Fire Keepers

The Fire Keepers are a Loyalist Space Marine Chapter, created from the lineage of the noble Salamanders and raised during the Ultima Founding of 999.M41.

The Fire Keepers are specialists in measured, tactile engagements. Following the hunting doctrines of their home world, great care is taken to ensure their foes weaknesses are understood, so that when battle dawns they are able to overcome the insurmountable.

Many Fire Keepers were originally members of Roboute Guilliman’s Unnumbered Sons and fought during the early years of the Indomitus Crusade. Most notably, among that group is the Fire Keepers Chapter Master, whose values were tempered through the communal experience of working in concert with battle brothers of varied gene-lines. A sentiment which has become a tenet of the chapter and remains reinforced by their homeworld.

As a young Chapter, the Fire Keepers remain resolute in their oaths to humanity and the Imperium at large, the pursuit of slaying great beasts, so that the fires of humanity will never die out.

Designer’s Notes – The Journey Thus Far

The development of the Fire Keepers has been a strange journey. I suppose we can start with, why Salamanders? Well tbf my natural affinity for green drew me to them; even back in the early years of 3rd edition. When I returned to the hobby with 8th edition, I decided I finally want to build a Space Marines force. And so, I began researching the first founding Chapters. When I found out the Salamanders had a natural affinity for crafting their gear, and creating great works (which meshed with my enjoyment of conversions and spending time on the hobbying aspect of 40k miniatures), my mind was set.

Initially the Fire Keepers started out as a ‘branded’ Salamanders strike force, and quickly I grey to like the Codex Astartes style role designations (red helmeted sergeants, white helmet ancients, etc.), and building out the collection commenced from there.
About halfway through 8th edition I realized that I quite like the idea of building my own characters and lore – your basic homebrew schtick. But my inner nerd, realized that to operate under the current paradigm conflicts with the lore.

“Actshullly,how can you have your own Ultramarines Chapter Master if the lore says that Marneus Calgar is the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines?”

And so I did major pivot and committed to the Fire Keepers as their own Successor Chapter

Naturally I continued with my hobby pursuits, fleshing out lore and building units. Designing the Fire Keepers Chapter Master also served to define the unique badge for the chapter. Things were feeling great. But something was wrong. Perhaps I didn’t want to acknowledge it, but it was nagging below the surface at all the work I did thus far. In retrospect it was pretty obvious… The Fire Keepers were a successor chapter that was too aesthetically similar to the parent chapter.

After grappling with the prospect of having to go back and modify great amounts of hobbying, I determined the color scheme would need to be modified, and until it was I wouldn’t be happy. And so a colour scheme for the chapter was developed. One that maintains green, though boosting it a bit brighter than that of the parent chapter, and uses black portions on the arms to further define them, and the recoloration of the chapter began. Which brings us to the present.

Chapter History

Fire Keepers Chapter Colour Scheme as displayed by Primaris Marine Brother Ioketh, 3rd Company, 3rd Squad (battleline).

While not one of the first Ultima Chapters to be founded, recruitment began relatively early in late M32 following the end of the War of the Beast.

Aspirants were recruited from the Feral World of Kokotan, and they were placed into stasis for thousands of standard years until the awakening for the Ultima Founding by Archmagos Belisarius Cawl.

The Chapter was named for the virtuous ideals presented in the Promethean Cult, and their values in a galaxy ravaged by war.

The Fire Keepers joined the other Ultima Founding Chapters in reinforcing he Imperial war effort of the Indomitus Crusade. The majority of the chapter served with their assigned Indomitus Battle Group, while those selected for command, joined the Unnumbered Sons. Serving as aides to the First Born Captains who led them.

When the crusade reached their home world, agents of the Adeptus Terra arrived with the chapter to establish their fortress monastery as the crusade continued on.

Notable Campaigns

Indomitus Crusade (Unknown Date. M42) –

Chapter Organization

Similar to the Salamanders, the Fire Keepers do follow the Codex Astartes, but their doctrines are also strongly influenced by the hunter-warrior culture of their home world of Kokotan. Resulting in the Fire Keepers codex compliancy status as: PARTIAL

Taking cues from the Codex Astartes, the Fire Keepers do follow its guidelines to denote their companies, and signify rank within the chapter. Where this ends is with their company structure.

Compliancy Deviations

Battle Companies All

Where typically an Astartes Chapter would have companies 6-9 serving as reserves, instead the Fire Keepers configure each company as a battle company. This deviation is derived from the combat philosophy of Kokotan’s hunting parties; which stress cooperation and preparedness to accomplish their quests. To this end, each company has 5 Battleline squads instead of the usual 6. With the 6th squad being split between providing additional close and fire support.

While there are no dedicated reserve companies. It is not uncommon for companies to requisition assistance and work in joint operations if need be.

Elder Dragons

Not dissimilar to the norm, the Fire Keepers 1st Company, is comprised of the chapters veterans. Though there is a unique exception, one informed by the warrior-hunter culture of their home-world. Great reverence is given to those who serve as hunters, who brave the dangers of the wilds. And so battle brothers who have sacrificed so much, and still continue to serve within their dreadnought sacraphogai are venerated to the 1st Company, earning the title as Elder Dragons.

