Here's a (imo) very impressive and meticulously canon-true history researched and written up by Ryan, player of our Rogue Trader Cornelius Rune, Lord Rakespur.

HISTORY OF THE GILDED WIDOW

M39

342 - Built in the Cypra Mundi shipyards as the Sacred Form , Flagship of the Scout Fleet (Iron Sharks) in the Armada of High Admiral Vaakon. It receives a Segmentum Obscurus Battlefleet Flagship Bridge and the feared Nova Cannon. In addition, it was blessed with a revered pattern of the Jovian Class 4 Drive salvaged from the recently found Herald of Conquest . The Herald of Conquest was a Dominator-class cruiser launched in 530 M32 (Age of Rebirth) that was known to have fought in the wars of The Beheading in 542.M32 and was lost, with millions of other Imperial ships, during The Howling warp cataclysm of 401.M34 unleashed by the death of the Cacodominus at the end of the Catelexis Heresy. This archaeotech drive would keep the ship apace with lighter scout cruisers
357-8 - Taken into service by Admiral Raimon and trialled
359 - Leads Vaakon’s Armada that formed the Second Front of the Angevin Crusade into Calixis space
361 - Fierce fighting against the Yu’Vath leads to the ship bombarding one of the feared xenos’ Hell Worlds with the Nova Cannon
362 - Joins the bombardment of Morwen VI which becomes a Death World
363 - Lobbying for position in the future direction of the Angevin Crusade and bitter in-fighting sees Admiral Raimon secretly install a Tenebro-Maze. During construction the ship witnesses the ominous black skies of Lossal Prime.
364 - Admiral Raikon declares for the Bladeist faction and the resulting teleportarium boarding action onto the ship by forces loyal to Admiral Van Vist commanding the Sanctus Immortalis is unsuccessful due to the Tenebro-Maze. The ship heads to the Hazeroth Abyss where it is intercepted and defeated by a force led by Lycania Rakespur
365-9 - As Second Rate ship of the Rakespur Flotilla and renamed as the Gilded Widow , engages in fighting for the Drusus Marches with Charnel Guard Chapter Space Marines
368 Charnel Guard modify the ship Templum to accommodate statue of Primarch Corax
380 Avimus Rakespur, 'the Fell Whisper', takes the Rakespur Flotilla to Phyrr in Calixis Sector where his party visits an ancient temple
419 Avimus installs luxurious quarters for passengers
420-450 Ship runs from Kinog in Calixis Sector, a pleasure planet being founded by a consortium including Avimus, to Gehenna Sector bringing nobility to settle during the Great Founding of Calixis Sector
551 Borealis Rakespur uses the flotilla to participate in the covert trade War of Hubris at Sinophia
620-641 Borealis engages in forced repatriations on Sinophia
645 Borealis takes flotilla into the Jerulas Crusade against the rediscovered Jerulas system in Scarus Sector and gains respect of the Black Templars Chapter Space Marines (Imperial Fists Successor Chapter). Destroys Sword class frigate Hourglass
646-647 Archaeotech discovered at Jerulas enables an improved life sustainer system. Statue of Rogal Dorn joins the ship Templum
814 Founds Port Gavinus in Calixis Sector with consortium
985 Borealis responds to new request from the Black Templars Chapter Space Marines to join the Donian Crusade in Segmentum Pacificus
988 Ship arrives at the Donian Crusade and fights alongside the Space Marine strike cruisers Dorn’s Sword and Apocalypton at the Battle of Nickle 5 where Marshal Austein falls. The ship destroys the Havoc class merchant raider Maledictat
988 - Donian Crusade under Marshal Wernher. Ship scouts for the Space Marine battle-barge Sigismund’s Light

M40

-002 Donian Crusade completed
204-263 Brazen Claws Chapter Space Marines form pact with 3 Rogue Trader houses including Rakespur to discover an artifact left by their founding chapter (Iron Hands) in Calixis Sector
210 Brazen Claws erect statue of Primarch Ferrus Manus in the ship Templum and their Tech-Marines bestow the ship with a Darkening Field to aid in their covert task
263 Pact with Brazen Claws comes to a close when a company of Steel Confessors Chapter Space Marines (also an Iron Hands Successor Chapter) and a Titan force of Legio Venator confronts the Brazen Claws and the 3 Rogue Trader houses over an obscure Adeptus Mechanicus ruling
310-391 Search for an STC through Mandragora Sector
479-480 Carries missionary Elana to Ichovor in Calixis Sector (later to become Saint Elana the Unshaken)
552 First ship to survive the initial attacks by the Kabal of the White Sorrows Eldar in Calixis Sector
552-570 Forms part of the combined Imperial fleet (including many Rogue Trader Houses) fighting back against the Kabal
562 Captured White Sorrows Eldar Runecaster installed so that the ship may act as point in the upcoming Imperial pursuits. The Runecaster is hidden within the Tenebro-Maze
570 Ship and the cruiser Son of Seth commanded by the genocidal Inquisitor-Rogue Trader Kobras Aquairre track down and cripple the White Sorrows flagship cruiser Altar of Torment . The Son of Seth rams and boards the cruiser.
673 Joins the Rogue Trader Lady Esme Chorda-led fleet in bombarding the space hulk Cauldron of Savagery to destruction in the Drusus Marches
674 Fights against Rogue Trader Lady Esme Chorda for betrayal of terms relating to the space hulk
738-741 Sees action throughout the War of Brass in the Gelmino System in Calixis Sector
739 Ship engages and destroys the Khornic Apostate class Chaos heavy raider Eight Words Of Sacrifice and later that year destroys traitor Viper class missile destroyer Waspnest
740 Ship solely responsible for bombardment and destruction of hive city Sacermina
741 Ship works with Brazen Claws Chapter Space Marines once more when a company is assigned to the war. This combined force liberates technology being developed by the forces of the Emperor of Brass. Some of this technology is lost to Legio Venator whose Titans once more surround the Brazen Claws and Rakespur force
874-881 Searches for and encounters Ezzel scoutform with Ordo Xenos in Artemis Sector
883 Arrives for the Apotropaic Council of Adiemus Ultima to determine actions against the Ezzel meta-breed
923-4 Provides transport to Roxanzand in the Chelio Sector and supports the cover identity for the Vindicare Temple assassin Skult who succeeds in assassinating Urgak the Unstoppable
927 Arrives at newly founded Port Wander and travels to map the Temple System in the Koronus Expanse during the Mistaken Age

