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Hello Dakkanauts, I have been away for a while but am back. I am very in to the Vikings TV show at the moment, and have always been a fan of Norse mythology. I wanted to create a new chapter of Space Marine Vikings, that isn't the Space Wolves. I quickly wrote this back story before with my ideas, and I want to know what you think. I want all criticisms no matter how harsh! Did I miss something? Does something not make sense? Is my idea stupid? Does the whole thing not work? Help a brother and his Viking Space Marine dream out! I am thinking about calling them the Blood Eagles (after the brutal form of Viking execution) for now, but also need help with a name.

Thanks!

Short Version:
- Celestial Guard frigate crashes on to medieval world
- Lone surviving Space Marine joins Viking culture
- Space Marine joins in Viking raids, using his influence to convert the people to the God-Emperor
- Becomes their king
- Gets found by Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor many years later
- Ordo Hereticus arranges for recently converted warrior planet to be formed in to new Space Marine Chapter
- Council agrees, and forms the Blood Eagles with that Space Marine as their Chapter Master during the 26th Space Marine founding.

Disclaimer: Long post ahead!

[Formation/History]

As officially told in the Imperial records...

The year is 710.M41

The Initio , a Celestial Guard chapter’s frigate, was in hot pursuit of a Xenos spacecraft, realizing too late that she was being lured in to a trap. Suffering catastrophic damage, she plummeted toward the surface of a feudal world, known by its populace as Scand. As fate would have it, the Initio plummeted in to one of the world’s many oceans, known to be laced with sea serpents. As the few survivors made it to the surface, they were snatched up by the serpents who were attracted by the commotion. A single live Space Marine survived, dressed in simple off duty robes, he was fished in to a boat by the world’s inhabitants.

After many weeks of slipping in and out of consciousness as his implanted organs struggled to bring him back to his full capability, he sat up, looking around an unfamiliar room. A man whose profession must have been some sort of a solider by his build and stance, holding an axe made of iron, demanded in Low Gothic “what is your name?” The Marine answered “Sarin”.

Once Sarin was able to stand, he noticed his off duty robes had been removed, and now instead wore a course shirt and pants made from some kind of animal wool. His feet were adorned with some sort of animal skin which was laced with leather straps. He was offered furs to keep warm. Not questioning anything for now, he followed the man out in to the cold air, to a large wooden building. Once inside, Sarin noticed a hearth fire located in the middle of the room. Upon his entrance, the rooms many denizens fell quiet. A man attuned to power sat in a wooden chair, adorned with fur skins, was the first to speak; “Why did you come here, Sarin of the Sky?” Before he could answer, the man said again “you were clearly sent here by the god Duna, who cast you from the sky in the showering of metal and fire, but for what purpose?”

Sarin, being unsure of how to answer such a question which was topped with blatant heresy, instead started his own line of questioning. Having never seen a post human with the physiology of a Space Marine, the man chose to answer. His name was Volund Asger, and he was the Jarl of this place. The Jarl explained the men and women of this continent made their living primarily as farmers, but each summer their people, and their neighbours would raid distant lands by wooden Long Boats for plunder, exploration and fame.

Volund challenged Sarin to fight one of his strongest men in hand to hand combat, as a test of strength. The fight was over in a heartbeat, Sarin’s post human physiology quickly dispatching his combatant. Volund saw this gift from the god’s as a blessing, and quickly offered Sarin a place amongst their people. Sarin seeing no other alternative, agreed.

Leading up to the summer raids saw the building and maintaining of many ships, which the people called Long Boats. These would be used to raid nearby lands. Sarin bit his tongue for now, learning of their cultures and customs. Proving his military prowess, and value as a commander as befitting his rank of Sergeant in his Company Captains command squad, Sarin began incorporating advanced close combat warfare techniques in to the already honed abilities of the Viking raiders.

Once summer came along, Sarin was placed in the raiding parties, on the same boat as Volund’s son Hakon Asger. The raids conducted were of high success, mainly thanks to Sarin’s post human strength, and his orders on the battlefield. Sarin began the long road of Imperial Truth for Hakon and his crew on the long sea voyages, explaining that he was in fact the son of a god, THE God, the Emperor of Man Kind. At first sceptical of his stories, of how he travelled through space as a part of a brotherhood of other post human brothers within a Chapter, they slowly but surely began to turn from their old faith, and towards the teachings of Sarin. His faith started spreading to other Viking ship crews, and upon their return as valiant heroes, to their town as well. Word spread of their raiding success thanks to the son of a god who had blessed their village with his presence, and many came from all over to join with him. Volund’s health had deteriorated greatly during the summer raids, and upon his death, his son Hakon became Jarl. Hakon began teaching of the God-Emperor and as time passed, the Ecclesiarchy took hold. Sarin became known as the King of Scand, with Hakon and many other Jarls swearing fealty to him, and the God-Emperor. The faith of the God-Emperor began to spread across the planet, even to the distant lands which the Vikings raided.

