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Founded in 2382044.M36 AD, the Ranger Lords descend from the Dark Angels. The Chapters story started with but a captain and ten of his brothers from the first founding chapter. The Ranger Lords were lucky in that their founding was supported by a wealthy benefactor. Sources trace this anonymous benefactor back to Terra, with guesses ranging from wealthy noble to a high lord. With such a generous blessing to the start of a chapter, the Ranger Lords were able to swell their ranks to a full chapter within two hundred years and to a staggering fifteen companies within another four hundred. From the Eastern Fringe to the Western Sabbats, the Ranger Lords can be found fighting on all fronts, able to send out up to ten task forces at once while still having enough warriors to mount a full scale defense of their home planet. The chapter finds its place within the sector rather easily, where its strength is needed and very much wanted.

Like all chapters, The Ranger Lords history is colorful. Founded in the early millennium of 36, a message was to be delivered to Segmentum Obscurus from Holy Terra. The Ordo Tempestus agent had no intel, a message and an objective, find the Dark Angels and deliver the message, imminent failure means destruction of message first priority, and suicide second. He had no idea as to where to even begin search for the Dark Angels. Only the fact that ancient Caliban once laid within Segmentum Obscurus. Nonetheless, the message was delivered within four official Terran months to a captain, later fated to be the first chapter master of the Ranger Lords. The Supreme Grand Master complied with the request from the Administratum, and passed the order down to his chosen and entrusted captain. The message only said that Equitol Lex is within compliance, but the sub-sector is overrun by pirates, xenos, and rebels, and all imperial personnel within the sub-sector as well as valuable imperial facilities and archives are in imminent danger. Not able to spare any more Astartes, The Supreme Grand Master dispatched the captain who left immediately for the sub-sector of Equitol Lex along with ten of his brothers. They departed as Dark Angels, but the next time they meet with their brothers, they would be Dark Angels no more. With a promise for system full of trouble, no personal transports, a handful of Chapter serfs for allies, and a heaviness in their hearts for departed brothers, the eleven Astartes made their way with great difficulty to the sub-sector Equitol Lex, where they had no idea what was going on, or what dangers they would be facing. But that in itself is a long story. So we'll jump ahead.

Landing on Equitol Prime, stowed away on board a merchant orbital cargo transport, the Dark Angels made their way through the Hive city Fira to the nearest Administratum forum, meeting more hostility than they expected. Even in full battle dress and gear though, with no small amount of skill, they managed to make it with their cover intact. What they found was the property besieged by rioters, rebels, and looters. The property and personnel was abandoned long ago by the PDF, and the only protection remaining was a squad of six Adeptus Arbites, the rest having been killed, abandoned, coerced by rebels, or are MIA. However, a full compliment of vehicles/transports, and an armories worth of weapons and supplies were available within the Arbites section of the facility. With this less than ideal beginning, the Dark Angels prepared to purge a system full of corruption, social upheaval, pirates, and most irritatingly, a bunch of greenskin infestations. But nonetheless, these eleven Astartes persevered, and in the span of about twenty years, have cleaned up the entire sector thoroughly. Not without heavy sacrifices though, and a bit of help. Eventually, when that ended, a missive hailing from Holy Terra permitted a new founding, and the Astartes remaining took up a name that the locals bestowed upon them. Rangers. A title meaning protectors of the land. Given to great warriors who only act for the benefit of the people, with respect, compassion, selflessness, and dedication. Lords was added not long after, for fear of disrespect to the Chapter. (it also sounded better than simply Rangers)

In the wake of the chapter emerging as a protector of the system and its neighboring planets, Goge Vandire came to power as tyrant. This was a dark time within the Imperium. A distant and remote system like Equitol Lex was paid little heed to. Tithes, taxes, and military conscription's were in constant high demand even though the Administratum within the sector kept poor records and suffered from corruption and chaos. Throughout it all, the Ranger Lords kept constant vigil on the population of Equitol Lex. Tension increased between the governmental bodies of the sector and its angelic guardians, although deeds of compassion, nobility and justice were often whispered about by civilian, and garrison populous, deeds that would have made the Lion and the Calibinite knights of old proud. Eventually the tension at it's climax, a group of governors who named themselves "The Triumphs" called for the arrest and execution of the entire chapter. Citing that the Ranger Lords chapter has been causing mayhem and disrupting Imperial ruling in the sub-sector. The Ranger Lords of course renounced this act, and refused to surrender neither their possessions nor their lives. Immediately The Triumphs dispatched their military forces to bring the chapter to it's heels. After hearing about this, a few planets along with the governors that were friendly with the chapter, as well as being faithful to old Imperial Law declared The Triumphs traitors and renegades, and sided with the Astartes, giving them aid and defending the chapter, as well as themselves from the oppression of this malicious force.

