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The '''Raven Guard''' were the '''XIX Legion''' of the original [[Space Marine Legion]]s. Their [[Primarch]] is [[Corvus Corax]] . Their [[homeworld]] is [[Deliverance]] (originally named '''Lycaeus'''), a moon which orbits the [[Hive World]] [[Kiavahr]].{{Fn|2b}} 
 
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The Legion was devastated at the outbreak of the [[Horus Heresy]] and survived only by the most desperate of measures.
 
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The Raven Guard specialise in guerrilla warfare, moving behind enemy lines with unrivalled stealth, and striking with precise application of force.{{Fn|2a}}
 
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{{Loyal Founding Chapters
 
{{Loyal Founding Chapters
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|Marine=Raven guard marine.JPG
 
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|Marine Px=220
 
 
|Name=Raven Guard
 
|Name=Raven Guard
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|Symbol=RavenGuardsymbol.png
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|Marine Image=RGProfilePrimaris.jpg
 
|Legion Number=XIX
 
|Legion Number=XIX
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|Symbol=Ravguardlogo.png
 
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|Symbol Px=100px
 
 
|Primarch=[[Corvus Corax]]
 
|Primarch=[[Corvus Corax]]
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|Chapter Master=[[Corvin Severax]]{{Fn|29}}
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|Chapter Master=[[Aethon Shaan]]{{Fn|62}}
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|Homeworld=[[Deliverance]]
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|Homeworld=[[Deliverance]]{{Fn|36a}}
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|Fortress-Monastery=[[Ravenspire]]
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|Fortress-Monastery=[[Ravenspire]]{{Fn|36a}}
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|Descendants=[[Black Guard]],<br>[[Carcharodons]],<br>[[Dark Eagles]], [[Death Eagles]], [[Death Spectres]],<br>[[Flame Eagles]],<br>[[Hawk Lords]],<br>[[Imperial Talons]],<br>[[Knights of the Raven]],<br>[[Raptors (Chapter)|Raptors]], [[Revilers]],<br>[[Storm Hawks]], [[Storm Wings]]
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|Colours=Black {{Color sample|Black|size=15}} & White {{Color sample|White|size=15}}{{Fn|27}}<br>Right pauldron trim colours show company.{{Fn|37}}
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|Colours=Black, White
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|Specialty=Infiltration, Guerrilla Warfare, Fast Attack,{{Fn|2}} Liberation & aiding insurgencies{{Fn|22a}}
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|Specialty=Guerrilla warfare and lightning attacks
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|Battle Cry=Victorus Aut Mortis<br><small>(Victory or Death)</small>
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|Miniature=ravenguardmini.jpg
 
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|Miniature Px=150
 
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|Battle Cry=Victorus Aut Mortis (Victory or Death)
 
 
|Chapter Strength=~1000 Marines
 
|Chapter Strength=~1000 Marines
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|Descendants=*[[Raven Guard#Successors|Successors Below]]
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''Raven Guard''' were the '''XIX Legion''' of the original [[Space Marine Legion]]s. Their [[Primarch]] is [[Corvus Corax]]. Their [[Adeptus Astartes Homeworld|homeworld]] is [[Deliverance]] (originally named '''Lycaeus'''), a moon which orbits the [[Hive World]] [[Kiavahr]].{{Fn|2}}
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The Legion was devastated at the outbreak of the [[Horus Heresy]] and survived only by the most desperate of measures.{{Fn|2}}
 +
 +
The Raven Guard specialise in guerrilla warfare, moving behind enemy lines with unrivaled stealth and striking with precise application of force.{{Fn|2}}
  
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{{TOC limit|3}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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===The Great Crusade===
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===Great Crusade===
 
====Founding====
 
====Founding====
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Originally founded as the '''XIXth Legion''', the Legion was used by the [[Emperor]] as his hidden hand in its early years during the [[Unification Wars]] on [[Terra]]. The original recruits of the Legion were firstborn sons drawn from tribes of savage yet technologically adept Xeric warriors of the Asiatic Dustfields, which regularly battled with the much larger [[Yndonesic Bloc]].
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[[Image:XIX Legion.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Pre-[[Corax]] XIXth Legionnaire{{Fn|30b}}]]
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[[Image:RGHH.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Pre-Heresy Raven Guard Sergeant]]
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Originally founded as the '''XIXth Legion''', the Legion was used by the [[Emperor]] as his hidden hand in its early years during the [[Unification Wars]] on [[Terra]]. The original recruits of the Legion were firstborn sons drawn from tribes of savage yet technologically adept [[Xeric warriors]] of the [[Asiatic Dustfields]], which regularly battled with the much larger [[Yndonesic Bloc]].{{Fn|30a}}
  
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In its earliest days, the XIXth Legion was used for infiltration, reconnaissance, and target identification operations. The Legion was covertly used to quickly annihilate any faction which refused to submit to the new [[Imperium]], striking from the shadows without warning. One of the earliest known campaigns by the Legion was the conquest of the central Asiatic region, which was ruled by a tyrant known as [[Kalagann of Ursh]]. They won many battle honors on Terra, and later took part in the expansion of the Imperium into the rest of the [[Sol System]], liberating [[Jupiter]]'s moon of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysithea_(moon) Lysithea] from [[xenos]]. The battle on Lysithea proved costly for the Legion however, and for many years after veterans of the battle wore Jovian runes in its commemoration.{{Fn|30}}
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In its earliest days, the XIXth Legion was used for infiltration, reconnaissance and target identification operations. The Legion was covertly used to quickly annihilate any faction which refused to submit to the new [[Imperium]], striking from the shadows without warning. The XIXth used terror tactics similar to the [[Night Lord]]s.{{Fn|13}} One of the earliest known campaigns by the Legion was the conquest of the central Asiatic region, which was ruled by a tyrant known as [[Kalagann of Ursh]]. They won many battle honours on Terra, and later took part in the expansion of the Imperium into the rest of the [[Sol System]], liberating [[Jupiter]]'s moon of [[Lysithea]] from [[xenos]]. The battle on Lysithea proved costly for the Legion and veterans of the battle wore Jovian runes in its commemoration for many years after.{{Fn|30a}}
  
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In the early days of the Great Crusade, the Legion found itself in the shadow of [[Horus]] and his [[Luna Wolves]]. While Horus valued the XIXth greatly, the Legions forces were largely serving as support troops for the Wolves.{{Fn|30}}
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In the early days of the Great Crusade, the Legion found itself in the shadow of [[Horus]] and his [[Luna Wolves]]. While Horus valued the XIXth greatly, the Legions forces were largely serving as support troops for the Wolves.{{Fn|30a}}
  
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The Legion's Primarch [[Corax]] was not reunited with the Legion for nearly two centuries.{{Fn|30}} first meeting between Corax and the [[Emperor]] is shrouded in mystery, as the two spent a day and a night in private discussion, with no records kept about the conversation's contents.{{Fn|2a}} At dawn the next day though, Corax agreed to take command of the Legion, on the condition that Kiavahr be conquered and brought into the [[Imperial]] fold.{{Fn|2a}}
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The Legion's Primarch [[Corax]] was not reunited with the Legion for many decades. When the [[Emperor]] discovered Corax on [[Deliverance]], he had just liberated the moon from [[Kiavahr]] Forge-Guilds by using nuclear weapons.{{Fn|30a}} The first meeting between Corax and the [[Emperor]] is shrouded in mystery, as the two spent a day and a night in private discussion, with no records kept about the conversation's contents.{{Fn|2a}} At dawn the next day, though, Corax agreed to take command of the Legion on the condition that Kiavahr be conquered and brought into the [[Imperial]] fold.{{Fn|2a}}
  
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The Great Crusade was already a century old by the time Corax took command of his Legion, but quickly imposed his style of war he had learned on Deliverance on his new troops. Stealth, swiftness, and guile were impressed on a Legion already renowned for its reconnaissance and rapid-strike capability. In particular, the old ways of the Xeric tribes were purged. Corax also was disheartened by the way his Legion had been used as a repression, counter-insurgency, and occupation force; not unlike what he had fought against himself. He purged the Legion of its old commanders, such as Lord [[Arkhas Fal]]. Corax also used factories on [[Kiavahr]] to commission several vehicles unique to his forces, most notably the [[Shadowhawk]], a stealth variant of the [[Thunderhawk]] as well as the [[Whispercutter]].{{Fn|30}}
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The Great Crusade was already a century old by the time Corax took command of his Legion, but he quickly imposed the style of war he had learned on Deliverance on his new troops. Stealth, swiftness, and guile were impressed on a Legion already renowned for its reconnaissance and rapid-strike capability. In particular, the old ways of the Xeric tribes were purged. Corax was also disheartened by how his Legion had been used as a repression, higher counter-insurgency, and occupation force, not unlike what he had fought against on Deliverance. As such, he purged or banished the Legion of its old Terran commanders, such as Lord [[Arkhas Fal]]. Corax also used factories on [[Kiavahr]] to commission several vehicles unique to his forces, most notably the [[Shadowhawk]], a stealth variant of the [[Thunderhawk]] as well as the [[Whispercutter]].{{Fn|30a}}
  
 
====Doctrine and Record====
 
====Doctrine and Record====
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During the [[Great Crusade]] the Raven Guard, based upon the training Corax had learned on Deliverance, became masters of sabotage, assassination and other covert operations. Planets that were thought impossible to take fell quickly as the Raven Guard applied precise military pressure to its vulnerable sectors.{{Fn|2a}} Such was the Legion's reputation that [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]] frequently requested their assistance to assure victory, though there was little admiration between the two; unconfirmed reports include the two sides nearly coming to blows on one occasion.{{Fn|2a}}
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Before the discovery of [[Corax]], the Raven Guard utilised terror tactics similar to the [[Night Lord]]s. However, when their Primarch was discovered, he was disgusted with these methods and introduced changes.{{Fn|13}} Following the discovery of [[Corax]] the Raven Guard, based upon his teachings, became masters of sabotage, assassination and other covert operations. Planets that were thought impossible to take, fell quickly as the Raven Guard applied precise military pressure to its vulnerable sectors.{{Fn|2a}} Such was the Legion's reputation that [[Warmaster]] [[Horus]] frequently requested their assistance to assure victory, though there was little admiration between the two; unconfirmed reports include the two sides nearly coming to blows on one occasion.{{Fn|2a}} In addition, Corax displayed a consistent ill-favour and mistrust towards veteran warriors of his Legion born of [[Terra]], as opposed to those native to [[Deliverance]].{{Fn|31b}}
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Tensions between the two boiled after during the [[Battle of Gate Forty-Two]], where Horus had the Raven Guard launch a bloody frontal assault on enemy defenses that decimated the Legion's numbers despite Corax's warnings that the plan was reckless beforehand. After the battle the Raven Guard was reduced to 80,000 Astartes. Corax removed his forces from Horus' command, bitterly swearing to never serve alongside the Warmaster again.{{Fn|30}}
 
  
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Tensions between the two boiled over during the [[Battle of Gate Forty-Two]], where Horus had the Raven Guard launch a bloody frontal assault on enemy defenses that decimated the Legion's numbers despite Corax's warnings that the plan was reckless beforehand. After the battle, the Raven Guard was reduced to 80,000 Astartes. Corax removed his forces from Horus' command, bitterly swearing to never serve alongside the Warmaster again.{{Fn|30a}} He also began to send his Terran-born forces into forgotten [[Crusade]]s on the galactic fringes, ensuring in his eyes that the Raven Guard remain "pure".{{Fn|31b}}
  
 
====Notable Operations====
 
====Notable Operations====
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*[[M30]] - Counterinsurgency operation on Lux Majoris against Terocrati dissidents{{Fn|23c}}
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*[[M30]] — Counterinsurgency operation on Lux Majoris against Terocrati dissidents{{Fn|20b}}
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*[[M30]] - Combat operations on Belfagor against Orks{{Fn|23c}}
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*[[M30]] — [[Battle of Hell's Anvil]]{{Fn|30d}}
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*[[M30]] - The [[Battle of Gate Forty-Two]]
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*[[M30]] — Combat operations on Belfagor against Orks{{Fn|20b}}
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*[[M30]] - The [[Scalland Campaign]]
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*[[M30]] — The [[Battle of Gate Forty-Two]]
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*[[M30]] - The [[Compliance of Indra-sul]]
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*[[M30]] — The [[Scalland Campaign]]
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*[[M30]] - The [[Carinae Retribution]]
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*[[M30]] — The [[Compliance of Indra-sul]]
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*'''972.[[M30]]''' - The Farinatus Extermination{{Fn|23a}}
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*[[M30]] — The [[Carinae Retribution]]
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*'''994.[[M30]]''' - The Istvaan Compliance{{Fn|23a}}'
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*'''972.[[M30]]''' — The Farinatus Extermination{{Fn|20a}}
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*'''994.[[M30]]''' — The [[Compliance of Isstvan III]]{{Fn|20a}}
  
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===The Horus Heresy===
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===Horus Heresy===
 
[[Image:Corax-Soulforge-clean.jpg|thumb|right|295px|[[Corax]] leads the Raven Guard against the [[Dark Mechanicus]] during the Horus Heresy]]
 
[[Image:Corax-Soulforge-clean.jpg|thumb|right|295px|[[Corax]] leads the Raven Guard against the [[Dark Mechanicus]] during the Horus Heresy]]
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The Raven Guard legion was one of the smallest legions during the [[Great Crusade]], numbering 80,000 Astartese as well as an [[Imperial Army]] [[Regiment]] known as the [[Therion Cohort]] attached to the legion's expeditionary force.{{Fn|12}} As a legion they were a fierce enemy for anyone who opposed the [[Imperium of Man]], using time honoured tactics of guerilla warfare which Corax himself had learnt during the Revolution he himself had commanded to free his people from the merciless slavery forced upon them by the Tech Guilds of [[Kiavahr]].{{Fn|12}} Extremely efficient and trained, the Raven Guard would engage in acts of mass sabotage along with infiltration, blink-of-an-eye Strikes, and expert covert operations, all of which they had perfected into what would look like ease to any other warrior.{{Fn|12}}
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The Raven Guard legion was one of the smallest legions during the [[Great Crusade]], numbering 80,000 Astartes as well as an [[Imperial Army]] [[Regiment]] known as the [[Therion Cohort]] attached to the Legion's expeditionary force.{{Fn|30a}} As a legion they were a fierce enemy for anyone who opposed the [[Imperium of Man]], using time honoured tactics of guerrilla warfare which Corax himself had learnt during the Revolution he himself had commanded to free his people from the merciless [[slavery]] forced upon them by the Tech Guilds of [[Kiavahr]].{{Fn|2}} Extremely efficient and well trained, the Raven Guard would engage in acts of mass sabotage along with infiltration, blink-of-an-eye strikes and expert covert operations, all of which they had perfected into what would look like ease to any other warrior.{{Fn|2}}
  
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The [[Raven Guard]] were one of seven legions to be sent to the Istvaan system (Others present were the [[Iron Hands]], [[Salamanders]], [[Alpha Legion]], [[Iron Warriors]], [[Night Lords]] and [[Word Bearers]]) to quell a rebellion lead by the former [[Warmaster]], [[Horus]] - [[Primarch]] of the [[Sons of Horus]] Legion (Formerly the [[Luna Wolves]]).{{Fn|12}} Horus and his other three traitor primarchs ([[Fulgrim]], [[Angron]] and [[Mortarion]]) had entrenched themselves on the planet of [[Istvaan V]], and lay in wait for the Loyalist forces to land and engage.{{Fn|12}} The fighting once joined was fierce and hot-blooded, brother versus brother, and no quarter was given on either side.{{Fn|12}} Mid way into the fighting, Horus and his allies retreated back into their fortifications for no reason that could be grasped by the loyalist factions.{{Fn|12}} The Raven Guard were in the thick of the fighting from the start, though out of their element due to the lack of tactical planning and the close-up-and-personal combat spreading like wildfire across the plains of Istvaan V. They fought both with as much honour and as much skill as any other legion would in the circumstances.{{Fn|12}} When the traitors made a surprise withdrawal back to their fortifications, the Raven Guard used this cease in the fighting to regroup and re-arm.{{Fn|12}} However, when they neared the "loyalist" defences (which were tenfold reinforced by the expert siege engineers of the Iron Warriors legion under their [[Primarch]] [[Perturabo]]'s direction, they were fired upon by the very guns meant to protect them. Hundreds were gunned down in the first few minutes of the betrayal, before they even realised that there were traitors in there midst.{{Fn|12}}
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The Raven Guard was one of seven legions to be sent to the Istvaan system (Others present were the [[Iron Hands]], [[Salamanders]], [[Alpha Legion]], [[Iron Warriors]], [[Night Lords]] and [[Word Bearers]]) to quell a rebellion led by the former [[Warmaster]], [[Horus]] — [[Primarch]] of the [[Sons of Horus]] Legion (Formerly the [[Luna Wolves]]). Horus and his other three traitor primarchs ([[Fulgrim]], [[Angron]] and [[Mortarion]]) had entrenched themselves on the planet of [[Istvaan V]], and lay in wait for the Loyalist forces to land and engage. The fighting once joined was fierce and hot-blooded, brother versus brother, and no quarter was given on either side. Mid way into the fighting, Horus and his allies retreated back into their fortifications for no reason that could be grasped by the loyalist factions. The Raven Guard were in the thick of the fighting from the start, though out of their element due to the lack of tactical planning and the close-up-and-personal combat spreading like wildfire across the plains of Istvaan V. They fought both with as much honour and as much skill as any other legion would in the circumstances. When the traitors made a surprise withdrawal back to their fortifications, the Raven Guard used this break in the fighting to regroup and re-arm.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|12a}}
  
