[Farseer_Del]

I've decided to change my Darkwolves, a former chapter that used Space Wolf rules, to be a mostly Codex force. As part of that I've decided to rewrite their background a bit. I'm not so sure though how viable some of the ideas I've had are in terms of background, so I'm posting them here to see what needs fixed.

And despite planning it as just notes and ideas I don't actually have room in this post for a few small bits like the System they're based in and the list of chapter relics. So basically, this is the room with electricity ideas in it, but there is too much electricity are too many ideas so I don't know, you might want to wear a hat. :P

Name: Darkwolves
Founding chapter: Unknown, speculated to be Ultramarine or Imperial Fists
Founding: Precise date or founding number unknown, but regards 416.M36 as date of Rebirth
Chapter Master: Metallius Logar
Homeworld: Lupius IV
Fortress-Monastery: Citadel of the Ark
Main colours: Black with White Shoulder Pads, wolven iconography
Speciality: Largely Codex Chapter
Battle Cries: "The Thousand Brothers of the Darkwolves descend upon you. The dust of your destruction shall blot out the sun."
"For the Three Hundred!"
"For the Kodiak!"
"For Lupius!"
Estimated strength: Approx 1000 Marines

-Founded sometime M35-36, unknown original chapter, much of their own pre-history lost due to the crash, other records suspected lost in age of apostay, if they existed at all. the 13th, 14th, 19th and 21st foundings have all been suspected. Regard 416.M36 as their "rebirth", the year the space wolves arrived.
-Unclear origin of gene-seed, though Ultramarine and Imperial Fist lineage is suspected and to an extent, hoped for. Depending on the belief of an individual marine, they see either Gulliman or Dorn as their primarch, or even see Russ as primarch. Many, if not all, regard Russ as the saviour and protector of the chapter.
-Unknown how long they were fleet based, warp storms caused destruction of several ships and severe damage to the Battle Barge Kodiak. All but two ships were lost before they were drawn to a planet. One exploded as it crashed, the barge was forced to a crash landing. Time in warp may have been distorted too for all they know.
-Barge crashed onto a planet, only about 300 marines survived. Some survivors from a strike cruiser managed to make their way to the main crash site, having escaped.
-Planet held by Feral orks. The whole system was affected by a warp storm, which is thought to have lasted a hundred years until the arrival of the Darkwolves.
-Storm disspiated soon after. The likely cause was a space hulk that hit the fourth planet, bringing the orks and the end of whatever civilisation lived there. The storm began with an object from space, and ended with one. The people of the planet had become a feral, tribal group, but had somehow overcame the odds and the Orks to survive in great hill-forts while the orks began infighting and regressed. The orks too had become feral, the tribes speaking of a legendary battle between the ancients and the greenskins during the Days of Darkness (the Impact Winter caused by the hulk crashing). Some feral orks remain in equatorial jungles. Tribes and Darkwolves often purge them. Evidence that an imperial world existed here before, but it is unknown for how long it was lost.

-Darkwolves held out against the feral orks despite many injured and ever-dwindling supplies. Legends say three hundred warriors fought for nine hundred days and nine hundred nights, not one of their number dying. Some records state that battle lasted 416 days, with losses, with around 280 marines did surviving to the end.
-This battle, regardless of apparent outcome, is known as the Siege of the Kodiak, or just "The Siege" by Darkwolves.
-The arrival of the Space Wolves Strike Cruiser Stormwolf saw the salvation of the planet and the Darkwolves. The great company aboard turned the tide with orbital bombardment and a ferocious assault. Alongside the, soon had the orks who almost dominated the planet bar the dogged resistance of the tribes, relegated to the jungles where it was near impossible to utterly dislodge them.
-After this, the system was explored. Third planet was still somewhat civilised, but had regressed slightly. Were quick to rejoin the Imperium as a whole though and had better records, estimating the warp storms had occured for at least three centuries but still unclear due to the different perceptions of time and space that the warp can cause.
-System advanced fairly rapidly, Lupius III becoming a capable planet at the hub of an almost self-sufficient system and Lupius IV eventually becoming a somewhat feudal world.
-Other crashed ships found across other planets, many on the fourth. Wrecks floating throughout system, have gleamed many relics and artefacts, Darkwolves often support operations to investigate the ships. Have good relations with other Imperial authorities who conduct these kinds of searches, often reporting them and awaiting the nessicary authorities arrivals and simply keeping the ships under guard or observation.
-Notable finds include relic blades, suits of various armour including tactical dreadnought, the remains of space marines and imperial soldiers, and even STC fragments, but none of these have been anything more intresting than farm equipment.

