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This article, Sons of Achilles, was written by Chapter Master Nexus. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
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This article, Sons of Achilles, is currently under active construction. The author, Chapter Master Nexus, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
The Sons of Achilles are a 3rd Founding semi-Codex compliant Chapter dating back to the start of the 32nd Millennium. They are currently based in the Trojan Sector of the Segmentum Obscurus, dangerously close to the newly formed Cicatrix Maledictum. Records of their gene-lineage have been lost to time, though they themselves claim Roboute Guilliman as their gene-father. The Ultramarines themselves have yet to acknowledge this.
The Chapter has remained reclusive throughout it's millennia of existence, preferring to keep to themselves and only interacting with other Imperial bodies when necessary. The only organization that can lay claim to having something akin to close relations with them are the Omega Knights Chapter, whom are currently engaged alongside the Sons of Achilles in a stalemate against the combined warbands of Chaos Warlords Xerxes and Mordred.
Chapter History
The Sons of Achilles are a reclusive yet belligerent Chapter who have a long history of warfare within the Segmentum Obscurus dating back to the earliest days of the Imperium, back when Primarchs still walked amongst mankind long before the resurrection of Roboute Guilliman in recent years. In the earliest days of the 32nd Millennium, Primarch Rogal Dorn brought forth a proposal to the High Lords of Terra for the founding of a new generation of Astartes Chapters to reinforce those already present and bring order to a still fragmented Imperium. The Sons of Achilles were one of these many Chapters, created with the purpose of persecuting threats to the Imperium in the galactic north, the Segmentum Obscurus.
Earliest Days (M32)
Imperial records date the origins of the Sons of Achilles towards the start of the 32nd Millennium, being one of countless new Chapters formed during the centuries before the events of the War of the Beast. From whom they drew gene-stock is unknown, though it is believed they were formed from the stock of the Ultramarines, however this has never been confirmed. Little is known of their earliest activities within the Imperium save that their Chapter persecuted the enemies of the Imperium across Segmentum Obscurus for more than a century post-Founding, utilizing their sheer brutality to enforce Imperial compliance on countless worlds, bringing death and ruin to any who dared oppose them.
The Chapter, having earned a reputation for its ruthlessness in battle against both outside threats and rebelling Imperial citizens, gained the ire of countless other Chapters who viewed them as savages who reveled in violence and destruction. This could not have been farther from the truth as the Sons took no joy in their actions, merely completing their objectives in the most effective ways possible to ensure the stability of Imperial rule across the segmentum.
Discovery of Thessaly (103.M32)
This continued for over a century until the Chapter took pause in the newly reclaimed Trojan Sector which had been separated from Imperial rule during the Horus Heresy. Several weeks after arriving the newly discovered Feral World of Thessaly, a planet somewhat resembling Ancient Terra having gone unnoticed by past Imperial and Traitor operations, drew the attention of the Chapter when the Gladius-Frigate Indomitable suffered damage from an emergency warp translation when it's Geller Fields had collapsed, depositing the vessel above the world and in the path of an incoming meteor storm, the countless bits of space debris smashing the damaged vessel apart as it's systems were failing. The only survivors were the onboard Astartes and those few serfs that had made it to the sole Thunderhawk in the hangar, all else perishing as the vessel finally came apart before it could transmit a distress signal to the fleet.
The Thunderhawk itself did not make it far before suffering engine damage from the shockwave of the explosion and the debris that hammered it, causing the gunship to crash in the planets northern hemisphere. Only the marines on board survived the crash through sheer force of will and their gene-enhanced strength, finding themselves near an immense mountainscape, their transport having crashed in an arid plain. The Astartes suffered casualties on the first night of their un-planned arrival when their sole Techamrine was attempting repairs on a distress beacon, the perimeter sentries falling victim to a rampaging beast that resembled the hydras of old Terran mythos, the creature emerging from a nearby cave formation and tearing the marines apart, proving immune to their fire. Effecting an immediate retreat from the site, scarce several of the twelve Sons onboard escaped into the mountains where it was unable to pursue. Days of travel and evasion of similar monstrosities led the Sons to an unexpected sight, human civilization.
After making contact with the local population, who had initially mistook them for deities of some kind, the marines discovered the world they had landed upon was isolated from the Imperium and had no means of contacting their fleet. With the only option being to return to the Thunderhawk and repair the abandoned transmitter a deal was struck. The City States militia would aid the Astartes in slaying the Hydra that has been plaguing their trade routes, and in exchange one of the Sons would aid what was left of their forces in exterminating an encampment of raiders that has been harassing the settlement, but had proven too challenging for the militia to handle alone.
Over the course of the next several days the combined forces of the Sons and City Militia brought ruin to both the Hydra and raiders, the Hydra falling to decapitating strikes from the marines while their allies burned the stumps of the heads to prevent them from re-growing, while the raiders were slaughtered in the first hour of combat, the lone Son sent to deal with them stepping out of their ruined encampment covered in blood and ash. The annihilation of both threats gave them reprieve, and within another solar day the transmitter had been repaired and the fleet summoned.
