Fluff Friday: Vleast Planetary Analysis

Hey everyone. I have let this slip recently but not any more. I shall strive to complete a 'Fluff Friday' every week and keep myself motivated.

So here's the first in a rethought of the series where I will also include my own fluff inventions, mainly focusing on the system and war I am creating for my friends' and I's armies to play. Here is an introduction to the planet, an Imperial Analysis.

Vleast IV Planetary Survey

Date: 978.M41

Planetary/System Analysis:

Taros System: 6 planets (I – VI), 2 habitable (Vleast IV, Vleast III)

Size: Equatorial Distance: 14,000 miles

Gravity: 1.13G

Satellites: 1 Large Moon, Vleast IV.I (Local Designation – Peticrus)

Rotation Speed: 11,000 mph (1 rotation every 4 Terran hours)

Climate Classification: Extreme – Hyper Tropical

Star Orbit: 2.6 Terran years

Star Class: F (Giant Star)

Land/Ocean Ratio: 32.6% Land, 67.4% Ocean and River

Closest Astartes Homeplanet: Salamanders, Nocturne

Closest Xenos Species: Tau Empire, Fal’shia

Population Analysis:

Imperial Colonisation Status: Abandoned

Colonisation Date: 910.M41 – 972.M41

Planetary Government: Devolved, Tribal

Human Population: 4,000,000 approx.

Xenos Population: Native – *Indiscernible*, Alien – Suspected Tau Colonists

My Own Experimental XV7 Mobisuit Rules

I have decided that my Tau army which I am in the process of developing will be my fluff army with lots of cool, pointless units and if my opponents let me a few units of my own. The first of these 'experimental' rules are the for my own battlesuit varient, the XV7 Mobisuits.

XV7 Series Mobisuits

As enemy armies begin to more heavily rely on fast tanks and transported troops, the Tau have had to adapt. The newest of the Fio Caste’s suit technology, the XV7 mobisuits, have been developed to face the quick-changing pace of modern battle. They meet these demands by incorporating advanced thrusters packs; lighter, iridium plate shielding; dynamic targeting and sensory equipment and the still powerful weapons of more traditional XV8 Crisis suits.

All of the current XV7 mobisuits are still in development stages but are predicted to soon be deployed in the most agile of combat zones.

Special Rules:

The XV7s have all the same rules as the XV8s and a few additional special rules described here:

-          Option – The XV7 Battlesuit is a free option to any Crisis suit which swaps their XV8 Crisis suit with an XV7 Mobisuit.

-          Advanced Thrusters – Due to their enhanced mobility and smaller size, VX7s are easier to manoeuvre in confined spaces. They may always reroll failed dangerous terrain tests and when making a run move they roll 3D6 and choose the highest result. They may also make their usual assault phase jetpack move after deepstriking.

-          Reduced Power Capacity – Due to the small size of the battlesuit their power capacity is limited and can only sustain a couple of systems. An XV7 may only ever have two weapon/support systems but can still use hard-wired systems. This may be a single twin-linked weapon, two separate weapons, a weapon and a support system or two support systems.

-          Transport – XV7s can only be transported by vehicles capable of transporting XV8s although they only take up the space of 3 Fire Warriors.

So what do you think?

Vleast, Campaign Setting

Recently I have been creating the background story and setting to my Tau army, The Or'esha. I want to also create a background story which ties in all of my friends' and I's armies.

The Armies
I needed to include most if not all of the armies my friends play so I can make a story for each game we play. So I need; Imperial Guard, Salamanders, Space Wolves, Saim-Hann Eldar, Tau (Mine and my friend's), Tyranids and possibly Imperial Fists.

The Setting, Vleast
First I need to know where it is in the galaxy. This was fairly easy as it needed to be on the edge of Tau space  and as close to the Salamanders home planet as possible. I also placed it close to the general area where Tyranid Fleets have been spotted so that kind of ties in my Tyranids, I can say they are a splinter fleet. Lastly the Eldar and Imperial Guard are everywhere so no need for any mapping there.

Click to enlarge image. It is marked by the red circle, bottom right.

Now the planet itself. I want to have the planet reflect my board and vice versa so it needs to have been owned by the Imperium and then have Tyranids invading as my pieces are Imperial buildings with Tyranid infestations. This also helped with the story.

The Motivation
Next it needs to have a reason for the armies to be fighting over it. This was difficult but I figured that stopping a Tyranid Fleet was adequate reason for any army to be fighting. So the idea is that the planet is rich in life and the Tyranids invading want all the biomass to rebuild their dwindling fleet but the 'good' forces like the Tau, Eldar, Imperial Guard and Salamanders are trying to stop them. They don't need to work together to do so but it will work.