-Chapter follows codex organisation mostly
-1st company has few suits of terminator armour compared to other chapters of similar age despite having found a space hulk with nearly three dozen suits aboard. The Darkwolves surrendered them all to the adeptus mechanicus and were gifted six back.
-Chapter has thirty suits of artificier armour, each made of parts of armour reputed to have belonged to the 300.

-Chapter Fortress built around wreck of the Kodiak, which is now the burial site of fallen Darkwolf heroes, and is known as The Ark.
-All of the four dreadnoughts of the chapter have the word "Ark" written on them as a result. This is to ensure that even a brother in a dreadnought is in a way, with his fallen brethren in the Ark.
-The Ark itself is holy ground. Only the chapter master and chaplains are usually permitted to enter it. Exceptions are when a captain is about to lead his company to war, he first undertakes a pilgrimage into the Ark and spends thirty hours there in prayer. Additionally, during the burial of fallen brothers, one member of the fallen's squad is elected to escort his fallen brother(s) into their final resting place alongside the chaplains. Another exception is that every thirty years, librarians and techmarines are permitted to search for records from before The Siege.
-A chapel overlooks the wreck. In this chapel the names of all known fallen darkwolves are inscribed on sections of the ship's hull, arrayed like pillars between the vast windows looking out upon the holy site. The original 300's names are on the central section, written in gold as all are now dead. Normally the names are written in black, but heroes and captains have their names written in red. The most honoured dead outside the original 300 have their names in silver.
-This chapel also holds the chapter's most prized relics, including an ornate frost blade Vara, gifted to the chapter by the Space Wolves which has become possibly the most prized relic of the Darkwolves. It has only been used three times in battle: when the whole chapter has gone to war. The standard bearers and the best of each company duel for the honour of carrying this holy weapon which is both a relic blade and a chapter banner. He who carries it to war is chapter champion, and his name is always written in silver should he fall, even if he falls long after his service as champion.

THE LOST HISTORY, THE PRIMARCH, AND THE FACTIONS

The lost history has caused much debate within the Chapter Librarium, and within the main body of the chapter itself. Virtually every aspect of the Darkwolves history before The Siege has been lost. Even what founding they were part of is unknown

Reasons for founding suspicions:
13th suspected due to unknown gene seed.
14th as the number 14 occurs often in the few records recovered from the battle barge.
19th as there is mention of the Avenging Sons in what is thought to be recovered records, but the authenticity of these records is inquestion
21st for obvious reasons, but disputed due to lack of obvious mutations like other 21st founding chapters. No longer regarded as a viable choice.

Primarch
-Some think Gulliman and the Ultramarines are forebearers, through simple logic of the sheer size and stability of ultramarine lineage. Only two mutations have ever been seen and rarely.
-Some think Dorn and the Imperial Fists, as the only two mutations seen are either the underdevelopment of the Betcher's Gland or the Sus-An membrane, but this is rare. Underdevelopment of both is rarer even than underdevelopment of either one, with only 5 recorded cases.
-Some think it better the Primarch remain unknown, and either revere an unknown primarch or simply regard Russ as an adopted primarch, as many believe Russ led his sons to their rescue.

TRADITIONS
-A member of each company is selected every thirty years to serve as a Guardian of the Ark, with 2 from the 1st company. The selection process is decided by sparring duels between the most senior members of the company. The victor earns the right to act as Guardian and is given artificier armour, and is also regarded as a company champion. These individuals command respect from the entire chapter. Their names are always written in silver in the Chapel of the Ark
-A Guardian is regarded as the best of the company and is eligible along with standard bearers to become bearers of the Frost Blade.
-Each company replaces their Guardian at a seperate time, broken into three-year intervals.
-They officially remain part of their company whilst serving as Guardians, but after the thirty years ends they normally become members of the 1st company if they were not already so. A Space Marine can become a Guardian multiple times. Such Marines often become Captains or even Chapter Masters, and every chapter master in the last 3000 years has been a Guardian at least twice.
-Only if there are no places in the first company does a Guardian not become a member: the 1st is kept strictly at 100 members maximum. Often as soon as places are available, Guardians are promoted.
-Guardians wear a special wolf tail talisman to mark themselves.
-Guardians may also elect to serve with the Deathwatch before rejoining their company, or joining the 1st if they are promoted.
-Any serving Captain who becomes a Guardian is known as a High Guardian. Only one High Guardian is ever permitted, and any with clashing claims must resolve the matter with a duel. The loser is a Captain and a Guardian but does not have the title of High Guardian.
-There are fifteen guardians: the ten chosen, the chief librarian, apothecary, masters of the forge, sanctity and chapter all given the title of Guardian.

