RPC – Stalwart Guardians
Third of the runners-up:
Submitted by Juventino:
|
Name: |
Stalwart Guardians |
|
Founding chapter: |
Iron Hands |
|
Founding: |
3rd Founding, M32 |
|
Chapter Master: |
Varren Tellos |
|
Homeworld: |
Buldan, Segmentum Obscurus |
|
Main colours: |
Grey, Yellow |
|
Specialty: |
Defense |
|
Estimated strength: |
10 companies ~ 900 Marines and Recruits |
Chapter History:
Formed during the 32nd Millennium, The Forging, also known as The Golden Age of the Imperium. Home world of Buldan In the Segmentum Obscurus, the chapter roughly following the Codex Astartes as a guideline but specialize in a slower more defensive combat doctrine.
Buldan massacre 923.m32 - The biggest battle yet for the relatively new chapter on the world called Buldan, a forge world that was under attack by the forces of the 3rd black crusade. The world in charge of high priority war repairs such as dreadnoughts, Land Raiders and Predator tanks from the Iron Hands, Space Wolves and the Night Watch space marine chapters, including three Warhound Titans from Legio Astorum. 6th and 7th company were all but wiped out,1st company taking extreme casualties, Before being able to destroy the invaders. Due to it being a world holding valuable armor for other chapters and the Titan Legio, the other Space Marine chapters donated a few dreadnought shells to the chapter.To this day the Stalwart Guardians call that forge world there home world,and can easily boast 3 times the amount of dreadnoughts then any other chapter.
Chapter Strength:
10 companies, approximately 800 battle brothers, 75 recruits and 61 dreadnoughts (a much higher number then the average chapter). Along with Land Raiders, Rhinos, Whirlwinds, Land Speeders, Predator tanks, and Vindicators.
Chapter Master - Varren Tellos, Next in line after the death of former chapter master Loth,Varren Tellos having a sharp tactical mind and wit, was assigned to the first company to fight amongst the heroes of their young chapter. First company arrived on Buldan just before the climax of the battle, that took the lives of both sixth company and eighth company. Of the three companies on planet for that battle,only 31 marines from 1st company survived the battlefield, 22 of which were crippled beyond measure, (including Varren) those 22 (their experience too valuable to lose and as they were survivors in the biggest battle for the chapter they are also a Iconic figures in a universe that knows only war) were entered into the armored cybernetic sarcophagi of a Dreadnought shell a mix between Mark IV and Mark V patterns (Varren was entered into a older model of Mark 3 one that is much more heavily armored noticeably slower but easily modified for different weapon load outs), and eventually were spread throughout the companies of the chapter.
Varren Tellos was announced Chapter Master after council was held the biggest factor being that Former Chapter Master Loth's last words announcing him as his successor. This led to some inner turmoil for many captains of the company were worried to have a dreadnought as their leader, one who could slumber for hundreds of years while the chapter was in need. Soon after Varren took the mantle of chapter masters of the Stalwart Guardians, for 8 millennium he has not once entered the deep slumber that all dreadnoughts yearn for. None are worried for that either,as his Captains and Chaplains and Apothecaries, Techmarines and battle brothers ,all fully under his command. Over the millennium Varren has pushed the Stalwart Guardians to even greater heights ,and this chapter fields more dreadnoughts then any other chapter known. For a reason Techmarines are not able to find out, the dreadnoughts of this chapter have a firmer hold over their identity,and though they are still subject of periods of sleep, they do not last nearly as long as they should. Out of the 22 marines that were entombed into powerful dreadnought shells, today in the 41st millennium only 8 Venerable ones remain: Venerable Castus, Serghar, Callidon, Ravilas, Icaris, Drustos, Attilas,and of course Varren Tellos.
The Stalwart Guardians don't dabble heavily in cybernetics like there founding chapter does.
Master of the Forge - Most senior Techmarine Haddos. The Stalwart Guardians are closer and venerated highly not just their dreadnought brethren but are closer to the Techmarines that visit Mars to learn the ways of the machine, they work better together essentially.
Also, of the 61 current dreadnoughts,they are never on the battlefield at the same time. Some sleep and the rest are spread evenly throughout the Chapter's companies besides the 10th scouting company.
