Welcome to Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum! Log in and join the community.

Difference between revisions of "Salamanders"

From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Jump to: navigation, search
m
(Undo revision 226122 by PowerBall (talk))
Line 242: Line 242:
 
{{main|Salamanders Armoury}}
 
{{main|Salamanders Armoury}}
 
*[[Artefacts of Vulkan ]]{{Fn|2d}}
 
*[[Artefacts of Vulkan ]]{{Fn|2d}}
*[[Stormbearer]], the personal weapon of Chapter Master [[Tu'Shan]].{{Fn|8e}}
+
*[[Stormbearer]], the personal weapon of Chapter Master [[Tu'shan]].{{Fn|8e}}
  
 
===Vessels===
 
===Vessels===

Revision as of 02:58, 23 February 2013

The Salamanders were Legion XVIII of the Space Marine Legion created by the Emperor of Mankind. Their Primarch was Vulkan. The legion remained loyal during the Horus Heresy, but were severely mauled in the first great opening battle, limiting the role they could play in the remainder of the war. Their primarch is never recorded as perishing, and in fact is believed simply to be missing; the search for him and his presumed great purpose is a defining trait of the Salamanders. Other aspects of the legion of Vulkan are their great hardiness as warriors and their equally strong constitutions, willpower and devotion to humanity. In some ways, they can be considered the ideal of what it means to be a Space Marine.

Simple Badge Space Marines.png
Space Marines Portal
Salamanders
Salamanders.png
Legion Number XVIII
Primarch Vulkan
Homeworld Nocturne
Fortress-Monastery Prometheus
Chapter Master Tu`Shan
Colours Green, Black and Gold
Specialty Close-quarters combat, flame weaponry
Strength 870 marines plus (~100)command[Needs Citation]
Battle Cry Into the fires of battle, unto the anvil of war!
Successor Chapters:

None known; Storm Giants and Black Dragons rumoured[1a]

Homeworld

The Salamanders hail from the harsh and hot Nocturne, though are also based upon that world's moon, Prometheus. The moon occupies an erratic orbit, thus causing great seasons of severe tectonic activity and weather disruption on Nocturne. The worst of these is known as the Time of Trial, when, once every fifteen Terran years, the moon passes so close that thousands of volcanoes erupt, their ash so thick it blots out the sun. With the ground gripped by constant earthquakes at the same time as this ash winter, much of Nocturne becomes effectively uninhabitable. [1a]

Rewards for enduring the Time of Trial can be great; the tectonic upheavals bring materials and ores to the surface of great value, and the aftermaths of such altered geography usually reveal new pockets of natural resources to be explored, mined or siphoned. This translates to vast wealth by Imperial standards, meaning that Nocturne's supplies of livestock and the whatever items the forges of the Salamanders themselves cannot construct can be traded for with the Adeptus Mechanicus or other Imperial corporate bodies.[1a]

The Salamanders' fortress-monastery is located upon the giant moon, Prometheus, acting as the orbital dock for their space vessels. While it is permanently staffed, much of the Salamanders not on deployment can be found scattered over Nocturne, acting as the elders of the settlements from which they came; the Salamanders maintain close contact with their origins and see watching over their homeworld's citizens - and by extension, all people of the Imperium - as part of their duty.[1a]

History

The Great Crusade

Formation

Nothing is currently known of the earliest days of the Salamanders, and even after the discovery of Vulkan, records are scant. They were apparently reorganised by Vulkan upon his assumption of command, with that organisation said to still be in effect in their current form, with seven companies to a Chapter, each company being founded by the seven different great settlements of Nocturne and commanded by a Captain from that settlement. [1a] The number of Chapters in the Great Crusade era Legion is currently unknown, but they had at least 14 Companies.[11] The Salamanders are often said to have "always been" the smallest legion [1a] but how this claim stacks against the paucity of both Emperor's Children and Thousand Sons during their respective histories is not yet known.

Horus Heresy

Heresy-Era Salamanders Space Marine

The Salamander's role during the Horus Heresy is not well known to Imperial Scholars; what is for certain is that the legion, along with the Iron Hands and Raven Guard, was part of the first wave of attackers during the battle of Isstvan V. After the announcement of Horus's treachery and the destruction of Isstvan III, the Emperor ordered seven Legions of Space Marines to attack the forces serving his former son and friend. But among those seven Legions, four were already traitors.[12a]

The initial landing force fell into a trap and, despite their martial skills, the three loyal Legions were forced to begin a tactical withdrawal toward their landing site, which had been fortified by the four traitor legions forming the second wave. At this moment the second wave opened fire on the retreating Marines, crushing them between the hammer of Horus's forces and the anvil of the fortified drop site. Despite a heroic defence, the three loyal Legions were practically destroyed; all but a handful of battle brothers fell on that fateful day.[12a]

After this sad defeat the Salamanders, as well as the other two betrayed Legions were unable to perform any tasks the Emperor had planned for them and spent much of the rest of the time of the Heresy rebuilding their forces.

