Abyssal Jaws

Abyssal Jaws

Battle Cry	We Feed!
Number	Unknown
Founding	Unknown (33rd Millennium)
Successors of	Blood Angels
Successor Chapters	None
Chapter Master	Gustavo
Primarch	Sanguinius
Homeworld	Maresia and Noxyssus
Strength	~3000
Allegiance	Imperium
Colours	Blue and White

The Abyssal Jaws (formerly known as the Abyssal Angels) are another product of fat/tg/uys playing around with the Chapter Creation tables from Rites of Battle. After a lot of dice rolling, the results came in; a Blood Angels successor chapter composed of blood thirsty undersea warriors with a habit of collecting bits of their enemies as trophies. Oh, and they also ride on giant piranhas.

While unlike the Emperor's Nightmare, the Abyssal Jaws quickly managed to get their colour scheme sorted, their heraldry is a subject still discussed to this very day.

Founded in the 33rd Millenium when a lone Administratum clerk found a fragment of the text "Call of Cth-", the High Lords were notified and geneseed of the Blood Angels began being stockpiled for the founding of the Abyssal Jaws. Since its founding the Chapter has made itself known for its vicious tenacity in close range combat and specilation in aquatic enviroments as well as its open disregard for the Codex with its numbers being several times over the stipulated 1,000.

Fluffy bits[edit]

The Abyssal Jaws chapter came into existence during the 33rd Millennium as part of an unknown founding between the fourth and (allegedly) the eighth. The chapter was founded due to the discovery of a fragment of the ancient text known as “The Call of Cth-” by a lone Administratum clerk. After studying the text, the High Lords were informed of the existence of a bizarre, eldritch creature that lurked beneath the waves of the ocean. Repulsed by this knowledge, the High Lords gave the order that geneseed from the Blood Angels should be stockpiled for the foundation of a new chapter to combat this threat. Rumour has it that sometime before the chapter was formed, their geneseed was altered in an attempt to eradicate the Black Rage and Red Thirst, the two genetic curses that plague their parent chapter. Whether or not this act ever succeeded or if it even occurred, the new chapter would soon develop their own curse. And finally, at the height of the 33rd Millennium, the Abyssal Angels were founded.

Just a few years before the Chapter left Terra for the darkness of space, an Adeptus Mechanicus expedition under Magos Explorator Mihaita Akamu and protected by a detachment of Angels Vermilion began the exploration of a mysterious derelict vessel. As their ship approached the derelict, Mihaita realised that this was the Sword of Crimson, a Blood Angels vessel confirmed lost pre-heresy. Searching the ruined ship, the Explorator stumbled upon several hundred suits of MKIII Power Armour, presumably being dispatched to the front lines in some ancient war zone. After much discussion with the Blood Angels over these suits of power armour, it was agreed that they would be given to the newly formed Abyssal Angels, proof that they were blessed by their father chapter.

MKIII “Iron” Power Armour, originally designed for combat in the cramped tunnels of the Squat Worlds, had its frontal armour significantly reinforced, while the rear armour was lessened to compensate for the added weight. Considered to be uncomfortable and clumsy to move in, the armour was deemed unsuitable for convention fighting. However, with its weight significantly reduced while fighting in zero-gravity and oceanic environments, the MKIII Power Armour quickly became the signature suit of choice for the chapter. However, as the years wore on and marines fell in battle, their armour often damaged beyond repair the chapter began to mix and match the various types of power armour at their disposal in an attempt to get the best results they could from the surviving suits. It became common to see a marine wearing an assortment of parts from Aquila, Corvus, Iron and Maximus power armour. To this very day, the Abyssal Jaws prize these suits of power armour and are forever trying to get their hands on more of them.

The first challenge for the chapter would be to discover the location of the mysterious being known only as “Cth” and then terminating it. While seemingly a simple challenge on paper, the oceans of Terra had long since faded into history and there were countless worlds in existence with vast oceans to search. The chapter was given its own fleet and sent on its crusade, no-one knowing if they would ever find this creature and destroy it before it could pose a threat to the Imperium of Man. The following two thousand years would become known to the Abyssal Jaws as “The Search for the Forbidden City.”

The chapter known then as the Abyssal Angels was a far cry from what it would eventually become. While not the strictest followers of the Codex Astartes, their organisation was practically identical to that of their parent chapter. During these early centuries the chapter even contained Sanguinary Guards, a unit which would later disappear from the chapter, along with much of their Blood Angel heritage. As a result of their crusade the chapter spent much of their time fighting on either oceanic worlds, or as part of boarding actions against enemy vessels. After just a thousand years it became apparent that the chapter had become a specialised military force. This was perhaps their first obvious deviation from the Codex Astartes, which teaches chapters to be the perfect soldiers for any situation.

