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Helva's Hellbenders; A Guard Regiment raised on the planet of Nocturne, Helva's Hellbenders are officially the 1st Nocturne Regiment. Led by Captain Helva Le'ruk, who has worked her way up through the ranks to earn her place as commander. Helva's Hellbenders are most significant due to their being based on the homeworld of the Salamanders chapter of Space Marines. The Hellbenders, to that end, are very respected by and respectful of their Astartes cousins, and have inherited much of their combat doctrine; Flamers and Meltas are frequent throughout the Hellbenders, and they will fiercely protect civilians; giving their own lives so that the civilians may live.

The Hellbenders' Regimental Colours are dark green and bright orange; their symbol is the white dragon head of the Salamanders; to the men and women of Nocturne, that icon is not merely that of the Salamanders; it is of all forces who will stand to defend the Imperium's people.

The Hellbenders are officially classified as a Veteran regiment. However, this has not stopped them from including several Storm Trooper squads and a few instances of heavy armor in the regiment. While this does deviate from standard protocol, the Hellbenders have proven effective enough to make the deviation worth it. Officially, the Hellbenders also have a Commissar attached to them, one Harluk Mala. He was killed in action several years ago, and a rather mysterious filing error has kept the regiment from requesting a replacement from the Departmento Munitorum.

First rule of Guard fiction:
Never, ever, ever have your Guard being raised on an Astartes recruiting world.

Nocturne is officially "HANDS OFF" to the Imperium at large.

Really? I was kind of inspired by the Ultramarines' guard regiments. Eh, I guess I'll to the Steel Legion then.

Ultramarines don't actually have any Guard regiments.

The Ultramar system has PDF for its major worlds, but the Ultramarines are kind of weird in that they're the only Marines to really maintain a 'civilized' empire.

Almost every other world maintained by the Marines as their fiefdoms is purposely kept in a state of barbarianism because they find it gives them better recruits.

Now, bear in mind I'm just saying "don't have them be from the recruiting world".
There's nothing in there to say that they could not have fought commonly alongside the Salamanders and begun to adopt some of the Salamanders' livery and customs as their own(imitation being its own form of flattery).

But if you go that route: try to stay away from major characters 'gifting' the Guard regiment anything or saying "These guys are super!". "Begrudging respect" is the most you'll see Guard getting from the Astartes.

I have to disagree with you a little, Kanluwen.

In all of the Salamanders books, the Salamanders have been utterly respectful of Imperial Guardsmen. They respect their service to protect the men and women of the Imperium as much as they respect their own battle brothers.

I see no problem with a Nocturnean inspired guard regiment. After all, Nocturne is a horrifically dangerous world to all of its inhabitants, The Salamanders have been known to be an inspiration to the humans that they protect/are around, so I'd honestly be shocked to find out that there wasn't a local IG regiment either hailing from or around Nocturne that was inspired by the fireborne.

As a giant Salamanders fan, I approve!

Dr_Wasabi wrote:I have to disagree with you a little, Kanluwen.

In all of the Salamanders books, the Salamanders have been utterly respectful of Imperial Guardsmen. They respect their service to protect the men and women of the Imperium as much as they respect their own battle brothers.

And yet, in other cases they've been utterly disdainful. Namely: anything except those Salamanders novels.

I see no problem with a Nocturnean inspired guard regiment. After all, Nocturne is a horrifically dangerous world to all of its inhabitants, The Salamanders have been known to be an inspiration to the humans that they protect/are around, so I'd honestly be shocked to find out that there wasn't a local IG regiment either hailing from or around Nocturne that was inspired by the fireborne.

You mean, other than Nocturne being completely off-limits for the Guard to recruit from?

Nocturne is kept at a feudal level of technology. Just like the majority of Space Marine recruiting worlds.

There's only three 'major' Chapters that I can think of that recruit from educated, technologically progressed societies.

The Ultramarines, Dark Angels, and Raven Guard. There's Chapters which base themselves within those kinds of societies, but then recruit from barbarian cultures.

I should add that, like I said earlier:

The only real issue I have is the idea that it's Guard recruited from the feral world of Nocturne.

