IM - Mortal Armies of the Insurrection

[simison]

Don't suppose we could email GW for their official stance on things?

 

They do have an official stance. The question was how committed were they.

 

Regardless, it looks like we have people here who are much more committed to the distinction between the Demiurg and the Squats than there are to the fusion. As such, we will separate the two. It might be a little annoying, but thankfully we haven't written much about the Squats ourselves so this is a good time to make the transition. The one area we should definitely check is the Iron Bears and Fire Keepers' red books to make sure they are now compliant.

 

I also want a proper name for the Squats' confederacy. Background info: apparently the Squats organize them in a series of Leagues, which are political/economic entities joined by complex trade and political agreements. As far as I can tell, they don't live under a single authoritarian ruler. Hence, I'm positing that the Squats' overall political structure is a confederacy. 

 

And it could use a good name. Beren has already suggested using something Tolkien-ish after getting a proper 40k treatment.

 

Doing a quick internet sweep, looks like the Squats had three big things going for them militarily: really good at repairs, big guns, and bikes. Lots and lots of bikes. Although they are mentioned as being excellent siege specialists in the defense with their Strongholds, they had a very mobility-focused army. They also have their own version of terminator armor called Exo-armor. 

 

One last major note. The Squats are explicitly mentioned as living in and around the galactic core. That's exactly where Icarion starts his new empire. This will not end well for them. 

[bluntblade]

Massive migration to Solar and Tricendia seems on the cards

[simison]

At least to some degree. 

 

First off, I'm going to pitch a High Gothic name for the Squats: Pumilio (Latin for 'dwarf'). Second, suggested in-universe name the Squats named themselves: the Borgalder ("The Castle Princes"). 

 

Back to your point, Blunt, I'm not sure how many of the Borgalder would actually leave. Undoubtedly, it'd be the wisest decision for the Imperial Loyalists, but I can see many of them trying to outlast the current war, seeing it as more as another dark time to endure within their Homeworlds like the Age of Strife. The ancestor worship would probably reinforce this, seeing it as their traditional duty to hold fast, regardless of how bad it looks. 

 

There will also be a number of Leagues and Homeworlds who will see Icarion as just a switch in kings and simply work out new trade/political agreements. In fact, a bunch of them might try to use Icarion's new position to bargain for better terms, while others will allow themselves to be bribed even as they claim to be 'Loyalist'. 

 

All of this is to say that the combination of the Borgalder's stubbornness and independent streak will work against a majority of them abandoning the Homeworlds, to their ultimate detriment. 

[simison]

The Soldato of Andolyn

 

While some Imperial Army regiments boasted of pedigrees and nobility worthy of kings, other regiments were cobbled together from the scum of humanity. The penal legions of the Andolyn hives were one such example of the latter. The Andolyn system originated in central Segmentum Tempestus. The Andolyns once boasted of an advanced civilization of technology and trade during the zenith of the Dark Age of Technology, primarily situated in mountainous metropolises above the clouds. When Old Night struck, so too were these cities. In the initial chaos, the foundations of most of the cities were irreparably weakened. Millions died when the cities collapsed along the mountain sides and into the valleys. Bereft of the trade which had supplied very necessary basic supplies, the survivors fell into lawlessness as they killed and stole from each other. 

 

A new civilization of sorts arose from the fragments. A new central authority provided a superficial layer of order. In reality, criminal city-states ruled the commoners' day-to-day life. Extortion became synonymous with housing as these criminals claimed territory with persuasion, threats, and violence. Over the millennia, five criminal organizations eventually divided the planet beneath their oversight, growing in sophistication and capability as the rest were alternatively absorbed or eliminated. 

 

When the Imperium arrived in-system, the Andolyn official government progressed quickly through Compliance. It was only when the Iterators and the initial garrisons attempted to take stock of the situation did they discover the poisoned fruit given to them. Inverse of the civilian government's willingness, the criminal overlords did not recognize the Imperium's authority. For the first time in millennia, the criminal empires aligned with each other to resist the Imperium.

 

The Imperium replied with the Berserkers of Uran.

