Ollumhammersong

Trials of Initiation, A warhammer 40k Neophyte roleplay

Space wolves are the only option that is definitely out. Because space wolves don't use scouts in the traditional way. Space wolves scouts aren't neophytes but centuries old veterans who willingly choose to work alone rather than in a squad.

Trials of Initiation, A warhammer 40k Neophyte roleplay

Hello Peoples! This my an interest check for one of the few times I get off my ass to actually GM something. I have had this idea brewing for a short while now and figured it might be fun to attempt. In this Rp all players will take on the roll of a newly minted scout marine. A youth who, through fire and determination has survived the rigorous and often grueling training of their superiors, Their bodies fully accepting the many bio-implants and genetic alterations forced upon them, and have earned the right to finally wear and utilize the wargear of their beloved chapter. However limited their access to such hallowed equipment may be.

You are all young, strong and determined to make your mark and prove yourselves worthy of your chapters name and this great opportunity to serve the Emperor in such a glorious and honoured means.

For all of you this is your first real combat deployment. Your first true test. Everything up until the moment of deployment. Each pain accepted, limb broken and psychological torment endured through sheer force of will has only been to prepare you all for this. War.... This one act that will become your sole purpose of existence for the rest of your artificially elongated lives. Potentially centuries worth of battles and thousands of enemies might be slain by you personally as you carve a name for yourself in the flesh of the Emperor's foes. If you can survive the next few decades as a neophyte & chapter scout anyhow.

OOC: So this is an idea I actually tried getting off the ground once before but it floundered due to lack of interest. But the premise is pretty plain. Everyone in the RP plays newly minted scout marines serving their chapter for the first time. To be clear this rp does not intend to go 'all the way' in the sense of your characters will eventually be chapter heroes and captains and whatnot. This is purely the journey from 10th company scout to full fledged battle brother.

On another note, I personally envision this rp as a sort of hub-style campaign. Moving from assignment to assignment, warzone to warzone and fighting a variety of enemies and using a variety of equipment. Marines have to be proficient with a plethora of weapons after all. So while I totally get that some people may want to tie their characters to a specific weapon/fighting style, I think it could be cool to add that sort of variation, From using knives and shotguns to clear the halls of a derelict voidship, To stalker bolters & sniper rifles to target tyranid synapse creatures, heavy bolters and missile launchers to pick out ork nobz, etc etc. This also grants a convenient excuse for players to come and go as dropped characters get reassigned & replaced.

Now, As far as a chapter is concerned, I am open to putting it to a vote (and yes everyone will be from the same chapter, this isn't deathwatch) or picking a Blank slate chapter so to speak. A chapter that has an established name & colour scheme but little to no established lore so we can design and build traditions and customs together.

Blighted Etherea: The Champions of Hope

alright. i'm back from my work trip and will try to post over the next couple days before I have to head back out

Blighted Etherea: The Champions of Hope

My Hider

this was originally my idea with the red X denoting the specific city my people are from, minus the small almost island. I can adjust

Blighted Etherea: The Champions of Hope

fair enough, i've been busy these last three days with work and driving to a different city and I haven't really been diligent in this thread so I probably missed that. but I did write in my sheet that they inhabited a large portion of the western peninsula. I just haven't gotten around to drawing it out for the afformentioned reasons of work and heavy driving.

Also, which part is the bottom part in that picture. can you draw out your idea for territory?

Blighted Etherea: The Champions of Hope

That's the peninsula where I had my people from. We should probably iron out borders

Blighted Etherea: The Champions of Hope

that is a good question. Are we on the ship or on the land where the ship is approaching? Is there one ship or a convoy of ships?

Blighted Etherea: The Champions of Hope

This is what I have so far. i've just been a little lazy with the history and magic specifics. But I figure their magic is more spiritual and based around buffing their warriors natural abilities. 'Everybody easts a slice of raw bull or bear heart, splashes some blood on their face and is granted great strength' type of deal. Mostly behind the scenes magic.

Champion

Name: Budar Korribilo

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Age: 43

Physical appearance: 5'9” Olive skin, Black hair & brown eyes. Athletic build. Keeping clean shaven as often as practical.

History: What have they done? where did they come from? How'd they become a champion?

Equipment: Budar wears the same equipment as the rest of his men. Simply more orantely crafted. Bronze greaves and bracers with geometric designs, a plumed helm unmistakably marking him out amongst his fellow riders as an officer and leader, and his chest plate (he has several) are all adorned with the faces of snarling beasts.

This goes for his shields and personal arms. He does not draw from regimental stock but his wealth as a noble scion affords him a small personal armoury. Often sporting a spear, shield, armour and iron sword.

Abilities: Budar has few magical abilities himself. In truth magic confuses him and he leaves more complicated rituals to actual priests. But as a war leader he is expected to lead in certain ritual offerings to the Spirits for strength and for protection. Personally perform sacrifices and conduct divinations through said sacrifices. Anthropomancy and sacrificially fuelled magics are a common practice among the Bastentani.

He is an expert rider, having been in a saddle since his he was old enough to be hoisted up to ride in the arms of his uncles and cousins. And he has fought in raids and minor campaigns since he was fifteen. Leading teams and smaller companies of men since his early twenties. He is proficient with the sword and the spear, and He is still physically fit and healthy despite nearly three decades in on and off campaigning. Though he does notice his reflexes finally starting to slow these last few years, and he wonders privately if this will be his last campaign

Regiment

Title: Edatan Red Riders

My Hider

Number: 420~

12 companies of 30 riders. Further divided into teams of 6 riders. The rest consist of support staff,. Blacksmiths, farriers, physicians for both men and animals, as well as their assistants, shamans, baggage train, etc etc,

4 of the companies are junior riders often wearing little to no armour save what is provided by the regiment. Long daggers are provided, but swords/axes/maces are often purchased.

