EVENT - The Qarith Triumph

[simison]

From now on, I want all discussion about the Qarith, the war against them, what legions were involved, the Triumph event, and all fluff stories to go in this thread. 

 

Demus, when you can, I'd like for you to make a summarizing post of all you've done with the project and any of the other ideas you've okay'd (like which legions were involved, such as the Jackals, Dune Serpents, Hospitallers, & Eagle Warriors).

 

 

Qarith War Forms

1. Heavy Infantry variants - the Banshee (Land)/ 01 (Aquatic)/02 (Aquatic)/Swordfish (Aquatic)/Dart Thrower (Aquatic)

2. Tank Variants - Scarabs

3. Light Infantry Variants - Windrunner

 

 

 

Qarith Campaign roles

The Drowned - Extermination on Prime

Scions Hospitaller - Extermination on Prime

Halcyon Wardens - Secure Prime's only landmass

Lightning Bearers - Establish Void Superiority over Prime 

Dune Serpents - Supporting Lightning Bearers/Vengeance

Crimson Lions - Main Ops

Grave Walkers - Anti-Psyker Ops

Stygian Jackels - Vengeance

 

Eagle Warriors - Raids/Retrieval missions (Not truly involved)

Edited November 28, 2017 by Lord Thørn

[Praefectus Invictus]

I'll chuck in the Jackals opening engagement against the Qarith. Demus, feel free to edit this to suit your own needs.

 

The Stygian Jackals had been visiting complaint worlds to retrieve aspirants to bring within their folds, and resupply from a campaign against the Orks of the Trashskulz empire. While on the agri world of Myrika, they were assaulted by advance elements of the Qarith. A large portion of the legion, Including the Primarch, 6 of the 18 Lord Praetors and around 2000 Astartes were soon locked in desperate hand to hand combat with the new enemy. Even First Master Tuskans Armoured spearheads, though successful thousands of times on hundreds of planets, failed to stop the seething horde of strange aliens. In 3 days the 2000 had been reduced to under 700, and only 2 Lord Praetors remained. By this time, the legions' ships had managed to regain orbital superiority. Squadrons of Thunderhawks, Stormbirds and Stormeagles flocked from the skies. Jackel was last to board. He was standing on the edge of a Thunderhawk, sneering out at the seething mass of chitin and gore, when one of the aerial Qarith hurtled out of the clouds and laid a flurry of blows upon the Primarch. They were locked in a struggle on the edge of the ramp, when Jackel went down. The Primarchs jaw had been ripped off. Sensing their opportunity, the legionaries on board opened up with their bolters, pulverising the beast. 

[Sigismund229]

Well, first question. Which variant of the Qarith are we going for?

[Praefectus Invictus]

Well, first question. Which variant of the Qarith are we going for?

For my particular battle? If so, aerial and land based. Not sure if there are sub strains inside these as I didn't feel like going through 100+ replies on the matter

[simison]

So far, Demus has only come up with one variant: the Banshees. 

 

"This was my idea about the Qarith. 

In the distant past a human population began experimenting with their genes in an attempt to transcend the human condition. They succeeded. Resulting in a race of vast intellect, balanced emotions and powerful psykers. They had achieved utopia, free from war, disease and want. Or so they thought, they came to find themselves unable to reproduce. They used their vast technology to reach out across the stars. Finding other humans to use as fresh gene material. 

As they reached further out into the galaxy they encountered xenos races bent on violence. With violence now necessary the Qarith began building armies of gene wrought warriors, based on the humans from worlds they discovered. Soon they had entire populations of outwardly normal humans that were gene bred to be totally obedient and could be transformed into a variety of dangerous and powerful bio forms with a mere telepathic command. 

The first Qarith subspecies encountered by Imperial forces, designated X 1-1a operations code name Banshees, are large bipedal and muscular with dark leathery skin. Banshees are completely blind to visible light have a rounded smooth head with no distinguishable neck, eyes, or ears. They have a large mouth with sharp jawbones ridges instead of teeth and sharp talons on their hands and prehensile feet. The code name Banshee is derived from their use of echolocation as well as being able to focus their vocalization as a weapon. A banshee scream is lethal to most unaltered humans and can stun, ever incapacitate Astartes. They are a easy physical match for the likes of Orks and Astartes. Banshees also have the ability to survive in the void for an as yet unknown length of time. They also possess sophisticated thermal sensing organs and may be able to detect light in the spectrums invisible to humans. 

