Astral Serpents

Astral Serpents armorial with Chapter iconography
Note: Trim colour indicates Company number, in this case the 1st Company

Astral Serpents Battle-Brother of the 7th Company (indicated by trim colour), 2nd Battleline Squad

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Specialty**

Aircraft, Rapid Response and Surgical Strikes

### **Battle cry**

"For Viperae" and “We are the fangs of the Emperor”

### Successor Chapter(s)

Coming soon

> *Gafflwn Dihenydd*
>
>
> *o'r fuddugol yn wiriol sydd,*
> *Ni fydd neb yn ein Drechu,*
> *Falch ydy ni i drochu*
> *Traed o flaen i'r Annwn,*
> *mewn y gwybodaeth fe godwn ni.*
>
>
> *We cheat death*
> *From his rightful victory,*
> *No one can defeat us,*
> *We are glad to plunge*
> *feet first into Hell,*
>
>
>
> *In the knowledge we will rise.*
>
>

- Ancient Viperaen Battle Hymn
The **Astral Serpents** are a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter based in the northern Segmentum Ultima at the edge of the galaxy. Being so isolated, they have very little contact with other imperial forces other than those which are in the Azeran Sector. Rarely has this Chapter been recorded in official Imperial records, and when they are the records are incredibly vague, The Inquisition has made many inquiries into the chapters past but has come up with nothing pertaining to their origins.

## Chapter History

### Early History

The early history of the Astral Serpents is vague to say the least. According to legend a group of Astartes landed on Viperae and met with the chiefs of every clan. What exactly was discussed is unknown, but following this quorum, each clan swore eternal fealty to the Chapter Master of the Astral Serpents. It is unknown as to which chapter these Astartes are from, though the most common theory is that they were either descended from the lineage of the White Scars or Salamanders.

The exact date of the Astral Serpents' founding is unknown, though the first official record of them occurred in the 32nd Millennium during the Third Black Crusade where they fought alongside the Space Wolves and helped drive the Daemon Prince Tallomin back into the Immaterium. What the Astral Serpents did before the Black Crusade is unknown to the point where it is believed that they were created to fight back the crusade though according to the Astral Serpent legend they were founded years before the crusade even began.

### Recent History

Following the Fall of Cadia and the formation of the Great Rift, the Astral Serpents along with hundreds of other worlds, were cut off from the rest of the immperium for years. Many worlds in the Azeran Sector were lost due to Daemonic incursions, and Traitor warbands. So many worlds were lost, or cut off, that the area that the Serpents now patrol and worlds allied with them is but a fraction of what they once were. Though they fared better than most chapters cut off from Terra, the casualties suffered from these incursions and raids soon began to mount so the Astral Serpents had to turn to [Redacted] to relieve their losses.

### The Return of the Avenging Son

Following the return of the Ultramarines Primarch Roboute Guilliman and his entry into the 'Dark Imperium' in 050.M42 during the Indomitus Crusade, the Astral Serpents were relieved by a force of Primaris Space Marines who helped stabilize the Azeran Sector and drive back most of the Daemons and traitors. Though when offered that some join their ranks, High Chief Ulkan rejected them saying that "The Serpents have only and will only, recruit from Viperae, anything else goes against tradition", despite this defiance Ulkan did accept a few Primaris Marines into the Astral Serpents, mainly Apothecaries, as to learn how the Primaris are made.

## Chapter Homeworld

The Chapter homeworld of the Astral Serpents is Viperae. Viperae is a feudal World with a population of 1 billion imperial citizens. The landscape of Viperae is mountainous and hilly with many valleys interspersed between the mountains where many of the towns and villages of the planet are located where as the major cities of Viperae, where most of the population live, are located along the coasts and the few flatlands of the planet. the people of the world mainly sustain off of grain based products, an assortment of plant based foods, the meat of a large woolly creature, known as a defaid, whom the serpents also use the wool of to make clothing and off of wild game whom the hunters of the world find in the vast jungles and forests of Viperae.

The Astral Serpents choose potential recruits from the clans of Viperae who live in mighty strongholds from which they rule an area of Viperae. The reason for these strongholds is that the clans wage war against one another, the reasons for these wars vary from border disputes to slights against there honor, either way the casualties in these wars can reach into the thousands. No clan has ever been completely destroyed for when ever a clan has been soundly beaten the High Chief acts as a negotiator between the two warring clans. The Peace that is reached almost always deals in the transfer of land, hostages, tribute, a marriage or all of them.

