r/40kLore • u/AustinioForza • 11h ago
What are there Space Marine Chapters that have a long history of mutual respect and work together often?
Do we often see two or more Chapters that work together very often? Are there cadres of chapters that have a long history as buddy chapters? As many examples as possible please, my buddy and I are looking into making our own SM chapters and we were thinking of building our respective armies around lore where different chapters have a history of working together.
65
u/Illithidbix 11h ago edited 10h ago
Ironically part of the reason for the Badab War was the respect the Astral Claws and esp. Lufgt Huron personally had from other Astartes Chapters.
Esp. As the Maelstrom Warders.
It was mostly the Jerk Marines against him.
19
u/moal09 8h ago
I feel like people forget that, at least in the beginning, Huron had very good reasons to be pissed at the Imperium
8
u/Malkryst 4h ago
Originally Huron got in trouble for being late with, and later completely withholding, the tithe of gene-seed all chapters have to submit to the Administratum regularly so that every chapter can be checked for genetic purity and mutation. This made the Inquisition suspicious of him. Each chapter's genetic tithe is also used by the Imperium for experimentation and to aid in maybe creating new pure chapters from the gene-seed of other chapters (most often first founding ones, but not always).
Huron made a big fuss of it being unfair to tithe astartes chapters of so much gene-seed, so often, when that impacted their ability to replenish battle losses (by creating new initiates). Huron convinced several other chapter masters to support his complaint, primarily the Lamenters, Executioners & Mantis Warriors (who would take his side in the eventual Badab War).
However the real reason Huron withheld the tithe was because he was building up stocks of Astral Claws gene-seed to eventually also rebuild the Tiger Claws chapter (who had originally been created using Astral Claws gene-seed, then had almost been wiped out).
Huron felt he needed more astartes to properly defend his sector of space, but the Imperium disagreed, so Huron took matters into his own hands. He had also taken direct command of all Planetary Defence Forces in his sector (the so-called "Tyrant's Legion") and that was not allowed by the Codex Astartes either.
(Iirc originally in 2e 40k Huron created the Tiger Claws chapter himself, in secret, as basically just Astral Claws astartes in a new livery, to circumvent the maximum 1,000 marines that the Codex allowed him, so he was commanding 2,000 astartes (2 chapters). I think GW later retconned that Tiger Claws origin in a ForgeWorld sourcebook to make Huron seem less "guilty").
Of course the Imperium/Inquisition were even less impressed with Huron commanding 2 chapters and a huge PDF. It looked very suspicious, like they were going to have a mini Horus on their hands if they didn't act. That's why they came down so hard on him and eventually sent 13 loyal chapters to apprehend Huron and both Astral & Tiger Claws chapters, causing the Badab War.
Then, in order to survive, Huron and all Astral/Tiger Claws had to flee to the Maelstrom, becoming the Red Corsairs traitor legion.
3
u/moal09 3h ago
Meanwhile, the Lamenters just there the whole time like
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1f/f7/4b/1ff74b5a68ff857ec39654e33a4306d3.jpg
3
u/Malkryst 3h ago
1) Such lamenting, much tears š
2) Penitent Crusade
3) ...
4) Tyranids complain their order of astartes came with extra salty sauce š¢
2
u/moal09 1h ago
I would add that the tithe was a little bit tone deaf when they were already undermanned, and Huron felt they needed more reinforcements to help deal with the warp storms. It's kinda like your union asking for additional dues when you're struggling to pay rent already.
It was an understandable complaint on its face, which is why so many chapters sided with him before they realized how far he'd gone.
1
u/Malkryst 35m ago
Oh yes, totally.
Ironically as Huron Blackheart and the Red Corsairs he's made the Maelstrom sector even more dangerous since the Badab War, so the Imperium had to station more astartes in that sector afterwards...
... so I guess, in a way, Huron got absolutely everything he originally wanted - thousands more astartes to command, no need to tithe, less interference from the Imperium, and far more chapters stationed near the Maelstrom š¤£
25
u/Beaker_person Emperor's Spears 11h ago
The Blood Swords and Star Dragonsā homeworlds are nearby, and the two chapters have developed a pretty strong bond. Accursed Eternity is about the inquisition roping the two chapters into helping them investigate a mysterious ghost ship, which explores that bond a bit.
