259 replies to this topic

[Sigismund229]

Barbarians. Backwards brutes with no understanding of science and technology, clinging to superstition rather than embrace the modern age. Yet for all that, they are dangerous brutes and loyal in ways that put us all to shame. So do I fear the III^rd? 

 

I'd be a fool if I didn't

-Kozja Darzalas, Primarch of the Warbringers

 

 

 

 

 

The III^rd Legion- the Crimson Lions

 

 

Numeration: III

Primogenitor: Hectarion Mycenor

Cognomen(prior): The Blood Wolves

Allegiance: Fidelitas Sine Recursu(the Emperor)

 

Primarch:

Hectarion is the second largest Primarch of the Brotherhood of the Lost, being almost eye to eye with Daer'dd although Hectarion isn't anywhere near as broad as Daer'dd(mainly because Daer'dd is a giant. Hectarion is actually on the broad side for a primarch). While he's an inspirational presence for his sons and no slouch as a tactician, Hectarion is at his most dangerous in close combat and he is, alongside Raktra and Gwalchavad, one of the best close quarters fighters of the Brotherhood of the Lost Primarchs. Because of this, he doesn't hang back in battle and is instead in the vanguard, seeking out the enemies leaders wherever they are and killing them. 

 

However, unlike Angron, Hectarion isn't a one trick pony who fights and does nothing else(he'd also probably lose to Angron in a fight, in fact he does in his canon variation). He's more a barbarian king in space, and unlike Russ he doesn't just put on an act. He owns the role of barbarian king lock, stock and barrel, as evidenced by his empire, the Dominion. While he did learn the more modern aspects of Imperial bureaucracy from his brother and tutor, Alexandros Darshan VonSalim, he doesn't micromanage. Instead, he prefers to govern as the early Germanic kings did, offloading the more tedious elements of running an empire to his human bureaucracy while he deals with matters such as war(obviously) and dispensation of justice within the Dominion's borders.

 

In spite of all of this, Hectarion harbours a secret which he doesn't share with any of his brothers until the Insurrection and even then, he only shares it with Alexandros and Pionius. Back when he was a king on his homeworld of Mycenae, he fought a bloodthirster, Ma'annan, in single combat. While he defeated and banished it, it successfully left a shard of itself inside him and while the Emperor managed to banish most of it, he couldn't banish all of it without obliterating Hectarion's soul. As a result, a shard of Ma'annan has stayed a part of Hectarion's soul.

 

It is because of this that Hectarion has his unthinking loyalty. Other than a loyalty to his warlord, the first thing is that he feels the Emperor saved him from a slow degeneration into little more than a beast that was driven by a desire for bloodthirst and nothing more. Nothing Hectarion can ever do will pay off that debt in his eyes. Second, Hectarion feels as if he failed the Emperor. He was the only one of the Emperor's sons to be tainted by a deamon being melded with his soul and so Hectarion is driven by a desire to never fail again and, while it's often said Primarchs know no fear, Hectarion fears failure and feels that, of all the Emperor's sons, he has the most to prove. Hence his loyalty. 

 

Tactics, Strategy and Warfare:

The III^rd's preferred approach to warfare is relatively simple: form a shield wall and charge, getting into melee as quickly as possible. Once there, they rely on their skill, savagery and the mass and extra protection of the shield wall to carry the day. Because of this, along with the benefits of their gene-seed, they tend to do well in boarding actions as that's where that kind of strategy really shines. 

 

That said, as with all legions, they are capable of turning their hands to almost any form of warfare but even when they do need to adapt to a situation which doesn't favour a shield wall, such as a planetary assault, they still like, whenever possible, to fight equipped with shields. 

 

The main form of warfare in which are most definitely inferior to the other legions is armoured warfare. Their pool of tanks is very small for a legion of their size, mainly focussing on heavier vehicles like land raiders and mastadons with virtually no rhinos or other such "light" tanks. 

 

How do they fit into the setting: 

The Imperial Army are stand offish with the Crimson Lions. On the one hand, the Crimson Lions are fierce warriors who try and protect the common humans of the Imperial Army as is their duty. On the other, the Crimson Lions have no time for officers who display a style of leadership which involves sitting back and letting their troops do the fighting, thinking that they are cowards, and less for incompetents, who they often break the necks of or otherwise kill on the spot. In addition, they tend to fight as and where they want to, forcing the Imperial Army to fit in around it rather than cooperating and their lack of mercy for xenos out of loyalty to the Emperor leads them to go to extremes which sometimes unnerves Imperial Army troopers. So the standard Imperial Army troopers gives them an awed respect rather than the love they give the Halycon Wardens and the officers aren't overly fond of them. 

 

With the Mechanicus, the Crimson Lions are frigid at best due to their world views being largely opposites. 

 

In the legions, the Crimson Lions are very close to the Iron Bears, Scions Hospitalier and Halycon Wardens(although the Crimson Lions attitude towards xenos causes tension between the two sometimes). They are friendly with the Void Eagles, whose attitude to xenos is also quite unforgiving and both respect the other's abilities when it comes to boarding actions, and the Sheperds of Eden. They have a healthy respect for the Drowned, due to their capabilities in boarding actions, the Godslayers, Fire Keepers, Warriors of Peace, Wardens of Light and Lightning Bearers due to their achievments. They dislike the Dune Serpents due to their use of dishonourable weapons, the Eagle Warriors due to having clashed with them in battle even before the Insurrection, the Steel Legion due to their collective mindset and use of technology over skill at arms(in the Crimson Lions' view) and the Warbringers, who delve too deeply into gene matters for the Crimson Lions' liking. They outright despise the Berserkers of Uran and Grave Stalkers, seeing them as honourless.

