since they are a bit many do I not plan to post them in one go but one at a time, with some spece inbetween. We start fit the first result on the list:

And contune with the secund one, this one not as long:

 

The Emperor above all

“The Chapter holds the Emperor as the ultimate object of its devotions. This is especially likely to be the case with Chapters of a later Founding, who maintain less in the way of contact with the Progenitor than older, more closely-tied Successors. Some Chapters, for whatever reason, are actually unaware of who their Progenitor was, and as such are likely to centre their worship on either the Emperor, who created the Primarchs, or on one of their own founding fathers.”

1. A Chapter that considers mauls and powerclaws illfortune weapons since it was those that Horus used to wound the Emperor.

2. Have great respect for Navigators since they can see the Emperor’s light in the form of the Asronomicon.

3. The Chapter’s vehicles and armour are usually covered in illuminated texts extracted from tomes sacred to the Adeptus Astartes.

4. Speak mostly in quotes from ancient text describing the Emperor from when He walked the galaxy.

5. Have great respect for astropaths since they have stood before the Emperor.

6. A Chapter based solely on the use and study of the power of Imperial Faith that Chaplains utilize.

7. A Chapter that doesn’t have a Chapter-Master, instead its lead by a council consisting of the Chapter’s Chaplains.

8. A Chapter that has an unusual high amount of Chaplains.

9. A Chapter that frequently partner with the Ecclesiarchy in searching out archeotech, holy relics, and/or new sources of knowledge. This search/gather is likely often done to the point where these considerations outweigh other military factors.

10. They guarded a pilgrimage route to one of the one of the holy sites where the Emperor walked before His crippling. Maybe even one of the paths to Holy Terra.

11. Believes in the legends of the Emperor’s women born children, the Sensei, and search for any trace after them.

12. Each battle-brother has to partake in a pilgrimage to at least one place where it’s known that the Emperor was before rising in rank to the next Company. This means that a first company member have been to ten places where the Emperor was, possibly the place for the pilgrimage before joining the 1:th Company is Holy Terra.

13. The Chapter guards one of the holy sites where the Emperor walked before His crippling.

14. Still believes in the old Imperial Truth of atheism and science, likely fanatically. Probably disdainful toward the Ecclesiarchy and anything they see as superstition.

15. While they have a deep and abiding faith in the Emperor of Mankind and venerate the Emperor as more than a man, do they not believe that He is divine.

16. A Chapter whose brothers sometimes fall into a “holy trance” in which they produced stigmata where Horus wounded the Emperor.

17. A Chapter whose Librarians/Chaplains/other specialist sometimes fall into a “holy trance” in which they produced stigmata where Horus wounded the Emperor.

18. A Chapter that believes the Emperor guides them and follows the guides of His tarot when making any larger decision.

19. A Chapter that fully believe in the Emperor’s divinity and are antagonistic against Chapters that don’t share that belief

20. A highly zealous Chapter that are fervent believers in the Imperial creed, they do not honour their ancestral primarch as most Chapters do, believing this to be a form of idolatry.

21. The Chapter believe that the Space Marines alone are the true inheritors of the Emperor, that they were made according to his perfect vision and that mere mortals (everyone else) are utterly inferior.

22. Train in the use of Emperor's weapons: the sword and the power claw.

23. Have only the highest of respect for Custodes if they meet them.

[Minigiant]

 

 

Dark Souls Bonfire inspired homeworld

I have no idea what means, can you explain?

 

 

In Dark Souls there are these Bonfire which is the only place where you can rest. How these bonfires came to be and who created them is clouded in mystery. I can picture an Imperial Death World in perpetual darkness with Imperial Citizens scattered across the planet, gathering around this 'Bonfires' gifted from the Emperor while fending themselves from the terrifying monsters that circle them.

 

[Gamiel]

 

 

Dark Souls Bonfire inspired homeworld

I have no idea what means, can you explain?