Chapter Tactics:
When drop pods aren't an answer, the Stalwart Guardians prefer a slower but always progressing battle line. They are the treads of the Emperor's domain, and anything opposing them shall find its self crushed beneath their weight. They have a good armor detachment in every company, thanks to their brethren from the Iron Hands and their forge world home of Buldan. It is said though, that when a Stalwart Guardians detachment bunkers down in defense of an objective or a world,nothing can break them. The price they pay for such an impregnable defense is mobilization; they are slower when compared to the lightning fast White Scars for example.
Founding:
The reason for the split off from the Iron hands chapter was for many reasons, the bigger one being of the Chapter's faith. Though there Iron hand brethren praise the Emperor in a different manner one of the founders of the Stalwart Guardians didn't very much get behind, Iron Hands had Forge Fathers, men who reinforced that praising the machine aspect of the Emperor was more important. For the Stalwart Guardians they kept traditional and returned to the using of Chaplains, men who would spread piety throughout the companies.
WIP is a Sternguard Sergeant:
Click to enlarge
RPC – Silent Defenders
Second of the runners-up:
Submitted by Rob:
|
Name: |
Silent Defenders |
|
Founding chapter: |
Iron Hands |
|
Founding: |
22nd Founding |
|
Chapter Master: |
Josiah Halo |
|
Homeworld: |
Imentet (The Moorian Swamp) |
|
Fortress-Monastery: |
Ogom |
|
Main colours: |
Black and Chainmail, with Blue highlights |
|
Specialty: |
Defense and concealment |
|
Battle Cry: |
"Hold in life! Hold in Death!" |
|
Estimated strength: |
Approx 950 spread across 19 systems; including Approx 70 incorporated Astartes from other chapters. |
Formed in the late 37th Millennium, after a discovery on the dead world Ednevtta, in the Huldra system. Its discovery, marked as one of the most important of the millennium, and one of the most since the heresy itself. A small research team spotted unusual tachyon particles around the planet. Excavations in areas of the planet soon revealed unusual finds, for example bolter rounds and Astartes armour of unknown configurations. The team soon realized the significance of the planet and the council of terra put in immediate actions. The Iron hands dispatched a permanent team to become a new chapter, The Silent Defenders, specifically to defend the planet at all costs. The planet and surrounding system was removed from all records, all who knew of the planet silenced, and the planet declared “classification - defendere omnino nulla”.
At some point in the far future, the planet will be engaged in a large battle with forces unknown, and an enormous tachyon weapon will be used. This explosion will tear at reality itself, causing debris to be scattered backwards in time. Tech-priests work with thousands of servo-miners to carefully excavate this “future archeology” and carefully transport it back to mars. The Silent Defenders maintain its protection from all outsiders, as well as protecting the Tech-priests – the only ones allowed to leave the planet. Since then, 16 other planets have become under their protection. All of these are sites of enormous significance to the Imperium, but high risk should enemies of the Imperium take control of the planets. For example; the planet of Qabalah, which simultaneously exists in three separate locations in the universe at once, to the defiance of all known physics.
Originally without a home world, the chapter adopted the giga-planet of Imentet (known as “The Moorian Swamp”) when it came under their protection. Not originally a secret, “The Moorian Swamp” is the largest inhabited planet in the known universe. It is orbited by two dwarf stars and twelve moons, and is roughly half the size of the sol solar system. The planet is inhabited by the largest xenos in the galaxy, low intelligence tetrapeds called Alanti. Enormous herbivores, each dwarfing titans in size, they have been compared to ancient cows from ancient terra’s history. Attempts to make use of these animals for food or labour have failed in every attempt, and the high council has considered many times the exterminatus of the planet. However the sheer amount of explosive materials required for exteminatus would far exceed current stockpiles, so the planet has been left under the care of the Astartes. There are 112 hive colonies on the planet, all built upon the backs of these huge creatures, as attempts to build on the ground level soon became…trampled.