 

What makes the legion unique?

They're savage warrior kings, ruling over their own kingdom within the Imperium but like the germanic kings of the late ancient and early medieval era rather than in the micro managing manner of the Ultramarines. They're more controlled and more loyal to the Imperium than the World Eaters, take more joy in battle than the Blood Angels and are more "barbarian" while they're less animalistic than the Space Wolves. 

 

Oh and shields. Lots of shields. 

 

Role in the Insurrection:

On the Day of Revelation they get ambushed by the Berserkers of Uran. Then, a decade and a half(I think?) later, they are the defenders against the Berserkers and Eagle Warriors in the Blood Crusade, an all out assault on the Crimson Lions kingdom of the Dominion. They then also fight at the siege of Terra. 

 

What they do in the decades between these campaigns isn't known at the moment. More information on that at some later date. 

 

End of the crusade:

Rule the Dominion and fight any other enemies who appear to threaten the Emperor's realm after the Great Crusade. Other than that, I don't know and I doubt the Crimson Lions would either. They wouldn't really ask as they would believe the Emperor has a plan and he will tell them when they need to know. However, they would be nervous, and Hectarion even more so, about the idea of peace. They were built to fight and what's more, they enjoy it. Yes they will rule in peace, but what else? However, mostly they'll shrug and go "A question for another day". Hectarion, now he agonizes over it much more. 

 

Flaws in the gene-seed:

(Section on the Burden to be added in when I've written it)

 

In addition to that, marines with the Crimson Lions gene-seed are noted to be slow learners(when compared to other astartes and slow learners rather than slow to memorise things). This is, in all likelihood, where their more conservative attitude and lack of interest in technology when compared to other legions come from.

Edited by Kelborn, 12 February 2020 - 03:37 PM.
Sorting

[Sigismund229]

The basic building block of the III legion is the Clan. Clans can vary wildly in size, with the smallest, Clan Tauran, being just 2000 astartes strong and the largest, Clan Briganda, having just over 23.000 astartes. Each clan is commanded by a Myrvallen or Clan Master. Each Clan also has a Dryos, the keeper of the Clans traditions and its "Tome of the Fallen" a record which contains a brief the name of every one of Clans brothers to have fallen in war. It is the Clans Dryos who carries the Clans banner in battle and oversees the elevation of new recruits into the ranks of his Clan. In addition to these duties, the Dryos also has the role of the Clans Chief Apothacery, meaning that he looks after not only the Clans past but also the Clans future.

Within the Clans are the Brotherhoods. Units of around 100 to 1000 warriors, the Brotherhoods are akin to Companies in another legion. Commanded by a Rix or Captain, a Brotherhood is usualy sufficient for most tasks and it is not uncommon for Brotherhoods to be detached from the main body of the Clan or legion in order to provide other expeditions with shock boarding and void troops. As such, Brotherhoods tend to be extremely individualistic, with each one having it's own heraldry which each warriors displays proudly alongside his Clan heraldry. Each Brotherhood also has its own Gutuatros and Alauros, the equivilents of a librarian and apothacery in other legions. The Gutuatri of the Crimson Lions main purpose is that of advisors to the Rix and so they hold an important role within the legion. The Alauri on the other hand are often quiet and secluded individuals, forever set apart from their brothers by their grim task. A side effect of this is that many Alauri, cut off from the bonds of brotherhood as they are, become grim and brooding individuals many of whom decorate their helms with likenesses of the Bassi, hideous creatures that were, in Mycenaean mythology, said to rip a mans soul from his body and carry him to the sky to dine amongst the gods. Due to this, the Alauri can sometimes resemble demons more than they resemble medics, terrorizing normal humans troops they fight and unnerving fellow astartes.

Becoming part of a Clan is a solemn ritual for the new recruits. They kneel before the Dryos and swear to Uphold the honour and traditions of the Clan and Die for their battle brothers if they must. The Dryos will then cut open the palm of his hand and touch his hand to the new recruits mouths. The new recruits shall then drink some of his blood and therefore become bound by blood to their Clan brothers. As they rise, the new recruits shall be presented with their bolter and breaching shield as the Dryos says the words "You knelt as cubs. Now rise as Lions".

[Big Bad Squig]

Nice.  Are you planning on making any models for them, or are they going to be purely theoretical?