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Four of the seven loyalist [[legions]] sent to Istvaan V had thrown off the colours and pretences of the [[Imperium]], and set about playing out a totally new preformance (hatched from long before Istvaan).{{Fn|12}} The [[Iron Warriors]], [[Night Lords]], [[Alpha Legion]], and [[Word Bearers]] turned on their brethren in a bloody thunderstorm of [[bolter]]s and blades, decimating their numbers in a multitude of seemingly never ending skirmishes and drudging battles for ground that cost lives for every metre gained or lost.{{Fn|12}} [[Corax]] and his legion were reduced from their mighty 80,000 warriors to a meagre 3,000 battle hardened veterans.{{Fn|12}} Himself by now a brooding vengeful demigod, weilding a whip{{Fn|12}} in place of his normal customary left set of talons which were lost in a rage fueled duel with the traitorous primarch [[Lorgar]], which would have ended in [[Lorgar]]'s death had [[Konrad Curze]], [[Primarch]] of the [[Night Lords]] (also known as the [[Night Haunter]]) Not intervened and shattered it with a swipe of his own claws.{{Fn|12}} Respite came in the form of a single [[battle barge]] The "[[Avenger]]"{{Fn|12}}, captained by [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]] [[Branne Nev]], a captain originally stationed on Deliverance as a garrison commander, with him came the battered remains of the [[Therion Cohort]] normally serving with the legion under [[Praefactor Valerius]] who ironically brought [[Isstvan V]] into compliance with Corax the first time. {{Fn|12}}
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However, when they neared the "loyalist" defences (which were tenfold reinforced by the expert siege engineers of the Iron Warriors legion under their [[Primarch]] [[Perturabo]]'s direction, they were fired upon by the very guns meant to protect them. Hundreds were gunned down in the first few minutes of the betrayal before they even realised that there were traitors in their midst. Four of the seven loyalist [[legions]] sent to Istvaan V had thrown off the colours and pretenses of the [[Imperium]], and set their betrayal into motion.The [[Iron Warriors]], [[Night Lords]], [[Alpha Legion]], and [[Word Bearers]] turned on their brethren in a bloody thunderstorm of [[bolter]]s and blades, decimating their numbers in a multitude of seemingly never ending skirmishes and drudging battles for ground that cost lives for every metre gained or lost.{{Fn|2}} [[Corax]] and his legion were reduced from their mighty 80,000 warriors to a meager 3,000 battle hardened veterans.{{Fn|12a}}
  
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Upon escaping the tailing forces of [[World Eater]]'s picket ships, "[[Avenger]]"{{Fn|12}} broke real-space into the warp, and headed for Terra.{{Fn|12}} Upon arriving Corax headed for the Imperial Palace, which was being fortified by Rogal Dorn and his Imperial Fists in preperation for the coming Siege (Siege of Terra), upon which after much argument with Dorn and Malcador the Imperial Regent, The Emperor himself boomed in a psychic voice for the arguing to cease and pulled Corax into a vision of extreme light, and showed him the secrets he had been asking for - The gene forging tech used to create the Primarch's by the Emperor himself.{{Fn|12}} After navigating the treacherous and dangerous contraption which was the ever shape-shifting maze on Luna, by using his advanced logic, and the skill of his sons to out-think its logic engine and freeze it in place, he retrieved the gene tech and returned to Deliverance under the watchful eye of the Adeptus Custodes (who were charged by Malcador to keep an eye on its safety).{{Fn|12}}
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Corax was by now a brooding vengeful demigod, wielding a whip in place of his normal customary left set of talons which were lost in a rage fueled duel with the traitorous primarch [[Lorgar]], which would have ended in [[Lorgar]]'s death had [[Konrad Curze]], [[Primarch]] of the [[Night Lords]] (also known as the [[Night Haunter]]) not intervened and shattered it with a swipe of his own claws. Respite came in the form of a single [[battle barge]] the ''[[Avenger (Battle Barge)|Avenger]]'', captained by [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]] [[Branne Nev]], a captain originally stationed on Deliverance as a garrison commander, with him came the battered remains of the [[Therion Cohort]] normally serving with the legion under Praefactor [[Marcus Valerius]] who ironically brought [[Isstvan V]] into compliance with Corax the first time.{{Fn|12a}} Unbeknownst to both sides, Corax only narrowly escaped death at the hands of [[Angron]] and his World Eaters thanks to the machinations of the [[Alpha Legion]], whose own Primarch [[Alpharius]] had greater plans regarding the Raven Guard.{{Fn|12b}}
  
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At first the Astartese created by the gene tech were a marvel, a splice of primarch and Astartese, but not in an imbalanced degree so as to cause malfunction, a perfect meld.{{Fn|12}} These new warriors were faster, stronger, and more intelligent than any of the older warriors of the [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]], and within a few weeks more aspirants had been successfully implanted with stable [[gene-seed]] than ever before (the new gene seed also meant that warriors matured into their new forms rapidly compared to standard Astartese).{{Fn|12}} The new warriors would be placed under the command of Captain Branne Nev under the moniker "[[Raptors]]", and would be used against a [[Word Bearer]] fortress as their first deployment, which would see them successfully slaughter veteran [[Word Bearer]]s with the ease of much older warriors. Raptors would take injuries that would have killed even an Astartese, and still remain fighting due to their enhanced bodies.{{Fn|12}} Word of this reached the ears of [[Omegon]], twin [[primarch]] of the Alpha Legion, whom had been laying dormant on [[Kiavahr]] below stirring up a rebellion amongst the tech guilds, and he sprung into action.{{Fn|12}}
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Upon escaping the tailing forces of [[World Eater]]'s picket ships, ''Avenger'' broke real-space into the warp, and headed for Terra. Upon arriving Corax headed for the Imperial Palace, which was being fortified by Rogal Dorn and his Imperial Fists in preparation for [[Siege of Terra|the coming Siege]], upon which after much argument with Dorn and Malcador the Imperial Regent, The Emperor himself boomed in a psychic voice for the arguing to cease and pulled Corax into a vision of extreme light, and showed him the secrets he had been asking for - the gene forging tech used to create the Primarchs by the Emperor himself.{{Fn|12b}} After navigating the treacherous and dangerous contraption which was the ever shape-shifting maze on Luna, by using his advanced logic, and the skill of his sons to out-think its logic engine and freeze it in place, he retrieved the gene tech and returned to Deliverance under the watchful eye of the Adeptus Custodes (who were charged by Malcador to keep an eye on its safety).{{Fn|12c}}
  
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The rebellion and even the Alpha Legionnaires supporting it were a distraction, while the Raven Guard were caught off guard, Omegon and several Alpha Legion operatives managed to covertly spike the gene tech with a daemon blood poison (while managing to keep the pure technology for themselves) using the Raven Guard [[gene-seed]] to produce deformed monsters.{{Fn|12}} The battle finally began as the first Raven Guard recruits to recieve the secretly spiked gene seed were implanted, and by the time it raged into the gene labs of [[Ravendelve]], only to be met by deformed warriors created by the spiked gene seed's effects.{{Fn|12}} While deformed, these astartese still fought with otherworldly strength, overpowering even the Alpha Legion Astartese.{{Fn|12}} By the time the battle was over, Agents had been found amidst the legion, explaining how news reached the traitors about the gene tech, and thus the loss of such a boon to the crippled legion, gene screening was to be implemented to find and destroy the agents with the stolen faces of Raven Guard Legionnaires.{{Fn|12}}
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At first the Astartes created by the gene tech were a marvel, a splice of primarch and Astartes, but not in an imbalanced degree so as to cause malfunction, a perfect meld. These new warriors were faster, stronger, and more intelligent than any of the older warriors of the [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]], and within a few weeks more aspirants had been successfully implanted with stable [[gene-seed]] than ever before (the new gene seed also meant that warriors matured into their new forms rapidly compared to standard Astartes). The new warriors would be placed under the command of Captain Branne Nev under the moniker "[[Raptor (Raven Guard)|Raptors]]", and would be used against a [[Word Bearer]] fortress as their first deployment, which would see them successfully slaughter veteran [[Word Bearer]]s with the ease of much older warriors. Raptors would take injuries that would have killed even an Astartes, and still remain fighting due to their enhanced bodies.{{Fn|12d}} Word of this reached the ears of [[Omegon]], twin [[primarch]] of the Alpha Legion, whom had been laying dormant on [[Kiavahr]] below stirring up a rebellion amongst the tech guilds, and he sprung into action.{{Fn|12b}}
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Without the gene tech the Raven Guard Legion remained a small legion, though their continued work with small cells of warriors allowed them to remain no less of a fighting force, though fewer in number then before. {{Fn|12}} When Roboute Guilliman announced his "[[Codex Astartes]]" which would split the legions into organised chapters, Corax was circumstantially forced to adapt to the new rules, Abliet still retaining his legions overall structure, but in smaller [[chapter]]s of 1,000 Astartese, As is how the [[Raven Guard]] chapter is to this day.{{Fn|12}}
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The [[Battle of Ravendelve|rebellion]] and even the Alpha Legionnaires supporting it were a distraction, while the Raven Guard were caught off guard, Omegon and several Alpha Legion operatives managed to covertly spike the gene tech with a daemon blood poison (while managing to keep the pure technology for themselves) using the Raven Guard [[gene-seed]] to produce deformed monsters. The battle finally began as the first Raven Guard recruits to receive the secretly spiked gene seed were implanted, and by the time it raged into the gene labs of [[Ravendelve]], only to be met by deformed warriors created by the spiked gene seed's effects.{{Fn|12e}} While deformed, these astartes still fought with otherworldly strength, overpowering even the Alpha Legion Astartes. By the time the battle was over, Agents had been found amidst the legion, explaining how news reached the traitors about the gene tech, and thus the loss of such a boon to the crippled legion, gene screening was to be implemented to find and destroy the agents with the stolen faces of Raven Guard Legionnaires.{{Fn|12f}}
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Corax nevertheless led the Raven Guard in full strength (~4000 Astartes) and his allies (over 500,000 [[Therion Cohort]], 100-150 [[Imperial Fists]], ~20 Custodes against [[The Perfect Fortress]], an Emperors Children stronghold. Planned to be conducted with his legion rebuild to be at least 10.000 Astartes strong, the Fortress was taken by luring the Traitor forces out with an failed assault by the Therion Cohort. While Raven Guard losses were small, the Traitor force was totally destroyed. [[The Perfect Fortress]] was on a important strategic planet for the whole sector, but Corax withdrew his legion to strike the next Traitor force, leaving the garrison to the [[Therion Cohort]], and the expected Imperial Army and Titan Legion Reinforcements.{{Fn|12g}} Corax again led the Raven Guard in full strength against traitor forces in the [[Battle of Yarant]], rescuing the [[Space Wolves]]. After the battle, Corax expressed his intent to continue to resist Horus from the shadows.{{Fn|14}}
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[[Lion El'Jonson]] and his [[Dark Angels]] eventually rendezvoused with the Raven Guard and Space Wolves on [[Deliverance]] and offered them a place in his [[Passage of the Angels|crusade of vengeance]] against the Traitors. While the Wolves wholly committed themselves, Corax was more cautious and only committed a small expeditionary force to scout ahead and eliminate key targets in order to spare entire worlds from The Lion's destruction. This force also engaged in regular war, taking part in the [[Siege of Barbarus]] against the [[Death Guard]].{{Fn|42}}
 +
 
 +
Without the gene tech the Raven Guard Legion remained a small legion, though their continued work with small cells of warriors allowed them to remain no less of a fighting force, though fewer in number then before. Tales of the Space Wolves report the use of Astartes more beasts than man.{{Fn|2}} The Space Wolves never reported this to any imperial authorities, most likely because they shared a sympathy with the Raven Guard because of their own similar flaw.{{Fn|2}}
 +
 
 +
Meanwhile, scattered Raven Guard survivors of Isstvan V managed to join with fellow [[Salamanders]] and [[Iron Hands]] aboard the ''[[Sisypheum]]'', beginning a campaign of vengeance against those who had betrayed them.{{Fn|24b}}
 +
 
 +
====Notable Operations====
 +
*Drop Assault on [[Istvaan V]] {{Fn|12a}}
 +
*Space Skirmishes in the Istvaan-System {{Fn|12a}}
 +
*[[Perditum Incursion]]{{Fn|57}}
 +
*Attack on [[Word Bearers]] Communication Outpost {{Fn|12d}}
 +
*The [[Battle of Ravendelve]]
 +
*Assault on [[The Perfect Fortress]]{{Fn|12e}}
 +
*The [[Battle of Constanix II]]
 +
*The liberation of [[Scarato]]{{Fn|59a}}
 +
*Raid on the asteroid base of [[Kapel-5642A]], where the Raven Guard led by Corvus Corax attacked a [[Sons of Horus]] garrison guarding the shipyards constructing battleships for the traitors, ultimately destroying the whole production.{{Fn|59b}}
 +
*The liberation of [[Carandiru]]{{Fn|59c}}
 +
*The [[Malagant Conflict]]
 +
*The [[Battle of the Aragna Chain]]
 +
*The [[Battle of Yarant]]
 +
*The [[Siege of Barbarus]]{{Fn|42}}
 +
*The [[Ydursk Incident]]{{Fn|42}}
 +
*The [[Halting of Vramon Muster]]{{Fn|58a}}
 +
*The [[Siege of Cthonia]]{{Fn|58b}}
 +
*Assault on Word Bearer Stronghold (planned){{Fn|12e}}
 +
*Joint operation with the [[Space Wolves]], an assault on a traitor stronghold {{Fn|2}}
  
 
===Horus Heresy Aftermath===
 
===Horus Heresy Aftermath===
 +
When Roboute Guilliman announced his "[[Codex Astartes]]" which would split the legions into organised chapters, Corax was circumstantially forced to adapt to the new rules. He retained his legion's overall structure, but in smaller [[chapter]]s of 1,000 Astartes.{{Fn|12a}}
  
−
The Raven Guard chapter birthed in the [[Second Founding]] from the Raven Guard legion remained a successful fighting force, even with diminished numbers (1,000 Astartes from the 3,000 survivors of the [[Drop Site Massacre]]).{{Fn|4a}} The hunt for [[Kernax Voldorius]] alongside the [[White Scars]]{{Fn|11b}}, 4th Company's deployment of several Raven Guard warriors to aid the Ultramarines in their capture of Adaric Vaanes, and the defence of Ultramar{{Fn|9}}, and many other campaigns have been successfully won by these masters of shadow.
+
The Raven Guard chapter birthed in the [[Second Founding]] from the Raven Guard legion remained a successful fighting force, even with diminished numbers (1,000 Astartes from the 3,000 survivors of the [[Drop Site Massacre]]).{{Fn|4a}} The hunt for [[Kernax Voldorius]] alongside the [[White Scars]],{{Fn|11a}} the 4th Company's deployment of several Raven Guard warriors to aid the Ultramarines in their capture of Adaric Vaanes, the defence of Ultramar,{{Fn|8}} and many other campaigns have been successfully won by these masters of shadow.{{Fn|1}}
  
 
===Recent Events===
 
===Recent Events===
 
====Timeline====
 
====Timeline====
 
[[Image:Labyrinth-of-sorrows-cover-clean.jpg|thumb|right|Raven Guard Space Marine]]
 
