Astral Wardens

Astral Wardens
[[]]
Battle Cry	"Fear Not!"
Number	V
Founding	First Founding
Successor Chapters	Homeguard, Starlight Crusaders, Cataphract Crashers
Chapter Master	Erasmus Cain
Primarch	Calael Bishop
Homeworld	Providence
Specialty	Rapid Deployment, Psychic Supremacy, Void Superiority
Allegiance	Seperatist
Colours	Periwinkle

This page is part of the Warmasters Triumvirate, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the Warmasters Triumvirate page for more information on the Alternate Universe.

"“Long venture we from our void-borne home Charting a course through the black unknown. Ward-shields in hand brothers march as one For the King of our forefathers' distant Sun. Though the stars grow dim and the darkness roars We'll carry His light to benighted shores.” "

– -Traditional Shanty of the Vth Legion

The V^th Legiones Astartes were known as the Astral Wardens, lead by the Primarch Calael Bishop. The twin icons of this Legion were the burning haloes that crowned their heads, and the towering Storm Shields that each marine carried, a symbol of their absolute dedication to their squadmates and the cause at large. Never the most numerous Legion, the Wardens relied on strong inter-squad bonds and immaculate psychic coordination to keep their limited supply of Marines alive even when deep striking into enemy territory.

History

Pre-Primarch History & Reunion

The largely Terran-born V^th Legion, known as the Greenboots, performed poorly prior to the discovery of their Primarch, largely due to low geneseed acceptance rates and a subtle but damning flaw that made most Marines unable to fully absorb hypno-indoctrination. The then-Legion Master, Raddicus Bronzwyn, was eager to contribute to the Crusade and unwilling to hold his men back until they had achieved the same level of competence as those of other Legions. As a result, the Greenboots were pushed into combat with little more training than an Imperial conscript, usually to reinforce their more successful cousins in their endeavors. The Vth quickly gained a reputation for poor discipline and black luck, with some claiming the battlefields they took to were inevitably haunted by the keening souls of fallen Greenboots.

The V^th suffered greatly in the early days of the crusade due to their geneseed flaw causing them to resist and often reject hypno-indoctrination entirely, keeping much of their pre-astartes personas and predilections and taking up the Space Marine's skillset far slower than those in other legions. Slow to learn and slow to replenish their losses, the V^th were relegated to a support role in the crusade, filling in lines where more successful legions began to flag, bearing the brunt of casualties on the green recruits who had not completed much training and thus did not represent as significant a tactical loss as a fully-trained marine.

By the time they met their Primarch, Calael Bishop, the V^th had become a sullen and beaten-down group, and yet the rapport with their gene-sire was instant. Bishop was swift to see to the elevation of the Hellbenders to half-astartes, and though all among the V^th could see that these men were smaller and weaker than even the greenest recruit, their discipline was beyond reproach. In the months to come the unbreakable spearhead they formed led the V^th to their first unqualified victories. His methodology proven, Bishop ordered other heroes of Providence's Warden corps elevated to half-astartes status, and set them among the battered remains of the V^th to teach them the way of the shield. The organization of the V^th Legio Astartes soon came to resemble the Wardens of Providence more than their cousin legions, but their unorthodox doctrine found success, and the straggling Terran marines finally found purpose and brotherhood in the half-astartes of Providence. While the V^th would always remain a small legion, slow to grow and slow to recover from catastrophe, their methodology and philosophy ensured they were a reliable force for whom such losses were extremely rare. The Greenboots were no more- the V^th Legion had been reborn as the Astral Wardens, heirs to the breacher's code of Providence.

Post-Brotherwar

A Primaris Astral Warden Crewman

Homeworld

Providence is not exactly a world, but it is nonetheless where the soldiers of the V^th hang their hats. It is ab ancient Space Hulk of unknown provenance, suspended amid a Warp storm in an "eye" of peculiar (and, some speculate unnatural) calm. Wayward craft, lost in the Empyrean, often drift to this curious location, and the rare survivors of such mishaps become the shipwrecked inhabitants of this strange and perilous place... should they survive the journey to one of the colonies sheltering within its mass.