Nocturne, like many of the worlds that the Astartes recruit from, is supposed to have kind of a 'low' population.

It's a Deathworld, for all intents and purposes. And it's not one of those that breed happy fun t-shirt wearing Guardsmen.
It breeds folk that are perfect for the Astartes, but not much else.

True enough. I had conveniently forgotten about Nocturne being a death world, and with the majority of worthy fighters being inducted to the Astartes. Perhaps this regiment will just come from Nocturne's next-door neighbours then.

From what I've gathered from the fluff (Not just the Salamanders books) the Salamanders have a tendency take a clipped, protective demeanour to guardsmen that they interact with, often giving them jobs that put them out of harm's way, partially to protect the humans, and partially to just make sure that they're out of the way. (You know, so the Astartes have plenty of time to shine in the limelight. )

But perhaps we're just being a bit too picky as well. Rule of Cool does apply to everything, and Salamander IG definitely falls under that rule. Maybe just before battle they paint their faces onyx black and rub their eyes REALLY hard to get them to be bright red like their Salamander cousins.

Like I said: it's a pet peeve for me. I'm big on the fluff, but very 'meh' at writing it.

Whenever I do write my own fluff it quickly goes sideways--and I'm just trying to provide hints as to help others avoid my own failings writing fluff.

Which is namely:
1) Avoid using well-known conflicts or characters within your own fluff.
If you're going to use them, avoid making your homemade stuff suddenly become the center of the conflict and winning the day.

2) Using locations that exist or battles is acceptable, but you have to tread really carefully as otherwise it tends to feel very Mary Sue-ish.

and the last one, but by far the most important one:

3) Have someone as knowledgeable(or more if you can find them) as you proofread it as you go. Nothing is more crushing than finishing what you consider to be the Greatest Story Never Told--and finding out it reads terribly or it's riddled with things that are just mindboggling.

Kanluwen wrote:First rule of Guard fiction:
Never, ever, ever have your Guard being raised on an Astartes recruiting world.

Nocturne is officially "HANDS OFF" to the Imperium at large.

Read Firedrake.

Your Friend Doctor Robert wrote:Helva's Hellbenders; A Guard Regiment raised on the planet of Nocturne, Helva's Hellbenders are officially the 1st Nocturne Regiment. Led by Captain Helva Le'ruk, who has worked her way up through the ranks to earn her place as commander. Helva's Hellbenders are most significant due to their being based on the homeworld of the Salamanders chapter of Space Marines. The Hellbenders, to that end, are very respected by and respectful of their Astartes cousins, and have inherited much of their combat doctrine; Flamers and Meltas are frequent throughout the Hellbenders, and they will fiercely protect civilians; giving their own lives so that the civilians may live.

The Hellbenders' Regimental Colours are dark green and bright orange; their symbol is the white dragon head of the Salamanders; to the men and women of Nocturne, that icon is not merely that of the Salamanders; it is of all forces who will stand to defend the Imperium's people.

The Hellbenders are officially classified as a Veteran regiment. However, this has not stopped them from including several Storm Trooper squads and a few instances of heavy armor in the regiment. While this does deviate from standard protocol, the Hellbenders have proven effective enough to make the deviation worth it. Officially, the Hellbenders also have a Commissar attached to them, one Harluk Mala. He was killed in action several years ago, and a rather mysterious filing error has kept the regiment from requesting a replacement from the Departmento Munitorum.

I like it. Don't listen to Kanluwen.

A suggestion if i may:
Instead of being from Nocturne you could say they are from a similar albeit less deadly planet with only a few Hives. The planet was liberated by the Salamanders during the Great Crusade or some other period in time.
The planets inhabitants never forgot the Salamanders and they still venerate the chapter and have adopted similar tactics.
As for the veteran designation...
Guard regiments are usually considered veterans after a certain time spent in active service, they don't officially get designated as veterans. Veteran regiments can include any kind of units including stormtroopers and armour so they don't really deviate that much. The commissar bit is good though... i liked that.

