Differences between the Successors

[Chaplain Lucifer]

What color code did you use for that Yellow? I like it.

#F7D114 .:D

[HiveFleetEzekial]

Actually, there is no real proof that they're 26th founding at all.

 

They're pretty much a "forgotten chapter" so to speak.

With no record of their existance prior to 200.M40.(3rd century of 40th millenium)

In fact, this would be proof that they are indeed pre-26th founding. (which was 738.M41.)

 

Its possible that they're from 22nd-25th founding, though they might as well be older.

 

 

Ok, math, 40K year wizz.. Which founding was in the 37th Millenia?

 

I'm guessing, probably none. DoC being made by request. :D (good to know the successor I chose, isn't the youngest of the bunch.. by a long shot)

[Chaplain Lucifer]

Should've been made a sticky a longer time ago. DA mods will take penance for their omission. ;)

[Grand Master Belial]

And I will get busy with the SM Painter and finish off your Angels of Vigilance.

 

Now that Sandalaphon is back is it possible to add the Angels of the Lion and the elusive Shadow Guard. I was looking at the references in the Fortress and they might be in need of a little sprucing up.

 

Speaking of Shadow Guard, be ready for a big e-mail soon :down:

[Grand Master Belial]

Okay Time for some Angels of Vigilance Pictures from the Awesome SM Painter. Comments are always welcome.

 

Commander & Veteran

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVig-Cmd1.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVig-Vet1.jpg

 

Terminators

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVig-Term1.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVig-Term2.jpg

 

Biker (Standard) and Assault

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVig-Biker.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVig-Asst1.jpg

 

Tactical & Devastator

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVig-Tac.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVig-Dev1.jpg

 

I dabbled with Chaplain Lucifer's idea of painting weapons and equipment black. I don't know if brown would have been a viable color alternative but Dark Green may be an option since the eyes are green.

[Vodunius]

Ok, math, 40K year wizz.. Which founding was in the 37th Millenia?

I'm guessing, probably none. DoC being made by request. :D (good to know the successor I chose, isn't the youngest of the bunch.. by a long shot)

Slight threadromancy, but might be of interest to future readers: Foundings have been mentioned as taking in place in most millenia since M36, since there have only been 5 such foundings in 5 millenia one would assume its 1 per millenium, which would make M37 the 22nd Founding. (the Armageddon3 site mentioned that the Celestial Lions had a long proud history dating back over 4,000 years, which I'd always interpreted to mean they too were founded in M37)

Oh and heres a Guardians of the Covenant Tactical Marine in the proper colours:

[Grand Master Belial]

More variants for the Angels of Vigilance

 

Biker in Ravenwing style

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVigBiker2.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVigAlt2.jpg

 

Other Color Robes

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVigTactical2.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVigTactical3.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c372/GMBelial/Misc/AoVigTactical4.jpg

[Chaplain Lucifer]

I think the black robes work the best.. Not so sure about the black bikers..IMHo since none of the sucessors has a differnet colour for 2nd company, neither should aoV. but that's me... probably yellow with black helmet and shoulder pads.. we could come up with fluff for that.

[Grand Master Belial]

Chapter Founding

 

The Guardians of the Covenant were part of the founding of 598.M35 utilizing gene seed and personnel drawn from the Second Founding Chapter, the Angels of Absolution. The first Grand Master was Interrogator Chaplain Herev, a figure held in awe and respect within the Angels of Absolution chapter and within the Inner Circle of the Unforgiven.

 

Herev was tasked by the High Lords of Terra with creating a Chapter to fulfil two purposes. Firstly, they would garrison the world of Mortikah VII, an important source of psycho-sensitive minerals and a repository of much (often forbidden or restricted) lore on psychic powers, the warp and the perils therein. Secondly, they would provide a “roaming” security force within the Segmentum Pacificus.

 

Beyond these two basic tasks, Herev was given another remit from the combined Inner Circles of the Unforgiven chapters. It had been noted that the activities of the Unforgiven chapters had attracted negative attention from the Inquisition, especially the erratic behaviour and non-adherence to order evidenced by the Angels of Redemption chapter. Herev was tasked with forging a Chapter that would be able to divert attention from their fellow Unforgiven through visual and ostentatious devotion to the Imperial Creed and scrupulous cooperation with the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Inquisition.

 

Herev was well suited to this latter task given the philosophy of the Angels of Absolution and their seeing the hunting of the Fallen as a holy duty but not something that they must do to absolve any inherent sin of theirs inherited from the Dark Angels.

 

Recruiting

 

A problem did arise however, about where they would draw recruits from. Mortikah VII was a relatively urbane and civilised world, and the populations of miners and gangers in existence on the world were too small to provide a sustainable source of aspirants. To begin with, a small fleet of Guardians ships visited nearby death and feral worlds, but a longer term situation was necessary. The solution was to turn several moons orbiting the gas giant Mortikah V into Imperial Prison worlds and open them for the use of nearby Hive worlds.

