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.

>Why was the chapter founded?
Strategic Prognostication
>When was the chapter founded?
33rd Millenium
>Chapter Progenitor
Blood Angels
>Gene-Stock Purity
Flawed
>Chapter Flaws
Pride in the Colors
>Characteristic Modifiers
+5 Strength, +5 Perception

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

>Number of Worlds
2
>Homeworld Type
Hive and Unihabited
>Homeworld Terrain
Ocean (hive world, Maresia) and Temperate (unihabited 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
Beastial 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
>Chapter Name
Abyssal Jaws
>Battle Cry
"THE JAWS OF ABYSS SHALL CLAIM ALL ENEMIES OF MAN!"
>Advance Table
Behold Our Wrath

While many Space Marine chapters practise cannibalism in some form, be it the blood drinking rituals of the aptly-named Blood Drinkers, or the consumption of human flesh by Imperial Fist cadets, to the horrific ritual which saw the <REDACTED BY ORDER OF THE INQUISITION>, none are more dedicated to the art of devouring their fellow man as the Abyssal Jaws.

It is unknown how the cannibalistic rituals of the Abyssal Jaws originally came into existence; the native population of Maresia having never be known to practise cannibalism during their recorded history.

>>14728816

However, some believe that the cannibalism stems from the Chapters interpretation of the twin curses that affect all successors of the Blood Angels, known as “The Call of the Deep” to the Abyssal Jaws. In battle the Abyssal Jaws will enter a berserk fray in combat rivalled only by the Death Companies of their fellow successors. As a direct effect of the insanity that infects their minds during battle, outside of combat the Abyssal Jaws are noticeably irritable, easily angered and prone to violent spasms.

However, having participated in the Feast of a Hundred, (where sacrifices (usually family members of one of the many noble houses on Maresia) are divided into a hundred individual pieces, until every member of the chapter has their own portion of human flesh to eat, emulating the piranhas of their home world) a noticeable change of personality occurs.

>>14728829

Marines who were often restless and on edge had suddenly become amiable and passionate, creating works of art or composing music. Members of the chapter could be seen conversing with members of the noble houses, or reading stories to children. The sheer contrast between the psychotic Abyssal Jaws and the benevolent Abyssal Jaws is almost absurd.

While tests have been performed in an attempt to work out why cannibalism has such a positive effect on them, the results have revealed little, some going so far to theorise that the consumption of flesh acts as a placebo for the chapter. Either way, the questions surrounding the chapter remain unanswered and as far as the Abyssal Jaws remain concerned, they'd be happy if it stayed that way.

Heretics exist to be consumed. And consumed they will be, if not by this chapter then by some future. By what right does this forgotten future seek to deny us our birthright? None I say! Let us take what is ours, chew and eat our fill.

-- Captain Nwabudike Morgan "The Ethics of Cannibalism"

"Maresia is a world truly blessed by the Emperor! Our seas are rich! Our bodies, hearts, and minds are strong! Do you know why brave sons of Maresia? It is because the God-Emperor rewards strength with strength! We are not the child who begs our Holy Father to carry our weight for us! NO! We are the dutiful children who accept their burden with open arms! Unlike so many worlds we do not beg our Holy Father to carry us when we have the strength to walk! The God-Emperor will not do for us what we should be doing ourselves! Only they who stand on their own strength deserve to be blessed!"

~Matriarch Nerei Tiama in her address to the Abyssal Jaws Aspirants, 108.M40

>>14728829
i think it was more or less just offering small bits of yourself that could be regenerated or replaced by bionics. The nobility of Maresia general doesn't get sacrificed unless they are doing it to show repentance for a big crime.

Though they might be big on ritualistic consuming their dead, so that their knowledge and strength can be "preserved". Like it'd probably be considered a great honor for the dead to get nom'd by one of the Abyssal Jaws, because that'd mean they've done something worthy of preserving.

Also I'd imagine that there'd be girls that attempt the initiation ritual just to prove their own strength. While they may not be able to become space marines, its widely believed that any girl who can pass the test is almost ensured to bear a son who will pass it.

>>14729250

Awesomeness

>>14729341

Yeah, I wrote that when we were a little less clear on the cannibalism aspect. It ended up spawning a discussion on the whether the Sons of Malice should have been able to easily beat (and eat) some Celestians or not.

Speaking of which, I don't think we've really fluffed out the people of Maresia. I mean, we know that the vast majority of the population are Hive dwellers and that they have to do some funky trials to become intiates, but that's about it.

>>14729388
yeah, towards their own people the Abyssal Jaws are pretty bro and if they will keep themselves to a minor nibble or blood drinking. They can probably accurately discern the health of someone just by tasting their blood.

Now against their enemies, yeah they will devourer them. These guys probably make heavy use of their Omophagea.

>emius assignment
that sounds important captcha

>>14729622

Yeah, that sounds cool. I'll re-write some bits of the write faggotry at some point.

>>14729477
well so far Maresia is a world with about the same gravity as Earth but is notable larger in diameter and is covered by +90% ocean and that the majority of the hives are smaller floating cities or built upon rigging in shallow regions of the sea. The largest patches of dry land tend to be covered with arcologies though there are patches of small islands where it isnt practical to build such large scale buildings. There are of course some smaller hives that are completely underwater.

The economy of Maresia is built around kelp/algae farming, fishing the over abundant sea life, and harvesting salt from the water. There are of course ore and petrochemical mining along the sea-floor and local refiners and factories to make use of the stuff. Most its manufacturing is geared toward ocean-going vessals and other sea related things.

I'd imagine that rather than living in the hives, the nobility live aboard their own vessals (aircraft carrier size) along with their fishing fleets.

>>14729837

How about the Abyssal Jaws have a huge floating fortress as their main base? It could sail from Hive to Hive, hosting trials and picking up initiates.

>>14729837 continued

The initiation rites require the aspirants to locate and kill one of the dozen species of "sea monster" that dwell in Maresia on their own and consume its heart and/or brain. Of course, it's better for the aspirants to seek dangerous prey or handicap themselves in someway (i.e. simple weapons only).

Almost every boy from age 12 to 16 will attempt this though only those who go after the most dangerous prey and succeed will pass. Those who aim lower can at least be assured respect amonst the Maresia Sea-Guard and a chance at scoring a wife. Though aiming too low only earns mockery.

The female population of the planet, while unable to join the Abyssal Jaws, still undergo the same initiation test to gain social standing as Maresia has very much embraced the ideal of survival of the fittest. Therefore any woman can do it ensures herself a step up on the social ladder or a better position in the Sea-Guard or other Imperial Institutions. Because all the men who pass become Abyssal Jaws, most high ranking positions in Maresia tend to be occupied by women and surnames tend to be matrilineal. Having sons that enter the Abyssal Jaws further increases social standing and so the most prominent families tend to be lead by a matriarch who has had a number of her sons enter the Abyssal Jaws.

>>14729950
the Fortress-Monestary is located on Noxyssus, the green moon of Maresia, though it would make sense than the Fortress-Monstary itself is floats in the toxic oceans of Noxyssus.

Noxyssus is about 50% dry land and 50% ocean. Unlike Maresia's ocean though the seas of Noxyssus are acidic enough to be deadly to normal humans and the storms that wrap lazily around the moon of course deposit acid rain. The moon has always been that way and life on it has evolved to deal with it accordingly, which makes it VERY DANGEROUS. The dry land is mostly wetland, bogs, swamps, and marshes and such; the exceptions being the highlands (which there aren't many of).

Aside from the Abyssal Jaws and their serfs, the are only small chemical refiners in some of the safer areas.

>>14730119
so the reason that they are overstrength is because through a sort of eugencis program they've managed to instill a level of fitness that makes each generation better at living up to the grueling stanards of becoming a space marine

I bet the smurfs hate that

>>14730328

I've got to say I'm loving this new fluff. Its quite literally jawsome.

Reminds me, we never did settle on the number of marines in the chapter.

>>14730382
more than 1000 but less than the Black Templars

so between 3000 to 5000

and of course they have several thousand more that they could take if they wanted to (though that would mean lowering their standards which just won't do unless there's some dire emergency)

>>14730415

3,000ish sounds okay. From what I remember, nobody is really sure how many Black Templars there are. If we're going with eugenics/survival of the fittest thing, I can picture the Abyssal Jaws having painstakingly kept records on every marine in the chapter.

>>14730119
you know, they are still fertile for a bit before undergoing the astartes process

those who pass the test get mobbed by girls looking for prime genetic material

>>14728816

Anyone with decent art skills wanna try and add some jaws to this beakie's helmet?