M41

001 Ship arrives at the planet Gathalamor where the famous Conclave is taking place below. In orbit with the ships of more than 1000 Imperial high officials and 800 Chapter Masters, Rakespur looks for opportunities with the Black Templars and Brazen Claws Chapters which the Rakespurs have not worked with for 1000 years and 750 years respectively. The Charnel Guard Chapter are not present. Meeting with Kobras Aquairre
086-089 Ship arrives at Lenk in the Angelus Subsector of Scarus Sector and then penetrates Lucky Space
098 Forms colony fleet settling Mara in Calixis Sector
120-1 Lead scout in the First Aquairre Punition, the first Imperial fight against the Iron Scourge pirates near Iniquity in the Koronus Expanse, commanded by Kobras Aquairre and saves one of his frigates, the Elementis Vulpa . Ship destroys the Hazeroth class privateer Manacle but the Tempest class strike frigate Unbreakable blows up the ship’s Darkening Field
140-3 Flotilla arrives in Gothic Sector. When the Gothic War (Twelfth Black Crusade) erupts the ship lays up at the voidyards of Saviour, ostensibly for repairs. Ship takes on board elements of planet’s ship construction capability in heavily disguised data-arks. Ship is forced to leave when the Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marine strike cruiser Heart of Agony appears and opens fire. Saviour is captured a year later
144-5 Ship evacuates whole stockpile of Trikali’s crystal mines in the Corain system of the Gothic Sector, 2 years later the entire system is captured by Abaddon the Despoiler. Flotilla escapes Gothic Sector and the pursuing Murder class Chaos cruisers Blood Auger and Cruel Worship through the devastating Warp Storm with help from the Boetia asteroid field Astropath station and by employing the Runecaster. The flotilla loses many Navigators and Astropaths in the Warp Storm
161 Arrives at Third Battle of Gassharma in Ixaniad Sector to support the Vendoland Division with a planetary bombardment
186-8 Lead scout in the Second Aquairre Punition, the action against the outlaw Rogue Trader Veronique Renuka’s pirate fleet in the Koronus Expanse, the last formal action commanded by Kobras Aquairre prior to his disappearance into the Rifts of Hecaton
214-215 Aids Battlefleet Calixis in the fight against the Merates Uprising in Calixis Sector
216-218 Having discovered evidence of the Meritech info-tomb Metousiosis, flotilla aligns with Divine Light of Sollex cult of Adeptus Mechanicus against the Merates Uprising in Calixis Sector
219-220 Adeptus Mechanicus bestows ship with Deepvoid Auger Array during refitting of the flotilla at Haddrak in Calixis Sector
234-240 Builds relationship with noble house De Vensii of Thracian Primaris in Helican Susector of Scarus Sector. Trades successfully after several missions in Lucky Space and in Scarus Sector.
239-240 Contacted by Rogue Trader Gorgone Locke and, at a pre-arranged meeting point with Locke on the borders of Lucky Space, having conducted trade, the Rakespur flotilla is attacked by a Penetrator class Chaos raider and an Emasculator class Chaos cruiser. The vox lines are jammed with the bizarre entreaties of their leader, Emalia. Whilst opening fire, Emalia describes herself as the Pleasure of Melchior, a daemonette-human hybrid that grew up on the Convent world of Jessemine VII and fell in love with a daemon. The flotilla is heavily damaged and loses a frigate as it escapes. Locke also escapes
240-241 Fights in the Helican Subsector Schism in Scarus Sector gaining large landholdings and builds relationship with noble house De Vensii of Thracian Primaris. The flotilla learns from Ordos Helican that Emalia is believed to be a minor concubine to Lord Commander Melchior Eseptides of the 22nd Great Company Guardians of Pleasure (formerly Heralds of the Emperor) of the Emperor’s Children Chaos Space marines and that Locke has been declared heretic
241-338 Joins Warmaster Honorius’ forces to wage the Ophidian Suppression in return for trade privileges in the Ophidian Subsector of Scarus Sector, again allying with noble house de Vensii the Rakespur flotilla is able to use the imposed martial law to its advantage. Fights at the fleet Battle of Uritule IV where Admiral Spatian is killed. Scouts for the White Consuls Chapter Space Marines strike cruiser Eternal Faith and Aurora Chapter Space Marines strike cruiser Fire Scion (both are Second Founding Successor Chapters of the Ultramarines Chapter). Statue of Primarch Roboute Guilliman erected in the Templum
338 Whilst trading with noble house de Vensii at Thracian Primaris and attending the Great Triumph, the ship sent its air wings to enter the fight against Chaos-tainted Lightning pilots at the Spatian Gate Massacre
392-399 Joins the Macharian Crusade of conquest into the Halo Zone beyond the Segmentum Pacificus that took over 2000 worlds. Flagship of the independent command 119th Expedition (1 of the 9 Rogue Trader formations), often in loose alliance with Battlefleet Arrian that supports the make-shift and largely penal Sixth Army Group (Hard Luck Sixth). Trades with 6 newly discovered planets. Ship fights at the destruction of the Kallastin Stratocracy and the Pacification of the Forax Cluster. The ship also fights at the epic naval Battle of Charaxidis where the Crusade Flagship Pax Imperium is damaged but the ageless traitor Admiral Suhael is killed and the ship destroys the renegade Endeavour class light cruiser Felid
394 Fights once more with the Black Templars who arrive as the 745th Crusade Fleet under Marshal Thangdren. Pursues the Eldar Bonesingers and Aspect Warriors of Il-Kaithe Craftworld through the Garden Worlds. Ship takes on tribal force of the feral Kanak Skulltakers under the ultimate command of Warlord Arminius (later the Sky-Slayer King of Kanak and widely regarded as a master poet). The Eldar are eventually brought to battle at the Victory of Brightwater where 38000 Eldar are killed along with their Autarch Tuireann. Ship destroys Hellebore class frigate Wings of Baharroth and boards the Solaris class light cruiser Wraithsong with the fanatically savage Kanak Skulltakers.
395 Present at the discovery of the much reduced, semi-piratical but loyalist Crimson Guard Chapter Space Marines (Crimson Fists Successor Chapter) led by Chapter Master Kree at Cathas. Follows their strike cruiser Crimson Holdfast in a strike against the Dark Age of Technology-employing Red Technocracy of Lapis Majoris. Trades the discovered technology with Legio Metallica
396 With Battlefleet Arrian whih is ambushed at the edge of the Perdian Expanse by smaller fleet of the Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines led by Captain Sorge. The Alpha Legion destroy more than a third of Battlefleet Arrian and many of the remaining ships have damaged warp drives. The ship gives chase with the undamaged Battlefleet Arrian ships into the Expanse up to the planet Thoth but the Alpha Legion escape after sending messages to Thoth
397 Declamatory Council held aboard the ship in orbit around Thoth includes Lord Commander Solar Macharius, Lord Inquisitor Manzore of Ordo Hereticus, the hated 6th Army Group Commander Commandant General Tyrell Arrian (later beatified as the Butcher of Thoth) and the highly regarded Captain El’Rahim of the Tallarn Desert Raiders 3rd Regiment (Desert Tigers). The Council declares the planet Thoth as Amundia Heretica. Ship evacuates all of the genetypes of the flora and fauna of the planet, then participates in its virus bombing. Manzore gifts the ship with a Penitent War-Engine
398 Travels with elements of Battlefleet Crassus in the 5th Army Group (Gauntlets of Crassus) led by the Cadian theatre commander Major-General Elohir. Ship fights at the battle Affirmation of Elohir where the Dark Eldar Kabal of the Rubied Blade is destroyed and their Archon Vectux is captured. The ship destroys the Corsair class escort Wychspasm. The ship is awarded the Silver Solar
399 Acts as command vessel for the Terrax Imperial Guard in the Halo Zone and joins bombardment of the Carnelion Palace of Leminitus
400 Battle of the Vile Shoals in the Halo Zone. Ship destroys a Chaos Infidel Class Raider ( Tormentus Rictus ) but is boarded by 3 squads of the renowned reaver Swords of Khargoth (formerly Swords of Praesium) Chaos Space Marines led by a Sorceror-Terminator of The Scourged Chaos Space Marines who is reputed to hear all lies ever spoken and therefore successfully navigates the Tenebro-Maze heading to the bridge causing massive crew depopulation and severing 4 historic cadet lines of Rakespur. Enemy force is destroyed before arriving at the bridge by a combined force of Terrax Imperial Guard stormtroopers and commissars, a squad of Legio Metallica Skitarii, a Crimson Guard Space Marine liaison officer, Rakespur forces, the Penitent War-Engine, an amulet once wielded by Saint Elana (which were all destroyed) and the ship’s witchcullis gates that disorientate and trap the Sorceror-Terminator
400-411 Ecclesiarchy on Hydraphur in Segmentum Pacificus consecrate the ship’s hull with the Warpsbane Benedictat and erect a gigantic statue on the ship’s exterior to Saint Josmane, He Whom Death Could Not Claim, as a ward against the ship’s historic exposures to taints such as Imperial factionalism, the First War of Armageddon, the Cauldron of Savagery, Halo Stars, Lucky Space, the Spatian Gate Massacre and the Halo Zone as well as the recent Chaos boarding. Bloody pogrom of any heresy-infected crew supervised by Adeptus Arbites and the Inquisition
412-444 Commandeered by Ordo Malleus Lord Inquisitor Daemonhunter Horst and travels to Segmentum Solar where it participates in the disruption of an Extremis Diabolus plot that damages the Ruinous Powers’ build-up for the First War of Armageddon, the ship leaves as Horst begins his great guerilla campaign
450-479 Supports the Scarus Sector noble house de Vensii’s attempts to gain influence in Calixis Sector by exploiting the Reign of Terror on Malfi
478 Flotilla engages openly in the Reign of Terror conflict when its combined force attacks and successfully boards the noble house Koba’s Cardinal class heavy cruiser Majestical . The Majestical is sold to noble house de Vensii
480-499 Flotilla remains involved in political machinations of Malfi until Chaos cultist incursion kills de Vensii representatives
503 Ran resupply to the Slaughter-Families of Snowden’s World in Calixis Sector as it was beset by the Tyrant Star
620 Tantala Rakespur, eldest daughter of Albracht Rakespur, despairs of her father’s indolence and negotiates a 10 year expedition with the ship to increase the family’s fortunes
621-3 Ship finds Vaporius in the Koronus Expanse and then drops off wealthy Cult of the Red Redemption missionaries. The missionaries are never seen again
626-8 Ship aligns with a splinter fleet of the Explorator sect in the Koronus Expanse led by Magos Tertius Anfa Moray (this already includes the newly appointed Rogue Trader Baxilik Kim) so that Tantala and Baxilik can assay xeno-tech whilst the Disciples of Thule discover pre-Imperial human archaeotech. Mechanicus sub-cult Magos Solus Kanceme’s main fleet is not present. Co-discover Orn in the Koronus Expanse which, after a brief exploration, is declared Anathema by the Adeptus Mechanicus
691 The Rakespur flotilla joins 2 other Rogue Trader flotillas and elements of Battlefleet Calixis to fight at the Battle of Jade Reach in the Drusus Marches when it is clear that Albracht must participate or face a crew mutiny. Tantala successfully leads the Rakespur flotilla in battle and the combined force executes a victory that remains studied by strategists
745 Mazarin Rakespur installs a Librarium hidden within the Tenebro-Maze and, using unknown methods, it is designed to be found only by him

