I’m sooo hype Chap!! Thank you for covering to this. I saw the rumors on reddit. But I hadn’t seen the sauce. That lore, those colors, .... oh it’s time. It’s time for boops on snoots my friends!
Endocannibalism means they only eat their own dead, not that they eat anyone. Which seems like a smart move for soldiers who gain the memories of the dead.
And it is said that they were fighting alongside Space Wolves and won “renown”. So I assume the Corgis were cool and whatever “endocannibalism” means it is not that bad.
@@Become-Eggplant What's strange for one person is often normal for another, there are many non-western cultures that practice endocannibalism. But its undeniably a good way of gaining military intelligence from someone who has died.
Valrak, Self-sacrifice is meant to be giving ones life for others not ritual sacrifice (that is a big part of the orignal Salamanders Chapter). Also the cannibalism is them eating there dead brothers to take in there memory with that one space marine organ, not a new idea.
@@ChapterMasterValrak oh I agree the Black Viper are probaly bad, but Covenant guys are just iffy not the frist loyalist chapter to use a icon similar to one of the original traitors a few successor chapters of Ultramarines and Imperial Fist come to mine.
@@gothicpando Omophagea. This complicated implant becomes part of the brain, but is actually situated within the spinal cord between the cervical and thoracic vertebrae. Four nerve sheaths called neuroglia are implanted between the spine and the Preomnor wall. The Omophagea is designed to absorb genetic material generated in animal tissue as a function of memory, experience or innate ability. A Marine can actually learn by eating. Incidentally, it is the presence of this organ which has created the various flesh and blood drinking rituals for which the Marines are famous, as well as giving the names to Chapters such as the Blood Drinkers, Flesh Tearers etc.
Covenant of fire: FRIENDS come burn these books with me :D Black vipers: FRIENDS we don't trust you but have a nice day :D Dragonspears: OI GIMME A HUGGIN SO I CAN EATCHA :D Dark krakens: FRIENDS I killed a chaos titan celebratory hug :D
I was thinking along those lines too. I reckon that Cawl's agents are always nearby because they're in cahoots with the Black Vipers, not because they are suspicious of them.
Dragonspears don't seem that bad to me, Valrak. Self-sacrfice, laying down one's life to save and protect another, is strong tenet of the Promethian Creed (and it even has a strategum in game!). The Endocanabalism is just one of the less talked about features of Space Marines. The Remembrancer is meant to help SMs learn through eating, gaining the memories of whatever they ate. It is grotesque, but all Loyalist Space Marines are capable of doing this.
@@Ake-TL not only successors, the blood angels with all their successors have a super effective omophagea, they learn more memories, experiences, informations when eating corpse than the other SM but the price is a strong blood thirst and flesh craving ... they are space vampires
That's exactly what I was thinking of! Part of me wants to see an army of these guys with power-fishing wargear, IE Thunder Tridents, Power Fishing Poles, Lightning Harpoons, Gangplank Shields, and the list goes on!
the Salamanders are so friendly and loyal that their successors are the other side of the split in Vulcans personality, they are the dark side of the Toasty boys and embody the oposites perfectly balanced, as all things should be
@@janvircsik6319 Even Emps had to shunt a part of himself away. Vulkan and his primary chapter have hugs to give and snoots to boop. Let his wayward successor chapters pick up the arson slack.
if the salamanders are the humble dad of the Space Marines then the successor chapters are just the edgy rebellious children but it's Warhammer 40K so everything has to be over the top
As a salamander and vulkan fan boi, I love the dark krakens. Strange bit of love given to the salamanders with these successor chapters but they seem like they have potential for good story lines.
I think it’s ok for successors to diverge from their parent Legion in terms of culture. Otherwise the only difference is their name and colour scheme. Having Purple Salamanders and Orange Salamanders would have been pretty dull.
Indeed. A successor chapter that isn’t very close to its sire will find its own path. I guess it depends on how involved the parent chapter were in the founding and establishing of the successor.
Technically it was hinted that the red scorpions were loyalists word bearers. But seeing this I guess its Cawl messing with traitor geneseed and putting them in other chapters to not anger papa smurf.
LMAO Cawl using traitor genes again. Covenant of Fire = Word Bearers. Black Vipers = Alpha Legion. Dragonspears = World Eaters? Dark Kraken = Dark Angels! 🤭😂🤣
@@GI7GAM3SH Honestly I do think Cawl is using geneseed from traitor primarchs. But just because a chapter bears similarities to another gene line doesn't mean they are actually descended from it. Look at some of the Ultramarines successors for example.
I love the darker more mysterious loyalist successor chapters. It lets you make your own little bit of head cannon up for them. Would love to read a bit more about them. Dark Krakens and Black Vipers sound awesome.
That's how I interpreted that "Agents of Cawl" part as well. That chaplain may not have reached the chapter because some tech-priests didn't like the idea of their new pet chapter turning from the Omnissiah to join the Promethean cult. Or the chaplain did reach the chapter, but the Omnissiah was too strong within them.
The Dragonspears seem to express Vulkan's selfless compassion and tenacity; ever striding forth whilst remembering to keep the memories of their honoured dead with them. The Covenant of Fire have inherited Vulkan's intellect, penchant for philosophy and altruism towards society. And by incorporating the Promethean Creed they will also gain his wisdom. The Dark Krakens Like to test themselves through the crucible of battle, just as Vulkan decreed. And in doing so exemplify his endurance and desire for self-improvement. All in all I'm very pleased with these three successors. They all seem distinct whilst incorporating a familiar facet of the Salamanders mythos and Vulkan by extension. I just wish the Storm Giants were canonised too, I have no love for the Black Dragon's or their aesthetic though, so better neither than both. I guess that's what "headcanon" is for. The Black Vipers however seem shady AF! I would say they took Vulkan's preference for self-reliance way too far for shunning allies, but with Cawl's agents shadowing them I don't think the red of their armour is purely aesthetic... Like the Minotaurs to the High Lords of Terra I reckon the Black Vipers are secretly Cawl's personal attack force, or at least a part of it. They probably murdered the Salamander's envoy in rejection of Vulkan's legacy, or it's possible their Martian handlers did the deed to avoid leaving a trace that could've lead to exposing the Chapter's true allegiance, or at the least, that interfered with Cawl's influence. They'll make far better pseudo antagonists/anti heroes like the Flesh Tearers to the Blood Angels than the Black Dragons with their alleged connection who are a Chapter that flagrantly flaunts their cursed mutations - seemingly without censure. I hope in time all these Chapters are explored in greater depth granting the Sons of Vulkan greater exposure and prominence in the overall lore.
@@samuraibear5102 chastising someone for wanting to get their point across to three different viewer bases seems rather useless to me. The fact you've seen it twice before has no bearing on the conversation he's starting with like-minded individuals.
