The SONS OF MEDUSA Chapter: Origins & Lore | Warhammer 40k Index Astartes

[@blainelongjohn4210]

Best 40k channel on the Tube

[@marjoe32]

Hell Yes

[@garradmill5946]

Oculus Imperia.

[@ropable]

Arbitor Ian plus Oculus Imperia are the best of them

[@thecl0ck30]

Honestly yes, this mix of a straight to the point/charisma/classic dry British humour just works so well together Oh and his intro music (black rainbows by Karl Casey) sets the tone of his videos so well

[@stevenpearce1220]

Hell yeah!

[@Rivbuster]

The timing of this video is perfect, just started building a killteam of these guys eheh

[@garryame4008]

I'd seriously love a black library series on the Badab War

[@Bluecho4]

it would certainly be a nice place to go now that the Horus Heresy series is wrapped up.

[@mojotheaverage]

Would love a redo of the campaign in game as well, similar to hh. Imagine a new Tyrberos or Luft Huron model!

[@tombouric]

I'd like a break from Imperium civil wars for at least a little while please. Let the rest of the galaxy breathe and get some focus.

[@nakenmil]

@@tombouric While that's fair, at least this civil war doesn't have any fucking primarchs gallavanting around.

[@angelx9724]

Maybe not 50 books long though 😂 maybe like 1 per chapter and a trilogy for huron?

[@caad5258]

"Heresy for me, but not for thee!" Very cool chapter

[@isaiahsmith6016]

I like to imagine more than a few members of the Sons of Medusa have pen pals from the Blood Ravens Chapter.

[@siebensunden]

Or Relictors chapter.

[@barlotardy]

My head cannon is that veteran members of the Iron Hands and it's successors CAN'T cross the rubicon primaris because there isn't enough biological matter left to convert. As it turns out, the remaining flesh is too weak..

[@ArbitorIan]

Or it's REALLY easy, but they have to add an inch to all the bionics

[@CollinBuckman]

Yeah they probably just modify their bionics a little to be more compatible with Cawl's fancy gear

[@Prophetofthe8thLegion]

You are weak my son, WEEEAAAAK!!!~Stupid Ghost Ferrus Mannus Face

[@breakdown3317]

20:02 mr president they hit the second strike cruiser

[@Bluecho4]

I love successor chapters that keep their parent chapter's primary theme intact, but iterate on it in meaningful ways. I've been toying with the idea of my own Iron Hands successor - the Phantom Pains - who incorporate a lot of the "Keys of Hel" material from the Horus Heresy (read: techno-necromancy). Fielding their dead as reanimated "ghola" shock troops. Allowing them to bring to bear a military disposition far in excess of what their otherwise Codex Compliant numbers would suggest. (They, appropriately enough, typically campaign in the Ghoul Stars, where Imperial authorities have a harder time noticing their heretek leanings).

[@mojotheaverage]

Do it mate! I did my own after reading Dune Messiah called the Iron Gholas. Their iron father is basically nothing but a skull with a bit of brain stuffed in a terminator suit and the entire assault company consists of gholas who've gone mental from being revived too many times. Wrote a 19 page history about them (it was a slow month at work). You could make something super cool!

[@arandomlostsoul753]

Phantom Pains isn't even that silly of a name compared to a lot of official Chapters, either.

[@Bluecho4]

@@arandomlostsoul753 In-universe, the name comes from a minor geneseed flaw within the Chapter that causes them to experience phantom pain for all their missing bodyparts (a non-trivial condition, for Iron Hands successors), that the Imperium either is unaware of or doesn't consider significant enough to intervene in. The Chapter itself, of course, won't allow their problem to stop them, through sheer force of will. Metatextually, it represents the psychological pain of being bereft of their Primarch, their innocence, their humanity, and even their very lives (in the case of the _ghola_ Astartes). What they've lost continues to haunt and aggrieve them.