>>14730708
i'd prefer to not make shitscribbles over it

if i could do any better there'd be a decent symbol by now

>>14730805

We've had a lot of writefaggotry, but we're distinctly lacking in the drawfaggotry department.

>>14730873
indeed

in other news, operating in liquid environments means equipment changes! Ideas?

bump

>>14730954
compressed gas powered harpoon bolters with magnesium tips? thats all I could think of short of propeller jump packs, the rest of their equipment is pretty much adapted for aquatic enviros, read the latest blood angels novel(fighting squidnids on the outside of a submarine).

>>14730954

I remember someone suggested a few ideas in one one of the earlier threads, but I can't find them anywhere. Anyhoo, I remember mention of harpoons, harpoons with bolters attached and chain-swords.

>>14732669

(As in swords-with-chains, not as in chainswords)

bump

We still haven't fluffed out the enemy of the chapter. While we have decided on the beastie lurking beneath the waves (crazy old one), we've yet to decide on the Chaos Space Marines that the Abyssal Jaws consider to be their "Chapter Enemy". Any suggestions?

bumping again

>>14730222

Perhaps the chapter could have two Fortress-Monasteries? Their main citadel is a huge cathedral on Noxyssus, the only permanent structure on the moon (and constantly under repair due to acid rain erosion).

Meanwhile on Maresia, a great ship sails the oceans from Hive to Hive, picking up those deemed to be the cream of the crop for conversion into a Space Marine. This fortress also monitors activity in the ocean and serves as the last stop for those marines who fall to the Call of the Deep.

Terminator Brother Emilio Taonga
Taken to the Emperor's Grace
The Massacre of Newfoundworld

>>14736197
awesome
love the bloodied hand

>>14736780

I originally had some blood on his chest armour, but It looked crappy.

>>14728816
>none are more dedicated to the art of devouring their fellow man as the Abyssal Jaws

Orly? Prove it.

Abyssal Jaws vs Sons of Malice all you can eat cannibal championship! A champion is chosen from each chapter. The first champion to eat an entire family of 5 wins!

On your mark, get set...

>>14736857

Another reason why that fluff is outdated. I wrote it before I heard about the Son of Malice's annual picnic at the The Labyrinth. I think we agreed it'd be changed to:
>>none are among the loyal adeptus astartes are more dedicated to the art of devouring their fellow man as the Abyssal Jaws

Woah, hang on there for just a moment. The Jaws have 3000 marines? No fucking way.

Does it make more sense to have more marines? Of course.
Does it make them a powerful and versitile chapter? Hells yeah!
Will the Inquisition stand for it? Nope.

Contrary to popular belief, the Codex Astartes IS enforced whenever possible. Especially when it comes to chapter strength. You have to remember that the whole point behind the codex is to limit the power of the space marines; the high lords fear a powerful chapter like nothing else.

Of course, some chapters are given leeway. Space Wolves: 1st founding, still no more than 2000 marines (and no successor chapters). Not much the High Lords can do about that. Black Templars: 2nd founding, exact numbers are VERY well hidden, excellent track record for loyalty. High Lords can't prove anything so their hands are tied.

Astral Claws: if you've read IA9 and 10, you'd have discovered that the Badab war was originally loyalists vs loyalists, whith the High Lords taking a neutral stance. It wasn't until they discovered that the Claws had roughly 3000 marines did they declare them traitors (it also didn't help that they had reabsorbed a successor chapter, but that is besides the point).

>>14737018

If the Astral Claws hadn't broken with the codex so blatantly, the High Lords and the inquisition might have sided with them. In fact, they heavily reprimanded the other side, anyway. Then they sent in 20 something Astartes Chapters to fuck up the Astral Claws' shit.

That being said, the extra 2000 or so marines could lead to an interesting bit of development for the fluff: the inquisition finds out, tells the High Lords, and they order the Abyssal Jaws to form 2 new chapters (which will then be sent to opossite sides of the Imperium at the very least) or else be reprimanded (no more AdMech support, that kind of thing). In addition, they will NEVER be allowed to go over codex limitations in terms of manpower again, or be deemed heretics.

I'd like to see what the Jaws would do in that situation.

>>14737067
>If the Astral Claws hadn't broken with the codex so blatantly, the High Lords and the inquisition might have sided with them.

God dammit Girlyman. Even in stasis, you continue to fuck everything over.

In this case, I'd suggest lowering the number of marines to about 2000ish. Perhaps one of the writefags could come and write something about an inquistor derping over the Abyssal Jaws and forcing them to form a successor chapter. Like you said, it'd be pretty interesting to see what the Abyssal Jaws would think to that.

>>14736857
Abyssal Jaws v Sons of Malice v Mortifactors

The Mortifactors are Ultramarines, so they'll probably win.

>>14737018

>Black Templars
>8k Brothers and counting

>Space Wolves
>1k Brothers per Company :D

Fuck you imperium

>>14737176

1000 marines per company? That seems a bit mu-

>As each Great Company serves as an independent army, they maintain a much greater number of troops as opposed to codex companies. Speculation has ranged from between 150 and 1000 marines per Great Company.

Fucking Imperium

>>14737176

No, the Wolves don't have THAT many marines. It's been cannon for awhile that the two largest Great Companies are Logan's and Ragnar's, with Logan's being slightly larger and Ragnar's being listed at somewhere around 200. And let's not forget that some of the GCs are actually UNDER strength do to attrition and/or their Wolf Lord's style. Let me try to do the math here...
Grimnar: 220 marines (roughly)
Rangar: 200
Redmaw (Wulfen, therefore likely understrength): 80
Krakendoom (armoured): 100
Morkai (scouts): 70
Red Moon: 120
Deathwolf: 100+ wolves
Stormwolf (frontal assault doctrine): 120
Iron Wolf: 120
Krom: 120
Bloodhowl: 120
Grimblood: 120
13th Company: 0
Total: 1490, round that to 1500
Give or take 300, or so and the # of wolves could range anywhere from 1200 to 1800.

As for the Templars, sources vary like you wouldn't believe. They have something like 3000-8000 marines, all split into 50-300 man crusades.

>>14737245

Where did you hear that?!

The codex (including the 3e one) put the largest marine count in a company at 200+ for Rangar and Grimnar. 1000 per company? Sunnova...

>>14737385

Lexicanum, so I guess one should take it with a pinch of salt.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Space_Wolves#The_Great_Companies

Hi there. Im the black templars who have like 10,000 people.. SUP, UMAD??

So... who is the chapter master, anyway?
How is the chapter run?
Are there 10 overstrength companies or do they form one for every 100 marines?
How many suits of Terminator Armour do they have? (I'd say pretty few, maybe 20-30 as they are a latter founding chapter and the AdMech can't make more)
How common are Librarians?
Fleet assets? They'd have to have a huge ass fleet (for marines) to cart around so many doods (and a large fleet is something the High Lords fear the most).
Where did they get the extra ships?
What are their relations with other chapters (ie, how likely are their neighbors to attack if they high lords get pissed)?
How full is their armoury (vehicles and weapons)?
Where do they get their military supplies? A water world would have difficulty mining and would have limited production capabilities meaning they would rely on outside support in that regard.
As allies, how does the IG view them?
How do they view the IG?

These are the kind of questions we need to answer before we can figure out how they would take the news that they 'have' to break apart.

>>14737485

>So... who is the chapter master, anyway?

Haven't fluffed one up yet.

>How is the chapter run?

Or this...

>Are there 10 overstrength companies or do they form one for every 100 marines?

... :V

>How many suits of Terminator Armour do they have? (I'd say pretty few, maybe 20-30 as they are a latter founding chapter and the AdMech can't make more)

Or this, but I agree that they wouldn't have many,

>How common are Librarians?

More common then usual.

>Fleet assets? They'd have to have a huge ass fleet (for marines) to cart around so many doods (and a large fleet is something the High Lords fear the most).

>Where did they get the extra ships?

This hasn't been fluffed out much either. The chapter rule a planet and a moon. That's about it, space-wise.

>What are their relations with other chapters (ie, how likely are their neighbors to attack if they high lords get pissed)?

Hasn't been fluffed either.

>How full is their armoury (vehicles and weapons)?

>Where do they get their military supplies?
A water world would have difficulty mining and would have limited production capabilities meaning they would rely on outside support in that regard.

There two haven't been fluffed out either.

>As allies, how does the IG view them?

>How do they view the IG?

Their chapter ally is IG, so I'd say they rather like the little guys.

>>14737434

Indeed.

"The Great Company of Ragnar Blackmane is second only to Logan Grimnar's, boasting almost two hundred battle-hardened warriors..."
-Codex: Space Wolves (5e), pg 17

Also, the Great Wolf's company traditionally includes all of the chapter's Iron Priests, Wolf Priests, Rune Priests AND Dreadnoughts.