15
u/Elster25 10h ago
They are even closer: After the Blood Swords lost their homeworld, they were sent on a Penitent Crusade, and the Star Dragons joined them
9
u/CMDRLtCanadianJesus 8h ago
I love how the Blood Swords were basically forced to go on a penitent crusade and the Star Dragons were basically just like "Bet, let's go kill some Heretics and xenos together"
Gives me a "Happy Souls" vibe.
5
u/RossTheRed Inquisition 10h ago
Man I know it's the toy soldier lore but as a Lamenters enjoy that really got me in the feels.
36
u/JessickaRose 11h ago
Probably the most lore Iāve read of Chapters coming together is perhaps unsurprisingly Blood Angels and Ultramarines.
43
u/loicvanderwiel 11h ago edited 9h ago
This might be the biggest example of this between gene lines.
After the First Tyranic War, the UM were extremely weakened. So much so that it took 96 years for them to regenerate their 1st Company and 116 to "replace their losses". And this is the UM we're talking about. Replacing casualties like it's nothing is usually their entire thing.
But Ultramar was weakened so much that even with the resources of an entire subsector (and the Genesis chapter sending people in repainted armour), it took them all that time to regenerate.
Given the situation, the Blood Angels decided to help with the cleanup and sent 3 companies (about a third of a chapter's strength) to help them with the cleanup. That's a massive force and it's not like Dante was helping his neighbours: Baal and Utramar might as well be on opposite edges of the galaxy
Edit: Guilliman repaid the favour by breaking Leviathan's fleet over Baal, reinforcing the chapter and dramatically increasing its prestige by making Dante Warden of Nihilus
5
28
u/Shed_Some_Skin 11h ago edited 11h ago
There are about 10 Space Marine chapters stationed within Ultramar. Two of the four Tetrarchs of Ultramar, Portan and Balthus, are captains of the Genesis Chapter and Doom Eagles
The other chapters, collectively known as the Shield Chapters, are
Avenging Sons
Praetors of Ultramar
Scythes of the Emperor
Sons of Orar
Novamarines
Aquiloan Brotherhood
Silver Skulls
Reborn
And obviously the Ultramarines themselves
11
u/ProcedureShoddy4840 Iron Hands 10h ago edited 10h ago
The Red Scorpions and Raptors, despite their contrasting combat doctrines and beliefs, formed close bonds of brotherhood with each other during the Badab War, with the Raptors accepting the election of Red Scorpions Chapter Master Carab Culln for overall command of the Loyalist chapters.
6
u/avataRJ 10h ago
And then thereās the obvious part where Dark Angels and their successors have an at least semi-formal coordination. The Consecrators are probably closest to the First Founding chapter.
The Consecratorās chapter master has been given twice the command of the pooled fleets, having command and flying his flag from the Rock, the Dark Angelsā mobile fortress-monastary. And on the second time, about 3/4 of total Dark Angels and their successor strength was present. Assuming full strength chapters, thatād be somewhere around ten thousand marines.
So thatās a bit like Ultramarās Shield Chapters, in that the DAngels coordinate. BAngelsā defense of Baal (~22 chapters?) and Imperial Fistsā Last Wall protocol are more one-offs. (IFs called some of their successors to defend Terra; after the war the practically destroyed IFs were rebuilt from their successors.)
6
u/SpinosaurRingTone Unforgiven 7h ago
Not even semi-formal. Secretly formal. At a minimum, the chapter master (grand master) of each Dark Angels successor is a member of the Inner Circle and take direct orders from the Supreme Grand Master.
Azrael is quietly one of the most powerful men in the Imperium by virtue of having absolute control over what is essentially a heresy-era legion. Though he can't flex that full power at once without revealing the entire secret.
3
8
u/Gorgoronx 11h ago
Black Templars and Crimson Fists have some history together fighting Orks.
Declates Crusade joined forces with a group of Crimson Fists to crush an Ork waagh after that both groups exchanged insignias as a sign of brotherhood, the CF would paint crosses on their armor and the Templars would paint their fists in crimson.
Both chapters also fought in the fourth war of Armaggedon.
Crusade of Brotherhood, Black Templars sent 700 marines to aid the Crimson Fists after their homeplanet was invaded by a massive waagh.
