Page 1 of 3

[WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:12 pm
by Deepcrush
Going off the idea of a roving chapter, I looked and only found one that I liked and it was really limited in information to go on. So... I'm going to make my own. With them I'd enjoy the idea of a Chapter that moves from place to place, not so much on Crusade but just looking to do good for Mankind. Squads move about on escort destroyers looking to aid local problems. They're like a high billed SWAT force. Go to a system, help the local Adeptus Arbites out and maybe take a few recruits to make into SMs later on. I picture a off codex Chapter for me. This is going to be a work in progress but I just wanted to get it up and maybe get some opening ideas from people.

Chapter
Adeptus Astartes - Chapter Righteous Warriors (Gothic) Chouhada Sa'dus (Native)
Founding - Unknown - Est M36
Homeworld/Base of Operations - Ramilies Starfort Hajra' Karama
Population - 13,400,000

Introduction
The Chouhada Sa'dus are a suspected forth founding chapter. While no records within the IoM can place a direct date or even starting point of the chapter. Records go back as far as M36 making the chapter younger then most. Chouhada Sa'dus is a Non-Codex chapter which operates independently of the Imperium's normal mains of control. Preferring to act more as a roving police force then that of crusading chapters such as the Dark Angels or Black Templars. The Chapter itself moves throughout the IoM in search of areas in which they feel it is possible to make a difference for the citizens of the Imperium at large. Having a very "Human Suburban" feel to its manners and living style. The vast majority of the recruits for the Chapter are Arbites and Imperial Guard/Navy personnel and their families. While the Chapter is not unknown for just picking up families who feel the need to leave worlds for whatever reason. As the population is drawn from the Imperial citizens in a family oriented fashion, the Imperial Cult runs strongly through the Chouhada Sa'dus. The Emperor is worshiped as the God-Emperor of Mankind, even by the Astartes, and is done so in a fanatical way. The Chapter has earned a powerful name in boarding actions and fleet ambushes. Using these tactics the Chapter has been able to slowly build up its naval might as well as continue to serve the God-Emperor's needs of protecting the people of His Imperium.

History of the Chouhada Sa'dus.

In the Beginning
Little is known of the Sa'dus and their starting point. The rough historical estimate believes that they were founded near or during the Age of Apostasy. Shortly prior to this time, the Ecclesiarchy attempted to gain absolute control over the Imperium and disband the High Lords Council. Due to the ingrained culture and fanatical devotion of the Sa'dus to the God-Emperor and its outright disregard to the High Lords. Thoughts have come forward to state that the Sa'dus were to be the beginning of a full Astartes Legion for the Ecclesiarchy to wield in an army of rebellion. This however never came to be as the Ecclesiarchy lost its war against the High Lords and the Sa'dus refused the Ecclesiarchy and its demands of service. The Sa'dus seeing the Ecclesiarchy as merely tools of the God-Emperor and not the masters they would like the Sa'dus to view them as. It is believed by some, including the Sa'dus, that it was this issue that brought the first conflict between the Sa'dus and Ecclesiarchy which is in turn the cause of the Sa'dus "Time of Loss".

Time of Loss
Considered the sadist era of the Chapter's history. the Time of Loss was a reference to a seventy year period in which the Sa'dus were in open war with the Ecclesiarchy, their creators. In the native histories, the Time of Loss is thought of as a loss of faith and hope for the Imperium. A time at which the Sa'dus morn the "Death" of the God-Emperor's true realm. To the Imperial histories, the Time of Loss is little more then a time of casualties for the Sa'dus and to the population of the Imperium it is known as the Age of Apostasy. The "Time of Loss" or Sa'dus-Ecclesiarchy War has its first major battle on the planet of Kydesh.

