The Solar Wolves Astartes Chapter

(Short Description WIP)

#### **The Failure/The Flight**

On an unknown date in the 37th millenium, various ranking members of the Solar Wolves boarded their vessels orbiting the homeworld, and fled. They carried orders to expunge all mention of the Chapter up until that point, and to leave the homeworld forever. The cause is written of only vaguely, as ‘The Failure’, a cataclysmic failure of the Chapter to uphold the values of the Imperium. It is unknown if this was a singular incident, or the title given to a long trend of behavior spanning centuries or millennia.

Regardless, the resulting Flight left elements of the Solar Wolves scattered across the galaxy, and it is only extremely recently that they’ve reformed once more into a full Chapter. They spent some centuries in exile, composed of these broken splinter-fleets, each carrying its own myths and lessons about the Failure. Upon their reunification, the Chapter was composed of various Commanders who had each led a splinter-fleet. Through heavy debate and discussion, it was determined that the Chapter could stomach no Master at all. Instead, the Solar Wolves turned to the Chaplains among their ranks, and entrusted the spirit of the Chapter to their care and command. As such, the Chaplains are the highest ranking individuals of the Wolves, led by the First Chaplain, the Veneratus Kenton Alseem.

### **Chapter Culture**

Each Chaplain is given an enormous amount of individual power and leeway, as the Chapter as a whole bears the collective shame of the Failure, and cannot imagine such a disgrace occuring once more under the guidance of such spiritually-hardened leaders. Therefore, each Chaplain -and their self-appointed Captain- is left to handle matters of recruitment, armament, and tactical operation as they see fit. A Chaplain answers to none but the Veneratus, and to be sure, the God-Emperor Himself.

First and foremost, the Solar Wolves are a Chapter of repentance. They do not know why the Failed, or how, or even precisely when. All they understand is that it was grievous enough, severe enough, to warrant the obliteration of their history, the abandonment of their homeworld, and the shattering of their fleet. As such, the Solar Wolves have taken on an immense dedication to two cultural supports: Honor to the Imperium and its citizens, and utter, unrestrained brutality towards its foes. There is hardly a Chapter more bound to their codes of honor, but equally are there few Chapters that hold such primeval, brutal hatred for their foes.

#### **Debt Coins**

The Solar Wolves’ dedication to honor is beyond their top priority, it defines them. So desperate are they to make up for their Failure, they’re constantly seeking new ways to enforce their honor and duty among the citizens of the Imperium. The Veneratus has taken a note from the Ebon Gauntlets, and utilizes a similar system of Debt Coin usage and distribution. They are physical honor, reparations for services rendered unto the Chapter by the citizenry and soldiery of the Imperium.

Every coin matters, and each coin represents a genuine debt the Solar Wolves owe on behalf of their honor. Due to an outstanding agreement with the Ebon Gauntlets, coins issued by either Chapter are honorable by either Chapter, and therefore coins issued by the Gauntlets are to be honored as full and proper by the Solar.

#### **Prayers and Decrees**

> *We shall be His finest warriors, we men who give of themselves to Him. In great armor shall He clad us, and with the mightiest guns will we be armed. We shall have such tactics, strategies, and machines such that no foe can best us in battle. We are His bulwark against terror. We are the defenders of humanity. We are His Space Marines, and we shall know no fear. - Astartes' Mandate, as delivered by the God-Emperor of Mankind.*
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### **Laws of the Chapter**

* Honor your Debts.
* Cooperate and assist where possible.
* Protect your Brothers.
* Defend Humanity.
* Know no Fear.
* Compassion for the Mortal, Hatred for the Foe.
* Uphold weekly reports, to be posted Monday midnight EST.
* Post event feedback for every single event you attend.

### **Tactical Operations/Commands**

#### **Priority**

All Operations and Commands have priorities attaches to them. Essentially, a Marine is to follow whatever suitable Op/Com that has the highest priority. For example, the **Fall In** Command has a priority of Gamma. However, the Operation **Fortify** has a priority of Beta. Thus, if the Company is undergoing the **Fortify** Operation, and the **Fall In** Command is relayed, it is to be followed **ONLY AND TO THE EXTENT** that it does not jeopardize the Operation, as the Operation has a higher priority. This can be overruled by attaching a separate priority to the Operation/Command.

