Blood Ravens

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Jump to: navigation, search The Blood Ravens are a Chapter of Space Marines that prizes information greatly, but ironically know little of their earliest centuries of service. This Chapter is also known for having an unusually high number of powerful Librarians. Marine Name: Founding chapter: Founding: Chapter Master: Homeworld: Basic Data Blood Ravens Unknown Unknown Azariah Kyras Several Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers Miniature Chapter Symbol

FortressOmnis Arcanum Monastery: Dark red, black trim, Main colours: parchment white. Specialty: Librarians Knowledge is power, guard it well. For The Battle Cry: Great Father And The Emperor.1 Estimated 1000 Marines strength:

Background

A Blood Raven from Dawn of War II

Homeworld
The Blood Ravens are a fleet-based chapter and have no official homeworld, living on board of several Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers instead. Their Fortress Monastery is the Battle Barge Omnis Arcanum. Also, many of the chapters' Marines were born on the planet Cyrene but it was destroyed by an exterminatus order issued by Captain Gabriel Angelos. Recruits are drawn from planets ranging from the most primal feral world to sprawling, violenceplagued hive worlds - the only common factor of the specific worlds they recruit from being their heavy incidence of psyker mutations. In the Dawn of War: Soulstorm campaign line, if played as the Space Marines (Blood Ravens) and win, the epilogue notes that they were given their own fortress-monastery on Kaurava II in the Lands of Solitude, renamed Borealum in honour of Brother-Captain Indrick Boreale, the force commander who led the five Blood Raven companies to victory.2 However, in Dawn of War 2, it's mentioned that the Blood Ravens lost the campaign in the Kaurava System.

Beliefs
The Blood Ravens' ignorance of their own origins has led the Chapter to value information and knowledge greatly. They are known to seek out sites of lost artefacts and ancient significance to deny them to the enemy. The Blood Ravens rely heavily on their Librarians to keep the secret archives in order and compile new records, but just as important as their custodial tasks is their duty to seek out new information to bolster the archives and guide the Chapter in its quest for knowledge. Librarians are highly regarded within the chapter, there are even 2 whole tactical squad made up of librarians.

Geneseed

The Blood Raven geneseed seems to be stable, though the high proportion of psykers in the Blood Ravens ranks has resulted in more regular testing of the purity of their geneseed tithe. Thus far, there has been little evidence of mutation. There is, however, a slight mutation in the Catalepsean Node, which grants Blood Ravens perfect recall, but renders them unable to experience R.E.M. Sleep.

Founding
The Blood Ravens do not know of their founding because all records were lost early on in their history they call their unknown founder the 'Unknown Primarch'.

Organisation
The Blood Ravens follow the standard organization laid down in the Codex Astartes. Due to the higher proportion of Librarians within the Blood Ravens, it is not unknown for Librarians to lead companies into battle. The higher echelons of command within the Blood Ravens reflect the high proportion of psykers within the Chapter and many of the Secret Masters of the Chapter are themselves psykers. These warriors obsessively study the ways of the enemy to better fight them. NOTE: The only time the "secret masters" of the chapter are talked about are during Chris Roberson's Dawn of War II book. This conflicts with canon established in the Dawn of War II game where the Force Commander was promoted by the Chapter Master. This is most likely who leads the chapter, though it is also possible that the Secret Masters provide a council of sorts for the Chapter Master.