 

In Dark Souls there are these Bonfire which is the only place where you can rest. How these bonfires came to be and who created them is clouded in mystery. I can picture an Imperial Death World in perpetual darkness with Imperial Citizens scattered across the planet, gathering around this 'Bonfires' gifted from the Emperor while fending themselves from the terrifying monsters that circle them.

Maybe the fire is from something similar to The Devil's Breath | James Bond Wiki | Fandom ?

[Minigiant]

 

 

 

Dark Souls Bonfire inspired homeworld

I have no idea what means, can you explain?

 

In Dark Souls there are these Bonfire which is the only place where you can rest. How these bonfires came to be and who created them is clouded in mystery. I can picture an Imperial Death World in perpetual darkness with Imperial Citizens scattered across the planet, gathering around this 'Bonfires' gifted from the Emperor while fending themselves from the terrifying monsters that circle them.

Maybe the fire is from something similar to The Devil's Breath | James Bond Wiki | Fandom ?

 

Potentially. I just see a chapter where every squad has a brazier carrier, and prefer long range and defensive positions

[Gamiel]

Some thoughts regarding the concept of an DA successor that know about the Fallen but don't prioritize the searching and hunting of them above other threats to the Imperium. 

I think they would still keep thing secret and have a kind of Freemason/secret society thing going one since the Unforgiven, no matter their attitude to their secrets, think that secrets are not something you are told about until you are ready. So battle-brothers would not find out about it untill they have been found out to be ready.

Their indifference to the Fallen is likely something that more affects their interaction with the other Unforgiven, with likely many of the others thinking that the chapter have their priorities wrong, with some being openly socially hostile (at least) toward them. 

Since the Fallen are still traitors and heretics would they likely partake in the hunt and information gathering, but it would not be given the same priority as it does for other Unforgiven, meaning that they would not drop everything because things point toward there being a Fallen or something that could lead them to one at a known place.

I can see them not having any interrogator-chaplains and instead just hand over any Fallen they do have captured (likely few) to the DA or other Unforgiven that have an interrogator-chaplain for that.

Maybe a history of marines other Unforgiven Chapters, that are hot headed and/or see the hunt as a high duty, challenging the meh-chapter’s members for honour dules. There can also be times when other Unforgiven chapters have ignored calls for aid from the meh-chapter since they see it that the mehs don’t aid with the hunt so why should we come to their aid. 

Edited July 3, 2022 by Gamiel

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Some thoughts regarding the concept of an DA successor that know about the Fallen but don't prioritize the searching and hunting of them above other threats to the Imperium...

 

Their indifference to the Fallen is likely something that more affects their interaction with the other Unforgiven, with likely many of the others thinking that the chapter have their priorities wrong, with some being openly socially hostile (at least) toward them.

I had my own ideas of a Dark Angels successor that was subjected to a decapitation strike, losing its entire Inner Circle. The Angels of the Harvest (get it? crops are harvested during the fall) don't prioritize the Hunt For the Fallen, because the surviving Marines are ignorant of the Fallen Angels' very existence, and find their Brother Chapters' behavior incomprehensible. They're not as secretive because they never knew the secret to begin with, and have FAR friendlier relations with other Chapters and Imperial institutions as a result; in contrast, other Dark Angels successors don't trust them.

 

Other differences: They think they're "Unforgiven" because the Lion failed to arrive in time to relieve the Siege of Terra; the "Fallen" other Dark Angels successors are obsessed over, are fallen battle-brothers and the gene-seed they left behind. Their elites use heavy bolters with scythe blades mounted under the barrels to serve as monopods, resembling the Maugetar, though the Angels of the Harvest deny taking inspiration from the xeno weapon. In desperation for support to maintain wargear they inherited- support the Dark Angels deny this errant successor- the Angels of the Harvest gave the AdMech access to their STC patterns, further outraging other sons of the Lion.

Edited May 14, 2022 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Gamiel]

If people want to do a Chapter that's secretly decendents of Loyalist members of the Traitor Legions do this thread have some discussions about how such a chapter's origin could be.