[@paulussturm6572]

Me too. Mine are chimeric Raven Guard and Iron Hands successors called the Blackbirds. Their origin stories go way back to Istvaan V and a group of Iron Hand and Raven Guard survivors who band together and like most others engage in guerilla warfare against the traitors. However they get cut off from pretty much everyone by a Warp storm and from there onwards become a fairly contradictory and conflicted band that eventually evolves into a solitary chapter of its own. They twist the characteristics of both their parent chapters with each essentially becoming hued by the others. Their penchant for technology is not characterized by huge warmachines and destructive power but instead by stealth tech, cameleoline cloaks, hyper advanced tactical cogitators, magnetized servojoints in their power armor and the like. They are every bit as dour and miserable as the Iron Hands, but their RG heritage imbues them with insticts that drive them to protect and improve the helpless. This causes them to commit some truely vile acts, in the morbid belief that they are helping, but also to stand up against some of the more obvious acts of unwarranted oppression in the Imperium and enact brutal retribution upon those responsible. Real save you from your sinful selves types.

[@ghostkai8713]

Oh, undead cyborg marines sounds awesome! Really strong concept for a Chapter. Can just imagine a cool scene emphasizing the eerie uncanniness of certain marines /never/ removing their helmets, and speaking in only short, stilted fashion. Could work that in well with the macabre aesthetics of servitors and general imperium machinery in general.

[@graefx]

Hell yeah Iron Hands representation. I'm always surprised that the Sons of Medusa doesn't get more published. It's such an interesting chapter that I can see a lot of stories and support for. I'm a little disappointed that some of the excerpts and art I didn't immediately recognize. I wish older books particularly the Badab war ones were easier and cheaper to get ahold of

[@Awesomeduud]

It’d be nice if they write about their Moirae Beliefs. The wiki only says that ever since the Moirae Schism, the Sons of Medusa’s interpretation of the Moirae has been bastardized/revised over the millennia.

[@captainparty]

Now I’m just excited for the Minotaurs video, my first army when I got back into the hobby after the traditional 10 year gap.

[@KateHolden]

Wow they're a way more interesting chapter than I expected! I'm really digging this series; so much lore I wasn't aware of.

[@NightfallTH]

Good Evening fellow Badab War enthusiasts. We meet again!

[@VinnyPTAstartes]

I support tax evasion

[@TheTurbanatore]

The amount of high-quality videos on this channel is insane, GW needs to really partner with you

[@hannahgeraghty4201]

Damn, these might actually be the most interesting marine chapter I've heard of

[@Frosty4427]

Looks like I have the chapter for my Deathwatch tech marine

[@JonathanTaylorW]

perfect!!

[@MichaelZenke]

Ian how is gw not paying you? You bring so much to this content and context, it's wonderful. Keep up the great work!

[@Mr_Waffle.]

They sent him the Mechanicum box set, so he must have some fans over there at least!

[@fumarc4501]

I knew of the Sons of Medusa, but didn’t know much about them. Awesome listen!

[@derekmcmanus8615]

I fondly remember reading the orginal Badab war 'fluff' as a teenager back in the day...and was very pleased to hear how it was later expanded

[@WhispersinTheWarp]

Iron hands but with a much more fun colour scheme - in my opinion. 7th edition FW rules gave there Chapter master T6 because of his cybernetics. He was an absolute monster!!!

[@jorgeclarkson8286]

God I love the Iron Hands, especially the Red Talons, underrated Legion! Painting them at the momeent can't wait to field them in HH. Ngl that Black with Emerald Stripe scheme is a fucking vibe, might steal that.

[@_R0adki11]

Looking forward to seeing you do the Raptors. I bought an Age of Darkness boxset recently to build Badab Army of them.

[@calcite.belemnite]

You’re a fantastic story teller Arbitor. Thoroughly enjoyed this video.

[@williamogunjobi1199]

This video really made me want to learn more about the hellgrammites!

