Difference between revisions of "Salamanders"
(→Battle Companies - second through fourth companies) |
Inquisitorus (talk | contribs) m (Interlex link) |
||
| Line 168: | Line 168: | ||
[[Category:Salamanders|*]] | [[Category:Salamanders|*]] | ||
[[de:Salamanders]] | [[de:Salamanders]] | ||
| + | [[fr:Salamanders]] | ||
Revision as of 14:38, 18 February 2010
Contents
Basic Information
| |
History
Horus Heresy
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.
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 handfull of battle brothers fell on that fateful day.
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 the rest of the time of the Heresy rebuilding their forces.
Battle for Armageddon
Second War for Armageddon
Led by Chapter Master Tu'Shan, whose tenure as Chapter Master had only begun 3 years before, 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 conquests and wars, 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 but unsung duties, the Salamanders were to earn the gratitude and respect of thousands of Imperial Guardsmen and civilians. The Salamanders have become renowned as sturdy and dependable allies, a reputation which is not shared by other, more unpredictable, Chapters
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 a full seven3 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. At least three Roks were destroyed by the Salamanders' attacks, slaughtering untold thousands of filthy greenskins.
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. They are even today much respected for to stand up against one of the Marines Malevolent´s captains that left civil people to die because they "hadn´t time" to defend them.3
Organisation
Combat Doctrine
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 shooting when in combat. 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 and Artificer armour. The Chapter also favours the use of Land Raider Redeemers.
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 (the chapter has 120 veterans as opposed to the typical 100).
Indeed, it is fitting that Salamanders be lacking in the way of Fast Attack, as for some inexplicable reason, they naturally have slightly slower reflexes than most Space Marines. It should be noted though, that their reflexes are still significantly faster than those of a normal human. 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 appearance is entirely superficial, but has intimidated more than one rebellion into submission without firing a shot.2
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 bye a brander-priest. This symbolises their respect for the chapter. Only veterans ever get brand marks in their faces.*1
Company Disposition
Salamanders differ from most if not all other chapters in that each company possesses 120 men as opposed to the standard 100 that the Codex Astartes promotes. Additionally, instead of having 10 companies, the Salamanders have only 6 companies of marines in addition to a small company of about 60 scouts. The Chapter Organization of the Salamanders is as follows:
The Fire Drakes - First Company
Captain: Tu'Shan
Squads: 12 Veteran Squad
Support: Dreadnoughts, Rhinos, Land Raiders, Terminator Squads
Company Colors: Chapter badge white on a black background, Codex company markings.
Battle Companies - second through fourth companies
Squads: 7 Tactical Squads, 3 Devastator Squads, 2 Assault Squads
Support: Dreadnoughts, Rhinos, Bike squads, Land Speeders3
Companies:
Second - Captain: Unknown.
Chapter badge: white on a black background, Codex company markings.
Third - Captain: N'keln*1
Chapter badge: fiery yellow on a black background, Codex company markings.
Fourth - Captain: Doc'tyr*1
Chapter badge: green on a black background, Codex company markings.
Reserve Company 1 (5th company)
Captain: Unknown
Squads: 8 Tactical Squads, 4 Devastator Squads
Support: Dreadnoughts, Rhinos
Company Colors: Chapter badge black on a fiery yellow background, Codex company markings.
Reserve Company 2 (6th company)
Captain: Unknown
Squads: 4 Tactical Squads, 8 Devastator Squads
Support: Dreadnoughts, Rhinos
Company Colors: Chapter badge green on a fiery yellow background, Codex company markings.
Scout Company (7th Company)
Captain: Unknown Squads: 6 Scout Squads
Support: Scout Bike Squadrons, Land speeder storms3
Company Colors: Chapter badge black on a white background, Codex company markings.
Notable Salamanders
- Vulkan - Primarch of the Salamanders.
- Xavier - Chaplain and Preacher of the Promethean Cult.
- Tu`Shan - Current Chapter Master of the Salamanders.
- Vulkan He'stan - Current Forgefather.2
- Vel'cona - Current Chief Librarian of the Salamanders.2
- Argos - Current Master of the Forge*3
- Ko'tan Kadai - Previous Captain of the Third Company*3
- Praetor - Terminator sergeant*3
- N'keln - Captain of the Third Company, Kadai's successor*1
- Doc'tyr - Captain of the Fourth Company*1
- Pyriel - Salamanders Librarian. Attached to the Third Company.*3
- Dak'ir - Veteran Sergeant.*3
- Tsu'Gan - Veteran Sergeant.*3
- Fugis - Apothecary of the Third Company. A member of the Inferno Guard Command Squad.*3
- Elysius - Chaplain. Current keeper of the Sigil of Vulkan.*3
Colour scheme changes
Colour schemes
