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This article, Astral Drakes, was written by Smobis and Pharaohcrab. This is an Expanded Universe article. The lore expands upon established canon, but does not contradict it. |
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This article, Astral Drakes, was written by Smobis and Pharaohcrab. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writers' permission. |
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This article, Astral Drakes, is currently under active construction. The authors, Smobis and Pharaohcrab, apologize for the inconvenience. |
The Astral Drakes are a Loyalist Successor Chapter of the stoic Imperial Fists, created during the 23rd Founding.
Chapter History[]
The Astral Drakes Chapter of Space Marines was established sometime in the misty past of the Imperium of Man. Estimates place the founding of this Chapter around the 23rd founding (the "Sentinel Founding"), placed in an advantageous position near the Forgeworld Ryza to act as protectors for the forgeworld and the surrounding sector.
The Battle of Goetia[]
In the last days of the Third War for Armageddon the Ork Warlord Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka left the embattled planet, heralding the end of the Waagh and close of the grand conflict. As the Prophet of the Waagh traveled through the galaxy to find more ripe battlegrounds to gorge his army on, he settled on the world of Goetia, tempted by the chance to try himself against Humanity’s finest once again. The Chapter was nowhere near its full strength, with a full half of its companies including their elite 1st company away from the planet responding to calls for aid from various groups in the buildup to the Battle of Cadia. The remaining Astral Drake forces fought valiantly and choked the many canyons and plateaus of the wind blasted planet with Ork dead, but the green tide was inexorable. The fortress-monastery was destroyed, 80% of the Chapter’s forces on the planet were wiped out, and the moon of Solomon was saved only through the sacrifice of the entire 10th company, losing the Chapter their recruits and putting their future in dire peril.
Upon return to their homeworld, the remaining parts of the Chapter attacked the occupying Orks and managed to reenter the monastery for long enough to retrieve most of their relics and their dreadnought brothers, but they were forced to flee from the Warboss’s retaliatory attacks. They spent the next years as a fleet-based Chapter, on the run from the orks pursuing them as well as opportunistic chaos elements in the opening of the 13th Black Crusade. After the Battle for Cadia, the Chapter became trapped in the Imperium Nihilus, and after a hard-fought scramble to link up with imperial forces they received their Primaris reinforcements after suffering staggering losses at the hands of roving Ork warbands, Traitor Astartes, and wandering Tyranid hive fleets. They have since begun a Crusade to reclaim their homeworld, though this has been hindered by the Iron Warriors warband known as the Keepers of the Forge, eager to strike at a successor of their bitter enemy.
Notable Campaigns[]
- Battle of Goetia (998.M41) - The chapter's homeworld is besieged by Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, leading some to believe that the chapter had been completely destroyed.[1]
- Battle of Attore Reach (unknown.M42) - First major battle following the arrival of Primaris reinforcements and the chapter's first encounter with the Keepers of the Forge warband of the Iron Warriors. A series of bloody battles would end with a contested withdrawal from the planet, only for the heretic warband to unexpectedly retreat as well.
- Participation in the Pariah Crusade (~005.M42) - Following a deception by the forces of Chaos, 1st Isidor Kimaris would be tasked to lead those involved on a Penitent Crusade through the Attilan Gate and into the Pariah Nexus.
Chapter Homeworld[]
The Astral Drakes' fortress-monastery was founded on the planet Goetia; a cold, desolate planet with a thin atmosphere. The Chapter’s recruits come mainly from Goetia’s moon, Solomon, which is much more habitable and has several cities dotted across it. The Astral Drakes take Rogal Dorn’s philosophy to heart and leave governing Solomon to the local aristocracy, only intervening during times of political or social upheaval.
Fortress-Monastery[]
The fortress monastery was destroyed by ork forces during the Battle of Goetia, shortly after the Third War of Armageddon. However, through a heroic effort the chapter was able to recover most of the chapter's relics and dreadnoughts from the fortress monastery before being pushed back fully.
Chapter Organization[]
Officer Ranks[]
- Chapter Master
- Captain
- Lieutenant
Specialist Ranks[]
- Reclusiarch
- Chaplain
- Chief Librarian
- Librarian
- Chief Apothecary
- Apothecary
- Master of the Forge
- Techmarine
- Chapter Champion
- Company Champion
- Chapter Ancient
- Company Ancient
Line Ranks[]
- Veteran Sergeant
- Veteran Marine
- Sergeant
- Battle-Brother
- Neophyte/Scout Marine
- Aspirant
- Initiate
Specialist Units & Formations[]
- Drakengard - The finest warriors in the Astral Drakes who show themselves exemplary with a blade and unshakable in the face of the foe are hand-picked by the Chapter Master for the Drakengard. The unit exists outside the Codex-compliant organization of the Chapter, serving as both the Honor Guard for the Chapter Master and as his right hand in the field. They are often deployed as a surgical strike force, dropping behind enemy lines to disrupt infrastructure, assassinate leadership, and secure ground for their battle-brothers to ensure victory. When the Chapter Master sees fit to enter battle himself the Drakengard join him with their ceremonial sword spears, tearing through the enemy to face their adversaries’ champions face to face. Significant rivalry exists between the Drakengard and the Reclusiam’s Bladeguard contingents for who can claim the most glory in battle.
