22nd Vostroyan Royal Rifle Regiment: Crimson Slaughter set a course................Pandorax Prelude

Vostroyan First Born

The Vostroyans are one of the oldest Imperial Guard regiments, able to trace their regimental histories back to the Horus Heresy. The Vostroyans have a tradition that the firstborn son of every household will serve in the Vostroyan regiments, hence the name of the Regiments. Vostroyan soldiers and officers retain a very archaic appearance on the real world century Russian Cossacks. Firstborn use long and very ornate rifles, usually with wooden stocks. Officers bear lasguns integrated with axes. Thus, the Vostroyans are probably the regiment most evocative of the "retor-tech" background of Warhamer 40,000.

Vostroya is a world in the Halo Zone beyond the Eye of Terror, which swore allegiance to Mars during the Age of Strife. It is now ruled by a committee of Techtriarchs, a mix of Mechanicus Magos and more traditional Imperial planetary government. During the Horus Heresy, Vostroya refused to provide regiments to the Emperor, preferring instead to reserve the population in the manufactorium blanketing the world. After the Heresy came to an end the Vostroyans agreed to supply every first born son to service with the Imperial Guard.

According to Vostroya's Offering of the First Born, the eldest son of every family must enlist in the Regiments. There are no exceptions to this law, which applies even to the Techtriarchs and the most noble families. For most Vostroyans, it is an honour to join the Firstborn, as great importance is attached to the payment of the debt owed to the Emperor millennia ago.
Unlike other Imperial Guard regiments that are raised en-masse, the Firstborn get a steady flow of new recruits from their homeworld. As a result, the Firstborn regiments have existed unbroken since they were first created. This is not always easy to organize, but ensures that Vostroyan regiments maintain their highest potential, as well as ensuring there's a core of veteran warriors. One consequence of this method is that the Firstborn are considered a brotherhood of warriors and are proud to train the recruits according to their own exacting standards. Few Imperial Guard regiments have a stronger brotherly bond than the Vostroyans.
The Firstborn are trained in very difficult conditions among the ruined industrial areas of their homeworld.

Friday, May 20, 2016

Crimson Slaughter set a course................Pandorax Prelude

The Pandorax system had come under siege. The forces of chaos led by Kranon the Relentless of the Crimson Slaughter had brought war to the system. His blood thirsty chapter had poured through the system spilling blood and causing strife, all in the name of Khorne.

The futile attempt by an under equipped Imperial Guard has only fed the blood tide. Colonel Strike of the 183rd Catachan stranded on the besieged planet of Pythos has held out as long as he could. His forces now lay in shambles, his communication dangerously close to be severed by chaos forces.

Colonel Strike's only hope of survival is the Imperial Navy. Stationed in the Pandorax sector when Kranon invaded, Task Force Solaris is the only Imperial force that can stem the tide of blood. It's commander Admiral Kranswar has his orders to assume a blockade and hold out until reinforcements arrive, but he has another plan entirely.

Now the Chaos fleet Chariots of Slaughter, commanded by Lord Severin Drask has made their presence known. Supporting Kranon and his Chaos forces landing on Pythos.

Whole star systems have died at the hands of Severin Drask. Cunning and cruel beyond measure, Drask possesses incredible psychic might, and is all too ready to turn it upon those who stand in his way. Lord Drask is one of the most dangerous heretics in the galaxy, a lunatic who has murdered billions.

Now Admiral Kranswar's daring operation led by Task Force Solaris to cripple the Chariots of Slaughter, and hunt down its master mind Lord Severin Drask has begun.