Chapter Master Achilles, whether through fate or coincidence sharing the same name as one of the greatest warriors in the populations mythos, saw the value of Thessaly. After testing countless natives the Chapters Chaplains and Apothecaries determined the genetic and mental purity of the population to be free of deviancy despite their long isolation from the rest of Humanity. Their purity, along with their war like nature and ability to not only survive but thrive on a world filled with monsters from ancient legend made them ideal aspirant material, and with time future Battle-Brothers. The planets native population of hostile entities also provided his Chapter with an ideal testing ground, the savage beasts being perfect for the Sons to test their combat prowess. Finally the world held a strategic position near the border of Segmentum's Solar and Obscurus. It was with these factors in mind that the world was claimed for the Imperium by right of conquest, Chapter Master Achilles founding a new home for his Sons.
War of the Beast (544-546.M32)
During the War of the Beast, taking place in the mid 32nd Millennium, the Sons of Achilles were stretched thin across the territories surrounding their home sector as the Beast's WAAAGH! raged across the Imperium. Throughout the conflict the Sons managed to hold the Orks back on countless worlds thanks to their sheer brutality in battle, though this was not enough as countless other worlds still fell before the green tide. Eventually the Sons were forced back into the Trojan Sector to defend their home territory, unable to lend aid elsewhere without risking being stretched too thin and overwhelmed by the greenskins. Eventually the Sons would regain the initiative against the xenos after the Third Battle of Ullanor where the Beast of Beasts was finally slain by Lord Commander Thane and his strike force. The Chapter swept across the entire Trojan Sector and purged every Ork they came across, before repeating the process across the territories surrounding them, bringing death and destruction to the enemy for daring to strike at the Imperium.
Unfortunately the Sons would suffer one final casualty before the threat was abated, Lord Achilles himself falling on the world of Prioris. The Chapter Master was set upon by a pair of immense Warbosses after being isolated from the rest of his Chapter, and though he managed to lay low both foes, he reportedly succumbed to his own injuries. However these reports are considered to be false as Lord Achilles was reported in Imperial records a few years later, once more leading his Chapter into battle.
The Heliosian Xenocide (899.M32)
+++Records Loading+++
+++Records Accessed+++
+++Accessing File Primaris+++
+++REDACTION level interrupt detected+++
+++Incoming transmission detected. Source: Unknown+++
Attention Imperial citizen! By order of His most holy Inquisition all records pertaining to this event have been sealed under clearance level Omega Vermilion. Further attempts to access these records without proper clearance will result in immediate termination. May Imperial justice account in all balance, the Emperor Protects.
+++Transmission End+++
+++Accessing File Primaris+++
+++Memetic kill agent activated. Life signs no longer detected.+++
The Nova Terra Interregnum (Mid-34th Millennium - Mid-35th Millennium)
Imperial records of the Sons of Achilles and their activities between M32 and M34 are currently non-existent, the Chapter appearing to have vanished from Imperial history altogether until the events of the Nova Terra Interregnum in which forces of the Chapter took part in various warzones against the secessionist forces, bringing back over a dozen separate worlds into the Imperial fold. The most notable of these would be the assault of Crechan, an Agri-world vital to local Imperial supply lines taken over by secessionist PDF and Imperial Guard forces, keeping the local civilian population in check. A deepstrike attack was launched on the planetary capital by the 1st Company, led by Chapter Master Achilles himself, resulting in the slaughter of all traitor forces present with no mercy shown even to those who had laid their arms down in surrender, such mercy not in line with Chapter doctrine, nor was it warranted upon the discovery of countless massacred civilians that had attempted to resist the traitors takeover. This act demoralized secessionist forces planet wide as it was broadcast live, resulting in the now leaderless rebels surrendering, giving the Imperium a swift victory on the world without the need to commit valuable troops, resources, and time to it's recapture.
While certainly not the most glorious battle in Chapter history, it was celebrated by the over-stretched Imperial Guard who now had a reliable supply line of foodstuffs to feed their troops in the region.
Ages of Apostasy & Redemption (M36-M37)
The Age of Apostasy was a time of great turmoil in the Imperium and one in which the Sons of Achilles, surprisingly, played little part. Unconcerned with the internal politics of Terra, the Sons continued to wage war against countless threats to the Imperium in their region of space. It was not until the final years of Goge Vandire's reign that the chapter became involved to some degree, when a fleet from the Fateris Templar had arrived seeking to destroy the Son's and those worlds under their authority for daring to reject the authority of Vandire, when the chapter had, forcefully, turned away attempts by the High Lord to impose his authority upon the population of the Trojan Sector.
Vandire's men-at-arms entered the sector and made course for Thessaly, reaching the homeworld of the Sons of Achilles and faced no resistance in orbit. Making landfall near Shield Ridge itself, the Frateris Templar made the long march towards the ancient Fortress-Monastery, believing the Astartes had fled in fear of their "holy judgement". Their arrogance proved to be their undoing as they failed to predict the fate that awaited them.
Attacking suddenly and from all sides, the Sons of Achilles tore through the ranks of the thousands of Frateris Templar in a brutal orgy of melee combat, spear and shield impaling and bashing while blades and fists slashed and pummeled the disoriented and now-terrified mortals. In their retreat many were cut down by automated turrets which made easy work of the clustered groups of panicking troops, while mines were remotely activated and tore chunks out of their formations. Those that had made it back to their landing site met no relief, as the thousands of Thessalian warriors hiding in wait in the nearby country had swarmed the landing ships alongside the Neophytes of the 10th Company and slaughtered their crews, trapping the Frateris Templar in a pincer that saw them slain to a man.