First evidence of X1-1a was discovered aboard Mechanicum Surveyor Light Cruiser Argus discovered downed on an uninhibited world at the edge of Qarith space. 

I think the Qarith campaign should set in place the relationships that lead to the Lysenko event, someone getting censured and the eventual going of everything to heck in a handbag.

My whole plot idea foundation being that these were once humans who believed themselves to have left humanity behind. But end up becoming more than monsters, playing god and throwing away untold billions of human lives just because they can."

Although, I'm not sure if he's actually denied any of your variants, 229.

[Sigismund229]

I was more thinking about whether we were gking with Demus' take on them or mine because it's possie that that might change how they're fought

[Demus Ragnok]

History is a stitched together mess of various parts by various people with wildly different perceptions of the same events.

 

That said, whatever different things different Legion record keeper record is cool by me.

 

The only part I'd like to hold to is that the Qarith were originally human, mutated themselves into little grey big headed weirdos, and use other human worlds held captive by gene manipulation as soldiers and slave labor.

 

There are as many different Qarith subspecies as we can imagine.

 

I'd also thought about, as Simison had mentioned somewhere, having one of the key worlds be an ocean world. Maybe Qarith Prime. Made me think of undersea flying saucers to go with the grey alien theme.

 

Perhaps while the oceanic specialist legion does the real work of breaking the Qarith home world the soon to be Warmaster wins a seemingly superficial victory elsewhere compounding the sibling rivalries. Hurt feelings,angry trans humans, death, destruction, etc.

 

My primarch is too far away to be a part of this campaign. He sends forces attached to another fleet to the big party afterward so the legion is represented but only a small portion is there and they miss all the fighting. He does meet up with the Warmaster later to congradualate him.

 

So yeah write each of your own legions experiences fighting the Qarith and we will see what happens.

 

That's my thoughts.

[simison]

In that case, so long as the overlords match Demus' account, we can have both the Banshees and 229's variants. I remember some overlap, but that can be explained away by different traditions between different Breeding Worlds. While Demus has opened the door to imagination, let me list some forms an army will need. 

 

Missing Gene-Forms

1. Light Skirmishers/Recon infantry

2. Aerial Support infantry

3. Tank units

4. Transportation Organisms

5. Naval vessels

6. Artillery units

 

These are just a few off the top of my head. Anyone else feel free to add to the list as needed. I'll compile a list in the first post. 

 

Demus, I like the gist of Qarith Prime and the Warmaster idea. Alex has never shyed away from fighting in a support role, and it would make a nice mirror image to the canon-verse. 

 

The only caveat I'd add is there exist one small continent on this world for the Triumph to take place on. In fact, that could be Alex's mission to secure the land as an Imperial landing zone before the Oceanic legions do the hard work of exterminating the Qarith. 

 

Speaking of which, can I have a reminder of which legions those are? I know the Drowned is one legion, but who else?

[Sigismund229]

Aerial infantry could be fulfilled by the arial variant I've described with spiked horns on their snouts, wings and sonic schreeching capabilities. Light skirmishers, naval units and artillery....I'll get to work on it and post my ideas later today if Demus doesn't beat me to it.

And for the overlords, perhaps they could have evolved themselves to have some of the characteristics of their foot soldiers as well as pyschic powers to control their soldiers? Just an idea as I've never particularly liked the idea of "traditional" aliens.

[Athrawes]

If it's alright with you, I'd like Icarion and his fleet assets to go after Qarith Primes Orbital defenses. Boarding actions against some of their last flagships and shipyards/ defense arrays. 

 

This could be one of (or the) opening engagements of the final push on Qarith Prime. We destroy the Planets defenses to clear the way for the Water legions to begin the surface campaign.

 

It would certainly add to the hurt pride aspect of losing out on becoming Warmaster if Icarion struck the first blow, paved the way for the Triumph, and yet was passed over for Alex as the Emperors Chosen.

[Big Bad Squig]

If it's alright with you, I'd like Icarion and his fleet assets to go after Qarith Primes Orbital defenses. Boarding actions against some of their last flagships and shipyards/ defense arrays. 

 

This could be one of (or the) opening engagements of the final push on Qarith Prime. We destroy the Planets defenses to clear the way for the Water legions to begin the surface campaign.