[Sigismund229]

Indeed I am planning to make mkdels for them, as soon as my forgeworld order arrives

[MikhalLeNoir]

I am eager to See them. To few of our brethren Are represented on the table

[Sigismund229]

The Crimson Lions homeworld is the feral world of Mycenae. Located in the galactic north west, Mycenae is a world of vast forests and towering mountains, indespersed with small patches of grassland or mangrove swamps. In this environement, the people of Mycenae eke out a living as hunter gatherers, moving their encampments depending on the season. However, these people are not the only inhabitants of the world. The vast forests are home to many unwholsome creatures such as shadow hounds or winter wolves. If humans stray into the mangrove swamps they are often never seen again, either drowning in the deeper waters or being dragged to their deaths by the swamp lizards known as Hrokni. Even the mountains and plains aren't safe, being home as they are to Stone Lions, similair to the sabre tooth cats of ancient Terra. The humans of Mycenae are constantly locked in a life or death struggle with these creatures and with each other. This life produces tough and skilled young warriors, perfectly suited to becoming astartes. Those who aren't killed as children or dragged screaming into the darkness are those from whom the Crimson Lions draw their recruits

In order to become astartes, the young warriors of the tribes travel to the foot of Olympa or the "Mountain of the Gods". In the meteor crater at the foot of this mountain they duel each other under the watcheful eyes of the Crimson Lions. Those tribesmen whose skills are such that they are impressive enough to be chosen by the Crimson Lions will then begin the process of beong transformed into fully fledged astartes. Over the years, the young initiate will recieve a number of organs that will transform him from a human into an astartes.

For these young initiates, the final test comes after they have been implanted with all the necassery organs to make them, in theory, astartes. They are then sent on a wild hunt armed with nothing more than their bare fists. In this hunt, they must find one of the predators that inhabit Mycenae and slay it. When they return to the Crimson Lions with their hands stained red with the blood of what they've slain and carrying the beasts body, they are finally inducted into the ranks of the astartes.

[Sigismund229]

Here is a rough idea I have for how Hectarion could go missing

In the years following the Insurrection, Hectarion was wracked by guilt over not having been able to save his brothers Dear'dd, Leman Russ and Alexandros, or the Emperor. As more brothers went missing or were killed, this guilt only increased as did the frequency with which he was haunted by the shadows of his brothers. However, he continued to fight the foes of the Imperium and manage his Empire with all the ferocious energy and savagery he had before the Insurrection. However, one year in mid M.32 he locked himself in his chambers in the Lion Hold. For a full year he stayed in his chambers, locked in silent contemplation. When he emerged, gaunt faced and weary, he gathered together his chosen, the Hypaspists, leaving only one squad to guide the remaining Crimson Lions. Then he set off toward the Eye of Terror, leaving his sons with the words "My sons, I have failed in my duty and too long gone without punishment. No more. Justice must be meted out to all, no matter how powerful. I go to accept this punishment however, I shall return. When the Lions roar in defiance of the darkness for the last time, when the last dawn rises, I shall stand alongside you once more". Then, Hectarion went with his chosen astartes to the Eye of Terror. It is know that his force encountered a raiding force of Eagle Warriors however, nothing is known of what happened after.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Uhmmm....isn't that the story of corax? Except corax went alone...Nevermore...

[Sigismund229]

Right so, I haven't had time to do almost anything hobby related these past weeks/month(blame homework and school). However, I figured I should put something up about the Crimson Lions so here we go, a small bit I've managed to write between homeworks about the Crimson Lions culture.

Hailing as they do from the world of Mycenae, the Crimson Lions have many strange customs and adorn their armour with all maner of strange devices. The most obvious of these are the swirling red tatoo's that many of the III decorate their bodies with. To many, these tatoo's are seemingly meaningless swirls and lines however, to those born of Mycenae they are pictograms, typically used to record a warriors most heroic deeds in combat. While, in some cases, they are titles, for the majority of warriors it's a way of remembering their greatest exploits or luckiest escapes and displaying them for all to see, so that all may know what a formidable warrior they face. Another aspect of the Crimson Lions appearance which makes seemingly no sense to outsiders are the long, perfectly straight scars that the majority of Crimson Lions bear on their faces. These serve the same role that service studs serve in other legions, with a warrior having one scar for every 25 years he has served the legion. Thus, the oldest Crimson Lions have faces that are covered in both scars and swirling red tatoo's, a sign to all that this is no ordinary warrior. The final aspect of the Crimson Lions appearance which helps lend them an especially savage look is their canines. Where all humans have canines naturaly, the Crimson Lions file theirs to a particularly fine sharpness and cap them in adamantium, so that they a warrior may always have a final fall back weapon(his teeth) and so that they might better resemble their namesake.

On their armour, the Crimson Lions adorn it with numerous totems and trophies or items viewed as sacred by their home tribe. Because of this, the III are often found to have to hung skulls from their shield or wear a series of rune carved plaques or necklaces of teeth around their necks as a way of honouring their heritage. Following in the same vein, it is not uncommon for normal legionnaires of the Crimson Lions to attack a crest to their helmet as it has long been practice among the tribes of Myceane to do so in the hope that the crest helps lend them the appearance of being larger than they are and terrifying the enemy.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Uuuhhh the civilized aristocrat would say: barbaric. The body art fan would say: cool^^

Reminds me of customs some tribes in africa have/had. In front of their godess the took their spears and cut a deep line diagonally across their chest. Now comes the hard part: then they took salt and washed their wounds with it without flinching. Now they were man.