Luna Dragon wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:First rule of Guard fiction:
Never, ever, ever have your Guard being raised on an Astartes recruiting world.

Nocturne is officially "HANDS OFF" to the Imperium at large.

Read Firedrake.

IIRC Firedrake doesn't take place on Nocturne...

purplefood wrote:

Luna Dragon wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:First rule of Guard fiction:
Never, ever, ever have your Guard being raised on an Astartes recruiting world.

Nocturne is officially "HANDS OFF" to the Imperium at large.

Read Firedrake.

IIRC Firedrake doesn't take place on Nocturne...

Sorry, wrong book. Try page 538 of Dead Sky, Black Sun.

Luna Dragon wrote:

purplefood wrote:

Luna Dragon wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:First rule of Guard fiction:
Never, ever, ever have your Guard being raised on an Astartes recruiting world.

Nocturne is officially "HANDS OFF" to the Imperium at large.

Read Firedrake.

IIRC Firedrake doesn't take place on Nocturne...

Sorry, wrong book. Try page 538 of Dead Sky, Black Sun.

How about you just go right ahead and spoil it for me. Since I have absolutely 0 interest in reading the Ultramarines novels.

I'm going to guess, however, that you're going to say something about Ultramar having a 'Guard' regiment. If that's the case, I'll say it again:
Ultramar does not have Guard regiments. They have PDF, a lot of it and almost all trained to very high standards and equipped to those same standards.

Actually...
Ultramar did contribute Guard regiments due to the fact they simply can... or at least in Dead Sky Black Sun they do...
Not sure if this has been retconned or if it still cannon though since it is a touch old.
The Macragge 808th s the regiment in Dead Sky Black Sun IIRC...

purplefood wrote:
The Macragge 808th s the regiment in Dead Sky Black Sun IIRC...

Correct!

i took a look about lexicanum...
It seems that Ultramar maintains hundreds of PDF regiments that can join the Guard if needed.
At any rate this is moot point since Nocturne probably couldn't raise a full regiment.
Can we return to the topic of Dr Robert's fluff?

purplefood wrote:Actually...
Ultramar did contribute Guard regiments due to the fact they simply can... or at least in Dead Sky Black Sun they do...
Not sure if this has been retconned or if it still cannon though since it is a touch old.
The Macragge 808th is the regiment in Dead Sky Black Sun IIRC...

Just as a heads-up:

Like I said, Macragge's PDF are trained and equipped to the standard of the Guard. That's been noted several times, and it's to be expected of the Ultramarines to insist on tha especially considering that they know their little empire is smackdab in the path of Tyranid incursions, near the Tau Empire, and near several Ork held worlds. It's essentially the "Cadian Interior Guard" syndrome.

Also: PDF regiments also use the same numerical designator system as the Imperial Guard.

purplefood wrote:At any rate this is moot point since Nocturne probably couldn't raise a full regiment.

Which is a big factor in the reason why Ultramar has PDFs. It's a vast, heavily industrialized empire. It was even before the Imperium reestablished contact. The Iron Hands have no Medusa PDF, nor do the Space Wolves or White Scars, etc.

The Raven Guard on Deliverance, however, do since the planet is similar to Ultramar in that it's heavily industrialized and populated.

Can we return to the topic of Dr Robert's fluff?

Yes, let's.

purplefood wrote:A suggestion if i may:
Instead of being from Nocturne you could say they are from a similar albeit less deadly planet with only a few Hives. The planet was liberated by the Salamanders during the Great Crusade or some other period in time.
The planets inhabitants never forgot the Salamanders and they still venerate the chapter and have adopted similar tactics.
As for the veteran designation...
Guard regiments are usually considered veterans after a certain time spent in active service, they don't officially get designated as veterans. Veteran regiments can include any kind of units including stormtroopers and armour so they don't really deviate that much. The commissar bit is good though... i liked that.

Well, wouldn't the best solution there be Armageddon?

That's exactly what I chose, actually. I'm going to play the 91st Steel Elite, so fielding the Salamanders with them makes a bit of sense, especially against my brothers' Orks.

Actually...
Yeah that's a pretty damn perfect solution...