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Rampagers of Ogun Index Astartes; Fluff for my new Chapter
Topic Started: 26 Aug 2008, 07:32 PM (575 Views)
Martok13
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Index Astartes

Chapter name: Rampagers of Ogun

Home world: Vodun

Gene Seed: Ultramarines (although unknown to the chapter so irrelevant)

Chapter Colours:

Standard

Posted Image

Vet Sgt

Posted Image

Origins:

The chapter was created at the behest of the High Lords of Terra due to huge losses to both marines and other imperial forces in the local star system following the main engagements of the third war for Armageddon. They began stockpiling arms and also gene seed to allow the creation of new Marine Chapters and Imperial Guard regiments which could fill the deficit in military support for that region of space. Most of the weaponry was either created on forge worlds not already a part of the Armageddon war effort or form Mars itself. A single unit of Mortifactors led by a Captain named Solomon and a number of technical aids were dispatched with a ship capable of inter system travel, to scout out local systems for a suitable world.

After much searching they found the world of Vodun. Here they found three continents at war. Three separate clans inhabited the continents. With varying levels of advancement the Petro Loa retaining some armour and weaponry devolved from that once used by the Terran colonists millennia ago, but nothing equivalent to the arms used by the Imperium. The Rada Loa had little technology but had a number of Mages calling upon the warp in battle. Finally the Ghede Loa took to battle with gunpowder level technology mainly used by suicidal units to wreak havoc amongst the enemy lines. Each leader was in turn beaten in combat by the Mortifactors Captain proving unworthy however the head of the Petro Loa clan named Ogun showed great potential in combat. Captain Solomon tested him to his limits; eventually Ogun offered his neck to his opponent. Thus it came to pass, that the forces of all three continents surrendered to this warrior from afar and Ogun became overlord.

Ogun was the first to be made into an Astartes; a giant he became even to the other Astartes. His generals became the Chapters captains and the generals of the other continents became his advisors. The best of the armies’ warriors were taken and trained by the Mortifactors unit, then turned into marines themselves. The nature of the Clans tribal wars meant that the strongest of the warriors were barely adolescent as to live to old age on Vodun was unheard of; this meant every warrior was an ideal age for their rebirth as space marines. The clans were mixed and made to trust each other, this was brought home to them when the Morifactors' Captain made them aware of the diversity of the Imperium, stating that this diversity makes it possible for the intricate warmachine of the Imperium to function. These words from the greatest of teachers held the clans in a fragile but definite alliance.

After the Initial recruits had graduated to full battle brothers, Captain Solomon returned to his chapter. The High lords of Terra were notified that the warriors of Vodun had completed their first steps on the road to becoming full chapter. They sent a small fleet to Vodun bearing the Gene Seed needed to complete the Chapter. This ship contained the gene seed needed to complete the Chapter, as well as the power armour and weaponry needed to arm these new battle brothers. A Magos from the Adeptus Mechanicus was sent to train the Rampagers how to use their new technology and provide them with the servitors necessary for the operation of the chapter.

Now with their infrastructure in place and numbers approaching the standard set down in the Codex Astartes they looked for a worthy engagement to finally bloody their weapons in the name of the Emperor.

This came via orders to meet the Mortifactors Captain who had been there at the beginning. He called for them to meet him in a neighbouring system where a force of Orks fleeing Armageddon, had taken root on a small planet. They joined a small fleet at the very edge of the system where they took their orders then closed with all haste on the target planet.

The Rampagers were brutally efficient surprising the Mortifactors with their ability on their first engagement. The campaign was essentially over in the first engagement. An Ordo Xenos operative marked the enemy commanders location with a teleport homer; allowing Ogun and his first company to teleport with pinpoint accuracy into his sanctum. The Mortifactors and the rank and file of the Rampagers battle brothers assaulted via drop pod, landing around the strongholds perimeter. Ogun took the Warboss’ head after singling him out in the ferocious combat, raging through the inner sanctum. The first company pressed outwards through the stronghold destroying all in their path while the second force closed in. The Orks fled from one force only to be cut to shreds by the other. The battle did not go without incident however as brothers of the Third landed far closer to the stronghold then planned resulting in massive losses from drop pods being destroyed on impact. The remainder of the company struggled to regroup and it was only the arrival of Ogun and two squads of the First that stopped the company from being routed. The rest of the campaign consisted of seek and destroy missions cleansing those Greenskins who escaped and removing pockets of resistance on the local moon. Although a brief campaign; this was the Rampagers first engagement and all the old bigotry was cast aside, as once rival champions proved their brotherhood to each other countless times, in the crucible of war.