In orbit the Frateris Templar fleet met no further success as Chapter warships and vessels of Battlefleet Trojan emerged from hiding on the far-side of the planet, charging headlong into the opposing vessels in their own melee, Strike Cruisers and Battleships delivering violent broadsides, while boarding parties disabled Warp Drives and slaughtered crews. In the end, not one of the Frateris Templar sent to deliver judgement unto the Sons of Achilles and the Trojan Sector survived, having been led into a trap that saw them meet a grisly end, much in-line with Chapter tactics. Such was the fear caused by this that no further forays into their space were launched.
In the centuries to come, the Sons took part in the mass series of crusades started throughout the Imperium in what became known as the Age of Redemption, the Imperium seeking to heal it's wounds and undo the damage caused by Vandire's mad reign, joining Imperial forces operating in the north-western region of the galaxy. Little is known of exact campaigns undertaken by the Sons of Achilles during this time period, only that when the companies began to return to their homeworld they had brought along with them thousands of war trophies from traitors and xenos alike.
Macharian Heresy (400.M41 - 470.M41)
The Sons of Achilles were one of the hundred Astartes Chapters summoned to bring order to the countless worlds conquered in the Macharian Crusade, now fallen to rebels and traitors in what became known as the Macharian Heresy. Dispatched were the 2nd and 5th companies, who saw to a number of worlds being brought back under Imperial control and the slaughter of countless heretics.
Gyan Massacre (997.M41)
The Gyan Massacre was a campaign undertaken by the Sons of Achilles to liberate the Hive World of Gyan from a rogue planetary governor and those PDF regiments that had sworn loyalty to him. Loyalist forces on-planet had been either destroyed or pushed into the toxic wastes and away from the Hive cities themselves, granting the traitors full control of the manufacturing capabilities of the entire planet. A campaign of terror was waged against the rebels as the Sons of Achilles deployed in full on the planets surface and began the extermination of all traitors, launching daring strikes on the highly defended gates of each Hive to gain access, or maneuvering through ancient tunnels leading to the Underhives to strike from below. When the campaign was concluded no less than three Hives had suffered near total casualties, with all traitor forces being put to the sword by the Sons and those Loyalist forces still on-world. Governor Hector, the heretic responsible for leading the world into rebellion to begin with, and any surviving rebel commanders were given a public execution in front of all gathered Loyalist forces at the capital, Chapter Master Achilles personally dealing with them in a quick, yet brutal manner, demonstrating the fate of all those who dare jeopardize the Emperor's realm.
13th Black Crusade (999.M41)
The Sons of Achilles committed eight companies, almost 80% of their chapter, to the 13th Black Crusade, joining the Space Marine Crusade reinforcing the beleaguered defenders with waves of fresh Astartes reinforcements. The 2nd Company was dispatched to Cadia itself, taking up residence in an outlying Kasr on Cadia Tertius, while the remaining companies were divided between the Belis Corona and Agrippina systems as directed by Great Wolf Logan Grimnar. The 13th Black Crusade would prove to be a devastating blow to the Sons of Achilles over the coming months.
On Cadia herself, the 2nd Company, the Spears of Thessaly, suffered extreme casualties over months of fighting. All but several battle-brothers perished, including former Captain Hermacles, when the Will of Eternity slammed into Cadia Tertius, most if not all Imperial defenders and Chaos besiegers wiped out by the impact. It was only by some seemingly divine act that saw Apothecary Helios, Sergeant Agammemnon and two of his squad survive among the rubble with grievous wounds, their survival only being due to surviving Cadian Shock Troops defending their location long enough for a distress signal to be received by Thunderhawks of the Nova Wolves Chapter getting ready to depart, the defenders of the Hyperion Sector coming to the aid of their cousin-Chapter and evacuating those few survivors among the Sons of Achilles and Imperial Guard to the Strike Cruiser Lux Et Victoria awaiting in orbit, departing for the Belis Corona System once reaching the edge of the Cadian System under the watchful guns of the Phalanx.
The 13th Black Crusade would prove devastating for the Chapter, with heavy losses being sustained across all companies and the loss of almost the entirety of the 2nd Company. As a result a fall-back order would be issued, the Sons of Achilles rallying back at Thessaly to regroup and begin to rebuild their numbers, while also defending their territories from the rampant Chaos incursions with the opening of the Great Rift.
Trojan Invasion (M42)
The Trojan Invasion is an ongoing series of Chaos-led incursions within the Trojan Sector in the years following the fall of Cadia, stretching the already battered Sons of Achilles thinly across their territories. None of these incursions had proved to be connected in any meaningful way, though investigations by Inquisitorial agents led the Imperium to believe the Chaos Warlord known only as Xerxes may have been the one responsible for orchestrating them in an effort to keep local Imperial forces off-balance for an unknown reason.
It would only be through the efforts of Inquisitor Janus of the Ordo Hereticus that the truth would be revealed. The attacks had been orchestrated by Xerxes, designed to keep Imperial attention on the Trojan Sector and away from the Nexus, a barely stable warp corridor leading through the Cicatrix Maledictum and into the Imperium Sanctus, a vital link between the sundered halves of the Imperium. The results of this investigation, and the subsequent conflict, would come to be known as the Nexus Standoff.