[Gamiel]

I am creating a set of Imperial Campaign Badges every day until I forget. Some could serve as inspiration for a chapter.

Some quicktakes:

Some more:

And more:

And the last ones (unless there have been a new update):

And then there was an update...

And some more:

Grail Keepers - Lord-protectors of a Paradise World, half the chapter never leave the protective duty of their homeworld. Noble in spirit and deeds, they try to not just destroy His enemies but also protect and uplift His people, and their hearts are filed with sorrow and melancoli as the constant onslaught of mankinds enemies give them little chanse to do anything but kill and destroy.

Fleurs-de-Mort - Belivers in the Emperor's divinity and highly superstitious. They constantly read the portens and carry amulets and relics to protect themself from evil and misfortune when they have to do their duty even thought all the signs point toward death and failur:

Lions Vigilant - Created during the Bastion Founding to assist the Iron Lords in their duty maintain the blockade of the Grendl Stars. Of a superstitious and suspicion nature, with a highly ritualised chapter culture.

Imperial Headsmen - While the Headsmen do send squads or single marine to conflicts that request aid, do the majority of the chapter focus on one target of the Emperor's wrath. The target is chosen by a conusil of the chapter's aether-readers and Chaplains, usually a warlord, arch traitor, or similar.

Grave Keepers - Have in all but name become the Chamber Militant of Ordo Sepulturum. They and their serfs work tirelessly to keep themself, their equipment and ships clean, physically as well as spiritually.

[Gamiel]

 

The old Deathwatch RPG book Honour the Chapter had a chapter creation system, where one of the entries was about the chapter cult: "Every Chapter has its own “Chapter cult,” the body of beliefs and practices unique to itself. The specifics of the cult develop over the millennia, so that two Chapters sired by the same Progenitor during the same Founding may, after several centuries, exhibit radically divergent religious practices. Some Chapters inherit a great deal of the rites and traditions of the culture from which they recruit, while many more are so steeped in their own history and tradition that they are quite unique. In general, the Successors of any given Progenitor share a core body of beliefs and practices, but even this is not always the case. This section presents just a few possible Chapter cults, and having some idea of their nature and history is a great way to add depth to a character."

 

Followed by a list of some possible chapter cults.

 

I have done some concepts for the possible chapter cults results, and since they are a bit many do I not plan to post them in one go but one at a time, with some spece inbetween. We start fit the first result on the list:

And contune with the secund one, this one not as long:

And the third one. 

 

Honour the Ancestors

For this one I changed the premis, since the original Dw:RPG premis was more or less that the chapter had a great hero in their history that they worshiped, and that don't leave that much space for chapter culture concepts, so my concept list is based on different takes on ancestor worship, following the old ways, respecting their fallen, and similar:

1. A Chapter that make servo-skulls out of all their fallen brothers’ recovered skulls and every marine is accompanied by at least one of those servo-skulls.

2. A Chapter practices endocannibalism to keep their fallens memory alive.

3. A Chapter that placed great emphasis on reclaiming the wargear of their fallen so that their memory might fight on in the hands of new warriors.

4. They bury their fallen upon their homeworld’s soil or moon, believing that the spirits of their ancestors watch over them.

5. The Chapter’s halls are filled with rows of skulls taken from the bodies of fallen Space Marines and their chapels are filled with the skulls of foes claimed in the aftermath of victory.

6. Each battle-brother’s cell has an altar for remembrance, sacrifice and prayer to the fallen marines who previously resided in the cell, who (it’s believed) guide and protect the battle-brother now living there.

7. The battle-brothers’ armour and other wargear are covered in the bones of their fallen brethren.

8. At certain times the Chapter’s fallen remains are exhumed to be periodically re-wrapped in fresh silk shrouds before being replaced in the tomb. It’s likely this is seen as an occasion to celebrate the honoured forbearer's memory, reunite with Chapter and community. This may be a very solemn affair or it may be an occasion with a festive atmosphere.