### Fortress Monastery

The fortress-monastery of the Astral Serpents is the Sanctum Serpentum located high in the Glyderau Mountain Chain. Leading up to to the Sanctum is a small path that snakes up the mountain that leads to the great ceramite doors of the Sanctum. the Sanctum itself is has an open air courtyard in the center and unlike other Fortress Monasteries, the walls are made of strong stone instead and are not reinforced to make them more sturdy and take more hits from enemy artillery.

## Chapter Culture

For thousands of years, the customs and traditions of the Viperaen clans have been maintained. The people of this world believe in honouring their ancestors, and as such, will offer prayers and offerings to them in times of great turmoil and upon specific dates where they give many offerings to them. If someone doesn't give an offering they will be (supposedly) cursed, until the necessary offerings are made to their ancestors. Unlike most Imperial citizens, to the Viperaens psykers aren't feared but are considered Seers - wielders of ancient knowledge and power - and as such, they are taken in by elder seers and taught how to control their power. Though in Viperaen lore there are stories of Seers who become corrupted, becoming what they call Warlocks - those whom summon evil spirits to do their bidding.

The Astral Serpents are a proud warrior people with strong ideas of honor, glory, and brotherhood. Brotherhood is perhaps the strongest aspect of their culture, due to the constant wars waged by the hundreds of clans of Viperae the initiates of the chapter will often hate one another due to long standing rivalries and vows of vengeance. It is therefore the duty of the chaplains and Seers to beat this animosity out of these initiates, until they forget their rivalries and see only their brothers.

On honor the Astral Serpents have a strange perception of it. When it comes to warfare they don't consider ambushes, traps and other under-handed tactics as dishonorable, but do consider attacking civilians and undermining duels with previously mentioned tactics as dishonorable. This strange dichotomy of theirs is difficult to understand, though this thinking may have originated from their parent legion.

On glory, the Astral Serpents consider victory and achieving their objectives to be glorious and believe that destroying planets is the least glorious form of victory and is an anathema to their honour and their vow to the Emperor - to protect His Imperium and His subjects no matter the cost.

## Notable Campaigns

### 3rd Black Crusade (909.M32)

The Third Black Crusade is the first time that the Astral Serpents appeared within Imperial records, in it the Serpents assisted the Space Wolves in driving back the Daemon Prince Tallomin and the Traitor Legions back into the Immaterium.

### Azeran Crusades (104.M35-248.M36)

The Azeran crusades were, as the name suggests, a series of crusades in the Azeran Sector. they were the First Polit Crusade, Keldor Crusade, 2345-zeta Crusade, Fenra Crusade, Nasir Crusade, Ajnaush Crusade and Rhiannon Crusade. these crusades were mainly against xenos, and human civilizations who, cut off during the Dark Age of Technology, turned to the worship of Chaos. The most difficult of these crusades was the Nasir Crusade where a xenos race called the 'Chaemsae' controlled the entire system. several bloody battles took place on every planet in the system resulting in millions of casualties. In the end, however, the Chaemsae were entirely annihilated and there culture erased from history.

### The Burning of Salile (772.M36)

upon the world of Salile an Ork WAAAGH! landed on the planet using old derelict spaceships. they landed upon the world and began to kill its populace and destroy its cities, soon after the Astral Serpents rallied their allies and moved on Salile to retake it. The fighting was fierce and hard fought and in the hive city of Vestral the 3rd, 6th, and 7th companies were practicality destroyed when the orks made the cities power plant go critical and explode. With losses mounting and three whole companies practically destroyed, the Chapter was forced to enact *Exterminatus* upon the doomed world to prevent Salile from falling into the clutches of the vile greenskins.

### Second Polit Crusade (230.M37)

In 164.M37, an Alpha Legion warband numbering in the hundreds entered the Polit Crusade and then over the course of a few decades they took over the entire system. Their takeover of the system could not be hidden forever, and in 230.M37, their heresy was discovered when a force was sent to investigate why the system had not sent a tithe in over forty years. There, the Administratum fleet discovered that the system had fallen and was being lorded over by the Chaos warband. The High Lords of Terra dispatched the Astral Serpents, Doom Heralds and numerous Astra Militarum regiments of the Azeran Sector, which descended upon the system, to purge the taint of the Dark Gods from their midst. In the course of only a few months the warband is believed to have been utterly annihilated and the worlds they took over were purified of their former Chaos-corruption.

