'The Collectors' Planning Thread

[Inquisitor Xenthor]

Alright, So i finally moved out on my own, and figured it was about time to get a new side little project off the ground, as my Guardians of Bifrost have hit alittle snag when it comes to fluff and what not. So as i gather all my ideas here, i wanted input from you guys, since most of you helped me out with my Guardians. Most of this is all rough form and just ideas, but yeah...lets get started shall we.

 

Chapter Name: The Collectors

 

Founding: Somwhere around the 22nd Founding..possibly alittle earlier. I wanted them somewhere in the middleish...closer to the newer foundings perhaps.

 

Geneseed: Iron Hands

 

Color Scheme: Tin Bitz or Brass (Main Color), Light colored Trim (possibly black), Helmets Different color

 

Combat Doctrine: Close Combat Based

 

Organization: They are Divergent from the Codex by a significant amount, using any means necessary to obtain their objectives.

 

Alignment: Loyalist Renegade

 

Homeworld: VooDoo, Oryon System (Old Home Planet); Honor, Bloodstone System (New Home Planet)

-Mostly Fleetbased, as per their 'numerous' side-projects

 

Based In: Honor is based within the Segmentum Ultima, Between the Dominion of Stars and the Mordant Zone; Closer towards Kar Duniash.

 

How they continue to exist: They continue to exist without Imperial Support with some difficulties, though nothing too great. They function as a fully developed Chapter, they still have their 'recruitment' drives, they have all their original equipment, aswell as the necessary equipment to create new Marines. Though when supplies run low, and intelligence needs to be gathered, rumours have been spreading around the Imperium, that the Chapter has been reported 'selling' their services to the highest bidders. Taking anything they need for payments, aswell as in their 'raids' for equipment and/or Intellegence on the latest shipments of equipment and/or Ancient Artifacts.

 

Relationships Throughout the Galaxy: Relationships with the Traitor Legions remains the same, Absolute hatred, sworn enemies to the Emperor, and as such, sworn enemies to the Chapter. When it comes to the Loyalist Legions of the Imperium, the answers vary, depending on the Legions reaction to the Chapter at the time. Leaving all interactions a virtual balancing act, Some will become enemies, and Some will sit borderline.

 

Reason for going Renegade: Now I've got alot of different ideas written down for going Renegade, but to fit with the Chapter name I've gone with this; For some reason the Chapter begins collecting the Artifacts of Old, by any means necessary. After attacking various Imperial forces, taking their Artifacts, the Inquisition steps in, and after abit of a conflict, deems the Chapter Excommunicate Traitoris.

- Perhaps have a few of the Imperial Forces that were attacked, become Adeptus Mech. convoy ships that were transfering some Artifacts of Old. Maybe even have the Chapter collect not only 'Imperial' Artifacts, but also Xenos and Chaos Artifacts aswell.

 

Traits: Significant Divergence

Advantages - No Mercy, No Respite and Trust Your Battle Brothers

Drawbacks - Eye to Eye (Major) and We Stand Alone (Minor)

 

 

 

Of course alot of this stuff will be fluffed out, and explained better, but this is all in rough form for the most part. I have the Chapter Symbol, i'll try to get a scan of it soon. I still need to figure out their Belief System, though i have some ideas based on 'Special Characters' I'm developing.

 

So what do you guys think so far? Anything im missing and should toss in? Anything i should change?

[Commissar Molotov]

I don't like the name 'The Collectors'. It seems so tame for a group of 1,000 genetically-enhanced super-soldiers.

 

To be honest, your homeworld names are funny. Voodoo? Honour? Something more sci-fi might help settle your force firmly in the 41st Millenium.

 

The idea of a mercenary chapter is... well, it'll be hard for many people to bear. You might want to check out Bootae's Shadowhawks, I'll see if I can find a link for you. The taking of the relics is quite similar to the Relictors, so I can see how the chapter might get in trouble.

 

Perhaps more background to ground your chapter firmly would be good... but I would consider that a static homeworld for a chapter declared excommunicate is bad idea.

 

EDIT: The Shadowhawks.

[Inquisitor Xenthor]

Well for the homeworld, i was thinking it more of a...storage facitlity type deal. Completely hidden, an uncharted world, allowing the Chapter to have a place to fall back to if things hit the fan.