6 companies of veteran soldiers who have proven themselves over several campaigns and earned themselves spoils of battle. Wearing the namesake bright red cloth tunics.

The last two companies are the most senior riders. Well blooded and near unshakable in resolve, but also physically older and often held in reserve until absolutely needed. Each rider is in their fifties at least and to mark their relative wealth and status, often sport elaborate carvings on their helmets, shields, and equipment as they can afford.

All senior riders and most veterans have their own personally owned weapons but also have the right of first pick amongst the regimental stock, and most importantly right of first pick from from regiments stable, if due to losses there are too few horses to go around it is the junior companies that must continue on foot.

Specialization: The Red Riders specialize in light unit tactics. Skirmish, reconnasiance, ambush, harassment. Both on horseback (which is preferred) or on foot. Slings, spears and javelins are inexpensive weapons used by the riders in most situations. While more veteran riders are often self trained with more skilled weapons such as swords and axes for if and when circumstances demand.

Description: The Riders are composed of all humans from the city-kingdom of Edata, Within the Bastetani confederation. They take their name from their adoption of an unofficial but strict uniform of red and white tunics all riders wear, and that most of their steeds are chestnut or reddish brown in colour.

In terms of armour, there is less uniformity, And is often based on what the individual rider can afford. A simple helmet, small round wooden shield, javelins and a sling are provided by the regiment upon enlistment, But that is all that is provided. The rest is based off the riders personal wealth from their private lives, or what can be purchased with their plunder and wages. Those that can afford armour typically purchase bronze greaves and bracers, Protection of the chest is limited to a circular plate of tempered bronze for the chest and/or back, and held in place by a sturdy leather harness.

A sturdier shield, custom engravings on armour, trappings for their steed are all luxuries an individual rider can choose to purchase for themselves to show off their skill and the wealth born from their success as a warrior. But as a rule the Red riders are light cavalry unit and do not believe in burdening themselves or their steeds with too much weight.

History: The Red riders as a unit have existed for nearly two hundred years. While they are pledged to the officially to the protection of Edata, they are in reality the personal warriors of Korribilo's family. Outfitted by and having their wages paid for by the family, not by the Edatan Crown. This is an understandably heavy burden on even a noble family but... also politically invaluable.

Going back several generations to it's original founding during the calamity that was the beastial invasion that swept the Vasconte plains during the reign of king Arbiskar, and burned the city of Numentia to ash. One of many such private regiments raised in a time of great crisis. Not an uncommon occurance for wealthy Bastentani nobles and chieftains to 'lead the charge' with their own resources. Of course the great concerns of this cultural practice have never been about arming men during a time of crisis, but disarming them once that crisis has passed.

Many of these private regiments are forcibly disbanded by jealous (and nervous) kings. While others manage to linger on in a reduced capacity. Their deeds of valour and glory galvanizing support from the public and thereby making any attempts to disband them politically dangerous.

Indeed the size of the Red Riders has waxed and waned over the years. Which has been key to it's continuous survival. Often barely numbering a hundred souls in times of peace, while once numbering (very briefly) just shy of a thousand during the Castelli rebellions. But the Riders always volunteer for any major conflict Edata finds itself in, and is always led from the front by a son of the Korribilo family.

Since it's inception the riders have performed duties as simple as guarding the trade caravans of their noble sponsors, light raids against the lands of rival tribes and families. To participating in all out war alongside the Royal Edatan army in broader conflicts. The ambush at Ildulta Pass, the Burning of Tarbantu, the routing of the Sakarbik army and the subsequent capture of it's king. All these are all accomplishments of the Red Riders. The Korribilo family drives the unit hard during times of war. For it's only the incredible success and reputation of the Red riders that keeps them from being permantently disbanded. And of course, their success reflects well on the family that sponsors them... and the rich spoils they earn have helped the family stave off hard times.

Country: The Bastetani confederation is a loose coalition of tribes, petty kingdoms and a handful of proper city states united by a shared language, religion, and social structures. This confederation once dominated a large portion of the western peninsula. The riders themselves specifically hail from the city-kingdom of Edata in the southern horn of the peninsula. One of the Largerst cities in the confederation though the confederation had few true cities as most Basteni peoples prefer an agrarian lifestyle. Scattered villages amongst the plains while some tribes were entirely nomadic. Most Basteni peoples, even those in the cities revere a pantheon of Gods and shamanistic spirits, and hold certain animals especially horses and bulls as unquestionably sacred.

But as of now, over two thirds of the confederation land has been swallowed by the darkness. To say this has been a strain on the collective resources of the confederation is an understatement and morale in the civilian and warrior classes of society is cripplingly low. And the weight of expectations for security and hope placed upon the noble and priestly classes are daunting.

Blighted Etherea: The Champions of Hope

I'm still trying to work out magic in this. So do I just have dozen or so mages? Casually slinging fireballs or whatnot from horseback. Are people generally restricted to one kind of magic?

Blighted Etherea: The Champions of Hope

The current idea is light cavalry/infantry styled off ancient Iberia

I just need a cool name