Your cultural description reminded me of that. Couls work for you too

[Sigismund229]

   Boneseer Turrus was recruited from the world of Mortax. Covered in poisonous fog and bogs, the inhabitants of Mortax were a grim and superstitious people, eking out a pathetic life by hunting what few creatures could survive the bogs of Mortax. Little is known of Turrus' early life, only that his clan cast him out when he was still a child, probably after they discovered he was a pysker. While most children would have perished amongst the fog and been forgotten, Turrus survived, possibly by resorting to cannibalism. When Squad Giddeon of the Crimson Lions found him, it was as a 12 year old boy wondering through the poisonous fog. Impressed that the child could survive on his own in this hellish wilderness, the Crimson Lions inducted Turrus into their own ranks alongside some hundred other youths from the world of Mortax.

         

    Tutored by Sergeant Giddeon personally, the young boy dedicated himself completely to the legion. Abandoning his birth name he took on a Mycenaean name instead, Turrus. Throughout the trials he undertook to become a Crimson Lion, Turrus displayed a remarkable endurance, sustaining wounds that would kill many initiates and pressing on through them. While more quiet and brooding than his brothers, Turrus was also possesed of a keen intelligence and an aptitude for military tactics, especially hit and run warfare. Many predicted that if he didn't die in battle, he would go far. However, all this was ruined on Bucca III.

 

                 Bucca III was a world on the Northern fringes of the Imperium, near the warp anomoly known as the Eye of Terror. Preliminary scans showed no signs of any life whatsoever so a band of colonists were sent to the world. When these colonists stopped sending vox transmissions, a second expedition was sent, this time accompanied by a regiment of Imperial Army troopers. When this expedition also went missing, Brotherhood Gallan of the Crimson Lions was sent to the world. While this investigation force also went missing, a transmission was picked up, transmitted by Rix Gallan before they did so. 

  + +Rix Gallan to the Lupa Sanguis. My Lord, we have arrived on the world of Bucca III and we can't find any evidence of life. It's as if our colonists just vanished. Wait, the shadows, they seem to be....moving. 
(bolter fire)(screams)
My...(wheezing)...lord...this...world...is...murder.++

 

               Following this transmission, Clan Daran arrived on Bucca III in full force to bring this world to compliance and exterminate these "shadows" who had killed their brothers. However, when they arrived they found Bucca III as bereft of life as the expeditions before them. For weeks they searched and all they found was wasteland. Then, a Squad of Crimson Lions stumbled across a lone astartes, wondering in the wilderness, muttering about deamons and repeating the word "Nurgleth" over and over again. It was Turrus. 

 

              When Turrus ceased muttering and returned to sanity, he was no longer the same astartes he had once been. Where before he had been quiet, now he was almost mute, almost never uttering a word. In addition to this, he began to show signs of pyschic talent and was initiated into the ranks of the boneseers. Where before he would have charged into battle howling and whooping like any other of Hectarions progeny, now Turrus would simply march forward in silence, before unleashing his pyschic powers to devastating effect, all in complete silence. Where before he had been as outraged by the death of one of his brothers as any other Lion, now he gave no reaction, simply continuing to carve a path through the enemy in deadly silence. However, he soon also began to show a talent for healing fallen warriors and was also inducted into the apothacerion. After this, he changed once again, While in combat and for much of his time outside combat he remained silent, in the Kengelt he began to call for studies to attempt to improve the astartes physiology. He soon amassed a following and, when no action was taken to initiate such a study, this small group of radicals began to experiment themselves. However, they were soon discovered and given a choice: death or banishment from the legion. All chose banishment. 

 

            In this exile, while some chose to become guns for hire or lone wolves searching for atonement, many followed Turrus into exile in the Maelstrom. Burning all paint off of their armour, these astartes became pirates, raiding any ships they come across and looting anything of value, slaves, weapons or even gene seed with which they can experiment and continue their mad goal of creating improved astartes. They are led by Turrus, who has proclaimed himself to be King of the Maelstrom by will of the gods, leading many to assume he has finally gone completely and utterly insane. However, in his gold face mask and crown, he has become the terror of all shipping in the maelstrom, even raiding the odd world. 

[Sigismund229]

Ran into writers block for the Crimson Lions so I decided to write a bit about the various ranks in the legion an such.

Getae: The youngest warriors in the legion, the Getae are the most recently initiated of the Crimson Lions. Because of this, their blood still runs hot with the arrogence and hot headedness of youth meaning that they are not suited to the shield walls used by their older and wiser bretheren. As such, they are given jump packs and the most deadly weaponry available to the Crimson Lions, rad grenades. While viewed by many in the legions hierarchy as dishourable, the oppurtunity for the wanton destruction these weapons cause is a chance few young Crimson Lions will turn down. So it is that these youthfull souls are given a relatively free reign to leap across the battlefield sowing mayhem and destruction wherever they go, forever throwing themselves into the jaws of death and trying not to get caught in its' gullet.

Trodaiar: Once he has been a getae long enough to temper his youthfull beligerence and enthusiasm, a Crimson Lion will take his place among the ranks of the Trodaiar. It is these astartes who form the backbone of the III legion battleline. Locking their shields together in an impenetrable wall, these astartes will push forward and grind their enemy to dust beneath their relentless charge. While they lack the enthusiasm of the getae, the Trodaiar have been tempered in the fires of war and as such, their are few foes who can withstand a charge by these champions of humanity.