Bridge Heraldry:

Segmentum Obscurus Battlefleet
Segmentum Obscurus Battlefleet Flagship
Segmentum Obscurus Scout Fleet
Sacred Form
Admiral Raimon
Angevin Crusade
Founding of Orendal
Death of Hell World Epsilon 6 Binary
Mandate to Purge - Morwen VI
House Rakespur
Copy of the Rakespur Warrant
Gilded Widow
Drusus Marches War
Charnel Guard Chapter Adeptus Astartes
Founding of Phyrr
Founding of Kinog
War of Hubris
Jerulas Crusade
Black Templars Adeptus Astartes
Black Templars High Marshal Ludoldus
Destruction of Sword class frigate Hourglass (Jerulas abstainers)
Founding of Port Gavinus
Donian Crusade
Black Templars Crusade Marshal Austein
Battle of Nickel 5
Destruction of Havoc class merchant raider Maledictat (pirato-renegades)
Black Templars Crusade Marshal Wernher
Brazen Claws Chapter Adeptus Astartes
Saint Elana the Unshaken
White Sorrows Corsair War (Dark Eldar)
Battlefleet Calixis
Lord Inquisitor - Lord Rogue Trader Kobras Aquairre
Ordos Xenos Calixis
Destruction of flagship Shadow class cruiser Altar of Torment (White Sorrows Kabal Dark Eldar)
Death of Space Hulk Cauldron of Savagery
War of Brass
Destruction of Chaos Apostate class heavy raider Eight Words Of Sacrifice
Destruction of Viper class missile destroyer Waspnest
Death of Hive City Sacermina (Gelmino System)
First Contact – Ezzel Xenos
Ordos Xenos Artemis
Apotropaic Council of Adiemus Ultima
Declaration of Xenos Horrificus – Ezzel Xenos
Officio Assassinorum Vindicare Temple Sigil of Hericide Aid Attribution Hereticus Abomoni
Founding of Mara
First Aquairre Punition
Lord Inquisitor - Lord Rogue Trader Kobras Aquairre
Ordos Xenos Calixis
Saviour of Frigate Elementis Vulpa
Destruction of Hazeroth class privateer Manacle (Iron Scourge pirates)
Twelfth Black Crusade (Gothic War)
Battlefleet Gothic
Saviour of Trikali
Third Battle of Gassharma
Battlefleet Ixaniad
Vendoland Division Imperial Guard
Second Aquairre Punition
Merates Uprising
Divine Light of Sollex
Helican Sub-Sector Schism
Battlefleet Helican
Ophidian Suppression
Battlefleet Scarus
White Consuls Chapter Adeptus Astartes
Aurora Chapter Adeptus Astartes
Battle of Uritule IV
Spatian Gate Massacre
Macharian Crusade
Segmentum Pacificus Battlefleet
119th Expedition Rakespur
Battlefleet Macharius
Death of the Kallastin Stratocracy
Battle of Charaxidis (renegade Battlefleet Charaxidis)
Destruction of Endeavour class light cruiser Felid (renegade Battlefleet Charaxidis)
6th Army Group (Hard Luck Sixth)
Battlefleet Arrian
Pacification of the Forax Cluster
Black Templars 745th Crusade Fleet
Black Templars Crusade Marshal Thangdren
Kanak Skulltakers (Imperial feral troops)
Victory of Brightwater (Il-Kaithe Craftworld Eldar)
Destruction of Hellebore class frigate Wings of Baharroth (Il-Kaithe Craftworld Eldar)
Boarding of Solaris class light cruiser Wraithsong (Il-Kaithe Craftworld Eldar)
Discovery of Crimson Guard Adeptus Astartes
Crimson Guard Adeptus Astartes
Crimson Guard Chapter Master Kree
Battle of Lapis Majoris (Red Technocracy)
Legio Metallica Skitarii
Battle of the Perdian Expanse (Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines)
Desert Tigers 3rd Regiment Tallarn Desert Raiders (Imperial Guard)
Declamatory Council of Thoth
Lord Commander Solar Macharius (Saint Macharius the Pacificar)
Commandant General Tyrell Arrian, 6th Army Group Commander (Saint Arrian the Butcher of Thoth)
Lord Inquisitor Manzore
Death of Thoth
Proclamation of Sanction Extremis - Exterminatus of Thoth
Battlefleet Crassus
Affirmation of Elohir (Dark Eldar Kabal of the Rubied Blade)
Destruction of Corsair class escort Wychspasm (Dark Eldar Kabal of the Rubied Blade)
Silver Solar Medal
Terrax Guard 6th Regiment Iron Gauntlets (Imperial Guard)
Death of the Carnelion Palace of Leminitus
Battle of the Vile Shoals (Swords of Khargoth and The Scourged Chaos Space Marines)
Destruction of Chaos Infidel class raider Tormentus Rictus
Ecclesiarchy of Hydraphur
Lord Inquisitor Daemonhunter Horst
Ordo Malleus Segmentum Solar
Ordo Malleus Sigil of Aid Attribution - Extremis Diabolus Armageddon
Malfian Reign of Terror
Boarding of Cardinal class heavy cruiser Majestical (Noble house Koba)
Saviour of Snowden’s World
Magos Tertius Anfa Moray (Disciples of Thule)
Discovery of Orn
Anathema of Orn
Battle of Jade Reach

Templum Statues:

Primarch Corax
Primarch Rogal Dorn
Primarch Ferrus Manus
Primarch Roboute Guilliman
Saint Elana the Unshaken
Saint Macharius the Pacificar
Saint Arrian the Butcher of Thoth
Saint Josmane, He Whom Death Could Not Claim

It's...so beautiful...

Yeah, holy smokes, dude.

BTW: the Charnel Guard are a Raven Guard Successor chapter? Is this conjecture or is there a source?

N_B said:

I've asked Ryan and he sends this response;

Thank you for your support.

I believe the Charnel Guard are only referred to in the Dark Heresy Apocrypha Timeline which itself carries the warning that it "sit(s) slightly outside of the purity of Dark Heresy’s core rules." The Charnel Guard are not fully canon and appear to play no further part in Dark Heresy/ Calixis beyond early M39. I have therefore been careful in their use, for example in the later section of the Gilded Widow timeline it notes that the Charnel Guard are not present at the Conclave of Gathalamor in M41 so later history is a blank slate for GM's.

