Group Story IG v Tyranids [still accepting authors]

[Commander Shadow]

Hi guys. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in doing a group piece about Imperial Guard against the Tyranids. I'm looking for maybe two or three others who would be interested in sticking with this. If you're interested just say so and we can start working out the plot and names and what not.
I love the Imperial Guard (they seem to the truly "human" guys out there, fighting against the crazy aliens and deamons and other terrible things with little more than faith, flackjackets, and lasguns) and i was interested in seeing how a group piece about a planet comming under the shadow of the impeding tryanid hive fleet that seem to be getting deeper and deeper into Imperial space.

I'm not entirely sure how this works on the new site but back on the old, old forums (back when they were still with BL) people would post character bios first and work out the story later. I was wondering if we could hold off on that till those that are interested could work out the plot first so we dont have a bunch of random (albiet intersting characters) drawn from all over the galaxy (makes more sense local guardsmen would be involved rather than Cadians probably fighting around the Eye of Terror or Steel Legionaries who should be on Armagedon).

At any rate, please post if you're intereted!

[Stuart000X]

I'm interested in particapting.

[Commander Shadow]

great! nobody else seems particualarly rushing to jump on the wagon so I suppose we could start just the two of us for now.

I was thinking about setting the story in one of the doomed system in the path of hive fleet Leviathan's advance. The story could take place over perhaps a cluster of worlds ultimately doomed (from what i've read fluff wise there haven't been any major turning points agains Leviathan like Ichar V or Macragge, however that doesnt mean the Imperium won't fight like hell to keep it). I'd like to keep the characters Imperial Guard/Navy, PDF, maybe some sort of Ecclesiarchy fighting force (irregular zelot soldiers or the like). If you don't mind I would prefer if the Space Marines would be kept out of this conflict though Sisters of Battle (especially if there is and Ecclesiarchy Army group) would be alright.

What do you think?

[Stuart000X]

I agree. If this is going to be primarily going to be a straight up Imperial Guard vs Tyranids fight, I think it would make for better reading and creativity if there wasn’t any Space Marine involvement. Other elements from other Imperial factions might be present, but I would suggest the de facto force should be Imperial Guardsmen.

One idea I have is that the system in which the action is going to take place in is in the midst of being attacked by Tyranids. The invasion was already foreseen and Imperial Guard regiments were quickly sent to bolster the defences. The Imperial Navy had fought against the Tyranid fleet, but after sustaining some heavy losses, the admirals were forced to withdraw to the edge of the system. Watching from afar, the admirals watched in horror as the Tyranids slowly crept towards the main hub of the system.

The idea I have in mind has two components. The first is that we have characters on the planet surface that are fighting a relentless campaign against the Tyranids. Stories can be written about a handful of characters as they fight the enemy on different fronts, but are steadily losing the war.

The second is that reinforcements have arrived at the edge of the system. Along with the remnants of the first detachment, the fleet fly steadfast towards the planet, ready to fight in the hope of breaking the blockade, and allowing troops to land onto the surface.

This is just an idea, but what I like about it is that it can foster many points of views from a multiple array of characters i.e. Imperial Navy, Imperial Guard, the local Government and population.

What do you think?

[Commander Shadow]

I do like the reinforcement idea and starting it in the midst of the invasion (perhaps as the spores start comming down?). The former is great because I believe it will add some hope to the situation rather than just a we're-all-gonna-die fell which (although interesting) can prove tedious over long portions of work.

In terms of the layout of the system i was thinking three planets, one core world, not heavily hived but the industrial center of the zone (perhaps colonized first way-back-when, and then the subsequent worlds), and an agri and feudal world. Similar culture would probably be present between the three and we can most likely expand on that (purely background stuff). This multiple planet setting could allow for some minor characters that could be quickly killed off as their world falls or and the defenders on other worlds watching these worlds fall to the swarm.

Do you think the majority of the story should take place on one planet? We could toy with this idea, I'm all for it. The industrialized center could be the last to be assualted by the Tyranids. If thats the case we could definitly play off the fear of being "the last humans" (the astromican beacon is cut off by the shadow of the hive mind), probably starvation (the agri world would have fallen), and maybe some doomed broadcasts from the two worlds.