@@nocturnenoble2468 I find your take on the four chapters to be very interesting, and I personally love the dragonspears for many aspects. Albeit that may have to be due mostly to my love for the mortifactors and their ritualistic cannibalism similar to the dragonspears.
Could they possibly follow the machine cult and when told another being existed by the chaplain they brutally murdered them for their perceived heresy having not been shown the omnissiah like abilities of the god emperor.
This is how I interpreted that text as well. If the chapter didn't kill that chaplain themselves, I'd guess their techno-"friends" made sure he wouldn't reach them with his "heretical" teachings.
I actually like these chapters, not just copies of the original founding chapter. It's similar to the contrast between the Ultramarines and mortificaters.
I am freaking out because 3 years ago I designed my first homebrew chapter called the Void Krakens, who were purple and black, and lived on a planet with very little land mass. The warp has made my imaginings into reality.
I googled endocannibalism and it seems within the bounds of weird but acceptable space marine practices, certainly not weirder than wearing the scrimshawed bones of your fallen brothers on your armour. (Edit) also it’s ironic that the black krakens are the most ominous sounding but are the least weird.
Yeah, the cannibalism part is nothing new to Space marines, even if there's very few chapters known to practise it openly. Flesh tearers comes to mind, though they're not exactly the best example of space marine standards either. Self-sacrifice wouldn't usually mean that they ritually sacrifice their own, though this particular context could suggest such practise. I'd rather guess that they are more keen than others to go down fighting to the very end, so that they can be eaten by their brothers instead of becoming a burden upon their chapter. In that case I think it would imply they make less use of dreadnoughs, servitors, and perhaps even bionics.
My reaction as follows Covenant of Fire: "Loyal guys who does sus stuff" Black Vipers: "ya'll sus af" Dragonspears: "Fought with Space Wolves and are Ork Hunters, cool.....but snorting your brother's ashes brings brotherly love to WHOLE new level" Dark Krakens: ".......We'll watch your career with great interest"
As a 10 - year veteran of the sons of Vulkan, I'll do as he does and welcome these new bros with open arms. If they turn out to be incapable of protecting the people of the Imperium, there's always the heavy flamer, after all.
Seems like the Covenant of Fire is a repeat of the Sons of The Phoenix, huh? Also, I might consider painting up one of the other 3. Preferably either the black vipers or dragonspears.
Oh Hell Yes! We got some Salamander cousins! So we have: Covenant of Fire: Lore hunters who burn Chaos stuff (Lorgar, Fulgrim and Magnus could've learned from these guys!) Black Vipers: Mysterious anti-social types, who seem to have caught the interest of Papa Cawl. Dragonspears: Bros to the Space Wolves who kick the crap out of Orks and have combined funerals with dinner for their slain brothers. (Meh, the Mortificators wear their brothers' bones and the Imperial Fists have their dad's mummified hand, I've seen worse.) Dark Krakens: Monster hunters that take a water spin on the usual fire theme of the Salamanders. I love em.
To me it's more: Covenant of Fire: Lorgar's boys that now have to stay with Uncle Vulkan (not actually the first time that happened, looking at you Sons of the Phoenix). Literally everything about them is Pre Heresy Word Bearers. They just are a different sect. Probably put under Salamanders due to the Promethean Cult. Black Vipers: Probably Cawl's personal flamer boys. Sorta GK in their operations, but just for Cawl/the Mechanicus. Likely if they have Salamander Gene-seed, they have little else in common. Dragonspears: Probably Salamanders, they just took the brotherly love to the next level, but smart when eating things shares their memories. The Self Sacrifice part echoes Pre-Vulkan Salamanders. Dark Krakens: Also Salamanders. Just what happens if you strip them from the whole fire thing. They where monster hunters after all.
Dragonspears: Bros to the Space Wolves who kick the crap out of Orks and have combined funerals with dinner for their slain brothers. --- Because omophagea for space marines such rituals have very practical meaning, it lets them take battle expirience of dead battle brothers.
I don't find them heretical at all. I like the Covenant of Fire, although for me the best one is the Dark Krakens. That color scheme, armory, and background are simply outstanding. I love that they go for the big boys. Get some!
So with the Covenent of Fire and Sons of the Poenix, that's the Word Bearers and Emperor’s Children Cawl had snuck into active service under the pretence of being loyalist successors. I wonder which traitor stock will get hinted at next? Luna Wolves thinking their dad was Sanguinius would be a dark bit of irony, certainly.
Alex Chalmers that’s true, also Vulkan had a hunt with the emperor when before the emp reviled himself as such, it’s actually pretty deeply ingrained now that I remember
The covenant of fire’s chapter symbol is just as on the nose as the Sons of the Phoenix chapter! It’s fair enough to put in a few primaris chapters who are potentially from heretical stock, but you should AT LEAST make it a little less obvious! Your telling me a Primarch who fought with the traitor legions before they turned, isn’t going to notice this heresy???
Caul's agents being near the Black Vipers seems to suggest that they are on his beck and call more than him being suspicious of them, like his own personal Minotaurs :P
I have made a Homebrew chapter named Flame Bearers a while back and the story was "A detachment of Word Bearers that where fighting loyalists stopped fighting, because this detachment was more un religious than the main force, so they stopped fighting so after they got rounded up for treason against the emperor, but the Salamanders gave this small Word bearers army a chance to redeem themselves so they started to get teached by the Salamanders, and in current time the Flame Bearers's colour scheme -Main colour Orange, trim colour black and shoulder pad and knee Cream coloured. And they're Emblem is the Word Bearers flame Book. When i saw this news i felt like i predicted something impossible
I like the fact that they are showing culture and leadership dictates almost everything about a group rather than just gene father. Also Cawl is defenently passing off traitor legion stock as the loyalist lines, problem is those likes to an primarch that became a demon prince can actually curse their line. Even the gene stock on terra has been tainted for the death guard cause of the curse of Morty become a warp creature. If Cawl modified the gene seed, it could go wrong at any time even though he “fixed it” blood angels have a built it blood lust, but the also have been cursed with the black rage, and it’s hard enough for them, the natural tendency some legions made it easy for them to slip into chaos, if your putting cursed gene seed in someone, you are planting a blood curse in them.
Actually, these chapters don’t seem all that heretical. Covenant of Fire - Blood Ravens, but with a bigger emphasis on destroying heresy Black Vipers - the secrecy is problematic, but it’s not like the Dark Angels are much better in this regard. Dragonspears - although the mention of cannibalism does seem problematic at first glance, honestly this is something I’d expect from a Blood Angels chapter and do note that endocannibalism only means that they eat each other, not other folk. And there is some basis in it since the Omophagea of their gene seed allows them to absorb the memories of others through consuming genetic material. If you meet these guys, they’re only going to eat you if you die and they happen to really like you, which in their own way might make them the nicest of Salamander successors since they do what they can to remember their brothers. Dark Krakens - nothing too heretical here, just some boys that love to take on the biggest of titans and the largest of armies.
