Jade Wyverns

"*We are the keepers of the Flame that inspires the Imperium's people as well as its defenders. It is up to us to present not just the best example of warriors, but of Mankind itself. This is my charge unto you, my brothers, under the Mantle of Flame. We shall spread the Emperor's Light wherever we go, bearing Torches of the Truth, where that warmth and light may be welcome and needed. Ten thousand years have been unkind indeed, but time and the galaxy at large is changing course, and we shall do our part in lighting its path.*"
—Dragon Lord Toroka Dahn'co, upon the formation of the Jade Wyverns Chapter.

## Jade Wyverns

Jade Wyverns armorial with Chapter iconography.

An Intercessor of the 3rd Fighting Company, 2nd Battleline Squad.

## Space Marine Chapter

### **Allegiance**

Imperium of Mankind
(*Fedelitas Constantus*)

### **Allies**

Star Golems
Forge World Makozai

### **Specialty**

Mechanized Infantry,
Orbital Assault

### **Battle cry**

"Fight with Dragon's Fury, Stand with Iron's Strength!"

### **Colours**

Jade green, near-black, dark red; orange helmet lenses

The **Jade Wyverns** are a Loyalist Adeptus Astartes Chapter created during the Ultima Founding and comprised almost entirely of Primaris Space Marines succeeding from the Salamanders, Sons of Vulkan. Beginning as Greyshields among the Legions formed for the Indomitus Crusade, they were deployed via Torchbearer fleet to reinforce the Iron Wyverns, a Firstborn chapter in dire need of support. As events unfolded, however, they would form a new chapter entirely, believing the original to be lost to the catastrophes that marked the start of the 42nd Millennium. The survivors of the Iron Wyverns would, fortunately, reappear and join with the Jade Wyverns, working to integrate the two "breeds" into one chapter. Tasked with bolstering the defenses of the Imperium Sanctus against the forces of the Ruinous Powers, and any other enemies of the Imperium, the Jade Wyverns seek to defend humanity, despite their misgivings with the present state of the Imperium and the galaxy at large.

## Chapter History

Initially, the Primaris Marines of the Jade Wyverns were planned to reinforce the Iron Wyverns, a Firstborn chapter that had been battered to near-extinction by a vicious Ork WAAAGH!, led by the Warboss Goredrinka. En route to their beleaguered and erstwhile comrades, they were requisitioned by a Lord Inquisitor to fight off a Chaos incursion in what some might consider a backwater star system, Lu-Ten. It was a result of the Circatrix Maledictum bifurcating the galaxy that the Traitor Space Marine forces had arrived, and the Iron Wyverns homeworld believed to be lost. Ultimately, the Primaris Wyverns were tasked to Lu-Ten, and repelled their Warp-tainted counterparts, working together with the Inquisitor who had called them, as well as the defenders of Lu-Ten.

Resultant to the bonds formed during the fighting, the Primaris Marines established themselves in the Lu-Ten system, but out of respect for the original Iron Wyverns, the chapter's identity was reformed, taking on a new name, the Jade Wyverns, and changing their colors and heraldry. It would not be until some years later, around the end of the Indomitus Crusade, that the last survivors of the Iron Wyverns would emerge, seeking out the Jade Wyverns to redress the change in course the Primaris Marines undertook. After the initial contention, it was decided that the Firstborn would be folded into the chapter (in a way fulfilling the Jade Wyverns' first orders) as the First Veterans Company, maintaining their name and battle honors, while making slight adjustments to their heraldry. Those Primaris who had warranted the title of Veteran were re-assigned to the Fighting Companies, until such time that the friction between Iron Firstborn and Jade Primaris could be resolved. Eventually, no few of the original Iron Wyverns elected to cross the Rubicon Primaris, bridging the psychological gap between the two sub-groups of the chapter. Following these steps, Primaris Veterans of the Jade Wyverns were accepted into the Iron Wyverns, taking on the storied heraldry of their elder brothers, while also bringing with them some of the traditions the Jade Wyverns had picked up from their home system.

Among these traditions is the sense of humanism for which the Salamanders have become known; that is, the Jade Wyverns prioritize the preservation of civilian life in their actions, rather than taking risks to put their enemy to the sword. However, the Wyverns - especially the Iron Firstborn - take a more pragmatic measure to these ideals, weighing the consequences of defending civilian life against those of not securing an objective, or guaranteeing excessive Marine casualties. While every death - particularly civilian - weighs heavy on the mind of a Wyvern, their sworn duty is to the will of the Emperor, and the cold fact that death is part of that duty is of little solace. To prevent these deaths, the Wyverns have specialized in heavy mechanized warfare, deploying their forces via tank and transport to bring rapid response to key locations. Indeed, a trademark tactic of the Jade Wyverns is the Grav Drop, in which battle tanks and transports are deployed from assault vessels in low orbit, using their anti-grav technologies to survive the landing. No few foes have quite literally been crushed by Wyvern Grav Drop insertions, and those that survived were quickly vanquished by dismounting infantry equipped with heavy weapons, armor, and the posthuman abilities of the Emperor's Angels of Death.

These philosophies and tactics are so core to the Wyverns that their Scouts are trained to not only practice them, but apply them to the battlefield. While the Marines of the chapter will only respond to the most dire of threats in force, members of the 10th Company will often lead groups of Scouts on Ancillary missions, attaching themselves to Guard forces to assist in their campaigns on any number of worlds. These operations serve not only to test the mettle of the Wyverns' Scouts, but to give them insight to the waging of war by those without the gifts of genetic enhancement, power armor, and advanced weaponry. Lessons learnt by the Ancillaries are often hard on their hearts, and in some cases harder still on those of their Marine leaders - something that does not often go unnoticed by the Guard commanders with whom the Wyvern Ancillaries work and serve. While none would be fool enough to believe the Astartes of the Jade Wyverns to be anything less than the direct results of the Emperor's work, some have found comfort in the knowledge that even Marines are still human at their core. These sentiments make the white dragon's head of the chapter an even more welcome and revered sight than most to the local commanders of the Astra Militarum.