Second Company
The Second Company, along with small elements from the other companies, engaged the Necrons army in a legendary battle beneath the Thur'Abis Plateau on Kronus. They emerged victorious after Captain Davian Thule successfully planted a bomb deep within the Necron catacombs, which detonated and collapsed the caverns on top 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 Death." 3 (confirmed in Dawn of War 2)

The Fated
The Blood Ravens 5th company is known as the 'Fated', and though the reasons for this are obscure, it may go back to an incident recorded in the annals of the Chapter's Librarium, but never spoken of openly. In M38 the entire 5th company was recorded as having been lost in the Warp, but the truth of the matter may be by far darker. It is whispered that one of the company Librarians was seduced by the lure of the ruinous powers, and turned his fellow brethren to Chaos. This notion is by and large dismissed by the Chapter today, but for unknown reasons the current members of the Blood Ravens 5th Company wear badges of redemption, penitence and shame upon their armor suits.[1] During the Aurelian Crusade Gabriel Angelos remarked the fact

the 5th company is only allowed a single librarian at any time. This is strange since the chapter incorporates so many psykers including two battle squads of the first company being made completely of librarians.[5]

Ordo Psykana
The Ordo Psykana is body with in the Blood Ravens that is made up entirely of librarians most of which were recruited from the Scholastia Psykana. The order maintains the beacons that are in the Sanctorium Aracanum which were set up by the great father Azariah Vidya.

Notable Blood Ravens

Blood Ravens from Index Astartes

Azariah Vidya - Former master of the Chapter Librarium later becoming Chapter Master, had a major influence upon the early history of the chapter. Gabriel Angelos - Captain of the Third Company, mentioned in Blood Ravens: Dawn of War Omnibus. Was present on Tartarus and recently defeated the Tau in the Vorga system (Mentioned in Dawn of War 2). Davian Thule - Captain of the 5th7 Company during the Kronus campaign, he was given overall command of the Blood Ravens forces Thule had overall command of 3 companies including elements from the 1st Company. But his orders brought him into conflict with the Imperial Guard on Kronus.Now interred within Dreadnought armour. Brocus - leads the 6th company. Suffering heavy losses to an ork Waaagh! in M39 and adopted lightning strikes simmilar to those of the White Scars. He named his power axe 'Judgement Of The Khan'.4 Indrick Boreale - Brother-Captain, led 5 companies in Kaurava system. Was defeated and killed along with many Battle Brothers (Confirmed in DoW II). Ulantus - Captain of the Ninth Company; mentioned in Dawn of War: Ascension and Dawn of War: Tempest. Mikelus - Reclusiarch, accompanied the Blood Ravens task-force on Kronus, 1st Company. Isador Akios - Librarian serving with Gabriel Angelos, died on Tartarus IV. Jonas Urelie - father Librarian, formerly serving on Rahe's Paradise. Jonah Orion- Librarian. Rhamah - Librarian serving with the Litany of Fury, Ninth Company. Anteas - Epistolary, accompanied the Blood Ravens task-force on Kronus. Saribander - Epistolary

Borian Arivalt - Apothecary. Aramus - Force Commander assigned to the fifth company.67 Gordian - Apothecary lost aboard the Armageddon above Typhon. Martellus - Techmarine thought lost aboard the Armageddon above Typhon, but returned to aid the chapter during the reappearance of planet Aurelia and the attack by the Black Legion. Konan - Epistolary aboard the Armageddon.67 Tarkus - Tactical Marine Sergeant Fifth company first squad.67 Hyrcleon - Tactical Marine Sergeant Fifth company second squad.67 Eleazer - Tactical Marine Sergeant Fifth company fourth squad.67 Thaddeus - Assault Marine Sergeant Fifth company seventh squad.67 Avitus - Devastator Marine Sergeant Fifth company ninth squad.67 Cyrus - Scout Sergeant.6 Palmarius - Chaplain attatched to Davian Thule's recruitment mission to the Aurelia sub-sector.