### Damocles Gulf Crusade (742-745.M41)

The Astral Serpents joined there fellow astartes in the Damocles Gulf Crusade against the tau. Sent to fight these xenos the 4th 5th and 6th companies were sent to assist in the crusade. Upon the world of Dalyth prime the 6th company fought alongside the Ultramarines, Scythes of the Emperor and the Iron Hands as they fought upon the world of Dalyth and it was on Dalyth that Belial Sergeant of squad 4 took charge of the 6th company after the captain was slain by a tau fire warrior, Belial lead them well and saved the company from certain destruction. the 4th company assisted the white scars. The 5th company commanded by captain Velrog assisted the Scythes of the Emperor upon the world of Sy'l'kell.

### A House Divided (781.M41)

In 781.M41, High Chief Bryn died at the age of 1,012 due to unknown causes. Following his death, the Clan Council gathered in their fortress-monastery to decide who would become the next High Chief. It was during this meeting that Velrog, Captain of the 5th Company revealed his perfidy and launched a coup in a brazen attempt to seize control of the Chapter and to turn his fellow battle-brothers to the worship of the Ruinous Powers. Long whispered promises of prestige and power, the corrupting influence of the Dark Gods had twisted the proud warrior's mind. Soon after, several squads of other companies whom he had earned the loyalty of, turned on their own companies and attempted to seize control of their ships. Velrogs so-called "Baptists" were only able to seize control of five of the twelve ships they had targeted, although Velrogs was able to kill the Chapter Champion, three of the Serpent Guard and the Captain of the 2nd Company, his failure to capture the majority of the fleet and to kill the Clan Council caused him to flee from Viperae and go into hiding. In 783.M41, Velrog and his Baptists were discovered upon the world of Clovis in the Acorid System, and soon the full might of the chapter was brought down upon the traitors. A battle quickly ensued upon the agri-world of Clovis. During the battle, Velrog was slain by Ganvan, Champion of the 6th Company, in single combat. Following his death, the rest of the Baptists, led by Quilon - former Seer of the 5th Company - fled Clovis by entering a warp rift summoned by Quilon aboard the Strike Cruiser *Pale Hand*. Following this massive battle, Vetek Ulkan, Captain of the 1st Company, who had taken up the mantle as leader of the chapter, was officially named High Chief of the Astral Serpents by the Clan Council, and as his first act, he nominated Ganvan to be the Chapter Champion of the Astral Serpents.

### The Third War for Armageddon (998.M41)

The Astral Serpents 4th and 3rd companies were sent to Armageddon to assist in driving back the Ork WAAAGH!. the 3rd company held a defensive position in the Plains of Anthrand where they were able to distract an ork force for 3 months before being reinforced by imperial guardsmen. as for the 4th company they fought once again alongside the White Scars, they fought alongside them in the Deadlands where they assisted the White Scars in fighting the Ork Speed Kults. They fought bravely and with honour having to push there bikes to their limit as to keep up with the White Scars lightning assaults.

### Battle of Caldera (999.M41)

The 8th Company Seer perceived that a great evil was heading for the world of Caldera, With a Astropathic message sent to Viperae the Company set of to defend Caldera. Days after arriving in system a Tyranid splinter fleet of Moloch arrived. With their arrival A genestealer uprising began causing the planets defenders to split their attention between these two grave threats. Despite their valiant effort and defense the world of Caldera was consumed by the Hive Fleet and the 8th Company was destroyed.

## Organisation

the Astral Serpents follow the *Codex Astartes* in most organisational terminology with a few changes due to the Culture of Viperae

### Command Ranks

* **High Chief (Chapter Master)** -The Chapter Master of the Astral Serpents serves in much the same way as in any other chapter with a noticeable difference being that the clans of Viperae recognize him as their high chief and is able to mediate disputes, and rule over them in any way he sees fit. the reason for this is unknown though it has existed for as long as the Astral Serpents have existed.
* **High Seer (Head Librarian)** -The High Seer serves as the Head Librarian for the Astral Serpents, the reason for the title is that seers served as healers and mages in their respected tribes and are valued for there knowledge and powers, and due to the fact that the Astral Serpents rule Viperae the High Seer is considered both the leader the greatest of all seers on Viperae.
* **Divine Smith (Master of the Forge)** -The tittle given to the Master of the Forge. The name refers to the Religious Significance that the Omnissiah Has with Techmarines with the first Astartes of the Chapter believing that the Master of the Forge Could Interperate the Will of the Omnissiah in every machine-spirit he encountered.
* **Serpent Guard** -the honour guard of the High chief, Each of the ten members is chosen among the greatest warriors of the Chapter, being Company champions who have done a particularity notable deed and Individual battle brothers who have shown great skill.
* **Reclaimer** -The Reclaimer is a Specialized rank among the Astral Serpents focused on acquiring any lost relics and histories of the Chapter. The Reclaimer works alone and will often disappear for years before returning bearing something of the chapters lost legacy that he then presents to the High Chief and the High Chief alone. The Reclaimer cannot speak to any one in the chapter nor can they show there face, the only members of the chapter he can is the High Chief, High Seer, ,Head Apothecary, Head Chaplain, and the Divine Smith
* **Clan Council** -the Clan Council is the ruling body of the Astral Serpents, The Council is made up of the High Chief, High Seer, Divine Smith, Head Apothecary, Head Chaplain, the 10 Captains, and leader of the Serpent Guard, though the guard cannot vote on chapter matters and instead protects the council members since the command squads and entourage of each member are not allowed inside the council halls. The council will vote on subjects that will directly affect the chapter as a whole and not those which affect the planet, as that is the responsibility of the High chief. the council will vote on such things as whether or not they will answer a call for aid, what companies will be sent to help and who should be made a captain and high chief when the positions are vacant.