I agree with the de facto forces being Imperial Guardsmen but perhaps some number of Planetary militia or the like (civilians drafted as gun sheilds, convicts, etc) could also be present? We could really exploit some of the horrible things that the Imperium does to its citizens as well as the threat of war.

what do you think?

[Stuart000X]

Yes, by all means include all other types of units and other branches into the mould. If the Imperium has a well established hold on this system, and has cultivated it enough to hold a substantial population, more than likely there will be a PDF presence. And if they know that the fight is going to be hardpressed, conscriptions will be occuring.

I think, in reference to the conscription, at the start of the campaign only men were being conscripted, but as time goes by and things are becoming more dire, we can write about or include women, or even children conscripts into the frame.

Standing shoulder to shin with a Storm Trooper is a 9 year old boy, who, despite his height and age, has become quite the survivor/killer, and is adapt at using a lasrifle. Also, in the Feudal system, if that planet is going to fall to the Tyranid, we can write about the last gambit as the PDF and its sword wielding warrior class riding out to meet their enemies, knowing full well they're going to die, but wanting to kill as much as they can.

I think the story should involve this blockade heavily, but at the start things are hunky dorey. Although they know the enemy is coming, the Guardsmen are in good spirits, but after the first encounter, it fast becomes apparent that this isn't going to be easy. Prior to this however, the Guard decided to bolter their entire defence on the captial world of the system, either the agri- or industrial world, the reason being that they can use the planet's resources fully to their advantage. Perhaps we can write about scenes of hardship as citizens work hard to produce whatever it is they're making, while at some points, downing tools to pick up weapons when spores attack, before returning to their job.

The first worlds can have their time in the spotlight but their destruction is obvious. When they reach the third world, it isn't as easy to conqour. But due to the numbers and the ability to repoduce from the other worlds, the numbers are proving to be fatal.

Then, when all seems lost, the Imperial Navy arrives. Then from the POV of the Navy, we can have a titanic battle while troopships fly through the gaps in the defences.

[Stuart000X]

I think the planet on which the Imperial Guard are stationed on should take centre stage, but we can include the other planets of the system and write about minor characters that are fighting there. This should help give our readers some scope as to how extensive the invasion is, and it gives a bit of width as well, diversifying places, events and characters.

[Commander Shadow]

I agree on all accounts. In terms of the conscription we could definitely give it a heavy "fall of Berlin" with increasingly younger and younger as well as older and older levies being drawn up to refill the ranks of the embattled defenders. The blockade running is also an essential portion, perhaps that could be the midpoint of the story? (all the while there will no doubt be small skirmishes between the remaining Naval Forces at the edges of the system, as Tyranid ships try to hunt them down).
I was thinking that the main contingent of the Guard forces would be centered upon the Capital (Industrialized) planet. We could start off with the last charge of the PDF and Feudal world defenders as an opening, i think that could be really well done.

[Commander Shadow]

Also i was thinking about names and other things for the planet and the system as well as the Imperial Guard Army Group stationed there. By all means tell me what you think about the planet names, they're just stuff i came up during class today.

Planets:
Industrialized (Capital)- Sparati, Lunda

Agrarian World- Ullor, Delandi

Feudal, Kandah, Fenn (Personally i kinda like Fenn)

As for fleshing out the Guard units stationed there, i was thinking that nearby systems could provide some of the garrison troops and made up a few "near by" systems.

Olympus (actually borrowed fro Gav Thorpe's Last Chancers, Lt. Kage is supposidly from there and he had a moment in 13th Legion where he wonders if Olympus had fallen to the Hive Fleets, just thought it would be interesting)

Valdor (completely made up, industrialized sector)

The Imperial Guard Army Group

Lord High Marshal Kraig Delnanah (leader of the 239th Army Group)

Olympian Regiments

45th Infantry- Colonel Zenan
7th Mechanized- Colonel Vernazi
901st Infantry- Colonel Cordan
375th Infantry- Colonel Rengetta
92nd Heavy Infantry- Major Gerane
112th Light Infantry- Colonel Binah

Valdorian Regiments
444th Shock Infantry- Major Regalan
32nd Mechanized Colonel Lyon
129th Armored- Colonel Farkin
212th Armored Major Gilles
191st Mechanized Major Nial
27th Artillery Colonel Yzel
303rd Artillery Colonel Jallen


what other units should we have? (navy, guard, or PDF)

[Stuart000X]

Glad you like the ideas so far. I like the list of Imperial Guard regiments and planets; they’re superb and should do nicely into our system. For a name for the system, I think we should call it, Prandium. Prandium, according to google translate, means “meal” in Latin  .