The Ranger Lords Diplomacy Center and the Jermanus Astartes Historical Collection museum were seized on Equis VII within the second day of the chapter being declared Excommunicate Traitoris which The Triumphs took upon themselves personally to declare. When an Inquisitor attempted to apprehend the corrupt governors, he was swiftly murdered by firing squad. Upon receiving word of the murder from a spy, Ranger Lords scouts immediately returned to the fleet with the grave news. A meeting was quickly concluded and the chapter decided for military mobilization (which it tried to avoid, attempting to leave the job for other Imperial organisations within Equitol Lex). Founding Ranger Lords Chapter Master Thoros (Thor-ough) Eumius Swordfury immediately called to all surrounding sub-sectors and the Sol system, hoping for both backup and consent from higher authorities. Such was fate though, that all calls for aid was ignored. The chapter fleet which only consisted of one battlebarge, a battlecruiser, and three strike cruisers, were outnumbered three to one within the sub-sector by The Triumphs. Neither side made an attempt for attack though, fearing heavy losses. But with enemy forces pressing in, the Chapter had no choice but to withdraw the fleet from orbital range, trusting their allies and planetary defenses to respond to any attack made on their Fortress Monastery.

EDIT:Its been quite a few years since I started my Dark Angels chapter, and came up with my own head canon for it. I've become a much improved writer since then, and have updated and edited what I have posted so far. I still have my army, they are dear me to and will remain with me for a very long time yet if not till death do us part. So naturally, I have many tales to tell for this Chapter. The only problem of course, is when I'll have time to write it all down.

This should be in Dakka Fiction...

purplefood wrote:This should be in Dakka Fiction...

Dam, I knew I put it in the wrong section...I couldn't find the correct one, so I chose the closest one Is there an admin here who can move this thread for me? Thanks.

Rich benifactors would have no power over a founding. All founding go through the High Lords of Terra. Also new chapters are outfitted with there own capital ship/space station or fortress monestry, an abandonned arabites station would actually be an insult to the chapter.

Having 15 companies would also present some problems...
You could say they use the arbites precinct as an outpost for their scouts though...

purplefood wrote:Having 15 companies would also present some problems...
You could say they use the arbites precinct as an outpost for their scouts though...

They started out with the plot of land....i imagined it to be about a size big enough to fit a large medieval castle....but as a chapter with its current state of having a fortress monastery as well as a fleet based headquarters, not to mention all the other pieces of wealth and property they accumulated over the last 4000 years within an entire star system, it is easily able to maintain fifteen hundred Astartes...and the chapter has never in its history had enough resting or idle periods to have all 1500 Space Marines within its bases.

LumenPraebeo wrote:

purplefood wrote:Having 15 companies would also present some problems...
You could say they use the arbites precinct as an outpost for their scouts though...

They started out with the plot of land....i imagined it to be about a size big enough to fit a large medieval castle....but as a chapter with its current state of having a fortress monastery as well as a fleet based headquarters, not to mention all the other pieces of wealth and property they accumulated over the last 4000 years within an entire star system, it is easily able to maintain fifteen hundred Astartes...and the chapter has never in its history had enough resting or idle periods to have all 1500 Space Marines within its bases.

That's not the point.
Lots of chapters could easily get above 1000 marines but they don't because they mostly follow the codex...

purplefood wrote:

LumenPraebeo wrote:

purplefood wrote:Having 15 companies would also present some problems...
You could say they use the arbites precinct as an outpost for their scouts though...

They started out with the plot of land....i imagined it to be about a size big enough to fit a large medieval castle....but as a chapter with its current state of having a fortress monastery as well as a fleet based headquarters, not to mention all the other pieces of wealth and property they accumulated over the last 4000 years within an entire star system, it is easily able to maintain fifteen hundred Astartes...and the chapter has never in its history had enough resting or idle periods to have all 1500 Space Marines within its bases.

That's not the point.
Lots of chapters could easily get above 1000 marines but they don't because they mostly follow the codex...

Apparently this one doesn't....it seems like not to the exact word at least...

LumenPraebeo wrote:

purplefood wrote:Having 15 companies would also present some problems...
You could say they use the arbites precinct as an outpost for their scouts though...