>>14737547

Ah, so this is a VERY new chapter, in terms of /tg/ creating it. Excellent, that gives us a bunch of leeway in coming up with this stuff.

So, let's start with how the chapter is run. There are a number of different styles in the canon: Codex (not gonna work), Space Wolves, Black Templars, Salamanders (of particular interest as the Jaws also keep close relations w/ their home world's populace), and Iron Snakes (chapter is divided into squads, not companies. Sergeants have -almost- total control of when and where they fight).

If Librarians are much more common than usual, then I say we put them into a more powerful position than usual. They would probably be in charge of logistics, keeping track of calls for assistance and such. They may also have a more direct role in recruitment.

Hmm, here's an idea. Why don't we merge the Librarians witht he Chaplians? If we say they are a deeply religious chapter, we could justify this by saying the Librarians naturally have a deeper connection with the will of the Emperor (little known fact: Librarians often act as Astropaths for Marine chapters; in fact, the only non-chapter 'psykers' they rely on are the Navigators). This would put them somewhere on the level with the Silver Skulls in doctrine; "the Emperor guides their purpose," and all that.

>>14737716
I say they promote Captains soley on merit, so the number is never fixed. In addition, with such large numbers, the Iron Snakes idea of organizing marines by squad might work best for them. Captains would have a nominal command of their Honor Guard, but would have no fixed company. In stead, squads would be allocated to them as deemed neccessary for their mission by the Chapter Master and the Librarians. Of course, sergeants would also have a great deal of leeway in choosing who they follow into combat, and as such Captains would often have a hardened cadre of sergeants loyal to them; forming an informal company, to which addition troops and such would be added. In this case, these temporary companies would be named for the action they are undertaking, much like the Black Templars.

If we keep the idea that merit is the sole cause for elevation, then keepig a dedicated 'scout' company is a must; no neophyte would every be appointed to a position in a squad as full marine unless they prove themselves in battle first. This company (or companies) would be lead by a carefully chosen captain and closely monitered by the Librarians as they are the literal future of the chapter. As such, they would be the only companies with fixed leadership over specific troops (said leaders maticulously recording their deeds and skills). Though scouts would of course be assigned to other 'companies' in the usual manner, they would ALWAYS be accompanied by a librarian or other official (partially to record their deeds, partially to maintain the fact that they belong to another company).

I just got the hilarious idea of a Librian-Chaplain in carapace armour.

>>14737767
>instead

>>14737767
There are no Tactical or Assault squads. Marines are equipped as per their sergeant's personal preference (some may even switch their gear in between campaigns).

Those marines that display an apptitude for machinery are given over to the Forge. Under the strict command of the Techmarines and Forge Masters, they would be part of a completely seperate command structure than the rest of the chapter and would be tasked with: maintianing and operating ALL vehicles. On the battlefield, they drive the tranports of other squads, crew all of the tanks, speeders and aircraft, and would sometimes take to the field as Devastator Squads. As the chapter is so large, it is difficult to maintain the many diverse weapons available to the astartes in the manner other chapters are accustomed. Instead, Sergeant must petition the Forge to allow thier squads to use special/heavy weapons and Captains must do the same if they wish for Devastators to be assigned to their command for the duration of a campaign. Who better to maintain and use the few precious specialized weapons the chapter possesses than those directly controlled and schooled by the scions of Mars?

This would mirror the relationship between the Imperium and the AdMech. As it would aslo weaken the chapter, it may go a long way in explaining why the chapter was allowed to grow so large in the first place: if they got out of hand, the AdMech could always order the Forge to deny the chapter its wargear. The Abyssal Claws would see this as a neccessary evil that allows them greater freedom of recruitment, and also as a floodgate to paralyze them if they should ever unconsciously stray to far from the Imperial Creed.

Great golly holly, that's a whole lot of text. Looks good though.

>>14737873

As for the fleet, I see three options:

1) their fleet is harldy larger than any other chapter's, meaning they must overload their ships with marines, are often forced to leave large numbers of marines back home, or are forced to "hitch a ride" with the Imperial Guard on ships belonging to the Imperial Fleet, meaning they have fight side by side with guardsmen far more often than normal chapters (kind of fits their fluff, a little)

2) The chapter often fights at the beck and call of varius forge worlds, as they are indebted to them for the additional fleet assets they provide the chapter

3) The chapter has made a habit of capturing and resanctifying traitor vessels (some chapters DO do this on occasion). This may be the reason the Inquisition started investigating them in the first place.

Or, of course, we could use a mix of all three.

>>14737916

I get really into doing fluff like this.

Recent fluff guy, here. I'm off to get some food that will probably give me a heart attack in the long run. While I'm gone, could you please decide what parts (if any) of my idea's you like?

In particular, the joining of Librarians and Chaplains: yay or nay?

Keep being awesome, ya'll

Another reason that the Abyssal Jaws get away with higher numbers is the threat lurking beneath the waves of Maresia and Noxyssus. The last remnants of old ones long since driven mad give the chapter no end of trouble.

Additionally to their specialization in fighting in aquatic environments they will often see squads deployed across the Imperium to add in battles in worlds where the sea plays a large role. So while they may be 2000+, their attention is split between keeping the horrors of the deep at bay, keeping Chaos and the Eldar out, and the demands to deploy elsewhere.

As for the enemy, the CSM warband should be Wordbearers seeking to break into the ruins of the abyssal trenches because of the psychic emanations of the Cthulhu-analogue.

>>14737977
well Librarian also serve to map the ocean floor and track the movement of those called to the deep.

Though I am all for the roll merging because that'd be an interesting twist.

>>14737936
They are very bro with the Maresia Sea-Guard so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to see them travel along with them for local deployments. But remember that both forces specialize in fighting in water. Though they might also do fantastic in 0g combat as well since it'd be similar.

I could see the Jaws taking out a ships artificla gravity and then boarding it to tear apart the inhabitants in a frenzy that is as graceful as it is bloody.

>>14737547
>A water world would have difficulty mining and would have limited production capabilities meaning they would rely on outside support in that regard.


if the Imperium can manage space stations and such they can manage undersea facilities quite easily and the seas of Maresia are oxygenated enough that the Abyssal Jaws can breathe unaided.

>>14738045
though the deeper facilities are going to have issues with sea monsters

which hey, the Sea-Guard and the Jaws are for

Without even reading a single thread i guess you guys would have more than 1000 marines.

You didn't (and sorta did) dissapoint.

tsk tsk tsk

>>14731617
well in general they are going to want melee weapons they can thrust with so the water doesn't soften the blow. So lots of spears and katars (or similarly gauntlet mounted thrusting weapons)

Also power weapons are a bad idea and the additional wear and tear of an aquatic environment will probably lead to things like chainsword wearing down quicker.

Using circular saw blades that spin at abusrd rates would make a good replacement for chain-weapons and drills are always cool. Further more they can have spears that inject highly pressurized freezing gas or explosive charges to further increase the carnage. And torpedo harpoons sound fucking awesome.

And then there is the idea of the chain-hook, which is a bathook designed to kill the fuck out of things.

>>14738122

>And then there is the idea of the chain-hook, which is a bathook designed to kill the fuck out of things.

You are now picturing two Abyssal Jaw marines shoving their hooks into some poor bastard and then playing tug-of-war until they split in half.

And it is awesome.

while I don't see mostly aquatic battlefields coming up too often, i could see the Abyssal Jaws being called upon for Death Watch in such instances.

also they and the space sharks need to be competitive with each other

>>14738253
DRAWFAG! WE NEED A DRAWFAG!

>>14738259

In the most recent Space Wolves codex one of the Great Companies fights the Tau underwater.

I always thought this was extremely implausible. How the hell did the Wolves manage to bring enough ale with them to go all the way across the galaxy, fight a war, AND go back home? They must have used at least half a dozen promethium tanker-ships for all that ale.

Totally implausible.

Does anyone else picture Orks when they read how the Abyssal Jaws are cannibals but also like to hand out with guardsmen? Just like the Ork/Grot relationship, the Jaws do most of the useful stuff and have better gear while the guardsmen are more or less there as support. They also make for handy emergency rations.

>>14738455
pffft THATS BRILLIANT

>>14738455

I honestly hope that's a joke because I think the emphasis on cannibalism is getting a BIT out of hand with these guys.

I suppose we ought to get the whole cannibalism aspect hammered out as well while we're at it.