The PDF are present in every major settlement in the system, but the ones on Lunda are more experienced and better equipped than their counterparts on the other planets.

On Kandah there is a planet wide warrior-cult society, with each citizen armed and capable of melee combat. Besides tending to livestock and crops, and the worship of the Emperor, the people of Kandah fight each other in tribes, but with the forth coming of the “Star Locusts” as they are called, they have set aside their differences to unite and prepare for what is to come. I draw a lot of inspiration from the Celts of Britannia when they fought against the Romans, the society being quite feral and feeble in comparison to other Imperial worlds.

I think the Imperial fleet formation will consist of:

1 Oberon Class Battleship

The Desolator - Admiral Kohi

4 Overlord Battle Cruisers

The Overseer – Captain Oloe

The Red Vex – Captain Ailon

The Trident – Captain Khoro

The Mischief – Captain Roex

5 Sword Frigates

The Red Mist – Captain Hora

The Victor – Captain Belo

The Sanctity – Captain Augin

The Vigil – Captain Eduoa

The Reverence – Captain Ragina

***** Fighter escorts

That is the gist of what I think should consist of the first detachment of the Imperial Navy.

[Commander Shadow]

All good with the fleet list (could the battlecruisers be plain old cruisers? escorts of the battleship perhaps?), seems to be the right amount for a system about to be invaded. Whould this be pre or post initial space battle?

I love your ideas for Kandah, would you like to expand upon them? (like what the planet is like, the different tribes)
I was hopping that we could get most of the background done and work out a story arch before we actually start writing, that ok?

So we have:

System: Prandium


Capital: Planet Lunda (industrialized), two moons (just fleshing it out)

Planet Kandah (Feudal world), three moons

Planet Ullor (agrarian world), no moons

System Governor: Gabriel Henzina (based on Lunda)

Genaun Kayne- Governor of Ullor

[You seem to have the best ideas for Kandah, wanna run with it?]

Imperial Guard Forces

Olympian Regiments

45th Infantry- Colonel Zenan
7th Mechanized- Colonel Vernazi
901st Infantry- Colonel Cordan
375th Infantry- Colonel Rengetta
92nd Heavy Infantry- Major Gerane
112th Light Infantry- Colonel Binah

Valdorian Regiments

444th Shock Infantry- Major Regalan
32nd Mechanized- Colonel Lyon
129th Armored- Colonel Farkin
212th Armored- Major Gilles
191st Mechanized- Major Nial
27th Artillery- Colonel Yzel
303rd Artillery- Colonel Jallen

[addition]

Fennari Regiments (from nearby world of Fenn)

59th Rifles- Knight-Commander Dorian
72nd Rifles- Knight-Commander Luthor
131st Rifles- Knight-Commander Pyran
291st Mounted- Knight-Commander Haveson

[Do you think we should add some Ullorian, Kandahi, and Lundaian Guard regiments? these could be freshly raised in light of the comming conflict]

Imperial Navy

1 Oberon Class Battleship

The Desolator - Admiral Kohi

4 Overlord Battle Cruisers

The Overseer – Captain Oloe

The Red Vex – Captain Ailon

The Trident – Captain Khoro

The Mischief – Captain Roex

5 Sword Frigates

The Red Mist – Captain Hora

The Victor – Captain Belo

The Sanctity – Captain Augin

The Vigil – Captain Eduoa

The Reverence – Captain Ragina

***** Fighter escorts

What sort of PDF army formations should we include? I was thinking for the agrarian world perhaps mostly large infantry groups and cavalry or light armor detatchments and landa to have a somewhat more mechanized detatchment.

What other background should we flesh out as well?

[Stuart000X]

I must say that this story development is coming along quite nicely, with a good range of ideas.