## Notable Campaigns

### Unknown.M42 - Battle of Makozai

When the Forge World of Makozai was assailed by a series of violent Drukhari raids, the Jade Wyverns were alerted to the Forge World's slowly failing defensive capabilities against such repeated and rapid assaults. The 5th Fighting Company was initially assigned to the defense of Makozai, reinforced with numerous fortifications and heavy tanks to create defensive bulwarks against the raiders, hoping to craft such defenses that the Xenos would deem continued efforts a waste of their time. Initially, this seemed to work, and then disaster struck: the raiders hadn't been the same force repeatedly testing Makozai's forces, but different groups entirely, all of which decided to amass and strike at once, the intent being to capture the new breed of Astartes they had now encountered. Desperately, 5th Fighting called for the full force of their Chapter, the astropaths aboard their strike cruiser and its naval group casting out the distress call abroad. Of course, Dahn'co immediately rushed to their aid, bringing with him two additional Fighting Companies and many of the Veterans from the Reserves, leaving the 4th Fighting Company to defend their homeworld.

Upon the arrival of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Companies, the Dragon Lord was dismayed to see the state of the battle. Disinterested in the "mon'keigh" with which they were familiar, the Dark Eldari had left the fleet forces largely alone, merely preventing them from intervening in the abduction of Astartes in 5th Company. The Wyverns already on the planet were unexpectedly besieged but managing to hold their own, and their brothers made haste to enter the combat zone. Dahn'co personally made all efforts to reach the surface as quickly as possible, not realizing until his dropship was shot down that the Drukhari had employed cogent anti-air defenses. Fortunately, the pilots aboard were the best in the Chapter, and managed a landing closer to the 5th than the Xenos. Shortly after, a large group of the 3rd Fighting landed, the bulk of their forces performing a Grav Drop, the weapons of their tanks opening up a withering hail of firepower, the Inceptors of both Fighting Companies blazing a path directly to the Dragon Lord and his Ignis Guard, recovering him. But the reinforcements were far, far too late. Capitalizing on the distraction of the Dragon Lord's plight, the Drukhari blitzed one of the 5th Company's flanks, managing to capture several Primaris Astartes and making good on their escape, no doubt heading for the nearest Webway Gate, given that they remained in Realspace rather than directly entering the psychic construct.

Fortunately, although unbeknownst to either of the belligerents, another Chapter had heard and responded to the distress call of the 5th Fighting Company's astropaths: the Star Golems, masters of the void, whose fleet expertly interposed themselves between the Drukhari, the Wyverns' fleet forces, and the planet, locking the Eldari in a deadly trap. In spite of the requests - Dahn'co couldn't issue *orders,* exactly, to the Golems - to give those captured Wyverns the closest thing to noble deaths they could have, the Golems carried out boarding operations, retrieving the Wyverns both living and dead, and destroying the Drukhari vessels upon their departure. After purging what remained of the Xenos forces, the two Chapter Masters met, and to Dahn'co's surprise he discovered that the Star Golems, just as his Jade Wyverns, were Sons of Vulkan. This led the grateful Dragon Lord to ask aboard more of his Wyverns, repatriating the brethren recovered by the Golems, and - to Dahn'co's utter shock - receiving a gift from the elder Chapter. Having heard of the crash the Dragon Lord's personal transport had suffered "in its valiant effort to reach his beleaguered 5th Fighting Company" (now dubbed the *"Heroes of Makozai"*) - a rather kinder way of phrasing what happened, in Dahn'co's mind - Sho'tann Thunderbrand saw fit to outfit his cousin (who was simultaneously millennia older and yet much younger than The Seeker) with a Storm Eagle dropship, the *Intrepid Intent.* Whether that was its original name, or something to use as a jesting reminder, Dahn'co was unsure, but the gesture awed him nonetheless. To him, this was both a relic and a cherished memory of his long, long-gone past.

Acceding to the wishes of his fellow Chapter Master, the Dragon Lord accepted, and was informed of a tradition among the Star Golems: the Chronicle of the Machine. To say that the tome was enormous would have been a gross insult, and Dahn'co couldn't help but wonder if it traced back to the Storm Eagle's first days - perhaps some of the same days he considered *his* first. Graciously, the Chronicle was also accepted, and Sho'tann was assured that the Jade Wyverns would carry on the tradition of the Chronicle, and to take exceedingly good care not only of the tome, but the *Intrepid Intent* as well. Ever since that battle, the Jade Wyverns and Star Golems have made sure to encounter one another in various instances, whether it be to render assistance or merely to cross-train and share stories between the two Chapters, adding to the Reading Days of the Wyverns, and at times even borrowing stories for the Golems' various Chronicles, forging a lasting bond.

## Chapter Organization

The Jade Wyverns’ chapter organization differs from the prescriptions of the *Codex Astartes* in that instead of three categories of squad specialization, there are four specific to the infantry, with various units' type designations re-assigned. As a result, the composition of squads that make up a company within the Jade Wyverns is much more varied and fluid than the *Codex* prescribes. Worth noting is that while the Reserve Companies are strict on squad type for training purposes, units in the Fighting Companies may be designated differently based on their deployment.

* **Battleline** - matches the Battleline of the *Codex*, with exceptions discussed elsewhere.
* **Vanguard** - seeing the utility of Marines acting as dedicated scouts, saboteurs, and skirmishers, Dahn'co elected to divide the Vanguard Marines amongst the Fighting Companies, rather than forming a dedicated company as the 10th, supplanting part of, and complementing, the Battleline in company rosters.
* **Assault** - reverting to the original name for Close Support units, the Wyverns utilize shock infantry - often equipped with jump packs - to exploit weaknesses found in enemy defenses, or to provide support to forward Vanguard squads. These vary from Assault Intercessors to Inceptors, with the squad assignment focusing more on their rapid movement than their armament.
* **Support** - equivalent to the Fire Support designation from the *Codex*, but incorporates doctrine used by the Tactical Support Squads of the Space Marine Legions where applicable.

A fifth unit type was also organized, titled **Mobile Support** - *Codex* Close Support units utilizing light vehicles. The Jade Wyverns, recognizing the duality of Mobile Support units, elected to assign them as attached forces when deploying Fighting Companies, rather than integrating those units as if they were infantry. Outriders fulfill more of a cavalry role as an Assault unit, while Storm Speeders would instead act as Heavy (air) Support, but neither can truly replace an infantry unit in a Fighting Company. As such, all Mobile Support units are permanently assigned to the 8th Reserve (Mobile) Company when not deployed.