Example: **Fall In, Alpha Priority** overrules **Fortify**, and is to be followed even at the expense of Operation procedure. In the event that contradicting Operations/Commands share a priority, the most-recently ordered one is to be followed.

**Priority List (in Descending order): Alpha-Prioris, Alpha, Beta, Gamma.**

#### **Operations**

##### **Fall Back (Alpha)**

A much-loathed Operation, and one that absolutely no Chaplain enjoys issuing, this Operation demands the complete retreat of all Astartes forces. It can be from a particular location, or from the Deployment as a whole, but either way, all Astartes forces are to immediately disengage from any embroiled locations. They will begin an orderly fall-back towards a designated point or direction, continuing to fire into anything that may be pursuing them.

##### **Fortify (Beta)**

When the Company is in **Fortify**, all Marines are to take defensive postures. Assault Marines are to shore up frontal lines of attack, while Devastators are to move into positions best able to suppress the onslaught of foes. Scouts are to take recon positions, WITHIN defensive perimeter, to keep watch over the various routes of assault. All Specialists are to maintain standard operating procedure. Terminators are to fall in with the Assault Marines.

##### **Slaughter (Gamma)**

When in **Slaughter**, the Company is in a stage of indiscriminate purging. Enemies in an open field, breaching a wide-open building like a warehouse, mowing down swarms of foes. It has an exceptionally low priority, and as such, Marines should be ready to switch from it at the issue of nearly any Command or new Operation.

#### **Commands**

##### **Go for the Throat! (Alpha-Prioris)**

A single target (or pack of targets) are selected, and all Astartes are to focus bringing them down at all costs. There are various enemy units and powers that would be ruinous in the right circumstances, and so this Command demands they be put down at once, at the expense of literally any other concern.

##### Form Up/Link Up (Beta)

This signals all (or specifically called) Astartes units to join up with designated forces, almost always used to gather all Astartes forces around their Chaplain.

### **Rank and Status**

Solar Wolves make the distinction between ranks and titles. A rank indicates both command authority and progress along various training paths. A title indicates prestige and honor, and reflect the social and honor ranking among the Chapter. It is possible for an Astartes to possess a low rank yet a high title, thus having high social standing but not relatively high command power. The opposite is also possible, those of exceeding rank that do not possess a particularly high title. However, ranks do bestow prestige of their own, and so even without a separate title, they carry quite a lot of honor as it is.

#### Serfhood

Serfs are the mortal servants of the Chapter, humans dedicated to tending to Chapter business. They are the social arm of the Chapter, and regardless of their specializations or ranks, deal most heavily with other factions. Serfs are the unequivocal servants of all Astartes, excepting Aspirants, who are not fit to be termed part of the Chapter as of yet. Unlike their Astartes Masters, they do not have a central progression system. Instead, they specialize early, and stay within their field until they die. Elder -> Veteran -> Serf is their rank progression, tied into their specialization titles.

**Medicae:** Apothecarion staff and battlefield healers.

**Helot:** Battle-serfs that function as position-fillers.

**Forge:** Tech-serfs that serve the techmarines.

**Psykana:** Servants of knowledge and the Librarians.

#### **Champions**

There shall be only one Champion in the Company, and they will be the greatest warrior of the Company. Should any desire to take his place, they may place a Challenge. The Champion is honor-bound to accept, or else forfeit their title. The Challenge shall be looked over by the Chaplain and all available Company assets. The Challenge shall consist of three bouts: the first, a power sword duel; the second, a bolter duel; the final duel shall consist of the Company armory being opened, and the pair being able to select whichever option they please. Whomever wins two of the three bouts will be declared the winner. Should the usurper have won all three bouts, they shall incur the title of Ultimatus Champion, signifying the new power placed in the Champion title.

#### **Terminators**

Terminators are to be trained thoroughly, and certified with the title Crux before being granted their own Terminator armor. This training is intensive and all-consuming, demanding the Astartes to know every single possible facet of life as a Terminator user. The armor, the warfare, the spirit of the Chapter within their hearts, absolutely nothing can be lacking to be titled Crux. To attain the vastly superior title of Ultimatus Crux -and the use of full-scale Assault Cannons- requires perfection in the arts of Terminator use. These one-Astartes-armies are to be placed within the ancient and venerated suits of Cataphractii armor, recovered from torn-asunder space hulks. Ultimatus Crux Astartes cease to be individuals, and become living avatars of their armor, existing solely for the euphoria of maintaining, wearing, and going to war within it.