[[Image:Labyrinth-of-sorrows-cover-clean.jpg|thumb|right|Raven Guard Space Marine]]
−
*'''018.[[M36]]''' - The [[Battle of Parocheus]]. The Raven Guard under [[Yaroslan Medexus]] battle [[Dark Eldar]] [[Haemonculi]] on the world of [[Parocheus]].
+
*'''544.[[M32]]:''' The [[War of the Beast]]
−
*'''508.[[M40]]''' - [[The Raider Raided]] battle between the [[Strike Force Ultra]] under the command of the [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Oradias]] and the [[Dark Eldar]] pirate forces of the [[Subaron Rift]].{{Fn|32}}
+
*'''018.[[M36]]:''' The [[Battle of Parocheus]] — The Raven Guard under [[Yaroslan Medexus]] battle [[Dark Eldar]] [[Haemonculi]] on the world of [[Parocheus]].{{Fn|50}}
−
*'''240.[[M41]] - 224.[[M41]]''' - The [[Baran War]]. The Raven Guard leads a campaign to secure the [[Exodite World]] of [[Baran]] from [[Ork]]s. [[Shadow Captain]] [[Moradius]] leads a small contingent to secure the Sub-sector around Baran, based out of a small moon. However Moradius and his Marines are killed by [[Eldar]] after being encircled and ambushed.{{Fn|17}}
+
*'''508.[[M40]]:''' [[The Raider Raided]] — A battle between the [[Strike Force Ultra]] under the command of the [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Oradias]] and the [[Dark Eldar]] pirate forces of the [[Subaron Rift]].{{Fn|26}}
−
*'''748.[[M41]]''' - The [[Thruskus Rebellion]]{{Fn|25a}}
+
*'''???.[[M41]]:''' Battle on [[Rhorsch]] — The planet Rhorsch was infested firstly by a [[Blood Cult]] and then by [[daemon]]s themselves. Led by [[Shadow Captain]] [[Rykas]] and with the aid of the [[Mortifactors]], the Raven Guard slayed the horde's [[High Bloodcaller]] and stopped the [[heresy]].{{Fn|28}}
−
*'''757999.[[M41]]''' - The [[Battle of Mu'gulath Bay]]{{Fn|29}}
+
*'''???.[[M41]]:''' Conquering of [[Obdurus]] — The [[Heretic]] [[Fortress World]] was taken by the Raven Guard Chapter in less than a day, after its [[Scouts]] managed to disable Obdurus's orbital defences.{{Fn|28}}
−
*'''862.[[M41]]''' - [[Waaagh! Skullkrak]] invaded the [[Targus system]]. [[Kayvaan Shrike]] and the Raven Guard 3rd company were amongst the forces that respond.{{Fn|4c}}{{Fn|25a}}
+
*'''204.[[M41]] — 224.[[M41]]:''' The [[Baran War]] — The Raven Guard leads a campaign to secure the [[Exodite World]] of [[Baran]] from [[Ork]]s. [[Shadow Captain]] [[Moradius]] leads a small contingent to secure the Sub-sector around Baran, based out of a small moon. However Moradius and his Marines are killed by [[Eldar]] after being encircled and ambushed.{{Fn|15}}
−
*'''865.[[M41]]''' - The [[Heraclad Massacre]]{{Fn|25a}}
+
*'''260.[[M41]]:''' The [[Battle for Columnus]]{{Fn|51}}
−
*'''871.[[M41]]''' - The [[Hunt for Voldorius]]. [[Kayvaan Shrike]] leads a pursuit of the infamous [[Alpha Legion]] [[Daemon Prince]] [[Kernax Voldorius]].{{Fn|16}}{{Fn|25x}}
+
*'''748.[[M41]]:''' The [[Thruskus Rebellion]]{{Fn|22b}}
−
*'''890.[[M41]]''' - The [[Shadowblade War]]{{Fn|25a}}
+
*'''Mid-Late 700's.[[M41]]:''' The [[Sabbat Worlds Crusade]] — A detachment of Raven Guard take part in the assault on [[Caligula (Hive World)|Caligula]].{{Fn|39}}
−
*'''986.[[M41]]''' - The [[Battle for Targus VIII]]{{Fn|25a}}
+
*'''862.[[M41]]:''' [[Waaagh! Skullkrak]] invades the [[Targus system]]. [[Kayvaan Shrike]] and the Raven Guard 3rd company were amongst the forces that respond.{{Fn|4b}}{{Fn|22b}}
−
*'''991.[[M41]]''' - The [[Sargassion Reach Campaign]]{{Fn|19a}}. The Raven Guard deployed at least 3 squads from 4th Company{{Fn|19c}} under [[Shadow Captain]] [[Koryn]]{{Fn|19b}} to aid the [[Brazen Minotaurs]] in their fight against [[Death Guard]] Warband [[Empyrion's Blight]].
+
*'''865.[[M41]]:''' The [[Heraclad Massacre]]{{Fn|22b}}
−
*'''992.[[M41]]''' - The [[Raid on Kastorel Novem]]. [[Shadow Captain]] [[Korvydae]] leads the 10th Company against the [[Ork]] [[Warboss]] [[Garaghak]] on the world of [[Kastorel-Novem]].{{Fn|15}}
+
*'''868.[[M41]]:''' The [[Battle for Targus VIII]]{{Fn|22b}}
−
*'''996.[[M41]]''' - The [[Lonal Ambush]]{{Fn|25a}}
+
*'''871.[[M41]]:''' The [[Liberation of Quintus]] — [[Kayvaan Shrike]] leads a pursuit of the infamous [[Alpha Legion]] [[Daemon Prince]] [[Kernax Voldorius]].{{Fn|22b}}
−
*'''999.[[M41]]''' - The [[Invasion of Ultramar]]. An elite squad from the 4th Company, under [[Shadow Captain]] [[Aethon Shaan]] is deployed to aid [[Ultramar]] in its battle against the [[Bloodborn]].{{Fn|14}}
+
*'''890.[[M41]]:''' The [[Shadowblade War]]{{Fn|22b}}
−
*'''996999.[[M41]]''' - The [[Waaagh! Garaghak]]. The entire chapter stands ready to defend their homeworld against Ork Waaagh! of titanic proportions.{{Fn|18}}
+
*'''938.[[M41]]:''' The [[Blindhope Planetstrike]]{{Fn|22b}}
 +
*'''991.[[M41]]:''' The [[Sargassion Reach Campaign]].{{Fn|17}}{{Fn|22b}} The Raven Guard deployed at least 3 squads from 4th Company under [[Shadow Captain]] [[Koryn]]{{Fn|17}} to aid the [[Brazen Minotaurs]] in their fight against [[Death Guard]] Warband [[Empyrion's Blight]].
 +
*'''992.[[M41]]:''' The [[Raid on Kastorel Novem]] — [[Shadow Captain]] [[Korvydae]] leads the 10th Company against the [[Ork]] [[Warboss]] [[Garaghak]] on the world of [[Kastorel-Novem]].{{Fn|6b}}
 +
*'''996.[[M41]]:''' The [[Lonal Ambush]]{{Fn|22b}}
 +
*'''999.[[M41]]:''' The [[Invasion of Ultramar]] — An elite squad from the 4th Company under [[Shadow Captain]] [[Aethon Shaan]] is deployed to aid [[Ultramar]] in its battle against the [[Bloodborn]].{{Fn|10a}}
 +
*'''757999.[[M41]]:''' The [[Battle of Mu'gulath Bay]] — The Raven Guard under Chapter Master [[Corvin Severax]] himself attempts to defend [[Agrellan]] from [[Tau]] assault.{{Fn|52}}
 +
*'''999.[[M41]]:''' The [[Battle of Voltoris]] — Reeling from his defeat at Mu'gulath Bay, Severax successfully ambushes the Tau.{{Fn|16a}}
 +
*'''999.[[M41]]:''' The [[Prefectia Campaign]] — Chapter Master Severax is slain battling [[Commander Shadowsun]]. [[Kayvaan Shrike]] is elected the new Chapter Master.{{Fn|16a}}
 +
*'''999.[[M41]]:''' The [[Second Agrellan Campaign]] — Shrike leads forces to recapture the [[Hive World]] of [[Agrellan]] from the [[Tau]].{{Fn|53}}
 +
*'''996999.[[M41]]:''' [[Waaagh! Garaghak]] — The entire chapter stands ready to defend their homeworld against Ork Waaagh! of titanic proportions.{{Fn|6a}}
 +
*'''~999.[[M41]]:''' The [[Terran Crusade]] — Raven Guard elements answer the call of the reborn [[Roboute Guilliman]].{{Fn|54}}
 +
*'''???.[[M41]]/[[M42]]:''' The [[Reclamation of Safiniyus]]{{Fn|37}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]:''' [[The Scattering]] — [[Kayvaan Shrike]] convenes the Chapter and orders their strategic deployment across the [[Imperium]]{{Fn|36n}} then resigns as [[Chapter Master]], appointing 1st Company Captain [[Aethon Shaan]] as his successor.{{Fn|62}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]:''' The War for [[Tarrovar]]
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]:''' The [[Invasion of the Odoacer System]]{{Fn|33}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]:''' The [[Battle of Xalladin]]{{Fn|35}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]:''' The [[War for the Sithoza System]]{{Fn|44}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]:''' The [[Charadon Campaign]]{{Fn|38}}
 +
*'''???.[[M42]]:''' The [[Fourth Tyrannic War]]{{Fn|45}}
 +
**[[Battle of Bastior]]{{Fn|45}}
 +
*'''Unknown:''' Campaign against the [[Word Bearers]] on the planet [[Hope's Pyre]].{{Fn|34b}}
 +
*'''Unknown:''' [[Purging of Shondor]]{{Fn|34a}}
 +
*'''Unknown:''' The [[Siege of Kantarel]]{{Fn|36k}}
 +
*'''Unknown:''' Fighting in the ruined city of [[Ghastorgrad]]{{Fn|34c}}
 +
*'''Unknown:''' [[Assault on Hive Lin-Mei]]{{Fn|11a}}
 +
*'''Unknown:''' [[Last March on the Sapphire Worlds]]{{Fn|11a}}
 +
*'''Unknown:''' [[Battle of the Ring of Night]]{{Fn|11b}}
 +
*'''Unknown:''' [[Fall of Kordon]]{{Fn|11b}}
 +
*'''Unknown:''' [[Operation Chronos]]{{Fn|11a}}
 +
 
 +
==Culture==
 +
The Raven Guard are known for their grim and brooding nature. They are thought to be isolationist, dour and laconic. These traits combined with their preference for secretive and stealth has made them few friends in the wider Imperium.{{Fn|55}} However, due to their history as liberators of slaves, the Raven Guard maintain close ties with mortals, particularly those of their homeworld [[Deliverance]].{{Fn|36a}}
 +
 
 +
Known cultural traditions of the Raven Guard include the [[Contest of Shadows]].{{Fn|43b}}
 +
 
 +
===Rites of Shadow===
 +
The Rites of Shadow are a Raven Guard and Successor Chapter silent ritual with ancient roots. Conducted in complete silence, Corspake sign language is used for traditional questions and answers. The Rites teach that the shadow contains both truth and lies, the purpose of each is the separation of one from the other, and glimpsing of verities otherwise hidden. This is applied to one's Battle-Brother's, one's cause, and even one's foes. Once one has completed the rites, they will earn the status of "Shadow". The title holds great respect, but no rank or authority.{{Fn|36m}}
 +
 
 +
===Corvia===
 +
All Raven Guard during their initiation or as a form of meditation or spirit quest hunt the tiny ravens native to the forests of [[Kiavahr]]. It takes months of training and practice for recruits to sneak up on the small and alert birds, grab them in their bare hands and snap their necks. The skulls of these birds are worn as small totems hanging from a marine's belt on small chains. These totems are known as Corvia and represent a warrior's honour. If a battle-brother falls, one of his surviving comrades will recover his Corvia and carry it, and thus the fallen warrior's honour, into battle until he can return to Kiavahr and bury the small skulls in the soil of the Chapter's homeworld.{{Fn|23}}
 +
 
 +
===Treatment of the Dead===
 +
Upon death, where practical, the body of a Raven Guard Marine will be stripped of its equipment and trappings (including the Corvia), harvested of its [[gene-seed]] and left for the local carrion birds to feed upon.{{Fn|19}}
 +
 
 +
===Shadowmasters===
 +
[[Image:RGvsTau.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Raven Guard battle the [[T'au]]]]
 +
The Shadowmasters or [[Mor Deythan]] were a unit of Raven Guard during the [[Great Crusade]] and [[Horus Heresy]]. They were ordinary battle-brothers who had [[Corax|their primarch]]'s ability to '''Shadow-walk'''. It was a quirk of the gene-seed in a few [[Deliverance|Deliverancian]] born Raven Guard that had more than just the standard gene code. One unique trait of the Shadowmasters is that they were completely unknown to their own Legion. The marines were selected for testing "Thermal Technology" which was considered "highly temperamental". Corax and select apothecaries were the only marines in the Legion that knew of the group at the time of the [[Horus Heresy]]. The Mor Deythan acted as an elite stealth team and saboteurs and communicated through [[Stalk-Argot]] while working in concert with the rest of the Legion. The Shadowmasters performed flanking manoeuvres and sabotaged columns of rogue [[Skitarii]] on [[Constanix II]].{{Fn|18}}
 +
 
 +
===Moritait Protocol===
 +
The '''[[Moritat]] Protocol''' dates back to the Horus Heresy, and sees individual Raven Guard dropped into warzones to train local defenders or pro-Imperial elements in order to wage a local insurgency in support of the Chapter's own war effort.  Other chapters that also employ local insurgencies to their own ends include the [[Alpha Legion]] and [[Word Bearers]].
 +
 
 +
==Tactics==
 +
[[Image:M1860546 RavenguardOpener.jpg|thumb|right|320px|Raven Guard]]
 +
The Raven Guard are known for hitting weak points in enemy defenses hard and they perform lightning strikes upon locations of tactical importance to cripple their enemy. The Raven Guard disdain the notion of recklessly charging into enemy ranks. This differentiates their tactics from those of the [[Blood Angels]]. The Raven Guard rely heavily on their [[Scouts]] for pinpointing enemy positions and to scout for good drop sites. In recent years, this preference for stealth, disruption, and assassination missions has seen them heavily use [[Vanguard Space Marine]] formations.{{Fn|55}}
 +
 
 +
Because of their hit and run tactics and sowing confusion in enemy ranks, the Raven Guard also make extensive use of [[Assault Squad]]s as well as any other formation that uses [[Jump Pack]]s.{{Fn|55}} The [[Tactical Squad]]s of the Raven Guard are often deployed via [[Thunderhawk]]s or [[Drop Pod]]s. The favourite weapons of the Raven Guard [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]]s are the [[Lightning Claw]]s and it is a common sight that their command squads also come equipped with these weapons in addition to their [[Jump Pack]]s.{{Fn|2}}
 +
 
 +
Raven Guard Captains are fiercely independent, and it's incredibly rare for the chapter to fight as a whole. Individual companies are completely autonomous and are quick to lend their aid to Imperial commanders across the Galaxy, with or without the sanction of their Chapter Master.{{Fn|2}} Such behaviour has led to some to question the Raven Guard's soundness, but most recognise that such fluidity of command proves the presence of formidable discipline, not its absence.{{Fn|4a}}
 +
 
 +
[[File:TauVsRavenGuards.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Raven Guard assaulting T'au position]]
 +
Core to Corax’s teachings was the '''Trifold Path of Shadow''', often rendered in pictorial form as a short-bladed trident or triple-bladed lightning claw.{{Fn|36e}} The first path of shadow is Ambush,{{Fn|36e}} the second Stealth,{{Fn|36f}} and the third Vigilance.{{Fn|36g}} Mastering one Path, he taught, brought the possibility of victory; mastery of two rendered triumph likely, and accomplishment in all three made the foe’s defeat all but inevitable. From the beginning, the Chapter’s battle companies were based on this Trifold Path. Companies 3 through 5 each specialised in one branch, and a battle-brother’s promotion to the 2nd came only when true mastery was attained. Such promotion is far from guaranteed. Even amongst Corax’s sons, there are few who can replicate his skill so completely, and many battle-brothers live out a life of war in the same Battle Company, peerless in their own path, but never truly able to grasp the fathomless depths of the others.{{Fn|36e}}
 +
 
 +
Due to their specialised combat style, the Raven Guard makes less use of heavier vehicles and tanks (such as the [[Land Raider]] and [[Predator]]) than most chapters.{{Fn|3}} However, they conversely make heavy use of [[Land Speeder]]s and gunships, and due to their extreme tactical autonomy and genetic instability nearly every deployment with see an [[Apothecary]] of some sort included. As a result, the Raven Guard maintains more Apothecaries and [[Helix Adept]]s than most chapters.{{Fn|43a}}
 +
 
 +
===Wraith-Slipping===
 +
Described as being a combination of mental discipline and martial art, the process of "wraith-slipping" is to take advantage of one's surroundings to conceal one's presence. This is not a psychic power but rather a collection of disciplines and techniques that the Raven Guard use to conceal their visual and aural presence despite their use of power armour. It is a technique that is described both prior to the outbreak of civil war in the Horus Heresy{{Fn|24b}} and up to the 41st Millennium.{{Fn|21}}
 +
 
 +
===Corspake===
 +
Corspake is a form of sign language taught to all members of the Raven Guard. This allows them to communicate on the battlefield without having to risk themselves to exposure by speaking or using [[Vox]] technology. Notable signs include The Crowfane; the Feast of Bones;
 +
the Empty Chime; even the Murder Call, which calls for vengeance against the slayer of a great hero. The [[2nd Company, Raven Guard Chapter|2nd Company]] is known for its prodigious use of Corspake, and none can rise to the rank of Shadow Captain without mastering it.{{Fn|36m}}
 +
 
 +
===Stealth Modifications===
 +
[[Image:Raven Guard eliminating key targets.jpg|thumb|right|220px| Scions of '''Corax''' lurk in the shadows, using their unrivaled stealth to eliminate key targets.{{Fn|43c}}]]
 +
The Chapter makes wide use of the "beaked" and older marks of [[Power Armour]] (Mk. [[Mark IV|IV]]-[[Mark VI|VI]]). After their near-destruction at Isstvan V, the Raven Guard techmarines created ''ad hoc'' suits using salvaged parts and components from other suits or vehicles.{{Fn|12k}} When the battle barge ''[[Avenger (Battle Barge)|Avenger]]'' returned to Deliverance, the Raven Guard received a shipment of 2 000 suits of Mark VI Power Armour. At that time, the Mk. VI, designed as the "Corvus suit", was the newest and most advanced version. Because this mark of Power Armour carries the name of the [[primarch]] [[Corax]] it is natural that the Raven Guard feel a bond to this mark of armour.{{Fn|12i}}
 +
 
 +
With the initiation of [[Primaris Marines]] and the [[Mark X]] armour, Raven Guard marines frequently make use of the [[Phobos Armour|Phobos variant]], due to its lighter weight.{{Fn|36a}}
 +
 
 +
Raven Guard power armour utilises enhanced cooling systems that which helps it to blend in better with the background. This means Raven Guard Marines are harder to detect by thermal or infrared devices.{{Fn|11c}}
 +
 
 +
During the [[Horus Heresy]], the Raven Guard's fleet was equipped with special stealth technology: a ship's [[void shield]]s could be modified so that they provided only minimal protection, but at the benefit of making the vessel nearly undetectable either visually or by sensors. It took only a few minutes for this adjustment to be made.{{Fn|12a}} The Raven Guard also operates a stealthy variant of the [[Thunderhawk]], the [[Shadowhawk]].{{Fn|30a}}
  
 
==Homeworld==
 
==Homeworld==
−
The Raven Guard homeworld is [[Deliverance]], a moon which their Fortress Monastery "[[Raven Spire]]" is built on.{{Fn|12}} Deliverance was once known as Lycaeus, where 10,000 years previous to current events, Corvus Corax (soon to be [[Primarch]] of the Raven Guard Legion) lead a revolution to free his fellow slaves, and eventually the whole moon from the Slavery enforced on them by the Tech Guilds of the planet below, [[Kiavahr]].{{Fn|12}} Kiavahr was converted into a forge world by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] upon the [[Emperor]]'s arrival, due to [[Corax]]'s wishes that the Tech Guilds no longer held sway, this meant that the [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]] also recieved a vital supply line for materials.{{Fn|12}}
+
The Raven Guard homeworld is [[Deliverance]], a moon which their Fortress Monastery "[[Raven Spire]]" is built on. Deliverance was once known as Lycaeus, where 10,000 years previous to current events, Corvus Corax (soon to be [[Primarch]] of the Raven Guard Legion) led a revolution to free his fellow slaves and eventually the whole moon from the slavery forced on them by the tech guilds of the planet below, [[Kiavahr]].{{Fn|2}} Kiavahr was converted into a forge world by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] upon the [[Emperor]]'s arrival, due to [[Corax]]'s wish that the tech guilds no longer hold sway; this meant that the [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]] also received a vital supply line for materials.{{Fn|12d}}
  
−
==Gene-seed==
+
The Raven Guard's chapter planet and base of operations has the production capacity of a small [[forge world]], ensuring that the Chapter rarely lacks for the material to prosecute its campaigns.{{Fn|4a}}
−
The degeneration of the Raven Guard [[gene-seed]] means several of the unique organs of the Space Marines no longer work properly or no longer grow. Raven Guard do not have the [[Mucranoid]] or [[Betcher's Gland]]. The [[Melanchromic Organ]] has a unique mutation that causes the skin of the Space Marine to grow paler.{{Fn|3}} Eventually each Marine's skin becomes pure white while their hair and eyes darken, becoming black as coal.
+
 
−
The main issues could have come from [[Corax]]'s experimentation with the Raven Guard Gene-Seed to try and create stronger and faster-maturing astartes (although the [[Alpha Legion]] is primarily to blame for causing his project's failure), it is never fully stated what is the actual cause.{{Fn|12}}
+
==Recruitment==
 +
[[Image:RavenGuardReiver.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Raven Guard [[Reiver]]{{Fn|34a}}]]
 +
Owing to the instability of the Raven Guard gene-seed and the experiments of Corax, much of the Chapter's genetic stock has been irreparably damaged. Now, much of their genetic material comes from supplies held on [[Terra]]. This means the cycle of recruitment for the Raven Guard is much slower than other chapters and fewer Raven Guard candidates for the Chapter prove able to survive their training and genetic modification. This means the Chapter is constantly short-handed.{{Fn|2}}
 +
 
 +
The Raven Guard's homeworld [[Deliverance]] is said to lack the population resources available on other chapters' homeworlds. By the time of the Horus Heresy only a few thousand marines in the Raven Guard's number were recruited from Deliverance, the rest made up of the original [[Terra]]n forces inducted before the [[Great Crusade]].{{Fn|1}}
 +
 
