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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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===Founding===
[[Image:Blood Raven.JPG|thumb|A Blood Raven Astartes]]
The precise Founding in which the Blood Ravens were created is unknown; their own chapter histories only begin in [[M37]], though other [[Imperial]] records contain some small references to the Chapter as existent before then. It is important to note that the Blood Ravens' histories are ''completely absent'' before the M37 date; they are not just spotty or fragmentary records. As a result, the [[Astartes]] of the Chapter know absolutely nothing about their origins, including having no knowledge of their [[First Founding|primogenitor legion]] or [[primarch]]. This absence of information about a primarch has resulted in the Blood Ravens focusing their spiritual reverence on the [[Emperor]]. However, they do have one particular mytho-historical figure of reverence import in the form of [[Azariah Vidya]], known as the '''Great Father''' of the Blood Ravens.<sup>2d</sup>
Azariah Vidya is reputed to have been a member of the Chapter during its first years. According to the legend (for actual records of this event apparently do not exist), during a disastrous campaign against a [[Chaotic]] uprising in the [[Gothic]] [[sector]], their [[Chapter Master]], [[Master of Sanctity]] and most of their elite 1st Company were killed in action. The young Chapter, now without much of their senior cadre, turned to [[Chief Librarian]] Vidya for leadership. Vidya, already said to be an expert in the ways of the [[Ruinous Powers]], turned to both research and guile to achieve victory, using [[Imperial Guard]] forces to probe and distract the enemy before leading surgical Astartes strikes on important [[heretic]] locations that critically disrupted not only their military lines but also their sources of eldritch power. The campaign was swiftly ended in favour of the Imperium, and in the aftermath it was discovered that the whole rebellion (and therefore the associated extermination of the Blood Ravens veterans) had been organised by the [[Alpha Legion]].<sup>2d</sup>
Vidya was asked by the ''''Secret Masters'''' of the Chapter to officially become Chapter Master; something he did while retaining his position as Chief Librarian.<sup>2d</sup> This resulted in the tradition of the Blood Ravens whereby Librarians are afforded dual-roles as command officers.<sup>2b</sup>
The Blood Ravens of fact, not of legend, are driven by the need to discover the truth about their origins, as well as the philosophy of the gaining of knowledge. To this end, they have developed friendly interactions with the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] and have often been assigned to [[Explorator]] missions to unknown/uneplored areas of the [[galaxy]] as a result. Combined with their own missions to seek out ancient ruins, mythic sites or other sources of information, the Blood Ravens have done much to expand the boundaries of both Imperial knowledge and space.<sup>2e</sup>
The Blood Ravens have also become notable for engaging their [[Chaos Space Marines|heretic brethren]], with some of their most recent campaigns featuring heavy interaction against the forces of [[Chaos]]. The Second Of particular import are the actions of the 3rd Company, along with small elements from under [[Gabriel Angelos]] on the other companiesworld of [[Tartarus]], engaged where the Alpha Legion (as well as [[Orks|various]] [[NecronsEldar|xenos forces]] army in a legendary battle beneath ) were combated<sup>3</sup>, the Thur'Abis Plateau on multi-company force commanded by [[KronusSpace Marine Captain|Captain]]. They emerged victorious after Captain [[Davian Thule]] successfully planted who had to deal with [[Word Bearers]] interference during a complex mission primarily directed against a bomb deep within [[Necron]] threat on the Necron catacombsworld of [[Kronus]]<sup>4</sup>, which detonated and collapsed perhaps most critically, the caverns on top failed [[Kaurava]] campaign commanded by Captain [[Indrick Boreale]], in which a full 5 Companies of the still waking Necrons. In reference to this great victory, the Second Company later added the Necron skull to their heraldry and adopted the motto ''"Victory Over DeathBlood Ravens were lost."'' <sup>3 (confirmed in [[Dawn of War 2]])5</sup>
This loss was a serious blow to the Chapter, robbing them of half their manpower in one defeat. This resulted in the Blood Ravens being forced to concentrate on building up their numbers and protecting their [[Recruiting Worlds]] for some time, although this period did not pass without serious incident. Multiple xenos theats - including a limited [[Tyranid]] invasion<sup>6</sup> - assailed the Chapter, which eventually found itself combating not only the heretics of the [[Black Legion]], but an insidious heretical threats from within its own ranks<sup>7</sup>, which included betrayal by their Chapter Master [[Azariah Kyras]]<sup>8</sup>. In the aftermath of all these events, the Blood Ravens are a weakened force, but one reforged in both combat and faith and now led by the acclaimed Chapter veteran Gabriel Angelos.<sup>8</sup>
**<sup>2d</sup>:p.1
**<sup>2e</sup>:p.4
*<sup>3</sup>:[[Dawn of War]]
*<sup>4</sup>:[[Dawn of War: Dark Crusade]]
*<sup>5</sup>:[[Dawn of War: Soulstorm]]
*<sup>6</sup>:[[Dawn of War II]]
*<sup>7</sup>:[[Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising]]
*<sup>8</sup>:[[Dawn of War II: Retribution]]
*<sup>1</sup>[[Dawn of War: Winter Assault]]
**<sup>a</sup> Commander screen; Wargear section
*<sup>5</sup*<sup>6</sup>Roberson, Chris (2009). Dawn of War II. Black Library. ISBN-13 978-1844166862.
*<sup>7</sup>Roberson, Chris (2009). Dawn of War II. Black Library. ISBN-13 978-1844166862. dramatis personae pages 404-406
==See also==
