MidHammer 40,000: SM Chapters
The Following are a list of Notable Space Marine Chapters in the Midhammer 40,000 Universe.
Explanation of Various Terms
- Index
- An Index is a section of the "Appendix Astartes" which specifies the particular rules of a chapter. Different indexes were founded with drastically different mindsets and expectations. Index Chogoris for instance, was created for Chapters that are nomadic, and do not have a Fortress monastery, while Index Phoenecian was created with an Emphasis on Individualism over the chapter.
- Regula
- A Regula is a subset chapter that allows for further specialization of the Chapter. Most common of these is Regula Prosperae, composed by Magnus the Red for Librarius heavy chapters.
- Cult
- Unlike the Legions who usually emphasize the Imperial Truth, Many Codex space marines (especially those descendent of Gulliman) are part of a sanctioned religion. More often than not this is the Aurelian and Promethean cults, but there are some notable exceptions such as The Lotus Hearts and The Blue Eagles.
- Spiritual Liege
- Members of the Aurelian Cults must answer to a Spiritual Liege, these Spiritual Lieges are responsible for inspecting the practices of the Chapter, and ensure they do not fall out of Orthodoxy.
- Patron Saint
- The Cult often picks a saint as both a focus of devotion and emulation. The choice of patron saint is often a reflection of the Chapter's aspiration.
Lotus Hearts
| Lotus Hearts | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Founding | M36 | |
| Successors of | Ultramarines | |
| Chapter Master | Dara Somsak | |
| Homeworld | Assam Bay (Ultima Segmentum) | |
| Strength | Normal Strength | |
| Specialty | Psykers, Pacification | |
| Allegiance | Imperium of Man | |
| Colours | Gold & Turqoise | |
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Mercy in Life, Courage in Battle, Honnor in Death | |
| Founder | Truong Hongdao |
| Cult | Cordinlumbae |
| Spiritual Liege | Assam Bay |
| Patron Saint | The Queen Mother |
| Index | Aurelian |
| Regula | Prosperae |
| Specialties | Combined Arms, Psykers, |
The Lotus Hearts are Space Marine chapter located in the Ultima Segmentum. They are the first chapter of the Cordinelumbae Cult, a sect of the Aurelian cult that merges worship of The Aurelian with traditions of the Ancient Octavian religion.
Organisation and Tactics
The Lotus Hearts are codex compliant under the use of Regula Prosperae, and as such they are heavily trained in the use of Librarius Marines. The Lotus Hearts prefer to fight in closely knit companies with an emphasis on mobilitym and close quarters. Due to this heavy psyker usage, The Lotus Hearts have no Devastator Squadrons, instead resorting to their Librarius. The Lotus Hearts can maneuver around the battlefield quickly to the detriment of the Tau, who often find their Ranged squadrons massacred by Lotus Heart Ambushes. When facing against the Tau, the Lotus Hearts prefer when possible to nudge the Battlefield into one favoring close or mid range combat.
In the eyes of the Lotus Hearts this quick but brutal form of war is the most merciful, as a rapidly crippled army is often a demoralized one, leading to more captures than deaths. The Tau have so far, been able to be reasoned with, and the Imperium has regained many elite units through prisoner exchanges. There have been exceptions to [[#The_Pagoda_of Mercy | this].
Squadrons:
- Champions
- Experts in hand to hand, and melee combat
- Special Forces
- A generic categorization for Librarius, Apothecaries, Techmarines, and Heavy Weapons (when needed)
- Eutenite
- Those who have received The Great Sorrow, but have not chosen to join the Black Eutenites. They are the closest the Lotus have to a Devastator squad
- Drop Squadrons
- Mixed companies who specialize in rapid deployment and assault.
History
The Lotus Hearts are a Space Marine Chapter founded in response to the rapid expansion of The T'au Imperium. Fearing the loss of the Frontier, the High Lords of Terra desperately commissioned the Lotus Hearts along with several other chapters to aid Vulkan in securing the more far flung regions of the Imperium. So desperate, that they overruled both the Spiritual Liege of Terra and The Tribune of The Faithful's objections to granting a schismatic cult de facto admission. Admittedly, the Cordinelubmaens had never been found heretical, and the Cult had the crucial support of several other seats such as Konnor and San Leor, but it doesn't change the fact that the High Lords of Terra effectively put their thumb on the scales of Aurelian affairs.
The Founder, Truong Huongdi, was at the time a Librarius for the Knights of St Aeonid Chapter.
Relics & Wargear
The Pagoda of Mercy
For the most part, the Lotus Hearts are willing to negotiate with the T'au. The famous exception to this was during the 2nd Sphere of Expansion. Following The Battle of Targatus III, the defeated and embittered Tau General parlayed with The Lotus Hearts for half of his army back. Hoping to avenge his humilating defeat at the hands of the Lotus, he ordered his prisoners to be subject to brutal genetic experiments and tortured. Upon seeing the state of the Prisoners, HuongDao hearts turned against the parlayed forces turned against the parlaying army and massacred every single tau and guevasa except one, The General. The General was then brought as a prisoner and was forced to watch as the Lotus hearts single-handedly massacred the Neighboring tau planet of Ao'chido. The Tau Captain was then present for the grand opening of as well as observing the construction of the majestic "Pagoda to Mercy," a 10 story shrine to the Queen of Mercy ornately decorated with the bones of the millions of Tau and Auxillaries. The T'au Leader was promptly transformed into a Servitor. Now known as Bihoan or "the attendant" he attends to the Pagoda, constantly repeating his crimes against The Queen of Mercy and the Names of the Prisoners. Whenever possible, the Lotus prefer to negotiate with the T'au here.
