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I'm trrying to come up with some fluff for a 'home-made' chapter that ultimately sees them either declared Excommunicate Traitoris or on a penance crusade. The root cause for this would be some kind of betrayal by part of the chapter - turning to Chaos for example.

The remaining, loyal marines would either try (and fail) to prove their loyalty and be declared excommunicate or alternatively manage to convince the Imperium of the loyalty but go on a penance crusade to attone for their 'fallen' brothers (and also hunt them down )

More generally, i'd like the chapter's organisation to veer away from tracked vehicles and focus on tactical squads, terminators and dreadnoughts. The paint scheme would be a codex grey....Chapter masters name is likely to be Piotr Ivanov (with similarly Russian / Ukrainian names for others)

Chapter name ideas include...

Shadow Guard
Shadow Dragons
Shadow Hunters
Death Shadows
Shadow Legion

Would love any feedback....once I can establish the best way forward with fluff, I can get cracking

I like your choice on a name scheme for you army, it adds some depth if you ask me.

I like Shadow Legion. Very dark, sounds powerful.

The tried and failed part leaves room for more then the chapter on a crusade. You could make a Loyal looking Choas army or you could have a chaos looking loyal army.

As for fluff look at this link http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Soul_Drinkers it could give you some more ideas on fluff.

Heh i did that kind of backstory for my CSM army too.

Takes place during the reconquest/cleanup/whatever of an Imperial Planet from Chaos Scum, mostly simple cultists. Right when the Chapter attacks the governors palace the 7th company shows its true colors and mutates (suprise) into a mass of Plague Marines. The remaining loyalist companies which are mostly scattered around the huge city, try to fight back at all costs.

Now insert the Inquisition ship in orbit. (We need to go full Chaos at some point) The Grand Inquisitor decides to declare the chapter heretic (a full company just went traitor like that, the rest of the chapter cant be pure) and orders the bombardment of the palace. Just then the rest of the chapter on the ground has managed to kill the 7th company to the last. So the strike cruisers certainly do not want to go along and kill their beloved brothers, and a few rash decisions later, the Black ship gets blown out of the sky.

Now hatred fills the heart of the Nightblades, as they have been thrown out of the Emperors service, and they flee to the fringes of the imperium (still need to find a good place).

Smells alot like the Thousand sons i know ^^.

So no Daemons for me or stuff like that. Plus no Nurgle. And none of the new stuff, so the CSM Codex is real nice.

Thanks for the posts...great ideas!

I'd like to try and keep them loyal...perhaps they have an unwavering belief in the Emperor's Truth?

I quite like the background of the Relictors - they may still be fighting in the name of the Emperor even after being declared excommunicate.

I thought the dynamic could be something like:

During a protracted campaign on a cultist planet, six companies of the Shadow Legion are seduced by the powers of Chaos. When the Chapter Master arrives with a relief force, he finds his once loyal marines in league with the cultists.

Despite having significant numbers, the cultists and traitor marines are gradually pushed back until, sensing defeat, the traitors make an escape in their waiting ships.

Having heard of this treachery, the Inquisition (unnecessarily suspicious of Chapter Master Ivanov's positive opinions on the Imperial Truth) act quickly and lay waste to the Shadow Legion's homeworld (a scarcely populated world).

Back at the planet, in the aftermath of the battle, word reaches Chapter Master Ivanov of the Inquisition's actions - feeling the shame of his former brothers' betrayals and not wanting to fight those loyal to the Imperium, he heads after his traitorous brethren towards their last recorded position.

Now excommunicate, loyal Chapter Master Ivanov decided the only way he can repent for the sins of his fallen brothers would be to hunt them down and kill them for their betrayal...destroying anyone that gets in his way!

In a nutshell...


*Edit for clarification*

Shameless bump...Emperor forgive me...

Mine where Chaos from the start but.

My Warband's leader spent a great part of the Long War trying to communicate with his Loyalist brethren. But over all the Shame he had turned into pride, soon into lust soon he was a Daemon Prince of Slannesh. *Cackles Madly*

Have you painted any of them yet?

Nup, none painted yet...I prefer the idea of heroic, loyal marines pursuing their own form of justice against the Chaos traitors...but also knowing they may never return 'home'.

Scheme would be based on codex grey, not sure of complimentary colours but would prefer a small palette