Algonquin

Departmento Cartographicae pict-file of the Iron Bisons' Chapter home world of Algonquin.

## Planet

### Class

Feral World/Adeptus Astartes Chapter Hoem World

## Location

### Segmentum

Between the borders of the Segmentum Pacificus and Segmentum Tempestus.

### System

Iro'quois System

**Algonquin** is the lush feral world and Chapter home world of the Iron Bison Space Marine Chapter.

## History

For several millennia, the planet of Algonquin was easily overlooked. A standard Feral World in the Iro'quois System hovering on the borders between the Segmentum Pacificus and Segmentum Tempestus, while it offered a wild natural beauty, it's more resource rich neighbors were prized and utilized for Imperial uses. Unbeknownst to Imperial forces, a hidden threat was brewing on the surface of Algoquin that would have threatened the system.

### The Hunter and the Wendigo

It was not until an unknown White Scars Master of The Hunt, referred to by the natives as "Slayer of Death" (a name still used in reverence by the Iron Bison to this day) arrived on Algonquin cornering a Chaos Marine who had fled to the planet to avoid the wrath of the White Scars. Over several days of tracking, he found and dispatched the traitor hiding in a cave adjacent to a large plain. The Slayer collected his trophy and prepared to depart, only pausing to admire the planet's wide plains which reminded him of Mundus Planus. It was in that moment he was approached by local natives praising his strength, for they had been following him since he made planet fall and bore witness to his hunt of the traitorous marine.

Believing him to be one of their great spirits of the hunt made manifest into their realm, they pleaded with him to help save them from the "Wendigo", a monster that appears once every five years destroying everything in its path then disappearing, and it's time to return was upon them. None of their weapons could penetrate the beast's metal hide, all their greatest warriors and hunters sent to fight the abomination were killed. The neighboring tribes began warring with each other believing that human sacrifices would stave off the beast and protect their village for another five years. Intrigued by the description of the beast and the plight of the natives the Slayer agreed to investigate the Wendigo, and accompanied by two of the native hunters journeyed to the location where the Wendigo would usually manifest.

The hunters led the Astartes to an unnatural clearing by the base of a mountain. Black scorch marks blotted the ground there was barely any flora growing and it was apparent the native wildlife avoided the area all together. The group camped just above the clearing and waited till nightfall and as the moon reached its zenith a green light erupted in the clearing followed by the unholy roar of metal and death as a large Necron stepped into view. The necron was unlike any the White Scar had seen before, almost as large as a dreadnought, but lanky with long claws, a long tube of pulsing green energy led from under each side of the necrons skull along the spine and fed into the monsters back and it's face lacked a mouth, but what was most startling of all was the grinder in it's chest. In the center of the breastplate of the Wendigo was a spinning grinder the width of a power fist whirring with an unholy noise reminiscent of death screams of various humanoids.

The necron quickly moved to a nearby tree with a speed and agility unseen by standard necrons shattering it and stuffing the organic contents into it grinding orifice. Realizing the serious threat the necron posed, the White Scar leapt into action followed by the native hunters. Noticing the new organic targets the Wendigo turned and unleashed a torrent of green plasma flame from one of it's palms. The Hunter avoided the blaze but one of the hunters was hit his body incinerated on contact. The White Scar unleashed a barrage from his bolter pistol and while the bolts did damage to the carapace of the Wendigo it was not as much damage as the Slayer had expected. The wendigo closed the gap and the the Marine and Necron began to trade blows, though the necron started to get the upper hand, knocking the White Scar against the rocks.

Though it attempted to unleash another blast of flame it seemed it was unable too, at this point the second hunter was able to jump on the back of the necron shattering his stone tomahawk on the necrons skull. The necron was unaffected but took notice of the hunter grabbing him and ripping him to shreds and stuffing the remains into it's grinder. This sent the White Scar into a maddened rage as the Wendigo released another gout of flame but the marine again avoided the flame jumping into the necron and stabbing his power sword through the neck of the black horror. The necron staggered and disappeared in a blast of green light and black smoke leaving the Marines power sword to clatter to the ground.

As dawn came, the White Scar returned to the tribes with the remains of two fallen hunters so they could receive proper burials. The Master of the Hunt was given the title "Slayer of Death" and soon departed claiming that he and his brothers would return to ensure that the Wendigo would not return as a necron threat this close to Imperial planets was not tolerable. As the hour for the beast to return came to pass the White Scars returned leaving a small detachment to investigate the Wendigo, and again after 5 years the Necron reappeared though not it the place it had originally appeared, but this time it was met by a squad of White Scars who were able to defeat the monster but not before it killed several Marines. The mysterious nature of this necron coupled with the threat of a potential invasion of a necron force in Imperial territory warranted the founding of Iron Bison chapter to protect the system.

## Flora & Fauna

Algonquin is a world of lush wild beauty mostly predominated by open plains and scattered forests that tend to ring the base of various mountains that spring up from the planet. Near the southern pole of the planet is a massive desert known as the Desert of Clear Sky, a result of the failed firing of Aeldari weapon known as the Spirit Fire in their attempt to cleanse the planet of Necrons. Not only did this weapon kill all organic life in the surrounding area for kilometers around, but the warp energies thinned the atmosphere above the desert reducing both protection from the rays of the sun and the formation of weather systems in the area which is why it was given its title. Life has adapted to the harsh desert even allowing native tribes the ability to settle there, and recruits taken from these tribes are valued by the Iron Bison for their ability to survive and track in even the most severe conditions.