9. Each fallen battle-brother has a great state funeral once their bodies are returned to the Chapter’s homeworld.

10. The Chapter’s fallen have been known (or it’s believed to have happened) to rise again and fight alongside the living.

11. After battle the Chapter keep a great memorial service for the fallen, they will likely expect any allied Forces to participate, and react hostile to any who don’t.

12. Each of the Chapter’s chapter-masters have written down books of knowledge and observations, that each battle-brother is expected to study.

13. A Chapter that believes that the “soul” of an Astartes is in the Gene-seed, and view themselves as the reincarnation of the previous owner of the Seed within them.

14. Each battle-brother carries a portable shrine with them where they honour their forbearers and prey for their guidance.

15. The Chapter expects each battle-brother to memorise the names of the former carriers of their implanted gene-seed. There is likely a prestige to have to memorize a longer list of forbearers.

16. The Chapter’s Chaplains drink the mixed blood of gathered battle-brothers to receive visions of guidance from their forbearers.

17. The Chapter believe that every weapon has a spirit within that yearns for battle, and that this spirit must be maintained if a weapon is to aid them in combat. For this reason, older, proven weapons are highly valuable to the Chapter. Possibly they go to great lengths to retrieve weapons that have been damaged or lost in battle, though those which are beyond repair are ceremonially salvaged in order that the spirit within may live on.

18. Recruit from a Feral World and still use many of the weapons, traps and similar that their non-transhuman ancestors used.

19. To honour the Chapter’s great heroes massive statues of them have been carved into the Chapter’s homeworld’s mountains.

20. Large effigies of the Chapter’s great heroes are taken with the Chapter’s forces as they go to war and placed so they can look upon the battlefield.

21. The Chapter’s cult is fierce in its worship and mythologization of its greatest heroes.

22. Ritualistic endocannibalism of their dead so their spirits and memory will live on in the Chapter.

23. Know their linage but put no emphasis on it, instead focusing on their own deeds and heroes.

24. The Chapter try to emulate their founding Chapter, the 1:th Founding Chapter from which their gene-seed originated, or maybe even their founding Legion (or their idea of how those are/where.)

25. They bury their fallen in their fortress-monastery and ships, believing that the spirits of their ancestors watch over them.

Edited May 23, 2022 by Gamiel

[Gamiel]

A list with concepts for making a chapter feel Ancient Greece-ish (am expanding it right now so more parts will be posted):

 

1. The Chapter’s leader/s has as advisor a female oracle. Is she a psyker, blessed by the emperor, both, or something else?

2. Each battle-brother is assigned one too three personal serfs, known as skeuophoros, who assist in a variety of roles such as donning armour, maintaining weaponry, information gathering, and/or other menial but personal tasks.

3. A Chapter that use Combat Shields and/or Boarding Shields as standard equipment.

4. Maintain sovereignty over several nearby systems, and the chapter officers are expected to oversee the administration of each world before advancing to a higher rank. Possibly these officers are often found in command of local troops.

5. Recruit from seafarers and coastal-dwellers.

6. Take human survivors of worlds they have pacified to serve as chapter-slaves and servitors, doing the most menial and undesirable servant-tasks.

7. Believe it’s wrong to not treat dead enemies with at least the minimum of respect that they treat their own dead.

8. An elite group of the Chapter is equipped with mirror shields. [refering to the Argyraspides with the silver shields turned into mirror shields]

9. As part of their training each aspirant is assigned the role of skeuophoros to a battle-brother of the battle companies, and function as their personal helper, in any way the battle-brother sees fitt, be it in as well as outside of combat. 

10. The Chapter’s companies are each a self-contained unit responsible for its own recruiting and maintenance of its motorpool. Each of the companies control a different part of their homeworld and there is internal strife between the companies about rights and dues. 

11. Led by a democrat council and on decisions of large magnitude they summon the whole available chapter for a united vote. 

12. Worship a pantheon made up by the Emperor (as the high-god-king), the primarchs, and lesser demi-gods (Imperial Saints, heroes, and similar). [referring to the Greek pantheon and Greek hero cults]

13. Beautify youths of the chapter’s homeworld and/or warzones they fight in are taken by the battle-brother to serve as their personal servants.

