Index Astartes: The Angelic Guard

[JMH]

Kun kerran olen tuollaisen kirjoittanut, voihan sitä vähän levittääkin. Kiitokset Bolter&Chainswordille avusta sen tekemisessä.


+The Angelic Guard+


++Origins++

By the decree of the High Lords of Terra the Angelic Guard was created in the great 21st founding, M36, in the aftermath of the fourth Black Crusade of Abaddon. The chapter was to be stationed in the Ikaros system, which was a commercial hub at the intersection of trade routes between Segmentums Solar, Ultima and Obscurus. The purpose of the chapter was to stand on guard against any chaos outbreaks from the Eye of Terror.

Created using the gene-seed of the noble Sanguinius, the ancient martyr-hero of the Horus Heresy, the Angelic Guard is one of the very few Blood Angel successor chapters created after the 10th founding. No one knows what the motivations were behind the actions of the Tech Priest who created the Angelic Guard as he went perplexingly missing shortly after completing his great work. It is suspected by some that it was yet another attempt to suppress the presumed side effects of Sanguinius’ gene-seed although others whisper of more sinister agendas.

As so many of the their brothers of the 21st founding the chapter was doomed from the very beginning.

+The Cursed Founding+
The 21st founding is also known as the cursed founding because of the results of experiments upon the gene-seeds used to create the chapters of the founding. The Adeptus Mechanicus tried several kinds of improvements none of which worked out just as they were supposed to. As a result of this tampering many chapters were promptly exterminated due to uncontrollable mutations or worse.


++Homeworld++

"Hard work conquers everything."

Of the planets in the Ikaros system the tiny Ikaros prime was chosen as the base for the newly found chapter. Very close to the diminutive star it is orbiting Ikaros prime has no moons as the planet’s mass is inadequate to support such company. Also due to the planet’s relatively light weight the gravity on the surface is significantly reduced. The temperatures on the planet range from freezing cold nights to sunblazed days because the thin atmosphere is incapable of leveling the temperatures.

The surface of Ikaros prime is mostly covered in vast volcanic ash-wastes and volcanic activity is still common. The air is nearly devoid of all humidity and all water on the planet was concentrated inside curious species of cacti that somehow managed to cling to survival in the inhospitable environment. Together with the absence of a diverse plant life and the thin air caused by the low gravity animal life was all but inexistent. Only a few rodent-like species inhabited the planet.

Formerly used as a prison planet Ikaros prime had no human inhabitants per se save for the sparse offspring of former prisoners and those left behind when the facilities were abandoned. These people had in the course of millenia developed into a few nomadic tribes scouring the hostile surface of Ikaros prime, forgotten by the rest of the Imperium of man, eking out a living off the little ecosystem the planet was able to support. They had also adopted some features from their surroundings and when one looked at them one could swear they had not a sigle drop of liquid in them. Their skin, or what little one could see of it under their age old eco-suits, was dry and hard, often ruptured and scarred, and greyish in hue. Despite their belligerent ancestors the nomads of Ikaros prime were a peaceful folk. They knew they were fighting a war against their surroundings and needed no more troubles in their lives.

After the marines first arrived at Ikaros prime it took quite a while before contact was made with the “native” population. The nomads viewed their new neighbours with religious reverance linking them with the almighty guardians told of by the tales of places long forgotten, the stories passed from one generation to the next. The marines in turn were impressed by the stubborn survival of these primitive people and every six years would fly to each of the tribes to take the youths deemed suitable to be transformed into marines.

The nihilistic way of life of their neighbours had several effects on the Angelic Guard marines, either by sheer respect for the hardy folk or through something the new recruits carried over the transformation in their minds of their former way of life and philosophy. Like most other children of Sanguinius the Angelic Guard also have an affinity to art but that created by the marines of Ikaros prime is usually much more ascetic in nature than their glorious older cousins’ having less details and with more toned down colours. Also the quiet mental calm of the nomads was retained in the behaviour of the marines created from them.

+The Creation of a Marine+
The creation of an Angelic Guard Space Marine is mostly similar to that of any other marine. The chapter travels to the nomadic tribes where the apothecarion carries out preliminary examinations on all youths of the appropriate age.