 

The three moons selected had been the sites of long-played out mining projects, and were seeded with labyrinthine tunnel complexes and a basic infrastructure. With the aid of the Adeptus Mechanicus and their parent chapter, the Guardians of the Covenant turned these moons into virtual death worlds by creating intricate food chains of exotic predators and dangerous plant life. Thousands of prisoners were soon arriving from the subscriber systems, mostly made up of the most violent gangers and malcontents.

 

These people were largely left to their own devices and died in their droves. The strongest survived, and even thrived. All off-moon supplies were delivered to small heavily fortified facilities garrisoned by “trustees” and reinforced by squads of the nascent Guardians and commanded by Chaplains of the Chapter, who oversaw the meagre medical technology available and the distribution of food supplements. Within two generations an extremely complex society had grown up on the moons, and the work of the Chaplains had instilled a sense of awe and devotion to the Imperial Creed and of the Guardians of the Covenant within the populations of what were essentially man-made death worlds. The Guardians had their recruiting grounds and ceased the importation of prisoners early in the 36th Millennium once the population of the moons had become self-sustaining.

 

Training

 

The Guardians of the Covenant follow the Codex Astartes in their training methods altered only for their specific circumstances. Initial training and selection are undertaken on the Mortikah V moons. As opposed to the “once a generation” procedures that many chapters have adopted, the Guardians prefer to have smaller numbers of aspirants constantly filter through the system. These aspirants will train in small units on the moons until being called up to the tenth company and a position as a Space Marine Scout.

 

Organisation

 

The Guardians of the Covenant follow the normal organisational pattern of the Unforgiven, an organizational format adopted from their progenitors, the Dark Angels.

 

What differs with the Guardians is that it is that, due to a cataclysmic battle against the Eldar of Craftworld Saim-Hann early in their history, the Guardians are unable to field a 1st company made up entirely of terminator squads. Over the centuries since their loss, the Chapter has assembled enough TDA suits to equip 14 full squads of the 1st company.

 

The heroes of the 1st company are rotated within these squads, ensuring that they retain all their skills and share the honour of fighting in the precious terminator armour – those squads who are not currently assigned TDA armour deploy in power armour in support of the other companies.

 

The 2nd company is configured as normal for an Unforgiven Chapter, although it seldom deploys as an entire company, instead being parcelled out to other companies and battle formations to provide heavy reconnaissance and interdiction capability. It is not unknown for members of the 2nd company to deploy as jump infantry, instead of being vehicle mounted, should the terrain or mission dictate it.

 

Like their progenitor chapter, the 1st and the 2nd companies are distinguished by unique names and heraldry. The 1st Company are known as the “Swords of the Covenant” and follow the normal colouration of the Guardians. The Guardian’s sword iconography is very prominent on both the Terminator suits and power armour suits that the company employs.

 

The 2nd company is known as the “Sword’s Wing” to reflect their role as the “eyes and ears” of the Guardians. Their iconography is the same as the regular Guardians, although some elements of the “wing” heraldry and motifs of the legendary Ravening of the Dark Angels can be seen. Most members of the 2nd company never wear robes to further differentiate themselves from their fellows.

 

Other than these deviations, the Guardians of the Covenant, as with the rest of the Unforgiven chapters, adhere to the Codex Astartes. If anything, the Guardians accentuate their devotion to the Codex as part of their role in being the shield of adherence, purity and obedience between the Emporium at large and the rest of the Unforgiven.

 

The Role of Chaplains and Religious Views

 

Given that their first Grand Master was himself an Interrogator Chaplain, it is more often as not that the Grand Master is drawn from their ranks as opposed to his being selected from serving company masters. This has, over the years, given the Guardians a fervency for the Lore of the Chapter bordering on the fanatical.

 

The Guardians of the Covenant also present a greater devotion to the Imperial Creed than is common amongst a large number of the Unforgiven. They see the Emperor as man-become-God as opposed to eternally divine, but other than that they follow most of the more commonly held doctrines of the Creed with a devotion approaching that of their veneration of their progenitor Primarch. Herev himself charted this course for the Chapter in order to help fulfil their role of the “perfectly loyal” Dark Angel Successor.

 

As a rule, the further a Guardian is initiated into the Inner Circle, the more he adopts the slightly more secular and cynical approach to the Imperial Creed that is demonstrated through the rest of the Unforgiven Chapters, although he is always sure to maintain a façade of devotion to the Imperial Creed.

 

In all circumstances barring actual battlefield conditions, the word of an Interrogator Chaplain is second only to the Grand Master himself, and a regular company Chaplains have equal authority to the Company Masters in the same circumstances.

