Void Wardens

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS

Void Wardens
Battle Cry	We are the sword from the shadows!
Founding	M37 (23rd Founding)
Successors of	Unknown
Successor Chapters	None
Chapter Master	Sadow Kynex
Primarch	Unknown
Homeworld	Neria
Strength	850
Specialty	Shock tactics
Allegiance	Imperium
Colours	Dark Gray, Steel, and Bone

Summary

Aspirant Trials

The Void Wardens’ methods for initiation start with the acquisition of suitable candidates. Usually a group of 20-80 candidates are selected at one time. These groups are further separated into teams of five and set to train together for two to three months of trust exercises and close combat training. After the period of time has expired the teams are set against another team. The initiates are given an assortment of weapons and made to fight until first blood at which point the initiate that is struck is declared “out” and may not continue. At the end the victorious team is to execute the losing team and then immediately be sequestered off to avoid other initiates from learning about the trial. This should effectively cull the weaker half of the initiates. After the trial the initiates must pick one member of their team to execute. Further time and training is given to the remaining teams. The initiates will then be informed they will be taking part in one last fight. The final fight will have the remaining four team members facing off against each other to the death. This is done in order to psychologically break the recruits in order to make them more malleable along with reinforcing self-reliance and independence. The victors from the trials are then to be taken and given Phases 1-3 of the modifications and their official induction into the chapter.

Chapter Appearance

Equipment

The Void Wardens most commonly use either the traditional Mark VII or the Mark IV Power armor sets. Veterans of the Void Wardens often use Mark VIII "Errant Armor." The Space Marines of the Void Wardens most commonly use the Neria pattern boltgun. The Neria pattern is distinctive because of it's slightly longer barrel optimized for mid to short range combat and an optional bayonet attachment is often included on the bolter's design. The chapter also utilizes Stalker pattern bolters to strike form a longer range or preform assassinations against enemy commanders that have been deemed as too well defended to attempt an assault against.

The Void Wardens commonly use rhinos, predator tanks, land raiders, and Storm Talons to supplement their forces in combat. Bikes and lander speeders are often eschewed by the chapter in favor of vehicles that offer more protection for their crews and passengers.

Chapter Colors

The Void Wardens use dark gray, nearly black, colored armor with slightly brighter trim around the edges. The chapter also prevalently features bone inserts along the pauldrons and the top of their backpack. The right shoulder almost always has a bone layer. On their terminator armor the knees on the Terminators are often also bone alongside the Terminus Crux skull located on their left shoulder. Adornments of all kinds are often steel.

Culture

View On Humanity and Xenos

The Void Wardens have a distinct view on humanity. Although they find humans to be inferior to themselves they still attempt to defend citizens of the Imperium. Many of the Void Wardens believe humans to be similar to wayward children, wandering into trouble all the time because they do not understand how the universe works yet. They see the Adaptus Astartes as the first and best hope for humanity to survive against the legions of their enemies.

The Void Wardens view xenos species as a mixed bag. Although they admire the destructive capabilities of the various xenos races' weapons they disdain the species which wields them. The Void Wardens have a particular enmity for the Eldar. The Void Wardens have had multiple fights with the Eldar warriors and have gown to hate them with a fervor. In the few cases that an Eldar warrior is taken alive from the field of battle the Void Wardens often return the unlucky Xenos to their fortress monastery where they are imprisoned and subjected to as much pain as their bodies can take before they are executed and their Spirit stone taken from the corpse after it has successfully trapped the Eldar's soul.

Ediona

The Ediona are squat creatures native to Neria. They usually come to the size of a small child and have comparable intelligence. Psykers of the Void Wardens use them as familiars because of their moderate intelligence and mostly humanoid shape. The Fortress monastery, Lux, has large warrens of the animals staying within their walls and are commonly trained to assist the space marines and serfs with their tasks. The typical Ediona appears around 2-3 feet tall and ranges from pallid to deep purple in color. They often have horns or thick tendrils covering their heads and wear robes.

Rituals

The Void Wardens are known for their lavish feasts and festivals in honor of various heroes, memorable battles and other feats of glory. When not embroiled in conflict the marines take time to meditate and practice artistry in order to hone their mind to the same level as their bodies.

Feast of Blades

After the final test is completed for aspirants a great feast is held in their honor usually a week or two after the trial. The aspirants are each ushered in front of their new brothers and lauded for their abilities and welcomed into the fold as new initiates. The feast usually consists of a four course meal with elders telling stories as the battle brother eat. At the conclusion of the meal the aspirants are once again led up before the chapter where they take a knee in front of the chapter master, flanked by two chaplains of the order. The new initiates each recite the oath of allegiance and brotherhood to the Void Wardens. After the final oath is taken the initiates stand before the chapter and lead them in the shouting of the chapter's motto: "We are the sword from the shadows!"

Controversy

Geneseed

The Void Wardens' geneseed is considered to be flawed. The Void Wardens eye color often changes to black, blue, or purple after the implantation of the augments. Space marines of the Void Wardens also display hardened claw-like growths upon their fingers Veteran Space Marines of the Void Wardens also have shown a propensity towards collecting the heads of defeated foes.

Founding Chapter

The founding chapter of the Void Wardens has been a subject of debate within the administratum. There are two chapters which are considered to be the most likely founders: The Raven Guard and The Salamanders. Their tendency to use underhanded tactics against their enemies in order to gain the upper hand speaks soundly for their roots to be in the Raven Guard. However, the minor mutations that they suffer are reminiscent of the Salamanders geneseed, which is more prone to minor mutations than that of the Raven Guard. Although their exact founder is unknown the chapter maintains friendly relations with both of their possible founders in order to secure their support and possible patronage.

Gallery

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  Void Warden Power Armor.
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  Void Warden Terminator Armor.