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This article, Iron Guard, was written by EliphasVlka. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
- "No matter with which force they will crash against our walls, we shall stand"
- — Chapter Master Hyperion
The Iron Guard is a Loyalist Successor Chapter of Adeptus Astartes created from the lineage of the stoic Imperial Fists during the 23rd Founding, to so-called 'Sentinel Founding'. These Scions of Dorn are known for their extensive use of both regular and heavy bolter weaponry as well as their distinct lack of Assault Marines.
Chapter History
Creation
- "Our souls are like our walls, impenetrable."
- — Banoclès, Ironclad Dreadnought of the 3rd Company.
The Iron Guard is a loyalist Successor Chapter created during the latter part of the 37th Millennium during the 23rd 'Sentinel' Founding in response to the destruction of various chapter.
The Beginning
One of the first battles fought by the Iron Guard was against the notorious Magma Hounds, a Chaos Warband on the hive world Keshovia. During that battle two of the six squads send had fallen and had been killed. The Forces of Chaos had laid a ambush and had drew in the over zealous astartes. Outnumbered and outgunned, the loyalist troops made an attempt to distract the Chaos Forces surrounding them, destroying a near by factory. The four remaining Iron Guard squads used this moment to fall back. Only three squads managed to survive and escape the hive planet which was now completely taken over by Chaos. The names of those fallen battle brothers of the Iron Guard who had sacrificed themselves would now forever be written in the Hall of Heroes.
Chapter Home World
The home world of the chapter is Nelmarth, a notable Imperial feudal world located in the Utima Segmentum. Nelmarth is comprised of a large continent in a ocean with a great sea inside of it and a multitude of small rivers. On the opposite side of this sea is a massive desert with a salt zone in its center, probably an ancient dried up sea.
Society
On this world the society is organised in the form of big medieval cities. In the center of one of the biggest cities, Khar'tuzad, it is a fortress, inside of it it is the fortress-monastery of the chapter and the 'Star Tower'. Attached to the fortress-monastery there is the 'Steel Dungeon' from where Hyperion rules the planet and the chapter. This is also the location of the 'Hall of Heroes', where those honoured dead who have valiantly fallen in service to the Imperium are memorialised in large, lifelike statues. This is also where the relics of the Chapter are carefully stored. The librarium is located in the Star Tower.
Chapter Organisation
The Iron Guard are nominally Codex-adherent, however, due to Chapter tradition and heavily influenced by their home world's feudal culture, the Chapter organises themselves much differently than standard Codex-compliant Chapter. Contrary to the tenants of the Codex Astartes, the Iron Guard does not utilise Assault Marines as the Chapter such formations as suicidal and dishonourable. Also unique to this Chapter is that, contrary to many other chapters, the majority of the Iron Guard squads are composed of demi-squads consisting of five Astartes rather than the usual squad consisting of ten Astartes.
Of the 20 squads of the scout company 5 are composed only of snipers, when they will became Astartes theses marines will form "long range" special squads in the battle companies. The 4th Company is known for having a lot of Breacher Squads, the Chapter's elite line-breaking formations, who utilise hardened power armour and large combat shields. These formations are used in first lines and to protect strategic places.
The chapter is also known to employ more Ironclad Dreadnought than standard Dreadnought patterns. They also utilise a higher than normal amound of Razorbacks rather than Rhino armoured personnel carriers, seeing them as more useful for their siege role.
Primaris Marine
Even with the help of Roboute Guilliman the chapter don't use Primaris Space Marines, the chapter see them not like real marines.
Assault Marines
The chapter don't use assault marines because they see them as crazy suicidary forces.
Breacher Squads
They use hardened armors and shields, they are used in first lines and to protect strategic places.
Officer Ranks
Specialist Ranks
- Star Priest - Chaplain equivalent.
- Steel Master - Techmarine equivalent.
- Historian - Chief Librarian equivalent.
- Long Range - Scout/long range Tactical Marine.