In the wake of the Tyranid threat, the planet has been classed as “defendere omnino nulla” due to the enormous amount of biomaterial on the planet. Should the Tyranids ever discover it, they could create a fresh hive fleet the size of kraken within cycles. Imperium news broadcasts reported the planet destroyed by supernova, and in a rare alliance with Craft-world An-Iolsus, moved the planet several light-years out of position and away from official shipping lanes. Since then the planet has been guarded by the Silent Defenders, and their hive cities have become recruitment hubs for the Astartes.
Structure
Each world’s forces act independently, under the command of a “Lord of the Veil”. Only the lords are allowed communication with anyone outside of the chapter. The Chapter-Master is known as “The Shrouded Master.”
The Silent Defenders, originally maintaining an armour uniform very similar to the Iron Hands, changed their armour designs in the early 39th millennium, to match armour pieces found at the site. Sergeants and higher authority figures wear robes similar to Dark Angels. Their left shoulders have a grey wall upon a black background.
The chapter will never respond to distress signals, unless within a defended sector. In the event of an emergency request or battle in their sector, the chapter will mobilize to destroy all enemies entirely, for even one to ship to escape would be a tragedy. Imperial civilians will be sent to Ednevtta to become servitors for the excavation team, and Astartes are forced to become part of the chapter. However, these Astartes are treated with great respect, and permitted to wear the symbol of their old chapter on their right shoulder as recognition of their origin.
They strongly favour defensive weapons, such as storm shields, preferring the enemy to expend their energy first before striking. However, in contrast, they maintain a large amount of land speeder storm configurations, to ensure the enemy does not escape back to report their locations. They also have a large amount of librarians armed with psychic hoods, to prevent any psychic messages escaping from the battle.
There is little rivalry between members of the chapter, and they pride themselves on the strength of their defense, rather than the ferocity of their kills. If a disagreement between astartes should evolve into physical violence, the rule of engagement is such as whomever falls upon the ground first is the loser – they have failed to hold the line.
Notable Members
Josiah Halo
In the late 38th, excavation site 152b in the southern hemisphere detected a huge concentration of tachyon particles. Suspecting this may be the initial explosion site, the team focused heavily on the area. Approx 20km down from the surface a suit of tactical dreadnought armour of unknown configuration was found embedded in graphium rock.
Techpriests and servitors worked tirelessly to remove the suit in one piece, and after several hours it was freed from its rock tomb. Much to the surprise of the archeologists, the suit was not only found to be functioning, but still contained its pilot, all-be-it in a comatose condition.
Freed from his suit, apothecaries managed to revive and heal the Astartes. Unable to remember is much more than his name and rank, he was interrogated by the Ordo Hereticus inquisitors for months. They eventually declared him sane, loyal and fit to return/begin work with the chapter, he returned to his original role as bodyguard to The Shrouded Master. He cannot remember any details from before his interment, but his battle technique and tactics are many years beyond current levels. He was re-equipped his original terminator armour, (after it was exhaustively examined by tech-priests). The suit, more resembling Adeptus Custodes then normal TDA, is able to fire small bursts of electricity through its curved lightning claws.
After 531 cycles he became the current Shrouded Master, based primarily on the sentient city of Ogom (declared “defendere omnino nulla” on 5/431/21/M40).
Click to enlarge
WIP is an Assault Marine, packing some serious future-tech plasma weaponry:
RPC – Dream Reapers
Here are the first of the runners-up, which are presented in no particular order:
Submitted by Colonel Shofer:
|
Name: |
Dream Reapers |
|
Founding chapter: |
Ultramarines |
|
Homeworld: |
Laurentix |
|
Main colours: |
Blue, Teal |
The Dream Reapers (Somniorum Messores) originated from a noble detachment of Ultramarines, which accompanied an Imperial Guard division. They, in turn, were protecting settlers and miners terraforming Laurentix, long before the Eye of Terror era.
"Speak Not to Me of Men's Noble Dreams.I Have Witnessed Such Blasphemy, in the Slumbering Minds of Self-Appointed Righteous Men,
And I Can Truly Say, That the Foulest Gods of Chaos Have Little More to Offer,
When Deceit and Sin Are The Only Measure of These Men's Fantasies."
Volens
Cupiens
Esuriens
Invidens
Livens
Hoc modo genus humanum ad chaos movet
So humanity moves towards chaos.
Here's the WIP, a Vanguard Veteran:
Click to enlarge
RPC – Results coming!