 

It would certainly add to the hurt pride aspect of losing out on becoming Warmaster if Icarion struck the first blow, paved the way for the Triumph, and yet was passed over for Alex as the Emperors Chosen.

 

Taking out defences from a distance could be something the Dune Serpents would excel in, perhaps the survivors of the original massacre could assist the 1st Legion assault?

[Sigismund229]

The Crimson Lions would excell as an anvil tyoe unit. So if we can find a circumstance whereby the Crimson Lions can act as an anvil and then another legion could be the hammer that breaks the Qarith it would be awesome.

[Slips]

Oohhhhh Qarith Prime is an Ocean World >:-) AND they're Human Genetic Freaks!?!

 

The Scions are in and they're here to Exterminate with Extreme Prejudice!

 

For the Initial Conflict, my Legion will the One of the Last To Join and perform Aquatic, Exfil and Support ops primarily. Both Pionus and Inna will be in attendance very curious as to how these debased, grotesque mutants successfully changed themselves and to find a way to create a Genephage to obliterate the Species in its entirety; removing the stain they are on Humanity Ascendant.

[Grifftofer]

As a relatively stealthy group there could be numbers of Grave Stalkers performing strikes behind enemy lines and generally using their skills to be disruptive. They would be particularly effective if the 'command' cast of the Qarith are in fact psykers. Not sure if the whole legion would be there or just K'awil and some of his elites.

[Praefectus Invictus]

As a relatively stealthy group there could be numbers of Grave Stalkers performing strikes behind enemy lines and generally using their skills to be disruptive. They would be particularly effective if the 'command' cast of the Qarith are in fact psykers. Not sure if the whole legion would be there or just K'awil and some of his elites.

I was going to volunteer the Jackals for such an honour, as they were already decimated by the Qarith earlier and couldn't play a massively active role in the coming campaign.

[simison]

Alright, I'm going to start a list (for I am the List Master!) for combat roles. It looks like the Drowned and the Scions Hospitaller are our water-marines that get the honor of fighting the Qarith in their home 'field'. Am I missing any other water legion? I know the Scions of the Abyss dropped out, but was there anyone else?

[Sigismund229]

Heres some ideas I had to fill some of those gaps Simison listed. Hope you like them!

Tanks

As the campaign against the Qarith progressed, they began to field strange creatures which resembled the scarabs of old terra. However, these organisms were larger, much larger with many being as much as 4 metres in height and nearly triple that in length. These organisms had, in adition to their legs which were formed of the same hard and sharp bone as the rest of the Qariths weaponry, massive mandibles. Evidence exists of them using these to break Land Raiders in two and wipe out half a dozen astartes in one bite. Later in the campaign, these organisms began to have the capability to vomit forth acidic bile that ate its way through even cataphractii armour, with some even growing wings.

 

While this was the war variant of the organism, there were smaller version with softer armour and less weaponry who served as both transports for other Qarith organisms, who clung onto their carapaces like hatchlings, and also observation platforms for the Qarith overseers. Faster and, thankfully, more common than their warlike bretheren they were a common sight on the battlefields where the legions fought the Qarith.

 

Naval

The primary type of organism encountered in the oceans of Qarith prime were the O1 warriors. Similair to their overland brothers, the O1 typed had evolved a fin on the end of their tales as well as gills and eyes suited to the dark underwater environements of Qarith Prime. In addition, the O1 warriors had developed an ability to change their skin and exo skeletons colouring so that they could blend in better with their surrounding, making them ideally adapted to ambushes. The most common weapons used by the O1 type were still claws and sonic screeches, like those used by their surface bretheren. However, the O1 had also developed a secondary weapon, a set of long hooks and barbs made of flesh and with poison glands inside them. Often, the O1 warriors would use these hooks to snare astartes and then drag them close enough to claw before dissapearing into the ocean. Even if they failed at this, the astartes system would be filled with virulent poisons ensuring he would be dead within hours of the enagement.

 

A lesser known underwater varient is the O2, which got rid of its legs completely in favour of a huge fin. It's arms became smaller and more optimised for slashing through large numbers of the enemy in a short space of time and its snout became longer and harder, enabling the O2 to use its snout to punch through astartes breastplates and the weak neck joints.

 

The largest underwater varient was the swordfish varient. With a heavily armoured front armour that was almost impervious to bolter fire and powerful jaws and arms, the swordfish varient could tear through entire squads in a matter of moments. The swordfish varient were the monsters of the underwater war, with their jaws and arms able to rip through tanks and astartes alike.