Other Known Blood Ravens

Gronink - A Dreadnought was entombed in holy armour after being mortaly wounded fighting orks4 Callum - A Dreadnought who once waded into the shallows near the town of Storm Reach to crush an Ork submarine with his powerfists4 Isaak Jordanos - Techmarine Once visited Fenris and crafted the power axe 'Fang of Fenris' in honor of the mighty fortress monestery there.4 Narine - Scout Entire squad died fighting orks on promotion to tactical marine took a vow of silence and opted to remain a scout sergeant.4 Idris - Artificer.4 Jacob - A battle brother who wielded the two handed force hammer 'Doom of Traitors' against Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines4 Karolus - A young Sergeant who served in the Kronus campaign, armed with a power fist, the field generator of which failed. Received a battlefield commendation for fighting on. The power fist was later repaired, the blood of every Xeno race from that campaign being preserved forever beneath the field.4 Matiel - 3rd Company Sergeant. Named his chainsword after the planet Tartarus where he served and died fighting Orks. Nicholas - Was a talented sniper as an Initiate, would whisper a sermon before each shot from his rifle and was favoured by Chaplains of the chapter4 Trythios - The first of the chapter to serve in the Deathwatch. Carried a plasma pistols named 'Hate of Xenos', which would later be passed to all Blood Ravens serving in that elite force4 Ulanthus - 9th Company Sergeant, fought on Valhalla against the Ork horde of Warboss Icekrakka - ending the conflict by driving his chainsword 'Valhalla's Teeth' through his skull4 Ulysus - 2nd Company Sergeant. Served in the Kronus campaign, striking down a Necron Pariah with his chainsword4 Damon - 4th Company Sergeant who whields the plasma gun 'purifier of tombs' 4 Sunnis - Libraian4

Notable Battles

Tartarus Campaign (Dawn of War)

Assault on Lorn V (Dawn of War: Winter Assault) Kronus Campaign (Dawn of War: Dark Crusade) Kaurava Campaign (Dawn of War: Soulstorm) The Aurelian Crusade (Dawn of War II) The Second Aurelian Crusade (Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising)

Vessels of the Blood Raven fleet

Battle Barges: 4 - Omnis Arcanum, Litany of Fury, The Observer, Scientia Est Potentia Strike Cruisers: 4 - Ravenous Spirit, Rage of Erudition, Armageddon, Retribution

The Force Commander is the leader of the Blood Ravens strike team in Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising. 1234 He was promoted to Force Commander by Chapter Master Azariah Kyras himself in the wake of the Hadrian Campaign, even though they never met in person. 1 The youngest Blood Raven to actually rise to a rank of Force Commander in the known history of the Chapter, some of the senior Blood Ravens saw his promotion as premature. 1 He proved his abilities in the Hadrian Campaign, where he silenced the enemy artillery in the mountains and managed to bring back his squad without any casualities from the mission.1 He is currently the Captain of the 4th Company, promoted by Gabriel Angelos to take the place of Davian Thule.

History
As the player character, the Force Commander has no official name, and he does not speak in Single Player mode, even though the Force Commander voice in Multiplayer has specific lines written for the Single Player mode.1 In the Dawn of War II novel by Chris Robertson, the Force Commander is named Aramus of the Fifth Company (page 8, Prologue), and he is a native noble of the planet Meridian (page 47, Chapter Two), and was recruited at the same time as Thaddeus. 5 Aramus earned his promotion fighting the Tyranids on Prosperon (page 8, Prologue) to protect a sacred scroll from falling into the hands of the xenos.5 It is not known for sure if Aramus is the Force Commander since most of the information in the novel conflicts with information given by Relic Entertainment in the Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising. 1 2 5 Perhaps Aramus' background have been simply changed, or the FC is another marine not connected to Aramus.

Since Thaddeus is the only Blood Raven to come from Meridian in 700 years12, it is unlikely that the Commander is a native of Meridian5 (page47, Chapter two). In the Dawn of War II game, the Commander and his companions are awarded the title "Heroes of Typhon" after the final battle against the Tyranids on that world.2 3 In Chaos Rising, the Commander battles a Black Legion army under the command of Araghast the Pillager. If the player remains loyal to the Emperor, Techmarine Martellus will betray him as the traitor. After defeating the Great Unclean One Ulkair, Gabriel Angelos promotes the Force Commander to the Captain of the 4th Company.2 Alternativly, the Commander can be sent on a hundred years long Penitent Crusade with his men if he dabbles with chaotic wargear. If the Commander becomes too tainted, he is executed by Gabriel Angelos. If the Commander has fully converted to Chaos, he becomes the next Chaos Lord of the Black Legion warband and takes the Strike Cruiser Retribution to the Eye of Terror. 2

