Difference between revisions of "Blood Ravens"
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|Specialty=Large number of [[Librarians]]<sup>2b</sup> | |Specialty=Large number of [[Librarians]]<sup>2b</sup> | ||
|Battle Cry="Knowledge is power, guard it well."<sup>2c</sup> | |Battle Cry="Knowledge is power, guard it well."<sup>2c</sup> | ||
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The Blood Ravens have also become notable for engaging their [[Chaos Space Marines|heretic brethren]], with some of their most recent campaigns featuring heavy interaction against the forces of Chaos. Of particular import are the actions of the 3rd Company under [[Gabriel Angelos]] on the world of [[Tartarus]], where the Alpha Legion (as well as [[Orks|various]] [[Eldar|xenos forces]]) were combated<sup>3</sup>, the multi-company force commanded by [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Davian Thule]] who had to deal with [[Word Bearers]] interference during a complex mission primarily directed against a [[Necron]] threat on the world of [[Kronus]]<sup>4</sup>, and perhaps most critically, the failed [[Kaurava]] campaign commanded by Captain [[Indrick Boreale]], in which a full 5 Companies of the Blood Ravens were lost.<sup>5</sup> | The Blood Ravens have also become notable for engaging their [[Chaos Space Marines|heretic brethren]], with some of their most recent campaigns featuring heavy interaction against the forces of Chaos. Of particular import are the actions of the 3rd Company under [[Gabriel Angelos]] on the world of [[Tartarus]], where the Alpha Legion (as well as [[Orks|various]] [[Eldar|xenos forces]]) were combated<sup>3</sup>, the multi-company force commanded by [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Davian Thule]] who had to deal with [[Word Bearers]] interference during a complex mission primarily directed against a [[Necron]] threat on the world of [[Kronus]]<sup>4</sup>, and perhaps most critically, the failed [[Kaurava]] campaign commanded by Captain [[Indrick Boreale]], in which a full 5 Companies of the Blood Ravens were lost.<sup>5</sup> | ||
| − | This loss was a serious blow to the Chapter, robbing them of half their manpower in one defeat. This resulted in the Blood Ravens being forced to concentrate on building up their numbers and protecting their [[Recruiting Worlds]] for some time, although this period did not pass without serious incident. Multiple xenos theats - including a limited [[Tyranid]] invasion<sup>6</sup> - assailed the Chapter, which eventually found itself combating not only the heretics of the [[Black Legion]], but insidious heretical threats from within its own ranks<sup>7</sup>, which included betrayal by their Chapter Master [[Azariah Kyras]]<sup>1</sup>. | + | This loss was a serious blow to the Chapter, robbing them of half their manpower in one defeat. This resulted in the Blood Ravens being forced to concentrate on building up their numbers and protecting their [[Recruiting Worlds]] for some time, although this period did not pass without serious incident. Multiple xenos theats - including a limited [[Tyranid]] invasion<sup>6</sup> - assailed the Chapter, which eventually found itself combating not only the heretics of the [[Black Legion]], but insidious heretical threats from within its own ranks<sup>7</sup>, which included betrayal by their Chapter Master [[Azariah Kyras]]<sup>1</sup>. |
== Organisation == | == Organisation == | ||
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====[[Raven Guard]]==== | ====[[Raven Guard]]==== | ||
Argument principally based around the Chapter's name and heraldry.<sup>2e</sup> | Argument principally based around the Chapter's name and heraldry.<sup>2e</sup> | ||
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==Noted Elements of the Blood Ravens== | ==Noted Elements of the Blood Ravens== | ||
Revision as of 09:26, 20 April 2011
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| Founding Chapter: | Unknown | ||
| Founding: | Unknown | ||
| Chapter Master: | Gabriel Angelos/None1,2a | ||
| Homeworld: | n/a; Fleet-based Chapter2b | ||
| Fortress-Monastery: | Battle Barge Omnis Arcanum2b | ||
| Colours: | Dark red/black/parchment white. | ||
| Specialty: | Large number of Librarians2b | ||
| Strength: | Unknown1 | ||
| Battle Cry | "Knowledge is power, guard it well."2c | ||
Contents
History
The Blood Ravens are a mysterious Chapter of Space Marines dedicated to the acquisition of knowledge as well as service to the Imperium of Man. Possessed of powerful Librarians, the Blood Ravens are noted for their ability to predict enemy movements and fall on them with the precise application of force required. Their origins are unknown and a cause of much speculation to themselves and to others.2d
Currently, the Blood Ravens are reckoned to be on the verge of extinction, having lost their Chapter Master and a good part of their Chapter (either literally or to Chaos) in the decade-lasting Aurelian Crusade.1