 

True Compliance soon followed. For once, Raktra's questionable past became quite useful as he made war against the criminal empires, matching their ruthless with his own. Quickly realizing they faced an opponent who knew and countered their every tactic, the five overlords surrendered. Although Lord Akarro was infamous for his tithes of blood, he was unusually lenient against the Andolyns for unknown reasons. Perhaps the White Devil was amused to be fighting a war he was intimately familiar with. Perhaps a sense of nostalgia stayed his hand. Only one knows the answer.

 

Despite being spared from extermination, Raktra would not let such experienced fighters go unused. A tithe, heavier than usual, of soldiers were demanded of the Andolyns for their resistance. This lead to the creation of the Andolyn penal legions. 

[bluntblade]

Looking for Insurrectionist Army forces to use in Attrition, I have a mind to use the Greywolden Brigands and 651st Solar Auxilia (the Khunish Dragons) and add some others.

 

On the Loyalist side, could I reasonably add the Girian Shatterbloods and Yuphrades 105th Regiment?

[simison]

[Could I get a brief blurb or a source location before I make a decision?]

 

While other penal legions are infamous for their poor equipment, worse morale, and laughable tactics that amount mostly to advancing in a single direction, the Andolyns refused to be defined by such low standards. Since the White Devil had allowed most of the Andolyn infrastructure intact, both material and political, resources soon poured into the Andolyn regiments. When the first regiments arrived at their initial deployments, Imperial commanders were surprised to find warriors dressed in fine uniform and armed with pristine weaponry walking onto muster fields. Declaring themselves the Andolyn Soldatos, the newest additions to the Imperial Army soon demonstrated their peculier blend of honor and ruthlessness on the battlefield. 

 

The Soldatos established themselves primarily as light infantry regiments with a few mechanised infantry and light cavalry units to supplement their main force. In battle, the Soldatos displayed a preference for close quarters combat though not in the melee. Shotguns and volley lasguns became favorites, and extra money was often spent on ensuring most soldiers possessed a laspistol. Armor was not as valued. Only after soldiers had survived their first campaign were they allowed flak armor. Proven warriors and officers were given the option of purchasing carapace armor. Whatever armor a Soldato did wear, he was expected to keep his uniform in excellent condition.

[bluntblade]

There's only a blurb for the Shatterbloods, which is that they're unruly but effective, and had often fought in Folorn Hope operations. The rest are blank slates.

Edited July 9, 2019 by bluntblade

[Beren]

Three of those (Khunish, Girian and and Greywolden) are my creations. The Girians are the ones I wrote that Monthly Fluff Challenge story on. The Greywolden are based of the Blackwold Brigands from Lord of the Rings Online (basically an organised group of outlaws being paid to seize control) while the Khunish are loosley based of the movie version of the Easterlings from Lotr.

[simison]

[in which case, I have no issue.]

 

Though they would earn renown as fierce fighters, the Soldatos would soon become infamous and a never-ending headache for Army commanders. On paper, the Soldatos, in accordance with their status as a penal legion, were watched over by overseers drawn from Andolyn's official government and commissars appointed by the Imperium. In practice, wherever a Soldato regiment appeared, the camp would soon experience a thriving black market, a surge in gambling, and a perpetual list of discipline violations. The authority figures placed to rein in the Soldatos had mixed efforts. Corruption was all too common among the Andolyn overseers, either more than willing to look the other way for bribes or concerned that their loved ones on the homeworld were not safe from the criminal elements. While the Imperial commissars often resisted such base coercion, their position was more tenouous than they would admit. The commissars who attempted to forcefully end all such vice-filled pursuitshad a tendency to meet quick ends, either on the battlefield or in 'accidents'. The cunning commissars curbed the Soldatos' worst excesses and learned to play the five criminal factions against each other to maintain their own power. 

 

The five factions each heralded from a continent on Andolyn. The Tataliyas of the eastern continent were the weakest of the five Andolyn crime empires, having taken the most losses during Raktra's Compliance operations. Since joining the Imperium, they have worked hard to restore their former fortunes, but they are easily identifiable for having the least amount of equipment of the Andolyn Soldatos. The Strazis of the western continent became infamous, even among Andolyns, for their barely restrained bloodthirst. Maintaining discipline in their camps was especially challenging as fights broke out the longer the Strazis went without battle.