 

Another unique point about Chaplains is that all detachments, be it for secondments to garrison purposes, larger than a single squad are always commanded by a Chaplain or an Interrogator Chaplain, especially those working with the Inquisition.

 

The Role of Librarians

 

Given Mortikah VII’s reserves of psycho-sensitive materials, and the huge body of writings and lore on psychic powers that is guarded by the Chapter’s fortress monastery, it is of little surprise that the Librarium of the Guardians is well staffed and highly experienced.

 

Unfortunately, their duties of protection, as well as monitoring the higher than average occurrence of the psyker mutation in the native populace of Mortikah VII means that Librarians are not deployed in strength unless a specific psychic threat has been established beforehand, and as such the Guardians do not routinely field more psykers than their fellow Unforgiven in most circumstances.

 

What is the Covenant?

 

While many of the early records of the Chapter are extant and oft studied by senior members of the Chapter, it is an irony that the reason and causes for the Chapter’s name have become obscured by the path of millennia. While all can agree that the Chapter was formed to “Guard a Covenant”, it is unclear as to what that Covenant actually is.

 

The most common interpretation is based on Mortikah VII itself. Given the body of psychic, occult and related lore stored on the world, as well as the deposits of psycho-active minerals that are exploited there, Mortikah VII represents both an enormous resource and an enormous threat to the security of the Segmentum Pacificus and the Emporium as a whole. The thinking thus flows that “The Covenant” is an agreement that such material can only exist when properly supervised and guarded by devotees of the Holy Emperor beyond any hint of corruption and impurity – hence the creation of a Space Marine Chapter dedicated to this cause.

 

Another interpretation is that the Chapter was so named by the Inner Circle as an acknowledgement that, in the course of their pursuit of the Fallen, there are times when the Dark Angels and their Unforgiven successors are neglectful of their full duties (or “Covenant”) to the Emporium. Thus, the Guardians of the Covenant take on the burden of these duties for their Unforgiven brethren. This is often the interpretation of those who are newly inducted into the Inner Circle.

 

Beyond these two main ideals, there are a host of others that rise and fall in prominence amongst those in the Chapter and the learned classes on Mortikah VII, although none have yet gained widespread acceptance. The truth is that what exactly the “Covenant” is that is being Guarded as been lost to the mists of time, allowing the Chapter to act according to its conscience, giving it the leeway to perform both its Imperial and Unforgiven duties.

 

Character and Traditions of the Chapter

 

When Grand Master Herev set about creating the spirit and soul of his new Chapter, he drew upon his own deep and abiding faith and devotion to the ideals and lore of his parent Chapter, the Angels of Absolution. To this, he added elements of the Imperial Creed and some practices common to the Ecclesiarchy. He instilled a highly disciplined, austere, monastic environment even more Spartan than those of most other Space Marine Chapters.

 

From the very beginning, the Guardians saw themselves as warrior-monks and conducted themselves accordingly. This became even more a core part of being a Guardian of the Covenant when the first generations of recruits from the Mortikah V moons became initiated into the Chapter, where strenuous and ascetic practice was used to temper and focus the extreme violence bred by their birth environment.

 

This has lead in some cases to a refutation of individuality in its most extreme forms, where a brother will make vows to not speak unless in battle or performing acts of worship, to abstain from certain activities such as the eating of cooked meats, and to forsake personal names in favour of generic titles. Undertaking these vows is respected but is not encouraged as the general belief is that a warrior who retains his individuality is more likely to be more adaptable on the field of war.

 

An exception to this can be seen in the tradition of the name of the Grand Master. Those Grand Masters elevated from the ranks of the Interrogator Chaplains take the name of “Herev” in honour of their founder. Those who ascend from the ranks of the Company Masters take the name “Ibrahim” in honour of the 1st master of the Guardians of the Covenant 1st Company who fell heroically in the battle against the Eldar that saw the virtual extinction of the 1st Company.

 

The holder then follows their adopted name with a numeral indicating their position in the inheritance of the Grand Mastery. The current incumbent is Grand Master Herev XVI and has guided the Guardians for almost two centuries following the death of his predecessor Ibrahim X.

 

In addition to their monastic mentality, the Guardians have also been affected by the institutions of learning and the large number of scholars who live on Mortikah VII to take advantage of its repositories of Lore, both restricted and un-restricted. Indeed, Mortikah VII is home to one of the most renowned Scholams in the sector with regards Psychic and Anthropological studies.

 

The academics and adepts brought with them a love of arts and music which soon imprinted its own mark on the culture of the Guardians of the Covenant. Learning a form of artistic expression is seen as normal within the Chapter. Most commonly this takes the form of music of some sort, the better to venerate the God Emperor, but painting, sculpture and poetry are also enjoyed and created within the forbidding walls of the Chapter’s Fortress Monastery. The tools for this artistic expression are often the only personal, non-military possessions that the battle-brothers of the Guardians maintain.