>>14738514
agreed

most of their cannibalism is ritualistic consuming of their dead and nibbling on bits of their enemies they've ripped limb to limb

They don't go "Hmm, I'm hungry. I think I'll eat that guardsmen over there," though outsiders may certainly believe they do that

>>14738514

Yeah, that was a joke.

bump

bump

To any and all drawfags that may be interested:
We need a picture of a Librarian-Chaplain! I'm thinking Librarian style armour w/ one of those cloth robe things, a white skull helmet (w/ psychic hood), and colored all black. Add skulls as needed.

Abyssal Jaws fans, we need to come up with a name for the Librarian-Chaplains. I'm thinking something along the lines of "Black Sages," or "Dark Priests," with a preference to that first one.

bump

>>14737995

The Word Bearers are certainly an option.

In one of the previous threads there were a few positive responses to the idea of using The Scourged:
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/The_Scourged

Mainly due to this quote:
>Blessed by Tzeentch, the Scourged are said to hear every lie spoken by man. Though this gives them unparalleled knowledge, it eventually drives them all mad with the constant voices in their heads.

However, I think the Emperor's Nightmare may have got dibs on Tzeentch.

bump

bump

bump^3

Just been reading into foundings. Since the Abyssal Jaws are from a 33rd Millenium founding, that means they're from a founding between the 3rd (001.M32) and 8th (Allegedly Mid-35th Millennium). Since there was at least one more founding during M32, that means the Abyssal Jaws are probably from the fifth, sixth or seventh founding.

Just thought this might be interesting, since other chapters which could have been founded at the same time include the Angels Porphyr, Howling Griffons and Sons of Girlyman.

bamp

>>14740720
having both the ENs and AJs with Tzeentchy chaos as their enemy is a bit much.

Khorne, Slaanesh, and Nurgle just don't work too much for the whole lovecraft angle we have so using Chaos Undivided seems to be the best bet.

Maybe a Wordbearer warband thats dedicated to collecting ancient relics/scriptures of choas heard the Eldritch Horrors that sleep beneath the waves of Maresia and became intently interested. Espeically since the Mad Old One (call it Vhoori after the world Cthulhu originates from in the Lovecraft Mythos?) has subtle warp emanations that draw them in.

>>14743356

Haha, the idea of them collecting relics makes me think of the Relictors. Perhaps they could be looking to try and harness the powers of the Old One in their fight against chaos?

Oh, and there's a bunch of the more obscure renegade chapters and warbands here if anyone wants a looksy:
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Chaos_Space_Marine_Legions_and_Warbands_%28List%29

>>14743411
oh, I like that. Now the AJs have 3 forces to keep out of Maresia.

>>14743440
and Dark Eldar looking for a good swim

>>14743356
"Prophets of Alhazred" for the Word Bearer warband; lead by the Dark Apostle Kuranes.

>>14743440

We've now got a reason for being so over the Codex limit.

"The Abyssal Jaws are vastly oversized due to how everyone wants a piece of what they were founded to protect."

>>14743411

If there are relics there, especially warp based ones, the Sisters of the Eternal Gate would want to examine that. Mind you, as Sisters, I imagine most marine chapters would just tell them to fuck off dispite thier specialisation.

>>14743595
Agreed.

In addition, by keeping their fleet the size of a normal chapter's (not including a vast array of system ships and orbital defenses) and widening the gap between Forge and Chapter far more than a normal chapter the High Lords would reap the following benifits:
1) the chapter is no more dangerous than any other to the Imperium if they would go traitor
2) the chapter can still wage war offworld as well as any other chapter
3) AJ troops piggy-backing with guardsmen are easy to control and command
4) nearly a full chapter's worth of marines are garrisoned at home at any one time
5) the Forge's closer relation to the AdMech (than a normal chapter) makes it easier to appropriate geneseed samples to moniter chapter health

These are now the antagonist CSMs to the Jaws.

http://www.toycutter.com/2011/02/warhammer-40k-chaos-space-marines-from.html

I will accept no argument against this idea, no matter how logical or well worded.

>>14743648

Perhaps the chapter has to compete with other factions within the Imperium (Order of the Eternal Gate, radical inquisitors, ect) to find relics believed to be associated with the Old One.

>>14743648
well, the problem is that most of the ruins and relics are under thousands of meters of water surrounded by deadly sea life. Further more there are strange conditions that come from the psychic emanations to further complicate recovering them.

And if that wasn't enough, you have AJs that have succumbed to their version of the Black Rage, Call of the Deep, stomping around like rogue big daddies on the sea floor.

There's good reason that the Jaws focus on containment and not recovery.

>>14744196

Haha! I think someone mentioned "so they're like Bioshock marines" in one of the earlier threads. I demand power drills instead of thunder hammers.

>>14744464

>>14744579

Squid hat, the squidiest of hats.

>>14744579
This is so awesome i think i'm gonna cry

The Cthulhu is strong in this one.

I don't even know what this is supposed to be.

>>14744464

Is it a problem if I'm imagining a Abbysal Jaw Marine and a Sister of the Eternal Gate acting like Big Daddy and Little Sister?

>>14745021

Not at all.

>>14745021

DRAWFAG! DRAWFAG! MY KINGDOM FOR A DRAWFAG!

>>14745021

Actually, that would be entirely possible. Though it would more be an initiate than a full fledged Sister. Initiates would be in thier mid teens, so a young intitiate found after getting seperated from her squad would work very well for that purpose.

...Urge to writefag...rising...

>>14745178
WHY WE CAN'T HAVE DRAWFAGS?
PLEASE SOMEONE HEAR OUR CALL!!

>>14745183

DO IT FOR GARRO

>>14745220

OUR CALL... OF THE DEEP

>>14745178

AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, WE COULD USE A PIC OF THE LIBRARIAN-CHAPLAIN. THIS IS MOAR IMPORTANT, THOUGH.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY.

CALLING ALL THE DRAWFAGS
CALLING ALL THE DRAWFAGS

>>14745220
I'll have a little go if you like. I'll be a while though

>>14745456
YES
SOMEONE HEARD US BROTHERS

>>14745456

EMPEROR BE PRAISED!

BUMP FOR THE EMPEROR!

>>14745456
Are you Still there Mr. Magi?

>>14745916
yus, still drawing. Obviously still working on it. but here so far.

>>14745974
PRAISE YOU MR. MAGI

WE Are Eternally Grateful

>>14745974

that am very excellent

>>14745974
I SMELL SOMETHING AWESOME IN THE WORKS

What you were thinking at all?

>>14746267
AWESOME MR MAGI.

i have to say i love this picture
and i loved the way you did the symbol

And Bump, the world deserves to see this picture

>>14746267

Fantastic!

>>14746267
>>14746267
YOU SIR DESERVE A MEDAL

>>14746267

For an order that GW gave a couple of sentances to, /tg/ really loves the Order of the Eternal Gate. I know of 3 RT groups that have one, all different.

-Aussie Sniper Archeologist
-Lovecraft Style Investigator with thier symbol being the Elder Sign
-Techie Slightly Mad Scientist who pulls apart heretek machines.

>>14746267

Nothing short of epic.

>>14746470

>Eternal Gate
>Elder Sign

That seems very fitting. And kinda a cool concept for an order. Mind you, they all sound awesome.

So Abyssal Jaws are buddies with the Maresia Sea Guard, and with the Order of The Eternal Gate?

bump

>>14746534

The Abyssal Jaws seem to be quite a friendly bunch. Its like the Salamanders, but while people are sort of freaked out by the coal black skin, with the Abyssal Jaws they've scared of all the blood stains, trophy taking and occasional ritual cannibalism.

They just want to be your frieeeeeeeeeends ):

>>14746534
>>14746503
the undersea ruins are now have what is called the "Eldar sign" carved into them

bumping

Power...drill?

bump 2

>>14747303

I'm digging the Anglerfish pauldrons.

>>14747303
THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR HOW AWESOME THAT IS

>>14747303
Mr Magi
you're awesome

>>14747520

>>14746930
i just had the image of an AJ marine, a guardsmen, and a sister sitting drinking tea while they ponder over an artifact dragged out of the sea.

>>14749512

bumping for the bump god

bump

bump

In recent years, a number of raids have occurred against Imperium facilities in and around the Dunwich Sector. These attacks, often perpetrated by groups of around twenty marines have resulted in the destruction of various research outposts in the Sector, but perhaps more worryingly, have also resulted in the loss of a number of artefacts related to the creature that lies beneath the ocean of Maresia. While initial suspicions pointed to a Thousand Sons war band as the most likely candidate for the raids, evidence accumulated after the attacks pointed to a more tragic answer.