It was drawing close to the end of the second millennia of the Abyssal Angels crusade when the ruins were discovered under the waves of Maresia. The puritan inquisitor Mergranto, in the pursuit of a radical colleague known as Viamora Marcelle, had broken into the quarters of his fellow inquisitor. What he found there horrified him: forbidden texts and tomes, sinister relics of unknown origin and the journal of Marcelle herself. Reading through this journal , inquisitor Mergranto learnt of Marcelle's discovery of an ancient set of ruins at the bottom of the oceanic world of Maresia and how she had ventured with her retinue to explore them. What she found there she did not write, only describing a great evil that threatened the very existence of the Imperium itself.

The Abyssal Angels eventually received word from inquisitor Mergranto about the discovery and how he believed whatever lurked on Maresia to be the namesake of “The Call of Cth”. At the time, the chapter was fighting alongside the Venerators against the Apostles of MinthRas on Maraton II. Hearing this news, the chapter immediately agreed to withdraw from the current conflict and head directly to the Moenia Silicis Sector. Leaving two companies to assist the Venerators while they waited for another chapter to reinforce them, the Abyssal Angels immediately set sail for Maresia.

More to be added.

Organisation[edit]

As a chapter whose emphasis on personal merit and ability rivals that of the Space Wolves, the Abyssal Jaws have altered their structure accordingly. Reasoning that the relatively small size of a chapter makes the reliance on a strict command structure unnecessary, at best. Instead, they organize themselves into three rough categories: Neophyte (Scout), Brother, and Veteran. Scouts and Veterans (including but not limited to Sternguard, Vanguard, and Terminator) belong to the only permanent "companies," the Veterans being commanded directly by the Chapter Master and the Neophytes by the Guardian (effectively the chapter's second in command). The rest of the chapter's marines are drawn up into squads, whose sergeants have more or less the final word one when and where they will fight (indeed, competition for placement in a campaign is often so fierce that miniature tournaments of skill between rival squads are regularly used to solve all manner of dispute).

Captains, appointed by the Black Priests and the Chapter Master as merit or need require, are given temporary command of a vessel or vessels and a number of squads the chapter command deems necessary to accomplish particular objectives. Though technically the only marines permanently under their control are their own honour guard, it is common for Captains and Sergeants with strong bonds of friendship and loyalty to be grouped together in informal companies. Most Captains can always rely on a cadre of at least five or six sergeants (and their constituent marines) of whom they have fought side by side with on a number of occasions. That being said, around half of the chapter's strength routinely gets 'shuffled' between various captains and campaigns.

Crunchy bits[edit]

Chapter History: 33rd Millennium Founding
Chapter Progenitor: Blood Angels
Chapter Purpose: Strategic Prognostication
Stat Bonuses: +5 Strength, +5 Perception
Gene-Seed Purity: Flawed
Chapter Flaw: Pride in the Colors

Figure of Legend: Chief Librarian
Deeds of Legend: Chief Librarian lost in the Warp

Number of Worlds: Two
Homeworld Type: Hive and Uninhabited
Homeworld Terrain: Ocean (hive world, Maresia) and Temperate (uninhabited swampy death world, Noxyssus)
Homeworld Relationship: Stewardship

Codex Organization: Divergent
Combat Doctrine: Close Combat
Solo Mode Ability: Pick 2 skills, rank 1 reroll failed tests. Rank 4, add 10 to them. Rank 8, add degree of success.
Squad Attack: Tactical Finesse
Squad Defense: Knowledge is Power
Special Equipment: Bestial Companion (Alligator-Piranha sea monster)
Belief: Death Cult
Current Status: Over Strength
Chapter Ally: Imperial Guard (Maresia Sea-Guard)
Chapter Enemy: some Chaos Space Marines warband/legion
Battle Cry: "THE JAWS OF ABYSS SHALL CLAIM ALL ENEMIES OF MAN!"
Advance Table: Behold Our Wrath

Gallery[edit]

The first attempt at a chapter symbol for the abyssal jaws.
The proposal for the new chapter symbol. Note the goatse.
The new chapter symbol Mark I.
The chapter symbol Mark II, now with more blood and less goatse.
The original proposed colour scheme of the chapter.
A marine's face, decorated with face paint.
Brother Carmel, who fought in the battle of Fendahl. Note the Corvus helmet.
Terminator Brother Emilio Taonga, who fell in battle during the Massacre of Newfoundworld.
This Battle Brother proves that sometimes even Abyssal Jaws will use chainswords.
An Abyssal Jaw marine, riding on an example of the exotic wildlife on Maresia.
We're watching you scum.
THE JAWS OF ABYSS SHALL CLAIM ALL ENEMIES OF MAN!
The Abyssal Jaws consider even the lowliest guardsmen to be their brothers.