Kahoier: Once a Crimson Lion has proved his bravery on the field battle, he will be promoted, often while still surrounded by the broken bodies of his foes, to the rank of Kahoier. From this point he is allowed to wear a torc. These bands of gold worn around a warriors neck are a Mycenaean symbol of nobility or command that are thought by Mycenae's savage tribesmen to imbue magical protection upon its' wearer and contain the souls of past wearers. While the Crimson Lions have long since risen above such superstition, the symbolic meaning of the wearing of a torc is still deeply imprtant to these warriors. It is known for packs of Crimson Lions to refuse to leave the battlefield until their Kahoiers' torc has been retrieved as to do anything else would be deeply disrespectfull and may anger the fallen warriors soul. Wearing these symbols of command, the Kahoier are forever where the fighting is thickest, inspiring their fellow warriors to ever greater feats of marshal skill by their example.

Cocidii: Among the ranks of the normally jubilant and gregarious sons of Mycenae, there are some who shun the warmth of the camp fire and camraderie of their brothers and their tales. Such individuals are frequently joyless and cold, only finding joy when they have the breeze on their faces and the scent of prey on the wind. Known as the Cocidii, or hunters, these Crimson Lions are given free reign on the battlefield, free to hunt what foes they choose. However, the Cocidii are still Hectarions progeny, meaning that they frequently choose to hunt enemy commanders as well as the glory that goes with such a kill and so have a fairly short life expectancy. However, who cares about such minor things as death when there are the joys of the hunt on offer?

Aishetari: While the Crimson Lions are skilled warriors, every man must die eventually. Over the decades, squads of Crimson Lions are whittled down as their members are killed and their souls taken from their bodies by the bassi. These seasoned warriors are replaced by their younger bretheren so that the squad might continue. However, inevitably, some will survive and keep fighting in the name of the Emperor, their skin pitted with scars and their eyes burdenned by the passing of the ages but their fighting spirit undimmed. Instead of fighting in the shield wall alongside their younger bretheren, these old warriors are frequently formed into their own squads and given an honour abive that granted to those who fight the wars on the surface: guarding the Lupa Sanguis and the battle barges of their lords. Equipped with a falcan blade of Mycenae and a hoplon shield, these old warriors wage their glorious war in the stars, defending the ships of the Crimson Lions, or dying a glorious death trying.

Pezhetari: While each of the Rix and Myrvallen of the III legion are formidable warriors in their own right, there are some foes too numerous for even these gods of battle. For when these circumstance arise, each lord of the Crimson Lions has a picked retinue of warriors, his pezhetari. Elevated to their lords side for some great deed performed on the field of battle, the pezhetari are the most skilled of the Lions. While they still fight shoulder to shoulder in a shield wall or wedge as their brothers do, they are lethally better equipped, being armed for war from their lords personal armoury. Armed with ancient blades and weapons of awesome power, the pezhetari can be relied upon to carve a bloody trail through their enemies and seeking to justify the faith their lord has placed in them by elevating them to such an esteemed position.

Gutuatri: Boneseers, Librarians, Keepers of history. All these are names used to describe the Gutuatri. The Gutuatri are those Crimson Lions who have displayed psychic talent and have been inducted into the secretive brotherhood of the boneseers, where they learn to read the threads of fate using the runes and to harvest the powers of the warp. Donning silver masks to hide their true faces from their brothers, the Gutuatri serve as advisors to the lords of the Crimson Lions legion, advising them as to what the skeins of fate say and fighting alongside their pezhetari, slaughtering the enemy with their powers. However, in addition to this, they are also guardians of the oral tradition of the Crimson Lions. It is they who learn the tales of their brotherhoods glories and recite these tales to their brothers at the Kengelt, with the hearth fire reflecting off their silver mask.

Alauri: Known as the Crows of Hados, the Alauri are the keepers of the future of the legion. The equivilent of other legions apothaceries, the Alauri remove the gene seed from fallen Lions and oversee the creation of new astartes. As such they are important individuals within the Clans. However, their task is not one to be envied. They are there at the death of every single one of their brothers and this makes many of them grim and brooding. In order to mark them out from their brothers, many Alauri paint their armour black and wear helmets designed to resemble the bassi, beings from Mycenaean mythology who collect the souls of fallen warriors and take them to the afterlife. It is this grim and horrifying vissage that marks both the passage of a tribesman to a Crimson Lion and the passage of a Crimson Lion into the next world.

[Sigismund229]

Sperothai: Among the ranks of the getae, there are some who never have their beligerence and enthusiasm tempered by war(in many cases their beligerence increases with experience). These are the Sperothai. Too experienced to fight in the getae and yet not reliable enough to fight as a Trodaiar, these individuals are the Sperothai. Formed into their own units, the Sperothai continue to leap into battle alongside the getae but their arsenal is much improved, enabling them to wreak havoc on such a wide scale that it would make any of the getae jealous. While they are looked with disdain by their more mature bretheren, the Sperothai care not as they are free, unfettered by the chains of discipline.

Improdoi: The Improdoi are a group of 500 of Hectarions most savage sons, each of whom has proven himself time and again in the training cages and fighting pits of the Lupa Sanguis. Because of this, it was these warriors who were given the first 500 suits of cataphractii plate the III ever received. Using these, they became the boarding specialist among a legion of boarding specialists, being more at home in the chaos and bloody melee of boarding actions than on Mycenae.