 

The Guardians of the Covenant and the Inquisition

 

Unlike most Chapters descended from the Dark Angels, the Guardians do not have a universally poor relationship with the Inquisition. Members of the Guardians serve in Deathwatch kill teams all over the Segmentum and beyond. Individual squads, and even entire companies, have aided Inquisitors of the Ordos Xenos and Malleus in pursuit of the duties, and there is a measure of mutual respect and admiration between these Ordos and the Chapter.

 

It is with the Ordo Hereticus that the relatively cordial relationship begins to adopt a more “traditional” Unforgiven form. Wary that the Ordo might find links to the Fallen and uncover the great secret held close over the last ten millennia, the Guardians distance themselves as much as possible from Hereticus Inquisitors, cooperating just often enough to divert an investigation into their activities. Given that it is not uncommon for Space Marine Chapters, even those who are relatively close to individual Inquisitors, to be somewhat reluctant in their dealings with the Inquisition, the Guardians have not attracted undue notice for this behaviour.

 

The Guardians, the Inner Circle, and the Fallen

 

As a successor to the Dark Angels, the Guardians of the Covenant are part of the larger Unforgiven “community” and have both their own Inner Circle as well as contributing to the larger Inner Circle that oversees all of the activities of the Unforgiven. As a relatively “young” Chapter (if five millennia can be considered young), they do not have the same levels of seniority of some of the elder Chapters, although their unique role within the Unforgiven gives them a measure of influence.

 

The Guardians follow a similar progression of “enlightenment” as their Dark Angels progenitors, with the more senior a member of the Chapter is, the more he knows about “the truth”. This is less of a burden within the Guardians due to their having inherited the philosophies of their founders, the Angels of Absolution.

 

While their remit, and indeed their main task, is to divert Imperial criticism of the Dark Angels and their successors, the Guardians remain part of the Unforgiven and thus take the apprehension and salvation of the Fallen as extremely important. Where circumstances dictate that they would be unable to act upon information regarding a Fallen and still maintain their role as a “perfect” Chapter, the Guardians will pass on the information to another Unforgiven Chapter as soon as possible.

 

This brings them into conflict with the members of the Inner Circle from the Angels of Redemption, who resent the very existence of the Guardians and that the Guardians place security and the good opinion of the wider Emporium authorities over the hunt for the Fallen.

 

Battle Cry and Other Common Phrases

 

“Pro Conventio quod Leo” (For the Covenant and the Lion) – The Chapter Battle Cry.

“Coventio requiro” (The Covenant Requires) – Used at the beginning and end of orders or formal statement, such as a “sign off” on radio transmissions.

“Pro Veneratio Conventio” (For the Honour of the Covenant) – Used as an alternative response to orders or a formal statement.

 

******

 

Author's (Basilius) Note: This has been a collaborative effort between those of us who collect the Guardians of the Covenant and frequent these boards. I have been honoured to be the “voice” of these players and owe them a debt for guiding my hand, reigning in some of my more insane thought paths, and helping me put together, what I think, is a pretty decent write-up expanding the background for this great Chapter from the meagre paragraphs in the Dark Angels Codex. Any glaring errors, discontinuities and omissions are mine alone as I took upon the mantle of authorship. So, thanks where thanks are due – Trajan, Alex Knight, Mithrilforge and Heron. Pro Conventio quod Leo!

A great piece of work from the resident GotC players!

Index Astartes

Hall of Honor

[Grand Master Belial]

Okay, Basillius's thread has a lot of things that might be good to include in this thread.

 

Here are my ideas for changes to the Guardians of the Covenant:

 

The intial humans are the decendants of human slaves and the world is a former Eldar Exodite world but the Eldar have long since left. They have a lot of knowledge gleaned from the Eldar.

 

The World has Wraithbone buried below the surface of the world. It lies dormant as there are no bonesingers to tend it.

 

The Wraithbone was discovered during the construction of their Fortress Repository. It is mined for use in Psychic Hoods and Weapons

 

1st is named the "Swords of the Covenant"

 

2nd is named the "Sword Tips" as they are usually the tip of the sword in any major engagement. (Pending Approval)

 

Establish the moons for recruiting.

 

They are decended from the Angels of Absolution.

 

Not sure about the Command roles of the Chaplains.

 

I'll let this sit a bit for replies before I change anything.

[Grand Master Belial]

Having trouble submitting this to the Librarium because it is too short as compared to the others. Here is the Article for review.

"The origins of the Angels of Vigilance are shrouded in mystery. It is suspected that the Chapter came into existence during the Second Founding, but it is unknown from which Legion their gene-seed originates. Given the monastic nature and unflinching devotion to duty of the Space Marines within the Chapter\'s ranks, it is believed that they may be one of the Dark Angel\'s successor Chapters. However this is unconfirmed and certainly the Chapter is not listed in the Apocrypha of Davio as such.