 +
Today, [[Aspirant]]s are considered to be given a high honour of receiving the rare and unstable Gene-seed of the Chapter. They are thus subjected to harsh training in the force-domes of [[Deliverance]] and [[Kiavahr]]. They face lethal conditions with little food, water or sleep, and are required to evade or kill monsters and [[Mutant]]s and must learn patience, stealth and the art of the hunt in order to survive. In the Trial of the Watcher, an Aspirant is required to navigate the ganglands of Kiavahr and undertake missions with only the most minimal of visual clues to guide them to their objective.{{Fn|43a}}
 +
 
 +
In the Trial of Justice, they are tested to see if they can uphold the ideals of Corax. In this challenge, Aspirants are strapped to a chair in near total darkness and have their mind examined by Chapter [[Librarian]]s as they are given questions by [[Chaplain]]s on questions relating to loyalty, courage, freedom and justice. They are often given hypothetical scenarios and complex moral dilemmas and forced to give solutions. There are no true right or wrong answers to these questions, though due to the presence of Librarians an Aspirant cannot lie and give responses he knows will please his overseers. A mere attempt at dishonesty sees one killed on the spot or made into a [[Servitor]].{{Fn|43a}}
 +
 
 +
The Trial of the Wraith is a more physical challenge and forces Aspirants to be dropped alone into the Ologothien Wastes on Kiavahr. They must then traverse 199 miles of lethal territory in three days without sustenance and evade detection by native predators. Thus aspirants are forced to utilise their stealth training to the utmost extreme.{{Fn|43a}}
  
−
==Shadowmasters==
+
Those that complete their trials can expect long service in the [[10th Company (Raven Guard)|10th Company]] as [[Scout]]s, of which the Raven Guard maintains a higher number compared to other chapters. Upon proving themselves after years of service in the 10th Company, a full Battle-Brother can take on a new name, often that of a past Chapter champion or a Kiavahran word for a beast, weapon or folk hero.{{Fn|43a}}
−
The Shadowmasters or [[Mor Deythan]] were a unit of Raven Guard during the [[Great Crusade]] and [[Horus Heresy]]. They were ordinary battle-brothers who had [[Corax|their primarch]]'s ability to '''Shadow-walk'''. It was a quirk of the gene-seed in a few [[Deliverance|Deliverancian]] born Raven Guard that had more than just the standard gene code. One unique trait about the Shadowmasters is that they were completely unknown to their own legion. The marines were selected for testing "Thermal Technology" which was considered "highly temperamental.  Corax and select apothecaries are the only marines in the legion that knew of the group at the time of the [[Horus Heresy]]. The Mor Deythan acted as an elite stealth team and saboteurs and communicated through '''Stalk-Argot''' while working in concert with the rest of the legion. The Shadowmasters performed flanking maneuvers and sabotaged columns of rogue [[Skitarii]] on [[Constinax]]. {{Fn|20}}
 
  
−
==Culture and combat doctrine==
 
−
[[Image:M1860546 RavenguardOpener.jpg|thumb|right|320px|Raven Guard]]The Raven Guard are known for hitting weak points in enemy defences hard and they perform lightning strikes upon locations of tactical importance to cripple their enemy. The Raven Guard disdain the notion of recklessly charging into enemy ranks. This differentiates their tactics from those of the [[Blood Angels]]. The Raven Guard rely heavily on their [[Scouts]] for pinpointing enemy positions and to scout for good drop sites. Because of their hit and run tactics they also make extensive use of [[Assault Squad]]s. The [[Tactical Squad]]s of the Raven Guard are often deployed via [[Thunderhawk]]s or [[Drop Pod]]s. The favorite weapons of the Raven Guard [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]]s are the [[Lightning Claw]]s and it is a common sight that their command squads also come equipped with these weapons in addition to their [[Jump Pack]]s.
 
−
Raven Guard Captains are fiercely independent, and it's incredibly rare for the chapter to fight as a whole.
 
−
Individual companies are completely autonomous and are quick to lend their aid to Imperial commanders across the galaxy, with or without the sanction of their Chapter Master.
 
−
Such behaviour has led to some to question the Raven Guard's soundness, but most recognise that such fluidity of command proves the presence of  formidable discipline, not its absence.{{Fn|4a}}
 
  
−
Due to their specialised combat style, the Raven Guard makes less use of heavier vehicles and tanks (such as the [[Land Raider]] and [[Predator]]) than most chapters.{{Fn|3}}
+
==Gene-seed==
 +
{{Main|Raptor (Raven Guard)}}
 +
[[file:RGArtFace.jpg|thumb|right|220px|A warrior of the Raven Guard without his helmet.{{Fn|36p}}]]
 +
The degeneration of the Raven Guard [[gene-seed]] means several of the unique organs of the Space Marines no longer work properly or no longer grow. Raven Guard do not have the [[Mucranoid]] or [[Betcher's Gland]]. The [[Melanchromic Organ]] has a unique mutation that causes the skin of the Space Marine to grow paler.{{Fn|3}} Eventually each Marine's skin becomes pure white while their hair and eyes darken, becoming black as coal. The main issues could have come from [[Corax]]'s experimentation with the Raven Guard Gene-Seed to try and create stronger and faster-maturing Astartes. Although the [[Alpha Legion]] is primarily to blame for causing his project's failure, it is never explicitly stated what the actual cause is.{{Fn|12h}}
  
−
The right shoulder guard trim denotes the type of Space Marine. Green is for tactical squads, red is for assault squads and yellow is for devastators. The left kneepad displays the company number{{Fn|5}}
+
In [[M32]], a sudden degeneration afflicted the Raven Guard's gene-seed, causing organs to fail and implants to be rejected. From this time onward, the Chapter was forced to rely on gene-seed stocks from Terra, a factor that slowed the Chapter’s recruitment rates significantly but did not curtail their willingness for battle.{{Fn|28}}
  
−
===Traditions===
+
===The Sable Brand===
 +
Since the earliest days of the Raven Guard, some of their number have been prone to a battle madness known as the '''Sable Brand'''. This consists of cold-blooded determination to fight on with no regard for self-preservation coupled with an inability to separate the whispers of the dead from the words of the living. Thought to be an original flaw in Corax's gene-seed that he himself may have suffered, it is marked by one's eyes becoming completely black. Though its effects are not permanent, it is often ever-present amongst those who suffer from it. During the [[Great Crusade]], Corax organised those afflicted into units of Shadow Killers. However, after the Legion's near extinction on [[Isstvan V]], the Primarch could no longer waste troops like this.{{Fn|36g}}
  
−
====Corvia====
+
After Isstvan V, Corax laboured with various methods to control the Sable Brand. He developed the [[Trifold Path of Shadow]] as a result in an attempt to control the outbreaks of madness. The doctrine has indeed led to fewer battle-brothers becoming afflicted with the Sable Brand. However, should the afflicted not be slain in battle, they are eventually incarcerated in the [[Ravenspire]] and used in experimentation by the Chapter's [[apothecaries]]. This attempt to cure their gene-seed is carried out in total secrecy.{{Fn|36g}}
  
−
All Raven Guard during their initiation or as a form of meditation or spirit quest hunt the tiny ravens native to the forests of [[Kiavahr]]. It takes months of training and practice for recruits to sneak up on the small and alert birds, grab them in their bare hands and snap their necks. The skulls of these birds are worn as small totems hanging from a marine's belt on small chains. These totems are known as Corvia and represent a warrior's honor. If a battle-brother falls, one of his surviving comrades will recover his Corvia and carry it, and thus the fallen warrior's honor, into battle until he can return to Kiavahr and bury the small skulls in the soil of the Chapter's homeworld. {{Fn|27}}
+
==Successor Chapters==
 +
'''Second Founding'''
 +
*[[File:Black Guard symbol.jpg|35px]] [[Black Guard]]
 +
*[[File:Raptors Chapter Symbol.jpg|35px]] [[Raptors (Chapter)|Raptors]]
 +
*[[File:Revilers Livery.jpg|35px]] [[Revilers]]
  
−
====Treatment of the Dead====
+
'''13th Founding'''
 +
*[[File:Death Spectres Livery.jpg|35px]] [[Death Spectres]]
 +
'''Ultima Founding'''
 +
*[[File:IronRavensSymbol.jpg|35px]] [[Iron Ravens]]{{Fn|32}}
 +
*[[File:NecropolisHawksSymbol.jpg|35px]] [[Necropolis Hawks]]
 +
*[[File:RiftStalkersSymbol.jpg|35px]] [[Rift Stalkers]]
 +
*[[Void Sabres]]{{Fn|40}}
  
−
Upon death, where practical, the body of the Raven Guard will be stripped of it's equipment and trappings (including the Corvia), harvested of it's [[gene-seed]] and left for the local carrion birds to feed upon {{Fn|21b}}
+
'''Unknown Founding'''
 +
*[[File:AshenClaw.jpg|35px]] [[Ashen Claws]] <small>([[Excommunicate Traitoris]] as [[Renegade Space Marines|Renegades]])</small>
 +
*[[File:DarkEaglespad.jpg|35px]] [[Dark Eagles]] <small>(Allegedly)</small>
 +
*[[File:Death Eagles Livery.jpg|35px]] [[Death Eagles]] <small>(Allegedly)</small>
 +
*[[File:Flame Eagles Livery.jpg|35px]] [[Flame Eagles]] <small>(Allegedly)</small>
 +
*[[File:Hawk Lords badge.jpg|35px]] [[Hawk Lords]] <small>([[Hawk Lords#Conflicting sources|conflicting sources]])</small>
 +
*[[File:Imperial Talons Livery.jpg|35px]] [[Imperial Talons]] <small>(Allegedly)</small>
 +
*[[File:Knights Of The Raven Livery.jpg|35px]] [[Knights of the Raven]]
 +
*[[File:PenumbralTalonsSymbol.jpg|35px]] [[Penumbral Talons]]{{Fn|64}}
 +
*[[Raven's Watch]]
 +
*[[Shadow Haunters]]
 +
*[[Shadow Hunters]]{{Fn|56}}
 +
*[[File:Storm Hawks symbol.jpg|35px]] [[Storm Hawks]] <small>(Allegedly)</small>
 +
*[[File:Storm Wings Emblem.jpg|35px]] [[Storm Wings]]
 +
*[[The Silent]]{{Fn|41}} <small>([[Excommunicate Traitoris]] as [[Renegade Space Marines|Renegades]])</small>
  
−
===="Wraith-Slipping"====
+
'''Suspected Successors'''
 +
*[[File:Blood_Ravens_Symbol.jpg|35px]] [[Blood Ravens]]{{Fn|65}}{{Fn|66}} <small>(Suspected Lineage, argument principally based around the Chapter's name and heraldry. Pre-early [[M37]] Founding)</small>
 +
*[[File:SSharksSymbol.jpg|35px]] [[Carcharodons]]{{Fn|29}} <small>(Speculated)</small>
  
−
Described as being a combination of mental discipline and martial art, the process of "wraith-slipping" is to take advantage of one's surroundings to conceal one's presence. This is not a psychic power but rather a collection of disciplines and techniques that the Raven Guard use to conceal their visual and aural presence despite their use of power armour. It is a technique that is described both prior to the outbreak of civil war in the Horus Heresy{{Fn|28a}} and up to the 41st Millennium{{Fn|24a}}.
+
==Relics==
 +
{{main|Raven Guard Armoury}}
  
 +
Notable relics include:
 +
* [[Raven's Talons]]
  
 
==Organisation==
 
==Organisation==
−
During the Great Crusade the Raven Guard Legion followed the basic organizational doctrine. The Legion was divided into chapters, chapters were divided into battalions, battalions into companies, and companies into squads. However companies were preferred for most independent operations. Legion officers devolved command responsibility to sub-commanders, allowing them to make tactical decisions and to seek the initiative without interfering with the command chain. The influence of Terran recruits from the Xeric tribes was the cause of this.{{Fn|30}}
+
===Legion===
 +
During the Great Crusade the Raven Guard Legion followed the basic organisational doctrine. The Legion was divided into chapters, chapters were divided into battalions, battalions into companies, and companies into squads. However companies were preferred for most independent operations. Legion officers devolved command responsibility to sub-commanders, allowing them to make tactical decisions and to seek the initiative without interfering with the command chain. The influence of Terran recruits from the Xeric tribes was the cause of this.{{Fn|30a}}
  
−
After the Dropsite Massacre Corax was left with a tattered Legion and had to reorganize them. They were combined into divisions based on combat specializations. The tactical companies became the Talons, the assault companies became the Falcons, and light vehicle squadrons and air support were renamed the Hawks.{{Fn|30}}
+
During Corax's restructuring of the Raven Guard, he was able to commission several innovations for his own use from [[Mars]]. These were all then modified further by the Legion itself to maximize stealth and speed. Unique combat vehicles included the [[Whispercutter]]{{Fn|30a}} - an open-topped airframe flyer that was capable of dropping 10 Space Marines into a war zone in utter silence and with practically no chance of detection. Other unique variants included the stealthy [[Thunderhawk]] variant known as the [[Shadowhawk]] and the similar [[Storm eagle]] pattern dubbed the [[Storm Eagle Assault Gunship#Darkwing|Dark Wing]].{{Fn|61}}
  
−
The Raven Guard are a [[Codex Chapter]] who generally adhere to the [[Codex Astartes]] in their Organisation.{{Fn|7}}
+
After the [[Dropsite Massacre]], Corax was left with a tattered Legion and had to reorganise them. They were combined into divisions based on combat specializations. The [[Tactical Squad|tactical companies]] became the '''Talons''', the [[Assault Squad|assault companies]] became the '''Falcons''', and light vehicle squadrons and air support were renamed the '''Hawks'''. Another unit of genetically enhanced Astartes dubbed the [[Raptors (Raven Guard)|Raptors]] were later added as well.{{Fn|30a}}
−
===Headquarters===
 
  
−
The current headquarters staff as of 999.[[M41]] are as follows:
+
====Known units of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy====
 +
=====Chapters=====
 +
*[[2nd Chapter (Raven Guard)|2nd Chapter]]{{Fn|30c}}
 +
*[[3rd Chapter (Raven Guard)|3rd Chapter]]{{Fn|60}}
 +
*[[4th Chapter (Raven Guard)|4th Chapter]]{{Fn|30c}}
 +
*[[5th Chapter (Raven Guard)|5th Chapter]]{{Fn|30c}}
 +
*[[7th Chapter (Raven Guard)|7th Chapter]] (The "''Stormcrows''"){{Fn|31a}}
 +
*[[11th Chapter (Raven Guard)|11th Chapter]] (The "''Pale Nomads''"){{Fn|30b}}
 +
*[[17th Chapter (Raven Guard)|17th Chapter]]{{Fn|30c}}
 +
*[[18th Chapter (Raven Guard)|18th Chapter]] (The "''[[Ashen Claws]]''"): Turned renegade during the Horus Heresy and still exists as a piratical warband of Renegade Space Marines in the current imperium.{{Fn|31b}}
  
−
{|align=center border="1" cellpadding="12" cellspacing="0"
+
=====Battalions=====
−
|-
+
*[[1st Battalion (Raven Guard)|1st Battalion]]{{Fn|30c}}
−
|style="background:#000; color: white" colspan=4 align=center|'''Headquarters'''
+
*[[3rd Assault Battalion (Raven Guard)|3rd Assault Battalion]]{{Fn|31c}}
−
|-
+
*[[4th Battalion (Raven Guard)|4th Battalion]]{{Fn|30c}}
−
|-
+
*[[7th Battalion (Raven Guard)|7th Battalion]]{{Fn|30c}}
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=2 align=center|'''Chapter Master'''
+
 
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|[[Reclusium]]
+
=====Companies=====
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|[[Librarius]]  
+
*[[3rd Company (Raven Guard Legion)|3rd Company]]{{Fn|30c}}
−
|-
+
*[[13th Company (Raven Guard Legion)|13th Company]]{{Fn|30c}}
−
|colspan=2|
+
*[[14th Interdiction Company (Raven Guard Legion)|14th Interdiction Company]]{{Fn|30e}}
−
[[Image:Ravguardlogo.png|left|100px]]
+
*[[18th Company (Raven Guard Legion)|18th Company]]{{Fn|47}}
 +
*[[19th Company (Raven Guard Legion)|19th Battle Company]]{{Fn|20b}}
 +
*[[29th Company (Raven Guard Legion)|29th Company]]{{Fn|7}}
 +
*[[31st Shadow Company (Raven Guard Legion)|31st Shadow Company]]{{Fn|30c}}
 +
*[[44th Armoured Company (Raven Guard Legion)|44th Armoured Company]]{{Fn|48}}
 +
*[[48th Heavy Company (Raven Guard Legion)|48th Heavy Company]]{{Fn|30c}}
 +
*[[66th Company (Raven Guard Legion)|66th Company]]{{Fn|24a}}
 +
*[[89th Company (Raven Guard Legion)|89th Company]]{{Fn|46}}
 +
 
 +
====Unique Units====
 +
*[[Raptor (Raven Guard)|Raptor]]
 +
*[[Shadow Wardens]]
 +
*[[Mor Deythan]]  
 +
*[[Dark Fury]]
 +
*[[Whispercutter]]
 +
*[[Darkwing]]
 +
*[[Deliverers]]
 +
*[[Shadow Bird]]
 +
*[[Symphalia Class Warp Runner]]{{Fn|63}}
  
 +
===Chapter===
 +
The Raven Guard are a [[Codex Chapter]] who generally adhere to the [[Codex Astartes]] in their organisation.{{Fn|5}}
  
−
*[[Chapter Master]] [[Corvin Severax]]{{Fn|29}}<br>'''Master of Shadows'''{{Fn|10c}}
+
====Headquarters====
 +
The current headquarters staff as of the [[Age of the Dark Imperium]] are as follows.{{Fn|36b}}
  
−
|align=center|
+
{|style="border-radius:5px;margin:0 auto 1px;" border="2" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"
−
*[[Master of Sanctity]]
+
|- style="background:black; color: white;"
−
*[[Chaplain]]s
+
! scope=colgroup colspan=2 | Chapter Command
−
|align=center|
 
−
*[[Chief Librarian]].
 