That depends on how forewarned the Imperium has been of the impending Tyranid attack, and how much time they had in creating a defence. I propose that the Imperium has known of it for quite some time, and has, with the resources available i.e. the Imperial Guard regiments and Battlefleet, have sent them to Prandium. But even with the time allocated, they’ve been hard pressed at best to get things done. So by the time the Tyranids do show up, there is a degree of fortification and preparation, and enough of a solid plan of action for them to use. In answering your question, I would say pre-battle

Okay, I will expand Kandah a little at your request . Kandah is a blue world with one giant mass of greenery that forms the one and only continent on its surface. Due to its appearance, space-ferrying people have likened Kandah with that of an eye, its continent the pupil, which has led to the rise of its nickname, the Eye.

The landscape is rustic; with endless green pastures reaching as far as the eye can see, interspersed with forests and crisscrossed with lakes, rivers, and streams. Million strong herds of animals and unkempt wilderness are all that dominates this landscape, grazing and migrating from place to another. To the foreign explorer this place would be paradise, were it not for the wildmen that rule its lands.

Humanity may believe Kandah to be conquered, but it is they and the settlers who came here that became conquered, the wilderness compelling its settlers to become feral.

A thousand tribes live on the land that they call Khuy’dash; Unforgiving Land in Gothic. Each man, woman and child are born and bred to kill without mercy or hesitation. Trained with the spear, sword, and sling, the tribesmen fight both each other, and the dangerous animals that roam the Great Plains on the back of horses and chariots.

The largest tribe, Foua’k, reside east of the continent centre, residing at the top of several hills, the Foua’k’s home lives under the shadow of a behemoth; the great spire that had once been part of a destroyed Battle Cruiser, its remains visible even today across the Great Plains after ten thousand years.

The former-bridge that is at the top of the spire is a sacred holy place to all that live on Kandah. From across the continent, noblemen, warriors, and all other dignities pay homage to the double headed eagle of the Emperor, which still hung on the back wall of the bridge, its metal not even turning rusty.

With ceremony, Blood-Priests cut the palms of presented children as they adorn their own life source onto their faces, and bless them as they pass into adulthood, and become warriors.

As of late however, trepidation has run rife across the landscape as word of the “Star Locusts” cometh. Banding together under the leadership of Foua’k’s chieftain, Yzla, along with her family, decorate green and red woad paint to their bodies as they look to the stars and await deliverance from the Eagle-Chieftain.

That’s what I have come up with for Kandah. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

[Stuart000X]

I agree with the PDF bit. They consist primarily of light infanty and armour, but they are quite mobile as they are supplimented with chimeras, or equivilents.

[Commander Shadow]

Khuy’dash sounds like quite an epic place. Would there be some representative of the Eagle-Chieftan there? some sort of capital city in the ruins of that cruiser where perhaps the Ministorum has its own preists to make sure these blood rituals don't stray too far from the Imperial Cult? Someplace with a star-port? Do the natives have access to gunpowder weaponry or even lasguns (the local PDF or the like). What you've come up with is great.

So plot wise (in terms of arc) how do you think it should work out?

I was thinking of starting when the first of the tyranid fleet pulls into the system, the Navy is given orders to intercept, and the fighting begins in space, meanwhile the soldiers planet side bide their time. I could write up the openning over the weekend and post it here.

What do you think/where should we go from there?

[Stuart000X]

I don’t know if you know, but Eagle-Chieftain is the name by which the tribesmen refer to the Emperor as, knowing that He is their Lord and Sovereign, but losing His original name, and replaced by theirs.

The people on Kandah are quite primitive in their knowledge and understanding of the universe at large. They know the men from beyond the stars are the Eagle-Chieftain’s word-sayers, people who work and act for the Emperor in his stead on this world.

In essence, I would say the spire acts like a capital for the people of Khuy’dash; acting as a common neutral ground for all to walk upon and stand as equals with on another. My entire thought process is based upon what I know of Celts in Britain, and I would say that this spire is of similar spiritual and political importance as Stonehenge is to the Celts of Britannia. Naturally this behaviour is closely observed by Imperialists, and thus far, such feral and debased habits have been mostly tolerated due to the fact that these people provide excellent hunters, amongst other things, especially when it comes to tracking, and trapping many of the myriad beasts on the Great Plains, and indeed, the massive ocean.