Battle of Kydesh - It was here on the Agro-world of Kydesh that the first large scale open battle between the Ecclesiarchy and Sa'dus took place. Outside the capital city of Ky, an army of the rebelling Ecclesiarchy demanded that the planet submit its population to conscription. All those unable or unwilling to serve would then be exterminated to prevent them or the world from being returned to the High Lords control. Two hundred Sa'dus and eighty thousand local defense troops gathered to meet the four hundred thousand Ecclesiarchy rebels. At first the Sa'dus hid most of their numbers and allowed only the first hundred to be seen. The Ecclesiarchy quickly ordered the capital taken to secure the war supplies on the surface and launched a frontal assault on the city's main gateway. The Sa'dus let the local defenders take the brunt of the opening assault, which breached the gateway and looked as though was about to reach the inner wall. At this point the Sa'dus counterattacked with their first one hundred and dropped near the main gateway. The Ecclesiarchy rebels found their force cut in half at the choke point and under heavy fire from the defenders of both the outer and inner walls which they had failed to take. Timing, coordination and the tightly packed rebel formation allowed the Sa'dus to inflict severe losses. Though only thirty of the Sa'dus survived the first fight, the Ecclesiarchy lost forty thousand troops while the defenders lost only six thousand. The Ecclesiarchy retired for the night and prepared for a follow up attack the next morning. The Sa'dus used the time to send out a distress call to their nearby forces in system and prepare the defenders for what was expected to be the main and final push. The following morning at first light the Ecclesiarchy delivered the expected push. Three hundred thousand Ecclesiarchy rebels surged forwards, tanks and artillery laying ruin to the outer wall defenses. Unknown to the rebels, the outer wall was mostly abandoned with only servitors manning the defensive guns. The rebels poured through several holes in the outer wall and through the main gateway. While the counter fire of the defenders was awe inspiring, the sheer numbers of rebel began to over take the defenders. Again the Sa'dus allowed the defenders to take the brunt of the opening attack and then counter attacked. All one hundred-thirty of the remaining Sa'dus armed with meltabombs, heavy bolters, Chain-Swords and beloved Bolter joined battle from hidden assault points along the inner wall. Fighting was so misted and packed that the Sa'dus had little need to bother aiming as a round fired meant a round on target. Within a quarter hour, the Sa'dus had expended their ammunition and were down to fighting with their Chain-Swords and salvaged weapons from the enemy. Within one hour, the fighting had moved inside the city of Ky as the defenders sold their lives as best they could. Five hours into the fighting the God-Emperor smiled on the defenders as drop pods from the the Sa'dus Battlebarges Sands of Faith and Taker of Water gave six hundred fresh Sa'dus to the fight. Landing within the city, the Sa'dus reinforcements tore into the tired rebels and began the drive to throw them from the city. In order for the Sa'dus Battlebarges to deploy through the Ecclesiarchy Battleship and Battlecruiser in orbit. The Sa'dus sacrificed both of their Strike Cruisers in boarding actions. The Strike Cruisers cracked under the fire of the Ecclesiarchy ships but managed to deliver a company of Sa'dus towards each of the Ecclesiarchy flag ships. Shortly after, melta-charges turned both Ecclesiarchy ships into short lived suns as their plasma cores were detonated. Seeing the loss of their lead ships, the Ecclesiarchy escorts and transports fled the system. Their barracks empty the troops on the ground and their holds empty the supplies they never gained. With the space threat gone, the Sa'dus Battlebarges began orbital strikes against the rebels outside of Ky. While the Sa'dus reinforcements lead a rally and counter attack from within. The rebels lost all hope as quickly as the defenders regained it and the rout of the defenders became a massacre of the rebels. With no where to run and no where to hide, the rebels were tracked down and put to the sword. When the defenders of the retook the city walls, they found the bodies off all two hundred of the original defending Sa'dus. Scattered across the deathzone between the walls, the Sa'dus had fought to the last. Weapons spent, swords shattered and armor broken and rent. A further two hundred had been lost in the fleet actions with over one hundred more being lost in the retaking of Ky. The people of Kydesh and the Sa'dus were blessed that the bulk of the Ecclesiarchy's forces were simple conscripts. Their morale poor and training even worse, with only their lacking devotion to the Ecclesiarchy to drive them on. It was the first major battle the Sa'dus had ever taken part in since their creation and it was against Imperial forces. The Time of Loss had begun on that farm world. The Sa'dus gathered every transport they could and every person left alive on the lightly populated world. Three million were collected and relocated to a world within Ultramar. The Sa'dus kept no record of the world they delivered the people of Kydesh to, no record for the Ecclesiarchy to follow and take revenge.

Sa'dus & Ecclesiarchy War
In the aftermath of the battle, the Sa'dus vowed to opposed the misuse of the God-Emperor's people so long as they live. As a show of their agreement they shed their Ecclesiarchy purple, grey, gold and red colors and adopted the colors of the Kydesh Defense Force. Dark grey armor over mud sand tan. Word quickly came that the Ecclesiarchy had virus bombed the recruiting world of the Sa'dus and stricken its name and location from record. What followed was seventy years of constant war that drained the Sa'dus who lacked any hope of replacing their losses. The original five thousand Sa'dus slowly died off. Kydesh was the first, but by far not the last. Omar, Udessa, Siva, Notroch and Dentra would become burial worlds for hundreds of Sa'dus each. Fighting on the outer edges of the Imperium the Sa'dus made their efforts to block the Ecclesiarchy and its expansion efforts every where they could. While overall their efforts were hardly noticible to the eyes of the great vastness of the Imperium. The Ecclesiarchy suffered horribly in the as they were forced to spread their efforts over a larger and larger area to maintain control. During this time the Imperium was riddled in and out with civil war and it this chaos that allowed the Sa'dus to survive at all. Open battles mixed with assassinations and raids bled both Ecclesiarchy and Sa'dus on the outer rim of the Imperium.

Time of Waiting
With the end of the Imperium's civil war, the fall from power of the Ecclesiarchy and the near total losses the Sa'dus had suffered. The surviving one-hundred eighty Sa'dus went into hiding on the world of Ran. Here they spent the next hundred years gathering themselves and living along side the people of Ran.

A new world
At first the world itself was in civil war much like the Imperium was for so long. Regional warlords, known as Dymo, competed for power and resources across the planet. The arrival of the Sa’dus put pause to the civil war as the Dymo of the planet took pause at the strange round eyed new comers. Some believing the Sa’dus to be deamons, others believing them prophets and then some just seeing them as a chance to expand influence. The Sa’dus took this time to choose their intended aid on the planet, selecting a Dymo Ieiko Nasumada and rallying all who wished the favor of the Sa’dus to her service. With the aid of the Sa’dus and over a third of the Dymo of Ran under the leadership of Ieiko Nasumada, Nasumada was able to claim the title of First Dymo or supreme leader defacto. In return for the aid of the Sa’dus, Nasumada granted a tithe of land and five million serfs to serve the Sa’dus.

Time of Recovery
On the feudal world of Ran, the Sa’dus found a safe haven to reform and a loyal population to the God-Emperor to protect them from sight. Using the world as a base of operations the chapter began sending scouting parties to nearby systems to harvest recruits. The leadership of the Sa’dus agreed that they would not take any recruits from Ran, thus if any were killed in action elsewhere there would be no way to retrace them to the world. Instead, leaving only evidence of visiting any planet but a single time. Should the Ecclesiarchy try to follow them they would spend eternity waiting for the Sa’dus on a planet they would never revisit. The Sa’dus harvested one hundred thousand recruits from more then fifty systems and began training and selecting the warriors for Astartes status. The Sa’dus focused heavily on Gene-Seed production during this period. More then ninety-two thousand Gene-Seeds were bred with five-hundred twelve being mutation and defect free implants. Even with the new Astartes, the Chapter was less then seven hundred in number. A far and depressing reach from the near five thousand of its starting strength. While only a small number of new Astartes were produced, the Chapter found it had without intention produced a large and extremely well trained and equipped Corps of Stormtroopers. Twenty-five thousand Stormtroopers were counted in the ranks along with replacement Astartes.