Founding
The precise Founding in which the Blood Ravens were created is unknown; their own chapter histories only begin in M37, though other Imperial records contain some small references to the Chapter as existent before then. It is important to note that the Blood Ravens' histories are completely absent before the M37 date; they are not just spotty or fragmentary records. As a result, the Astartes of the Chapter know absolutely nothing about their origins, including having no knowledge of their primogenitor legion or primarch. This absence of information about a primarch has resulted in the Blood Ravens focusing their spiritual reverence on the Emperor. However, they do have one particular mytho-historical figure of import in the form of Azariah Vidya, known as the Great Father of the Blood Ravens.2d
Azariah Vidya is reputed to have been a member of the Chapter during its first years. According to the legend (for actual records of this event apparently do not exist), during a disastrous campaign against a Chaotic uprising in the Gothic sector, their Chapter Master, Master of Sanctity and most of their elite 1st Company were killed in action. The young Chapter, now without much of their senior cadre, turned to Chief Librarian Vidya for leadership. Vidya, already said to be an expert in the ways of the Ruinous Powers, turned to both research and guile to achieve victory, using Imperial Guard forces to probe and distract the enemy before leading surgical Astartes strikes on important heretic locations that critically disrupted not only their military lines but also their sources of eldritch power. The campaign was swiftly ended in favour of the Imperium, and in the aftermath it was discovered that the whole rebellion (and therefore the associated extermination of the Blood Ravens veterans) had been organised by the Alpha Legion.2d
Vidya was asked by the 'Secret Masters' of the Chapter to officially become Chapter Master; something he did while retaining his position as Chief Librarian.2d This resulted in the tradition of the Blood Ravens whereby Librarians are afforded dual-roles as command officers.2b
The Fated
The Blood Ravens' 5th company is known as the 'Fated', and though the reasons for this are obscure, it may go back to an incident recorded in the annals of the Chapter's Librarium, but never spoken of openly. In M38 the entire 5th company was recorded as having been lost in the Warp, but the truth of the matter may be by far darker. It is whispered that one of the company Librarians was seduced by the lure of the ruinous powers, and turned his fellow brethren to Chaos. This notion is by and large dismissed by the Chapter today, but for unknown reasons the current members of the Blood Ravens 5th Company wear badges of redemption, penitence and shame upon their armor suits,2e as well as being only allowed a single librarian at any time. This restriction is notably strange for a Chapter that incorporates so many psykers.[Needs Citation]
Recent Years
The Blood Ravens of fact, not of legend, are driven by the need to discover the truth about their origins, as well as the philosophy of the gaining of knowledge. To this end, they have developed friendly interactions with the Adeptus Mechanicus and have often been assigned to Explorator missions to unknown/uneplored areas of the galaxy as a result. Combined with their own missions to seek out ancient ruins, mythic sites or other sources of information, the Blood Ravens have done much to expand the boundaries of both Imperial knowledge and space.2e
The Blood Ravens have also become notable for engaging their heretic brethren, with some of their most recent campaigns featuring heavy interaction against the forces of Chaos. Of particular import are the actions of the 3rd Company under Gabriel Angelos on the world of Tartarus, where the Alpha Legion (as well as various xenos forces) were combated3, the multi-company force commanded by Captain Davian Thule who had to deal with Word Bearers interference during a complex mission primarily directed against a Necron threat on the world of Kronus4, and perhaps most critically, the failed Kaurava campaign commanded by Captain Indrick Boreale, in which a full 5 Companies of the Blood Ravens were lost.5
This loss was a serious blow to the Chapter, robbing them of half their manpower in one defeat. This resulted in the Blood Ravens being forced to concentrate on building up their numbers and protecting their Recruiting Worlds for some time, although this period did not pass without serious incident. Multiple xenos theats - including a limited Tyranid invasion6 - assailed the Chapter, which eventually found itself combating not only the heretics of the Black Legion, but insidious heretical threats from within its own ranks7, which included betrayal by their Chapter Master Azariah Kyras1.
