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Took a poll recently to decide on the name for my chapter. Dark Paladins didn't win, but I decided to go with it anyway. Here's the background I wrote up for them. No pics yet, I haven't painted any as of now, but expect some updates within the month!

Name: Dark Paladins

Color scheme: Black armor, with red detailing & white crosses on the shoulder pads/knees.

EDIT: Pic!


Maybe too much like Black Templars?

Background:
The Dark Paladins are a fairly new chapter, founded in the Time of Ending by Chapter Master Li’kam Kantro. During one of their first assignments in the 13th Black Crusade, they defected to the side of Chaos, due to strife caused by the recent death of their Chapter Master, as well as a final fall to the inner darkness that resided in all of them—a gene-seed flaw, that resulted in an attraction to power, which the Chaos Gods offered in abundance. However, the new Chapter Master, Eliath Viun, quickly restored order; they defected back to the Imperium, and were reluctantly welcomed due to bringing intelligence about the Chaos forces—and the head of one of the chief Chaos Lords.

To this day the Dark Paladins struggle to master their gene-seed flaw, but often cannot help but feel an inner thrill as they are promoted or a dark temptation as they see an opportunity to enslave a planet.To this moment they have won in their struggle, but it is only a matter of time before they suucumb to their lust for power. To this end, they seek every chance to prove themselves, since as they see it, they should be a burning sword for the Emperor while they yet remain loyal.

The Dark Paladins have a deep-seated hatred of the Daemonhunters, as the Daemonhunters chapter master was the only one not to welcome them back after their temporary change of allegiance; both chapters have remained suspicious of each other, and to this day there is a breach between them that may never be fixed.

To the contrary, however, the Dark Paladins have always been friends to the Blood Angels, as they too suffer a temptation, a lust; a lust for blood in their case. Both chapters have aided each other on many occasions.

The current chapter master, Kantis Tyrth, is one of the few Dark Paladins to have fully mastered his flaw. He sets himself as an example, stubbornly believing that with enough time the entire chapter can overcome the flaw, just as he did; though inside, he himself knows too that the chances are slim.

In battle the Dark Paladins favor a hard-hitting approach. They are experienced in urban combat and to this end are often tactically superior to their foe in a cityfight. They typically field a solid core of infantry, typically footsloggers, who are equipped for short-ranged firefights as well as close combat, and are backed by dreadnoughts, as they are among the only vehicles able to easily traverse urban terrain.

Comments welcome, I did this in my spare time over the weekend and am fairly pleased with it myself, I'd really like to hear everyone else's opinion. I'd also like to know if this contradicts any official fluff already in place.

I like it.

Prepare to be purged

BTW: there are multiple "masters" of the grey knights as it is simply a rank based on psychic status and skill.

It's OK,but I am wondered how were they re-accepted by the Imperium since chapter who rebell are quickly attacked by Grey Knights or Sisters of Battle,maybe they rebelled during the time of some warpstorm which prevented the spread of informations.

So they went over totally to the chaos during the 13th Black Crusades, then came back again because a new chapter master said so, and the imperium of man (who have destroyed SM chapters for less and mistrust even first founding chapters if there is a hint of potential heresy) said 'hey, welcome back, The ordos sure could do with adding your weeks of knowledge to their dusty musty tomes, if you want to'

Why not have an inquisitor or an Ordo suspicious of them, thinking that something suspect happened during the black crusade to make them turn to the dark gods? Along side their geneseed flaw it could only be a matter fo time before they turn?

Thank you guys. I'm not an expert or even a novice on the background of 40k, up until this point I've really just painted the miniatures. I want this "fluff" to be as accurate as possible so I do appreciate your finding the flaws.

@ IvanTih I like the idea of a warpstorm (I know what the warp is, and I know what a storm is. I don't know what the two together mean, but it sounds damn awesome.) and if it makes the fluff a little more believable, that's great too.

@ Mr. Burning I guess I should think about a bit more depth in the fluff. So, instead, how about an inquisitor is suspicious that something happened during the black crusade that made them turn to the chaos gods, and suspected that along with their geneseed flaw it was only a matter of time before they turn?.....oh, you already suggested that

How about instead, something like this:

Background:
The Dark Paladins are a fairly new chapter, founded in the Time of Ending by Chapter Master Li’kam Kantro. During one of their first assignments in the 13th Black Crusade, they nearly defected to the side of Chaos, due to strife caused by the recent death of their Chapter Master, as well as a final fall to the inner darkness that resided in all of them—a gene-seed flaw, that resulted in an attraction to power, which the Chaos Gods offered in abundance. However, the new Chapter Master, Eliath Viun, quickly restored order and provided much-needed leadership; they fought off the urge to defect to Chaos, for then.

To this day the Dark Paladins struggle to master their gene-seed flaw, but often cannot help but feel an inner thrill as they are promoted or a dark temptation as they see an opportunity to enslave a planet.To this moment they have won in their struggle, but it is only a matter of time before they suucumb to their lust for power. To this end, they seek every chance to prove themselves, since as they see it, they should be a burning sword for the Emperor while they yet remain loyal.

The Inquisition has remained ever-suspicious of the Dark Paladins. No one knew of their near-betrayal during the Black Crusades, but some suspected it, and are puzzled by the often power-hungry personalities of the Dark Paladins. The infrequent interrogations to this point have failed to reveal anything. Few are alive who remember those days. (that bit might not work, considering how very long Marines can live.) The Inquisition keeps a close eye on them, ready to purge them if they ever defect.

The Dark Paladins have a deep-seated hatred of the Daemonhunters, as the Daemonhunters were the only chapter to flatly question their loyalty. Both chapters have remained suspicious of each other, and to this day there is a breach between them that may never be fixed.

