Disgraced fists

[Hugoboss8901]

So I've started a blackshields force but I've always been a huge fan of fists just hated painting yellow. Now I'm wondering on what's people views on a fists force that wears all black and the basic fluff was they were sent to wipe a xeno force that took alot longer and the commander lost nearly all of his troops during this conflict. Dorn was mad as hell and made them change their armor to all black and sent on a penitant crusade. This force was sent off during the great crusade after their misfortune and coming back when the heresy started. Still wearing their black armor to show their shame they started raiding traitor legions where they could knowing that they will eventually all die they done what they could to repay their father.

[Marshal Vespasian]

I mean sure, why not.

But all black/mainly black is basicly just templars. So you could always play them as loyal fists if you want to

Edited April 28, 2020 by Marshal Vespasian

[Slips]

They dont necessarily have to be disgraced to be wearing mostly/all black as we've seen with the multiple color plates of Black Imperial Fists across the various FW Black Books (mainly 3); of note its used as a Campaign Badge as well as Veteran colors on different occasions.

 

But, seeing as Dorn painted his gold blingsuit Black post siege of terra to mourn the Emperor, as well as HH Marines generally having a lot more latitude in terms of color scheme/heraldry, you're perfectly fine doing whatever you like.

[Sandlemad]

It's not a bad idea but the VIIth did seem to have black as a signifier of other things as well. Extermination shows a terminator of the 6th company "wearing the black and gold of his particular company heraldry", so there's a particular unit's livery using black. The Templar Brethern of the 1st company wore black  and Dorn's own Huscarl bodyguard wore black cloaks when not in combat, so it seems to have been used fairly widely as a symbol of veterancy or seniority.

 

That said there's also this dude, of whom Extermination says "note that this Legionary is wearing the predominately black heraldry of a veteran of the catastrophe of the War of the Howling Gyer, as well as the Great Crusade Veteran's Cross". I'd always taken that to mean that his black armour was a sign of honour or at least commemorating surviving a disastrous campaign... but maybe it could be taken as something of a dubious honour or even a penitent mark? The VIIth loved them some masochism. 

 

Your idea could certainly work and penitence/shame/humility seems to be a fairly widespread association for black armour but if you wanted to be absolutely clear about it, you could add some other visual sign. Maybe instead of their old company insignia they bear, say, the symbol of skull with a sword in it to commemorate their dead brothers? Or a misericordia dagger to show how Dorn has the power of life and death over them? Or, if you wanted to go extreme, an Iron Maiden to show the judgement they are under and their desire to absolve themselves through pain. Something like that.

Edited April 28, 2020 by Sandlemad

[hushrong]

I like the idea of IF going on a penitent crusade in their new, black armor (maybe with icons removed? Like the one Ultramarine novel) as a result of incurred shame. However, instead of "having lost nearly all of his troops" perhaps change that to something else. I know we are talking forces that were once legion but if nearly everyone died in this force then there aren't that many people left. I feel like their could be something that just looms shame over an astartes more than just losses.

 

Perhaps the commander used underhanded means to secure victory. It was not an honorable victory and a disgrace to the Legion, Dorn, and Him on Terra. Perhaps they used forbidden weaponry (flesh eating virus, rad weapons, etc) that eliminated their enemy but ruined a world & its population they were sent to defend in a pyrrhic victory. How are you saviors when you doomed those you were sent to defend? Heck, what if they retreated from a battlefield/an entire conflict. That's a shame and tragedy that would not sit well the stalwart sons of Dorn, would it? I think this would be a common notion before the Iron Cage, plus Sons of Dorn are super stubborn. Granted I haven't been keeping up to date on recent fluff.

 

I do not mean to come off nitpicky or critical of your idea but I think you can def add more to it.

[Hugoboss8901]

Thank you very much for the replies. I didn't think I would get this much.

I've taken all this on board. I like black fists but I know the scheme can cause some ppl to kick off about. The other idea I had was a destroyer company wearing all black but with the left pad yellow showing the idea fists icon. The right will show the destroyer icon.

The idea behind these could be something that hushrong mentioned where they used forbidden weaponry and destroying the planet life even tho it was against orders. Dorn found out and was furious about what had happened. Saying that the whole company will repent for what they had done, baring the shame of what they had done for the rest of their lives. Changing their armor to black apart from the left pad showing the legion icon. They set off to redeem themselves even tho they knew that could never happen.

This idea I think is better and it be a talking point when I go to events and hoping something different from a fists point of view