### Officer Ranks

* **Dragon Lord** - Chapter Master equivalent.
* **Captain**
* **Lieutenant**

### Specialist Ranks

* **Master of Sanctity** - titled as Arch-Chaplain.
* **Reclusiarch** - Master of the Planetaria.
* **Chaplain**
* **Chief Librarian**
* **Librarian**
* **Chief Apothecary**
* **Apothecary**
* **Forgemaster** - Master of the Forge equivalent, interchangeable.
* **Forge-Wright** - Senior to Mech-Wrights, responsible for the instruction of Scouts on matters of craftsmanship and basic technological skills. Creates artisan and mastercrafted wargear for the chapter.
* **Mech-Wright** - Techmarine equivalent, interchangeable in mixed company. Assigned maintenance and repair duties for the chapter's vehicle park and air fleet.
* **Master Artisan** - an elevated status that can be earned by any Wyvern who has proven able to forge complex or advanced wargear on his own. Required for nomination to become a Wright.
* **Artisan** - status required to become a Marine, having proven able to craft his own standard wargear, and even enhance aspects of it.
* **Journeyman** - status earned by Ancillaries able to maintain and repair their wargear, as well as assist in maintenance of more complex machinery.
* **Apprentice** - status equivalent to Neophyte, learning from the Techmarines about the technology used by the Chapter.
* **Ancient** - Chapter/Company Standard Bearer equivalent.
* **Champion** - Chapter/Company level Champion.

### Line Ranks

* **Veteran Sergeant**
* **Sergeant**
* **Veteran** - Also "Master Artisan," used by Techmarines.
* **Corporal** - Sergeant's second in the squad, if the unit is split into combat squads or the sergeant is otherwise unable to lead the unit, the Corporal will be placed in command.
* **Marine** - Battle-Brother equivalent, interchangeable. Also "Artisan," used by Techmarines.
* **Ancillary** - Scout equivalent. Also "Journeyman," used by Techmarines.
* **Neophyte** - "Apprentice," used by Techmarines.
* **Aspirant**

## Specialist/Unique Forces

### Incinerators

Due to the mechanized nature of the Wyverns Chapter, it was quickly determined that while the ferocious offensive capability and defensive staying power of the Gravis-clad Support units was immensely useful, tying up the trademark support weaponry of the Chapter was less than effective, and far less than ideal. The lack of cross-unit compatibility between the Battleline and Gravis Support squads generated unnecessary - and in some cases, fatal - complications in the field. While far from impossible, close coordination of Tacticus and Gravis forces needed to be improved, but present logistics made this more impractical than other solutions. As such, it was determined that additional Support units in Tacticus armor, such as Hellblasters with their plasma incinerators, could also field flame and melta weaponry, even if they weren't as durable as Aggressor or Eradicator squads. By arming small 5-Marine Squads with those support weapons, the newly formed Incinerator units could better integrate with Battleline and even Assault or Vanguard Squads, employing their specialist firepower where needed, when needed, without additional logistical hassle.

Indeed, it is not uncommon to see individual Incinerator Marines attached to standard Battleline units, akin to Firstborn Tactical Squads - something proposed by the members of the Iron Wyverns upon their arrival and integration to the chapter. As a result of this tendency towards independent operations in-theatre, Incinerators are often picked from among the most experienced of a Company's roster, with Fighting Company Veterans often electing to take up the role of Incinerator rather than Squad Sergeant. Moreover, in keeping with older Assault Squads, some Incinerators will take up flame weapons within Assault Intercessor squads, expanding their tactical utility as well.

## Order of Battle

### Headquarters

Similar to the Salamanders, the Dragon Lord stands as both the Chapter Master and the First Captain, with much of the Chapter Headquarters acting as the First Veteran Company's Command Squad. This would change only slightly with the arrival and inclusion of the Firstborn Iron Wyverns, wherein their leader was made the *de facto* commander of the 1st Veterans Company, even as the Dragon Lord remained First Captain.

**Dragon Lord Toroka Dahn'co,**
***Chapter Master of the Jade Wyverns***
**Chapter Champion Haako**
**Ignis Guard (Honor Guard)**
**Chapter Equerries**
**Forgemaster Tah'rik Int'vaan,**
***Master of the Forge***
**Techmarines**
**(Forge-Wrights,Mech-Wrights)**
**Servitors**
**Armored Vehicles**
**Arch-Chaplain Lon'tu,**
***Master of Sanctity***
**Reclusiarch**
**Chaplains**
**Chief Apothecary Ro'ohn Torr,**
***Master of the Apothecarion***
**Apothecaries**
**Helix Adepts**
**Acolytum**
**Chief Librarian Mac'lan,**
***Master of the Librarius***
**Librarians**
**(Epistolaries, Codiciers, Lexicania)**
**Acolytum**
**Chapter Serfs** | **Voidmaster Nel'tio Armick,**
***Master of the Fleet***
**Chapter Fleet**
**Battle-Barge**
**Strike Cruisers**
**Escorts**
**Gunships & Transports**
**Drop Pods**

### Chapter Forces

Aside from the squads of the Iron Firstborn, the Jade Wyverns' forces generally lack the small-unit flexibility typically found among those Chapters that have existed and survived throughout the prior millennia. In spite of this, the Wyverns have developed their own breed of versatility. As such, each Fighting Company is able to operate entirely independently, with a full squad of specialists assigned to Company Command, and outfitted with their own vehicle pools of transports, tanks, and aircraft. While it is the principal job of the Techmarines to maintain the Company's equipment, each Jade Wyvern is himself an artisan, able to mend and maintain his own wargear, freeing the specialists to tend to those same Company-based vehicle pools. The remainder of the Chapter's armory is tended to on either of its homeworlds by the Techmarines assigned to them, or those Marines assigned to the 8th Mobile Reserve. Squads of the Iron Wyverns 1st Veterans Company will be attached to the Fighting Companies during combat operations, as the Firstborn rarely if ever deploy in their entirety at once.