To the contrary, however, the Dark Paladins have always been friends to the Blood Angels, as they too suffer a temptation, a lust; a lust for blood in their case. Both chapters have aided each other on many occasions.

The current chapter master, Kantis Tyrth, is one of the few Dark Paladins to have fully mastered his flaw. He sets himself as an example, stubbornly believing that with enough time the entire chapter can overcome the flaw, just as he did; though inside, he himself knows too that the chances are slim.

In battle the Dark Paladins favor a hard-hitting approach. They are experienced in urban combat and to this end are often tactically superior to their foe in a cityfight. They typically field a solid core of infantry, typically footsloggers, who are equipped for short-ranged firefights as well as close combat, and are backed by dreadnoughts, as they are among the only vehicles able to easily traverse urban terrain.

Any better?

Also I'd have them as a crusading army. Due to their near defection to chaos they have been ordered on a 1,000 year crusade or something. (I think this is fairly common way to deal with the very uncommon ocurance)

Also the daemonhunters are not a chapter. I believe you are thinking of the Grey Knights.

Shas'O Dorian wrote:Also I'd have them as a crusading army. Due to their near defection to chaos they have been ordered on a 1,000 year crusade or something. (I think this is fairly common way to deal with the very uncommon ocurance)

Also the daemonhunters are not a chapter. I believe you are thinking of the Grey Knights.

So, the Dark Paladin Crusaders it is! actually I quite like the idea.

Yup, my mistake. Grey Knights are in the Daemonhunters list, I get easily confused

Sounds very good!
I think you could alter their physical appearance a bit (red eyes and dark skin for example) just to make it more interesting, and thus, they would definitely be even more suspicious in the eyes of Daemonhunters. Plus, they would look awesome!

And as they are friends with Blood Angels and their Chapter Master has conquered his flaw, you could draw a parallel somewhere with Mephiston, the only Blood Angel to conquer the Red Thirst (friend, relative, brother, something with Kantis Tyrth)
And if this is too foggy (you said you weren't even novice in background), look here:
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Blood_angels

red eyes and dark skin is a nono as the Salamanders already have that


A good way of making an ambigious chapter is to have them be fleet based (no homeworld) This would allow them to be difficult to track down and investigate by any who would do that.

perhaps a (large)mistrust of the inquisition as a whole would be better. even Space marines are only dimly aware of the existance of Grey Knights (many inquisitors don't know) but being suspicious (more then usual) of the inquisition is a great idea as all space marines are suspicious of the Ordo and vice-verse.

Grey Templar wrote:red eyes and dark skin is a nono as the Salamanders already have that

So you're saying he can't have ebony-skinned marines cause they already have those? So if his gene-seed LITERALLY corrupts the skin, while Salamanders just have it happen via nature, you can't have that difference... Someone doesn't like dual-styles.

Jeez, so now I suppose BA and SW should be one chapter since they both like getting in close? WE should go in there too, right?

If I were you I would have them be a Blood-Angel's successor chapter, and use their rules.

Lorgar's_Blessed wrote:

Grey Templar wrote:red eyes and dark skin is a nono as the Salamanders already have that

So you're saying he can't have ebony-skinned marines cause they already have those? So if his gene-seed LITERALLY corrupts the skin, while Salamanders just have it happen via nature, you can't have that difference... Someone doesn't like dual-styles.

Jeez, so now I suppose BA and SW should be one chapter since they both like getting in close? WE should go in there too, right?

Black skin and red eyes actually does sound good. Although, with the armor already 90% black, something lighter might make more sense.

I'll test it out when I start on my first tac. squad.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Klawz wrote:If I were you I would have them be a Blood-Angel's successor chapter, and use their rules.

I was actually thinking they could be a Salamander's successor chapter (they favor a similiar fighting style) unless Salamanders was not one of the original chapters? (or didn't have any successors)


Automatically Appended Next Post:


Finally got a pic!

nice color pattern.

You could say that they have a physical corruption, but they always wear their helmets to hide it from prying eyes.

its mysterious and is something to fall back on if you can't decide.


There is another loyalists chapter, the Dragon Warriors i think, whose physical change is claws, horns and the ability to breath fire(or the acid a marine can spit is highly combustable in them) in small quantities or somthing like that.

it doesn't have to be simply a color differential.

Nice scheme. Only complaint I have is that seems to be the DA chapter badge. If you really like the style perhaps use a downward hammer with wings. I've always thought of paladins using large maces over swords.

Thanks guys. Glad you like it.

@ Shas'O Dorian a hammer or mace sounds good. I'll try that.

@ Grey Templar I may use something similiar to that, to personalize my army a bit more.

This should be moved to Dakka Fiction

Dark Lord Seanron wrote:This should be moved to Dakka Fiction

Okay.......? Any comments on the content itself.....?

Now, question for ya'll.

Which of these three schemes do you guys prefer, and which brings "Dark Paladins" to mind quickest?

TBH, to me the third seems the most appropriate. Don't know why, but this to me seems the best of all.

However, have you tried to use a dark blue instead of red or grey, while leaving the eyes red? You may be surprised by its effects and contrast

indeed the third one looks best also they sound a little like the black templars

Changed it around a wee bit. The sword will be replaced with a hammer.



I've decided I'll use that as my color scheme.

Post some pics when you finish. I'm quite curious upon the end result

aka_tizz wrote:Post some pics when you finish. I'm quite curious upon the end result

Sure will. Though it won't be for a month or so. I have a rather large commission of Black Templars to do atm (will be starting a WIP thread on that too) but I'll post a link here when I get started.

Very nice scheme, I like it.