Many years passed, all the while raiding the remaining heathen pockets of civilisation. In 725.M41 a mysterious ship appeared in orbit above the planet. A single thunderhawk came down to the surface. The Thunderhawk held a strange individual, adorned with very powerful and rare technology, and whose cadre involved many strange beings. After landing and speaking with a shocked man who explained he was a Jarl by the name of Sigurd whose allegiance was to a son of the God-Emperor, the strange individual made haste to find Sarin.

Sarin met the Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor, understanding that his life could quickly be forfeit should the inquisitor deem so. Instead, the Inquisitor commandingly demanded Sarin board the thunderhawk. Sarin yelled quick promises to his gathered people that he would return as the king of Scand, boarded the Thunderhawk, and they took off.

Upon reaching the spacecraft, the Inquisitor demanded to know Sarin’s story from beginning to end. At the end, without saying another word, the Inquisitor turned his back on Sarin, and left for the cockpit. The spacecraft journey took a long time, with Sarin being left in a dark part of the ship, in a small room that could only be described as a cell. Eventually, the door opened, and the Inquisitor invited Sarin out, strangely more warm now than before. The Inquisitor led Sarin outside, not even realising they had made planet fall, he realised he was on a world he had never been to before… Terra. The Inquisitor led him to a very overly ornate building, and once seated, he said “Sarin of the Celestial Guard, I have a proposition for you…”

The Inquisitor explained his name was Crucio Arx, of the Ordo Hereticus, and that they had been looking for a planet just like Scand due to its location near a recently receded Warp Storm close to the Eye of Terror. He displayed a map of the region, explaining during the Warp Storm which lasted 500 years, many Imperial worlds were engulfed and had either become corrupted by Chaos, or had rebelled due to the separation. The Ordo Hereticus were looking for a Chapter that could help provide a front line of defence to the region, which was convenient due to the 26th founding coming up shortly. As Sarin had converted much of Scand to the Ecclesiarchy, and thus proving his worthiness, and the fact that the planet held a vast and strong warrior culture, the Ordo had arranged for Sarin to become Chapter Master of a new Chapter of Space Marines which would be recruited from the Viking people of Scand. Sarin knew that this “proposition” was no offer, but was too honoured by the prospect to even consider disagreeing to it. Little did Sarin know that the Ordo Hereticus had actually fed a story to the Crimson Fists that mutation had occurred with some of their geneseed intended for the 26th founding, and that it had to be destroyed, while actually going towards the people of Scand. Crucio explained that the rest of the Viking people who weren’t being inducted as Space Marines would be retrained with Imperium technology, such as lasguns, and formed in to new regiments of the Astra Millitarium, known as the Scand Raiders. These raiders would support the Blood Eagles against the many enemies of such a hostile region.

Returning to Scand on a new Battle Barge called the Ormstunga (Serpent Tongue), and a fleet of Imperial ships adorned in new bronze and silver colours, Sarin recruited his 8 most powerful Jarl’s to be his company captains, and 991 of the best Viking raiders to become Space Marines. Countless other Vikings began training with the technology of the Imperium.

Sarin became the Chapter Master of the Blood Eagles.

Sarin and his Space Marines conquered the last pockets of resistance on the world of Scand, enslaving those who resisted. They had their fortress monastery built on the site of the Asger family Long House. The Blood Eagles were set free on the front line against many traitorous worlds, while maintaining a bulwark defence with the ever imminent threat of Chaos invasion…

[Current Times]

[Religion]

Although the people of Scand have come to believe the in the God-Emperor as the one true God, their old faith still remains in its own form. Blood Priests (Chaplains) teach that the different aspects of the Emperor of Mankind manifest in many different forms, which appear to them as their old gods. For example, Óski, the god of wishes, is the Emperor’s manifestation of good will. They believe that if you die “well” in combat, or with bravery, that your soul travels to the Great Halls of the God-Emperor, where he battles the realm of Chaos with his heroic fallen sons.

The head of the Blood Eagle religious order is High Blood Priest Skuldt. Ever aware that some of the practices that the Blood Eagles perform may be appealing to Chaos’ many forms, he makes sure that the priests underneath him keep a strict leash on the Chapter, and that all acts performed are in the name of the God-Emperor and his many manifestations.

The Húskarl (servants) are the psyker arm in the Blood Eagles priesthood. They believe they get their powers from the God-Emperor, as their psychic powers are endowed from the god/manifestation Urðr, the god of powers of fate, ruin and undoing. The Húskarl are constantly out to prove themselves, as they have an extra obligation in this world before earning a place in the Great Hall.