### Chapter Fleet

The Chapter's Fleet is administratively commanded by a dedicated officer, rather than the 4th Captain, as the Jade Wyverns feel that a specialist is most effective in this position, and that a Company Captain's duties is to his Marines, rather than splitting his attention among the myriad necessities of the Fleet as well. That having been said, the 4th Captain does keep abreast of the condition and readiness of the Chapter Fleet, and as such is able to take active command of the Chapter Fleet should it be brought to bear in full-scale operations. However, given that elements of the fleet are typically deployed in smaller forces, the Wyverns have established among the Chapter Ancillaries a fleet officer cadre dedicated to the tasks of running the Fleet even without the guidance of the Voidmaster, who is the head of that cadre, or the 4th Captain.

## Combat Doctrine

"*Doctrines are useful only to an extent - we've seen what rigid, unyielding adherence to established rules brings about. Staying adaptable, learning at every opportunity, and - dare I say it -* innovating *must be our so-called "doctrine" if we are to succeed in what has proven to be a seemingly endless war...*"
—3rd Captain Ma'reg, during one of the first Chapter Command Council meetings after the formation of the Jade Wyverns.

The Jade Wyverns specialize in a combination of orbital assault and mechanized infantry tactics, making extensive use of the "Grav Drop" maneuver, deploying forces in their Impulsor and Repulsor anti-gravity transports. To this end, the Wyverns have had a variant of the Impulsor designed with an enclosed troop bay, to better protect the infantry inside, who are usually wearing Tacticus- or Phobos-patterned Mk X Power Armor, unlike their escorting Inceptor units in Gravis-patterned armor. Once those squads hit the ground, they form a landing zone for follow-on forces aboard Overlord gunships, utilizing their aerial fire support after the infantry and vehicles have been deployed. Due to the scale of these tactics, the Wyverns rarely deploy as "demi-companies," although they are still capable of organizing themselves as such should the situation demand it. Development of smaller-scale tactics based on individual squads is under development, as more Wyverns join the 1st Veterans Company, and their training can incorporate greater varieties of weaponry, armor, and unit compositions. Whether these resemble something more akin to the Firstborn Iron Wyverns or potentially a Deathwatch Kill-team is yet to be seen. Nevertheless, at levels beyond the internals of an individual squad, the Wyverns emphasize flexibility and independence as the key tenets to their strategies. It is entirely possible for two Fighting Companies to be organized and deploy in manners completely different from one another, and still be able to overcome or even capitalize on those differences. It also means that no enemy can truly prepare for every contingency or deployment the Jade Wyverns may bring to bear, even with prior intelligence.

Despite this, to mitigate the impact of these differences between Fighting Companies, the Jade Wyverns will periodically rotate squads and sometimes specialists between Company assignments, either swapping between Fighting Companies or being assigned to a Reserve Company, where they may recuperate from combat losses and fatigue. These unit rotations enable the various perspectives and experiences among the Jade Wyverns to be distributed throughout the entire Chapter, adding to the training doctrines of the 10th Scout Company, as well as the repertoires of the Company Captains themselves. At their cores, however, once squads are assigned upon "graduating" from the Scout Company, those Astartes tend to remain in that squad for the duration of their service to the Chapter, only departing to join a Veterans unit or perhaps to take on specialist training later in their careers. Squads that suffer majority losses are rotated to the Reserves, and reassigned to lead squads of newly-branded Marines. By establishing the familiarity that only decades-long service together than form, the Jade Wyverns believe that they can fight that much more effectively, particularly as squads move from Company to Company, minimizing disruptions at that key level.

## Chapter Homeworld

The home system of the Jade Wyverns, Lu-Ten, boasts two habitable worlds and a rich, if somewhat bizarre history. A very early colony in the span of Humanity's time amongst the stars, Lu-Ten had developed and flourished prior to and during the Dark Age of Technology, striking a balance between the more temperate, arable world of Jigumsig and the larger, less hospitable industrial world of Bulkcheol. Indeed, Lu-Ten was a small regional supplier of foodstuffs and higher technologies, though not unlocking the full capacities of their Standard Template Construction system. Despite their development, however, upon the discovery of psykers among the population, the leadership of Lu-Ten was inherently distrustful of something as-of-yet unstudied, and sent all psykers - and even suspected psykers - to off-world facilities further out in orbit around the star. Any psykers found to be suppressing or hiding their capabilities were arrested and typically executed, their bodies used for research studies in government laboratories to learn what, if any, genetic and physical signs marked a psyker. These suspicions would later prove the salvation of Lu-Ten, which had barely survived the Cybernetic Revolt, during the dawn of the Age of Strife. As daemons of the Warp took possession of the isolated psykers, the Space Defense Forces of Lu-Ten obliterated the facilities in which they were being held, and it was made standard practice that *all* psykers would be immediately executed upon discovery. This edict remained in place until the forces of the Great Crusade arrived, and the laws of the Imperial Truth were asserted over the system, which was overjoyed to see Humanity reassert its dominance in the galaxy. Lu-Ten put its semi-dormant industries into full production, providing food, vehicles, and material to the campaigns, having maintained considerable technical aptitude despite the horrors of several millennia before, in part due to the persecution of psykers and the ability to maintain a very potent Defense Force throughout the Age of Strife. However, with the advent of the Horus Heresy and the spawning of the Eye of Terror, along with numerous Warp storms, Lu-Ten once again purged itself of all psykers, quickly regressing to their isolationist means of self-preservation, unsure of the outcome of such catastrophic events, but maintaining hope that the Emperor's forces had prevailed, and that the Truth would live on with him. However, despite this, a mission sent by the nearby Forge World of Makozai would negotiate and establish control over the most important of Bulkcheol's industrial base, primarily concerning the mining and refinement facilities, leaving the rest to the local population for the ensuing millennia. Eventually, the Ecclesiarchy would arrive in the system, although they would leave the populace largely to its own devices - in part to avoid stepping on the mechadendrites of the Mechanicus, but also because there was little else to exploit or tithe from the system that Makozai was not already acquiring for its own middling production output. Satisfied that the Lu-Tenites were loyal and devout citizens of the Imperium.