14. Honourable but also prideful and allow their wounded pride rule them.

15. Possible aspirants are first chosen from the child participants of games similar to the classic Olympic games.

16. Their recruitment world’s misogynistic culture has affected the chapter culture. Giving them problems when they have to interact with women of power. 

17. All marines are expected to at least know the basics of poetry, rethorics, and philosophy. And games in those skills are common among battle-brothers.

18. Libation - an offering involving the ritual pouring out of a liquid, most commonly consisted of watered down wine, but also sometimes of pure wine, honey, olive oil, water or milk - to the Emperor, ancestors, and/or similar is a common practice among battle-brothers when they think they should give thank or honour, or ask for help or guidance.

19. Animal sacrifices accompanied by singing and prayer, to the Emperor, ancestors, and/or similar, are done at fixed dates and before and/or after larger battle. 

20. The chapter’s death rituals involves the body being washed and anointed with oil and a wreath put around the dead battle-brother’s neck. Then, the body is clothed and wrapped in a winding sheet, leaving only one’s head exposed, and coins are put on the marine’s eyes and/or in his mouth. Possibly the body is followed by mourners as it’s carried to its grave.

20. The chapter’s death rituals involves the body being washed and anointed with oil and a wreath put around the dead battle-brother’s neck. Then, the body is clothed and wrapped in a winding sheet, leaving only one’s head exposed, and coins are put on the marine’s eyes and/or in his mouth. Possibly the body is followed by mourners as it’s carried to its grave.

21. The Chapter’s holdings and ships have mosaic floors, at least in the areas where the battle-brothers usually move around.

22. Standard dress for battle-brothers out of armour is a loincloth, a full-body cape and nothing more. [Referring to the 300 look]

23. Standard dress for battle-brothers out of armour is a chiton, a chlamys, and sandals. Maybe the chiton’s and/or chlamys’ borders are coloured in the colours of the wearer’s company.

24. The chapter practises animal sacrifices, accompanied by singing and prayer, to the Emperor, ancestors, and/or similar. Afterward, hepatoscopy, divination by examining parts of the sacrificed animal, is often performed by the present Librarian, Chaplain, and/or similar.

25. The chapter put stock in ornithomancy, the practice of reading omens from the actions of birds.

26. At times of disaster (famine, loss of supplies, plague, large losses) or at times of calendrical crisis a battle-brother that for one reason or another has been censured or cripled is declared pharmakós and ritually exiled from the chapter’s territory. With the belief that this will bring about purification and dispel the misfortune.

27. The chapter group-together their Librarians, Chaplains, Techmarines and Apothecaries under the term “Philosophers”.

28. The Chapter fully belive in the concept of xenia, the right of hospitality if asked, and the respect from hosts to guests and the respect from guests to hosts that entails.

29. The chapter does not ignore the pleasures of eating but values simplicity when it comes to the meal. Likely consider culinary and gastronomic research as a sign of flabbiness.

30. The chapter’s recruitment world associated dance with religious ceremony and also hold it in high regard for its educational qualities (according to them). This has been brought over to the chapter’s culture.

31. The chapter show company belonging not by colour or number but by the use of Greek letters.

32. The lyra, aulos, and pan flute are the instrument of choice for the chapter.

33. Have twelve companies inested of the codex standard ten. [referring to the twelve Labours of Hercules, and the Twelve Olympians]

34. The ashes of dead marines are kept in decorative metal kraters.

35. Athletic games are a custom part of the chapter’s celebration, be it for victory or to honour fallen heroes. 

36. The chapter’s fortress-monastery, ships and similar holding all have a odeon for musical activities such as singing, musical shows, and poetry competitions among the marines and/or their followers. 

37. The chapter show company belonging not by colour or number but by the use of Greek shield symbols (like the head of Medusa, trident head, a standing owl, jumping dolphin, etc.)