[Culture]

The Blood Eagles believe that any valuables that you are in ownership of when you die will be accessible in the great halls of the Emperor, even if they are claimed by another after your death. This logic sees the Blood Eagles claim more plunder from raided worlds, in hope that any goods they take with them will aid their Emperor in the spirit battles against Chaos. This belief allows a Space Marine to take his weapons and armour with him when he dies, though still allows the gear to be recycled by a future successful initiate.

The belief that dying well in combat will be rewarded with an eternity in their god’s hall has made the Blood Eagles very ruthless, reckless and brutal. They hate nothing more than Cowardice. Killing in cold blood has no effect on them, due to the fact that killing in itself appeases many of the Emperor’s manifestations. There is no malice in the killing though, just cold blooded efficiency.

They also have a vast lower class of mortal slaves. Slaves are seen less than human. These slaves make up the back bone of Scand’s workforce, mainly for tasks that are dangerous or deemed below the free class of man. Many human slaves are taken as spoils of war upon traitorous human worlds. It is these very slaves that helped build the Fortress-Monastery upon the original home of the Asger family Long House. Slaves are kept in check by the higher number of free men, including the Scand Raiders when they are not out fighting battles alongside their Blood Eagle superiors.

[Equipment]

The Blood Eagles use Mark VII power armour, being that the chapter itself is only a few hundred years old. Much like in their old ways of life, they adorn their armour with furs and animal bones and skulls, often which were acquired back during their mortal life as trophies.

[Combat Doctrine]

The Blood Eagles are semi-Codex Astartes compliant. They only have 8 companies, with no use of scouts. Initiates are drawn from the combat hardened Scand Raiders, who more often than not fight alongside their Space Marine cohorts. Each company specializes in a different form of combat. Unlike other chapters, the Blood Eagles mix companies readily, with many units from each company normally deploying in a battle, the preferred method being via drop pod or assault aircraft to get in to the fray as quickly and as bloodily as possible. Each company has 2 Chaplains attached (except 5th Company, as explained later), called Blood Priests. Dreadnoughts are only for warriors who need a second chance; if a warrior is seen as deserving as a place in the great hall, but there is fear his death may not earn him a place at the great table, he may be interred in to a Dreadnought for a second chance at eternal glory. Dreadnoughts belong in 1st Company.
The companies are made up as follows:

1st Company – The smallest Company due to all members being in Terminator Armour or Dreadnought shells. This Company is reserved for the warriors having the most glory and favour of the Emporer’s manifestations. Most of 1st Companies recruits come from 2nd Company.

2nd Company – Seasoned Veterans. Being highly skilled warriors both with a bolter and close combat, these warriors have survived many conflicts to earn a place here. Many mighty champions walk the ranks of 2nd Company, all the while hoping to earn a place in the 1st company’s ranks. Their Jarl, Gudbrand the Bloody is one of the baddest of the lot, with many saying that he has earned a way in to the Halls of the Emperor no matter how he finally meets his end.

3rd Company – Rank and file. These are the run of the mill “normal” Astartes of the Blood Eagles.

4th Company – “Speed freaks”. 4th Company warriors are fast, mean and hard. Striving to get in to the thick of combat as quickly as possible on the back of their bikes or via jump packs, they are ruthless both with ranged combat, and close quarters.

5th Company – Big guns. If you are a warrior whose skill with a flamer, rocket launcher or any other myriad of large weapons is like an extension of your own arms, more than likely you will find your way to 5th Company. Their Jarl, Jotunn the Giant, sets the example.

6th Company – Butchers. While all Blood Eagles are considered ruthless, reckless and brutal, not many enjoy killing for the sake of it. Those who have the extra thirst for blood, or employ extra brutal close combat tactics, will normally get placed in to 6th Company. The ever present worry of Chaos taint has seen many more Blood Priests (chaplains) be placed in to 6th Company to hold back the influence of Khorne. To this date, the company is standing strong, thanks to the ever present chaplain presence.

7th Company – ???.

8th Company – Neophytes. Freshly finished training as a Space Marine, inducted from the ranks of the Scand Raiders, these neophytes must prove their worthiness of a boltgun before being issued one, and moving in to a company of a different specialization once their major skillsets are identified. They are all armed with a bolt pistol and a close combat weapon of their choosing, except for the few exceptional neophytes who may be awarded a special weapon to support a unit of their company. Their Jarl is a hard man accustomed to training the new members, and is known for having an innate ability as spotting potential where others may see none.

[Command]

Chapter Master – Sarin

Company Jarls (Captains) –
1st Company – Hakon Asger – Son of Volund Asger, Hakon has always been the faithful second in command to Sarin. Many of the men prefer Hakon over Sarin, being that Hakon was born of Scand, and now they all have the same post human physiology. Hakon dispels such words wherever he hears them, knowing that they would be nowhere were it not for Sarin.