The Relictors, thought to have been all but wiped out when they were declared excommunicate traitoris and attacked by the Grey Knights under the command of Inquisitor Cyarro, are believed to be the raiders. Declared traitors for their heretical use of weapons used by the armies of chaos, the Relictors believe that only by using chaos against itself can the darkness that smoothers the galaxy be purged.

It is believed that only a few hundred marines from the renegade chapter survived the massacre perpetrated by the Grey Knights, the survivors fleeing to the Eye of Terror to hide. However, it remains unknown if the chapter has fallen to chaos worship, or if it still continues to wage its fanatical, doomed crusade of trying to turn the dark powers against them. Either way, an offshoot of the chapter perhaps numbering less then fifty marines, have taken an interest in the ancient artefacts of the Dunwich Sector.

Whether or not the chapter wishes to use these artefacts for good, the renegades cannot get their hands upon them.

bump

bullshit

>>14733730
Ha ha ha. No.

I approve of the use of the Relictors. How about noting that their presence is "unconfirmed" to get around canon issues?

>>14753377

Fine by me dawg

Know how the Abyssal Jaws used to be called the Abyssal Angels? How about we insert that into their backstory or something. Perhaps the name changed when their Chaplin-Librarian was lost in the warp or something.

bumping

bump 2

bump 3

Holy fuck this thread is still alive.

>>14753824
Meh, it'd be better for them to just have ALWAYS been the Abyssal Jaws

>>14756185

Personally, I think it would be awesome if they names were changed from Angels to Jaws in the fluff. Like how slowly they have gone off the deep end over millennias.

>>14756221
well i suppose if someone can come up with a decent story for it i'd work well

how /tg/ feel about giving the Abyssal Jaws a modified dreadnought thats designed to excell underwater (squidnaught?)

>>14756301
I'm don't know... On one hand, it'll be awesome. But we've already made personal Dreadnoughts for the Nightmares, and don't want it to be a habit of making personalized dreadnoughts for every chapter /tg/ makes.

Don't get me wrong here, I still like the idea. But if everyone is cool with it, sure!

>>14756224

Well, I believe in the original thread it was mentioned that the Abyssal Jaws were a (failed) attempt to remove the red thirst/black rage. Perhaps as the millenias have gone by, the horrific savagery of the chapter have become more and more prominent. All the ritual cannibalism, trophy taking and the butchering of their enemies makes the chapter realise that they don't deserve to be called angels anymore. Instead they shall be the Abyssal Jaws, the very maw of the Imperium itself. Until the day that the chapter finally masters their blood lust, the chapter shall never again call itself the Abyssal Angels.

>>14756301

I don't see why not, but like the previous poster said, I'm a bit unsure about it. Such a dreadnought would have to be pretty unique. Like a submarine dreadnought or something.

>>14756353
hmm... good point.

and modified terminator armor would probably be a bit too much

>>14756385
well we could always expore more exotic modifications to regular armor, possibly blended with deep-sea mining armor or something

or one-man submarine pods that attatch to their armor to jet them about quickly underwater

>>14756445

Well, they do have power drills.

The only modification a dreadnought would need is to be more hydrodynamic and some extendable tentacle arms with drills or saws on the ends of them

The Abyssal Jaws would likely favor MK III "Iron Armor." The extra weight of the armor would be negated by the fact that they fight while underwater, and the extra protection afforded by the armor would be EXTREMELY helpful in combating the extreme pressure of the water. Remember that MK III armor was basically Terminator Armour before Terminator Armour was Terminator Armour and was only taken out of production because it was too cumbersome in normal combat. Since the Jaws focus on underwater, space, and defensive opperations, this flaw would hardly matter.

In addition, they would likely make heavy use of the crusade era jump pack design, the "Turbo Fan," variety, as they could modify them to work as advanced, enclosed propelers.

Someone ought to write a big fluff post or something. Just so we have all the infomation we've written up thus far in one place.

>>14756650
Makes sense. Also Iron armour looks awesome.

>>14756801
>mfw I chose Iron Armor because it looks cool and THEN came up with the reasons why it would make sense.

>>14756656
We have.

http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Abyssal_Jaws

Granted it's not as mighty as the Nightmares one, though they are like two or three months ahead of us.

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 catagories: 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, competion 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 neccessary to accomplish particular objectives. Though technically the only marines permanently under their control are their own honour guard, it is common for Catains 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 constituant marines) of whom they have fought side by side with on a number of occassions. That being said, around half of the chapter's strength routinely gets 'shuffled' between varius captains and campaigns.

>>14757002

Jesus christ, I read that like the intro to the old Space Hulk game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxB7Xl2r3aY&feature=related

>>14757098

Is that good or bad?

>>14757098

Just realised that the PSX version lacks the gloriously cheesy music of the PC version. Le fuuuu-

Anyhoo, good writing thus far.

>>14757147

Its awesome. The ambient music of the PSX intro doesn't go well with the narration, unfortunetly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfXVjr1n1fk

Here we go! The 3DO version is the same as the PC. And it gives me a nostaliga boner.

...

So yes! Abyssal Jaws!

The Order of the Black Priests was established by the greatest librarian in the chapter's history, [Bob, until we name this guy]. Though he would one day become the most powerful psyker the chapter had seen before, his psychic trait did not manifest until his late twenties, an extraordinarily rare occurance. To complicate matters, the deeply devout and righteous Bob was already well on the way to becoming the chapter's youngest chaplain. The scandal rocked the foundations of the chapter command to its core. Chaplains that only months earlier had nothing but words of priase for their young protege' were all but clamouring for his execution. Librarians, whom he had once scorned and pitied were now actually defending him (though many secretly believed they did so only in order to rile the chaplaincy).
In the end, it was Bob himself who settled the matter. In an empassioned speech he pleaded to be allowed to explore and expound upon his newfound gifts in order to further the Emperor's cause. Every marine in the chapter had unique abilites and weaknesses that he must exploit and compensate for in turn in order to do his duty, that Bob had manifested so late into his life had merely served to open his eyes to the fact that it is their duty to take advantage of every weapon the Emperor sees fit to grant upon them.
And so was that as Bob was lead forth to the Librarium to take his vows and begin his tenure as an Acolyte, the seeds of independence and personal valour was planted amongst the hearts of his surperiors.

>>14757286

Use a random name generator or something. Its what I did when I made that Terminator picture (well, used the B&C Terminator painter then GIMPed up some blood). Terminator Brother Emilio Taonga was the result of using a mixture of Portugese and African names (I think I put Basque in as well for a laugh).

>>14757286

It was not for another three centuries that fate would once again take a drastic turn in Bob's life.
The chapter was celebrating one of its most ancient and sacred rituals, the Primarchal Glorification, in which all of the chapter's Chaplains not on campaign gather together once every decade to reconsecrate their arms and armour in the center of the Reclusium. It is during this ritual that they each add a measure of their blood into the only surviving Blood Chalice of Sanquinius in the chapter's protection. An object of immense power, the Chalice was outfitted by master Magi of the Adeptus Mechanicus with a special psychofield projector that strikes out against anyone of less than pure heart that dare touch it. Once the blood of the chaplains has been mixed with that of their Primarch, a measure of it is injected back into the veins of those that had so recently shed it. Tragically, unbeknownst to the gathered chaplains, their master, High Reclusiarch [Jeff], was suffering from the [what did we call the black rage, again?] when his blood was added. Thus it was that nearly every member of the chapter's Reclusium was overwhelmed by the [black rage] at the same time.
The only member of the chapter present that was properly instructed in the methods used to calm such poor unfortunate souls was a Librarian only recently promoted to the rank of Epistolary, Bob.
Instructing his brother marines to restrain the raging Chaplains, Bob completed the Primarchal Glorification by injecting himself with all but the last of the blood it held. His power temporarily boosted to amazing levels, and directed by a joined chorus of the present Librarians, Bob forcefully drove the [black rage] from his former collegues' minds in an epic display of control and piety.

>>14757408

>what did we call the black rage, again?

The Call of the Deep.

>>14757408

Though nearly a quarter of the suffering chaplains and the chapter's ancient Chief Librarian had died during the ritual, the rest were merely driven into deep comas. In fact, until the first few started to show signs of awakening it was believed that Bob and the Librarians had failed in their efforts, and as such he was leading his psyker brothers in a long vigil of fast and prayer begging the Emperor for mercy on the Chaplains' souls and for their own repentence.
Miraculously, once they had awoken from thier deep sleep, the Chaplains discvovered that Bob's ritual had done something other than merely free their minds from the madness of the [black rage]; nearly every one of them had been transformed into a psyker, albiet one's with weak potential.
It has also been noted in the chapter logs that the rate of psychic manifestation in the chapter increased dramatically once the geneseed of the affected chaplains had been allowed to proliferate [is that the right word for "had offspring?"] amongst the Genovaults.