It was during the events of the 13th Black Crusade, namely the birth of the galaxy-splitting Great Rift and the Psychic Awakening that Lu-Ten would once more receive a boon for its widespread anti-psyker sentiments, as well as some fortuitous timing. Lady Inquisitrix Franceska, a Recongregator within the Ordo Hereticus, was in the system investigating vague rumors of some manner of cult activity when the Days of Blinding swept up the Imperium of Man. Revealing herself to the leadership of Lu-Ten, she helped coordinate the Planetary and Space Defense Forces against the sudden appearance of rogue psykers and other increased Warp activity in the region. Upon the restoration of astrotelepathic communication, she called for aid, soon realizing hers would be one of millions as scattered and fragmented reports flowed into Lu-Ten, killing many astropaths in the process of learning as much as she could. Desperate but determined, she all but took control of the system's military forces, which were pleasantly competent, having fought off multiple xenos forces throughout its history, including an Ork infestation that had cost the system its third inhabitable planet some millennia prior. It would take no small amount of time, but eventually a Torchbearer fleet would reach the sector, deploying Primaris Space Marines to various Firstborn Chapters. One such Chapter, reported to have already been waging war against an Ork WAAAGH! and losing, was the Iron Wyverns, whose home system was ultimately believed lost in the Great Rift. Using her authority as an Inquisitor Lord, Franceska petitioned the deployment of the Primaris Wyverns to Lu-Ten, which was in the midst of fighting off a warband of Iron Warriors Traitor Space Marines. Determining that the Iron Wyverns chapter was lost, the leaders of the Torchbearer fleet agreed, issuing new orders to the force of Primaris Marines, and making short work of expelling the enemy.

While establishing Lu-Ten as their home system, the newly titled Chapter Master, Dahn'co, immediately sought to learn of the culture by which his Marines found themselves surrounded. Assisting in this, and hoping to capitalize upon events, Inquisitrix Franceska facilitated discussions between the political and military leadership of the system and the Marine Chapter's command officers. Indeed, it was during these meetings that the new name and heraldry of the Chapter would be decided, as well as the unorthodox restrictions the people of Lu-Ten would place on the Jade Wyverns. Despite his misgivings of appeasing average mortals, Dahn'co was led to understand the spirit of these demands - untold millennia of anti-psyker prejudice (which had paid dividends), and the historical abuse of the system by the Adeptus Mechanicus left the proud people of Lu-Ten unwilling to wholly submit to new masters, in spite of their awe and gratitude that an Astartes Chapter would deign to settle into their system. That was, of course, the crux of the matter - the Lu-Tenites saw it as *their* system, and it was this stubborn independence that the Dragon Lord found almost endearing, being reminded of his own home and its traditions. With this budding comparison, Dahn'co introduced Lu-Ten to the Promethean Cult, and with Franceska's assistance largely won over the established administrative and clerical leaders to its tenets. That this would aid the tech-cult Franceska had discoverd on Bulkcheol was, the Inquisitor decided, a fringe benefit that could pay off later - indeed, the members of that heretek group would prove invaluable for the system, as the Tech-Priests and Skitarii of Makozai had retreated to their Forge World during the fighting that had brought the Wyverns to Lu-Ten. Eager to reclaim their industries and the rights to their resources after millennia of abuse and what they saw as theft, the hereteks - though they called themselves "engineers" - seized upon the bounty, rapidly working to convert their outputs to support the Space Marines now present in their system.

## Chapter Beliefs

Stemming from the Dragon Lord's memories of the 31st millennium and the Imperial Truth written and espoused by the Emperor of Mankind, the Jade Wyverns are almost entirely dismissive of the Imperial Cult - but only amongst themselves, and the people of Lu-Ten. While the Chapter and the people of its home world have embraced the Promethean Cult to an extent, there is still an overriding sentiment of practicality in all things, which goes some ways in explaining their views on the Cult Mechanicus as well. Namely, that without the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Chapter could not function at all, making outward tolerance of the piety and eccentricities of the Techmarines necessary. However, in truth, the Wyverns would remove much of the hypno-indoctrination to the Cult Mechanicus upon the return of their Techmarines, re-asserting their sole loyalty to the Chapter.

One thing the Jade Wyverns do follow, although in a much more tempered form, from the Imperial Cult is the warnings surrounding Psykers. Given their training and use of Librarians, of course, the Chapter does not "abhor the witch," but they recognize the Warp for what it is: incomprehensible in every meaning of the word, including its power. Librarians are treated just as any other Marine, respected for their prowess in battle and an integral part of the shared brotherhood of Astartes; however, the Wyverns all understand that the powers of a Librarian must be kept closely monitored and under the strictest of disciplines, lest the Ruinous Powers or other denizens of the Immaterium take hold. Much like the first psykers in the Lu-Ten system, Librarians are stationed exclusively in off-planet facilities dedicated for use by the Jade Wyverns. Any psychically-active human on Lu-Ten that is not considered for recruitment to the Jade Wyverns is contained and sent to the Black Ships, or executed if deemed too dangerous for containment, such as those found within secret cults that had plagued the system for millennia. In an odd move, the Libriarium of the Wyverns requested that the remains of those executed be conveyed to them, whereupon the Librarians would "re-forge" the spirit of the psyker, cremating the body and forming the ashes into crystals, much like the remains of fallen Wyverns. These would be carried in solidarity and, potentially, utility, the connection to the Warp making the crystals into focus objects through which to channel the powers of the Warp, easing the burden of the Librarian's mind and might to control the rage of the Immaterium.

While Librarians of the Chapter might be isolated, the Chaplaincy of the Wyverns are highly integrated into the population of Lu-Ten, on both planets. Early on, Astartes advisors were stationed among various Defense Force staffs, with instructions not only to work with the military forces but to interact with the civilian populations as well. This enabled the integration of the Wyverns' Promethean Cult beliefs with the culture of their homeworlds' peoples. These Chaplains, in conjunction with Apothecaries of the chapter are the principle manner of initial screening for Aspirants of the Wyverns, although the trials to become a Neophyte are somewhat unique amongst the Astartes, in that failure does not directly result in death. It is paramount to the Wyverns that the people of Lu-Ten thrive - losing young boys in the numbers more standard trials would claim has been deemed unacceptable. This makes the Marine specialists no less exacting in their selections, however, and only the absolute best that Lu-Ten has to offer may become Jade Wyverns themselves. This focus on keeping Aspirant and Neophyte casualties low is particularly appreciated by their families, with whom Lu-Ten Wyverns still spend time and make memories, much as the Salamanders do on Nocturne. Some families even go so far to invite the founding Marines of the chapter to their homes, to which the Marines almost invariably agree, seeking to form deeper bonds between the chapter and Lu-Ten's population.

