BRIGHTHAMMER 40K

In the Noble Brightness of the 40th millennium, there is only HIGH ADVENTURE!

Beginning after the ascension of the Eldar that created the Order God of Love Slaanesh some 10,000 years ago, the Emperor of Mankind appeared to ensure the noble rule of humanity as the galaxy began to make a turn for the better. In an act of supreme sacrifice, his most favored son Horus and several of the Emperor's noble princes, or primarchs, sacrificed their mortal form to become princes of Order within The Warp.

Since then the Emperor has ruled for 10,000 years from the Golden Throne on Terra, bringing peace, enlightenment, and joy to all mankind. There is clearly no better time to be alive.

Now the last vestiges of the Eldar go forth to ensure the joy and prosperity of other races before the last of them finally ascend, lead valiantly by the Bright Eldar. Opposing them are the dark forces of Eldrad, and the Eldar found too impure to ascend. To this day Eldrad's convoluted schemes are a constant source of pain and discontent for the people of the Imperium of Mankind.

Across the galaxy the noble green-skinned Orks are being brutally oppressed through a volatile combination of misunderstanding and a failure to communicate.

In the distance the battle cry "For the Lesser Evil!" echos through the lands of the eastern galaxy. The dark and chaotic empire called the Tau have formed a brutal fascist empire utilizing mind control, genocide, and cannibalistic troops just as the norm. Despite the amoral and often savage methods used to expand their domain, Emperor believes they can be redeemed.

Hidden beneath the surface of countless worlds, the immortal Necrontyr awaken to spread the knowledge of ancient technologies to man. They spread the unheard of message that prosperity is possible without the Lords of Order, yet wherever they are found, entire worlds spring to life as if into a new genesis.

The Tyranids, the most visible member being the Zoats, parlay with the Squat homeworlds, a civilization of noble miners and proud warriors. Though negotiations take many years, the Squats eventually accept the offer of assimilation and join with the hivemind, and both groups leave the galaxy.

In the Warp, the Lords of Order are the god of hope and compassion, Nurgle, who loves even the smallest of creatures, Tzeentch, god of knowledge and the magic of wonder, Khorne, the noble warrior king, who is the newest form of the former god of the Eldar, the savage Khaine. He is a warrior without bloodlust, sitting upon his throne of helms. Finally, the newest and for now most powerful of the gods, Slaaneesh, god of love, art and joy.

Across the imperium not all is well, however. It is a vast empire, and planets fall out of the sight of the Emperor. Corrupt politicians seek to subvert the Democratic order and ways of the imperium. Dark tyrants seek to rise up and rebel, oppressing their people brutally. Though the Lords and Princes of Order work with the Emperor to bring civilization to all mankind, the universe remains a strange and beautiful place, filled with HIGH ADVENTURE!

The Imperium of Brighthammer is what the Imperium of 40k could have been if the emperor had won his war against chaos. In this setting that war never happened, and the warp is calmer and more friendly. It is in a golden age, and many of the primarchs remain to assist in his rule. As one might expect of any empire it's size, there are still many problems. Militarily it is held together by the space marine legions and the Imperial Guard. However, there are other problems of a different type and scale, such as corrupt imperial governors, seditious rebels, and rogue psykers. Often these are solved by the secret agents of the emperor, the Inquisition. Other times, these problems are solved by professional adventurers, the Brighthammer equivalent of rogue traders. Across the Imperium many worlds remain in a feudal state or at varying levels of technology, as unfortunate remnants of the war against the Iron Men at the end of the Dark Age of Technology. The Imperium seeks to bring these worlds into the fold, but many are ruled by tyrants or for many reasons the Imperium will not invade directly. Therefore small groups of agents may go to these worlds and guide them until they are ready to join the Imperium.

Space Marines

Space Marines are the noble knights of the Imperium, and as such serve as examples of order to the Imperium at large. Far apart from merely being a powerful military faction, they are also instrumental in keeping the Imperium together and functioning.



Imperial Guard

The Imperial Guard are normal men and women serving in the galactic military of the Imperium. They are expertly trained and the absolute best soldiers of any world they are taken from. They are largely similar to the Imperial Guard of regular Warhammer 40k, but are better trained and equipped; closer to stormtroopers than regular guardsmen. Commissars are carefully trained in the arts of war and serve to keep up morale and advise officers in its arts. Because war is relatively rare in Brighhammer 40k, they serve to keep the Guard in good working order. They are always the first in the charge, and the last in retreat. In times where their units fail, Commissars have been known to take their own lives rather than face the shame of defeat, knowing it was they who supposed to keep the unit battle ready.



Inquisition

When dark forces rise, the Inquisition is there to cut them out, quietly and stealthily. They are the secret agents of the Emperor, acting on his authority when all peaceful measures fail. When mad psykers arise, they are there to take them out. When corrupt governors starve their people, the Inquisition is ready to remove them. Notably, they are not as extreme as their Warhammer 40k counterparts and are mostly focused upon more James Bond like secret agent action.

The Inquisition makes use of several different specially trained operatives, apart from general Inquisitors. These individuals are usually trained at specialized combat schools from the elite of the elite.

