r/40kObscurechapters

One of the 18 chapters of the Astartes Praesis, The Iron Talons are allegedly White Scars successors

With a Thick Guttural accent, a tendency for torturing heretics and their passion for knitting skin capes…

Yeah they are not hiding to be Loyalist Nightlords, I mean come on, Nostramo has been brown to bits and you still have the accent?

Overall though, they seem to be pretty chill outside of engagement, probably because their geneseed is very likely chimeric and lacking Curze’s crazy genes.

They’ve even helped other chapter like the White Consuls defending planets far away from theor post, like Boros Prime

What do you think of the Iron Talons? Do you wanted a more hybrid chapter? Are they too Night Lord adjecent? Or not nearly enough?

The Halo Dragons feels to me like they’re a lot more interesting than they appear

Maybe it’s the contrast between their iconography and their black armor, somehow the red insigna and the green aquila always stick out to me.

They are mainly known to operate against the Tau, so maybe they’re White Scar or Raven Guard successors.

I like to think them as White Scars successors, I kind of like how their scheme would fit with jet-bikes, though I expect them to be more focused on jump-pack assaults, going 1 on 1 with the Tau mechs using power claws

How would you embellish the Halo Dragons?

The Crimson Guard are from an unknown founding and origin. The Guard have little to no lore outside of two things. The first is that they share a name with an order of elite military force created by the Adeptus Mechanicus of the Calixis Sector. The second is that they were possible one of the chapters that fell to the murder curse, when Angron destroyed an archeotech beacon.

I like the idea they are Crimson Fists successors, idk, I think they'd be cool. Perhaps they could have a close relationship with the Mechanicus. Their homeworld could be near Calixis Sector, or they are fleet based and they just pal around the sector. They maybe more Dreadnaught focused rather than tanks and their Tech Marines and keep their normal colors.

These guys are a fun well of possibilities.

Despite having no lore, the one thing we know about them is really interesting.

Their World of Paragon is VERY close to Terra, meaning they might be a shield chapter of Terra herself.

I like to think that they are very much Paladin Coded, adored by the people of Paragon, who willingly try to donate their young to become an Astartes.

I imagine them doing one of those Italian Parades where they carry huge statues of Saints on their back, while the crowd che era around them.

How would you embellish the Emperor’s Hands?

Some might find them silly, but I love these colorfull goof, they are extremely charming to me

I can see them being very Imperial Fist coded, though they could lean more on their Roman aesthetics

They could attack forming a Phalanx, with Terminator units in the middle, a secret surprise to throw against their foes

Being probable Imperial Fists successors, I think they might engage in a bit of Civil Engineering, focusing on protecting the Imperium not just against the enemies of mankind, but also mankind itself.

Their homeworld could be an enourmous metropolis world, designed to be both efficient and pleasantely liveable, not without any surveillance of course

Using such team-work heavy tactics they might double in team sports to better work together, maybe Teams from the chapter’s company might fight one-another in tournaments.

Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, these guys look like they would play sports

Love the idea of having fans of different companies bikering with each others and perhaps they can differenziate each company using tilting Shields depicting different symbols, like actual Sports teams.

How would you embellish the Emperor’s Shields?

The Raven’s Watch has been a persistent presence in the WD magazine, which gave us countless bits of information on the chapter.

They have a strong Rivalry with the Ork Warboss that annihilated their 6th company, and sargeant Gylain actively hunted for them during the Third War for Armageddon

They also defended the planet of Kitab against Hive Fleet Eumenides, though the result of that conflict is currently unknown

During the Ultima Founding, the 6th company was entirely rebuild using Primaris Marines

They seem to have a certain affinity with Dreadnaughts as every conflicts they were involved in saw them on the battlefield, which is an interesting piece of information.