HOME WORLD

The fortress monastery of the Angels of Vigilance is a gigantic orbital dock circling the world of Pervigilium. These docks are situated just outside the Cadian Gate, the stable corridor of space that leads from the Eye of Terror to Earth. Each time the fleets of Chaos erupt from the Eye of Terror, the Angels of Vigilance stand ready to fight them; and when warp space is calm enough to allow passage, the Angels of Vigilance take the fight to the forces of Chaos.

Pervigilium itself is a feral pre-black powder planet, in perpetual state of war amongst various tribes. A single continent surrounded by a mass of water.... Terrain is not good enough to sustain a regular yield of crops so inhabitants are forced to hunt for food most of the time... tribes clash in order to establish the better hunting grounds.

The forbidden place at the top of a mountain is taboo for all the inhabitants and the keep surrounding it is guarded by a squad of marines at all times, with one month rotation.

COMBAT DOCTRINE

Unlike many other Chapters of Space Marines, the Angels of Vigilance have never once mobilized their entire Chapter to fight in warzones across the galaxy. Each battle brother has sworn a blood oath that the monastery shall never be undefended and each time the Chapter has been called to war, at least one company is duty bound to remain on the monastery. Several times in the Chapter\'s history the Masters of the Chapter have had their loyalty questioned when they have ignored the High Lords of Terra\'s requests for the Chapter\'s aid.

The source of this blood oath is unrecorded, but Imperial histories show that in the years following the Horus Heresy, the Dark Angels Legion of Space Marines disobeyed direct orders from the High Lords of Terra and launched a campaign against the ruling castes of Pervigilium. Years later, following the Second Founding, the Angels of Vigilance took up station around the planet and have kept watch on it and the Eye of Terror ever since.\"

The Angels of Vigilance are especially good at fighting the forces of Chaos as they tend to encounter them during every Black Crusade, as most forces come through the Cadian Gate. The Angels of Vigilance field a large number of Assault squads to emphasize their credo to strike swiftly to quickly destroy their opposition and withdraw.

Due to their close proximity to the Eye of Terror, they can often send units into the Eye to fight the forces of Chaos in their own territory.

The Angels of Vigilance are one of only four chapters to have served in both the Third War for Armageddon and against the Thirteenth Black Crusade

ORGANIZATION

The Angels of Vigilance is another chapter that organizes their Reserve Companies like the Battle Companies. In this way, the Angels can respond quickly to any available crisis near the Cadian Gate.

Another variance is in the 5th and 6th Tactical Squads. These two particular squads train not only as Tactical Marines but also as Assault marines. In this way it is possible for a company to field up to four Assault squads instead of the standard two. The 5th and 6th Squads usually operate without jet packs as jump packs require a lot of skill and training to use effectively. Time the 5th and 6th may not have. Instead they utilize drop pods and other transports to deliver them to the field of battle.

BELIEFS

Every 5 years the tribes are visited and the fittest youths are taken into the stars, while the remains of former members are returned in a metal sealed casing.

BATTLECRY

None

COLORS AND VARIANTS

---

---

---

Other Possible Variants (NOT SHOWN):

- Librarians, Chaplains, & Apothecaries

[MithrilForge]

Okay, Basillius's thread has a lot of things that might be good to include in this thread.

 

Here are my ideas for changes to the Guardians of the Covenant:

 

The intial humans are the decendants of human slaves and the world is a former Eldar Exodite world but the Eldar have long since left. They have a lot of knowledge gleaned from the Eldar.

 

The World has Wraithbone buried below the surface of the world. It lies dormant as there are no bonesingers to tend it.

 

The Wraithbone was discovered during the construction of their Fortress Repository. It is mined for use in Psychic Hoods and Weapons

 

1st is named the "Swords of the Covenant"

 

2nd is named the "Sword Tips" as they are usually the tip of the sword in any major engagement. (Pending Approval)

 

Establish the moons for recruiting.

 

They are decended from the Angels of Absolution.

 

Not sure about the Command roles of the Chaplains.

 

I'll let this sit a bit for replies before I change anything.

 

@ GMB - i like the wraithbone angle...adds some mystery and expands on the reasons for their search for knowledge... B) cool stuff.

