The Shadow Legion

[Master Rameus]

My DIY chapter is the Shadow Legion. Basically, the French Foreign Legion of the 40K universe. All comers are welcome into the Shadow Legion provided they pass the rigorous physical, mental, and psychological evaluations. Then, the chapters Librarians give the final seal of approval after a vision quest into the aspirants mind to determine purpose and purity. Any Space Marine, both loyal and traitor, who wish to fullfil his oath of service to the Emperor are welcome into the Shadow Legion. Once they join and are accepted, their pasts are expunged and they begin service anew. All past sins forgotten, all past shame erased. But, they must keep silent, for if the Inquisition new of their practices, they would be wiped out. For, within the ranks of the Shadow Legion are traitor marines, fallen Angels, marines who have been excommunicated from their chapters for what ever reason. And that, they must keep secret, or pay with their very existance.

[ironloki]

Sounds interesting. Kinda like the Red corsairs. A couple of questions though:

 

Do they consider themselves loyal? I find it hard that they take in actual traitor marines and the Fallen. There is a difference with taking in those excommunicated but those designated actual traits may be a bit hard to swallow.

 

Also how did they begin? was it one chapter who was say betrayed by the inquisition some how and now search for recruits.

 

I would buff it out a bit more. do they have a homeworld or are they planet based? Any doctrine? A bit mre about their origins would help in understanding the path they are taking now :huh:

[Sir Crispy]

I find it hard that they take in actual traitor marines and the Fallen. There is a difference with taking in those excommunicated but those designated actual traits may be a bit hard to swallow.

 

Sounds like a "Don't ask, don't tell" sort of thing to me. The chapter isn't going to ask why the marine isn't associated with a chapter anymore, as long as the librarian determines the candidate to be pure, and the guy is obviously a space marine (without noticeable mutation, I'd think).

 

Seems to me that this sort of practice could be used to make up for a lack of ability to produce new marines. If you can't make them yourself (for whatever reason), you take whatever you can get. It could have started as a necessity and then grew into a tradition.

[Ferrata]

I think they would need to fall into the "We like the Imperium, but it doesn't like us" to be believable at all. It seems like a possible idea, though it will take a lot of work to get the right feel. Personally, I would remove the Chaos/Fallen from the equaiton and only take in banished marines.

 

Ferrata

[Master Rameus]

The whole point of the Legion is to be a mystery. They fly below the Imperial radar, picking and choosing their fights. The former traitor marines are "repatriated" into the Shadow Legion and given the opportunity to die serving the Emperor in pentience for their transgressions. Sir Crispys analogy is dead on. My chapter is the second and last chance for any marine who wishes to fulfill his oath to the Emperor. Of course, the former traitor marines dont bear marks of Chaos or any mutations they may have gotten while in the Eye. They are sort of the anti-thesis to the Red Corsairs if you will. I take the traits Cleanse and Purify, and the minor drawback We Stand Alone because both describe my chapter pretty well. I didnt go too extreme on the traits because I figured with so many different fighting styles represented (ie, Space Wolves, Blood Angels, Ultramarines, Black Legion), that the chapter would consolidate is training into its own style. Not overly divergent, but not completely Codex. They pretty much specialize in plantetary assaults, and surgical strikes. Which, is the basis for Space Marine battle tactics. And, it gives me the out I need to "assist" a fellow chapter in need, then exfil at my leisure before too many questions are asked.

 

Besides, what fun would it be if their entire chapter history was laid out? That would take away the mystery.

[Master Rameus]

Once I get the time, I will lay out a more properly apportioned background for the Shadow Legion. Once I do, I think people will have a better understanding of where they are, and where they are going.

[Race Bannon]

This is a neat idea I think. What jumped out to me was the paradox of their existence. Like James Bond is a well-known secret agent the Shadow Legion is known by marines as a means to "salvation", yet the all-seeing eyes of the Inquisition don't know about them?

 

In other words ... how do any troubled Marines know to seek out the Shadow Legion?

 

Besides, what fun would it be if their entire chapter history was laid out? That would take away the mystery.