When this engagement was over the Rampagers of Ogun returned home to build a fortress monastery worthy of the warriors they had become.

It has become a regular occurrence for a member of the Mortifactors to call upon the Rampagers when the Imperium needs them, as many Inquisitors have literally been ignored upon arrival. The Inquisitor finds the monastery gates locked and no reply to communications whatsoever. But as soon as a marine in the black and bone of the Mortifactors arrives he is welcomed with thunderous celebration.

Since their baptism of fire, cleansing the splinter force of the Armageddon waaagh they have fought against the green skins many times and have fought closely with the Mortifactors on many occasions. Thus far they have not declared any crusades on their own, preferring to stay as close to their home world as possible. Ogun’s senior advisors Master of Sanctity Samedi and Chief of the Librarium Loko warn that a great storm shall wash through their system and they must be their to stand in its way or all shall be lost.

This “Storm” was announced to Ogun with both advisors crashing into his sanctum at the same time. They had each been meditating separately from one another, but had seen very similar visions. Librarian Loko screamed of the warp storming through the system with such ferocity that it would tear a hole in reality, which would consume their world along with the rest of the system. Samedi however spoke of a corrupting force coming to the system. This “corruptor” would turn world after world to his own ends and that only the Rampagers would be left to bar it’s way. This “Storm” is treated as a culmination of the two warnings and that they are one in the same with the psyker’s vision referring to the warp activity at that time and the Chaplains the physical force behind it.

This is why they stay close to home and try and keep their numbers as high as possible while adhering to the Codex Astartes. This means they fight in very few engagements other then the necessary and usually only when the Mortifactors call upon them, sometimes they heed the call of local planetary governors but for the most part they reside within their fortress sparring endlessly, fighting mock wars within the great caverns beneath the fortress each engineered to represent a local planets environment. For when the storm comes they shall be prepared to stand against it on every world in its path.

Beliefs:

Before the Imperium came to Vodun each clan worshipped a separate god with the Rada Loa worshipping Loko, the Petro Loa worshipping Ogun and Ghede Loa worshipping Samedi. When the warriors of Vodun were enlightened from their tribalism’s and made aware of the Emperor of man there beliefs began to shift until they saw each god as a facet of the Emperor.

With this change in beliefs the Rampagers see Ogun, their lord as the master of war and aspire to achieve his glories, Loko is the master of knowledge and so they aspire to reach his wisdom and finally Samedi is the master of mortality. To understand mortality is to be fearless and death incarnate, so the master of the Chapter will be renamed at his ascension as Ogun. The master of sanctity shall take on the guise of Samedi and the head of the Librarium becomes Loko.

Each of these masters stands as a point of reference for the chapter to look to for guidance and inspiration. As such they’re combined influence is the ideal of the Emperors omnipotence. Each is seen as flawed without the other and so it is not considered possible for anyone to bear all three mantels other then the Emperor himself.

However the only facet they seem to practice in a near “religious” way is the facet of death as it is the link between the clans that in death you attain glory and you must gain knowledge before death this has lead to the chaplains being revered no more than the other masters but in a more devotional almost fanatical way.

Their practices can seem primitive with many trials of body and mind some even verging on blood rites. But they are purely to sharpen the mind to make them recall their mistakes and to keep the mind in focus.

Their ideal of actual worship or meditation is comprised of three facets as with much the chapter do. Reflection upon the dead being led by Samedi and the persuit of knowledge led by Loko. Ogun leads the practice of combat. He does this on the battlefield leading from the front so all who follow can see how to wage war.

