So I want to add some flavor to my Dark Angels -army, make them something else than "just" Dark Angels. After reading Gav Thorpes Ravenwing -and Master of Sanctity I am now way more aware of how the chapter works and such.
I got the idea of a special ( and ofcourse sssseeeeecret ) force within the chapter. It´s nigh impossible to prevent the less enlightened battlebrothers from partially learning the secrets of the chapter at rare occasions, or prevent them from seeing things that put them at risk of learning the truths. Promoting them to the Deathwing or Ravenwing is out of the question unless they have the required experience/service/battle decorations. Putting them back into the midst of their non-aware brothers it out of the question. Should they prove trustworthy, loyal to the chapter and the emperor and unsure of the absolute truths they could be spared instead of execution.
In this idea of mine, battle brothers who have been compromised ( by them seeing, learning or hearing a rumour ) to the truths are put together in a special, separate force. The levels of "enlightment to the truths" vary within the force, as different individuals have heard/seen different things of different magnitude.
Before joining this force ( the name I´m keeping a ssssssssecret until I post them to the painting section ) they would have to participate in rituals initiating them ( which infact, would be a red curtain for meetings with a chaplain who deceives them into thinking what they saw is something else, or dampens the seriousness of the thing they have learned - "no biggie", or tells them the truth if said individual has seen something undeniable. ) They would be required to take a vow of silence, with the punishment being death or even the extermination of the entire said force - certainly something to encourage one to keep their mouth shut.
Don´t misunderstand, I will go through with this. As has been said before by people such as Thorpe, Warhammer 40,000 is largely what one makes it up to be. I also see this concept as quite believable, it´s certainly not the most farfetched army background in existence. What I ask of you folks is how the background story could be improved, and things to take into account. Modelingwise I´m thinking of taking a Deathwatch approach - unique shoulderpads ( maybe helmets too ) and perhaps some symbolism. Having some Ravenwing and Deathwing in the army would be easily explained - they are there to oversee and maintain the whole ordeal ( while having different levels of knowledge themselves... quite a knot of ssssssseecrets dont you think. )