Post by Admin on Aug 31, 2009 1:19:30 GMT -6
- Chapter Master - The head of the Chapter. Considered the greatest fighter, tactician and dedicated member of a Adeptus Astartes Chapter. The leader of the Chapter is replaced whenever he falls in combat with the next in line. Like Captains, many are potent Psykers and deadly warriors. In most cases the Chapter has a signature weapon that is passed down from Marine to Marine upon death. Chapter Masters have unrestricted access to the armories and never hesitate to arm themselves with the finest weaponry.
The Chapter Master of the Dark Hunters Chapter is reputed for carrying a double sided power ax into battle. This weapon was forged by the Founder of the Chapter and is capable of even breaking through tank armor. Incredibly powerful the weapon has seen over three centuries of combat. - Captain - Often leading entire Companies of Space Marines. A Captain is a rank many pursue. Experienced in all forms of warfare and a veteran of over three decades of warfare. A Captain will typically use the most deadly of weaponry and lead his men from the front. Some Captains are even capable Psykers. Able to vanquish entire squads or vehicles at a gesture. The Captains typically make up the entire officer Cadre. Just a small amount of them will take charge of a planet-wide strike of Adeptus Astartes.
Some Captains have the highly praised Crus Terminatus and as a result take Terminator armor. Those who don’t usually carry the honourary medal on their person. Those Captains who are killed in combat are often placed in Dreadnought armor in order to keep their valued presence in the Chapter. Though this is significantly rarer with the Dark Hunters Chapter.
((These ranks are more symbolic professions. Sometimes on par with Captain and sometimes not.)) - Librarian - Librarians are extremely gifted individuals who serve the Chapter by unleashing the powers of the warp for the services of the Imperium. Even without a proper weapon a Librarian can overturn a battle with a single thought or motion. Unfortunately they can suffer the same fate as any other Psyker. This can be anything from succumbing to a complete possession from a warp spawn or destroying their bodies entirely. Many are plucked from the numerous members of the Scholastlia Psykana for their promise but only a handful ever to survive to become Librarians of a Chapter.
Serving the battle field role of Psyker, advisor and sometimes commander at Librarian’s duties only begin there. Their job is to also record the deeds of individual Space Marines and their other accomplishments. - Chaplain - The religious leaders of the Space Marines. Every company comes attached with a dedicated member of the Ecclesiarch. These men are responsible for keeping the Chapter loyal to the Emperor and upholding his word. Along with that responsibility are performing the rites of initiation to Neophytes, vindication and leading the chant of battle liturgies when moving into battle. Indeed the Chaplains burden is a heavy one but he has earned his place through numerous tests of corruption, service and dedication to the Emperor.
Each Chaplain comes equipped with a symbol of office known as the Crozius Arcanum. This mace is etched with numerous depictions of battle and has been blessed by numerous holy officials. An item of such power is highly revered by Space Marine and xeno alike. Coupled with the authoritative black armour, skull helmet and numerous rosaries a Chaplain is an object of awe and terror to heretics. Like any other Space Marine in the company a Chaplain may take any sort of equipment from Terminator armour to a bike as long as they have proven capable of such honours. - Sergeant - Those who have seen centuries of combat and witnessed the most horrific of monsters. Sergeants are revered for their tactical experience and ability to think clearly and level headed in the thickest fighting. Few ever achieve the rank of Sergeant, let alone anything above it. To achieve such a rank is difficult and often comes with a heavy price. Sergeants frequently take weapons symbolic of power into battle. Be it powerfists, power weapons, swords or even braving combat without a helmet.
- Veteran Battle-Brother - Those who have seen many a campaign are given the title of Veteran. Many Astartes by this time have decided to branch out into specialisations. Many decide to continue their service as members of regular squads. Using their experience to guide young, less seasoned Astartes in the art of war. Those who had chosen another path however, have become Techmarines, Assault Marines, Apothecaries and a number of other specialisations. Veterans frequently carry weapons they have earned from various campaigns.
- Battle-Brother - Upon achieving the rank of Battle-Brother a member of the Adeptus Astartes is then given power armour. Offering considerable protection from small arms fire and able withstand combat in vacuum. Already imposing with their physical improvements a Space Marine becomes an object of fear amongst the enemy in his power armour. Along with their armour they receive a standard issue bolter. Many of the newly promoted keep their close combat weapons from their previous rank until they are able exchange it with a chainsword.
- Neophyte - Raw recruits who had just completed their genetic augmentation and are quickly shipped to the front. Neophytes are typically used as forward scouts, infiltrators and snipers on the field. This was they can prove themselves resourceful and show their worth to the Chapter. A new recruit in the Adeptus Astartes army is typically very old to the average human. Being well over one hundred years old and still young by Adeptus Astartes standards. Their age is often linked to their extensive training on the Chapter’s home world and the recovery from the numerous adjustments made to their bodies.
note: A Marine may chose to remain in Neophyte scout armour but progress through the ranks as normal. This allows the Marine to maintain his battlefield role as a scout but keep his progression in the ranks normal.
Offshoot Specialisations
Terminator - Gifted only to the finest warriors of the Chapter’s First Company. Terminator armour is both expensive and rare. Those gifted with the armour consider themselves extremely fortunate. Terminator armour is reputably slow, but nigh impenetrable.
Tactical Marine - A 'jack of all trades but master of none' sort of specialisation. Many Marines will continue with this path as it offers a sample of all aspects of being a soldier. This area also makes up the core of most armies. A Tactical Marine is able to progress through the ranks as normal and are the best option in hopes of achieving officer ranks. Some Tactical Marines are able to reach the much respected rank of Honour Guard.
Techmarine -
Honour Guard -
Assault Marine -
Apothacary - The Apothacary is the equivelent of a medic with in the Space Marine ranks. Although the medical training of the Apothacary comes first he is still in extremely strong individual. One of the greatest warriors in the Chapter.
Responsabilities of the Apothacary are preserving the Geneseed of the Chapter. This means removing a certain organ that has been added to another soldier upon initiation and keeping it safe until it may installed into another Marine. The skills of the Apothacary are so advance that they are able to perform battlefield surgery with a good chance of saving the patient. An Apothacary carries a specialised backpack called the Narthecium. Along with this they carry a pistol with can ease the pain of another, dying, soldier.
The symbol of the Apothacary is the prime helix and takes a posistion on the shoulder. (pictured below)
Scout - Many Marines choose to remain in their Neophyte armour. In order to maintain their battlefield role as a scout and be the first into the fight. Marines who stay in this posistion are unable to advance passed the rank of Sergeant. However, they are able to leave this specialisation and move onto other prospects.