 

Well history is one thing ... screw history to keep the mystery. :ph34r:

[Master Rameus]

The Shadow Legion

 

 

Origins:

 

The Shadow Legions history is shrouded in mystery. The original members of the Shadow Legion are excommunicated Dark Angels. Not to be confused with the Fallen, the ousted Dark Angels where part of a task force of Dark Angels seeking information on the location of several Fallen Angels. Led by Master Rameus, then Master of the Deathwing, the task force set about their mission. They fell up their wayward brothers aboard the Rogue Trader vessel "The Indominable". Upon seizing their prey, the Dark Angels secured the vessel, killed the entire crew for traitorious activity, and returned to their Battle Barge "Vindictus Angelis". In the interrogation chambers aboard the massive vessel, they extracted much information about their fallen brothers.

 

Four fallen where recovered, a huge success given the nature of the Fallen. In their interrogations, they learned that the Fallen where in-route to join with other excommunicated loyal Marines. In an apparent type of underground, excommunicated and banished Marines from just about all Chapters where trying to form an alliance. Each Marine trying to regain his honor, hoping one day to return to his Chapter. Brother-Librarian Aubris made an initial vision quest into the minds of each of the Fallen. In all four, he found truth and honor in their endeavors, and came to the conclusion that not all Fallen where tainted by Chaos. This school of thought became the downfall of the task force. Aubris, after much deliberation with the other members of the Deathwing, including Master Rameus, sought to petition Grand Master Azrael to "repatriate" the Fallen, rather than granting them the Emperors Forgiveness.

 

Upon return to the Dark Angels fortress monestery, "The Tower of Angels in High Gothic", also known as "The Rock", Aubris and Rameus where brought to question about their intentions. No Fallen had ever been made to repent without dying. Why would these now wish to rejoin their former brothers after 10,000 years in exile? The Fallen where subjected to psychic intrusion of all of the Chapters Librarians, and the conclusions where the same by all. The Fallen had honorable intention. Rameus and Aubris, and the rest of the task force, 1/4 of the Deathwing, and 1/2 a company of Dark Angels where sequestered to their chambers while the Inner Circle confered.

 

A conclusion was reached. The task force as a whole had went against Chapter policy, and violated cult dogma. They had allowed Fallen to live, and influence their decisions. Regardless of the intentions of the Fallen Dark Angels, they where traitors to be shown no mercy. Master Azrael made probably his hardest and most agonizing decision since becoming Chapter Master. The great heros of the Chapter, Master Rameus, and Librarian Aubris, two of his most trusted commanders, where to be banished forever along with the entire task force. The Fallen where immediately taken to the interrogation chambers and executed.

 

Rameus and Aubris where stripped of their title and command. Outcasts in the eyes of their own Chapter, and dishonored by their decision to show mercy to former brothers, they left The Rock in shame. Master Azrael granted them safe passage, and provided them with their battle barge, "Vindictus Angelis". Given Rameus' status within the Chapter, the banished task force was to be fully armed and equipped, an unexpected move by Azrael to say the least. Before leaving, Azrael charged his former commanders with one final mission, to fulfill their oaths to the Emperor with honor, by any means. Including death in battle.

 

Rameus accepted the decision of his Master, mentor, and friend. He left with his task force to seek redemption, and to regain his honor and that of his brothers. Knowing of the underground, Rameus knew he must seek to aid them. He was now commander of his own small contingent of outcasts never able to return to the fold. Now, they must exist on their own. Rameus spent the next 50 years seeking out other banished Marines, earning their trust and loyalty until he had built 4 codex-sized battle companies. Each Marine bringing his own equipment, weapons, and intentions. Rameus molded his force after the Codex Astartes, retraining and repatriating the shamed Marines. They became a cohesive force, able to carry out numerous missions with great effect.

 

And so, the Shadow Legion was born.

 

Organization:

 

The Shadow Legion is organized in accordance to the Codex Astartes. Since its initial inception, it has grown over the last 100 years into a full Chapter with 10 fully armed and equipped companies. It has built for itself an entire fleet consisting of battle barges, strike cruisers, escort craft, forge and training ships, and squadrons of fighters, bombers, and Thunderhawk gunships for close support.