Nexus Standoff (M42)
As of current, the Sons of Achilles and Omega Knights Chapters, alongside elements of those Nova Wolves from Cadia, are engaged in a stalemate with Traitor forces at the entrance to the Nexus Passage, both forces vying for control of one of the few relatively stable warp corridors between both halves of the shattered Imperium.
Notable Campaigns
- War of the Beast (544-546.M32)
- Heliosian Xenocides (Unknown Date.M32)
- Nova Terra Interregnum (Unknown Date.M34)
- Age of Apostasy and Age of Redemption (M36)
- Suppression of the Macharian Heresy (400-470.M41)
- Gyan Massacre (Unknown Date.M41)
- 13th Black Crusade (999.M41)
- Trojan Invasion (Unknown Date.M42)
- Nexus Standoff (Unknown Date.M42)
Chapter Homeworld
The world of Thessaly is home to a long isolated fragment of humanity, lost to their brothers and sisters for millennia since the days of Old Night, having eventually devolved into a Bronze Age tier civilization. It serves as the current homeworld of the Sons of Achilles Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, as well as their recruiting grounds from which all of their aspirants are drawn from the many warring city states across the surface. Each city state is functionally it's own nation, with many constantly shifting between allying and warring amongst each other, breeding highly skilled and effective warriors worthy of consideration for being raised as Aspirants.
Thessaly is a beautiful world consisting of three large continents surrounded by vast oceans dotted by hundreds of islands, with a climate and geography that can only be compared to the Mediterranean Basin of Ancient Terra, the worlds climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool winters. It is also very capricious with sudden heavy rain or bouts of high winds.
The local geography complements the climate well, with pristine crystal clear oceans, stunning white and black sandy beaches with immense cliff faces and rocky shores, rolling hills and high mountain ranges, vast forests, thick scrub, semi-arid steppes and expansive grasslands rich with wildlife, as well as wetlands appearing at regular intervals ranging from coastal lagoons to vast deltas along the coastlines. Man has left its mark across much of the landscape, the environments aromatic flora and rich biodiversity is a direct result of millennia of human activities. Thessaly's natural beauty is considered a stark contrast to it's inhabitants, the warring human city states and the militant Sons of Achilles.
The Sons, their Chapter having taken inspiration from ancient records of the warriors of Greece, based in what was known as Europa, bear a resemblance to the mighty demi-gods of myth worshiped by the people, earning them near instant respect and loyalty from the populace who view them as emissaries of the pantheon they worship. Working to take advantage of this inherent loyalty and the local mythology, the Chaplains of the Sons of Achilles incorporated the Imperial Creed into the local religion, showing the king of the gods Zeus as the Emperor of Mankind, the other gods various Primarchs and heroes of the Chapter to be revered. This effort has seamlessly integrated the people of Thessaly with the ideals of the wider Imperium and has spared them from more than one investigation by the Ecclesiarchy and Inquisition.
Fortress-Monastery
The fortress-monastery of the Sons of Achilles, Shield Ridge, also known as Koryfogrammí Aspídas in the local language, is a mighty bastion situated on the rocky peaks overlooking the city-state of Phthia. Shield Ridge commands power and authority, serving as both a home for the warriors of the Sons of Achilles, but also as a pilgrim site for the people of Thessaly, whom regard this place with reverence as it is the home of their worlds mighty demigods, a place to offer tribute and reverence.
The fortress itself is built throughout the entire mountainscape, utilizing much of the local geography in it's design. Immense walls bar entry from all sides, entry only possible via aerial transportation, the pilgrim road leading from the outskirts of Phthia to the mighty gates of Shield Ridge, or one of the many secret entrances dotted across the mountain. The fortress-monastery is covered in defensive emplacements, with anti-air batteries placed along the mountaintop, while the pilgrim road is lined with bastions, bunkers, trenches, weapons emplacements and remotely-activated mines. Built into the sides of the mountain and leading into the depths of the fortress-monastery are numerous landing pads and hangar bays, facilitating the arrival and departure of various transports at all times, protected by automated servo-turrets and reinforced blast doors.
The main entrance of Shield Ridge is an immense gate of reinforced adamantium and ceramite, sentries and automated weapon emplacements keeping constant vigil for any approaching threats and keeping track of the fortress-monasteries many visitors, while the many secret entrances are guarded more covertly, concealed by sensor-dampeners and cameleoline, their doors made of the same material as the main gate and accessible only by the unique genetic-code of the resident Astartes, with any unauthorized personnel attempting to gain entrance immediately being dealt with by concealed tarantula guns. Scanning the horizon and guarding against airborne and orbital threats are the numerous macro-cannon, defense laser and missile batteries littered across the area, forming a withering hail of death for any foes seeking to approach from the skies.
On top of these already impressive defenses is one of the fortress-monasteries greatest assets, it's void shield array, covering the entire base in a multi-layered shield capable of withstanding intense punishment from assailing foes for extended periods of time before starting to collapse, making this already impregnable fortress even more of a challenge for an invading force to capture.