 

In my head i had them catch wind of their situation before it actually came to pass (becoming Excommunicate), and as such they moved everything they had onto their ships and set out to find a new place to set up, before the Inquisition came and V-Bombed their old planet. Well...something along those lines anyways.

 

As to the name..what would you suggest then? I got inspired from the name after watching Andromeda :blush: and the way those 'Collectors' did their job...how they were like the Inquisition..but i twisted the idea to make them the Loyalist Renegades. So yeah..what other sort of names would you say i look towards?

 

As to the planet names, that can be changed easily enough if i find something else that tickles my fancy, but for now im partial to keeping atleast Honor and the Bloodstone system.

[space wolf]

you may want to rethink the idea of attacking other sm chapter to steal their objects. even with a hidden planet, the SM will scour the universe looking for their lost honor, and they will find the hidden planet eventually. As monty python says "noone expects the spanish inquisition!" additionally if they have attacked more than one chapter, then they have a serious problem. I dont think any SM chapter would ignore a renagade chapter if it was attacking imperial forces and stealing objects.

 

i like the overall concept tho :blush:

[Commissar Molotov]

I think that's what Xenthor's after. They've trampled over countless toes in their myopic search for artefacts. And sooner or later they're going to get what's coming to them...

[space wolf]

but thats my point....the chapter simply wont exist, because every chapter will be after blood.

[Commissar Molotov]

Simply won't? That's a little unfair to his chapter, SW. It's not as if his chapter has gone to every single one of the nine hundred and ninety-nine other chapters and done something to cross them. It's just that in certain cases, his chapter has got on the bad side of other chapters.

 

It's worth noting I don't especially like the idea for this chapter. But I will support his right to have his background. His chapter is in exactly the same position as any chaos space marine chapter - every loyalist chapter would be after them. In fact, loyalist chapters would have MORE of a reason to attack a chaos chapter. If we can tolerate chapters like the Soul Drinkers, Relictors, the Marines Malevolent, the Black Dragons, the Flesh Tearers, the Iron Hands or even the Blood Angels, I think we as readers can tolerate Xenthor's chapter.

[space wolf]

im not saying he shouldnt use the idea, maybe if he specifically mentioned a chapter or two, it will become more clear. maybe I'm being to nitpicky but the sentence attacks various sm chapters and other imperal forces, doesnt sound like a small amount. i could totally see them getting excommunitcated for attaking something as small as on or two imperial vessels...that alone would be enough to keep the chapter idea.

[Commissar Molotov]

Oddly, though - would attacking one or two ships be enough? The Flesh Tearers have been reported for butchering humans in front of the Sororitas. The Marines Malevolent have been reported for bombing humans held prisoner by Orks and neither of these chapters have been excommunicated. But then the Celestial Lions have been exterminated simply for questioning Inquisitorial policy. There's no hard-or-fast rules in the Imperium. It often depends on who you know and who you've crossed.

 

But regardless; In truth, this chapter seems far too close to the Relictors. Yes, they're not focused on chaos artefacts like the Relictors, but it seems slightly pointless. Perhaps you could look into something else to differentiate them, Xenthor?

[Inquisitor Xenthor]

Haha wow, that was a kick to my ego; but perhaps i needed it. I can see where your comming from, and i respect everyones opinion.

 

Hmm. I dunno what to say. I know some stuff need re-working.

Perhaps i should go back to the drawing board, re-work ideas..maybe start out fresh with a whole new idea? I dont like quitting on something though...well..outside painting my armies anyways haha.

 

Well, time to sit down for a few days straight and try and rework things perhaps...

[Brother Gothard]

I don't like the name 'The Collectors'. It seems so tame for a group of 1,000 genetically-enhanced super-soldiers.

"Brothers! With me! For the Emp - oooh, shiny!"

 

I'm with Space Wolf for the most part, but I agree with Molly that you do have a right to your own background.

 

Simply won't? That's a little unfair to his chapter, SW. It's not as if his chapter has gone to every single one of the nine hundred and ninety-nine other chapters and done something to cross them. It's just that in certain cases, his chapter has got on the bad side of other chapters.