They stopped just short of implying the Dark Krakens are tyranid hunters. The Black Vipers are cool. Kind of Dark Angel-ish. I think they are a pet chapter of Cawl, as opposed to not being trusted by Cawl. He could do worse than the hearty Sons of Vulkan.
Yeah there are some chapters that answer directly to Imperial institutions instead of being just loyal to the Imperium as a whole, so I wouldn’t put past Cawl making a chapter that answers to his interests.
I am currently designing my chapters as a successor chapter of the salamanders, not as dark as some of these, but it’s good too have some other chapters to draw from. However I’m am in love with the dark krakens and want too learn more, if they aren’t too crazy I might add in a few too my army as “allies” taking up my eradicators and other high damage models. Also the fact that Vulcan sends a chaplain to these successor chapters could give me a chance to paint a salamander chaplain and add them to my army!
I remember that Cawl wanted to create primaris from traitor gene seed but "promised" not to do it. So imo, Dark Kraken and dragon spear are really from salamander stock but Covenant is a WB succesor and Black Viper are Alpha Legion descendant
Black Vipers colour scheme and Cawl's interest definitley speaks of them being more interested in being the Mechanicum's personal lackeys (especially Cawls) rather than the Emperors, Vulkans or even the Imperiums. That's an interesting take for a chapter gene seed steeped in Artisan works of new machinery.
honestly it makes sense enough, this would be the point of the entire Primaris thing, not "give the Black Templars another 10000 troops, lol". the Salamanders have still their traditions that will not change in a generation or two. and their most important trait is probably that they care and don't just blow up civvies for teh lulz
The Black Vipers do a job, and then Belisarius Cawl's agents turn up? Sounds like they're working together, with the Black Viper's finding stuff that Cawl's agents "Salvage". Which makes sense considering the history of technical expertise associated with the Salamanders. Of course that would mean the Black Viper's are loyal, or more loyal, to Belisarius Cawl than to the Imperium. That could explain them shunning their Imperial Allies.
I want to like them they sound cool , but I am more concerned about them. I think if we got more lore and some books on these guys with what the Salamanders think of them would help my concern (maybe) . But...but THE Black Vipers are the ones I am both intrigued and concerned about more lore on them would be cool. While the rest I am less worried about. But I wonder why did GW give the Salamanders successors ? It for some reason seems odd to me.
I suspect the Coven of Fire are actually Word Bearer gene-seed, but Cawl wasn't allowed to do that... (Like the Sons of Phoenix). Black Vipers are probably a vanguard forces for whatever Cawl's up to. Dragonspear's Like Sallies with a touch of Cacaradons. Dark Krakens sound like a "stanadard" chapter. I mean they're less "out there" that the Space Wolves.
Seems like each one is a different aspect of the relationship between main and successor chapters at surface level. Covenant (seemingly being in the footsteps of the primarch) Vipers (seemingly in the hands of bureaucracy and controlled by an outsider) Draqgonspears (seemingly rebellious and rowdy with their own independence) Krakens (entirely new spin on the primary chapter, and or inverted aspect of primary chapter) i.e - salamanders = fire then krakens = water. I like all of them. I like the idea of the Black Vipers being focused on assisting or conducting assassinations, a departure from the salamanders view on fighting . And I like the Krakens finally giving us a water home world focus.
The Covenant of fire seem like an awesome way to bring mixed geneseed to the forefront with them being a combination of word bearers and Thousand Sons.
I think the Viper are like other successors chapters that work with Mechanicum, they use tactics and gene seed of original chapter but loyalty and goals are aligned to those of Mars. In this case they are loyal to Cawl and his forces, the Black Vipers go ahead of Cawls forces and kill enemy while his forces come after and collect what technology or information they need.
I’m a big fan of the color schemes of the Black Vipers and Dark Krakens. Black is one of my favorite colors, and seeing it paired with dark purples and reds looks so cool. I especially like the Dark Kraken because of the purple coloring. Not to mention the backstory for them sounds pretty damn awesome. The description of Naktis makes me think of the planets Kamino and Manaan from Star Wars. From what I can tell as a newish person to 40k. It doesn’t seem like there are many purple colored space marine chapters. So it’s cool to see more.
I like the idea of the Dark Kraken chapter. would make for an interesting themed space marine army. You could certainly do cool accent color ideas using the bioluminescence sea creatures as inspiration. Uh Oh. I am starting to get ideas, that is dangerous!
Salamander player here. I like the Salamanders because they are the good guys, but it's nice to see successors too, to deepen and broaden what the salamanders are. Now the gates are truly open to create ones own salamanders successor chapter. Personally I think it's awesome.
The Covenant of Fire chapter sounds like a Fahrenheit 451 reference. Firemen who burn illicit books and all that. I won't be surprised if their chaptermaster has a name similar to Guy Montague.
The Covenant of Fire would confuse the Word Bearers quite a bit with their Chapter symbol. The Word Bearers would go "Why do their Chapter symbols kind of look like mine but without the leering daemon skull?" I think Cawl is a bit worried about the Black Sabres especially if they develop the proclivity towards fornicating with toasters. Probably that's why his agents are always nearby because they probably want to sooth the machine spirits of the poor defiled toasters. The Dragonspears kind of sound like they might be one of the first Primaris Chapters that will be declared Excommunicate Traitoris for their cannibalism..... I hear the Imperium really really really does not like the idea of the Space Marines om nom nomming on each other's flesh regardless of it being ritualistic or not. The Dark Krakens sort of sound like a mash up of the Space Wolves, Salamanders and pre-heresy Alpha Legion. Space Wolves because their home world is dominated by oceans and not much in regards of landmass, Salamanders because DUH Salamanders and pre-heresy Alpha Legion because mystical beast for chapter symbol (Alpha Legion had the Hydra and The Dark Krakens have the Kraken (DUH).
Endocannibilsm- cannabilism in a local community or contumption of relics in a mortuary context. So it could mean they take 'relics' from their fallen breathren like taking their armor and weapons to be reused/passed on? although if it cannabilism in the more traditional meaning is that such a bad thing for a space marine, considering they can attain a great deal of information from consuming the body of an enemy. This could mean that the dragon spears are quick to gain battle experience and could lead to the chapter gaining numerous veterans quickly?
The Covenant of Fire seem to act a lot like the Word Bearers used to before Lorgar was found, back when they were known as the Iconoclasts. Their role early in the Great Crusade was to burn all forms of non-Imperial knowledge to ash... Finally; Seeing how eagerly the Covenant have embraced the Promethium Cult rings alarm bells, just by comparing how quickly and eagerly the Word Bearers under Lorgar embraced their spirituality - whether it was Worship of the Emperor or Chaos..