[@angelx9724]

Honestly, this series helps me with wanting to collect a primaris only chapter in the future

[@beowar]

I always love learning more about the weird world of 40k and the best place to learn is right here, thank you Ian

[@MikeH89]

The phrase a days journey through the warp to moeria made me laugh. If I've learned anything from Ian and Lutein, that means you could arrive in one day, or arrive 7,000 years later

[@youdontneedtoseehisidentif4939]

That’s not true..! …you could also arrive 7,000 years before you began your journey.

[@Thedagda801]

Excellent! I think the late Alan Bligh was the greatest originator of lore GW ever had, and his work superlative.

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Fascinating chapter. Learned something new that they can remove heresy from items is fascinating. I love the these older factions have alternative patterns, the camouflage looks great. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

[@chlorhydrix9160]

Love this serie of videos, it's a fascinating and quite underrated part of the lore, thank you very much !

[@bashlucarelli4428]

I can't describe how much you affect my life. I am out of 40k and bored by everything 40k. Then I see a video of yours pop up, and it draws me in. It's the best mix of fact and fantastical narration that makes ypur videos more fun and enjoyable than any other that just makes my 40k fire rekindle.

[@MRFlackAttack1]

I’d be interested in a video on any chapters that you suspect might be from the 2 lost legions. I know it’s speculated that they were absorbed into the Ultramarines. If so, when the legion was broken into chapters, those survivors could have spun off into their own independent force again.

[@Silvofox]

If I were to start a space marine army this would definitely be the chapter of choice.

[@benmccoy1766]

Yes! Yes! Yes! My beautiful boys have their own Arbitor Ian video! I’m so happy! All 3,000 points of my SoM are cheering on their shelves!

[@imkycarsten]

I am enjoying this series a lot. Thank you

[@dalgafaik966]

Great video. Love the aesthetic of the Sons of Medusa, and really wish they had a bigger presence. This video does an excellent job of picking out why they're interesting and why it's worth the effort to find the lore of different chapters. What starts as a random colour scheme or line of text ends with a full backstory eventually. Great stuff, as always.

[@ghostkai8713]

The Galen Massacre, as I'll somewhat half-glibly call it, is probably the best shining example in holding the Imperium to its sometimes forgotten title as 'the cruellest regime imaginable'. Last I recall reading through Imperial Armour, the world /was/ on the Loyalist side of the Conflict, and undergoing a refugee crisis of an entire sector being put to the torch. Sons are told to keep the peace and ensure the factories stay rolling, and then just. Did All Of That. Like no incident, no rebel leader or Astral Claws instigators, that was just their way of holding to the orders given, and the Imperium just accepted it. I know it's a matter of contention for the community sometimes, but I do kinda wish it could be pushed forwards more. Not always flatly, maybe, the Imperium this misshapened mass of a dozen different factions and such, certainly some heroes and there and such, but that the Imperium broadly is ultimately a deep nasty rot to it, and that a lot of powers that be in it will accept that. Feels more compelling then some whataboutism of "Well, they had a good reason" or something, and definitely leaves some strong impressions if done right(like with the Sons of Medusa, who, for all their bastardy, I feel I'd /almost/ get an army of, if I could ever bite the bullet that is painting for the hobby. Love their structure and lore vibes, just unsure if I could commit to their paint scheme, lol)

[@youdontneedtoseehisidentif4939]

There’s a short story titled _The Strong Among Us_ (which I read in _The Black Library Celebration 2021_ , but I expect it’s also in other anthologies) that does a decent job of showing how the Imperium is self-defeating: In brief, and from memory, a small cult has taken control of what was an Imperium factory complex, and loyalist forces are now besieging it; the majority of the factory workers are still loyal - and the protagonist is one of them, and is praying for the loyalist forces to break through; but by the end of the story, because of the Imperium’s uncompromising practices, the protagonist has not only become an accidental hero to the cult, but has begun to willingly work to defeat the loyalist forces, having determined that the cult’s victory - or at least postponing the cult’s defeat - is the best chance they personally have of surviving.