Callidus School is still dedicated to infiltration tactics, scouting, information gathering.

Eversor School is for assault, designed to take on even the strongest foes in single combat, and receive a number of pysical, mental, and cybernetic enhancements.

Vindicare School is dedicated to long-range support, master of weapons, especially sniper-based ones.

Culexus School trains specialized individuals who are capable of uplifting moral to immense levels and increase the performance and natural healing abilities of their companions, despite lacking psyker capabilities. Aka, the reverse of the Pariah trait. These individuals are incredibly rare, but make highly effective team leaders.

All are recruited from existing special forces and receive the Inquisitions best training in general operations before proceeding on to their permanent combat school, in which they receive training in their specialized area.

After the training at their respective schools, they go to a third phase of training where all of them will attend the same school for team building and developing alongside each other to use each others strengths to eliminate all the weaknesses they had as individuals. After graduation, they are known as Imperial Special Forces, second only to the Astartes in terms of awesomeness.


Adeptus Telepathica

Under the command of the Grey Knights, the Adeptus Telepathica is an elite corps of the strongest and most trustworthy psykers in the imperium. Each is first trained by the inquisition, recruited upon the Inquisitions White Ships and learning to fully harness their abilities, channeling the forces of Order for the good of mankind. Each makes a trip to Terra, where they are partially infused with the power of the Emperor, a blessing which strikes many blind. However, despite this loss, the increase in power more than makes up for it. Many are sent to serve in the Imperial Guard or as Navigators on ships that they might traverse the warp. Only the most elite, strongest in power and will are allowed to join the Adeptus Telepathica. They brave the mysteries of the warp and gain great power, using it for the good of mankind. Some psykers still go rogue, desiring to bring about ruin and destruction. It is often the Adeptus Telepathica that is tasked with their removal.
Ordo Explorates

Far beyond the inner planets of the Imperium, there lay the far worlds, backwards, some advanced, some not, full of strange xenos, ancient ruins, and forgotten things. It is here the Imperium's Ordo Explorates do their work, cataloging worlds and xenos, bringing them into the fold of the Imperium. Aided in their Expedition by the Imperial Volunteer Corps and the Witch Repentors they seek to bring order and justice to the universe, guided only by the principles written in the Codex Explorates by the wise hand of Prince Guilliman. Together they march with their solemn vow, "None Shall Know Fear," beating in their hearts.


Sisters of Rock

The Adepta Sororitas is an organization composed of the once unruly children found populating Slaaneshi monasteries, where they learn to channel their passion through art. Following graduation, the women who choose to enter the Adepta Sororitas chose to express themselves in the form of ROCK MUSIC. Traveling between concerts and battlefields, the Sisters of Rock work tirelessly to spread the word of the Emperor and the Gods of Order in spectacular shows. In battle, they use special personal weapons such as bolt-guitars and chainguitars, and have a penchant for using sonic weaponry.


Agrarium of Mars

The Agrarium of Mars constantly delves into deep texts and papers on the heritage of galaxial flora. They seek, revere and worship the promise of rebirth from within the deep terraformed forests of Mars. Together with the Ordo Explorates they bring life to dead planets, aid archaic populations in agriculture; their soul mission is to bring life in all it's glory to the wake of the High Adventure.

The Servitors of the Agrarium, the most revered and respected of their ranks, are summoned from only the most noble of casts for only the most pure are worthy of the ultimate gift to the Emperor. Initiate Servitors are taken by the Agrarium of Mars and infused the the Life Seed to join them with Botanigod. In their new form Servitors act as fountains of life, following the Agrarium to new worlds colonized by the High Adventure, restoring flora where it was lost and acting as a channel for the Botanigod.

But because the universe is not yet a completely safe place, they have also a military side. The Agrarium of Mars cultivates vast armies of techno-organic soldiers and machines made of flesh, vine and iron for the Imperium. Enormous treant walkers march alongside the Ordo Explorates, their watchful eyes keeping guard against those who would abuse and waste the life essence. The Agrarium ships orbit over dead and hostile planets and release their seed-bombs to spawn immediately into the Agrarium's foot soldiers and release neurotoxic spore, wreaking havoc on those who harm the Empire.
Medizin Korps of Kreig

The Medizin Korps of Kreig hail from a planet of doctors, nurses and apothecaries. They go wherever they are needed and are always the first to set foot into plague zones armed with their labs, vaccines and adept physiological perception.

A team from the Medizin Korps is always on hand when visiting a xenos world, ready to study and analyse any new species with the least invasive means possible to protect life even from the microscopic enemies that plague it.

Together with the Agrarium of Mars they are the life bringers, the architects of societal and ecological health and well being.

Most of the races of BrightHammer are identical to their normal Warhammer40k counterparts, except that wherever possible they are generally bright, noble, and generally nicer. This does not mean they are pushovers, however; the technological and warfaring capabilities of these races are equal to regular 40k, if less used.
Eldar

The Eldar are divided into two groups. The Eldar were originally an incredibly advanced society that succeeded in ascending and creating a warp god; the god of love, Slaaneesh. Those that wished to remain behind to instruct other races on how to grow, change, and ascend to godhood. These are the Bright Eldar. A second faction consists of those who were too impure to rise to godhood. These chaotic Eldar are lead by Eldrad, and his schemes and machinations are a constant source of strife for everyone.