With the Black Vipers, when it talks about agents of Belisarius Cawl never being far behind I get the idea of them working with those agent. I could imagin Cawl creating his own chapter to do his dirtywork then having a clean up team to remove all trace of it. A bit like how the Grey Knights are super secret and anyone who sees them is killed or mindwiped.
With regard to the Black Vipers, it might not be that Cawl doesn't trust them-it could be quite the opposite, that they are essentially loyal to the magos. Consider how useful a thousand space marines with a genetic disposition for creating weaponry would be to Cawl.
I don't think the Black Vipers are being watched by Cawl. I think it suggests they are in the employ of Cawl and serve his whims. . As for the Dragon Spears, I believe it's not that they sacrifice themselves but that they put others before themselves. I'm not sure what endocannabilism is. The brief google search I did says "within the community" so they might eat their dead, likely to absorb memories. A mechanic that isn't played with enough even though there is a whole geneseed dedicated to it.
Well. This makes things very interesting lore-wise for me. I had made my own chapter, The Steel Wardens, who were in truth successors of the Iron Warriors, but split from their founding chapter during the Dropsite Massacre and sort of hid among the Salamanders and aided them in secret to repent for the crimes of Perturabo's boys. They'd eventually form their own chapter, which many of their records being expunged and going through ages of Penance Crusades, before finally settling on a world near the Eye of Terror. They'd still have close ties to the Salamanders throughout this all as they still see the debt as unpaid, but with so many of the Salamanders' successor looking so... dubious. Well, this leaves some good story potential. So yea: I love em.
I was so happy to see this video as I really want to start a primaris salamanders army. Then I watched the video and found that non of these successors could stand up to the sheer greatness of Vulcan's own chapter.
The mention of Cawl's agents monitoring the Black Vipers and their insular nature makes me think one of two things; 1) They're Astartes loyal to the Mechanicum above the Imperium 2) They're a controlled experiment for something and the Mechanicum is monitoring them for data
Someone call the Inquisition!
Already have!
I’m sooo hype Chap!! Thank you for covering to this. I saw the rumors on reddit. But I hadn’t seen the sauce. That lore, those colors, .... oh it’s time. It’s time for boops on snoots my friends!
The sons of Vulcan are more heretical than the Dark Angels
@@tracymottram4967 Heresy!
Chapter Master Oriax but what is heresy tho...
:- )))
"Oh no, our edgy family members have returned great..."
-Salamaders
"Everyone just smile, give them hugs and then leave them alone" - Salamanders
Everyone gets a hug!
So me have night haunter kids, word bearers kids, possible alpharius kids, and im thinking the last kids are actually vulcans
Sur K'gosi hasn't been heard from because he's too busy hugging all his new edgy brothers.
Dark Krakens chapter master "Our emblem is the Kraken, for with eight arms you can hug four times the people!"
"Vulkan... You are NOT the father!"
*Vulkan starts to dance*
Well, that's the image in my head for the day..
Pretty sure Vulkan would start crying instead of dancing.
😂😂😂😂😂
@@muazizzuddin4982 yes
Endocannibalism means they only eat their own dead, not that they eat anyone. Which seems like a smart move for soldiers who gain the memories of the dead.
And it is said that they were fighting alongside Space Wolves and won “renown”. So I assume the Corgis were cool and whatever “endocannibalism” means it is not that bad.
it appears brotherly love just went on a whole new level
@@Anton-cc7yc endocannibalism is a practice of cannibalism in ones own locality or community
still a strange quirk the emperor gave to the space marines.
@@Become-Eggplant What's strange for one person is often normal for another, there are many non-western cultures that practice endocannibalism. But its undeniably a good way of gaining military intelligence from someone who has died.
Valrak, Self-sacrifice is meant to be giving ones life for others not ritual sacrifice (that is a big part of the orignal Salamanders Chapter). Also the cannibalism is them eating there dead brothers to take in there memory with that one space marine organ, not a new idea.
STILL IFFY!
@@ChapterMasterValrak oh I agree the Black Viper are probaly bad, but Covenant guys are just iffy not the frist loyalist chapter to use a icon similar to one of the original traitors a few successor chapters of Ultramarines and Imperial Fist come to mine.
I mean if you can litterally gain memories from eating?
Eh
@@gothicpando
Omophagea. This complicated implant becomes part of the brain, but is actually situated within the spinal cord between the cervical and thoracic vertebrae. Four nerve sheaths called neuroglia are implanted between the spine and the Preomnor wall. The Omophagea is designed to absorb genetic material generated in animal tissue as a function of memory, experience or innate ability. A Marine can actually learn by eating. Incidentally, it is the presence of this organ which has created the various flesh and blood drinking rituals for which the Marines are famous, as well as giving the names to Chapters such as the Blood Drinkers, Flesh Tearers etc.
@@ChapterMasterValrak Maybe, but Big E gave them that organ for a reason. What's the point of having it if you don't use it.
So Vulcan is being a foster dad for Lorgar’s kids
I mean I wouldn't put it past him he would be the best foster dad
@@XArctracerX Well the Promethean Creed... Imperial Creed... you get it.
HaHahaha
Shit run
Aww
The Real Question is Are They Kind?
To find out merely approach them with arms wide and see if they give a good hug
I mean, as a baseline human that doesn't really narrow it down beyond the method of your death (and whether or not they are sad about killing you). :P
They're kind with the promethian...
The ones that have a chaplain
Covenant of fire: FRIENDS come burn these books with me :D
Black vipers: FRIENDS we don't trust you but have a nice day :D
Dragonspears: OI GIMME A HUGGIN SO I CAN EATCHA :D
Dark krakens: FRIENDS I killed a chaos titan celebratory hug :D
I think the black vipers are one of Cawl's personal chapters that answer only to him
I was thinking along those lines too. I reckon that Cawl's agents are always nearby because they're in cahoots with the Black Vipers, not because they are suspicious of them.
Aye I was thinking the very same thing.
Another evidence to this theory is that their color scheme is similar to the mechanicus, albeit with more black than red.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was an Iron Hands successor with close ties to Cawl as well.
or he intended them to be, and they just decided "nah, cawls a nerd"
Dragonspears don't seem that bad to me, Valrak. Self-sacrfice, laying down one's life to save and protect another, is strong tenet of the Promethian Creed (and it even has a strategum in game!). The Endocanabalism is just one of the less talked about features of Space Marines. The Remembrancer is meant to help SMs learn through eating, gaining the memories of whatever they ate. It is grotesque, but all Loyalist Space Marines are capable of doing this.
But those Covenant of Fire Marines are sus as hell
Isn’t organ defective in some legions successors?
