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So, we all know that a marine does not know fear, but I need the opinion on this set up. For a bit of fluff and story, and a board dedicated to it, tell me how you think this should be done.

For my chapter, the marines are waging an eternal war against the Iron Warriors, but has to occasionally leave the Eye of Terror to reinforce themselves. Anyhow, no force remains pure in the face of chaos, but I wanted it to take a different turn from a straight fall. Can a marine know hopelessness? Loss of faith in the cause? I.E. realize that he and his brothers are most likely just suicide soldiers designed to keep another force from causing disruptions in the Imperium, and just get depressed. The idea I had was that when a marine questions his faith, he willingly realizes that he is falling from the light of the Emperor, and turns himself into the chaplains. The chaplains incarcerate him, and start preaching to him to regain his faith. Once he regains his faith in the Emperor (not necessarily in the Empire), they take him to a ceremony, where the chapter stands below him in a great hall, and he is offered a cup containing "Absolution" (poison) for his doubts. He drinks, thrashes about a bit, and falls dead. The chaplains rest him in repose on a nice little bier and the ceremony continues, etc, etc. Afterwards, when it is over, the chaplains harvest the geneseed and burn it. Sounded suitably grimdark, and worked with the mantra I worked up for the chapter.

"Through Absolution, we maintain our Purity"
"Through Purity, we strengthen our Resolve"
"Through our Resolve, we gain Absolution"

Anyhow, to recap;

Do you think a marine can know hopelessness, etc?
If you were to make the scene stand more in line with your standards, what would you change?
What do you think of the mantra, and what if any of it, would you change?

It seems like there should be more to it than that - maybe have the marine be resurrected by the Chaos gods and become a champion or host for a demon prince? He could even lead an assault against his former battle brothers.

In my opinion, "And They Shall Know No Fear" makes that they don't feel panic. Adrenaline affects them differently than it does for humans, and in the place of 'fight or flight' they simply wait for their next orders. They still feel hopelessness, dread, and even fear, just no panic.

Astartes do feel fear by multiple examples in the Black Library. They don't panic however, fear doesn't affect their performance in battle or day-to-day lives, they simply recognize it.

Astartes do feel fear and they do feel hopelessness.
The Brotherhood of Despair (I think they were called, tey're in the CSM codex). Basically they were being sent on all the most dangerous missions, losing loads of battle brothers, taking serious casualties and they became hopeless, they thought that the next mission would end in a placement somewhere different but they kept being sent on suicide missions.
They became so wracked with grief that they turned to Chaos.
IIRC, don't quote me on this one but that's about right.

 BrotherOfBone wrote:
Astartes do feel fear and they do feel hopelessness.
The Brotherhood of Despair (I think they were called, tey're in the CSM codex). Basically they were being sent on all the most dangerous missions, losing loads of battle brothers, taking serious casualties and they became hopeless, they thought that the next mission would end in a placement somewhere different but they kept being sent on suicide missions.
They became so wracked with grief that they turned to Chaos.
IIRC, don't quote me on this one but that's about right.

Just found them, but they're actually called the Company of Misery, formerly the Desolate Brotherhood.

I actually really like it. Seems similar to the Iron warriors in that the marines feel used and unappreciated, that they're merely a means to hold back a never ending tide when they have the potential to be so much more. Seeing his comrades die in droves (If your fighting Iron warriors, casualties on both sides will presumably be high), and fighting in continuous meatgrinders, your only hope is the light of the emperor, which you see less of each day, would understandably make you question your beliefs. And instead of letting your wavering faith spread to your brothers, your put down in some thinly veiled warning posing as a religious ceremony.

Mantra is very similar to the Iron warriors, except not as cheesy.

 Toastedandy wrote:
I actually really like it. Seems similar to the Iron warriors in that the marines feel used and unappreciated, that they're merely a means to hold back a never ending tide when they have the potential to be so much more. Seeing his comrades die in droves (If your fighting Iron warriors, casualties on both sides will presumably be high), and fighting in continuous meatgrinders, your only hope is the light of the emperor, which you see less of each day, would understandably make you question your beliefs. And instead of letting your wavering faith spread to your brothers, your put down in some thinly veiled warning posing as a religious ceremony.

Mantra is very similar to the Iron warriors, except not as cheesy.

My fluff behind them is that they are loyalist Iron Warriors. After all, you need to fight fire with fire.

 Unyielding Hunger wrote:

 BrotherOfBone wrote:
Astartes do feel fear and they do feel hopelessness.
The Brotherhood of Despair (I think they were called, tey're in the CSM codex). Basically they were being sent on all the most dangerous missions, losing loads of battle brothers, taking serious casualties and they became hopeless, they thought that the next mission would end in a placement somewhere different but they kept being sent on suicide missions.
They became so wracked with grief that they turned to Chaos.
IIRC, don't quote me on this one but that's about right.

Just found them, but they're actually called the Company of Misery, formerly the Desolate Brotherhood.

Yeah those guys!

Sounds good to me.

I think that all Marines hit a point where they realise that there is no hope. No respite. They will falter, and they will ultimately fail.

The measure of a Loyalist is that he decides that even if it's true - even if there is no victory at the end of their war - it's still worth fighting, because every additional day an Imperial lives free of the taint of Chaos is worth protecting. Those who fall give into their despair and lay down their arms - or worse, turn on those they hold duty towards out of resentment and despair-fueled rage.