There is a PDF presence on the world. Connected to the mainland via a bridge, the PDF’s one and only base on Kandah is an offshore platform rig that has been armed. However, it should be noted that the number of PDF are few in number, just over two hundred strong, but what they make up for the numbers is, other than technology and guns, is aircraft.

With no combustible, or even long range weaponry, the PDF fear little from the natives as they can easily take them out from afar with their weapons. But that necessity hasn’t been used much over the years, often, the mere appearance of an aircraft enough to dissuade people.

In the end, each keep to their own, the PDF monitoring while the people of Khuy’dash continue to do what they have done before the Imperium came. In the coming invasion however, the aircraft by which the PDF hold are not space worthy, it being cheaper to purchase and maintain aircraft that are purely planetary usage.

Weapon wise, the tribesmen use weapons that are of the pre-gunpowder era, like swords, axes, maces, bows, slings. Their main weapon is speed, on the backs of horses and chariots, and spinning on the wheels of the chariots are very sharp blades, ready to cleave the legs right under their mowed down enemies.

[Commander Shadow]

Sounds good. so the PDF "fortress" could be considered some sort of shrine to the Eagle-Cheiftan or something along those lines? The celtic nature of these people is quite an interesting feel. To give it justice, could you write you're first peice from the perspective of the defenders of the planet?

I was planning on starting my peice from Landa, giving the whole impression of troops marshalling and the like, perhaps some civil unrest or a psyker going a little bit crazy from the shadow of the hive fleet and the defenders preparing to meet the invasion (conscriptions and bunkers and stuff like that). You're piece could include the Kandah and Imperial Navy initial response.

I believe in other group stories people post character bios but if in our opening pieces we introduce a few characters into the mix (and introduce them well), i don't believe that should be to much of a problem (what do you think?)

Side note: what do you think the title should be? Some how i don't believe Group Story Imperial Guard v Tyranids is altogether fitting for the story we're going to craft

Here are a few ideas, what do you think?

The Beasts from the Abyss

Whispers from a Dying Star

The Shadow over Prandium

Faith and Fire and the Swarm

[Stuart000X]

I like the names you have come up for the story, especially the third one "The Shadow over Prandium". But i think it should be simply called "The Shadow" in reference to the approach of the fleet and how its cutting the system off. Also, we can talk of scenes where the sun is blocked out by the mass of Tyranids in the sky. It gives itself a bit more of an omnious touch

Yeah, i can write about the tribemens as a first peace. However, i am in the midst of a writing assignment, and will not be able to indulge in it until i am finished my assignment, which should be done by the time weekend is.

I think the story should be written in stages, in conjunction with that of the invasion.

Pre-invasion
The start of the invasion
First space battle
Retreat
Planet fall, or falls depending on how many you want to be attacked, and when and in what order.
Battles are conducted on each planet.
The fight is losing faster on Kandah and the industrial world, than on the capital world.
The two planets fall.
The third is blockaded.
Fighting intentisfies, but so does the loses.
Reinforcements arrive at the end system's edge
Navy battle occures, with troop transports rushing through to the planet surface

I don't know how or what the outcome is going to be, but this is just a rough draft of what should happen in the story. We write our characters are each stage, so that we can give the reader a blow by blow account on each front and encounter, so that they can grasp how extensive this invasion is, and how each is faring. You can give suggestions if you like the events to be slightly different. Out of all the stages, the pre-invasion, which is sort of like a prelude, is just to give our readers a good idea as to what has happened, what is happening, and how each corner of the system is preparing for this. We can develop the characters personalities a little bit here.

We can create character bios, but instead of having one, i think we should make a handful each. They don't have to survive, but should at least survive the inital encounter or attack. After that, its fair game. Along the way, we can create minor characters to help inform of events that are happening beyond our protagonists perspective. However, to keep the secrecy of our characters' fate, we should reserve that for only ourselves in private messages.

A subject we need to discuss that hasn't been brought up yet, is the issue of the genestealer cults. With every Tyranid incursion, there is usually one lurking about.