Hypaspitai: The Hypaspitai are the Crimson Lions equivilent of a 1st Company. Hand picked by Maridius, Myrvallen of Clan Mycenor, each Hypaspist is a hero in his own right, a god of war. Veterans of a thousand wars, the Hypaspitai are now given the greatest honour of all: to wage war alongside their primarch.

Madrai: Viewed by many of their peers as utter madmen, the Madrai fight neither on foot nor on the wings of fire that jump packs provide but in steeds of adamantium and plasteel. Serving a similair role to techmarines in other legions, the Madrai service the Crimson Lions fleet of armoured vehicles and frequently make "modifications"(the Minotaur gunship was the result of a Madros being left alone with a Stormraven gunship. Fortunately his fellow Crimson Lions liked the extra firepower of the Minotaur and kept the machine rather than breaking it apart for scrap). Besides brewing Nerith(a far more important task in many Crimson Lions eyes) the Madrais' duties don't differ that much from techmarines of other legions.

Rix: The commanders of the Brotherhoods, the Rix are all heroes of the Imperium, warriors whose skill and bravery has been proved many times upon the field of battle.

Myrvallen: Mightiest of the Rix are the Myrvalli, warriors of great renown even outside the ranks of the Crimson Lions. Given command of a Clan, the Myrvalli are amongst the brightest stars of the Great Crusade, humanities greatest defenders.

[Sigismund229]

Given that the old special units of the Crimson Lions(with the exception of the Myrmadons) don't fit with the current version of the Crimson Lions, I'm re writing most of their special units. Currently these are what I have as idea's

Rix ???(HQ)
WS BS S T W I A LD SV
6 5 4 4 2 4 2 10 3+/4+
Unit size: 1 Rix
Wargear: Power armour, frag&krak grenades, close combat weapon, bolt pistol, hoplon shield, torc.
Hoplon shield: Confers a 4++ invulnerable save on the model using it.
Torc: Gives the model using it a 5+ deny the witch and means all Crimson Lions within "4 may use this models LD in placeof their own.
Special rules: Ciringite frontem!, Warrior of legend, Legiones Astartes(CL).
Ciringite frontem!: Any unit that has a Rix attached upgrades its toughness by 1.
Warrior of legend: Crimson Lions within "6 of a Rix may always attempt to re group.
Options:
May take:
Melta bombs +10 points
Lightning claws +15 points each
Artificier armour +20 points
Jet bike +30 points
May choose to replace his close combat weapon and/or bolt pistol with:
Falcan blade +5 points
Power weapon +10 points
Volkite serpenta +10 points
Power fist +15 points
Plasma pistol +15 points
Thunder hammer +20 points
Paragon blade +20 points

Aishetari ??? points(Elite)
WS BS S T W I A LD SV
4 4 4 4 1 4 1 10 3+/4+
Unit size: 10 Aishetari
Wargear: Power armour, frag&krak grenades, bolter, falcan blade, hoplon shield, specialist ammunition.
Falcan blade: +1S AP4
Special rules: Furious charge, Fury of the legion.
Options:
May take:
Up to 10 more aishetari ?? points
Melta bombs +5 points per model
1 in every 5 may take:
Power weapon +10 points
Volkite caliver +10 points
Melta gun +10 points
Plasma gun +15 points
Power fist +15 points


Getae ??? points (Fast attack)
WS BS S T W I A LD SV
3 3 4 4 1 4 2 8 3+/6+
Unit size: 10 Getae
Wargear: Power armour, Frag, Krak and Rad grenades, close combat weapon, bolt pistol, breacher shield, jump pack.
Special rules: Furious Charge, Rage, Reckless, Vanguard fighters, Legiones Astartes(CL)
Reckless: Getae always get hit on a 4+ but still get a bonus for having a close combat weapon and bolt pistol.
Vanguard fighters: On the first turn of any close combat, Getae gain +1WS.
Options:
May take:
Up to 10 more getae ?? points
One in every 5 may take:
Volkite serpenta +10 points each
Power weapon for +10 points each
Plasma pistol for +15 points each
Power fist for +15 points each

[Hesh Kadesh]

Hmm, I had started writing this post last night before my battery died part way through and I couldn't find my charger. I'm now home again, and not typing on a phone, so hopefully what I'm saying can still be worthwhile. Up unto the Getae, what I had to write was based on information in this post, but the Getae rules I've taken from here. I hope that this isn't too troublesome to read; I've used an indent to make the suggestions more readable. 

 

Struggling to find some rationality for the Rix. As a special character, yes! Or as a Breacher/Shield unit buffer, yes, but a generic +1 Toughness? Perhaps keep it as a special Consul, or rather making the Legion Champion a better option and having it as a strict upgrade.

 

How's about this; (I've specified the Breacher Shield, as the Iron Bears rules have a slight focus on Combat Shields rather than Breachers.

 

Rix of Mycenae; A Legion Champion consul equipped with a Breacher Shield or Vigil Pattern Storm Shield gains the "Ciringite Frontem" special rule. In addition, they may swap their Close Combat Weapon for a Paragon Blade for the same cost as a Praetor.