[@ghostkai8713]

Oh that sounds a fun short story, will have to check it out sometime. Thanks for the summary!

[@simonbirch5726]

Loving this Badab war series! My current project is 500 pts if Executioners so looking forward to when you eventually get to the sons of Rann!

[@gymcelsocialism]

They sound like an Iron Hands successor version of the Aurora Chapter Edit: insofar as they are emerald green vehicle focused tech heavy combatants using an 8 point star motif as the chapter badge

[@davidcook73]

Love your channel Ian. Long may it continue.

[@Mr_Waffle.]

6:44 lol that text, the Moirae were right all along? I love it. Great video!

[@Arjac1312]

I just started a army of sons of medusa 🎉

[@michaelgrey1351]

GW lore writers: "Let's see what other silly planet names we can get Ian to say!"

[@financialproblems9308]

seriously why don't the iron hands get more lore or successors? they look so cool and are relatively unique compared to regular successors of angels, imperial fists and ultramarines

[@Yurt_enthusiast7]

Really whised they would've made the Horus heresy as interesting as Badab war

[@TTKarlheins]

Hi Arbitor Ian, just an idea for a video I'd love to see your take on - What was life like for humanity before the age of strike... ya know, before it all went to crap

[@PrimetimeD]

Very cool video. I didn't really know anything about this chapter other than that they were around during the Badab situation, but now I'm intrigued.

[@tegwendegurechaff5981]

Moved to the uk form Australia week ago today and am keen to try and catch you at an event now 😅

[@Ennio444]

Super interesting chapter, well written and thought out lore and yet another great episode! 😊

[@maksik234]

Sons of Medusa be like Orbital bombardment of a city: i sleep Losing a rusty barge with tons of scrap: *REAL SHIT*

[@codycurtin2295]

God i want there to be an Iron Hands successor that doesn't believe in the weakness of flesh ethos, so bad!!!

[@joeleriksson89]

Always love seeing your videos of what my new favorite chapter is going to be!

[@kasuheartsrivals]

Blown away, this chapter sounds awesome! Might make a killteam of them!

[@CocoHutzpah]

The Iron Hands and the Iron Guard in the Iron Crusade. Had to steel myself before that one.

[@matthewmcneany]

I really enjoy all the Knights Templar nods and Cathar heresy.

[@BobRobert8888]

There is a pretty good full conversion of the hh 2.0 rules into badab war rules

[@LeviticusStroud]

Video sound: "Their emerald green armour" Video visuals: Me: Reminded that GW has an odd way of naming their paints, and wonders if one or more of the managers have a touch of colour blindness...

[@davidcollins9213]

Thank you for these. I am getting a ton of world building ideas from these.

[@flynnlang1462]

SoM are my favorite currently. With a slight rip from Novamarines, Im playing them in Space Marines 2.

[@Peep215]

Green iz bezt. Da orkiest beaky boyz!

[@MatthewBester]

The Medusa Gorgon link is neat.

[@DanTheMan-n5p]

theres a cool pic of the sons of medusa in the current SM codex in the crusade section.

[@velvetine74]

It's almost like he puts these out for when Brits finish work, love it

[@ahoyturtle]

The Sons of Medusa are also a great example to bring up to people who still say Astartes in the Imperium don't revere the Emperor as a God. Because that was one of the cornerstones of the Moirean Schism, and is very much still present in their belief system today.

[@AnnaHalldors-x4o]

Your channel is one of the few that really enjoys the quality of content. Keep it up!🐕🧐🦑

[@GardensAndGames]

The Executioners did so much damage in Badab. Maybe the most effective ally of the Astral Claws.

[@BrandonWard-oj3yh]

Keep up the great work love the channel Please cover the red talons chapter. Thank you.