−
*[[Epistolary|Epistolaries]]
 
−
*[[Codicier]]s
 
−
*[[Lexicanium]]s
 
 
|-
 
|-
 +
|[[file:Ravenguardbanner.jpg|center|120px]]
 +
|
 +
[[Aethon Shaan]],<br>[[Chapter Master|Master of Shadows]]{{Fn|62}}
 +
*[[Space Marine Honour Guard|Honour Guard]]
 +
**[[Chapter Ancient]]
 +
**[[Chapter Champion]]
 +
*[[Servitor]]s
 +
|}
 +
{|style="border-radius:5px;margin:1px auto 0;" border="2" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"
 +
|- style="background:white;color:black;"
 +
! scope=col | [[Chaplaincy]]
 +
! scope=col | [[Librarium]]
 +
! scope=col | [[Armoury]]
 +
! scope=col | [[Apothecarion]]
 +
! scope=col | Fleet Command
 
|-
 
|-
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''[[Armoury]]'''
+
|[[file:ReclusiamSymbol.png|center|x85px]]
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|[[Apothecarion]]
+
|[[file:LibrariusSymbol.png|center|x85px]]
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''Fleet Command'''
+
|[[file:ArmourySymbol.png|center|x85px]]
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''Support Personel'''
+
|[[file:ApothecarionSymbol.png|center|x85px]]
−
|-
+
|
−
|align=center|
+
|-style="vertical-align:top;text-align:left;font-size:85%"
−
 
+
|
−
*[[Master of the Forge]]
+
[[Jolaran Tael]], <br>
 +
[[Master of Sanctity]]
 +
*[[Olys Kol]], [[Reclusiarch]]
 +
**[[Chaplain]]s
 +
***[[Judiciar]]s
 +
|
 +
[[Taalis Shraek]],<br>
 +
[[Chief Librarian]]
 +
*[[Epistolary|Epistolaries]]
 +
**[[Codicier]]s
 +
***[[Lexicanium|Lexicania]]
 +
****[[Acolytum (Librarian)|Acolyta]]
 +
|
 +
[[Saar Laeron]],<br>
 +
[[Master of the Forge]]
 
*[[Techmarine]]s
 
*[[Techmarine]]s
−
*[[Servitors]]
+
**[[Techmarine#Techmarine Novitiate|Techmarine Novitiate]]s
−
*[[Predator]]s
+
*[[Servitor]]s
−
*[[Vindicator]]s
+
*Transports
−
*[[Whirlwind]]s
+
*Battle Tanks
−
*[[Land Raider]]s
+
*Aircraft
−
|align=center|
+
*Light Attack Vehicles
−
 
+
*[[Centurion]] Warsuits
−
*[[Master of the Apothecarion]]
+
|
 +
[[Aark Selleck]],<br>
 +
[[Master of the Apothecarion|Chief Apothecary]]  
 
*[[Apothecary|Apothecaries]]
 
*[[Apothecary|Apothecaries]]
−
|align=center|
+
|
−
*[[Master of the Fleet]]
+
[[Vynda Aason]],{{Fn|10a}}<br>
−
*[[Battle Barge]]s  
+
[[Master of the Fleet]]  
−
*[[Strike Cruiser]]s  
+
*[[Battle Barge]]s
 +
*[[Strike Cruiser]]s
 
*[[Rapid Strike vessel]]s
 
*[[Rapid Strike vessel]]s
 
*[[Thunderhawk Gunship]]s
 
*[[Thunderhawk Gunship]]s
−
|align=center|
 
−
*'''Chapter Serfs'''
 
−
*'''Administrative Personel'''
 
−
|-
 
 
|}
 
|}
−
===Company Disposition===
 
−
Like all Codex chapters, the Raven Guard are divided into ten Companies. Each Company is led by a hero of the Raven Guard who bears the title [[Shadow Captain]]{{Fn|6}} and who - in addition to his Company command - is in charge of a particular aspect of the Chapter's logistics. The current Company commanders are as follows:
 
  
−
{|align=center border="1" cellpadding="12" cellspacing="0"
+
====Companies====
 +
Like all Codex chapters, the Raven Guard are divided into ten companies. Each company is led by a hero of the Raven Guard who bears the title [[Shadow Captain]]{{Fn|6b}} and who - in addition to his company command - is in charge of a particular aspect of the chapter's logistics. The current company commanders are as follows:{{Fn|16b}}
 +
 
 +
{| border="1" cellpadding="12" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center;"
 +
|- style="background:black;color:white;"
 +
! scope=col | Veteran Company
 +
! scope=colgroup colspan=4 | Battle Companies
 +
|- style="background:white;color:black;"
 +
! scope=col | [[1st Company (Raven Guard)|1st Company]]<br>''The Black Wings''
 +
! scope=col | [[2nd Company (Raven Guard)|2nd Company]]<br>''The Shadowborn''
 +
! scope=col | [[3rd Company (Raven Guard)|3rd Company]]<br>''The Ghoststalkers''
 +
! scope=col | [[4th Company (Raven Guard)|4th Company]]<br>''The Silent''
 +
! scope=col | [[5th Company (Raven Guard)|5th Company]]<br>''The Watchful''
 
|-
 
|-
−
|style="background:#000; color: white" colspan=1 align=center|'''Veteran Company'''
+
|[[file:RG1.jpg|center|90x90px]]
−
|style="background:#000; color: white" colspan=4 align=center|'''Battle Companies'''
+
|[[file:RG2.jpg|center|90x90px]]
−
|-
+
|[[file:RG3.jpg|center|90x90px]]
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''1st Company'''
+
|[[file:RG4.jpg|center|90x90px]]
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''2nd Company'''
+
|[[file:RG5.jpg|center|90x90px]]
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''3rd Company'''
+
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:left;font-size:85%"
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''4th Company'''
+
|
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''5th Company'''
+
Shadow Captain,<br>
−
|-
+
'''Lord of Deliverance'''
−
|align=center|
+
*2 [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenants]]
−
 
+
*[[Space Marine Command Squad|Company Command Squad]]
−
*Shadow Captain 
+
**[[Company Ancient]]
−
*[[Space Marine Veteran]]s
+
**[[Company Champion]]
−
*[[Venerable Dreadnought]]s
+
**[[Space Marine Veteran|Company Veterans]]
−
 
+
*10 [[Space Marine Veteran|Veteran Squad]]s/[[Terminator]] Squads
−
 
+
*[[Dreadnought]]s
−
|align=center|
+
*Transports
−
*Shadow Captain [[Aajz Solari]]
+
*[[Land Raider]]s
−
*6 [[Tactical Squad]]s
+
|
−
*2 [[Assault Squad]]s
+
Shadow Captain [[Aajz Solari]],<br>
−
*2 [[Devastator Squad]]s
+
'''Master of Secrets'''
 +
*2 [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenants]]
 +
*[[Space Marine Command Squad|Company Command Squad]]
 +
**[[Company Ancient]]
 +
**[[Company Champion]]
 +
**[[Space Marine Veteran|Company Veterans]]
 +
*6 [[Battleline Squad]]s
 +
*2 [[Close Support Squad]]s
 +
*2 [[Fire Support Squad]]s
 +
*Transport Vehicles
 
*Dreadnoughts
 
*Dreadnoughts
−
|align=center|
+
|
−
Shadow Captain [[Kayvaan Shrike]]  
+
Shadow Captain [[Vordin Krayn]],<br>
−
*6 Tactical Squads
+
'''Master of the Ambush'''
−
*2 Assault Squads
+
*2 [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenants]]
−
*2 Devastator Squads
+
*[[Space Marine Command Squad|Company Command Squad]]
 +
**[[Company Ancient]]
 +
**[[Company Champion]]
 +
**[[Space Marine Veteran|Company Veterans]]
 +
*6 [[Battleline Squad]]s
 +
*2 [[Close Support Squad]]s
 +
*2 [[Fire Support Squad]]s
 +
*Transport Vehicles
 +
*[[Dreadnought]]s
 +
|
 +
Shadow Captain [[Vynda Aason]],{{Fn|10a}}<br>
 +
[[Master of the Fleet]]
 +
*2 [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenants]]
 +
*[[Space Marine Command Squad|Company Command Squad]]
 +
**[[Company Ancient]]
 +
**[[Company Champion]]
 +
**[[Space Marine Veteran|Company Veterans]]
 +
*6 [[Battleline Squad]]s
 +
*2 [[Close Support Squad]]s
 +
*2 [[Fire Support Squad]]s
 +
*Transport Vehicles
 
*Dreadnoughts
 
*Dreadnoughts
−
|align=center|
+
|
−
*Shadow Captain [[Aethon Shaan]]{{Fn|10a}}
+
Shadow Captain [[Aevar Qeld]],<br>
−
*6 Tactical Squads
+
'''Master of Truth'''
−
*2 Assault Squads
+
*2 [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenants]]
−
*2 Devastator Squads
+
*[[Space Marine Command Squad|Company Command Squad]]
−
*Dreadnoughts
+
**[[Company Ancient]]
−
|align=center|
+
**[[Company Champion]]
−
*Shadow Captain [[Corvane Valar]]{{Fn|9}}
+
**[[Space Marine Veteran|Company Veterans]]
−
*6 Tactical Squads
+
*6 [[Battleline Squad]]s
−
*2 Assault Squads
+
*2 [[Close Support Squad]]s
−
*2 Devastator Squads
+
*2 [[Fire Support Squad]]s
−
*Dreadnoughts
+
*Transport Vehicles
−
|-
+
*[[Dreadnought]]s
−
|style="background:#000; color: white" colspan=4 align=center|'''Reserve Companies'''
+
|- style="background:black;color:white;"
−
|style="background:#000; color: white" colspan=1 align=center|'''Scout Company'''
+
! scope=colgroup colspan=4 | Reserve Companies
−
|-
+
! scope=col | Scout Company
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''6th Company'''
+
|- style="background:white;color:black;"
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''7th Company'''
+
! scope=col | [[6th Company (Raven Guard)|6th Company]]<br>''The Darkened Blades''
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''8th Company'''
+
! scope=col | [[7th Company (Raven Guard)|7th Company]]<br>''The Whisperclaws''
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''9th Company'''
+
! scope=col | [[8th Company (Raven Guard)|8th Company]]<br>''The Unseen''
−
|style="background:#fff; color: black" colspan=1 align=center|'''10th Company'''
+
! scope=col | [[9th Company (Raven Guard)|9th Company]]<br>''The Dirge Singers''
 +
! scope=col | [[10th Company (Raven Guard)|10th Company]]<br>''The Subtle''
 
|-
 
|-
−
|align=center|
+
|[[file:RG6.jpg|center|85px]]
−
*Shadow Captain  
+
|[[file:RG7.jpg|center|85px]]
−
*10 Tactical Squads
+
|[[file:RG8.jpg|center|85px]]
 +
|[[file:RG9.jpg|center|85px]]
 +
|[[file:RG10.jpg|center|85px]]
 +
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:left;font-size:85%"
 +
|
 +
Shadow Captain [[Sard Gaeron]],<br>
 +
'''Master of Liberation'''
 +
*2 [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenants]]
 +
*[[Space Marine Command Squad|Company Command Squad]]
 +
**[[Company Ancient]]
 +
**[[Company Champion]]
 +
**[[Space Marine Veteran|Company Veterans]]
 +
*10 [[Battleline Squad]]s
 +
*Battle Tanks
 +
*Transport Vehicles
 
*Dreadnoughts
 
*Dreadnoughts
−
|align=center|
+
|
−
*Shadow Captain
+
Shadow Captain [[Oras Brael]],<br>
−
*10 Tactical Squads
+
'''Master of Lies'''
 +
*2 [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenants]]
 +
*[[Space Marine Command Squad|Company Command Squad]]
 +
**[[Company Ancient]]
 +
**[[Company Champion]]
 +
**[[Space Marine Veteran|Company Veterans]]
 +
*10 [[Battleline Squad]]s
 +
*[[Land Speeder]]s
 +
*Transport Vehicles
 
*Dreadnoughts
 
*Dreadnoughts
−
|align=center|
+
|
−
*Shadow Captain [[Reszasz Krevaan]]{{Fn|24}}
+
Shadow Captain [[Reszasz Krevaan]],{{Fn|21}}<br>
−
*10 Assault Squads
+
[[Lord Executioner]]
 +
*2 [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenants]]
 +
*[[Space Marine Command Squad|Company Command Squad]]
 +
**[[Company Ancient]]
 +
**[[Company Champion]]
 +
**[[Space Marine Veteran|Company Veterans]]
 +
*10 [[Close Support Squad]]s
 +
*[[Space Marine Bike|Bikes]]
 
*Dreadnoughts
 
*Dreadnoughts
−
|align=center|
+
|
−
*Shadow Captain
+
Shadow Captain [[Vos Delorn]],<br>
−
*10 Devastator Squads
+
[[Master of Relics]]
 +
*2 [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenants]]
 +
*[[Space Marine Command Squad|Company Command Squad]]
 +
**[[Company Ancient]]
 +
**[[Company Champion]]
 +
**[[Space Marine Veteran|Company Veterans]]
 +
*10 [[Fire Support Squad]]s
 
*Dreadnoughts
 
*Dreadnoughts
−
|align=center|
+
|
−
*Shadow Captain [[Korvydae]],  
+
Shadow Captain [[Kalae Korvydae]],<br>
−
''[[Master of the Recruits]]''
+
[[Master of the Recruits]]
−
*[[Scout Squad]]s
+
*2 [[Lieutenant (Space Marine)#Vanguard Lieutenant|Lieutenants]]
−
|-
+
*[[Space Marine Command Squad|Company Command Squad]]
 +
**[[Company Ancient]]
 +
**[[Company Champion]]
 +
**[[Space Marine Veteran|Company Veterans]]
 +
*10 [[Vanguard Space Marine|Vanguard]] Squads
 +
*[[Scout]]s
 +
*[[Scout Bike]] Squads
 +
*Land Speeders
 +
*Transport Vehicles
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
==Recruitment==
+
====Company Information====
−
[[Image:assalt.jpg|thumb|right|Raven Guard Veteran assault marine]]
+
*The [[1st Company (Raven Guard)|1st Company]], known as the '''Blackwings'''. The 1st Company are the mightiest warriors of the Raven Guard, known for their mastery of assassination.{{Fn|36c}}
−
Owing to the instability of the Raven Guard gene-seed and the experiments of Corax, much of the chapter's genetic stock has been irreparably damaged. Now, much of their genetic material comes from supplies held on [[Terra]]. This means the cycle of recruitment for the Raven Guard is much slower than other Chapters and fewer Raven Guard candidates for the Chapter prove able to survive their training and genetic modification. This means the chapter is constantly short-handed.
+
*The [[2nd Company (Raven Guard)|2nd Company]], known as the '''Shadowborne'''. These are the Raven Guard's preeminent assassins.{{Fn|36d}}
 +
*The [[3rd Company (Raven Guard)|3rd Company]], known as the '''Ghoststalkers'''. Less subtle than most of their brethren, the 3rd uses sudden and overwhelming force to silence their foe, embracing ambush, the first aspect of Corax's [[Trifold Path of Shadows]].{{Fn|36e}}
 +
*The [[4th Company (Raven Guard)|4th Company]], known as the '''Silent'''. The 4th strives for the second aspect of the Trifold Path of Shadow, stealth.{{Fn|36f}}
 +
*The [[5th Company (Raven Guard)|5th Company]], known as the '''Watchful'''. The 5th utilizes the third and final path of shadow, vigilance.{{Fn|36g}}
 +
*The [[6th Company (Raven Guard)|6th Company]], known as the '''Darkened Blades'''. Unlike the Reserve Companies in other Chapters, the 6th of the Raven Guard is not tasked with reinforcing Battle Companies on campaign. Instead it is tasked with a specific purpose: to infiltrate enslaved worlds and deliver them anew into the Imperial fold.{{Fn|36h}}
 +
*The [[7th Company (Raven Guard)|7th Company]], known as the '''Whisperclaws'''. The 7th specializes in hit-and-run attacks, maintaining an agile and responsive war footing.{{Fn|36i}}
 +
*The [[8th Company (Raven Guard)|8th Company]], known as the '''Unseen'''. The 8th serves as the Raven Guard's [[Close Support Squad]] reserves but in keeping with the Chapter's tenets are often found fighting their own campaigns.{{Fn|36j}}
 +
*The [[9th Company (Raven Guard)|9th Company]], known as the '''Dirge Singers'''. The 9th act as the Raven Guard's [[Fire Support Squad]] reserves.{{Fn|36k}}
 +
*The [[10th Company (Raven Guard)|10th Company]], known as the '''Subtle'''. The 10th acts as the Raven Guard recruiting force and operates both [[Scout]] and [[Vanguard Space Marine|Vanguard]] forces.{{Fn|36l}}
  
−
The Raven Guard's chapter planet [[Deliverance]] is said to lack the population resources available on other chapter's homeworlds. By the time of the Horus Heresy only a few thousand marines in the Raven Guard's number were recruited from Deliverance, the rest made up of the original [[Terra|Terran]] forces inducted before the [[Great Crusade]].{{Fn|1}}
+
==Notable Elements==
  
 +
<div style="column-width:29em;font-size:80%">
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard Command}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard Apothecarion}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard Armoury}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard Librarius}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard Reclusiam}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard Fleet}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard 1st Company}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard 2nd Company}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard 3rd Company}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard 4th Company}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard 5th Company}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard 6th Company}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard 7th Company}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard 8th Company}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard 9th Company}}
 +
{{main|Known Elements of the Raven Guard 10th Company}}
 +
</div>
  
−
==Equipment==
 
−
{{Attention|Problem=Needs Info from "Deliverance Lost"}}
 
  
−
*See - ''[[Space Marine Armoury]]'' for generic Space Marine weapons, vehicles and equipment
+
===Notable Members===
−
*See - ''[[Raven Guard Armoury]]'' for Raven Guard-specific items
+
{{main|Known Members of the Raven Guard}}
  
−
The Chapter makes wide use of the "beaked" and older marks of [[Power Armour]] (Mk. IV-VI). After their near-destruction at Isstvan V, the Raven Guard techmarines created ad hoc suits using salvaged parts and components from other suits or vehicles.{{Fn|12g}} When battle barge Avenger returned to Deliverance, Raven Guard received shipment of 2 000 suits of Mk. VI [[Power Armour]]. {{Fn|12h}} At that time, the Mark VI, designed as Corvus suit, was the newest and most advanced version. Because this mark of [[Power Armour]] carries name of [[primarch]] [[Corax]] it is natural that the Raven Guard feel bond to this mark of armour.
+
{{mbox | text =
−
The Raven Guard's chapter planet and base of operations has the production capacity of a small forge world, ensuring that the Raven Guard rarely lacks for the material to prosecute its campaigns.{{Fn|4b}}
+
'''NOTE:''' Only ''notable'' members should be added in this section. Any other known members should be added [[Known Members of the Raven Guard|here]].}}
−
Raven Guard's [[Power Armour]] utilises enhanced cooling systems that which helps to blend in better with the background. By this means Raven Guard's warriors are hard to be detected by thermal or infrared devices.{{Fn|11a}}
 
  
−
==Noted Elements of the Raven Guard==
 
−
===Relics and Artefacts===
 
−
{{main|Raven Guard Armoury}}
 
−
*[[Raven's Talons]]
 