-Chapter Master is referred to as the Lord of Kodiakfall and Grand Guardian of the Ark.

-Heroic Marines are sometimes granted the name of one of the original 300, and are then known by that name, followed by a number, EG Dorian Kildar the 12th.

-Duels with the Darkwolves are a bloodless affair, fought with blunt blades to the first three strikes against the torso, or any alternative to the agreement of the participants and referee (usually a captain or sergeant from another company). The blades are normally blunted combat knifes.
-Alternatives have been known to include marksmanship contests, challenges of strength, and for more minor disputes, drinking contests and fistfights.
-Duels must be given the blessing of the Lord of Kodiakfall. Unauthorised duels are strictly punished, but common amongst the recruits of the 10th company.

NAME
-Some outside the chapter believe it must have renamed itself. The chapter however is adamant that they have always been the Darkwolves, and their name was deliberately selected by the Emperor himself.

NOTABLE EVENTS
Unknown date pre 416.M36 : The Darkwolves fleet is caught in a warp storm, almost annihalted and crash-lands on Lupius IV.

416.M36 - end of The Siege

600.M36 - Darkwolves reach 500 strong, and participate in a fierce purge of the Orks in the equatorial jungles.

716.M36 - First notable large action of the Darkwolves, the entire 1st, 2nd and 3rd companies launch a thirty-year crusade, known to the Darkwolves as the First Crusade. Companies then continue a tradition of launching three or thirty year crusades in honour of this, and on one occasion the whole chapter launched a three hundred year crusade. Companies travel a different route, normally visiting Macragge, Fenris, and Terra in a "pilgrim's crusade" but often they are diverted to other events as the Emperor wills.

999.M36 to 002.M36 - Darkwolves 3rd and 1st Companies assist a purge of the emerging empire of an alien race known as "Furies", fighting alongside the Iron Snakes. These deviant xenos had the unusual, possibly chaotic, practice of dressing up as animals native to their homeworld when waging war. Despite remarkably fierce resistance, Captain Weyabo of the 1st managed to overload a nuclear reactor in their capital that was defended by an elite legion of aliens that wore uniforms resembling the creatures known as Badgers. The mushroom cloud that irradiated their capital and severed the power supply to the shielding system broke the backs of the Fury resistance by allowing Drop Pod assaults on the capital by the Iron Snakes. The race was then entirely exterminated and their few planets conquered. Today, these same planets are famous for a blood sport using the very same animals the Furies dressed themselves up as, including an unusual rodent that apaprently has the ability to direct focused electrical attacks.

416.M39 - In recognition of the 3000 years since the Rebirth and in honour of the first crusade, the Darkwolves entire chapter temporarily becomes a fleet-based Crusade chapter for 300 years. A token force of Thirty battle brothers remains in the system, three from each company. These thirty continue recruitment for the Darkwolves. The crusade force becomes almost as legendary as The Siege, defeating dozens of heretic and alien threats. Upon return, the chapter inadvertedly winds up with over a thousand battle brothers, having suffered few losses in the crusade and the thrity left behind having recruited in anticipation of heavy casualties in the crusade. The Chapter Master of the time, Fenris Brokan, decides that the obvious solution is another crusade using the recruits and those who had remained.

378.M40 - The Darkwolves 1st, 3rd and 4th companies lead an Imperial mission against the renegade Black Jackals chapter alongside their still-loyal 1st Company, and forces from five other chapters including Crimson Fists, . The Jackals 1st is eventually cleared of any heresy after lengthy Inquisitorial trials and completion of acts of penance. A handful of Jackals escape and become renegade corsairs.

996.M40 - Black Jackals aid another chapter's fall to Chaos, the Spears of Blood, and their entire homeworld is similarly corrupted with chaos cults. The Darkwolves, alongside Blood Ravens, launch a bitter, but successful invasion.

416.M41 - The renegade Black Jackals Space Marine chapter, alongside other renegades, launches a raid on the Lupius System. They are repelled at cost, but many of the renegades are slain.