True, but those "certain cases" and the "bad side" involve blatantly attacking them to steal holy relics. Unless by "artefacts" you mean .. say, one measly chainsword and bolt pistol.

 

I think what's important here, Xenthor, is for you to realise that the inter-chapter relations are already pretty tense. In the 40k universe, it seems everyone is guilty until proven innocent. That holds especially true for Space Marine chapters who have a lot on the line.

 

I can give you an example of what would have happened with my own DIY chapter, the Blazing Lions. These guys are the kind of fierce, pious, shoot-first-ask-questions-later Space Marines you imagine when you read the codex. They are everything a loyal, Codex Space Marine chapter should be. And I can say with 100% certainty that if your supposedly loyalist chapter suddenly turned on them, fought their way through the Reclusiarch, into their sanctum, and nabbed one of their sacred Holy Relics ... oh MAN would your chapter be in trouble. First order of business would be a) blacklist b) call the Inquisition c) dispatch all available companies, strike forces, etc, to hunt those vile traitors down, get our relics back, and stomp their asses into the ground. Even if you fled into the Maelstrom, Eye of Terror .. anywhere, they'd find you. Or atleast have a full company waiting until you came out again.

 

And I'm pretty sure that would happen with any other loyalist chapter. Except maybe those seedy, dress wearing Dark Angels probably would not ask for help from the Inquisition. But I think you get the idea.

 

SO! Here's what I think you should change. Instead of attacking other Space Marines (which, honestly, I think would be suicide for your chapter) I think you should stick to your second proposed idea:

 

Perhaps have a few of the Imperial Forces that were attacked, become Adeptus Mech. convoy ships that were transfering some Artifacts of Old.

 

Attacking an Adeptus Mechanicus ship would still be incredibly dangerous, and definitely get you excommunicated. The benefit to this is that unless it was being guarded by the SM, most loyal chapters wouldn't care much, assuming they even knew about it. You can definitely have had clashes with loyalist space marine chapters, but I think that an outright attack would get your guys into a smattering of trouble. If you're REALLY set on having a fight with a loyal chapter, then you're going to have to arrange it to happen so that your force was huge, and theirs was small; they're forced to retreat for reinforcements, and by the time they arrive there's no trace of you.

 

Question though, and maybe I missed this as I was reading through your Original Post - sorry if that's the case. Anyway, question: why do they collect things? What specifically are they collecting? Are they building up to something? Are they gathering specific parts for a doomsday device? Do they just like shiny things? What's the deal there.

 

I think with a bit of help from the fluff police on this forum, you can create a chapter even Space Wolf can get behind. /wink.

 

Lets keep this rolling 'till you have something you like, and we can give the stamp of fluff approval.

 

++EDITED++

 

I just wanted to add that if you want to use my DIY the Blazing Lions in your history, I'm cool with that. Assuming you do it in the way I suggested (ie. forcing a small force of my marines to flee). Then I can include your chapter in MY fluff :)

[Tubal]

The question that struck me first was "why do they collect [misc relics]?" The Relictors use chaos artifacts against chaos and so have a relatively logical reason, just collecting for it's own sake seems pointless.

 

And I'm pretty sure that would happen with any other loyalist chapter. Except maybe those seedy, dress wearing Dark Angels probably would not ask for help from the Inquisition.

Maybe not, but they'd get all their sissy, I mean sinister Unforgiven friends to help out :unsure:

[Inquisitor Xenthor]

Well attacking a SM Chapter wasnt the smartest part of my ideas, and you guys are right, quite orthadox(if i even spelt that right), so i shall be taking that aspect out, and sticking with just attacks on 'regualr' Imperial forces, and of course the Adeptus, Except for maybe a 'small' attack on your Chapter Brother Gothard :D Just for abit of Fluffiness fun.

 

Oh and by Artifacts of old, i mean Holy Relics and the like. As to Xenos stuff, well..pretty much the same, just sacrid objects, weither it be weapons or status symbols (for both Imperial and Xenos)

I'm not sure if i want to fo after Chaos artifacts, because..well The Relictors do that..but i guess i could do that aswell. Hmm..

 

Ok as to WHY they do what they do. Lemme go find my binder >.> I have all this written down somewhere, i swear i do.

