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This article, Wardens of the Flame, was written by Admiral Quatzalcoatl. Please do not edit or 'acquire' this fiction without the writer's permission. |
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This article, Wardens of the Flame, is currently under active construction. The author, Admiral Quetzalcoatl, apologizes for the inconvenience. |
The Wardens of the Flame is a Loyalist Successor Chapter created during the 10th Founding from the genetic lineage of the heroic Salamanders.
History[]
Era of Ignition (M35)[]
Founding (375.M35)[]
The High Lords of Terra issue as part of the 10th Founding as a Successor Chapter of the First Founding Salamanders. The Wardens of the Flame were created in order to protect the Conchea System, a promethium-rich system located south-southwest of the Annihilus Warp Storm amidst a vast swathe of uncharted space. In 425.M35, the Adeptus Mechanicus finally gathered one thousand Neophytes drawn from Conchea's population. Captain Andirion of the Salamanders is detached to supervise the first ten Wardens, tasked with teaching the new battle-brothers.
First Fights (425-495.M35)[]
The Chapter goes on various scout missions to prevent the nearby Orks from joining their forces and forming a WAAAGH! that could threaten the whole sector, as more and more of these scouts become fully-fledged battle brothers, more and more Scout Sergeants are appointed accelerating even more the training of the Chapter.
Consecration (490.M35)[]
As the Chapter is now at standard operational force, Captain Andirion leaves the Wardens' side, to thank him for his services the Chapter offers him a masterwork blade commisionned to a Conchean artificer. After his departure, the first ten Wardens who served with him were designated unanimously as Captain of each company. Still in need of a Chapter Master, the Captains reunite on the main place of Conchea's capital electing one of them, Urgon Une'than, to mark his nomination he takes the title of Mar'vatan ("Knight-Commander" in Conchea's local dialect), his first act is to appoint the most successful Scout sergeant of the Chapter, Ordiron Meletar as Captain of the tenth company.
Veiled Threats (500-573.M35)[]
A Battle-Brother is found deceased near a minor settlement on Conchea, his throat torn under his armour. This event repeats itself several times in various places on Conchea but in nearby systems during strike operations against the nearby Orks.
Antay'Unar claims first blood (573.M35)[]
A gigantic Asuryani Craftworld is spotted in a nearby system by the Chapter's Fleet. A few seconds later a webway portal opens in each vessel discharging severals Aspect-Warriors aboard, numerical superiority and surprise gives them an insurmountable edge against the Astartes. The Wardens mount a valiant yet hopeless defence aboard the battle barge Fist of Conchea holding only a fistful of hours against the murderous assault. However, a Gladius-class frigate manages to relay a warning message to Conchea before being taken out by Pulsar Fire. In the end, the Chapter loses most of its fleet and the entirety of the seventh company in the battle.
Call to War[]
Urgon Mar'vatan, having received the warning from the 7th Company, messages his whole chapter, cancelling campaign plans and preventive strikes all around the sector to allow his brothers to come back to fight the Aeldaris as soon as possible. A half-cycle later a webway portal appears on Conchea's surface at the Anthea peninsula and two hosts step out of it as soon as the passage opens. First, a group of Bonesingers starts creating a forward base amongst the nearby mines and initiates a strange ritual on the surrounding rock. The second, a scout host of war walkers and Windriders rushes to the nearby town-forteress, Unithe. They swiftly overcome the extern defenses, penetrating the perimeters toward the underground entrance. However, when they reach it they are welcomed by the Mar'vatan, blades in hands, who quickly closes the distance and starts mowing down the frail jetbikes. Looking like a tornado of coal and fire the Chapter master cleaves every foe that pass in his reach while the walkers' pilot maneuver to try to put him in their sights. When he stops, every single Aeldari is lying dead on the ground or crushed in the wreck of his warmachine alas Urgon only survives the time to step away from the massacre, his second heart finally tearing apart under the intense shocks and the loss of the main heart.
Sorrow and Revenge[]
The Chapter -minus the Scout Company- is assembled in the Drakepit, ready for the Mar'vatan's briefing when they learn the news of what happened a Unithe. Although grieving their former Master the Wardens quickly act: the 5th Company is sent to Unithe to evacuate the inhabitants and retrieve Urgon's body and his wargear. In the meantime, the 9th and 6th companies go to the Isthmus of Ilikor to bolster the local defences and create a network of digs-in and other fortified positions. The 2nd Company scatters around Conchea to spot eventual additional incursions while the first launches a preemptive attack against the Craftworld's forward base. The 3rd, 4th and 8th companies are kept in reserve at the Drakepit.
