Emperors Shadows

The Emperor’s Shadows

Origins

The Emperor’s Shadow’s were originally formed from gene-seed recovered from the bodies of loyal Emperor’s Children Marines, after the massacre of Istvaan III. They were formed during the 22nd founding and given the designation 249th Chapter “The Emperor’s Shadows”. Their Fortress Monastery was built in the Ultimatum Segmentum, upon Pindarus a moon that orbits a gas giant called Kagoshima Nineteen. Pindaris is a Deathworld. It is covered in dense jungle and swamps, but has large areas of open grass plains, which are criss-crossed by mountain ranges. The single land mass is surrounded by deep oceans. Huge reptilian-like land animals, massive sea-creatures and flying beasts inhabit the planet in vast numbers. Its jungles are places of extreme danger with the flora and fauna competing for any available resources. Life expectancy for anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves stranded there, is low.

There are human inhabitants spread out across the surface of the planet, but their numbers are relatively small. The inhabitants live in small settlements, and exist as tribes with a tribal chief residing over all. Because of the dangers the terrain present, these settlements are built high up amongst the tallest trees and connected by bridges and lifts. The inhabitants venture to the surface to hunt and gather food, a risky business when everything wants to eat you! The original colonists were believed to have arrived after crash-landing here, en route to another star system. The survivors managed to struggle on in this hostile environment. But, with the loss of any inter-planetary transportation they possessed, along with much of their technology, the inhabitants were cut off for thousands of years and progressed very slowly. The struggle to survive took precedence over all-else. The human population reverted from an eloquent, technically adept race, to a semi-feral state based on this tribal system. Living on a Deathworld, the colonists were tough and resilient, savage fighters, and excellent hunters. Their skills… silently prowling the undergrowth, ambushing, hunting and protecting their settlements through stealth, surprise and brute force. This human population provided a good source of warriors to maintain the Emperor’s Shadows ranks.

Every year, on the ‘Day of the Black Warriors’, young hopefuls would gather on the “Plain of Tears”, a large open area cut into the jungle, and surrounded by defenses that hold back the dangers beyond. They would wait patiently for the arrival of the ships of the Emperor’s Shadows recruiting Party. The ships would arrive at dawn in a cavalcade of noise and light, which heralded the landing of several matt-black Thunderhawks. Each potential recruit was then thoroughly inspected, and the weak were whittled out. The ‘Potentials’ are then gathered together and allowed to give their farewells to families and friends. It is likely that the young men chosen will never be seen again. Many of those that fail the initial inspection usually chose death to the humiliation of rejection, and disappear into the jungle to meet their own lonely fate. The ‘Potential’s’ are then flown to a secret location deep in the wilds, which is a frightening experience in itself. They are then stripped of all but modest coverings and given a crash-course in map reading. They are then given a small knife, and a small silver Aquilla for protection. Each ‘potential’ then has to make his way to another hidden base, over 300 Kilometers away, all of it through horrendous terrain and danger. If the ‘potential’ manages to get to the second base, he begins his training as a Space Marine. The attrition rate is high; and most of the recruits never make the journey and simply disappear. Some, the lucky few, stumble into the safety of the base, weeks or months later and begin their service to the Emperor.

History of the Tri-Stars Home World

Pindaris is a Deathworld. The Chapter Fortress, perches high up on a mountainside in a sea of green jungle. There are several smaller bases located throughout the planet, and these are used for training and administration purposes. The Emperor’s Shadows maintain an impressive space fleet, and have access to many armoured vehicles, Dreadnoughts and attack-craft. An orbiting space station ensures that the planets occupants remain undisturbed and safe from outside interference. The Emperor’s Shadows also maintain constant watch on several star-systems, which they consider to be their domain. The inhabitants of these systems are blissfully unaware that they are being protected from afar by these deadly warriors. The Shadow’s have intervened in local conflicts and outside invasion, several times over the Millennia, but usually interference is kept to the minimum. A constant watch is maintained on the Outer Fringes, protecting the Ultimatum Segmentum, from alien invasion.