Combat Doctrine:

The Rampagers are generally a codex force on the battlefield relying on overlapping fire plans to eradicate the enemy with minimal casualties. Pointless risk taking is non-existent in the standard battle companies; any step out of line is disciplined heavily for risking the members of your unit. This does not apply to acts of valour and heroism when its necessary only when its unneccessary. The exceptions to this are battle brothers earmarked for the first company. Before they are elevated to the first they join the fast attack elements of their company. Either using jump packs or bikes and even land speeders to take the fight to the enemy. This gets them ready for the mayhem of the first companies pin point strikes and gets there skill at arms to a point where they are worty of the first company.

This being said the first company fight in an entirely different manner they usually teleport into the thick of the action to achieve a singular goal. As such they play pivotal roles at specific points in a campaign and rarely play a part in drawn out warfare. Regurlarly led by Ogun himself who is first company captain as well as Chapter Master. When not in their terminator armour though they are regurlarly seen holding the line with their battle brothers maintaining brutally disciplined volleys of bolter rounds.

The Librarium and Chaplaincy are usually found alongside the first copmpany as they make their surgical strikes as well as accompanying the fast attack into combat with their foes. That’s not to say that the standard battle brothers are left alone but generally it is the lower ranking members of the orders that stand by the marines in the dugouts giving pyschic support and enforcing the hatred for their foe; not to mention the power of the librarians and chaplains when the enemy reach their lines. Many times a Reclusiarch has saved the battle brothers from a rout in their lines.

Drop pod assault is common with the Rampagers, the battle brothers forming a perimeter around the enemy whilst the first company strikes directly into the heart of the enemy force. Since their first assault this tactic has been a staple of their tactics against the Orks and it’s worked to brutal effect near enough routing the enemy within moments of landing.

Due to a lack of a large fleet these landings are near enough a one shot trick as to reclaim the drop pods and get the marines back to their battle barge isnt very effective in the heat of battle. This lack of a fleet also means preliminary bombardment is short as there are few ships to fire down to the surface. This weakness is one the Rampagers are eager to fix and have been known to demand a Governors flagship in return for saving his world. The demand has only been made a few times and mostly it has been given without thought but it has led to force being used by the Rampagers. This has led to complaints being made to the Inquisition about the Rampagers but thus far has found that the Rampagers effectiveness with these vessels far surpasses the Governors and in the interest of the Imperium the Rampagers were justified in their decision. This lack of fleet means the Rampagers only ever field three companies at one time. Two aboard their single battle barge and one onboard a cruiser. Both of these were given to them at thier inception. They can transport troops with some of the ships they have "claimed" however these are still not fitted for drop pod assault and lack launch bays for thunderhawks. So these ships are much better suited as escorts to the purpose built transports.

Force Organisation:

In most repects Rampagers force organisation is Codex with very few exceptions other than the Reclusiam and the Librarium. These are seperate entities to the companies. A Chaplain or Librarian might be assigned to a company but this is generally a temporary thing and usually for lower ranked members of their orders. Most of the time they are fielded in units alongside the first company.

I shall use the Petro loa clan as the basis for the chapter master and captains. They can only be recruited from the petro loa clan as this as seen as the strongest clan for warriors, and then the rada loa provide librarians as they are the most psychic and the ghede loa are most in tune with the dead thus making them the chaplains caste.

When a marine is elevated to chapter master he gives up his name and becomes Ogun. He leads from the front; the epitome of war!

In turn the Master of Sanctity shall become Samedi Lord of the Dead!

Finally The Master of the Librarium becomes Loko The Bearer of Wisdom!

Battle Cry:

Only in Death is there Glory!
Edited by Martok13, 2 Sep 2008, 04:24 PM.
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Martok13
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Hope its not too much of a read and with any luck possibly even interesting. Please dissect this and give me brutal opinions but id also really like ideas to expand this and general c+c

Cheers,

Martok
Edited by Martok13, 26 Aug 2008, 07:58 PM.
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darkseer
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do you mean "Only in death is there glory!" ? ;)


Reads alright, although a chapter with a small fleet wouldn't be so quick to produce drop pods as they pretty much break on impact (although their guns, etc remain intact) and need to be fixed/rebuilt time and time again.