 

In regards to the 2nd Co of the Guardians of the covenant...

i have been for some time at pains on how to paint them up and do them justice and still retain a regognition factor of someone saying instantly"thats a ravenwing successor"

(i disagree with the pic of the 2nd Co biker from the new codex as being canon <_< ) recently i decided to paint a Red Raven biker ( ;) my version of the GotC's ravenwing,i followed the ravenwing colors by codex except for the marines armor- boltgun obviously and the wing feathers -Red,as they would represent the other main color of the GotC,it still has the ravenwing insignia but its simply changed to red.... my name choices were/still are - RedWing,Red Ravens and Wings of the Covenant...

i will post a pic of the finished "Red Raven" in a couple of days(apologies,my painting speed is Glacial at best :turned: )

C&C and other ideas most welcome,

 

Cheers Mithril

 

 

 

 

please let me know what you think

[Grand Master Belial]

I like Wings of the Covenant. Red Wings are a Hockey team so that blows that one out of the sky. Since they are red perhaps the Cardinals of the Covenant. Ties in the Bird/Religion angle in one package. You can even add some black to further tie them in. Either Black Robe with Red Armour or Total red with Black around the eyes or on the face mask..

[PLUGitIN]

concerning the consecrators and the red stripe on the helmet:

the irritating fact is that a chapter of the 26th founding is not only equipped with gear dating back to the HH, but that it also revives the markings featured on DA helmets from that time. Among all the unforgiven they are the chapter that looks the most like the pre heresy DAs.

 

Or did anybody else point out that fact before? I did not read the whole thread...

i think this is a point that should be included in the first post of this thread seeing there's only a note about it having some vague significance - the red stripe is definitely a throw back to old heresy and crusade era armour markings:

 

http://1d4chan.org/images/4/40/Beakie_da_fe_ft.JPG

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/poseidal/1214849525376-1.jpg

[GreatEscape_13]

I like how the storylines from GW products that I have read painted the successors as different based more upon missions and purpose (One hunts Cypher, one often assists the DA, etc.). I like that, since the chapter and its successors feel unified. The OP questioned whether it would be like Imp Fists/Templars (a difference which feels funny to me)... I'd personally like to see all the successors of DA stay along the general lines of the main chapter.

 

Anyhow, that's my $0.02.

 

Cheers.

[Grand Master Belial]

All, I am starting to turn these into Articles for the Librarium and I'll also be putting up some official Background material in the Librarium as well.

[Mrph45]

Wow I had forgotten about this thread, IMO one of the best discussions ever on B&C. Glad to see its getting completed finally!

[Grand Master Belial]

The brothers of the Angels of Absolution appear to be a very close-knit chapter. As such, they are not as secretive as the Dark Angels within the ranks. However, they become as tight-lipped as the rest of the Unforgiven when linked with other forces.

The marines of the Angels of Absolution follow an unusual battle hierarchy as they take to the field of battle not in companies but as a collection of individual squads. This organization while unorthodox is highly effective as the marines maintain a chain of command between the squads.

The Scouts of this chapter tend to be more apt at close combat and have a distinctly larger physique than scouts of other chapters. All it is said when questioned is that the Scouts use their increased strength to aid in their intelligence gathering. Considering the number of disappearing acts of the Angels of Absolution documented in numerous Imperial Campaigns, this is probably a testament of their Scout's skill in the gathering of that intelligence.

HOME WORLD

The Angels of Absolution are a fleet-based Chapter based on over a hundred ships. Of prominent note are the three travelling docks that were built by the chapter. Designated as a chapter ship, each is home to a number of squads from each Company or Order as they are called. These are also the primary place where the Scouts of the Chapter are trained.

Under their normal operation, each chapter ship is accompanied by a pair of battle barges and a number of hunter-class destroyers and escort ships. Each fleet patrols various areas of the Segmentum Obscurus for new recruits and battling the forces arrayed against the Imperium. Smaller groups of ships usually carrying no more than 150 marines split off from the fleet to undertake smaller missions for the chapter. Only as the threat grows does the Chapter commit the battle barges to the fight. It is extremely rare for the chapter ships to commit to battle for they hold the chapter’s life blood. The loss of a single chapter ship is a devastating blow for the Angels of Absolution. The last time they were committed to battle was during the Third War of Armageddon where every ship was needed to try and stop the Ork Warlord Ghazghkull Thraka from making planetfall. With no facilities save the Fortress Monastery of the Dark Angels to make repairs, the chapter ships Cleansing Chalice and Atonement still travel with significant battle damage taken from the engagement. It will be many decades before both are fully repaired.
Due to the space faring nature of the Chapter, every brother of the chapter takes on shipboard duties when not committed to a campaign. While the majority of the tasks fall to the Scout Company and those still undergoing the surgeries and training to become marines, it is not uncommon for the marines to work in the various areas of the ships. Often this secondary duty has helped the Angels of Absolution in a number of boarding actions where a brother’s proficiency with a ship system turned the battle in the favor of the Angels.

COMBAT DOCTRINE

The Angels of Absolution have a unique style of fighting in combat based upon their organization. Instead of a number of squads from a single company fighting in any particular battle, squads from numerous companies, or Orders as they call them, assemble to fight in any given campaign. Only their battlefield demeanor seems to denote a difference between the Orders as they appear to perfect a series of Metaphysical skills along with the common ballistic and weapon skills.

