IA: Celebrants

[Lysimachus]

The Tenth Company are referred to as the "Dusk Company", due to their more covert means of warfare. Their colours could be in shades of blue displaying the dusk sky.

 

I like this, I hate brightly coloured Scout Squads... :D

[Lysimachus]

Spent a little more time working on this, fleshed out a few ideas for Origins and Beliefs:

 

 

IA: Celebrants

Origins:

The latter part of the 36th Millennium was a time of renewal and restoration for the Imperium of Man. The reforms of Sebastian Thor and his Confederation of Light brought stability and hope to an empire that had, only decades before, been on its knees. Many believed that a new era of human supremacy was beginning.

Into this forward-looking galaxy was born the Celebrants Chapter. Formed as part of the glorious 22nd Founding, they were Successors of the great legacy of the Ultramarines, descended via the mighty Howling Griffons Chapter.

Beliefs:

"Aye, we are the Celebrants. For with a loaded boltgun in my fist and the enemies of Mankind before me, what greater cause for rejoicing could I have?" Sgt Laetor, 5th Company.

One might conclude that a Chapter that finds joy on the battlefield must be a boisterous, barbaric force. However, the Celebrants' rejoicing is founded upon knowledge. They are warrior-scholars, true sons of their Primarch, who fully understand their place and purpose within the Imperium. This wisdom grants them peace and joy, even in the face of the worst horrors the galaxy can throw at them. Even death holds no sadness, for one who dies fulfilling his life's purpose is fortunate indeed.

Many rites and rituals.

Homeworld:
Homeworld has great ritual significance, but is not a traditional Chapter world in the sense of Fortress Monastery and massive defences. Practically based in their (large) fleet. Maybe a particularly venerable Battle Barge serves as FM? Probably with numerous recruiting worlds (like HG). Initiates' cultural differences are quickly subsumed by the Chapter Cult.

Organisation:
Codex Standard. Not a lot to add at this point, not sure how the Chapter might view the various specialist officers - Chaplains would obviously be heavily involved in rites and rituals, Celebrants among Celebrants?

10th Co. - Something to do with Dusk (or maybe pre-Dawn, before first light, fitting as their role as the scouts?)

Combat Doctrine:
Balanced structure as per above, but very aggressive. See it as a privilege to take part in Imperial Crusades. Regularly commit the entire Chapter to campaigns (All 10 Co.s to Armageddon, etc) but this often leaves them with limited reserves.

Geneseed:
Ultramarine, no degradation. (Don't want to complicate them with the addition of genetic issues?)

Battle Cry:
??? - if they use lots of rites, maybe there are ritual phrases/litanies used depending on the mission or even specific manoeuvres?

The Era Indomitus:
Bring in the grimdark here? Perhaps their wholehearted crusading had almost brought them to the brink of extinction?
Viewed era of their creation as a new start, perhaps they see the Indomitus Crusade with similar optimism? Or have they (or just some of them?) learned to be more cautious?
Joy to have Guilliman back too!

[Codex Grey]

Looks good. Reads well IMO.

 

17 hours ago, Lysimachus said:

 

IA: Celebrants

Origins:

The latter part of the 36th Millennium was a time of renewal and restoration for the Imperium of Man. The reforms of Sebastian Thor and his Confederation of Light brought stability and hope to an empire that had, only decades before, been on its knees. Many believed that a new era of human supremacy was beginning.

Into this forward-looking galaxy was born the Celebrants Chapter. Formed as part of the glorious 22nd Founding, they were Successors of the great legacy of the Ultramarines, descended via the mighty Howling Griffons Chapter.

 

 Not sure what to add or if you need to. But if it feels a bit bare-bones, maybe add a summary of their intended purpose as a Chapter upon creation or how they found their purpose over time. Then maybe explore this further in Beliefs. Maybe the Howling Griffons influenced this somehow. Also, maybe a few words on how they have performed and if they have lived up to their purpose since their founding.

 

17 hours ago, Lysimachus said:

Beliefs:

"Aye, we are the Celebrants. For with a loaded boltgun in my fist and the enemies of Mankind before me, what greater cause for rejoicing could I have?" Sgt Laetor, 5th Company.

