| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2003 12:35 pm
Posts: 1259
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Well, there is a lot (I mean a real LOT) of ideas I've got, and I feel that some C&C is needed at last. The part here is the bare bones of an important part of the Chapter's belief system.
For starters, Raven Knights believe that some day the Emperor will be reborn to lead the humanity into a final battle against the forces of Chaos. Thay also believe that on that day, the mightiest warriors that died serving the Emperor shall be raised from the dead to fight alongside him. Of course, all of the Chapter-Brothers strive constantly so that the Emperor may judge them worthy of that honor.
Then, the Chapter has somewhat radically different ideas about technology then most. While they honor it, it is not in their custom to pass armor down the generations. While majority of weapons and equipment are provided by Chapter's armories, it is a duty of each Battle-Brother upon his initiation into that status to construct his own equipment (with a degree of aid from the Techmarines, naturally). Also, it is a custom that their former weapons and armor (recruits are typically recruited from medieval worlds, specifically the local equivalents of chivalry) are melted down and used to cast the components of armor and the sword (a belief that weapon and armor both posess spirits of their own, and thus these spirits should pass onto the marines' new gear).
Another piece of Chapter's custom is that every warrior should posess a sword. The definition though is quite broad, so rapiers, sabers and katanas also qualify. That blade has to be forged by the imnitiate himself as to serve him better in battle, and is tempered in his own blood (well, not in that much of it, obviously) as well as that of his enemies.
If a Marine's sword is somehow broken yet he survives the battle, it is considered a very ill omen and proof that he was considered unworthy by his weapon's spirit. Battle-brothers such afflicted are sent on various missions to regain their "worthiness" and regain the favor of the waepon's spirit. Typical example is finding a mighty warrior of great evil and defeat him, claiming his weapon and destroying it as an offering to the spirit of their old blade. A fistful of metal from that weapon is taken to be used in reforging the warrior's blade anew.
As a final test, each neophyte has to slay a ferocious beast of some type. His old armor and weapons are donned for the last time, and save them he has only his own cunning to serve him. The blood of the defeated beast is used in the tempering process. Orks are a particularly frequent choice for that rite, though other alien species (Tyranid, Kroot and Dark Eldar in particular) have been witnessed, as well as dangerous creatures taken from various deathworlds encountered by Chapter's fleet.
Finally, while other equipment is the property of the Chapter, the Battle-Brothers are considered rightful owners of their armor and the blade. This extends as far as to that they are buried with them, so that if they should be the ones resurrected by the Emperor for the final battle, their weapons and armor will continue to serve them even then.
Yes, I know it's freakish. That's still not the half of it... and the other half includes heavy metal. 
But, is all that rambling of mine viable so far?
_________________ The Fifth Horseman. Quality over quantity.  Realm of the Horseman ? ? The mirror site.
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