Companies[]
1st Company[]
The 1st Company of the Astral Drakes is unconventional for “Codex-compliant” Space Marines, as the Company is split into three distinct “Orders”:
- Drakengard - The honor guard and personal strike force of the Chapter Master.
- Knights Venerable - Consists of the Chapter’s Terminator squads and at the direction of the 1st Captain.
- Knights Reclusian - The Bladeguard squads who are in the service of the Master of Sanctity and the Reclusiam.
Any Order may work independently of their command so long as permission is granted by their respective Commander for the operation.
Chapter Beliefs[]
The Astral Drakes are in many ways a reflection of their brothers in the Black Templars; while both Chapters exonerate melee combat and skill with the sword, and incorporate elements of the knightly orders of old Terra, the Astral Drakes are more tempered in their approach to warfare. While the Black Templars specialize in close combat and blitzkrieg tactics, the Astral Drakes utilize and hone their skills in all facets of warfare. This reflects their attitudes toward the Codex Astartes, with the Black Templars rejecting Guilliman’s opus while the Astral Drakes cleave to it far closer, as their founding Chapter does.
Deathwatch Service[]
There is at least one known member of the Astral Drakes in service to the Deathwatch, having been sent following their involvement in the Pariah Crusade.
Chapter Combat Doctrine[]
The Chapter, a successor to the Imperial Fists, understands the philosophy of fortified defense intrinsically, but rather than rely on walls and battlements the Astral Drakes believe they themselves must be the bulwark upon which the enemies of mankind will break. Their homeworld’s harsh conditions are perfect for cultivating the kind of warriors that excel at this kind of warfare, training soldiers who can take punishment beyond even the elevated abilities of normal Astartes.
The Chapter also has a strong tradition of swordsmanship and dueling prowess. Every brother in the Chapter is trained to mastery with a blade, and every officer in the high ranks of the Chapter has a storied history of triumph against enemy champions in single combat. Their close relationship with Ryza also allows them access to advanced plasma weaponry, and the two disciplines of the power blade and plasma rifle make up the fangs and breath of the proverbial Drake the Chapter embodies.
Notable Space Marines[]
- Chapter Master Alaric Barbatos - The Chapter Master of the Astral Drakes exemplifies the values the Chapter strives for. He is level-headed, skilled with blade and bolter, stoic in the face of the enemy, and has withstood punishment to the body that would break the spirit of most any other Astartes. He was at the forefront of the assault to retake the fortress-monastery on Goetia, and was the last to leave when the situation became untenable. The Chapter’s hardships have expanded his range of tactics, and his battle acumen has drawn many a victory from seemingly inevitable defeat. Barbatos carries the Chapter’s relic blade Vigil Unending, a symbol to the rest of the Chapter of their resolve to overcome what fate has dealt them.
- First Captain Isidor Kimaris - The First Captain of the Astral Drakes is said to be the most like their Primarch of old. Kimaris stands resolute in his suit of terminator armor behind the Aegis Empyrean, the relic shield given to the Chapter at their founding as a symbol of their charge and their steadfastness in holding it. He has gathered marines to him of unquestionable loyalty and unshakeable faith, and they can be found frequently in the thickest part of battle, sitting implacable on critical points that must be held at all costs.
- Captain Dantalion - The leader of the 2nd Company, Dantalion’s goal for his Marines is perfection in all facets of battle. The second company is known for being reliable with every weapon the Chapter has at its disposal, with the marines in it making constant rotation between specializations to keep them sharp in all aspects of warfare. Dantalion himself is an exemplary swordsman, it being said he is only surpassed by the Chapter Champion Amon Rhom.
- Lieutenant Orias
- Captain Vepar - The Captain of the 3rd Company prefers the pure test of skill versus skill of a melee over the slower and more methodical approach of ranged combat. Blitzing into battle on a jump pack with his brothers at his side, Vepar smashes enemy formations or drops from the sky to strike at soft targets or critical locations on the battlefield. Vepar has earned his reputation as a ruthless fighter, with a kill tally that includes foes much bigger and tougher than himself. As the Master of the Arsenal, Vepar takes the loss of the Fortress-Monastery on Goetia very personally, and has taken upon himself to spearpoint the crusade to retake the homeworld.