Bloodshed at Vanguard Point[]
The Aeldari forward base, codename Vanguard Point is then assaulted by the veterans of the Chapter, the instant they set foot on nearby ridges, they are welcomed by intense distortion and shuriken fire. The elite warriors dive from cover to cover but the literal storm of missiles slows their progression, when they finally get into melee range they are met by a host of Wraith construct, some humanoid in shape wearing two blades carved out of Wraithbone, some other strange and chimeric in shape with claws and fangs. The valiant veterans still manage to reach for the portal and delight in what they believe is their vengeance and victory, alas the first battle-brothers of the column are soon blasted by a squadron of Fire Prism nearby. to aggravate the situation several dozen Scorpions led by an Autarch launch an ambush on the company. Elite Warrior after Elite Warrior falls before the Craftworld's wrath. When the Thunderhawks extract the company from the bloody trap only two dozen of Astartes still stand proud. However, this sacrifice bought time for the rest of the Chapter.
Dire report[]
The 2nd Company returns from its planet-tour, having spotted several other gates some inactive but for the most part fully functional and ready to deliver wave after wave of Aeldaris warriors behind their lines. A few second after transmitting this account to the other companies, the 9th and 6th companies defensive underground network is assailed by an Aspect Host, however this time the confined environement of the tunnels and dugout position allow the 6th Company to surprise the Aeldaris at point blank range, while their brothers of the ninth can safely bombard the Aspect Warriors whenever they try to increase the distance with the Wardens' blades. Finally the Warhost attempts a retreat only to be mowed down by the returning 1st Company's thunderhawks.
Hit and Run in the mazes[]
The Aeldari next move is to establish another Bonesinger conclave in the midst of the Antazynian Labyrinth a network of underground volcanic tunnels, lava chambers of various emptiness levels and natural trenches located on the southeastern continent of Conchea. The 2nd and the 3rd companies react swiftly although their efforts are hindered as they operate individually and without coordination the battle soon turns into a violent back-and-forth fighting, the Astartes going as far as to wrestle Striking Scorpions and Howling Banshees in order to gain another meter of terrain. The situation continues for several months...
Fall of Tharax[]
An host of the Craftworld strikes at the small settlement of Tharax, claiming a nearby communication station, the Beacon of Tharax a pivotal comms array, thus preventing all communications with the rest of the Imperium. However this strike allow for Ordiron Meletar to land with a scout squad nearby.
Ambush thwarted[]
The 4th Company, in an attempt to reinforce the Battle-brothers fighting in the Antazynian Labyrinth falls under heavy weapon fire in the Grozuni defile, the access closed by a group of Asuryani Seers the company seems doomed, however the 8th Company flew (litteraly) at their rescue, hacking the seers to pieces with their chainswords revving. However the losses suffered by the 4th Company rose too high forcing the both forces to retreat to the Drakepit.
Forced Parley[]
While doing a remotely strategy meeting, the Captains' vox is hacked by the High Farseer Attelias Toran who leads the Craftworld against the Wardens. He presents his Craftworld as Antay'Unar and claims that human presence on Conchea is an insult to them and now that they've recovered enough strength they will wipe the Chapter and the human settlers from the surface of Conchea. He then leaves the call letting the Wardens take dispositions.