[bluntblade]

Three of those (Khunish, Girian and and Greywolden) are my creations. The Girians are the ones I wrote that Monthly Fluff Challenge story on. The Greywolden are based of the Blackwold Brigands from Lord of the Rings Online (basically an organised group of outlaws being paid to seize control) while the Khunish are loosley based of the movie version of the Easterlings from Lotr.

Blank slates was a poor choice of words - I just meant they have no prior engagements. Is it OK if I use them?

[Beren]

Yep, absolutely fine. Aside from the Girians, they were made yp on the quick because of how outnumbered the Insurrectionist regiments were. Iwas never planning on doing much with them myself.

[simison]

Although Andolyn claims to have three more continents, in truth, it is a viable position that the the three central continents are one super continent with thin land bridges connecting them. In the central continent or area, the Kuneyos seized their territory. For its important status as a crossroads location, albeit on a large-scale, the Kuneyos profited from trade and have fought more gang wars than any other faction. To the North, the Barzyns enjoyed a prominent position as the wealthiest faction, exploiting the wealth of natural resources on their continent to surge above the others. The Barzyns were notable for their expertise in subtlety, often manipulating the other factions to fight on their behalf or arranging gang wars when most opportune for their fortunes. 

 

Finally, the Corliyons occupied the southern continent. If an Imperial Army commander had no choice but to take an Andolyn penal legion, the Corliyons were desired above all others. They held themselves to a strict code of honour to which commanders could understand and work with. Fewer discipline issues arose in their camps, and they could be counted on to fulfill their battlefield orders to a much greater degree than the other factions. 

 

Altogether, the Andolyn penal legions would make their own infamous mark during the Great Crusade. The Insurrection would only increase their infamy and renown...

[simison]

The Soldato of Andolyn

 

While some Imperial Army regiments boasted of pedigrees and nobility worthy of kings, other regiments were cobbled together from the scum of humanity. The penal legions of the Andolyn hives were one such example of the latter. The Andolyn system originated in central Segmentum Tempestus. The Andolyns once boasted of an advanced civilization of technology and trade during the zenith of the Dark Age of Technology, primarily situated in mountainous metropolises above the clouds. When Old Night struck, so too were these cities. In the initial chaos, the foundations of most of the cities were irreparably weakened. Millions died when the cities collapsed along the mountain sides and into the valleys. Bereft of the trade which had supplied very necessary basic supplies, the survivors fell into lawlessness as they killed and stole from each other. 

 

A new civilization of sorts arose from the fragments. A new central authority provided a superficial layer of order. In reality, criminal city-states ruled the commoners' day-to-day life. Extortion became synonymous with housing as these criminals claimed territory with persuasion, threats, and violence. Over the millennia, five criminal organizations eventually divided the planet beneath their oversight, growing in sophistication and capability as the rest were alternatively absorbed or eliminated. 

 

When the Imperium arrived in-system, the Andolyn official government progressed quickly through Compliance. It was only when the Iterators and the initial garrisons attempted to take stock of the situation did they discover the poisoned fruit given to them. Inverse of the civilian government's willingness, the criminal overlords did not recognize the Imperium's authority. For the first time in millennia, the criminal empires aligned with each other to resist the Imperium.

 

The Imperium replied with the Berserkers of Uran.

 

True Compliance soon followed. For once, Raktra's questionable past became quite useful as he made war against the criminal empires, matching their ruthlessness with his own. Quickly realizing they faced an opponent who knew and countered their every tactic, the five overlords surrendered. Although Lord Akarro was infamous for his tithes of blood, he was unusually lenient against the Andolyns for unknown reasons. Perhaps the White Devil was amused to be fighting a war he was intimately familiar with. Perhaps a sense of nostalgia stayed his hand. Only one knows the answer.

 

Despite being spared from extermination, Raktra would not let such experienced fighters go unused. A tithe, heavier than usual, of soldiers were demanded of the Andolyns for their resistance. This lead to the creation of the Andolyn penal legions. 

 

While other penal legions are infamous for their poor equipment, worse morale, and laughable tactics that amount mostly to advancing in a single direction, the Andolyns refused to be defined by such low standards. Since the White Devil had allowed most of the Andolyn infrastructure intact, both material and political, resources soon poured into the Andolyn regiments. When the first regiments arrived at their initial deployments, Imperial commanders were surprised to find warriors dressed in fine uniform and armed with pristine weaponry walking onto muster fields. Declaring themselves the Andolyn Soldatos, the newest additions to the Imperial Army soon demonstrated their peculier blend of honor and ruthlessness on the battlefield. 