Era of Change

First Reformation
At the end of the Time of Recovery, one hundred years post Ecclesiarchy War, the Sa’dus began branching out from Ran in small raiding parties. Each Astartes was assigned a platoon of seven Stormtrooper squads of five men each. After so long of being out of touch with the greater Imperium the Chapter began deploying through nearby sectors and at first spent much of their time observing. Slowly, the Astartes began getting involved in local conflicts. Mostly by aiding Adeptus Arbites with civil control and engaging crime organizations. Soon, within ten years, the Chapter found itself committed to helping put down a traitor guard revolt on the world of Menotis. Early in the conflict the Astartes enjoyed a great deal of success as the traitor guard were caught unprepared for the addition of a full company of Astartes and their thirty-five hundred Stormtrooper support. The shock however, wasn’t meant to last and the Sa’dus forces quickly found themselves being ground down in the attrition styled warfare of the Hive World. The cost came to its finale when Menotis’ Trinity Hive became a siege by traitor forces against sixty Astartes, two thousand surviving Stormtroopers and a quarter million loyalist. Astartes and loyalist forces fought a slow retreat into the Hive’s core taking a final stand at the generator plants. A mere dozen Astartes with less then fifty Stormtroopers fell back to the Hive’s primary Plasma Reactor, setting a controlled explosion that ignited the Hive’s base and first twenty levels in a sheet of rolling fire. Their last act of defiance putting to waste much of the traitor force’s more elite elements that had been called to face the Astartes forces. In the end, Menotis’ loyalist forces were able to surround and defeat the traitors but the cost to the Chapter was dear. All of the one hundred Astartes and thirty-five hundred Stormtroopers were lost along with all of the Gene-Seed they carried.

Second Reformation
The speed in which the traitors adapted to the Astartes was believed to be due in large part to the Chapters lack of specialty. While many of the Chapter veterans had developed talents during the Ecclesiarchy War and passed on some amounts of these skills in training, nothing can replace raw experience. The events on Menotis convinced the Chapter that it had to become more then just average Tactical Marines with escorts. The Chapter reformed for the second time, four years later, into ten companies of sixty Astartes each. Four Tactical companies, four Assault companies and two Devastator companies. The remaining Stormtroopers were placed into a reserve that would send one thousand of its number with any of the Companies on travel. The Chapter also reformed its combat doctrine. The successor and son of Ieiko Nasumada, Tanjo Nasumada, presented the Astartes with a gift. Two dozen relic swords used by Dymo in honor duels of surprising design. The Katana mimic weapons have built in vibro-fields that made them highly effective against even Astartes armor. Used so that no Dymo could cower behind shield or armor or cover, the swords were at first given to the leaders of each of the Chapter’s companies. Tanjo Nasumada passed away only eight years later and without a clear heir to the position of First Dymo. Several Dymo with claims stepped forward and the planet looked near the fall of civil war yet again, a mere one-hundred ten years after the last. Many Dymo rallied armies and millions of warriors prepared to march to battle. The Chapter believing this to be the first test of their Oath to safeguard the people of the God-Emperor selected eleven Dymo to be a part of a ruling council. The council was charged with electing one of its members every year to be the First Dymo with the condition that each Dymo could serve no more then once in a row and could not vote for their successor. Peace was maintained by the Sa’dus for an unknown number of years, as many as three hundred, while the Chapter worked to replace its losses and train its Astartes in a more flexible fashion. Things seemed to be going well for the Chapter as its numbers had reached twelve hundred full Astartes and half as many Scouts. However the peace and prosperity had come to an end.

Peril of Ran
In M37.2 an Ork Hulk appeared near the edge of the Ran system. Drifting slowly towards the planet, the Chapter was shocked to find a Ramilies Class starfort commanding the Hulk under the grip of nearly a million Orks. To massive to stop or engage with their petty fleet, the Chapter was forced to order its Battlebarges to withdraw. Before the departure, the Chapter loaded up its Gene-Seed stores and Astartes Birthing vats along with its Scout ranks and one-hundred random Astartes. Should the planet fall, the Chapter would live. The Chapter Council appeared before the Dymo Council to inform them of the danger and that regardless they would meet the Orks as best they could. For the first time in the planets history, the Dymo Council voted unanimously to march to war under a single banner. The warriors of Ran having had time to absorb much of the technology of the Astartes mounted to war. Rather then atop horses with leather plated armor. They rode mechanical beasts with installed cannon and wore semi-powered carapace armor wielding chainswords and bolt pistols. With only a week to prepare and believing that a siege wouldn’t suit the ritualized forces of the Ran Dymo. The defenders watched and waited to find the landing site of the Ork horde in order to face them on open ground.

Battle of Ran
On the plains of Kiko, the Orks began their landings. Crude transports and pods fell to earth and poured out their holds. The Orks committed almost their entire Hulk’s worth of troops, a million strong staging for an attack on the planets Capital. Though its more likely that the Orks simply saw it as the largest city from orbit. In response, eleven hundred Astartes with half a million Ran warriors and ten thousand Ran tech-mounts lined up to meet the invaders. As the Orks advanced on the Capital, they halted five kilometers from the city and only two kilometers from the massed defenders. For several hours the two sides stared each other down, Orks roaring in taunts and the Ran waiting in pure silence as they readied their souls for the afterlife. Its wasn’t until Master Ketman, chosen leader of the Chapter for the battle and Senior Chaplin spoke that proof of life came to the Ran lines.