Maybe what remained of the old 6th company was made into Dreadnaughts, giving the chapter a hefty amount of these juggernauts

Maybe their Raven Guard gene curse is a bit difference for them, instead of having degrading depression they feel a deep sense of connection with other human, making the loss of a battle brother or even a civilian much more impactfull, while at the same time their hatred for aliens and mutants is multiplied by 10 folds

How would you embellish the Raven’s Watch?

The Astral Fists are from an unknown founding and origin. Their only piece of information on them is that in M42 they are moving to combat Hive Fleet Echidna. Pictured above is the hive organism classified as The Echinda bioform.

These guys could be one of the foremost Tyranid hunters. They could specialize in hunter the big bugs, like Carnifexs, with their tank formations. They probably are Imperial Fists, but I like Crimson Fists more because their relationship with xenos. Their homeworld, let's call it Wyverus, could be home to megafanua like Tyranids, and an initiate or group of, has to hunt a large creature.

The Venerators of Osiron are from an unknown founding (post 2nd founding) and origin. They have no lore outside of being one of the chapters to be contacted by Balthazar van Heppel to write a report about space marine's religious beliefs. They also share much of their logo with the Masters of Protelus.

I can see them getting their name from their first chapter master. Perhaps before the chapter was formed Osiron performed such an impressive act that he was given the liberty of his own chapter. The fact that they were one of the chapters contacted by an Ecclesiarchal agent helps flesh them out, as they could view the Emperor as a god, like the Fire Angels. I also like the idea they specialize in Heavy gear, like Gravis and Terminator plate. Parent chapter could be Ultramarines or Imperial Fist, but I like Iron Hands.

They first appeared in White Dwarf 515. I can't read the article but I haven't seen any lore about them so I'm assuming there's none. I'm not sure if they're even canon. The following lore is just my interpretation.

Founding Chapter: Unknown

Founding: Unknown (Early M36)

Chapter Master: Kurem Kalil

Homeworld: Tanjin

The Clementine Knights are a successor chapter founded in early M36. They've been tasked with defending the prominent Agri-World Tanjin. Located in the Segmentum Obscurus its infamous for producing sweet orange fruits that Imperial elites around the galaxy love.

In the five millennia since the chapters founding they've garnered many honors, whether it was the beheading of Ork Warboss Urg The Star Eater or The Purging of Hedonia, the Clementine Knights have cemented themselves as a reliable force within the Imperium.

Tanjin has not shared in this success. Once considered "lush" and "clean" by Agri-World standards by late M41 the world has devolved into a wasteland so toxic and polluted even the Clementine Knights hesitate to travel to the planets surface. This pollution has also effected the Knight's neophyte trials, with less and less passing with each generation.

After the opening of the Great Rift Tanjin has seen near constant invasion by the forces of Nurgle. While the initial forces were held back with some success, the Clementine Knights command are contemplating ordering Exterminatus on the planet and moving on.

Chapter culture:

Due to protecting a world highly valued by the Imperium's elite the Clementine Knights have fostered a close relationship with some of the wealthiest in the Imperium. Within the Segmentum Obscurus it's not uncommon to see a high ranking noble guarded by two company veterans (one of the highest honors a marine in the chapter can receive)

The chapters cult believes the Emperor is a god and its the chapters divine duty to protect his empire and those who rule it. Marines in the chapter do not care for the average Imperium citizen, willing to sacrifice thousands of civilians to save the life of a single noble. This attitude has led to strained relations with the Imperium's human military, with fights between Marines and Guardsman during missions being common.

How would you write the Clementine Knights lore?

Another successor of the Imperial fist

Created during the 34th millenium and assisted temporarily by the Crimson Fists, the Sons of Dorn were given rulership on the Feudal World of Archea in The Segmentum Solar.

Their deeds never reached beyond their sector, that was until their first Archean chapter master, Polius Lichius Alexandros “The Great”, who lead the chapter to a great and succesfull Crusade towards the eye of Terror, reclaiming countless world in the process, which inherited the Archean culture and venerate the chapter to this day

After 6 centuries of immense success, a Champion of Nurgle managed to lay low Alexandros.