−
 
−
===Chapter Fleet===
 
−
* "Shadow of the Emperor" ([[Battle Barge]]) - Flagship of the Raven Guard Legion fleet.{{Fn|8}} Destroyed by the ''[[Terminus Est]]'' during the [[Dropsite Massacre]]{{Fn|31}}
 
−
* "Avenger" ([[Battle Barge]]) - The Ship under [[Branne Nev]]'s command when he lead a flotilla to rescue his brethren being slaughtered on [[Istvaan V]].{{Fn|12}}
 
−
* "Triumph" ([[Strike Cruiser]]) - One of the ships in Commander Branne's flotilla which made a rescue mission to aid his brothers on [[Istvaan V]].{{Fn|12}}
 
−
* "Raven's Valour" ([[Strike Cruiser]]) - One of the Strike Cruisers of Commander Branne's Flotilla which rescued the Raven Guard survivors of the Drop Site Massacre on [[Istvaan V]].{{Fn|12}}
 
−
* "Second Shadow" ([[Strike Cruiser]]) - Named in honour of the former Flagship of the Raven Guard Fleet (Shadow of the Emperor), Served the Raven Guard 5th Company, until also destroyed by [[Terminus Est]].{{Fn|8}}
 
−
* "Aeruginosus" ([[Strike Cruiser]]) - The Strike Cruiser under the command of Captain [[Korvydae]] during the raid on Kastorel-Novem.{{Fn|8}}
 
−
* ''Ad Temperesta'' (Warp runner) - Symphalia-class observation craft, made first scans of the [[Isstvan system]] ahead of the loyalist fleet.{{Fn|23b}}
 
−
*[[Raven’s Claw]] ([[Battle Barge]]) - Oldest of the Raven Guard's surviving [[Battle Barge]]s.{{Fn|26}}
 
−
 
−
===Notable Members===
 
−
{{main|Known Members of the Raven Guard}}
 
 
=====Heresy Era=====
 
=====Heresy Era=====
−
* [[Corvus Corax]] - [[Primarch]] of the Raven Guard{{Fn|12}}
+
*[[Corvus Corax]] — [[Primarch]] of the Raven Guard{{Fn|2}}
−
* [[Branne Nev]] - [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]] of the Raptors{{Fn|12}}
+
*[[Branne Nev]] — [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]] of the Raptors{{Fn|12a}}
−
* [[Agapito Nev]] - [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]] of the Talons{{Fn|12}}
+
*[[Agapito Nev]] — [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]] of the Talons{{Fn|12a}}
−
* [[Solaro An]] - [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]] of the Hawks{{Fn|12}}
+
*[[Solaro An]] — [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]] of the Hawks{{Fn|12a}}
−
* [[Aloni Tev]] - [[Space Marine Commander|Commander]] of the Falcons{{Fn|12}}
+
*[[Vincente Sixx]] — [[Chief Apothecary]] of the Raven Guard{{Fn|12d}}
−
* [[Verano Ebb]] - [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] of the Silence Squad {{Fn|22}}
+
*[[Gherith Arendi]] — Commander of the [[Shadow Wardens]]
−
* [[Vincente Sixx]] - [[Chief Apothecary]] of the Raven Guard{{Fn|12}}
+
*[[Nykona Sharrowkyn]] — [[Battle Brother]] of the Raven Guard.{{Fn|9}}
−
* [[Kaedes Nex]] - [[Moritat]] Prime
+
*[[Navar Hef]] — [[Space Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]] of the [[Raptor (Raven Guard)|Raptors]] {{Fn|18}}
−
* [[Alvarex Maun]] - Master of Descent
+
*[[Arkhas Fal]] — Commander of the Legion before the discovery of [[Corax]]
−
* [[Nykona Sharrowkyn]] - [[Battle Brother]] of the Raven Guard {{Fn|13}}
+
*[[Dravian Klayde]] — Member of the [[Knights-Errant]]
−
* [[Navar Hef]] -  [[Space Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]] of the Raptors {{Fn|20}}
+
*[[Balsar Kurthuri]] — Librarian
−
* [[Hriak]] - [[Librarian]] of the Raven Guard {{Fn|21a}}
 
−
* [[Avus]] - [[Battle Brother]] of the Raven Guard {{Fn|21a}}
 
−
* [[Torisian]] -- Captain 29th Company. KIA Isstvan V {{Fn|8}}
 
  
 
====Post-Heresy====
 
====Post-Heresy====
−
*[[Kayvaan Shrike]] - [[Captain]] of the Raven Guard 3rd Company
+
*[[Aajz Solari]] — Captain of the 2nd Company.{{Fn|2}}
−
*[[Aajz Solari]] - Captain of the 2nd Company
+
*[[Aethon Shaan]]- Current [[Chapter Master|Master of Shadows]]{{Fn|62}}
−
*[[Korvydae]] - Captain of the 10th Company - Master of Recruits{{Fn|6}}
 
 
*[[Ardaric Vaanes]]- Former Brother-Captain of the 4th Company now a member of an [[Iron Warriors]] Grand Company{{Fn|10b}}
 
*[[Ardaric Vaanes]]- Former Brother-Captain of the 4th Company now a member of an [[Iron Warriors]] Grand Company{{Fn|10b}}
−
*[[Aethon Shaan]]- Current Brother-Captain of the 4th Company{{Fn|10a}}
+
*[[Kayvaan Shrike]] — Former [[Chapter Master]], previously [[Shadow Captain]] of the Raven Guard 3rd Company{{Fn|36o}}
−
*[[Moradius]] - Captain, killed in the [[Baran War]]{{Fn|17}}
+
*[[Korvydae]] — Captain of the 10th Company - Master of Recruits{{Fn|6b}}
−
*[[Yaroslan Medexus]] - Captain, killed in the [[Battle of Parocheus]]
+
*[[Kyrin Solaq]] — Captain of the 5th Company
  
−
==Related Articles==
+
===Notable Vehicles===
 +
*''[[Sable Talon]]'' — [[Thunderhawk]].{{Fn|49}}
 +
*''[[Silent Slayer]]'' – [[Stormtalon Gunship]]{{Fn|69}}
 +
*''[[Umbra Scion]]'' — [[Thunderhawk Transporter]]
 +
*''[[Unmerciful Disaster]]'' — Heresy-era [[Kratos Heavy Assault Tank]]
 +
 
 +
===Notable Vessels===
 +
{{main|Known Vessels of the Raven Guard}}
 +
*''[[Shadow of the Emperor]]'' — [[Gloriana Class Battleship]] and flagship of [[Corvus Corax]].{{Fn|7}} Destroyed by the ''[[Terminus Est]]'' during the [[Dropsite Massacre]].{{Fn|25}}
 +
*''[[Sins of the Lost]]'' — [[Strike Cruiser]] of [[6th Company (Raven Guard)|6th Company]].{{Fn|68}}
 +
*''[[Wings of Deliverance (Raven Guard)|Wings of Deliverance]]'' — [[Battle Barge]].{{Fn|67}}
 +
 
 +
==Gallery==
 +
===Screenshots===
 +
<gallery mode="packed" heights="250">
 +
File:Space Marine 2 - Raven Guard.jpg|Marine from ''[[Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2|Space Marine 2]].''
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==Trivia==
 +
{{Trivia}}
 +
*While stated in the background that all ''Raven Guard'' have black hair, there is at least one instance where [[Games Workshop]] showed a miniature [http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1860548_Raven_guard_AssaultMarines.jpg with a different hair colour] (accessed 2011/09/08). If this is a mistake or deliberate is unknown.
 +
 
 +
==See Also==
 +
===Related Articles===
 
*[[Loyal Space Marine Chapters (List)]]
 
*[[Loyal Space Marine Chapters (List)]]
 
*[[Space Marine Forces (List)]]
 
*[[Space Marine Forces (List)]]
 +
*[[By Artifice, Alone (Short Story)]]
 +
*[[Fear of the Dark (Short Story)]]
  
−
==Trivia==
+
===Related Videos===
−
While stated in the background that all ''Raven Guard'' have black hair, there is at least one instance where [[Games Workshop]] showed a miniature [http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1860548_Raven_guard_AssaultMarines.jpg with a different hair colour] (accessed 2011/09/08). If this is a mistake or deliberate is unknown.
+
{{#evt:
 +
service=youtube
 +
|id=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vfREr-A8lM
 +
|alignment=center
 +
|container=frame
 +
}}
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
 +
<div style="column-width:29em;font-size:85%">
 
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Raven's Flight (Audio Book)]]
 
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Raven's Flight (Audio Book)]]
−
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Index Astartes IV]]
+
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Index Astartes IV]] – Raven Guard
−
**{{Endn|2a}}: pp. 6-11
+
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition)]] – pg. 17
−
**{{Endn|2b}}: p. 96, 1st Paragraph
+
*4: [[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)]]:
−
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition)]]
+
**{{Endn|4a}}: pg. 25
−
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition)]]  
+
**{{Endn|4b}}: pg. 49
−
**{{Endn|4a}}: p. 25, Paragraph 6
+
*{{Endn|5}}: [[White Dwarf 276 (UK)]], pgs. 6–11
−
**{{Endn|4b}}: p. 25, Paragraph 5
+
*6: [[Imperial Armour Volume Eight - Raid on Kastorel-Novem]]:
−
**{{Endn|4c}}: p.49
+
**{{Endn|6a}}: pg. 77
−
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Insignium Astartes]] p.59 upper right corner image
+
**{{Endn|6b}}: pg. 112
−
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Eight - Raid on Kastorel-Novem]] p.112
+
*{{Endn|7}}: [[The First Heretic (Novel)]], Chapters Twenty-Four to Twenty-Five
−
*{{Endn|7}}: [[White Dwarf 276 (UK)]], pp. 6-11
+
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Cadian Blood (Novel)]] – Chapter V
−
*{{Endn|8}}: [[The First Heretic]] Ch 24 & 25
+
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Kryptos (Short Story)]]
−
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Cadian Blood (Novel)]] by [[Aaron Dembski-Bowden]], {{Cite This}} p. 62
+
*10: [[The Chapter's Due (Novel)]]:
−
*{{Endn|10}}: [[The Chapter's Due (Novel)]] by [[Graham McNeill]]
 
 
**{{Endn|10a}}: Chapter 3
 
**{{Endn|10a}}: Chapter 3
 
**{{Endn|10b}}: Chapter 9
 
**{{Endn|10b}}: Chapter 9
−
**{{Endn|10c}}: Chapter 21
+
*11: [[Hunt for Voldorius (Novel)]]:
−
*{{Endn|11}}: [[Hunt for Voldorius (Novel)]] by [[Andy Hoare]]
+
**{{Endn|11a}}: Chapter 8
−
**{{Endn|11a}}: {{Cite This}}, p. 92
+
**{{Endn|11b}}: Chapter 9
−
**{{Endn|11b}}: {{Cite This}}
+
**{{Endn|11c}}: Chapter 12
 
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Deliverance Lost (Novel)]]
 
*{{Endn|12}}: [[Deliverance Lost (Novel)]]
−
**{{Endn|12a}}: Chapters 1-2 (Drop Site Massacre);
+
**{{Endn|12a}}: Chapters 1-2  
−
**{{Endn|12b}}: Chapters 5-6 (Meeting on Terra)
+
**{{Endn|12b}}: Chapters 5-6  
−
**{{Endn|12c}}: Chapters 8-9 (inside of the [[Luna]] gene-tech facility)
+
**{{Endn|12c}}: Chapters 8-9  
−
**{{Endn|12d}}: Chapters 10-11 (The start of the genetic experimentation on [[Deliverance]])
+
**{{Endn|12d}}: Chapters 10-11
−
**{{Endn|12e}}: Chapter 13 (the start of the Alpha legion plans
+
**{{Endn|12e}}: Chapters 14-15
−
**{{Endn|12f}}: {{Cite This}}, pg. 372 (The Gene virus is mentioned)
+
**{{Endn|12f}}: Chapters 16-17
−
**{{Endn|12g}}: pg. 64
+
**{{Endn|12g}}: Chapter 13
−
**{{Endn|12i}}: pg. 377
+
**{{Endn|12h}}: Chapter 18
−
**{{Endn|12h}}: pg. 235
+
**{{Endn|12i}}: Chapter 12
−
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Kryptos (Short Story)]] by [[Graham McNeill]]
+
**{{Endn|12k}}: Chapter 4
−
*{{Endn|14}}: [[The Chapter's Due (Novel)]] Chapter 3
+
*{{Endn|13}}: [[Corax: Lord of Shadows (Novel)]], Chapter 4
−
*{{Endn|15}}: [[ Imperial Armour Volume Eight - Raid on Kastorel-Novem]] pg.112
+
*{{Endn|14}}: [[Corax (Anthology)]] — The Weregeld
−
*{{Endn|16}}: [[Hunt for Voldorius (Novel)]]
+
*{{Endn|15}}: [http://web.archive.org/web/20120614104401/http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1320010_Swordwind_Part_3_-_Baran_War.pdf The Baran War] ''(archived page last accessed 31 May 2015)''
−
*{{Endn|17}}: [http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1320010_Swordwind_Part_3_-_Baran_War.pdf Swordwind: The Baran War]
+
*{{Endn|16}}: [[War Zone Damocles: Kauyon]]
−
*{{Endn|18}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Eight - Raid on Kastorel-Novem]], pg. 77
+
**{{Endn|16a}}: pgs. 6-7
−
*{{Endn|19}}: [[The Unkindness of Ravens (Novella)]] by [[George Mann]]
+
**{{Endn|16b}}: pg. 29
−
**{{Endn|19a}}: pg. 9
+
*{{Endn|17}}: [[The Unkindness of Ravens (Novella)]]
−
**{{Endn|19b}}: pg. 19
+
*{{Endn|18}}: [[The Shadowmasters (Short Story)]]
−
**{{Endn|19c}}: pg. 30
+
*{{Endn|19}}: [[Vulkan Lives (Novel)]], Chapter 13
−
*{{Endn|20}}: [[The Shadowmasters (Short Story)]]
+
*20: [[The Horus Heresy Book Two - Massacre]]:
−
*{{Endn|21a}}: [[Vulkan Lives (Novel)]] by [[Nick Kyme]], {{Cite This}}
+
**{{Endn|20a}}: pg. 19
−
*{{Endn|21b}}: Chapter 13
+
**{{Endn|20b}}: pg. 34
−
*{{Endn|22}}: [[The Unremembered Empire (Novel)|The Unremembered Empire]] by [[Dan Abnett]], Chapter 4
+
*{{Endn|21}}: [[Shadow Captain (Novella)]], Chapter 1
−
*{{Endn|23}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book Two - Massacre]]
+
*{{Endn|22}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (6th Edition)]]
−
**{{Endn|23a}}: pg. 19
+
**{{Endn|22a}}: pg. 17
−
**{{Endn|23b}}: pg. 22
+
**{{Endn|22b}}: pg. 64 — ''Raven Guard: Legacy of Shadows''
−
**{{Endn|23c}}: pg. 34
+
*{{Endn|23}}: [[Helion Rain (Audio Drama)]]
−
*{{Endn|24}}: [[Shadow Captain (Novella)]] by [[David Annandale]]
+
*24: [[Angel Exterminatus]]:
−
**{{Endn|24a}}: Chapter 1
+
**{{Endn|24a}}: ''Dramatis Personae''
−
*25: [[Codex: Space Marines (6th Edition)]]
+
**{{Endn|24b}}: Book 2, Chapter 10
−
**{{Endn|25a}}: pg. 64
+
*{{Endn|25}}: [[Index Chaotica: Terminus Est (Background Book)]]
−
*{{Endn|26}}: [[Index Astartes: Battle Barges]], pg. 4
+
*{{Endn|26}}: [[Dataslate: Space Marines Strike Force Ultra (Background Book)]], pg. 13
−
*{{Endn|27}}: [[Helion Rain (Audio Drama)]]  
+
*{{Endn|27}}: [[How to Paint Space Marines]], pg. 79
−
*{{Endn|28}}:[[Angel Exterminatus]] by [[Graham McNeill]]
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*{{Endn|28}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (7th Edition)]] — ''The Chronicle of Heroes - The Raven's Fate''
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**{{Endn|28a}}: Book 2, Chapter 10
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*{{Endn|29}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two]], pg. 117
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*{{Endn|29}}: [[Blood Oath (Novella)]], Interlude 2-0
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*30: [[The Horus Heresy Book Three - Extermination]]:
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*{{Endn|30}}: [[The Horus Heresy Book Three]] pg.131-138
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**{{Endn|30a}}: pgs. 131–138
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*{{Endn|31}}: [[Index Chaotica: Terminus Est (Background Book)]]
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**{{Endn|30b}}: pg. 140
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*{{Endn|32}}: [[Dataslate: Space Marines Strike Force Ultra (Background Book)]], pg. 13
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**{{Endn|30c}}: pgs. 140-149
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**{{Endn|30d}}: pgs. 150–151
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**{{Endn|30e}}: pg. 280
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*31: [[The Horus Heresy Book Six - Retribution]]:
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**{{Endn|31a}}: pg. 46
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**{{Endn|31b}}: pgs. 137–145
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**{{Endn|31c}}: pg. 187
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*{{Endn|32}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2019/08/12/successor-chapter-showcase-paul-nortons-iron-ravensgw-homepage-post-1/ Warhammer Community: Successor Chapter Showcase: Paul Norton’s Iron Ravens (Posted 12/08/2019)] ''(Last accessed on 12 August 2019)''
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*{{Endn|33}}: [[Apocalypse (Novel)]], Chapter Two
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*34: [[Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition, 2nd Codex)]]:
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**{{Endn|34a}}: pg. 42
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**{{Endn|34b}}: pg. 43
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**{{Endn|34c}}: pg. 99
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*{{Endn|35}}: [[Codex Supplement: Iron Hands (8th Edition)]], pg. 34
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*36: [[Codex Supplement: Raven Guard (8th Edition)]]:
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**{{Endn|36a}}: pgs. 9-10
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**{{Endn|36b}}: pg. 11
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**{{Endn|36c}}: pg. 12
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**{{Endn|36d}}: pg. 13
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**{{Endn|36e}}: pg. 14
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**{{Endn|36f}}: pg. 15
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**{{Endn|36g}}: pg. 16
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**{{Endn|36h}}: pg. 17
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**{{Endn|36i}}: pg. 18
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**{{Endn|36j}}: pg. 19
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**{{Endn|36k}}: pg. 20
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**{{Endn|36l}}: pg. 21
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**{{Endn|36m}}: pg. 22
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**{{Endn|36n}}: pg. 34
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**{{Endn|36o}}: pg. 38
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**{{Endn|36p}}: Cover
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*{{Endn|37}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition)]], pgs. 51-52
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*{{Endn|38}}: [[War Zone Charadon - Act I: The Book of Rust]], pgs. 40-41
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*{{Endn|39}}: [[Ghostmaker (Novel)]] — [[The Founding (Omnibus)]], Chapter Four
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*{{Endn|40}}: [[Throne of Light (Novel)]], Chapter 6
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*{{Endn|41}}: [[Kill Team: Nachmund]], pg. 12
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*{{Endn|42}}: [[White Dwarf 478]], pgs. 107-109
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*43: [[First Founding (Background Book)]]:
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**{{Endn|43a}}: pgs. 289-294
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**{{Endn|43b}}: pgs. 296-297
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**{{Endn|43c}}: pgs. 294-295 & Artist:Igor Kieryluk (https://www.artstation.com/artwork/DvYzl9)
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*{{Endn|44}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition)]], pgs. 42-43
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*{{Endn|45}}: [[Leviathan (Box)]], pg. 223
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*{{Endn|46}}: [[Prince of Crows (Novella)]], Dramatis Personae
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*{{Endn|47}}: [[Scorched Earth (Novella)]], pg. 35
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*{{Endn|48}}: [[Campaigns of the Age of Darkness: The Battle of Beta-Garmon]], pg. 148 — ''Mutable Tactics Traits: Raven Guard''
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*{{Endn|49}}: [https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/10/18/thunderhawks-from-12-chapters-rule-the-skies-in-this-epic-aeronautica-imperialis-showcase/ Warhammer Community: Thunderhawks From 12 Chapters Rule The Skies in This Epic Aeronautica Imperialis Showcase (Posted on 18/10/2021)] (Last accessed on 18 October 2021)
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*{{Endn|50}}: [[Haemonculus Covens - A Codex: Dark Eldar Supplement]] (E-Book) — A Murder of Ravens
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*{{Endn|51}}: [[Clan Raukaan - A Codex: Space Marines Supplement]] (E-Book) – The Battle for Columnus
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*{{Endn|52}}: [[Blood Oath (Novella)]] – Part 1
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*{{Endn|53}}: [[War Zone Damocles: Mont'ka]] (E-Book) - The Hammer of Imperial Justice Falls
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*{{Endn|54}}: [[Gathering Storm: Rise of the Primarch]] (E-Book) – War Zone Ultramar
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*{{Endn|55}}: [[Codex: Space Marines (10th Edition)]], pg. 52
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*{{Endn|56}}: [[White Dwarf 505]], pg. 30 - ''Bunker: The Warhammer Studio's Psykers, Sorcerers and Supernatural Units''
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*{{Endn|57}}: [[Campaigns of the Age of Darkness: The Martian Civil War]], pg. 22-27
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*58: [[Campaigns of the Age of Darkness: The Siege of Cthonia]]
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**{{Endn|58a}}: pgs. 10
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**{{Endn|58b}}: pg. 32
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*59: [[Ravenlord (Novella)]]
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**{{Endn|59a}}: Chapter 2
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**{{Endn|59b}}: Chapter 7
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**{{Endn|59c}}: Chapters 9-15
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*{{Endn|60}}: [[Liber Astartes (2nd Edition)]], pg. 336
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*{{Endn|61}}: [[The Horus Heresy: 3rd Edition Rulebook]], pg. 110
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*{{Endn|62}}: [https://archive.ph/oqCtm Warhammer Community: The Big Summer Preview – Champions of the First Founding] ''(Saved archive page, dated 18 July 2025, last accessed 18 July 2025, original link: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/meznaevz/the-big-summer-preview-champions-of-the-first-founding/)''
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*{{Endn|63}}: [[Journal Tactica: The Isstvan V Dropsite Massacre - Part One]], pg. 20
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*{{Endn|64}}: [[White Dwarf 515]], pgs. 36-37
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*{{Endn|56}}: [[White Dwarf 305 (UK)]], pg. 87 — ''[[Index Astartes]] - Knowledge is Power: the Blood Ravens Space Marine Chapter''
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*{{Endn|66}}: [[White Dwarf July 2019]], pg. 30 — ''[[Index Astartes]] - Blood Ravens: Non Shall Find Us Wanting''
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*{{Endn|67}}: [[Broken Sword (Novella)]], Chapter Three
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*{{Endn|68}}: [[In Service to Shadows (Short Story)]], pg. 2
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*{{Endn|69}}: [[Flyers of the Dark Millennium]], pg. 11
  