“Hear me now, Astartes and Ran, for today we are equals in all! For today, death will show no favor to either our kinds. What comes for us all is the grandest test of all and you shall all prove worthy! Let not one of us, any of us, show fear before this enemy as by the God-Emperor’s might… You will die standing!”

Throughout the ranks, Astartes and Ran alike sang the Emperor’s Battle Hymn. Ketman ordered a slow march forward and as one the defenders walked towards the horde. The Orks feeling the challenge in the air cried out their Wagghh and charged forward. Ketman held the march at only walking speed until the Orks reached one hundred meters. All the while, Ork and Ran and Astartes shot rained between the lines. At the desired distance, Ketman broke his muttering song and roared the defenders charge. “FOR THE EMPEROR!” The Ran and Astartes surged forwards while Thunderhawks hidden from prior view took off and swung low strafing runs at the Orks who’s air cover was minimal and flying high in search of any thing the defenders may send up to meet them. The two forces met in a massive clash of flesh and metal. Ran tech-mounts reaching the Orks first. Their five ton mechanical bodies, chain bladed claws, cog-jaws and installed cannon tearing into their enemy. Ork vehicles exploded and pinched as their crews where torn apart or thrown from their craft. The Ran carapace warriors reached the battle line next, racing into the carnage and striking at anything that wasn’t born of their world. As soon as the Ran warriors were fully engaged in the massive melee, six hundred Astartes dropped from the Thunderhawks down into the center of the Ork mass. At first it was believed that the battle was simply to be a glorious last stand for the Chapter’s history. Though as before, the Emperor’s blessing was upon the defenders as one of the Astartes jump companies landed right on top of the Ork Warboss’ location. What followed was a desperate struggle as the Astartes strained their very being to reach and slay the enemy leader. At three meters tall the Ork master was hard to miss in sight. Who and how isn’t known, but at some point the Ork leader fell. Within minutes the horde seemed to become confused and lose focus on who they should be fighting. The Orks began to fight each other as much as they were fighting the Ran. Unwilling to question why the Orks had turned on themselves the Ran rallied their last gasps of energy and recharged into the Orks. The surviving tech-mounts continuing to plunge themselves at the Ork vehicles. Holes opened in the Ork formation where the Astartes jump companies were cutting the Orks down by the thousands. Wedges formed as the Ran buckled the Ork lines and over ran their confused numbers. Soon a rout was in play as the Orks, losing any pretense of self control fell to frenzy. Some looking to fight whatever was closest to them, others trying to run to their drop ships and flee. In the end of the ground battle, three out of every four Ran had fallen in the defense of their world. Less then a thousand tech-mounts still paced the soil, either under their rider’s lead killing any Orks left alive or just searching for their fallen riders. The rider-less tech-mount whimpering at the loss of their masters and howling their frustrations at being unable to find them.

Taking of the Hulk
Two thirds of the Ork force had been killed on the surface. Those who survived fled spaceward only to be greeted by the guns and attack craft of the Chapter’s Battlebarges. The slow transports edging their way through the atmosphere were easy targets without their fighter cover which had broken off their high level cover to chase the Astartes Thunderhawks. Soon the Astartes fighters engaged and destroyed the few Ork fighter craft and allowed the eight hundred surviving Astartes to be lifted for their assault on the Hulk. Along with the thirty thousand Chapter Stormtroopers and six hundred Astartes Scouts. The Chapter readied itself for another terrible battle aboard the Ork hold. Only with most of their number launched to the planet, the Hulk was left largely defenseless. The few working weapon batteries were quickly silenced and the Hulk was taken with fewer then forty Astartes lost and around the same in Scouts. Five thousand Stormtroopers fell during the clearing of the Hulk, often taking the lead to try and reduce the losses to the already drained Astartes numbers. Before the landing, the Dymo Council said that the Chapter would have to be “Seeking miracles” to win the coming battle.

Third Reformation
With the Battle of Ran and the Taking of the Hulk over. The Chapter Council decided to depart Ran and its people. Gathering all the materials that the Ran could spare and gathering up the Chapter survivors. The Sa’dus met in Council one last time over the planet they had so long cared for. Master Ketman had fallen in battle and the future of the Chapter was now to be placed in the fate of space. Ketman had long wished that the Chapter abandon its Astartes nature and return to the culture of its homeworld. Forever shed the titles that the Ecclesiarchy had placed upon them for a “return to the ways of the sands”. As such the Chapter desolved itself and was reborn into the Chouhada Sa’dus, the “Righteous people’s Warriors” or “Servants of the Righteous people”. The Sa’dus broke into “Sietches”, eleven in all where each would specialize in a factor of the force’s needs. The base outline of the Codex Astartes, already ignored by their corrupted creators was thrown aside for being as corrupt as the Imperium it managed. Gothic language was given up in favor of returning to the old language of the Native World. The Vocabulary used by the Imperium on Astartes was thus abandoned and replaced by positions and titles of the Native World. Military ranks were dropped in favor of a system of equals. Lastly, the Sa’dus gifted the Ran people with the technology to commit genetic enhancements, a technology that had been held back during the time the Chapter had been on Ran. The slow but aided progression of Ran technology and society now complete.