Equipment
The Commander wields a Chainsword and Bolt Pistol as default, but later he gains access to Power Swords, Power Fists, Power Axes, Thunder Hammers and Plasma Pistols.1 In Chaos Rising he can wield Lightning Claws.2 It is possible for him to train in the use of Plasma Guns, Bolters, Flamers 1 and in Chaos Rising, Meltaguns2. Later he can also use Heavy Weapons like Heavy Bolters, Plasma Cannons, Missile Launchers1 and Lascannons2. The Force Commander can wear Terminator Armour with a Power Fist and an Assault Cannon, Heavy Flamer or Storm Bolter 1. He can use Thunder Hammer1 with a Storm Shield1 or a pair of Lightning Claws in Chaos Rising2.

Tarkus
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Sergeant Tarkus Tarkus is a Tactical Marine Sergeant in the Blood Ravens 4th Company. He is a veteran with over 150 years of experience in warfare, and is an expert tactician as well as a rock-solid secondin-command. Amongst his tactical marines, Tarkus is renowned for his confidence and steely demeanour in battle. Tarkus' native world is Calderis. Tarkus was awarded Terminator Honours for his involvement in the assault on the Necron Catacombs of Kronus, where he and his squad repelled waves after waves of Necron forces to buy Captain Davian Thule time to plant the bomb that would end the Necron threat to the planet. In Dawn of War II, Tarkus once again serves alongside Captain Davian Thule in his defence of the Aurelia sector.

The Penitent
Tarkus was once convinced by an Eldar Ranger to lead his squad straight into an ambush. The Ranger had approached him under the guise of a truce and had proposed they temporarily work together against their common enemy, the Orks. Tarkus was the sole survivor of the ambush and has never forgiven himself for the deaths of his men. The fact that the deceitful Eldar Ranger escaped the fight also weighs upon him and kindles a deep hatred for the Eldar that has not lessened with time.

Equipment
Tarkus wields a Standard Issue .998 Godwyn pattern Bolter in combat. He is also able to wield a MK IIIa: "Heretic" Pattern Flamer. Or a Plasma Gun. If Tarkus gains the Melee Aptitude trait he may equip a Bolt Pistol and Chainsword. He can later wield a Power Sword if he gains the Power Sword Aptitude trait. In Chaos Rising Tarkus may wield a Meltagun

Avitus
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Devastator Sergeant Avitus

Avitus is a Devastator Marine Sergeant in the Blood Ravens 4th Company. He fought alongside Captain Davian Thule in the Dark Crusade, and distinguished himself during the assault on the Imperial Guard stronghold Victory Bay. It was also in this battle that Avitus lost many of his squadmates, which forever changed Avitus and prompted his vision of Guardsmen as traitors and weaklings. He is renowned for his unmatched hatred for the enemy, which many regard as his greatest weapon. In Dawn of War II, Avitus once again serves alongside Captain Davian Thule in his defence of the Aurelia Sector.

The Devastator of Victory Bay

Avitus grew up in a small settlement on Typhon that was terrorized by a corrupt regiment of the Imperial Guard. The settlement was extorted to near starvation by unofficial taxes and penalties, and often served as a target of the Guardsmen's wanton cruelty. Avitus's hatred spiked to new heights during the battle of Victory Bay on Kronus. Cracking the Guardsmens` defenses was a savage and bloody affair, which cost the lives of two of Avitus's squadmates. Avitus has since seen Guardsmen as traitors and weaklings.

Equipment
Avitus wields a Astartes MK IVc-pattern Heavy Bolter in battle, which can be later upgraded to a Plasma Cannon or Missile Launcher. In Chaos Rising Avitus can wield Lascannons.