## Chapter Customs

### Marks of the Wyvern

The Jade Wyverns recruit from both of their homeworlds, finding that they provide different but equally valuable recruits. Training is difficult, as is true for all Astartes Chapters, but the Drakelings - what the Jade Wyverns call their Scout Company - are taken care of and in some ways nurtured, the belief being that while they are Angels of Death, the Emperor of Mankind was first and foremost the Father of the Primarchs, and that fostering the bonds of brotherhood is just as important as forging individual living weapons, if not more so. The final rite of a Wyverns Scout is to forge for themselves some piece of wargear. It might be an enhancement to the wargear they are issued as a full Marine; something from their old Scout wargear if they so wish; or something entirely new. Once this is complete, and the new Journeyman's work is certified by a Master Artisan, the Scout earns and takes upon himself the Mark of the Wyvern from a Promethean Brander-Priest, joining his newly assigned squad in one of the Reserve Companies.

### Five Books and the Jade Catechism

Just as all Space Marines do, the Jade Wyverns have various litanies and catechisms crafted as a blend between the standards written in the *Codex Astartes* and the culture of their homeworld. As the leadership of the newly-created chapter worked with the system government to integrate this considerable change to Lu-Ten, the Chaplaincy read up on the prevailing philosophies their recruits might bring with them. Among them, catching the eye of the first Arch-Chaplain, were the *Five Books*, which had been written centuries, if not millennia prior to their reading of it. The Books themselves were simply titled *Book of Fire, Book of Earth, Book of Water, Book of Air,* and *Book of Self*. Each of the first four books - *The Elementals*, on their own - focused on the aspects of each element that represent key aspects of Mankind. The final Book both summarizes the first four, and expounds that Man is greater than merely the sum of those four elements' traits, which form the body. Indeed, the *Book of Self* states that the spirit follows the example of the Emperor, and this endeavor is why Man is the master of the galaxy. It also underscores how crucial it is for the spirit to adhere to the Emperor's legacy, so that the body endures whatever hardship might be placed before it. Through the endurance of the body, the spirit is also strengthened, feeding off of and guiding the balance of the four elements in each individual.
Consulting with the rest of the chapter's leaders, in particular the Dragon Lord, the Arch-Chaplain worked to incorporate the teachings of the *Five Books* with those of the Promethean Creed. Fortunately, these efforts extended beyond that incorporation, and Dahn'co himself wrote a treatise adapting the *Five Books* into what he called the Jade Catechism, outlining, to an extent, the philosophies of the chapter he hoped to forge from his initial Greyshields, and the recruits Lu-Ten would soon give them.

*My hate burns as fire, its light purges the dark.*
*My will endures as earth, it guards the weak.*
*My mind adapts as water, it always finds a path.*
*My faith flows as air, it gives life to my soul.*
*My spirit serves the Emperor, his will is my duty.*
*My body serves the Chapter, our strengths combined.*

*I speak these words true, by honor they bind me.*
*I speak these words freely, my sacred oath given.*
*I speak these words, and forever mark my flesh.*
*I am reborn, made unto the image of His Angels.*
*I am reborn, and stand as a Wyvern of Lu-Ten.*

*I shall Fight with Dragon's Fury,*
*I shall Stand with Iron's Strength,*
*For the Emperor and the Imperium,*
*Until I draw my last breath.*

### Reading Nights

Every so often the Ancients, Librarians, Chaplains, and Techmarines of the Chapter will gather Battle-Brothers, Drakelings, and any waking Dreadnoughts to tell them the stories of their Chapter, as well as any other inspiring tales from their cousin Chapters, recalling some stories that are dozens, scores, or even - though these are rare and disputed - hundreds of millennia old, if they can find them and verify them. It’s a quiet, peaceful bonding experience, as well as one used to see who among the Chapter’s present and future members may show promise in certain fields for later training and specialization. The Dreadnoughts and Scouts particularly enjoy these nights, as it helps bridge the inevitable divide between themselves and the fighting Astartes of the Chapter. Occasionally, even Chapter Ancillaries are welcome to these, usually on Reading Nights held in commemoration of major events for the Chapter, outside the grounds of the Hallowed Planetarium.

### The Hallowed Planetarium

Deep within the Dragon's Keep, there is a black, solemn dome, guarded by Veteran Astartes and Chaplains at all times. This dome is where the remains of their fallen brothers rest, among the most sacred grounds the Chapter recognize - second only to Terra and the Lu-Ten system itself. The interiors of these domes are intricate astronomical displays, with stars picked out to match their relative location in the planet's night sky. Clustered about those stars are the crystallized ashes of fallen Wyverns - who are all cremated, in adherence to the Promethean Cult's traditions - according to where they fell in battle. Some stars have but one diamond, others several, and a hallowed (or cursed) few dominate the "sky" for their numbers. Captains, Champions, and other notable Veterans are honored as guiding lights of the Chapter, and their remains are placed in a brazier, the flame never to be extinguished, the warrior's name engraved upon its surface, their stories recorded and retold on Reading Days. Scouts preparing to become Astartes will often visit these shrines to learn and reflect upon what it means to become a Jade Wyvern and have reinforced to them how sacred and honored a duty theirs truly is to be an Angel of Death, descended from the Emperor's XVIII Legion, and the solemn burden they are about to take unto themselves for the rest of their lifetime.