These colonies, or "Wards" as they are locally known, rely on three primary services for their continued survival in addition to the typical maintinence duties associated with life in the Void. First are the aptly named Warders, shield-wielding mercenaries who will block the corridors in times of strife, protecting the colonies from the hulk's less agreeable inhabitants, such as Genestealers, Orks and bandit groups. Second, the Breachers, who have adopted those same ward-shields in service of a more adventurous lifestyle, braving unexplored areas and newly-arrived derelicts for salvage and goods. Lastly, and perhaps most crucially, are the Oracles. These individuals wield their Psyker gifts to glean hints of the future, forewarning their communities against coming calamity and providing Breachers with clues as to where they may find their next big score. Their powers are also helpful in keeping the Wards fed, psychically coaxing crops to grow when the decrepit hydroponics fail. Oracles hold the highest honor of any group in Providence, and the hulk's denizens thus regard psykers in general with high esteem.

Being a hodgepodge of shipwreck survivors, Providence's cultural patchwork varies greatly from region to region. One touchstone that remains fairly consistent across the hulk is veneration of the “Martyrs,” the Providence title for those who did not survive the journey to their starbound home, or the “Saints” who fell to one of the wreck's many perils in defense of its people. The more overtly religious believe the Martyrs remain in Providence as guardian spirits, granting visions to the Oracles and protecting the living against the formless antagonist of the Void, the hungering darkness beyond the sheltering bulkheads of the hulk. It is not uncommon to hear a local swear by “the breath of the martyrs” or a variation thereof.

The glyphic patterns which adorn good-luck charms and the breach-shields of mercenaries are in fact typically prayers to the Martyrs or tales of their exploits, both of which are equally claimed to draw the favor of the spirits. These patterns are also intended to confound the baleful eye of the Void, and it is for this reason that those who take these beliefs seriously never use meaningless symbols- a proper protective glyph must have purpose and meaning, for a chaotic mess will instead draw the attention of the Void.

Legion Doctrine

Well-chosen is the shield that makes the Astral Warden's sigil, for it embodies the legion's core tenet. Astartes of the V^th legion are charged to put the lives of his allies, particularly his squadmates, before the pursuit of the enemy's demise. Indeed, a member of the Astral Wardens stands with the same squad of battle-brothers from the day he is initiated to the day he dies, with only very rare exceptions. These squads drill together, eat together and fight together until they know exactly how their brothers tick, down the to the last quirk and idiosynchronicity. This is crucial, because the core of the Legion's strategy- indeed, the key to survival on their home of Providence - is the shield-wall. Unless all members can be relied upon to hold the line and work in perfect harmony, the shield is as good as a leaden weight, but when the squad fights as one they may as well be an adamantine bulwark.

To compliment their phalanx, the legion favors one-handed chain weapons and combat shotguns, enhancing their ability to clear the corridors of any structure, landbound or spaceborne. Individual squads may choose to modify these tactics, and other weapons are not unheard of, but no matter what, the shield remains, a symbol of the legion's unbending will. Because of their small squad size, the Wardens deploy quickly, and are frequently employed to provide mobile cover to flagging allies or cover fleeing civilians in pitched battlefields. None arrive faster than the Terminator squads, teleporting with the precision only psychic prognostication can provide to form a wall of steel exactly when and where it's needed.

Their psychic might was not something the Legion realized until some time after their Primarch arrived, and it manifests in some unexpected ways. The most visible is the halo of starlight that crowns a psychically awakened Warden, but the most tactically significant is born from the bonds of brotherhood amid the squads. When a Marine dies in battle, his spirit refuses to leave his squadmates with a broken line, and rises again as a psychic projection to carry his shield until the danger has passed. The most talented of the legion learn to exploit their powers in more overt ways, calling punishing rays of light from the heavens, casting forth twinkling star-motes that explode with furious energy, or rushing to meet the foe shield-first with a space-twisting burst of speed.

Legion Culture & Personality

Having not been very hypno-indoctrinated, they're very protective of their home and their ways, and though many of their cousins in other legions find them a bit crass and inglorious for Astartes the V^th have a sort of blue-collar spacer's pride in their work. They're tight-knit, loyal to their comrades to a fault – it's said among their enemies that the best way to kill a squad is to cripple one man, since his brothers will stand by him to the last.