[Commander Shadow]

What about "When the Shadow Falls"? I do really like you're idea about the sun being blocked by the sheer weight of the Tyranid landing forces.

Side note, i thought Lunda, the industrial world, was the system's capital.

I understand the real world constraints, I might be pretty busy soon but occasionally during classes (many of which are quite boring and pointless), i can write some things up. I started a rough few paragraphs about the opening piece as well and i can post here to see what you think possibly by tomorrow.
I like the story arch, we could set up each as chapters (with different epic-sounding names ) and those could be suitable goals to keep us on track.
Should we discuss the final fate of the system over PM? or just that of the characters.
The multiple characters also resonates with me, i would recommend (to prevent confusion from sifting back through a multitude of posts) that we can put them on a different thread after we've worked them out here.

In terms of writing the character bios how should we divide up the tasks? I feel like the Kandahan PDF, planetary militia, and Imperial guardsmen (I feel like there should be at least a few local Imperial Guard regiments participating in the fate of thier home-system, what do you think?) should fall most to you as you've come up with some amazing background and could really go to town. How would you feel of having characters primarily from Kandah, Ullor (the agri world), and the Imperial Navy? The Olympian, Valdorian, and Fennari Guard regiments i have a bit of background from some side writing i did way back when, and i could draw characters from them and Lundani PDF, etc.

For the Major characters how about just their name and rank, and a short bio describing personality, background, and what they will be doing during at least the first chapter? For the minor characters simply a name, rank, and small background.

For the opening piece, i was thinking of inculding some sort of scuffle between Olympian Guardsmen at a bar (or possibly strip club) who insult some Kandahian Guardsmen (they are garisoned in a city on lunda) only to be broken up by a commissar, emphazising the multitude of different cultures jammed into a single planet. Would this be alright?

As to the Genestealers (there would possibly be lictors too right?). This could make for a nice prologue, maybe some stormtrooper companies rooting through a factory complex or a troop of mounted horsemen tracking something across the agri world and discovering "oh [feth] they're here].


I can get some up soon

[Stuart000X]

Glad you like that idea  perhaps when the reinforcements come and start attacking the blockade, the defenders below watch with amazement as shafts of light pierce through the darkness, and through it, comes the reinforcements. This event could act as a moral booster.

Yeah, I like that title, a double reference to two things.

I don’t mind if that’s the capital, actually, it makes more sense as per usual an urban metropolis is the centre of control and administration, and it should be no different to Prandium.

Yep, give each chapter, depending on what is going to happen, their own subtitle. We can PM each other the outcome. It should be said also, that I have sent a PM to Pyro to request that we seclude our thread from prying eyes so we can make our story in privacy. Once we’re done, and have made our story pieces, we’ll post them onto a separate thread.

That’s a good idea, I’ll write about characters on Kandah, Ullor and the Navy. Yeah, that’s good enough of a guide to creating the major and minor characters.

I think for an opening piece, it should like what you describe about how the people find the genestealer cult, and then follow it up somewhere a bit later with the bar scuffle. It gives our readers immediate knowledge of the genestealers, and will know first hand what is to come. Then the other bit brings in characters, background, and the animosity felt between the regiments. For the first chapter, it should be mostly about establishing the players in this war, and in the system, what this means to each individual and how it effects the area.

[Commander Shadow]

Great. I'll start writing something up along those lines.

Here's a list of some characters i came up with

Character List

Olympians

Lieutenant Saul Hyperion, Olympian 901st Infantry, 6th company, 3rd platoon.
A veteran of the campaign on Vadium III against the Orks the lieutenant is still recovering from wounds suffered during the recapture of Verannanburg. Where before he was an open and optimistic man he is now sullen and reserved, spending more time with platoon Commissar Juron and his platoon sergeant Namaz. Hyperion comes from the upper hives of Olympus, trained in the officer academy, and blooded in the 901st Infantry’s engadgments on Vadium and Curani Prime. Whatever naivety was crushed during the Ork campaigns, Saul still holds onto one shred of hope, albet a morbid one. Upon the day of his departure with the regiment, after the great parades through the boulevards of the upper hives his father took him aside. The man told his young son that whatever horrors he will face in the galaxy he must remember one thing, Saul will die in an out of the way place. In every engagement the lieutenant has fought in his has been reassured that, wherever he is fighting, it is important. Knowing this he leads his men into dangerous conflicts without fear of death.