2nd Company – Gudbrand the Bloody – It is said that even if Gudbrand was to hang himself, he would still end up in the Great Hall. He used to put a notch on his armour for every traitor he brought to justice, though before long the armour was rendered unusable from the amount of notches that were created in it. Most warriors aspire to be Gudbrand the Bloody. Many say he would be better suited to 6th Company, though surprisingly he is also a tactical genius, making his place as Jarl of 2nd Company the perfect spot for him.

3rd Company – Skjóta Skarsgard – A highly tactical minded Space Marine, Skarsgard was one of the original men of Sarin’s raiding crew on-board the Viking Long Boat. Highly skilled with an axe, and preferring Plasma weaponry, Skarsgard is famous for feeling slighted by not becoming Jarl of 2nd Company due to his old ties with Sarin. Forever pushing his men to higher levels, only to see them become veterans and move to 2nd company, Skarsgard is still a highly loyal warrior despite this.

4th Company – Sigurd – Originally a Jarl who focused heavily on mounted cavalry combat, his tactics have not changed with his elevation to post human status. Encouraging his men to be mounted on bike, jump pack or any other means to quickly engage the enemy, they strive to be first amongst the warriors in the fight.

5th Company – Jotunn the Giant – A literal giant, sitting half a head higher than the next tallest Space Marine, Jotunn was an artillery genius, a rarity of his kind on the world of Scand. Now backed with the Technology of the Imperium, Jotunn trains and encourages his company in the use of the biggest, baddest, and heaviest of weapons.

6th Company – Voror of the Axe – Voror of the Axe, the Butcher, the Scythe, the Blood Stained, many titles sit with the 6th Company Jarl. Encouraging his men, under the ever watchful eye of the Blood Priests, to get as much blood on their hands as possible. Any and every opportunity for whole sale slaughter of anyone who could be considered enemy to the God-Emperor will see swift action fall against them.

7th Company – ???

8th Company – Havardr the Whip – The newest of the Jarls, Havardr is a hard task master, pushing the new Neophytes to levels that not even they thought possible. His innate ability to spot potential in those where others see none has Havardr in the perfect position to serve the Blood Eagles.

[Notable Members]

High Blood Priest – Skuldt
Company Blood Priests (Chaplains) –
1st Company – Ormr

Dreadnoughts (1st Company) –
Scrow the Deranged – A deranged killer, It is said that Scrow saw the God-Emperor welcoming him in to the Great Hall, when he was wrongly wrenched back in to the mortal realm, interred as a Dreadnought. The Blood Eagles brought him back, believing that he would be denied a place in the Great Hall if they didn’t. Many believe every second he spends alive causes him to become more deranged.

Gunnbjörg the Forsaken – Forsaken by the God-Emperor; he is unable to die. No matter how many conflicts he throws himself in to, fighting to the best of his ability, the Emperor refuses to let him die as a warrior to re-join his kin in the Great Hall. Originally a phenomenal Space Marine of 2nd company, he was fated to die an unworthy death, so the Blood Eagles interred him in a dreadnought shell, only for Gunnbjörg to survive time after time.

Húskarl – Vándr

Updated with short version for TL;DR, and an updated name.

I can't tell if this is some very meta-criticism of the origins of the Space Wolves.

The name Wulfram smells too wolfy.

 Tigramans wrote:
The name Wulfram smells too wolfy.

Hmm I was actually thinking the same thing, so thank you for reaffirming my thoughts. I will look in to a new name.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Quickjager wrote:
I can't tell if this is some very meta-criticism of the origins of the Space Wolves.

I am not quite sure what you mean by that. While I do like the Space Wolves, I wanted to create a Space Marine army based more upon the romanticized cultural cliche of Vikings as opposed to the werewolf curse with mild Viking themes. I am not that well conversed with Space Wolf lore, and if there is a lot of common themes, it would be because both chapters have similarities based on Viking history.

I can tell you the problem from now that your theme want it or not will be very close to the space wolves, rights of passage, names, looks etc etc so you will be knocked for this alone.

You will have to be very clever with how you execute this chapter if you want it to unique or a clone of the already sw.

I would maybe use the theme of the darker more sinister image of the Vikings fables made them out yo be. Almost clues to chaos, blood hungry, brutal, violent etc etc . This would maybe give you the edge to stay more independent

Just my shuffle on the matter

 kerikhaos wrote:
I would maybe use the theme of the darker more sinister image of the Vikings fables made them out yo be. Almost clues to chaos, blood hungry, brutal, violent etc etc . This would maybe give you the edge to stay more independent

Just my shuffle on the matter

Thank you for that, I believe you are correct. I know I have a long road ahead of me, but I love a challenge! I will work a more ruthless hard culture in to them. I am after a darker theme which I will work in more over time.