### Veteran Ranks

* **Honoured Elder** -A rank given to space marines who have been a space marine for over 500 years, and any space marine can achieve this rank. As such those who hold this rank have little command power, though those with this rank have sway when battle plans are discussed due to their experience. These marines are signified by, if they choose, a white Clan marking on there helmet
* **Smith** -Smith is the name given to the techmarines of the Astral Serpents. the serpents use techmarines to maintain their aircraft and equipment and due to the Astral Serpents reliance on aircraft, they are some of the most skilled techmarines in the imperium when it comes to aircraft.
* **Shadow Serpents** - An elite band of Stealth operatives that is, officially, part of the 10th. there numbers and formations are unknown as well as the operations that they've been apart of.

### Line Formations

* **Constrictor Formation** -The most widely used formation by the Astral Serpents, where the serpents will maneuver with aircraft's to encircle small pockets of the enemy and to cut them off from their allies.
* **Vengeful Strike** -Assault marines move against the enemy in an arrowhead formation and charge them to deal as much damage as possible, this formation is considered a last resorts due to the high number of casualties among the assault marines.
* **The Smiths Hammer** -A solid line of space marines hold the enemy by providing intense suppressing fire while another force composed of assault and tactical marines equipped with jump-packs hit them in the rear.
* **Bordweall** -An ancient formation used by the Veterans of the 1st company where Warriors wielding storm and combat shields Lock their shields together as to defend the warriors behind them, who then fire on the enemy through the gaps in the wall.

### Order of Battle

#### Chapter Command

Due to the fact that the Astral Serpents split their Chapter into 2 battle groups the Armory does not maintain Land Vehicles, for it would be difficult for the Armory to maintain a vehicle many systems away from where the majority of the Techmarines are:

**Lugh Danann, High Chief of the Astral Serpents**
**Chapter Champion**
**Serpent Guard (Honour Guard)**
**Command Squad (Chapter Standard Bearer, Head Chaplain, High Seer, and Apothecary)**
**Goffanon Tegau, *Divine Smith* (Master of the Forge)**
**non-combat Smiths (techmarines)**
**Servitors**
**Arawn,**
***Head Chaplain***
**Chaplains**
**Heddwyn Lloyd, *Chief Apothecary***
**Apothecaries**
**Lyfr Cald, *High Seer* (Chief Librarian)**
**Epistolaries**
**Codiciers**
**Lexicaniums**

#### Companies

Each company of the Astral Serpents is, to a degree, Specialized in a certain way of war. for example the 2nd company uses heavy vehicles and artillery, where as the 4th has no heavy vehicles and instead rely on biker squads in battle, and the 5th have no Fire Support squads relying mainly on Close Support squads. because of this specialization companies will often work in pairs that compliment their way of war. Unlike most chapters, the Astral Serpents 1 extra battle company, that being the 7th company and have only 3 reserve companies, the 6th, 8th and the 9th, the 6th and 9th have 150 marines each to accomadate the lack of a 4th reserve.