I have, however, made 2 assumptions about the Chapter. Firstly, like the similarly named Death Spectres, they were founded with a specific purpose. Either sharing the Death Spectres' role in the Ghoul Stars or as an anti-Necron element (as you know canon is very confused about when the Imperium is aware of the Necrons, it is possible they are re-tasked for the Necron threat if you prefer a later discovery) or some other necromantic force (which is itself one of the catalysts for the founding of Ordo Sepulturum later). The second assumption is that, as you note, they are a Raven Guard Successor. This is mainly due to the name - 'Charnel' is similarly themed to 'Death' as in Death Spectres (which Heroes of the Space Marines speculates are a Raven Guard successor chapter too) and the second is 'Guard' as in Black Guard (again a similarly named canonical Raven Guard successor chapter) and Raven Guard itself.

Impressively detailed. Your machine spirit archives are clearly more complete than ours - but that's to be expected after the Inquisition data-purges they enacted before turning the ship over to us. All those "Records Expunged" file tags make tracking her precise service history a bit difficult.

Obsessively groovy.

Conjecture, then. Cool. I thought the name of the chapter was groovy as heck when I saw it in the Calixis timeline, but could find no other data.

Color me impressed! That is brilliant.

I am working up a few ships myself and wondered how much history of a vessel would be available. How would one get this information? It seems like the "Gilded Widow" gets around the Imperium quite a bit....how did you go about putting the list together, was there a methodology at work here, or you just knew which events/people/places you wanted before you wrote all this down?

Building the ship is easy, but putting together a timeline like this is crazy complicated if you are not extremely informed about the 40K universe. I have played 40K tabletop off and on over the last 17 years and have read a few novels and of course the DH and RT books but is that enough to put something like this together?

S.A.Harris said:

Thanks a lot.

A ship timeline can be created by using a relatively moderate number of sources.

The first step is to think of the personalities of each of the Rogue Traders that commanded the ship over the period of its life. This gives a a feel for the sort of events the Rogue Trader would want to be involved in - an explorer or a war leader, an ally of the inquisition, trader opportunist, cultist, strong religious leanings etc. You can then combine the timelines of Schola Progenium (but be careful, there are some mistakes) with those for Calixis and the Koronus Expanse to see what relevant events were taking place. Then look at the detail of the more interesting relevant events from the combined timeline by looking up those entries in the 40K Wikia and in the Lexicanum.

If you find a period that you wish to focus in on then find more detailed sources. For example, I felt that the Gilded Widow was heavily involved in the Macharian Crusade and so I searched online for more information until I found the the Macharian Crusade Campaign Book from the Bell of Lost Souls site. Earlier in my timeline the reference to Rogue Trader Gorgon Locke and elements of the Emperor's Children comes from the Eisenhorn novels and is amplified by a character I found on emperorschildren.net. If little is known then you get to expand it.

In the Gilded Widow timeline I actually limited the amount of Imperium-hopping by the ship. In 2400 years the ship only visits 2 other Segmentums (Pacificus and Solar) and even then does so only once and twice respectively. The rest takes place in Segmentum Obscurus and the majority of that in Calixis/ Koronus. Where the combined timeline refers to wars in locations unknown (Jerulas Crusade, Third War of Gessharma etc) I placed those events in the Gilded Widow timeline as being in sectors within Obscurus (and usually those closest to Calixis) specifically to stop it feeling like the ship was travelling too far.

Once you have the feel for the combined timeline and looked up the necessary detail then you can retrospectively engineer your Rogue Trader lineage to fit in with the events appropriate to their nature. Within the constraints of canon you can then embellish your ship's timeline with what involvement you feel your Rogue Trader had at these events and what they achieved.

Thanks Adam, this helps quite a bit.

I built my first ship last night (crunch) so I am going to start working on the back story tonight. I am also working on coming up with a style for the illustrations to go with all of my material, so I should have a picture of my vessel as well. When I get it done, I will post a link so you can check it out.

I appreciate all our help.

Some updates and expansion with info garnered from the RH;

HISTORY OF THE GILDED WIDOW

M39

342 Built in the Cypra Mundi shipyards as the Sacred Form , Flagship of the Scout Fleet (Iron Sharks) in the Armada of High Admiral Vaakon. It receives a Segmentum Obscurus Battlefleet Flagship Bridge and the feared Nova Cannon. In addition, it was blessed with a revered pattern of the Jovian Class 4 Drive salvaged from the recently found Herald of Conquest. The Herald of Conquest was a Dominator-class cruiser launched in 530 M32 (Age of Rebirth) that was known to have fought in the wars of The Beheading in 542 M32 and was lost, with millions of other Imperial ships, during The Howling warp cataclysm of 401 M34 unleashed by the death of the Cacodominus at the end of the Catelexis Heresy. This archaeotech drive would keep the ship apace with lighter scout cruisers
357-8 Taken into service by Admiral Raimon and trialled
359 Leads Vaakon’s Armada that formed the Second Front of the Angevin Crusade into Calixis space
360 Participates in the landing of Woe which, due to faulty intelligence, goes disastrously wrong with 100000 troops lost.
361 Fierce fighting against the Yu’Vath leads to the ship bombarding one of the feared xenos’ Hell Worlds with the Nova Cannon
362 Joins the bombardment of Morwen VI which becomes a Death World
363 Lobbying for position in the future direction of the Angevin Crusade and bitter in-fighting sees Admiral Raimon secretly install a Tenebro-Maze. During construction the ship witnesses the ominous black skies of Lossal Prime
364 Docked at the Second Front staging point at Fenksworld when the Apocalypse class battleship Tempest’s Child is crippled by traitors and ploughs into the docks, destroying dozens of ships including 15 warships. Ship uses superior speed to escape the destruction then returns to board the stricken Cardinal class heavy cruiser Pillar of Severity to save the surviving crew
365 Admiral Raikon declares for the Bladeist faction and the resulting teleportarium boarding action onto the ship by forces loyal to Admiral Van Vist commanding the Sanctus Immortalis is unsuccessful due to the Tenebro-Maze. The ship heads to the Hazeroth Abyss where it is intercepted and defeated by a force led by Lycania Rakespur
366-9 As Second Rate ship of the Rakespur Flotilla and renamed as the Gilded Widow, exploits the opportunity of the under-supplied Imperial forces following the Fenksworld Calamity and engages in fighting for the Drusus Marches and the Vanderveken Trinity rebellion with Charnel Guard Chapter Space Marines
367 Ship joins forces that invest then bombard to destruction the hive world Phaenon Prime where 14 billion people are killed. Ship destroys the pirate Ironclad Boneyard
368 Charnel Guard modify the ship Templum to accommodate statue of Primarch Corax
380 Avimus Rakespur takes the Rakespur Flotilla to Phyrr in Calixis Sector where his party visits an ancient temple
419 Avimus installs luxurious quarters for passengers
420-450 Ship runs from Kinog in Calixis Sector, a pleasure planet being founded by a consortium including Avimus, to Gehenna Sector bringing nobility to settle during the Great Founding of Calixis Sector
551 Borealis Rakespur uses the flotilla to participate in the covert trade War of Hubris at Sinophia
620-641 Borealis engages in forced repatriations on Sinophia
645 Borealis takes flotilla into the Jerulas Crusade against the rediscovered Jerulas system in Scarus Sector and gains respect of the Black Templars Chapter Space Marines (Imperial Fists Successor Chapter). Destroys rebel Sword class frigate Hourglass
646-647 Archaeotech discovered at Jerulas enables an improved life sustainer system. Statue of Rogal Dorn joins the ship Templum
814 Founds Port Gavinus in Calixis Sector with consortium
985 Borealis responds to new request from the Black Templars Chapter Space Marines to join the Donian Crusade in Segmentum Pacificus
988 Ship arrives at the Donian Crusade and fights alongside the Space Marine strike cruisers Dorn’s Sword and Apocalypton at the Battle of Nickle 5 where Marshal Austein falls. The ship destroys the Havoc class merchant raider Maledictat
988 - Donian Crusade under Marshal Wernher. Ship scouts for the Space Marine battle-barge Sigismund’s Light and destroys the Infidel class Chaos raider Strangler