Chapter Vocab
Sietch - Place of safety in danger - Native name of a Astartes Company.
Mah'di - One who is rightly guided - Leader of the Chapter.
Naib - Leader of Combat - Head of a Sietch.
Sa'dus - Holy judge(s) - Native name for the Astartes of the Chapter.
Ly'dus - One seeking holy judgement - Native name of aspiring Astartes of the Chapter, also called Scouts in Codex.
Chouhada - Purposeful fighter(s) - The people the Chapter serves and leads. Civilians population of the Chapter.
Hajra' - Journey of seeking - The stated purpose of the Chapter and also Battle Cry of the Sadus.
Hajra' Karama - Journey of seeking miracles - Name of Chapters starfort.
Feydi - To one's death - None Astartes fighters of the Chapter such as Army and Naval persons.
Li'san Malek - Voice of Angel - Chapter Librarians, considered of the Chapter Elite.
Ale Hik'eman - Voice of Faith - Chapter Chaplains, considered of the Chapter Elite.
Bara'aka - Miracle Worker/Healer - Chapter Apothecaries, considered of the Chapter Elite.
Shadout - Well Digger - Chapter Techsingers, otherwise known as Techmarines who do not honor the Adept-Mech faith, Chapter Elite.
Wal'i - Untested Youth - Those selected by the Chapter for testing to join the Ly'dus.
Umma - Prophet - Dreadnaughts, retired Mah'di, Naibs, Li'san Maleks, Ale Hik'eman or Bara'aka that are long aged or critically wounded are placed here to prolong access to their knowledge.

Chapter Organization

Mah'di - Chapter Master Wahid Qutb

Fleet Briefing
The Chapter itself lacks true Astartes model Strike Cruisers. The battle that led up to the capture of the Hajra' Kara'ama from the Orks also cost the Chapter all four of its Strike Cruisers, its Forge Ship and one of its Battle Barges. As such, the Chapter has made a practice of searching for ships it can take from traitor forces or recover from old battle fields.

Fleet assets
Ramilies Starfort Hajra' Karama - Home of the Chapter, attached to Hulk, taken from Orks in M37.2 and refit completed M37.6
Battle Barge Sands of Faith - Built M36, first ship of the chapter fleet.
Battle Barge Taker of Water - Built M36, second ship of the chapter fleet.
Battle Cruiser Redemption's Way - Armageddon Class, taken from traitor forces in M41, newest capital ship in chapter fleet.
Battle Cruiser Winds of Wrath - Overlord Class, recovered in M38.4, refitted over next ten years.
Grand Cruiser Emperor's Retort - Vengeance Class, taken from traitor forces in M41, used to secure the Redemption's Way.
Heavy Cruiser Shifting Dune - Styx Class, captured in M39.8 after battle with Sands of Faith and Taker of Water.
Heavy Cruiser Holy Favor - Hades Class, captured in M37.3 from traitor shipyard Vinacus in Segmentum Ultima.
Heavy Cruiser Light Delivered - Hades Class, captured M37.3 from traitor shipyard Vinacus in Segmentum Ultima.
- The Chapter currently has eight Imperial Cruiser hulks which are under refit to battle cruiser standards of which classes have yet to be chosen until resources can be located. The Chapter's escort complement is 60 Cobra Class Destroyers, 32 Sword Class Frigates, 40 Firestorm Class Frigates and 12 lance pattern Dauntless Light Cruisers.

1st Company - Seitch Derch - Tabard color Dust White. (Harvesters)
Naib - Sa'adah Zafar
Sa'dus - 325, Ly'dus 304, Wal'i 1237.
Li'san Malek - 11
Ale Hik'eman - 10
Bara'aka - 54
Shadout - 7
Umma - 6
Brief intro - Derch has recently completed a century of recovery and is rightfully one of the strongest Seitches. Naib Zafar has a long history, some four hundred years, of battle experience. He has made a well known habit of accepting or planning missions that involve stealth and ambush for ground campaigns. Preferring to battle in the wild rather then in cities, the Mah'di often select Zafar for Death World operations. This Seitch is also the largest recruiter and producer of Gene-Seed in the Chapter. Its Bara'aka are considered second to none in the Chapters sagas.

2nd Company - Seitch El-Sayal - Tabard color Rust Red. (Tech based)
Naib - Izz Al'din
Sa'dus - 104, Ly'dus 148, Wal'i 4456.
Li'san Malek - 3
Ale Hik'eman - 8
Bara'aka - 4
Shadout - 48
Umma - 36
Brief intro - Known throughout the Chapter as the Shadout Seitch, El-Sayal was founded by the sole surviving Tech-Marine of the Chapter after the Time of Loss. As such, the focus of the Seitch was that of technology leaving little wonder that nearly all Forge Masters of the Chapter have their roots here. It is rare for the El-Sayal to march to war, preferring to spend time building and improving their Umma. When this Seitch does march to war, it is a sight that strikes fear even in its allies.

3rd Company - Seitch Sihaya - Tabard color Teal. (Devastator)
Naib - Ghali Da'ud
Sa'dus - 48, Ly'dus 32, Wal'i 112.
Li'san Malek - 2
Ale Hik'eman - 1
Bara'aka - 2
Shadout - 2
Umma - 0
Brief intro - Sihaya recently returned from extensive conflict with traitor forces out of the Eye of Terror. The fighting having claimed well over 70% of the Seitches' manpower. Generally focused on heavy weapons, the fleet actions were costly due to the Sietch being improperly equipped for the conditions it encountered. The high point of their sacrifice was the capture of the Redemption's Way with the aid of the Emperor's Retort. This along with the destruction of the orbital defense platforms in system allowed what would have been an under powered Imperial force to prevail. By order of the Mah'di and Council of Naibs, Seitch Sihaya has been ordered into a 100 year recovery period. Of which it is forbidden to seek battle unless under the direction of the Mah'di. The loss of Sihaya from the battlefield means that the Chapter as a whole will suffer from a lack of a hard hitting Seitch to call on in times of siege.