Those deemed suitable are then taken to the chapter’s fortress monastery where they are implanted with the chapter’s gene-seed. After the implantations are complete they are put to sleep and placed inside great sargophagi where they are connected to a complex array of life support systems which feed them with a wide assortment of nutrients and inject them with the blood of Sanguinius activating the gene-seed.

Once the entombment of the infant marines is over and they emerge from their caskets none would recognise them for the same young men that were set in, such are the changes wrought upon them. They all take on them the likelyness of their primarch and the physical properties of a fully grown Space Marine.


++History++

"Heresy grows from idleness."

Soon after the chapter’s fortress monastery on Ikaros prime had been erected the infant chapter was visited by an inquisitor. The Ordo Malleus representative announced that he had come to check that everything was proceeding according to plan and that the creation of the marines was ready to begin in schedule. Altough this kind of inquisitorial scrutiny was unexpected by the Angelic Guard command staff they showed their visitor every courtesy he was due thinking the additional interest was because of their lineage. After having thoroughly inspected the facilities used in the storing and implantation of the gene-seed as well as other apparatus concerning the creation of a space marine over several days the inquisitor was satisfied and departed.

For almost the first two centuries of the chapter’s history peace reigned as far as the Angelic Guard was concerned and the chapter was able to strengthen their numbers and train recruits without unexpected interruptions. This quietude was only slightly disrupted by some minor skirmishes with space pirates trying in vain to raid the orbital space stations of the Ikaros system for while the Angelic Guard might have been only a fledgeling chapter the combat prowess of their trained marines was already well on par with their more experienced cousins. Also everyone was very pleased to note that there were as of yet no signs of the “black rage” that plagued all of Sanguinius’ heirs. The most optimistic voices even began to whisper that the gene-seed might have gotten over it’s fatal flaw over the millenia. However the Adeptus Mechanicus swore that it still exsisted in the gene-seed given to the chapter.

+The Age of Apostasy+
The Age of Apostasy refers to an era in Imperial history during which a High Lord by the name of Goge Vandire assumed control over his peers becoming de facto the dictator of the Imperium. Vandire’s reign was marked by his brutal rule which led to the extermination of several worlds in the slightest suspicion of opposing him.

An opposing faction formed around Sebastian Thor who was able to gather enough support to launch an attack at Terra after allying himself with the Adeptus Mechanicus and Astartes on Mars even though these factions had stayed outside the conflict thus far considering it mere politics.

+++The Second Siege of Terra+++
In the year 287M36 Sebastian Thor led the forces of the “Confederation of Light” against Goge Vandire in what became known as the Second Siege of Terra and the Angelic Guard was ordered on stand-by. In time the call came for a small attatchment of fast elements to provide courier support. Four squads of assault marines were dispatched along with a command squad to provide the required support. The main fighting was reserved for other chapters.

So it happened that during this mission a group of Vandire’s guard managed to make their way through the lines of the besiegers and attacked the Angelic Guard encampment. The marines vigorously repelled their foes until battle brother Anakletos suddenly fell onto his knees and through the comms in their helmets the rest of the marines heard him scream long and loud. Those that were able turned to look at what was happening to brother Anakletos and were awestruck as a pair of large white angelic wings shot out his back ripping through the power armour like paper. With a mighty swoop of his new wings he launched up into the sky and a moment later crashed down into the midst of the attackers tearing their limbs off with his bare hands until finally dragged down by the mob before the rest of the marines could get to him. At that moment all of them knew that brother Anakletos had become possessed by the black rage, the curse plaguing all decendants of Sanguinius, although only the commanding Angelic Guard officer had ever seen it happen before and even then the victims did not develop wings. After the remaining assaulters were slain the body of brother Anakletos was recovered and hidden from all eyes. When their mission on Holy Terra was over, with Vandire defeated, brother Anankletos’ corpse was brought safely and in great secrecy back to Ikaros prime.

+The Black Rage+
While others can only suspect all the Blood Angel descendants know for a fact the full extent of the curse that is their heritage. The death of their primarch at the hands of Horus echoes through the ages in the souls of his children.