It is believed that due to the number of small ships used by the chapter, squads of Angels of Absolution are scattered across the galaxy. When a call to battle is made, the squads in the vicinity converge to form a cohesive force. In this way, the Angels of Absolution can respond quickly to any call they receive.

ORGANIZATION

The Angels of Absolution is organized in a fashion similar to the Dark Angels with one significant difference. Though they name their companies as Orders instead; they fight as a single unit regardless of the size instead of maintaining a division between the Orders. In this way, it is conceivable for a single Master to lead an element of Angels of Absolution marines numbering larger than 100 marines and containing not only marines, but scouts and terminators as well. Only the Armory section with the Chapter's Techmarines seems to remain separate from the rest of the Chapter.

In deference to the Dark Angels Organization, the entire 1st Order is considered to be a part of the Angels of Absolution's Inner Circle. Unlike the Dark Angels, the Angels of Absolution are told different levels of the Legion’s shame as they progress through the Orders. This slow release of knowledge reduces the shock to the marine's advanced psyche and reduces the risk of the marine succumbing to the mental anguish and falling into madness. While this has been reduced greatly by the exploits of the Librarians in the other Unforgiven Chapters, the Angels of Absolution have not had any incidents of this madness in its long history.

Progression through the Order is done through Rites of Passage and Atonement. As each brother gains experience and knowledge they must also show through their actions both on and off the battlefield that they have purged themselves of that which allowed their Fallen brethren to be seduced.

As marines progress form the Scout Order to one of the four Reserve Orders, they learn that there was a sundering in the Dark Angels before the formation of the Legions. It is not until they reach the 5th Order that they learn that the Sundered Marines actually embraced Chaos instead of just falling sway. As they join the 3rd Order they learn of Luther but they do not learn of his close kinship with the Lion until they join the 2nd Order. In this way, the oldest, most knowledgeable and most experienced marines are in the 1st through 3rd Orders.

BELIEFS

The Angels of Absolution believe that knowledge is power. But with that power becomes great responsibility. As such, they go to great lengths to harden themselves from the temptations that come with power. While those of the lower orders focus on tangible knowledge with only the merest taste of the knowledge held by the higher orders, it is in the higher orders that the marines would devote equal time to the studying of history, grand strategies, meditating to purge themselves of frivolous thoughts and emotions as they perfect their mental awareness to achieve total clarity on the battlefield. As a consequence, marines of the higher orders shun ornamentation.

BATTLECRY

"Atone your sins!"

COLORS AND VARIANTS

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Other Possible Variants (NOT SHOWN):
- Dark Red Weapons
- Black Tabard / Robes / Cloaks
- Bikers to have additional sections of armor to be painted Black
- Bikers with Inverted Color Scheme
- Librarians, Chaplains, & Apothecaries

[Grand Master Belial]

If a person thought the piety and zeal of the Dark Angels were beyond reproach, and then they have not encountered the Angels of Redemption.
The brothers of the Angels of Redemption are not above any known method of purification in existence in the Imperium. While also fervent users of the Pain and Nerve Gloves, the brothers also participate in ritual scarring, flogging, or tattoos. Members of the Angels of Redemption seem to show off tokens of shame more than laurels of valor. Even the parchment attached to their purity seals seems to convey shame and their desire to purify their souls.

On the battlefield, they fight with an eerie calm around them. Believing that they have a heightened tolerance to pain, this trait was recognized as a key factor to the success of the Angels of Redemption boarding a Blackstone fortress controlled by the Despoiler when a few severely wounded marines were able to survive long enough to rig the station to explode. Their calm demeanor and high tolerance to pain also allowed the Angels of Redemption be very adept in boarding and breaching actions. Actions that would typically chew through hundreds of guardsmen would be taken with relative ease by the Angels of Redemption as they continue to push through the breach to make room for their brothers to come behind them before finally succumbing to their grievous wounds.

Only when fighting the forces of Chaos has the Angels of Redemption shown anything resembling fervor or a sounding a battle cry. The First Company especially seems to come to life when arrayed against the forces of Chaos, though there are rare reports of them coming into their own when fighting against another Xenos - typically one that has had repeated contact with the Imperium.

HOME WORLD

Most of the chapter resides on a number of battle barges that continuously travel the galaxy in search of the Fallen. However, they have adopted a barren world, Purgum, in the Segmentum Pacificus that provides the Angels of Redemption a place to routinely train their brothers and any new recruits to the chapter.

Whenever a marine is inducted into the First Company, they take part in a ritual journey on the surface of the planet. The inductee, reduced to the conditions not unlike that experienced by the Lion, is led by numerous Chaplains and Librarians along the journey that can last as little as two-months to as long as a full Terran year. Those that complete the journey are never the same and of what happens during the journey none speaks.