Attributing the skill and strength of mind used to carry the day to the piety he had learned and never lost as a youth as an acolyte to the Chaplains, Bob officially joined the Librarium and the Reculium upon his immediate assention to the role of Chif Librarain and High Reclusiarch into the Black Order (I like this name better, it's shorter) that stands to this day. As the Abyssal Jaws first Black Sage, Bob would spend the rest of his life establishing the protocols that would govern how the Black Priests and the rest of the chapter interact. Essentially, the procedure he divised was one of direction and advisement. Though he never allowed the Black Priests to direclty decide matters for the chapter, it was and is rare indeed for a captain or Chapter Master to go against the whispered words of one of the Black Order.

>>14757475

Ah, danke.

Well, as it is Friday night here in Louisiana, I'm off to my LGS to get a game of 40k in. Wish me luck; I'll be back soon.

Is it just me, or are the chapters /tg/ comes up with far better than GW's own?

inb4 lolANGRYMEHREENS : Not talking of the parody ones.

Fuck yeah, loving zee fluff.

Say this thread earlyer today and it made me start working my first conversion ever. So it will proboly look like shit, but has anyone with some talent made any jawsome convertions yet?

On a relatd note. What ethnicity are the Abyssal Jaws? The guy at the top of the thread looks pretty dark skinned.

>>14757722

We've never really discussed it. Its also why in a lot of the names in the fluff so far written are pretty different. After a guy mentioned giving them Portugese games in one of the first threads, and give the whole Piranha aspect, I've always pictured them being Brazillian.

Actually, it'd be pretty interesting to hear what ethnicity fa/tg/uys think the Abyssal Jaws are.

So they're all based on what they don't know is a fictional book, or did we decide to write-in the Deep Ones?

>>14757941

The Chapter was founded because they found a damaged copy of The Call of Cthulhu. Taking it word for word, the Abyssal Jaws (Abyssal Angels at the time) were founded to confrot this inevitable threat.
Of course, its just a fictional text. There wasn't any danger from this Cthulhu guy.

However, it just so happens that ancient Old One ruins were discovered in the Oceans of Maresia. To make matters worse, an Old One lies sleeping deep within the trenches at the very bottom. As a result, the Chapter now garrisons the planet (and its moon).

Also due to an experiment to eliminate the Black Rage/Red Thirst from the chapters geneseed, a variant has sprung up called "The Call of the Deep". When a marine hears the call, they drop whatever they're doing and try to get to the ocean as quickly as possible.

After that, nobody really knows what happens to them. They could be fighting a war against the products of the Old Ones's insanity, or perhaps they still wander the ocean floor like Big Daddies.

>>14757990

Now I think about it, could the way that the Blood Angel's curses have developed in the Abyssal Jaws been somehow influnced by the Old One?

>>14758016
Or guidance from the Emperor to go kill some seriously nasty shit, that they can only receive while in an altered state of consciousness?

bump

>>14758016
What, that was not canon already? I thought it was implied enough.

>>14758135
Too much like the Emperors' Nightmares

>>14729042
I wish I could make this work on Win7.

>>14757286
>>14757408
>>14757539
So what do you think about this portrayal of the legendary librarian guy? The idea is that the mental fortitude of a Chaplain, combined with the psychic power of a Librarian grant the Black Priests a sort of immunity to the Call of the Deep. They are still effected by it, but can channel their powers together to keep them from going off the deep end. It would work sort of like a demi-hive mind thing; one or two may succumb, but together they stand fast.

>>14759051
I like it! Bob needs a better name, though.

>>14759349

Indeed. Here is a list of male Portruguese names:
http://www.names-meanings.net/names/male-portuguese

Varily, let us doth choose one forthwith, dawg.

bump

Cripes. This topic's been around for four days now and we've got lots of fluff and art. Keep it up!

>>14758805

Well, it wasn't canon... Until now. :V

bump

>>14757763
Well brazillians have a fame of being Pretty Bro people. i can see the Jaws being Latino/Brazillians

About Bob
how about the name Baltasar?

>>14764382

Sounds good to me!

>>14764382
From what I understand Brazilians have pretty varied skin color so that opens up a lot of variation there.

And Sisters of the Eternal Gate in carnivals will do wonders for moral and faith I think.

>>14764382

Baltasar sounds good to me. But should he have a title or a surname, maybe both?

>>14764650

Baltasar the Great? Baltasar the Grand? Baltasar the Magnificent?

>>14765046
Baltasar the Vigilant?

>>14765153

Baltasar the faaaaaaaaaaaaaabulous!

"The Vigilant" sounds good to me.

Baltasar the Vigilant, First of the Black Priests, Keeper of the Dark Tomes, Lord of the Deep Waters, Banger of Hot Bitches;

ALL! HAIL! BALTASAR!!!!!!!!

Well, it looks like we've got our figure of legend fluffed out. How about the chapter's current chapter master?

>>14766003

I say we make him a dreadnaught. The future Lord Baltasar passed through his tutelage while he was serving as a sergeant in the scout company. By the time the Black Order was founded, he had been the commander of the whole scout company for six decades. It was after Baltasar's disappearance, and the unfortunate loss of the current chapter master during the Battle of the Far Deep that he took up the mantle of chapter master, skillfully solidifying his power and calming the unrest in the chapter by immediately leading a successful campaign of vengeance against he Chaos renegades they had fought at Far Deep.
Four centuries later he was laid low by an Ork Warlord of unparralleled ferocity and was entombed within the body of a venerable dreadnought. Though technically still Lord High Commander of the Abyssal Jaws, he is forced to leave the day to day command of the chapter in the hands of the First Steward, the nominal captain of the Veteran Company whilst he slumbers.
However, when great need arises the Forge opens the adamantine portal to the Sunken Vault (the sacred armoury in which the chapter's most sacred and potent weapons of war are stored) and enact the lengthy process of awakening, so that he may unleash his pent up fury upon the heads of the Emperor's enemies, all the while commanded the chapter with his brilliant tactical skills and innate cunning. Indeed, some say even he does not understand the reasoning behind many of his orders at the time they are made; many speculate that this is the result of Baltasar whispering words of victory into his mind from across time and space.

>>14766221

Actually, let's have him be entombed in a Knight Titan, gifted to him after he sacrificed his venerable dreadnought's body to yadda yadda, blah blah blah, saved a forge world or something.

>>14766003
We still lack "Deeds of Legend: Chief Librarian lost in the Warp"

I think that Baltasar title, the Vigilan, should be liked to this final deed. Maybe he he guards a opening to the warp deep in the abyss of Maresias' sea.

>>14766249

I like it. Also, let's have him loose his eyes in a battle sometime after taking the position of Chief Librarian-Chaplain. The idea of a blind guy getting titled, "the Vigilant," would be epic level irony.

>>14766221

Pretty sure the Emperor's Nightmare got dibs on Dreadnought Chapter master.

>>14766333

Curses, foiled again.
I was planning on having a plot-hook in which Baltasar was actually coming back by possessing the dreadmaster's mind. Andi would have gotten away with it, too; if it wasn't for you meddling anons and your... stoned mastiff.

>>14766284

Dittoing this.

bump

Abyssal BUMP

We've discussed the chapter's relationship with the SoB, the Inquistion and the IG... But what about their brother chapters?

Personally, from what I've read about the chapter, I see the Abyssal Jaws being along the sames lines as the Space Wolves and Salamanders. They're very fond of civilians and get easily annoyed other chapters, such as the Flesh Tearers or Marines Malevolent seem to consider them as "acceptable losses".

I'm really not sure about what sort of relationship they'd have with the Blood Angels though.

>>14767802
Hmm that makes me think, would the Space Wolves and Salamander like the AJs because of there "bros with civilians-style" or would the whole "we shall nom the enemies of mankind-thing" get in the way?

I say they would be allied but what do you guys say?

>>14768030

I can't see them being totally buddy-buddy with the AJ, but they'd probably have some respect for the chapter.

>>14768056

Perhaps they had a fall out over something? I'd suggest the cannibalism, but that's pretty much widespread across all the BA successors.

>>14768030

Hmm... I'd say they're fine with them. The big problem would be the cannibalism, but I don't think that would cause the Salamanders/Space Wolves to hate them.

bumping

>>14768251
it depends on how familiar they are with their cannibalistic aspects. The Jaws, as stated a number of times before, keep their cannibalism to their enemies and few rituals concerning it.

>>14768251
So do the JAs have any enemies among the space marines?