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Martok13
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Two very good points there the first one edited the second understood i thought i sort of covered that in the section where i say the drop pod tactic is a one shot trick. They make a drop pod assault and after that the armour etc is brought in at a standard rate and the drop pod assault generally opens up a campaign, only the terminators continue the orbit to surface assaults via teleporter.

I hope that covers it. If it still doesnt read clearly let me know and i'll see what i can do about editing it.

Cheers for taking the time to read it and give your insight,

Martok
Edited by Martok13, 29 Aug 2008, 08:13 AM.
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darkseer
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I dunno, they just seem too vanilla and codex for my liking. :ermm:

It's not like they have their own specialised fighting style, for example, favouring an armoured spear head or hit and run tactics.

I think you need to go and think about your playing tendencies, personality (heck, it's why I'm gonna play space wolves!) and maybe redevelop your army look and colourscheme based on historical references, movies or even favourite brands.

Right now they seem like...black ultramatirines (with a bit of red) and limited resources.
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Martok13
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I hear what your saying. The general idea of the article thus far is a grounding for the chapter the sound skeleton structure. I want to build upon it with much more flavour taking them away from the "Vanilla" feel but wanted to make sure that i do this from a strong "correct" grounding.

They are actually based on Voodoo and this will be made more apparent as they evolve. But this is where the colour schem is from black as a tying theme but with varying halvings for the individual clans these halvings are based on traditional colours of the families of the Voodoo deities.

The specialised fighting style is a mix of the 3 clans with the hit and run of the 1st company and the grinding death march of the rank and file led by the chaplains with the shamans enforcing them. Obviously i need to build on these facets and make it their own fighting style. This suits my gaming style as i like to have a rounded force but then have that game clinching unit (1st company) that can turn the battle at a crucial moment.(a theatrical win is generally more amusing than a sound one. Love to see the enemies victory suddenly taken away.)

The main process to develop them will be play testing etc the army im going to build after the dex is out and a campaing me and a friend have in the works which will literally be most of thier fluff.

All in all i will hopefully enforce the themes that are thus far not strong enough and i hope you'll keep up the comments

Cheers Darkseer

Martok
Edited by Martok13, 2 Sep 2008, 04:26 PM.
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darkseer
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As soon as you said VOODOO, my head was filled with images of shamanic space marine librarians, shrunken head trophies. Weird things preserved in jars, African tassled spears, decorated tribal shields and animal skulls.

I think this is a really strong image that you can easily build upon, which is much better than a bunch of space marines in black.
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Martok13
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lol yeah definitely the end result i'm aiming for hence why i put in the devotion to the chaplains who revere death and the master of sanctity is named after baron samedi the voodoo deity of death. I was thinkin about having strong ties with the ecclesiarchy but not sure whether they'd be cool with the chapters practices?

I''ll take some time to add to the index astartes either today or tommorow and try and build on the dark voodoo roots. Comments on how to do this as well as on your thoughts about ecclesiarchal ties would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Martok
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darkseer
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Your primitive superstitions fall short of outright heresy!! :blink:
But, since you serve our lord, the Emperor, we'll let that slide for now. But the Inquisition will keep a close eye on you -deviant!

Suffice to say, the Imperial Church won't like you. So you might as well sever ties with them right now.



This is what I imagine your space marines as under all that armour.

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So tooth necklaces, tatoos, tribal markers, skulls, shrunken heads and voodoo dolls will be order of the day.

In fact, I can imagine the Inquisition being quite adverse to your Librarian's tendencies towards Voodoo dolls and copic jars...but so long as you're loyal to the master of mankind, they're not gonna do much about it.


Overall, I think you need to go work on the visual imagery of these guys, THEN work out their force organisation, fighting style, etc.


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Martok13
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Yeah i shall.... Wheres that damn codex so i can start the army.... not long now ug!
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