Luminant Sons

Luminant Sons Pauldron with Chapter Iconography

A Luminant Sons Battle-Brother from an unknown company, unknown Battleline Squad.

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Man
(*Fidelitas Sine Recursu*)

### **Successor of**

White Scars
(Jaghatai Khan lineage.) (suspected)

### **Specialty**

Rapid Dominance, Raid, Decapitation strike, Ambush and Assassination, Guerilla Warfare, Infiltration, Lance maneuver

### Successor Chapter(s)

None.

"*I am the sword, an agent of balance.*"
— Dai Sohei, Master of Sanctity of the Luminant Sons
The **Luminant Sons** are a loyalist semi-*Codex* compliant Space Marine Successor Chapter assumed to be created from the White Scars lineage during the 7th founding in the early 34th Millennium. Positioned between the Ghoul Stars and Ultima Segmentum, their isolation from the Imperium over time lead to deviations from the *Codex Astartes*, chief among them being their non-adherence to the Imperial Cult. When they were founded, their first Chapter Master received a vision among the people of their home world: Scathore IV, and created five tenets for the Chapter to follow. These were called the **Kata of Equanimity**, and they believe that only by following these tenets can they reach transcendence and join the Emperor. A direct effect of their belief is their unwillingness to keep relics or dreadnoughts, believing reliance on the material world holds them back from achieving equanimity.

## History

The Luminant Sons’ tradition of oral storytelling makes it hard to document accurately their complete history, most of what is known is pieced together from tales of involvement in particular conflicts, which is then fact checked with other Imperial sources.

### Founding

The earliest tale the Luminant Sons’ have is that of the Howling. This places their inception around the time of the mysterious 7th founding, somewhere in the early 34th millennium.

Their positioning on the edge of the Ultima Segmentum is assumed to have been an initial attempt from the Imperium to establish a bastion close to the largely unexplored Ghoul Stars. Later, in the late 35th/early 36th millennia, the Death Spectres Chapter was created with a similar intention in the wake of the mysterious event known as the Pale Wasting.

The Pale Wasting occurred during the Nova Terra Interregnum, while the Imperium was split in two and at war with itself. The lack of presence from the Luminant Sons in the Interregnum heavily implies that they were involved in the Pale Wasting.

## Chapter Homeworld

Scathore IV is stationed at the edge of the Ultima Segmentum, bordering the Ghoul Stars.

The planet itself is volatile, wracked by storms and floods, carving steep valleys and impressive mountain ranges. The wildlife and plant life is hardy, as well as the native population. Due to the climate, the humans of Scathore cannot build long-term buildings and structures, instead living nomadic lives in sophisticated hunter-gatherer societies. The Fortress Monastery of the Luminant Sons is the only permanent structure on the planet.

### Chapter Fortress Monastery

The fortress monastery of the Luminant Sons is The Beacon. It stands as the lone permanent structure of Scathore IV among the nomadic peoples that populate the planet.

#### The Chamber

In the place where a Space Marine chapter's knowledge is normally stored, the Luminant Sons have a massive, empty chamber. Because the Luminant Sons do not record their history, the Librarius is instead used as a place of meditation.

## Chapter Culture

### Kata of Equanimity

The Luminant Sons' isolation from the rest of the Imperium has had several repercussions on their organization and beliefs.

The first and most significant, is their differing view of the Emperor of Mankind. Where most Space Marines view the Emperor as an ideal, an enlightened figure for which to aspire, the Luminant Sons have formed a practicing religion around it; one that differs from the Imperial Cult. At the Chapter's inception, the first Chapter Master, Okabe Iwao, received a vision while he was traveling with the nomadic peoples of Scathore IV. No one knows what was seen in his vision, but afterward, he laid out five central tenets. These were called the *Kata of Equanimity*, and they guide the actions of the chapter.