38. The chapter’s aspirants are given as pharmakoi by the city-states and tribal-kingdoms they recruit from.

39. The chapter often participate in imperial colonisation attempts as planet takers, colony protectors, and/or organisators. 

40. Olive oil is the main lubricant the chapter uses when taking care of their wargear or machinery. It’s also used in their cooking.

 

Some worlds from that era that can be used in some way:

Ephors = elected leaders of ancient Sparta, shared power with the two Spartan kings. Could be used for the chapter council.

Ecclesia/ekklesia = the assembly of the citizens in the democratic city-states of ancient Greece. Could be used for the chapter council.

Hipparki = Macedonian cavalry unit. Could be used for biker units.

Ilia = unit of hipparki

Ilark = cavalry officer

Hippeis = the bodyguards of the Spartan kings

Sklábos = slave. Could be a word for chapter-serf

Syntagma = Macedonian unit of 25 men

Syntagmatark = leader of a Syntagma

Helots = Spartan serfs 

Mothakes = a special group of helots that has been given a spartan eduction and have more freedoms than the standard helot. Could be a word for aspirants, or for serfs-at-arms. 

 

Edited May 29, 2022 by Gamiel

[Gamiel]

Two ideas I got from the “Design a space marine” competition from 1997 (WD 210) pictures, the text indicate that many of those chapters were given lore by the people creating them but the pages only show pictures, and I have not seen any of those chapters appearing among any of the pictures or lorepages of fan created chapters, so I'm working with the thesis that those chapters have been abounded by their creators, giving us who want free reins to creat our own lore if we want to use the name and colours.

 

Demon Avengers

* symbol is the red version of the DA's winged sword on yellow

* BA successors

* given a duty by a prevoius BA chapter-master to find out as much as is possible and safe about the forces of Khorne and especially Ka'Bandha, since those seems to have an interest in the Sons of Sangiunius

* have become somewhat of specialist of fighting Khorne cultist, CSM and daemons. And know many of the signs of pre-outbreak Khorne influnce.

 

The Pathfinders

* WS successors

* Ancestor worshipers and believers in the Emperor’s divinity.

* Have great respect for Navigators (who can see the Emperor’s light) and astropaths, who have stood near the Him as part of their soulbinding – this also give them a burning hatred for those Navigators or astropaths that have turned from Him.

* Offer their service to navigators, Rogue traders, and crusade that are going into unexplored or seldom visited regions. In exchange for them being given copies of the navigatoral charts created during the expedition.

* Those that are seconded to others have the symbol of those they are seconded to on their right pauldron instead of their battlefield role

* Those that are seconded to others are counted as lost but not dead, their names placed on the alter of those in between where prayer is given for their safe return. They are also not counted as part of the chapter's strength and new recruits will be taken in to replace them. This practically mean that the chapter easily could go over the codex standard of 1000 marines but this is not something that is noticed since those seconded battle-brothers will only become a part of the chapter when they return and battle-brothers are constantly being seconded to missions.

* Their fortress-monastery is part of a grand space station where both Imperial Navy and commercial ships have permanent port, and rogue traders as well as expeditionary fleets make stops.

* Voidborn and Japanese names.

* Shinto-buddhist-ish rituals and ways of prayer. 

* Cremate their dead if possible and pick up the remains of their bones with chopstick 

* Not samurais or samurai-ish. No samurai-ish armour parts, no katanas or daishos, no things from Japanese culture that are samurai exlusive.

 

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by Gamiel

[Gamiel]

The Dark Angels Ravenwing company have lots of transfers or sculpted pauldrons with their company symbol on, I’m really surpliced that we have not really seen any canon or fanmade chapters that use the Ravenwing symbol as their chapter symbol (like how Shadow Wolves and Red Wolves use the Space Wolves symbol as a base for their own symbols). Here are some name suggestions for chapters that could have the winged-claw-grasping-a-sword as their symbol:

Flying Swords*

Imperial** Swords*

Winged Swords*

Winged Warriors***

Flying Warriors***

Emperor’s** Warriors***

Imperial** Warriors***

* can be exchanged with “Blades” or any kind of straight sword, ex. Jian, spatha, xiphe, gladius, etc.