A large variety of wildlife thrives on Algonquin, but the Titan Bison is the animal that predominates Algonquins plains. Fully grown a Bull Titan Bison can be as large as an Astartes Rhino APC and just as dangerous almost untouchable by the Apex predators of the planet. These creatures are highly regarded by the Iron Bison as well as all the tribes of the planet not only for their strength, but for the food and materials they provide when they are killed.

### Return of the Wendigo

Every 5 years the Necron Wendigo returns to Algonquin to consume as much organic life as it possibly can in an attempt to teleport back to its tomb world to signal an invasion of the system. While the Necrons teleportation matrix is severely damaged and no longer capable of teleporting offworld, the Wendigo still tries to consume as much organic life as possible in an attempt to make the jump. Due to the threat the necron still poses to Algonquin and its inhabitants, the Chapter still hunts down and eliminates the threat as part of their oath to protect the system and to prevent the possibility of the Necron actually escaping. Watch towers placed along the world monitor for activity when the time for the xenos to return approaches. Aspirant Marines and Battle Brothers looking to prove themselves join the hunt monitored by senior veterans to ensure the situation does not get out of control.

Bow Bolters have proven the most effective against the necron so armed with these, the hunt is dispatched whenever a watch tower signals that the Wendigo has appeared in the area the. The astartes track the monster and eliminate it as quickly as possible forcing it back into its teleportation loop. While damaged the Necron is still very dangerous depending upon how much time it has been allowed to consume organic matter, and fatalities on the hunt have occurred. Regardless of the Necrons level of strength one aspect remains it cannot be destroyed. Several methods have been used to eliminate it including decapitation, explosions, melta and plasma weapons, but no matter how extensive the damage the necron always returns. It is believed that the Eldar Spirit Fire weapon has forced it into a temporal lock as well as placing it in a loop, when it is destroyed it is sent back to the point where was destabilized a second time when the White Scar plunged his sword into its neck. No matter how much it is damaged when it returns to the teleportation loop it is reset to point of when the White Scar stabbed it. As such the chapter is forever forced to deal with this threat until they are somehow capable of destroying it forever.

### Fortress-Monastery

Menawa Acaraho was erected over the sight of battle between the White Scar known as "The Slayer of Death" and the Necron Wendigo. Built into the base of the mountain the fortress extends into the mountain's interior. The fortress aside from standard features common to all fortress monasteries the complex contains many symbolic and spiritual sights as well. First and foremost is the Lodge of Honor where the chapter holds trophies and items honoring the chapter including golden statues of the "Slayer of Death" and the two hunters that accompanied him as the Iron Bison revere these two warriors as the first battle brothers of their chapter. In the clearing where great battle against the necron was once fought is a great firepit. Here the chapter congregates for celebration feasting and singing of songs retelling past victories. Finally, is a trail that leads up the mountain to its precipice known as "Trail of Broken Spirits" this path is utilized as the final test for those space marines on the path to becoming a Coyote.

## Chapter Recruitment

The Chapter primarily recruits new members from lesser developed planets in the Iro'quois System and its surrounding sub sectors as these worlds require their inhabitants to hunt to stay alive making them hardier and prematurely ingraining survival skills that they would later use as marines. Favored recruitment sites are the planets of Apache, Cherokee, Navajo and Seminole and several of these worlds are spread far out between the system and its surrounding sub sectors. Recruitment ships travel a specific path between worlds in what the Iron Bison have dubbed the Great Migration named so as the travel along the systems planetary orbits nearly matches the path that Titan Bison migrate as they move along Algonquins plains during its varying seasons.

This pattern had to be altered though when the Withered Hands invaded and captured the planet of Navajo. The Iron Bison prioritized the retaking of this world in earliest days of the war and it has switched hands between the two forces several times though currently it is back under the Iron Bison’s control. Recruits are chosen for expressing aptitude one of several qualities such as strength, stealth, speed and guile. Initiates are introduced to the chapter by the lead Coyote who tells them "The Story of Beginning" and the tenants of the chapter. Throughout the neophytes training, the Coyotes will give them advice in the form of tales from the chapter's history, as well as look for potential Medicine Brothers and Coyotes. The first real trial a neophyte faces is called the First Hunt where initiate marines are given a knife and are sent to hunt down a great beast and return with a worthy trophy. Subsequent training involves teaching marine tactics, combat and hunting skills and strategies that work well against specific opponents.

Martial Training includes use of standard marine equipment as well as the chapters more specialized weapons such as the Musket Bolter, Bow Bolter and Power Tomahawk. Those chosen to be Coyotes or Medicine Brothers are sequestered from their group to receive proper training in those aspects. All initiates receive rudimentary training in utilizing their gene seed mutation, but only those that manifest the mutation are further trained on proper use of this gift. Those who do not manifest the mutation are not shunned but encouraged to improve their natural tracking abilities and those who master these skills without the aid of a mutation are highly revered by their brethren. The final trial a marine must overcome before he is considered a true battle brother is the Second Hunt. This time instead of native creature the recruits are sent to hunt down a dangerous xenos or enemy of the Imperium one that has been scouted and measured by the chapter as being a suitable opponent for the young marines. After this mission is complete a celebration is held at the fire pit in Fortress monasteries courtyard before they are dispersed throughout the chapter.