The Duskguard Chapter.

[SirNitram]

So the Deathwatch books have rules/guidelines for making a chapter. Behold: The children of traitors, the spawn of iron, the technoheretics extradonaire...

The Duskguard.

Why? Standing force: The Duskguard was to be a self-sustained subgroup of the Iron Warriors Legion guarding one of their greatest secrets: A semifunctional fabricator from the diaspora of humanity. While a tiny speck of a true STC, it's value was immeasurable. Presently, the Duskguard claim they were founded in response to visions of the Iron Warriors raiding the area.

When? 31st Milenium. 'Founded' during the Great Crusade, they violently declared independence when forcing back an Iron Warrior advance. Publically, they claim 2nd founding, the lack of records serving well as a shroud of secrecy against their terrible truth.

Gene Seed: Iron Warriors, Flawed. Flaw: Faith In Suspicion. No Imperial institution breeds such singular hate, contempt, and revilement as the Adeptus Mechanicus in the eyes of the Duskguard. While their own apothecaries and techmarines take up some of the slack, this means the Chapter operates with few ships, fewer checks on their gene-seed, and no known suits of Dreadnought Combat Sarcophaguses.

Characteristic Modifiers: +5 Perception + 5 Intelligence. A Duskguard is acutely aware they are denied Blessed Ignorance, and as a result of their horrible knowledge, are ever suspicious and watchful. While they tend to focus on ferreting out Chaos and it's foul servants, it's proven equally handy to know a few seconds before an Ork leaps from cover.

Chapter Hero: Rendavius, a Brother Major(A rank lost after the sundering of the Legions) of the Legion of Iron Warriors. An implacable enemy of Chaos, especially his Traitorous brothers, legends claim he personally engaged Perturbo in single-combat. While he could not kill the accursed traitor, he would continue to mercilessly hunt the Iron Warriors through his career, refusing the offer of command of the newly-formed loyalist unit. He vanished into the Warp mileenia ago.

Recruiting World: Malka, a Temperate Civilized world. While most Space Marines disdain such soft places save for those with intense warrior creeds, the Duskguard prizes it's homeworld, and has found value in it. While the aspirants are not as physically tough and regimented, the 'softness' allows for superior minds and intelligence to flourish. Clever and inventive, those chosen are selected for the excessively rare capabilities of thinking on their feet in the Imperium. Whatever weakness might exist, the Techmaster teaches, is stripped away when they bond with the Holy Emperor through the Geneseed. The Duskguard rule directly, Chapter Serfs occupied virtually all levels of real power, and, as fits with the boundless suspicion of the Chapter, are subject to regular questioning from the Chaplains for any sign of taint or Heresy.

Organization: Unique. The Chapter contains three Scout Companies, as a bulwark against their mutated geneseed. Many Initiates will ultimately never survive full implanation, especially considering their increasingly strange selection process. The Techmaster has been reported to consider fielding even more after losses incurred in the most recent centuries. Unknown to all but the most trusted members, two further Companies exist, though their numbers are not pegged to a thousand Brothers. The Brothers Penitent form a wandering force of individuals, operating under the cover of Exile for technoheresy. The Penitent serve multiple roles for their Chapter, from securing new allies, to discovering secrets beyond the Chapters reach, and seeking ways to protect against the mutations that lie in wait in every Brother. But no one doubts the truth of their penitence; they serve as focal points for the spiritual redemption of the Chapter, an eternal task. The Brothers Lost grow and shrink in number, and are a stark reminder that even those few who prove to not mutate over time are never free of their Primarch's treason. The Iron Warriors connections with the Obliterator Cult have proven handy in punishing their wayward children, inflicting the virus on Marines when traversing the Warp. Maddened berserkers, these loyal Obliterators are only soothed by near-constant repetition of tales of the Emperor. When possible, the Duskguard drop them as a vanguard in modified Drop Pods which pump recorded tales until impact; at which point the foes of Man find a horrific walking war machine in their lines.

Combat Doctorine: Siege.

Duskguard Solo Mode: Bulwarks Of Reality. Psyience is a trained skill to the Duskguard, and their singular hate of the Warp allow them a re-roll of Willpower tests to resist the powers of Psykers and Sorcerers.

Squad Attack Pattern: Tactical Finesse. The Duskguard can guide their brothers in slow, unrelenting assaults. The Brother and those in Support range can make one ranged or melee attack as a half-action(The ranged attack can only be a single shot), and then make a half-move. Those in this formation can disengage from melee without penalty, covered by their brothers.

Squad Defense Stance: Courage Under Fire. Duskguard do not fear death in righteous combat, and their impacable ways can inspire others to never surrender the initiative. Those in Support range can immediately recover from being Pinned. At rank 4, his impacable ire urges his brothers to keep moving, allowing those under effect to make a Half-Move as a free action, never letting their foes escape.

Speciality Restriction: No Librarians. There are terrible stories of what the Duskguard do to those in their ranks they find have Psykker talent.

