Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Naganubhratra (Space Marine Chapter)

I'm not super-duper into 40k. I've played some of the PC games and own a few of the Fantasy Flight Games RPGs (haven't tried them yet though). But the universe is an interesting exercise in over-the-top dystopian ridiculousness. So sometimes I get a cute idea for it.

Please, do not be offended by any of the following butchery of Sanskrit or the totally awesome history and culture of the Indian subcontinent.


Naganubhratra = "The younger brothers of Nagas" (Sanskrit) 
  • Salamander successor chapter = Deep blue skin color, indigo to midnight blue. Intermediate shade between Vulkan and popular depictions of Krishna. 
    • If this rubs your canon the wrong way, make them an Ultramarine sucessor chapter, like most everyone else canonically. 
  • 3rd eye symbol on helmet with attached Auspex. 
    • IR sensor for most battle-brothers.
    • Miniaturized psychic hood for the Chief Librarian/ Rajayogi.
  • Untouchables on homeworld are used as spare parts supplies for servitors and similar cybernetic constructs. GRIMDARK! 
  • Becoming a Space Marine, having psychic powers manifest, or being interred in a Dreadnought counts as a "reincarnation" on the Dharmic wheel, with subsequent birth/childhood-related ceremonies, including renaming. The previous name is kept as what we would call a middle name, sort of like being named for a deceased grandparent. 
  • See Emperor as somewhere in between Vishnu and Shiva. Local permutation of the Imperial Cult tolerated but monitored by Ecclesiarchy for signs of polytheism or pantheism.  
  • Battle-brothers are considered to be "Kshatriyas" except for Chaplains/Psykers, who are "Brahmin."
  • Doctrine = Guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines, exotic weapon mastery, tropical environments. 
    • Orbital insertion through Drop Pods (if carrying logistical supplies to pro-Imperium resistance groups) or heavy-duty Grav Chutes.
    • Armor on Assault Marines and Veteran squads has retractable blades for close combat. Katars! Katars on the Knees! Katars on the elbows! Katars on the feet! HOOYAH! 
  • Wargear: Swords, Round Shields, Maces, Daggers
  • Devastator squads are for those who are concerned about their purity, and thus disdain shorter-ranged Melta Weapons.
  • Similarly, Terminators eschew close combat, due to their enlightened state achieved after centuries of conflict, training, and meditation. The exception would be those armed with Polearms, typically Power Spears, which allow some distance from the touch of the impure. 
  • In contrast, Scout training features a greater emphasis on close combat - both stealth kills and a wild, leaping style of dueling with peculiar weapons. (Urumi swords are the most insane real weapon ever. Seriously. Watch an Urumi demonstration on YouTube.)
  • Archery training is frequent for Naganubhratra, and members of this chapter can kill mighty beasts with just a bow and arrow (albeit using bows large enough for a Space Marine). 
  • Parade armor is half deep saffron, half green, split diagonally from left pauldron to right hip (like a sash), leaving the helmet saffron and legs green. 
    • Battle-brothers deemed more pure (particularly devastators and terminators) are allowed to add increasing amounts of white trim to their wargear.
    • Scouts and Assault Marines usually incorporate various shades of their official colors into camouflage patterns, particularly stripes. (Because Tigers, that's why!)

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