Sometimes on the eve of great battles or during prolonged combat the racial memory the marines carry within their blood floods their minds with images from the final battle between Horus and Sanguinius. Some marines lapse into a state of frenzy tortured by the pains their primarch went through during that final hour.

To an outside observer a Space Marine gripped by the Black Rage appears mad with fury, his only goal to reap death at his enemies.

After they had been given a thorough account of the events on Terra the chapter’s command staff became very nervous. They did have every reason to be worried though as the Imperium tends to view even lesser mutations than wings a blasphemy against the Emperor and without further ado purge the mutants and those suspected of it. After several detailed examinations of brother Anakletos’ body the chapter’s medical staff were convinced however that he was under no mutation: his blood, flesh and most importantly his gene-seed remained as they should be. Even the Adeptus Mechanicus would have deemed that all was as it was supposed to be, although they would have found a minute alteration in the gene-seed’s genetical structure but still well within the accepted parameters.

The genetical well being of the late brother Anakletos left the chapter with the mystery unsolved, although they were relieved that there was no genetical evidence of mutation taking place within the chapter and they might just be saved from being exterminated. After months of meditating on the matter the chapter became to believe that the wings were a physical aspect of their primarch surfacing in his children as his consciousness took hold of them in the form of the black rage that was already known to give its victims super human strength and constitution, even on space marine standards. This view was staunchly supported by the chapter’s few chaplains who argued is the womb
of heresythat just as Sanguininus was blessed as well as cursed those that were unfortunate enough to inherit his curse would also inherit his blessing, or at least a part of it. This reasoning was in time accepted by the entire chapter as no other explanation presented itself. Although this interpretation lenified the chapter’s view towards those who fell under the influence of the black rage, the chapter’s leaders decided that it was best to keep this development hidden from the rest of the Imperium for as long as possible, just to be on the safe side.

For four and a half centuries the secret of the Angelic Guard remained hidden from all eyes outside the chapter, at least as far as they knew. Despite the chapter taking part in numerous conflicts against the enemies of the Imperium only a few stories of winged angels of death descending on the foes of mankind remained after the chapter departed from a warzone. This was in no small part due to the marines resorting to remorseless measures to cover their tracks when needed.

"Contemplation is the womb of heresy."

+++Abaddon’s fifth Black Crusade+++
In the year of 723M36 Abaddon the Despoiler led his fifth great Black Crusade out of the Eye of Terror. The hordes of traitors laid waste to several systems despite the resistance of imperial forces until they were finally halted on every front and then pushed back by the combined effort of several chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. It was during this time of warfare that the forces of chaos reached the Ikaros system and although the Angelic Guard valiantly battled them at every turn they were forced to fall back step by step before the vast numbers of the attacking disciples of the false gods and their renegade imperial guard followers.

After the inevitable fall of Ikaros sextus the Angelic Guard finally got the reinforcements they so desperately needed as the action was joined on Ikaros quartus by six companies of the Exculpators chapter. Together the two chapters fortified their positions as they prepared to defend one of the planet’s major hives. With grim determination they readied themselves for the oncoming battle.

For several days wave after wave of traitors smashed against the ramparts but the defiant marines held their positions. On the sixth day of the battle the marines launched a counter attack on their foes, a tide of power armoured vengeance flooding from the fortifications drowning their enemies in their own blood. During the combat however a chaplain holding back the battle brothers who had succumbed to the black rage was puzzlingly killed. Subsequently all the maddened marines now fully gripped by their scourge took to the skies with their wings and surged down on their foes wreaking havoc and carnage. After hours of brutal fighting, taking enormous casualties before the fury of the Adeptus Astartes corps the chaos worshippers were forced to flee.

Brother Alkaios fired his holy bolter in a rapid succession releasing a burst of exploding death at the traitors lined up against the noble Space Marines. With a mighty roar that echoed from the fortifications behind them the marines then charged their foe cutting them down with their chaiswords in a whirlwind of destruction.

Alkaios swung his blade at a renegade guradsman to his right cleaving the foul deserter in twain and all in one fluid motion drawing his sword back in front of him to turn aside a blow aimed at him by another. As he decapitated the foolish assailant he felt a sudden bang at the back of his head.