Moving past a look at it's defenses, the appearance of Shield Ridge is as grand as it's weaponry. The mountain it is sat upon resides in the coastal regions, situated behind the coastal city-state of Phthia, granting it a commanding presence over the surrounding region and an excellent view on all approaches. The ocean glows a brilliant orange in the late afternoon, reflecting the armour of the Sons of Achilles, a truly amazing sight to behold from up on high, the terrain around Shield Ridge heavily resembling the Mediterranean regions of Ancient Terra, known for their beauty. The Fortress-Monastery itself is inspired heavily by local architecture, it;s center fortress more resembling an immense temple, surrounded by countless bastions, ramparts, towers and other facilities, this site look like a small, heavily fortified city in it's own right than anything else.
The center fortress is known as the Hall of Warriors, serving as both a large assembly area for the Chapter and the throne room of Chapter Master Achilles, the symbol of the Chapter impressed on the floor with ancient banners strewn in-between statues of the Chapter's greatest warriors and leaders. This facility also houses the Librarius and Reclusiam, both sections of the Hall containing the ancient knowledge of the Chapter and it's many relics from millennia of service, ranging from trophies taken from slain foes to the personal heraldry of the Chapter's mightiest champions over the course of it's existence.
The rest of the fortress-monastery is littered with various forges and armouries manned by the Techmarines and their adepts forging new weapons of war and maintaining ancient technology, armouries and storage silos stocked from floor to ceiling with arms and munitions, hangars lined with countless war machines, and barracks housing the numerous serfs and astartes on-site.
Perhaps the most well defended of all these locations though is the Apothecarion. Stark white and sterile, filled with Apothecaries and Serfs at work studying new biological discoveries, with ranks of heavy bolter turrets silently tracking every moving target, guarding the heavily shielded entrance to the stasis-well, containing the Chapters supply of gene-seed, as well as its future.
The final location of Shield Ridge yet to be listed would be the funeral pyres at it's highest point. Perhaps the most sacred location within the fortress-monastery save the Reclusiam itself, it is here that the bodies of those whom have given their lives for the chapter are burned, their ashes cast out across the winds so that they may join the Emperor in the next life, each Company Efimérios leading their Brothers and their mortal serfs in chants of mourning for the fallen.
Chapter Organisation
Officer Ranks
- Kyríarchos - Chapter Master
- Lokhagos - Captain
Specialist Ranks
- Midikí - Apothecary equivalent.
- Efimérios - Chaplain equivalent.
- Plastográfos - Techmarine equivalent.
- Lógios - Librarian equivalent.
Veteran Ranks
- Veterános Lochías - Veteran Sergeant equivalent.
- Veterános - Veteran equivalent.
- Lochías - Sergeant equivalent.
Line Ranks
- Hoplite - Battle-Brother equivalent.
- Proskopos - Scout Marine equivalent.
- Archários - Neophyte equivalent.
Specialist Formations
Honour Guard
The Honour Guard of the Sons of Achilles Chapter are the sworn guardians of both the Chapter Master and the Chapter Banner, while also enforcing the Chapter Masters will when assigned to other Company's to be the eyes and ears of the Chapter Master.
To become an Honour Guard is to display Courage, Honour, and Loyalty above the normal call in a given combat situation. Each Honour Guard is equipped with ornate Master-Crafted Artificer Power Armour, each possessing a component of the Power Armour worn by past heroes of the Chapter, while they are also given free reign of the Chapter Armoury for their weapons of choice, though most usually settle for dual Master-Crafted Power Swords and a twin Master-Crafted Bolt Pistol set with specialist ammo.
Among the Honour Guard three individuals stand out, the Chapters Ancient, the Chapter Champion, and the Honour Guard Apothecary. The Chapters Ancient is the bearer of the sacred Banner of Nexus Prime, while the Chapter Champion is the mightiest of the Honour Guard often acting as the personal bodyguard of the Chapter Master and also being his envoy, and the Honour Guard Apothecary who has the sole job to see to the physical well being of the Honour Guard so other Apothecaries may tend to the other wounded Battle-Brothers.
Sons of Achilles Librarians
Like their fellow Astartes Chapters, the Sons of Achilles also maintain a Librarium of potent psykers who are highly talented and trained to master the power of the Warp at the highest levels. Each Chapter selects its Librarians in its own way, either from seed worlds, as it does with the bulk of its Initiates, or from the ranks of gifted psykers brought to the Scholastica Psykana. Most Chapters train and test chosen psykers following the ancient ways laid out in the Codex Astartes. Librarians of the Sons of Achilles are trained in this way, and, with some minor variances, have been taught to live by the word of the Codex unless their Judgement and Instinct proves to be sounder.
Order of Battle
Like most Codex Astartes compliant Chapters, the Sons of Achilles are divided into 10 companies of 100 Space Marines each. Each company is led by a Captain of the Chapter, who -- in addition to his company command -- is in charge of a particular aspect of the Chapter's logistics. Each Company is also given a Chaplain, Librarian, two Apothecaries, and Techmarines to assist them. Unlike standard Codex Chapters, the Sons of Achilles Company designation is not depicted on the Power Armour.