- Captain Artemy Marbas - Marbas leads the 4th Company, often facing the enemies of mankind as close as possible. The 4th company focuses on short-range firepower and combined arms combat. It is not uncommon to see a 4th company marine taking a kill with chainsword or knife while continuing to fire upon the enemy with his bolt rifle. Marbas is the exemplar of this, chasing the enemy down to destroy them close enough to see their fear. As the Master of the Fleet, Marbas delegates the bulk of his responsibility to his Lieutenant, Seere. This seeming shirking of his duty is a mark of shame against the Captain, though the glory he wins in combat makes up for it enough the Chapter’s leadership sees no need to censure him.
- Lieutenant Seere
- Lieutenant Zagan
- Captain Andromalius - Gravis Captain of the 6th company.
- Captain Beleth - Captain of the 10th company.
- Chaplain Orobas, Master of Sanctity - The master of the Astral Drakes’ chaplaincy, Orobas has guided the Chapter through their recent devastation by preaching of past times Space Marine Chapters have experienced hardship and overcome it, and instilling a righteous, zealous hatred for the greenskins that have taken their world. Orobas himself has adopted a reputation as a crusader in the vein of the Astral Drakes’ brothers in the Black Templars. The Bladeguard Veterans of the first company, by Chapter tradition, are under partial command by the Chaplaincy, and Orobas has led them through many a battle to scourge the enemies of mankind and win much glory for the Chapter.
- Reclusiarch Solas
- Judiciar Vual - As a Chaplain in training, Vual often accompanies the other members of the Reclusiam on their campaigns. Seen often at the head of a formation of Bladeguard elite, the sight of the Judiciar strikes fear into even the most hardened enemy champions as he hunts them down. Vual is counted among the Chapter’s finest swordsmen, counted as a prodigy among masters; indeed, there are ongoing bets within the Chapter as to how long it will be before Vual challenges Chapter Champion Amon Rhom for his title, and more wagers still on who would come out the victor in a duel between the young Judiciar and members of the Chapter’s high command. The single glory of Championship holds little power for Vual though, who occupies himself entirely with honing his skills and hardening his soul against the weight of one day acting as a shepherd for the Chapter.
- Chief Librarian Valefor
- Librarian Forneus
- Chief Apothecary Eligos
- Apothecary Marchosias
- Sallos, Master of the Forge:
- Chapter Champion Amon Rhom - The position of Chapter Champion in the Astral Drakes is held by their finest swordsman, a figurehead for the Chapter’s tradition of swordsmanship armed with ancient relics of the Chapter used to slay mighty foes of mankind from millenia past. Amon Rhom has held the position for over a hundred years, after a tournament was held in the wake of the previous Chapter Champion’s death facing the forces of Chaos. Since then he has faced the worst of the enemies of Mankind, Xenos, Daemon, and Traitor alike. Rhom has won glories uncountable in his hundred years as Champion, including facing a Chaos Knight in single combat.
- Chapter Ancient Naberius
Chapter Fleet[]
- Ars Goetia (Battle Barge) - Flagship of the Astral Drakes' fleet and their last surviving battle barge.
- Ars Almadel (Strike Cruiser)
Chapter Relics[]
- Vigil Unending - The Chapter’s relic blade and a symbol to the rest of the Chapter of their resolve to overcome what fate has dealt them. Wielded by Chapter Master Barbatos.
- Aegis Empyrean - The relic shield given to the Chapter at their founding as a symbol of their charge and their steadfastness in holding it. Wielded by 1st Captain Kimaris.
Chapter Appearance[]
Chapter Colors[]
The Astral Drakes deviate slightly from the Codex Astartes in their iconography. The rank and file battle-brothers wear the standard dark blue of the Chapter, while the sergeants wear bone helmets to match the Chapter’s trim. Veteran marines wear white helmets, and their veteran sergeants wear silver. Only a chosen few of the Chapter wear the ceremonial gold helmets, namely the First Captain, Chapter Champion, and the current Honored Sergeant of the Drakengard. All the marines in the Chapter wear bone trim on their shoulder pads, and denote their company with a number on their left knee
Chapter Badge[]
The Astral Drakes' Chapter badge is a profile of a silver stylized dragon head facing forwards, centered on a field of dark blue. It is depicted in a similar style to the Chapter badge of the Black Dragons.
Relations[]
Allies[]
- Ryza (Forge World)
Enemies[]
Gallery[]
Sources[]
- 1: Codex: Orks (8th Edition), pg. 69 — Ghazghkull Thraka