One might conclude that a Chapter that finds joy on the battlefield must be a boisterous, barbaric force. However, the Celebrants' rejoicing is founded upon knowledge. They are warrior-scholars, true sons of their Primarch, who fully understand their place and purpose within the Imperium. This wisdom grants them peace and joy, even in the face of the worst horrors the galaxy can throw at them. Even death holds no sadness, for one who dies fulfilling his life's purpose is fortunate indeed.

Many rites and rituals.

Maybe their rituals and celebrations extend beyond the Chapter? Maybe they include the humans on the worlds they fight on? Maybe they push their relationship with the Ecclesiarchy to the limit?

 

17 hours ago, Lysimachus said:

Geneseed:
Ultramarine, no degradation. (Don't want to complicate them with the addition of genetic issues?)

A possible direction could be to introduce an intense pride along with their celebratory nature. They celebrate their genetic purity and look down upon other Chapters with less than stellar geneseed. Over time, they may have developed a sense of paranoia, a dread of disappointing the Emperor, their allies and themselves, projected outwards as disgust towards those they feel do not live up to some ideal or don't revel in battle the same way they do. This wouldn't be a genetic thing, but it could be mentioned here, but also affect other sections. Idk.

Edited July 20, 2022 by Codex Grey

[Lysimachus]

Very good ideas!

I particularly like the idea of their confidence and certainty about their purpose making them quite prideful and harsh, that could be the way I've been looking for to bring the Grimdark back in and stop them being 'Happy Marines'! 

[Gamiel]

Maybe they in their celebrant nature are great at building up and keeping normal humans’ spirits. Making the forces they fight alongside fight on with a greater belief/ability then before - if you go with this idea maybe ad some Dialogus sisters (old model feel more fitting than the modern one) to help them spread their message but count-as wound markers (or similar) for the game. Necromunda propagandist could also fit. Maybe also ad some loud speakers to some of the marines, so they can make every body hear their celebrant message

[Lysimachus]

Index Astartes: Celebrants 

 

 

 

 

Origins:

 

"A new dawn rises." Sebastian Thor, Ecclesiarch of the Adeptus Ministorum.

 

The latter part of the 36th Millennium was a time of renewal and restoration for the Imperium of Mankind. The reforms of Sebastian Thor and his Confederation of Light brought stability and hope to an empire that had, only decades before, been on its knees. Many believed that a new era of human supremacy was beginning.

 

Into this forward-looking galaxy was born the Celebrants Chapter. Formed as part of the glorious 22nd Founding, they were Successors to the great legacy of the Ultramarines Legion, descended via the mighty Howling Griffons Chapter. In harmony with the traditions of their parent Chapter, the first Celebrants swore oaths together: to find joy only in their service to the Emperor, and to fulfil the purpose of the Astartes - to utterly crush his foes. For more than four thousand years, they have stayed true to these oaths.

 

 

 

 

Beliefs:

 

"Aye, we are the Celebrants. For with a loaded boltgun in my fist and the enemies of Man before me, what greater cause for rejoicing could I have?" Sgt Cadmus, 4th Company.

 

One might conclude that a Chapter that finds pleasure in battle must be a boisterous, barbaric force. However, the Celebrants' rejoicing is founded upon knowledge. They are warrior-scholars, true scions of Roboute Guilliman, who fully understand their place and purpose in the Imperium.

 

Such understanding grants the Celebrants inner peace and joy, even in the face of the worst horrors the galaxy can throw at them. Death itself holds no sadness, for one who dies fulfilling his life's purpose is fortunate indeed. This gives the Celebrants an air of quiet certainty and confidence.

 

However, not all interpret it that way. Some Imperial commanders who have interacted with the Chapter claim that they are proud, arrogant, unbending in their outlook and contemptuous of anyone that does not share their eagerness for war.
 

 

Combat Doctrine:

 

 

Given its deep respect for the strictures laid out by their genefather, the Chapter is able to take to the battlefield in whatever fashion is dictated by strategic wisdom, whether that be as part of a lightning assault or an impenetrable defence.

 

However, in their hearts, the Celebrants are joyful crusaders - always eager and ready to go to war in service to the Emperor. This means that the Chapter sees it as a great privilege to take part in Imperial Crusades, and it is not uncommon for all ten Companies to be committed to a particular campaign - most recently the Third War for Armageddon against the hordes of Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka.