Forge Cults

Although not part of the Battle Companies, the Fire Keepers’ Forge Cults are a critical component of the chapter, and is certainty their most unique aspect when compared to the force organization of other chapters. Comprised wholly of non Astartes personnel, the Forge Cults are a fraternity of prestigious weapon and armour smiths; who serve the battle brothers in creating and maintaining their gear and vehicles.

Although gone by a different name in the past, the Forge Cults are an evolution of the weapon and armour makers of Kokotan’s ancient hunting tribes. Similar to the Astartes recruitment, children of age, can be taken to serve the chapter in this most honourable role, earning the title of Forge Rite.

The Forge Cults are overseen by the chapter’s Techmarines and Master of the Forge. Though once a Forge Rite has reached the necessary proficiency, minimal oversight is required; thus allowing the chapter’s Techmarines to work on creating great relics.

Deathwatch Service

Though it happens rarely the Fire Keepers treat service within the Deathwatch with a grave respect. Within fulfilling their sworn oaths, there is also an opportunity. Service within the Death Watch is treated as a learning experience, as battle brothers are able to learn from different combat doctrines of different chapters. This value is stressed by the Chapter Master Akamu’ Toram, who likens the experience to his own within the Grey Shields during the early years of the Indomitus Crusade. An experience he deems invaluable in tempering strategic decision making, and fostering one’s battle philosophy.

Combat Doctrine

Translating the combat philosophy of their Kokotan’s hunting parties’, the Fire Keepers excel in the mid to close range combat scenarios. Like their progenitors they have an innate affinity with the elements of the forge, able to use flame and melta weaponry to great effect.

Serving as a final layer of flavour, is each company’s specialisms. Each company is attributed to one of the great mega fauna native to their homeworld. This association characterizes the formation, wargear and even temperament of their battle brothers to various degrees.

Designers Notes: The Fire Keepers serve as Inheritors of the Primarch.

Chapter Gene-Seed

Pict capture of Kokotan’s volcanic mega predator.

The Fire Keepers gene-seed maintains the same stability and purity rate as that of their progenitors. And notably carries their infamous aesthetic signatures, those being permanent darkening of pigmentation resulting in the obsidian skin and glowing red eyes.

This physiological aesthetic bears a striking resemblance to the that of Kokotan’s great volcanic mega predator, a beast which is held with mythic reverence by the planetary population.

Home World

One of the great hunting halls native to the tribes of Kokotan.

The Fire Keepers home planet is the Feral World of Kokotan in Segementum Pacificus. The Chapter’s warrior culture is strongly influenced by the traditions of their home world.

The cultural values native to Kokotan are eerily similar to those of Nocturne. Making it suitable candidate to serve as the homeworld and recruitment base a Salamanders Successor Gene-line. Many agents in the Adeptus Terra believe this be by design, one of the many machinations of the Arch Magos Belisarius Cawl.

Chapter Appearance

Chapter Colours

Fire Keepers Markings & Heraldry.

The Fire Keepers have a two-tone colour scheme with emerald green covering the helm, torso, wrists and legs of their power armour, while the helm, shoulder pauldrons, arms and backpack are black.

The Aquila or Imperialis on the chest is gold, and squad markings and unit designations are white.

Heraldry of Monster Hunters

Like their predecessors, the Salamanders, the Fire Keepers make use of scaled, fanged and bestial trophies. As well as the symbols of the forge, though this is more commonly reserved for battle brothers of rank.

Squad Designation

The Fire Keepers make use of symbols from the Codex Astartes for squad specialty designation. They favour a white symbol , indicating either battleline, close support, fire support, or Veteran, displayed on their right shoulder pauldron.

Squad Number

Unlike the Codex Astartes guideline, the Fire Keepers use simple Low Gothic numerals to identify individual squads, commonly presented on the front corner of the right shoulder pauldron.

Company Markings

The color of the right Pauldron’s trim designates the company of a Fire Keepers Astartes as defined by the Codex Astartes — white for the 1st Company, gold for the 2nd Company, red for the 3rd Company, green for the 4th Company, etc.

Command Signifiers

Command positions are denoted by helmet colorations in either white or red as determined by the Codex Astartes, — red for sergeants, white for veterans, red with white stripe for veteran sergeants, and red stripe trimmed white for lieutenants.

Branch Command positions all colour their armour as determined by the Codex Astartes — blue for Librarians, black for Chaplains, white for Apothecaries, and red for Techmarines. However the right shoulder pauldron and arm are kept in the standard Fire Keepers armour colours.

Chapter Badge

The Fire Keepers’ Chapter badge is a silhouette of a great beasts of legend of Kokotan.

The Fire Keepers’ symbol is derived from that of their parent Chapter — the Salamanders — following suit using the bestial silhouette skull of their homeworlds’ apex predator.

Fire Keepers

Warcry	“The Greater The Beast, The Greater The Spoils”
Founding	Ultima Founding (999.M41)
Successors of	Salamanders
Successor Chapters	None
Number	Unknown
Primarch	Vulkan
Chapter Master	Akamu’ Torum
Homeworld	Kokotan
Fortress-Monastery	Hall of Catharna
Allegiance	Imperium of Man
Colours	Emerald Green, Black, Gold