COMBAT DOCTRINE

The Angels of Redemption have become masters of breaking sieges as a result of their heightened tolerance to pain. Like all Unforgiven chapters, they are master tacticians and capable of fighting on any battlefield. However, their success rate of breaking sieges cannot be ignored.

Imperial commanders are more willing to let the Angels of Redemption take part in a campaign involving a siege given their checkered past. To the commanders, breaking a siege is a short enough time that they can expect the Angels of Redemption to remain and finish the task before they mysteriously decide to depart from the system.

The Angels of Redemption have taken to expecting this treatment and harbor no ill-will to their human counterparts. In response the Angels of Redemption have taken to refining the techniques of breaking sieges often using their second company as forward observers for their artillery barrages. The Angels of Redemption have even taken to having a larger number of Whirlwinds and Vindicators.

ORGANIZATION

The Angels of Redemption follow a standard DA Organization. The First Company is referred to as the “Redeemers.”

BELIEFS

For the Angels of Redemption, the very existence of the Fallen is their ultimate shame. To that end, the only way they can truly find purity is to voraciously purge this shame one Fallen at a time. They undertake the Hunt with such zeal that it has cost millions of Imperial lives as the Angels of Redemption has routinely dropped out of a campaign to follow a lead on the Fallen. This has not gone unnoticed for many a commander has repeatedly turned down the Angels of Redemption’s offers of assistance. It has also been noticed by the Inquisition who is very closely monitoring the activities of the Angels of Redemption for any heresy or taint.

The armor of the Angels of Redemption is that of a split scheme. It is taught to the young initiates that one side is painted an off-white color to represent their quest for purity (white is reserved only for the Emperor and the Lion), but it is counterbalanced with the vulnerability to fall to the lure of Chaos denoted by a deep dark green representing the forests of Caliban that once teemed with creatures warped by Chaos. Only by their actions and the manner of their death will they know if they have truly have achieved Redemption. Only the greatest heroes of the Chapter are seen depicted wearing the single color armor. The robes worn by the Angels of Redemption are typically of a dusty brown often thought to mimic the color of the ground on their training world.

BATTLECRY

"Through Pain our Weaknesses shall be Purged!"

COLORS AND VARIANTS

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Other Possible Variants (NOT SHOWN):
- Librarians, Chaplains, & Apothecaries

[Basilius]

Great to see that you are still at this GMB. I am happy to work on my IA again with some of your ideas if you want to discuss them. You know a hell of a lot more about Eldar and Wraithbone than I do and I like the ideas. PM me if you want to do some stuff together on the GOTC article.

[Sal]

I'm thinking of starting a Deathwing style army, but don't particularly want to make an actual Deathwing, so I thought I'd take a look at the successor chapters and the Angels of Vigilance caught my eye.

 

What are people's thoughts about the Angels of Vigilance's first company? I've noted the parts about organizing the reserve companies as battle companies, but do they keep a entirely Terminator based first company, and an entirely bike/landspeeder based second company for that matter? I'd like to make my Deathwing style army Angels of Vigilance, but I also like to be consistent with fluff as well :)

 

I look forward to reading people's thoughts.

 

Great thread btw.

[Grand Master Belial]

I'm thinking of starting a Deathwing style army, but don't particularly want to make an actual Deathwing, so I thought I'd take a look at the successor chapters and the Angels of Vigilance caught my eye.

 

What are people's thoughts about the Angels of Vigilance's first company? I've noted the parts about organizing the reserve companies as battle companies, but do they keep a entirely Terminator based first company, and an entirely bike/landspeeder based second company for that matter? I'd like to make my Deathwing style army Angels of Vigilance, but I also like to be consistent with fluff as well :)

 

I look forward to reading people's thoughts.

 

Great thread btw.

 

Please note that this is not official.

 

The Angels of Vigilance is in the gray zone as it is not declared to be a part of the Unforgiven, just suspected of having the Dark Angels geneseed. This opens a door that allows the Angels of Vigilance to be trained by the Sons of Gulliman or Dorn instead of the Sons of the Lion.

 

With no more official fluff, you are at liberty to work them as you see fit.

[Sal]

Fair enough. I was just wondering whether anyone had any ideas as to the Chapters Organization with regards to the first and second companies.

 

The way I'm thinking the AoV is thus: they have a Deathwing style first company, but no Ravenwing style second company (as they don't actively go out and seek the Fallen), and that with their continual fight against Chaos they have close ties to the Grey Knights, which I will probably start to work into my lists post 1500pts I think.

[Harleqvin]

with their continual fight against Chaos they have close ties to the Grey Knights

 

 

Wouldn't that go against the grain of the DA and successors (although it would be more against just DA and their successors I guess really, with it being not known as actually being a DA successor,) not wanting to get too near/close to the Inquisition because of their feeling of not wanting the Inquisition to find out about the Fallen Angels?

 

I do think that is a neat thought though.