They're also more than a little superstitious, a trait they get from Providence ' culture. The trinkets that cover their armor are easily mistaken for trophies, but in fact almost all of them will originate from the Vth's homeland, where there is a long tradition of creating amulets, fetishes and general good-luck charms to be worn by Breachers on their difficult and dangerous jobs. In old times these were usually bought, but since the Legion's arrival they're generally created by the populace of the space hulk and given as a show of appreciation to their superhuman protectors. The geometric patterns painted on the V^th's armor are similarly meant as a ward against the evil eye- on Providence , these were traditionally painted by oracles, or failing that simply by the luckiest guy handy, but there's no shortage of psykers in the Astral Wardens so each squad usually designates a specific marine to paint their wards. Marines who distinguish themselves may get the Primarch himself to do them up a special ward.

The V^th have little disdain for mutants and xenos compared to most legions, given that they themselves are psykers and Providence is home to a motley assortment of residents, but they have a great and burning hatred for genestealers and eventually their Tyranid masters.

Squads are expected to mess together, and at least one member of the squad is traditionally meant to prepare the meal. This means squads can vary even down to their staple rations, but it's a semi-sacred tradition within the Wardens, so it stays. The V^th may be seen by the more traditional legions as cowards for their ubiquitous use of shields and their refusal to fight alone. Indeed, faced with a challenge to duel, any member of the V^th would simply call his brothers, harry the challenger away from his support, and methodically cut him down. Glorious duels are typically viewed by the V^th with incredulity and even scorn.

Gene-seed flaws

Tend to expel hypno-indoctrination, making them slow-learning compared to other legions. Their numbers stay small all throughout their existence and recover slowly from major disasters.

Legion Organization

In what sub-groups is the legion divided?

Special units

Luminary Corps: Due to the V^th Legion's small numbers and heavy focus on ten-man squads, a robust mortal auxilia corps is required to fill in the roles the Astartes cannot afford to take. Human soldiers take on the majority of duties in vehicular support, and they draw upon much of the same philosophy as their Astartes comrades-in-arms.

Unique among the Luminary Corps is the position of "Polestar." Aspirants with psychic potential who fail to meet the qualifications to become Astartes often volunteer for this position, and each mortal crew will have one or more Polestars whose task it is to establish a Weave amongst the group, giving them a faint echo of the psychic rapport that makes the V^th so deadly. This practice affords the Luminary Corps great precision, and the ultra-agile Odonata-class Aerovoid Fighter was developed specifically to with this in mind, almost being more of a stunt craft than a weapon of war.

Endlings: The psychic bond of the Weave is a tremendous boon for the Wardens, but it is a double-edged blade. To be linked in mind to your brothers-in-arms, to feel what they feel and to communicate without a spoken word, comes with the unspoken knowledge- that should they die, that death will be felt as keenly as if it was your own. The loss of a squad member is a traumatic event, mollified only by the final goodbye afforded by the psychic shadows a fallen Warden leaves behind- but for those unfortunate few fated to survive where all their brothers perish, the guilt is often too much to bear. Members of the V^th's mortal Luminary support corps, and even some Marines, are often left so broken by these experiences they are unable to integrate with a new squad, their minds instinctively rejecting any psychic touch as a beaten dog flinches from a raised hand.

These individuals are known as Endlings among the V^th, and are usually given the option of a quiet retirement, an offer that most mortals accept. However, even with the lessened hypno-indoctrination, a Marine's mind grieves differently than a mortal's. Some Endling Astartes submit to have their Geneseed harvested and retire for their remaining years, but many instead follow another path, exemplified by the first of their kind- the Legion Champion, Finnavius Taggart. These men cast aside their shields and repaint their armor in the simple colors of the Greenboots who came before the Primarch's discovery. They are counted among the dead, and seek to take as many foes as possible into that good night before they are reunited with their fallen brothers.

Endlings are deployed to the field primarily as linebreakers, one-man armies given great discretion with their choice of armament and prosecution of their objectives. These men do not fear death, having already tasted of it- they fight with abandon and welcome the void as an old friend.