Keep up the hard work and make sure you post your progress on here so we can check it out

 kerikhaos wrote:
Keep up the hard work and make sure you post your progress on here so we can check it out

No worries and thanks.
I am currently working on the Chapter's personality, combat doctrine and more in to their faith (working on keeping a Norse gods religious system where each god is seen as the God-Emporer taking different forms).
I also updated the Chapter Master's name from Wulfram to Sarin, what do you think? I will update when I get home from work!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Updated to reflect new Chapter Master name, Culture, Religion, Combat Doctrine and new Personnel.

Sounds you going deep with their essence which will surely result in an excellent chapter will an amazing presence.

Do you think it would be possible to have bikers counts as thunder wolf cavalry, or would it better just to have allies who are on bikes?
Will update again when I get home, have more on the Blood Priests (Chaplains), update to more companies etc.

You should probably get some cheap SW Codices from previous editions so you can see how their story has changed over time.

The werewolf thing (at least, the focus on it) is kind of new. Previously, it was much more Vikings-In-Space, what with them boozing and wenching and slaying kraken and such, and sailing around the galaxy to fight evil/monsters.

 Psienesis wrote:
You should probably get some cheap SW Codices from previous editions so you can see how their story has changed over time.

The werewolf thing (at least, the focus on it) is kind of new. Previously, it was much more Vikings-In-Space, what with them boozing and wenching and slaying kraken and such, and sailing around the galaxy to fight evil/monsters.

Ah fair enough, that sounds a lot more appealing. Does my chapter sound very similar to the Space Wolves of old? It doesn't phase me too much if so, as I am liking and enjoying creating my chapter, but just curious.

Sorta. I mean, there's some background bits that are odd (the SM could petition to have a new Chapter founded, the High Lords of Terra would, in all likelihood, never hear of the petition. Their concerns are on much higher levels).

Also, the Ecclesiarchy doesn't understand the whole physically trapped in the Golden Throne/Psychic Mind in the Warp with the Emperor. To them, He ascended to the Golden Throne and became/returned to Divinity. There are lots of Imperial cultures who believe that those who die in His service go to a place He prepared for them, or sit at His right hand, or similar various Biblical references.

If the world is based on the labor of a slave-caste, how are the Blood Eagles recruiting? What mortal stock are their Aspirants being drawn from? In other words, since there's so many slaves, how are the non-slaves of this world not becoming basically fat and lazy?

The raider culture sounds.... ok? But other than one another, who are they raiding? Is the planet otherwise space-capable? If so, who are they raiding? There aren't *that* many human worlds that are not part of the Imperium left in the galaxy at this point. Are they attacking Rogue Traders? That could get messy very quickly, because some upstart SM Chapter might find itself woefully out-gunned, especially in naval assets, by a Rogue Trader Dynasty... even moreso if said Rogue Trader has Inquisitorial ties.

Also, the Imperial Navy is tasked with stopping space-pirates, so if the Raiders are hitting other Imperial Worlds, that is going to cause some problems.

Further, practicing human sacrifice is a way to get your world Ended by the Ecclesiarchy and the Inquisition. Just wanted to point that out. There are several now-Renegade Space Marine Chapters who have done this, and whom were chased from their worlds by the Ecc/Inq... and that's the ones who survived the purge. We know not how many Chapters failed to survive such cleansings.

The 8th Company doesn't have bolters? What are they fighting with, a lasgun? Such a weapon is woefully inadequate for the sorts of foes that Space Marines are normally deployed against. Also, if they've never trained with a bolter, how are they supposed to earn one? There's not many weapons (other than other kinds of bolters) that act like a bolter... training with a lasgun is in no way comparable. It would be like training with a BB gun and then expected to go to war lugging a Barret M-2.

 Psienesis wrote:
Sorta. I mean, there's some background bits that are odd (the SM could petition to have a new Chapter founded, the High Lords of Terra would, in all likelihood, never hear of the petition. Their concerns are on much higher levels).

Also, the Ecclesiarchy doesn't understand the whole physically trapped in the Golden Throne/Psychic Mind in the Warp with the Emperor. To them, He ascended to the Golden Throne and became/returned to Divinity. There are lots of Imperial cultures who believe that those who die in His service go to a place He prepared for them, or sit at His right hand, or similar various Biblical references.

If the world is based on the labor of a slave-caste, how are the Blood Eagles recruiting? What mortal stock are their Aspirants being drawn from? In other words, since there's so many slaves, how are the non-slaves of this world not becoming basically fat and lazy?