This was definitely a difficult competition to judge, because all of the entries were great. There were 7 in total, and I'll be posting them shortly. I'm waiting a few days, because in addition to the entries themselves, I'm also going to post WIP pics of the prizes.
That's right, everyone gets something! In case anyone missed it, the prize tally was a combat squad shy of a Battleforce, so the runners-up are each getting a mini painted in their chapter.
Programming note: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place aren't going to get the prizes in the orders advertised, because their fluff fit other prizes better. The prizes were all essentially equal, so everyone was cool with that. I'll be posting one/day, hopefully starting tomorrow.
RPC – Deadline!
As long as your entry gets to my email before the clock hits 12:00 AM Eastern time tomorrow, (that's -5 UTC), it'll be considered! Get 'em in!
RPC – One week left
Send those entries in! I've got half of this stuff built and ready for some modification and painting!
RPC – Remnants of Bellerophon
There's just over two weeks remaining in my Reverse Painting Contest, and we've had some great entries so far. Keep them coming!
Now, obviously I'm not going to enter my own contest, but here's what I would have submitted (as in, here's a great example!)
|
Name: |
Remnants of Bellerophon |
|
Founding chapter: |
Ultramarines |
|
Founding: |
M41, 26th Founding |
|
Chapter Master: |
Kervas Wyn |
|
Homeworld: |
Fleet-Based |
|
Fortress-Monastery: |
Selentine |
|
Main colours: |
Turquose, Ash Grey, White |
|
Specialty: |
Surgical Strikes |
|
Battle Cry: |
"For Our Brothers! For The Emperor! For Holy Terra!" |
|
Estimated strength: |
6 companies compromising ~625 Marines and Recruits |
Formed in the early years of M41 to support the worlds reclaimed in the Macharian Crusade, the Scions of Pernaes hail from the gene-seed of the renowned and recently deceased Ultramarines hero Gilan Pernaes. The founding was initially supplemented by twenty veterans and eighty Ultramarine battle-brothers drawn from the main battle companies, ensuring a strong bond with the progenitor chapter.
The chapter initially won glory and honors in the ensuing Macharian Heresy, reclaiming a large swath of space and earning praise from the loyalist citizens for their mercy in the face of rebellion. The worlds that the Scions took were among the quickest to return to productivity and the Emperor’s grace.
However, near the end of the seventy-year conflict, doom descended on the chapter in the form of the incredible hubris of the successor to the original chapter master. Commander Ervain Alemacht rose to preeminence after the death of his predecessor due more to expediency than acclaim. Alemacht had served as Captain of the First Company, and assumed the mantle of command during the ferocious battle that claimed his leader. His blunt tactics won the day, and few had any standing to raise their voices against him.
A scant few years later, the chapter was tasked with retaking the manufactorium world Bellerophon. A cabal of Iron Warriors had claimed the rebellious world as their own and immediately set to reinforcing the defenses. Commander Alemacht decreed that an orbital insertion strike against the four largest hives would overwhelm the defenders and crush whatever resistance. His plan was to commit every tactical and most of the devastator units via drop pod, an hold the armory and assault squads for a second wave to harry the expected retreat. Over the decade of his command, Alemacht had become quite the polarizing figure within the nascent chapter, and while there was no outright insubordination, there existed two camps: one fiercely loyal to him, and one opposed to what they saw as a rejection of the Codex Astartes. This second faction rallied around the new 1st Company captain, Haryn Kael. Captain Kael himself was not as staunch a defender of the Codex that those who supported him were, he simply had a much different combat doctrine than Alemacht. Prefering lightning strikes and swiftly-moving advances to Alemacht’s overwhelming concentrations of force, Kael and his chapter master were often at cross purposes.
Their disagreement over tactics came to a head in the war room aboard the chapter’s flagship in the Bellerophon system. Kael made no mistake about his thoughts on Alemacht’s plan, declaring it folly and suicide to mount such a straightforward assault on an Iron Warriors stronghold. As the discussion turned to argument, the two nearly came to blows. Alemacht railed against Kael’s plan favoring a polar insertion of a swift-moving strike force to hunt down the traitor leadership. Declaring his 1st Company captain a coward, Alemacht stripped Kael of his command, demoting him to Master of the Recruits as an insult and vowing to execute him before the assembled chapter with whatever prisoners were captured when he returned victorious.