Major Arus Gerane, Olympian 92nd Heavy Infantry, Commanding Officer
During the campaign against the Orks on Vadium III the 92nd was deployed in securing Ork infected factories south of the initial landing zones. For the duration of the campaign the 92nd fought amid the ruins of that complex, clearing shattered remains. The losses suffered where high, of the regiment’s initial ten companies, the survivors were reformed into six, Colonel Numina was slain during the initial fighting and the regiment saw four different commanders over the course of that war. Gerane was the last of these replacements, promoted to colonel from the command of the decimated 7th company. The war gave him a bleak out look on life and a twisted view of the Imperial Officer class. During the Summer Offensive on Vadium the then Colonel Gerane was reprimanded for using poison gas during an assault on Ork lines where supporting soldiers from the Thuron 72nd Sappers suffered high casualties due to the lack of proper masks. Gerane however retained command of the regiment at the end of the war.


Sergeant Oromous Jehan , Olympian 45th Infantry, 8th company, 5th platoon, 3rd squad
Drawn from the underhives on Olympus, Jehan grew up surviving in the near feral climate of home. Jehan has never seen combat, he is part of the freshly levied soldiers that absorbed the old 45th after it was decimated in a heroic rearguard action on Curani Prime. He is more than a little frightened about the prospect of the upcoming conflict, his bravery strengthened by the vast numbers of his close comrades and the knowledge that it couldn’t be much worse than where he came from.




Commissar Thell Uron, Olympian 375th Infantry, Regimental Commissar
Priding himself for a body count of 476 soldiers “found wanting” Commissar Uron of the 375th regiment keeps close to his platoon of commissariat soldiers that have been with him since the first days of the regiment in the Makundi conflict. He has nothing but respect for Colonel Rengetta, admiring the way in which he adheres to the Olympian tactics of war.

Trooper Valeh Thosos, Olympian 112th Light Infantry, 9th company, 2nd platoon, 2nd squad
Drawn from the mountain regions of Olympus’ southern continent Thosos saw combat briefly at the conclusion of the Vandium III campaign, sweeping for surviving Ork and Gretchin formations in the outskirts of New Mankina.

Trooper Henan Bethos, Olympian 7th Mechanized, 1st company, 4th platoon, 2nd squad
From the industrial plains cities on Olympus, Bethos grew up to the clamor of factories and the smell of industrial labor. He served with the newly raised regiment during the Makundi conflict, and was instrumental in the glory attributed to the regiment during the drive towards Sazal. Bethos was wounded in the leg during the taking of the Sazal docks and walks with a limp and the silver skull of being wounded in action proudly pinned to his chest.

Valdorians

Colonel Shara Yzel, 27th Artillery, Commanding officer.
Shara Yzel is the youngest son of a munitions plant owner on Valdor and was sent to officer academy in hopes that he would serve the God-Emperor and do battle in his name as well as no longer be a burden on a family gifted with too many sons. He is quick to make friends and even quicker to follow with blind faith any who might be a parental figure. During the campaign to drive off Ork forces from the deserted southern cities of Banna-Evel IV he commanded his regiment with distinction and zeal, blowing away whole portions of the ruins in hope to “ease the job” of his brother officers in the infantry.

Platoon Sergeant Igna Sarus, 444th Shock Infantry, 2nd company, 4th platoon
Trained for over three years for the honor of being part of the glorious shock regiments of Valdor Sarus has served in over three separate campaigns, promoted through the ranks to platoon sergeant he has suffered wounds on multiple occasions, both in the line of duty and out. Like all other shock troopers he was selected due to his size and brutality. Nevertheless Igna Sarus is a kind and gentle father to the young men in his platoon, as encouraging and helping as Lieutenant Halaza is demanding and impassionate. But the sergeant and lieutenant are little more than two sides of the same coin, drawn close after years of heavy fighting and innumerable casualties.