742.M41 - The Darkwolves 4th Company, en route to the Damocles Crusade, suddenly diverts after a vision by their Librarian. They arrived at the world of Jochram's Fall, a small agri-world, in time to defeat Eldar raiders and rescue much of the population. They then defended Jochram's Fall against a Tyranid invasion and later help hold the system throughout the Tyrannic War. In recognition of this feat, the capital of Jochram's Fall is renamed Cassius, after Cassius Blake.

775.M41 - Darkwolves 2nd Company patricipates in the Sabbat Worlds crusade.

978.M41 - Darkwolves Strike Cruiser Shield of Dorn engaged the Wolf of Fenris alongside the Valin's Revenge of the Ultramarines, but the traitor vessel escaped.

999.M41 - Darkwolves 3rd Company fights alongside Space Wolves in the 13th Black Crusade, having originally been sent to Fenris as part of a Pilgrim's Crusade. Diverted a few times on their journey from Macragge to Fenris, they arrived in time to discover the Space Wolves about to leave Fenris to fight in the defence against Chaos. The 3rd gladly accepted Logan Grimnar's offer for the 3rd to accompany them.

006.M42 - The 3rd fights on Medusa V, diverted there whilst returning from Terra after completing their pilgrim's crusade.

NOTABLE DARKWOLVES
-Cassius Blake: First chapter master after the Rebirth, a member of the original 300. Killed in 812.M36. His armour is one of the chapter's most holy relics, alongside the seven battle brothers of the 300 who became his honour guard. Cassius and his honour guard were the last of the 300 to fall.

-Axial Foley: Thrice-Guardian. His third spell as a Guardian was somewhat a disappointment after the heroics of his first two terms, but nonetheless he is still revered as a hero in spite of failing to achive any further glory before his death at the hands of Noise Marines of Dementis Rana.

-Maximus the Pilgrim: Four-time Guardian, who served with the Ordo Xenos twice as a member of the Third Company, and upon completing his third term as Guardian, once again found no vacancy in the 1st. He requested permission to undertake a personal pilgrimage to Macragge, Fenris, and Terra, which was granted. Thirty years later, he returned, and upon return not only joined the 1st, but was immediately elected Captain to replace the recently slain previous captain, his decades of service and his three-decade pilgrimage making the decision unanimous and unopposed. Maximus later became Chapter Master before his death in M38, making him a four-time Guardian. His Pilgrimage is sometimes repeated by entire companies as a Pilgrim's Crusade, most notably the 3rd who found themselves diverted numerous times to aid Imperial allies during their 20-year crusade pilgrimage.

-Lord of Kodiakfall and Grand Guardian of the Ark, Master Metallius Logar: Current Chapter Master. Thrice-Guardian (including current term as chapter master) and once Champion during the 416.M41 defence of the Lupius System.

-High Guardian and Captain Gaius Kraktooth: High Guardian and Captain of the 3rd Company, has led some of the most notable recent battles of the Darkwolves.

-Guardian and Chief Librarian Rutger Deckard : As Master of the Records, Deckard is also the leading knowledge upon the history of the Darkwolves, able to recount the exact histories of virtually every event since 416.M36 from memory.

-Guardian and Master of the Forge Jymel Fixat : Skilled chief techmarine of the chapter, renowned for a strange sense of humour and a preference for his self-crafted Thunder Hammer over other close combat weapons.

-Guardian and Chief Apothecary Dorian Kildar the 12th: Most senior and skilled apothecary, was originally named simply Doctris. After saving the life of a wounded captain, he was granted the honour of taking the name of the famous apothecary who tended the wounded during The Siege. He is the eleventh apothecary to receive the honour of this inherited name.

[gil galed]

My one opening comment is as cool as '300' that war cry is far to long and really just sounds a little naff, and also why have only 300 surviving? i recognize again the 300 reference but does it really add anything to your chapter except making it look like you ripped off a film? why not have 200 or 400?

[Farseer_Del]

Yeah, that one might just become a quote from someone instead. There are also a few other reasons beyond the 300 reference for the numbers though.
-Any less, I think the chapters recovery becomes more and more unlikely since the legend is not the true story of the battle
-300 is a more fitting number for a legend than the more likely figures like 319 or 294. The legend merely rounded up or down.

Besides, it's not a just film. It's an actual battle, a graphic novel, and this background is chock full of other little references and terrible jokes if you look for them.