A bold plan (574.M35)[]
Pyromancer Azirion and Captain Ordiron Meletar hatch a plan to disrupt the Aeldari Fleet, using Terminator Armours in order to teleport to the Craftworld, the Pyromancer will then plant a psychic curse in it to disturb the Asuryanis and allow an eventual reinforcement from the 10th Company. Assembling the last veterans of the 1st, the two officers try to use the Drakepit's teleportarium only to find that it was destroyed by some form of psychic lightning : unbeknowst to them the High Farseer had scried fate and saw them hatch this plan and bound time and space to displace himself to the chambers, destroying them with his powers. In order to salvage their plan the strike force attack the nearest Webway gate, most of the veterans are killed during their advance but the officer and the Assault Terminator squad Odunra manage to cross the threshold of the gate. In the Craftworld they find themselves in an unguarded corridor, finding the lack of defenses surprising yet accomodating they roam the hallways until they stumble upon a strange protuberance covered with strange-egg like stone. Believing that planting the curse will be harmful enough for their plan to work Azirion starts his rituals. Attelias Toran then appears at the door exploding the heads of two battle-brothers with a wave of his hand. To buy time for the Pyromancer, Meletar and the remaining Veterans charge the Eldar Witch their blades and lightning claws met by witchfire and the Farseer's singing spear. Finally the Pyromancer succeeds to cast his hex at the same time Meletar's blades cuts through the Aeldari's ribcage alas all their terminator escort is lying dead on the ground and the two warriors, weakened by their efforts barely manage to send a message of victory to the Chapter before succumbing to the wrath of an Aspect Host dispatched in haste to defend the Craftworld by his Seers' Council. Despite the horrifc casualties suffered during this operation, the results are undeniable : Antay'Unar is left stripped of all its spiritseers, thus reducing the efficacity of its Spirit Hosts and most of its Farseers are dead, the death of Attelias Toran and his nigh-godlike prescience is a particularly heavy blow to the Craftworld, while most of its fleet, operated via the Infinity Circuit of each vessel is adrift in the void, their spiritual crew disrupted by the Hex.
Rising Pressure[]
In the aftermath of the blow stroke by the Veterans Wardens to their Craftworld, the warhosts of Antay'Unar lash out against the Chapter defences, inflicting high casualties to the Astartes and their allied PDFs even crippling the 2nd company in the Antazynian Labyrinth, resulting in a forced retreat to reorganize and reequip the force.
Return at Tharrax[]
In an attempt to call for external aid the 4th company, along with the remains of the 2nd company lauch an assault on Tharrax's communication station. The complex is defended by numerous Spirit Hosts but with the shortage in Spiritseers due to Azirion's curse the effienciency of each Warmachine is severely hindered and the marines are able to cut through the Wraithconstructs, reestablishing connection with the rest of the Imperium. They quickly issue orders to the 10th asking them to gather help in the Segmentum Tempestus.
The Siege of the Drakepit[]
Taking advantage of the Astartes' offensive on Tharrax several aspect hosts backed with one Host of Engines of Vaul lay siege to the Drakepit trapping the 5th and 8th companies inside the fortress, the 6th and 9th companies are swiftly called back from Illikor in an attempt to breach the siege. To prevent their brothers from suffer horrendous casualties while getting in position to fire, the reserve close support squads jump right into the fray to destroy the Guardians' Heavy Weapons batteries while the operation is a success the company itself suffers heavy losses and must fall back into the Drakepit to mend its wounds.
Dire News[]
Without the support of the 2nd company, the third company is forced to withdraw from most of its positions in the Antazynian Labyrinth.
Reinforcements Arrive[]
Answering the astropathic messages emitted from Tharrax, the 10th company bolstered with requisitioned naval assets from Bakka, first among them the Overlord-Class Battlecruiser Sword of Domination, attacks the disoriented Asuryani Fleet claiming several vessels and breaching through the blocus, procuring the defenders of Conchea with vital supplies, ammunitions and ready-to-be-promoted scouts.
A new leadership[]
With the new reinforcements and the diverse feats of arms of the Chapter, the 1st and 7th companies are reinstated and the 10th receives a new captain. With the circle back at full strength a new Mar'Vatan is elected : Ollyran Atez'narar, former captain of the 2nd company. Under his leadership the Chapter finally act in coordination : the 2nd and 9th companies join their brothers of the 3rd company in the Antazynian Labyrinth, successfully reclaiming large chunks of land and putting the Craftworld's mining operation in artillery range.
Taking initiative back[]
To stop merely reacting to the Aeldaris' moves Ollyran Mar'Vatan leads four whole companies (4th, 5th, 6th and 8th along with the core forces of the 7th and 1st) against the Asuryani Positions in the Anthea Peninsula, destroying several bases although Vanguard Point remains unassailable for now.
A Ghost in the Pit[]
A strange phenomenon appears : whenever a Battle brother, is in the halls of the various Librarius Offices in the chapter's fortresses he starts to hear a strange voice, whispering thing to them, most often without sense, but sometimes a Marine will hear a clear speech. Whenever this case happen the Pyromancers and the Phloksathurgs of the Chapter take custody of their brothers, aiming to find both cause and cure to this affliction.
