Imperial Rangers

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## Imperial Rangers

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## Space Marine Legion

### **Founding**

Imperium of Man
(*Fedelitas Constantus*)

### **Battle cry**

"Our mother is Brytath, our father is the Imperium! Let us make them proud!"

### Successor Legion(s)/Chapter(s)

(To be added)

The **Imperial Rangers** were the Vth Legion of the Legiones Astartes, whose progenitor is Godric Cynebeorn.

## History

### Brytath

Brytath was a Maiden world, inhabited by Exodite settlers escaping the decadence of their kindred. It was terra-formed, from the hostile wastes and mountains which only the hardiest of alien fauna could barely survive, into a lush world which allowed much natural splendour to flourish, much to the chagrin to the Grends, the brutish, savage, hairy giants, standing 40 feet tall, which were the only somewhat sentient race on the rock. When the Exodites landed, a war ensued against them and Grends, and the Grends were pushed into the frozen wastes. Although the Grends were much stronger and hardier than the Exodites, they lacked grace, and the Exodites' mastery over beasts, from the local ram-like beasts which were the size of stallions and had four deadly horns which shimmer in the sun - the "Morgs", to giant owl-like creatures – "Moonscreams" - whose screeches could drive people to surrender, or madness, to the Dragon of Brytath, a flying lizard with a hide as tough as ceramite, and an affinity to the Immaterium - as well as those reptilian animals the Exodites had brought with them. It had been driven to near extinction by the Grends and wanted to return the cruel favour.

However, soon, during the Dark Age of Technology, colonies started to sprout up, first by Squats who were hoping to mine the rich ores of the mountains. Later, more typical human colonists, due to the rising trade, settled as well. Due to such a flux, the Exodites couldn't resist, at least not directly. They mostly resorted to keeping the colonists contained within the mining industry regions, with hunters and poachers shown displays of how deadly the wildlife is. However, the Exodites themselves kept their own existence a secret.

When the Age of Strife came, the human colonists soon descended into disarray and anarchy, and the Squats secluded themselves within their own colonies. Some of the humans left their colonies and started to adapt to the world around them. They split off into numerous tribes, some close to each other, others distant. Many of them migrated away from the dangerous lands where the Exodites flourished and to pastures where lands were less hostile, though less fertile - towards the east. As their guns broke down, they forsook them, resorting to forge-work in favour for iron spears, shields and swords. Chainmail armour was common for hunters, and warriors.

Later, tribes were absorbed as kingdoms rise and kinships formed. These kingdoms were more conglomerates of tribes under a protective general, whom they gave tributes to, rather than a unified monarchy - though some of these protective generals stylized themselves as kings. There were few who managed to establish a more unified constitution later, though. These kings started building forts made from stone, and towns were built around them. Though these people forgot much of their technologically advanced ways, they developed consistent agriculture, arts, with stone-carvings and jewellery- and a polytheistic religion with numerous gods, many of them presiding over specific regions. Though, very common amidst most were four core gods: a god of honour, violence and war; a god of life and death; a god of wisdom, trickery and prophecy; and a goddess of love and fertility. The Exodites were mythologized as "Feii", and they were considered cunning tricksters who preyed on the weak-minded who wandered too far into the woods.

### Pre-Primarch

Before Godric Cynebeorn was introduced to the Legion he sired, the Imperial Rangers acted as pathfinders and scouts, and were under the command of Gaelus Belisar. Their mission was to mark planets for colonization and wipe out xenos life. However, their relatively niche role meant their numbers were often less to their fellow Legions. Although the stock for the Astartes were on Terra, they had to move quickly to a less polluted planet to train for their duty. Anschan was the planet which was settled, and due to its vibrant eco-system, allowed a variety of environments to be emulated. However, due to its relatively far-reach from the Holy Seat of Terra at that point, it was still untamed. During hunting missions and exercises, Astartes would disappear, with bolter rounds littering the dirt and trees cut down in melee. After investigation and a couple lures, it was found out that Orks from the Snakebites Klan were inhabiting the planet. After scouting missions reported the main tribal base of the Snakebites were in the middle of a valley, in mountainous terrain, the Imperial Rangers made a full-frontal assault against the Snakebites, in an attempt to wipe them out in one fell swoop. However, misjudging the terrain and the Orkz themselves, three company's worth of Imperial Rangers were slain by a tide of Snakebites wielding ferocious blades and riding feral beasts. This humiliating defeat roused the Snakebites to start swarming the Imperial Rangers' presence, motivated Gaelus Belisar to consider the tactical doctrine of the Imperial Rangers.

