Astral Claws
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| Founding Chapter: | Unknown (information contradictory) | ||
| Founding: | Unsure; believed to be Tenth Founding (mid M35)[1a] | ||
| Chapter Master: | Lugft Huron (at the time of dissolution)[1a] | ||
| Homeworld: | Badab Primaris[1a] | ||
| Fortress-Monastery: | The Palace of Thorns/High Guard Orbital Fortress[1a] | ||
| Colours: | Silver with blue and gold[1a] | ||
| Strength: | Chapter dissolved; approx. 300 at that time[1a] | ||
The Astral Claws were a Space Marine Chapter who turned Renegade in M41. Their survivors exist as the Red Corsairs, and their Chapter Master, Lugft Huron, is now the infamous pirate lord Huron Blackheart.
Contents
History
The Astral Claws were founded during the mid-35th millennium as a Crusading Chapter in order to help stabilize the slowly crumbling Imperium during the Nova Terra Interregnum. Their founding chapter is unknown, as most records of their existence have been destroyed in an Edict of Obliteration, though speculation on their gene-seed stability and combat tactics point towards either the Ultramarines or the Dark Angels.[1a]
Before their downfall the Astral Claws possessed a roll of battle-honours that would be the envy of many; after their performance in the Fifth Black Crusade, their Chapter Standard was placed in the halls of the Eternity Gate in the Imperial Palace on Terra.[1a]
The Apocrypha Kaali states that the Astral Claws had "three sons", but only names one: the Tiger Claws. During the Badab War, Inquisitorial investigations found that the Astral Claws were hiding members of the long-thought lost Tiger Claws within their own ranks, as well as illegally expanding their own numbers above Codex-approved norms.[1a]
After rebelling against the Imperium and being defeated in the ensuing Badab War, the Chapter's survivors fled into the Maelstrom, becoming the core of the Red Corsairs. As a chapter they have been declared Excommunicate Traitoris and any records of the chapter are marked to be destroyed.[1a]
Besides the Red Corsairs, other groups of Astral Claws have become Chaos Space Marine warbands, such as the Ushmengar.[7]
Timeline
- M35 - Founded
- Campaigned during the Nova Terra Interregnum
- M36 - 5th Black Crusade
- M37 - Stationed in Segmentum Obscurus, unknown homeworld
- 678.M37 - Assigned to the Taninim Crusade.
- 714.M37 - Returned from the Taninim Crusade bringing with them the thought-lost Explorator Ark Principia Gravis.
- M38 - Stationed in Segmentum Obscurus, unknown homeworld
- Believed to have been used as primogenitor for three other chapters by this time, one of which is named the Tiger Claws.
- Recorded as destroyed in action during the Altid Crusade.
- M39 - Reappear at full strength during the Gorgon Pentarchy.
- Become fleet-based chapter, ranging across Segmentum Solar and Segmentum Tempestus.
- M40 - Patrol Segmentum Solar and Segmentum Tempestus.
- Relief of the Executioners chapter, besieged upon their homeworld of Stygia-Aquilon
- M41 - Assigned to the Maelstrom Warders, 587.M41.
- 640-650.M41 - The Scourge Campaign
- 697.M41 - Lugft Huron becomes Chapter Master. (same source state 715.M41 as the year of his elevation)
- 718.M41 - Huron assumes overlordship of Badab Primaris and the Badab sector.
- 748.M41 - Huron begins withholding the Astral Claws gene-seed tithe.
- Secret expansion program begins.
- 780.M41 - The Lycanthos Drift Campaign; Huron elected commander of all Imperial forces present.
- 901.M41 - The Badab War begins.
- Battles on the Gargathea III
- 912.M41 - Conclusion of the Badab War; the chapter is effectively destroyed, the remnants becoming the Red Corsairs.
Chapter Elements
Armoury
| Armoury | |||
| Name | Type | Notes | Sources |
| Blood Biter | Chainsword | Weapon of Carnac Commodus | [5] |
| Chimeric Talons | Lightning Claw | [2] | |
| Ghost Razors | Lightning Claws | Wielded by Lugft Huron | [1d] |
| Goldenfang | Power Sword | Wielded by Corien Sumatris | [1e] |
| Indynabula Array | Servo-Harness | Used by Armenneus Valthex | [1f] |
| Spectre Pattern Bolter | Boltgun | Wielded by Corien Sumatris | [1e] |
| Tiger's Claw | Lightning Claw | Wielded by Andar Scarion | [6b] |
Fleet
Notable Named Vehicles
- Sapphire Claw - Caestus Assault Ram attached to the Battle Barge Seraph of Judgement.[3a]
Notable Members
- Ajax - Retaliator during the Badab War[1k]
- Amru - Veteran Brother, first Company Sternguard active during the Badab War[1a]
- Andar Scarion - Watch Captain of the Deathwatch[6a]
- Armanneus Valthex - The Alchemancer, Honoured Patriarch of the Forges[1c]
- Carnac Commodus - Arch-Centurion[3b][4]
- Choldorov - Retaliator during the Badab War[1k]
- Corien Sumatris - 2nd Company Captain, The Tyrants' Champion, Warden of Pireaus[1b]
- Garreon - Chief Apothecary, The Corpse Master[8]
- Iscario Seneca - Apothecary active during the Badab War and former Tiger Claws[1i]
- Kleitor - Venerable Dreadnought active during the Badab War[1o]
- Kol-Zunl - Retaliator during the Badab War[1k]
- Lugft Huron - Chapter Master during the Badab War
- Malaric - Retaliator Strike Leader during the Badab War[1k]
- Oladadus - 9th Company Captain active during the Badab War[1g]
- Raban - Tactical Brother, third Company active during the Badab War[1i]
- Ricimer - Centurion, attached command of the 105th Tyrant's Legion during the Badab War[1i]
- Scyril - Retaliator during the Badab War[1k]
- Rovik Blake - Chapter Master for two centuries before Lugft Huron[1h]
- Tamerlaine - Veteran Brother, first Company Terminator active during the Badab War[1a]
Images
Chapter Livery Shoulder Insignia[1a]
The Tyrant's Claw
Lugft Huron Heraldry
used by Astral Claws forces after 901.M41[1k]
Retaliator Squad
Standard Wargear[1k]
Veteran Brother Amru
1st Company Sternguard[1a]
Strike Leader Malaric Retaliator squad[1k]
Veteran Brother Tamerlaine
1st Company Terminator[1a]
Ancient Kleitor,
Dreadnought[1o]
Rhino with Lugft Huron claw allegiance symbol[1j]
Vindicator,
7th Company,
2nd battle of Sagan[1m]
Landspeeder,
7th Company
2nd battle of Sagan[1m]
See also
Sources
- 1: Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One:
- 2: Deathwatch: Honour the Chapter, pg. 126
- 3: Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two:
- 4: Forge World Scenarios (last accessed 20 June 2015)
- 5: Forge World - Badab War New Characters (last accessed 20 June 2015)
- 6: Deathwatch: The Jericho Reach:
- 7: Tally of Slaughter (Short Story)
- 8: The Gildar Rift (Novel) Chapter 5, pg. 113
Uncited
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