**Captain Jormandus**
**2 Lieutenants**
**Command Squad**
**3 Terminator Squads**
**2 Terminator Assault Squads**
**4 Vanguard Veteran Squads**
**6 Sternguard Veteran Squads**
**Land Raiders**
**Land Raiders**
**Rhinos**
**2 Dreadnoughts**  | ***Serpents of Steel***
**Captain Rios**
**2 Lieutenants**
**Command Squad**
**6 Battleline Squads**
**4 Fire Support Squads**
**Rhinos**
**Razorbacks**
**Vindicators**
**Whirlwinds**
**4 Dreadnoughts**  | ***The Winged Ones***
**Captain Belafyr**
**2 Lieutenants**
**Command Squad**
**6 Battleline squads**
**2 Close Support squads Squads**
**2 Fire Support Squads**
**Land raiders**
**Rhinos**
**Land Speeders**
**Dreadnoughts**   | ***Outriders***
**Captain Braith**
**2 Lieutenants**
**Command Squad**
**5 Battleline Squads**
**4 Close Support Squads**
**1 Fire Support Squad**
**Land Speeders**
**Bikes**  | ***The Redeemed***
**Captain Gwaed**
**2 Lieutenants**
**Command Squad**
**6 Battleline Squads**
**4 Close Support Squads**
**Rhinos**
**Land Raiders**

**Captain Llywelyn**
**2 Lieutenants**
**Command Squad**
 **15 Battleline Squads**
**2 Dreadnoughts**
**Transport vehicles**   | ***Blue Cloaks***
**Captain Pwyll**
**2 Lieutenants**
**Command Squad**
**5 Battleline Squads**
**3 Close support Squads**
**2 Fire Support Squads**
**2 Dreadnoughts**
**Razorbacks**
**Rhinos**
**Land Raiders**  | ***The Hunters***
**Captain Petrus**
**2 Lieutenants**
**Command Squad**
**10 Close Support Squads**
**Bikes**
 **Land Speeders**
**Repulsors**  | ***The Shieldbearers***
**Captain Owain**
**2 Lieutenants**
**Command Squads**
**10 Fire Support squads**
**5 Battleline squads**
**Battle tanks**
**Dreadnoughts**
**Transport vehicles**   | ***Hatchlings***
**Scout-Captain Arturius**
**Scouts**
**Land Speeders**
**Shadow Serpents**

### Organisational Quirks

Many of the companies of the Astral Serpents will exhibit obvious differences from the rest of the chapter, whether it be in Combat doctrine or beliefs, for this reason I have categorized some of the more notable quirks and differences that certain companies within the chapter have.

#### The Tale of the 4th

The 4th Company of the Astral Serpents has a near Religious worship of the primarch of the White Scars Jaghatai Khan. Due to this Idolization of the Khagan the 4th company Make fervent usage of bikes, Every Battle-brother will learn how to ride the bike by traversing the mountains of Viperae, often going up near vertical inclines. it is because of this training that the Astartes of the 4th can traverse nearly any rough terrain and are masters of reconnaissance. The Warriors of the company wield weapons that are stylized to be like those of the white scars, with the warriors also painting their armor with white and red lighting bolts to emulate the honored chapter. It is for their Skill in Riding and Reconnaissance that the Company has been given the Honorific "The Outriders" for they ride before the chapter to bring swift vengeance upon the enemy.

#### The Tale of the 5th

The 5th company is the only company in the Astral Serpents that follows the Imperial Cult. Like many followers of the Imperial Cult the 5th despise mutants and psykers and as such is the only company without a Seer, instead the company has a second chaplain who will routinely scour the company for any sign of corruption. if any is found the Brother who is spiritually tainted they will be undergo 20 days of meditation before they are then judged by both chaplains of the company, if both agree that the warrior is spiritually pure then they will return to their squad with their helms marked with a line of gold paint to indicate that they are pure. It is for their faith in the Emperor that the Company is given the honorific "The Redeemed" for never again shall they turn against the Emperor.

#### The Tale of the 7th

a notable exception to the vote on who will become a captain is the 7th company. As before the captain dies they will name there successor and the cloak of the sea will be passed to them, this has been a tradition ever since the first captain of the seventh, Dylan Enfys, died fighting a traitor marine champion during the third black crusade. In his dying moments with his command squad gathered around him Dylan handed his cloak to his standard bearer, Cynfor Maddox, and asked that he lead the men and continue the fight in his absence. from that point on the captain of the 7th has chosen there successor before their death, and with this new found athourity comes the Cloak of the Sea, the same cloak that Dylan Enfys wore when he died. it is from this cloak that the Company gets its honorific "The Blue Cloaks".