The five tenets are as follows:

1. Immaterialism
2. Premeditation
3. Precision
4. Truthfullness
5. Awareness

Luminant Sons believe that only by following these five tenets can one fully realize their own equanimity, and given enough time, join the Emperor and achieve transcendence. Chaplains of the Luminant Sons are called Oshō, and they guide the chapter with its adherence to the Kata.

### Oral History

The Luminant Sons do not keep a written record of their history, instead, they have an oral tradition of storytelling, similar to the people of Scathore. Because of this, many of their past campaigns and involvements are unknown to the larger Imperium.

Orators, the equivalent to a Librarian within the Luminant Sons, hold an especially important place within the Chapter. Where the Librarians of other Space Marine Chapters take care of the Librarius, in the Luminant Sons Orators they are the keepers of oral history. They mentally keep track of every single conflict they have participated in, as well as telling the past stories of the Chapter so the tradition may continue. Banquets after victories are often accompanied by dramatic perfomances by the Chapter's Orators.

Because of this tradition, the chapter's greatest warriors are elevated to an almost mythical folk hero level within the Chapter's ranks.

## Chapter Organization

### Officer Ranks

* **Master of Kata** - The equivalent of both the Chapter Master and Master of Sanctity.
* **Shogun** - Captain equivalent.

**Lieutenant**

### Specialist Ranks

* **Oshō -** Chaplain equivalent.
* **Chief Orator** - Chief Librarian equivalent.
* **Orators** - Librarian equivelent.
* **Chief Apothecary**
* **Apothecary**
* **Master of the Forge**
* **Techmarine**
* **Ancient**
* **Chapter Champion**
* **Company Champion**

### Line Ranks

* **Veteran Sergeant**
* **Veteran**
* **Sergeant**
* **Battle-Brother**
* **Scout Marine**
* **Neophyte**
* **Aspirant**

### Specialist Units & Formations

* **Naginata** - A unique formation for the Chapter, the Naginata is a small detachment of Eliminators, accompanied by a group of fast-acting up-close infantry, often an Assault Squad or an Assault Intercessor Squad, or in rare cases, a Vanguard Veteran Squad.

### Order of Battle

#### Headquarters

**Dai Sohei,**
***Master of Kata***
**Nakashima Raiden,**
***Chapter Champion***
**Command Squad:**
**Mizuno Madoka - *Banner Bearer*, Oshō (Chaplain), Librarian, Apothecary, Techmarine**
**Honor Guard**
**Ichikawa Nobu,**
***Chief Librarian***
**Epistolaries**
**Codiciers**
**Lexicaniums**
*To be added*
*To be added*

## Combat Doctrine

The Luminant Sons' combat doctrine strictly adheres to the principles of the **Kata of Equanimity,** in particular, the tenets of precision, premeditation, and awareness. Before every battle, they each participate in solitary meditation to cleanse themselves of any worldly tethers that might hold them back. At their longest, these meditations can last months, and are accompanied by a fast of no food or water.

In battle, Luminant Sons favor precision over all-out warfare. If they can end a battle with one well-placed shot, they will. Their obsession with precision means that they rarely carry flamers, plasma, or similar volatile weapons, instead opting for weapons where they can predict the outcome. In a similar vein, they prefer the use of infantry over vehicle, because it allows for a greater degree of control. Without the weight of heavy machinery, they strike with impressive speed, and they strike straight at the heart of their enemy.

In rare cases, against enemies that so greatly disrupt the natural order such that a lack of precision can be justified, they bring vehicles, explosives, and greater weaponry to the fray. These cases are almost always reserved for Orks, Tyranids, and beings of Chaos.

## Chapter Recruitment

The Luminant Sons recruit solely from the population of their home planet Scathore IV.

The Luminant Sons recruitment process is largely standard, with one exception. Before a candidate is even considered for the Chapter, they must voyage alone through the wilderness of Scathore IV, relying only on their own wits to survive. The trip starts in the Ghost Belly, an ancient asteroid impact crater, and ends at the Fortress Monastery. These trips typically take longer than a whole standard year on Terra.