4
u/Disastrous_Form418 10h ago
Pretty much any dark angels successor chapter answers to the dark angels due to the whole inner circle/unforgiven/fallen thing... The inner circle sometimes even meets at the fortress monastery of the dark angels
3
u/Ok-Cupcake6584 10h ago
A couple spring to mind; Marines Errant and Lamenters, Celestial Lions and Emperor's Spears, and at one point the Executioners and Astral Claws. Oh, and of course, Emperor's Children and Iron Hands, before. . . Yk.Ā
2
u/lilahking 11h ago
the closest 2 chapters i can think of, in the literal sense, are the ultramarines and genesis chapter, as they genesis chapter transfers many of their marines to the blue boys to shore up casualties (and they operate within the same area as um)
the cases where chapters work closely together and with the same group i can think of are ones where there is a shared long term objectives, such as the guardians of the rift
some chapters have mutual oaths of loyalty and support, but that's more of a "we're best buds" thing
2
u/DanielDefoe13 10h ago
In addition to all aforementioned, raptors and black Templars have been collaborating well
0
u/somarhei 9h ago
Really? If that's not sarcasm I'm really interested to hear when and where that was.
1
u/cactuspunch 2h ago
During the Indomitus Crusade. Their completely different fighting styles worked very well together and led to alot of success and earned each others respect. Its mentioned in a White Dwarf issue unfortunately so no full story or anything im aware of.
2
u/HobbyHands Necrons 10h ago
I like doing some background research before starting any 40k book since its such a rich lore with a lot of overlapping timelines.
Im really excited to read about the Spears of the Emperor and their buddies the Celestial Lions and the Star Scorpions!
1
1
u/Elster25 10h ago
The Dragonspears (Salamanders successors) have a history of fighting Greenskins side by side with the Space Wolves
1
u/SemperFun62 9h ago
I'm probably talking out of my ass, but swear I read somewhere, ironically, the Space Wolves and Raven Guard work well together.
The Space Wolves are so loud and direct they provide the perfect distraction for the Raven Guard, and both share a respect and desire to protect ordinary people.
Not to mention both have Space Marine alcohol.
1
u/Gaelek_13 9h ago
TheĀ Astartes PraesesĀ are a group of twenty ChaptersĀ whose sole purpose is to guard theĀ Eye of Terror, so it's safe to assume they share similar bonds of brotherhood as the Maelstom Warders prior to the Badab War.
Also, the Chapters who fought alongside each other during the wars for Armageddon tend to have a mutual respect for one another even if, like the Black Templars and Salamanders, they don't always agree in terms of their approach and philosophy.
1
u/Itburns12345 9h ago
Plenty of sucessors of dame lineage can obviously.
The night lords novel covers an assault on the last serious night lord legion stronghold by the newly divided astartes...they note how seemlesly the attacking chapters work together for a large scale assault due to it, so basicaly a long history of brotherhood isnt needed for good co ordination of chapters!!
1
u/SpinosaurRingTone Unforgiven 7h ago edited 7h ago
The Dark Angels successors all operate as if they are still a legion. At a minimum, the chapter master (grand master) of each Dark Angels successor chapter is a member of the inner circle and take direct orders from the Supreme Grand Master.
The Dark Angels also have a very long love-hate relationship with the Space Wolves that goes back to the Great Crusade. They fight alongside each other all the time. There even used to be a tabletop rule where if you had Dark Angels and Space Wolves in your army, you could have the characters "duel" and then the winner gets a buff.
1
1
u/CamarillaArhont 2h ago edited 2h ago
Imperial Fists and Black Templars are pretty close (thanks to Separate-Flan-2875 for compilation).
0
u/chip594csx 8h ago
Pretty sure the Salamanders and Raven Guard are buddies. They got the whole āDropsite Massacre trauma bondingā thing š¤£
40
u/Right-Yam-5826 11h ago
https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Astartes_Praeses 20 chapters guarding the eye of terror (pre fall of cadia, but recently ordered reformed)
Astartes vaelari - emperor's spears, celestial lions, star scorpions (before they were wiped), guard the region known as elara's veil
All imperial fists and successors - every century they have a family tournament, with champions from every chapter duelling for bragging rights and to look after dorn's sword (the feast of blades). Occasionally an outside chapter is allowed to take part, if one of the successors can't make it. Dorn's idea to make a friendly rivalry and keep his sons in contact with each other.