 

Sidebar: Servitude Studs
It is quite common for Chapter warriors to add bonding studs, described as 'servitude studs', to their armour plate. Perhaps these are similar in purpose to the service studs worn by the officers of other Chapters. If so, it is impossible to say for certain how long each stud might represent. However, given that veterans of the Chapter have been encountered with both shoulders and greaves covered by dozens of these studs, it is highly unlikely that each one indicates a century of war.

 

 

Organisation:

 

Such eagerness for war could be considered a double-edged sword, meaning that the Chapter rarely has extensive reserves of men or materiel. However, their extensive recruiting base and strict implantation procedures mean that the Chapter can usually rely on a relatively high turnover of new recruits to replenish any losses. This also means that the average age of a Celebrant Astartes is perhaps marginally lower than in most Chapters, which in itself is thought to be a contributing factor to the optimism and battle-joy they display.

 

The Celebrants proudly follow the strictures of the Codex Astartes, having ten Companies of one hundred Astartes warriors. Initiates progress from the 10th Company into the Reserve and Battle Companies, and - for those who truly excel - into the veteran 1st Company.

 

Sidebar: 10th Co.

Something to do with Dusk, fitting as their role as the scouts going in before the rest of the Chapter? (Describe colours fade down from black>blue>purple>red, better for sneaking!)

 

As with any Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, the Celebrants have many rites that are unique to their brotherhood. When not engaged in battle, the lives of their brethren are circumscribed by the Libri Horae, a byzantine system of rites and rituals built up over many centuries that guide the Chapter in their day to day activities. The Celebrants' Chaplains, also known as …, are the keepers of these ancient tomes, who lead the Chapter in the fulfilment of these rites. Many of these rituals relate to Eos, the world that the Celebrants claim as their home.

 

 

 

Homeworld:

 

(Description of Eos, thinking maybe in a bi ot tri star system, dawn very unusual and spectacular! Doesn't even have to be habitable, perhaps a beautiful but sun-blasted and airless rock where the ashes of fallen brethren are brought to be scattered…?)

Eos has great ritual significance, but is not a traditional Astartes Homeworld in the sense of having massive defences, recruiting centre or gene-seed repository. In practical terms, the Chapter is based aboard the many ships of its fleet, with the huge, venerable Battle-Barge Victoriam Aurora serving as a mobile Fortress Monastery. Much like their Howling Griffons forebears, the Chapter claims the right to recruit from dozens of Imperial worlds, though any cultural differences amongst the initiates taken from these disparate planets are quickly subsumed by the Chapter Cult.

 

 

 

Gene-seed:

 

The Chapter is an Ultramarines Successor, with no known degradation in its gene-seed. The Celebrants brethren are very proud of their integrity in this regard. Unfortunately, it has been claimed that they display a somewhat dismissive attitude towards any who lack similar purity - especially those Chapters of the accursed 21st Founding.

 

 

 

Battle Cry:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Era Indomitus:

 

Viewed era of their creation as a new start for Humanity, see the Indomitus Crusade with similar optimism? Joy to have Guilliman return too! Use all of the new toys, Phobos units typically clad in colours like those of the Dusk Company. High turnover means most of the Chapter is now Primaris, many of the Firstborn also wished to cross Rubicon in order to better serve the Emperor.

 

 

 

***

 

 

Another update, a few bits fleshed out a little more. It's a slow burn project, but gradually getting there...

Edited March 22, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Xenith]

Love this chapter, and it's great to see work done on them - Might have to have a go at painting up a marine sometime, though I doubt I have the skill to do it justice. Maybe just a less gradual scheme, yellow greaves, orange thighs and arms, red torso helm and pads.

[Lysimachus]

Thanks mate! Yeah, I reckon that's a pretty good method, would certainly work as a slightly simpler way to do rank and file models?

 

I was very tempted myself, the first pic in my previous post makes me really want to get some of the new HH MkVIs...