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</div>
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<br>
 
{{SMLegions}}
 
{{SMLegions}}
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[[Category:Raven Guard| ]]
 
[[Category:Space Marine Legions]]
 
[[Category:Space Marine Legions]]
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[[Category:Raven Guard| ]]
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[[Category:The Great Crusade]]
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[[Category:The Horus Heresy]]
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[[de:Raven Guard]]
 
[[de:Raven Guard]]
 
[[fr:Raven Guard]]
 
[[fr:Raven Guard]]

Latest revision as of 00:15, 7 April 2026

Space Marines Portal
Raven Guard
RavenGuardsymbol.png
RGProfilePrimaris.jpg
Legion Number XIX
Primarch Corvus Corax
Homeworld Deliverance[36a]
Fortress-Monastery Ravenspire[36a]
Chapter Master Aethon Shaan[62]
Colours Black
& White
[27]
Right pauldron trim colours show company.[37]
Specialty Infiltration, Guerrilla Warfare, Fast Attack,[2] Liberation & aiding insurgencies[22a]
Strength ~1000 Marines
Battle Cry Victorus Aut Mortis
(Victory or Death)
Successor Chapters:


The Raven Guard were the XIX Legion of the original Space Marine Legions. Their Primarch is Corvus Corax. Their homeworld is Deliverance (originally named Lycaeus), a moon which orbits the Hive World Kiavahr.[2]

The Legion was devastated at the outbreak of the Horus Heresy and survived only by the most desperate of measures.[2]

The Raven Guard specialise in guerrilla warfare, moving behind enemy lines with unrivaled stealth and striking with precise application of force.[2]

History

Great Crusade

Founding

 
Pre-Corax XIXth Legionnaire[30b]
 
Pre-Heresy Raven Guard Sergeant

Originally founded as the XIXth Legion, the Legion was used by the Emperor as his hidden hand in its early years during the Unification Wars on Terra. The original recruits of the Legion were firstborn sons drawn from tribes of savage yet technologically adept Xeric warriors of the Asiatic Dustfields, which regularly battled with the much larger Yndonesic Bloc.[30a]

In its earliest days, the XIXth Legion was used for infiltration, reconnaissance and target identification operations. The Legion was covertly used to quickly annihilate any faction which refused to submit to the new Imperium, striking from the shadows without warning. The XIXth used terror tactics similar to the Night Lords.[13] One of the earliest known campaigns by the Legion was the conquest of the central Asiatic region, which was ruled by a tyrant known as Kalagann of Ursh. They won many battle honours on Terra, and later took part in the expansion of the Imperium into the rest of the Sol System, liberating Jupiter's moon of Lysithea from xenos. The battle on Lysithea proved costly for the Legion and veterans of the battle wore Jovian runes in its commemoration for many years after.[30a]

In the early days of the Great Crusade, the Legion found itself in the shadow of Horus and his Luna Wolves. While Horus valued the XIXth greatly, the Legions forces were largely serving as support troops for the Wolves.[30a]

The Legion's Primarch Corax was not reunited with the Legion for many decades. When the Emperor discovered Corax on Deliverance, he had just liberated the moon from Kiavahr Forge-Guilds by using nuclear weapons.[30a] The first meeting between Corax and the Emperor is shrouded in mystery, as the two spent a day and a night in private discussion, with no records kept about the conversation's contents.[2a] At dawn the next day, though, Corax agreed to take command of the Legion on the condition that Kiavahr be conquered and brought into the Imperial fold.[2a]

The Great Crusade was already a century old by the time Corax took command of his Legion, but he quickly imposed the style of war he had learned on Deliverance on his new troops. Stealth, swiftness, and guile were impressed on a Legion already renowned for its reconnaissance and rapid-strike capability. In particular, the old ways of the Xeric tribes were purged. Corax was also disheartened by how his Legion had been used as a repression, higher counter-insurgency, and occupation force, not unlike what he had fought against on Deliverance. As such, he purged or banished the Legion of its old Terran commanders, such as Lord Arkhas Fal. Corax also used factories on Kiavahr to commission several vehicles unique to his forces, most notably the Shadowhawk, a stealth variant of the Thunderhawk as well as the Whispercutter.[30a]

Doctrine and Record

Before the discovery of Corax, the Raven Guard utilised terror tactics similar to the Night Lords. However, when their Primarch was discovered, he was disgusted with these methods and introduced changes.[13] Following the discovery of Corax the Raven Guard, based upon his teachings, became masters of sabotage, assassination and other covert operations. Planets that were thought impossible to take, fell quickly as the Raven Guard applied precise military pressure to its vulnerable sectors.[2a] Such was the Legion's reputation that Warmaster Horus frequently requested their assistance to assure victory, though there was little admiration between the two; unconfirmed reports include the two sides nearly coming to blows on one occasion.[2a] In addition, Corax displayed a consistent ill-favour and mistrust towards veteran warriors of his Legion born of Terra, as opposed to those native to Deliverance.[31b]

Tensions between the two boiled over during the Battle of Gate Forty-Two, where Horus had the Raven Guard launch a bloody frontal assault on enemy defenses that decimated the Legion's numbers despite Corax's warnings that the plan was reckless beforehand. After the battle, the Raven Guard was reduced to 80,000 Astartes. Corax removed his forces from Horus' command, bitterly swearing to never serve alongside the Warmaster again.[30a] He also began to send his Terran-born forces into forgotten Crusades on the galactic fringes, ensuring in his eyes that the Raven Guard remain "pure".[31b]

Notable Operations

Horus Heresy

 
Corax leads the Raven Guard against the Dark Mechanicus during the Horus Heresy

The Raven Guard legion was one of the smallest legions during the Great Crusade, numbering 80,000 Astartes as well as an Imperial Army Regiment known as the Therion Cohort attached to the Legion's expeditionary force.[30a] As a legion they were a fierce enemy for anyone who opposed the Imperium of Man, using time honoured tactics of guerrilla warfare which Corax himself had learnt during the Revolution he himself had commanded to free his people from the merciless slavery forced upon them by the Tech Guilds of Kiavahr.[2] Extremely efficient and well trained, the Raven Guard would engage in acts of mass sabotage along with infiltration, blink-of-an-eye strikes and expert covert operations, all of which they had perfected into what would look like ease to any other warrior.[2]

The Raven Guard was one of seven legions to be sent to the Istvaan system (Others present were the Iron Hands, Salamanders, Alpha Legion, Iron Warriors, Night Lords and Word Bearers) to quell a rebellion led by the former Warmaster, Horus — Primarch of the Sons of Horus Legion (Formerly the Luna Wolves). Horus and his other three traitor primarchs (Fulgrim, Angron and Mortarion) had entrenched themselves on the planet of Istvaan V, and lay in wait for the Loyalist forces to land and engage. The fighting once joined was fierce and hot-blooded, brother versus brother, and no quarter was given on either side. Mid way into the fighting, Horus and his allies retreated back into their fortifications for no reason that could be grasped by the loyalist factions. The Raven Guard were in the thick of the fighting from the start, though out of their element due to the lack of tactical planning and the close-up-and-personal combat spreading like wildfire across the plains of Istvaan V. They fought both with as much honour and as much skill as any other legion would in the circumstances. When the traitors made a surprise withdrawal back to their fortifications, the Raven Guard used this break in the fighting to regroup and re-arm.[2][12a]

However, when they neared the "loyalist" defences (which were tenfold reinforced by the expert siege engineers of the Iron Warriors legion under their Primarch Perturabo's direction, they were fired upon by the very guns meant to protect them. Hundreds were gunned down in the first few minutes of the betrayal before they even realised that there were traitors in their midst. Four of the seven loyalist legions sent to Istvaan V had thrown off the colours and pretenses of the Imperium, and set their betrayal into motion.The Iron Warriors, Night Lords, Alpha Legion, and Word Bearers turned on their brethren in a bloody thunderstorm of bolters and blades, decimating their numbers in a multitude of seemingly never ending skirmishes and drudging battles for ground that cost lives for every metre gained or lost.[2] Corax and his legion were reduced from their mighty 80,000 warriors to a meager 3,000 battle hardened veterans.[12a]

Corax was by now a brooding vengeful demigod, wielding a whip in place of his normal customary left set of talons which were lost in a rage fueled duel with the traitorous primarch Lorgar, which would have ended in Lorgar's death had Konrad Curze, Primarch of the Night Lords (also known as the Night Haunter) not intervened and shattered it with a swipe of his own claws. Respite came in the form of a single battle barge the Avenger, captained by Commander Branne Nev, a captain originally stationed on Deliverance as a garrison commander, with him came the battered remains of the Therion Cohort normally serving with the legion under Praefactor Marcus Valerius who ironically brought Isstvan V into compliance with Corax the first time.[12a] Unbeknownst to both sides, Corax only narrowly escaped death at the hands of Angron and his World Eaters thanks to the machinations of the Alpha Legion, whose own Primarch Alpharius had greater plans regarding the Raven Guard.[12b]

Upon escaping the tailing forces of World Eater's picket ships, Avenger broke real-space into the warp, and headed for Terra. Upon arriving Corax headed for the Imperial Palace, which was being fortified by Rogal Dorn and his Imperial Fists in preparation for the coming Siege, upon which after much argument with Dorn and Malcador the Imperial Regent, The Emperor himself boomed in a psychic voice for the arguing to cease and pulled Corax into a vision of extreme light, and showed him the secrets he had been asking for - the gene forging tech used to create the Primarchs by the Emperor himself.[12b] After navigating the treacherous and dangerous contraption which was the ever shape-shifting maze on Luna, by using his advanced logic, and the skill of his sons to out-think its logic engine and freeze it in place, he retrieved the gene tech and returned to Deliverance under the watchful eye of the Adeptus Custodes (who were charged by Malcador to keep an eye on its safety).[12c]

At first the Astartes created by the gene tech were a marvel, a splice of primarch and Astartes, but not in an imbalanced degree so as to cause malfunction, a perfect meld. These new warriors were faster, stronger, and more intelligent than any of the older warriors of the Legion, and within a few weeks more aspirants had been successfully implanted with stable gene-seed than ever before (the new gene seed also meant that warriors matured into their new forms rapidly compared to standard Astartes). The new warriors would be placed under the command of Captain Branne Nev under the moniker "Raptors", and would be used against a Word Bearer fortress as their first deployment, which would see them successfully slaughter veteran Word Bearers with the ease of much older warriors. Raptors would take injuries that would have killed even an Astartes, and still remain fighting due to their enhanced bodies.[12d] Word of this reached the ears of Omegon, twin primarch of the Alpha Legion, whom had been laying dormant on Kiavahr below stirring up a rebellion amongst the tech guilds, and he sprung into action.[12b]

The rebellion and even the Alpha Legionnaires supporting it were a distraction, while the Raven Guard were caught off guard, Omegon and several Alpha Legion operatives managed to covertly spike the gene tech with a daemon blood poison (while managing to keep the pure technology for themselves) using the Raven Guard gene-seed to produce deformed monsters. The battle finally began as the first Raven Guard recruits to receive the secretly spiked gene seed were implanted, and by the time it raged into the gene labs of Ravendelve, only to be met by deformed warriors created by the spiked gene seed's effects.[12e] While deformed, these astartes still fought with otherworldly strength, overpowering even the Alpha Legion Astartes. By the time the battle was over, Agents had been found amidst the legion, explaining how news reached the traitors about the gene tech, and thus the loss of such a boon to the crippled legion, gene screening was to be implemented to find and destroy the agents with the stolen faces of Raven Guard Legionnaires.[12f]

Corax nevertheless led the Raven Guard in full strength (~4000 Astartes) and his allies (over 500,000 Therion Cohort, 100-150 Imperial Fists, ~20 Custodes against The Perfect Fortress, an Emperors Children stronghold. Planned to be conducted with his legion rebuild to be at least 10.000 Astartes strong, the Fortress was taken by luring the Traitor forces out with an failed assault by the Therion Cohort. While Raven Guard losses were small, the Traitor force was totally destroyed. The Perfect Fortress was on a important strategic planet for the whole sector, but Corax withdrew his legion to strike the next Traitor force, leaving the garrison to the Therion Cohort, and the expected Imperial Army and Titan Legion Reinforcements.[12g] Corax again led the Raven Guard in full strength against traitor forces in the Battle of Yarant, rescuing the Space Wolves. After the battle, Corax expressed his intent to continue to resist Horus from the shadows.[14]

Lion El'Jonson and his Dark Angels eventually rendezvoused with the Raven Guard and Space Wolves on Deliverance and offered them a place in his crusade of vengeance against the Traitors. While the Wolves wholly committed themselves, Corax was more cautious and only committed a small expeditionary force to scout ahead and eliminate key targets in order to spare entire worlds from The Lion's destruction. This force also engaged in regular war, taking part in the Siege of Barbarus against the Death Guard.[42]

Without the gene tech the Raven Guard Legion remained a small legion, though their continued work with small cells of warriors allowed them to remain no less of a fighting force, though fewer in number then before. Tales of the Space Wolves report the use of Astartes more beasts than man.[2] The Space Wolves never reported this to any imperial authorities, most likely because they shared a sympathy with the Raven Guard because of their own similar flaw.[2]

Meanwhile, scattered Raven Guard survivors of Isstvan V managed to join with fellow Salamanders and Iron Hands aboard the Sisypheum, beginning a campaign of vengeance against those who had betrayed them.[24b]

Notable Operations

Horus Heresy Aftermath

When Roboute Guilliman announced his "Codex Astartes" which would split the legions into organised chapters, Corax was circumstantially forced to adapt to the new rules. He retained his legion's overall structure, but in smaller chapters of 1,000 Astartes.[12a]

The Raven Guard chapter birthed in the Second Founding from the Raven Guard legion remained a successful fighting force, even with diminished numbers (1,000 Astartes from the 3,000 survivors of the Drop Site Massacre).[4a] The hunt for Kernax Voldorius alongside the White Scars,[11a] the 4th Company's deployment of several Raven Guard warriors to aid the Ultramarines in their capture of Adaric Vaanes, the defence of Ultramar,[8] and many other campaigns have been successfully won by these masters of shadow.[1]

Recent Events

Timeline

 
Raven Guard Space Marine

Culture

The Raven Guard are known for their grim and brooding nature. They are thought to be isolationist, dour and laconic. These traits combined with their preference for secretive and stealth has made them few friends in the wider Imperium.[55] However, due to their history as liberators of slaves, the Raven Guard maintain close ties with mortals, particularly those of their homeworld Deliverance.[36a]

Known cultural traditions of the Raven Guard include the Contest of Shadows.[43b]

Rites of Shadow

The Rites of Shadow are a Raven Guard and Successor Chapter silent ritual with ancient roots. Conducted in complete silence, Corspake sign language is used for traditional questions and answers. The Rites teach that the shadow contains both truth and lies, the purpose of each is the separation of one from the other, and glimpsing of verities otherwise hidden. This is applied to one's Battle-Brother's, one's cause, and even one's foes. Once one has completed the rites, they will earn the status of "Shadow". The title holds great respect, but no rank or authority.[36m]

Corvia

All Raven Guard during their initiation or as a form of meditation or spirit quest hunt the tiny ravens native to the forests of Kiavahr. It takes months of training and practice for recruits to sneak up on the small and alert birds, grab them in their bare hands and snap their necks. The skulls of these birds are worn as small totems hanging from a marine's belt on small chains. These totems are known as Corvia and represent a warrior's honour. If a battle-brother falls, one of his surviving comrades will recover his Corvia and carry it, and thus the fallen warrior's honour, into battle until he can return to Kiavahr and bury the small skulls in the soil of the Chapter's homeworld.[23]

Treatment of the Dead

Upon death, where practical, the body of a Raven Guard Marine will be stripped of its equipment and trappings (including the Corvia), harvested of its gene-seed and left for the local carrion birds to feed upon.[19]

Shadowmasters

 
Raven Guard battle the T'au

The Shadowmasters or Mor Deythan were a unit of Raven Guard during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy. They were ordinary battle-brothers who had their primarch's ability to Shadow-walk. It was a quirk of the gene-seed in a few Deliverancian born Raven Guard that had more than just the standard gene code. One unique trait of the Shadowmasters is that they were completely unknown to their own Legion. The marines were selected for testing "Thermal Technology" which was considered "highly temperamental". Corax and select apothecaries were the only marines in the Legion that knew of the group at the time of the Horus Heresy. The Mor Deythan acted as an elite stealth team and saboteurs and communicated through Stalk-Argot while working in concert with the rest of the Legion. The Shadowmasters performed flanking manoeuvres and sabotaged columns of rogue Skitarii on Constanix II.[18]

Moritait Protocol

The Moritat Protocol dates back to the Horus Heresy, and sees individual Raven Guard dropped into warzones to train local defenders or pro-Imperial elements in order to wage a local insurgency in support of the Chapter's own war effort. Other chapters that also employ local insurgencies to their own ends include the Alpha Legion and Word Bearers.