 

The final varient noted by the legions who fought on Qarith Prime was the Dart thrower varient. A deviation from the O2, the dart throwers were Qarith who, while they possesed the sonic screech and snares of the O2, had sacrificed their exo skeleton in favour of a skin of poisonous darts which they could fire at any given moment. This made them extremely deadly but also very fragile.

 

Light Infantry/Recon

The commonly encountered light infantry of the Qarith were the windrunners. While most Qarith had large heavy builds and exo skeletons that covered their whole body in protective plates, the wind runners had slight builds, with wings in between their arms and the sides of their torso's. This enabled them to ride hot air currents when necessery. However, for this they had to sacrifice the protective exo skeleton, which tjey only had on their torso and head and even then very thin plates which it only took 2 or 3 bolter rounds to penetrate. In addition to their claws, jaws and venomous spikes, the windrunners seem to have had some other secret weapon which Imperial scholars haven't yet fathomed. Some theorise it's a high pitched sonic wave, others strong pyschic powers. All that is known is the effect. Many a time marines would be advancing into seemingly unnocupied ground and the several would collapse to the ground with their brains blown out through the backs of their own skulls.

 

For their role as the recon element of the Qarith army, windrunners had the capability to camouflage themselves in keeping with their surroundings. They also had larger eyes so that they could see equally well at day and at night as well as further and in more detail than humans.

[Grifftofer]

 

As a relatively stealthy group there could be numbers of Grave Stalkers performing strikes behind enemy lines and generally using their skills to be disruptive. They would be particularly effective if the 'command' cast of the Qarith are in fact psykers. Not sure if the whole legion would be there or just K'awil and some of his elites.

I was going to volunteer the Jackals for such an honour, as they were already decimated by the Qarith earlier and couldn't play a massively active role in the coming campaign.

 

 

If that is a role you'd like the Jackals to take you are welcome to. I just hadn't spotted that yours are also a stealthy legion. Its tricky to wrap your head around a new set of 18 legions each with their own specialities and preferences after so long with the vanilla ones. Think I'm going to need a table/spreadsheet to keep track of things.

Edited August 12, 2015 by Grifftofer

[Praefectus Invictus]

 

 

As a relatively stealthy group there could be numbers of Grave Stalkers performing strikes behind enemy lines and generally using their skills to be disruptive. They would be particularly effective if the 'command' cast of the Qarith are in fact psykers. Not sure if the whole legion would be there or just K'awil and some of his elites.

I was going to volunteer the Jackals for such an honour, as they were already decimated by the Qarith earlier and couldn't play a massively active role in the coming campaign.

 

 

If that is a role you'd like the Jackals to take you are welcome to. I just hadn't spotted that yours are also a stealthy legion. Its tricky to wrap your head around a new set of 18 legions each with their own specialities and preferences after so long with the vanilla ones. Think I'm going to need a table/spreadsheet to keep track of things.

 

If you don't mind, I will take the honour  . I just feel that Jackel would want vengeance for the death of almost 1500 of his sons, and with his reduced combat capacity, this would be the best he could do without dooming his remaining 700 ish legionaries.

[Slips]

Your Legion only numbers 2200 O_O!?!

[Grifftofer]

:O I had assumed that that was all he had available to fight the Qarith. If that is the whole legion then damn...

[Praefectus Invictus]

Your Legion only numbers 2200 O_O!?!

 

I had assumed that that was all he had available to fight the Qarith. If that is the whole legion then damn...

No, this is just what he had available at the time, as Griff said. If it was 2200 then I would volunteer them for annihilation  .

[Slips]

Ok phew, that had me a bit worried LOL I was about to be like "HERE TAKE SOME OF MY LEGIONNAIRES TO KEEP YOU AFLOAT!"

[Praefectus Invictus]

Ok phew, that had me a bit worried LOL I was about to be like "HERE TAKE SOME OF MY LEGIONNAIRES TO KEEP YOU AFLOAT!"

and then Jackel probably would've thrown them to the Wolves (Devils) for asking too many questions... 

 

Yeah, they actually number about 25, 000

Edited August 12, 2015 by Praefectus Invictus

[Sigismund229]

25,000? That's still a VERY small legion. Do they especially unstable gene seed or something?