Abyssal Jaws

The following article/section concerns a /tg/-related Homebrew project.
Prepare for varying degrees of awesome and autism.

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.

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 Gene-seed 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 specialisation in aquatic environments 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 Gene-seed 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 Gene-seed 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.

Friends and Foes[edit]

The Abyssal Jaws are undoubtedly one of the more controversial chapters in the Imperium. While they're undeniably loyal to the emperor and have proven to be hugely popular among many of those they have fought alongside, their disregard for the Codex Astartes is almost infamous. The trophy taking and cannibalistic rituals of the chapter are considered savage at best, heretical at worst. Then there is the issue of their charge; guarding the ancient tombs that lurk beneath the waves of Maresia. While most would deny it, pointing to the chapters formidable combat record and obvious loyalty to the Imperium, some Inquisitors fear that the Old One has been influencing the chapter from its lair, altering the Abyssal Jaws for its own perverse purposes.

As a result of this, the chapter has found itself with a large number of firm friends and allies, as well as bitter rivals and hated foes. Listed here are some of those friends and foes.

Tzeentch[edit]

"The dreaming dead sleep here in watery prison. Its power will be ours."

Alpha Legion[edit]

Inscrutable plot to bring down the Imperium as usual with a dash of a bid for eldritch power.

Ivory Huntsmen[edit]

"Maresia is a hunt like no other. It has beasts of the sea that can swallow a Thunderhawk whole! It has mutant monstrosities that cannot be seen by the eye! It has space marines that swarm like maddened fish in a feeding frenzy! This will truly be a hunt to remember!"

Word Bearers[edit]

"There is a presence here, a dread presence from aeons pasts from a time when the Dark Pantheon was but a spark in the warp. This is our history, and we must return it to its rightful owners."

Craftworld Eldar[edit]

"Humans are unfit to be the gatekeepers of the Mad One. They must be driven from the world before their ignorance is our undoing."

Dark Eldar[edit]

"There's no feeling quite like sea breeze in your hair and the sun on your back as you rip across the waves at breakneck speeds on a skimmer as you take plunder and slaves from feeble apes. Fishing's good too."

The Inquisition[edit]

Istvaanians[edit]

View of the Abyssal Jaws: The Istvaanians in [SECTOR REDACTED] hold the Abyssal Jaws and the people of Maresia in high regard. For their society embodies the principle of "strength through trial" with its elevation of combativeness and willingness to root out weakness. The high caliber of the Abyssal Jaws and Sea-Guard is an often used example by Istvaanians that their methods hold true.

Long term goals on Maresia: The majority of the warmongers see Maresia as a glowing beacon of trials and tribulations, an inspiration as they work to bring cataclysms and ruination on other soft-bellied worlds of [SECTOR REDACTED]. However a splinter group of Istvaanians mainly from Ordo Malleus and Hereticus see that unleashing a great elder beast would indeed be a direly needed steel-bath for [SECTOR REDACTED].

Current activity on Maresia: The powerful Inquisitor Thargrym Odarsan spearheads an effort by "mainline" Istvaanians to ward the Abyssal Jaws from undue inquisitorial attentions. Assassinations and dire threats elsewhere are the primary tools of these shadowy guardians. The splinter group hunts the grimy deeps of Hive Vísceras for knowledge that will root ones soul. The fact that the infiltrat-clones sent to the Old One-cults return marred with mutations of eldritch pattern and horrid promise merely drives the conspirators on.

Recongregators[edit]

View of the Abyssal Jaws: The Recongregator faction has a hard time forming a lasting consensus on the Abyssal Jaws. On the one hand, the Abyssal Jaws are an old chapter that ruled Maresia for many millennia, as such they are but another institution that must fall before the wave of change lest all humanity drown in the maelstrom of decay. But on the other hand the Abyssal Jaws are a highly unorthodox chapter that exists on the fringe of the imperial administration, as such they have the potential to be allies in the war against sterility and stagnation.

Long term goals on Maresia: There is a plot that has been brewing amongst the Recongregators of [SECTOR REDACTED]. By cunning use of moles and infiltrations going back hundreds of years the Sector Governor Mr. Z* has become fearful of the Abyssal Jaws undue independence. Soon Mr. Z will clampdown on freedoms of the chapter by barring them transport on Navy ships and other similar actions. In response to this affront the Abyssal Jaws will rebel, ending both the rule of Mr. Z and themselves thanks to the Imperial response. The martyrdom of the Abyssal Jaws shall then in turn sow dissent amongst other space marines.

Current activity on Maresia: Recongregator actions on Maresia is focused on preparing for the coming rebellion and setting up distraction "smoke-screens".

Xanthites[edit]

View of the Abyssal Jaws: Inquisitors belonging to the Xanthites view the Abyssal Jaws as a boon. The chapter keeps the Old One locked in the depths of Maresia. That fits the Xanthites of [SECTOR REDACTED] just fine, for they do not yet understand this elder beats and what they do not understand they can not wield against the enemies of man. Meanwhile Xanthites inquisitors can rummage through the remains of chaos war-bands that have been rebuked by the Abyssal Jaws.

Long term goals on Maresia: Xanthites are infuriated with the horror hidden in Maresia. Ever since the world and the sleeping terror was found the Xanthites have sought to determine if the Old One could be made to obey the will of man or if it must stay slumbering until the end of existence. So far they have not succeeded, the warp-trinkets of broken warbands make for an excellent consolation prize however.

Current activity on Maresia: Xanthites inquisitors and their acolytes gather what they can from the watery homeworld of the Abyssal Jaws, be it warp-fueled artifacts or snippets of elder lore.

Space Marines[edit]

Marines Malevolent[edit]

Relations between the Abyssal Jaws and Marines Malevolent have never been cordial, but things took a turn for the worst after the Tantallius V Incident. During the Tantallius V campaign, the two chapters served as part of a united front against a Hrud migration which threatened to overrun the planet. When the capital was occupied and quickly fortified by the Hrud, leaving thousands of Tantallian PDF and civilians trapped and fighting for their lives, the Marines Malevolent chose to obliterate the entire city from orbit against the wishes of the Abyssal Jaws, rather then risk losing valuable space marines in an assault. The fist fight between the command staff that followed bloomed into a deep loathing between the two chapters, who have refused to participate in campaigns with each other ever since.

Relictors[edit]

"The Abyssal Jaws do not put their bounty of artifacts and relics to use. Let us see to it that we do."

Ultramarines[edit]

The Ultramarines have been on frosty terms with the Abyssal Jaws ever since a team of Jaws accidentally ate a portion of Chaplin Cassius after a mission, a mistake that the Abyssal Jaws have since apologised for.

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.