Special equipment

Ward-Shield:

Gravitic Anchor: Inspired by the belaying chains used by Providence's Breachers for dangerous spacewalks, the Gravitic Anchor was designed as a way for the V^th to achieve additional mobility, particularly in zero-G environments. A magnetically-accelerated chain fired from the Astartes' gauntlet affixes itself to any target via a powerful gravitic charge at the tip. This simple piece of gear gained popularity amongst the legion following a battle where the Primarch, denied his psychic power by a xenos null field and and depleted of shotgun shells, used the Anchor to pull himself to the far wall, crushing the enemy champion between it and his shield. Since then, many among the V^th test their skill in games of sport centered around creative use of this device and strive to find unusual ways to employ it on the battlefield.

Notable Members

Finnaevius Taggart, Legion Champion: Taggart was the sole survivor of his squad, which was massacred in the Legion's first encounter with the forces of Chaos, before the truth of these "Warp-Xenos" was fully understood. Taggart returned without his shield, and has since refused to accept a new one- or indeed to join a new squad. He has seemingly undertaken a vow of silence, and his brothers have honored it, seeing it as his way of grieving for the fallen. However, this does not mean Taggart stays behind when the Astral Wardens ride to battle. Indeed, he descends upon the battlefield like grim death, chainblade in one hand and shotgun in the other. Rushing headlong into battle with preturnatural speed to break the enemy line, many say he's seeking the doom that eluded him on that fateful day. It might find him an easier mark if he didn't fight with a mad strength and uncanny ferocity, ripping into the foe with blade and gun and even his bare fists if need be. He has never manifested the signature V^th legion psychic halo, and seemingly none of the typical abilities. It's suspected his power is instead being channeled into pure physical might. His excellence as a one-man army has seen him appointed the Legion Champion, largely out of expediency for inter-Crusade politics, and there is certainly no denying he is the foremost practitioner of single combat among the Wardens, with the (possible) exception of the Primarch himself. While the Legion has always disdained the notion of dueling, they greatly respect their brother, and they're paradoxically big fans of Taggart's matches, often showing up to hoot like hooligans. As the Legion's most accomplished solo combatant, Taggart has been Calael's consistent pick for the Great Jousts, but the man has little apparent passion for the event. His continual failure to rein in his brutal style has seen him repeatedly disqualified, though he never seems disappointed when he loses- while the Wardens love watching him fight, the champions sent by other legions are rarely eager to face the man who has no love for the sport. Only once did Taggart pass the initial stages of the Joust- following a feud with the Knights Stellaris, whose champion was the favorite to win that year's competition, Calael took Taggart aside and instructed him in clear terms to carry the Vth's pride at the Joust and make Solomon's champion eat dirt. In the end, the crownless Warden took home the prize, but the sheer brutality and lack of elegance in the match has led the Knights to contest the validity of the result ever since, and Solomon's champion bears the scars Taggart gave him as proof of the Wardens' insult.

Endeavor Jones - OG Hellbender, one of the most resistant to Cal's growing influence but eventually one of his biggest supporters, and indeed the one to nominate him for the leadership role when White bites it. Always ready with a sardonic wisecrack or a dubious tall tale, Jones lacks much of the attitude expected of an Astartes- but, as he'll cheerfully remind you, he's only half-astartes. Spent time as a bandit before becoming a Breacher and still hides concerns that the whole Space Marine thing takes a better quality of man than he's cut out for, but hides it well. Despite his imperfect self-confidence, his confidence in his Primarch is rock solid, and he remains a big help when Bishop is having second thoughts.

Constance Lainne – An educated lady from one of the nicer sections of Providence who, in the latter days of the Hellbenders, became their sort of home base manager and accountant, as well as vouching for Bishop to get him into the biggest library on the hulk. Following induction into the Imperium, she puts her mathematical and analytical acumen to work managing the Vth's ever-growing fleet. While reserved and proper, particularly in her older years during the Crusade, Constance is something of a Hellbender fangirl and has been compiling the most complete history of them and later the Vth legion that she can. When she is appointed the chief Remembrancer for the Wardens, it is a dream come true.

Olsen White - Son (grandson?) of the late leader of the Hellbenders. A taciturn man, and the first recruit to Bishop's Hellbenders younger than he. Connor lacks his forbear's charisma but none of his skill. May be an enthusiastic fan of Taggart's style and thus be targeted by Atreus to draw out Taggart.