Ciringite Frontem; This tactic is utilised by the Crimson Lions allows them to form a nigh impenetrable shield wall, although it slightly limits their maneuverability. If they charge as one, the brute force can shatter an enemies opening ranks, leaving them open to the blades of the unit.

If a unit contains one or models with this Special Rule, any models in this unit equipped with a Breacher Shield or Vigil Pattern Storm Shield gains +1 Toughness and Hammer of Wrath special rules when in base contact with at least 2 other models also equipped with a Breacher Shield. This bonus is lost until the start of the controlling players next turn if the unit makes any Run move, Charge move, or Sweeping Advance.

 

Legion Champions as they stand are underutilised, (who really uses Glorious Intervention rule? Let alone choose a specific unit to do so?). This way, you have the Weapon Skill 6, and Boarding Shield equipped model. I have removed the Hoplon Shield, really because there are just that many shields knocking about (Combat Shields, Boarding Shields, etc), and the only rule difference between it and the Iron Halo is that a Hoplon Shield can be defeated by the Ultramarine relic.It is pretty powerful; a 45pt upgrade to a Consul to give a unit of Breachers the real benefits of the Rite of War is a good trade-off. Of course, the risk is that the Legion Champion gets killed, which causes the unit to lose the rule, but that doesn't really change from your core rule. 

 

Keeping it tied to the existing consul special rule I think is a mechanic that isn't really explored yet among other legions, and as it essentially does a similar role, it's pretty darn awesome.

 

The Warrior of Legend rule I removed from the Rix, because I didn't want to skew it to heavily; but as all Crimson Lions have Legiones Astartes anyway, they can always attempt to regroup anyway. I could see it being an upgrade for any Independent Character though;

 

Warrior of Legend; Any Independent Character with the Legiones Astartes (Crimson Lions) special rule may be considered a Warrior of Legend for +5pts; such a model may be adorned in trophies from fallen enemies; perhaps a skull rack mounted with the helmet of a powerful Eldar Prince, a Cloak with a clasp of Greenskin teeth, or some similar other token of the fighters ability against some now extinct xenoform. Such soldiers are known across the galaxy, triumphed as a hero par none. This upgrade must be represented on the model in some manner to show their status.

Any friendly unit attempting to regroup within 6" of a Warrior of Legend may reroll any failed Leadership test, and are considered to be joined by an Independent Character for the purposes of regrouping only.

 

This isn't too powerful a rule, but basically lets units of 25% or under regroup on their normal Leadership rather than "Insane Heroism" and can help shore up a line among things like weaker Militia units. In addition, as a Regroup is not a Morale test, the vexilla doesn't work.

 

So Aishetari. Falcan Blades, and Hoplon Shield Breachers with Special Ammunition. I'm not exactly sure what Falcan Blades do that wouldn't be better on a . But how about this?

 

Aishetari, Elites (275pts)

[-1 Ld, and reduced Invulnerable Save from Hoplon to Boarding Shield, otherwise unchanged]

Aishetari Pridemaster [Stat block as above, +1 Attack, Character Unit Type]

Unit Composition; 9 Aishetari, and 1 Aishetari Pridemaster (Infantry/Infantry (Character))

Wargear; Power Armour, Frag and Krak Grenades, Charnabal Sabre, Boarding Shield, Boltgun, Specialist Ammunition

Special Rules; Legiones Astartes (Crimson Lions), Implacable Advance, Veteran Tactics, Chosen Warriors

Options;

- Up to 10 Additional Aishetari may be taken (+15pts)

- Entire Unit may take Melta bombs (+50pts)

- Entire Unit may take Hardened Armour (+50pts)

- Entire Unit may swap their Specialist Ammunition for Fury of the Legion special rule for free

- Any model may swap their Charnabal Sabre for a Chainaxe for free

- Up to 1 in 5 models in the unit one Aishetari may swap their Boltgun for one of the following ranged weapons, or their Charnabal Sabre for one of the following melee weapons; 

-- Volkite Caliver (10pts), Meltagun (10pts), Plasmagun (10pts) Power Weapon (5pts), Power Fist (15pts); given the Special Ammunition, what about a Combi-Weapon in place of the normal weapon upgrade?

- [For Brevity, Aishetari Pridemaster gains the same upgrade options as a Veteran Sergeant in Veteran Tactical Squad). 

 

This slightly ramps up the units lethality. They are still pretty powerful, and outclass any equivalent Breacher elite unit. They have Veteran Tactics; which can lead to hilarity if you so desire; Sniper Tempest Bolt Shells, or Furious Charge as you wished initially, while a big Fearless Blob of these can sit pretty. Of course, these changes are up to you. I've slightly edited the Falcan Blade. A S6 AP4 Charge is basically a Power Maul without the Concussive, but due to how Concussive works, it's not really a loss. They're not exactly Ultra elite level, but when you factor that Strength 6 is as strong as a Bloodthirster or Daemon Prince, it kind of puts it in perspective. I know fluff doesn't equal mechanics, that I think might be stretching it too far. But one of my favourite units in 30k is a squad of Palatine Blades with Combat Shields and a rank of Power Spears. Not the most effective, but the imagery of some Hoplites with some Falcata/Falx equipped  but the idea of a truly effective unit is incredible.

