Ash Bringers

[Uberlord Gendo]

Emperor forbid that the Salamanders have a clear successor, so these guys are of unknown origin. But then again, maybe that's for the best:

I give you the Ash Bringers, a pyromaniacal chapter that exchanges the slow and purposeful way of war that typifies the XVIIIth for fast and brutal tactics akin to those of Adrax Agatone.

The first chapter, the Valaraukar, are clad in white plate, in accordance with ancient custom:

Here are Valaraukar Veterans with their flamers and close combat blades:

Many veterans bear the sigil of the Eye and Ring. The Ash Bringers see the Astronomicon as a burning, all seeing eye that watches over the Imperium, sheding light even as The Emperor watches. The ring represents unity and rulership.

The battlecry "One Ring" or "Ash Nazg" is thus a statement not simply of chapter brotherhood, but also of the unbreakable unity of the Emperor's domains and a call to the responsibility that the Ring Giver of Terra has called the chapter to. "One Ring..." is also the beginning of a chapter litany. Of note here is the line "agh burzum-ishi krimpatul", which means "and in darkness bind them". This refers to the Chapter's duty to be the source of stability and duty in the darkness. The Chapter's light may be that of burned cities and a manner more volcanic than human, but it is in the act of casting this light in the Emperor's name that they do not simply purge His foes, but also serve to guide and protect the Imperium. The Ash Bringers shun the light of heroism that the Salamanders take to so easily, but rather keep to the flickering firelight and magma-glow in the deep places, and, in casting their long shadows guide and inspire humanity in their own way.

Thus it is that when names like Khanti Blackflame or Lykennin World-Kindler are spoken by mortals, it is in reference to a beast from the darkness and the deep places, come to the surface in a moment of geologic fury, glimpsed for but a moment, before vanishing, but opening a space for the Emperor's faithful to act.

Chaplain Tursas Foebane (meh. That needs work...), for example, is always mindful that the Chapter's interventions in guard operations provide the guard the opportunity to win their own glory.

So yeah, basically, some people want to watch the world burn, but that doesn't mean that they don't also kind of care about the average citizen of the Imperium in a weird sort of "help them stand on their own two feet" kind of way. I'm not exactly committed to Salamanders rules in the long-term, but for now, with the incoming changes to flamers, the choice is very easy. Ironically, it's the meta-winning aspect of the Salamanders that I'm lukewarm about, since the idea I'm going with here is that these are sort of like the Salamander's version of the Carcharodons. Not that they're Salamanders successors. Everyone knows there's no such thing. Fortunately the 40k CTs don't have the sloooow drawback of the 30k legion rules and I like the ways of drawing out that creative artisan side of what would otherwise be just devils in the dark.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The Eye of Sauron as a Chapter symbol, the One Ring as a battlecry... Brilliant!

[Custom Hero]

Nice combination of two franchises. Ingenious interweaving for the lore. I like it! Keep it up!

[Uberlord Gendo]

Things are about to get interesting with those Heavy Intercessors...

Thanks guys, I've got some things in the works right now. Not quite ready for reveal yet, but let's just say the forge is currently quite busy.

[Uberlord Gendo]

Alright, things are complete enough that I'm ready to share the chapter's new ride:

More to follow as more work is done.