Perceval Jackson – A onetime wealthy heir from the same colony as Constance, disowned for some youthful affront. After wandering the hulk he wound up as the most sophisticated and learned of the OG Hellbender crew, and the most skilled in close combat, always wearing a dueling sabre in addition to his breaching gear. He quickly took to the new melee weapons introduced by the coming of the Imperium and adopted a stylish power foil as his signature weapon May be the one who finds Horus' sword on Laer during the diplomatic mission and gets all corrupt and Isekho shows up to kill him.

Adrian Bibbowski – Huge Hellbender, slow but good-natured. The first to die as a half-astartes, his soul becomes the subject of Lambach's experimental Sarcophagus Dreadnought, intended to more permanently house the ephemeral spirits of fallen Wardens. When the project is nixed by higher-ups, Cal is forced to say farewell to his friend and pull the plug, promising to meet Bibbo on the other side. Bibbo says not to be in too much of a hurry.

Erasmus Cochrane – Legion Master of the Vth circa 40k. Large, one-eyed, much more stern than Cal. Born on an Imperial world that suffered a major Chaotic incursion, young Erasmus narrowly escaped being sacrificed to the Dark Gods, only to fall into the hands of the Imperial forces purging the planet, minus an eye. Identified to have great psychic potential and miraculously free of taint, he was promptly shuffled aboard the nearest Black Ship and sent on his way. He surely would have met his fate as dinner for the Emperor if said Black Ship hadn't happened to be the target of a raid by the V^th Legion. Cochrane was among those rescued, and proved compatible with the Space Marine program. Despite his considerable power he had difficulty bonding with others among the Vth, shuffling between shield-crews without ever finding a good fit. He lacked the easy camaraderie the Wardens were known for, and though he would joke and laugh in the heat of battle, when the smoke cleared and the day was won he kept to himself, unwilling or unable to lower his defenses. His wry wit and gallows humor won him friends, but his light was always distant in the Weave, no matter who he fought alongside. Cochrane would not rise in prominence until a fateful encounter with the Devilsharkz. With the Orks pressing their assault on the Sun's reliquary chamber, Cochrane took up the Solais blade within and fought the Kommodork to a standstill, drove the invaders back and quelled the raid. The battle cost him an arm, but it also cost the Commodork an eye, a slight the creature has not forgotten. No previous Warden had successfully grasped the Primarch's ethereal blade, and so it was taken as a sign from their Bishop himself that Cochrane was destined to lead. Cochrane's style of leadership was much different from what the Wardens had come to expect. Being inducted after the passing of the Primarch, his views had little in common with those of his genefather. He was a harder, more pragmatic man, and given his childhood it came as no surprise that he regarded the Imperium with the same contempt he held for Chaos. Indeed, he was no more likely to stay his hand facing the Golden Mountains -once counted among the V^th's closest allies- than he was the Loxodontii or the Death's Heads, their ancient rivals. This led to a great deal of strain early in his rule, particularly among the elder Marines who remembered the Primarch and his ideals. Endeavor Jones, last surviving Hellbender, eventually took it upon himself to serve as Cochrane's advisor, tempering the new Chapter Master's harsher inclinations. The most notable change under Cochrane's tenure was a massive expansion of the Black Ship raiding parties. The new Chapter Master quickly moved to reinforce bonds with the Corsairs Gallant, renegotiating highly favorable trading partnerships in exchange for the most accurate and quickly-delivered information on the Inquisition's doings and the itineraries of the Black Ships. Under Cochrane's leadership, the Wardens escalated to an unprecedented level of interference and outright aggression against the Imperium's affairs. On the battlefield, Cochrane is instantly recognizable, if not by his masterwork Terminator armor then certainly by the fact that he carries no shield, the Solais blade slung across his back. His spellwork has a violent, jagged cast to it- more lightning than fire- and the power he brings to bear is peerless within the Materium, but his particular vice is a love for unusual and unwieldy firearms. Indeed, the reason he carries no shield, preferring to manifest one from the Empyrean when needed, is simply because he likes to have both hands free to use the biggest gun he can find. Though he sports an augmetic arm and leg, he has never had the missing eye replaced- curious, given his predilection for firearms, but as he glibly observes, “You don't need depth perception if everything down range is a casualty.”