M40

-002 Donian Crusade completed
204-263 Brazen Claws Chapter Space Marines form pact with 3 Rogue Trader houses including Rakespur to discover an artifact left by their founding chapter (Iron Hands) in Calixis Sector during the Angevin Crusade’s Exterminatus of the tech-heretics of Amun’an Morrus
210 Brazen Claws erect statue of Primarch Ferrus Manus in the ship Templum and their Tech-Marines bestow the ship with a Darkening Field to aid in their covert task
263 Pact with Brazen Claws comes to a close when a company of Steel Confessors Chapter Space Marines (also an Iron Hands Successor Chapter) and a Titan maniple of Legio Venator confronts the Brazen Claws and the 3 Rogue Trader houses over an obscure Adeptus Mechanicus ruling
310-391 Search for an STC through Mandragora Sector
479-480 Carries missionary Elana to Ichovor in Calixis Sector (later to become Saint Elana the Unshaken)
552 First ship to survive the initial attacks by the Kabal of the White Sorrows Eldar in Calixis Sector
552-570 Forms part of the combined Imperial fleet (including many Rogue Trader Houses) fighting back against the Kabal
562 Captured White Sorrows Eldar Runecaster installed so that the ship may act as point in the upcoming Imperial pursuits. The Runecaster is hidden within the Tenebro-Maze
570 Ship and the cruiser Son of Seth commanded by the genocidal Inquisitor-Rogue Trader Kobras Aquairre track down and cripple the White Sorrows flagship cruiser Altar of Torment . The Son of Seth rams and boards the cruiser.
673 Joins the Rogue Trader Lady Esme Chorda-led fleet in bombarding the space hulk Cauldron of Savagery to destruction in the Drusus Marches
674 Fights against Rogue Trader Lady Esme Chorda for betrayal of terms relating to the space hulk. Ship destroys the Rogue Trader Dauntless class light cruiser Dominion of Man but the Rakespur flotilla loses its Siluria class light cruiser Lux Tremendae Majestatis
738-742 Sees action throughout the War of Brass in the Gelmino System in Calixis Sector
739 Ship engages and destroys the Khornic Apostate class Chaos heavy raider Eight Words Of Sacrifice and later that year destroys traitor Viper class missile destroyer Waspnest
740 Ship solely responsible for bombardment and destruction of hive city Sacermina. Ship then works with Brazen Claws Chapter Space Marines once more when a company (including the Dreadnought Fulminous ) is assigned to the war
741 Ship fights and boards the Berserkers of Skallathrax (formerly World Eaters Legion Space Marines) Khornic Nova class Chaos Space Marine frigate Ruination Revocatus . The Brazen Claws Space Marine company’s boarding action against a Berserkers of Skallathrax squad supported by 2 Defilers and a Blood Slaughterer daemon-engine is victorious after heavy losses. Later that year this combined Rakespur-Brazen Claws force liberates a data-cache containg technology being developed by the forces of the Emperor of Brass. Some of these data crystals are lost to Legio Venator whose Titans once more surround the Brazen Claws and Rakespur force
742 In return for Inquisitorial cover from any potential pursuit by Legio Venator, Rakespur co-operates with Inquisitor Lord Godella Morn. Morn appears to have many well placed sources within the enemy’s forces. Joint operation sees a data-crystal, known as the Templates of the Mechanithrall, seized from the crippled traitor Enforcer class system control cruiser Haemothurge . The ship also destroys the traitor Lunar class cruiser Abyssalist . 3 years later Morn is sentenced to death by immersion in molten brass by the Calixian Conclave for Oblationist heresy
874-881 Searches for and encounters Ezzel scoutform with Ordo Xenos in Artemis Sector
883 Arrives for the Apotropaic Council of Adiemus Ultima to determine actions against the Ezzel meta-breed
923-4 Provides transport to Roxanzand in the Chelio Sector and supports the cover identity for the Vindicare Temple assassin Skult who succeeds in assassinating Urgak the Unstoppable
927 Arrives at newly founded Port Wander and travels to map the Temple System in the Koronus Expanse during the Mistaken Age