Headquarters
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Armoury |
Reclusiam |
Apothecarion |
Librarius |
Fleet Command | |
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Companies
|
Veteran Company |
Battle Companies | |||
| 1st Company
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2nd Company
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3rd Company
"Phalanx Wardens" |
4th Company
"The Redoutable" |
5th Company
"Hydra Slayers" |
| Reserve Companies | Scout Company | ||||
| 6th Company
"Herculeans" |
7th Company
"Heralds of Zeus" |
8th Company
"Colchian Swords" |
9th Company
"Apollo's Warriors" |
10th Company
"The Blades of Hades" | |
Chapter Beliefs & Culture
Beliefs
The Chapter believes in the Imperial Creed, but mainly follow a variant of it native to their Homeworld of Thessaly, one that the Sons of Achilles Chaplains created in order to more easily incorporate the people into the worship of the Emperor, called the Imperial Pantheon. Venerating the Emperor above all others, the Imperial Pantheon describes him as a great and mighty Warrior-King who rules over the Olympic Pantheon originally worshipped by the people of Thessaly, each of the 12 major Gods and the numberless minor Gods being compared to disciples and saints of the Emperor. It also teaches that while they should be respected and honoured, none are to be treated with any more reverence than the Emperor himself who stands above all others. Upon discovery of this, the Ecclesiarchy was less than thrilled to see that Gods besides the Emperor were acknowledged, but allowed the Imperial Pantheon to continue as it follows the several basic tenets laid out by them:
- That the God-Emperor of Mankind once walked among men in their physical form and that He is and always has been the one, true god of Humanity.
- That the God-Emperor of Mankind is the one true god of Mankind, regardless of the previous beliefs held by any man or woman.
- It is the duty of the faithful to purge the Heretic, beware the psyker and mutant, and abhor the alien.
- Every Human being has a place within the God-Emperor's divine order.
- It is the duty of the faithful to unquestionably obey the authority of the Imperial government and their superiors, who speak in the divine Emperor's name.
This is not to say that the words of the Sons of Achilles Chaplaincy did not sway their decision also.
Also of note in regards to the Chapter's beliefs, they display an incredibly high amount of xenophobia, much more so than many other Chapters in the Imperium. They have been observed to ruthlessly pursue and annihilate any trace of aliens encountered without mercy or remorse, even those who wish to temporarily ally with the Sons such as the Eldar or Tau (When it suits the purposes of such races), this behavior only somewhat nullified when confronted by those of higher authority in the Imperium or fellow Astartes.
Culture
The Sons of Achilles have adopted a rigid warrior culture from their Homeworld of Thessaly, as well as the many Ancient Grecian traditions, beliefs, values, customs, and general way of life displayed by the inhabitants of this world. Upon entering a Sons of Achilles vessel or facility, one would believe they have travelled far into Ancient Terra's past with what they observe. Even the panoply of the Sons of Achilles reflects the culture of Thessaly, often decorated with unique artistic styles and images depicting ancient battles across their surfaces.
It is due to all this that while the Sons of Achilles are ruthless and utterly merciless killers on the battlefield, they also immerse themselves in subjects such as philosophy, astronomy, mythology, religion, and politics displaying an intellectual side to the Sons that stands in stark contrast to their battlefield appearance, ensuring that any of their number could easily hold their own in a diplomatic setting, in the rare occasion they ever conduct such an action, or when debating with the likes of the Adeptus Ministorum or Inquistion.
Chapter Gene-Seed
The gene-seed of the Sons of Achilles has an unknown origin, though rumors indicate a possible relation to the Ultramarines, making the Sons of Achilles descendants of Roboute Guilliman's gene-lineage. The Ultramarines have yet to acknowledge this. The Sons gene-seed has very few mutations if any, falling within acceptable margins. The only recorded consistent mutation is a gradual shift of the iris to either a vibrant green or dark brown coloration.
Chapter Recruitment
Primarily recruiting from Thessaly, their Chapter Homeworld, the Sons draw in aspirants from the many city-states across the world, emissaries of the Chapter overseeing tournaments of strength and endurance involving hundreds of boys from all families, noble or not, for the Sons of Achilles do not care for ones background so long as the recruit in question meets with the qualities they are searching for.
These tournaments can last days or weeks depending on how many potential recruits attend, with the strongest and most cunning among them being chosen by the representatives of the Chapter to become aspirants. Those chosen will be afforded one final night with their people, to celebrate this great honour with kin before leaving in the morning, never to see them again. Upon arrival at Shield Ridge, they will begin the long and arduous process of joining the ranks of the Sons of Achilles, forced to complete trials to test their physical prowess, mental fortitude, genetic purity, and will to survive, competing against other potential recruits drawn from all over the planet. Not all of them survive.
To be considered for gene-seed implantation and made into a Neophyte of the Chapter, one must pass the following trials:
Trial of Strength
The first of these trials is the Trial of Strength, in which Aspirants are pitted against one another in duels, making use of swords, spears, shields, and other weaponry they are familiar with. These duels are unlike those of most other Chapters, in that they are fought until one Aspirant has drawn blood from the other, rather than to the death, which is seen as a needless waste of lives by the Sons of Achilles.
Those who prove themselves as worthy combatants are allowed to advance to the next trials, with those who have been found lacking being given one of three choices; Return to their home with the shame of failure, live out their lives as Chapter Serfs, or face a Battle-Brother of the Chapter in single combat. The first of these options almost never occurs for the shame they bring upon themselves and their family is worse than death, and the latter is likewise rarely chosen due to many young aspirants fearing the might of a full Astartes, if they were unable to defeat a fellow aspirant then what hope did they have against one of the Angels of Death. This means the majority tend to choose to serve as Chapter Serfs, though this role is seen as no less honorable due to the crucial role they play in the continued operation of their Astartes masters.
