Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2007 15:21:57 GMT -5
This isn't actually a story, I just want to run my army background past seasoned Guard layers. I've designed many WFB armies but this'll be my first 40k army, so I'm not so up to speed on the more obscure pieces of background. I'd hate to get anything wrong so please correct anything far fetched or just plain impossible!
The 13th Anglan Volunteers are in fact the only Anglan regiment in full time service. The name began as a bitterly ironic joke among the men that somehow found its way into officialdom. Their homeworld is a wealthy if strategically insignificant planet lying on the Eastern fringe of the Imperium. A somewhat feudalistic society, the people of Angle work in vast factories producing luxury goods for the ruling classes of the neighbouring systems while the aristocratic industrialists, governors and merchants spend their time dancing, feasting and, above all, hunting. Indeed, Angle's only real claim to fame is the invention of the sport of Pog Sticking, a mounted passtime demanding horsemanship, skill and bravery in the face of the ferocious Anglan Pogs.
This idealistic (for some) existence was briefly shattered with the arrival of Hive Fleet Omega, a small splinter of the shattered Hive Fleet Kraken. Alerted by the destruction of surrounding planets, the Anglan authorities began vigorously preparing a vast Planetary Defence Force. All factories turned to the production of arms, noblemen competed to equip their labourers with the finest weaponry available and their sons eagerly formed themselves into huge cavalry squadrons, impatient to win honour and glory.
All such naivety was ruthlessly extinguished by the ferocity of the alien assault. Millions were slaughtered and tens of settlements were razed before the invasion was held at the great factory city of Ondonium. Wave after wave of tyranids crashed against the stalwart ranks of guardsmen, and each time they were thrown back. Wherever the men began to falter a desperate cavalry charge would clear the lines, providing brief but essential respite for the defenders. It was now that the industrial might of Angle was brought to the fore. The factories of Ondonium began to churn out tanks and heavy weapons at an awesome rate, and soon the aliens were being butchered at a rate far greater than they could replenish. With one final titanic cavalry charge the siege was broken, and the swarm obliterated, just as an imperial cruiser arrived to answer the Anglan call for aid. With their Hive Ships engaged and destroyed, the remaining tyranids were easily hunted down by the triumhant Anglans.
The wild celebrations that followed their victory were however to be shortlived, as the cruiser had bought a sinister visitor. Hangem Prejudem, an inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos and apprentice to Inquisitor Agmar, had seen enough of the tyranid menace to recognise the usefulness of a regiment of Imperial Guard so experienced in fighting these beasts. He immediately ordered a substantial portion of the Anglan PDF drafted into full time service, to be deployed wherever the Imperium require it. With little time to say their goodbyes the chosen men, their equipment and their horses were loaded into transports and never seen again. Occasionally Angle is required to channel more men or equipment to the regiment, but those who serve in it are dead to their homeworld- none have ever returned.
Under their charismatic Colonel Churchill the Volunteers have made it through every nightmarish scenario Inquisitor Prejudem could send them in to. Their expensive equipment and penchant for glorious, often catastrophic cavalry charges have earned them the distrust of many other regiments and the active dislike of certain Space Marine Chapters. Despite this they remain a respected force whether fighting the hated tyranids or any of the Emperor's many foes.
The 13th Anglan Volunteers are in fact the only Anglan regiment in full time service. The name began as a bitterly ironic joke among the men that somehow found its way into officialdom. Their homeworld is a wealthy if strategically insignificant planet lying on the Eastern fringe of the Imperium. A somewhat feudalistic society, the people of Angle work in vast factories producing luxury goods for the ruling classes of the neighbouring systems while the aristocratic industrialists, governors and merchants spend their time dancing, feasting and, above all, hunting. Indeed, Angle's only real claim to fame is the invention of the sport of Pog Sticking, a mounted passtime demanding horsemanship, skill and bravery in the face of the ferocious Anglan Pogs.
This idealistic (for some) existence was briefly shattered with the arrival of Hive Fleet Omega, a small splinter of the shattered Hive Fleet Kraken. Alerted by the destruction of surrounding planets, the Anglan authorities began vigorously preparing a vast Planetary Defence Force. All factories turned to the production of arms, noblemen competed to equip their labourers with the finest weaponry available and their sons eagerly formed themselves into huge cavalry squadrons, impatient to win honour and glory.
All such naivety was ruthlessly extinguished by the ferocity of the alien assault. Millions were slaughtered and tens of settlements were razed before the invasion was held at the great factory city of Ondonium. Wave after wave of tyranids crashed against the stalwart ranks of guardsmen, and each time they were thrown back. Wherever the men began to falter a desperate cavalry charge would clear the lines, providing brief but essential respite for the defenders. It was now that the industrial might of Angle was brought to the fore. The factories of Ondonium began to churn out tanks and heavy weapons at an awesome rate, and soon the aliens were being butchered at a rate far greater than they could replenish. With one final titanic cavalry charge the siege was broken, and the swarm obliterated, just as an imperial cruiser arrived to answer the Anglan call for aid. With their Hive Ships engaged and destroyed, the remaining tyranids were easily hunted down by the triumhant Anglans.
The wild celebrations that followed their victory were however to be shortlived, as the cruiser had bought a sinister visitor. Hangem Prejudem, an inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos and apprentice to Inquisitor Agmar, had seen enough of the tyranid menace to recognise the usefulness of a regiment of Imperial Guard so experienced in fighting these beasts. He immediately ordered a substantial portion of the Anglan PDF drafted into full time service, to be deployed wherever the Imperium require it. With little time to say their goodbyes the chosen men, their equipment and their horses were loaded into transports and never seen again. Occasionally Angle is required to channel more men or equipment to the regiment, but those who serve in it are dead to their homeworld- none have ever returned.
Under their charismatic Colonel Churchill the Volunteers have made it through every nightmarish scenario Inquisitor Prejudem could send them in to. Their expensive equipment and penchant for glorious, often catastrophic cavalry charges have earned them the distrust of many other regiments and the active dislike of certain Space Marine Chapters. Despite this they remain a respected force whether fighting the hated tyranids or any of the Emperor's many foes.