@@Ake-TL not only successors, the blood angels with all their successors have a super effective omophagea, they learn more memories, experiences, informations when eating corpse than the other SM but the price is a strong blood thirst and flesh craving ... they are space vampires
MrAlkaest i mean, in some chapters organ doesn’t really work due to gene seed corruption
That would be the omophegia
The kraken sounds almost like just a water version of the salamanders fire ethos. Big water beasts instead of fire drake types.
That's exactly what I was thinking of! Part of me wants to see an army of these guys with power-fishing wargear, IE Thunder Tridents, Power Fishing Poles, Lightning Harpoons, Gangplank Shields, and the list goes on!
Hydro pumps that can rip through power amour!
Yes
I love them
You know, promethium burns even in water.
**Underwater flamer noises**
"Salamanders are getting successors. "
*Cough, cough *
me a troll: BLACK DRAGONS!
That's what I was thinking....
That and the dragon lords have you seen their armor green with fire and a dragon
Or fire lords
Right!... I mean come on!🧐
The Black Dragons are a hybrid chapter, within my personal head-cannon. I get the feeling that Vulkan's geneseed isn't the sole origin.
the Salamanders are so friendly and loyal that their successors are the other side of the split in Vulcans personality, they are the dark side of the Toasty boys and embody the oposites
perfectly balanced, as all things should be
The salamanders pour their hatred into their successors. Angry Marines are a salamander's successor
@@andrewdowns9047 This is my new head canon.
So you're saying these successors are the eldar child burning side of vulcan?
@@janvircsik6319 Even Emps had to shunt a part of himself away. Vulkan and his primary chapter have hugs to give and snoots to boop. Let his wayward successor chapters pick up the arson slack.
Just like the calmness of imperial Fist being contrasted by the insanity of the Black Templars
Imagine if the Covenant of Fire fight against the Word Bearers, and then Lorgar appears. Oh boy. Now that could be interesting
Add the blood ravens to the mix and we get a nice stew of things
Imagine Lorgar witnessing a True Miracle of Imperial Faith and turning loyalist. Lol.
Then lorgar is screaming in terror as Corax appears and chases him away in cartoon fashion all while the covenant of fire watches in horror
Then Vulcan appears and is very confused
Suddenly blood ravens steal the relics, weapons, and anything not bolted down from everyone
if the salamanders are the humble dad of the Space Marines then the successor chapters are just the edgy rebellious children but it's Warhammer 40K so everything has to be over the top
To quote Captain Titus. “I am no heretic!”
As a salamander and vulkan fan boi, I love the dark krakens. Strange bit of love given to the salamanders with these successor chapters but they seem like they have potential for good story lines.
@Azreal of the first legion green power armored space marines unite
I think it’s ok for successors to diverge from their parent Legion in terms of culture. Otherwise the only difference is their name and colour scheme. Having Purple Salamanders and Orange Salamanders would have been pretty dull.
This is what I loved about them, I expected like different colour Salamaders but what we got was way cooler.
Indeed. A successor chapter that isn’t very close to its sire will find its own path. I guess it depends on how involved the parent chapter were in the founding and establishing of the successor.
@@ChapterMasterValrak you forgot vulkan's spikey bois the black dragons
I like the idea of the Dark Krakens, they seem pretty cool.
Technically it was hinted that the red scorpions were loyalists word bearers. But seeing this I guess its Cawl messing with traitor geneseed and putting them in other chapters to not anger papa smurf.
LMAO Cawl using traitor genes again. Covenant of Fire = Word Bearers. Black Vipers = Alpha Legion. Dragonspears = World Eaters? Dark Kraken = Dark Angels! 🤭😂🤣
I always heard they were hinted as being Emperor's Children instead.
@@GI7GAM3SH Honestly I do think Cawl is using geneseed from traitor primarchs. But just because a chapter bears similarities to another gene line doesn't mean they are actually descended from it. Look at some of the Ultramarines successors for example.
@@connorbaird8596 ultrasmurfs had a lot of leftovers from HH and elsewhere join them didn't they?
@@Sorrowdusk Who knows🤔, I presume you mean the lost legions.
I love the darker more mysterious loyalist successor chapters. It lets you make your own little bit of head cannon up for them. Would love to read a bit more about them. Dark Krakens and Black Vipers sound awesome.
I think the Black Vipers are Calws own little Chapter, Seeking thinks for him
Me too
That's how I interpreted that "Agents of Cawl" part as well. That chaplain may not have reached the chapter because some tech-priests didn't like the idea of their new pet chapter turning from the Omnissiah to join the Promethean cult. Or the chaplain did reach the chapter, but the Omnissiah was too strong within them.
The Dragonspears seem to express Vulkan's selfless compassion and tenacity; ever striding forth whilst remembering to keep the memories of their honoured dead with them.
The Covenant of Fire have inherited Vulkan's intellect, penchant for philosophy and altruism towards society. And by incorporating the Promethean Creed they will also gain his wisdom.
The Dark Krakens Like to test themselves through the crucible of battle, just as Vulkan decreed. And in doing so exemplify his endurance and desire for self-improvement.
All in all I'm very pleased with these three successors. They all seem distinct whilst incorporating a familiar facet of the Salamanders mythos and Vulkan by extension. I just wish the Storm Giants were canonised too, I have no love for the Black Dragon's or their aesthetic though, so better neither than both. I guess that's what "headcanon" is for.
The Black Vipers however seem shady AF! I would say they took Vulkan's preference for self-reliance way too far for shunning allies, but with Cawl's agents shadowing them I don't think the red of their armour is purely aesthetic... Like the Minotaurs to the High Lords of Terra I reckon the Black Vipers are secretly Cawl's personal attack force, or at least a part of it. They probably murdered the Salamander's envoy in rejection of Vulkan's legacy, or it's possible their Martian handlers did the deed to avoid leaving a trace that could've lead to exposing the Chapter's true allegiance, or at the least, that interfered with Cawl's influence.
They'll make far better pseudo antagonists/anti heroes like the Flesh Tearers to the Blood Angels than the Black Dragons with their alleged connection who are a Chapter that flagrantly flaunts their cursed mutations - seemingly without censure.
I hope in time all these Chapters are explored in greater depth granting the Sons of Vulkan greater exposure and prominence in the overall lore.
Dear god dude you've written this word for word on three different websites
@@samuraibear5102 I feel there's little cohesion between the platforms and I wanted to get my opinion across.
I agree 100% originally I thought they were kind of on the edge of chaos but I like them much more now
@@samuraibear5102 chastising someone for wanting to get their point across to three different viewer bases seems rather useless to me. The fact you've seen it twice before has no bearing on the conversation he's starting with like-minded individuals.