They started out with the plot of land....i imagined it to be about a size big enough to fit a large medieval castle....but as a chapter with its current state of having a fortress monastery as well as a fleet based headquarters, not to mention all the other pieces of wealth and property they accumulated over the last 4000 years within an entire star system, it is easily able to maintain fifteen hundred Astartes...and the chapter has never in its history had enough resting or idle periods to have all 1500 Space Marines within its bases.

This doesn't make much sense, a fleet based chapter either has one world to recruit from (relictors before their crusade), older chapters would have recruitment rights to multiple worlds (dark angels/imperial fists) or they recruit from worlds they fight on (black templars). They would have no need for a tiny plot of land. They would also not gain property or usable wealth, taking control of other worlds would get a chapter investigated by the Inquisition.

As the chapter isn't a political powerhouse like the first or second founding chapters it is very unlikely they would be allowed to get to 1500 active combat marines.

BluntmanDC wrote:

LumenPraebeo wrote:

purplefood wrote:Having 15 companies would also present some problems...
You could say they use the arbites precinct as an outpost for their scouts though...

They started out with the plot of land....i imagined it to be about a size big enough to fit a large medieval castle....but as a chapter with its current state of having a fortress monastery as well as a fleet based headquarters, not to mention all the other pieces of wealth and property they accumulated over the last 4000 years within an entire star system, it is easily able to maintain fifteen hundred Astartes...and the chapter has never in its history had enough resting or idle periods to have all 1500 Space Marines within its bases.

This doesn't make much sense, a fleet based chapter either has one world to recruit from (relictors before their crusade), older chapters would have recruitment rights to multiple worlds (dark angels/imperial fists) or they recruit from worlds they fight on (black templars). They would have no need for a tiny plot of land. They would also not gain property or usable wealth, taking control of other worlds would get a chapter investigated by the Inquisition.

As the chapter isn't a political powerhouse like the first or second founding chapters it is very unlikely they would be allowed to get to 1500 active combat marines.

You are right, it is unlikely for a chapter to have 1500 Astartes, and they would not gain usable wealth, such a thing would put a stain upon the Ranger Lords dignity and honor. And yes, a chapter taking over worlds would become a target for investigation.

The Ranger Lords are based on Equitol Prime, but they don't recruit from the population on that planet, unless it is under unique circumstances. The same goes for every planet within sub-sector Equitol Lex. They also have a fleet based HQ upon their flagship Supurbius, upon which the chapter controls dozens of operations in the Imperium yearly. It is also upon this ship which the recruitment program of future Ranger Lords is based. Initiates and personnel are recruited into the Chapter upon which fleet is operating near, or on, and initiates are only ever picked out based upon their characteristics, and physical capabilities demonstrated in action. Personnel and initiate recruitment are kept seperate, with initiates never being allowed into the chapter as personnel upon failing to live up to Astartes standards. Instead, they are executed. The chapter recruiters are hand selected and put into a council of the chapters most wise and powerful warriors though, and failure within the recruitment program is lower than compared to most other chapters, only 32%.

The Chapter started out with lower than minimum resources and assets because of the circumstances of the Imperium at that time, not to also mention that Equitol Lex is an extremely remote sub-sector with corruption and disorder at 80%. The Imperium only held onto the subsector through the Arbites, and a few isolated individuals within the administratum who themselves can barely do anything. Under such circumstances, it was lucky that the Dark Angels and Imperial agents were able to secure any plot of land for the successor chapter at all.

Through the years though, the chapter was able to accumulate land as gifts, debts, loans, and favors from political leaders, wealthy individuals, and the mysterious benefactor who oddly enough, has remained alive through all these thousands of years. Other individual pieces of items not related to land and building were accumulated through the chapters years, as artifacts recovered, relics discovered, and gifts as well. None of which could be successfully claimed or contested by others who have no affiliations with the chapter.

purplefood wrote:

LumenPraebeo wrote:

purplefood wrote:Having 15 companies would also present some problems...
You could say they use the arbites precinct as an outpost for their scouts though...

They started out with the plot of land....i imagined it to be about a size big enough to fit a large medieval castle....but as a chapter with its current state of having a fortress monastery as well as a fleet based headquarters, not to mention all the other pieces of wealth and property they accumulated over the last 4000 years within an entire star system, it is easily able to maintain fifteen hundred Astartes...and the chapter has never in its history had enough resting or idle periods to have all 1500 Space Marines within its bases.