He selected two budding chapters to experiment with shock tactics, not unlike the Snakebites, attacking and torching minor settlements, scaring once-tamed beasts into a frenzy with bolter fire, and laying their own traps in the environment. Although mis-coordination at first disheartened this new project, Gaelus' insistence led to fruitful results. Although their power-armour was stiff and loud, the Imperial Rangers made up with obfuscation and masterful positioning, exemplified in the second assault on the Snakebites' tribal base. A bulk of Imperial Rangers' forces stood in front of the valley's entrance, challenging the Snakebites to war. The Snakebites respond with a tide of axes and beasts. Meanwhile, the two chapters, with Gaelus himself as the spearhead of them, took jet-bikes and started manoeuvring the terrain, riding into the Snakebites camp, torching it, and rousing the beasts, goading them to rampage through into the enemy Snakebites Orkz, causing devastating losses to the tribal Orkz, and achieving victory and dominance for the Imperial Rangers.

### The Great Crusade

The Imperial Rangers served the role of pathfinders during the Great Crusade, and excelled well in colonizing untamed territories.

## Combat Doctrine

The Imperial Rangers are proficient in melee warfare, both in ambushes and front-lines, making extensive use of spears and swords. They are also adaptable to many untamed environments, making use of camouflage to surprise enemies or sneak through terrain. Jet-bikes and assault bikes are also welcome, and have been quintessential in shock assaults and disrupting enemy lines. They also value themselves as adaptable to their surroundings.

The Imperial Rangers during scouting missions tend to work in smaller groups no more than 10 Astartes. Moreover, the Imperial Rangers utilize mechanical crossbows during scouting mission, preferring the over the loud booming of the bolter gun. These crossbows are able to fire arrows at considerable speeds, though slower than a typical bolter. Specialized bolts are forged daily for these bows, with some acting as tracking beacons, but many others having destructive purposes, with proximity explosives, shrapnel explosives or debilitating gases built into the bolts and released upon foes. They will make use of bolters on the front lines, so their crossbows act more for support. Sergeants may opt to use these crossbows instead of a bolter.

Sometimes, Moonscreams are tamed and used in the tactics of the Imperial Rangers. Moonscreams are giant, owl-like beasts local to Brytath, and their screeches can cause many enemies to panic or go mad, allowing for pesky targets to be debilitated. However, it is difficult to tame a Moonscream, with only Librarians being able to form a connection, and there are those who go insane in their attempt to tame one, and it is the duty of the Chief Librarian to put down a poor, manic Lexicanium.

## Legion Beliefs

The Imperial Rangers, although the worship of Pagan gods is prohibited, still have a culture which is tied to the druidic spirituality of Brytath. Chaplain Monks typically perform rites of ceremony, symbolic to the ways of Brytath, typically with incense from burned trees from Brytath itself, which causes much distress when they run out. When battle brothers die, they are cremated and their ashes are sent back to Brytath.

## Legion Gene-Seed

The Imperial Ranger gene seed is relatively stable, though a certain competitiveness does tend to arise in the mentality of some Imperial Rangers.

## Legion Appearance

The Legion's Captains, Lieutenants, Chaplains, Apothecaries, Librarians, Beast-masters and Standard Bearers typically have prized pelts which they drape over their shoulders.

### Legion Colours

The Legion typically holds to a verdant green, with the Aquila on their chest gold-plated, and the trimmings on their pauldrons, vambraces, helmet, power-pack, poleyns and sabatons brown. Higher ranks, and those distinguished in battle, will have more ornate patterning done on their chest-piece, done in the style of Brytathian smiths, with coiling, interwoven lines, and the brown trimmings are replaced with gold. The pauldrons are green, with the Legion's badge painted yellow on the left, and the speciality icon on the right.

### Legion Badge

The Legion's badge depicts a sword, with two twining vines helixing around the sword.