Alemacht lead more than half of the chapter in a stunning assault on Bellerophon, but the defenders were predictably awaiting their arrival. Over thirty percent of the drop pods were shot from the sky, and another twenty percent were thrown off course, stranding their units behind enemy lines. Within two hours, three-quarters of the committed forces had been slaughtered, and no foothold had been gained.
Alemacht had landed in the middle of the largest hive and his honor guard was quickly beset. Terrestrial communications were spotty, and the beleaguered command made a hopeless stand to scattered reports of failure and none of success. Knowing his situation was hopeless, yet still unwilling to allow his foe to escape, Alemacht overrode the commands of the fleet and remotely initiated exterminatus on the planet.
Unable to stop the destruction, Kael managed to locate and evacuate a small number of units that had strayed far off course before their positions were obliterated. By the time the chapter fleet limped to the edge of the system, Bellerophon was an ash-filled wasteland and over five hundred battle-brothers had been lost. Most of the main battle companies were completely depleted, as well as the bulk of the 1st Company, including nearly all of the chapter’s suits of Terminator armour. The factions within the chapter were no more, as all of Alemacht’s staunchest supporters had perished with him.
Taking stock of what remained, Kael decreed that in the wake of their shame, they were no longer worthy of bearing the name of Pernaes. From that day forth, they would bear their disgrace as the Remnants of Bellerophon. Kael was acclaimed the new commander of the chapter, yet somberly retained his title of Master of the Recruits.
Organization
The Remnants of Bellerophon reorganized in the wake of the disaster. Bearing a disproportionate number of assault marines and few veterans, they could no longer organize themselves according to the Codex Astartes. Attempting to salvage what they could, five main battle companies were created, consisting of two tactical squads, two devastator squads, and six assault squads each, as well as a sixth recruit company. Eschewing a dedicated Veteran company, veterans remain as part of their company, serving first as squad sergeants and then earning promotion to the veteran squads. The chapter has rebounded somewhat, and now numbers just over six-hundred, including battle brothers and recruits.
Each company is lead by a captain, who, along with the chief librarian and Master of Sanctity, form a chapter council that selects the chapter master by popular acclaim. The Chapter Master also serves as commander of the recruit company in honor of Commander Kael.
The chapter’s armoury is comparatively large, having suffered only the loss of nearly all drop pods and five of the seven Dreadnoughts. The chapter claims fifteen Land Raider variants, twelve Predators, five Vindicators and three Whirlwinds, and enough Rhinos and Razorbacks to transport the entirety of the chapter. It also has numerous Land Speeders and variants, including Storms. Also remaining are a significant number of bikes, which the chapter is able to produce and makes frequent use of. The chapter’s fleet is also intact and large enough to commit the entire chapter simultaneously.
Heraldry
The chapter sigil is a skull superimposed over a truncated starburst. The sigil has remained unchanged, and originally represented Pernaes’ skull and was reminiscent of the Ultramarine’s inverted Omega.
The original colors of the chapter were a turquoise-teal and ash-grey backpack, with Codex company colors on the pauldron trim. Company colors have been dropped, and ash-grey has been added to the arms below the elbows, legs below the knees, and faceplate. This represents their disgrace and the ashes of their fallen brethren that they walk through, sift through and breathe. Veterans have white pauldron trim and helmets aside from the faceplate. Company number designations are on the right kneepad in orange, as well as on the skull of the chapter sigil.
The chest Aquila and squad markings are in white regardless of rank. Sergeants bear an orange stripe atop their helmets.
Tactics
As the Remnants of Bellerophon, being primarily comprised of assault marines, favor quick strikes that target the leadership of their foes before wreaking havoc among the rank and file. Using a mix of jump packs, bikes and attack bikes, and swift-moving transports, the favored tactic is to flank the enemy and move in for a surgical strike. Scouts and Land Speeders will often operate far ahead of the main force and act as spotters and reconnaissance units.
Notable Members
Commander Ytrain Faril - first Chapter Master, killed in action on Gendras Prime
High Chaplain Matrath Daryn - first voice hailing Captain Kael as new Chapter Master
D’oh! I don’t even know my own email address.