The raider culture sounds.... ok? But other than one another, who are they raiding? Is the planet otherwise space-capable? If so, who are they raiding? There aren't *that* many human worlds that are not part of the Imperium left in the galaxy at this point. Are they attacking Rogue Traders? That could get messy very quickly, because some upstart SM Chapter might find itself woefully out-gunned, especially in naval assets, by a Rogue Trader Dynasty... even moreso if said Rogue Trader has Inquisitorial ties.

Also, the Imperial Navy is tasked with stopping space-pirates, so if the Raiders are hitting other Imperial Worlds, that is going to cause some problems.

Further, practicing human sacrifice is a way to get your world Ended by the Ecclesiarchy and the Inquisition. Just wanted to point that out. There are several now-Renegade Space Marine Chapters who have done this, and whom were chased from their worlds by the Ecc/Inq... and that's the ones who survived the purge. We know not how many Chapters failed to survive such cleansings.

The 8th Company doesn't have bolters? What are they fighting with, a lasgun? Such a weapon is woefully inadequate for the sorts of foes that Space Marines are normally deployed against. Also, if they've never trained with a bolter, how are they supposed to earn one? There's not many weapons (other than other kinds of bolters) that act like a bolter... training with a lasgun is in no way comparable. It would be like training with a BB gun and then expected to go to war lugging a Barret M-2.

Excellent, that is exactly what I needed!!! Some things I will need to make clearer, such as I tried to build a 2.5 class system, based on the old Norse culture. The free men are all mortal vikings still, with imperial technology forming the Scand Raiders. These men help keep reins on the slave caste as well. The free men out number the slave caste as well, but I will have to clarify that.
I should have also clarified that 8th company use close combat weapons and bolt pistols.
I will fix up that their religious beliefs aren't a secret and I will get to of the part about his body being trapped as well.
I will also clear up their main raiding takes place against human traitor worlds as well, not that they exclusively only fight traitors. They don't raid imperial worlds... At least not yet anyway.
I want to keep the human sacrificing in, as they are meant to be teetering on the edge of Chaos, though these practices are hidden from outside world.
Currently on my iPhone at work, but will work on your suggestions when I get home. Thanks so much again.


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Do you think the council of terra wouldn't want to know something as important as a Space Marine founding though? Seems to me that any news about the founding would be brought to them right away, even as busy as they are. I want to make this happen as it is a vital part of the chapter's founding, so I might have to work some sort of a miracle factor. That or maybe he is found by someone with more sway such as a rogue trader or an inquisitor, who could push the space marine's agenda, possibly for their own good.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Infact, if an Ordo Hereticus Inquistor was to find him, push Sarin's petition for the Blood Eagles to be formed, he gains a chapter dedicated to raiding traitors (which I could even put an Inquistor as an ally from a game play perspective). Would that work?

Do you think the council of terra wouldn't want to know something as important as a Space Marine founding though? Seems to me that any news about the founding would be brought to them right away, even as busy as they are. I want to make this happen as it is a vital part of the chapter's founding, so I might have to work some sort of a miracle factor. That or maybe he is found by someone with more sway such as a rogue trader or an inquisitor, who could push the space marine's agenda, possibly for their own good.

They are the ones that give the go-ahead for such things to happen. A Space Marine Chapter cannot found itself. It requires the involvement of the Adeptus Mechanicus to provide the gene-seed, to provide the specialist skills for implanting the various organs, to provide the know-how to create the arms and armor the Marines will wear... not to mention that anything like a Battle Barge or a Strike Cruiser either has to be built by the AdMech, or needs to be gifted to the new Chapter by its Founding Chapter... and unless the Founders are themselves pretty heretical, there's no way they're giving up that kind of power without all the t's being crossed and all the i's dotted.

So, basically, it would be extremely difficult to create a Chapter of Space Marines without the High Lords knowing about it.

An Inquisitor *could* make it happen... sort of? But all Inquisitors have enemies and rivals within the Inquisition, so any such Chapter created by an Inquisitor would have to act very.... carefully, lest they draw the attention of said Inquisitor's rivals, who have just as many resources, rank, and power as he or she does... and, possibly, may also have oaths of service/bonds of fealty to other Space Marine Chapters that they can call upon, should they need to.

While a given Inquisitor has the "authority" to call for a Founding, it is up to the Inquisition, as a whole, to decide whether or not they will allow such a demand to be serviced. The Heresy is something the Inquisition is quite aware of, and do not want to see it happen again (with some exceptions, like the Horusians). So while possible, such a Chapter would be fairly small in size, with few fleet assets (the Inquisitor would have to get this from somewhere, and making an entire Battle Barge disappear isn't easy!).

It would also, likewise, probably be done without the Imperial Fists knowing... but then you get into the problem of a source of gene-seed.