#### The Tale of the 8th

The Most significant thing about the 8th company Is that it is the only Company of the Astral Serpents to be Made entirely of Primaris Units. In 999.M41 the 8th company was destroyed defending the World of Caldera from a Tyranid Splinter fleet, and with the Creation of the Great Rift, the Astral Serpents could not afford to rebuild the company and instead had to focus on keeping the other 8 companies at fighting strength. It wasn't until contact was made with the Indomitus Crusade in 50.M42,despite not fully trusting Primaris Marines the Astral Serpents High Council did see the benefit in restoring the 8th, And So with a Mix of Ultramarine, Imperial Fist and White Scar Primaris the 8th company was Restored to its former glory and with it they took up a new Honorific "The Hunters". for they shall hunt the enemies of the Imperium never resting in the hunt for the prey never tires.

## Gene-Seed

The Astral Serpents suffer from a gene-seed mutation that turns the skin of the Astartes hard and pebbly and their skin turning into a wide array of colours and their eyes changing to those similar to reptiles. this change is due the secretions in the oolitic kidney and the Occulobe becoming unbalanced. many imperial scholars believe that the reason for this change has something to do with their home planet of Viperae, though as to what on Viperae causes it opinions differ.

Some believe that it is due to the Atmosphere containing a certain chemical that damages the oolitic, others believe that the plants on the planet contain a certain enzyme that causes the oolitic to malfunction, and yet still others claim that the water it self has been tainted by chaos and the mutation is a response to it.

### Recruitment

Every ten years the Seers and Chaplains of the Astral Serpents scout the Ancient Clans of Viperae to find their bravest and strongest youths that they will then put through several trials as to weed out the weak and let in the bravest, strongest and the most willful of these aspirant.

#### The Climb

The first trial these Aspirants must overcome happens before they even enter the fortress monastery. the trial is quite simple yet effective in weeding out the weak, they must climb mynydd marwolaeth, while the mountain isn't the tallest on Viperae, far from it, it is still a formidable challenge due to the fact that the Astral Serpents have set many a trap along the way. Most of these traps are not meant to kill, simply wound them and damage their resolve to continue. those that make it to the top are then taken to Sanctum Serpentum the fortress monastery of the Astral serpents to begin their training.

#### Vigilance

After months of training and conditioning of the aspirants, a second trial is initiated. The second trial is again simple, the Aspirants must hold a torch over their heads without letting it down for 3 days. Those who let the torch fall are thrown from the top of the Fortress Monastery, those who somehow survive the fall, continue their training.

#### The Jungle

This trial is taken by initiates who have completed their training, and is the final trial before they join the scouts. The trial is again, simple they must survive for 3 months in the Cerven Jungle which is the most inhospitable and dangerous place on Viperae. The initiates are told when the trial begins that they must survive by any means necessary, while this is true it is also a lie for if they kill a fellow initiate they themselves will be killed, but they are not told this. Those who survive and haven't killed one of their brothers will join the scouts.

## Combat Doctrine

The combat doctrine of the Astral Serpents Revolves almost entirely around aircraft's. The reason for this is that aircraft can maneuver around the battlefield quickly, allowing space marines to target weak points in the enemies line. When squads are deployed to battle it is usually done so in an aircraft, as of late the Serpents mainly use Stromravens instead of Thunderhawks for their Maneuverability and smaller size. The Astral Serpents have less Dreadnoughts and heavy vehicles than other chapters due to their weight, making transporting them harder, the vehicles the Astral Serpents do have are deployed by Thunderhawk transports.

The Serpents rely on encirclement and precision strikes to damage the enemy. They do this by having a solid line of space marines to hold them in place, then Serpents will deploy from aircraft or by jump-packs and target weakened or vulnerable areas cause as much damage as possible then retreat once the enemy begins to move against them.

## Deathwatch Service

     The Astral Serpents have an agreement with Deathwatch where fifty Serpents are sent every hundred years to serve the in the Ordo. after the 100 years those who have survived, are sent back to the Astral Serpents and are then replaced by fifty new battle-brothers who are veterans within the chapter with years of experience. These replacements are selected by the returning space marines and if there are no returning space marines the High Chief selects who is sent to serve the Deathwatch.

## Notable Astral Serpents

* **High Chief Arawn the Calamity** -Arawn was the High Chief during the third black crusade and according to Astral Serpent legend, he was the one that defeated daemon prince Tallomin and sent him into the warp. Due to there being no records of the Astral Serpents before the Black crusade, Arawn is considered the first High Chief, though this is merely based on official records.
* **Gawain the Elder** -one of the fifty Astral Serpents currently serving in the Deathwatch Chapter which he has for nearly 350 years. before Joining the Deathwatch Gawain served in the Astral Serpents 5th company command squad for 2 centuries.
* **Cadoc Ganvan** -Current chapter champion of the Astral Serpents. He was made the champion after defeating Velrog former captain of the 5th company in single combat on the world of Clovis.
* **Captain Pwyll gan Dyfed** - Current captain of the 7th company and the youngest of all the captains. Pwyll is quite popular and well liked by the sergeants and brothers of his company due to his caring demeanor and his unwillingness to risk his company in what he considers suicidal operations. While some of the other captains, like Gwaed of the 5th company, might call this caution cowardice, Pwyll considers this nothing more than choosing his battles and engagements carefully as to increase his odds of success.
* **Sergeant Rowan** - Sergeant in the 7th company and The first Son of Viperae to be made a primaris. Cautious and Strong willed, wielding a power sword and bolt rifle Rowan leads his squad of intercessors to victory after victory.