I know it's only been two days, but if anyone submitted an entry for my Reverse Painting Contest via the email link, can you please resubmit to forholyterra@bagosy.com? I've fixed the link in the original post.
Reverse Painting Contest!
Hey, remember me? Life has been crazy, and while I've had the chance to paint, I haven't really had the motivation to post. I have, however, been brewing up an idea in my brain stem! It's Christmas, and I'd like to give something away. I found a Battleforce for $90 and tossed the winnings from my last tournament at it, so in reality, it's wound up costing me $50. And in the spirit of giving, I'm going to run a contest and give it away!
Contest Details
What you have to do: Create a Space Marine chapter! And when I say "create," I mean from the ground up. Name, Colors and Herladry are the absolute minimum requirements, but this contest isn't going to be judged on looks alone - you need to flesh out the character of the chapter. If you want a good example of what I'm looking for, take a look at the Lexicanum entries on Doom Eagles, Mantis Warriors and Red Scorpions.
Note that this has to be an original work. Do not submit fluff for your version of the Ultramarines' 5th Company.
You don't need to provide every last detail about your chapter, but a good range of information is advisable. You'll also need to provide an image of a marine from your chapter - I highly recommend the Bolter & Chainsword Space Marine Painter.
If you've previously created a chapter and you think it's already pretty good, that's cool! Feel free to submit it.
So what's likely to win? I can't really say until I start seeing entries, but I'm looking for something that really carves itself out as original while still remaining true to the 40k/Space Marine essence.
PRIZES!
So I said this was a "reverse painting contest," right? Well, here's how the prizes work: Once I've chosen the winning entries, I will assemble and paint the stuff out of the Battle Force box in the colors and heraldry of the winners!
1st Place: Magnetized Rhino*
2nd Place: 10-man Tactical Squad
3rd Place: 5-man Assault Squad and 5-man Scout Squad
Just to be clear:
The prizes will come fully assembled and painted in the colors and heraldry of the winner of that prize!
And believe you me, I will be dipping deep into my bitz boxes to round these out. It's not going to be just the stuff I find in the Battleforce box. I've already grabbed a bunch of stuff to make everything look great.
I will keep as true to your created fluff as possible in regards to assembling and painting, but the customization will be all mine. Also, please let me know which Codex I should work from: Space Marines, Blood Angels, Space Wolves, Black Templars or Dark Angels. It shouldn't really matter, but you never know what crazy ideas I might get.
* When I say magnetized, I mean ready to turn into a Razorback/Whirlwind/Predator if you've got the bitz, and containing almost every option. It'll have a removable Storm Bolter and Hunter/Killer missile with option turret hatches, removable doors, etc.
Particulars
The contest runs from right now until December 31st, 2011.
Entries must be emailed to me, and must contain separate images of your marine and chapter symbol. Text should be in any format readable by Microsoft Word 2007 (copied into the body of your email is fine).
When you email me your entry, leave a post here letting me know, just in case my spam filter eats it.
If you've happened upon my site because of this contest, please join me on Google Friend Connect (right there on the left-hand side under Tags).
I will be judging the entries myself, and all of them will be posted on this site around one per day after I get done with the judging, runners-up first, then 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place winner. I will then begin posting WIP shots of the prizes. I will make every effort to ship them to their respective winners on or before February 29th, 2012.
One entry per person, please!
Good luck! If you've got questions, ask them below and I will answer for everyone to see.
Flickr
About Paul
Tags
Blog Roll
122nd Cadian
40K Hobby Blog
40K Terrain
A Thousand Hats
BAALS 2 the WAALS!
Dave Taylor Miniatures
Excommunicate Tratoris
Faeit 212
From the Warp
GK Workbench
House of Paincakes
Imperius Dominatus
Khepri's Eternal Legion
Mart's Warhammer Blog
Nines to Glance
NinjaBread
Red's Corps
Tentakel Games
The Blood Angels: By Jawaballs
The Fallen Princes
The Quiet Limit of the World
The Red Wake
The Standard Template Construct
Wolves for the Wolf God
Wynn Studio Models
Zen 40,000