There are those however who choose the latter option, those with the determination and courage to prove themselves despite the hopelessness of the challenge before them. When they face the Astartes chosen in combat, they do so armed with some form of weaponry, while the Battle-Brother is unarmed and out of his power armour. Regardless it is a nigh impossible challenge, almost always resulting in defeat, and in some cases death to the sheer strength of the Space Marine. Indeed it is not whether the aspirant succeeds or not that they are judged, but rather by the magnitude of their defeat for they are not expected tow in, merely to last as long as possible and damage their foe in some way. Those who meet with approval are granted the right to pass on to the next trials, while those who manage to defeat their opponent are destined for greatness in their future.
Trial of Beasts
The second trial is the Trial of Beasts, in which aspirants are sent out into the outland regions of Thessaly's largest landmasses and oceans to hunt one of the many horrific beats lurking in these uninhabited regions, many of them alien in nature, though there are certain horrific mutant species human in origin also residing in these rarely traveled regions, such monstrosities are extremely dangerous and as such are perfect targets for aspirants to prove themselves. Deposited in the middle of nowhere, alone and without any kind of aid, they must track their pray and slay them, before making the journey back to Shield Ridge and providing evidence of their kill.
Trial of Will
The third trial is known as the Trial of Will, administered by the Librarians and Apothecaries of the Chapter. This trial will initially see the mental fortitude and willpower of the aspirants pushed to the extreme, Librarians intruding within their minds and subjecting them to all manner of horrific visions or irresistible temptations. They faces creatures dredged up from their own nightmares and phantoms, the Librarians who preside over the trial judging the very soul of those tested. Following the success of this phase of the trial, aspirants will be subjected to physical torture by Apothecaries to see how long they can last under stresses that would break normal men, often in the form of introducing native toxins into the bloodstream or simply having them beaten endlessly by Chapter Serfs. Should they last beyond what would be expected of mortal men, they will be judged worthy by those overseeing this trial and brought back to health by the Apothecarion.
If an aspirant should pass all his trials and meet with approval by the Chapter, he will be elevated to the ranks of the Neophytes and begin the process of gene-seed implantation, joining the ranks of the 10th Company and taking their first steps towards becoming full-fledged Battle-Brothers of the Chapter.
On some rare occasions, as was the case with Ancient Patroclus in his youth, the Sons of Achilles have been known to recruit potential aspirants from worlds across the Imperium during their campaigns, should they find a child that they find worthy of such an honour. Often these off-world aspirants will be given brief schooling in the culture of Thessaly and the language before arrival at Shield Ridge and their induction into the ranks of native aspirants, who often view them with suspicion and contempt, seeing them as little more than inferior foreigners. Over time these initial suspicions and feelings of hostility will fade away as they are bound together by brotherhood in the trials and the challenges that await them afterwards.
Combat Doctrine
The Sons of Achilles combat doctrine places an emphasis on close-quarters fighting and fear, with a specialization in siege warfare and attritional campaigns. This doctrine usually sees the Sons of Achilles conduct massed drop pod assaults on key targets of opportunity to cause as much panic in the enemies lines as possible, hundreds of Astartes falling from the skies in blazing pods and bursting forth from them; shield, spear and bolter raised to bring death to the enemy. Their style of combat focuses on causing fear through sheer brutality, often leaving enough of an impression on the enemy that they throw their arms down in surrender, unknowingly making themselves easier targets to be butchered by the Sons of Achilles ruthlessness.
This brutality does not come without purpose, for the fear instilled into the hearts of their enemies usually forces an immediate surrender or rout, breaking the will of what would have been a well disciplined and entrenched enemy. Efficiency and effectiveness is the overall focus of the Sons of Achilles, their actions shortening planetary compliances and stalemates that would have otherwise lasted years into mere months, if not weeks.
This strategy is not always effective however, and many times have the Sons of Achilles been forced into brutal attritional actions and long sieges of enemy bastions. This type of warfare is not foreign to the Sons, and they welcome the challenge presented to them, bringing forth a surprising amount of siege weaponry for a Chapter so focused on quick, decisive strikes. Once through the enemies defences, the Sons swarm through their adversaries in a tide of ceramite, spears and shields, utterly destroying the defenders within.
Deathwatch Service
The Sons of Achilles, like all other Astartes Chapters, have a history of seconding their warriors to the Deathwatch due to Ancient Oaths. These warriors will often be the most skilled and deadly of their Brothers when it comes to fighting Xenos, and it is seen as a great honour to be sent to serve in the Long Watch by the Chapter.
Due to the age of their chapter, the Sons of Achilles have sent hundreds of warriors to join the ranks of the Deathwatch over the millennia since the organizations inception. Those warriors sent have more than proven their worth against the countless horrors of the void, and those that return bring back extensive knowledge and wisdom to their Chapter from their time in the Long Watch, while also retaining secrets they were sworn to. A Watch Commander is almost always lucky to have a Son of Achilles among the ranks of his Watch Fortress, these seemingly cold warriors and tacticians more than proving their effectiveness in the field.