@@nocturnenoble2468 I find your take on the four chapters to be very interesting, and I personally love the dragonspears for many aspects. Albeit that may have to be due mostly to my love for the mortifactors and their ritualistic cannibalism similar to the dragonspears.
The agents of Belisarius Cawl may not be keeping an eye on them - GW may be intimating that they 'work' for Cawl in some way.
Could they possibly follow the machine cult and when told another being existed by the chaplain they brutally murdered them for their perceived heresy having not been shown the omnissiah like abilities of the god emperor.
@@fullfatmilky Ooh, good theory!
Well Cawl is not to be trusted. Just ask Primus.
This is how I interpreted that text as well. If the chapter didn't kill that chaplain themselves, I'd guess their techno-"friends" made sure he wouldn't reach them with his "heretical" teachings.
That “hint” regarding Cawl being involved with them is as subtle as a brick
I actually like these chapters, not just copies of the original founding chapter. It's similar to the contrast between the Ultramarines and mortificaters.
Yes the Ultramarines might be very vanilla but they have a lot of varied successors given that the bulk of Chapters are descended from them.
I like all the interesting chapters, but one simple copy would have been nice, just to make it fell more regular.
They are great
I am freaking out because 3 years ago I designed my first homebrew chapter called the Void Krakens, who were purple and black, and lived on a planet with very little land mass. The warp has made my imaginings into reality.
Turns out your boys are sons of Vulkan!
He's cool your lucky it wasn't conrad kurse
I googled endocannibalism and it seems within the bounds of weird but acceptable space marine practices, certainly not weirder than wearing the scrimshawed bones of your fallen brothers on your armour. (Edit) also it’s ironic that the black krakens are the most ominous sounding but are the least weird.
Yeah, the cannibalism part is nothing new to Space marines, even if there's very few chapters known to practise it openly. Flesh tearers comes to mind, though they're not exactly the best example of space marine standards either.
Self-sacrifice wouldn't usually mean that they ritually sacrifice their own, though this particular context could suggest such practise. I'd rather guess that they are more keen than others to go down fighting to the very end, so that they can be eaten by their brothers instead of becoming a burden upon their chapter. In that case I think it would imply they make less use of dreadnoughs, servitors, and perhaps even bionics.
I'm all over those Dark Krakens.
Same
Oh hell yeah. Monster Hunter Space Marines? Sign me the fuck up
Methinks Cawl "mislabeled" some gene seed.
My reaction as follows
Covenant of Fire: "Loyal guys who does sus stuff"
Black Vipers: "ya'll sus af"
Dragonspears: "Fought with Space Wolves and are Ork Hunters, cool.....but snorting your brother's ashes brings brotherly love to WHOLE new level"
Dark Krakens: ".......We'll watch your career with great interest"
As a 10 - year veteran of the sons of Vulkan, I'll do as he does and welcome these new bros with open arms. If they turn out to be incapable of protecting the people of the Imperium, there's always the heavy flamer, after all.
I’m glad the Salamanders have official successors now. They are good boys
Seems like the Covenant of Fire is a repeat of the Sons of The Phoenix, huh?
Also, I might consider painting up one of the other 3. Preferably either the black vipers or dragonspears.
Oh Hell Yes! We got some Salamander cousins!
So we have:
Covenant of Fire: Lore hunters who burn Chaos stuff (Lorgar, Fulgrim and Magnus could've learned from these guys!)
Black Vipers: Mysterious anti-social types, who seem to have caught the interest of Papa Cawl.
Dragonspears: Bros to the Space Wolves who kick the crap out of Orks and have combined funerals with dinner for their slain brothers. (Meh, the Mortificators wear their brothers' bones and the Imperial Fists have their dad's mummified hand, I've seen worse.)
Dark Krakens: Monster hunters that take a water spin on the usual fire theme of the Salamanders.
I love em.
Me too
To me it's more:
Covenant of Fire: Lorgar's boys that now have to stay with Uncle Vulkan (not actually the first time that happened, looking at you Sons of the Phoenix). Literally everything about them is Pre Heresy Word Bearers. They just are a different sect. Probably put under Salamanders due to the Promethean Cult.
Black Vipers: Probably Cawl's personal flamer boys. Sorta GK in their operations, but just for Cawl/the Mechanicus. Likely if they have Salamander Gene-seed, they have little else in common.
Dragonspears: Probably Salamanders, they just took the brotherly love to the next level, but smart when eating things shares their memories. The Self Sacrifice part echoes Pre-Vulkan Salamanders.
Dark Krakens: Also Salamanders. Just what happens if you strip them from the whole fire thing. They where monster hunters after all.
Dragonspears: Bros to the Space Wolves who kick the crap out of Orks and have combined funerals with dinner for their slain brothers.
---
Because omophagea for space marines such rituals have very practical meaning, it lets them take battle expirience of dead battle brothers.
The dark krakens are defiantly a chapter that’s gonna go after tyranids
I don't find them heretical at all. I like the Covenant of Fire, although for me the best one is the Dark Krakens. That color scheme, armory, and background are simply outstanding. I love that they go for the big boys. Get some!
You question my gene brothers when you allow the soul drinkers into your force?
There is only one way to find out if they are true sons of Vulkan, and that is, do they give hug's?
Do they boop snoots?
@@gargoyles9999 maybe?
@@gargoyles9999 do not boop that merry suicide bomber
Tadhg McElligott it would be but a single boop on its noggin
So with the Covenent of Fire and Sons of the Poenix, that's the Word Bearers and Emperor’s Children Cawl had snuck into active service under the pretence of being loyalist successors.
I wonder which traitor stock will get hinted at next? Luna Wolves thinking their dad was Sanguinius would be a dark bit of irony, certainly.
Kraken and spears are pretty cool. I like how the kraken’s planet and working with wolves gave them a big game hunter mentality.
They hunt big things in the main chapter too (5 th company [ the drake hunters ])
Alex Chalmers that’s true, also Vulkan had a hunt with the emperor when before the emp reviled himself as such, it’s actually pretty deeply ingrained now that I remember
Three of them hunt one just hunts knowledge
Cawl probably stalks Vipers, because as sons of Vulkan they should have predisposition to creating new technology.
The covenant of fire’s chapter symbol is just as on the nose as the Sons of the Phoenix chapter! It’s fair enough to put in a few primaris chapters who are potentially from heretical stock, but you should AT LEAST make it a little less obvious! Your telling me a Primarch who fought with the traitor legions before they turned, isn’t going to notice this heresy???