Help from the Forge-Lords[]
A few weeks after Ollyran nomination as Mar'Vatan, two imperial ships appear in the border of the system, the first, a Bakkan Grand Cruiser Exorcist, the Valiant Defender, joins the Sword of Domination's battlegroup to engage, the dispersed Aeldari squadrons in the system. The second however is a simple light cruiser of Dauntless Class, displaying the signs of the Techpriest of Graia. Onboard was a small Skitaari detachment, led by the Technoexplorator Basil Beta-Kappa-896 and the Techmarine Maryn Merez'nafar having just finished his formation on the Crown of Miracles. After sending a shuttle to reunite the Space Marine with his chapter, the light cruiser departed toward an unknown location of the extern fringes of the system.
The Lure[]
Captain Andirion Atez'Narar of the 2nd company hatches a plan while the Mar'vatar is busy in the Anthea Peninsula : his company will attract the attention of the Aeldari defenders in the Labyrinth with a series of hit and run attack to lure them toward an ambush set by their brothers of the 10th company. Meanwhile the 3rd company while feint an airborne retreat, reequip its close and heavy support squads with Centurion Armors then fly back to the Labyrinth and drop themselves on the conclave of Bonesingers. His Brother Captains agreeing to the plan, Andirion leads his warrior at the assault of the Aeldari, who react as predicted, pursuing the fleeing Astartes toward a nearby crevasse. On their side, the brothers of the third company suceeded in redeploying themselves and were on the way to the Conclave. The attack landed at the same time the Scouts opened fire. Quiclky Autarch Iliamos, the mastermind behind the Aeldaris defense in the Anthea Peninsula was killed by concentrated Sniper fire, while Shotgun-equiped scouts laid waste of the Dark Reapers at the Craftworlders' backlines, while the Bonesinger were massacred by the 3rd. Quick to understand the scope of the trap they had fell into, the Host's Exarchs declared a retreat toward their fortified position, the Wardens on their heels, only ot be greeted by 40 centurions of the third company. Caught between the two forces the Aeldari lines quickly collapsed. Their enemy exterminated, the Angels of Death, investigated the Bonesingers work, finding strange constructions insert among the rocky faces of the maze. They also discovered an open Webway Gate and rushed to enter it, hoping to strike a fatal blow to hte Craftworld, however it closed just before they could reach it. When they ended the operation a new element reached their ears : Antay'Unar had drifted in the Webway to protect itself against the Navy's and Chapter naval elements. However the Warrior Host on the grounds stayed with their Gates open, allowing them to stay supplied.
One with the shadows[]
With their positions in the Labyrinth destroyed and the gathering storm of marines ready to ravage Vanguard Point, the Aeldaris evacuate the Peninsula, switching to an hit and run strategy by opening briefly hidden Webway gates to depose small Hosts, tasked with causing as much damage as possible before fleeing back in the Webway.
The Drakepit's War Council[]
Faced with elusive enemies and without any objectives to secure or destroy, Ollyran Mar'vatan reunites his chapter in the Drakepit, composing a council with his officers and the Pyromancers and Phloksathurgs in order to gather some prompt of strategy then to refine them into something that could be effectively used against Antay'Unar, from this reunion two things emerge : first the chapter will try to ambush one of the Aeldari force right before it enters the Labyrinthic dimension, then follow them to their Craftworld to try bringing it back in realspace. Second such kind of War Councils, shall be instituted as a long-term insitution, reuniting the commanding officers of the Chapter to discuss of the Chapter's campaigns and to teach and train the mind to new strategies.
A Cry in the Void[]
Several hours before the elected Battleforce take-off towards their ambush, the Battle Brother afflicted with the strange whispers report at the same time a loud shout. More troubling, Geletaryon Ir'navar a promising Aspirant of the Pyromancers reported hearing the exact same shout excepted he understood words in it, although he was unable to speak them. The next morning its psychic powers had warped, worryingly ressembling the curse that the Pyromancer Azyrion. After a thorough examination by the Pyromancers and the Phloksathurgs he was declared taint-free, however another presence was detected at a moment. Alas at the same time the Battleforce started embarkment, unwilling to leave Ir'navar alone they decided to bring him with the force and keep him relatively distant from the front lines.