Tactics

 
Raven Guard

The Raven Guard are known for hitting weak points in enemy defenses hard and they perform lightning strikes upon locations of tactical importance to cripple their enemy. The Raven Guard disdain the notion of recklessly charging into enemy ranks. This differentiates their tactics from those of the Blood Angels. The Raven Guard rely heavily on their Scouts for pinpointing enemy positions and to scout for good drop sites. In recent years, this preference for stealth, disruption, and assassination missions has seen them heavily use Vanguard Space Marine formations.[55]

Because of their hit and run tactics and sowing confusion in enemy ranks, the Raven Guard also make extensive use of Assault Squads as well as any other formation that uses Jump Packs.[55] The Tactical Squads of the Raven Guard are often deployed via Thunderhawks or Drop Pods. The favourite weapons of the Raven Guard Commanders are the Lightning Claws and it is a common sight that their command squads also come equipped with these weapons in addition to their Jump Packs.[2]

Raven Guard Captains are fiercely independent, and it's incredibly rare for the chapter to fight as a whole. Individual companies are completely autonomous and are quick to lend their aid to Imperial commanders across the Galaxy, with or without the sanction of their Chapter Master.[2] Such behaviour has led to some to question the Raven Guard's soundness, but most recognise that such fluidity of command proves the presence of formidable discipline, not its absence.[4a]

 
Raven Guard assaulting T'au position

Core to Corax’s teachings was the Trifold Path of Shadow, often rendered in pictorial form as a short-bladed trident or triple-bladed lightning claw.[36e] The first path of shadow is Ambush,[36e] the second Stealth,[36f] and the third Vigilance.[36g] Mastering one Path, he taught, brought the possibility of victory; mastery of two rendered triumph likely, and accomplishment in all three made the foe’s defeat all but inevitable. From the beginning, the Chapter’s battle companies were based on this Trifold Path. Companies 3 through 5 each specialised in one branch, and a battle-brother’s promotion to the 2nd came only when true mastery was attained. Such promotion is far from guaranteed. Even amongst Corax’s sons, there are few who can replicate his skill so completely, and many battle-brothers live out a life of war in the same Battle Company, peerless in their own path, but never truly able to grasp the fathomless depths of the others.[36e]

Due to their specialised combat style, the Raven Guard makes less use of heavier vehicles and tanks (such as the Land Raider and Predator) than most chapters.[3] However, they conversely make heavy use of Land Speeders and gunships, and due to their extreme tactical autonomy and genetic instability nearly every deployment with see an Apothecary of some sort included. As a result, the Raven Guard maintains more Apothecaries and Helix Adepts than most chapters.[43a]

Wraith-Slipping

Described as being a combination of mental discipline and martial art, the process of "wraith-slipping" is to take advantage of one's surroundings to conceal one's presence. This is not a psychic power but rather a collection of disciplines and techniques that the Raven Guard use to conceal their visual and aural presence despite their use of power armour. It is a technique that is described both prior to the outbreak of civil war in the Horus Heresy[24b] and up to the 41st Millennium.[21]

Corspake

Corspake is a form of sign language taught to all members of the Raven Guard. This allows them to communicate on the battlefield without having to risk themselves to exposure by speaking or using Vox technology. Notable signs include The Crowfane; the Feast of Bones; the Empty Chime; even the Murder Call, which calls for vengeance against the slayer of a great hero. The 2nd Company is known for its prodigious use of Corspake, and none can rise to the rank of Shadow Captain without mastering it.[36m]

Stealth Modifications

 
Scions of Corax lurk in the shadows, using their unrivaled stealth to eliminate key targets.[43c]

The Chapter makes wide use of the "beaked" and older marks of Power Armour (Mk. IV-VI). After their near-destruction at Isstvan V, the Raven Guard techmarines created ad hoc suits using salvaged parts and components from other suits or vehicles.[12k] When the battle barge Avenger returned to Deliverance, the Raven Guard received a shipment of 2 000 suits of Mark VI Power Armour. At that time, the Mk. VI, designed as the "Corvus suit", was the newest and most advanced version. Because this mark of Power Armour carries the name of the primarch Corax it is natural that the Raven Guard feel a bond to this mark of armour.[12i]

With the initiation of Primaris Marines and the Mark X armour, Raven Guard marines frequently make use of the Phobos variant, due to its lighter weight.[36a]

Raven Guard power armour utilises enhanced cooling systems that which helps it to blend in better with the background. This means Raven Guard Marines are harder to detect by thermal or infrared devices.[11c]

During the Horus Heresy, the Raven Guard's fleet was equipped with special stealth technology: a ship's void shields could be modified so that they provided only minimal protection, but at the benefit of making the vessel nearly undetectable either visually or by sensors. It took only a few minutes for this adjustment to be made.[12a] The Raven Guard also operates a stealthy variant of the Thunderhawk, the Shadowhawk.[30a]

Homeworld

The Raven Guard homeworld is Deliverance, a moon which their Fortress Monastery "Raven Spire" is built on. Deliverance was once known as Lycaeus, where 10,000 years previous to current events, Corvus Corax (soon to be Primarch of the Raven Guard Legion) led a revolution to free his fellow slaves and eventually the whole moon from the slavery forced on them by the tech guilds of the planet below, Kiavahr.[2] Kiavahr was converted into a forge world by the Adeptus Mechanicus upon the Emperor's arrival, due to Corax's wish that the tech guilds no longer hold sway; this meant that the Legion also received a vital supply line for materials.[12d]

The Raven Guard's chapter planet and base of operations has the production capacity of a small forge world, ensuring that the Chapter rarely lacks for the material to prosecute its campaigns.[4a]

Recruitment

 
Raven Guard Reiver[34a]

Owing to the instability of the Raven Guard gene-seed and the experiments of Corax, much of the Chapter's genetic stock has been irreparably damaged. Now, much of their genetic material comes from supplies held on Terra. This means the cycle of recruitment for the Raven Guard is much slower than other chapters and fewer Raven Guard candidates for the Chapter prove able to survive their training and genetic modification. This means the Chapter is constantly short-handed.[2]

The Raven Guard's homeworld Deliverance is said to lack the population resources available on other chapters' homeworlds. By the time of the Horus Heresy only a few thousand marines in the Raven Guard's number were recruited from Deliverance, the rest made up of the original Terran forces inducted before the Great Crusade.[1]

Today, Aspirants are considered to be given a high honour of receiving the rare and unstable Gene-seed of the Chapter. They are thus subjected to harsh training in the force-domes of Deliverance and Kiavahr. They face lethal conditions with little food, water or sleep, and are required to evade or kill monsters and Mutants and must learn patience, stealth and the art of the hunt in order to survive. In the Trial of the Watcher, an Aspirant is required to navigate the ganglands of Kiavahr and undertake missions with only the most minimal of visual clues to guide them to their objective.[43a]

In the Trial of Justice, they are tested to see if they can uphold the ideals of Corax. In this challenge, Aspirants are strapped to a chair in near total darkness and have their mind examined by Chapter Librarians as they are given questions by Chaplains on questions relating to loyalty, courage, freedom and justice. They are often given hypothetical scenarios and complex moral dilemmas and forced to give solutions. There are no true right or wrong answers to these questions, though due to the presence of Librarians an Aspirant cannot lie and give responses he knows will please his overseers. A mere attempt at dishonesty sees one killed on the spot or made into a Servitor.[43a]

The Trial of the Wraith is a more physical challenge and forces Aspirants to be dropped alone into the Ologothien Wastes on Kiavahr. They must then traverse 199 miles of lethal territory in three days without sustenance and evade detection by native predators. Thus aspirants are forced to utilise their stealth training to the utmost extreme.[43a]

Those that complete their trials can expect long service in the 10th Company as Scouts, of which the Raven Guard maintains a higher number compared to other chapters. Upon proving themselves after years of service in the 10th Company, a full Battle-Brother can take on a new name, often that of a past Chapter champion or a Kiavahran word for a beast, weapon or folk hero.[43a]


Gene-seed

Main article: Raptor (Raven Guard)
 
A warrior of the Raven Guard without his helmet.[36p]

The degeneration of the Raven Guard gene-seed means several of the unique organs of the Space Marines no longer work properly or no longer grow. Raven Guard do not have the Mucranoid or Betcher's Gland. The Melanchromic Organ has a unique mutation that causes the skin of the Space Marine to grow paler.[3] Eventually each Marine's skin becomes pure white while their hair and eyes darken, becoming black as coal. The main issues could have come from Corax's experimentation with the Raven Guard Gene-Seed to try and create stronger and faster-maturing Astartes. Although the Alpha Legion is primarily to blame for causing his project's failure, it is never explicitly stated what the actual cause is.[12h]

In M32, a sudden degeneration afflicted the Raven Guard's gene-seed, causing organs to fail and implants to be rejected. From this time onward, the Chapter was forced to rely on gene-seed stocks from Terra, a factor that slowed the Chapter’s recruitment rates significantly but did not curtail their willingness for battle.[28]

The Sable Brand

Since the earliest days of the Raven Guard, some of their number have been prone to a battle madness known as the Sable Brand. This consists of cold-blooded determination to fight on with no regard for self-preservation coupled with an inability to separate the whispers of the dead from the words of the living. Thought to be an original flaw in Corax's gene-seed that he himself may have suffered, it is marked by one's eyes becoming completely black. Though its effects are not permanent, it is often ever-present amongst those who suffer from it. During the Great Crusade, Corax organised those afflicted into units of Shadow Killers. However, after the Legion's near extinction on Isstvan V, the Primarch could no longer waste troops like this.[36g]

After Isstvan V, Corax laboured with various methods to control the Sable Brand. He developed the Trifold Path of Shadow as a result in an attempt to control the outbreaks of madness. The doctrine has indeed led to fewer battle-brothers becoming afflicted with the Sable Brand. However, should the afflicted not be slain in battle, they are eventually incarcerated in the Ravenspire and used in experimentation by the Chapter's apothecaries. This attempt to cure their gene-seed is carried out in total secrecy.[36g]

Successor Chapters

Second Founding

13th Founding

Ultima Founding

Unknown Founding

Suspected Successors

Relics

Main article: Raven Guard Armoury

Notable relics include:

Organisation

Legion

During the Great Crusade the Raven Guard Legion followed the basic organisational doctrine. The Legion was divided into chapters, chapters were divided into battalions, battalions into companies, and companies into squads. However companies were preferred for most independent operations. Legion officers devolved command responsibility to sub-commanders, allowing them to make tactical decisions and to seek the initiative without interfering with the command chain. The influence of Terran recruits from the Xeric tribes was the cause of this.[30a]

During Corax's restructuring of the Raven Guard, he was able to commission several innovations for his own use from Mars. These were all then modified further by the Legion itself to maximize stealth and speed. Unique combat vehicles included the Whispercutter[30a] - an open-topped airframe flyer that was capable of dropping 10 Space Marines into a war zone in utter silence and with practically no chance of detection. Other unique variants included the stealthy Thunderhawk variant known as the Shadowhawk and the similar Storm eagle pattern dubbed the Dark Wing.[61]

After the Dropsite Massacre, Corax was left with a tattered Legion and had to reorganise them. They were combined into divisions based on combat specializations. The tactical companies became the Talons, the assault companies became the Falcons, and light vehicle squadrons and air support were renamed the Hawks. Another unit of genetically enhanced Astartes dubbed the Raptors were later added as well.[30a]

Known units of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy

Chapters
Battalions
Companies

Unique Units

Chapter

The Raven Guard are a Codex Chapter who generally adhere to the Codex Astartes in their organisation.[5]

Headquarters

The current headquarters staff as of the Age of the Dark Imperium are as follows.[36b]

Chapter Command
 

Aethon Shaan,
Master of Shadows[62]

Chaplaincy Librarium Armoury Apothecarion Fleet Command
 
 
 
 

Jolaran Tael,
Master of Sanctity

Taalis Shraek,
Chief Librarian

Saar Laeron,
Master of the Forge

Aark Selleck,
Chief Apothecary

Vynda Aason,[10a]
Master of the Fleet

Companies

Like all Codex chapters, the Raven Guard are divided into ten companies. Each company is led by a hero of the Raven Guard who bears the title Shadow Captain[6b] and who - in addition to his company command - is in charge of a particular aspect of the chapter's logistics. The current company commanders are as follows:[16b]

Veteran Company Battle Companies
1st Company
The Black Wings 		2nd Company
The Shadowborn 		3rd Company
The Ghoststalkers 		4th Company
The Silent 		5th Company
The Watchful
 
 
 
 
 

Shadow Captain,
Lord of Deliverance

Shadow Captain Aajz Solari,
Master of Secrets

Shadow Captain Vordin Krayn,
Master of the Ambush

Shadow Captain Vynda Aason,[10a]
Master of the Fleet

Shadow Captain Aevar Qeld,
Master of Truth

Reserve Companies Scout Company
6th Company
The Darkened Blades 		7th Company
The Whisperclaws 		8th Company
The Unseen 		9th Company
The Dirge Singers 		10th Company
The Subtle
 
 
 
 
 

Shadow Captain Sard Gaeron,
Master of Liberation

Shadow Captain Oras Brael,
Master of Lies

Shadow Captain Reszasz Krevaan,[21]
Lord Executioner

Shadow Captain Vos Delorn,
Master of Relics

Shadow Captain Kalae Korvydae,
Master of the Recruits

Company Information

  • The 1st Company, known as the Blackwings. The 1st Company are the mightiest warriors of the Raven Guard, known for their mastery of assassination.[36c]
  • The 2nd Company, known as the Shadowborne. These are the Raven Guard's preeminent assassins.[36d]
  • The 3rd Company, known as the Ghoststalkers. Less subtle than most of their brethren, the 3rd uses sudden and overwhelming force to silence their foe, embracing ambush, the first aspect of Corax's Trifold Path of Shadows.[36e]
  • The 4th Company, known as the Silent. The 4th strives for the second aspect of the Trifold Path of Shadow, stealth.[36f]
  • The 5th Company, known as the Watchful. The 5th utilizes the third and final path of shadow, vigilance.[36g]
  • The 6th Company, known as the Darkened Blades. Unlike the Reserve Companies in other Chapters, the 6th of the Raven Guard is not tasked with reinforcing Battle Companies on campaign. Instead it is tasked with a specific purpose: to infiltrate enslaved worlds and deliver them anew into the Imperial fold.[36h]
  • The 7th Company, known as the Whisperclaws. The 7th specializes in hit-and-run attacks, maintaining an agile and responsive war footing.[36i]
  • The 8th Company, known as the Unseen. The 8th serves as the Raven Guard's Close Support Squad reserves but in keeping with the Chapter's tenets are often found fighting their own campaigns.[36j]
  • The 9th Company, known as the Dirge Singers. The 9th act as the Raven Guard's Fire Support Squad reserves.[36k]
  • The 10th Company, known as the Subtle. The 10th acts as the Raven Guard recruiting force and operates both Scout and Vanguard forces.[36l]

Notable Elements

Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard Command
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard Apothecarion
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard Armoury
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard Librarius
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard Reclusiam
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard Fleet
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard 1st Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard 2nd Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard 3rd Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard 4th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard 5th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard 6th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard 7th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard 8th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard 9th Company
Main article: Known Elements of the Raven Guard 10th Company


Notable Members

Main article: Known Members of the Raven Guard
 

NOTE: Only notable members should be added in this section. Any other known members should be added here.

Heresy Era

Post-Heresy

Notable Vehicles

Notable Vessels

Main article: Known Vessels of the Raven Guard

Gallery

Screenshots

Trivia

 

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

  • While stated in the background that all Raven Guard have black hair, there is at least one instance where Games Workshop showed a miniature with a different hair colour (accessed 2011/09/08). If this is a mistake or deliberate is unknown.

See Also

Sources



The Space Marine Legions of the Horus Heresy
Loyalist I - Dark Angels · V - White Scars · VI- Space Wolves · VII- Imperial Fists · IX- Blood Angels
X- Iron Hands · XIII- Ultramarines · XVIII- Salamanders · XIX- Raven Guard
Traitor III- Emperor's Children · IV- Iron Warriors · VIII- Night Lords · XII- World Eaters · XIV- Death Guard
XV- Thousand Sons · XVI- Luna Wolves/Sons of Horus · XVII- Word Bearers · XX- Alpha Legion
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