Horus Heresy Aftermath

Reforging

Salamanders

Whilst the Salamanders altered their squad-level organisation to follow the strictures of the new Codex Astartes, they were able to retain much else of their Legion organisation - some say because there were too few of them to split into successor Chapters: The Salamanders are officially reckoned to have no descendants, though several Imperial scholars have pointed out various similarities in unit markings and tactical dogma in the Storm Giants and Black Dragons Chapters. It is possible that these Chapters were created at some unknown, later date from stockpiled gene-seed, but whatever the claims, the Salamanders claim kinship with no other Chapter.[1a]

Oft-considered the smallest Legion, the casualties of the Horus Heresy, plus their own highly stringent recruitment and indoctrination processes made not only their rebuilding seemingly glacial, but resulted in them coming in under Codex-approved strength for a single Codex Chapter. In accordance with Vulkan' original reorganisation of the Legion, the Salamanders Chapter is formed of only 7 permanent companies; each one nominally staffed at a little over the Codex-approved 100 Astartes. Nevertheless, the sons of Vulkan were able to forge themselves anew, and their steel has ever since been drawn in the defence of the Imperium of Man.[1a]

In the absence of Vulkan, the Captain of the First Company is considered the Chapter Master. This position is seen as a regency, however, and is occupied in the belief that it will one day be relinquished to the true holder of the position.[1a]

Recent Events

Salamanders in action
  • 533.M39 - The Fires of Phaistos. The entire Salamanders chapter mobilizes to defend the Cardinal World of Phaistos Osiris from Ork invasion.[9]
  • 754-756.M41 - The Purging of the Ymgarl Moons. The Tyranids invade the Imperium, and the Salamanders are given the duty by the High Lords of Terra themselves to purge the moons of Ymgarl of a suspected Genestealer infestation.[9]
  • ???.M41 - The Salamanders battle an uprising on the Mining World of Stratos. However the uprising is a distraction orchestrated by the Dragon Warriors led by the Sorcerer Nihilan in order to steal an artifact known as the decyphrex from the floating cities of the planet.[3]
  • 941.M41 - Second War for Armageddon. Led by Chapter Master Tu'Shan, whose tenure as Chapter Master had begun only 3 years previously, the Salamanders fought with distinction. Among other feats, they managed to defend the bridge over the River Stygies from a thousand-strong Speed Freeks Army and prevented the Orks from destroying a water purification plant, thus saving Hive Tempestora from a slow death by dehydration. Although the hive eventually fell, their efforts allowed it to be evacuated before the Orks could capture the hive. The Salamanders have been involved in many magnificent wars and conquests, but in recent times even these great achievements have been eclipsed by their stalwart fighting during the Second Armageddon War. While the Blood Angels set about destroying the Ork horde, and the Ultramarines bent their strength to the defence of the surviving hive cities, the Salamanders took upon themselves the essential but neglected task of protecting the supply convoys, fighting rearguard actions against the Ork advances and escorting refugee columns. So unstinting were they in these arduous duties, the Salamanders became renowned amongst the human defenders of Armageddon as sturdy and dependable allies; a reputation not shared by other, more unpredictable, Chapters.[Needs Citation]
  • 998.M41 - The 5th Company carry out search-and-destroy missions against several worlds in the Heracles sub-sector suspected of being Necron Tomb Worlds.[2b]
  • 999.M41 - Third War for Armageddon. When Ghazghkull launched his new offensive against the Imperial forces on Armageddon, the Salamanders were one of the first Chapters to respond, sending their full seven[3] Companies to combat the Orks, including Chapter Master Tu'Shan personally leading his Firedrakes. The Salamanders launched several counter-attacks against the rock-forts landed by the Orks along the Hemlock river. Preferring the close-quarter fighting within the maze of crudely carved tunnels within the Roks to the long-range duels in the desert, the Salamanders made the Orks pay a high price for their audacity. By the Season of Fire at least nine Roks were destroyed by the Salamanders' attacks, slaughtering untold thousands of filthy greenskins.[7]

Many chapters fought in the name of the Emperor, or for personal glory. Of the fully twenty chapters, only the Salamanders fought for the people of Armageddon. According to rumors, Tu'Shan himself came to blows with Captain Vinyar of the Marines Malevolent, when the latter shelled a refugee camp the Orks had penetrated.[7] Vinyar is said to have left the civilians to die because he "hadn´t time" to defend them, a notion which greatly angered the Chapter Master.[3] After the Season of Fire, only two Companies were left to protect the major population centers, while the Chapter's Techmarines have been busy rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure.[7] Tu'Shan also left a squad of Firedrakes with the Blood Angels as an honour guard for the fallen Captain Tycho.[7]