## Chapter Appearance

### Chapter Colours

The Astral Serpents primarily wear a teal coloured breastplate, helm, *glin* (poleyns; knee guards) and *llaw* (gauntlets). The shoulder insets, *coes* (leg armour) and *droed* (sabatons; foot armour) are grey in colour. The Aquila or Imperialis symbol on the breastplate is white in colour. The trim of the shoulder pauldrons indicates the company number, in accordance to the dictates of the *Codex Astartes* (i.e. 1st Company; White, 2nd Company; Red, 3rd Company; Yellow or Gold, 4th Company; Green, ect.) Squad number is indicated by a white Gothic numeral (1-10) on the left *glin*, and squad specialty insignia is indicated in white on the right shoulder inset, while the chapter badge on the left shoulder guard. Helm colours indicate seniority of rank with sergeant helms (grey), veteran sergeants (grey with a black stripe), veterans (black) and commanders wearing the standard teal helms. The Champions of each company helms are of the same color as the Trims color.

### Chapter Badge

The Astral Serpents Badge is a teal Serpent that is vaguely coiled into the shape of an 'S'. The Serpent is an ancient creature from Viperaes mythology that terrorized the populace of the world before being defeated by a band of warriors from every clan on Viperae led by a great warrior who's name has been lost to time.

## Chapter Fleet

the Fleet of the Astral Serpents is very decentralized, the reason for this is so that the Chapter can respond quickly to threats to the Azeran Sector. The notable exception to this is what is known as the Home Fleet, a fleet that is Commanded personally by the High Chief, The home fleet also has the Oldest Ship In the Astral Serpents Chapter the *Dominatus* which dates back to the tail end of the Horus Heresy.

### Notable Ships of The Astral Serpents

* ***Blooded Fang* (Battle Barge)** - Command Vessel of the 1st Company,
* ***Distant Thunder* (Battle Barge)** - When Available is the Command Vessel of the 2nd Company.
* ***Cold Fire* (Strike Cruiser)** - Command vessel of the 3trd Company.
* ***Kingfisher* (Strike Cruiser)** - Command vessel of the 4th Company
* ***Astonisher* (Strike Cruiser)** - Command vessel of the 5th Company.
* ***Emperor's Tangent* (Strike Cruiser)** - Command vessel of the 6th Company.
* ***Tide Bringer* (Strike Cruiser)** - Command vessel of the 7th Company
* ***Cold Reason* (Strike Cruiser)** - Command vessel of the 8th Company.
* ***Faithful Servant*(Strike Cruiser)** - Command Vessel of the 9th Company
* ***Bloody Rampage*(Cobra Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***Serpents Amity* (Cobra Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***Lone Palm* (Nova Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***Venerable Crusader* (Nova Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***Imperial Spirit* (Gladius Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***Silent Crusader* (Gladius Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***Lonely Wind* (Cobra Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***Black Talisman* (Cobra Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***Star Dancer* (Nova Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***Serpent's Kiss* (Nova Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***New Dawn* (Gladius Class)** - Escort ship.
* ***Mindful Spirit* (Gladius Class)** -Escort ship.

### Ships of the Home Fleet

* ***Dominatus* (Avenger class Grand Cruiser)** - Flagship of the High Chief
* ***Hallowed Defender* (Nova class)** - Escort ship
* ***Mercy* (Nova Class)** - Escort ship
* ***Sanctity* (Nova Class)** - Escort Ship
* ***Pity* (Gladius Class)** - Escort Ship
* ***Courage* (Nova Class)** - Escort Ship
* ***Vengeance*  (Gladius Class)** - Escort Ship
* ***Sword of the Ancients* (Sword Class)** - Escort ship