[@flaschorLP]

looting all the gear? *proud blood ravens noises*

[@chromasus9983]

Right on time for a new Ian video, let's go!

[@JonathanTaylorW]

Red Talons mentioned!!!!!

[@TantheTaxman]

Cant wait for the Minotaurs chapter!

[@jaanikaapa6925]

The emblem looks curiously much like the original Death Guard.... Also 8 pronged star? Hmmmmmm

[@fleshbhones]

Not to mention green and white colour scheme, close to the HH era Death Guard scheme...

[@Xick]

You'd think the Imperium would be a little more careful about counting the points on all their iron halos.

[@financialproblems9308]

history dosent repeat, but it does rhyme

[@KelRiever]

So...Iron WARRIORS :D

[@TheIsgar3]

love your vids, keep them coming!

[@MannnisEi]

Why is this random successor chapter so much more interesting than the actual Iron Hands

[@mazubahtender]

I think Moirae should not be pronounced with the French "oi", since it's based on the Greek Moirai, three witches.

[@Yacovo]

Between this and the other loyalist chapters, it seems all you need to do to punish a noncompliant chapter is ring the dinner bell. Thanks for the video.

[@mojotheaverage]

Dammit, now i want to build a sons of medusa army

[@pitmatix1457]

I'd love a revamped version of the Badab War campaign from Forgeworld to use with the Horus Heresy ruleset. To be honest I'm all Heresied out at this point.

[@bayushiteishiru6291]

Hello there! Technical question for you, before I forget: what wireless mics are you using? Rode? Kimafun? You sound really clearly and I would like too when discording halfway around the globe, heh. Indeed, it is a re-repost.

[@ArbitorIan]

I'm using a RODE GO set with a RODE lavalier plugged into the TX

[@bayushiteishiru6291]

Thank you. :).

[@BewegteBilderrahmen]

That should be lakhesis, meghara and atropos in pronunciation, those were greel furies and if you play the game hades you can get to know them.

[@am17frans]

Looking forward to the Raptors.

[@charlesquigley4383]

Ah, a good old vaguely troubling dark Space Marine chapter, way more

[@garthantash]

Their chapter symbol is an 8 pointed star you say?... Megaera is one of the Greek Furies while Atropos and Lachesis are two of the three Fates. I wonder who Clotho (the third Fate) upset to not have a company named after her?

[@cornmaized]

Heck yeah love these videos

[@philipkelly7369]

I think the chapter I'm looking forward to the most is probably the Star Phantoms because I have a huge affinity for space marines that act like jerks, KNOW they're jerks, and seem to LOVE being jerks. So yes, I also like Minotaurs.

[@zep5229]

I can't wait for the next one!

[@jasonstadnyk2348]

Great job!

[@justususalplayer1329]

20:06 well, I hope they didn't hit the second building during this battle

[@ginolospazzino5261]

Yay! Finally my boys!!!🎉

[@mrscat432]

Hope we get to see the Invaders Chapter

[@vincentthekeeper2163]

The Iron Hands are so interesting. They really dont get their due.

[@ImmortaleyeStudio]

another great video :D

[@pat0652]

Super interesting.

[@alastor8091]

The flesh is weak.

[@t.d.mcintosh]

"Strike cruiser destroyed in 911" LMAO 😂

[@robling1937]

Badab is much more interesting than the Horus Heresy lol

[@pmc1727]

Day 57 still waiting for Minotaurs.

[@chubbubdreamer6904]

So, the the Sons of Medusa green techno Blood Ravens, or are the Blood Ravens red psychic Sons of Medusa? Cause they both sound like different flavored magpies.

[@Streetsam]

Great!

[@1gun136]

In searching for your channel, which I only half remembered, I thought your name was Lorekeeper John, not Arbitor Ian. I think Lorekeeper John would be a good alias.

[@ArbitorIan]

I'll take it! Just call me Archivist Dave!