M41

001 Although not invited as an attendee, the ship arrives at the planet Gathalamor where the famous Conclave is taking place below. In orbit with the ships of more than 1000 Imperial high officials and 800 Chapter Masters, Rakespur looks for opportunities with the Black Templars and Brazen Claws Chapters which the Rakespurs have not worked with for 1000 years and 750 years respectively. The Charnel Guard Chapter are not present. Meeting with Kobras Aquairre takes place on the ship
086-089 Ship arrives at Lenk in the Angelus Subsector of Scarus Sector and then penetrates Lucky Space
098 Forms colony fleet settling Mara in Calixis Sector
120-1 Lead scout in the First Aquairre Punition, the first Imperial fight against the Iron Scourge pirates near Iniquity in the Koronus Expanse, commanded by Kobras Aquairre and saves one of his frigates, the Elementis Vulpa . Ship destroys the Hazeroth class privateer Manacle but the Tempest class strike frigate Unbreakable blows up the ship’s Darkening Field
140-3 Flotilla arrives in Gothic Sector. When the Gothic War (Twelfth Black Crusade) erupts the ship lays up at the voidyards of Saviour, ostensibly for repairs. Ship takes on board elements of planet’s ship construction capability in heavily disguised data-arks. Ship is forced to leave when the Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marine strike cruiser Heart of Agony appears and opens fire. The planet of Saviour is captured a year later
144-5 Ship evacuates whole stockpile of Trikali’s crystal mines in the Corain system of the Gothic Sector, 2 years later the entire system is captured by Abaddon the Despoiler. Flotilla escapes Gothic Sector and the pursuing Murder class Chaos cruiser Blood Auger and Cerberus class Chaos light cruiser Cruel Worship through the devastating Warp Storm with help from the Boetia asteroid field Astropath station and by employing the Runecaster. The flotilla loses many Navigators and Astropaths in the Warp Storm
161 Arrives at Third Battle of Gassharma in Ixaniad Sector to support the Vendoland Division with a planetary bombardment
186-8 Lead scout in the Second Aquairre Punition, the action against the outlaw Rogue Trader Veronique Renuka’s pirate fleet in the Koronus Expanse, the last formal action commanded by Kobras Aquairre prior to his disappearance into the Rifts of Hecaton
214-215 Aids Battlefleet Calixis in the fight against the Merates Uprising in Calixis Sector
216-218 Having discovered evidence of the Meritech info-tomb Metousiosis, flotilla aligns with Divine Light of Sollex cult of Adeptus Mechanicus against the Merates Uprising in Calixis Sector
219-220 Adeptus Mechanicus bestows ship with Deepvoid Auger Array during refitting of the flotilla at Haddrak in Calixis Sector
234-240 Builds relationship with noble house De Vensii of Thracian Primaris in Helican Subsector of Scarus Sector. Trades successfully after several missions in Lucky Space and in Scarus Sector.
239-240 Contacted by Rogue Trader Gorgone Locke and, at a pre-arranged meeting point with Locke on the borders of Lucky Space, having conducted trade, the Rakespur flotilla is attacked by the Penetrator class Chaos raider Athame Aneleison and the Emasculator class Chaos cruiser Arcanus Thelemitus . The vox lines are jammed with the bizarre entreaties of their leader, Emalia. Whilst opening fire, Emalia describes herself as the Pleasure of Melchior, a daemonette-human hybrid that grew up on the Convent world of Jessemine VII and fell in love with a daemon. The flotilla is heavily damaged and loses the Rakespur Defiant class light cruiser Igneous Angel as it escapes. Locke also escapes
240-241 Fights in the Helican Subsector Schism in Scarus Sector gaining large landholdings and builds relationship with noble house De Vensii of Thracian Primaris. The flotilla learns from Ordos Helican that Emalia is believed to be a minor concubine to Lord Commander Melchior Eseptides of the 22nd Great Company Guardians of Pleasure (formerly Heralds of the Emperor) of the Emperor’s Children Chaos Space Marines and that Locke has now been declared heretic
241-338 Joins Warmaster Honorius’ forces to wage the Ophidian Suppression in return for trade privileges in the Ophidian Subsector of Scarus Sector, again allying with noble house de Vensii the Rakespur flotilla is able to use the imposed martial law to its financial advantage. Fights at the fleet Battle of Uritule IV where Admiral Spatian is killed. Scouts for the White Consuls Chapter Space Marines strike cruiser Eternal Faith and Aurora Chapter Space Marines strike cruiser Fire Scion (both are Second Founding Successor Chapters of the Ultramarines Chapter). Statue of Primarch Roboute Guilliman erected in the Templum
338 Whilst trading with noble house de Vensii at Thracian Primaris and attending the Great Triumph, the ship sent its air wings to enter the fight against Chaos-tainted Lightning pilots at the Spatian Gate Massacre
392-399 Joins the Macharian Crusade of conquest into the Halo Zone beyond the Segmentum Pacificus that took over 2000 worlds. Ship serves as flagship of the independent command 119th Expedition (one of the many Rogue Trader formations), often in loose alliance with Battlefleet Arrian that supports the make-shift and largely penal Sixth Army Group (Hard Luck Sixth). Trades with 6 newly discovered planets. Ship fights at the destruction of the Kallastin Stratocracy and the Pacification of the Forax Cluster. The ship also fights at the epic naval Battle of Charaxidis where the Crusade Flagship Pax Imperium is damaged but the ageless traitor Admiral Suhael is killed and the ship destroys the renegade Endeavour class light cruiser Felid
394 Fights once more with the Black Templars who arrive as the 745th Crusade Fleet under Marshal Thangdren. Pursues the Eldar Bonesingers and Aspect Warriors of Il-Kaithe Craftworld through the Garden Worlds. Ship takes on tribal force of the feral Kanak Skulltakers under the ultimate command of Warlord Arminius (later the Sky-Slayer King of Kanak and widely regarded as a master poet). The Eldar are eventually brought to battle at the Victory of Brightwater where 38000 Eldar are killed along with their Autarch Tuireann. Ship destroys Hellebore class frigate Wings of Baharroth and boards the Solaris class light cruiser Wraithsong with the fanatically savage Kanak Skulltakers.
395 Present at the discovery of the much reduced, semi-piratical but loyalist Crimson Guard Chapter Space Marines (Crimson Fists Successor Chapter) led by Chapter Master Kree at Cathas. Follows their strike cruiser Crimson Holdfast in a strike against the Dark Age of Technology-employing Red Technocracy of Lapis Majoris. Trades the discovered techno-arcana with Legio Metallica
396 With Battlefleet Arrian when it is ambushed at the edge of the Perdian Expanse by smaller fleet of the Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines led by Captain Sorge. The Alpha Legion destroy more than a third of Battlefleet Arrian and many of the remaining ships have damaged warp drives. The ship gives chase with the undamaged Battlefleet Arrian ships into the Expanse up to the planet Thoth but the Alpha Legion escape after sending messages to Thoth
397 Declamatory Council held aboard the ship in orbit around Thoth includes Lord Commander Solar Macharius, Lord Inquisitor Manzore of Ordo Hereticus, the hated 6th Army Group Commander Commandant General Tyrell Arrian (later beatified but still known as the Butcher of Thoth) and the highly regarded Captain El’Rahim of the Tallarn Desert Raiders 3rd Regiment (Desert Tigers). The Council declares the planet Thoth as Amundia Heretica. Ship evacuates all of the genetypes of the flora and fauna of the planet, then participates in its virus bombing. Manzore gifts the ship with a Penitent War-Engine
398 Travels with elements of Battlefleet Crassus in the 5th Army Group (Gauntlets of Crassus) led by the Cadian theatre commander Major-General Elohir. Ship fights at the battle Affirmation of Elohir where the Dark Eldar Kabal of the Rubied Blade is destroyed and their Archon Vectux is captured. The ship destroys the Corsair class escort Wychspasm . The ship is awarded the Silver Solar
399 Acts as command vessel for the Terrax Imperial Guard in the Halo Zone and joins bombardment of the Carnelion Palace of Leminitus
400 Battle of the Vile Shoals in the Halo Zone. Ship destroys the Infidel class Chaos raider Tormentus Rictus but is boarded from the Betrayer class Chaos Space Marine strike cruiser Warpwolf by 3 squads of the renowned reaver Swords of Khargoth (formerly Swords of Praesium) Chaos Space Marines led by a Sorceror-Terminator of The Scourged Chaos Space Marines who is reputed to hear all lies ever spoken and therefore successfully navigates the Tenebro-Maze heading to the bridge causing massive crew depopulation and severing 4 historic cadet lines of Rakespur. Moments before reaching the command deck the ship’s witchcullis gates trap and disorientate the Sorceror-Terminator and the enemy force is eliminated by a last stand from a combined force of Terrax Imperial Guard stormtroopers and commissars, a squad of Legio Metallica Skitarii Sagitarii, a Crimson Guard Space Marine liaison officer, Rakespur forces, the Penitent War-Engine and an amulet once wielded by Saint Elana (which were all destroyed)
400-411 Ecclesiarchy on Hydraphur in Segmentum Pacificus consecrate the ship’s hull with the Warpsbane Benedictat and erect a gigantic statue on the ship’s exterior to Saint Josmane, He Whom Death Could Not Claim, as a ward against the ship’s historic exposures to taints such as Imperial factionalism, the Fenksworld Calamity, co-operation with Inquisitor Lord Godella Morn, the First War of Armageddon, the Cauldron of Savagery, Halo Stars, Lucky Space, the Spatian Gate Massacre and the Halo Zone as well as the recent boarding by Arch-Enemy forces. Bloody pogrom of any heresy-infected crew supervised by Adeptus Arbites and the Inquisition
431-435 Ship participates in the Slighting Wars in the Ptolemaic Reach and Crassan subsectors of Ixaniad Sector that disrupt trade on a massive scale, enabling the Rakespurs to negotiate advantageous terms. Ship destroyed the rebel Sword class frigate Immaculate Catechumen
436-444 Commandeered by Ordo Malleus Lord Inquisitor Daemonhunter Horst and travels to Segmentum Solar, where it participates in the disruption of an Extremis Diabolus plot that damages the Ruinous Powers’ build-up for the First War of Armageddon. The ship leaves as Horst begins his great guerilla campaign
450-479 Supports the Scarus Sector noble house de Vensii’s attempts to gain influence in Calixis Sector by exploiting the Reign of Terror on Malfi
478 Flotilla engages openly in the Reign of Terror conflict when its combined force attacks and successfully boards the noble house Koba’s Cardinal class heavy cruiser Majestical . The Majestical is sold to noble house de Vensii
480-499 Flotilla remains involved in political machinations of Malfi until Chaos cultist incursion kills de Vensii representatives
503 Ran resupply to the Slaughter-Families of Snowden’s World in Calixis Sector as it was beset by the Tyrant Star
620 Tantala Rakespur, eldest daughter of Albracht Rakespur, despairs of her father’s indolence and negotiates a 10 year expedition with the ship to increase the family’s fortunes. Later that year the ship travels to the Idumae Forge World where she gains several tek-savants in return for sharing any technology found in her upcoming Koronus exploration with the Idumae Forge Masters. Upon leaving Idumae, the flotilla is attacked by a very well equipped Hazeroth Bloodsharks pirates. The ship destroys the pirate Endurance class light cruiser Apex Predator
621-3 Ship finds Vaporius in the Koronus Expanse and then drops off wealthy Cult of the Red Redemption missionaries. The missionaries are never seen again
626-8 Ship aligns with a splinter fleet of the Explorator sect in the Koronus Expanse led by Magos Tertius Anfa Moray (this already includes the newly appointed Rogue Trader Baxilik Kim) so that Tantala and Baxilik can assay xeno-tech whilst the Disciples of Thule discover pre-Imperial human archaeotech. Mechanicus sub-cult Magos Solus Kanceme’s main fleet is not present. Co-discover Orn in the Koronus Expanse which, after a brief exploration, is declared Anathema by the Adeptus Mechanicus
630 Ship returns the tek-savants to Idumae leaving future co-operation open. Rakespur Falchion class escort Bastonade is destroyed at dock by sabotage committed by an unknown faction
691 The Rakespur flotilla joins 2 other Rogue Trader flotillas and elements of Battlefleet Calixis to fight at the Battle of Jade Reach in the Drusus Marches when it is clear that Albracht must participate or face a crew mutiny. Tantala successfully leads the Rakespur flotilla in battle and the combined force executes a victory that remains studied by strategists
745 Mazarin Rakespur installs a Librarium hidden within the Tenebro-Maze and, using unknown methods, it is designed to be found only by him