Gene-seed

A Salamander without his helmet, showing his coal-black skin[13]

As far as can be determined by the Magos Biologis of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Salamander's gene-seed appears to be both stable and as yet uncorrupted. An unusual trait of the Salamanders is that their Battle-Brothers tend to be slower in reflex reaction than other Chapters, though the origin of this factor is debated; it is unknown whether this defect is due to a problem with the gene-seed that manifested as a result of most Salamanders being raised on their high-gravity world, or the psychological result of the Chapter's doctrines and psycho-conditioning against hastiness and impetuosity. However, it has been noted that a Salamanders Space Marine can move just as quickly as any Astartes equipped with Power Armour, and are still significantly faster than those of a normal human.[1a]

Also, as a result of a reaction between their genetics and the high levels of radiation on Nocturne, Salamanders battle brothers have dark or jet black skin and bright, burning eyes. This frightening appearance is entirely superficial, but has intimidated more than one rebellion into submission without firing a shot.[2a]

Culture

Salamanders Librarian

Although the Salamanders follow the Codex Astartes, they nonetheless also follow the doctrines of their own Promethean Cult. The Promethean Cult places high emphasis on self-reliance, self-sacrifice and loyalty. Symbols of the forge - such as fire and hammers - are prominent throughout Promethean iconography. As such, Flamers, Melta Weapons and Thunder Hammers are widely used throughout the chapter. As one can imagine, this preference for Flamers and Meltas leads to a strong affinity among the Salamanders for close-range firefight when in combat, although they are just as capable at other aspects of Space Marine battle doctrine.[1a]

Because of their early training as blacksmiths, all Salamanders are fully capable of maintaining and performing moderate repair on their weapons and armour, leaving the Chapter's artificers with the free time necessary to create great works of technology and metallurgy. As a result, the Salamanders Chapter has an unusually high number of Master-Crafted Weapons, Artificer Armour and even Tactical Dreadnought Armour.[1a] The Chapter also favours the use of Land Raider Redeemers.[Needs Citation]

In an interesting example of juxtaposition, however, the fluctuating gravity of Nocturne makes training with certain units such as Land Speeders and Bikes difficult, therefore the chapter makes little use of them, in favour of Devastator squads and Terminator Squads. Trained never to give up or retreat, Salamanders are capable of going on when their entire squad is dead, holding positions for months on end. This is one of the more significant effects of Promethean doctrines upon the Chapter's collective psyche. Before each battle the Salamanders get a brand mark each by a Brander-Priest. This symbolizes their respect for the chapter. Only veterans ever get brand marks in their faces.[1a]

Chapter Disposition

The current Chapter disposition of the Salamanders is as follows:

Headquarters

Headquarters[10]
First Company "Firedrakes"

Regent of Prometheus[10]

Other Departments
Armoury Librarius Support Staff
  • Support staff
  • Administrative Personnel

Companies

The current Companies and their Captains as of 999.M41 are as follows:[10]

Battle Companies
2nd Company 3rd Company 4th Company





Master of the Arsenal



Master of the Fleet,

Lord of the Burning Skies

Reserve Companies Scout Company
5th Company 6th Company 7th Company




Master of the Recruits



Recruitment

The Salamanders are noted to stipulate a long and arduous recruitment process for initiates. They start young, at around ages six or seven; for these first years the apprentice is merely that; an worker in the forge of a Space Marine, who will watch over and judge the prospects of the initiates. After some years, the apprentices are judged by the Chapter's Apothecaries and Chaplains in a series of examinations. Those successful will be taken for first-stage implantation. At set intervals throughout their training, the initiates must replicate feats performed by Vulkan in his youth, including those he performed in contest with the Emperor; this will culminate in them being required to hunt and slay a salamander

Noted Elements of the Salamanders

Relics and Artefacts

Main article: Salamanders Armoury

Vessels

Notable Members of the Salamanders

Heresy Era

Post-Heresy

Additional Information

Related Articles

Trivia and Notes

  • The Salamanders were at one stage conceptualised as being black of skin tone; this was commonly interpreted (by the 'Eavy Metal painters as well as the fandom) to mean a natural black skin tone. In Fifth edition however, it was made clear that this meant actual black skin; as in jet black, coal black etc. Additionally, the Salamanders were also given 'burning' red eyes that actually glow.

Galleries

First Edition

Fifth Edition


Sources