Marines do absorb memories of what they eat so cannibalism checks out
Caul's agents being near the Black Vipers seems to suggest that they are on his beck and call more than him being suspicious of them, like his own personal Minotaurs :P
I have made a Homebrew chapter named Flame Bearers a while back and the story was "A detachment of Word Bearers that where fighting loyalists stopped fighting, because this detachment was more un religious than the main force, so they stopped fighting so after they got rounded up for treason against the emperor, but the Salamanders gave this small Word bearers army a chance to redeem themselves so they started to get teached by the Salamanders, and in current time the Flame Bearers's colour scheme -Main colour Orange, trim colour black and shoulder pad and knee Cream coloured. And they're Emblem is the Word Bearers flame Book. When i saw this news i felt like i predicted something impossible
Already loving the Dark Krakens Chapter they are like a reversal salamander instead of fire its water
they needed more love. I still think Crawl did something not Guiliman approved For Dorn, so Crawl did this on the other Primarchs too? interesting
I like the fact that they are showing culture and leadership dictates almost everything about a group rather than just gene father.
Also Cawl is defenently passing off traitor legion stock as the loyalist lines, problem is those likes to an primarch that became a demon prince can actually curse their line. Even the gene stock on terra has been tainted for the death guard cause of the curse of Morty become a warp creature.
If Cawl modified the gene seed, it could go wrong at any time even though he “fixed it” blood angels have a built it blood lust, but the also have been cursed with the black rage, and it’s hard enough for them, the natural tendency some legions made it easy for them to slip into chaos, if your putting cursed gene seed in someone, you are planting a blood curse in them.
Still great story
Still using black dragons as my salamanders
RIP, Black Dragons
Does this confirm they are not successors to salamanders?
Actually, these chapters don’t seem all that heretical.
Covenant of Fire - Blood Ravens, but with a bigger emphasis on destroying heresy
Black Vipers - the secrecy is problematic, but it’s not like the Dark Angels are much better in this regard.
Dragonspears - although the mention of cannibalism does seem problematic at first glance, honestly this is something I’d expect from a Blood Angels chapter and do note that endocannibalism only means that they eat each other, not other folk. And there is some basis in it since the Omophagea of their gene seed allows them to absorb the memories of others through consuming genetic material. If you meet these guys, they’re only going to eat you if you die and they happen to really like you, which in their own way might make them the nicest of Salamander successors since they do what they can to remember their brothers.
Dark Krakens - nothing too heretical here, just some boys that love to take on the biggest of titans and the largest of armies.
They stopped just short of implying the Dark Krakens are tyranid hunters.
The Black Vipers are cool. Kind of Dark Angel-ish. I think they are a pet chapter of Cawl, as opposed to not being trusted by Cawl. He could do worse than the hearty Sons of Vulkan.
Yeah there are some chapters that answer directly to Imperial institutions instead of being just loyal to the Imperium as a whole, so I wouldn’t put past Cawl making a chapter that answers to his interests.
Black Vipers remind me of the Alpha Legion
I am currently designing my chapters as a successor chapter of the salamanders, not as dark as some of these, but it’s good too have some other chapters to draw from. However I’m am in love with the dark krakens and want too learn more, if they aren’t too crazy I might add in a few too my army as “allies” taking up my eradicators and other high damage models. Also the fact that Vulcan sends a chaplain to these successor chapters could give me a chance to paint a salamander chaplain and add them to my army!
I remember that Cawl wanted to create primaris from traitor gene seed but "promised" not to do it. So imo, Dark Kraken and dragon spear are really from salamander stock but Covenant is a WB succesor and Black Viper are Alpha Legion descendant
Yes yes yes, finally some sort of nautic marines
I like the Dark Krakens.
Now I cannot help but imagine the flesh eaters and dragonspears shooting the breeze while eating orks
Black Vipers so friggin sick!
That red black color scheme with that viper head damn!
Interesting that GW has official second founding chapters for them now. Maybe Vulkan is on the way?
Does this mean my homebrew Salamanders successors can be canon? 🤔
Sure!
Black Vipers colour scheme and Cawl's interest definitley speaks of them being more interested in being the Mechanicum's personal lackeys (especially Cawls) rather than the Emperors, Vulkans or even the Imperiums. That's an interesting take for a chapter gene seed steeped in Artisan works of new machinery.
I’ve already painted up a Covenant of Fire Lieutenant! So fun.
Thanks for the heart! I posted it in the discord if you want to see! @Chapter Master Valrak
Lmfaoooo your reaction on stream to reading these was priceless
Because we needed to take out the Salamanders “No successors chapter” gimmick for more primaris
Good goin GW
honestly it makes sense enough, this would be the point of the entire Primaris thing, not "give the Black Templars another 10000 troops, lol". the Salamanders have still their traditions that will not change in a generation or two. and their most important trait is probably that they care and don't just blow up civvies for teh lulz
This just sounds like whining
doesnt sound like a consensual choice from the salamanders, cawl just made them
This is really selling the idea of Cawl making loyalist chapters from traitor geneseed to me and I love it
The Black Vipers do a job, and then Belisarius Cawl's agents turn up?
Sounds like they're working together, with the Black Viper's finding stuff that Cawl's agents "Salvage". Which makes sense considering the history of technical expertise associated with the Salamanders.
Of course that would mean the Black Viper's are loyal, or more loyal, to Belisarius Cawl than to the Imperium. That could explain them shunning their Imperial Allies.
I want to like them they sound cool , but I am more concerned about them. I think if we got more lore and some books on these guys with what the Salamanders think of them would help my concern (maybe) .
But...but THE Black Vipers are the ones I am both intrigued and concerned about more lore on them would be cool. While the rest I am less worried about.
But I wonder why did GW give the Salamanders successors ? It for some reason seems odd to me.
are salamanders now at full strength ie 1000 space marines
Probably not there chapter organization is different they have 7 company's with twelve squads each
And I know I used the wrong there
I suspect the Coven of Fire are actually Word Bearer gene-seed, but Cawl wasn't allowed to do that... (Like the Sons of Phoenix).
Black Vipers are probably a vanguard forces for whatever Cawl's up to.
Dragonspear's Like Sallies with a touch of Cacaradons.
Dark Krakens sound like a "stanadard" chapter. I mean they're less "out there" that the Space Wolves.
5:43 "I love the octopus/squid symbol" That would be a Kraken. Kinda goes with the Chapter name. lol
Well the original salamanders before they met Vulcan were fatalistic and valued personal sacrifice very highly. Seems pretty salamanderie to me
What is the hue of there skin....... I doubt they are word bearers.......
Hybrid?
Sorrowdusk can hybrids happen? That would be neat
Man, they all have brilliant colour schemes.
I got the mix of salamanders and Word bearers
My life is fullfilled
Seems like each one is a different aspect of the relationship between main and successor chapters at surface level.
Covenant (seemingly being in the footsteps of the primarch)
Vipers (seemingly in the hands of bureaucracy and controlled by an outsider)
Draqgonspears (seemingly rebellious and rowdy with their own independence)
Krakens (entirely new spin on the primary chapter, and or inverted aspect of primary chapter) i.e - salamanders = fire then krakens = water.
