Adeptus Astartes

The Religious Order of Rathess, the Adeptus Astartes is a combination of the Dragon King defenders and their human allies. It is designed to be an equal rights organization where Humans mixes with Dragon Kings readily. They are holy warriors of Unconquered Sun, anointed in his temple and sanctified by his Chosen (Enlightend via Charm).

• As of right now the Astartes only have human members, but in time they will have Dragon King recruits as well.
• The Dragon Kings are given Obsidian Sheath as Armor and Shock Gauntlets as sidearms. They will also be armed with various magical weapons available in Rathess.
• Humans are all Enlightened Mortals given Gunshosa Commando Armor and Magical Weapons from the Herenthid Find.
• They are Eclipse Oath Bound to serve and protect Rathess and formed based on the Number of Cardinal Directions, 4.
• Each Astartes are given Healing Orchid, Green Eyes, Breather Plants, and Aegis-Insert Amulets.
• They are also given the Rathess power conduit Implant. Granting them +4 to Essence Pool, and regains additional 2 motes of Essence per hours as long as they are in range of the Rathess (and only Rathess) Essence Grid.
• Their weapons are socketed with Rathess Power Crystal to lessen their commitment costs. It lowers the attunement cost of the socketed item by 5 to a minimum of 1. Obviously this only works with items that has Hearthstone sockets and only when in range of a Essence Grid that is compatible with First Age Technology.
• The 48 Adeptus Astartes has been trained by Dace with Tiger Warrior Training Technique for 3 months. Raising their Drill to 5, Valor, Strength, Dexterity, Stamina, Melee, Archery all to 4. This combined with their First Age equipment makes them one of the deadliest non-exalt combat forces in Creation.

 

While individually loyal to Rathess the Adeptus Astartes, due to the heterogeneous nature of their founding members, has formed into 3 major factions. This division will continue through their various expansions and enlargements and will form the core of their inner conflicts.

 

First Faithfuls (Hastha-sth Lodge)

Leader: Lumusi, Princess of the Stalking Panthers and Takkihitai Tribe

The Hastha-sth Lodge is more commonly referred to as the Talis Faction for their close association with the War Captain’s Chief Advisor the Scavenger Lord Talis. The lodge’s rightful title however is that of the “First Faithfuls”. They are the elevated members of the Northern Stalking Panther Tribe and the Takkihitai Tribe. The title is their right because the Adeptus Astartes were originally formed as a way to reward these tribesmen for their generational dedication to the Unconquered Sun and Rathess. They were the first to obey the Sun Lords when they returned to Rathess and have been staunchest defender of Rathess from ancestor to descendents. They first served Filial Wisdom when he arrived in Rathess and suffered bitterly as the mobs extracted their revenge after Filial Wisdom’s fall. It was Talis who turned their pain at the Sun Lord’s betrayl into motivation and showed them that compassion is the teaching of the Unconquered Sun. Overtime they have come to realize the wisdom of the War Captain and this total dedication to the way of the Unconquered Sun earns them the favor of Gladrien and Hastha-Sth and formed the core of the Adeptus Astarte’s Codex.

The Hastha-sth lodge is the purest in virtue and honor of all Astartes Lodges and thus the most favored. Their tribes hold almost all leadership positions. They are also the most correct in their belief, holding to the old ways and not seduced by mere power. They believe the Dragon Kings are the rightful masters of Rathess. The Sun Lords with all their glory and acclaim are guests of the First City.

 

Sun Lord Faction, The (Thunderer Lodge)

Leader: Tamati, War Chief of the Rainbow Marsh Tribes

The Sun Lord Faction is by far the largest faction of the Adeptus Astartes. They believe that the Adaptus Astartes serves the Unconquered Sun through Rathess. In the same token their duty is to serve the Sun Lords for they are the chosen of the Unconquered Sun. The Dragon Kings are judged to be lesser beings in the Unconquered Sun pantheon and thus are merely keepers and janitors of Rathess and not its masters.

The Sun Lords Faction, as their name indicates, obeys Sun Lords above all other beings – save the Unconquered Sun. They consider the Hastha-sth Lodge delusional if not all together Blasphemous. Unfortunately with their indulgence by Gladrien Vanja, Thunder God Aata and most of all War Captain Balan, the Hastha-sth Lodge holds almost all the power, both in Rathess at large and within the Adaptus Astartes.

The Sun Lord Faction grates their teeth questioning in silence why their faithfulness and devotion has not yet been noticed or rewarded by their Supreme Masters. This greed or perhaps inner pride will one day be their fall.

 

Servants of our Fair Lady

Leader: Lachie and Muir, Handmaidens of Gladrien Vanja

This is the smallest faction but also the most vital. They are the secret worshippers of the Solar Gladrien Vanja, who will one day be granted her rightful title as “Queen Gladrien Vanja Merala of Ochre Fountain, Queen of Solars and Mistress of Rathess.” While dedicated and true to the teachings of the Unconquered Sun they are also apostates for they are, without any doubt, a Solar Cult.

Gladrien traveled without disguse from the Hundred Kingdoms towards Rathess. She vanquished many evils and rescued many people. Some reviled her as Anathema, but some followed her south. Many quit half way when confronted with the dangers of the Jungles of the East, but an elite few struggled on. These collection of people arrived in Rathess weeks after their mistress. While most are not particularly skilled when compared to the tribals of Rathess they are dramatically more civilized and educated.

Thus this small group is the most heavily utilized by the Dragon Kings. The tribe’s children also receive the best schooling by their proximity to Gladrien Vanja and the Dragon Kings.

The Servants of our Fair Lady cares not for the politicking of Rathess, to them to live is to serve their beautiful Lady. They worship the Unconquered Sun not because they have faith, but because their fair lady does. Their Lady has decreed that she is a guest of Rathess and it is the will of her god that Dragon Kings reclaim their City and so the Servants obey. Thus they are closely aligned with Hastha-sth Lodge, and support the Dragon Kings unfalteringly. In the years to come they would come to dominate the political structures of Rathess, sharing military control with the Hastha-sth Lodge. This staunch alliance will pushes the Sun Lord Faction further and further along the road to Apostasy.