The strength in Alkaios’ legs faild him and he fell to his knees. Before the darkness claimed him he could see a swarm of assault marines descening on the enemy, The Angels of Death.

However, after the invaders had been defeated the Master of the Exculpators chapter, abhorred by the winged marines, declared the entire Angelic Guard excommunicate mutatis and attempted to execute an immediate purgation. Not wanting to fight their fellow Astartes the Angelic Guard fled to their homeworld the Exculpators taking up the chase. Knowing they were being pursued the Master of the Angelic Guard, Aristarchos, ordered for a full scale evacuation of Ikaros prime, no equipment or personnel was to be left into the fortress monastery.

Upon reaching the planet the chapter hastily started loading their vessels with the most important equipment. When most of the apparatus and gear had been loaded on board the ships the radars picked up the Exculpators’ armada taking position in the orbit. Master Aristarchos instantly commanded his fleet to leave the planet. Some Angelic Guard vessels were destroyed by the Exculpators as they made their way through the planetary blockade and the entire eighth company was slain before they had the chance to take off as all of Ikaros prime was bombarded in a swift exterminatus.

After a few decades the Angelic Guard chapter was recorded as destroyed by warpstorms although there were no records of contact or sightings having been made after the exodus from Ikaros prime. However, after a century had passed, reports started to trickle in from several sources of an unrecognised force of marines appearing from nowhere and slaying the foes of the Imperium before vanishing just as suddenly as they had come leaving the imperial forces wondering how they had just escaped certain death and defeat. No one ever paid any attention to these reports as no one was able to link the events, the reports disappearing from all archives soon after the entries were made.

"Heresy must be met with hatred."


++Combat Doctrine++

The first Master of the Angelic Guard was Arctos Veritas, the former captain of the Blood Angels eighth company. Arctos’ background as a captain of an assault company is greatly reflected in the Angelic Guard way of waging war as he passed on his knowlege and ideals unto his own chapter. In short they prefer close combat ovar ranged warfare, like to surround their prey and tear them apart with righteous zeal. However if they find themselves hopelessly outnumbered their assault troops are known to execute lightning fast raids against the enemy soft spots trying to even the odds for a future all-out engagement.

Therefore it is that the Angelic Guard prefers to close fast on their enemies in order to bring their entire weaponry to bear. The enemy is then greeted by a hail of bolts and a wall of burning prometheum from the tactical squads’ weapons. This first line then charges the enemy in hand to hand combat while the second line provides fire support with their bolters and heavy weaponry. After the melee has begun the jump pack equipped assault squads then flank the enemy. If a death company is present they usually fall from the skies right in the middle of the enemy lines causing great confusion and panic or even ouright routing the foe.

Armour is widely used if availabe. All tactical squads have Rhino troop carriers assigned to them enabling them to take the fight to the enemy. This forward surge is supported by the heavier tanks. Both the Rhinos and the ‘Baal’ pattern predator tanks are fitted with specially rigged engines enabling the Angelic Guard to close on their enemies with surprising swiftness. The chapter also utilises bikes extensively to hit the rear of the enemy lines often disabling their artillery or other support elements.

The chapter somewhat shuns the use of devastator marines as they believe that the greatest glory one can achieve comes from fighting face to face with the enemy. Thus it is that every battle brother craves to prove himself in combat so that he might one day be admitted into the ranks of the assault corps, and every assault marine in turn wishes to some day achieve veteran status.

The most notable recorded combat of the Angelic Guard was their defense of the Ikaros quartus hive together with the Exculpators chapter against the swarm of traitors during Abaddon’s fifth Black Crusade where their counter-attack tore through multitudes of betrayers and their underlings. The pattern of this attack followed the Angelic Guard doctrine of combat with the exception that their lines were strengthened by the Exculpators.

"The Emperor asks only that you hate."