That's not the point.
Lots of chapters could easily get above 1000 marines but they don't because they mostly follow the codex...

Some chapters don't templars don't. The whole numbers thing is fine till you hit 3,000+ marines. Then its well. Dumb. 1,500 is actually reasonable. considering the ultramarines also don't actually follow the codex with their Tyranic War veterans company. (Which is under Cassius control)
I like this chapter. Interesting name, as this is one of the few chapters with no adjective for a first name. Like Storm, Blood, Red, Blue,

just might need to make something new especially the Supurbius, That part was just O.o. Why not talk about how they command multiple strike forces or comapnies. Operations sounds modern day. you need to break from modern termage and use the 40k language then its perfect.
The recruitment- don't need program.

Instead, they are executed.

So your chapters has no serfs or servitors? good luck functioning!
Initiates are btw already granted power armor. you must be talking about Neyphotes, They are the newbs of the group.
Also the termage is different for land. more likely debt or favors or gifts, not land. There is enough land in the imperium its just resources an importance to the imperium,

Asherian Command wrote:Just might need to make something new especially the Supurbius, That part was just O.o. Why not talk about how they command multiple strike forces or comapnies. Operations sounds modern day. you need to break from modern termage and use the 40k language then its perfect.
The recruitment- don't need program.

Superbia in latin stands for pride. Hence the Battlebarge's name. And I'll get to talking about the history soon...I'm still thinking and fluffing out its history. And, what else would you call it if not operation?

LumenPraebeo wrote:

Asherian Command wrote:Just might need to make something new especially the Supurbius, That part was just O.o. Why not talk about how they command multiple strike forces or comapnies. Operations sounds modern day. you need to break from modern termage and use the 40k language then its perfect.
The recruitment- don't need program.

Superbia in latin stands for pride. Hence the Battlebarge's name. And I'll get to talking about the history soon...I'm still thinking and fluffing out its history. And, what else would you call it if not operation?

Campagins, Crusades, i.e. something gothic.
Operations is something the imperium probably doesn't use for termage for the Astrates.

Campaigns and Crusades isn't gothic...
Termage isn't a word either...
Operation probably isn't a word they'd use though but it's not a big deal...

purplefood wrote:Campaigns and Crusades isn't gothic...
Termage isn't a word either...
Operation probably isn't a word they'd use though but it's not a big deal...

Terminology. Term-age is a shortened version of it Forgot the dash.
But Campaigns and Crusades are considered to be use by the Medieval in origin. Which does make it Gothic as the Dark Ages are considered the Gothic Era. (Technically Campaign was used by Romans first but eh. Can't be picky)
Otherwise back to the topic on hand. The Chapter is cool. Just need.
Formal Organization
Chapter Cult
Chapter History
Chapter Founding
Chapter Tactics
Chapter Base
Color Scheme
Chapter Symbol
Chapter Traits (Different than tactics, because what makes them different than other chapters.)
Explantion as to Why they are so big.
Do they follow the Codex?
Chapter Allies
Battle Reports
Characters
and finally
Culture.

Asherian Command wrote:

purplefood wrote:Campaigns and Crusades isn't gothic...
Termage isn't a word either...
Operation probably isn't a word they'd use though but it's not a big deal...

Terminology. Term-age is a shortened version of it Forgot the dash.
But Campaigns and Crusades are considered to be use by the Medieval in origin. Which does make it Gothic as the Dark Ages are considered the Gothic Era. (Technically Campaign was used by Romans first but eh. Can't be picky)

To put it shortly.
I disagree for more reasons than I care to numerate.
As for the large list.
It's not compulsory (Obviously) but it does help to flesh out your chapter.

purplefood wrote:

Asherian Command wrote:

purplefood wrote:Campaigns and Crusades isn't gothic...
Termage isn't a word either...
Operation probably isn't a word they'd use though but it's not a big deal...

Terminology. Term-age is a shortened version of it Forgot the dash.
But Campaigns and Crusades are considered to be use by the Medieval in origin. Which does make it Gothic as the Dark Ages are considered the Gothic Era. (Technically Campaign was used by Romans first but eh. Can't be picky)

To put it shortly.
I disagree for more reasons than I care to numerate.
As for the large list.
It's not compulsory (Obviously) but it does help to flesh out your chapter.

Coming sir. I'll have the story faxed to you by tomorrow morning at 7oclock. Coffee and donut as usual sir?

If you're offering I'll have tea. Earl grey.

purplefood wrote:If you're offering I'll have tea. Earl grey.

Correct taste.