4th Company - Seitch Qunat - Tabard color Ocean Green. (Boarding)
Naib - Diya Fadi
Sa'dus - 280, Ly'dus 85, Wal'i 967.
Li'san Malek - 22
Ale Hik'eman - 4
Bara'aka - 6
Shadout - 11
Umma - 2
Brief intro - Qunat is the Chapter's primary boarding action Seitch. Its focus on close combat and extreme use of Terminator Armor has allowed it to support some of the Chapter's greatest fleet melee actions. Including the capture of the Emperor's Retort, Shifting Dune, Holy Favor and Light Delivered along with securing resupply points for the Chapter from dozens of Imperial or former Imperial starbases, dockyards and Void Posts. This Seitch is also known for its method of transport, preferring transport of 12 Dauntless Class light cruisers rather then the protection of the Chapter's larger but slower warships. The large number of Li'san Malek are useful in warding Warp presence aboard ships that belong to Chaos.

5th Company - Seitch Usul - Tabard color Faded Brown. (Tactical)
Naib - Fakih Hadi
Sa'dus - 204, Ly'dus 46, Wal'i 290.
Li'san Malek - 5
Ale Hik'eman - 34
Bara'aka - 14
Shadout - 4
Umma - 8
Brief Intro - Usul is one of the Chapter's two Tactical Companies. Focused on conventional battle tactics and as such one of the two most commonly called upon to aid in IoM conflicts when other Astartes will be involved. Usul spends a great deal of effort replacing the constant losses it suffers. As result, its reserves are rarely filled out and it's Ly'dus (scout) ranks are constantly called on to replace Sa'dus (full Marines) fallen in battle. The counter is that those who survive for long periods are often promoted to the ranks of the Ale Kik'eman (Chaplains), motivating their battle brothers through their faith and experience. Usul is well known for its high use of Heavy Bolters and Plasma weapons.

6th Company - Seitch Nahya - Tabard color Sun Yellow. (Scout)
Naib - Hazim Jal
Sa'dus - 90, Ly'dus 480, Wal'i 1122.
Li'san Malek - 2
Ale Hik'eman - 8
Bara'aka - 4
Shadout - 2
Umma - 2
Brief intro - Nahya is focused largely on ground based Recon and Sabotage operations. As such its ranks are filled largely with Ly'dus and only selects Sa'dus from those who are most likely to one day serve in the Chapter Elites. Due to the ease of producing Ly'dus, Nahya is always the Seitch called on to be the eyes, ears and voice of the Chapter abroad.

7th Company - Seitch Matar - Tabard color Worn Orange. (Assault)
Naib - Jalal al Din
Sa'dus - 234, Ly'dus 140, Wal'i 638.
Li'san Malek - 3
Ale Hik'eman - 51
Bara'aka -9
Shadout - 3
Umma - 2
Brief Intro - Matar is the Chapter's Assault specialists and their battle records show why. The vast number of Ale Hik'eman attests to the numbers of skilled warriors that Matar can produce. While debatable, Matar itself considers its Assault Sa'dus the equal to the Black Templars and Blood Angels. Naib Jalal al Din is often seen leading his Sa'dus in leaping strikes across the grounds they charge. Matar's focus on sword skill and pistol skill makes for a deadly ability when face to face with the enemy.

8th Company - Seitch Al'mirez - Tabard color Light Grey. (Tactical)
Naib - Jasim Layth
Sa'dus - 196, Ly'dus 62, Wal'i 422.
Li'san Malek - 7
Ale Hik'eman - 21
Bara'aka - 6
Shadout - 4
Umma - 5
Brief intro - Al'mirez is the second Tactical Company of the Chapter. Al'mirez is often focused on defensive actions relying on large numbers of Snipers and Melta weapons. Unlike Usul which operates most often with other Astartes. Al'mirez is more favored to work along side Imperial Guard units. Allowing the IG to provide massed fire while Al'mirez provides decisive sniper fire on prime enemy targets and Melta fire on enemy Armor.

9th Company - Seitch Hajj - Tabard color Black. (Fleet)
Naib - Kedar Kahil
Sa'dus - 92, Ly'dus 70, Wal'i 229.
Li'san Malek - 4
Ale Hik'eman - 20 (one for each capital ship in service)
Bara'aka - 16
Shadout - 12
Umma - 0 (Unused in Hajj)
Brief intro - Hajj is the fleet end of the Chapter. Focusing on fleet tactics, Hajj is trusted with the command of the Chapter's fleet resources and captaining the chapter's capital ships. Easily the smallest of Seitch of the Chapter when at standard numbers. It is also one of the most important as without the fleet, the Chapter would be vulnerable too attack aboard their fortress-hulk.

10th Company - Seitch Khala - Tabard color Bright Blue. (Psyker)
Naib - Abdul Warith
Sa'dus - 140, Ly'dus 20, Wal'i 1960.
Li'san Malek - 48
Ale Hik'eman - 0 (unused in Khala)
Bara'aka - 14
Shadout - 2
Umma - 0 (unused in Khala)
Brief intro - Khala is the Chapter's psyker base, walking warp weapons for the God-Emperor. Khala's devotion to the Faith is considered extreme even by Ecclesiarchy standards. All of the pyskers of the chapter find their beginnings here in Khala. Their souls are bound to the Emperor's Light and their flesh scared with Wards against the Warp. While psyker's of Khala are often gifted throughout the Chapter for the other Seitches. Khala is largely a support group, until unleashed. Then, Khala's ranks of Warp fury are given free reign on the battlefield.