Blue Eagles
| Blue Eagles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Founding | M33 | |
| Successors of | White Scars | |
| Chapter Master | Kaxhramon Bek | |
| Homeworld | None (migratory) | |
| Strength | Flucuating | |
| Specialty | Naval Combat | |
| Allegiance | Imperium of Man | |
| Colours | Blue and Orange | |
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| We are the Blue Eagles, Death to your gods! | |
| Founder | "Qaghan of Obscura" |
| Cult | Obsequiani (Antiquitae) |
| School | Qashmpa |
| Patron Saint | None |
| Index | Chorgoris |
| Regula | Tempestus |
| Specialties | Naval Combat, boarding, chaos |
The Blue Eagles patrol the Segmentum Obscura, near the Eye of Terror. They are usually the first to respond to incursions in the warp, and are consequently often the hardest hit.
Organisation and Tactics
As a Regula Tempestus chapter, the Blue Eagles have additional Blanks, who are often affixed to each company. They Recruit from a specific region of the planet Qifa in the Qodiry system. It is here where their particular school of obsequiani comes from, which emphasizes discipline and self control from a very young age.
The Chapter has a disproportionate amount of both Dreadnaughts, Veterans and Scouts, often having a shortage of Middle Experience Troopers. This is because the Assaults lack both the experience of Veterans and the protection granted to scouts. Should a Marine advance to veteran however, he will likely live for a very long time.
History
Relics & Wargear
Fortunate Sons
| Fortunate Sons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Founding | M37 | |
| Successors of | Salamanders | |
| Chapter Master | Bubba Ramierez | |
| Homeworld | None (migratory) | |
| Strength | Larger than Vulkan would like | |
| Specialty | Genocide, Meltas | |
| Allegiance | Imperium of Man | |
| Colours | Olive, Brown, Dark Green | |
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Uncle Bobby will find his own! | |
| Founder | Pete TS Dirksen |
| Cult | Impavidae (fmr Promethean Cult) |
| Holy Seat | Laphis |
| Patron Saint | The Aurelian (Uncle Bobby) |
| Index | Phoenecian |
| Regula | none |
| Specialties | Orks, Tyrranids, Tau (debatably) |
Organization and Tactics
The Fortunate Sons have carried the Salamander's love of Fire and Fire weaponry with them into exile. Despite Vulkan's insistence that they have carried none of his ideals. The Fortunate Sons are some of the best companions IG and SG could have. The Fortunate sons believe deeply in the bonds forged in war, and as such treat all of their squadmates and comrades as battle-brothers, and will just as willingly give their lives for a Ratling Private, Ultramar Trilileur, or Kroot soldier as they would their own brothers. Even those few T'au who are part of the Imperium in the Wuni Enclaves have enjoyed the comradeship and protection of the fortunate sons. So long as the planet itself is never fully occupied, and they aren't anywhere near the blast radius, they have found a friend in the Fortunate Sons.
History
Captain Pete "Tyrannid Stomper" Dirkson was the Seargent of the 134th Company of The Salamanders Legion in M36. While he and his company were part of "Catachan's First," (or Catachan's Last as the Salamanders now call them) part of three companies that were recruited exclusively from the Planet Catachan, a death world under Vulkan's jurisdiction whose tenacity and survivability impressed him. Catachan's First quickly gained renown for their impressive victories against Orks and Tyrannid incursions. Their fortunes quickly turned when they applied their successful strategies of indiscriminate application of fire against a Tau vassal world, incinerating the T'au, their Guevassa subjects, the flora, and the atmosphere.
Catachan's First likely would have seen their end by Vulkan's Hammer if it hadn't be for the Captain-General of The Adeptus Astartes. The Fortunate Sons were part of what future Imperial historians called The "Tau Founding" alongside of chapters such as The "Lotus Hearts," The "Sledgehammers," The "Plasma Cutters," The "Swarm of Locusts," and "The Crimson Skulls," in which panic over the T'au's Rapid Expansion overrode the High Lords of Terra's normal judgement. The now infamous Captain-General Justinian "The Butcher" Vendee, offered Dirksen and his company a successor chapter. Vulkan, enraged, almost resigned as Segmentarch. After his brothers were able to calm Vulkan, he cut the Fortunate Sons from the Promethean cult, and refuses to coordinate with them. They are guests of Royum Ultramar, where they are given free reign so long as they are fighting on Ultramari worlds.
Religion
The Fortunate Sons are part of the wide collection of Promethean/Syncretic cults called "The Cult of The Dauntless Few" or "Impavidae Cult." Unlike the other Gullimanders who are usually Ultramarines pretending to act like Salamanders, the Fortunate Sons are Salamanders pretending to be Ultramarines.
Despite being cut off from the Promethean cult, the Fortunate Sons felt a close tie to their estranged Genefather. They were able to find a supportive Spiritual Liege in the infamous "Rubber Stamp" Holy Seat of Laphis when joining the Aurelian Cult. They are still not very religious and their specific order is effectively Vulkan's promethean cult with a thin Ultramarine overcoat.
The Fortunate Sons refer to The Aurelian as "Uncle Bobby," Uncle being an honorific for Thamhyusden, an ancient diety that was worshiped by Catachan's Ancestors. Likewise The Queen Mother is referred to as "Miz Blue Mam," and The Emperor of Mankind is "Mister Bossman." Vulkan is still referred to as "Papa Vulkan," despite him wanting nothing to do with his wayward children.
Relics and Wargear
The Fortunate Sons have kept most of their relics from their days as Salamanders, including a large and impressive variety of meltas, firebombs, and heavy flamers.