 

The Soldatos established themselves primarily as light infantry regiments with a few mechanised infantry and light cavalry units to supplement their main force. In battle, the Soldatos displayed a preference for close quarters combat though not in the melee. Shotguns and volley lasguns became favorites, and extra money was often spent on ensuring most soldiers possessed a laspistol. Armor was not as valued. Only after soldiers had survived their first campaign were they allowed flak armor. Proven warriors and officers were given the option of purchasing carapace armor. Whatever armor a Soldato did wear, he was expected to keep his uniform in excellent condition.

 

Though they would earn renown as fierce fighters, the Soldatos would soon become infamous and a never-ending headache for Army commanders. On paper, the Soldatos, in accordance with their status as a penal legion, were watched over by overseers drawn from Andolyn's official government and commissars appointed by the Imperium. In practice, wherever a Soldato regiment appeared, the camp would soon experience a thriving black market, a surge in gambling, and a perpetual list of discipline violations. The authority figures placed to rein in the Soldatos had mixed efforts. Corruption was all too common among the Andolyn overseers, either more than willing to look the other way for bribes or concerned that their loved ones on the homeworld were not safe from the criminal elements. While the Imperial commissars often resisted such base coercion, their position was more tenouous than they would admit. The commissars who attempted to forcefully end all such vice-filled pursuitshad a tendency to meet quick ends, either on the battlefield or in 'accidents'. The cunning commissars curbed the Soldatos' worst excesses and learned to play the five criminal factions against each other to maintain their own power. 

 

The five factions each heralded from a continent on Andolyn. The Tataliyas of the eastern continent were the weakest of the five Andolyn crime empires, having taken the most losses during Raktra's Compliance operations. Since joining the Imperium, they have worked hard to restore their former fortunes, but they are easily identifiable for having the least amount of equipment of the Andolyn Soldatos. The Strazis of the western continent became infamous, even among Andolyns, for their barely restrained bloodthirst. Maintaining discipline in their camps was especially challenging as fights broke out the longer the Strazis went without battle.

 

Although Andolyn claims to have three more continents, in truth, it is a viable position that the the three central continents are one super continent with thin land bridges connecting them. In the central continent or area, the Kuneyos seized their territory. For its important status as a crossroads location, albeit on a large-scale, the Kuneyos profited from trade and have fought more gang wars than any other faction. To the North, the Barzyns enjoyed a prominent position as the wealthiest faction, exploiting the wealth of natural resources on their continent to surge above the others. The Barzyns were notable for their expertise in subtlety, often manipulating the other factions to fight on their behalf or arranging gang wars when most opportune for their fortunes. 

 

Finally, the Corliyons occupied the southern continent. If an Imperial Army commander had no choice but to take an Andolyn penal legion, the Corliyons were desired above all others. They held themselves to a strict code of honour to which commanders could understand and work with. Fewer discipline issues arose in their camps, and they could be counted on to fulfill their battlefield orders to a much greater degree than the other factions. 

 

Altogether, the Andolyn penal legions would make their own infamous mark during the Great Crusade. The Insurrection would only increase their infamy and renown...

Edited August 3, 2019 by simison

[bluntblade]

His ruthless(ness)

[simison]

[Fixed.]

 

"During the Great Crusade era, it's likely that 12,272,880 men serve in Delian regiments, while 47,120 women fought. The women will be divided into two all-female regiments. One will be mounted infantry and one will be armored. The mounted infantry regiment will be the Amazons of Delos. 

 

Given Delos culture, I'm considering have both female regiments serve among the Scions."

 

Squad - 10

Platoon - 50

Company - 100

Battalion - 1,000

Brigade - 10,000

Regiment - 100,000

 

Standard numbers - 

 

• Delian Line Regiment - 100,000
  
• Delian Light Infantry Regiment - 50,000
  
• Delian Heavy Infantry Regiment - 50,000
  
• Delian Armoured Regiment - 10,000
  
• Delian Artillery Regiment - 10,000
  
• Delian Mechanised Infantry - 25,000
  
• Delian Drop Regiment - 25,000
  
• Delian Reconnaissance Regiment - 10,000
  

[bluntblade]

Best to round to the nearest thousand, I think

[simison]

Given the fact that the average regiment sits somewhere in the low thousands, I’m inclined to have a standard line regiment be 10,000, while the 100,000 man unit is a division.