Strike at the heart[]
The Battleforce Leper's Head, composed of the Mar'Vatar, the full Circle, the five squad of the 1st company at full capacity and the whole 2nd company along with additionnal support elements from the Reclusiam, the Librarius and the Support Companies fly aboard the chapter Thunderhawks, chasing after a large Aeldari detachment, pursued by the 4th and 5th companies. With the Gate on sight the pilots plunge and achieve to enter the Webway directly in front of the Craftworld with it's holofields down. The aircrafts quickly close the distance and drop their forces inside the gigantic ship. The marines' onslaught is a formidable one, the sheer martial talent of a hundred and half of Battle brothers shredding the Aeldari defenses apart. Yet catastrophe seems near when Ir'navar is propelled against an Infinity Circuit relay by a blow, however a that exact moment he manages to reconnect with the unknown presence that whispered to his brothers. In fact it was the dying spirit of Pyromancer Azyrion, whose death was painfully and slowly slowed by the psycho-active materials of the Craftworld. In a last act of devotion and sacrifice Azyrion transfered his knowledge and his ideas about the curse he unleashed, finally passing under the effort. With this newfound power, Ir'navar hacked through the Aeldari forces right toward the command deck with by dint of wind-rending hexes. There the Techmarine Merez'nafar managed to engage the Craftworld's shift towards the Materium. The Battleforce then proceeded to evacuate in their Thunderhawks. As soon as the gigantic ship reemerged in realspace it was engaged by the Imperial Navy taskforce, Macroshells from the Sword of Domination and the Valiant Defender tearing its hull apart. Soon the Craftworld exploded along with Azyrion's last poisoned gift to the Asuryani (with Ir'navar's aid) : a psychic scream, echoing through the minds of the remaining Aeldari crafted from the death of all their comrades and compatriots.
Aftermath[]
In the following months, the Aeldari attacks progressively waned, their remaining forces consumed in mindless suicide attacks or by the disastrous effects of the scream : leaving even some the most self-disciplined Exarchs without defense... At the same time Ir'navar was appointed Espitolary, however his psychic powers remained strange and unlike those of his fellow Pyromancers. For this reason the High Command of the Chapter decided that he would have his own order of Librarians, the Hexweavers thus starting the first major divergence from Codex Organisation in the Chapter. As for his cursed brothers, the whispers ceased right at the death of Azyrion and they were reintegrated in the ranks of the Chapter.
Building back (574-632.M35)[]
The Chapter spends the 60 next year rebuilding their forces and fighting skirmishes against the nearby Orks.
Wars of Treason (743-956.M35)[]
The Wardens of the Flame fight against the forces of the Ur-Council, along with other chapter aiming at preventing the rebellion from spreading to the Segmentum Tempestus, earning several battle honors. When Ollyran Mar'vatan dies in 956 the chapter fall back to nominate his successor. When the gathering ends and seeing the gathering storm of the Ecclesiarchy, the chapter declares a crusade pushing fringeward in a region that would became known as the Worlds of Graarl.
Danse of Flames==== (M35-399.M36)[]
During the Reign of Blood
Notable Campaigns[]
Chapter Homeworld[]
Fortress-Monastery[]
Chapter Organisation[]
Officer Ranks[]
Specialist Ranks[]
Line Ranks[]
Specialist Units & Formations[]
Order of Battle[]
Headquarters[]
Companies[]
Chapter Beliefs[]
Chapter Gene-Seed[]
Genetic Flaws[]
Deathwatch Service[]
Chapter Combat Doctrine[]
Notable Space Marines[]
Chapter Fleet[]
Chapter Relics[]
Chapter Appearance[]
Chapter Colours[]
Chapter Badge[]
Relations[]
Allies[]
Enemies[]
Notable Quotes[]
By the Wardens of the Flame[]
About the Wardens of the Flame[]
| Tenth Founding Space Marine Chapters | |
|---|---|
| Dark Angels Successors | Dark Lions • |
| White Scars Successors | Knights of the Frost • Velites • Wind Runners • |
| Space Wolves Successors | N/A |
| Imperial Fists Successors | Lions of Babylon • Revenant Crusaders • Void Templars • |
| Blood Angels Successors | Carmine Reavers • |
| Iron Hands Successors | Black Thorns • Ferrus' Children • Iron Retributors • |
| Ultramarines Successors | Blue Flames • Nova Knights • Sons of Eden • |
| Salamanders Successors | Wardens of the Flame • |
| Raven Guard Successors | Void Wardens • |
| Unknown Lineage | Blood Tigers • Tempestors • |
Gallery[]