The Ultrasmurfs wouldn't like there fragrant breaking with the codex.

The Black Templars would hate that JAs only let's psykers become "chaplains".

Guess that the Blood Angels and friend would think that the Black Rage turning into Call of The Deep is really odd and maybe a bit HERESY.

>>14768409

Oh yeah, I didn't mean to imply otherwise. I was thinking more along the lines of: "They eat the enemies? Eww. The enemy is there for CLEANSING not SNACKING."

Man, I have no idea why I didn't see these threads before, this chapter sounds pretty awesome. I'd love to do some writefaggin' for it, but I'm not very familiar with the 40k fluff and I've exams to work on.

Keep up the work though!

>>14768422
Maybe the JAs eat something that the SW and Salamanders didn't think where enemies.

Buuuut that seams like kind of a stretch to me. It would have to be nom worthy and still seem like it really shouldn't be eaten. Don't think that they would a chaos-spawn and the like.

>>14768445
Well have a look at http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Abyssal_Jaws for links to the other threads if you want some more writefagotry and whatnot.

>>14768445

Feel free to contribute anyway! Delicious fluff is delicious.

Anyway, my reason for thinking about relations with other SM chapter is because... Well, Space Marines can be pretty fucking picky. I remember reading that the Marines Malevolent and Dark Angels pull a hissy fit at the idea of ever fighting alongside the Black Dragons.

>>14768460

The wiki page could do with some work as well. I've done some work on it, but I'm really not sure about where to put the fluff and so on.

>>14768514
Well what of the writefagotry that we already have should we put on wiki?

I think that "the saga of Baltasar" belongs there, but why don't you make a post on the talk page for the abyssal jaws and make your voice heard?

>>14768597

Done and done.

>>14768422
I think the Jaws look eating their enemies as crushing their spirits by stealing their power and knowledge so that the broken soul is laid further bare before the Emperor

in the case of the ritual consuming of their dead, they believe that the impurites are scourged away by the act of being devoured and gifting their corporeal knowledge away.

>>14768917

Sounds good to me!

>>14768917
That is a good take on it.

I love >>14729042 but it really don't work for the way that the Abyssal Jaws have developed.

BTW I think that there is more or less a consensus that JAs takes lots of trophies, but what do they take? Skulls are overdone and would only get in the way under water. I'm thinking teeth or preserved bits of flesh/skin.

doubleBTW "Abyssal Jaws thread? Abyssal Jaws thread. Anonymous 04/26/11(Tue)15:56" this jawsome thread has been going strong for four days. Just wanted to point that out.

>>14768917
And then they're corrupted by eating Chaos-tainted foes...

>>14768917

So essentially they'd act as Sin Eaters?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin-eater

>>14769059

Though its not been mentioned in a while, the AJ never wash the blood stains from their armour, considering them to be trophies. A part from that, they probably do take the odd bits and pieces.

>>14769177

But what happens when they fight underwater 0_o ?

>>14769190

I think we mentioned there's something with the material their armor is made out of that binds the blood and keeps the marks permanent.

I'd like to see one badass member of this chapter than has armor that has turned completely red from all the battles he's fought.

>>14769127
minor warp shenanigans probably won't be too much of a problem and they aren't dumb enough to nom on something that would seriously fuck them up

simply, those who have been "consumed by chaos" don't have spirits to eat in their view so there's nothing to be gained from doing it.

>>14769157
yeah pretty much

>>14769059
definately teeth

>>14746267
>>14747303

If anyone would like to write a short, descriptive sentences for these two pictures (for the wiki article), that would be pretty kickin' rad.

Also we still need that chapter heraldy!

Or at least, a finished version of the proposed one.

>>14769980

What a coincidence, I just finished.

>>14770030

It's a needle-fanged shaw with an octopus/squid-like eye in the center, in case you could not tell.

>>14770030

I love the mouth! Not sure about the thing in the middle though. Makes it look a bit like Abyssal Goatse.

>>14770107

Then maybe a spiral going into the center... no, still goatse.

How about having the inside of the mout be completely black, and place the mouth on an inward spiral plain? Have the spiral be in the chapter colours, but oddly muted, in different shades, and/or with mixed colors?

Might make it look a little like water, a vortex in particular.

That's it! A watery vortex with jaws at the bottom! Like a Sarlacc Pit in the ocean!

We just need a drawfag that can make it NOT look like goatse...

>>14770095

Ah, looks a lot better coloured in.

>>14770146

How about a blood angel-style droplet?

Octopi (which I feel are more closely related to Cthulhu than squids, do to octopi being highly intelligent) have squared eyes, rather creepy when you get a good look.

what about this in the center?

>It was part man, part frog

I can't be the only one who thought about "A Shadow over Innsmouth."

>>14770186
that was intentional

>>14770170

Just have blood dripping off the bottom jaw.

>>14770182

Well I was going for this, but that's an even better one!

>>14770212

And if we do this we can say the Jaws often attach lengths of fine, white fabric to the bottom of their pauldrons. They poor the blood of their enemies (centered on the bottom jawline) onto it and watch as the streaks reach the bottom of the cloth.

A warrior must turn the cloth completely red before he has been considered to have acuited himself.

>>14770212

You know, with this as the chapter symbol, you could make kick ass shoulder pads using that Oyamaru, stuff.
If you can manage to get your hands on some pirahna haws you can copy it with Oyamaru and glue it the the shoulder pads. A simple rectangle of greenstuff would work for the eye.

You'd take a shoulder pad, add the eye-rectangle, then basecoat it. Then you'd basecoat the copied jaw. Place the jaw on the pad and trace it with a pencil. Then paint JUST THE EYE a yellowish orange, with a rectangle in the center of black. Then paint everything outside the traced line with the chapter's blue colour. Then paint the area inside the trace with black. Paint the jaw, glue it to the pad, add some blood affects, BAM! Kick. Ass. Pauldron.

Cthulhu bump

This thread wants to live forever.

bumping

Generic pose is generic

>>14770971
fucking awesome

though i'd like to see him with a chain or saw saw katar

slashing weapons aren't so hot underwater

>>14770971
Yeah this
while it's awesome he have to choose other weapon

>>14771605
Isnt there a standard weapon loadout issued to marines. Given their Ultramaboos origins it would be silly to think that they're "UNDERWATER FIGHTAN ALL THE TIME" hence why I drew him with a chainsword

>>14773739

Blood Angel origins.

But yeah, I can see what you mean. The AJ aren't always under the sea. There's been mention them fighting in zero gravity conditions and shit as well.

Still, that picture is fantastic.

I added >>14770971 >>14770212 >>14770095 to the 1d4chan page.

On a side note. Anyone wanna do some work on the JAs best buds, Maresia Sea-Guard?

I figure that their aquatic specialization can't be permitted to cripple their land warfare capacity. The administratum would be pretty pissed if they couldn't count on the guards men (and women?) for the Sea-Guard in a ground war.

If they are against some Chaos warband, why not have it be a Lost and the Damned style warband of fish/tenctacled beastmen, worshipping a greater daemon of Tzeentch who happens to look like Cthulhu.

>>14774798

I picture the Sea-Guard specialising in conflicts like the Pacific part of WWII. Lots of island hopping, beach landings and so on.

How about something like this? (Tried to go with the same thing as shown in the last Magi picture)

So I got to doodling an idea.

>>14775063

Under the seaaaaa~

Awesome looking picture.

bump

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTT...


It's drill time!

My drill is the drill that pieces the oceans!

Bumping in the name of the Abyss

Oh, it seems like the first Abyssal Jaws thread in the archives (not the original thread, the first thread where they were known as the Abyssal Jaws) seems to be corrupted or something. Thankfully, I think any of the writefaggotry from that thread got posted in the second.

Reposting an awesome piece of writefaggotry from an old thread:
-----
A lesser man than captain Melvus would have been blind in the darkness. No light filtered this far into the murky depths. If the blindess did not undo them, the pressure would have. Hundereds of feet down, the human body would collapse and crush like paper. Yet Melvus was alive, and far from blind. As he raised another gauntletted fist to grasp a handhold above his head, he was completely aware of the darkness around him.

Pulling himself up, Melvus could feel his brothers climbing below him. The anchoring strut that they scaled stretched down into the darkness below, and the captain could see the long line of marines reaching down to the depths. Even to him the seafloor was hidden from view, where hours before his brothers had been deposited by their shielded sub-skimmers and begun their climb. The heretics had overrun the deep-sea platform for their obscene ritual, and the platform's intergrated defences made it impossible to approach from the open air. The traitors had not counted, however, on the strength of the abyss, and Melvus's men meant to show them their mistake.