[bluntblade]

Seems like you get masses of regiments within the bigger fleets. I seem to recall that over a hundred SA cohorts fought at Manachea in the Crusade along with Space Marine forces.

[simison]

Standard Division sizes - 

 

• Delian Line Division - 100,000
• Delian Light Infantry Division - 50,000
• Delian Heavy Infantry Divsion - 50,000
• Delian Armoured Division - 10,000 tanks
• Delian Artillery Divsion- 10,000 artillery pieces
• Delian Mechanised Divsion- 25,000 troopers
• Delian Drop Divsion - 25,000 troopers
• Delian Reconnaissance Division - 10,000

 

Standard Delian Regiment sizes: 

• Delian Line Regiment - 10,000
• Delian Light Infantry Regiment - 5,000
• Delian Heavy Infantry Regiment - 5,000
• Delian Armoured Regiment - 1,000 tanks
• Delian Artillery Regiment - 1,000 artillery pieces
• Delian Mechanised Infantry - 2,500 troopers
• Delian Drop Regiment - 2,500 troopers
• Delian Reconnaissance Regiment - 1,000

 

While 12 million serve in the Imperial Army in active combat zones, another 8 million serve as PDF regiments. Of the 12 million in the Imperial Army, 5 million hail from Sindhuan-only regiments, 4 million from Tyrin-only regiments, and the remaining 3 million are with the Delian Scions. This is a transition from 6 million from Sindhuan, 5 million Tyrin, and only 1 million Scions in the first half of the Great Crusade. 

 

Original founding Delian Scion divisions (1,050,000 troopers) - 

• Scion First - Line Infantry Division - 100,000 troopers
• Scion Second - Heavy Infantry Division - 50,000 troopers
• Scion Third - Light Infantry Division - 50,000 troopers
• Scion Fourth - Armoured Division (Nemean Main Battle Tank - all available variants) - 10,000 tanks/50,000 crew
• Scion Fifth - Armoured Division (Malcador Tank - all available variants) - 10,000 tanks/70,000 crew
• Scion Sixth - Armoured Division (Baneblade Super-Heavy Tanks - all available variants) - 1,000/10,000 crew
• [30 HellHound companies attached to the Scion Fourth, Fifth, & Sixth - 300 Hellhounds & variants/900 crew]
• Scion Seventh - Artillery Division (Long-range - Basilisks, Minotaurs, & Manticores) - 10,000 pieces/40,000 crew 
• Scion Eighth - Artillery Division (Medium-range & Short-range - Medusas, Griffons, Colossi & Wyverns) - 10,000 pieces/40,000 crew
• Scion Ninth - Mechanized Division (Chimera) - 5,000 Chimeras/15,000 crew & 60,000 troopers
• Scion Tenth - Mechanized Division (Taurox) - 5,000 Tauroxes/15,000 crew & 50,000 troopers
• Scion Eleventh - Mechanized Division (Dracosan) - 1,000 Dracosans/4,000 crew & 20,000 troopers
• Scion Twelfth - Reconnaissance Division - 10,000 troopers
• Scion Thirteenth - Drop Division (Valkryie) - 1,000 Valkryies/4,000 crew & 12,000 troopers
• Scion Fourteenth - Female Mechanized Division (Dracosan) - 1,100 Dracosans/4,400 crew & 22,000 troopers
• Scion Fifteenth - Female Armored Division (All available variants) - 2,000 Nemeans/10,000 crew & 1,000 Malcadors/7,000 crew & 500 Baneblades/5,000 crew
• Scion Sixteenth - Line Infantry Division - 100,000 troopers
• Scion Seventeenth - Heavy Infantry Division - 50,000 troopers
• Scion Eighteenth - Reconaissance Division - 10,000 troopers
• Scion Nineteenth - Armoured Division (Nemean Main Battle Tank - all available variants) - 10,000 tanks/50,000 crew
• Scion Twentieth - Armoured Division (Baneblade Super-Heavy Tanks - all available variants) - 1,000/10,000 crew
• Scion Twenty-First - Armoured Division (Malcador Tank - all available variants) - 10,000 tanks/70,000 crew
• Scion Twenty-Second - Artillery Division (Long-range - Basilisks, Minotaurs, & Manticores) - 10,000 pieces/40,000 crew 
• Scion Twenty-Third - Mechanized Division (Dracosan) - 1,000 Dracosans/4,000 crew & 20,000 troopers
• Scion Twenty-Fourth- Heavy Infantry Division - 45,000 troopers