 Psienesis wrote:
They are the ones that give the go-ahead for such things to happen. A Space Marine Chapter cannot found itself. It requires the involvement of the Adeptus Mechanicus to provide the gene-seed, to provide the specialist skills for implanting the various organs, to provide the know-how to create the arms and armor the Marines will wear... not to mention that anything like a Battle Barge or a Strike Cruiser either has to be built by the AdMech, or needs to be gifted to the new Chapter by its Founding Chapter... and unless the Founders are themselves pretty heretical, there's no way they're giving up that kind of power without all the t's being crossed and all the i's dotted.

So, basically, it would be extremely difficult to create a Chapter of Space Marines without the High Lords knowing about it.

An Inquisitor *could* make it happen... sort of? But all Inquisitors have enemies and rivals within the Inquisition, so any such Chapter created by an Inquisitor would have to act very.... carefully, lest they draw the attention of said Inquisitor's rivals, who have just as many resources, rank, and power as he or she does... and, possibly, may also have oaths of service/bonds of fealty to other Space Marine Chapters that they can call upon, should they need to.

While a given Inquisitor has the "authority" to call for a Founding, it is up to the Inquisition, as a whole, to decide whether or not they will allow such a demand to be serviced. The Heresy is something the Inquisition is quite aware of, and do not want to see it happen again (with some exceptions, like the Horusians). So while possible, such a Chapter would be fairly small in size, with few fleet assets (the Inquisitor would have to get this from somewhere, and making an entire Battle Barge disappear isn't easy!).

It would also, likewise, probably be done without the Imperial Fists knowing... but then you get into the problem of a source of gene-seed.

Oh I didn't mean the Council of Terra would be kept in the dark, infact I meant the opposite, I was looking for a way to involve them. I figured with the 26th Founding just around the corner, there would be a wealth of Geneseed, equipment, etc. being put together for it. Even if the Geneseed was intended somewhere else, I am sure the right person could re-route it in the direction they desire. Would it be possible that the Crimson Fists are informed that some of their geneseed which was going to a different place became unstable, so it was destroyed rather than being used in the 26th founding, but secretly went to the Blood Eagles instead?
Every Chapter needs it weakness, and I think you have helped me find mine. I might work in that the Ordo Hereticus were looking for a chapter they could set against traitor human worlds, and that one of the burdens for the Blood Eagles is that they DO owe them some oaths of service. I quite like that idea. I might have to get rid of the human sacrifices though if the Ordo Hereticus are breathing down their necks haha.


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Part of story updated to reflect added to main post, and in spoiler below



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Also updated religion, culture, battle doctrine and personnel.

Perhaps a better story, since SM Chapters are rarely formed to fight a specific kind of enemy (the GK and the DW being the only real exceptions), the Inquisition plays a part in the Founding of the Chapter, but its homeworld is on the border of a region of space (maybe nearish to the Eye of Terror), where many worlds fell to Chaos or rebelled against the Imperium five hundred or a thousand years ago (maybe some got trapped behind a Warp Storm, broke away from the Imperium, and are now a chain of Chaos-aligned worlds).

This gives an obvious immediate target, obvious immediate problems (now that the Warp Storm is gone, these Chaos Worlds can *also* launch fleets of blood-thirsty Evil Space-Vikings), and doesn't need the Inquisition to decide what it needs the Chapter for... just that it needs a Chapter!

Maybe they're a front-line defense, intended to keep these worlds off-balance, to drain them of resources through raids, lightning attacks, and ambushes, while the Imperium gears up for an actual Liberation Crusade to re-take the sub-sector... unfortunately, the 13th Black Crusade just hit, and that Crusade Fleet is busy elsewhere for the next 300 years.

Yeah that works even better. I will work that in to story tonight. Thanks once again for refining my chapter!


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Updated to reflect the suggestions made by Psienesis.

Also, I am going to start purchasing models tomorrow for this army, and am going to use Space Wolf models (for obvious reasons), but as many of their units are very wolfy, I am unsure if I should build a space wolf army with bikes on bigger bases to count as TWC, or if I should use the SM Codex, and just use a different armies chapter tactics. What do you guys think? (I am more about the modelling and painting than the gameplay side of things anyway). I would prefer to play as space wolves, but am just really unsure about the counts as TWC etcetera.

So since I already have a normal SM army, I am definitely going with Space Wolves codex/supplement, though I need some good ideas with Thunder Wolf Cavalry counts as that would work. If worst comes to worst, I could always have my guys on wolves, though I wanted to steer as clear as possible of looking exactly like the Space Wolves.


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Updated with character profiles for many named members.

Bikes, unless you want to stick with the "mounted on a living creature" thing, in which case I would suggest... battle-cows or something. Mean Sheep. Platypi?

Yeah I can't see any living mounts working. I will just do bikes on a bigger base

My first thought when reading this was actually How To Train Your Dragon - so you need some WHFB kits to get your mounts on in my opinion! Dragon Vikings... now there's a thing!