Tau Background Fluff

Here's some more fluff I've been working on about my commander and his force:

Shas’el Doran’sha (Commander Smartwind) is a young and vibrant new commander of Fal’shia, a first sphere planet famed for its technological innovations. Like many from Fal’shia he has been described as incredibly forward thinking and ingenious, almost solving problems before they appear. In battle, he makes extensive use of new technologies such as the XV73 Battlesuits and his infamous Airbursting Fragmentation Projector which combined with his new strategies and ideas prove to be very deadly indeed.

XV71 'Hermes' Pattern Battlesuit

I have been working on the crisis suit again and have made some fluff. It's pretty self explanatory:

Some more Eldar Fluff

Right so today I was working on some more fluff for my Eldar army. I decided to incorporate my Tyranids thinking that the region of space I talked about in my previous post was being overrun by the Great Devourer. To incorporate my friends Tau army I can say the Tau are also attempting to expand into the region. This means I can make some fluff for every battle me and my friends fight.


So here it is:

The Great Infestation

Tall alien trees reached to a pair of twin suns in the alien sky of Hturasa shadowing the hyperactive flora below in streaks of orange light. A clearing in the trees above revealed a large oasis filled with exotic purple plants and dark tentacles glided silently through the water. 


Hidden amongst the dense foliage near the edge of the oasis Farseer Jasuliath breathed deeply; the cold crisp morning air filled his lungs with dread. His heightened sense of smell detected the faint trace of the new alien infestation. He glanced to his left and almost unnoticeably nodded to his cousin, High Warlock Parculiath, to confirm his runic forecast. 


Turning back to look at the silent oasis Jasuliath mentally activated his jetbike. His loyal cousins followed in unison filling the nearby air with the quiet purring of their elegant craft.

Suddenly the nearby flora shivered. The oasis rippled. The treetops shuddered. The jetbikes’ motion trackers burst into life, overwhelmed by the sudden flurry of activity. Jasuliath cursed silently and quickly pushed his jetbike into the clearing, his gracious warriors instinctively followed. 


As he swiftly pulled out of the shadows a vicious pack of hormagaunts leaped out of the undergrowth and swung manically at the guardian jetbikes. The gaunts quickly overwhelmed their nearest victim, Rifiban, dragging him down in a cloud of smoke. The rest of the skilful warriors dodged the attack and quickly zoomed out of the tree line away from the enraged hormagaunts.

The warriors quickly regained their composure and moved into formation above the oasis, Jasuliath studied the treetops for tyranids. The large alien leaves above them shifted then broke apart violently as a group of five shrikes burst out of cover. 


The terrifying creatures were twice the height of even the tallest Eldar and had boneswords that crackled with alien energies. Jasuliath ordered his warriors to open fire upon the screeching beasts. Three of the shrikes were cut down in a hail of shuriken fire and fell screaming into the murky oasis below. 


The Farseer himself threw his trusty Singing Spear, guiding it with his mind, the powerful weapon swirled in a graceful arc before striking another of the shrikes and cutting clean through its bulky wings. The shrike furiously tried to stay airborne but as Jasuliath caught his spear the doomed creature fell towards the dark waters below.

But no sooner had the Farseer caught his spear than the angry shrike set upon his group of brave warriors. It latched onto the front of Canafin’s jetbike with its hooves and swung its deadly weapons at the Canafin. The swift guardian narrowly avoided the flailing boneswords, ducking and weaving upon his mount before fluidly pulling out his shuriken pistol from its holster and, timing it perfectly, fired it at the beast’s hooves and revved his engines. 


With the blinding speed on an Eldar possesses High Warlock Parculiath quickly went to the guardians aid, unleashing a wave of psychic flames upon the shrike which then let go of the Canafin’s jetbike and fell to the oasis below, its wings charred and useless.

The warriors regrouped while Jasuliath muttered a spell and arcane runes sprung to life around him, orbiting him like planets round a sun. The Farseer quickly studied the runes orbiting around him. He waved at one of the symbols which then moved to a different group and changed to a dark red. The Farseer mouthed a silent curse and the runes evaporated. Alarmed with this foreknowledge he quickly warned his fellow warriors and banked sharply upwards, racing towards the sky.

The guardians followed him closely, Parculiath racing by his side. Suddenly a giant trygon burst from the oasis. Water and alien water creatures along with it were thrown high into the air, shaking the guardians in their seats. The trygon snapped its mighty jaws with a tremendous snap where the Eldar warriors were only moments before. The jetbikes accelerated faster into the air away from the snarling trygon and quickly crested the treetops.