Veiled Company - Seitch Ketman - Tabard Color Deep Purple
Seitch Ketman is the home of the Mah'di - Chapter Master Wahid Qutb and his command structure. Unlike the other Seitches, Seitch Ketman never leaves the Hajra' Karama. Instead it is the place of the Mah'di to lead the Chapter and for his aids to lead the instruction and governing of the Chapter's needs. The Mah'di retains ten unnamed bodyguards, tradition states that one comes from each Seitch. How and where the Mah'di selects his bodyguards remains a mystery as to be selected means to live out one's life without mention. Elected aids in the Ketman are the Chapter Service Masters, such as Master Librarian / Master Chaplain / Master Apothecary / Master Techsinger. Other important sections are appointed positions such as Forge Master (Ship, vehicle and body armor), Munitions Master (production of weapons and ammunitions), Armory Master (manages distribution of equipment for the Chapter) and Fleet Master (commands the space born assets of the Chapter).

Chapter Commands
- Master of the Li'san Malek - Master Librarian Basir Akif.
- Master of the Ale Hik'eman - Master Chaplain Majd al Din.
- Master of the Bara'aka - Master Apothecary Muhsin Rafiq.
- Master of the Shadout - Master Techsinger Jibril Mahdani.
- Master of the Fleet - Admiral Kedar Kahil, Naib of Seitch Hajj.
- Master of the Armory - Saif al Din
- Master of the Forge - Suraqah Taqiy
- Master of Munitions - Waddah Wazir

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:15 pm
by Deepcrush
Image

View of the armor under the robes. The Chouhada Sa'dus wear no markings on the exterior of their armor other then the God-Emperor's Aquila. While the stated reason is a matter of faith, the return is that armor is exchangeable between the Sa'dus allowing for large scale production with fewer modifications. All that a wearer needs custom is his Stillsuit and robes.

Image

Since markings on the exterior of the armor is considered vastly taboo. Each Sietch has a tabard of different color to represent their home and Naib. Dust White is the color of (Sietch Derch)(Otherwise known as 1st Company under the Codex).

Image

Sietch Derch Sa'dus with his Godwyn V model bolter. Thirty round sickle magazine plus three round pump action secondary.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:04 am
by Vic
Very nice so far, I like the arabcentric flavor. Now all you need is a mess of destroyers to go with those capital ships.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:17 am
by Deepcrush
I'm still working out the capital ships and some of the backround. I'm picturing a chapter that was at some point down to less then 100 Astartes and became "passive" in order to rebuild. Now, after so long of being "passive", they have grown over the last 4000 years and become rather impressive in their own right. But still pretty far behind the fleets of the Ultramarines or the ground forces of the Black Templars or Space Wolves.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:06 am
by Deepcrush
Company details fleshed out a bit and naval assets finished. The question was asked about the size of the "Companies" and why there were so many Elites in the ranks. The answer is that each Seitch is largely its own Chapter during operations much like a Crusade Chapter would be.

Added out, there are 1713 total full Astartes in the Chapter. So its about one quarter the numbers of the Black Templars or about a sixth that of the Space Wolves. To me it seemed fitting for a Chapter where the Companies would spend a hundred or so years building up and then find the biggest battle they could that suits their design and dive into it. Return home with any survivors and start over again just to repeat the process.

With Elites I went with the idea that due to the high loss rate of the Chapter. It would be a lot more liberal in selecting its Elite options. Chaplains, or Ale Hik'eman, its the Chapters version of a Sergeant combined with Chaplain combined with Priest. With Psykers, or Li'san Malek, I combined the role of Combat Psyker and Navigator and Psyker recruiter into one. The Chapter's Psyker's fill a vast position needed for the Chapter to function over any sort of distance even though the Fortress-Hulk limits how fast the fleet can move as a whole. With the Apothecaries, or Bara'aka, you have the other end of the recruitment force. Not only do they tend to the wounded, but also maintain the Gene-Seed productions and selection of non-psyker recruits and are responsible for training the non-psyker Wal'i.

Next up, I'll be adding the Elite's more technical details into the Chapter.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 3:07 pm
by Mikey
Very nice. Been re-reading Dune lately, Deep? ;)

I like the idea of a mobile, but not crusading, chapter - reminds me of the Blood Ravens in that regard, though these guys seem more prone to actually doing good than just doing for themselves. I'd be curious to see how other chapters regard them, being so unique in their encompassing approach to normal humans.

Can a battle barge drag around a Ramilies, I wonder?

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:36 am
by Deepcrush
Mikey wrote:Very nice. Been re-reading Dune lately, Deep?
Read Dune for the first time when I was seven, understood it for the when I was about ten. So many of the Arabic/Islamic fashioned stories are written as being the evil guys or the stupid nomads who ride horses against tanks. I wanted to show them in a positive and strong light, where their nomadic ways were still in practice but not in the way that they shunned technology. Instead tradition and faith become the binding force that drives them to serving mankind.
Mikey wrote:I like the idea of a mobile, but not crusading, chapter - reminds me of the Blood Ravens in that regard, though these guys seem more prone to actually doing good than just doing for themselves. I'd be curious to see how other chapters regard them, being so unique in their encompassing approach to normal humans.
I'm picturing, though I haven't fully worked it out yet, on how other chapters see them. For the most part, other chapters won't even understand the size and scale of the Chouhada Sa'dus. Being that the chapter never goes into a combat zone in full strength and that each "company" can operate as its own chapter when it travels for missions. That the chapter base's itself out on the rim of IoM space, picks a battle zone, fights, takes on any recruits it finds and then disappears again. I think it would be much like the Legion of the Damned, part myth and part hermit. Showing up where they want and then not being seen again or heard from for decades at a time.