(continued)

>>14776352

After hours of climbing, the captain could see curtains of light from the moons above filtering down through the water. Mear meters below the surface he halted, and prepared his squad for the assault. Over the comm, the squads scaling the 3 other struts confirmed that they too were prepared. Reaching to his belt, Melvus grasped the heavy chain-hook that hung there. Silently breaching the surface in the moonlight, he saw the shadowy shapes of Heretics moving back and forth across the catwalks above. Steadying himself against the support pylon, he sighted on the lowest catwalk, and swung.

The chain-hook revved as it flew, triggered by unspooling of the high-density fiber cord connecting it to Melvus's belt. As the hook arced above the catwalk, the marine captain yanked on the cord and brought it snapping back, catching a heretic in the chest and sinking through his flesh into the plating of the catwalk. Triggering the retreval function, Melvus was pulled rapidly up to the level of the walkways. The hooks of his battle brothers swung up to join him as he freed his chain-hook from the body of the heretic and turned to the traitors that had begun to panic and sound the alarm all around him. The saltwater cascading over his helmet lent a bubbling note to his roar, as though it rose from a great depth:

"FEAR THE MIGHT THAT RESIDES IN THE ABYSS"

>>14776362
>>14776352
That story is bad ass, some drawfag really needs to do something with it.

>>14776362

That's a rather lenghty battle cry. I think a simple, "Fear the Abyss!" would work much better.

>>14776782

Think that's lengthy? According to the chapter's stats (or whatever you'd call the stuff in the third post of this thread), the chapters battlecry is:

>"THE JAWS OF ABYSS SHALL CLAIM ALL ENEMIES OF MAN!"

>>14776883
How about we make that "THE ABYSS SWALLOWS ALL FOES OF MAN"? Shorter...

>>14776883
Yeah no. No one would take the time to shout out something like that while charging into combat, they'd be out of breath and distracted.

"The Jaws of the Abyss shall claim all enemies of man," is a motto, not a warcry. Hell, even Blood for the Blood God is too much of a mouthful; the best warcries are short and sweet:

For the Emperor! (pronounced For th' Emprah!"
Kill! Maim! Burn!
All is Dust!
Ai Shub Niggurath!
Cthulhu Fhtagn!
Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!
Blood and Thunder!
Victory at Sea!
No Prisoners!
Death or Glory!
Bitches and Whores!
Waitimnotsupposedtobehereimjustamedic!
Victory or Death!
Ave Imparator!
Russ and the Allfather!
Rip and Tear!
Run Away!

>>14775063
siiiiick picture

>>14777071

Can you think of anything?

How about "WE CONSUME!" or something.

"DEATH FROM THE SEA!"
"FROM THE DEPTHS WE COME!"
"WE FEED!"
"FOR THE EMPEROR WE FEAST!"
"FROM THE SEA WE SLAUGHTER!"
"RIP AND TEAAAAAAAR!"

>>14777162

Death from bellow
Fear the abyss

I like "We feed," seems very fluffy.

>>14777184
seconding

I like "DEATH FROM THE SEA!" more personaly.

And I think that "WE FEED!" sounds like they have some wyrd fetish or something. But maybe I'm being a hater.

>>14777276
this

>>14777276

Still feels a little long, to me.

inb4 thats what she said

I'll just leave this here.

>>14777754

sweet

>>14777754

Amazing

awesome

>>14777754
THAT IS THE MOST AWESOME THING I'VE SEEN ALL DAY

>>14777754

Glorious!

bumping

bump

Bumping for Piranha Cavalry

So yeah, we should probably get the Chapter Master sorted out.

Also we definetly need a marine in all red armour due to all the gore. Just because he's that awesome (and messy at the dinner table).

As for the battle cry, can't the chapter just have two?

Abyssal Bump

So:

Chapter Allies:
Maresian Sea-Guard
Order of the Eternal Gate

Enemies:
Relictors
Thus far undecided chaos warband

Have I missed anything?

>>14766333
>>14779881
If the idea of a dreadnought chapter master doesn't float your boat, maybe this will.

Abyssal Jaws Chapter Master Balthazar is considered an oddity among Adeptus Astartes Chapter Masters for several reasons. The first is his adamant refusal to do any of the paperwork typically required of his office, such as providing documents detailing his campaigns, organizing tithes to the high lords, or even appointing captains. Instead this work is handled by a senior official in the Imperial Guard. Balaton takes pains to ensure going on campaign with the human several times to be sure of his trustworthiness. Beyond that, there is no criteria for having the position.

Inquisitor Yiyandra of the Ordo Herteticus investigated the Chapter Masters odd situation. Her official report on the matter is blank, save for a single quote from Balthazar. "I've got better things to do than paperwork." To this day the inquisitor will not speak more on the subject.

>>14781069
>>14781069
Basically
someone suggested this CSM
i agree

>>14781200
Why not have him be a past Chapter Master? Each chapter master has a different governing style...

>>14781200
Another notable feature of the Chapter Master is how eagerly he goes to war, with or without troops. While other Chapter Masters occasionally know periods of rest, Balthazar continually wages war. He has been known to petition captains for troops whenever he is on campaign, as his honor guard stands as the sole unit truly under command. If a captain will not personally pledge his troops, Balthazar will ask individual sargents to join his adventures, a call that is never denied, no matter how much it irks his captains. The fruits of his successes however, are more than enough to quiet his critics. When no troops are within a reasonable distance for him to command, Balthazar will ask to lead Imperial Guard regiments on deployments, an event that is considered to be a great honor among Guard leaders. While few other Chapter Master would even consider replacing their loyal marines with guardsmen, Balthazar maintains that "They're not any worse than a space marine, just smaller."

>>14781456
For the past one hundred years, Balthazar has always been seen chewing a tentacle in his mouth in the same manner a normal man might chew a cigar.

The tentacle itself is extremely unusual. It is a sickly shade of green, with various brown spots all along it's body. It extends about .3 meters long, and has been known to spontaneously put itself alight. Oddly enough, nothing can put out this flame. No water can douse it, no movement can disrupt it. It has even been known to stay aflame in the void of space. The flame will however, go out just as suddenly as it began, with no explanation. It seems that no matter how long Balthazar has chewed the tentacle, it stays intact.

Some say that it is a trophy of a demon that Balthazar slew, and tried to eat, only to find that it would never come apart, and he has yet to give up eating it. Others claim that it is a relic of the chapter, and that it grants Balthazar superhuman abilities. A few in rival Space Marine chapters, like the Sons of Malice, claim that it is a mutation, and that Balthazar is touched by the dark powers. All that is known, is that, when asked, Balthazar will refuse to answer, preferring the mystery around him.

>>14781636

I'm loving the tentacle cigar. Just want to point out that the Sons of Malice are excommunicate traitorius though, so I don't think they really have the right to comment on anything being heretical.

bump for the bump god

Oh yeah, whatever happened to that idea of linking the Emperor's Nightmare, Rising Sons and Abyssal Jaws by having them all in the same general area of the universe?

Bumping for the Emperor

>>14781225

I'm honestly not that big a fan of it. Perhaps its the fact that the chapter already bears a few similarties (power drills, fhtagn, marines wandering the depths and so on). Perhaps they could be marines which have fallen to the sorcery of the Old One, but I'd rather leave the fate of the marines that fall to The Call of the Deep unknown.

>>14781677

Thanks for the love, and sorry for the mistake
Working rules
Chapter Master Balthazar
Pts 265
Ws 6 Bs 5 St 4 T 4 W 5 I 6 A 4 LD 10 Sv +2/+4

And They Shall know no fear, Combat Tactics, Chapter Tactics, Tentacle of Balthazar, Spear of the Deep, Wrist Harpoon, Artificer Armor,, Friend of the Guard.

Chapter Tactics
Any unit in an army lead by Balthazar that has the Combat tactics special rule exchanges it for the ability to treat any amount of water as normal terrain, and gets Furious Charge. This includes Balthazar. In addition, any model without a close combat weapon may buy one for 1 point
Tentacle of Balthazar.
This twitching tentacle is of great use to Balthazar in battle. Once per game, it may release a thick cloud of....something. Balthazar and the unit he is with increase their cover save by +2 and may move an extra 6 inches in their movement phase. This flaming and flailing tentacle also acts as a digital weapon for Balthazar.
Spear of the Deep
This Relic Blade is a long spear with what appears to be three claws at the end. Upon being used in combat, however, the claws writhe and snap at everything around them. This Relic Blade has rending.
Wrist Harpoon
Str 7 Ap 4 acts as Magna Harpoon in all other respects.
Friend of the Guard
Balthazar may be taken as an HQ choice by an Imperial Guard army.