Organisation
Notionally a Codex Chapter, the Blood Ravens most obvious deviation from strict Codex adherence is the high number of Librarians in their ranks, as well as the practice of affording Librarians dual-roles as unit commanders (for example, as Company Captains or even Chapter Master as well as their Librarius rank). The actual commanders of the Blood Ravens are known as the Secret Masters, and as befits such a title, little is known of who these marines are or what positions they officially hold within the command tree. Many of these Masters are psykers who specialise in studying the ways of Chaos, so that the Blood Ravens may better fight against the heretics, and who are known to sometimes form up battle-squads of the Chapter's Librarians to lead into battle.2b
The dangers of large numbers of psychically active members studying the ways of heresy is not unknown to the Chapter, and so the Blood Ravens attempt to self-monitor themselves strenuously against taint. Those souls who fall (for some inevitably do, either in the initiation process itself or after a lifetime of service) are kept for a time in the Librarium Sanatorium, before being ritually executed.2b
The use of Librarians in the Chapter goes beyond simple battlefield deployment. As seekers and users of knowledge, the Blood Ravens prefer to approach each campaign and mission slowly and methodically, with an emphasis put on a careful planning stage. The Chapter will use it's Librarians to the fullest in predicting enemy movements and likely behaviour. Once all possible occurrences have been discerned, the Blood Ravens will strike swiftly and with full force. They are also able to strike before any obvious enemy movements have been made, ending campaigns before they have truly begun. These habits draw criticism from others in the Imperium however, who view their slowness to act as cowardice and their ability to predict enemy action as verging on the sorcerous.2b
Further criticism has been made by the Inquisition, who have issues with the Blood Ravens' practice of accquiring Chaotic weapons and artefacts for both study and simply to deny them to the enemy. While the Blood Ravens claim to destroy these recoveries, there is little evidence for this, and it is believed the Blood Ravens have amassed quite the collection of interesting devices.2e
Geneseed Origin
There is much speculation around the exact origin of the Blood Ravens, most specifically about which of the First Founding Legons they are derived from. Several possibilities have been presented by various interested parties, the reasonings for which can be found below.
Blood Angels
Argument principally based around the Chapter's name and heraldry.2e
Raven Guard
Argument principally based around the Chapter's name and heraldry.2e
Noted Elements of the Blood Ravens
Relics
- Alexian's Blade4a
- Azariah's Cincture4a
- Daemonhammer4a
- Gauntlets4a
- God-Splitter3
- Greaves4a
- Iron Halo4a
- Pauldrons4a
Vessels
Unusually, every Blood Ravens vessel is equipped with its own Librarium and a full complement of curatorial staff who record every event that happens on the ship, as well as storing the mission testimonies of the Chapter Librarians who travel aboard. These records are eventually copied to the Librarium Sanctorum, in an attempt to ensure the Blood Ravens have an uninterrupted record of their own history.8a
- Omnis Arcanum - Battle Barge, Chapter Monastery and site of the Librarium Sanctorum8a
- Litany of Fury - Battle Barge assigned to the 3rd Company8b
- The Observer - Battle Barge
- Scientia Est Potentia - Battle Barge
- Armageddon - Strike Cruiser
- Rage of Erudition - Strike Cruiser
- Ravenous Spirit - Strike Cruiser
- Retribution - Strike Cruiser
Notable Members of the Blood Ravens
- Azariah Vidya - Great Father of the Chapter.2d
- Gabriel Angelos - Chapter Master1,2a (Possibly; see Notes)
- Indrick Boreale - Brother-Captain5
- Jonah Orion- Librarian.7
- Rhamah - Librarian of the 9th Company.8
- Mikelus - Reclusiarch. 4
- Gordian - Apothecary. 6
- Galan - Apothecary. 7
- Martellus - Techmarine. 1
- Tarkus - Sergeant of the 5th Company, 1st squad.1
- Thaddeus - Sergeant of the 5th Company, 7th squad.1
- Avitus - Sergeant of the 5th company, 9th squad.6
- Cyrus - Scout Sergeant.1
- Davian Thule - Dreadnought6
Renegade Members
- Azariah Kyras - Renegade Chapter Master, Daemon Prince of the Maledictum.8
- Isador Akios - Librarian.3
- Seraphis - Librarian; banished from the Chapter for unknown crimes against the Librarium.9
Notes
The current Chapter Master of the Blood Ravens and their general status varies somewhat on which ending of Dawn of War II: Retribution is considered canon (at this time there is no obvious official reckoning as to the 'true' conclusion of events). For example, Gabriel Angelos is either Chapter Master or deceased.
Related to this issue, Angelos is explicitly stated to be Chapter Master in the Blood Ravens Index Astartes article. However, this article predated Angelos being made Chapter Master in the video game series by some time and was previously considered an example of canon conflict.
Sources
- 1:Dawn of War II: Retribution
- 2:Blood Ravens Index Astartes entry - GW website - no longer active.
- 2a:p.2
- 2b:p.3
- 2c:p.5
- 2d:p.1
- 2e:p.4
- 3:Dawn of War
- 4:Dawn of War: Dark Crusade
- a Commander screen; Wargear section
- 5:Dawn of War: Soulstorm
- 6:Dawn of War II
- 7:Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising
- 8:Dawn of War: Blood Ravens
- 8a:pp.34-5
- 8b:p.32
- 9:Dead Sky, Black Sun