Appearance

Although Pindaris lies in the shadow of its large Gas giant, the system it lies in has three large stars that lie in a diamond formation. These stars are prominent at night and became the symbol of the Emperor’s Shadows Chapter. This is reflected in the Chapter symbol, a white oval (Kagoshima Nineteen) with three red stars. Their armour is also black in colour, the colour of the void. Marine Sergeants and Officers have slight variations to the colour scheme, NCO’s having red helmets, Officers silver or gold. Techmarines wear all red, Chaplains wear Silver. Emperor’s Shadow’s scouts wear camouflaged armour and stealth cloaks including a phase generator, which distorts their shape and shadow, making them virtually impossible to see. Physically, the marine inside the armour is invariably tall, usually seven feet tall, fair-skinned with chiselled features. Combat Doctrine

The Emperor’s Shadows are skilled in scouting, ambush and infiltration and make great use of these skills. They are also physically tough and resilient. These skills and the Chapters doctrine encourage individual thought and action. Shadow marines will often fight alone if necessary, but are obviously lethal working as a team. The Chapter will send individual Marines on missions if and when the need arises. The Chapter has an excellent armor capability with a large array of vehicles and vehicle variants, including impressive artillery support. They also have a large number of Dreadnoughts (as injured marines refuse to retire into obscurity, their wish, to die gloriously for the Emperor). Normally the Shadow infantry will infiltrate enemy lines, form a defensive bubble, called a ‘Keil’ and then call in artillery strikes followed by an armored attack. The Armour will then push forward with the follow-up companies mopping up any survivors. Dreadnoughts will form mobile weapons platforms and advance with the infantry.

Organisation

The Emperor’s Shadows deviate only slightly from the Codex Astartes. They are experts at deep penetration missions, and close co-ordination with their armour and artillery support. If a Shadow is near you, you can be sure that a massive artillery strike is on the way, and armour is already here. If the Shadows advance without armour, they will always have Dreadnoughts supporting them. The Chapters vehicles have all been modified in some form or another, and it is not uncommon to see Marines sitting on tops, protecting the armours crews and hitching a ride to the bargain. Their Fortress Monastery has huge workshops and weapons facilities and the Chapters Techmarines are constantly experimenting on new weapons and devices. Unlike other Chapters, the Shadows study enemy weapons and adapt them to their own use. This is frowned apon by outsiders who would never consider using Xenos-produced items. They have also several captured space vessels, which are often used in covert operations.

Beliefs

Haunted by memories of the Great Heresy and forever reminded that their precious gene-seed came from corrupted stock, The Emperor’s Shadows strive to eradicate the memory of the traitor Legion they came from. Shadows are totally loyal to the God-Emperor and the Imperium. They are utterly ruthless dealing with the Emperors enemies and have often been admonished for incidents of over-zealous behaviour. Captured enemy soldiers are usually butchered without mercy, unless they fought particularly well, where they will be given a painless death. Xenos breeds are destroyed as a matter of course. The Shadows have an affinity with the Europa Four system, especially the Jirmanic race, who were rumoured to have provided some of the original recruits to the Chapter. The Shadows admire the Jirmanic warrior code and battle ethos. The Emperor’s Shadows believe that the only way that they can truly serve the Emperor is to give their lives for him. When they die, they will join their comrades in the Great Hall of Battle, and drink, dine and tell stories for all eternity, until the God-Emperor himself joins them. Then they will deem themselves complete.

Gene-seed

Obtained from a handful of survivors who survived the massacre on Istvaan 3, the seed was believed at first, to be corrupted. However, years of testing by Imperial Techpriests have concluded that the Shadows are free from the taint of Chaos. As the seed was recovered from a small band of warriors, and their recently killed comrades, the Shadows suffer from the psychic imprint left by the betrayal and then slaughter of their Legion. This can cause Shadow’s to go temporary mad during a battle, as they feel the rage and frustration of the loyal Emperor’s Children, when Horus turned against them on Istvaan III. If the Marine survives the battle, he will be taken away to “The Lost Tower” on Pindaris (named, because the once disciplined Brother has temporarily lost his way), until the madness passes. Sometimes a whole company will suffer from the condition, turning them into an unstoppable mass of rage. The effects are catastrophic to an enemy. This trait can sometimes be seen in Jirmanic’s, where an individual or group goes completely berserk during combat. Such warriors are known by the Jirmanic’s as ‘Berserkers’ and are revered in the ranks. Another trait inherited through the genes is the uncontrollable urge to drink alcohol, any alcohol, in vast quantities, after a victory. Luckily, they have been genetically enhanced to be able to control the alcohols effects. If threatened or duty calls, they will immediately sober up, none the worse for wear. Jirmanic’s tend to have the same qualities, except they suffer horrendously from alcohols effects!

Battle cries

“My Honour is my Loyalty”, “Xenos Absolutum”,   “Forwards!”, “We shall meet in the Hall of our Ancestors”, “Come Death Come”

Inspiration

The Shadows are determined to maintain a once proud bloodline, and better themselves in everything they do. They revere Sanguinius, the Blood Angels Primarch, for his loyalty to the Emporer and his devotion to duty, and his ultimate sacrifice. Their sole aim is to be perfect Marines and worthy enough to stand at the right hand of the Emporer.