 

The other thing I like? They're a Veteran squad. Sure, they're a particularly effective formation, and kind of expensive, but what strikes me in the suggestion is that they are Veterans. Severely pissed of Veterans, who fight in the manner of the Lions, brutalizing the enemy with some powerful shooting before charging in an smashing them. They are blunt, brutal and to the point, and hit home without any real sort of clinical precision, they just slam through enemies. If you're intent on making them cost +20pts, give them 2 attacks base, or if not, keep them at 15. A Full Squad at 275pts is rocking in at 425pts, 100pts more than a Boarding Shield squad. 

 

Getae - as noted, using the updated rules from the Legion Unit rules thread;

 

These are ace. I'd perhaps say that they never score either? Can still deny, and as Fast Attack are rare to score, but it's one of those little things against them (as they're otherwise still pretty good)

 

As to rerolling run, do you mean [A unit with this special rule may re-roll their Run moves, but if they do so, must the second result must be kept.]? If so, I like this, but perhaps include Crusader with it? Run, roll twice, choose the highest, if poor, may reroll, and choose the highest. It keeps them fast, and the chance of rolling a 1 or 2 out of 4 rolls is low. I wouldn't increase cost any.

 

I wouldn't give access to Rad Grenades though, personally. They don't need it, and the Lions never really struck me as a Rad heavy legion outside of the Destroyer Cadre. They seem to be more proud and heroic than that. Remember that most 30k legions outside of the Death Guard don't have Rad nades.

 

As for the Torc; is there anyway we can turn this into the Legion Relic?

 

Torc of Brennas (50pts) [Brief Fluff, need help naming to something more fitting for your legion; I based it initially on the chap who first sack Rome, but this is your thing, brother. I'll leave it to you!]

Any model equipped with this Torc gains the Eternal Warrior, It Will Not Die and Adamantium Will special rules. If reduced to 0 Wounds or lower, then the bearer may roll a d6; on a 4+, the bearer remains alive with a single wound remaining. However, the Torc may not be used for the rest of the battle. 

 

As mentioned, apart from the fluff, this is basically a super Shield Eternal (already overcosted by 20pts, and it's not on a 4 wound Chapter Master anyway), +0.5 wounds and the ability to come back after being hit by a D Weapon, and IWND while alive, some could even say it's undercosted. But bleh, look at the Nanyte Blaster, Grav Gauntlet or Dissonator. 

 

Don't know if any of these ideas are useful, but I really liked your initial ideas of the Rix and the Aishetari. 

[Sigismund229]

Thanks for the suggestions Hesh! I like your re writing of Ciringite Frontem and the Aishetari, although the Hoplon shield and falcan blades are staying.

For the Rix, I don't really like the idea of him being an upgrade for a champion as, fluff wise, the Rix are the captains of the Crimson Lions. So he'll be a Centurion upgrade rather than a Champion upgrade.

For the getae, I see what you mean about the rad grenades and you're correct, the CL by and large don't like rad grenades, which is why I thought the Getae might use them as they're the youngest and least likely to care. However, now that you point it out, it doesn't seem like something most CL would do, so perhaps the Sperothai carry the rads...

Other than that, I like the idea for the making the torc a relic and shall start on fluff as I like the rules you've made.

[Raktra]

Fluff question - would ze Primarch make any kind of effort to convince Raktra to stop being an arse during his final fight with him? I'm writing little bits here and there.

[Sigismund229]

He would make some effort but seeiingd as he never liked Raktra much in the first place he'd probay give up pretty easily and judt go for the head

[Raktra]

Righto, my plan is settled.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Why not trying to do the oposite. Raktra tries to convince hec from his wrongdoings and that the emperor is evil

[Raktra]

Less "evil", more ":cuss".

Edited by Raktra, 09 November 2015 - 05:35 PM.

[Sigismund229]

The Arpine Auxilia

          

           Founded on the world of Arpia Quintus(then know as the 52nd Imperial/Arpine Auxiliary detachment) the Arpine Auxilia is the name that has now come to mean any Imperial Army elements serving under the III legion or within the domains of their empire. The Arpine Auxilia has, since then, become a vast, sprawling army within an army. Supplied by the vast industry of the Sallian sector and recruited from all across the realm  of (insert here), the Arpine Auxilia has gradually divided into two branches, a PDF and a field army. While the PDF differs little from its mainstream Imperial equivilent, the Field regiments differ from the mainstream Imperial Army in two key respects. The first is that, due to the nature of its recruitment, a far greater number of regional varients of mainstream equipment is used as well as less armour, making it a more infantry heavy force. The second is that the Field regiments are used in an active combat role far more often than their Imperial Army counterparts. The reason for this greater combat role is that the Crimson Lions has never been the largest of legions and so can ill afford to divert astartes from the front lines of the Great Crusade and so the Arpine Auxilia must, by necessity, deal with rebellions on its own and sometimes even make up the bulk of invasion forces, due to the Crimson Lions relatively small numbers. 

 

What do you guys think of this? Is it an idea worth exploring or does it make the CL too independent of the Imperium at large?

[Big Bad Squig]

Less "evil", more ":cuss".

 

The more I look at Raktra, the more I start to see Ray Winstone over Immortan Joe...

[MikhalLeNoir]

Neeeeevaaaaa should you see someone other than immmoooootaaaaaaan.

[Hesh Kadesh]

"I'm the daddy now"