Notable Members
- Chapter Master Achilles, The Eternal - Chapter Master Achilles is the current Chapter Master, also known as Kyríarchos, of the Sons of Achilles. He is among their most ancient and revered warriors, somehow being active from the 32nd Millennium to the 42nd Millennium, no record of another Chapter Master taking over during this ten millennia period. While certainly not impossible, it is almost unheard of with the oldest recorded Chapter Master within the Adeptus Astartes being Lord Commander Dante of the Blood Angels at one-thousand years of age. For a Space Marine outside of a Dreadnought Sarcophagus to survive this long is highly unlikely, especially with the numerous reports of Chapter Master Achilles dying in combat over the course of the Chapter's history, yet somehow returning a short time later, corresponding to at least several other incidents known to wider Imperial record over the last ten Terran millennia where the Chapter Master of the Sons of Achilles is thought to have been killed only to later reappear. This, combined with the Sons of Achilles Chapter's reclusiveness and their access to long-forgotten technology from millennia past has led to rather extreme theories by some among other Chapters and the Inquisition that Achilles is not just a mysteriously long-lived Space Marine, but rather a series of them over the centuries, each one not only inheriting the name, titles, and panoply of Achilles as theorized but also, and blasphemously, an engramatically-enforced personality and recorded memories taken from many different lifetimes, similar to the same accusations leveled to the younger Minotaurs Chapter Master, Asterion Moloc. Such theories and rumors are almost always dismissed, many among the Ordos of the Inquisition and Adeptus Astartes seeing this as a slanderous accusation of the use of forbidden technology designed to smear the reputation of an ancient and venerated Chapter, even if they themselves also harbor such thoughts in secret.
- Patroclus, Ancient of the Chapter -
Chapter Fleet
The Sons of Achilles Chapter Fleet is as ancient and venerable as the Chapter itself, possessing many examples of old Imperial technology since lost to the Imperium over the millennia. As a result of it's age the fleet has a larger amount of warships than seen in most younger Chapters, capable of fielding a Strike Cruiser and several Escorts for each Company on deployment.
The Chapter Fleet of the Sons of Achilles is known to contain the following starships:
- Trireme (Chapter Barque) - The Trireme serves as the flagship of the Sons of Achilles fleet and is one of their oldest and most venerated vessels, personally bearing Chapter Master Achilles and Chapter Command on extended campaigns where the entire Chapter is deployed and serving as a mobile Fortress-Monastery and base of operations when the Sons are away from Shield Ridge for years, if not decades.
- Argo (Strike Cruiser) - The Argo is the Strike Cruiser attached to the 1st Company of the Sons of Achilles, The Eternal Shields, and has a long history of warfare. It's most famous for bearing the 1st towards the Frateris Templar fleet above Thessaly during the Reign of Blood, seeing to the delivery of the Terminator-clad Veterans onboard the warships of those zealots.
- Aquila (Strike Cruiser) - The Aquila serves as the Strike Cruiser of the 2nd Company, The Spears of Thessaly. Suffered heavy damage in the 13th Black Crusade during the orbital battle over Cadia, falling back to Belis Corona for repairs weeks before the death of Cadia on the order of Chapter Master Achilles.
- Paralos (Strike Cruiser)
- Salaminia (Strike Cruiser)
Chapter Specific Vehicles & Wargear
The Sons of Achilles are not known to make use of any Chapter-specific vehicle designs or specialist wargear.
Chapter Relics
- Panoply of Achilles - The Panoply of Achilles is the personal power armor of Chapter Master Achilles. An ancient suit of highly ornate, artificer Tartaros pattern Terminator Armour, it incorporates an in-built teleport homer, as well as a smaller version of the shield generators found in suits of Cataphractii pattern Terminator Armour modified to be compatible with this suit, granting this ancient wargear the mobility of the Tartaros and the protection of the Cataphractii, an impressive combination. It has seen use across countless warzones throughout the millennia and has weathered blows that would lay low Dreadnoughts, such is the power and protection offered by the Panoply of Achilles.
- Spear of Achilles - The Spear of Achilles is a relic Power Spear of the Chapter, it's origins theorized to date back to the days of the Great Crusade alongside the Shield of Achilles.
- Shield of Achilles - The Shield of Achilles is a relic Storm Shield of the Chapter, it's origins theorized to date back to the days of the Great Crusade alongside the Spear of Achilles. Forged from pure adamantium, reinforced with an enhanced force field, and given an elaborate bronze finish, this shield is befitting of a Chapter Master and capable of weathering almost any blow.
- Vengeance of Pthia - The Vengeance of Pthia is a master-crafted storm bolter wielded by First Company Captain, Aegeus. It is a highly ornate weapon, and has proven it's reliability on countless battlefields. To date it has not been known to fail it's wielder once in battle.
Chapter Appearance
Chapter Colours
The Sons of Achilles primarily wear bronze-colored Power Armour with black accents. Unlike most other Chapters, the Sons of Achilles do not indicate Company by coloration, only by numeration placed on the left knee-pad, while squad designation remains the same as outlined by the Codex on the right pauldron. Distinctions between battle-brothers, veterans, and officers are not made by helmet color, but instead by the color of the plume on their helms: Black for battle-brothers, black with red accents for veterans, and pure red for officers.
Chapter Badge
The Chapter Badge of the Sons of Achilles is represented by the helmet of a Thessalian warrior, a pair of crossed short swords behind it.
Chapter Relations
Allies
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Notable Quotes
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