## Chapter Recruitment

As with all Space Marine Chapters, recruits begin as Aspirants, selected by the Chaplains and Apothecaries of the Wyverns. Due to population concerns, the net is cast wide and deep, with proving trials being intense and potentially perilous, though not inherently deadly. While this can lead to sub-standard Aspirants making it to the stages of the Neophytes, it also means that sons of Lu-Ten are not killed in droves - the preservation of civilian life, in particular civilians of Lu-Ten, being one of the Wyverns' paramount concerns in their conduct and operations. Neophytes who prove unworthy of the Mark of the Wyvern, the Black Carapace, and the honor of becoming a full Marine are instead assigned roles in the Chapter Ancillaries, the title given all non-Marine support personnel of the Jade Wyverns. Scouts who "wash out" towards the end of the training and selection process, as well as Scouts who still show potential to become full Astartes, are sent out to support various Imperial war efforts, attaching themselves to Imperial Guard campaigns, where they act as elite strike units, strategic and tactical advisors, and in some cases stepping in as small-unit leaders when their officers are incapacitated. By tasking their Scouts to true military operations, without assigning them to duties hazardous enough to warrant Marine intervention, the Wyverns recruits gain a more comprehensive experience of warfare and develop relationships with various Imperial Guard and other military officers. This benefits the Chapter by making later coordination between the Wyverns and those forces that much smoother, based on earlier shared experiences, while also keeping the fatality rate of the Scout cadre relatively low, as what may be deadly to a Guardsman is of little concern to a Marine Scout. Indeed, one of the "prestige" assignments for Scouts assigned to Ancillary duties is that of Lady Inquisitrix Franceska's retinue, where unique stories are frequently made during her investigations and other hijinks.

## Chapter Gene-Seed

The Jade Wyverns were formed with fresh gene-seed from the vaults on Terra as part of the Primaris Space Marine Project and have since used the harvested gene-seed of their Battle-Brothers to create new Astartes of the Chapter, as well as tithe their gene-seed. Knowing of the historic struggles of their gene-line, however, this tithe is given only *because* it's required, the Apothecaries of the Chapter preferring to perhaps send it to the Salamanders themselves, instead.

### Gene-Flaws

No known gene-flaws have formed among the Jade Wyverns to date; however, some organs seem to have higher failure rates than others, though none have proven to be detrimental to combat performance. Whether this is a gene-seed flaw is yet to be determined.

## Deathwatch Service

The Jade Wyverns have yet to submit any brothers to Deathwatch service, but have already prepared for a handful of their Marines to be proposed to the elite xenos-hunters, particularly with the Chapter's relative galactic proximity to the T'au Empire and its multiple Spheres of Expansion, as well as the Iron Wyverns' near-genetic hatred of the Ork WAAAGH! Goredrinka.

## Notable Members

* **Dragon Lord Toroka Dahn'co** - Toroka Dahn'co was a Salamanders neophyte at the time of the Horus Heresy, "recruited" by Cawl for his Primaris project. Ten millennia (and a few more gene-seed organs) later, Dahn'co was assigned as commander of the Primaris reinforcements for the Iron Wyverns, and later as the Chapter Master for the Jade Wyverns. Dahn'co has a great many mixed feelings about the galaxy and its state, as well as his own state and that of the Primaris Marines in his Chapter. Of particular concern is how the Adeptus Astartes have strayed from the Emperor's vision and historic usage, something he elected to write extensively about as he reviewed the latest revision of the Codex Astartes by Primarch Guilliman... while adding his *own* revisions, to apply to the Jade Wyverns. Borrowing from the traditions of the Legion to which he'd sworn first fealty, Dahn'co also commands the 1st Veterans Company.

* **Third Captain Kelvor Ma'reg** - Particularly tenacious, Kelvor Ma'reg has led the Jade Wyverns 3rd Fighting Company to several victories, some costly, and in doing so has earned favor among the other Company Captains, and, unknown to him, has been pre-selected as the next Dragon Lord of the Jade Wyverns.

## Chapter Relics

* **Mantle of Flame** - crafted by the first Reclusiarch of the Jade Wyverns, a symbol of their burning, bright faith during the dark times in which the Imperium found itself. Designed and maintained as a perpetual flame, it has both literally and figuratively rested upon the shoulders of the Dragon Lord, the leader of the Chapter, since the Chapter's creation. The same flame has been used to light braziers worn by all Company Captains in the Chapter since those first days, spreading the Light of the Imperium and the Emperor wherever the Chapter's forces can be found.

* ***Intrepid Intent*** - a Storm Eagle transport gifted to the Jade Wyverns by the Star Golems, the *Intrepid Intent* is the oldest relic of the Chapter, predating its very founding - and the founding of the Iron Wyverns, per their recollection. Even if it had not been expressly for use by the Dragon Lord as his personal transport, its status would have ensured the role it would perform. As part of the agreement between the two Chapters, the *Intent* comes with its own, very, *very, **very*** extensive Chronicle of the Machine, something that Tah'rik Int'vaan takes great care to maintain, as well as the relic transport itself.

* **Garsai's Might** - the heavy thunderhammer that once belonged to Garsai, one of the first Captains of the Iron Wyverns, a Salamander of renowned endurance and strength. Even in the most dire of situations or hopeless of battles, this hammer's blows struck true, laying low any who would seek to fell the goliath Salamander. Even as his body began to falter, his hammer almost seemed possessed of the same burning spirit and zeal that Garsai had before the Heresy. Eventually, Garsai passed this hammer down to his successor, taking his own version of the Burning Walk.
Even millennia later, Garsai's Might seemed almost alive when in the hands of a warrior with a kindred spirit, but had lain fallow for years, longing for a suitable new wielder. Upon opening their armories and reliquary to the Jade Wyverns, Captain Ma'reg of the 3rd Fighting Company came across the hammer, and as he took up the weapon a sense of familiarity washed over him. Simultaneously, Garsai's Might seemingly hummed with anticipatory intent, and the Techmarines of the Iron Wyverns ultimately bequeathed the weapon to Ma'reg, who has since used the heavy thunderhammer to incredible effect, demolishing enemy armor or beasts with almost contemptuous ease.

## Chapter Appearance

### Armor Colors

Jade Wyverns wear jade green armor, with dark red on the outer plates of their bracers, thigh armor or tassets (but not both), and the crests of their knees, as well as near-black poleyns and pauldrons. Company assignment is indicated by colored pauldron trims, as well as a white marking on the left kneepad, all following *Codex* guidelines, excepting the 5th Company, which wears brown rather than black trim. Each Wyvern bears the Chapter's heraldry - a white, roaring dragon's head and neck - on his left pauldron, and his squad's identification on his right. These squad badges present their unit type in red, with their squad number centered in white. Battleline squads are represented by a double-ended horizontal arrow; Vanguard and Assault wear a burst of four diverging arrows; a Support squad's icon is a blast icon; Mobile Support bears either of the latter two, depending on unit type. In place of their squad's number, Sergeants add a white skull device, indicating their leadership role - a device Lieutenants and Captains add to their officers' red flame badges for the same purpose, with Captains wearing an additional laurel around the skull device. Also worn by most Sergeants, some Lieutenants, and even a few Captains is the *kama*: two panels of heavy fabric or leather worn around the waist to add protection to the legs, and sometimes bear additional honor and/or status markings.