All this gives me the belief that most chapters wouldn't even care about the Chouhada Sa'dus, a few may care and look to interact, the remaining may not even believe the Chouhada Sa'dus exist. "A ghost chapter that appears and disappears, shows up at random Rim Worlds, has its own forge hulk/starfort and yet no one even knows where they could possibly be... yeah sure."
Mikey wrote:Can a battle barge drag around a Ramilies, I wonder?
No, not even a shit of a chance. It would take four or five Battle-Barges to tow a Ramilies, twice that if you're hoping for anything more then orbital speeds. Thats why its an old Ork Hulk with a Ramilies on it. It doesnt really need towing as it doesn't really intend to move with any real sublight speed. It has massive engines on it the size of whole Frigates... that push it about as fast as a tectonic plate. Just fast enough that it has forward motion and when it opens a warp transit point the forward motion allows it to be pulled in. When in normal space, the Fortress is largely static since it would take the whole of the chapter fleet to tow it and the fleet is rarely in any single place. While capable of turning, very slowly, the only speed the Fortress has is that which it brings with it when exiting the Warp.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 8:09 am
by Deepcrush
Added up a little history, didn't get to the Elites yet.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:52 pm
by Mikey
Really nice. I like how the librarians are a mix of typical Astartes librarians and soul-bound sanctioned psykers. I'm also finding it interesting to have a Chapter Master who actually delegates and oversees, rather than runs out in the front line. Not typical, but useful in a scenario with the independent sietches.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:03 pm
by sunnyside
So how do the Wal'i fit into things? Are they something like guardsman allies that come along until they've proven themselves?

Otherwise interesting fluff.

And they might be nice on the game table. You've, possibly without trying, come up with a great excuse for cutting your painting time down significantly. Also their theme might antagonize some players, and get them to make poor choices. Like the classic one where someone focuses too much on killing the opponent and then winds up losing because their focus strayed from the actually mission objectives.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:01 am
by Deepcrush
Mikey wrote:Really nice. I like how the librarians are a mix of typical Astartes librarians and soul-bound sanctioned psykers.
When I pictured a group that doesn't fear Psykers, I had to figure a reason as to why. Having a Sietch dedicated to raise them and train their skills really wouldn't leave you with a reason to treat your Psykers any different then any other warrior. Since you don't train a warrior to do just one thing, it makes sense that you would train them to do everything. They are Astartes after all.
I'm also finding it interesting to have a Chapter Master who actually delegates and oversees, rather than runs out in the front line. Not typical, but useful in a scenario with the independent sietches.
Since each Sietch is largely independent, the Chapter Master's time is largely spent keeping things organized. Once the wounded Sietch is back to full strength, there will be as many as 2000 Sa'dus to manage and 13+ million people to care for. Think if someone had to take of a state of such population, manage an army similar in power to the UK, a fleet similar to the USN and a population of a larger US state... with a staff of around sixty people. I'm sure he'd love to go fight on some battlefield but there's just no time for it.
sunnyside wrote:So how do the Wal'i fit into things? Are they something like guardsman allies that come along until they've proven themselves?
No, the Chouhada (regular population) is that of the "Guardsman". Everyone in the chapter being man to woman to child is expected to fight. The Wal'i are those who have proven themselves worthy to travel with the Sa'dus so they are more like Stormtroopers or Veteran Arbites. After proving themselves further they can be selected to begin the treatments to become an Astartes. First by becoming a Ly'dus (Scout Marine) and then later by becoming a Sa'dus (Full Marine). Most chapters look for youths to be recruited because its easier to mold their minds. With the Chouhada Sadus, you're raised in the culture and thus no molding is needed. A normal human is no different then an Astartes other then what his job/duty is to the Chapter. Since the Chapter lacks a real ranking structure, the levels of advancement from Chouhada to Mah'di is how you're measured.
sunnyside wrote:And they might be nice on the game table. You've, possibly without trying, come up with a great excuse for cutting your painting time down significantly. Also their theme might antagonize some players, and get them to make poor choices. Like the classic one where someone focuses too much on killing the opponent and then winds up losing because their focus strayed from the actually mission objectives.
The painting would be easy except for getting the tabard colors lined up right and armor highlights right. Few colors but no less detail. The tricky thing for most players I would think would be the absolute lack of armor outside of the Umma (Dreadnoughts) and rather high rate of equipment that the massive number of Marines would carry into battle. The Vibro-Sword is a Scimitar modeled energy skinned 1m blade that is really just a light one-handed power sword. Its purpose is to give speed and reach to an Astartes, think about how fast they are as is plus their arm length. The Sa'dus don't use chain-swords as they view them as too loud so the Vibro is standard issue to the Sa'dus. Most of the actions the Sa'dus involve themselves to is boarding or ambush, so silence is important. Luring an enemy into a melee only for them to find out that they are facing a squad of power weapons is a nice thought too.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:06 pm
by Deepcrush
Added a little more back story showing the evolution of the Chapter.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:58 pm
by Mikey
Wow. Nothing wrong with your sense of detail, Deep. One thing really sparks my interest - with their parallel development to the Sisters of Battle during the Age of Apostasy (created to fight on the side of Vandire, then one way or another proving their loyalty to the Emperor rather than the state church of itself) is the relationship between the Sa'dus and the SoB one of comradeship and common history, or rivalry?

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:13 pm
by Deepcrush
More like absolute hatred. The SoB put the church first and care little for the people of the church, believing the population as an expense of the GEoM. While the Sa'dus believe they exist simply to serve the people, a belief so strong that they put the name of the people in their Title.

Re: [WH40k] New Astartes Chapter

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:16 pm
by Mikey
Deepcrush wrote:More like absolute hatred. The SoB put the church first and care little for the people of the church, believing the population as an expense of the GEoM. While the Sa'dus believe they exist simply to serve the people, a belief so strong that they put the name of the people in their Title.
Wow. OK, I only asked because Alicia Dominica, when brought before the Emperor, renounced her allegiance to Vandire and was actually instrumental in his defeat and execution. Forgetting history and going by current application, though, I can see where you're coming from.