Edited August 5, 2019 by simison

[simison]

By the time of the Insurrection, the Scions would grow threefold. This was not due to a consistent increase in recruitment efforts, which would not rise until a few months after the Day of Revelation. Instead, this was the result of formerly Tyrin- and Sindhuan-centric divisions consolidating into Scion hybrids, especially after Alexandros was appointed Warmaster. By the Day of Revelation, the Scions maintained a full hundred Divisions on behalf of the Golden Throne. 

[bluntblade]

Occurs to me, is there a Greek term we could use in place of Scions? Just to avoid the obvious confusion with the SH. Edited August 5, 2019 by bluntblade

[simison]

Occurs to me, is there a Greek term we could use in place of Scions? Just to avoid the obvious confusion with the SH.

 

 

And I forgot that one, too! I explicitly don't want to use a Greek term since this force is supposed to bridge the Greek-Indian divide. I'm okay with the individual regiments being more flavoured one way or another, but not the Army as a whole. 

 

I suppose I could go the 'VonSalim' route and use German. Or, I could pick a language between Greece and India, such as Persian or Hebrew. A third option is to try to go ancient with Proto-Indo-European words, such as Manus (person). 

 

Thoughts?

[bluntblade]

Let me think. Maybe we should look at Alexander's armies.

 

Oh, and Byzantium.

Edited August 5, 2019 by bluntblade

[simison]

[Testing.]

 

The Yona Fourteenth, Second Regiment

 

Much better known as the 'Amazons of Delos', this all-female mechanized regiment earned wide acclaim during the Great Crusade. Their origin began when the Warmaster sought to nudge the Delians onto the next step of progress. Disappointed by the old allegiances affecting the Delian regiments, he stepped in and created a new army freed from the rusty chains of old. From this effort came the Yona Divisions who took recruits from all of Delos, favouring not one continent over the other. 

 

Among those recruits were women who wished to serve on behalf of humanity. Granting their wish after a brief review, two Yona Divsions came into being: the Mechanized Fourteenth and the Armoured Fifteenth. Within the Fourteenth, it would be the second regiment who would shine with glory. 

 

Naming themselves after the ancient order of warriors, the Amazons of Delos would ride into war upon dracosan transports. They soon earned battlefield honours with rapid flanking manuevers. The dracosan offered a potent combination of speed, endurance, and firepower with which they used to lethal effect as platoons would open fire, mount, redeploy, and attack. 

 

Under the command of Colonel Tomyris, the Amazons would find their skills in desperate need with the onset of the Insurrection...

[simison]

Gender Differences between Yona soldiers

 

Although both sides would burn with a zeal to serve Emperor and Delos, it was soon noted that combat results differed slightly between the single-gendered units. One major difference was age. The Halcyon Wardens' unending thirst for new recruits led them to aggressively screen potential legionaries among the young male population. The young female population was under no such scrutiny and was allowed to sign up as desired. The results from these necessities was the female Yona regiments were, on average, four to eight years younger than their male counterparts. Even in cases where male legionary recruits proved unable to pass the notoriously difficult Astartes trials, years could pass before a final decision was made, leaving failed aspirants older when recruited into the Imperial Army. 

 

This had two important impacts on the Yona regiments. On the first account, the younger female soldiers reduced the physical capability gap between baseline men and women. On the second account, the female Yona regiments enjoyed a more experienced officer corps. In the arena of the mind, neither side could claim a monopoly. This had the effect of male Yona officers often making strategic and tactical decisions only after seeking input from their female counterparts when possible.

 

Ultimately, this created a dualistic viewpoint spanning both genders. Males often were pursuing the ideal of the frontline-hero archetype, while the females became known for the tactical-master archetypes.