++Organisation++

The organisational structure of the Angelic Guard chapter is mostly in line with the teachings of the Codex Astartes: the 1st company houses the veterans of the chapter who all take to the field carried by jump packs, 2nd-5th companies form the main fighting bodies, 6th and 7th are tactical reserve companies, 8th and 9th are assault companies and the 10th company is reserved for the scouts of the chapter. Because of the chapters views on warfare there is no devastator company, if heavy duty equipment is required it is either taken by the tactical squads or brought in carried by vehicles. In order to fully utilise the combat prowess and experience of the veterans the 1st company is normally scattered into the main fighting companies that most of the time operate independently.

Because of the chapter’s relatively short career within the imperial care no dreadnaughts or tactical dreadnaught suits had been requisitioned for the chapter before its departure. Even if terminator armour had been made available the veterans of the Angelic Guard would most likely have refused to don the heavy armour preferring their jump packs, the speed of which enables them to dictate the venue, time and course of the battle.

The Angelic Guard is no different from any other children of Sanguinius in the respect that they too are haunted by the curse of the black rage. They are unique however in the form of the curse as those who fall victims to the rage also develop great white wings in addition to the more common symptoms. These battle brothers are formed into special units called death companies which only the chapter’s chaplains know how to control. When battle is joined the death companies are released on the chapter’s foes led by their chaplains to wreak unfathomable devastation.

Like all other sanguinary chapters the Angelic Guard also has a number of Sanguinary Priests some of which are attatched into company headquarters. Their primary purpose is to be the hosts for Sanguininus’ blood which is used in the activation of the gene-seed of new marines.

"The keenest blade is righteous hatred."


++Beliefs++

The chapter’s view on the Emperor is in line with most other Astartes, they see him as the pinnacle of humanity revering his deeds and wisdom. Sanguinius is held almost on par with his great father by the marines of the Angelic Guard. He is considered to be the greatest hero of mankind and is believed to watch over his sons full of sorrow for the pains his children are subject to and proud of how they bear their burden.

This view is portrayed by a single window embedded in a piece of wall on Ikaros prime, the only thing that miraculously survived the Exculpators’ bombardment. Painted onto the window is a picture of the Emperor with his right hand stretched out and Sanguinius hovering in the air above that hand as if the Emperor is gifting his child to the world. Sanguinius himself has his blade tipped down to the side and his head bowed as if he already knows his destiny and has accepted it with saintly humility.

"We are bound by the blood of martyrs."


++Battle Cry++

The image of Sanguinius hovering over the Emperor’s hand is also depicted in the chapter banner. Below the image are written the words “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, which translate into swifter, higher, stronger. This trinity is the chapter’s motto although it is rarely spoken of bar when training new recruits.

On the field of battle when there arises a need to bolster the spirit of their troops the Angelic Guard officers sometimes shout “Memento mori!”, ‘remember the dead’, referring to both their martyr primarch who suffered greatly in the hands of Horus so that the Imperium could be saved as well as to the chapter’s own fallen. The troops will then pick up the shout and fight on with renewed fervor each giving their utmost as anything less would be a shame compared to the sacrifices of the departed.

++++

[Da Big Boss]

Aivan hemskutin hienoa fluffia, kiitän että pääsin lukemaan sen. Parhautta sotussa heti IF:n juttujen jälkeen.

Täydellistä.

[Drakojan]

Oli hienoa fluffia, ja yksityiskohtaista. Oletko tekemässä tämän pohjalta armeijaa kun on kerran laitettu paljon vaivaa?

[JMH]

Kiitokset ylistyksestä ja siitä, että jaksoitte lukea sen =)

On tosiaan työn alla about 2000pts punaisia mariineita. Valmistunevatkin joskus ensi kesänä.

[Drakojan]

Kiitokset ylistyksestä ja siitä, että jaksoitte lukea sen =)

On tosiaan työn alla about 2000pts punaisia mariineita. Valmistunevatkin joskus ensi kesänä.

Jostain syystä itselläni tuli mieleen valkoiseen panssaroidut. :D Käyttävätkö ihan normi-codexia vai WD:n BA-räpellystä?

[JMH]

Punainen pääväri valkoisilla yksityiskohdilla =)

Ihan BA-säännöillä mennään. Toivottavasti ne siellä saarella keksivät kirjoittaa ihan oikeastikin oikeat säännöt joskus kuuden vuoden sisällä...