 

Combat Doctrine:

 

The Shadow Legion, being an amalgemation of different types of Space Marines, have melded their fighting style into their own. Roughly based on the Codex Astartes, the Shadow Legion excels at planetary assaults and surgical strikes. Making extensive use of drop pods, and Thunderhawk gunships, the Legion is able to put pressure in specific areas of the battlefield for quick, decisive strikes before exfiltration and extraction back to the Chapters fleet. The Legion capitalizes on the training from their brothers. Surgical strikes are trained by former members of the Raven Guard and White Scars, close assaults are trained by former members of the Blood Angels, and Black Templars. Siege and urban warfare are trained by former members of the Imperial Fists, and even a small contengient of Iron Warriors. Former members of the Crimson Fists train on fighting Xenos races, and former Space Wolves train on scouting and infiltration tactics as well as closing with the enemy undetected. Where it not for their inherent shame and need for secrecy, the Shadow Legion could easily become the greatest Space Marine chapter ever devised. But, such is their shame and history, none can every truly learn of their abilities.

 

The Shadow Legion operates below Imperial radar, striking when and where they see fit. Usually to further their own unknown agendas. They rarely associate with other Chapters, and never with the Inquistion. If a brother Chapter is in need, they will strike suddenly, then disappear just as quickly.

 

Beliefs:

 

The Shadow Legion follows its own brand of dogma. All former Marines who pass the rigorous tests set about by the Chapter Librarians are repatriated, regardless of their former association. All past history is expunged, and all past sins forgiven. They still venerate the Emperor as their collective father, and fight only to fulfill their oaths to him. All other purposes are forgotten. When a battle brother falls, his name is recorded into the sacred Book of Honor, and that passage is transcribed and sent to his parent Chapter. Earning his place of honor among his battle brothers.

 

Gene-seed:

 

The Shadow Legion shares geneseed from many different chapters. The Chapters apothecaries have taken the most pure geneseed, and synthesized it for implantation into aspirants outside the normal recruitment practice. Generally, Ultramarine and Dark Angel geneseed is used to replace losses in battle to ensure purity of future battle brothers. Although their primary method of recruitment remains bringing banished Marines in to the fold, the Shadow Legion does choose human aspirants to be inducted into the scout company, and receive the Chapters geneseed.

 

Battle cry:

 

The Shadow Legion fights from the shadows of their shame and former glory. They are known to have ritual prayers before battle, as with other Chapters. Once in battle, they charge crying "Death from the Shadows".

 

Chapter colors:

 

The Shadow Legions armor is painted black to symbolize their shame. Their shoulder pads are painted Shadow Grey, with the left ridge of the shoulder guard left bare metal. The right shoulder guard ridge is painted black.

 

The Legion symbol is a simple red S, and only the squad number is painted onto the right shoulder guard. Chaplains and Librarians of the Legion also wear the black armor of shame, although the Librarians paint their left shoulderguards Ultramarines Blue.

[Master Rameus]

Is this too unbelievable, or just enough fluff to maintain the aura of secrecy I intended?

 

Questions, comments, and critiques welcome.

[Coop_DH]

it sounds like an interesting prodgect but i think with your fluff it would be a cool idea to do squads in different chapters color schems except no chapter badge and do as you see fit on their sholders..also you could intermingle the squads to...so have a squad with DA, SW, IF, and others but they still have some thing that makes it visable they are in the same squad

[Master Rameus]

I was thinking about that Coop. Thats why I leave the left shoulder guards ridge boltgun metal. Its just the whole anonymity thing that keeps me from doing it. But, you have re-inspired me. I may have to put the old thinking cap back on alittle tighter. The reason that their armor is painted black is to openly express their shame. Like a penitance marking. Once they have reclaimed their honor, they could repaint their armor, maybe. Thats alittle deeper than Ive taken the story so far, but not out of the realm of possiblity.

[Coop_DH]

here is an idea...take the sholders and make them shadow gray (whatever color you want it to be) and leave the left one blank...that is spose to represent the fact that their chapter has left them....and then on the right just have a small number on the bottom right to put them in squads....also you could do this to the knee cap because that sometimes assosiates with companies...just paint it the same color....that way you get a vibe that they all go together but somehow dont...another thing is maybe even paint the bolter a different color because the bolter is spose to be holy and if it not being held by an honorable space marine then maybe it shouldnt be bright to draw attention to it

[Xcil]

One other possibility you might like to consider is that the legion was started by an inquisitor working in secret who believes there's still much use for banished marines. A bit a la the dirty dozen feel. It would also explain why the inquisition and other marines are not after them (inquisitors are good at covering up things from other inquisitors) and would give the oppertunity to use some nice plothooks for storylines later.