Sergeant Lial Kezane, 212th Armored, 1st company, 3rd platoon, 2nd squad
While many would consider a lack of knowledge of vehicles as a trait that would better be suited in the infantry, Sergeant Kezane has an unusual ability to motivate the men under his command (or so he says), and a tank commander doesn’t really need to know how to repair his own vehicle does he? Kezane has learned on the job however on both regards managing to pull his Leman Russ from the Bannal-Evel IV conflict with only a few medium sized holes punched in the touch armor from when Ork anti-tank infantry got too close. But he learned from that. Lial was raised in the grain processing centers of Valdor’s eastern region and can manage to provide bread for his men in even the toughest situations, perhaps that’s why they keep him.

Captain Gurral Mann, 32nd Mechanized, 6th company
The bastard son of an upper class merchant Captain Mann was sent into officer academy as a means of keeping him out of the public eye and a repayment for Nathaniel Lyon leaving Mann’s mother alone in the slums of the industrial districts. Due to some strange coincidence two of Lyon’s youngest sons and his eldest were also interred in the academy and the younger brothers became close friends with their half-brother. Lyon’s eldest son was given command of the 32nd Mechanized when the banner was decreed ready to be rejuvenated and he leads it with the same bloody single-mindedness as its previous commanders. One of Mann’s half brothers was ordered to hold in a rearguard during the regimental withdrawal from Ork armored units during the summer offensive on Banna-Evel IV and was killed. Neither Gurral nor his half-brother Jerman Lyon, Captain of 3rd company, have forgiven the Colonel for that.


Fennari

Trustee Heza Luroson, 59th Rifles, 4th company, 7th platoon, 6th squad
A yeoman on the estates of Knight-Commander Dorian’s father, he was levied and placed in charge of a squad due to his blind obedience rather than actual skill. He is a jovial man, better fed than his comrades, though he rarely sees it as that. Luroson relishes his station above his fellow men.

Squire Lorran Kell, 131st Rifles, 5th company, 2nd platoon
Youngest son of a vassal of Baron Pryan Kell was called to serve in the 131st and given command of a platoon of serfs from his father’s fief. He has come to realized over the years of fighting with them that they are not merely filth to be thrown into the flames of battle but living vessels of his home world left long behind. With each death he feels Fenn growing more and more distant.

Knight-Captain Jurmal Kare, 291st Mounted, 2nd company
Middle son of a fief-lord on Fenn he was called up to serve in the 291st mounted with many of the illegitimate sons and high class peasants of the fief. He has long heard the rumors that Fennari regiments do not last long in combat and is eager to win some glory for himself, the regiment, his father, and his planet.


Man-at-Arms Vuron Menson, 72nd Rifles, 2nd company, 8th platoon, 2nd squad
Formerly a serf on the estates of Knight-Commander Luthor’s father. When the Imperium demanded its tithe the Baron Luthor detailed his youngest sons and vast levies from the peasant populations to take up the banner of their father and lord, the illustrious glory of the 72nd. Menson is loyal to the Knight-Commander and the God-Emperor with every ounce of his being, he (and most others of the regiment) regularly pray to the God-Emperor knowing that their path in the Imperial Guard is simply one of His tests to see if they are worthy of salvation at the God-Emperor’s Table. Menson is a stout stoic man, who regularly quotes the Litanies of Faith and the Book of Sebastian Thor.



Non-Guardsmen

Lord Commissar Ora Burrazi, 3rd Lunda Penal Legion, Commanding officer
A cold man, Burrazi was trained in the Schola Progenium and has lived his life serving the God-Emperor on numerous warfronts. Though he lives a hard lifestyle he does not enjoy killing his own men, preferring to enforce discipline through the cane and rod, saving execution only for the harshest of crimes. The penal soldiers under his command are freshly conscripted from the jails and prisons of Lunda.


Marshal Verno Plass, staff officer to General Hez of the Lunda PDF and Milita units
A quiet man who watches and listens, often making hushed suggestions in the aged general’s ear when the old man seems to forget exactly where he is an what he should be doing.

Kerandi Munna, aide to Governor Henzina
An upper class aristocrat Munna advises the Governor on matters concerning the economy and occasionally the Henzina’s poor choice in women.



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