Cyrus

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Scout Sergeant Cyrus

Cyrus is a veteran Scout Sergeant in the Blood Ravens Tenth Company who has dedicated himself to training the Chapter's initiates and Scouts, as well as honing them into full-fledged Space Marines. Even amongst his own Chapter, Cyrus is a man of few words, and has a fearsome reputation. His methods, while highly unpopular amongst the Battle Brothers, have earned them countless victories, most notably during the Genestealer outbreak on Victoria Primus. During the beginning of the outbreak of the Tyranid infestation of the planet Calderis he told the Blood Ravens that he served with the Inquisitorial Deathwatch.

Cyrus of the Deathwatch

Cyrus served in the Deathwatch for nearly two centuries. While his unorthodox tactics had been considered eccentric by his fellow Blood Ravens, they were fully embraced by his squad mates in the Deathwatch. Cyrus ended his tour of duty with the Deathwatch after the battle of Victoria Primus, and he was determined to bring all that he had learned back to the Blood Ravens. After decades of resistance from Captain Indrick Boreale, Cyrus finally requested to serve under Captain Davian Thule. Thule was quickly convinced and soon began to implement many of Cyrus's tactics as a matter of course. "Cyrus is no fool," Thule would often remark. "There is a reason he chooses to remain a Scout Sergeant. In a few centuries there will not be a Blood Raven left who hasn't been molded by this thinking."

Equipment
Cyrus, always wears a light suit of Scout Armour, which can be upgraded through war gear findings. The light armor aids his stealth and mobility. He, pending the players preference can wield a Astartes MK IIs Pattern Sniper Rifle, a Astartes Combat Shotgun, or the typical Bolter. If his ranged discipline is developed, he is able to wield a MK IIIa: "Heretic" Pattern Flamer.

Thaddeus (Blood Ravens)

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Assault Marine Sergeant Thaddeus

Thaddeus is an Assault Marine Sergeant in the Blood Ravens 4th2 Company, having been promoted shortly before the Tyranid invasion of the Aurelian Sector.

Early Life
Thaddeus grew up a native of the Hive World Meridian, in Hab Spire Legis. He grew up to become the leader of an under city gang, and was involved in one of the world's many riots. During one of these disturbances, Davian Thule noticed the young boy holding off rioters. Inspired, the Captain put Thaddeus forward for the Blood Raven trials, the first Meridian to do so in 700 years. 80 years later, battle-brother Thaddeus became a Sergeant before even earning his first service stud. He has since earned a reputation as a brash and idealistic brawler; and made his name battling Feral Orks on Calderis and Typhon Primaris.

Wargear
Thaddeus is armed with a MK X "Hells Teeth" Chainsword and a Astartes Mk III Bolt Pistol at the beginning of the Campaign. As the campaign advances, pending the players choices he can

be made to wield various Power Weapons. Thaddeus can also be upgraded with Terminator Honors which allows him to wear Terminator Armour and he and his squad can be turned into a Terminator Assault Squad which come equipped with Thunder Hammers and Storm Shields.1 In Chaos Rising he can Wield a Lightning Claw or a pair if he is in Terminator Armour.2 Azariah Kyras is the enigmatic leader Chapter Master and Chief Librarian both of the Blood Ravens and heavily suspected of chaotic taint.1