Being more serious, I actually love the idea of viking themed marines. Whatever you choose the force needs to have things like fleet, hit and run, etc. Land speeders to me makes perfect sense, in that they can raid quickly and get out of battle quickly. Everyone has skimmers and fast things these days, so in terms of raiding, hitting and running, lots of weapons with pinning abilities would make sense in order to slow enemies down and really gain a speed advantage.

I also would love you to have male and female marines fighting in the same chapter. Given the backstory you've proposed, it's not that much of a leap to have women warriors involved too.

.... there's no such thing as a female Space Marine, canonically. The gene-seed just doesn't work with them (and results in horrific mutations).

Could have female Chapter Serfs, though, being related to/members of the families of those Aspirants who become members of the Chapter, or are the descendants of the families of such notables.

Ffyllotek wrote:
My first thought when reading this was actually How To Train Your Dragon - so you need some WHFB kits to get your mounts on in my opinion! Dragon Vikings... now there's a thing!

Being more serious, I actually love the idea of viking themed marines. Whatever you choose the force needs to have things like fleet, hit and run, etc. Land speeders to me makes perfect sense, in that they can raid quickly and get out of battle quickly. Everyone has skimmers and fast things these days, so in terms of raiding, hitting and running, lots of weapons with pinning abilities would make sense in order to slow enemies down and really gain a speed advantage.

I also would love you to have male and female marines fighting in the same chapter. Given the backstory you've proposed, it's not that much of a leap to have women warriors involved too.

Thanks for your input and thanks for reading! I have thought of ways of working the women in (shield-maidens) but that will probably come with my next project: Astra Militarium: Scand Raiders.


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 Psienesis wrote:
.... there's no such thing as a female Space Marine, canonically. The gene-seed just doesn't work with them (and results in horrific mutations).

Could have female Chapter Serfs, though, being related to/members of the families of those Aspirants who become members of the Chapter, or are the descendants of the families of such notables.

Some chapter serfs could work well actually. I might do both some in Scand Raiders, some as Chapter Serfs. Maybe put them both in interchangeably. They are vikings and some women did fight after all!

Something that makes the blend more interesting is that Vikings existed with a very close bond with their women. They saw them as equals and respected them as much as men. They fought with the best of men when invaded or voyaged to dark away lands. It makes sense to be to maybe modify some sisters of battle and get them in line with the space marines. If anything the special feel to your group would be this fact alone. A shared company / chapter with both men and women of equal respect going into battle.....

I like this thought quite a bit

Something that makes the blend more interesting is that Vikings existed with a very close bond with their women. They saw them as equals and respected them as much as men. They fought with the best of men when invaded or voyaged to dark away lands. It makes sense to be to maybe modify some sisters of battle and get them in line with the space marines. If anything the special feel to your group would be this fact alone. A shared company / chapter with both men and women of equal respect going into battle.....

That's actually a matter of some debate. What is known, though, is that women did have more rights in Nordic society of the era than in other areas of Europe at the time. Whether or not they went off on raids and such with the men is a matter of some dispute (mainly because it raises questions about why a property-owning, land-managing woman would want to risk her life, and the loss of all of her possessions, by going on a coastal raid).

Within the confines of the 40K ruleset, however, it's hard to get over a lot of people's instant-dislike of Fem-Marines, and without their Acts of Faith, the Sisters of Battle are a rather different sort of Army than Space Marines. Still short/medium range, but lacking rather a bit of staying power, compared to Marines.

With a custom Codex (rather than just a custom story), I think it could work, but in the meanwhile, I think it would be better off maybe using MT or IG rules for the Chapter Serfs of either gender, that way you're not stuck with squads of female-only troops (which would just look odd in this usage), while having mixed-gender units of IG/MT kind of gives us the best of both worlds: modeling options as well as already-created rules that are recognized by players already.

 kerikhaos wrote:
Something that makes the blend more interesting is that Vikings existed with a very close bond with their women. They saw them as equals and respected them as much as men. They fought with the best of men when invaded or voyaged to dark away lands. It makes sense to be to maybe modify some sisters of battle and get them in line with the space marines. If anything the special feel to your group would be this fact alone. A shared company / chapter with both men and women of equal respect going into battle.....

I like this thought quite a bit

Thanks for the input, I tend to agree with with Psi though, women played a much greater role in society, and although some helped in wars as "shield-maidens", wars were still primarily fought by the men. This portrayal will work perfectly for my eventual Sand Raiders project I believe, and thanks for the idea of using Sisters of Battle models, I hadn't thought of that.

Fair warning, official Sisters models are expensive.

 Psienesis wrote:
Fair warning, official Sisters models are expensive.

Cheers Psi, it should be okay as they will only be sprinkled and kit bashed amongst the Scand Raiders. I might source different female models though. But that is a later project.