Hey everyone, this is what my armies background is looking like so far, I'd appreciate any input or comments.
[Start fluff]
A young Kabal, formed only recently in comparison with the stronger, more revered Kabals, the Kabal of the Jagged Grin began its existence in the drug industry. The drugs their alchemists created were unlike any others available, and contracts with certain shadowed figures kept any potential competitors from making anything better for a long time. These drugs were varied in their effects and purposes. Hydrexa for example, was popular with the Wych cults who became even faster and stronger than ‘normal’ when under its effects. Those seeking a challenging fight would even dose their opponents with the drug, allowing for a more entertaining fight and slower death, as combatants fought on in spite of losing arms or taking other fatal wounds. For the truly ancient Eldar who needed to witness more intense pain than fatal stab-wounds or ravaging poisons could offer, the grinning alchemists created Shattercore. This drug when given properly would fill its recipients mind with all of its most terrible memories at once, simultaneously overloading all but the most capable brains and literally frying the victim’s consciousness. Those not strong enough to resist the effects literally die of horror and fear as all of their most haunting nightmares cave in around them. Psykers usually, and others of particularly strong minds are the only ones known to have survived the drug, but are reduced to gibbering lunatics, seeing daemons in every shadow, ghost ships in every cloud. The drug was most satisfactory to the Archons and other elites of many Kabals who soon became almost addicted to watching their victims suffer in this entirely new fashion.
Home
The wealth and connections earned from the drug trade projected the Kabal into the limelight for a short while and before long they had enough money to buy the loyalty of many Kabalite Warriors. In many cases, powerful Archons as well as Wyches and other wealthy combatants ended up selling their own services or that of their armies to the Jagged Grin in order to fund their addictions further. Before long the leader of the Grin was able to visit a powerful Succubus to whom he proposed a business partnership of mutual benefit. Thus the Jagged Grin came to own an Arena as well, where great beasts were brought and enhanced by drug after drug until it had become a mindless death machine incapable of thoughts beyond those related to killing. Squads of Wyches rather than single combatants would then work in perfect cohesion to bring down the enraged beast, slowly dismembering it as the crowd basked in the finesse of the killing.
There are no Kabals that openly war with the Grin, for even though the drug trade is no longer at the forefront of their efforts, their drugs are still loved greatly by the insatiable Archons of much stronger Kabals, who would be very very displeased if their suppliers disappeared.
First Contact
Their first contact with the Imperium of Man was quite recent as the Kabal spends much of its time preying on the Tau, due to the usefulness of the Kroot as sellable slave labour. The first meeting of the formally organized Grin and Man was during a raid of a small Tau inhabited world on the fringes of the Grins immediately accessible range of planets. As the fleets of Raiders, all filled with Wyches and Kabalites ran down the last remnants of the Tau defences, the communication and positioning systems of the Raiders shut down. Seemingly out of nowhere and at great surprise to the cocky Dracon leading the assault, a dozen stealth teams began punishing the Raiders with constant streams of heavy fire. Speeding away into the cover, 2 of the Raiders were caught in the bullets and went down, leaving half a dozen Kabalites to bunker down in the remains. Regrouping, the remaining Jagged Grin forces ordered the Reaver squads and Hellion gangs, who had been clearing another sector of any remaining resistance to rally to the Raiders last marked location. Streaming in with shot after shot of their deadly Heat Lances, each shot hitting and utterly destroying a Stealth Suit, the Reavers joined the fray, drawing the Tau’s attention while Hellions swept down and lopped off armour-encased arms and bonded weapon systems.
Before long the Stealth Suits counter attack had been defeated, in the confusion however the Eldar had neglected to notice the forces of the Inquisition gathering on the horizon. Apparently having been tasked with peaceful (or otherwise successful by any means necessary) negotiations with the Tau of the lush, strategically valuable world the Inquisitional forces now had to protect their quarry from a new foe.
Rallying once more behind the large gangs of Hellions, the mass of Ravagers and Raiders skimmed once more into the fray. The Imperial forces consisted of multiple platoons of general purpose infantry, who quickly and un-resiliently fell to the storm of poisoned crystals let loose by the Kabalite Warriors. The flanks were guarded by sturdy tanks who knocked 2 Venom craft clean from the sky and forced a Raider to crash land, but was soon afterwards immobilised, rendered weapon-less and then blown apart by recurring shots of Reaver Heat Lances. A strike force of the most powerful Space Marines strode valiantly into the battle, Bolters blazing, but the Wyches running towards them were too nimble to be shot down and though many Wyches were killed as well, the Marines eventually fell to their poisoned blades. Leading the task force was an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos, who fought valiantly alongside his Adeptus Astartes brothers, but finally fell to the Agoniser weaponry of the grinning Dracon. The remnants of the task force began to flee at the death of its leader and final destruction of its vehicles, only to be snatched up by the Hellions and Raiders who spared not a second in pursuing them. Not a single man left the planet alive unless in chains.
Combat Capabilities
The Kabal, now fully operational and with a strong foothold in the lower city of Commorragh has developed are very fine method of waging war. On the battlefield the Kabal of the Jagged Grin utilise very fast-paced tactics to cut out the heart of the enemy before they even know a blade has been drawn. To this end the Grin makes heavy use of Raiders and Venoms as well as Ravagers and occasionally Razorwings for heavier fire support. Their forces are mostly comprised of Wyches and Kabalites, with the former taking the fight to the enemy with blade and fist and the latter raining down volleys of poisoned crystals into the enemy ranks. Reavers and Hellions also make a common appearance, using their speed to compliment the Grins overall plan for most battles – run up behind them and stab them in the heart. Perhaps the only aspect of Dark Eldar society that does not make an appearance in their armies is the Covens of the Haemonculi. The reasoning behind this is rumoured to be one of simple lack of funds but those within the Kabal stress, often with a Blaster shot to the leg that, it is due to their vain Archons distaste for the ugly creations of Haemonculi. While they are often hired to perform regenerations among other requests, the Haemonculi have never appeared in battle with the Grin.
Technology and Structure
The Jagged Grin use very similar technology to other Kabals, only favouring fast moving vehicles and Hellions and forgoing Haemonculi inventions. One marked difference in their technology is the use of combat drugs almost throughout the Kabal. Literally everyone in the Kabal use these drugs very frequently, especially prior to a raid. The only exception being the noble Kabalites themselves who must resist the temptation until they earn a higher rank. Drugs similar to Shattercore are also often used to cause panic and insanity in the enemy ranks as the Kabals forces march forth. Although Shattercore is only effective when injected, other drugs such as Mindnet can be used in a gaseous form, released from grenades thrown into battle as the Grin close into combat. As well as being used by the Kabal itself, these unique drugs and enhancers are still being developed, improved and sold to the other Kabals for a great profit.
The social structure of the Kabal is similar to most others. The Archon however is a fairly reclusive being, rarely appearing for raids or any wars that break out in the streets. Most Kabalites will only see him once in every few months; some will not then see him again for years. In spite of this somewhat relaxed approach to leadership, he still has both the almost admiration and certainly fear of his Kabal; for the few who have spoken out against him would soon find themselves to be missing a few very important body parts. He often lends his authority to his Dracons and Hekatrixes, who are more than willing to accept the promotions, although he ensures they are often short lived.
[End fluff]
I still need a name for my Archon and a few others to throw around the different high rankers, but I'm not very imaginative when it comes to names. Does anyone know of any name generators?
Thanks very much and if you read all of that you deserve a medal!
Subject: The Kabal of the Jagged Grin 
Sun Jul 15 2012, 02:05