Bridge Heraldry:

Segmentum Obscurus Battlefleet
Segmentum Obscurus Battlefleet Flagship
Segmentum Obscurus Scout Fleet Iron Sharks
Sacred Form
Admiral Raimon
Angevin Crusade
Founding of Orendal
Great Landing at Woe
Fenksworld Calamity
Saviour of Cardinal class heavy cruiser Pillar of Severity
Death of Hell World Epsilon 6 Binary
Mandate to Purge - Morwen VI
House Rakespur
Copy of the Rakespur Warrant
Gilded Widow
Charnel Guard Chapter Adeptus Astartes
Drusus Marches War
Vanderveken Trinity Rebellion
Death of Phaenon Prime
Proclamation of Sanction Extremis - Exterminatus of Phaenon Prime
Destruction of Ironclad Boneyard (pirate allies of Vanderveken Trinity)
Founding of Phyrr
Founding of Kinog
War of Hubris
Jerulas Crusade
Black Templars Adeptus Astartes
Black Templars High Marshal Ludoldus
Destruction of Sword class frigate Hourglass (Jerulas abstainers)
Founding of Port Gavinus
Donian Crusade
Black Templars Crusade Marshal Austein
Battle of Nickel 5
Destruction of Havoc class merchant raider Maledictat (pirato-renegades)
Destruction of Infidel class Chaos raider Strangler (pirato-renegades)
Black Templars Crusade Marshal Wernher
Brazen Claws Chapter Adeptus Astartes
Saint Elana the Unshaken
White Sorrows Corsair War (Dark Eldar)
Battlefleet Calixis
Lord Inquisitor - Lord Rogue Trader Kobras Aquairre
Ordos Xenos Calixis
Destruction of flagship Shadow class cruiser Altar of Torment (White Sorrows Kabal Dark Eldar)
Death of Space Hulk Cauldron of Savagery
Destruction of Dauntless class light cruiser Dominion of Man (Rogue Trader Lady Esme Chorda)
War of Brass
Destruction of Apostate class Chaos heavy raider Eight Words Of Sacrifice
Destruction of Viper class missile destroyer Waspnest (Emperor of Brass)
Death of Hive City Sacermina (Gelmino System)
Boarding of Nova class Chaos Space Marine frigate Ruination Revocatus (Berserkers of Skallathrax)
Inquisitor Lord Godella Morn
Boarding of Enforcer class system control cruiser Haemothurge (Empire of Brass)
Destruction of Lunar class cruiser Abyssalist (Empire of Brass)
First Contact – Ezzel Xenos
Ordos Xenos Artemis
Apotropaic Council of Adiemus Ultima
Declaration of Xenos Horrificus – Ezzel Xenos
Officio Assassinorum Vindicare Temple Sigil of Hericide Aid Attribution Hereticus Abomoni
Founding of Mara
First Aquairre Punition
Saviour of Frigate Elementis Vulpa
Destruction of Hazeroth class privateer Manacle (Iron Scourge pirates)
Twelfth Black Crusade (Gothic War)
Battlefleet Gothic
Saviour of Trikali
Third Battle of Gassharma
Battlefleet Ixaniad
Vendoland Division Imperial Guard
Second Aquairre Punition
Merates Uprising
Divine Light of Sollex
Helican Sub-Sector Schism
Battlefleet Helican
Ophidian Suppression
Battlefleet Scarus
White Consuls Chapter Adeptus Astartes
Aurora Chapter Adeptus Astartes
Battle of Uritule IV
Spatian Gate Massacre
Macharian Crusade
Segmentum Pacificus Battlefleet
119th Expedition Rakespur
Battlefleet Macharius
Death of the Kallastin Stratocracy
Battle of Charaxidis (renegade Battlefleet Charaxidis)
Destruction of Endeavour class light cruiser Felid (renegade Battlefleet Charaxidis)
6th Army Group (Hard Luck Sixth)
Battlefleet Arrian
Pacification of the Forax Cluster
Black Templars 745th Crusade Fleet
Black Templars Crusade Marshal Thangdren
Kanak Skulltakers (Imperial feral troops)
Victory of Brightwater (Il-Kaithe Craftworld Eldar)
Destruction of Hellebore class frigate Wings of Baharroth (Il-Kaithe Craftworld Eldar)
Boarding of Solaris class light cruiser Wraithsong (Il-Kaithe Craftworld Eldar)
Discovery of Crimson Guard Adeptus Astartes
Crimson Guard Adeptus Astartes
Crimson Guard Chapter Master Kree
Battle of Lapis Majoris (Red Technocracy)
Legio Metallica Skitarii
Battle of the Perdian Expanse (Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines)
Desert Tigers 3rd Regiment Tallarn Desert Raiders (Imperial Guard)
Declamatory Council of Thoth
Lord Commander Solar Macharius (Saint Macharius the Pacificar)
Commandant General Tyrell Arrian, 6th Army Group Commander (Saint Arrian the Butcher of Thoth)
Lord Inquisitor Manzore
Death of Thoth
Proclamation of Sanction Extremis - Exterminatus of Thoth
Battlefleet Crassus
Affirmation of Elohir (Dark Eldar Kabal of the Rubied Blade)
Destruction of Corsair class escort Wychspasm (Dark Eldar Kabal of the Rubied Blade)
Silver Solar Medal
Terrax Guard 6th Regiment Iron Gauntlets (Imperial Guard)
Death of the Carnelion Palace of Leminitus
Battle of the Vile Shoals (Swords of Khargoth and The Scourged Chaos Space Marines)
Destruction of Infidel class Chaos raider Tormentus Rictus
Boarding Defence against Betrayer class Chaos Space Marine strike cruiser Warpwolf
Ecclesiarchy of Hydraphur
Slighting Wars
Destruction of Sword class frigate Immaculate Catechumen (rebel Ixaniad nobility)
Lord Inquisitor Daemonhunter Horst
Ordo Malleus Segmentum Solar
Ordo Malleus Sigil of Aid Attribution - Extremis Diabolus Armageddon
Malfian Reign of Terror
Boarding of Cardinal class heavy cruiser Majestical (Noble house Koba)
Saviour of Snowden’s World
Destruction of Endurance class light cruiser Apex Predator (Hazeroth Bloodsharks pirates)
Magos Tertius Anfa Moray (Disciples of Thule)
Discovery of Orn
Anathema of Orn
Battle of Jade Reach

Templum Statues:

Primarch Corax
Primarch Rogal Dorn
Primarch Ferrus Manus
Primarch Roboute Guilliman
Saint Elana the Unshaken
Saint Macharius the Pacificar
Saint Arrian the Butcher of Thoth
Saint Josmane, He Whom Death Could Not Claim

This work is impressive for sure....

... but really, isn´t this a bit much? While it shows much compassion, the majority won´t be of much use after once written, or is it?

And now onto the ship's regions and crew;

Areas:

Castellum

The Court of the Great Bridge sits within this armoured adamantite fortress strata. With only 2 points of entry, each is guarded by a Storm-Bulwark containing Rakespur Coercitori close-guards, servitor weapon stations and a chain of witchcullises. The petitioner must then wait for a Barbed-Bascule to descend as cantor-skulls monitor the petitioners whilst booming out the Holy Triumph of the Golden Throne, before crossing to the Siege Doors outside of the Court of the Great Bridge. The sally doors of the Storm- Bulwark and the Siege Doors are draped with Rakespur banners in glass-silk and shimmer behind void-fields. Within are the resplendent flags, sigils and symbols of nearly two and a half millenium of Gilded Widow history.