## Chapter Relics

* ***Serpent's Fury*** - *Serpent's Fury* is an ancient Thunder Hammer which is the personal weapon of Chapter Master Lugh. The hammer has been in the Astral Serpents for, as far as anyone knows, as long as they have existed and most likely during the Horus Heresy. The two heads of the hammer formed into the shape of serpent heads.
* ***Black Fang*** - *Black fang* is the ancestral saber of the 3rd company that is passed down from captain to captain. the blade of the saber was once black as night but as time went on its color has changed to a dull grey.
* ***Serpent Scales*** - the *Serpent Scales* are cloaks (supposedly) made of the scales of the ancient Serpent of Viperae and worn mainly by the Terminators of the chapter. the scales are hard yet flexible and can deflect the weapons of mortal men such as spears and swords, though it is weaker to power and chain weapons.
* ***Cloak of the Sea*** - an ancient cloak worn by the captain of the 7th company and has been passed down from captain to captain.
* ***The Fang*** - An Ancient Blade dating back to the Horus heresy that is currently in possession of Watch Captain Gawain the Elder. The Blade is Straight edged with no Cross-guard and is covered in ancient Viperaen runes.
* ***[File Deleted]*** - [Error File not found]

## Relations

### Allies

* **The Worlds and systems within the Azeran Sector** -The Astral Serpents have alliances and agreements with most of the planets and systems in their sector. The Serpents claim that this is because their aid is invaluable and without them the planets wouldn't be able to survive, however there are claims that the Serpents force subservience on these governors. The theories on how they do this varies, but the most common one is that the planet is threatened by an external or internal threat, the Serpents then demand loyalty from the planetary governors in exchange for their aid. These claims, the Astral Serpents deny, but when ever a governor refuses to help or deal with the Serpents or goes back on an agreement, the governor is soon overthrown in a Coup.

### Enemies

* **Alpha Legion** -The Astral Serpents have a strange hatred of the Alpha Legion. Whenever an Alpha Legion War-band is detected no matter how small The war-band is, the Serpents descend upon them with overwhelming force to crush them immediately, the reason for this hatred is unknown.
* **The Forsaken** - The Forsaken are Astral Serpents Traitors that have survived the "House Divided" where Velrog, Captain of the 5th Company, started a chapter civil war to turn the Astral Serpents to Chaos. While most of these Traitors were killed during the war those that survived now live on the edge of the sector targeting vulnerable planets and sowing seeds of discord among worlds.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Astral Serpents

"*Know that this is your duty, if your faith falters,your body broken and will shattered, remember that you fight for your brothers, That you fight for the Serpents, that you fight for Viperae, that you fight for the Emperor, and keep fighting!*"
— High Chief Calrend at the battle of Shiva, 230.M37
"*Velrog! You turned your back on both the Emperor and the Serpents you killed your brothers,our brothers, commiting the greatest sin any son of Viperae can commit, and for what? to satisfy your ambition and become the High Chief? To depose those that would appose you? to satisfy your old grudges? did your foul gods promise you eternal life and everlasting glory? Come, face me and restore what little honour you have left Traitor!*"
— Cadoc Ganvan Challenging Velrog at the battle of Clovis, 783.M41
"*Save your Pleasentries for someone else commander, I have no need for it.*"
— 7th Captain Dôn addressing a PDF commander before the Battle of Vestral, 772.M36
"*You ask who our Primarch is, and the truth is that we do not know, but does it matter? We fight for the Emperor and for the glory of the Imperium, we fight with honor and ferocious tenacity. we stand in defiance against those that would see humanity destroyed, and we stare death in the face and spit!*"
— High Chief Arawn the Calamities reply to an Space Wolf Astartes question about their heritage, 909.M32
### About the Astral Serpents

"*I've had enough listening to your long winded stories about your ancestors and their "heroic deeds" and "great feats", damn them and damn you for telling such silly stories!*"
— Unknown Inquisitor
## Suggestions

If you find a glaring issue with canon lore in anything I've written, or an idea to expand on the mighty Serpent bois, feel free to Add/change it after leaving a message on my Blog or DM me on the Homebrew server. Please, do the same if you feel interested in having the Astral Serpents interact with your own Chapter, for better or (most likely) worse.

[Source]

## Gallery

Captain Rios yr Ymladdwr of the Astral Serpents 2nd Company.Captain Belafyr of the Astral Serpents 3rd CompanyCaptain Gwaed of the Astral Serpents 1st CompanyAstral Serpent Terminator, 2nd Veteran Squad 1st Company.Sergeant Trefor of the Astral Serpents 3rd Company 3rd SquadCadoc Ganvan, Chapter Champion and leader of the Serpent GuardSergeant Colwyn of the Astral Serpens 7th Company 2nd Squad