 

:)

[Master Rameus]

That is a great idea Xcil, although, I take We Stand Alone as their minor drawback. Ive considered taking other minors, but with the way the fluff is written, Inquisitors just dont fit in. Ive never liked the idea of the Inquisitors anyhow, nosey bastards they are.

 

BTW, where at in the Netherlands? Ive been to Eindhoven, Amsterdam, and Nijenmegin.

[Mutt-Man!]

Nice complexities to your chapter. My DIY chapter is currently hunting down its other excommunicate half. Before Inquisitor Ganaman finally finds evidence of their traitorous half and renders them all excommunicate traitors. <_< Gotta thank Slaanesh for that.

 

Anyways onto your request for comments and suggestions. Here's mine.

For an excommunicate chapter, you could use (when they come out again) Cursed Founding Chapter units. Who are still loyal, but are considered too impure to be allowed to live. For now you can use their rules in Chapter Approved 2004 annual book.

 

Will you declair them a crusading chapter? They seem like one to me.

 

You could say they dress their ship IFF codes and colour schemes to infiltrate Imperial Lines as Alpha Legionnaires do. Perhaps a personal vendetta to hunt down the Alpha Legion? Would seem like a great nemesis to me. Alpha legion supplying false information having Imperials fire on your Shadow Legionnaires while they attempt to uncover their nemesis' shroud of lies. Fighting against the odds to rip their foes apart. Would make for draumatic stories.

(IFF = Identification Friend or Foe)

 

As for a final thought, you can claim to accept all who wish to be redeemed to some level. Be it pentient crusaders, renagade guardsman formations or even the casual pirate and smuggler ships. Even having their own smuggler ring whitch to supply their ranks. Give you a reason to make a Imperial Guard army, or Lost and the Damned force that takes the un-redeemable chaos marines who want to serve the Emperor again. (Or never lost faith, just their minds and bodies)

[Master Rameus]

Hey Mutt. This Chapter is pretty much a codex chapter with minor divergences. I want to keep the theme close. Since they come from so many different schools of thought, they need common ground to be effective, so part of their repatriation is that they retrain to fight according to the Codex Astartes. As far as renegade guardsmen and the like goes, not really my mug of beer. Ive done a couple of Guard armies, and they just dont suit my style of play. Same with LatDed. Its not that I can only be competitive with Marines, (especially now that every army in the game that gets a new codex seem to be geared toward killing Marines), I just love my Marines.

 

Yes, they are a crusading chapter. If they establish a home world, that gives Inquisitors reason to "pay a visit". No thanks. Im trying to work in Eldar technology so that they can travel undetected until they wish to uncloak and attack. Since they are outside the realm of Imperial cult dogma somewhat, they will be slightly more tolerant to certain Xenos races. So long as it serves their purposes. Much like the Eldar do to us.

 

Ive thought about using Legion of the Damned, but that seems kinda redundant since the LotDed kinda do their own thing. That and Ive never really liked the CA rules for the Cursed Founding chapters.

 

I do like the smuggler idea though. These guys have got to "procure" equipment somehow. Maybe I can work Han Solo into my army. Wouldnt that be cool?

 

On a side note, I know all about IFF bro. I spent 3 years in an Air Defense fire direction center, the flyboys hated us. Wanna humble a primadonna fighter pilot? Spoof his bird, hehehehe.

[Xcil]

That is a great idea Xcil, although, I take We Stand Alone as their minor drawback. Ive considered taking other minors, but with the way the fluff is written, Inquisitors just dont fit in. Ive never liked the idea of the Inquisitors anyhow, nosey bastards they are.

 

BTW, where at in the Netherlands? Ive been to Eindhoven, Amsterdam, and Nijenmegin.

 

Oh the Inqui's don't need to be part of the army. They don't even have to be a big part of the fluff. Just the guy in the background who's pulling the strings to make sure the imperium doesn't come down on their heads. The marines don't even need to like him (perhaps the inqui has some darker plans?), and might scorn him, only staying with him because this outfit is their last chance. Nosey bastards they are :wacko:

 

BTW, where at in the Netherlands? Ive been to Eindhoven, Amsterdam, and Nijenmegin.

 

Hey cool! I live in Utrecht and Delft myself. That doesn't mean very much in holland ofcourse, considering it's just a 30-minute drive to get anywhere else :P