** since the winged claw seems to be a kind of Imperial symbol.

*** can be exchanged with “Hussars”, “Dragoons”, “Samurais”, “Knights”, or other warrior groups.

 

Of course, a chapter’s symbol don’t need to have anything with their name to do, see for example the Dark Hunters, Knights of Dorn, Angels of Iron, or Mentors, their symbol have (seemingly) nothing with their name to do. So you could have the winged-claw-grasping-a-sword as the chapter symbol for any kind of chapter.

[Gamiel]

DESERT HAWKS

Symbol: a raptor/raptor’s head* on light blue.

* suggest using the rapture head pauldron from the Deathwatch veterans kit, or the raptor’s head transfers from the HH Ultramarine Legion transfer sheet

Colours: beige-white, with left pauldron light blue with their chapter symbol on.

Lots of sashes, robes, and similar (preferably in white/white-ish), gold coin bling (use the Iron Golem’s coin bling/mail and paint them gold).

Inspirations: Bedouins, desert Arabs

Warfare: Preferer hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, raids, stalking the target (preferably in such way that the target can see them but not really attack), taking out supplies, taking out supply trains. Possibly at the cost of other ways of warfare, or they could be Codex following jack-of-all-trades, but they just prefer to do it that way

Edited July 3, 2022 by Gamiel

[Brother Cambrius]

On 7/1/2022 at 10:15 PM, Gamiel said:

DESERT HAWKS

Symbol: a falcon/falcon’s head* on light blue.

* suggest using the rapture head pauldron from the Deathwatch veterans kit, or the raptor’s head transfers from the HH Ultramarine Legion transfer sheet

Colours: beige-white, with left pauldron light blue with their chapter symbol on.

Lots of sashes, robes, and similar (preferably in white/white-ish), gold coin bling (use the Iron Golem’s coin bling/mail and paint them gold).

Inspirations: Bedouins, desert Arabs

Warfare: Preferer hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, raids, stalking the target (preferably in such way that the target can see them but not really attack), taking out supplies, taking out supply trains. Possibly at the cost of other ways of warfare, or they could be Codex following jack-of-all-trades, but they just prefer to do it that way

I could certainly see this being a successor to the White Consuls chapter. Coming from a Desert world akin to Tallarn that was also one previously a lush green land would add a lot of fun on development on why they value supplies and gold coins as displays of prowess.

Cambrius

[Gamiel]

Regarding a chapter symbol and what to use (that don't need you to be Golden Demon material) so do the HH Legions transfer sheets have many symbols that are not the main Legion symbol and that have not been used by any established chapter. And the standard transfer sheet that comes with both the The Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness box and Legion Cataphractii Praetor & Chaplain Consul and the smaller variant that comes with MKIV Tactical Squad have lots of moons, raptor heads, and un-encircled fists that can be used. Even the Eye of Horus could be used if you cut of the continuation of the pupil, and the IF standard one will be a bit different if placed it upside down.

Colours also do a lot here. There are many "name, colours and symbol"-only chapters that reuses established the Legions symbols, a well known symbol will look a bit different if the armour it's placed on is different colour then the Legion that it belongs to's colour. What about the Thousnad Sons symbol on green, or the Alpha Legion hydra on white? Ad to that upgrade stuff that don't fit the steriotype picture of that Legion and nobody can (rightfully) complain.

Adeptus Titanicus have their own transfer sheets with symbols that can be used for chapter symbol, and there are some stand alone transfer sheets that you don't need to by a kit for to get.

There is also the transfer sheet that you get with the Chaos Space Marines box (and possibly others, but I don't know which) which transfears can all (that do not show the Chaos-star) be reused with any different colours than the Chaos Legion it should belonged to for a loyalist chapter, just look at the Covenant of Fire 

 

Edited August 14, 2022 by Gamiel