The Luminant Sons believe it requires fortitude of the soul in order to join their ranks, and only an extended solitude can determine whether they are worthy of continuing their initiation. This trial is not only deeply ingrained in the Sons, but also the population of the planet itself. It is considered a great honor to undertake one of these nomadic voyages, even though most who do never make it back.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

Although unclear if it is related to a gene-seed mutation, battle-brothers of the Luminant Sons have been documented to live particularly long lives. Due to their lack of recorded history, it is impossible to know for certain, but there are passed-down stories of Sons who have participated in distinct wars millennia apart.

### Genetic Flaws

Their progenitors, the White Scars, have a particular tendency toward excessive violence, but it is unclear whether that comes from their gene-seed, or the introduction of the genetic material of the people from the steppes of Chogoris. Similarly, the Luminant Sons have a particular disdain for excessive violence, without any clear relation to their gene-seed. The people of Scathore are a particularly peaceful society, largely due to the need for cooperation in the harsh climate. The Luminant Sons' dislike for excessive violence could be a result of this, or a result of the value they place on Equanimity and precision.

## Notable Battle-Brothers

* **Dai Sohei** - Current Master of Kata (de facto Chapter Master). It is unknown, even to himself, how old he is.

* **Okabe Iwao** - Patriarch and Founding Chapter Master. Authored the Kata of Equanimity after claiming to have received a vision from the Emperor.

* **Isa Minoru** - Past Chapter Champion and folk hero. It is impossible to verify much of his achievements, but he is said to have dueled and defeated a Necron Overlord, as well as a Hive Tyrant.

## Chapter Fleet

* ***Hotoke* (Battle Barge)** - Flagship of the Luminant Sons
* ***Taiyō*** **(Battle Barge)**
* ***Kōsen* (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Jiyuu* (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Taka* (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Byōdō*** **(Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Yari* (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Tachi* (Strike Cruiser)**
* ***Kanabō*** **(Strike Cruiser)**

## Chapter Relics

Due to the tenet of Immaterialism, the Luminant Sons believe that holding on to material things ties you down, restricting your ability to fulfill their Kata of Equanimity, thus, they carry no chapter relics. This includes weapons and suits of armor.

The Luminant Sons have very few suits of Tactical Dreadnought Armor because they aren’t treated with any particular reverence. In addition to this, their rejection of material ties leads them to have a strong distaste for Dreadnoughts; they would rather be cremated or torn to shreds in battle than interned in a machine coffin. Not a single battle-brother has ever been preserved in a Dreadnought.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The typical armor pattern of the Luminant Sons is a light sandy brown for the legs, starting at the knee-guards, as well as the head. The rest of the armor is painted a dark burnt orange. The Aquila and soft armor is usually a dark brown, and the eyes are bright green.

### Chapter Badge

The Chapter Badge of the Luminant Sons is a hand painted circle, or Ensō, meant to represent Equanimity. Each Astartes paints their own ensō, so no two pauldrons look alike.

## Relations

### Strained

 Ordo Hereticus |  | While not a renegade chapter, because the Luminant Sons' partially disregard the Codex Astartes, and their don't participate in the Imperial Cult, they have come under scrutiny by the Ordo Hereticus branch of the Inquisition before.

### Enemies

 Hive Fleet Jormungandr
 Hive Fleet Moloch

## Notable Quotes

### By the Luminant Sons

"They will know death. We will teach them."

— Koriagi Nisamo, former *Shogun* of the 3rd Battle Company, referring to the Flayed Ones.
"You butcher without discrimination, dirtying his name. To what end?"

— Kei Yudyin, former *Master of Kata*, addressing a Black Templars Captain during the Arkron Crusade.
*Feel free to add your own*
### About the Luminant Sons

“Why iz so quiet?”

- Big Mek Jawlug Juda moments before his head was severed from his body.

[Source]