After the integration of the Iron Wyverns as the members of the 1st Veterans Company, and the reconciliation of markings, heraldry, and to an extent histories, all members of the Iron Wyverns remove the jade green from their helmets and arms, leaving the red accents on their bracers. Sergeants wear the traditional *Codex* red helmet, with a gold skull device, and all reconciled Iron Wyverns bear a "classic" white *Crux Terminatus* badge, regardless if they actually possess Terminator honors.

### Helmet Colors

The Jade Wyverns largely follow the *Codex Astartes* with respect to using helmets as rank and position indicators, except in place of the *Codex* red, the Chapter uses black outside of the Iron Wyverns. Another slight variance is that instead of the *Codex*-prescribed white helmets, Veterans serving in Fighting or Reserve Companies typically wear a white stripe along the center of their helmets. Corporals also color the crests of their helmets, but in black - by the time a Marine becomes a Veteran, he'll have already served as a Sergeant, therefore these two crest colors do not conflict. Sergeants wear a full black helmet with a gold skull device on the forehead, and Veteran Sergeants add the white stripe of their status along the crest. Members of the Iron Wyverns wear unmarked gunmetal helmets with blue lenses, their Sergeants paint theirs in the traditional red color with a gold skull device. Lieutenants wear jade green helmets, with a black crest flanked by narrower white stripes, and a gold skull device on the forehead, combining elements of all three other schemes. Captains do not typically need to use their helmet as a rank or position indicator, as their armor makes these sufficiently clear even in the heat of combat; however, some Captains see fit to add a colored stripe matching that of their company's heraldry to their gold skull-badged jade green helmets, as well as the trim on their *kama* should they be wearing one, as opposed to the more typical cape or other fabric adornments which feature the company colors on the out-facing sides.

### Specialist Colors

Specialists in the Jade Wyverns each wear their own armor patterns, some following the *Codex Astartes* while others eschew it, instead painting their amror in the Chapter's colors, with their office displayed via the color of their helmets, backpacks, right-arm pauldrons, and any fabrics they wear - for example, a Chaplain's coat, a Librarian's robes, or an Apothecary's scapular. Techmarines will often paint additional sections of their armor in a brighter red than the accents of the Chapter's heraldry, and their Mechanicus iconography is left plain, rather than standing out. Again, this is down to the individual, who may decide to fully pattern their armor according to their specialty per the *Codex Astartes*: Chaplains in black, Librarians in blue, Apothecaries in white, and Techmarines in red. Regardless of their personal preferences, the members of the Chapter Command wear armor patterned per the *Codex,* sparing their left arms, which bear the colors of the Jade Wyverns, including the Chapter's heraldry on their left pauldrons.

## Relations

### Allies

* Lady Inquisitrix Franceska - Ordo Hereticus Lord Inquisitor, instrumental in the defense of Lu-Ten and the establishment of the Jade Wyverns within the system.
* Forge World Makozai - Forge World defended by the Wyverns from Drukhari assault, during which the Chapter suffered major losses, greatly indebting the minor Forge World to the Wyverns.
* Star Golems - Loyalist Astartes Chapter, allied since their actions to support the Jade Wyverns at the Battle of Makozai.

## Notable Quotes

### By the Jade Wyverns

"*At Makozai, I'd been captured by the Drukhari, for whatever depraved purposes they might've had. Prayerful as I was, I never expected the Star Golems to show up. Clean, precise, and efficient - you could tell those Astartes were specialists in shipboard combat.*"
—Veteran Ren'kal, Jade Wyverns, 5th Company, about the boarding operations undertaken by the Star Golems at the Battle of Makozai.
### About the Jade Wyverns

"*We thought the world had split, the sound was that deafening. It wasn't until we saw the green tide in the sunlight did we know that it was not the end of the world, but its salvation. The Jade Wyverns had arrived.*"
—3rd Comms officer of the 24th Halzen Juggernauts, recounting a Grav Drop deployment into battle.
"*A mad genius lot they are; dropping in grav tanks like that is risky, but at least it's not as risky as barreling your Chapter Masters personal transport straight over an emplacement of Drukhari flak cannons. All jests aside, we should be glad to have met them by pure chance in the vast blackness of the void. And ever more glad to have halted the escape of the alien that would dare assail a fellow son of Vulkan.*"
—Chapter Master Sho'tann Thunderbrand of the Star Golems, overheard speaking to two of his serfs as Dahn'co departed on board the *Intrepid Intent*.
"*The Chapter itself may be an infant in relation to us, but each one of the Jade Wyverns is practically an ancient and should not be underestimated. They had the luxury, or curse, to walk amongst beings that mortals would have considered to be demi-gods during a time when humanity truly dominated this blood-infested galaxy. There is much to learn from those who have lived through those times and I, for one, am quite curious to hear about their tales. Like the mythical leviathans of our former world, they are wise and willing to teach but are not afraid to use their full might when provoked.*"
—Viceroy Xi-Huo Han of the Lightning Wraiths
## Gallery

A Bladeguard Veteran assigned to the 1st Veterans Company, prior to the integration of the Iron Wyverns.An Inceptor Sergeant from 4th Assault Squad, 5th Heroes of Makozai, wielding Plasma Exterminators.An Aggressor Corporal from 5th Squad, 9th Reserve Company, wearing Flamestorm Gauntlets.A Repulsor assigned to the 9th Support squad of an undetermined Company.A Rhino assigned to 3rd Squad, 10th Scout Company. Wyverns train with mechanized support before even becoming Astartes.

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 White Scars Successors
 Space Wolves Successors
 Imperial Fists Successors
 Blood Angels Successors
 Iron Hands Successors
 Ultramarines Successors
 Salamanders Successors
 Raven Guard Successors
 Unknown Lineage

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