Special Equipment: Rare Weaponry. Inferno Pistols have taken the place of Bolt Pistols in the Chapter, and are frequently used against foes. While sensible against Orks, it is also used religiously against any foe from the Warp, believing the flame the Emperor granted them in the Fabricator's patterns is a purifier of their worst foes.

Beliefs: The Emperor Above All. Their zealous devotion to the God-Emperor has proven to be troublesome at times, making them wary of the Ordos outside the Ordo Malleus, disdainful of the Sisters Of Battle(The Decree Passive and it's modern interpretation is viewed as, quote 'Playing Silly Buggers', though they often respect the Sisters for their devotion and battle-aptitude), and contributes to their hate of the Adeptus Mechanicus, who refuse to directly venerate the Emperor.

Chapter Strength: Nominal. The Brothers Lost are at historically low numbers, but increasing signs of mutation has lead to the Techmaster to approve the controversial decision to allow women to attempt the Aspirant trials.

Chapter Friend: Imperial Guard from the Malka Sector. The Duskguard frequently send those who are in their Assault years to the Guard, to assist and provide a direct bulwark in close combat. This has led to strong ties and familiarity.

Chapter Enemy: The Iron Warriors.

Battle Cry: For Redemption!

Advances: Daemon Bane.

More details if people want them. Specify what you wanna know!

[frigidmagi]

Wouldn't a Big Brother style system fit the Duskguard more for their world? They never ask you questions because they've been watching you the entire time and already know everything.

[SirNitram]

Wouldn't a Big Brother style system fit the Duskguard more for their world? They never ask you questions because they've been watching you the entire time and already know everything.

I decided against it for two reasons: One, I don't think it's fitting with the general tech of most civilian populations. More importantly, it would have to be run by the Chapter(They desperately want to keep the Citizenry in Blessed Ignorance, as it's proved to be damned -reliable- against many dangers), and no one in the Chapter believes anyone else can be trusted that much. Layers of oversight against it would be too cumbersome and a drain of fighting men(And possibly women.. Could you even -tell- if it was a female Space Marine, with all those implants?).

[frigidmagi]

Good points. As to the women, if all I saw was the armor, then no. If they were standing around in shorts and shirts... Maybe? What I've seen of Space Marines seems to suggest that they retain a very male body shape. Broad shoulders, narrower hips and bulky muscles. Now the bulky muscles aren't an totally male characteristic but it's easier for a man to get bulky muscles then a women due to the hormone and chemical balance and such I'm told.

That said, the implants and various genetic and cybernetic changes (which are practically magical) could easily defeat that, so I have no honest idea. I'll admit I am somewhat confused by the hostility of some people towards Female Space Marines. Yes, Games Workshop has said that only men can be Space Marines and they've said that for a long time... But they've been willing to change every other fucking point in their canon.

[SirNitram]

Good points. As to the women, if all I saw was the armor, then no. If they were standing around in shorts and shirts... Maybe? What I've seen of Space Marines seems to suggest that they retain a very male body shape. Broad shoulders, narrower hips and bulky muscles. Now the bulky muscles aren't an totally male characteristic but it's easier for a man to get bulky muscles then a women due to the hormone and chemical balance and such I'm told.

That said, the implants and various genetic and cybernetic changes (which are practically magical) could easily defeat that, so I have no honest idea. I'll admit I am somewhat confused by the hostility of some people towards Female Space Marines. Yes, Games Workshop has said that only men can be Space Marines and they've said that for a long time... But they've been willing to change every other fucking point in their canon.

Not to mention a previous canon Chaos Champion of Khorne. Demons in armor want to go spilling blood. Demons whisper in your head. There you go. Also, let's face it, spontaneous genderswap is the most benign of mutations the Warp could bestow on you, and they pass those around like candy.

On the subject of a full FSM Chapter? There's a suitable sci-fi chick to be Primarch: Samus. Just look at those pauldrons. THE PAULDRONS.

[Hotfoot]

Whenever I run games of Deathwatch at cons, I can expect the question of female space marines, and my response is usually fuck it why not? You're absolutely right that after the gene mods and the armor there's no goddamn way most anyone would be able to tell, and why care? If a player wants a female space wolf assault marine with twin chain axes, there's no reason I can think of to say no other than dogged adherence to canon that itself arbitrarily decided against it. It's rather like people who these days say they want to have a Jedi couple who love each other and have kids. According to Lucas, the answer is no, and you should feel bad. Fuck that, don't care, my story now.

[Cynical Cat]

.

That said, the implants and various genetic and cybernetic changes (which are practically magical) could easily defeat that, so I have no honest idea. I'll admit I am somewhat confused by the hostility of some people towards Female Space Marines. Yes, Games Workshop has said that only men can be Space Marines and they've said that for a long time... But they've been willing to change every other fucking point in their canon.

I'm confused by people being hostile to the fact that a lot of Furies are female in Eclipse Phase. It's no big deal either way, but I'm generally uninclined to crowbar fluff over it. That said, it's much more plausible that CSMs might have females in their ranks given both Chaos mutation and heavy experimentation by guys like Fabius.

Also being a Chaos Champion isn't the same thing as nor requires being a Chaos Space Marine.