Watching over the remaining Eldar who stayed behind is the God of Guardians of Peace Kaela Mensha Khaine. Khaine's spirit resides in his various avatar statues that are scattered across the cosmos on the Craftworld vessels of the remaining Eldar

Avatars of Kaela Mensha Khaine.

Legend has it that when Slaanesh, the great order God of Love and Compassion was born, Kaela Mensha Khaine was the one who stood guard over the event to keep him safe from harm and to champion his cause throughout the heavens.

When most of the Eldar ascended upon Slaanesh's birth in "The storm of great enlightenment" (Now called "The Eye of Harmony" by the empire due to the peaceful radiance filling this region of space) Khaine chose to scatter his divine essence among those who remained behind and safeguard their existence till they too joined their brothers and sisters in Order.

On each craftworld vessel you will find a room dedicated to the worship of Khaine and his sheltering hand. In each such hall stands a single bright white and gold statue of Kaine, his upraised arm holding "The Song of Hope" a great sword that is said to be the first of the 99 swords of Vaul.
Slaaneshi Eldar

While the god of Love and Compassion's influence all of the Eldar, some feel that they are too good for Slaaneshi's Love and Compassion, living the city of Carnal Pleasures known as Commoragh, they bring Human and Tau over where wine, exotic Eldar dancers and song were only the tip of the iceberg. Mental carnal fantasies satiated the minds of psykers seeking forbidden knowledge or a good bloody argument or debate or things that the human body can't not imagine. Few Humans nor Tau ever left the city in its decadent ways of living.
Exodite Eldar

To settle the seeds of discontent amongst those who would follow neither Eldrad or the promises of godhood. They have wandered the galaxy to find a race capable of manipulating and dominating over. The Exodite Eldar find themselves affable to the evil Tau as they planted several Ethereal members to control the Tau society to a unified movement of evil. However the most peaceful world of Biel-Tan still wishes to bring them back to the ways of the god of love and peace.
Orks

Noble savages, fond of a good game of Chess, their harsh language has somewhat given to the galaxy a wrong image of them. Occasional clashes happen between their forces and the Imperium, but they merely want to be left in peace on the worlds they're protecting, and wouldn't dream of expanding themselves unnecessarily. Their anachronistic, warlike ways mislead others, however, and many view them as barbaric savages despite their level of technology and treat them accordingly. They are lead by Orks known as the "Brainboyz". Much of their technology is inherent, and uses a built-in connection with Order to function, meaning their crude appearing vehicles and ships are still quite effective.
Tau

A fascist empire founded by the Exodites, they turned the peaceful states to a kingdom to a threat to all other races. Believing in the Greater Evil, they are led by the sinister Ethereal Caste who are a meld of Tau and a bug queen whom can control the Tau. There are the following castes

The Fire Caste: The soldiers and hunters of the caste, many who are defeated by them are used as target practice for their various evil ranged weapons.

The Earth Caste: Scientists and labourers who work in terrible conditions making weapons, armour and supplies for the greater evil.

The Water Caste: An conniving race of schemers and merchants who are really greedy and is only in the greater evil for themselves.

The Air Caste: The navigators and commander of sneaky warships, they love to perform orbital bombardments just giggles.

Amongst the rebelling Tau is Farsight, a Tau who was persuaded that the Exodite Eldar is responsible this and plans to rebel against them.

The guy so awesome the entire galaxy bows to him. Created in the distant past by countless warp shamans coming together to form a single being, that he might be able to guide all mankind to a brighter tomorrow from the shadows. After the disastrous war with the Iron Men during the Dark Age of Technology, the Emperor lead his newly created force of noble, genetically enhanced knights known as the Space Marines on a crusade to rebuild the galaxy. In battle, he is a warrior without peer, a psyker powerful enough to create supernova, and a tactician beyond measure. In battle he wields a mighty Hammer of Light; which channels his formidable powers as a psyker into pure destructive energy with each blow. He has been known to loan out this hammer to the mightiest adventurers on their direst missions, and it has been at the forefront of many victories at the hands of Mankind. He personally started the tradition of showing rank by wearing giant hats (unwittingly) due to his habit of wearing a giant golden Sombrero. The Sombrero has two lifesized golden eagles that shoot plasma bolts from their eyes, and the weight of it is such that it would instantly snap the neck of any other who tried to wear it. He is largely similar to the Warhammer 40k Emperor, but never battled Horus, with his son instead peacefully ascending to a higher plane. Instead, he rules the galaxy from the golden throne. Also, he has a goatee, which makes him the coolest human alive.

Cheese Elemental wrote:


In the distance the battle cry "For the Lesser Evil!" echos through the lands of the eastern galaxy. The dark and chaotic empire called the Tau have formed a brutal fascist empire utilizing mind control, genocide, and cannibalistic troops just as the norm. Despite the amoral and often savage methods used to expand their domain, Emperor believes they can be redeemed.