[Brother Cambrius]

Oh it is very much a cause for celebration to see these boys return anew, Lysimachus! :D

 

Some really good refinements and foundations upon everything discussed in the past. The homeworld is a great idea with the Trinary/Binary star system, you could have it be that it is the place where ashes are scattered for "The dawn never ends upon Eos, like the Light of the Emperor that our Brothers have become part of in their sacrifice." The addition of them being dismissive towards impure Chapters/geneseed is a unique bit of divergence to the rest of the Chapter's style too, a little flaw to help add dimension. How do they treat Sanguinius' sons, or even Dorn's sons who cannot use the Betcher's Gland, or the Susan Membrane?

 

In terms of the current Era Indomitus, I can see them almost breaking hope and joy as the Imperium was cleft in two by the Cicatrix, but the Advent Primaris was like the rise of a phoenix from the embers of their hope and joy, rejuvenating the Celebrants both in number and in purpose.

 

Cambrius

[Lysimachus]

This kind of follows on from what you're saying, Cam:

 

 

I was just looking at the Battles for Armageddon club, and I noticed something I've never noticed before on the image of the Astartes Chapters involved: 

 

 

For most Chapters it shows their Founding millennium. However, for the Celebrants, it says m.36 - m.41... does that mean they were destroyed by the end of m.41? Presumably it would have to be during the 3rd War for Armageddon, which started 998.m.41, when they deployed all 10 Co.s...

 

This doesn't spoil things too much, as they would logically be one of the first reinforced/recreated during the Ultima Founding, so it would only be a relatively short time of non-existence?

 

I think if I assume this detail as canon in my IA, I will say a few Marines survived Armageddon - enough to cross the Rubicon and form a Chapter HQ for the Primaris Marines?

Edited January 10, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Brother Tyler]

I don't recall any of the Third War for Armageddon lore describing the Celebrants as having suffered significant losses (unlike the Celestial Lions), but I'll go through the White Dwarf articles that I have and the Black Library campaign book to see what I can find.

 

At this point, my interpretation of the dates shown in that article are that they refer to the date at which the portrayed color scheme was recorded [in the Index Astartes]. Two of the other Chapters shown in that article were founded prior to the dates given for them. The Angels of Vigilance have "M40" shown, but they are suspected to have existed since the time of the Second Founding. Similarly, the Exorcists have "M40" shown, too, but they are known to have existed since M36. Most importantly, those dates were published in lore that was created for the Third War for Armageddon campaign, appearing in articles that were published online (i.e., concurrent with the Index Astartes article). So unless there was a disconnect/miscommunication between the authors of the Chapter-specific articles and the overarching Index Astartes article, the dates aren't necessarily intended to give founding dates. Many/most of the Chapters shown were founded at the time of the date shown (we know that the Second and Third Founding Chapters match), but we don't know for certain that the others have their founding millennium depicted. From that, and since the Celebrants are the only Chapter for whom there is a date range given, I assume that the "M36-M41" means that the Celebrants used the depicted scheme for that period of time and had different schemes either before or after that time.

 

This aligns with lore from the Insignium Astartes, also published during the 3rd edition of the game, but later, about the Codex Astartes recommending occasional changes to livery. While we don't know how drastic such changes might be, we can point to different schemes shown for Chapters like the Raven Guard, Salamanders, Ultramarines, and Blood Angels over the years. While these Chapters only made minor changes (e.g., the Ultramarines using gold or yellow at different times for the 2nd Company), those changes may have been significant enough to warrant a new entry in the Index Astartes.

 

Ironically, the one Chapter for which I would expect to see an "end" date is the Celestial Lions. At the time, the lore made it seem as if the events on Armageddon meant that the Chapter was doomed to die (though that was later retconned in one of the Black Templars books from the Black Library). However, this Chapter has "M38" depicted, not giving and "end" date.

 

The notable exception to my theory is the Relictors who have "M36" shown, which aligns with their founding millennium. Prior to adopting the "Relictors" nickname and the grey/black color scheme, they were the Fire Claws and had black and orange armour (from the story Angron's Monolith).

 

So all we can say for certain is that some of the dates align with the Chapter's founding, but some don't. I guess that means that the lore is sufficiently open to interpretation that creative players can do what they want with it.

[Lysimachus]

Hmm, good point. Whichever way you look at it, there are some that don't quite fit!

 

 

 

I suppose that sort of makes sense if you view it as an in-universe record, full of typically Imperial inconsistencies...