Afflicted with a terrible plague, he was interred in a stasis chamber that was put inside the Temple of Resilience in the Chapter’s Fortress monastery on Archea, his poisoned blood still used to test aspirants in a final test of resilience.

Appius Flavius Alexandros “The Mad” a later chapter master of the same lineage as Alexandros the Great, was unfortunately corrupted by the plague in his predecessor’s blood.

During the Age of Apostasy, Alexandros The Mad, actively sided with the traitorous High Lord Goge Vandire, by forcing his chapter to retreat when called to intervene, while he hoarded resources to prepare his own heretic crusade to conquer Terra.

After the Chapter Master’s suddenly developed psychic abilities he became a mad Tyrant that ruled Archea like his personal playground.

After performing a psychic flaying of the Souls of some rebelling officers, a civil war broke out inside the chapter and Alexandros the Mad was forces to flee into the eye of Terror with 200 of his most loyal followers.

Soon they became a warband dedicated to the eradication of the Sons of Dorn, pledged to chaos undivided.

All we know about this warband is that their armor is “Glossy Black” and The Mad has now grown a pair of Ebony Wings. So I’m going to dub these guys “The Ebony Wings” for now.

Soon after the end of the Civil war, the chapter’s Librarians forsaw that one day, a chapter master of the lineage of Alexandros as great as him will fight and defeat their dreaded Nemesis, putting an end to his mad rampage

Quintus Decius Alexandros “The Blind” appear to be just that.

When most of the chapter was busy fighting near the Eye of Terror, during the 13th Black Crusade, Quintus was recovering from a wound in the Fortress Monastery, When suddenly Archea was attached by a splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Leviathan.

The planet was almost completely consumed, but in his final stand, Quintus faced the Hive Lord controlling the swarm head on, and in the insuing fight, the effect of his predecessor’s blood he tasted centuries before awakened, releasing a blast of psychic Blank energy that cut off the Tyranids From the Hive mind, just as the 4th company managed to return to their homeworld to crush the Tyranid threat

Unfortunately, being a blank now, made him unbearable to be around, so the chapter’s Master of the Forge created a costumized armor to dumpened his powers

Quintus, now called Alexandros the Blind, is probably one of the most powerful Blanks in the settings, a perfect match to face the psychicly enhanced Alexandros the Mad.

What do you think of the Sons of Dorn? Will Alexandros The Great Be able to be healed from his sickened slumber? Will we ever see a final showdown between them and the Ebony Wings?

Got inspired by a post a few hours ago covering the chapter, so I decided to make the chapter using SM2 and take some photos. Never heard of these guys before but their heraldry is pretty neat.

Imperial Fist Successor Chapter

The Emperor's Hawks are a from an unknown founding and origin. Little is known about them except their unique heraldry. They put their chapter logo on both shoulders, rather than just one, and they moved their squad, role, and company markings to their knees. Also the trim isn't gold its yellow.

I like to think they are IF successors, as they seem more generic then some other chapters. They have a love of Beaky helmets, and who would have guess they specialize in jump-pack warfare (they actually do). I can also see them as ork hunters as their only piece of art is them versus orks. Perhaps they have a friendly rivalry with the Imperial Hawks, another jump-pack chapter. A somewhat generic chapter, but thats not always bad.

These bastards don’t have a single high definition picture of them, not their symbol, so this is the best we’re getting until someone finds a higher definition image.

These Imperial fist successors might be one of the few chapters to not receive Primaris reinforcements

Not because they were deemed unworthy, but because it’s almost impossible to reach them

These poor fuckers were an Imperial Fist company that got swallowed by the eye of Terror during the 11th Black Crusade and since then they got stranded on a planet swallowed by the eye and they’ve been trying to survive as best they could ever since.

Considering only the Vorpal Swords were able to survive something similar, they have some pretty crazy achievements on their belt

The name suggests that they might have witnessed the legendary Legion of the Damned, and inspired by them they changed their armor from yellow and red to black and bone.