 

*goes off for abit, comming back ten minutes later covered in dust and gore* Forgot about that little Gnoblar protecting it xD

 

So yes. I think the offical stuff i have is on disk..and for some retarded reason, none of my roomate's computers have an A-Drive -.- So i'll have to go off my little notes i made for the Chapter master, which bugs me..because now i have to remember my stuff >.>

Some of you might notice i took influence from the Soul Drinkers :tu:

 

Ok so originally it was The Collectors Cheif Librarian; Rykov, who recieved the first of 'the visions', after he was mortally wounded on the battlefeild against a force of Eldar, in which the Chapter did beat back the Eldar eventually. While this was going on Rykov had visions of the Emperor himself coming and asking for his and the Chapters assistance in bringing him back into power. Through out the visions 'The Emperor' Showed him various stratigic Relics he had to gather to bring 'The Emperor' back into the real world, where he could reign down his 'Holy Justice' upon the wrong doers (Ie: Chaos/any other threat). Relics of both Imperial, Chaotic, and Xenos alike, and they were to get them in any way possible, even if they had to destroy those guarding it.

Back in the 'real world' The Chapters Apothicaries were about to call it quits on Rykov when he suddenly awoke, standing up as if nothing had happened. The deadly wounds he had gotten began to heal on their own, white light pouring from them and his eyes as it did so. The Apothicaries were stunned by this, and had said that Rykov should have died.

 

Rykov was put under an extensive series of studies and tests, to see if somehow he had become tainted by Chaos, but nothing came to show that he had. It was the Chapters little miricle, they all believed the Emperor himself had saved Rykov from the foul Xenos. Up untill this point Rykov had held the fact of the visions to himself, untill he was brought before not only the residing Chapter Master, but also the rest of the Chapter itself, in a special gathering. It is here that Rykov told his Brother Marines of his visions that he had recieved during his 'death'. He was recieved with a shocked audience, the Chapter Master quickly stepped in and sent Rykov away to his main office, while he disperced the rest of the Chapter, and quickly shutting down any form of gossip about what Rykov had said.

 

 

I'll finish this quick and unfluffy reason later, right now i have to go uptown.

[space wolf]

Through out the visions 'The Emperor' Showed him various stratigic Relics he had to gather to bring 'The Emperor' back into the real world, where he could reign down his 'Holy Justice' upon the wrong doers (Ie: Chaos/any other threat). Relics of both Imperial, Chaotic, and Xenos alike, and they were to get them in any way possible, even if they had to destroy those guarding it.

 

I like this, and I'll tell you why. Upon reading this sentence, my first thought was ok so the emperor is asking for help...but then I asked myself, why would the emperor want chaos and xenos technology, which lead me to the question, "is the emperor really the one supplying the vision?" "could it be one of the ruinous powers?" what I like is that yes the chapter is renegade, but it could have a much greater purpose in mind...OR....the chapter could be unwittingly controlled by some chaos forces...maybe Ahriman has a grand plan in mind, or zteentch himself is looking for new minions, and what better way to gain some fresh recruits than by slowly corrupting them through their collection of chaos technology and the like. If you continue down this line of thinking, i think the collectors could be quite an interesting chapter indeed.

[Inquisitor Xenthor]

@Space Wolf - See thats exactly what i was thinking. Something like how the Soul Drinkers were decieved, but im not exactly sure how I'll play out the whole visions thing, outside of what there already is. Thanks for the comments man.

 

Alright so heres the rest of it, as best i can anyways.

 

 

So Rykov sat and waiting within the Chapter Masters main offices he had plenty of time to think, and during that time 'The Emperor' came to him again and spoke of how the Chapter Master was against the Emperor returning to power, and as such, should be eliminated. This disturbed Rykov greatly, and he didnt readily believe it untill the Chapter Master came in some time later and told Rykov to keep everything about the visions to himself, as he viewed them as Blasphomy, and a sign of some kind of taint. He ordered Rykov to visit both the Apothicaries again, aswell as the Chaplains for cleansing. This sealed the deal for Rykov, so to speak, and he accused the Master of being tainted, in stopping the Emperor from returning.