Line Ranks
Order of Battle
Headquarters
Companies
- 1st Company "Steel-forged", commanded by Ubéron
- 2nd Company, commanded by Cénatus Ovin
- 3rd Company, commanded by Calliadès
- 4th Company, commanded by Ordvund (Ancient "long range")
- 5th Company, commanded by Arcalien
- 6th Company, commanded by Camachus
- 7th Company, commanded by Metete "the angry"
- 8th Company, commanded by Libéria
- 9th Company, commanded by Fularkh
- 10th Company "Malleables", commanded by Lingram "the seeker"
Chapter Recruitment
Being close to the people, the Iron Guard is recruits mostly the locals of its city, but any family from the different cities can send their children to the chapter. The majority of the recruits are apprentice soldiers or children of the soldiers (for the "Long Range", in the families of the crossbowmen), the Apothecaries comes from healers families. For example an Astartes who sees a black smith apprentice can send him pass the tests to become a marines (or in that case an Techmarine).
Chapter Beliefs
Chapter Gene-Seed
The Iron Guard gene-seed is very stable and has never exhibited signs of mutation. However, over time they have lost the use of two of the special organs produced by the basic Astartes genetic template: the Betcher's Gland, which allows a Space Marine to produce poisonous/acidic spittle, and the Sus-an Membrane, which allows an Astartes to enter a state of suspended animation.
Combat Doctrine
The chapter is known because they build fortresses and they are good at holding a place, they also prefer use bolt weapons because they see them as more warlike.
The Purification
An astartes who have commit a fault, caused the death of dozens innocents or if Astartes have died by his fault have to pass the Purification.
To repent he must fight without armor, during a campaign of the armies of Nelmarth, if he survives he can regain his place is the chapter (even if they fight simple humans, few survives).
The Judgement
In addition to their duties, the captains apply the justice of their city during important acts and their judgements are exemplars, like when Tavulnd the traitor have learn it: he have try to make a militia against the Iron Guard, the sentence was: the families of the traitors were hanged, in starting with the youngest children.
Deathwatch Service
Notable Members
- Tricondrius - First master of the chapter, according to legends it was cold but fair, he won the right to the chapter to own their planet after having cleaned a system close to the T'au.
- Karzhani - Second master of the chapter, it was he who allowed the chapter to have the Helm of the watchman. Under his leadership the chapter fought many times with other sons of Dorn.
- Hyperion - Current master of the chapter, he was once captain of the third company. He is pragmatic and has experienced several desperate situations which has always strengthened his determination to protect the Imperium.
Tricondrius
Fisrt chapter master, the legends says that he is cold-hearted but right, he earn the right to settle on Nelmarth after purging a neighborhood from T'au.
Karzhani
Second chapter master, he earn the Warden's Helmet. During its command the chapter fought many times with other Dorn's descendants.
Hyperion
Actual chapter master, he was the captain of the third company. He is pragmatic and have won on many despair battles,with the fall of Cadia he is more determined than ever to protect the Imperium.
Chapter Fleet
Chapter Relics
- The Warden's Helmet - A helmet that once belonged to a Black Templars champion who fought at many times with the Iron Guard's second Chapter Master - Master Karzhani. During a stressful battle the campion was killed, in his last moments he gifted his helmet to Karzhani, who was his comrade and friend. Since then, this helmet became the helmet who each chapter master have worn.
- The Crusader's Mace - A relic, master-crafted Thunder Hammer that was forged by the ancient Steel-Master (the master Faramis). Inside the hammer there is a rib of the first chapter master. This weapon is sacred to the chapter and it says that it's aura galvanizes the troops and allows the weapon to break bones more easily.
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
The chapter marks its companies with a number on their right knee, but don't use squad symbol.
Relations
Allies
Enemies
Notable Quotes
By the Iron Guard
- "Our souls are like our walls, inbreakable"
- —Banocles, dreadnought ironclad from the 3rd company
About the Iron Guard