I like all of them. I like the idea of the Black Vipers being focused on assisting or conducting assassinations, a departure from the salamanders view on fighting . And I like the Krakens finally giving us a water home world focus.
The Covenant of fire seem like an awesome way to bring mixed geneseed to the forefront with them being a combination of word bearers and Thousand Sons.
I think the Viper are like other successors chapters that work with Mechanicum, they use tactics and gene seed of original chapter but loyalty and goals are aligned to those of Mars.
In this case they are loyal to Cawl and his forces, the Black Vipers go ahead of Cawls forces and kill enemy while his forces come after and collect what technology or information they need.
The dark kraken sound bad ass, fighting giant underwater monsters for fun.
I’m a big fan of the color schemes of the Black Vipers and Dark Krakens. Black is one of my favorite colors, and seeing it paired with dark purples and reds looks so cool.
I especially like the Dark Kraken because of the purple coloring. Not to mention the backstory for them sounds pretty damn awesome. The description of Naktis makes me think of the planets Kamino and Manaan from Star Wars. From what I can tell as a newish person to 40k. It doesn’t seem like there are many purple colored space marine chapters. So it’s cool to see more.
I like the idea of the Dark Kraken chapter. would make for an interesting themed space marine army. You could certainly do cool accent color ideas using the bioluminescence sea creatures as inspiration. Uh Oh. I am starting to get ideas, that is dangerous!
Blood Angel sees Dragonspear devouring space marine: "pft, it's been done"
Salamander player here. I like the Salamanders because they are the good guys, but it's nice to see successors too, to deepen and broaden what the salamanders are. Now the gates are truly open to create ones own salamanders successor chapter. Personally I think it's awesome.
Dark krakens.. im all over that. Paint scheme looks good, the blurb sounded fantastic and I love kraken rum.
The Covenant of Fire chapter sounds like a Fahrenheit 451 reference. Firemen who burn illicit books and all that. I won't be surprised if their chaptermaster has a name similar to Guy Montague.
I like the sounds of these Dark Krakens. I can imagine them arriving over a planet invaded by Orks and droppodding onto Mega-Gargants.
The Covenant of Fire would confuse the Word Bearers quite a bit with their Chapter symbol. The Word Bearers would go "Why do their Chapter symbols kind of look like mine but without the leering daemon skull?"
I think Cawl is a bit worried about the Black Sabres especially if they develop the proclivity towards fornicating with toasters. Probably that's why his agents are always nearby because they probably want to sooth the machine spirits of the poor defiled toasters.
The Dragonspears kind of sound like they might be one of the first Primaris Chapters that will be declared Excommunicate Traitoris for their cannibalism..... I hear the Imperium really really really does not like the idea of the Space Marines om nom nomming on each other's flesh regardless of it being ritualistic or not.
The Dark Krakens sort of sound like a mash up of the Space Wolves, Salamanders and pre-heresy Alpha Legion. Space Wolves because their home world is dominated by oceans and not much in regards of landmass, Salamanders because DUH Salamanders and pre-heresy Alpha Legion because mystical beast for chapter symbol (Alpha Legion had the Hydra and The Dark Krakens have the Kraken (DUH).
5:36 Ok I’m really tempted to paint these guys, that armor color is awesome!
I took the "agents of Cawl" nearby as that they're his creatures. Like, they're the one he uses for off the books actions.
Endocannibilsm- cannabilism in a local community or contumption of relics in a mortuary context. So it could mean they take 'relics' from their fallen breathren like taking their armor and weapons to be reused/passed on? although if it cannabilism in the more traditional meaning is that such a bad thing for a space marine, considering they can attain a great deal of information from consuming the body of an enemy. This could mean that the dragon spears are quick to gain battle experience and could lead to the chapter gaining numerous veterans quickly?
The Covenant of Fire seem to act a lot like the Word Bearers used to before Lorgar was found, back when they were known as the Iconoclasts. Their role early in the Great Crusade was to burn all forms of non-Imperial knowledge to ash...
Finally; Seeing how eagerly the Covenant have embraced the Promethium Cult rings alarm bells, just by comparing how quickly and eagerly the Word Bearers under Lorgar embraced their spirituality - whether it was Worship of the Emperor or Chaos..
With the black vipers, I read it like Cawl's agents are working WITH the chapter on something secret.
Lorgar: I told I did nothing wrong it was all Magnus triggering dads dislike of magic shows
With the Black Vipers, when it talks about agents of Belisarius Cawl never being far behind I get the idea of them working with those agent. I could imagin Cawl creating his own chapter to do his dirtywork then having a clean up team to remove all trace of it. A bit like how the Grey Knights are super secret and anyone who sees them is killed or mindwiped.
With regard to the Black Vipers, it might not be that Cawl doesn't trust them-it could be quite the opposite, that they are essentially loyal to the magos. Consider how useful a thousand space marines with a genetic disposition for creating weaponry would be to Cawl.
Covenant of Fire(Word Bearers).
Black Vipers(Alpha Legion).
Salamanders(Alpha Legion).
Ultramarines(Alpha Legion).
I don't think the Black Vipers are being watched by Cawl. I think it suggests they are in the employ of Cawl and serve his whims.
.
As for the Dragon Spears, I believe it's not that they sacrifice themselves but that they put others before themselves. I'm not sure what endocannabilism is. The brief google search I did says "within the community" so they might eat their dead, likely to absorb memories. A mechanic that isn't played with enough even though there is a whole geneseed dedicated to it.
I think that perhaps Cawl got a bit carried away with his experimentation and started to splice gene code from different chapters together?
The Blood Ravens borrowed that chaplain while he was on his way to the Vipers..
Looks like i'm going too have a 'Krack' at painting some Dark Krakens, get me some purple Slamanders.
Well. This makes things very interesting lore-wise for me. I had made my own chapter, The Steel Wardens, who were in truth successors of the Iron Warriors, but split from their founding chapter during the Dropsite Massacre and sort of hid among the Salamanders and aided them in secret to repent for the crimes of Perturabo's boys. They'd eventually form their own chapter, which many of their records being expunged and going through ages of Penance Crusades, before finally settling on a world near the Eye of Terror. They'd still have close ties to the Salamanders throughout this all as they still see the debt as unpaid, but with so many of the Salamanders' successor looking so... dubious. Well, this leaves some good story potential. So yea: I love em.
I was so happy to see this video as I really want to start a primaris salamanders army. Then I watched the video and found that non of these successors could stand up to the sheer greatness of Vulcan's own chapter.
The mention of Cawl's agents monitoring the Black Vipers and their insular nature makes me think one of two things;
1) They're Astartes loyal to the Mechanicum above the Imperium
2) They're a controlled experiment for something and the Mechanicum is monitoring them for data