I havent got much planned out for this part yet, but as i see it, Rykov lashes out at the Chapter Master with a psychic power never seen before, one he didnt even know he had. (something like the 'Hell' perhaps), and basicly in the end, makes the Chapter Master's head explode. (I always wanted to do that haha...either that or implode..which ever works haha.)

So that being done, Rykov took his place as Chapter Master, though some within the Chapter didnt agree with this, all complied. Rykov began to speak of 'The Visions' and what 'The Emperor' wanted them to do. He told them that those who truely believe, would recieve 'The Emperors' blessing, and have him visit them in similar visions. It took a few months but soon enough another came forward, a Captain by the name of Savinkov, he had begun to recieve such visions. As such Rykov made Savinkov his second in command. In the weeks following more and more Brother Marines came forward, untill the whole chapter, even the Chaplains were telling stories of their visions, all leading to the same goal. The return to power of 'The Emperor' through the collecting of various Imperial, Xenos and Chaotic relics and artifacts.

 

 

 

So there you have it, a quick and hopefully easy reasoning to 'Why the Chapter does, what it does'

 

Tell me what you guys think again. lol

[Brother Gothard]

It's feasible. I don't "feel" it, but it's not unacceptable. After what Space Wolf has said, all I can think of is how easily Ahriman manipulates the weak minded :rolleyes:

[space wolf]

I would change the part about the confrontation betweent the Lib and the CM. After something so catastrophic at that, great ripples of chaos (meaning anarchy not the dark gods) would probably follow. I think you should make it more ambiguous as to whether or not the emperor is guiding them or if its one of the dark gods. having a librarian kill a chapter master over essentially an arguement leaves little room for doubt on who the backing party is. :)

 

perhaps you can have a very subtle shift in power or something. what im trying to get at, is the cool thing about what you have is that we dont know. It really could be the emperor pulling the strings...but there is know way of knowing because it could just as easily be something more sinister disguising itself in the robe of goodness...a wolf in sheeps clothing so to speak.

[Inquisitor Xenthor]

Alright. so take out the little confrontation. Change it to something alittle longer lasting and suttle. Something like the end part, where slowly more and more of the Chapter began to have these visions.

 

Hmm now that i think about it, perhaps i should keep the Chapter Master alive...if i kill him off, and have Rykov take control, its alot like the Soul Drinkers..instead of a minor influence, it'd be a bigger one.

 

 

Alright so far i gotta scrap:

 

- Attacking SM Chapters...minus a special one :wub:

- Take out the Libby/CM battle, change it to a longer, more suttle change.

- Possible planetary name changes.

- Possibly the name...though im hesitant about this one.

 

Anything else i missed?

[Inquisitor Xenthor]

Alright so heres the 'revised' version on the ending part. Tell me what you think?

Note: The Italic part is the part i edited.

 

 

So Rykov sat and waiting within the Chapter Masters main offices he had plenty of time to think, and during that time 'The Emperor' came to him again and spoke of how the Chapter Master was against the Emperor returning to power, and as such, should be eliminated. This disturbed Rykov greatly, and he didnt readily believe it untill the Chapter Master came in some time later and told Rykov to keep everything about the visions to himself, as he viewed them as Blasphomy, and a sign of some kind of taint. He ordered Rykov to visit both the Apothicaries again, aswell as the Chaplains for cleansing.

 

Rykov was aggrivated by this, at how he was being silenced, and how it seemed that the Chapter Master didnt want 'The Emperor' to return, but he put it to the back of his mind and followed orders, going to both the Master Chaplain, and Head Apothecary, both giving him a 110% clean bill of health. Rykov continued to have the visions, but never spoke of them again untill a few months later when soon enough another came forward, a Captain by the name of Savinkov, he had begun to recieve such visions. As such Rykov took him under his wing so to speak, and together they both set about in search for other within the Chapter. In the months following; slowly more and more Brother Marines came forward to Rykov, even a few of the Chaplains were telling stories of their visions. Within three standard years all but one had recieved 'The Visions', the one remaining was the Chapter Master, but eventually even he was visited by 'The Emperor' and shown what must be done. Though the whole Chapter had recieved their visions, Only Rykov truely knew what was going on, as he had and still remains having the strongest of the visions. So even though he's not the Chapter Master, the Chapter looks to him for guidance when it comes to the matters of 'The Emperor'