Well, here goes nothing...
~~~~~
Name: Vifer D'Nim
Age: Approximately 230 - dating issues have made it impossible to pinpoint his precise birth year by Imperial Standard.
Chapter: Astral Jackals (see below)
Rank in Chapter: Apothecary-Sergeant
Personality/Quirks: Vifer is not possessed of any great tact. Its absence usually displays itself in remarks that run between the merely sarcastic and the outright scornful - depending on whether or not he gets on with the individual which the comment is directed at.
However, he is also quick to praise good work performed by those who hold his favour - but those with whom he does not get along will have to perform near miracles before he will begrudge them such even the merest of such privileges.
Seldom uses contractions in speech. Typically keeps his face hidden (usually with a helmet, or when out of armour, a hood), especially if around someone he dislikes.
Possessed of a keen tactical intellect and initiative, it is possible that Vifer might make the rank of Company Captain one day - if he ever learns the art of holding his tongue.
As it is, he is usually content in the role of Apothecary-Sergeant, although he is not entirely beyond forgetting, ignoring or amending orders if he feels he knows better.
Armament and Equipment: Mk Vb Godwyn Bolter fitted with Ammo counter and M.40 targeter; Monomolecular Sword; Narthecium/Reductor; Auspex; Assorted Grenades; Spare combat knife.
Armour is a mix of Mks - the upper half is largely Mk VII Aquila, but has the leg armour from Mk VI Corvus armour. Helmet is fitted with the enhancements typical to Apothecary's helmets - medical auspexes and analysis systems.
Like most of the rest of his chapter, Vifer will fight using his bolter in close quarters, and has little interest in pistol weapons, seeing them inferior to the full sized weapon in almost every way. Additionally, he prefers straight magazines for his bolter, although he will not shun sickle magazines if they are the only available option.
Any Deeds of Note: Currently, the survival rate within Vifer's squad is amongst the best ever recorded by the chapter, a testament to the combination of his tactical and medical skills.
Vifer is given particular note in the Liber Honorous of the Astral Jackals twice.
The first is for the rescue of the 4th Company Chaplain from under heavy weapons fire and successfully managing to return him to the fight, in spite of (amongst other injuries) the hole a lance weapon had left clean through the Marine's chest, destroying a heart and one of his lungs in the process
The second is for the combined combat and tactical prowess he demonstrated against a strike force of Eldar, where his squad single handedly fended off the coordinated and prolonged assault of several Aspect Warrior squads upon an Imperial research facility, with Vifer personally defeating a Striking Scorpion Exarch in close quarters melee.
Notes: Vifer was assigned to the Deathwatch after an Ordos Xenos Inquisitor found his running commentary on the worsening events particularly unamusing. By way of patching up relationships with the Inquisitor, it was decided on Vifer's behalf that he would serve a tour with the Deathwatch.
His assignment to Captain Demos Fannell is his first with the Deathwatch.
~~~~~
Astral Jackals.
The Astral Jackals were created from the geneseed of a number of chapters that can all trace their lienage back to the Imperial Fists, and were formed to defend against Eldar activity across a number of sectors. While there is a limit on how well they can defend against a foe that can use the webway, they have proven more effective than could have been hoped against both the Craftworld Eldar and their dark kin.
Normal colours: Mid-range green with white shoulder pads. Trim is in yellow, any armour markings are in black.
Combat Doctrine/Organisation: The Astral Jackals, like the majority of chapters that feed the Deathwatch, are largely codex in their Doctrine. However, they do deviate from absolutely pure adherence to the Codex:
- The chapter only ever fields a very limited number of heavier vehicles, preferring to rely on faster and more manoeuvrable (if less resilient) attack bike formations for their mobile firepower.
- A large number of the chapter's battle brothers are trained in the use of the bolter in combat.
- Given issues with geneseed (see below), a majority of the chapter's sergeants are trained and equipped as Apothecaries, in an attempt to maximise the recovery of intact progenoid glands.
Beliefs: The Astral Jackals are devoid of their progenitor chapter's tendency for penance by pain, and seek their penance in the act offering aid to others, whoever it might be who needs it.
There are many stories of an Imperial Citizen who was aided out of the blue by one of these superhuman warriors in tasks that could only be perceived as utterly unimportant in any great scheme of things.
Geneseed: Like their progenitor chapter, they do not have the Betcher's Gland and Sus-an Membrane.
However, within the last millennia, the percentage of the chapter's Omophagea implants that are stable for implantation has dropped significantly to around 7%. As a result, implantation of the organ ceased 783 years ago - the implants that do pass muster have been placed in storage since, and are relentlessly studied with the hope that the organ can be stabilised and be returned to the chapter.
All other Geneseed is stable.
Relations with other Chapters: The Astral Jackals are known for taking absolutely painstaking care to ensure the purity of their own geneseed, and utterly refuse to implant any flawed organ.
As a result of this, their relationships with chapters who will implant mutated geneseed is strained at best.
~~~~~
Well, what do you get if you take a rather tactless Apothecary who doesn't really want to be there in the first place from a chapter which has an enmity for those chapters who implant flawed geneseed, then put him under a Captain whose geneseed has given him vampiric fangs?
I don't know exactly, but should be fun finding out...
(Another interesting question is who he might end up liking...)
And why's he called Vifer D'nim? Well, that comes from me messing with putting my full name into an anagram maker and realising the letters for the word "Deathwatch" were in there. The letters that got left over were a bit harder to make a sensible name out of, but it was fun anyway.
Hoping that's all alright, he hits the Post button...