Jasuliath levelled out his flight, his warriors following his every move and then looked down upon the gigantic trygon. He stared into its large, dark, animalistic eyes and shivered. He called upon his psychic powers, ready to wipe the alien from existence but instead was hit by a thunderbolt of psychic energy. He rocked violently in his seat, almost falling from his jetbike and into the jaws of the beast. His warriors looked at him, concerned for their leader, not realising he was locked a mental battle with the beast.


In his mind the Farseer fought with the trygon, unable to pull himself away. He stared into its cold eyes and saw what he had always dreaded. 


He saw the alien cunning that controlled each and every tyranid. 
He saw the ever hungry beast that lay beyond the galaxy. 
He saw the Great Devourer and knew.

He knew this planet was doomed.


So again any thoughts?  

My Eldar Army Fluff

Here is the beginnings to my fluff for my eldar Saim-Hann army. Pics will come when I finish painting them or when I make some tutorials.

Fury of the Eclipsed Star

As part of one of the greatest Wild Rider clans of the Saim-Hann craftworld, the Fury of the Eclipsed Star is expected to be in a constant state of readiness and to be able to combat any foe, be it Imperial or alien. They are a very mobile yet hard hitting force lead by none other than Farseer Jasuliath, the second successor to the position of Chieftain within the clan and is one of the most skilled Farseers in the Craftworld.

 As such Jasuliath has access to many great weapons and units of the clan but instead chooses to be surrounded by his closest family and friends in battle, trusting them to support him and complete their objectives without question or delay. This results in a very close-knit strike force where even a single loss is unacceptable and mourned and sung about for years to come. Hence, even during the whirling tides of battle, Jasuliath will read the runes of fate and warn his comrades of any impeding danger or target of opportunity. Jasuliath is powerful enough to not only read the threads of fate in battle but he is also able to unleash his mighty psychic powers with pinpoint accuracy and skill, flipping battle tanks and destroying the minds of enemy leaders and sergeants. The warriors of the ‘Fury of the Eclipsed Star’ are further protected by their powerful jetbikes and sleek grav-tanks which both protect their crew and pilots from the onslaught of enemy fire. For his own firepower Jasuliath makes extensive use of Eldar plasma technology, fitting all of his vipers with star cannons and also utilising the destructive power of the Fire Prism cannon.

Due to their unbelievable psychic power and their deadly plasma weapons and extensive protective shielding the ‘Fury of the Eclipsed Star’ has become legend throughout the region of Imperial Space they regularly attack. They are distinctively feared among the small and unprotected agri-worlds due to their lightning fast raids which mean the worlds are unable to call upon help before Jasuliath’s army has completed its objective and disappeared back into the webway. This has forced the Imperium to make decisive counter-measures to help these lone worlds by sending a company of the Salamanders which can rapidly deploy to any planet in the region. Backed up by the local Imperial Guard this has proved an effective counter to the Eldar raids which have grown in complexity, size and importance over the recent years. This has lead to many battles between the Salamanders and ‘Fury of the Eclipsed Star’ but the bloodiest battles are still to come........  

Members

Formation Name	Formation Members
‘The Guiding Star’	Farseer Jasuliath Thirusan, Farseer of the ‘Fury of The Eclipsed Star’ – Farseer Jasuliath Thirusan
‘Riders of the Solar Storm’	Twelve Cousins of Jasuliath Thirusan led by Warlock Parculiath (Jasuliath’s Blood Brother) – Revila – Andarana – Uginra – Firilat – Lanulath – Pasucrath – Habitha – Rifiban – Quevad – Canafin – Banirila – Iristha
‘Defendants of Fury’	Three Blood Brothers of the Harala Family – Quobhra – Bheoris – Grohnanill
‘Flare of the Stars’	Three Vypers crewed by Six Siblings of the Harala Family – Thrusada – Clabas – Dirana – Dinire – Kabaris – Kanarith
‘Beam of Vengeance’	Three Vypers crewed by Six Siblings of the Thirusan Family – Ranath – Rapaca – Ecaulith – Euorith – Fathiris – Fahanra
‘Threads of Fate’	One Night Spinner crewed by Two Blood Brothers of the Saruti Family – Fathuca – Fenutca
‘The Twilight Jewel’	One Fire Prism crewed by Two Blood Brothers of the Tabirili Family – Tavupa – Taramad
‘Fury of the Crystal Moon’	One Fire Prism crewed by Two Blood Sisters of the Monsurith Family – Myannac – Marithac

What do you think? Both my regular opponents play Salamanders and one plays Guard so that fits but what about the idea. Have I missed something?