Plasmathedral

The Avout are adherents of the Hullwright Hermeticae, particularly insular adepts of the Akolouthos Mekhane who revere Isopsephy, the mathematical mysteries from correlating numbers with events. They see the datatides from the warpspace and the ship enginarium Machine Spirits as the ultimate numerical challenge. Their leader, the Gematriarch, seeks to achieve perfection and the state of Ipsissimus through these formulae. The Avout are bound by treaty, entered into by the Mechanophile, to serve the Rakespur flotilla in return for pilgrimage rights to the Rakespur space-borne archaoetech. The Avout usually refer to the crew, and all non-Mechanicus, as devices.

Archivium

Fashioned in grey-green ashlar with Phyrrwood panels it contains a wide array of dataslates, crystal infovaults, electrotomes, silversheaf, specialist cogitators, autoledgers, pict-libraries and vox-records. A hermetically sealed display cabinet contains a signed first edition of the history poem detailing the Macharian Crusade, The Pacificar by Sky-Slayer Warlord Arminius, a one-time ship visitor, and an original third draft of the masterpiece symphony March of the Primarchs.

Sacrosanctum

Floored in anthrogate and with walls of quartzite selected for their tactile appeal to Astropaths. The approach corridor is witchcullis protected and the whole Sacrosanctum can be sealed off from the ship or even blasted into the void from the Court of the Great Bridge. Entered through a psi-shielded adamantine door that bears the 13th Sign of Castigation on both sides, fashioned from the tel-empathic crystallines pyraline and tabular zanthroclase.

Proreta Pinnacles

The interior of these spire towers are fashioned from black staetite with glossy white aethercite offsets. Strange chill winds blow through the towers almost as if it was open to space. They are entered by a psi-shielded adamantine door on which the Empyric Reproach from the Verses Improperia has been scripted on both sides from the tel-empathic crystalline epidotrichite.

Amanuensis Halls

This adjunct to the Officers’ Cloisters is where the Command Courtiers’ fems are kept here in japonagar and scamiscoire-draped luxury, the newest are fitted with electronic slave-leash collars. These Halls are guarded by chem-gelded Vexators who are of the Immunes rank and therefore exempt from the harshest duties outside of battle.

The Prothyron

Informal senior-level meetings are held here surrounded by an ornamental silver-stemmed and iron-branched cybernetic garden of Vervunhive fractal-trees with mechanical leaf-forms and self-replicating bionic vines whose blossom-joints, steel-petals, bronze-fruits and promethium-berries are pollinated by drone-bees.

Least-Levels

The Remex pressmen and void-born lower crew are led by Celeusta shift-bosses wielding Paingiver whips studded with Volonx sandshark teeth. Following the Cornelius Rakespur strictures, the Celeusta are now considered to be leaders of a prayer-gang, aligned with a particular Saint or Primarch. These prayer-gangs fight over the offertorys, shrines and tabernacles in the lower strata to become the dominant faction whereby they may gain the sacred honour of tending the appropriate statue in the Templum, upon which the Celeusta is promoted to Zelator. Notorious prayer-gangs include the Pogromators, who recall the cleansing above Hydraphur, and the Brazier, who are branded at their clave-work with the Sign of True Death. Messages are passed down here beyond the reach of the vox-blaster and pict-plates by the ancient fraternity of Ship’s Criers of the Immunes rank.

Gregorius21778 said:

I am GM of a Rogue Trader campaign. One of my players is a Rogue Trader. Like others playing this game, he will be an inheritor or scion of a warrant-owning family line. That family has a history that is very relevant to the character you play, the ship/s you own and the crew you manage. That is why FFG are running a dynasty competition for the Rogue Trader game. I'm posting the Rakespur history as seen through the lens of its last surviving ship. Imo, the ship is as important a character as any PC and should be as well detailed. I'm also in the process of describing the key areas of the ship, the command crew and PC's as well as other relevant assets or people. I will then detail the Rakespur lineage beyond that relating to the ship (the Rakespur lineage is over 1000 years older than the 2400 year old ship) and show the adventures I have run (we are on the 11th adventure now).

At a purely game-ick (sp?) level the history has already inspired several future adventures and situations linked to the ship's past.

Just to point out, FFG aren't the ones running the Dynasty competition, Dark Reign (link in my sig) is, and it closed a few days ago.

MILLANDSON said:

Sorry, yes I meant to say Dark Reign rather than FFG, although I mentioned it as an example of the need to create RT dynasty histories, not as a statement of any intention of entering the (now closed) competition myself.

Fair enough Just thought I'd mention is all, so you didn't try to submit it and then feel bad that you had missed the deadline.

MILLANDSON said:

No probs, I think I'd have too much work editing my work down to the entry length. I look forward to checking out the entrants' dynasties though.

The once-famed Rakespur Coercitori are much reduced in size following Mazarin Rakespur's profligate use of house resources and his favouring of a cadre of several hundred Cadian 'Unkin' mercenaries, loyal only to himself. With the flight of the Unkin following the death of Mazarin Rakespur, only 40 elite Coercitori troops were left on the Gilded Widow upon the inheritance of Cornelius Rune, now Lord Rakespur. Prior to arriving at the Gilded Widow, Cornelius recruited 60 further elite troops at Scintilla Prime to form his Coercitori Aeralists.

60 Rakespur Coercitori Aeralists

These troops were originally drawn from the chasm-city states on the cracked world of Coseflame where they grew up scaling cliffs and using steam-powered flying technologies. Trained by the Imperial Navy on Calixis as boarding commandos and air insertion troops they served as the Imperial Navy 4th Sibelline Boarding Commando Detachment, Battlefleet Calixis' equivalent of IG Jump Infantry (similarly equipped as Harakoni Warhawks for equipment with sealed armour and jump-packs or grav chutes depending on mission). The Detachment guarded the 19 floating stations of Scintilla known as the Lost Marches and protected the Honoured Dead studding the Naval burial pillar known as the High Barrow as well as interdicting suspect air traffic in the skies above Hive Sibellus.

20 Rakespur Coercitori Stealthists

These natives of Dusk are former Templar Psykologis Disruption Squad members, experts in subveillance, counterfuge, havocage and unsurgency. Co-opted by Mazarin Rakespur when he boarded their disabled ship in the Koronus Expanse after it had been damaged by a Clan Saynay heavy raider. Some of the methods they employ to enter secure buildings can have effects on Machine Spirits that would incur the ire of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

20 Rakespur Coercitori Accipiters

These Land Speeder-borne fast attack female troops were originally the feared War-Renas of the Despairdo Gang from the Prissene Matix Hive of Varvarash. These highway robbers breached and looted the mag-lev and roadway traffic belonging to wealther and spyrers, flying down tight winding hive routes in the Prissene Matix Hive. The Despairdos were well-financed by a merchant house as a means of trying to break other house monopolies. Although the War-Renas were instrumental in helping fight the heretical contamination of the city by Ammander Yth the Hivekiller, the survivors came under Mazarin Rakespur's control when rival houses forced the Magistratum to hunt the War-Renas down.

Just as a courtesy, I'm continuing this thread over on Dark Reign.

Will you be dual posting (on here and Dark Reign) or just DR for further updates?

MDMann said:

Just on DR I think. Some new stuff went up yesterday and today, and I have added some threads to the Planets section over there too if you're interested.

I might just wander over, but I look here more often.

Here's the link for the updated info over on DR -

http://darkreign40k.com/forum/index.php?topic=3234.0

And for some planet info I've also put up -

http://darkreign40k.com/forum/index.php?topic=3237.0

http://darkreign40k.com/forum/index.php?topic=3238.0

http://darkreign40k.com/forum/index.php?topic=3239.0

Thanks'. Appreciate it.