Not sure how these fuckers are still alive, but you can’t deny that surviving so long inches away from a portal to the realm of chaos is an impressive feat

What do you think of the Fists of the Damned? How long will they last? Will the Imperium Be able to reach them?

Ah yes, the “We have Emperor’s Warbringers at home” chapter

To be frank here, they do look cool and oddly military themed.

They really have some Rambo/Catachan vibes you know, they would look sick on a jungle world, not much as guerriglia tactics like with the Raptors or Mantis Warriors, but full Predator Ambush.

Jumping off of trees wielding double Axes like that One Tick tock of a viking jumping into a lake from a cliff

Sprinting out from a Bush to rip an Ork in two with their bare hands

Like real out of nowhere violence, sudden, unexpected, bloody

And after a good bloodbath, they’ll go back to their barracks and just, play cards or something.

I imagine they’ll deploy using airdrops into dense forest, just close enough to let the enemy know they’re coming, then they’ll sprint through the jungle in groups of 3 or 4, hunting for anything that moves, may it be an animal or an enemy.

I can see them hunting during missions not just for sport, but too support the larger human militia that needs to be on top of their game.

While the War Bearers spread chaos through the jungle, the mortale perform the real guerriglia warfare.

Sabotaging equipment, stealing resources and when the time is right, capturing objective as the enemy tries to get a hold of the Marines, assuming they are the real threat and not just Shock Troupes

How would you embellish the War Bearers?

The Watchguard are from an unknown founding and origin. Their only known bit of information on them was that they sent 6 companies to the defense of Cadia. It's unknown whether those companies were wiped out or some Marines escaped.

For these guys I can see them as more backhanded in their duties. Use their scout company as agents to survey their system, and when things got bad thats when the actual Space Marines get involved. I imagine that the companies sent to Cadia were wiped out, but the Chapter were reinforced with Primaris fairly quickly, so around half of their companies are still firstborn. They also could have adopted the phobos armor into their arsenal fairly quick.

The Shifting Sands are from an unknown founding and origin. They have a goofy looking color schemes and logos. The logo itself is just a palm tree, just a tree no funny business. Though their Librarians still use the regular colors rather than the traditional blue of the librarius. They were created by Daniel Boone, an ex-GW employee as an example for N. Europe WD's Chapter Master Competition and was featured in WD 298 (UK)

I can see them as an extreme environment specialists, specifically desert world warfare. Making use of their librarians for obscuration to cloak their advance. Their homeworld could be a paradise world that looks like the Caribbean, but they get their recruits from a neighboring planet.

An obscure chapter that took part in the Dark Crusade against the Drukhari

The only thing of note is that one of their captains, Albrecht, was heavily reviewed by the Ordo Xenos before being assigned to command the chapter’s forces against the Xenos

He still died though so…. L Albrecht I guess

Still their name is quite unique and sparked a couple of interesting concepts.

I imagine them being an extremely superstitious chapter, never inducting left handed children into the chapter and coloring their dominant arm gold, believing left is an unlucky direction

They wear costum seals to keep away bad luck, performing ritual gestures before going into battle, anything to keep lady luck on their side.

With this logic they might treat their servants better than most out of fear of rebellion, but not spoil them too much to make them arrogant.

The name could come from a sword with a cross like blade possessing some unique aura similarly to a Primarch.

A Chaplain always blesses a captain going to war with this sword, giving them the confidence they need to vanquish their foe.

It’s a glorified Placebo effectively that boost people’s confidence

They sweat plentifully when Albrecht didn’t return, but they rationalize it with stuff like: “Ah But of course, he didn’t perform the correct handsign before going to war!”

Maybe the coping is an effect of the blade’s influence

The stripe on their helmet signals the marine’s company, in this case signaling maybe the 9th

Naturally their insigna would be this very sword and would be on their right rather than their left

How would you color the Cruciform Swords