Background
Relatively little is known of the current leader of the Blood Ravens Space Marine Chapter. What is known is that 1,000 years before the Black Legion's invasion of subsector Aurelia, planet Aurelia disappeared during a Warp Storm after being pushed sufficiently out of orbit for the planet to be covered with glaciers and almost the whole population killed. Just before the planet was taken by the Warp, Librarian Kyras managed to imprison a wounded Great Unclean One of Nurgle by the name of Ulkair, after his master Moriah was killed fighting it. Soon after, the Warp took the planet, and Azariah Kyras with it.1 Kyras eventually returned some centuries later, appearing inexplicably before the battered elements of the Blood Ravens 5th Company aboard a space hulk called the Judgment of Carrion. Kyras aided Apothecary Galan, the leader of the expedition, in fighting the daemons and Tyranids infesting the hulk. Though the Space Marines had found a lost Battle-Brother, they were still marooned, unable to escape. Their "exits sealed, and beacons failed," Galan and his Marines were given to despair. Galan was haunted by a daemonic presence, which was given name when Kyras regaled the other survivors with his tale of losses endured by their Chapter in imprisoning Ulkair. The daemon reached out from his imprisonment within the Warp-swallowed world of Aurelia, tormenting the Blood Ravens and hungering for their gene-seed. Kyras did nothing to hinder the defeatist mood, and spread the taint of Chaos into his brothers instead. Eventually Kyras made a pact with Ulkair for their release from the Judgment of Carrion, which required that Galan be possessed by a daemon of the Warp.1 Both Galan and Kyras escaped the Judgment of Carrion, and Kyras' return was hailed as a blessing by elements of the Blood Ravens, but not the Captain of the 3rd Company, Gabriel Angelos who viewed the return of Kyras as an omen. Sometime thereafter, Kyras rose to the ranks of both Chief Librarian and Chapter Master. Galan was stationed as a Apothecary within the Honor Guard.1

The Aurelian Crusade

The Black Legion's invasion into subsector Aurelia (featured in the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising video game) finally revealed Kyras' corruption. The Blood Ravens attached to the 4th Company boarded the Judgment of Carrion and discovered evidence left behind by Galain and Kyras, suggesting chaotic influence and revealing the pact with Ulkair.1 Kyras himself was not present in the subsector during the invasion, instead having sent Captain Apollo Diomedes of the Honor Guard to represent his authority and order a withdrawal from any

contact with the Black Legion. However, according to Galan's confession as he lay mortally wounded by the Force Commander, Diomedes himself was not corrupted; only some of the men under his command had been tainted.1 Gabriel Angelos and the Force Commander disobeyed the Chapter Master's order to withdraw and stayed to defeat the stirring Ulkair on Aurelia. The ending of the game states that the "renegade" Blood Ravens plan to depose Kyras, creating a prologue for a Chapter-wide civil war.1

Kyras the Ascended

Following 10 years after the Aurelia Crusade, the subsector remains in turmoil as remnants of the Black Legion, Orks and Tyranids remain to cause further chaos to the Imperium held worlds. The civil war amongst the chapter still continues, which combined with the chaos, forces the Inquisition to declare Extermintatus on the entire sub sector. In order to prevent this, Captain Apollo Diomedes investigates the events to either prove Kyras' corruption, or to redeem him. The resulting investigation goes to prove that Kyras has fully committed himself to Chaos, orchestrating the events in subsector Aurelia to force the Extermintatus. He confirms that while the whispers of the Great Unclean One Ulkair started his path to chaos, it was ultimately the daemon of Khorne that was released from the Maledictum by Gabriel on Tartarus3 that fully convinced Kyras to forsake the Emperor and devote himself to Khorne. He eventually extends this offer to Diomedes, but was rejected. With the Extermintatus under way, Kyras goes to Cyrene, a former Blood Raven recruiting world that was already given Extermintatus before the events of Tartarus took place. There Kyras ascends to become a Demon Prince, but only partially as he is inturrupted by Gabriel and Jonah Orion, and then by Diomedes, Cyrus, Martellus, and Tarkus. During this confrontation Kyras severely wounds Garbriel (forcing him out of the fight) before finally succumbing to combat himself, finished off by an orbital bombardment from the Litany of Fury2. Azariah Kyras's successor in Chapter Master of the Blood Ravens is Captain Gabriel Angelos2. An open mind is like a fortress with its gates unbarred and unguarded. +++ Blood Raven Librarian saying+++

Knowledge is power, guard it well. +++ Blood Raven Librarian saying+++ "Knowledge is power. Guard it well."

+++ Motto of the Blood Ravens chapter +++